Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Julius Caesar Essay Example for Free
Julius Caesar Essay Cause and Effect Prompt based on William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s tragedy Julius Caesar Search the cause and effect of the assassination of Julius Caesar in William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s tragedy Julius Caesar by examining Julius Caesar being a Tragic Hero with a Tragic flaw(s), and how this led to his downfall. Your paper must provide description of his tragic hero traits. Cite your literature textbook with at least two examples using quotations from the play that demonstrate this cause and effect. Then compare and contrast this dilemma with another world figure (either from the past or the present) that has been untimely assassinated. Find parallels between your selected figure and Julius Caesar. Analyze their likenesses and differences of the impact of these two deaths on their respective societies. Include another quotation as text evidence for your discussion. * Remember that your examples from the text must be within quotation marks. * Remember that you are demonstrating the tragic flaw that Julius Caesar had through the use of the quotations you find and how this cause his downfall, then you are comparing and contrasting this same situation with another world figure leader who also was lost due to an assassination. * Remember to write a clear thesis for your paper which will give direction for your remarks. Tragic Hero TraitsTherefore * Born into nobility* He/she falls from great heights * Responsible for his/her own fate* Realizes they have made an irreversible mistake * Endowed with a tragic flaw* Faces and accepts death with honor and humility * Doomed to make a serious error in judgment * May meet a tragic death Themes of Julius Caesar Fate versus Free will Public versus Private Self Misinterpretations and misleadings Inflexibility versus compromise Political rhetoric versus Power Essay Requirements: 1. At least 5/6 well-constructed paragraphs 2. A clear thesis within your introduction 3. Two quotations: these must express his tragic flaw in a cause and effect manner (if this- then that). 4. You must compare and contrast the situation and downfall of Caesar to a current or past public figure that has been lost through an assassination. One quotation is required. 5. This is a timed writing piece. Please apply your knowledge of time management through use of prewriting, drafting and revising skills. You mustà proof read your own paper before submission. 6. MLA requirements: Neatly written document with proper documentation of your quotations followed by a Works Cited entry of all documented sources at the end of your paper. Do not write on the back of your paper.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Helen Humphreysââ¬â¢ Afterimage and Anne Sextonââ¬â¢s poems, For John, Who begs
Helen Humphreysââ¬â¢ Afterimage and Anne Sextonââ¬â¢s poems, For John, Who begs Me Not to Enquire Further and The Black Art Woman artists have often been condemned as lesser artists than their male contemporaries, and this critical view appears in Helen Humphreysââ¬â¢ Afterimage and in Anne Sextonââ¬â¢s poems ââ¬Å"For John, Who begs Me Not to Enquire Furtherâ⬠and ââ¬Å"The Black Artâ⬠. The woman artists in these works use their creative talents to escape the mundane and sometimes painful realities of their lives. They are also experimental in their approach to subject matters and are eager to transgress societal beliefs. While their methods and journeys differ, the women in these works emerge as true artists through their distinct outlooks on life, their novel approaches to subject matter, and their transgressions of traditional beliefs. In Humphreysââ¬â¢ Afterimage, the protagonist Annie Phelan is a budding artist-model who has suffered from a life of loss and pain. To escape from reality, she flees to the imaginary world of Jane Eyre. Annie compares her new employers, the Dashells, to the characters in her favourite novel. She is disappointed, for she is unable to make her imaginary world come alive. This dreamy quality of the female artist resonates in the heart of the female narrator in ââ¬Å"The Black Artâ⬠who hurts from feeling ââ¬Å"too muchâ⬠(The Black Art 1). Like Annie, this poet senses ennui towards everyday life. She feels ââ¬Å"as if mourners and gossips/and vegetables were never enoughâ⬠(4-5). At the end of the poem, the narrator is still at odds with the real world in which ââ¬Å"the children leave in disgustâ⬠(23). In Afterimage, however, Annie finds hope in Jane Eyre after she discovers that the Dashells are easygoing employers: ââ¬Å"Perha... ...sitions, especially from male artists. Romanticizing their arts, the woman artists in these works gravitate towards escapism from their painful, mundane lives. If one loves something, one must set it free. Annie Phelan in Afterimage lets go of the burning boy dressed as an angel. This burning angel evokes the image of the Fallen Angel. It is also symbolic of these woman artistsââ¬â¢ works: although their artworks transgress the rules of society, they make a lasting impact on all those who witness them, thus making these women influential artists. Works Cited Humphreys, Helen. Afterimage. Toronto: HarperFlamingo, 2000. Sexton, Anne. ââ¬Å"For John, Who begs Me Not to Enquire Furtherâ⬠. 1960. The Complete Poems. pp. 34, 35. Boston: First Mariner Books, 1999. Sexton, Anne. ââ¬Å"The Black Artâ⬠. 1962. The Complete Poems. pp. 88, 89. Boston: First Mariner Books, 1999.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-nine
THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED were a blur. Sonya might have kept spirit's touch at bay, but it didn't matter. I was still in shock, still unable to think. They put me in the front seat, as far from Victor as possible. Dimitri drove us somewhereââ¬âI didn't pay much attentionââ¬âwhere he and Sonya disposed of the body. They didn't say what they did, only that it was ââ¬Å"taken care of.' I didn't ask for details. After that, we were back and headed toward Court. Sonya and Dimitri tossed around options on what to do when we got there. Seeing as no one had yet cleared my name, the current plan was that Sonya would have to escort Jill into Court. Jill asked if she could call her parents to let them know she was okay, but Dimitri felt that was a security risk. Sonya said she'd try to reach Emily in a dream, which made Jill feel a little better. I coped during the drive by checking in on Lissa. Focusing on her took me away from the horrible guilt and emptiness I felt, the horror at what I'd done to Victor. When I was with Lissa, I wasn't me, and just then, that was my greatest desire. I didn't want to be me. But things weren't perfect for her either. Like always, a number of issues were weighing her down. She felt closeââ¬âso, so closeââ¬âto unraveling who had killed Tatiana. The answer seemed within her grasp, if only she could reach just a little farther. The guardians had dragged Joe the janitor in, and after a fair amount of coercionââ¬âthey had methods that didn't require magical compulsionââ¬âhe'd admitted to having seen the twisted-handed Moroi in my building on the night of the murder. No amount of pushing would get Joe to admit he had been paid offââ¬âby either the man or Daniella. The most he'd admit was that he might have been ââ¬Å"a little off' in his times that night. It was by no means hard evidence to save me. Lissa had Ambrose's letter too, which had subtly threatened Tatiana. The writer had opposed the age law for being soft, disapproved of Tatiana's endorsement of spirit, and resented the secret training sessions. The letter might have been perfectly polite, but whoever penned it had had a serious grudge against the queen. That supported the political motive theories. Of course, there were still lots of personal motives for the murder too. The sordid mess with Ambrose, Blake, and the women involved pegged any of them as the murderer. Daniella Ivashkov being on that list was a constant point of stress for Lissa, and she dared not breathe a word to Adrian. The saving grace there was that Daniella's bribery had been to get Adrian out of troubleââ¬ânot solidify my guilt. The unknown Moroi had funded that bribe. Surely, if she had killed Tatiana, Daniella would have paid for both of Joe's lies. And of course, there was the last test pressing against Lissa's mind. The riddle. The riddle that seemed to have so many answersââ¬âand yet, none at all.What must a queen possess in order to truly rule her people? In some ways, it was more difficult than the other tests. Those had had a hands-on component, so to speak. This? This was her own intellect. No fire to build. No fear to look in the eye. She hated that she took the riddle so seriously too. She didn't need its stress, not with everything else going on. Life would have been simpler if she'd kept treating the trials simply as a scam to buy us time. The Court was continually swelling with those who had come to see the election, and more and more of themââ¬âmuch to her disbeliefââ¬âwere throwing their support behind her. She could hardly walk anywhere without people calling out about ââ¬Å"the Dragon' or ââ¬Å"Alexandra reborn.' Word of her attack had gotten out too, which seemed to have fueled her supporters even more. But, of course, Lissa still had plenty of opposition. The biggest case against her was the same old legal one: that she wouldn't be eligible for votes when the time came. Another mark against her was her age. She was too young, her opponents said. Who would want a child on the throne? But Lissa's admirers wouldn't hear any of it. They kept citing young Alexandra's rule and the miracles Lissa had wrought with her healing. Age was irrelevant. The Moroi needed young blood, they cried. They also demanded the voting laws be changed. Unsurprisingly, her opponents also kept bringing up the fact that she was tied to a queen-killing murderer. I'd have thought that would have been the biggest issue in her candidacy, but she'd been so convincing about how I'd shocked and betrayed her that many felt her being queen would actually right the wrong I'd committed. She'd used bits of compulsion whenever the topic came up, which also went a long way in making others think she was now completely dissociated from me. ââ¬Å"I'm so tired of this,' Lissa told Christian, back in her room. She'd sought escape there and was lying on her bed in his arms. My mom was there, on guard. ââ¬Å"This queen thing was a horrible idea.' Christian stroked her hair. ââ¬Å"It's not. Abe said the election will be delayed because of the uproar. And no matter how much you complain, I know you're proud you made it this far.' It was true. The chalice test had cut the nominees in half. Only five remained. Ariana Szelsky was one of them, as was Daniella's cousin, Rufus Tarus. Lissa was the third, with Marcus Lazar and Marie Conta rounding out the group. Ronald Ozera hadn't made it through. My mother spoke up. ââ¬Å"I've never seen anything like thisââ¬âit's incredible how much support you're getting. The Council and other royals are under no obligations to change the law. But the mob's loud â⬠¦ and gaining the love of ââ¬Å"commoners' could benefit certain royals. Standing by your claim to run would certainly reflect well on a couple families that are out of favor. What's holding them back is the thought that you might actually win. So they'll just keep arguing and arguing.' Lissa stiffened. ââ¬Å"Winning â⬠¦ that's not really possible, is it? Ariana's got it sealed â⬠¦ right?' Winning had never been a part of this crazy plan, and now, with so few candidates, the pressure was even greater to get Ariana on the throne. As far as Lissa was concerned, the other candidates showed no promise of improving Moroi life. Ariana had to win. ââ¬Å"I'd say so,' said Janine. There was pride in her voice, seeing how close she was to the Szelsky family. ââ¬Å"Ariana's brilliant and competent, and most people know it. She'd treat dhampirs fairlyââ¬âmore so than some of the other candidates. She's already spoken about reversing the age law.' The thought of worse laws oppressing the dhampirs made Lissa's stomach sink. ââ¬Å"God, I hope she wins. We can't have anything else go wrong.' A knock at the door snapped my mom into full guardian mode until Lissa said, ââ¬Å"It's Adrian.' ââ¬Å"Well,' muttered Christian, ââ¬Å"at least his timing's better than usual.' Sure enough, my boyfriend entered, wreathed in his now usual scent of smoke and liquor. True, his vices were the least of my concerns, but it kept bugging me that he needed me to be there in person to enforce his good behavior. It reminded me of when he said I was his strength. ââ¬Å"Get up, guys,' he said. He looked very pleased with himself. ââ¬Å"We've got a visit to pay.' Lissa sat up, puzzled. ââ¬Å"What are you talking about?' ââ¬Å"I am not hanging out with Blake Lazar again,' warned Christian. ââ¬Å"You and me both,' said Adrian. ââ¬Å"I've got someone better. And more attractive. Remember how you were wondering how close Serena was to Grant? Well, looks like you can ask her yourself. I found her. And yes, you're welcome.' A frown crossed my mother's face. ââ¬Å"Last I heard, Serena had been sent away to teach at a school. One on the east coast, I think.' After the Strigoi attack that had killed Grant and several others, the guardians had decided to pull Serena from active bodyguard duty for a while. She'd been the only guardian to survive. ââ¬Å"She is, but since it's summer, they brought her back to help with election crowd control. She's working the front gates.' Lissa and Christian exchanged looks. ââ¬Å"We have to talk to her,' said Lissa excitedly. ââ¬Å"She might have known who Grant was secretly teaching.' ââ¬Å"That doesn't mean one of them killed Tatiana,' warned my mother. Lissa nodded. ââ¬Å"No, but there's a connection, if Ambrose's letter is right. She's there now? At the gates?' ââ¬Å"Yup,' said Adrian. ââ¬Å"And we probably don't even need to buy her a drink.' ââ¬Å"Then let's go.' Lissa stood and reached for her shoes. ââ¬Å"Are you sure?' asked Christian. ââ¬Å"You know what's waiting out there.' Lissa hesitated. It was late at ââ¬Å"night' for Moroi, but that didn't mean everyone was in bedââ¬âespecially at the gates, which was always jam-packed with people lately. Clearing my name was too important, Lissa decided. ââ¬Å"Yeah. Let's do it.' With my mother leading the way, my friends made their way to the Court's entrance. (The ââ¬Å"door' that Abe had made had been patched up.) The Court was surrounded in high, multicolored stone walls that helped further the human image that this was actually an elite school. Wrought iron gates at the entrance stood open, but a group of guardians blocked the road leading into Court grounds. Normally, only two guardians would have manned the booth at the gate. The extra numbers were both for greater interrogation of cars and for crowd control. Spectators lined the road's sides, watching the arriving cars as though they were at a red carpet premiere. Janine knew a roundabout way that avoided some peopleââ¬âbut not all. ââ¬Å"Don't cringe,' Christian told Lissa as they passed a particularly vocal group, which had noticed her. ââ¬Å"You're a queenly nominee. Act like it. You deserve this. You're the last Dragomir. A daughter of royalty.' Lissa gave him a brief, astonished look, surprised to hear the fierceness in his voiceââ¬â and that he clearly believed his words. Straightening up, she turned toward her fans, smiling and waving back, which excited them that much more. Take this seriously, she reminded herself. Don't disgrace our history. In the end, getting through the crowd to the gate proved easier than getting time alone with Serena. The guardians were swamped and insisted on keeping Serena for screening, but my mom had a quick conversation with the guardian in charge. She reminded him of Lissa's importance and offered to stand in for Serena for a few minutes. Serena had long since healed from the Strigoi attack. She was my age, blond-haired and pretty. She was clearly surprised to see her former charge. ââ¬Å"Princess,' she said, maintaining formalities. ââ¬Å"How can I help you?' Lissa pulled Serena away from the cluster of guardians speaking to the Moroi drivers lined up at the gate. ââ¬Å"You can call me Lissa. You know that. You taught me to stab pillows, after all.' Serena gave her a small smile. ââ¬Å"Things have changed. You might be our next queen.' Lissa grimaced. ââ¬Å"Unlikely.' Especially since I have no clue how to solve that riddle, she thought. ââ¬Å"But I do need your help. You and Grant spent a lot of time together â⬠¦ did he ever mention training Moroi for Tatiana? Like, secret combat sessions?' Serena's face gave the answer away, and she averted her eyes. ââ¬Å"I'm not supposed to talk about that. He wasn't even supposed to tell me.' Lissa gripped the young guardian's arm in excitement, making Serena flinch. ââ¬Å"You have to tell me what you know. Anything. Who he was training â⬠¦ how they felt about it â⬠¦ who was successful. Anything.' Serena paled. ââ¬Å"I can't,' she whispered. ââ¬Å"It was done in secret. On the queen's orders.' ââ¬Å"My aunt's dead,' said Adrian bluntly. ââ¬Å"And you said yourself you might be talking to the future queen.' This earned a glare from Lissa. Serena hesitated, then took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"I can pull together a list of names. I might not remember all of them, though. And I have no clue how well they were doingââ¬âonly that a lot resented it. Grant felt like Tatiana had purposely picked those most unwilling.' Lissa squeezed her hand. ââ¬Å"Thank you. Thank you so much.' Serena still looked pained at giving up the secret information. They come first didn't always work when your loyalties were split. ââ¬Å"I'll have to get it to you later, though. They need me here.' Serena returned to her post, bringing my mother back to Lissa. As for me, I returned to my own reality in the car, which had come to a stop. I blinked to clear my eyes and take in our surroundings. Another hotel. We should have had gold member status by now. ââ¬Å"What's going on?' ââ¬Å"We're stopping,' said Dimitri. ââ¬Å"You need to rest.' ââ¬Å"No, I don't. We need to keep going to Court. We need to get Jill there in time for the elections.' Our initial goal in finding Jill had been to give Lissa voting power. It had since occurred to us that if Lissa running was mucking up the elections, the surprise appearance of her sister would likely create just as much sensation and disbelief. A genetic test would clear up any doubts and give Lissa her voting power, but the initial confusion would buy us more of the time we so badly needed to find the murderer. In spite of the random evidence my friends kept turning up, they still had no substantial theories on a culprit. Dimitri gave me a don't lie to me look. ââ¬Å"You were just with Lissa. Are the elections actually happening yet?' ââ¬Å"No,' I admitted. ââ¬Å"Then you're getting some rest.' ââ¬Å"I'm fine,' I snapped. But those fools wouldn't listen to me. Checking in was complicated because none of us had a credit card, and it wasn't the hotel's policy to take a cash deposit. Sonya compelled the desk clerk into thinking it was their policy, and before long, we had booked two adjoining rooms. ââ¬Å"Let me talk to her alone,' Dimitri murmured to Sonya. ââ¬Å"I can handle it.' ââ¬Å"Be careful,' Sonya warned. ââ¬Å"She's fragile.' ââ¬Å"You guys, I'm right here!' I exclaimed. Sonya took Jill's arm and guided her into one of the rooms. ââ¬Å"Come on, let's order room service.' Dimitri opened the other door and looked at me expectantly. With a sigh, I followed and sat on the bed, my arms crossed. The room was a hundred times nicer than the one in West Virginia. ââ¬Å"Can we order room service?' He pulled up a chair and sat opposite me, only a couple feet away. ââ¬Å"We need to talk about what happened with Victor.' ââ¬Å"There's nothing to talk about,' I said bleakly. The dark feelings I'd been shoving back during the drive suddenly fell upon me. They smothered me. I felt more claustrophobic than when I'd been in the cell. Guilt was its own prison. ââ¬Å"I really am the murderer everyone says I am. It doesn't matter that it was Victor. I killed him in cold blood.' ââ¬Å"That was hardly cold blood.' ââ¬Å"The hell it wasn't!' I cried, feeling tears spring to my eyes. ââ¬Å"The plan was to subdue him and Robert so we could free Jill. Subdue. Victor wasn't a threat to me. He was an old man, for God's sake.' ââ¬Å"He seemed like a threat,' said Dimitri. His calmness was the counter to my growing hysteria, as usual. ââ¬Å"He was using his magic.' I shook my head, burying my face in my hands. ââ¬Å"It wasn't going to kill me. He probably couldn't have even kept it up much longer. I could have waited it out or escaped. Hell, I did escape! But instead of capturing him, I slammed him against a concrete wall! He was no match for me. An old man. I killed an old man. Yeah, maybe he was a scheming, corrupt old man, but I didn't want him dead. I wanted him locked up again. I wanted him to spend the rest of his life in prison, living with his crimes. Living, Dimitri.' It seemed strange that I'd feel this way, considering how much I hated Victor. But it was true: it hadn't been a fair fight. I'd acted without thinking. My training had always been about defense and striking out against monsters. Honor had never really come up, but suddenly, it meant a lot to me. ââ¬Å"There was no honor in what I did to him.' ââ¬Å"Sonya said it wasn't your fault.' Dimitri's voice was still gentle, which somehow made me feel worse. I wished he'd chastise me, confirming the guilt I felt. I wanted him to be my critical instructor. ââ¬Å"She said it was a backlash of spirit.' ââ¬Å"It wasâ⬠¦ .' I paused, recalling the haze of that fight as best I could. ââ¬Å"I never really understood what Lissa experienced in her worst moments until then. I just looked at Victor â⬠¦ and I saw everything evil in the worldââ¬âan evil I had to stop. He was bad, but he didn't deserve that. He never stood a chance.' Honor, I kept thinking. What honor is there in that? ââ¬Å"You aren't listening, Rose. It wasn't your fault. Spirit's a powerful magic we barely understand. And its dark edge â⬠¦ well, we know it's capable of terrible things. Things that can't be controlled.' I lifted my eyes to his. ââ¬Å"I should have been stronger than it.' There it was. The thought behind all my guilt, all these horrible emotions. ââ¬Å"I should have been stronger than it. I was weak.' Dimitri's reassuring words didn't come so quickly. ââ¬Å"You aren't invincible,' he said at last. ââ¬Å"No one expects you to be.' ââ¬Å"I do. What I did â⬠¦' I swallowed. ââ¬Å"What I did was unforgivable.' His eyes widened in shock. ââ¬Å"That â⬠¦ that's crazy, Rose. You can't punish yourself for something you had no power over.' ââ¬Å"Yeah? Then why are you stillââ¬âââ¬Ë I stopped because I'd been about to accuse Dimitri of continuing to punish himself. Except â⬠¦ he no longer was. Did he feel guilt for what he'd done as a Strigoi? I was certain of it. Sonya had admitted as much. But somewhere in this journey, he had taken control of his life again, bit by bit. She'd told me that, but only now did I truly understand. ââ¬Å"When?' I asked. ââ¬Å"When did it change? When did you realize you could keep livingââ¬â even after all that guilt?' ââ¬Å"I'm not sure.' If the question surprised him, he hid it. His eyes were locked with mine, but they weren't quite focused on me. The puzzle occupied him. ââ¬Å"In bits, really. When Lissa and Abe first came to me about breaking you out, I was ready to do it because she asked me to. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was personal too. I couldn't stand the thought of you locked in a cell, being cut off from the world. It wasn't right. No one should live like that, and it occurred to me that I was doing the sameââ¬âby choice. I was cutting myself off from the world with guilt and self-punishment. I had a second chance to live, and I was throwing it away.' I was still in turmoil, still raging and full of grief, but his story kept me quiet and transfixed. Hearing him pour his heart out was a rare opportunity. ââ¬Å"You heard me talk about this before,' he continued. ââ¬Å"About my goal to appreciate life's little details. And the more we continued on our journey, the more I remembered who I was. Not just a fighter. Fighting is easy. It's why we fight that matters, and in the alley that night with Donovan â⬠¦' He shuddered. ââ¬Å"That was the moment I could have crossed over into someone who fights just to senselessly killââ¬âbut you pulled me back, Rose. That was the turning point. You saved me â⬠¦ just as Lissa saved me with the stake. I knew then that in order to leave the Strigoi part of me behind, I had to fight through to be what theyaren't. I had to embrace what they reject: beauty, love, honor.' Right then, I was two people. One was overjoyed. Hearing him talk like that, realizing he was fighting his demons and close to victory â⬠¦ well, I nearly wept with joy. It was what I'd wanted for him for so long. At the same time, his inspiring words only reminded me how far I'd fallen. My sorrow and self-pity took over again. ââ¬Å"Then you should understand,' I said bitterly. ââ¬Å"You just said it: honor. It matters. We both know it does. I've lost mine. I lost it out there in the parking lot when I killed an innocent.' ââ¬Å"And I've killed hundreds,' he said flatly. ââ¬Å"People much more innocent than Victor Dashkov.' ââ¬Å"It's not the same! You couldn't help it!' My feelings exploded to the surface again. ââ¬Å"Why are we repeating the same things over and over?' ââ¬Å"Because they aren't sinking in! You couldn't help it either.' His patience was cracking. ââ¬Å"Feel guilty. Mourn this. But move on. Don't let it destroy you. Forgive yourself.' I leapt to my feet, catching him by surprise. I leaned down, putting us face to face. ââ¬Å"Forgive myself? That's what you want? You of all people?' Words seemed to escape him. I think it had to do with my proximity. He managed a nod. ââ¬Å"Then tell me this. You say you moved past the guilt, decided to revel in life and all that. I get it. But have you, in your heart, really forgiven yourself? I told you a long time ago that I forgave you for everything in Siberia, but what about you? Have you done it?' ââ¬Å"I just saidââ¬âââ¬Ë ââ¬Å"No. It's not the same. You're telling me to forgive myself and move on. But you won't do it yourself. You're a hypocrite, comrade. We're either both guilty or both innocent. Pick.' He rose as well, looking down at me from that lofty height. ââ¬Å"It's not that simple.' I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to be intimidated. ââ¬Å"It is that simple. We're the same! Even Sonya says we are. We've always been the same, and we're both acting the same stupid way now. We hold ourselves up to a higher standard than everyone else.' Dimitri frowned. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬âSonya? What does she have to do with any of this?' ââ¬Å"She said our auras match. She said we light up around each other. She says it means you still love me and that we're in sync, and â⬠¦' I sighed and turned away, wandering across the room. ââ¬Å"I don't know. I shouldn't have mentioned it. We shouldn't buy into this aura stuff when it comes from magic users who are already half-insane.' I reached the window and leaned my forehead against the cool glass, trying to decide what to do. Forgive myself. Could I? A small city sprawled before me, though I'd lost track of where we were. Cars and people moved below, souls out living their lives. I took a deep breath. The image of Victor on the asphalt was going to stay with me for a long, long time. I had done something horrible, even if my intentions were good, but everyone was right: I hadn't been myself. Did that change what had happened? Would that bring Victor back? No. And honestly, I didn't know how I would move past what I'd done, how I'd shake the bloody images in my head. I just knew I had to go on. ââ¬Å"If I let this stop me,' I murmured, ââ¬Å"if I do nothing â⬠¦ then that's the greater evil. I'll do more good by surviving. By continuing to fight and protect others.' ââ¬Å"What are you saying?' asked Dimitri. ââ¬Å"I'm saying â⬠¦ I forgive myself. That doesn't make everything perfect, but it's a start.' My fingertip traced the line of a tiny crack in the glass's surface. ââ¬Å"Who knows? Maybe that outburst in the parking lot let out some of the darkness Sonya says is in my aura. Skeptic that I am, I have to give her some points. She was right that I was at a breaking point, that all I needed was a spark.' ââ¬Å"She was right about something else too,' Dimitri said after a long pause. My back was to him, but there was a strange quality to his voice that made me turn around. ââ¬Å"What's that?' I asked. ââ¬Å"That I do still love you.' With that one sentence, everything in the universe changed. Time slowed to one heartbeat. The world became his eyes, his voice. This wasn't happening. It wasn't real. None of it could be real. It felt like a spirit dream. I resisted the urge to close my eyes and see if I'd wake up moments later. No. No matter how unbelievable it all seemed, this was no dream. This was real. This was life. This was flesh and blood. ââ¬Å"Since â⬠¦ since when?' I finally managed to ask. ââ¬Å"Since â⬠¦ forever.' His tone implied the answer was obvious. ââ¬Å"I denied it when I was restored. I had no room for anything in my heart except guilt. I especially felt guilty about youââ¬âwhat I'd doneââ¬âand I pushed you away. I put up a wall to keep you safe. It worked for a whileââ¬âuntil my heart finally started accepting other emotions. And it all came back. Everything I felt for you. It had never left; it was just hidden from me until I was ready. And again â⬠¦ that alley was the turning point. I looked at you â⬠¦ saw your goodness, your hope, and your faith. Those are what make you beautiful. So, so beautiful.' ââ¬Å"So it wasn't my hair,' I said, unsure how I was even capable of making a joke at a time like this. ââ¬Å"No,' he said gently. ââ¬Å"Your hair was beautiful too. All of you. You were amazing when we first met, and somehow, inexplicably, you've come even farther. You've always been pure, raw energy, and now you control it. You're the most amazing woman I've ever met, and I'm glad to have had that love for you in my life. I regret losing it.' He grew pensive. ââ¬Å"I would give anythingââ¬âanythingââ¬âin the world to go back and change history. To run into your arms after Lissa brought me back. To have a life with you. It's too late, of course, but I've accepted it.' ââ¬Å"Why â⬠¦ why is it too late?' Dimitri's eyes grew sad. ââ¬Å"Because of Adrian. Because you've moved on. No, listen,' he said, cutting off my protests. ââ¬Å"You were right to do that after how I treated you. And more than anything else, I want you to be happy once we clear your name and get Jill recognized. You said yourself that Adrian makes you happy. You said you love him.' ââ¬Å"But â⬠¦ you just said you love me. That you want to be with me.' My words seemed clumsy, unworthy of his eloquence. ââ¬Å"And I told you: I'm not going to pursue another man's girlfriend. You want to talk honor? There it is in its purest form.' I walked toward him, each step ramping up the tension around us. Dimitri kept saying the alley was his turning point. For me? It was now. I stood on the precipice of something that would change my life. For the last week, I'd done a very good job of detaching myself from anything romantic with Dimitri. And yet â⬠¦ had I? What was love, really? Flowers, chocolate, and poetry? Or was it something else? Was it being able to finish someone's jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was it knowing someone so well that they instantly understood why you did the things you didââ¬âand shared those same beliefs? All week, I'd claimed my love for Dimitri was fading. In reality, it had been growing more and more. I hadn't even realized it was happening. I had been re-establishing our old rapport, strengthening the connection. Reaffirming that of all the people in the worldââ¬âeven Lissaââ¬âDimitri was the only one who truly gotme. I'd meant it: I loved Adrian. It was hard to imagine life without him, but my other words at the Mastranos' had betrayed me: I have fun with him. Now, you should have fun with the one you love, but that shouldn't have been what first came to mind. I should have said, We strengthen each other. Or, He makes me want to be a better person. Perhaps most importantly: He understands me perfectly. But none of that was true, so I hadn't said those things. I'd sought Adrian for comfort. His familiarity and humor were an important part of my world. And if he was in danger? I'd throw my life before his, just as I would for Lissa. Yet, I didn't inspire him, not really. He was trying. He did want to be a better person, but at this moment in his life, his motivations were more about impressing othersââ¬âabout impressing me. It wasn't for himself. That didn't make him bad or weak, but it made me his crutch. He would get past that, I was certain. He would eventually come into his own and be an amazing man, but he wasn't at that point of self-discovery yet. I was. I stood in front of Dimitri now, looking into those dark eyes again, the eyes I loved so much. I placed my hands on his chest, feeling his heart beating strong and steadyââ¬âand maybe a bit faster than normal. Warmth spread through my fingertips. He reached up and caught hold of my wrists but didn't push me away. The lines of that gorgeous face looked strained as he fought some inner conflict, but now that I knewââ¬ânow that I knew for sureââ¬âI could see his love for me. Love mingled with desire. It was so, so obvious. ââ¬Å"You should have told me,' I said. ââ¬Å"You should have told me this a long time ago. I love you. I've never stopped loving you. You have to know that.' His breath caught when I said I love you, and I could see his internal struggle for control become an all-out war. ââ¬Å"It wouldn't have made any difference. Not with Adrian involved,' he said. The fingers around my hand tightened slightly as though he really might push me away this time. He didn't. ââ¬Å"I mean it. I won't be that guy, Rose. I won't be that man who takes someone else's woman. Now, please. Let go. Don't make this any more difficult.' I ignored the request. If he'd wanted to get away from me, he could have. I splayed my fingers, touching more of his chest, drinking in the feel of that warm contact I'd missed for so long. ââ¬Å"I don't belong to him,' I said in a low voice, pushing close to Dimitri and tilting my head back so that I could see his face clearly. So much emotion, so much conflict as his heart tried to decide right from wrong. Being pressed against him felt like â⬠¦ completion. Sonya had said no couple could share one aura or one soul, but ours weren't meant to be apart. They fit together like a puzzle, two individuals making something greater than themselves. ââ¬Å"I don't belong to anyone. I make my own choices.' ââ¬Å"And you're with Adrian,' said Dimitri. ââ¬Å"But I was meant for you.' And that did it. Any pretense of control or reason either of us possessed melted away. The walls crumbled, and everything we'd been holding back from each other came rushing out. I reached up, pulling us together for a kissââ¬âa kiss he didn't let go this time. A kiss I didn't end by punching him. His arms encircled me as he lifted me onto the bed, one hand soon sliding along my hip and down to my leg, already half-bare, thanks to that poor tattered dress. Every nerve in my body lit up, and I felt that desire returned in himââ¬âand then some. After a world of death, he seemed to appreciate love more. Not only that, he needed it. He needed life. He needed meââ¬ânot just physically, but in the same way my heart and soul always cried out for him. What we did then, as our clothes came off and we brought our bodies together became more than just lustââ¬âeven though there was plenty of that too. Being with him after so long, after everything we'd endured â⬠¦ it was like coming home. Like finally being whereââ¬âwith whomââ¬âI belonged. My world, my heart â⬠¦ they'd shattered when I lost him. But as he looked at me, as his lips spoke my name and ran along my skin â⬠¦ I knew those pieces could come back together. And I knew, with absolute certainty, that waiting for thisââ¬âfor my second time having sexââ¬âhad been the right thing to do. Anyone else, any other time â⬠¦ it would have been wrong. When we finished, it was like we still couldn't get close enough. We held each other tightly, our limbs entwined, as though maybe closing the distance now would make up for the distance that had been between us for so long. I closed my eyes, my senses flooded with him, and sighed dreamily. ââ¬Å"I'm glad you gave in. I'm glad your self-control isn't as strong as mine.' This made him laugh, and I felt it rumble through his chest. ââ¬Å"Roza, my self-control is ten times stronger than yours.' I opened my eyes, shifting to look into his. I brushed his hair back and smiled, certain my heart would expand and expand until there was nothing left of me. ââ¬Å"Oh yeah? That's not the impression I just got.' ââ¬Å"Wait until next time,' he warned. ââ¬Å"I'll do things that'll make you lose control within seconds.' That comment was just asking for a witty Rose Hathaway quip. It also made my blood burn, which was why we were both surprised when I abruptly said, ââ¬Å"There may not be a next time.' Dimitri's hand, tracing the shape of my shoulder, froze. ââ¬Å"What? Why?' ââ¬Å"We have a couple of things to do before this happens again.' ââ¬Å"Adrian,' he guessed. I nodded. ââ¬Å"And that's my problem, so put your honor-able thoughts aside. I have to face him and answer for this. I will. And you â⬠¦' I couldn't believe what I was about to say. I couldn't believe I meant it. ââ¬Å"You still have to forgive yourself if we're going to be together.' His puzzled expression turned to pain. ââ¬Å"Roseââ¬âââ¬Ë ââ¬Å"I'm serious.' I met his eyes unflinchingly. ââ¬Å"You have to forgive yourself. For real. Everyone else has. If you can't, then you can't go on either. We can't.' It was one of the biggest gambles of my life. Once, I would have run to him without question, ignoring our problems, overjoyed just to be with him. Now â⬠¦ after everything I'd been through, I'd changed. I loved him. I loved him so much, and I wanted him. But it was because of the strength of that love that I had to do this. If were going to be together, we had to do it the right way. Sex had been amazing, but it wasn't a magical cure for everything. Damn. Somewhere along the way, I'd picked up common sense. I still intended to confront Adrian. And if Dimitri wouldn't do what I asked, I really would walk away. I'd lose both men, but it was better to be alone with my self-respect than be in the wrong relationship. ââ¬Å"I don't know,' Dimitri said at last. ââ¬Å"I don't know if I can â⬠¦ if I'm ready.' ââ¬Å"Decide soon then,' I said. ââ¬Å"You don't have to right this second, but eventually â⬠¦' I didn't push the topic after that. For now, I would let it go, though I knew he would hold onto it and grasp its importance. I knew I was right to stand by it too. He couldn't be happy with me if he wasn't happy with himself. It occurred to me then, as I stood up for myself and what I needed, that our old teacher-student roles were gone forever. Now we really were equals. I rested my head on his chest and felt him relax. We'd bask in this moment, if only for a little longer. Sonya had said we needed ââ¬Å"rest,' making me think we still had some time here before the ticking clock drove us back to Court. As Dimitri and I continued to keep close to one another, I found myself actually wanting to sleep. I was exhausted from the fightââ¬âwhich, I realized, had taken a very unexpected turn. My guilt and despair over Victor and the explosion of spirit had taken their toll too, no matter the healing locket still around my neck. And yes, I thought with a small smile, I was simply exhausted from what Dimitri and I had just done. It was kind of nice to use my body for something that didn't result in serious injury for a change. I fell asleep in his embrace, blackness wrapping around me as warmly as his arms. It should have been that simple. It should have been peaceful, happy rest. But as usual, I wasn't that lucky. A spirit dream pulled me from the enveloping depths of sleep, and for half a second, I thought maybe Robert Doru had come for me to take revenge for his brother's death. But, no. No vindictive Dashkov. Instead, I found myself staring into a pair of emerald- green eyes. Adrian.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Discuss The Importance Of Oracles To Oedipus Rex - 1620 Words
1. Discuss the importance of oracles to the ancient Greeks and specifically, to Oedipus Rex. Include a consideration about whether human actions are the result of predestination (Fate/Destiny) or free will. What does Sophocles seem to believe on this issue? After reading the passage throughly, I feel that for the ancient Greeks fate was an important aspect to their daily lives it shaped and formed human life. Fate has evolved during the years mainly because for the Greeks it was seen something as an unstoppable force while now in days it has became our destiny. Iââ¬â¢ve came to realization that fate was the will of gods. In other words, it was the reality revealed by the oracle at Delphi. Oracles to the ancient Greeks had a significanceâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Oedipus guilt and justice towards this play was very pleasing because he was born with a curse and didnââ¬â¢t recieve what he deserved because of the way he turned out and itââ¬â¢s bad because he isnââ¬â¢t one to blame for in this situation. Jocasta who wasnââ¬â¢t necessarily a main character didnââ¬â¢t show her character in the play until towards the end her justice was that she never thought that the curse would happen as a reality and in complete honesty she didnt deserve it because she didnââ¬â¢t do anything wrong to serve for the punishment of her son becoming the way he became. Laius didnââ¬â¢t deserve what he got because it was honestly a tragedy of him being the one killed by his son. 3. Construct a family tree for the Theban family of Oedipus starting with his great-grandfather and continuing thru to his children. Also, include a ââ¬Å"side-branchâ⬠for his adoptive parents. To bein with, an important character who came up a lot in the reading was Lauis. Who happens to be the father of Oedipus, husband of Jocasta, and Grandfather of Eteocles. Not only that, but his role is king of the Thebes. Moreover, Jocasta as mentioned before was the wife of two characters in the reading who happen to be Lauis and her son Oedipus only because he was cursed to marry his mom. She was also mother and grandmother of other characters named Polynices, Ismene, Etocles, and Antigone. But sheââ¬â¢s also sisters with Creon. Furthermore, Oedipus is the son of Jocasta and Lauis but also wife ofShow MoreRelated Odepius Rex Demonstrates Success Leads to Folly Essay820 Words à |à 4 Pagesââ¬Å"Oedipus Rex demonstrates that success leads to folly, arrogance and mistakes in behaviour.â⬠Discuss. Oedipus the King is a play that recognises the importance of humility and recompense. Oedipusââ¬â¢ acknowledgement of the Godsââ¬â¢ superiority is evident in his fear of the prophecy coming true, indeed, he flees from Corinth for precisely this reason. But at the same time through Oedipusââ¬â¢ self-blinding (where he ââ¬Å"aloneâ⬠is responsible for his fate) there is a sense of wilful defiance in the face of theRead MoreA Comparative Tragedy Study of Fatalism and Determinism: Oedipus Rex and Thunderstorm2489 Words à |à 10 Pagesï » ¿A Comparative Tragedy Study of Fatalism and Determinism: Oedipus Rex and The Thunderstorm 1. INTRODUTION The Thunderstorm and Oedipus Rex, the representatives of Chinese and Greek play, both tell tragic stories about incest and unexpected destiny. The two masterpieces reveal much about the literature patterns and philosophical implications of the different cultures. The exploration of the two plays could help further understand the oneness of world literature and the tragedy of unlike cultureRead MoreOedipus The Good Life1455 Words à |à 6 Pagescultural values and contexts. Group I: Oedipus - Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles Group II: Socrates in the Apology (written by Plato) Parallels: i. Oedipus and Socrates both yearn/search to seek the truth (mission; desire to do what they believe is right; reputation (Oedipus/honor, honesty ââ¬â Socrates/just); search for meaning) ii. Question (both question Apollo first ââ¬âelucidating power that controls our destiny) *Persistence in unveiling the truth (Oedipus) * Provoked feelings of anger and resentmentRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words à |à 1617 PagesAppendix I Glossary 673 Appendix II References 683 Name Index 705 Subject Index 709 Combined Index 713 iii This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface xvii INTRODUCTION 1 3 THE CRITICAL ROLE OF MANAGEMENT SKILLS The Importance of Competent Managers 6 The Skills of Effective Managers 7 Essential Management Skills 8 What Are Management Skills? 9 Improving Management Skills 12 An Approach to Skill Development 13 Leadership and Management 16 Contents of the Book 18 Organization
Friday, December 27, 2019
Commentary on Passge (Page 124-125) of Things Fall Apart...
In this passage of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the protagonist and main characters of the novel, Okonkwo, has just been sent into exile away from his land of Umuofia , Nigeria . The crime he has committed to receive such a punishment is the sin of murder. While he is attending a funeral for a man named, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, Okonkwoââ¬â¢s gun accidentally explodes and kills Ezeuduââ¬â¢s sixteen-year-old son. Killing a clansman is a crime against their earth goddess, thus, Okonkwo and his family are sent into exile, being forced to go back to his motherland of Mbanta. The men of the family who have experienced the loss in this accidental death burn Okonkwoââ¬â¢s houses and kill his animals to cleanse the village of his sin of murder. They do this toâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦But he allows this fear to take control, and becomes inflexible and it eventually drives him to his final downfall. A significant character shown in this passage is Obierika. Though a minor character, Okonkwoââ¬â¢s close friend demonstrates importance because of his many doubts and questions of some of the tribeââ¬â¢s traditional system, this shows a possibility of Obierika being a spokesperson for Achebe. He is a foil to Okonkwo, because Okonkwo has the desire for the most part to embrace the traditions and view of masculinity, while Obierika was a man who thought about things and sometimes questioned the ways of the clan. Another opposite decision he makes compared to Okonkwo is in the killing of Ikemefuna, in which he refuses to accompany them. He is more understanding towards women, thoughtful, and has no love for unnecessary violence. Why should a man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed inadvertently? But although he thought for a long time he found no answer. He worries because Okonkwo is a close friend of his, and he has a fit skepticism of the traditional ways and is more adaptable to change then Okonkwo, thus, they almost balance each other out, but Okonkwo repeatedly shows resistance towards Obierikaââ¬â¢s reasoning. When questioning Okonkwoââ¬â¢s exile he is reminded of a tragedy of his own. He remembered his wifeââ¬â¢s children, whom he had thrown
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
The Finance Theory, Equity And Financial Crisis - 994 Words
1.0 Introduction The bankersââ¬â¢ remuneration problem becomes a ââ¬Ëpopulistââ¬â¢ issues especially during the financial crisis in 2007. It is said that one of the factors that contribute to the financial crisis and this is not the first time this point has been raised. General concern about the relationship between certain low corporate performance and high remuneration to executives in banks means there exists an imbalance between them (Andrew Clark, Tim Edmonds, 2015). With the Government investing public money in certain famous Banking Group, this problem has upgraded from a private sector concern to a significant political one (BBC News, 2008). However, this cannot blame on single body or organization. A lot of researchers have explored the problem of remuneration systems and how to improve the remuneration structure in the banks. This essay mainly uses agency theory, stakeholder theory, institutional theory, Transaction cost theory and other related theories to explain how the remuner ation packages influence the bankers in short-term and long-term. Meanwhile, it also shows some problems of remuneration system in corporates especially in banks by analysing the recent literature. Finally, the essay gives certain relating recommendations to solve these problems according to a few policies such as UK corporate combined governance codes in 2003 and 2014 etc. 2.0 Remuneration package A remuneration package is a considerable system that employers run a better effective businessShow MoreRelatedWhy Do Firms Choose Their Capital Structure?1623 Words à |à 7 Pages1. Introduction In order to grow, an enterprise needs investments. So they need to start wondering about which securities to acquire and how to finance those investments: with equity, debt or a combination of both (Myers, 2001). The study of capital structure tries to clarify this variety of securities and financing opportunities. In accounting terms, this decision is situated on the right-hand side of the balance sheet (Myers, 2001). In his Capital Structure Puzzle article, Myers (1984) poses theRead MoreThe Growth Of The Economy Essay1422 Words à |à 6 Pages Showtime in late 1950ââ¬â¢s Minsky started warning about the gradual shift of the economy from a very robust financial system that was stable and with no financial crisis in the early postwar period. He had called with his analysis that gradually over time debts in the private sector would tend to build up and increasingly risky financial innovations would increase over time. He is very famous for the statement that stability itself is destabilizing. Although things seem very stable today, graduallyRead MoreEconomy And Its Impact On The Economy Essay1424 Words à |à 6 Pages Sometime in late 1950ââ¬â¢s Minsky started warning about the gradua l shift of the economy from a very robust financial system that was stable and with no financial crisis in the early postwar period. He had called with his analysis that gradually over time debts in the private sector would tend to build up and increasingly risky financial innovations would increase over time. He is very famous for the statement that stability itself is destabilizing. Although things seem very stable today, graduallyRead MoreCritically Evaluate The Role Of Investment Banks In The1121 Words à |à 5 Pagesinvestment banks in the process of financial intermediation. Your analysis should consider the users and providers of funds. You should support your analysis by using academic sources as well as relevant data and charts taken from Bloomberg. â⬠¢ Consider how valid and reliable the research is: what are its strengths and weaknesses? Appendix A An overview of the financial intermediation process Source: Allen, Chui, and Maddaloni (2004) Lenders (issuers of financial securities) can supply funds toRead MoreConventional Financial Theories Of A Normal Distribution919 Words à |à 4 Pages2008 Financial Crisis, investors have challenged conventional financial theories for its inability to realistically explain risk. Traditional strategies and asset pricing often rely on a normal bell curves to make market assumptions, but in reality, the markets do not behave this way. Under a normal distribution, a majority of asset variation falls within 3 standard deviations away from its mean which often understates risk and volatility. Unfortunately, the historical landscape of financial marketsRead MoreA Study On Finance And Commerce927 Words à |à 4 Pagesof my eager and fascination for accounting, finance and commerce, I have directed my studies towards developing a career in this field. I believe my career goals, my current skill set and the MPhil program curriculum, are very closely aligned. I majored in Accounting and mino red in Finance as an undergraduate at Nanjing University, and I would now like to focus on real estate finance. My academic interests, which focus specifically on financial theory and quantitative techniques, arise from my undergraduateRead MoreInvestment Vehicles For Emerging Muslim Economy1494 Words à |à 6 PagesIntroduction Capital market play vital role in financial growth. Mutual fund is one of the securitization vehicles that commonly practice in todayââ¬â¢s modern economics environment. Levy and Post (2005) mentioned investors, regardless of the type of investment they choose, have one common goal which is to get return out of their investment. Investors often have risk and return trade-off in determining their desire return. Thus, it is important to understand the financial stance of the investors in order to determineRead MoreHow Important Was ââ¬Å"Regulatory Captureâ⬠in Causing the Global Financial Crisis?1586 Words à |à 7 Pagesthis paper is to show that the ââ¬Å"regulatory captureâ⬠has played a role not easily measurable in causing the global financial crisis. To illustrate this, the first step will to describe the ââ¬Å"regulatory captureâ⬠in its three possible qualifications; then, I will explain, providing some examples, how each of these categories played a poss ible role in posing the basis for the financial crisis. While illustrating the different forms of capture I will present some questions that leave space to different answersRead MoreThe Financial Crisis : Conventional Financial Theories800 Words à |à 4 PagesFollowing the 2008 Financial Crisis, conventional financial theories have been challenged for their inability to realistically explain risk. Traditional strategies of asset pricing often rely on a normal bell curve to make market assumptions, but in reality, the markets do not behave this way. Under a normal distribution, a majority of asset variation falls within 3 standard deviations of its mean which subsequently understates risk and volatility. Unfortunately, history would suggest financial markets doRead More Risk Management Analysis Essay1627 Words à |à 7 PagesThis assignment will discuss the theoretical basis of financial risk, because managers need to be aware that financial risk its present in all sectors of acti vity so that they can run business efficiently and take advantageous investment choices, considering the different types of financial risk relevant to the current economic climate, as well as evaluating the methods available to business for managing, and by observing a case study where risk management has possibly failed. Risk is the doubt
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Marketing Consumer Behaviour Food Statistics
Question: Describe about the Essay for Marketing Consumer Behaviour for Food Statistics. Answer: Introduction Trends of food and beverage industry are changing day by day. People are becoming more conscious about their health than they are before. The health of people is degrading due to many factors such as pollution, poisonous ingredients in food, intake of more junk foods, etc. Obsession with health is growing among the mind of people. It is the main reason of changed consumer trends in the industry. According to many types of research, the rise of functional foods and organic foods are in trend in the food and beverage industry. The report will identify the changing patterns of consumer behaviour in this industry with the implementation of various theories and models. Consumer behaviour is the vital aspect which the companies must focus in order to sustain in the competitive business world. The food and drink industry of United Kingdom depend on many factors such as supplier relationships, a price war among the supermarkets, buying behaviour of customers, etc. The behaviour of consumers changed gradually not only ion United Kingdom but also in other parts of the world. The report will describe the development of marketing mix by the companies of United Kingdom based on the consumer behaviour of the market. However, the marketing mix will be aligned to the latest trends of food and beverages in the market. Market share of the companies is also mentioned in the study which will help in understanding the trends of the market. The factors of changing consumer buying behaviour and purchasing decision are explained in a detailed manner. Food and beverage market in the United Kingdom Food and drink industry is a booming market. It is the largest manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. The turnover of the industry is 95.4 billion pounds. In the industry, there are almost more than 7000 companies which employ about 400,000 workers in the entire nation. The research and development department of various companies of this sector invests much to introduce around 17,000 new food products every year (Gov.uk 2014). New product development is practised by most of the companies associated with the industry. The food and beverage market are occupied with supermarket retail giants such as Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons, and Tesco. These four supermarkets are known as Big Four. The convenience market is increasing day by day due to busy lifestyles of consumers. Time is an important factor for changing the trends of consumer behaviour (Anon 2016). It is the result of the formation of convenient stores where foods, drinks and daily use goods are available. It is one of the m ajor drivers of growth in the coming years. The value of the convenience market in the United Kingdom by 2018 is forecasted to rise by 46.2 billion pounds (Barclays 2016). The emergence of healthy foods is the result of the consciousness of customers regarding their health. Food and drink manufacturing companies of the nation are consistently finding solutions to develop healthy and nutritious foods for consumers. The rise of healthy foods is the result of growing concern of diabetes and obesity among people (Solomon, Russell-Bennett and Previte 2013). It is found that people of United Kingdom are prone to obesity when compared to other countries. Manufacturing companies are concerned about this fact and are taking action in many ways. They are reducing the quantity of sugar in various beverages and foods. Salt of foods is lowered along with the increase of fibre content in foods. The concept of ethnic foods, functional foods are in trend in the changing pattern of foods and drink i n the industry. Ethical foods are in demand in the U.K market (Schiffman et al. 2013). The ethical food and drink section accounts for 8.5% of total sales of household food in the year of 2013. More than 88% of people in the United Kingdom consume ethnic foods at their house. Apart from that, quality of foods is one of the most vital aspects of the industry. Food manufacturing companies of United Kingdom are known for selling safest and hygienic food in the world. Microbiologists of the country are constantly focusing on the microbiological contamination of foods with other substances (East, Wright and Vanhuele 2013). Consumer behaviour of the industry Consumer behaviour is defined as the actions of the customers or consumers in the market while buying a product. Marketers nowadays are focusing on understanding the consumer behaviour on the particular industry in order to cater actual products to them. Satisfaction of customers is very essential for the success of a business as well as the industry as a whole. Consumer behaviour is termed as the decision-making factors of customers while purchasing goods for their personal consumption (Foxall 2014). There are many factors which influence the behaviour of customers while purchasing required goods from markets. The factors include personal, social, psychological, situational, cultural, marketing factors, etc. Consumer behaviour differs for different products (Yoon et al. 2012). Consumer behaviour pattern is related with shopping tendencies along with attitudes, motivation of customers. Trends of foods in the market are directly proportional to the changing pattern of consumer behaviour in the market. With the increased attention of nutritional and healthy foods by consumers, companies are manufacturing foods and drinks based on the preference of the consumers. Microbiologists of United Kingdom are known for maintaining high quality in the foods (Dolfsma 2013). There are some popular trends of consumers which emerge in the recent years. The trends are low-fat foods, the rise of eco-conscious foods, misinformation of age, consciousness about health and nutrition, the demand for anti-wheat foods, lower consumption of junk foods, etc. Consumers believe on the nutritional information of foods which are encrypted at the packaging of foods. They are interested in foods which contain low fat and low calorie. The rise of eco-conscious foods is a trend of customers while purchasing goods. People are interested in organic foods more than the normal category of foods (Kahle an d Chiagouris, 2014). Price is an important factor for people of the country. Companies are providing products at lower prices while maintaining a good quality. Supermarkets of United Kingdom are selling grocery products at cheaper prices. However, the quality of the foods is maintained by them. Junk food companies are declining their sales in the market. The soft drinks are also becoming out of the market. Beverages of low calorie are in the trend in this sector. Perception of nutrition and diet is an important aspect of consumer behaviour in the market of this sector. Use of theories and models of consumer behaviour There are many models and theoretical frameworks of consumer behaviour that help the company for determining the nature of the customers while taking the decision in the purchasing of products. Consumer behaviour includes many subjects apart from marketing such as is a vast field which includes psychology, behavioural marketing, sociology, etc. The theories of this field are interrelated with these subjects (Kotler et al. 2015). The models that will be described in the study for understanding consumer decision-making process and selection of stores are Black Box Model, Engel Kollat Blackwell model, Maslows motivational theory and Sheth Howard model. Black box model in consumer behaviour represents characteristics of consumers, consumer responses, decision-making process and different stimuli. It is a model of behaviourism where different stimuli of customers are distinguished. The difference in stimulus is related to the purchasing decision of buyers. Marketing stimuli contain 4Ps of the marketing mix. Environmental stimuli consist of technological, economic and demographic factors (De Bock 2016). These two stimuli lead to buyers response and decision process. Engel Kollat Blackwell model represents the behaviour of customers in order to make the required decision while buying a particular product. Shoppers usually decide to buy a product based on little information. According to the theory, buyer requires limited information along with the capacity of elaboration. For instance, customers are aware of their needs and they believe that a particular product will satisfy their needs. Price is a constraint that influences the buying behaviour of customers (Papadopoulos and Heslop 2014). Using this model, companies of food and drink industry can identify various aspects of buying behaviour of customers. Howard Sheth model claims purchase decision of shoppers. According to his model, there are multiple factors that create a significant impact in the purchasing decision of buyers. The theory forecasts that family and friends influence a lot in providing information and feedback to the customers. Retailers of the industry are formulating their goals as per the mindset of the customers. Companies consider different goals, interests and motives of consumers when they manufacture a particular product (Davis et al. 2013). Different stimuli or inputs are considered in the theory such as symbolic, social and significative. Maslows hierarchy is a model which describes the basic needs and requirements of a person. The theory consists of some steps such as physiological needs, safety needs, self-esteem, love and belongings, self-actualisation and self-transcendence. It is a motivational theory which explains the development of a person and his growth. Innate needs of a person are very well mentioned by Maslow in his human motivation theory. In physiological needs, the basic requirement of food, shelter and clothes. Whenever a person is satisfied by his physiological needs he will automatically crave for security. Security and safety needs include financial security, well-being and health, personal security (Bejou and Palmer 2013). After the basic needs, the requirements of a person increase. It leads to buying things for serving many purposes. Manufacturing organisations of the United Kingdom on the implication of these models will certainly help them in determining several factors of buying decision. Changing the behaviour of consumers leads to the emergence of new products by the companies. Development of marketing mixes according to consumer behaviour A marketing mix is a tool which is used by marketers to increase the sales of the company. The marketing mix is associated with 4Ps such as product, price, place and promotion. Extension of the marketing mix is known as 7Ps of service marketing. The additional three Ps of service marketing are people, process and physical evidence. There are several tactics used by companies for increasing the brand awareness among the customers (Lang and Heasman 2015). Companies of United Kingdom are following the latest consumer trends. Competition in the market is one of the most vital reasons for developing advanced marketing mix of the company. Enterprises are doing extensive market research for collecting various data regarding market, recent trends, consumer behaviour, demands, etc. However, food-manufacturing enterprises are facing many challenges for formulating their marketing mix. Supply chain management is an important factor that is faced by the manufacturing companies. Suppliers have th eir basic regulations when they provide raw materials to a particular company. Big food manufacturing retailers are not able to maintain Long-term relationships with the suppliers. It is seen that the small retailers are facing more issues compared to big discount retailers in maintaining good relationships with the suppliers. International dimension and competitiveness in the market is another paradigm that affects the development of marketing mix of the food manufacturing companies of United Kingdom. Consumer trends can be divided into two categories. Short-term and long-term trends play a vital role in adopting an improved marketing mix. Economy, the spending power of individuals, emergence of low-calorie foods, etc. are the long-term market trends of the industry. On the other hand, seasonal variations, fast food growth, price wars, etc. are the short-term trends of the market (Martinez 2013). Other factors like logistics, perishability of food items, competition in national and local markets, the sheer bulk of goods, etc, create an impact on the companies for making decisions related to frame marketing mix. Product differentiation is a factor which can be a point of success of if the food manufacturing enterprises for manufacturing strategies based on the recent tends of consumer behaviour. Companies focus quality and nutrition in order to increase the sales of products. For the development of products, innovation is required. It is the main aspect of sustainability of the companies. Food and beverage items are manufactured as per the consumer demands in the market. The place is decided by the company itself (Nestle 2013). It varies from one company to another. Big supermarket giants spread their reach across the nation by their supermarkets, convenient stores. On the contrary, small food retailers are not available across every part of the country. However, the items are distributed in a way so that they can reach the hands of customers in the marketplace. Price is the sensitive issue that focuses both the interests of companies and consumers (Food manufacture 2016). Consumers are pric e sensitive whereas companies want to make more profit in the market. The price of the products is set in a way so that it can cover the interests of customers and enterprises simultaneously. Promotion of the food items is an important aspect by which customers will get to know about the existence of new products. The companies use various promotional activities to attract more customers as well as retaining old customers (Ashurst 2016). Retaining customers is anyway profitable than attracting new customers as they provide more business to the company. Conclusion and recommendations The report mentions many concepts regarding marketing mix of food and beverage market in the United Kingdom. Theories of consumer behaviour are explained in a way so that the companies can benefit the advantages of the above-discussed model. Food and beverage market of United Kingdom attracts many international companies for doing business. There are many factors of growth of foreign companies in this particular sector. Consumer behaviour is a significant arena company are focusing on developing their marketing mix. It leads to increased production of food items. There are various challenges companies face while trading with the suppliers and other distributors. Other challenges are mentioned earlier which creates a problem in developing strategies for marketing. Changing trends of customers are the main reason for declining the sales of the company. Nature of buying behaviour along with the spending nature is important information which companies must gather for formulating improved sales and marketing strategy. The following paragraph contains a recommendation to the companies of the food and drinks sector in the United Kingdom. Local retailers must focus on maintaining a sound relation with its distributors, suppliers, for the growth of sales in the market. The increase of convenient stores in the market is a reason for lower sales of the small retailers. By maintaining a good relation with the customers, retention of existing customers can be done. The products which are locally manufactured by many consumers sometimes are not available in the large discount stores. Local small food retailers can keep these products in their stores for attracting customers. Extensive market research is a good solution for collecting information regarding changing patterns of consumer behaviour in the market. Application of the theoretical models is another method of understanding customer behaviour, decision-making process, shopping habits, spending habits, etc. Consumer decision-making process is an important aspect which companies must know in order to set their marketing mix. Promotional activities are formulated based on the demands, satisfaction of customers. Different food items are popular in different areas of the nation. Companies of this industry should distribute different foods and beverages in different parts serving the exact needs of the customers in that area of distribution. Foods products are to be manufactured according to the modern trends of low calorie, low salt foods. Beverages should contain less sugar and lower in calorie. 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