Life Story

It has also been described as a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both. An example is a complete online degree program organized by an institution where sstudents take their classes, assignments, quizzes and exams online and at the end, are given their certificates for participation. Another example is when the teachers pass information to their sstudents using a form of live feed (audio/3D) whereas the teacher is at home or somewhere else but is broadcasting lecture to sstudents at his/her own comfort.Another good example is an online system where the sstudents can go back to after classes and check for class notes, take assignments, have one-on-one chat with their lecturers, and get better understanding on topics that were taught in class and not understood. This project would focus on the latter example. Scope This project would focus on two (2) Departments in Babcock University w hich has been chosen as a case study in order to give a very accurate, efficient, and detailed project.The reason for choosing two (2) departments only is to avoid a wide project which would require more energy, resources and a lot of time. The chosen departments are: * Computer Science Computer Science Computer Information Systems Computer Technology * Agricultural Science This project will help build an interface where sstudents of the chosen departments can refer to after class to gain better understanding of certain courses learnt and also talk one on one with their respective lecturers. Statement of ProblemThe major reason for the creation of this project are sstudents with slow assimilation, this interface would help with materials with which they can use to get better understanding after physical classes. It will also serve as an interface for shy sstudents to ask their respective lecturers questions using the chat application. Also, sstudents sometimes need a place to refer to for study materials to prepare for exams, tests, or can even be used to pass information to sstudents in a particular class.While researching ssimilar applications, some examples showed that the implementation allowed for only sstudents to register. This way some questions asked by the sstudents are still not answered because of poor or no interaction at all. Some questions are best answered than read, after implementation, this project would help solve this and provide the sstudents with the necessary attention of their lecturers. ObjectivesThe objectives of this project which is to design and implement a web based distance application for increased learning is: * To basically solve sstudents learning problems, in terms of comfort, efficiency and understanding * To bridge the gap between sstudents and lecturers using a form of chat system * To enable sstudents view educational resources such as notes, textbooks, past questions to increase their basic understanding of courses off ered at different levels Audience In this case the audience would be the sstudents, lecturers of the particular departments chosen.Also visitors can visit the homepage, have a short tour and read on the about us. ANALYSIS Methods of Information Gathering One on one interview would be conducted with the people involved. Ssimilar applications will be checked out, in order to pick up past mistakes, ways to correct this would be researched and also ways to add some important features that might have been left out. Also the selected departments would be checked out thoroughly to know the lecturers under them, what each lecturer teaches, and also know how the departments operate for accurate presentations. Life Story Doing an interview with my brother was really a new and unusual experience for the both of us, especially because the purpose of the interview was to ask him about something that is personal and is deemed to be a sensitive topic – that is about his condition and experiences having muscular dystrophy. Everything that I learned from this interview took me by surprise because the stories that he told me were about the other side of him that I did not knew. It was astonishing to learn that after my thoughts of how I know him so well because he is my brother, there are still a lot of things that I do not know about him. This interview has definitely introduced me to a new person in my brother. Going through an interview with someone who you have a personal and intimate relationship with is more nerve wracking than actually interviewing someone that you totally do not know. Perhaps I felt afraid of what might transpire during the interview because knowing that we have a close relationship as family, I was afraid that I might discover something moving or emotional that would affect how I go about with the interview. Whereas interviewing someone who is a total stranger would not leave profound impressions on me because we are not related personally to begin with. Although I have seen most of him in my life, have seen, and understood the conditions of people with muscular dystrophy, this interview re-acquainted me to the worldviews and personal experiences of those who are experiencing that condition. I gained a lot of personal insight that made me acquire a deeper and clearer understanding of how it is to have limitations outside our family circle and of course, I get to catch up on how my brother is doing at present and how he handles his life despite his shortcomings. I would say it was a therapeutic experience for the both of us because somehow after that interview, he felt good having to share all his thoughts and feelings to someone who he can trust and depend on. In addition, for me I felt as if something good and special came out of it – within my self as a person and between the both of us and our relationship as family. From the first question alone, I was really dazed that he was willing to open up like that with regards to his diagnosis and learning from the doctors that he would not be able to live to see his twentieth year. His courage and strength really shows up by how he handles and is still handling his condition. My brother was open to the entire experience. It was not difficult to convince him to go through with a personal interview with me. He actually enjoyed it because he knew he was helping me out and he really liked the idea of reflecting on past events and experiences that he had in his life. What got me the most was that growing up for him was a struggle. Imagine having to experience the fact that most children his age were doing all the things that they wanted and succeeding in them, and he felt like he was stuck in a rut and he had no other choice but to deal with his disabilities. He handled his situation really well because at a young age, he was able to defeat his worries and fears and still made great efforts to do what most children do. He never gave up, and for me it takes great effort because not all people can do what he did. Some people dwell in their misery that hinders them to accomplish success even with limitations in their life. He prides me with joy knowing that he is not that kind of person. This interview proves how strong a person he is because he let down his guard, opened himself up, and accepted this interview and me doing the interview with positivity. The interview has greatly changed our relationship as siblings. First, we know we have gotten closer because now I feel like I have evaded the person in him that I did not know all these years. From his experiences of being left out in high school, not having any friends at all, no being able to do what others can do, seeing people you know die of the same condition, etc. and still have the confidence say to me that there are a lot of things to do and that he wanted to live his life to the fullest makes me look at myself and rethink what my problems are and what my mindset was. From what he said, I know there are a lot more problems in this world, including his that requires more time and attention. Knowing that there are a thousand more people out there with the same condition make me think that there is more to life than all the superficial things in this world. Most people who do not have any disabilities whatsoever complain a lot about several things about their life. What they do not realize is that there are a lot people who were unlucky enough to have limitations and boundaries in their lives, and that includes my brother. If we as normal people complain about our lives and not having to succeed in situations where we want to accomplish many tasks, I guess we should think about those who unwillingly have disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy. Aside from the fact that we have grown closer with every question that I asked him during the interview, I was also inspired and my compassionate side sparked off like a matchstick. By knowing how he dealt with his difficult past I have grown to know him more. Everything that he said I took note off and from them I draw my inspiration in reinventing my life now. Life Story It has also been described as a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both. An example is a complete online degree program organized by an institution where sstudents take their classes, assignments, quizzes and exams online and at the end, are given their certificates for participation. Another example is when the teachers pass information to their sstudents using a form of live feed (audio/3D) whereas the teacher is at home or somewhere else but is broadcasting lecture to sstudents at his/her own comfort.Another good example is an online system where the sstudents can go back to after classes and check for class notes, take assignments, have one-on-one chat with their lecturers, and get better understanding on topics that were taught in class and not understood. This project would focus on the latter example. Scope This project would focus on two (2) Departments in Babcock University w hich has been chosen as a case study in order to give a very accurate, efficient, and detailed project.The reason for choosing two (2) departments only is to avoid a wide project which would require more energy, resources and a lot of time. The chosen departments are: * Computer Science Computer Science Computer Information Systems Computer Technology * Agricultural Science This project will help build an interface where sstudents of the chosen departments can refer to after class to gain better understanding of certain courses learnt and also talk one on one with their respective lecturers. Statement of ProblemThe major reason for the creation of this project are sstudents with slow assimilation, this interface would help with materials with which they can use to get better understanding after physical classes. It will also serve as an interface for shy sstudents to ask their respective lecturers questions using the chat application. Also, sstudents sometimes need a place to refer to for study materials to prepare for exams, tests, or can even be used to pass information to sstudents in a particular class.While researching ssimilar applications, some examples showed that the implementation allowed for only sstudents to register. This way some questions asked by the sstudents are still not answered because of poor or no interaction at all. Some questions are best answered than read, after implementation, this project would help solve this and provide the sstudents with the necessary attention of their lecturers. ObjectivesThe objectives of this project which is to design and implement a web based distance application for increased learning is: * To basically solve sstudents learning problems, in terms of comfort, efficiency and understanding * To bridge the gap between sstudents and lecturers using a form of chat system * To enable sstudents view educational resources such as notes, textbooks, past questions to increase their basic understanding of courses off ered at different levels Audience In this case the audience would be the sstudents, lecturers of the particular departments chosen.Also visitors can visit the homepage, have a short tour and read on the about us. ANALYSIS Methods of Information Gathering One on one interview would be conducted with the people involved. Ssimilar applications will be checked out, in order to pick up past mistakes, ways to correct this would be researched and also ways to add some important features that might have been left out. Also the selected departments would be checked out thoroughly to know the lecturers under them, what each lecturer teaches, and also know how the departments operate for accurate presentations.

Becoming a Teacher Essay

Becoming a teacher means much more to me then just a paycheck or just another job I have to go to everyday. I want to make the difference in a student’s life, I want them to feel as if they can achieve the world and that each and everyone of them are important in one way or another. My vocation or calling to become a teacher has been with me for some time now. When I was little I use to play school with my little girlfriends all the time and I would always be the teacher. I love to learn and have always wanted to share that love of learning. Community impact and the commitment to my students tie together. As teachers we have tons of impact on the community, we help shape the younger generations within our community with the help of parents of course. I will strive to become that role model to my students and I will commit to them that they will succeed and learn new things each and every day. Being a role model to me as for any teacher I am sure is very important. Being a role model is not only a great feeling to have but is also a great tool to gain student’s respect. There will be extrinsic and intrinsic rewards to me as a teacher and to my students. For me extrinsic rewards will be seeing my students smiling faces and seeing them succeed in what they set their hearts to. An added bonus might be a teaching award at some point in my career. As for my students their extrinsic rewards for one is to always have a smiling teacher to greet them everyday, but also there can be multiple extrinsic rewards such as free days, homework coupons, or just to pick something fun to do at the end of the day. Intrinsic rewards I think are pretty similar to a teacher and a student. For us to have that joy of success or the fulfillment to teach and learn is a great intrinsic reward in my eyes. There are many resource books available for teachers of any grade, which is a great learning tool for teachers to have. As teacher we can have a major impact on families rather it is a safe haven for children to go to everyday, or a place where students know that they matter and are there to learn and succeed. Succeeding is a great feeling for any child of any age. There is nothing better for a teacher or a family member to see that look in a child’s eye when they have accomplished or learned something new; that is absolute wonderful! Some useful information I like to keep in mind is five reasons for becoming a teacher. Time commitment things will be done on my own time such as grading papers, activities, and lessons plans. Pay is not the best I know lots of teachers that have to get summer jobs to help out with income, so no one should be a teacher for pay or for the summer vacations. Respect is a big one, some people within the community you work in may have negative things to say about teachers due to a bad experience, so I must prove myself to be trustworthy and a great educator. Community expectations the community will always have an opinion on what their teachers should be doing, this is when the phrase â€Å"grin and bare it† comes into play, this is challenging but rewarding. Last emotional commitment this is by far not a desk job I will commit myself to my students and job, again challenging but rewarding. (Melissa Kelly, 2011, pg. 1) This is my passion and I will strive to be the best teacher I can be.

Champion Of The World English Literature Essay

Champion Of The World English Literature Essay Throughout the years, sports have become a major part of society. It has been known to bring out the best and worst of people. People usually go after a team from their home town or teams with the same ethnic background. It has often been learned that, from this, language barriers begin to cross each other, and prejudices develop. Maya Angelou’s â€Å"Champion of the World† is much more than a chapter in a book. It represents much more than a boxing victory. During the 1930’s, people of ethnic groups, especially Blacks, were not worth much. When Angelou stated, â€Å"Champion of the world. A Black boy. Some Black mother’s son.† (Paragraph 27), this defined struggle. This battle against the White Contender was not your ordinary victory. The victory would exemplify the Blacks, not only defeating a White man and it being okay, but also would portray an aspect of Blacks defeating the system. For once in their lives, it gave African Americans a sense of empowerment. This was their first step of defense, where no repercussions would be taken in exchange for victory. â€Å"If Joe lost we were back in slavery and beyond help. † â€Å"My race groaned. It was our people falling†. (Paragraphs 16 and 17).[Reference?] These two quotes represent struggle and years of pain. They knew what it was like to experience violence first hand. It was not a myth nor story they heard about, they felt the pain on a daily basis. Not only would this defeat be a lost for Louis, but it would represent defeat to the entire Black culture. If this were to happen, Maya Angelou said it herself, Blacks were helpless. To them, it was back to torture, inferiority, pain, and suffering. To the Whites it would be accomplishment, defeat, superiority, and power. As stated before, this defeat was a mere symbol of Blacks regaining strength after all they had been through over the years; however, this did not defeat the purpose that racism still existed. In the last paragraph of this chapter in the book, it talked about the precautions Blacks would have to take after the victory of Joe Louis. Even though Louis’ defeat against the White Contender gave him the title as â€Å"Heavy Weight Champion of the World†, it also was now a risk for Blacks. Mentioned earlier, at the time, racism still existed. Racism is prejudice plus power: meaning, because the Whites had prejudice against any other ethnic group, and they possessed a power that came from the simple privilege of being White. If at any time Whites felt disrespected, they had the â€Å"right† to reprimand them at any cost. This is only portion of the violence occurring in and around 1930. In the opening paragraph of this paper, it gives the introductory opinion. Over the years, sports have become the core to many people in society. It can either better a person and/or society or worsen them. In other words, a person can look at competitiveness at a positive or neg ative approach. As far as positive competitiveness is concerned, it can be looked upon to better a person. It can also be detrimental, literally speaking. Too many times in society today, people take sports to the extreme. There has been many instances where people have even lost their lives as a result of a bet on the victory of a game, or even the preference one has over the other. Sports have an immense influence over culture and society then and now. For example, the victory of Joe Louis was more than a victory. It was symbolic to the African American culture and society. It gave them pride, and for many who have never experienced anything like this, it was a first. This is only one example of the influence sports have on culture.

What does it mean to be a preacher and what is preaching in today's Essay

What does it mean to be a preacher and what is preaching in today's - Essay Example .You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The hundreds and multitudes following after Jesus reveal a great model to the disciples to reach the people in ministry. Craddock (1985) illustrated the receiving of call for preaching and the mode of preaching from past through medieval and the explains the changing paradigm of gospel preaching and the necessity for shouted from the Housetop (p.60). Jesus preached in the towns and villages all across Israel, serving a variety of needs of the people. During His ministry on earth, He not only just preached but also manifested His intention to establish the ‘Kingdom of God’, where a Human being can experience the Devine abundance by raising above the problems of this physical world? Preaching’s of Jesus Christ manifested such revelation of the Devine Kingdom through miracles, signs and wonders. The basic needs of the human life were fulfilled through the sermons and His presence. The hungry were fed, sick were healed, people in bondages were delivered, Dead were raised, people were comforted and added into the kingdom of God opening their spiritual eyes. The necessity of such a multi fold ministry is still increased with the increasing needs of the society. Tubbs Tisdale (1997), recognized the same fundamental preaching of the communities, which moves them- that speaks to them on a deep and personal level about matters of faith and life. ( p 4). A modern concept of "preaching" may bring to mind a picture of a man standing behind a pulpit with a congregation of people in front of him. If sound were added to the picture the preachers voice would fluxuate and at times he would make gestures with his hands. His effectiveness as a preacher would often be judged by his ability to hold his audiences attention. We find a different picture presented in Acts 8:26-39. Philip’s preaching to an official from Ethiopia, who is reading aloud from the

Importance of Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Importance of Theory - Essay Example Ideally, nursing theory offers the principles that reinforce practice (McEwen & Wills, 2014). Indeed, theory without practice is unimaginative, and practice devoid of theory is visionless. Theory refers to a set of conventional rules that can be tested. In essence, nursing theories offer nursing-specific identifications, explanations and correlations of concepts (McEwen & Wills, 2014). This gives the nursing profession distinction from the rest of science and medical professions. In essence, theory is paramount to effective nursing practice and research. This paper discusses the significance of the theory in nursing practice through the help of Neuman’s systems model theory. This paper will discuss in details the significance and application of Neuman’s systems theory to nursing by identifying its role in intensive care therapy. The readiness to discover ideas and start a change as a section of the search for improved ways of providing care is paramount in intensive care nursing (Capers, 2006). In most cases, patients found in intensive care unit are heavily sedated or unconscious, therefore, making the patients poor communicators of needs (Capers, 2006). Because of this reason, the patient’s family of friends are reasonably important in determining what is best for them. Intensive care therapy is less effective if the care is planned individually by each nurse that is handed over from the nurse taking care of the patient in the previous shift (Krupa, 2003). This is because each nurse identifies distinct needs of the patient according to what they deem necessary to them. Therefore, the patient’s needs are greatly satisfied if the patient’s family is considered when offering therapy to patients (Krupa, 2003). Additionally, there ought to be effective communication between the staff membe rs. Communication is particularly essential in intensive care unit (Neuman, 2004). The nurse has the responsibility of identifying the most significant aspects

Mathematics and National Curriculum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Mathematics and National Curriculum - Essay Example This difference in the opinions enables the abstract mathematics intellect to perform mathematical operations for the sake of mathematics itself, and to use mathematics as a tool to actually resolve the real problems. According to Kister, mathematics has grown into a tremendous structure constituting more than sixty classes of mathematical activities (Kister, 1992). The ideologies of mathematics possess a distinctly extensive verve. For instance, the Babylonian explanation for quadratic equations holds the same significance as it had past 4,000 years (The Georgia Framework, 1996). In the vein of other sciences, mathematics imitates the decrees of the material vicinity around us and serves as an authoritative instructional implement for comprehending nature. Nevertheless, mathematics is yet again classified by its autonomy from the material world. The intangible behavior of mathematics gave rise in relic to the essential difference in opinions of mathematics as a substance of discours e and also as an element for implementation. Mathematical notions are long-lasting and keep on expanding with time. New mathematical notions are developed on the other, bigger mathematical notions or propositions (The Georgia Framework, 1996). Equivalence can be brought in to existence to incessant improvisation where recent practices can be enhanced upon, provided with innovative efforts and time. More often than not, improvisation does not take place without attempting, and it quintessentially doesn't crop up swiftly. Too often, the problems are resolved, and new-fangled arenas of mathematics produced by gaping at getting on problems in new ways. A centralized way of examination in abstract mathematics is recognizing in each field of study a small set of foundation notions and regulations from which all the other appealing ideologies and regulations in that area can be rationally inferred. In the vein of other scientists, mathematicians are meticulously delighted when the earlier disparate parts of mathematics happened to be derived from one another, or from some more common abstract. Fraction of the sense of aesthetic which many people have imagined in mathematics lies not in the location of the paramount elaborateness or intricacy but on the divergence, in locating the economy and straightforwardness in apex of delineation and testimony, with the progress of mathematics, supplementary associations have been found amongst the parts of it which have been growing dissimilarly. These uncanny associations allow the thoughtfulness to be developed in to the several parts so that they, collaboratively, reinforce the conviction in t he corrigibility and fundamental alikeness of the entire anatomy. According to Smith, the significance or importance of Mathematics is for its own sake, for the reason that it is a universal language and sagacious implement-kit for

Visual Journalist Websites Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Visual Journalist Websites - Research Paper Example All the photographers seem interested in imagery that combines giving their photos life as well as motion. I spent an average of 5 minutes on websites created by Tatu Blomqvist, Jody MacDonald, and Jack Gruber since still imagery did not attract my attention that much (thomasboyd 2). In contrast, I spent an average of 10 minutes on Ami Vitale’s Website and 20 minutes on Thomas’s website since the overall pictorial display attracted my attention due to the amount of creativity implemented in designing slideshows displayed in the WebPages. After pasting the names of the photographers individually on Google, I noticed a specific trend that every artist has links to several social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The artists have a high dependency on the social sites in order to popularize their work as well as their hosting websites (jody macdonald photography 1). A closer look revealed that all the artists had posted their profiles and portfolios on these sites in a bid to increase their visibility to potential clients. It a good way of interacting with fellow enthusiasts of photography as well as marketing their skills and previous work that is ready for sale. If I was to design my own website based on the format implemented by the above photography artists, I would include more links to my profile in order to market my skills in the trade to potential clients (Vitale 2). In addition, I would also include an online subscriber’s log that can allow funs of my work to view and download photos for their own personal consumption (Gruber 1). This will help me to monitor the traffic directed to my websites as a way of gauging its popularity among photography lovers. Lastly, I would include a safe billing system on the website that can allow online shoppers to pay for their purchases using their credit

Cyber Crime as opposed to Cyber warfare Research Paper

Cyber Crime as opposed to Cyber warfare - Research Paper Example For instance, the main aim is to access implicit information and to destroy existing data warehouses and governmental networks to bring economic, technical and social losses to rival nations. Problem Statement Although systems and software developing IT organisations (such as Microsoft, Apple, IBM) have been striving to deal with the rising menace of cyber crime, there is dire need to develop strong anti-virus software's to ensure information security. Nevertheless, cyber crimes (specifically viruses) do not only threaten security of software components, but also they may sabotage hardware resources, especially computer hard disks. In addition, the cyber warfare may disrupt a nation’s strategic functioning as it could damage mainframe and super computer systems used for keeping military and government records. Significance of the Problem The issue of cyber crimes is not concerted to boundaries rather it could affect any end-user residing in any geographical region. The hackers do not target users in any specific area (or from any ethnicity, religion, cast, colour or language) but they may batter (virtually) any person for unidentified reasons. Still, the world has been seeking appropriate solutions that could help improve their security in cyberspace. The researcher would like to argue that the probability that many nations worldwide may have Cyber Wars in future will increase, as more countries will enter cyberspace and send satellites in the orbit. Aims and Objectives The major aim of this research paper is to analyse the growing menace of cyber crimes from cyber terrorists and identify the weaknesses that should be overcome to avert cyber crimes. The objectives are as under: 1) To... Although systems and software developing IT organizations have been striving to deal with the rising menace of cyber crime, there is dire need to develop strong anti-virus software's to ensure information security. Nevertheless, cyber crimes (specifical viruses) do not only threaten the security of software components but also they may sabotage hardware resources, especially computer hard disks. In addition, the cyber warfare may disrupt a nation’s strategic functioning as it could damage mainframe and super computer systems used for keeping military and government records.The issue of cyber crimes is not converted to boundaries rather it could affect any end-user residing in any geographical region. The hackers do not target users in any specific area (or from any ethnicity, religion, caste, color or language ) but they may batter (virtually) any person for unidentified reasons. Still, the world has been seeking appropriate solutions that could help improve their security in cyberspace. The researcher would like to argue that the probability that many nations worldwide may have Cyber Wars in future will increase, as more countries will enter cyberspace and send satellites into the orbit. The major aim of this research paper is to analyze the growing menace of cyber crimes from cyber terrorists and identify the weaknesses that should be overcome to avert cyber crimes. Cyber warfare may sabotage diplomatic relationships between or among nations as well as has potential to indulge nations in physical war (end result) in near future.

Does George Washington deserve the title Father of our nation Research Paper

Does George Washington deserve the title Father of our nation - Research Paper Example George Washington is known as the Father of the Nation for various reasons. Not only was he the first president of independent America but he was also the head of the Revolutionary Army. As the Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Army it was mainly because of his steadfastness, leadership and his explicit refusal to give in did the Colonists win the war in their favor. He made a bold attack on the Hessian fort in Trenton which turned the tables in favor of the Colonists as compared to the British. When it was time to take charge of the Continental Congress, because it proved again and again that it was incapable of leading a young nation, Washington took charge and that too in the most explicit way. Washington was a powerful, charismatic personality; merely looking at him convinced many people to predict great heights for this man including the title of the Leader of the Nation. The organizers of the Constitutional Convention were of the opinion that only because of the charismat ic and strong personality of George Washington did they enjoy success in the Convention. Hence, it was fortunate for America when Washington, who was also known as the ‘indispensable man’ not only attended the Convention of Philadelphia in 1787 but was also chosen to become its president and he indeed, did serve this position. Washington holds an exemplary position in the leading political and mainly military circumstances of the American Revolution. He became involved early in 1767 when he stood up against the political standing of the parliament of Britain. When the Battle of Lexington and Concord broke out he assumed military position as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. He depicted his readiness to go to war when he appeared in military attire in front of the Second Continental Congress. The Continental Army was formed on the 14th of June and the very next day was Washington appointed as its General or Commander in Chief. The job he took on was vast, c orresponding local wants and needs, rivalry amongst his inferiors, spirits amid the grades and shots by Congress to administer the army's dealings too narrowly, wishes of state governors for support, and an infinite requirement of funds to clothe, feed, arm, equip and move the troops. As it became more and more tensed politically for the colonies to continue peacefully Washington chaired a meeting in June 1774 and Fairfax Resolves were adopted then. These resolves called for many actions the most important being the assembling of the Continental Congress. Washington attended the First Virginia Convention in August and as it became more politically tensed in 1774 he helped train the militias of the country in Virginia and convened enforcement to boycott all those goods by the British which were instituted by the Congress. Washington is known most for his long lasting effects as the President of the United States of America, his first two terms being the most prominent. The Constituti on gained popularity and one reason for that was the appointment of Washington as its Chief executive. Washington was a dedicated patriot and time and again he passed various opportunities to gain supreme authority. When he arrived in the Capitol, he waited for the convening of the Congress before assuming his duties the President of America. His popularity was as such that people wanted him to be treated as King however, he passed that

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Summary - Essay Example The author also adds that he shall cover the vital issues concerning anti-democratic perspectives in Islamic political thought, which touch on divine sovereignty. He concludes the abstract by stating he shall argue in favor of the core of human agency as a major factor in creating and suppressing these thoughts with regard to Islam and democracy. According to the author, although shura and bay’a are extensively covered in the Quran and Sunna, they are not discussed and dissected in detail. Rather, they have been created by the ijitihad of Muslim jurists, creativity, political thoughts, and interpretations (Ashour 1). He goes on to say that he shall also address some likely counterarguments: undemocratic decipher of the above-mentioned concepts, in addition to the most salient, and that is the Islamically-grounded argument related to the notion of divine sovereignty. The research question therefore, is: what are the foundations of, and barriers to, democracy in Islamic politica l notions. The author ends this section by confirming that his discussion will be focused on the previously-mentioned bases (bay’a and shura) and a major impediment (divine sovereignty as opposed to populist sovereignty). The conclusion will entail a general evaluation of the connection between democracy and Islam (Ashour 2). Defining Democracy This section begins with a distinction of the two main forms of democracy: liberal and electoral. Drawing on the work of Joseph Schumpeter, electoral democracy may be defined as an institutional framework for arriving at political decisions in which individuals gain the power to decide through competitive struggle for the votes of the populace. Electoral democracy may be illiberal, condoning the tyranny of the majority as de Tocqueville described. Electoral democracy must not include detailed provisions for protecting the rights of the minorities, nor does it need the absence of special domains of power, like those of the clergy and th eir concept of valyi al-faqih in Iran or Turkey’s military. On the other hand, liberal democracy is made up of many provisions for defending minorities against the tyranny of the majority. It also needs the absence of special domains of power for specific social groups like the clergy and the military. Is there an Islamic Political System? Experts on Islamic studies and Muslim political scholars are usually divided on this question, with two rejectionist factions at opposite ends of the divide and a lot of accomodationists sandwiched between them. The author states that all the arguments of the accomodationists (including the one on depoliticization) and the rejectionists base their justification and legitimacy at least partially (and in a majority of cases totally) on Islamic history and/or Islamic theological literature and scholars. It is virtually impossible therefore to present the argument that there is one sole special Islamic political system. In other words, as put b y two modernist Islamist scholars, â€Å"Muslims have a human comprehension of Islam†¦.it is erroneous for us to say that there is a particular system that symbolizes the Islamic system† (Ashour 3). Does Islam have a â€Å"Political Dimension†? After a consideration of various theoretical and empirical arguments, a look at the Islamic

Duffy-Exploitation of Women Essay Example for Free

Duffy-Exploitation of Women Essay To what extent is Duffy a poet who exposes the exploitation of women and fights against their further oppression? In your response, you must include detailed critical discussion of Standing Female Nude and at least one other poem by Duffy. In response to the question above, I feel that Duffy is a poet who portrays the exploitation of women and does at times fights against their further oppression. In my view, simply by raising these controversial issues Duffy is drawing attention to the matter and consequently fighting against their further oppression. The title Standing Female Nude is in itself significant. Apart from sounding possibly slightly inappropriate, the title reveals the objectification of women and their position in society. The word Standing however, gives the reader the impression that the character does have some sort of empowerment, as it is usually referred to as who has a high reputation or a position in society. This is apparent later on in the poem. Duffy immediately presents the issue of the exploitation of women and in my view, as a result is fighting against their further oppression by making people aware of the problem. The poem starts six hours like this for a few francs. This shows the reader how dismissive the character is towards whatever she is doing. The fact that she is so dismissive suggests that she is being treated unjustly. The harsh alliteration few francs really emphasises how the character feels she is too good to be doing that particular job or that she is simply not being paid enough for her services. Either way, it reveals how Duffy highlights the exploitation of women by being mistreated and underpaid. In the third line of the first stanza, the poem reads he drains the colour from me. This could be either in a literal sense due to the fact someone is doing a painting of her or in a metaphorical sense in that the painter is actually taking part of her, possibly suggesting that her dignity is being taken away. The way that the character is being bossed by the male painter shows that the woman is not in control of the situation. Although, the man refers to her as Madame, which could be a sign of respect towards the character I feel however, that it could possibly be interpreted to be said in a sarcastic and condescending tone. This adds further weight to my view that Duffy is exposing the exploitation of women and is fighting against their further oppression by making the reader aware of situation and the problems that women face. The word hung in the fourth line suggests that the character is no more than a piece of meat. It implies that the female character will have very little benefit from her work compared to the artist and emphasises the inferiority and exploitation of the woman. The fact that the painter is given a name and the female character in the poem is not, insinuates that she is of no great importance and again highlights how the woman is exploited. In my opinion, this is another key point Duffy includes in the poem to reiterate the issue of womens exploitation. It is an attempt to fight against their further abuse by forcing people to think about the issue. In the first two stanzas all the negative points were directed towards the female character. However, in the third and fourth stanza Duffy completely turns it around and focuses on the painters downfalls. This is demonstrated in the third stanza when she refers to him as little man. This is a sign of empowerment on her behalf, as she exploits his sexual attraction towards her by belittling him, referring to his sexual attributes. This is another example of how Duffy possibly fights against womens further oppression. However, I can understand how some people may disagree with Duffy as her view could be seen as a generalised representation of men and thus could lead some people to draw the conclusion that her poem verges on being hypocritical. Nevertheless, I still feel that Duffy is simply exposing how women are exploited in an attempt to fight against their further oppression. The second poem I am going analyse is Whoever She Was. Like the title in the previous poem, the title Whoever She Was is significant in relation to the poems meaning. The past tense verb, was in the title implies that the character has no identity and suggests she is not the same person as she was before. This perhaps indicates that as the character has lost her identity possibly due to her exploitation. The female character in the poem is described as a flickering figure on a shilling screen. The word flickering gives off the impression that the character is not constant in the sense that a candle flutters. This gives the reader an image of something going on and off and thus not constant. This could also be interpreted as her moving back and forth between reality and past memories of her children. This gives the impression that she is defined by her role as a mother. Although, the exploitation of the women is shown in a different light and is perhaps, not as apparent as in Standing female Nude, Duffy is still exposing the exploitation of women. In the second line of the first stanza, the poem reads My hands, still wet, sprout wooden pegs. The reference to sprout wooden pegs is metaphorical in that it reveals the determined roles of women as mothers. It is a very stereotypical view of mothers and the fact that the woman is saying this emphasises how she herself is defined by these roles and has herself been exploited. The mothers exploitation is also made apparent to the reader when the poem describes how she smells the apples burning as I hang the washing out. By including this Duffy is perhaps trying to show us how the character is living her life through the past memories of her children. I believe this as the smell of burning apples is quite distinctive and this could bring back memories of when she used to cook for her children. This would underline how she has been defined by her role as a mother and not through her individual character. This shows that Duffy exposes the exploitation of women and highlights the attitudes towards mothers in an attempt to fight against their further oppression. The exploitation of the character is shown further when the poem narrates Mummy, say the little voices of the ghosts of children on the telephone. Mummy. The children are referred to as ghosts implying that they are no longer children. However, the mother still views them as children, perhaps because she has been identified by her role as a mother all her life and she considers this to be normal and true. Again, this reiterates Duffys purpose and meaning of the poem by presenting the exploitation of women to the reader, which as result opposes their further oppression. The quote in the second stanza the film is on a loop is possibly a metaphor to the characters life. The word loop indicates the repetitiveness of her life because of the fact she is always characterised by her role as a mother and nothing else. It suggests that the character is stuck in a continuous cycle and cannot let go of her duties and responsibilities of being a mother. This is again reflects her self-perception of only having worth and purpose as a mother. In my view, Duffy is trying to show the reader how the conventions and expectations of motherhood have influenced her personality and perception of herself. By doing this, Duffy is exposing the issue, possibly in an attempt to help people to understand how society has left the character to feel isolated. Consequently, Duffy is fighting against the injustices suffered by women. In the fourth stanza, Duffy deliberately mixes the narrative of the poem from first person to third person. This gives the reader the concept that the character in the poem does not know herself. Because of this, we also get the impression that the character does not have a definitive sense of identity. This is also the case for the character in Standing Female Nude as she also has no distinct identity because of what she has to do in order to survive. In my view, Duffy purposely gives the characters no definitive identity to emphasise how their character and personality has been taken away because of their exploitation. Therefore, Duffy is revealing the exploitation of women to draw attention to the issue, in an attempt to combat womens further oppression. To conclude, although some people may find Duffys poetry to be an unfair representation of men and to a certain extent be sexist, I feel that Duffy is simply trying to raise awareness of the exploitation of women. Therefore, I feel that Duffy is opposing womens further oppression. The two poems Standing Female Nude and Whoever She Was are generally quite dissimilar they do have certain aspects which are similar. For example, both characters do not have a real identity and although in very different circumstances, the two characters have been exploited. Once again, I believe that Duffy is simply a poet who exposes the exploitation of women in an attempt to help improve the situation for others.

Advantages And Limitations Of Each Source Of Finance Finance Essay

Advantages And Limitations Of Each Source Of Finance Finance Essay This assignment covers all detail about sources of finance. The aim of the research is to identify different sources of finance like short-term finance, medium-term finance and long-term finance. The first part of the assignment gives you an introduction about sources of finance. The second part covers short-term sources of finance and their advantages and limitations. The third part covers medium-term sources of finance and their advantages and disadvantages. And the last part covers long-term sources of finance and its merits and demerits. Sources of Finance Introduction As you know food is necessary for human life. Similarly finance is the heart of any business. It is most important for modern business, which requires huge capital. Finance could be needed for new businesses, when they recover a cash flow problem, new machinery, set up a new plant or takeover another business. Generally funds required for businesses are classified into short term, medium term and long term. In this section we look at the different source of finance and see the advantages and limitations of each. Business Leasing Public Deposit Mortgage Shares -Equity Share -Preference Share Debentures Retained Earning Commercial Bank Loan Borrowing Trade Credit Overdraft Bill Discounting Customers Advances Instalment Credits Loan from Co-operative banks Short Term Source Long Term Source Medium Term Source Sources of Finance Short Term Sources of Finance Definition When we want to establish a new business, it is essential to know the amount of finance required. Some sources are overdraft, customer advances, loan from co-operatives, cash and trade credit etc. that make money for short time. It is called short-term source of finance. Generally Short-term is only for 1 year. In this section we learn about above source of finance and their relative advantages and limitations. Short-term sources of finance: Trade Credit Overdraft Discounting of bills Customers advances Instalment Credit Loan from co-operative bank Trade Credit : Providing business customers with time to arrange for the payment of goods they have already received. This period is one of the interest free credit. It is a costly source of finance. Trade credit is used when the buyer is not able to pay the real cost of goods. 1Trade credit refers to credit granted to manufactures and traders by the suppliers of the raw materials, finished goods, components etc. Usually business enterprises by supplies on a 30 to 90 days credit. Advantages of Trade Credit: If new business start up has trade credit, they will not need more money in capital. It is a good idea to someone who want to start a new business with less money. You can buy goods and make payment later when you sold all the goods and get some money or make a good profit. The time period may be after 25-30 days. Business can look in good position without having any serious trouble in immediate payment, which may set them back. Trade Credit improve the cash flow and provide easy platform for business. With the trade credit, business can focus on other area like sales, marketing and other research. Trade credit is available only with purchase of raw material or finished goods. The term and conditions of trade credit very according to the custom and usage of trade. Disadvantages of Trade Credit: If repayments are not made by in time, the business will receive a very bad credit history. They will not trusted in the future, if your business require any loan or trade credit. If company has a good credit history, it will get trade credit but these can be hard to build up for new business. Overdraft : It is a common source of short term finance because of its flexibility. When borrowed fund are not require longer time they can pay easily and quick. The risks to the lender are less then a long term loan because it is very cheap. 2When a bank allows its depositors or account holders to withdraw money in excess of the balance in his account upto a specified limit, it is known as overdraft facility. This limit is granted purely on the basis of credit-worthiness of the borrower. Advantages of Overdraft: Flexible 3 An overdraft is there when you need it and cost is zero (in case of small fee) when you do not need. It allows you to make essential payments whilst chasing up your own payments, and helps to maintain cash flow. Quick It is very easy and quick to arrange, providing a good cash flow backup with the minimum of fuss. It allow to make essential payment whilst chasing up your own payment and help to maintain cash flow. You only need to borrow what you need at that time. Disadvantages of Overdraft: Cost Sometimes it carry very higher interest rates and fees then loan. This makes them very expensive. Recall The bank can take back the entire overdraft amount at any time if you have broken terms and conditions or it may happen if you fail to make other payment. Security Overdraft may need to be secured against your business assets, which put them at risk if you fail in repayment. Bill Discounting : Some bank provide short-term loan by discounting bill of exchange. In such cases bank deduct discount while making payment. The amount of discount is generally equal to the amount of interest for the remaining period of payment. The advantages and disadvantages from this source are following. 4When these document is presented before the bank for discounting, banks credit the amount to customers account after deducting discount. The amount of discount is equal to the amount of interest for the period of bill. Advantages of Bill Discounting: Availability of cash The drawer gets cash immediately by the discounting bill. He does not have to wait for the payment until the expiry of credit period mansion on the bill. Security Bank normally do not ask for any other security while making payment against the bill discounted. However if customer is interested, banks also grant him limit for discounting of bill. This limit is identify as a limit against discounting bill. Nature of liability for repayment Repayment of money advanced against discounted bill is the responsibility of the drawee of bill of exchange. In case drawee does not pay or refuse the pay, the drawer who got payment after discounting the bill is held responsible for payment. Disadvantages of Bill Discounting: Advance payment of interest While discounting a bill, bank deduct the discount and balance is credited in customers account. This discount is similar to the amount of interest for the remaining period of payment. Thus a person receiving money through discounting of bill has to offer advance interest on the amount of bill. Facility is subject to the parties credit Normally banks extend this facility after being satisfied with the credit of parties involved. Bank may be ask for some security. So, it is not a easy available facility. Problem when non-payment Bills not paid upon maturity are to be certified by Notary Public and a certain amount in the form of nothing is paid. Thus it became an additional burden. Customers Advances : The advance make by the customer against the value of order placed. Thus the remaining amount of goods to be supplied later. Let see more details about the advantages and limitations. Advantages of Customers Advances: Interest Free Amount offered as advance is interest free. Hence the funds are available without any involving problem. No Security The seller is not required to deposit any major security while demanding advance from the customer. Thus assets remain free of charge. Repayment Ones money received in advance will not be refunded. Hence there are no procedures for repayment. Disadvantages of Customers Advances: Limited amount Amount received from a customer is subject to the value of order. Borrowers demand may be more then the advance amount. Limited Period The period of advance amount is only up to the delivery goods. It cannot be renewed. Penalty Normally advances are subject to the condition that if goods are not delivered on time then order would be cancelled and advance amount would be refunded with interest. Instalment Credit : Instalment credit is a system under which a small payment is made at the time of taking the goods and remaining amount is paid in instalment. Generally instalment amount is including of interest. The advantages and limitations of this system are as under: Advantages of Instalment Credit: Ownership of asset Delivery of good is assured immediately on payment of down payment. Convenient payment of assets Costly assets which can not purchase directly with full payment can be purchase by instalment payment. Saving of one time investment If the price of asset is high and lumpsum amount is made then the business fund are blocked. In this case instalment credit leads to saving of one time investment. More facility for business If the facility of payment in instalment is available then business firm can afford to by new furniture, machinery or other necessary things. Thus, your business reputation looked in good condition by instalment credit. Disadvantages of Instalment Credit: Commitment for payment Payment in instalment is a commitment. So you have to pay your instalment in whatever condition of your business. Necessary to pay interest Payment of interest is necessary in this system. Generally sellers charge very high rate of interest. More interest If buyer fail to pay the instalment, seller sometimes impose penalty or additional interest. Loan from Co-operative bank : Co-operatives banks are good source of short-term finance. Membership is the primary condition for securing loan in this bank. This bank grant loans for personal and business purposes too. The advantages and limitations of this bank are as under: Advantages of Loan from Co-operative bank: These loans create a sense of thrift among the low-income group. Being a member of co-operative bank, the borrower can participate in the management. Loan generally granted at a lower rate of interest. Loan from this banks are easily available. Loans are given for good purposes that help to develop the financial and social status of the people. Sometimes these banks organise training program for member to familiars them with the various avenues of the business and regarding proper utilisation of loan money. Disadvantages of Loan from Co-operative bank: These loans are available only to members. Loan from this bank is available only for limited purposes. Co-operative banks depend on the supports of the government. So, government rules and regulations sometimes may be makes in trouble to the borrowers. These bank find it difficult to ensure repayment of loan money due to inadequate information about the need and utilisation of fund by the borrower. There is little scrutiny of the repaying capacity of the loan seeker at the time of granting loan. Medium Term Source of Finance Definition Medium term source of finance means fund does not require more then 3 years. Normally medium term funds are require by business for repairing and maintenance of machinery or other equipment. So firm get this finance from bank or other kind of source. Medium term source of finance: Leasing Public Deposit Mortgage Leasing : Leasing is the method of capital funding requirement. Leasing based on the principal that income is earned from the use of an asset. The advantages and limitations of leasing are following: Advantages of Leasing: Reduced initial cash flow The big advantage of leasing equipment is that the cost is spread over a number of years. You have not to pay the entire amount upfront. This can help to maintain cash flow. Poor cash flow is the main cause of small business and leasing can help you to keep it under better control. Budgeting Normally this is a fixed contract. So the amount can be worked into your business budget much more easily. Tax Advantages lease rentals are considered as an operating cost. So it is possible to deduct them from taxable profits. However, before the contract you should always check the equipment you are buying is eligible or not. Security When you lease the product, you are not owner of this product. It means the leasing company gives better security. You dont need any further security to be able to start a contract. Disadvantages of Leasing: No ownership Main disadvantage is that you are not the owner of the product. It means the leasing company is the owner during and after the lease. As you do not own the product, you are unable to sell it in the event it is no longer needed, and you cannot upgrade to a newer or better product without either paying off the remaining contract, or paying a large fee to cancel the contract. No sell As you are not owner of the product, you can not sell it. If you do not longer needed, you have to pay large fee to cancel the contract. Termination Leases are very difficult to terminate early. Long term expense Although leasing allow you to avoid paying a large amount, but after a long time it works out considerably more expensive. Over the period of standard lease, you pay the actual cost of product and other charges. Maintenance You are responsible for maintenance of the product. If you have not trained employee to fix the equipment, this could be more costly in the serious fault. Some leasing company will allow you to cover maintenance cost but you have to pay some extra amount. Commitment Once you signed a lease contract, you are committed to making payment for the entire lease period even you stop using a property. Public Deposit : It is very old and popular source of finance. When modern banks were not established, people used to deposit their saving with reputed business. The maturity period for public deposit is minimum 6 months and maximum 3 years. The advantages and disadvantages of public deposit are following: Advantages of Public Deposit: Easy to deposit The method of borrowing money from public is very easy. It does not require many legal formalities. It has to be advertised to be newspaper. Easily available If companies have good reputation, they are able to obtain funds directly from public without any more financial difficulties. Income tax purpose Interest paid on this deposit is a deductible expenses for income tax. Fix rate The rate of interest on this deposit is fixed, it helps the company to play trading on equity, if the company is earning more then the rate of interest paid on public deposit. Flexibility Public deposit bring more flexibility in the structure of the capital of the company. These can be raised when needed and refunded when not needed. Disadvantages of Public Deposit: Insecurity Public deposits have no charge on the assets of the company. So it may be not safe to deposit saving in those companies which are not very popular. Uneconomical The rate of interest paid on public deposit may be low but there are other expenses like commission, which make it uneconomical. Short period Public deposits are available mainly for short period. So company cannot depend on it for a long time. Misuse The management may misuse your deposit. So in this case it is not secure. Bad effect on capital market It is an easy and cheaper source of raising money. Thus, more money deposited with the companies, there will be less investment in securities. Hence the capital market will not grow. Mortgage : A mortgage is a loan specially for the purchase of property. The borrower can use theirs own property as security for the loan. The advantages and limitations of mortgage are following: Advantages of Mortgage: Tax advantage The interest payment on the mortgage are tax deductible. Good cash flow With the use of mortgage, you are able to access to capital that you would not normally have access with nominal up-front payment and the flexibility in management of repayment plan. Cash flow management Mortgage plan are pre-set, so you can make plan for future cash management. Disadvantages of Mortgage: Collateral The nature of a mortgage require you to pledge the purchased property to the lender. When the mortgage is repaid, the owner is obligated to release the mortgage and is require to make available any government formalities. Defaults The lender may define a variety of events that will constitute a default on the mortgage, including failure to make any payment on time, bankruptcy, insolvency and breaches of any obligations in the mortgage agreement. Try to negotiate an advance written notice of any alleged default, with a reasonable amount of time to cure the default. Long Term Source of Finance Definition Long-term source of finance are those that are need over a longer period of time. Generally time duration may be more then 5 years. Long-term finance are needed for fund expansion, set up new office, buying new business or fixed assets like furniture, building, machinery, land etc. Funds require for this business is called long-term finance. The amounts of long-term capital depend upon the scale of business and nature of business. Following various sources of long-term finance and advantages and disadvantages of each source. Long-term source of finance: Shares Equity Share Preference Share Debentures Retained Earning Commercial Bank Loan Borrowing Shares : Shares is the main source of long-term finance. The joint stock companies issue shares to the general public. These shareholders are the owners of the company. There are two types of shares (1) Equity Share (2) Preference Share. Company divides its capital into units of particular value like  £10 each or  £200 each. Each unit is called share. Equity Share Dividend on these shares is paid after the fixed rate of dividend has been paid on the preference share. The rate of dividend is not fixed because it is depend upon the profit available. The equity shareholders control the affairs of the company and have an unlimited interest in the companys profit. The advantages and disadvantages of equity share are following: Advantages of Equity Share: [ For Shareholders ] Income Profit The equity shareholders are the residual claimants of the profit. The company may add to the profit by trading on equity. Thus equity capital may get dividend at high in good period. Rights Equity shareholders have right for voting to right persons as directors who can control and manage the affairs of the company. Transferable These shares are transferable units. The value of equity share goes up in the stock market with increase in profit of the concern. Advantages of Equity Share: [  [5]  For Limited Company ] A company can raised fixed capital by issuing equity shares without creating any charge on its fixed assets. The capital raised by issuing equity shares is not required to be paid back during the life time of the company. It will be paid back only if the company is wound up. There is no liability on the company regarding payment of dividend on equity shares. The company may declare dividend only, if there are enough profits. If a company raise more capital by issuing equity shares, it leads to greater confidence among the investors and creditors. Disadvantages of Equity Share: [ For Shareholders ] Irregular income The dividend on equity share is subject to availability of profit. If there are preference shareholders, they get first dividend before equity shareholders. Equity shareholders may get no dividend if company has not enough profit. Capital loss During recession period, the profit of the company come down and the rate of dividend also come down. Due to low rate of dividend the market value of equity shares goes down resulting in a capital loss to the investors. Dilution in control Each sale of equity shares dilutes the voting power of the existing equity shareholders. Equity shares are transferable and may bring about centralisation power in few hands. Impossible trading If equity shares alone are issued, the company cannot trade on equity. Over capitalisation If company issue more equity shares may result in over capitalisation. In that condition dividend per share is low which make bad effect on investor. High cost It cost more to finance with equity shares then with other securities as the selling costs and underwriting commission are paid at a higher rate on the issue of these shares. Speculation Equity shares of good companies are subject to hectic speculation in the stock market. Their prices change frequently which are not in the interest of the company. Disadvantages of Equity Share: [  [6]  For Limited Company ] No trading on equity Trading on equity means ability of a company to raise fund through preference shares, debentures and bank loan etc. On such funds the company has to pay at a fixed rate. This enables equity shareholders to enjoy a higher rate of return when profits are large. The major part of the profit earned is paid to the equity shareholders because borrowed funds carry only a fixed rate of interest. But if a company has only equity shares and does not have their preference shares, debentures or loans, it can not have the advantage of trading on equity. Conflict of interests As the equity share holders carry voting rights, groups are formed to corner the votes and grab the control of the company. There develops conflict of interest which is harmful for the smooth functioning of a company. Preference Share Rising capital by issue of these shares is a most important method of rising long-term funds. Preference shares are the shares, which carry initial rights over the equity shares. These shares are receiving dividend at a fixed rate. All shareholders gets dividend regularly. The advantages and disadvantages of preference share are following: Advantages of Preference Share: Fixed income The dividend payable on preference shares is on fixed rates even if there is no profit. First right Preference shareholders have first right to get dividend. Thus they enjoy the minimum risk. Less capital losses As the initial right of repayment of their capital in case of winding up he company, it saves them from capital losses. Fair security Preference share are fair security for the shareholders during depression period when profit of the company are down. Disadvantages of Preference Share: No Voting right Preference shareholders have no any voting rights in the company. Fixed income The dividend payable on preference shares is on fixed rates even if the company earns higher profit. No claim on surplus amount The shareholders have no rights to claim on surplus amount. They can only ask for the capital investment in the company. Not secure They cannot be secure on the companys assets. Debentures : Whenever company want to borrow a large amount of money for long but fixed period, it can borrow from the general public by issuing loan certificate called debenture. The holders of the debentures are the creditors of the company. The total amount is divided into units of fixed amount. These are offered to the genera public to subscribe in the same manner as in done in the case of share. A debenture is issued under the common seal of the company. It is a written acknowledgment of money borrowed. For example, if company need  £5,000,000 for 10 years, it will issued debentures. Each cost of debenture may be  £100. Advantages of Debentures: Creditors Debenture holders are the creditors of the company. Allowing control over the company Debenture holders have no right either to vote or take part in the management of the company. Reliable Source These are repayable after a fixed period of time, the company can make the best use of money. It helps long term planning. Tax benefit Interest paid on debenture is treated as a expense and is charged to the profit of the company. Thus the company saves income tax. Safety Debenture are more secure. When the company is winding up, they are repayable before any payment is made to the shareholders. Disadvantages of Debentures: More finance more difficulty Debenture finance enables a company to trade on equity. But more finance leaves little for shareholders, as most of the profits may be require paying interest on debentures. Burden in time of depression During depression time the profit of the company decline. It may be difficult to pay interest on debenture. As interest goes on accumulating, it may lead to the closure of the company. Cant borrow money Usually debentures are secure. The company creates a charge on its assets in favour of debenture holders. So the company, which does not have own enough assets, they cannot borrow money by issuing debentures. Burden As the interest on debenture have to be paid every year whether there are profits or loss. It becomes burden in case of company incurs loses. Retained Earning : The part of the profit which is not distributed among the shareholders but is retained and is used in business is called retained earning. As per Indian company Act. Companies are require to transfer a part of their profit in reserves. The amount so kept in reserve may be used to buy fixed assets. This is called internal financing. Advantages of Retained Earning: Cheap There are no expenses behind earning capital from this source. There is no obligation on the part of the company either to pay interest or pay back the money. It can safely used for business. Financial Stability A company which has enough reserves can face ups and downs in business. Such companies can continue with their business even in depression, thus building up its goodwill. Good for shareholders Shareholders may get dividend out of reserves if the company does not earn enough profit. Due to reserve, there is capital appreciation, i.e. the value of shares go up in the share market. Disadvantages of Retained Earning: If Huge profit This method of financing is possible only then there are huge profits and that too for many years. Dissatisfaction When funds accumulate in reserves, bonus shares are issued to the shareholders to capitalise such funds. Hence the company has to pay more dividend. By retained earning the real capital does not increase while the liability increases. In case bonus shares are not issued, it may create a situation of under-capitalisation because the rate of dividend will be much higher as compared to other companies. Monopoly Through ploughing back of profits, companies increase their financial strength. Companies may throw out their competitors from the market and monopolize their position. Mis-management of funds Capital accumulated through retained earnings encourages management to spend carelessly. Commercial Bank Loan : Some commercial banks giving loans for a long period. i.e. for more than ten year. The period of repayment of long is extended at intervals long period. Commercial banks provide long term finance to small scale units in the priority sector. Advantages of Commercial Banks Loan  [7]  : It is a flexible source of finance as loans can be repaid when the need is met. Finance is available for a definite period, hence it is not a permanent burden. Banks keep the financial operations of their clients secret. Less time and cost is involved as compared to issue of shares, debentures etc. Banks do not interfere in the internal affairs of the borrowing concern, hence the management retains the control of the company. Loans can be paid-back in easy installments. In case of small-scale industries and industries in villages and backward areas, the interest charged is low. Disadvantages of Commercial Banks Loan : Banks require personal guarantee or pledge of assets and business cannot raise further loans on these assets. In case the short-term loans are extended again and again, there is always uncertainty about this continuity. Too many formalities are to be fulfilled for getting term loans from banks. These formalities make the borrowings from banks time consuming and inconvenient. Borrowing 8 : Most business rely on borrowings as well as equity to finance operations. Lenders enter into a contract with the business in which the rate of interest, dates of interest payment, capital payments and security far the borrowing are clearly stated. In the event that the interest payment or capital payments are net made on the due dates, the lender will usually have the right, under the terms of the contract, to seize the asset on which the loan is secured and sell them in order to reply the amount outstanding, security for loan may take the form at a fixed charge on particular assets at the business or a floating charge on the whole at its assets. A floating charge will float over the assets and will only fix on particular assets in the event that the business defaults on its borrowing obligations. Advantages of Borrowing  [9]  : Local savers may provide less costly funds; an important habit among clients and the public is rewarded. Lower interest loans provide experience for the company in borrowed funds Local bank become familiar with micro and small enterprise potentials. Access to larger sums more quickly based on track record. Allow longer term projections than grants Provides a discipline similar to that of micro and small enterprise clients. Disadvantages of Borrowing : Too many subsidized loans can retard move to market rate. Loans may be dollarized in inflationary situation. Local banks may not be willing to be cooperative.

Life Of Pi | Character Analysis

Life Of Pi | Character Analysis Piscine Molitor Patel is the protagonist and, for most of the novel, the narrator. In the chapters that frame the main story, Pi, as a shy, graying, middle-aged man, tells the author about his early childhood and the shipwreck that changed his life. This narrative device distances the reader from the truth. We dont know whether Pis story is accurate or what pieces to believe. This effect is intentional; throughout Pi emphasizes the importance of choosing the better story, believing that imagination trumps cold, hard facts. As a child, he reads widely and embraces many religions and their rich narratives that provide meaning and dimension to life. In his interviews with the Japanese investigators after his rescue, he offers first the more fanciful version of his time at sea. But, at their behest, he then provides an alternative version that is more realistic but ultimately less appealing to both himself and his questioners. The structure of the novel both illustrates Pis defining char acteristic, his dependence on and love of stories, and highlights the inherent difficulties in trusting his version of events. http://imagec10.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif Though the narrative jumps back and forth in time, the novel traces Pis development and maturation in a traditional bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story. Pi is an eager, outgoing, and excitable child, dependent on his family for protection and guidance. In school, his primary concerns involve preventing his schoolmates from mispronouncing his name and learning as much as he can about religion and zoology. But when the ship sinks, Pi is torn from his family and left alone on a lifeboat with wild animals. The disaster serves as the catalyst in his emotional growth; he must now become self-sufficient. Though he mourns the loss of his family and fears for his life, he rises to the challenge. He finds a survival guide and emergency provisions. Questioning his own values, he decides that his vegetarianism is a luxury under the conditions and learns to fish. He capably protects himself from Richard Parker and even assumes a parental relationship with the tiger, providing him with food and keeping him in line. The devastating shipwreck turns Pi into an adult, able to fend for himself out in the world alone. Pis belief in God inspires him as a child and helps sustain him while at sea. In Pondicherry, his atheistic biology teacher challenges his Hindu faith in God, making him realize the positive power of belief, the need to overcome the otherwise bleakness of the universe. Motivated to learn more, Pi starts practicing Christianity and Islam, realizing these religions all share the same foundation: belief in a loving higher power. His burgeoning need for spiritual connection deepens while at sea. In his first days on the lifeboat, he almost gives up, unable to bear the loss of his family and unwilling to face the difficulties that still await him. At that point, however, he realizes that the fact he is still alive means that God is with him; he has been given a miracle. This thought gives him strength, and he decides to fight to remain alive. Throughout his adventure, he prays regularly, which provides him with solace, a sense of connection to something greater, and a way to pass the time . Richard Parker Pis companion throughout his ordeal at sea is Richard Parker, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Unlike many novels in which animals speak or act like humans, Richard Parker is portrayed as a real animal that acts in ways true to his species. It can be difficult to accept that a tiger and a boy could exist on a lifeboat alone, however, in the context of the novel, it seems plausible. Captured as a cub, Parker grew up in the zoo and is accustomed to a life in captivity. He is used to zookeepers training and providing for him, so he is able to respond to cues from Pi and submit to his dominance. However, he is no docile house cat. He has been tamed, but he still acts instinctually, swimming for the lifeboat in search of shelter and killing the hyena and the blind castaway for food. When the two wash up on the shore of Mexico, Richard Parker doesnt draw out his parting with Pi, he simply runs off into the jungle, never to be seen again. Though Richard Parker is quite fearsome, ironically his presence helps Pi stay alive. Alone on the lifeboat, Pi has many issues to face in addition to the tiger onboard: lack of food and water, predatory marine life, treacherous sea currents, and exposure to the elements. Overwhelmed by the circumstances and terrified of dying, Pi becomes distraught and unable to take action. However, he soon realizes that his most immediate threat is Richard Parker. His other problems now temporarily forgotten, Pi manages, through several training exercises, to dominate Parker. This success gives him confidence, making his other obstacles seem less insurmountable. Renewed, Pi is able to take concrete steps toward ensuring his continued existence: searching for food and keeping himself motivated. Caring and providing for Richard Parker keeps Pi busy and passes the time. Without Richard Parker to challenge and distract him, Pi might have given up on life. After he washes up on land in Mexico, he thank s the tiger for keeping him alive. Richard Parker symbolizes Pis most animalistic instincts. Out on the lifeboat, Pi must perform many actions to stay alive that he would have found unimaginable in his normal life. An avowed vegetarian, he must kill fish and eat their flesh. As time progresses, he becomes more brutish about it, tearing apart birds and greedily stuffing them in his mouth, the way Richard Parker does. After Richard Parker mauls the blind Frenchman, Pi uses the mans flesh for bait and even eats some of it, becoming cannibalistic in his unrelenting hunger. In his second story to the Japanese investigators, Pi is Richard Parker. He kills his mothers murderer. Parker is the version of himself that Pi has invented to make his story more palatable, both to himself and to his audience. The brutality of his mothers death and his own shocking act of revenge are too much for Pi to deal with, and he finds it easier to imagine a tiger as the killer, rather than himself in that role. Character List Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) The protagonist of the story. Piscine is the narrator for most of the novel, and his account of his seven months at sea forms the bulk of the story. He gets his unusual name from the French word for pool-and, more specifically, from a pool in Paris in which a close family friend, Francis Adirubasamy, loved to swim. A student of zoology and religion, Pi is deeply intrigued by the habits and characteristics of animals and people. http://imagec10.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif Richard Parker The Royal Bengal tiger with whom Pi shares his lifeboat. His captor, Richard Parker, named him Thirsty, but a shipping clerk made a mistake and reversed their names. From then on, at the Pondicherry Zoo, he was known as Richard Parker. Weighing 450 pounds and about nine feet long, he kills the hyena on the lifeboat and the blind cannibal. With Pi, however, Richard Parker acts as an omega, or submissive, animal, respecting Pis dominance. Read an in-depth analysis of Richard Parker. The Author The narrator of the (fictitious) Authors Note, who inserts himself into the narrative at several points throughout the text. Though the author who pens the Authors Note never identifies himself by name, there are many clues that indicate it is Yann Martel himself, thinly disguised: he lives in Canada, has published two books, and was inspired to write Pis life story during a trip to India. Francis Adirubasamy The elderly man who tells the author Pis story during a chance meeting in a Pondicherry coffee shop. He taught Pi to swim as a child and bestowed upon him his unusual moniker. He arranges for the author to meet Pi in person, so as to get a first-person account of his strange and compelling tale. Pi calls him Mamaji, an Indian term that means respected uncle. Ravi Pis older brother. Ravi prefers sports to schoolwork and is quite popular. He teases his younger brother mercilessly over his devotion to three religions. Santosh Patel Pis father. He once owned a Madras hotel, but because of his deep interest in animals decided to run the Pondicherry Zoo. A worrier by nature, he teaches his sons not only to care for and control wild animals, but to fear them. Though raised a Hindu, he is not religious and is puzzled by Pis adoption of numerous religions. The difficult conditions in India lead him to move his family to Canada. http://imagec10.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif Gita Patel Pis beloved mother and protector. A book lover, she encourages Pi to read widely. Raised Hindu with a Baptist education, she does not subscribe to any religion and questions Pis religious declarations. She speaks her mind, letting her husband know when she disagrees with his parenting techniques. When Pi relates another version of his story to his rescuers, she takes the place of Orange Juice on the lifeboat. Satish Kumar Pis atheistic biology teacher at Petit Sà ©minaire, a secondary school in Pondicherry. A polio survivor, he is an odd-looking man, with a body shaped like a triangle. His devotion to the power of scientific inquiry and explanation inspires Pi to study zoology in college. Father Martin The Catholic priest who introduces Pi to Christianity after Pi wanders into his church. He preaches a message of love. He, the Muslim Mr. Kumar, and the Hindu pandit disagree about whose religion Pi should practice. Satish Kumar A plain-featured Muslim mystic with the same name as Pis biology teacher. He works in a bakery. Like the other Mr. Kumar, this one has a strong effect on Pis academic plans: his faith leads Pi to study religion at college. The Hindu Pandit One of three important religious figures in the novel. Never given a name, he is outraged when Pi, who was raised Hindu, begins practicing other religions. He and the other two religious leaders are quieted somewhat by Pis declaration that he just wants to love God. Meena Patel Pis wife, whom the author meets briefly in Toronto. Nikhil Patel (Nick) Pis son. He plays baseball. Usha Patel Pis young daughter. She is shy but very close to her father. The Hyena An ugly, intensely violent animal. He controls the lifeboat before Richard Parker emerges. The Zebra A beautiful male Grants zebra. He breaks his leg jumping into the lifeboat. The hyena torments him and eats him alive. Orange Juice The maternal orangutan that floats to the lifeboat on a raft of bananas. She suffers almost humanlike bouts of loneliness and seasickness. When the hyena attacks her, she fights back valiantly but is nonetheless killed and decapitated. The Blind Frenchman A fellow castaway whom Pi meets by chance in the middle of the ocean. Driven by hunger and desperation, he tries to kill and cannibalize Pi, but Richard Parker kills him first. Tomohiro Okamoto An official from the Maritime Department of the Japanese Ministry of Transport, who is investigating the sinking of the Japanese Tsimtsum. Along with his assistant, Atsuro Chiba, Okamoto interviews Pi for three hours and is highly skeptical of his first account. Atsuro Chiba Okamotos assistant. Chiba is the more naÃÆ' ¯ve and trusting of the two Japanese officials, and his inexperience at conducting interviews gets on his superiors nerves. Chiba agrees with Pi that the version of his ordeal with animals is the better than the one with people. The Cook The human counterpart to the hyena in Pis second story. He is rude and violent and hoards food on the lifeboat. After he kills the sailor and Pis mother, Pi stabs him and he dies. The Sailor The human counterpart to the zebra in Pis second story. He is young, beautiful, and exotic. He speaks only Chinese and is very sad and lonely in the lifeboat. He broke his leg jumping off the ship, and it becomes infected. The cook cuts off the leg, and the sailor dies slowly. Themes Themes, Motifs Symbols Themes The Will to Live Life of Pi is a story about struggling to survive through seemingly insurmountable odds. The shipwrecked inhabitants of the little lifeboat dont simply acquiesce to their fate: they actively fight against it. Pi abandons his lifelong vegetarianism and eats fish to sustain himself. Orange Juice, the peaceful orangutan, fights ferociously against the hyena. Even the severely wounded zebra battles to stay alive; his slow, painful struggle vividly illustrates the sheer strength of his life force. As Martel makes clear in his novel, living creatures will often do extraordinary, unexpected, and sometimes heroic things to survive. However, they will also do shameful and barbaric things if pressed. The hyenas treachery and the blind Frenchmans turn toward cannibalism show just how far creatures will go when faced with the possibility of extinction. At the end of the novel, when Pi raises the possibility that the fierce tiger, Richard Parker, is actually an aspect of his own personality, and that Pi himself is responsible for some of the horrific events he has narrated, the reader is forced to decide just what kinds of actions are acceptable in a life-or-death situation. The Importance of Storytelling http://imagec10.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif Life of Pi is a story within a story within a story. The novel is framed by a (fictional) note from the author, Yann Martel, who describes how he first came to hear the fantastic tale of Piscine Molitor Patel. Within the framework of Martels narration is Pis fantastical first-person account of life on the open sea, which forms the bulk of the book. At the end of the novel, a transcript taken from an interrogation of Pi reveals the possible true story within that story: that there were no animals at all, and that Pi had spent those 227 days with other human survivors who all eventually perished, leaving only himself. Pi, however, is not a liar: to him, the various versions of his story each contain a different kind of truth. One version may be factually true, but the other has an emotional or thematic truth that the other cannot approach. Throughout the novel, Pi expresses disdain for rationalists who only put their faith in dry, yeastless factuality, when stories-which can amaze and inspire listeners, and are bound to linger longer in the imagination-are, to him, infinitely superior. Storytelling is also a means of survival. The true events of Pis sea voyage are too horrible to contemplate directly: any young boy would go insane if faced with the kinds of acts Pi (indirectly) tells his integrators he has witnessed. By recasting his account as an incredible tale about humanlike animals, Pi doesnt have to face the true cruelty human beings are actually capable of. Similarly, by creating the character of Richard Parker, Pi can disavow the ferocious, violent side of his personality that allowed him to survive on the ocean. Even this is not, technically, a lie in Pis eyes. He believes that the tiger-like aspect of his nature and the civilized, human aspect stand in tense opposition and occasional partnership with one another, just as the boy Pi and the tiger Richard Parker are both enemies and allies. The Nature of Religious Belief Life of Pi begins with an old man in Pondicherry who tells the narrator, I have a story that will make you believe in God. Storytelling and religious belief are two closely linked ideas in the novel. On a literal level, each of Pis three religions, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, come with its own set of tales and fables, which are used to spread the teachings and illustrate the beliefs of the faith. Pi enjoys the wealth of stories, but he also senses that, as Father Martin assured him was true of Christianity, each of these stories might simply be aspects of a greater, universal story about love. Stories and religious beliefs are also linked in Life of Pi because Pi asserts that both require faith on the part of the listener or devotee. Surprisingly for such a religious boy, Pi admires atheists. To him, the important thing is to believe in something, and Pi can appreciate an atheists ability to believe in the absence of God with no concrete proof of that absence. Pi has nothing but disdain, however, for agnostics, who claim that it is impossible to know either way, and who therefore refrain from making a definitive statement on the question of God. Pi sees this as evidence of a shameful lack of imagination. To him, agnostics who cannot make a leap of faith in either direction are like listeners who cannot appreciate the non-literal truth a fictional story might provide. Motifs Territorial Dominance http://imagec10.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif Though Martels text deals with the seemingly boundless nature of the sea, it also studies the strictness of boundaries, borders, and demarcations. The careful way in which Pi marks off his territory and differentiates it from Richard Parkers is necessary for Pis survival. Animals are territorial creatures, as Pi notes: a family dog, for example, will guard its bed from intruders as if it were a lair. Tigers, as we learn from Richard Parker, are similarly territorial. They mark their space and define its boundaries carefully, establishing absolute dominance over every square inch of their area. To master Richard Parker, Pi must establish his control over certain zones in the lifeboat. He pours his urine over the tarp to designate a portion of the lifeboat as his territory, and he uses his whistle to ensure that Richard Parker stays within his designated space. The small size of the lifeboat and the relatively large size of its inhabitants make for a crowded vessel. In such a confined space, the demarcation of territory ensures a relatively peaceful relationship between man and beast. If Richard Parker is seen as an aspect of Pis own personality, the notion that a distinct boundary can be erected between the two represents Pis need to disavow the violent, animalistic side of his nature. Hunger and Thirst Unsurprisingly in a novel about a shipwrecked castaway, the characters in Life of Pi are continually fixated on food and water. Ironically, the lifeboat is surrounded by food and water; however, the salty water is undrinkable and the food is difficult to catch. Pi constantly struggles to land a fish or pull a turtle up over the side of the craft, just as he must steadily and consistently collect fresh drinking water using the solar stills. The repeated struggles against hunger and thirst illustrate the sharp difference between Pis former life and his current one on the boat. In urban towns such as Pondicherry, people are fed like animals in a zoo-they never have to expend much effort to obtain their sustenance. But on the open ocean, it is up to Pi to fend for himself. His transition from modern civilization to the more primitive existence on the open sea is marked by his attitudes toward fish: initially Pi, a vegetarian, is reluctant to kill and eat an animal. Only once the fish is lifeless, looking as it might in a market, does Pi feel better. As time goes on, Pis increasing comfort with eating meat signals his embrace of his new life. Ritual Throughout the novel, characters achieve comfort through the practice of rituals. Animals are creatures of habit, as Pi establishes early on when he notes that zookeepers can tell if something is wrong with their animals just by noticing changes in their daily routines. People, too, become wedded to their routines, even to the point of predictability, and grow troubled during times of change. While religious traditions are a prime example of ritual in this novel, there are numerous others. For instance, Pis mother wants to buy cigarettes before traveling to Canada, for fear that she wont be able to find her particular brand in Winnipeg. And Pi is able to survive his oceanic ordeal largely because he creates a series of daily rituals to sustain him. Without rituals, routines, and habits, the novel implies, people feel uneasy and unmoored. Rituals give structure to abstract ideas and emotions-in other words, ritual is an alternate form of storytelling. Symbols Pi Piscine Molitor Patels preferred moniker is more than just a shortened version of his given name. Indeed, the word Pi carries a host of relevant associations. It is a letter in the Greek alphabet that also contains alpha and omega, terms used in the book to denote dominant and submissive creatures. Pi is also an irrational mathematical number, used to calculate distance in a circle. Often shortened to 3.14, pi has so many decimal places that the human mind cant accurately comprehend it, just as, the book argues, some realities are too difficult or troubling to face. These associations establish the character Pi as more than just a realistic protagonist; he also is an allegorical figure with multiple layers of meaning. The Color Orange In Life of Pi, the color orange symbolizes hope and survival. Just before the scene in which the Tsimtsum sinks, the narrator describes visiting the adult Pi at his home in Canada and meeting his family. Pis daughter, Usha, carries an orange cat. This moment assures the reader that the end of the story, if not happy, will not be a complete tragedy, since Pi is guaranteed to survive the catastrophe and father children of his own. The little orange cat recalls the big orange cat, Richard Parker, who helps Pi survive during his 227 days at sea. As the Tsimtsum sinks, Chinese crewmen give Pi a lifejacket with an orange whistle; on the boat, he finds an orange lifebuoy. The whistle, buoy, and tiger all help Pi survive, just as Orange Juice the orangutan provides a measure of emotional support that helps the boy maintain hope in the face of horrific tragedy. Quotes Important Quotations Explained 1. I know zoos are no longer in peoples good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both. Explanation for Quotation 1 >> These words are spoken by Pi early in Part One, at the end of chapter 4, after a long discussion of zoo enclosures. Mr. Patel, Pi has recently told us, runs the Pondicherry Zoo, a place that Pi considered paradise as a boy. Pi has heard many people say negative things about zoos-namely that they deprive noble, wild creatures of their freedom and trap them in boring, domesticated lives-but he disagrees. Wild animals in their natural habitat encounter fear, fighting, lack of food, and parasites on a regular basis. Given all these biological facts, animals in the wild are not free at all-rather, they are subject to a stringent set of social and natural laws that they must follow or die. Since animals are creatures of habit, zoo enclosures, with abundant food and water, clean cages, and a constant routine, are heaven for them. Given the chance, Pi says, most zoo animals do not ever try to escape, unless something in their cage frightens them. We have already learned that Pi studied zoology and religion at the University of Toronto, and the above quote demonstrates just how closely aligned the two subjects are in his mind. He is quick to turn a discussion of animal freedom into a metaphor for peoples religious inclinations. Just as people misunderstand the nature of animals in the wild, they also misunderstand what it means for a person to be free of any religious system of belief. The agnostic (someone who is uncertain about the existence of god and does not subscribe to any faith) may think he is at liberty to believe or disbelieve anything he wants, but in reality he does not allow himself to take imaginative leaps. Instead, he endures lifes ups and downs the way an animal in the wild does: because he has to. A person of faith, on the other hand, is like an animal in an enclosure, surrounded on all sides by a version of reality that is far kinder than reality itself. Pi embraces religious doctrine for the same reason he embraces the safety and security of a zoo enclosure: it makes life easier and more pleasurable. Close 2. I can well imagine an atheists last words: White, white! L-L-Love! My God!-and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, yeastless factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain, and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story. Explanation for Quotation 2 >> Spoken by Pi, this quotation-chapter 22 in its entirety-emphasizes the important distinction between facts and imagination, the crux of the entire novel. Previously, in chapter 21, the author used the phrases dry, yeastless factuality and the better story after a meeting with Pi in a cafà ©; the repetition highlights this dichotomy. Religion is aligned with imagination, while lack of faith is linked to accurate observation and rationalism. In short, Pi is giving us a simple, straightforward explanation for the variants of his own story: the one with animals and the one without. The quote condemns those who lack artistry and imagination, the inability to commit to a story. Pi himself is a consummate artist, a storyteller, and he believes all religions tell wonderful tales, though not literal truths. Pi believes that atheists (who do not believe in God) have the capacity to believe; they choose to believe that God doesnt exist. At the end of their lives, they could embrace the notion of God and devise a story that will help them die in peace and contentment. Pi despises agnostics for their decision to make uncertainty a way of life. They choose to live a life of doubt, without any sort of narrative to guide them. Without these stories, our existence is dry and unpalatable as unrisen or yeastless bread. Close 3. [W]ithout Richard Parker, I wouldnt be alive today to tell you my story. Explanation for Quotation 3 >> This line is spoken by Pi approximately halfway through the book, in chapter 57. The you in this sentence is the author, to whom Pi relates his story over the course of many meetings in Canada many years after the ordeal. Of course, the you is also the reader, for Pi is aware that he is telling his story to a writer who has the intent to publish. By this point, we know that Richard Parker is a Royal Bengal tiger, an adult male, who weighs 450 pounds and takes up about one-third of the lifeboat. At first, it might sound ludicrous that such a menacing creature should get credit for keeping alive a slender, adolescent Indian boy, but Pi explains himself compellingly. The presence of Richard Parker, though initially terrifying, eventually soothes him and saves him from utter existential loneliness. Moreover, the necessity of training and taking care of Richard Parker fills up Pis long, empty days-staying busy helps time pass. The quotation can also be considered in the context of Pis second story, the one without animals, in which Pi himself is the tiger. Pi has chosen a tiger to represent himself because of its conflicting qualities: nobility and violence, grace and brute force, intelligence and instinct. In a way, these qualities are very human. But on a day-to-day basis-for example, as we go to school, drive to the supermarket, and watch TV at night-the elements of violence, brutality, and instinct are blunted. Instead of catching and killing fish, we purchase plastic-wrapped filets; rather than hunt animals for meat, we buy steaks at the deli counter. Stripped of these conveniences, Pi must return to nature and reassert his animal instincts. He must overcome his squeamishness in order to eat. He must embrace aggression in order to kill the cook who might otherwise have killed him. In crediting Richard Parkers existence for his own survival, Pi acknowledges that it is animal instinct, not polite conven tion or modern convenience, that protects him from death. Close 4. Life on a lifeboat isnt much of a life. It is like an end game in chess, a game with few pieces. The elements couldnt be more simple, nor the stakes higher. Explanation for Quotation 4 >> This comment appears about halfway through Part Two, as Pi adjusts to life at sea and philosophizes on the nature of being a castaway. In an endgame in chess, most of the game has been played out and the majority of the chess pieces knocked off the board. Similarly, after the sinking of the Tsimtsum, only a handful of survivors (Pi, Richard Parker, Orange Juice, the Grants zebra, the hyena) remain. The few that are left are forced into a strategic battle of wits to see who will ultimately prevail. The tensions between the lifeboats inhabitants immediately after the ship sinks are high; each inhabitant knows that the game is sudden death and that each move must be considered with special care. The zebra, the orangutan, and the hyena all make missteps and lose. But Pi painstakingly charts out his plan of action, and his diligence and foresight save his life. Life on a lifeboat is simple, but, stripped of all else, the stakes become considerable: life or death. Pis life in the middle of the Pacific has no luxuries, no complex processes to participate in, and no obscure signals to follow. Faced with numerous physical dangers-Richard Parker, sharks, starvation, the blind castaway-his only real choice is whether to fight to live or to give up and die. Though he considers doing otherwise, Pi chooses to fight. The distilled quality of Pis existence is similar to the kind of bare-bones life lived by many religious mystics, for whom stripping down to the essentials is necessary for communion with God. A full, varied life with many distractions can cloud faith or even make it unnecessary. However, within a spare and even monastic existence, Gods presence becomes palpable. To put it another way, within the confines of a lifeboat, spirituality looms as large as a nearly 10-foot, 450-pound Bengal tiger. Close 5. The lower you are, the higher your mind will want to soar. Explanation for Quotation 5 >> Pi narrates these words in chapter 93, toward the end of his ordeal at sea and as he is reaching the depths of his despair. As Pi mentions just before this, his situation seems as pointless as the weather. Up to now, Pis tedious life at sea has been alleviated somewhat with sporadic new activities: killing fish, taming Richard Parker, creating drinkable water using the solar stills, and so on. More notably, the blind French castaway and the days spent on the floating island gave Pi a change in routine. But now the novelty has worn off. This section, in which nothing is expected to happen, drives Pi into utter hopelessness, yet he must continue living. At this point Pi turns to God and, Martel implies, invents the story that we have just read. His mind is desperate to escape the physical reality of continued existence on the lifeboat, and so it soars into the realm of fiction. At his lowest point, Pi reaches for the only remaining sources of salvation available to him: faith and imagination. Through the plots remaining action, Martel emphasizes that such a strategy for self-preservation can actually be astonishingly effective. Immediately after this moment in the text, Pi lan