The Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare - 899 Words

What makes a once â€Å"brave friend† (1.2.6) â€Å"something wicked†? (4.1.45) In Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth, the answer to this question is played out. At the beginning of the play, the main character, Macbeth, is deemed â€Å"valiant† (1.2.24) and â€Å"noble† (1.2.68); however, after his encounter with the witches, his dark side starts to bubble up. As such, the Weird Sisters symbolize the ubiquitous evil that is in the world and present the theme man’s susceptibility to temptation. While the witches do play an essential role in Macbeth’s demise; ultimately, it is his choice to act upon the sinful ways. First of all, the historical significance of the witches directly relates to the time period when the play was written, and the beliefs of the society. Puritans wanted to â€Å"occupy positions of power and influence,† and they were â€Å"driven by a quest for purity†; consequently, witchcraft was looked down up on (Beek 3). People also assumed that the witches were only â€Å"doing harm to other people,† and â€Å"bringing about their death† (Thomas). Also, in the early 1600s, it was not just Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth that the witches appeared in; the creatures were also included in â€Å"Marston, Barnes, and Dekker[‘s]† works, which were put on at approximately the same time period as Tragedy of Macbeth (Wills 35). Some people, when analyzing Shakespeare’s play, have â€Å"treated [the witches] as unwelcome intrusions†; however, the witches of the sixteenth century in literature are said to be â€Å"central toShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1205 Words   |  5 PagesThe first tragic story created in ancient Greece. Tragedies were written as a form of catharsis or purgation of emotions. In these types of plays, the audience finds characters in which they can relate to which is a tragic hero. The tragic he ro creates his own failures based upon their own actions and produces a detrimental fate for himself. The process of the protagonist’s fall is based upon the tragic structure. The structure of a tragedy consists of the exposition, exciting force, hamartia, theRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare892 Words   |  4 Pages‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, written between 1599 and 1606 by William Shakespeare, has been reinterpreted in the 2010 film ‘Macbeth’. The 2010 film successfully takes its own reading of Shakespeare s play; by changing the setting, the director, Rupert Goold, effectively conveys many of the key themes and issues found in the original text. Whilst transforming some on the underlying meanings to correspond to the alternative readings contemporary audiences might take from Shakespeare s Macbeth. The objectiveRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1724 Words   |  7 PagesAs humans we are attracted to traged y in our everyday lives. For the horror, understanding and contemplation of human nature what else can offer a better summary than Shakespeare? In the play the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare the story progresses through the vision of the protagonist, Macbeth. Throughout the story Macbeth aspires to obtain more power than his original position, as sergeant, provides. With many dastardly deeds he achieves the position of king, although he becomes a tyrantRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1023 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is one the greatest writer of all time. Writing hundreds of books and scripts, Shakespeare founded his most success in his plays in the 1589-1613. One of his most popular plays is the Tragedy of Macbeth. The Tragedy of Macbeth was a turn from glory to tragedy. A story of a true tragic hero. Macbeth is a brave soldier in a war for Scotland. A tale of a great soilder that was highly praise in his kingdom turn to a tragic mu rderous sinful king. Macbeth kill his friends and hisRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1497 Words   |  6 PagesPractise Essay William Shakespeare effectively explores and follows the framework of the tragedy, Macbeth; a tale of systematic suffering, which foreshadows and imminently leads to the death of a great man. Essentially, it is Macbeth’s flaw – his growing ambition – which leads to these harsh repercussions. Shakespeare demonstrates his tragedy, through Aristotle’s elements and definition of tragedy, which ultimately concerns the reversal of good fortune to bad. In â€Å"Macbeth†, ambition conspires withRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1090 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tragedy of Macbeth Literary Analysis In the play The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses satire as tone and irony as points of view to portray Macbeth’s unfortunately placed ambition and the manipulation that is used on him. His ambition to gain a higher status as king ends with consequences to himself and the others in his path. Shakespeare adds dramatic irony, verbal irony, and situational irony to keep the readers at the edge of their seats as well as engaged in each lie and mishapRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare739 Words   |  3 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, the Death of King Duncan of Scotland occurred at Thane Macbeth’s castle, Inverness, at around four in the morning in about the year 1300. Before the murder, Macbeth imagined seeing a bloody dagger floating before him, making it appear as if he was not totally sane. The reason the murder happened was because Macbeth had met three witches in the woods that prophesized to him that he would become king of Scotland. Afterwards, Macbeth sent a letterRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare972 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare utilizes a series of themes through the behaviors of many different characters. Some themes seen more clearly throughout the play are those of monarchy, tyranny, and gender. Perhaps the most prominent theme in the whole play is that of the â€Å"unsexing† of Lacy Macbeth’s character. Lady Macbeth wants to act in such a way that is not connected to her gender; we see this and how it relates to the plot and her part in both the rising action and climax in theRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1052 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish II 2 October, 2015 â€Å"Tragedy† of Macbeth Macbeth, a play written by one of the most influential English writers of all time William Shakespeare. It was created to be a Shakespearean tragedy. A tragedy as Aristotle defines it as: â€Å"Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude †¦. through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions† (Aristotle: Poetics). What this is saying for a tragedy is that it should have the audienceRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1582 Words   |  7 Pagesto you and told you would be king would you trust them? Macbeth did and ultimately it led to his tragic demise. The tragedy of Macbeth was written by famous poet William Shakespeare in the earl sixteen hundredth. The play dramatizes the destructive physical and mental effects of radical ambition for people who seek authority for the benefit of an individual. Macbeth’s theme of ambition, lust for power, faith, and gullibility makes Macbeth his own antagonist, which is directly correlated to his death

Itm Slp Free Essays

I prefer Firebox for its speed in producing results. Both browsers allow me to choose the tools and options I use most often, as well as to select whether to remember and store browsing history. As I use the Internet frequently, to conduct research, It Is often necessary to go back and find a source that I used during a previous session or on a different day. We will write a custom essay sample on Itm Slp or any similar topic only for you Order Now Both browsers allow me to view the history, to find sites I visited recently. However, Internet Explorer offers a history side bar, which is more convenient for accessing browsing history. While this feature is handy, I do not necessarily care for, or need, the additional bells and whistles of Internet Explorer. The ability to customize the background screen, choosing from a variety of scenes, may be more important to the user who spends most of his or her time on the internet socializing or visiting social networking sites. While I do engage in social networking online, it is not my main activity. Therefore, features such as the customizable screen are of little Importance to me. Both Firebox and Internet Explorer allow me to conduct a search using Google. While It Is not the only search engine available, It can help me with research, by allowing me to find scholarly resources, without necessarily accessing a university library or database. Google scholar often provides extensive lists of resources in an efficient manner. Google Chrome is a fast browser, it brings up search results quickly and the results appear to be ranked in order of their applicability, to the content in the search request. When using Firebox, I can produce the same search results as with Google Chrome. Internet Explorer, on the other hand, often produces search results that are neither useful or on topic, in my opinion. I conducted a search on drug use in America using Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. Firebox produced identical results as Google Chrome. Internet Explorer, on the other hand, produced a group of listings that appear to be advertising drug addiction treatments and centers, rather than producing the results of available and current research on drug use. Internet Explorer appears to be geared more toward advertising and the average casual user. While I may shop and read product reviews online, I do not need to be inundated with advertising, when conducting research away from Internet Explorer for the past several years. I am not against advertising on the internet. If I choose not to view pop up ads, I can adjust all browsers accordingly. Sometimes, accessing various features of online course require turning the pop up blocker off. This has not been a problem with Firebox. It is a problem with Internet Explorer, as I am always fearful that ads will mom up as soon as I navigate away from the course site. Internet Explorer often changes the search options, such as automatically making ask. Com or being my search engine of choice, without my permission. Firebox and Google Chrome do not. When this occurs with Internet Explorer, I become fearful of spare and mallard being loaded onto my computer. To me, this practice is dishonest and creates a lack of trust. Conclusion Overall, I prefer to have greater control over the advertising and search options of my browser. I do not find Internet Explorer to be as friendly, for conducting research and gathering useful, relevant information. This is the majority of time spent online for me. For those who are casual users or who use the internet solely for entertainment, Internet Explorer may not seem so bothersome. While Google Chrome is fast and gives me the results I want, it is often not compatible with academic sites or with online course applications. This is probably the one critical factor that prevents me from using the browser more frequently. Google Chrome Internet Explorer Firebox How to cite Itm Slp, Papers

Stealing Things with Sticky Fingers Essay Example For Students

Stealing Things with Sticky Fingers Essay â€Å"Hey, I need you to pay for these items that you two stole. † I didn’t know that this random guy had been watching us throughout the whole store. My entire life I never imagined I would get caught up in the criminal life. I have been in major trouble with the law once before, and that was a minor violation of driving without a license when I was 17. In this narrative I will tell you how I ended up in jail overnight with my best mate. This passage involves just two people, my best mate James and me. Ever since I moved to Brunswick for college, I knew I didn’t want to be in an unfamiliar area with no one to really call my friend. I lived at Coastal Apartments by myself because my roommate never took the opportunity for what it’s worth and never lived at the apartment. Now, I’m a Christian believer of God, but throughout my life, I always had problems with school mostly because I wanted to be liked by everyone. I would cause trouble at school just to stand out in hopes to fit in with my friends. We viewed getting in trouble as a child being confident in doing whatever he or she wanted to do, because in truth no one really wanted to be at school listening to adults all day. I enjoyed having friends around mostly because those being around gave me the confidence and ability to do some of the things I wouldn’t do if I were alone. One of the first friends I made when I was here was James. Now James was my type of friend, he was a confident and strong guy who also shared a passion for sports. We both were athletes and we got along really well. We shared a lot of similar interests and he was from Brunswick. That made him an insider to this city that I was new to. We got to know each other pretty quickly and started hanging out and sharing new experiences all over the Golden Isles. When we were together though, we were two miscreant college students who wanted many things that were not possible. College is where teenagers go to discover themselves. On this day in July, I found myself acting in a manner that was deviant and far from who I was raised to be. On this day mostly what I remember before the incident was us wanting to do something at my crib. In Brunswick there isn’t much around for teenagers to entertain themselves. Whenever we were bored, we would ride around the city and go inside stores and pocket things that we wanted. While we were riding through the city we decided to shoplift from Wal-Mart. We had stolen from there before and had even been warned by our friends to watch out because the store had hired many secret shoppers to report suspicious activity. When we heard that we thought â€Å"We’re way to suave for that; the way we steal from Wal-Mart is an art. † We thought we were pretty good at what we did for looking at our record; we had stolen many objects and hadn’t been caught before. So we entered the store confident as always â€Å"let’s get in and out,† I said. James followed me as we went over to the electronic section with random boxes in our hand to not look suspicious. I saw this case that would look really nice on my phone. James said â€Å"Get it if you want it. † So I grabbed the case and he grabbed a wall mount for his charger. We needed to take them out of the packages. So we headed over to the sporting good section to do so I made sure there were no cameras in sight. I told James â€Å"I’m good,† So was he, so then we headed to walk out through the garden section. As soon as we walked past the garden center checkout, James and I looked at each other and said â€Å"This is getting too easy. We even made it out of the store, until about three seconds later this guy called us back and said â€Å"Hey, I need you to pay for those stolen times. † .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 , .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .postImageUrl , .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 , .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:hover , .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:visited , .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:active { border:0!important; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:active , .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057 .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4ff769e797d264c97850848f63af1057:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: james EssayI looked at him and thought, â€Å"You will have to catch me,† but I noticed James turn around and start to head towards the secret shopper security. I am the type of friend who doesn’t leave any man behind even under these circumstances. I have loyalty to my family and friends and will do the upmost for them, and expect they would do the same for me. The security guy who caught us was this tall guy who looked like a military soldier off duty; I suspected that they would be in plain sight. So we headed back in the garden center where we were greeted by more security who were dressed in the same type of clothing we had on t-shirts and shorts. They knew James because when we met he said â€Å"James, really† and James replied â€Å"Cole. † It wasn’t that much of a surprise though he was a popular guy. I had seen these guys in the store, but I didn’t realize they worked for Walmart’s security. They were the secret shoppers we were warned about. They escorted James and I into the back of the store during which we passed by a few Walmart personnel who looked at me like I was a terrorist to their company. That feeling made me think how I got myself in this situation to where I became addicted to stealing; it really was uncontrollable. â€Å"Is this where my life was lead to,† I thought to myself this isn’t what I came to college for. The manager met us in the back of the store where we questioned. The manager of the store was a younger guy who looked like Eminem. I was confident because I had someone I knew with me, but I was still scared of what would happen. They asked us for the stolen items. I quickly pulled out the phone case and gave it to them; James tried to act like he didn’t have anything on him like I was the only one who stole. That made me suspects of him then because why would you continue to lie, we were already caught. Then the security guys searched James and then the charger fell out of his pants, he lied about the charger. This infuriated the manager his face started to shrivel up in disgust. The manager then proceeded to take down our name and information and then they started to talk about paying a fine. I said â€Å"No problem, we can pay that,† even though it was triple the price of the items we stole. I thought we were going to be let off with a warning I was cooperating and I acted respectable unlike James. James was acting disrespectful and telling them how much he hated cops and didn’t want to answer their questions or even cooperate wit the security. A police officer came in and I knew we were going downtown. The manager took a face shot of me and then placed me in handcuffs and the police escorted me to the back of his car. They did the same with James, but put him in a separate police car. I noticed he had a dog riding with him barking the whole ride to the jail. We then made it to Brunswick’s jail where we went through booking and were placed in a holding cell for what seemed like forever but was really only about five hours. They were extremely overcrowded and were processing us at an extremely slow pace. While in the holding cell, I was with James and a guy named Caesar who worked at Sea Island and a few more guys whose name I didn’t know. I was talking with James and we were talking about how we were getting out and he told me â€Å"I called my dad, but he said he isn’t getting us out and that his cousin was coming. I told James â€Å"He would have to get me too and I would pay him back the bail, because the bondsman wasn’t answering the phone. † .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c , .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .postImageUrl , .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c , .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:hover , .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:visited , .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:active { border:0!important; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:active , .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubc3e369a2ece77a31e9b216c711ab58c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poetry in Language Arts EssayAfter the holding cell, we were placed in a cell where there were a lot of other criminals who were watching the football game. I went to my bunk and cried because I couldn’t call my mother; she was so far away. I also was embarrassed of what she would think of me stealing. After a while in our bunks, James was called to be released, and I thought I would be released soon after. I then waited all night and nothing. I couldn’t even call James because I didn’t know his number. I realized my loyalty and bad choices had gotten me in this situation and now I was in this jail that really was remotely unappealing. I did not like being looked at by all these guys who would do nothing but tell stories, play cards, and wait for chow. I asked myself† is this the life I’m going to live? † I then toughened up and called my mother who came and released me from jail and I disgraced our family. This made me feel horrible because my mother is the one person who believes in me and wants me to have a better life. Everything I do is in her name and I love her for not keeping this over me. I learned my lesson from stealing and I don’t need friends around me who aren’t having positive motivation in their life.

Poikilohydry in mosses an ecological limitation or opportunity Essay Example

Poikilohydry in mosses: an ecological limitation or opportunity Essay The most significant evolutionary event in the history of the plant kingdom began with the migration of aquatic photosynthetic organisms on to land approximately 475 Myr ago 1,2. Terrestrial embryophytes (referred to as embryophytes) derived from algal ancestors constitute two divisions, the bryophytes (lacking vascular tissue) and the tracheophytes (possessing vascular conducting tissues) 2. The evolutionary transition from aquatic photoautotrophs heralded the innovation of morphological and physiological characteristics critical for success in the terrestrial habitat, and consequent diversification of land plants.It has been hypothesised that early bryophyte related groups pioneered the transition from water to life on land 1,2,4. The mosses appear to be among the most ancient divisions of the land plants. Fossils of spores and gametophytes dating from the Mid Ordivician (~476 Myr) and Mid Sliurian (~432 Myr) have been discovered that closely resemble some modern bryophytes 4. Furt hermore, the remains of fossilised spore-bearing organs and vascular tissues from the Lower Devonian (~410 Myr) reveal similarity in anatomical details to living mosses 4. This paleobotanical evidence combined with phylogenetic studies suggests that groups related to extant mosses are primitive ancestors of the major taxonomic groups of terrestrial plants.In the comparatively uniform environment of aquatic life there is much less scope for variation in abiotic factors and hence natural selection. Light availability vertically through the water column is the major limiting factor. Photosynthetic organisms surrounded by water have no requirement for specialised anatomical features for water absorption, as diffusion occurs across the whole cellular surface, nor do aquatics require adaptive measures to protect against water loss through evaporation. Furthermore, a submersed plant requires no mechanical tissues as the buoyant force of water provides the necessary support 1,5. In contrast , plants entering the terrestrial environment are exposed to a greater variation in the fundamental abiotic conditions including moisture, temperature (rainforest and tundra), light and gravitation.In particular, the land environment exhibits dehydrating affects from the atmosphere and water may be continually lost through evaporation. Water and nutrients may be continuous underground, however, dependence on light requires the aboveground presence of photosynthetic tissue where water is often irregular 1,5. Therefore, suitable water relations are a prerequisite to survival on land. Embryophytes are able to tolerate the desiccating affects of the land environment and exhibit numerous morphological and physiological departures from the ancestral aquatic state. Depending on their ability to compensate for fluctuations in water supply and rate of evaporation, embryophytes may be classified as poikilohydric or homoiohydric 5.Poikilohydry as a limitationMosses represent the oldest living remnants of initial land colonisation. It can be viewed the mosses represent a primitive condition of plant development 4. Mosses can be said to represent an evolutionary intermediate between algal ancestors and the vascular plants, manifested in features that may be more in common with aquatic algae or lichens and are said not to be fully terrestrialised or having a greater reliance on water 4,5,7,8. However, moss gametophytes do exhibit innovations such as tissue differentiation (leaves, rhizoids) and primitive vascularisation 3.It is in the gametophyte form of mosses where the potential for land development in some ecological scenarios may be limited. The gametophyte does not posses a true root and vascular system (xylem or phloem) or outer cuticle, having no control over loss which can be rapid, and internal water content is in equilibrium with that of the atmosphere 3,5. This condition is said to be poikilohydric. Due to this intimate coupling with environmental moisture, mosse s may dehydrate completely in dry air (i.e. no barrier to water loss represented by the cuticle in higher plants)3. Although many moss species can withstand desiccation by dormancy, this comes at an expense of suspending growth and metabolism. They are dependent on availability of free water and mineral slats at the land surface as they do not possess true roots, with rhizoids present for anchorage on the substratum 3. As the root system is deficient, mosses depend largely upon the direct absorption of water through the leaves. Owing to the failure of the gametophyte to produce true vascular tissue with support structures they are unable to attain large dimensions or growth above ground exhibited in higher plants 3,5.Sexual reproduction is facilitated by water (as in algae) via motile male gametes. Only when mosses are covered water can the reproductive organs open and permit the sperm to escape and penetrate the open neck of the archegonium, and thus reach the egg cell. In this reg ard mosses are essentially amphibious in nature, i.e. they require uninterrupted access to water for reproductive success 3,8. As a result mosses may typically be found hugging wet soil, or living in permanently moist habitats, avoiding exposure to turbulent drier air found above the land surface 3,8.Mosses are also set apart from vascular plants on the basis that the non-sexual sporophyte is permanently associated with the gametophyte and never establishes on the substrate. Within higher plants it is recognised that dominance in the land environment is derived from sporophyte of basal archegoniate lineages 2,8. It is evident that in the evolution of the sporophyte, the most significant fact is the progressive reduction of the spore product and increasing dominance of the sporophyte generation in the plants life-cycle, compared with the gametophyte 2. In liverworts the life-cycle of the sporophyte is brief, its exclusive function being in spore production.In mosses the growth period of the sporophyte is greatly prolonged and spore production becomes less important. This trend towards increasing subordination of the gametophyte and increasing importance of the sporophyte in mosses may be manifested in tissue differentiation found in the sporophyte 2. It is evident that the sporophyte of mosses possesses vascular tissue with photosynthetic cells 3. Although the sporophyte is able prolong growth on account of the production of green tissue, it is still dependent on the gametophyte for water. In higher plants, by the development of the root to acquire water from subterranean sources, the sporophyte becomes truly independent 4,.In contrast to the level of developmental complexity present in mosses, it can be argued that homoiohydric characters exhibited in the tracheophytes; a lignified vascular system of xylem and phloem, an impermeable cuticle surrounding vegetative tissues, stomata and seed in higher tracheophytes are a higher state of plant organisation and the ultimate solution to the problem of adaptation to life on land, providing greater independence from water 5. The properties of vascular tissue allow the formation of a transport system conducting water and photosynthate around the multicellular body, thus allowing the development of large complex bodies of roots and leaves7. Additionally, lignified vascular tissue provides a means of mechanical support in large tracheophytes allowing for the erect habit, in contrast to the dorsiventrally flattened posture in mosses7.With an extensive root network, the homoiohydric system allows the maintenance of activity despite sudden changes in humidity as roots penetrate readily available subterranean sources of water i.e. greater period of growth than mosses7. The waterproof cuticle provides a means of reducing water loss trough evaporation and also a barrier to gaseous diffusion. The stomata perforating the cuticles provide avenues for gas exchange, however, also presenting a sight of water l oss. The guard cells limit the rate at which water is lost through stomatal openings via transpiration7. These adaptations exert greater control over water economy and are thus seen to be more effective and dependable than the bryophytic strategy.The tendency in tracheophytes has been to develop reproductive strategies which did not depend on the existence of standing water (e.g., pollen, seeds, flowers). Instead of developing swimming sperm, male gametes are carried in pollen grains from microsporangia with pollination achieved via entrainment into wind or through insects. The development of the seed habit has facilitated the adjustment of plants to strictly terrestrial conditions, with the angiosperms reaching the most perfect expression of the plant organism. Seeds are specialised to resist adverse conditions and can remain dormant until conditions are suitable for germination. Furthermore, the seed may be modified to facilitate dispersal from the parent gametophyte. Thus tracheo phytes have become sufficiently productive to form closed cover over large areas, and is ultimately manifested in the enormous global coverage of phytomass.Poikilohydry as an opportunityWithout a doubt, vascular plants are adaptive optimums within habitats charaterised by adequate soil water. However, the homoiohydric system has success within certain limits defined by temperature and the availability of water 5,7. Mosses are the successors of ecological niches characterised by intermittent water availability due to their ability suspend metabolism during periods of drought (escaping the need for metabolic function) and resume activity rapidly with available water 3,5,6. This feature is known as desiccation tolerance (DT) and is common to various functionally dissimilar species. For poikilohydrous organisms in general, and bryophytes in particular, DT can be argued to be an optimal adaptation to habitats characterised by extreme fluctuations in water availability (i.e. functionally specialised stress-tolerators)3,5. The pervasiveness of mosses in dry habitats provides an alternative perspective on mosses in contrast to the tone already set in this paper.As mosses rapidly equilibrate internal moisture with that of the environment, mechanisms allowing tolerance of dry periods is essential 6. DT is characteristic of a variety of moss gametophytes, and is common of both xeric and mesic habitats 3. DT mosses may colonise rocky, thin soil (drought prone) substrates impenetrable to roots and the bark of trees 5. DT is an obvious adaptive advantage in habitats characterised dry, sun-exposed rock surfaces with intermittent rain. Even in wet climates, moisture is not available continuously. For example, hard substrates dry quickly after rain stops, therefore, DT mosses would possess fitness in this niche5. In this situation it would be an advantage to be small in size1. Growth and reproduction occur only during these wet seasons, but upon drying the gametophyte can susp end metabolism for considerable time periods7. Desiccation tolerance is well documented in mosses.Tortula ruralis can be reduced to 20% of its original weight in 2 hours and even after prolonged periods (10 months) of desiccation resumes metabolic activity within minutes of receiving an adequate water supply7. Andreadea rothii is characteristic of hard acidic mountain rocks, and can recommence normal metabolism after 12 months desiccation at 32% rh and 20OC 5. Recovery takes place quickly, and depends on the conservation of cellular components through the drying-re-wetting cycle5. Chlorophyll-fluorescence measurements show that photosystem recovery after re-hydration is rapid9.The recovery of respiration after prolonged desiccation similarly shows recovery in mosses5. It has been suggested that recovery after desiccation involves the reestablishment of membrane integrity and photosystems10.At the scale of a moss gametophyte colony, surface tension is determines the distribution of w ater around the vegetative tissue5. Therefore, shoots and leaves tend to lie dorsiventrally flattened on the laminar atmospheric boundary5. The LAI of the moss leaf canopies tends to be greater than that of vascular plants and is comparable in some species (Scleropodium spp.) to the mesophyll/leaf-area quotients of vascular plants indicating scale as important determinants of morphology5. Additionally, it can be noted that mosses and vascular plants have similar rates of photosynthesis on a per-chlorophyll basis5. The physical structure of many mosses allows the short term storage of external capillary water3. The hydroid conducting cells of some large mosses (e.g. Polytrichaceae, Dawsoniaceae) may be an evolutionary parallel to the xylem tissue of vascular plants in that both represent a low resistance pathway for water transport3,5. However, typically water movement is extracellular involving intricate conducting structures.The ability of bryophytes to survive desiccation is attri buted to conservation of polyribosomes during desiccation period3,6. In Tortula after 90 minutes in a dry atmosphere, a decline in fresh weight by 20% was observed6. However, it retained distinct polyribosome pools which increased with increasing hydration time3. This is in contrast to vascular plants where extreme water stress induces an irreversible degredation in polyribosome activity. In addition there is evidence to suggest that the activity of antioxidant enzymes is a response in mosses and other DT organisms to oxidative stress induced by desiccation11. Oxidative damage has been shown to be less in DT organisms such as Tortula than desiccation sensitive vascular plants12.In mosses there exists species specific differences in relation to their desiccation tolerance3. It has been observed that mosses characteristic of exposed habitats such as Tortula ruralis can recover rapidly after desiccation5. This may be an adaptation to maximise growth during a water regime that is transi ent. This is in contrast to forest-floor dwellers such as Rhytidiadelphus loreus where recovery of photosynthesis following drying takes several hours more5.There exists approximately 14000 species of moss exhibiting world-wide distribution and are able to grow luxuriantly in the humid climate of temperate and tropical regions.3 Fundamentally, mosses are able to persist in extreme conditions of arctic and alpine regions and can tolerate semi-arid conditions. Largely associated with their remarkable regeneration capacity, mosses exhibit great diversity in the ecological conditions in which they can pervade, proving in particular habitats to be the adaptively optimum plant organism. Poikilohydry in mosses an ecological limitation or opportunity Essay Example Poikilohydry in mosses: an ecological limitation or opportunity Essay The most significant evolutionary event in the history of the plant kingdom began with the migration of aquatic photosynthetic organisms on to land approximately 475 Myr ago 1,2. Terrestrial embryophytes (referred to as embryophytes) derived from algal ancestors constitute two divisions, the bryophytes (lacking vascular tissue) and the tracheophytes (possessing vascular conducting tissues) 2. The evolutionary transition from aquatic photoautotrophs heralded the innovation of morphological and physiological characteristics critical for success in the terrestrial habitat, and consequent diversification of land plants.It has been hypothesised that early bryophyte related groups pioneered the transition from water to life on land 1,2,4. The mosses appear to be among the most ancient divisions of the land plants. Fossils of spores and gametophytes dating from the Mid Ordivician (~476 Myr) and Mid Sliurian (~432 Myr) have been discovered that closely resemble some modern bryophytes 4. Furt hermore, the remains of fossilised spore-bearing organs and vascular tissues from the Lower Devonian (~410 Myr) reveal similarity in anatomical details to living mosses 4. This paleobotanical evidence combined with phylogenetic studies suggests that groups related to extant mosses are primitive ancestors of the major taxonomic groups of terrestrial plants.In the comparatively uniform environment of aquatic life there is much less scope for variation in abiotic factors and hence natural selection. Light availability vertically through the water column is the major limiting factor. Photosynthetic organisms surrounded by water have no requirement for specialised anatomical features for water absorption, as diffusion occurs across the whole cellular surface, nor do aquatics require adaptive measures to protect against water loss through evaporation. Furthermore, a submersed plant requires no mechanical tissues as the buoyant force of water provides the necessary support 1,5. In contrast , plants entering the terrestrial environment are exposed to a greater variation in the fundamental abiotic conditions including moisture, temperature (rainforest and tundra), light and gravitation.In particular, the land environment exhibits dehydrating affects from the atmosphere and water may be continually lost through evaporation. Water and nutrients may be continuous underground, however, dependence on light requires the aboveground presence of photosynthetic tissue where water is often irregular 1,5. Therefore, suitable water relations are a prerequisite to survival on land. Embryophytes are able to tolerate the desiccating affects of the land environment and exhibit numerous morphological and physiological departures from the ancestral aquatic state. Depending on their ability to compensate for fluctuations in water supply and rate of evaporation, embryophytes may be classified as poikilohydric or homoiohydric 5.Poikilohydry as a limitationMosses represent the oldest living remnants of initial land colonisation. It can be viewed the mosses represent a primitive condition of plant development 4. Mosses can be said to represent an evolutionary intermediate between algal ancestors and the vascular plants, manifested in features that may be more in common with aquatic algae or lichens and are said not to be fully terrestrialised or having a greater reliance on water 4,5,7,8. However, moss gametophytes do exhibit innovations such as tissue differentiation (leaves, rhizoids) and primitive vascularisation 3.It is in the gametophyte form of mosses where the potential for land development in some ecological scenarios may be limited. The gametophyte does not posses a true root and vascular system (xylem or phloem) or outer cuticle, having no control over loss which can be rapid, and internal water content is in equilibrium with that of the atmosphere 3,5. This condition is said to be poikilohydric. Due to this intimate coupling with environmental moisture, mosse s may dehydrate completely in dry air (i.e. no barrier to water loss represented by the cuticle in higher plants)3. Although many moss species can withstand desiccation by dormancy, this comes at an expense of suspending growth and metabolism. They are dependent on availability of free water and mineral slats at the land surface as they do not possess true roots, with rhizoids present for anchorage on the substratum 3. As the root system is deficient, mosses depend largely upon the direct absorption of water through the leaves. Owing to the failure of the gametophyte to produce true vascular tissue with support structures they are unable to attain large dimensions or growth above ground exhibited in higher plants 3,5.Sexual reproduction is facilitated by water (as in algae) via motile male gametes. Only when mosses are covered water can the reproductive organs open and permit the sperm to escape and penetrate the open neck of the archegonium, and thus reach the egg cell. In this reg ard mosses are essentially amphibious in nature, i.e. they require uninterrupted access to water for reproductive success 3,8. As a result mosses may typically be found hugging wet soil, or living in permanently moist habitats, avoiding exposure to turbulent drier air found above the land surface 3,8.Mosses are also set apart from vascular plants on the basis that the non-sexual sporophyte is permanently associated with the gametophyte and never establishes on the substrate. Within higher plants it is recognised that dominance in the land environment is derived from sporophyte of basal archegoniate lineages 2,8. It is evident that in the evolution of the sporophyte, the most significant fact is the progressive reduction of the spore product and increasing dominance of the sporophyte generation in the plants life-cycle, compared with the gametophyte 2. In liverworts the life-cycle of the sporophyte is brief, its exclusive function being in spore production.In mosses the growth period of the sporophyte is greatly prolonged and spore production becomes less important. This trend towards increasing subordination of the gametophyte and increasing importance of the sporophyte in mosses may be manifested in tissue differentiation found in the sporophyte 2. It is evident that the sporophyte of mosses possesses vascular tissue with photosynthetic cells 3. Although the sporophyte is able prolong growth on account of the production of green tissue, it is still dependent on the gametophyte for water. In higher plants, by the development of the root to acquire water from subterranean sources, the sporophyte becomes truly independent 4,.In contrast to the level of developmental complexity present in mosses, it can be argued that homoiohydric characters exhibited in the tracheophytes; a lignified vascular system of xylem and phloem, an impermeable cuticle surrounding vegetative tissues, stomata and seed in higher tracheophytes are a higher state of plant organisation and the ultimate solution to the problem of adaptation to life on land, providing greater independence from water 5. The properties of vascular tissue allow the formation of a transport system conducting water and photosynthate around the multicellular body, thus allowing the development of large complex bodies of roots and leaves7. Additionally, lignified vascular tissue provides a means of mechanical support in large tracheophytes allowing for the erect habit, in contrast to the dorsiventrally flattened posture in mosses7.With an extensive root network, the homoiohydric system allows the maintenance of activity despite sudden changes in humidity as roots penetrate readily available subterranean sources of water i.e. greater period of growth than mosses7. The waterproof cuticle provides a means of reducing water loss trough evaporation and also a barrier to gaseous diffusion. The stomata perforating the cuticles provide avenues for gas exchange, however, also presenting a sight of water l oss. The guard cells limit the rate at which water is lost through stomatal openings via transpiration7. These adaptations exert greater control over water economy and are thus seen to be more effective and dependable than the bryophytic strategy.The tendency in tracheophytes has been to develop reproductive strategies which did not depend on the existence of standing water (e.g., pollen, seeds, flowers). Instead of developing swimming sperm, male gametes are carried in pollen grains from microsporangia with pollination achieved via entrainment into wind or through insects. The development of the seed habit has facilitated the adjustment of plants to strictly terrestrial conditions, with the angiosperms reaching the most perfect expression of the plant organism. Seeds are specialised to resist adverse conditions and can remain dormant until conditions are suitable for germination. Furthermore, the seed may be modified to facilitate dispersal from the parent gametophyte. Thus tracheo phytes have become sufficiently productive to form closed cover over large areas, and is ultimately manifested in the enormous global coverage of phytomass.Poikilohydry as an opportunityWithout a doubt, vascular plants are adaptive optimums within habitats charaterised by adequate soil water. However, the homoiohydric system has success within certain limits defined by temperature and the availability of water 5,7. Mosses are the successors of ecological niches characterised by intermittent water availability due to their ability suspend metabolism during periods of drought (escaping the need for metabolic function) and resume activity rapidly with available water 3,5,6. This feature is known as desiccation tolerance (DT) and is common to various functionally dissimilar species. For poikilohydrous organisms in general, and bryophytes in particular, DT can be argued to be an optimal adaptation to habitats characterised by extreme fluctuations in water availability (i.e. functionally specialised stress-tolerators)3,5. The pervasiveness of mosses in dry habitats provides an alternative perspective on mosses in contrast to the tone already set in this paper.As mosses rapidly equilibrate internal moisture with that of the environment, mechanisms allowing tolerance of dry periods is essential 6. DT is characteristic of a variety of moss gametophytes, and is common of both xeric and mesic habitats 3. DT mosses may colonise rocky, thin soil (drought prone) substrates impenetrable to roots and the bark of trees 5. DT is an obvious adaptive advantage in habitats characterised dry, sun-exposed rock surfaces with intermittent rain. Even in wet climates, moisture is not available continuously. For example, hard substrates dry quickly after rain stops, therefore, DT mosses would possess fitness in this niche5. In this situation it would be an advantage to be small in size1. Growth and reproduction occur only during these wet seasons, but upon drying the gametophyte can susp end metabolism for considerable time periods7. Desiccation tolerance is well documented in mosses.Tortula ruralis can be reduced to 20% of its original weight in 2 hours and even after prolonged periods (10 months) of desiccation resumes metabolic activity within minutes of receiving an adequate water supply7. Andreadea rothii is characteristic of hard acidic mountain rocks, and can recommence normal metabolism after 12 months desiccation at 32% rh and 20OC 5. Recovery takes place quickly, and depends on the conservation of cellular components through the drying-re-wetting cycle5. Chlorophyll-fluorescence measurements show that photosystem recovery after re-hydration is rapid9.The recovery of respiration after prolonged desiccation similarly shows recovery in mosses5. It has been suggested that recovery after desiccation involves the reestablishment of membrane integrity and photosystems10.At the scale of a moss gametophyte colony, surface tension is determines the distribution of w ater around the vegetative tissue5. Therefore, shoots and leaves tend to lie dorsiventrally flattened on the laminar atmospheric boundary5. The LAI of the moss leaf canopies tends to be greater than that of vascular plants and is comparable in some species (Scleropodium spp.) to the mesophyll/leaf-area quotients of vascular plants indicating scale as important determinants of morphology5. Additionally, it can be noted that mosses and vascular plants have similar rates of photosynthesis on a per-chlorophyll basis5. The physical structure of many mosses allows the short term storage of external capillary water3. The hydroid conducting cells of some large mosses (e.g. Polytrichaceae, Dawsoniaceae) may be an evolutionary parallel to the xylem tissue of vascular plants in that both represent a low resistance pathway for water transport3,5. However, typically water movement is extracellular involving intricate conducting structures.The ability of bryophytes to survive desiccation is attri buted to conservation of polyribosomes during desiccation period3,6. In Tortula after 90 minutes in a dry atmosphere, a decline in fresh weight by 20% was observed6. However, it retained distinct polyribosome pools which increased with increasing hydration time3. This is in contrast to vascular plants where extreme water stress induces an irreversible degredation in polyribosome activity. In addition there is evidence to suggest that the activity of antioxidant enzymes is a response in mosses and other DT organisms to oxidative stress induced by desiccation11. Oxidative damage has been shown to be less in DT organisms such as Tortula than desiccation sensitive vascular plants12.In mosses there exists species specific differences in relation to their desiccation tolerance3. It has been observed that mosses characteristic of exposed habitats such as Tortula ruralis can recover rapidly after desiccation5. This may be an adaptation to maximise growth during a water regime that is transi ent. This is in contrast to forest-floor dwellers such as Rhytidiadelphus loreus where recovery of photosynthesis following drying takes several hours more5.There exists approximately 14000 species of moss exhibiting world-wide distribution and are able to grow luxuriantly in the humid climate of temperate and tropical regions.3 Fundamentally, mosses are able to persist in extreme conditions of arctic and alpine regions and can tolerate semi-arid conditions. Largely associated with their remarkable regeneration capacity, mosses exhibit great diversity in the ecological conditions in which they can pervade, proving in particular habitats to be the adaptively optimum plant organism.

Essay On Leadership and Strategy Evaluation Essays

Essay On Leadership and Strategy Evaluation Essays Essay On Leadership and Strategy Evaluation Essay Essay On Leadership and Strategy Evaluation Essay Definition Of a Leadership It is widely accepted that leaders play a critical role in organizations and communities. However, the definition of a leader has been controversial. According to Locke (2009), leadership is defined as a process that involves inducing others so that they can take action whose end is the achievement of a common goal. To Locke and Sadler (2003), leadership incorporates three elements: a relational concept, a process, and an action. Leadership does not exist except when one is talking about the relation with followers. The absence of followers implies the absence of leadership. When defined in relational concept, effective leaders have been described as those who are good in inspiring and relating to their followers. Leadership has also been defined regarding a process in that for one to be described as a leader, he/she must do something. To proponents of this theory, leadership involves more than just holding a title or any other position of authority. However, although a formalized po sition of authority can exist to facilitate a leadership process, Locke argued that simply occupying such a position is not enough to make one a leader. A leader is also required to induce others to take some form of action, and a leader can employ various approaches to induce their followers to take some action toward a common goal. Some of the approaches leaders can employ to induce his followers to take action include modeling by setting an example, organizational restructuring, communicating a vision, legitimate authority, team building, goal setting, and rewarding and punishing (Locke, 1999). It has been argued that the way leaders implement plans, provide direction to their followers, and motivate their people to varying from one leader to another thereby resulting in various leadership styles. Some of the leadership styles include autocratic, Laissez-Faire, participative, transactional, and transformational (Johnson, 2017; Northouse, 2012). Johnson (2017) described participative leader as one who employs a democratic style of leadership. Such leaders value input from peers and team members. However, the responsibility of making the final decisions rely on the leader. On the other hand, transactional leaders provide either rewards or punishments to peers or team members according to their performance results. Transformational leaders, however, rely on a high level of communication to their team members to meet their goals. Such leaders motivate their followers or employees and enhance efficiency and productivity through a combination of high visibility and communication. A transformational style of leadership requires that the management is highly involved in the achievement of the organizational goals. Leaders who employ transformational leadership style focus on the big organizational picture and delegate smaller assignments or tasks to the team members to accomplish so that they can achieve the overall organizational goal (Johnson, 2017). Northouse (2012) added that transformational leadership involves a process where the leader engages with followers and creates a connection that boosts not only the level of morality but also the level of motivation for both the follower and the leader. He further pointed out that transformational leaders are attentive to the needs as well as motives of their followers and strive to make sure that their followers reach their fullest potential. In the case of Booker and Newark residents (Cohen, 2014; Russakoff, 2014), Booker strived to ensure that the people of Newark access the best education system in the coun try. He wanted to make Newark public school system to be a model of how best public schools should be run in the country. Bookers idea was to transform one of the worst performing public education systems to be the best it can be in the whole country. His chances of success in this endeavor were going to be influenced by many factors. Organizational Performance Improvement Leaders not only have a potential to improve organizational performance but also a failure of organizations to achieve their performance goals. A study of leadership styles suggests that leaders can influence their organizations in various ways. Choudhary, Akhtar, and Zaheer (2013) examined the influence of two comparative leadership styles on the outcomes of organizational performance. Their findings suggest that transformational leadership has more influence on organizational learning than servant leadership. The researchers further found out that a higher level of organizational learning is responsible for a higher organizational performance. The authors then suggested that leaders can choose a style of leadership that can help them to achieve what they want to achieve in their organizations. Their results are similar to those of Noruzy et al. (2013) who also found out that transformational leadership has a strong influence on the organizational learning as well as knowledge manag ement. Transformational leadership style also has a huge impact on the innovation within an organization. Overall, the researchers findings revealed that transformational leadership has an influence on the organizational performance. Leaders who wish to enhance their organizational performance can, therefore, opt to choose transformational leadership style. Although a lot has been studied on how leadership can influence organizational performance, Peterson, Smith, Martorana, Owens (2003) argued that leaders are also responsible for the failure of their organizations. According to the authors, leadership personality is one of the factors that can determine organizational success and organizational failure. They pointed out that if the top leadership personality is bad, the organization can increase the chances of organizational failure. However, if the personality of the top leaders in an organization is appropriate, the organization has an increased chance of succeeding in its miss ion. Newark schools had been performing poorly for a very long time. Booker had noted declining performance and had yearned for a time when he can intervene. His time to transform the poor education system of Newark came after his election as a mayor for Newark. The Newark education system was in a crisis. In situations of crisis, leaders emerge. Leadership involves motivating others toward a common goal. In the context of Newark education system, the common goal was to improve the declining academic standards and create a national model on how to overhaul an entire school district. As a leader, Booker believed that he was the much-needed leader to lead the Newark out of the education crisis. Booker had a vision of turning Newark education system to be the best in the country. Booker noted that to succeed in turning his vision into reality, one of the most critical resources was funding. Consequently, as a determined leader, he sought funds from philanthropists to help him achieve his vis ion. After communicating his vision for Newark, many philanthropists donated their money to help Booker realize his vision. One of the people who was attracted by Bookers vision was Mark Zuckerberg who donated his $100 million to help in the transformation of the Newark education system (Russakoff, 2014). After obtaining sufficient funds, it was time to implement his vision to bring an overhaul of the education system. Although Booker had demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and transformative ideas about the Newark education system, he failed to realize that implementation of a vision requires the cooperation of more people than financiers. At some point, Booker was reminded by Zuckerberg to choose a competent leader who can become the Superintendent. As a good leader, Booker need not be reminded about the need recruit a person to lead the change or the characteristics of a person who could help transform the failing education system of the Newark. Zuckerberg idea to Booker was that he should choose a transformational leader as an assurance that the vision of transforming the Newark education system was going to be successful. Booker had spent a lot of time looking for the funds, but he dedicated little time in investing in proper leadership structures. For example, he should develop a sound leadership structure that was going to work with him to implement the vision. A sound leadership struct ure would have helped him to plan how the funds would be obtained and how it would be spent. Furthermore, the leadership structure would have devised better ways in which the funds obtained was going to be effectively utilized. Booker had a very weak leadership structure. He only managed to appoint Superintendent in a hurry. Although Anderson, the superintendent, demonstrated that she was up to the task, still there was a lot of weakness in the overall leadership structure. Anderson manner of engagement won the hearts of many people suggesting that she had good leadership skills. However, Anderson came without an agenda but a clear vision. According to her, the most important thing was to define success, and she found it as something simple. This is a further indication of poor leadership in the transformation process. This was demonstrated in the manner in which the decisions were made. From the given information, there was poor decision making in matters pertaining the education s ystem of Newark. Booker and Anderson made key decisions without making a second thought to find out if they were going to work or they were going to face some challenges. Throughout the, there is no evidence of the presence of a sound leadership structure. Newark Education System The promise of $100 million gifts was made by Zuckerberg. However, several months later, Booker, the Senator, and Christie, the governor had neither a good transformational leader not a reform plan for the education system. This demonstrates a leadership ineptitude since both would have nominated people they were going together early so that they can prepare reform plan as a team. In fact, it was not until Zuckerberg send a mail to Booker that he began to search for competent superintend. Although Booker had sold the vision to the people, people only realized that the plan to overhaul the Newark education system was just good only on paper. According to the critics of the transformation plan, the solutions were poorly thought out, and they could make negligible positive impacts on the education system. The education programs that were going with the new education system had not been developed while transportation was not even fully tackled. Further, things that were initially promise d were never realized. Bookers idea of educational transformation in Newark failed because of lack of clear strategy. There was too much focus on securing financial assets but little time was devoted to organizing a strong team that was going to draft a working strategy. Not only did Booker and Anderson failed in the development of a sound leadership structure but also in their approach. Booker and Andersons approach suggest that their ideas were final. They believe that the ideas they had were the one people had been waiting for. The two leaders forget the importance of involving those whom the change was going to affect: stakeholders. Following the lack of the major stakeholders, there was weak support from the public. The best approach would have been to make the people of Newark also own the process of transformation by giving them a chance to contribute toward the transformation process. For example, there was a need to inform the people about the need for the change, how the change could be brought about, and who were going to be affected by the change. The strategy employed by Booker and Christie was a top-down approach where there was minimum interaction with the members of the public. And when the public was involved, it was later in the stages of the implementation. For example, a community advisory committee which was to help in the implementation of the N ewark transformation plan was created two years after the money had been released when most of the money had been spent on teacher contracts and charter schools. This implies they were created at a time their contribution to the effective management of the funds were no longer important.; The case of addressing Newark;s school;s problems give an excellent case on leadership practices, traits, team leadership, and organizational elements that were responsible for the overall outcome of the process. Through their practices, leaders can shape the outcome of the organizational goals. For example, Booker had a good vision of transforming Newark poorly performing public schools to charters. He believed that by converting a public school to run charters independently, the performance would improve. According to the Leadership Challenge (2017), five practices of exemplary leadership include modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging others to act. Booker modeled the way by coming up with an idea of transforming Newark schools. He identified the problems facing public schools and the advantages that can be gained by changing public schools to charters. He also identified the challenges of running chartered scho ols. One of the great obstacles was funding. Through his practice of shared vision, Booker sold his idea to many people especially the corporate philanthropists who were willing to make a change in Newark. Booker;s inspired others by selling his vision, and in the process, several philanthropists including Zuckerberg contributed the necessary finances that were needed to achieve the vision of education excellence in Newark. Booker knew that transforming the public schools to charters was not an easy process because not all people share the same idea. However, he went ahead to challenge the process and introduce the changes anyway. This is where he went wrong. Instead of seeking the participation of many stakeholders including the members of the public, Booker seemed to push the idea on the people through Anderson. Consequently, he receives little public support during the implementation of his strategy. He would have succeeded if he had sought public support before introducing the c hanges. The people need to understand why the changes were necessary and how the changes could benefit them. Further, they would have also felt proud by owning the process of change. One of the practices of exemplary leaders is also their willingness to enable others to act. To implement his ideas, Booker knew that he needed people to help him. As a result, he appointed Anderson and gave her all the necessary support to ensure that the plans were implemented successfully.; Newark School System Leaders possess various traits which characterize them which include emotional stability, dominance, enthusiasm, conscientiousness, social boldness, tough-mindedness, self-assurance, and compulsiveness. Other traits include high energy, intuitiveness, maturity, team orientation, empathy, and charisma.; ;In the case of Newark school systems transformation, leaders involved in the transformation process demonstrated some of these traits.; For example, Zuckerberg and other philanthropists like Bill Gates were so emphatic about the school children in Newark that they offered their monetary help to transform the situation. However, in his approach to the transformation process, Booker demonstrated poor intuitiveness. He failed to evaluate all the factors that were necessary to make the plan successful and also factors that were going to be barriers toward the realization of his vision. High energy is a trait of a good leader. Booker had high energy, and he spent a lot of time persuading, traveling, and selling his vision of the transformation of the education system in Newark until he attracted a lot of attention. Dominance is another trait that can be observed from Booker and Anderson. Both demonstrated the ability to be assertive in their thinking styles and also in their attitude in which they dealt with others. Zuckerberg, Booker, Christie, and Anderson (Cohen, 2014) demonstrated a lot of enthusiasm in the education transformation in Newark. All the four were expressive, energetic, and active in ensuring that the change process was implemented. On the trait of tough-mindedness, Booker showed that he was tough-mind when he chose to proceed with the reform process while he knew that some people were not comfortable with the process. Both Anderson and Booker also demonstrated that they were self-assured leaders. They exhibited self-confidence and resilience in their actions. For example, when the first plan failed to produce positive changes, Anderson came up with the second plan that was known as One Newark (Moss, 2014) which she believed it could work. During the transformation, the leaders exhibited a lot of teamwork. They worked for hand in hand to draft plans and supervise the implementation. They also worked together to overcome obstacles that were standing in the way of the reform process. The reform process, however, became a failure despite billions spent on the consultancy and implementation of the recommendations suggested by the consultants. Opponents of the reform process argue that the failure was caused by several assumptions (Kamenetz, 2011). The Booker;s team ought to have included the participation of many stakeholders so that they could also contribute towards the success of the plan.; It has been shown that successful leaders possess certain traits (Kirkpatrick ; Locke, 1991; Zaccaro, Kemp, ; Bader, 2004). Alternatively, leaders who are not successful do not possess traits that are common among successful leaders. According to Kreitner (2008), modern leaders ought to be emotionally intelligent. Goleman in Kreitner (2008) pointed out that emotionally intelligent leaders ought to possess traits such as self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management. Courage has also been identified as an appropriate leadership trait and includes the elements of purpose, will, rigor, candor, and risks (Kreitner, 2008). Other characteristics that have been identified to be common among successful leaders include empathy, consistency, honesty, direction, communication, flexibility, and conviction. According to Tracy (n.d.), the seven characteristics of highly effective leaders are a vision, cooperation, courage, integrity, focus, humility, and strategic planning.; Booker and his team will have been successful if they possess all these traits. They would have managed to transform the Newark education system into the nation;;s best as they had visualized initially.;

Behaviour modification

The Effect of Behaviour Modification on Studying and Procrastination University of Sydney Abstract A study was conducted to determine the effects of behaviour self-modification on the number of hours spent studying and procrastinating. The 141 participants were second year University students studying Psychology. Baseline behaviour was recorded for both studying and procrastination followed by a treatment week where each student selected to modify either studying or procrastination and planned and carried out their behaviour modification. Results were significant, revealing that those trying to decrease procrastination were successful in decreasing this behaviour, as well as increasing the alternative behaviour, studying. Similarly, students trying to increase studying were successful, as well as decreasing their procrastination. Overall, it was found that behaviour modification has significant effects on the amount of time spend studying and procrastinating. The Effect of Behaviour Modification on Studying and Procrastination Behaviour modification is an interesting aspect of Psychology as it gives people the opportunity to alter their behaviour for reasons that may include health, happiness, education or general wellbeing. Many researchers have found that behaviour self-modification programs are especially effective with immediate reinforcement and are more successful than other cognitive methods (Levitz Stunkard 1974; Galscow Klesges 1985). The effectiveness of these programs also depends on other factors such as the person’s commitment to change, the degree of preparation and the management of antecedents. In order to alter behaviour, it is more successful to partake in a behaviour modification program which includes reinforcements or punishments, rather than simply relying on other cognitive processes. One study, involving overweight people, showed a behaviour self-modification program which resulted in greater weight loss than other methods, including nutrition education (Levitz Stunkard 1974). Similarly the effectiveness of behaviour modification is seen in smokers who were able to abstain from smoking using self-reward strategies and positive self-statements at a greater rate than those who used other cognitive strategies (Galscow Klesges 1985). Immediate reinforcers have a much stronger effect on behaviour than a delayed punishment (Martin Pear 2007). Choosing a behaviour which will provide immediate gratification is often more likely to occur than an alternative behaviour, even if the punishment is somewhat severe. This includes cumulatively significant punishments, such as smoking increasing the risk of lung cancer, because the negative effect from each cigarette is too small to notice, whereas the immediate gratification produces enjoyment. This highlights the importance of immediate reinforcement when conducting a behaviour self-modification program. The methods of behaviour modification found to be successful vary, (Perri Richards 1977), however there are steps one can take to increase the likelihood of success. (Martin Pear 2007). Firstly, it is essential that problems are specified and goals are set. These goals should be in quantitative terms so that overall success can be easily determined. Secondly, there should be a commitment to change. This should be evident in the effort made to plan a successful behavioural modification including management of antecedents and appropriate reinforcements. A baseline of behaviour should be recorded for comparison with the following self-control program to quantify success and overall effect. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of behaviour modification on the number of hours spent studying and procrastinating. It was hypothesised that, in the treatment week, there would be a decrease in the number of hours spent procrastinating for the â€Å"decrease procrastination† group, and an increase in the number of hours spent studying in the â€Å"increase studying† group. Studying will be defined as any kind of reading, writing or other preparation which is related to the student’s University course work. It is the desired behaviour; Examples include reading background material for a lecture or tutorial, studying for quizzes or creating course notes. Procrastination will be defined as all other recreational activities with the exception of socialising and exercising. This is the delaying behaviour; Examples include watching TV, browsing the internet for pleasure or playing computer games. Method Subjects There were 715 second-year Psychology University students who were required to take part in this study as a tutorial exercise. Of these students, 628 created online accounts to record their behaviour. The number of students who successfully completed the task by recording data for all 8 days was 141. These 141 students provided all data used in this study. All students used data sheets to record their behaviour for all 8 days of the exercise. This data was logged online. Procedure Students were instructed to choose the behaviour that they wanted to change; They could decrease procrastination or increase studying. Students would, in the first four days, record both their studying and procrastination habits in a results table provided. Students were then required to devise their own strategy to either decrease procrastination or increase studying. These strategies aimed to complete goals set by the student which were improvements from their current state, but realistic and achievable. These plans included, preferably immediate to the behaviour being performed, reinforcement for the desired behaviour or punishment for the behaviour to be decreased. Since often this was not practical, there were options for alternative reinforcement/punishment schedules. Firstly, daily targets could be set to reach, or not exceed, a certain number of hours of study or procrastination. Secondly, rolling targets or limits could be used where appropriate reinforcement or punishment is given when a number of hours of a behaviour is met. Finally, students could use duration limits or targets on how long they engage in a behaviour once they have started. The independent variable was the 2 x (2) mixed design with the between subjects variables being modifying studying or procrastination, and the within-subjects variable being the targeted and non-targeted behaviour. The recorded hours became the dependant variable. Results There were no statistical differences found in the conditions of the baseline week. In the treatment week, time spent studying was found to be significantly different to the time spent procrastinating in the group who tried to decrease procrastination.

Project Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Project Management - Case Study Example This results into continuous problems hindering the realization of the project goals. The company is left with no choice but to hire another CEO Andre Gignac after twelve months to oversee the success of the project. Indeed their decision was a rewarding one. Andre organized staffs into various groups and delegated specific duties to the members so as to avoid confrontation arising from different departments. Provided motivational support which ensured every member was committed towards the course of project delivery. To the disbelief the management, the company had managed to achieve its objectives within three months something that was impossible with the predecessor. The hiring of Mr. Rogerge was purely based on assumptions and not on merit of having the best skills required to achieve objectives (Furman, 2011). Having knowledge about a concept does not necessarily mean one can be the best manager to oversee the ideas as Mr.Roberge has thought. The CEO found it hard to coordinate work between the different workforces at his disposal, was self-centered and had no best interest at hand to deliver on the project which eventually led to his failure. However this is contrary to what Andre Gignac did to the organization. He had experience and understands what management means and do not have to know IT skills for him to be a success. He understands the role of collective responsibility in the organization in the development of any project course (Furman, 2011). He clearly distinguishes duties and responsibility to persons to ensure a smooth flow of work. Andre provided encouragement, unity in the workforce by hosting evening parties. This has made the manager to achieve goals within the unexpected period of time. Hiring of well trained, qualified and experienced mangers complimented with a good design by integrating whole departments will make the organization to achieve its goals since smooth flow of work is ensured and commitment while

By suggesting the kinds of defense mechanisms that deadened human Essay

By suggesting the kinds of defense mechanisms that deadened human responses to horror, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the Gas Chamber, - Essay Example In 1923, Germany’s economy was in succession and its goods were sold abroad to secure the nations’ exports abroad. The industries that bribed politicians got bankrupt and people had to claim their jobs by working without being paid making them frustrated in the process. The situation in German’s economic sector was not well planned thus it affected the country greatly. This was because competition in the economy was rapidly increasing leading to a split in the government’s authority. This led to power sharing within the government, and the Germans were not contented with it because they got direct opposition from Berlin thus the parties become democratic champions as they were running the economy. It was believed in 1933 that the German government was collapsing as Franklin Roosevelt was not able to solve the crisis that was befalling them because the country was bankrupt and needed a lot of money for the top. Hitler came into power and had to make the eco nomy rise from its bankruptcy, by recruiting new members to direct them in SA. Hitler knew that he was making rushed decisions, and it was a hard task for him to accomplish alone, therefore help was required. Hitler transformed Germany into structures of the state, social law and the constitution of the society to attain his goal of stabilizing the state and free his nation from foreign powers and maintain geography at large. This was a mechanism that deadened human responses to horror as he grabbed the people unaware (Hunt, 625). The sanctions and poor economy convinced citizens that Hitler was not serious with stabilizing the economy because they were bankrupt. He made improvements in the government leading to a rise in the economy as he was obliged to pick his cabinet of National Socialists. Afterwards, Hitler came into power in a democratic way because he had stabilized the economy of the state without seeking help. All this led to an improved economy since profit rose above the minimal stabilizer. That was incredible and made anti-Nazi historians give up because of the defeat they had received from Hitler’s revolution that had brought changes to Germany. Hitler obtained plenary power that made him the nation’s supreme democratic making the Germans view him as a legend. During the First World War, Feldmarschall was fond of traditions, and Hitler wanted the traditions to take place so as to see the Reichstag to convince them (Hunt, 641). Germany was on top of the Reichswehr, which was an object of Hitler to courtship. Hitler appointed a chancellor without asking opinion from the rest of the committee and they got angry as it was done without their consent. Feldmarschall sent General von Hammerstein Equord who came to Hindenburg of general staff and disapproved. Hitler and Dr. Goebbels had taken control of nation radio and making it their tool to broadcast power hitherto. Hitler was carefully planning and managing soldiers for the great renewal as many government officials, army officers, lawyers and judges had abandoned their work. Hitler wanted to acquire officials and rectify the Reichstag. This would establish authority to govern virtual dictatorship to gain powers lawfully as the Germans constitution had amended. Hitler won the elections and Germany national government came up with a solution against political particulars. His intention was to devise plans from retirement

Relativism and Morality Essay Example for Free

Relativism and Morality Essay Is it ethical? Will it be right? Is it a small sacrifice for the betterment of the future? All these questions do not have exact answers. You can never give a straight cut answer to all the above questions. You can never exactly say that a particular thing is completely right or completely wrong. All this varies from people to people and culture to culture. Individual personalities have different philosophies regarding particular thought and belief. There is never completely a black or white it is in between. It is grey. This is relativism. Relativism can be defined â€Å"as the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration†. According to relativism all views are considered valid. Well relative truth varies with people for example, a person prefers a red coloured car over black coloured car, where other person may disagree. True for one person is not true for another. So relative truth can’t be right or wrong. But greater than relative truth is Morality, where you see whether your actions are causing any harm to another and stop doing such things. Here which causes problems or harm someone should be considered as wrong. It is absolutely wrong on the part of our moral values to harm someone. There is a very fine line between morality and relative truth, moral values also varies from people to people and culture to culture but morality will never do any bad(even if it’s right for the other person). It is rightly said about moral by Ernest Hemingway â€Å"About morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after. † There are some things that are absolutely wrong and therefore I agree with Lenn Goodman. He is right on his part in challenging relativism and I fully support him. Just suppose if everyone was allowed to do as they wish, what a horrid place this could have been. If everything was so relative and there was no right or wrong then one person could have killed other for his better future, and he would never have got any punishment. Because on his part, he was right. Also sometimes we have to rise above principles to challenge wrong. For example, America would have never got independence if slavery was discussed on principles. But if we see overall, it was a good thing going against the principles because slavery was the wrong being done. Same goes with the case of India’s independence where the freedom fighters were called terrorists just because they fought against the government for their own rights. But not every compromise is that easy to digest. It was wrong what happened with Germany in the first world war was bad but what followed in the second world war by Nazis may be a reaction was not tolerable. It was like removing a whole community from the world, that was worst. How can one have the right to destroy the being of the whole community or clan, just to satisfy one’s own selfish motives. Or you thing this is right for your own community or culture, but this is completely wrong. It is not human. Our moral values and love and respect for each other is what differentiates us from ruthless animals. Every human deserves respect, love and moral behaviour even if there is culture difference or some other difference. We all are made of same thing and thus have the same needs which mainly includes Respect. The main examples which truly challenge relativism are genocide, famine, terrorism, slavery, chid warrior and rape. Everyone has the right to life, no one can take away that right just because he thinks it’s right. Killing a single person and killing the whole community is different. Killing of whole community(genocide) being uglier, because it destroys not only dreams but destroy the being of the whole community, it can then well said to be extinct just like the bird Dodo. Genocide simply destroys a way of life. This is not humane. What the soviets did to Ukraine or Mao to China, was the part of a so called bigger plan, a small compromise. But a compromise which is difficult to live by. Millions of people lost their lives, and people lost their mother, father, brother and what not. This was simply wrong and cannot be considered relativism. The cultural revolution in China which was brought about by Mao, was wrong. It was relatively a right thing on the part of Mao. But it was wrong on the moral, ethical and human part. The number of Deaths during Mao’s period was about 70 million and he was ready to sacrifice 300 million. He had no right to control people’s life like that. This is where relativism should be challenge, because this is simply unfair and unacceptable. The other example is of terrorism, it’s also like mass killing of a community out of frustration and anger, which is illegal. As compared with the above example which is considered legal, as it is for some revolution; terrorism is you can say illegal. You don’t have the power to destroy someone’s life but you want to have that power, power is confused with violence. Terrorists say that they fight for some values, but they themselves destroy values by guns and bombs, by killing innocent people. By bombing school bus or by exploding some monument, to build fear in people. This is what the terrorists are doing, how can this be said to be fighting for your rights when today you can be creating people who want to take revenge from you, the same way you did, and someone else did to you. This is a never ending chain. Humanity will be the sufferer and this is completely wrong. It is unacceptable. The damage is devastating and not by any chance humane. Child warriors is also very wrong on the part of humanity. The innocence of child is lost, he becomes emotionless after all the what he suffers. There are around 300,000 child soldiers, it is legal to have children below 15 in the army, no one is convicted of it till now. They are even used as sex slaves and exploited. They grow up with these scars and in return are ready to give scars to others. War, genocide or terrorism whatever is there, whosoever is the winner, humanity will always be the looser. Innocence of people, their dreams to live a happy life, their achievements, what good they could have given to the world all get killed along with them because of the inhumane ways of so called humans, the ways being war, genocide, famine or terrorism. Slavery can be equalled to murder, but here it is the murder of one’s wishes, desires and dreams. The person is alive but his soul is no less then dead. Human trafficking mainly includes women and children. Women and children are mainly used in prostitution, as labors and for agriculture mainly men are trafficked. Around four million people are trafficked and people from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Mexico, Russia, and the Czech Republic are the victims. This is completely wrong. The use of humans here is not tolerable and unfair. It is taking advantage of other people’s weakness. This is not fair on part of humanity. Rape is also exploitation, it aims to abuse and humiliate the sufferer. It violates one’s personhood. It is an act of hate and not love. Rape is used even today in wars or genocide wars, it is a weapon to humiliate and abuse the opponent. This is not good at all, and should be stopped. It is wrong on the part of humanity. Here also humanity is the one that suffers. Exploitation of people for your own benefits has always been wrong and should be stopped. It takes away one’s freedom to live life his own way. Whether it is the case of genocide , warfare, murder, slavery, rape or child warrior, nothing can be considered right and can never be right even according to relativism. It is not moral, it is not humane. Even if there are relativistic truths in this world. And ethics and morals have evolved over time. It changes from people to people, culture to culture, with time and with place. Even then somehings are simply wrong when it comes to humanity. It is well known that two hundred years ago there was slavery in America. It was considered right at that time, we can consider it was right, that doesn’t mean it was actually right. It was inhumane. If this was not thought at that time, then slavery would have existed till now in America. If it was not wrong even at that time, then no one would have made an effort to stop this exploitation of human being. There should be global moral norms made, inorder to stop this evil on human race. Everything should not be left on relativism and such logics should not be given, that is is right according to me and it is for the betterment of the society. Then it should be made clear that by doing genocides and practicing slavery, the society will never get better. People should rise above their culture limitation, to achieve a greater goal, i. e. success of humanity. By practicing norms that benefit us but without compromising other people’s life, dreams and freedom. This will make the world a better place to live. People should see to it that everyone has the right to life, and we are no one to take it away from him. Everyone should take care of others emotion, ritual, feeling and should not violate it, this is right for sure. Individuals should see to ot that everything contributes in the success of humanity, and then everything can be considered right. This I can say for sure is Absolute Truth and not Relative Truth. It is rightly said by Martin Luther King â€Å"The first principle of value that we need to rediscover is this: that all reality hinges on moral foundations. †

Long Days Journey into Night Eugene by ONeill - Character Analysis of Mary :: Long Days Journey into Night

Long Day's Journey into Night Eugene by O'Neill - Character Analysis of Mary In the play  ¡Ã‚ °Long Day ¡Ã‚ ¯s Journey into Night, ¡Ã‚ ± by Eugene O ¡Ã‚ ¯Neill, the writer depicts a typical day of the Tyrone family, whose once-close family has deteriorated over the years for a number of reasons: Mary ¡Ã‚ ¯s drug addiction, Tyrone Jamie and Edmund ¡Ã‚ ¯s alcoholism, Tyrone ¡Ã‚ ¯s stinginess, and the sons` pessimistic attitude toward future. In the play, all of the four characters are miserable about life, and they all remember the past and try to escape from reality by drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Among these four characters, Mary is a typical and special one; she is the most tragic character in the play. She used to be an innocent girl with beautiful dreams (to become a nun and a pianist) and a strong religious faith centered on the Virgin Mary. However, her marriage destroyed her dreams and weakened her faith. Her husband Tyrone fails to realize the promises he made to Mary, which makes her lose her faith in the marriage. The morphine addi ction drags her down and makes her unconscious about whether she lives in the past or present. The title of the play is a  ¡Ã‚ °Long Day ¡Ã‚ ¯s Journey into Night ¡Ã‚ ±, but Mary, as she keeps taking morphine, travels mentally back to the past when she has fewer problems and happier life. Thus, for Mary, it is actually a long day ¡Ã‚ ¯s journey into the past. In Act One, there are three points that are important to the developing of the character of Mary. One is that she realizes her beauty is fading away, and she is in the stages of decline; another is that she refuses to admit that there is a health problem with her and her son Edmund. Finally, there is the issue of Mary ¡Ã‚ ¯s specific idea of what a  ¡Ã‚ °home ¡Ã‚ ± is. At the beginning of the play, Tyrone and Jamie stare at Mary, and make her self-conscious (p27); they talk about her hair and remember the beautiful hair that Mary had when she was young. Mary realizes that she is getting old and she is very anxious about this, which is reflected when she asks people what is wrong with her hair several times. One of Mary ¡Ã‚ ¯s central flaws is her refusal to admit that there is a problem with herself or Edmund. She lies to her family many times about being cured, and she blames them for suspecting her. Long Day's Journey into Night Eugene by O'Neill - Character Analysis of Mary :: Long Day's Journey into Night Long Day's Journey into Night Eugene by O'Neill - Character Analysis of Mary In the play  ¡Ã‚ °Long Day ¡Ã‚ ¯s Journey into Night, ¡Ã‚ ± by Eugene O ¡Ã‚ ¯Neill, the writer depicts a typical day of the Tyrone family, whose once-close family has deteriorated over the years for a number of reasons: Mary ¡Ã‚ ¯s drug addiction, Tyrone Jamie and Edmund ¡Ã‚ ¯s alcoholism, Tyrone ¡Ã‚ ¯s stinginess, and the sons` pessimistic attitude toward future. In the play, all of the four characters are miserable about life, and they all remember the past and try to escape from reality by drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Among these four characters, Mary is a typical and special one; she is the most tragic character in the play. She used to be an innocent girl with beautiful dreams (to become a nun and a pianist) and a strong religious faith centered on the Virgin Mary. However, her marriage destroyed her dreams and weakened her faith. Her husband Tyrone fails to realize the promises he made to Mary, which makes her lose her faith in the marriage. The morphine addi ction drags her down and makes her unconscious about whether she lives in the past or present. The title of the play is a  ¡Ã‚ °Long Day ¡Ã‚ ¯s Journey into Night ¡Ã‚ ±, but Mary, as she keeps taking morphine, travels mentally back to the past when she has fewer problems and happier life. Thus, for Mary, it is actually a long day ¡Ã‚ ¯s journey into the past. In Act One, there are three points that are important to the developing of the character of Mary. One is that she realizes her beauty is fading away, and she is in the stages of decline; another is that she refuses to admit that there is a health problem with her and her son Edmund. Finally, there is the issue of Mary ¡Ã‚ ¯s specific idea of what a  ¡Ã‚ °home ¡Ã‚ ± is. At the beginning of the play, Tyrone and Jamie stare at Mary, and make her self-conscious (p27); they talk about her hair and remember the beautiful hair that Mary had when she was young. Mary realizes that she is getting old and she is very anxious about this, which is reflected when she asks people what is wrong with her hair several times. One of Mary ¡Ã‚ ¯s central flaws is her refusal to admit that there is a problem with herself or Edmund. She lies to her family many times about being cured, and she blames them for suspecting her.