Contradictions in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Essay

Contradictions in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales There is no question that contradictory values make up a major component of The Canterbury Tales. Fate vs. Fortuna, knowledge vs. experience and love vs. hate all embody Chaucers famous work. These contrasting themes are an integral part of the complexity and sophistication of the book, as they provide for an ironic dichotomy to the creative plot development and undermine the superficial assumptions that might be made. The combination of completely contradictory motifs leads to the unusual stories and outcomes that come to play out in the tales. And these outcomes draw focus on the larger universal issues that in many cases transcend the boundaries of vernacular periods to all of†¦show more content†¦In the debate, a number of different options have emerged. Some, like medieval author Paul Ruggiers, argue that it is impossible to determine the Prioress?s attitude and that, ?we must be satisfied with ambiguity.? Others like writer Victoria Wickham argue the most popular belie f, that the Prioress?s bigotry is without question and readers should be more concerned about the degree rather than the fact itself. But there is another possibility. Edwards and Spector, two prominent medieval scholars, put aside the issue of racism temporarily and instead offer an alternative interpretation on the very nature of Chaucer?s love-hate contradiction in the Prioress?s tale. They argue that the love vs. hate contradiction is not dependent on outside forces, but is actually an internal conflict within the Prioress herself. Consequently, the individuals and subsequent groups in her tale are not specific characters but culturally influenced manifestations representing separate issues. In this way her personality becomes the allegory of her tale, making specific references within her story irrelevant to her true attitude. In this writer?s opinion, popular attitudes on the nature of the love-hate contradiction in the Prioress?s tale are wrong; Edwards and Stevens help prove this. Rather than considering the most obvious stand-alone factors of love and hate in the story, specifically the description of the Prioress and her affinity for Christianity vs. the evilShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The General Prologue To The Canterbury Tales Essays1044 Words   |  5 Pagesthe lowest order was involved in this practice. Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the most important writers in English literature, was the author of The Canterbury Tales, an elaborate poem about the religious pilgrimage of twenty nine people to Canterbury. In the General Prologue Chaucer introduces each individual along for the journey. Through The Canterbury Tales, we discover the hypocrisy and virtues Chaucer narrates in his characters and can appreciate the nuances in this superior piece of literatureRead MoreEssay on Chaucers The Canterb ury Tales927 Words   |  4 PagesChaucers The Canterbury Tales In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer comments on moral corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. He criticizes many high-ranking members of the Church and describes a lack of morality in medieval society; yet in the â€Å"Retraction,† Chaucer recants much of his work and pledges to be true to Christianity. Seemingly opposite views exist within the â€Å"Retraction† and The Canterbury Tales. However, this contradiction does not weaken Chaucer’s social commentary.Read MoreThe Wife of Bath Essay715 Words   |  3 PagesWife of Bath vs. Lady Gaga Geoffrey Chaucers, Wife of Bath, character in Canterbury Tales can be compared with todays modern pop icon Lady Gaga. Both woman share many similar qualities regarding their personality types and behavior. From the Fifteenth century to the Twenty- First, these women symbolize feminism and contradiction of societal norms. This essay will discuss the similarities and differences between Chaucers fictional character, the Wife of Bath, and Lady Gaga, one of this century’sRead More Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Comparing The Pardoners Tale and The Nuns Priests Tale805 Words   |  4 PagesPardoners Tale and The Nuns Priests Tale    Irony is the general name given to literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting,or amusing contradictions. 1   Two stories that serve as excellent demonstrations of irony are The Pardoners Tale and The Nuns Priests Tale, both from Chaucers The Canterbury Tales. Although these two stories are very different, they both use irony to teach a lesson.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of the stories, The Pardoners Tale displaysRead More Powerful Satire in Chaucers Canterbury Tales Essay3466 Words   |  14 PagesPowerful Satire in The Canterbury Tales If one theme can be considered overriding or defining throughout Medieval European society, it would most likely be the concept of social class structure. During this early historical period in Europe, most of society was divided into three classes or estates: the workers, the nobles, and the clerics. By Chaucers time, however, the powerful estate structure had begun to wear down. Weaknesses in the system became apparent, as many people, such as ChaucerRead MoreThe Pardoner and His Tale Essay1236 Words   |  5 PagesThe Pardoner and His Tale The Pardoner is a renaissance figure that wanders the lands in hopes of bringing forgiveness to those in need. This Pardoner is a bad pardoner among the other pardoners. The tale that he tells is a moral one that is suppose to bring about the desire from people to ask for forgiveness. Instead the Pardoner uses this tale as a way of contracting money from his fellow pilgrims. The Pardoner is a person that is suppose to practice what he preaches. What that personRead More Canterbury Tales Essay - Wife of Bath as an Attack on Married Life?1291 Words   |  6 PagesCanterbury Tales - Wife of Bath is Not an Attack on Women and Married Life Feminists have proposed that the Prologue of the Wife of Bath is merely an attack on women and married life. The Prologue is spoken by a woman with strong opinions on how married life should be conducted, but is written by a man. It is important to examine the purpose with which Chaucer wrote it. This is especially so as many of the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales condemn themselves out of their own mouths, such asRead MoreSatire of the Knight in the Prologue and Knights Tale of The Canterbury Tales2192 Words   |  9 Pageswrote his Canterbury Tales. Websters New World Dictionary says that satire is the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to attack vices, follies, etc. Using that definition, I think that all of the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales are satirized to some extent; some of the satirizations are more subtle than others. The Knight is one of the pilgrims that is more subtly satirized. Chaucer satirizes knights and chivalry in two different ways: in the prologue and in the Knights Tale. The firstRead MoreCharacter Satire in Chaucers Canterbury Tales2302 Words   |  10 PagesSatire of the Knight in Prologue and Knights Tale Satire. Satire is a biting literary tool, one that Geoffery Chaucer used liberally when he wrote his Canterbury Tales. Websters New World Dictionary says that satire is the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to attack vices, follies, etc. Using that definition, I think that all of the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales are satirized to some extent; some of the satirizations are more subtle than others. The Knight is one of the pilgrimsRead More Chaucers Women From Eve to Mary Essay1272 Words   |  6 PagesChaucers Women From Eve to Mary The Middle Ages was an interesting time to be a woman. For centuries the church generally disapproved of, with equal measure, women and sex. Women were not even thought of as human beings, and were seen as necessary only in what they could do for their men. When the men left for the Crusades women were given a larger role in the upkeep of their husbands’ houses and estates, and assumed a more public role in the community. This gave the women a greater feeling

Social Classes And Gender, Ideology, And The Daily Lives...

There is a differentiation among both social classes and genders in regards to how they experienced poverty in Medieval Paris. In Sharon Farmer’s Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris: Gender, Ideology, and the Daily Lives of the Poor , the opposition between those of the upper and lower classes is evident by her observation of the impoverished being seen as less trustworthy. The distinction between how both genders experienced poverty is addressed. Women were viewed as a liability that could only be controlled by the male figure in their lives, usually a husband or father. Meanwhile, men were responsible for not only their own successes, but also the prosperity of their family. Jussi Hanska agrees with these claims made by Farmer, except he feels that there is some debate regarding how the penniless were perceived. The upper and lower class were regarded with different approaches by general society. Men and women of higher social standing were seen as equals. Their ability to work for an abundance of money defined them as less likely to be sinful and more able to control any desire to sin than those in poverty. In medieval times, their surroundings produced people who believed there was a correlation between the amount of money a person possessed and their dependability. If an underprivileged person witnessed a crime, but they did not own land, their word was disregarded and could not be trusted. In contrast, landowners were viewed as having more validity behind their words,Show MoreRelatedThe Major Classical Theorists Influenced The Economics Of A Nation And It Would Make The Nation Better1277 Words   |  6 Pagesgroup of enslaved and free blacks, poor whites, and women because of class exploitation, and these three groups were oppressed by capitalism. Marxism asserts that class is the primary source of inequality (Franks, 30). Marxism was created in the writings of Karl Marx and his colleague Friedrich Engels during the middle the to late 1800s (Franks, 29). The history of Marxism is controversial, and the ideas have influenced a lot of men and women to address social issues. Karl Marx stated that theRead MoreThe Issue Of Income Inequality Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the most deeply divisive issues in the United States is the question of income inequality: whether it exists and whether we are obliged to address it. The â€Å"American Dream† ideology which permeates most aspects of our daily life, influences an automatic response to income inequality to be that those at the bottom are not working hard enough and that those at the top have earned their wealth through hard work. These perceptions of poverty and inequality limit productive conversation that canRead MoreSocial Identity Effect On Life Chances1668 Wo rds   |  7 PagesSection 1.0: Social Identity Effect on Life Chances A person’s social identity may be difficult to identify but will include the following aspects to shape their identity and is based upon their group memberships. Social class, gender, ethnicity, ability / disability, nationality, and sexuality shape social identity. Their social identity affects their life chances in the ability to access education, employment, and prosperity. Section 1.1: Social Class Upper Class The upper classes because of theirRead MoreCultural Studies On Race And Social Classes1124 Words   |  5 PagesIn today s society, culture is impacting our everyday life, experience and social relations; we are all categorized by our cultural â€Å"groups†, but this has changed rapidly throughout the years from one generation to the next. Cultural studies were developed in the late 1950’s, through the 1970’s by the British academic scholars. The British scholars were able engaged cultural analysis and the developed then transformed of the different fields, for example, politically, theoretically and empiricallyRead MoreFood Choices Of College Life And Time Affect Eating Habits1188 Words   |  5 Pagesbalance busy lives and have limited income, so money and time often are critical when deciding what to eat. The main concepts of my research question have to do with what causes people to eat healthily or unhealthily. The point is to try to understand what influe nces people’s eating habits, primarily how social class and time influence eating habits. Healthy food is often much more expensive than unhealthy alternatives. Social inequality affects many different aspects of people’s lives. I am tryingRead MoreClass Is An Integral Part Of All Societies1711 Words   |  7 PagesDivision has become an integral part of all societies. These divisions range from gender, education, occupation and wealth. A combination of these and other dividing factors shape the manner in which and individual is perceived by their peers in a social setting. These factors make of the basis of a social class. Defined as a group of people who share economic resources that influence their lifestyles, class is ingrained in the minds of individuals in all societies. Although the elements that determinesRead MoreIs Social Justice Really Exist?924 Words   |  4 PagesHulya Eker Education 364-02 Social Justice Is social justice really exist? Social justice is having equal social rights and social opportunities with everyone else in a society and unfortunately it does not exist due to social stratification and unfair treatment of individuals with different traits (race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, etc). â€Å"Social Stratification can be described as socially-patterned inequality of access to things that a culture defines as desirable† (sociology.uchicagoRead MoreIn This Class I Have Learned That Sociology Is Everywhere.1227 Words   |  5 PagesIn this class I have learned that sociology is everywhere. I got a better understanding of how our life chances and shape by social structure and how it could have affected our self and society. We get understand where the people come from and understanding of behaviors and struggles of other people. We all watch movies right? Well in the movies they also replicate and show the understand of sociology even the movies that are bas e on true story. I watched two different movies such as â€Å"Stand and Deliver†Read Morethe verdict Essay1352 Words   |  6 Pagesof our personal lives to the larger groups on history (Conley, 2011). Mills states that this is the idea of an individual being able to understand their own life experiences by inserting themselves in their own time period and ability to gauge happenings in life by being aware of individuals surrounding you in the same circumstances (Conley, 2011). As I ponder the thought of sociological imagination, I tend to see this as a guideline of how society has impacted all of our lives. As history repeatsRead MoreAmerican Culture, English And American Literature, And English, By Dr. Neil Foley1308 Words   |  6 Pages Holding degrees in American Culture, English and American Literature, and English, Dr. Neil Foley specializes in the evolving components of race and social identity in what he calls the Borderlands: Mexico and the American West. The White Scourge: Mexicans, Blacks, and Poor Whites in Texas Cotton Culture bridges the gap between the narratives of two Borderlands histories, that of African-Americans and southern history, and that of Mexican-Americans and southwestern history. Looking at Texas, and

Langston Hughes And Bob Dylan Essay Example For Students

Langston Hughes And Bob Dylan Essay Literature and Composition IILangston Hughes and Bob DylanLangston Hughes and Bob Dylan are two poets from different eras in modern American poetry. Although Bob Dylan is more characterized as a songwriter, I see much of his work as poetry. In this essay, I will discuss Hughes poem Harlem 1 and Dylans Times They Are A-Changin as commentaries on are culture, but from different backgrounds. Both poets use social protest to make their points. Langston is talking of times that were not particularly good in any way for African Americans. In the poem Harlem 1, he speaks of a time when black people were considered lower than the average American citizen. He remembers how they were not accepted when he was younger; and for him and his race, he feels things havent changed; and even if they had, how could the past be forgotten or forgiven?Sure, we remember. Now when the man at the corner storeSays sugars gone up another two cents. And bread one, And theres a new tax on cigarettes-We remember the job we never had,Never could get,And cant have nowBecause were colored. (768) In this verse of the poem he is talking about how African Americans have viewed the world from Harlem and live and unjust life, how can they forget that. Bob Dylan speaks of social protest throughout his poem. He is proclaiming to the world that we shall all come together and forget the past for a united future. He is saying that everything that has been normal is about to change. Come gather round people Wherever you roamAnd admit that the watersAround you have grownAnd accept it that soonYoull be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savinThen you better start swimminOr youll sink like a stoneFor the times they are a chagin. (711)A difference in the two poets definitely comes into play when we look at of the speakers in these poems. Hughes persona is that of a black male looking back on how the black race was treated badly, but he is expressing the beauty in their struggle. Hughes talks about why black Americans should achieve their goals, On the Cultural Achievements of African AmericansThere is so much richness in Negro humor, so much beauty in black dreams, so much dignity in our struggle, and so much universality in our problems, in us-in each living human being of color-that I do not understand the tendency today that some American Negro artists have of seeking to run away from themselves, of running away from us, of being afraid to sing our own songs, paint our own pictures, write about our selves-when it is our music that has given America is greatest music out humor that has e nriched its entertainment media for the past 100 years, out rhythm that has guided its dancing feet From plantation days to the CharlestonYet there are some of us who say, Why write about Negroes? Why not just a writer? And why not-if no one wants to be just a writer? Negroes in a free world should be whatever each wants to be-even if it means being just a writer (Hughes, 773)On the other hand, Dylans young white male speaker states that the youth of America is changing socially and warning adults to join in or get out of the way. Come mother and father Throughout the land And dont criticize What you cant understand Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your demand Your old is Rapidly agin Please get out of the new one If you cant lend your hand For the times they are a changin (711)The speaker has a strong sense of unity for the human race to move ahead in the world. Ginsberg stated about this album, Now hes going deeper into an exploration of American roots, which is interesting particularly for one who hasnt been doing that (3). He was saying that in that point of Dylans life he has taken more of an attention to country pride. .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 , .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .postImageUrl , .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 , .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:hover , .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:visited , .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:active { border:0!important; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 { 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; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:active , .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .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; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2 .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u77b12e757b29cd953bca5499118fbda2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Julius Ceasar: Overview EssayBoth poems are told from the first person point of view, and speak of personal feelings, yet Dylan uses rhyme, and Hughes uses free verse. Perhaps, Dylan rhymes for the sole purpose of melody. The biggest difference that I see between these two poets is the time eras and their ages. For Hughes it was the year 1949 when he wrote this poem at the age of 47. He was old enough to make a safe judgement call that not much more could improve for his race in his own lifetime, and if it did, it could not change the fact that for most of his life he couldnt feel equal to the white race. Dylan was 29 when he wrote his poem in 1979. When you compare 1949 t o 1979, incredible differences and obstacles have been hurdled. In 1979, black Americans were equal, not separate but equal. I think Hughes might have taken the same view as Dylan if he were alive then. Also Dylan, at 29 and having his life not even half over, gave him more of a hopeful view on how America and Americans could become. Hughes was looking for more of a revenge on how his race was treated. So we stand here On the edge of hellIn Harlem And look out on the worldAnd wonderWhat are we gonna doIn the face of what We remember. (768)In conclusion these poets have both proved to be dedicated to changing our society, but in opposite ways. Hughes takes the angry resentful view and Dylan takes the reconstructing positive one. The individual styles work for these remarkable artists.Words/ Pages : 994 / 24

Improving Customer Service Essay Example

Improving Customer Service Essay An additional method in which Disneyland Paris helps to maintain high levels of customers is by focusing of queues is by providing customers who have not purchased a fast pass with entertainment, therefore making the queuing part of the Disneyland experience. Disneyland Paris also has to maintain the good corporate image of the Disneyland Company as a whole; Disneyland is known for charm in its welcome, efficiency and cleanliness. These standards are being followed by Disneyland Paris. Part of the Disneyland image also comes from communication systems; all cast members are encouraged to communicate with customers whenever possible. Each special customer group has a team, which deals directly with their needs, for example, groups, conventions, school parties, special needs, etc. All cast members are trained to communicate with positive body language and with a smile on their face or in terms of the telephone with their voice. This will help customers feel welcomed and comfortable around cast members, thus, increase customer satisfaction and in turn the high quality of customer service will be maintained. As all cast members are trained to a high standard, they are also all given a handbook on all aspects of the complex, so any cast member should be able to give sales assistance and advice. It is important in customer care that consideration is given to all budgets. At both shops and restaurants you will find a wide variation in prices to meet every pocket. We will write a custom essay sample on Improving Customer Service specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Improving Customer Service specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Improving Customer Service specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This will help to increase and maintain Disneylands high level of customer service as it will give customers a wide variety of quality and prices to choose from which in turn, will make customers feel valued and have all their needs catered for, this consequently, will increase customer satisfaction. The analysis of customer service quality is of major importance to Disneyland Paris. Therefore, each year Disneyland creates a full appraisal which involves all aspects of the organisation. Disneyland Paris is a labour intensive organisation and therefore assessment of employees is a major part of any appraisal but equally important are aspects such as VFM, maintaining safety, and maintaining the magic. This would consequently be important when maintaining a high standard of customer service as if cast members knew what they had achieved and been given goals and targets to achieve they would be better motivated and in turn would provide a high level of customer service as they would have some purpose at Disneyland. In personnel terms points to consider would be reliability of service, consistency of service, staffing levels, provision for individual and special needs and qualities of the staff. Customer care is therefore at forefront of all the operations of Disneyland Paris, from th e development of new attractions and services to the individual attention to detail and specific adaptations and facilities for guests with special needs. It would also be vital to the success of Disneyland Paris that they monitor the high quality of customer service they provide. In order to achieve this Disneyland carries out a number of methods to monitor customer service. The first an only method in which Disneyland Paris can monitor customer service is by; gathering information from customers about the level of customer service in which had been provided. In order to achieve this and gain this vital information they ask customers to fill out a short questionnaire at the end of their holiday to evaluate their stay in the Disneyland Resort. From this information Disneyland Paris can evaluate what customers on a whole feel and identify areas which they need to improve and which areas they need to maintain. This will successfully monitor the level of customer service provided and help to increase and maintain a high standard of customer service. Improving Customer Service After analysing this information about how Disneyland Paris monitor and maintain customer service I have concluded some possible suggestions as to how the current procedures can be changed or altered. Firstly, I have identified that Disneyland Paris could improve the customer service through providing high achieving staff with either bonuses to pay or a range of fringe benefits. These fringe benefits may include a good pension plan or reduced health care. I have identified that as Disneyland are short of money, these are fairly low cost bonuses for cast members to receive, however, these bonuses will help to increase the motivation of cast members as they will feel like a valued member of the team and will generate high satisfaction once these goals and targets have been met, thus, providing and maintaining the high standard of customer service Disneyland offers. I have also identified that Disneyland could implement a new method of monitoring the level of customer service provided in and around the Disneyland Resort. I believe that Disneyland should introduce regular staff meetings in order to discus how cast members feel the level of customer service could potentially be hindered and set in place methods to ensure these problems do not arise and affect the level of customer service which Disneyland provide. This would be the case as cast members who do the job day-in day-out would be able to spot things which managers higher up may not spot. This would also lead to cast members feeling more valued as they are helping the success of Disneyland Paris as a company not just working for them. As cast members would feel more valued this would lead to an increase in motivated for cast members and in turn would lead to an increase in customer service, thus, maintaining the level of customer service.

Glock free essay sample

This pistol called the glock became the number one gun choice in the United States for criminals and law enforcements. This weapon was made in 1982 and was adopted by the Austrian army. Before making this gun Gaston asked what they wanted to see in a gun for improvements. The improvements that they wanted to see were that it had a larger ammunition capacity, more durable, reliable, and easy to use. This gun consisted of 36 parts and could hold 17 bullets. This gun is a great gun and easy to use which also became a problem for the United States. In 1992, a man from Killeen, Texas named George Hennard opened fire at a caf © after crashing is pick-up truck into the building; twenty-two people died and many more were injured from Hennards rampage. This was an instance that showed that the Glock pistol could be obtained by a citizen, the pistol was legal to buy. We will write a custom essay sample on Glock or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Gaston, a native of Austria invented the Glock in 1982. Samples of the pistol were used for the Austrian army for ample and reliable use. In 1986 the shoot-out in Miami brought the awareness of the resources that criminals could obtain weapons that proved to be stronger than the law enforcement. What makes the Glock different than what the other guns were manufactured out of was the special plastic that Gaston used. Polymer plastic is a very strong plastic that is resistant to corrosion which differed from traditional steel guns. The guns made of steel were heavy and the bullets were loaded individually. With the Glock, the clip held seventeen bullets which was a greater number than a regular steel gun. Gaston wanted the most powerful gun to be the product of this idea. Gaston had begun making knives and clip belts for the Austrian army. All these inventions were made in his work shop which was his garage. He would study and analyze what the army was starting w for instance a knife and he would construct a blade and handle that could adapt ore to an ever evolving military strategy. Gastons Glock was put through rigorous tests of heat, ice, sand and mud. Experiments were conducted to test the durability of the pistol; other guns such as the HK failed to the comparison of the Glock 17. In Spring 1984, Gaston traveled to the town of DeutschWagram where he bought property to have his workshop expanded. He had hired 3 dozen Turkish immigrants but as his gun and company grew, his contract and business plan only expanded to the Austrian army. As more countries learned of the capability of the Glock 17, they nquired more information and wanted the product. Gaston had little income and didnt know how to manufacture his product with an increasingly growing market. Gastons entrepreneur acquaintance, Karl Walter suggested that Gaston should expand to the United States. This was not only a good marketing approach but what would be a large investment for the United States for the high demand for a gun such as the Glock 17. Gaston and Walter traveled to the United States to seek perspective customers, such as different military branches and to see what other guns were as sophisticated as the Glock 17. The American police departments were the first to get the opportunity of using the Glock 17. The tasks of an officer and the weapon that an officer used had to be reliable, quick and powerful; the pistol provided all three attributes and clearly made an indent to the efficiency of the squads. In 1985, Gaston made the transition to Georgia from Austria. Walter and Gaston began to write up prices and a full commercial whole sale price which was $360. 00 and a recommended resale price of $560. 00. Each gun sold brought Gaston $260. 00, the easier and simpler design allowed for a larger profit. The two men began anufacturing and the beginning estimate compared to the actual selling of the guns far surpassed what Gaston and Walter estimated. They sold 20,400 pistols within the first year, going far past what they had initially thought. Trade shows of the pistol became popular; along with the gun being legal it was very attainable by anyone. As the company and brand grew, more criminals saw this gun as the opening to a wider door. With the special product of plastic that Gaston used in the Glock 17, the gun was to be outlawed because the plastic would not be shown on a metal detector where a steel gun would. It was making it past airport authorities and even through the Pentagon. In regards to the Pentagon, an experiment was conducted where an agent had taped a Glock 17, and the HK to the bottom of his briefcase; it did not show up in the screening. This was a growing concern for hijackers to be able to sneak a Glock 17 past officials. It became a threat to the innocent. But instead of the gun being on the chopping block, it was the mechanics and machinery that the security systems were made of. The Glock 17 did not get banned and continued to grow as a powerful and popular weapon. Although Gaston eengineered the gun to be more detectable through these new security systems so that a gun like the Glock 17 could be detected. Some of the opposing forces of the gun called it the invisible gun and samples were given out to law enforcement to test the gun. Thus bringing in a larger scale of customers; 9 out of 10 officers said that they would like to keep the sample Glock 17 they were given. Karl and Pam, Karls wife, were the driving force behind the gun gaining as much hype as it would of if Gaston was working alone. The Walters would stay at the warehouse over night tor the lack of security. They would repackage, record serial numbers down and send the products out to United Parcel Services. Karl Walter began to make discounts to law enforcement, making the gun more desirable and more appealing. The Glock 17 then became and still is today the most popular gun used in law enforcement. The Glock 17 even transitioned into Hollywood, being used as a super gun that made the bad guy look tough and powerful. In 1990, one movie specifically, Die Hard 2, actor Bruce Willis holds the Beretta while the terrorists are armed with the Glock which brings back the US subliminally places the idea that the Glock is a hijacker special. Bruce Willis lied about the Glock 17, saying that the gun was made in Germany and that it was more than what a police officer makes as a monthly salary. This all being false, Hollywood was painting an image of the gun which had the media talking about the gun again and as Karl Walter said it was fabulous publicity. Any publicity is good publicity. As Gaston Glock started with the worldwide manufacturing of the Glock 17, his director of Glock trustee, Charles Ewert, who was a trustee of 15 years and a very close friend of Glocks exhibited the wrongs that can happen between a business and the people involved. Ewert had been taking money from the company and had planned the assassination of Glock. In Luxembourg 1999, Ewert had hired a man to attack Glock in a parking lot. Ewert and Glock walked together, eventually the assassinator Jumped out as Ewert ran away. Glock was badly injured, the plan that Ewert had been that Gaston would die from this random attack and he would take over the company. Ewert had estimated around 100 million dollars in funds to an off shore account. Gastons lawyer quickly noticed a large amount of money missing from specific funds. Paul Jannuzzds, who was Glocks CEO was charged with embezzlement nd racketeering. Ewert and Jannuzzo both attest that Glock was no victim. Glock made personally around $200,000 a day. With all that money flowing in and out of the company the men thought that no one would notice. The money was described as monopoly money, constantly flowing in, the company growing so quickly and funds growing every day. Over the course of the fifteen years the production in the US and Austria had been producing, Ewert was extracting from the 14% that was going into Gastons funds. 14% of that 100 million were going straight into Gastons accounts and then being moved to Ewerts off shore accounts. With this, both Ewert and Jannuzzo fell from grace, Jannuzzo spent 7 years in a prison with 13 years of probation. Other employees contributed over $80,000 to congressional candidates at the companys own expense. These are the very hard down falls that large amounts of money bring; it can potentially ruin a company, turn a CEO into a theft and corrupt. With Gaston Glock starting with a simple idea, expanding it into a larger scale in Austria then transitioning into America makes his Glock 17 a very successful product. The pistol far surpassed any test and expectation that either Karl Walter or Gaston had. As any successful company, the opportunities for destruction and greed can determine whether a company floats or sinks. With the Glock Inc. in 2013, the gun is still popular and still easily grossing Gaston on an average of $200,000 a day. Gaston Glock worked hard for his achievements. Gaston started off as a small business man and turned himself into a giant company. He had to work through many ditterent marketing strategies to make his business grow to where it is. He nad a lot of downfalls come along with his business, negative publicity, bad rep, and employees stealing. When it comes to owning a business you have to be prepared because it can make you or break you and Gaston showed that he had what it took. He went through a tough time marketing his new product the Glock 17. Not a lot of people were interested because he was a no name trying to sell this plastic gun. He got his name out there and showed that his product was the best product and that it was worth the cost. References Barrett, P. (2012). Glock The Rise of Americas Gun. New York City: Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. com/authors/1989-paul-m- barrett

Free Essays on Recycled Concrete

INTRODUCTION Nothing lasts forever. The same is true for concrete. Trouble with this rubble is that it can't be compacted, and it doesn't decompose. Putting waste to work is not a new concept. Reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering waste has become and everyday occurrence. Nearly a half a billion tons of waste every year, approximately eight pounds (3.6 kilograms of waste for every person every day)[i]. The use of recycled materials helps save material as well as energy. This trend has recently been increasing. Portland cement concrete can be reclaimed during demolition and crushed into a coarse granular material that can be used as a substitute for virgin crushed rock and used as structural fill in many applications. Aggregate processors are beginning to accept reclaimed concrete for a "tipping fee" significantly lower than the cost of landfilling the waste material.[ii] The main parts of the report will discuss: (1) Material and energy savings (2) Background on how recycled concrete is checked (3) Test descriptions of these methods when used for structural fill MATERIAL AND ENERGY SAVINGS The usage of recycled concrete as a structural fill material instead of natural aggregate is steadily increasing. In many regions, recycled aggregate may cost 20% to 30% less that of natural aggregate.[iii] Landfill costs for debris continue to rise and the landfills become more heavily regulated, it makes economic sense to use alternative means of disposal of concrete from construction and demolition operations. More disposal sites are opening up and contractors are incorporating recycling into their operations to decrease disposal costs. Recycled concrete aggregate is increasingly available and is often an economical alternative to new aggregate. Project managers can ensure that their contractors are aware of opportunities to recycle this material and can require the use ... Free Essays on Recycled Concrete Free Essays on Recycled Concrete INTRODUCTION Nothing lasts forever. The same is true for concrete. Trouble with this rubble is that it can't be compacted, and it doesn't decompose. Putting waste to work is not a new concept. Reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering waste has become and everyday occurrence. Nearly a half a billion tons of waste every year, approximately eight pounds (3.6 kilograms of waste for every person every day)[i]. The use of recycled materials helps save material as well as energy. This trend has recently been increasing. Portland cement concrete can be reclaimed during demolition and crushed into a coarse granular material that can be used as a substitute for virgin crushed rock and used as structural fill in many applications. Aggregate processors are beginning to accept reclaimed concrete for a "tipping fee" significantly lower than the cost of landfilling the waste material.[ii] The main parts of the report will discuss: (1) Material and energy savings (2) Background on how recycled concrete is checked (3) Test descriptions of these methods when used for structural fill MATERIAL AND ENERGY SAVINGS The usage of recycled concrete as a structural fill material instead of natural aggregate is steadily increasing. In many regions, recycled aggregate may cost 20% to 30% less that of natural aggregate.[iii] Landfill costs for debris continue to rise and the landfills become more heavily regulated, it makes economic sense to use alternative means of disposal of concrete from construction and demolition operations. More disposal sites are opening up and contractors are incorporating recycling into their operations to decrease disposal costs. Recycled concrete aggregate is increasingly available and is often an economical alternative to new aggregate. Project managers can ensure that their contractors are aware of opportunities to recycle this material and can require the use ...

Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 5

Marketing Plan - Essay Example The product is called Slate, which is customized tablet computer for younger students at the preschool and early childhood level. The marketing plan is therefore to set out the objective for the sale of the Slate in the next 3 years. The plan is based on the current marketing audit of the firm, which is in the tablets market. Based on the marketing audit, appropriate market strategies are adopted to make the achievability of the objectives possible. To gain a better understanding of the current market in which the Slate will be marketed, a SWOT analysis is used to examine the internal environment of the company selling the product, and a competitor analysis is used for the external environment of the company. Based on information given in figure 1, it would be noted that Apple, Samsung, Asus, and Lenovo are the three leading global competitors. A competitor array model which is based on the benchmarking theory (Darden & Babin, 1994) is there used to produce a competitor matrix for the four major competitors. The competitor array model identifies four major industry success factors and assigns a weighting for each of them (Chan-Olmsted & Jamison, 2001). Each competitor is then rated based on the industry success factor so as to find the intensity of competitiveness of each competitor. The outcome with the competitor matrix is given below. Based on the matrix above, it would be seen that with reference to the key industry success factors, Samsung presents the highest competitive rivalry followed by Apple, Asus and Lenovo respectively. The competition from these companies would be experienced if they switch to the product innovation of the Slate, which focuses specifically on early childhood educational syllabus content. In order to achieve the objectives set above, it will be important that some marketing theories and frameworks will be applied in the