Rethinking Performance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Rethinking Performance Management - Essay Example Behavioral pattern of the suppliers and the clients and concentration in the supply makes entrepreneurs more competitive in the global market. In the market where the customers are diverse, a different approach to the market may be of great benefit to entrepreneur in a new market (Keillor 2011). The trends of innovating products and services in a particular environment have been used by multinational companies in their new products. Taking for instance the travel business in the United States, the business involves serving both the natives and the international visitors. Globalization and liberalization of economies have allowed companies to invent new ideas suitable for the developing markets. Globalization has pressurized companies to continue innovating new ideas of conducting businesses. Though much innovation has been witnessed in the global market, entrepreneurs have found it harder to penetrate the market to ever changing business environment and competition (Griffin 2005). There is more opportunity for growth due to innovation and completion in the global market. Entrepreneurs in the global markets seem to prefer working centrally and doing business from a central position. However Companies benefit international market therefore centralization of business no longer applies in the global markets (Keillor 2011). ... This continuous process entails measurement, appraisal, monitoring, controlling, rewarding and feedback processes (Gary, 2011). Organisational goals are achieved through strategic plans, which are further executed and controlled through effective performance management systems that are applicable for managing performance of the employees, organisational systems and processes. in an ideal state, performance management system is highly beneficial for the company in terms of improving employee motivation and self-esteem; in gaining better understanding of the employees’ abilities and attitudes; achieving better job role and goal clarity; creating appropriate administrative actions; improving employees’ competencies on a continuous basis; better adherence to regulations; introducing better timely interventions to performance improvement; better execution of organisational changes; and in achieving better and predictable growth for the company (Aguinis, 2009). However, Crawf ord’s (2006) article critiques performance management system as a whole by highlighting that performance management related studies indicate otherwise and regard it as a flawed system because the findings from these studies show that despite managing performance, 96% organisations still experience poor performance; very few performance management systems have been proved to be effective; organisations continue to experience huge losses due to poor performance. Crawford (2006) highlighted three main reasons for the failure of performance management: firstly, the notion that performance can be managed is a myth; secondly, performance management has become more of a mechanically driven process without accounting for human factor involvement; thirdly, managers

Role of education in changing gender relations and empowerment of Literature review

Role of education in changing gender relations and empowerment of women - Literature review Example This essay "Role of education in changing gender relations and empowerment of women" outlines the role of the schooling and equal rights and attitude to both genders in society. Findings from Wajcman (2013: p29) show that there is a complex relationship between overall education rates of penetration in countries and differences between these rates in men and women. A report on statistical analysis of various developed and developing nations found that relationships between overall literacy divide and gender divide is tenuous and is not supportive of the argument that literacy and gender move together. This shows that there is a need for the disentanglement of social aspects of education access from others that are more related to physical access. Groups with power and privilege normally leverage this combination of social and physical access in different ways, as compared to marginalized and vulnerable groups (Wajcman, 2013: p29). Most experts argue that the ethnocentric western way in which educational empowerment is interpreted does not take into consideration the social and historical contexts within which education is used and accessed. Time for women is a vital resource whose supply is short and, therefore, any educational solution that seeks to improve women’s lives and improve their choices and empowerment should be seen as accessible and relevant means to improve efficiency, instead of as an additional load to their already numerous responsibilities (Wajcman, 2013: p29).... Gender differences in education are variously described as rooted in perceptions and attitudes concerning education. For example, time for women is a vital resource whose supply is short and, therefore, any educational solution that seeks to improve women’s lives and improve their choices and empowerment should be seen as accessible and relevant means to improve efficiency, instead of as an additional load to their already numerous responsibilities (Wajcman, 2013: p29). Beyond the leisure time for women away from productive and reproductive tasks, which is limited, women usually do not have the required mobility to go to school, which may be symptomatic of carious socio-economic factors, safety precautions, and cultural restrictions. Improved education and literacy are linked with correlated improvements in participation in global and local communities, as well as in individual empowerment. According to Kane (2005: p78), women living in developing nations are in the deepest po rtion of the education divide and are increasingly removed from this experience by their male counterparts who share their poverty. Factors that are engendered, such as language, constraints of time, income, cultural contexts, and education, affect the access by women to employment, education, and to academic institutions. The limited access to education by women comes from illiteracy barriers, time constraints, and preoccupation with their survival in oppressive and egalitarian socio-cultural practices and norms, the predominantly urban nature of the academic facilities, and its high costs (Kane, 2005: p78). Therefore, literacy and education are

Human Rights under Indian Law

Human Rights under Indian Law 1.3.4 Other Fundamental Rights (Unremunerated Fundamental Rights) A number of rights are not stated in the Covenant, are not even laid down in part III of the Constitution. In A.D M. Jabalpur V. S. Shukla[1] the Supreme Court by a majority of four to one, held that the Constitution of India did not recognize any natural or common law rights other than that expressly conferred in the Constitution. Though the attitude of the Supreme Court has changed especially after 1978. The courts on many occasions by accepting the rule of judicial construction have held that regard must be paid to International Conventions and norms for constructing domestic law. In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India,[2] Justice Bhagwati in the Special Bench for the Supreme Court observed that: The expression ‘personal liberty’ in article 21 is of the widest amplitude and it covers a variety of rights, which go to constitute the personal liberty of man and some of them have been raised to the status of distinct fundamental rights and given additional protection under Article 19. No person can be deprived of his right to go abroad unless there is a law made by the State prescribing the procedure for so depriving him; and the deprivation is effected strictly in accordance with such procedure. The following rights are contained in the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They are available to the citizens of India through judicial decisions, even if and though they are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. Right to travel abroad (Article 21): The right to travel abroad is a guaranteed right under Article 12 paragraph (2) of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In Sathwant Singh Sawlmey D, Ramanathan, Assistant Passport Officer,[3] New Delhi, the Court held that the right to go abroad is part of an individual’s personal liberty within the meaning of Article 21, Right to privacy (Articles 21 and 19 (1) (d)): This right is stipulated under Article 17 paragraph (1) of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In Kharak Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh[4] it was held by the Supreme Court that the ‘domiciliary visits’ is an infringement of the right to privacy and is violative of the citizen’s fundamental rights of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21. Right against solitary confinement Right to human dignity Right to free legal aid in a criminal trial Right to speedy trial Right against handcuffing Right against delayed execution Right against custodial violence Right against public hanging Right to health care or doctor’s assistance Right to shelter Right to pollution free environment Freedom of the press Right to know Right to compensation Right to release and rehabilitation of bonded labor Right of inmates of protection homes Thus we can notice that how the rights, whether formally enshrined or not, whether available to citizens or non-citizens, form such a palpable ingredient in being able to lead a life. Moving ahead, we can focus upon the rights and bills that are specifically concerned with child rights and encapsulated to guarantee assistance to child development. This study aims to focus on the issue of child trafficking; a concern deeply embedded in the larger canvas of human trafficking which broadly includes other than child. The Article 21 (A) of the constitution of India deals with the Right to Child Education included in the Constitution by the Eighty Sixth Constitution Amendment Act, 2002. In order to make the right to free and compulsory education for a child, the Constitution’s 83rd Amendment Bill 1997 was introduced in Rajya Sabha to insert a new article 21 A in the Constitution. However, the Bill was withdrawn on November 27, 2001. On November 28, 2001 the Constitution 93rd Amendment Bill 2001 was introduced and passed by unanimous vote in the Lok Sabha, and the on May 14, 2002 in Rajya Sabha with formal amendments as 86th Constitutional amendment. Before the Constitutional process started for making the right to education a fundamental right, the Supreme Court in J. P. Unnikrishnan and others v. The State of Andhra Pradesh[5] held that every citizen of this country has the right to free education until he completes the age of fourteen years. Indeed there is not a doubt that such a right if rightly enforced, could be directly or indirectly responsible for mitigation of many problems including trafficking. The detailed discussion of child rights and timely measures adopted to safeguard childhood will not be complete without the discussion of POSCO Bill. The President of India on June 12, 2012 assented the Act. . This Act was introduced to protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexualharassment and pornography and provide for establishment of Special Courts for trials of such offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The very same consequences of child trafficking are dealt with in such laws. It can be well noted that Clause (3) of the Article 15 of the Constitution empowers the State to make special provisions for children and in India. The wellbeing of a child are regarded as being of paramount importance at every stage, as the law operates in a manner to ensure a healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of a child. Further to monitor the implementation of the objectives enshrined in the constitution the Central Government has appointed a National Commission for Minorities, a National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and a National Commission for Women. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) came into being in 1993 by virtue of the Protection of Human Rights Act. NHRC has become an agency to figure with, and has carved out a place for itself in the assortment of Indian national institutions for implementation of human rights. India is also a party to the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the child, adopted on December 11, 1992 .The convention has prescribed a certain set of standards in order to ensure and secure the best interests of the child. India being a party to this convention, is obligated to follow all the set of standards in guaranteeing such safeguards to child/children. The State parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child are required to undertake all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent- inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawfulsexual activity the exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful activity the exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials This Act is enacted by the Parliament to be extended to all the parts of India, excepting Jammu and Kashmir. This brings our notice to laws and Acts that extends to even Jammu and Kashmir. India is also a signatory to the UNCRC which defines the age of a child i.e. below 18 years. Countries all over the world use this definition. A child between the ages of 0-18 years is not allowed to vote, sign a contract or engage a lawyer. The Juvenile Justice Act enacted in India in 1986 (which was enacted in Jammu and Kashmir too by 1997, and the rules adopted in Jammu and Kashmir by 2007) came as beginning of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)Act 2000. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 is the primary legal framework for juvenile justice. The Act provides for a special approach towards the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and provides a framework for the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of children in the purview of the juvenile justice system. This law, brought in compliance of Child Rights Convention 1989, repealed the earlier Juvenile Justice Act of 1986 after India signed and ratified Child Rights Convention 1989 in year 1992. This Act has been further amended in year 2006 and 2010. Technically even though this Act talks about Juvenile only , it is nevertheless essential in our study of child trafficking for this age group which according to India, are also highly targeted and disregarding the technical and formal description of age, this age group (16-18) ends up being a vulnerable target to human trafficking. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act is considered to be an extremely progressive legislation and Model Rules 2007 have further added to the effectiveness of this welfare legislation. However the implementation is a very serious concern even in year 2013 and Supreme Court of India is constantly looking into the implementation of this law in Sampurna Behrua Versus Union of India and Bachpan Bachao Andolan Versus Union of India. In addition to Supreme Court, various High Courts in India, specifically Bombay High Court and Allahabad High Courts are also monitoring implementation of JJ Act in judicial proceedings. In order to upgrade the Juvenile Justice Administration System, Government of India launched Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in year 2009-10 whereby financial allocations have been increased and various existing schemes have been merged under one scheme. 1.4 Other Measures of Protection of Human Rights under Indian Law The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956 Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 Employment of Children Act, 1938 (Amended in 1985) The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 The National Commission for Women Act, 1990 The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 The National Commission for Safari Karamcharis Act, 1993 The National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 The Mental Health Act, 1993 1.5 Fundamental Duties and Human Rights Part IV(A) of the Constitution vests the Fundamental Duties of every Indian citizen (Article 51-A). This clause was inserted by 42nd Amendment 1976. The duties are to respect the Constitution and its institutions, to live by the noble ideals of the freedom struggle, to protect the sovereignty and integrity of India, to defend the country, to promote communal harmony, to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women, to preserve the cultural heritage, to protect and improve the natural environment, to have compassion for living creatures, to develop the scientific temper, to safeguard public property and abjure violence and to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity. In 2002 The Eighty- sixth Constitutional Amendment inserted a new clause (k) in Article 51(A) making it the duty of parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or as the case may be, ward between the ages of 6 and 14 years. In the subsequent years it appeared that parts III, IV and IV (a) of the Constitution are heavily depended upon the judiciary for their interpretation and application. The various ‘reasonable restrictions’ clauses mentioned in Part III, Article 21, and the rarely used Part IV-A have given the judiciary ample scope for reviewing the administrative and legislative action. Infact, Article 21 has allowed judicial institutions to act as a catalyst in pushing the State to implement the DPSPs with respect to the â€Å"life and personal liberty.† 1.6 Directive Principles of State Policy and Human Rights The non-enforceable rights in Part IV of the Constitution are mainly those of economic and social in nature. However, Article 37 makes it clear that despite being non enforceable it does not weaken the duty of the State to apply them in making laws, due to their fundamental nature. Additionally, the innovative jurisprudence of the Supreme Court has now read into Article 21 (the right to life and personal liberty) many of these principles and made them enforceable.[6] Reading in nutshell we can find that they demarcate the duties of the State, i.e. encompassing securing a social order with justice, social, economic and securing for â€Å"the citizens, men and women equally† the right to an adequate means of livelihood. (Article 38). They directdistribution of ownership and control of community resources to subserve the common good., prevent concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment , secure equal pay for equal work for both men and women, prevent abuse of labor, including child labor , ensure child development , ensure equal justice and free legal aid organize village democracies (Article 39). In Article 40, constitution sates the provision of the right to work, education and public assistance in case of unemployment, old age sickness and disability. Article 41 vests provision of humane conditions of work, whereasArticle 42 entails the living wage and a decent standard of life and so on so forth. Hence it can be witnessed that these directives aim to include the indispensable provisions for development of child and education for children amongst the other essential directives i.e. to provide for human rights and decent standard of living. 1.7 Political Rights and Human Rights India being the largest representative democracy in the world is based on universal adult suffrage, providing every Indian of at least eighteen years of age the right to vote. The Constitution of India provides for direct elections to the House of the People of the Central Parliament, i.e. the Lok Sabha and the State [Provincial) Legislative Assemblies, once in every five years.. The right to vote, the; right to contest elections, and the conduct of elections are all governed by the Constitution (Part XV) as well as special laws like the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 1.8 Judiciary and Human Rights The vanguard of human rights, the Judiciary is one of the three organ of Government in India. It performs this function by innovative interpretation of the constitution with regard to the human rights provisions. The Supreme Court in the case Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib[7] declared that it has a special responsibility, â€Å"to enlarge the range and meaning of the fundamental rights and to advance the human rights jurisprudence.† The Supreme Court of India and the State High Courts have unequivocal powers under the Constitution to enforce the fundamental rights and it has liberally interpreted these powers. The major contributions of the judiciary to the human rights jurisprudence have been two-fold: (a) The substantive expansion of the concept of human rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, and (b) The procedural innovation of Public interest Litigation. 1.8.1 Expansion of Article 21 Article 21 remains the core concern in our discussions of human rights and it is essential to read it in much details. Article 21 reads as follows, – â€Å"No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.† The expansion of Article 21 of the Constitution has taken place in two respects: The expression â€Å"the procedure established by law† was interpreted in the case A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras[8] in the year 1950, the very first year of the Constitution, the Supreme Court in, reflecting on the intentions of the Constitution-makers, held that â€Å"procedure established by law† only meant that a procedure had to be set by law enacted by a Legislature. This phrase was deliberately used in Article 21 in preference to the American â€Å"Due Process† clause. Three decades later, in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India case, the Supreme Court noted that â€Å"the Supreme Court rejected its earlier interpretation and holds that the procedure contemplated under Article 21 is a right, just and fair procedure, not an arbitrary or oppressive procedure.†[9] The procedure, which is reasonable and fair, must now be in conformity with the test of article 14 — â€Å"in effect it has become a Due Process.† There is no doubt that the experience of National Emergency (1975-1977) prompted the court to go all out for vindication of human rights. Since Maneka Gandhi’s case, every case of infringement of rights by the Legislature has undergone judicial scrutiny in terms of the new guideline laid down by the Supreme Court of India. Further, this case led to the establishing of the due process norm, which included rights like, right to claim legal aid for the poor and the right to expeditious trial etc.[10] The judiciary interpreted ‘the right to life and personal liberty† to comprehend all basic conditions for a life with dignity and liberty. The judiciary has interpreted the word â€Å"Life† to include the right to possession of each organ of one’s body and a prohibition of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment by Police. In the Francis Coralie Mullin v. The Administrator, Union territory of Delhi[11] case, the Supreme Court held that â€Å"life† couldn’t be restricted to mere animal existence, or physical survival. Hence it can be summed up that the right to life means the right to live with dignity and availing the basic necessities of life such as adequate nutrition, clothing, shelter and facilities for reading, writing and expressing oneself. Many cases in High Courts and the Supreme Court often revealed â€Å"a shocking state of affairs and portray a complete lack of concern for human values.† . Justice Bhagwati held â€Å"if a person is deprived of his liberty under a procedure which is not ‘reasonable’, ‘fair’ or ‘just’, it would fall foul of Article 21. The following cases will through light that how time and again this Fundamental right has come to the rescue during the violation of Fundamental Rights. In Deoraj Khatri v. State of Bihar [12]case the Police brutality was raised in which 80 suspected criminals were brutally blinded during Police investigation (Bhagalpur Blinding case). The Supreme Court condemned it as a â€Å"barbaric act and a crime against mankind.† Where as in Sheela Barse, The State of Maharashtra case, the Court was heard the plight of custodial violence against women and in judgment it laid down certain guidelines against torture and ill treatment of women in Police custody and jails. The Supreme Court has held a right to monetary compensation for deprivations of the right to life and liberty suffered at the hands of the State under Article 21. In, Paramanand Katra v. Union of India, The health problems of workers in the asbestos industry led the Supreme Court to rule that the right to life and liberty under Article 21 also encompasses the right of the workers to health and medical aid.[13] [1] A.I.R. 1976 S.C. 1207 at 1293 [2] A.I.R. 1978 S.C. 597 [3] A.I.R. 1967 S.C. Delhi 1836 [4] A.I.R. 1963 S.C. 1295 [5] A.I.R. 1993 S.C. 645 at 733. [6]Justice Sujatha V. Man3har, Judiciary and Human Rights, Indian Journal of International Law (Vol. 36, Nc1.2, 1996): 39-54. [7] A.1.R .I981 S.C. 487 at 493. [8] A.I.R. 1950 S.C 27 [9] A.I.R. 1978 S.C. 597 [10] [11] A.I.R.98.1. S.C . 746. [12] A.I.R. 1981 S.C. 928 [13] A.I.R. 1989 (4) S.C.C. 286.

Oedipus The King :: Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

Oedipus’ Hamartia Aristotle once said that a hero’s downfall must be a result of some tragic flaw within the character. This flaw was known as hamartia in the Greek world of Aristotle. Since Aristotle greatly admired Oedipus the King, many people believe that Oedipus must have had a prominent and complex hamartia. Discovering Oedipus’ hamartia within the play is not an easy task. In fact, it is impossible to point out Oedipus’ hamartia since I do not believe that he has one. Everything that he says or does throughout the play is justifiable in one way or another. There is always some logical explanation behind his thoughts and actions and, thus, Oedipus does not have a tragic flaw in his character. There are a number of different points that one can analyze and claim to be Oedipus’hamartia. For instance, some people may examine Oedipus’ bad temper and label this as the flaw that leads to his downfall. Oedipus becomes enraged at Teiresias’ claim that he is the one who murdered Laius and he begins to believe that this is an attempt by Creon to overthrow him. Despite Oedipus’ anger in this situation, his reaction can be justified. First of all, Teiresias’ allegation that Oedipus is the killer is absurd to him since he would never murder a king. Also, it seems logical that Creon would be behind such a scheme since he would be next in line to the throne. Therefore, Oedipus’ bad temper cannot be considered his hamartia. Another characteristic of Oedipus that some people tend to refer to as his hamartia is his murderous temperament. One can see this side of Oedipus when he recounts the story in which he killed the old man in the wagon as well as a few of the man’s servants. However, Oedipus’ murderous rage was completely justified in this situation. After all, the old man and his servants were trying to throw Oedipus off the road by brute force. Oedipus, in a sense, was merely defending himself from these men and killed them only out of self-defense and rage. Hence, Oedipus’ murderous temperament cannot be his tragic flaw. Some people even believe that Oedipus’ hamartia was carelessness. Surely anyone told about killing his father and sleeping with his mother would have avoided killing any man and sleeping with any woman. Oedipus, on the other hand, did kill a man and he did sleep with a woman.

Forward the Foundation Chapter 7

18 Raych sat in the anteroom of a public building in Dahl into which he had never ventured-never could have ventured-as a ragamuffin youth. He felt, in all truth, a little uneasy about it now, as though he were trespassing. He tried to look calm, trustworthy, lovable. Dad had told him that this was a quality he carried around with him, but he had never been conscious of it. If it came about naturally, he would probably spoil it by trying too hard to seem to be what he really was. He tried relaxing while keeping an eye on the official who was manipulating a computer at the desk. The official was not a Dahlite. He was, in fact, Gambol Deen Namarti, who had been with Joranum at the meeting with Dad that Raych had attended. Every once in a while, Namarti would look up from his desk and glance at Raych with a hostile glare. This Namarti wasn't buying Raych's lovability. Raych could see that. Raych did not try to meet Namarti's hostility with a friendly smile. It would have seemed too artificial. He simply waited. He had gotten this far. If Joranum arrived, as he was expected to, Raych would have a chance to speak to him. Joranum did arrive, sweeping in, smiling his public smile of warmth and confidence. Namarti's hand came up and Joranum stopped. They spoke together in low voices while Raych watched intently and tried in vain to seem as if he wasn't. It seemed plain to Raych that Namarti was arguing against the meeting and Raych bridled a bit at that. Then Joranum looked at Raych, smiled, and pushed Namarti to one side. It occurred to Raych that, while Namarti was the brains of the team, it was Joranum who clearly had the charisma. Joranum strode toward him and held out a plump, slightly moist hand. â€Å"Well well. Professor Seldon's young man. How are you?† â€Å"Fine, thank you, sir.† â€Å"You had some trouble getting here, I understand.† â€Å"Not too much, sir.† â€Å"And you've come with a message from your father, I trust. I hope he is reconsidering his decision and has decided to join me in my great crusade.† â€Å"I don't think so, sir.† Joranum frowned slightly. â€Å"Are you here without his knowledge?† â€Å"No, sir. He sent me.† â€Å"I see. Are you hungry, lad?† â€Å"Not at the moment, sir.† â€Å"Then would you mind if I eat? I don't get much time for the ordinary amenities of life,† he said, smiling broadly. â€Å"It's all right with me, sir.† Together, they moved to a table and sat down. Joranum unwrapped a sandwich and took a bite. His voice slightly muffled, he said, â€Å"And why did he send you, son?† Raych shrugged. â€Å"I think he thought I might find out something about you that he could use against you. He's heart and soul with First Minister Demerzel.† â€Å"And you're not?† â€Å"No, sir. I'm a Dahlite.† â€Å"I know you are, Mr. Seldon, but what does that mean?† â€Å"It means I'm oppressed, so I'm on your side and I want to help you. Of course, I wouldn't want my father to know.† â€Å"There's no reason he should know. How do you propose to help me?† He glanced quickly at Namarti, who was leaning against his desk, listening, with his arms folded and his expression lowering. â€Å"Do you know anything about psychohistory?† â€Å"No, sir. My father don't talk to me about that-and if he did, I wouldn't get it. I don't think he's getting anywhere with that stuff.† â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"Sure I'm sure. There's a guy there, Yugo Amaryl, also a Dahlite, who talks about it sometimes. I'm sure nothing is happening.† â€Å"Ah! And can I see Yugo Amaryl sometime, do you suppose?† â€Å"I don't think so. He ain't much for Demerzel, but he's all for my father. He wouldn't cross him.† â€Å"But you would?† Raych looked unhappy and he muttered stubbornly, â€Å"I'm a Dahlite.† Joranum cleared his throat. â€Å"Then let me ask you again. How do you propose to help me, young man?† â€Å"I've got something to tell you that maybe you won't believe.† â€Å"Indeed? Try me. If I don't believe it, I will tell you so.† â€Å"It's about First Minister Eto Demerzel.† â€Å"Well?† Raych looked around uneasily. â€Å"Can anyone hear me?† â€Å"Just Namarti and myself.† â€Å"All right, then listen. This guy Demerzel ain't a guy. He's a robot.† â€Å"What!† exploded Joranum. Raych felt moved to explain. â€Å"A robot is a mechanical man, sir. He ain't human. He's a machine.† Namarti broke out passionately, â€Å"Jo-Jo, don't believe that. It's ridiculous.† But Joranum held up an admonitory hand. His eyes were gleaming. â€Å"Why do you say that?† â€Å"My father was in Mycogen once. He told me all about it. In Mycogen they talk about robots a lot.† â€Å"Yes, I know. At least, I have heard so.† â€Å"The Mycogenians believe that robots were once very common among their ancestors, but they were wiped out.† Namarti's eyes narrowed. â€Å"But what makes you think that Demerzel is a robot? From what little I have heard of these fantasies, robots are made out of metal, aren't they?† â€Å"That's so,† said Raych earnestly. â€Å"But what I heard is that there were a few robots that look just like human beings and they live forever-â€Å" Namarti shook his head violently. â€Å"Legends! Ridiculous legends! JoJo, why are we listening-â€Å" But Joranum cut him off quickly. â€Å"No, G.D. I want to listen. I've heard these legends, too.† â€Å"But it's nonsense, Jo-Jo.† â€Å"Don't be in such a rush to say ‘nonsense.' And even if it were, people live and die by nonsense. It's not what is so much as what people think is. Tell me, young man, putting legends to one side, what makes you think Demerzel is a robot? Let's suppose that robots exist. What is it, then, about Demerzel that makes you say he is a robot? Did he tell you so?† â€Å"No, sir,† said Raych. â€Å"Did your father tell you so?† asked Joranum. â€Å"No, sir. It's just my own idea, but I'm sure of it.† â€Å"Why? What makes you so sure?† â€Å"It's just something about him. He doesn't change. He doesn't get older. He doesn't show emotions. Something about him looks like he's made of metal.† Joranum sat back in his chair and looked at Raych for an extended time. It was almost possible to hear his thoughts buzzing. Finally he said, â€Å"Suppose he is a robot, young man. Why should you care? Does it matter to you?† â€Å"Of course it matters to me,† said Raych. â€Å"I'm a human being. I don't want no robot in charge of running the Empire.† Joranum turned to Namarti with a gesture of eager approval. â€Å"Do you hear that, G.D.? ‘I'm a human being. I don't want no robot in charge of running the Empire.' Put him on holovision and have him say it. Have him repeat it over and over till it's drummed into every person on Trantor-â€Å" â€Å"Hey,† said Raych, finally catching his breath. â€Å"I can't say that on holovision. I can't let my father find out-â€Å" â€Å"No, of course not,† said Joranum quickly. â€Å"We couldn't allow that. We'll just use the words. We'll find some other Dahlite. Someone from each of the sectors, each in his own dialect, but always the same message: ‘I don't want no robot in charge of running the Empire.'† Namarti said, â€Å"And what happens when Demerzel proves he's not a robot?† â€Å"Really,† said Joranum. â€Å"How will he do that? It would be impossible for him to do so. Psychologically impossible. What? The great Demerzel, the power behind the throne, the man who has twitched the strings attached to Cleon I all these years and those attached to Cleon's father before him? Will he climb down now and whine to the public that he is, too, a human being? That would be almost as destructive to him as being a robot. G.D., we have the villain in a no-win situation and we owe it all to this fine young man here.† Raych flushed. Joranum said, â€Å"Raych is your name, isn't it? Once our party is in a position to do so, we won't forget. Dahl will be treated well and you will have a good position with us. You're going to be Dahl's sector leader someday, Raych, and you're not going to regret you've done this. Are you, now?† â€Å"Not on your life,† said Raych fervently. â€Å"In that case, we'll see that you get back to your father. You let him know that we intend him no harm, that we value him greatly. You can tell him you found that out in any way you please. And if you find anything else you think we might be able to use-about psychohistory, in particular, you let us know.† â€Å"You bet. But do you mean it when you say you'll see to it that Dahl gets some breaks?† â€Å"Absolutely. Equality of sectors, my boy. Equality of worlds. We'll have a new Empire with all the old villainies of privilege and inequality wiped out.† And Raych nodded his head vigorously. â€Å"That's what I want.† 19 Cleon, Emperor of the Galaxy, was walking hurriedly through the arcade that led from his private quarters in the Small Palace to the offices of the rather tremendous staff that lived in the various annexes of the Imperial Palace, which served as the nerve center of the Empire. Several of his personal attaches walked after him, with looks of the deepest concern on their faces. The Emperor did not walk to others. He summoned them and they came to him. If he did walk, he never showed signs of haste or emotional trauma. How could he? He was the Emperor and, as such, far more a symbol of all the worlds than a human being. Yet now he seemed to be a human being. He motioned everyone aside with an impatient wave of his right hand. In his left hand he held a gleaming hologram. â€Å"The First Minister,† he said in an almost strangled voice, not at all like the carefully cultivated tones he had painstakingly assumed along with the throne. â€Å"Where is he?† And all the high functionaries who were in his way fumbled and gasped and found it impossible to manage coherence. He brushed past them angrily, making them all feel, undoubtedly, as though they were living through a waking nightmare. Finally he burst into Demerzel's private office, panting slightly, and shouted-literally shouted- â€Å"Demerzel!† Demerzel looked up with a trace of surprise and rose smoothly to his feet, for one did not sit in the presence of the Emperor unless specifically invited to. â€Å"Sire?† he said. And the Emperor slammed the hologram down on Demerzel's desk and said, â€Å"What is this? Will you tell me that?† Demerzel looked at what the Emperor had given him. It was a beautiful hologram, sharp and alive. One could almost hear the little boy-perhaps ten years old-speaking the words that were included in the caption: â€Å"I don't want no robot in charge of running the Empire.† Demerzel said quietly, â€Å"Sire, I have received this, too.† â€Å"And who else has?† â€Å"I am under the impression, Sire, that it is a flier that is being widely spread over Trantor.† â€Å"Yes, and do you see the person at whom that brat is looking?† He tapped his Imperial forefinger at it. â€Å"Isn't that you?† â€Å"The resemblance is striking, Sire.† â€Å"Am I wrong in supposing that the whole intent of this flier, as you call it, is to accuse you of being a robot?† â€Å"That does seem to be its intention, Sire.† â€Å"And stop me if I'm wrong, but aren't robots the legendary mechanical human beings one finds in-in thrillers and children's stories?† â€Å"The Mycogenians have it as an article of faith, Sire, that robots-â€Å" â€Å"I'm not interested in the Mycogenians and their articles of faith. Why are they accusing you of being a robot?† â€Å"Merely a metaphorical point, I'm sure, Sire. They wish to portray me as a man of no heart, whose views are the conscienceless calculations of a machine.† â€Å"That's too subtle, Demerzel. I'm no fool.† He tapped the hologram again. â€Å"They're trying to make people believe you are really a robot.† â€Å"We can scarcely prevent it, Sire, if people choose to believe that.† â€Å"We cannot afford it. It detracts from the dignity of your office. Worse than that, it detracts from the dignity of the Emperor, The implication is that I-I would choose as my First Minister a mechanical man. That is impossible to endure. See here, Demerzel, aren't there laws that forbid the denigration of public officers of the Empire?† â€Å"Yes, there are-and quite severe ones, Sire, dating back to the great Law Codes of Aburamis.† â€Å"And to denigrate the Emperor himself is a capital offense, is it not?† â€Å"Death is the punishment, Sire. Yes.† â€Å"Well, this not only denigrates you, it denigrates me-and whoever did it should be executed forthwith. It was this Joranum, of course, who is behind it.† â€Å"Undoubtedly. Sire, but proving it might be rather difficult.† â€Å"Nonsense! I have proof enough! I want an execution.† â€Å"The trouble is, Sire, that the laws of denigration are virtually never enforced. Not in this century, certainly.† â€Å"And that is why society is becoming so unstable and the Empire is being shaken to its roots. The laws are still in the books, so enforce them.† Demerzel said, â€Å"Consider, Sire, if that would be wise. It would make you appear to be a tyrant and a despot. Your rule has been a most successful one through kindness and mildness-â€Å" â€Å"Yes and see where that got me. Let's have them fear me for a change, rather than love me-in this fashion.† â€Å"I strongly recommend that you not do so, Sire. It may be the spark that will start a rebellion.† â€Å"What would you do, then? Go before the people and say, ‘Look at me. I am no robot.†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ â€Å"No, Sire, for as you say that would destroy my dignity and, worse yet, yours.† â€Å"Then?† â€Å"I am not certain, Sire. I have not yet thought it through.† â€Å"Not yet thought it through? Get in touch with Seldon.† â€Å"Sire?† â€Å"What is so difficult to understand about my order? Get in touch with Seldon!† â€Å"You wish me to summon him to the Palace, Sire?† â€Å"No, there's no time for that. I presume you can set up a sealed communication line between us that cannot be tapped.† â€Å"Certainly, Sire.† â€Å"Then do so. Now!† 20 Seldon lacked Demerzel's self-possession, being, as he was, only flesh and blood. The summons to his office and the sudden faint glow and tingle of the scrambler field was indication enough that something unusual was taking place. He had spoken by sealed lines before but never to the full extent of Imperial security. He expected some government official to clear the way for Demerzel himself. Considering the slowly mounting tumult of the robot flier, he could expect nothing less. But he did not expect anything more, either, and when the image of the Emperor himself, with the faint glitter of the scramble field outlining him, stepped into his office (so to speak), Seldon fell back in his seat, mouth wide open, and could make only ineffectual attempts to rise. Cleon motioned him impatiently to keep his seat. â€Å"You must know what's going on, Seldon.† â€Å"Do you mean about the robot flier, Sire?† â€Å"That's exactly what I mean. What's to be done?† Seldon, despite the permission to remain seated, finally rose. â€Å"There's more, Sire. Joranum is organizing rallies all over Trantor on the robot issue. At least, that's what I hear on the newscasts.† â€Å"It hasn't reached me yet. Of course not. Why should the Emperor know what is going on?† â€Å"It is not for the Emperor to be concerned, Sire. I'm sure that the First Minister-â€Å" â€Å"The First Minister will do nothing, not even keep me informed. I turn to you and your psychohistory. Tell me what to do. â€Å" â€Å"Sire?† â€Å"I'm not going to play your game, Seldon. You've been working on psychohistory for eight years. The First Minister tells me I must not take legal action against Joranum. What, then, do I do?† Seldon stuttered. â€Å"S-sire! Nothing!† â€Å"You have nothing to tell me?† â€Å"No, Sire. That is not what I mean. I mean you must do nothing. Nothing! The First Minister is quite right if he tells you that you must not take legal action. It will make things worse.† â€Å"Very well. What will make things better?† â€Å"For you to do nothing. For the First Minister to do nothing. For the government to allow Joranum to do just as he pleases.† â€Å"How will that help?† And Seldon said, trying to suppress the note of desperation in his voice, â€Å"That will soon be seen.† The Emperor seemed to deflate suddenly, as though all the anger and indignation had been drawn out of him. He said, â€Å"Ah! I understand! You have the situation well in hand!† â€Å"Sire! I have not said that-â€Å" â€Å"You need not say. I have heard enough. You have the situation well in hand, but I want results. I still have the Imperial Guard and the armed forces. They will be loyal and, if it comes to actual disorders, I will not hesitate. But I will give you your chance first.† His image flashed out and Seldon sat there, simply staring at the empty space where the image had been. Ever since the first unhappy moment when he had mentioned psychohistory at the Decennial Convention eight years before, he had had to face the fact that he didn't have what he had incautiously talked about. All he had was the wild ghost of some thoughts-and what Yugo Amaryl called intuition.

Pygmalion Essay

Distinctive voice refers to a variety of voice types and the function that voice plays In different texts. The personality or position of a speaker or character is reflected through voice. Distinctive voice can be used to represent an Issue, a group of people, a set of values, a point of view or a variety of perspectives. All people have a distinctive voice; our voice Is developed and changed through our experiences, interactions and understanding of the world. The language, the purpose and the manner of a distinctive voice influences audiences in, subtle, direct and powerful says.In the text Pygmalion; George Bernard Shaw has created and utilized incredibly distinctive voices to communicate the themes of his play, the being character transformation and the distinguishing parameters of social class. The transformation of Elise Doolittle from a poor flower girl to a lady of society depends upon her ability to speak phonetically correct- as identified by English society in the 20th cen tury. The entire play centers on the transformation of the â€Å"flower girl', that of her voice and of her manners as a way of defining her social class and life opportunities.The voice of Shaw Is evident throughout the play and Is shown through the voice of the characters. Anthony Browne uses the voices of the characters within the picture book Voices In The Park to Impress upon the reader the Inequity and limitations of social class and division. The voice of the children is used to show the innocence and disregard for such division, where as the adults are used to show the pre-conceived and unjustified beliefs relating to social class. Elijah's transformation is evident in the third act when she visits Mrs. Higgins at her â€Å"at home day†, â€Å"How do you do Mrs. Higgins?Elijah's dialogue, full sentences and correct pronunciation demonstrate her metamorphosis. In Voices in the park Anthony Browne uses the voices of each character to retell the same event that being a parent take their child and the family pet to the park. Each voice is used to retell the event from an individual perspective. The division that social class can create Is explored through the distinctive voices within the text. Browne uses written and visual clues to give the readers an Insight Into each character. Shaw makes use of articulation and word pronunciation to characterize class division between the characters in the play.Browne gives each character their own distinctive voice through their use of language. Their social class is reflected through the correct use of grammar and choice of words. The mother who represents the middle-class speaks in full and correct sentences; she speaks with authority and in a judgmental way, â€Å"You get some frightful types in the park these days† she is making reference to the unemployed father. Her words are critical and harsh. Shaw used the character Elise Doolittle and her transformation and social class to create a distincti ve voice. Both Shaw and Browns characters successfully explore distinctive voices.Shaw Involves the audience to think deeply about his provocative Ideas by utilizing humor. The harsh words of Higgins are often humorous and rarely affect the Intended target. He calls Elise a â€Å"splashed cabbage leaf' and an â€Å"Incarnate Insult to the English language† the audience can not help but laugh, aware of his good natured insults. The humor used encourages the Voices In The Park who we know is unemployed, and his daughter both speak colloquially and less formally than the mother and her son. â€Å"l needed to get out of the house, so me and Smudge took the dog to the park†, â€Å"He went straight up to this evolve dog and sniffed its bum†¦ The daughter is also Judgmental; explaining that she thought the boy â€Å"†¦ Was a bit of a wimp at first† indicating that she had prejudiced him based on how he looked and spoke. Browne also uses the distinctive voic e of each character to compare their experiences and feelings. The unemployed father who has much to be worried about in his life tries to look at things in a positive way. He looks through the newspaper for a Job and remains hopeful of getting one. He has enjoyed his time at the park and the time he has spent with his daughter.In contrast he mother is frustrated by her visit to the park with her son. The scruffy mongrel's dog bothering her pedigree dog frustrated her and the fact that she does not speak to her son as they walk home from the park. Her lack of voice here indicates that her experience was not one she wished not to talk or think about. It is evident that in Shaw five act play Pygmalion and Anthony Browner picture book Voices In the Park social class and transformation are key themes displaying recognizable and distinct voices. Everyone has a distinctive voice but are we too quick too Judge somebody by theirs?