Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Inner-City Paint Corporation (Revised) Essay
Alternatives 1. Management Improvement ââ¬â Mr. Walsh should take up management degree. He needs to learn employee empowerment and delegation. He needs to learn employee empowerment and delegation. The plant manager needs to be trained on leadership since he has no experience in management. He should also start hiring a public relations specialist and a marketing specialist to improve on these two aspects of the business. 2. Facility Improvement ââ¬â Equipment at Inner-City Paint is three large mixer, two smaller mixers, machines in the lab and the trucks. Mr. Walsh should buy more equipment so that his consumers wonââ¬â¢t have to worry about their order not being ready. He has enough transportation Equipment. But he should buy some new mixer and more lab equipment. In order to acquire all of this he should take the loan. Recommendation I would recommend the first alternative which is to improve management. Mr. Walsh wasnââ¬â¢t trained and didnââ¬â¢t understand management. He could handle the company when it was small. He got lost as the Inner-City paint grew. If Mr. Walsh did some training, then the company probably wouldnââ¬â¢t be in such a mess. He did understand how to expand the business and add employees were they are needed but he lacked giving trust to other people. With employee empowerment training he should be able to trust new employees. So with this alternative we can see that the company will grow favorably. METHODS OF ANALYSIS S.W.O.T Analysis Strengths ââ¬â Competitive prices of its products. ââ¬â Steady growth in its market. ââ¬â The companyââ¬â¢s reputation had been built on its fast service; it frequently supplied paint to contractors within 24 hours. Weaknesses ââ¬â Customers view Inner City as a company that negotiates on price and payment out of desperation. ââ¬â His plant managerââ¬â¢s only experience has been that of a painter. ââ¬â Operating without management controls or financial controls. ââ¬â Inability to pay suppliers on time ââ¬â Poor condition of facilities ââ¬â All records are processed manually ââ¬â Inventory records are not kept. ââ¬â Lack of proper delegation of authority. Employees take turns making paint and driving the delivery trucks. ââ¬â Unskilled employees. Opportunities ââ¬â Considering a purchase of a computer to organize the business and reduce needless paperwork. ââ¬â Consultants who are able to quickly spot problems in business. ââ¬â The production of color paints Threats ââ¬â The slowdown in the housing market combined with the slowdown in the overall economy caused financial difficulty for the company. ââ¬â Walsh manages the corporation today in much the same way that he did when the business began. ââ¬â Walsh lacked on giving trust to other people. ââ¬â Rumors abound that the company is in difficult financial straits, that it is unable to pay suppliers, and it owes a considerable sum for payment on back taxes. ââ¬â Paint contractors are hesitant to give larger orders. Larger orders usually go to larger companies that have demonstrated their reliability and solvency. ââ¬â No audit has been performed. This could lead to penalty by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Porterââ¬â¢s Five Forces Industry Analysis Threat of New entrants There are low entry barriers in the paint manufacturing industry. This is because it is based on the low costs to enter the market and product unanimity. This is due to an easy and cheap development stage. As for capital requirements, firms need to invest small financial resources before entering this market. Rivalry Between Competing Firms Inner-City Paint is confronted by aggressive competition in its business. There are small paint manufacturers in Chicago that supply the immediate area. The market for paint is highly competitive. It doesnââ¬â¢t compete with giants such as Glidden and DuPont. Competition among the giants isnââ¬â¢t that fierce, but they lose their large orders to them. Bargaining Power of Suppliers There is a high bargaining power of suppliers since the industry is highly dependent on component suppliers, a powerful supplier could exert pressure on the market, by supplying components at a higher price to increase his profits. their products are the primary raw material for the paint manufacturing companies. They could also erect high switching costs. Since Inner-City Paint is working only with few selected suppliers, the company is running at a higher risk than the average. Bargaining Power of Buyers There is a low bargaining power of buyers this is due to high number of other paint manufacturers in the area in the industry and the customer has the options to take the cheapest and the best. Threat of Substitutes There is a high threat of substitutes because there are larger companies that have demonstrated reliability and solvency that paint contractors can choose. There are also other small paint manufacturers in the area. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Inner-City Paint Corporationââ¬â¢s revenue for the year is $1,784,080. It experienced a Net Income of $ 17,610. Profitability Ratios Return on assets = $ 17,610 = 5.98% ;$ 294,565 This shows that Inner-City Paint is not providing an adequate return on the firmââ¬â¢s investment. Net Profit Margin = $ 17,610 = 0.987% $ 1,784,080 This ratio indicates how much money Inner-City Paint makes with each incremental dollar in sales that they experience, meaning that a higher ratio would result increased profit with each additional dollar in sales. Liquidity Ratio Current Ratio = 262,515 = 0.92 285,030 This ratio shows that Inner-City Paint is currently in trouble meeting its financial commitments because its current ratio is below 1. Leverage Ratios Debt Ratio = 300,030 = 1.02 294,565 This measures the portion of total assets provided by the companyââ¬â¢s creditors. In conjunction with other ratios, this ratio indicates the degree to which operating losses may be ââ¬Å"cushionedâ⬠from adverse actions by creditors. Common Size Financial Statement Analysis INCOME STATEMENT % to Sales Sales $ 1,784,080 100.00% Cost of Goods Sold 1,428,730 80.08% Gross Margin 355,350 19.92% Expenses Selling expenses 72,460 4.06% Administrative expenses 67,280 3.77% Presidentââ¬â¢s salary 132,000 7.40% Office Managerââ¬â¢s salary 66,000 3.70% Total expenses 337,740 18.93% Net Income $ 17,610 0.99% BALANCE SHEET Amount % to Total Assets Assets Current Assets Cash $ 1,535 0.52% Accounts receivable (net of ADA of $63,400) 242,320 82.26% Inventory 18,660 6.33% Total current assets 262,515 89.12% Non-current Assets Machinery and transportation equipment 47,550 16.14% Less accumulated depreciation 15,500 5.26% Total non-current assets 32,050 10.88% Total Assets 294,565 100.00% Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts payable $ 217,820 73.95% Salaries payable 22,480 7.63% Notes payable 6,220 2.11% Taxes payable 38,510 13.07% Total current liabilities 285,030 96.76% Non-current Liabilities Long-term notes payable 15,000 5.09% Ownersââ¬â¢ Equity Common equity 12,400 4.21% Deficit (17,865) (6.06%) Total liabilities and ownersââ¬â¢ equity $ 294,565 100.00% With all of this information we can point out that most of the expenses is attributable to Walshââ¬â¢s salary. His six-figure income is not the average salary of a president in such a small company. He might try taking a small pay cut to invest that money in the business. He should also make set selling prices. Next, he should check into finding cheaper suppliers to bring his direct materials cost down. Financially ICP needs a financial account manager to start investing money and watch finance closer.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Compare and contrast Act One and Act Two Essay
Throughout act one and act two, there is a huge amount of drama, comedy and sarcasm. Combining to form a carefully formed section of this immensely funny play. In these two acts there are examples of; love, arguments, deceit, ââ¬Ëdeathââ¬â¢ and engagement; all this within the space of two days in the lives of young aristocrats. In act one; the scene is set in the ââ¬Å"morning-room in Algernonââ¬â¢s flat in Half-moon Street. The room is luxuriously and artistically furnishedâ⬠, immediately displaying Algernonââ¬â¢s extravagant nature. In Act two, the scene is set in the ââ¬Å"garden at the Manor House. A flight of grey stone steps leads up to the house. The garden, an old-fashioned one, is full of roses. Basket chairs, and a table covered with books, are set under a large yew-treeâ⬠. The obvious differences in the scene settings is due to the fact hat act one is set in the town and act two is set in the country. Compared to Algernonââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"artistically furnishedâ⬠flat, the country house appears to be much more contemporary, with a much calmer atmosphere. In act one, there are many introductions of the characters. Algernon, Jack, Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen and Lane are all revealed to the audience. The events throughout the scene result in, for almost everyone a smile, or even a giggle due to the blunt and sarcastic nature of the characters. The first conversation in act one is between Algernon and Lane; his butler. The relationship between these two characters goes against the audienceââ¬â¢s expectations; they appear to be of equal status, not as a relationship should be between an upper class aristocrat and his butler in that time. In this conversation, Algernon is immediately portrayed as arrogant and cynical; and Lane is seen as sly and subversive. Lane then exits and Jack comes into the room. Jack is portrayed as much more withdrawn then Algernon; he is also not as arrogant and cynical. The conversations between Jack and Algernon are always humorous, because they are always so childish and they talk about such pointless things, never about everyday conversational topics such as money and work. Their conversations are always decorated with epigrams and repartees, making them enjoyable to read and watch. This argumentative relationship between Jack and Algernon is maintained throughout act one and act two. It will be humorous to the audience that Jack and Algernon argue so much, but yet they are still friends (or brothers as revealed in act three). There is a certain amount if irony and humour in this dialogue. The irony is that in act one, especially in this conversation, Algernon is very cynical about love and marriage, but by the end if act two, he is in love with Cicily and engaged to be married, therefore contradicting all his previous beliefs. The humour in this conversation is, for example [JACK puts out his hand to take a sandwich. ALGERNON at once interferes] then Algernon says, ââ¬Å"please donââ¬â¢t touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augustaâ⬠, he then [takes one and eats it]. This is comical because Algernon has just gone against what he has just said, but he doesnââ¬â¢t seem embarrassed by it at all. Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen interrupt in the middle to Algernonââ¬â¢s argument over Jackââ¬â¢s cigarette case and his imaginary brother ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢. Throughout acpt one and act two, Lady Bracknell is portrayed as a very superficial woman whose only joy in life is to have dinner parties and a high social status; she is very cynical about her society. Gwendolen, her daughter and Algernonââ¬â¢s cousin is very much her motherââ¬â¢s daughter, although she refuses to believe it and Jack is blind to it. Gwendolen is a very manipulative woman and always seems to want to find new things to annoy her mother, [to Jack] ââ¬Å"And I often wish that in public, at any rate, you had been more demonstrativeâ⬠she said this because she knew that it would annoy her mother immensely. She also hates to be wrong and tries hard to prevent this from happening, making her seem sometimes overbearingly arrogant. Lady Bracknell and Algernon go into the music room, leaving Jack and Gwendolen alone together. Jack breaks the silence by commenting on the weather; which is quickly dismissed by Gwendolen as an obvious excuse to talk about something else. There is an immediate example of humour at the beginning of this conversation because Jack addresses Gwendolen as Miss Fairfax, and she calls him Mr Worthing when Jack is planning to propose to her. Gwendolen is immediately a completely different person around Jack then she was around Lady Bracknell. She becomes very dominant, and also arrogant, â⬠I thought so, in fact I am never wrongâ⬠. Jack seems very nervous around Gwendolen and uses more naturalistic language then the other characters, for example pauses and hesitation. Jackââ¬â¢s speech is mostly not as fluent as the other characters; his nervous behaviour is very similar to Algernonââ¬â¢s attitude around Cecily in Act Two. After much hesitation, Jack confesses his true feelings to Gwendolen; she then says unexpectedly, â⬠Yes, I am quite aware of the factâ⬠, creating a comic effect. Jack then stares at her in amazement while Gwendolen informs him ââ¬Å"even before I met you I was far from indifferent to youâ⬠; this in itself will completely go against the audienceââ¬â¢s expectations and produces a comic effect because, obviously, you cannot actually love someone before you have met them. She then produces a sense of dramatic irony by telling Jack that really the only reason that she loves him is because of his name-Ernest (which, at the time wasnââ¬â¢t really his name at all). The mode of address changes at this point, Jack and Gwendolen start to call each other by their first names. Jack also asks Gwendolen if she would still love him if his name was Jack; in response to this, she states, very confidently ââ¬Å"I have known several Jacks, and they all, without exception, were more than usually plain. Besides, Jack is a notorious domesticity for John! And I pity any women who is married to a man called Johnâ⬠. This again is dramatic irony, because the audience know that Jack is actually his real name at this point in the play. Jack then proposes to Gwendolenâ⬠¦although Gwendolen actually accepts before he has even asked. Almost immediately after Gwendolen had accepted Jackââ¬â¢s proposal, Lady Bracknell interrupts them, presenting a comic effect because Gwendolen had said before that her mother always comes into the room at the most awkward of moments. Gwendolen informs her mother that she is engaged to Jack. In response to this, Lady Bracknell decides that it is her duty to interview Jack to discover whether or not he is suitable for her ââ¬Å"simple, unspoiledâ⬠daughter. The interrogation between Lady Bracknell and Jack produces a huge comic effect on the audience; especially at the beginning when she has a [pencil and notebook in hand ]. Throughout the interview, Lady Bracknell questions Jack about aspects of his personal life, for example; his income, his properties (one of which she was not happy about, but was willing to change), his hobbies, and amusingly whether he knows everything or nothing, she seemed content with Jackââ¬â¢s answer that he knew nothing; stating that, ââ¬Å"Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit, touch it and the bloom is goneâ⬠ââ¬â an epigram. Lady Bracknell is very dominating over Jack, much like Gwendolen was in the previous scene. Jack appears very nervous and unsure around her, as if he doesnââ¬â¢t want to say the wrong thing to jeopardise his chances of marrying Gwendolen, this nervousness is shown by his constant hesitation and continuing to tell Lady Bracknell pointless facts in order to prevent an awkward silence. Jacks attitude changes around Lady Bracknell towards the end of Act Three, when he has control over the situation of Cecilyââ¬â¢s engagement to Algernon. Jack is more relaxed around Lady Bracknell then because he has something that she wants; therefore he has the upper hand. The interview appeared to be going quite well until Lady Bracknell enquires after Jackââ¬â¢s parents. Jack then confesses to Lady Bracknell that he isnââ¬â¢t actually sure where his parents are because ââ¬Å"the late Mr Thomas Cardewâ⬠had found him as a baby in the cloakroom at Victoria Station. Lady Bracknellââ¬â¢s response to Jackââ¬â¢s past is very amusing for the audience, she looks straight at Jack and says, â⬠You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter ââ¬â a girl brought up with the utmost care ââ¬â to marry into a cloakroom, and form an alliance with a parcel. Good morning, Mr Worthing!â⬠She then [sweeps out in majestic indignation ]. Lady Bracknellââ¬â¢s attitude also produces dramatic irony because she finds out later in the play that in fact Jack is her nephew. Algernon comes into the room and immediately comments on Jackââ¬â¢s attempted proposal to Gwendolen, Jack rejects this obvious sarcasm and begins to insult Lady Bracknell by calling her a Gorgon, regardless of the fact that he does not even know what a gorgon is, but he is sure that Lady Bracknell is one. This is humorous because the audience know that there is no such thing as a gorgon, and the fact that Algernon is happy about Jack insulting his aunt also goes against the audienceââ¬â¢s expectations. This scene is also comical because Jack cannot see that Gwendolen is a lot like her mother. This dialogue shows Jackââ¬â¢s naive personality in that Algernon is calling Jack a fool, only Algernon and the audience can see it, Jack is completely unaware that Algernon is insulting him. Gwendolen enters and she talks to Jack alone; she asks him the address of his country house where he is going to stay until Monday, and Algernon who is standing in the corner notes down the address on his shirt cuff. There is one particular event that occurs in this scene that is not fully addressed in the play; Algernonââ¬â¢s debts. When Jack and Gwendolen have gone outside, [LANE presents several letters on a salver to ALGERNON. It is to be surmised that they are bills, as ALGERNON, after looking at the envelopes, tears them up. ] Algernon then calls in Lane and informs him that he is going Bunburying. At the end of Act One there is a slight cliff hanger and an example of dramatic irony, [ALGERNON lights a cigarette, reads his shirt cuff and smiles ] the audience knows that Algernon is planning to visit Jackââ¬â¢s country house and see Cecily posing as ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢, Jackââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ëbrotherââ¬â¢. But Jack does not know this. The Second Act takes place in Jackââ¬â¢s country house. The first scene opens with Miss Prism and Cecily in the garden. Miss Prism is Cecilyââ¬â¢s teacher, she believes herself to be very knowledgeable, but she is not very good with her words, and often speaks nonsense, producing a comic effect for the audience. Cecily is shown to be very much like Gwendolen, she appears to be very innocent but she can also be quite arrogant ââ¬Å"but I felt instinctively that you had a headacheâ⬠. Cecily is obviously educated because she uses more advanced language. Miss Prism is trying to get Cecily to do her German, but Cecily argues that German ââ¬Å"isnââ¬â¢t at all a becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German lessonâ⬠. This shows Cecily to be very influenced by the trends of the time. Dr Chasuble interrupts Cecilyââ¬â¢s lesson, and Cecily informs him that Miss Prism has a headache so it will do her good to go for a walk, that way she will be able to get out of her lesson. The relationship between Chasuble and Miss Prism is often used for comedy throughout Act Two and Act Three because it is obvious to the audience that Miss Prism and Chasuble have feelings for each other, but because of the social expectations of the time, they could not display their affection for each other (apart from the fact that neither know that the other has feelings for them). The three of them talk about Jack, and immediately he is seen as a completely different person in the country then he is in the town. In Act one, Jack is seen to be living entirely for pleasure, although he is more serious then Algernon, he does not appear to have any real responsibilities. However, in the country he is shown to be much more serious, and Miss Prism and Cecily do not believe that he has any pleasure or fun in his life. Miss Prism and Chasuble go for a walk together to the schools, leaving Cecily alone to do her work, which she doesnââ¬â¢t even start. At this point, Algernon is introduced to Cecily as Mr Ernest Worthing by the merriman. Cecily was nervous to meet ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ because she had ââ¬Å"never met any really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I am ever so afraid he will look just like every one else.â⬠This assumption produces a comic effect because ââ¬Ëwickedââ¬â¢ people rarely look any different to normal people. When Cecily first meets ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ she is unusually confident and surprises Algernon by her forward manner, and Cecily tells him that Jack is planning to send him off the Australia, Algernon responds to this by saying, â⬠The accounts I have received of Australia and the next world are not particularly encouraging. This world is good enough for me, Cousin Cecily.â⬠This is amusing for the audience because Algernon does not seem very worried that Jack wants to send him to Australia. Algernon then asks Cecily if she will help reform him at the same time as flirting with her; she responds by saying, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m afraid Iââ¬â¢ve no time this afternoonâ⬠. This has a comic effect because to completely change someone is obviously going to take more than one afternoon. The final comical aspect of this dialogue is when Cecily says; â⬠Oh, I donââ¬â¢t think I would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldnââ¬â¢t know what to talk to him aboutâ⬠. Dr Chasuble and Miss Prism return from their walk just as ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ and Cecily pass into the house. They are talking about Dr Chasubleââ¬â¢s love life, Miss Prism believes that ââ¬Å"men should be more careful; this very celibacy leads weaker vessels astrayâ⬠, she thinks that Chasuble should get married because that way he would not be a temptation for women. Just as they were wondering where Cecily is, Jack comes into the garden, [dressed in the deepest mourning, with crà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½pe hatband and black gloves ]. He tells Miss Prism and Chasuble of the death of his brother Ernest; this produces dramatic irony because Jack does not know that Algernon has come to the house posing as his brother. The comedy effect for the first part of the scene is Jackââ¬â¢s exaggerated mourning for his ââ¬Ëdeadââ¬â¢ brother. The conversation then leads on to christenings, and Jack displays his wish to be christened, his attitude to christenings is very casual; â⬠Oh, I thought I might trot round at about 5 if that would suit youâ⬠. This has a comic effect on the audience because christenings are not supposed to be casual affairs, and do not usually take place for a grown man. Cecily then enters, very excited announcing to Jack, Chasuble, and Miss Prism that Jackââ¬â¢s brother was here; Jack immediately says ââ¬Å"what nonsense! I havenââ¬â¢t got a brotherâ⬠because according to him ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ had died in Paris of a severe chill. Cecily then returns hand in hand with Algernon; this entrance has a very comical effect on the audience because of the look of sheer horror on Jackââ¬â¢s face when he sees that Algernon is pretending to be Ernest, and he had just made a fool out of himself by saying that his brother had died. But he cannot say anything to Algernon when they were around Cecily, Miss Prism and Chasuble because they would all find out that he had been lying the whole time about his brother and they would not have as much respect for him as they had before. Miss Prism and Chasuble decide then that it would be best that the two ââ¬Ëbrothersââ¬â¢ (a sense of irony there because in act three the audience find out that Algernon and Jack are in fact brothers) were left alone together, and Cecily follows them back into the house. Jack, who cannot believe that Algernon has done such a thing is astounded when the merriman informs him that Algernonââ¬â¢s luggage has been unpacked in the room next to his. Jack immediately orders a dogcart for Algernon, who seems completely oblivious to the fact that Jack has just insulted him. As usual, Jack and Algernon begin to argue, Jack tells Algernon that he does not want him to call Cecily a darling, and Algernon comes up with a childish reply and tells Jack that he does not like his clothes and, that being in mourning for a man who is actually staying at his house is ââ¬Å"grotesqueâ⬠. Jack tells Algernon that he does not want him staying in his house for a whole week and to this, Algernon replies; ââ¬Å"I certainly wonââ¬â¢t leave you so long as you are in mourning. It would be most unfriendlyâ⬠, completely contradicting what he had said before and producing a comic effect on the audience. Algernon sees Cecily and tells her that he has to leave, she replies, ââ¬Å"It is always painful to part from people who one has known for a very brief space of time. The absence of old friends one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been introduced to is almost unbearableâ⬠. This goes against the audienceââ¬â¢s expectations and produces a comic effect, because usually it would be more difficult to part with someone that you had known for a long time then to part with someone that you had just met. In this scene, Algernon proposes to Cecily, but she informs him that they had actually been engaged for the last three months (only in her head though, producing a comic effect). This is a parallel of events because Cecily claims, like Gwendolen, to have loved Algernon before she had even met him; which is obviously impossible. Another similarity in this scene is when Algernon says to Cecily; ââ¬Å"I have dared to love you wildly, passionately, devotedly, hopelesslyâ⬠. This utterance does not make any sense because you cannot love someone devotedly and hopelessly at the same time, he is talking nonsense because he is so nervous around Cecily; much the same way that Jack was around Gwendolen in Act One. The final parallel of speech is when Cecily tells ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ that she loves him for his name, like Gwendolen did in Act One, ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ asks Cecily whether she would love him if he was called Algernon, she immediately tells him, like Gwendolen, that she does not like that name, only the name ââ¬ËErnestââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"inspires absolute confidenceâ⬠. Algernon almost immediately tells her that he has to ââ¬Å"see him [chasuble] at once on a most important christening ââ¬â I mean on most important businessâ⬠Algernon was thinking out loud, like Jack did in Act One. There is a great deal of comedy in this scene, especially from Cecily. The main example is when Cecily tells Algernon of their ââ¬Ëengagementââ¬â¢. Throughout the three months that Cecily had decided that she was engaged to Jackââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ëbrotherââ¬â¢; he had bought her gifts and written her letters. Also, according to Cecily, she had even broken off their engagement once saying that ââ¬Å"It would hardly have been a really serious engagement if it hadnââ¬â¢t been broken off at least once.â⬠. She had even written it in her diary; ââ¬Å"Today I broke off my engagement with Ernest. I feel it is better to do so. The weather still continues charmingâ⬠this is comical within itself because if someone had broken off their engagement, the last thing they would be thinking about was the weather. Algernon leaves the room to go and see Chasuble, and the merriman announces to Cecily that Miss Fairfax has come to visit, and wishes to see Jack, but because he is busy Cecily invites her in for tea. Almost immediately, Gwendolen tells Cecily; ââ¬Å"I like you already more than I can say. My first impressions of people are never wrong.â⬠This produces a comic effect because you cannot like someone so much when you have just heard his or her name. There is also a slight parallel of speech because in Act One, Gwendolen says ââ¬Å"I am never wrongâ⬠, this is similar to what she said to Cecily, this again displays her arrogant nature. Cecily and Gwendolen immediately start to call each other by their first names, however, the atmosphere seems a bit tense. Gwendolen and Cecily talk about Lord Bracknell, and Gwendolen enquires after Cecilyââ¬â¢s parents, Cecily tells her that she has ââ¬Å"no mother, nor, in fact, any relationsâ⬠. Gwendolen seems surprised at this; producing echoes of her motherââ¬â¢s reaction to Jackââ¬â¢s past in Act One. Gwendolen tells Cecily; ââ¬Å"I have liked you ever since I met youâ⬠, this produces a comic effect because she hasnââ¬â¢t known Cecily long at all, it also shows how superficial she can be. She also tells Cecily that she ââ¬Å"canââ¬â¢t help expressing a wish you were ââ¬â well, just a little older than you seem to be ââ¬â and not quite so alluring in appearanceâ⬠when informed that she was Mr Worthingââ¬â¢s ward. She then asks Cecily if she may speak truthfully, Cecily knows that Gwendolen is just about to insult her, but she doesnââ¬â¢t seem to care, and she tells her that she wishes that Cecily was 42 and more than usually plain for her age. There is an example of dramatic irony when Gwendolen says; ââ¬Å"disloyalty would be as impossible to him as deceptionâ⬠, this also has a comical effect because the audience know that this is not true, but Gwendolen believes it so much. At this point, the plot begins to unwind; Gwendolen reveals that she was talking about Ernest (Jack) and Cecily tells her that she is not Ernestââ¬â¢s ward, but his older brotherââ¬â¢s. Gwendolen asks why Ernest (Jack) had never told her that he had a brother, and Cecily explained that it was because they had not really been on speaking terms. Cecily then tells Gwendolen that she is engaged to be married to Ernest (Algernon). To this Gwendolen [quite politely rising ] says; ââ¬Å"My darling Cecily, I think there must be some slight error. Mr Ernest Worthing (Jack) is engaged to me.â⬠Cecily responds to this by; [very politely rising ] and saying; ââ¬Å"I am afraid you must be under some misconception. Ernest (Algernon) proposed to me exactly ten minutes agoâ⬠. She then shows Gwendolen the entry in her diary to prove it, and Gwendolen shows the entry in her diary to prove that Ernest (Jack) had proposed to her the previous day. Gwendolen then states that because Ernest had proposed to her first, she had the prior claim, and Cecily said that this as not true because he had clearly changed his mind. This argument produces a comic effect and a sense of dramatic irony; it is comical because although the two women are very angry with each other, they cannot show their true feelings because it was not seen as lady-like behaviour. The dramatic irony in this dialogue is that the Audience knows that there are actually two people pretending to be Ernest, but Gwendolen and Cecily do not know this. The conversation continues between Cecily and Gwendolen, but they are being sarcastic and spiteful to each other whilst pretending to be polite. An example of this is when Cecily asks Gwendolen if she wants sugar in her tea; Gwendolen says no because ââ¬Å"sugar is not fashionable any moreâ⬠then [CECILY looks angrily at her, takes the tongs and puts four lumps of sugar into the cup ]. Cecily then asks Gwendolen if she wants cake, or bread and butter, Gwendolen says that she wants bread and butter because ââ¬Å"cake is rarely seen at the best houses nowadaysâ⬠then Cecily [cuts a very large slice of cake and puts it on the tray ]. Gwendolen becomes very angry at this deliberate attempt to annoy her and tells Cecily; ââ¬Å"From the moment I saw you I distrusted you. I felt that you were false and deceitful. I am never deceived in such matters. My first impressions of people are invariably rightâ⬠. This produces a comical effect because Gwendolen has just contradicted herself from what she said to Cecily when she first met her, but she still tries to make out that she has been right about her all along. The climax of the play occurs when Jack comes into the room and interrupts Gwendolen and Cecily. Gwendolen embraces him and asks Jack whether he is engaged to Cecily; Jack obviously denies this and Cecily reveals that the ââ¬Å"gentleman whose arm is at present round your waist is my guardian, Mr John Worthingâ⬠. Gwendolen says ââ¬Å"Jack! Oh!â⬠and pulls away from him. Algernon then walks into the room, and Cecily asks him if he is engaged to be married to Gwendolen, and he says no. Gwendolen then reveals to Cecily that ââ¬Å"the gentleman who is now embracing you is my cousin, Mr Algernon Moncrieffâ⬠Cecily says ââ¬Å"Algernon Moncrieff! Oh!â⬠and pulls away from him. There are two examples of symmetric speech in this section of the scene; the first is when both Jack and Algernon say to Gwendolen and Cecily ââ¬Å"What could have put such an idea into your pretty little headâ⬠. The second example is the identical way in which Gwendolen and Cecily reacted to the news that both their fiancà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½s had different names then they had thought. This produces a comic effect because this is the climax of the play, and all of the deceit is being revealed to Gwendolen and Cecily. The relationship between Gwendolen and Cecily drastically changes as [the two girls move towards each other and out their arms round each otherââ¬â¢s waists as if for protection. ]. They ask Jack and Algernon if what they have heard is true, they both say that it is, even though ââ¬Å"it is very painful for me [Jack] to be forced to speak the truthâ⬠. This confession goes against the audienceââ¬â¢s expectations producing a comic effect because normally people may find it painful to tell a lie then to tell the truth. Gwendolen and Cecily decide that they are going to resign to the house because they have just found out that they are both not engaged to anyone, and ââ¬Å"it is not a very pleasant position for a young girl suddenly to find herself in.â⬠Jack and Algernon are left alone in the garden and the girls retire to the house. The last section of Act Two is the conversation between Algernon and Jack. They talk about Gwendolen and Cecily and how they feel about them. However, Jack makes it very clear that he is not sure that Algernon and Cecily will actually marry, and Algernon states that he thinks it very unlikely that Jack and Gwendolen will marry. The conversation soon sways onto the christenings and Algernon advises Jack that; ââ¬Å"If you are not quite sure about your ever being Christened, I must say I think it rather dangerous your venturing on it now. It might make you very unwellâ⬠. This produces a comic effect because it is completely impossible that being christened will make you unwell. The Act closes on Jack and Algernon arguing over the muffins that are being served on the table, showing their almost childish relationship. In conclusion, there are many similarities between Act One and Act Two, this could be part of what makes it so comical. The characters have developed the plot up to the climax, there is only the end to be revealed. In Act Three all of the deceit and the mysteries will be solved.
Medicine and Ayurveda
Ayurvedaà (Sanskrit:à ;à Ayurveda, ââ¬Å"the knowledge for long lifeâ⬠;à /? a?.? r? ve? d? /[2]) orà ayurvedic medicineà is a Hindu system ofà traditional medicine native toà Indiaà and a form ofà alternative medicine. The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during theà Vedic periodà in India,[3]à i. e. , in the mid-second millennium BCE. Theà Susruta Sa? hitaà and theà Charaka Sa? hita, encyclopedias of medicine compiled from various sources from the mid-first millennium BCE to about 500 CE,[4]à are among the foundational works of Ayurveda.Over the following centuries, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments. [5]à Current practices derived (or reportedly derived) from Ayurvedic medicine are regarded as part ofà complementary and alternative medicine. [6] Safety concerns have been raised about Ayurveda, with two U. S. studies find ing about 20 percent of Ayurvedic Indian-manufacturedà patent medicines contained toxic levels of heavy metals such asà lead,à mercuryà andà arsenic.Other concerns include the use of herbs containing toxic compounds and the lack of quality control in Ayurvedic facilities. At an early period[when? ], Ayurveda adopted the physics of the ââ¬Å"fiveà elementsâ⬠(Devanagari: [ ] ); earth (P? thvi), water (Jala), fire (Agni), air (Vayu) and space (Akasa) that compose theà universe, including the human body. [9]à Ayurveda describes seven types of tissues of the body, known as thesaptadhatuà (Devanagari: ). They are plasma (rasa dhatu), blood (rakta dhatu),à fleshà (ma? a dhatu), adipose (medha dhatu),à boneà (asthi dhatu),marrowà and nervous (majja dhatu), and reproductive (semenà orà female reproductive tissue) (sukra dhatu). [10]à Ayurvedic literature deals elaborately with measures of healthful living during the entire span of life and its vario us phases. Ayurveda stresses a balance of three elemental energies orà humors:Vayu / vataà (air & space ââ¬â ââ¬Å"windâ⬠),à pittaà (fire & water ââ¬â ââ¬Å"bileâ⬠) andà kaphaà (water & earth ââ¬â ââ¬Å"phlegmâ⬠). According to ayurvedic medical theory, these three substances ââ¬âà do? as (Devanagari: ââ¬âare important for health, because when they exist in equal quantities, the body will be healthy, and when they are not in equal amounts, the body will be unhealthy in various ways. One ayurvedic theory asserts that each human possesses a unique combination ofà do? asà that define that person's temperament and characteristics. Another view, also present in the ancient literature, asserts that humoral equality is identical to health, and that persons with preponderances of humours are proportionately unhealthy, and that this is not their natural temperament.In ayurveda, unlike the Sa? khya philosophical system, there are 20 fund amental qualities,à gu? aà (Devanagari: , meaning qualities) inherent in all substances. [11]à While surgery and surgical instruments were employed from a very early period, Ayurvedic theory asserts that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining goodà digestion, and properà excretionà lead to vitality. [11]à Ayurveda also focuses on exercise,à yoga, andà meditation. [12] The practice ofà panchakarmaà (Devanagari: is a therapeutic way of eliminating toxic elements from the body. [13] As early as theà Mahabharata, ayurveda was called ââ¬Å"the science of eight componentsâ⬠(Skt. a a? ga,à Devanagari: ), a classification that became canonical for ayurveda. They are:[14] 1. Internal medicineà (Kaya-cikitsa) 2. Paediatricsà (Kaumarabh? tyam) 3. Surgeryà (Salya-cikitsa) 4. Opthalmologyà andà ENTà (Salakya tantra) 5. Psychiatryà has been calledà Bhuta vidyaà . [3] 6. Toxicologyà (Agadatantram) 7. Prevention of diseases and improvi ngà immunityà andà rejuvenationà (rasayana) 8.Aphrodisiacsà and improving health of progeny (Vajikaranam) In Hindu mythology, the origin of ayurvedic medicine is attributed toà Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods. [15] ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â- Practices Several philosophers in India combined religion and traditional medicineââ¬ânotable examples being that ofà Hinduismà and ayurveda. Shown in the image is the philosopherà Nagarjunaââ¬âknown chiefly for his doctrine of theà Madhyamakaà (middle path)ââ¬âwho wrote medical worksà The Hundred Prescriptionsà andà The Precious Collection, among others. [16] [edit]BalanceHinduismà andà Buddhismà have been an influence on the development of many of ayurveda's central ideas ââ¬â particularly its fascination with balance, known in Buddhism asà Madhyathmakaà (Devanagari: ). [17]à Bal ance is emphasized; suppressing natural urges is seen to be unhealthy, and doing so claimed to lead to illness. [17]à However, people are cautioned to stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure. [17]à For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake,[9]à sleep, sexual intercourse. [17] [edit]Diagnosis Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using all five senses. 18]à Hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech. [10]à The study of the lethal points orà marman marmaà is of special importance. [11]à Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of ayurvedic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy. [edit]Hygiene Hygieneà is a central practice of ayurvedic medicine. Hygienic living involves regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care, and eye washing. 10] [edit]Treatments Ayurveda stresses the use of plant-based medicines and treatments. Hundreds of plant-based medicines are employed, includingà cardamomà and cinnamon. Some animal products may also be used, for example milk,à bones, andà gallstones. In addition, fats are used both for consumption and for external use. Minerals, includingà sulfur,à arsenic, lead,à copper sulfateà and gold are also consumed as prescribed. [10]à This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known asà rasa shastra. In some cases, alcohol was used as aà narcoticà for the patient undergoing an operation.The advent of Islam introducedà opiumà as a narcotic. [14]à Both oil and tar were used to stop bleeding. [10]à Traumatic bleeding was said to be stopped by four different methods:à ligationà of theà blood vessel;à cauterisation by heat; using different herbal or animal preparations locally which could facilitateà clotting; and different medical preparation s which couldà constrictà the bleeding or oozing vessels. Various oils could be used in a number of ways, including regular consumption as a part of food, anointing, smearing,à head massage, and prescribed application to infected areas. 19][pageà needed] [edit]Srotas Ensuring the proper functions of channels (srotas) that transport fluids from one point to another is a vital goal of ayurvedic medicine, because the lack of healthy srotas is thought to causeà rheumatism,à epilepsy,à autism,à paralysis,à convulsions, andà insanity. Practitioners induce sweating and prescribe steam-based treatments as a means to open up the channels and dilute theà do? as[clarification needed]à that cause the blockages and lead to disease. [20] ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â- [edit]HistoryOne view of the early history of ayurveda asserts that around 1500à BC, ayurveda's fundamental and applied principles got organized and enunciated. In this historical construction, Ayurveda traces its origins to theà Vedas,à Atharvavedaà in particular, and is connected to Hindu religion. Atharvavedaà (one of the four most ancient books of Indian knowledge, wisdom and culture) contains 114 hymns or formulations for the treatment of diseases. Ayurveda originated in and developed from these hymns. In this sense, ayurveda is considered by some to have divine origin.Indian medicine has a long history, and is one of the oldest organised systems of medicine. Its earliest concepts are set out in the sacred writings called the Vedas, especially in the metrical passages of theà Atharvaveda, which may possibly date as far back as the 2nd millennium BC. According to a later writer, the system of medicine was received byà Dhanvantarià fromà Brahma, and Dhanvantari was deified as the god of medicine. In later times his status was gradually reduced, until he was credited wi th having been an earthly king[10]à namedà Divodasa. 22] Underwood ; Rhodes (2008) hold that this early phase of traditional Indian medicine identified ââ¬Å"fever (takman), cough,à consumption, diarrhea,à dropsy,à abscesses,à seizures, tumours, and skin diseases (includingà leprosy)â⬠. [10]à Treatment of complex ailments, includingà angina pectoris,à diabetes,à hypertension, andà stones, also ensued during this period. [5][24]à Plastic surgery,à couchingà (a form of cataract surgery), puncturing to release fluids in theà abdomen, extraction of foreign elements, treatment ofà anal fistulas, treating fractures,à amputations,à cesarean sections, and stitching of wounds were known. 10]à The use of herbs and surgical instruments became widespread. [10]à Theà Charaka Samhitaà text is arguably the principal classic reference. It gives emphasis to the triune nature of each person: body care, mental regulation, and spiritual/consciousness refinement. Other early works of ayurveda include theà Charaka Samhita, attributed toà Charaka. [10]à The earliest surviving excavated written material which contains references to the works of Sushruta is theà Bower Manuscript, dated to the 6th centuryà AD. The Bower manuscript is of special interest to historians due to the presence of Indian medicine and its concepts in Central Asia. 25]à Vagbhata, the son of a senior doctor by the name of Simhagupta,[26]à also compiled his works on traditional medicine. [10]à Early ayurveda had a school of physicians and a school of surgeons. [3]à Tradition holds that the textà Agnivesh tantra, written by the sage Agnivesh, a student of the sageà Bharadwaja, influenced the writings of ayurveda. [27] The Chinese pilgrimà Fa Hsienà (ca. 337ââ¬â422 AD) wrote about the health care system of theà Gupta empireà (320ââ¬â550) and described the institutional approach of Indian medicine, also visible in the works of C haraka, who mentions a clinic and how it should be equipped. 28]à Madhava (fl. 700), Sarngadhara (fl. 1300), and Bhavamisra (fl. 1500) compiled works on Indian medicine. [25]à The medical works of both Sushruta and Charaka were translated into theà Arabic languageà during theà Abbasid Caliphateà (ca. 750). [29]à These Arabic works made their way into Europe via intermediaries. [29]à InItaly, the Branca family ofà Sicilyà and Gaspare Tagliacozzi (Bologna) became familiar with the techniques of Sushruta. [29] British physicians traveled to India to seeà rhinoplastyà being performed by native methods. 30]à Reports on Indian rhinoplasty were published in theà Gentleman's Magazineà in 1794. [30]à Joseph Constantine Carpueà spent 20 years in India studying local plastic surgery methods. [30]à Carpue was able to perform the first major surgery in the western world in 1815. [31]à Instruments described in theà Sushruta Samhitaà were further modified in the Western World. [31] ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â- [edit]Current status [edit]India According to some sources up to 80 percent of people in India use some form of traditional medicines, a category which includes Ayurveda. 32] In 1970, the Indian Medical Central Council Act which aims to standardize qualifications for ayurveda and provide accredited institutions for its study and research was passed by theà Parliament of India. [33]à In India, over 100 colleges offer degrees in traditional ayurvedic medicine. [12]à The Indian government supports research and teaching in ayurveda through many channels at both the national and state levels, and helps institutionalize traditional medicine so that it can be studied in major towns and cities. [34]à The state-sponsoredà Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciencesà (CCRAS) has been set up to research the subject. 35]à To fightà biopiracyà and unethical patents, theà Government of India, in 2001, set up theà Traditional Knowledge Digital Libraryas repository of 1200 formulations of various systems of Indian medicine, such as ayurveda,à unanià andà siddha. [36][37]à The library also has 50 traditional ayurveda books digitized and available online. [38] Central Council of Indian Medicineà (CCIM) a statutory body established in 1971, underà Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathyà (AYUSH),à Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,à Government of India, monitors higher education in ayurveda. 39]à Many clinics in urban and rural areas are run by professionals who qualify from these institutes. [33] [edit]Sri Lanka The Sri Lankan tradition of Ayurveda is very similar to the Indian tradition. Practitioners of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka refer to texts on the subject written inà Sanskrit, which are common to both countries. However, they do diff er in some aspects, particularly in the herbs used. The Sri Lankan government has established a Ministry of Indigenous Medicine (established in 1980) to revive and regulate the practice within the country[40]à The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (affiliated to theà University of Colomboà currently ffers undergraduate, postgraduate, and MD degrees in the practice of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery, and similar degrees inà unanià medicine. [41] There are currently 62 Ayurvedic Hospitals and 208 central dispensaries in the public system, and they served almost 3 million people (approximately 11 percent of Sri Lanka's total population) in 2010. In total there are currently approximately 20,000 registered practitioners of Ayurveda in the country. [42][43] Many Sri Lankan hotels and resorts offer Ayurveda themed packages, where guests are treated to a wide array of Ayurveda treatments during their stay. edit]Outside South Asia Due to different laws and medical regulations in the rest of the world, the unregulated practice and commercialization of ayurvedic medicine has raised ethical and legal issues; in some cases, this damages the reputation of ayurvedic medicine outside India. [44][45][46] ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â- [edit]Scientific appraisal In studies in mice, the leaves ofTerminalia arjunaà have been shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. [47] As aà traditional medicine, many ayurveda products have not been tested in rigorous scientific studies andà clinical trials.In India, research in ayurveda is undertaken by the statutory body of theà Central Government, theà Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddhaà (CCRAS), through a national network of research institutes. [48]à A systematic review of ayurveda treatments for rheumatoidà arthritisà concluded that there was insufficient evidence, as most of the tri als were not done properly, and the one high-quality trial showed no benefits. [49]à A review of ayurveda andà cardiovascular diseaseconcluded that the evidence for ayurveda was not convincing, though some herbs seemed promising. 50] Two varieties ofà Salviaà have been tested in small trials; one trial provided evidence thatà Salvia lavandulifoliaà (Spanish sage) may improve word recall in young adults,[51]à and another provided evidence thatà Salvia officinalisà (Common sage) may improve symptoms inà Alzheimer'sà patients. [52]à Many plants used asà rasayanaà (rejuvenation) medications are potent antioxidants. [53]à Neemà appears to have beneficial pharmacological properties. [54] ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â- [edit]Safety Rasa shastra, the practice of adding metals, minerals or gems to herbs, may have toxic heavy metals such asà lead,à mercuryà andà arsenic. 7]à Adverse reactions to herbs due to their pharmacology are described in traditional ayurvedic texts, but ayurvedic practitioners are reluctant to admit that herbs could be toxic and that reliable information on herbal toxicity is not readily available. And there is communication gap between modern medicine practitioners and Ayurvedic practitioners[55] According to a 1990 study on ayurvedic medicines in India, 41 percent of the products tested contained arsenic, and 64 percent contained lead and mercury. 32]à A 2004 study found toxic levels of heavy metals in 20 percent of ayurvedic preparations made in South Asia and sold in the Boston area, and concluded that ayurvedic products posed serious health risks and should be tested for heavy-metal contamination. [56]à A 2008 study of more than 230 products found that approximately 20 percent of remedies (and 40 percent ofà rasa shastraà medicines) purchased over the Internet from both US and Indian suppliers co ntained lead, mercury or arsenic. 7][57][58]à In 2012 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Washington states in its report that Ayurvedic drugs has links to lead poisoning on the basis of some cases presented where some pregnant woman had taken Ayurvedic drugs toxic materials were found in their blood. [59] Ayurvedic proponents believe that the toxicity of these materials is reduced through purification processes such asà samskarasà orà shodhanasà (for metals), similar to the Chineseà pao zhi, although the ayurvedic technique is more complex and may involve prayers as well as physical pharmacy techniques.However, these products have nonetheless caused severeà lead poisoningà and other toxic effects. [7][57] Due to these concerns, the Government of India ruled that ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content directly on the labels of the product,[8]à but, writing on the subject forà Current Science, a publication of theà Indian Academy o f Sciences, M. S. Valiathan noted that ââ¬Å"the absence of post-market surveillance and the paucity of test laboratory facilities [in India] make the quality control of Ayurvedic medicines exceedingly difficult at this time. [8]Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of nature, to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. What is the Origin of Ayurveda? : Widely regarded as the oldest form of healthcare in the world, Ayurveda is an intricate medical system that originated in India thousands of years ago. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu scriptures called theà Vedasà ââ¬â the ancient Indian books of wisdom. Theà Rig Veda, which was written over 6,000 years ago, contains a series of prescriptions that can help humans overcome various ailments.What does Ayurveda do to you? : The aim of this system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve li fe. This can be summed up as follows: * To protect health and prolong life (ââ¬Å"Swasthyas swasthya rakshanamâ⬠) * To eliminate diseases and dysfunctions of the body (ââ¬Å"Aturasya vikar prashamanamchaâ⬠) What are the Basic Principles of Ayurveda? : Ayurveda is based on the premise that the universe is made up of five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. These elements are represented in humans by three ââ¬Å"doshasâ⬠, or energies:à Vata, Pittaà andà Kapha.When any of theà doshasà accumulate in the body beyond the desirable limit, the body loses its balance. Every individual has a distinct balance, and our health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the threeà doshasà (ââ¬Å"tridoshasâ⬠). Ayurveda suggests specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to help individuals reduce the excessà dosha. A healthy person, as defined inà Sushrut Samhita,à one of the primary works on Ayurveda, is ââ¬Å"he whoseà doshasà are in balance, appetite is good, all tissues of the body and all natural urges are functioning properly, and whose mind, body and spirit are cheerfulâ⬠¦ What is ââ¬ËTridosha' or the Theory of Bio-energies? : The threeà doshas, or bio-energies found in our body are: * Vataà pertains to air and ether elements. This energy is generally seen as the force, which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination. * Kaphaà pertains to water and earth elements. Kaphaà is responsible for growth and protection. The mucousal lining of the stomach, and the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal column are examples ofà kapha. * Pittaà pertains to fire and water elements.Thisà doshaà governs metabolism, e. g. , the transformation of foods into nutrients. Pittaà is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems. What is ââ¬ËPanchakarma' or the Therapy of Purification? : If toxins in the body are abundant, then a clean sing process known asà panchakarmaà is recommended to purge these unwanted toxins. This fivefold purification therapy is a classical form of treatment in ayurveda. These specialized procedures consist of the following: * Therapeutic vomiting or emesis (Vaman) * Purgation (Virechan) Enema (Basti) * Elimination of toxins through the nose (Nasya) * Bloodletting or detoxification of the blood (Rakta moksha) The roots of ayurveda| | | | Ayurveda,the oldest system of medicine in the world, traces its roots to the Vedic period in ancient India. Theà Vedasà contain practical and scientific information on various subjects beneficial to the humanity like health, philosophy, engineering, astrology etc. Vedic Brahmansà were not only priests performing religious rites and ceremonies, they also became theà Vaidyas (Ayurvedic Physicians).The Sage- Physician- Surgeons of that time were the same sages or seers, deeply devoted holy people , who saw health as an integral part of spiritual life. It is said, that they received their training ofà Ayurvedaà through direct cognition during meditation. In other words, the knowledge of the use of various methods of healing, prevention, longevity and surgery came through Divine revelation . These revelations were transcribed from the oral tradition into book form, interspersed with the other aspects of life. | | | à | à | | | Consequentlyà Ayurvedaà grew into a respected and widely used system of healing in India.Around CA. 1500 Before. Common era. Ayurvedaà was delineated into eight specific branches of medicine and there were two main schools ââ¬âà Atreya, the school of physicians, andà Dhanvantarià , the school of surgeons. These two schools madeà Ayurvedaà a more scientifically verifiable and classifiable medical system. People from numerous countries came to Indian Ayurvedic schools to learn this medical science. They came from China, Tibet, Greece, Rome, Egypt ,Afghanistan, Persia etc. to le arn the complete wisdom and bring it back to their own countries.Ayurvedic texts were translated in Arabic andà physicians such as Avicenna and Razi Sempion, who both quoted Ayurvedic texts , established Islamic Medicine. This medicine became popular in Europe and helped to form the foundation of the European tradition in medicine. In the 16thà Century Europe , Paracelsus , who is known as the father of modern Western medicine, practiced and propagated a system of medicine which borrowed heavily fromà Ayurveda.. | | Principles of Ayurveda| | | | | à | à | à | | | Ayurvedaà is a holistic healing science which comprises of two words,à Ayuà andà Veda.Ayu means life andà Vedameans knowledge or science. So the literal meaning of the wordà Ayurvedaà is the science of life. Ayurvedaà is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life. Ayurvedaà aims at making a happy, healthy and peaceful society. The two most importan t aims ofà Ayurvedaà are:à + To maintain the health of healthy people + To cure the diseases of sick peopleA Person is seen inà Ayurvedaà as a unique individual made up of five primary elements. These elements are ether (space), air, fire,water and earth. Just as in nature, we too have these five elements in us.When any of these elements are imbalancedà in the environment , they will in turn have an influence on us. The foods we eat and the weather are just two examples of the influence of these elements . While we are a composite of these five primary elements, certain elements are seen to have an ability to combine to create various physiological functions. The elements combine with Ether and Air in dominence to form what is known inà Ayurvedaà asà Vata Dosha. Vatagoverns the principle of movement and therefore can be seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration and elemination etc. The elements with Fire and Water in dominence combi ne to form theà Pitta Doshaà . Theà Pitta Doshaà is responsible for the process of transformation or metabolism. The transformation of foods into nutrients that our bodies can assimilate is an example of a Pitta function. Pittaà is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems as well as cellular metabolism. Finally, it is predominantly the water and earth elements which combine to form theà Kapha Dosha. Kaphaà is responsible for growth, adding structure unit by unit.It also offers protection , for example, in form of the cerebral-spinal fluid,which protects the brain and spinal column. The mucousal lining of the stomach is another example of the function of Kapha Dosha protecting the tissues. | à à | | We are all made up of unique proportions ofà Vata,Pitta and Kapha. These ratios of the Doshas vary in each individual and because of thisà Ayurvedaà sees each person as a special mixture that accounts for our diversity. Ayurvedaà gives us a model to look at each individual as a unique makeup of the three doshas and to thereby design treatment protocols that specifically address a persons health challenges.When any of the doshas become accumulated,à Ayurvedaà will suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the individual in reducing the dosha that has become excessive. Also herbal medicines will be suggested , to cure the imbalance and the disease. Understanding this main principle ofà Ayurvedaà , it offers us an explanation as to why one person responds differently to a treatment or diet than another and why persons with the same disease might yet require different treatments and medications. | | | à à à | à à à à à à à à | à à à à | Other important basic principles ofà Ayurvedaà which are briefly mentioned here are: 1. Dhatus- These are the basic tissues which maintain and nourish the body. They are seven in number namely- rasa(chyle), raktha(blood), m amsa(muscles),meda(fatty tissue), asthi(bone), majja(marrow) and sukla(reprodutive tissue). Proper amount of each dhatu and their balanced function is very important for good health. 2. Mala- These are the waste materials produced as a result of various metabolic activities in the body. They are mainly urine, feaces, sweat etc.Proper elimination of the malas is equally important for good health. Accumulation of malas causes many diseases in the body. 3. Srotas- These are different types of channels which are responsible for transportation of food,à dhatus,malasà andà doshas. Proper functioning ofà srotasà is necessary for transporting different materials to the site of their requirement. Blockage ofà srotasà causes many diseases. 4. Agni- These are different types of enzymes responsible for digestion and transforming one material to another. All these factors should function in a proper balance for good health.They are inter-related and are directly or indirectly respo nsible for maintaining equilibrium of the tridoshas. Balance and Harmony of the Three Doshas When the three Doshas are well harmonised and function in a balanced manner, it results in good nourishment and well-being of the individual . But when there is imbalance or disharmony within or between them, it will result in elemental imbalance , leading to various kinds of ailments. The Ayurvedic concept of physical health revolves round these three Doshas and its primary purpose is to help maintain them in a balanced state and thus to prevent disease.This humoral theory is not unique to the ancient Indian Medicine : The Yin and Yang theory in chinese medicine and the Hippocratic theory of four humours in Greek medicine are also very similar. | à à à à à | | The Qualities of the Three Doshas The three Doshas possess qualities and their increase or decrease in the system depends upon the similar or antagonistic qualities of everything ingested. Vataà is : dry, cold, light, mobi le, clear, rough, subtle Pittaà is : slightly oily, hot, intense, light, fluid,free flowing, foul smelling. Kaphaà is: oily, cold, heavy, stable, viscid, smooth, soft Bothà Vataà andà Pittaà are light and only Kapha is heavy.Bothà Vataà andà Kaphaà are cold and only Pitta is hot. Bothà Pittaà andà Kaphaà are moist and oily and only Vata is dry. | à à à à | | Anything dry almost always increasesà Vataà , anything hot increasesà Pittaà and anything heavy ,à Kapha. Puffed rice is dry, cold light and rough ââ¬â overindulgence in puffed rice therefore is likely to increase Vata in the overindulger. Mustard oil is oily , hot , intense , fluid , strong-smelling and liquid and increases Pitta in the consumer. Yoghurt , which , being creamy, cold, heavy, viscid, smooth and soft , is the very image of Kapha , adds to the body's Kapha when eaten.All Five elemets , as expressed throughà Vata, Pitta and Kaphaà , are essential to life, working together to create health or produce disease. No one dosha can produce or sustain life ââ¬â all three must work together , each in its own way. | | | PURIFICATION THERAPY| | | ââ¬ËHealth is purity and disease is impurity So purification is the treatment. ââ¬â¢ à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à (old Indian saying)| | | Purification therapy is a unique feature ofà Ayurvedaà by which theà complete cure and non recurrence of disease is made possible.The functional components (doshas, namelyà vatha, pitha & kaphaà ) move all around the body through the channels of circulation to do the normal physiological activities. The disease is the result of imbalance in the quantity and quality of the doshas. During the disease process, the unbalanced doshas get lodged in the weak parts of the channels of circulation and produce the disease symptoms. If the channels of circulation are pure and healthy, even the aggravated doshas cannot loc ate anywhere and produce disease à à à à à Ayurvedaà offers two measures in the management of a disease Ã°Å¸Ë | | . Pacifying therapyà :-à in which the unbalancedà doshasà are pacified with in the body itself. As this therapy donââ¬â¢t cleanse the channels of circulation, there is the possibility of reprovocation when exposed to similar causative factors. This therapy is suited in conditions in which there is not much vitiation of the doshas. 2. Purification therapyà :-à It is aimed at the complete expulsion of the unbalancedà doshasà and the purification of the channels of circulation. As the channels are cleansed and strengthened by this process, the chance of recurrence is nil. à | à | Purification therapy can be implemented not only for curing diseases but to maintain health. No other systems of medicine can offer such an effective treatment measure. So we can proudly declare our superiority of Ayurveda to any other systems on account of its purification therapy. The purification otherwise calledà ââ¬ËPancha karma therapy'à is à implemented in five ways. | | | 1. Enema therapy :-à It is best for vatha imbalance. 2. Purgation therapy :-à Best for pitha imbalance. 3. Emesis therapy :-à For kapha imbalance. 4. Nasal drops :-à For all diseases above the neck. 5.Blood letting :-à Best for removing blood impurities. | | | à | à | | Stages of the treatment| à | | First stageà :-à This includes the external and internal application oils followed with fomentation or sudation. By this the unbalanced doshas lodged in the weak parts of the channels are liquified and loosened. Main or second stageà :-à In this stage the loosened and liquified doshas are expelled out of the body by the appropriate purifactory procedure. Post therapyà :-à This includes the regimens to be practised after the purification. This is mainly intended to augment the digestive fire. | |
Monday, July 29, 2019
Term paper( summarize articles) Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
( summarize articles) - Term Paper Example The two democrat presidential aspirants Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barak obama of Illinois voted against earmark project, there was also a symbolic vote against earmark by Mr. McCain and this was to pass a message across. There were those from both parties who voted in favor of earmark but they couldn't meet up to the 60 votes needed to proceed on the issue. Mr. McCain was not particularly happy with members from both parties who don't see earmark as a wasteful project. An open seat in the congress that has been long held by Republicans in the conservative district was taken over by a Democrat. This happened after a special election, and has given the party an early boost in its drive to get a higher majority inside the House of Representatives. Woody Jenkins, a newspaper publisher lost to Don Cazayoux, a state representative, 49 percent to 46 percent, in a keenly and closely contested race for a seat left open as a result of the retirement of Richard Baker, a Republican. Mr. Cazayoux overcame the Republicans' view of him as a "liberal" by showing himself a little different from Mr. Jenkins with regards to social issues, by locking horns with figures like Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, and Senator Barack Obama, who happen to share billing with him in a barrage of Republican attack advertisements.The Louisiana race was seen by the two parties' as an important test for the fall, given the fact that the district has been safe for Republicans for over three decades. a potential victory by Democrats is seen by them as a measure of Republican vulnerability; it is as an indication that it will be difficult to defend more than two dozen open seats that are in play in November, from the Republicans point of view. Mr. Cazayoux, who happens to be a low-key member of the State House and a one time prosecutor, matches the conservative model that Democrats deployed successfully in the 2006 elections when they took seats from Republicans. 4-Obama Wins Guam From NEW YOR TIMES By Sarah Wheaton Published:May 3, 2008 According to The Pacific Daily News, senator Obama won in Guam by a margin of only 7 votes. This result will probably not affect the outcome of the delegate calculations, given the proportional allocation of the delegates. Obama did pick up one superdelegate though, as a supporter of his was elected into the party's vice chairmanship position. 5-Narrow Victory for Obama in the Caucuses in Guam From NEW YORK TIMES By SARAH WHEATON Published: May 4, 2008 Senator Barack Obama defeated Senator Hillary Clinton by a margin of 7 votes to win the democratic caucuses in Guam. Delegates pledged to senator Obama received 2,264 votes, while those with Mrs. Clinton got 2,257 votes by the time hand-counting
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Effectiveness of Patient Navigation Program For Underserved Patients Research Paper - 1
Effectiveness of Patient Navigation Program For Underserved Patients in Improving Diagnostic Resolution after Abnormal Cancer screening - Research Paper Example Most of the time, the underserved members of the community suffer from these abnormal tests. Failure to improve the situation could result into more people succumbing to the disease, which is curable and manageable at the earlier stages of its development. Through patient navigation programs, the underserved in community expect to receive medical care and diagnosis that provides them with solutions to the problem. The presentation of research material here deals with the challenge presenting the necessary literature on the challenge. The study presents the different challenges that the community faces in the wake of abnormal cancer screening in patients. The developing abnormal cancer screening in the underserved patients requires follow up in the patient navigation program. The different patient navigation programs developed aimed at dealing with patient challenges in relation to handling challenges such as cancer screening with quest to handle cancer in general as a problem. The challenge that the patient navigation program faces is the development of a cancer-screening program that ensures through management of the problem. The whole process seems to provide an ineffective answer to the diagnostic challenges that management of cancer faces. The problem provokes the need to improve the cancer diagnostic resolution to present viable results. The study presents a number of significance levels to different people in ranging from the writer, the future research developers on the same subject, the community and the government. The study is significant in the presentation of information that could guide medical workers in dealing with the problem and improving the cancer screening process. This significance plays to the researcher and the medical workers. The study is significant to the community in providing them with the necessary
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Cases in international marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words
Cases in international marketing - Essay Example The Multinationals have gained a huge market and a large number of new consumers, but have not been able to realize the full potential of their investments in China. They have benefited from cheap imports but have not been able to sell their own products for equal value or quantity and have ended in a trade deficit with their Chinese counterparts. However the Chinese too need the world markets as much as the world needs them and in this quid-pro-quo there is still a silver lining and by understanding and segmenting the market properly, lost ground can be recovered. Ever since the Chinese came out of their Walled existence and opened themselves to the International communities, they have become the focus of the whole world. Having the largest population on Earth opened up a marketing opportunity that was beyond comprehension to most conglomerates. Added to that the purchasing power dazzled one and all and Multinationals of all hues went headlong to get a piece of the action. Liberalization of the economy and a bent towards industrialization in a hurry offered huge opportunities for expansion. As of now as many as 320,000 foreign ventures have come up on mainland China, and they are growing by the day. China is the second largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investments that have crossed 400 billion dollars. Investments have come in from all quarters of the world, mainly from the USA. China does offer great marketing opportunities due to its huge population and capabilities. It has abundant cheap labour, a good infrastructure and liberal open market policies that are loved by the Multinationals. There are huge opportunities in manufacturing. Labour intensive industries thrive well due to very high productivity level of the workers and vigilant government machinery that still keeps them in line with their firm labour laws. Liberalization has created more job opportunities and the growing population is easily absorbed in industrial activities. To promote these
Friday, July 26, 2019
Research a hospitality facility development or refurbishment of your Paper
A hospitality facility development or refurbishment of your choice - Research Paper Example The banner ââ¬Å"The Character of Londonâ⬠was successfully upheld through the hotelââ¬â¢s various refurbishment efforts to exude the luxury for the 21st Century. Hotel Savoyââ¬â¢s legacy of being the first luxury hotel in London was preserved with the renovations and series of changes they made to make the establishment more pleasing to the customerââ¬â¢s taste and according to environmental trends. Hotel Savoy History It all started with a piece of land given by King Henry II to Count Peter II of Savoy. There, Peter II built the Savoy Palace. The structure underwent several destructions especially that it was built at the time when Britain was at serious political strife. After few centennials, a theater in the same place was built by Richard D'Oyly. D'Oyly, a constant traveler, was inspired with the hotel he had seen in the United States, and this inspired him to transform the theater into London's first luxury hotel, the Hotel Savoy (Peck, 2010). Ever since Hotel S avoy became more than just the ownerââ¬â¢s concept, it has been enjoying a celebrity-like status, just like their guests. Being the first hotel in London to offer electricity services and lift (then called as ââ¬Ëascending roomsââ¬â¢), the success became sensational that the most famous people in various fields never fail to drop in Hotel Savoy whenever they visit London. Notable figures who became frequent visitors of Hotel Savoy include Katherine Hepburn, Oscar Wilde, Coco Chanel, Bob Dylan, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, and many more (Savoy, n.d.). A-list customers such as the above mentioned made the hotel legendary. Through the fast-paced changes, a good thing about the hotelââ¬â¢s management system is that it prioritizes customer satisfaction. In doing this, hotel staff and hoteliers were trained extensively to meet the discriminating customers. From bartenders to administrative staff, competence can be observed. Last 2007, the hotel was closed temporarily for an extensive overhaul and was reopened last year, complete with new features and more luxurious services (Anon., 2010). The Hotelââ¬â¢s Refurbishment After more than a centennial of luxury hotel service, Savoyââ¬â¢s owners decided to close it temporarily for refurbishment to take the hotel to a new level of elegance. In a report by Stinson (2007), owners of the hotel revealed that they plan to auction few of the items owned by the hotel such as the grand piano which Frank Sinatra once played when he was invited by the hotel some years ago, and the tiles of the ballroom which Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe and Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II danced on when they visited the place. The starting prices of auctioned items began with more than 200 pounds to as high as 1000 pounds or more. However, hoteliers assured that the hotelââ¬â¢s trademarks such as the figure of Kaspar the Cat and everything found in the American bar will not be sold to preserve the antique feel of the establishment (Stinson, 2007). Customers who are frequent in the hotel are not quite sure about the changes the management had decided because there might be a lot missing in the hotel and they might lose nostalgia of their previous visits; however, the hotel heads were assuring the customers that Savoy will still be recognizable. The Edwardian features and Art Deco style of the hotel would be maintained and developed. Financial analysts did not believe that the hotelââ¬â¢s timing in refurbishing the property is good, considering
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Evaluation methods for the proposed IAMS framework, model, and system Thesis
Evaluation methods for the proposed IAMS framework, model, and system - Thesis Example What the Evaluation Methods Should Achieve The appropriate evaluation method should reveal the most appropriate elements that would provide user opinions for an acceptable integration model for the physical and virtual identity management systems. In addition, the evaluation method should elucidate the most comprehensive and efficient IAMS framework for the integration of physical and virtual IAMS. Finally, the evaluation methods should have the capacity to test the components that constitute the conceptual model, so that the final model merges seamlessly with user expectations and usability preferences. Background to Evaluation Methods Good theoretical frameworks offer practicality in a wide range of situations, and therefore their importance in evaluation of IAMS frameworks cannot be overemphasized (Alkin, 2004). According to Alkin (2004), evaluations stem from social responsibility, monetary considerations, and social inquiry. In explaining the evaluation methodology, Alkin (2004) uses a comprehensive categorization based on use, methods, and value of the evaluation components. In this paper, three distinct evaluations are necessary to achieve the objectives of this research: expert evaluation, user evaluation, and evaluation through comparison with existing IAMS frameworks. Methods of Evaluating Expert and User Opinions Empowerment Evaluation Method An empowerment evaluation method would focus on helping a particular group of stakeholders, either clients seeking service through the IAMS or providers of the IAMS services. In addition, empowerment method takes into consideration feedback from different stakeholders (Fetterman and Wandersman, 2007). Expert evaluation with empowerment method therefore gives evaluators more... Evaluation methods for the proposed IAMS framework, model, and system Good theoretical frameworks offer practicality in a wide range of situations, and therefore their importance in evaluation of IAMS frameworks cannot be overemphasized (Alkin, 2004). According to Alkin (2004), evaluations stem from social responsibility, monetary considerations, and social inquiry. In explaining the evaluation methodology, Alkin (2004) uses a comprehensive categorization based on use, methods, and value of the evaluation components. In this paper, three distinct evaluations are necessary to achieve the objectives of this research: expert evaluation, user evaluation, and evaluation through comparison with existing IAMS frameworks. An empowerment evaluation method would focus on helping a particular group of stakeholders, either clients seeking service through the IAMS or providers of the IAMS services. In addition, empowerment method takes into consideration feedback from different stakeholders (Fetterman and Wandersman, 2007). Expert evaluation with empowerment method therefore gives evaluators more responsibility in a supervisory role than in an expert role. Methods that can use of empowerment evaluation include analysis of expert questionnaires, such as those collected for the purpose of this research (Fetterman, 2007). The overriding premise of empowerment evaluation is to help people contribute to what helps them carry out their roles (Sherriff & Porter, 2010).
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Henry and his Wives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Henry and his Wives - Essay Example This volume intends to present the conditions and the confines in which Henryââ¬â¢s wives and other women lived in detail as presented by the author. The author has shown Henry as a very notorious character where he marries six wives. This distinct Henry in the records of history where he is seen to achieve almost anything through his destructive influence and power. At first, Henry Marries Catherine of Aragon, however, their marriage is ended by an infant death and a sensational political revolt. His second wife also meets and unfortunate end, where by charges that were most likely false she is executed. Jane Seymour the third wife who bore Henry a son died in childbirth. Soon after the death of Jane Henry remarried a German woman who came to be a disappointment later as according to Henry was not as beautiful as he had hoped. Consequently, they divorced after six months. Henryââ¬â¢s fifth wife was Katherine Howard; unfortunately, just like his first wife she was set for execution through cunning means. Finally, the author concludes the story by the live events of the last wife of Henry, Katherine Parr who was well mannered and served her husband with great respect and devotion until his death. The author at this point reflects the life of the women of this time and the place they were kept by the society. He further brings out a variety of themes such as egoism and others through the life and deeds of the king. Henry serves the role of the medieval society and how influential individuals and people in power positions related with
Healthy people 2020 -p r i m a r y prevention Essay
Healthy people 2020 -p r i m a r y prevention - Essay Example Therefore, vaccination is quite necessary primary prevention objective. The main aim of primary prevention is to keep people safe from disease or further injury. It is an initial level of healthcare that mainly maintains normal, healthy state of the population. Therefore, vaccination against infectious disease responds all criteria of primary prevention. (WHO, 2013) The World Health Organization (WHO) observed that the amount of deaths from chronic diseases is growing every year. Their assumption showed that percent of death caused by hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes would change to 17% from 35 million to 41 million by 2015. However, this data can be differ in the developed countries where primary prevention programs implicated. WHO developed Innovative Care for Chronic Condition Framework (ICCC) to widen information about these diseases among a population, to provide appropriate control to decrease prevalence of such chronic diseases and to promote healthy a way of life. Therefore, all primary prevention programs, mentioned before, help to prevent and control the occurrence of infectious and chronic diseases and to improve general quality of life and healthy state of the population. (Community Preventive Services Task Force,
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
The Pyramids at Giza Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1
The Pyramids at Giza - Research Paper Example Despite the closer locale of the building materials, the construction of the Great Pyramid and the other pyramids located in and around the Giza plain indicate a level of mechanical knowledge unequaled in their time and suggest a level of creativity not typically associated with the ancients.à Some of the other materials used in the pyramids were pre-existing on the site as the base of the Great Pyramid is a natural rock outcropping and several chambers are filled with sand.à However, there is also some truth to the concept that rock was brought in from elsewhere.à ââ¬Å"The fine white limestone came from Tura, about 8 miles away on the other side of the Nile.à The granite came from quarries at Aswan, around 600 miles upstream. In some of these sites, there are clear marks left in the rock.â⬠One of the amazing aspects of the pyramids is the precision with which theyââ¬â¢re built and the crude tools with which the Bronze Age Egyptians had to work.à ââ¬Å"The most plausible answer is that the Egyptians, who lacked tackle and pulley for lifting heavy weights, employed a sloping embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was increased in height and in length as the pyramid rose and up which the stone blocks were hauled by means of sleds, rollers, and levers.â⬠While it has been widely believed that the construction of the pyramid was carried out by slaves, Andrew Millmore indicates that this is not true.à ââ¬Å"One hundred thousand people worked on it for three months of each year.à This was the time of the Nileââ¬â¢s annual flood which made it impossible to farm the land and most of the population was unemployed.â⬠A great deal of information about the workers themselves has been provided through excavation and study of the workerââ¬â¢s village found near the pyramid site in 1999.à ââ¬Å"We do know much more about the work activities, particularly at Giza, than ever before.à Archaeologists have carefully studied the workerââ¬â¢s villages, the craft shops, the bakeries, and other related structures.
Monday, July 22, 2019
Freudââ¬â¢s theory of Psychosexual Development Essay Example for Free
Freudââ¬â¢s theory of Psychosexual Development Essay I will begin my essay by outlining Freudââ¬â¢s theory of Psychosexual Development and I will then go on to evaluate how far this help us to understand a clientââ¬â¢s presenting issue. Freudââ¬â¢s theory of psychosexual development begins with the belief that human beings are purely driven by biology, in the form of the libido or sexual energy. The driving force of the libido is divided into five stages, he argues, and our early experiences during childhood are responsible for the development of a healthy personality, or if any individual were to experience trauma during these stages then it would result in disruption in the childââ¬â¢s personal development and the child may become stuck in this stage, resulting in neurosis. This five stages of sexual libido are: The Oral Stage ââ¬â from birth to about 18 months ââ¬â is where the child directs all its attention to the mouth in the form of sucking, eating and drinking. If stuck in this stage the client may still like to use their mouth a lot, resulting in the client presenting with overeating, drinking, smoking or talking The Anal Stage ââ¬â from about 18 months to three years ââ¬â is where the child directs their attention to the elimination of waste, and of the feelings experienced by the expelling of waste. This is also the stage where the child first experiences an element of control over themselves, as to where they excrete or and indeed whether or not they excrete their waste product. The child learns that he can use his bodily functions to elicit attention from his carer by excreting on the floor rather than in the potty. Clients stuck in the anal stage may be either anally retentive or expulsive in personality. Those that are anally retentive individuals are controlling and like to have everything in order ââ¬â they may suffer from OCD and have quick outbursts of anger. Anally expulsive individuals tend to be untidy and disorganised. The Phallic Stage ââ¬â from about three to five years ââ¬â is where children become aware of their genital regions. This is the stage where the child starts to become aware of the differences between male and female genitalia, and their energy is spent undressing themselves, and perhaps others, in order to explore these differences. It is also the stageà of manipulating the genitals and the discovery of pleasure in doing so. It is during this stage that the Oedipus conflict arises; the belief that a boy has incestuous cravings for his mother and views his father as a rival for this affection. The boy also fears his father, as his father is bigger than him in all ways including his penis. Freud argued that the boy feels castration anxiety at this stage as a result of repressed sexual desire for his mother. If the boy has the correct parenting at this stage, then the boy identifies with the father and comes to have harmless affection for the mother. The Electra complex is the female counterpart. It is based on the view that each girl wants to possess her father and replace her mother. A phallic fixation can lead to an individual with a narcissistic, homosexual, egotistical or overly sexualised personality that may lead to serial marriage, polygamy or polyandry. The phallic fixation tends to use sex to discharge emotional tension and will often have sexual relationships that are superficial and lacking in love and affection The Latency Stage ââ¬â from five years to adolescence. In this stage, sexual motivated needs subside as the child focuses their attention on developing other skills needed for their survival. A child stuck in this stage may have issues forming sexual relationships and have trouble expressing themselves sexually, leaving themselves and or their partners sexually unfulfilled. The Genital Stage ââ¬â from adolescence to adulthood. During the onset of adolescence, the child moves from self-love or narcissistic love to diverting this love to others. It is argued by psychotherapists that are advocates of this theory that individuals disrupted during the ââ¬ËGenital stageââ¬â¢ may result in sexual disorders such as fetishes and paedophilia. According to Freud, only symptoms can be modified, and not the behaviour of the client ââ¬â this can be done in two ways: 1. Lessening of the intensity of the unconscious urges, by bringing them to the consciousness or by strengthening the defences against them. An example of lessening the clientââ¬â¢s behaviour is by encouraging a client to leave a job where aggressive urges were continually being aroused by an oppressive boss. 2. Alternatively the client can act out their urges in a more acceptable and symbolic way. An example being that anal urges can be expressed through pottery, as an alternative to faecal play. Feminists would argue that Freudââ¬â¢s theory concentrates on male sexual development, and provides little in understanding female sexuality. Freudââ¬â¢s work has alsoà been criticised for over emphasising sex drive and little else in order to assess a clientââ¬â¢s presenting issue. Carl Jung and Fromm, two students of Freud, agreed with this statement, but used Freudââ¬â¢s work to develop their own theories, which I outline below. Carl Jung (1875 -1961) believed that that the libido was not just sexual energy, but instead generalised psychic energy. The purpose of this psychic energy was to motivate the individ ual in a number of ways, including spiritually, intellectually, and creatively. It was an individualââ¬â¢s source for seeking pleasure as well as reducing conflict. Jung placed greater emphasis on the unconscious than Freud; he argued that the psyche was composed of three components. Firstly, he believed that the ego is conscious, because people are aware of their own thoughts, memories and emotions. The unconscious mind, Jung believed, was split into two parts (the remaining two components): The personal unconscious, which is the same as Freudââ¬â¢s belief, in that it consists of repressed memories. Jung explained an important feature of the personal unconscious called ââ¬Ëcomplexesââ¬â¢. A complex is a collection of thoughts, feelings, attitudes and memories, which focus on a single concept. The more elements attached to the ââ¬Ëcomplexââ¬â¢ the greater its influence on the individual. The second deeper level is the Collective consciousness. This level of unconscious is shared with other members of the human species, comprising of latent memories from our ancestral and evolutionary past (ââ¬ËThe form of the world into which a person is born is already inborn in him, as a virtual imageââ¬â¢ Jung, 1953). Jung called the ancestral memories and images ââ¬Ëarchetypesââ¬â¢. For Jung, our primitive past becomes the basis of the human psyche, directing and influencing present behaviour. Important archetypes include: the persona, or our social mask, just like an actor in a play; Anima/Animus, or our male and female sides ââ¬â this comes from living side by side with the opposite sex for centuries; the shadow, similar to Freudââ¬â¢s ID, comprised of our animal urges or survival and reproduction. Jung argued that the psychological development of both sexes was undermined as the development of western society has led to the devaluation of feminine qualities over the predominance of the persona, leading to insecurity. Jung agreed with Freud that a personââ¬â¢s past and childhood experiences determined future behaviour, but he also believed that we are shaped by our future aspirations too. Erich Fromm (1900 ââ¬â 1980) differed with the Freudianà emphasis on unconscious drives. Fromm argues that a personââ¬â¢s drives were not purely biological ââ¬â he believed that man had free choice to decide on whatever action he felt appropriate and therefore gui ded their own destiny. Fromm saw conflict arising within the individual, when they had to weigh up the freedom of choice with the fear of uncertainty, when making these decisions. As a sociologist and psychologist, his theories integrated both psychology and Marxist Historical Materialism. Fromm argued that each socioeconomic class fosters a particular character, governed by ideas and concepts that justify and maintain the socioeconomic system. Fromm believed that the unique character of human existence gives rises to eight basic needs. Firstly Unity, as human beings have lost their original oneness with nature, they need to relate in order to overcome their isolation. Secondly their relatedness with others, care, respect and knowledge. Thirdly humans need to transcend their own nature, as well as their passivity and randomness of existence, which can be accomplished either positively, by loving and creating, or negatively, through hatred and destruction. Fourthly the individual also requires a sense of rootedness or belonging, in order to gain a feeling of security, and sense of identity. Fifthly the sense of identity which is expressed non-productively as conformity to a group and productively as an individual. Sixthly is need is for orientation understanding the wor ld and our place in it. Seventhly is excitation and stimulation or actively striving for a goal rather than simply responding. Eighthly is effectiveness the need to feel accomplished. This Orientation can be achieved either through assimilation (relating to things) or socialisation (relating to people). Fromm identified several character Orientations in Western Society. Authoritarianism when an individual cannot come to terms with this freedom, he could avoid his responsibilities by withdrawing beneath the protection of someone or something else. Examples of this include God, a specific political leader of party, an institution of even oneââ¬â¢s carer. Receptive Orientation this is common in a society which encourages exploitation of the individual, who then seeks solace in affection and related comforts, such as eating, where the individual can only take and not give. Exploitative Orientation the defence being the aggressive possession of goods, usually those of others. Examples being the plundering of goods in historical times, or in more modern times, thoseà nations that seek the territories and chattels of others. Productive Orientation which donates love and tolerance towards others, and an acceptance of their freedom, with the ability to use this orientation to their advantage, without harming others. Hoarding Orientation ââ¬â the ââ¬ËI want ââ¬â I needââ¬â¢ society, based on material wealth. If one owns objects, then the individual can be seen, at least in his eyes, as clever and powerful. These individuals are threatened by the outside world and cannot share. Marketing Orientation ââ¬â this is people copying or being influenced by the media and advertising by wearing the latest fashions. Individual personal qualities are redundant over what looks good. The individual sees themselves as a commodity to be bought and sold. Fromm added two further states: Necrophilous character- attracted to death Biophilous character ââ¬â drawn to life. According to Fromm, gaining independence from oneââ¬â¢s parents leads to a profound sense of loneliness and isolation, which the individual attempts to escape by establishing some type of bond with society through social conformity and submission to authority. By relating both Jung and Frommââ¬â¢s work to our clients, they have made us aware of the clientââ¬â¢s wider world or heritage into which he or she is born. Jung would argue that a Muslim woman may have low self-esteem and isolate herself from others, but these presenting issues are more down to the clientââ¬â¢s collective consciousness than their childhood. In this case, Jung helps us as therapist to understand that the clientââ¬â¢s neurosis may not arise from bad parenting, but from something primal based upon evolution within the individual. Frommââ¬â¢s Socio- economic theories also provide us with insight of the clientââ¬â¢s wider world, and how neurosis can arise due to external economic forces that dr ive the clientââ¬â¢s neurosis in an exploitative and materialistic society that values things over the human existence. Both would argue that it is our environment rather than biology that constrains us, in the form of society and culture. For Jung and Fromm, in order to understand the clientââ¬â¢s presenting issue, we must also understand their culture and the way in which they relate to the economic society into which they are born. An alternative view to Freudââ¬â¢s psychosexual development is that of the Behaviourist approach. Behaviourists believe that what is learned can be unlearned. Skinner built upon the workà of Pavlovââ¬â¢s classical conditioning experiments (1927) and his use of dogs as subjects, and the Little Albert experiments of Watson and Rayner (1920). To further these experiments, Skinner (1938) designed a Puzzle box and, by using rats, he showed that by using both positive and negative reinforcements, he could change the behaviour of the rats, as their behaviour is affected by consequences. He called this Operant Conditioning to which he identified three responses: Neutral Operants: responses from the environment that neither increase nor decrease the probability of a behaviour repeated. Reinforces: responses from the environment that increase the probability of a behaviour being repeated ââ¬â this can be ether positive or negative Punishers: Responses from the environment that decrease the probability of a behaviour being repeated. Punishment weakens behaviour. Skinner concluded that there was a Law of Effect, and that by using reinforcement, behaviour tends to be repeated, while behaviour which is not reinforced tends to die out. As human beings, we often respond to verbal Operants by taking advice, listening to the warnings of others and by obeying given rules and laws. This helps us understand the development of children, as the feelings associated with behaviour are controlled by conditioning. If the child has been positively rewarded, then the child is more likely to repeat those behaviours happily and willingly, feeling that they are doing what they want to be doing. If on the other hand the child avoids these behaviours due to negative reinforcement, they will be inclined to feel that their freedoms are being repressed, resulting in feelings of negativity, which could led to depression or anxiety. The work of Skinner, Pavlov, Watson and Rayner has led to the development of different treatments, such as C ognitive behavioural therapy and talking therapy that will help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave, commonly used to treat anxiety, depression and phobias but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems. In conclusion, Freudââ¬â¢s work on psychosexual development does help us in part to understand a clientââ¬â¢s presenting issue, by understanding that their behaviour may very well stem from how their parents handled the childââ¬â¢s psychosexual development. By accepting this assertion, it also helps us to understand that what we, as society, view as very disturbing or deviant behaviour can arise from childhood trauma. This allows the therapist, and society, to be moreà compassionate to such clients. An example of this is that Freud stated that homosexuality is neither a sinful nor a criminal act, but rather a condition that arose from childhood biological and psychological factors, and was just a ââ¬Ëvariation of the sexual functionââ¬â¢, and because of this is could not be treated by punishment or therapy, but should just be accepted. Freudââ¬â¢s work, as already discussed, is limited in understanding the clientââ¬â¢s total world, however we must understand th at Freudââ¬â¢s work was the first of its kind in understanding human psychological development, and was written at a time when most adults probably were sexually repressed, as well as viewing homosexuality as sinful. The later work of others, including Jung and Fromm, built upon his work, to help us understand the clientââ¬â¢s presenting issue in a wider context. They widened our worldly view of the client by demonstrating how neurosis of the individual may also arise due to internal factors of the collective consciousness, arising from cultural and social heritage, or by external factors, such as how the client relates to the economic environment into which they are born. The work of the behaviourists also helps us to understand that any negative social conditioning also plays its part in understanding the clientââ¬â¢s presenting issue. As a final note, we must remember that it is the job of the therapist to use the work of others as a tool to understanding the clientââ¬â¢s own world in order to get enough understanding of the clientââ¬â¢s perspective in relation to their own presenting issue. This understanding helps facilitate the client in coming to their own conclusions as to how best to tackle their own presenting issue, either by managing their condition from the Freudian perspective, or helping them change their own perspective and/or behaviour, as argued by the behaviourists. Bibliography What Freud Really Said ââ¬â David Stafford-Clark (1996) 1935 ââ¬â Freudââ¬â¢s letter response to a mother asking him to treat her homosexual son. (1935) Handbook of Individual Therapy ââ¬â Edited by Windy Dryden (1990) Counselling for Toads ââ¬â Robert De Board (1998) McLeod, S.A (2008)
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