A analysis, from today's viewpoint, of the classical American novel "The Great Gatsby " by F. Scott Fitzgerald from the perspective of the corrupt American Dream.
Abstract This paper describes "The Great Gatsby" as Fitzgerald's signature novel of the American dream gone awry. It compares American society in the 1920s to American today. The author writes that immigrants, like Gatsby, come to escape their own problems for our empty promises of unlimited advancement. On the surface, "The Great Gatsby" is a novel about confused and unhappy relationships that drank and socialized their way through the 1920s. Yet, when investigating further, it speaks of the bankrupt American Dream, which no longer stands for progress and hard work, as it has become materialistic and corrupt.
From the Paper "For years immigrants poured into Ellis Island looking for freedom of religious persecution, to escape poverty and hunger and numerous other reasons. Today over 50,000 immigrants come to the shores of America clutching Green Cards hoping for a piece of the American Dream."
It is in this setting, that F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays ?The Great Gatsby.? Jay Gatsby, himself, the title character, was a major culprit of this corruption.
Nick Carraway surmises that Gatsby made his wealth from bootlegging and involvement with organized crime. Gatsby has focused his adult life to being wealthy enough and having enough to impress Daisy."
Abstract The novels of James M. Cain, and the mood that Cain maintains throughout these works is one that suggests that plans always go awry and that there is indeed a certain justice in that when referring to the criminal element.
From the Paper "Underlying the "reverse-pattern" or "crime-suspense" novel is the idea of "intentions gone haywire," as Joan Didion calls it, or a reiteration of the Robert Burns view that the best laid plans of mice and men do not work out as intended. This can be seen in the novels of James M. Cain, and the mood that Cain maintains throughout these works is one that suggests that plans always go awry and that there is indeed a certain justice in that when referring to the criminal element. Cain's stories are naturalistic, with characters encountering the accidental and failing in the face of arbitrary but not divine justice. The universe does not appear to care about these characters or their victims, but there is still a sense of doom that pervades this world and that leads nearly everyone to a sorry end.
The arbitrary nature of this world is evident in the title.."
Abstract This paper studies the issues related to having minority teachers in predominantly white schools. The paper explores how many new opportunities now exist for minority educators but the purposeful placing of minorities in majority white schools has also raised the issue of tokenism. The paper explores whether these minority teachers are being treated equally with their white counterparts and whether their assignment to mostly white schools is based upon real ability and genuine need, or whether such assignments are merely reflective of well-meaning social policy gone awry.
Contents:
Abstract
The Problem and its Setting
Literature Review
Research Methods and Procedures
Anticipated Findings
References
From the Paper "It was only yesterday that segregation reigned supreme across much of the United States. Throughout the South, Black students attended Black schools, and White Students attended White schools. In general, these "separate but equal" institutions were nothing of the kind. Black schools were underfunded and understaffed. Standards and expectations were often significantly lower than those in place in White schools. Blacks taught Blacks and Whites taught Whites, an arrangement that suited a White-controlled society in which the color of a person's skin was the determining factor in his choice of career, his social and economic status, and even his right to express himself politically."
Examines the way two famous novels, "Of Mice and Men" and "Lord of the Flies" use a combination of symbolism and conflict to make a statement about human character and society.
2,650 words (approx. 10.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 97.95
Abstract Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and "Golding's Lord of the Flies" are both prophetic novels that depict highly symbolic characters in excessively conflicted situations. This essay analyzes how these dramatic couplings of symbolism and conflict represent a larger social philosophy. Through character analysis, it is revealed how each hero of these different stories is forced to reconcile with his opposite, an enemy, a counter-force who prevents moral progress from taking place and who condemns the novel's outcomes to particular tragedies. Each author thus makes a statement about human character in a social world that is doomed to tragic ends.
Abstract This paper examines how the history of the Native American is fraught with attempts to assimilate and with acts of dispossession and how the indigenous culture is multi-faceted. It looks at how Melissa Meyer, in her book, "The White Earth Tragedy", argues that Minnesota's White Earth Reservation of the Anishinaabe, or Chippewa, could have been an experimental showcase for assimilation, how the Dawes Act went awry, and how the Anishinaabe were dispossessed of their land and its resources.
From the Paper "The Anishinaabe people were originally composed of a number of bands whose migratory habits brought them into contact with one another only on occasion. The introduction of settlers or Euroamericans (mainly French) into the area brought yet another element into their society. By the end of the nineteenth century there existed two major factions among the Chippewa of Minnesota: those of mixed blood and full blood conservatives. The Metis or mixed blood members of the tribe were interested in following the course set down by the government. They advocated assimilation and the inclusion of Western marketing. The conservatives, on the other hand, thought to preserve the integrity of the "old ways" by following the cultural agenda of tradition."
A discussion of how seemingly sound mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategies and financially lucrative deals can be unsuccessful if not properly handled.
Abstract This paper examines how, although many companies have experienced enormous success in the arena of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), recent empirical studies suggest that, throughout the past three decades, the majority of M&A deals did not deliver what was expected, nor did the companies involved do as well as peer companies that steered clear of M&A. It explores why M&A deals go awry by looking at how performance measures might be used to judge the effectiveness of mergers and takeovers.
From the Paper "A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) tracked companies' performance over a 10-year period from 1992 to 2002 (Hahn, 2004). The results showed that M&As are frequently successful in the long run, despite research that says that they are more likely to fail. The consulting group even lists Time Warner among the successful companies, even though the company's stock plummeted after merging with America Online Inc. and the company a nearly $50 billion write-down on the deal in 2003. Over the 10-year period of the study, however, BCG calculates that Time Warner had an annualized total return to shareholders of 68.8 percent."
Abstract This paper discusses the fact that ethical standards in business have been on a sharp decline over the past couple of decades. It links this disturbing trend to the decline in societal moral standards in American society and looks at how others argue that degrading ethics in business is simply capitalism taking over what is normally considered as morally just. The paper contends that, whether it is simply greed gone awry or a general decline of ethics in society, the fact remains the same, ethical standards in business are declining and are reflected in the declining social responsibilities of businesses, the legal ramifications, and the government's responses to the lack of business ethics.
From the Paper "No matter what the root cause of the decline in business ethics, the simple fact remains that over the last ten to twenty years, there has been a serious decline. Small business professionals surveyed in 2000 noted several indicators of these declining ethical standards. It was discovered that many of the respondents to the survey had the most ethical conflicts when it came to dealing with contracts and agreements between themselves and their customers or their employees (Vitell et al., 2000). These same survey respondents were in agreement that the ethical standards of business were lower than two decades ago. A majority felt that these lower ethical standards were related to lower moral standards in society, in general. And they noted that it was top management that had the most influence on how ethical dilemmas were handled (Vitell et al., 2000). From this, one can conclude that it is management that has the social responsibility to conduct themselves and their business in the most ethical ways possible, for their actions are reflexive on society."
Abstract This paper explains that, by showing how the more socially acceptable minor characters in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" are often less moral than Huck, son of a drunken father and Jim, a slave, Twain shows how conventional societal morals are completely awry from what is considered to be truthful and intrinsically good. The author points out that, for all of their faults and lack of conventional education, Jim and Huck at least strive to be loving and loyal to one another; thus, by contrasting them with people like the Widow Douglas and Buck Grangerford, Twain creates two great heroes of unexpectedly ethical behavior for 19th century American literature. The paper concludes that Huck's love of freedom, in contrast to the Widow and Miss Watson, instructs society and stands in direct contrast to his father's love of gentility, the semblance of morality of the warring Grangerfords and, most importantly, against the freedom-denying racism of American society.
From the Paper "The minor characters of the novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" are more often than not are motivated by greed, a lack of civility, a lack of true morals and values and a lack of respect for fundamental human dignity-as well as common, ordinary racism. Instead, Huck and Jim are propelled forward by a drive and desire for freedom, loyalty, and mutual respect. The first and most benign example of a minor character with a lack of true moral understanding is the well intentioned but misguided Widow Douglas. Although she is well meaning in her attempts to civilize Huck, the Widow Douglas does not understand the true needs of a young boy."
Abstract This paper explains that both the protagonists Othello and Macbeth, in "Othello" and "Hamlet" respectively, are superior men, possessing great courage and outward strength, heroes in war accustomed to commanding a force of men in battle; but both go awry in their personal lives when a different morality and sensitivity is required: Othello is consumed by jealousy and Macbeth, by ambition. The author points out that a key element in Macbeth's nature is his imagination, which he lets soar ahead of his deeds; whereas, Othello is a man of action and not prone to ponder too much. The paper relates that, in their final words, the two men have completely disintegrated: Othello by taking not only Desdemona's life but also his own and Macbeth by resigning himself to go on with the fight for the crown, which even has taken the life of his wife. Many textual examples.
From the Paper "Macbeth is immediately shown as a man whose ambition is capable of overtaking his personality. However, the additional quality of fear is introduced in Macbeth, who has been referred to in the play's opening passages as "brave Macbeth." Whereas Othello was judicious, Macbeth's courage showed in him a rashness that sets the stage for his later actions. He is described in battle by a soldier as "Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,/ which smok'd with bloody execution, Like valour's minion,/ Carv'd out his passage till he fac'd the slave;/ And fix'd his head upon our battlements." (I,ii.19-26) He is valour personified and is so ferocious that his sword smokes, an example of hyperbole."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" and the film "The Battle of Algiers". . It explains that the film paints a portrait of a society gone awry and that the novel paints a portrait of an individual psychology that is used to show the suffering of all ordinary people caught up in the web of war and the nationalism of the European powers during World War I. The author offers examples from both the novel and the film to qualify points made.
From the Paper "One of the reasons for the relatively sympathetic portrayal of the soldiers in the service of imperialism in Remarque's novel is the young men's relative youth and low status in the army. The novel is told from the perspective of a nineteen-year-old student who was convinced to enlist with the German army when his schoolmaster Kantorek told him fine things about the glory of battle. However, after seeing the horrors of war, this young man can only think about seeing his ailing mother at home. In "The Battle of Algiers," although ordinary civilians are a presence in the background as victims of terrorist attacks, the decision makers at the heads of both sides dominate the film, thus forcing the viewer to chose sides as to who is correct, politically, in the war."
Abstract This essay is an overview of how the Toronto neighbourhood of Cabbagetown has transformed over the years as seen through the eyes of writers. According to this essay, Cabbagetown has morphed, getting larger here or smaller there, depending upon any given definition. And while there has been improvement on some fronts, there have also been the social experiments gone awry in Regent Park and St. Jamestown.
From the Paper "Back in the sixties and seventies, Toronto author Hugh Garner, a Governor General's Award winner, took Cabbagetown's border debate international with a series of literary looks at the community. In doing so, he documented phases of the community's profile complete with glimpses of how it started and what it had become, giving a history of shifts in the community as character. And, although 26 years dead, Garner managed to not only document his here-and-now, but forecast the area's slow gentrification efforts that continue revolving around what may very well be the city's longest running border dispute (Smith 21)."
Abstract The paper looks at the career of a gifted salesman, Mike, and examines the reasons that he fails to be a competent CEO of a company. The analysis is that Mike lacks the interpersonal skills needed and that he fails because of character flaws; rigidity, obtuseness, impulsiveness and the fact that he cannot take advice. He also lacks of communicative skills and does not have a long term vision. The paper reviews the issues before he becomes CEO and how he mismanages projects and uses business models from one context onto another with horrendous results once he is CEO. The conclusion is that he is out of the loop about what is taking place within his own company. The paper studies whether Mike can revive his fortunes.
From the Paper "The story of Mike is a cautionary tale for anyone with aspirations of being a successful businessperson. The following paper will examine Mike's problems even before he became a CEO and assess his various errors once he took the "top job" at a company of his own. Moreover, the paper will look at what Mike can do to revive his flagging fortunes (if they can be revived), where he ranks on Collins' level-five hierarchy for CEOs and whether or not he can be called a true entrepreneur. In the final analysis, Mike is someone with great sales skills but terrible CEO skills - and this state of affairs may ultimately destroy the company within which he has invested so much. Mike's problems began even before he became CEO of Premier Prints. For one thing, it is noteworthy that Mike chose to sink his entire net..."
Abstract This paper dispels the urban myth, which associates the brutal and destructive behavior of the infamous gangster Al Capone with the goodness of a legendary Robin Hood, which was the public image Capone attempted to cultivate in the community. The author describes Capone's career and his relationship with politicians and law enforcement agencies. The paper concludes that it was not surprising to find that the authorities could not document Capone's many murders because their prevailing behavior at every level of city, county and state government would have implicated themselves in the organized criminal graft and corruption of this period. The assessment of the federal government was that Capone and other gangsters like him were an indication of something morally awry in America.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Capone's Political Influence
The Murders
The G-Men
Conclusion
From the Paper "The federal government felt a need to respond to the people's misdirected values and morals as it did to respond to the likes of Al Capone. The Department of Justice had a vision of handling crime in a way that would be a deterrent to organized crime and to lesser gangs and bank robbers. That vision included building super maximum prison complexes These complexes would use the notoriety of the inmates and their murderous crimes to serve as the impetus for the complexes; and the complexes would be unbeatable, meaning no breakouts."
Tags: bootlegging, gang warfare, urban heroes, political stranglehold, federal bureau of investigation
