Symbolic Perspectives of the Elephant in the Room Essay Example

Symbolic Perspectives of the Elephant in the Room Essay Ernest Hemingway wrote the short story â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† in the early nineteen twenties.   The story itself is short with little to no action between the characters, introduced to the reader as the American and a woman named Jig, other than a bit of curious dialogue.   Hemingway, for his part, seems to have intended this story to have a deeper, allegoric and symbolic meaning for the reader.   With that said, a look will now be taken to dissect the sparse dialogue and determine the true allegory within the story by defining the literary and symbolic illusions.To begin with, this story can be read as viewing a moment in time, where a man and a woman are waiting at a train station to travel to Madrid, and, as the American and Jig sit down in the shade to wait, they have two beers.   Then, the Jig looks serenely off into the distance at the mountains, noting that â€Å"they look like white elephants† (Hemingway, 1).   The American responds that the words painted on the mountain read â€Å"Anis del Toro† which happens to be another drink, and curious, they order two.   This particular drink must have some meaning to Hemingway, as the characters in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises favor this liqueur as well.Hemingway’s use of Anis del Toro, in this instance, better defines the allegory in that this is his plot opportunity to show the age difference between the two characters and the innocence of Jig.   In her efforts to be sophisticated, she says that the drink â€Å"tastes like liquorice† (1) and that â€Å"everything tastes of liquorice.   Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe† (1).  Ã‚   He is impatient with her at this point, telling her to â€Å"cut it out†¦let’s try and have a fine time† (1) after she had explained that â€Å"I was being amused.   I was having a fine time† (1).In this simple bit of dialogue, Hemingway is a ctually telling the reader much more about his characters.   It can be inferred from these few lines that the relationship between Jig and the American is not a happy one.   Even in this simple time, waiting for the train and having a cool drink, he undermines her, telling her to have a fine time even after she admitted that she was having a fine time.   Either he didn’t hear her, or he is giving her an order to quit being her younger self and to grow up.   However, in attempting to define the flavor of the drink, Jig probably believed herself to be sophisticated, even cosmopolitan, in her reference to the absinthe—which is not a drink to be joked about.Then, to turn the conversation around she explains that â€Å"I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright? They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees† (1) to which he responds that they should have another d rink.   This moment is the defining moment in Hemingway’s allegory as the simple symbol of a mountain looking like a white elephant draws a deeper parallel to a significant event happening in their lives—and event, it seems from the proceeding dialogue, that has been harming their relationship.   Jig is pregnant.But a reader doesn’t know that yet, from the dialogue alone, until it turns a bit more serious when the American calmly states that â€Å"it’s really an awfully simply operation, Jig†¦it’s not really an operation at all† (2).   The girl doesn’t respond and he fills the silence by saying that â€Å"I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig.   It’s really not anything.   It’s just to let the air in† (2).   She wants to know what they’ll do afterwards and he responds that they’ll be happy because â€Å"that’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing thatà ¢â‚¬â„¢s made us unhappy† (2).The American wavers a bit, possibly employing reverse psychology to get Jig around to his way of thinking when he says that â€Å"if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I wouldn’t have you do it if you didn’t want to. But I know it’s perfectly simple† (2).   They go back and forth, with him saying he wouldn’t have her do it if he didn’t think she wanted to as well, to which she responds, almost in desperation, that â€Å"and if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me?† (2).   She finally concedes, saying that â€Å"I don’t care about me. And I’ll do it and then everything will be fine† (2).Then Jig stands (metaphorically and physically) and starts to see the world in a new light when she says that the world isn’t theirs anymore.   He must think she’s lost her mind because he orders her back int o the shade.   From there, the dialogue goes badly for the couple, ending with her declaration that if he says anything more about it, she’ll scream.   He takes their bags to the train, returning to find her smiling up at him.   When he questions her, she responds that â€Å"there’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine† (3).Hemingway is truly a master of the subtle dialogue.   Without really saying anything at all, these two have had an entire conversation encompassing the dimensions of their relationship in less than ten lines.   The literal white elephants, the mountains, serve the greater purpose of the parallel to the baby that the couple is expecting and what that elephant might mean for each of them.   For the American, clearly, the baby would ruin their lives.   He has a need for freedom, maybe even a need to have no ties to Jig, despite his love for her—but in the end, a baby, for him, would be the end of things.For Jig, on the other h and, a baby represents something much more significant.   She clearly loves the American and is willing to do what he says at any cost, but her reluctance to have an abortion is clear, and she only concedes to it when she says that she doesn’t care about herself, and will do it to get back to where they were before.At this point, even the train station becomes a literal parallel to the couple’s lives.   They are heading for a different point in their relationship, one in which either she gets the abortion and they can live in freedom, or she keeps the baby and the American leaves her for greener pastures.   His motives for her abortion are clear, even though they are masked with concern for her feelings; the truth is that he desperately wants her to get rid of the baby.   If she ultimately does not, his motives aren’t clear, but his dialogue certainly suggests that he feels that having a baby would mean the end of their lives, and the beginning of more p roblems that he won’t have the effort to deal with.   Jig senses this, of course, but she has already lost her innocence and understands, without saying so, that their relationship, as it stands, is not a healthy one for her.In the end, a reader is left just as the couple is left, without a conclusion.   For Hemingway, this serves to highlight the uncertainty of their relationship, and demonstrates that the American might not have the sway over Jig that he once had.   A reader doesn’t know which way she’ll decide, but her actions in the end are those of decision, of sudden growth as a woman.   And in this moment, Hemingway’s allegorical meaning of the loss of innocence and Jig’s coming of age are defined by Jig’s quiet, yet unknown, decision.Overall, Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† is an allegorical tale defining a moment in Jig and the American’s relationship.   Everything from the drink, to the mountains, to the train station encompass parallels to the dimensions of the couple’s relationship.   And, with this dissection of the sparse dialogue, Hemingway’s symbolic illusions and allegory form their true meaning.

Vice President of Operations Essays

Vice President of Operations Essays Vice President of Operations Essay Vice President of Operations Essay Vice president of operations job description The vice president of operations (VP) refers to the principal responsible for the strategy management of an organization or company. The VP acts as the link between the executive management and other managers (Simchi-Levi, 2010). The basic roles of the VP are associated with setting strategies, implementing strategies and also maintaining accountability. In regards to setting strategy, the VP of operations acts as the sole advisor of the president when it comes to making strategic decisions. He or she has the responsibility of identifying areas that require improvement for the company to exhibit growth. Furthermore, the VP is expected to frequently engage with the president regarding new strategies required in the improvement of operations in addition to ensuring that other managers are informed on any change that is or might take place in the company (Harrington, 2012). VPof operations In regards to implementing strategy, the vice president acts as the link between the executive management and managers in various departments. The VP ensures that the visions and goals set by the executive are communicated clearly to the other managers such that operations are implemented as expected (Harrington, 2012). In regards to maintaining accountability, the VP makes it the responsibility of the departmental managers to implement the strategic plan as laid out by the executive management. The VP ensures that the goals and objectives of each department are clearly communicated in addition to assessing the performance of each department after every activity to ensure that the results align with the strategic goals (Harrington, 2012). The average salary of the vice president of operations is $178, 083. However, it is worth noting that the pay varies depending on the operations (Pay Scale, 2016). In brief, the basic roles of the VP of operations entail coming up with methodologies that lead to the success of a company, assesses the operations of other managers to ensure that every operation aligns with the strategic plan, makes analysis of the final results of a project and also reports results to the president of a company References Harrington, H. (2012). Streamlined process improvement. New York: McGraw-Hill. Pay Scale,. (2016). Vice President (VP), Operations Salary. Payscale.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016, from payscale.com/research/US/Job=Vice_President_(VP),_Operations/Salary Simchi-Levi, D. (2010). Operations Rules: Delivering Customer Value through Flexible Operations. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

A Simple Guide to Become a School Board Member

A Simple Guide to Become a School Board Member The school board is the governing body of a school district. Board members are the only elected officials within an individual school district who have a say in the daily operations of that school district. A district is only as good as the board members who make up the entirety of the board. Becoming a school board member is not for everyone: You must be willing to listen to and work with others and be an adept and active problem solver. Boards where members bond and agree on most issues usually oversee an effective school district. Boards that are split and feud often have disarray and turmoil, which ultimately undermines the mission of schools in the district. A boards decisions matter: Poor decisions can lead to ineffectiveness, but good decisions will improve the overall quality of the school or schools in the district. Qualifications to Run for School Board There are five common qualifications that most states have in order to be eligible to be a candidate in a school board election. A school board candidate must: Be a registered voter.Be a resident of the district she is running inHave at least a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalencyNot have been convicted of a felonyNot be a current employee of the district and/or be related to a current employee in that district. Although these are the most common qualifications necessary to run for school board, it does vary from state to state. Check with your local election board for a more detailed list of required qualifications. Reasons to Become a School Board Member Becoming a school board member is a serious commitment. It takes quite a bit of time and dedication to be an effective school board member. Unfortunately, not every person who runs for a school board election is doing it for the right reasons. Each individual who chooses to be a candidate in a school board election does so for his own personal reasons. Candidates may run for a school board seat because they: Have a child in the district and want to have a direct impact on their education.Love politics and want to be an active participant in the political aspects of the school district.Want to serve and support the district.Believe they can make a difference in the overall quality of education that the school is providing.Have a personal vendetta against a teacher/coach/administrator and want to get rid of them. Composition of the School Board A school board is usually made up of three, five or seven members depending on the size and configuration of that district. Each position is an elected one and terms are typically either four or six years. Regular meetings are held once a month, typically at the same time each month (such as the second Monday of each month). A school board typically is made up of a president, vice president, and secretary. The positions are nominated and chosen by the board members themselves. Officer positions are typically chosen once a year. Duties of the School Board A school board is designed as the principle democratic body that represents local citizens on education and school-related issues. Being a school board member isn’t easy. Board members have to stay up-to-date on current educational issues, must be able to understand education jargon and have to listen to parents and other community members who want to pitch their idea on how to improve the district. The role of the board of education plays in a school district is vast. The board is responsible for hiring/evaluating/terminating the district superintendent. This is probably the most important duty of the board of education. The district’s superintendent is the face of the district and is ultimately responsible for managing the daily operations of the school district. Every district needs a superintendent who is trustworthy and who has a good relationship with their board members. When a superintendent and school board are not on the same page, chaos can ensue. The board of education develops policy and direction for the school district. The board of education also: Prioritizes and approves the budget for the school district.Has the final say on hiring school personnel and/or terminating a current employee in the district.Establishes the vision that reflects the overall goals of the community, staff, and the board.Makes decisions on school expansion or closure.Manages the collective bargaining process for the district’s employees.Approves many components of the district’s daily operations including the school calendar, contracts with outside vendors and curriculum The duties of a board of education are much more comprehensive than those listed above. Board members put in a lot of time in what essentially amounts to a volunteer position. Good board members are invaluable to a school district’s development and success.  The most effective school boards are arguably those that have a direct impact on nearly every facet of the school but do so in obscurity rather than the limelight.

Differentiate between neligence, intentional and constitutional torts Essay

Differentiate between neligence, intentional and constitutional torts. What act(s) can cause a tort liability - Essay Example For example: an employee of the criminal justice department conducted his duties without making sure that others are not harmed by his means of conducting duty, due to this others may have been inflicted with harm or injury, thus the official is held responsible for conducted his duties in a negligent manner. Criminal justice officers experience intentional torts when they indulge knowingly and freely indulge in activities due to which citizens or other individuals of a society may be harmed (Vaughn, 1999). For example: a police officer uses coercive methods to obtain a confession from a suspect, due to his act the suspect gets badly injured, the police official is held responsible for using coercion and the confession obtained from the suspect might not be used as evidence in the court of law. A criminal justice employee may be held responsible in a case of constitutional tort if he fails to conduct his duties in accordance to the constitution of the country (Carlson, 1985, p.342). For example: if a police official makes an arrest and forgets to read the Miranda rights to the suspect, the police official may be held responsible for acting according the constitution and the suspect may be free to leave as his Miranda rights were not read to him (Peak, 2011, p.281). Various activities conducted by the officials of the criminal justice system lead to tort liability, these activities includes: negligent behaviour, wrongful charges for arrest, breach of right of privacy, upholding information and evidence, and coercive interrogation. When an official of the criminal justice system is said to have acted in a negligent manner, he is said to have not exercised his duty of due care (Peak, 2011, p.341). This means that while conducting his duties, an official has not ensured to eradicate practices and procedures that may harm an individual and that are foreseen. Therefore a police official has to exercise his duty of care while conducting his

LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

LAW - Essay Example The element reality of the consent, on the other hand, refers to the requirement that the consent by either or all parties must not have been vitiated by any misrepresentation, fraudulent or otherwise, whilst the capacity to contract is a personal requirement on the part of the parties of the contract that they do not possess any legal disqualifications to enter into it. A disqualification for example is minority. Finally, the legality of the contract refers to the ability of the contract and its terms to hold before the law. Put in other words, the contract must not be legally invalid (Mead, Sagar & Back p 56). The problem at bar, calls for the application of the laws of contract formation particularly on the validity of acceptances and offers. The problem at hand concerns the initial phase of contract-making which is the formation of the contract. The problem here lies in the fact that there was a mix-up of the different elements of the agreement like offer and acceptance and the problem seeks to determine whether there was a valid formation of a contract and with which parties. The problem involves UCL Property Developers, the inviting party, and two companies vying for the building contract: the DC Builders, and; the GB Construction. The order of events is: first, UCL gave out invitations to tender to building contractors for the construction of its administration offices; second, DC Builders and GB Construction were the lowest bidders and pre-qualifiers for  £ 2, 250,000, and  £ 2, 410,000, respectively and each attached its own conditions and terms distinct from UCL’s; third, UCL awarded DC with the contract, in a letter, but for a slightly less amount and in accordance with its own terms; fourth, DC threatened to withdraw its offer if UCL does not amend acceptance within five days; fifth, DC formally

Edgar Allan Poe Essay -- essays research papers

Edgar Allan Poe Ralph Waldo Emerson called him the jingle man, Mark Twain said that his prose was unreadable, and Henry James felt that a taste for his work was the mark of a second-rate sensibility. According to T. S. Eliot, "the forms which his lively curiosity takes are those in which a preadolescent mentality delights." After notices like those, most reputations would be sunk without a trace, and yet Edgar Allan Poe shows no sign whatsoever of loosening his extraordinary hold on our imaginations. In 1959, Richard Wilbur, an elegant poet and a critic of refined taste, inaugurated the Dell Laurel Poetry Series (mass-market paperback selections from classic British and American poets) with an edition of Poe's complete poems, for which he provided a long and thoughtful introduction. In 1973, Daniel Hoffman, also a distinguished poet and critic, published a highly regarded study of Poe's writings. In 1984, two massive volumes of Poe's collected works, together comprising some three tho usand pages, were published in the Library of America. In the 1990s, Poe has been the subject of a children's book and a substantial new biography, and a Halloween episode of the Baltimore-based television series Homicide: Life on the Street made very effective use of his legend and his writings, especially the poem "Dream-Land" and the stories "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado." A century and a half after his death, he is the one American author whose name is known to virtually everyone. Edgar Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, the second of the three children of David Poe and Elizabeth (Arnold) Poe, both of whom were professional actors and members of a touring theatrical company. Eclipsed by his more famous wife, his own promising career ruined by alcoholism, Poe's father deserted the family when Edgar was still an infant; nothing conclusive is known of his life thereafter. While appearing professionally in Richmond, Virginia, Poe's mother became ill and died on December 8, 1811, at the age of twenty-four. Her three children, who would maintain contact with one another throughout their lives, were sent to live with different foster families. Edgar became the ward of John Allan, a successful tobacco merchant in Richmond, and his wife ... ... eye as the cause of unexplainable illnesses and misfortunes of any kind. To protect oneself from the power of the eye, certain measures can be taken. In Muslim areas, the color blue is painted on the shutters of the houses, and found on beads worn by both children and animals. There is also a specific hand gesture named the "Hand of Fatima," named after the daughter of Mohammed. This name is also given to an amulet in the shape of hand that is worn around the neck for protection. In some locations, certain phrases, such as " as God will" or "God bless it" are uttered to protect the individual from harm. In extreme cases, the eye, whether voluntarily or not, must be destroyed. One Slavic folktale relates the story of the father who blinded himself for fear of harming his own children with his evil eye. Would Poe have had knowledge of this rather strange belief? It is altogether possible that he would have, which creates another interesting twist to this story. Maybe the narrator who tries to convince us that madness is not really the issue, is telling the truth. Maybe this vile act is necessary in order to destroy the power of the old man's evil eye!

Love in Different Country Essay

Studying in the U.S. for nearly a year, I learned a lot of knowledge and I made a lot of friends. Some of them are foreigners. This year’s study is very effective for me. In the United States, I found some phenomenons are different between my country and the U.S. Now I mainly want to talk about love in the U.S. and China. The United States is a free country. The United States advocates free development. It pays attention to every person’s personality. Some American friends told me that love is very easy in the United States. Both men and women like each other, then they can fall in love. The parents will not hinder the child’s decision. So children can choose their partner if they want. In China, love and marriage is a very serious and very important thing. The parents always provide a lot of requirements to their children. For example, if my child is a boy, I will tell him, â€Å"Your wife in the future must be a very nice woman. Her family condition must be consistent with our condition.† because in China, many parents consider that only if both parties are consistent with their conditions, the future life can help each other, and the lives will be happy. In my opinion, I think the two points of view are so different, but each opinion has its reason. My questions are: What makes loving anybody in the United States not similar? How do different people in the U.S. falling in love It also represents the different cultures between China and the U.S. If I were allowed to choose which waysuits me, I will choose the American way because I love freedom. Notes: This needs more information in the second and third paragraphs about the reasons why each country has these â€Å"rules† about love. Then, in the conclusion, you can talk about how freedom is an American trait of love and that these reasons are why you want to choose an American style of love or choosing a partner.