A History of African Slave Traders

A History of African Slave Traders During the period of the trans-Atlantic slave exchange, Europeans didn't have the ability to attack African states or grab African slaves freely. Generally, the 12.5 million slaves shipped over the Atlantic Ocean were bought from African slave dealers. It is a bit of the triangle exchange about which there are as yet numerous basic misperceptions. Inspirations for Slavery One inquiry that numerous Westerners have about African slave masters, is the reason would they say they were ready to sell their own kin? For what reason would they offer Africans to Europeans? The straightforward response to this inquiry is that they didn't consider captives to be their own kin. Obscurity (as a personality or marker of distinction) was a distraction of Europeans, not Africans. There was additionally in this time no feeling of being African. (In reality, right up 'til the present time, people are bound to distinguish as being African as opposed to, state, Kenyan simply in the wake of leaving Africa.) A few slaves were detainees of, and a large number of these may have been viewed as foes or adversaries to the individuals who sold them. Others were individuals who had fallen into obligation. They were distinctive by righteousness of their status (what we may consider today their class). Slave masters likewise captured individuals, yet once more, there was no explanation they would innately consider captives to be their own. Subjection as a Part of Life It may be enticing to feel that African slave merchants didn't have the foggiest idea how awful European estate subjection was, yet there was a ton of development over the Atlantic. Not all dealers would have thought about the detestations of the Middle Passage or what life anticipated slaves, however others at any rate had a thought. There are consistently individuals willing to mercilessly misuse others in the journey for cash and force, however the tale of the African slave exchange goes a lot farther than a couple of terrible individuals. Subjugation and the offer of slaves, however, were portions of life. The idea of not offering captives to willing purchasers would have appeared to be weird to numerous individuals up until the 1800s. The objective was not to secure slaves, yet to guarantee that oneself and ones family were not decreased to slaves. A Self-Replicating Cycle As the slave exchange heightened the 16 and 1700s, it likewise became more earnestly not to take an interest in the exchange a few areas of West Africa. The gigantic interest for African slaves prompted the development of a couple of states whose economy and legislative issues were revolved around slave striking and exchanging. States and political groups that took an interest in the exchange accessed guns and extravagance products, which could be utilized to make sure about political help. States and networks who were not effectively taking an interest in the slave exchange were progressively off guard. The Mossi Kingdom is a case of an express that opposed the slave exchange until the 1800s when it started exchanging slaves too. Restriction to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade The Mossi Kingdom was not by any means the only African state or network to oppose offering captives to Europeans. For example, the ruler of the Kongo, Afonso I, who had changed over to Catholicism, attempted to stop the captive of captives to Portuguese merchants. He did not have the influence, be that as it may, to police the entire of his domain, and dealers just as aristocrats occupied with the Trans-Atlantic slave exchange to pick up riches and influence. Alfonso took a stab at keeping in touch with the Portuguese ruler and requesting that he prevent Portuguese dealers from participating in the slave exchange, however his supplication was disregarded. The Benin Empire offers a totally different model. Benin offered captives to Europeans when it was growing and battling numerous wars - which delivered detainees of war. When the state balanced out, it quit exchanging slaves, until it began to decrease during the 1700s. During this time of expanding insecurity, the state continued interest in the slave exchange.

International Aspirations of an Emerging Market Firm

Worldwide Aspirations of an Emerging Market Firm Arcadia, a Turkish machine maker constrained by Turkeys biggest aggregate organization named Crock Group. From the earliest starting point, Recall items the greater part of Turkeys apparatuses, including climate control systems, dishwashers machines, cooking machines, and fridges. In any case, since exchange hindrances declined in backtalk and backtalk, numerous contenders, for example, SSH, Hairier, General Electronic, Whirlpool, and Electrocute were compromising Recalls advertise share.In worldwide family unit machine industry, buyers will in general view home apparatuses as wares, and regularly esteem low costs. A few candidates convey little benefit and have long life expectancy, utilizing computerized fabricating plants and minimal effort work Is just assistance in short run for the makers. So as to sell in premium cost and increment overall revenues, some apparatus creators separate their item by Innovative, esteem included innov ation and highlights. Be that as it may, development is expensive. Which caused most significant machine producers started to globalize (Cassavas, Knight, and Rosenberg, 2008, up. 277-278).Arcadia sees its best possibility In developing, quickly developing markets in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Maybe Singapore could be one of those business sectors that permit Arcadia to be a lead player in the business as its points. Issues Economic in Singapore. Singapore monetary is the primary issue that draws in Arcadia to go into this developing business sector. Singapore GAP shows Gingersnap's purchasing power, which likewise influences Arsenic's items. Examination Economic in Singapore. As per Political Risk Yearbook: Singapore Country Report expressed; â€Å"real GAP development for the second quarter of 2010 flooded to anIncreasable pace of almost 19%, on enrolling about 1 7% development in the primary quarter, and that presentation has now situated Singapore to be one of the quickest developing economies on the planet. † (2010, p. 4). Singapore is one of the world's driving business places and a significant goal for remote Investment. The main explanation Is money related soundness In Singapore Is acceptable. Second, the legitimate and administrative system for the money related division is straightforward and effective. The administration impact in the segment is bit by bit being reduced.Third, hostile to debasement laws are solid and all around implemented. Additionally, remote and household Investors are dealt with similarly, and receptiveness to worldwide business cultivates intensity. With judicious and sound financial practices, the money related part has endured the worldwide budgetary disturbance generally well (Miller and Holmes, Para. 3). These ought to be sufficient motivations to draw in Arcadia entering Singapore advertise. Issues Singapore Consumer Lifestyle. The second Issue that Recall need to know before working together in Singa pore Is purchaser lifestyle.In request to know which items proper to buyer way of life in Singapore, Arcadia ought to be showcased accurately; progressing research in Singapore shopper way of life will help Arcadia arriving at their objective. Investigation Singapore Consumer Lifestyle. As per Global Marketing Information Database (GIMP), bring up that Singapore have their bustling way of life. They invest more energy in working, and investing less time in other thing else. As Gingersnaps become busier, the interest for comfort has been on the ascent. Hence, the family unit apparatuses should deals something that assist Singapore with sparing time, for example, microwaves and freezers.As Gingersnaps laborers possess less energy for basic food item jumping, having a cooler will assist them with purchasing more food. Similarly, microwaves will be extraordinary assistance to spare time in cooking for Singapore occupied specialist. Also, Singapore is very receptive to high-innovation wa ys of life, and innovation based items and administrations are incredibly mainstream. Then again, over the momentary the financial downturn will drive numerous buyers to be considerably more perceiving, and they will scan hard for the best arrangements (GIMP, 2011, Para. 1-13). Business chances in Singapore.The last issue that Arcadia need to concentrate cautiously is consideration chances in Singapore, including nation dangers or political dangers, culturally diverse dangers, business dangers, and money dangers. In spite of the fact that Singapore has lower pace of debasement than other Asian nations and its Singapore Dollar (SAG) is very solid, there is business hazards that should be thought of. Examination Commercial dangers in Singapore. Despite the fact that the Business Monitor International referenced that the Singapore Dollar (SAG) is protected, there are business hazards in Singapore.From Smog's data, Arcadia may adjust its items, costs, and advancements so as to limit bus iness dangers while working together in Singapore. What's more, there are a few contenders who as of now have specialties in Singapore should apparatuses piece of the overall industry, for example, LEG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, and Careful. So as to contend with those solid contenders, Arcadia could apply its favorable position, which is its information on the best way to create items for lower-pay nations. â€Å"It works 11 assembling plants in Turkey, Romania, Russia and China.Arcadia is an individual from the Koch Group of organizations, which holds a lion's share stake in the organization. † (Denominator, 2010, p. 50). Every one of those assembling plants permit Arcadia to deliver machines less extravagantly than certain contenders. The retailers in Singapore are additionally essential to Arcadias business. The primary retail chains selling home apparatuses in Singapore are Harvey Norman, Best Dense, Courts and Gain City. Huge retail chains, for example, Tasmania a nd Siesta additionally convey an assortment of significant brands of home appliances.Conclusion Arcadia ought to hope to be better in developing business sector, for example, Singapore since this region offers great chance to family apparatus organizations. Singapore has solid situation in monetary and consistently development in family unit tenants. Shangri-la ought to be pulled in by purchaser request by family units. So as to boost organization execution, Arcadia could contemplate Singapore customer way of life and adjusts its items to satisfy Gingersnap's needs. Recover has solid dispersion coordinate with near 4,500 sellers in Turkey and 366 on board.

The Workshop An Unprecedented Space For Trans Women Writers

The Workshop An Unprecedented Space For Trans Women Writers If you’ve participated in a conversation about the importance of books about marginalized and oppressed peoples that are actually written by the people from within these identities, then you’ve certainly seen someone give a variation on, “Well if you’re feeling underrepresented why don’t you just write a book?” The simplest reply to this is that the real issue isn’t a lack of writers but a lack of space for marginalized and oppressed writers in the book world. This summer a first-of-its-kind writers workshop for trans women is trying to move beyond an abstract desire for change to provide actual resources for change. Formed in direct response to the prevalence of cis authors telling trans stories and the poor record of inclusion for trans women from even “queer” focused workshops, The Workshop will bring together twenty-six trans women writers for a weeklong program on the Brooklyn College campus. Working with noted authors Sarah Schulman and Casey Plett, the participants will engage in an intensive prose workshop while building bonds of community in a world that often isolates trans women from other women like us. Recognizing the inequality of how privilege and oppression impact various communities within the large umbrella of “trans women writers” special consideration was made to reach out to trans women of color who often face more challenges and limited access than white trans women. To get a sense of the talent being gathered for this workshop and the importance that it holds for participants I recommend visiting The Workshop’s website where they’ve been sharing essays written by their participants. These essays reflect the wide variety of voices and experiences that are being brought together for the first time. On The Workshop’s website they state, “In planning this workshop our organizing team prioritized making it as financially accessible as possible and decided to providing housing, travel, printing, and food to anyone that asks for it. We will make sure any accepted applicant makes it to the workshop. We will not let money be the reason why a trans woman cannot get this educational opportunity.” While individual participants may hold their own fundraisers to offset their anticipated costs, The Workshop is currently fundraising for their own Universal Access Fund that is being used to provide direct assistance to participants. Contributing even $5 to this fund is the most direct way that you can be involved in this unprecedented gathering of trans women writers. This year’s workshop is being put on with the assistance of the organizational resources of Topside Press, a small publishing company dedicated to publishing trans authors, but the goal is that The Workshop will be able to move into a fully independent model for future workshops. If you’re in Brooklyn during the week of August 15th-19th there will be a series of public readings featuring participants and community members. Information about these events are available on the Topside Press Facebook page. Update:  Following several public and private conversations about community, accountability, and safety, this statement was posted on the Topside Press Tumblr. Questions? Contact Robin Hill at rehill012@gmail.com

Humans Are Influencing Climate Change Essay - 1234 Words

Humans Are Influencing Climate Change The issue is simple and rather obvious; climate change is real and a problem. With a changing climate comes rising sea levels, hotter days, and stronger and wilder storms, and long painful droughts. What most people can’t seem to agree on is whether or not human activity is playing some role in it. From media outlets to internet forums, the debate is being fought on all fronts. Most of these arguments, however, are just personal opinions and poorly-made observations from the comfort of a gas-guzzling SUV. Honestly, it doesn’t take a genius to look up a legitimate scientific paper and see the data for yourself. Human activity is influencing the global climate in a negative way, with plenty of evidence to prove it and very little disagreement in the scientific community. According to a recent study, humans having been causing global warming for about 180 years. The study reconstructed 500 years of climate to determine when the warming shift started. They found that the earliest stages of human-caused greenhouse warming began in the Industrial Revolution, mainly around the 1830s in the Arctic and tropical oceans, followed by change in North America, Europe, and Asia. At this time in human history, we has started burning fossil fuels like coal. This was used to power factory machines, and steam engines used in trains and steamboats. Fossil fuels originate from the remains of ancient plants and animals, and when burned, releaseShow MoreRelatedThe World Economic Forum ( Wef )1227 Words   |  5 Pagesprotect and hand on the planet to the next generation,† said the President of France, Franà §ois Hollande, at the World Economic Forum (WEF). But are humans acting in order to overcome this mission? Since the new technological and productive developments, conditioned especially after the First Industrial Revolution, a great charge of harmful impacts was influencing the sustainability of the planet. However, the casualness that man has undertaken in its actions towards the environment and even towards hisRead MoreClimate Change : Global Warming1274 Words   |  6 PagesThere is no myth concerning climate change, only vested interests arguing over humanities role in our current climate change event. By careful reasoning and logic this paper sets about systematically showing that not only is climate change real but that currently the planet is experiencing a period of warming that is without equal within any of our historical data. Most confronting of all is that humanity is significantly influencing this current event and has the ability to mitigate the consequencesRead MoreHuman Induced And Proceeds At A Rate1246 Words   |  5 Pages It is no surprise to anyone that Earth’s climate has experienced significant changes throughout history. Over the past million years, planet have been through several changes between glacier advance and retreat whereas the last one ended seven thousa nd years ago followed by the beginning of modern climate era and rise of human civilization (NASA, 2010). Majority of these changes were caused by relatively small variations in the orbit of the planet that altered the amount of energy that Earth receivedRead MoreClimate Changes And Climate Change Essay1382 Words   |  6 PagesClimate change could be described as any process that causes adjustment to climate system be it a volcanic eruption to a change in the solar activity. Today, however, the phrase is most often used as climate change caused by humans. Climate change is also used commonly with another phrase – global warming – reflecting scientific observations of strong warming trends over the past century or so. Indicators like rising sea levels, retreating snow cover and glaciers, longer growing seasons and shiftingRead MoreOrganisms Response to the Increases in Extreme Weather Events723 Words   |  3 PagesEVENTS The global climate has increased by approximately 0.6 °C over the last 100 years (Walther et al. 2002). This increased rate of changes is largely due to humans: the industrial revolution, the advancement of technology and burning of fossil fuels (Timmermann et al. 1999). This human involvement has gradually changed the natural order of the environment and many of its processes. Some of these environmental conditions are not easily predictable, as these climatic changes are also increasingRead MoreGlobal Warming And Global Climate Change1531 Words   |  7 Pageslast twenty years, the issues surrounding global climate change have become increasingly dominant in the international community, as the implications associated with the global issue pose many threats to the environment and humanity as a whole. Beginning in the 1970’s, scientific research regarding pollution led scientists to discover that chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) where destroying the ozone layer, posing th reats to plant and animal life, and humans as a rise in skin cancer followed. Luckily, theRead MoreThe Issue Of Global Warming1185 Words   |  5 Pagesaverage of global temperatures have risen since the Industrial Revolution began. Since the Industrial Revolution, human emissions has quadrupled the frequency of certain heat extremes and many scientists have warned that a failure to bring greenhouse gases under control could eventually lead to a 62-fold increase in extreme heat blasts (Gillis Justin A17). Most of the increase is due to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities contribute to a build-upRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Disease On The Continent Of Africa1394 Words   |  6 PagesIdeas regarding disease tend to center around the idea that disease can be eliminated by a one-step cure. This viewpoint is flawed because it excludes other factors influencing disease. In this paper, I will argue that there are many factors that infl uence the presence of disease on a continent. More specifically, I will be focusing on Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the countries of Kenya, Uganda, and the Congo. To do this, I will explore publications focused on how the history of disease, colonialismRead MoreThe, The Marvel Of Evolution1419 Words   |  6 Pagesevolution possess incredible ability to survive extreme weather events and hostile environments with a simple body organization. Genome sequences of model nematodes have revealed that many genes and physiological processes in these worms are common to humans, higher animals and plants. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their survival under adverse environments may provide new opportunities in developing novel strategies to minimize/mitigate the impact of global warming. Nematode communitiesRead MoreIs Climate Change Real?1177 Words   |  5 PagesIs Climate Change Real? Global warming, or what is now called climate change, is caused by the sunlight coming through the Earth’s atmosphere, containing greenhouse gasses, and becoming cemented between the Earth’s crust and Ozone layer. This causes an uncontrollable heating in the territory between them (â€Å"Global Warming Science†). â€Å"Even though these greenhouse gases hold the heat from the sun the greenhouse effect is what keeps the Earth’s temperature suitable for life. Without the greenhouse effect

Communication Between Sender And Receivers - 1539 Words

Shannon-Weaver’s (1949) this form is specially planned to develop the successful communication between sender and receiver. Also they find factors which touching the communication process called â€Å"Noise†. At first the form was developed to develop the Technical communication. Later it’s widely applied in the field of Communication. The form deals with a variety of concepts like Information source, transmitter, Noise, channel, message, receiver, channel, information destination, encode and decode. (communicationtheory.org, 2010) (communicationtheory.org, 2010) According to Lasswell’s Model (1948), in order to understand the process of mass communication one has to understand each of the stages. This model stresses on the fact rather the†¦show more content†¦(uwm.edu, 2014) Inclusive learning and teaching is about involving all our learners, treating them equally and fairly, without directly or indirectly excluding anyone, creating interesting varied and inspiring learning opportunities for all learners and ensuring that all learners contribute. Also make sure that learners are not disadvantaged by methods, language or resources, embed sufficient minimum core in lesson plan. Use wide range of teaching strategies and learning materials, give sufficient feedback to learners, positive attitude are develop and maintain, motivate learners and maintain safety and security teaching environment include inclusive. In addition we can choose teaching methods, resources and assessments to meet individual needs like dyslexia, visual problems, etc and we need to make sure that we have something in every lesson for the visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners. In our inclusive teaching we need to have a balance of teacher- and learner- centred activities like exerci ses, essays, exams, assignments, course work, etc. (Gravells, 2012) B) Taking a lesson plan you have written, comment on how: †¢ You have taken into account any barriers to learning that your learners may have and what you have done about them (405:1) †¢ How you have used theories and principles of learning to enable inclusive learning and teaching.(405:2) †¢ Describe how you have

Hari Raya Festival Free Essays

Hari Raya Festival Hari Raya Puasa will be celebrated by the muslims after one month of fasting. Me and family as a muslims, Hari Raya Puasa is a special fasting on the month from foods and drinks from Subuh until Maghrib . This festival will be celebrate for month either. We will write a custom essay sample on Hari Raya Festival or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Malaysia, we can see the muslims early prepared for the becoming special day. They decorate their house, buying new clothes and making many types of food and cookies for the special day. The night before the special day arrived, my family and I as usual    a lot of activities happen same as the other festival. I can see my parents and my grandmother will busy making delicious food, while my little brother were enjoying themselves playing fire-crackers with other family members. The house    which is located far from the town especially, will be decorated with ‘Pelita’ arrowed the house. ’Pelita’ is made up from bamboo stick actually, but now people had invented a new kind of ‘Pelita’ which is made from plastic that is safe to used. The main menu for muslims on Hari Raya are ketupats,lemang ,rendang and many types of biscuit. These food can be seen other peoples and relatives houses. Usually, there must be held by the muslims. Different kind of races will be visiting their muslims neighbours house to celebrate together the special day. Lastly, I hope that Malaysian people can maintain that style. Every festival have their own specially. I also hope that from the coming years, Hari Raya Puasa will be celebrated more happening as I’ve done my job as a student. Amin. How to cite Hari Raya Festival, Essay examples

Green market and its impact on supply chain - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Green market and its impact on supply chain. Answer: Opportunity analysis and customer problem and solution The consumer market is extremely competitive. With the growing needs and demands of the customers, new offerings need to be made to the consumers in order to delight them. As more expats are entering the country , Oman, it was observed that this working population tends to have good financial background but are unable to spend their time in buying adequate supplements for them (Anantadjaya 2013). As lives have become fast paced, event the family segment finds it difficult to shop offline. For this reason and to solve this particular problem of the customers, the companies came up with the idea of a grocery store, which is available on the online platform and can be accessed just from the mobile phone or the internet browser. This application and website would be able to solve the problem of a variety of people and cater to the growing needs of the consumers. Business Description and Company Overview RationApp is an online grocery retail based business. It plans to cater to the needs of all the customers in the city and provide them shopping assistance. The online portal is available all round the clock. It is a virtual market place which facilitates easy buying and selling of groceries to tap the growing Oman consumer goods market (Pozzi 2012). The main plan of Ration App is to operate in Oman and later on spread throughout the neighbouring countries as well. Vision RationApp is a web based start up with limited number of resources but it has aligned its strategies with the given visions: To make RationApp available all over the continent To become the largest e-portal in Oman. Mission The mission of RationApp is to provide an online platform to the customers where the consumers can shop for their supplies and provide them with home delivery. RationApp is for those who find traditional shopping inconvenient (Warschun et al. 2012). Their primary motive is to provide convenience to the consumers and back the solution by quality. Objectives The main objectives of RationApp are: To serve the customers at the oddest of the hours To build a stable networks To provide customers best value for their money. To provide 24*7 customer service. Products and Services Offered RationApp is an online grocery store, which tends to link all the consumers and local suppliers present in Oman. It lists down all the products, which are offered by the suppliers. It enables both the sides of the supply chain by offering customers the service of ordering goods from various suppliers at the convenience of their homes and it gives a chance to the suppliers to serve the customers. The business also enables the customers to log in and book in bulk to get competitive rates. The subheads for the products offered can be given below: Packaged Salads Bakery Fresh Food Frozen Food Dairy Eggs Drinks Sweeteners Biscuits Confectionery Canned Food Cereals Oats Cooking Ingredients For Baby Cleaners Disposables Personal Care Batteries Mobile credit Pet Food Ownership Plan The store is headed by a Chief Executive Officer who is reported by a Chef operating Officers, a chief technical officer and a chief financial officer. These officers have various departments under them ranging from inventory, to marketing to finance and the technical web based aspect. (Refer to Appendix 2) Marketing Plan Marketing Objectives To raise brand awareness among the consumers and increase the sales. To increase the popularity of the store and raise the store revenue Target Markets The target market for Ration App can be broken down to three groups: The working class, the family and the big restaurants and cafes (Higgins 2012). The working class are the ones who have no time to shop in stores, the cafe owners are the ones who would like to take the advantage of the discounts and the family ones are the targets who would like to save time and gain discounts. Positioning The online store wants to position itself in the eyes of the customer as a reasonable priced store who tends to offer a high variety of good quality goods (Boons and Ldeke-Freund 2013). This positioning will help the company to gain competitive advantage: The system is advantageous as due to the fast-paced lives people want to save their time and invest it in better things rather than wasting their time. The business model tends to connect both the parties to a trade and provides perishable goods in their fresh state. Strategies The primary objective of Ration App to establish itself as a one-stop solution for all the problems relating to the grocery and other related supplies. It aims to build the image of the store and attract a large pool of customers. The marketing strategy of the store primarily seeks to raise customer awareness regarding the particular service that is offered by them. The main aim of the strategy is to gain customer loyalty and referrals. The company message is that it is a store that saves time and energy involved in shopping. Since it is a web-based application, advertisements will be made in television, applications, and social media and newspapers. A grass route level of marketing will also be applied where the consumers will be given put coupons in order to try the application or the online store for the first time and buy goods for free. This way they will be able to experience the service and gain knowledge (Baden-Fuller and Haefliger 2013). Marketing Mix Marketing Mix of the company involves, the 4p strategies used by the store to reach out to its consumers, the marketing mix of RationApp comprises of the following: Pricing:the pricing scheme is based on standard industry practices. In fat great discounts will be offered to the consumers. Distribution:The distribution network is extremely strong and all goods will be delivered before time. Advertising and promotion:As stated previously, the advertisement mediums will be the internet, social Medias, newspapers and television advertisement. Various campaigning facilities will also be held around the company in order to gain the attraction of a wide number of people. Customer service:Customer service is considered to be the key to the success. The employees and staff are trained adequately so that they can maintain the quality of the service being provided by them (Chwolka and Raith 2012). Marketing Research Before setting out the marketing plan, several focus groups were set out in order to understand the basic needs and demands of the target market and who should actually be identified as a target market. These research sessions helped adversely in the decision making process of the stores initial operations. The marketing research was also done by competitor analysis, which was done by visiting the competitors and analyzing their offerings. Strategic and Competitive Plans The business environment is extremely competitive today; therefore, it is extremely important for any business to have a soundproof strategy for the way ahead. Hence, to stay ahead in the competitive world, RationApp has three plans (Chan, He and Wang 2012). The plans are given as follows: Engaging in Marketing Research and Planning The company engages in extensive marketing research and planning whereby it constantly needs to look out for the needs of the consumers and come up with new plans and ideas that shall favour the needs of the target market. Whether it is a new product or a new idea, research is the key to success. This research is then incorporated into the planning of the store. Strategic planning helps the company to build a good image in the eyes of the consumers. Knowing customers better than competitors Ration App faces competition from big brands but it has to take out strategies to overpower them in the given country. For this purpose, the company needs to know and recognize its consumers better than the competitors and this task is quite easy to achieve in the world of data analytics (Brigham and Houston 2012). The purchasing history of the companies can be tracked and suggestions and re0stocking of the products can be done accordingly. Ration App follows this method to make sure that it does not lose its customers to the competitors. The following are tracked by the online store: Regular online and offline habits The size of the family and their preferences Their interests, passions , hobbies and assorted worries Avoiding reactiveness The reactiveness of the company must be avoided at all costs, as the company needs to create its own pat rather than getting into the path of the other companies (Arnold 2013). Operational Plan The business model RationApp is a common platform for wholesalers, suppliers and retailers as well as customers. The business promotes greater market reach and provides convenience to the consumers. Categories of Business The main model of the business can be divided into two categories: Business to Customers- This is meant for the customers in the household. This model is to cater the needs of the customers (Shi and Zhang 2014). This model is built to provide the best services to the consumers and providing hem the best quality products. The customer can browse the products through the various catalogs and order the selected items, which the firm then delivers to the customers at their doorsteps. The business primarily plans to spend all its resources in this. Business to Business This particular model is meant for the wholesalers and the retailers. The application also provides supplies to them. However, this is not their primary motive, it is a future idea. Business Process The business process is extremely simple. The whole process can be divided into the buying process and the selling process. In the buying process, the program permits the user to search the items and select the items that he needs the most. Registration This is an integral part as the seller needs to be registered year. The registration process is fast and easy (Laudon and Laudon 2013). Browse Through browsing, the buyer can have a look at the variety of products and select the ones that suit him the best. Select Before ordering for the product, the customer can pay attention to the Details, quantity, listing information, payment details and seller information Payment- The customer has a wide variety of options available to pay from. The customer can pay by cash, debit card, net banking, credit card, tickets or RationApp wallet. The company is trying to bring back the option of paying by PayPal accounts. Feedback Feedback plays an important role in the business. After the delivery has been done, the application asks for the feedback of the various customers (Jiang Yang and Jun 2013). The customers then give the company the required number of stars and advise the company to improve on certain parameters. This feedback is extremely important as it informs the suppliers about their performance. The selling process The selling process of the given application allows the retailers, wholesalers and the distributers to enlist with them and allow their products to reach the specific consumers. (Refer to Appendix 1) The supplier has to first register the company at a fixed cost, which involves steps like uploading the contact information, the user id and password creation, email confirmation and also enlisting the products offered. The supplier can manage the products that have been registered and also intake the feedback process as it helps to improve the process. The Revenue Model The primary revenue model for RationApp is extremely simple. The online application does not charge the customer for browsing the products (Beardwell and Thompson 2014). The application earns the browsing from a variety of sources like: The registration fee- Paid by the manufacturers and distributors. Listing fees- Paid by the manufacturer and distributor Service charges-Paid by the same customers in the form of the shipping charges, maintenance charges for its business Discounts- available to the parties depending upon the deals (Nilsson, et al. 2015). Advertisements- the Company allows various companies to advertise their product and thereby charges nominal fees from them. Operations Model Rations App works on two models, which are: Stock it yourself model In the given model, the business maintains its integrated warehousing system that helps to cater the needs of the different customers (Al-Nawayseh 2012). In this method, the firm has the ultimate control over the fulfilment process. As the business is comparatively new, they have kept a limited number of warehouses in the city. The second model is the Outsourcing warehouse model In the given model, the company collaborates with different logistics specialist companies who handle the task of shopping the different orders and piling of stock. As the order is received by the company, the information about the order is transmitted to the logistic company and they ship the product to the customer. Time slots for delivery Ration App offers different time slot offerings for the customers, which depend on the demands placed on the wants of the consumers. The different time slots offered are: 2 hour This is the best and the fastest time slot provided by the company. The products are delivered to the consumer within 2 hours of the order placed (Gatewood, Feildand Barrick 2015). No discounts are offered in the given category as the costs are extremely high. This is the most suitable for the working population who do not have any and order last moment. 6 hour The customers receive a limited amount of discount in the given category. This slot targets the family segments that require the product in a few hours. 1 day Customers using this slot receive high discounts as they help the company to reduce the transportation costs, which is from the warehouse to the consumers. 2 day The customers choosing this kind of delivery receive the maximum discount as they help the company to incur the minimum amount of transportation and the time to deliver is large which helps the store to pick up several orders in the area. Inventory Management Inventory is considered to be one of the most important segments and helps the company to a great extent in cost effectiveness (Best 2012). The main purpose of managing an inventory is to get the right goods at the right time to the right consumers and at the right cost. Lot size inventory The online store purchases the items in quantities, which are greater so that they can utilize the benefits of reduced shipping and other costs (Kotler 2012). The inventory of the store depletes gradually as the store fulfils the orders received from the customers and is replenished as and when new orders are received. Refreshed Inventory The online store replenishes the inventory as and when a particular set minimum level of stock is reached. The store constantly refreshes its inventories and it receives a huge quantity of products in the warehouses and delivers accordingly. Transportation Costs These are the costs, which are incurred on moving the goods from one place to another. These include moving the goods from customers to warehouses and between the various suppliers and warehouses. Logistics Network It can be stated that the logistics network of the store is interrelated to the activities of the company by: Mirroring the mission of the company Improving the efficiency of the information and material flow (Mullins, Walker and Boyd Jr 2012). Bringing the different sub-systems together. Management and Human Resource Plan Human Resource forms an important aspect of the organization and the following section provides a description of the major staff that is involved in the business. Roles and Responsibilities Each warehouse has its own managers who have various subordinates working under them. These subordinates tend to work under the supervision the manager who gives them the orders. Each warehouse has 10-12 subordinates along with delivery personnel who are involved in the delivery. Recruitment The recruitment of the given staff is done through newspapers and online websites advertisement. The staffs that are selected after the recruitment process is then trained (Hutt and Speh 2012). They are trained in various fields like customer service, delivery and quality services. Schedules The staffs works in two shifts. There is always an extra executive present to deal with urgent deliveries. Performance Reviews Performance reviews tend to help when the staffs is being promoted. The feedback as provided by the consumers is utilized and served as a backup for the reviews and based on these reviews, the staff is praised and paid accordingly (Armstrong et al. 2015). Recognition and Rewards The best performers of the task are given monetary awards and certificates to praise their efforts Every month a social gathering is held, where these best performers are praised. Team members who perform well are included in the annual newsletter of the company. The best performers of each project are provided with tickets to movies and shows Compensation and Packages The compensation and packages as offered by the company are based on industry standards and the company follows an incentive scheme to encourage the employees Financial Plans The financial plans will state down the various assets required by the company and also state down the initial costs required by the store to set up their business and also the sale estimations The financial plans have been attached in the excel file and also can be referred below: Start up Costs: Warehousing costs Rent Staff expenses Legal fees Inventory and transportation costs Web applications set up costs START-UP REQUIREMENTS Start-up Expenses Legal OMR 5,000.00 Stationery etc. OMR 2,000.00 Brochures OMR 1,500.00 Consultants OMR 1,000.00 Insurance Rent OMR 60,000.00 Research and Development OMR 1,200.00 Expensed Equipment OMR 5,200.00 Other TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES OMR 75,900.00 Start-up Assets OMR 10,000.00 Cash Required OMR 5,000.00 Other Current Assets Long-term Assets OMR 3,215.00 TOTAL ASSETS OMR 18,215.00 Total Requirements OMR 94,115.00 START-UP FUNDING Start-up Expenses to Fund OMR 75,900.00 Start-up Assets to Fund OMR 18,215.00 TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED OMR 94,115.00 Assets Non-cash Assets from Start-up OMR 10,000.00 Cash Requirements from Start-up OMR 5,000.00 Additional Cash Raised OMR 3,215.00 Cash Balance on Starting Date OMR 10,000.00 TOTAL ASSETS OMR 18,215.00 Liabilities and Capital Liabilities Current Borrowing Long-term Liabilities Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) TOTAL LIABILITIES Capital Planned Investment Investor 1 OMR 94,115.00 Investor 2 Other Additional Investment Requirement TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT OMR 94,115.00 Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) OMR 75,900.00 TOTAL CAPITAL OMR 18,215.00 TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES OMR 18,215.00 Total Funding OMR 94,115.00 Year 1 Year 2 year 3 Units 20506 35000 90000 Unit prices OMR 100.00 OMR 100.00 OMR 100.00 Sales B 2 c sales OMR 20,50,600.00 OMR 35,00,000.00 OMR 90,00,000.00 Direct Units Costs B to C sales OMR 80.00 OMR 80.00 OMR 80.00 Direct costs of sales B to c sales OMR 2,56,450.00 OMR 5,00,000.00 OMR 6,00,000.00 Performa p and l Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Sales OMR 20,50,600.00 OMR 35,00,000.00 OMR 90,00,000.00 Direct Costs of sales OMR 2,56,450.00 OMR 5,00,000.00 OMR 6,00,000.00 Gross Margin OMR 17,94,150.00 OMR 30,00,000.00 OMR 84,00,000.00 Gross Margin percentage 87.49390422 85.71428571 93.33333333 Expenses Payroll OMR 1,20,000.00 OMR 1,50,000.00 OMR 1,60,000.00 Marketing OMR 20,000.00 OMR 15,000.00 OMR 14,260.00 Rent OMR 10,000.00 OMR 10,000.00 OMR 10,000.00 Taxes Depreciation Others OMR 12,534.00 OMR 16,666.00 OMR 1,75,280.00 Total OMR 1,62,534.00 OMR 1,91,666.00 OMR 3,59,540.00 EBIDTA OMR 16,31,616.00 OMR 28,08,334.00 OMR 80,40,460.00 Net profit OMR 16,31,616.00 OMR 28,08,334.00 OMR 80,40,460.00 % 79.56773627 80.23811429 89.33844444 References Al-Nawayseh, M., 2012.Electronic commerce logistics in developing countries: The case of online grocery shopping in Jordan(Doctoral dissertation, Brunel University School of Engineering and Design PhD Theses). Anantadjaya, S.P., 2013. Entrepreneurs vs. Business Plans: A study of Practicality and Usefulness. Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M. and Brennan, R., 2015.Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Education. Arnold, G., 2013.Corporate financial management. Pearson Higher Ed. Baden-Fuller, C. and Haefliger, S., 2013. Business models and technological innovation.Long range planning,46(6), pp.419-426. Beardwell, J. and Thompson, A., 2014.Human resource management: a contemporary approach. Pearson Education. Bratton, J. and Gold, J., 2012.Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave Macmillan. Best, R., 2012.Market-based management. Pearson Higher Ed. Boons, F. and Ldeke-Freund, F., 2013. Business models for sustainable innovation: state-of-the-art and steps towards a research agenda.Journal of Cleaner Production,45, pp.9-19. Brigham, E.F. and Houston, J.F., 2012.Fundamentals of financial management. Cengage Learning. Chan, H.K., He, H. and Wang, W.Y., 2012. Green marketing and its impact on supply chain management in industrial markets.Industrial Marketing Management,41(4), pp.557-562. Chwolka, A. and Raith, M.G., 2012. The value of business planning before start-upA decision-theoretical perspective.Journal of Business Venturing,27(3), pp.385-399. Gatewood, R., Feild, H.S. and Barrick, M., 2015.Human resource selection. Nelson Education. Higgins, R.C., 2012.Analysis for financial management. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Hutt, M.D. and Speh, T.W., 2012.Business marketing management: B2B. Cengage Learning. Jiang, L., Yang, Z. and Jun, M., 2013. Measuring consumer perceptions of online shopping convenience.Journal of Service Management,24(2), pp.191-214. Kotler, P., 2012. Marketing Management, millenium edition: Custom Edition for University of Phoenix. Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P., 2013. Management Information Systems 13e. Mullins, J., Walker, O.C. and Boyd Jr, H.W., 2012.Marketing management: A strategic decision-making approach. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Nilsson, E., Grling, T., Marell, A. and Nordvall, A.C., 2015. Who shops groceries where and how?the relationship between choice of store format and type of grocery shopping.The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research,25(1), pp.1-19. Pozzi, A., 2012. Shopping cost and brand exploration in online grocery.American Economic Journal: Microeconomics,4(3), pp.96-120. Shi, S.W. and Zhang, J., 2014. Usage experience with decision aids and evolution of online purchase behavior.Marketing Science,33(6), pp.871-882. Warschun, M., Albers, S., Delfmann, W. and Mig, R., 2012. A fresh look at online grocery.Retrieved July,3, p.2013.

African Americans

Introduction The history of African Americans can be traced back to 1600s. It is thought that the first African American set his foot in the U.S. between 3100-2100 B.C (Schaefer, 2011, p.14).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on African Americans-Prejudice and Discrimination specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The number of African American has since grown to over 42 million people according to the latest census report (Schaefer, 2011, p.14). This accounts for about 11% of the U.S. population making it one of the largest minority groups today. Furthermore, this number is projected to rise to over 100 million in the next 40 years due to increased immigration of African American into the United States. However, Schaefer (2011, p.18) notes that African Americans have faced many challenges ever since their arrival in the U.S. The challenges range from prejudice, discrimination, and racism among others that they have had to o vercome during the last centuries. This paper discusses issues of prejudice and discrimination that African Americans have had to overcome over the last decades. African Americans have had to overcome a number of challenges since they were first brought to the U.S. by Europeans at about 1600s (Laouenan, 2010, p.3). Report indicates that the African Americans were brought into the U.S. as slaves to work in European farms and industries (Schaefer, 2011, p.21). Soon afterwards the white population flourished thereby increasing slavery. The increase in slavery also increased racism in which African Americans were being racially abused and battered by the white Americans. In fact, slavery was made legal in America in 1641 when the State of Massachusetts passed a law legalizing slavery (Laouenan, 2010, p.3). As slaves, the African Americans were subjected to hard labor in poor working environment. In fact, many African Americans perished because of hard labor they were being subjected to as slaves. As time progressed, Kain (1968, p.34) reveals that racism flourished in America in which African Americans were racially abused and harassed by the white Americans. This is based on prejudice in which African Americans were perceived to be a primitive populace that does not deserve mixing with the rest of the population. This was particularly witnessed in the famous Jim Crow era of 1890-1940, which is associated with prejudice against African Americans (Laouenan, 2010, p.11). During this era, several laws were enacted in America that allowed for segregation of public facilities for blacks and whites. In this regard, African Americans were barred from attending schools reserved for their white counterparts (Kain, 1968, p.36).Advertising Looking for essay on african american? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The same applied to hospitals and transport facilities in which the front seats were a preserve for the whites. In addition, Jim Crow era saw blacks being deprived of voting rights, in addition to being deprived the right to pursue formal education (Laouenan, 2010, p.9). As a result, those who disobeyed these laws were brutally murdered by their white counterparts. African Americans also faced the challenge of racial discrimination in places of employments in which it was not easy for blacks to find good jobs. Those who were able to get jobs were poorly paid than their white counterparts (Kain, 1968, p.41). In addition, racial discrimination saw African Americans being denied access to decent housing as they were being forced to live in informal settlements. Despite all these forms of prejudice and discrimination, African Americans have managed to overcome quite a number. This began during the civil war in which African Americans stood to fight against prejudice and discrimination. It also took the effort of African American civil right activists such as Martin Luther King who fought tireless ly against oppression of African Americans (Kain, 1968, p.42). In fact, America can today be seen as a single society without discrimination and prejudice. Conclusion It is undeniable that African Americans have faced many challenges in the U.S. ranging from prejudice to racial discrimination. Nevertheless, African Americans have overcome most of these challenges making America one of the best countries to live in and work. This is because many African Americans today hold senior positions in America, something that was not possible in the past. This is also evident from the fact that today America is led by President Barack Obama whose father happened to hail from Kenya in Africa. References Kain, J. (1968). Housing segregation, Negro employment, and metropolitan decentralization. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 82 (1), 32-59. Laouenan, M. (2010). Prejudice and Wage Discrimination against Blacks in the US: Spatial Mismatch at the National Level. GREQAM Sciences-Po, 10(2), 1-30. Sc haefer, R. T. (2011). Racial and Ethnic Groups (13th edn). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Limited.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on African Americans-Prejudice and Discrimination specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on African Americans-Prejudice and Discrimination was written and submitted by user Carolyn Snow to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Advertisements and De Destruction essays

Advertisements and De Destruction essays In the movie, Advertising and the end of the world, Sut Jhally talks about how advertising is affecting the world negatively. In the beginning of the movie Jhally talks about advertising as a culture. And how physical and simple things dont apply. Jhally stated that if an anthropologist came from mars and based our culture off of advertisements, they would think that we believe in magic, and that normal doesnt apply to us. Some advertisements even come into our personal lives and change our culture. He gives DeBeers as an example of how they have intruded into our lives. Later, Jhally talks about how the advertisements show people as being happy if we buy the product. Advertising tells us that the more we buy the happier we are going to be. Jhally gave us some statistics that show our happiness levels and our wealth levels. And our wealth has gone up but our happiness has stayed the same. Jhally then discusses a survey that they did, and asked people what made them happy. More often than not people said social things and not physical things. Social things are like friends, families, autonomy control, romance, self esteem, and relaxation. Physical things are like economic status, and houses. In the movie Jhally says that products cant provide you with social things, only material. Advertisements are used everywhere. And each one was expensive to make, ads are more expensive per thirty seconds than the biggest blockbuster hit. Jhally gave an example of Jurassic Park and how much it cost in comparison to an advertisement. The movie was something like 236 thousand dollars every thirty seconds an the commercials averaged at about 247 thousand dollars. An example he gave for commercials going to extremes, was the Timex commercial where they flew set builders in from England to the Red Sea to make a two story model of a watch. Now commercials have to do that sort of thing ...

Role of MIS department Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role of MIS department - Essay Example The identification of issues that may lead to poor technology management may be the first step in making this improvement possible. Talking to the employees in the department about the use of technology management can improve the attitude they have about the system. Attitude among the staff may be one of the reasons that enable people to do as they wish. Finding out what it is that encourages them to work better with such a system is crucial in improving the system (Megantz, 2002). Privacy issues are also the main cause of poor technology management. Personal information being the key component in running the technology system, employees may be reluctant to give out this information. This is because of fear that people may steal their identities. An example is the login requirement that is present in every system, in a company. This may be the reason as to why it is difficult for them to use the technology system to attain their goals (Megantz, 2002). There might be some strategies that may be used to improve technology management. One of these strategies would be to state the goal of the system. Stating it to the employees in the department is a strategy that enables them to create a target for themselves (Dorf, 1999). In this scenario, every department it is responsible for a set target by the company, and that it must be realised. Another manner in which technology management can be improved is through the creation of a modest learning cycle. This learning cycle helps improve the manner in which employees decide to use the technology system. If they are set in a manner that will deal with the issues that arise from the use of such methods, then it is possible the system can be improved (Dorf, 1999). This may lead to an improvement in the company’s dealings. Using a timeframe strategy for producing results is usually the

Annotated Reference List Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Annotated Reference List - Assignment Example stated the addictive behaviors are divided into three important categories which include physiological model, disease model and social learning model. Further in the article she writes about the importance of these models in schools. She emphasizes on school prevention programs which are health focused and promotion programs. The author also describes the implementation process of the above stated models in the schools. This article sends a message across to the prospective counselors at schools and those working with the children. It works as a good professional foundation to understand, what addiction is and how the addictive behaviors can be restrained. This is a peer-reviewed journal article written by Gerald A.Juhnke who is understood to be working for the University of Texas at San Antonio in the department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Adult and Higher Education. This article provides an updated analysis on the information on the article contents published in the previous years. This article Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling is published by the American Counseling Association therefore the content in the article remains authentic. The article is primarily directed for the adulthood age group. This article is a literature review based on the previous articles written. New information regarding the author’s demographics and other details has been analyzed to make it more authentic and reliable source in the library. This article is of interest to me as it helps me to go in to the details of each author who has contributed to this subject. Additionally, because it is a literature review it provides me with critical analysis on the past literature written on the subject. Laux, J. M., Dupuy, P. J., Moe, J. L., Lambert, E., Ventura, L. A., Williamson, C., et al. (2008). The Substance Abuse Counseling Needs of Women in the Criminal. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 29(1), 36-48. The authors of this article are from the

Improvements of Waterways in the Philippines

Improvements of Waterways in the Philippines 1.0 INTRODUCTION For too long the waterways of the Philippines have been grossly contaminated through activities including domestic uses, industrial discharges, stormwater run-off, discharge of untreated sewage, recreational activities and the like. It has been recognised that for the health and safety of both the people of the Philippines and the protection of the environment for our future generations it is necessary that a strategy be established to commence the enormous task of returning our waterways to a quality that complies if not surpasses international standards. Water everywhere is a very valuable commodity and an essential element in sustaining life. For this reason we must act as a community to ensure that we return our waterways back to a standard we can be proud of. For this reason DENR will embark on a strategy which has one sole objective which is to â€Å"CLEAN UP THE WATERWAYS OF THE PHILIPPINES† This discussion document provides a brief outline on items that should be considered if the objective of Cleaning up the waterways of the Philippines is to be realised. 2.0 WATERWAYS HIERARCHY In any strategy it is imperative that there are several options available to the community to enable them to successfully implement the strategy and thus achieve the objective. So in summarising some of the objectives DENR will consider the use of a waterways hierarchy as shown below. The waterways hierarchy simply describes the preference of options with avoidance being the ultimate option and disposal being the least favourable. This analogy is based on the international standards for cleaner production and waste minimisation which ultimately encourage that generating no waste is better than managing the waste that is generated. WATERWAYS HIERARCHY AVOIDANCE (PREFERRED) REUSE/RECYCLING TREATMENT DISPOSAL (LEAST PREFERRED) In preparing these options consideration was given towards how these could be applied against a waterways hierarchy and the practicalities of implementing the options with respect to social, financial and environmental indicators. 3.0 STRATEGY OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Regulatory Framework The Philippines already has established several regulations pertaining to the management of waterways and the required quality that needs to be achieved by Industry and the community to ensure the waterways are protected. However, consideration needs to be given towards strengthening this legislation by addressing the following: Trade Waste Management (licensing and user pays system for industry discharging to the sewerage system) Littering Sewage plant discharge into inland and coastal waterways Management of Sewage spills and unauthorised discharges Algal bloom and nutrient management strategy Heavy fines for offenders Mandatory monitoring Establishment of Key Performance Indicators and Government targets for wastewater recycling and reuse. The above are only a few items that need to be considered in greater detail in order to ensure that the regulatory framework is in place to oblige the community to implement and continue to comply with the strategy. 3.2 Education, Training and Community Awareness Technology alone cannot solve all problems. In order for this strategy to be successful it must have obtained ownership from the community. They must be aware of their obligations with respect to the waterways hierarchy and we must tell the Philippines community how it can contribute towards the clean-up of the waterways. This will involve education programs both at a junior school level to engrain the importance of waterways and keeping them clean to ensure that the future generations avoid the mistake of returning to the old ways. The education programs need to also include local communities and industries so that they can see that there is a better way and that throwing that paper on the ground, or discharging untreated sewage in the river will make their life worse. We need to educate our community to demand a higher quality of life especially in relation to waterways and show them the benefits that a clean waterway can deliver. Things like better health, no rotten smell, increased tourism, better aesthetics, improved economic development and the like. Training environmental practitioners and industry leaders that pollution is bad business and that any dumping or inappropriate discharge into a waterway will have ramifications not only for the local environmental officer but for the senior officers of the company. These ramifications can include increased fines, bad publicity and in extreme situations imprisonment. Community awareness through targeted advertising campaigns could also get the message out. Adopting a community day once a year where the whole of Philippines gets together to clean up the waterways and the environment can achieve instant success and community pride that we all got together to improve our lives. Programs like these have been successfully implemented international such as â€Å"Clean up Australia†. There is no reason why there cannot be a clean-up Philippines. 3.3 Source Elimination Avoidance The first point in the waterways hierarchy is avoidance. This means removing polluting dischargers from the waterway itself. This includes industrial dischargers that are putting the industrial waste directly into inland waterways. Where the avoidance of the discharge cannot be achieved then industry should be required to ensure that the quality, through recycling and treatment at the discharge, meets strict discharge criteria. Avoiding the discharge of untreated sewage whether it is from ineffective wastewater treatment plants or direct discharge from the community. These inputs must be avoided or eliminated from being discharged into waterways as they can destroy a river system, generate unwanted odours, spread undesirable disease and the like. 3.4 Sewerage Management One of the issues faced in the Philippines is the difficulty of laying collection and sewer pipe infrastructure to enable wastewater in the form of sewage to be collected to a central location for treatment and disposal. For this reason it is essential that a number of options become available that can suit the varying topography and provincial needs of the Philippines. This can be achieved in two ways: Localised treatment plants that manage localised flows typically from 2.5KL/day to 40KL/day Medium sized Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology typically from 40KL/day to 500KL/day Centralised wastewater systems based on MBR technology for areas where collection and laying pipe infrastructure is relatively easy. Examples of such plants are shown below: Localised wastewater treatment plants CWT Medium sized Plants Large MBR treatment plants (45ML/Day) Typical effluent quality The quality of the treated water from these treatment plants will enable reuse of this water for flushing toilets, irrigation, and industrial reuse and other non-consumption activities. 3.5 Storm Water Run-off Management There are several issues associated with the run-off and discharge of stormwater. These issues include collection of litter, oil and grease and other contaminants from roadways that then is discharged into the river system. Stormwater can also cause hydraulic overload and thus wash away sand and silt into the river. The silt and sand could contain heavy metals or other contaminants that will ultimately end up in the sediments of the river bed potentially creating undesirable conditions for aquatic species. Furthermore, the discharge of high levels of nitrogen collected from fertilisers and other similar processes will run-off into the river system and this contribute to the toxicity or provide adequate conditions for Algal Blooms to form. To alleviate this problem source control of run-off is essential. This will be a combination of improved infrastructure, stormwater capture and treatment of stormwater before discharge into the river. This has to be managed in light of stormwater hydraulics especially as many parts of the Philippines are subject to severe flooding. So treatment of say the first flush of stormwater after which the water is discharged directly to the river system bypassing the treatment. This option will treat the most contaminated portion of the stormwater but not restrict flow substantially to become a further cause of flooding. In looking at stormwater treatment there are four considerations, these are prevention, at source control, in-line structures and wetland/flood plains. Unfortunately not one of these systems in isolation can solve all the problems so wach system must be implemented in synergy. Some mitigation options that can be implemented include: Grate and entrance screens Side entry pit traps Baffled pits Litter collection baskets Boom diversion systems Release nets Trash racks Gross pollutant trap Circular screens Floating Debris Traps Some examples of these systems are shown below: Cleaning is the most important issue in the utilisation of these systems and adequate maintenance programs need to form part of the strategy of installing any form of Stormwater treatment and management system. 3.6 Emergency Response and Spill Management In any strategy that discusses the clean-up of waterways there must be an element to handle the unforseen spillage that do occur on a regular basis. The issue facing DENR is how it can become aware of these and how to implement appropriate mitigation options to protect human health and the environment from such events. It is therefore imperative that a system will be established that ensures that spillages to the environment are reported, that there is a plan for containment and that this containment can then provide enough time to determine an appropriate response for the economic clean up of the spill. Too often in emergency response companies and regulators rush to throw all options towards the resolution of such events that the end result is often created a larger problem than the spill itself. A classic example of this is when dispersants are being used for the management of oil spills. The dispersant has really only one option, alter the surface tension of water so as to make the oil miscible with the water and thus render the oil spill out of mind out of site. In reality what dispersants do is prolong the inevitable that is contamination of sea beds and shore lines. In almost all situations the oil spill will require more clean up at the shoreline due to the fact that waterway conditions hav e changed and the oil is now no longer miscible thus creating a similar situation several kilometres away from the original spill location. Thus any emergency response management system needs to deal with spill prevention, containment and removal not dilution. An example of alternative oil spill product that can be used instead of dispersants is Cleanmag. This product is briefly detailed below: CleanMag ® is an oil sorbing material in the form of magnetic granules. It is a porous material so the oil is absorbed upon contact with the CleanMag ® materials at ratios of 1:6 (1 ‘CleanMag 6 oil by weight). Due to a magnetic interaction all granules stay together forming a crust, which floats even after the oil has been absorbed and can be collected before the spill reaches the shoreline. In cases where the material does reach the coastline, the oil does not leak out due to strong cohesion onto the CleanMag ®, thus eliminating the devastating environmental impacts normally associated with oil spills reaching sensitive coastlines. The material and oil can be collected even days after CleanMag ® has been dispersed over the spill (by aerial or naval means), by using a magnetic conveyor belt or electromagnetic cranes mounted onto the collecting vessel (i.e. ship or tug). Should the oil spill extend to a large surface area ‘CleanMag ® can be sprayed on the boarders of the spill, thus creating a barrier and preventing oil dispersion.This helps slow down the rate of expansion of the surface of the spill and therefore creates more time for the clean up operation to be conducted. This time is important as it can enable more innovative recovery options that are less costly to the operator and furthermore minimize environmental penalties associated with such spillages, as the impact on the environment and communities is minimized. 3.7 Sediment clean-up Finally after the sources of pollution have been contained and managed consideration should then be given to dredging the sediments of the waterways with a view to removing the contaminants that have accumulated over several years. The final steps is necessary as the benefits of discharging clean high quality water that into the waterways system from the source control options mentioned earlier will not be realised. The reason for this is that the sediments will release contaminants and pollute the clean water. By cleaning these sediments it provides and opportunity for the life to return back to the waterway, free of pollution. So as a proud community lets CLEAN-UP THE WATERWAYS OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Speech Outline

Thesis Statement: If people knew the beneficial effects of music it may help them succeed. Body: I. How does listening to music help you succeed? A. Depending on the type of music you listen to it could help improve your moo d. It can bring a â€Å"more positive mind set', which helps with the reduction of stress, which essentially can improve your I immune system. Transition: How music can decrease stress â€Å"Listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies†¦Music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lower Eng blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones. † according to Psych Central. B. It is said that classical music is what you should listen to but researchers say t at you can listen to any music for a stress reliever. â€Å"We think the pleasant State that can be induced by music leads to special pH histological changes which eventually lead to stress reduc tion or direct immune enhancement. Said Dry. Irony En, Dry. En lead recent research about music's effect on the immune system. I. So, if you're feeling stressed listen to your favorite music. Transition: Reducing stress will help you from getting sick. L. Stress hormones are likely to leave the body and Mucilaginous A is increase De when listening to music A. â€Å"Scientists found that after volunteers had listened to just 50 minutes of uplift Eng dance music, the levels of antibodies in their bodies increased.They also found that stress hormone levels, which c an weaken the immune system, decreased after being exposed to the music. The scientists tested 300 people, asking the m to listen to the dance music or to a random collection of tones. † Transition: Music will help you remember stuff. Music can help you remember important things, and help you study for a test It has been said, â€Å"Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stir elate brain waves to resona te in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thin inning†.II. At the University of California at Irvine researchers had students study for a et SST without listening to music and then take the test. Then had students study for another test while listening to music c, they then took the test the second time. The outcome was that when the students listened to music the test scores we re higher from when they studied without music. After this study they began to name this the â€Å"Mozart Effect†. Psych Cent trial. Conclusion: People should listen to music if they are feeling sick, stressed out, or want to f Ochs on something.

David Copperfield (Sparknotes)

Summary — Preface In the preface written to accompany the first single-volume publication ofDavid Copperfield, Dickens tells us that the completion of the novel is, for him, both a regret and a pleasure. He rejoices in the completion of the novel because the novel was a long time in coming, and he is satisfied that it is finished after two years of hard work. He mourns its completion, however, because it marks the end of his association with a cast of characters to whom he has become intensely attached. Dickens remarks that David Copperfield is his favorite of all his novels and that, of all the characters he has invented over the years, David Copperfield is dearest to him. Summary- I am born An older David Copperfield narrates the story of his life. He begins by saying that only the writing that follows can tell who the hero of his story is. He tells of his simple birth, which occurred at the stroke of midnight on a Friday night. An old woman in the neighborhood has told him that the time of his birth indicates he will be unlucky and will be able to see ghosts and spirits. David’s father is already dead when David is born. David’s aunt, Miss Betsey Trotwood, appears on the day of David’s birth and speaks with David’s mother, Clara. Miss Betsey informs Clara that she intends to take custody of the girl Clara is about to bear. Miss Betsey wishes to raise the girl so that men never take advantage of her the way Miss Betsey has been taken advantage of in her own life. When David is born and Mr. Chillip, the doctor, informs Miss Betsey that Clara has had a boy, Miss Betsey storms out of the house and never returns. Summary — Chapter II. I Observe. David’s earliest memories are of his mother’s hair and his nurse, Clara Peggotty, who has very dark eyes. He remembers the kitchen and the backyard, with the roosters that frightened him and the churchyard behind the house, where his father is buried. Both David and his mother submit themselves to Peggotty’s kind direction. In particular, David recalls one occasion when he sits up late reading a book about crocodiles to Peggotty while waiting for his mother to return home from an evening out. David’s beautiful mother returns with Mr. Murdstone, a large man with black whiskers and a deep voice. David and Peggotty both dislike Mr. Murdstone, and Peggotty warns David’s mother not to marry someone her dead husband would not have liked. Mr. Murdstone returns later and takes David on a short trip to meet two business acquaintances, one of whom is named Mr. Quinion. Mr. Murdstone and Mr. Quinion joke about David’s dislike of Mr. Murdstone and Mr. Murdstone’s intention to marry David’s mother. When they get home, Peggotty proposes that she and David go to visit her brother and his family in Yarmouth. Summary — Chapter III. I have a Change Peggotty takes David to Yarmouth, where her family lives in a boat they have converted into a home. Peggotty’s brother, Mr. Daniel Peggotty, adopted his nephew, Ham, and his niece, Little Em’ly, who are not siblings, when their fathers drowned. Mrs. Gummidge, the widowed wife of Mr. Peggotty’s brother, lives with them too. Mr. Peggotty and Ham fish during the day, while David and Little Em’ly roam the beaches, collect shells, and fall in love. In retrospect, David muses that he has at times wished that the sea had closed over Little Em’ly then so that she would not have suffered all that she has suffered since. When David returns home, he observes that he has hardly thought of his mother or his home since he left. When he arrives, Peggotty tells him that his mother married Mr. Murdstone while they were away. David is reunited with his mother. Mr. Murdstone orders David’s mother to control herself in her behavior toward her son. David sees Mr. Murdstone again, for the first time as his mother’s husband. David thinks that Mr. Murdsone, with his great black beard, looks like an enormous and threatening dog. Analysis — Preface–Chapter III Dickens uses foreshadowing and cultivates an atmosphere of mystery in order to make his story dramatic and capture our interest from the start. The surreal circumstances under which David is born, including the appearance of Miss Betsey, mark the first example of mystery in the novel. Although Miss Betsey is absent for much of the story, she returns when David is in his hour of most dire need. The darkness and abruptness established around Miss Betsey in the opening chapter characterize her throughout the novel. Likewise, David’s comment that Little Em’ly might have been better off in the long run if the sea had swallowed her up as a child foreshadows painful events that come later. By alluding to these future difficult circumstances early in the novel, Dickens keeps us wondering what will happen to the various characters as the novel unfolds. Throughout David Copperfield, Dickens uses such foreshadowing not only to create suspense about future events but also to establish an ominous tone. Dickens portrays David as a gentle, naive child in order to limit the novel’s perspective and set up the dramatic irony of many of the story’s episodes. We see many signs of David’s youth: his memory of Mr. Murdstone as doglike, his failure to understand that Mr. Quinion and Mr. Murdstone make jokes at his own expense, his memory of his mother’s hair and form, and so on. We also see David’s innocence in his narrative voice, which focuses on other characters’ best aspects and never hints at infidelity or betrayal. Additionally, as a child, David often fears and dreads aspects of characters that an adult would not. We might expect the adult David to rewrite the story using his adult perspective to make sense of the things that baffled him as a child. But David does not recast his childhood through an adult perspective. As a result, we see the characters and the story as the young David did at the time. David’s naive voice preserves an element of surprise in the novel, as David repeatedly fails to notice parts of the story that, if shown, would reveal upcoming events. By matching his characters’ physical traits to their emotional traits, Dickens helps us categorize the many people we meet in the novel. Mr. Murdstone, for example, sports a large black beard and evil-looking face that make him appear like a beast—and indeed, he turns out to be a less than savory character. In this way, David Copperfield is generally straightforward in its depiction of good and evil characters. In most cases, characters are more or less what they appear, which makes it easy for us to remember both their outward appearances and internal traits. Also, because Dickens tends to associate good with light and beauty and evil with dark and ugliness, the images in the novel come into sharp contrast. Thus, when David’s mother and Mr. Murdstone are together, the image is as physically and aesthetically repugnant as it is morally unappealing. Though there are exceptions to this general rule, the alliance of good with beauty and evil with ugliness persists fairly regularly throughout David Copperfield. Chapters IV–VI Summary — Chapter IV. I fall into Disgrace Having returned home, David finds his house much changed. The change upsets him so much that he cries himself to sleep in his new room. His mother comes up to comfort him, but Mr. Murdstone finds them there and reprimands David’s mother for not being firm with her son. Mr. Murdstone dismisses David’s mother into another part of the house and warns David that he will receive a beating if he disobeys or upsets his mother again. That night, dinner is silent and formal, and David finds it very different from the old dinners he used to enjoy by the fire with Peggotty and his mother. After dinner, Miss Jane Murdstone, Mr. Murdstone’s cruel sister, arrives to stay. She is dark and masculine, with eyebrows that nearly meet over the bridge of her nose. David observes that she is a metallic lady, with metal boxes and a metal purse. Miss Murdstone takes over the household organization, and when David’s mother protests that she can run her own house, Mr. Murdstone threatens her into submission. Whenever David’s mother voices her concern or anger about anything done in the house or to David, Mr. and Miss Murdstone tell her that her â€Å"firmness† is failing. They often refer to David’s mother, who is much younger than they, as a naive, inexperienced, and artless girl who needs their training. David’s mother accepts the Murdstones’ molding of her, apparently because she is afraid of them. David’s mother continues to conduct his lessons. However, because Mr. and Miss Murdstone snipe at David continuously throughout his recitations, his memory fails him during every lesson. His only comfort is his father’s small collection of adventure books, which David reads over and over in order to bring some friends and pleasure into his life. After one particularly poor lesson, Mr. Murdstone beats David savagely, and David, in self-defense, bites Mr. Murdstone’s hand. As punishment, David is locked in his room alone for five days. At the end of the five days, Peggotty comes to his door and whispers through the keyhole that he is to be sent away. Summary — Chapter V. I am sent away from Home David rides away with a carrier, Mr. Barkis, who travels between towns carrying people and packages in his cart. As David leaves, Peggotty bursts out of the bushes and gives him a little money, a note from his mother, and several cakes. David is nearly hysterical at being sent away. He shares the cakes with Mr. Barkis, who, on finding out that Peggotty baked them, asks David to tell her that â€Å"Barkis is willin’. † At the inn where David switches to the London coach, dinner is waiting for him under the name â€Å"Murdstone. † The waiter tricks David into giving him all his dinner and some of his money as a tip. Because it is a large dinner, David gains a reputation at the inn for having eaten a tremendous amount. The coachman and the other passengers tease David so badly that he does not eat even when they stop later to do so. As a result, David arrives in London very hungry. In London, David waits for several hours until Mr. Mell, who says he is one of the masters at Salem House, arrives to pick him up. On the way to the school, they stop at a charity home and visit an old woman who calls Mr. Mell â€Å"my Charley† and cooks David breakfast. They proceed to the school, where all the boys are on holiday. David is forced to wear a sign that identifies him as one who bites—his punishment for having bitten Mr. Murdstone. Summary — Chapter VI. I enlarge my Circle of Acquaintance Mr. Creakle, the headmaster, returns to the school and summons David. The bald, reddish Mr. Creakle, who never raises his voice above a whisper, warns David that he will beat him for any misbehavior. David is terrified of Mr. Creakle. The headmaster’s wife and daughter, however, are quiet and thin women, and David supposes that they sympathize with the boys Mr. Creakle terrorizes. Tommy Traddles, the first boy to return from holiday, befriends David, which helps David befriend the other boys as they return. James Steerforth, the most respected of the schoolboys because of his wealth, intelligence, and good looks, takes David’s money on the pretense of holding it for him. Steerforth convinces David to spend the money on a tremendous banquet, which he splits evenly among the boys in the dorm that night. David considers Steerforth to be his protector and friend but not his equal. David is submissive to Steerforth and refers to him as â€Å"sir. † Analysis — Chapters IV—VI Although some of Dickens’s characters manage to improve their social class, social hierarchies are extremely powerful in David Copperfield. For example, even though Peggotty loves David and his mother more than anyone else loves them, both mother and son always treat Peggotty as a servant. On the other and, David reveres James Steerforth, a scoundrel, largely because he is wealthy and powerful. Tommy Traddles, who is kind and gentle to David and shows him much more loyalty than Steerforth, never even comes close to attaining Steerforth’s exalted status. The other boys also naturally obey Steerforth, apparently not because he deserves their respect but because none of them can match the confidence and arrogance that stem from his class status. This social structure that the young students establish continues throughout the novel, as characters judge each other on their class status rather than their merits. Dickens depicts English social hierarchies as inevitable but acknowledges that they are not ideal. David respects the strict class system, as do most of the secondary characters. David sincerely wishes to seem genteel, enjoys commanding servants about, and draws judgments entirely on the basis of class. Nevertheless, Dickens also shows how the power relations of the class system can be inverted—most notably in the case of the servant at the inn who tricks David into giving up his meal. Likewise, Steerforth is rich yet cruel while Mr. Peggotty is poor yet good-hearted. These two characters demonstrate that Dickens does not believe that class always corresponds to moral status. On the whole, although Dickens recognizes imperfections in the English class system, he does not actively challenge it in his writing. Although Clara’s failure to protect David is disturbing, the difficult situation of her marriage provokes our sympathy and understanding. Clara does allow her husband and his sister to inflict cruelty on David, which we may find reprehensible. But at the same time, as Mr. Murdstone breaks Clara’s spirit more and more, and Miss Murdstone convinces her that she is a worthless girl in desperate need of reform, we cannot help but pity Clara. David, for his part, never condemns his mother—in fact, he displays unwavering faith in her. Ultimately, as Clara transforms from beautiful and carefree before her remarriage to beaten-down and frightened afterward, her inexperience and good intentions become clear, and she emerges as a sympathetic character. The books to which David retreats when his life at his house becomes unbearable bring an element of fantasy to Dickens’s novel and fuel David’s sense of romantic idealism. Though David Copperfield as a novel offers a realistic depiction of the harsh aspects of daily existence for women, children, and the underprivileged, David himself often romanticizes his world. He frequently gets wrapped up in a sense of adventure and high emotion. His description of events that happen to him reveals that he sees his love affairs as tempestuous and his escapades as wild and adventurous. David’s vivid imagination is both an asset and a handicap, for it simultaneously sustains him through hard times and subjects him to the treachery of those who would take advantage of a boy’s trusting nature. Chapters VII–X Summary — Chapter VII. My â€Å"first half† at Salem House School begins, and Mr. Creakle warns the boys that he will punish them severely if they fail in their lessons. He beats David with a cane on the first day. David notices that Traddles gets beaten more than the other boys because he is fat. To cheer himself up, Traddles lays his head on his desk and draws little skeletons on his slate. Steerforth and David become close when Steerforth, who suffers from insomnia, persuades David to stay up with him at night and tell him the stories David remembers from his father’s books. One day when Mr. Creakle is ill, Steerforth and Mr. Mell get into a fight, and Steerforth reveals that David has told him about visiting an old woman with Mr. Mell at the charity house. Steerforth figures out that the old woman is Mr. Mell’s mother. When Mr. Creakle comes to see what the commotion is, Steerforth tells him about Mr. Mell’s poverty. Mr. Creakle commends Steerforth and fires Mr. Mell, who, as he leaves, shows particular favor to David. Another day, Ham and Mr. Peggotty come to visit David at school. They meet Steerforth and are amused by him. Summary — Chapter VIII. My Holidays. Especially one happy Afternoon. On the day that David arrives home for the holidays, Mr. and Miss Murdstone are away. David, his mother, and Peggotty have supper and pass an evening the way they used to do before his mother remarried. David’s mother has a new child, and David loves the child dearly. The three laugh about Mr. Barkis’s proposal to Peggotty, and Peggotty vows never to leave David’s mother. Peggotty and David’s mother quarrel briefly over David’s mother’s marriage to Mr. Murdstone. David’s mother argues that Mr. Murdstone is just trying to improve her character. She feels that she should be grateful to him. David observes that Peggotty only provokes his mother so that she might feel better by providing these justifications. The next morning, David apologizes to Mr. Murdstone for biting his hand. Later, he picks up the baby. Miss Murdstone flies into a rage, telling David never to touch the child again. To David’s surprise, his mother sides with Miss Murdstone. David’s mother observes that her two children have the same eyes. Miss Murdstone shrieks that such a comparison between the wretched David and her knightly brother’s child is utterly foolish. Mr. Murdstone forces David to remain in the company of the adults, even though they never speak to him. Mr. Murdstone says that David’s habit of reading in his room is evidence of his sullenness. When David’s holiday is over, Mr. Barkis picks him up. As they drive away, David turns around and sees his mother standing in the road and holding up her child to him. Summary — Chapter IX. I have a memorable Birthday In the middle of the next term, David’s mother dies. The school sends David home, and Mr. Omer, a funeral director and general services provider, picks him up at the coach. Mr. Omer takes David to his shop, where he meets Mr. Omer’s daughter, Minnie, and her sweetheart, Mr. Joram. Mr. Joram builds David’s mother’s coffin behind the shop, and David sits through the day listening to the sounds of the hammer. Mr. Omer tells David that David’s little brother died a few days after his mother. The Omer family is quite jovial, but David sits in the shop with his head down. When David arrives home, Peggotty greets him and comforts him. Miss Murdstone only asks him if he has remembered his clothes. In retrospect, David admits that he cannot recall the order of all the events around this time, but he describes going to his mother’s funeral with the few people who attend. Afterward, Peggotty comes to him and tells him about his mother’s last moments. She says that his mother died with her head on Peggotty’s arm. Summary — Chapter X. I become Neglected, and am provided for Mr. and Miss Murdstone take no interest in David after his mother’s death. They make it clear that they want him around as little as possible. Miss Murdstone fires Peggotty, who goes home to her family. Peggotty proposes to take David with her for a visit. On the ride there, Mr. Barkis flirts with Peggotty, who asks David what he would think if she married Mr. Barkis after all. David says he thinks it is a wonderful idea. At Mr. Peggotty’s house, David finds Little Em’ly older and more beautiful than before, though she has become a bit spoiled and coy. Mr. Peggotty and Ham praise Steerforth, whom they have met at Salem House. Mr. Barkis and Peggotty get married in a private ceremony at a church one afternoon while Little Em’ly and David are out riding around. When David returns home, Mr. and Miss Murdstone completely ignore him. David falls into a state of neglect until Mr. Quinion, Mr. Murdstone’s business partner, appears. When Mr. Quinion arrives, the Murdstones arrange for David to go to London to work in the wine-bottling industry. Analysis — Chapters VII–X Mothers and mother figures in David Copperfield represent a safe harbor from the cruelty of the world. They fill this role not only for children but for adults as well. David’s mother offers him emotional support and occasional reprieve from the Murdstones’ cruelty. Peggotty takes on the role of mother figure to both David and David’s mother, as she cares for both of them when they need her help. Many of Dickens’s novels feature orphans who, lacking this important refuge from a cruel world, come across as especially pitiful characters. In David’s case, Peggotty (and later, Miss Betsey) save him from this fate. But until these mother figures are able to help him, he suffers a great deal in losing his natural mother and living with the disadvantages that motherlessness creates. Although the large cast of secondary characters in David Copperfield may seem overwhelming, these characters serve two important narrative functions: they mark the different phases of the novel and give editorial commentary about the actions of the main characters. Throughout the novel, secondary characters voice general opinions about the events involving the main characters. Because Dickens goes into such great detail in describing the lives of the main characters, the thoughts and actions of the secondary characters provide welcome breaks from the novel’s main plots. The secondary characters also alert us to transitions between the novel’s different sections, for they often appear at critical moments when the emotional intensity of the main plot is at its height. Mr. Omer, for example, appears in order to inform David of his mother and sister’s death. Moreover, the Omers’ happy family life serves as a contrast to David’s sorrow at his mother’s death. In this way, secondary characters not only comment on the novel’s main characters but also provide transitions between the novel’s different phases. In his vanity, egotism, and pride, James Steerforth acts as a foil for David’s naive innocence and wide-eyed trustfulness. David worships Steerforth, but this adoration is undeserved. We see that Steerforth’s support of David originates not from kindness but rather from a desire to increase his own importance and control over the other boys. Steerforth’s willingness to manipulate David both contrasts with and highlights David’s willingness to trust Steerforth. The only clue we have that David might suspect that Steerforth is not what he seems is David’s occasional remark that Steerforth did not bother to save him from Mr. Creakle’s punishments. It is clear to us, however, that Steerforth is bigoted and self-centered, especially in his interactions with Mr. Mell. This disparity between David’s perception of his world and our perception of it provides dramatic irony that persists throughout much of the novel. Chapters XI–XIV Summary — Chapter XI. I begin Life on my own Account, and don’t like it I wonder what they thought of me! (See Important Quotations Explained) David’s companions at Mr. Murdstone’s business dismay David. They are coarse, uneducated boys whose fathers work in blue-collar professions. David meets Mr. Micawber, a poor but genteel man who speaks in tremendous phrases and makes a great show of nobility despite his shabby appearance. Through an agreement with Mr. Murdstone, David goes to live with Mr. Micawber, his wife, and four children. The Micawbers befriend David and openly tell him of their financial troubles, each time becoming overwhelmingly upset and then recovering fully over good food and wine. David gets very little pay at his factory job and lives primarily on bread. In retrospect, David wonders what the waiters and shopkeepers must have thought of him, so independent at so young an age. At the factory, David is known as â€Å"the little gent† and gets along fine because he never complains. Eventually, Mr. Micawber’s debts overwhelm him. He is thrown into debtors’ prison, where he becomes a political figure among the inmates, lobbying to eliminate that establishment. Summary — Chapter XII. Liking Life on my own Account no better, I form a great Resolution. Mr. Micawber is released from jail and his debts are resolved. The family decides to move to look for work. David decides he will not stay in London without the Micawbers and resolves to run away to his aunt Betsey. He borrows some money from Peggotty and hires a young man to help him move his box to the coach station. Along the way, the young man steals David’s money and possessions. Summary — Chapter XIII. The Sequel of my Resolution David sells some of the clothes he is wearing in order to buy food. The shopkeepers who buy the clothes take advantage of him, and travelers abuse him on the road. David arrives at the home of his aunt, Miss Betsey Trotwood, who initially tries to send him away. When he tells her that he is her nephew, she consults with Mr. Dick, the man who lives upstairs in her home. Mr. Dick suggests that before she do anything, she give David a bath. Miss Betsey repeatedly compares David to the sister he never had and concludes that his sister would not have done the stupid things David has done. Miss Betsey is a tough, sharp woman obsessed with keeping donkeys off the grass in front of her house. She bathes and feeds David and speaks to Mr. Dick at length about David’s mother, whom she pitied very much. David is nervous about whether his aunt will keep him or will send him away. Summary — Chapter XIV. My Aunt makes up her Mind about me The next morning, Miss Betsey reveals to David that she has written Mr. Murdstone to tell him where David is. She has invited Mr. Murdstone there to discuss David’s fate. Miss Betsey sends David up to check on Mr. Dick’s progress on his Memorial, an autobiography he is trying to write. But Mr. Dick continually starts his project over from scratch because, each time, he begins to muse in the text about King Charles I, whose demons he believes possess him. Mr. Dick has an enormous kite that he promises to fly with David someday. David returns to Miss Betsey and tells her that Mr. Dick sends his compliments to her. Miss Betsey reveals that she took in Mr. Dick when his brother tried to have him placed in an asylum. Mr. and Miss Murdstone arrive on donkeys, and Miss Betsey rushes out to chase the donkeys off her lawn. The Murdstones are rude to David during their visit, and Miss Betsey scolds them and forces them to leave. Mr. Murdstone warns her that if David does not come with him immediately, he will never be able to come back again. Miss Betsey asks David what he wants to do, and he says he wants to stay with her. It is resolved that he will do so, and Miss Betsey renames him Trotwood Copperfield. Analysis — Chapters XI–XIV Dickens uses the Micawbers, who turn up periodically throughout the novel, to comment on the debtors’ prisons common in England in the 1800 s. Debtors were placed in these prisons until they were able to resolve their financial difficulties, which often took years. In the meantime, families were torn apart and suffered hardships as the imprisoned heads of households were unable to earn money to support them. Dickens himself, as a member of a family with enormous financial problems, suffered as a direct result of debtors’ prisons during his youth. Much like Mr. Micawber, Dickens’s father, for all his financial woes, could not control his spending when it came to dining and drinking. The passages involving Mr. and Mrs. Micawber are based in large part on Dickens’s own experience, as are the descriptions of David’s job at the wine-bottling factory. David’s sympathetic portrayal of Mr. Micawber suggests Dickens’s concern for the underclass and his frustration at the harsh conditions of the debtors’ prisons. The episodic, plot-heavy nature of David Copperfield stems from the fact that it was originally published as a serial, in pieces over time. Dickens inserted several mini-climaxes and resolutions and deliberately built suspense toward the end of each section in order to compel his readers to buy and read the next installment. The unnatural segmentation of David’s life into separate parts and the heavy-handed foreshadowing add to the novel’s suspense. For example, Dickens’s description of David’s life with his mother and Mr. Murdstone constitutes one self-contained section, which comprised the entire first part of the novel as it was published in serial form. The change of scene that opens the second section mirrors an internal change in David as he grows older. Because David Copperfield was written as a serial novel, it focuses in large part on plot and rarely stops to describe characters or settings in detail. The characters develop chiefly through their actions, and it is only over time that we get to know them—Dickens never includes any kind of thorough character analysis or description when he introduces a character. The novel’s serial nature also partly explains why the characters’ physical attributes match their internal characteristics. This correlation made character identification easier for readers who may have waited weeks since reading the previous installment of the novel. Ultimately, although many critics claim that Dickens’s characters are too simple and flat, this simplicity is largely the practical result of Dickens’s desire to gain new readers and keep current readers interested. When David arrives at Miss Betsey’s, the tone of the novel changes to reflect David’s increased tolerance for the harshness of his world. We see that David’s voice has lost some of its naivete and that he seems more prepared to deal with tragedy than in previous chapters. Miss Betsey plays a significant part in bringing about this change in the novel’s tone, for she both provides David with physical comfort and is herself a quirky, humorous character, which contrasts the tragic drama of the first chapters. The fact that Miss Betsey turns out not to be the imposing character that she seems to be in the opening scenes of the novel brings some relief to the dark tone of the first part of the story. Miss Betsey’s obsession with keeping donkeys off her lawn, for example, is an amusing touch that lightens the mood of the novel. Her concern about her lawn is inconsequential relative to David’s troubles, yet she takes it as seriously as David takes his struggle to survive. Miss Betsey also introduces Mr. Dick, whose optimistic, simple faith in David and Miss Betsey contrasts with the Murdstones’ dark pessimism. Unlike most of the other men in David Copperfield to this point, Mr. Dick is kind, gentle, and generous toward David—a far cry from the unforgiving Mr. Murdstone and the brutal Mr. Creakle. As we see, then, not only Miss Betsey but also the characters related to her momentarily change the tone of the novel from tragedy to comedy. Chapters XV–XVIII Summary — Chapter XV. I make another Beginning Miss Betsey proposes that David, whom she has nicknamed â€Å"Trot,† be sent to school at Canterbury. They go to Canterbury and visit Mr. Wickfield, a lawyer and a friend of Miss Betsey’s. At Mr. Wickfield’s, they meet Uriah Heep, an unattractive young redhead dressed entirely in black and skeleton-like in appearance. Uriah takes them to Mr. Wickfield, who recommends a school for David but warns that the dorms are full and that David will have to stay elsewhere. The adults agree that David can go to the school and stay with Mr. Wickfield until they find a more suitable arrangement. David meets Agnes, Mr. Wickfield’s lovely and charming daughter, who dotes on her father and is his one joy since his wife died. The three dine and have tea together. David rises in the middle of the night and encounters Uriah Heep, whose sliminess so strikes David that he feels the need to rub off Uriah’s touch after shaking his hand. Summary — Chapter XVI. I am a New Boy in more senses than one At school the next day, David meets the headmaster, Doctor Strong, and his young wife, Annie. Mr. Wickfield and Doctor Strong discuss arrangements Mr. Wickfield is trying to make for Annie’s cousin, Jack Maldon. Mr. Wickfield wants to know whether there is any particular reason that Doctor Strong wants Jack Maldon’s new job to be one that sends him out of the country. Doctor Strong assures him there is not. David is behind in his studies but quickly catches up. He makes friends with the boys at the school. At home, David speaks with Agnes, whom he finds more and more charming in her devotion to her father. One evening, at dinner, Jack Maldon interrupts the family to say that he hopes he can go abroad as soon as possible. Mr. Wickfield treats him politely but distantly and assures him that there will be no delay in getting him sent abroad. After dinner, Mr. Wickfield drinks heavily, and Agnes and David chat with him and play dominos. Mr. Wickfield offers to let David stay permanently at the house, and David gladly accepts. On his way to bed, David runs into Uriah Heep. Uriah asks him whether he is impressed with Agnes. David notes that whenever he says something that pleases Uriah, Uriah writhes like a snake. David quickly rises to the top of his class and settles in happily. One evening, he, Mr. Wickfield, and Agnes visit Doctor Strong’s home for a farewell party for Jack Maldon. Annie’s mother is there, and she encourages Doctor Strong to continue to bestow favors on her family members, who are poor and lower-class. Doctor Strong acquiesces to all her demands. When Jack Maldon leaves to depart for India, Annie becomes very emotional. As the coach pulls away, David sees one of her ribbons in Jack Maldon’s hand. Summary — Chapter XVII. Somebody turns up Peggotty writes to David and tells him that the furniture at his old house has been sold, the Murdstones have moved, and the house is for sale. David tells Miss Betsey of all the news in Peggotty’s letters when she visits him at school, as she does frequently. Mr. Dick visits even more frequently and becomes a favorite of Doctor Strong and the other school boys. Mr. Dick tells David that Miss Betsey recently had a strange nighttime encounter with a man who frightened her so badly that she fainted. Neither Mr. Dick nor David understands the encounter. Mr. Dick reports that the man appeared again the previous night, and that Miss Betsey gave him money. David goes to tea at Uriah Heep’s house, where Uriah and his mother intimidate David into telling them secrets about Agnes, especially about her father’s health and financial situation. David is very uncomfortable with the Heeps and feels that they are manipulating him. Uriah and his mother both frequently repeat that they are so humble as to be grateful for any attention from David. In the middle of tea, Mr. Micawber walks by the door. On seeing David, he enters. The two of them leave together and visit Mrs. Micawber, who is very glad to see David. The Micawbers are in terrible financial straits again, but they are quite merry over dinner nonetheless. Summary — Chapter XVIII. A Retrospect In retrospect, the adult David recounts several years in Doctor Strong’s school and his two love interests during his time there—a young girl named Miss Shepherd and an older woman named Miss Larkins. David also recalls a fistfight he had with a young arrogant butcher. Eventually, to his surprise, David rose to be the top boy at the school. When he was seventeen, he graduated. Analysis — Chapters XV–XVIII The retrospective Chapter XVIII marks the end of David’s boyhood and his entrance into the world as a man. Throughout his childhood, David’s character traits remain fairly constant. Although his life changes radically and frequently, often in cruel ways, David remains for the most part the naive, hopeful boy he is in the first chapters of the novel, when his mother is alive. As David later observes when speaking of Uriah Heep, a miserable childhood can easily turn a boy into a monster. David’s resilience, in contrast, is striking. Nonetheless, for all his pride in his growth, David remains gullible. This innocence lends a freshness to the narrative’s perspective—a freshness that has prompted many critics to label David Copperfield the finest portrayal of childhood ever written. As David grows older, he does remain somewhat simple-hearted and maintains a startling faith in humanity, but his narrative perspective does mature alongside him. David gradually leaves his childhood romanticism behind and looks at the world in more realistic terms, and the novel’s narrative tone reflects this change. Mr. Dick, who is both a man and a boy, contrasts with the other adult male characters in the novel, who tend to be harsh and gruff. In a story focused on the process of maturation, Mr. Dick is a model of a mature adult who is not jaded by the cruelties of the world. Like Miss Mowcher, who appears later in the novel, Mr. Dick might be described as a young mind in an adult body. Like a boy, he is unable to control his impulses or order his thoughts. Furthermore, as an innocent character, Mr. Dick demonstrates the power of love over cruelty within the moral framework of the novel. Mr. Dick’s love for David and Miss Betsey gives his character moral credibility throughout the novel. In the closing chapters of David Copperfield, Mr. Dick becomes heroic in his own right, demonstrating the supremacy of simplicity and gentleness over cunning and violence. In this way, he shows that craftiness does not signify maturity or adulthood—an important lesson for David as he becomes a man. At one point or another, each of the admirable adult characters in the story becomes slightly crazy, allowing Dickens to explore the relationship between intelligence and insanity. Miss Betsey’s obsession with donkeys makes her eccentric to the point of madness. Most of the characters consider Doctor Strong’s faith in Annie to be lunatic. Later, Mr. Peggotty’s faith in Little Em’ly leads some to consider him a raving madman travelling the countryside in search of his niece. Although the outside world would dismiss many of Dickens’s characters as insane, within David Copperfield, characters who are crazy are often of high moral quality. This contrast emphasizes Dickens’s rejection of the logic of the external world, which he sees as flawed. In the same way that Dickens rejects class as a marker of a good heart, he likewise rejects sanity as a marker of maturity. Instead, he focuses on the purity of his characters’ intentions and their willingness to follow their convictions. Chapters XIX–XXII Summary — Chapter XIX. I look about me, and make a Discovery David sets off on a monthlong journey to Yarmouth, to the home of Peggotty and her family, to decide what profession to pursue. He takes his leave of Agnes and Mr. Wickfield, and Doctor Strong throws a going-away party in David’s honor. At the party, Annie’s mother reveals that Jack Maldon has sent Doctor Strong a letter in which he claims that he is ill and likely to return soon on sick leave. But Annie has received another letter from Jack Maldon indicating that he wants to return because he misses her. The next morning, David leaves on the London coach and tries to appear as manly as possible. Nonetheless, the coachman asks him to resign his seat of honor to an older man. David spends the evening at an inn, where the waiter pokes fun at his youthfulness and the chambermaid gives him a pitiful room. David attends a play, returns to the inn, and discovers Steerforth in a sitting room. Steerforth is now attending Oxford but is bored by his studies and is on his way home to see his mother. David and Steerforth are happily reunited, and the inn staff immediately treat David with respect. Summary — Chapter XX. Steerforth’s Home. Steerforth persuades David to stay a few days with him at his mother’s house before going to Yarmouth. Steerforth nicknames David â€Å"Daisy,† and the two of them spend the day sightseeing before going to Steerforth’s home. There, David meets Mrs. Steerforth, Steerforth’s widowed mother, and Rosa Dartle, Steerforth’s orphaned distant cousin whom Mrs. Steerforth took in when Miss Dartle’s mother died. Mrs. Steerforth is an imposing, older, more feminine version of Steerforth, and she dotes on her son ceaselessly. Miss Dartle has a scar above her lip from a time when Steerforth, as a child, threw a hammer at her in anger. Miss Dartle views Steerforth’s and David’s words and actions with sarcasm, but both young men are drawn to her. Summary — Chapter XXI. Little Em’ly. If anyone had told me, then, that all this was a brilliant game, played for the excitement of the moment . . . in the thoughtless love of superiority . . . I wonder in what manner of receiving it my indignation would have found a vent! (See Important Quotations Explained) At Steerforth’s, David meets Littimer, Steerforth’s servant, who frightens David because he is so haughty and respectable. David persuades Steerforth to accompany him to Yarmouth to see Ham and Mr. Peggotty again and to meet Peggotty and Little Em’ly. On his way to Peggotty’s, David stops at Mr. Omer’s shop and sees Mr. Omer and his daughter, who is now married to her sweetheart. Mr. Omer tells David that Little Em’ly now works in his shop. She is a good and diligent worker, but some of the girls in town say she has earned a reputation for putting on airs and wanting to be a lady. David decides not to see Little Em’ly until later, so he continues on to Barkis’s house to find Peggotty. Peggotty does not recognize David at first, but when she does, she sobs over him for a long time. Mr. Barkis, ill but glad to see David, opens his cherished money box and gives Peggotty some money to prepare dinner for David. Steerforth arrives and entertains Peggotty and David. In retrospect, the adult David muses that if anyone had told him that night that Steerforth’s joviality and manners were all part of a game to him, born from his sense of superiority, David would have dismissed such an idea as a lie. When Steerforth and David arrive at Mr. Peggotty’s house, they find everyone, including Mrs. Gummidge, in a state of high excitement because Little Em’ly has just announced that she intends to marry Ham. After they leave, David delights in the good news, but Steerforth becomes momentarily and inexplicably sullen. Summary — Chapter XXII. Some old Scenes, and Some new People While in Yarmouth, David visits his old home and feels both pleasure and sorrow at seeing the old places. When he returns late from one such visit, he finds Steerforth alone and in a bad mood, angry that he has not had a father all these years and that he is unable to guide himself better. Steerforth tells David that he would rather even be the wretched Ham than be himself, richer and wiser. After they leave, Steerforth reveals to David that he has bought a boat to be manned by Mr. Peggotty in his absence, and he has named it â€Å"The Little Em’ly. At the inn, David and Steerforth meet Miss Mowcher, a loud and brash dwarf who cuts Steerforth’s hair as they gossip and talk of Mr. Peggotty, Ham, and Little Em’ly. When David arrives at Peggotty’s, where he is to stay for the night, he discovers Little Em’ly and Ham with Martha, a woman who used to work at Mr. Omer’s with Littl e Em’ly but fell into disgrace and came back to beg help from Little Em’ly. After Martha leaves, Little Em’ly becomes very upset and cries that she is not nearly as good a girl as she ought to be. Analysis — Chapters XIX–XXII The simple life at Yarmouth contrasts starkly with the sophisticated life at Steerforth’s home. At Steerforth’s, characters use their words and actions strategically to produce a desired effect. Littimer, for example, speaks in such a convoluted manner as to be completely opaque, while every one of Mrs. Steerforth’s actions is motivated by her sense of propriety and self-possession. At Yarmouth, on the other hand, characters say exactly what they mean and act out of a desire for harmony with each other. The contrast highlights the class distinction between the two families. The description of the families contributes to Dickens’s overall message that wealth and power do not correlate with good character, and that poverty does not necessarily indicate bad character. At home, Steerforth reveals that, at heart, he is slick, egotistical, and vain, even though David still continues to deny these tendencies in him. Mrs. Steerforth’s constant doting on her son reinforces these tendencies in Steerforth and make his self-centered nature understandable, if not justified. Though David is unaware of Steerforth’s snobbery, Steerforth belittles David from the moment they meet. Steerforth further demeans David by giving him the nickname â€Å"Daisy,† but David still is too caught up in his worship of Steerforth to see anything but his good qualities. Although Steerforth does demonstrate some thoughtfulness at Yarmouth, as when he tells David that he wishes he could be more focused, his self-reflective mood passes as quickly as it appears. David ignores Steerforth’s insults, as well as the fact that Mrs. Steerforth likes David only because he adores her son. Even when Steerforth begins to confide in David about his own insecurities, David views him as a superior being in whom all faults are positive attributes. David’s idolization of Steerforth makes him incapable of seeing the true nature of his false friend, even when Steerforth’s bad side is most exposed. David attains greater consciousness of romantic love as his character develops. At this stage, David’s feelings of love are still impetuous and adolescent. His frivolous infatuations mirror many of the romantic relationships he sees in his life around him, like that between Annie Strong and Jack Maldon. Although David’s experience of love is not yet as deep as it is later in the novel, he is increasingly aware of others’ romantic relationships. He observes the affair between Jack Maldon and Annie Strong, as well as the unfolding of the love affair between Mr. Orem’s daughter and her sweetheart. As David awakens to romantic love, his narrative focuses more and more on the emotional relationships between characters. Chapters XXIII–XXVI Summary — Chapter XXIII. I corroborate Mr. Dick, and choose a Profession David determines not to tell Steerforth about Little Em’ly’s outburst the night before because he loves Little Em’ly and believes that she did not mean to reveal to him so much about herself. David also tells Steerforth, as they are on their way home by coach, about a letter he has received from Miss Betsey suggesting that he become a proctor (a kind of attorney). Steerforth thinks that the profession of proctor would suit David well, and David agrees. When David arrives in London, he meets up with Miss Betsey, who has traveled to London to see him. She is very concerned that Mr. Dick, whom she has left behind at home, will not be able to keep the donkeys off her yard. Miss Betsey and David eventually resolve that David will become a proctor, despite his protestations that it is expensive to do so. On their way to establish David at the Doctors’ Commons (the place where the proctors hold court and offices), a man who looks like a beggar approaches them, and Miss Betsey jumps into a cab with him. When she returns, David notices that she has given the man most of her money. David is very disturbed, but Miss Betsey makes him swear never to mention the event again. They go to the offices of Spenlow and Jorkins, where Mr. Spenlow agrees to engage David as a clerk. Afterward, they find lodgings for David with Mrs. Crupp, an old landlady who promises to take care of David as though he were her own son. Summary — Chapter XXIV. My first Dissipation Although David is thrilled with his new accommodations, he gets lonely at night, and Steerforth is away at Oxford with his friends. David goes to Steerforth’s home and visits Mrs. Steerforth and Miss Dartle, who talk glowingly about Steerforth all day. Finally, Steerforth returns. He and David plan to have a dinner party in David’s rooms with two of Steerforth’s friends. David goes overboard in preparing for the party and then drinks himself into illness. While very drunk, he goes with Steerforth and company to the theater, where he runs into Agnes, who makes him go home. The next day he is hungover and humiliated. Summary — Chapter XXV. Good and bad Angels Agnes sends for David, and he goes to visit her where she is staying in London. She warns him that Steerforth is his â€Å"bad Angel,† that he should avoid Steerforth and be cautious of Steerforth’s influence. David disagrees, but the idea rankles him and disturbs his image of Steerforth. Agnes also delivers the bad news that Uriah Heep has insinuated himself into a partnership with her father, Mr. Wickfield. Both she and David are very distressed over this occurrence. At a dinner party at the home where Agnes is staying, David runs into Tommy Traddles, his friend from Salem House, and Uriah Heep. Uriah attaches himself to David and accompanies him home. In an unpleasant conversation, Uriah reveals to David his intention to marry Agnes. Uriah insists on sleeping the night on the floor in front of David’s fire. David gets no sleep with Uriah’s evil presence in his apartment. Summary — Chapter XXVI. I fall into Captivity Mr. Spenlow, David’s supervisor at the Doctors’ Commons, invites David to his home for the weekend. There, David meets Dora, Mr. Spenlow’s daughter, and falls in love with her. David also runs into Miss Murdstone, whom Mr. Spenlow has retained as a companion for his daughter ever since her mother died. Miss Murdstone pulls David aside and suggests they forget their difficult past relationship with each other. David agrees. One morning, he meets Dora out in the garden, where she is walking with her little dog. They have a conversation that cements David’s romantic obsession with her. When David returns home, Mrs. Crupp immediately suspects that he has fallen in love. She tells him to cheer up and go out and think of other things. Analysis — Chapters XXIII–XXVI Of all the characters in the novel, Agnes and Steerforth have the greatest influence over David, but their influences pull in opposite directions. While Agnes represents David’s â€Å"good Angel,† his conscience and his dependability, Steerforth urges David to take risks, drink too much, and be critical of the people around him. Agnes represents calm, considered reflection. Her energy is always directed, peaceful, and quiet. Steerforth, by contrast, is noisy, brash, and idle. While Agnes stays at home because her father needs her assistance, Steerforth gallivants all over the countryside pleasing himself. Whereas Agnes encourages David to take the correct path for the sake of morality, Steerforth insists on spending money and commanding servants around at his will. In this manner, Agnes and Steerforth pull David in different directions throughout the novel, forcing him to choose between good and bad. David experiences his first moral dilemma when Agnes’s influence comes into direct conflict with Steerforth’s. After seeing David drunk at the theater, Agnes suggests that he should shun Steerforth’s company because it makes him do foolish things. This suggestion throws David into a conundrum about which person he should trust. He is not yet mature enough to reject Steerforth’s seductive charisma in favor of Agnes’s quiet, contemplative love. Although Agnes wins his heart in the end, it takes her a long time, and it is difficult for David to free himself from Steerforth’s hold. Only when David gains control of his own emotions does he fully appreciate Agnes and choose her over Steerforth. As we see, Agnes and Steerforth not only exert opposite effects on David but also require him to assert his identity by choosing between them. Although David has grown since the start of the novel, he continues to be immature, naive, and unable to control his emotions as he takes his first steps into the adult world. David’s tendency to become obsessed with young women, along with his drunkenness at Steerforth’s dinner party, demonstrate that he does not yet have power over his emotional side. Perhaps the most telling mark of David’s fickle nature is his love affair with Dora, which starts the moment he sees her, quickly develops into an obsession, and remains with him, even though he knows that she is too foolish and frivolous ever to make an appropriate wife. The love affair has many moments of tension, for every time David tries to persuade Dora to be reasonable, she accuses him of being cruel or naughty and makes him leave her alone. Despite these barriers and warning signs, David loves Dora desperately. His willingness to throw himself into such an unrealistic love affair reveals that his emotions are still naive. Chapters XXVII–XXX Summary — Chapter XXVII. Tommy Traddles David decides to visit Tommy Traddles, who, he discovers when he arrives, lives in the same building as the Micawbers. Traddles is studying for the bar. His apartment and furniture are extremely shabby, and he is struggling to earn enough money to marry his true love, who has sworn to wait for him to save the money. In the meantime, Traddles has collected two pieces of furniture, a flowerpot, and a small table. Mr. Micawber, meanwhile, is in dire financial trouble again, although he still hopes to find work soon. Mrs. Micawber is pregnant again. Summary — Chapter XXVIII. Mr. Micawber’s Gauntlet â€Å"Ride over all obstacles, and win the race! † (See Important Quotations Explained) Mr. and Mrs. Micawber and Traddles come to dinner at David’s apartment. Mrs. Crupp agrees, after a good deal of argument, to cook dinner for them. The dinner is terribly undercooked, but Mrs. Micawber directs them all in re-cooking the meat. They enjoy themselves as they cook and eat. Steerforth’s servant, Littimer, arrives and asks David whether he has seen Steerforth. David replies that he has not. Littimer will not tell David why he thought Steerforth might be at his house, nor will he tell him where Steerforth has been. However, Littimer insists on serving the remainder of the meal, which makes everyone uncomfortable. After Littimer leaves, the guests continue to have a merry time. They discuss Mr. Micawber’s prospects in the brewing business and conclude that they are very good. As his friends leave, David suggests to Traddles that he neither lend anything to Mr. Micawber nor allow Micawber to use Traddles’s name to take out more credit. Traddles says he has already lent Mr. Micawber his name and adds that Mr. Micawber says that the bill is taken care of. Skeptical, David reflects that he is very glad Mr. Micawber never asked him for any money. Steerforth appears in David’s apartment immediately after the others leave, and David tells him Traddles has just left. Steerforth does not speak highly of Traddles, and David is slightly offended. Steerforth reveals that he has been seafaring at Yarmouth. David tells him that Littimer has just been at the apartment looking for him. Steerforth says that Mr. Barkis is quite ill and delivers a letter from Peggotty to David. Steerforth remarks that it is too bad that Mr. Barkis is dying, but says that above all, a man must â€Å"[r]ide over all obstacles, and win the race! † avid resolves to go visit Peggotty, but Steerforth persuades David to accompany him to his mother’s house before going to Yarmouth. As David undresses, he discovers a letter Mr. Micawber gave him as he left. It says that Mr. Micawber has not taken care of the debt he secured in Traddles’s name. Summary — Chapter XXIX. I visit Steerforth at his Home, again At Steerforth’s home, David spends the day with Miss Dartle and Mrs. Steerforth. Miss Dartle asks David why he has been keeping Steerforth away from his mother. David assures her that he has not been with Steerforth in the past several weeks. Miss Dartle seems very disturbed at this news. At dinner, Miss Dartle says that if Steerforth and his mother were ever to quarrel, their fight would be especially bitter because neither of them would want to give in to the other. However, Mrs. Steerforth assures Miss Dartle that she and her son are too conscious of their duty to each other ever to quarrel. At the end of the day, Steerforth begs David to promise that if anything ever separates them, David will remember him at his best. David promises. As he leaves, he looks in on the sleeping Steerforth. In retrospect, the adult David muses that he wishes he could have kept Steerforth just as he was at that moment, so that none of what was to come ever would have happened. Summary — Chapter XXX. A Loss When David arrives at Yarmouth, he visits Mr. Omer, who tells him that Little Em’ly has not seemed herself recently. Mr. Omer also says that Martha, a friend of Little Em’ly’s, has been missing since David was last in Yarmouth. David goes to Peggotty’s house, where Mr. Peggotty and Little Em’ly are sitting in the kitchen, helping Peggotty. David learns that Mr. Barkis is unconscious and expected to die very soon. Mr. Peggotty says that Mr. Barkis will die with the receding tide. Little Em’ly seems unusually upset and hardly raises her eyes to say hello to David. Mr. Barkis dies as the tide recedes. Analysis — Chapters XXVII–XXX In this section, Dickens builds suspense about Steerforth’s future by conveying secondary characters’ speculations about Steerforth’s mysterious absence and by using David’s narrative voice to imply that their friendship will soon reach a crucial point. The suspense is heightened by the fact that we take note of Steerforth’s conspicuous absence far more than David, who is too busy with his new life in London and his love for Dora to notice that Steerforth has been gone. Littimer’s appearance at the dinner party highlights Steerforth’s absence and raises questions about him. Moreover, Steerforth himself behaves secretively and does not indicate why he is agitated. Finally, the adult David’s reflection on his last moments with Steerforth is particularly effective in creating suspense because the adult David has full knowledge of what has happened between himself and Steerforth but deliberately chooses not to reveal this information to us. The suspenseful mood of these chapters contrasts with the young David’s ignorance of coming events and with his jovial comportment with his friends. Dickens uses sea imagery in connection with Mr. Peggotty to imply that Mr. Peggotty has mystical, unknown powers. In addition to spending much of his time fishing at sea, Mr. Peggotty lives in a boat near the water with Little Em’ly and Ham, two children whose parents lost their lives to the sea. For Mr. Peggotty, the sea both provides sustenance for life and represents a force that can take life away. His correct prediction that Mr. Barkis will die with the outgoing tide suggests that Mr. Peggotty gleans information from the sea that other characters cannot access. In this section of the novel, it seems that the sea allows Mr. Peggotty to understand and deal with death, unlike less mystical characters such as David, who feel confused and upset upon the death of Mr. Barkis. The contrast between Traddles and Steerforth in this section underscores Steerforth’s fickle nature. The two young men are physical and emotional opposites: Traddles is the fat and wimpy boy at school while Steerforth is beautiful and heroic. Yet the true nature of these characters lies beneath the contrasting exteriors. Traddles, despite his shabby appearance, is generous and loyal, both at Salem House and here, when he encounters David in London. In contrast, Steerforth, though handsome, is self-centered and disloyal. Although earlier Steerforth supports Traddles and David equally at Salem House, his derision of Traddles now raises questions about the sincerity of his friendship with David. Dickens draws out the contrast between Traddles and Steerforth in subsequent chapters, always to Traddles’s advantage. By doing so, he forces us to question Steerforth’s character and David’s relationship with him. David’s defense of Traddles in the face of Steerforth’s insults represents a major step in David’s coming of age. David has long seen Steerforth as a hero and has esteemed Steerforth’s every word and action while blinding himself to Steerforth’s faults. Now, however, David’s willingness to defend Traddles against Steerforth indicates that he is beginning to form opinions independently of Steerforth. David has also begun to see the good in the poverty-stricken and somewhat ridiculous Traddles. This new independence of thought and this ability to see beyond class and convention to the real good in people are crucial elements of David’s maturation. Though it eventually takes a traumatic event to make David see the bad in Steerforth, his ability to see the good in Traddles is an important first step. Chapters XXXI–XXXIV Summary — Chapter XXXI. A greater Loss After Mr. Barkis’s death, David stays in Yarmouth to help Peggotty arrange her affairs. He discovers that Mr. Barkis has left Peggotty a sizable inheritance and has also left money for Mr. Peg