Tartuffe Society Moliere

Tartuffe Society Moliere The Role of Reason in Tartuffe Molià ©res Tartuffe speaks volumes about reason by highlighting it in some of the main characters, while at the same time exaggerating the lack of it in others. The period known as the Enlightenment overemphasized the importance of the ability to reason, often leaving man feeling that he alone was in control of his destiny. The play is a clever satire, which attacks religious hypocrisy, gullibility, foolishness and social problems that were all present in society during the time period in which it was written. Molià ©re uses his pen as a teaching tool to point out the folly of relying only on one path to obtain knowledge, whether that path is religion, reason, or experience, and subsequently losing sight of the truth. The play begins with Madam Pernelle cutting everyone off mid-sentence and refusing to listen to anyone, while at the same time declaring that no one in the house will pay attention for a single minute. This scene sets the tone for the foolish premise of only trusting ones own ideas and perceptions. This closed mindset prevails throughout the play. The work presents the voice of reason in the lowly maid, Dorine, the less powerful brother-in-law, Clà ©ante, and the son, Damis. These three see Tartuffe for the hypocrite that he is and try in vain to convince the others of the mans clever deceptions. Dorine openly labels Tartuffe as a fraud and a bigot. She humorously describes the pious imposter as a â€Å"man of destiny† and then adds, â€Å"Hes made for horns.† This is amusing because it insinuates that he is the Devil and not a man of God. These are bold statements for a member of her class. She is much more insightful than most of the characters, but she is repeatedly told to be quiet and is referred to by Orgon as a dunce or a dunderhead. Unfortunately, the words of reason from Dorine, Clà ©ante, and Damis have no effect on Orgons or Madame Pernelles favorable impression of Tartuffe. However, these reasonable characters provide an interesting balance between themselves and the foolishness of the other charact ers. The readers introduction to the master of the household, Orgon, begins with a ridiculous conversation where Dorine reports that Elmire has been ill during his absence. Speaking almost as if he is deeply in love, Orgon is unable to even entertain thoughts of concern for anyone except Tartuffe. Orgon and Madame Pernelle are so convinced that they are endowed with the absolute truth that they are unwilling or unable to even consider the real truth. Their eyes are blind and their ears are deaf to anything that is in direct conflict with their preconceived ideas or beliefs concerning Tartuffe. Madam Pernelles obtuseness concerning Tartuffe is dwarfed by her sons complete and total devotion to the con man. They are both easily duped and vehemently refuse to allow their minds to be changed by others, which could possibility indicate an inherited naivety and hardheadedness. Mariane is more of a neutral character. She is not without the ability to reason, but feels powerless to go against her fathers wishes. In one of the early scenes, she tells her father that she will say whatever he tells her to say. This statement demonstrates the power of her fathers control. Mariane and Valà ©re both seem rather foolish when they are first discussing the possibility of her marriage to Tartuffe. Neither is voicing what they truly feel about the situation. Molià ©re uses Marianes character to point out conflicts between the parent and the child, one struggling to gain some small amount of control and the other struggling to maintain complete control of his family. The reader is made aware of other familial control issues between the in-laws, the husband and the wife, and the father and the son. For this reason, it is even more interesting that Orgon willingly turns almost all control of everything in his life over to Tartuffe. The relationship of the characters in the play mirrors some of the control struggles and problems in society at that time, only on a smaller scale. Many of these same struggles and problems still exist today in families and society. Tartuffe had been thoroughly discussed by the other characters long before he actually made his entrance. His words and actions immediately uphold the impression previously given by those who see him for what he is. As he tries to seduce Elmire, he speaks of religious matters and the secrets of science. He blatantly states that â€Å"Heaven is not averse to compromise.† When Damis tells his father of Tartuffes betrayal, oddly enough, Tartuffe does not deny it. He actually says that he is wicked and tells Orgon to charge him with any deed and adds that he will not defend himself. Orgons irrational response is to accuse Damis of being deceitful. This scene provides proof that Orgon is totally under Tartuffes spell. He refuses to believe the awful truth about Tartuffe even when it comes directly from the mans own lips. Even after Orgon is forced to see Tartuffes true character, he is unable to convince Madame Pernelle of the evil mans deceitfulness until she sees proof of his dec eption in the form of an eviction order. It is at this point that they are both chided for their stupidity by Dorine when she appears to defend Tartuffes benevolent act of liberating them from material things that might have endangered their salvation. Metaphors, allusion, and comic devices are all powerful tools used in Tartuffe to make a statement about the existence of hypocrisy and other social ills in society at that time. The play serves as a warning against the dangers of blindly accepting anything at face value. It was not meant as an insult to the religious community. This is evidenced by the fact that in the end Tartuffe is exposed as an imposter. Common sense and a willingness to consider the perceptions of others seem to be the missing components for those characters so completely duped by Tartuffe. It is important to note that social status does not dictate reason and in this play Molià ©re gives the voice of reason to the less important characters. Many people are capable of reasoning, but not all are capable of coming to the correct conclusion. The reasoning ability of the human mind is great, but reason alone is not enough to ascertain the truth in every situation.

Analyzing Dickinson’s Poetry Essay

To analyze Dickinson’s poetry, this paper will involve the analysis of three of her works, `Safe in their Alabaster Chambers†, â€Å"I Heard a Fly Buzz-when I died†, and â€Å"The Brain-is wider than the Sky†. 1. The poems were written in the first person. Since most of her poems tackled the depressing situation of death, the speaker of the poem can in fact be a dead person. However, it seemed that ED may also be assuming an all-observing, all-seeing speaker like God. In the Brain-is wider than the sky, it even seemed that God was in fact the speaker since â€Å"the weight of God† was compared to the â€Å"brain†.   As for the poem’s audiences, it may be that the literary works were directed towards the ‘living’ – people who are not safe within alabaster chambers and who have not heard the buzzing fly as they lay on their deathbeds. 2. In the â€Å"The Brain – is wider than the sky†, there is really no definite setting, it can be likened to any moment of rationalization. In â€Å"I heard a fly buzz when I died†, the setting was in a deathbed while it was perhaps in the cemetery for the poem â€Å"Safe in the alabaster chambers†. The situation was related to dying. It may be that the speaker is already dead, or nearing his death. Nonetheless, the action in the poems remains the same – surrendering to the abyss. 3. Most of the poems had their verbs in the present tense, and in the indicative mood. The style may be to emphasize that the speaker is actually experiencing whatever situation is being imparted in the poems. Such style makes the poems more contemporary and typical, and thus engaging to read and easier to relate to despite the fact that they were written centuries ago. The syntax may also indicate that the poems will be eternal since the action involved is always presented as a current situation. 4. In her poems, Dickinson uses two formal patterns alternatively- tetrameter and trimeter. In every stanza, the first and third lines always have four stresses while there are only three stresses in the second and fourth lines. The rhyme schemes come in the ABCB form. 5. Dickinson uses the slant rhyme in the second and fourth lines of the first two or three stanzas to provide a sense of association and form. In the last stanza however, she then uses a true rhyme also in the last words of the second and fourth stanzas to emphasize conclusions to the proposed action. 6. In â€Å"The Brain is deeper than the sky†, the phrases â€Å"The brain is† and â€Å"The one the other will† were repeated thrice and twice, respectively, to give both indicative and comparative effects. The repetition emphasizes the subject of the poem – â€Å"the brain† – and stresses its association with other elements – the sea, the sky, and the weight of God. 7. To extensively describe the subjects of her poems, Dickinson The poem contained metaphors and personifications to describe her chosen subjects. In one poem, she likened a fly to death perhaps to stress out the repugnance of not being able to experience the simple joys of living. It is also important to note that she always compared the poem’s settings to universally recognizable elements of nature. For example, she likened the stillness of being dead to â€Å"heaves of storm†. 8. The effectiveness of Dickinson’s poems in relaying thematic obsessions may rely on the fact that she uses a mixture of images to convey the setting of her works. In `Safe in their Alabaster Chambers†, Dickinson describes the situation of the dead through their inability to be â€Å"touched by morning†, feel the sunshine, and hear the birds and the bees. She also totally equates death to â€Å"soundlessness†, darkness, and numbness. The same image associations can also be observed in â€Å"I Heard a Fly Buzz-when I died†. However, in contrast to the first poem, the latter’s scenario of soundlessness exempted the buzzing of the fly.   In â€Å"The Brain-is wider than the Sky†, visual comparisons were made with the brain and major elements of nature. 9. In most of the poems, the speaker just describes poem subjects in relation to what she sees, feels, or hears. In the process, she narrates her observations and seemingly creates an underlying story for her works. In these stories, the climactic moment is death and the resolution is one’s total submission to the darkness and numbness of losing her life. 10. Dickinson’s poems are mostly playfully dreadful as they deal with death in relation to bees, sunshine, and castles. Death was portrayed as a very awful situation of being deprived of the small things which make living simply a pleasant experience. Although not portrayed as something gruesome, the description of a death as a natural and inevitable experience adds dread to poem’s tone.

Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Essay

Mercy is compassionate treatment, while justice is the administration of law. Justice may not necessary include mercy. Mercy is natural. Portia says that the â€Å"quality of mercy is not strained†, it is not a forced effort but something that one already possesses. Mercy cannot be forced by anyone; it is something that one must come up within himself. Like how â€Å"gentle rain† cannot be created artificially, it is sincere. Mercy also benefits the merciful. Portia says that â€Å"earth power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice†, implying that man can only become like God when he is merciful. Mercy is something that is powerful. Portia says, â€Å"scepter[s] shows the force of temporal power†¦but mercy is above this sceptered sway†, symbolizing that mercy is more powerful than mere symbols of earthly power, i.e. the crown and the scepter. Mercy is forgiving. Portia points out that God is merciful, and forgives us for our sins, and â€Å"in the course of justice none of us should see salvation†. Only with the mercy of God would they be delivered. Mercy is reciprocal, and â€Å"twice blest†, bringing good tidings to both â€Å"him that gives and him that takes†. Portia says that mercy is divine, as it â€Å"droppeth†¦from heaven† and â€Å"an attribute to God himself†. Mercy is a heavenly quality, a sacred virtue and he who has this characteristic becomes â€Å"likest God†. It is like â€Å"gentle rain from heaven†. Mercy is fair treatment to others. For example, the Duke asks Shylock to â€Å"forgive a moiety of the principal†, sympathising with Antonio as he has lost money in his wrecked investments. Justice is strict and condemning, as the place where justice is practised is  described as the â€Å"strict court of Venice†. Portia asks Shylock to â€Å"mitigate†¦thy plea†, exemplifying how justice is indeed harsh. Justice is earth-bound, dispensed and followed by Man. â€Å"No power in Venice† can alter justice, meaning that justice can be changed by heaven’s mercy. Justice is something that follows laws strictly, and is blind. Even as Shylock says, â€Å"What judgment shall I fear, doing no wrong,† he emphasizes how justice is strictly based on laws, as he has nothing to fear despite plotting against Antonio’s life as the law says he is entitled to. Justice is one-sided, and that it clearly defines a loser and winner. Shylock, who thinks that justice and mercy cannot be reconciled, decides the fate of Antonio, saying, â€Å"it is his humour†, as he has lost three thousand ducats in the deal. Justice is inflexible. As Portia states, â€Å"there is no power in Venice that can alter a decree established†, she is also hinting to Shylock that heavenly mercy is the only thing that can change justice, and it is unchangeable otherwise. Mercy is something that enhances justice, and â€Å"mercy seasons justice†. Too much mercy spoils justice, as it will thus become too lenient, but without mercy, justice is bland.

Culture Shock - 1485 Words

Daniel Dhanaraj Descriptive Essay Culture Shock: An Integration in a New Country LIBS - 7001 February 21, 2011 The word ‘CULTURE’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘CULTURA’ which means to cultivate, to grow (Harper 2010). Anthropologist Edward B. Taylor, defines culture as â€Å"That complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits.† (O’Neil 2006). This is the basic premise that beliefs, morals, and customs are all based on one’s culture. In the essay, â€Å"No Place Like Home† by Neil Bissoondath, the author describes how multiculturalism creates uneasiness on different levels to immigrants in Canada. The author points that Canada’s Multicultural Act, focuses on cultural†¦show more content†¦Living in Bangalore, the food culture that I was exposed too was something I had never quite experienced before. The combinations of highly aromatic seasonings and flavours along with a mixture of hot, sour, sweet and salty dishes from different parts of India, we re all available within walking distance from my house. Every alternative day, I would have either breakfast, lunch, or dinner from the nearly dozen restaurants, cafes, and food stalls that had opened for business within three months since I arrived. This became sort of a hobby, sampling the variety of dishes available, one that I cherished the most. The booming economy and burgeoning development has made India more accessible to the world in-terms of tourism, business growth and quality of life for its citizens. Influences from North America and Europe and funding by the government has provided cities and towns all over the country with supermarkets, Walmart, that contain products from all over the world, mega shopping malls with the latest designer clothing such as Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Vuitton and many others, modern restaurants, bars, and clubs such as KFC, Subway, McDonald’s etc... In addition, people have more money to spend, especially the growing middle class as t he economy has grow rapidly since the late 90’s. I was surprised to witness, people of every ethnicity purchasing automobiles, high endShow MoreRelatedEssay on Culture Shock1163 Words   |  5 Pagesanswered with a smile â€Å"the heat is running aunty† whatever she meant I did not understand, although she spoke in English she had an American accent which took me long to adapt and decipher. My brother knowing that I will definitely experience culture shock, started giving me tidbits of what I would expect. I remember him saying â€Å"This is America my sister, they speak different here, many things have different names from home†. He then told me â€Å"open the trunk and offload your luggage â€Å"I responded â€Å"whereRead MoreThe Unknown : Culture Shock2100 Words   |  9 PagesThe Unknown†¦. Culture Shock Moving from a place that we are so familiar with into the unknown is a terrifying feeling we could experience. It is a terrifying feeling because we get attached to the place that we come to know and love. We are familiar with the streets that we drive on, and the houses around the neighborhood. We are familiar with the people around our surroundings. We know how to get from one place to another. It is a daily routine that we come are comfortable with however, we shouldRead MoreShock Culture Shock Essay5954 Words   |  24 PagesComparison of Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock Name: Cai Miaosen Instructor: Li Binbin 1. Introduction In recent years, the people who pursue their overseas studying have doubled in number. The overseas returnees also increase at a fast rate. Many people who have already got the foreign passport or the right of residence of other country gradually return to motherland to work and settle down. But unfortunately many of these people are suffering the varying degrees of culture shock or reverseRead MoreA True Culture Shock Essays867 Words   |  4 Pagesof different cultures, each one unique in its own respect. Culture; differentiate one societal group from another by identification beliefs, behaviors, language, traditions, Art, fashion styles, food, religion, politics, and economic systems. Through lifelong and ever changing processes of learning, creativity, and sharing, culture shapes our patterns of behavior and thinking. A culture’s significance is so profound that it touches almost every aspect of who and what we are. Culture becomes the telescopeRead MoreCulture Shock Essa y1136 Words   |  5 PagesCulture is defined by Stephen Bochner (2003) as different beliefs and values. From the beginning of the chapter, it is made clear that although there are many different definitions this is the most explicit. While focus is maintained on sojourners and tourists, the main idea is that changing cultures can have a major impact on the way people function. Boncher tends to stick to the idea that stress and anxiety can be heavily induced not only by encountering a different culture than an individualsRead MoreHow to Cope with Culture Shock1298 Words   |  6 PagesHow to Cope with Culture Shock | | | | | | * Front Page * What is h2g2? * Who s Online * Write an Entry * Browse * Announcements * Feedback * h2g2 Help * RSS Feeds | | | | | | | | Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend!    | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In today s global economy, where major firms have branches in most areas of the world, many more people than ever before contemplate  living in anotherRead MoreCulture Shock Essay2172 Words   |  9 PagesOne of the biggest hindrances to people living in a new culture is the initial culture-shock that people experience, as well as the culture-stress that occurs as time progresses. When a person enters a new culture, there are many noticeable differences from his/her own culture. These differences have been labelled culture-shock and culture-stress. It is the initial differences, which is called culture-shock, that often cause worry, fear, and sometimes withdrawl. However, these can be easily overcomeRead MoreCulture Shock Of The United States Essay1537 Words   |  7 PagesCulture Shock has played a tremendous role in the growth of cultural ecology because it is an issue that is constantly growing all over the world. In the United States, it may not seem like things are changing involving culture shock, but it is not any different then the changes in places like Africa and China for example. It is developing equally across the world because there are now more ways to travel. So, what exactly is culture shock anyways? Well, it is known as going to a foreign or unfamiliarRead MoreCulture Shock By Peter L. Berger990 Words   |  4 PagesPeter L. Berger once said, â€Å"The sociologist routinely experiences culture shock in his own home.† The definition of cultural shock is when someone finds himself or herself in an environment that’s unfamiliar and someone doesn’t really know how to act or do. It is out of the person’s comfort zone and to try to fit and feel included in society, once must first face the uncertainty of how the unknown culture acts like. When the sociologist looks closely at these things, he finds unexpected motives,Read MoreCulture Shock : The United States Essay1397 Words   |  6 PagesCulture Shock: Immigration to America In 2010, as my sisters-in-law and their families prepared to immigrate to the United States (U.S.), my husband and I did all we can to advise and assist them in getting ready for their long journey from Nigeria to the U.S. To our surprise, contrary to every advice we gave them, in preparation for life in the US, they started out with trying American fast foods of different kinds. Culture shock is expected for anyone who immigrates to the US, regardless of where

The Community Of The Lgbtq Community - 1593 Words

In the twenty-four hours following the election, a surge in calls to suicide hotlines primarily from those belonging to the LGBTQ community. Trumps victory had caused thousands to suddenly fear their own futures in this country and questioned which of their rights they were going to lose in the next four years. This lead to many calling suicide hotlines for confirmation that life was worth living for and that their was always hope. Crisis lines dedicated to the LGBTQ community were specifically the ones that were most effected. The numbers of calls they were receiving were in the thousands, over doubling the average number of calls received and reaching unprecedented levels. An additional concern is that this may be causing a sudden influx trans-suicides, potentially up to ten. However, none of these cases have as of yet been confirmed, so there is a possibility that no suicides in relation to the election have occurred. Transpeople within America have a particularly precariou s state in this country and the election seems likely to remove their rights in the upcoming years. Regardless, the election has increased the anxieties of countless in this country. This recent development was quite important to me as someone who is part of the LGBTQ community. Although the election was seen as high stakes for both Democrats and Republicans, Trump’s policies will most likely have a negative impact disproportionately on minorities, immigrants, and those who have marginalizedShow MoreRelatedOverview Of The LGBTQ Community914 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction LGBTQ elders, regardless of their sexual orientation, face a number of unique health related challenges as they age. Amongst those challenges are increased isolation, stigma, and loss of cognitive functioning (Hoy-Ellis, Ator, Kerr Milford, 2016). In this essay I have chosen to write on this topic and conducted a literature search on EBSCOhost using the search terms ‘LGBTQ’ and ‘aging.’ The following is based on the article, â€Å"Innovative approaches addressing aging and mental healthRead MoreThe Struggle Of The Lgbtq Community Essay1859 Words   |  8 PagesThe struggle of the LGBTQ community was captured by the documentary, Before Stonewall. Before Stonewall follows captures what life was like for members of the LGBTQ community before the Stonewall Inn riots and subsequently the â€Å"Gay Rights Movement†, through each decade, interviewing members of the community who lived before the â€Å"Gay Rights Movement†. The documentary splits the struggles of the LGBTQ people by decades. It started with LGBTQ people living in isolation and secrecy in the 1920s and slowlyRead MoreThe Reality Of The Lgbtq Community1404 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiences of lesbian motherhood. They appear progressive at face value, even queer at times, yet, they ultimately uphold assimilationist politics and dodge the potential for queerness or advocacy. This is obscures and distorts the reality of the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirms the social boundaries which constrain lesbian parents to narrow standards. H1: Summary From this analysis, it is apparent that The Kids Are All Right and The Fosters strategically attempt to gain respectability for lesbian parentsRead MoreThe Rights Of The Lgbtq Community1217 Words   |  5 PagesThe LGBTQ community has been denied certain rights because of their sexual preference. Because there is not a natural born man and woman standing at the aisle, many states deny them the right to marriage. Many protest the rights the LGBTQ community should be able to have. The Catholic Church has condemned the LGBTQ community since the beginning of time. While some states have changed their views and laws on LGBTQ rights and privileges, there is still much improvement that needs to be done. Who givesRead MoreThe Rights Of The Lgbtq Community Essay1176 Words   |  5 Pageshe status of the LGBTQ community in each decade, starting in the early 1900s, held many key leaders, organizations, and events that were pivotal in the Gay Rights Movement. The documentary begins speaking about homosexuality in the 1900s. No one really talked about sexuality. It was a just common knowledge, however if you were thought to be living a lesbian or gay life, it was grounds for being locked up in a mental institution. Many gay men however could recognize each other through either smallRead MoreA Misconception Of The Lgbtq Community1959 Words   |  8 PagesThere seems to be a misconception that the LGBTQ community is immune to poverty when in actuality, a large majority of them are living in poor conditions. When most people think of gay men specifically, they think of rich, white men living in suburban areas, wearing designer clothes, constantly accessorized, and shop at expensive boutiques. But that is simply not the case. In fact, most LGBTQ people are poor or working-class, female, and people of color who struggle with obtaining or keeping a jobRead MoreDiscrimination Towards The Lgbtq Community1483 Words   |  6 PagesCarolyn Kasper Mrs. Gallos English 3 6 April 2017 Discrimination Towards the LGBTQ Community We as a society are not doing enough to end the discrimination in the LGBTQ ( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community . There is no reason to discriminate someone for what they do behind closed doors and they should keep their negative words and actions to themselves. No one no matter what they believe in should be discriminated against. Just because someone who is attracted to the sameRead MoreAmerican Laws And The Lgbtq Community1407 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Laws and the LGBTQ+ Community â€Å"Discrimination [dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuh n]: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.† Right from the dictionary, the definition is clear. Look back 95 years to 1920, where women across America raised their voices and fought back for the right to vote. Now take a look back 48 years ago when in 1967Read MoreLgbtq Youth And Its Impact On The Community Essay1696 Words   |  7 Pagesthat LGBTQ youth are not able to get the help in school which causes them to have low self-esteem, not show up to school, and even engage in risky behavior. School psychologists must provide services for their entire student body and that includes youth apart of the LGBTQ community. Regardless of what their beliefs are it’s important that they give LGBTQ youth the support that they need and also help them work towards a positi ve identity while going the process of coming out. To assist LGBTQ youthRead MoreConversion Therapy And Its Effects On The Lgbtq Community1218 Words   |  5 Pagesbelieves in such treatment. That alone is a huge threat to people of the LGBTQ+ community. Conversion therapy is affecting the LGBTQ+ community greatly. Conversion therapy can be defined as â€Å"psychological interventions, from behavioral methods to psychoanalytic approaches† to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity (Hadelman, pg. 202, 2002). This treatment has been proven to not work as well as having harmful implications to LGBTQ+ people. In 1960, the conversion therapy movement began in the

Human Rights, Democracy, And Peace - 1134 Words

â€Å"In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources, and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy, and peace (Nobel Peace Prize Medalist Maathai 2004).† TransCanada, a Canadian company, has high hopes of beginning to build an oil pipeline that would stretch close to 2,000 miles from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas. With the approval of construction, the pipeline, known as the Keystone XL, would carry one of the world’s filthiest fuels; tar sand oil. Tar sands oil alone has levels of carbon dioxide emissions that are three to four times higher than those of conventional oil, due to more energy-intensive removal and refining processes (Friends of the†¦show more content†¦The U.S. uses nearly 400 million gallons of oil every day moving people in automobiles, goods on freight trucks, air travel, also rail and transit. Cars and everyday trucks use nine million barrels of oil per day alone (Sierra Club Foundation). Oil poses major environmental problems, and the world’s heavy reliance on it for transportation makes it difficult to reduce consumption. Spilled oil can harm living things because its chemical components are poisonous. This can affect organisms both from internal exposure to oil through ingestion or inhalation and from external exposure through skin and eye irritation. Oil can also smother some small species of fish or invertebrates and coat feathers and fur, reducing birds and mammals ability to maintain their body temperatures. The short-term threat from heavy oils, like tar sand oil, comes from their ability to smother organisms whereas over the long-term, some long-lasting health effects like tumors may result in some organisms (Office of Response and Restoration). If animals like birds and otters become drenched in heavy oil, they lose the ability to keep themselves warm and eventually die. The Keystone XL supporters exhaust the idea that constructing of the Keystone will create thousands of jobs. While that is partially true, the numbers are exaggerated and unemployment will only raise half of what supporters

Introducing the New Coke free essay sample

What is the case about? This case study is the story of Coca-Cola, its history and the report about one of the most fascinating stories about the company this is still regarded by many as a mysterious case: â€Å"the introduction of the new Coke†. The author Susan Fournier, in the case study went on by presenting the history of the Coca-Cola Company: how the company started and how throughout its history it became a brand, a part of everyone’s life both nationally and globally. Anecdotes and little stories were told about how Coca-Cola became a part of the American Culture, it how it changed the way consumers around the world perceived the Christmas holiday (Coca-Cola Classic Santa Claus). Midway through the case study, the author introduced what is still perceived today as one of the most intrigued case studies: the way Coca-Cola handled one of its competitors, Pepsi-Cola, and the introduction of the new Coke. The author walked us through how with marketing research, product testing (The Pepsi Challenge) and effective advertising, Pepsi-Cola was able to introduce itself in the American culture. Pepsi became Coca-Cola’s fierce competitor and started getting a growing share of the market of soft drinks. Blinded by internal and other distractions, Coca-Cola was caught by surprise when introduced â€Å"the Pepsi Challenge†, a series of blind tests where potential consumers tasted both Pepsi and Coke, with the results concluding that Pepsi had a better taste than Coke. Coca-Cola quick called the move false advertisement and conducted its own blind test only to realized what was already stated. Referring to the study case, Coca-Cola was more than a beverage company, it became a part of culture and politics, it changed the way Americans viewed Christmas, and it went global†¦ I think that Coca-Cola is not only in the beverage business, but also in entertainment, memory sharing, it provides nostalgia, a sense of ownership, pride, personality and belonging to its consumers, mostly in the US. Coca-Cola business is to offer a fun, memory-inspiring sweet beverage. 3. What was Coca-Cola’s brand building strategy? Where did Coke’s meanings come from? How did Coke’s meanings make a connection to consumers and to Christmas? Coca-Cola’s brand building strategy started first by finding its target, which early in its history was the non-alcoholic drinker. Shortly after the acquisition of the company by Griggs Candler who’s dream was â€Å"to place Coke within arm’s reach of desire wherever there are people who get thirsty†; Coca-Cola started building his brand. The strategy then was focused around: availability, affability and acceptability of its target public. To provide he aforementioned, the company focused on the price value of the product, preference and penetration. By connecting to their consumers constantly and effectively through excellent advertising, Coca-Cola was able to provide brand loyalty. With diversification within the company’s products, the brand was able to stay relevant throughout time. Coca-Cola meanings came from various sources, most notably the changes in the culture in the United States in the 1900s. The company quickly adapted to the social and cultural changes like pop culture; throughout artwork, they were able to reach the heart of America’s youth. The company was able to take advantage of the current events; most notably the world war which helped the company’s being global. The story of coke and Santa Claus was a strong example of how Coke’s meanings made a connection to Christmas and forever associated itself with America’s youth. In the early 1900s, Santa Claus was represented in various ways to the American audience: the saint was illustrated in blue, yellow or green; sometimes he was tall or was an elf. Coca-Cola hired an artist, Haddon Sundblom, who, in 1931, created the Coca-Cola classic Santa Claus. The caricature presented everything about the brand: it was bigger than life and joyful. With his illustrations and those awaited yearly Christmas ads, the artist and Coca-Cola shaped the way we, the consumers view Santa today. 4. What was Pepsi’s meaning management game? Was it really a threat to Coke? How should have responded to Pepsi’s meaning making advances? Pepsi’s meaning management game was totally different from Coke’s; it had to be in order to survive. Pepsi’s strategy was focused more on the user, rather than the product. By identifying itself to its target, the new generation, Pepsi was able to channel its message. The â€Å"Pepsi generation† ad campaign was a great reason for the growth of the brand. I believe that Pepsi was starting to become a concern, not a threat to coke. In my opinion, Coca-Cola’s mistakes were what help Pepsi’s growth to a certain degree. I believe that, if Coca-Cola took the time to keep an eye and research the competition and hire the right talent for the right positions, instead of focusing on internal problems reported by the case, it would have been better equipped to respond to Pepsi’s meaning making advances. I believe that they Coke should have stuck to their position and reinforce their position in the market that was already theirs, while developing news ways to adapt to the new trends of the culture in America. In terms of brand loyalty, Pepsi was nowhere near Coke, therefore Coke should of use that fact and keep on growing, because the brand was already established as a part of American lives, something that Pepsi, even with their meaning, wasn’t able to surpass. 5. What do you make of Keough’s marketing insights and Goizueta’s famous speech as chairman? What were their core assumptions, their mandates? Is this the stuff brand meaning makers are made of? I believe that Goizueta’s famous speech, although rejuvenating was not the right course of actions for the company because he was totally wrong in his assessments which were: †¢ Statistical results that led him to believe that Coca-Cola distribution process was not the best †¢ He also believed that the company’s marketing strategy was not good enough †¢ He kept comparing his company to others Although to a certain degree he might have been right, he failed miserably in assessing what was working for its company which was its brand. In terms of brand meaning making, he was not the right talent, he lacked perspective because he should have known that you do not change a winning team in the face of adversity, you tweak it. I believe that no matter what the company is going through, if the brand management is strong the company can surpass any obstacles because with a strong brand, the consumers will keep on coming, it is a matter of nourishing the success of that brand, hence always ocus on the consumer and find ways to keep him happy. 6. Hindsight is indeed 20/20, but putting bias aside, what major factor do you think caused the failure of the new Coke launch? Do you think it was the product, the process or both? I believe that the failure of the launch of the new Coke was cause by the â€Å"new product† and its process. I think the major factor of the failure was th at they high administration of the company reacted emotionally to their competitor and ended up losing their identity by trying to come with a new product to present to the consumers. The company should use the formula that it had been using since the beginning of the 19th century, adapt to the consumer desire. In addition, I believe that the company didn’t handle the introduction of the new coke to the public well. They had put their focus on the wrong aspect: advertising, thinking that a strong campaign will help encourage the consumer to adopt the new product; an assessment that was totally wrong. Meanwhile, the consequence was Pepsi being able capitalize on these mistakes, because they had figure out that they need a constant eye on the competitor in order to better adapt. . Coca-Cola invested $4 million researching the reformulation, yet they still got it very, very wrong. Keough claims that â€Å"all the time and money and skill poured into consumer research on the new Coke could not measure or reveal the deep and abiding emotional attachment to original Coca-Cola felt by so many consumers, the passion for original coke†¦ it is a wonderful Ameri can enigma, and you cannot measure it any more than you can you can measure love, pride or patriotism. † Is Keogh right? If so how can you manage it if you can’t measure it? By focusing on the user in its early ages, along with keeping in touch with the socio-cultural and political changes throughout the years in society, Coca-Cola was able to build a strong an effective brand. The brand became a part of life of every American to the point that some consumers referred to drinking Coke as a patriotic act. I believe that Keogh was right in his assessment. Yes, indeed it is difficult, may be impossible to measure, but manageable. In my opinion, with the loyalty of the consumers, the brand already had a tremendous asset; managing the brand and keep the product in the mind of the consumers was how I think that Coca-Cola could manage the emotional attachment of the consumers. 8. What does the case reveal about how brand meanings are developed and cultivated? From the brand management strategies of both Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the case revealed some great insights about how brand meaning are developed and cultivated. Below is a list of what I believe are key concepts narrated in the case that proves this assessment: †¢ Cultural awareness: being able as a company to keep track of what is going on the society in the means of culture, politics, social and other factors †¢ The focus on the consumer: by being able to focus on the consumer and the research of its environment, the companies were able to cater to them, hence producing economic growth Using the right tools: in the case of Coca-Cola, using everything that is available to the consumer to be able to reach out to your audience. †¢ Marketing research and consumer behavior: with the Pepsi challenge, the company was able to build a whole strategy that focused on its target, the new generation, which help the company climb the mountain of success and relevance in the eyes of the public. 9. What can you draw from the case that relates to consumer culture and its impact on consumer behavior? A couple of anecdotes in the case can help draw the relation to consumer culture and its impact on consumer behavior. In the early 1900s it was about freedom, American society and a sense of freedom, Coca-Cola responded by advertising their product has being fresh and a provider of freedom; the consumers would then easily connect to that. The idea of selling Coca-Cola overseas to the troops while the world was at war brought a sense of patriotism and ownership to the product, consumers then felt a sense of safety and pride when drinking a coke. The Christmas ads were also another example, by caricaturing Santa as a hard worker who brings gifts to the kids, the youth was able to connect and by rewarding Santa with a Coke after a night of hard work, parents could also relate. These are prime examples narrated throughout the case that relates to consumer culture and its impact on consumer behavior. 10. What does the case suggest about conducting marketing research and consumer perception? The story on how Pepsi began to grow his brand is an excellent example of marketing research and consumer perception. At the time, Pepsi was able to research the behavior of the baby boomers, who back then, were considered the new generation. Pepsi was able to identify itself to this group and allowed these consumers to feel a sentiment of identity. Pepsi product testing also helped them in their research. As it is reported in the case, Pepsi capitalized on the results of these blind tests conducted on both Pepsi and its competitor. The company was able to build a strategy around its research results that led to the growth of the company as a whole.