Cloudstreet Essay Example for Free

Cloudstreet Essay How is your personal interpretation of Cloudstreet governed by its treatment of enduring values? Cloudstreet, a sprawling saga composed by Tim Winton, explores the enduring values of reconciliation, hope and the inevitable unity of family that forms the basis for our existence. Through the overarching techniques of context and the use of the Australian vernacular, Winton presents his nostalgia for the traditional Australian life, as well as encouraging the responder to consider universal issues which lie at the core of human experience, such as the need to treat others equally. By passing the Pickles and the Lambs through a series of trials and tribulations, in accordance with the strength of sagaic novels, Winton examines important ideas and philosophies about humankind. Through the examination of pivotal moments within the text, such as Fish’s near drowning in the river, the responder is able to gain their interpretation of the book and its treatment of the universal values of reconciliation, hope and family unity. Cloudstreet’s treatment of the theme of reconciliation highlights the need for people to find reconciliation within their existences, hence showing individual reconciliation with the forces of existence to be a central thematic concern. In Cloudstreet, this idea is expressed through Sam’s meeting with the blackfella after he returns from voting. While Sam implements classic Australian colloquialisms in his complaints about â€Å"some rich bastard†, he simultaneously plots to â€Å"sell the house for some real money†. This use of irony highlights Sam’s (symbolising the typical white man) ignorance of the fortune which he holds and which he considers to be mainstream. As a result, Sam is portrayed as a representative of white ignorance, and while he seems to be an average Australian, Winton portrays him to be a symptom of what is wrong with Australia as, while Sam is able to sense the â€Å"otherworldliness† of the blackfella, he perseveres with his callous plans to exploit home and to be disconnected from his spiritual existence. This idea is further exemplified through Sam’s gesture of offering a cigarette to the blackfella. The symbolism in this image presents Sam as the epitome of all that the class that he represents is able to provide. Reconciliation provides the basis for the emergent and disturbing spirituality of the house. The origins of the horror and ominous spirituality that exudes from the house lies in the misguided and ignorant need to socialise Aboriginals, evidenced in the horrendous treatment of the Aboriginal girls in the house that emerges from this ignorant misunderstanding. Hence, through the metaphor of Sam, Winton comments upon contemporary social and political problems and particularly the culture of denial within Australian culture at the time. This idea of the need for reconciliation is also expressed through the idea of family. The importance of family is another consistent theme throughout the novel. In Debts, Winton explores the instinctive force that drives members of a family to protect one another, despite all previous conflict. This is evidenced through Lester and Quick’s feelings of responsibility for Fish, which, particularly in the case of Quick, is driven by the guilt of Fish’s near drowning. As Lester says, â€Å" We owe him things†¦don’t forget Fish†¦don’t pretend to Fish. † The desperate, beseeching tone represents his instinctive desire to help Fish, in order to find reconciliation within himself. This idea is further expressed in â€Å"Ghostly sensations†, where Rose supports Sam during his desperate attempt at suicide. Despite Rose’s feelings towards her father’s burden on the family, which Sam himself recongises, â€Å"I’m a weak stupid bastard. † Rose assumes responsibility and protects her father. This is expressed through the motherly image of â€Å"She grabbed his head and pulled it to her breast. † The characters demonstrate the almost primeval urge that drives family members to protect one another, effectively communicated through Winton’s use of language. Thus, Winton shows his nostalgia for earlier times, when these values were at the core of Australian society. The theme of hope in Cloudstreet is expressed primarily through the Pickles’ stringent belief in the presence of the â€Å"shifty shadow†. The motif of the shifty shadow runs throughout the novel, presenting itself as a satirisation of the ideas of conventional religion and its affiliated dogma, and establishes a means by which characters such as Sam and Rose justify the unfathomable forces which govern their lives. The imagery of the â€Å"spinning knife†, which is used to decide whether the Lambs will start a shop or who is washing up, presents the idea that, for these characters, religion is more significant as a social context than as any element of a resolution of faith. The dislocation that the Pickles and the Lambs feel from the idea of God echoes Winton’s view that the contemporary working class could not relate to Christian ideals because of their own lack of fortune. Sam’s own nterpretation of the shifty shadow reflects pagan views of the world, in that he maintains a respect for rituals that is fundamental to all societies. â€Å"You stay right there till the shadow’s fallen across whoever’s lucky or unlucky enough, and then when it’s all over, you go out and get on with your business. † The colloquial tone of this sentence emphasises to the responder that, despite his working class background, there are ritualistic ideas bred into him and which he will not contravene. As such, Cloudstreet’s treatment of the theme of the shifty shadow examines spirituality as well as the unknowable. Cloudstreet’s treatment of the values of individual reconciliation, the importance of family and hope reflects its contextual situation, that of late 20th century Australia. Moreover, it reflects Winton’s desperate longing for an era of post war Australia. Through a close examination of the text, the responder gains insight into the central and enduring values of Winton’s society.

Toshiba :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Toshiba Toshiba: The Future is Theirs In 1875 Hisashige Tanaka established Tanaka Seizo-sho, Japan’s first manufacturer of telegraphic equipment. The company thrived for over 60 years as an independent entity. In 1890, Hakunetsu-sha & Co., Ltd, was founded. It was Japan’s first manufacturing facility of electric incandescent lamps. Then in 1939, the two companies merged to become Tokyo Shibaura Denki. They were now an electric equipment manufacturer. The company’s reputation was established rapidly and they soon became known simply as Toshiba. They made this official with the name change to Toshiba in 1978. Throughout the company’s long life there have been many major inventions that have guaranteed them a place in history. Among these are the following world’s firsts: 1. 1967—first automatic zip code reader 2. 1970—first color video phone 3. 1986—first laptop personal computers 4. 1995—developed high-density optical disc, DVD They have remained successful for many years because of their ability to stay on top of the world of technology. This is no small feat. Numerous companies have been lost because of a rapidly changing technology market that most were unable to keep up with the pace. With a resume of inventions spanning more than 120 years, a solid financial history and their status of being a multinational corporation, where does Toshiba go from here? Can they continue to keep up the pace of the past with the technology market changing more each and every day? What can they do to maintain their current level of success without compromising their values and commitment to the global society? To sum up all these questions: What’s next for Toshiba? Before looking at what the next step should be for Toshiba, it is necessary to examine what the driving forces behind the operation and all its decisions are. For them, The Basic Commitment is this force. In 1990 this Commitment was formulated as a â€Å"statement of management philosophy.† Every management decision made is done so by the guidance set forth in the Basic Commitment, which follows: We, the Toshiba Group companies, based on our total commitment to people and to the future, are determined to help create a higher quality of life for all people, and to do our part to help ensure that progress continues within the world community

The Life You Save May Be Your Own

Christina Sabillon Dr. Speller ENGL 2325 August 6, 2012 The Life You Save May Be Your Own The protagonist in â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own† is Mr. Shiftlet. This man encounters an older woman and her daughter; both named Lucynell Crater. Their first conversation is very awkward, but the reader can interpret the characters. Mr. Shiftlet is a one armed man who left home at a young age. Lucynell (mother) is an older widowed woman who is independent and protective of her daughter. The younger Lucynell (daughter) is a deaf girl with a mental handicap. She is intrigued by a man working around the house and follows him around all day.He seems to be a respectful man to these ladies, but he is in need of validation that there is some good in this world. Mr. Shiftlet could have used Mrs. Crater’s hospitality and marriage proposal as a chance for him to change his outlook on the world, but he has alternative motives. He develops this strong misanthropic view of the world after he leaves his mother as a child, and he now has the chance to find grace and a new life with Mrs. Lucynell Crater's offer. Mr. Shiftlet appears to be a good man at first glance. He looks to be an honest noble nomad who does not have any money, but does not seem to be the least afflicted by it.He is disenchanted by society and even says â€Å"’ [n]othing is like it used to be, lady’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢the world is almost rotten’† (O’Connor, pg 53). He makes the audience believe that he is a decent man trying to find some good in this world. So, why would a man who is disgusted by the way people act, contribute to his theory instead of trying to make the world a better place? He makes mention that the problem with the world is that no one takes the time to be patient and nobody cares about the issues, but thankfully he is not one of those people and he took the time to teach Miss Crater the word bird. He is a dishonest man.In reality, he is not the man that he is pretending to be. He is a deceitful individual who is taking advantage of their hospitality and kindness in order to milk anything he can out of both Lucynells. Mr. Shiflet was tempted by the Ford vehicle in order to deceive the mother and daughter. There are a couple of signs that Mrs. Crater should have seen in order to discover the foreshadowing of her daughter’s abandonment. He was much more interested and curious by the car that before he introduced himself properly to the ladies he asked a question about the Ford. Whenever he finally does introduce himself he does it like this†¦ â€Å"‘Name Tom T.Shiftlet,’ he murmured, looking at the tires† (O’Connor, pg 53). A real respectful person would have given them direct eye contact and shook their hand. He would not have murmured, but would have said it straight, with a strong voice, and seem interested. The one armed man works hard to gain Mrs. Crater’s trust. She allows him to fix a couple of things around the property in order for him to sleep in the Ford outside. The nights he spent sleeping in the car gave him time to plan how he was going to get a way out of the life that he had been living, and how he was going to get away with the Ford.The work days would pass and she is more and more impressed by the way he is able to work with only one arm, and the attention that he gives to her sweet daughter. Mrs. Lucynell is blinded by all of this because she also had alternative motives for allowing Mr. Shiftlet to stay with them. She wanted to believe that he was a good man worthy enough to marry her daughter. She was more than willing to allow him to work on things around the house in order for her to observe the relationship between her daughter and him. After she agrees to pay for the parts needed to fix the car, Mrs. Crater is certain that they should be married.She is completely unconcerned with the fact that he is most occupied with the car than anything else. Mr. Shiftlet was becoming suspicious of her intentions and found a way to manipulate the entire situation is his head for his selfish benefit. Mr. Shiftlet has earned the older woman’s trust so well that she will offer him whatever in order for him to marry her daughter. He tells her that he cannot accept that offer because Miss Lucynell is undeserving of the poor man that he is. He tells Mrs. Crater that he was not raised to believe that a man could support a family without any money.And that made him seem like an even nobler man to the older woman. She has to convince him that she does not know any better about these nice things that she deserves, and to top it all off she offers to pay for the wedding, honeymoon, and to pay for the truck to be painted. Upon hearing all of this the text reads†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the darkness, Mr. Shiftlet’s smile stretched like a weary snake waking up by a fire† (O’Connor, pg. 61). That is a clear physical ind ication that the evil is coming out of the man. The grin on his face should have been a huge sign to the older woman, but she was extremely overjoyed about the deal she had just made.Mr. Shiftlet had the biggest opportunity to be saved by grace. He had a great chance in front of him to be a hardworking man and a great husband for Lucynell. The reason he had not been married before was because of his argument that he had not found an innocent woman. Who is more innocent than the sweet daughter of Mrs. Crater? She knows about no evil in the world. She can clean, cook, be a good wife for Mr. Shiftlet, and she will inherit the house and the land when her mother passes. He had the perfect situation laid out in front of him so that he could live a better life than he one he knew before.He is given the prospect to believe that the world is not rotten and he could be the start of change that he wants to see on this earth. His moral compass should direct him to be a better person. He should not want to take advantage of a woman and her daughter after the hospitality and kindness they have shown him. But Mr. Shiftlet is too terrible a man that he will not let anyone get in the way of his true intentions and he does not care who he affects in the process. To leave your newlywed bride asleep in a strange town one hundred miles away from the only home she has ever known is heartless for even the worst of misfits to do.There is an indication of remorse of what he has done. The text states â€Å"[h]e is more depressed than ever as he drove on by himself† (O’Connor, pg. 64). But no, he is more depressed because he is alone once again. And because he is selfish and no longer wants to be alone, he picks up a hitch-hiker. The hitch-hiker is a young boy who did not even have his thumb up for a ride, but Mr. Shiftlet picks him up anyways. The young boy is silent in the car and does not make eye contact with the man. He can see through Mr. Shiftlet and knows that he i s a bad man.The boy does not care to hear about the man’s mother and how she was the best mother anyone could ever have. He was so fed up with the man’s conversation that he yells at Mr. Shiflet â€Å"†¦go to the devil! †(O’Connor, pg. 66). Then he jumps out of the moving vehicle into a ditch. The man should have stopped to help the boy or at least been concerned with his safety. But no, Mr. Shiftlet is too evil of a man to be busy with no one but himself. Mr. Shiftlet is such a terrible person, he was too rotten to be saved by the grace of the Craters. He was given an opportunity to â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢wash the slime from this earth’† (O’Connor, pg 66).The very thing he prays for at the end of this short story. Yet, no, he is unaffected by the damage he has just done, and continues on his nomadic life on to the next city. In the car he had to lie, cheat, and steal to get. It is not that God is not answering Mr. Shiftlet’ s prayers for this world to be a better place, but it is Mr. Shiftlet who has been ignoring God and answering his chances to be saved by Him. Work Cited Document O'Connor, Flannery. â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own. † A Good Man Is Hard to Find. Orlando: n. p. , 1955. 51-66. Print.

Racist Police Shootings And Its Impact On America - 884 Words

Introduction The American press are definitely proud of their heritage of editorial and commercial independence. They may even claim that they serve no master except the liberal credo of individual freedom and open markets. But the truth, however, is that a large percentage of media reports in America involve a certain amount of looking people straight in the eye and lying to them. In this paper, I will validate this claim by comparing their coverage of what is termed â€Å"racist police shootings† with the available facts and figures using the city of Boston as a case study. Boston There were no damning criticisms and charge against the police officers than the sensational editorials that are constantly being published by popular publications, including the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Baltimore Sun, among others. For instance, in December 2015, the Guardian noted that: â€Å"Despite making up only 2% of the total US population, African American males between the ages of 15 and 34 comprised more than 15% of all deaths logged this year by an ongoing investigation into the use of deadly force by police. Their rate of police-involved deaths was five times higher than for white men of the same age†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Swaine et al, 2015; para. 2). We see these kind of bogus claims by our mass media – claims that often tend to incite the black community to become hostile to the police. It would be comforting to suppose that these forms of exaggerated media reports are confined only to a few mediaShow MoreRelatedRacism : Racism And It Is Fair For Label A Country Racist?1648 Words   |  7 PagesThrough sports, policing, and schooling, some story of racism is written up by a major news organization and society goes into disbelief. 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