The Death of Louise Mallard and Female Identity in The...

In Chopin’s thousand work short story The Story of an Hour, the protagonist Louise Mallard is afflicted with heart trouble but learns that her husband has died in a railroad accident. Upon her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard catches a glimpse of what independence feels like, but it is quickly taken away from once her husband returns unharmed. Chopin’s feminist ideals form the basis of this story where she explores female identity in a patriarchal society. For women of her time, marriage could be likened to prison where only death could set their â€Å"body and soul free† (Chopin 237). Considering the status of women in the late nineteenth century, Louise Mallard is a sympathetic character; she represents the oppression of women and the†¦show more content†¦Critics praised her brilliance, but they were â€Å"horrified by the heroine’s self-indulgence, and the author’s objective treatment of it, and they admonished her to go back to the description of ‘sweet and lovable characters’† in one of her previous works (Seyersted 5). This criticism left her particularly distressed, which may be a factor in why Louise Mallard does not get the chance to indulge in her newfound independence. One can assume that though Chopin is an all-out feminist, she was still somewhat controlled by patriarchy, and this control spills over into this short story. For instance, a typical trope of the turn of the century is that women were weaker both physically and mentally. Feminists might object to where Chopin writes, â€Å"She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will – as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been† (Chopin 236). This is because, according to these feminists, Chopin perpetuates the idea that women are the weaker sex by presenting Mrs. Mallard as hesitant to accept and unable to conceive this newfound freedom she faces in this scene (Larson 96). Making this more disturbing for feminists is that this stereotypical vision of women ofShow MoreRelatedLiterary Criticism of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour1338 Words   |  5 PagesLiterary Criticism and the Story of an Hour Literary criticism gives the reader the tools to see literature in new ways. Each type focuses on different components of the story and asks the reader to examine a given text for ques. When an analysis is performed in a given critical style, a whole new perspective of the text becomes available. Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour is an account of a marriage in the late 19th century. Mrs. Louise Mallard is identified by her marriage and she allows herselfRead MoreKate CHopins Story of an Hour Essay1271 Words   |  6 Pages In Kate Chopins Story of an Hour the author portrays patriarchal oppression in the institution of marriage by telling the story of one fateful hour in the life of a married woman. Analyzing the work through feminist criticism, one can see the implications of masculine discourse. Mrs. Mallards medical diagnosis is an example of the male-dominated society in which she lives. They are able to tell her that she indeed has a heart condition, but are unable to treat her effectivelyRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Kate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour 1274 Words   |  6 PagesTheory in The Story of an Hour Women are no stranger to a socially constrained lifestyle and society, especially in the late 1800’s. Women were believed to live a certain way, fulfill certain roles and duties in the household, and to be extremely fragile and weak. This type of culture still exists today but not to the extreme that it once was. Kate Chopin, however, not afraid speak out against the implications of society breaks free of the social norms of the 1800’s through her strong female charactersRead MoreKate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour973 Words   |  4 PagesDeath is a common concept with common reactions. Society expects the response to the death of a spouse to be one of tears, depression, and years of mourning. However, the first time someone feels relief or happiness at the news of his or her spouse’s death is suddenly viewed as inappropriate, so it must be kept on the inside. The problem is that the reason behind the happiness is often forgotten to be analyzed. What was happeni ng behind closed doors? What was the marriage representing? Mrs. MallardRead MoreThe Story of an Hour1203 Words   |  5 PagesAlternate ending to â€Å"The Story of an Hour† â€Å"Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey, it was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine s piercing cry; at Richards quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife† (Chopin, 16). Josephine rushed to the door looked at Mr. Mallard with great amazement, â€Å"AmRead MoreAnalysis Of The Story Story Of An Hour 1388 Words   |  6 PagesStephanie Morales May 18, 2016 English V01B, Section 31953 Essay 3 Research Paper Word Count: Title Women throughout history have often been undermined and have never lived to their full potential. In the short story, â€Å"Story of an Hour† the main character; Mrs. Mallard displays the ongoing struggles of what women during the eighteenth century had to go through. Men often had patriarchal values and dictated what type of behavior and traditional roles women had to follow that was deemed acceptableRead MoreKate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour974 Words   |  4 PagesThe Story of an Hour: Literary Response A metaphoric story, a common for female writers of the time wishing to be more than just a Mrs., Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† examines the freedom of being single and independent yet lacks the realities and long term effects of such independence. The third person narrative allows the reader to feel the joy Mrs. Mallard experiences at the news of her husband’s death and the use of simple prose only heightens the experience. Details of her freedom areRead MoreThe Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin1161 Words   |  5 Pagesa major way in Kate Chopins’ â€Å"The Story of an Hour.† The story portrays a story about the lack of freedom that all woman had in the 1800’s. The word feminism as defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. A woman’s job and duty in the 1800’s was to tend to the needs of their husband’s needs. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Mrs. Mallard, one of the main characters, was told about her husband’s death and she was initially very emotionalRead MoreIrony in The Story of an Hour642 Words   |  3 PagesIrony in Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† â€Å"The story of an hour† by Kate Chopin is described as a story of great irony having many unexpected twists and turns. Situational and dramatic irony is used throughout the story. This is a story of a woman who finds out her husband’s death in a train accident and reacts with sadness in the beginning, but then realizes a freedom and relief from her repressive life. She experiences a complete joy over the death of her husband and dies from the shock of discoveringRead MoreKate Chopin s An Hour1323 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"protection† under an onerous marriage. In The Story of an Hour, through peculiar sentence structure, feministic themes, and irony, Kate Chopin portrays the resentment of women towards the oppressive institution of marriage through Mrs. Mallard’s joviality for her newly discovered freedom- a product of her husband’s assumed passing. Body Paragraph #1- Literary Device: Sentence Structure Kate Chopin commences the short story with â€Å"Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care

The Program For Homeless Veterans - 5756 Words

In January 2014, approximately 49,933 American veterans were homeless on a given night. This number represents approximately 11% of the entire homeless adult population in the United States. Of those homeless veterans, 64% were reported to be sleeping in an emergency shelter or transitional housing and 36% were living on the streets or other places not meant for human habitation. Today, the federal government has many programs targeted to end veteran’s homelessness; however, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently has only one program offering a permanent supportive housing solution for homeless veterans – the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH). With this program HUD provides eligible homeless veterans with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), while the VA provides clinical case management and supportive services through its health care system. The purp ose of this evaluation synthesis is to assess the HUD-VASH program’s effectiveness in targeting limited resources to the needs of homeless veterans today, as well as to provide specific policy recommendations so as to improve the overall taxpayer value of this program. Background Homelessness has always been a social problem in the United States; however, it only began to take precedence as an important policy problem to be solved by our nation’s lawmakers in the 1970s and 1980s. Homeless veterans initiallyShow MoreRelatedHomelessness : Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act Of 2015844 Words   |  4 Pagesaddresses veteran homelessness, is titled Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2015. H.R. 474 was introduced in the House on January 22, 2015 and passed the House without amendment on May 18, 2015. The bill extends through the Fiscal year 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) homeless reintegration program which provides job training, counseling, and placement services to reintegration into the labor force (Congress.gov, nod). Homeless veterans, veterans participatingRead MoreTheu.s. Housing And Urban Development Essay1461 Words   |  6 Pagesfor their men and women in the milita ry can be seen in the number of homeless veterans. In fact, the U.S. Housing and Urban development (H.U.D.) reports there are over 39,000 members of the armed services living on the street (2016). The main causes of homelessness among veterans include lack of housing, jobs, and access to healthcare (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, n.d.). Veterans run a higher risk of becoming homeless if they are: suffering from a mental illness or substance abuse problem;Read MoreArgumentative Essay On Homeless Veterans1403 Words   |  6 Pagesyou are already defeated.† (Applewhite  ¶ 17). A quote from a homeless veteran shows how even though he has tried to relieve himself of the homelessness, it does not always end with the outcome that he wants, which leaves him feeling defeated, as well as thousands of others. About â…“ of the homeless population are veterans, and they are usually the ones that need the most help (VA Expands Partnerships  ¶5). The struggle that homele ss veterans face everyday in the United States is a growing problem thatRead MoreThe Problem Of Homelessness Among Veterans1566 Words   |  7 PagesHomelessness among veterans is a highly disregarded issue that doesn’t seem to be improving on its own. In many cases, homelessness is out of the veteran’s control, so the question that is being asked is; why so many veterans are homeless and what can everyone, including the veterans, can do about this significant and overlooked problem. This question is essential to finding the solution since it looks at this situation from both sides of the problem: It not only finds ways that the noncombatantsRead MoreHomeless War Veterans Essay703 Words   |  3 PagesSpeech 301: Public Speaking Problem Solution Speech Homeless Veteran’s INTRODUCTION: How many people have a Veteran in their family or know one? If yes do you help them or is it someone else’s problem. Well many people think it’s someone else problem, but the truth is it’s our problem. They gave there all for each of us! PROBLEM: Veterans being let go from service without appropriate long tern help. Leaves unthinkable large numbers of Veterans helpless without knowledge on how to fit back in toRead MoreSolving the Problem of Homeless Veterans680 Words   |  3 PagesAnnual Homeless Assessment Report released by the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), an estimated 62,619 veterans were homeless on any given night in 2012. The good news is that the estimate represents a 7.2 percent decline from the 2011 estimate and a 17.2 percent decline compared to the 2009 estimate (Veterans, 2013). Although progress is being made, there is much to be done. There are veterans with the same needs as the general homeless population, but also veterans with severeRead MoreHomelessness Among Veterans of the U.S. Military Essay1247 Words   |  5 Pagesadditional risk for homelessness specifically associated with Veteran status is puzzling in that it occurs among a population that shows better outcomes on almost all socioeconomic measures and that has exclusive access to an extensive system of benefits that include comprehensive healthcare services, disability and pension assistance, and homeless services (Fargo, et al, 24). In spite of having many advantages, veterans over-represent in the homeless population. The question â€Å"Why?† begs an answer. FortyRead MoreTreatment Plan for Homeless Veterans677 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Homeless veterans Homeless veterans seem to be a defenseless population by definition, as they are a subgroup in the population that is likely to have health problems or worse health challenges because of exposure to risks unlike the rest of the population. Many research undertaken to differentiate health problems linked to homeless veterans. They are vulnerable to co-morbidity of abuse of substances, mental, physical health infections and disorders than the common homeless population. TheirRead MoreThe Epidemic Facing The Homeless And Mentally Ill1446 Words   |  6 PagesThe Epidemic Facing the Homeless and Mentally Ill Have you ever wondered what happens to war vets when they return home from the front lines? Some of the outcomes are not as happy as most people would like them to be. War veterans that survive come home with Mental Illnesses and other issues. Many war veterans end up homeless because of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and some are even living with the homeless men and women at shelters because they cannot receive the help they need from the government. InRead MoreThe Homeless Veterans Wandering On The Streets Of America1465 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the homeless veterans wandering in the streets of America. All around America there is numerous homeless veterans who seek for a better way of life. They crave for jobs, food, and shelter. All they want in life is to live the American Dream, a dream full of opportunity and wealth. In 2013, Veteran Affairs had an estimation of 610,042 homeless people recorded in the United States, and over 394,698 of those homeless people were living in shelter homes. This means that 215,344 homeless people were

Analysis Of This Is My Letter To The World By Emily Dickinson

In a desperate attempt to isolate herself from the world and focus on her writing, Dickinson locked herself in a room of her father’s house, cutting off most contact she had with the outside world. While the ability to concentrate on her poems is a benefit she gained from this,she did so because of her insecurities and mental illness. As stated in a work of criticism, â€Å"Perhaps any artist’s biggest fear is to have one’s work rejected or ignored. Dickinson ends this poem with perhaps the same fear, evident in the form of a plea for us to please receive the news she reports†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dickinson â€Å"This† Poetry for Students 5). The poem in which is being referred to is the famous, â€Å"This is My Letter to the World.† In this work Dickinson is writing†¦show more content†¦But what caused a depression to the extent of this severity? While there is debate over what spiraled her into her illness there were several factors of her life which could have been contributing factors. To begin, Dickinson failed to marry and spent the majority of her days alone, which accounted for a small portion of her loneliness and misery. In addition, she was raised in a repressive home which forced her to conform to certain thoughts and beliefs she did not agree with (Archer Dickinsons Demon 1). Because of this she was left living with two world views. One being her religious, Puritan roots and the other being her youthful tendencies towards insubordination (Lake Poetry). The last thing that Dickinson wanted to do was to think like the rest of the world. She craved a sense of individualism which is abundantly evident in her poetry and in the way in which she chose to live her life. Although she resisted being deprived of her self identity it was a constant battle between being her true self, and pleasing others. While this could be part of her depression there are other events in her life that may have triggered her emotional crisis which began in the early 1860’s and lasted the vast remainder of her life. For instance, Seth Archer describes her home life by saying, â€Å"As Alfred Habegger points out anxious parents make for an anxious nest† (Archer Dickinson’s Demon 4). Her mother was not very involved in her life and she was deprived ofShow MoreRelated An Analysis of Dickinson’s I Felt a Funeral in My Brain Essay1005 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp; An Analysis of Dickinson’s I Felt a Funeral in My Brainnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Emily Dickinson was a poet who used many different devices to develop her poetry, which made her style quite unique. A glance at one of her poems may lead one to believe that she was quite a simple poet, although a closer examination of her verse would uncover the complexity it contains. Dickinson’s poem I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, is a prime example of complicity embodied byRead More Love and Emily Dickinson Essay3233 Words   |  13 PagesLove and Emily Dickinson I am going out on the doorstep, to get you some new—green grass—I shall pick it down in the corner, where you and I used to sit, and have long fancies. And perhaps the dear little grasses were growing all the while—and perhaps they heard what we said, but they cant tell! – Emily Dickinson to Susan Gilbert Dickinson (L 85, 1852) Seventy-five years after the 1890s publication of the premier volumes of Emily Dickinsons poetry, critics still squabble aboutRead MoreEmily Dickinson Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesEmily Dickinson Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 in the community of Amherst, Massachusetts. She was the second daughter of Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson. Emily, her brother Austin, and her sister Lavinia were brought up and nurtured in a quiet reserved household headed by their father Edward. Throughout her life, her mother was not always around, or accessible, a fact that is said to have caused Emily’s eccentricity. They were raised in Puritanical Massachusetts,Read More Writing Techniques of Emily Dickinson Essay2110 Words   |  9 Pages Emily Dickinson is one of the most interesting female poets of the nineteenth century. Every author has unique characteristics about him/her that make one poet different from another, but what cause Emily Dickinson to be so unique are not only the words she writes, but how she writes them. Her style of writing is in a category of its own. To understand how and why she writes the way she does, her background has to be b rought into perspective. Every poet has inspiration, negative orRead MoreEmily Dickson2677 Words   |  11 PagesAlmost unknown as a poet in her lifetime, Emily Dickinson is now considered as one of the most mysterious and original American poet of 19th century for her innovation in rhythmic meters and creative use of metaphors. Her poems were rarely published in Russia because most of them had religious content (to express religious feelings was restricted in Russia for almost a century). However, some poems that I read impressed me at the first glance. Dickinson’s poems spoke powerfully to me about meaningfulRead MorePoems with Theme with Life and Death and Their Analysis8446 Words   |  34 PagesKHAING AN ANALYSIS OF THEMES ON LIFE AND DEATH OF SOME POEMS Abstract: Some basic elements of poem and types of poem are included in this paper. Although there are countless number of poems on Life and Death, only the ones which seem noteworthy are studied and analysed in terms of themes. Different opinions of different poets on life and death found in their poems are also presented and contrasted in this paper. This paper willRead MoreEssay about flannery oconner: queen of irony1743 Words   |  7 Pagesrealistic and truthful depictions of the complete panorama of American experience. They wrote about uniquely American subjects in a humorous and everyday language, replete with their character’s misdeeds and shortcomings. Their success in creating this plain but descriptive language, the language of the common man, signaled the end of American reverence for British and European culture and for the more formal use of language associated with those traditions. In essence, these new authors â€Å"had whatRead MoreCritical Essay on How Do I Love Thee?3017 Words   |  13 Pagesmeaning of something unless one has experienced it. With that being said, a poem, specifically, a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, â€Å"How Do I Love Thee?â⠂¬  demonstrated the preeminent meaning of love, compared to all other meanings, this definition has to be the best. This particular poem is important to study because it is popular to American poets, literature authors, and journalists. It is a famous love poem reviewed, critiqued, and interpreted by many, and majority of the people who come acrossRead MoreJudy Chicago Dinner Party Essay6539 Words   |  27 PagesChristine de Pisan dreamt of building an ideal city for eminent and virtuous women, and with the help of her three muses, the sisters Reason, Rectitude, and Justice, she reflected on the many women in history and mythology who might live together in this Cità © des Dames. Almost exactly four centuries later, the American sculptor and feminist Harriet Hosmer envisioned a beautiful temple dedicated to the achievements of women. Now such a grand idea has been realized. Judy Chicagos Dinner Party, whichRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesobjective narrator dialogue includes many voices from around the country does not tell the reader how to interpret the story Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · social realism: aims to change a specific social problem aesthetic realism: art that insists on detailing the world as one sees it Historical Context: ï‚ · Civil War brings demand for a truer type of literature that does not idealize people or places Naturalism period of American Literature - 1880-1900 Naturalism is a sub-genre ofrealism Content: ï‚ · ï‚ ·

President Obamas Child Farm Labor Bill - 1086 Words

President Obama wanted to pass a bill that would prevent young farm workers from participating in farm-related activities and chores. Billed as an anti-child labor act, the bill was quickly censured. As Leven puts it, the proposal drew heavy criticism from rural-state lawmakers and agricultural leaders, who cast the rule as government overreach that would erode the traditional American family. The traditional American family in this case is a rural one, which is an under-represented segment of the population in federal politics. In addition to the way the bill harms traditional rural life, it would also have significantly harmed the American economy at a time when the economy needs a boost. Farm families rely on a continuity of labor, so that the young people on the family can learn the trade as early as possible to support their future careers. Moreover, the bill represents an unnecessary encroachment of both the government and big labor on farming practices. Part of the bills provi sion was to create a government intervention to oversee occupational safety, when there are already independent organizations committed to meeting the same objectives. President Obamas proposed child farm labor bill was untenable because it would damage traditional rural family life; harm a significant part of the American economy; and enable government and big labor to intrude upon the lives of Americans. President Obamas child farm labor bill would apply child labor laws to childrenShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of National Relations Labor Act ( Nlra ) And The Fair Labor Standards Act1181 Words   |  5 PagesLabor Legislation in the 20th Century Much of what we know about the improvements in the workforce came from 20th century advancements with the workforce that we know today. Important developments came in the form of methodology and data collection efforts. The 20th century was a remarkable period for the American workers. Despite the initial stages of labor management, working conditions, wages and benefits improved over the last century with the workforce increasing six fold over theRead MoreIllegal Immigration : The United States1876 Words   |  8 PagesIllegal Immigration Due to the economic benefits of immigrant labor, the dangers of central American countries, and the basic human rights of noncitizens, the US government must grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants. Illegal immigration has become a rising issue in the US over the past few years, and it will continue to heat up coming into this year s presidential election. This issue is also very present in the local community due to it’s diversity and large Hispanic population. GenerallyRead MoreComparative Analysis Of The Estate Tax Essay2513 Words   |  11 Pagesand the loopholes within the tax code as they relate to the estate tax need to be closed. Hanlon and Steinberg’s paper was published in January 2013, two months after President Obama’s reelection campaign in which he argued for higher taxes on wealthy Americans. Shortly after his reelection as President, the President signed a bill, American Taxpayer Relief Act, which raised some income taxes on wealthy Americans (Hanlon Steinberg, 2013). The authors (2013) argue that the estate tax is â€Å"permanentlyRead MoreFederal Debt and Deficit: the Solutions2590 Words   |  11 Pagesis estimated to reach $36,000 by 2020 under the Obama Administration, and if spending increases at this rate, by default, so too will taxes. (US Census Bureau) Even with his proposed tax increases estimated to allocate $3 trillion in taxes, President Obama’s budget would double the current national debt by 2020 to more than $20 trillion or $138,000 per household. Clearly, government spending is a significant contributing factor to the deficit and to the national debt. 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Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages2 Crafting a Better Job 91 4 Emotions and Moods 97 What Are Emotions and Moods? 98 The Basic Emotions 100 †¢ The Basic Moods: Positive and Negative Affect 100 †¢ The Function of Emotions 102 †¢ Sources of Emotions and Moods 103 Emotional Labor 108 Affective Events Theory 110 Emotional Intelligence 112 The Case for EI 113 †¢ The Case Against EI 114 †¢ Emotion Regulation 115 OB Applications of Emotions and Moods 115 Selection 116 †¢ Decision Making 116 †¢ Creativity 116 †¢ Motivation 117 †¢ LeadershipRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 Pages1943 But what [is a microchip] good for? Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968 There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. —Ken Olson, President, Chairman, and Founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977 640K ought to be enough for anybody. —Attributed to Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, 1981 [Based on Kappelman, 2001; Jones, 2003] Chapter 1 †¢ Managing IT in a Digital World 3 The New App Economy Downloadable software apps have sparked

Mark Twain Biography Free Essays

Samuel Clemens, more commonly known as Mark Twain, was born on November 30th, 1835. He lived with a large family of five older siblings. During his young life, he and his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, where he spent much of his childhood. We will write a custom essay sample on Mark Twain Biography or any similar topic only for you Order Now At the age of twelve, Samuel’s father died, and he left school to start working and help his family. He held various jobs until he reached the age of 21. At this age, he started working on a steamboat. During the Civil War, demand for the boats dropped and he had to find other means of work. Eventually, he got a job as a reporter at the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise where he quickly became known as Mark Twain. Before he led a life of fame, he had an eventful childhood where he held several interesting jobs, â€Å"The secret to getting ahead is getting started.†- Mark Twain As a writer, his wealth quickly grew after writing a book on Ulysses S. Grant. He would add many of his opinions about matters of the day into his books, such as his opinion on slavery. He was a great influence on many people from all over the world. The fame and riches he received for his books wouldn’t last his entire life though, he would lose almost everything, including his wealth and family. He stopped writing for a time to explore other careers in which he could benefit. People loved the stories that Mark Twain told. In February of 1870, Samuel Clemens married his wife Livy. Family meant a lot to him but he also had a love for money. Soon after their marriage, Livy became pregnant with their first son Langdon, however, before he was very old, he died. Throughout Twain’s life, most of his family members died of various disease and illnesses. In fact, when his wife became sick, the doctors only allowed him to see her for two minutes a day because his personality would upset her illness. After several people he knew died, he grew depressed and became mad at God. He cared deeply for his family and was very nostalgic. After he stopped writing, he attempted to become a businessman to increase his fortune. However, he was not a good businessman. When he made several poor decisions, his money quickly started to vanish. He loved money but was not wise with it. He made multiple bad investments at the same time, and his investments never took off. He started a publishing company to help make money, but it didn’t work, he was still losing money. That and the combination of him spending over $30,000 monthly, and he eventually went bankrupt. After bankruptcy, he decided he would still pay the people he owed money to. Like Twain said, â€Å"Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection† He went around the world speaking at various events, earning money until, a few years later, he had paid back all of his debts, which had started at over $200,000. Although he managed his finances poorly, his strong moral compass helped him pay back what he owed, even when he was not required to. Mark Twain has been known very well mainly for his books, but also, his numerous quotes. His first novel was titled, The Innocents Abroad. It quickly became a popular book. Other popular books by Mark Twain included Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi and Huck Finn. Samuel Clemens accomplished much over the course of his life. He went from having a lot, to losing everything, to working hard to get his wealth back. Most of his family died while he was still living. The only one of his children to live longer than he was his Daughter, Claria Clemans. Samuel Clemens was born when Halley’s Comet was at earth and he said he wished to leave with it, â€Å"I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It’s coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it.† -Mark Twain. He did. The day after Halley’s Comet had made its closest approach to earth, Mark Twain died of a heart attack. During his life, he was extremely successful, and never gave up in the face of difficulty, not even after his family died and his wealth was lost. How to cite Mark Twain Biography, Papers

Wal-Mart - Initiatives That Benefit Society free essay sample

Abstract Since Wal-Mart opened its doors in the early 1960’s profit as with any corporation has been a main focus. Achieving and succeeding in this however is easier said than done, development and success of a company relies on efficiency in current practices and improvements in those practices to insure the future of the company. A strong sustainability strategy which is closely followed will allow for such growth and success; bringing profits to the organization. Wal-Mart is said to be â€Å"a template for 21st Century capitalism† [1, pg 3] they hold a reputation for low prices; however this reputation is not reflective of their profits, as seen during the fiscal year of 2008 Wal-Mart earned $12. 73 billion dollars. [2] With such sizable profits corporations can afford to take risks for potential loss or reduced profits in hopes of encouraging improvements to the environment and society. Some products have been incorporated into Wal-Mart’s stocking that hold little potential for profit, but improved environmental and social contribution. Wal-Mart has set goals to become more socially and environmentally responsible for the impact their products hold. [3] Topic Question †¢As evidenced by Exhibit 12, Wal-Marts sustainability strategy has generally been very profitable. However, two initiatives described in the case benefit society and the environment, but apparently decrease Wal-Mart’s profits. Identify those two initiatives and imagine that you are their internal champion. †¢How would you justify pursuing those initiatives? Intro As a team we identified two initiatives in which Wal-Mart provided a product that had the potential for social and environmental improvement, however did not meet typical profit expectations. Alaskan Salmon fillets which were caught in the Wild by commercial fisheries hold a social improvement for the consumer while the corporation saw little profit and in some cases minor losses. The other initiative which we identified was the environmental improvement associated with the E-Waste â€Å"Box Program† where boxes including ostage were provided to encourage the recycling of electronics at 35 to 50 percent of the cost of the material. [4] SWOT Strengths – Wild caught salmon has a decreased level of hormones and toxins then farm raised, this makes the fish provided at a loss by Wal-Mart a healthier alternative for the consumer. The quality and taste of the fish is also improved with wild caught salmon. Eutrophication has the potential to decrease with less farming improving quality of the ecosystem. Weakness – By selling these products below cost, profits will be lost. It is hard to promote the benefits of programs if consumer is not interested, in the case of the recycling program as consumers were unwilling to pay to participate. [4] Opportunities Change consumer’s view of Wal-Mart’s concern for the environment, by reducing its environmental impact by providing a low cost recycling program. By making organic and environmentally friendly products affordable for everyone such as the Salmon in this case, and set the standard for environmental responsibility by discouraging fish farming and throwing away electronics. Threats – While the wild Alaskan caught salmon has greater health benefits it still cost more than frozen farm raised; consumers don’t want to pay the extra, even if Wal-Mart is taking a profit loss. This threat could leave products on the shelf to spoil, and Wal-Mart was already taking a loss by just providing the fish to consumers. Recommendations We recommend that Wal-Mart continue in its efforts to keep involved in providing products and services which are socially and environmentally progressive. Being that they are such a large corporation an example can be set to others in the industry to recognize the importance of these programs. While loss on a product in retail is not ideal, the overall profits of the company are high and affected very little through a few programs with potential for important social and environmental impact. Justification Farm raised salmon was found to contain 10 times more toxins than wild salmon; by providing fresh wild Alaskan Salmon at a reduced price consumer have a healthier alternative at a moderate price. The same article also stated that farm raised salmon poses risks of cancer, so the decision to provide wild salmon reduces the risk of cancer of the consumer. [5] Salmon that is caught in the wild is a much more nutritious alternative to farm raised, wild fish contain 20% more protein, and 20% less fat , wild fish also contain a healthier ration of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids; all of these factors play a role in the taste of the fish, which overall is said to be better then farm raised salmon. 6] The amount of fish farms has the potential to decrease with a distributor the size of Wal-Mart turning to wild caught fish; this is a strength as the effects to ecosystems will be reduced. Fish farming is thought to be a contributing factor to eutrophication due to the excess organic matter behind in the form of feces, this leads to poor water quality affecting the oxygen content of the water. This subjects the area to increases in algae, and would affect the aquatic life in nearby waters further deteriorating the ecosystem. 7] Cost/Benefit analysis Costs – The supplier is often stuck with extra costs associated with products like Wild caught salmon, from the increase in pay out to their suppliers, potential for product going bad on the shelves as prices are higher than frozen farm raised products. Benefits – Providing healthier alternatives will attract another market of consumers increasing their sales. By providing services and products which are more environmentally and socially responsible, the stock prices have the potential to increase. Economists suggest that stock could be worth over 8% more if they could develop a better reputation in regards to the image associated with their environmental responsibility plan. [4, pg 3] Works Cited [1] Erica Plambeck, L. D. (2007, April 17). Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Strategy. Case: OIT-71 REV. 09/30/08 . Stanford Graduate School of Business. [2] http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/23232814 [3] http://www. nytimes. com/2009/07/16/business/energy-environment/16walmart. html [4] Erica Plambeck, L. D. (2007, April 17). Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Strategy. Case: OIT-71 REV. 09/30/08 . Stanford Graduate School of Business. [5]Science 9 January 2004: Vol. 303. no. 5655, pp. 226 229 DOI: 10. 1126/science. 1091447 Reports Global Assessment of Organic Contaminants in Farmed Salmon Ronald A. Hites,1* Jeffery A. Foran,2 David O. Carpenter,3 M. Coreen Hamilton,4 Barbara A. Knuth,5 Steven J. Schwager6 [6] http://www. paystolivegreen. com/2009/02/wild-salmon-vs-farmed-raised-which-is-better/ [7] http://ec. europa. eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/184na5. pdf

Associated Uncertainties Banking Practices -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Associated Uncertainties Banking Practices? Answer: Introducation Operational risk is that likelihood of loss established by unsuccessful/insufficient internal processes, systems, people or outdoor considerations like legal risk. Thus, operational risk weighted assets denote the assets amount the reserved by the bank to bar damage where there is banks exposure this risk. This risk is managed via the application of Basic Indicator Approach according to Basel II guidelines about the measurement of operational risk. Here, the operational risk weighted asset is computed as the gross income function. The stress is applied in managing this risk by measurement of the influence of feasible damage to physical asset is done. In instance of stressed scenario, the loss of OP is taken be one percent of regulatory capital hence plugged into present OP weighted asset to establish an adverse influence on capital adequacy ratio. Because OP is measured as a gross incomes function in Basic Indicator Approach (BIA), whereby stress testing shock context is employed to this risk in similar manner, the risk amount deceases thereby creating a plus influence on ratio of capital adequacy. Management of this risk is by addition of the damage amount to be assumed in the assets (physical) to legal capital reserved for OP for measuring influence of this damage upon ratio of capital adequacy. Financial Risk Management Financial risk management focuses on such strategies to tackle for example, the likelihood of loss which a bank could become exposed to because of failure of credit customers to meet their obligations of enacted contract and failure to perform such obligations, fully or partially, in the planned timeframe. Thus, the Credit Risk Weighted Assets is used in managing financial risk to denote the amount of assets banks have to reserve to bar damage in case it is exposed to credit risk. Where the credit losses increase in the stressed scenario, the credit risk losses surge and average risk weights remain influenced by worsening classes of risk because of assumed class of risk mitigations. The bank then uses the internal and external loss and default data alongside historical as well as scenario macroeconomic data in predicting effects of prevailing credit portfolios taking into account loss levels and default rates by portfolio and country. This allows the bank to identify a range of parts of portfolio allowing banks to mage this risk more efficiently and effectively. The bank also handles the risk of huge exposures via the stimulation of effects of default by 1 or more of investment grade rating (Rad 2016.). Basel II and How Capital Adequacy and Risk Management are Linked Basel II denotes an array of regulations (international) that Basel Committee has put in place on supervising bank thus levelling the field of global regulation universal guidelines and rules. It extended the rules for requirement of minimum capital created under its predecessor, Basel I, 1st regulatory (international) accord, alongside offered the framework for reviewing regulatory alongside established requirements for disclosure for banks requirements of capital adequacy. The major diversion from Basel I is that the second one has incorporated asset credit risk the financial institution hold in determining capital ratios of regulatory. It is the 2nd global banking regulatory consensus which is anchored on 3 major pillars: regulatory supervision; minimum capital requirement and market discipline. The minimal capital requirement is playing a key part in Base II thereby further obligating each bank to hold a minimal of regulatory capital ratio over risk-weighted assets. Since regulations of banking substantially differed amongst nations prior to inception of Basel consensuses, a universal Basel I framework, and, accordingly, Basel II assisted nations in alleviating anxiety over the regulatory competitiveness as well as drastically different national banks capital requirements. Basel II offers guideline for computing minimum regulatory capital ratios. It further confirms the regulatory capital definition and eight percent minimal co-efficient for the regulatory capital over-weighted assets. It apportions eligible banks regulatory capital in 3 tiers. The greater a tier is, the fewer is securities (subordinated) of bank are permitted to entail in it. Every tier has to be of some minimal % of whole regulatory capital as well as is utilized as the numerator in computing ratios of such regulatory capital (Mascia, Keasey and Vallascas 2016). Tier one capital stays the highly stringent regulatory capital definition which is secondary to each additional capital instruments. It entails shareholder equity, disclosed reserve, earnings retained, and some capital (innovative) instruments. Tier two remains Tier one instruments added to additional reserves of bank, instruments (hybrid) alongside medium run and long-run loans (subordinated). Tier three entails Tier two added to short run loans (subordinated). The other significant portion in Basel Two stays sanitizing risk-weighted assets definition that are utilized as a the ratios of regulatory capital denominator, as well as remain computed by utilizing amount of assets which are subsequently multiplied by corresponding risk weights for every asset kind. The riskier an asset is, higher is the assets weight (Targino, Peters and Shevchenko 2015). The idea of risk-weighted assets is purposed to penalize banks for having assets that are risky that substantially boost risk-weighted assets as well as lowers regulatory ratios of regulatory capital. The major Basel II innovation in contrast to Basel I remains that it considers credit rating of assets when determining risk weights. The higher credit rating is the lower will be the risk weight (Kinateder 2016). Pillar 1 risks remained a key element of banking sector important in measuring capital adequacy ratio as well as determining the performance of the banks under stress. The pillar 1 risk remains key because of the fact that they outline rules by which regulatory capital is determined. Thus, Pillar 1 risks are usable as an indicator in understanding some risks to banks and how to manage them (Roy 2016). The banks are increasingly sensitive to shocks sensitive to shocks proceeded by economic turmoil like a plunge in prices of houses and a surge in bad loans due to the bankruptcy based on capital adequacy ratio and its elements (credit risk, capital, operational and market risk) and a surge in rates of currency (de Jesus Santos, da Silva Macedo and Rodrigues 2014). Relationship between Capital Adequacy and Risk Management As provided for in Basel II, capital adequacy and risk management are interlinked. The foundation for capital adequacy is the need to manage risk in banks. The Pillar risks and Basel II regulations have shown that Basel II remains essential for both surveillance and supervision of banks whereby regulations are established to respond to swift-changing financial contexts. The measurement of concentration risk has been studied and shown that it is essential for regulatory capital in credit portfolios and hence appreciating the significance of assured rules of Basel II (Cummings and Durrani 2016). Basel II has increased capital charges sensitivity and has an effect on lending. Thus, Basel II assists financial institutions like banks to manage high credit levels via their funds from loans and bonds by maintaining capital adequacy requirement. The capital adequacy ratio has led to banks modifying their portfolios into less risk assets instead of heavily weighted risky ones as a strategy to manage risks. The necessary capital amount which must be held by banks under Basel II is arrived at in twofold: borrowers institutional nature alongside borrowers riskiness. Thus, capital adequacy requirements affect the rates of lending in banks hence determining investment as well as output. The change in capital adequacy ratio is determined by the risk the bank is exposed to in order to effectively manage risk (Beltratti and Paladino 2016). Relating to Post-GFC Reforms in Australian Financial Markets The financial institutions in Australia are also operated in a global context, and, hence interact with global entities and have operations in other countries. Thus it would be counterproductive and impracticable for Australia to embrace, go it alone policy, by failing to implement the agreed global reforms. Thus, Australian is interested in adopting high standards in supervising and regulating. The Australian banking system has adopted novel global standards with certain adaptation to domestic conditions. This has included the implementation of the capital adequacy requirement that has helped in risk management during the risk exposure. For this reason, the Australian has strengthened prudential regulatory standards with respect to capital adequacy requirement. The quality and amount of Australian banking sectors capital has considerably surged after GFC as a risks management mechanism. This is because GFC has promoted both regulators and markets and this has helped the Australian banking sector in reappraising their views on the level acceptable and capital forms. Major changes have either been effected or proposed on the prevailing capital regulations. The capital adequacy has been an area of focused to help banks withstand loses without being insolvent thereby managing the risks effectively. Thus, the capital adequacy is being implemented to promote banks resilience and hence the regulations are channeled towards ensuring that adequate capital is available in terms of both capital form and amount that has to be held. Through the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), the requirement of capital adequacy has been made much stringent based on Basel II. The banks must quantify their credit, operational and market risk with the credit risk given the most focused as it indicates that Australian banks have focused on traditional lending tasks. Therefore, APRA puts it a mandatory for each locally incorporated bank in Australia to hold a minimum capital of 8% of its risk-weighted assets. The bank must have at least 50% of its total capital being better-quality Tier one. This means that a minimum Tier one ratio of 4%. These minima can be increased by APRA for individual bank in case it considers it essential based on the banks risk profile. References Beltratti, A. and Paladino, G., 2016. Basel II and regulatory arbitrage. Evidence from financial crises.Journal of Empirical Finance,39, pp.180-196. Cummings, J.R. and Durrani, K.J., 2016. Effect of the Basel Accord capital requirements on the loan-loss provisioning practices of Australian banks.Journal of Banking Finance,67, pp.23-36. de Jesus Santos, L., da Silva Macedo, M.A. and Rodrigues, A., 2014. Determinants of the disclosure level of the Pillar 3 recommendations of the Basel II Accord in the financial statements of Brazilian financial institutions.Brazilian Business Review,11(1), p.25. Kinateder, H., 2016. Basel II versus IIIA Comparative Assessment of Minimum Capital Requirements for Internal Model Approaches. Mascia, D.V., Keasey, K. and Vallascas, F., 2016. Did Basel II Affect Credit Growth to Corporate Borrowers During the Crisis?. InFinancial Crisis, Bank Behaviour and Credit Crunch(pp. 83-94). Springer, Cham. Rad, A., 2016. Basel II and the associated uncertainties for banking practices.Qualitative Research in Financial Markets,8(3), pp.229-245. Roy, A., 2016. Low RWA but high GNPA? Risk performance of some Indian banks under Basel II-SA.Journal of Risk Management in Financial Institutions,9(1), pp.85-98. Targino, R.S., Peters, G.W. and Shevchenko, P.V., 2015. Sequential Monte Carlo Samplers for capital allocation under copula-dependent risk models.Insurance: Mathematics and Economics,61, pp.206-226.