Hamlet's antic disposition. Is his madness feigned or real Research Paper

Hamlet's antic disposition. Is his madness feigned or real - Research Paper Example The spontaneity of the act that he puts on seems, at a later stage, to have led commentators on the play to have thought that his was not an act in the first place. His disavowal of what later we realize was a true love for Ophelia, is one of the incidents in the play that are cited to damn Hamlet as insane. The vision of the ghost, some say, seems to be a vision of a madman, who has been deranged by the death of his father and what seems to him a betrayal by his mother. These, for some critics are also validated by his musings on the very nature of death during the graveyard scene. Coupled with a suicidal tendency, these musings of one of Shakespeare’s most famous characters leads not an insignificant number of critics to believe that his state of mind is not one of sanity. All of these, however, can be refuted if one is to look at the play from another perspective. Hamlet, G. Wilson Knight says, presents an antithesis to what the Danish court stands for, life. Whether this i s a result of his direct encounter with death is unclear. However, his musing on death and his rejection of Ophelia are instances where he rejects the vital activities of life. He contemplates suicide, another instance of his revulsion for the life and vitality that are represented by the other members of the court. Knight affirms the essential righteousness of the aims of Hamlet. Deprived of his rights and parental love, Hamlet is morally superior to Claudius who has murdered his own brother out of love for the throne and for Gertrude. However, Hamlet remains in Knight’s words, a â€Å"negation of life† (Knight 187). It is this distance from vitality that places Hamlet in a position where he appears to be insane. To make my point clearer, I shall make a reference to Michel Foucault’s theories of insanity. Foucault saw insanity as a deviation from the normal codes of society. It is, according to him, a means employed by the so-called ‘sane’ society to define itself, that is, it serves as a kind of touchstone for mainstream society (Foucault). Hamlet, here is such a severe contrast to the life-affirming but wicked Claudius and the majority of the other characters that are faithful to him, that he appears to be an aberration. This has been construed as insanity by many. However, this would be to state that in some way or the other, Hamlet can be seen as a mad person. This does not present the facts in a true light. The standard, against which Hamlet’s behavior seems to be a deviation from the norm, is that of the Danish court. However, the moral values that Hamlet employs are those of Renaissance humanism (Kettle 238). Hamlet is a highly educated person. His values are shaped by the dominant ideology of the time, humanism, which talked about the ability of man to rise to infinite heights which were unthought-of before. Seen in this context, the very pessimism that we had attributed to Hamlet seems to be an optimistic atti tude that has seen through the facade of the Danish court. The baseness of the king and his followers rankles Hamlet, one who has recognized the infinite potential of man. What Marcellus unwittingly says about the condition of Denmark , Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (1.4. 90) is exactly what Hamlet feels about the state of his homeland. It is against this backdrop that Hamlet appears to be ins

Girlhood in19th Century American Art Research Paper - 1

Girlhood in19th Century American Art - Research Paper Example al backgrounds, ages, and other demographic variables who illustrate different features and aspects of girlhood that condenses the aspect of beauty in the context of the nineteenth century America. Beauty, culture, and history are presented in multiple dimensions that effectively portray the subtle aesthetics and meanings as understood within the specific context. A huge travelling exhibition, â€Å"Angels and Tomboys: Girlhood in 19th century American art† includes eighty prints, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and texts depicting the concepts of 19th century girlhood. The exhibitions interprets the countless ways that artists at this time delineated, artistically, the perception of people of how girls were and ought to be and how the artist aided in the modeling the social and artistic perception of being a female at that time. It also intended to show what adults hoped for the future of their daughters and what they feared most. Indeed, it includes the works of an era when females were just beginning to appear in art, featuring the works of Winslow Homer, Thomas Wakins, William Merritt Chase, Cecilia Beaux and much more. The artwork portrays economic and social class and race. It is apparent how the civil war affects the artwork which is shown later in the exhibition. It expresses how perceptions of women were changing along with the education and work conditions. Throughout the 19th century, when thinking about a young woman or girl, the first thoughts would be angelic, sweet, innocent and domestic. This exhibition at The Newark Museum had a different take on this issue. It displays significantly different views than the â€Å"norm† just previously describes of girlhood. The first text you would see entering the exhibit is a quote from James’s novella Daisy Miller (1878), where Daisy is portrayed as an †inscrutable combination of audacity and innocence†. This is evident in the name of the exhibit. It is evident how much our perceptions have changed

Hobbes Locke And Rousseau And The Social Contract Philosophy Essay

Hobbes Locke And Rousseau And The Social Contract Philosophy Essay All the above three quotes are from three of the most influential and glorified philosophers. All three of them, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau are famous for their works in the field of political philosophy. These three philosophers dominated the political thoughts of the 17th and 18th century. Thomas Hobbes Born on 5 April 1588 in Malmesbury , Wiltshire , England , formed the base for western political thought through his various books, one of which was highly influential in the field of political philosophy was the book Leviathan .Apart from political philosophy he also contributed in the field of history , geometry , ethics and political science. John Locke Born on 29 august 1632 in Wrington , Somerset, England, mostly known as the father of Liberalism. His   work had a large impact upon the establishment of the concept of   epistemology and political philosophy.one of his most famous writings is the Two treaties of government . Jean Jacques Rousseau Born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Republic of Geneva.his work influenced the French and the American revolution. His major works were in the field of political philosophy , literature ,education and his famous books are Emile and the social contract and discourses. To begin with I would like to inform that the social contract from the eyes of these three philosophers is based on one fundamental philosophy that is the state of nature, which is different for each one of them as all three have different dimensions and dynamics to it Hobbes considers the state of nature an horrific one .he simply calls the state of nature a s a state of war that is constant war. This state of war or state of nature is derived from human nature , human beings tendency to desire and to fulfill these desires in order to remain happy and satisfied in life . Hobbes expresses that the state of nature provides full freedom , everyone has the freedom to do what they want . thus there is complete equality too as each one is capable of desiring what they want and to do anything to achieve the desires always trying to gain more than the other person resulting in conflict and hence a state of war. No person can be inferior to another by the virtue of nature. Hobbes wrote that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man .due to the constant dispute and battle between human beings there is constant fear. According to Hobbes people in the state of nature are free to do anything they feel like doing in order to protect their interests hence there is no injustice as there no law . According to Locke state of nature is a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions , and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of law of nature.it is a state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another. He defines the state of nature as that state that is present before the the society develops. Its a state of complete freedom and equality and everyone is equally free. there is this concept of law of nature which both Hobbes and Locke follow . the law of nature governs the state of nature , it is the law derived from human reasoning. But according to Locke the law of reason suggests to avoid harm to self and others well being , property and liberty. This is where Locke opposes Hobbes as he say if the law of nature is followed then there will be complete peace and harmony which prevents the state of nature from entering a state of war .Locke mainly speaks of political equality , he says that one person can not be a victim of authority and oppression of another. Rousseau too disagreed with Hobbes with regard to the state of nature .he too felt that the state of nature was not a state of war. He presents the state of nature as a primitive one . Where human beings live like savages, whose desires are very basic and simple. There interaction with others is done for no social cause but to fulfill their own basic desires like sex , food and sleep. He said that in a state of nature human beings have only a few natural sentiments of self-love and pity. Humans live on basic instincts and can make use of nature hence giving them way more choices than other animals even though they seem like brute animals but they are not. This state is a very peaceful one as there is no vice, and no sentiments like greed, jealousy, envy as there is no civilized society. How and why should the state exit the State of Nature and enter into a social contract? Hobbes says; In a state of War, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.no commodious Building; no Knowledge of the face of the earth; no Account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short Hobbes says that the only way that the state of war in the state of nature can end is with the entering of the social contract. It can prevent chaos which is prevailing in the state of war. Hobbes says that there are laws present in the state of nature but no one to implement them, hence to have an authority or a body which can enforce these laws we need to enter into a contract. Hobbesian social contract demands the human beings in the state of nature to give up all their rights to the supreme authority apart from their right to life, which in the case of Hobbes is the sovereign, according to Hobbes the sovereign is absolute authority. The contract is void one the aim of the contract is not fulfilled that is the citizens of the state are not secure. According to Locke the reason behind leaving the state of nature are three inconveniences in the law of nature that there wants an established known law, there wants a known and impartial judge, and there wants the power to back and support the sentence when right and to give it due execution he says that humans have to transfer from the state of nature to the social contract in order to create a political society. According to Locke the social contract is entered only once there is consent of the people. This social contract forms a civil society with a government; the purpose of this was the protection of life, property and liberty. Rousseau claims moving out from the state of nature because as the population increased the resources were strained as a result of which humans started living in groups,there were personal comparisons, which led to pride and vanity, with time passing there there were innovations resulting in leisure hence causing greed, all this created division between the rich and the poor.the social unrest caused by all this showed a need of a government hence Rousseau explains the need for exit from the state of nature. He states that the government should be formed on the basis of a general will. For the general will to be truly general, it must be general in its origin, in its form and when there is economic equality he says that there must be a say of each and every person of the society, that a group should not represent the mass but each person should have the ability to vote and chose their sovereign. From the above text we realize that all three of them agreed to having a contract for the greater good of society. Hobbes and Rousseau want a absolute sovereign whereas Locke places various limitations to the sovereign. I feel all even though the three theorists differ in a few fundamental points their aims and purposes are mostly similar. -SHIVEN VARMA

Democracy :: Politics Democratic Republic

Democracy I. Meaning of Democracy II. Summary of Places and Dates III. Features of Democracy IV. Types of Democracy V. Early Democracy A. Athens B. Rome VI. Middle Ages and England VII. The Renaissance A. United States of America B. France VIII. Modern Times IX. Important People   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Demos Kratia, or democracy, as it is used today, means â€Å" the people rule.† A democracy is a form of government is run by the people of that country through elections and representation. A democracy is really a form of a republic known as a democratic republic. A republic is a government where officials, elected by a small group of people, make the important decisions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Democracy has been around for almost 2500 years since Athens, Greece became the first democracy. The Romans also experimented with democracy, however it was more a republic, and not a democracy. Around 1200 England laid the groundwork to become a republic. Later, in the 1700's, United States of America, became a democracy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many features of democracy. Most of these features are the same, but individual countries use varations of the main ideas. The main feature of democracy, which determines a true democracy, is free, competitive elections. Sometimes however, women or minorities don't have the right to vote. Some of these other features, such as checks on power, help to limit the strength of any one person or party. Other features like free elections, and majority/ minority rule, help to make elections fair, since the judgment of many people is generally better then the judgment of a few people. Political parties keep one government, or idea of government form holding all power. These features let the people to govern themselves without the country being torn apart.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are two true types of democracies, direct democracies, and representative democracies. In a direct democracy all the people meet to discuss problems and creat laws. A direct decision consults all the people for the decisions.. Since that is unpractical in todays world, a new form of democracy, the representative democracy has arisen. This form of democracy has elected representatives making most of the day to day decisions, while the main groups of citizens consulted for only the most important decisions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the earliest known democracies was in Athens, a city-state in southern, ancient Greece. Around 620BC, Athens became the first true democracy. In Athens the ruler Draco tried to make many reforms in the city state. Draco organized laws by putting them in a written code, letting everyone know what the laws were and how they applied to everyone. He also gave the people the right to a trial. The next ruler Solon, the next Athenian ruler also helped Athens become

Prelude to Foundation Chapter 12 Aerie

ROBOT-†¦ A term used in the ancient legends of several worlds for what are more usually called â€Å"automata.† Robots are described as generally human in shape and made of metal, although some are supposed to have been pseudo-organic in nature. Hari Seldon, in the course of The Flight, is popularly supposed to have seen an actual robot, but that story is of dubious origin. Nowhere in Seldon's voluminous writings does he mention robots at all, although†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica 56. They were not noticed. Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili repeated the trip of the day before and this time no one gave them a second look. Hardly anyone even gave them a first look. On several occasions, they had to tuck their knees to one side to allow someone sitting on an inner seat to get past them and out. When someone got in, they quickly realized they had to move over if there was an inner empty seat. This time they quickly grew tired of the smell of kirtles that were not freshly laundered because they were not so easily diverted by what went on outside. But eventually they were there. â€Å"That's the library,† said Seldon in a low voice. â€Å"I suppose so,† said Dors. â€Å"At least that's the building that Mycelium Seventy-Two pointed out yesterday.† They sauntered toward it leisurely. â€Å"Take a deep breath,† said Seldon. â€Å"This is the first hurdle.† The door ahead was open, the light within subdued. There were five broad stone steps leading upward. They stepped onto the lowermost one and waited several moments before they realized that their weight did not cause the steps to move upward. Dors grimaced very slightly and gestured Seldon upward. Together they walked up the stairs, feeling embarrassed on behalf of Mycogen for its backwardness. Then, through a door, where, at a desk immediately inside was a man bent over the simplest and clumsiest computer Seldon had ever seen. The man did not look up at them. No need, Seldon supposed. White kirtle, bald head-all Mycogenians looked so nearly the same that one's eyes slid off them and that was to the tribespeople's advantage at the moment. The man, who still seemed to be studying something on the desk, said, â€Å"Scholars?† â€Å"Scholars,† said Seldon. The man jerked his head toward a door. â€Å"Go in. Enjoy.† They moved inward and, as nearly as they could see, they were the only ones in this section of the library. Either the library was not a popular resort or the scholars were few or-most likely-both. Seldon whispered, â€Å"I thought surely we would have to present some sort of license or permission form and I would have to plead having forgotten it.† â€Å"He probably welcomes our presence under any terms. Did you ever see a place like this? If a place, like a person, could be dead, we would be inside a corpse.† Most of the books in this section were print-books like the Book in Seldon's inner pocket. Dors drifted along the shelves, studying them. She said, â€Å"Old books, for the most part. Part classic. Part worthless.† â€Å"Outside books? Non-Mycogen, I mean?† â€Å"Oh yes. If they have their own books, they must be kept in another section. This one is for outside research for poor little self-styled scholars like yesterday's.-This is the reference department and here's an Imperial Encyclopedia†¦ must be fifty years old if a day†¦ and a computer.† She reached for the keys and Seldon stopped her. â€Å"Wait. Something could go wrong and we'll be delayed.† He pointed to a discreet sign above a free-standing set of shelves that glowed with the letters TO THE SACR TORIUM. The second A in SACRATORIUM was dead, possibly recently or possibly because no one cared. (The Empire, thought Seldon, was in decay. All parts of it. Mycogen too.) He looked about. The poor library, so necessary to Mycogenian pride, perhaps so useful to the Elders who could use it to find crumbs to shore up their own beliefs and present them as being those of sophisticated tribespeople, seemed to be completely empty. No one had entered after them. Seldon said, â€Å"Let's step in here, out of eyeshot of the man at the door, and put on our sashes.† And then, at the door, aware suddenly there would be no turning back if they passed this second hurdle, he said, â€Å"Dors, don't come in with me.† She frowned. â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"It's not safe and I don't want you to be at risk.† â€Å"I am here to protect you,† she said with soft firmness. â€Å"What kind of protection can you be? I can protect myself, though you may not think it. And I'd be handicapped by having to protect you. Don't you see that?† â€Å"You mustn't be concerned about me, Hari,† said Dors. â€Å"Concern is my part.† She tapped her sash where it crossed in the space between her obscured breasts. â€Å"Because Hummin asked you to?† â€Å"Because those are my orders.† She seized Seldon's arms just above his elbow and, as always, he was surprised by her firm grip. She said, â€Å"I'm against this, Hari, but if you feel you must go in, then I must go in too.† â€Å"All right, then. But if anything happens and you can wriggle out of it, run. Don't worry about me.† â€Å"You're wasting your breath, Hari. And you're insulting me.† Seldon touched the entrance panel and the portal slid open. Together, almost in unison, they walked through. 57. A large room, all the larger because it was empty of anything resembling furniture. No chairs, no benches, no seats of any kind. No stage, no drapery, no decorations. No lights, merely a uniform illumination of mild, unfocused light. The walls were not entirely blank. Periodically, arranged in spaced fashion at various heights and in no easy repetitive order, there were small, primitive, two-dimensional television screens, all of which were operating. From where Dors and Seldon stood, there was not even the illusion of a third dimension, not a breath of true holovision. There were people present. Not many and nowhere together. They stood singly and, like the television monitors, in no easy repetitive order. All were white-kirtled, all sashed. For the most part, there was silence. No one talked in the usual sense. Some moved their lips, murmuring softly. Those who walked did so stealthily, eyes downcast. The atmosphere was absolutely funereal. Seldon leaned toward Dors, who instantly put a finger to her lips, then pointed to one of the television monitors. The screen showed an idyllic garden bursting with blooms, the camera panning over it slowly. They walked toward the monitor in a fashion that imitated the others-slow steps, putting each foot down softly. When they were within half a meter of the screen, a soft insinuating voice made itself heard: â€Å"The garden of Antennin, as reproduced from ancient guidebooks and photographs, located in the outskirts of Eos. Note the-â€Å" Dors said in a whisper Seldon had trouble catching over the sound of the set, â€Å"It turns on when someone is close and it will turn off if we step away. If we're close enough, we can talk under cover, but don't look at me and stop speaking if anyone approaches.† Seldon, his head bent, his hands clasped before him (he had noted that this was a preferred posture), said, â€Å"Any moment I expect someone to start wailing.† â€Å"Someone might. They're mourning their Lost World,† said Dors. â€Å"I hope they change the films every once in a while. It would be deadly to always see the same ones.† â€Å"They're all different,† said Dors, her eyes sliding this way and that. â€Å"They may change periodically. I don't know.† â€Å"Wait!† said Seldon just a hair's breadth too loud. He lowered his voice and said, â€Å"Come this way.† Dors frowned, failing to make out the words, but Seldon gestured slightly with his head. Again the stealthy walk, but Seldon's footsteps increased in length as he felt the need for greater speed and Dors, catching up, pulled sharply-if very briefly-at his kirtle. He slowed. â€Å"Robots here,† he said under the cover of the sound as it came on. The picture showed the corner of a dwelling place with a rolling lawn and a line of hedges in the foreground and three of what could only be described as robots. They were metallic, apparently, and vaguely human in shape. The recording said, â€Å"This is a view, recently constructed, of the establishment of the famous Wendome estate of the third century. The robot you see near the center was, according to tradition, named Bendar and served twenty-two years, according to the ancient records, before being replaced.† Dors said, † ‘Recently constructed,' so they must change views.† â€Å"Unless they've been saying ‘recently constructed' for the last thousand years.† Another Mycogenian stepped into the sound pattern of the scene and said in a low voice, though not as low as the whisperings of Seldon and Dors, â€Å"Greetings, Brothers.† He did not look at Seldon and Dors as he spoke and after one involuntary and startled glance, Seldon kept his head averted. Dors had ignored it all. Seldon hesitated. Mycelium Seventy-Two had said that there was no talking in the Sacratorium. Perhaps he had exaggerated. Then too he had not been in the Sacratorium since he was a child. Desperately, Seldon decided he must speak. He said in a whisper, â€Å"And to you, Brother, greetings.† He had no idea whether that was the correct formula of reply or if there was a formula, but the Mycogenian seemed to find nothing amiss in it. â€Å"To you in Aurora,† he said. â€Å"And to you,† said Seldon and because it seemed to him that the other expected more, he added, â€Å"in Aurora,† and there was an impalpable release of tension. Seldon felt his forehead growing moist. The Mycogenian said, â€Å"Beautiful! I haven't seen this before.† â€Å"Skillfully done,† said Seldon. Then, in a burst of daring, he added, â€Å"A loss never to be forgotten.† The other seemed startled, then said, â€Å"Indeed, indeed,† and moved away. Dors hissed, â€Å"Take no chances. Don't say what you don't have to.† â€Å"It seemed natural. Anyway, this it recent. But those are disappointing robots. They are what I would expect automata to be. I want to see the organic ones-the humanoids.† â€Å"If they existed,† said Dors with some hesitation, â€Å"it seems to me they wouldn't be used for gardening jobs.† â€Å"True,† said Seldon. â€Å"We must find the Elders' aerie.† â€Å"If that exists. It seems to me there is nothing in this hollow cave but a hollow cave.† â€Å"Let's look.† They paced along the wall, passing from screen to screen, trying to wait at each for irregular intervals until Dors clutched Seldon's arms. Between two screens were lines marking out a faint rectangle. â€Å"A door,† Dors said. Then she weakened the assertion by adding, â€Å"Do you think?† Seldon looked about surreptitiously. It was in the highest degree convenient that, in keeping with the mourning atmosphere, every face, when not fixed on a television monitor, was bent in sad concentration on the floor. Seldon said, â€Å"How do you suppose it would open?† â€Å"An entrance patch.† â€Å"I can't make out any.† â€Å"It's just not marked out, but there's a slight discoloration there. Do you see it? How many palms? How many times?† â€Å"I'll try. Keep an eye out and kick me if anyone looks in this direction.† He held his breath casually, touched the discolored spot to no avail, and then placed his palm full upon it and pressed. The door opened silently-not a creak, not a scrape. Seldon stepped through as rapidly as he could and Dors followed him. The door closed behind them. â€Å"The question is,† said Dors, â€Å"did anyone see us?† Seldon said, â€Å"Elders must go through this door frequently.† â€Å"Yes, but will anyone think we are Elders?† Seldon waited, then said, â€Å"If we were observed and if anyone thought something was wrong, this door would have been flung open again within fifteen seconds of our entering.† â€Å"Possibly,† said Dors dryly, â€Å"or possibly there is nothing to be seen or done on this side of the door and no one cares if we enter.† â€Å"That remains to be seen,† muttered Seldon. The rather narrow room they had entered was somewhat dark, but as they stepped farther into it, the light brightened. There were chairs, wide and comfortable, small tables, several davenports, a deep and tall refrigerator, cupboards. â€Å"If this is the Elders' aerie,† said Seldon, â€Å"the Elders seem to do themselves comfortably, despite the austerity of the Sacratorium itself.† â€Å"As would be expected,† said Dors. â€Å"Asceticism among a ruling class-except for public show-is very rare. Put that down in your notebook for psychohistorical aphorisms.† She looked about. â€Å"And there is no robot.† Seldon said, â€Å"An aerie is a high position, remember, and this ceiling is not. There must be upper storeys and that must be the way.† He pointed to a well-carpeted stairway. He did not advance toward it, however, but looked about vaguely. Dors guessed what he was seeking. She said, â€Å"Forget about elevators. There's a cult of primitivism in Mycogen. Surely, you haven't forgotten that, have you? There would be no elevators and, what's more, if we place our weight at the foot of the stairs, I am quite certain it will not begin moving upward. We're going to have to climb it. Several flights, perhaps.† â€Å"Climb it?† â€Å"It must, in the nature of things, lead to the aerie-if it leads anywhere. Do you want to see the aerie or don't you?† Together they stepped toward the staircase and began the climb. They went up three flights and, as they did, the light level decreased perceptibly and in steady increments. Seldon took a deep breath and whispered, â€Å"I consider myself to be in pretty good shape, but I hate this.† â€Å"You're not used to this precise type of physical exertion.† She showed no signs of physical distress whatever. At the top of the third flight the stairs ended and before them was another door. â€Å"And if it's locked?† said Seldon, more to himself than to Dors. â€Å"Do we try to break it down?† But Dors said, â€Å"Why should it be locked when the lower door was not? If this is the Elders' aerie, I imagine there's a taboo on anyone but Elders coming here and a taboo is much stronger than any lock.† â€Å"As far as those who accept the taboo are concerned,† said Seldon, but he made no move toward the door. â€Å"There's still time to turn back, since you hesitate,† said Dors. â€Å"In fact, I would advise you to rum back.† â€Å"I only hesitate because I don't know what we'll find inside. If it's empty-† And then he added in a rather louder voice, â€Å"Then it's empty,† and he strode forward and pushed against the entry panel. The door retracted with silent speed and Seldon took a step back at the surprising flood of light from within. And there, facing him, eyes alive with light, arms half-upraised, one foot slightly advanced before the other, gleaming with a faintly yellow metallic shine, was a human figure. For a few moments, it seemed to be wearing a tight-fitting tunic, but on closer inspection it became apparent that the tunic was part of the structure of the object. â€Å"It's the robot,† said Seldon in awe, â€Å"but it's metallic.† â€Å"Worse than that,† said Dors, who had stepped quickly to one side and then to the other. â€Å"Its eyes don't follow me. Its arms don't as much as tremble. It's not alive-if one can speak of robots as being alive.† And a man-unmistakably a man-stepped out from behind the robot and said, â€Å"Perhaps not. But I am alive.† And almost automatically, Dors stepped forward and took her place between Seldon and the man who had suddenly appeared. 58. Seldon pushed Dors to one side, perhaps a shade more roughly than he intended. â€Å"I don't need protection. This is our old friend Sunmaster Fourteen.† The man who faced them, wearing a double sash that was perhaps his right as High Elder, said, â€Å"And you are Tribesman Seldon.† â€Å"Of course,† said Seldon. â€Å"And this, despite her masculine dress, is Tribeswoman Venabili.† Dors said nothing. Sunmaster Fourteen said, â€Å"You are right, of course, tribesman. You are in no danger of physical harm from me. Please sit down. Both of you. Since you are not a Sister, tribeswoman, you need not retire. There is a seat for you which, if you value such a distinction, you will be the first woman ever to have used.† â€Å"I do not value such a distinction,† said Dors, spacing her words for emphasis. Sunmaster Fourteen nodded. â€Å"That is as you wish. I too will sit down, for I must ask you questions and I do not care to do it standing.† They were sitting now in a corner of the room. Seldon's eyes wandered to the metal robot. Sunmaster Fourteen said, â€Å"It is a robot.† â€Å"I know,† said Seldon briefly. â€Å"I know you do,† said Sunmaster Fourteen with similar curtness. â€Å"But now that we have settled that matter, why are you here?† Seldon gazed steadily at Sunmaster Fourteen and said, â€Å"To see the robot.† â€Å"Do you know that no one but an Elder is allowed in the aerie?† â€Å"I did not know that, but I suspected it.† â€Å"Do you know that no tribesperson is allowed in the Sacratorium?† â€Å"I was told that.† â€Å"And you ignored the fact, is that it?† â€Å"As I said, we wanted to see the robot.† â€Å"Do you know that no woman, even a Sister, is allowed in the Sacratorium except at certain stated-and rare-occasions?† â€Å"I was told that.† â€Å"And do you know that no woman is at any time-or for any reason-allowed to dress in masculine garb? That holds, within the borders of Mycogen, for tribeswomen as well as for Sisters.† â€Å"I was not told that, but I am not surprised.† â€Å"Good. I want you to understand all this. Now, why did you want to see the robot?† Seldon said with a shrug, â€Å"Curiosity. I had never seen a robot or even known that such a thing existed.† â€Å"And how did you come to know that it did exist and, specifically, that it existed here?† Seldon was silent, then said, â€Å"I do not wish to answer that question.† â€Å"Is that why you were brought to Mycogen by Tribesman Hummin? To investigate robots?† â€Å"No. Tribesman Hummin brought us here that we might be secure. However, we are scholars, Dr. Venabili and I. Knowledge is our province and to gain knowledge is our purpose. Mycogen is little understood outside its borders and we wish to know more about your ways and your methods of thought. It is a natural desire and, it seems to us, a harmless-even praiseworthy-one.† â€Å"Ah, but we do not wish the outer tribes and worlds to know about us. That is our natural desire and we are the judge of what is harmless to us and what harmful. So I ask you again, tribesman: How did you know that a robot existed in Mycogen and that it existed in this room?† â€Å"General rumor,† said Seldon at length. â€Å"Do you insist on that?† â€Å"General rumor. I insist on it.† Sunmaster Fourteen's keen blue eyes seemed to sharpen and he said without raising his voice, â€Å"Tribesman Seldon, we have long cooperated with Tribesman Hummin. For a tribesman, he has seemed a decent and trustworthy individual. For a tribesman! When he brought you two to us and commended you to our protection, we granted it. But Tribesman Hummin, whatever his virtues, is still a tribesman and we had misgivings. We were not at all sure what your-or his-real purpose might be.† â€Å"Our purpose was knowledge,† said Seldon. â€Å"Academic knowledge. Tribeswoman Venabili is a historian and I too have an interest in history. Why should we not be interested in Mycogenian history?† â€Å"For one thing, because we do not wish you to be.-In any case, two of our trusted Sisters were sent to you. They were to cooperate with you, try to find out what it was you wanted, and-what is the expression you tribesmen use?-play along with you. Yet not in such a way that you would be too aware as to what was happening.† Sunmaster Fourteen smiled, but it was a grim smile. â€Å"Raindrop Forty-Five,† Sunmaster Fourteen went on, â€Å"went shopping with Tribeswoman Venabili, but there seemed nothing out of the way in what happened on those trips. Naturally, we had a full report. Raindrop Forty-Three showed you, Tribesman Seldon, our microfarms. You might have been suspicious of her willingness to accompany you alone, something that is utterly out of the question for us, but you reasoned that what applied to Brothers did not apply to tribesmen and you flattered yourself that that flimsy bit of reasoning won her over. She complied with your desire, though at considerable cost to her peace of mind. And, eventually, you asked for the Book. To have handed it over too easily might have roused your suspicion, so she pretended to a perverse desire only you could satisfy. Her self-sacrifice will not be forgotten.-I take it, tribesman, you still have the Book and I suspect you have it with you now. May I have it?† Seldon sat in bitter silence. Sunmaster Fourteen's wrinkled hand remained obtrusively outstretched and he said, â€Å"How much better it would be than to wrest it from you by force.† And Seldon handed it over. Sunmaster Fourteen leafed through its pages briefly, as though to reassure himself it was unharmed. He said with a small sigh, â€Å"It will have to be carefully destroyed in the approved manner. Sad.-But once you had this Book, we were, of course, not surprised when you made your way out to the Sacratorium. You were watched at all times, for you cannot think that any Brother or Sister, not totally absorbed, would not recognize you for tribespeople at a glance. We know a skincap when we see one and there are less than seventy of them in Mycogen†¦ almost all belonging to tribesmen on official business who remain entirely in secular governmental buildings during the time they are here. So you were not only seen but unmistakably identified, over and over. â€Å"The elderly Brother who met you was careful to tell you about the library as well as about the Sacratorium, but he was also careful to tell you what you were forbidden to do, for we did not wish to entrap you. Skystrip Two also warned you†¦ and quite forcibly. Nevertheless, you did not turn away. â€Å"The shop at which you bought the white kirtle and the two sashes informed us at once and from that we knew well what you intended. The library was kept empty, the librarian was warned to keep his eyes to himself, the Sacratorium was kept under-utilized. The one Brother who inadvertently spoke to you almost gave it away, but hastened off when he realized with whom he was dealing. And then you came up here. â€Å"You see, then, that it was your intention to come up here and that we in no way lured you here. You came as a result of your own action, your own desire, and what I want to ask you-yet once again-is: Why?† It was Dors who answered this time, her voice firm, her eyes hard. â€Å"We will tell you yet once again, Mycogenian. We are scholars, who consider knowledge sacred and it is only knowledge that we seek. You did not lure us here, but you did not stop us either, as you might have done before ever we approached this building. You smoothed our way and made it easy for us and even that might be considered a lure. And what harm have we done? We have in no way disturbed the building, or this room, or you, or that.† She pointed to the robot. â€Å"It is a dead lump of metal that you hide here and we now know that it is dead and that is all the knowledge we sought. We thought it would be more significant and we are disappointed, but now that we know it is merely what it is, we will leave-and, if you wish, we will leave Mycogen as well.† Sunmaster Fourteen listened with no trace of expression on his face, but when she was done, he addressed Seldon, saying, â€Å"This robot, as you see it, is a symbol, a symbol of all we have lost and of all we no longer have, of all that, through thousands of years, we have not forgotten and what we intend someday to return to. Because it is all that remains to us that is both material and authentic, it is dear to us-yet to your woman it is only ‘a dead lump of metal.' Do you associate yourself with that judgment, Tribesman Seldon?† Seldon said, â€Å"We are members of societies that do not tie ourselves to a past that is thousands of years old, making no contact at all with what has existed between that past and ourselves. We live in the present, which we recognize as the product of all the past and not of one long-gone moment of time that we hug to our chests. We realize, intellectually, what the robot may mean to you and we are willing to let it continue to mean that to you. But we can only see it with our own eyes, as you can only see it with yours. To us, it is a dead lump of metal.† â€Å"And now,† said Dors, â€Å"we will leave.† â€Å"You will not,† said Sunmaster Fourteen. â€Å"By coming here, you have committed a crime. It is a crime only in our eyes, as you will hasten to point out†-his lips curved in a wintry smile-â€Å"but this is our territory and, within it, we make the definitions. And this crime, as we define it, is punishable by death.† â€Å"And you are going to shoot us down?† said Dors haughtily. Sunmaster Fourteen's expression was one of contempt and he continued to speak only to Seldon. â€Å"What do you think we are, Tribesman Seldon? Our culture is as old as yours, as complex, as civilized, as humane. I am not armed. You will be tried and, since you are manifestly guilty, executed according to law, quickly and painlessly. â€Å"If you were to try to leave now, I would not stop you, but there are many Brothers below, many more than there appeared to be when you entered the Sacratorium and, in their rage at your action, they may lay rough and forceful hands on you. It has happened in our history that tribespeople have even died so and it is not a pleasant death-certainly not a painless one.† â€Å"We were warned of this,† said Dors, â€Å"by Skystrip Two. So much for your complex, civilized, and humane culture.† â€Å"People can be moved to violence at moments of emotion, Tribesman Seldon,† said Sunmaster Fourteen calmly, â€Å"whatever their humanity in moments of calm. This is true in every culture, as your woman, who is said to be a historian, must surely know.† Seldon said, â€Å"Let us remain reasonable, Sunmaster Fourteen. You may be the law in Mycogen over local affairs, but you are not the law over us and you know it. We are both non-Mycogenian citizens of the Empire and it is the Emperor and his designated legal officers who must remain in charge of any capital offense.† Sunmaster Fourteen said, â€Å"That may be so in statutes and on papers and on holovision screens, but we are not talking theory now. The High Elder has long had the power to punish crimes of sacrilege without interference from the Imperial throne.† â€Å"If the criminals are your own people,† said Seldon. â€Å"It would be quite different if they were outsiders.† â€Å"I doubt it in this case. Tribesman Hummin brought you here as fugitives and we are not so yeast-headed in Mycogen that we don't strongly suspect that you are fugitives from the Emperor's laws. Why should he object if we do his work for him?† â€Å"Because,† said Seldon, â€Å"he would. Even if we were fugitives from the Imperial authorities and even if he wanted us only to punish us, he would still want us. To allow you to kill, by whatever means and for whatever reason, non-Mycogenians without due Imperial process would be to defy his authority and no Emperor could allow such a precedent. No matter how eager he might be to see that the microfood trade not be interrupted, he would still feel it necessary to re-establish the Imperial prerogative. Do you wish, in your eagerness to kill us, to have a division of Imperial soldiery loot your farms and your dwellings, desecrate your Sacratorium, and take liberties with the Sisters: Consider.† Sunmaster Fourteen smiled once again, but displayed no softness. â€Å"Actually, I have considered and there is an alternative. After we condemn you, we could delay your execution to allow you to appeal to the Emperor for a review of your case. The Emperor might be grateful at this evidence of our ready submission to his authority and grateful too to lay his hands on you two-for some reason of his own-and Mycogen might profit. Is that what you want, then? To appeal to the Emperor in due course and to be delivered to him?† Seldon and Dors looked at each other briefly and were silent. Sunmaster Fourteen said, â€Å"I feel you would rather be delivered to the Emperor than die, but why do I get the impression that the preference is only by a slight margin?† â€Å"Actually,† said a new voice, â€Å"I think neither alternative is acceptable and that we must search for a third.† 59. It was Dors who identified the newcomer first, perhaps because it was she who expected him. â€Å"Hummin,† she said, â€Å"thank goodness you found us. I got in touch with you the moment I realized I was not going to deflect Hari from†-she held up her hands in a wide gesture â€Å"this.† Hummin's smile was a small one that did not alter the natural gravity of his face. There was a subtle weariness about him. â€Å"My dear,† he said, â€Å"I was engaged in other things. I cannot always pull away at a moment's notice. And when I got here, I had, like you two, to supply myself with a kirtle and sash, to say nothing of a skincap, and make my way out here. Had I been here earlier, I might have stopped this, but I believe I'm not too late.† Sunmaster Fourteen had recovered from what had seemed to be a painful shock. He said in a voice that lacked its customary severe depth, â€Å"How did you get in here, Tribesman Hummin?† â€Å"It was not easy, High Elder, but as Tribeswoman Venabili likes to say, I am a very persuasive person. Some of the citizens here remember who I was and what I have done for Mycogen in the past, that I am even an honorary Brother. Have you forgotten, Sunmaster Fourteen?† The Elder replied, â€Å"I have not forgotten, but even the most favorable memory can not survive certain actions. A tribesman here and a tribeswoman. There is no greater crime. All you have done is not great enough to balance that. My people are not unmindful. We will make it up to you some other way. But these two must die or be handed over to the Emperor.† â€Å"I am also here,† said Hummin calmly. â€Å"Is that not a crime as well?† â€Å"For you,† said Sunmaster Fourteen, â€Å"for you personally, as a kind of honorary Brother, I can†¦ overlook it†¦ once. Not these two.† â€Å"Because you expect a reward from the Emperor? Some favor? Some concession? Have you already been in touch with him or with his Chief of Staff, Eto Demerzel, more likely?† â€Å"That is not a subject for discussion.† â€Å"Which is itself an admission. Come on, I don't ask what the Emperor promised, but it cannot be much. He does not have much to give in these degenerate days. Let me make you an offer. Have these two told you they are scholars?† â€Å"They have.† â€Å"And they are. They are not lying. The tribeswoman is a historian and the tribesman is a mathematician. The two together are trying to combine their talents to make a mathematics of history and they call the combined subject ‘psychohistory.' â€Å" Sunmaster Fourteen said, â€Å"I know nothing about this psychohistory, nor do I care to know. Neither it nor any other facet of your tribal learning interests me.† â€Å"Nevertheless,† said Hummin, â€Å"I suggest that you listen to me.† It took Hummin some fifteen minutes, speaking concisely, to describe the possibility of organizing the natural laws of society (something he always mentioned with audible quotation marks in the tone of his voice) in such a way as to make it possible to anticipate the future with a substantial degree of probability. And when he was done, Sunmaster Fourteen, who had listened expressionlessly, said, â€Å"A highly unlikely piece of speculation, I should say.† Seldon, with a rueful expression, seemed about to speak, undoubtedly to agree, but Hummin's hand, resting lightly on the other's knee, tightened unmistakably. Hummin said, â€Å"Possibly, High Elder, but the Emperor doesn't think so. And by the Emperor, who is himself an amiable enough personage, I really mean Demerzel, concerning whose ambitions you need no instruction. They would like very much to have these two scholars, which is why I've brought them here for safekeeping. I had little expectation that you would do Demerzel's work for him by delivering the scholars to him.† â€Å"They have committed a crime that-â€Å" â€Å"Yes, we know, High Elder, but it is only a crime because you choose to call it so. No real harm has been done.† â€Å"It has been done to our belief, to our deepest felt-â€Å" â€Å"But imagine what harm will be done if psychohistory falls into the hands of Demerzel. Yes, I grant that nothing may come of it, but suppose for a moment that something does and that the Imperial government has the use of it-can foretell what is to come-can take measures with that foreknowledge which no one else would have-can take measures, in fact, designed to bring about an alternate future more to the Imperial liking.† â€Å"Well?† â€Å"Is there any doubt, High Elder, that the alternate future more to the Imperial liking would be one of tightened centralization? For centuries now, as you very well know, the Empire has been undergoing a steady decentralization. Many worlds now acknowledge only lip service to the Emperor and virtually rule themselves. Even here on Trantor, there is decentralization. Mycogen, as only one example, is free of Imperial interference for the most part. You rule its High Elder and there is no Imperial officer at your side overseeing your actions and decisions. How long do you think that will last with men like Demerzel adjusting the future to their liking?† â€Å"Still the flimsiest of speculation,† said Sunmaster Fourteen, â€Å"but a disturbing one, I admit.† â€Å"On the other hand, if these scholars can complete their task, an unlikely if, you might say, but an if-then they are sure to remember that you spared them when you might have chosen not to. And it would then be conceivable that they would learn to arrange a future, for instance, that would allow Mycogen to be given a world of its own, a world that could be terraformed into a close replica of the Lost World. And even if these two forget your kindness, I will be here to remind them.† â€Å"Well-† said Sunmaster Fourteen. â€Å"Come on,† said Hummin, â€Å"it is not hard to decide what must be going through your mind. Of all tribespeople, you must trust Demerzel the least. And though the chance of psychohistory might be small (if I was not being honest with you, I would not admit that) it is not zero; and if it will bring about a restoration of the Lost World, what can you want more than that? What would you not risk for even a tiny chance of that? Come now-I promise you and my promises are not lightly given. Release these two and choose a tiny chance of your heart's desire over no chance at all.† There was silence and then Sunmaster Fourteen sighed. â€Å"I don't know how it is, Tribesman Hummin, but on every occasion that we meet, you persuade me into something I do not really want to do.† â€Å"Have I ever misled you, High Elder?† â€Å"You have never offered me so small a chance?† â€Å"And so high a possible reward. The one balances the other.† And Sunmaster Fourteen nodded his head. â€Å"You are right. Take these two and take them out of Mycogen and never let me see them again unless there comes a time when-But surely it will not be in my lifetime.† â€Å"Perhaps not, High Elder. But your people have been waiting patiently for nearly twenty thousand years. Would you then object to waiting another-perhaps-two hundred?† â€Å"I would not willingly wait one moment, but my people will wait as long as they must.† And standing up, he said, â€Å"I will clear the path. Take them and go.† 60. They were finally back in a tunnel. Hummin and Seldon had traveled through one when they went from the Imperial Sector to Streeling University in the air-taxi. Now they were in another tunnel, going from Mycogen to†¦ Seldon did not know where. He hesitated to ask. Hummin's face seemed as if it was carved out of granite and it didn't welcome conversation. Hummin sat in the front of the four-seater, with no one to his right. Seldon and Dors shared the backseat. Seldon chanced a smile at Dors, who looked glum. â€Å"It's nice to be in real clothes again, isn't it?† â€Å"I will never,† said Dors with enormous sincerity, â€Å"wear or look at anything that resembles a kirtle. And I will never, under any circumstances, wear a skincap. In fact, I'm going to feel odd if I ever see a normally bald man.† And it was Dors who finally asked the question that Seldon had been reluctant to advance. â€Å"Chetter,† she said rather petulantly, â€Å"why won't you tell us where we're going?† Hummin hitched himself into a sideways position and he looked back at Dors and Seldon gravely. â€Å"Somewhere,† he said, â€Å"where it may be difficult for you to get into trouble-although I'm not sure such a place exists.† Dors was at once crestfallen. â€Å"Actually, Chetter, it's my fault. At Streeling, I let Hari go Upperside without accompanying him. In Mycogen, I at least accompanied him, but I suppose I ought not to have let him enter the Sacratorium at all.† â€Å"I was determined,† said Seldon warmly. â€Å"It was in no way Dors's fault.† Hummin made no effort to apportion blame. He simply said, â€Å"I gather you wanted to see the robot. Was there a reason for that? Can you tell me?† Seldon could feel himself redden. â€Å"I was wrong in that respect, Hummin. I did not see what I expected to see or what I hoped to see. If I had known the content of the aerie, I would never have bothered going there. Call it a complete fiasco.† â€Å"But then, Seldon, what was it you hoped to see? Please tell me. Take your time if you wish. This is a long trip and I am willing to listen.† â€Å"The thing is, Hummin, that I had the idea that there were humaniform robots, that they were long-lived, that at least one might still be alive, and that it might be in the aerie. There was a robot there, but it was metallic, it was dead, and it was merely a symbol. Had I but known-â€Å" â€Å"Yes. Did we all but know, there would be no need for questions or for research of any kind. Where did you get your information about humaniform robots? Since no Mycogenian would have discussed that with you, I can think of only one source. The Mycogenian Book-a powered print-book in ancient Auroran and modern Galactic. Am I right?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And how did you get a copy?† Seldon paused, then muttered, â€Å"Its somewhat embarrassing.† â€Å"I am not easily embarrassed, Seldon.† Seldon told him and Hummin allowed a very small smile to twitch across his face. Hummin said, â€Å"Didn't it occur to you that what occurred had to be a charade? No Sister would do a thing like that-except under instruction and with a great deal of persuading.† Seldon frowned and said with asperity, â€Å"That was not at all obvious. People are perverted now and then. And its easy for you to grin. I didn't have the information you had and neither did Dors. If you did not wish me to fall into traps, you might have warned me of those that existed.† â€Å"I agree. I withdraw my remark. In any case, you don't have the Book any longer, I'm sure.† â€Å"No. Sunmaster Fourteen took it from me.† â€Å"How much of it did you read?† â€Å"Only a small fraction. I didn't have time. It's a huge book and I must tell you, Hummin, it is dreadfully dull.† â€Å"Yes, I know that, for I think I have read more of it than you have. It is not only dull, it is totally unreliable. It is a one-sided, official Mycogenian view of history that is more intent on presenting that view than a reasoned objectivity. It is even deliberately unclear in spots so that outsiders-even if they were to read the Book-would never know entirely what they read. What was it, for instance, that you thought you read about robots that interested you?† â€Å"I've already told you. They speak of humaniform robots, robots that could not be distinguished from human beings in outward appearance.† â€Å"How many of these would exist?† asked Hummin. â€Å"They don't say.-At least, I didn't come across a passage in which they gave numbers. There may have been only a handful, but one of them, the Book refers to as ‘Renegade.' It seems to have an unpleasant significance, but I couldn't make out what.† â€Å"You didn't tell me anything about that,† interposed Dors. â€Å"If you had, I would have told you that it's not a proper name. It's another archaic word and it means, roughly, what ‘traitor' would mean in Galactic. The older word has a greater aura of fear about it. A traitor, somehow, sneaks to his treason, but a renegade flaunts it.† Hummin said, â€Å"I'll leave the fine points of archaic language to you, Dors, but, in any case, if the Renegade actually existed and if it was a humaniform robot, then, clearly, as a traitor and enemy, it would not be preserved and venerated in the Elders' aerie.† Seldon said, â€Å"I didn't know the meaning of ‘Renegade,' but, as I said, I did get the impression that it was an enemy. I thought it might have been defeated and preserved as a reminder of the Mycogenian triumph.† â€Å"Was there any indication in the Book that the Renegade was defeated?† â€Å"No, but I might have missed that portion-â€Å" â€Å"Not likely. Any Mycogenian victory would be announced in the Book unmistakably and referred to over and over again.† â€Å"There was another point the Book made about the Renegade,† said Seldon, hesitating, â€Å"but I can't be at all sure I understood it.† Hummin said, â€Å"As I told you†¦ They are deliberately obscure at times.† â€Å"Nevertheless, they seemed to say that the Renegade could somehow tap human emotions†¦ influence them-â€Å" â€Å"Any politician can,† said Hummin with a shrug. â€Å"It's called charisma-when it works.† Seldon sighed. â€Å"Well, I wanted to believe. That was it. I would have given a great deal to find an ancient humaniform robot that was still alive and that I could question.† â€Å"For what purpose?† asked Hummin. â€Å"To learn the details of the primordial Galactic society when it still consisted of only a handful of worlds. From so small a Galaxy psychohistory could be deduced more easily.† Hummin said, â€Å"Are you sure you could trust what you heard? After many thousands of years, would you be willing to rely on the robot's early memories? How much distortion would have entered into them?† â€Å"That's right,† said Dors suddenly. â€Å"It would be like the computerized records I told you of, Hari. Slowly, those robot memories would be discarded, lost, erased, distorted. You can only go back so far and the farther you go back, the less reliable the information becomes-no matter what you do.† Hummin nodded. â€Å"I've heard it referred to as a kind of uncertainty principle in information.† â€Å"But wouldn't it be possible,† said Seldon thoughtfully, â€Å"that some information, for special reasons, would be preserved? Parts of the Mycogenian Book may well refer to events of twenty thousand years ago and yet be very largely as it had been originally. The more valued and the more carefully preserved particular information is, the more long-lasting and accurate it may be.† â€Å"The key word is ‘particular.' What the Book may care to preserve may not be what you wish to have preserved and what a robot may remember best may be what you wish him to remember least.† Seldon said in despair, â€Å"In whatever direction I turn to seek a way of working out psychohistory, matters so arrange themselves as to make it impossible. Why bother trying?† â€Å"It might seem hopeless now,† said Hummin unemotionally, â€Å"but given the necessary genius, a route to psychohistory may be found that none of us would at this moment expect. Give yourself more time.-But we're coming to a rest area. Let us pull off and have dinner.† Over the lamb patties on rather tasteless bread (most unpalatable after the fare at Mycogen), Seldon said, â€Å"You seem to assume, Hummin, that I am the possessor of ‘the necessary genius.' I may not be, you know.† Hummin said, â€Å"That's true. You may not be. However, I know of no alternate candidate for the post, so I must cling to you.† And Seldon sighed and said, â€Å"Well, I'll try, but I'm out of any spark of hope. Possible but not practical, I said to begin with, and I'm more convinced of that now than I ever was before.†

Rhetorical Analysis Paper

Tramy Quach Professor Knapp English 100A, Section 6 Final Draft 03/06/13 RHETORICAL ANALYSIS PAPER Introduction Rhetorical strategy is a type of method for writers to manipulate their writing to purpose an idea or influence the reader. Narration, description, and exemplification are some of the rhetorical appeals writer use to grab the reader’s attention. And invoke strong reaction out of the reader. Apart from these strategies, many writers use Aristotle's appeals of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to persuade the reader. Logos is an appeal to the audience's logic and reason.Pathos is an appeal to the audience’s sentiments and emotions. Ethos is an appeal to the authority or reputation of the speaker. Logos is an appeal to the audience's logic and reason. In my rhetorical analysis, I will be analyzing an article by Heather Mattern called, â€Å"Learning to Breathe†. In this article, Mattern proposes increasing physical activity such as running, , consuming raw foods, a nd adopting a positive mentality to curb depression. Mattern’s article brings awareness to health educators, like myself, who focuses on the study of health related issues like food, nutrition, and prevention.Through the use of use pathos and logos appeals, as well as narration, classifying and diving, and exemplifications to do what? Pathos Through her article, Mattern appeals to our emotions by using vivid descriptions of depression in order to get her reader to sympathize and gain awareness of how serious depression can affect our mood. In the article, Mattern uses pathos as an appeal to the reader when she explains, â€Å"I learned†¦ about one in every eight women could expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime. Many of these women I know.They are my friends, mothers popping anti-depressant pills and smiling numbly with an artificial happiness. They know no other way† (Mattern). Here, Mattern is successful in getting her readers to briefly ac quire a visual sense of how depression can eat at one’s personal happiness. . This is especially a powerful tool to influence readers if the reader knows anyone close or a loved one who has dealt with depression. Additionally, through describing the smile as â€Å"artificial†, it stirs up a serious emotions of being empty, without purpose.Furthermore, in her article she writes, â€Å"†¦ my mind held me a prisoner† (Mattern) to enable her readers to gain the mindset of being trapped, which appeals to our fears of being helpless and vulnerable. She later describes her mind as a â€Å"hostage† and referrers to her depression as a â€Å"demon. † Her word choice of â€Å"demon† and â€Å"hostage† to describes her illness are words that readers are fearful of. In doing such, Mattern wants her readers to now associate these feelings of being helpless and afraid with depression.Mattern used pathos appeals in her article to attempts to pe rsuade her reader by stirring the emotions emptiness, fear and vulnerability in hopes that her reader will see and feel what depression really is, a serious disease Logos Another strategy the author use is Logos; it refers to any attempt to appeal to the intellect, the general meaning of â€Å"logical argument. † Everyday arguments rely heavily on ethos and pathos, but academic arguments rely more on logos. These arguments engage readers or observers by appealing to reason, logic, and data.An example that was used in the article â€Å"†¦you would never know that she had struggled with years of depression. She cured her depression without medication† (Mattern). The author is referring to her friend Beth, who inspired Mattern to conduct her own personal prescription for her depression. Beth is an influential example of curing her own depression. She explains to Mattern that her secret is running and veggies. Beth makes the time early in the morning before her family wakes up, and gets moving. Beth finds the time in the day to give back to her body and mind.Beth is an excellent example of curing depression the right way without any artificial chemicals or drugs. Another an illustration Mattern use in her article, â€Å"†¦ I listed three challenges, all-starting with Rs, the three Rs that were going to help me: running regularly, raw foods, and right thinking with gratitude. Each of these has been proven to reduce stress and increasing endorphins. Endorphins are a happy chemical – neurotransmitters that are produced in the brain to reduce both stress and pain. They work in much the same way as an anti-depressant does† (Mattern).Here the author uses facts to prove her conduction with the three Rs to reduce stress and pain. Logos strategies has played a magnificent role in the article because it explained the messages and created a better understanding for the reader. Logos strategies was used successfully because the author sen d a message to the reader that depression could be cure with easy simple steps instead of prescription medication. As well as, using facts and examples to illustration her ideas. Narrations Narrations are another type of strategy that is used in many articles.They are used to capture an image for the reader to relate and make them feel comfortable about what they are reading. In different articles they use narration to give examples on what they are trying to present. They use past experiences or third person stories to create a bond with the reader. In the article, Mattern uses narration by having a story about her difficulty waking up in the morning. Mattern mentions, â€Å"It was hard at first, alarm clock going off at six o’clock and feet touching an icy cold floor. Bones chilled, spine stiff with goose bumps. The battle was on each day, blankets tempting me to remain warm in their embrace.I pressed on. Running got me out of bed and I forced a smile onto my face† ( Mattern). Mattern used marvelous detail in her narration that it was simple to understand and got the message across. This narration delivers a message to the readers so they could relate with this difficulty. The battle that everyone face of waking up early in the morning to do something productive instead of sleeping in a warm cozy bed. The reason why narration was affective in this article because Mattern was able to create a visual story allowing the reader to have some sense of struggle that the audience could all relate to.Classifying and Dividing Classification and Division is defined, â€Å" an important rhetorical strategy when the writer wants to analyze and then group similar items or divide one item up into parts† (course reader). This approach allows Mattern to organize her ideas and break into certain parts giving the reader no stress in reading her article and makes it easier for the author to address the main points of each subject in great details. Matternâ⠂¬â„¢s article is divided into four parts: depression, running, raw foods, right thinking, and write your own personal prescription.The reader can find certain areas they are interested in or refrain certain areas that they are not interested in. She is able to illustrates a story off each part and give insightful information. Mattern is able to make this so effective that the words are not hard to understand and everything flows with each passage. As we can see Division and classification is used smoothly in the passage so that the reader can understand. As a result, the method of organizing the article has made it easier for the author to inform the reader about creating a healthy lifestyle.Exemplifications Last but not least, exemplification was used in the article. This strategy gives examples for enhancing the idea. In an exemplification writing it starts with the main idea, opinion, or belief and then gives a few examples to illustrate the main idea. For example, â€Å"I kept noticing the same two themes: eating a healthy diet consisting of lots of raw foods and an adequate amount of exercise. Since my friend had been so successful with her running, I decided that I would give that a try first† (Mattern).The author did research about depression and noticed that eating healthy as well as getting the right amount of exercise was important factors for a health lifestyle. Mattern also uses her friend Beth as an example of turning her life around. Beth also suffered from depression but cured it with running and veggies. Now she is a living influential example to Mattern and many others who suffers from the same problem. Conclusions Overall, understanding rhetorical situation can help contribute to strong, audience focused, and well organized writing.Mattern uses pathos and logos appeals, as well as narration, classifying and diving, and exemplifications as her rhetorical strategies. Mattern did a great job using these strategies extensively in her arti cle. The writing was very detailed; she gave emotional and positive effects to the reader and even made the article inspiring and motivating to read. This article you can see how rhetorical is such a great strategy. We apply these strategies each day of our lives in our essays or journals. There are many different type of writings that are presented in books, newspapers or articles.Rhetorical Strategies are just one of the technique that help captures the readers. By doing this rhetorical analysis paper, I feel extremely certain in understanding these rhetorical strategies. This paper has help me become more aware about writing techniques. It also allowed me to conclude the roles of each rhetorical strategy that they all play an important role in producing clear communications through writing. Since, I have great experience with the rhetorical strategies; I am now ready to take on the challenges that may approach me!

Expanding Culture in the West and East essays

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THE EFFECT OF STALINS PURGES IN THE 1930S ON THE SOVIET UNIONS FOREIGN POLICY JUST PRIOR TO AND AT THE BREAK OUT OF WORLD WAR II essays

THE EFFECT OF STALINS PURGES IN THE 1930S ON THE SOVIET UNIONS FOREIGN POLICY JUST PRIOR TO AND AT THE BREAK OUT OF WORLD WAR II essays Less than a month before Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II, he signed a non-aggression pact with Stalin. Less than two years later, he broke the pact and invaded the Soviet Union in the early morning hours of June 22, 1941. There were plenty of evidence for German aggression before the war broke out, yet Stalin nevertheless signed the pact which contained the secret protocol that divided Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union. The reason for signing the pact were complex, yet one of the most important ones were the domestic factors. Among them, the terrible effect of the purges during the 1930s on the population, economy and especially the army. The purges were set off on December 1, 1934 with the murder of Sergei Kirov. He was a member of the Politburo, leader of the Leningrad party apparatus and had considerable influence in the ruling elite. His concern for the workers in Leningrad and his skill as an orator earned him considerable popularity. Stalin used his murder as a pretext for launching a broad purge that would claim hundreds of thousands of victims and have lasting repercussion felt to this day. Stalin never visited Leningrad again and directed one of his most vicious post-War purges against the city Russia's historic window to the West. No segment of the society was left untouched by the purges. Anyone who caused the slightest suspicion was removed and numerous legislature was enacted to help enforce them. In 1935 a law was passed which lowered the age of criminal responsibility. That meant the death penalty could be applied to twelve-year-old children (McCauley, p.93). There was also a panic response in the primary party organizations to expel and "expose" people in order to protect oneself and to show "vigilance" (Getty, p.213) The slaughter of armed forces began on 12 June 1937 when Tukhachevsky and some top army men were executed, then spread to lower ranks and then to p...

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HR & Communication in Projects - Communication Plan Coursework

HR & Communication in Projects - Communication Plan - Coursework Example The aim of this plan is to define and identify the roles to be played by the people taking part in this project. The Denver International Airport project entails the design and construction of a new airport that is founded on a â€Å"Home-on-the-Range† design since Denver City needs a broadly open entry point for people visiting it (Kerzner, 2012). The airport is supposed to maintain a distinctive appearance that will make it easily identifiable by the travellers and this design should meet the specifications of Denver City (Henkin, 2012). The new airport is supposed to allow more traffic in and out, and at the same time decrease congestion through improving the runways to create a more efficient operation of the regional airspace. This will considerable decrease delays as well as the costs associated with operating airlines. The new airport is also supposed to result in considerable reduction in noise impact as its construction is taking place on a comparatively site which is not populated (Dempsey, Goetz & Szyliowicz, 1997). The walking distances for the passengers will be greatly red uced by the overall layout, which also boasts of a greater interior design and curb appeal. Further, the operations of the airlines will be expected to run more smoothly as a result of the new baggage system along with various other specialty systems. Construction is supposed to start in 1989 and the project team has started collecting various requirements to make sure if a successful achievement of the project objectives. In the process of the implementation of the project plan for the Denver International Airport, it is important that timely and effective communication be in place for the various parties who will be affected by its results. The project manager will be required to take a practical role in making sure the communication associated with the project is effective. A

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The importance of Ethics to Sustainable Growth in Engineering Essay

The importance of Ethics to Sustainable Growth in Engineering Enterprise - Essay Example In the instances where security measures are inadequate, the consequences are usually catastrophic. Although the threats are becoming more sophisticated, some organizations have managed to mitigate the impact by regularly reviewing their security capabilities and capacities so as to identify areas of vulnerability. In coming up with the cyber security measures to protect the information and the IT resources, organizations and individuals are required to understand the risks they face so that the right interventions can be put in place. This has therefore necessitated research on various malware programs like Trojan horse, spyware and worms from a scientific perspective. Empirical studies have also been carried out to help identify the relevant strategies that can be used to alleviate and eventually eradicate the threats originating from the cyber space. Based on the previous research, it had been anticipated that the future attacks and threats would be characterized by a combination malware with strong cartography. In the last couple of years, there has been the emergence of a new form of malware in the cyber spaces and it has put organizations at increased risk of suffering attacks. Ransomware has emerged to be a source of threat both to individuals and organizations. It has drawn the attenti on of almost all the IT system security specialists, practitioners and researchers. Empirical and evidence based studies continue to be carried to help understand the new emergent threats to allow organizations be prepared to mitigate its impacts. Teer, Kruck & Kruck (2007) notes that ransomware perpetrators are able to victimize the internet users and organizations by hijacking the files stored, encrypting them before demanding payment in exchange for the decryption key. The threat functions by exploring the system vulnerabilities and seizing control over the victim’s file and computer systems until the demanded payment is made. In the last two years alone, several

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Environmental and global health issues - Essay Example Health care centers and nurses became very active and strict precautionary measures were taken for the controlling of the disease. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a viral lung disease which is caused by coronavirus often referred to as SARS –CoV. It is serious or an extreme case of pneumonia. A person suffering from SARS will have to face severe difficulty in breathing and sometimes may even face death. The first case of SARS was found in Asia in 2003 and within a few months it spread in numerous countries all over the world. It is a well-studied example of a communicable disease and a disease that can spread easily due to the travelling of people to other countries. The breakout of SARS in 2003 was a very serious one and it took almost all the countries of the world and a total of 8,098 people were affected and out of these 774 people died. But now SARS have become totally under control but the virus still exists in the hosts which are animals and there are always chances that the virus can again return to the humans. The severity of SARS is greater in people of older age as compared to younger and middle aged people (Serradell, 2005). The symptoms of SARS are similar to that of common cold but those symptoms are much more severe as compared to those that of cold. SARS has no definite cure or medicine but it can be prevented by taking precautionary measures like avoiding communication with the patient, frequent hand washing, eating food rich in vitamin C, and other such measures. The epidemiological indicators of the SARS rife and the ways for the prevention, control, and complete eradication of SARS include gestation period, time period of communicability, mode of transference of the epidemic agent, risk factors involved in the transmission of the virus, environment, ways of reserving animals and the prevention of SARS (Stewart, 2004). The various countries in which the outbreak of SARS occurred

Assessing risks arising from contamination of the aquatic environment Essay

Assessing risks arising from contamination of the aquatic environment with Bt toxin from GM corn (maize) crop litter in the USA - Essay Example (National Agriculture Statistics Service, 2009) Hypothesis: To find out the impact of BT toxins on the aquatic environment if used without extensive risk assessment. What is the first impression you get when you hear the term, â€Å"Genetically Modified Food†? In recent years, speculation has renewed over the full effects, and possible consequences of genetic modification of organisms for the production, and augmentation of human food supplies. It is worthwhile to identify the specificities of the techniques involved to produce BT crops, as well as other biotech innovations. To understand potential environmental and biological risk factors involved we must delve into precisely what does and does not occur with genetically modified crops. This study will explore techniques involved in producing genetically modified foods, their importance to agriculture, and the nature of the BT molecule/toxin. In addition, two other research projects will be summarized which explore possible s ide effects of BT toxin dispersing into the environment, as well as the frequency of that dispersal in the water table. BT technology must be a subject of discussion, both due to the popularity of this technique, by which pesticides can be incorporated directly into plant tissues constitutively – and the possible far-reaching ramifications of such an inclusion. Both of these studies focus on corn/maize due to its prevalence – but virtually any vegetable that has utility for humans is a possible target for genetic modification, in the interest of greater profit towards an increase in the human food supply. GENETIC MODIFICATION Genetically modified organism(GMO): An organism is "genetically modified", if it’s genetic material has been changed in a way that does not occur under natural conditions through cross-breeding or natural recombination. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore forming bacterium that produces crystals protein (cry proteins), which are toxic to many species of insects. (University of California San Diego) GM crops are made using technology which allows Bt toxins to be introduced into crops, making them resistant to pests. For centuries, human beings have attempted to incorporate desired traits both in animals and plants of human utility. Selective breeding has been employed to both as a means of eliminating undesirable traits, such as excessive ferocity in certain breeds of dogs, and greater sugar content as well as size increases for fruits and vegetables. Using ancient techniques agriculture was limited to working within a single species in order to identify desirable, and undesirable traits - and then through successive generations to concentrate those virtues within the species that proved of highest economic benefit to humanity. Or as the case may be, to winnow out those traits that ran counter to human interests. Genetic modification broadens the set of tools available to agriculture, agribusiness, and eventually to animal husbandry. What if we were not limited by the genes within a single species? What if it were possible to use genes from virtually any species and incorporate them into crops? Perhaps the particular globular proteins present in a deep-sea fish which

The importance of Ethics to Sustainable Growth in Engineering Essay

The importance of Ethics to Sustainable Growth in Engineering Enterprise - Essay Example In the instances where security measures are inadequate, the consequences are usually catastrophic. Although the threats are becoming more sophisticated, some organizations have managed to mitigate the impact by regularly reviewing their security capabilities and capacities so as to identify areas of vulnerability. In coming up with the cyber security measures to protect the information and the IT resources, organizations and individuals are required to understand the risks they face so that the right interventions can be put in place. This has therefore necessitated research on various malware programs like Trojan horse, spyware and worms from a scientific perspective. Empirical studies have also been carried out to help identify the relevant strategies that can be used to alleviate and eventually eradicate the threats originating from the cyber space. Based on the previous research, it had been anticipated that the future attacks and threats would be characterized by a combination malware with strong cartography. In the last couple of years, there has been the emergence of a new form of malware in the cyber spaces and it has put organizations at increased risk of suffering attacks. Ransomware has emerged to be a source of threat both to individuals and organizations. It has drawn the attenti on of almost all the IT system security specialists, practitioners and researchers. Empirical and evidence based studies continue to be carried to help understand the new emergent threats to allow organizations be prepared to mitigate its impacts. Teer, Kruck & Kruck (2007) notes that ransomware perpetrators are able to victimize the internet users and organizations by hijacking the files stored, encrypting them before demanding payment in exchange for the decryption key. The threat functions by exploring the system vulnerabilities and seizing control over the victim’s file and computer systems until the demanded payment is made. In the last two years alone, several

Assessing risks arising from contamination of the aquatic environment Essay

Assessing risks arising from contamination of the aquatic environment with Bt toxin from GM corn (maize) crop litter in the USA - Essay Example (National Agriculture Statistics Service, 2009) Hypothesis: To find out the impact of BT toxins on the aquatic environment if used without extensive risk assessment. What is the first impression you get when you hear the term, â€Å"Genetically Modified Food†? In recent years, speculation has renewed over the full effects, and possible consequences of genetic modification of organisms for the production, and augmentation of human food supplies. It is worthwhile to identify the specificities of the techniques involved to produce BT crops, as well as other biotech innovations. To understand potential environmental and biological risk factors involved we must delve into precisely what does and does not occur with genetically modified crops. This study will explore techniques involved in producing genetically modified foods, their importance to agriculture, and the nature of the BT molecule/toxin. In addition, two other research projects will be summarized which explore possible s ide effects of BT toxin dispersing into the environment, as well as the frequency of that dispersal in the water table. BT technology must be a subject of discussion, both due to the popularity of this technique, by which pesticides can be incorporated directly into plant tissues constitutively – and the possible far-reaching ramifications of such an inclusion. Both of these studies focus on corn/maize due to its prevalence – but virtually any vegetable that has utility for humans is a possible target for genetic modification, in the interest of greater profit towards an increase in the human food supply. GENETIC MODIFICATION Genetically modified organism(GMO): An organism is "genetically modified", if it’s genetic material has been changed in a way that does not occur under natural conditions through cross-breeding or natural recombination. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore forming bacterium that produces crystals protein (cry proteins), which are toxic to many species of insects. (University of California San Diego) GM crops are made using technology which allows Bt toxins to be introduced into crops, making them resistant to pests. For centuries, human beings have attempted to incorporate desired traits both in animals and plants of human utility. Selective breeding has been employed to both as a means of eliminating undesirable traits, such as excessive ferocity in certain breeds of dogs, and greater sugar content as well as size increases for fruits and vegetables. Using ancient techniques agriculture was limited to working within a single species in order to identify desirable, and undesirable traits - and then through successive generations to concentrate those virtues within the species that proved of highest economic benefit to humanity. Or as the case may be, to winnow out those traits that ran counter to human interests. Genetic modification broadens the set of tools available to agriculture, agribusiness, and eventually to animal husbandry. What if we were not limited by the genes within a single species? What if it were possible to use genes from virtually any species and incorporate them into crops? Perhaps the particular globular proteins present in a deep-sea fish which

The National School Lunch Program Essay Example for Free

The National School Lunch Program Essay The National School Lunch Program is a meal and nutritional program funded by the United States government, for the benefit of children in school all over the country. The program provides balanced and nutritious foods prepared and sold for reasonable amount money or given free to children in public and private schools, and other institutions of childcare. The eligibility of children that are included in the program is dependent on the average income of the household and capacity to sustain the dietary and nutritional needs of their children. The program is managed both in the federal and state level of the country, where the federal level is handled by the staff of the Food and Nutrition Service, and on the other hand, the state level is handled by the educational agencies and organizations of the state. The preparation of food and its contents are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It must also provide minerals and vitamins guided by the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). In addition to this, the staff of educational institutions is also trained to prepare for high-quality balanced and nutritional meals for the children. The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports the program by giving out cash subsidies and donations of supplies and merchandises to participating educational institutions, as long as they follow the guidelines for the balanced and nutritional needs of children. (USDA, 2007a) The USDA usually gives cash subsidies to educational institutions for the program and spends the following amount of money for each meal: $3. 15 for a free lunch and snack, $2. 41 for reduced prices of a lunch and snack, and $0. 9 for a paid lunch and snack. (USDA, 2007a) The amount of reimbursements given to each educational institution varies every year based on the changes and adjustments guided by the increase or decrease rates of the Consumer Price Index provided by the Bureau Labor of Statistics. (USDA, 2007b) Aside from the cash reimbursements, educational institutions also receive goods and food merchandises amounting to 16. 75 cents per meal. In 2006 alone, the total sum of money spent for the program amounted to $8. 2 billion. (USDA, 2007a) The National Lunch Program harbors effects to the well-being of children and the behavior and attitude of the family towards it. A recent study revealed that there is little or no effect generated from the implementation of the program such that children do not actually need to follow the program because they are already receiving balanced and nutritional meals outside the premises of the educational institution. In addition to this, the family members might not be motivated to prepare additional meals for their children because they know the educational institution is providing this for them. The program serves as a replacement for the food they are preparing for the children, and because of this, the family members will not look for other alternatives to suffice for the nutritional needs of their children. (Dunifon Kowaleski-Jones, 2004) According to the program assessment conducted by the U. S. Government, the program was rated as â€Å"moderately effective. † Owing to the fact that the program was able to reduce the calorie and fat content of food prepared in educational institutions for children by five percent. In addition to this, the target population of children to whom the budget of the program, has also increased. This means that more children have been provided balanced and nutritional meals from the program despite the set target number of children. Moreover, the government has also plans of improving the program by implementing a method of monitoring and updating the nutritional content of the foods prepared. Aside from this, the issue about equity in terms of financial matters will also be addressed, as the government is working to provide an accurate and dependable estimate of payments or expenses starting this year. (ExpectMore, 2007)

Marketing Strategy Of Titan Watches

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But once a man is bejewelled, theres no looking back. They also dont wait for special occasions like woman do, and they can go from zero to jewellery enthusiast in no time. Market research company Mintels September 2010 report Watches and Jewellery Retailing UK found that 20% of male respondent said they like receiving jewellery as a gift, and 12% said that they had purchased all of their own jewellery. So the market is clearly there to be exploited. http://www.retail-jeweller.com/trends/in-with-the-new-2011-trends/5020089.article Rocketing gold prices and recession have led many consumers to buy silver jewellery instead of gold, with almost one in five people wearing more silver jewellery than gold, rising to nearly three in ten women; particularly young people aged 15 24. The affordability and disposability of many costume jewellery items means that customers are more willing to experiment and try new looks without denting their bank balances Young men aged under- 35 are more open to paying higher amounts for a watch as they typically do not wear jewellery to express their individuality or consumer spending power. Some 86% of consumers wear a watch, but nearly 40% only a new one when their old one is broken. Converging the watchs main function with health benefits would be one way of helping create new reasons for purchase. http://oxygen.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen/display/id=479809 Executive Summary: https://www.keynote.co.uk/market-intelligence/view/product/10331/chapter/0 Many Brands and companies are constantly reinvigorating their businesses and positioning them for growth. There is a constant need to innovate, reinvigorate, update, recalibrate, or just simply fend off the competition in an effort to better explain ,why buy me. In the market for the brand and product offerings is created by positioning. It reaches a certain type of consumers and delivers benefits that meet the needs of several key target groups and users. Actual Approach of a company or brands positioning in the marketplace depends on how it communicates the benefits and product attributes to consumers and users. As a result positioning of a company and/or product seeks to further distance itself from competitors based on a host of items, but most notably on five key issues: Price, Quality, Product Attributes, Distribution, and Usage Occasions. In recent times, consumerism has undergone a sea change. Consumers today are well informed about the products, as compared to earlier times. Hence, the market has become customer centric. Recognizing the importance of the customer is business structure; companies have started effecting brand repositioning exercise on regular basis. In the recent times, a major brand repositioning exercise has been planned by Titian Industries Ltd in order to provide more to its customers. The company has its new position. This study will help to understand the revived positioning strategies of TITAN watches. An analysis of repositioning strategies of Titan also forms of the study. Firstly it is important to understand the overall wrist watch industry in UK. Secondly to study the brand positioning and re-positioning strategy of Titan wrist watches and to find out whether the loyal consumers of TITAN watches aware of the new positioning strategies of the company and how they perceive them. To study primary and secondary data have been used. Analysis UK wrist watch industry and brand repositioning strategies of TITAN Company has been analysed and completed on the basis of secondary data. Internet, journals, books and magazines have been used for this purpose. Project comprises conducting a questionnaire survey. (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })() Introduction: 1.1 Theory and concepts: A business has two and only two basic functions: marketing and innovation Peter Drucker To maintain business relevance and market position, it is important to continuously innovate and invent brand image in the market to pace with change and intense competitive pressure in the marketplace. In this context, brand repositioning and other revitalization strategies have become a business imperative for battling brand erosion. The appeal of brand repositioning is further heightened by the rising costs and high risk associated with launching a new brand. Increase in the cost and high risk related with launching a new brand that is a part of brand reposition.Brand reposition has received very importance in the marketing literature and mostly been treated as a variation of brand positioning. Reposition can be required as the market changes and new opportunities occur. In order to reach the customer which was never targeted at first can also be targeted with brand reposition. In order to change its image in the market it is important to focus towards brand repositioning, although it is one of the toughest and hardest actions in marketing to reposition a familiar brand. According to Solomon, position strategy is an essential part in the marketing efforts because companies have to use the elements in the marketing mix to influence the customers understanding the position. There has to be several choices to be, so to as to be in more attractive and relevant position. It is important for the person who is reposition for the reposition to know and understand why reposition is necessary and its need, and if the offer is the one that will change or just the brand name. While repositioning it is important to undertake and understand all the risk factors that is likely to affect it in the market. A company risks its credibility and reliability more while repositioning its brand in the market and the need for a thorough strategy is very important to avoid any occurrence. Some analyst argues that to successfully reposition a established brand name is almost impossible because repositioning of a brand can make the most loyal customer to switch brand. If the brand is eroded then brand reposition becomes important. Numerous attempts to reposition brand in the market may fail which is testified by many company for example while soft drink has successfully been able to connect with the youth though they exist for 40 years in the market but at the same Levis, jeans has been losing its market share to newcomers such as The Gap despite numerous campaigns designed to reposition the brand trend. 1.2 Literature Review: The reposition strategy is defined into three stages that is: Introductory Elaboration Fortification This involves the introduction of a new or a repositioned brand, seeking underline the brands value over others, and to broaden the brand position. It is truly hard to change the customers perceived attitude towards a brand, and therefore the risk is great that the attempt to repositioning might fail. After rolling out the strategy, it is time to modify the proposition through update of the personality and through repositioning. There pros and cons with both of this segments and it is great significance that they are truly calculate when deciding the next step in the process. To understand it more deeply http://htmlimg4.scribdassets.com/55f3acalz4nfgla/images/10-81b5e3fa9c/000.jpg Figure 1: Stages in brand strategy development. When a company modifies or change something that is already there in the market established in the mind of the customer that is called as repositioning. Different profession and individuals have different meaning and understanding towards Repositioning. There are few different definitions and greater understanding about this concept: Repositioning is a change, principally about triggering the vision, mission and value in a new direction that is more suited f or the brand in the future- Brand manager consultant. Principally, reposition concerns changing the consumers perception of the brand PR consultant. Repositioning is built upon the change of unique and differentiated associations with the brand in some kind of direction; it is about having a balance between the category party and differentiation when using reposition strategies (Leading Brand strategies) From these definitions, it is obvious that reposition is about moving something to more attractive and relevant position. Reposition direction is often decided as to what a company wants to achieve. There is also a visible relation between price and quantity aspects. When a company perceives the market as a demand curve, the purpose is to down stretch or upward curve. When moving up and there is a need for reaching the premium segment and expand up wards. Figure: The principle of reposition. When striving towards a new position in the market, it is important to understand those consumers are limited. Peoples minds select what to remember and it is important to convince the consumers with greater arguments. The market always strive for change which is rapid and therefore repositioning can be necessary to meet these demands, newer and stronger arguments have to be established to convinced them to stay as loyal customers. As repositioning is a very complicated matter and therefore there are no detailed theories or models. Aim for repositioning is different for different person, and the only connection between all the different theories is that repositioning is moving something from somewhere towards a greater position at the market. Corstjens and Doyle (1989) identified three types of repositioning strategies: Zero repositioning, which is not a repositioning at all since the firm maintains its initial strategy in the face of a changing environment. Gradual repositioning, where the firm performs incremental, continuous adjustments to its positioning strategy to reflect the evolution of its environment; and Radical repositioning that corresponds to a discontinuous shift towards a new target market and /or a new competitive advantage. After learning the repositioning of several brands from the UK market, the following 8 types of repositioning have been identified. These are: Increasing relevance to the consumer Increasing occasions for use Making the brand serious Falling sales Bringing in new customers Making the rand contemporary Differentiate from other brands Changed market conditions A four phased brand repositioning approach can be followed to achieve the intended benfits- Phase I. Determining the current status of the brand Phase II. What does the brand stand for today? Phase III. Developing the brand positioning platforms Phase IV. Refining the brand Positioning and Management Presentation The advantages that can be derived from brand repositioning exercises can be summarized as: Value over others Updated personality Relevant position The risks associated with such strategies are: Loss of focus Neglecting original customers Losing credibility for the brand Confusing the brand Therefore, brand repositioning is more difficult than initially positioning a brand because one must first help the customer UNLEARN the current brand positioning This can be done by: Carefully crafted communication New products, packaging Associations with other brands ( co- branding, co- marketing, ingredient branding, strategic alliances, etc) that reinforce the new brand positioning. This exercise is so critical to an organizations success that the organizations and its marketing/brand management leader should develop it, preferably with the help and facilitation of an outside brand positioning expert. Research Methodology: 2.1 Objectives To study the current scenario of UK wrist watch industry. To review the brand positioning strategies of different sub-brands of watches. To analyze the brand repositioning strategies of watches. To study consumer awareness and perception about the brand repositioning strategies of watches. This study will help to understand the gap in its communication strategy regarding brand repositioning exercises and the further measures to be taken for effective marketing communications. 2.2 Limitations: The study is confined to London area only There is possibility of sampling errors in the study The responses of the consumers may not be genuine Questionnaire may not be comprehensive 2.3 Sources of Data Collection: The relevant data was collected from both primary sources and secondary sources. The starting point of my information gathering has been the secondary sources such as internet, books, and journals and so on. Firstly, brand positioning and repositioning strategies of Titan, secondary sources such as internet, insurance magazines, and journals and so on. Then I conducted a consumer awareness survey on brand repositioning strategies undertaken by Titan watches in recent times. 2.4 Sampling: To conduct sampling of 50 loyal consumers of Titan and in the age group of 20 30 years for this study. Since Titan has taken up brand repositioning strategies since January 2011, consumers who have seen the previous and new campaigns have been targeted. 2.5 Primary data: Data was collected through an interview schedule, consisting of both open ended and closed ended questions. It consisted of the parameters like reasons consumers brand preference, recollection of earlier tagline and advertisement, brand ambassador of Titan awareness of new tagline and campaign featuring sportsmen and actors from International body and so on. The data was collected through e-mails, telephone contacts and one to one personal interviews. Industry Overview UK Watch industry: Market report examines the UK jewellery and watches market, total sales of jewellery and watches in the UK fluctuated between 2004 and 2008, and fell by 2.8% in the latter year to finish the review period at  £4.33 billion. The declining sales in 2008 can be largely attributed to the global economic downturn and UK recession, which have had a negative impact on nearly all industries. Initially, the luxury end of the market was relatively unaffected by the downturn, but by the end of 2008 and 2009, it had begun to take effect. The jewellery and Watches market has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Although the industry has always been fragmented with a wide range of suppliers and retailers, developments in online retailing have contributed to it becoming increasingly transparent for information on pricing and availability. This has been a positive trend, especially for many smaller brands that previously were not able to deal directly with consumers. Some larger retailers, as well as a few independents, have also developed transactional sites to deal with this demand. With around a third of the UK population owning a piece of precious jewellery and nearly in ten owning a watch, products have a high rate of consumer penetration. The downturn in the UK economy is unlikely to show reversal in 2009, and this will continue to affect all areas of consumer spending. It seems the concepts of a wrist watch have become that of a status symbol rather than a practical chronometer. According to a survey that suggest one in seven people in the UK has no need for watch, apart from as a fashion accessory. Gadgets such as iPods, laptops and mobile phone, represent threat to the watch industry, survey conducted by Mintel. Even in the age of iPhones, people spend huge amount of money on a quality time piece, with high-end brands such as Rolex and Tag Heuer adorning blinged up wrist of rappers, bankers and fashionistas alike. http://www.wharf.co.uk/2010/11/why-wrist-watches-are-dialling.html SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE UK WATCH INDUSTRY: Strengths: Watch industry is growing industry which faster rate As the population is rising, the watch market is also expanding Customers are not very price sensitive as far as quality watch is concerned Weakness: There is not much advertising done by watch industry No innovation in products There are few number of exclusive showrooms that reduces the consumers accessibility to the product There are few marketers, who are concentrated only upon a particular niche segment (Tag Heuer ) Opportunities: There is more need of fashionable luxury watch and fine luxury watch brands that can be targeted in UK, as customers are more like trendsetter and fashionable. UK especially London is a metropolitan city which makes it more attractive for the new company. Youth are more brand conscious than their predecessors. That leads to the expansion of the market for branded watches. Threats: There are many foreign players entering in the race Too many players will dilute the market and the profit margin. Mobile phones acting as substitutes of the watches. The Indian watch industry began in the year 1961 with the commissioning of the watch division of Titan. The first watch model manufactured by HMT was the Janata model in the year 1962. HMT was the leader in the watch market till the Tatas formed Titan watches in association with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation in the year 1987. They took a major strategy decision, which later changed the face of the Indian watch market to manufacture only quartz watches. Liberalisation in 1992 and removal of quantitative restrictions due to WTO has opened the doors for many the Indian market viz. Tissot, Swatch, Omega, Rado, TAGHeuer. The import duties on watches are falling which makes the Indian market look attractive for the global majors like Casio, Swatch and Citizen. Company Profile: Overview Titan is the largest watch company in India and the sixth largest in the world. Titan manufactures over 7 million watches per annum and has a customer base over 65 million. An industry was established in 1984 as a joint venture between the Tata Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation. The company brought the shift in the Indian watch market, offering quartz technology with International styling, manufactured in a state-of-the art factory at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Leveraging its understanding of different segments in the watch market, the company launched a second independent watch brand Sonata, as a value brand to those seeking buy functionally styled watches at affordable prices. In addition it focused on the youth with its third brand fastrack. In two decades the company has built an impressive watch business to become Indias largest manufacturer and the worlds sixth manufacturer of watches. This has mainly been achieved by developing a formidable distribution network. The company has amongst the worlds largest retail chain of exclusive retail showrooms for watches called The world of Titan spread over 100 towns. It also has multi brand outlets named Time Zone, service centers and dealer outlets. Globally Titan has a presence in over 30 countries through its marketing subsidiaries. The company has watch assembly plants at Dehradun (UP) and Baddi ( Himachal Pradesh) and a plant manufacturing electronic circuit boards in Goa. The majority stake in the company is held by the promoters, with Tidco having 28 percent of the shares and Tata Group companies owning 25 percent of the shares. Public holding in the company is around 28 per cent. The rest of the stake is held by foreign institutions, non resident Indians, mutual funds and other institutions. It has also premium fashion watches by acquiring a license for global brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss, while. It has also in its portfolio its first Swiss Made watch brand Xylys. 1995, the company diversified into jewellery under the brand Tanishq to capitalize on fragmented market operating with no brands in urban cities. In 2005, the launched its second Jewellery brand, GoldPlus, for capitalizing on the opportunity in small towns and rural India. The company has now diversified into fashion Eyewear by launching Fastrack Eye-Gear sunglasses, as well as Prescription Eyewear. TITAN WATCHES: BRAND POSITIONING STRATEGIES Overall strategies: Since its introduction, Titan has been positioned as a premium brand, providing high quality products. Titan is struggling to have a strong brand image in UK market due to its numerous sub-brands that caters to different segments in India. It follows different positioning strategies; these strategies can also be analyzed as given below: Attribute Positioning: When the company launched its products, it was the first to bring quartz watches to Indian market. The company successfully leveraged this to penetrate the market. Raga, Classique and Regalia come under this strategy. Classique positioned as elegant corporate wear that leaves a quiet, but definite impression and fusion of function and sophistication. Regalia ranger represents the elegant-wear. Raga has been differentiate and positioned as exclusive watch. The Raga and Silver Raga collection is elegant, delicate and feminine with each piece truly unique. User Positioning: Titan caters to several user groups children (the Dash), sportspersons and adventurers. The fastrack range is seen as being contemporary, reliable and sturdy. The advertising, packaging and merchandising of this range is young, cool and vibrant. Benefit Positioning: Titan seeks to differentiate its offering on the basis of superior style and attractiveness which is offered by fastrack Digital range. Competitors Positioning: With the entry of several foreign watchmakers into the market, Titan had to encounter the threat. Most the entrants are catering to the upper end of the market Omega, Cartier etc. Quality or Price Positioning: In the overseas market, especially in Europe where it is competing with Swiss and Japanese watches, it is positioning itself as value-for-money (less than Swiss watches and higher than Japanese), attractively styled and of good quality. TITAN WATCHES: BRAND RE-POSITIONING STRATEGIES FOR GLOBALISATION Titan has managed to get fair market in Middle East and Africa but its failure in Europe was a downturn for the Company as the return was not as good as investment made for the expansion. Titan has decided to revamp its flagship watch brand in Europe mainly in UK. Titan wants to reposition it more youthful and relevant to the changing times. Titan has entered the International markets in 1989 through the export of watch movements. Titans first global footprint was placed in the UAE the largest market in the Middle East then it moved towards Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and few markets in Africa. Though it faced strong competition, it reached the sales of 100,000 watches within a year of its launch. It started to move globally and moves towards Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal. After its extensive survey, it concluded that it needs good reason to stock the brand. Titan needs to re-position its brand image in the UK market. And so Titan decided to against soft option of driving its globalization through private label exports. It would launch its product under its own brand with market positioning Therefore Titan found a massive advertising campaign to create brand awareness. It also participated in the fair which showcases the worlds biggest watch brand in the world. http://www.moodiereport.com/images/luxury_watch_tables_jan10_04.jpg http://www.moodiereport.com/images/luxury_watch_tables_jan10_05.jpg CONCLUSION: The suggestions to improve consumer awareness about brand repositioning strategy of Titan are as follows: To increase its visibility, Titan Company can sponsor events similar to fashion shows which all latest designs launched are displayed. This is important as it has a great effect on different segments of the customers in different ways. It is important to have Tie up with radio channels and television to broadcast and telecast its advertisement about various sales promotion from time to time. RD needs more investment as customer expectations are changing rapidly. It should focus more on introducing more varieties and luxury items in the market at regular interval. Introduce exclusive collection for working women which is more contemporary and complements any fashion styles. Tie up with international watch brands to make the product stronger in the market. To use internet to spread awareness among consumer about the brand. (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })()