How does the opening scene prepare the reader for the rest of the novel? Essay

In opening passage of Of Mice and Men it seems as though Steinbeck takes great pains to familiarize us with the setting, and the descriptions of nature that he uses though-out , are very poetic and stand apart from the rest of the novel, which is composed primarily of dialogue. An example â€Å"Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones.†(2) Steinbeck however still uses simple descriptions of the landscape; a secluded river taking refuge in a valley. To forehadow to the reader future events. This is apparent though his carefully chosen language, imagery, symbolism, character description and narration all of which forebodes the reader for many of the themes they will encounter in the novel; friendship, dreams, loneliness, and despair to tragedy. The scene opens with a vivid and evocative description of the landscape and natural beauty of the Salinas River a few moles from Soledad. Steinbeck goes on to describe the sometimes harsh, sometimes caring physical and emotional landscape; all an element of life that is already witnessed. The evocative description begins by highlighting a theme that is present thought-out the novel. ‘On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve to the strong and rock Gambian mountains’ This quote identifies a contrast and the first half of the quote totally counteracts the second half. The first half allows the audience to envisage a desert like setting with a hot climate ‘twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight’. Yet the second half allows the reader to envisage a forest like setting with a tropical climate, ‘the water is lined with trees- willows fresh and green with every spring.’ There are many other contrasts within the first scene, ‘on the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering’ ‘Rabbits come out of the brush to sit on the sand’ Once again these two quotes contrast each other immensely, as Lizards are thought of as predators that hunt, and rabbits are thought as innocent herbivores. These to creatures lead the reader to picture a division within there habitat one being so vicious and ruthless the other being soft and kind hearted. The use of this contrast is important as it’s similar to the two main characters. The clearing by the river could be contrasted with the ranch: one is a place of relaxation, safety and peace; the other is a work place where George warns Lennie he will have to be careful what he says and does. The ranch is harsh and cruel: for example men only have a box for their possessions, and living is hard and competitive. The two main characters Lennie and George are contrasted strongly in their physical appearance and the way they behave: Lennie is tall, bulky and shambling – he is innocent and gentle, slow (in every sense of the word) and in need of reassurance and guidance; George is small, sharp-featured, ‘street-wise’ and brisk. Of which both characters relate back to the earlier contrast between the lizard and rabbit, the lizard being George and the rabbit being similar to Lennie. Although the contrasts in the opening sequence are to do with nature or animals, and the ones throughout the novel are to do with characters and humans links they still have the same effect. A majority of the contrasts are based solely on Strength vs. Weakness. Another contrast on the ranch is between the people with power: Slim who is respected for his wisdom and competence; Curley who has power, but only because he has inherited it from his father who owns the ranch and employs the men. This agrees with the fact that the majority of contrast consist of Strength vs. Weakness. The pattern of calm and disorder in the opening scene mirrors the pattern of events in the novel as a whole. in the first paragraph in which Steinbeck uses evocative and vivid language, a sense of calm and undisturbed silence is felt, this mirrors the beginning of Lennie and Georges adventures when they rest in a campsite for the night. Steinbeck then describes a slight disturbance, ‘the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering.’ This also mirrors the situation further on in the novel when George and Lennie about constantly asking for ketchup, and George finally losing his temper ‘I got you! You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get’. However this could also mirror when Carlson tries to kill Lennie’s dog. The slight disturbance is lost again and the calm is restored again as ‘the rabbits brush to sit on the sand’ this reflects the fact that George and Lennie restore silence and stop arguing because Lennie is warned not to say anything by George. The silence is lost once again as a slight disturbance that slowly builds ‘little wind moving trees’ this is mirrored by the fact that Curley’s wife makes frequent visits to the ranch, or this could mirror the fact that Lennie kills his puppy. Steinbeck then goes on to describe ‘loud footsteps break silence’ in the beginning sequence which is mirrored by Lennie killing Curley’s wife. Steinbeck describes what seems like a final rupture when he describes ‘humans arrive in the clearing’ the sense of calm and tranquillity is lost which mirrors the main event in the novel. When Lennie is shot by George, inevitably putting an end to their friendship and dreams. Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men about where he was born Salinas, California. During the Great Depression of the 1930s. His books often dealt with the lives and problems of working people. Many of the characters he included were immigrants looking for work or a better life. He narrowed his focus when composing ‘Of Mice and Men’ (1937), creating an intimate portrait of two men facing a world marked by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. But though the scope is narrow, the theme is universal; a friendship and a shared dream that makes an individual’s existence meaningful. Steinbeck based his book around the following Migrant Farm Workers; this is evident within the first chapter as their physical descriptions ‘Both dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons’. Also Lennie and George were two of many migrant farmers tying to find work in the countryside. Another event in the text that allows the audience to understand Lennie and George’s struggle is, during the 1930s, when there was very bad unemployment in the United States, agencies were set up under the New Deal to send farmworkers to where they were needed. George and Lennie got their work cards from Murray and Rody’s, one of these agencies. We hear of this in the text when Lennie tells George he lost it; ‘George†¦..I aint got mine. I musta lost it.’ The opening sequence also indicates that it was based on the American Dream, because immigrants dreamed of a better life in America. People went there to escape from persecution or poverty, and to make a new life for themselves, precisely why Lennie and George left Weed to go there. Another way that the opening scene of the story prepares the reader for the events of the rest of the story is through the subtle, yet significant introduction to the main characters George and Lennie. Within the first paragraph we learn of Lennie’s fascination with animals ‘I remember about the rabbits, George.’ We also learn that they left Weed to escape prosecution, as previously through George’s anger, the audience learns that one of the ‘bad things’ occurred at their last job, in Weed, when Lennie wanted to pet a women’s dress. We learn a great deal of background information through the first sequence subtly yet detailed. The opening sequence prepares the reader for future events in many different ways. The use of language, imagery, symbolism, character description and narration all of which forebodes the reader for many of the themes they will encounter in the novel; friendship, dreams, loneliness, and despair to tragedy. All of these techniques foreshadow events and help the audience understand the characters, their environment and era they lived in without experiencing it themselves. So a combination of historical and social facts, with a range of contrasts help the audience understand and sympathise with the assorted chara

Garmin Analysis - Looking To the Future Research Paper

Garmin Analysis - Looking To the Future - Research Paper Example In order to go forward in the future, there are three scenarios under consideration, which are related to different possible course of strategic actions that the company may follow to address its problems. In this report, these strategic options are evaluated on the basis of various financial models and descriptive analysis of the company’s existing position and outcome of these decisions. Before the analysis is carried out, it would be useful to provide a summary table of the performance of five identified business segments of the company in the last three years. Business Segments 2011 Net Sales % Change in Sales 2011 EBIT % Change in EBIT 2010 Net Sales % Change in Sales 2010 EBIT % Change in EBIT 2009 Net Sales 2009 EBIT Outdoor 363,223 13.82 171,245 13.43 319,119 6.62 150,973 2.01 299,300 147,996 Fitness 298,163 23.99 107,881 24.72 240,473 41.77 86,499 49.02 169,624 58,046 Marine 221,730 11.50 60,092 -3.75 198,860 11.94 62,431 8.71 177,644 57,430 Automobile/Mobile 1,590,59 8 -4.69 171,717 -16.60 1,668,939 -18.75 205,887 -57.86 2,054,127 488,584 Aviation 284,855 8.51 73,226 2.44 262,520 6.83 71,482 26.30 245,745 56,595 The table provided above provides trends in net sales and EBIT of all business segments, which would be referred to in the discussion related to the scenarios presented below. Scenario #1: Assault on the Smartphone Market Under this future scenario, the company may aim to target the Smartphone market which is worth $65 billion and it has been growing at a fast pace of 20% every year. The smart phone market is dynamic as new markets are emerging such as Africa and Asia. However, the competitive forces including companies like Apple, Google, Nokia, Blackberry, Samsung, HTC, and even manufacturers from Far East countries are already playing an important role in this industry having strong positioning and they share a major proportion of the global market. The company will have to invest heavily in developing technologies and acquiring assoc iated businesses as Garmin does not have any prior experience and its current market share is zero. The entry into this market segment the company will require an investment of $3 billion that could be raised from the capital market by offers shares to both institutional and private investors. Move to the Smartphone segment the company will have divest non-operations including aviation, and marine, in the third year and it expects to receive $500 million. In addition, by doing so, the company will have to let go of the profits generated by these segments, which are already observed to be slowing down in the year 2011. The following financial analysis is based on certain assumptions and understanding regarding future of Smartphone industry and the company’s investment decision: 1. The time period for investment appraisal is considered to be 5 years from the completion of the project and inception of sales. 2. The cost of investment is expected to be $3 billion which will be ra ised by issuing additional 75 million shares at a price of $40 per share. 3. The investment is expected to generate results from the year 2013. 4. In 2011, the Smartphone industry has grown by 20% and same growth rate is assumed for the year 2012 onwards as there are no signs of slowdown in both short and medium terms. 2011 ($ mn) 2012 ($ mn) 2013 ($ mn) 2014 ($ mn)

Existence of God Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Existence of God - Assignment Example This proposition, while it makes some sense, can be questioned in terms of its physical evidence. 2. One cannot put soil in a container and expect it to someday become a house in the future. If no one or nothing does something to it to form another thing, it will remain to be soil. This is what St. Aquinas tries to prove in his argument; that things cannot be without things and movers. For a thing to come into existence; there should be crude materials from which it should be made from. In addition, there should be a maker who has to work on the materials. From this perspective, St. Aquinas proves that God exists claiming that if nothing existed before, then nothing should exist now but since we and the things around us exist, there must be someone who made all things. Again the problem with logical explanations is the absence or lack of physical explanation. 3. The problem of evil as J. L. Mackie explains is rather a necessity than a problem. He goes on to cite Job in the bible as an example. Although he was a good man, Job suffered many evils which cannot be said to be the consequences of his actions. Instead, as Eliphaz points out, â€Å"man is born to trouble†. Mackie claims that evil was necessary for God to test Job’s faithfulness and goodness and therefore, decide on his eternal destination, heaven or hell. However, this could be difficult to explain the just nature or God as the bible claims because as it is understood, justice is having the sinner punished and the good man rewarded. 4. If a man evolves into a bat, he still would not know how it is like to be a bat. This is what Thomas Nagel believes who claims that none of us can ever know how it is to be like a bat. He says this because he believes that knowing is experiencing. Knowing is a process gained from experience and so the transformed bat mentioned earlier cannot really know how it is to be a bat. His experience from being a bat does not suffice to make him know because he lacks the

Sandcastles argument Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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New Media Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

New Media - Term Paper Example To those who are not able to compete with the latest and best gadgets, what is generally considered is the ability to have access to new media. This has become a necessity to the modern person who seems to be unable to live in a world which has become so small with the use of the internet. On top of such media, other media within the medium like social networking sites become equally important especially to people who like to get in touch with their loved ones here or abroad. The latest social networking site that made the youngest billionaire in the person of Mark Zuckerberg, a former Harvard student is making the life of a lot of people easier and cheaper. Loved ones who are miles apart can contact each other through the internet and can exchange messages in a matter of seconds. This is not to mention the availability of the medium of communication to be the cheapest as compared to telephone bills. The world has become smaller with people able to find their partners from one end of the earth to another through the use of the popular networking site.

Project Statistics Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Ups and downs of Jaguar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ups and downs of Jaguar - Essay Example In congestions, most people leave their vehicles on when stationery. This leads to the inefficient use of engines and is a waste of petrol or diesel, which as we all know, we cannot afford at the earth’s current environmental state. Waste of time and energy. Congestion is nothing but a waste of people’s time and energy. Whether they are travelling to and from work or for any other reason, it only tires and stresses everyone out. Wear and tear to roads. Due to the standstill traffic, Congestion causes a lot of wear and tear to the roads as opposed to if there is free flowing traffic. Damage to health. Congestion causes a lot of damage to people’s physical and mental health due to breathing in pollutants and being stressed out due to the congestion. (bized.co.uk) Jaguar also produces the Externality of pollution, which as discussed above, is a strain on people’s health as well as is supposed to be a cause of Global Warming. In our current state, we cannot af ford to cause any more damage to the earth. JAGUAR: The Production Process Jaguar has developed a complete vehicle recycling program, around design-for-recycling guidelines, increased use of recycled material, and reducing hazardous materials, as part of their production process. They have taken this measure, due increased environmental awareness and an attempt to reduce their carbon footprint. . By means of this program, car manufacturers and importers of new cars in the United Kingdom take back vehicles that they put on the market at the end of their life ensuring that they are treated in an environmentally responsible fashion. This reduces the impact of negative externalities on the nation. The De-pollution process: Jaguar is working hard to remove its negative externalities by going... The most obvious way for the Government to levy some sort of control over negative externalities such as pollution, is to set a limit for every production house with regards to how much they can pollute. Crossing over the set pollution limit will give them a fine. This will lead production houses to opt for more green or environmental friendly production machinery and invariably help in reducing the negative externalities. The government must also take care to help reduce externalities like congestion. To do this they must improve the country’s public transport system and encourage people to use it rather than all of them taking out their cars. Also, they must launch campaigns that encourage car pooling and such. These measures, though quite little can effectively help curb pollution and congestion. Effectiveness of Externality Control Jaguar has taken into account the negative externalities in terms of pollution and wastage and has taken steps to negate them to a certain extent. By undertaking the de-polluting process for cars that they have introduced, they are ensuring that they do something for the environment. Also, this shows a good step towards environmentalism and shows that as an organization, Jaguar is not just interested in making profits. The measures that they have taken seem to be effective and will guide the way to a better, greener way of living. Jaguar has grown from strength to strength and has moved from Britain to India, but they know what they are doing and how it will benefit them as well as the environment.