Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Comparing the Industrialization of Britain and Japan Essay

Comparing the industrialization of Britain and Japan Two ships can arrive at the same destination; however that does not necessarily mean that they used the same route on their journey. Such is the same with the industrialization of Britain and Japan. Both rose to become the two great pioneers of the modern world; however the paths they took to success were different. This paper will compare Japan and Britain, exploring the causes of its industrialization, and how the countries drastically changed because of it. What sets Britain’s industrialization process apart from Japans is that it did not have a role model to base its development on; it was the first industrial nation. Therefore the cause of its industrialization must have much†¦show more content†¦However the biggest advantage Britain had that spurred their modern thinking into industrial factories was its geography. England had fast flowing rivers that were effective to power water mills for machinery, and provided transportation routes for industrial goods. The weak point about rivers was that in winter they froze, stopping the water powered machinery and blocking routes (Little, n.d.). This leads to the true geographical advantage of Britain, one that wasn’t stop by the effects of seasons: high deposits of coal and iron ore. Coal was able to power the newly invented steam engine, which was a breakthrough leading to large scale industries (Little, n.d.). The idea of using steam as a force to power machinery was not new during the seventeen hundreds; it had already been mentioned by ancient Greek scholars. It was scientist such as James watt that refined that idea to create the steam engine (Live science, 2012). The concept is simple, water is heated by coal and the resulting steam acts as a driving force for the machines, similar to how the rivers flow powered the mills (Live science, 2012). Water power meant that factories were limited to certain locations, however steam powered factories could did not have such constraint (Live sc ience, 2012). The steam engine expanded industries all over Britain. First, it improved the coal industry by pumping water out of coal mines, making it safe from flooding (Live science, 2012). Secondly, theShow MoreRelatedThe Great Divergence : China, Europe And The Making Of The Modern World Economy Essay1726 Words   |  7 PagesCalifornia School. He thinks that the reason for the appearance of the Industrial Revolution should be attributed to Britain’s luck in geography, especially the coals and colonies. And it is a sharp rapture instead of a gradual transition. Despite comparing the past and present, Pomeranz does a horizontal comparison between relatively small units, the wealthiest parts of the Europe and Asia before the eighteenth century. And he found that the economies of these places were far more similar than non-ChinaRead MoreWorld Economy from 1850 Until Today3262 Words   |  14 Pagesglobalization from 1975 onwards. Britain was the first country to ever experience what history has sometimes called the most important development in economics and one of the most decisive revolutions ever: the Industrial Revolution. An amazing jump forward in the story of civilization, the Industrial Revolution has formed the world, as we know it today for better or for worse. To be able to achieve such greatness and climb to the top of the economic ladder, Britain had to have the talent, the desireRead MoreThe Relationship Between Japan And Japan During The Modern Era2253 Words   |  10 Pages Pavin Kaler 211347747 April 16th, 2015 Professor Joe Kispal-Kovacs Transportations in Political Structures in China and Japan during the Modern Era Comparative Essay 1 While Japan and China both had to go through transformations in political structures in order for them to experience revolutions as a reaction to colonization attempts during the Modern Era, both nations alsoRead MoreThe Importance Of A Family On Cultural Diversity1515 Words   |  7 Pages‘traditional family’, which makes it hard to define the term. (Allan, G. and Crow, G. 2001). Over the past 40 years there have been dramatic changes in family patterns. One common change is stepfamilies in modernized western societies such as Britain. In census data from 2011, there were 544,00 stepfamilies with dependent edchildren. Overall 11% of couple families with dependent children are stepfamilies in England and wales (ONS, 2011) A stepfamily is seen as a family consisting of a â€Å"naturalRead MoreThe Fundamental Causes of the Russian Revolution Essay1299 Words   |  6 Pagesthe leader in automated technology in the late 1800s and human rights quickly became a concern in places of employment. This gave stimulation to industrial development in Russia. 1890 was the beginning of the great leap forward in Russian industrialization. Huge factories were constructed, implementing the most modern technologies available, which were imported from England, Germany and the USA. Along with the most up to date technology brought in from the West, came the most current and a dvancedRead MoreRealism: a Greater Explanation for World War I Essay2058 Words   |  9 Pagesnationalism, or attitude toward their country, also increased. According to Northedge and Grieve this was because the media was a greater influence then, than it was now. This was due to the fact that there was lack of education and no means of comparing different sources. In that period people believe virtually everything they read (Northedge and Grieve 71). There are many different methods of obtaining power and controlling it within realism; hegemonic stability theory, imperialism, and balanceRead MoreEssay on Asian Business1844 Words   |  8 Pagesafter the Meiji restoration brought an end to the Tokugawa shogun ate and installed a new Japanese government. It was issued in the name of the Emperor Meiji, the text was written by a group of the young samurai, mainly from domains in southwestern Japan, who had led the overthrow of the Tokugawa and the â€Å"restoration† of imperia l rule (Hasegawa and Noronha). The Charter Oath appeared at a time of considerable uncertainty in Japanese society, as people throughout the country were unsure of the intentionsRead MoreUnited States Announced War On Spain1910 Words   |  8 Pageswestern hemisphere contributed immensely to this war (Mosse 167). After the war, the economy of the U.S improved significantly due to the expansion of the western parts such as Cuba and Philippines, ever-growing systems of railroads and massive industrialization. In fact, by 1900, the value of exports was three times greater than it was before the emergence of the Spanish- American war. After the war, American investors moved to Latin America, Eastern Asia and Philippines where they invested billionsRead MorePaul Samuelson s Erroneous Prediction Of Soviet Growth3265 Words   |  14 Pagestextbook and educational industry. This great success was not without some blunders, however. Starting in his 1961 edition of Economics, Samuelson first published a graph and accompanying text predicting the future growth of the Soviet Union, and comparing it to that of the United states. At the time, he gauged that the economic output of the USSR was at half that of the US, and though for this first, and several following editions, he suggested higher growth rate s in the USSR, the ratio of economicRead MoreSecret Intelligence Service and Espionage4647 Words   |  19 Pagesunits. To protect the country against foreign agents, the U.S. Congress passed the Espionage Statute of 1917.  Mata Hari, who obtained information for Germany by seducing French officials, was the most noted espionage agent of World War I. Germany and Japan established elaborate espionage nets in the years preceding World War II. In 1942 the Office of Strategic Services was founded by Gen. William J.  Donovan. However, the British system was the keystone of Allied intelligence. Since World War II, espionage

Monday, December 23, 2019

Gender roles in Pat Barkers Regeneration - 1050 Words

Pat Barker uses language effectively in the novel â€Å"Regeneration† to present gender roles and other themes within the novel. Her presentation of women, emasculation and men taking on more feminine roles are important for the theme of gender roles within the novel. She also uses language effectively to present themes of duty and father figures. There is a very small but important female presence in â€Å"Regeneration†. The first mention of women in the novel is the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD’s). â€Å"A couple of VAD’s ran across the room to him, clucking, fussing, flapping ineffectually at his tunic with a napkin, until eventually they had the sense to get him out of the room†. The language Barker uses compares the women to chickens, the use of â€Å"until they had the sense† shows the women as stupid and â€Å"fussing† suggests they were making a bigger drama than they needed to about the situation. Later on in the novel, Barker introduces Sarah Lumb and her friends; they’re described in a much more positive way and are portrayed as strong dominant women. The contrast from the VADs earlier in the novel to Sarah and her friends later in the novel could suggest that Barker is trying to show how the roles of women changed as the war progressed. Her positive description of Sarah and her friends could show Barker is a feminist as she seems to favour the ‘munitionettes’ to the VADs. Though her own views on women are presented within the novel, she still accurately represents women’s roles inShow MoreRelatedRepresentations Of Gender And Masculinity1503 Words   |  7 PagesRepresentations of gender and masculinity in Pat Barker s Regeneration. One of the major themes in Pat barker’s ‘Regeneration’ is gender and masculinity, this is my chosen theme. The novel overall reflects the struggles of World War one soldiers and their attempts to overcome the trauma of war experience. In this essay, I will be exploring ways which Barker represents my chosen themes. By discussing in depth and focusing on homosexuality, parenthood, emasculation, and mutism as a symbol. A keyRead MoreGender Roles in Wilfred Owens Regeneration1949 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Regeneration Essay Pat Barker sets her novel Regeneration in Craiglockhart War Hospital during the First World War. Craiglockhart is where the traumatised and shell shocked British soldiers are sent to be cured under the watchful eye of army Psychiatrist Dr William Rivers. Not only are the soldiers suffering from shell shock, they’re also fighting to save their manliness. Masculinity and gender roles play a massive role in the novel and this essay will show that Barker explores these themes throughRead MoreAnalysis Of Pat Barker s Night 2568 Words   |  11 Pagesanalyzing speak about the idea of mental health or war trauma during World War I and World War II, instead of calling it PTSD the authors call is shell shock, which is close to the definition of PTSD. The two books that I am analyzing is Pat Barker s Regeneration, which is focused on a mental institution and how soldiers deal with shell shock and many other internal struggles. The second is Elie Wiesel’s book Night, which speak s about a family that is taken to a concentration camp and is dealingRead MoreChallenging Gender Expectations On Pat Barker s Regeneration Essay1940 Words   |  8 PagesChallenging Gender Expectations in Pat Barker’s Regeneration Siegfried Sassoon and Sarah Lumb in Pat Barker’s Regeneration (1991) exemplify the bravery of those fighting against gender norms during the First World War. Sassoon proves his bravery by writing to protest the war to his military superiors and the broader public. Sarah courageously goes against her society’s and her mother’s gender norms by taking on a more masculine role. Sarah is sexually independent in her relationship with Billy PriorRead MoreAn Analysis Of Slaughterhouse 5 And Regeneration 2009 Words   |  9 Pagessense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood.’ How do Pat Barker and Kurt Vonnegut address the theme of masculinity in war? Masculinity in war is a key theme explored in both Slaughterhouse 5 and Regeneration. It is expressed as a characterisation that is not preserved and that is continuously changing. The authors use soldiers who begin to doubt their masculinity which is of utmost important to them as men. Boundaries between traditional genders are explored and distorted in both novels. The connectionRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder2790 Words   |  11 Pagesalso had a chance to see for what shell shock was like during World War I when we watched a small series about it and got to see that it consisted of odd ways of walking, stammering, mutism, blindness, and so on. Through reading novels such as Regeneration, Return of the Soldier, and Mrs. Dalloway we get a chance to see the different types of shell shock and treatments. Furthermore, we get a chance to see how society sees these shell shocked soldiers. At the time shell shock was something new thatRead MoreThe, Regeneration And The Poetry O f Wilfred Owen2547 Words   |  11 PagesThe Conflict Theory which has been suggested by Karl Marx emphasizes the role of coercion and power producing social order. It suggests that there is inequality existing as there is great attention paid to class, sexuality and gender as they are seen as the foundation to the most dominate and enduring conflicts in society. This is presented through texts ‘Birdsong’, Regeneration and the poetry of Wilfred Owen. These texts explore and capture the conflict of WW1 as well as the aftermath and theRead MoreSex and Dominance in The Ghost Road Essay3936 Words   |  16 PagesSex and Dominance in   The Ghost Road      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pat Barkers The Ghost Road is a masterful literary integration of sex and war.   The novels protagonist, the lascivious, bisexual Billy Prior once remarks:   Whole bloody western fronts a wankers paradise, a statement with far-reaching implications concerning aggression and eroticism (Barker 177).   The novel concludes a successful trilogy, beginning with Regeneration (1991) and The Eye in the Door (1993).   Winner of the prestigious Booker PrizeRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesComprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1 Introduction What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Importance of Interpersonal Skills 4 What Managers Do 5 Management Functions 6 †¢ Management Roles 6 †¢ Management Skills 8 †¢ Effective versus Successful Managerial Activities 8 †¢ A Review of the Manager’s Job 9 Enter Organizational Behavior 10 Complementing Intuition with Systematic Study 11 Disciplines That Contribute to the OB Field 13 Psychology

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Managing Resistance to Change Free Essays

One of the most difficult tasks for managers is to manage their employee’s resistance to changes within the organization. It is clear that change is an unavoidable element found in all organizations and one of the main reasons of stress for employees. This is why some employees experience difficulties coping and adapting to it. We will write a custom essay sample on Managing Resistance to Change or any similar topic only for you Order Now Managing change can be a very complex process for managers, but assisting their employees to adapt and assimilate change can be even more complicated. This is why managers and leaders must be knowledgeable at managing the dimension of people in order to be successful at managing change. Understanding how others cope, think, and assimilate change becomes a valuable asset for managers. This understanding assists them in managing employee resistance and in assisting their employees to accept and embrace the unavoidable presence of changes within the organization. Change Situation Experiencing Resistance within My Organization My organization recently underwent a major management change. This management transition brought within many changes to our current processes and dynamics. Although most of the changes have been widely accepted by most employees, one in particular is experiencing great resistance. This change is the adoption of new a overtime policy. Prior to the establishment of this change, any agent interested in working extra hours was only required to inform his or her intention to work extra hours at any time. With the new policy agents are not only now required to inform their managers of their intention to work additional hours 24 hours in advance, but once they commit to work the hours if for any circumstances they are unable to, corrective actions are taken against them. This means that all employees requesting to work extra hours who are unable to fulfill their request due to any given circumstances would be subject to a corrective action session by their managers and to have it documented in the employee’s file. This new policy has created great discomfort and resistance in the employee’s, which have also lead our employees to refrain from working additional hours. Unfortunately, our organization depends tremendously on our employee’s willingness to work additional hours due to the nature and volume of the work involving our business. Therefore, finding and developing effective ways to deal with their resistance is imperative for the success of our organization. What are the factors causing the employee’s resistance? Trice and Beyer (2005) stated that any establishment of changes within the organization will always require changes to the existing culture. They also stated that the impact to be suffered by the organization due to the changes implemented is strictly directed by the level of the change involved, its acceptance and understanding by the employees, which is the case with the change instituted by my organization (Trice Bayer, 2005). There are many factors underlying the presence of resistance from the employees regarding the change implemented by the leadership group. These factors are: 1. The employee’s perception of this change as arbitrary and unfair. †¢Our employees do not believe that this change was necessary and perceive it as another attempt to micromanage by management. They believe that the original system was working perfectly for them and the organization. †¢Employees believe that the institution of this change is unfair being that they feel penalized for volunteering their personal time to assist the organization, instead of being appreciated for it . The employees resent that that they were not made part of the discussion leading to the establishment of the change or made aware of the reasoning behind the implementation of the change and what intents to accomplish. †¢This is the main cause of their resistance. Our employees resent the fact that management did not allowed them to participate in the discussions leading to establishment of this change. Due to this they feel that their feelings and views were not taken into consideration before implementing the change. Management failed to communicate and educated the employees regarding the reasons leading to the changes and why it is necessary. Due to this the employees cannot understand the need for the change and the dynamic behind it. Why was this change necessary? Through analysis of our employee’s trends regarding our original over time policy our leadership group decided that a change to the policy was needed. By making use of the data gathered management discovered that many employees were abusing the flexibility provided by the original policy. Although the leadership group understands that our employees are not obligated in any way to work any additional hours beyond their required schedules, they assessed the tremendous waste of resources incurred due to our employee’s failure to follow through with their commitment. It is understood that the successful institution of changes within the organization requires the adoption of new approaches based on the people and structure of the organization suffering the change (Trice Beyer, 2005). Along with that, management must also understand what motivates and triggers the employee’s performance, behavior, and efficiency (Harrison, 2005). This understanding allows them to be more effective at managing the factors triggering these elements (Harrison, 2005). By analyzing the original over time policy, the efficiency, behaviors, and performance of our employees our leadership group determined that the policy was too relaxed and that our employees were indeed abusing of the flexibility that it provided them. Once the employee’s commitment to work additional hours special arrangements were made for them by management such as paid lunches, extra cost incurred for utilities, and the creation of special workflows. Unfortunately many of the employees who made commitments for the additional hours often failed to up for them, which caused our leadership group to waste resources and to fail in accomplishing the duties promised to our head office due to the lack of employees to fulfill the tasks. This is why our leadership group decided on redesigning our over time policy and to include a responsibility portion to it that pursues making our employees accountable for their commitments. The idea behind it is to reduce the absenteeism and over commitment from our employees. This will simultaneously provide the means to ensure that any commitments incurred by our leadership group for the completion of additional tasks will be met because those employees committing to work additional hours will show to complete the tasks. What when wrong? It must be first understood that our organization indeed failed to recognize many of the key elements involved in the establishment of change discussed by Harrison (2005). First and foremost before any changes to the structure of the organization the employee’s readiness to accept the change must be evaluated (Harrison, 2007). Along with that management must also assess how all affected parties will deal with the changes and if the change will produce the results expected or will instead produce unfavorable results for the organization (Harrison, 2005). It is obvious that our management’s failure to acknowledge these elements lead our employee’s to resist to the change implemented. It is also clear that their failure to properly communicate with the employees the challenges experienced while the original policy was in use and the implications behind the new change has contributed tremendously to the creation of this resistance (Harrison, 2005; Trice Beyer, 2005). Along with that, their lack of consideration to the possible consequences resulting from this change has left our management group unprepared to deal with unfavorable results resulting from it (Harrison, 2005). According to Kotter leaders must have understand that there is a process to be followed to secure the effectiveness of a change implemented (Bruner, Eaker, Freeman, Spekman, Teisberg, Venkatatarman, 2003). They must also understand that the most critical part of this process is to help the organization understand the importance of the change to be made (Bruner et al. 2003). What can be done to minimize the employee’s resistance? Resistance on the group level is evident where there are threats to the power structure, influence held by the individuals and lack of trust, as well as a difference in the views and goals existing within the organization (Trice Beyer, 2005). Giving orders and instituting change is much more than just utilizing ones power to direct individuals (Follet, 2005). It requires the right set of mind, conditions, and organizational structure to make it effective (Pfeffer, 2005). A manager’s job is not just to demand from the employees the completion of a task or to follow certain policies; it is also to engage the employees and to have them wanting to do it (Gosling Mintzberg, 2003). Along with that, Follet (2007) also pointed out the importance of knowing how and when to communicate orders. Therefore, the key is to focus in managing the situation not the orders (Follet, 2007). Otherwise, the message delivered through the orders can be unwelcomed or disregarded (Follet, 2007). This is why if the communication of the orders related to change instituted is not managed properly it can cause resistance, due to fear of the unfamiliar, individual interests, and habit (Trice Beyer, 2005). Therefore, making sure that all employees and parties affected fully understand the importance of the change is critical to eliminate or minimize any resistance that might interfere with its successful implementation (Bruner et al. , 2003; Trice Bayer, 2005). To do so our leadership group must first suspend the new policy until full and open communication are maintained with all levels to facilitate the acceptance of the change being implemented, the strategies being used, and to set the path for the vision being pursued (Bruner et al. , 2003). Along with that, it will become extremely important for our management group to educate the employees and have them fully understand the reasons leading to the changes before reincorporating it (Bruner et al. , 2003). Doing so will reduce the resistance being experiencing from the employees and the chances of failure in the execution of the proposed changes (Trice Bayer, 2005). Individual resistance to change is usually about self preservation and fear (Trice Bayer, 2005). This is why our management team must focus in unveiling our employee’s fears and in finding ways to ease them out. As Bruner, Eaker, Freeman, Spekman, Teisberg, Venkatatarman (2003) suggested, to motivate their employees to perform according to the policies established managers must have a clear understanding of their weaknesses, strengths, and learning styles (Bruner et al. 2003). This is why understanding these factors will allow our managers to be more effective at handling those elements that will trigger our employee’s performance and that will facilitate their assimilation of the changes implemented (Harrison, 2005). Conclusion It can be concluded that our management group did not properly manage the estab lishment of the new over time policy. Their failure to consider the implications involved in its implementation, to acknowledge the need to educated and to fully communicate the need for the change to employees are some of the main causes generating their resistance (Harrison, 2005). This is why it will be in the best interest of the organization to temporarily suspend the new policy and to refocus their efforts in education the employees in the need for the new policies (Harrison, 2005). Along with that, their focus should also include the creation of open communication settings to allow the employees to express their concerns, feelings, and discomfort with the new policy. Doing so will assist our leadershi to regain their trust, to develop plans to gain their support to the new policy, and to minimize their resistance (Harrison, 2005; Trice Bayer, 2005). How to cite Managing Resistance to Change, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Arms and the Man is one of George Bernard Shaws successfully written plays that have become predominant and globally renowned Essay Example For Students

Arms and the Man is one of George Bernard Shaws successfully written plays that have become predominant and globally renowned Essay Arms and the Man is one of George Bernard Shaws successfully written plays that have become predominant and globally renowned. Shaws play leads itself to two themes that people can relate to, which are the importance of war and the essentials to true love and marriage. These themes are interwoven, for Shaw believed that while war is evil and stupid, and marriage desirable and good, both had become wrapped in romantic illusions which led to disastrous wars and also to unhappy marriages. 1 The theme of war applies itself into the plot within the first few pages of the melodrama, when the Bulgarians are at war with the Serbs. Romance is portrayed by the humorous and ironic relationships of Raina, Sergius and Bluntschli. Unfortunately, due to societys lack of comprehension and failing to learn from our past errors, we are destined to repeat the majority of them. Another act of ignorance found in this play is the attitude of the Petkoffs towards their material advantages and their possessions of wealth, bringing them personal superiority. Arms and the Man is as fresh and up-to-date today as when Shaw first produced his play in 1894. 2 War is an unfortunate condition that exists when a group feels its vital interests are at stake and seeks to impose its beliefs or control on a rival group through the use of overt force. Shaw was a socialist and an ardent pacifist. 3 He did not agree to the idea of war, and he wrote about it to warn us, future generations, not to commit the same crime. The romantic view of war he held is based on the idealistic notation that men fight because they are heroes, and that the soldier who takes the biggest risks wins the greatest glory and is the greatest hero. 4 Raina had imagined war as an exciting sport; after talking with Captain Bluntschli, one of the defeated, she now sees it as a dreadful reality. 5 Sergius, too, has learned something of the realities of war, and is so disgusted by them that he has sent in his resignation, saying Soldieringà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦is the cowards art of attacking mercilessly when you are strong, and keeping out of harms way when you are week. 6 This theme of war helps Shaws Arms and the Man to continue as a fresh and current play, as it was in 1894. The battle of Slivnica was remarkable mainly for its surprise ending wherein the Bulgarians defeated the invading Serbians much more by good luck than good management, and went to ally themselves with Austrian Hungary thereby bringing World War I one small step closer. 7 Many other wars have taken place since then, and yet man has still to learn that war is not the answer. The romance in the play is portrayed by the humorous and ironic relationships of Raina, Sergius and Bluntschli. In Arms and the Man Raina Petkoff intends, at the time the play opens, to become the wife of Major  Sergius Saranoff, who is then away fighting the Serbs. News has come home to Raina and her mother that Sergius has ridden bravely at the head of a victorious cavalry charge, and Raina rejoices because she can now believe that her affianced is just as splendid and noble as he looks! That the world is really a glorious world for woman who can see its glory and men who can act its romance! In the opening scene of the play, after adoring Sergius portrait, Raina goes to bed murmuring My hero! My hero! This is a romantic view of life, but then reality suddenly breaks in upon her. .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 , .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .postImageUrl , .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 , .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:hover , .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:visited , .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:active { border:0!important; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:active , .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306 .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud93e8233bfb481297cb4c658dfd7a306:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Cannibalism the Last Taboo Essay8 An enemy solider, Captain Bluntschli the chocolate-cream soldier, escaping from gunfire in the Bulgarian countryside, scales the balcony of a mountain estate and lands in the bedroom of a young woman whose father and fiancÃÆ' © are fighting on the front. He is desperate through exhaustion and fear, and Raina sneers at him. Nevertheless, when the pursuers come to search the house, Raina hides the fugitive and denies having seen him. She also feeds him chocolates, they are his passion; he carries them à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" like all professional soldiers, he says à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" into war instead of bullets. Bluntschli is Shaws affectionate parody of a Swiss pragmatist, level-headed and unemotional. It amuses Shaw to discombobulate him by placing him, initially, in a situation where his reasonableness cannot help him much. Raina no longer thinks of war as a romantic game, nor does she any longer think of marriage as the mating of a beautiful heroine and a ornamental and fickle Sergius. She takes as her husband the plain Bluntschli, whose common sense and six hotels in Switzerland will give her stability and comfort. The realities of love and marriage become one of the most frequent themes in Shaws plays throughout the remainder of his long life. 9 The complexities of love and marriage has not changed much over the years. For example, love and relationships were just as obscure in 1894 as they are in 1998. This makes Shaws play recent and the issues it deals with are understandable. Shaw believed that it was foolish to act as though the possession of wealth, or any other material advantages, is a sign of personal superiority. People may not any longer think it impressive to have an electric bell in the house, but there are countries nowadays where families with television sets and motor cars feel just as stupidly proud as the Petkoffs did with their bell and library. 10 Many people world-wide today consider themselves above others and look down on those with less materialistic possessions, as if they were inferior. Having more materialistic possessions and wealth does not necessarily mean it will bring you happiness, this is not the reality of life at all. As a mater of fact, those with less materialistic treasures tend to live a happier and peaceful life. This is because their efforts are not concentrated on wealth but rather  on family and friends who support each other. Money and wealth can control a person to become greedy and require more. It is much better to live a life of harmony and peace, blessed for what to have, than to live worrying about the things that you do not have. That is a lesson Shaw is trying to teach us. We should learn from the Petkoffs and acquire a better attitude towards life and its materialistic treasures. If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" George Bernard Shaw. Furthermore, Arms and the Man is as fresh and up-to-date today as when Shaw first produced his play in 1894. Shaws play leads itself to two themes that people can relate to, which are the importance of war and the essentials to true love and marriage. The theme of war applies itself into the plot within the first few pages of the play, when the Bulgarians are at war with the Serbs. Romance is portrayed by the humorous and ironic relationships of Raina, Sergius and Bluntschli. Shaw believed that it was foolish to act as though the possession of wealth, or any other material advantages, is a sign of personal superiority. Moreover, Arms and the Man is a successful play and will continue to prosper due to the nature of its themes, war and romance being contemporary with todays society. Perhaps Shaws best ability might have been his ability to attract attention to himself, his ideas, and his works. This ability never failed him.