Russian Organized Crime During The United States - 1295 Words

Introduction Russian organized crime in the United States is unique to traditional organized crime, specifically La Costa Notra, in several ways. These unique traits distinguish the abilities and operations of Russian organized crime. It is generally agreed by researchers and practitioners that Russian groups are generally less structured than Italian organized crime groups. Additionally, they have thrived by adapting to and exploiting technology. Many Russian organized crime members are highly educated, including Semyon Moglievich who had a degree in economics (Radanko, 2011). There are also Russian mafia members who have PH.D’s in mathematics, engineering, or physics (Friedman, 2000). Many law enforcement agencies characterize Russian organized crime as organized crime groups who primarily speak the Russian language, thus comprised of groups from different regions of the former Soviet Union. For the purposes of this paper, this author will follow the same guideline to charac terize Russian organized crime. Historical and Cultural Concepts To understand Russian organized crime it is essential to understand the historical and cultural influences on the citizens, government, and organized crime members. An undercover law enforcement officer of Russian descent cited two major cultural differences of the former Soviet Union which may contribute to the current organized crime groups. First, many people from the former Soviet Union did not view stealing form their place ofShow MoreRelatedRussian Organized Crime Essay874 Words   |  4 PagesRussian Organized Crime (ROC) The term Russian organized crime (ROC) refers to criminal groups from the 15 republics which comprised the former Soviet Union. ROC has existed for 20 years in the United States but during the last five years law enforcement authorities have observed a distinct increase in their criminal activities. Criminals from the former Soviet Union have established their networks in major cities and are also emerging in some smaller cities. ROC groups are involved in murderRead MoreThe Italian Mob And The Russian Mafia1323 Words   |  6 PagesWhen people think of organized crime they think of the Italian mob and the Russian mafia. They are the ones that they see in movies and on television, and the ones that they hear about the most. However, they were created a couple centuries after their Asian counterparts, the Yakuza in Japan, and the Triads in China. These Asian syndicates were founded in the sixteenth and seventeenth century and consisted of merchants and other people in what was basica lly the middle class. They were just groupsRead MoreLaw Enforcement, US Military, and Terrorism923 Words   |  4 PagesSection 4: Law Enforcement, U.S. Military, and Terrorism Law enforcement agencies at the federal level and the U.S. military play a significant role in preventing terrorism on a state, national, and global scale. Former Vice-President Dick Cheney comments, On the ground, the first responders and local police [are] the first line of defense and intelligence, followed by federal law enforcement, with our foreign intelligence and military forces on call (Melber). Through a collaboration of variousRead MoreThe Russian Mafia1515 Words   |  7 PagesThe Russian Mafia, also known as Bratva (Brotherhood) is a collection of various organized crime groups that originated during the former Soviet Union era. It is made up of underworld leadership in which engages in providing illegal goods and services that range anywhere from drugs and weapons smuggling to gambling and human trafficking. As in the U.S, there is no universally accepted definition of organized crime in Russia. However, the Bratva shares many basic characteristics with other well-know nRead MorePersonal Perception of Organized Crime787 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Perception of Organized Crime In answering this question of what Angie’s personal perception of organized crime, it takes me back to the days of organized groups that united for financial gain, control over business, law enforcement, the public and anyone or anything that they could rule. Organized crime brings about change in a community, hurt, danger, and sometimes death. When thinking of organized crime it takes us back to the days of the Mafia. The days of Al Capone comes to mind moreRead MoreEssay about Organized Crime Around the World1874 Words   |  8 PagesWhen people think of organized crime they think of the Italian mob and the Russian mafia. They are the ones that they see in movies and on television, and the ones that they hear about the most. However, they were created a couple centuries after their Asian counterparts, the Yakuza in Japan, and the Triads in China. These Asian syndicates were founded in the sixteenth and seventeenth century and consisted of merchants and other people in what was basically the middle class. They were just groupsRead MoreEssay on The Russian Mob4523 Words   |  19 PagesThe Russian Mob: Organized Crime in a Fledgling Democracy Since the late 1980’s the Russian people have experienced one of the most drastic transitions seen in the world to date, a transition from an attempt at communism to a workable capitalist system. As one would expect, this transition has not been painless and has been the impetus of many distressing problems for the Russian people. One such problem is organized crime. This paper will explore how organized crime during Soviet rule andRead MoreUkraine Case Study819 Words   |  4 Pagesspecifically, Russia began to taking over the Ukraine territory of the Crimean Peninsula through illegal use of force (Global Security, 2016). During that time, the Russian government voted to place Crimean’s into the Russian Federation, which had been rapidly accepted by the President of Russia himself, Vladimir Putin. Most of the Crimean population is ethnic Russians, although there are also the pro-Ukraine Tatar minorities that make up a smaller percent of the population (Cecire, 201 4). After invadingRead More Smuggling Of Nuclear Material Essay988 Words   |  4 Pages Smuggling of Nuclear Material Over the past five years the former states of the Soviet Union havent been able to prevent the leakage of nuclear material. Nuclear materials and technologies are more accessible now than at any other time in history, due to the breakup of the Soviet Union and the worsening of economic conditions. No longer does the Soviet KGB, the Soviet military and the Soviet border guards have the control to stop the smuggling of nuclear materials. With the Cold War being overRead MoreThe Trials Of The War II1096 Words   |  5 Pagesofficials. These Trails continued from November 20, 1945 till October 1, 1946. In these Tails, defendant use Nuremberg Defense, a legal strategy employed by many of the defendants at the Nuremberg war crimes trials seeking to convict Nazi perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Second World War, as a defense by claiming they were not guilty of charges against them as they were simply following orders (Rationalwiki). Even though the victors claimed that they would give

Case Study Marketing Campaigns For Customers - 1679 Words

Chen Liu Professor Joe Dery Homework 3 Nov 4th, 2015 RFM Analysis A. Executive Summary Joe’s Shopping World schedules to launch marketing campaigns for customers. To maximize return of investment of each dollar on campaigns, Joe’s Shopping World is looking to profile the customer segmentation to test incremental response from the marketing campaigns. The dataset contained 225,533 rows of customer transaction records over the last two years. The following elements have been recorded in the dataset: household ID, day (1-711), sales value ($) and total discount ($). I adopted the RFM analysis in this report to analyze the dataset and score each customer based on recency-the number of days since the last purchase, frequency-the number of†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Frequency is the total number of days per customer visited in the last two years and is assigned the scores from 0 to 4. †¢ Monetary is the total spending in the store over the last 711 days and is also assigned the scores from 0 to 4. 1’st, using SAS coding to calculate recency. 2’nd, grouping R, F and M records by household ID. Then there will be a new dataset that each customer have a row of record including recency (R_Cal), frequency (F_Cal) and monetary (M_Cal), as shown in figure-1. At the same time, I present a part of the original dataset to compare with figure-2. Figure-1: Query Dataset Figure 2: Part of Original Dataset 3’rd, ranking the data with separate customers into 5 groups based on R_Cal and assign R score to each customer. Of course, we need to check the reverse ranking radio-button to make sure the minimum value of recency has the largest value when we rank the customers. Because we use â€Å"recency=712-day† to calculate the R score. Part of the result is shown in figure-3. Figure-3: R Rank 4’th, ranking F and M at the same time. Just repeat s tep 3, but do not forget to uncheck the reverse ranking radio-button. Figure-4 shows part of the resulted dataset. Figure-4: F and M Rank 5’th, summarizing the result R Rank. We place R_Cal as the analysis variable and R as the classification variable. In figure-5, we can see the summary statistics with R_Cal. And the range ofShow MoreRelatedHips Feel Good1124 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Hips Feel Good: - Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty Case Study The basis of this case study revolves around Karen Dunleavy a brand manager tasked with the responsibility of further market share growth with the Dove brand. The major problem that Karen Dunleavy is faced with is further establishing the Dove brand in a highly competitive market in the beauty industry. Furthermore the first steps to resolving this problem was by collaborating with the assistant executive brand manager Michael B AllenRead MoreHey there1302 Words   |  6 Pagesattitudes as a result of my new advertising campaign, or two, see what the effects of my new advertising are on the recent sales. 2. If potential customers had heard about my restaurant but had not yet acted on that information and come in to buy, my reaction would be to come up with a new advertising campaign because the message was getting to them, but it was not effective enough to make them want to come in and buy my food. 3. The most effective marketing tool in reaching college-aged students isRead MoreThe Case of Nike1035 Words   |  5 PagesWEEK 1 – CASE STUDY: THE KEY MARKETING STRATEGY OF NIKE Nike is considered to be a leading athletic footwear manufacturer, which makes up over 30 percent and 50 percent of global and US market share respectively. In order to reach customers’ demands and get profits, Nike has executed/implemented a number of marketing strategies. This essay will examine Nike’s key strategies from1962 to 2009. The most essential marketing strategy called â€Å"Pyramid of influence† was expressed by Product, Place andRead MoreMarketing Techniques Of Direct Marketing Essay1144 Words   |  5 PagesDirect marketing is the business of selling products or services directly to the public, e.g., by mail order or telephone selling, rather than through retailers. Nowadays, with the increase in popularity of social media and email usage, there has been a rise in direct marketing. 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Online Screen channels are becoming of main interest for brands to advertise in. From this, Youtube has become one of the main platforms on which brands decide to promote their conten t, not only because it is cost–effective, but because it can achieve a high impression by reaching a large audience. Different campaigns such as Volvo’s â€Å"The Epic Split†and Carrie’s Telekinetic cafeÃŒ  prank, prove the efficiencyRead MoreVegemite: Marketing and Product1745 Words   |  7 PagesA definition of brand as Muzellec and lambkin (2005) cited from the American Association of Marketing, could be â€Å"a name, term, symbol, design or a combination of them intended to identify goods or services of one seller or a group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitors†. After 1922 when the initial product â€Å"vegemite† was invented and had to be positioned at the Australian Market through different kinds of commercials for television, radio, contests, a new challenge appearedRead MorePromotional Marketing : Marketing Campaign887 Words   |  4 PagesPromotional marketing is the use of any special offer intended t o raise a customer s interest and influence a purchase, and to make a particular product or company stand out among its competitors. Promotional materials can exist as a part of direct marketing, like mail or email materials that include coupons (See also Direct Marketing). They can also include contests that encourage participation with a company, or product samples that offer something free to customers to generate their interestRead MoreMarketing Case Study : Marketing Communications Manager With Trublush Cosmetics1578 Words   |  7 PagesSection I In the Marketing Case Study that describes the ethical dilemma of â€Å"Tiff,† an Assistant Marketing Communications Manager with TruBlush Cosmetics, it is clear that she has several decisions to carefully weigh. Clearly, encouraging consumers to use multiple applications of a cosmetics product that has been shown to work with just one application is ethically questionable. However, focus group sessions are notoriously small and statistically unreliable. While the focus group sessions may wellRead MoreCase Study : Disneyland s Consumer Focused Initiative Essay1717 Words   |  7 PagesOcampo, Gerard (14095157B) Stream B Submitted to: Anika Vats Lecturer Date: 13th May 2015 PART A: Disneyland’s Case 1. Disneyland’s consumer focused initiative Analyzing the Disneyland case, Disney focused on market segmentation anchoring on cultural distance and differences. According to Zhu Xu (2010), it is important for companies operating in different countries to study the marketing distance problem. It stated that: â€Å"The larger the distance between the countries, the greater the uncertainty

Interpretive Analysis of A Modest Proposal Essay Example For Students

Interpretive Analysis of A Modest Proposal Essay Swifts A Modest Proposal, in which he suggests that the problem of Irish poverty can be solved by the sale of the children of the poor for consumption, is above all things a criticism of human faults: extremism of thinking, greed, pride, hypocrisy, intolerance, and insensitivity. His use of ireony is evident even in the title: the idea that not only should poor Irish children be eaten, but that they should be bred for eating is certainly anything but modest. Swifts plan is that through irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration, the reader will recognize those faults which may not seem so obvious in their more mild forms. In Swifts criticism of extremist thinking, he switches back and forth throughout the text between two different methods of thinking: one is purely emotional, the other is purely rational. The faulty logic is obvious in comparisons between the conclusions that both methods reach. For example, the reasonable thinker, in his discussion of the breeding of the children who are to be consumed, assumes that the mother has no emotional attachment to her children and would be happy to give them up to be slaughtered for the profit. And yet the emotional thinker says that those mothers who abort their children do so for emotional reasons, namely shame. It follows then that those who give birth to their bastards must feel enough love for them to raise them in spite of whatever shame they may feel. Also the emotional narrator describes begging as dishonest, whereas the rational thinker uses the term lawful to describe it. In this way Swift shows how the two thinkers reach opposite conclusions, neither of which tell the whole story or are entirely accurate. The reasonable thinker is also so simple as to believe that because he is supported by so many experts who he keeps claiming he has consulted, that his ideas are justified. The only paragraph in which both methods of thinking are combined is the one in which Swift makes his true proposals which are reached by a moderate method. Greed is another human downfall Swift deals with in his proposals, namely the greed of the British landlords and aristocracy which he sees as directly responsible for the poverty of the Irish. This is primarily dealt with in the overall image of the British devouring the beggar children of Ireland in order to rid themselves of the eyesore that they pose and which the British have directly caused by displacing them from their homes and starving them with exorbitantly high rents. He describes these aristocrats and landlords as all the fine gentlemen who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in fine eating and suggests that since they have already destroyed their deer that they might appreciate a substitute for their appetites. Speaking ironically, he attempts to appeal to this sense of greed by describing the children as a good fat child, and excellent nutritive meat. He even criticizes the greed of the Irish tavern keepers who he assures the reader would contrive to make it the flesh of children as expensive as they please. He also accuses the British of pride with his claims that they would be pleased to serve a childs flesh at merry meetings, particularly weddings and christenings and that it would make a considerable figure at a lord mayors feast or any other public entertainment, suggesting that the meal would serve as a status symbol for the aristocracy. The idea is further supported by Swifts bold and outlandish claim that the rich would be pleased to wear the flayed carcasses as admirable gloves for the ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen. The skins would have to be artificially (skillfully) dressed however, suggesting that the nobles would have to go out of their way to be able to adorn themselves in this new fashionable symbol of their wealth and privilege. Swift also deals with the folly of the insensitivity of the British to the plight of the starving Irish. Mocking the reasonable Brit, he claims that they would have no problem with having to slaughter the child themselves in order to ensure the freshness of the meat: I rather than buying the child already .

The Hunter is a book marked by loss. Discuss. Essay Example

The Hunter is a book marked by loss. Discuss. Essay The Armstrong family is marked by loss. When Jarrah died Bike and Sass became orphans. As a mother Lucy no longer exists in Sass and Bikes lives, she is just a Sleeping Beauty (P 18). Sass was abandoned in hospital, lying down in bed alone, unable to move. Bike is in foster care in some strange place among strangers, schoolyard taunts your mothers in a looney bin. (P 152) Lucy has lost her mind and her life. The great loss that surrounds Jarrahs death has engulfed the entire Armstrong family. Sass and Bike have essentially lost both parents.As for M, he who is anchored by neither wife nor home, nor by a lover nor even a single friend (P 15) M is alone in the world; he has no one. He lost his first and only girlfriend and their unborn baby. It has been a long time since hes seen hes old man and it occurs to M that his parents might be dead (P 16) M is at a loss when it comes to relationships. He lost his chance at being normal when he made the decision to live for the job, to live a s a hunter. M, only when seeing and feeling for the Armstrong family, does he realise just what it is he has missed in life. Once it has a grip on you, absence, it cannot be defeated how can you fight against nothing? (P 133)M has no hope left in the world. Only a child could nurture such hope, such conviction. (P 22) He is skilfully able to focus on the here and now: the hunters greatest weapon: a sense of immediacy, a complete understanding of why space is time. I am here, he thinks, I am right here, right now. (P 117) Despite achieving this level of awareness up on the plateau, back at the house he refuses emotional contact and distrusts women and children. He wishes he was up there now, up where it is calm and pure, space enough for a man to think. (P 139) In his lone M is goes by unaffected by his human condition as other men do. He sees the weakness among man and attempts to eliminate them in order to perfect his mind frame for his mission, to bring him closer to godliness. N ot like others he once knew, soldiers who refused to leave for a job because at the last minute theyd misplaced their lucky spoon, or a memento from a past lover or, worse, a dear departed colleague. (P 25) He did not allow himself to place such feeble hope in hopeless matters. He did not rely on a memento to get him through but instead on his will to do so by perfecting his mind frame. M lost a great part of the human condition by loosing the hope that tomorrow may be the better day.M is a man devoid of ethics and human emotion thus allowing him to bring the thylacine to extinction. M is ruthless he will complete his mission at any cost, virus or antidote, M does not know, cannot know and does not want to know (P 40) He remains unaffected by the potentially devastating effect his mission may have on humanity. The loss of the thylacine not only signifies the loss of the species but the loss of many lives and potential lives. The thylacines extinction is in accord with the fear of th e future extinction of humankind. His buried cache of coffee to celebrate the end of his job is one of his barren attempts to give his life meaning.If a mans life were an island it would be uninhabitable. (P 139) To survive in this wasteland he has learned to slough off unnecessary detritus and so he concludes that his brief period of affection for the family was a monumental lapse of judgement. (P 47) M comforts himself when he loses his tenuous grip on some sort of emotional attachment by believing that it will make him stronger. What he sees now is that he has been tested, steeled, and seduced, and that is his true purpose is to be a hunter, to harvest the tiger. (P 148) Ms protestations are flimsy, though, for he constantly resorts to universal mythical metaphors to explain the uncertainties; to translate the aching emptiness in his heart. His great tragedy in his incapacity to find within himself the necessary words to describe the beautiful terribleness of the deed (P 164), wh en he finally achieves it. This is a dark tale about the need for vigilance; to constantly strive for connectedness in our lives. Maybe M is not the lost soul he appears to be. Maybe there is hope for him yet.

Verizon Strategic Analysis Essay Example

Verizon Strategic Analysis Paper Verizon Mission Statement With the use of pro-formal balance and income statements, detailed ratio analysis and industry trend tracking we hope o increase share holder wealth while expanding our market share and bringing innovative new products to the consumer. B. Existing Mission Our Nilsson at Verizon Is simple, to be the best and only choice for consumer telecommunication needs. C. Existing Objectives Big changes are happening in the way people communicate, as innovative technologies reshape consumer behavior around convenience, ease of use and instant gratification. With wireless phones, e-mail, instant messaging and the Internet, customers have a range of choices for connecting to people and information. The changes in technology are affecting more than Just phone calls and ext messages. For example, you no longer have to Walt days to mail pictures of your vacation to friends and family you can now share your experiences Immediately using a camera phone or a broadband computer connection. The twin phenomena of increased mobility and broadband availability are restructuring industries and transforming our society. Nearly two-thirds of all American homes now subscribe to both wireless and hireling services, and wireless calls now outnumber calls from traditional hireling telephones. As a measure of the popularity of camera phones, Verizon Wireless customers sent or received more than 30 million stricture messages in just the last three months of 2004. Finally, online usage has grown significantly in the last few years, as 70 percent of U. S. Households now have access to the Internet, and over one-third of those homes are served with a broadband connection. As Americas broadband appetite increases, so too will the sophistication of a new generation of digital devices. Soon, the ability to communicate will be embedded in most electronic devices and will become an essential part of major home appliances. We will write a custom essay sample on Verizon Strategic Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Verizon Strategic Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Verizon Strategic Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To meet these escalating demands for communication, Verizons new wireless and fleer broadband technologies have the o provoke our customers Walt all ten Downtown n teeny wall need Tort years to come. As new high-capacity applications continue to become an integral part of our daily lives, Verizons premier communications services will deliver the speed, mobility and control our customers need to stay connected. By providing these services, we enable our customers to enjoy the rich communications experiences made possible by converging technologies. D. Existing Strategies Revenue Growth Our emphasis is on revenue transformation, devoting more resources from traditional services, where we have been experiencing access line shoes, to the higher growth markets such as wireless, hireling broadband, including digital subscriber lines (DSL) and fiber optics to the home (Verizons Bios product), long distance and other data services as well as expanded services to enterprise markets. In 2004, revenues from these growth areas increased by 20% compared to 2003 and represent 53% of our total revenues, up from 47% of total revenues in 2003 and 43% in 2002. Verizon reported consolidated revenue growth of 5. 7% in 2004 compared to 2003, led by 23. 0% higher revenue at Domestic Wireless and 7. 4% total data revenue growth at Domestic Telecoms. Verizon added 6,294,000 wireless customers, 1,240,000 DSL lines, 2,337,000 long distance lines and more than 750 Enterprise Advance sales in 2004, meeting its revenue objective of $250 million. Operational Efficiency While focusing resources on growth markets, we are continually challenging our management team to lower expenses, particularly through technology-assisted productivity improvements. The effect of these and other efforts, such as the 2003 labor agreements and voluntary separation plans, has been to significantly change the companys cost structure. At December 31 , 2002, Verizon had 226,000 employees compared to 202,000 at December 31 , 2003. Domestic Telecoms salary and benefits expenses declined by approximately $1 billion in 2004 compared to 2003 as a result of the voluntary separation plans. Workforce levels in 2004 increased to 210,000, driven by wireless and hireling broadband growth markets. Capital Allocation Verizons capital spending continues to be directed toward growth markets. High-speed wireless data (EVADE), replacement of copper access lines with fiber optics to the home, as well as voice over the Internet (Poi) and expanded services to enterprise markets are examples of areas of capital pending in support of these growth markets. In 2004, approximately $900 million of capital spending at Domestic Telecoms was reallocated from traditional products to growth products. Cash Flow Generation The financial statements reflect the emphasis of management on not only directing resources to growth markets, but also using cash provided by our operating and investing activities for the repayment of debt in addition to providing a stable dividend to our shareowner. At December 31 , 2004, Verizons total debt was $39,267 million, a decrease of $6,113 million from $45380 million at December 31, 2003. Recommended Mission and Vision Statement Verizon Communications Inc. NYSE:VS.), a DOD 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wire line and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. At Verizon innovation and being on the forefront of technological advancements insures Verizon Wireless operates Americas most reload wheelers network. Verizon Business operates one AT the most expansive, wholly-owned, global IP networks. Verizon Telecoms is deploying the nations most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged ammunitions, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 252,000 highly trained and dedicated employees. The Verizon commitment is to put our customers first by providing excellent service and great communications experiences. This is what we do and this is why we exist. By focusing on our customers and being a responsible member of our communities, we produce a solid return for our shareowner, create meaningful work for ourselves and provide something of lasting value for society. As a result, Verizon is recognized as a great company. In order to keep this commitment, we always honor our core values. Integrity is at the heart of everything we do. We are honest, ethical and upfront because trust is at the foundation of our relationships with our customers, our communities, our stakeholders and each other. We know it is critical that we respect everyone at every level of our business. We champion diversity, embrace individuality and listen carefully when others speak. We hold ourselves to a very high standard of performance. We prize innovative ideas and the teamwork it takes to make them realities.

Dramatic Monologue Talking Heads Essay Example

Dramatic Monologue Talking Heads Essay Example Dramatic Monologue Talking Heads Essay Dramatic Monologue Talking Heads Essay Essay Topic: Literature Talk In reading Alan Bennetts selection of monologues I have analysed each character used. Having studied them closely I have gained respect for each character; in dealing with their myriad of individual, and sometimes shared, problems they each have still managed to live, what is to them if no-one else, full and relatively normal lives. But I have also developed feelings of sympathy towards one character in particular. With another I have developed an overwhelming lack of compassion. Bennett describes the character in A Chip in the Sugar, a middle-aged man called Graham Whittaker, quite guardedly at first. The way that Bennett imparts information to his readers is very sporadic. In doing this he tends to deceive us a little, letting our own imaginations run wild about the truth behind the character, their real persona. This can make it difficult to trust the opinions, tone and actual basis of the monologue. Graham Whittaker is an unreliable narrator. He relates conversations had between his mother, her friend Mr Turnbull and himself with a rather self-pitying slant. He makes out that he was ignored and ridiculed by Mr Turnbull and his mother, who at the beginning of the monologue says how much Graham means to her. Graham, I think the world of you. This could also be deceiving however, due to the fact that we are not given all of the information about Graham from the start. My lack of compassion for Graham Whittaker stems from his relationship with his mother. Although, as we find out in the monologue later, Graham is obviously mentally ill, he leads us to believe that his mother is completely reliant on him for most tasks. they slipped her mind, so the rest of the operation devolved on me. Why does he do this? It is obvious as her relationship develops with Mr Turnbull that Mrs Whittaker isnt as dependent on Graham as he would like us to believe. In my opinion Bennett is suggesting that this is what Graham wants us to believe. If we accept that Mrs Whittaker needs Graham, then that gives him a purpose. He is not just a middle-aged man still living with his mother; he is someone that is needed. Without him his mother may come to some harm. It is this attitude that annoys me about Graham. Due to his fear of uselessness he is holding onto his mother and, in effect, holding her back from her life. What right does he have to do that? Throughout the sketch Bennett tells us that Graham needs a stable environment. I agree with this and can empathise with Grahams uncertainty after his mother meets Mr Turnbull, but this still does not negate the fact that Mrs Whittaker has a life too. As in all of his sketches, Bennetts structure of writing can be very misleading. We are informed of important information right at the end of the story, and told seemingly pointless material in the beginning. What is most disappointing about Graham is the appearance of happiness when he starts to find out that Mr Turnbull isnt all he says he is. Is this because he wants to feel needed/necessary to his mother? Or is it fear? Fear of going back to the hostel surrounded by people that he doesnt understand, I sometimes feel a bit out of it as Ive never had any particular problems, or is it something darker? Bennett hints at this at the end of the sketch when he writes of Grahams seeming indifference to his mothers pain. The structure of the last couple of paragraphs is a defiant tone, followed by relief from Graham. For his mother it is heartbreak followed by reluctant acceptance. All in all, a heart-wrenching finale for Mrs Whittaker without any support from her selfish, unstable son. After reading A cream cracker under the settee I felt so much sympathy for the character Doris. Bennetts telling of her plight gave me an insight into her pain and loneliness and elicited a feeling of terror. From the beginning we are given a view of Doris that is of a very proud and hardened old woman. But the clinch of the story is that Doris is alone. She has no friends, no relatives (that she mentions), she is childless and has recently been widowed. To top it all off, the Social Services are threatening to take away her home and put her into Stafford House, to all accounts a home for the elderly. Doris has recently taken a fall whilst dusting a wedding photograph of her and her husband. She wasnt supposed to dust. The way that Bennett tells us this elicits yet more sympathy from me. Imagine not being able to do something you wanted to do in your own home. Granted it was obviously with the best intentions and as it turns out it would have been best for our character but when you are slightly obsessive with regards to cleaning, like Doris When people were clean and the streets were clean and it was all clean, surely youre entitled to dust in your own home? The most terrifying and saddening part of this tale is simply that Doris decides to give up. You can see that from her point of view being dictated to like a child is not what she wants for the last years of her life. It seems to me that Bennett wants us to experience what Doris is feeling. The loss of her husband, the emptiness and loneliness that engulfs her, the constant threat of losing her home, the loss of her child (in her mind it was a child, despite what the midwife said) and the unfailing pride that ultimately is going to end her life. Bennett leads us up to the very end of the sketch letting us believe that Doris will in fact get help. He introduces a couple of possible saviours, either coming into the garden or up to the front door and finally a friendly policeman. As Doris sits by the front door, slowly giving in to the pain in her legs and, I expect, by this time further pain throughout her body from sitting on the floor for so long, I felt so much compassion for her and yet also a little happiness would she be saved? Or would she be allowed to rest with her husband? As the sketch comes to a close the policeman comes to the door and asks Doris if she is ok. Being the proud lady she is she refuses to admit that she needs help. No, Im all right. As he walks back up the path we finally see what Bennett wanted us to see. That sometimes it is okay to be alone in the dark, because to let go and drift away to that feared, unknown place, ultimately you wont be alone anymore. I feel sympathy for Doris because she was alone. When she chose to die, there was no-one there to be with her, or talk to her. All she had was memories of her husband and the life they led together. The only person who would even know she was gone would be her Social Services appointed cleaner. Its done with now.

Definitions of heresy and the descriptions of the trial of Margery Essay

Definitions of heresy and the descriptions of the trial of Margery Kempe - Essay Example During the time during which Margery was practicing her belief, she was at odds with the common belief of the general public. Margery was a woman who in one way or another tried to spread her beliefs to others. This could be counted as preaching which was against the teachings of Paul for a woman to preach to the people. The definition of a heretic includes having deviant faith from the commonly accepted scriptures which Margery was guilty of. She wore all white and claimed to have visions of Christ and Mary that seemed unreal from the scriptures. She could not have been the maid of Mary. Her beliefs were a risk as they would bring discourse should the people have started believing in her faith. It is for this reason that the Archbishop of York did not want her to be escorted by a younger man. He was willing to pay five shillings to an older man to escort her instead because his faith in the common scripture would already be established and tougher to sway (Clark 2007). The definition also includes that the error is ascertained when the individual believing in deviant faith refuses to renounce this faith. Margery refused to denounce her belief before the priest and before the Arch bishop. For this reason, many people were against her and wanted her burnt as they believed that she as committing heresy. It is proved from the definition that an aspect of her faith led her to commit heresy. Despite knowing the scriptures, she did not follow them to the letter which led her to be arrested in several accounts for instance in York. She had different ideologies bout the scriptures and what was expected of the human beings from Christ. The trips that Margery made were in the name of spreading her faith to others which was therefore an act of preaching. She was trying to get more people to share in her faith about the scriptures which was a crime in itself as she was a woman