ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: family

Tension builds up in a mock dramatic moment as Mr. White breathes the words “I wish for two hundred pounds” as if in a tense film Herbert crashes the piano like a drum roll for dad, Jacob uses the sound effect to build tension and suspense builds up after he speaks the wish as its all silent and the reader is at edge expecting something to happen. After he wishes he drops the paw ‘with a glance of disgust’ convinced it had moved in his hand he says it “twisted like a snake” using a simile to create a strange imagery of evil things associated with bad things and bad deeds. Herbert dismisses the whole thing saying “I don’t see the money, and I bet I never shall” which is an ironic parallel to the end as he doesn’t see the money, but not because it doesn’t exist.
Topic: family

Outside the wind becomes ‘higher then ever’ and Mr. White ‘started nervously at the sound of a door banging’ disturbing the ‘unusual and depressing silence’ tension builds here as the cozy atmosphere changes dramatically and Mr. White is left feeling extremely unsettled about the whole thing and the fact the atmosphere has changed so much from the outside influences trying to break in. Suspense is built again when Mr. White looks into the fire and sees faces that are ‘so simian that he gazed at it in amazement’ simian meaning ape like it will shock the readers and Mr. White and we see him get fearful for the first time in the story.
Topic: family

The next morning is a completely different atmosphere, it changes from a scene from a traditional horror story of a noisy and scary outside and a silent dark solemn depressing inside to the scene of brightness and happiness at a typical Victorian family breakfast table as a ‘wintery sun streamed over the breakfast table’ The new atmosphere leaves the family thinking about the way they got caught up in the story the night before and allowing it to scare them silly. Mrs. White especially thinks that the fear of the night before was ridiculous saying even if the wish was granted “how could money hurt you” little does she know, it can and it’s using dramatic irony. Not believing in it didn’t prevent her from ‘scurrying to the door at the postman’s knock’ with a hint that she’s hopeful something exciting will still happen, and the money will still come.
Topic: family

Later on in the day she watches ‘mysterious movements of a man outside’ using a soft alliteration sound the sentence also builds suspense of who this unexpected visitor could be and what he could want. More suspense is created as he hesitates at the gate ‘trying to make up his mind to enter’. The man appears to be wealthy looking which immediately makes Mrs. White assume he is here to give them the money as she can think of no other reason that a wealthy, well dressed man would come to her house.
Topic: family

When he finally comes to the house she ‘apologizes for the appearance of the room and her husbands coat’ embarrassed and tense about the state of her house but he’s taking no notice creating more suspense as he looks for a displacement activity when announcing he comes from ‘Maw and Meggins’ were there son works. The wealthy man delivers the news of their son’s death in a perverted and strange way, dragging it out to build tension.
Topic: family

He says he’s “badly hurt but not feeling any pain” building suspension and leaving the readers on the edge of there seats wanting to know what’s happened and if he’s alright, but sadly he’s not. In the consideration of there sons services they receive a ‘certain sum’ adding the most tension/suspense of all in the story leaving readers shocked as they know what’s coming, Mr. Whites lips are dry with the fear building up inside him as he asks the question he doesn’t even need to ask, “how much”
Topic: family

Then she married Curly.Now married to Curly she is always lonely,this is because she is away from her family and friends,shes ignored by Curly (when he is around!) because he is always in town or in whore houses,on the ranch there is nothing for her to do except sit around doing nothing.This is why she tries to make friends with the people on the ranch because she is lonely,but the ranch workers think she is trying to get them into trouble with curly,and because she hasn’t got over her trauma of being rejected by the movie business she wants to live out the fame and dream of being a movie star in front of the ranch workers.
Topic: family

Later in the story lennie is the only person who she manages to have a proper conversation with,at first lennie tells curly’s wife that George told him to stay away from her because she will get him into trouble and that she is bad news,but she manages to make it slip Lennies mind by asking him questions about things he likes like soft things,furry things,rabbits,etc and he is easily led into them conversations because they are all his favourite things he mostly likes.
Topic: family

When she asks him if he likes petting and touching soft things he got very excited,then she asked him if he wanted to touch her soft golden hair,he reply’s yes.When he is petting her soft locks of hair he starts to get more and more of a grip of her it,she tells him that is enough he blocks her voice out of his head and continues to have a firm grip,she tries to struggle away from him with no success,then when she screams Lennie got scared because he knew she would get him into trouble so with his bear like hands he covers her mouth but she still managed to shout for help so Lennie done the only thing he knew he would do to shut her up for good!,and breaks her neck like a twig.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife may seem an insignificant character because she has not even been given a name by Steinbeck. Her name suggests that she is nothing more than one of Curley’s possessions. When she first appears in the novel, she is dressed up as if she is planning on going out into town, rather than just spending her day wandering around the ranch. The image of her being a sex object is emphasised by the fact that Curley keeps a ‘glove fulla Vaseline’, for her benefit.
Topic: family

The colour red symbolises danger and sexiness, and the fact that she is wearing these items creates a sense of foreboding that she will be the cause of George and Lennie’s failure to achieve their dream of having their own plot of land. Another symbol is shown by “the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off”. This immediately creates a sense of danger and doom in the reader’s mind due to the absence of light. However, we can see that the reason for Curley’s wife being flirtatious is because she wants to get away from the loneliness that surrounds her.
Topic: family

By flirting, it means she can communicate with other men who otherwise would not talk to her because they do not want any trouble with Curley. However, by being flirtatious, she actually increases the hostility of the other men on the ranch as they become suspicious. We can see that she tells Lennie; “I get lonely…Ain’t I got the right to talk to nobody?” However, she then explains the reason behind her flirtatious nature; “I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad.” However, we actually see that the marriage between them is already starting to break down because Curley thinks that his wife is “givin Slim the eye”.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife is also important as she conveys the theme of sexism. We see that Curley, who keeps his hand soft for her, regards her as a sexual object. Instead of showing any consideration towards his wife, Curley only wants to increase his sexual prowess. The only way in which Curley’s wife can talk to other men is by; “dolling up”. However, when she does this, they talk even less to her, driving her behaviour further. Therefore, she remains excluded from everyone. We even see that Whit regards Susy higher than Curley’s wife; “a laugh” and “hell of a nice place”. This is a rare time when any woman in the novel is actually shown any kindness, and a complement.
Topic: family

Curely’s wife, as with many of the other characters, wants to live out the American dream; “Coulda been in the movies”. It is this dream that drives and compels her to carry on with her otherwise miserable life on the ranch. However, her sudden death shatters her only hope of being able to get away from ranch life, where she is clearly not happy. We can see that the shattering of her dream is mirrored exactly by the death of Lennie, ending the dream for George and Candy. This shows that because she failed living the American dream, it is an ominous foreboding of the fate for George and Lennie.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife also plays an essential part in the novel, as she plays crucial parts in changing the mood of the scene. When she is first introduced, hope created by the arrival of Candy is wiped out and the reader gets an ominous warning, which is emphasised by George’s caution to Lennie; “you keep away from her…jail bait”. Furthermore, when Curley’s wife arrives in chapter four, the excited mood created by wanting to achieve the American dream, changes to a more melancholy mood. We can see that because Curley’s wife is lonely all the time, she has turned into a spiteful and vicious person; “a nigger and a dum dum an’ a lousy ol’ sheep”.
Topic: family

His lips are also described vividly as very thin and pain-tightened. He covers up his intense eyes with large gold rimmed spectacles. Curley’s wife is, of course a complete contrast, and is extremely pretty, thought sometimes try too hard. ‘She had full, rouged lips and wide-spade eyes, heavily made up.’ She has done her nails carefully which doesn’t seem very suitable for life on a ranch. Her voice is another thing that is commented on, as have a nasal, brittle quality.
Topic: family

Crooks doesn’t see that all his is really doing is stopping to their level thought, he just continues to treat others in the way he has been treated, and if he has a choice he just stays away from them. His personality would have developed differently if he had been born white, because his true colours are stunted by the racism against him. He teases Lennie, and takes pleasure in it, as though at last he is being able to do to someone else what has been done to him for his whole life, ‘ Crooks face lights with pleasure in his torture.’
Topic: family

The basic word to describe the personality of Curley’s wife is a flirt, although as we get to know more and more about her we discover that this is not completely true. In this essay I will try to explain why she behaves like this, and whether in fact she behaves like this just for attention and is concealing something. The personality of these characters is perhaps one of the keys to the book. However different these character are they are linked through their loneliness and the fact they conceal their true personality. The are both considered quite low on the ‘social scale’ but deal with this in very different ways as I will explain.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife also finds it easy to talk to Curley. She is so overwhelmed by her loneliness, she seeks friendship from other men. She seeks out the friendship of Lennie for all of the others fear Curley and will have nothing to do with her. “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?” It is when she talks to Lennie that we discover a great deal about her past. She tells Lennie that she still dreams of what might have been, seeing herself as a potential film-star. However, in my opinion she has no acting talent, men (one from a travelling show, one who claimed to be in the movies) make her offers as a chat-up line. Her naivetï¿½ shows in her belief that her mother has stolen a letter (from her “contact” in Hollywood) which was obviously never written; her immaturity appears in her instant reaction of marrying the loathsome Curley. It was a hasty marriage to Curley is just a failed attempt to escape from her own spiral of loneliness.
Topic: family

When she chose to marry Curley it was all because of the wrong reasons and only to get away from her mother, one person who genuinely cared for her, ” Well I wasn’t going to stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere.” Now she find herself very line and she has no-one to talk to, ” I don’ like Curley.’ Desperate for companionship she does not find at home, she tries to find solace with the other men. They are uneasy about this, as they think her to be seriously promiscuous, and are fearful of Curley’s reaction. Her inappropriate dress on the ranch and her manner brand her as a “tart”. She can not escape from this image and so she uses it so that she is noticed and can talk to people. Although in my opinion instead of being the mature and flirtatious female that the men see, she is in fact like a little girl yearning for her home.
Topic: family

She even talks to people who she considers to be ‘out of her league,’ but in a way this makes her a more tragic character, because unlike the others, even Lennie, she seems not to understand her limitations – or she refuses to admit them. She treats those below her in an unnecessarily disdainful way. There is one point in the book when Curley’s wife goes into Crook’s room. Crook, as I have said, pretends that he wishes no one to come into his room seeing as he isn’t allowed in the bunk house.
Topic: family

However, when Lennie and then Candy come in we can tell that he was actually very pleased, “It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger.” Candy and Crooks reacts to Curley’s wife primarily disgusted. On their faces they scowl at her and appear to wish that she wasn’t there. However as Curley’s wife points out it is doubtful whether they really feel this, for they would not doubt have acted very different if they were alone, “If I catch one man alone, I get along fine with him. But just le two guys get together and you just wont talk…you’re all scared of each other.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife is very rude to Crooks and says, ” I’m standing here talking to a nigger.” I think her reaction is like this because she feels very powerful to be talking to someone as sad and lonely as herself, but who is looked down upon by others. She likes to use this rare power and so when Crooks finally cracks and stands up to her she does everything with her capable possibility to make him feel small and unnecessary. “Listen, Nigger,’ she said. ‘ You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ This immediately makes Crooks turn into a no one. Every trace of a personality disappears, and he just answers in a monotonous voice.
Topic: family

After she leave Candy says,’ That bitch didn’t ought to of said that to you.’ And Crooks replies by saying ,’ It wasn’t nothing, you guys coming in an’ setting made me forget.’ Crooks obviously was so happy by having the company of some men that he forgets his place (in those times) and stood up to her. He then realised what he had done and remembered how he should have behaved. For that one small part of the story we saw the real Crooks, the one who is not concerned with racism, because for that very small amount of time he believe himself to be normal.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife though doesn’t have a very suprising reaction to Candy (the old-swamper) and Crooks. I believe that she is angry because she just realised how messy her life is. She tries to stay calm and talk to them as thought they are beneath her, but all the time she realises that she is just as sad and lonely as them. She sees that they are the only people she can have a proper conversation with are, as she describes them ‘ a nigger, an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep.” At one point in the conversation she says, ” Whatt ya think I am, a kid?” and then she continues to talk about how she was nearly in the pictures. Of course, she is just a kid, who doesn’t understand herself.
Topic: family

Curley’s wife has had a very unfortunate life. She made some wrong decisions and has been punished for them, by dying unhappy at such as young age. To all the other people on the ranch she is only important because she is the wife of Curley, and that explains why she is given no other name. They are scared of getting involved with her because of what Curley might do to them. No-one is ever actually interesting in her. I feel sorry for her that someone who has the potential to be so sweet and calm has lives such as sad life and has died before anyone knows her true colours.
Topic: family

Crook, like Curley’s wife has had a sad life for the later part of his life at least. Nothing will ever get better for him, because of his colour. The war Steinbeck talks about him is very controversial nowadays and would not be accepted. At the time that this book was written this language would have been more in use and so perhaps it would have been more acceptable, meaning that Steinbeck was not ware of its full impact. The fact that he portrays crooks as a unhappy and meaningful character must indicate that the author believes racism to be unfair, or else he would have been portrayed as evil, someone deserving what he got. Many upon reading this book may believe that the key issue is George and Lennie, but in fact this novel raises many questions about discrimination and loneliness.
Topic: family

During the course of this short story the author manages to evoke various different responses to the story. From laughter and humour at the beginning to guilt and remorse at the end. The first section is very thought provoking. The author is making the reader think about what we have read. In this section the author talks how we are brought up with a certain view of things and if someone or something does not fit to our ideas we find it weird and hard to comprehend.
Topic: family

The word “meatballs” makes us picture his hands and feet as round meatballs. This image in our minds helps us express our amusement. Furthermore, by reading both descriptions continuously we realise how they are both opposites and completely mismatched. Feng Ji-cai, the author, at this point in the story wants us to laugh and has designed these descriptions so well that we get the response he wants us to have. He makes us have a mental image of them in our mind, which makes it humorous. He then describes how the woman holds the umbrella when it is raining and not the man.
Topic: family

Why am I such an emotional bucket? I’m not grumpy, im just lonely, noone gives me any attention, but all they want to do is just hurt me, by secluding me out because I am different, because I am a woman, my whole life has been denied to me, since I met that man in the club I thought my life was made, then my mother goes and denies my happiness and freedom to do whatever I want, even something good like going into the pictures, I did make a mistake because of my mothers fault, I married curley, that horrible horrible man was meant to be my escape from mother,…my Revenge…,but it didn’t happen, I just dug myself a deeper hole, I met curley in that club where I met the man, I met him the same night and i only really did it to get back at mother, that’s what she gets for ruining me life, Now,because of her I will never get my dream, and it could have been a reality, if that bag had’nt stopped my letters,…Everyone is so mean to me, they don’t pay any attention and attempt to completely blank me from their life.
Topic: family

I threatened to hang that man, he shouldn’t even be working here, he has a stupid back problem and looks like dung, he Should be shot.Also that stupid smelly sheep man Candy was there, what is he still doing in this ranch? He should have been kicked out ages ago, his a dumb smelly old man with no purpose , I Remember when I first showed George and lenny around the ranch.I was trying to make new friends is all and everyone was angry at me, including george, who tried to make that dumb bear ignore me as well.
Topic: family

Then later when I asked where curley was, they all gave me bad looks, because I am a woman and I am different an they can not cope with that.I remember when I was sitting with lennie, the bear. I Saw that puppy he had killed and he was so panicy, trying to hide it from me, when I found it though he told me all his problems and he wasn’t so bad, we talked but all he seemed to care about as rabbits, he didn’t seem to pay attention to my troubles. But I guess he is dumb,
Topic: family

Jane Austen’s ‘The Three Sisters’ was written in the nineteenth century. At this time life was dominated by society and a women’s desire for the company of a man in marriage. This was seen as a competition between a family and others in society. A woman’s life revolved around reading and socialising, and with no education, life was very quiet. This meant that a man was a way of conceit to others in the social order, and would create a whole new context to her life.
Topic: family

The eldest sister, Mary has been offered a hand in marriage by Mr Watts, the family’s neighbour. Being the family’s neighbour is a way of Austen emphasising men’s randomness in choosing who is to be his wife, and how it is only the fact that it is a woman, a trophy and nothing more. Mr Watts is offering his hand in marriage to Mary, but if she rejects it one of the other sisters will be offered. The sisters all find him repulsive but society expected them to be more interested in his wealth and possessions. Mary has the choice of spending a lifetime with a man she hates or letting one of her sisters marry him instead. This was seen as a great tragedy if a sister was to be married before you, as the other sisters were considered better than you.
Topic: family

The story is written in the style of four letters. This epistolary form allows Austen to give a detailed and more personal insight into the characters deep feelings without having to include background information, of which is irrelevant to the message Austen is trying to convey. She has used each character as a way of showing caricatures of typical nineteenth century women. ‘The Three Sisters’ is written as a short story for the reason that the reader can get a concise idea of what life was like.
Topic: family

Jane Austen’s audience was society and the stereotypical image of both men and women in the nineteenth century. She was trying to attack these ideas and attempting to change how men and women treated each other. This is proven in her sarcasm and irony and also her use of the character’s personalities and actions. For instance Mary’s completely mindless, childish attitude to the competition between her and her sisters reflects how Austen sees women’s outlook to men:
Topic: family

This character trait shows her insecurity and indecisiveness, which affects her actions later on in the proceeding letters. The letters are written by both Mary, in letters one and two, and Georgiana in letters three and four. Both character’s letters convey a different style and attitude in how they are written. Mary’s first letter is fast paced and written in a stream of consciousness. This shows Mary’s excitability and childish attitude. The emphasis on the childishness of Mary may be Austen trying to attack the age of marriage in the nineteenth century, and how it was rushed. Mary is only seems young minded in the story. The second letter is far more organised, and now contains dialogue.
Topic: family

In Mary’s second letter, we can learn a lot more about her relationship with her mother. The letter focuses on the situation of Mary’s sisters marrying before her, and how her mother contributes to her decisions. Mary’s character develops subtly on her uncertainty on the matter. Her competitive side shows more throughout this letter as she becomes more frustrated and confused. We can see this from Mary’s short sentences of speech when speaking to her mother, whose speech is much lengthier and in greater detail. The inclusion of dialogue allows us greater insight into each character, and how they act around others.
Topic: family

By giving the only reason that he should marry another one of her sisters because of their looks finalises the need for image only in a relationship. It also shows how the three sisters would only be a trophy for Mr Watts. This also tells us of Mr Watts’s intentions being similar to those of the mother’s. Both wish the marriage to proceed only for their own benefit, to increase their position in society. Austen uses Mr Watts and the mother as a way of showing how society works, as a way of showing others in society at the time how people like her see them.
Topic: family

Society in the nineteenth century as told by Austen differs from today’s way of life greatly. Firstly the need for wealth was not to live off but to brag to others. It was a way of climbing the way up the ranks of society, whilst now there is not such a large breach between each class. Marriage was influenced to the highest degree by parents and in the sister’s case, by the competition within the family itself. In this day and age the influence of society is slight, and gives us our own personal choice of who we are to marry.
Topic: family

Men were seen as a gateway to a new life, of riches, and reputation, and personal feelings between the couple were rare. Throughout the story the mother’s or Mr Watt’s names are never mentioned by their closest relations, their daughters and brides-to-be. This was something that was not to be revealed in public and Austen emphasises it throughout the story, although the three sisters names are constantly used. This shows how men are seen as in a higher state over women. Conversation and meeting places were exceptionally formal, with no personal subjects being brought up, but merely structured conversations within the company of everybody concerned. This is shown in Georgiana’s letters when the family meet with Mr Watts.
Topic: family

This shows that although Georgiana is opposed to her mother’s attitude towards the marriage she has to show respect towards her and therefore doesn’t express this to her. The mother seems to be organising the marriage for her own benefit, rather than the interest of her daughters. She sees the marriage as a way of creating a position for herself in society, rather than for the goodwill of her daughters. Mary is oblivious to this, but Georgiana is able to see that being wed is not about love, but rather status. This proves her strong feelings for how society was in the nineteenth century. These feelings are exactly what Austen has tried to portray through the character of Georgiana. Her defiance of society is why the story was written, so she could express her feelings to others.
Topic: family

Also Austen writes of The Dutton’s in the story, not to represent her defiance, but to represent the main cause of the way society acts. They are in the story as a way of Austen showing why people like Mary and her mother are so interested in marriage. The reason is to compete with other families in society such as the Duttons, to get married first and be noticed and respected in society. Mr Brudenell is much like Mr Darcy in pride and Prejudice. He is included in the story as Austen’s representation of her ideal man, with Georgiana being Austen herself. This is shown especially when the sisters meet him for the first time. Mr Brudenell is opposed to Mary’s attitude and merely ignores her. This can also be seen as Mary being society in general, with Mr Brudenell also opposing it.
Topic: family

Through ‘The Three Sisters’ we can learn a lot about women and their roles in the nineteenth century. The focus on how women are lead to marriage by material possession and not through emotion is effectively shown throughout the story and how status in society is the cause. Austen is able to achieve her aim of showing that society revolves around status and that her ideals should be part of society. Although the story did not greatly affect people thoughts in the nineteenth century, it did mean that others like Austen could demonstrate their feelings on society.
Topic: family

The weird sisters in Macbeth serve several functions in the play. This is an essay, which will examine each of these functions in detail and compare to see which is most important and why it is the most important. My essay will start off with the general over look of the witches in the first Act and their overall characters in the play. In the next paragraph I will look at how the witches provide an exciting and interesting opening, which sets the scene for the rest of the play to build on.
Topic: family

The witches always talk in equivocal ways; they will speak together finishing off each other’s sentences and talking in unison. The witches speak to otherwise unmentioned familiars. In theatre these are often two cats and a toad. In this essay reading it you must remember that Shakespeare probably included witches because the audience would have been far more superstitious, also the king at the time was James the first who was very interested of things of this nature.
Topic: family

He also hated the Scottish, which is perhaps why Shakespeare set Macbeth in Scotland. That is how ever wandering off the subject of the witches. Even though the whole play has a certain degree of rhyme in it the witches the degree is stepped up another level. They speak in chants and riddles; almost always what the witches will connect with another part of the play. Here are some examples of this; in the first scene of the first act all that is said relates to another part of the drama such as when the witches say “When the
Topic: family

Hurly-burly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won” relating to the battle being fought by Macbeth and Macdonwald, they also talk about when the will meet next they mention here that they plan or at least know they are going to meet Macbeth there. The reactions of Macbeth and Banqou are very different this is because of the personalities so the witches show us more into two of the main characters personalities which gives the witches another reason that the witches have a large dramatic function in the first act, Macbeth’s reaction helps us see into Macbeth’s character.
Topic: family

The witches talk about chaos and evil and things that are not all what they seem, this is one of the major themes in Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife tells him to “look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent underneath.” Also the second batch of predictions the witches give Macbeth prophecies, which seem to work his way when actually they are just telling him of his downfall. So the real point of the witches being in the first scene is that they set the keynote of the drama and If the audience poem is listening very carefully let slip a few things which are going to happen and set out the main feelings of the play.
Topic: family

Now one may say that Macbeth would not have killed Duncan and his best friend Banqou, if the witches had not interfered. So maybe he would have not killed the king at that time in his life but his ambition and power hunger would eat way at him in time and he would eventually try to take the throne. Others would disagree saying the witches were only telling him what he wanted to hear to feed his ambition so in fact they were not seeing into the future they were just manipulating his thoughts and his actions. This what I personally believe also but I think the witches could see into the future but I do think Macbeth would not of committed his treasonous acts if the witches had not played with his mind in the way they did. The witches do not answer any of Macbeth’s questions directly.
Topic: family

They give only the information they know will twist him and corrupt his heart. Although Lady Macbeth never meets the witches they affect her greatly for when she receives the letter from Macbeth she immediately comes up with the same idea of killing the king the idea has arisen in my mind that the idea was put there by a spell or some kind of magic. But the thing with Shakespeare Is that all different theatre, drama and film companies will relay the different aspects of the play in different ways as it is when you read Shakespeare each different person realise different things.
Topic: family

Whether these are the ideas Shakespeare had himself or not, there are still many things you can read into in this book like all his others. Lady Macbeth is sometimes called the fourth witch for the way she speaks, also because it is she who helps Macbeth carry out the murder when he hesitates, and helps him plan all of his deeds. The witches are what in all make the story line which is why they play such a big part in the play overall.
Topic: family

In conclusion I think the witches are possibly the most important characters in this play except for Macbeth himself for they almost dictate to him what he does. They also create an exciting, gripping introduction to the play that still sets the scene and mood for the rest of the play. Also because there characters are more obscure than the others in this play they create a higher level of interest for audience. I think the factor of the Witches dictating the story is the witches’ biggest dramatic function however exciting the opening scene it is only a short passage in the whole book and the other factor affects the whole of the play, the witches bind the story together so therefore they have a very large function in this play.
Topic: family

This is usually achieved by satisfying the demands of the environmental forces or eliminating any problems reducing their chances of achieving their goals. The middle level is a representation of the industrial relations where policies and negotiations between all three actors occur. As for the bottom, the policies created in the middle level are implemented upon employees and other parties included in the policies. Thus through this model, it demonstrates that decisions made at the top level will inevitably affect those at the bottom level i.e. policies made at the top level will have some sort of representation in lower level policies.
Topic: family

The notion of strategic choice is based on the assumption that the three actors have alternatives and options in the decisions chosen that will inevitably impact on the employment relations and the direction that these will take. Not only does the organisation can make decisions that would affect itself, but also the choices and decisions made on the part of labour, management, and government affect the course and structure of industrial relations systems. Legislations made by the government can restrict or either enhances an organisation’s ability to be competitive, and an example of this is tariffs imposed in countries to protect the internal markets from overseas markets.
Topic: family

The Labour Process approach was first theorised by Karl Marx. The theory was not a static, universal theory but a historical theory that was revised in the light of historical change. Such scholars as: Harry Braverman, Stephen Marglin, Stanley Aronowitz, Andre Gorz and Katherine Stone have all created their own theories encompassing Marx’s theory during their times, and hence the many different interpretations of the Labour Process (Gartman 1978, p. 1). In general the core notion of Labour Process is concerned in converting potential into actual labour. An example of this is how to organise and structure employees such that the organisation can make full use of their skills. Though this sounds simple in theory, there is an organisational dilemma in how to reconcile the potential inconsistency between individual needs and interests of different organisational stakeholders on the one hand, and the collective purpose of the organisation on the other.
Topic: family

Increase control by the employer over the employees seems to be one solution to the inconsistency of interests and needs. The workplace thus becomes a competition between employees individually and collectively seeking to protect and expand their own interests and needs, but also at the same time trying to resist management’s attempts to control. These activities are closely aligned with actions of industrial relations: conflict of interests that would result in tension and conflict between parties. This approach of increase control was supported by Taylorist approach. Braverman added his thoughts that another form of reconciling the differences was to: de-skill the employees to minimise time lost on context switching; simplify the structure of labour divisions; lower labour cost since the occupation becomes less sophisticated hence maximising output. (Gartman 1978, p. 5)
Topic: family

In essence the labour process sees conflict as a fundamental and central dynamic in organisational life that can be used to explain the actual i.e. observed instances of workplace conflict, control, and profit distribution. This can be seen by large organisations performing “restructuring” of itself in terms of labour management to reduce cost of production (banking sector and motoring industry). Prevention of conflict is not considered in a labour process approach, hence ruling out the requirement of employers to nurture the moral and ethics of employees. Guidelines and procedures are strictly followed, which these features are clear characteristics of industrial relations approach.
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Human resource management is a managerial perspective, with an aim to establish an integrated series of personnel policies consistent with organisation strategy, thus ensuring the quality of working life, high commitment and performance from employees, and organisational effectiveness and competitive advantage: the management of organisational goals and labour. Thus meaning that industrial relations is another component of human resource management, which allows the comparison and contrasting of Kochan, Katz and McKersie’s Strategic Choice approach, Marxist Labour Process approach to be made possible.
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Both human resource management and the strategic choice approach create their policies based on the interests of the organisation and employees with a slightly more emphasis upon the organisation goals. From the three tier model, policies are made at the top level in the interests of the organisation just as human resource management places the organisation’s ‘customer’ first (Fells 1989, p. 486). Labour process approach is primarily focused upon conflicts and has a less of an emphasis upon organisational strategies. As previously stated the labour process is closely associated with industrial relations, which can also be seen in the middle level in the three tier model in terms of strategic choice approach. For human resource management, industrial relations is melded into its strategies in the form of pre-emptive actions upon conflicts i.e. the managerial task is seen as a nurturing employees’ moral and ethics.
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Labour process approach can also be viewed as hard human resource management as the employees are seen as any other resources of production by controlling and managing them, while cultivation of employees’ moral and needs is neglected. Soft human resource management is represented by the strategic choice approach as employees are seen as ‘human’ resources that are valuable to the organisation to make full use of. Policies made in the middle level of the three tier model are in consideration of both in the best interests of employees and the organisation itself.
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Human resource management in recent times has become more strategic; it increasingly scraps developmental aspects and places more focus upon financial aspects. De-skilling of employees has been more emphasised upon more than the structure and organisation of labour, which is quite on the contrary upon the goals of labour process approach where de-skilling of an occupational positions. De-skilling has the effect of either removing or lowering the skill level required from those performing the job and in some cases it will also reduce the price of labour.
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In conclusion, Kochan, Katz and McKersie’s Strategic Choice approach and the Labour Process approach provide explanations for the adoption of Human Resource Management, since it is more contingent management strategy than Personnel / Industrial relations. Evidence of this is clearly seen in today’s evolving workplace where large organisations include human resource management in its decision making and is no longer neglected as a lower priority department. In addition, both models: strategic choice approach and labour process, have had many radical perspectives added to the theory in the past until recently very little change has been made meaning the end to the two models and the rise of human resource management. As human resource develops, initiatives come and go whereas the focus of financial mechanisms increase and become more sophisticated.
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Her feeling of failure come from her past; giving up Rosie as a baby. “It doesn’t matter how much you succeed afterwards, if you’ve failed once.” Jackie has missed all of Rosies growing up and Margaret explains that she cannot make up those lost years, they have gone and passed now. “treats she’s had with you.” Jackie feels extremely guilty because her daughter has grown up and she has missed everything. Margaret tells Jackie “those are my years” meaning she has looked after Rosie all these years and Jackie does not realise what she has missed until she goes to Venice with Rosie.
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When Jackie is older she is concerned for her mother because Margaret was in pain. Jackie may feel responsible for her mothers illness and death firstly because of leaving Rosie with her, putting more stress on her. Also just before her mothers death she had visited and had had to leave to get to a meeting, therefore if she hadn’t had to go so quickly she would have been with her mother and I think that Jackie regrets very much the fact that rushed off, not realising how ill her mother was.
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In a way Jackie makes her mother jealous. Margaret had to wait until she was married to have sex, but Jackie did not. Also Margaret may be jealous of Jackie’s independence because now Jackie is free from parental responsibilities. “S’okay Jackie, you have to travel lots, and your work’s the most important thing isn’t it.” This makes Margaret feel as if her job is not as good and worthwhile as Jackie’s and Rosie respects the job that Jackie does more.
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Jackie and Doris have quite a close relationship. But they are very different. The first time we see Jackie and Doris together the first comment Jackie makes Doris ignores as she feels its not appropriate. This shows Doris takes the same tone with Jackie as she does with Margaret; avoiding difficult subjects and questions. There is a large generation gap between Jackie and Doris: Doris likes traditional things and her ‘utility’ Jackie likes more modern things. Jackie is much more open with Doris. At the end of Act One, Scene three Jackie hugs Doris but Doris hesitates. This shows Jackie does not mind been open with people.
Topic: family

Jackie and Rosie are very much the same in their opinions and they are very close. Because Rosie thinks Jackie is her sister they are much closer, more like friends. In out of time scenes Jackie and Rosie are best friends, even when they fall out, when they make up they renew their best friend bond, “truth is honestly, honesty is true, you keep your promise and I’ll keep you.” Jackie rarely sees Rosie because of her hectic lifestyle, but when she does see her it has to be special. When the house is left to Jackie she sees it as a punishment but Rosie knows it wasn’t. Because Jackie is Rosies mother she sees her as perfect, Jackie can find no faults. Like when Jackie finds one of Rosies paintings she thinks it is great but Rosie thinks it is rubbish because it is not the same standard as her “sisters”
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As Jackie grows up she starts to feel guilty about giving Rosie up. When Rosie and Jackie go away to Venice, this is when Jackie realises how much she has lost and what she has had to sacrifice in order to be successful. She also feels guilty because Margaret had to look after Rosie during the hard years; Margaret “sat up all night with the sick child”. Jackie is also responsible, she accepts that she has lost the best years. Jackie is also unable to form a close relationship with Rosie because she never gets to see her because of work.
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In out of time scenes Jackie is the leader. She is the bravest of the four “let’s kill our mummies”. Rosie agrees but Doris and Margaret go home. Jackie is the leader of the group. I think this reflects her role in reality because she is set apart from the others by her determination and independence as a person. Jackie being the youngest too understand voodoo and spells which the others do not. Margaret and Doris get scared because their lives have now involved things like voodoo.
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Jackie is probably the biggest contributor to themes, the main one being secrets. The largest secret kept throughout the book is that Jackie is Rosie’s mum, not Margaret. Everyone else apart from Rosie knows so they have to keep the secret and lie. Margaret has always thought that her looking after Rosie was for the better but it makes the relationship between Jackie and Margaret very tense and strained. Jackie tries to ask for Rosie back but she can’t bring herself to. Another theme is guilt each woman makes another feel guilty in someway. The biggest amount of guilt put on Jackie is the fact she had missed the best years of Rosie’s life and she can’t get them back, Margaret says “those are my years”.
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She goes on to describe their everlasting attachment despite this temporary separation in terms of childbirth. She also says “from the heart’s pool that old rope, tightening around my life” her she is trying to reinforce her belief that her relationship with her daughter is everlasting as she discusses the implications of childbirth on her life. After evaluating the struggle she experiences she finally questions whether mother hood is right for her at this moment in her life.
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This compares to ‘On my first Sonne'(OM)where the father experiences extreme grief on account of the broken connection between him and his Son. Ben Jonson describes his son as “[his] right hand and joy” and is evidently proud of his heir. However the poet makes what he feels is a fundamental realisation that his Son infact belongs to God. He actually feels that it was wrong of him to put “too much hope in thee[his son].
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Jonson struggles with this idea and momentarily accuses God of being unfair. He at one stage feels that he would have preferred to have had no connection/attachment to his son that have it cut short or disrupted. “O, could I loose all father, now.” In this poem Ben Jonson ends this poem with realisation of his mistake whereby Gillian Clarke ends Catrin in temporary confusion. She takes the parenting if her daughter as her responsibility while Ben Jonson admits that it isn’t his child and so the child’s fate is God’s matter but he insists that he will still do his paternal duty and love his son unconditionally.
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In Follower and The Affliction of Margaret (AM) the connection between parent and child is slightly different. In AM the parent is lonely, isolated woman who has been left by her son. Like OM the mother feels that perhaps her overbearing nature is the reason for the disaster. We get the general feeling form the mother that she would like to re-establish a connection with her son.”No tiding of an only child” Margaret apologises and is willing to reconcile. She is one of the only parents in the four poems to admit her faults she is however not alone to worry about her son and fear for his development in the outside world.
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Sir Stephen Harold spender was an English poet, novelist, and essayist who concentrated on themes of social justice and the class struggle in his work, (February 28, 1909, London- July 16 1955). Stephen spender took a keen interest in politics and declared himself to be a socialist and pacifist. This poem is about a boy who longs to be part of a group of children who he looks up to. I think the poet is writing about himself because he uses a lot of words like ‘my’, ‘me’ and ‘I’.
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The second verse, it tells movement of a jerking action. I think this is effective because it helps paint a picture in the reader’s head of the boy “jerking” under the boy’s knees, of the violence involved when they attack him. He was frightened of these boys, because they would fight him, and pin him to the ground, kneeling on him so he couldn’t escape. Perhaps they hit him as well. (Jerking hands)