Thursday, October 31, 2019
Appraising and Developing Staff Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words
Appraising and Developing Staff - Essay Example It should be clear to the parties involved in the appraisal process that the outcome of the appraisal process may be positive or negative, but the intention is usually positive for the employees. In essence, performance appraisal is meant to help the employees to evaluate their previous yearââ¬â¢s work and also develop strategies for improvement. They are empowered to overcome the challenges faced in the workplace for improved performance. It is important to ensure that anxiety among the employees is controlled by ensuring that the appraisers demonstrate supportive and positive intentions for the employees. This is accomplished through positive criticism. Credibility is also a significant aspect of effective employee appraisal. The technique applied for the appraisal should not be weird (Harris & DeSimone, 1994). It is important to develop performance goals, which are significant in employee motivation. The goal theory of motivation explains the significance of managers who are able to enhance the pursuance of a common purpose. When the employees are aware of the goal that they are intending to achieve, they are motivated to be effective in the accomplishment of tasks. The experienced employees ensure that they maintain good performance and are encouraged to make the right decisions that can facilitate realization of the goal. Appraisers who encourage creativity are able to maintain a competent workforce. Employees derive enthusiasm from coming up with workable ideas that can be attributed to their ability to think critically. Failure to get such a chance to demonstrate inventiveness may cause low spirits in the workplace especially when the employees are used to rely on the leader for decisions (Aguinis, 2009). Managers who promote creativity in the workplace also promote organizational lea rning since workers are able to learn from the diverse inventions. They also learn together with the workers. Clients are usually attracted to the
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The DVLA System Case Study ( ISD) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
The DVLA System Case Study ( ISD) - Essay Example Therefore, these companies can immediately get in touch with DVLA for updating their vehicle data base. Individual is generally required to inform the DVLA when they buy or sell a used vehicle. If the registration document is a two part registration document (V5) then DVLA is to be informed as soon as the individual buys a used vehicle, generally by completing the back of the registration document. In case it is the three part (V5), then the person selling the vehicle must complete buyer details in the top (blue) section. Both the buyer and the seller need to sign the declaration. The seller then sends it to DVLA. If the registration certificate is V5C, then the seller is to complete section 6 new keeper or new name/new address details of the V5C. Both buyer and seller need to sign the declaration in section 8. Then the seller sends it to DVLA. This information will be passed on to the DVLA Distribution department. This department sorts out data depending upon whether the car is old or new. This finalized information is then kept in the ââ¬Ëcar information fileââ¬â¢ for further reference and action. VED department then generates the reports for further action depending upon the cost, size criteria of the cars. Reports are also generated about the mileage of cars and accordingly taxes are determined. VED also keeps track of the sense of discipline during, amongst the drivers. This helps in encouraging sensible drivers and punishing the errant onesââ¬â¢. DVLA sales department is also a source of revenue for the agency. It sells the personalized number plates to desirous oneââ¬â¢s. The information search department takes input from the system and helps in keeping track of all types of information. An entity is something that is supposed to have a distinct, separate existence and identity. In this category, generally we take person, place, thing, event, or concept, about which information is to be stored.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Causes and Impacts of Inflation on Developing Countries
Causes and Impacts of Inflation on Developing Countries Introduction Economic development in low developed countries is a contested argument amongst economists, all of which are looking for the best way to enact economic growth. The discussion surrounds whether stable monetary policy will encourage economic development by encouraging foreign direct investment or will currency depreciation and inflation create the right environment for exports growth and thus economic growth? This essay will discuss the causes of inflation and its repercussions for economic growth in developing nations. The argument for monetary stability and its repercussions for economic development will also be discussed. The scenario surrounding the Asian financial crisis will be used at the conclusion of the essay to illustrate the finer points in the argument for monetary stability as a means to economic development. The Causes of Inflation Krugman and Obstfeld define inflation as the increase of prices of goods[1]. There are arguably many causes of inflation; it is a complex combination of many macroeconomic variables that work together to increase the price of consumer goods in a developing economy. Shamsul, Shyam and Kamath discuss, there are two dominant hypotheses regarding the causes of inflation; the monetarist hypothesis and the structuralist hypothesis. The monetarist hypothesis refers to an increase in the money supply which in turn causes an increase in the price of goods and the structuralist hypothesis refers to structural characteristics of a developing economy creating inflation including the nature of the tax system, foreign exchange restraints, the budgetary process, the nature of the labour market and administered prices. All result in a devaluation of domestic currency on a global currency market[2]. The forces that result in an increase in the money supply or a devaluation of domestic currency agains t foreign currency will discussed. Common economic theory states that liberalisation of financial and capital markets in developing countries results in growth and stability in those countries. However Chakraborty discusses how unrestrained opening up of an economy can result in a foreign exchange crisis. That an inflow of foreign currency through investment and fixed exchange rates will result in higher reserves in the central base, which in turn results in more money existing in the economy which causes inflation. Inflation thus can be seen as a cause of the devaluation of a domestic currency on global money markets[3]. Developing countries will often use an export oriented economic strategy to increase growth. Devaluations of a domestic currency will make exports look more attractive on foreign markets; hence governments will try and keep exchange rates down. Chakraborty continues that as prices continue to rise the demand for money similarly rises by domestic residents. It is common for residents to sell foreign b onds in order to buy local currency, which in turn puts pressure on the currency to appreciate. In order to undermine this scenario banks will sell local currency and buy foreign reserves to counteract the appreciation of the exchange rate due to the increased demand. This scenario has a cyclical effect and will in turn increase the money supply and inflation[4]. The situation surrounding a floating exchange rate can be quite different. Chakraborty discusses how liberalising the capital market will attract capital inflows from foreign investors which will increase the money supply, but will however appreciate the exchange rate. This type of policy will usually be accompanied by a contractual monitory policy that will increase demand for money and increase the interest rate. The increased interest rate will further attract capital inflows and further appreciate the exchange rate. An appreciated currency will be less attractive on foreign markets thus export demand will decrease and imports will increase, deteriorating the balance of trade deficit[5]. Large foreign debts result in a higher risk of financial instability. Inflation and currency devaluations have been a common problem in the history of developing nations. Instability in prices and foreign exchange rates discourages lenders in richer countries from investing in poorer markets due to the threat of losing money in a financial crisis or currency devaluation. Krugman et al discuss how richer nations protect themselves against this risk by insisting that poorer countries repay their loans in the lenders currency. A transfer of wealth can be directed towards foreign lenders in the event of currency devaluation as it raises the local currency valuation of the debt. This scenario can lead to developing countries inability to repay foreign debts and sometimes in default[6]. Inflation can be a result of external factors in a global economy including contagion from other trading partners. Cheng and Tan discuss that although domestic factors are important determinants of inflation, they are often not as important as price volatility being transmitted from one country to another. In the case of Malaysia, interactions in the form of trade resulted in a causality of inflation from other ASEAN nations to inflation in Malaysia[7]. This form of contagion can be very influential for a developing country liberalizing its financial and capital markets in a global economy. Instability and inflation can lead to speculation which in turn can lead to financial crisis. Krugman et al discusses contagion as the vulnerability of developing economies to suffer a loss of confidence in their financial markets which can cripple even the healthiest economies. Speculation regarding the devaluation of a local currency can result in investors pulling out of their investments (which now must be paid in the lenders currency), selling all the local currency (which has a further devaluing effect) and leaving the country with a large foreign debt. Speculation can be contagious as was seen in the Asian financial crisis where devaluation of the Thai Baht was followed by similar speculation surrounding other Asian currencies including that of Indonesia and Malaysia and eventually resulted in full financial crisis[8]. Controlling Inflation and Stabilising an Economy Methods used to counteract heavy speculation and financial instability includes information transparency. Ferreira de Mendonca and Filho discuss increasing information transparency as implying a fall in inflation bias and inflation volatility. Anxiety regarding inflationary pressures can be controlled through forecasts being released by the central banks of developing nations making policy and macroeconomic performance more predictable. There is evidence that economic transparency can reduce inflation and lower interest rates thus improving the conduction of monetary policy[9]. Wagner discusses inflation as being regarded as the signal of bad policy and political and economic instability. The variables are the relevant locational factors that determine the attractiveness of economies for investment. A loss in investors and mobile factors of production such as technology transfer and knowledge results in loss of potential production and potential output and hence growth. Local residents suffer through an increase in unemployment and a decrease in productivity[10]. Local economies become more unstable as a consequence. It can now be deduced that managing exchange rates is paramount to controlling inflation in developing countries. Wagner discusses two methods of managing exchange rates in order to control inflation; the ââ¬Ëhard pegââ¬â¢ option and the floating currency option. The term ââ¬Ëhard pegââ¬â¢ refers to the currency boards, where monetary policy autonomy is completely given up. Hard peg exchange rate regimes have gathered a lot of interests for developing economies over recent years as currency crises are not possible under the hard peg system. There are certain preconditions for an economy that need to be present in order for a hard peg to be possible. The recipient developing nation must have a developed, well supervised and regulated financial system; the rule of law; fiscal discipline; and wage and price flexibility. Many emerging nations lack these preconditions and hence are unable to sustain a hard peg[11]. Boyd and Smith suggest that low inflation is the central objective of developing economies in their efforts to enact economic growth. Growth is seen as having an inverse relationship to inflation and thus must be kept as low as possible. Developing countries in the Caribbean such as the Bahamas have been successful in lowering inflation and stabilising the exchange rate through using a currency board as part of their institutional structure. The currency board ties the monetary policy of the constituent countries and provides disciplinary controls on monetary and fiscal policy which in turn provides stability in their output. All the countries in the currency union experienced persistence however low rates of inflation and low variability in inflation rates therefore could be considered stable and an acceptable monetary policy performance[12]. Wagner further postulates that a floating exchange rate is similarly effective in controlling high inflation. Despite anxiety that a floating exchange rate will result in an unstable currency, floating exchange rates can be used to attract foreign investment and thus appreciate the value of the currency. Interest rate and intervention policies can be used to influence the behaviour of the exchange rate and reduce the negative effects of speculation[13]. A floating exchange rate can be flexible enough to encourage investment through appreciation however encourage exports through devaluation provided controls are in place to ward off speculative attacks. Maskooki shows Mexcio as having successfully implemented a floating exchange rate in order to control inflation. It reduced the value of the peso by gradual and frequent currency adjustments in reaction to market conditions. The slow depreciation of the peso made exports more attractive overseas and was offset by the liberalization of the capital market which was attractive to foreign investors. The combination of the two had a balancing effect on inflation and exchange rates and thus encouraged stability of prices. This had made the external market less exposed to unexpected shocks[14]. Through economic stabilization Mexico is now less vulnerable to investment reversal and thus less vulnerable to financial crisis. Stable inflation rates and exchanges rates send positive signals to global financial markets of positive financial policy in developing countries. Good corporate governance has the reflexive ability to create the positive economic environment to control inflation and also the positive outcome of successful monetary policy. Arsoy and Crowther comment that mandatory corporate governance can be achieved through the creation of capital markets in which transparency, accountability, responsibility and fairness are understood by both investors and shareholders[15]. Transparency being the proponent for fighting speculative attacks by reducing risks associated with investing in developing countries. Krugman et al discuss that governments of developing countries must create a stable environment through reducing the risk of inflation and protecting property rights in order to encourage economic growth. In protecting property rights they encourage private enterprise, investment, innovation and ultimately economic stability[16]. The conditions for economic stabilization feed off each other ââ¬â stabilization encourages investment which in turn encourages more stabilization. Nsouli, Rached and Funke discuss the control of inflation as paramount to the success of any domestic economy. Here again price can be seen as a signal of economic health as price liberalization is essential for the efficient allocation of resources within and across sectors of the economy. Without a rational price system, profit and losses alone cannot signal what industries should expand and which ones should shrink. In both transition and developing economies, price liberalization led to a rapid increase in the availability of products for consumer use[17]. The Asian Financial Crisis The countries of the Asian economic boom in the mid 1990ââ¬â¢s are a perfect example of how unstable monetary policy can bring even the most impressively growing economy down. Krugman et al tells us the Asian tigers were initially South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan and then Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia later joined the group. They had achieved incredible rates of growth through high savings and investment rates, improving education levels amongst the work force and by liberalising trade or at least a high level of openness and integration with global markets. The Asian tigers were gaining popularity as an investment opportunity as restrictions on capital inflows were lifted. However all this investment was leading to large deficits and would eventually result in financial demise[18]. Krugman et al continues that starting with the depreciation of the Thai Baht, a chain reaction of events brought the Asian miracle into financial crisis. A sharp drop in the value of the Baht as it was left to float after being pegged to the American dollar brought about speculative attacks on the currencies of its neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia and eventually South Korea. All countries had large foreign debts mostly in American dollars and as a result were facing increasing values on these debts due to the decreasing exchange rate. Many debts in Asia had the power to push banks and viable companies into bankruptcy as a result of exchange rates spirally out of control[19]. The Asian financial crisis was seen as a self perpetuating scenario based around speculative attacks on currency valuations. Lee argues that as soon as a currency peg is seen as non-defensible market participants expect that the market will move in one direction and in fact it does. Once the expectation sets in collective action takes hold (in this case investors pull out of their investments) and the result can inflict financial ruin on whole economies[20]. The Asian miracle had come to an abrupt end. Krugman further discusses the cause of such violent economic collapse can be seen through bad government policy. In Thailand and Indonesia ââ¬Ëcrony capitalismââ¬â¢ was the source of a lot of poor investment decisions. The sons and daughters of royalty or prominent politicians were the recipients of a lot of investment money regardless of the legitimacy of the project resulting in considerable moral hazard in lending. The regulatory system was ill equipped to deal with companies in danger of bankruptcy or to foster quality investments in the economy that would count towards real growth[21]. As a result the first sign of instability caused foreign investors to pull out of investments and leave the economy in crisis. The act of stabilising an economy is a complex process involving effectively monitoring the potentially volatile variables of an economy. Wagner discusses economic stability as being created through strengthening domestic banking and financial systems; providing better information and policy transparency; strengthening corporate finance, including bankruptcy laws and their implementation; taking precautions against potential capital flow reversals; and last but not least, building packages of sound macroeconomic and exchange rate policies[22]. Although the situation in South East Asia has improved over the years since the financial crisis, Low tells us that many questions still remain in Asia regarding their economic stability for the future, for example, whether effective democratic checks-and-balances in the political system, legal, judicial and institutional processes can help reinforce the moral economy[23]. It is fare to say that controlling inflation is but the tip of the ice b urg when stabilizing a developing nationââ¬â¢s growth. Conclusion Inflation and economic instability are a common problem for low developed countries trying to establish themselves in global markets. Inflation and currency depreciation are fundamental signals to wealthier nations that a local market is too big a risk to invest in thus leaving development and growth stagnant in those countries. Price stability on the other hand can signal to potential investors that a local financial market has strong monetary policy, that exchange rates can be controlled and that the local business environment is encouraging to growth. Countries with unstable monetary policy are vulnerable to speculative attacks from market participants as can be seen in the case of the Asian Financial crisis. Pegging local currencies to stronger currencies such as the United States dollar can result in devastation if markets forecast a currency will be overvalued. Contagion can result in a chain reaction of events that brings trading partners into similar financial crisis. Althoug h devaluing a currency can make exports more attractive on foreign markets it can also discourage foreign direct investment from investing due to the high incidence of default on foreign debt. Mechanisms have been designed to control factors such as inflation and encourage foreign investment by richer nations. A floating currency or a currency board can be used effectively to stabilise exchange rates and thus control the flow of funds in and out of a local market. Good corporate governance including transparency of monetary policy can be used to reduce the risk of speculation and forecast inflationary activity. Political stability also needs to be created through effective regulatory systems on financial and capital markets including bankruptcy laws and laws preventing capital flight in the face of financial crisis. Reference List Arsoy, A.P, Crowther, D (2008) ââ¬Å"Corporate Governance in Turkey: Reform and Convergence,â⬠Social Responsibility Journal, vol.4, iss.3 pp.407-422 Boyd, D Smith, R (2006) ââ¬Å"Monetary Regimes and Inflation in 12 Caribbean Countries,â⬠Journal of Economic Studies, vol.33, iss.2, pp.96-108 Chakraborty, D (1999) ââ¬Å"Macroeconomic conditions and Opening Up ââ¬â Argentina, Chile and India: A Comparative Study,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol.26, iss.1/2/3, pp.298 -311 Cheng, M.U. Tan, H.B. (2002) ââ¬Å"Inflation In Malaysia,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol.29, iss.5, pp.411-426 Ferreira, H Filho, J.S (2007) ââ¬Å"Economic Transparency and Effectiveness of Monetary Policyâ⬠Journal of Economic Studies, vol.34, iss.6, pp.497-515 Krugman, P.R. Obstfeld, M. (2005). International economics: Theory and policy (7th ed.). Boston: Addison-Wesley Longman Lee, J.Y. (2007) ââ¬Å"Foreign Portfolio Investors and Financial Sector Stability in Asia,â⬠Asian Survey, vol.47, iss.6 pp.850-871 Low, L (2006) ââ¬Å"A Putative East Asian Business Model,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 33, no.7 pp. 512-528 Maskooki, K (2002) ââ¬Å"Mexicoââ¬â¢s 1994 Peso Crisis and its Aftermath,â⬠European Business Review, vol.14, no.3, pp.161-169 Nsouli, S.M Rached, M Funke, N (2005) ââ¬Å"The Speed of Adjustment and the Sequencing of Economic Reforms: Issues and Guidelines for Policy Makers,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol.32, no.9, pp.740 766 Shamsul, A Shyam, A Kamath, J (1986) ââ¬Å"Models and Forecasts of Inflation in a Developing Economy,â⬠Journal of Economic Studies, vol.13, iss.4, pp.3-30 Wagner, H (2005) ââ¬Å"Globalisation and Financial Instability: Challenges for Exchange Rate and Monetary Policy,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 32, iss.7, pp.616-639. 1 Footnotes [1] Krugman, P.R. Obstfeld, M. (2005). International economics: Theory and policy (7th ed.). Boston: Addison-Wesley Longman. [2] Shamsul, A Shyam, A Kamath, J (1986) ââ¬Å"Models and Forecasts of Inflation in a Developing Economy,â⬠Journal of Economic Studies, vol.13, iss.4, pp.3-30 [3] Chakraborty, D (1999) ââ¬Å"Macroeconomic conditions and Opening Up ââ¬â Argentina, Chile and India: A Comparative Study,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol.26, iss.1/2/3, pp.298 -311 [4] Chakraborty (pp.298 ââ¬â 311) [5] Chakraborty (pp.298 ââ¬â 311) [6] Krugman et al (pg.615) [7] Cheng, M.U. Tan, H.B. (2002) ââ¬Å"Inflation In Malaysia,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol.29, iss.5, pp.411-426 [8] Krugman et al (pg.623) [9] Ferreira, H Filho, J.S (2007) ââ¬Å"Economic Transparency and Effectiveness of Monetary Policyâ⬠Journal of Economic Studies, vol.34, iss.6, pp.497-515 [10] Wagner, H (2005) ââ¬Å"Globalisation and Financial Instability: Challenges for Exchange Rate and Monetary Policy,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 32, iss.7, pp.616-639. [11] Wagner (pp.616-639) [12] Boyd, D Smith, R (2006) ââ¬Å"Monetary Regimes and Inflation in 12 Caribbean Countries,â⬠Journal of Economic Studies, vol.33, iss.2, pp.96-108 [13] Wagner (pp.616-639) [14] Maskooki, K (2002) ââ¬Å"Mexicoââ¬â¢s 1994 Peso Crisis and its Aftermath,â⬠European Business Review, vol.14, no.3, pp.161-169 [15] Arsoy, A.P, Crowther, D (2008) ââ¬Å"Corporate Governance in Turkey: Reform and Convergence,â⬠Social Responsibility Journal, vol.4, iss.3 pp.407-422 [16] Krugman et al (pg. 634) [17] Nsouli, S.M Rached, M Funke, N (2005) ââ¬Å"The Speed of Adjustment and the Sequencing of Economic Reforms: Issues and Guidelines for Policy Makers,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol.32, no.9, pp.740 766 [18] Krugman et al (pg.620) [19] Krugman et al (pg. 623) [20] Lee, J.Y. (2007) ââ¬Å"Foreign Portfolio Investors and Financial Sector Stability in Asia,â⬠Asian Survey, vol.47, iss.6 pp.850-871 [21] Krugman et al (pg.622) [22] Wagner (pp.616-639) [23] Low, L (2006) ââ¬Å"A Putative East Asian Business Model,â⬠International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 33, no.7 pp. 512-528
Friday, October 25, 2019
Business Ethics Essay -- essays research papers
Part I. Case Development à à à à à Working in Human resources can make it very difficult to meet friends at work. Many Human resources professionals avoid being too friendly with employees outside of the department and there are employees who keep their distance from being too friendly with Human resources personnel. à à à à à I did break this rule several years ago when we hired a new employee. This employee and I hit it off immediately and we became very good friends and remain this way today. This friend was an excellent employee. Everyone loved working with her and her assistance was in great demand. à à à à à Several years after meeting this new employee the two of us decided to become roommates. We were both in the market to move and both of us were students working full-time, so we rented an apartment together. Soon after becoming roommates my friend broke-up with her boyfriend of several years and it wasnââ¬â¢t long before that I noticed frequent phone calls to the apartment from a partner at our firm. The partner was her direct supervisor so I found it somewhat strange that he would call her at home so often and at such hours. At the time I chose not to say anything as I did not think it was any of my business. à à à à à As time went on the calls started to get more frequent and on several occasions my friend called the partner, in my presence, very late at night and left him what I believed to be a very personal message and not work-related. Even more interesting was the fact that the partner was married. à à à à à After some consideration I decided to bring up the subject of the calls with my friend. I was merely inquiring as to what was going on between her and this partner. My friend brushed it off and implied that nothing was going on between them. I accepted this at the time and decided to drop the subject for the moment. à à à à à Sometime later I learned that my friend was traveling to London on business with this partner. My suspicions were raised at this point since I knew that employees in my friendââ¬â¢s position did not typically travel on business. I started to get a little concerned at this point. I knew the potential risks involved when a manager is intimately involved with a subordinate. In addition, I knew that the f... ...ships between employees but discourage relationships between managers and direct subordinates. These relationships can be consensual and lead to very positive outcomes but the risk will always be there. Discouragement does not prevent them from happening. Having a simple policy outlining some guidelines and incorporating the topic into management and sensitivity training is a good approach. References Greenwald, J. (2000). Office Romances May Court Trouble. Business Insurance. Vol. 34, Issue 7, p20. Peikes, L. and Burns, M. (2004). No-Fraternization Policies Under the Judicial Microscope. SHRM Legal Report. Retrieved February 4, 2004, www.shrm.org. Poe, A. (2000). Office Romance: HRââ¬â¢s Role. SHRM White Paper. Retreived February 4, 2004, www.shrm.org. Powers, D.M. (1999). Consensual Workplace Relationships: The Stereotypes, policies and Challenges. Compensation and Benefits Management. Vol. 15, Issue 3, p35. Quinn, R.E. and Lees, P (1984). Attraction and Harassment: Dynamics of Sexual Politics in the Workplace. Organizational Dynamics. Vol. 13, Issue 2. Spragins, E., Overfelt, M. and Sloane, J. (2004). Dangerous Liaisons. FSB: Small Fortune Business; Vol. 14, Issue 1, p62.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
How does Shakespeare dramatise the murder of Duncan in Act II Scenes (i) and (ii)? Essay
The murder of King Duncan in the play Macbeth is an important part of the play. It shows the point at which Lady Macbeth and Macbeth begin their downfall, which ultimately ends in their deaths at the end of the play. The first and second scenes in Act Two are important because they are immediately before and just after the murder, so they are where the play is at itââ¬â¢s climax, and most tense. Shakespeare dramatises the murder by not only building up the tension before Macbeth commits the murder, but also keeping the pressure up through the next scene during Macbeth and Lady Macbethââ¬â¢s conversation. This idea is explored in detail throughout this essay. Our very first impression of Macbeth in Act One is that he is a character to be wary of, because the witches are the first people to mention him, and witches are associated with evil, so Macbeth is linked in the audienceââ¬â¢s mind with wickedness. However this idea is pushed to one side as we hear glowing reports on the ââ¬Ëbraveââ¬â¢, ââ¬Ëworthyââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëvaliantââ¬â¢ Macbeth, (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 16, 24) from King Duncan and the Captain of the Army. It seems Banquo and Macbeth are both very honest and good people before we ever meet them personally. Then when we do see the two for the first time, they meet the witches, who tell them the prophecies which the whole play is based around: ââ¬ËAll hail Macbeth that shalt be King hereafterââ¬â¢. (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 48) We are shown Macbethââ¬â¢s latent desires come to the forefront of his mind; although he is already successful and has more than most could want, hidden ambition and greed becomes apparent as the witches promise his greatest dreams. He seems to be solely focused on the biggest prize ââ¬â though the first of the witchesââ¬â¢ prophecies comes true immediately, he is more happy that the prophecy of him becoming King now seems a plausible idea, than the present promotion: ââ¬ËThe greatest is behindââ¬â¢ (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 116). All in all, the character of Macbeth is introduced to the audience as a worthy and noble person (from the reports by the Captain in Scene Two) but one with a less virtuous side, to do with his ambition and never being satisfied with what he has, ââ¬â which turn out to be his biggest weaknesses and ends up bringing about his downfall. Also in Act One we see the highly influential role Lady Macbeth plays in persuading Macbeth to kill Duncan so they can become King and Queen. As Macbeth is her husband she knows him best and knows he is ââ¬Ënot without ambition, but without the illness should attend itââ¬â¢ (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 18-19) so she knows exactly how to manipulate him to do things he otherwise would not do. She does this by playing on his weaknesses ââ¬â by questioning his manliness and asking him to do the deed to prove his love for her. Lady Macbeth appears to be driven by her own ambitions and her ruthlessness and determination are established effectively in the opening Act. She shows her willingness to do evil things when she calls for dark spirits to ââ¬Ëfill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty, make thick my blood, stop up the thââ¬â¢access and passage to remorseââ¬â¢ (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 41-3) She also shows her strength of will when she tells Macbeth what to do: ââ¬ËLook like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underââ¬â¢t.ââ¬â¢ (Act 1, Scene 6, Line 64-5) and when she manages to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. At the beginning of Act 1 Scene 7 he is decidedly against the act: ââ¬ËWe shall proceed no further in this businessââ¬â¢ (Line 31) but by the end of the scene she has made him change his mind: ââ¬ËIf we should fail?ââ¬â¢ (Line 59). Shakespeare sets the scene for the murder in Act II Scene I by creating a tense and mysterious atmosphere with Banquo and his son Fleanceââ¬â¢s conversation, and then their encounter with Macbeth as he is setting out to kill Duncan. The scene opens with Banquo talking to Fleance and describing the dark setting. He says that ââ¬Ëthe moon is downââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 2) and ââ¬Ëthe candles are all outââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 5), meaning the night is pitch black with no moon or stars ââ¬â perfect for a concealed murder. Fleance tells us that ââ¬â¢tis laterââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 4) than midnight, which was considered in those times to be the scariest hour of the night, the ââ¬Ëwitching hourââ¬â¢ ââ¬â the audience in the original performance of the play would pick up on this timing as a sign to be wary of what is coming next. Banquo refers to the theme of sleeplessness, saying ââ¬ËI would not sleepâ⬠¦[for] the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to in reposeââ¬â¢. (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 7-9) We see this idea again in Act Two Scene Two after the murder, when Macbeth is very traumatised by what he has done, and he says he ââ¬Ëhath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no moreââ¬â¢ (Lines 45-6) Because Banquo used the word ââ¬Ëcursedââ¬â¢ he reminds us of the witches and plants the idea that their prophecies could in fact be curses, which is foreshadowing what actually happens. Then, Banquo hears a noise and calls immediately for his son to ââ¬ËGive me my swordââ¬â¢, before warily calling out ââ¬ËWhoââ¬â¢s there?ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 9-10) This builds up the tension in the atmosphere very well because it is odd for him to be so alert and tense in his best friendââ¬â¢s castle, where he should feel safe. Banquo has already been established as a calm, good and perceptive character, (from his association with nature) so because he is on edge and tense the audience knows the next scene cannot be good. The tense atmosphere is heightened during Macbeth and Banquoââ¬â¢s conversation, because they talk in relatively short lines to one another. The audience is also shown how tense and nervous Macbeth is, and how he is slowly ââ¬Ëfalling from graceââ¬â¢ because he lies to his best friend, by saying ââ¬ËI think not of them [the witches]ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 21) when itââ¬â¢s all he has been thinking about since they met them. In the second part of Act Two Scene One Macbeth hallucinates a floating dagger, covered in ââ¬Ëgouts of bloodââ¬â¢ (Line 46) with ââ¬Ëthe handle toward my [his] handââ¬â¢ (Line 34) leading him towards Duncanââ¬â¢s room to commit the murder ââ¬â ââ¬Ëthou marshallââ¬â¢st me the way that I was goingââ¬â¢ (Line 42). In the original play Shakespeare chose not to show the audience the dagger Macbeth is imagining, because this way focus is shifted from the dagger onto Macbeth himself, which means the audience is more dramatically engaged by the character, rather than special effects. Another reason Shakespeare decided not to show the dagger is that it is a figment of Macbethââ¬â¢s imagination, a ââ¬Ëfalse creation, proceeding from the heat oppressed brainââ¬â¢ (Line 39) representing his confusion and indecisiveness being controlled by external and sinister forces, which therefore makes the murder seem more inevitable, because Macbeth is not in control of it. If the dagger were shown the representation would be lost, because it would become a real thing. This shows great psychological understanding from Shakespeare. Even though the audience is shown a real dagger when Macbeth pulls out his own to compare: ââ¬ËI see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which I now drawââ¬â¢ (Line 40-1) Shakespeare only did this to reinforce the idea that Macbeth sees it as clearly as a real dagger, but the audience canââ¬â¢t see it. Most other productions of Macbeth follow Shakespeareââ¬â¢s original intentions, with the only exception being Roman Polanskiââ¬â¢s feature film version. Polanski decided to show the floating dagger, but this was probably because the film was aimed at a wider, more ââ¬Ëmainstreamââ¬â¢ audience, and he thought subtle details like an imaginary dagger should be made more obvious, even though this loses some of meaning of the idea. Macbethââ¬â¢s reactions to the dagger show he is in a very unstable and volatile state of mind, and shows his inner turmoil and confusion about what he should do and what he wants to do. The fact that he is hallucinating in the first place shows he must be slightly delirious with the pressure of what he is about to do. At first he was alarmed by the dagger, however, as soon as he realises that the dagger is not real (ââ¬ËArt thou a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat oppressed brain?ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 37-9)) he stops being alarmed by it, and as he follows it, he becomes fascinated with it, and more intense, so he describes it in great detail using plosives ââ¬ËAnd on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of bloodââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 46) to make it more vivid for the audience. The dagger symbolises the murder, and makes the deed seem more inevitable, because the dagger that leads Macbeth to Duncanââ¬â¢s door is bloody, so it is as if it is a projection of what Macbethââ¬â¢s real dagger is going to look like after the murder. It also symbolises how Macbeth is being controlled by other forces, how he is being led to do things he doesnââ¬â¢t really want to do because he isnââ¬â¢t controlling the dagger, the dagger is ââ¬Ëin chargeââ¬â¢ of h im. Shakespeare uses the last half of Macbethââ¬â¢s soliloquy in Act Two Scene One to build atmosphere and tension as he prepares himself for the murder, by using lots of imagery to help create the dark mood. For instance Macbeth says that ââ¬ËNature seems deadââ¬â¢ (Line 50) which is a very dark idea, foreshadowing how after this scene nature will be turned on its head because Macbeth upset he natural order. Macbeth also talks about a recurring theme in the play; the idea of two sides of everything, the good and the bad, or the fake faà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ade hiding a worse side underneath (ââ¬ËNow oââ¬â¢er the one half worldââ¬â¢ (Line 49)) To darken the mood further, he talks about ââ¬Ëwicked dreams abus[ing] the curtainââ¬â¢d sleepââ¬â¢ (Lines 50-1) which is what he is about to do: as he is trying to kill Duncan in his sleep, so he is being wicked and abusing the safety one should feel when they are asleep. Macbeth also mentions witchcraft, which shows he is thinking about and maybe being controlled by the witches still, saying ââ¬ËWitchcraft celebrates pale Hecateââ¬â¢s offââ¬â¢ringsââ¬â¢ (Lines 51-2). It seems Macbeth tries to justify the murder by reducing his involvement. He does this by showing he is merely an instrument doing the deed by personifying murder, so that it is more murder who is to blame for the crime, rather than Macbeth: ââ¬ËWitherââ¬â¢d murder, alarumââ¬â¢d by his sentinelâ⬠¦with Tarquinââ¬â¢s ravishing strides, towards his design, moves like a ghostââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 52-6). Macbeth uses more and more intricate language, referring to Roman stories of the tyrant Tarquin who raped his friendââ¬â¢s wife to personify murder further, and long sentences as he expresses the strong external forces (e.g. ââ¬ËMurderââ¬â¢ and the witch-queen Hecate) that may be manipulating him to kill Duncan. However he starts to come back to himself and realise that he is still the one doing it after all, using shorter sentences as he comes to the end of his soliloquy. He thinks of more practical ideas, asking the Earth to ââ¬ËHear not my steps, for fear thy very stones may prate of my whereaboutââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 57-8) but still using imagery that conjures up in our minds the idea that he is at least being helped by the Earth, or some other strong omnipotent being. Macbeth seems more resolute closer to the end of the soliloquy, saying ââ¬ËWhiles I threat he live; Words to the heat of deeds to cold breath givesââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 60-61) The fact that these two lines rhyme give it definition and finality, as Shakespeare often uses rhyming couplets to signify the end of an important scene. In these lines Macbeth also shows how unwavering he is, by almost scorning himself for fretting about it too long, by saying ââ¬Ëwhiles I threat he livesââ¬â¢. After this the bell rings, to further signify Macbethââ¬â¢s resolved and determined state of mind, which is backed up again by his saying immediately after ââ¬ËI go , and it is done.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 62). The short sentence shows his feeling of inevitability. The very last two lines of the soliloquy are also a rhyming couplet, to end the scene neatly. They show Macbeth knows he will go through with the murder, because he says ââ¬ËThe bell invites meââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 62) and then he says ââ¬ËHear it not Duncan, for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven or to hell.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 63-4). The building up of tension and inevitability is shown very well in the Trevor Nunn version of Macbeth, where Ian McKellen portrays Macbeth preparing for the murder, making him seem absolutely resolute by rolling up a sleeve. This version also takes advantage of different lighting to increase tension; Macbeth is in darkness for most of the scene, stepping forward to the audience to engage them, and as he says ââ¬Ëlike a ghostââ¬â¢ he steps into an eerie bright light, which can be quite scary and unexpected, because it is as if he appeared out of nowhere. Shakespeare decided not to script or perform the actual murder of Duncan, because that way the audience is left to imagine the murder scene on their own and therefore make it as horrible as they could imagine. Shakespeare also misses out the murder to put more emphasis on Lady Macbeth at the beginning of the next scene and to remind the audience how closely she is involved in the murder. There is no gap in the drama because Scene Two follows on from the last in quick succession and the fact that we see Lady Macbeth, sustains the anxiety and tension because she is already associated in our minds with evil and bad deeds. This is because she spoke to the evil spirits in Act One Scene Five, as well as being instrumental in manipulating Macbeth and persuading him to kill Duncan in the first place. Before Macbeth returns, Lady Macbeth feels triumphant, powerful, and in control. She has done what she wanted, and got the better of men by manipulating them and making them do things for her benefit. She shows this by saying ââ¬Ëthat which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold; that which hath quenched them, hath given me fireââ¬â¢. (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 1-2) This also alerts the audience again to her association with evil, and the witches (from when she called upon evil spirits to ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst crueltyââ¬â¢ (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 41,42) because she is talking about opposites, and this is what the witches talked about when they were first introduced at the beginning of the play: ââ¬ËFair is foul and foul is fairââ¬â¢ (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 12) She uses eloquent language filled with imagery personifying death and nature around the drugged guards: ââ¬ËDeath and Nature do contend about them, whether they live, or dieââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 7-8) This fits in well with what her husband was saying just moments ago about murder as a real being, rather than an action or abstract noun, and shows well how Shakespeare ensures there is no break in tension between scenes, because they flow on so well from each other. She seems very fired up and quite jumpy because of her excitement, so when she hears an owl screech in the night, she exclaims ââ¬ËHark!ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 2) then ââ¬ËPeace,ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 2) to calm herself, but the fact that she is talking to herself is one of the early signs of her going mad. However she is still ââ¬Ëon a highââ¬â¢ from her excitement of the murder of Duncan being carried out, that she confidently speaks about the owl straight after her fright: ââ¬ËIt was the owl that shreikââ¬â¢d, the fatal bellman which gives the sternââ¬â¢st good-night.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 3-4) Here she is comparing the owlââ¬â¢s shriek to the night watchman who rings his bell outside the cells of prisoners condemned to death, in this case it is Duncan who is about to be killed. This comment about the owl is linked to her earlier speech before Duncan arrived at Macbethââ¬â¢s castle, when she spoke of the raven, another bird linked with death: ââ¬ËThe raven himself is hoarse, that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncanââ¬â¢ (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 37-8). As Macbeth arrives she gets very anxious, saying she is ââ¬Ëafraid they have awakââ¬â¢d, and ââ¬â¢tis not done; theââ¬â¢attempt and not the deed confounds us.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 9-11) In the Trevor Nunn stage version of Macbeth, Judi Dench, who plays Lady Macbeth, shows her excitement to an almost psychopathic degree, by talking very quickly and in a very high-pitched voice, which conveys the idea of drunkenness on power very well. During Macbeth and Lady Macbethââ¬â¢s initial exchange, they convey their own nervousness and create even more of a tense atmosphere by talking in short questions and answer to each other. Line 16 in this scene is shared between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and cuts back and forth between them twice: Lady Macbeth: ââ¬ËDid not you speak?ââ¬â¢ Macbeth: When? Lady Macbeth: Now. Macbeth: As I descended?ââ¬â¢ This creates the tense atmosphere because the actors have no choice but to throw these short sharp words back and forth very quickly. The next line is unusual as there is only one syllable in it, said by Lady Macbeth in answer to Macbethââ¬â¢s question ââ¬ËAs I descended?ââ¬â¢. She says ââ¬ËAy.ââ¬â¢ (Line 20) and the rest of the line is finished by either silence, or a noise coming from the night. This is the only time Shakespeare has scripted in a gap or a pause, and he did this because the lack of speech after such a quick exchange would make the silence almost ââ¬Ëdeafeningââ¬â¢ to the audience, as they anticipate what is going to happen next. After the brief pause, Macbeth starts the conversation again, when he says ââ¬ËHark!ââ¬â¢ (Line 21) which shows his awareness of either the silence or the noise from the night, and his jumpy nature because he exclaims after it. The next section of their exchange shows a sharp contrast between the two, as Macbeth starts to get almost hysterical, as he canââ¬â¢t process the horror of what he has just done, while Lady Macbeth gets frustrated with him as she struggles to keep control of the situation. Macbeth starts by looking at his bloody hands holding the daggers and saying ââ¬ËThis is a sorry sight.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 24) but straight away Lady Macbeth retorts ââ¬ËA foolish thought, to say a sorry sightââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 25) which is almost scornful of him, as one might scold a child. However her efforts are soon to turn out futile, as Macbeth get so wrapped up in his own emotion that he barely seems to register she is there. This is shown well in the Nicol Williamson staging of Macbeth, where Lady Macbeth is trying to push Macbeth off the stage, but because Nicol is a very tall person it is obvious that Lady Macbeth has no chance of moving him. Macbeth himself begins to get hysterical as Lady Macbeth loses control of him. He starts to think of himself as a hangman (ââ¬Ëwith these hangmanââ¬â¢s handsââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 30)) and thinks he maybe a damned man, when he thinks he cannot say ââ¬ËAmenââ¬â¢ after someone calls out ââ¬ËGod bless us!ââ¬â¢: ââ¬ËOne cried ââ¬ËGod bless us!ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ ¦I could not say ââ¬ËAmenâ⬠(Act 2, Scene 2, Line 29, 31) The original audience would pick up on the fact he could not say Amen, which would increase the tension and fear because it shows him to be possessed by evil spirits. Macbeth refers to ââ¬Ëthe innocent sleepââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 39) which is a recurring theme throughout the play, he refers to himself in the third person saying ââ¬ËMacbeth does murder sleepââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 39) and then talks about his different roles ââ¬ËGlamis hath murderââ¬â¢d sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no moreââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 45-6) This repetition of his different roles shows him slowly falling to pieces because of what he does, and also shows how much he is trying to find a way to make it not his fault and to dislocate himself from what he has just done, which brings him to be almost schizophrenic. However he also knows that his evil deed can leak into the reputation his other roles or identities and will ultimately destroy him. His talk about damnation and sleep is an example of foreshadowing, because after this time, neither Macbeth or Lady Macbeth will sleep properly again, and shall therefore be deprived of the ââ¬Ëbalm of hurt minds, great natureââ¬â¢s second course, chief nourisher in lifeââ¬â¢s feastââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 42-3). In the Trevor Nunn production of Macbeth, Macbeth is shown starting to be almost atavistic, by talking in a child-like manner, which brings out his vulnerability and guilt for killing Duncan. Tension is increased in the next part of the scene when Lady Macbeth shows her frustration with Macbeth because he is not listening to her. He is fraught with fear over what he has just done, and however much she tries to keep control over the situation he ignores her completely. She tries to take his mind off his rambling by trying one of her persuasion techniques, saying ââ¬ËWorthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength to think so brain-sickly of these thingsââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 47-9). Here she compliments him (ââ¬Ëworthy thaneââ¬â¢) before telling him that he is losing his ââ¬Ënoble strengthââ¬â¢ by thinking about these ââ¬Ëbrain sicklyââ¬â¢ things too much. She encourages to ââ¬ËGo get some water and wash this filthy witness from your handââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 49-50) even though later on in the play we will find out that she realises that ââ¬Ëa little waterââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 70) does not clear them ââ¬Ëof this deedâ â¬â¢. (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 70) However she changes her mind when she sees that Macbeth is still clutching the daggers he used to kill Duncan, and is therefore ruining the plan. She gets very angry and accuses him of being ââ¬ËInfirm of purpose!ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 55) and tells him the daggers ââ¬Ëmust lie thereââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 52) But Macbeth refuses because he does not want to go back (ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢ll go no moreââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 53)) which means she must ââ¬Ëget her hands dirtyââ¬â¢ by going back and smearing blood over Duncanââ¬â¢s guards so it looks like they did the murder. Because of this, she is very annoyed with Macbeth as because of his incompetence she had to be involved, but she retains her strength telling him ââ¬Ëmy hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so whiteââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 67-8). As the scene comes to itââ¬â¢s dramatic climax, the contrasting attitudes and state of mind of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are shown and exaggerated further. Macbeth is very emotional and stressed, he seems to look at his hands as if they are someone elseââ¬â¢s, saying ââ¬ËWhat hands are here? Ha: they pluck out mine eyes.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 62) This shows how detached he is feeling from his own body, perhaps a instinctive result of the stress he has just gone through, his brain is trying to distance Macbeth from it. Macbeth uses very rich visual images to describe how he disagrees with Lady Macbethââ¬â¢s notion that ââ¬ËA little water clears us of this deedââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 70) asking if ââ¬ËAll Neptuneââ¬â¢s oceans wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one redââ¬â¢. (Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 63-6) This conjures up a very vivid image in the audienceââ¬â¢s mindââ¬â¢s of vast oceans turning red with blood from his hand, with words such as ââ¬Ëmultitudinousââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëincarnadineââ¬â¢ adding to the image of excess, as they are almost onomatopoeic of the idea of vastness because the words themselves have many syllables. Then, this idea of enormous and excessive things is followed by a close-up image as Macbeth says ââ¬Ëmaking the green one redââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 62) which focuses the image down into maybe a drop of blood making a small pool of green water red, because the words are monosyllabic and Macbeth uses the word ââ¬Ëoneââ¬â¢. The way Shakespeare has used short, simple words after the long, elaborate words increases the contrast from the big and the small. In contrast to Macbethââ¬â¢s figurative contemplation, Lady Macbeth is not so deep in thought; her mind is still on the task in hand (quite literally) and if she is feeling any remorse or panic for what they have just done, she does not show any emotion at all in fact, apart from frustration for Macbeth because he is not being brave or strong like a man should be: ââ¬ËMy hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so whiteââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 67-68). The knocking that comes towards the end of the scene succeeds in further racking up the tension. It instils a sense of urgency in the situation, that while Macbeth stands around, waiting for ââ¬Ëoccasion [to] call us and show us to be watchersââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 73-4), for the longer they wait there with the ââ¬Ëfilthy witnessââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 50) on their hands, the more likely it is they are going to get caught red-handed. It is a harsh loud and repetitive noise that should bring Macbeth out of his inward turning thoughts, but as it does not it further shows how hard he is taking the stress. It brings out a bit of anxiousness in Lady Macbeth though, as she gets more and more tense as the knocking continues: ââ¬ËHark! More knockingââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 72) Macbethââ¬â¢s final words in this scene show his true emotion that he is feeling after the murder. He says ââ¬ËTo know my deed, ââ¬â¢twere best not know myselfââ¬â¢ (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 76) which seems as if he is asking for a kind of self-inflicted schizophrenia, so he doesnââ¬â¢t have to deal with the sorrow and regret he is feeling. But his very last line, ââ¬ËWake Duncan with thy knocking; I would thou couldst.ââ¬â¢ (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 77) shows his deep sadness, regret and sorrow for what he has done. In conclusion, the murder of King Duncan is dramatised by Shakespeareââ¬â¢s decision not to show the murder, instead shifting the focus onto the scenes preceding and following the offstage event, where suspense for the murder is built up in the audienceââ¬â¢s minds using dark imagery, and emphasis is put on how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin to come to terms with what they have done and what lays ahead for them now they have committed this heinous crime.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Elderly Drivers Outline
Elderly Drivers Specific Purpose: We want our audience to agree that the physically disabled elderly people need to retake their test or prove that they can drive before actually getting behind the wheel of a car. Thesis Statement: These elderly drivers, who are physically disabled, should not be driving without retaking the test or doing something to prove they are still capable to drive. I. Elderly are terrible drivers. A. The elderly are an increasing population of bad drivers, because of their health. B.Those include medical conditions like diabetes, having heart problems, having poor eyesight and being delusional. C. People with health risk or even something simple as just wearing glasses should ââ¬Å"renewâ⬠their license, and to pass should have to take a small series test as simple as an eye exam. D. Overall, people over the age of 70 should have to perform a simple test to renew their license. II. Problem: According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the population of drivers 70 and older is expected to increase from 27. 8 million in 2010 to 51. 7 million in 2030 and 67 million in 2050.The rapid increase in the older driver population has led to concerns about the potential effects on traffic safety associated with this trend. A. Based on data reported by states to the Federal Highway Administration, there were approximately 22. 3 million licensed drivers 70 and older in 2010. B. A NHTSA study of 1995 FARS (Fatal Accident Reporting System) data reports that senior citizens accounted for: * 5% of all people injured in traffic crashes * 13% of all traffic fatalities * 13% of all vehicle occupant fatalities * 18% of all pedestrian fatalities C.If the elderly continue to drive as their health problems increase, they will not only be putting their selves at risk, but the rest of the population as well. III. Criteria for Solution: The solutions cannot be physically, mentally, or emotionally harmful to the driver. It has to be fair, affordable, and feasible. I V. Possible Solutions: There are a number of solutions that could help prevent harm to drivers of old age. A. Re-test the people over the age of 70+ in every state. B. Give mid-year health check-ups on the elderly to check their capability to drive an automobile. C.On the license plate of an elderly driver, have an identifier on it to signify that it is an elderly driver. D. Make it mandatory to have a passenger with a license to ride in the car with them. E. Check for any diseases, and health risks that would put the driver at risk or being hurt. F. Make sure the person knows the area they drive in. It has to be familiar to them. V. Best Possible Solution: Re-Test the elderly after a certain age. A. Maryland state law allows police, doctors, and residents including relatives to refer potentially unfit drivers to the Motor Vehicle Administration's Medical Advisory Board.B. A 2004 Florida law requiring that older drivers pass a vision test before getting a license renewed has helped cut the death rate among drivers 80 and older by 17%, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Conclusion: In conclusion, we believe people should have to retake a driving test and vision and hearing test every few years to prove they are still safe and capable drivers. Reflective Thinking Sequence 1. Elderly drivers cause younger drivers to have road rage and put their self at risk. We can limit the problem by making drivers at the age of 70 retake the driving test. . The causes of the problem are the elderlyââ¬â¢s vision and hearing getting bad. As they get older, they face more problems. 3. The effects of the problem are people getting hurt or put into danger. The driver puts their self into danger and then gets hurt by other drivers or other drivers hurt them. 4. The criteria in which the solutions should be judged are: Health checkups every few years, have another responsible driver in the car with the elderly, and/or retake the driving test at th e age of 70. 5. A possible solution is to have the driver retake the driving test at the age of 70.A strength would be better drivers on the road. A weakness is they may not want to retake the test. 6. The best solution is to make it mandatory for drivers at the age of 70 to retake the test. 7. We can put it into effect by making the retest a requirement at the age of 70. Itââ¬â¢s not illegal because some states already put this into effect. Citations ââ¬Å"Elderly Driving. â⬠Elderly Driving. N. p. , n. d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. ;http://www. stritch. luc. edu/depts/injprev/Transprt/tran3. htm;. ââ¬Å"Fatality Facts: Elderly. â⬠Fatality Facts: Elderly. Transsaftey Inc, n. d.Web. 29 Nov. 2012. ;http://www. usroads. com/journals/rilj/0101/ri010102. htm;. Copeland, L. (2009, July 6). States seek tests for older drivers. . Retrieved from http://usatoday30. usatoday. com/news/nation/2009-07-05-older-drivers_N. htm Taira, E. D. , M. Maynard, and M. J. Madigan. Assessing the dr iving ability of the elderly, a preliminary investigation. Binghampton, New York: Routledge, 1991. 215. Print. Rothe, John, Peter Cooper, and Brian De Vires. The Safety Of Elderly Drivers: Yesterdays Young, Todays Traffic. Transaction Publishers, 1990. 435. Print.
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