Sunday, May 31, 2020

Wealth and Poverty in American Literature - Literature Essay Samples

In American literature and culture throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the signs of wealth and poverty are often indicated by an individual’s appearance. The belief that one’s exterior reflects their class is demonstrative of the narcissism of American society during the Progressive Era, as the population more notably the middle class, grew obsessed with the idea of visibly displaying one’s wealth. The expansion of conspicuous consumption remains central to evaluating the signs of economic power, as without the development of this concept, appearance would not be considered so wholly symbolic of one’s pecuniary strength. As a result, a person’s image provides many signs of their financial status; such as their physical appearance, their display of possessions, the manner in which they speak, but also the type of activities they partake in which affect their mien. The significance of these signals is explored in many pieces of America n literature, which capture the dramatic contrast between the extravagant exterior of the rich and the ragged appearance of the poor. The physical appearance of an individual is shown to be representative of their financial status, as those who are smart and well-dressed are assumed to be wealthy, and those who are unwashed and unkempt, poor. In Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, the extreme wealth of the characters is reflected by their clothing with particular focus on Countess Olenska, whose hair is said to be ‘held in place by a narrow band of diamonds’. This small accessory alone is an indicator of her fortune, as it is evident that only the upper classes can afford to wear such valuable jewelry. Wharton also draws attention to the Countess’ ‘long sealskin cloak’, which reinstates her affluent image, as authentic animal fur is recognised as a luxury good. The elaborate clothing of the wealthy Countess contrasts greatly to the pitiful physical state of the impoverished characters in Crane’s Maggie. On the first page of the novella Crane highlights the dishevelled app earance of the peasant boy Jimmie, stating ‘His coat had been torn to shreds [†¦] and his hat was gone’. This immediately hints at his poor background, as the only clothes Jimmie is wearing are almost unwearable due to their severely tattered condition. The fact that Crane makes particular note of the loss of his hat rather than listing all the clothing he possesses (like Wharton), stresses his destitute image. Similarly, the author first describes Maggie as a ‘ragged girl’; instantly underlining her bedraggled state and therefore alluding to her indigence. By introducing the characters in terms of their physical appearance, Crane stresses the importance of clothing as a sign of monetary power. This is also demonstrated by the character Pete, who adapts his clothing in order to make himself appear richer; Crane notes ‘wealth and prosperity were indicated by his clothes’, suggesting that he is deliberately wearing finer garments to build a wealthy image. Throughout the novella, the author focuses on the description of visual aspects, which reinforces the idea that appearance provides an insight into one’s economic situation he tells us what poverty looks like. However, American literature also demonstrates that it is not merely a person’s clothing that reflects their class, but also how one makes themselves appear through physical activities. Wharton’s novel captures the importance of engaging in cultural practices in order to exhibit one’s wealth as the characters attend the opera, read educational books, and host dinner parties (each of these lavish pursuits representative of their affluence). The opening scene of the novel takes place at the opera, to which critic Hossein Pirnajmuddin states â€Å"right from the outset we know that Whartons dramatic personae are upper class New Yorkers.† With this view in mind, it is evident that partaking in intellectual activities instantly entails wealth especially ‘high art’ like the opera, as it is associated with those who have a higher level of education and a higher social origin. Pierre Bourdieu explores this theory, as he argues that taste in the arts â€Å"function as markers of ‘class’† due to the way in which arts and their consumers are constructed hierarchically. This shows how an interest in culture is symbolic of prosperity as an individual who has grown up in an educationally and socially richer environment is more inclined to appreciate the arts. Consequently, by attending the opera, Wharton’s characters immediately appear sophisticated and fashionable because of the association tied to it meaning partaking in cultural activities such as this serves as a clear sign of wealth. Contrariwise, the lack of involvement in such pursuits is also a sign of belonging to a poorer class as it suggests that one lacks a proper education. The display of an individual’s possessions is another sign of either wealth or poverty, as a person’s belongings often hint at their economic power. Actively exhibiting ones expensive assets, in other words, conspicuous consumption, is described as ‘an evidence of pecuniary strength’ by Veblen in his The Theory of the Leisure Class. The critic of capitalism states that ‘the failure to consume in due quantity and quality becomes a mark of inferiority and demerit’, therefore indicating that by flaunting upmarket goods, one is immediately regarded as wealthy and conversely, if one does not conspicuously consume, then in society’s eyes, one is poor. The sociologist also clarifies that comforts of life such as luxurious food, fine furniture and grand dwelling ‘are strictly reserved for the use of the superior class’. This culture of ostentatious spending in order to mark one’s prosperity is captured in Wharton’s Th e Age of Innocence as the author describes the Beaufort’s ball-room; noting the ‘red velvet carpet’, the ‘vista of enfiladed drawing-rooms’ and the ‘conservatory where camellias and tree-ferns arched their costly foliage over seats of black and gold bamboo.’ This is an obvious display of wealth; the imposing furniture and adorned architecture are characteristic of conspicuous consumption. The display of rich colors such as red, black and gold also builds on the affluent image of the Beauforts, as visually, these tones are striking and demand to be noticed these assets would not be signs of wealth if nobody were there to see them. Conversely, the poorer class is identified by their inability to exhibit such luxuries and their possession of purely basic goods for survival; as Veblen explains, ‘the base, industrious class should consume only what may be necessary to their subsistence’. This is captured by Riis in How the Other Half Lives, as he documents the squalid living conditions of the New York slums throughout the 1880s. Here he refers to the ‘twenty-five cent lodging house’ as an ‘enclosing a space just large enough to hold a cot and a chair and allow the man room to pull off his clothes.’ The fact that the most expensive pieces of furniture consist of a cot and a chair stresses the sheer poverty of the lodgers. Riis proceeds to describe the bed sheets as ‘yellow’ and ‘foul’, which contrasts dramatically to the lavish image of the Beaufort’s red velvet carpet. The journalist also captures the bleak appearance of poverty in many of his photos, such as â€Å"Room in a Tenement†, where a family of seven are pictured living in a single room. The only possessions in sight are a few items of crockery and clothes, a frail-looking cot, a bed and a chair. Here the lodgers severe lack of belongings is a clear indicator of their poverty, as un like the ridiculously wealthy characters in Wharton’s novel, they do not have the means to conspicuously consume. This demonstrates how the quality and quantity of one’s possessions affects their appearance in terms of economic power; meaning obtrusive spending is a sign of wealth, and the lack of this sign is itself a sign of poverty. Speech is another important aspect in terms of making oneself appear of a particular class, as the manner in which one speaks is thought to signal their social origin and the quality of their education. The characters in Wharton’s novel speak in Queen’s English, using correct grammatical structures and no slang this is a clear indicator of their upper class background, as it shows that they are all finely educated. For example, in a conversation with the Countess, Archer questions â€Å"Sincerely, then what should you gain that would compensate for the possibility the certainty of a lot of beastly talk?†. Here the complex structure of the sentence, and Archer’s clear pronunciation is evidence of his good schooling. The use of more elevated, somewhat pretentious language is also a sign of wealth, as this sophisticated style of speech is typically associated with a higher level of education. The eloquence of the characters in The Age of Innocence allows them to appear well-moneyed, whereas the dialect of those in Maggie is an sign of their working class background. For example in Chapter 10, feeling betrayed by her daughter, Mary cries â€Å"Yeh’ve gone teh deh devil [] Yer a disgrace teh yer people. An’ now, git out an’ go ahn†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Here Crane’s use of phonetic spelling conveys the strength of the Irish accent; immediately hinting at her underprivileged background, as during the 19th century many poor Irish immigrants fled to New York in search of a better life. The contractions and the dropping of the letter ‘d’ in ‘and’ creates the impression of a lower class, as the pronunciation is imprecise, and the language unrefined. Mary also uses incorrect grammar as she talks about how she â€Å"bringed up† Maggie, showing her lack of proper education. Crane implies that the characters themselves recognize speech as a sign of pecuniary strength, as at one point he nar rates, â€Å"as [Pete] became aware that [Maggie] was listening closely, he grew still more eloquent in his descriptions of various happenings in his career†. This shows that Pete is attempting to make himself appear of a higher class by adapting his speech. American literature and culture throughout the Progressive Era captures the significance of appearance in terms of the signs of wealth and poverty, as both fictional and factual works convey the societal judgements towards the working and the leisure class. Veblen confirms the importance of the role of conspicuous consumption, as his The Theory of the Leisure Class suggests that this concept is what really drove society to review one another’s financial status in light of their exterior. Wharton presents the power of this notion in her novel, as the New Yorkers’ majestic robes, sophisticated possessions, style of speech, and attending of the opera all contribute to their glamorous appearance; hence indicating their wealth. Crane and Riis also address these signs, however conversely, as the scruffy appearance and use of non-standard English in Maggie, and the lodgers’ ownership of only primitive items in How the Other Half Lives is a manifestation of poverty. Rega rdless of whether these signs indicate wealth or poverty, they are all evinced through one’s appearance; either directly (visually) or indirectly (through mannerisms or activities that give the impression of a particular class).

Saturday, May 16, 2020

How To Use Cuando in Spanish

Cuando or its question form, cuà ¡ndo, is the Spanish word used most often for when. It can be used as an interrogative pronoun, subordinating conjunction, or preposition. Fortunately, its use is usually straightforward for Spanish students because as a pronoun or conjunction it is used in much the same way as the English word. Cuà ¡ndo in Questions In questions, cuà ¡ndo is always used with a verb in the indicative mood, the most common type. As in the final two examples, cuà ¡ndo can also be used in indirect questions.  ¿Cuà ¡ndo pasà ³ el cometa Halley por à ºltima vez? (When did Halleys comet last pass by?) ¿Cuà ¡ndo es Semana Santa en Espaà ±a este aà ±o? (When is Holy Week in Spain this year?) ¿Hasta cuà ¡ndo dura la ola de frà ­o? (How long will the cold wave last? Literally: Until when will the cold wave last?) ¿Cuà ¡ndo ganarà © la loterà ­a? (When will I win the lottery?)Quieren saber cuà ¡ndo voy a dar a luz. (They want  to know when Im going to give birth.)No entiendo cuà ¡ndo se usan las palabras por y para. (I dont understand when the words por and para are used.)No sabemos cuà ¡ndo aprendià ³ a atarse los zapatos. (We dont know when she learned to tie her shoes.) Note how cuà ¡ndo is spelled with an orthographic accent. The accent doesnt affect its pronunciation. Cuando as a Subordinator When cuando is used used to introduce a clause (a series of words that could be a sentence but form a longer phrase starting with cuando), either the indicative or subjunctive mood can be used in that clause. The choice of moods depends on whether the action of the verb has been completed. As a subordinating conjunction, cuando — usually translated as when or whenever — typically is followed by a verb in the indicative mood when that verb refers to something that has already occurred or is occurring in the present. The present includes referring to an event that has occurred and could continue to occur. Boldface verbs in these samples indicate the subordinate verb in the indicative mood: Recuerdo cuando llegaron mis padres. (I remember when my parents came.)La à ºltima vez fue cuando dos miembros del equipo fueron detenidos. (The last time was when two members of the team were arrested.)Ana cometià ³ dos errores cuando comprà ³ la bicicleta.  (Ana made two mistakes when she bought the bicycle.)No hay nada que hacer cuando la và ­ctima ya està ¡ muerta. (There is nothing to do when the victim is already dead.)Nadie me paga cuando estoy enfermo. (Nobody pays me when Im sick.)Come cuando tengas hambre, no sà ³lo cuando el reloj dice que es hora de comer. (Eat when you are hungry, not just when the clock says its time to eat.)Cuando vamos a la ciudad siempre es porque hay mil cosas que hacer allà ­. (When we go to the city it is always because there are a thousand  things to do there.) In contrast, the present-tense subjunctive mood typically follows cuando when verb referring to an action or state of being that has yet to occur. Note how use of the subjunctive isnt accompanied by a corresponding verb change in the English translation.  Boldfaced verbs here are in the subjunctive: Llegaremos cuando debamos y no antes. (We will arrive when we should and not before.)Mà ­rame a los ojos cuando hables.  (Look in my eyes when you speak.)Despià ©rtame cuando lleguen tus amigos. (Wake me up when your friends arrive.)Vamos a hacerlo cuando seamos capaces. (We are going to do it when we are capable.) ¿Quà © voy a hacer cuando està © viejo? (What am I going to do when I am old?)Cuando vayamos a la ciudad sea porque habrà ¡n mil cosas que hacer allà ­. (When we go to the city, it will be because there will be a thousand things to do there.) Cuando as a Preposition Although not particularly common, cuando also can be a preposition. In these instances, cuando means at the time of, although you may have to improvise with the translation rather than translating word for word. Voy a estar triste cuando insolvencia. (Ill be sad when an insolvency occurs.)No he pensado cà ³mo serà © cuando adulto. (I have not thought of how Ill be as an adult.)Apaga la llama cuando hervir. (Turn off the flame when boiling occurs.) Key Takeaways When cuà ¡ndo is used in a question to mean when, a written accent is used with the à ¡.Cuando (without a written accent) is frequently used to introduced a clause that can be in either the indicative or subjunctive mood.Unlike the English when, cuando is sometimes used as a preposition and cannot be translated directly.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

An Integrated Signal Conditioning Block For Electrocardiogram

The AD8232 is an integrated signal conditioning block for Electrocardiogram, which is designed for extraction, amplification and filtering of small biopotential signals in the presence of noisy conditions, created by motion or remote electrode placement. The AD8232 has essential pins like shutdown pin, leadoff+, leadoff-, analog output, 3.3v, gnd to operate with the Arduino Mega 2560. There also exist RA(Right Arm),LA(Left Arm), RL(right leg) pins to attach to the custom sensor of human body . It has an led indicator which pulsates with the rhythm of a heartbeat .2.2.6 Heartbeat Sensor The Heartbeat sensor works on the principle of photoplethysmography which is a method of not invading the body for measuring heartbeat. It provides a simple way to obtain the function of the heart. The heartbeats can be measured based on the principle of psycho-physiological signal which is used as a stimulus for the virtual- reality system. The blood flow in the finger changes every instant. The sensor shines a small very bright LED through the clip and measures the light that gets transmitted to the Light Dependent Resistor. The signal firstly gets amplified after which it is inverted and filtered. In order to calculate the heart rate based on the blood that flows to the fingertip, the sensor is connected to a LM358 OP-AMP for observing the heartbeat pulses. The module gives a direct output digital signal when connected to a microcontroller. It is compact in size and works at a

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Simpsons Worst Running Tv Series Of All Time

One of the longest running TV series of all time is the Simpsons. The Simpsons is an animated sitcom that uses satire to depict the â€Å"average† American family. The Simpson Family consists of Homer (father), Marge (mother), Bart (son), Lisa (daughter), and Maggie (baby). In 2007 The Simpsons hit the big screen. This major motion picture about Springfield, the home of the Simpson Family, and has just about everything possibly imaginable. Springfield however has a very large problem, they pollute like no other place in the United States. It was not until Lisa Simpson proved to the town how polluted the local lake was that change was instituted. After Lisa â€Å"saves† the lake the city institutes wide spread trash and recycling procedures. However Homer doesn’t want to wait in one of the lines and instead dumps his trash in the lake. This is the straw that broke the camel’s back because after this the lake became toxic. At this point the Environmental Pro tection Agency (EPA) steps in and with the authorization of the President. Springfield becomes encapsulated in a large dome. At this point it becomes a life or death situation. The Simpsons then manage to escape and go on a wild journey. Only to eventually get caught. Once the Simpsons are returned to the dome, a massive bomb is placed in an effort to prevent Springfield from further pollution. (The Simpsons Movie). The looming threat that in a short matter of time everyone could be dead. It is at this point that Terror ManagementShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Homer Simpson s The Simpsons 1288 Words   |  6 PagesCase Study on Homer Simpson By: Ian Conway Homer Simpson is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists in the TV show The Simpsons. Dan Castellanta voices him. He lives in a fictional town called Springfield, Oregon, United States. He is married to Marge Simpson with three children named Bart, Lisa and Maggie. He has a pet dog named Santa’s Little Helper and cat called Snowball. Homer currently works in the show at a Nuclear Power Plant as a Safety inspector but has worked at previousRead MoreHow Do Different Forms Of Entertainment Media?1791 Words   |  8 Pages 1 How do different forms of entertainment media (like TV, movies, video games, comic books, etc.) create and re-create cultural values related to gender, race, ethnicity, social class, and technology? What do fictional worlds, societies, technologies, and creatures tell us about our own society and the values we hold? Are the cultural values expressed accurate reflections, or are they more like the distorted reflection of a fun house mirror? Do they reinforce the status quo or challenge culturalRead MoreThe News Corporation - Strategic Analysis7537 Words   |  31 Pagesservices * Cable network programming * others To stay competitive Murdoch used several strategies to keep its position or even expand its cross-media empire. He made use of economies of scales and standardization to save money encroaching upon all business units of TNC. Nevertheless, these units work individually. Products were and still are introduced mainly via market development and market penetration. To ensure that stakeholders ´ needs are combined with management plans the company doesRead MoreProduct Placement10682 Words   |  43 Pagessuch as movies, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the good or service is featured. Product placement became common in the 1980s. In April 2006, Broadcasting Cable reported, Two thirds of advertisers employ branded entertainment—product placement—with the vast majority of that (80%) in commercial TV programming. The story, based on a survey by the Association of National Advertisers, said Reasons for using in-showRead MoreProduct Placement10670 Words   |  43 Pagesas movies, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the good or service is featured. Product placement became common in the 1980s. In April 2006, Broadcasting Cable reported, Two thirds of advertisers employ branded entertainment—product placement—with the vast majority of that (80%) in commercial TV programming. The story, based on a survey by the Association of National Advertisers, said Reasons for using in-showRead MoreBusiness Journalism in India26104 Words   |  105 Pagesmagazines, scope for special interest magazines. The role of the consumers purchasing power more important than editorial content 8 Magazines during post emergency boom Success of ‘India Today’. How can magazines (5) compete with the challenge posed by TV which now covers sports, celebrities, life style, news and business. How to find out if there is a niche for new magazines. Comment on Travel, Health, Technology and career-guidance magazines 9 Western craze among glossy women’s magazines, BetterRead MoreOrganisational Behavioure23151 Words   |  93 Pages ROBBMC08.QXD.0132431521 12/15/05 12:25 PM Page 259 CHAPTER 8 Emotions Can Be Powerful teve Wynn, the famous hotel S on the grounds of his flagship hotel and mogul, is an emotional person.1 casino, The Mirage. At the same time, He is known for his infectious while Wynn was in charge of the enthusiasm, as well as his temper. He once Mirage, it was high on Fortune’s shot off his index finger in his office. And list of America’s Most Admired when describingRead MoreLgbt19540 Words   |  79 Pagesas a transgender person. Many transgender people live part-time or full-time in another gender. Transgender people can identify as transsexual, transvestite or another gender identity. Gender Identity Ones gender identity refers to whether one feels male, female or transgender (regardless of ones biological sex). Gender expression refers to outwardly expressing ones gender identity. Transsexual people live or wish to live full time as members of the gender other than that assigned at birthRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pageswill normally be a prerequisite that some type of analysis of the strategic position is undertaken, using the case material. When planning the use of these cases within programmes, care needs to be taken to balance the time taken on such strategic analysis so as to allow the time required to analyse the main issues for which the case has been chosen. Where the text and cases are being used as the framework for a strategy programme (as we hope they will), it is essential that students are requiredRead MoreBrand Building Blocks96400 Words   |  386 Pagesthat internal forces and biases, which are under the control of the organization, cause many of the formidable problems facing brand builders today. 1. Pressure To Compete On Price There are enormous pressures on nearly all firms to engage in price competition. In all industries from computers to cars to frozen dinners to airlines to soft drinks, price competition is at center stage, driven by the power of strong retailers, value-sensitive customers, reduced category growth, and overcapacity

A Passage to India †Analysis Free Essays

The novel and film ‘A Passage to India’ written by Forster and directed by Lean is about the Society of British people in India. Mrs. Moore and Adela Quested arrived in Chandrapore, India because Mrs. We will write a custom essay sample on A Passage to India – Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Moore’s son Ronny and Adela are recently engaged. However, when they arrived they sensed, and were quickly trapped in, a prejudiced British community which misuses the natives of India and abuses them throughout the whole novel and film. ‘A Passage to India’. The film is directed by Lean presents and emphasis meaning throughout the film. An example of presenting meaning is when it is the scene when you see Mrs. Moore standing up for ‘God save the Queen’ and you see her directing her view slowly towards the Ganges. Lean uses the glance to turn down the music, presumably at the time that Mrs. Moore’s attention is transferred to the magnificence of the river. As time goes by when she is viewing the Ganges, you hear ‘God save the Queen’s’ volume dimming, this represents silence when is just looking, during this time she is just reflecting on things which have recently happened which she thinks is wrong. Lean at times presents the moon, the night sky and the expanses of the Ganges. Few examples of where Mrs. Moore is shown with the moon, night sky and the expanses of the Ganges, the first example is when you see Mrs. Moore entering the Moslim mosque which Dr. Aziz was there reflecting and Mrs. Moore for the first time looks out to the Ganges with the night sky so close. An another scene is when Mrs. Moore and Adela are on the train and while the train is crossing the bridge the night sky and expanses of the Ganges are shown. Another scene is when Mrs. Moore is on the ship leaving Chandrapore and she is seen by the deck reflecting on the recent things, the night sky is shown and the expanses, She finally dies after suffering from her heart condition. Lean presents a scene at the club when they were playing English songs such as, ‘God save the Queen’, ‘Tea for two’ and more. From this we can say that Lean presents the Indians as serving, There is no real meaning because all that they are doing is taking time away from their own lives to perform what they don’t really understand. They are merely used to imprint the British culture is rendered with seeming pride and enthusiasm. Lean shows Mrs. Moore and Godbole as characters who technically do not talk with each other but they do recognize and appreciates each others time. A good example of a scene where Godbole and Mrs. Moore are communicating without words spoken is the scene where Mrs. Moore is on the train and leaving Chandrapore, Godbole walks out of his temple and does a hand sign in the rear darkness. Mrs. Moore responds in a wave that seems to deepen the silence to meaning. How to cite A Passage to India – Analysis, Essay examples

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Global Climate Justice-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Global Climate Justice. Answer: Global change is considered to be one of the global problems that affects the lives of millions of people by maintaining a balance between the natural species and the ecosystems. Global justice has developed recently as per the research of the political philosophers and the theorists. Climate changes are not always related to the activities of individuals but it also gets affected because of the Act of God. As per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change states that significant measures have been taken by them to control the climate change globally. Impacts of the climate change have an effect on the security of livelihoods of natural local economies. The health community gets threatened due to the alterations in the climate. The changes majorly affect the vulnerable, old people and children. The small island states and women, coastal regions, local communities and poor people chiefly experience such changes. Climate Justice states that the public policy is based on the equal and mutual respect for all the people. Every individual belonging to the community should be saved and protected from biasness of discrimination. Natural resources must be depleted at a speedy rate so that exploitation reduces and comes down to a limited level of quality. However, climate change have reflected the overwhelming effects on plenty of people. Due to which human beings suffer. Recent changes have focused on the several problems of the climate change. However, climate justice acts in protecting the rights and obligations of the victims of climate change and are engaged with the injustices for receiving compensation of the land and other materials that have been damaged. Climate Justice asserts the need for the socio-economic models that protects the fundamental rights for cleaning the healthy ecosystems. Bibliography Hornborg, A. and Martinez-Alier, J., 2016. Ecologically unequal exchange and ecological debt.J. Political Ecol,23, pp.328-333. Moellendorf, D., 2015. Climate change justice.Philosophy Compass,10(3), pp.173-186. Reese, G., 2016. Common human identity and the path to global climate justice.Climatic change,134(4), pp.521-531. Routledge, P., 2015. Climate justice: climate change, resource conflicts, and social justice. InReframing Climate Change(pp. 83-98). Routledge.

Steve Jobs Rhetorical Analysis free essay sample

Steve Jobs lived a life unparalleled by the common man. Raising some of the most successful corporations from the ground up, being at the forefront of the technological revolution, and battling pancreatic cancer for a number of years were all things that he succeeded in accomplishing throughout his 56 years of life. He also happened to deliver a brilliant commencement address to one of the finest academic institutions in the world. Any college graduate in the audience that sunny afternoon at Stanford University was in for a treat. The irony behind the whole situation was the fact that Steve Jobs himself, although arguably one of the most successful men of the 21st century, never graduated college. â€Å"†¦this is the closest Ive ever gotten to a college graduation†, Jobs confesses immediately after he begins speaking. Throughout the speech, the experiences he shares with the audience all share a common theme; the pursuit of happiness will lead you down the road of success if you follow your intuition and do what makes you truly happy. He conveys this message with the use of a cause and effect analysis, contrast, and personal anecdotes. Personal experiences help to create and develop individuality. Steve Jobs learned this at an early age as a young man attending Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Job’s was not certain what he wanted to do with his life and was very indecisive when selecting a major. After six months he decided to drop out of school and found himself sleeping somewhere other than a place of his own. Jobs explains, â€Å"I didnt have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5? deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. †(1) Initially it seemed somewhat odd for him to be mentioning a stage in his life that resembled the lifestyle of a vagabond. As he continues to speak, you realize he shares his college experiences to relate to his audience on a more personal level. Jobs wanted to present himself in a manner that many college students could relate to in one way or another. Although these conditions may not seem ideal for most, Jobs loved it. With so much free time on his hands, he dropped in on classes he thought he would enjoy. â€Å"Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country†¦ I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. †(1) At the time, he took the class simply because he thought he would like it. Ten years later, his decision to learn calligraphy would pay off when designing the new Macintosh computer. â€Å"When we were designing the first Macintosh (computer), it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. †(1) Jobs had attended a class for no reason other than to learn something he thought he would enjoy and it ended up helping to define a revolutionary computer system. The way he coped with the adversity of his situation presented him with experiences and knowledge that would facilitate his future success. This subsequently resembled a cause and effect strategy in his speech, the cause being him dropping out of classes and the effect being the acquisition of a priceless computer typeface system. â€Å"And since Windows just copied the Mac, its likely that no personal computer would have them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1). He also pokes a little bit of fun at his competitors. Starting a business is a decision that over half a million people in our country decide to make every year. The obvious goal of each business is to maximize profits, however many companies struggle to find the right recipe for success. Steve Jobs and close friend Steve Wozniacki decided to start up the company Apple in Job’s garage at the age of twenty. â€Å"We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a two billion dollar company with over 4000 employees†(1). It seemed there was no stopping the growth of Apple, Jobs had finally found something he loved to do. At the age of thirty however, Jobs received some unfortunate news. He was fired from the company that he had started. To go from a position of seemingly limitless potential to being unemployed, there seems no bigger contrast in lifestyle. However, rather than laying down and admitting defeat Jobs decides to brainstorm new ideas and enters what he considers to be one of the most creative stages of his life. â€Å"The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything†(1). Over the next five years, several important events happen in Job’s life. He starts two new companies, NeXT and Pixar, and finds the woman he wants to marry. Soon after, something would happen next that no one could have anticipated. â€Å"In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, and I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apples current renaissance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ and he also adds, â€Å"And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together†(1). Steve shares this story with the audience to prove that no matter what situation you get placed in, making the most of it will pay off. He knows that as college graduates about to enter the workforce, being placed in an environment unfamiliar to them is all too likely. In order to succeed you must be able to follow your heart and adapt to your new surroundings. â€Å"Im pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadnt been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it†(1). Finding the bright side of any situation, no matter how rough it may be, is an essential step in the rebuilding process. Job’s is encouraging the Stanford graduates to be resilient to any adversity they face. Throughout his speech, Jobs discussed in detail three events that had an infallible effect on the person he had become. The reason these personal anecdotes resonated so strongly with me was due to the fact that all of them were negative experiences rather than positive ones. What Jobs wanted the audience to take away from these experiences was the fact that success is not easy to come by and you will face struggles along the way. The reason he succeeded is because he never gave up on doing what he loved, and any challenge you overcome will only make you more adept at handling similar situations in the future. Indicative of his track record, the audience has a solid incentive to listen his advice. â€Å"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday youll most certainly be right. ’†(1). Jobs was determined to leave his mark on the world. By simply watching his body language and hearing the way he speaks, it becomes clear that this man sets an example that would be wise to follow. He speaks with confidence and his tone assures those listening that his life would not have turned out the same way if he hadn’t blazed his own trial and was influenced by the voices of others. â€Å"Your time is limited, so dont waste it living someone elses life. Dont be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other peoples thinking†(1). Steve Jobs was an individual who knew what he wanted in life. He did not allow anyone to impede upon his progress and his success will have an effect on those Stanford graduates well after they proceed from the stadium. Speeches have the ability to be very powerful. However, when not delivered in an effective manner, they can also have an adverse effect. Steve Jobs does a brilliant job demonstrating the way to go about delivering a speech. He does not speak down to the students, but rather he levels out the playing field. They students can relate to Jobs because everyone encounters struggles in life, it’s how you deal with those struggles that makes all the difference. What he wanted for the graduates he was speaking too was nothing more than to give them the confidence to do whatever they want in life with no reluctance. He also states, â€Å"’Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. ’ It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And Ive always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish†(1). No matter what; the pursuit of happiness will lead you down the road of success if you follow your intuition and do what makes you truly happy.