How effective is Dahls use of subtext in his short stories? :: English Literature

How effective is Dahl's use of subtext in his short stories? Subtext is anything that is indirectly communicated to the reader. It can be conveyed in many ways, such as sounds, objects, jokes, colours and temperatures. Subtext expresses a meaning in a subliminal manner. In Roald Dahl's short stories he uses subtext to display the meanings and feelings that are hidden. In 'The Landlady' Dahl uses subtext to convey the true evil behind the landlady's homely exterior. The animals in the boarding house are thought of to be a good feature. 'Animals were usually a good sign in a place like this'. This is ironic because the animals are dead and stuffed. When Billy Weaver first walked into the house he noticed that there was only his coat in the hallway. 'There were no other hats or coats in the hall'. This is subtext because it suggests that the house is empty. Subtext can also be suggested through temperature. All the way through the story, temperature is used subtextually to suggest meanings and feelings. The weather outside was cold. A cold temperature is subtext for death. 'The air was deadly cold and the wind was like a flat blade of ice', this is pathetic fallacy because it is typical horror genre weather. Inside the house heat is used to cover up the coldness of death. 'A bright fire burning' is used to make the house seem warm. The cups of tea are used in the same way. When Billy goes to the house the landlady appears very quickly, 'like a jack-in-the-box'. This indicates that she was waiting for him to arrive. Furthermore it seems as if she has prepared everything for him in advance. In other words she knew the point when he was going to arrive. The landlady says 'we have it all to ourselves'. She also talks about her guests in the past tense. Therefore it is suggested that the guests are no longer there. The landlady is an unconventional monster in this horror story. 'She looked exactly like the mother of one's best school-friend' explains that this woman seemed sweet and familiar to Billy. Her role in the story is reversed when it is revealed that she is in fact a cold killer. The landlady acts very strangely towards Billy, 'her blue eyes travelled slowly all the way down the length of Billy's body'. The landlady's ayes are described as blue. Blue eyes are not usually associated with evil so this makes her seem an irregular villain in the story. The way she looks at him suggests a wicked look but the 'blue eyes' eliminates the evil.

Marketing and Britannia Essay

The story of one of India’s favorite brands reads almost like a fairy tale. Once upon a time, in 1892 to be precise, a biscuit company was started in a nondescript house in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with an initial investment of Rs. 295. The company we all know as Britannia today. The beginnings might have been humble-the dreams were anything but. By 1910, with the advent of electricity, Britannia mechanized its operations, and in 1921, it became the first company east of the Suez Canal to use imported gas ovens. Britannia’s business was flourishing. But, more importantly, Britannia was acquiring a reputation for quality and value. As a result, during the tragic World War II, the Government reposed its trust in Britannia by contracting it to supply large quantities of â€Å"service biscuits† to the armed forces. As time moved on, the biscuit market continued to grow†¦ and Britannia grew along with it. In 1975, the Britannia Biscuit Company took over the distribution of biscuits from Parry’s who till now distributed Britannia biscuits in India. In the subsequent public issue of 1978, Indian shareholding crossed 60%, firmly establishing the Indianness of the firm. The following year, Britannia Biscuit Company was re-christened Britannia Industries Limited (BIL). Four years later in 1983, it crossed the Rs. 100 crores revenue mark. On the operations front, the company was making equally dynamic strides. In 1992, it celebrated its Platinum Jubilee. In 1997, the company unveiled its new corporate identity – â€Å"Eat Healthy, Think Better† – and made its first foray into the dairy products market. In 1999, the â€Å"Britannia Khao, World Cup Jao† promotion further fortified the affinity consumers had with ‘Brand Britannia’. Britannia strode into the 21st Century as one of India’s biggest brands and the pre-eminent food brand of the country. It was equally recognized for its innovative approach to products and marketing: the Lagaan Match was voted India’s most successful promotional activity of the year 2001 while the delicious Britannia 50-50 Maska-Chaska became India’s most successful product launch. In 2002, Britannia’s New Business Division formed a joint venture with Fonterra, the world’s second largest Dairy Company, and Britannia New Zealand Foods Pvt. Ltd. was born. In recognition of its vision and accelerating graph, Forbes Global rated Britannia ‘One amongst the Top 200 Small Companies of the World’, and The Economic Times pegged Britannia India’s 2nd Most Trusted Brand. Today, more than a century after those tentative first steps, Britannia’s fairy tale is not only going strong but blazing new standards, and that miniscule initial investment has grown by leaps and bounds to crores of rupees in wealth for Britannia’s shareholders. The company’s offerings are spread across the spectrum with products ranging from the healthy and economical Tiger biscuits to the more lifestyle-oriented Milkman Cheese. This is because NutriChoice SugarOut is sweetened with â€Å"Sucralose,† derived from sugar, which provides the same sweetness as any other biscuit, without the added calories of sugar. This range is available in 3 delicious variants namely Lifetime, Chocolate cream, and Orange cream, targeted towards all health sensitive people. It is also relevant for consumers with sugar related ailments. Customers are pleasantly delighted with its great taste and equally surprised to know that it has no added sugar. Don’t be taken for a ride when you read â€Å"Sugar Free† label on many biscuit packs marketed in India or abroad. Even with 100% no-added sugar, wheat-cereals in biscuits have their own natural sugar content. Britannia has chosen to represent these biscuits with â€Å"No Added Sugar† claim, as there is no added sugar in the processing of NutriChoice SugarOut. Britannia 50-50 Pepper Chakkar The launch of the latest 50-50 variant left everybody guessing â€Å"What it eez? † From TV ads, radio, outdoor and in-store display materials to events, a website and SMS and email blasts, traditional and new media were blended synergistically to create excitement and curiosity about the unique taste of the biscuit. The tangy and distinctive pepper flavoured biscuit, that’s thin and crispy and more like a snack, caught the imagination of a younger audience craving something to nibble on. The 50-50 Pepper Chakkar launch is truly a case of leveraging the marketing mix to best advantage. Biscuits derive its name from a French word meaning twice backed bread; Biscuits in general have a good shelf life, which is higher than all other snack items available in the market. India is the second largest producer of biscuits in the world after the U. S. A. but still the per capita consumption is only 2. kg/year of developed countries. As per the latest survey done by N. C. A. E. R. , 49 biscuits are consumed in rural areas. The penetration of biscuits into households stands at an average of 83. 2% with the rural penetration at 77% and urban penetration at 88%. Biscuits are reserved for the small scale sector but there are strong possibilities of the industry being deserved in line with the government policy of liberalization. The net effect thus would be greater choice for the consumer as well as a check on the costs. The country production of the biscuits during 2004-05 was 18. Lac tons of which 1/2 were manufactured by the organized sector. The industry turn over was 5322. 7 Crores of which organized sector contributed 2519. 3 crores. Britannia, makers of Britannia biscuits, doubled capacity from 25 tonnes a day to 50 tonnes and plans to be a national brand soon. In an aggressive mode, the North dominated biscuit player has increased its ad budget to Rs. 5 crore this year from Rs. 3 crore last year. Britannia has also recently invested about Rs. 5 crore in the modernization and expansion of its production and packing its production capacity of 40 tonnes per day to 100 tonnes per day by next year. The aim: to take the current turnover of Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 100 crore by the year. The low priced brand claims to have a 15 per cent market share in the North and is aggressively eyeing a bigger bite of the Rs. 2,500 crore biscuit industries. The brand plans to gain a 40 per cent market share in the North by the year of. The company’s strategy has been to attract new consumer segments and widen its consumer base with its well packaged low priced offerings. Britannia’s success has also come from its formidable. The applicability of various branding strategies play crucial role in arketing in product. the applicability has grown due to the liberalization, competition and technological changes taking place in corporate world. In this project the various branding strategies adopted by the company has been studied and compared on the basis of current market scenario. It gives the idea about the market share enjoyed by the different companies in the Biscuit Industry. It provides the adequate coverage of many issues related to biscuit industry. The objective of this report is to give the market share of Britannia biscuits in the Indian capital (New Delhi). It has been made possible by knowing the consumer’s behaviour and by studying the patterns adopted by the retailers. It gives us very precise view about the existing demand of Britannia biscuits and demand of their products as compared to other competitors. It also highlights the changing market trends and consumer preferences, why they have shifted from finally pack to pouch pack. The annual growth rate of the industry is about 12. 5%. However, the growth of cream biscuits, assorted or special variety is the range of 30-40%. The organized sector consists of large, medium and small scale biscuit manufacturers who produce packed biscuits. The major players in this sector are Britannia, Bakeman’s, and Parle, etc. the unorganized sector comprises of small bakery units, cottage and household type manufacturing plants. These units distribute their biscuits in the surrounding vicinity of their manufacturing locations of say 20-50 kms. The country production of biscuits during 2005-06 is estimated to be about 19. 5 lack tons. Out of which 1/2 again is expected from unorganized sector.

How to Be a Good Manager in the 21th Century

How to be a good manager in the 21th century Nowadays, the role of a good and responsible manager gains a much greater importance than it did in previous years. These days it’s not only about meeting a financial goal. A good manager should also be a socially-minded and caring person. Interpersonal skills should be viewed as essential as the decision-making-ability. This is significant due to the fact that the employees are the key to a successful business. A company runs as good as its team and therefore it’s necessary to show respect for the employees and encourage and challenge them.A manager should also show his team his appreciation and give every individual the impression that he understands that he is doing something important for the company. Thus, the employee’s confidence can be built. The secret of running a successful business is to make sure that the manager is a socially responsible person who has the ability to energize, excite and control and to ad apt oneself to the company’s value and culture. Jack Welch, former CEO and chairman of GE, is universally recognized as the greatest CEO of his era.According to him, transparency within a company is an important criterion which opens the doors for bigger success. Openness can have a positive impact on business process. Welch describes it in three aspects. First of all, employees can be involved in meetings and conferences where they can give their opinions without timidity. Someone with a voice can bring new ideas forward which are absolutely an advantage for the company. Secondly, it can advance the managers’ decisions. If new thoughts and ideas are getting said, they can be put into practice much faster.Nowadays, many companies have to cope with high pressure due to business competition. Thus it’s essential to improve oneself constantly. For this reason new opinions and ideas can have a beneficial effect. Besides the fact that openness can be very time-saving, it also reduces costs. Thirdly, it therefore can be said that transparency adds to a company’s benefit. At the same time, managers should be honest with employees so that they know exactly where they’re standing and whether they meet conditions. In other words, employees have to be informed about their roles within a company.This is extremely important for the clarity and openness in the corporate life and can be guaranteed through regular appraisal interviews in which the employee receives a feedback about his performance, strengths and weaknesses. A performance review enables the staff member to get a review of his work by which he can improve himself gradually for the coming months. Thus, it provides the opportunity to set expectations for the future both of the behaviors required of the individual as well as the results needed to be achieved.Since the appraisal interview is not a one-sided method of being assessed, the manager should be rated by his staff as well. One the one hand, it ensures equality within the firm because both are evaluated. On the other hand, the manager obtains an overview of the employees concerns and needs. Considering these facts it can be said that appraisal interviews should play an important role and be a formal element of an on-going and active performance management process in a company that strives for transparency.In this context Jack Welch illustrates his 20-70-10 rule his point of view of differentiation, where the staff gets ranked in three categories. The percentage represents the top, middling and failing employees of a company who should be treated according to Welch in different ways. The first 20%, which represents the best performers, deserve the best treatment for their efforts and achievements. Welch’s approach is to reward the best 20% with bonuses, commendations and advanced training. The 70% represents the average employees.These ones are valuable for the company because they have the pote ntial to become one of the best. So a manager’s duty is to promote and challenge expertise and strengthen personalities of the average 70%. The main goal is to watch the employees, identify the ones with the potential of career advancement and to support them. During this process, it’s important to motivate the people and let them know that they’re part of the company. The last 10% are the poor performers, who have to be dismissed.Although the main principle of this rule seems to be very radical, it is according to Welch the managers’ duty to assign a role to the staff. A manager should show his employees how they can develop within the company and not confuse them by keeping this information secret. Nevertheless it’s alright to fail sometimes. Making mistakes shows that one is actively doing something. After all, people are learning from experience and sometimes it’s necessary to fail in order to see reason. But occasionally the job demands a great deal of someone. Jack Welch is onvinced that there’s no risk of getting burned out in an exciting job. Exhaustion can only be caused by a routine. Nevertheless, one must differentiate between important and less important things. A responsible manager should therefore primarily concentrate on major tasks with top priority while minor duties should be done at the very end. In this matter, Welch says it’s important to define clear goals if you want to be a good manager. It’s essential to know where you’re standing right now, where you want to get and how you want to reach the goal.Particularly regarding competitors, it is necessary to have a clear target. That’s why a manager should be aware that other companies are striving for improvement as well. So resting on one’s laurels should be avoided. If a company is very successful and belongs to the top ones, it doesn’t mean that the other enterprises are not aiming at success. Ther e are always others who are doing things better. In today’s world it is therefore of great importance for a manager to create a clear vision and set ambitious business objectives in order to make progress.In addition, it’s necessary to make sure that everyone working in the company shares that vision and strives for the same goals. Both aspects are very much interconnected and should always be viewed in direct relation. So it becomes obvious that the combination of a good manager and the right team leads to successful business. In his 4E-model, also called 4E of leadership, Jack Welch explains how to build the right team. The E’s describe four characteristics that a manager should embody in order to achieve that. The first â€Å"E† stands for positive energy. â€Å"Welch says that individuals with energy love to â€Å"go, go, go†.These are people that are very optimistic, sociable and full of â€Å"joie de vivre†. A manager who is full of e nergy loves to work and never complain. The second â€Å"E† represents the ability to energize people and spark them to perform. The third â€Å"E† represents edge, meaning that those who have edge can come to terms with hard decisions and stay competitive. These characteristics are essential for a manager, but yet not sufficient. A capable manager must know how to transform energy and edge into action and results. That’s what the last â€Å"E† stands for; a good manager knows how to execute.If a manger fulfills all these conditions, he finally should have the passion to perform. People, who have joy in their job, are automatically better in their profession. They love their job and want the employees to love it, too. This passion proves that they’ve chosen the right job and accomplish the role of a manager in a perfect way. Having taken all these factors into account, I come to the conclusion that someone who wants to be a good manager need to thi nk outside the box. These days it’s more than just about having the ability to control the progress of work.Beyond that it’s more important to have social skills in order to motivate people to work and being able to cope with conflicting situations. There is no doubt that experience is in this context the best teacher. One can learn from the boss but as well from the employees. Thus, a manager should be open-minded for any kind of criticism and consider the employees more as a team rather than only as manpower. Finally it can be said that  bringing enthusiasm to the job, building the right team and staying realistic are of central importance for being a successful manager in the 21th century. ——————————————- [ 1 ]. Slater, Robert. Jack Welch and the G. E. Way: Management Insights and Leadership Secrets of the Legendary CEO. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998. [ 2 ]. Welch, Jack and Suzy. Winning: Das ist Management. New York/Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, 2005. [ 3 ]. A new conversation with Jack Welch. 26 April 2011 . [ 4 ]. A new conversation with Jack Welch. 26 April 2011 . [ 5 ]. Krames, Jeffrey. Jack Welch and the 4E’s of Leadership: How to Put GE’s Leadership Formula to Work in Your Organization. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2005.

Finding True Compassion Essay

In human society, man is surrounded by those less privileged, those in a state of desperation. In her piece â€Å"On Compassion†, Barbara Ascher describes brief scenes that capture the basis of transaction between the helpless and those in a position to give help, arguing that the only way society can achieve true compassion is by truly identifying with the suffering of others. Ascher observes the world around her as a member of society, describing encounters between those in a place of misery and those in normal walks of life. As she observes the â€Å"grinning man† on the street corner and the old man who smelled of â€Å"cigarettes and urine†, she distinguishes herself from her fellow human beings. Ascher notices these people, while others â€Å"look away† and â€Å"daydream a bit†, making her stand out as someone who can acknowledge and understand those in times of hardship. Because Ascher writes as someone who can identify with adversity, she succeeds in persuading society as a whole to embrace compassion through understanding. Ascher draws a strict line between those suffering and those privileged in her piece to specifically isolate her audience. At the very beginning of her essay, Ascher describes a group of pedestrians assembled at a street corner, intent on ignoring the haggard homeless man before them. A man â€Å"lifts and lowers the shiny toe of his right shoe, watching the light reflect† – doing anything to avoid confronting the â€Å"grinning man† in any way. Later in her piece, Ascher describes â€Å"ladies in high-heeled shoes† and how they â€Å"pick their way through poverty and madness†, hoping to escape the torment experienced by those around them. Ascher accuses these people as being the flawed majority of a compassionless society, exposing how they actively attempt to ignore and push past the living adversity that walks the streets around them. The â€Å"troublesome presence is removed from the awareness of the electorate†, but Ascher tries to persuade these people to do the exact opposite; by letting in the hardship they also grow to grasp compassion. Ascher describes scenarios in which she questions whether or not acts of â€Å"compassion† are simply facades that hide misguided motives. The woman who protects herself and her child by â€Å"bearing the dollar like a cross† obviously acts out of fear, attempting to ward off the unwanted presence of the homeless man. Ascher uses rhetorical questions to challenge the woman’s motives, inquiring â€Å"was it fear or compassion that motivated the gift? † Ascher also questions the motives of the coffee shop owner, asking if pity, care or compassion compelled her decision to feed the homeless man day after day. Ascher takes up an extremely accusatory tone, directly exposing the mayor of New York City’s misguided motives behind the â€Å"involuntary hospitalization† of the homeless in his city. Ascher questions the grounds upon which these people act to enforce her argument that humanity must learn to identify with the â€Å"rags with voices† to become truly compassionate. Ascher exposes the flaws in society’s acts of â€Å"compassion†, reminding everyday men and women that their tendency to fear and distance themselves from the helpless only proves to hinder their capacity for compassion. As people walk through the Greek tragedy that is life, the only way to truly brighten the stage is to embrace the darkness that afflicts other â€Å"players†, hoping to shed the pure light of compassion.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 22

Case study - Essay Example This would be an observational study. Under observational study, there are other sub-types such as case control, cohort, and cross-sectional surveys. Case control is a design that uses two groups (the case and the control) to find out the answers to the research question, for example, in this study, the case are the transgender people (Bowers 75). The aim of the study may be to find out the difference in life experiences. The control would be the normal people. Answers will then be generated from comparing the two groups. Cohort studies involve observing certain characteristics of a specified population or issue over time, for example, determining the cause of a certain disease. Cross-sectional survey is where the researcher collects specific information about a certain group of people within a specific location. This is the best study design for determining the number of people who consider themselves transgender in the United States. A survey will collect information through individual responses. The survey will have a clearly stated aim and what is expected of the respondents. It will have a statement regarding respect for personal privacy. Information received will only be used for statistical purposes and not any other. In the survey, Americans will only be expected to respond to a question about their gender. From their responses, the number of transgender people can be determined (Bowers

Detrimental Effects of Medicating Children and Alternative Ways to Essay

Detrimental Effects of Medicating Children and Alternative Ways to Treat Behavioral Problems - Essay Example Ritalin is the number one prescription drug for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This drug has such tremendous potential for abuse that it is classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Ritalin is an amphetamine (in street jargon, "speed") with a lengthy list of side effects, including nervousness, insomnia, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dizziness, palpitations, headaches, irregular heart rhythms, and psychic dependence - in short, addiction. In fact, Ritalin's appeal to drug users and its potential for abuse are so high that US House Judiciary Chair Henry Hyde (R-IL) recently filed a request with the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct an investigation of Ritalin abuse in public schools. In addition, class action lawsuits have been filed in Texas, California and New Jersey charging Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, maker of Ritalin, with conspiracy to create the psychiatric disorder known as ADHD in order to fuel the market for their product. The latest version of methylphenidate is an extended-released tablet that will be the most expensive prescription drug on the ADHD market. ... Though promoters of the drug say it will help eliminate the embarrassment experienced by children who have to take medication at school, the drug will do nothing to eliminate the dangers of methylphenidate. In clinical studies, side effects of Concerta were virtually identical to those of Ritalin. There are natural alternatives to both Ritalin and Concerta, but you're not likely to hear about them from most conventional doctors. And if the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has its way, you won't be able to find these products in health food stores, either. Protecting Patients or Pharmaceutical Companies Late last year, the FTC charged Natural Organics, a company that markets a natural alternative to Ritalin called Pedi-Active ADD, with making unsubstantiated claims - despite the fact that Natural Organics has submitted some 200 studies, including 18 double-blind studies, in support of its claims. According to Natural Organics CEO Gerald Kessler, the FTC has failed to produce a single study supporting its allegations. Kessler questions the FTC's motives, and I agree - it's not consumers the FTC is trying to protect, it's the profit-hungry pharmaceutical companies and their stockholders. Pedi-Active ADD is used at the Whitaker Wellness Institute and have had great success with this formulation, a combination of naturally occurring compounds that support neural function. Dimethyl-aminoethanol (DMAE), a natural compound found in anchovies and sardines, was actually used for children with ADD in the pre-Ritalin days. DMAE stimulates the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is crucial for learning and memory, and enhances

Coursework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Coursework - Assignment Example Highly technology driven companies, both Nintendo and Sony have invested heavily in e-commerce activities which is quite apparent from their websites. Through their websites, both the companies facilitate their user relating to the placing new orders, acquiring customer’s feedbacks in order to enhance their services and also using it as a plat form for releasing new products and features. The report presents an analysis of both the companies in terms of operational and marketing strategy, what models they have adopted in order to generate revenue, striking marketing tactics and methods as portrayed in the websites of the both the companies. Competitor Analysis The method used in the competitor analysis of the Nintendo (Wii and Nintendo 3DS) and Sony (Playstation) is the Michael Porter’s five forces model. According to the model, there are five forces prevailing in the market which affects the competitive rivalry between the components. The analysis assists the companies in identifying the factors keeping which into consideration the company can devise its marketing and operational strategy. This model gives importance to the financial as well operational aspects of a business and sets criteria according to which the company can assess the activities of its competitors and counter them through effective and efficient management. The five forces according to the Porter’s model are as follows [2] The bargaining power of the customer can be regarded as the influence that the consumer base has on the pricing strategy of the company. Currently the Playstation and Nintendo 3DS are sold at prices $399 and $249 respectively. Since Playstation offers a more advanced and high tech gaming experience thus its prices are steeper as compared to its competitor. The fact that bargaining power of customer can cast significant impact on the profitability of the company can be corroborated from the fact that initially the Playstation was sold considerably belo w its per unit cost, causing a significant decline in the profitability of the company. In order to justify their demand prices, both the companies must communicate with their consumer base and make them aware the latest add-ons the product comes with and assuring them that the prices are justified. This requires innovation and smart marketing tactics. Suppliers of both the companies are the companies providing raw material for the manufacturing of the product. Software houses can also come under this category as they provide important technical expertise in devising interactive user interface. Bargaining power of supplier means that the supplier wants to obtain benefits through increased prices of raw material, reduction in the credit terms etc. This can also affect the financial outlook of the company with increased cost of goods sold and reduced profit margin. Other factors which the model takes into account are the threat of new entrants into the market and threats of the substi tute products. The biggest competitor of Playstation in the console gaming market is the Microsoft’s product ‘X-box 360’ which also offers high tech gaming experience. As per the Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that the battle with Sony is over — referring to that the Wii has won over the PS3 — and that the new enemy is Apple, with its ever expanding mobile lineup. [3] Both the