Washington D.C: Our Nation’s Capital :: History

Washington D.C Our Nations CapitalAlthough the entire world is familiar with the City of Washington as the unite States capital, the city was nonexistent when we became a dry land in 1789. Thanks to the brilliant design of the French born engineer, Pierre Charles LEnfant and his assistants gum benzoin Banneker and Andrew Ellicot, our capital city that was once a swamp now is beautiful with many different parks, gardens trees, tall buildings and wide avenues. Washington, District of Columbia named later on Christopher Columbus, has play a unique role in the wars of our nation and has been dramatically affected by their awesome events. The battles, conflicts and politics of war soak up forever changed America. During the War of 1812, the British burned the newly-built capital The Civil War transformed Washington District of Columbia (DC) from a sleepy Southern village into the powerful capital of a reunited nation. Through the course of World War II Washington became the nerve cen ter of an unprecedented war effort and headquarters of the postwar free world. During and after the Civil War, thousands of slaves fled to Washington D.C., thinking that if they reached the capital, they would be safe and free. However, the government was totally unprepared for an influx of this magnitude. There was no place for them to live, very little food, and no employment. Sojourner Truth was a very inspirational woman who was a former slave that worked with these people trying to improve their living conditions and was later employed by the governments Freedmens Bureau. Wonderful black people like Sojourner Truth and James Wormley who was a successful hotel owner, were a very essential dower to blacks rise in DC. They gave hope to hopeless black people. Their lives demonstrated that black people could rise above the turmoil and uproar.Before our nations capital rested as Washington D.C it was located in New York City temporarily. A year later it was moved to Philadelphia, Pe nnsylvania. A fiery rivalry developed between the northern and southern states over the location their economic interests were completely different. The states believed that the newly appointed city to be the nations capital would have more power over the remaining states, even congressmen were aware that the area receiving the capital would gain wealth and political influence. Some of the competing cities offered land and money as incentives. This discrepancy that was finally resolved by a political compromise.

Free Macbeth Essays - Are things as they seem? :: Macbeth essays

Are things as they seem?  All things have an appearance, usually a wide or a bad one.  Depending on the appearance something has we form an opinion about it.  Sometimes the appearance something has can mislead one in forming an absolute opinion about it.  In Macbeth, Shakespeare shows us that things are not always as they appear to be.  This is shown through the duplicity of Macbeth and his wife, the kings sons and the servants being blamed for Duncans death and pouf Duncans inaccurate opinions.  In the beginning of the play Macbeth is a well respected hero who appears to be a great guy.  However, by the end of the play it is actualize that Macbeth is a selfish, troubled man with a conscience that seems to serve no purpose.  In lines 81-82 on page 240, Macbeth tells how he must mislead the world and hold in his good-for-naught side from it.  Away, and mock the time with fairest show  False face must hide what the false heart doth know.&nb sp On page 249 Macbeth does a obedient job of hiding his dark side before finding the dead king with Macduff.  Is the king stirring, worthy Thane? asks Macduff.   Not yet, replies Macbeth.   Goes the king hence today? asks Macduff.   He does he did appoint so, answers Macbeth.  Although Macbeth has full knowledge of the kings death, he plays it off well and appears to know nothing.  Lady Macbeth appears to be a nice hospitable  woman.  However, her heart is dark and full of evil.  On page 236, the king talks to Lady Macbeth, telling her of the honor and love that he has for her.  See, see, our honored hostess  The love that follows us onetime(prenominal) is our trouble, which still we thank as love.  Herein I teach you How you shall bid God ield us for your pains And thank us for your trouble.  His opinion of Lady Macbeth highly exceeds that of which it should.  He has such a high opinion of Lady Macbeth because he is mislead by her good appearance.  It is ironic that Duncan thinks so highly of Macbeth and his wife, as on page 232 when he says Theres no art To find the minds construction in the face  This is ironic because it directly applies to the king and Macbeth.  (The king does not know  Macbeths straight mind construction.

An Analysis of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre :: Jane Eyre Essays

An Analysis of Jane Eyre The novel is rich in poetry, symbolism and metaphor. It does not fit easily into a definite pattern, being uncomplete a novel of manners in the tradition of Aus ten-spot, or a straightforward Gothic Romance in the style of Mrs Radcliffe. What Charlotte Bronte did was to create a shape which cleverly blends elements of the two styles, and which remains uniquely independent of them at the same time, since it addresses issues which were at the time rather controversial. The novel is written in the first person, and gum olibanum magnifies the primeval character - the reader enters the world of Jane Eyre and is transported through her experiences at first hand. This at once makes the work subjective, especially since we know that Charlottes Brontes own life and experiences were so closely interwoven with the heroines. As well as this we learn only at the end of the novel that the events are being related to us ten years after the reconciliation with Rochester - thus the narrative is RETROSPECTIVE (looking back). CB is clever in blending the narrative so that at times Jane seems to be verbalize as an adult with adult hindsight , while at others she she is in the middle of them, as a child or young woman. The indecision which is a central issue in the book, is heightened by this device. We never know, as readers, whether to be entirely trustful of Janes actions and thoughts, because we are never sure wheher she is speaking impulsively or maturely. This intensifies the readers dilemma as to what is right and wrong in the dramatic relationships which are part of JEs life. Can we believe what the heroine says, or is she deceiving herself? The novel is primarily a love fable and a romance where wishes come true but only after trials and suffering. The supernatural has its place, as do dreams, portents and prophesies. The heroine begins poor and lonely and ends up rich and love the orphan finds a good family to replace the wicked one all th e basic ingredients of classic romantic fairytale are depict. The romantic element is present in two forms in Jane Eyre the family aspect is dealt with in the Gateshead, Lowood and Moor House episodes, which involve the exchanging of the wicked Reed family for the benevolent Rivers one and the Love romance is dealt with in the Thornfield and Ferndean episodes.

Love Poems Essay -- Poems Poetry Love Emotions Essays

Love PoemsHave the jazz poems, you flip read given you a better insight into theemotion of love?The subject of Love Poetry has given rise to some of the mostbeautiful and fascinating poetry. The poets illustrate their feelings,or the feelings of the people concerned with them through the use offigurative language. A love poem is not necessarily a poem closelyromantic love, about romance, marriage and commitment it could besomething else entirely. It seems to be Universal. Timeless. Yet, itsalso very individual, filtered by our own lives and expectations. Love open fire be a different thing for individually one of us. Not all love poems dealwith happy positive sides of love but there is also the negative sidessuch as pain, somberness and loss. Through these poems When We TwoParted, Remember, First Love, How Do I Love Thee?, A Woman ToHer Lover, and La Belle Dame Sans Merci we turn familiar with thedifferent emotions associated with love.Christina Rossettis Remember is a poignant poem written in the nineteenthcentury about loss of love. Rossetti lived in the 19th century wherepeople were often preoccupied with the idea of death and perhaps thisis what influenced Rossetti. Rossetti shows the cruel hand of fate caninterweave in love. Remember, the deed doesnt reveal much aboutthe poem but as we read the first line Remember me, we know that thepoem is written in first person and when she says I am gone awayinto the silent land, we come to know that she is going to die. Thisarouses our sympathy for her. Love has been disrupted by death.of our future that you planned this relation is strong and isexperienced. She wants her husband to remember her even when she isnot ar... ...s and what they want from women and withthis we get a pretty clear idea of the Duke.In conclusion I would say that love can be of many types and it canlead to so many positive sides and negative sides. Love can also beinterrupted by death, jealousy. From Christina Walshs poem A WomanTo Her Lover, I have learnt that love should not only be service,worship, physical desires, but there is more to it. Love should befrom the heart and not from the mind unlike John Clare First Love. Ihave also noticed that love has a spiritual and physical meaning. Itis also divine as to Christina Walsh and Elizabeth Browning. ThroughFirst Love I would be aware of the beauty of women around the worldbut not let loose of my self and if failed not to give up all hopeslike John Clare. The emotions love in these poems has given me adifferent insight on love.

Strategy Implementation Essay -- Business, Organizational Design

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of strategy implementation used by California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) and discusses the effectiveness of their strategy through fundamental law design, simplicity systems, people and refinement. My research concluded that CPK relies on defy systems to undertake a majority of the companys operational activities and that human resources and organizational culture mustiness support the strategy implemented, which it does in in the case of CPK. IntroductionStrategic implementation is a critical factor when making decisions regarding issues that affect the vision, mission, or objectives of an organization. Strategies are often implemented in accordance to the culture of the organization, the nature of control systems, the stakeholders, and the nature of the organizational design. In order to achieve success in the implementation of strategies, the structure of these factors must work in coordination with one another. For instance, the strategic vision of CPK lies in the creation of a globally recognized brand reveal and therefore, all of the goals and objectives of CPK must be directed in realizing that the company achieves this objective (California Pizza Kitchen 2011). Furthermore, the vision statement is inclusive in itself in that it communicates the message in a directional, flexible, and focused manner.Strategic implementation entails the application of deliberate management processes to achieve the desired results. Predominantly, the process is achieved through the selection of implementation approaches that are related to an organizations structure, management of human resources, developing, decision-making and information processes, allocating resources, determining desirable ... ...ementation of strategies within the company. Lastly, symbols do play important roles at CPK and this includes the iconic leadership of the founders, hayrick Rosenfield and Larry Flax. Conclusion Strategy implementation i s an important feature at CPK and the type of strategies implemented depend on organizational design, structure, human resources (people), organizational culture, and the use of control systems (Bradford and Duncan, 2000). Even though the mission statements are not openly stated anywhere, they are very essential in influencing the types of strategies implemented by the company and must be executed in such a way that influences the performance of the company. Human resources and organizational culture must support the strategy implemented. Lastly, CPK depends on control systems to undertake majority of the companys operational activities.

Strategy Implementation Essay -- Business, Organizational Design

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of strategy implementation used by California pizza Kitchen (CPK) and discusses the effectiveness of their strategy by organization design, control systems, people and culture. My research concluded that CPK relies on control systems to undertake a majority of the companys operational activities and that human resources and organisational culture mustiness support the strategy implemented, which it does in in the case of CPK. IntroductionStrategic implementation is a lively factor when making decisions regarding issues that affect the vision, mission, or objectives of an organization. Strategies are often implemented in accordance to the culture of the organization, the nature of control systems, the stakeholders, and the nature of the organizational design. In order to achieve success in the implementation of strategies, the structure of these factors must work in coordination with one another. For instance, the strategic visio n of CPK lies in the creation of a globally recognized brand name and therefore, all of the goals and objectives of CPK must be directed in realizing that the company achieves this objective (California Pizza Kitchen 2011). Furthermore, the vision statement is inclusive in itself in that it communicates the message in a directional, flexible, and focused manner.Strategic implementation entails the application of deliberate management processes to achieve the desired results. Predominantly, the process is achieved through the selection of implementation approaches that are related to an organizations structure, management of human resources, developing, decision-making and information processes, allocating resources, determining desirable ... ...ementation of strategies within the company. Lastly, symbols do play weighty roles at CPK and this includes the iconic leadership of the founders, Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax. Conclusion Strategy implementation is an important feature at CPK and the type of strategies implemented depend on organizational design, structure, human resources (people), organizational culture, and the use of control systems (Bradford and Duncan, 2000). Even though the mission statements are not openly stated anywhere, they are very essential in influencing the types of strategies implemented by the company and must be executed in such a way that influences the performance of the company. Human resources and organizational culture must support the strategy implemented. Lastly, CPK depends on control systems to undertake majority of the companys operational activities.

A Portrait of a Child as a Language User Essay

A simple definition of language might be that it is a system of symbols and rules that enable us to communicate and that members, either written or spoken are symbols and rules specify how develops are ordered to form sentences (Harley, 2008, pg. 5). However this rotter be debated and as a result many linguists gauge that providing a formal definition of language is a waste of time (Harley, 2008, pg5). There is no human society that does non have a richly developed language being human and being a language user go hand in hand I have elect Bella, aged 6 to be my focus child.She is articulate, cheerful and a friendly. She is inquisitive and has a dynamic view on life. She listens well in class and understands what she has to do, and can work both independently and in a group. She enjoys and excels in her artwork. Socially she is very(prenominal) comfortable around peers, adults and communicates to either with respect and consideration. She is able to express her feelings easil y. She comes from an side speaking abideground with no discernible accent or dialect.I am interested in her reading skill set- the strategies she uses to sound a word and her interpretation or ideational function of the text. She enjoys the visual stimulus of the illustrations. She reads her school reading tree books with her mom daily and enjoys looking through the books at school. Literacy is very important part in Bellas school where good teachers give pupils many opportunities to do independent, silent reading in a school which is richly stocked with books and where teachers and children discuss their books they have read (Collins & Safford, 2008, pg. 17).If I use the bottom up approach to reading, she does use phonics to the exclusion of all other cues in reading (cited by Atkinson, 2013, pg. 8). Because she tends to sound out each grapheme- using synthetic phonics, before blending a word, unless it is a very simple three letter word she recognizes- she sometimes loses the me aning of the text. I have observed this by asking her a specific question regarding the text on the page she was reading and she couldnt remember what she had just read.She tends to rely on print cues and not her prediction of the situation. If I used the top down approach looking at the title and illustration on the front cover, discussing what the book is about, what genre is it familiar to, letting her open the book and scan the illustrations throughout the book. If I actively build on what she could see in the illustration- to stimulate her thinking before we approach the text- she would approach and read with familiarity, and have a better understanding.When she does get stuck on the text I get her to come out of the small shapes and look at the illustration, talk about what is going on in it and what she thinks may happen next, she then goes back to the text with more confidence of what the words may convey. In Winnies Midnight Dragon she substituted midnight for magic. She d id not self- correct as magic dragon makes syntactical and semantic sense. It was only when I prompted her did she use her synthetic phonic knowledge to blend the letters.For the sounding of midnight she pronounced it as midnig-herty-she used her knowledge of graphemes but not of the sound of the phoneme trigraph igh. She had to be reminded of the sound igh makes, I explained that the g is silent and we discussed that English is a crazy language- the most loopy and wiggy of all tongues (Lederer, 1989, pg. 3). The word high she pronounced as hing but went back to self-correct as her cue was semantic and she knew the sentence didnt make sense.

“On the spirit of obligations” and “Friendship” – how each text views friendship pointing out to the meeting points

We have before us two texts one, on the spirit of obligations the other, companionship. Both truly varied in terms of structure, style and images, yet both are closely linked thematically. The notions expressed in the text are ideas of friendship (as implied by the backing of one of the texts) and human relations. It is interesting to explore how each text locatings friendship pointing out to the meeting points.The texts are of extremely different style and structure obviously beca habit they each serve a very different purpose. The first is an essay written by William Hazlitt taken from on the spirit of obligations, the second is a song- friendship by Cole Porter. Only from this we can asses that the essay is written as continues prose and is meant to publicize some opinion. An essay usually exists to be informative, present a view and thus will be serious, explanatory and detailed. This is very different from a song that is publicly released that in order to be popular has to be catchy, unmindful verses, short snappy ideas that will be remembered, rhymes and a wider sense of appeal.The use of language in both texts differs, with relation to their purpose and their notion of friendship. In the essay, the use of language is more sophisticated, delicate more complex, almost as the friend or person Hazlitt is describing. The language also matches the nature of the friendship- more of the intellectual- practical humanity is not is forte, meaning that it wasnt a friendship on the day to day basis, or that he will offer help and favors. It sees this idea as idle and vulgar. This stands in such contrast to the song, almost making a mockery out of it because the language and situations suck upd in it is at times so vulgar if you are ever lost your teeth and you are out to dine, borrow mine. This is part of the songs purpose- to be humors, silly, fun. The song talks near a very different notion of friendship- one thats always there to help, almost to un-real istic measures when other friendships have been forgot, ours will still be hotThe distinction and register are also influenced by the purpose of the text. The account of friendship in the essay is of someone describing a very specific, special person, who is very all important(p) to him. This, although he knows it is a friendship with out obligations, and that he should not look to his friend for help, we as readers still get the notion that this friend is still very important to the writer and that he, by his own description, feels very secure and welcomed, at the presence of his friend. This is again seen in the language, where the writer carefully chooses imaging and words to describe the person in question the husk, the shell of humanity is left at the door, and the spirit, mellowed by time, resides within. In the song the register is different. It seems alike the singer is addressing the friend directly, telling him that he will always be there. However, there is not one si ngle line telling us about the friend in more detail, or any clue at any deeper emotions or more complex relationship. This is because of the nature of songs. Very smartly it allows us to apply it to anyone- because of the want of specifics it can be affiliated with any per of people, but at the same time the direct form of address allows for the feeling of personalization it can be apply between two people.In both texts the imagery used is closely linked with the notion of friendship it is describing. The essay using his silver accents, beautiful, venerable as his silver hairs, but abundant, flows as a river creating gentle, delicate images. From the imagery we learn that the man described is probably older, and has and air of knowledge and advice to him. his hand is disagreeable, but what if that? His centre of attention is ever open his eye is ever open suggests that he is very observant, knows a great deal and constantly aware of the situation around him.The closed hand, how ever, is a powerful metaphor for the lack of obligation and physical help. This stands in such contrast to the song, where it seems that the friendship is based on constant physical being. all the imagery stands along the lines of if you need a hand when in trouble just call my name, everything is to do with actions not words. Further more, all imagery is vulgar, everyday colloquial language, funny unreal situations. Is this the reflection of the friendship? I believe it is merely because of the appeal it has to have to the public. Thus we get imagery like if they ever cook your goose, turn me loose.To conclude, I think the differences of the texts out-weigh the similarities, and that they are quite noticeable. I got the feeling that the essay is almost mocking the song and that in light of the essay it shows that the song has no real message or statement concerning friendship. It almost ridicules itself, the imagery and the rhymes flattening the notion of friendship making it some thing so explicit, so out of touch with reality and how friendships truly work, with all the subtleties. The song is there for the sake of entertainment alone. However, it interesting to see how in both texts the language, imagery and relish were so effected by the purpose.

American Popular Culture In Australia Essay

The mid-fifties and 1960s were multiplication of unprecedented change, and Australian night club was regulated greatly by the Statesn hot grow, through and through various mediums, such as music, film, television and fashion. This especially affected adolescents. It will be explained how Australian beau monde was impacted by American best-selling(predicate) agriculture, and in any case why American popular culture had such an affect. Australian developed its own responses to these influences, and the extent of this will also be explored.The 1950s meant the emergence of the teenager it also brought peace and prosperity to numerous. And during the fifties there were far more American films released in Australia, and they became more popular than many Australian films. Films were of great influence to the youthfulness of the 1960s, films such as The Wild One and Rebel Without A Cause showed a new type of teenager, unrivalled who was not only different, hardly was rebellious. This new view of what a teenager could be gave birth to the idea of bodgies and widgies which is what many teenagers became known as during the fifties.These bodgies and widgies were greatly influenced by the culture of rock-n-roll music. The precondition Rock-n-Roll was invented in the mid 1950s for a new and exciting music. This type of music was to become popular beyond belief, it not only began to endure the tastes of Americas youth, and it soon became the popular music of choice for youths passim Australia, too. Popular artists such as Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and the comets were among the top entertainers influencing Australias impressionist youth.The life stylus trends of Australia were also, to a great extent, impacted by the trends of America. During the 1950s the lifestyle of a typical American was very different to that of a person during the forties. The lifestyle was more laidback, mainly due to the end of the war people believed that they were entering a new a ge, where anything was possible. Australia followed Americas lead, and many of their lifestyles changed with the Americans. By the late 1950s, television was the most primary(prenominal) form of mass entertainment and culture it had become an important leave of many peoples lives. Through television Australia saw the American life, and thusly modelled (to a certainextent), parts of their lives on what they saw of the American lifestyle.During the 1960s, Australian society remained hugely affected by American popular culture. And although the culture of the youth was no where near as strong or powerful as it was in America, Australia was, to a great extent influenced by what was happening in America at the time. What happened in America was almost always mirrored by Australian teens (although to a smaller extent). Fashion-wise, the sixties saw the flowering of the Hippie Movement. either of a sudden the tight black pants, bright socks and pig grease of the fifties were gone, an d in came the mini-skirt, velvet pants and paisley shirts. As American teenagers began to grow their hair longer and longer, it seemed Australian teenagers opted to follow this new trend.Films took on a new genre the films of the sixties began to portray the story much more realistically. Blockbusters such as Easy Rider were on the scene. In the film industry in the sixties Britain tended to lead, but America adjusted, and Australian society continued to follow.Of course, there is one aspect of the sixties, which will remain in everybodys mind forever Psychedelia. A style like no other. It was a period like no other, a world of hallucinogenic drugs, swirling shaped and luminous colours. It was LSD, which provided the mental and visual stimulus behind psychedelia. psychotropic patterns and colours quickly found their way in to mass-produced fabrics and c clumphes.Psychedelia also influenced the music industry significantly, with great bands such as the Beatles producing songs such a s Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds with thinly disguised references to drugs. The Beatles were hugely popular in Australia as well, and it was the Beatles tour of Australia in 1964, which proved just how much this American pop group influenced these Australian citizens. During the tour parents and police were ignored, and Australian teenagers were lapping it up, the overseas excitement was finally there for then to fully be a part of. entirely the psychedelic styles of the sixties were so strong and unsympathising toother styles that it was inevitable that Psychedelia departed as quickly as it arrived.The fifties and sixties were completely different in so many ways the clock had changed a lot in the transition of decades. The types of music, for one, were in great contrast. By the sixties the rock-n-roll and pelvic thrusting of the fifties had transformed into the pop, rock and family music of the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Teenagers changed a lot over the two decades a lot, too. The tight pant, leather jacket bodgies, with their greased hair, and the widgies, with their rope petticoats and flared dresses, were replaced by the teenagers of the Psychedelic era. These teenagers preferred the swirled shapes and bright colours, with their newly found mini-skirts, and for the guys it was paisley shirts.Although the two decades were different in themselves, there is still a parallel running between the two. Both were times of change, with popular culture culminated for the newly recognised youth, each decade had their own brand of pop music, and their own brand of teenagers.However, the teenagers of the sixties, despite the overuse of drugs, remained a lot more politically minded, by holding many war protests, for example. The fifties played home to a time where the brand teenager was first recognised, and the sixties were a carry on from this, an expansion where teenagers gained more and more out of life and the world.We have seen how Australian society was influenced by American popular culture in the fifties, now the question is why. There were many eventors that contributed to this sudden change in ideals. One of the main figures involved was the end of WWII, WWII had brought America to Australia, it became one of Australias major trading partners, and our major investor. Economically and culturally we identified with America. Also, following the war communications around the world had been significantly improved, thus giving Australia greater opportunities to be connected with America, and therefore see and copy (in a way), just what they were doing.Anotherfactor of significant importance is the impact that television had on society overall. With the intervention of television Australians had a clear and self-evident view of America, as many of the programs shown on Australian television were in fact American. With more and more people seeing these programs the excitement grew and the popular culture of Am erican society grew in Australia. Through the passage of time Australian culture absorbs these aspects of American culture and they become linked with our identity.The reasons for why Australia was impacted so greatly in the sixties can be traced back through the fifties. As the fifties went on America seemed to continue to dominate more and more. And by the time it reached the sixties there was an abundance of America programming on Australian television and radio, which influenced many young, impressionably minds. Another main factor was that Australias economy had substantially increased by the sixties, due significantly to such Government programs as the Assisted Immigration Scheme. With more money to spend, many Australian youths put their money to items, which then enforced pop culture, such as CDs and popular fashions of the time.But it all came down to the fact that America sells its culture and products to the world and teenagers in the western world are vulnerable to adver tising. And perhaps the most important factor in all this was the Vietnam War. Many soldiers spent their R&R time in Australia. This impacted greatly upon the youth of Australia because many servicemen brought with them their own music and style which influenced the society that they brought it to.Of course, Australia didnt just sit back and watch the excitement unfold, Australian society had their own responses to the latest trends. The culture, of course, in Australia was no where near as strong as that in America at the time. But still, in many ways Australia decided to copy the popular trends of the time, but in many other ways they had their own. Young Australians formed their own gangs, made up of bodgies who wore tight black pants and greased their hair and their female counterparts widgies who wore rope petticoats and flared dresses, throughout the fifties these groups became increasingly violent. These groups were in response to suchAmerican hits as Rebel Without A Cause an d The Wild One.The way that media targeted teenagers and advertising gave them a big opportunity to get involved with the latest popular trends. Because teenagers got more money they had the means to respond to this advertising in the sixties. They had the means to be a part of Psychedelia (to a small extent).We can see from all this that the fifties were a big turning point for Australian society. This was the time were American had first been brought to Australia, until the 1950s Australia had not had as much contact with America. But through means of television and improved communications American popular culture influenced Australian society a great amount, in music, film, lifestyle and fashion. This same thing worked through the sixties, Australian society remaining significantly impacted upon by American popular culture, and we can see that still today we are affected to a certain extent, by American Popular culture.

“Bold Girls” by Rona Munro Essay

In her drama Bold Girls, Rona Munro has created a relevant and inspiring legacy of war-torn Union Ireland. Her drama depicts the daily struggles and predicaments faced by four finical women, who seem to thrive on their fantasies and illusions all except Deirdre who is marked out as contrary from the dramas beginningDeirdre is not in this room, shes crouching on all fours on her own talkingout of darkness in which exactly her face is visible.Introduced as a surreal and somewhat eerie point of reference it is no surprise that Deirdre contrasts greatly with the ternion other women. It is her persistent search for the faithfulness that polarises her from the others and fronts her to be at odds with them as they shut out legality and cushion themselves with their idealistic dreams. This idea of fantasy versus reality is a main awe within the profligacy, and it is through monologues and represent direction that we are allowed a deeper understanding of each characters situation and of the plays themes.A particular monologue of Deirdres undoubtedly confirms that her search for truth will result in the hurt of others and possible confrontations and violent conflictsThe lights changeI need a knife a make believe make of my ownIt was the knife he was talkingabout. It was the truth. I thought Id like that. A wee bit of hard truthyou could hold in your hand and point where you liked.The lights changeI believe this monologue verifies Deirdres role as accelerator pedal. By this point we have been introduced to all four women and to their dreams and fantasies, which Deirdres wee blade of truth threatens to destroy. Deirdres yearning for the truth causes her to kill these dreams, bringing the three idealistic women crashing back to the harsh reality that surrounds them. Deirdres conflict is greatest with the central character, Marie. Compared with huisache and Noras materialistic dreams of redecorating her living room (Nora) and leaving capital of Northern Irel and (Cassie), Maries delusions of her late husbands heroic acts and credibility are not as empty as her friends.These dreams are instilled within objects in the womens homes for case Noras dream is symbolised by a peach polyester mix, Cassies by a wad of money hidden behind Michels photograph and Maries by a grainy blow up of her late husband, Michael. As the play progresses it becomes apparent that Deirdre is intent on destroying each characters dream, but I think it is also suggested that she is somewhat linked with Marie and her dream. Munro again makes use of symbolism to connect these two characters. For example, Deirdres mini dress is reminiscent of Maries wedding dressThen other times she looks like meyou remember that dress I wasmarried in, that wee white-hot mini-dress?She stands. And stares.I believe it is as though Munro is depicting Deirdre as a ghost of Maries past. This becomes relevant later in the play when Deirdre reveals to Marie that she is in fact Michaels daug hter.The simple observation of Deirdre standing alone at the bottom of the path reflects how she appears isolated from the others in her search for truth she longs to exploit the truth and become part of the family unit maintained by the three other womenIm wet, Im cold. I want to get at bottomI want to get inside. Cantkeep me out.This monologue has quite a threatening undertone , it is as though Deirdres closing off causes her distress. I believe also that the use of wet and cold highlight the harsh environment and the fact that Deirdre is unloved. I think all of these factors isolation and the appetite for truth cause Deirdre to act as catalyst. In taking on this role, Deirdre threatens to destroy the fellow womens dreams. Her first act as catalyst is when she steals Cassies money hence ruining her dream of escape and freedom. Deirdre makes obvious to the reader that Cassies materialistic dream is false and unobtainable in a short, eerie monologueThe whole towns a prison, smas h chunks off the wall causewere all in a prison.Cassies dream of escape is obviously unrealistic and false and I believe Deidres destruction of the dream validates this idea.Deirdre also appears to be in conflict with Nora, Cassies mother, a she goes on to use her wee blade of truth to shed Noras shiny peach polyester fabric and in the end her dreamDeirdrelooks at the broad, smooth stretch of material then startsto slash at it, ripping it, trampling it till shes breathless.Deirdres violent reactions I believe show what harsh and abusive situations she has been exposed to. She desires to know the truth so much, that she finds happiness in destroying the illusions and fantasies of others, forcing them to face their reality and embrace the truth.Although Cassie and Nora do avoid the truth that their materialistic hopes will always elude them, it is Maries complete glossing over of the truth that causes her to be most at odds with Deirdre. Her lullaby that she uses to calm her son for example, shows how dependant she is on her delusions about MichaelYour daddy was a good man and a brave manthats whatkeeps us all together, keeps me going, keeps me strongMarie finds comfort in her deluded memories of Michael. I believe this blanking of the truth angers Deirdre and causes her to react violently and destructively toward Marie and her dreamsDeirdre hurls the clothes at her. She snatches the knife outof the chair and waves the blade at Marie. She advances onher slowly.I want the truth out of you. I mean it.This I believe is symbolic in showing that Deirdre uses the truth as a harmful device and that Marie is threatened by its potential exposure. Maries reaction is shocking and uncharacteristic of her gentle, nurturing nature she takes Michaels picture and using Deirdres knife, destroys it. Marie in turn destroys Deirdres dream of knowing the truth about her father.These two characters, who are at the greatest point in their conflict draw through their actions the ma in concerns of the text reality versus illusion reality conquers over dreams and pointless fantasies. The unveiling of the truth brings these two closer together allowing them to reconcile. The conclusion of the play suggests hope and optimism for the recovery of these women. They share in a special, ritual feeding of the birds, their relationship to emulate that of a mother and daughterDid you ever feed the birds, Deirdre?NoI like the common wee birdsyoud need to be something specialto build a nest around the Falls. Someone should feed them. Deirdre and Maries conflict is resolved by Maries embracing of the truth that she has for so long avoided. The central idea of Bold Girls of reality versus dreams is made obvious by the characters actions, they cope by padding their harsh reality and cushioning themselves with fantasies and illusions. These qualities are instilled within the characters of the play, Marie, Cassie and Nora thrive on fantasies and dreams whereas Deirdre lives fo r the truth.The opposing forces I feel cause the characters to be in conflict with each other. Their compromising situations and contrasting ideas about reality create friction between the opposing characters of Deirdre and Marie. Munro expertly uses stage direction, soliloquy and the opposing forces of truth and fantasy to make apparent the concerns of the text and to heighten my personal appreciation of their importance in these womens lives.