William Shakespeare s Beowulf - 793 Words

Slaying dragons and beasts certainly makes one well known, but none of these make someone a hero, much less a noble one. There are many expectations of a modern, noble hero: selflessness, valor, fairness, and moxie. Beowulf embodies these attributes, and they can be seen through his actions and words. Beowulf shows more care for his companions and people than for himself throughout the story, from his dive into the mere to his final battle. Before diving into the mere to fight with Grendel’s mother, Beowulf requests of Hrothgar, that â€Å"If he came to harm, his gifts should remain with the Geats and his friends should be protected.† Beowulf has no self-interest in the wealth of others after his death, yet he thinks of the well-being of his people and his companion when his is threatened (44). As Beowulf grew older, so did his thoughts of others. Many years into Beowulf’s reign, his kingdom is being terrorized by a dragon. He opts not to send a militia to their doom, but instead chooses to fight the beast himself. More so than his previous battles, Beowulf is unsure of his ability to survive the skirmish: â€Å"await on the barrow the one of us two / who shall better able to bear his wounds / after his onslaught.† Once again, Beowulf thinks more of others than himself; he would rather that he die than his people (IV. 21-23). Selflessness is not the only aspect of a hero, as the ability to persevere after through selfless decisions is equally important. One of the most utilizedShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Beowulf Essay4217 Words   |  17 PagesTuttle 1 Beowulf- Unfit to be King of the Geats For 1000 years we have been reading of the adventures of Beowulf, and his story was told for hundreds of years before. The tale is full of trials, tribulations, adventure, great loss, great victory, and wonderful battles. But, what do we make of it? Is it a tale told to illustrate the virtues of the epic hero himself, or is it a cautionary tale, told to warn the readers of the dangers of allowing unqualified men (or women) to ascend to a position ofRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Beowulf And The Genesis Of The Beowulf1321 Words   |  6 Pageswhich is a recurring theme throughout in Beowulf. In the epic, not only did Beowulf seeks wergild for the death of his friend, but Grendel’s mother looks to avenge her son’s death. The need for wergild is a constant theme in the epic. In order to understand the poem Beowulf and the importance of wergild, one must understand the time period it was written and its purpose. Leonard Neidorf discusses in the article, â€Å"VII Ethelred and the Genesis of the Beowulf Manuscript† that the English leaders inRead MoreComparing Beowulf And William Shakespeare s Macbeth1554 Words   |  7 Pagescultures, and is also corroborated in famous literary works such as Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Key characters in these epics often rose to the occasion and made a positive impact on the society with their exceptional bravery, selflessness, moral courage, and steadfastness of character. There were also instances where the same characters didn’t exercise the best judgement. Although Beowulf had many more heroic moments than Macbeth and Macduff, each of them had their virtuesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Beowulf - Noble Or Narcissistic1002 Words   |  5 Pagescourage, outst anding achievements, or noble qualities. Beowulf lacks noble qualities. Noble qualities show what he will fight for what they believe in no matter the cost or the benefits. A true hero fights for the good in the world and what they believe in their heart. In the epic poem Beowulf, fighting for glory and honor shows noble qualities, but for the wrong reasons. Beowulf has an idealistic background which provides glory for him. â€Å"Beowulf, strong and courageous, is the prince of Geats. OnceRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Beowulf And Grendel s Mother, And The Dragon 854 Words   |  4 Pagesopposing forces. These opposing forces allow for a need to choose between right or wrong. In the text presented in this course, there are villains presented in multiple text, but within one text there are three antagonists. Found in the text of Beowulf, there are three monsters Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Grendel and his mother both were driven by inward desire that was created by an exterior force, but this does not excuse the fact they also differed from one another. Though theyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Dream Of The Rood, Beowulf, And The Canterbury Tales Essay1414 Words   |  6 Pagesreflects such rich history and customs packed into its literature. The foundation of much British literature that integrated the convention of British civilization came during the Medieval Period. The Medieval stories of â€Å"The Dream of the Rood,† Beowulf, and The Canterbury Tales contained some of the British culture concerning gender, religion, and the view of heroes. One aspect of British culture of the Medieval times was the stereotypes of gender and certain expectations in gender roles. For exampleRead MoreWhat Central Theme Can Be Found Throughout All The Literature We Read This Semester?1088 Words   |  5 Pages1. What central theme(s) can be found in all the literature we read this semester? Throughout the stories from this semester one key interesting theme as an adult was sex. Almost all stories had some type of sexual intercourse. In the website Merriam-Webster sex is define as a physical activity in which people touch each other’s bodies, kiss each other, etc. : physical that is related to and often includes sexual intercourse. Sex its not a excellent essay to write about, but as an adult its beingRead MoreMacbeth vs Beowulf874 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf and Macbeth Beowulf, identified as an epic hero and Macbeth, identified as a tragic hero both are very similar and different in their own ways. The epic poem, Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney and the tragic play, Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare both have heroes as the protagonist of the story. The stories written in two different time periods, still can be seen with many similarities and differences. A tragic hero is of high ranking and unfortunately has a flaw that they possessRead MoreLiterary Foils Of Beowulf, Julius Caesar, And Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde889 Words   |  4 Pagesin the stories of Beowulf, Julius Caesar, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Foils exist in the epic Beowulf. Beowulf is written by an unknown author and is translated by Burton Raffel in the Anglo-Saxon era. There is a force, vitality, clearness and distinctiveness in the characters, not only in Beowulf’s personality, but in all the other personalities (Brooke). Beowulf and Grendal are very contrasting characters because of their distinct personalities. Beowulf is a famous soldier s son â€Å"My father /Read MoreInfluence Of Medieval Literature On Modern Films1169 Words   |  5 Pagesin 1995’s film Judge Dredd (Simon, par. 5). Also, it shows how Macbeth was overly engaged in his desire to take over everyone, which ended with his death, as well as The Joker in the movie Dark Knight that ended with the joker being defeated (Shakespeare 379, 386, 387, â€Å"Dark Knight,† par. 8, 9). Another example of similarities influencing modern films would be in the story Beowulf when Beowulf â€Å"set sail to aid Danish King Hrothgar in his fight against the monster Grendel† (â€Å"About Beowulf†). This

The United States Of America - 1756 Words

Kevin Solomon The United States of America is objectively one of the greatest countries in the world. The unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are part of the first sentence in the preamble of one of the greatest documents contrived in the nation’s short history: the Declaration of Independence (1. archives.gov). Also in that sentence is the decree that it is self-evident all men are created equal (1). While it was scribed with good intentions, it has become self-evident that all people are not created equal in the minds of many. The topics of race, gender, religion, and ethnicity spark much conflict in the realm of social inequality, but one topic that is not talked about as often as the others is that of economic inequality. Due to millions of Americans starting their adult lives saddled with debt, the prominent wealth gap already established, and many institutions being set up to prey on the money of the masses, it is quite clear that econ omic inequality is not going to decline anytime soon. Many young adults graduate high school wanting to further their education in college, must most are not in a financial position to be able to pay for it by their selves. In order to go to a university, they must take out a student loan. Student loans are burdened on to these youths at such a high rate that the total about due in student debt is greater than one trillion dollars (2. pbs.org). The debt from these loans is now higher than the debtShow MoreRelatedThe United States Of America1536 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States of America is well known throughout the world for tis democracy ant the freedoms of its citizens. Since declaring its Independence from Great Britain rule in 1776, the United States of America has undergone a continuous effort to maintain law and order. In order to create a strong federal government with a system of check and balances the Constitution was proposed and ratified. The Constitution of t he United States became the Supreme law of the land. (The Constitution) We theRead MoreThe United States Of America1317 Words   |  6 PagesThe united states of america has been in many world affairs since its creation. One of the earliest international events that can be attributed to having direct links with the Great Depression was the Manchurian Crisis of 1931. War had broken out between China and Japan, who had both suffered due to the counter measures and high tariffs set by America and Europe to combat the Great Depression. Japanese army officers in Manchuria manufactured an incident, took over the province and on their own createdRead MoreThe United States Of America995 Words   |  4 PagesThe United States of America has always been known as the home of â€Å"The American Dream†. This consists of the nice house with the family, the dog and the white picket fence. Lately, however, the country has been losing this dream. Lately the corruption of the United States o f America has taken over this dream that led so many to want to make a home in the country. Politics has become a contest of money and power. Money has come to equal power, and it shown through all elections. The Federal ElectionRead MoreThe United States Of America1551 Words   |  7 Pages The United States of America: the place that praises the â€Å" American Dream† that countless people try following but never really succeed in accomplishing because of systemic racism. It’s easy to tell people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but what if they don’t even have bootstraps to begin with? The American Dream is a sugar coated lie. After hundreds of years of colonization, mass genocide, racism, white supremacy†¦ It is deceptive to tell minorities that they can be as successful asRead MoreThe United States Of America1244 Words   |  5 PagesFrom Northern Pakistan to The United States of America, The Exchange Student Probably to everybody’s shock, nobody could have imagined how poorly executed the 45th’s President Executive Order shortly after it was established. Any person, who is from one of the seven designated Muslim countries in the Middle East, are not allowed the right of entry into the United States of America. People like Syrian Refuges are ban indefinitely until the 46th POTUS reverses that order, who are seeking nothing butRead MoreThe United States Of America Essay1694 Words   |  7 PagesA crash in america may be coming a lot sooner than many people think. The United States of America is facing problems a lot of people are either unaware of or just dont think its a big deal. Most of america think that our economy and government is in alright financial shape, That may not be the case though. America is in bad shape and it seems to be going down hill. America is declining in world power as well and this is just another factor leading to a crash in the future. Other nati ons are growingRead MoreThe United States Of America1674 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States of America is the world largest single economy with a lot of trade activities with other nations. The country has traded with other nations for centuries hence it is an important economic partner (Jensen, Quinn Weymouth, 2015). The country normally has a lot of influence in the world trade since it serves almost all the nations worldwide. In fact, most of the trade policies that affect the whole world have been proposed by the United States of America. Moreover, the country isRead MoreThe United States Of America1354 Words   |  6 Pages The United States of America was sought out by immigrants as a place of freedom and refuge. Throughout America s short history, people from all over the world looked to America as a land of opportunity. Immigrants from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary poured into the United States in the mid 19th century. The large am ount of immigration from Eastern European countries to the United States between 1919 and 1924 was due not only to the opportunities of work and freedomRead MoreThe United States Of America938 Words   |  4 PagesThe United States of America is one of, if not the most developed nation in the world as of 2014. America is well-known for its freedom and opportunity it offers, which is why many individuals sought out for it. But I am not going to write about America’s many achievements and prestigious comforts. I would like to address the current situation that has been haunting America for quite some time now. In the last century, technology all around the world has undergone dramatic changes, whether it isRead MoreThe United States Of America1340 Words   |  6 PagesThe journey of how the United States of America became the United States of America is a very complex one. With America declaring separation from the Great English Empire, to the organization of becoming a free, sovereign nation and lastly, the migration and colonization of the now, western United States, including the great state of Nevada, has many components. The Declaration of Independence initiated the process of becoming a country of its own. This Document pushed the separation from England

PMS Goals

Question: What is theneed for an appropriate PMS and the goals of a PMS? Answer: Star Industries require an appropriate performance management system for measuring and improving employee capabilities that cannot be understated. It shall be beneficial for the following purposes:Goal setting- PMS shall help the employees in clearly understanding the expectations of the organization. It shall help in aligning workforce, setting priorities and attaining objectives .Management and coaching- PMS shall help in minimizing performance gaps with continuous feedback and coaching.Development Planning- PMS shall help in improving the employees and developing them with regular feedback . Rewards and Recognition- Recognition shall help in satisfying the fundamental needs of the employees. It shall also improve retention and engagement . The following goals can be set for the organization: To enable the employees to achieve superior work standards. To boost the employees performance by encouraging, motivating and rewarding for the performance. To promote personal growth in emplo yees career. To identify barriers to affective performance and resolve them through monitoring and coaching . The legal requirements to take into account In Australia, Fair Work Commission plays a legislative role in managing performance. It states that the performance management systems must be fair, accurate and supported by evidence. According to Fair Work Act 2009, workplace relations must be fair and productive that would help in managing employee performance. Every employee at Star Industries must be given opportunities to improve and manage their performance. The necessary measures must be taken to manage underperformance by the employees. The possible causes and issue of performance must be accounted for and actions shall be taken accordingly . C) The processes and documentation of a PMS and how these will support the goals of the organization The performance management follows the below process: Planning- Planning means working in advance so that the expectations and goals can be set. The supervisor must first create performance plans for the employees by aligning with the operational and strategic goals .Monitoring- Monitoring shall help in assessing the progress of performance. The employee progress shall be monitored on a continuous basis. The process shall make corrective actions for the employees and produce desired outcome. Developing- The employees ability must be developed to perform through work assignments. The supervisor shall also develop employees through formal and informal training, coaching and additional responsibilities. Rating- It shall provide as a summary of performance. The supervisor shall assign a rating of record based on the employees performance. The supervisor shall make adequate discussion about the ratings .Rewarding- Good performance must be rewarded. The supervisor must reward employees that would clearly distinguish as successful and standar d performance.The documents required for performance management are Performance Assessment Form, 360-Degree feedback form, Action Plan, and Training and Development Assessment Form . D) How the PMS will support the development of a learning organization A learning organization is a system that facilitates continuous learning with an objective of transforming itself. The performance management system shall support the development of a learning statement as it shall prescribe methods to develop critical talent. The performance management must be tied to the learning process and integrate into the development plan. The leadership development programmes shall also help in developing organizational talent at Star Industries. The learning opportunities shall be made more visible and engaging employees. The training in the learning organization shall be aligned to organizational goals. With integrated performance management, talent development professionals can see precisely which development is needed most. When learning and performance functions converge to create a true talent development framework, both functions benefit by becoming more relevant to supporting the organizations critical strategy . E) The process of implementation including consultation and communication mechanisms The performance management system implementation aims at continuous development of employees and recognizing their contributions. The implementation shall pass through a series of stages and process. Before implementation, the stakeholders must be consulted. Firstly, the representative from the Board of Directors must be consulted and they can provide necessary inputs through face-to-face meeting. Further, the CEO must be consulted for any further changes required through an email. A formal approval has to be generated from the top management in the form of written evidence. After this, the plan is ready to be implemented.After the plan has been implemented, every stakeholder group needs to be informed. The revised PMS must be sent to the manager through an email which would be verified by him. After verification, email shall be sent to all the employees with a copy to the directors regarding PMS. Annual or half-yearly review of performance shall be made at the departmental level at Star Industries. F) Role of coaches and mentors and skills required Every mentor and coach requires a few skills that are necessary to manage employees. A coach is a person who develops specific skills, challenges and performance expectations at work. The skill set possessed by them are active listening, understanding and empathy, reflecting with accuracy, smart questioning and providing feedback for development. Coaching help the employees gain valuable skills and knowledge. They help the employees overcome the hurdles and help them succeed. Coaching helps in identifying the competencies of teams in the organization. However, a mentor is personally involved and has a deep personal interest in long term development of employees. They possess certain skills such as emotional intelligence, provide guidance, value the opinions and initiative and motivate by setting good examples . G) Training required for: (i) Managers Great managers are not born, they are made. The managers require good time management, communication, problem-solving, delegation, forwards planning and strategic skills. The managers must be taught how to set a two-way dialogue with the employees about performance, expectations and priorities. The managers can ensure success and maximize their contribution in the organization. The managers at Star Industries need to communicate effectively as they take the leadership role. The managers must also observe the employees and document their behaviors and attitude relating to performance. The manager must also be trained to create an energetic department and team by positively influencing outcomes. The managers must be trained to polish skills for organizing, making effective decisions and becoming more strategic . (ii) Staff on the use of the PMS The employees or staffs must be trained for performance management system as it indicates that performance needs to be improved. I t also serves a benchmark for status of improvement in the process of making efforts. It shall also form the part of succession planning for helping the employees be eligible for a planned change at Star Industries. The employees must possess skills for self-management, teamwork, initiative, learning, communication and problem-solving skills. The employees must be trained for communicating as it would increase diversity and efficiency. Quality concepts and guidelines can also be provided to the employees. The human relations can be improved that would help in reducing stress and conflict. The training shall help the employees in effective risk management, increasing their capacity to employ new methods, reduce turnover and enhance motivation . H) Monitoring mechanisms A performance management system must be monitored for being effective. The employees progress and performance must be continuously monitored. Monitoring the performance does not involve measuring day to day about how t he employees carry out assigned activities and tasks. The employees at Star Industries must assess progress towards meeting performance objectives. The managers must also identify the barriers that act as hindrance for the employees in accomplishing performance objectives. Multiple solutions must be framed on how to overcome them. Feedback must be shared on relative to the goals. Continuous coaching shall be provided for addressing concerns and issues relating to performance. The strategic power of coaching shall help in recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of the employees. Monitoring also involves providing feedback in which the employees shall be told about their performance. The feedback shall be provided on a timely, specific and frequent basis . I) Evaluation mechanisms The results at Star Industries must be evaluated by reviewing the performance. Self-assessment also plays a critical part in managing performance. A few tools such as Performance Appraisal, benchmarking, KP Is and balanced Scorecard can be used to assess PMS. The performance plan and assessment form can be assessed in the appraisal meeting. The evaluation can be made by identifying performance measures, setting guidelines, creating disciplinary actions and setting an evaluation schedule. The evaluation form shall focus on the job performance areas. The job performance areas must be included such as knowledge and skills, quantity and quality of work, work habits and attitude. Although it may be time-consuming to identify performance measures, but it is also strong to evaluate performance. Feedback is the real essence of evaluation, so it is necessary for the managers to give a balanced feedback, outline expectations for improvement and create disciplinary or termination procedures . Policy Draft 1. General Policy on Performance Management and DevelopmentA) Policy statement Star Industries strives to prove an environment where all the employees understand the consequences of their contribution towards achievement of organizational goals. The organization further provides adequate opportunities for accomplishing goals through a strong performance based management that culminates in an annual performance review . B) General procedures including time frames and use of action plans Star Industries performance management and development process consists of a four phase cycle: Plan, Manage, Review and Reward . The following procedures can be followed: Half-yearly interim performance reviews can be conducted for discussing job performance and goals. Performance reviews can be annually scheduled coinciding with the employers promotion date. Employee Development Plans shall be compiled at the end of the performance review and progress monitored regularly . 2. Performance Counselling A ) Policy statement When the employees exhibit poor performance, counseling sessions shall take place to discuss the problem areas and methodologies to overcome it. The counseling session shall take place when the employee fails to improve performance despite receiving advice or informal notification for the same. Performance counseling shall occur before termination of employment is considered. However, employee dismissal may be considered in case the employees performance shall be understood unreasonable during counseling . B) Procedures for counselling and discipline including escalation of issues Star Industries needs employees who are passionate about the vision, values and purpose. The following three procedures shall be undertaken for counseling:1. Standard Counselling2. First and Final Warning3. Dismissal1. Standard Counselling ProceduresStep 1: Verbal Warning- This is an informal part where an employee shall receive a verbal warning for the first transgression . Step 2: Firs t Counselling Interview- This is the beginning of a formal part where the employee shall be advised of what the problem is and he shall be invited to respond or explain his actions.Step 3: Final Warning Interview- When the required improvement is not happening; the warning letter shall be drafted indicating any further bad performance could lead to dismissal.Step 4: Consideration of Dismissal- If the performance is continually unsatisfactory, the employee shall be asked for explanation that would serve as grounds for making decision to the continuation of employment . 2. First and Final WarningWhen the employee performs unsatisfactorily and the standard counselling procedure is not followed, a counselling interview shall be received. If the employees explanation is not acceptable, a first and final warning shall be issued.3. DismissalIf the unsatisfactory performance of the employee continues during the notice period, the employee shall be terminated and compensation shall be made i n lieu of notice . C) Procedures for dealing with grievances including mediation Mediation- At any stage, the employees involved in the grievance may request the matter be referred for mediation. It shall take place only if all parties involved agree and is voluntary. It shall be used after informal discussion does not solve the issue . The following procedure shall be followed for dealing with grievances:Step 1: Informal Action- The manager shall try to make a settlement in the course of regular work. However, a formal grievance letter may be submitted if the matter is not resolved.Step 2: Conduct Meeting- A meeting shall be held in a private and confidential room where the grievances of the employees shall be heard. The witnesses shall be called, if any.Step 3: Investigate- The meeting may be adjourned depending upon its complexity so that investigation can be made before decision making. Step 4: Analysis and Decision Making- After analyzing records, the employer shall decide whether to uphold or dismiss the grievance and provide the statement in writing without unreasonable delay.Step 5: Appeal- If the grievance is partially or completely rejected, the employee has the right to appeal against the decision within ten working days. The appeal shall then be considered by a more senior manager after which the decision shall be final . References Ates A and others, 'The Development Of SME Managerial Practice For Effective Performance Management' (2013) 20 Jrnl of Small Bus Ente DevBond T, Standards And Ethics For Counselling In Action (Sage Publications 2015)Cardon P, Business Communication (McGraw-Hill Irwin 2014)Connor M and Pokora J, Coaching And Mentoring At Work (Open University Press 2012)Fairwork.gov.au, 'Welcome To The Fair Work Ombudsman Website' (Fair Work Ombudsman, 2016) https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/best-practice-guides/managing-underperformance accessed 20 July 2016Geetika and others, 'Measuring Workers' Satisfaction With Grievance-Handling Procedure: Study Of A Power Distribution Major In India' (2014) 11 Asian Journal of Management CasesGhosh P and others, 'Who Stays With You? Factors Predicting Employees' Intention To Stay' (2013) 21 Int J of Org AnalysisGrote R, The Performance Appraisal (American Management Association 2012)Mone E and London M, Employee Engagement Through Effective Performance Management(Routledge/Taylor Francis Group 2012)Moore C, The Mediation Process (Jossey-Bass 2014)Noe R, Human Resource Management (McGraw-Hill/Irwin 2013)Phillips J, Return On Investment In Training And Performance Improvement Programs (Gulf Pub Co 2012)Ram J, Corkindale D and Wu M, 'Implementation Critical Success Factors (Csfs) For ERP: Do They Contribute To Implementation Success And Post-Implementation Performance?' (2013) 144 International Journal of Production EconomicsRolstadaÃÅ'Ã…  s A, Performance Management (Chapman Hall 2012)Rummler G and Brache A, Improving Performance: How To Manage The White Space On The Organization Chart (Jossey-Bass Publishers 2012)Shields J, Managing Employee Performance And Reward (Cambridge University Press 2014)Simons R, Levers Of Organization Design : How Managers Use Accountability Systems For Greater Performance And Commitment (Harvard Business School 2013)Singh K, Counselling Skills For Managers (PHI Learning 2015)St ack L, Managing Employee Performance (Productivity Pro 2013)Waal A, Strategic Performance Management (Palgrave Macmillan 2013)

The 20s And Sinclair Lewis Essay Example For Students

The 20s And Sinclair Lewis Essay The theme in books by Sinclair Lewis1 relates to the time in which they were written. In both Babbit (1922) and Main Street (1920) Lewis shows us the American culture of the 1920s. He writes about the growing cities, the small towns, the common American man, the strong American need to conform, cultural integration, morals (or lack of in some cases), and he touches upon the women lib movement. All of these and more successfully describe the 1920s. The parties were bigger the pace was faster, the shows were bigger, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser2 F. Scott FitzgeraldLewis attacks the American middle class business man in Babbit. As Sheldon Grebstein once put it:They ( Lewiss characters ) become puppets rather than performers. ( S. Lewis, Amer. Author Series 68 )He uses the ideas and attitudes already in existence and gives them a plot. He uses sarcasm to show the readers the error of their ways and then makes the main character suffer some how to show the consequences of being the way George F. Babbit is. Americans felt a need to rise in social status in the 1920s. Things like art and religion did not even make it in the maybe pile. Money and social acceptance was number one in every household. We will write a custom essay on The 20s And Sinclair Lewis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now His ( Americans ) only way to assume protective coloration, to loose himself in the crowd, and then to be approved by one of its members. ( S. Lewis, Amer. Author Series 78 )George F. Babbit. A forty-six, middle class, overweight, suburban real estate dealer. To add to the mix he is a father and a husband. Babbit is Lewiss picture of the middle class businessman. H.L. Menekan states: The fellow simply drips with human juices Every American city swarms with his brothers ( 20th Cent. Views 20-21 )Babbit , along with several others of his social status, belong to a club entitled the Athletes Club in which they prominently display their uniform narrow minded views with meaningless chatter. Like his business associates and colleagues, he values painstaking work in an effort to succeed. The thing which sets off the American from all other men and gives a peculiar colour not only to the pattern oh his daily life but also to the play of his inner ideas, is what, for want of a more exact ter m, maybe called social aspiration. That is to say, his dominant passion is apart- a passion to improve his position, to break down some shady barrier of caste, to achieve the countenance of what, for all his talk of equality, he recognizes and accepts as his betters. ( The American Credo 59 )3Babbits hometown of Zenith provides an example of the ideal 1920s community. The very first paragraph in the book states:The towers of Zenith aspired above and cement and limestone, sturdy as cliffs and delicate as silver rods. They were neither citadels nor churches but frankly and beautifully office buildings. (Babbit )Lewis describes these towers in the first sentence by appearance and then uses sarcasm to cut into his dissatisfaction that these buildings are used for business rather than gathering people to prayer. This clearly shows the transition of priorities from church to work. During this time thing for the middle class to do was to take the grand tour of Europe. Also World War I was over and the boys just came back from Europe where they were for over a year. With the combination of these two, America was seeing a lot of European culture be incorporation into their own. When describing the Athletes Club he used the following:The entrance lobby was Gothic, the washroom Roman Imperial, the lounge Spanish Mission, and the reading room in Chinese Chippendale, but the gem of the club was the dinning-room, the masterpiece of Ferdinand Reitman, Zeniths busiest architect. It was lofty and half-timbered, with Tudor leaded casements, an oriole, a somewhat musician less musicians- gallery, and tapestries believed to illustrate the granting of the Magna Charta( Babbit 59)4This section shows all the different cultures under one roof. .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 , .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .postImageUrl , .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 , .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:hover , .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:visited , .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:active { border:0!important; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:active , .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8 .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud99119adc5df6a6c9fb514eaa18840f8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Randj EssayBabbits goals are dominated by hopes of fortune and luxury and he will do what ever is deemed necessary to be successful. Babbits job as a Realtor enables him to profit from selling cheaply made houses at an inflated price. He repeatedly bribes inspectors he sells. Babbit even offers farmer Mr. Prudy a price for his land with the knowledge that the beloved property is worth several times the businessmans offer. Conscience plays no role in the mind of the white collar businessman. Babbits business ethics are elastic. They can be stretched to condone bribery, lying, bullying, and conspiracy ( S. Lewis Amer. Author Series 79 )In the 1920s womens liberation movements stepped up a notch. Women were working, smoking, drinking, and speaking freely about any subject they choose including sex. Their dress hem lines rose from the ankles to the knees, these dresses were incredibly skimpy and so were the bathing suits. They wore unheard of amounts of makeup, all of these were only found in house of prostitution. One of these women was Babbits oldest child, Verona. The younger generation also had different ideas of work. Their ethics and priorities were not the same as in Babbits generation. Verona seeks a worthwhile experience as well as a job and her father looks no further than the zeros on his paycheck. Verona cares very little about how well shes paid or how the public perceives her. Babbits strong appreciation for work becomes more and more evident in the arguments with his son, Ted, involving his future. These conflicts feature Teds hunt for a quick path to success and his opposition to Babbits deep respect for arduous but steady way to reach the peak of success. Babbit disapproves of Ted lack of education and laziness. Main Street, another novel written by Sinclair Lewis, is also responsible for a similar pattern of 1920s culture. Its set just before the opening of the 1920s where conservative minds flourished and individuality was openly discouraged. The town is, in our tale, called Golfer Prairie, Minnesota. But its Main Street is the continuation of Main Streets everywhere. The story would be the same in Ohio or Montana, in Kansas or Kentucky or Illinois, and not very different would the story be told Up New York State or in the California Hills. ( Every Week, VI 9-10 )5 Carol Kennitcott, the main character, is a rare independent thinker in the 1920s. She was greatly interested in culture, particularly sociology. Her attendance at a college in Chicago prompted this fascination as well as introduced her to such liberties as feminism, syndicalism, and Chinese lyrics. After Carol got married, she moved to Golpher Prairie, Her new husbands small town. Upon their arrival, Carol took a thirty-two minute walk that struck new determination to change her surroundings for the better. She was startled at the sight of dilapidated buildings, lack of architectural planning and a common disconcern that was shared by the townspeople. Her disap pointment inspired the start of what would be several attempts at reformation. The first of those trials was an unusual party hosted by Carol. She manages to impress her guests with an old fashioned square dance and a game involving wolves and shepherds with the guests shoes being sheep. The highlight of the evening was the costumes worn during the Chinese concert. Unfortunately, at Chet Dashaways party a week later, the same groups of people resumed their old dull antics and pointless prattle. This situation foreshadows the outcome of other attempts made by Carol in that none of her ideas are successful. Another of Carols experiments is done after she joined the Thanatopsis Club, a womens literary organization. She tried to expand the collection of books by adding texts that were previously banned solely because of the authors controversial lives. Inevitably, her open minded ideas are not shared by the naive town librarian. .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f , .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .postImageUrl , .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f , .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:hover , .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:visited , .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:active { border:0!important; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:active , .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf488c5215477c96c5e08d864e076ac7f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Bauhaus; architecture and functionalismCarol was not ready to give up yet. Various miscellaneous endeavors were made and were turned down by the townspeople. Such efforts were the modernizing of farmers wives rest rooms, a new city hall, plans for a farm bureau, lecture halls, and domestic science demonstrations. She also offered an idea to rebuild the town using the millions donated by Mr. Dawson but was, yet again, overruled. Her suggestion of helping the poor without merely donating funding was considered far too impractical and unrealistic. People were stubborn and thus held back by a need to conform. Evidence of the results of the nonconformist society is revealed when a schoolteacher is involved in a controversial situation. When Mrs. Fern Mullins allows her pupil Cy Bogart to escort her to a dance, accusations run wild about Cys intoxication as discovered by his mother that night. The irate townspeople lead to a forced teachers resignation and eventually to Ferns departure. Later Fern writes to Carol and informs her of even Ferns own families shame upon her and also of the refusal of another job by other teaching agencies. At last, Carol became utterly discouraged with her dozens of failed endeavors and left town. Even the most ambitious and educated are helpless in a town where tradition reigns over common sense. Through out the story of Carol Kennicott and her painstaking efforts, Main Street demonstrates conformity in small towns as well as the significance of conformity historically. It didnt matter wheather or not the people liked her ideas or if they were good for the comunity, her plans to change Golpher Prarie were denined and she was shunned for even thinking them. Change was not welcome in a small town. In Babbit and Main Street Sinclair Lewis repeataly shows his reactions to the new feeling of the 1920s. These times fueled him into writing his two most well known books in which he shows his fustration of selfish, Capitalistic, mid-western America.