Atlanta Reconstruction Essay Example For Students

Atlanta Reconstruction Essay Atlanta Reconstructed Having been a gateway to and from southern economics and enterprise before and during the war, Atlanta seemingly sealed its fate by becoming a strategic target for a union offensive. In an effort to cripple the supply line to Confederate forces, General Sherman opted to finish destroying the already war wrenched city. When Union forces finally left Atlanta, it appeared little more then a desolate wasteland. Undoubtedly Sherman had achieved the Unions goal, as well as sending a clear message to the Confederates. With the end of the Civil War, Atlanta served as a project and model for all the southern populous. Whites and Blacks alike quickly filled the city and rebuilding began at an astonishing rate. Southern whites, seemingly relieved at the end of the war, wasted no time in creating an environment to suite their needs. Four railways were the centerpiece to Atlantas new vibrant economy. Soon, Atlanta surpassed its pre-war status in both area and size. The Reconstruction Act of 1867 offered a military presence in Atlanta that insured blacks safety. Like the rest of the southern Freedmen, blacks flooded the city to escape plantations and seek a better life. The white population took a different approach then other southern areas, seeming to ignore the ever-growing black population. Jobs were sparse for the Freedmen and although compiling nearly half of Atlantas population, blacks found themselves living well below the white standard of living. Owing to the military presents, whites simply concentrated their energies on making themselves and their city more comfortable and wealthy then ever before. In 1868, Atlanta became the new Capitol, further fueling the goal of making it the heart and soul of Georgia. With the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment, Blacks earned the right to vote. This, although powerful in appearance, had little effect on the segregation that Atlantas white population had adopted. Black voters boosted the presence of the Republican Party, but not enough to over through that of the Democrats. As Atlantas growth subsided and the military presence was lifted, blacks left the inner city, taking refuge on the outskirts of town. Atlanta had seemingly succeeded in its goals. It welcomed northerners with open arms, but dealt with the blacks by simply shunting them to one side. Over time, blacks and whites simply lived life apart from one another. Civil Rights believers helped the blacks to build schools and churches in concentrated areas outside of mainstream Atlanta. The white population dealt with its beliefs of black inferiority in a unique manner; ignore them, and theyll ignore you, not violent, but highly effective In the end, the ideology of the Republican dream had not taken its desired effect, but the whites and blacks had both gained critical grounds. The inner mixing of population hadnt occurred, but at the same time the black populous had found itself better off, free from harassment and far from slavery. .

The Gunfight at the OK Corral Essay Example For Students

The Gunfight at the OK Corral Essay Hollywood has an unquestionable tendency to dramatize events to make them more appealing to the audience. This happens to be the case in The Gunfight at the OK Corral. Although Hollywood documented the events leading up to, and the actual gunfight relatively accurate, they failed to include some small incidents and confrontations that may have very well contributed to the outcome in Tombstone. The film begins in Fort Griffin, Texas with â€Å"Doc† Holliday in trouble after he killed a man in a saloon. Although it was clearly self-defense, a lynch mob gathered to hang Doc. This is when Wyatt Earp sets up a distraction and arranges for Doc Holliday’s escape. Doc felt he was in great dept to his savior and wound up in Dodge City, Kansas, where Wyatt is marshalling. After some talk between the two, Earp decides to let the notorious killer stay in his town as lonf as he promised no killing. This segment marked the beginning of their friendship when, according to Dee Brown Do c saved Wyatt’s life from a bunch of rustlers in the Long Branch Saloon.Kate, Doc’s on and off girlfriend, on the other hand suggested that the friendship started on their trip west since Earp accepted Doc’s tuberculosis, a disease many did not understand and were frightened of. In the movie Wyatt Earp was getting ready to move to California to marry. Then he got word that his brother Virgil was in danger and needed his help with a rowdy bunch of cowboys. Dee Brown said, â€Å"Wyatt decided Dodge was too tame for him and at the end of the season he, Doc, and Big-Nose Kate left for Tombstone.â€Å"His arrival in Arizona with Doc and Kate was already a problem since highly acclaimed Wyatt Earp was riding in with the cold-blooded killer, Doc Holliday. The film portrayed Wyatt’s brothers as being very wary of Doc’s presence, but they already knew what he had done for Wyatt so they had accepted him as friend, but that did not go for the rest of the to wn. The events played in the movie were obviously crucial to the gunfight, but there were other circumstances that contributed. Perhaps the biggest problem that went unmentioned was the Benson Stage Robbery where Bud Philpot was murdered. Though it was believed to be a failed assignation attempt on Bob Paul instead of a robbery, since none of the reported 26-80 thousand dollars was stolen. A posse quickly formed with three Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and many others. They only found one man on their hunt, Luther King whom they scared into admitting that the robbers were Harry Head, Billy Leonard, and Jim Crane. This is a very important event because of the actions the Earps take with the Clantons and the McLaurys to locate the stage robbers. Many rumors flew around the Benson robbery accusing everyone from Doc and the Earps to the Clantons and the McLaurys. A deal between Ike Clanton and Wyatt Earp was documented, Ike wanted the Leonard’s ranch and Wyatt wanted the glory of arresting Philpot’s murders. Even though these were associates of Ike, he wanted the ranch and the cash reward. He knew that if word were to get out that he had a deal with the Earps that he would surly be dead. And this fact scared him from the day he and Wyatt shook hands. The film makes the sheriff of Tombstone Cotton Wilson, but in real life his name was John Behan. His character in the movie is fairly accurate, Behan was a corrupt man whom received payoffs and benefits from the cowboys in exchange for him being impartial to their actions. Wyatt openly has problems with Behan after he pieces together Behan is dirty. .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f , .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .postImageUrl , .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f , .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:hover , .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:visited , .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:active { border:0!important; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f { 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; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:active , .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .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; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3c2b686ef8bfbed253193df59b51365f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Causes of Child Abuse Essay The reasons for the problems with the cowboys, as the film writes it, are their cattle rustling and their blatant disrespect for laws. The Earps seemed to take this personally and even though they offered to get out of town, Wyatt instead demanded that they return the stolen cattle. The Clantons and McLaurys realized that their problems began with the arrival of Wyatt Earp. So they figured the easiest possible solution would be to kill him. On the night of their planned assassination they fouled up and killed his little brother. This infuriates the Earps and Doc, and they plan immediate retaliation. And thus set the tone for the gunfight at the OK Corral. They plan to meet at sunrise to settle their problems once and for all. That version is not very accurate. Instead it was days of drunken talk and inflated egos that led up to the gunfight. Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury rode in on their wagon filled with beef on October 25. They split up to gamble on their favorite games. Around one o’clock in the morning Ike ran into Doc Holliday and had a serious argument because Ike was drunk and very concerned about his deal with the Earps and he thought that Doc had learned about it. Doc was upset because he thought that Ike was making threats against the Earps. Morgan eventually came over to put an end to the squabble. When they were done arguing Clanton came to Wyatt and asked him to go for a walk where he proceeded to tell Wyatt that he was going to kill Holliday in the morning. Wyatt did everything he could to calm him down, saying Doc did not want to fight. Wyatt Earp then said his most famous line â€Å"Go home Ike, you talk too much for a fighting man.† A half-hour later one of the strangest poker games in history took place. John Behan, Virgil Earp, Ike Clanton, Tom McLaury, Wyatt and Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday all sat together and played for five hours at the Occidental Saloon. This took place the night before their gunfight. The game broke up about six in the morning and everyone went their own way. But Ike followed Virgil out very upset and drunk. Virgil claimed that Ike wanted him to give Doc a message for him, â€Å"That damned son of a bitch has got to fight.†Virgil refused to relay the message. Ike now believes that the Earps are out to kill him, but not only does he not leave town, he wonders around with a gun, which is against the law, picking fights alone. Eyewitnesses say that at eight o’clock in the morning Ike clearly stated that, â€Å"As soon as the Earps and Doc Holliday showed themselves on the street, the ball would be open-and they would have to fight.†The Earps and Doc were warned by about everyone that heard Ike but they all just stayed in bed at this point. Ike was in front of the telegraph office so everyone assumed that he had called for back up. He made his way around to a couple more saloons, still loud, armed, and belligerent. In the early afternoon Wyatt and Virgil came out of their homes, dressed in black and armed. The hunt for Ike was on, Virgil and Morgan found him first and Virgil sunk up behind him, pistol whipped to the ground, and asked, â€Å"Are you looking for us?† Ike said that he was, and that he would have killed them if he had seen them two seconds earlier. He was arrested but still made threats to the Earps. At this time the Earps are extremely fed up with the threats and they agreed to fight. As Wyatt was leaving the courthouse he ran into Tom McLaury and immediately slapped him with his left hand followed by a pistol butt to the head with his right. At this time Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton arrived, starring at Wyatt, and met Ike at the gun shop. It was about two o’ clock in the afternoon and a fight was now unavoidable, so Virgil retrieved a shotgun. The cowboys walked down to the OK Corral barking out threats. The Earps try to get the assistance of Behan but he refuses. As the three brothers make their way toward the cowboys they are joined by Doc Holliday whom Virgil gives the shotgun too. About two forty-five the four of them reach the Corral and approach their nine cowboys, who seemed very surprised to see them. Virgil said to them, â€Å"Throw up your hands.† Shots rang out, the first hit were Frank, then Billy. Ike, ironically unarmed, ran away. And in just twenty-eight seconds, and about thirty shots later, one of America’s most violent shootout was over. Everyone was hit except for Wyatt, three cowboys were dead and Doc, Virgil, and Morgan all took minor wounds. Although students of this fight are skeptical about whom shot first, most believe it was Holliday.Bibliography:Brown, Dee. The American West (Charles Scriber†™s Sons, 1994). .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd , .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .postImageUrl , .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd , .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:hover , .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:visited , .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:active { border:0!important; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd { 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; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:active , .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .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; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua63f86f609f6b76eec8a1c4da36027dd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Meaning of Life EssayTefertiller, Casey. Wyatt Earp (John Wiley Sons Inc., 1997). Brown, Dee. The American West (Charles Scriber’s Sons, 1994). Tefertiller, Casey. Wyatt Earp (John Wiley Sons Inc., 1997). Barra, Allen. Inventing Wyatt Earp (Carrol Graf Publishing Inc., 1998). Barra, Allen. Inventing Wyatt Earp (Carrol Graf Publishing Inc., 1998). Barra, Allen. Inventing Wyatt Earp (Carrol Graf Publishing Inc., 1998). Barra, Allen. Inventing Wyatt Earp (Carrol Graf Publishing Inc., 1998). Barra, Allen. Inventing Wyatt Earp (Carrol Graf Publishing Inc., 1998). Brown, Dee. The American West (Charles Scriber’s Sons, 1994). Milner, Clyde A., Carol A. O’Connor and Martha A. Sandwiess. The American West (Oxford University Press, 1994

William Shakespeare Essay Example

William Shakespeare Essay William Shakespeare was a writer, not a politician. But he was destined by the very fact of his greatness to become a theorist of politics as well. The temptation to find a sign of theory for politics in his work is too strong to resist – it is almost unbelieveable that a great writer living in England in the XVI-XVII centuries could escape greatest political and philosophical debates.Shakespeare did not. He was deeply involved into the context of his time, where state and power were among main subjects of concern. During all periods of his work, Shakespeare was formulating his own attitude towards the tendencies that shortly afterwards led to English revolution. The historical material he used was mainly about the period of long-lasting feudal conflicts in England.The problem as well as the approach were not unique. The so-called â€Å"political skill† was a matter of concern for many, especially those who denied its Divine origins. Naturally, political systems in Euro pe gave all resons for that. Christendom, a concept of the early Medieval period, has failed. European political space did not unify, more than that – it became evedent, that it was gradually disintegrated. Reformation and subsequent political conflicts, enspired by religious hostility, led to a raise of quite a â€Å"multipolar† world in Europe, in which intrigue and statecraft played sometimes   very important role – much more important than religious or ethnic motives. Especailly true that was about Italian states: difficult political environment and lack of unity made it vitaly important to improve political skills of the leadership. Something like that was later actual for France and England.Italian writer thus became the first to analyze the nature and peculiarities of political processes. Nicolo Machiavelli summed his conclusions in his â€Å"Prince†, which became an example of â€Å"pragmatic† view on power, so uncommon for Europeans of t he time. Undoubtedly, ideas expressed by Machiavelli influenced many people including writers and Shakespeare in particular. But such influence was accompanied by personal implications as well as by historical background. What was actual and true about Italian cities could have been absolutely incorrect about English counties.Thus historical plays by Shakespeare, in particular Henry IV and Richard II, are the exapmles of an English interpretation of Italian theory, which have something to share and in some ways opposes the latter. Shakespeare is neither an adept, not a critic of Machiavelli – he is an analyst of his own, concerned about the problems facing his society. Two strong motives may be observed in Shakespeare’s plays: 1) a support for the Divine Right of kings, which means that there is a need for some kind of justification of hereditary power, upon which stability may be created; 2) a call for â€Å"pragmatic† rule in the sense that power obtained from God should be exercised in the way that make people (in broad sense) more happy.Such a view, or synthesis, was not new or unique. New was the form of expression, the way in which Shakespeare described his point. Dialogues and scenes of Henry IV and Richard II are simple and clear but they convey some deep thoughts. A motive for Divine Right had been also expressed in Richard III, where the figure of main character dominates the whole scene from the beginning to the end. Something very much alike one may see in Richard II, with more complicated plot and composition. Shakespeare demonstrates that royal power is not something to enjoy.O villains, vipers, damnd without redemption!Dogs, easily won to fawn on any man!Snakes, in my heart-blood warmd, that sting my heart!Three Judases, each one thrice worse than Judas!Would they make peace? Terrible hell make warUpon their spotted souls for this offence!(W. Shakespeare. King Richard II. Act III, Scene 2.)For him this is something to be res ponsible for, probably – something to sacrifice or die for. Returning to Medieval tradition, we may found some pre-christian analogies in feudal conflicts. One king must equal for one God and that will be good.A dialogue between Falstaff and Poins may seem to prove that there is nothing divine in royal power. But later on it becomes evident that royal power which is destined gives sense of unlimited power.Such neighbour nearness to our sacred bloodShould nothing privilege him nor partializeThe unstooping firmness of my upright soul.(W. Shakespeare, King Richard II, Act I, Scene 1).Divine power means not very much responsibility by the definition. This is the place, Shakespeare makes his own point. Showing life of princes and king himself in Henry IV, he shows that Divine power is something that may disappear, or something that may be overtaken by people. â€Å"Special† effects, used in Henry IV, outline this idea. The plot is filled with small funny scenes from real li fe, showing how they affect political proceccess. A prince and a king are common people – again not a new idea, but expressed in new forms. An idea of destiny is outlined in several ways:Edwards seven sons, whereof thyself art one,Were as seven vials of his sacred blood,Or seven fair branches springing from one root.Some of those seven are dried by natures course,Some of those branches by the Destinies cut;(W. Shakespeare, King Richard II, Act I, Scene 2).One of the main ideas central for Shakespeare is the role of absolute royal power in general. Combining several approaches to it, trying to join Divine rights with very concrete responsibilities, Shakespeare although supports the view that the more power for a monarch the better. The reason for that is probably the political situation in England. The XV century was full of intrenal conflicts and wars. They were the main sourse for instability. Quite naturally, the reason seemed to be a weak royal power. The example of France demonstrated how strong monarch could win wars and guarantee trade and flourishing. Big English feudals – the Yorks, the Sommersets, the Northumberlands, the Hotspurs and others – were seeing as the main disorganizing force in the state. That was quite natural.Feudal anarchy is opposed by the idea of central power. For Shakespeare such power was only possible under a monarch, although republicans of the time had probably something to object. Royal power could only be possible with the idea of its Divine origin. Supported by church, such system would have been stable and long-lasting. This also implied the principle of hereditary power, with heirs strictly determined by family ties. Shakespeare could have vividly remebered the horrors of civil wars between the Yorks and the Lancasters, as well as conflicts preceeding Queen’s Elizabeth reign. The problem was widely discussed at the time, so it was almost impossible not to mention it while describing royal life. R egarfing all that one may understand the meaning of long dialogues on the topic, which are found in many of Shakespeare’s plays. All that is directly connected with the idea od Divine rights and with the problem of the transition of those rights.In Henry IV, Shakespeare describes the rule of the king as full of upraisals and other destabilizing events. The reason for them is the wrong policy adopted by the monarch, uneffective management, to put it in a more modern way.Here comes another part of a story. Shakespeare thus puts forward a thesis on â€Å"effective† use of power. That is very close to Machiavelli. An Italian was free from occupation with Divine rights. Despite he put all efforts to improve effectiveness of power, of whatever origin. Shakespeare shows miscalculations of Henry IV as leading to disasters. The episode of usurping power by Bolingbrock may be seen differently. It may be seen as a prelude for further troubles: by capturing power he violated Divin e rights which was the reason for further problems. But it also may look like a very â€Å"pragmatic† mistake. By creating a precedent, he opened way for other feudals, who from now on were just waiting for political mistakes. This could have been easily corrected by some measures without reviewing Divine status of power.Since Henry IV came to power with the help of feudals their relations are far from those of lord and servants. Divine status thus gives way to practical political reasons, which is so close to Machiavelli. The same picture is shown in Richard II. The constant dependancy on feudals and lack of Divine status is the everlasting problem of such king.Thus a strong royal power is a political good since it promotes the well-being of the whole society. But a king is to be somehow â€Å"up to his status†. This idea is illustrated in Henry IV:I stay too long by thee, I weary thee.Dost thou so hunger for mine empty chairThat thou wilt needs invest thee with my ho noursBefore thy hour be ripe? O foolish youth!(W. Shakespeare, King Henry IV, Part II, Act IV, Scene 5)For a king to be â€Å"effective†, he has to possess some moral qualities. Such a monarch is rarely found in Shakespeare’s plays.Unlike Shakespeare, Machiavelli considers heir’s status as just one from many important factors. A king for Machiavelli is just one of the politicians who have almost equal chances for success. Just like he compares Turkey and France to illustrate comparative difficulty of conquest, one may compare systems of non-absolute and absolute monarchy. The latter is easy to capture but difficult to retain. Later on these ideas on structural power were developed, for example, by A. Gramsci.Both for Shakespeare and for Machiavelli king’s moral qualitites are of some importance since they help retain power. The result is responsibility for both:Canst thou, o partial sleep, give thy reposeTo the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude;And in the ca lmest and most stillest night,With all appliances and means to boot,Deny it to a king? Then, happy low, lie down!Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.(W. Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part II, Act 3, Scene 1.)Shakespeare’s responsibility was different from Machiavelli’s. The latter’s was much more political. It demanded from a monarch constant struggle. Republican traditions of Italy can hardly be compared with political culture of England. Nevertheless, several problems were similar. Integration and unification seemed for Machiavelli possible only via skillful political operations. For Shakespeare there was an alternative – supported by Divine Right idea od centralized royal power. Both had something more important in common. They saw a royal power not as a value in itself, but as a tool for serving people. Weak power for Machivelli meant poor defense for people, first of all from external threat. Weak power for Shakespeare meant inner conflicts with people suffering from that most of all. An idea of Divine Right, central for Shakespeare did not prevent him from demanding a more skillful and effective politics serving people’s interests.Political situation in England was such that it demanded changes. The development of the state required modernization of political system. Old tasks were forgotten, the country needed to adapt for new economic situation. Shakespeare’s great role was to work out the experience of previous centuries and elaborate new remedies for new deseases. Divine Right was no longer enough; by defending it, Shakespeare dad not say that it should be the only basis and legitimator for royal power. At the end the skill and effectiveness would be judges. Obtaining royal power by Divine Right may be easy, but exersicing it is surely difficult. William Shakespeare Essay Example William Shakespeare Essay In the play, King Lear by William Shakespeare, King Learns character, actions and loss and regain of identity is reflected through his three daughters, General, Reagan and Cornelia. Both Reagan and General show material love. Goner mirrors Learns brutal, harsh side and beginning of his loss of identity. In the play, General will only accept a situation only if in her full command. This can be shown when, General tells that his solders are disordered, so debauched and bold, that the court, infected with their manners/Shows like a riotous inn (1. . 256) eventually asking him to lessen the amount of knights. Goner wants to gain control over Lear, by reducing his knights, but Lear does not want to because he believes he still has control, stating his knights as men of choice and rarest parts. Similar to Generals actions, Lear will only accept situation if in his full command. In Act 1 Scene 1, Lear asks all his daughters to flatter him, however he was rejected by Cornelia, eventually re sulting in Cordilleras encashment and discontent. Goner, not only reflects Learns actions against Cornelia, she also reflects Learns loss of power and identity. When she asks Lear to lessen his amount, it is clear that General will gain full control over Lear, eventually causing Lear to question who he truly Is. As Lear begins to lose his identity, he can see his reflection of brutality and harshness through his daughters, when they begin to overpower him. And regain of Identity Is reflected through his three daughters, We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeare specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeare specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on William Shakespeare specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Defining Motivation and Employee Satisfaction

Defining Motivation and Employee Satisfaction The definition of motivation hinges around words like drive, inspiration, and impetus. It is about what makes a person interested in performing a certain task or engaging in a particular activity. Pepitone and Bruce (1998) defined motivation as the reason why individuals participated in certain endeavors. This view of motivation implies that motivation is essentially an emotional state.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Defining Motivation and Employee Satisfaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While it is the more prevalent view, there is another way to look at it. This other way, proposed by ONeil and Drillings (1994) sought to include aspects of cognition into the state of motivation of an individual. They contended that there is a thinking process to it, with clear decision making opportuinities. As such, they argued that motivation is not purely an emotional process but a composite process involving cognitive a pects. The discussion of employee satisfaction reflects the thinking presented by Kermally (2004) that identified employee happiness as an important factor influencing their productivity. If employees are unhappy, they lose the motivation to apply themselves meanigfully to their work, which in the end, compromises the quality of their output. Kermally argued that employees perform tasks assigned to them on the basis of their interest in it, which always improved when they were happy with their work. As such, the purpose of this litererature review is to examine the common theories of motivation, to review aspects and the need for motivation, and to uncover the applications of motivation in conventional organizations. Motivation Theories Interest in motivation, as an area of study is not a modern concept, but one that attracted the attention of many leaders and philosophers from ancient times. The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu produced a work that has important lessons in the art of motivation because it describes tactics a commander can apply in various situations to maintain morale in his or her army. The emergence of motivation as a separate field of study came about because of specialization of disciplines that accompanied the advent of the modern era. Its current scope spans elements of behavioral psychology, social science, and management science, among others. Because of this interest in the subject, several scholars developed theories to explain motivation. Three theorists stand out because they presented nearly distinctive perspectives on motivation. They are; Abraham Maslow, Henry Herzberg, and David McClelland.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory Abraham Maslow is famous for his theory on the hierarchy of needs. He described a hierarchical sequence of needs that motivates individua ls to engage in particular activities in order to fulfill their most pressing prevailing needs. In Maslow’s hierarchy, the need in one level ceases to be a source of motivation once satisfied. Among the five levels that Maslow identified, physiological needs are the basest of them all. All human beings do their best to rid themselves of hunger and cold. There is a high degree of motivation to get food, clothing, and some form of shelter. The second class of needs is the desire for safety and security from harm. The elements that constitute this need are safety from the elements, personal danger, and want. The third tier of needs identified by Maslow was the need to belong. This is the desire to be part of a society. This need, the theory postulated, drives people to join various groups so that they get a sense of belonging. Maslow called the fourth level of needs, the esteem needs. It escalates from simply belonging to a group or society into being a significant part of it. A t the third level, it is ok to belong, but at the fourth level, it is not enough. Self-actualization concludes the hierarchy of needs identified by Maslow. It transcends all other needs and seeks to answer the question of the whole purpose and meaning of life. A person at this level seeks to achieve inward significance in life, not just outwardly in society. Philanthropy is an often given example of an expression of this need. Maslow explained that all human beings are at a certain level of motivation at any one time and the key to getting the most out of them is to provide them with the opportunity to fulfill their most eager need. Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory Henry Herzberg put forward a theory known as the motivation-hygiene theory. This theory explains that motivation stems from two issues. There are factors that motivate people to do certain things while there are certain factors which contribute to the demotivation of individuals. The things that contribute towa rds the comfort of an individual in a given place are what he called the hygiene factors. These are the factors without which people in a given organization get demotivated. Motivational factors on the other hand refers to those factors that actually make them to want to do something. The theory contends that the factors are not mutually exclusive. This means that in any work environrment, there are motivators and demotivators at play.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Defining Motivation and Employee Satisfaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The actual state of motivation is therefore the result of the relative strength of these two factors. Doing away with one set of factors does not render the other factors inoperable . This means that dealing with demotivators does not automatically lead to motivation. It only averts demotivation. Adair (2006) held the view that Maslow’s and Herzberg’s theories w ere too individualistic and did not take into account external factors. He said that they made it look as if each person is fully responsible for their state of motivation, disregarding the role of environmental factors. In this case, the two theorists concentrated on the intrinsic elelments of motivation to the point that they appered to diregard the extrinsic elements. McClelland’s Achievement Motivation Theory David McClelland developed the achievement motivation theory. This theory pins motivation to personality. It postulates that what motivates individuals is unique to them and normally comes from their subjective experiences in life. According to McClelland’s theory, as someone participates in various activities, they learn to associate the processes and outcomes with certain feelings. Accordingly, the potential for the process to elicit the desired feelings act as a motivator for that particular individual. The person becomes predisposed to high motivation towa rds participating in the activities that elicit feelings of pleasure and achievement, while they avoid activities that at some point in their experience led to disappointment and pain. This behavioral view of motivation also assumes that behavior is an acquired aspect of life. McClelland’s argument appears to be in support of an individually based motivation plan. His theory discounts group motivation theories and exercises. Other Theories The three theories cover different aspects of motivation from different viewpoints, and present a general overview of the major ways of looking at motivation. However, they are not the only theories of repute in the study of motivation. For instance, Kurt Lewin’s personality theory of motivation provided the basis for the development of McClelland’s achievement motivation theory. The job satisfaction theory developed by Hackman, Lawler, and Oldham is another important theory that looks at job satisfaction as a key component of motivating individuals. This theory takes into account Kermally’s (2004) concern that happiness is a key aspect of motivation at the workplace.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another significant group of theories referred to as the expectancy theories also occupy an important place in the theories of motivation. Various scholars developed these theories but they are associated more with Vroom, Porter, and Hackman. What they have in common is that what someone expects out of a process is the real reason why they remain motivated to participate in the process. Finally, Douglas McGregor proposed two sets of assumptions about human nature and called them theory X and Theory Y. Each of them represents the disposition of a leader. Theory X leaders assume that on average people are lazy and require threatns in order to for them to work. On the other hand, theory Y leaders assume that people generally love to work and only require encouragement. Motivation Review Indeed, the development of theories in the field of motivation remains an ongoing effort. New views emerge discounting or affirming established theories. Each theory has an important place in the develo pment of the understanding of how to motivate individuals to achieve job satisfaction. In some cases, the theories have undergone much transformation losing their original thrust. Dye, Mills, and Weatherbee, (2005) identify Maslow as one such theorist. Despite very clear articulation of his theory, it has undergone stretching in every imaginable way to cover as much ground as possible in the application of motivation in both academic and non-academic circles. They also point out that some theorists such as Maslow have received undue attention, not because of merit but because of the fame. One of the consequences of this situation is that the theory stands unchallenged and practitioners simply assume that since it is widely quoted, then it must be true. This is not necessarily a problem if the theory makes possible the attainment of desired results, but it robs the adherents of the benefit of a wider selection and understanding. The Need for Motivation The performance of an individua l directly correlates to the degree of congruence between the person’s skills, capacity and talent, and the job in question. Organizations find it necessary to find ways of motivating their employees to ensure they attain a healthy bottom line. In addition, business growth and continuity in the face of ever-increasing global competition calls for the retaining of highly motivated employees. Globalization has made it important for employers to ensure that they continue receiving the best possible output from their employees because competition is no longer localized . Employers know that there is an increase in work performance that is the result of a high level of organizational motivation. Organizational motivation is the overall effect of the individual motivation levels of the staff. The working conditions in a particular institution may lead to the development of resentment and the emergence of a pool of difficult employees. The only way to ensure this does not choke an o rganization is to ensure every employee remains motivated. Another reason for taking an interest in organizational motivation by employers is social dynamics brought about by an increase in the number of women in all levels of corporate and organizational leadership. With this increase, there is a realization that the motivational requirements of women differ in some ways from that of men, therefore requires more research. On a general scale, men are more competitive and combative in their approach to issues. On the other hand, women are more collaborative in their approach making them uniquely qualified to fill leadership positions in business because they have a natural flair for teamwork. Types of Motivation There is general agreement that there are two sources of motivation for any individual. When the source of motivation is from within a person, the motivation is intrinsic and when it is from a secondary source, it is extrinsic. Adair’s (2006) fifty-fifty rule is a way of looking at these two sources of motivation. He contends that in as much as an individual is responsible for their own intrinsic motivation, no one really operates in isolation and some degree of external motivation plays a significant role. However, the role and influence of extrinsic and intrinsic factors still elicits dispute. Maslow and Herzberg seemed to subscribe to the mainly-intrinsic view of motivation. Theory X and theory Y on the other hand present a situation where all employees are either hardworking or lazy, and therefore may require external motivation to get the job done. Approaches to Motivation in Organizations Organizations use several approaches to motivate staff. The methods may use negative motivation like the instillation of fear or positive motivation using aspect such as money, promotion, or recognition (Adair, 2006). One of the key challenges in the state of research in the area of motivation is that there is a lot more research on what motivates individu als compared to what motivates groups. This puts at risk the efficacy of methods that organizations use to motivate their staff. Positive results of the application of the methods at the individual level are not proof that they will be equally effective when applied at the group level. Many organizations use various models of performance appraisal to gauge the effectiveness of each employee in performing assigned duties. The popular version of this approach is a quarterly based system where an employee evaluates their performance against benchmarks set at the beginning of the quarter and compares their self-assessment with that of their immediate superior. Depending on the outcome, the company grants promotions and other incentives. However, dependence on performance alone may fail to identify and reward strategic actions an employee undertakes because the results are still out of view. Balance is critical for successful performance appraisal. Bruce (2002) identified three critical factors that all employers need to have in mind regarding employee motivation. The first factor is that while motivation depends on the individual employees, there are certain things in the hands of the employer which they can do something about to boost employee morale. They include the conditions of work, nature of assignments, remuneration and work benefits. Secondly, it is the employer’s responsibility to define perfomance, and to communicate what it means to individual employees. Otherwise, there may be sincere wasted effort as a result of different views between an employer and the employees regarding what constitutes exemplary perfomance. The third ingredient is explicit communication regarding expectations at all times. Bruce (2002) contended that the clearer the communcation of the expectations to an employee, the greater the likelihood of them meeting and exceeding those expectations. Conclusion In conclusion, the literature reviewed potrays motivation and employee satifaction as parts of the same coin. The area is evidenced by the development of multiple theories which means that there is still a desire to explore the area more and arrive at a unified view of the field. The literature also shows that the theories are in use in various organizations, informing their reward systems. These reward systems use the theories as the philosophical bedrock on which their reward schemes rest. The impact of these theories and their application is a very significant fact in organizational development. References Adair, J. (2006). Leadership and motivation. London: Kogan Page. Boyatzis, R. (2008). Competencies in the 21st century. Journal of Management Developement , 27 (1), 5-12. Bruce, A. (2002). How to motivate every employee. Blacklick OH: Mcgraw-Hill Trade. Chopra, S. (2002). Motivation in management. New Delhi: Sarup Sons. Dell, T., Michael, G. (1993). Motivating at work: Empowering employees to give their best. Melno Park CA: Course Technology Cri sp. Dye, K., Mills, A. J., Weatherbee, T. (2005). Maslow: Man interrupted: Reading management theory in context. In D. Lamond, Management Theory (pp. 1375-1380). Bradford: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. Gagliardi, G., Tzu, S. (2005). The art of war plus the art of management: STrategy for leadership. Seattle, WA: Science of Strategy: Clearbridge Publishing. Hopkins, M. M., Bilimora, D. (2008). Social and emotional competencies predicting success for male and female executives. Journal of Management Developement , 27 (1), 13-35. Kermally, S. (2004). Developing and managing talent. London: Thorogood Publishing. Lauby, S. (2005). Motivating employees: Information lifeline. Fort Lauderdale, FL: American Society for Training and Development. Minor, J. B. (2006). Organizational behavoir: Essential theories of motivation and leadership. Armonk NY: M. E. Sharpe, Inc. ONeil, H. F., Drillings, M. (1994). Motivation: Theory and research (Illustrated ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Routledge. Pepitone, J. S., Bruce, A. (1998). Motivating employees. Blacklick OH: McGraw-Hill Professional Book Group. Motivation and Employee Satisfaction

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