My Fathers Life By Raymond Carver - 858 Words

HIS FATHER’S SON The Short Story â€Å"My Father’s Life,† by Raymond Carver illustrates the difficult task of a son trying to find his own sense of identity and individualism while watching his father’s life unravel. Carver explores the relationships of his parents and his own struggle with sharing the same name with his father and the similarities and differences between them. THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WESTWARD MIGRATION Clevie Raymond Carver Senior moved to Washington state at the height of the depression in 1934. The author Raymond Carver Jr. speculates that when his father moved to the Pacific Northwest he was not â€Å"Pursuing a dream,† (Carver, 382) he believed that his sole motivation was â€Å"Steady work for decent pay† (382). This†¦show more content†¦The author speaks of the shame of having the only outdoor toilet in the neighborhood, driving the oldest car in town but he also mentions the trips to Seattle they took as a family and how memorable that was for him. Carver had a complex relationship with his father that began with sharing the same name. Everyone is trying to find their own identity in life, For sons who are named after their fathers this seems to be a more difficult task. When Carvers father left the family to work in northern California it was the start of his decline, but it was also a turning point in his relationship with his son who was starting to find his own way in life. Thoughout his dads illness Carver married and started his own family but he mentions â€Å"During those years I was trying to raise my own family and earn a living. But, one thing and another, we found ourselves having to move a lot.† (Carver, 387) It is here that we realize the path that Carver is taking is very similar to the one he watched his father take while growing up. His own struggles with alcohol and money seem to be a repeat of his fathers mistakes. Carver tries to connect with his father one Christmas and speaks to him about wanting to become a writer. His fathers advice is to â€Å"Write about stuff you know about. Write about some of those fishing trips that we took.†(Carver, 387) but Carver seemed to put him off when he asked to â€Å"Send me what you write† (387) with the belief that his fatherShow MoreRelatedA Brother s Murder By Brent Staples And My Father s Life978 Words   |  4 Pagessame mistakes. In literature many writers have been influenced by their families two great examples are â€Å"A Brother’s Murder† by Brent Staples and â€Å"My father’s Life† by Raymond Carver, both writers express in great detail how families have shaped and affected them as individuals. The essay â€Å"A Brother’s Murder† by Brent Staples basically shadows over the life of Brent staples and his younger brother Blake who has lost the battel of the streets to death. Unfortunately Brent’s early years were hard andRead MoreMy Fathers Life1094 Words   |  5 Pagesquickly, a whole family can be on the edge of destruction. This is exactly what Raymond Carver describes in his novel â€Å"My Father’s Life† from 1984. In his novel, Raymond Carver describes his father’s life, starting with his death and continuing with how he met his wife. The story goes on, telling about their poor life, his alcoholism, gambling and his unfaithfulness. The father is named Clevie Raymond Carver and he is roughly described as a drunkard, who has a hard time finding work and stayingRead MoreMy Fathers Life1110 Words   |  5 Pagesand quickly, a whole family can be on the edge of destruction. This is exactly what Raymond Carver describes in his novel â€Å"My Father’s Life† from 1984. In his novel, Raymond Carver describes his father’s life, starting with his death and continuing with how he met his wife. The story goes on, telling about their poor life, his alcoholism, gambling and his unfaithfulness. The father is named Clevie Raymond Carver and he is roughly described as a drunkard, who has a hard time finding work and stayingRead MoreGood Ole Days Essay examples617 Words   |  3 Pagesrough, such as when the child gets sick. The father is also there to teach the child right from wrong and also to teach the child how to survive in life. On the other hand, a dad is someone who just helps a woman to produce an offspring. He’s never there in the child’s life unless he has to be or is forced to be. In Raymond Carver’s â€Å"Photograph of My Father in his Twenty-Second Year† there is a son and a guy who is supposedly the kid’s father. Although the father wanted to be viewed as a good roleRead More Raymond Carvers poem Photograph of My Father In His 22nd Year1010 Words   |  5 PagesTheme of Raymond Carvers poem Photograph of My Father In His 22nd Year Growing up we all had expectations of who we should be imposed upon us by our parents. Whether or not we achieved those expectations upon reaching adulthood isnt really the final outcome. There is a greater lesson learned regardless of how we benefited from the imposition. And that realization is what truly shapes our final character. Raymond Carver entertains this topic in his poem, Photograph of My FatherRead MoreWhat We Are Who We Should Be: Literary Realism1132 Words   |  5 Pagescovered and prevents us from seeing.† This quote by Jean Cocteau provides an accurate summary of realism in American literature. Authors such as Raymond Carver and William Faulkner strived to expose their readers to defects, either internal or external. Their literature puts humanity under the microscope, and allows the reader to examine their daily life from a safe distance. Under examination, many shortcomings can be uncovered. Occasionally, an author will not only reveal these flaws, but provideRead MoreMy Papas Waltz And Photograph Of My Father1460 Words   |  6 Pagesforcing him to be a good role model for his son. However, many fathers fail to be a positive role model for their sons which can skew their perception of an ideal father figure. In the poems â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† written by Theodore Roethke and â€Å"Photograph of My Father in His Twenty-second Year† written by Raymond Carver the theme of a father-son relationship is central to both poems. These two poems are both similar yet different than one another. Both describe a father and son relationship but how the sonsRead More Disjunction versus Communion in Raymond Carvers Short Stories3821 Words   |  16 Pages Disjunction versus Communion in Raymond Carvers Short Stories Raymond Carver, poet, essayist, and short story writer, was very different from some other writers in that he clipped his writing until only the essential remained. Carver not only acknowledged the effect that fiction could have on readers, he proclaimed that it should affect readers.( Bonetti 58) Thus, when Carver writes about intimate relationships, the reader perceives the stories as more than entertainment or skillfulRead More An Analysis on the Similarities and Differences in Raymond Carversâ€Å"A Small Good Thing† and â€Å"The Bath†2727 Words   |  11 Pages In Raymond Carvers The Bath and rewritten version of the story entitled A Small, Good Thing, the author tells the same tale in different ways, and to different ends, creating variegated experiences for the reader. Both stories have the same central plot and a majority of details remain the same, but the effects that the stories have upon the reader is significantly different. The greatest character difference is found in the role of the Baker, and his interaction with the other charactersRead MoreLove in Literature2486 Words   |  10 Pagescharacter development is evident in Raymond Carver’s â€Å"Cathedral†. The narrator of the story, who is ignorant and closed–minded, encounters a blind man whose name is Robert. Robert recognizes the narrators cl osed-mindedness, but is not repelled by it, in fact he seems drawn to the narrator. Robert helps the narrator to open his mind to the world, and to see more than just what is there but to also see the beauty of it. The narrator is transported out of his mind â€Å"I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t

Adolf Hitler A Man Who Changed The World - 1027 Words

Gene Offield Miss Sterger World History 27 August 2014 Adolf Hitler was a man who changed the world. He rose from poverty and took control of the country and brought them out of poverty as well. Adolf Hitler was born in the small country of Austria in the year 1889, he was the third son of the family. His family moved from place to place many times. Hitler was a good student in school at the beginning of his educational career, but his marks slowly became worse as time passed because he did not agree with his father s career expectations for young Adolf. His father died when Adolf was only 14 and his mother died when he was 18. Hitler applied twice to enter the Academy of Art in Vienna, but was rejected both times. From 1909-1913,†¦show more content†¦In 1920, the 25 Points in the manifesto of the Nazi Party were created. One of main points that was stressed was for the removal of the Jews from German society. The Nazi party tried to seize power by force in November 1923, but were cut short by the police. Adolf was convicted of high treason and sentenced to prison, where he served about a year. During that time, he began to write Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which later became the second Bible in Third Reich Germany. Also during his prison sentence he met a man by the name of Rudolph Hess which he appointed his right hand man during the Third Reich. Adolf resolved to achieve power legally, and after a series of events too numerous to detail here, he was made the Chancellor of Germany by President von Hindenburg in the year of 1933. Over the next 6 years, Hitler undertook a series of measures to rid Germany of its obligations that were put in place by the Treaty of Versailles (imposed on Germany after World War I), he would try to restore the economy, which had been devastated by the Great Depression, rearm the country, and acquire a living space for Germany. In his book Mein Kampf, he had written of the need for this living space which he said could only be acquired at the expense of countries to the east, notably Russia. In 1938, by a series of intrigues, Germany absorbed Austria and the southwest and northern portions of Czechoslovakia. In 1939 Germany occupied

Marriage culture of Canada and India-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Marriage culture and example related to Canada and India. Answer: Introduction Marriage practices differ across different societies. Every culture bears their unique method of conducting marriage based on their customs and traditions (Ravelli Webber, 2014). The majority of the cultures more regularly reveal prevalent customs and practices, whilst a few have distinctive practices (Ravelli Webber, 2014). Marriage regards to sociable union which is agreed on by couples to unite as spouses. The union of the couples typically signifies sexual dealings, permanence in unification, and procreation (Ravelli Webber, 2014). This research would certainly give attention to this cultural practice and give examples which are associated to Canadian and Indian culture. There is certainly distinction which is present between the two cultures. The institution of marriage practice is treated differently in Canada and India. There are significant different which are observed (Ravelli Webber, 2014). In Canada the marriage practice are not so significant and partners are free to choose, follow a common or even choose even a combination of the practices (Watson, 2017). The Canadians have not regularly followed on their practices and traditions and in some cases they have employed other practices (maplediversity.ca). The Canadian tradition is not sturdy in relation to the institution of spousal relationship as it is in India (Ravelli Webber, 2014). The society absolutely does not deem the marriage institution; its relevance generally comes after career and financial matters (Ravelli Webber, 2014). This really is evident in the way the society sees marriage; they are secondary to financial matters and careers (offbeatmarriage.com). In India they highly regards the institution of marriage, in the one of the survey which was don e in 2013, it showed that divorce cases in India was 1.01% of the entire population (Watson, 2017). This statistics shows that these individual value marriage. The wedding customs in different cultures vary significantly based on the varying factors such as culture, social norm and even religion (Whyte, 2018). In Canada before the weeding; there is a selection or a color scheme of which some has to match everything from the bridesmaids dresses, flowers, decorations and invitations (Ravelli Webber, 2014). In most of the cases the bride family throws a party for groom which is regarded as the bachelor party. During wedding, it can take place anywhere but of the times is at church (Virdi, 2017). When looking at India, before the wedding there are rituals which are performed. The initial one is regarded as Misri-which is ring exchange ceremony (Saagar Vini, 2018). Another one is Mehendi, which takes place before the day of the wedding at the ladies only afternoon tea (Whyte, 2018). During the weeding there are Jaimala which is exchange of Garlands, and Madhupak which is offering of the yogurt and honey (Hou, Wu, Schimmele Myles, 2015). All t hese shows that the customs between these two countries varies significantly even during the wedding ceremony to celebrate the union between the couples. Conclusion In both Canada and India they treat the marriage in a different manner. The marriage practices are significant in Canada and partners are free to choose, adopt typical or choose a combination of practices. Canadians have regularly adhered to their very own practices and traditions and other instances utilized other practices. Nevertheless, the Canadian culture is not sturdy on the institution of marriage as compared to Indians. In India marriage practices have remained consistent and that has been evident from the few divorce cases which has been occurred based on the statistics. References Hou, F., Wu, Z., Schimmele, C., Myles, J. (2015). Cross-country variation in interracial marriage: a USACanada comparison of metropolitan areas. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38(9), 1591-1609. maplediversity.ca. (2018). Leveraging the Big Fat Indo-Canadian Wedding. Retrieved from. https://maplediversity.ca/leveraging-the-big-fat-indo-canadian-wedding/ offbeatmarriage.com. (2017). Canadian Indian Intercultural Marriage: True Love Knows No Color. Retrieved from: https://offbeatmarriage.com/canadian-indian-intercultural- marriage-true-love-knows-no-color Ravelli, B., Webber, M. (2014). Exploring Sociology: The Concise Edition. Pearson Education Canada. Saagar Vini. (2018). Canadian Wedding vs. Indian Wedding. Retrieved from. https://infogram.com/canadian-wedding-vs-indian-wedding-1g6qo2qq4vgy278 Saagar Vini. (2018). Canadian Wedding vs. Indian Wedding. Retrieved from. https://infogram.com/canadian-wedding-vs-indian-wedding-1g6qo2qq4vgy278 Virdi, M. K. (2017). Marriage/breakdown amongst Punjabi-Sikhs in Canada: a legal ethnography of disputants,(un) official forums, and access to family justice in Ontario, Canada (Doctoral dissertation, SOAS University of London). Watson, S. (2017). 19 unusual wedding traditions from around the world. Retrieved from. https://www.elitesingles.ca/en/mag/find-match/wedding-traditions Whyte, M. K. (2018). Dating, mating, and marriage. Routledg

Southern Company

Introduction Southern Company is an energy generating company that creates and distributes electricity in Southeastern region of US. It possesses all the common stocks of Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company among others. Southern Company mainly functions in Alabama, Georgia and Southeastern Mississippi in the United States.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Southern Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company’s headquarters are in Atlanta. It employs around 26,000 people. It supplies its electricity to a 120,000 square mile distance. It has various generation fleets which assist in distribution of electricity to its customers (Datamonitor, 2011). Company’s mission, vision, and primary stakeholders Southern Company’s mission is to provide reliable, superior and affordable electricity services to its customers. These objectives are realized when the company completes every task safely and when it achieves Southern Style. Southern Style involves complete commitment, exemplary performance and absolute trust in Southern Company’s business operations (Southern Company, 2010). Vision statement states the future or long term goals and objectives of an organization. Southern Company’s vision is to be the world’s greatest energy generating company (Southern Company, 2010). Primary stakeholders: Stakeholders are the people that are affected or who could be affected by the company’s activities. Southern Company’s main stakeholders are the personnel, consumers, financiers, the public, suppliers, NGOs and regulators (Southern Company, 2010). Five (5) forces of competition and how it impacts the company Rivalry: This involves competition from firms offering similar products (Porter, 2010, par. 1). For instance, Southern Company is facing competition due to change in federal laws. This has increased the presence of old electricity suppliers and wholesalers. Therefore, Southern Company’s net income is being affected by these changes in supply and demand. Threat of Substitutes: Substitutes are products which are already being offered by other producers, therefore, affecting price and demand (Porter, 2010, par. 7). There are other companies offering electricity products such as North America utility companies. This has reduced the demand for Southern Company’s electricity and subsequent market share.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Buyer Power: This is the effect that consumers have on a company (Porter, 2010, par. 10). Southern Company’s buyers are powerful because they are large corporations who buy in large quantities. The company’s subsidiaries are able to supply to municipalities and millions of customers. Supplier Power: This involves the influence that suppliers have on the production company (Porter, 2010, par. 11). If suppliers are powerful, they can sell at high prices. Otherwise, they are weak. Southern Company’s suppliers are weak because the company mainly sells on retail to its consumers. Therefore, it avoids manipulation by the wholesalers and consequently, the performance is maintained. New entrants’ threats and barriers: These are new competitors entering the industry (Porter, 2010, par. 11). As a result of changes in federal laws, barriers to enter electricity market are less. This has seen many companies emerge together with contracts futures. As a result, Southern Company’s performance is at a threat. SWOT analysis for the company identifying the major strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats Southern Company’s strengths are Wide range of generation fleet: Southern Company has a varied generation fleet that is shared among the old operating companies and Southern Power. The old oper ating companies are controlled utility branches of Southern Company. They include Georgia, Alabama, Gulf and Mississippi Power companies. SEGCO is also a company that has its own electric generating facilities. Alabama and Georgia Power are both eligible to half of SEGCO’s energy capability. Southern Company’s varied generation fleet helps in taking care of its consumer’s power needs (Datamonitor, 2011) Wide customer base: Southern Company serves a wide variety of customers. For instance, it serves residents, industries among others. Its utilities reach around 4.4 million consumers. Georgia Power is supplied on retail to over 600 communities within Georgia and on wholesale to corporations. On the other hand, Alabama Power supplies its electricity on retail to over 650 communities such as Anniston, Gadsden among others. It also supplies on wholesaler to 15 electricity distribution networks that are owned by the municipal council. Alabama Power also liaises with s uppliers in order to support sale of electric devices.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Southern Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gulf Power supplies its electricity on retail to 71 communities such as Panama City and Pensacola. Additionally it supplies on wholesale to municipalities. Mississippi Power on the other hand supplies on retail to 123 communities and rural residents. It also supplies on wholesale to one municipal council, six rural associations and one transmitting cooperative. This varied customer base shields the company’s general performance from economic downturns (Datamonitor, 2011). Southern Company’s weaknesses are Reliance on branches to pay dividends: Since Southern Company has subsidiaries. it does not have its own operations. Therefore, in order for Southern Company to be able to pay dividends and other expenses, it depends on the income and cash flows of its subsidiar ies and their capacity to pay upstream dividends. Since these subsidiaries are separate legal bodies, they have no responsibility to fund Southern Company’s needs. Over reliance on the subsidiaries to pay its obligations can affect the confidence of Southern Company’s shareholders (Datamonitor, 2011). Inadequate presence: Some electricity supply companies in North America supply electricity and gas. They therefore take advantage of this wide range of their products. However, Southern Company is dedicated to supply electricity to the US markets. This increases the risk related with electricity market performance. Therefore, the company is exposed to changing product prices because it takes part in significant energy trading. Eventually, this can affect the Southern Company’s performance (Datamonitor, 2011). Southern Company’s opportunities Partnership with Turner Renewable Energy: This partnership has been formed in order to undertake renewable energy deve lopments in the US. The first aim is to create large-scale solar projects in the places that have efficient solar resources. Consequently, Southern Company in conjunction with Turner Renewable Energy have absorbed Solar Photovoltaic Power Project. The project will be in a position to support around 9,000 homes. The emphasis on renewable energy will allow Southern Company to lessen its reliance on non-renewable energy provisions (Datamonitor, 2011). Alternative power generation: Southern Company has other sources of energy. For instance, it has biomass and landfill methane gas products. It is also promoting geothermal energy. This project is expected to serve the Austin city for 20 years.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, the company is testing solar energy and is studying the possibility of wind energy in the Southeast. These diverse energy sources allow Southern company to obtain stable revenues and market share (Datamonitor, 2011). Southern Company’s threats Competition: There is expanding competition at the wholesale level. This is because of the changes in federal and regulatory policies, increased participation by old electricity providers, brokers and free power suppliers. The levels of wholesale supply and demand affect Southern Company because it has no control over them. Consequently, this can have a negative impact on the company (Datamonitor, 2011). Regulatory requirements: Southern Company faces several federal and state environmental obligations related to pollution and waste management. Abiding by these laws is costly since it has to pay for pollution control equipment and emission fess. This could affect the cash flow and income in the future (Datamonitor, 2011). Natural disasters: Old electric supply companies have retained funds to cater for damage costs as a result of storm on distribution lines. There are also hurricanes which cause rise in costs. For instance the storms cause damage to Southern Company’s transmission and distribution lines. These calamities can also delay completion of projects that are underway (Datamonitor, 2011). Recommendations based on SWOT Southern company may take advantage of its strength by increasing the working capability of its generation fleets. For instance, it can increase the holding capacity that Alabama and Georgia Power have on SEGCO. This capacity can be increased to three quarters. As a result, supply will increase as well as performance. Southern Company can also increase its hydroelectric generating stations. By the end of financial year ended December 31, 2010, there were 82 power stations generating around 42, 963 MW. If the stations are increased to 85 of them, then the capacity could ri se to a minimum of 43, 963 MW (Datamonitor, 2011). Southern Company can also put more effort in producing biomass energy. Since this project was expected to start in 2012, it is time that the company commences it in time. This is because the benefits expected (100 MW) are huge and can benefit Austin city for many years. Additionally, it should speed up its tests and studies on solar and wind energy. Given that these are potential ecofriendly energy sources, they can be less costly and more profitable to the company (Datamonitor, 2011). The company should aim at minimizing its weaknesses by venturing in to other energy sources such as gas and nuclear instead of concentrating on electricity generation. This way it can beat competition from the other utility companies and increase its sales revenue. Additionally, by venturing in to renewable energy, the costs associated with waste management such as hazardous waste can be reduced. It can also insure its energy production facilities aga inst natural disasters and calamities. This way, it can pass over this responsibility to insurance firms therefore making it cheaper (Datamonitor, 2011). Various levels and types of strategies the firm may use to maximize its competitiveness and profitability Business level strategy is an organized set of plans and actions that a firm uses to achieve a competitive advantage by developing its main capabilities in particular product markets (Business-Level Strategy, 2011). Cost leadership strategy: This involves a combination of actions in order to produce or supply quality and cost effective products to its consumers. For instance, Southern Company can standardize its electricity in order to ensure it is at its best position to meet consumer needs with no delay or hitches. Delivery should be prompt while the cost should be affordable for both retail and wholesale consumers. This can increase sales and profits (Business-Level Strategy, 2011). Differentiation strategy: This is a combin ation of actions created by an organization to create and supply affordable products that are acceptable to customers. Acceptability entails the value that customers receive from a firm’s products such as quality and status. Southern Company can create differentiation by building up new systems and procedures which improve the quality of electricity. For instance, venturing in to more renewable energy generation. Additionally, it can improve the quality of its products by motivating its employees (Business-Level Strategy, 2011). Identification of market niches: This involves analyzing and identifying unsatisfied consumer needs. For instance, Southern Company can conduct market survey in order to know the areas that are lacking electricity facilities or modify the quality of the available electricity. Recent corporate governance issues that are currently affecting the company’s decisions Corporate governance is a means by which organizations are directed and controlled. It also involves relationships among management, the shareholders and the stakeholders. One issue being faced by Southern Company is its relationship with its subsidiaries which affects dividend payments. It relies on its subsidiaries to cater for its obligations. Since these subsidiaries are not obligated to pay for Southern Company expenses, it becomes difficult to pay shareholders’ dividends. Additionally, its relationship with its consumers is being affected since it sells to wholesalers who later sell to retailers then to consumers. This can lead to increased costs of electricity. Its relationship with the community is also at stake because of the environmental pollution from its operations. Conclusion Southern Company is a company that concentrates on production and supply of electricity. Although it has various strengths and opportunities, it faces threats and weaknesses both internally and externally. This has made it to come up with various strategies to cater for t hese issues. It is also faced with forces of competition and corporate governance issues which affect its operations. However, the company has continued to thrive in the presence of these challenges and remained at the top of the industry. References Business-Level Strategy. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/379-Business-Level-Strategy Datamonitor. (2011). The Southern Company: Company Profile. Farringdon Road, London. Porter, M. (2010). Strategic Management: Porter’s Five Forces. Retrieved from http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/porter.shtml Southern Company: Corporate Responsibility. (2010). Retrieved from https://www.southerncompany.com/ This report on Southern Company was written and submitted by user Amber K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.