Foreshadowing in Fiction Tricks to Keep Your Readers Guessing - Freewrite Store

Foreshadowing in Fiction Tricks to Keep Your Readers Guessing - Freewrite Store Types of Foreshadowing As literary devices go, foreshadowing is a technique that every writer needs to have in their toolbox. Everyone from literary greats like William Shakespeare and J.K. Rowling to screenplay masters like Alfred Hitchcock has used foreshadowing to create gripping plot twists that leave insightful readers (and viewers) experiencing that satisfying ‘ah-ha’ moment.If you’re not quite sure exactly what foreshadowing is, then here’s a definition: Foreshadowing creates tension or adds suspense to your story, by laying a kind of trail of breadcrumbs that your readers may (or may not) pick up on. If you’ve read a good novel recently, it’s likely that the author threw in some elements of foreshadowing. When you’re reading, foreshadowing is found in seemingly random or innocent scenes that only make sense when the plot begins to be resolved.When you’re writing, however, there’s nothing random or innocent about foreshadowing. You have to plan elements of foreshadowing so that they don’t appear too obvious - but nor do you want them to be so subtle that none of your readers pick up on the juicy breadcrumbs that you’re leaving for them. So, how does foreshadowing work when you’re writing? Types of Foreshadowing Every author has their own style of writing - so the exact way that you approach foreshadowing will depend on your style. However, there are two main types of foreshadowing that you can use in your stories - direct foreshadowing and indirect foreshadowing. Direct Foreshadowing If you want to keep your readers hooked, then direct foreshadowing is a great way to go about it. As its name implies, the kinds of hints (or breadcrumbs) you drop into your story are like little nuggets of information that prompt your readers to ponder about how those nuggets fit into the story and where they might ultimately lead. Clever and intuitive readers may even be able to guess how the plot will be resolved because of direct foreshadowing.Within direct foreshadowing, there are different subtypes that you can use, such as: Pre-scene This is a really popular type of foreshadowing. These scenes are often short and relatively downplayed, but reveal something that will turn out to be essential for a plot twist or resolution later in the story. Readers often become really adept at spotting the pre-scenes, so if you want to use these successfully you need to be careful not to give too much away. Effective pre-scenes convey necessary information but compel your readers to keep reading to either find out why the details are important or to see whether their suspicions are correct.For example, in your novel, you could have a scene that opens in a crowded bar. Your hero sits at the bar, enjoying his drink and the company of a beautiful young woman. Finishing his drink, your hero gets up to visit the restroom. Immediately, another man approaches the young woman and slips her a piece of paper before leaving the bar. Your hero returns, the couple leaves the bar. Your readers instinctively know that the young woman is either involved in something suspicious or not as innocent as she seems - they just don’t know what is going to come of it. Name Dropping If a character is later going to play a really important role in your story, or a particular place is going to be significant, name dropping can foreshadow the future events and signal to the reader that this character or place is important. They won’t know why it’s important, but it’s another breadcrumb that you’re leaving for them.For example, if you have your hero remark to another character that he’s going to visit a friend the next day, but doesn’t name the friend or the place, your readers wouldn’t really think much about it. If, on the other hand, your hero says, instead, that he’s meeting Charlie McGuiness at Holy Rood Chapel, then your readers are more likely to recognize these details as being in some way significant. Prophecy This is an old type of foreshadowing that has been used by the likes of Orson Welles and William Shakespeare. Essentially, it’s a way of directly telling your readers that there’s going to be a specific kind of dramatic event occurring at some point. Some writers see this is an outdated and counterintuitive practice, so it isn’t as common as it used to be - but it can still be powerful. You’re telling your readers that something specific is going to happen - but they don’t know when, or how, or what other surprises you have in store, so you keep them locked in a sense of anticipation.Here’s an example, from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 3): "All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter![†¦]Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.Not so happy, yet much happier.Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!" Indirect Foreshadowing If you’re more interested in subtlety than feeding your readers clues, then indirect foreshadowing is the way to go. You’re in control over the level of subtlety, and with this type of foreshadowing, although your readers may recognize the breadcrumbs as significant, they’re not likely to be able to figure out exactly what you’re hinting at. Personally, as both a reader and a writer, I find indirect foreshadowing more rewarding. In the modern age of social media, some direct foreshadowing looks more like clickbait and I prefer to be more subtle when I’m writing. Let’s look at some types of indirect (subtle) foreshadowing: Innocuous Statements These are the type of foreshadowing that may stick in your readers’ minds but only make sense when all is revealed later in the story. It’s less likely to cause your readers to be gripped, but when you have established yourself as a writer and have a following of fans, your fans will pride themselves on being able to spot the innocuous statements that you drop into your writing and try to guess what the outcome will be.Here’s an example of innocuous statements at work. In Star Wars: Episode II, Obi-Wan Kenobi remarks to Anakin Skywalker: â€Å"Why do I get the feeling, you will be the death of me?†. It’s only later in the series that the hidden foreshadowing makes sense. Pathetic Fallacy When I first came across this term I honestly had no idea what it could mean. Once I figured it out, however, it became one of my favorite subtle foreshadowing techniques. Pathetic fallacy refers to the way that you can give human emotions to things that are not human - like the weather, for example.There are tons of ways that you can use this technique to foreshadow future events. An icy gust of wind may be used to evoke a sense of foreboding or convey that something chilling is going to happen, for example. Likewise, a rainbow appearing during a ferocious storm may suggest that there is a change coming, or something more positive will emerge out of trouble.Charles Dickens uses the weather in Great Expectations to convey something of what the hero, Pip, is feeling. Can you figure out what Dickens is trying to foreshadow?:"So furious had been the gusts, that high buildings in town had had the lead stripped off their roofs; and in the country, trees had been torn up, and sails of wind mills carried away; and gloomy accounts had come in from the coast, of shipwreck and death." Object Placement Famously, Anton Chekhov once declared that â€Å"If in Act One you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act†. While he was undoubtedly referring to playwriting, the same applies to any kind of story - and, ultimately, this is a tool that can be used to foreshadow really effectively.What this means is that if you have something pretty huge happening late on in the story, you can foreshadow it really subtly by making some kind of allusion to it early on. In Chekhov’s example, you would put some kind of emphasis on a pistol that would later be pivotal to the plot. This is a hugely popular technique - you surely must have read a book (or ten) where there’s a mention of an object that doesn’t really seem to make total sense in the current scene, but then, later, you get that ah-ha moment of realizing, â€Å"oh, that’s why it was there!†There are different ways you can use this technique, too. Let’s look at a coup le of examples:ââ€"  Your hero is driving to the airport to pick up his fiance who is returning from an overseas business trip. He’s talking to his business partner on the phone and glances at the fuel gauge, which reads close to empty and then continues with his conversation. In this scene, it’s more the absence of something (i.e. a full fuel tank) that you’re foreshadowing. You could use this with medication bottles, or show your character forgetting an object, too.ââ€"  Your heroine is sitting at her desk in her university office, grading term papers. Her pen runs out, and she opens a drawer to get a new one. In the drawer, there’s an unopened envelope, yellow with age, with a name written on it. She closes the drawer quickly. Your readers will remember the letter - but they don't know why it’s important. Effective Use of Foreshadowing The type of foreshadowing that you use and the way that you use it will depend on what you want to achieve with it. Looking to build suspense? Then you should use more direct foreshadowing (so your reader’s don’t miss the clues). If you want to foreshadow a future event, however, it’s best to take a more subtle approach with indirect foreshadowing.One mistake that many writers make is using too much foreshadowing. A little bit of foreshadowing is better than a lot of it if you use it well. That means you need to get more selective about what you use foreshadowing for, and where in your story you use it.Major turning points in your story should be your foreshadowing priority. There are usually around 3 turning points in a story arc: the point at which your character’s life is affected by something in a significant way; the midpoint in the story arc where your character starts to question themselves in some existential kind of way; and the climax of the stor y.Generally, there will be more foreshadowing in the first half of your story, with the ‘ah-ha’ moments coming in the second half. One good means of getting a good balance (and making sure you’re not going overboard on the foreshadowing) is to use a plot diagram to pinpoint the best moments for foreshadowing for the major turning points in your story. Practice Your Technique for Gripping Foreshadowing Don’t expect to master foreshadowing instantly. Masters of suspense like Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock perfected their craft over many years - so you should expect to spend time practicing your foreshadowing skills. It’s a good idea to try to identify foreshadowing when you’re reading your favorite authors’ novels, too, as that way you’re able to learn from the masters themselves. As you’re reading, ask yourself why their foreshadowing techniques are so effective and practice replicating the techniques yourself.Whether you prefer to use direct or indirect foreshadowing, you can keep your readers guessing and build your confidence until you are a master at foreshadowing, too.

Motivating and Lying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Motivating and Lying - Essay Example tivation deals with the causes of people’s behavior, it attempts to explain why we behave in the way that we do.† There are instances when a person needs words of encouragement to feel better towards the things that surrounds him. Often, the motivational statements are true however there are times when the statements are false or considered as a lie. When the statement is not yet discovered to be false, the person who the statement was addressed would definitely feel uplifted, inspired and motivated. However, when the falsehood of the statement is exposed, either the person whom the message was addressed to will feel betrayed or used depending on the extent of the events that happened prior to exposure or the statement will be taken as a form of non-sense and the effects of it can be disregarded. Most commonly, it is the instinct theory of motivation which is used especially in the professional aspect of a person’s life. As expressed by Comer & Gould (2012) that â€Å"behavior is motivated by instincts.† Once said it is safe to conclude that there is that concealed motivation within a person. Either these motivation bundles just need some push to be opened or a tickle to function at the right moment. Or there are instances that when a person sees a good opportunity that is when motivation attacks and the person is given more enthusiasm towards certain events. It will be quite disappointing though when a falsehood in a motivational statement is found however when in the long run the â€Å"lie† resulted into a positive action from the person and began to make changes in one’s life, it would not matter anymore because it made realization within the self of one’s capabilities and

Global Market Entry Strategies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Market Entry Strategies - Case Study Example 1. What is the amount of equity being invested by Volvo in the joint venture in China? 45% stake 2. What will be the benefits of the alliance to the Swedish Volvo? a) help the Volvo group to enter the Chinese market, which is the world's largest market for trucks, with a total market for heavy trucks equivalent to the European and North American markets combined 3. What will be the benefits of the alliance to the Chinese Dong Feng? a) The Dongfeng brand will become a global brand 4. What has been the strategy of the Chinese government for entry of foreign firms into the country? Passenger cars, in which it allows foreign companies access to China's fast-growing consumer and commercial markets only if they create joint ventures with domestic companies and share technology in return. Why? foreign companies give potential rivals a leg up in terms of marketing and technical know-how 5. How large is Dongfeng in China's heavy duty trucks market? Dongfeng already is China's largest maker of heavy-duty trucks. What is its market share of heavy duty trucks in China? 20% market share 6. What problems is the joint venture facing in China? The heavy-truck market has been hit by Beijing's efforts to tamp down on mining and property development. What is the strategy of Volvo to cope with the challenge? reducing vehicle emissions

Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Conflict - Essay Example Strikes are overt demonstration of employee unrest in the sense that they are a clearly visible form of the demonstration of employee through a collective medium. Covert demonstration of employee unrest on the other hand is not easily discernible as it is an individualistic action that takes different forms like absenteeism and increase in labour turnover. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for loss of working days due to overt demonstration of industrial dispute in the form of strikes show a steady fall in number of strikes and the number of working days lost from 2004 to 2007. This indicates a slow down in employees resorting to the collective demonstration of industrial disputes through strikes. Absenteeism is a temporary withdrawal of work by an employee as an escape valve for the frustrations experienced at the workplace, which is proving costly to industrial productivity on an increasing basis. This can be seen from the estimates in 1998 that put the loss on productivity by absenteeism as $2.6 billion to the Australian industry, while in 2006 the loss increased to almost $7 billion. Industrial employee turnover as a result of employees’ lack of satisfaction at the workplace is also on the rise. Employees change jobs as a covert behaviour in their expression of conflict with their employers.

Feasibility study for adidas clothing stores

Feasibility study for adidas clothing stores This feasibility study for the clothing shop, that is Adidas stores, was conducted over a period of 3 months, from June to September, 2010. The business would operate as a sport brand and located in the most famous business circle, Victoria square, as research and surveys conducted during the feasibility research period indicate that the sport brand and the site would be the most profitable way. The goals of the clothing shop are varied, including satisfying the consumers need, making a profit and consolidate the status of Adidas. And the main mission of the clothing shop is to provide a place and service for local consumers to get high quality sport clothing and make their life more convenient. The feasibility research report contains the 4P analysis, that is, the product, price, promotion, place are analyzed. The strength and competition of the clothing shop are also researched. 2.0 Products and Services 2.1 Products and services description This clothing shop sells Adidas brand sports clothing, offers an excellent environment and service for consumers, and shows a kind of taste and experience an emotion. The aim of the clothing shop is to make it become a good place for leisure shopping. 2.2 Resources and technology Clothing store is a demanding profession requires the size and grade of the industry, products and services, after all, it is a high consumption, the consumer must care the fully reflection of their consumption value. To achieve this, there is a very high demand on the resources of investors, and technology. Joining the brand make it access to sufficient resources, advanced equipment and technology, and importantly, on the other hand, it can avoid a lot of risks. 2.3 Future products and services plans With the shops development and changes in the surrounding environment, the products and services will continue to improve, including more comprehensive new products, better quality and personalized service. The shop will continuously improve under the support of Adidas brand and its own efforts. 3.0 Project Site and Construction Conditions 3.1 Project site The city is a popular one which hosts international and domestic sporting events, such as cricket, South Australia Golf championship, classic car race, bike race. The site is determined at Victoria Square, a famous commercial circle. A survey  [1]  conducted there indicates that people here are willing to buy the product of Adidas, and the percentage of items are shown in figure 1. Figure 1 Market survey 3.2 Construction conditions Economic conditions Adelaides economy is mainly manufacturing, military and research. The city has large manufacturing, military and research area. Holden car, Mitsubishi Group has manufacturing plants in Adelaide, the city also has health equipment and electronic components plant. About half of the cars produced in Australia come from Adelaide  [2]  . Australias largest oil company and the famous brewery is located in Adelaide, its per capita economic growth is higher than the Australian average  [3]  . Adelaide is Australias major arsenal, 70% military industrial company in Australia is located in Adelaide, and its gross domestic product reaches 10 billion Australian dollars. Natural conditions Adelaide is a Mediterranean climate, warm and rainy in winter and drying in summer  [4]  . Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average high temperature °C ( °F) 27.8 (82) 28.4 (83.1) 25.4 (77.7) 22.0 (71.6) 18.7 (65.7) 15.8 (60.4) 15.0 (59) 16.0 (60.8) 18.1 (64.6) 20.9 (69.6) 23.7 (74.7) 26.0 (78.8) Average low temperature  °C ( °F) 15.9 (60.6) 16.2 (61.2) 14.5 (58.1) 11.7 (53.1) 9.7 (49.5) 7.6 (45.7) 7.1 (44.8) 7.7 (45.9) 9.0 (48.2) 10.7 (51.3) 12.8 (55) 14.7 (58.5) Precipitation mm (inch) 20.0 (0.787) 18.3 (0.72) 24.3 (0.957) 36.8 (1.449) 48.9 (1.925) 56.9 (2.24) 64.2 (2.528) 52.5 (2.067) 49.9 (1.965) 43.5 (1.713) 22.7 (0.894) 24.6 (0.969) Figure 2 Average data of Adelaide airport Traffic conditions Adelaide is the important traffic intersection of Australias east-west and north-south direction. The road is always better than many other Australian cities. Adelaides with a name of 20-minute city because the car can reach from the suburbs to the city center within 20 minutes  [5]  . Adelaide International Airport is Australias newest and most advanced airport. 3.3 Supplies Consumption of major materials According to the project scale, this project needs all kinds of garments, including T-shirts, jackets, shorts, pants, shoes, etc., and the annual consumption is shown in the following table. No. Material Unit Annual consumption 1 T-shirts piece 30910 2 Jackets piece 79080 3 Shorts pair 20450 4 Pants pair 54770 5 Shoes pair 76920 Figure 3 Annual consumption of materials (2) Sources of major materials All kinds of raw and auxiliary materials required for the project are internal stock, and hence the supply is adequate. (3) Quality requirment of major materials All the materials needed in the shop is checked according the corresponding standard, and satisfies the need of consumers to assure the product quality. 3.4 Logistics The company is equipped with sufficient storage space, which can be used to solve the storage needs of finished and packing materials  [6]  . Raw materials in warehouse are divided by batch, and establish a strict regime of materials distribution to prevent mixing batches. Transport system adopts advanced third party logistics, which is quick, convenient and cost-saving. 4.0 Investment Objectives and Tasks 4.1 Investment objective Become a leading sports clothing brand in the region, and make it a fashion consumer sites. 3 years to recover the total investment cost, and gradually start making profits. 4.2 Investment tasks (1) Stabilize capital, implement an ideal investment channels for investors and provide them with a stable and reasonable income. (2) Successfully complete the construction and development of brand stores, and gradually make the capital investment to generate income. (3) Use the existing sites to upgrade Adidas brand, increase brand awareness and customer amount to achieve mutually profit. 4.3 The key to success (1) The good cooperation of investors and owners, and the best combination advantages of both resources. (2) Sufficient market demand, active and effective campaign. (3) The location of the grasp. Clothing store is in the address of beauty and in a business circle. 5.0 The Market Analysis 5.1 The market demand Our consumer demand is still relatively ample. On the one hand, there are stable and old customers, on the other hand, there are beautiful natural and relatively stable business district. (1) Stability of the old client resources. This part of the consumer is the natural client resources after the completion of the new brand stores. When they face more appeal, better products and services of the brand stores, they will continually become the loyal customers of the brand. The residential area Enterprises in the region Schools in the region In general, the target consumers are sufficient, but here there is a lack of brand appeal on the scale of the clothing store, we shop here just to fill this market gap. 5.2 Industry development trends (1) The clothing market is growing rapidly  [7]  , and it has become a major trend of consumption, the market early training has ended. (2) The taste of the consumer is becoming increasingly high. The culture charm is the charm of the market. Consumers are starting to cognitive clothing brand, clothing style and know how to enjoy the fun. The rapid development of sports clothing market is closely related to the natural sport interest of the consumer. (3) Education level, family income and frequency of exercise show a significant positive correlation  [8]  . (4) The competition within the industry and associated industries is increasingly intense. There are more and more clothing stores in the city. Meanwhile, other brands of sports clothing are all relevant alternatives. 5.3 Competition comparisons (1) Indirect competition with the strong brand stores. Currently the city has more than 10 sports clothing stores, of which the largest competitor of Adidas, Nike, 4. Peripheral consumer source will be diverted by these indirect competitors. (2) Direct competitors. Some of the other sports clothing in the region is the direct competitors. Their size is not too large, but they have some characteristics, price and quality are good. These stores still have a certain competition. However, peer competition situation, mainly small-scale, has a certain personality clothing store in the region, is good for us. In contrast, our shop has a considerable advantage on brand appeal, management level, product and service quality, scale and finance. The fashion and taste of the clothing shop determine its share of emotional consumption, and consumers are very concerned about the brand and grade factors. This can also explain the large number of consumers prefer to find clothing store downtown. 6.0 Promotion Strategy 6.1 Market strategy Target market The target market contains the regions consumers in the business district, with monthly income of 1,000 $A. The majority are well-educated, and they pursuit fashion and taste, mainly youngster and the middle-aged. Marketing planning Utilize the brand and resources advantages, and establish rapidly the popularity and reputation of Adidas to solid the old consumer source, getting back the consumers attracted by strong brand stores and local specialty shops. Although the Adidas brand is strong, this region is likely to have other strong brand clothing store in the future. Therefore, we must use all the opportunities and resources now, making a good service marketing and more personalized service, build our own brand to consolidate the customer loyalty. 6.2 Promotion The most important thing is to make the shop known by the consumers nearby as quickly as possible. (1) Advertising For district residents, deliver fine single-page advertisement and small gifts, one-page form can also be made the form of discount vouchers. (2) Event marketing Hold student party and reading activities. Contact the Universitys student union and several important regional organizations; hold a number of salon parties and school activities and this is helpful in raising quality to attract students and young consumers. When the time is ripe, we can also organize an activity with movement and life as the theme of the essay writing. (3) Service marketing Besides brand identity, service for clothing is also important to consumers. To do this, more personalized service is needed. Establish membership card. Members name is printed on the card, such as bank card. Membership card discount rate was not high, such as 9.8 fold. However, on the one hand, it can give consumers a sense of respectability, and on the other hand, it is easy for attendant to call the consumers. Especially if consumers and other people are together, and the attendants can publicly call him (her) Mr. (Miss), they will feel they are respected and welcomed. (4) Personalized service Put some promotional materials in the table, and the content of which is about the knowledge and stories of the Adidas. On the one hand, it can enhance the taste and the atmosphere, and on the other hand, it can increase the favorable impression of consumers. For many consumers who come together, we can explain the brand with specialized person. If they are interested, you can introduce the brand name, the origin and other relevant knowledge to them. 7.0 Financial Plan 7.1 Financial overview No. Name Amount ($A) 1 Rent 650,000 / year 2 Joining fees 200 00/ year 3 Decoration and reconstruction 60 000 4 Salaries 40,000 / month 5 Water and electricity 10,000 / month 6 Other costs 10,000 / month 7 Other charges 50 000 Figure 4 Financial overview 7.2 Device configuration No. Device type Name Quantity Unit price ($A) Total price ($A) 1 Business equipment Container 2 1200 2400 2 TV 2 6000 12000 3 Computer 2 4000 8000 4 Sofa 3 5000 15000 5 Cash register 2 3000 6000 6 Office Equipment Air conditioner 3 3000 9000 7 telephone 2 200 400 8 Fax machine 1 1500 1500 9 Printer 1 1500 1500 Total 18 55880 Figure 5 Device configuration expenditure

His taints and honours waged equal with him? Essay -- essays research

Philo, one of Antony’s loyal friend and partner in war, has seen Antony going from one respectable soldier to then abandoning his everything about the empire upon meeting Cleopatra. He is not confident into which category Antony fits into. (5.1) Many roles are played by Antony; therefore we see different sides of the argument. Antony can claim greatness for serving the needs of his country and his empire as fighter and as a leader. He can be seen as equal as Caesar, as he commits suicide, seen as a honourable thing to do. Antony’s once loyal and heroic background all changes when he comes across Cleopatra. A once great military reader is now in decline due to her charm and bewitching nature. The first sign we see this occurring is when Philo says the temple pillar of the world transformed into the strumpet’s fool (1.1). In differences between Roman and Alexandrian ways of life has a big influence on Antony’s behaviour and each view of Antony’s â₠¬Å"taints and honours† very differently. Shakespeare could be seen as using shock tactics to challenge the audiences of the time such as Antony’s suicide, which is a grave crime for the Protestant religions of that period. Different audiences will tend to view Antony’s behaviour differently.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Philo complains that Antony has abandoned the military endeavours. Antony was the military hero and disciplined statesman, but seems to have happily abandoned his reason in order to pursue his passion. He himself says, â€Å"here I am Antony, yet cannot hold this visible shape† (4.14). He, right after this, declares that, â€Å"let in Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall!†(1.1) Therefore, at this early stage, on the evidence provided, the audiences have already seen how badly Antony has switched to another side of himself. They now are aware that his taints now far outweigh his past honours in Roman eyes. Antony tried very hard to fight the conflict between public duty and private life. The fist such example one sees when Antony returns to Rome to fight against Pompey, as Antony describes it, â€Å"Our quick remove from hence†(1.2). This sense of duty creates anxiety for Cleopatra, as in the following scene we see her asking Alexas for his whereabouts, â€Å" see where he is, who’s with him, what he does†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Antony falsely marries Octavia, thus bringing in another woman ... .... This will already give Antony a bad name, negative role, and identity. However Shakespeare first designed the play as, a â€Å"tragedy†. By indicating its dramatic genre, the audience will in the end see how Antony can be a hero serving his domain, country people and see to the extent his honourable death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The argument to what extent makes Antony honourable or not is extremely complex, with equal evidence on both sides. Antony as an honourable figure is backed up by his loyal soldiers at the very beginning by his closely followed friends in and out of war, Enobarbus and Philo, who speaks the quote, being two of his most trusted companions and followers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However arguments against Antony is particularly from Cleopatra and Caesar’s attendants and servants. However Caesar, to a degree, did fully support Antony before his â€Å"let in Tiber melt†, Octavia and his â€Å"hand to hand combat† and in the end, declares this (5.1). So, in conclusion, with the support of Enobarbus his loyal support and in the opposite ends of the time scale, Caesar, Antony is very much holds an admirable past rather than his apparent downfallen soldier he was.

Bicentennial Man

Bicentennial Man is a film that depicts philosophical musings in a science fiction story. It relays the story of a robot named Andrew Martin and his unique sense of self-awareness as he discovers the remarkable qualities of humanity, and how such exposure seizes him to aspire for human-likeness.It lingers on the idea of free will, which struggles to find its place in the being of Andrew, a robot who can rationalize things. The movie’s premise revolves on the concept of humanity and how an object such as a robot could be considered as a rational being, rather than what it was originally intended to be which was to serve human beings.The film goes through the motions of Andrew’s arrival in the Martin family and the interactions he had experienced toward them that contributed to his fascination about humans. As the story progresses, Andrew becomes immersed in his ability to fully understand the human condition that he becomes like one.The dilemma in this film is seen when Andrew attempts to insist upon his human-likeness by behaving in a rational manner, which agitates human beings who do not understand his exceptionality. Analysis At the beginning of the film, it was projected that Andrew’s sole purpose was to serve and obey the Martin family.Like all robots, Andrew’s function was to cater to the needs of the humans he was assigned to serve. The political theorist, Jeremy Bentham, describes this relation as the concept of utilitarianism. Bentham explains that the utilization of an object or individual is relative to the benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness produced by the object or individual for the party concerned.In its simplest terms, it defines the use of an object, or even individuals, as a means to an end. The purpose of using anything depends on the notion of pleasure and pain as the former is seen as good while the latter is seen as evil (Nelson 205).The fundamental principle of utilitarianism derives its condition from the assumption that individuals act according to their own self-interest which sought pleasure and avoided pain. This line of thinking anticipates an individual’s actions or behavior since it recognizes the imperfection of humanity and how individuals need objects or other human beings to survive (Nelson 207- 210).In the context of the film, Andrew’s initial role was merely a utility that produced pleasure or happiness for the Martin family. This was shown when the family ordered him to do things for them, which was exactly what he was intended for.However, over the course of his interactions with the members of the Martin family, especially with the youngest daughter Amanda, Andrew became more self-aware of his state and his comprehension of the beings he was obligated to. Mr. Martin’s influence on the growth of knowledge that Andrew received through the books he was given to read and the conversation pieces that they had, created a lasting impact on Andr ew’s capability to understand and imitate the complexities of humanity. Andrew developed a unique consciousness that led him on a quest for self-realization.He had demonstrated a capacity to function beyond his means, through the creation of objects by carving, his fondness for music that led him to learn how to play the piano and his special interest in the human condition. His ability to develop creativity on his own volition, which is considered a human trait, places him in an awkward light that dimly reflects the uncertainty of his being. The concept of free will clearly operates in this section of the film as it portrays Andrew’s ability to reason and act in reference to the way he understands his situation.Immanuel Kant defines free will as a direct experience of reality brought about by introspection. It relies on the faculty of volition that pushes an individual to decide or act on something without being coerced to do it (Nelson 117).Andrew had demonstrated th e concept of free will in the scene where he asked Mr. Martin if he could obtain his freedom. This correlates with Kant’s discussion about how freedom is seen as autonomous. Kant defines the laws governing autonomy as conditions under which the will of one individual could be combined with those of others, according to a general law of freedom.In obeying this general law, an individual was following an internal moral law which is the result of her or his reasoning. The individual is said to carry out an act for the purpose of being aware of her or his capability to act (Nelson, 118).Furthermore, the concept of sovereignty is magnified in this scene as Andrew was able to assert himself as a rational being when he requested for his freedom since he believed that he had the right to ask for it. According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Freedom is a sovereign right.It is aspired by rational beings who view themselves as beings of worth. For Andrew to have been allowed by Mr. Martin the privilege of acknowledging that signifies his acceptance of Andrew’s rational sense of being (Nelson 133). Andrew also validated his human-likeness when he exercised his free will to build his own house and live on his own to find his destiny. He made the decision not because someone ordered him to leave, but he did it out of his interest to discover more things about himself and the world around him.Another revelation in the film supports the philosophy of Kant when it emphasized that an action should be done from duty to have moral worth. Kant maintains that duty does not depend on the realization of the object of action, rather on the principle of volition in performing the action which disregards any object of desire (Nelson 120 -125). Andrew’s duty to still serve the Martin family after being acknowledged as free establishes his moral worth since he performed them out of his own will and not because he was obligated to.The fact that he did things according to his own understanding of them connotes how his behavior and line of thinking has changed from the beginning of the film up to that point Kant also stated that the greatest good or morality of an act should only be identified under the conception of the existing internal moral law, which can only be found in a rational being. Since Andrew’s actions were mostly dictated by his own judgment of things, his behavior reinforces him to become rational, which is the only trait that is ascribed to humans (Nelson 120 -125).Andrew’s realization of his conflicted being came into light when he stopped referring to himself as â€Å"one† and started to use â€Å"I† in the latter part of the movie. â€Å"I† is a term used to identify humans while â€Å"one† is commonly used in identifying a thing or referring to another person. The transition from â€Å"one† to â€Å"I† is a vital indication that Andrew saw himself as a rational being. This occur rence gave Andrew the opportunity to assert his self as though he was part of the human race.There are a lot of peculiar characteristics that outlined Andrew’s uniqueness from other robots. He displayed a higher understanding about human beings because he too exhibited qualities that were considered flawed when compared to other robots of function. He had developed an inclination toward emotionality and creativity, identifiable traits that are uniquely present among human beings. It is essential to take note of this since the very idea of Andrew’s immortality and perfect composition is questioned because of the human-like traits that he possessed.Andrew’s distinct ability to portray human characteristics and personalities makes him a very interesting character to study since he defies the natural laws of reason regarding free will. His possession and understanding of such ideas like emotions, mortality, free will and discernment creates tension within his nature as it was not expected of him to possess such qualities. The film tackled the very notion of humanity, arguing how to determine the boundaries of being human.In the movie, Andrew contended that being human should not only be based upon the physical attributes that defines humanity; it should also be rooted on the principles of individual comprehension and the concept of death.Andrew gave up his mortality in order to be accepted as human. Although in the film, it would seem that Andrew’s nature cannot be changed for his metaphysical make-up is a robot, his assertion of his self and the idea of being recognized as part of the human race is a trait of a rational being.Kant lucidly explains the complexities of the human condition when he states that all individuals should be treated as ends and never merely as a means. He stresses that the rights of an individual must be upheld through the pursuance of equality before the law and the acquisition of education that leads to enligh tenment. Based on this statement, rationality is characterized by the ability to see oneself as an entity of worth. It is to apply reasoning to verify his or her existence. From the film’s perspective, Mr.Martin had demonstrated Kant’s edict with regard to his involvement in Andrew’s mental progress since he gave Andrew the chance to achieve something that was beyond a robot’s nature. Mr. Martin’s support formulated Andrew’s exceptional voice that lends a humanistic view on life. Andrew’s appreciation for life was borne out of Mr. Martin’s subjective treatment of the robot as a being of worth. All of these things mentioned by Kant are found within Andrew’s being. If this is what defines humanity as a whole then Andrew is very much human despite his origins.It is through Andrew’s expression of freedom that affirms his humanity. Conclusion The film attempts to blur opinions about morality and humanity; both terms ar e used interchangeably to affirm the existence of human beings.It takes apart human reasoning through the being of a robot and relays its sentiments about the world in a self-imposing way. The views of Bentham, Rousseau and Kant explain partially the complex nature of humanity found in the film and how it has affected the way people have defined their existence.It is a movie that challenges each individual to look closely at her or his imperfections and render appreciation for the uniqueness each one possesses. As difficult as it is to fully grasp the concept, it is important to analyze the film as a tool of introspection into the consciousness of our rationality as humans since it questions the very essence of how we understand our existence. Work Cited Nelson, Brian R. Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology. 2nd ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 1995.