All My Sons Play by Arthur Miller

The story described how a woman informed on her father who had sold faulty parts to the U. S. military during World War II. Henrik Ibsens influence on Miller is evidenced from the Ibsen play The Wild Duck, where Miller took the idea of two partners in a business where one is forced to take moral and legal responsibility for the other. This is mirrored in All My Sons. He also borrowed the idea of a character’s idealism being the source of a problem. [3] The criticism of the American Dream, which lies at the heart of All My Sons was one reason why Arthur Miller was called to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s, when America was gripped by anti-communist hysteria. Miller sent a copy of the play to Elia Kazan who directed the original stage version of All My Sons. Kazan was a former member of the Communist Party who shared Millers left-wing views. However, their relationship was destroyed when Kazan gave names of suspected Communists to the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare. [1][4] [edit] Characters Joe Keller Joe Keller was exonerated after being charged with shipping damaged airplane cylinder heads out of his factory during WWII, inadvertently causing the deaths of 21 pilots. For three and a half years he has placed the blame on his partner and former neighbor, Steve Deever. When the truth comes out, Joe justifies his actions by claiming that he did it for his family. At the end of the play he kills himself in a sad attempt to rid his family of the problems he has caused them and perhaps also to stop Kate from hating him. Kate Keller (Mother) Kate knows that Joe is guilty but lives in denial while mourning for her elder son Larry, who has been MIA for three years. She refuses to believe that Larry is dead and maintains that Ann Deever who returns for a visit at the request of Larrys brother Chris is still Larrys girl and also believes that he is coming back. Chris Keller – Chris, 32, returned home from World War II two years before the play begins, disturbed by the realization that the world was continuing as if nothing had happened. He has summoned Ann Deever to the Keller house in order to ask her hand in marriage, but their obstacle becomes Kates unreasonable conviction that Larry will someday return. Chriss idolization of his father results in his devastation when he finds out the truth about what Joe did. Ann Deever Ann, 26, arrives at the Keller home having shunned her guilty father since his imprisonment. Throughout the play, Ann is often referred to as pretty, beautiful, and intelligent-looking. She had a relationship with Larry Keller before his disappearance, and has since moved on because she knows the truth of his fate. She hopes that the Kellers will consent to her marriage with Larrys brother, Chris, with whom she has corresponded by mail for two years. Ann soon finds out that the neighbors all believe that Joe is guilty, and eventually finds out the truth after a visit from her older brother George. Ann is the knowledge-bearer in the play: finally, unable to convince Kate that Larry is gone forever, Ann reveals a letter from Larry stating his intention to commit suicide having heard of her father’s imprisonment. George Deever – George, 31, is Ann’s older brother: a successful New York lawyer and WWII veteran, and a childhood friend of Chris. He initially believed in his father’s guilt, but upon visiting Steve in jail, realizes his innocence and becomes enraged at the Kellers for deceiving him. He returns to save his sister from her marriage to Chris, creating the catalyst that destroys the Keller family. Frank Lubey – Frank, 32, was always one year ahead of the draft, so he never served in World War II, instead staying home to marry Georges former sweetheart, Lydia. He draws up Larrys horoscope and tells Kate that Larry must still be alive, because the day he died was meant to be his favorable day. This strengthens Kates faith and makes it much harder for Ann to reveal the letter to her. Lydia Lubey Lydia, 27, was Georges love interest before the war; after he went away, she married Frank and they quickly had three children. She is a model of peaceful domesticity and lends a much-needed cheerful air to several moments of the play. Jim Bayliss – Jim is a successful doctor, but is frustrated with the stifling domesticity of his life. He wants to become a medical researcher, but continues in his job as it pays the bills. He is a close friend to the Keller family and spends a lot of time in their backyard. Sue Bayliss Sue is Jims wife: needling and dangerous but affectionate, she too is a friend of the Keller family, but is secretly resentful of what she sees as Chriss bad idealistic influence on Jim. Sue confronts Ann about her resentment of Chris in a particularly volatile scene, revealing to Ann that the neighbors all think Joe is guilty. Bert – Bert is a little boy who lives in the neighborhood; he is friends with the Bayliss son Tommy and frequently visits the Kellers yard to play jail with Joe. He only appears twice in the play. The first time he appears, his part seems pretty unimportant , but the second time he appears his character gets more important as he sparks a verbal attack from mother when mentioning jail, which highlights Joes secret. [edit] Unseen characters Larry Keller Larry has been MIA for some years at the start of the play, however he has an effect in the play through his mothers insistence that he is still alive and his brothers love for his childhood sweetheart. Comparisons are made in the story between Larry and Chris with their father describing Larry as the more sensible one with a head for business. At the end of the play, Ann reveals a letter written by Larry pronouncing him committing suicide out of shame for what his father did. Steve Deever (Peter Smell in the 1947 movie) George and Anns father. Steve is sent to prison for the shipping of faulty parts a crime which he and the successfully exonerated Keller committed. [edit] Synopsis [edit] Act I [pic] The Penguin edition of All My Sons The play begins on a Sunday in late August 1946. Joe Keller is reading the Sunday paper and talking to his neighbors, Dr. Jim Bayliss and Frank Lubey. Frank talks about a horoscope for Joes son Larry that he is compiling for Kate Keller, Joe’s wife. Jims wife, Sue, and Franks wife, Lydia, each make brief appearances. Ann Deever, the Kellers former next-door-neighbor, has come to visit the family and is asleep upstairs. While waiting for her, Joe and Chris talk about Larrys memorial tree, which has blown down during the night. Larry was reported missing during World War II and is presumed dead, as there has been no contact with him for more than three years. Kate clings to the hope that he will come back, but Chris feels that it is wrong to keep up such a pretence for her. Bert comes by to play jail with Joe and runs off to patrol the neighborhood. Chris admits to his father that he wants to marry Ann; however, Ann was Larry’s girlfriend before he served in World War II, and since Kate does not believe Larry to be dead, Ann is still technically Larrys girl. By marrying Ann, Chris is effectively pronouncing Larry dead, so Joe fears that Kate will object to the proposal of marriage. Kate emerges and describes her nightmare from the evening before; it is about Larry falling from his plane and crying her name. She objects when Chris tells her that the family should try to forget Larry. Kate admits to Joe that she is suspicious about why Ann has come to visit; she tells him that she knows that Ann believes with her that Larry is still alive, and tells Joe that he must keep believing also. Bert reappears, but is harshly banished by Kate. When Ann finally comes down, everyone talks about how beautiful and mature she looks, and the family engages in smalltalk until Kate asks Ann if she is still waiting for Larry. Ann says that she is not, and realizes for the first time how deeply Kates hope runs. It is revealed that Steve Deever, Ann’s father, is serving time for the deaths of 21 pilots who crashed over Australia due to the faulty cylinder heads shipped out by the Keller/Deever factory in 1943. Keller insists that it was Steves crime and recalls how he successfully appealed against his conviction for the crime while Steve remained in prison. Keller reacts strongly to Anns conviction that her father is guilty. Ann has refused all contact with her father since Larry was reported missing, and insists that her fathers actions may have related to Larrys death. When Chris and Ann are left alone in the yard, they reveal their love for each other; however, Ann senses that Chris seems somehow ashamed, and asks him to tell her about it so their relationship can be an honest one. Chris recounts his experience of losing his company during a battle in the War. He is still angry that at home, life has continued as normal, and this affects his ability to accept the gift of having Ann. Joe emerges and tells Ann that her brother George is on the phone from Columbus. Joe tells Chris that he mustnt feel ashamed of the family money; then Ann comes out and reveals that George is coming back to the house after visiting his father in prison for the first time, and Joe is clearly worried. [edit] Act II As they come out, Chris is removing Larrys fallen tree and the family is inside getting ready for dinner. Kate confides in Chris Kellers concern that George may bring up the case again, and says she wont live through it if he does. Ann emerges and is met with Kates acerbic wit and Chriss assurance that they will tell her of their marriage plans tonight. Sue Bayliss interrupts Anns solo reverie by searching for Jim, and they share a drink of juice. Sue asks Ann to move away from the area if she and Chris marry because Chris’ idealism is negatively affecting her husband Jim. Jim had always wanted to become a medical reseacher but never followed through because Chris idealistic ideas kept him from doing so. Sue implies Joes guilt and insists that Chris and everyone else know something about it. Ann defends Chris, saying that he wouldn’t take money out of the plant if there was anything wrong with it, but she becomes disturbed because Chris told her that the case was all forgotten. Chris reassures Ann by telling her he wouldn’t be able to forgive his father if he had murdered the pilots. Anns faith in Chris is restored, and they and Joe share conversation in the yard. Joe offers Steve a job for when he gets out of jail, but Ann insists that Joe owes Steve nothing and Chris refuses to have him at the plant. Jim enters, having gone to pick George up from the train. He warns Chris and Ann that George is angry and should be driven somewhere to talk, a proposition which Chris promptly refuses. A loud argument ensues, in which George tries to convince Ann that Chris knows Joe is guilty, having allowed his father to take the blame for shipping the damaged parts, and Ann is caught between the two men that she loves, unable to make them reconcile with each other. Kate enters, causing Chris and George to halt their argument; she is extraordinarily happy about seeing Georgie and pacifies him enough to settle everyone down for a time. Keller then enters; George reluctantly greets him. Then Lydia emerges and her past relationship with George is then revealed. Lydia has had three children and shows George the life on which he missed out while he was serving in World War II. Ann goes inside to call a cab for George, having insisted that he must leave on the next train and not start a fight. Keller asks George about Steve and then argues that throughout Steve’s life he never took responsibility for his own actions, so he must be guilty now. Just when it seems that George is convinced and he agrees to stay for dinner, Kate tells him that Keller has never been sick in fifteen years, thereby disproving Kellers earlier alibi that he had the flu on the day that Steve allowed the cracked heads to be shipped, and was not able to come to the office. George latches on to this slip of the tongue and begins to interrogate Joe. Frank rushes in with Larrys finished horoscope and asserts that the day Larry was supposed to have died was his favorable day and he must therefore be alive somewhere in the world. Kate believes him unhesitatingly and tells Ann that she packed her bag and that Ann must leave with George. Ann insists that she will stay until Chris tells her to go, and reluctantly tells George to leave, running after him to try to make amends. Chris tries to insist that he will marry Ann, but Kate finally tells him that if Larry is dead, Joe killed him. Chris understands this to mean that Joe was guilty of shipping the faulty parts. Which means that Joe would have been responsible for Larrys death. Keller at last admits his guilt, but justifies his actions saying that if he had done it for his family. And if he went that day the factory would have been shut down and he would have lost money needed to support his family. Chris rejects this explanation, telling Joe that his responsibility to his country sometimes outweighs that to his business and family. Chris storms off, leaving Joe worn out and heart brokenly guilty. edit] Act III Kate waits on the back porch for Chris- he took the car six hours before and has not come back yet. Jim enters and consoles Kate before the entrance of Joe. Ann has stayed in her room for those six hours: having seen Chris storm out of the house, she now knows the truth about Keller’s gui lt. Joe insists that Chris just doesnt understand what responsibility for family means, and that Larry knew better what the business was all about. Joe tells Kate that he did it all for her and their two sons. When Ann emerges, she asks Kate to tell Chris that she knows Larry is dead, so that Chris will no longer feel ashamed about his love for Ann. Kate still insists that Larry is alive; Ann insists that she loved him and wouldnt have even considered marrying anyone else if she werent sure hed died. Finally, Ann asks Joe to go into the house and produces a letter that Larry wrote her the day he died; she tells Kate that she didnt bring the letter to hurt the family, but both are devastated by the final destruction of Kates hope. Chris returns and tells Ann and Kate that he is going away to Cleveland to start over; he rejects Ann when she begs to go with him, saying that he can no longer bear to look at his father but can also not bring himself to send him to prison as he deserves and therefore is not a moral and strong enough man for her. When Joe enters, he confronts Chris and they argue about Joes guilt. Ann rushes forward and gives Larrys letter to Chris; Kate tries to take it away from him and to prevent Joe from hearing it, but it is too late. Chris reads the letter aloud: it describes how, upon learning about the investigation into the incident and his realization of his fathers guilt, Larry couldnt bear to live anymore; he told Ann that he knew hed be reported missing and that she mustnt wait for him. All realize that Joe was responsible for Larrys death: Although Larrys plane did not have a cracked cylinder head in it, Larry found out that his father was not the kind of man he thought hed been. He took his own life by crashing his plane during a mission rather than face the disillusionment he could now see through. On hearing this news, Keller goes inside the house to get his jacket and turn himself in; but while Chris and Kate argue about sending him to prison and Ann watches the results of the letter unfold, a shot is heard. Joe has committed suicide. Ann runs off to find Dr. Bayliss, and Chris and Kate are left alone in a final tableau of their grief. [edit] Timeline of events in the play The precise date of events in the play are unclear, however it is possible to construct a timeline of the back-story to All My Sons using the dialogue of the play. The play is set in August 1946, in the mid-west of the USA with the main story set between Sunday morning and a little after two oclock the following morning. 5] †¢ Autumn 1943: Joe allows Steve to supply the USAAF with faulty cylinder heads which cause the planes to crash. †¢ Autumn 1943: Twenty-one planes crash and Joe and Steve are arrested †¢ November 25 1943: Larry crashes his plane off the coast of China having read about his fathers imprisonment. †¢ 1944: Joe is released from prison †¢ Friday in August 1946: Ann visits Chris †¢ Saturday in August, 1946: Larrys memorial blown down †¢ Sunday morning in August 1946: George visits Steve †¢ Sunday morning in August 1946: Opening of the play [edit] Links to Greek tragedy Arthur Miller’s writing in All My Sons often shows great respect for the great Greek tragedies of the likes of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. In these plays the tragic hero or protagonist will commit an offence, often unknowingly, which will return to haunt him, sometimes many years later. The play encapsulates all the fallout from the offense into a 24 hour time span. During that day, the protagonist must learn his fault and suffer as a result, and perhaps even die. In this way the gods are shown to be just and moral order is restored. In All My Sons, these elements are all present; it takes place within a 24 hour period, has a protagonist suffering from a previous offense, and punishment for that offense. Additionally, it explores the father-son relationship, also a common theme in Grecian tragedies. Ann Deever could also be seen to parallel a messenger as her letter is proof of Larrys death. The Greek plays, and those of Shakespeare two thousand years later, are about kings, dukes or great generals, because at that time these individuals were thought to embody or represent the whole people. Nowadays, we do not perceive the upper classes as most representational. When writers want to show a person who represents a nation or class, they typically invent a fictional â€Å"ordinary† person, the Man in the Street or Joe Public. In Joe Keller, Arthur Miller creates just such a representative type. Joe is a very ordinary man, decent, hard-working and charitable, a man no-one could dislike. But, like the protagonist of the ancient drama, he has a flaw or weakness. This, in turn, causes him to act wrongly. He is forced to accept responsibility his suicide is necessary to restore the moral order of the universe, and allows his son, Chris, to live free from guilt and persecution. Arthur Miller later uses the everyman in a criticism of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman, which is in many ways similar to All My Sons. [edit] Themes [edit] Responsibility, Society and the Generation Gap The play focuses on Joe Keller’s conflict of responsibilities, his responsibility to his family and that to wider society. He originally believes that he is justified in sending cracked cylinder heads and causing the deaths of 21 pilots, as this allowed his family to make money and allowed his son Chris to inherit the family business. Keller justifies his actions as he thinks he has a higher obligation to his family over society, to Keller there is nothing greater than the family Im his father and hes my son, and if theres anything bigger than that Ill put a bullet in my head! and Miller criticizes what he would consider a myopic world view. The major theme of All My Sons is Arthur Miller’s belief that people have a wider responsibility to the society in which they live, and this is something that Chris, Joes son, is aware of and believes in. Unlike his father, Chris feels society and other people play a main part in a persons responsibility, as when he finds the truth out about his fathers actions; he is horrified What the hell are you? You’re not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you? What must I do to you? I ought to tear the tongue out of your mouth, what must I do? and here it is possible Chris has become a sort of spokesperson for Arthur Miller in the play. Keller seems to still not understand his sons anguish, as his responses are Chris my Chris Not until Larrys letter is revealed to him, does Keller finally see the point of view of the next generation. Only after hearing Larrys letter does he reply to Chris question Do you get it now!? with Yes I think I do and then lead into where the plays title comes from when Joe Keller eventually realizes that they were all my sons in one sense. Keller kills himself in the final few pages of the play, leaving Kate on her own, the one thing she has always been said to fear, but the truth seems to give her a sort of strength in itself, as she tells her hysterical son Chris in the last line of the play, to live forget now live finally freeing him of the obligation of living with any feeling of responsibility for Kellers suicide. Sources Needed [edit] American Dream All My Sons is a criticism of the American Dream. Joe Keller, a representative type who would be considered an ordinary American, has lived through the Depression and despite a lack of education he has been able to own a factory, which he hopes his son will inherit. However, Keller’s quest for money leads to his responsibility for the deaths of 21 American pilots. Keller has apparently achieved the American Dream he lives in a comfortable house despite being an uneducated man. Miller is emphasizing the hollowness of the American Dream and that one should think about the consequences of our actions. However, this material comfort which Keller has worked to provide his family with the very best is of little consequence. His strong family unit is an illusion his wife is ill, Chris is discontent and Larry has committed suicide as a result of his fathers narrow-minded and reprehensible decision. It is through the letter from Larry that Keller realizes that he has not only killed one son but all of his sons, a theme which is reiterated by the title of the play. In conclusion, the American Dream has become more like an American Nightmare. Chris shows moral responsibility while his father Joe shows intense family responsibility. [edit] Wartime Profiteering Another theme of All My Sons is wartime profiteering. As there were large contracts when America entered the war on two fronts, the conditions were created for what Arthur Miller described as profiteering on a vast scale. Chris Keller is particularly angry that his selflessness in fighting in the war is contrasted by the selfishness of those making money off the war. [edit] Death Death is another key theme in All My Sons. Kate Keller refuses to accept her son’s death. She denies the possibility of this death for a long time. Recognizing the death of her son would mean that she recognizes that her husband was responsible. This is an issue that constantly weighs on Kate throughout the work. The tree is a symbol that represents that Larry is still alive, and when the tree gets knocked down Kate still refuses to believe that her son is in danger. When Chris finds out his father is responsible for killing the 21 pilots, he replies I was dying every day and you were killing my boys and it is very notable Chris refers to the pilots as his boys and says I was dying every day; making them closer to himself and trying to indicate to the audience the extent of which he feels he has moral obligation to society.

Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Aristarchus and Ptolemy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Aristarchus and Ptolemy - Essay Example Ptolemy happened to be a citizen of Egypt, between 90AD and 168AD, during the Roman times and was of Greek Origins (University of Oregon, 2012). Ptolemy was known to be a versatile personality, who happened to be a mathematician, astrologer, geographer and astronomer. Aristarchus was the first astronomer to propound the theory of heliocentricity, which regarded the sun to be a stationary star around which the earth revolved (V Archive, 2012). It was Aristarchus who calculated the diameter of the sun and estimated the volume of the sun on the basis of its diameter (V Archive, 2012). Many astronomers and physicists do believe that it was Aristarchus’ estimation of the superior volume of the sun as compared to the earth that led Aristarchus to conclude that the Sun constituted the center around which the earth revolved (V Archive, 2012). Though Aristarchus’ original treatise in which he noted down his discovery did not survive, references to his heliocentric theory do occur in the works of Archimedes (V Archive, 2012). It was Aristarchus who first proposed that the sun remained fixed and unmoved and the earth revolved around it in a circular orbit. In the history of astronomy, Ptolemy is attributed the honor of developing a comprehensive arithmetical model for accurately calculating celestial motions and astronomical phenomena (University of Oregon, 2012). Ptolemy also propounded his geocentric theory, which the astronomers popularly refer to as Ptolemaic system. Ptolemy extended varied arguments to establish the fact that the earth constituted the center of the universe, and other heavenly bodies revolved around it (University of Oregon, 2012). It was primarily owing to the Ptolemaic system that the geocentric theory gained strong grounds in the Christendom for a long time, until it was eventually replaced by the heliocentric theory propounded by Copernicus (University of Oregon, 2012)). Ptolemy is also credited

Capital Punishment Essay - America Needs the Death Penalty :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

America Needs the Death Penalty      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ever since the death penalty has been declared constitutional in 1976, thousands of people have been placed on death row and 314 of them have been executed.( Yaffe,1)   Thirty-eight states now allow the death penalty, with New York being the last to adapt this legislation last March.   Massachusetts and Iowa have been trying to pass a law that would to allow the death penalty to be used in their states.   Capital punishment is most often saved for murder and sometimes arson, treason, burglary, and forcible rape of a 14 year old or under from a 18 year old or older, but it varies within each state. There are many politicians who are trying to pass laws banning the death penalty.   There are around 3000 people on death row across the country right now and if these politicians get their way, then 3000 lives will be spared.(Matthews,1)   The rage of this issue continues to persist   with many people questioning if capital punishment is really the answer to solving the problem of crime.   The death penalty sh ould beallowed because it is not inhumane but rather fair and it's continued use will end up helping out society in many ways.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many people who oppose the death penalty say it is inhumane and unfair. These people who oppose it say that all human life has the right to be respected. All human life does have the right to be respected but there is a point when that right can be lost, if someone takes the life of another human being then they have given up that right.   Another claim the opposers to the death penalty make is that the death penalty encourages more murders because if people see the authority taking someone's life, then they will think they can do it too.   This is not true, if criminals see that more and more people are getting the death penalty, this will cause them to think their actions over. The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty in 1965 and since then, violent crime has more than doubled.(Matthews,2)   The death penalty is not inhumane because it can be done painlessly and quickly.   In most cases when the execution was performed the process that was most often used was lethal injection. Out of   the 314 executions that have taken place since 1976 the majority of them, 179 have been done by means of lethal injection.   The electric chair has been used 123 times, the gas chamber: 9 times, a firing squad: twice, and hanging: once.(Rodriquez, 4) Lethal injection is a quick, non-suffering way to execute the death row

A Message to Garcia Essay

A Message to Garcia is an award winning essay written in 1899. It serves as an inspiration to some as well as a lesson. In the essay President McKinley needed to have a message delivered to Garcia in the jungles of Cuba, he trusted one man with this mission, Rowan. He gave Rowan clear instructions on what to do. He gave him no tips nor told him any way he could complete this mission, he simply trusted Rowan to get the job done with his skill alone. What I’ve taken from this is the leadership and trust that is put into action throughout a unit. The company commander passes down an order to the platoon commander who in turn passes it down to the platoon sergeant and then to the squad leaders and fire team leaders who are tasked with accomplishing the mission. The trust that was put in Rowan is the same trust that is tasked throughout squads and fire teams. We have to be able to use the resources that we have on hand and the skills we learn throughout our training to be able to accomplish whatever mission and task is set before us. It gives examples at the end of the essay of different types of people who could be tasked out for missions but get lost along their way and lose sight of what needs to be done. It talks about people who need to do work when the â€Å"boss† is away and does work as well when he is at home. The man who when given an order doesn’t question it, but obeys without hesitation and does his job proficiently and thoroughly. The leaders who step up when it is needed and when it is not to be able to build trust in one another and earn the respect of his peers. A Message to Garcia highlights a prime example of the leadership that is need in a battalion, company, platoon and squad sized element, as well as the society we live in. A Message to Garcia Essay Written by, Elbert Hubbard, is a story written about trying to find the ideal messenger, or employee. And in many cases is hard to find even when it comes to a simple task, in this case, delivering a message. Hubbard goes on to explain that some individuals, when tasked with such a job will make it rather difficult. They will either ask questions, â€Å"who is Garcia? Where is he? Why can’t you do it? Have someone else do it.† Hubbard points out the most common flaws or unwanted qualities of employers when all he, or any employer are looking for is someone who is hard working and can be trusted with an important task regardless of what it is. And that is the type of worker that no employer can afford to lose. No matter when you are, regardless or your occupation, type of company or size, there will always be the workers that are replaceable, irreplaceable, or those who no one will hire. Hubbard explains the vast majority or employees that are in the work force. Lazy, irresponsible, untrustworthy, or are just plain worthless. However, the search for that one who will work hard even when no one is looking is rare to find, and that when he is found, he cannot be let go. After reading this book, it makes one realize, and actually look at whom they work with now, or in the past and see whom or how many actually fall into the category or workers Hubbard described. I for one was able to actually put faces with some of the examples given. More important than that, was looking at where I fit in, or which one describes me the best. Hardworking and the one that is rare and every employer is looking for, sure we would all like to think that but the reality of it, may not be as close as we would like to think. When tasked with delivering a message to Garcia, I would think it be natural for one to ask, â€Å"where is he†, such information is key. Rather than blindly searching for a man named Garcia with out so much of a direction. Does a question make one any less of their overall work ethic? I would think not, but when it comes to questioning the motives and  what is in the letter is completely different. Irreverent questions to the task at hand are unnecessary and would be seen as lazy or nosy. Overall it was an interesting book that makes you think other wise of not only yourself, but also those you work with all well. I would recommend any employer to have their employees read this book for they start working. That way it gives them something to think about, think about themselves and which type of employee they truly want to be. Also gives them an idea of what that employer is looking for in their workers, that way there is no question about what is expected. â€Å"He is wanted in every city, town and village- in every office, shop and factory. The world cries out for such: he is needed, & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia.†

Analysis Of Cathedral And The Red Convertible

Sukhpreet Kaur Professor Robert Sternberg EAC 150 Date- August 5, 2016 Topic - In both â€Å"Cathedral† and â€Å"The Red Convertible,† one character attempts to help another overcome a state of unhappiness and hopelessness. Happiness and Hope are the two most important blessings in life. Happiness is the ultimate reason for living. It is not relevant just to a single person but it is important for the whole global community. Hope is that great thing in life that gives strength to people to live life, even in bad situations. It is the visualization that there is something to believe and trust in. It helps people to make changes in life and it also gives the power to make improbable things to be possible. Hope brings happiness to someone’s life. Hope and happiness depend on the stages of daily life and the people who surround us. In â€Å"Cathedral† and â€Å"The Red Convertible† the writers show how one character tries to make the other character happy and confident. Both stories describe how the situations of life change the behavior of the characters of the stories. Lyman, in â€Å"The Red Convertible† tries to help his brother Henry whereas, Robert, the blind man in â€Å" Cathedral† attempts to change the point of view of the narrator towards life, but the difference is this that only Robert successfully done his job.Show MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of Lt. Cross1129 Words   |  5 PagesSharneka Parker ENGL 2010 Valerie Belew 07/01/2017 1. Provide a character analysis of Lt. Cross in â€Å"The Things They Carried.†(20 pts.) †¢ In the story â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Brien, Lt. Cross is a young soldier who like many others was drafted into the war. Though he is the leader of the Alpha Company, he doesn’t show it, he is not emotionally nor patriotically devoted. Lt. Cross was distracted from the war that was going on by his feelings for Martha whose letters and photos were a fantasyRead MoreThe Rise of China and Future of the West17670 Words   |  71 Pagesand opportunities. 131-Threats 1-Political Uncertainties: Of course, China is not a democratic country. In the past, the communist rule caused eighty millions dead (civil wars, famine, cultural revolution and so on). The communists backed the red Khmer genocide in Cambodia. They never apologized these crimes. The Communist party sets governmental policy and hold all the offices. Until today, many labor camps are reported. About human rights in China, go to freedomhouse.org The main worryRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesmain issues inï ¬â€šuencing the competitive position of a number of organisations in the same industry with a relatively short case. For a case that permits a more comprehensive industry analysis The Pharmaceutical Industry could be used. However, if the purpose is more focused – illustrating the use of ‘ï ¬ ve forces’ analysis – the TUI case study or Illustration 2.3 on The Steel Industry could be used. Some cases are written entirely from published sources but most have been prepared in cooperation withRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesmust be performed and try to devise the work systems that allow their organizations to operate most efï ¬ ciently. The Gilbreths Two prominent followers of Taylor were Frank Gilbreth (1868–1924) and Lillian Gilbreth (1878–1972), who reï ¬ ned Taylor’s analysis of work movements and made many contributions to time-and-motion study.15 Their aims were to (1) break up and analyze every individual action necessary to perform a partic- 26 Jones−George: Contemporary Management, Fourth Edition I. Management

Growing and Maintaining Your Fig (Ficus Carica)

The common fig (Ficus carica) is a small tree native to southwest Asia but widely planted in North America.  This edible fig is widely grown for its fruit and is commercially grown in the U.S. in California, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The fig has been around since the dawn of civilization and was one of the first plants ever to be cultivated by humans. Fossilized figs dating to B.C. 9400-9200 were found in an early Neolithic village in the Jordan Valley. Archaeology expert Kris Hirst says figs were domesticated five thousand years earlier than millet or wheat. Taxonomy of the Common Fig Scientific name: Ficus caricaPronunciation: FIE-cussCommon name(s): Common fig. The name is very similar in French (figue), German (feige), Italian, and Portuguese (figo)Family: Moraceae or MulberryUSDA hardiness zones: 7b through 11Origin: Native to Western Asia but distributed by man throughout the Mediterranean regionUses: Garden specimen, fruit tree, seed oil, latex North American Timeline and Spread There are no native temperate figs in the U.S. Members of the fig family are located in tropical forests of the extreme southern portion of North America. The first documented fig tree brought to the New World was planted in Mexico in 1560. Figs were then introduced into California in 1769. Many varieties have since been imported from Europe and into the U.S. The common fig reached Virginia and the eastern United States in 1669 and adapted well. From Virginia, fig planting and cultivation spread to the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Botanical Description The fig trees deciduous leaves are palmate, deeply divided into three to seven main lobes, and irregularly toothed on the margins. The blade is up to 10 inches in length and width, fairly thick, rough on the upper surface, and softly hairy on the underside. The flowers are small and inconspicuous. The branches of the fig tree droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for clearance and weight reduction. Fig trees are susceptible to breakage, either at the crotch due to poor collar formation, or the wood itself is  weak and tends to break. Propagation Fig trees have been raised from seed, even seeds extracted from commercially dried fruits. Ground or air-layering can be done satisfactorily, but the tree is most commonly propagated by cuttings of mature wood two to three years of age, one-half to three-quarters inches thick and eight to 12 inches long. Planting must be done within 24 hours. The upper, slant cut end of the cutting should be treated with a sealant to protect it from disease, and the lower, flat end with a root-promoting hormone. Common Varieties Celeste: A pear-shaped fruit with a short neck and slender stalk. The fruit is small to medium and the skin is purplish-brown.Brown Turkey: Broad-pyriform, usually without a neck. The fruit is medium to large and copper-colored. The main crop, beginning in mid-July, is large.Brunswick: Fruits of the main crop are oblique-turbinate, mostly without a neck. The fruit is of medium size and appears bronze or purple-brown.Marseilles: Fruits of the main crop are round to oblate without a neck and grow on slender stalks. Figs in the Landscape Southern Living magazine says that, in addition to being a delicious fruit, figs make beautiful trees in the Middle, Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South. Figs are versatile and easy to grow. They grow the perfect fruit, they love the heat, and the insects just seem to ignore them. You will have to share your tree with birds that flock in for a meal and partake of the fruits of your labor. This tree is a birders dream but a fruit pickers nightmare. Netting may be used to discourage fruit damage. Protection From Cold Figs cant stand temperatures that consistently fall below 0 degrees F. Still, you can actually get away with growing figs in colder climates if planted against a south-facing wall to benefit from the radiant heat. Figs also grow well and look great when espaliered against a wall. When temperatures dip below 15 degrees, mulch or cover trees with fabric. Protect the roots of container-growing figs by moving them indoors or transplant them to a frost-free area when temperatures fall below 20 degrees F. Avid fig growers in cold climates actually dig up the root ball, lay the tree in a mulching ditch, and cover with their preferred compost or mulch. The Extraordinary Fruit What is commonly accepted as a figs fruit is technically a syconium with a fleshy, hollow receptacle with a small opening at the apex partly closed by small scales. This syconium may be obovoid, turbinate, or pear-shaped, one to four inches long, and varies in color from yellowish-green to copper, bronze, or dark purple. Tiny flowers are massed on the inside wall. In the case of the common fig, the flowers are all female and need no pollination. Fig Growing Tips Figs require full sun all day to produce edible fruit. Fig trees will shade out anything growing beneath the canopy so nothing needs to be planted under the tree. Fig roots are abundant, traveling far beyond the tree canopy and will invade garden beds. Fig trees are productive with or without heavy pruning. It is essential only during the initial years. Trees should be trained with a low crown for fig collection and to avoid trunk-breaking limb weight. Since the crop is borne on terminals of previous years wood, once the tree form is established, avoid heavy winter pruning, which causes loss of the following years crop. It is better to prune immediately after the main crop is harvested. With late-ripening cultivars, summer prune half the branches and prune the remainder the following summer. Regular fertilizing of figs is usually necessary only for potted trees or when they are grown on sandy soils. Excess nitrogen encourages foliage growth at the expense of fruit production. Any fruit that is produced often ripens improperly. Fertilize a fig tree if the branches grew less than a foot the previous year. Apply a total of a half-inch to a one-inch pound of actual nitrogen, divided into three or four applications beginning in late winter or early spring and ending in July. Fig trees are prone to attack by nematodes, but weve not found them a problem. Still, a heavy mulch will discourage many insects with the  proper application of nematicides. A common and widespread problem is leaf rust caused by Cerotelium fici. The disease brings about premature leaf fall and reduces fruit yields. It is most prevalent during rainy seasons. Leaf spot results from infection by Cylindrocladium scoparium or Cercospora fici. Fig mosaic is caused by a virus and is incurable. Affected trees must be destroyed. Source Marty, Edwin. Growing Figs. Southern Living, August 2004.