Transforming of South Korean Economy and the “Chaebols”’ Riddle Free Essays

Nadezhda Sarelska ID: 10210680317 EMA- Chinese Economy School of Economics Fudan University Transforming of South Korean Economy and the â€Å"Chaebols†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ riddle Political Economy of East Asia Term Paper Professor Dingping Guo October, 2012 Shanghai, China Table of contents: 1. Introduction 3 2. The beginning of Korea 4 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Transforming of South Korean Economy and the â€Å"Chaebols†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Riddle or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1. Collective will for success of South Korea 6 3. South Korea and modern economy 7 3. 1 Reasons behind Economic growth 8 4. The Birth of â€Å"Chaebols† 9 4. 1 Factors of Development of â€Å"Chaebols 10 4. 2 â€Å"Chaebol† and 1977 Asian Crisis 14 5. Case Study of Samsung Group 15 6. Conclusion and Recommendation 19 . Reference List 21 1. Introduction South Koreas ‘s significant transformation – an evolution from impoverished to high-income economy during three decades starting from 1960s to 1990s is one of Asian phenomena famous as -â€Å"Four Asian Tigers†- a term used to describe the tremendous performance of four Asian economies – Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. Between the early 1960s and 1997s, the four Tigers rapidly industrialized and maintained sustained high growth rates (Ref*1). Today, Korea is an example for a market economy, one highly developed country which ranks 15th in the world by nominal GDP and 12th by purchasing power parity (PPP), identifying it as one of the G-20 major economies(Ref*2). In 2010, Korea’s trade volume amounted to US$892 billion, ranking the country the 7th largest exporter in the world(Ref*2). Korea’s shipbuilding sector currently accounts for about 34% of the world’s total shipbuilding orders. As a major auto manufacturer, Korea produces over 4. 2 million vehicles annually. The success of South Korea is often called â€Å"The Miracle on the Han River† and it has been identified by several factors where the presidency of Park Chung-Hee (1961-1979) played a vital role. Under the President Park Chung-Hee’s era, the government played a dominating role in a country’s economy. His policies of shifting away the focus from import substitution strategies towards export- orientated industrialization and technical progress, favored the development of South Korean economy and establishment of a strong business environment appeared with a result of large conglomerates called â€Å"Chaebols†. To be defined as a â€Å"Chaebol†, an organization should satisfy two conditions: it should be owned by family /relatives members and it should have a diversified business operations ( REF*3). The â€Å"Chaebols† have created such a diversification that, as Anna Fifield said in her article, – â€Å"You can be born in a Samsung hospital and end up in a Samsung mortuary† (Ref*4). The giants of yesterday are one of today’s best brands in technology field as Samsung, Hyundai and LG. They and the other â€Å"Chaebols† was the core of Korean spectacular growth and still their success can be accepted as South Korea’s success. How and why Korean’s economy was shaped by historical events and what are the reasons behind â€Å"Chaebol† establishment? What was the impact they have created over South Korean economy and could we say â€Å"Chaebols†are the reason for â€Å"the Miracle on the Han River. â€Å"? Case study of Samsung will be performed in order to give us better understanding of one of the largest and famous â€Å"Chaebol† ever and its influence over South Korean economy. 2. The Beginning of Korea The land of the morning calmâ€Å"–this is the meaning of Korea’s original name â€Å"Choson†. The time of establishment of this country and its exact geographic location is still a matter of scientific research even it often believed that human activity in Korea can be traced far into the Pal eolithic period, about 500,000 years ago (Ref*5). In Asia, Korean’s history is known to be second longest following that only of China. (Ref*6) But there is a belief, according to the Korean legend, that the God-King Tangun – a legendary figure born of the son of Heaven, (which existence is still disputable among scholars) and a woman from a bear-totem tribe founded the Korean nation in BC 2333(Ref* 7). Not many present- day nations can be praised with so long and rich history even this country’s time has been shaped by difficult and frequent invasions ( as many as 900 by some accounts)( Ref*6), wars and influence from its neighbors. The beginning was often said to be the time of â€Å"The Three Kingdoms† – â€Å"Silla† â€Å"Goguryeo† and â€Å"Baekche† where â€Å"Goguryeo† was known to occupy the Northern part of the peninsula from the Chinese border to the Han River, while â€Å"Silla† and â€Å"Baekche† have dominated the Southern regions (Ref. 11). But in 668 AD â€Å"Silla† (668-935) unified the Korean peninsula and start developing a country with an economy, a culture and Buddhist philosophy. † Koryo dynasty† from which the English name â€Å"Korea† originates succeeded â€Å"Silla† in 935 and the country’s boundaries reached level which is very similar to its current size today. â€Å"The Choson dynasty† displaced â€Å"Koryo dynasty† in 1392 and moved the capital to Hanyang-gun (today’s Seoul) in 1394. Soon after Confucianism replaced Buddhist philosophy and was adopted as the country’s official religion and â€Å"Hangul† -the Korean alphabet was invented. Korea’s history was filled with prosperity, but also a lot of suffering coming from external forces like Japan, Mongolia and China and this provoked Korean closed-door policy, famous as â€Å"Hermit kingdom†. In the beginning in 1876, the Japanese forced a series of Western-style trade agreements on Korea, leading to Japan’s annexation of the country in 1910. Due to growing anti-Japanese sentiment, in 1897 King Kojong declared himself to be emperor of the Taehan Empire, an independent Korea (Ref*9). Eventually this move helped Korea to preserve its own language, culture, traditions and sense of identity (Ref*6). However, during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Japanese forces moved onto the peninsula despite Korean declarations of neutrality and Japan-Korea Protection Treaty in 1905 gave Japan virtual control over Korea. Korea was colonized by Japan in 1910 year, but exactly at that time many modern aspects of Korean society emerged included rapid urban growth and infrastructure, the expansion of commerce, and forms of mass culture such as radio and cinema, which became widespread for the first time. Later had to endure the Korean War (1950-53), but it has achieved amazing economic growth in a short period, dubbed â€Å"the Miracle on the Han River. (Ref* 2) 2. 1 Collective will for success of South Korea During Japanese influence starting 1920 and later (1937-45) – harsh measured reintroduced by Japanese, Korea had to go through a lot of confusion coming from changes in values and social order after Japanese colonial rules was introduced (Ref* 610). During its occupation, Japan b uilt up Korea’s infrastructure, especially the street and railroad systems. However, the Japanese ruled with an iron fist and attempted to root out all elements of Korean culture from society. People were forced to adopt Japanese names, convert to the Shinto (native Japanese) religion, and were forbidden to use Korean language in schools and business. Also the temp of development was rapid and the country’s population was inexperienced and unprepared in economic aspects and knowledge because was coming for monarchy of over 1000years compared to Europe and Japan. Ideological confrontation was visible in Korean society and soon after status of families with long traditions; history and wealth were no more subjects of respect and power, society followed the â€Å"money ideology† which was a way of survival. Soon after the democracy was introduced by USA in August 15, 1945, with the end of World War II, The Soviets and Americans failed to reach an agreement on one unified country and government, so in 1948 two separate governments were established – the Republic of Korea in Seoul called -â€Å"The American zone†, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea called -â€Å"The Soviet zone† (Ref* 10). This is how the challenge for South Korea and â€Å"The American zone† has started with era of knowledge, where an investment of fond and solid education and hard work were again respectable, thus offered an equal chance to success to everybody despite their origin and status. The whole society desired a better life and this is how they have adopted the concept that â€Å"economic development is a cultural product representing the collective will of the people† (Ref*6). 3. South Korea’s modern economy In July 1953, after three years of bloody fighting in which around three million Koreans, one million Chinese, 54 000 Americans and several other nations including Turkish were killed, the Korean War ended in a truce with Korea still divided into two mutually antagonistic states – American influenced zone in South and Soviet influenced in North, which were separated by a line called â€Å"De-Militarized Zone† (DMZ). Korea has remained divided ever since(Ref*10). After the official division of Korean peninsula, a modern economy study was introduced by USA in South Korea which was differentiated from Marxism idea popular in Japan. However, after 1965 when Japan and South Korea improved their diplomatic relationships, Marxism prevailed into their economy simply because was more community oriented, instead individualistic – something which was and it is a basic concept of Confucianism which was influenced South Korea in their earlier stages of history. The ideas of individualistic consumer with no intervention of government for business were too far away of Japan’s model of successful rapid grow which later in years South Korea adopted and adapted into their economic situation Table 1 – Comparison between USA and East Asian capitalism 3. 1 Reasons behind Economic growth Mutual desire for better standard of living and a chance for success were deeply rooted into society’s mind, after the country was left in poverty in the end of Korean War in 1953. The significant growth of South Korea’s economy which became independent in 1945 began in May of 1960 – when Park Chung Hee and a group of other military officers of the South Korean army took over the control of the government or â€Å"coup d’etat†(Ref* 11). Soon after that in 1961 Mr. Park Chung Lee became president of South Korea and the strategic planning for economic development started – focusing on lifting up the South Korean economy out of poverty. The strategy Park Chung Lee developed was based on that of South Korea’s nearest rivals Japan rather than Western policy advisers. (Ref*12) Export –oriented policies were implementing as a tool trying to focus the shift into international business. South Korea simply had to survive and find a way to expand economically, but looking outside of its peninsula because with its small and limited land and natural resources caused from its mountainous terrain and climate, as well the small size of the domestic market shaped the Paradigm shift in their economy†. (Ref*13) The emphasis was added on communal productivity, education and quality as Japan did with examples of so called Keiretsu. Another measure was the military-dominated government which installed itself after the coup in 1961 quickly announced an end to the corruption of the First Republic and its intention to use economic growth and development through industrialization to legitimize its authority (Ref* 14) a nd implementing state policies providing the basis for successful late industrialization( Ref*15). Twenty four of the leading businessmen were arrested. The founder of Samsung, Lee Byung Chull, escaped this treatment only because he was out of the country at the time. When Lee Byung Chull returned to Korea he met with Park and agreed to cooperate with Park’s economic development program. Later Lee and other prominent business leaders offered to donate all or a substantial portion of their fortunes to the government. They ended up paying fines but not giving up their businesses (Ref* 15). 4. The Birth of â€Å"Chaebols† In the process of export-led market economy the government ruled by President Park Chung Lee for 18 years reign (1961-1979) decided to work with five- year’s plans, starting the first one in 1962 which was focused on developing the industrial base and setting the stage for South Korea’s economic prosperity. (Ref* 16) After this step, the government encouraged their local, domestic business enterprises to work and expand by choosing which markets must be developed and allow entry only to several of those local companies. To be accepted as â€Å"Chaebol† a company need to be family-owned and usually this type of organization is influenced by growth-oriented family-centered business, where family male has the dominant role in a hierarchy and almost unlimited power to which his subordinates are loyal (Ref*17). This idea of Pyramid frame of working had an origin of Confucianism which teached several concepts as social hierarchy, harmony and â€Å"the concept of saving face†, kindness and care; modesty and diligence. For instance, in Japanese companies â€Å"had more visible mutual obligation which is unlikely to be seen in â€Å"Chaebol† structure, where the boss is superior compared to employees. As an incentive for local companies, financial motivations were offered such as low- interest loan, tax breaks and others simply because all the banks were nationalized as well for the purpose of economic development. This is how so called â€Å"Chaebols† -which literally mean â€Å"business association†, were born into South Korean history. 4. 1 Factors of Development of â€Å"Chaebols† With its fast speed of industrialization, the economy nourished and supported heavily â€Å"Chaebols† which were often â€Å"family-centered† enterprises. Their brands, products and companies diversified quickly and soon they were responsible for the majority of the exported products which simply meant that private owned companies were responsible for biggest share of South Korea economic development. Not only have they expanded in international level, but also started to grow bigger in local land. Brands like Samsung, Hyundai and LG were a measure for quality, technology and innovation. We could say that even today the same conglomerates are still driver force in Korea. Another â€Å"significant economic decision made by government’s planners was to focus market development through export-oriented industrialization â€Å"(Ref* 18). Because of its enough to produce, but less to consume population and still not existing local markets, all efforts were putting into creating international markets where South Korea could have an advantage and generate a profit. The results started to be visible in fast digit rate at average 10% annual growth between 1962 and 1994. The large and fast expanding multinational conglomerates enjoyed strong support from government and good success of foreign markets. While the contribution of agriculture to the economy declined from 37% in 1965 to 3% in 2008, the industrial sector increased its contribution from 20% to 37%, that of services from 43% to 60% and exports remain the cornerstone of this economic development with their share in GDP accelerating from 8% in 1965 to a whopping 53% in 2008(Ref* 13). Table 2 Share of Top 30 â€Å"Chaebols† in South Korea’s GDP Source â€Å"Chaebol Powered Industrial Transformation† by Ahn Choong-yong, Korea Institute of Public Administration and Korea Times. April 2010 All the conglomerates were liberally permitted to access foreign loans promoted by the government to support fast-paced economic development, while in contrast outflows of domestic capital were effectively curbed ( Ref* 19). The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was also restricted in order to keep positive economic growth, except in cases where technology and know-how were involved. In exchange of this, all the â€Å"Chaebols† were obliged to fulfill ambitious plans and to develop for the next three decades. This financial help actually protected the companies from bankruptcy and soon they turned on into â€Å"octopus†, regulating and expanding into more and more branches, industries and brands, even not related to their core scope of business; increasing their power and wealth into public level and became too difficult their decisions to be influenced. For example, a ship building company could decide to enter into a market of cosmetics products or pharmaceutical industry. Of course, simultaneously they opened more factories, created jobs and promoted economic boom. Basically they became a voice in South Korea. In this manner they grew so large that the top fifty â€Å"Chaebols† had sales equivalent to almost 94% of the total national GDP by 1984( Ref*20). In fact as a second measure introduced from President Park Chung Lee was diversifying of â€Å"Chaebol† into heavy and chemical industries, simply to be protected from North Korea . ( Ref*21)As we can see on Table 2, their share in GDP increased dramatically from 9,8 % in 1973 to 29,6% 1989 Table 3 The Growth Rate and Total Factor Productivity by country According to International Institute for Management, South Korea is ranked 5th in terms of education level, with 40 percent of the population completing higher education after high school. This movement into very strong foundation of education was resulted of democracy brought by USA , President Park Chung Lee’s reforms, but also Confucianism’s which, was earlier in history, influenced the social mind of South Korea. Understanding that high level of education and qualified human resources are powerful driver of economy and quality was one of the best tools for sustainable growth. Education system which was a resource highly appreciated by traditional values in the society and was a chance for everybody in quest of success. Moreover, South Korean workers work more hours of the day than most countries reflecting 10 to 13 percent increases in productivity per year( Ref*22). The willingness of hard-working and co-operating were very important for the efficacy and quality of the economic boom. Krugman (1994) claims that the â€Å"Four tigers† achieved the rapid growth rate because they successfully managed the resources associated with high employment share to population, efficacy of work, up-graded educational standards and the high rate of investment(Ref*19). Looking into Table 3, it is clear that South Korea achieved the highest grow rate of 8,5% per cent annually from 1960 to1994. Table 4 Domestic Saving per GDP (per cent) Another tool which helped â€Å"Chaebols† to flourish was high-saving ratio, which was initially originated from uncertain life conditions and missing social system. In Korea the social welfare system was not well established (Ref*23). In this kind of situation, similar to China’s beginning, individuals are trying to save as much as they can in order to ensure their future. Furthermore, high savings and investments also contribute to capital accumulation. For example, Kim and Lau (1996) extend their input-analysis which covers Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines reveal that capital accumulation associated with high domestic saving and investment level significantly contributed to strong growth in East Asia. Also, Collins and Bosworth (1996) emphasize that saving, investment and government policy are the main contributor to high capital accumulation ( Ref. 19) 4. 2. â€Å"Chaebols† and 1997 Asian Crisis The financial crisis that hit Asian countries in early July 1997 was an unexpected situation for â€Å"Four Tigers† including South Korea which were witnessed a rapid and sustainable growth in several decades in row, offering high standard of living into their citizens, high annual growth and successful export economy. They were accepted and perceived as models of economic boom. A lot of foreign investment were flowing and then government help like bank loan , preferential policies and incentives which were used to stimulate the economy through so called multinational companies â€Å"Chaebols† . All this led to excessive diversification, a debt, a difficulty to be measured the credibility of a company and its real proportion due to unlimited bank loan with 0 interest they were given; lack of business transparency, superior managerial behavior and more. All these reasons led to so called† â€Å"Asian Contagion†, this was a series of currency devaluations and other events  that spread through  many Asian markets. As a result of the crisis, South Korea adopted different protectionist measures, government and financial reforms to ensure the stability of their own currency and reforms inside of â€Å"Chaebols† structures. ( Ref*24). 5. Case of Samsung Group Samsung Electronics integral part of is a multinational, family-owned company with headquarters located in Samsung Town in Seoul called â€Å"Samsung Group†. Samsung Group has grown to become one of the world’s leading and respectuful electronics companies, specializing in digital appliances and media, scycrapers, petrochemicals, fashion, medicine, hotels, semiconductors, memory, and system integration. Ref *25). As journalist Anna Fifield said in her article, – â€Å"You can be born in a Samsung hospital and end up in a Samsung mortuary† (Ref*4). They operate in more than 65 different countries as sales and plants; also they are responsible for appointing for more than 170,000 employees worldwide. In 2009 t he company was classified as largest IT Company in world with biggest sales revenue of memory chips, LCD and LED displays. For TV and smart phones devices markets, Samsung is in top position, especially after launching Galaxy 2 Note competing with Apple and theirs I pad mini and I phone. Its growing share in smart phones and tablet’s market is very high with around 20% for the first quarter in 2011 compared to 16, 1% in same time previous year. [pic] Brief history and Economic Overview The Samsung Group was established in 1938 in Taegu, Korea by Byung Chull Lee and its main scope of business was export of fish, vegetables and fruits to Mainland China. In 1951, Samsung Corporation was officially established with name Samsung Moolsan which means â€Å"Three Stars† (Ref*25). The company started to grow and later in 1958 when Ankuk Fire Marine Insurance as well DongBang Life Insurance in 1963 was acquired, the name was changed into Samsung Fire Marine Insurance and respectfully Samsung Life Insurance. In 1969 Samsung Electronics and Samsung Sanyo Electronics were established, but in 1977 they also merged and diversifying started into heavy, chemical, shipbuilding, IT and other industries. The reasons behind such a diversification could be the same between all â€Å"Chaebols† examples, but very true for Samsung. They assumed that if investing into new business or a product will avoid potential risk of a single bankrupt, gaining knowledge for a technology and know-how patents; competitions and bigger market share and another factor could be because of persuading better wealth in order to ensure all the family members. ( Ref* 21) Thanks to its clever moves and business/political decisions Samsung developed excellent domestic and international market and 1974 they bought 50% of share of Korea Semiconductors, which gave them the first place of semiconductor manufacture SWOT ANALYSIS Samsung Group is one of the largest â€Å"Chaebols† in South Korea with world-class quality products and brand. The company has dominance into digital and electronic components markets, with more than 40 existing affiliated companies. Fig. 1 SWOT ANALYSES – Samsung Group STRENGTHS Strong brand and loyal customers; Leader in several markets as IT and electronics; Excellent supply chain; Capital; Confidence; Trustworthy and Credibility; Innovation; Technology level and skilled worker HR; Product Strategy WEAKNESS Serious Competition; High Marketing cost; Managerial Behavior; Centralization; Corruption OPPORTUNITIES Good economic conditions; highly disposable income local market; Government support; International relations and business expanse; Technology development THREATS Patent’s legislations; Regulatory issues; Technological changes; Economic Crisis; China Table 5 Samsung Electronics Marketing Expenses Marketing Mix for Samsung Group – 4P Product Strategy – Samsung’s diversified line of products in 3D market for example which is offering LTD, LED and Plasma TV is one of best positioned into product strategy. Their electronic market is also very good example for product strategy which is one of their strengths in SWOT analyses Focusing on unique products and innovation to compete like 3D Plasma TV with unique design and functionality allowed Samsung to became a leader into this direction. Another very well presented idea of their product strategy is smart phone Galaxy Note 2 which competes directly with Apple’s I pad mini. Among some of the benefits of Galaxy Note 2 is its display, price, Android operating system, Bluetooth, slightly lighter, removable memory, flash, front camera/rear camera and few more. Ref* 26). At the moment this is the best tablet produced by Samsung and as product strategy unique was chosen and improvement inside of the functionality. Price strategy – Samsung strategy according their pricing is being available for more consumers than I pad mini/ I phone, which is persuaded as a luxury and fashionable product, thus its price differentiates – some times even double less expensive. Another factor regarding price is that Samsung produce a big amount of it’s and also Apple’s components’ which results into higher cost and price for Apple’s products on market. Thanks to diversification mentioned earlier we can see that Samsung actually have the advantage to produce by themselves most of the electronic components of their smart phones/ tablets, but also to their competitors, so they became superior in the Pyramid. Promotion strategy: This is one of most weak part of SWOT Analyses of Samsung, because it cost billions of USD in advertisements and promotions which are conducted in three continents – Europe, Asia and USA. 8 billion USD were spending in Europe compared to 3 billion in Asia and 12 billion in North America. Using famous American singer/groups such as Black Eyes Peas into their promotion strategy is adding high cost for the â€Å"Chaebol†. Product Placement: The strategic idea here is that Samsung tablets Galaxy 2 Note are not positioned on the luxury market, but at the same time will not be sold in low-level stores as Wal-Mart. Targeting young people across three continents, Samsung focused on uniqueness, creativity, design and promotion. Apple’s product focuses on luxury and fashionable segment of the market where consumers are ready to pay more premiums. Conclusion and Recommendations Transforming South Korea’s economy was an experiment and example of â€Å"Tiger measures† conducted by the government of President Park Chung Hee in quest of best way to expand the economy in sustainable way and improve the quality of people equally. Focusing on export-oriented economy with solid foundation of education, willingness of hard-work, high saving ratio and allowanc e of private family- own enterprises in national sectors and important industries helped â€Å"The Miracle on the Han River† to become history of success. Chaebols† were and still are enormous part of South Korean Economy, which for three decades created a country -an example for a market economy, which ranks 15th in the world by nominal GDP and 12th by purchasing power parity (PPP), identifying it as one of the G-20 major economies (Ref*2). In 2010, Korea’s trade volume amounted to US$892 billion, ranking the country the 7th largest exporter in the world(Ref*2). Korea’s shipbuilding sector currently accounts for about 34% of the world’s total shipbuilding orders. As a major auto manufacturer, Korea produces over 4. million vehicles annually. The majority of export related goods are produced by top â€Å"Chaebols† companies which appeared in late 60s after government of Park Chung Hee offered them unlimited incentives and industries in exchan ge of economic growth with 10% on average. The impact of those conglomerates was measurable and visible, even though 1997 Asian crisis shaped up them and reformed these â€Å"octopus† inner structures by implementing more transparent policies and less corruption. Nowadays â€Å"Chaebols† are still the driver of South Korean’s income and economy. As recommendation for the largest â€Å"Chaebol† at the moments, Samsung Group- focusing on innovation and technology improvement will be useful, because China is starting to emerge and also other competitors are weak point for Samsung. Combing their efforts could be a good strategy in order to protect South Korean’s reputation and export share. Focusing on domestic market and not being so dependent on export. Or being sure that export is enough diversified to keep the profit. Reducing Marketing cost via cheaper, but creative techniques to attract and keep customers. Because for quality there is always a market! Reference List: . Fogel, R. W. (2005). Reconsidering expectations of economic growth after World War II fromthe perspective of 2004. IMF Staff Papers, Vol. 52 Special Issues, Washington, DC:International Monetary Fund. 2. Published by Korean Culture and Information Service Retrieved October 2, 2012, from http://www. scribd. com/doc/85568568/Facts-about-Korea-Eng lish 3. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from https://www. fsb. muohio. edu/mis399/student/Reading%20files/history-china-korea-japan. htm . 4. Fifield, A. (March 26, 2008). http://www. ft. com. In Korea’s Bulldozer must clean up the Chaebol. Retrieved October 14, 2012, from http://www. t. com/intl/cms/s/0/97182b8e-fb3f-11dc-8c3e-000077b07658. html#axzz2LbBBYYrW. 5. http://www. lifeinkorea. com/information/history1. cfm 6. Choo, Myung-Gun. 2000. Chapter 4: South Korea: the Tragedy of Partition and the Response, in  The New Asia in Global Perspective, p. 74-5 7. https://www. fsb. muohio. edu/mis399/student/Reading%20files/history-china-korea-japan. htm. Retrieved October 3, 2012 8. ,, 9. http://www. lifeinkorea. com/information/history1. cfm 10. http://afe. easia. columbia. edu/main_pop/kpct/kp_koreaimperialism. htm 11. Education, Wikipedia , Retrieved October 9, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/Park_Chung-hee 12. Hattori, T. ,1986 â€Å"Comparison of Large Corporations in Korea and Japan, â€Å" in Hakjon Lee and Kuhyun Chung, eds. , The structure and strategy of Korean Corporation ( Seoul, Korea: Bupmunsa, 1986)p. 151 13. November,2010. , The Chaebol in South Korea: Spearheading Economic Growth. ,Thomas White International, Ltd, Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://www. thomaswhite. com/explore-the-world/emerging-market-spotlight/2010/south-korea-chaebols. aspx p. 2 14. Kae H. Chung, Hak Chong Lee, and Ku Hyun Jung, Korean Management: Global Strategy and Cultural Transformation ( Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1997) p. 15. Retrieved October 15,2012, from http://www. sjsu. edu/faculty/watkins/park. htm Sources: †¢ Clifford,  L. M. Troubled Tiger: Businessmen, Bureaucrats, and Generals in South Korea, M. E. Sharpe, Armonk, New York, 1994. †¢ Hee, C. P. To Build a Nation, Acropolis Books, Washington, D. C. , 1971. †¢ Hee, C. P. The Country, The Revolution and I, Hollym Corporation Publishers, Seoul, Korea, 1970. †¢ Hee, C. P. Our Nation’s Path: Ideology of Social Reconstruction, Hollym Corporation Publishers, Seoul, Korea, 1970. 16. Jasper, Kim Crisis and Change : South Korea in a Post-1997 New Era ( Seoul: Ehwa Womans University Press, 2005)p. 7 17. March, 2006. , The Case of Chaebol Cult, Asian Management, Retrieved October 5, 2012, from . PDF version 18. Jasper, Kim Crisis and Change : South Korea in a Post-1997 New Era ( Seoul: Ehwa Womans University Press, 2005)p. 17 19. http://ecostat. wordpress. com/2012/08/19/capital-accumulation-or-total-factor-productivity/ 20. Fields. J. K. , Enterprise and the State in Korea and Taiwan ( Cornall University Press, 1995) p. 35 21. Ahn(2001), pg420and Pn, E. ,†South Korea’s role in a dangerous neighbourhood† http://www. nytimes. com/cfr/international/slot3_021106. html 22. (2006, 03). Korean Economy. StudyMode. com. Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://www. studymode. com/essays/Korean-Economy-83006. html 23. Choo, Myung-Gun. 2000. Chapter 4: South Korea: the Tragedy of Partition and the Response, in The New Asia in Global Perspective, p. 79 24. Education, Investopedia Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://www. investopedia. com/terms/a/asian-financial-crisis. asp#axzz29i6XywR2 25. SAMSUNG Group Official WebPage, Retrieved October 3, 2101 from http://www. samsung. com/us/aboutsamsung/corporateprofile/history06. html 26. http://tablets. venturebeat. com/compare/46-123/Apple-iPad-2-with-Wi-Fi-3G-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-10-1 How to cite Transforming of South Korean Economy and the â€Å"Chaebols†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Riddle, Essay examples

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The ancient Mediterranean worlds Essay An art piece that is interesting as well as being discussed amongst others is that of the ancient Mediterranean worlds. The piece is Toreador fresco, from the palace of Knossos. The period for toreador is around 1500 B. C. E. The palace at Knossos is of the Minoan culture; therefore, the Toreador was created by an artist of this region. Many of the frescos have been found around the Mediterranean basin, particularly in Morocco. Some historians believe that the fresco artists were from Crete and were sent to Morocco as part of a trade exchange. The palace of Knossos was built with four wings made of ashlars blocks. The Toreador which is the most famous fresco was presented on a block in the religious wing of the palace. The Toreador is known to represent a sacred ceremony in which individuals jump over the backs of large bulls. The Toreador presents the special animal of the Minoans, the bull. Toreador refers to as being a bull fighter. The picture explains to the onlookers that bullfighting in this era and culture is different from that of the Spanish and American way of bullfighting. The toreador shows three bullfighters; one in front of the bull grabbing the horns, perhaps getting ready to vault over the bull. The second person in the fresco is in the position of vaulting over the bull. The third person presented in this fresco is behind the bull with open arms, possibly awaiting to catch the acrobat who is on the bull. The graceful curves of the bulls back, the bulls underbelly, the tumblers arched body; reinforce the experience of motion, captured to the split second. Most frescos represented a certain religious ceremonies. Fresco painting is known as the only threaded that can be continuously traced throughout the entire history of painting as a form of expression stitching together the universal language of art. During the Renaissance fresco was referred to as the mother of all Arts, which means the art speaks for itself.

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Essay Example

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Paper Themes Doubt and Ambiguity One of this story’s difficult aspects is the sense of uncertainty it creates by leaving important facts unresolved and seeming to offer several possible interpretations for its events. The reader is never allowed to doubt that the old man and his strange wings are as â€Å"real† as anything else in the story; yet the reader can never be sure just what he is — a heavenly angel, a sad human who happens to have wings, or perhaps some other, unexplained possibility. This deliberate uncertainty can leave readers feeling a bit cheated — particularly in what seems to be a fairy tale. Stories are expected to have clear-cut meanings, and the author is expected to reveal them to the reader; if not, there is a tendency to feel he has failed in his storytelling, or that his audience has failed as readers. But in works of realism (and many other forms), ambiguity is often used as an intentional effect, to make a story seem less â€Å"storylike,† and more like life itself. It reflects the understanding that real life is far more uncertain than the stories in books, and often forces readers to choose among several, equally possible explanations of events. As characters in daily life, readers seldom know â€Å"the whole story† — but it is traditional to expect writers to tie all tales neatly together for our understanding. While it complicates the task of the reader, the skillful, suggestive use of ambiguity is often admired by critics, and is usually considered to be one of the most appealing features of â€Å"magic realism. We will write a custom essay sample on A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Even in stories dealing with magic or the supernatural, there are rules a writer is expected to follow — for example, that there must always be a clear distinction between magical events and â€Å"normal† ones, and that the nature and significance of all characters is eventually made known to the reader. But as a magic realist, Garcia Marquez insists on breaking these rules as well. Without its fantastic elements, there is no story; yet the reader is never sure just how to take them, and how far to trust the narrator. Sometimes, he makes it obvious that the villagers† magical beliefs are in fact ridiculous delusions; but at other times, the reader seems expected to take logically impossible events at face value. The changing of a human into a giant spider, a man who can’t sleep because â€Å"the noise of the stars† disturbs him — are these things that â€Å"really happened? † Can they be dismissed as mere hallucinations? Are they poetic images, meant to be interpreted on some level beyond their literal meaning? Like the old man with his miracles, Garcia Marquez may be suspected of having a kind of â€Å"mocking fun† with the reader, suggesting all sorts of miraculous possibilities, then stubbornly contradicting all the expectations he creates. In appreciating such a story, it may be necessary to limit one’s reliance on clear meanings and moral lessons, and to be prepared to enjoy the sheer wealth of possibility and comic misunderstanding that is presented. The Problem of Interpretation One effect of ambiguity is to focus attention on the uncertain nature of all efforts to assign meaning to events. The troublesome nature of interpretation has been a matter of intense interest for literary critics in the years since this story was written — which may be one reason Garcia Marquez remains a popular subject of scholarly attention. Many theorists stress that all â€Å"readings† (whether of texts, or of life itself) are strongly influenced by their context, and by the specific interests and point of view of the person making the judgment. While one may detect such influence in the opinions of others, it usually operates unconsciously in the self; the assumptions behind one’s own thinking are so familiar that one tends not to even recognize them as assumptions. Some critics go so far as to suggest that all explanations are actually inventions, and that â€Å"true meanings† can never be reliably determined. While one may not choose to embrace so extreme a position, the speculation serves as a reminder that confident pronouncements about the world are seldom, if ever, as rational or disinterested as one believes them to be. The villagers† quirky thought-patterns may be seen as a parody of this universal human tendency. They â€Å"talk themselves into† all kinds of wild speculations, clinging to irrational notions (such as the â€Å"fact† that mothballs are the proper food for angels) and leaping to impossible conclusions (for example, that the old man should be named â€Å"mayor of the world. †) It seems that, once they get an idea into their heads, they willfully convince themselves of its truth and ignore any evidence to the contrary — unless a more appealing version of the truth comes along. Their folly is a kind of exaggerated ignorance, which Garcia Marquez uses consistently for comic effect; but in their unquestioning application of â€Å"conventional wisdom,† and their stubborn faith in their own ideas, they reflect habits of mind that can be recognized in all cultures. On another level, the author may be seen as placing the reader in much the same position — forcing the reader to accept interpretations that seem absurd, or to give up any hope of understanding events. In this sense, it might be said that the story’s meaning lies in the manner it denies any clear meanings, complicating the reader’s efforts to understand, and showing usual means of determining the truth in a strange, uncertain light. The context of literature may tempt one to â€Å"read into† these odd characters, looking for symbolic meanings and creatively-coded messages from the author. Nothing prevents the reader from doing so, but there are few clues or hints to help and no obvious way to confirm or deny any interpretation one may construct. The reader can’t be sure if he is finding the story’s meaning or making one up; he may even wonder if the story has a meaning at all. Garcia Marquez presents a rich mystery, which engages the reader’s thinking and seems to â€Å"make sense† in the manner of fairy tales; then he leaves the reader to decide its meaning for himself. However one goes about the job, he is never allowed to escape the suspicion that he may, in his own way, wind up being as foolish and gullible as the villagers. Characters Bird-Man See Very old man with enormous wings Elisenda In her marriage to Pelayo, Elisenda takes an active part in decision-making. Her husband runs to get her as soon as he discovers the old man, and they try to make sense of him together, apparently sharing the same reactions. It is she who first conceives of charging the villagers admission to see the â€Å"angel,† an idea which makes the couple wealthy. At the end of the story, she is the mistress of an impressive mansion, dressed in the finest fashions. Yet the old man seems to be a constant annoyance to her, a feeling that only intensifies over time. He is useless and infuriating to her, â€Å"dragging himself about here and there like a stray dying man†; she seems to be constantly shooing him out of her way. She eventually grows so â€Å"exasperated and unhinged† that she screams that she is living in a â€Å"hell full of angels. † Elisenda is also the only witness to the old man’s departure, watching silently from the kitchen window as he tries out his newly regrown wings. Her reaction as he disappears over the horizon shows a measure of sympathy for the â€Å"senile vulture,† as well as her hope that her own life will return to normal: she lets out a sigh of relief â€Å"for herself, and for him. Father Gonzaga A former woodcutter, Father Gonzaga is the village priest whose religious training and standing in the community make him a moral and intellectual authority. Of all the characters, he seems uniquely qualified to pass judgment on the strange visitor and to determine whether he is really one of God’s angels or â€Å"just a Norwegian with wings. † However, his understanding of church doctrine leads him to no solid conclusions. He counsels the villagers to withhold their own judgment until he can receive a definitive answer from scholars in the Vatican. Father Gonzaga is never able to provide an explanation, and he loses sleep over the mystery until his parishioners eventually lose interest in the old man entirely. Examining the angel-like creature, Father Gonzaga immediately suspects that he is â€Å"an impostor. † The old man’s unbearable odor, his derelict condition, and his undignified appearance all make him seem â€Å"much too human† to accept as a perfect immortal or member of a divine race. But rather than make a judgment from the evidence of his senses (and knowing that the devil likes to trick people with appearances), he applies a series of tests to the old man, presumably based on church teachings about the nature of angels. First, he greets the old man in Latin; the lack of a response is yet another suspicious sign, for it shows that the â€Å"angel† doesn’t â€Å"understand the language of God or know how to greet His ministers. † A series of letters from higher church authorities results in further â€Å"tests† of divinity (Does the old man have a belly-button? Does his language seem related to the biblical dialect of Aramaic? ) but fail to lead him to any final judgment. Unable to provide the answer that they seek from him, the Father can only warn his flock not to jump to any conclusions — a warning which they ignore with enthusiasm. As a comic authority figure Father Gonzaga is open to a variety of interpretations. He is clearly ineffective in his role as a spiritual authority and as a source of wisdom and enlightenment. His superiors in the church hierarchy prove no more helpful and seem to be obsessed with obscure heological abstractions, such as how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. Such factors suggest at least a mildly satirical view of the Catholic Church and perhaps of organized religion in general. To some critics, Father Gonzaga’s means of inquiry are also a parody of the scientific method, while his fruitless correspondence with church scholars reflects the useless-ness of bureaucracies everywhere. And other critics even see a reflection of themselves — the figure of the cultural authority, whose profession makes him unwilling to admit the obvious limits of his understanding. Old Man See Very old man with enormous wings Pelayo It is Pelayo, the town bailiff, who discovers the old man with wings struggling face down in the courtyard of his home after a storm. As the strange visitor begins to attract crowds, Pelayo and his wife, Elisenda, exhibit him as a carnival attraction. Though the old man proves to be only a temporary sensation, he creates a highly profitable windfall for the young couple. In â€Å"less than a week they had crammed their rooms with money† from paid admissions; they quickly earn enough to rebuild their house as a mansion and to live in luxury by village standards. Pelayo quits his job and sets up a rabbit warren on the edge of town, trading a minor administrative position for the leisurely life of a gamekeeping squire. While Pelayo’s discovery of the winged being brings him great fortune, it also brings confusion and complication into his life. It is not the sort of luck he hopes to see repeated. When he and Elisenda design their new home, they are careful to include â€Å"iron bars on the windows so that angels wouldn’t get in. † Spider-Woman The centerpiece of a traveling carnival, the â€Å"woman who had been changed into a spider for disobeying her parents† proves to be a more popular attraction than the old man, causing the villagers to lose interest in him and putting an end to Pelayo and Elisenda’s profitable courtyard business. As a young girl, she had once gone dancing all night against her parents’ wishes; later, while walking home, she was allegedly struck by lightning and transformed into â€Å"a frightful tarantula the size of a ram. . . with the head of a sad maiden. † Compared to the baffling old man, the spider-woman provides a far more satisfying spectacle. While she is at least as grotesque and fantastic as the â€Å"bird-man,† she charges a lower admission price; more importantly, she is willing to communicate freely with her visitors, recounting her sad experience and inspiring sympathy for her fate. The â€Å"meaning† of her story is easy to grasp and teaches a clear moral lesson — one that confirms the villagers’ conventional beliefs. In contrast, the old man makes no attempt to explain himself and seems to contradict all religious and folk beliefs about the nature of angels. His very existence raises disturbing questions, but he offers no reassuring answers. Very Old Man with Enormous Wings The old man is the story’s central character and its central mystery. He is given no name but is precisely described in the title, which includes everything that can be said about him with any assurance: he is an extremely old man, in failing health, with all the frailties and limitations of human old age, and he has a huge pair of bird’s wings growing from his back. We follow the other characters in their comic efforts to explain him, to assign some â€Å"meaning† to his sudden appearance, and finally to just put up with his annoying presence, but when he flies away at the story’s end, the mystery remains. The very idea of a â€Å"winged humanoid† evokes the image of angels, and most of the â€Å"wise† villagers quickly assume that he is an angel. But everything about him seems to contradict traditional stereotypes of heavenly power and immortal perfection. When Pelayo first finds him in the courtyard, apparently blown out of the sky by a strong rainstorm, his condition is pathetic: he lies â€Å"face down in the mud,† â€Å"dressed like a ragpicker,† and tangled in his half-plucked, bug-infested wings. The narrator tells us directly that this â€Å"pitiful condition of a drenched great-grandfather had taken away any sense of grandeur he might have had,† and Father Gonzaga underscores the point later, when he observes that â€Å"nothing about him measured up to the proud dignity of angels. † Nor do the villagers allow him any dignity or respect; throughout the story, they treat him â€Å"without the slightest reverence. † He is displayed like a circus animal or sideshow freak; poked, plucked, and prodded; branded with a hot iron; pelted with stones and garbage; and held prisoner for years in a filthy, battered chicken coop, exposed to the elements. Though he is the source of the family’s great fortune, Elisenda comes to find him an intolerable annoyance, becoming â€Å"exasperated and unhinged† by his presence. He is understandably â€Å"standoffish† toward people, tolerating only the company of the couple’s young child, and the villagers come to think of him as â€Å"a haughty angel who scarcely deigned to look at mortals. † Given his cruel captivity, the reader can only agree when the narrator observes that his â€Å"only supernatural virtue seemed to be patience. Even this virtue is later deprived of any otherworldly greatness; it becomes merely â€Å"the patience of a dog who had no illusions. † The old man is described in imagery of earthly poverty and human weakness, contradicting traditional heavenly stereotypes. Even the birds with which he is compared to are ignoble ones (â€Å"buzzard wings,† â€Å"a huge decrepit hen,† â€Å"a senile vulture†). Yet there is clearly something of the magical about him beyond his unexplained wings and mysterious origin. He does, after all, perform miracles — but they, too, fail to satisfy expectations. The blind man’s sight isn’t restored, but he suddenly grows three new teeth; the leper’s sores aren’t cured, but sunflowers begin growing from them. These are â€Å"consolation miracles,† which show â€Å"a certain mental disorder,† as if senility had caused his magic powers to misfire. Alternately, they could be practical jokes, a form of â€Å"mocking fun† to avenge his abuse by the crowd. Their sick child recovers when Pelayo and Elisenda take in the old man, but this could be coincidence, or perhaps another case of failed magic (if, as the neighbor woman believes, he is an angel of death sent to take the baby). And, despite his obvious infirmities, he is possessed of a surprising inner strength. His health seems to be in irreversible decline throughout; a doctor’s examination finds it â€Å"impossible for him to be alive,† and very late in the story his death appears imminent. Yet with the coming of spring, after years of uselessness, his wings grow new feathers and regain their strength, allowing him to escape the village forever. Although his wings make him a creature of the sky and he is clearly not at home on land, the old man also has some association with the sea. He comes from the sea (or at least from over it), washed up with a tide of crabs by a three-day storm; his first attempts to fly away are accompanied by â€Å"a wind that seemed to come from the high seas. † Pelayo and Elisenda first take him for a foreign sailor (perhaps because they detect â€Å"a strong sailor’s voice† in his incomprehensible speech), and an early plan called for him to be set out to sea on a raft with provisions. As his wings begin to regenerate, he sings â€Å"sea chanteys† under the stars. Critics disagree in their interpretations of this connection and in their judgments on its significance. But in Garcia Marquez’s other works, they often find the sea to be an important theme or symbol, both as a natural force of great power (equally capable of bringing rich gifts or terrible destruction), and as a force associated with the supernatural. Several of his stories include episodes where unusual strangers from the â€Å"outside world† appear in a small town and have a strong effect on its people. Very often, these remarkable visitors arrive by sea. The old man is also connected in some way with Pelayo and Elisenda’s child. The newborn is ill when he first appears, but quickly recovers when the â€Å"angel† takes up residence. The â€Å"wise neighbor woman† believes that he was sent to takes the child’s life. Both the child and the old man come down with chicken pox at the same time, and the old man uncharacteristically allows the child to play with and around him, tolerating â€Å"ingenious infamies† with patience. But beyond these details, the connection or bond between the two is not developed. Because the old man is a misunderstood outsider subjected to cruel mistreatment, he becomes primarily a figure of pity — a strange emotion for an â€Å"angel† to inspire. He has enough magical qualities to let the reader see him, at least potentially, as a figure of wonder, but his very human vulnerability keeps this from being much more than a suggestion. Finally, there is at least an equal suggestion of a potential â€Å"dark side. † Pelayo’s first impression is that of having seen a â€Å"nightmare,† and the â€Å"mental disorder† of the old man’s miracles suggests that his â€Å"magic powers† are uncontrollable, making him dangerous. When burned with a branding iron, his startled wing-flapping creates â€Å"a whirlwind of chicken dung and lunar dust,† â€Å"a gale of panic that did not seem to be of this world. † It is almost a moment of terror; when he calms down, the villagers regard him with renewed caution and fear: â€Å"his passivity was not that of a hero taking his ease, but that of a cataclysm in repose. † And though his visit brings truly miraculous results for Pelayo and Elisenda by making them fabulously wealthy, it also seems to be a frightful and unnerving experience for them. Elisenda comes to feel that she lives in â€Å"a hell full of angels,† and when they design their dream home, the couple make sure to â€Å"angel-proof † it with iron bars. Media Adaptations  ·Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings† was adapted, with some modifications, as a film with the same title in 1988, in a Spanish production directed by Fernando Birri. Starring Daisy Granados, Asdrubal Melendez, and Luis Alberto Ramiriz, the film is available with English subtitles on Fox/Lorber Home Video, Facets Multimedia, Inc. or from Ingram International Films. Plot Summary While Garcia Marquez makes no divisions in the text, this discussion will consider the plot in four separate stages. The story begins with the â€Å"old man’s† arrival and ends with his departure. The intervening period, which covers several years, may be divided into two stages: the brief sensation caused by his appearance and a long period of declining interest in which the strange visitor is all but forgotten. Arrival The setting is an unnamed coastal village, at an unspecified time in the past. A long rainstorm has washed crabs up from the beach into Pelayo’s house, creating an odor he thinks may be affecting his sick newborn child. Disposing of their carcasses, he sees a figure groaning on the ground in his courtyard; as he moves closer, he discovers it to be â€Å"an old man, a very old man, lying face down in the mud, who, in spite of his tremendous efforts, couldn’t get up, impeded by his enormous wings. † Staring at this pitiful â€Å"bird-man,† Pelayo and his wife Elisenda begin to overcome their amazement, and even find him familiar, despite those mysterious wings. While they can’t understand his language, he seems to have â€Å"a strong sailor’s voice,† and at first they decide he is a shipwrecked foreign sailor, somehow managing to overlook the need to explain his wings. But a neighbor soon â€Å"corrects† them, stating confidently that he is an angel. Assuming he is nothing but trouble, she advises them to kill him. Not having the heart for it, Pelayo instead locks the old man in his chicken coop, still planning to dispose of him, only now by setting him to sea on a raft. He and Elisenda wake the next morning to find a crowd of neighbors in the courtyard and a far more complicated situation on their hands; suddenly, â€Å"everyone knew that a flesh-and-blood angel was held captive in Pelayo’s house. † Sensation The villagers treat the old man like a â€Å"circus animal†; they toss him food and speculate about what should be done with him. Some think he should be made â€Å"mayor of the world,† others want him to be a â€Å"five-star general in order to win all wars,† and still others hope he will father a super-race of â€Å"winged wise men who could take charge of the universe. The village priest arrives to inspect the captive, and presumably to make a more reasoned judgment on his nature. Father Gonzaga suspects â€Å"an impostor† at once and finds the old man’s pathetic appearance to be strongly at odds with the church’s traditional image of heavenly messengers. Finding the old man smelly and decrepit, his battered wings infested with insects, and showing no knowledge of church etiquette, the priest concludes that â€Å"nothing about him measured up to the proud dignity of angels. Despite his skepticism, he refuses to give a definitive ruling on the old man, choosing instead to write letters to his church superiors and wait for a written verdict from scholars in the Vatican. In the meantime, he warns the villagers against reaching any rash conclusions. But word of the â€Å"angel† has already traveled too far, drawing fantastic crowds and creating a carnival atmosphere; events unfold quickly, described in language that suggests the exaggerated, dreamlike world of fairy-tales. Surrounded by all this hectic activity, the old man takes â€Å"no part in his own act,† keeping to himself and tolerating the abuses and indignities of his treatment with a patience that seems to be â€Å"[h]is only supernatural virtue. † Drawn by the crowds, traveling circuses and carnivals arrive in town — including one that provides formidable competition for the puzzling attraction of â€Å"a haughty angel who scarcely deigned to look at mortals. † Decline The new sensation is â€Å"the spider-woman,† whose fantastic nature includes none of the majesty we associate with angels; she represents a kind of â€Å"magic† familiar from fairy-tales and folk legends. When still a girl, she once disobeyed her parents by going dancing; later, on the way home, she was struck by lightning and changed into a giant tarantula, retaining her human head. As a spectacle, she appeals to the crowd in ways the old man cannot, and even charges a lower admission price. Significantly, she speaks to her visitors, explaining the meaning of her monstrous appearance; her sad story is easy to understand, and points to a clear moral (children should obey their parents), one her audience already believes to be true. In contrast, the old man does nothing to explain himself, teaches nothing, and doesn’t even entertain people; rather than confirming their beliefs, his mysterious nature challenges all the expectations it creates. He does perform some miracles, but they are equally puzzling, seeming to be either practical jokes or the result of some â€Å"mental disorder. † These disappointing miracles â€Å"had already ruined the angel’s reputation, when the woman who had been changed into a spider finally crushed him completely. The crowds disappear from Pelayo and Elisenda’s courtyard as suddenly as they had come, and the unexplained mystery of the â€Å"bird-man† is quickly forgotten. Still, thanks to the now-departed paying customers, Pelayo and Elisenda are now wealthy. They rebuild their home as â€Å"a two-story mansion with balconies and gardens and high netting so that crabs wouldn’t get in during the winter, and with iron bars on the windows so t hat angels wouldn’t get in,† and settle into a life of luxury. But the ruined chicken coop and its ancient captive remain; as the years pass, the couple’s growing child plays in the courtyard with the old man, who stubbornly survives despite his infirmities and neglect. When a doctor comes to examine him, he is amazed that the old man is still alive, and also by â€Å"the logic of his wings,† which seem so natural that the doctor wonders why everyone doesn’t have them. Even the bird-man’s mystery and wonder grow so familiar that he eventually becomes a simple nuisance: a disagreeable old man, â€Å"dragging himself about here and there,† always underfoot. Elisenda seems to find him everywhere in the house, as if he were duplicating himself just to annoy her; at one point she grows so â€Å"exasperated and unhinged† she screams that she is living in a â€Å"hell full of angels. † Finally the old man’s health deteriorates even further, and he seems to be near death. Departure As winter gives way to the sunny days of spring, the old man’s condition begins to improve. He seems to sense a change taking place in himself, and to know what it means. He tries to stay out of the family’s sight, sitting motionless for days in the corner of the courtyard; at night, he quietly sings sailor’s songs to himself. Stiff new feathers begin to grow from his wings, and one morning Elisenda sees him trying them out in the courtyard. His first efforts to fly are clumsy, consisting of â€Å"ungainly flapping that slipped on the light and couldn’t get a grip on the air,† but he finally manages to take off. Elisenda sighs with relief, â€Å"for herself and for him,† as she watches him disappear, â€Å"no longer an annoyance in her life but an imaginary dot on the horizon of the sea. † Style Imagery In establishing the character of the old man, Garcia Marquez plays against traditional stereotypes of angels. Angels are supernatural creatures and are expected them to be presented in images that convey grandeur, perfection, wisdom, and grace. By definition, angels are contrasted with humans; though they resemble humans physically, they are super-human in every conceivable way. But like Father Gonzaga, the reader’s first response to the old man is likely to be that he is â€Å"much too human. † Instead of presenting a majestic, awe-inspiring figure, Garcia Marquez describes a creature with mortal weaknesses and senility (â€Å"a drenched great-grandfather†), in circumstances without any trace of reverence or dignity. While his feathered wings invite comparisons with birds, even this imagery is common and debased; he is â€Å"a senile vulture† or a â€Å"decrepit hen,† not a soaring eagle or an elegant swan. While the villagers face the problem of understanding an apparent â€Å"angel† who fits none of their expectations for the type, the reader finds himself placed by the author in the same position. Also unusual is the way Garcia Marquez combines different types of imagery. The opening line reveals that it is â€Å"the third day of rain,† and a few lines later this information is repeated in another form: â€Å"The world had been sad since Tuesday. † One is a direct statement of fact, which might appear in a weather report; the other is a poetic image, projecting human emotions onto the weather and individual feelings onto the entire world. Expressed in other terms, the reader accepts the first version as â€Å"real,† while the second version (if taken at face value) is â€Å"magical,† involving a logically-impossible connection between human feelings and the weather. Both attitudes are familiar to readers, who know to read a factual account in a rational, literal frame of mind, and to suspend disbelief in a more imaginative story, where descriptions are expected to be used for their creative, suggestive effects. But Garcia Marquez never allows the reader to settle comfortably into one attitude or the other; throughout the story, realistic and magical details are combined, seeming to suggest that both attitudes are valid, and that neither one is sufficient by itself. Narration The ambiguity within the story is reinforced by inconsistencies in the narrative voice. The narrator is, after all, the â€Å"person† presenting all this odd imagery to the reader, and readers habitually look to the narrator for clues to help find a proper interpretation. For example, when the narrator states that Father Gonzaga’s letters to his church superiors â€Å"might have come and gone until the end of time† without reaching a conclusion, he confirms the reader’s suspicion that the priest’s approach is futile, despite his confident assurances to the crowd. Narrators don’t just present facts; they also give direction as to â€Å"how to take† the information we receive This narrator, however, seems to direct the reader all over the map and to be inconsistent in his own attitude to events. The villagers† wild ideas about the old man are often presented as obvious delusions, characterized as â€Å"frivolous† or â€Å"simple† by the narrator. But at other times, he seems no more skeptical than the villagers. For example, the story of the spider-woman seems far more fantastic than that of an old man with wings, but the narrator gives no suggestion that her transformation is particularly unusual and seems to expect the reader to accept this frankly â€Å"magical† event as if it presented no mystery at all. Though they are wise in ways the villagers are not, and see through the various fanciful interpretations of the visitor, readers come to feel that the narrator may not fully understand the old man himself. Such an unreliable storyteller makes a mystery even more mysterious, complicating efforts to fix a definite meaning to the tale.

Catch221 essays

Catch221 essays The name of the novel I read is Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. This novels uniqueness makes it hard to classify but I would classify it as an anti-war novel. The main theme of the novel is one of hope and freedom from the barbaric grasp of war. Heller uses World War II as an almost invisible framework in which he places a number of vaguely related stories presented in no particular chronological order, although the final narrative does tie them all together. Catch-22 was written in a very comical style. It displays the foolishness of wars and the inherent violence and idiotic bureaucracy while eliminating the glory, honor and graphic depictions so often included in wartime novels. Heller uses loads of humor to convey his messages and while the main theme is obvious to the reader, there are many hidden and double meanings buried in the intriguing stories. I selected this novel because it was highly recommended by a close friend and I definitely enjoyed it. Hellers humor is what I liked most about the novel. The novel is guaranteed to bring a smile to anyones face and I absolutely loved the characters. On the other hand, I found his lack of timeline very frustrating and confusing. Some may consider this ingenious but there were parts of the novel when I was thoroughly puzzled as to who was dead or alive. In addition to this, the lack of a chronological order makes this novel insanely difficult to summarize. Other than that, I have no complaints about this book and even without the timeline its an ingenious work. The novel begins with the main character, Yossarian, in a military hospital with a phony liver condition that is severe enough to take him out of combat but not severe enough to operate on. Soon after, a friendly Texan is brought into the ward and he is so overly nice and talkative that all the patients in the ward, including Yossarian, recover from their various ailments and return to the war. After leav...

Automotive Industry in UK Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Automotive Industry in UK - Coursework Example It is here that the researcher has chosen the automotive industry because it has one of the most used product, automobiles. Automotive manufacturing companies such as the Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Car (UK) Ltd, Toyota Manufacturing UK Ltd, and Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd will be the research correspondent. The companies will be analyzed based on their reported facts and figures as to productivity, competence and profitability. This paper aims to be a useful tool for those who are interested in investing into the said industry by looking to the financial ratios to be presented as to its profitability. It aims to be valuable aid for investment decisions. It also aims to be a useful related study to those who would want to perform such a similar analysis in the future. A study conducted by Ernst and Young, a world -respected accounting and auditing firm, shows that the United Kingdom is Europe's favorite destination in terms of monetary investments. After learning of this new research, Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers announced that this is a "ringing endorsement" for foreign companies to set up shop in the United Kingdom. This recognition is when many EUROPEAN countries were made alternative choices. In fact, the Ernst and Young company's Investment Monitor Report shows that the UK had an increase in foreign investments by as much as thirteen percent in 1999. This UK ratio is double the investment increase in the European investment. Also, the market share of the foreign investments has also risen. The accounting firm explained their by findings by stating that there were two thousand two hundred forty three that entered into the European arena which represents a five percent increase in 1999. However, there were five hundred seventy fi ve investments that specifically reached the United Kingdom. This represents a chunky thirteen percent increase for from the prior year investments of only five hundred eight investments in this land of the King Arthur fame in the same year -1999. Further, the United Kingdom companies also invested in the other European countries to the tune of twenty six percent. This is a two percent increase investments (Autoindustry, 2ndMay 2001).In the article Development and Dependency in Southeast Asia: the Case of the Automotive Industry, the year 1988 saw the Malaysian national car, Proton, gain a seventy -three percent share of the Malaysian automotive industry market. One good reason is that the company is the beneficiary of its governments' exemption from complying with the Malaysian government's forty percent ID. This fee is being paid by other automotive manufacturers inside Malaysia. Also, the foreign competitors of the company are being imposed very high import duties on their CBUs e ntering the Malaysian circuit. In the past, Proton had been the mocked by its critics when it just started operations because it had to overcome huge losses which would prod other less -brave and adventurous companies to fold up their operations in this Southeast Asian Country. Happily, Proton was able to survive its real world test and transform a losing automotive venture into a profit generating endeavor with a stroke of

Leadership Development Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership Development Project - Essay Example This would be considered a rare trait among most of the citizens of the other countries as it was expected that they had to fight back as a form of fighting for their rights. Leaders’ reaching a consensus through meetings was also a preferred method in maintaining peace between the two rivalry parties (Cromwell & Kolb, 2004). Results From the studies conducted, it was clear that non violence did help the members of the Indian community to stay in peace as long as they did not undertake violence. Other alternative measures suggested could be the holding of talks with the leaders of the opposition in an attempt to find a solution to the grievances that were being presented especially the idea of poor housing conditions (Burman & Evans, 2008). Interpretation Most countries prefer t use violence as a mode of conflict resolution and this implies that the use of non violence measures may not be effective or may take long to be successful in certain countries. To make the leadership process a success, leaders from the two parties had to ensure that they both reached a consensus on how to govern citizens from both the masters and the slaves. Leader Profile Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader who heard several stories of leaders like Shravana and they were a source of inspiration as he grew up. During his years he wished for a country that would maintain peace through non violence while civil disobedience for those countries that were more likely to be victims of war. He held civil rights movements in South Africa in an attempt to against the civil discrimination being faced by Indians. His fight against racism made him a hero in the face of the Indians and this left a mark of history down the lane. The struggle for the civil rights for his people became a common interest for him as he became interested in setting his men free from the tight hands of slavery. He was against the discrimination against the Africans too and this was even experienced by himself when he was thrown out of the train. This indicated to him that discrimination had become rampant in all aspects that were a basic requirement to the Africans and also Indians. Such acts that he encountered in person made his ego for social activism to rise and went out to agitate for rights on social injustice. He had been a victim of racism, injustice and prejudice from the whites and it was time for him to show the way for the marginalized groups in South Africa. He helped the Indians in South Africa to fight against a bill that was to be passed denying them the right to vote. His principle of Satyagraha in which they had to devote themselves to truth was to be upheld in every aspect (Surendra & Goolam, 2005). They found it better for them to suffer the punishments than be involved in wars. Book Report Lussier, R. N. & Christopher, F. A. (2009). Leadership: Theory, Application, & Skill Development. New York: Cengage Learning. Good leadership can be ensured through the aspect of skill de velopment where individuals in the leadership positions have to be innovative in order to ensure that their style of leadership is one that will be accepted by all in the society or country at large. The various leadership functions have to be addressed with reference to the areas of interest and this has been clearly indicated in the book which provides a step by step model of how to deal with the guidelines (Luisier et al, 2009). Leaders are expected to have critical

Is Keeping Animals In A Zoo Cruel?

Is Keeping Animals In A Zoo Cruel? Until recently, the existence of zoos in our society was never something which we thought twice about. Zoos were widely accepted as educational and entertaining institutions. Children, and adults, love seeing animals, and a visit to the zoo has always been something we look forward to. Gradually, however, discussion has aroused about the morality of keeping animals, and other creatures in captivity, as animals have rights such as we do. There are around 430 zoos in Britain alone and 10,000 worldwide. Conditions vary greatly, with the worst being nothing more than concrete prisons holding very distressed animals. (Born Free Charity). This quotation shows the insensitivity of the proprietors of such establishments and gives us a clear picture of the conditions in which creatures are kept. Rather than encouraging animals to thrive in natural settings, zoos place very unnatural boundaries on their residents. For example, in zoos, polar bears are usually confined to spaces that are only around one-millionth the size of their minimum home range in the wild. Animals who stray across large distances in nature often develop zoo chosis in captivation which is similar to dementia in humans. Typical behaviours resulting from boredom and distress when placed in zoo enclosures, are endlessly pacing or swimming in circles. Animals have evolved from nature, just as humans, and each belongs undisturbed in its own natural habitat. To remove these animals from what they are used to against their will is immoral. As humans, we must treat animals humanely in our role as stewards of the earth. It is therefore unacceptable that animals in zoos under our care, are suffering from neglect and early death, through distress and health problems. In the wild, creatures such as the ones found in zoos are free to roam without restraint and interact with other species. Whereas, in captive conditions they are only able to mix with their own species, sometimes only being a few of each species. If these animals do not get on with the others in the enclosure, they have no way of escaping each others company, and animals, like us, have personalities and forge friendships and rivalries. Furthermore, animals do not gain the necessary skills for survival in zoos and so will never be able to be reintroduced back into the wild and survive. Therefore they will have to live an enclosed, cramped lifestyle entirely dependent on humans who do not always care for them appropriately, for the entirety of their lives. On this note, Attachment relationships between animals are often studied by separating pack animals and recording their subsequent behaviour. Studies of primates have shown that separation results in changes of behaviour that are symptomatic of both psychological and physiological stress. Because of this, it is clear that in order to maintain physical and psychological well being in animals, it is vital that animals which are used to being together with animals of their kind should not be isolated from one another. In many zoos, it is felt necessary that animals should be alone as it saves costs and ensures there are no conflicts between them. Zoos are therefore knowingly causing the animals psychological and physiological trauma. Animals kept in zoos have no privacy; they are continually watched by the public and have little enclosed space where they can hide. Zoo animals develop anxious behaviours if they are always in the public gaze. Being stared at all the time can be predatory and threatening. Another strange species staring at you or enproaching in your environment is disconcerting and agitating for wild animals in the same way that a tiger coming into your house and staring at you would be not just threatening, but simply terrifying. This in turn can lead to aggression and distress in the animals. Even when the animals are not disturbed by human presences watching over them, there is constant noise of other creatures and maintenance works on the zoo (e.g. Tractors). They will get no peace and quiet. This is not natural for any animal. They should be able to have time on their own to relax in harmony. Zoo Keepers and many employees of zoos do not treat the animals living within the exhibitions with enough compassion or care. A San Diego Zookeeper described an incident in which an African Elephant was beaten for two days with axe handles, as a way of motivating the animal to put on a display for visitors. This kind of treatment is extremely vindictive and clearly demonstrates how in some zoos, the living beings are not treated as well as they should be. Even though they are given all the necessities for life and they have a veterinary surgeon on hand at all times, the animals only get enough to get by, and no more. After all, zoos are a money making business. They often scrimp and save at the expense of the animals well being and comfort. Large animals such as elephants are often subjected to cruelty above and beyond that of smaller animals. A study has proven that in a certain American zoo, the elephants there were dying at a faster rate than they were breeding, as a result of dis ease spread by the lack of space and dirty cages. The exhibition of animals in captivity tells an impressionable public that cruelty to animals can be condoned. Many zoos claim that they are of high educational benefit, and although some visitors only spend around two minutes at each inclosure, using the animals for entertainment rather than for instructive matters. Although, children do get to see animals and experience how they live, which they wouldnt get the chance to do if animals were only in the wild. Zoos have to educate the public about the value of animals so that people understand the importance of conservation. After a fun trip to the zoo, visitors leave with a newfound awareness and perceptive about animals. How are they going to discover these interesting facts if they dont get to see the creatures? Zoos give people an appreciation for animals. They need to see, listen to and smell an elephant to gain love and respect for the creature. Viewing an animal on TV does not give a person the same effect as seeing it first hand does. An arguable advantage of having zoos present in todays society is that many endangered species will be protected and will refrain from becoming extinct. Zoos promote the awareness of animals that are being wiped out. This would allow for people to help fund the repopulation of those animals. If more people are aware of new animals on the endangered species list, there is more of a chance that researchers will get more funds. But endangered species may not gain as much support and attention of the crowds as people are only usually interested in popular species like Lions. Furthermore there is some debate because of the inadequate gene pool of a species in zoos. This could, lead to inbreeding which would then create mutations and defects in the offspring. In conclusion, animals are born wild and therefore should live and die wild. It is wrong that wild creatures should be kept in enclosures in zoos as they do not get to behave naturally: a lion cannot hunt for its prey, or experience the nobility of living with other lions in a pride. My overall view is that keeping animals in zoos is extremely cruel as they are not free to convey their natural way of living, whether it is to roam in a large area, to breed with a partner of their choice, or to kill their own prey. The animals are troubled every minute of the day by people observing them, something which, in the wild, would hint great danger. All of these factors contribute to my strong sensitivity to this topic of treatise. Word count- 1310 Sources www.bornfree.org http://www.captiveanimals.org/zoos/zfact1.htm Pros and Cons : A Debaters Handbook [Paperback] published 1999 http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=1 Trees in Celtic Culture and Art: An Analysis Trees in Celtic Culture and Art: An Analysis The use of yew, rowan, birch and Scots pine trees in Scottish Celtic mythology, legend, symbolism, religion and literature Preface Celtic society was dominated by its links to nature and the spirituality of the world around it. Of these natural objects, trees represented the ultimate in spirituality and wisdom. This is not only due to the life giving properties of trees within the forest-strewn wilderness of Europe at the time, but also because of the supposed wisdom and power that trees offered people. Their longevity, practicality, power and importance within Druidism means that trees, and in particular yew trees, formed the basis for literature, religion, myth, legend and symbolism within Scottish Celtic culture. Introduction Trees play an important role in Irish and Scottish Celtic traditions in terms of mysticism, legend, medicinal remedies and religion and literature. The most famous example of this is probably the Celtic notion of the Tree of Life, a tree that symbolizes the connection that links all the worlds in Celtic mythology. The Irish Celts often took this even further with each chieftain having their own specifically grown sacred tree that would allow the clan leader to stay in contact with the Otherworld and his ancestors (Conway, 2000, p. 69). This essay will examine these concepts with particular emphasis on the importance of yew, rowan, birch and Scots pine trees in Scottish Celtic mythology, legend, symbolism, religion and literature. The first section will look at the history of trees within Celtic mythology and literature. Sections two and three will then examine the importance of trees in Scottish Celtic myth, legend, symbolism, religion and literature. History of Trees in Celtic Mythology and Literature The importance of trees in Celtic mythology is linked to their belief that all living things were spiritual and mystical beings. Whilst other cultures only saw animals as being spiritual, the Celts attached spiritual meaning to both animals and plants. Trees were also initially important because they provided food, warmth and housing for people, and therefore were seen as a sort of sustainer of life. The Celtic landscape of Northern Europe was also one where thick forests dominated the landscape. All of this contributed to trees becoming extremely important in Celtic history. Trees have also been used from the very early stages of Celtic existence as a type of alphabet and calendar known as Ogham. This intricate pattern of carved grooves has different trees representing different months (Matthews, 2001, pp. 6-8). Trees played a part in helping the sick in a physical way as well as a spiritual way. The oils and barks of different trees were used to treat illnesses ranging from abscesses and bronchitis to general disinfectant. The trees were seen as having great wisdom and being linked to both this world and the Otherworld (Conway, 2000, pp. 39-41). Trees were part of the magic of the time, and not just in Celtic culture. Throughout Europe there were examples and symbols of trees as powerful creatures. In Germany the rowan tree root could be formed into a humanlike image called an Alraun that could house a spirit and be communicated with (Greer, 2003, p. 19). The birch and yew trees were also mentioned extensively within the old Germanic language as part of the runes within Anglo-Saxon culture (Greer, 2003, p. 63, 149). It is clear that trees and plants have played an important part in language, culture and literature since the beginnings of the Scottish Celtic culture. In fact, the belief in the power and spirituality of plants can be traced right back to the Celtic religion and culture at its foundation. The very term Druidism is a testament to the Celtic worship of trees and plants. This is because Druid as a word is formed from a root DR. This root signifies a tree – in particular the oak – in several of the Aryan languages. Therefore, the very fabric of Celtic religion is based upon the sacred tree (Squire, 2003, p. 33). The original word for church at the time, kirk, was in fact derived from quercus – a type of oak. This species of oak was particularly sacred, and therefore its name became the basis for the place of worship that has been transformed through language to the modern church of today’s world (Thiselton-Dyer, 2004, p. 22). Trees were also important for warding off evil spirits and protecting the land. They protected the land physically through their thick branches that provided wood, shelter and shade from the elements (Davidson, 1988, pp. 13-14). However, they also provided protection from the evil of witches and other demons. The yew tree was particularly painful and disliked by the witches – mainly because it had an association with churchyards and being planted in such places. This gave the tree such holy power that it could take away the abilities and evil of witches (Thiselton-Dyer, 2004, p. 44). Trees could also be inhabited by spirits, which meant they were important vessels to link the current world with the spirit world. Trees were seen as a form that ghosts and spirits could take in order to contact the living, and this was something to be both worshipped and feared in equal measure. The trees were often seen as ‘semi-tangible’ objects that were not as vastly important as the highest gods, but they were symbolic of the demi-gods and along with animals were far more important than many of the other elements and objects around them (Macbain, 2003, p. 33, 37). The other element that made trees so sacred and valued was their longevity. Trees could live hundreds or even thousands of years, which made the people of the time see them as something almost eternal. They were timeless and ageless in many ways, and their longevity also gave them supposed wisdom. Man would decay and crumble, but the trees would live on and gather knowledge throughout the centuries. This is another reason why they were revered and worshipped as sacred objects (Murray and Card, 1998, p. 8). This section has outlined some of the background reasons and history as to why trees were sacred in the Celtic culture. The next section will look at specific examples of trees in Celtic myth, legend and symbolism. Trees in Myth, Legend and Symbolism Perhaps the most important elements of tree symbolism, legend and myth within Celtic society are the calendar and alphabet of trees and the Tree of Life. The tree calendar has 13 of the 25 tree letters as names for months. For example, birch is the symbol for new starts and therefore represents November – the first month in the Celtic calendar (Murray and Card, 1998, pp. 8-9). The yew, rowan and ash trees were also included in this alphabet (Crews, 2005). Each letter or tree symbol within the alphabet means something quite different and symbolizes a certain attribute within human existence. One famous poem and story shows the power of trees in Celtic myth and legend. ‘Big MacVurich and the Monster’ tells how the whelp of a monster is captured by MacVurich and in order to get it back the monster must build a house for MacVurich with timbers in the roof. The beast agrees, but will not use certain types of wood. Whilst the house is built and it seems that MacVurich has what he wants, the beast has in fact denied MacVurich fertility (wild fig), safe passage to the next life (yew) and protection against illness (white poplar) amongst others. The fact that these trees were left out of the construction is significant for it means that MacVurich would not have a good life – the monster was taking revenge through the power of trees (Murray and Card, 1998, pp. 19-20). Trees were also symbolically important for culture and art at the time, as they were the surroundings and inspiration that gave rise to the art of the time. Celtic artists worked predominantly with metal, and their works focused on the animals and plants around them (Green, 1998, p. 1). Symbols such as this show how the tree binds the worlds together, from the living world to the Otherworld and beyond. The tree is the link to all worlds with its roots deep in the ground and its branches far into the sky (Green, 1992, p. 25). The tree of life is also a symbol for the fact that trees provided protection, food, shelter, fuel and warmth for people and animals throughout the forest-strewn landscape. The trees were the objects that gave people the greatest resources that could sustain them, and therefore practically they were a life force (Green, 1998, pp. 3-4). Trees could also symbolize power and political force, as reported by the Romans in their fights with Druids. The Druids would use the forests to gather their clans together, communicate with each other using the branches and fight back. This is why the Romans, who did not specifically believe in the divine power of trees, cut down as many trees as possible to stop the Druids. This was both a practical and spiritual measure, given the significance of trees to the Druids (Heinz, 2008, pp. 139-140). The yew tree has perhaps the greatest significant and myth surrounding it, and even today has an element of mysticism around it due to its old age and the dwindling numbers of yew trees in Europe. Yew trees are in fact poisonous, and so they were used as parts of weapons within Celtic times. They also symbolize the dream-state, as the poisonous vapours from a yew tree can make a person become light-headed or even hallucinate. The tree is in fact given thirty three different titles and meanings in the 12th century Book of Leinster (Heinz, 2008, p.151). However, the most common meaning associated with the yew tree is death, rebirth and regeneration. As one of the longest living trees it was a symbol for the continuation and renewal of life (LaFey, 1999). The birch tree is also associated with birth or inception. The birch is the beginning of all things in the link between life and death and is used in the training of ‘beginning’ for Druids. The rowan tree is seen as a magical tree that grew food of the gods. The berries of the rowan tree were highly sacred and protected. The pine tree represents hardiness and continuation in life – a characteristic of the evergreen tree (LaFey, 1999). All of these trees and many more played a vital role in the development of Celtic myth, legend and symbolism. The next section will move on to look at the importance of trees within the religion and literature of the Celtic tradition. Trees in Religion and Literature As already discussed, trees were an important part of the Druid religion during the time of the Celts. Not only were trees the location for gatherings of Druids, but the trees themselves were part of the Druid religion. The birch was used to train those in the religion, and the carvings of the alphabet from trees were used for communication. Even the calendar that was observed by the Celtic Druids was based upon the tree alphabet. Much of the church of the Druids was based around the sacred importance of trees. Even special houses for religious and spiritual purposes were constructed out of vast quantities of wood to add a sacred element to the construction. Basic houses such as the Pimperne Down round-house used over 200 trees for construction for both practicality and religious advantage (Green, 1996, pp. 195-197). However, literature also contains a number of tree references and stories. In a practical sense, trees were obviously important in the physical creation of stories with wood and then eventually paper. However, before paper the use of trees for carving stories upon was commonplace. The tree alphabet characters were easy to inscribe and were carved upon wood, and such tree tablets served as early writing surfaces within Celtic society. The particular use of trees and the order of characters or letters often depended on when and where the particular trees shed or grew leaves and spread within a particular area. This is why certain areas put more emphasis on the importance of yew or rowan trees above birch or pine trees, and vice versa (Crews, 2005). One of the most famous of these tree stories is the ‘Battle of the Trees’, reworked by Robert Graves. It shows the rise of the belief in trees and the rise of a class of people devoted to agriculture from those who were merely priests within the Bronze Age. The story shows trees and plants as not only being part of the ruling of the nations, but also spirits that contribute to the decision making of who is to lead. Trees are the wisdom behind the power that rules within Celtic society (Rosenfeld, 2005, pp. 196+). There are references to all the various trees within texts and literature throughout Celtic culture. The rowan tree is mentioned extensively in the Dindsenchas or History of the Names of Places. This book tells of a female Druid called Dreco who wounded a man called Cethern (a word derived from rowan) with a rowan spear. Incantations took place when the weapon was used, showing that the rowan was more of a magical weapon than just a physical weapon formed from the tree (Blamires, 1997, p. 77). The birch tree can be used to call upon different beings such as the Daghdha. This rough looking man with unkempt appearance, long hair and a large belly can be used with the birch to help you understand the trees more effectively and communicate with the newly born and the Otherworld (Blamires, 1997, pp. 71-72). The yew is written about more than any other tree and is worshipped as two of the five sacred trees within the Druid religion. It is used to prepare magical literature, wands and in divination. As the oldest of the trees it holds more wisdom than any other and is used for the most important tasks within Druidism. The yew has no special significance in the sense of being about one object or element – the yew simply is and always will be in the same way that God or other worshipped entities whose existence is merely enough to understand the greatness of their power (Blamires, 1997, p. 210). The holiness of the trees and wood can also be seen with fines that had to be paid if you damaged trees such as the oak, yew, ash pine or apple tree. These ‘lords’ of the wood were sacred and could only be used for certain things. Any damage to these trees meant a fine and potentially replanting a tree to replace the one damaged. Rowan and birch were classed as lower trees within this system, and a lesser fine needed to be paid. However, all the trees were seen as precious commodities not only physically but spiritually. This is why trees were the inspiration and object of worship for so many within Celtic society and culture (Delahunty, 2002, pp. 16-18). Conclusion Trees have a long and rich history within Scottish Celtic society in a variety of areas. The reverence of trees came about because of the huge prevalence of trees within Europe at the time of the Celts. These trees provided the life force, shelter and sustenance for people to live their lives. As this developed along with the Druid religion, trees gained a spiritual significance along with the other elements of nature. Animals and weather are important within Celtic tradition, but trees are the basis of the Druid religion and Celtic myth. The concepts of the Tree of Life and the Ogham tree alphabet and calendar show how trees penetrate all areas of Celtic life. Different trees have different meanings, with the rowan and birch trees symbolizing magic and birth respectively. However, the most important tree within the Celtic tradition is the yew tree. This tree represents the highest power of trees. Its longevity, poisonous properties and ghostly shape make it the most revered and feared of all trees whose existence is as important as any modern God. This fear and reverence of trees as a link between worlds inspired the art, literature, legends, symbolism and behavior of Scottish Celtic society. Bibliography Blamires, S., 1997. Celtic Tree Mysteries: Practical Druid Magic and Divination. Llewellyn Worldwide. Conway, D.J., 2000. Advanced Celtic Shamanism. United States: The Crossing Press. Crews, J., 2005. Forest and tree symbolism in folklore. (Online). Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y9882e/y9882e08.htm (Accessed 13th January 2009). Davidson, H.R.E., 1988. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Delahunty, J.L., 2002. Religion, War and Changing Landscapes: An Historical and Ecological Account of the Yew Tree (Taxus baccata L.) in Ireland. Diss., Graduate School of University of Florida. Available at: http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0000522/delahunty_j.pdf LaFey, M., 1999. Sacred Trees, Oghams and Celtic Symbolism. (Online). Available at: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shire/3951/dryadart.html (Accessed 14th January 2009). Green, M., 1992. Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art. London: Routledge. Green, M., 1996. The Celtic World. London: Routledge. Green, M., 1998. Animals in Celtic Life and Myth. New York: Routledge. Greer, M., 2003. The New Encyclopedia of the Occult. Llewellyn Worldwide. Heinz, S., 2008. Celtic Symbols. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. Macbain, A., 2003. Celtic Mythology and Religion. New York: Kessinger. Matthews, C., 2001. Celtic Wisdom Sticks: An Ogam Oracle. London: Connections Book Publishing. Murray, L., and Card, V., 1998. The Celtic Tree Oracle: A System of Divination. London: Connections Book Publishing. Rosenfeld, N., 2005. Trees, Kings, and Muses: Robert Gravess Battle of the Trees and Jothams Parable of the Trees. Papers on Language Literature, 41(2), p. 196+. Squire, C., 2003. Celtic Myth and Legend. New York: Courier Dover Publications. Thiselton-Dyer, T.F., 2004. The Folk Lore of Plants. New York: Kessinger.