Symbolism In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams had a rough past as a result it influenced him to write plays about the conditions in the 1930s. Although Williams had a tough past, Williams became very successful in his writings and plays. Nevertheless Williams gained popularity among his peers. His experiences in the 1930s affected his work especially in The Glass Menagerie. Williams’s homosexuality made him be seen as an outcast in American society. Not to mention that homosexuality was not as widely accepted as it is today. The writing style of Williams creates a unique and great story. Tennessee Williams utilizes symbolism to express his themes throughout The Glass Menagerie. There are many events in Tennessee Williams’s early life that is similar to the†¦show more content†¦Williams creates an illusionary state between the old south and the new industrial world (Topham 4). The play represents memories of Tom years later and is not a depiction of actuality (Adler 5). The truth is in a pleasant guise of illusion (Beattie 2). While the play represents the past, there are also other examples of symbolism. In the play, The Glass Menagerie, Williams uses many symbols that are stated directly and indirectly. Williams employment of symbolism is needed to capture the reality of illusion (Adler 5). Laura was given the nickname â€Å"Blue Roses† by a boy she loved in high school (Adler 6). Roses are delicate, beautiful, and fanciful, like Laura and her glass animals, but they both have no real existence (Adler 6). The glass unicorn is her favorite glass animal (Beattie 3). When Jim breaks off the horn accidentally, Laura realizes that she ordinary like the unicorn-turned horse (Beattie 4). Another symbol is a dead-end alleyway, which cats are trapped and killed by dogs (Holditch 2). All the characters are trapped in different ways, and each escape into an illusion (Holditch 2). The symbols relate to the themes and characters. The themes provide a deeper understan ding of the play and of the characters. Tom’s father abandoned his family, who appears only in a photograph on the wall (Adler 6). Tom abandoned the family the same way his father did, but he wanted to leave his life situation (Beattie 2). Amanda struggles to support herShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams822 Words   |  4 Pages A play based on the power of memory, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a story told from Tom Wingfield’s point of view and depicts Laura’s imaginary world, a place where she can retreat and escape the reality of the present, and live in a â€Å"perfect† world. Laura’s memories from the past shape her personality, such as the name, â€Å"Blue Roses,† which illustrates her fragile nature, much like the fragility of the glass menagerie. In order to symbolize Laura Wingfield’s fragile behavior dueRead MoreSymbolism and Crossing the Rubicon in Tennessee Williamsâ⠂¬â„¢ â€Å"The Glass Menagerie.†1784 Words   |  8 PagesThe masterful use of symbolism is delightfully ubiquitous in Tennessee Williams’ â€Å"The Glass Menagerie.† He uses a collection of dim, dark and shadowy symbols that constantly remind the audience of the lost opportunity each of these three characters continually experience. This symbolism is not only use to enlighten the audience to their neglected opportunities to shine, but it is also repeatedly utilized to reinforce the ways in which the characters try in vain to cross over turbulent waters intoRead MoreSymbolism In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Essay1827 Words   |  8 PagesTennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie, is a play that evokes great sympathy and in some cases, empathy for a protagonist who struggles to overcome two opposing forces; his responsibilities and his desires. There are many symbols and non-liner references that contribute to the development of characterization, dramatic tensions and the narrative. This essay will examine in detail, the aspects of the play that contribute to the development of the above mentioned elements. In Toms opening addressesRead MoreThe Glass Menagerie Symbolism Essay800 Words   |  4 PagesTitle Tennessee Williams had a rough past that influenced him to write plays about the 1930s. Williams’s life was very successful in his writing, making him known to many. His experiences in the 1930s affected his work. Williams’s homosexuality made him be seen as an outcast in American society. Tennessee Williams utilizes symbolism to express his themes throughout The Glass Menagerie. There are many events in Tennessee Williams’s early life that is similar to the details in The Glass MenagerieRead More The Importance of Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie Essay1609 Words   |  7 PagesImportance of Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie  Ã‚      Tom Wingfield is the narrator and a major character in Tennessee William’s timeless play, The Glass Menagerie. Through the eyes of Tom, the viewer gets a glance into the life of his family in the pre-war depression era; his mother, a Southern belle desperately clinging to the past; his sister, a woman too fragile to function in society; and himself, a struggling, young poet working at a warehouse to pay the bills. Williams has managed toRead More Alienation in Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie Essay examples943 Words   |  4 PagesAlienation in Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie Life is a lonely tale of alienation, as Tennessee Williams conveys though his play, â€Å"The Glass Menagerie.† Williams surrounds Laura in isolation from a world in which they wish to belong to by using various symbols. The symbolic nature of the motifs hidden within the lines of this play provides meaning to the theme found consistent throughout the play: Individuals are all alone in the world. Williams brilliantly illuminates theRead More Essay on the Symbolism of the Menagerie in The Glass Menagerie1002 Words   |  5 PagesThe Symbolism of the Menagerie in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚   Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie, describes three separate characters, their dreams, and the harsh realities they face in a modern world.   The Glass Menagerie exposes the lost dreams of a southern family and their desperate struggle to escape reality. Williams use of symbols adds depth to the play. The glass menagerie itself is a symbol Williams uses to represent the broken lives of Amanda, Laura and Tom Wingfield andRead MoreEssay about Williamss Use of Symbolic Reference in The Glass Menagerie851 Words   |  4 Pagesof Symbolic Reference in The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams wrote The Glass Menagerie basing it on himself and his life, although not always in detail. Tennessees life was not one of perfection. It had a lot of downs causing the play to be a very sentimental, dimly lighted and emotionally play. Although this play has a very basic story line Tennessee use of symbolism crates a much more meaningful story of the Wingfild family. Symbolism is used in almost everyRead MoreSymbolism in the Glass Menagerie Essay831 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in The Glass Menagerie Symbolism plays a fundamental part in Tennessee Williams’s play, â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†. Examples of the use of symbolism include the fire escape, as an escape from the family, the phonograph, as an escape from reality, the unicorn, as a symbol for Lauras uniqueness and the father’s photograph, representing something different to each character. Through recognition of these symbols, a greater understanding of the play’s theme is achieved. ThroughoutRead More Three Important Symbols in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams1429 Words   |  6 PagesThree Important Symbols in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie, the narrator is used to reveal elements of Williams own life as a victim of the Depression in the 1930s. Williams does this through his eloquent use of symbolism. Three symbols seem to reveal Williams intent especially accurately; the unicorn, the picture of Mr. Wingfield, and Malvolios coffin trick.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The unicorn is a symbolic representation of ways

Pros And Cons Of Water Bottles - 850 Words

There are many pros and cons to using water bottles. The following 3 articles are showing different viewpoints of whether plastic water bottles should be not used in our society Did you know that bottled water we all once drank out of the other day could somewhat contain tap water? The importance of water bottles in our society and generation is that we need it for emergency purposes and maintain a healthy life. We all know that plastic water bottles are very healthy and good to keep your body hydrated. We also know that bottled water is very nutritious due to it being â€Å"purified.† But, these so called â€Å"credible companies† that claim that this purified water is really what its meant to be is not mostly correct. I will be explaining†¦show more content†¦This evidence shows that Aquahydrate is a company headed by a former executive for Coke and is getting a publicity boost from Mark Wahlberg and Sean Combs which those two celebrities are very credible people to make the water company rise. On the other hand, the following article â€Å"Goodbye, Bottled Water?† by Gail Hennessey argument is anti-water bottles and the article is basically saying how water is harmful to our environment including the population and is wasting the government’s money. The purpose is that they are not for water bottles instead are strongly against it. The audience which are the people that likes tap water strongly feels that bottled water is very horrible to the environment. Bottled water is a bad for financial purposes even money for the environment. The author of the article uses ethos by mentioning names, such as brands that are credible and even the governors in the article. In the article â€Å"Goodbye, Bottled Water?†, it states, â€Å"Mayor Gavin Newsom, of San Francisco, California, thinks its time for a change. He has banned city government from using public money to purchase bottled water for its employees†(Hennessey P1 S4) This shows that the mayor of Sa n Francisco, Mayor Garvin Newsom is credible The author uses logos because it has facts and statistics. In the article, it states, â€Å"Therefore, about 86 percent of the water bottles soldShow MoreRelatedThe Pros And Cons Of Drinking Water And Water Bottles854 Words   |  4 Pagesmoney on water bottles every day. Many believe that water bottles are so much better than the tap water, when the water in the bottle is your tap water. The only difference is that the water in the bottle is purified tap water. The generation that we have today rely strictly on drinking water bottles instead of tap out of the faucet. All of those people are wasting their money on bottled water, when all they need to do is invest in a cheap filter for their faucet. There are many pros and cons to waterRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Water Bottles1281 Words   |  6 PagesWater Bottle Argument Imagine that you are filling up your 1 gallon water bottle and you are late for your sport, your dad is in the car waiting for you and you are only halfway done with the water bottle, so you just forget about the water bottle, but find out that there were a full pack of plastic water bottles there the whole time so you grab one of those and hop in the car, and you are right on time for your sport. Waunakee should not ban water bottles because they are good for when you areRead MoreEssay about Hand Soap versus Hand Sanitizer1203 Words   |  5 PagesParents and teachers encourage children to wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, touching dirty objects, and sometimes before eating. Next to every tissue box there will most likely be a bottle of hand sanitizer that kills 99.9% of germs. Both hand soap and hand sanitizer kill off the germs and bacteria that can cause infections and diseases. Which one works best? The purpose of this experiment is to show which is more effective, hand soap or hand sanitizer (Bjornsson). ToRead MoreBottled Water vs. Tap1119 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Explanatory Essay: Bottled Water or Tap Water? There are articles, flyers, and even books out in the market that try to persuade people to either use bottled water or tap water. While many believe that tap water is more beneficial to the body, others believe that the convenience and advertising of purified bottled water is acceptable enough for themselves. As we consume water, we concern ourselves with issues such as if it is harmful to the environment, if it is harmful to our health and whetherRead MoreResearch On Hydration Stations On College Campuses1369 Words   |  6 PagesAt Kankakee Community College they have a combination of Elkay Halsey Taylor hydration stations. Since the installation of its first bottle filling station in July 2012, KCC has saved more than 47,544 disposable plastic bottles from going to the landfill, and potentially saving the staff and students $75,594.96 in water purchases (@ $ 1.59 per bottle of water in the cafeteria, for 12,552 gallons). They currently have 7 hydration stations scattered s trategically around our campus and North ExtensionRead MoreThe Health Benefits Of Breast Feeding1451 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are only two choices, breastfeeding or bottle/formula feeding. Breast feeding is simply the baby sucking milk from the mother’s breasts, while formula feeding is manufactured food fed to the baby with a bottle. There are arguments for and against one or the other, but which is actually better? Below we will examine the pros and cons of both methods, in an effort to understand if one is truly better than the other. First we will look at the pros of Breast-feeding. According to the Office onRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Reusable And Non Reusable Energy Sources1727 Words   |  7 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Reusable Non Reusable Energy Sources There are many things that we rely on that are naturally provided by nature from the water that is used to replenish our systems to prevent dehydration, to the air that we breath down to some portions of food that we eat. One of those natural elements are used daily but are often not thought about outside of the scientific or political fields is energy. Energy is all around us there is nothing that is done in the day to day life thatRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Bottled Water Essay1016 Words   |  5 PagesThe consumption of bottled water continues to rise. As the popularity of bottled water many people consume bottled water on a daily basis and many people have many concerns regarding this topic of bottled water. Many people think that It is harming towards the environment because most people throw away their bottles in the closest thing they find which is the trash can. But there are some people that believe that bottled water is good for you and that you can’t live with out it.also from my priorRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Plastic Bottles1113 Words   |  5 Pageshappens to water bottles after you’ve thrown them away? Have you considered recycling and what that does to the environment? Well when you throw away a water bottle, you’re basically throwing away plastic, so it takes years on end to biodegrade in the landfills that they are taken to after being thrown away. Then they release toxic additives, such as phthalates, in the environment destroying the ecosystem and water around it as it is trying to break down. But if you recycle the bottles they areRead MoreHow Is Technology Available At Mdc1205 Words   |  5 Pagesin CADD lab. Versatile dual extruder – There are no limits to your creativity with FlashForge Creator Pro because of its versatile dual extruder. These extruders are designed to give you infinite opportunities. In addition, you can adjust these extruders to print flexible and composite materials that may arrive in the future. Solid steel frame construction – You can rely on FlashForge Creator Pro 3D printer when it comes to built because it has a solid powder-coated steel frame construction that keeps

Persian Gulf War Essay Example For Students

Persian Gulf War Essay The Persian Gulf is one of the few regions whose importance to the United States is obvious. The flow of Gulf oil will continue to be crucial to the economic well-being of the industrialized world for the foreseeable future; developments in the Gulf will have a critical impact on issues ranging from Arab-Israeli relations and religious extremism to terrorism and nuclear nonproliferation. Every president since Richard Nixon has recognized that ensuring Persian Gulf security and stability is a vital U.S. interest. The Clinton administrations strategy for achieving this goal during the presidents first term was its attempted dual containment of Iraq and Iran. This is more a slogan than a strategy, however, and the policy may not be sustainable for much longer. In trying to isolate both of the Gulfs regional powers, the policy lacks strategic viability and carries a high financial and diplomatic cost. Saddam Hussein is still in power six years after his defeat at the hands of a multinational coalition, and the international consensus on continuing the containment of Iraq is fraying. The strident U.S. campaign to isolate Iran, in turn, drives Iran and Russia together and the United States and its Group of Seven allies apart. Finally, the imposing U.S. military presence that helps protect the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from external threats is being exploited by hostile elements to take advantage of internal social, political, and economic problems. The advent of the Clinton adm inistrations second term, together with the imminent inauguration of a new administration in Iran following this Mays elections, provides an opportunity to review U.S. policies toward the Gulf and consider whether midcourse corrections could improve the situation. The first step in such a reevaluation is to view the problems in the Gulf clearly and objectively. In Iraq, the United States confronts a police state led by an erratic tyrant whos limited but potentially serious capacity for regional action is currently subject to constraint. In Iran, the United States confronts a country with potentially considerable military and economic capabilities and an imperial tradition, which occupies a crucial position both for the Gulf and for future relations between the West and Central Asia. If Iraq poses a clear and relatively simple immediate threat, Iran represents a geopolitical challenge of far greater magnitude and complexity. Consultation with leaders of some Persian Gulf countries has made it plain to us that they do not share an identical view of the threat posed by Iraq and Iran. Hence no U.S. Gulf policy will satisfy everyone in every respect. That makes it all the more essential that any adjustment in U.S. policy toward Iraq and Iran be preceded by extensive consultations with friendly Gulf leaders. Inadequate dialogue and unilateral action have caused some insecurity in the region and weakened trust in U.S. steadfastness. When the British withdrew from the Persian Gulf in 1971, the United States became the principal foreign power in the region. For almost three decades it has pursued the goal of preserving regional stability, using a variety of means to that end, particularly regarding the northern Gulf powers of Iraq and Iran. At first the United States relied on Iran as its chief regional proxy, supporting the shahs regime in the hope that it would be a source of stability. This policy collapsed in 1979 with the Iranian Revolution, when Iran switched from staunch ally to implacable foe. During the 1980s, the United States strove to maintain a de facto balance of power between Iraq and Iran so that neither would be able to achieve a regional hegemony that might threaten American interests. The United States provided some help to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88, moved in other ways to counter the spread of Iranian-backed Islamic militancy, and providedwith Israeli encouragementsome help to Iran, chiefly in the context of seeking the release of American hostages. This era ended with Iraq invading Kuwait in 1990 and the United States leading an international coalition to war to restore Kuwaiti sovereignty and defeat Iraqs bid for dominance. The Clinton administration came into office in 1993 facing the challenge of ensuring Gulf stability in a new international and regional environment. The disappearance of the Soviet Union gave the United States unprecedented freedom of action, while the Madrid Conference, sponsored by the Bush administration, inaugurated a fundamentally new phase of the Middle East peace process, offering hope that the Arab-Israeli conflict might eventually prove solvable. The Clinton teams initial Middle East policy had two aspects: continued support for the peace process and dual containment of Iraq and Iran. These strands were seen as reinforcing each other: keeping both Iraq and Iran on the sidelines of regional politics, the administration argued, would protect Saudi Arabia and the smaller Gulf monarchies and enable Israel and the moderate Arab states to move toward peace, while the burgeoning Arab-Israeli detente would demonstrate that the attitudes of the rejections front were costly and obsole te. Dual containment was envisaged not as a long-term solution to the problems of Gulf stability but as a way of temporarily isolating the two chief opponents of the American-sponsored regional order. Regarding Iraq, the policy involved maintaining the full-scale international economic sanctions and military containment the administration had inherited, including a no-fly zone in southern Iraq and a protected Kurdish enclave in the north. The Clinton administration stated that it merely sought Iraqi compliance with the post-Gulf War U.N. Security Council resolutions, particularly those mandating the termination of Iraqs weapons of mass destruction programs. In practice, the administration made it clear that it had no intention of dealing with Saddam Husseins regime, and seemed content, for lack of a better alternative, to let Iraq stew indefinitely. The administration responded to Iraqi provocations, but saw little opportunity to oust Saddam except at great cost in blood and treasure. The dual containment policy initially involved mobilizing international political opposition against Iran, together with limited unilateral economic sanctions. The Clinton administration asserted that it was not trying to change the Iranian regime per se but rather its behavior, particularly its quest for nuclear weapons, its support for terrorism and subversion in the region, and its opposition to the peace process. By early 1995, however, the U.S. attitude toward Iran began to harden. The Iranian behavior at issue had continued. But the real impetus for a shift seems to have come out of American domestic politics, in particular the administrations desire to head off a challenge on Iran policy mounted by an increasingly bellicose Republican Congress. Congressional initiatives were designed to increase pressure on so-called rogue states such as Iran and Libya, to the point of erecting secondary boycotts against all parties doing business with them, including American allies. Hoping t o deflate support for such action, in spring 1995 President Clinton announced (with an eye on domestic politics at the World Jewish Congress) that he was instituting a complete economic embargo against Iran. The move achieved its intended domestic effects in the United States, but only temporarily. Late in 1995 pressure from Congressional Republicans, led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), called for covert action against the Iranian regime, and last year Congress passed the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act, which the president signed. This legislation mandates U.S. sanctions against any foreign firm that invests more than $40 million in a given year in the development of energy resources in Iran or Libya. Not surprisingly, Americas allies have strenuously opposed it as an unjustifiable attempt to coerce them into following a hard-line policy. Pearl harbor EssayThe United States maintains energy sanctions against several countries, including Iran, Iraq, and Libya (an oil embargo against Serbia was lifted by President Clinton on October 12, 2000). Iraq remains under comprehensive sanctions imposed after its invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Iran and Libya are affected by the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA), passed unanimously by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in August 1996. ILSA imposes mandatory and discretionary sanctions on non-U.S. companies, which invest more than $20 million annually (lowered in August 1997 from $40 million) in the Iranian oil and gas sectors. The passage of ILSA was not the first U.S. sanction against Iran. In early 1995, President Clinton signed two Executive Orders, which prohibited U.S. companies and their foreign subsidiaries from conducting business with Iran. The Orders also banned any contract for the financing of the development of petroleum resources located i n Iran. As a result of the Executive Orders (but prior to the enactment of ILSA), U.S.-based Sonoco was obligated to abrogate a $550-million contract to develop Irans offshore Sirri A and E oil and gas fields. On August 19, 1997, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13059 reaffirming that virtually all trade and investment activities by U.S. citizens in Iran was prohibited. The threat of secondary U.S. sanctions has also deterred some multinationals from investing in Iran. A consortium led by Total (France), Gazprom (Russia), and Petronas (Malaysia) to develop Irans South Pars gas field was granted a waiver under Section 9(c) of ILSA by the United States in May 1998. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright noted that the United States had concluded that sanctions would not prevent this project from proceeding, and stated that the waiver was also granted because of the cooperation achieved between the United States, the EU, and Russia in accomplishing ILSAs primary objectiv e of inhibiting Irans ability to develop weapons of mass destruction and support of terrorism. The United States modified its sanctions on April 28, 1999 to allow shipments of donated clothing, food and medicine for humanitarian reasons (trade in informational materials such as books and movies is also allowed). On the same day that the humanitarian exceptions were made, the U.S. denied Mobils request to swap crude oil from Kazakhstan with Iran. Recently, on March 17, 2000, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright announced that the United States would ease sanctions on Iran, would seek to expand contacts between American and Iranian scholars, professionals, artists, athletes, and nongovernmental organizations, and would increase efforts with Iran aimed at eventually concluding a global settlement of outstanding legal claims between the countries. Attempts by the United States to implement ILSA have run into opposition from a number of foreign governments. The European Union (EU) op poses the enforcement of ILSA sanctions on its members, and on November 22, 1996 passed resolution 2271 directing EU members to not comply with ILSA. On May 18, 1998, the EU and the U.S. reached an agreement on a package of measures to resolve the ILSA dispute at the EU/U.S. Summit in London, but the Summit deal is contingent upon acceptance by the U.S. Congress before full implementation may take place. On April 5, 1999, following the Libyan handover of two suspects in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 to stand trial before a Scottish Court in the Netherlands, the United States modified its Libya sanctions on April 28, 1999 to allow shipments of donated clothing, food and medicine for humanitarian reasons (trade in informational materials such as books and movies is also allowed). However, all other U.S. sanctions against Libya remain in force. Relations between the United States and Libya have been extremely rocky for a long time. Beginning with arms embargos in the 1970s and ending recently with adoption of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, American policy toward Libya has been increasingly hostile. Libya has been referred to as the geopolitical outlaw of the Mediterranean and has been blasted by American bombers in 1986. When Libya tried to extend its territorial claims to 100 miles across the Gulf of Sidra, the United States conducted exercises within LibyasLine of Deathand two American F-14s shot down two Libyan fighter planes who flew out to challenge the exercise. The leader of Libya, Colonel Muarmmar Qadhafi has served as a lightning rod for American anger. Qadhafis Libya has been accused of supporting terrorist organizations responsible for several attacks against American citizens, including the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libya has also been under intense scrutiny for the production of chemical weapons. In the mid-1980s Libya attacked neighboring Chad and Sudan, and was accused of subverting nearly a dozen other Afri can regimes. As discussed in the previous section concerning Iran, the ILSA of 1996 imposes secondary boycotts against companies who do more than $20 million in business in Libya. Senator Ted Kennedy added Libya to the Iran Sanctions Bill at the behest of the families of the victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing. In some ways, sanctions, as a part of the overall containment strategy, have moderated Libyan behavior. Threats and imposition of sanctions are credited with Libyas pull out from Chad, closure of the Rabta chemical facility, and withdrawal of an assassination team alleged to have entered the U.S. with the purpose of killing the American President. Recently the U.N. Security Council decided to extend the six-year old sanctions on Libya for their failure to extradite those accused of the Lockerbie bombing. On the other hand, unilateral sanctions have no economic effect on Libya because items can be purchased from others or sold to others, and indeed American sanctions have caused more European investment to enter Libya. That sets the stage for the American dilemma regarding enforcement of ILSA. Economic sanctions are the cornerstone of current U.S. policy toward Iran. The American government hopes that the economic cost to Iran is sufficient to induce a change in behavior. Our first task is to evaluate this policy to determine if it can be effective and, anticipating the answer to this question, to explain why it cannot. Major Economic Indicators1999 2000 2001 ForecastPopulation (million)273275278GDP (US$ billion)9,2559,963n.a. GDP per capita (US$)33,90036,200n.a. Real GDP growth (%)4.25.01.7Inflation (%)2.73.42.2Unemployment rate (%)4.24.04.2Exports (goods, US$ billion)683773n.a. Imports (goods, US$ billion)1,0301,222n.a. The performance of the US economy is uninspiring in the early part of 2001. While industrial production recorded its fifth consecutive monthly decline in February 2001, retail sales fell again in February after the rebound in the previous two months. The IMF has recently revised its US growth forecast for 2001 from 3.2% to 1.7%. Despite signs of economic weaknesses, the US employment condition remains sound and inflation is well contained. Sourceshttp://debate.uvm.edu/roguestates.htmlhttp://www.twq.com/winter01/kemp.pdf http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/reports/normalization.pdf http://www.terrorism.com/terrorism/sloan.html http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ38a.pdf http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/usa.html http://www.embeeuu.gub.uy/cusreg.htm http://www.zmag.org/zmag/articles/ShalomIranIraq.html http://bookstore.gpo.gov/sb/sb-210.html http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/Business/Feb2001/US%20may%20have%20to%20drop%20sanctions%20against%20Iran,%20Iraq,%20Libya.htm

Interpersonal Communication

Principles and Misconceptions in Interpersonal Communication For you to gain a better understanding of interpersonal communication, it would help to familiarize you with the principles of interpersonal communications. A key principle of interpersonal communication is that it cannot be avoided. Communication researchers assert, â€Å"You cannot communicate† (West Turner, 2010, p. 26). You and your partner are therefore bound to communicate even when you think you are being uncommunicative. You cannot prevent the other person from deriving some meaning out of your behavior.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interpersonal Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, if you chose to give someone the silent treatment, that is still communication and the person will attach meaning to your silence. The other principle of interpersonal communication is that it is irreversible and once you have said s omething, you cannot revoke it. Whenever you say something to your partner, it is out and it will have an effect on your relationship. You should therefore exhibit caution since a word said in haste or anger cannot be erased. Another principle of interpersonal communication is that it is learned. You might take your ability to communicate for granted but it is not a natural thing. Your ability to communicate is learned and as you go through life, you get to refine and cultivate your skills to communicate. Interpersonal communication is symbolic in nature meaning that communication makes use of symbols. West and Turner (2010) explain that communication is able to occur since the communicating parties mutually agree upon the symbols. Words are symbols and you and your partner understand what words like â€Å"sit†, and â€Å"car† mean. An important point to consider is that if someone does not understand the meaning of a word, it will not have meaning to him/her. Many peo ple hold some misconceptions concerning effective interpersonal communication. One significant misconception about interpersonal communication is that it is always a good thing. West and Turner (2010) note that this misconception is promoted by many communication experts who encourage people to communicate at all times. While it is true that interpersonal communication can yield positive results, it is not always a good thing. When you engage in interpersonal communication with the aim of manipulating, deceiving or abusing your partner, then communication is not a good thing. In such an instance, it would be better if interpersonal communication did not take place. A common misconception by many people is that interpersonal communication is natural and just a matter of common sense. While communication might seem like the most natural thing to do, effective communication might require skills (Kirst-Ashman, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on communication strategies? Let's s ee if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When you assume that interpersonal communication is a matter of common sense, you will assume that people intuitively know how to communicate. You will therefore be unwilling to consider that your partner might not be as skilled in communication as you are and this will lead to problems. Barriers to Effective Interpersonal Interactions Having identified what effective interpersonal interaction is, it would be of importance to highlight some of the barriers to these interactions. A barrier is something that prevents effective communication from taking place. The first major barrier is noise, which is defined as â€Å"any interference with the intended message while a sender is trying to get his/her message across† (Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.209). Noise prevents the message being sent from being received correctly by the receiver. This might easily lead to a misunderstanding. Noise also creates a distracti on making it hard for a person to concentrate on the communication since he/she has multiple stimuli to focus on. Another barrier to effective interpersonal communication is the personality factors of a person. Personality factors can interfere with effective communication since differences occur due to individuals having unique personalities (Kirst-Ashman, 2010). A person who has a disagreeable personality will mitigate effective communication. A disagreeable person will be uncooperative, lacking in understanding, and have a bad nature. He/she might also have a short temper and exhibit irritability. Engaging in interpersonal communications with such a person will be very hard. The level of comfort that a person feels with relationships also acts as a barrier. Individuals who are introverted generally demonstrate withdrawal from socializing with others. They tend to isolate themselves and avoid interaction with others (Kirst-Ashman, 2010). If your partner is such a person, he/she mi ght not be comfortable with interpersonal communication. This will be a major barrier to effective communication for both of you. Another major barrier is personal perceptions, which lead to clouded opinions. Kirst-Ashman (2010), states that specific errors in perception cause us to interpret information wrongly. When this happens, we make inaccurate judgments and conclusion on issues.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interpersonal Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is a major barrier since perception errors cause interpersonal communication to be faulty. Personal perceptions will lead a person to stereotype the other person or jump into conclusions without letting the other person express their views. With a preconceived notion about a subject, one cannot keep an open mind on the subject at hand. References Carblis, P. (2008). Assessing Emotional Intelligence: A Competency Framework for the Deve lopment of Standards for Soft Skills. St Louis: Cambria Press. Denise, S., Theiss, J. (2013). Interpersonal Communication: Putting Theory into Practice. Boston: Routledge. Downs, L. J. (2008). Listening Skills Training. Washington: American Society for Training and Development. Kirst-Ashman, K. (2010). Human Behavior in the Macro Social Environment: An Empowerment Approach to Understanding Communities, Organizations, and Groups. NY: Cengage Learning. Rees, D. W. Porter, C. (2008). Skills of Management. NY: Cengage Learning. This essay on Interpersonal Communication was written and submitted by user Mr. Negative to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Interpersonal Communication Introduction There are no secrets that today’s workplaces are not as yesterday’s. With an increase in physical size and cultural diversity, the given assertion cannot be doubted. Passing messages between two colleagues speaking different languages can be a daunting task. In any given organization, Interpersonal communication forms a basic tool at the workplace. It assures proper coordination of activities and is based on the point of relating with others which forms a major aspect of relationships including both personal and business.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Interpersonal Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More We as individuals spent most of our time exchanging ideas with other people and this shows the importance of interpersonal communication. This paper will therefore seek to define interpersonal communication and examine a number of factors that influence our interpersonal c ommunication. The focus of the paper is based on interpersonal communication at the workplace principle. Interpersonal communication is defined as the sending and receiving information between two or more people and the understanding of it through use of symbols or language. Interpersonal relationship is seen as the way a person communicates with another individual (Yoder, Hugenberg Wallace, 1996). There are several types of interpersonal communication and includes public speaking, small-group or dyadic forms of communication. Public speaking involves interacting with a mass of people while small-group involves interacting with a group of people not in large numbers. On the other hand, dyadic communication is a form of communication between two people and may be through sending and receiving letters between two people or a telephone conversation between two people. Importance of interpersonal communication In order to be competitive at the workplace, a team needs to interact freque ntly and openly. Team members must communicate with each other irrespective of the distance between themselves since there is advancement in technology and therefore this does not matter. The team at the workplace needs to communicate for it to become successful and consequently, if there is no proper communication, the result is that their goals will never be achieved (King, 2000). The manager or the leader at the workplace should not only always communicate with the members of the team but also be able to check the progress of work of each individual and the group as a whole. Frequent check up by the manager will ensure that the work is done at the proper time and deadlines are met. The leader or manager of the team should use direct communication in order to avoid misinformation at the workplace and also make sure that every member is notified if there are any changes that have occurred. Studies that have been carried out show that when there is good communication in an organizat ion, there is increase in productivity and also better progress in individual work. This sounds quite true because good communication improves relationship of the manager and the workers which will boost their morale towards work.Advertising Looking for term paper on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Communication is fundamental system in entire organizations found around the world. For instance, organizations rely on all forms of communication from nonverbal to verbal during their daily running of business duties. An organization may also depend on information being properly encoded or decoded so that the staff can easily understand the message that is intended to be passed out. In Enron there is an argument that â€Å"Enron executives invested an incredible amount of time and energy, and literally spent millions of dollars on accountants and lawyers, in order to make their activities so complex they were not likely to be discovered, much less understood or prosecuted against them†(Barlow, 1996). This is a perfect example to demonstrate how important interpersonal communication is because it shows how the complex behavior of the executives led to poor communication with the outside world. Communication is vital in all departments of an organization. For instance the work mates may communicate amongst themselves during the working hours. Occasionally, communication at the workplace will depend with the entire surrounding and in case it is a noisy factory the employees are compelled to use nonverbal mode of communication such as gestures, facial expression or use of signals. Employees are also expected to communicate with their bosses and the communication can be either through writing or verbal. On the other hand, verbal communication may be vital in situations such as communication between the supervisor and employee in order to find out if the assigned work has been done properly while written communication may become useful if the intended information to be passed out is in large amount. Principles and misconception in effective interpersonal communication There are four principles that try to explain the effective means of interpersonal communication. These principles look to interpersonal communication as irreversible, complicated, contextual and inescapable (King 2000). Like a chemical reaction, interpersonal communication does not offer chance for reversal of what has been uttered. Whenever an individual utters certain words, the effect caused by these utterances will not be forgotten even when the speaker makes corrections. As a proverb says, â€Å"Once a word goes out of your mouth, you can never swallow it again† (King, 2000, p. 54). Interpersonal communication is a complex affair because of the many dimensions required to ensure success. Since there are various ways to communicate, it becomes impossible to choose the proper way of co mmunication.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Interpersonal Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Interpersonal communication strongly depends on the environment around which the conversation is taking place and the parties communicating. Some of the contexts that interpersonal communication relies on are psychological, situational, relational, environmental and cultural contexts. Last, interpersonal interaction is inescapable because people have to communicate and thus this fact can never be avoided. Communication does not entail only words but the use of gesture, facial expression, posture etc therefore this means that people are in constant communication with each other. The primary purpose of these principles is to ensure interpersonal communication becomes an effective means when dealing with a means of development or a given conflict. However, there are misconceptions (conflicts) resulting fro m effective interpersonal communication. These misconceptions are brought about during the application of the aforesaid principles of interpersonal interaction. Normally, interpersonal communication is inescapable therefore they can result in confusion when they are interpreted in many ways. To make matters worse, being irreversible means the misconceptions can never be modified in terms of an orderly deliverance of the topic. Misconceptions in effective interpersonal interaction can also be brought about by lack of knowledge regarding the topic or context that is being discussed. Interpersonal communication can become complicated when there is diversity of languages and the individuals involved can not understand each other. Barriers to Communication Physical barriers mark one of the main factors that inhibit communication. This may include closed doors of an office, screens that form a barrier, isolated area for people with different status, a large working area for the employees that is isolated from other areas or restricted areas that unwanted persons are not allowed. According to the research that has been carried out, proximity has been highlighted as the most important factor in bringing cohesion to the teams concerned (Borisoff Merrill, 1985). The second barrier to effective interpersonal communication is perceptual barriers. This barrier involves the fact that people see the world at different levels depending with where you come from or how and where the individual person grew up. Therefore perceptual barrier is concerned with our thoughts, assumptions that a person makes and also how a given individual perceives the information relayed to him/her. The third barrier is emotional barrier. Emotional barrier is all about mistrust, suspicion and fear among the individuals at the workplace. Interpersonal interaction is hindered by emotional barrier because there is no open and free communication between the parties concerned at the workplace leading to poor relationships.Advertising Looking for term paper on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The fourth barrier to effective interpersonal communication at the workplace is cultural barriers. This comes in when an individual joins a certain group at the workplace; he/she has to behave in the same particular way as the individuals that were already in that group. Consequently, the individual will adopt the behavior pattern of the group in order to be rewarded through acts of inclusion, recognition and approval. In groups which an individual conforms better, he/she will be accorded mutual interest while when an individual does not conform better in a given group; he/she will not be straight forward to other individuals hence leading to a poor communication (Mclean, 1999). The fifth barrier to effective interpersonal communication is language barriers. Language that one is not familiar with may present problems to oneself when attempting to express himself or herself. In the world of today, there are many languages that are used by the people therefore it presents a problem in choosing the official language to be used at the workplace. The sixth barrier to effective interpersonal communication is gender barriers. There are major differences in the speech pattern of a man compared to that of a woman. For example, it is believed that a woman speaks about 22,000 to 25,000 words per day while a man speaks 7,000 to 10,000 words in a day and in childhood it has been established that girls speak earlier than boys and they use vocabularies twice as much as those used by boys at the age of three years (Mclean, 1999). The seventh barrier to effective communication is interpersonal barriers. This is as a result of poor relationship among individuals at the workplace hence the parties which are in bad terms might resolve to abstain from meeting and talking to each other. There are six ways that an individual can use to distant himself from others and they include pastimes, withdrawal, rituals, playing game (seek and hide), closeness and working. Last but not least t here is noise as a barrier to effective interpersonal communication. Noise usually interferes with the concentration of a person therefore it hinders proper understanding of the message relayed. For instance, people working in a noisy factory can not use verbal communication and are compelled to use nonverbal mode of communication such as signal, gestures, facial expression, etc However there are other barriers that are recognized but are not major as the ones discussed above and they include intentional orientation, indiscrimination, allness and polarization. Development of self concept in communication For almost a decade now, self concept has been experiencing increased attention and popularity within practice and research. In the studies, it is becoming clear that perception of the self plays an integral role in life. While there are several perceptions, none holds such importance as self perception and hence much has to be done to ensure that every individual perceives the self in the highest esteem. It is this perception that we get the understanding of who we are and the role that we play as an element within the universe. Self concept therefore is important in interpersonal relationship. Self concept is different from self esteem and self report. â€Å"Self esteem is defined as feelings of a person worth and satisfaction towards oneself while self report is what a person is willing and is able to disclose† (Mclean, 1999, p. 12). Self concept can be defined as the image that someone has towards himself and it influences interpersonal communication at workplace through its sources such as cultural teaching, social comparison and your own evaluations and comparisons (Burgoon, Buller, Woodwall, 1989). Self concept is mainly developed by the way an individual communicate with another. Through socialization at the workplace, an individual gets to know much about his personal attributes. Self concept involves scrutinizing one’s ability in terms of personality, one’s career, relevant skills, physicality and life’s ability. For example, a statement like â€Å"I am slow† is an assessment of oneself that leads to self concept and in contrast, a statement like â€Å"I am sleepy† will not be a self concept since feeling to sleep is normal and it is only a temporary state. An individual self concept changes with time after identifying the possible crisis and then reassessing oneself. It is worth to note that self concept is based on the past, present and future selves. Future selves sum up every self that one can become and what an individual thinks he can make himself given time. The possible futures are a general sum up of reflections defined by fears, what one believes are his threats, what ambitions and expectations he has and the standards set for the individual. Self concept can be well cultivated in an individual during childhood period so that when an individual grows up, he becomes used to hi mself and this removes fear and threat when socializing with others. Conclusion In conclusion, interpersonal communication is fundamental in building good relationships at the workplace which in turn contribute to increase in productivity. This will lead to better salary of the workers hence improved living standards and the welfare of the workers will be catered for in an appropriate manner. Therefore the principles of interpersonal communication are inevitable. As a result, proper methods should be designed in order to overcome the misconceptions that may result from interpersonal interactions. In addition, the parties involved in interpersonal communication should design ways to overcome the barriers that hinder effective interpersonal communication. If this is managed appropriately, then conflicts will be done away with making the world a better place to live. Interpersonal communication will also be enhanced through maintaining and developing self concept therefore it becomes o f more importance to encourage positive virtues that will instill self concept in an individual. Consequently, vices should be avoided in order to encourage building of self concept. Reference List Barlow, J. (1996). A complaint is a gift: using a customer feedback as a strategic tool.  San Francisco:Berrett-Koehler Publisher Borisoff, D., Merrill, L (1995). The power to communicate: Gender difference as  barriers. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Pr. Burgoon, J.K., Buller, D.B., Woodwall, W.G (1989). Nonverbal communication: the  communication. New Jersey, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associate. King, D. (2000). Four principles of interpersonal communication. Retrieved from http://www.pstcc.edu/facstaff/dking/interpr.htm Mclean, S., (1999). The basic of interpersonal communication. unspoken dialogue. New York: Harper Row Yoder, R., C. Hugenberg K. Wallace (1996). Using verbal and nonverbal means of  communication. Western College, Arizona: Allyn Bacon This term paper on Interpersonal Communication was written and submitted by user BartRozum to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.