Saturday, November 30, 2019
Washing up liquid advert Essay Example
Washing up liquid advert Essay This essay is going to discuss the Fairy Aromatics washing up liquid advert. The advert is to promote the new fragrances and bottle shape that Fairy has recently introduced.Ã This advert does not have a narrative. Instead it just uses a series of bright, eye-catching images in modern colours to make you remember the advert, and hopefully the product too.Ã The advert is in three main parts, one to advertise each of the three new fragrances. The first part shows a woman with short hair in her early thirties falling back on to the petals of a giant pink flower, the same colour as the new spring fresh liquid. She breathes in the scent of the product with a relaxed and happy expression on her face, and then demonstrates the product by washing a plate, which comes out of the water sparkling and clean. The screen then cuts to the second character, a young man, who slides down a giant spiral apple. He also appears relaxed and happy, and is obviously having fun. There is then a special effect, as there is a cube rotation to link the end of this shot with the next. The last character is a young woman, this time with longer hair but approximately the same age, who is bathing under a giant lemon half. She massages her hair and appears relaxed and refreshed as she stands under the shower. At the end of the advert the screen is divided into thirds, each showing an object to represent on of the fragrances. Each third then goes through an open door rotation to reveal a bottle of the product in each of the fragrances corresponding with the object in the shot before. The shot at near the beginning of the advert where the first woman is washing up is quite realistic, although everything is very clean in comparison to how you would usually expect it to be. However, the rest of advert is quite surreal as it features people interacting with giant fruits and flowers. We will write a custom essay sample on Washing up liquid advert specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Washing up liquid advert specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Washing up liquid advert specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There are three characters used in this advert, two women and one man, each one specifically endorsing one of the new fragrances on offer. We can see from the choice of characters that Fairy is trying to appeal to a larger target audience than before. Traditionally on the Fairy adverts we see a woman with a young child, who is probably slightly older than the characters used here. Now they have chosen to include a token man in the advert as well, showing that they are attempting to include men in their new target audience. They still however show a woman actually doing the washing up rather than a man, which is quite stereotypical. The fact that they show more women in the advert rather than men shows that they still want the product to appeal more to women, as usually it is still the woman that actually goes out shopping to buy household things like washing up liquid. The chosen characters in this advert are all being used as role models for the audience. The first woman in particular seems to be the perfect housewife. Her kitchen is spotlessly clean, and her hair and make-up is done beautifully, even though she has only been cooking the dinner. When she washes the plate, it requires no effort for them to become brilliantly clean and sparkling. She has the kind of stereotypical television lifestyle that many people would love to have. As people want to be like her, they will also want the things she has, like the washing up liquid. When she washes the plate, the light focuses on this rather than her, as it shows the wonderful result the product has achieved, and draws your attention to it. Throughout the shots she appears in, her facial expression always shows confidence and relaxation. When she falls back on to the flower she closes her eyes and her body language is open as her arms are held out away from her body. This shows her confidence, and also shows she is relaxed in this situation. Her expression also shows hints of luxury as she falls on to the petals. In this shot the light is focused on her face so these feelings are conveyed to the audience. The next shot, the close up on her face, helps to reinforce these messages. The next character, the man, also shows an expression of confidence and happiness. Again, his body language is open as he holds his arms up and out to the sides as he slides down the apple with the camera tracking him. As the shot changes from the first woman to him, the music also changes slightly, but not dramatically. A guitar is added into the instruments already used, which gives it a slightly more masculine sound to the melody. It also adds a more fresh sound to the music as the focus changes from the floral fragrance to the apple one. It is subtle but helps the scenes flow smoothly from one to another. To make the next transition smooth, a cube rotation is used to link to the next scene of the woman bathing under the lemon half. The camera starts focused on the lemon, but then tilts down to a medium shot of the womans face. She appears relaxed and refreshed as she massages her hair under the shower, and the light focuses on her face. The camera then cuts to a shot looking up at her from below. This makes her seem like a role model, as she appears higher up than the audience and you are looking up to her example and how relaxed and happy she looks from buying this product.Ã All three of the characters appear happy to be associated with the washing up liquid. The bright, modern colours used in the advert, with the young characters make the advert appealing to the younger audience. The advert attempts to make washing up seem cool at a time when there is so much competition with dishwashers.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
John Boynton Priestley â⬠An Inspector Calls
John Boynton Priestley ââ¬â An Inspector Calls Free Online Research Papers John Boynton Priestley was born in Yorkshire in 1894. He knew early on that he wanted to become a writer, but decided against going to university as he thought he would get a better feel for the world around him away from academia. Instead, he became a junior clerk with a local wool firm at the age of 16. When the First World War broke out, Priestley joined the infantry and only just escaped death on a number of occasions. After the war, he gained a degree from Cambridge University, then moved to London to work as a freelance writer. He wrote successful articles and essays, then published the first of many novels, The Good Companions, in 1929. He wrote his first play in 1932 and went on to write 50 more. Much of his writing was ground-breaking and controversial. He included new ideas about possible parallel universes and strong political messages. During the Second World War he broadcast a massively popular weekly radio programme which was attacked by the Conservatives as being too left-wing. The programme was eventually cancelled by the BBC for being too critical of the Government. He continued to write into the 1970s, and died in 1984.During the 1930s Priestley became very concerned about the consequences of social inequality in Britain, and in 1942 Priestley and others set up a new political party, the Common Wealth Party, which argued for public ownership of land, greater democracy, and a new morality in politics. The party merged with the Labour Party in 1945, but Priestley was influential in developing the idea of the Welfare State which began to be put into place at the end of the war. He believed that further world wars could only be avoided through cooperation and mutual respect between countries, and so became active in the early movement for a United Nations. And as the nuclear arms race between West and East began in the 1950s, he helped to found CND, hoping that Britain would set an example to the world by a moral act of nuclear disarmament Priestley deliberately set his play in 1912 because the date represented an era when all was very different from the time he was writing. In 1912, rigid class and gender boundaries seemed to ensure that nothing would change. Yet by 1945, most of those class and gender divisions had been breached. Priestley wanted to make the most of these changes. Through this play, he encourages people to seize the opportunity the end of the war had given them to build. Research Papers on John Boynton Priestley - An Inspector CallsAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Quebec and CanadaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XBringing Democracy to AfricaCapital PunishmentInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHip-Hop is ArtRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and
Friday, November 22, 2019
Benefit of Smoking
Smoking lowers risk of knee-replacement surgery While smokers might go broke buying a pack of cigarettes, they can at least save money by avoiding knee-replacement surgery. Surprising results from a new study have revealed that men who smoke had less risk of undergoing total joint replacement surgery than those who never smoked. The study, from the University of Adelaide in Australia, appears in the July issue of the journal Arthritis amp; Rheumatism. What could be the connection? Knee-replacement surgery was more common among joggers and the obese smokers rarely jog and they are less likely to be morbidly obese. After controlling for age, weight and exercise, the researchers were at a loss to explain the apparent, albeit slight protective effects of smoking for osteoporosis. It could be that the nicotine in tobacco helps prevent cartilage and joint deterioration. 2. Smoking lowers risk of Parkinsons disease Numerous studies have identified the uncanny inverse relationship between smoking and Parkinsons disease. Long-term smokers are somehow protected against Parkinsons and its not because smokers die of other things earlier. The most recent, well-conducted study was published in a March 2010 issue of the journal Neurology. Far from determining a cause for the protective effect, these researchers found that the number of years spent smoking, more so than the number of cigarettes smoked daily, mattered more for a stronger protective effect. Harvard researchers were among the first to provide convincing evidence that smokers were less likely to develop Parkinsons. In a study published in Neurology in March 2007, these researchers found the protective effect wanes after smokers quit. And they concluded in their special scientific way that they didnt have a clue as to why. 3. Smoking lowers risk of obesity Smoking ââ¬â and, in particular, the nicotine in tobacco smoke ââ¬â is an appetite suppressant. This has been known for centuries, dating back to indigenous cultures in America in the pre-Columbus era. Tobacco companies caught on by the 1920s and began targeting women with the lure that smoking would make them thinner. A study published in the July 2011 issue of the journal Physiology amp; Behavior, in fact is one of many stating that the inevitable weight gain upon quitting smoking is a major barrier in getting people to stop, second only to addiction. The relationship between smoking and weight control is complex: Nicotine itself acts as both a stimulant and appetite suppressant; and the act of smoking triggers behavior modification that prompts smokers to snack less. Smoking also might make food less tasty for some smokers, further curbing appetite. As an appetite suppressant, nicotine appears to act on a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, at least in mice, as revealed in a study by Yale researchers published in the June 10, 2011 issue of the journal Science. No respectable doctor would recommend smoking for weight control, given the toxic baggage accompanying cigarettes. This recent Yale study, however, does offer an inkling of hope for a safe diet drug to help obese people control their appetites. 4. Smoking lowers risk of death after some heart attacks Compared with non-smokers, smokers who have had heart attacks seem to have lower mortality rates and more favorable responses to two kinds of therapy to remove plaque from their arteries: fibrinolytic therapy, which is basically medication; and angioplasty, which removes the plaque by inserting balloons or stents into the arteries. Theres a catch, though. The reason why smokers have heart attacks is that smoke scars the arteries, allowing fat and plaque to build up in the first place. So, one theory as to why smokers do better than non-smokers after such therapies is that they are younger, experiencing their first heart attack approximately 10 years before the non-smoker. A study published in an August 2005 issue of the American Heart Journal, however, states that age alone is not enough to fully explain the survival differences and that the smokers paradox is alive and well. No alternative theories have been put forth since. 5. Smoking helps the heart drug clopidogrel work better Clopidogrel is a drug used to inhibit blood clots for those patients suffering from coronary artery disease and other circulatory diseases leading to strokes and heart attacks. Smoking seems to help clopidogrel do its job better. A study by Korean researchers in the October 2010 issue of the journal Thrombosis Research builds upon work by Harvard researchers published in 2009 that demonstrates the benefit of smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day. It seems that something in cigarette smoke activates certain proteins called cytochromes, which convert clopidogrel into a more active state. Again, no respectable doctor is encouraging patients to start smoking to get the most out of clopidogrel. But this and the other four benefits of smoking reveal how tobacco ââ¬â perhaps not unlike other potentially toxic plants ââ¬â might contain certain chemicals of real therapeutic value. 6. Smoking Relieves Stress This is the most common thing you hear from smokers about the benefits of smoking. This is because cigarettes create a myriad of conditions that help the body deal with anxiety, stress, and depression. 7. Smoking Relaxes Your Breathing The way you breathe when you smoke helps your body relax and calm down. For people who have panic attacks or stress problems, Doctors recommend patients practice a sort of breathing called relaxation breathing. Among other things, it involves taking a deep breath into the lungs and holding it in for a second or two before exhaling. This is exactly like the act of smoking. This kind of breathing slows your heart rate and relieves tension in your muscles, especially your neck and upper back, which tense up in stressful situations. 8. Outside Smoke Breaks Calm You Down If you go outside for smoke breaks, this simple act can really help you deal with your stress. Say if youââ¬â¢re in a fight with your spouse or close to the deadline on a major project for work, leaving the house or office to step outside for a smoke break helps you deal with the stress. * You get a break from your stressor * You get into the open and fresh air * You leave the stressful environment * You have time to think about your problems from an objective point of viewà * The nature and sky outside helps your mind calm down and relax 9. Nicotine is an Anxiety and Depression Medication The nicotine in cigarettes is also a major factor of stress relief. Nicotine is a chemical which mildly and temporarily stops the feelings of anxiety and depression. After an inhale of cigarette smoke, the nicotine reacts in your brain chemistry within seven seconds. Nicotine makes the brain feel better, and stops the chain reaction anxiety and depression can have within the brain. It is no surprise that 1/3 of nicotine addicts claim to have depression or anxiety problems. Cigarettes are a great form of self medication.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Ban Ki-Moon's Leadership Style Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Ban Ki-Moon's Leadership Style - Research Paper Example However, Ban seems to be silent on these issues. He is not at all asking United States or Israel to stop their massacres at different parts of the world. Critics of Ban believe that he is keeping a pro-American stand in his functioning. Ian William (2010) pointed out that in a speech delivered at 22nd Summit Conference of the League of Arab States held in Sirte, Libya on March 27, 2010, ââ¬Å"Ban commented on issues related to the situation in Gaza and stated his support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian stateâ⬠(Ban Ki-moon's Soft-Spoken Approach Belies His Straightforward Words, p.20). Even though Ban criticized some of the actions of Israel in this speech, he was keen to use only soft words to criticize Israel. In fact many people believe that he had no other way to avoid criticizing Israel in this meeting since the meeting was organized by Arab states. On the other hand, scholars such as Ian Williams believe that Ban is successfully handling some of the ma tters involved by Israel. He has pointed out that ââ¬Å"Ban Ki-Moon's persuasion forced Israel to accept an international fact-finding inquiry into the Gaza flotilla assaultâ⬠(Ban Ki-moon Engages Israeli Politicians, as Israel Remains Mum on Kosovo Precedent, p.19). Earlier, Israel was adamant in their approaches and they never accepted the offers to allow any international agencies to interfere in their matters. They never allowed any international agencies to enter Israelââ¬â¢s territories to conduct any enquiries. However, Ban was successful in persuading Israel to allow a neutral enquiry by an international body about Gaza flotilla assault. Schlesinger (2010) mentioned that America sidelined United Nations while dealing... This paper deals with the major criticism labeled against Ban Ki-moonââ¬â¢s leadership is that ââ¬Å"he appointed his own people and stamped his own priorities on the organizationâ⬠. In other words, Ban was keen in appointing those people who are supporters of his policies. While appointing UN officials at various parts of the world or while posting UN peace keeping forces at different parts of the world, Ban gave more emphasize to preserve his interests. ââ¬Å"He tries to cement his position a little wonkily through issues, with the world financial crisis sharing the top of the priority list with global warmingâ⬠. Many people believe that Ban like to have one more term in UN secretaryââ¬â¢s office and for that purpose he deliberately trying to gain support from all major powers. Even though Ban is commanding respect from all the major powers in the world, he failed to command respect from some of the problematic countries. For example, it is reported that ââ¬Å"Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is facing international pressure to end a crackdown on anti-government protestors, is not taking the U.N. chief's phone callsâ⬠.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Confucius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Confucius - Essay Example One such prominent leader was Kââ¬â¢ung-fu-tzu ( Great Master Kong)? and to the world he is better known by his Latinized name? Confucius? Confucius? born in BC 551 in the Lu Province? was one of the greatest philosophers witnessed by the world and in particular China? He was also a teacher as well as a political theorist who founded his own system based on his thinking and philosophies? He is often paralleled with the Greek philosopher Socrates so it becomes clear how important and significant his teachings are? He was born a descendant of the Shang Dynasty and was also a member of the ruling clan? Shih? However his family was not one that had a lot of wealth under its name? His father was a petty official whose marriage did not end very well as he divorced his wife for bearing him only three daughters and a son who was disfigured? The father than married a fifteen year old girl and the great philosopher took birth? Confucius was forced into different kinds of labor like working as a keeper of the granary? supervising the fields etc mainly because he lost his father at an early age? Despite the fact that he was engaged in manual labor? he was more inclined towards the system of education? that is? learning as well as teaching? He was responsible for the school of thought known as ââ¬ËConfucianism?ââ¬â¢ which believes that ââ¬Å"familial relationships are the foundation for societyâ⬠(McDevitt, p.46). Although Confucius is the father of this school of thought? he was not seen as the Lord or the Savior? he was just considered to be a ââ¬ËSage teacher?ââ¬â¢ Confucianism is not a religion that was founded by Confucian? rather it is ââ¬Å"a tradition generally rooted in Chinese culture and nurturedâ⬠(An Introduction to Confucianism, p.17). by him and his disciples .Though he started out with working petty jobs? he gradually ââ¬Å"rose through the administrative hierarchyâ⬠and around the time when he was 40 years old? he became â⠬Å"the prefect (Zai) and director of public worksâ⬠(Huanyin,p.1). in Lu and began to spread Confucianism? He traveled to different provinces and began to inscribe in the minds of the audience his teachings and his wisdom in order to show the people the right path of life? He developed his teachings into a book during the later stages of his life when he returned to Lu and this collection of his philosophical thoughts and teachings came to be known as ââ¬Ëanalects?ââ¬â¢ During the time he faced a lot of problems as his only son had passed away and so did a very loyal disciple of his? He was also deeply grieved by the fact the leaders of his own state would not accept his teachings? Confuciusââ¬â¢ journey of life came to an end in 479 BCE and he was mourned by followers all over China. For any great leader to think and ponder deeply about particular things? there needs to be some sort of external stimulus that influences these thoughts? When does one actually think? Wh en he sees things around him that he fails to understand why they happen and also things that cause trouble than that make one happy? Needless to say? Confuciusââ¬â¢ thinking was influenced by various external factors and experiences that he went through? Now in order to understand Confucianism, one needs to possess a clear knowledge about the political and historical context from which it has arisen. Throughout the history of China? it becomes clear that the country has witnessed the rise and fall of a lot of dynasties? some of which were more
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Barilla Spa A Essay Example for Free
Barilla Spa A Essay Barilla SpA, an Italian pasta manufacturer is experiencing problems in manufacturing and distribution systems caused by fluctuations in demand. To eliminate these difficulties Giorgio Maggiali, the Chief of Barillaââ¬â¢s Logistics Department, has been trying to implement the Just-In-Time-Distribution, further referred as JITD, system proposed by his predecessor Brando Vitali. JITD can be called a remake of popular ââ¬Å"Just-In-Timeâ⬠manufacturing concept. Although Maggiali has been trying to convince his consumers that the JITD would definitely work, he has not made much progress. The program was met with significant resistance by the distributors and Barillaââ¬â¢s own Sales and Marketing organizations. Now Maggiali is looking for possible solutions of the problem. In the following analysis we will provide recommendations, which will help Barilla to successfully implement the JITD system and thus decrease its costs, increase efficiencies and its profits. Introduction Barilla SpA was founded in 1975 by Pietro Barilla. From a small shop in Palma, Italy, it became a large, vertically integrated corporation with mills, plants and factories located throughout the Italy. Barillaââ¬â¢s success highly depended on itsââ¬â¢ quality of product and innovative marketing programs, which created strong brand name. The company was sold to Grace Inc. in 1971, because the building of a huge plant in Perdignano drove the owners ââ¬Å"deeply into debtâ⬠. Grace brought additional capital investment and professional manag Barilla SpA Case Study The biggest challenge facing Giorgio Maggiali and Barilla SpA is the mounting burden that fluctuations of demand have placed on Barillasââ¬â¢ manufacturing and distribution methods, and whether or not to implement a Just-in-Time Distribution (JITD) system for their distributers. The implementation of Just in Time Distribution would allow for a more efficient process for getting the products to the end user when and where they are needed. Solution #1: To implement Just in Time Distribution. For this to succeed, Mr. Maggiali as the director of logistics for Barilla will need to be personally and intimately involved and partner with Mr. DiMaria who is in charge of sales for Barilla and to obtain the support from their own sales reps. Barilla will need to pull the sales reps in for training on how implementing JITD would benefit their accounts, Barilla SpA and themselves. The sales reps will need to ââ¬Å"sellâ⬠their customers on this idea and to shift the mentality of their distributers away from ââ¬Å"this is the way we have always done itâ⬠and for them to be amiable to exploring new and more efficient ways to replenish their stock. Pro: Barilla would more easily be able to control their manufacturing process and greatly reduce production overruns and stock outs thus enable to pass cost savings onto their distributors. Con: Resistance from the distributors to change may continue. Their distributer may ask ââ¬Å"why is that a concern of mine? â⬠I just want the product I want when I want it. Con: Will incur costs to purchase or develop software needed to gather and correlate sales information. Pro: The initial cost for software development will be offset by savings in lost sales opportunity, reductions in buybacks and an overall increase in productivity and sales. Barilla already has much of the needed data pertaining to sales to the distributers. Con: Customers may be resistant to providing their sales and customer base data to Barilla. Pro: Barilla Sp Company Overview Barilla Spa is a large vertically integrated family owned largest pasta producer in Italy. Its operations are divided into seven divisions: three Pasta divisions, the bakery products division, the Fresh Bread division, the Catering division and the International division. Barilla products were sold through three types of retail outlet: small independent grocers, supermarket chains, and independent supermarkets. Products were sold through CDCs and through intermediate distribution channels. Fresh products were sold through a network of brokers. Inventory levels in the supply were high with larger levels of stock held for dry pasta since its shelf life was high as compared to wet pasta. Barilla enjoyed a strong brand image in Italy. Its marketing and sales strategy was based upon a combination of advertising and promotions. Also distributors can buy as much product as they want to for meeting their demand at the discount offered by the company. Barilla produced two major kinds of products:- a) Dry Products- These include dry pasta, cookies, biscuits, flour, bread sticks and dry toasts. These make 75% of the Barilla sales. They had long shelf lives of 18-24 months or medium shelf lives of 10-12 weeks depending on the product type. b) Fresh products- These include fresh pasta products with 21 day shelf life and bread with 1 day shelf life. Issues Faced The company was suffering from the following problems: 1. Variability in demand- This lead to operational inefficiencies on the part of the company. 2. Inventory Management- The company produced over 800 SKUs, most of which had long or medium shelf lives, thus could be easily stored up at the company warehouse or with the distributors. During periods of low demand, high inventory holding costs had to be incurred. 3. Stock outs- This was one of the major problems which Barilla faced. Many of the distributors were not able to cater to the demands of the retailers during times of high demand. This time B Thoughts on Supply Chain Management The JITD program was supposed to tackle the uneven distribution workload Barilla encountered with its distributors. In order to achieve this, better demand forecast was needed with the support of the distributors. Benefits of the program are below. Barillaââ¬â¢s own logistics organization would be allowed to specify the appropriate delivery quantities that would more effectively meet the end consumerââ¬â¢s needs It would also allow Barilla to distribute the workload on manufacturing and logistics systems more evenly Drawbacks of the program are below. Higher investment costs such as training Since JITD is a new concept, and has not tried out before, there is a risk that serious errors may occur during the implementation process, and this would ruin all previous efforts The value chain consists of five major components, and it can be represented as SIPOC, where S is Supplier, I Input, P Production, O Output and C Customer. Between C and P, there are also the distributors, wholesalers and retailers. It is almost impossible to develop an accurate sales forecast because the market is constantly changing. Factors affecting the market situation are also changing. Without an accurate sales forecast, it is difficult to achieve JIT. This is basically a paradox. No enterprise is able to develop an accurate sales forecast, and without an accurate sales forecast, it is not possible to achieve JIT. Is there really no way out? How about Dell? Dell basically builds computers on a BTO (build-to-order) basis, and this makes JIT possible. But how many enterprises can really deliver products on a BTO basis? What are the requirements to produce on a BTO basis? Barilla definitely was not one of them. Communication here is the critical success factor. The supplier, in this case, Barilla, has to collect information from the distributor, and the distributor has to be able to collect information from the wholesaler, and then the wholesaler has to d
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Tolstoys Anna Karenina Essay -- Tolstoys Anna Karenina
Tolstoy's Anna Karenina The world of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is a world ruled by chance. From the very opening chapters, where a watchman is accidentally run over by a train at Moscow's Petersburg station, to the final, climactic scenes of arbitrary destruction when Levin searches for Kitty in a forest beset by lightning, characters are brought together and forced into action against their will by coincidence and, sometimes, misfortune. That Anna and Vronsky ever meet and begin the fateful affair that becomes the centerpiece of the novel is itself a consequence of a long chain of unrelated events: culminating Anna's sharing a berth with Vronsky's mother on her way to reconcile Dolly and Stiva in Moscow. And yet, as an epigraph to this seemingly chaotic world of chance event, a seemingly amoral world that would seem to neither punish sin nor reward good, Tolstoy chooses a quotation that comes originally from the book of Deuteronomy's song of Moses: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." Originally (and s omewhat narrowly) thought to refer to Anna's final ostracism from the upper echelons of society that punish her for her misdeeds, the epigraph is the key to Tolstoy's subtle and philosophically complex conception of morality that denies the existence of a universal and unavoidable justice and derives responsibility from the individual's freedom to create and then bind himself to laws. Three of the novel's characters, Stephen Oblonsky, Constatine Levin, and Anna Karenina, all in some way connected to the Shcherbatsky family, serve to illustrate the various ways that Tolstoy's individual can be, or fail to be, "good," the various ways in which a character can be moral, immoral or amoral through the use of thought, or reason, to create necessity outside of the confused demands of a chaotic reality. Tolstoy's world is indeed a servant to chance, and the plot depends so heavily on coincidence that Anna Karenina, taking into account the many elements of Menippian satire and Socratic dialogue that are integrated into its structure, may well be considered in part a carnival novel. The steeplechase scene during which Vronsky breaks Frou-Frou's back is a perfect example of carnivalism -- the tragic yet somehow slapstick and cartoon-like injuries that befall the riders is a parody of the grand battlefield that the steeplechase is supposed to symbolize and the ... ...els." Anna is immovable in the face of the purely pleasurable and uninterpreted aspects of life -- "girlish delights" -- that are Oblonsky's daily bread. Anna is thus a tragic hero in the strict Aristotelian sense of being destroyed by the logical evolution of her personality. Yet it is also true that Tolstoy resists the tragic form in the overall structure of his novel by continuing into Part VIII and into Levin's life after Anna's death. While Anna fails to sustain a life centered in "romantic morality," the Goethian ideal of complete devotion, not to the loved one, but the condition of being in reciprocal love itself, Levin finds, at the end of the novel, a way to live that transcends the demands of reality. In the folk culture of the peasants that he encountered near the very beginning of the novel, he finds the peasant Theodore who understands Levin's need to leave the mundane, to live not for his belly, but for "Truth," a goodness that is beyond the chain of cause and effect that so binds the other characters in the novel -- Dolly, for example, who, unable to apply reason outside of pragmatic thought to her life, continues to l ive, pathetically, with her unfaithful husband.
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