Far from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy Essay

The following is a summary of critical viewpoints on Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd. See also Thomas Hardy Literary Criticism, Thomas Hardy Short Story Criticism, and Jude the Obscure Criticism. INTRODUCTION Long considered one of England’s foremost nineteenth-century novelists, Hardy established his reputation with the publication of Far from the Madding Crowd in 1874. It was the first of his so-called â€Å"Wessex novels,† set in a fictitious English county closely resembling Hardy’s native Dorsetshire. The novel, whose title was borrowed from Thomas Gray’s famous â€Å"Elegy in a Country Churchyard,† initially appeared in magazine serial form and was the first Hardy work to be widely reviewed. Variations of its rustic characters and settings were to be repeated in several future novels. The novel’s protagonist, Bathsheba Everdene, would also presage other strong Hardy heroines. Plot and Major Characters Bathsheba Everdene, who has inherited a large farm from her uncle, becomes the center of attention for three men. After a chance meeting with a gentle sheep farmer, Gabriel Oak, Gabriel proposes marriage to Bathsheba, but is refused, as she does not consider him a proper suitor. Gabriel loses most of his herd and becomes a faithful shepherd for Bathsheba. She then meets a neighboring well-to-do farmer, Mr. Boldwood, who impresses Bathsheba. She later capriciously sends him a valentine, which excites Boldwood, and he later proposes marriage. Bathsheba puts him off, but it is assumed that she will succumb. In a subplot, a marriage between Bathsheba’s servant, Fanny Robin, and the dashing Sergeant Troy is stopped because of a misunderstanding. Troy turns his attentions to Bathsheba and impresses her with his dazzling sword practice. Troy gains her hand in marriage, leaving Boldwood heartbroken. Meanwhile, the hapless Fanny dies in the workhouse, and her body is brought back to Bathsheba’s farm. Bathsheba discovers the corpse of a baby, Troy’s child, beside that of Fanny. Troy then disappears, and when his clothes are discovered on a beach, it is presumed that he has drowned. Boldwood reappears on the scene, and Bathsheba agrees to marry him out of a sense of remorse. Troy, however, unexpectedly returns and is killed by the distraught Boldwood, who is later tried and found insane. Bathsheba is at last ready to see the true worth of Gabriel, who has faithfully waited like the Oak of his last name, and the two are married. Major Themes A facile interpretation of Far from the Madding Crowd would be that true love triumphs over adversity. Since Hardy’s ending, however, has often been criticized as contrived, other dominant themes in the novel should be explored. The â€Å"Wessex† setting is almost a theme in itself, with the changeless rhythms of nature and agrarian life set against the vicissitudes which confront the characters. It is noteworthy that the most positively portrayed characters are those closest to the earth, such as Gabriel and the peasants who work the soil. The timelessness of the setting is contrasted with the struggles that the characters face against time and chance. Had Bathsheba not sent the valentine, had Fanny not missed her wedding, for example, the story would have taken an entirely different path. Another important theme is that virtue will ultimately be rewarded. Bathsheba’s final acceptance of Gabriel is a form of redemption for her earlier willful behavior. The development of Bathsheba’s character reinforces the ideas that vanity is futile and that rebellion will ultimately be put down for the good of the community. While Bathsheba ultimately is portrayed as a reformed character, the reader may find that her old feisty self was truly more interesting. Critical Reception Far from the Madding Crowd was the first Hardy novel to receive considerable critical attention. It was widely reviewed in England and also marked an important stage in the growth of Hardy’s international reputation; the Paris journal Revue des deux mondes, for example, made it the occasion for a long survey-article on Hardy’s work to date. After the appearance (anonymously) of the first installment, the Spectator observed that â€Å"If Far from the Madding Crowd is not written by George Eliot, then there is a new light among novelists.† Critics during a number of decades have noted that the early serialization of the novel presupposed certain conventions, which could account for the melodramatic nature of many of the scenes. Study of Hardy’s manuscript has shown that he had to make extensive alterations in the portions of the novel referring to Fanny Robin and her illegitimate child. Hardy was widely read and respected at the turn of the twentieth century, but a perception that his work was mostly for a popular audience discouraged serious criticism for several decades. In 1940, a seminal issue of the Southern Review devoted solely to Hardy precipitated a rebirth in Hardy criticism. Early modern critics tended to praise Far from the Madding Crowd’s evocation of rural life or its universality of theme. By the 1960s and 1970s, Freudian and feminist criticism predominated. In the 1980s and 1990s, critics used a wide variety of critical approaches to Far from the Madding Crowd. While some reviewers continued to adopt a New Critical stance, most were influenced by deconstructive or New Historical techniques. A few of the themes critics exploited were the forms of love in the novel, its subtexts, Hardy’s narrative techniques, the relationship of Far from the Madding Crowd to Hardy’s own life experiences, and the novel’s treatment of gender and power. Reviews of film and television adaptations of the novel formed a wholly separate genre of criticism.†

South Florida Incomes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

South Florida Incomes - Essay Example It is reported that the top 1% of the social strata receives as much as the bottom 57% (Income Inequality 1). Economic reforms have been targeted to mitigate income inequality by the provision of aids to the poor, better job opportunities, and higher salaries. However, amidst the ardent effort of the government to curb income inequality, their efforts remain futile as figures indicate that income inequality has worsened over time. Economists have long struggled to curb income inequality through various measures. In some cases, subsidies are given to the poor that adds up as additional income to them. Governments also pursue projects that aim to improve the livelihood of the poor like the provision of farm to market roads for farmers. Some develop the quality of education that the poor receive in order for them to qualify for higher paying job opportunities. Still others mandate a compulsory rise in salary level. Amidst the effort of economists to promote income equality among citizens, there has been some debate regarding the relationship between income equality and economic progress.

Wells Fargo Organization Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Wells Fargo Organization Audit - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is Wells Fargo Company, a wide-reaching and diversified company that focuses on a society financial aid, compromising of almost $ 1.3 trillion assessed assets. The company enriches the society with proper banking systems, insurance services, investment ideas, mortgage aide to the society, as well as, commercial business centers that is approximately 9 thousand business stores. The company’s values, visualization, as well as, its mission have supported the company during the irregular financial periods, especially during the immense melancholy along with present financial downturn. The organization has a proven past of success, as well as, techniques on handling the hard times. Transformation management along with the capability to adapt to fresh environment is a fundamental choice for the organization in a period of time. The economic transformation methods have articulated quick transformations to the channels that organizations carryout the ir business in an economic industry that has a great impact on the multibillion dollar economic organizations. The organization has the responsibility of ensuring that its utmost organization management articulates a proper attention to the external environment that consists of the governmental, as well as legal transformations to the organizational level. Wells Fargo was started in the year 1852, and was initially located in San Francisco at the period of the gold rush. The vital intention of the stagecoach was to transfer gold along with other vital valuables (Abbott, Parker & Peters, 2004). II) General Statement of Results Computation of productivity Measures A. Benefits B. Total Benefits by Type for 2010–2011 C. Percentage of Total Benefits* D. Total Return on Investment E. Distribution of Return on Investment by Benefit Type Cost Operational and Run Savings $43,718,600 43% $28,825,667 $12,395,037 Revenue Collection Increases $58,358,800 57% $28,825,667 $16,430,630 Total Benefits Flow (before expenses) $102,077,400 100% — — Total Return on Investment (Net Present Value)** — — — $28,825,667 The exact personnel cost per employee against the precise productive hours per employee is what brings cost operation, while the exact personnel costs per employee against the sum of the productive hours results to total benefits flow. Lastly, the sum of personnel costs per employee against the sum of the productive hours is equal to total return on investment. Conceptually, Wells Fargo company has faired well in formulating a sense of effectiveness whenever administering the productivity of the company. Although not all the available eight fundamental factors may be functioning properly, there was not much found in the period of the audit that cannot be transformed into the best of the company. The company’s system management approach promotes the importance of educating managers so as, to understand the company’s overall system, with this they realize how certain actions affect the department with other units, and it recognizes both open as well as, closed systems. The closed system entertains self-contained and not concerned with outside influences the supportive subsystems work on acquisitions as well as functions within the company, where the acquisition involves; securing resources, this type of subsystems includes sales as well as marketing divisions, public relations units. III) Analysis of the organization productivity audit a) Policy The company has a productivity evaluation mission statement that is provided to all the available employees and is provided with first priority towards proper management in the company. The organization managers are supposed to provide productivity plans and missions that are associated with the company’

Human Civilization in Greco-Roman Ancient Times and Medieval Europe Essay

Human Civilization in Greco-Roman Ancient Times and Medieval Europe - Essay Example The architecture of medieval Europe should be associated with genius. Matter of factly, people of medieval Europe and the Romans were exceptional builders. Their architecture was both tremendous and restrained. The Romans and the people of medieval Europe constructed superior and better buildings than any civilization in the classical era could rival. Tourist by the suck load today still give special and pure regard to the ruins in Rome. The buildings that were constructed at ancient and medieval times have lasted and passed the test of time. It ought to be noted that these buildings still possess the intricate talent of the builders’ skill to date. In Medieval Europe around 1000-1300 A.D., however, the architectures and builders adapted the ancient Roman art and architecture, which they used in building historical landmarks (Barlett 15-18). During the time of Constantinian basilicas saw a frenzy of construction of fortified residence and monasteries. The relative political stability led to the development of a type of architecture slackly inspired by the Roman forms. Consequently, the classical Roman brick and stone houses were reused for their materials. This style expanded throughout Europe in an amazingly homogenous form. The exceptional relics of the medieval period are the castles that are scattered all over Western Europe. The idea behind the building of castles is informed in the Geo-Roman era, where castles were mainly built for the nobles and the elite. Ideally, the castles were also built with a view to heightening security of the monarchy. On the same, the technology of building castles was always developing from the ancient Roman times to the medieval era (Canter 270-288). Medieval theatre can be seen as the main contributor in helping maintain certain characteristics of the Geo- Roman theatre. The church, however, was responsible for restoring the ancient aspects of classical drama. For instance, the dramatization of the passion of Christ shows how ancient  drama and medieval plays are closely inter-linked (Hill 1).

Casestudy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Casestudy - Case Study Example IAS 16 requires that the recognition principle is applied to all property, plant and equipment costs only at their occurrence. Amongst other things, the costs include the initial costs incurred for either the acquisition or the construction of an item of property plant and equipment and the subsequent costs that are incurred for replacement of parts or service. There exists two types of accounting models under IAS 16. These include the cost model and the revaluation model (International Accounting Standards Board, 2006). While the cost model requires that assets are assessed at costs that are less than the accumulated depreciation and the impairment, the revaluation model requires that the assets be recorded at a revaluated amount hence making its fair value at the date of revaluation less the subsequent depreciation and impairment only with provisions that the fair value can be measured with much reliability. The company that we will be taking into consideration is ING Group N.V., a global financial services firm that is based in the Netherlands (ING Group, 2012). The company applies critical accounting policies that the management believes are not only important to the portrayal of the organizations financial condition and results, but that is also require the most difficult, subjective and complex judgement mainly resulting from the need to make estimations about the various effects of matter and that are also inherently uncertain. Key to note is the fact that various judgements and uncertainties that affect the application of the policies which may result reporting of different amounts that are significantly material under the various different conditions or through the use of different assumptions. The company considers financial reporting and disclosure practice and employs the use of accounting policies quarterly in a bid to ensure there is not only accuracy in the reported information that is not only relative to the prevailing economic conditions, but also the business environment. The company’s property, plant and equipment are reported at a cost that is less the accumulated depreciation. The depreciation realized on property, plant and equipment including even the assets under capital is computed on the straight line method over the estimated useful lives which in most cases range between 30 to 40 years in the case of buildings and 2 to 15 years in the case for equipment (ING Group, 2012). The company immortalizes leasehold improvements over the shorter of the leaseholds estimated useful lives or the related lease life that is mostly not less than 10 years. In the instances where the leases have the options of renewable periods, the company employs the use of original lease term that excludes renewal option periods aimed at determining the estimated useful lives. In instances where a failure to exercise a renewal option results into imposition of an economic penalty to the company, the company may determine at the incept ion of the lease about its renewal being reasonably assured and may include the inclusion of the renewal option period in the determination of the various appropriate estimated useful

Impact of foreign exchange rate on stock returns Dissertation

Impact of foreign exchange rate on stock returns - Dissertation Example Table 1 reports the results of Augmented Dickey Fuller test of unit root for the stock indices and exchange rates of both the UK and Pakistan. The test has further been applied at different levels as well as in the first difference form. The findings will be reported in terms of each country starting with the UK first then Pakistan. Both the ADF and regression results will be presented for the country indices and then for each of the companies. This chapter is divided into several parts with the main parts comprising study findings for the UK (both ADF test and regression), study findings from Pakistan (ADF and regression), and finally the analysis section where these findings are discussed and analyzed. 5.2 Findings (UK) Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) Test Table 1 below presents ADF results for UK companies and GBP/USD rate. As is evident in the table, the results include the FTSE 100 index and ten major companies operating in the UK. Table 2 provides the findings of the ADF test for the national exchange rate (EX) of the GBP against the GBP. Table 1: Augmented Dickey Fuller test (UK companies and FTSE 100 Index) Augmented Dickey fuller (ADF) test (UK companies and FTSE 100 Index) Index + companies S= Index value/ stock price Critical values of 1%, 5%, 10% at Level ?S= 1st difference Critical values at 1%, 5%, 10% for ?S FTSE 100 -2.250374 -3.486064 -2.885863 -2.579818 -10.25769 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Antofagasta -3.066955 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -12.97182 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Babdock -1.747700 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -10.71888 -3.486551 -2.886074 -2.579931 HSBC Holdings -2.867695 -3.486064 -2.885863 -2.579818 -10.42942 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Imperial tobacco -2.160689 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -11.17921 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Johnson matthey -2.543982 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -10.41562 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Meggit 0.828451 -2.584539 -1.943540 -1.614941 -11.56089 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Morrison - 2.901854 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -11.50647 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Pearson plc -1.841245 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -12.55195 -3.486551 -2.886074 -2.579931 Standard chartered bank -1.868623 -3.486064 -2.885863 -2.579818 -10.62130 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Weir group -1.782673 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -9.851895 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 Table 2: Augmented Dickey fuller (ADF) test (GBP/USD) Augmented Dickey fuller (ADF) test (GBP/USD) Currency X= Exchange rate Critical values of 1%, 5%, 10% at Level ?X= 1st difference Critical values at 1%, 5%, 10% for ?X GBP/USD -2.046301 -4.036983 -3.448021 -3.149135 -9.755815 -2.584707 -1.943563 -1.614927 According to the findings of the study, the ADF test results for the FTSE 100 index show that FTSE statistic value does not exceed the critical values at the 1%, 5%, and 10% critical levels. Therefore, the null hypothesis of the unit root for the index

Impact of school funding on student achievement Essay

Impact of school funding on student achievement - Essay Example In fact, more than $66 billion is said to have been invested in school technology (QED, 2004). This unprecedented level of investment in educational technology has raised expectations of legislators and the public who have been looking for returns on this investment (Benton, 2002; CEO Forum, 1999, 2000), and therefore are calling for evidence regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of technology especially in K-12 schools (Ringstaff & Kelley, 2002; Panel on Educational Technology, 1997; Melmed, 1995). No child left behind (NCLB) requires states to demonstrate that "every student is technologically literate by the time the student finishes the eighth grade, regardless of the student's race, ethnicity, gender, family income, geographic location, or disability" (U.S. Department of Education, 2001). While NCLB has established an eighth-grade technology literacy requirement, the requirement is not a full statement of knowledge and skills students need nor does it include a mechanism for ensuring accountability (Kay & Honey, in press). Educational funding has been found to be associated with student achievement (Lance (2001), Miller (2002), Siminitus (2002), and Whitington (2002). Generally, that would mean more funding may be able to enhance student achievement. The RAND study findings (Grissmer, et al. 2000) found that when other characteristics, like socio-economic status and family background, are equal, NAEP test scores are higher in states that have: 1) higher per-pupil expenditures, 2) lower pupil-teacher ratio in lower grades, 3) higher percentage of teachers who feel they have adequate resources for teaching, 4) more children in public pre-kindergarten programs, and 5) lower teacher turnover. In the Burke County, North Carolina Research (Pritchard 2000), the Burke County schools in 1995-96 reduced class sizes in first- and second-grade to 15 students per teacher. The study found: 1) increased achievement in both reading and math, and 2) More teacher time devoted to instruction due to fewer discipline problems. The Ohio Education Association in a member survey stated that new educational policies have done more harm than good, while Ohio political leaders have continued to neglect severe funding problems of Ohio public schools (Ohio Education News). The highlights of the 4000 Member Survey include - Only 5% of respondents feel Ohio's school funding system gives every school district equal resources for a quality education for all students. Eighty-seven percent indicated Ohio's system of funding education is fundamentally flawed. Two-thirds feel that their school districts are under-funded, and 93% feel that Ohio schools overall are under-funded. Eighty-nine percent feel the state legislature has failed to solve the state's education funding crisis. Between 85% and 95% of those surveyed feel initiatives like No Child Left Behind, tuition vouchers, and some aspects of high-stakes testing have done more harm than good. Two of other popular researches include the Tennessee STAR Project (Prichard 2000a) which tested the effect of class size on student achievement, where smaller classes outperformed regular classes, and HEROS (Health and Education Research Operative Services) Research (Prichard