Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner

Morality finds voice through minor characters. This is observable in case of both Les Miserables and The Kite Runner. The main theme of redemption is similar in both the concert Les Miserables and the novel The Kite Runner. Morality presides through the presence of minor characters – animate or inanimate. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In case of the musical and the novel, it is reflected through minor, nondescript characters. Both Les Miserables and Kite Runner narrate the process of redemption, and that is through human deed (Llosa 101; Hayes 95). In this story of redemption, there is a constant presence of two characters, which stay away from the hubbub of the main plot and remain as a constant remainder of morality or conscience. These characters almost act as guiding angels who keep the mind of the main characte rs on the path to redemption. These characters are Bishop Myriel in Les Miserables and Rahim Khan in The Kite Runner. This essay discusses the way these two characters shaped the path to redemption for the other, more vital characters, and the way they became the moral voices. Bishop Myriel and Rahim Khan are minor but essential part in both the musical and the novel. The candlesticks given to Valjean by Bishop Myriel are symbolic of the transgression of a hardened convict to a life of good. The Bishop’s act of mercy and sympathy transforms the life of a treacherous and conniving convict. The Bishop welcomes the tired and starving convict under his shelter in the musical, and gives him food and â€Å"bed to rest till morning† (Hugo Act 1, On Parole). In the solo sung by the Bishop in the musical (Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven) the Bishop helps in saving Valjean by misleading the policemen stating that he had given the candlesticks to Valjean as gifts and given tw o more to sell them. This act ensures freedom for Valjean from both the authorities and the symbolic freedom from evil, as is expressed by the Bishop: And remember this, my brother, See in this some high plan.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More You must use this precious silver To become an honest man. By the witness of the martyrs, By the passion and the blood, God has raised you out of darkness: I have bought your soul for God. (Hugo Act 1, Valjean Arrested/Valjean Forgiven) Thus, Myriel becomes the moral force who that changes the course of Vajean’s life. This act teaches us that mercy done to others will save a soul. He becomes the symbol of goodness, a symbol that is shown to Valjean and changes the course of the musical. He shows Valjean the road to redemption, and obliges his mind to follow the path of goodness.Advertising We will write a custom essay samp le on Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Rahim Khan is the moral voice in the story The Kite Runner. However, a minor character, and one that has not been developed fully, Rahim Khan plays a vital role in the novel. He was the best friend of Baba (Amir’s father) and a father figure to Amir. Amir often wished that Rahim Khan were his father instead of Baba: â€Å"When they left, I sat on my bed and wished Rahim Khan had been my father.† (Hosseini 28) Rahim Khan is a character that stays away from the main plot or the main character. He is also different from them – from the good characters of Hassan and Ali, and the complete devilish character of Assef, and Baba and Amir lying somewhere in-between. Rahim Khan cannot be categorized in any of these character types. He is almost a celestial figure standing beyond the bounds of moral questioning. He becomes the gui ding light for Amir in his journey to redemption (like Bishop Myriel in Les Miserables). From the very beginning of the story, Rahim Khan had helped Amir and boosted his self-confidence. The note he wrote to Amir showed the character’s support to Amir: â€Å"My door is always open to you, Amir jan. I shall hear nay story you have to tell. Bravo.† (Hosseini 28) Rahim Khan told Amir his deepest secret in order to ascertain what was going through his mind. He told Amir that he could tell him anything he wanted to: â€Å"You know, you can tell me anything you want, Amir jan. Anytime.† (Hosseini 87) Amir almost told him his betrayal of friendship towards Hassan but stopped as he thought that Rahim Khan would hate him for this, as he related â€Å"For a moment, I almost did tell him. Almost told him everything, but then what would he think of me? He’d hate me and rightfully.† (Hosseini 87) Though Amir did not tell his story to Rahim Khan then, he alread y knew. Rahim Khan calls Amir to Pakistan from America and asks him to rescue Hassan and his family from Afghanistan. He is the one who reveal to Amir that Hassan is actually his half-brother. He asked Amir to rescue Sohrab from Afghanistan. When Amir said, â€Å"I can’t go to Kabul,† Rahim Khan simply said, â€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (198) Rahim Khan showed Amir the â€Å"way to end the cycle† (198) and showed the path to redemption. Bishop Myriel and Rahim Khan are nondescript characters. However, they are the catalyst of the main theme. They become the wind that changes the course of the life of the main characters in the musical as well as in the novel. The right direction that can be found for redemption can be found from simple and non descript characters, rather than the more elaborate and complex characters. In both Les Miserable and Kite Runner, the direction towards salvation has been clearly etched by two characters who are minor , but are strong in their own accord. Thus, it teaches us that a guiding light may be small, yet is significant in moulding the course of action.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Bibliography Hayes, Judi. In search of The Kite Runner. Danvers, MA: Chalice Press, 2007. Print. Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2003. Print. Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert. By Victor Hugo. Royal Albert Hall Concert , New York. 1995. Concert. Llosa, Mario Vargas. The temptation of the impossible: Victor Hugo and Les Misà ©rables. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2004. Print. This essay on Lessons learnt from Les Miserables and The Kite Runner was written and submitted by user Lara Hebert 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.

7 Reasons Why Teaching is Challenging and Hard

7 Reasons Why Teaching is Challenging and Hard Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions in that it gives you an opportunity to make an impact on a future generation.  It is also extremely difficult and draining- no one with actual teaching experience would tell you otherwise. Being a teacher takes patience, dedication, passion, and the ability to do more with less. It is a treacherous journey often filled with just as many valleys as there are mountains.  Those committed to the profession do so simply because they want to be difference makers.  The following seven factors are some broader issues that make teaching challenging and hard. Disruptive Environment Disruptions occur in many external and internal forms.  Students and teachers have lives outside the walls of the school. Situations commonly occur that serve as a distraction.  These external obstacles are often difficult and sometimes nearly impossible to ignore and overcome.  Internally, issues such as student discipline problems, student assemblies, extra-curricular activities, and even announcements interrupt the flow of the school day.   These are only some of the many issues that serve as a disruption for teachers and students. The fact is that any disruption will take away valuable instructional time and negatively impact student learning in some form.  Teachers must be adept at handling disruptions quickly and getting their students back on task as soon as possible. Expectations In Flux The rules of teaching are constantly changing.  In some aspects, this is good while occasionally it may also be bad.  Teaching is not immune to fads.  The next great thing will be introduced tomorrow and obsolete by weeks’ end.  It is an ever revolving door for teachers.  When things are always changing, you leave very little room for any stability. This lack of stability creates nervousness, uncertainty, and an assurance that our students are being cheated in some aspect of their education.  Education requires stability to maximize effectiveness. Our teachers and our students would benefit from it greatly.  Sadly, we live in a time of flux. Teachers must find a way to bring some stability to the classroom to give their students an opportunity to be successful. Finding Balance There is a perception that teachers only work from 8-3 each day.  This is the time they actually spend with their students. Any teacher will tell you that this only represents a portion of what is required of them.  Teachers often arrive early and stay late. They must grade and record papers, collaborate with other teachers, plan and prepare for the next day’s activities or lessons, attend faculty or committee meetings, clean and organize their classrooms, and communicate with family members. Many teachers continue to work on these things even after they go home.  It can be difficult to find a balance between their personal life and their professional life. Great teachers invest a tremendous amount of time outside of the time spent with their students. They understand that all these things have a significant impact on student learning. However, teachers must commit to stepping away from their teaching responsibilities from time to time so that their personal life does not suffer in some aspect. Individuality of Students Every student is different. They have their own unique personalities, interests, abilities, and needs. Gauging these differences can be extremely difficult.  In the past, teachers have taught to the middle of their class. This practice did a disservice to those students with higher and lower abilities.  Most teachers now find a way to differentiate and accommodate every student according to their own individual needs. Doing so benefits the students, but it comes at a price for the teacher.  It is a difficult and time-consuming task.  Teachers must be adept at utilizing data and observations, finding the appropriate resources, and meeting every student where they are. Lack of Resources School funding impacts students learning in several areas. Underfunded schools have overcrowded classrooms and outdated technology and textbooks.  They are understaffed with many administrators and teachers taking on dual roles to save money.  Programs that may benefit students, but are not required are the first to be cut.  Students lose out on opportunities when schools are underfunded. Teachers must become adept at doing more with less. Most teachers unselfishly spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets to purchase supplies and materials for their classrooms.  A teacher’s effectiveness cannot help but be limited when they are not afforded the necessary resources to do their job effectively. Time Is Limited A teacher’s time is precious.  As alluded to above, there is a difference between the time we spend with the students and the time we spend preparing for our students. Neither is sufficient.  Teachers must maximize the time they have with their students.  Every minute with them should matter.  One of the hardest aspects of teaching is that you only have them for a short period of time to prepare them for the next level.  You do the best you can when you have them, but in the scope of things, you have only a small amount to give them what they need.  No teacher feels like they ever have enough time to accomplish everything that they needed or wanted to. Varying Levels of Parental Involvement Parental involvement is one of the greatest indicators of academic success for students. Those students whose parents teach their children from an early age that learning is valuable and stay involved throughout school give their children a greater opportunity to be successful.  Most parents want what is best for their children, but they may not know how to be involved with their child’s education. This is another obstacle that teachers must hurdle.  Teachers must take an active role in giving parents the opportunity to be involved. They must be direct with parents and engage them in discussions about the role they play in their child’s education.  Furthermore, they must give them the opportunity to be involved on a regular basis.

Quality Assurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Quality Assurance - Essay Example Quality assurance is a vital aspect in any organisation that needs to offer unparalleled products or services. Quality assurance is the implementation of all systematic activities that are geared towards provision of quality products and services. All organisations that adhere to quality control are in a position to make a positive impact in the provision of products and services.This is an activity that is directed towards fulfilling the needs of the demand for the services and products. Quality control is mostly inclined towards satisfaction of those in need the services and products. In quality control, an organisation’s interests are not paramount. However, the interests of the consumer reign supreme. Quality Concepts An organisation that needs to apply quality control has to go through various procedures to attain the best. It is not an easy task to implement quality assurance and it will take time and other resources including finance and labour. First, the organisation has to carry out a concrete system analysis. Organisations have to come up with a system that will be operational in the organisation in order to meet the requirements. In this initial step, the organisation has to consult with concerned parties to come up with a functional system. This will involve consultation, meeting with other parties consulting research in making a strong system. This will be followed by development of the system to ensure it will function in the organisation. Analysing and developing a system that is not functional in the organisation will be a waste of time and resources. ... As such, there will be limited instances of conflict of interest. Secondly, there has to be procedures that will be followed in implementation of the system. Following procedures will ensure the system will be implemented in a standardised form. Some procedures will be vital and should be done before taking any other step in the system. Thirdly there will be a need for reference materials. The system should be backed up with materials that will be used in future in ensuring the system is followed appropriately. The last part of applying quality assurance is informing the concerned parties of the system in place. Passing information explicitly will be a benefit to the organisation as all the employees or people in the organisation will be prepared to execute the system. This will be followed by instructing the organisation on the possible measures that will be in place when implementing the system. Lastly, there will be a need to train the staff in ensuring the system is fully execute d. Since the workforce is directly involved, they will have to get ample training and preparation for the system that should be put in place. When considering the application of quality assurance in an organisation, there are several parameters that are considered. First, there is constant training of the concerned parties and employees. The employees are directly involved in ensuring quality standards are maintained. Therefore, constant training of the employees will ensure the quality of products or services are kept in high standards. In many instances, organisations that practice employee training are at the helm of making positive accrual in their line of service or products. Secondly, there is need for constant

Fashion Designer and Fashion Merchandiser Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fashion Designer and Fashion Merchandiser - Essay Example The essay "Fashion Designer and Fashion Merchandiser" compares the Fashion Designer and Fashion Merchandiser. Fashion designers study popular trends among the public and accordingly design their accessories and garments. Their target groups include people of all ages and classes in general. Fashion designers work in close collaboration with manufacturers to acquire the embellishments and fabric for designing and supervise the production as well. Since marketing is very important for their business, most fashion designers also work closely with creative directors and plan fashion shows. While acquiring a degree is not a prerequisite for being a fashion designer, yet having a diploma in fashion designing at least is recommendable. Fashion designers’ salaries vary depending upon their popularity. Fashion merchandisers offer their services to the fashion retailers and choose the accessories and garments to be sold at their stores. One of their functions is to develop attractive di splays to motivate the public to shop. Fashion merchandisers negotiate with the designers and wholesalers to acquire the accessories and garments at a lower price to make the business more profitable for the stores they represent. While there is no established education requirement for an individual who wants to become a fashion merchandiser, some employers might prefer fashion merchandisers with some education in fashion which would reflect their theoretical knowledge and understanding of the latest trends.

Benefits of tourism to the local community Research Paper

Benefits of tourism to the local community - Research Paper Example Analysis of the theoretical and conceptual aspects of the benefits of tourism to the Local Community in Singapore Tourism is the global largest industry that contributes to job position creation in diverse economies. The sector has facilitated the development of structures that have the capacity to boost coexistence and economic stability. Communities that focus on improving their living standards should encourage tourism based on its benefits. Dwyer and Forsyth (1997) note that tourism improves the income levels of community members; furthermore, tourism increases the national GDP, employment and facilitates general rise in the living status of individuals. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), nations are obligated to adopt conventional tourism guidelines that facilitate their competitiveness and growth. WTO facilitates the formulation of policies to ensure that tourism activities are streamlined effectively. This is to ensure that the tourist attraction sites meet def inite standards; furthermore, they should have supporting amenities that allow the safe stay of visitors (Lewis and Newsome, 2003). The agency defines tourism as travelling to new destinations due to particular attractions outside an individual’s geographical setting. ... They also facilitate engagement at various levels of operations that range from local setting to the international arena. This advances social and cultural integration that is earned through mutual understanding (Lewis and Newsome 2003). According to King (2000), domestic tourism in Singapore entails visiting the local destinations and tourist sceneries. Domestic tourism is important in enhancing an individual’s lifestyle since it allows the local people to understand the local events and historical sceneries. It also enables individuals to embrace and appreciate the local resources within the society. It also enhances the understanding of diverse cultural practices by persons with dialectal variations. Inbound tourism forms the second category that entails the visit made by non-citizens or residence to the local attraction sites (King, 2000). The system is currently gaining momentum since the need for individuals to change their environmental setting and learn new things in l ife is paramount. People are currently keen on exploring new ventures and sites of attraction that provide a unique environment for leisure. The technique can be encouraged through detailed awareness of the existing sceneries or the attraction sites, thus, influencing decision-making. Outbound logistics forms the third category that entails the visits to other nations by locals. Internal, national and international tourist categories follow respectively. The categories entail the combination of inbound, domestic and outbound categories. The categories are vital since they foster international integration and cooperation that is crucial in enhancing trade; thus, benefiting the local community. They are also significant in advancing social and cultural cohesiveness (King, 2000). The

The Anti-Trust Case Against Microsoft :: Business Technology

The Anti-Trust Case Against Microsoft Since 1990, a battle has raged in United States courts between the United States government and the Microsoft Corporation out of Redmond, Washington, headed by Bill Gates. What is at stake is money. The federal government maintains that Microsoft's monopolistic practices are harmful to United States citizens, creating higher prices and potentially downgrading software quality, and should therefore be stopped, while Microsoft and its supporters claim that they are not breaking any laws, and are just doing good business. Microsoft's antitrust problems began for them in the early months of 1990(Check 1), when the Federal Trade Commission began investigating them for possible violations of the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts,(Maldoom 1) which are designed to stop the formation of monopolies. The investigation continued on for the next three years without resolve, until Novell, maker of DR-DOS, a competitor of Microsoft's MS-DOS, filed a complaint with the Competition Directorate of the European Commission in June of 1993. (Maldoom 1) Doing this stalled the investigations even more, until finally in August of 1993, (Check 1)the Federal Trade Commission decided to hand the case over to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice moved quickly, with Anne K. Bingaman, head of the Antitrust Division of the DOJ, leading the way.(Check 1) The case was finally ended on July 15, 1994, with Microsoft signing a consent settlement.(Check 1) The settlement focused on Microsoft's selling practices with computer manufacturers. Up until now, Microsoft would sell MS-DOS and Microsoft's other operating systems to original equipment manufacturers (OEM's) at a 60% discount if that OEM agreed to pay a royalty to Microsoft for every single computer that they sold (Check 2) regardless if it had a Microsoft operating system installed on it or not. After the settlement, Microsoft would be forced to sell their operating systems according to the number of computers shipped with a Microsoft operating system installed, and not for computers that ran other operating systems. (Check 2) Another practice that the Justice Department accused Microsoft of was that Microsoft would specify a minimum number of minimum number of operating systems that the retailer had to buy, thus eliminating any chance for another operating system vendor to get their system installed until the retailer had installed all of the Microsoft operating systems that it had installed.(Maldoom 2) In addition to specifying a minimum number of operating systems that a vendor had to buy, Microsoft also would sign contracts with the vendors for long periods of time

Hospitality Across Culture

Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. When coming to another country, we always want to make a good impression to the native people like showing them our hospitality. But sometimes, because of different culture our hospitality is considered as offence.So what should we do in this case?In case study, a typical situation surprised me. The American manager by the name of Bill Morris just simply want to show his emplyees in France his hospitality. He decided to throw a party for the whole office. His intention was pretty good. He thought it would be a good way to get accquainted with everyone in a less formal environment. Then, people with know that he is an open person and easy to talk. However, this wasn’t work.His employees didn’t think like that and just in a negative way.In French employess’s thought, their boss was showing off his money by inviting them to his elegent apartment. They felt strange and uncomfortable in his home as well as socializing together. Certainly, Morris didn’t make a good impression to his employees.The situation gave me knowledge of America and France hospitality culture in : socialize with employess from different levels of the company, role of the boss in the social life of the office, style of entertaining colleagues, different about socialiszing with friends and collagues, common ways of socialising with business colleagues. This is two different country with different culture, working style : formal and informal. It’s not easy to mix them. In solving situation tasks, our class was discuss to help Morris able to adapt to the social ways of his French employees. We all think he should learn about France culture, shouldn’t so formal with his colleagues to build his presigate. He should care to his working style, languages using, attitudes †¦Above all, following French culture will make his employees respect him and feel heâ₠¬â„¢s more familiar to them. Step by step, they’ll sure understand his good intention and have a good point of view on him.Hospitality across culture isn’t simply at all. It requires a certain knowledge about culture and ways to apply it appropriately. This situation reminds me a famous saying : ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ Obviously when you come another country, the native people expect you to do as their culture. This will make they feel that you searched and interested in their culture before and respect it. Getting to know about eachother culture is a simply way to communicate people from all over the world. This is a chance to widen your knowledge, open your working opportunity, build relationship across border.