How Do Variable Interest Rates Work

How Do Variable Interest Rates Work How Do Variable Interest Rates Work? How Do Variable Interest Rates Work?Variable rates can go up or down based on the performance of a benchmark rate, and this movement can mean higher or lower costs.Taking out a personal loan can often mean getting bombarded by financial jargon. Here at the OppLoans Financial Sense Blog, it’s our goal to demystify a lot of these terms and break them down into simple language that a layperson can understand. So if you’ve ever wondered what exactly a “variable interest rate” is, you’ve come to exactly the right place!What is a variable interest rate?When it comes to borrowing money with a personal loan or a credit card, there are two kinds of interest rates that you’re going to encounter: fixed and variable.“A variable interest rate is an interest rate on a loan or security that moves up and down over time,” explained Joe Bailey,  Operations Manager at  My Trading Skills (@MyTradingSkills). “It owes its fluctuation to being based on an underlying benchmark rate/index t hat changes from time to time.”In contrast, he continued, a fixed interest rate does not fluctuate but remains steady throughout the life of the product.When you’re borrowing, lending, or investing money, its all about managing your risk. Do you want smaller rewards that are much safer to achieve, or do you want to shoot for greater rewards that come with a higher likelihood of the whole thing going south?So it is with variable interest rates: Sure, you can see lower rates, but you risk getting stuck with higher ones.“The advantage here is if the underlying interest rate/index declines, so will the interest you will pay on your loan or security,” said Bailey. “Conversely, if this underlying interest rate/index goes up, youll end up paying higher interest on your loan facility. This means you will have to pay more money back to your lender.”Here’s an example.How do variable rates determine whether they should move up or down? By tying themselves to another interest rate and following its movements.“In laymens terms, variable interest rate means an interest rate which is based on a benchmark interest rate or an index or simply market rates,” said accountant and blogger Rishit Shah of TallySchool.Shah offered the following example to illustrate how this relationship works.“You take a loan at 8 percent  variable interest rate based on LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate). Now, if the LIBOR goes down, your interest rate also goes down. Similarly, if the LIBOR goes up, your interest rate also goes up.Therefore, it is called a variable interest rate because it varies or changes on the basis of some other benchmark rate, which in our example is LIBOR.”Shah also clarified that variable rates are also sometimes referred to as “floating” or “adjustable” interest rates.Benchmark rates: The prime rate and LIBOR.In Shah’s example, he used a loan that was tied to the  London Interbank Offered Rate or LIBOR rate. This is the rate that banks us e to lend money to each other, and it is often used as a benchmark rate in foreign transactions.For U.S. borrowers, on the other hand, a different rate is often used. If you live in the U.S. and are applying for a loan, that loan will likely be tied to the “prime rate” which is the rate that banks use when lending to their very best, most reliable customers.“Variable interest rates are tied to the prime rate which is controlled by the federal reserve,” said Levi Sanchez CFP ®, BFA, founder of  Millennial Wealth, LLC (@millennialwlth).“The federal reserve controls monetary supply and therefore can influence interest rates. In a rising interest rate environment, variable interest rates used by consumers are also increasing. In a lower interest rate environment, the interest rates for consumers would, in turn, be lower.”If you have a variable interest rate tied to the prime rate, it is likely set at a certain percentage above that benchmark. For instance: If your variable r ate is five percentage points higher than the prime rate, a change in the prime rate from six percent to seven percent would cause your variable rate to change from 11 to 12 percent.The pros and cons of variable interest rates.Like most other things in life, both variable and fixed interest rates come with their respective pros and their cons. The difference is that those pros and cons will vary depending on larger economic forces, as variable rates are better in some market conditions than in others.“If the benchmark interest rate goes down, your interest payments also go down and you have to pay less money in  interest,” said Shah. But the reverse is also true. “You may have to pay significantly higher interest payments if the benchmark rate goes up. In other words, you wont get a peace of mind since the rates are always fluctuating,” he added.And for longer-term loans, Shah advised that the odds of your rate going up are much higher: “If you expect to keep a loan for a long time, the chances are greater that the interest rate might go up as, gradually, the economy grows and prices go up in the long run.”Shah also laid out two additional benefits beyond the prospect of lower interest rates: Better access to credit and fewer penalties for early repayment.“If your credit is not good enough, you can get a loan on a variable interest rate since it is based on a benchmark.” he said, adding that “in a variable interest rate mortgage, you dont need to worry about penalties if you want to complete your mortgage payments early or switch the lender.”However, access to credit always comes with a flipside: Just because you can take out a loan doesn’t mean you should.Just like how borrowers with poor credit would do their best to avoid short-term no credit check loans (like payday loans, cash advances, and title loans), a variable interest rate available to someone with poor credit could be a sign of a predatory lender.Watch out for low introductory rates.Financial Analyst Trish Tetreault of  FitSmallBusiness.com (@FitSmallBiz) explained the dangers that can come with the low “introductory offer” rates that come with many variable rate loans, especially for borrowers who have poor credit:“In general, a variable interest rate will begin with a lower introductory rate and will rise and fall based on a price indicator. Often the low introductory rate seems manageable, but the gradual increase in rate over the course of your loan can result in an interest rate and payments that quickly become unaffordable.”“Borrowers with less than perfect credit are often offered loans with variable interest rates and later find the rate increases to be unmanageable.  As such, its crucial to understand when your rate may increase, and whether or not there are caps on the amount the rate can increase.If you have recently taken out a bad credit loan with an introductory rate, here is Tetreaults advice:“If your introductory rate is fixe d for a certain period of time, use this time to improve your credit score.  As your credit score improves youll be able to qualify for loans that offer better rates and terms, and you may be able to refinance your way out of your variable rate loan.”Know before you borrow.If you want to take advantage of a variable interest rate on a personal installment loan, an auto loan, or a mortgage, you’re going to need to do some research first. The more knowledge you have, the more confident you can be in your decision, and the less likely you are to be taken advantage of and end up in a predatory cycle of debt.To learn more about the ins and outs of personal finance, check out these related posts and articles from OppLoans:Save More Money with These 40 Expert TipsHow to Raise Your Credit Score by 100 PointsBuilding Your Financial Life: Budgeting for BeginnersFinancial Basics: Expert Tips for Smarter SpendingDo you have a   personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |  InstagramContributorsJoe Bailey is the Operations Manager at  My Trading Skills (@MyTradingSkills), a financial trading courses provider. His experience includes web development, UX and conversion rate optimization for both B2B and B2C.Levi Sanchez is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, BEHAVIORAL FINANCIAL ADVISOR and Founder of  Millennial Wealth, LLC (@millennialwlth), a fee-only financial planning firm for young professionals and tech industry employees. Levi’s been quoted in the New York Times, Business Insider, Forbes, and is a frequent contributor to Investopedia. He is an avid sports fan, personal finance and investing geek, and enjoys a great TV show or movie. His mission is to help educate his generation about better money habits and provide financial planning services to those who want to start planning for their future today!Rishit Shah is a blogger for  TallySchool and currently is in CA Final level from India, the equivale nt of CPA Final level in the US. He has been featured on Accounting Today and US Chamber  of Commerce recently.  He is interested in finance, accounting, and taxation. In his free time, he loves to write poetry.Trish Tetreault  is a Financial Analyst at  FitSmallBusiness.com (@FitSmallBiz).

40 Common English Idioms

Learning English isn’t as easy as some might think. First, grammar muddies the waters (makes things unclear), and idiomatic expressions only add fuel to the fire (make things worse). If you’re taking the TOEFL or the TOEIC, or just want to know more common idioms,  study this list of 40 common idiomatic expressions before you take the test. They may just help your English language acquisition soar (get much better). Common English Idioms 24/7: Twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week; all the time; constantly. My little sister irritates me 24/7!A short fuse: A quick temper. Jamie is known for his short fuse; just a few days ago he screamed at his coach for not letting him play.A taste of your own medicine: Bad treatment deservedly received for treating other people badly.  After constantly being prank-called, Julian decided to give Juan a taste of his own medicine and ordered twenty-seven pizzas to be delivered to Juan’s house.Butterflies in my stomach: To be nervous.  Liam had butterflies in his stomach before he went on stage to play the violin.By the skin of your teeth:  To just barely get by or make it.  Lester made the dance team by the skin of his teeth; you can tell he hasnt been dancing jazz for very long.  Cat got your tongue?: Can’t you speak? (Usually said to embarrass the other person).  I just saw you kissing my boyfriend. What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?Crying w olf:  To ask for help when you dont need it.  You have cried wolf so many times that no one believes you when youre really hurt.  Cut someone some slack:  To not judge someone too harshly.  Hey. Cut me some slack. I was really busy with my frog hunting business last week and forgot to call. Im sorry!Down for the count: Tired; giving up; unable or unwilling to participate any longer.  No, you can’t take my dog for a walk—she’s down for the count after chasing cats all day.Draw the line: To stop; to know the point where something goes from okay to not okay.  Now I draw the line at speaking in front of 34,000 people.Easier said than done: Not as easy as it appears to be.  You want me to come to work at 6:00 AM? Easier said than done!Every cloud has a silver lining: You can find good in every bad situation.  Even though you just got fired, remember that every cloud has a silver lining—at least you don’t have to work for that grouchy b oss anymore!Finding a needle in a haystack: Virtually impossible to find.  Trying to get a new job these days is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.Fish out of water: To be out of place.  Tom felt like a fish out of water at the Star Trek convention his new girlfriend begged him to attend.Get something off your chest: To talk about something that has been bothering you for a long time; to admit something you have done wrong.  I have to get this off my chest—I copied your answers on the SAT. Thanks for the 15th percentile score, by the way.  Give it a whirl: To try something.  I’ve never gone kite-boarding, but I’m prepared to give it a whirl!Go down in flames:  To fail suddenly and spectacularly.  The football players career went down in flames after the media learned hed been losing on purpose to settle gambling debts.  Go the extra mile:  To make an extra effort.  My dentist always goes the extra mile, offering free back massages at the end of a stressful tooth extraction.  Hang in there:  Be patient. Wait it out.  I know youre struggling right now in school but just hang in there. Itll get easier. I promise.  In the fast lane: A life filled with excitement.  When Curtis turned forty, he decided he needed to live life in the fast lane, so he quit his job as a dentist and decided to tour Europe by motorcycle.In the nick of time: Almost too late.  You gave me that main idea help in the nick of time—my teacher just gave us a quiz on that reading skill and I passed it!Let the cat out of the bag: Tell a secret.  Brady’s surprise party is going to be great if you don’t let the cat out of the bag.Let the chips fall where they may:  To let something happen, no matter if its good or bad.  Look. Im going to just try out for the cheerleading squad and let the chips fall where they may.  Lose your marbles: To go crazy; insane.  Mom  has really lost her marbles; shes making me p ractice writing the ACT Essay seven times this week!Once in a blue moon: Rarely.  In Florida, the temperature drops below freezing only once in a blue moon.Plain as day: Obvious; clear.  It’s plain as day that you’re in love with her, so just admit it.Play second fiddle: To be less important.  I hate playing second fiddle to my sister; she always does things better than I do!Put your foot in your mouth: Saying something you shouldn’t have.  Jessica really put her foot in her mouth when she asked about John’s job right after he lost it.Pull yourself together:  Calm down and behave normally.  Pull yourself together, man! Sure, your girlfriend just dumped you and then you got hit by a car, but you cant let those things get you down.  Sick and tired: To be bothered or annoyed by.  She is sick and tired of her dog chewing up her shoes every day.Sleep on it: To think about something for a while before making a decision.  Don’t tell me w hether you’ll move to Texas with me or not today. Sleep on it, and get back to me tomorrow.Snug as a bug in a rug: Warm and cozy; content.  That baby looks as snug as a bug in a rug cuddled up next to his mother.Step up your game:  To start performing better.  Listen, Jen. Youd better step up your game if you want to get all As in Miss Finchs Physics class. She isnt easy!Stick your nose into something: To interfere.  Sharon always sticks her nose into everyone else’s business.Straight from the horse’s mouth: Directly from the person involved.  Listen to the news straight from the horse’s mouth; we’re all getting bonuses this week!Take it easy: Relax.  I know you’re not feeling well, so try to take it easy today.Tip of the iceberg: The small easily visible part of a larger problem.  The fact that Carrie is dating a member of the mafia is just the tip of the iceberg; she’s also smuggling contraband into the country.To not see the wood for the trees: To be so involved with the details that you don’t get the most important facts.  She always argues about the silliest things; it’s like she can’t see the wood for the trees.Up a creek without a paddle: In an unlucky/bad situation.  If you don’t have any money to pay for the repairs we just made to your car, I guess you’re up a creek without a paddle because you can’t have your car back.You rock!: You are great.  Dude. You rock. Thanks for offering to watch my pet iguana all week.   These are just a few of the thousands of idioms in the English language. Get your feet wet (start) with these, and then move on to the idioms that will knock your socks off (astound you).

Comparing Beowulf, The Wanderer, And The 13th Warrior

Ty DeJames Mr. Neely 4-17-15 One common question in literature that always reappears is What is an epic hero? Or better yet an epic hero in Anglo Saxon culture. I believe there is more to being a hero than just being strong or intelligent. An epic hero in my eyes is oneself who comes to portray the beliefs of the society in which the tale/story is depicted. A few great examples of the Anglo Saxon epic hero are the literary characters in Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The 13th Warrior. These are all outstanding examples of Anglo-Saxon epic heroes because they all came to show the evident characteristics bravery, loyalty, friendship. In the Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, the meaning of to be a hero was to be a warrior and or a strong being. A hero also had to possess the vast characteristics of being strong, intelligent, and courageous. All warriors of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, had to be willing to face any odds and be willing to be the underdog that chases success. Also they had to fight to the death for their glory and accept their each individual fates. The typical Anglo-Saxon hero was always able to be all of these and still be humble and very down to earth. Out of all literature Beowulf is, arguably, the best example one can use of an Anglo-Saxon hero. But, in The 13th Warrior, Ibn Fadlan (played by Antonio Banderas) similar to Beowulf, also shows many of the characteristics that come to show the qualities one needs to possess to become an Anglo-Saxon

Airport ownership Free Essays

Airport as being fully privately owned enterprise is very important problem. There were a lot of conferences, dedicated to this problem, which tried to examine and study experience of world practice of privatizing and shareholding of airports as one of means to increase effectiveness of work in conditions of market relations. Some countries cannot make airports being fully privately owned enterprises because they don’t have legal securing in governmental property of usage airports. We will write a custom essay sample on Airport ownership or any similar topic only for you Order Now Absences of legalized documents which give right of management by governmental property don’t give opportunity to attract foreign investors, limit development of non-aviation activity, and create a lot of other problems. So, holding such conferences is a good opportunity to determine conditions of reforms in civil aviation and to analyze development of business in airports. Nowadays integration processes and economic reforms which take place in Europe create qualitative new situation in the field of air transport. In these conditions coordination of efforts in the country, forming of legal regulations and regulation of activity of aircraft companies, airports and other organizations of this field, directed at guaranteeing of safety flights and protection of customers’ interests is very important. During last dozen of years more then one hundred of governmental aircraft enterprises and airports were made fully privately owned enterprises in Russia – it is more then in countries of Europe, USA and Canada. In the United States the attempts to privatize airports are more successful working with small airports (Robert Poole and Adrian Moore p.2) There was a possibility to rent an airport a little bit earlier. Actually, anybody was able to rent an airport, runway, avian stations, etc – anybody who paid more. Airport didn’t have any advantage during that rent. The tasks of leaser, which doesn’t care of airport’s problems, are easy to understand: to get higher profit from lease. And nobody knows how the leaser will take care of that leased property. Aircraft Company, on the contrary, is interested in maintenance of that property on necessary level, because it gets main funds from take-off and landing. (Robert W. Poole p.3)We came to conclusion also that making airport fully privately owned enterprise shouldn’t be made by impulse. It takes years in the European countries to get all permissions to make airport privately owned. Some aircraft companies consider purchase of airports to be very profitable. For example, â€Å"Austrian Airlines† pans to buy airport of Bratislava (Slovakia). The matter it that Bratislava’s airport is located 20 km from Vienna and Austrians want to use this airport as dispersal field. Besides, Slovakia enters European Union and quantity of flight to Bratislava can be increased. Austrians hope to become the main airline not only in Austria, but in neighbor Slovakia. Indian government also decided to give â€Å"green light† to make two biggest governmental airports fully privately owned enterprises, which are located in administrative capital of country New Delhi and financial capital Mumbai (the city, which was known as Bombay). The minister of civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy announced in September 11, 2003 that cabinet of ministers adopted plans to sell 74 percent share holdings of both airports to private enterprises. Within eight months government will prepare to auction and to finish receiving of applications (Reuters agency p.1). Airports will be transformed in two separate companies, with partial participation of government. Accordingly, the companies will be made privately owned separately, with help of auctions. Airports Authority of India, AAI – governmental department, which controls 130 airports in the whole territory of country, will keep 26 percent share holding as well as functions of safety and management of air movement. In such a way the airports will have opportunity to become huge international junctions and to start compete actively with other airports of regions, as well as between themselves. How to cite Airport ownership, Papers

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay Example For Students

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is probably one of Shakespeares earliest comedies. Its plot is derived from the popular war of the sexes theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming Of The Shrew. In it, a wealthy land owner, Baptista Minola, attempts to have his two daughters married. One is very shrewish, Katherine, while the other is the beautiful and gentle Bianca. In order to ensure Katherine is married, Baptista disallows Bianca to be espoused until Katherine is wed, forcing the many suitors to Bianca to find a mate for Katherine in order for them to vie for Biancas love. Many critics of the play condemn it for the blatant sexist attitude it has toward women but closer examination of the play and the intricacies of its structure reveal that it is not merely a story of how men should put women in their place. The play is, in fact, a comedy about an assertive woman coping with how she is expected to act in the society of the late sixteenth century and of how one must obey the unwritten rules of a society to be accepted in it. Although the play ends with her outwardly conforming to the norms of society, this is in action only, not in mind. Although she assumes the role of the obedient wife, inwardly she still retains her assertiveness. Most of the plays humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a play within a play structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know that the play is not real thus making all events in the play false realities. Almost all characters in the play take on identities other than their own at some point of time during the play. Sly as a king, Tranio as Lucentio, Lucentio as Cambio, Hortensio as Litio and the pedant as Vicentio are all examples of this. Another example of this is Katherine as an obedient wife. In The Taming Of The Shrew, courtship and marriage are not so much the result of love but rather an institution of society that people are expected to take part in. As a result of the removal of romance from marriage, suitors are judged, not by their love for a woman, but by how well they can provide for her. All suitors compare the dowry each can bring to the marriage and the one with the most to offer wins the womans hand in marriage. This competition for marriage is like a game to the characters of the play. While discussing the courtship of Bianca with Gremio, Hortensio says He that runs fastest gets The ring Act I, scene i, l. 140-141 likening receiving permission to wed Bianca to winning a race. In the game, however, women are treated like objects that can be bought and sold rather than as human beings. This is expected since the society is a patriarchal one. For example, Lucentio, Tranio and Petruchio are all defined with reference to their fathers and all the elderly authority figures, like Baptista and Vicentio, are men. .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postImageUrl , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:visited , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active { border:0!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Shakespeare create excitement and tension in Act 3 Scene 1? EssayThe taming of Katherine is not a womens shrewishness being cured as much as it is a woman being taught the rules of the patriarchal game. Katherine has learned how to be assertive and with this knowledge is able to control men, and a woman controlling a man is considered against the rules of the game. The play ends with Katherine proving that she is truly cured of her shrewishness and is the most obedient of the three newlywed wives at the end of the play. This is demonstrated in her soliloquy when she lectures the other wives on the proper way in which a woman should behave: I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace, Or seek rule, supremacy, and sway, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Act V, scene ii, l. 161 164 Although most critics interpret the play as being that of a woman finally acting the way in which she is supposed to act, it is difficult to believe that a character as vibrant and strong-willed as Katherine is changed so easily. Following with the device of false realities that Shakespeare set in place so early in the play, it would seem more logical that Katherine would simply be acting the part of the obedient wife in order to be accepted in the society in which she lives. Katherine can play a part very well and can even enjoy doing it. This is shown on the road to Padua from Petruchios house when Kate is forced to address Vincentio as a woman and says, Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet Act IV, scene v, l. 37. The Taming Of The Shrew is a light-hearted comedy that is better seen than read. This is especially true since a lot of the humour in it is physical or slapstick humour which is possible only on stage. The complexity of the play is refreshing, as many of the modern plays of today are quite linear and do little to keep a readers attention. Another favourable aspect of it is the subplot involving Lucentio and Bianca which lends itself as the basis for many humourous moments, most notably between Lucentio, Hortensio and Bianca. The obvious sexist attitude of the play does not hinder it because of the reasons stated above. One must also take into account the attitudes of sixteenth century England and the fact that the play is a comedy and is not meant to be taken seriously.

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay Example For Students

Analytic Play Review Of The Taming Of The Shrew Essay The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is probably one of Shakespeares earliest comedies. Its plot is derived from the popular war of the sexes theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming Of The Shrew. In it, a wealthy land owner, Baptista Minola, attempts to have his two daughters married. One is very shrewish, Katherine, while the other is the beautiful and gentle Bianca. In order to ensure Katherine is married, Baptista disallows Bianca to be espoused until Katherine is wed, forcing the many suitors to Bianca to find a mate for Katherine in order for them to vie for Biancas love. Many critics of the play condemn it for the blatant sexist attitude it has toward women but closer examination of the play and the intricacies of its structure reveal that it is not merely a story of how men should put women in their place. The play is, in fact, a comedy about an assertive woman coping with how she is expected to act in the society of the late sixteenth century and of how one must obey the unwritten rules of a society to be accepted in it. Although the play ends with her outwardly conforming to the norms of society, this is in action only, not in mind. Although she assumes the role of the obedient wife, inwardly she still retains her assertiveness. Most of the plays humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a play within a play structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know that the play is not real thus making all events in the play false realities. Almost all characters in the play take on identities other than their own at some point of time during the play. Sly as a king, Tranio as Lucentio, Lucentio as Cambio, Hortensio as Litio and the pedant as Vicentio are all examples of this. Another example of this is Katherine as an obedient wife. In The Taming Of The Shrew, courtship and marriage are not so much the result of love but rather an institution of society that people are expected to take part in. As a result of the removal of romance from marriage, suitors are judged, not by their love for a woman, but by how well they can provide for her. All suitors compare the dowry each can bring to the marriage and the one with the most to offer wins the womans hand in marriage. This competition for marriage is like a game to the characters of the play. While discussing the courtship of Bianca with Gremio, Hortensio says He that runs fastest gets The ring Act I, scene i, l. 140-141 likening receiving permission to wed Bianca to winning a race. In the game, however, women are treated like objects that can be bought and sold rather than as human beings. This is expected since the society is a patriarchal one. For example, Lucentio, Tranio and Petruchio are all defined with reference to their fathers and all the elderly authority figures, like Baptista and Vicentio, are men. .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postImageUrl , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:visited , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active { border:0!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:active , .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4d5d3c7452b62e484090e0f556bd645d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Shakespeare create excitement and tension in Act 3 Scene 1? EssayThe taming of Katherine is not a womens shrewishness being cured as much as it is a woman being taught the rules of the patriarchal game. Katherine has learned how to be assertive and with this knowledge is able to control men, and a woman controlling a man is considered against the rules of the game. The play ends with Katherine proving that she is truly cured of her shrewishness and is the most obedient of the three newlywed wives at the end of the play. This is demonstrated in her soliloquy when she lectures the other wives on the proper way in which a woman should behave: I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace, Or seek rule, supremacy, and sway, When they are bound to serve, love, and obey. Act V, scene ii, l. 161 164 Although most critics interpret the play as being that of a woman finally acting the way in which she is supposed to act, it is difficult to believe that a character as vibrant and strong-willed as Katherine is changed so easily. Following with the device of false realities that Shakespeare set in place so early in the play, it would seem more logical that Katherine would simply be acting the part of the obedient wife in order to be accepted in the society in which she lives. Katherine can play a part very well and can even enjoy doing it. This is shown on the road to Padua from Petruchios house when Kate is forced to address Vincentio as a woman and says, Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet Act IV, scene v, l. 37. The Taming Of The Shrew is a light-hearted comedy that is better seen than read. This is especially true since a lot of the humour in it is physical or slapstick humour which is possible only on stage. The complexity of the play is refreshing, as many of the modern plays of today are quite linear and do little to keep a readers attention. Another favourable aspect of it is the subplot involving Lucentio and Bianca which lends itself as the basis for many humourous moments, most notably between Lucentio, Hortensio and Bianca. The obvious sexist attitude of the play does not hinder it because of the reasons stated above. One must also take into account the attitudes of sixteenth century England and the fact that the play is a comedy and is not meant to be taken seriously.

The Great Gatsby Socratic Seminar Questions free essay sample

A tragic hero contains a fatal flaw, and is responsible for their own downfall. Jay Gatsby reflects a tragic hero as in loving Daisy he causes his own downfall. Gatsby continually loves Daisy for five years. Gatsby and Daisy fell in love before he left for the war, and vowed to wait for each other. Circumstances arise and Jay is unable to return from the war as soon as he had hoped. During this time Daisy meets Tom Buchanan, and marries him; however, Gatsby does not give up on loving Daisy. Everything Jay does upon his return revolves around Daisy.He says that every decision he ever makes is with her in mind- everything is for her. Gatsby needs Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him, and he believes she is going to. Gatsby confronts Tom and tells how Daisy has never loved him, Tom is in disbelief, as is Daisy: â€Å"She hesitated†¦ as though she had realized at last what she was doing- and as though she had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. We will write a custom essay sample on The Great Gatsby Socratic Seminar Questions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (Fitzgerald 132). Gatsby lays everything out on the line for Daisy, he puts so much continual effort into loving Daisy, and she never has true intentions of doing anything.Even after the encounter, where Daisy is supposed to confess to never loving Tom, fails, Jay is still unable to recognize that the hope of ending up with Daisy is perishing forever. Knowing that Daisy is staying with Tom, and that Tom blamed the death of Myrtle on Gatsby, Nick tries to convince Jay to leave, but â€Å"He wouldn’t consider it. He couldn’t possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn’t bear to shake him free† (Fitzgerald 148). One of Gatsby’s fatal flaws is that he did not leave town.With the death of Myrtle pinned against him, Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, kills him. Gatsby puts so much into loving Daisy and builds an empire with her at heart, though it is not enough. Jay believes that we are able to repeat the past however; in trying to repeat the past, he is killed on wrongful premises. Thus another fatal flaw reflecting Gatsby’s character as a tragic hero. 2. Fitzgerald once wanted to title the novel Under the Red, White, and Blue; however, The Great Gatsby better reflects Fitzgerald’s overall purpose- money does not buy happiness, or personal connections.The title Under the Red, White, and Blue holds connotations with capitalism, and success; however, would give the novel more of an impression focused around America itself. Whereas the title The Great Gatsby sets up the reader’s perception of Jay Gatsby and foreshadows his death- historically people are referred to as â€Å"The Great† after their death. Readers are able to see that although Jay is â€Å"Great†, all his money and fame are unable to buy him happiness, and the connection he longs for with Daisy.As Jay awaits a phone call from Daisy, saying that she is going to follow through with leaving Tom, Nick has â€Å"an idea that he [Gatsby] no longer cared. If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream† (Fitzgerald 161). Nick believes that Gatsby does come to the realization that despite all his wealth, he has nothing without Daisy, and that his money was unable to make her understand. Although many perceive Jay as â€Å"Great†, he feels he never had anything without Daisy.The title The Great Gatsby, achieves the authors overall purpose as it better indicates the outcomes of the novel. 3. Looking through a psychological lens, we can see that both Jay and Daisy are struggling. Gatsby wants Daisy, and Daisy wants him too, though they cannot be together because of the psychological issues they separately possess. As far Gatsby, he never loved anyone else. He did not even want to think of his parents as his real parents, from the time he was a little boy he set high ambitions. Once he met, and fell in love with, Daisy, Gatsby could not imagine his life with out her.He did not want to loose the feeling of love she brought him. Jay had a vision of what his life would be like, and Daisy’s part in it all, it could not be any other way. After Daisy comes to a party at his house, Gatsby shares with Nick that Daisy did not like it. Jay wants nothing less of Daisy than that she tell Tom she never loved him, he tells Nick, â€Å"It’s so hard to make her understand†¦ She used to be able to understand. We’d sit for hours† (Fitzgerald 109). Gatsby realizes that Daisy does not see things the same way she did five years earlier.For some reason, he cannot let go of what he used to have with Daisy, and all Jay wants is to go back and start where they left off. Gatsby is plagued with trying to repeat the past, and it motivates many of his actions. On the other hand, there is Daisy. She tries to convince herself that she never loved Tom, but she cannot admit it to Tom because it would be a lie. During Tom and Gatsby’s confrontation, Daisy forces herself to tell Tom that she â€Å"never loved him†, although he makes her question herself further when reminding her of â€Å"that day I [Tom] carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry?† (Fitzgerald 132). This reinforces Daisy’s feelings and she finally tells Gatsby, â€Å"Oh you want too much! I love you know- isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past† (Fitzgerald 132). Psychologically, Daisy feels as though she has wasted time with Tom. She wants to be with Jay but is unable to give him what he wants. Because Daisy loves Gatsby it motivates many of her actions. Even though she attains the notion of never loving Tom, it is not true. 4. Looking through a feminist lens we see Myrtle and Daisy trapped in patriarchal roles. Myrtle’s role as Tom’s mistress keeps her in just that position- Tom’s mistress.Although Tom loves Myrtle very much, and is devastated when she is killed, Daisy is still his wife. When Tom takes Myrtle to their flat in New York she complains, â€Å"Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! † and then with â€Å"a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand† (Fitzgerald 37). Myrtle is stuck in her role as mistress. She tries to make Tom leave Daisy, and he quickly puts her in place. Instead of staying with Tom, as his mistress, Myrtle needs to give him an ultimatum- her or Daisy; however, Tom keeps her in a patriarchal role through intimidation.On the contrary, Daisy feels trapped with Tom, and wishes that she could have been with Gatsby all along. Daisy tries to tell Tom that she is leaving him for Gatsby, and then things escalate. Tom pushes Gatsby to the breaking point and he â€Å"explodes† on Tom. This frightens Daisy much, and Jay tries to talk to Daisy, though â€Å"With every word she was drawing further and further into herself†¦ Her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions, whatever courage she had had, were definitely gone† (Fitzgerald 134-135). Daisy, just like Myrtle is held in a patriarchal role through intimidation.She sees how angry Gatsby gets because of the accusations Tom makes about him, and she retreats to Tom. It is somewhat evident that Tom intimidates Daisy, although the burst of anger from Jay is what ultimately puts her back into her male-controlled role under Tom. Although they are different, Myrtle and Daisy are similar in their patriarchal roles. 5. Looking through a Marxist lens we see the dangers of capitalism- carelessness. Daisy and Tom prove that wealth can make people careless, and self centered. Daisy proves to be self centered, as she seems to care littleabout her child. When Gatsby and Nick come for lunch the maid brings the child into the room, which makes Daisy happy for a while, and then she, â€Å"sat back down on the couch. The nurse took a step forward and held out her hand†¦ the well-disciplined child held out her hand and was pulled out the door† (Fitzgerald 117). Because Daisy has money she can afford a maid to take care of her daughter all the time. She hardly at mentions the child at all throughout the novel, and certainly does not make choices with her daughter in mind.The readers sense a very little relationship between Daisy and her child. Because of Daisy’s wealth she seems to have very little time for anyone but herself, thus proving her negligence. A maid raises her child, brings her around every once in a while, and when Daisy has had her fill, she merely sits back down. Together, Tom and Daisy take two lives. Daisy kills Myrtle while driving Gatsby’s car, and Tom wrongfully pins the murder of Myrtle on Gatsby, urging Wilson to kill Gatsby.Daisy does nothing about Myrtle, and Tom knows he is somewhat responsible for Gatsby’s death, â€Å"So what if I told him [Wilson]† (Fizgerald 178). When Nick runs into Tom in New York, Tom remarks about Gatsby, â€Å"That fellow had it coming to him (Fitzgerald 178). On the day of Gatsby’s funeral, Nick recollects, â€Å"that Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower† (Fitzgerald 174). After all she goes through with Gatsby, and all she puts him through, Daisy does not have the decency to make even the smallest gesture.Nick is able to finally reach to a conclusion about Daisy and Tom, â€Å"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever is was that kept them together, and let other people clean up th e mess that they has made† (Fitzgerald 179). Through a Marxist lens readers are able to see the dangers of capitalism. Excessive wealth, a higher class, is capable of turning people careless and self centered, as Tom and Daisy Buchanan undoubtedly expose.