Passion :: essays research papers

â€Å"Florida State University, here we come!† Fort Lauderdale to Tallahassee, what an excursion! Out and about again†¦blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, out and about once more, that damn melody consistently in my mind when we’re going on a long transport ride. I should make sense of the words in the middle of, however I’m in every case excessively apathetic. Since I consider it, I despite everything have two cases to compose on the off chance that I need banter. Mr. Wakefield would slaughter me in the event that he knew I’m heading off to a gigantic state competition ill-equipped. I’m not stressed, I’ll do it after the first stop†¦I’m tired now at any rate. I’ll simply take a little rest. I woke up due to all the noise†¦we’re at the primary stop. It’s been four hours?! I’m still drained, thus, I set my head back once more. By and by, I woke up in light of the noise†¦we’re at the secon d stop now. I dozed through an additional four hours, I can’t trust it, and I didn’t complete anything! I’m not stressed, I’ll compose my cases after this stop†¦ I’m hungry at any rate. Thus, I ate a lot of bites, tuned in to my Walkman, and returned to the transport. I’m simply going to loosen up this moment; my head harms and my stomach is full. Here we are, Tallahassee, Florida! It’s OK, I’m not stressed, when we have supper and settle in our lodgings, I’ll compose my cases. Thus, we have supper, get our rooms, unload, and now I’m too drained to even think about writing my cases†¦ I’ll compose before the competition tomorrow. The competition is going to begin I still don’t have any cases ready†¦it’s OK; I can compose it before my rounds. I glance over aside and see somebody posting the gathers together. OK, adjusts are going to begin in a short time and I don’t have my cases prepared †OK, presently the time has come to freeze! All things considered, I generally said I work better under pressure†¦obviously, a ton of weight. I plunk down and I’m composing as quick as I can. Goodness, such a large number of ideas†¦my hand can’t keep up! I can smell the smoke originating from the pencil pounding on my notebook. I can hear myself pulling for myself†¦go, go, go, go, Usilia you’re magnificent! OK, it’s time to go to my round, so I plot my butt down close to the entryway and keep composing. At the point when my rival arrives, I tilt my scratch pad so he doesn’t see what I’m composing.

Singapore Essay example -- Politics, Social Control

Would singapore be able to be depicted as far as a Foucauldian ‘disciplinary society’ or a Deleuzian ‘control society’? Deleuze suggested that we are amidst move from Foucault’s ‘society of discipline’ to a ‘society of control’ (1992: 3). Dissimilar to the ‘disciplinary society’ where subjects progress starting with one ‘moulding’ foundation then onto the next (schools, school, production lines, workplaces, and so forth.), a ‘control society’ is exemplified by consistent balance (Wise, 2002: 32). As per Rose, control works by affiliating subjects to an assortment of practices which by configuration urge adherence to specific standards in present day liberal social orders (2000: 325). This is the thing that Deleuze implied by a ‘society of control’. Best accepts we have to embrace the Deleuzian idea of a ‘control society’ to clarify the social orders rising with regards to the expanded reconnaissance and system limit allowed by new ICTs (2010: 9). Then again, Hardt and Negri propose this ‘society of control’ is essentially a 'strengthening and speculation of the normalizing mechanical assemblies of disciplinarity', that presently coming to past the establishments that started them and into fluctuating systems (2000: 23). In like manner, Munro trusts Foucault’s disciplinary instrument need refreshing to align it with the limits of present day advances, not supplanting (2000: 693). It is important to recognize oblivious social control and social control corresponding to the establishment, the last being the arranged administration of a mingled human action (Lianos, 2003: 415). Institutional control is fundamental to the particular exercises, is typically bureaucratic, and 'is part both of the basis and the result of these exercises' (Lianos, 2003: 415). Lianos utilizes the case of... ... Google offers 'free' extra room, alongside different benefits and helpful apparatuses, in return for individual data that it may use to showcase focused on merchandise to its clients (Andrejevic, 2007: 296). Individuals presented their subtleties to Google and Facebook not out of dread or a feeling of obligation, however so they may appreciate the advantages advertised. In spite of the fact that Singaporeans do esteem their security, they are eager to present that protection in return for money related prizes or comfort (Hui et al., 2007: 27). These creators likewise report a developing disgruntlement at the expanding measures of data that sites are requesting. In any case, it was the amount of data mentioned, as opposed to the affectability of the data that had any noteworthy impact on consistence (Hui et al., 2007: 27). This unquestionably lines up with the ‘enticement model’ proposed by Whitaker (1999: 141).

Rugged Individualism

History as we probably am aware has numerous methods of depicting it, with all the authentic occasions that happened in the past it is a consequence of our American framework. As Americans, we live in a place where there is new chances at life and due to that we have the opportunity to live . â€Å"Every individual ought to have the option to help themselves out that would exclude the administration's aid†. This thought was initially presented in Herbert Hoover's discourse when he was leader of the United States. In spite of the fact that this thought alludes back during the Great Depression, Hoover accepted that Americans shouldn't be helped by one way or another by the legislature, monetarily speaking.In my point of view, I consider rough to be regarding any person who isn't being supported from the administration, yet in addition monetarily, however incentively through the brain. As I read along through books that identify with the American Dream, Hoover's concept of tough independence turned out to be progressively noticeable. Correspondingly books like â€Å"Ragged Dick† by Horatio Alger, â€Å"The Great Gatsby† by Scott Fitzgerald and â€Å"A Raison in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry, are tantamount that the possibility of rough independence is as yet being utilized and even through the present society.To outline tough independence through the book Ragged Dick, Alger made a book unveiling the nineteenth century way of life of a poor boot dark. In this book rough independence shows as a result of how Alger portrays the inspiration through his primary character â€Å"Dick†. He was fourteen years youthful and filled in as a ‘bootblack' otherwise known as shoeshiner kid and snoozed messy destroyed garments in the city of New York City. Alger depicted him as any customary kid that carried on with the hard life in the boulevards; he smokes and beverages occasionally.However, Dick would at present practice great deeds and some honorable men would be intrigued that how might a bootblack be so modest and mindful in his work in the avenues of New York. â€Å".. He was above doing anything mean or disreputable. He would not take, or cheat, or force upon more youthful young men, however was blunt and straight-forward, masculine and confident. His tendency was a respectable one, and had spared him from every mean deficiency. † Dick is a genuine case of somebody who I felt that reflected rugged individualism.He was raised without anyone else and never had a very remarkable job mode to turn upward to while growing up. He depended on himself to get clients to get their boots sparkled, he didn't gripe about living in the city or how unsanitary is his garments was from the work that he does. In my perspective, Dick didn't have help from anybody, or didn't anticipate anything from anybody, and on the off chance that he did he would be more than appreciative and brilliant enough to put it in the privileg e ways.In the book, he was dealt with very well by a more established man and his child, and during that time in the book he acted modest as he clarifies that he lives on a cardboard box in the city and didn't generally observe that cleanliness wasn't so essential to him, however what was significant was the manner by which he was going to take care of himself and live later on. Also, when he found an arrangement to show signs of improvement at what he does he utilizes that cash to put something aside for a condo and to put resources into for what's to come. In spite of the fact that riches can bring you satisfaction and achievement throughout everyday life, it can likewise you direct you in an inappropriate places.The primary character of the book by Fitzgerald is Gatsby who is an affluent man. He attempts to utilize his riches to draw in the consideration of a ladies named Daisy. This isn't the correct method of to get somebody to cherish you but on the other hand he's reasoning t hat his cash can bring him accomplishment of satisfaction. He accepts that his cash will cause him to prevail in his endeavor to get Daisy to fall back in adoration with him. He would be known to toss the biggest gatherings each saturday, and his visitor wouldn't realize who is he genuinely and why there's a gathering. Around then in the mid 1920's, each individual in new york city wanted to party.Furthermore Daisy enjoys the extravagant things, the celebrating and everything appears to be so acceptable, yet her heart is as yet dedicated to her significant other. Therefor Gatsby's arrangement was not fruitful in light of the fact that his arrangement wasn't a method of getting love back. Rough independence may not appear to be clear, however it does in a way that Gatsby needed to help from his cash to get his fantasies to materialize didn't work out. For he needed the gatherings to draw her consideration, even his enormous land and large manor couldn't assist him with fulfilling his fantasies with Daisy. Lorraine Hansberry made a book that was about dreams.In the story A Raisin in the Sun, the primary characters each have their own fantasy that they need to satisfy. The Youngers family battle to achieve these fantasies all through the finish of the story. Walter who is the man of the house needs to manage the cost of things for his family and give them a good life to live and not keeping down for his significant other and children. There's Beneatha his sister who needs to be a specialist and their Mama who simply needs to best for their family. Despite the fact that things didn't go as arranged, battles and pressure among Walter and his family even his significant other, things turned into a learning exercise to each one.Mama consistently knew best, and when everything boiled down to one choice, it needed to go Mama's direction. That Walter needed to turn down the proposal of a major check to get them from avoiding living at an all-white neighborhood. This ins tructed Walter that his child, Travis, admires him as the man of the family, and over the long haul, his choices will be thought about his child. He wouldn't need his child to think this is correct. Walter was obstinate all through the book that he simply needed to cash to accommodate his family, another house to live in, pearls to wear on his significant other, and a superior life for his son.But Walter didn't procure that cash, it was only the extra security of his dad and he didn't acquire any of it himself. In this book Walter is the case of tough independence in light of the fact that in spite of the fact that he was difficult to understand that it wasn't right to get that check to not live in an all-white neighborhood. On the off chance that he acknowledged it, the cash coming in wouldn't be on the grounds that he buckled down for it, it would in light of the fact that he needed the white individuals to have their method of keeping their neighborhood an all-white neighborhood. But nobody shouldn't be advised to live a specific zone as a result of their skin shading. So when Walter dismisses the offer, he is additionally tolerating the way that he should work more earnestly to give, and attempt to inspire his family somehow or another. It's superior to inspiring his family in the incorrect manner by tolerating that offer. That protection check was enticing for Walter to acknowledge, yet he didn't and later when his child would develop more seasoned, he would then be able to disclose to him that he has worked for all of that cash that kept his family together.In America today, we despite everything battle with individuals who don't satisfy the possibility of â€Å"rugged individualism†. I trust it isn't generally called by that term, yet individuals know it as the American Dream. Individuals who aren't acquainted with both are the individuals who figure arriving at your lifetime objectives don't require any exertion or any battles. For the individual s who become moguls are aftereffects of difficult work and work that put in to accomplish throughout everyday life. Anything worth having merits battling for, and along the way there should be battles and disappointments, however it is as yet a decision to continue attempting and to not give up.History as we probably am aware has numerous its methods of depicting it, all through all the recorded occasions that happened in the past it is a consequence of our American framework. As Americans, we live in a place where there is new chances at life and due to that we have the opportunity to live. With the three books that i've referenced, they are instances of the having the chance to inspire themselves in their lives. In each book they have reflected to the thought called â€Å"rugged individualism† which was presented by Herbert Hoover when he was leader of the United States.According to Hoover this thought implied that â€Å"any every individual ought to have the option to hel p themselves out that would exclude the administration's aid†. All things being equal, I consider rough to be with regards to any person who isn't being helped from the legislature, yet in addition monetarily, however incentively through the brain. As I read through the three books, each writer had their methods of reflecting rough independence through their characters, and with the battles and choices they made through the books.

Marketing Communications on The Smartphone Market Essay - 1

Showcasing Communications on The Smartphone Market - Essay Example This examination will start with the explanation that incorporated promoting interchanges allude to frameworks used to design correspondences so as to profit a business by dispersing its advertising efforts all the more successfully and in this way reducing its showcasing costs. By coordinating showcasing structures, for example, online networking roads, publicizing, telemarketing, and direct deals, one can bring more consistency and clearness into the message that is focused on buyers. Cell phone organizations are continually looking for an edge in the hyper-serious cell phone advertise by either speeding up or presenting perpetually vigorous application frameworks into their items. Normally, these progressions rouse promoting administrators of cell phone organizations to think of strategic and vital showcasing plans that permit them to have the option to draw in potential shoppers through the diverse versatile stages that are made. Google Inc. made a working framework, Android, tha t quickly gave it an edge in the Smartphone showcase. Its advertising plan has assumed an incredible job in continuing its seriousness. Item Google Inc. utilizes distinctive promoting ideas to showcase the Android-iOS in various locales of the world. Since Google propelled the main Android framework in 2008, the item has stayed in high open interest because of the ordinary expansion of angles, for example, highlights and (applications) which are as often as possible refreshed and empower clients to utilize them. For example, clients with an inclination for contact screens or ‘qwerty’ screens can utilize Android as it has the two applications. Likewise, clients who wish for widescreen presentations can likewise utilize the android framework. Cost - concerning value, Google’s clients can change their spending plans to suit redid android frameworks with their favored highlights. Most by far of android retailers sell the framework for under 100$ with every one of its highlights and advantages included. This is far less expensive than what the frameworks made by Apple and Nokia retail for. Advancement - The android is a notable and profoundly regarded brand. These qualities separate it from different contenders. Moreover, Google has put resources into limited time battles that incorporate utilizing the print media, TV promoting, and the web to arrive at cell phone clients.

Journal Of Business Economics Management -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Examine About The Journal Of Business Economics Management? Answer: Presentation Representative execution and prizes the executives is a procedure of remunerating the workers as far as different advantages, pay and wages to guarantee that the workers are happy with their activity job, give their best foot forward and give greatest profitability. The prize administration framework was presented after the clinicians considered the conduct of the people how the individuals responds to prizes and remunerations and how it persuades them to proceed with their best execution. The clinicians have made certain persuasive hypotheses, which are firmly related with the thoughts of inspirational prize framework. In this report the article identified with Samsung paying compensation to the representatives will be examined, the principle issue of remunerations will be investigated. The subject will likewise be examined relating it with the worker relations challenges, execution the executives, learning and advancement, inspiration and prizes, overseeing assorted variety, and re presentative turnover and maintenance. Having a productive arrangement of remuneration, is necessary with the goal that the representatives come to know in insights regarding their errand sand show the aptitudes to do it, they will have the degree of inspiration required to work and give best execution. The main motivation behind this report is to distinguish the issue identified with execution reward the executives, break down the speculations identified with the theme lastly to give answers for the issue. The Issue Related To Performance and Rewards in the Story The story gave in the article is about the organization Samsung, the organization has paid uncommon reward to their representatives having a place with their versatile division who were genuine in their work (Haider et al., 2015). Regardless of the terrible showing of the organization for that year, they kept the division running and forestalled any pointless incline down in the organization, as Samsung was not doing great in business during the year. Samsung has taken up this activity to spur their representatives during such a difficult time by paying them rewards (Pepper Gore, 2015). As indicated by the expressions of a Samsung official, Samsung will attempt to spur laborers through legitimate remuneration. The choice for greatest rewards to versatile representatives incorporates the organization administrations would like to continue on their given strategic new initiative. The main issue to recognize in this report is to discover the job of remunerations and execution pays and h ow that persuades the representatives, regardless of whether budgetary pay truly inspires the workers to proceeding with their best execution, how is pay identified with representative inspiration (Joshi et al., 2015). The Theories on Compensation or Rewards and the Performance of Employees To comprehend which of the segments of pay are better in viability, the speculations of compensation of representatives are required to be (Caza, McCarter Northcraft, 2015). There are three such speculations of representative pay Reinforcement and Expectancy hypotheses, Equity hypothesis and Agency hypothesis. Fortification Theory As indicated by the Reinforcement hypothesis, the activity of an individual which is compensated or acknowledged will be rehashed again(Malik, Butt Choi, 2015). The impact of pay is that if a worker gives high caliber of work and for that, on the off chance that financial prizes are given to that representative, at that point he/she will be bound to keep delivering such work once more (Lee et al., 2015). Following a similar hypothesis, on the off chance that an excellent presentation isn't trailed by individual remuneration, at that point all things considered, such activity will never be rehashed ever again (Terera Ngirande, 2014). The hypothesis underlines the significance of an individual really encountering the prize. Anticipation Theory Like the Reinforcement hypothesis, Expectancy hypothesis propounded by Victor H. Vroom a teacher in Yale School of Management, centers around the association between remunerations or prizes and behavior(Hameed, Ramzan Zubair, 2014). As indicated by the Expectancy hypothesis, inspiration is the result of valence, help and individual hope. The frameworks of compensation can fluctuate when these persuasive segments will be affected. Valence of pay and its results continue as before inside various compensation frameworks. The Expectancy hypothesis manages the structure of work and preparing instead of pay system. Value Theory As per Equity hypothesis, the worker who encounters disparity or injustice in his/her remuneration consistently tries to get equity(Kala, 2015). The hypothesis proposes balance in the compensation system of the workers. The treatment of the representatives by their organizations holds most extreme significance to them. The explanation which says a reasonable day work for reasonable day pay realizes a feeling of value among the representatives. At the point when workers experience imbalance then it can bring about diminishing in efficiency, high number of truants or reduction in income of the organization. Office Theory The office hypothesis accentuates on the different objectives and points of the partners gracious an association and the manners by which compensation of a worker can be changed to suit those objectives. In a specialty unit, the two partners are the workers and the businesses, representatives take upon the job of principals and the workers assume the job of operators (Aslam et al., 2015). It is characteristic that the representatives expect high organization costs while the businesses try to limit it. As per the office hypothesis the business or the rule must pick a contracting plan that can alter the interests of the workers or the operators with the interests of the business. These understandings can be designated either conduct arranged (for example merit pay) or result situated (for example investment opportunity plans, benefit sharing, and commission) At the essential sight, result situated agreements seem, by all accounts, to be the most ideal plan. The advantages delighted in by the workers increment with the expansion in the benefits of the organization, and simultaneously the prizes decline if the business experience loss of income. The Different Types of Rewards Prizes are required in the associations and they assume a colossal job in rousing the workers (Howard,Turban Hurley, 2016). They effectively achieve higher hierarchical objectives, help in making sure about better nature of workers and to expand their yearly income. The premier target is to fabricate people's excitement to work in one's association, to redesign their proficiency. There are two sorts of prizes: Extraneous prizes: strong measure of remunerations that the workers get. Rewards: By and enormous reliably, Bonuses instigates the workers to place in all undertakings and attempts amidst the year to accomplish in excess of a good evaluation that develops the probability of acquiring a few compensation as specific aggregate (De Gieter Hofmans, 2015). The plans identified with rewards varies inside associations; while a portion of the associations guarantee fixed measure of rewards, then again different associations pay rewards to their representatives based on their presentation consistently, this procedure rather expands the odds of predispositions to happen and that may at last lead to worker disappointment and loss of efficiency. In this manner, supervisors must be mindful so as to stay fair. Compensation raise: The representatives accomplish this sort of remunerations following a time of difficult work, and this raise propels the representatives to increase new aptitudes and improve their exhibition. The raise in pay brings about the drawn out activity fulfillment of the representatives. In these, sort of circumstances identified with pay raise the administrators ought to stay fair and judge the representatives just as indicated by their presentation and there ought not be any segregation among the workers. Blessings: These kinds of remunerations are a momentary based gratefulness technique. On a very basic level introduced as a token of appreciation for an accomplishment or getting an affiliations required objective (Clot et al., 2015). Any representative would hold this sort of remuneration in high respects and they would pick up trust in their work. This sort of remuneration guarantees the representative that his/her way id the right one and subsequently they attempt to keep doing awesome future too. Advancement: This is very like the pay raise mechanism of remuneration. Advancements will in general make a drawn out fulfillment in the brains of the representatives (Al-Emadi, Schwabenland Wei, 2015). This is finished by permitting a worker to ascend to a higher assignment and by giving a higher title; this will obviously accompany an expansion in the duties and responsibility. The enthusiasm of the worker is expanded in this kind of remuneration as they accept that the executives will pick the individuals who will demonstrate to suit the assignments best. In this sort of remunerations too the individuals who are in the administration ought to be mindful so as to pick the competitors dependent on their benefits as it were. Inherent prizes: these kinds of remunerations will in general give certain degrees of individual fulfillment to the workers. Data/input: This is a huge kind of remuneration which is trailed by the viable directors as it holds enormous significance to the worker just as for the administration. Criticisms offer direction to the workers whether in a positive way or in a negative way. This procedure simultaneously make a bond and furthermore increases the value of the administration and worker relationship. Acknowledgment: Recognition can be clarified as the verbal type of appreciation. This sort of remuneration might be given to the individual worker through proper gatherings or under casual conditions. Trust/strengthening: In the social orders or in any associations, trust is an indispensable prerequisite between two people or between a representative and the association. Trust is significant so as to finish the undertakings effectively, this prompts increment in responsibility and aides in winning the certainty of the administration, a

MIT Undergraduates by Major

MIT Undergraduates by Major source: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/stats/yrpts/index.html (fall 09-10). O is undeclared sophomores. Forgot to list CMS though (16 students). =/ Hahaha its actually a pretty hard to read graph, but its sequential by major number starting from the top and going clockwise. Taken from here: Sometimes, it seems like MIT people only speak in numbers. Youll hear sentences like I have 6.001 in 10-250 at 2:30, then my Course 9 UROP in Building 46. This is part of MIT-speak. Heres a primer. Each of MITs majors known as Courses, with a capital C is known by a number (sometimes given in Roman numerals). These numbers are in approximate order of the founding of MITs course in that area. For example, Courses 1 through 5 represent MITs original five majors: Course 1: Civil Environmental Engineering (founded as Civil Topographical Engineering) Course 2: Mechanical Engineering Course 3: Materials Science Engineering (founded as Geology and Mining; Geology is now a part of Course 12, Earth, Atmospheric Planetary Sciences) Course 4: Architecture (founded as Building and Architecture) Course 5: Chemistry (founded as Practical Chemistry) A full list of the Courses can be found here. Each class or course, with a lower-case c in each department also is designated by a number. Hence, the introductory calculus class in Mathematics Course 18 is known as 18.01. Similarly, an advanced astrophysics course in the Physics department Course 8 is called 8.971. Heres how the course numbers evolved. More on each major: Class of 2013 Major Advising Site Heres what all the numbers stand for! Course 1 Civil and Environmental Engineering Course 2 Mechanical Engineering Course 3 Material Science and Engineering Course 4 Architecture Course 5 Chemistry Course 6 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Course 7 Biology Course 8 Physics Course 9 Brain and Cognitive Sciences Course 10 Chemical Engineering Course 11 Urban Studies and Planning Course 12 Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Course 14 Economics Course 15 Sloan School of Management Course 16 Aeronautics and Astronautics Course 17 Political Science Course 18 Mathematics Course 20 Biological Engineering Course 21A Anthropology Course 21F Foreign Language and Literatures Course 21H History Course 21L Literature Course 21M Music Course 21W Writing and Humanistic Studies Course 22 Nuclear Science and Engineering Course 24 Linguistics and Philosophy CMS Comparative Media Studies STS Science, Technology, and Society WGS Womens and Gender Studies If you find yourself bored at home with nothing to do this break, LEARN MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS! If you dont know by now (and you should know), MIT has this really awesome site called OpenCourseWare, where MIT posts the course material for A HECKLOAD of its courses for students all over the world to self-study (and also serves as a great repository of past exams for us students who are taking the live lecture version of the subject during the term). Over the years, theyve been filming live lectures and putting them online, which is super cool because theyre the exact same lectures that we had here! (be sure to also check out 8.01 with the globally acclaimed Professor Lewin) During my freshman year, I took 18.02 (a requirement here for all students Multivariable Calc) with Professor Denis Auroux, who is a simply outstanding professor. I was actually IN THE SAME CLASS as this set of video lectures from Fall 2007! Sadly, Professor Auroux is on leave at UC Berkeley now, and the froshies this year didnt get to have him for 18.02, but his lectures are nothing short of legendary (how many classes have YOU been in where students gave standing ovations during the last lecture?! see the last lecture of the series). For other Auroux related fame, just youtube A Lovely Phone Call or facebook and youtube Auroux. :P I wont be blogging again till 2010, so a very happy new year to everyone! ^______^V

The Motivation of Materialism - Literature Essay Samples

Since the advent of bartering, materialism has been a prime concern for human beings. Inherent in our human nature is the desire to improve ourselves. This originates as an individualist need for improvement. The only way the individual can measure their standard of living is through comparison with others. This inspires competition in human beings as each person attempts to accrue as much wealth as they possibly can. Over the years, what determines wealth has varied, but its effect has always remained the same; wealth secures the social well being of an individual and that of their progeny. In Homers Iliad human materialism is conveyed beautifully, but it is also contradicted by the actions of Achilles and Priam towards the end of the poem. This contradiction only serves to reinforce the predominance of human materialism, as it is a byproduct of the extreme circumstances that both Achilles and Priam must endure.The first confrontation with human materialism occurs at the very o utset of the poem. During the argument between Achilles and Agamemnon, the question of capital is consistently coming into question as an important part of the debate process. Achilles is angry at Agamemnon for being villainous in his greed: my arms bear the brunt of the raw, savage fighting, true, but when it comes to dividing up the plunder the lions share is yours, and back I go to my ships, clutching some scrap, some pittance (p.83). Achilles feels that Agamemnon is stripping all his labor and becomes furious about it. The two both debate with each other as to who is truly the greatest of the Achaens and this question of materialism constantly looms overhead and presents itself as a possible determinant to their question.Even the gods use materialism as a form of intervention. When Diomedes and Glaucus trade armor as a signal of friendship, it is explained that Zeus, stole Glaucus wits away. He traded his gold armor for bronze with Diomedes, the worth of a hundred oxen just for nine (p.203). This shows that human materialism skews even an attempt at friendship. Diomedes undermines his effort through his greed and treachery which is characteristic of almost all the humans in this poem. Also it is interesting that the importance of this trade is contingent on the value of the armor in material terms, but not in terms of how well the armor provides protection. A more solid example of the use of materialism with the deities is the offering system. The gods consistently desire offerings from humans and humans find it an easy way to curry favor. Zeus exemplifies this in his lament over the death of Hector I loved him, at least: he never stinted with gifts to please my heart (p.590).In this poem, women are often used as material objects as well. The whole war was started over a social well being fight between Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite where Paris agreed to choose Aphrodite over the other two in exchange for Helen who is seen as a commodity. Also, whe n Paris is considering bartering with Menelaus to call off the war, he tries to equate Helen with material goods that he expects Menelaus to accept in lieu of her; however, Helen is worth more to him than Paris could ever offer. If he was willing to start a war for her, then the only logical conclusion is that she is the only compensation he would be willing to accept.Later on when Agamemnon is trying to convince Achilles to come back and fight for him, in addition to massive amounts of treasure, Agamemnon adds Briseis, the girl Achilles loves to the list of rewards. She is considered just another token who is described as a prize by both Achilles and Agamemnon. Achilles says, I loved that woman with all my heart, though I won her like a trophy with my spear (p.263). But by that point, even his reported love for her is insignificant next to the ongoing rivalry of relative well being between Agamemnon and Achilles. By this point it is far more important that he remains better t han Agamemnon which is the true value of the material wealth. Agamemnon too is not ready to give up his presumption of being the greater man (p.256). Even though he humbles himself to the point of asking Achilles to come back and offers him great military compensation, he still wants Achilles to submit to his will and accept Agamemnon as a superior man.Although Achilles refusal of Agamemnons offer appears to point towards Achilles disregard for material wealth, this is not the case for two reasons. Firstly there is the explanation that materialism needs to translate into social welfare. By not returning, Achilles retains his position of superiority whereas by making this offer, Agamemnon has humbled himself. Secondly, Achilles knows from his mother that if he returns to aid the Argives that he will die. Therefore, even material wealth is no incentive to return to battle, as he will never have the opportunity to reap the benefits from it. The only consideration for him now is w hether a long undistinguished life or a short glorious life would grant him the greatest utility in life.It is not until the death of his beloved Patroclus that Achilles returns to battle. Upon his return, Agamemnon attempts to provide Achilles with all the material wealth, but at this point, Achilles no longer cares for it. The death of Patroclus is worse to Achilles than his own death. Since now he is beyond death, the importance of things such as material gain are now nonexistent. For this reason Achilles refuses all the things that Agamemnon tries to provide for him. Agamemnon is taken aback by Achilles refusal and perhaps believes that this is a continuation of the epic battle between them. For that reason he insists that Achilles accept the gifts that had been promised him. But at this point Achilles is beyond caring about even the things, which mattered to him most previously. Achilles refuses to accept any form of sustenance until he has adequately avenged Patroclus. This further acts to separate Achilles from humanity. Even his love for Briseis, the main source of conflict between him and Agamemnon, is now not even a trifle in comparison to his emotion for the martyred Patroclus.After Patroclus is avenged through the death of Hector, Achilles holds funeral games in honor of Patroclus. These games all show the elite of the Argive warriors competing with one another for material goods which Achilles provides. Amongst these goods are oxen and women. Again women are just seen as material gains. It is interesting that during these games, Achilles rewards Antilochus with an extra half a bar of gold for flattery; Antilochus, how can I let your praise go unrewarded? (p.584). It is unclear whether Achilles does this because he cares nothing for the gold and he remembers that Antilochus does, or whether the flattery somewhat reminds him of his humanity and brings him some sense of satisfaction in this time after his rage has been somewhat satiate d. At the end of these games, Achilles cajoles Agamemnon into accepting an inferior prize by using his pride, Atrides well we know how far you excel us allTake first prize and return to your hollow ships while we award this spear to the fighter Meriones (p.587). Agamemnon is tricked into accepting a lesser material gain. Achilles is essentially taking advantage of Agamemnons humanity by sacrificing the very same material gains that used to be so important to him.Zeus, apparently still not understanding the transformation Achilles has gone through, wants to send someone bearing gifts to Achilles, gifts to melt his rage (p.592). Since by this point he has moved past rage and into sorrow, he is willing to accept the terms, but only since Zeus insists. Priam, Hectors father, brings a priceless ransom to Achilles in return for the body, but this is more of a representation of how much Hector is worth to him rather than how much Achilles wants for the body. The fact that Priam had n ot allowed sustenance to enter his body until he had received the body of Hector is reminiscent of Achilles after the death of Patroclus. Perhaps Achilles allowed the return of Hector, since he understood that Priam had exited humanity as he had and that only the return of Hector would satisfy his sorrow. Achilles tries to reconcile returning the body of Hector with the spirit of Patroclus and of himself. Since he cannot bring himself to admit that he returned the body based on his empathy with Priam, he tries to rationalize his action through material grounds: Feel no anger at me, Patroclus, if you learnI let his father have Prince Hector back. He gave me worthy ransom and you shall have your share from me (p.607). Achilles says this even though he truly knows that the ransom is physically inconsequential for Patroclus, and mentally inconsequential for himself.Materialism is a predominant theme in the Iliad. Its significance is best understood when united with its purpose. T he importance of materialism is that greater material wealth implies greater social standing which is the ultimate goal. All the characters, even the deities, are subject to this overwhelming lust for materialism. The only exceptions to this come at the end with Achilles and Priam. Achilles is forced to endure the death of the person he loved more than life itself. This causes him to lose his humanity making material gains insignificant. Achilles is ultimately unable to resolve his emotions and only capable of calming his rage. Priam is merely a repetition of the scenario that developed around Achilles, except that Priam is unable to use his rage in the same manner that Achilles does. Priam is willing to offer whatever ransom Achilles desires, since his most important son is dead, and thus his material worth is no longer important. The exceptions of Achilles and Priam occur under extraordinary circumstances making the importance of human materialism all the more exciting. A ll the other humans, who have not suffered such heart wrenching agony, are all still very materialistically driven. With Achilles, the story is much more compelling since he initially is very interested in his own social welfare, but later finds himself staring death in the face and welcoming it when it comes. At the end of the poem, Achilles once again sleeps with Briseis. This signifies that he is rehabilitating himself and trying to return to his humanity. Furthermore, he accepts the ransom which is a step towards materialism, even if the value of the ransom is inconsequential to him presently. The beautiful irony is that his efforts to return to humanity will be in vain as he will soon be killed.