Larkins poems Essays

Larkins poems Essays Larkins poems Essay Larkins poems Essay What makes an effective poem? As this is a rather ambiguous question, I think it is important to first clarify what I think makes an effective poem. The most obvious aspect of a poem that makes it effective is language, imagery and some sort of rhythm. However, this does not make a poem complete. For someone like myself who does not appreciate poetry much unless it evokes some sort of emotion in me, would definitely think that it is emotions, which are integral in making poems successfully effective. Another aspect of a poem, which makes it powerful, is its ability to revive the readers imagination and amuse them.A good poem makes you feel like youve been there before, takes you back to a feeling you have had before, a situation in your life that you have experienced or want to experience. Larkins poems are known to be depressing but to what extent are they depressing, is this a negative trait and does it stop them from being effective? To explore this idea I will look closely at two of Larkins poems, Ambulances and A study of reading habits to discuss the techniques and ideas Larkin uses which make his poems depressing and effective.I chose to explore A study of reading habits because I think it is one of Larkins poems, which amuses me the most. Larkin uses rather colloquial language in his poems, which immediately involves the person reading it. He does this from the very beginning of the poem getting my nose into a book and Had ripping times. This technique interests the read er and familiarises them with the situation, which is effective in that it is easy to read if we can relate to the poet. In this poem Larkin is talking about a topic, which most people reading his poem would most definitely be able to identify with reading.It is quite a lighthearted poem and this is due to the fact that Larkin is talking about the familiar storylines of the novels he has read which usually include well-known cheesy fiction with characters like the dude/ Who lets the girl down before/ The hero arrives and the chap/ Whos yellow and keeps the store. Larkin is saying how after all his reading hes just one of those pitiable characters and not the Evil, exciting character with the cloak and fangs. This is quite amusing because we can relate to this.Aspiring to be the heroes and exciting, popular, attractive characters is something most readers have in common. The second stanza in particular is exciting to read as it depicts a dream created from the books he reads, that p eople have to be the evil powerful villain. On the other hand the poem could be viewed in quite a sinister and perhaps a depressing way. The image of the ripping times in the dark, clubbing women with sex, and breaking them up like meringues portrays an image of his reading making him aspire towards sexual violence which gives a negative, fearful feeling to the reader.The two characters he mentions to be familiar with are the chap Whos yellow and the dude who lets the girl down, and not the exciting villains or heroes which is depressing in the fact that he has realised that his role in the world is like that of these boring, failures. At the end of the poem he seems to scorn the books because of his bitter, painful realisation that he cant be one of the characters in his fantasies when he concludes, Get stewed:/ Books are a load of crap Contrastingly and on a more amusing note, this final line could also be amusing in that it is quite ironic for a poet to say that Books are a load of crap.The slang use of words, make him seem fed-up like a common person who finds something he reads difficult to comprehend. Ambulances is rather contrasting to A study of reading habits in both its content and effect. The poems central theme is that of death. Larkin again involves the reader, firstly by talking about a subject universally linked with every person and in the first stanza says that ambulances come to rest at any kerb/ All streets in time are visited It paints some rather morbid images to create the scene of a dead person being carried out of their home.Larkin describes the ambulance as being Closed, giving the sense of a coffin, untouchable and cannot be entered by choice but only with the invitation of death. It is also compared with confessionals, which gives a death of something sacred and very private. The ambulance drives into a street, which contrasts to itself, having children about and the image of mothers walking up and down. The different dinners, paint s an effective image of all the different lives progressing in each of the different houses on the street.Putting the dead body in this environment is effective in that it includes all readers into the situation, as all people have experienced death around them. Larkin mentions the wild white face which is particularly moving as it contrasts with the richness of the Red stretcher-blankets and the colours that could be imagined to be associated with the children. Larkin morbidly emphasises our dehumanisation after we die as the body is depicted as a lifeless object to be stared at with no power, comparing the body to luggage carried in and stowed.Theres a rather sinister feeling created by this imagery, it makes the reader quite sad that this is what life amounts to in the end, and that everything that we worry about is pointless. The third stanza of this poem is particularly depressing as Larkin comes to a sort of realisation of the emptiness in the lives we live, in all we do, the things that matter so much to us in our lives today, are in effect empty, as the time comes closer for the ambulance to come and carry us away.The idea of death is present in a lot of Larkins poetry and I think this is effective as he is showing us that the one thing that we avoid and mask with unimportant fancies is just a part of life and a part of the vital cycle that keeps life going. Another aspect of Larkins poems that make them interesting is that they criticise many human activities and behaviour like in faith healing where Larkin looks at the extent to which people go to feel a kind of love or hope, talking of their responses to the healing as universal and fake.The prime example of this I can think of is his poem, The Whitsun Weddings, which shows several people going through the same process of getting married, believing that it is something individual and special, when in fact every wedding is the same. It shows that peoples lives are all a train journey, going the sam e route and then ending at the same point. To conclude I dont agree with the statement that Larkins poetry is too depressing to be effective as I think that it is its morbidity which makes it so successful.A poem, which can evoke strong emotions in the reader, is effective, and Larkin shows that he is capable of doing so. He uses images and language to create saddening and sometimes revolting images, being open about the imperfections of life. One of the aspects of his poetry that people find depressing is his theme of death, which he includes so openly and effectively, making us think about the absurdity of our actions that try to cover up the acknowledgment of out eventual end and showing us that death is a part of our everyday lives.

45 Synonyms for Food

45 Synonyms for Food 45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food† 45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food† By Mark Nichol Food means â€Å"a substance we eat for nutritional and/or gustatory purposes,† but that word is bland. For a tastier experience, use one of its synonyms listed below to convey the connotation you desire your readers to digest: 1. Aliment: food as nourishment 2. Bite: a bite’s worth of food, but also a small amount of food, such as a snack, or a casual reference to a larger amount 3. Board: the food laid out on a table, from the association of board with table; also denotes the part of the housing arrangement known as room and board, where room refers to lodging and board to meals 4. Bread: a synecdochic reference to food (synecdoche is a rhetorical device in which a part stands for a whole, as in â€Å"All hands on deck† for â€Å"All sailors on deck†) 5. Chow: food (slang); also a verb, as in â€Å"Chow down† 6. Comestible: food (formal or mock-formal); also a synonym for the adjective edible 7. Comfort food: food that satisfies nostalgic yearnings for traditionally prepared meals 8. Cooking: food, especially as specifically prepared, as in â€Å"I like her cooking† 9. Cuisine: food prepared in a specific fashion, as according to cultural tradition, or the manner or style of cooking 10. Diet: the particular combination of food for a person, group, or society, or a combination of food specified for or by a person for health reasons and/or weight loss; also a verb referring to the process of improving or maintaining health and/or losing weight 11. Dish: a preparation of food served in a single container as part of a meal; also, a container or piece of dinnerware for cooking, serving, or eating food, or an attractive person, or a verb meaning â€Å"to gossip† 12. Eatable: food; also a synonym for edible 13. Eats: food, especially convenient or simple food (slang) 14. Entrà ©e: the main course of a meal 15. Fare: food, in the sense of what is available or what is traditionally eaten 16. Fast food: food prepared rapidly, especially in restaurants that serve food quickly and at a high volume; also, used as an adjective in this sense or in that of something produced with little regard for quality 17. Feed: food for livestock; also used to describe an informal fund-raising event such as a crab feed in which a featured food is served with other dishes 18. Fodder: see feed; also refers to material in general that is readily available for use or consumption (â€Å"cannon fodder†) 19. Foodstuff: something used as food, especially as a raw ingredient in a food product 20. Goodies: edible treats 21. Groceries: food purchased at a store 22. Grub: see eats 23. Handout: food given free for charitable purposes 24. Home cooking: food prepared at home in a traditional manner, with the nostalgic connotation of comfort and familiarity 25. Larder: a supply of food, from the synonym for pantry 26. Meal: the food served at a particular sitting 27. Meat: see bread, or food consisting of the flesh of an animal other than a fish 28. Menu: the food served during a meal, or a list of food to be served; also, any list of offerings or choices 29. Mess: a meal served to a group of people who routinely eat together, as a ship’s crew; also, that group of people or the location where they eat, or a certain amount of food 30. Nourishment: food in the sense of something that satisfies the need to eat; also, the act or state of nourishing or being nourished, or something other than food that provides a corollary benefit 31. Nutriment: something that satisfies the need for nutrition 32. Pabulum: food prepared in a semiliquid state for ease of eating and/or digestion; also, communication of minimal value or sophistication thought to be acceptable to lowest-common-denominator consumers, or, rarely, communication thought to be intellectually stimulating 33. Provender: see feed, or food in general 34. Provisions: a supply of food made available for specific use, as by an expedition 35. Ration: a supply of food made available for a specific person, as a member of a military unit, or, in plural form, such food in general; also, a supply of another commodity as dictated by availability 36. Refreshment: a snack or small meal intended to sustain until the next meal 37. Slop: low-quality food, or leftovers given to livestock; also, garbage, excrement, or slush, or effusive communication 38. Store: see larder 39. Subsistence: the minimum amount of food necessary for survival; also, the equivalent in nonedible commodities 40. Sustenance: see aliment 41. Table: see meal and larder 42. Take-out: food obtained from a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere 43. Viand: see dish, or a piece or item of food, especially a particularly delicious one, and, in plural form, see provisions 44. Victuals: food, or see provisions; as victual, a verb synonymous with provision in the sense of supplying with provisions 45. Vittles: food (a dialectical spelling of victuals) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Mostly Small But Expressive InterjectionsThe Writing ProcessAdvance vs. Advanced

Contract law examination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Contract law examination - Essay Example However, if the offeree asks for further details about the offer, the offer is not rejected and is still effective as seen in Stevenson v McLean. If the offeror makes the offer again, then the offeree can accept it. An offer also ceases to be effective when the offeree makes a counter offer to the original offeror. In Hyde v Wrench, it was held that a counter offer rejects the original offer. The offeror is not bound to accept a counter offer. However, if he accepts the counter offer, a fresh agreement is formed without any regard to the original offer. iii. Failure to fulfill a condition precedent to acceptance also terminates an offer. If the offeror has specified a definite mode of communication of acceptance which is not followed by the offeree, the offer ceases to be effective. In Manchester Diocesan Council of Education v. Commercial and General Investments Ltd, the courts ruled that an offer ceases to effective if the specified mode of communication of acceptance is not followed. An offeror has a right to revoke his offer at any time before its acceptance. For an offer and acceptance to be valid, effective communication is of paramount importance. An acceptance is not effective if it is not communicated to the offeror. In the given case, Ali sent a letter of acceptance of Yasmin’s offer to her but addressed it wrongly. Until the letter reaches Yasmin, Ali’s acceptance would not be effective as the acceptance would not have been communicated to Yasmin. Therefore, as long as the letter is in transit, Yasmin has a right to revoke her offer. The communication of revocation of offer is also very important. In this case, Yasmin notified Ali’s friend that she had revoked her offer. Assuming that Ali’s friend is a reliable third party, by the application of Dickinson v Dodds, Yasmin’s notice of revocation would be deemed to be sufficient and effective. After her revocation, she would not be bound to perform her promise when the let ter

Principles of the Effective Marketing Services in the US Essay

Principles of the Effective Marketing Services in the US - Essay Example Marketing team aids the management to identify and fill the gaps in various steps, improve organizational strengths, and work on the weakness to eliminate them thereby positioning us to take a real advantage of opportunities and equip Medi-stim with the methods to defend against potential risks. Effective marketing services will add to Medi-stim’s success by inducing better returns for the hospitals, growing the client base, expanding the market share in the Americas and increase the hospital/patient satisfaction rates all of them would turn out to have a positive impact on bottom-line of Medi-stim USA’s revenue. In a nutshell, the need is for a brilliant team which can foster new ideas based on the market condition, steer a constructive debate with the management to facilitate the sale and lastly invokes inclusive actions from the management to facilitate all-round growth in market share. The Return on Investment in $, the network and also goodwill is discussed in this report. Numbers derived in this report are hypothetically forecasted based on q4 2009 results. Medi-stim is a 30 MNOK company which has marked its presence in the field of cardiovascular surgery with its intra-operative quality control equipment. The company has made its presence felt in Europe with divisions in Norway and Germany, in Asia and in the Americas with sales operation headed from Minneapolis. Americas are its second largest market with around 20% of the total sales. This paper gives a thought into the need of a marketing team to aid the sales team in the USA. Various reasons supporting the school of thought is put forward with appropriate example. The paper closes with a recommendation to the board of directors of Medi-stim to have a high-quality marketing team and initiate the process for further study.

Lotus Car Rental Alternative Fuel Assessment Essay Example for Free

Lotus Car Rental Alternative Fuel Assessment Essay Introduction The creation of a fleet of alternative fuel sourced automobiles would be a wise decision for the Lotus Car Rental Company. There are two major issues that are on the minds of people these days, the environment and money. By creating a fleet of alternative fuel based automobiles the Lotus Rental Care Company can help ease the fears of people in both categories. By having the ingenuity to have a fleet of alternative fuel automobiles; the Lotus Car Rental will set themselves apart from the rest of the rental car companies. Lotus Car Care will be the leaders in environmentally safe car rentals. The following research paper will discuss the background of this topic, the costs of working with alternative fuel automobiles, the technical aspects of alternative fuel, the environmental aspects of alternative fuel as well as discuss some recommendations for the Lotus Car Rental Company. Background The Lotus Car Rental Company is looking into adding a fleet of alternative fuel sourced vehicles to their supply. Alternative fuel sourced vehicles are classified as being resources other than petroleum. A few of these sources are produced here locally and some are derived from renewable sources. They often produce less pollution than does gasoline. (Alternative Fuel Vehicles, 2012). Hybrids are also considered to be an alternative sourced vehicle. A Hybrid vehicle is one that utilizes more than one form of onboard energy to achieve propulsion (Edmunds.com, 2009). Financial Feasibility Several factors influence the financial feasibility of adding alternative fuel vehicles to the fleet: vehicle cost, maintenance, advertising, and return on investment. Additional considerations include: market share, future growth, and implementation cost. The first consideration is the cost of adding hybrid vehicles to fleet inventory. Individual vehicle cost ranges from $23,000 to $37,000 and the models available include Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta, Lincoln MKZ, and Lexus ES300H (Almeida, 2009). Fleet costs would be less depending on number of units purchased and vehicle upgrades. Lotus Rental Car’s rentals fall into three categories: economy, mid-size, and luxury. Based on a cursory review of Lotus Rental Car’s primary income producers, the number of hybrid vehicles added should fall within the three to five percent range for each category. The initial outlay should equal or be less than the number of vehicles within each specific category that will be retired within the purchase year. For instance, if ten percent of economy vehicles will be retired then five percent of the new vehicles purchased will be hybrid. By timing the introduction of the new hybrid vehicles with inventory retirement the initial cost outlay will be mitigated. The anticipated maintenance costs will be similar to the previous year’s cost and no change is expected. Income from vehicles retired is expected to equal the same percentage as non-hybrid automobiles and will not constitute a negative financial impact. Advertising is a major consideration, although the cost is not expected to increase. Target markets will be in major cities where Lotus Rental Car’s already has a large presence. Urban centers with environmentally conscious drivers are the best place to begin a new hybrid product line. Adding information regarding the new line to existing websites provides maximum exposure with minimal cost. Other markets include environmentally conscious corporate businesses that already have a corporate account with Lotus. Market share and future growth is connected to advertising and return on investment. The implementation costs are minimal. The monthly return on investment is tied to advertising, environmental activity, and rental cost. Advertising includes national campaigns and local markets. The rental market incorporates online sales and local customers. The majority of travelers will book a rental vehicle prior to arriving at the rental company. Pricing will play an important factor in a rental commitment. Up-sale will increase income potential. Economy vehicles rentals begin at $9.99 and increase, depending on the current sales program. The cost may decrease, depending on the number of days booked, special pricing, and additional sale of navigation, XM radio, and infant seats. However, the average rental price for an economy vehicle is $29.99 per day and hybrid vehicles rent from $65.99 to $159 per day. The return on investment per day would range from $35 to $129. It is clear the automotive industry is offering a variety of hybrid vehicles in response to customer demand. The future of the automotive industry includes alternative fuel vehicles of all models. As the automotive industry embraces hybrid sales that increase their market share, so should the vehicle rental industry. Entry into a new product line will have higher costs than non-alternative vehicles until the product becomes well immersed into the market. In the case of hybrid vehicles it is prudent that Lotus Rental Car adds hybrid vehicles to their urban centers and joins the environmental movement along with major vehicle manufacturers. It is clear that as time passes, a portion of new business will gravitate toward rental car companies that offer alternative fuel vehicles. Lotus Rental Car company will lose future market share and the expense of entering the hybrid market will increase if Lotus Rental Car company enters the market after its competitors (Schueneman, 2009). Technical Aspects One of the many advantages of owning a hybrid vehicle is saving money at the pump. Unlike your standard gas running car, this on average would do about 21 mpg highway and city driving. Hybrids on average are doing 30 mpg highway and city. An article written on nationalgeographic.com it shows the actual fuel saving over a year span â€Å"The average American driver between the ages of 34 and 55 drives 15,291 miles annually. Divide this annual mileage figure by 21 miles to the gallon for the standard model, and you will find that you would buy about 728 gallons of gasoline a year. In contrast, if you divide the annual miles figure by 30 for the hybrid, you would determine that the annual gas purchase would be of about 510 gallons. You would save 218 gallons of gas a year with the hybrid. Multiply this by a conservative $3.50 a gallon for a dollar savings of $763. By selecting the hybrid over the standard model, you would make up for the $5,560 difference in sticker price in seven to eight years. Subtract the maximum tax incentive and you could recoup the $2,160 difference in less than three years. Thus, in this example, you would save money either by paying full price and driving your hybrid for more than eight years, or by driving it for more than three years with a tax credit.†(Nationalgeographic.com by Lynne Haley Rose). So although the price tag is little higher on hybrids you will easily make your money back in the gas savings. Most people may think,† Yeah, you save on gas, but don’t get the as much horsepower when you purchase a hybrid vehicle.† The idea of combining electric and gas does seem to leave much room for speed and maneuverability. This assumption is not true; yes hybrids do have smaller gas engines, but they make it up with their electric engine. Coupled with the gas engine, the electric engine can send power to various parts of the car, mainly the wheels. This is a very good advantage over standard horsepower, because it could actually supply more power to the car; which increases its speed. With all this talk about horsepower and speed, we begin to think about maintaining a hybrid car. Once again, just because it’s a hybrid doesn’t mean it’s more expensive. Most of the basic normal maintenance requirements like oil changes and tune ups cost about the same as standard cars. They even have their own perks. A standard car requires an oil change every 3,000 miles; whereas hybrids are every 6,000 miles. One of the most expensive items on a hybrid is the car’s battery; which can run you up to 3,000 dollars. Don’t let this number scare you, because these batteries have no real recorded life expectancy â€Å"a long time† is what I kept seeing in my research. As said in (8 Reasons to Buy a Hybrid Car) â€Å"Theres no difference between a hybrid and the gas-powered car parked in your garage — it can accelerate just as quickly and cruise just as fast on the highway, and it handles just as smoothly. Most important, hybrids are just as safe to drive.† (By Alan Rider Parents.com). Hybrids have come a long way since the first Prius 10 years ago. They’ve excelled in mpg, horsepower and style. There are a number of hybrids out there now and many styles to choose from in the standard and luxury lines. As far a comfortable ride, hybrids and standard cars are the same. Now, of course, if you go out and get a Lexus hybrid you’re going to have more luxuries than if you purchased a Toyota hybrid. Most cars you get know have all of the technical capabilities available and if they don’t they can be added. Technology will not stop growing and with that so will the new age of hybrids. Environmental Aspects Petroleum based fuels can create harmful emissions like carbon dioxide; nitrous oxides, and particulate matter, all of which degrade the environment (â€Å"5 things you need to know about alternative fuel vehicles,† 2008). These methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other gasses are known as greenhouse gases. When these gasses build up they contribute to global warming. HybridCar.org claims that Hybrid vehicles produce 80 percent less greenhouse gases than conventional fuel based vehicles (Hybrid Cars And Pollution, 2005). Toxicity is another problem with petroleum fuel based vehicles. The producing of some forms of alternative fuels can create fewer toxins than those produced by traditional fuel vehicles. For instance, biodiesel is a fuel that is created from leftover vegetation like corn stalks. Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic which makes it safe for the environment. Noise pollution is also a form of pollution. Car engines can produce 110 decibels of noise, which is twice as loud as a normal conversation.. The noise will come from the fuel pump, pistons and compressors that create the combustion and cycle the fuel. Vehicles with alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen fuel cells will produce no sound or vibration as they require no moving parts to produce fuel. Recommendations The research has shown that a fleet of alternative fuel sourced vehicles would be the best idea for everyone involved. The positive feedback generated by offering this fleet of vehicles would be astounding. The market for rental cars with alternative fuel capabilities is very small and the Lotus Car Rental Company would have the market cornered. The cost of maintain a fleet of these vehicles are no different than that of petroleum fueled vehicles. The consumer that is able to rent these vehicles will also benefit by being able to save more money on energy for the vehicle. The environment will also benefit from this addition to the Lotus Car Rental fleet. The amount of pollution and emissions that can be cut back will be helpful to the surrounding community and the future generations to grow up in the community. Conclusion The creation of a fleet of alternative fuel sourced automobiles would be a wise decision for the Lotus Car Rental Company. After conducting much research, the decision to incorporate a fleet of alternative fuel sourced automobiles would be in the best interest of the public as well as the company. The research has shown the monetary benefits, the technical benefits as well as the environmental benefits of acquiring a fleet of alternative fuel sourced automobiles. The benefits of having a positive company reputation are enormous. Having an environmentally friendly car rental company has the potential of being a lucrative decision. Living a green lifestyle has become an important thing in this day and age. The Lotus Car Rental Company will have cornered the market by having an entire fleet of environmentally friendly automobiles. References Alternative fuel vehicles. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml Edmunds.com. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/what-is-a-hybrid-car-how-do-hybrids-work.html Almeida, A. (2009, August 13). Average Cost of a Hybrid Car. Retrieved from CarsDirect: http://www.carsdirect.com/car-pricing/whats-the-average-cost-of-a-new-hybrid-car Schueneman, T. (2009, February 12). Enterprise Rent-a-Car Adds 5000 Hybrids to its Fleet of Fuel Efficient Cars. Retrieved from sustainablog: http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/enterprise-rent-a-car-adds-5000-hybrids-to-its-fleet-of-fuel-efficient-cars/ 5 things you need to know about alternative fuel vehicles. (2008, July). greencar.com, (), . Retrieved from http://www.greencar.com/articles/5-things-need-alternative-fuel-vehicles.php Hybrid cars and pollution. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.hybrid-car.org/hybrid-cars-pollution.html

The Awakening :: Essays Papers

The Awakening Edna’s awakening, from the beginning in Grand Isle, to her life in New Orleans and finally her death back in Grand Isle, takes place quite suddenly. She goes from a quiet, reserved lady, to an outspoken, strong-willed woman. Despite this dramatic change, one characteristic remained constant throughout the book. She was very confused about who she was and what she wanted in life. She is pursued by Robert, and is surprised when feelings for him stir inside her. At the beginning of the book, she dismisses him, mainly because she was married. â€Å"Mrs. Pontellier was glad he had not assumed a similar role toward herself. It would have been unacceptable and annoying.† As the weeks go on, her attitude changes greatly. Her response to Robert is one of love and passion. â€Å"I love you,† she whispered â€Å"only you, no one but you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (page 179, fifth paragraph). Edna often doesn’t understand her emotions and what is going on in her head, and she also frequently misinterprets them. Because of this she is a very unpredictable character, her actions and words are inconsistent in their messages. â€Å"Edna Pontellier could not have told why, wishing to go to the beach with Robert, she should in the first place have declined, and in the second place have followed in obedience to one of the two contradictory impulses which impelled her." â€Å"Yes,† she said. â€Å"The years that are gone seem like dreams- if one might go on sleeping and dreaming- but to wake up and find- oh! well! perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even if to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one’s life.† She seemed to welcome her awakening and, at first, enjoyed it. There were drawbacks to it though, just as benefits. People around her were deeply hurt by some of her independent, and sometimes self-absorbed, actions. By letting her feelings for Robert in, she discovered passion, but at the same time, pain and loss. The thought of continuing her life the way it was, and not being able to be with Robert drove her to such despair she came to the conclusion it was better off not living. As sad as this seems, she was at peace with herself when she died, which ultimately was all that she was striving for.

Cigarette Oligopoly

Cigarette Oligopoly Market Chayleen Marquis Benedictine University Author Note This research is being submitted on May 2, 2010, for Professor Raymond Bell’s MBA 611 course at Benedictine University by Chayleen Marquis. The cigarette market is one that is known to everyone. From magazine advertisements to constructive commercials people have been exposed to this market starting at a young age. The constant visuals of the advertisements as well as the free advertising that occurs daily with people smoking outside their office, in their car, and outside the night life scene the cigarette market has a benefit of using the free advertising as a benefit to their company at no cost. The cigarette market is a clear example of an oligopoly market because it is mostly run by a few large firms such as Philip Morris USA, Commonwealth Inc, Lorillard Inc and Reynolds American Inc. Due to the fact that an oligopoly market is hard to not only come into but also basically controlled by these large firms any new competitor is going to have a difficult time entering this market, being profitable in comparison to these firms and really having any type of say in the price or the output. A benefit of being an oligopoly is the fact that the prices are not determined for them but the larger firms more or less make the prices in reflection of the coordination amongst each other. Essentially the large firms come together and decide what price they would like to see and then all of the cigarettes cost the same amount across the board. Of course one concern that oligopoly’s must make sure that they are not be involved with is price fixing. Price fixing is when the competitors of a market fix the product price to avoid competition within their market, while at the same time not being fair to the consumers of the product in regards to the price. The price fixing does not always happen between the competitors but it also can be a factor between manufacturers and distributors. So as an oligopoly the firms must ensure that the price fixing is not occurring at any levels of their production. Most people look at an oligopoly market and think that they act as a monopoly because the main firms completely control the market. However in an oligopoly the main firms each have a distinguished product brand that sets them apart from their competitor even f it is in the smallest difference. These brands allow each firm to stake claim on consumers in a memorable way to keep consumers coming back for more. In reference to the cigarette oligopoly most consumers have smoke Marlboro’s from the beginning of their smoking career and have never strayed from the product that they know. In an oligopoly market if one firm drops their prices another firm is more likely to drop their prices as well to not only stay competitive but to also retai n their market share. However if a firm were to increase their prices the other competing firm will not like raise their prices obviously to try and maintain as well as try to increase their market share. Price increasing is not something that occurs often in an oligopoly market which in turn makes the market inelastic in regards to price change. The use of the game theory is commonly used in oligopoly markets such as the cigarette industry. Making moves in the market without fully knowing how your competitors are going to respond and knowing that if one move that is made can definitely benefit all firms is a tough task to attempt. Making a decision that could help out the companies is not always going to be perceived by the other companies and can back fire on the company who makes the initial decision which in turn would leave them more than likely with a net loss. In the cigarette oligopoly market I see promotion as a game theory used between the competing firms. Many different events are held and it seems that the cigarette firms are there to give away free samples of their new products, free t-shirts and of course creating a bond with the consumer which makes them stay a loyal customer and even gets some consumers to switch products. An example would be from Camel cigarettes to Marlboro cigarettes. As mentioned before advertisement is something that drives the cigarette oligopoly. With the promotions being such a market to get more and more people daily to advertise freely for the company cigarette firms use every opportunity to do so. Primarily during these promotion periods the cigarette companies will use the foot traffic to do the free advertising for them. This is an extremely smart move because in reality who does not want a free t-shirt. The competing firms do not know when competition is always having a promotion such as the ones mentioned above and could see a decrease in sales during a competitor’s promotion or even right after one. Another example of the game theory used in the cigarette oligopoly market is when purchasing a regular firm product giving out a free ull size sample of a new product to get consumers to try it, which then leads to the consumer not having to purchase their product for a longer period of time. In the cigarette industry I believe that profit has been maximized. There are not a lot of changes that can keep occurring in this industry that can great greater profits than the ones occurring right now. There is only so much change that the cigarette market can endure and change that I believe the market has no new product line to go to. The cigarette market is such an intricate market with a product that has been sold the same way for years and year’s people don’t want it to change. The only profit the cigarette industry is going to see is when prices rise slowly due to inflation. Other than taxes being enforced by states and the federal government the price for a pack of cigarettes is not going to change drastically by any firm in caution of losing its market share. The competition in the cigarette market is beneficial to the consumers because of the promotions they provide with all of the free merchandise. Unlike other oligopolies the cigarette market is not elastic so price changes that would occur in other oligopoly markets that affect the consumer don’t not occur in the cigarette market. Competition in other oligopoly markets can directly negatively affect the consumer but because the cigarette market is a market that change rarely happens, prices are the same regardless the brand the competition is a benefit. In conclusion the cigarette market oligopoly market is a pretty stable very profitable market that has proven to stand the test of time, anti-smokers protests and even recessions. This market has a proven track record and has no intent to go anywhere. With the ability to use consumers for free advertising this market has saved money in the marketing department which usually helps fight law suits but still keeps its consumers coming back for more each week. The amount for a pack of cigarettes today is between four and five dollars and for the amount of smokers that casually smoke to the addicted smokers who go through a pack a day the cigarette market is not going anywhere and profits they are seeing are simply astounding. References Thomas, C. R. , & Maurice, S. C. (2008). Managerial Economics (9th ed. ). New York, NY : McGraw-Hill Irwin. Market Information-Philip Morris USA. (n. d. ). Retrieved April 26, 2010, from http://www. pmusa. com/ed/ cms/Company/Market_Information/default. aspx