A an More Sinned Against Than Sinning - 1811 Words

A man more sinned against than sinning How far do you agree with this statement? King Lear is one of Shakespeares more complex plays and within it many different themes are addressed and explored. King Lear is the somewhat unfortunate vehicle that Shakespeare uses to explore many of these themes creating a complex character including the roles of a father, king, friend and adversary. As Lear is not a simple character he cannot simply be classed as all good or bad; it can be argued he is a bad father and king but does that make Lear a bad man? Does he deserve the suffering he endures? Also, when Lear talks of sin who is he addressing? As sin is generally defined as a violation of religious or moral law so is Lear talking to God in this†¦show more content†¦We can say that at the start of the play Lear is guilty of a tyrannical egotism, pride and blindness to his own actions. So in the first scene of the play Lear makes a terrible mistake but can we fully blame him? No loving father would think their children capable of such immorality that is shown in Goneril and Regan. He also expected to remain as a figurehead of nationalism but alas this was also impeded by his daughters. So as a king Lear succeeds in destroying the whole hierarchy at the core of every monarchy and cripples the undisputed power of a king into a useless, soul corrupting command; This last surrender of his will but offend us. Lear as a king commits a few more minor sins that at the time may have been more scandalous than now. These include letting his fool say more or less anything he wants, which many would see as a sign of weakness and lack of authority as a lowly fool should not judge his kings actions. However the fool is the only character who will offer his judgments to Lear. He is surrounded by ‘yes men, especially as he banished Kent, so the Fool, even though he may have spoken out of line, filled a role that is vital for any monarchy. Also much that the fool said was entirely necessary and accurate; Lear: Dost thou call me fool, boy? Fool: All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast bornShow MoreRelatedMerchant of Venice: Shylock More Sinned Against Than Sinning1564 Words   |  7 PagesIs Shylock more sinned against than sinning? Many different views can be taken on the Jewish merchant Shylock in the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ written by William Shakespeare. Although when taking into account the many trials and tribulations that Shylock had to endure, it is forthcoming to say that Shylock was more sinned against than sinning. There are key and defining moments in this play when it becomes more apparent as to why Shylock is acting out against Antonio. From early on when AntonioRead More Consider the accuracy of Lear?s claim that he is ?a man / More sinned against than sinning?1480 Words   |  6 Pagesthe worst sinners against him. He thinks he does the right good things but has to find out that almost everything he did out of meaning well by the people he considered as the good ones at the time he did it were the wrong moves. When Lear realizes that his moves seem to have been wrong he tells Kent and the Fool during a storm that he is â€Å"a man / More sinned against than sinning†, kn owing that he also made mistakes, not only the others. But is King Lear really more of a victim than a guilty one? TheRead MoreI Am a Man More Sinned Against Than Sinning. to What Extent Does the Character King Lear Suffer Out of All Proportions to His Initial Transgressions?1503 Words   |  7 PagesI am a man more sinned against than sinning. To what extent does the character King Lear suffer out of all proportions to his initial transgressions? There would be two different opinions on whether or not King Lear deserved what had happened to him. First, I think I should mention the ways that King Lear suffered. There were evident levels of emotional and physical suffering. From an emotional perspective, Lear discovers that he is hated by his own daughters, which would be a terrible experienceRead MoreThere Are Many Critical Interpretations of Iago’s Character. Was He a ‘Skillful Villain’? or Perhaps He Was a ‘Mysterious Creature of Unlimited Cynicism’? or Was He Simply a ‘Wronged Man’? More Sinned Against Than Sinning?2606 Words   |  11 Pageswas he simply a ‘wronged man’? More sinned against than sinning? What is your view of this complex character and how would a contemporary Shakespearean audience have responded to him? In Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’, the reader is introduced to the character Iago. There are many different interpretations of his character, was he a ‘skillful villain’? Or was he a ‘mysterious creature of unlimited cynicism’? Or just a ‘wronged man’ who is more sinned against than sinning? Iago indeed does show qualitiesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice Essay1262 Words   |  6 Pageswhether Shylock is an unforgiving, menacing character or is in actual fact in the right and extremely hard done by. Consequently, I propose to discuss the view that Shylock is as much sinned as sinning. When his daughter lies and steals from him Shylock is seen as a poor and sinned against character. His daughter, Jessica, falls in love with a Christian and plans to elope. Strong religious prejudices are established at this point in the play. In order to elope, Jessica Read MoreKing Lear More Sinned Against Then Sinning1090 Words   |  5 Pagesman, More sinn d against than sinning How far do you agree with King Lear s statement? From first view of the play King Lear , it appears that Lear has caused, either directly or indirectly, the sins against him as well as sinned himself. Lear sinned: -That King Lear sinned; there can be no doubt. Nevertheless, a sin does not exclude the possibility that there was a sufficient cause (in his mind) for the action -You can conclude the essay by saying that although he is more sinned againstRead MoreComparing Dante s Inferno And Shakespeare s Play King Lear1606 Words   |  7 Pagesproved more powerful than grief,† we push off the impending consequences of the sins we make today, and continue sinning well into tomorrow. However, once we experience grief, much like what Lear experienced, we are confronted with the consequences of our actions, although it is too late; our hunger from yesterday overpowered our grief from today. Dante’s Inferno and King Lear are similar in more ways than one, yet they differ when it comes to a certain principle: are we, as humans, more sinnedRead MoreKing Lears View of Himself Essay850 Words   |  4 PagesKing Lears View of Himself King Lear is a play all about the cruelty of human nature and the ways in which all people, good and bad, can sin, or be sinned against. Lear is a very difficult character to categorise as either good or bad as he is both sinned against and sinning. It is also very difficult to use these sins as a measure of his character as they a varying in severity. When we first meet Lear he is in the process of dividing his kingdom Read MoreAugustine’s Conception of Sin in Confessions 1700 Words   |  7 PagesAugustine’s conception of the human person and their human actions are somewhat relevant today, due to the fact Augustine set a standard for what human nature is, known as the ability to desire, think and do, yet, people see the human differently today than Augustine did. At the same time his ideas of original sin and how the evil nature of humans is associated with original sin are still very relevant today. Augustine is our exemplar to human nature, as well as the guideline to what it means to be humanRead More King Lear’s Sins Pale in Comparison to those Committed Against Him818 Words   |  4 PagesKing Lear’s Sins Pale in Comparison to those Committed Against Him King Lear commits several acts that are nearly unforgivable. Not only does he exile a trusted, loyal servant, he also banishes his own daughter. Cordelia, unable and unwilling to submit herself to the ridiculous game of her father, is sent off to France with his curses. His subsequent action - the division of the land between his two ungrateful daughters - is the final act, the final sin, and one that plunges the

Chrysler in Trouble free essay sample

The automobile market is one of the most lucrative markets in the world. They have focused on international expansion since the late 1900s. This market has very successful international companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Lexis, Hyundai, Chrysler, Camry, Fiat, etc. All of these firms have held a position in the automobile industry. Even in economic hardships when demand for automobiles was decreased, the market did not faze them. Two firms prominent in this industry are Chrysler and Fiat which have both held successful positions in the late 1900s. Due to decreased market demand and lackluster products both firms have drastically diminished their market appeal. This has led to decreased profits which have led to European based company Fiat leaving the United States in the 1980s. American based firm Chrysler had to deal with sales drops and lack of demand. An alliance between both firms could potentially increase their customer base and future profits. We will write a custom essay sample on Chrysler in Trouble or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This could be a very lucrative business venture for both firms if successful. Chrysler an American corporation has held a strong position in the automobile industry in the earlier 1900s. Fiat an Italian corporation has one of the strongest corporations in Italy. Among the three most substantial United States automobile makers, Chrysler is the smallest one. This means that Chrysler’s stand in the automobile market needs much improvement. With the vast growing nature of the United States and international automakers, Chrysler has to improve their performance and appeal to even compete at their level. Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection under section 364 of chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code. Chrysler announced that it would establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat. CEO of Fiat Sergio Marchionne will take over as presidency of Chrysler as well. People want to know how the new management will not only affect the corporation but also the stakeholders that have invested in both companies. Introduction The Chrysler Corporation was founded by Walter Chrysler in 1924 out of what remained of the Maxwell Motor Company. Chrysler greatly expanded in 1928 when it acquired the Dodge Brothers Company and began selling vehicles under those brands; that same year it also established the Plymouth and DeSoto automobile brands. In the 1970s a number of factors including the 1973 oil crisis impacted Chryslers sales, and by the late 1970s, Chrysler was on the verge of bankruptcy. Lee Iacocca was brought in as CEO and is credited with returning the company to profitability in the 1980s. In 1987, Chrysler acquired American Motors Corporation, which brought the profitable Jeep brand under the Chrysler umbrella. In 1998 Chrysler merged with German automaker Daimler-Benz AG to form DaimlerChrysler; the merger proved contentious with investors and Chrysler was sold to Cerberus Capital Management and renamed Chrysler LLC in 2007. Like the other Big Three automobile manufacturers, Chrysler was hit hard by the automotive industry crisis of 2008. Chrysler received billions of dollars in loans from the United States government in late 2008 and early 2009 to prevent it from shutting down. Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on April 30, 2009. Chrysler should create a new company with Fiat in which Fiat would initially have a 20% stake, which would later be increased up to 35%. The Voluntary Employees Benefit Association (VEBA) would have a 55% stake in it, the US Treasury department an 8% stake. The Canadian and Ontario governments would have a combined 2% stake, with the Canadian government holding 1. 33%, and the Ontario government holding the remaining 0. 67% stake. Chapter One Situation Analysis 1. 1 Industry Overview The U. S. motor vehicle manufacturing industry employs 880,000 workers, or approximately 6. 6% of the U. S. manufacturing workforce, including those who work in the large motor vehicle parts manufacturing sector, as well as those who assemble motor vehicles. Since the beginning of the decade, the nations automotive manufacturing sector has eliminated more than 435,000 automotive manufacturing jobs (or an amount equal to about 3. 3% of all manufacturing jobs in 2008). The employment level first dipped below one million in 2007 and fell to 880,000 workers last year. With the restructuring and bankruptcy of Chrysler and General Motors, and the ongoing recession in the auto sector, employment in the nations automotive manufacturing industry will most likely shrink in 2009 and 2010 as additional assembly, powertrain, and auto parts plants close. Economically the automobile industry is an oligopoly. This is why the Big 3 remains the Big 3. The nature of building cars makes it difficult for small players to enter the market. The cost of entry is high. As an oligopoly, the Big 3 also tend to pay more attention to one another than to customers or competitors. If GM adds airbags, Chrysler and Ford add airbags. Being the smallest, Chrysler tends to follow rather than lead. Ideas generated outside the Big 3 tend to be ignored. When times are good, automakers can sell anything they can produce. That includes bad cars. But during recessions, automakers lose billions of dollars just maintaining operations. This is basically due to the high fixed costs. And those costs are getting higher as tight union contracts make labor a â€Å"fixed† cost. The industry consists of six segments: three mature markets (North America, Japan and Western Europe) and three emerging markets (Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America). The leading competitors in the industry are the Big Three (GM, Chrysler and Ford) and the Japanese Manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, and Nissan). To gain market shares companies are concentrating towards continuous improvement, innovation and cost control. 1. 2 Strategic Group Mapping Fig. 1: Strategic Group Mapping 1. 3 Key Success Factors The automotive industry is one of the largest business sectors in America, employing thousands and creating products that affect the way people spend money in a major way. Though there are many ways for an automotive company to achieve success, every strong company in the industry must possess some key critical success factors to ensure long-term profitability. 1. 3. 1 Positive Image One critical factor that often defines an automotive company is its public image. Because buyers entrust their safety, along with a sizable portion of their income, to a car company, the perception of the company figures greatly in the buying decision. Factors influencing an automotive companys image include advertising, word of mouth and expert reviews and opinions. 1. 3. 2 Distribution Network A more practical critical success factor for any automotive company is a strong network for distribution. Because cars and trucks are not sold directly to customers, auto manufacturers rely on franchised dealerships to provide local showrooms. These dealers must be knowledgeable and reputable to sell cars, which is essential for the automaker. Like auto corporations, dealers are reliant on a positive image that may be influenced by, or influence in turn, the image of the automaker. 1. 3. 3 Cash Flow A healthy cash flow is another practical critical success factor. When an automaker provides incentives or lowers prices, it almost always sells more cars, but the profit margin may not be a healthy one. At the same time, an automaker needs to keep costs under control, including line items that are prone to fluctuation such as the price of raw materials and outsourced components. Achieving a sustainable cash flow is central to the frequent discussions between automakers and employee unions. 1. 3. 4 Compliance Automakers must also ensure that the vehicles they sell are in compliance with various federal and local regulations. These include emissions standards, fuel efficiency and safety standards. While it may cost less to produce vehicles that perform marginally in these areas, the cost of a safety recall or government-mandated repairs are often much higher and difficult to anticipate. . 3. 5 Flexibility An elusive critical success factor for the automotive industry is the ability to be flexible. American car buyers may change their buying habits quickly in response to factors like the state of the economy, the price of fuel and new automotive technologies. It is essential that automakers remain attentive to these trends and keep in place a system that can adapt quickly to create new products that meet the current and near-future needs of customers. 1. Indust ry Wide Strategic Issues 1. 4. 1 Globalization Hardly a new phenomenon, globalization in the automotive industry accelerated in the 1980s when Japanese automakers made significant headway in penetrating the U. S. market. Today, however, the pace of globalization has intensified and global sourcing has become a competitive imperative. At the same time, automotive companies see great potential in developing regions such as China and India as their consumer markets begin to emerge. Squeezed by intense competition — increasingly from new competitors in low-cost countries — as well as industry overcapacity, high labor costs in mature markets and customer resistance to price increases, automotive companies must establish sustainable and flexible cost structures, driving them to relocate global sourcing to â€Å"low-cost† regions, Asia, in particular. In addition, as they establish optimal global manufacturing capabilities, automotive companies also must refine their product development strategies to respond to the demands of these emerging markets. . 4. 2 Innovation with Limited Financial Resources Automotive companies face another dilemma: how to maintain innovation when financing is tight. The need to develop new technologies and innovative products able to lure consumers and provide a competitive edge has never been more important for maintaining profitability over the long term. Car buyers are looking for new features such as navigation to ols, entertainment options and safety improvements, but resist paying premiums for these advancements. Yet, given the cost and pricing pressures, automotive companies are finding it difficult to free internal financial resources for investment in research and development. At the same time, securing external funding also is more challenging as the industry has become less attractive for investors compared to other sectors, particularly in the short term. With financing tighter, automotive companies must pursue creative product solutions, leverage their internal strengths and, more often, make acquisitions and cement partnerships with companies that can help enhance and expand product offerings and spread investments over more units. . 4. 3 Leadership in the Automotive Industry Automotive companies also must be looking continually for new opportunities in the market. Every four to five years, you need to move on, either by making acquisitions or finding new market niches, otherwise your profitability drops. 1. 4. 4 Flexible Production and Cost Structure In response to the forces of glob alization, competition and pricing constraints, a key priority for nearly half of the automotive companies is establishing and maintaining a more variable cost structure. Another strategic priority, is maintaining a flexible production system to position the company to respond quickly to shifts in global demand. Automotive leaders must be able to manage cash and make costs more variable in order to adjust quickly to volatility in demand and respond to new opportunities. They do this through outsourcing, partnerships, technology innovation and new production methods. When 350 automotive executives were globally surveyed to get their views on the primary challenges facing the industry, the results were as follows: Fig. 2: Automotive Industry Challenges . 5 Competitive Situation Analysis 1. 5. 1 Porter Five-Force Model * Bargaining Power of Buyers is considered to be high due to the fact that there are competitive brands * Competitor Rivalry is high as the consumer considers cars as a commodity and hence there is surplus * Bargaining Power of Suppliers is high as they have some kind of control over the industry * Threat of New Entrants is low due to the huge investment required in capital, technologic, marketing * Threat of Substitutes is low as owning a car has always been a necessity . 6 Competitor Analysis Competitor| Strategy Used| Reason| Japanese Companies (Honda, Toyota) | Best Cost| Japanese automakers tried so hard to always stick to competitive prices with high quality | German Companies (Mercedes, BMW) | Focus Differentiation| German automakers have always been known by focusing on the best quality for the engine despite the cost | American Companies (Chrysler, Chevrolet, Ford, GM) | Broad Differentiation| Focused on differentiation themselves for the majority of the American consumer | . 7 Firm – Self Analysis 1. 7. 1 SWOT Strengths * Third largest automobile manufacturer in the US ever since 1928; domination of the minivan market * In 2008, there was 8% growth in sales outside the US * Chrysler Mexican, Canadian and other international operations were not part of the bankruptcy filing * Chrysler started a global corporate advertising campaign to restore confidence in the company Weaknesses * Declining sales made it difficult for Chrysler to continue * Chrysler idn’t benefit from the merger with Daimler and kept focusing on avoiding clashes * Poor Management resulted in drop in the market share during early 2000s * In the Fiat – Chrysler alliance, the company is to be owned by multiple owners Opportunities * Establishing a global strategic alliance with Fiat * The American government tried to position the bankruptcy as NOT a sign of weakness * Fiat would make available its entire product portfolio, along with its powertrain technology Threats * The fierce competition with the Japanese high performing, lower price cars * U. S economy is struggling and consumers aren’t spending as much money as they used 1. 7. 2 Firm Strategic Issues and Problems Poor Business Strategy Analysts attributed Chrysler’s financial problems to its poor business management. In the early 1970s, when fuel prices were going up and consumers in the United States started preferring fuel-efficient vehicles, Japanese companies like Toyota and Honda began coming out with compact and fuel-efficient cars to cater to these needs. However, Chrysler’s focus remained more on SUVs and trucks, leaving the Asian carmakers to capitalize on this change in consumer preferences. Other analysts criticized Chrysler’s decision to merge with Daimler. According to Iacocca, â€Å"Eaton50 panicked. We were making $1 billion a quarter and had $12 billion in cash, and while he said it was a merger of equals, he sold Chrysler to Daimler-Benz, when we should have bought them. †51 Similar analysts also criticized Daimler’s decision to run Chrysler as a stand-alone division. They opined that Daimler wanted to keep Chrysler separate from its luxury Mercedes-Benz marquee. By doing this, it did not take advantage of the benefits of developing vehicles together. Lack of Innovation According to analysts, Chrysler’s sluggishness in launching innovative models when its Japanese competitors kept coming out with new designs resulted in the company’s declining sales. Japanese companies continued to offer fuel-efficient vehicles, while Chrysler continued to produce fuel-guzzling trucks. Chrysler, which had been the innovator of automatic transmission, power steering, and brakes, just did not live up to the consumer’s expectations. Although it came up with some innovative products in the early 1980s, quality-related issues dented the brand image of its cars. After the merger with Daimler, Chrysler introduced some new models. However, those models did not get much consumer attention. Even after Cerberus bought a majority stake in Chrysler, the company could not invest enough money in research and development because of the declining sales of Chrysler’s vehicles. The U. S. Auto Task Force also commented in March 2009 that â€Å"Chrysler’s products have also historically underperformed in terms of quality, which remains a significant challenge. Unlike GM, which has had a number of successful recent product introductions and has developed a new global product development process that has promise, there are few tangible signs that Chrysler can reverse its share erosion. The Global Financial Crisis In 2008, the tight credit situation, volatility in the stock markets, problems in the U. S. housing market, increases in unemployment, and declines in incomes started affecting consumer spending. As a result, the U. S. car market was also badly affected. Those who wanted to purchase vehicles found it difficult to get loans or found the available financing too expensive. In 2008, the U. S. auto industry experienced its worst year since 1992. The total sales of cars and light trucks were 13. million, a decline of 18% compared to 2007. The United States was the largest market for Chrysler. As of November 2008, 73 percent of its sales were from the U. S. , 61 percent of its vehicles were produced in the country, 78 percent of its materials were purchased in the U. S. and 62 percent of its dealers were based in the U. S. As Chrysler’s market was restricted to the United States alone, the global financial crisis which originated in the country affected it s sales badly, leaving the company struggling to carry on its business.