Literature is an exercise in trying to understand the human condition Essay

Literature is an exercise in trying to understand the human condition - Essay Example It is hoped that an analysis of the two novels through the feminist lens would lead to a better understanding of broader humanity. It is not an exaggeration to say that Salman Rushdie revolutionized the art of fiction with his breakthrough work Midnight’s Children. As the role and viability of literature as a medium of education and entertainment came to be questioned during the 1980s, Midnight’s Children sprung like a fountain of elixir and brought freshness and vitality to English Literature. Hence Rushdie could rightly be regarded as an eminent postmodern and postcolonial master of words. This essay will be dealing with two of his lesser acclaimed works – The Enchantress of Florence and The Ground Beneath Her Feet – and make observations on the treatment of gender. The two books are particularly suitable to gender study for they feature strong, bold, ebullient and beautiful female characters. The very title The Ground Beneath Her Feet stands in tribute to the woman being loved. The phrase represents the feelings of adoration and sanctity that the narrator feels toward the woman he loves. In this case, Vina Apsara is the object of love and Umeed ‘Rai’ Merchant is the narrator, although the latter’s love would prove futile in the face of Ormus Cama’s (the protagonist) charm and talent. Only a writer who’s in love with the character could take it to great heights of self-expression. This is amply evident in the elaborate manner in which Rushdie sketches Vina’s character through the course of the novel. Not only is she musically gifted, she has traversed several continents and overcome arduous circumstances on the way to super stardom. During her formative years, her journeys between America, India and Europe were full of threats and disasters. Yet, through some hidden mechanism of nature and unaccounted fortitude she marches on in life to fulfill her artistic destiny. The strength in Vina†™s womanhood is borne by the manner in which she withstood the series of misfortunes visiting her life. When she was a child, Vina only nearly escaped abandonment by her biological father. Though she was fortunate to evade the maddening murder spree of her mother, the loss of her siblings is a real tragedy. Although an element of divine plan is implicit in such a life course, the derivation of strength from inner resources is also present. (Mishra, 1999, p.42) To understand the feminism of Vina Apsara, one has to look at the traits of her eventual replacement, Mira. This younger, steadier avatar of Vina proves to be quite the opposite of her predecessor. In Vina’s case, the chief antagonist is herself, as her tendency to blow up all of a sudden has led to many troubles. The iconic Vina is someone who collapsed under her own weight – further burdened by â€Å"her own unattainable, constantly transforming image†. In contrast, we have Mira, who represents an â₠¬Å"â€Å"ordinary human love beneath one's feet† (575), that is, the kind of stability and wherewithal that can ensure longevity without the sensationalist, self-destructive trappings of Vina Apsara's radicalism†. (Pirbhai, 2001, p.54) In this regard, Mira’s feminism is not in any way deficient than that of Vina’s, only more powerful. The word Mira could be construed as a pun on â€Å"

Research Paper for Organizational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research Paper for Organizational Change - Essay Example In addition, there is high degree of favoritism in the company. In order to implement successful change, it is necessary to identify the problems and their underlying reasons. It is identified that the company runs 365 days a year, seven days a week, and 24 hours a day. In addition it is pointed out that there is a general lack of safety at the workplace. Moreover, nepotism and lack of supervision are clearly visible to all. It is very evident that there is the need for a total change in the organization’s culture if these problems are to be addressed. However, simple discussions of change will not help solve the problem as the old culture will reemerge in a short while. On the other hand, as Hebert (2009) points out, in order to successfully implement a plan for organizational cultural change, the human resources department of the company should secure leadership and ensure employee participation in the change process. Evidently, leadership buy-in and employee participation a re two sides of the same coin. Once the human resources department manages to get total control, it should ensure that all the affected parties are a part of the changing process and are committed to it. Participation in the change process ensures that employees understand their stake in a successful outcome. However, even though there is active employee participation, there is very high possibility of cognitive discord. So, it is for the human resource department to identify this element of disagreement throughout the change and provide guidance. The issues It is recognizable from the description that there is low morale among the employees from top to bottom. The first thing that is found lacking here is motivation. As is evident from studies (Clegg, Kornberger & Pitsis, 2005, p. 253), all people are motivated intrinsically and extrinsically. However, most people show preference of one form of motivation to another. In the case of this company, it is highly necessary to avoid the authoritarian management practices and the evident nepotism. So, it becomes highly necessary for the human resource management department to make its managers and supervisors aware about the need to ensure intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. In fact, studies have proved that more than two-thirds of employees want to get appreciated in their jobs. In addition, it is proved that when verbal praise and recognition are given both publicly and privately, they produce great efforts. Some other forms of intrinsic motivation are challenging work assignments and schedule flexibility. It is evident that when used appropriately, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation help improve employee morale. Another point of consideration is operational issue. To ensure product quality, the key is monitoring and measuring processes and making any necessary adjustments. Here, the concept of Panopticon as proposed by Bentham seems useful. According to him (as cited in Clegg, Kornberger, & Pitsis, 2008, p. 18), it is effective to ensure performance quality if there is a belief among the employees that they are being observed, but by an unseen being. In other words, if the principle of inspection and surveillance is properly instilled, it can ensure that the employees will feel responsible for what they do and say. The benefits of Panopticon are enormous. It can act as a system of records and rules, making each of the staff feel responsible