The Kite Runner/Life of Pi: the Foil

The Kite Runner/Life of Pi: The Foil In both The Kite Runner and Life of Pi, the relationship between the major character and a minor character—the foil—help to highlight the main character’s qualities, illuminating his traits to be seen in an extraordinary, nonstandard way. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini creates Hassan as the foil for Amir. Hassan’s character, as perfect as he is, causes Amir to pale in comparison, something that Amir channels throughout his life, governing his actions.Similarly, Yann Martel employs Richard Parker as the foil for Pi in Life of Pi. The strength and ferocity of the tiger emphasizes Pi’s hopelessness and fear. Pi utilizes these emotions to fight and continue living. In both novels, the foil character underlines the main protagonist’s characteristics and provokes certain feelings that ultimately determine his fate. In The Kite Runner, Hassan is Amir’s half-brother, best friend, and servant. His chara cter is nearly perfect—loyal, courageous, caring, kind, and selfless. He has no evil qualities.When compared to Hassan, Amir’s value and positive qualities fall flat and are seen as insignificant and mediocre. Even more, his bad features are amplified and made more prominent. Amir cannot live up to Hassan’s goodness. This inadequateness is put into words and exemplified through Baba, who declares that, â€Å"If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull [Amir] out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son† (Hosseini 23). Baba often treated Amir and Hassan equally, which was unusual because the Hazara was essentially their servant.If Amir asked for a big and fancy kite, Baba would buy it for him—but then he would buy it for Hassan as well (Hosseini 51). These displays of affection were later explained in that Baba was actually Hassan’s real father, but the effect they had had on Amir stuck. Amir was always desperately vying for his father’s love and approval. The fondness Baba treated Hassan with vexed and aggravated him. Without the knowledge of Hassan’s true parentage, Amir felt many flashes of jealousy and frustration—emotions that, compared with his own brother’s understanding and humility, projects him as criminal.The most prominent situation that highlights Amir’s character is when he witnesses Hassan being raped. The event leading up to the incident is of Hassan running after the final kite—just for Amir. He finds it, only to be cornered by Assef who demands the kite as retribution for the â€Å"rude manners† he showed him during and earlier incident (Hosseini 71). Hassan refuses, retorting back, â€Å"Amir agha won the tournament and I ran this kite for him. I ran it fairly. This is his kite† (Hosseini 72). He is assaulted in reply.Here, Hassan’s traits of extraordinary loyalty and courageousness are displayed; however, switc h the scope to Amir and the qualities revealed are the exact opposite. Amir witnessed the raping of his best friend and did nothing. He was afraid of getting hurt, afraid of losing Baba’s newly earned affections and simply ran away (Hosseini 77). When compared to Hassan, Amir’s qualities of selfishness and cowardice are highlighted and intensified. From the presence of Hassan, Amir’s selfishness and cowardice, in addition to his desire to be â€Å"good enough†, are not only emphasized, but acknowledged by Amir himself.These are the traits that ultimately drive him throughout his life. The recognition of the evil in himself coupled with his will to do good lead him to search for redemption—one of the main themes of the novel. With the immense guilt over Hassan’s rape pushing him forward, Amir lives his life stiffly until taking the move to America where he starts a new morally upright life, where he helps his father and marries a good woman, and then finally completely redeeming himself through returning to Afghanistan and saving Sohrab from Assef.By establishing Hassan as a foil character for Amir, Hosseini creates a domino effect in which his main character discovers himself, realizes he dislikes what he finds, and fights his way towards the â€Å"way to be good again†Ã¢â‚¬â€redemption. In Life of Pi, Pi’s fellow passenger throughout most of his time at sea is Richard Parker, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The wild, aggressive tiger initially places the sensitive, intelligent Pi in an immense state of fear. Pi is overwhelmed by terror over an animal known for its ferocity and power, an animal he’s seen viciously attack and devour a live goat (Martel 35).Richard Parker scares him witless. His main focus, then, is to survive this creature. Richard Parker’s intimidating nature at first reveals Pi’s initial sense of surrender and loss of faith and general humanity. â€Å"With a tiger on board, my life was over† (Martel 135). As he accepts the presence of the tiger, however, he becomes determined. Richard Parker’s animalistic nature rubbed off on Pi. In place of his slight loss of humanity arises a sense of instinctual will to live. â€Å"I will not die. I refuse it.I will make it through this nightmare† (Martel 148). He hatches â€Å"several plans to get rid of [Richard Parker]† and ultimately decides to tame him (Martel 157). The decision gives Pi a sense of purpose, a distraction from the hopelessness of his situation—stranded in the middle of ocean, completely and utterly alone. If he killed Richard Parker, Pi acknowledges that he â€Å"would be left alone with despair, a foe even more formidable than a tiger† (Martel 164). He declares, â€Å"It was Richard Parker who calmed me down.It is the irony of this story that the one who scared me witless to start with was the very same who brought me peace, purpose, I dare sa y even wholeness† (Martel 162). In the end, Pi was able to survive because of Richard Parker. He kept Pi from â€Å"thinking too much about [his] family and [his] tragic circumstances. He pushed [him] to go on living† (Martel 164). Richard Parker’s role as the foil character to Pi is characterized by the fear and determination that the tiger incites in Pi. Compared to the magnificent animal, Pi becomes a defenseless, hopeless human.But, motivated by the feeling of weakness, Pi’s inner animalistic nature reveals itself. Through the daunting presence of Richard Parker, Pi discovered within himself that he had â€Å"a fierce will to live† (Martel 148). Richard Parker’s, the foil character’s, relationship with Pi personifies one of the major themes of the novel: the will to live. The entire novel is centered on Pi’s struggle to survive in this seemingly impossible, dangerous, and depressing situation. Pi’s instinct to survive is represented by the tiger itself. The qualities of Richard Parker, of the animalistic characteristics, were crucial to his survival.Despite some hesitation, Pi ultimately learns to embrace Richard Parker. He learns to embrace that fierce will to live, learns to fight for survival and, in the end, makes it out alive. The Kite Runner and Life of Pi were both written with a foil character. In both novels, the character motivated and provoked the main protagonist into discovering himself. The fates of both main characters were determined by the ways their foil affected them. This relation between two characters not only significantly establishes the characters themselves, but illuminates the meaning of the work.

Comment on an Experience in Your Life Essay

I was a little worried writing about my mother because I thought it would seem like I was looking for sympathy, but I figured it was a good topic to write about because it had the largest effect on me. My goal became to write an essay that didn’t focus on the death or loss but on the change and growth that took place. Being active is something that has always been important to me, and I learned this from growing up with and observing an expert. My mother was more active and involved than anyone I have ever known. She had an endless energy for life, and love for my two brothers and me, and I have tried to be the kind of person that she was. The phrase on her headstone reads: â€Å"A joyous and boundless energy.† My mother was a highly respected kindergarten teacher for twenty years. In addition to working with children as a professional, she was always involved in my elementary school years, as a class mother or President of the PTO. In the summers there were more children, as we would go to sleepaway camp in Maine and she would be in charge of the youngest group of campers. She was always running, playing, consoling, planning, and caring for children. At home, she was just as active. I remember doing homework with her every night and she got so involved with it that she would practically do it for me, which I thought, at the time, was a pretty good thing. We were always going places, visiting friends, just learning, and there was never a dull moment. Though I didn’t know it consciously at the time, she was setting an example which I was bound to follow. Over seven years ago, my mother died after a long battle with melanoma. I was ten at the time, in fifth grade, and I suppose I didn’t really understand it all that well, or as well as my older brothers did. This essay is not about that loss or death, but on the change that took place. After she was gone, things were so drastically different, because there was so much dull time with nothing to fill it but thoughts. I think I learned from my mom about how to be active and I must have decided, subconsciously, to continue in her path. I saw how happy she and the rest of my family were, and I wanted to perpetuate that. Though it was a small beginning, I began the next year by becoming class president. I joined every club I could and participated in different sports. I wanted to do as many different things as I could. One of my memories of junior high was being busy every lunch period with meetings: the math team, student government, Junior National Honor Society. I was the this little tiny kid, the smallest in my grade, and I was always running around and talking. I remember being scolded many times for what I thought was having too much energy. I was always taught, by my mother, that energy was a good thing, and when it got me in trouble it was very confusing. I continued with this energy and involvement throughout my high school years. I come from a very small school, and that has had a positive effect in allowing me to explore many different activity options. I wouldn’t have been able to experiment the way that I did if I had come from a larger school. I found myself involved in athletics, student government and publications, community service, academic competitions, and drama productions. This experimentation allowed me to see what activities I liked the most, and it gave me a good idea of what I want to continue doing. I loved going to my high school and felt close to the 82 other students in my grade. I think I would like to pursue education at a small school which would allow me to continue to participate the way I have. I don’t think it really matters to me exactly what I am doing. I just want to be doing something. I want to be involved and be around people instead of just sitting home. I wouldn’t have had nearly as much fun if I hadn’t participated. I have met so many new people and had so many different experiences. I learned this from my mother and I think it’s a very important lesson. I like to think that my life, and all that I do, is part of a tribute to my mother’s legacy, and that I have inherited some of her â€Å"joyous and boundless energy.

Curriculum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Curriculum - Essay Example Raising economic equalities and decreasing discrimination due to gender, race or creed, and the receding of conventionality in most of the societies worldwide, have encouraged the recent generations of children to seek not only lower education, but also higher and University education. Education has become a multi-facetted unending journey today without any limits or boundaries. Recently, there had been a vigorous change in the society, and the recent trend of globalisation with the booming media has increased these opportunities. Changed political perspectives, changes in the society, technological changes, shrinking of the world into a global village, desire to know more about the world, its arts and sciences have led even older people into the portals of learning with great results. The content of education has always been a matter of interest to thinkers. "Over 2000 years ago Plato was interested in what the leaders of an ideal state should be taught, and many philosophers and st atesmen since have pondered the educational problems of society," (Taylor, 1985, p.2). Aims and objectives of the curriculum are the beliefs that they would serve the purpose of active education by planning for it much in advance, before the real education starts. It motivates students and gives a clear picture about what they are going to learn, so that they can plan their studies fully. It also provides a target to be completed for the teachers. It is the plan for the entire year and it is the list of skills the student is going to attain at the end of the studies. Curriculum is bound with the very concept of education. Curricula are anyway artificial as they are man made and could be changed any time, though some teachers feel a great awe towards it. They serve a variety of purposes, like making the children aware of the world in which they live, and about the social changes, sciences, political revolutions and economic transformations and space travels etc. The young are systematically introduced to various branches of knowledge through the curriculum, because the y embody the beliefs about education. There are multiplicities of conceptions that keep shaping the education over the years and still continue to do so. It is an ongoing process, as the discoveries and knowledge continues to grow, curriculum keeps changing. "Concepts of learning also change over time; not only the validity of content, the demise of a subject area, the development of a new one, not only in terms of the rapidity with which content may expand or alter in certain disciplines, but in terms of what we know of learning as a process," (Skilbeck, 1984, p.18). Curriculum provides accountability and a way of comparing one with other curriculum. It also creates coherence to the subjects that are going to be taught, along with a systematic nature for the jumbled teaching. At higher classes, students can get more knowledge by studying in advance the rest of the curriculum, having known its contents. Its presence brings the education into a definite bracket so that all concerned are comfortably aware of its contents, examinations etc.

WMD Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

WMD - Research Paper Example Some scholars of the world have often referred to the disease as ‘rabbit fever’. The disease is less contagious hence not communicable and individuals can only contract the disease upon breathing in the dust that is contaminated with the Francisella tularensis virus, drinking water or eating food contaminated with the virus, being bitten by an insect that is infected with the disease and touching the wounds, hair, skin of both the infected animals and human beings. The Department of Health and Human services (HHS), Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH) as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation would adequately respond to the Francisella tularensis virus release situation since it is a bioterrorist event. The local law enforcing agencies as well as the Texas Health Department would also play a significant role in containing the incidence. At this juncture, the different health agencies will work towards minimizing the number of casualties by all means possible. The emergency response system in Texas would be fully tasked and resources fully committed. The Texas Health Department (THD), health care physicians and other medical practitioners would work for long hours to try and contain this situation. Resources within the Texas hospitals in this regard would be strained and eventually drained. Chen is a medical chief at Harborview Medical Center and also an associate professor in the University of Washington. Hickner is a professor of Family Clinical medicine and a Head of Department in the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Dr. Fink is a physician practicing family medicine. Calligher is one of the best research consultants in America while Dr Helen is the vice president of National Quality Forum (NQF). The main aim of this article was to establish the nature of

Developing information systems to increase productivity, efficiency Research Proposal

Developing information systems to increase productivity, efficiency and profit - Research Proposal Example A lot of time was also needed to serve the clients of an organization. The clients were used to these slower procedures, as they were the standards of operations of the time. The employees of these organizations also had to suffer the huge load of tasks each day due to the manual procedures. However, with the modern technological developments that have been recorded in the past few decades, organizations have found it impossible to operate without information technology support. It has been observed that both medium and large organizations cannot operate for more than 24 hours without a modern technology support (Tutor Guidance, para.3). The use of this modern technology has also evolved over the past years from the primitive approach to technology to the proper planning and management of these operations. The modern technology that is in common use in business is information systems. An information system refers to a ‘collection of hardware, software, data, people, and procedu res that are designed to generate information that supports the day-to-day, short-range, and long-range activities of users in an organization (Discovering Computers 2000, para.1). Information systems have a variety of uses in a business environment and as such, there are different types of information systems. However, all these types of information are aimed at improving the efficiency in the business operations including management and decision-making processes. As a business organization that has expanded its operations in the recent past, Smith Collectible Airplanes finds it necessary to adopt modern technology into its operations. This paper focuses on the strategy that can be employed by the organization to establish Information Technology departments that will enable it improve its operations. It provides details on the types of information systems that can be useful to the organization and how they will be used. Types of information systems required by Smith Collectible Air planes There are different types of information systems that are applicable in the business environment. Some of the information systems are developments of the others. These include management information systems, office information systems, transaction processing systems, decision support systems, and expert systems (Discovering Computers 2000, para.1). Smith Collectibles Airplanes will require some of these systems in the initial stages whereas others will be necessary later as complex processes are encountered in the operations of the organization. One of the important information systems required by the organization is Transactions Processing Systems (TPS). A TPS will obtain and process data from a daily business activity like transactions and confirms the process by actions like printing of a receipt (Discovering Computers 2000, para.5). The organization performs large sales of products and purchase of materials. The TPS will be essential in managing such data. It will also be useful in the intended e-business by enhancing online purchase of the company’s products. Office Information Systems will also be useful to this organization. This will be essential in enhancing communication within the company and performing some calculation electronically rather than the traditional manual system adopted by the organiza

Engine system for the Airbus A3200 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Engine system for the Airbus A3200 - Assignment Example The FADEC controls the fuel injection and timing; hence, optimize engine power. This adds the considerable amount of wiring to the system due to the needed separate power supply for backup from the alternator. The extra weight of parts of FADEC system has to be checked and recalculated for adjustment. FADEC has cockpit controls and other extra switches added to this system to control the fuel pump. These systems are protected by the FADEC power supply (Gunston, 1990)). The ECU has a 3D memory map, which controls fuel injection under varied circumstances for instance, air pressure density and the air temperature, with respect to throttle settings and the RPM. The Electronic Control Unit can sense barometric pressure and respond by injecting fuel. The spark plug ignition timing is controlled depending on load for each throttle settings. The ignition timing variations yields faster engine starting and smoother operations with the variable loads. The FADEC engine does not need chocking d uring starting since the ECU controls fuel for every cylinder and assists in retarding the ignition. FADEC system does not use the carburettor and the ignition and does not also depend on aircraft electrical system (Guttman, 2009). On the other hand, in the hydromechanical control system, the driver is in control of the aircraft power plant using an internal combustion engine. The sensors and control are the alternator and the battery masters. The battery master activates the battery contractor that connects the battery to the electrical bus aircraft. Alternator master applies power to the field circuit of the alternator to activate the circuit. The two switches provide power to the aircraft systems. The throttle sets up the required power level and controls the massive air-flow rate in the carburetted engines that are delivered to the cylinder. Pitch control adjust the speed unit, which then adjusts the propeller pitch and controls the load required by the engine in maintaining the RPM. The mixture control will in turn set the needed fuel to add to the airflow intake. At high altitudes, the oxygen levels reduce and, therefore, volume of the fuel must readjust to the required air-fuel mixture. The ignition switch opens the ‘P’’lead circuit by activating the magnetos. The magnetron maintains the process of sending the output voltage to spark plugs and connects the engine through the gearing. Movement in the crankshaft causes the magnetrons to generate voltage for sparking (Hispano-Suiza, 2001). TASK 1: FADEC SYSTEM OF THE V2500-A5 ON THE AIRBUS A320 SYSTEM LAYEROUT DIAGRAM FIG1: The AIRBUS A320 FADEC system layout for the V2500 engine The FADEC system for V2500 is designed with EEC, the HMU and the sensors as the components that form the core of the engine system. The other component that is assigned to systems is the ignition system (Ian, 1990). Forces necessary for movement of startar vanes are brought about by the use of air pressure. Con trol valves from the hydraulic part is arranged centrally in HMU or decentralized around the actuators with FMU fixed in fuel distribution system. The alternator that is located at the accessory gear box is the main power supply. The aircraft electrical system provides alternative power supply and is used in case of FADEC alternator fails. The FADEC system requires relatively low power since this power is only used for EEC operation, the servo valves and also the sensors. All the components controlled by FADEC systems

The Lemon Tree Dilemma Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Lemon Tree Dilemma - Assignment Example Mary accuses Jackie of the leak of the formula solely because she thinks that Jackie is questionable ethically due to her sex change and therefore can easily double cross. Jackie’s remarks about Mary would make her credibility questionable. She makes personal comments aimed at Mary and even accuses her of having an affair with Paul. That demonstrates that she has hard feelings against Mary and could possibly do anything to get back at her. On his part, Peter has drug issues. He has failed two drug tests and that would jeopardize his credibility. The use of drugs would easily affect Peter’s performance and he is likely to be careless while under the influence of the drugs. That would be a major concern to the employer as it may lead to a bigger problem for the company. Jackie’s sex change should not form part of the reasons to question her credibility. That is because it was a personal choice and is in no way related to her work. Using it would amount to discrimination. Her complaint against Mary to the company’s compliance department should also not influence her treatment as it would also amount to discrimination. On the other hand, missing work for three months without notice would constitute a possible reason for

Yoko Ono Behind the Controversies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Yoko Ono Behind the Controversies - Essay Example The essay "Yoko Ono Behind the Controversies" explores art and activities of Yoko Ono. She is a celebrated image but she is also one of the most hated personalities because of her relationship with the famous Beatle singer, John Lennon. Yoko Ono was born in Japan to Eisuke and Isoko, a wealthy couple who owned banks in the country. Known to have given up his love for music, Ono’s father encouraged her and hoped that she will become the performer he always wanted to be. Eventually, Ono grew up to become not only as a musician but a visual artist as well. Critiques say she is a fake because she does not really have artistic elements in her work. Rather, her works are often abstract and whitish. Still, she had quite a quiet but successful career earlier in her life. Her artworks are said to have succeeded due to the influence and help of her second husband, Anthony Cox, a musician with whom she had a daughter. However, their relationship did not do so well and it ended in separat ion which eventually separated Ono with her daughter as well. On her own, Yoko Ono portayed herself as a radical artist with her presentation â€Å"Cut Piece† in Japan and Carnegie Hall in New York, respectively. She claims she did this in her anger to what was happening around the world and she acted on her beliefs about piece through her expression of art, the â€Å"Cut Piece†. This is the reason why she is also known to be an advocate of world peace. Most of her artworks directly speak to her audiences about being at peace with each other.

ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF ERP(ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING) IN SUPPLY Dissertation

ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF ERP(ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING) IN SUPPLY CHAIN SECTOR IN FMCG(FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS) INDUSTRY IN - Dissertation Example The performance of the supply chain provides an edge to the company over its competitors. It can be well understood that when a country has such massive establishment of FMCG industry, then supply chain would be surely playing an important role in this sector. Keeping in mind the significance of supply chain in FMCG sector in India and the increasing use of technology in the retail and FMCG sector, this study aims to thoroughly analyze the significance and challenges of implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in the supply chain of the FMCG sector of Lucknow, India. The issues which the supply chain companies face due to incorrect ERP implementation or inadequate training would also be discussed. Further, instances of breakdown of the supply chain services in the FMCG sector due to ERP problems would also be discussed. Secondary research was conducted and the literature available on the subject was studied to discuss the significance of ERP in the supply chain. The role of IT integrated supply chain in companies like ITC, HUL, Dabur, and Nestle have identified. It was found that ERP integration has streamlined the information flow and has assisted in smooth flow of goods and services. The respondents considered to conduct the study confirmed the fact that all the four FMCG companies have excellent IT integrated framework and they are quite satisfied with its performance. Table of Contents Abstract 2 CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION 8 1.1 FMCG Industry in India 8 1.2 India Competitiveness and Comparison with the World Markets 9 1.3 SWOT Analysis of the FMCG Industry in India 11 1.4 Supply Chain in FMCG Sector 13 1.5 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) in Supply Chain 14 1.6 Outline of the Study 15 1.7 Research Objectives 16 1.8 Problem Statement 17 1.9 Research Question 17 CHAPTER II – LITERATURE REVIEW 17 2.1 Supply Chain Sector in India 17 2.2 Role of Supply Chain in the FMCG Sector of India 21 2.3 Usage of Technology in the Supply Chain Segment 2 4 2.4 Penetration of Technology in the FMCG Sector of India 27 2.5 Significance of EPR in Supply Chain Management 31 2.6 Implementation of ERP for Supply Chain Management in FMCG Sector 34 2.7 Challenges in the Implementation and Usage of ERP 37 2.9 ERP in Few Major FMCG Companies in Lucknow, India 39 2.9.1 Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) 40 2.9.2 Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) 42 2.9.3 NESTLE India 45 2.9.4 DABUR India Ltd. 47 CHAPTER III – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 49 3.1 Introduction 49 3.2 Justification for Methodology 50 3.2.1 Qualitative Methodology 51 3.2.2 Case Study Research 52 3.2 Data Collection Instrument 53 3.2.1 Construct Validity 53 3.2.2 Internal Validity 54 3.2.3 External Validity 54 3.2.4 Reliability 55 3.3 Questionnaire Survey 55 3.4 Sources of Data 56 3.5 Administration of Procedure 57 3.6 Ethical Considerations 57 CHAPTER IV –FINDINGS AND DATA ANALYSIS 58 4.1Findings 58 CHAPTER V – CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 71 5.1 Conclusion 71 IT integrated s upply chain is the most significant component of the firm’s infrastructure. The FMCG companies in India are utilizing the boom and development of technology in the country to the fullest. India is a vast country with increasing population. Though it is considered to be a marketer’s paradise, but on the other hand managing physical logistics system is really troublesome because of various barriers. In order to avoid these barriers FMCG companies ha