The Great Gatsby Essay Summary Example For Students

The Great Gatsby Essay Summary Wealth, Love, and the American DreamIt has been said that F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is about the pursuit of the American dream. It has also been said that the novel is about love, ambition, and obsession. Perhaps both are true. Combined, these themes may be understood in their most basic forms among the relationships within the novel. After all, each characters reason for belonging to a relationship speaks very strongly of what really makes him tick; each characters manifestation of his own desires is found within his lover. Throughout the novel, what universally unites each character beyond anything else is the love of a dream or position and involvement in relationships for the success of that dream. Jay Gatsby has loved Daisy Buchanan since their romance of his youth. Beautiful, rich, and refined, Daisy serves as a symbol of Gatsbys wealth- she represents what 17-year-old James Gatz invented himself to be. The product of years of unfulfilled waited and longing by Gatsb y, she becomes a sort of trophy dream. Her voice is full of money, Gatsby says (Fitzgerald 127). This delightful figure of speech shows precisely what Gatsby desires. The poor boy from the mid-west hoped to be a great man; Daisy has become the manifestation of this desire. Thus, he believes that by impressing her and being accepted by her he can fully posses that dream. After all, Gatsby believes that with his fabulous wealth he can buy anything he wants, especially Daisy. Longing for the love of his youth, he shapes his whole life around this objective of becoming worthy of her. He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths so that he could come over some afternoon to a strangers garden (Fitzgerald 83). Daisy had become the be-all and end-all of his mad ambition, and yet, his approach is passive and wasteful. Instead of actively seeking Daisy, he throws lavish parties, hoping she will stumble in. He finally resorts to a poorly planned me eting, using Nick as an accomplice and stumbling through a reunion that he had planned for all the years she had been away. We will write a custom essay on The Great Gatsby Summary specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Unfortunately for Gatsby, Daisy has married in his absence the hulking, brutish Tom Buchanan, the sort of man one would have expected her to marry all along. Tom represents old money, American aristocracy, and a level of decadence that Gatsby, despite his lavish parties, cannot simulate. Nick notes that It was hard to realize that a man of his own generation is quite as wealthy as Tom really is (Fitzgerald 10). After all, Daisy married for money instead of love. Its made clear that she loves Gatsby far more than she loves Tom, but grew tired of waiting before she finally decided to marry Tom. By the night before her wedding, it was too late for her to change her mind. She groped around in a waste-basket she had with her on her bed and pulled out the string of pearls. Take em downstairs and give em back to whoever they belong to. Tell em all Daisys change her mine. Say Daisys change her mine! (Fitzgerald 81). Her pathetic, drunken attempt to break a commitment by returning a gift is t oo little too late; Daisys desire to remain rich through union to Tom could not counter-act her love for Gatsby. Tom Buchanan isnt satisfied in his beautiful Daisy, the object of another mans dream. Tom describes him as being victim of a permanent anti-climax, the result of the echo of a forgotten football game long ago. Perhaps this is why he has decided to take on a mistress. His lover, Myrtle Wilson, is also in a state of discontent. She doesnt think much of her husband, George. I married him because I thought he was a gentleman, she said finally. I thought he knew something about breeding but he wasnt fit to lick my shoe (Fitzgerald 39). George Wilson may not be a very interesting guy; an auto mechanic doesnt offer much excitement. However, this does not make him disgraceful or poorly bred. After all, this criticism tells more about Myrtles character than it tells about Georges. It is not unfair to say that Myrtle is involved in her relationship with Tom for the sake of climbing the social ladder. On similar lines, their overstuffed apartment symbolizes their desire to stuff value without r eal structure or meaning. Their apartment was on the top floor- a small living room, a small dining room, a small bedroom and a bath. The living room was crowded to the doors with a set of tapestried furniture entirely too large for it so that to move about was to stumble continually over scenes of ladies swinging in the gardens of Versailles (Fitzgerald 33). This ostentatious display of overstuffed, and florid possession shows a desire within Myrtle to make public her new station in life. Unfortunately, there is not much structure within the apartment or the relationship itself. Neither can support the goals and ambitions brought into the relationship. Just as their apartment seems cramped due to more furniture than the building allows, their relationship is crowded and messy without any real feeling or structure. .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 , .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .postImageUrl , .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 , .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:hover , .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:visited , .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:active { border:0!important; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:active , .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616 .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uaadca6505a3a55ac7349c37956cd7616:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Abuse Can Kill EssayWhat is common in these relationships is the desire for the attainment of ones dream through the use of ones lover. Gatsby loves Daisy because she represents wealth and success, Daisy loves Tom because he holds the promise of a continued place as a member of American aristocracy, and Myrtle loves Tom because she believes that her relationship with him will grant her a place in high society. Although these relationships may exhibit pure ambition they do not exhibit pure love. Perhaps the novel is making a statement about the nature of ambition itself. When intertwined and mistaken with love, ambition causes hurt, disillusionment, and tragedy. And t hus, perhaps Fitzgerald is saying that when the American dream is one based on money and mistaken for love, tragedy occurs. Words/ Pages : 996 / 24 The great gatsby Essay Summary Example For Students The great gatsby Essay Summary Important Note: If youd like to save a copy of the paper on your computer, you can COPY and PASTE it into your word processor. Please, follow these steps to do that in Windows: 1. Select the text of the paper with the mouse and press Ctrl+C. 2. Open your word processor and press Ctrl+V. Religious Influences in The Great Gatsby During the 1920s, sometimes referred to as the Progressive Era, political and social changes surfaced in society in efforts to progressively improve the nation. However, the 1920s can accurately be described as the decade of selfishness. Society was material oriented and, as a result, there was a decrease in religious practices. This is vividly displayed in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgeralds use of mortal characters as religious influences. There are three significant occurrences in the novel which show the loss of spirituality of the time, beginning with Gatsbys watch over Daisy the night of the hit and run. Gatsby spends the entire night watching for Daisys sign, just as knights risked their lives in pursuit of the Holy Grail. His desire for Daisy to come for his help and live happily ever after with him is misplaced because of the goal he hopes to attain: Daisy. Next, there is underlying symbolism presented shortly before Gatsbys death as he s truggles with the swimming equipment. When offered assistance from his butler, Gatsby refuses and must bear the cross alone. Finally, Gatsbys murder is portrayed as a process of purification, which is of great religious importance. Shot in his chlorinated pool, Gatsby overcomes his shortcomings and is cleansed of his sins. The immoral efforts that were put against American pop culture in the 1920s are best summarized as Wilson stares into the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg of a vast wasteland, You may fool me, but you cant fool God! His neighbor must remind him, Thats an advertisement (Parker 33). Another symbolic aspect of the Valley of Ashes is that it is the home of the Wilsons, a place where the average person has some type of religious practices. Myrtles murder is a blatant example of the pointlessness of religion in the Twenties society. Fitzgerald suggests that in Twentieth-Century America God has become a thing of cardboard, ineffectual and passive, robbed of power by a short-si ghted materialistic displacement of spiritual values (Moyer 224). The religious efforts of individuals were no match for the selfish society. Works Cited Moyer, Kermit W. The Great Gatsby: Fitzgeralds Meditation of American History. Rpt. in Critical Essays on The Great Gatsby Ed. Scott Donaldson. N.p. n.p., 1984. Parker, David. Two Versions of the Hero. Amsterdam: Swets Zeitlinbger B. V., 1973. Back to Search Results Return to 123HelpMe.com We will write a custom essay on The great gatsby Summary specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Comparison of the films Psycho and Scream Essay Example

Comparison of the films Psycho and Scream Essay Example Comparison of the films Psycho and Scream Paper Comparison of the films Psycho and Scream Paper Essay Topic: Film The film Psycho would have shocked the audience when the film was first released in 1960, and due to the well thought out story line and unpredictable ending, still would have the audience captivated in the year 2002. Hitchcock kept pushing the boundaries as to how far a horror film could go. This kept the audience in shock and excitement as this kind of imagery had never before been seen at this time. The nudity shown on screen would also have shocked the audience because normally at the time, (1960) the viewer would not be used to such graphic imagery, however mild it may appear to be today. Hitchcock used many taboo subjects in his films and also graphic scenes. I believe that these scenes were very good at creating publicity and giving a very unique out-look on his work, as it seperates him from other directors. Hitchcock succeeds in creating suspense through-out the film Psycho, especially the shower scene. This would have to be one of Hitchcocks most famous scenes. Hitchcock wanted the audience to believe that Marion Crane was actually getting stabbed, but had to use limited effects due to censors and budget. Hitchcock uses many filming and sound techniques to get the best sequence across to the audience, without making it too violent. Hitchcock used around seventy-eight different camera angles to achieve the best possible murder shot. He also used many different types of camera shots to add to the effect of the scene. Hitchcock varied the lengths of the shots, to give a more frantic feel to the scene, such as a close-up, closely followed by a medium close-up. Another interesting aspect of the stabbing is the way the audience never actually views the knife penetrating the skin. I feel that the scene was more effective without the actual stabbing as it made the viewer imagine what was happening. I believe that Hitchcock had a lot of dedication to his films, as he was willing to go through so many different stages and shots to get his point across, and create suspense and tention with not only the visuals but also the sound. Another part of the film which a modern day viewer may not think was very unusual, was the first scene, which showed Marion sleeping with Sam, despite not being married to him. Normally in the 1960s it would be considered as wrong for a woman to sleep with a man who she is not married to. This showed more evidence of Hitchcock taking risks and going against usual old fashioned morals. I strongly believe that this began mordernising the film industry. I have chosen to compare Psycho to,Scream, as I believe that both directors where trying to break out of the predictable horror movie cycle, which had been rampant during thses times. Scream had a much larger budget than Psycho, and was released many years later in 1996. Since it was released in October of 1996, it has made over $86 million dollars, and two sequels have been released. Wes Craven (The director of Scream), is also famous for other blosckbuster movies such as, I know what you did last summer, I still know what you did last summer and The mind ripper. Craven has in each maintained a gripping dedication to the genre that he was made famous for, horror. Craven is a modern day director and is therefore able to use things like sex, nudity and graphic scenes of violence, freely and without as many restrictions as Hitchcock. Who had to work around these problems. Craven also uses many unpredictable story lines and plots in his films to create suspense, just as though Hitchcock did in many of his films. Cravens films mainly consist of a killer, victims, a motive and without a doubt, fear. Horror movies in the past may have seemed to be very predictable, so an avid or experienced horror film viewer, would have some preconseptions of a teen horror movie. As most modern teen horror films are usually predictable and have identical or similar story lines as those made previously. Many modern day teen horror films usually contain basic survival rules. Such as the main character remaining a virgin, and not drinking or taking drugs. These types of characters are mainly portraid as strong minded individuals, who only end up being killed if they take part in any of the previously mentioned activities. A lot of modern teen horror films contain phrases like, whos there? or Ill be right back, coincidentally if a person says them, they will inevitably be murdered. Craven abandons these predictable out comes in Scream when the main character, Sydney Prescott, loses her virginity, drinks and actually lives to be in the two sequals. These new ideas and abandoning old ways whilst bringing in new convention, create more suspense and leave the film very unpredictable to the audience. Just as though Hitchcocks Psycho did. In conclusion I believe that without Hitchcock starting, what I would call a revolution in the film industry; by pushing the limits and using low cost effects to create a more realistic cinematic experience. The film industry would not be as decensortised as it is today. I also believe that Wes Craven plays a big part in modern day films as he is, like Hitchcock, inventing new and less predictable ideas, therefore challenging directors to come up with more inavative films.

Great Study Tips for the GRE Vocabulary Section

Great Study Tips for the GRE Vocabulary Section If youre planning to apply to graduate school, youll need to pass the GRE General Test, which includes an extensive vocabulary section. Not only do you need to master the reading comprehension questions, you need to knock the sentence equivalence questions and text completions out of the ballpark. Its challenging, but with adequate preparation, you can pass. Getting Ready for the GRE The key to success is to allow yourself plenty of time to study for the GRE. This isnt something you can cram for a few days out. Experts say you should begin studying 60 to 90 days before the exam is scheduled. Start by taking a diagnostic test. These exams, which are very similar to the actual GRE, will allow you to measure your verbal and quantitative skills and give you a good idea of what your strengths and weaknesses are. ETS, the company that created the GRE, offers ​free review tests on its website.   Create a Study Plan Use your diagnostic test results to craft a study plan that focuses on the areas where you need the most improvement. Create a weekly schedule for review. A good baseline is to study four days a week, 90 minutes a day. Divide your study time into three 30-minute chunks, each that addresses a different topic, and be sure to take breaks in between each session. Kaplan, a company dedicated to helping students review for tests like the GRE, offers detailed sample study schedules on its website. Retake the diagnostic test after four, six, and eight weeks of review to measure your progress. Hit the Books and Tap the Apps There is no shortage of reference books available to help you study for the GRE vocabulary test. Kaplans GRE Prep Plus and GRE Prep by Magoosh are two highly rated prep books available. Youll find sample tests, practice questions and answers, and extensive vocabulary lists. There are also a number of GRE study apps available, too. Some of the best include GRE from Arcadia and Magoosh GRE Prep. Use Vocabulary Flashcards Another reason why you want to begin studying 60 to 90 days before taking the GRE is that theres a lot of information youll need to memorize. A good place to begin is with a list of the top GRE vocabulary words that appear most often on the test. Both Grockit and Kaplanoffer free vocabulary lists. Flashcards can be another useful tool. If you find yourself struggling to memorize a long list of words,  try memorizing word groups, a small list of words (10 or so) arranged by theme into subcategories. Instead of memorizing words like  acclaim, accolade  and  venerate  in isolation, youd remember that they all fall under the theme of praise, and suddenly, theyre easier to remember.   Some people find it useful to organize vocabulary words according to their Greek or Latin roots.  Learning one root means learning 5-10 words or more in one shot. For example, if you can remember that the root ambul means to go, then you also know that words like amble, ambulatory, perambulator, and somnambulist have something to do with going somewhere. Other Study Tips Studying for the GRE vocabulary test is hard enough by yourself. Reach out to friends who are taking the GRE or have taken it in the past and ask them if theyll spend time helping you review. Start by having them give you vocabulary words to define, then change it up by having them give you definitions and responding with the correct word. Vocabulary games can also be a novel way to review. Most GRE study apps incorporate games into their study plans, and you can find them online at sites such as Quizlet, FreeRice,  and  Cram. Are you still finding yourself getting stuck on certain vocabulary words? Try creating  picture pages  for the words that keep eluding you. Remember, studying for the GRE vocabulary test takes time. Be patient with yourself, take frequent study breaks, and reach out to friends for help if and when you need it.

Philosophy in education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy in education - Essay Example t it argues that the same tried and true methods and subject matter should continue to be taught to the next generation of students do the fact that it is both tried and true and has informed the preceding generations. On the other hand, progressivism takes the more â€Å"liberal† approach in positing that individuality, progress, and change are key cornerstones of a truly great education (Labaree 281). Naturally, he progressivists approach to education has been largely informed by many sociological, anthropological, educational, and psychological breakthroughs of the 21st century. If one were to choose to follow a strictly perennialist approach to education, a very formulaic approach would ensue; one that placed a high level of emphasis on utilizing the relevant and historical primary texts that have informed education and thought throughout the centuries. For instance, a class on music would be taught focusing upon classical music theory, the works of Brahms, Bach, and Beethoven, and healthy amount of analysis and discussion of the symphony and the role of chamber groups. In this way, contemporary writings or the introduction of new material, rock n roll, jazz, or even swing music would likely not be included. It is the belief of this particular student that the best approach is thereby the progressivist approach. Due to the fact that our world continues to change at such an alarming rate, focusing solely and single-mindedly upon a strict interpretation of classical texts, and the ways in which knowledge has been inferred for hundreds even thousands of years may not be an appropriate way to better the learning understanding of the pupils involved in the process. Although the progressivists also exhibit some shortcomings, it is the belief of this author that such an approach could better inform the next generation of open minded professionals with regards to the key information they should seek to

Imposing tax on soda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Imposing tax on soda - Essay Example It’s a serious problem that people are facing. Yet levying soda tax, does have a proper way of controlling obesity. First, soft drinks tax might increase low-income family economic burden. For example, many low-income families in the U.S have more than 3 members, and any spending expenses could be important to them. Leonhard (2010) reports that â€Å"a small soda tax could actually have a worse impact on some families’ budgets than a substantial one---by raising the price of soda without affecting consumption† (p.1).It’s similar with teenagers, even though they are big soda drinkers, they are especially price sensitive. In addition, low-income family has few members who are overweight due to their economic situation. It’s unfair to them to pay soda tax. Secondly, it could not reduce the quantity of obesity. There are a great number of factors such as eating habits or racial groups that cause obesity. For instance, fast food such as McDonald, KFC are popular in American. Burgers, fries are parts of people live. They have high calories and they also lead to fat build up. McLeay point out (2003) â€Å"one out of four people in America eat fast food.† Myfit.ca reveals that 50 million people in the U.S. rely on fast food. People are able to drink water or juicy instead of soda† (as cited in Helpugide. Org). Yet it’s hard to change their eating habits. If say soda drinks is a factor that causes obesity, fast food is the root cause of obesity. Therefore, levying tax mere on soda drinks cannot decrease the level of obesity. Besides, racial groups also have effect on the level of obesity. Marlow and Shires (2010) explained â€Å"Consumption data reveal that white persons consume more carbonated soft drinks than other ra ce groups, and that blacks consume more high-calorie fruit drinks and ads. Nutritive sweetened beverages suggest that fruit drinks and Ades are a greater cause of obesity than carbonated soft drinks† (p.37). If the

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas Essay -- Segregation Rac

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas On May 17, 1954 the United States Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas ruling. The supreme court’s ruling stated that separate was in fact not equal. The court ordered that all schools desegregate. This ruling had finally and once and for all put a stop to the dejure segregation of our nation’s schools that had existed since the time when African Americans were allowed to attend schools. This ruling was definitely one of the most significant legal victories in the history of the civil rights movement and possibly the entire twentieth century. It is viewed this way because â€Å"This movement rebuked centuries of government-sanctioned black inferiority† (Cohen p. 22) and most importantly it overturned the Plessey v. Ferguson ruling. The Brown decision breathed new life for the hope of America’s future, that all children regardless of race would be able to receive an equal education. In addition, the NAACP had gained momentum and had big plans to continue the civil rights movement in other areas. Their agenda included housing segregation and employment discrimination. Thurgood Marshall and other members of the NAACP’s law team were confident in their success and believed that it would only be a short period of time of five years before school segregation would be totally eliminated. Sadly, desegregation was not achieved as rapidly and as smoothly as anticipated. In fact, many people claim that in many areas today the schools are resegregating. According to Ted Shaw, head of the NAACP’s legal defense fund, â€Å"we are currently resegregating, and no none seems to care† (regression on integration). Since this year marks the fiftieth ann... ... from. However, the thing that disappoints me the most is that after conducting more in depth reading than I previously had done, I still have no answer of how to fix the problem. I realize that it would be foolish of me to realistically think that I could fix the problem with what little I have studied the subject in this class, but out of all the reading I have done, I could not find a single article that actually gave a solution of how to fix the problem other than continuing the battle in the courts. This is the part that this is so disheartening to me. There is a real problem and I want to fix it, but apparently it is going to be a long struggle to get things back on track. Works Cited 1. Holst, B. (2004, July). Resegregation's aftermath. The Atlantic Monthly, 294, 64. 2. Cohen, A. (2004, Jan. 18).The supreme struggle. The New York Times, pp. 22.

Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies Essay

Apple corporation bases its success on â€Å"creating innovative, high quality products and services and on demonstrating integrity in every business interaction.† According to Apple, four main principles contribute to integrity: honesty, respect, confidentiality, and compliance. To more thoroughly detail these principles, Apple has drafted a code of business conduct that applies to all its operations, including operations overseas. Apple disappointed socially responsible investors. Apple has come under fire since around 2006 as details emerged surrounding the workplace environment at Apple’s Chinese suppliers. An article in The New York Times publicized unsatisfactory worker conditions, which included grueling 24-hour shifts, overcrowded dorms, exposure to toxic chemicals, and horrific explosions. Foxconn Technology Group operates many of the plants in question in Chengdu, China. When it comes to customers, Apple is said to be a bold innovator that leads the industry i nto new directions and forces others to follow. However, when it comes to the management of its supply chain and treatment of workers in the Chinese factories that make its products, Apple hides behind the constraints of prevailing industry practices. What is even more disconcerting is the fact that these practices are in violation of not only local and national laws, but also of Apple’s own voluntary self-imposed code of conduct. Most of Apple’s worker-related problems were focused on Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn and its subsidiaries. Apple’s China operations first caught international attention in June 2006 with a long story in Britain’s Mail on Sunday.1 This was followed by a series of similar stories in other leading international news media, and has continued to this day.2 Because of Foxconn’s secrecy, it is well-nigh impossible to develop an accurate assessment of the problems in the factories owned and operated by Foxconn and its various subsidiaries. However, a brief descr iption of extreme conditions prevailing in these factories and widely reported in the  media gave the readers some indication of the enormity of the problems that likely to existed in those plants. Apple has audited many of its suppliers and found violations of its Supplier Code of Conduct, but requesting its suppliers improve working conditions is not as powerful as changing suppliers to ones with more humane conditions. Part of the problem is that Apple has no legal liability for what happens in Chinese factories owned by separate manufacturers. Environmental organization Greenpeace had frequently campaigned against Apple, requesting elimination of non-recyclable hardware components, the removal of toxins from iPhone hardware, and a comprehensive take-back plan to prevent Apple products from ending up as waste. Greenpeace also began a protest in 2003 against Apple’s use of toxic PVC plastics and brominated flame retardants, or BFRs, in Apple’s products. Apple eliminated these chemicals in 2008, becoming the first laptop maker to do so (Corporate Responsibility Spotlight: Apple, September 14, 2012.) Workers assembling iPhones, iPads and other devices often labor in harsh conditions, according to employees inside China’s plants, worker advocates and documents published by companies themselves. Problems are as varied as onerous work environments and serious — sometimes deadly — safety problems. Under-age workers have helped build Apple’s products, and the company’s suppliers have improperly disposed of hazardous waste and falsified records, according to company reports and advocacy groups that, within China, are often considered reliable, independent monitors. The suppliers demonstrated disregard for workers health. In 2010, 137 workers at an Apple supplier in eastern China were injured after the workers were said to have been ordered to use a poisonous chemical to clean iPhone screens. In 2009 two explosions at iPad factories, including in Chengdu, killed four people and injured 77. Before those blasts, Apple had been alerted to hazardous conditions inside the Chengdu plant, according to a Chinese group that published that warning (Duhigg, Charles and Barboza, David. In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad, (The NewYork Times) January 25, 2 010.) The publications outlining the ethics and social responsibility violations of Apple caused more consumers to actually start to wonder where and how Apple products are manufactured. Consumers have focused on Apple’s remarkable products rather than how they are produced. The New York Times story on iPad working conditions, for example, generated 1,770 reader comments. Many, if not most, blasted Apple  or the overall system of cheap labor. And an online petition prompted by the This American Life piece that called for Apple to protect Chinese workers had garnered roughly 166,000 signatures—and counting. I determined that Apple’s customers would be willing to pay more for its products if Apple had to increase selling prices in order to provide better wages and benefits for suppliers’ workers. Apple seems to make people crazy, described as a cult because it has such a vociferous following.† The Secrecy Strategy† (Moltz, John., Why Apple Drives People Crazy. Macworld. Feb2013, Vol. 30 Issue 2, p100-100. 1p). Stock-market and financial analysts are known to always have had a hard time understanding Apple because Apple does not sell commodity products or chase market share at the cost of everything else. Its modus operand i is: Enter a market, stake out the high end, and scoop up all the profit. As copycats such as Samsung flood the low end, Apple continued to hold the high end by evolving and differentiating products, while looking for new markets. One key approach used is to never telegraph punches; that way, no would know which market would be remade next. Hence Apple’s famous veil of secrecy, which further frustrated analysts. The bottom line was that the appeal of Apple’s products and its business strategies were said to be inscrutable, which made the company a Rorschach test. People saw what they wanted to see, and the idea that Apple’s fortunes are plummeting is more appealing to many than the idea that it might continue to ride high. The appeal of Apple’s products and its business strategies are believed to be both inscrutable. Apple joined the FLA in 2012 following intense public attention over allegations of widespread problems at Foxconn, China’s largest private employer. The FLA said both Apple and Foxconn â€Å"have agreed to ongoing assessments by FLA in order to ensure that labor practices meet FLA standards and remain in compliance for the long term.† Current and former Apple executives, moreover, say the company had made significant strides in improving factories in recent years. Apple has a supplier code of conduct that details standards on labor issues, safety protections and other topics. The company has mounted a vigorous auditing campaign, and when abuses are discovered, Apple says, corrections are demanded. And Apple’s annual supplier responsibility reports, in many cases, are the first to report abuses. This month, for the first time, the company released a list identifying many of its suppliers. Apple has continued to be aggressive in  calling out suppliers who don’t meet up to its code of conduct. In January, Apple said it had fired Pingzhou Electronics – after it was found to be hiring underage workers. Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct sets the minimum age for workers at 15. (Apple’s Labor Practices In China Scrutinized After Foxconn, Pegatron Reviews. Forbes.com. 12/12/2013, p2-2. 1 p. 1 Chart). What made Steve different from other marketers, is that he understood that his job as a marketer was not to focus on making money or sales, and, unlike other marketers, Steve’s marketing skills was seem in the way he presented his products: Here are some of the quotes that reflect Steve’s focus in business: If it could save a person’s life, could you find a way to save ten seconds off the boot time? You‘ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward—not the other way around. Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying that they had done something wonderful is what mattered to Steve. Steve made the marketing process simple; if he gave people what they want, educated them on why they needed it, showed them how it will improve their lives, and why no other competitor’s products could compete with the convenience and ease of use of yours, customers would be willing to spend. References Apple’s Labor Practices In China scrutinized after Foxconn, pegatron reviews. Forbes.com. 12/12/2013, p2-2. 1p. 1 Chart. Apple’s Marketing Strategy – Sell On Value, Not Price. Retrieved from http://www.chrisnosal.com/apples-marketing-strategy-sell-products-on-value-not-price/ (Duhigg, Charles and Barboza, David.( January 25, 2010). In China, human costs are built into an iPad, (The NewYork Times). Frauenheim, Ed. February 6, 2012. Bad Apple: Could the era of exploitation outsourcing be near its end? Retrieved from http://www.workforce.com/blogs/2-work-in-progress/post/bad-apple-could-the-era-of-exploitation-outsourcing-be-near-its-end) Kannel, Charlie, The Motley Fool (September 14, 2012) Corporate responsibility spotlight: Apple. (Daily Finance). Ira Kalb, Marshall School of Business, USC . (September 13, 2013) Apple’s ‘Cheap iPhone’ might not be that affordable, but it does protect the brand (Business Insider). Retrieved from