Aylmers Struggle for Perfection in Nathaniel Hawthomes, The Birthmark

Aylmer's Struggle for Perfection in Nathaniel Hawthome's, The Birthmark Aylmer's struggle for scientific perfection transcends human possibility in Nathaniel Hawthome's "The Birthmark." He attempts to perfect that which nature rendered imperfect. When the quest for human achievement opposes divine design it has no chance of succeeding. This key element in Aylmer's twisted love leads to the demise of what he seeks so desperately to perfect, his beautiful wife. Georgianna's "fatal flaw of humanity" (Hawthorne 167), the birthmark, blocks her from perfection in his eyes, and thus blemishes Aylmer's prideful ideals. Her alleged inferiority to science leads to her death and Aylmer's complete failure as both a scientist and a spouse. From the beginning of "The Birthmark, " Hawthorne describes Aylmer as a man with some degree of physical finery that alludes to perfection "... cleared his fine countenance ... " (164). He is described as a man with a passionate and ardent interest in science; in fact, he devotes almost his entire life in this pursuit. "He had devoted himself... too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them..." (165). This scientific background shows that Aylmer's love for Georgianna is his "second passion" (165). Georgianna comes second in his pursuit of happiness whereas science could be called his first love. He becomes obsessed with the idea of changing his beloved to suit his fancy. Georgianna possesses a mark upon her cheek, hardly a cause for concern to the average human. The mark is "deeply interwoven ... with the texture and substance of her face" (165). The minuscule mark is crimson and in the peculiar shape of a tiny hand. It changes with Georgianna's moods. When she is rosy che... ...horne Question. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1963. Brooks, Cleanth and Robert Penn Warren. "Interpretation of the Birthmark." Donohue 185-188. Fogle, Richard Harter. Hawthorne's Fiction: The Light and the Dark. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964. Heileman, P, B. "Hawthorne's The Birthmark: Science as Religion." Donohue 180-195. Rucker, Mary E. "Science and Art in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark', " Nineteenth Century Literature 41 (1987)- 445-61. Wagoner, Hyatt H. Hawthorne: A Critical Study. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1963. Weinstein, Cindy. "The Invisible Hand Made Visible: 'The Birthmark'." Nineteenth Century Literature.. 48 (1993), 44- 73. Zanger, Jules. " Speaking of the Unspeakable: Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark'. "Modern Philology: A Journal Devoted to Research Medieval and Modem Literature. 80 (1983): 364- 371.

Lessons about Writing in the Works of Various Artists Essay -- essays

Most recently, I have read several powerful essays in Exploring Language, by Gary Goshgarian, which give straightforward advice about becoming a better writer. One such essay is ?Writing for an Audience,? by Linda Flower. She believes that a good piece of writing closes the gap between the reader and the writer. Another essay that I will be looking at is Getting Started,? by Anne Lamott. She believes that good writing is about telling the truth. Patricia T. O?Conner wrote an interesting essay titled ?Saying is Believing.? In it, she tells us that a good writer is one that you can read without breaking a sweat. Which leads me to the final essay that has helped influence my writing style, ?How to Write with Style,? by Kurt Vonnegut. He contends that your own winning style must begin with ideas in your mind. The essays written by Flower, Lamott, O?Conner and Vonnegut have supplied me with a multitude of lessons and advice, so that I may improve my writing skills and engage my reader better. The first thing that struck me as important is that the writing style must change to meet the different needs and demands of the individual reader. Linda Flower states in her essay, ?Writing for an Audience,? that ?a good piece of writing closes the gap between you and the reader? (156). Before I knew this, I tended to write for an audience of robots, while I now understand that my reader?s have unique faces and personalities of their own. In her essay, Ms. Flower gives concise explanations of my audience?s needs. What does my reader?s need to know? Can they easily digest what I am writing about? What is my audience?s attitude towards my subject matter? For example, I?m going to write an essay about my dog. First, I need to d... ...l quickly loose interest and almost immediately toss my work aside for something more thought provoking. My goal is to continue learning how to improve my writing. Each essay brought valuable information that I will continue to use throughout my college years and beyond. I found it intriguing that some of the essays conveyed the same lesson, an example, ?Writing With Style,? Mr. Vonnegut stresses that language is very important within an essay, Ms Flower concurs with this advice in ?Writing for an Audience.? The essays written by Flower, Lamott, O?Conner and Vonnegut have supplied me with a multitude of lessons and advice so that I may improve my writing skills and engage my reader better. In conclusion, I would like to say with Patricia O?Conner that, ?[a] good writer can express an extremely complicated idea clearly and make the job look effortless? (180).

Marketing Segmentation Essay

1. Geographical segmentation: The market is divided according to geographic criteria like nation, state, religion, countries etc. Geographic data create accurate profile of specific. For eg: in rainy season sells rainy clothes (like raincoat, umbrella etc) 2. Demographic segmentation: it divide to the market into groups according to variable in age, family, gender, size of family, income of the consumers etc 3. Psychographic segmentation: It is a science which use in better understands all consumers according to their life style, personality, value and social-class. I am doing job in Bajaj Company, after this company has monopolised in almost all field either in the field of manufacturing bikes or bulb, tube light etc. Earlier, the customers were not fond of verities because there were not too many verities in the market and less competitions, but, in present time a huge competition has been taken place that for survive in the market every companies should be update with their products, otherwise rival companies will lead them. If we talk about the bike fashion we see that our youngsters like those bikes which must not be strong in pickup (60 km/h with few minutes) as well as good looking means it looks different from others, besides this, old agers want those bikes which run comfortably that they ride normally, to keep this in their mind all companies like hero Honda release many bikes like Hero stunner, CBZ, Karizma for young generations. While, for old agers they released Slender, Passion, CD dawn etc, in same pattern Yamaha release Yamaha R15 which cost is almost Rs. 15,000 in present time, but give a good look which attract the customers. So, after much research on these companies, Bajaj Company wants to release such bike series which is not only for young as well as senior can use it, so this company manufactured lots of bikes Pulsar and discover series for youngsters which not only good looking but also having that price which every customers can afford and easily buy the products and it also give good mileage than others companies bike, and from the point of view senior, whose ages is 40 years and above, they release Platina with self start facilities which is easy in riding. By all these information I want to describe that Bajaj Company segmented it products in various categories according to customers’ demand that’s why this company is going extremely good and successful in satisfied to consumers. If we talking about bulb, tube lights, this company manufactured the bulbs, CFLs, tube lights which not give perfect light but also take few electricity and go long times. Especially CFLs which cost are high but it work beyond one years and it takes less electricity and give light so much as a 40 watt tube light gives. There are many designs of CFLs has been released in the market which selling is more than bulbs and tube lights. So according to customer’s choice and willing Bajaj Company put down stylish CFLs in the market which attract consumers with its designs but also reduce the electric bill of customers and supplies good light over all houses. So like this the company segmented it electric accessories in various styles, according to customers willing and choice. Marketing Plan Marketing plan is a marketing strategy which involves marketing plans for a firm’s marketing activities. Marketing planning process is process of business planning; in marketing plan all the firm’s keep an eye on all marketing activities as well as competitors and they also come to know the view of the customers about their products like they are satisfied with their products or not, if not, know the reason of disliking and what they want improve in the products etc, because satisfaction of consumers is very important, after all whole marketing processes and successes are depend only upon customers. They are the important part of business. For e. g. if we talking about auto mobile all companies like Hero Honda, Yamaha, Bajaj etc, manufactured ordinary bikes( like Hero Honda released CD 100 later Splendour , Yamaha CX 100 and Bajaj released scooters and later Bajaj Boxer) but, there were some problems and deficiency took place in the bikes like the capacity of the engine was not good that was giving low mileage, pick up was ordinary and ordinary looks etc, after looking and analysing all problems of customers all companies manufactured those bikes which are giving good mileage, capacity of engine is very good and all are stylish as customers wanted. For e. g. :- Bajaj released discover series, pulsar series, Hero Honda released Passion, Passion plus, CBZ, Karizma etc, Yamaha released Yamaha R15 (but it is too costly), TVS manufactured Apache etc. Beside these, all companies also release scooty for college going girls. Because they knew that all ladies can’t ride the bikes that’s why to keep in mind the facilities of girls they produced scooty which is very light with self start facilities, without gears. These products became very popular among the girls, not girls even boy also taking ride of the scooty many times. Like this all companies conduct a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats) means they research on the behaviour, likes, dislikes, what are the deficiencies in the product, what else and what new their customers want in their products and what other companies provided to customers and do better than them.

Singer vs Regan

Environmental Ethics: Singer vs Regan Environmental ethics is defined: as a part of philosophy which considers extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the nonhuman world (Wikipedia). For example, this includes the preservation of plants and an increase of animal rights. Peter Singer and Tom Regan both argue that animals need a greater voice than their own in the debate of ethical treatment.Despite their very different philosophical views, Singer and Regan want a similar outcome when dealing with environmental ethics it today’s society. Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher, takes a utilitarian view on nonhuman liberation. In other words actions should be judged strictly by their consequences. For example if an action benefits the largest number of individuals, over a lesser number, then that action must be good.His central view is that moral consideration should be given to all living things but that â€Å"†¦does not mea n treating them alike or holding their lives to be of equal value (Singer p. 58). Singer adds that â€Å"We may recognize that the interests of one being are greater than those of another, and equal consideration will then lead us to sacrifice the being with lesser interest, if one or the other must be sacrificed† (Singer p. 58). This as a whole sounds brutal but on the positive end of moral consideration is that interest shared by both humans and nonhumans have to be given equal weight.Singer argues that â€Å"We can now draw at least one conclusion as to how the existence of nonhuman living things should enter into our deliberations about actions affecting the environment: Where our actions are likely to make animals suffer, that suffering must count in our deliberations, and it should count equally with a like amount of suffering by human beings, insofar as rough comparisons can be made† (Singer p. 59). He adds that the conclusion of making these choices will be con troversial but there will be a clear cut winner. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tom Regan is an American philosopher that takes a much different view.He argues that not only humans have rights but animals have rights as well. Regan adds that â€Å"To be for animal welfare, as distinct from merely being against animal cruelty, is to believe that we may have a duty to improve the quality of animal life, by ensuring – so far as this is possible – that other animals are the beneficiaries of what is good for them not merely that we should avoid being cruel to them† (Regan p. 66). He emphasizes that â€Å"The welfare of nonhuman animals is important. But it is not the only thing that is important† (Regan p. 67).Regan’s aim is to simply abolish, not reform, the current system of human and nonhuman relations. He argues that it is morally wrong for humans to use animals for their needs, stating that this action, as a result, deprives animals of their individual rights. Regan asserts that all animals have intrinsic value because they have feelings, desires, and preferences. As a result of his beliefs Regan feels that the animal rights movement is no different than the human rights movement. Peter Singer and Tom Regan have similar goals concerning environmental ethics but have much different approaches.Singer takes a utilitarian view stating that the best solution to a moral problem is the one with the best likely consequences for the majority concerned. While on the other hand Regan takes a deontological approach to animal rights. He basis his reasoning on that like humans, animals have an understanding of the world and know what they desire from life. One problem that is worth pointing out between Singer and Regan is the loophole concerning endangered species. Singer does not look at individuals he looks at a group. With endangered species the group is small and therefore does not carry a large voice in conservation.On the other hand Regan cannot argue for the group that is endangered but only the individual that is in question. As a result endangered species are left is constant feeling of limbo waiting for a definite answer on their place in society. Despite the differences between Peter Singer and Tom Regan they are both in agreement that some action needs to take place. The world would continue to crumble around us if it was not for two great philosophers willing to put their reputations on the line for the greater good for both humans and nonhumans. Environmental Ethics, ed. Andrew Light and Holmes Rolston III. Singer vs Regan Environmental Ethics: Singer vs Regan Environmental ethics is defined: as a part of philosophy which considers extending the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely including humans to including the nonhuman world (Wikipedia). For example, this includes the preservation of plants and an increase of animal rights. Peter Singer and Tom Regan both argue that animals need a greater voice than their own in the debate of ethical treatment.Despite their very different philosophical views, Singer and Regan want a similar outcome when dealing with environmental ethics it today’s society. Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher, takes a utilitarian view on nonhuman liberation. In other words actions should be judged strictly by their consequences. For example if an action benefits the largest number of individuals, over a lesser number, then that action must be good.His central view is that moral consideration should be given to all living things but that â€Å"†¦does not mea n treating them alike or holding their lives to be of equal value (Singer p. 58). Singer adds that â€Å"We may recognize that the interests of one being are greater than those of another, and equal consideration will then lead us to sacrifice the being with lesser interest, if one or the other must be sacrificed† (Singer p. 58). This as a whole sounds brutal but on the positive end of moral consideration is that interest shared by both humans and nonhumans have to be given equal weight.Singer argues that â€Å"We can now draw at least one conclusion as to how the existence of nonhuman living things should enter into our deliberations about actions affecting the environment: Where our actions are likely to make animals suffer, that suffering must count in our deliberations, and it should count equally with a like amount of suffering by human beings, insofar as rough comparisons can be made† (Singer p. 59). He adds that the conclusion of making these choices will be con troversial but there will be a clear cut winner. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tom Regan is an American philosopher that takes a much different view.He argues that not only humans have rights but animals have rights as well. Regan adds that â€Å"To be for animal welfare, as distinct from merely being against animal cruelty, is to believe that we may have a duty to improve the quality of animal life, by ensuring – so far as this is possible – that other animals are the beneficiaries of what is good for them not merely that we should avoid being cruel to them† (Regan p. 66). He emphasizes that â€Å"The welfare of nonhuman animals is important. But it is not the only thing that is important† (Regan p. 67).Regan’s aim is to simply abolish, not reform, the current system of human and nonhuman relations. He argues that it is morally wrong for humans to use animals for their needs, stating that this action, as a result, deprives animals of their individual rights. Regan asserts that all animals have intrinsic value because they have feelings, desires, and preferences. As a result of his beliefs Regan feels that the animal rights movement is no different than the human rights movement. Peter Singer and Tom Regan have similar goals concerning environmental ethics but have much different approaches.Singer takes a utilitarian view stating that the best solution to a moral problem is the one with the best likely consequences for the majority concerned. While on the other hand Regan takes a deontological approach to animal rights. He basis his reasoning on that like humans, animals have an understanding of the world and know what they desire from life. One problem that is worth pointing out between Singer and Regan is the loophole concerning endangered species. Singer does not look at individuals he looks at a group. With endangered species the group is small and therefore does not carry a large voice in conservation.On the other hand Regan cannot argue for the group that is endangered but only the individual that is in question. As a result endangered species are left is constant feeling of limbo waiting for a definite answer on their place in society. Despite the differences between Peter Singer and Tom Regan they are both in agreement that some action needs to take place. The world would continue to crumble around us if it was not for two great philosophers willing to put their reputations on the line for the greater good for both humans and nonhumans. Environmental Ethics, ed. Andrew Light and Holmes Rolston III.

Environmental Issue Essay

Poor waste management is one of the major problems that have vast social-ecological and economic negative effects on a global scale. This has resulted from the fast growth of the urban centers which form the main source of wastes and its poor management by the respective authorities. Indeed, over 90% of the total major cities globally have problems related to waste management (Bureau of National Affairs, 2007). However, cities in the third world economies are affected more by the problem than those in developed countries. Urgent measures are therefore required to address the problems and therefore guarantee ecological sanctity and social integrity of the affected systems. Use of qualitative and quantitative data Addressing the problem of the wastes in the urban regions demands the collection of factual information to establish the correct methods and ways that can be used to address the problem. Taking into consideration that the problem has escalated over a long period of time, use of qualitative data would provide the relevant descriptive information for the waste and therefore aid in determining the best modes of addressing the problem (Toma, 2008). Wastes from the cities can be qualitatively categorized as solid and liquid wastes. The data can further be descriptive of the biodegradable wastes, plastic wastes, pharmaceutical wastes, and sharps. Quantitatively data on the other hand would be very essential in understanding various quantities of the qualitatively categorized wastes. Understanding the statistics provides the respective authorities with the relevant information that can assist them in determining the mode they would use in countering the same problem. Chemical treatment of liquid wastes is sustainable and more effective for smaller quantities of liquid wastes while use of aerobic lagoons is better for larger quantities. Besides, understanding the quantity of recyclable materials in solid wastes makes it easier to calculate the economic returns of the recycled products (Toma, 2008). Hypothesis: Scientific process forms the best system for providing the solution of waste management in the cities. With the problem of the waste being a major source of ecological and social problems globally, it demands a holistic approach that appreciates the complexity of the issue and therefore provide the best possible solution. It is worth noting that scientific method of addressing the problem is based on factual information that is qualitatively and quantitatively derived. Therefore, will be able to assess and address actual problem affecting the people and the ecological systems. All aspects of urban wastes are scientifically derived and science only would interpret them on the same tone to establish means of reducing their effects (Worldwatch Institute, 2009). Socially, addressing the problem using scientific methods aid in ensuring that As a result, it has the ability to link the cause and consequences of the negative effects of the wastes and provide a long term solution to them. Conclusion With the pollution problem threatening to get out of hand in the major cities, it has become important to address it in a sustainable mode. Scientific process will therefore be the best mode due to its thoroughness and intrinsic capacity to alleviate the problem. The demand for cleaner and healthier environment over the years has increased greatly globally. Therefore, taking into consideration that the urban centers are growing faster than any other period in history, scientific process seeks to address the waste problem holistically at all levels. Most of the international considerations like Basel convention of 1989 and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development of 1992 have called for scientific approaches to address the problem. The scientific process calls for effective consideration of the wastes from the point of production to disposal. Besides, it emphasizes on reduction of wastes at the source and application of the best systems that reduces its effects to the people and the natural systems (Worldwatch Institute, 2009). It demands for recycling of all the recyclable waste materials in the wastes a notion that goes a long way in improving the resources utility. Through use of the life cycle analysis/ end of pipe system, wastes are slowly turning into precious resources to be used in other areas like conditioning farms, irrigation, and making building bricks. Notably, the scientific process demands that cooperation be instituted at all levels of the waste management to harmonize the process and ensure long term sustainability. Finally, the scientific process sets effective standards that should be observed by waste producers and managements, and monitoring systems to ensure compliance. Reference list Bureau of National Affairs, (2007). International environment reporter: current report. Washington, D. C. : Bureau of National Affairs. Toma, V. (2008). Waste Management Research Trends. Basel: Nova Publishers. Worldwatch Institute, (2009). State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World. London: W W Norton & Co Inc.

Tranisition Into a Global Organization

What marketing considerations do you need to understand as you evolve from a domestic supplier or international distributor to a fully integrated global company? Is it an easy transition or does it demand restructuring of your market functions? There are many factors an organization must consider before and during the transition into a fully integrated global company. Although the transition may not be easy, evaluation of and planning for these considerations will enable an organization to evolve into a strong global organization. During this process of transition from a domestic company to a true global organization, some restructuring of the market functions will have to occur. The traditional marketing model from the seller’s point of view, or the Four â€Å"Ps† of marketing, is based on Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. This model is based on the assumption that the marketplace is driven by manufacturers. According to Schultz and Kitchen (2000), manufactured-driven marketplace has â€Å"evolved† into a distribution-driven market place where major retailers or distributors like Wal-Mart control the marketplace. Schultz and Kitchen (2000) go on to state that the marketplace is continuing to evolve into a newly emerging interactive marketplace brought about by the development of the internet and new e-commerce business applications. In this new interactive marketplace, the consumer interests rule and as a result, manufacturers, according to Schultz and Kitchen (2000) must adjust to consumer needs. This new trend has led to a new marketing model from the consumer’s point of view. This model, called the Four â€Å"Cs† is consumer oriented as opposed to the traditional seller oriented Four â€Å"Ps† model. The Four â€Å"Cs† model of marketing are Customers, Company, Competitors, and Circumstances. The global marketplace, according to Schultz and Kitchen (2000) is a combination of the other three marketplace functions. If this is the case, an organization that wishes to evolve into a fully integrated global company must evaluate the global market based on the Four â€Å"Ps† and the Four â€Å"Cs† and develop a business plan accordingly to the specific marketplace of implementation. What works locally for a domestic organization may not work lobally. Consider the example of the Starbucks Company failure in Australia. According to Patterson, Scott and Uncles (2010), a contributing factor to the failure of Starbucks in the Australian marketplace was that Starbucks tried to bring â€Å"what worked in the US and applying it here (Australia), without really understanding the local market. † Starbucks had an unsustainable business model because the company failed to do the research that would have enabled the company to effectively market its product to the Australian consumer. References Patterson, P. , Scott, J. , & Uncles, M.. (2010). How the local competition defeated a global brand: The case of Starbucks. Australasian Marketing Journal, 18, 41-47. Retrieved from http://proquest. umi. com. ezproxy1. apus. edu/pqdweb? did=2097829591&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=62546&RQT=309&VName=PQD Schultz, D. & Kitchen, P.. (2000). Communicating Globally: An integrated marketing approach. Lincolnwood, IL: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/apus/docDetail. action? docID=10153056

How did Bobbie Ann Mason`s upbringing in the rural south influence her writing of Shiloh Essay

Bobbie Ann Mason is considered as one of the great American writers from the South. Her personal background as a Southerner influenced and set a backdrop for most of her fiction stories. From a small country girl who used to read Bobbsey Twins and the Nancy Drew mysteries, Bobbie Ann Mason has become one of the America’s leading fiction writers. In 1980 The New Yorker published her first story. â€Å"It took me a long time to discover my material,† she says. â€Å"It wasn’t a matter of developing writing skills; it was a matter of knowing how to see things. And it took me a very long time to grow up. I’d been writing for a long time, but was never able to see what there was to write about. I always aspired to things away from home, so it took me a long time to look back at home and realize that that’s where the center of my thought was† (Bobbie Ann Mason’s Homepage). This discourse will try to map out the journey that Bobbie Ann Mason has taken from being just a country girl to being one of America’s leading fiction writers as well as how her upbringing has been manifested in her writings, especially â€Å"Shiloh†. Bobbie Ann Mason was born in 1940 in a small town in Mayfield, Kentucky. Growing up in her parents’ dairy farm, she spent most of her childhood days in the typical rural Southern setting and experiencing the Southern way of upbringing. (â€Å"Bobbie Ann Mason,† Wikipedia) The first nine (9) years of her educational life were spent in a rural school. Shortly thereafter Bobbie Ann Mason attended a â€Å"city† school where she stayed until her graduation. It was here where she first experienced living in the city and experiencing the hustle and bustle that was absent from the rural setting that she was accustomed to in Kentucky (Webber). It was her love for literature that prompted her to pursue a degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky and eventually attain a Ph. D. in English from the University of Connecticut. (â€Å"Bobbie Ann Mason,† Wikipedia) This seeming â€Å"duality† of her background, growing up in the Southern Setting and highly educated in a metropolitan setting, is reflected within most of her written works (Hunt). Rothstein describes Mason’s style as a combination of her â€Å"intellectual sophistication† (after all, she had a doctorate degree) and â€Å"the sense of isolated, yearning existence of her rural characters [is] one she has never quite shed herself. † The influence of growing up in the South is clearly shown in most of her characters in her stories yet the theme and feel of the story reveals her intellect and cosmopolitan views as well. A perfect example of how Mason reveals this â€Å"duality† is in Shiloh. In Shiloh, Mason shows this through the challenges that the characters undergo; some of these changes that the characters in experience deal with the nature of human life, the changes brought on by death, the issues on disease and aging; but these changes are not so common, nor as troublesome, in Mason’s stories as the changes brought on by a changing society. These changes, as Edwin T. Arnold correctly observes, are brought about by the fact that the present â€Å"has effectively displaced, transformed, and cheapened the traditional,† and Mason’s characters are depicted as they lose their strengths and beliefs and find nothing substantial to replace them (136) Bobbie Ann Mason’s writings are mostly set in the South. Her version is more realistic and not romanticized; unlike the works of Faulkner or O’Connor (Hunt), she depicts small-town rural Southern living, using dialogue and settings characteristic of the South (Hunt). However, â€Å"southern history and all it represents seems irrelevant to her characters’ lives† (Fine 87). Bobbie Ann Mason occasionally reveals her talent and wit by being able to focus more on her characters and their sense of isolation and their want for something more from their lives and draw the reader towards the characters and make them empathize with the characters. These characters are not simply depicted as typical Southerners, but rather as people â€Å"who are trying desperately to get into the society rather than out of it† (Reed 60). Mason shows the Southern Influence by creating believable characters that are caught in the transition between the old, pastoral, rural world of farms and close-knit communities and the modern, anonymous, suburban world of shopping malls and fast-food restaurants (Shiloh: Themes). In â€Å"Shiloh,† for example, Leroy did not notice the change in his hometown while he was on the road as a trucker. However, now that Leroy has come home to stay, â€Å"he notices how much the town has changed. Subdivisions are spreading across western Kentucky like an oil slick. † Change, a theme often used by Mason in her works, shows just how much Mason is influenced by her upbringing and also reveals how she laments over how people are slow to realize the changes in southern society. In this story, it takes a traumatic event of some kind to make the characters see that the land has changed or that they no longer know who they are. In Leroy’s case, it is his accident and injury in his rig that make him see that the land has changed, that Norma Jean has changed, and that â€Å"in all the years he was on the road he never took time to examine anything. He was always flying past scenery† (2). Several of Mason’s characters react to the changes in their lives by trying, at least momentarily, to go back. Leroy thinks that he can hold onto his wife if he can go back to a simpler time. He decides to accomplish this by building her a log cabin for which he goes so far as to order the blueprints and to build a miniature out of Lincoln Logs. Mabel, Leroy’s mother-in-law, is convinced that if Leroy and Norma Jean will go to Shiloh where she and her husband went on their honeymoon, they can somehow begin their fifteen-year-old marriage anew. So does Leroy. He says to Norma, â€Å"You and me could start all over again. Right back at the beginning† (15). It is ironic, fitting, and symbolic that it is at Shiloh that Norma tells him she wants to leave him. By story’s end, Leroy knows that he cannot go back as â€Å"it occurs to him that building a house of logs is . . . empty — too simple. . . . Now he sees that building a log house is the dumbest idea he could have had. . . . It was a crazy idea† (16). He realizes that â€Å"the real inner workings of a marriage, like most of history, have escaped him† (16). The female characters that Mason brings to life are what set her stories apart from the usual literature which depicts Southern women; their dreams, goals, and their want for progress significantly differs from those of the traditional Southern belle characters such as Scarlett O’Hara and Adie (Hunt). The female characters of Mason embrace change and are not afraid of it (Kincaid 582). This seemingly feminist theme reflects the change in social relationships between men and women; how evolving and rapidly shifting gender roles affect the lives of simple people. Mason also shows how some of her women try to forge new identities in the wake of shifting gender roles and how their efforts often include a blatant shrinking of traditionally feminine behaviors or characteristics; sometimes they seem almost completely to be trading roles with the men in their lives. And since change often causes uncertainty and instability, another aspect is the way these women find some solid ground through connections with other women (Bucher). â€Å"Shiloh† is a story that â€Å"symbolizes the modern woman striving to find her identity† (Cooke 196). In this short story, Bobbie Ann Mason masterfully portrays the lead female character, Norma Jean, as one such woman; strong, determined and confused in a search for her identity. Mason is able to show this to the reader through the acts of Norma Jean as she tries to improve her physical appearance by â€Å"working on her pectorals† (Mason 271), enrolls in a â€Å"variety of classes, from weightlifting to cooking exotic foods to English composition in an attempt to become a new woman† (Thompson 3). These actions of Norma Jean actions reveal more of a strong desire for inner personal transformation, much more than anything else. However, Mason also recognizes that abrupt change in one’s personality has its own dangers (Hunt), as illustrated by Norma Jean and Leroy’s relationship. Norma Jean and Leroy’s relationship is a perfect example of the dangers of an abrupt change as it shows a marriage with serious problem and the effect that change has on it. Leroy and Norma Jean Moffitt, are working-class people living in the modern South, and thus they bring into their marriage all sorts of unspoken expectations of who they should be, which often contrast violently with who they are – even more so with who they are becoming (Bucher). When in a twist of fate, Leroy loses the use of his leg, Norma Jean suddenly assumes the role of being the man in the family and this leads to problems. It is this sort of change that is not only abrupt but also drastic which Mason shows in Shiloh that reveals her Southern influence. She emphasizes the changing role of women in society by using the Southern setting as a backdrop. Mason is a lover of rock and roll music. This passion and preference for rock music and pop culture are frequently reflected throughout her stories as well (Webber). â€Å"Writing is my version of rock-and-roll,† Rothstein quotes her (Webber). This is aptly shown in â€Å"Shiloh,† where the main characters themselves are named after Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, popular icons of the rock and roll scene and pop culture in the early 1950s. All in all, it can be said that Bobbie Ann Mason’s personal background shows a very consistent influence in the fiction stories that she writes and provides a deeper and different perspective about living in a Southern setting and rural life in general. â€Å"In the country in Kentucky, people are just amazed that anybody in New York wants to read about their lives† (Rothstein). With fiction stories of Bobbie Ann Mason, however, it is not surprising that people will want to read more about Kentucky or the Southern locales of the United States, for that matter, for her stories speak of the universal human experiences that transcend physical and cultural boundaries which people can identify with. WORKS CITED: Arnold, Edwin J. â€Å"Falling Apart and Staying Together. † Appalachian Journal (1985): 135-141Aycock-Simpson, Judy. Bobbie Ann Mason’s Portrayal of Modern Western Kentucky Border States: Journal of the Kentucky-Tennessee American Studies Association, No. 7 (1989) â€Å"Bobbie Ann Mason. † Wikipedia: Free Encyclopedia. August 30, 2006. November 11, 2006 â€Å"Bobbie Ann Mason. † Bobbie Ann Mason’s Homepage. September 17, 2005. November 24, 2006 â€Å"Shiloh: Themes. † Short Stories for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes. com. January 2006. 24 November 2006. Bucher, Tina. â€Å"Changing Roles and Finding Stability: Women in Bobbie Ann Mason’s Shiloh and Other Stories† Border States: Journal of the Kentucky-Tennessee American Studies Association, No. 8 (1991) Cooke, Stewart J. â€Å"Mason’s ‘Shiloh. ‘† The Explicator 51 (1993): 196-197. Fine, Laura. â€Å"Going Nowhere Slow: The Post-South World of Bobbie Ann Mason. † The Southern Literary Journal 32 (1999). Hunt, Kristina. â€Å"Mason’s Transformation of the South. † October 27, 2000. November 11, 2006.