The Analysis Of The Crimson Shadow

The Analysis Of The Crimson Shadow The Crimson Shadow, by Walter Mosley, is a short story that depicts a lengthy morning encounter between two disparate, yet similar souls. It is a twining of events that connect and capture, evade, and then reunite under the bonds of commonality. The protagonist, an aging ex-convict who goes by the name Socrates, finds that a young man, a boy, really, has killed a rooster that resides across the alley, and someone he had considered his friend. Darryl, the boy who has committed the misdeed is an obvious product of his environment, struggling to survive the mean streets of Los Angeles, and who, at a very tender age, has also become its victim. The elements which make up this story are striking, and develop rapidly into a tightly woven interlude which allows the analysis of New Criticism to be utilized well, enabling an investigation which clarifies the components that help to create this piece. Both characters depict a sense of loss and tragedy, but also possess a keen intellect which helps them to overcome the depravity of their surroundings. When Socrates first realizes that Billy, the rooster to whom he had become attached-his crowing that had awakened him each morning for the past eight years has not been heard-he investigates by going out to where the bird lives, only to find that his head has been badly mangled by the serrated blade of a steak knife. When he sees Darryl move out of the shadows of the morning, he understands immediately that some wrong has been committed. The old man is, at first, justifiably angry at the fact that a senseless act of violence has been done, a crime committed by a troublemaking kid out to cash in on someone elses misfortune the boy has created; but the two have a shared past that connects them in more ways than either can initially appreciate. As the morning wears on, and Socrates gets to know the boy and his situation a bit better, the ex-con sees that the youngster and he have more in common than he would, possibly, like to admit. When Socrates gets the boy into his kitchen, and the two begin to talk, the elder sees how similar their situations are. Both have committed heinous crimes, that of murder, and he uses the time to try and reason with the boy as to the path hes headed toward, first, enticing him to open up when the man realizes his accusations of having killed his friend have the boy visibly nervous, and then understanding that its not only the rooster he has killed, but also another mentally challenged young man who wouldnt leave him and his friends alone. Although it was an accident, and Socrates tells him so, the older man sympathizes with Darryl, telling him that he is welcome in his home whenever he likes, this, an indication of his compassion, and perhaps of his empathy, with the boy. The setting of Crimson Shadow is marked by crushing poverty, the description of what is Socrates home scarred by time and neglect. Its depiction and its imagery are stark, as witnessed by the cabinets that are now simply shelves, the doors having been torn off, and the magenta tiles that have faded to grey. A red spider spins her web above a naked bulb that shines above a photo of a woman Socrates once knew. The use of sharp and focused vocabulary that prime colors and distinctive smells evoke is also prevalent and speaks of a harsh reality. When the boy enters the two room shack, he looks at the red spider, and the women in the picture who also wears a red hat and a red dress, which, as the sun shines down upon her, throws a similarly red, or crimson, shadow across her face, indicating heat, or maybe wrath at the wrong committed by Socrates. The picture also contains the primary colors of yellow and blue, as well, those of the sun and the sky, which can similarly indicate the simpli city of how these two must survive: only with the mixing of other elements can the blending and shading of emancipation occur. When the old man begins cooking the equally-aged rooster, the well-defined description of the ingredients used, tomatoes, basil, and garlic, each possess their own and equally pronounced hue and aroma, a luxury that both men revel in and that can help to begin to express a possible solution to their bleak existence. The tension is tightly woven into the Crimson Shadow, especially in the beginning, when Socrates confronts his much younger and much weaker opponent in the alley. His big hands, known as rock breakers, are seen as weapons, able to crush the young boy with a single blow, and his apparent time spent in prison is evidence enough that he is a disreputable man capable of both creating and enduring great harm. The story is immediately suspenseful when he realizes his friend, Billy the rooster, has been killed, but because he is an ex-convict who quickly acquires the position of a moral and upstanding citizen, a man who is eventually looked upon, ironically, as a role model, he is the protagonist, and as such, can be considered an anti-hero. This irony and its resulting paradox are, however, resolved in the end, when both boy and man agree, silently, to become friends in this hostile world they must both inhabit. The killing of the innocent rooster, as well as of the innocent young boy who would not leave Darryl and his friend alone, are both necessary catalysts for both Socrates and Darryl, for if the two are to survive at all, they need each other in an essential, yet obscure manner, a mirror in which Darryl is able to see himself, yet set himself apart from the man that Socrates has become. The name, too, that Socrates owns, is but a taunting mockery that he must live with, ever knowing, but forever damned. It is also essential for one to observe the discussion Socrates initiates when speaking to the young man, for this is indicative of a common theme seen throughout literature; that of the wizened elder, competent and worldly, offering advice to the younger, less experienced, and woeful Darryl. His advice, although unwanted and disregarded at first, is deemed highly authoritative and even indispensable later, when Darryl finds himself floundering at the mercy of his actions, a child in the hands of fate, ignorant and vulnerable. He decides that since Socrates might just well have power over his destiny, he might have power over his own. In the end, the utilization of the New Criticism theory in the analysis of the Crimson Shadow, by Walter Mosley, is quite effective in understanding the elements used in the creation of this work. Characterization, setting, imagery, theme, and dialog, all come together in unison to produce an effective tool in the dissection and ultimate recovery of this short story, especially taken individually, which allows the reader to view through a lucid and comprehensible lens, a work of innate truth and redemption.

Fiction Authors :: Biographies

Fiction Authors For more than half a century science fiction writers have thrilled and challenged readers with visions of the future and future worlds. These authors offered an insight into what they expected man, society, and life to be like at some future time. One such author, Ray Bradbury, utilized this concept in his work, Fahrenheit 451, a futuristic look at a man and his role in society. Bradbury utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to various occupations and technological advances, to show what life could be like if the future takes a drastic turn for the worse. He turns man's best friend, the dog, against man, changes the role of public servants and changes the value of a person. Aldous Huxley also uses the concept of society out of control in his science fiction novel Brave New World. Written late in his career, Brave New World also deals with man in a changed society. Huxley asks his readers to look at the role of science and literature in the future world, scared that it may be rendered useless and discarded. Unlike Bradbury, Huxley includes in his book a group of people unaffected by the changes in society, a group that still has religious beliefs and marriage, things no longer part of the changed society, to compare and contrast today's culture with his proposed futuristic culture. But one theme that both Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 use in common is the theme of individual discovery by refusing to accept a passive approach to life, and refusing to conform. In addition, the refusal of various methods of escape from reality is shown to be a path to discovery. In Brave New World, the main characters of Bernard Marx and the "Savage" boy John both come to realize the faults with their own cultures. In Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag begins to discover that things could be better in his society but, sue to some uncontrollable events, his discover happens much faster than it would have. He is forced out on his own, away from society, to live with others like himself who think differently that the society does. Marx, from the civilized culture, seriously questions the lack of history that his society has. He also wonders as to the lack of books, banned because they were old and did not encourage the new culture. By visiting a reservation, home of an "uncivilized" culture of savages, he is able to see first hand something of what life and society use to be like. Afterwards he returns and attempts to incorporate some of what he saw into his work as an

Burt ‘s Bees

Colors purchased Burt ‘s Bees for our reputation in personal health care niche market. But we stay in the same market with same products for almost 20 years. Our regular market could not provide us an even more profitable market. We recommend turn Burst's Bees into a mainstream American market with multiple products combination to earn the profit minimization. According to the Colors research recently, 53 percent of consumers willing to pay for CEO-friendly products, and 47 percent of those customers want to pay 20-25 percent more on these natural reduces.That is to say, being natural and healthy Is the customers demand. From almost 1 billion for the big opportunities In the market for green goods. All these signs Indicate that we should shift our business from niche market Into mass market. Although we have thought the Idea keeping Burst's Bees stay In the niche market, such as developing partnership with spa chain to malting our Image as a premium status. The approach Is stil l not able to maximize our profit. Our product decisions should start with clear product lines and brand image. I suggest we keep the original Burt s bees image on the products.Our products should be segment into different product lines, face and lip care for mass customers as regular product lines, body care, baby care and makeup for high-end customers as our luxury products lines. By saying so, I mean that natural personal care is a trend. We should launch different product lines to meet different demands rather than staying in the same and simple product line. The next step is choosing the distribution channel. I suggest keep our luxury lines products stay in the drugs store or healthy store, besides, we commend display our body and baby care products into shopping mall such as Kohl ‘s and Macy's.In this way, Burst's Bees could remain a premium image to keep the good relationship with clients in the niche market. On the other hand, we recommend put our lips and hand care pr oducts into big-box market, such as Wall- Mart. Display the Burt Bees products near the Colors promotion shelves. In this way, those used to buy Colors stuff, especially those housewives can easily find the personal care products, Burt ‘s Bess particularly. Even they do not know our products fore, they care the natural products, they care their own healthy, and they can easily find such products in the market.I believe there is a big potential market among them. When choosing the price channel, we aim to stay the premium price In our luxury product lines, in order to keep the strong brand awareness of the natural and healthy. In the super market, we recommend set the price friendly strategy on our lip, hand and face care products. In addition, we could provide some coupon with Closer's products, provide discount package for Burst's bees and Colors products to attract those potential clients. Following this, we suggest to put a large portion of the profit Into advertising budge t.As a part of the company, we could use this opportunity expand our recognition and rebind the CEO-friendly Image of Colors. This can be done through TV advertisement, funding TV program such as â€Å"Discovery, given sponsorship to environment events and distribute Burst's Bees lip balm as samples, and direct mail with coupon to household or provide the discount to straight to mass market could bring an even more profitable result to Burt ‘s Bees, and create a more CEO-friendly image for Colors.

Republican Women in the US Senate 2017â€2019

Five women represent Republicans as senators in the 115th Congress, running from 2017 through 2019. The number is one fewer than for the previous Congress as New Hampshires Kelly Ayotte lost re-election by only about 1,000 votes. Alaska: Lisa Murkowski First Elected: 2004 (Appointed in 2002 to fill a vacancy)Next Election: 2022 Lisa Murkowski is a moderate Republican from Alaska with a roller-coaster history. In 2002, she was appointed to the seat by her father, Frank Murkowski, who vacated it after being elected Governor. This move was viewed unfavorably by the public and she barely won her first full term in 2004. She won the seat by just 3 points on the same day George W. Bush won the state by more than 25 points. After Sarah Palin routed her father in the 2006 Gubernatorial primary, Palin and conservatives backed Joe Miller in 2010. Though Miller beat Murkowski in the primary, she launched a surprisingly successful write-in campaign and ended up winning a close three-way race. Iowa: Joni Ernst First Elected: 2014Next Election: 2020 Joni Ernst. Getty Images   Joni Ernst was the surprise candidate of the 2014 election cycle as she handily won the US Senate seat vacated by long-serving Democrat Tom Harkin. Democrat Bruce Braley was supposed to be the easy winner, but Ernst played to her Iowa roots and got off to a fast start after running a television spot comparing the castration of pigs to cutting pork in Washington. Ernst is a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and had served in the Iowa State Senate since 2011. She won her US Senate seat in 2014 by 8.5 points. Maine: Susan Collins First Elected: 1996Next Election: 2020 Susan Collins is a moderate Republican from the Northeast, one of the few remaining as liberal Democrats have steadily increased their hold in the region. She is socially liberal and center-right on economic issues and she was a strong advocate for small businesses prior to her career in the US Senate. Collins is easily the most popular figure in the state and has seen her vote share increase in every election since 1996 when she won with just 49 percent of the vote. In 2002, she won with 58 percent of the vote, followed by 62 percent in 2012, then 68 percent in 2014. In 2020, she will be 67 years old and Republicans hope she stays around a bit longer. Nebraska: Deb Fischer First Elected: 2012Next Election: 2018 Deb Fischer represented one of the few highlights in the 2012 election for both conservatives and the Republican Party. She was not expected to be a contender in the GOP primary and was heavily outspent by two higher-profile Republicans in the state. Near the end of the primary campaign, Fischer received the endorsement of Sarah Palin and subsequently surged in the polls, landing a surprise win in the primary. Democrats saw this as an opening for former US Senator Bob Kerrey, who held the seat as recently until 2001. But it wasnt meant to be for the Democrats, and she defeated him in the general election by a landslide. Fischer is a rancher by trade and served in the state legislature since 2004. Senators Deb Fischer (lower center) and Shelley Moore Capito (above) celebrate passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Getty Images West Virginia: Shelley Moore Capito First Elected: 2014Next Election: 2020 Shelley Moore Capito served seven terms in the US House of Representatives before deciding on a run for the US Senate. At the time, five-term Democratic incumbent Jay Rockefeller had not yet announced his plans. He opted for retirement rather than face the first real challenge of his career in more than two decades. Capito easily won both the Republican primary and the general election, becoming the first woman elected to the US Senate in West Virginia history. She also won a Senate seat for the GOP for the first time since the 1950s. Capito is a moderate Republican, but a solid upgrade from the 50-plus year drought for conservatives in the state.