Managing Cultural Diversity free essay sample

For the assigned discussion topic, our group will address the concept of diversity in two perspectives, cross cultural diversity management and managing multicultural teams. On this document we start by defining diversity and move on to multicultural aspects of diversity. Following, we will introduce the concept of managing multicultural teams to whom we will briefly introduce the four challenges of managing multicultural teams as well as some strategies to unravel it. Finally, we list the group dynamic for the class discussion, as well as provide recommendations and conclusion. The concept of Diversity Diversity describes the many differences and similarities, which exist between people. These differences may be apparent, such as race and gender. However, diversity also includes obvious differences, such as cultural background, moral/ religious values, or political views (Pollar, 2004). Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe present four layers model of diversity to help distinguish the important ways in which people differ: (a) Personality, the dimension which constitutes the core of this model, covers all aspects of a person that may be classified as personal style. Running parallel to these changes is the shift in thinking by human resource theorists and practitioners with regard to addressing equality in the workplace (Cooper and White 1995; Liff and Wacjman 1996). This shift is underpinned by the emergence of the business case argument for equal opportunities, as opposed to the persuasive debate for social justice or equal opportunities as ‘ correcting an imbalance, an injustice or a mistake’ (Thomas 1990). There is now a view that, after twenty years of the ‘ stick’ of legal compliance (which has achieved little), the ‘ carrot’ of underpinning the business case for equal opportunities will perhaps achieve more (Dickens 1994). The business case argument for equal opportunities in organizations is often termed ‘ managing or valuing diversity’ , but, as with most contemporary Human Resource Development International ISSN 1367-8868 print/ISSN 1469–8374 online  © 2000 Taylor Francis Ltd http://www. tandf. co. uk/journals 420 Peer-Reviewed Articles anagement issues, the underlying principles and interpretation of this concept are open to mass interpretation, criticism, and indeed misunderstanding. D. Miller (1996) argues that the significant widening of the meaning of equal opportunities has brought with it more complex and confusing messages for employers and practitioners. By drawing on literature and empirical data, we consider whether mana ging diversity is a distinct approach to managing people or a means of diluting equal opportunities in UK organizations and pose a number of cautionary questions, including: what does it matter and to whom? By doing so, we intend to encourage further critique and challenges in respect to the concept of managing diversity in organizations. What is managing diversity? Thomas (2000) argues that, with the growing number of mergers and acquisitions, workforce diversity will become more of a priority for organizations and, therefore, in the future, people will become clearer on what diversity is and how to manage it. As with the debates surrounding de nitions of human resource management and development (HRM/D), managing diversity as a concept means different things to different people. It can relate to the issue of national cultures inside a multinational organization (Hofstede 1984); it can relate to the further development of equal opportunities or to a distinct method of integrating different parts of an organization and/or managing people strategically. Much of the literature regarding managing diversity relates to the US experience, where the concept is particularly popular; a re ection perhaps of the more pronounced diversity of workforce composition (Cassell 1996). In a recent report 1999), a Department of Education in America described managing and valuing diversity as a key component of effective people management, arguing that it focuses on improving the performance of the organization and promotes practices that enhance the productivity of all staff. Their dimensions of diversity include gender, race, culture, age, family/carer status, religion, and disability. The de nition provided also embraces a range of individual skills, educational quali cations, work experience and background, languages, and other relevant attributes and experiences which differentiate individuals.

The Slippery Slope to Polygamy and Incest

Marriage defines one’s family based love. The parties to a marriage consecrate based on love; they enjoy equal protection and fundamental rights encrypted in the American Constitution.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Slippery Slope to Polygamy and Incest specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even though opponents of same sex marriage are right in arguing that such unions lead to polygamy and incest, the institution of marriage is one that pursues happiness and human flourishing. In this aspect, banning same-sex marriage without credible reasons violates the rights and freedoms of the parties (Greenfield, 2013). The constitution also offers equal protection to all, irrespective of their groupings. The government ought to come up with a truly compelling justification as why it needs to restrict some forms of marriage. In addition, it is an act of liberty violation and fostering of inequality if the government can form a preconceived opinion on what a given group does. If marriage helps one define his/her family, therefore, the government has no reason to bar brothers and sisters from wedding each other. Excluding a group from carrying out something imperative like marriage by believing that it is immoral without watertight evidence is futile. Prejudice should not find a place in castigating same-sex marriages, polygamy, and incest. The fight to allow incestuous or polygamous marriages has not gained steady momentum given the lack of political energy to clear the misguided arguments (Lavy, 2008). The article compares the present kind of repulsion on gay marriage, incest, and polygamy to the repulsion that has stood in the way of LBTQ rights for a longtime. Even though there are minimal instances of birth defects in incestuous marriage, polygamous marriages, which have also received less recognition in America, have no such defects.Advertising Looking for critical writing on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From this aspect, arguments by opponents of polygamous and incestuous marriage have no ground to pin-down or exclude certain groups since the rights of the children are not highly violated. From another point of view, same-sex marriages, therefore, protects the right of children, as they do not sire offspring. For incestuous couples, the government can create mandatory genetic counseling to minimize the slight complication, instead of banning it out-rightly. There are instances where coercion or lack of free will becomes a strong reason to ban incest. For example, in a case of father/daughter incest, it is highly likely that one party acted under duress. Greenfield (2013) attests that coercion arguments become invisible if such unions were freely formalized and divorce is available for all parties. Incestuous and polygamous marriages are grouping choices that require equal protect ion as envisioned in the American Constitution. People should be free to make choices on the type of families that they want; the government should also have significant justifications to classify other associations as illegal. Just in religion, liberty should not be restricted in forming families. The rigid stand by the opponents of same-sex marriage coupled with prejudice makes the issue of polygamy and incest slippery. Opponents of same-gender marriage have incommensurability problem; their assumptions cannot be reconciled. Just like in religious affiliations, human beings have different philosophical and ideological commitments; this makes them to have different opinions and preferences. Gay marriage and polygamy are important life aspects that do not require wishful rejections without valid reasons.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Slippery Slope to Polygamy and Incest specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Lear n More Even though there is a slippery slope in legalizing gay marriage, the government should take a liberal approach in solving such issues to avoid sexual-orientation discrimination (Lavy, 2008). The laws in the various parts of the world should be clear on incestuous and polygamous marriages. References Greenfield, K. (2013, July 15). The Slippery Slope to Polygamy and Incest. The American Prospect. Retrieved from https://prospect.org/article/slippery-slope-polygamy-and-incest Lavy, G. (2008, May 21). Gay marriage and the ‘slippery slope’. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/search/?q=Gay+marriage+and+the+%27slippery+slope%27 This critical writing on The Slippery Slope to Polygamy and Incest was written and submitted by user Alberto Sloan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tax Deduction in Repairs Essays

Tax Deduction in Repairs Essays Tax Deduction in Repairs Essay Tax Deduction in Repairs Essay Tax Deduction in Repairs Name: Institution: Tax Deduction in Repairs A) Although it is a question of degree whether a repair to plant is on capital or revenue account, every repair must improve the nature of the asset Expenditure can be deducted for repairs to premises that are used in the process of generating assessable income (section 25.10 under ITAA97). If the premises are also used for other purposes, then deduction should be of a reasonable amount. Deductions cannot be made for capital expenditure. The key issue in this case is whether repairs are included under the capital account or the revenue account. Including repairs under a capital account would mean that they are not deductible. If they are included in the revenue account, they are deductible. All expenditure in a business must be designated as either capital or revenue. To establish this, the effect of the expenditure on the business’s outlay is checked. If the expenditure has an enhanced effect on the outlay of the business, then it is capital expenditure. If the expenditure simply allows the business to continue operating at its current level, then it is revenue (Marriot, Edwards Mellett, 2001). Repairs must also be allocated to either the capital account or the revenue account. This designation to either account is what determines whether the repairs will be deductible or not. When looking to see if a repair is deductible, several criteria must be met. These criteria determine whether repairs will be capitalized or not. It is crucial to outline which repairs are capitalized which ones are not. Any repairs that are made to improve or alter the property are capitalized. This is because they enhance the outlay of the business. This also includes any repairs made in the process of renovating the business premises. Capitalization means that the repairs are included in the capital account as opposed to the revenue account. Such repairs are not deductible (Marriot, Edwards Mellett, 2001). Other repairs do not have any impact on the outlay of a business. For instance, upgrading a computer’s software would help it run better but repairing damaged hardware will only help it run, as it should be. Such a repair does not improve the business’s outlay; it only reinstates it to the standard level. Repairs resulting from wear and tear would be included in this category as routine day-to-day repairs. Once included in the revenue account, these repairs become deductible. The IRS provides further clarification on this. It states that a repair can only be considered deductible if it keeps your property in â€Å"a normal efficient operating condition†. If a repair meets that condition, it is considered a business expense and goes into the revenue account. Alternatively, if the repairs are part of a reconditioning plan aimed at making your property more apt for your business, then they are capitalized. This includes reconditioning, improving or altering your property (Internal Revenue Service [IRS], 2013). Section 8.1 of ITAA97 also has clarification on the issue of deductible repairs. The section states that deductions cannot be made for losses of a private or capital nature. Additionally, deductions cannot be made if the repairs are made to property or premises that are used to generate exempt income. Repairs that are capitalized can be considered the same as the losses of a capital nature. The exemptions in section 8.1 therefore go hand in hand with stipulations made by the IRS. B) Deductible repairs Section 8-1 under ITAA97 on general deductions states that, a person can deduct from their assessable income any loss or outgoing so long as it was incurred in the process of generating assessable income, and also if it was incurred in the process of conducting a business with the aim of generating an assessable income. There are several exceptions to this. Deductions cannot be made for loss of a capital nature or a private nature. In addition, deductions cannot be made if the loss was incurred in the process of generating exempt income. Another exemption is that deductions do not apply for capital expenditure. Capital expenditure refers to â€Å"all capitalized costs during the year for both new and used structures and equipment chargeable to fixed asset account† (U.S. Dept of Commerce, 1992, p. 2). When applied to structures, capital expenditure would refer to all the costs that are incurred in the acquisition, construction and preparation of a building or structure for its intended use. In Kieran’s case, capital expenditure is seen in the improvements that he made to the premises. The cost of adding walls and doors to create offices and the cost of repainting the walls is considered capital expenditure. These expenses are therefore not deductible. Capital improvements are any costs that add to the utility of a business for more than one accounting period (Eisen, 2007). It is usually considered that, without the improvement, the use of the asset will be limited. These expenses are usually capitalized, meaning that they are attached to the initial cost of the asset. Capital improvements are, therefore, a part of capital expenditure (Eisen, 2007). In Kieran’s case, the upgrades that were made to the computer systems fell under capital improvements and, by extension, capital expenditure. These upgrades are therefore not deductible as repairs. The office party that Kieran held could be considered an entertainment expense. The rules on entertainment expenses state that these expenses can cover clients, customers, suppliers and even employees (Fishman, 2013). In Kieran’s case, it is likely that he was entertaining employees. However, the expenses he listed were not for the actual party but damages to the premises because of the party. According to Fishman, one is not allowed to deduct expenses for the use of an entertainment facility including the costs of depreciation (2013). Kieran’s office was the entertainment facility and therefore, any repairs to damage from the party are not deductible. On the rent that Kieran paid, the IRS states that rent can be deducted as an expense, but only if the rent is for property used in business (IRS, 2013). The rent that Kieran paid for his office space qualified for deduction because he used the premises for his debt collection business. This business generated his assessable income. Additionally, the rent did not qualify for any of the exemptions stated by the IRS such as unreasonable rent. However, this rent does not qualify for deduction as a repair. It qualifies only because of being rent. Lastly, Kieran made two other repairs. He spent $900 repairing the computer and used $360 to replace the taps in the kitchen sink. These repairs fall well within the conditions stipulated in section 25.10. They were made to the property that Kieran used to generated assessable income. Additionally, they did not qualify for any of the exemptions stated under section 8.1. Therefore, the only amounts that Kieran could claim as a deduction for repairs were the $360 used to replace the taps in the kitchen and the $900 used to repair the computer systems. References Eisen, P. J. (2007). Accounting. Hauppauge, N.Y: Barron’s Educational Series. Fishman, S. (2013). Tax deductions for professionals. Berkeley, Calif: Nolo Marriott, P., Edwards, J. R., Mellett, H. J. (2001). Introduction to accounting. London: Sage Publications Ltd United States. (1992). Annual capital expenditures. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census Internal revenue Service. 2013, March 4. Business expenses. Retrieved from www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/p535.pdf

ENG C292 Concrete Engineering & Durability of Concrete( Curriculum Essay

ENG C292 Concrete Engineering & Durability of Concrete( Curriculum BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN CIVIL) - Essay Example (www.cowi.com, 20-). Since the concrete is fundamentally a man-made material, it is quite possible to control its characteristics and behavior by altering its mix design specifications and adding admixtures to it. Hence, by the careful selection of appropriate materials for preparing the concrete, and close monitoring of its curing once it has been cast, the qualities of concrete can be significantly enhanced to meet the requirements of a particular structure. There are certain design requirements associated with every location and type of a structure. If the structure is made of concrete, the concrete needs to be customized in order to combat the challenges brought to the structure by the weather conditions and temperature of a particular location. This needs an appropriate evaluation of the required properties of concrete by studying the literature for the history of challenges associated with a particular climate. Also, the achievement of required results requires monitoring the w hole process right from the start that involves concrete making, casting and finally the curing. Of these, the last two processes are majorly field-specific and require careful supervision from the workers in the construction site. The first part i.e. preparation of the mix design is the most influential process in achieving the desired durability in the concrete. This paper discusses the common methodologies used for the achievement of durability in concrete structures. Concrete has long been in use as a construction material for a large variety of structures including bridges. A number of long-lived concrete bridges have been constructed in the past. They include the Shakh Isa bin Salam Bridge in Bahrain and the bridge over the Lerez River at Pontevedra in Spain shown in the figure-1 and figure-2 below: In his report, (Paeglitis, n.d.: 1) has mentioned that more

Business ethics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business ethics - Article Example I agree with the author’s statement that a conjunction of motive, means and opportunity creates an ethical hazard (Pendse, 2012). This approach is complimented by the definition of fitness hazard as a tendency of an entity to take undue menace whose costs are not borne on them (William, 2007). I deem author is aiming at providing rules and procedure that will help curb ethical hazards. This is seen in the light of providing an ethical hazard marshal to minimize these tribulations (Pendse, 2012). An instance is given of the leading company, Enron. The management styles and executive decisions of the executives of the company led to an enormous financial crisis.(William, 2007). Therefore, the executives were convicted and received extensive penitentiary terms. Although I liked the way the writer proposed the initiative of teaching ethics in business schools to curb future occurrences, I think the proposal would be essential in schools of all disciplines and not only business school(Pendse, 2012). This is because, ethical deeds are a must for the growth of any being in their job place, in households, and in their day to day actions. In my view, I think the author is wrong in assuming that other past scandals were restricted in the corporations they occurred in since for every ethical hazard that happen other institutions and individuals suffer with it(Pendse, 2012). The difference is in the magnitude, for example, in the article the scandal at Enron destroyed, not just the company, but the rest of the world, as well (Conrad, 2010). This does not inevitably mean that other scandals that seem restrictive do not spread their downfall. In stating that the fiscal crisis at Enron was totally â€Å"unforeseeable and unpredictable†, I feel that the author is contradicting himself. This is seen in the subsequent line where he states that Warren Buffet had previously warned of the looming danger. The danger was, as a result of the the increasing leverage and

Debate Between Abstract and Realism in Art

Debate Between Abstract and Realism in Art Consider the legacy of the Abstraction Realism debate for artistic practice in the 1950s in either France or Italy. Both culturally and politically post-war France found itself in a period of transition; as Findling, Scott-Haine and Thackeray (2000) state, the euphoria of 1944 soon gave way to agrim realisation of the socio-political consequences of the Vichy Governments collaboration with the Nazis and the challenges of reconstruction. The Fourth Republic, instigated in 1946 and continuing until the late 1950s, attempted to instil anotion of tabula rasa that would be mirrored in its art and culture. The abstraction-realism debate that had begun before the war and had, perhaps, found its ultimate expression in the Modernist oeuvre through such painters as Mondrian, Miro and others was, ironically, questioned at this time, for instance, in essays such as Jean-Michel Atlans Abstraction and Adventure in Contemporary Art (1950, 1997): Contemporary painting, being essential adventure and creation, is threatened by two forms ofconformity which we absolutely oppose: Banal realism, vulgar imitation of reality; Orthodox abstract art, new academicism which tries to substitute for living painting an interplay of solely decorative forms. (Atlan, 1950; published in Harrison and Wood, 1997: 612) Atlan here makes an interesting point and one that has an enormous bearing on the place of the abstraction-realism debate in 1950s France; for the post-war French artist the question became not how one should situation oneself in a polarity but is that  polarity itself outdated and archaic. The tabula rasa of the socio-political sphere could be seen as a reflection of inter-war regression when translated to the aesthetic; the questionable politics of many of the Modernist writers, thinkers and artists making their work unattractive to thesons and daughters of the Fourth Republic. It was this psycho-social zeitgeist that, perhaps, ensured the twinning of art with prevailing theories of existentialism as John Macquarrie describes in his book of the same name(1972). For Macquarrie, post-war art (and particular those movements instigated in France) mirrors existentialism in its desire to negate the failures of pastontological systems and place the artist or philosopher at the centre of are constructive effort; an attempt to find meaning after the horrors of the war without recourse to external teleological notions like truth and beauty. This situation appears, to an extent, in Bretons Prolegomena to a Third Surrealist Manifesto: All present systems can reasonably be considered to be nothing on the carpenters workbench. This carpenter is you. (Breton, 1990: 287) In terms of the debate, then, between abstraction and realism both Atlan and Breton say essentially the same thing that what was needed culturally by post-war France was neither the consolation of realism nor the negation of abstraction but a synthesis of the two; an aesthetic that could both look forward into the future and signal a break with the past. We can see some of this in the work of Yves Klein. Both in terms of his painting and his photography, Klein constantly strove to achieve the kind of Hegelian synthesis we have been hither to looking at. Kleins work in the mid to late 1950s represented two paradoxical elements: on the one hand producing monochrome canvasses of a scintillatingly blue pigment (Monochrome blue sans titre, 1956; Monochromeblue sans titre, 1957) that all but obliterated any sense of the artist as producer of work and, on the other, laying the groundwork for the creation of action pictures whereby nude models would be used as brushes on huge canvasses (Monique, 1960; La Grand Anthropometrie bleue, 1960) that, literally, places the human being at the centre of artistic creation. In Klein we can clearly the manifestation of the legacy of the realism-abstraction debate in the France ofthe 1950s and, as we suggested, it lay in the synthesis of the two a similarnotion to the philosophical ideas of Sartre and Camus who sought an ontologicalmeaning without teleology. In fact it was some of this sense that culminated inthe creation of neo-realism, of which Klein was a leading figure and about whomPierre Restany wrote: We (the neo-realists) are thus bathed in direct expressivity up to our necks, at fortydegrees above the Dada zero, without aggressiveness, without a downrightpolemical intent, without any other justificatory itch than our realism. Andthat works positively. Man, if he shares in reintegrating himself in reality,identifies it with positively. (Restany, 1960, published in Harrison and Wood,1997: 711) What were neo-realists like Klein, Arman, Daniel Sporerri and Jean Tinguely but artists who attempted a fusion,and thereby a transcendence, of the archaic debate that Altman spoke of? We can see how such a view could beseen to lay the foundations for not only the postmodern movement in France that sought to find meaning in a post-Enlightenment world whose meta discourses in the words of Jean Francois Lyotard (2002: xxiii) were beginning to fail, but also the socio-political events of 1968 and the student uprising. Both of these can be seen to arise out of, or at least reflect, the aesthetic and cultural movements of the 1950s that sought to not only destroy the memories of the Vichy Government and the long years of Nazi occupation but also signal a progression away from the nihilism of Dada that left a void in the place of that which it negated. The legacy of the realism-abstraction debate, then, is one of Hegelian synthesis, arising out of the thesis and the antithesis. This situation was, perhaps, felt more strongly in countries suchas France, Italy and Spain where the political situation prompted a desperately needed change in aesthetic and ontological environment and where the need for a humanist consolation was as great as the need for an expression of the madness of the modern age. References Breton, Andre, (1990), Manifestoes of Surrealism, (Michigan: University of Michigan) Causey, Andrew (1998), Oxford History of Art: Sculpture Since 1945, (Oxford: Oxford University Press) Findling, John, Scott Haine, W and Thackeray, Frank (2000), The History of France, (London: Greenwood Press) Harrison, Charles and Wood, Paul(1997), Art in Theory: 1900-1990: An Anthology of Changing Ideas, (London: Blackwell) Kostelanetz, Richard (ed) (1989), Esthetics[sic] Contemporary, (London: Prometheus) Lyotard, Jean Francois (2004), The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, (Manchester: Manchester University) Macquarrie, John (1972), Existentialism, (London: Pelican) Roskill, Mark and Carrier, David(1983), Truth and Falsehood in Visual Images, (Amherst: The University of Massachusetts) http://www.yvesklein.net/

Discuss the Various Attitudes to Marriage and Courtship

Discuss the Various Attitudes to Marriage and Courtship that Jane Austen presents in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ In Jane Austen’s book ‘Pride and Prejudice’ she shows various attitudes of marriage and courtship through each character. Some of these attitudes to marriage and courtship are very different to the attitudes of most people today. This book is mainly about marriage so it is very easy and interesting to compare the opinions of marriage from the early nineteenth century to life now. Jane Austen mentions marriage for the first time, in Pride and Prejudice, in the very first sentence:It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. (Chapter 1, page 51) This is possibly the most important quote in the book because it sets the tone for the rest of the novel and it is where we first discover that the book is actually about marriage. Marriage was more of a business arrangement then. For young women it was very important, particularly for the Bennets, that you married a man who was as rich as possible. The amount of money that men had and the lifestyle based on that amount played a very important part in the decision of who to marry.How much love played a part in the equation was a lot smaller than how much the money did. Mrs Bennet, throughout the book, we can see is a very loud, impolite woman. Her character could be described as being a caricature. We first hear of Mr Charles Bingley when Mrs Bennet is telling her husband, Mr Bennet, about him. We don’t learn too much about him other than the fact that he is very wealthy and he is in the area. Mr Bennet asks at this point to Mrs Bennet if he is married or single. She replies: â€Å"Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls! (Chapter 1, page 51) From what Mrs Bennet says we can instantly see that she is very excited at the news of Mr Bingley being in the area. All that she has heard is that he is wealthy and single and she is already picturing him marrying one of her daughters: â€Å"You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them. † (Chapter 1, page 51) We can see that Mrs Bennet’s main aim is to have her daughters married to rich men because while she is trying to inform Mr Bennet of, in her opinion, great news that Mr Bingley has just arrived into the area, Mr Bennet shows no interest, which agitates her further. Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves. † (Chapter 1, page 52) Elizabeth, however, has different views to marriage compared to her mother. Her opinions of marriage are very much like the opinions of most women today. Of course she takes into account how much money she would have as a result of the marriage but having a rich husband is not all she considers in th e decision of marriage. For Elizabeth love has to be included with the marriage no matter how wealthy the husband would be.This is why she refuses two marriage proposals from Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and Mr Collins later in the book, because – although accepting either marriage would financially improve her lifestyle – she does not love either man. Of course later in the book she does change her mind and fall in love with Mr Darcy. She shows this with various changes of her character and opinion of him throughout the book and later accepts Darcy’s second marriage proposal. This book was set to be in the late 18th century at which social gatherings were particularly important.Balls and musical evenings were seen as being the centre of social life. These gatherings were great opportunities to find a partner. Jane Bennet first met Mr Bingley at a ball in Meryton. (They later marry). At the same town ball Elizabeth Bennet first met Mr Darcy too. (They also marry later i n the novel). At this point in the novel, however, Elizabeth does not love or even like Mr Darcy. Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. (Chapter 3, page 59) This was quoted just after Elizabeth overheard Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley talking at the ball.Mr Bingley was trying to persuade Mr Darcy to dance with somebody and suggested specifically for him to dance with Elizabeth. He, however, did not think that she was good enough for him: â€Å"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me;†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chapter 3, page 59) This signifies that Mr Darcy does not appreciate women that are of a much lower class than him. He would rather not marry a poor woman. Unfortunately for him he falls in love with Elizabeth later. During chapter seven Jane Bennet receives a letter from Caroline Bingley inviting Miss Bennet out to lunch.In the late 18th century women were very delicate in comparison to women today. They were delicate in that, for example, if they were in the heat for too long they would feel headachy or faint. Mrs Bennet obviously knew this because, when Jane asked for the carriage, Mrs Bennet deliberately said no: â€Å"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night. † (Chapter 7, page 77) This quote proves the point that ladies during this time wanted nothing more than to have their daughters married, Mrs Bennet in particular.She is willing to risk her daughter’s health and actually wants her daughter to feel ill so she can stay the night at Mr Bingley’s house rather than just go out for lunch. It shows how far Mrs Bennet is willing to push her daughters into the path of suitable men in order to secure a good marriage. Later in the chapter, when we find out that Jane in fact does have to stay the night due to feeling ill, Elizabeth decides to visit her but intends on walking to Mr Bingley’s house instead of using the carriage. Mrs Bennet cl aims that it is a foolish idea and will not be fit to be seen when she arrives. Elizabeth replies: I shall be very fit to see Jane – which is all I want. † (Chapter 7, page 78) This quote supports the fact that Elizabeth has no intention of trying to impress the Bingleys or Mr Darcy by the way she looks. The opinions of her are very modern in terms of marriage so she does not really care for what she looks like. Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley both think of Elizabeth as quite disgusting at this point. It brought them great shock when she arrived in her ‘dirty stockings’ (Chapter 7, page 79). When Elizabeth goes to go check on Jane after dinner Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley can’t help but ‘abuse her’ (Chapter 8, page 81) as soon as she leaves.Mrs Hurst says: â€Å"I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She looked almost wild. † (Chapter 8, page 81) The contrast of opinions of Elizabeth and Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley again shows how much more modern Elizabeth is compared to every other lady in the novel. We soon meet Mr Collins. Jane Austen has written Mr Collins to have a very exaggerated personality or character of smug pomposity making him, like Mrs Bennet another caricature. During chapter 19 he proposes to Elizabeth: â€Å"†¦I singled you out as the companion of my future life.But before I am run away with by my feelings for this subject, perhaps it will be advisable for me to state reasons for marrying -† (Chapter 19, page 147) Mr Collins continues to speak of why he has chosen to propose. He claims that the church says it is a good idea to get married so he would simply be setting an example for other people. He also claims that it would bring him happiness and that Catherine de Bourgh, his benefactor, wishes for him to be married also. He then goes on to say what would happen when they were to be married. Elizabeth interrupts him: â€Å"You are too hasty, Sir, â€Å" she cried. You for get that I have made no answer. (Chapter 19, page 148) Indeed, Elizabeth is right. Mr Collins has not waited for Elizabeth to even agree to the marriage but is already referring to what he predicts will happen in the future when they supposedly get married. He does this because he expects her to accept the marriage proposal. The idea of Elizabeth rejecting Mr Collins’ marriage proposal was alien to him. If Elizabeth was to accept the proposal then she would have a better life financially so in that time there was not a great deal of reason for her to reject the proposal.When she does reject the proposal he doesn’t seem to believe it, declaring: â€Å"†¦it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their favour†¦ sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. † (Chapter 19, page 148) He clearly thinks that all women initially refuse a proposal so as not to appear too eager or too desperate to get married when in fact that is their intention all along. This is why he goes on to express his confidence that he will eventually lead her to the altar.Elizabeth again declines the proposal but Mr Collins will not have it. He again states his belief of women not wanting to sound too eager by accepting a proposal. Elizabeth again declines the offer before Mr Collins tries to persuade her to marry him. Jane Austen shows by this, how women were expected to accept proposals if it would financially improve their life. Jane Austen also shows how the modernisation of the character Elizabeth affects the other characters such as Mr Collins and his disbelief of her rejection.A few days after this Mr Collins proposes to Charlotte Lucas. For this moment, the meaning of the first sentence of the novel seems defensible. Unlike Elizabeth she accepts the proposal. The views of this between Mrs Bennet, Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet are all very differen t. The prospect of financial security outweighs any romance or love for Mr Collins’ character according to Charlotte Lucas: â€Å"I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home;† (Chapter 22, page 165) Charlotte Lucas and her family view the proposal as a triumph.This quote shows how Charlotte Lucas’ opinion of marriage is not modern like Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth views this as disappointing. She thinks that it is ridiculous that Charlotte would marry for such a reason as to financially improve her lifestyle. Mrs Bennet is also disappointed but at Elizabeth. She blames her child for letting such a great opportunity slip through the family’s fingers. When Mr Bennet dies, Mr Collins will own his estate. Now that he is to marry Charlotte Lucas instead of Elizabeth they cannot save it. This thought brings Mrs Bennet more distress. When Kitty and Lydia first ind out they think of it as nothing more than gossip as Mr Collins is †˜only a clergyman’ (Chapter 23, page 168). Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth has a vital importance in the novel and could be described as signalling a turning point. Darcy is exceedingly rich and earns ? 10,000 a year. If Darcy were to propose to anyone other than Elizabeth they would probably agree to the marriage due to the large sum of money he receives per year. Elizabeth however rejects him! This truly does show how her opinion is different in comparison to other women in terms of marriage.Elizabeth informs Darcy about her knowledge of Wickham and Jane and Bingley, justifying her reasons to reject his proposal. We can tell that he is shocked at this: His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature. (Chapter 34, page 222) His anger signifies that he was not expecting rejection. Mr Darcy is described in the book many times as being very proud and snobby. He must find it exceedingly confusing as to why a lady wi th such a poor background and family would reject his proposal, as he believes that he is quite magnificent.However his loyalty to his friend Mr Bingley allows us to forget the arrogance when he gives Elizabeth a letter the following morning explaining that he did not believe that Jane loved Bingley, and that he thought that if Bingley was to propose to her then he would make a fool of himself. He merely was trying to protect Bingley he claims. When Elizabeth visits Darcy’s estate with the Gardiners to her surprise Darcy is there despite the fact that she had been told he would be out of town until the following day. After a few conversations between them Elizabeth thinks: â€Å"Why is he so altered?From what can it proceed? It cannot be for me, it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this. It is impossible that he should still love me. † (Chapter 43, page 276) Elizabeth ponders to herself as to whether Darcy loves her still or not. She is wondering how it is that, after her rudeness when she rejected his proposal, he can appear to be so nice and polite to her and the Gardiners. She considers the fact that he may still love her, as he is more gentlemanly than she has ever seen him to be. This shows how much love he has for Elizabeth.You could also look at it from the point of view that he is fighting for Elizabeth by trying to flatter her. He does in fact propose to her again later in the novel. Lydia is well aware of the attitudes of courtship and marriage but because she is so besotted with Mr Wickham later in the novel she forgets all of the rules and elopes with him. The family are so shocked and disgusted at the behaviour of Lydia (and Wickham). Even Elizabeth who has more modern views on courtship and marriage is worried how Lydia’s misbehaviour will reflect on her family and what its consequences will be for her relationship with Darcy.When she hears of Lyd ia’s elopement she tells Darcy that she is â€Å"distressed by some dreadful news† (Chapter 46, page 294) and Darcy’s response is to declare that he is â€Å"grieved – shocked. † (Chapter 46, 295). Elizabeth soon observed, and instantly understood it. Her power was sinking; every thing must sink under such a proof of family weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. (Chapter 46, page 295) This shows how truly embarrassed Elizabeth was. Her views on everything are so modern compared to most ladies and gentlemen in the 18th century however this even shocked her.We find out that Lydia and Wickham agree to get married later in the novel. The reactions of her family are very predictable. Mrs Bennet is so overjoyed that Lydia is getting married at such a young age that she forgets about her disgusting behaviour. Jane hopes they have a happy life together. Elizabeth is happy that they are marrying but is disappointed at Lydia’s behaviour. Mr Bennet is angry at Lydia for putting the family in the situation of having to give the Gardiners money. Lydia is so happy with herself because of her marriage that she is completely taking advantage of it all.She says to Jane: â€Å"Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman. † (Chapter 51, page 329) Lydia and her mother are very alike in terms of how excited and proud they are to the fact that Lydia is now married. They are both very proud so Lydia in this chapter tries to find any way she can to show off the fact that she is married. When Darcy proposes to Elizabeth the second time, ironically it is all due to the fact that Lady Catherine de Bourgh visited Elizabeth and tried to force them apart.When Lady Catherine told Darcy he was delighted that Elizabeth refused to promise to turn down a proposal from him if he was to make one. Of course Elizabeth accepts the proposal. Darcy and Elizabeth have a joint wedding with Jane and Bi ngley. To conclude, one of the main features of Jane Austen's writing is to carefully set out how young ladies should behave in the late 18th century. In ‘Pride and Prejudice’, by using a ‘heroine' such as Elizabeth she gives an alternative and possibly more modern view of behaviour. In this novel, Elizabeth’s views on marriage are particularly modern.