Heaneys Childhood Memories in Poems Mid-Term Break and...

Heaneys Childhood Memories in Poems Mid-Term Break and Follower Seamus Heaney is an established Irish poet who was born on April 13th 1939. He was the oldest of nine children and was brought up on a remote farm in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He has a lot of typically Irish memories which he includes in his poems. The three main memories that he brings up in the two poems Mid-Term Break and Follower are the death of his brother Christopher, farm life and breaking the family tradition. At 18, Heaney left his small village to pursue his English career, unaware of just how talented a poet he was. It wasnt until he attended Queens College to study a degree in English and got involved with†¦show more content†¦Heaney is able to do this by not showing any emotion at all from himself, but from other peoples reactions to the circumstances. Heaney actually wrote this poem 13 years after the incident, so it is clear this has deeply affected him emotionally. There are many people in Mid-Term Break. Each of these people is significant. Heaney is the most important, because the poem is describing his memory. However, because Heaney is writing as an observational poet, without the other characters emotions, the poem would be bland and without feeling. In the first stanza, you find out that it is written in the first person narrative and the persona is most likely to be Heaney himself. It begins in the college sick bay, where Heaney has been waiting all morning, not knowing why. At this point, Heaney could be feeling bored, isolated and lonely. It would give him time to analyse the situation, and think why he had been sent there. The poem suggests he was there for a long time by using phrases like: I sat all morning.... and Counting bells knelling classes to a close. The first phrase used obviously referred to how long he had been there, but the second was a little harder to fathom. If he was counting bells knelling classes, this would mean several classes have already started. Due to the large time gap between eachShow MoreRelated Comparing Seamus Heaney Poems Follower, Mid-term Break, and Digging3940 Words   |  16 Pagesthis essay I will be comparing three Seamus Heaney poems we looked at in class these are called, â€Å"Follower†, â€Å"Mid-term Break† and, â€Å"Digging†. There are differences as well as similarities, the similarities include: they are all poems about and set in Seamus’ childhood memories In addition, all the poems more or less use some of the same poetic devices and techniques like: onomatopoeia and some of the same characters appear in all three poems such as like: Seamus (himself obviously) and his fatherRead More Common Themes in Poetry Essay4006 Words   |  17 Pagesanalysing numerous poems, I have chosen two examples of the famous Irish Poet, Seamus Heaneys work: Follower and Mid-Term Break. Both poems relate to the poets past, and are certainly associated with a specific loss of a loved one - one a literal loss, and the other a subconscious loss. Mid-Term Break, which I found to be a very touching and poignant poem, describes the loss of the poets younger brother, Christopher when Heaney was a child, hence the poem is of a childhood tragedy as Read MoreEssay about The poetry of Seamus Heaney is deceptively simple1774 Words   |  8 PagesThe poetry of Seamus Heaney is deceptively simple. Examine this comment in the light of his choices of subject, diction, and structure. You should refer to at least two poems in your responses. The deceptive simplicity of the poet can be helped to be understood through P A M Dirac, who suggests that poetry tries to tell people in a way that is understood by no one, something everybody already knew. If you can comprehend this, it is easier to see how the poetry of Heaney can be called deceptivelyRead MoreSeamus Heaney – ‘at a Potato Digging’3379 Words   |  14 PagesSeamus Heaney – ‘At a Potato Digging’ †¢ Context †¢ †¢ The poem deals with two different potato harvests. One is the harvest from the present day that goes successfully and which delivers a rich crop. The second potato harvest looks back to the famine of 1845 when the crop failed and many people starved. Whilst the famine is no longer a threat, its ongoing fear remains and this can be seen in the use of religious language throughout the poem. For example, the bowed heads of the potato pickers suggestRead MoreThe Way Wordsworth and Heaney Present Nature and Rural Life in Their Poetry4285 Words   |  18 Pagesand revel in their love of nature. Years later, after moving twice more, and getting married, Wordsworth moved to Rydal Mount, where he spent the remainder of his life, until 1850 when he died, aged 80. Almost all of Wordsworths poems share a common factor, which is nature. However, in his work, Wordsworth does not simply just describe nature or the natural environment; instead, he relates it to himself and explores his emotions towards it. Within his poetry, Wordsworth Read MoreEssay on Seamus Heaneys Background and Poetry3041 Words   |  13 PagesSeamus Heaneys Background and Poetry Seamus Heaney had a Roman Catholic upbringing in a rural area of Northern Ireland. How does his poetry reflect his background? Heaneys poetry is able to reflect his background by his use of language and the technique he expresses his experiences. I will cover his background into three sections: his childhood, the community and his reflections. I will start by looking at his feelings and experiences in the poem Death of a Naturalist. The poet

Foreign Powers During The Middle East - 1800 Words

The majority of Middle Eastern countries have suffered for decades under authoritarian regimes and have not succeeded at reforming their oppressive policies or at democratizing. There have been arguments made stating that it is nearly impossible for the Middle East to democratize and that as a region, democracy will not work. There was also another argument made stating that Islam does not allow for democracy to exist. Both these arguments ignore the history of the region, in which foreign powers have had a lot of influence, and have created the oppressive regimes that are present currently in the region. Foreign factors have played a great role in inhibiting any reforms from taking place in the region. Foreign powers entered the Middle East for its resources, took what they needed from the region then abandoned it. These countries were required to build and strengthen their economies suddenly after years of being controlled by foreign powers. The curse of oil in the Middle East has also played a role in inhibiting political and economic reforms from taking place. Oil rich countries have had significantly less political reforms over the past decades, as seen clearly in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, regional factors such as the Israeli occupation of Palestine, have also inhibited reform in that part of the region. Foreign and regional factors have inhibited political and economic reform in the Middle East, however, each country in the Middle East has had a different historyShow MoreRelatedThe Eisenhower Doctrine Of The Middle East1587 Words   |  7 Pages The Eisenhower Doctrine in the Middle East Mahmoud Mseddi History Society L2G1 Mediterranean School of Business November 29, 2015 â€Æ' The Eisenhower Doctrine in the Middle East Dwight David Ike Eisenhower was the 34th president of the United States of America and was in office from 1953 until 1961. His presidency can be considered as a bumpy but remarkable road from the foreign affairs side. Taking over the office during the cold war, he fiercely protected his country and his allies againstRead MoreIs The Cold War Really Over?1430 Words   |  6 Pagesbegan with ideological battles in the West and East. Political tensions and events are growing in the current conflicts in the Middle East and varied countries. The term â€Å"cold war† has rose again as new conflicts emerged from the Cold War era. After the prolong conflict between the West and East, the two sides continued their movement to bring sphere of influence over foreign countries. There are factors that concern upon the political events in foreign nations such as the War on Terror, Russian interventionRead MoreSecretary Of State Condoleezza Rice1097 Words   |  5 Pagesof 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice went up to 600 people at the American University in Cairo and delivered a very powerful speech on the advancement of democracy in the Middle East. â€Å"For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in this region here in the Middle East, and we achieved neither, she declared, â€Å"Now we are taking a different course. We are supporting the democratic aspirations of all people.† Her speech was seen as an attack on theRead MoreOil Has Been Used By Domestic And Foreign Governments On The Development Of The Middle East1335 Words   |  6 Pages SECTION/HOUR _4/D_____ BLOCK III ESSAY QUESTION CHOSEN : ___ #1___ BEGIN ESSAY BELOW: — Oil has been used by domestic and foreign governments in the development of the Middle East both domestically and in foreign policy since 1940 by using it as a bartering item because it is such a valid and precious resource that can fuel homes, towns, and countries. The Middle East has had many ups and downs throughout its development as a country, but its abundant supply of oil made it a country that outsidersRead MoreInternational Policy Between Western Countries And The Middle East Essay1377 Words   |  6 PagesCHAPTER 3: DATA ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION 1) ISIS changed foreign policy between western countries and the Middle East Data Analysis and Sources: *Empirical history USA Foreign policy: From 1945 to 1990 the United States of America kept an important military deployment in Europe and Asia and in contrast they had a low military footprint in the Middle East counting relying instead on their local allies; more particularly the conservative Arab monarchies in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Persian gulf and hadRead MoreNationalist Movements of the Middle East and South Asia after WW11065 Words   |  5 Pagesabout vast changes to many parts of the world. 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This view emanates from all the conflicts going in the Middle East that have the potential to threaten numerous strategic interests for the united Stated such as oil, terrorist, and Israel. Yet Middle East has never seen as problematic as it is now due to the excessive flux of problems the Middle East is strugglingRead MoreMiddle East And Russia Case Study1700 Words   |  7 PagesWhile the Middle East and China will remain concerns in the near future, the most significant threat to the United States domestically and internationally will be Russia. For years, Russia was often overlooked as a large â€Å"Failed State† with the fall of Communism and the collapse of its Socialist government. Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has enacted policies aimed at modernizing its military, reacquiring former Soviet states, and undermini ng the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Case Study on Ikea Ethics For Managers

Question: Discuss about theCase Study on Ikeafor Ethics For Managers. Answer: Introduction Business ethics is an integration of the core components of the philosophy of ethics with the various business activities and the functioning of the organization. It includes the various decisions made in production as well as the distribution of the services and physical commodities being sold by the company. The effective utilization of the goods and service too comes under the purview of the code of ethics that is essential to generate good will and ensure the continued success of the business entity. IKEA has a tradition of appearing to follow a decentralized management style. However, appearances tend to be deceptive and the final decisions are all made by Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the company (Milne, 2013). Objective The primary objective of the study is to identify the various ethical issues being faced by IKEA in order of priority and identify how the most significant among them has been addressed by the company. The Most Significant Ethical Issues IKEA has Faced in the Past Among the list of ethical issues faced by IKEA in the past, the one that stands out is the ability to maintain its strong sense of identity and culture that has been part f the company image since its inception more than 70 years ago. The significant changes in the manner of conducting business as well as the various socio-cultural differences that it needs to tactically handle as part of its international growth are issues that have been at the forefront of the organizations ethical dilemma. Key decision makers in any business, managers regardless of their level in an organization need to ensure that they need to function within the parameters set by law as well as ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are honored to the best possible manner (Iqbal, et al. 2012). Managers, by virtue of their role in the organization are the interface between management and staff as well as between company and stakeholders (Scandelius and Cohen, 2016). This unique position often puts them in position where they need to be held accountable for their various decisions made on behalf of the company or for enforcing decisions made by the top management. The manager in any organization is thus in a position to ensure that he continues to be the face of the company by advocating the expected code of ethical conduct, but also in ensuring that the same is reflected in all levels of the organization. The code of business ethics thus needs to be applied not just to the organization but also to each and every individual member who is part of the company regardless of his role in the functioning of the business. Thus, the company has always operated on a uncompromising code of conduct as laid down by Kamprad, who despite his advancing years and the passive role in the day to day functioning of IKEA has always ensured that the ethical code of conducting business be adhered to at all times. While the organization has had to deal with matters like poor quality of merchandise as well as shortfalls in customer service, the genius and thinking of Kamprad has stood the business in good stead, in all their expansion and growth plans. He has ensured that while the baton has been passed on and each of his sons' is serving in a position of power, the final word always remains his. Despite his rather laid back approach, Kamprad has been able to correct many of the mistakes made through measures like a surge in the opening of new stores without adequate time and effort put in to ensure its economic viability. He has been able to tone down the aggressive approach and push IKEA into an expansion- consolidation-growth-consolidation expansion strategy instead of the exclusive importance given to expansion alone. Impact of Vision, Mission and Code of Practice on Business Ethics at IKEA IKEA has a strong foundation and a clearly laid out vision and mission. The code of business ethics in the organization has been followed since its inception and is well defined. By communicating these to all stakeholders, particularly newer employees, the company would be able to ensure that the business does not have to face issues similar to that faced by it in the past (Jonikas, 2012). This includes the sudden surge of expansion and new stores that have been a significant dent on finances, without being able to substantiate the investment through returns. Furthermore, the loss of brand image bought about through concerns with regards to poor merchandise and the quality of customer care are also equally important. All Swedish companies including IKEA are committed to ensuring that the business uses the best of raw materials and practices to ensure consistency and durability in the product line, thus ensuring that the business continues to flourish at all times. When considering this disclosure from an ethical perspective, it seems obvious that business ethics is what sets apart the giants from the masses. Just as each society makes and enforces its own laws and regulations, so too do all successful organizations. The only difference being that the laws of the organization are subject to the laws of the host country but not vice versa. Thus, any organization like IKEA which operates in several countries always faces a moral dilemma since its business ethics may not be consistent with the laws of each host country. Management is thus faced with the primary responsibility to understand as well as implement ethical behavior as per the companys code of conduct but also ensure that it remains within the legal boundaries of the host country. For instance, companies operating in the Middle East would ensure that their employees respect the code of conduct of the local host country and not conduct business as it would be done in Europe or America. IKEA and Carrolls Four Part Model of Corporate Social Responsibility The four part model refers to the legal, economic, discretionary and ethical expectations that society places on business organizations, which lays the foundation to frame the responsibilities of the organization to the society at large (Carroll, 1991). The economic responsibilities refer to economic considerations like creation of jobs and timely payment of taxes that society expects from all business entities. Profits are rewards given to the business for fulfilling its economic responsibilities. Legal responsibilities refer to the legal framework of a country within which business entities operate. This includes compliance with state, federal and local regulations and fulfilling all legal obligations to society. Ethical responsibilities include embracing practice and standards not laid out in the letter of low. For instance, the Arabian countries are not extremely keen on negotiating with women and all companies operating there respect this despite there being no laws in this rega rd. Discretionary responsibilities include corporate philanthropy through various measure that help give back to the local community that natures the business. This could be through medical drives, medical camps, community service and so on. At IKEA, the company takes its social responsibility seriously and the economic responsibilities are fulfilled by ensuring that natives form host countries are employed in all stores across the world. On the legal front, IKEA is committed to ensuring that it does not trespass or violate the legal norms set in place b the host governments. It continues to honor all legally binding regulations and local laws in all countries of operations. The ethical initiatives include the measures put in place to reduce carbon footprints, initiatives to protect the environment and so on that are not mandated by several governments but continue to be part of the ethical practices followed at IKEA. The discretionary responsibility at IKEA refers to the various initiatives like the building of a Syrian home in its flagship store so as to spread awareness and build up a sizable collection for refugees in war torn Syria (Garfield, 2016). Classification of IKEAs Key Stakeholders According to the Stakeholder salience theory by Mitchell, Agle and Wood; IKEAs key stakeholders may be classified on the basis of their relationships attributes. The three key attributes that are considered are urgency, legitimacy and power (Mitchell et al, 1997). They state that since it is not possible to satisfy all stakeholders simultaneously, the crisis type based on the above classification would help crisis managers give appropriate weight age to each stakeholder. At IKEA the key stakeholder would be the shareholder, the employees, the suppliers and the end customers. Based on the Stakeholder Salience Theory, urgency must be accorded to suppliers without whose support production lines would dry up. However, power rests with employees and they must be provided for as well as included in all important decision making to ensure that the smooth functioning of the company are not affected. The legitimacy, on the other hand, remains with the stakeholders and the top management who m ake the financial and other major decisions for the company. Crisis management is an important aspect of business management and continues to influence the working of organizations since this core skill is needed to ensure smooth functioning at all times (Iqbal, et al. 2012). The crisis management group would evaluate the weight age to be accorded to each group listed above and fulfill their aspirations in the order of priority. Generally the maximum priority is given to suppliers and employees since their co-operation is essential for the smooth functioning of the organization (Iqbal, et al. 2012). IKEA and Sustainability Sustainability at IKEA is intrinsically linked to the manner in which the age old traditions and ideology can be comfortably lined to the modern methods of doing business. Trust is the primary factor that is essential in all dealing with customers, both internal and external. The management must ensure that it is transparent and follows a more participative management style, while continuing to espouse the ideology of Kamprad. Managers are tasked with the responsibility to understand the business ethics of the organization and practice ethical behavior in line with organizational philosophy. Their responsibilities include leading by example and eliminating ambiguity that is part of the ethical practices for multinationals. Sustainability is a key consideration with all Swedish brands and IKEA is no exception (Gad and Moss, 2008). They look forward to the strategic advantages that sustainable practices help them achieve as well as the methods by which this advantage can be converted i nto profits and goodwill (Neville, 2016). Social responsibility, ethical behavior, conformance to local laws and regulations as well as ethical practices, is just some of the commonly seen traits with all Swedish brands including IKEA (The IKEA group approach to sustainability, 2016). IKEA has reaped several benefits from the various sustainability initiatives in place including the high standards of quality that are intrinsic to the company image and brand name. The furniture style is bold with classical and timeless lines that ensure that the furniture stays in fashion even after countless years. The durability and the timeless nature of its products are just one of the advantages of IKEA furniture. The same is reflected in the sustainability practices at IKEA and includes its commitment to be relying completely on only renewable sources of energy by 2020 (Holder, 2016). The company has made significant investments in solar panels and wind farms worldwide to ensure that its meets this commitment on time. In addition, this initiative by IKEA also helps place it away from the vulgarizes of being at the mercy of electric companies to improve its production schedules. The ideology is inculcated in employees who are also adopting the measures to ensure that the compa ny achieves its objectives on time and thus fulfils its commitments to society and environment (Kelly-Detwiler, P. 2016). Ethical Communication and Practices at IKEA The negative or positive impact on stakeholders in any business is personified by the behavior of the managers. Activities, policies and objectives of any business organization would have a positive or negative impact on its stakeholders, including owners, employees suppliers customers, retailers, distributors, shareholders ad the local community. Civil rights groups, civic authorities, local and state governments, labor unions, special interest groups and environmental groups are also impacted by the working of the business. Unethical practices tend to have far reaching implications on all stakeholders regardless of the depth of their association. The saving grace is limited to the depth of the association and therefore its impact. Organizations like IKEA need to be ethical in all its communications and practices to ensure that such a potentially dangerous situation does not arise (Scandelius and Cohen, 2016). Being in the business of furniture, IKEA is known for its solid, classica l lines and strength of furniture. Thus, any issues regarding lack of quality would impact the international image of the company and not just a local store where the issues have come to light. The major issues that have been seen at IKEA have occurred when communication lines within the organization were flawed. Thus, it goes without saying that ethical communications and polices are the key factors to be considered when looking at business ethics at IKEA. While ethical dilemmas continue to be a matter of concern, the open and transparent two way communication being enforced in the company lately is a positive step towards ensuring that the framework for dealing with the various issues that may arise is in place. Recommendation for Future Business Practices Based on the analysis of previous issues faced by the company as well as the possibility of potential problems that may arise in the coming years the following recommendations have been made for IKEA The company must communicate its mission, vision, objectives and code of ethical practices to all employees. This practice must be completed as part of the HR training and included in all refresher training modules as well. Thus, the negative fallouts of following practices that are not in line with company policies, missions, vision and objectives is eliminated. The expansion and growth must adhere to company standards and policies. There should be no attempt to chase numbers without consolidating the position of the company at all times. Thus, it means that regardless of the urge to show a higher figure, the company must follow its tried and tested success formulae of gradual expansion rather than running to capture markets without consolidating its position in established markets. The same ideology and vision must be depicted by all employees of IKEA regardless of the length of their association with the company or the role that they play within the organization. By ensuring that the company is able to ensure consistency in the rand image of the organizational across all verticals as well as all areas of operations, IKEA is ensuring that there is no possibility of errors or fallouts like poor customer service or product supply. While factors like health benefits and pension plans have certain mandatory levels set by various host countries, IKEA would be better placed by ensuring that it follows a universal plan for all its employees regardless of the country of operations. This would ensure that the organization is able to retain employees who would have the best interests of the company at heart. This would not only eliminate several redundancies like shrinking employee loyalty and high attrition ratio, but also ensure that the company enjoys a high employability index globally. This simple initiative would help signal that IKEA believes in practicing ethical practices and expects the same from all employees across the board. Conclusion An efficient manager needs to ensure that he is acting ethically and legally. There exist several parallels between business ethics and the legal framework that they tend to complement each other beautifully. While some of the ethical practices include respecting human rights and avoiding the use of child labor; other not so clear cut decisions include the impact on various key stakeholders, level of corporate social responsibility to the practice and the cost-benefit analysis for stakeholders as well as the business. The success of IKEA is linked to its ability to ensure that the organizational philosophy and code of business ethics reflects the company ideology, vision, mission, objectives and philosophy as well as by being in line with the laws and regulations of the host country. References Anon, (2016).The IKEA group approach to sustainability. [online] Available at: https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_KW/pdf/sustainability_report/group_approach_sustainability_fy11.pdf [Accessed 21 Dec. 2016]. Carroll, A. (1991). The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: Toward the moral management of organizational stakeholders.Business Horizons, 34(4), pp.39-48. Gad, T. and Moss, S. (2008). The second wave of sustainability hits Swedish brands.Journal of Brand Management, 16(1-2), pp.110-115. Garfield, L. (2016).Ikea set up a model of a 'typical Syrian home' in its flagship store. [online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.in/Ikea-set-up-a-model-of-a-typical-Syrian-home-in-its-flagship-store/articleshow/55376656.cms [Accessed 22 Dec. 2016]. Holder, M. (2016).IKEA argues for businesses to go all-in on sustainability. [online] GreenBiz. Available at: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/ikea-argues-businesses-go-all-sustainability [Accessed 21 Dec. 2016]. Iqbal, N., Ahmad, N., Sheeraz, M. and Bashir, N. (2012). The Impact of perceived Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Job Attitude and Performance of Internal Stakeholders.International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 2(4). Jonikas, D. (2012). Value creation through CSR at stakeholders level.Economics and management, 17(2). Kelly-Detwiler, P. (2016).Forbes Welcome. [online] Forbes.com. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2014/02/07/ikeas-aggressive-approach-to-sustainability-creates-enormous-business-opportunities/ [Accessed 21 Dec. 2016]. Milne, R. (2016).Ikea row shines light on role of founder. [online] Ft.com. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/8c901e4c-6a11-11e2-a80c-00144feab49a [Accessed 22 Dec. 2016]. Mitchell, R., Agle, B. and Wood, D. (1997). Toward a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: defining the principle of who and what really counts.Academy of Management Review, 22(4), pp.853-886. Neville, S. (2016).Ikea profits up 8% in 2012. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jan/23/ikea-profits-rise-2012 [Accessed 22 Dec. 2016]. Scandelius, C. and Cohen, G. (2016). Achieving collaboration with diverse stakeholdersThe role of strategic ambiguity in CSR communication.Journal of Business Research, 69(9), pp.3487-3499.

War And Peace Essays (1262 words) - French Invasion Of Russia

War And Peace War and Peace The famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy wrote War and Peace in 1865. It is a story about the lives of the Russian royal family from 1805 to 1815. This book depicts things and events that happened during the war. The novel describes the war with Napoleon in which many countries were involved such as Russia, Austrian, Prussia, Spain, Sweden, and Britain. However, the novel mainly focuses on Russia. It reflects the different views and participation in the war of Russian aristocracy. Showing the war, Tolstoy describes Napoleon's attack on Russia, the battle of Borodino, the slow retrieval of the Russian army, the conquest of Moscow by Napoleon, the fire in Moscow, and the retrieval of Napoleon's army during a deadly winter. Napoleon had to retreat from Russia under attacks by Russian peasants and horsemen on those who fell behind. His army also suffers from cold and hunger, since the Russians destroyed all food supplies. The takeover of Moscow by Napoleon proved to be useless, and in the long run, destroyed a large part of his army. Alongside with these historical events, Tolstoy describes the different classes of Russian society in the terms of their participation in the war and what kind of an impact war had on their lives. In the beginning of the novel, the Russian aristocratic class, which was in the czar's circle, wanted Russia to participate in the war. They wanted a quick victory and pride for the Russian nobility. They did not anticipate that the war would destroy homes, agriculture, and take many Russian lives. There are the good people, and of course, the bad. The good people being Natasha Rostov, a teenage girl who grows and matures throughout the book and Pierre Bezuhov, the son of Kirill Vladmirovitch Bezuhov, who speaks much of the novel expressing his purpose on earth. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, the leader of the Bolkonsky family and a great war hero. The bad people are the protagonists themselves, as they torment themselves and Napoleon Bonaparte, (who, by some, is believed to be an impostor) the emperor and military leader of France, whom is bent on world domination. The Secondary characters are the families of Bolkonsky and Kuragin, Anna Pavolvna, a famous St. Petersburg socialite and Kutuzof, the military leader of the Russian forces. This class is shown in Anna Pavlova Sharer's salon, with its upper class aristocracy, who talk only in French, viewing the Russian language as uncivilized and useful only for peasants. They adopted French culture and wear French style clothing, and at the same time they want to fight Napoleon. However, the majority of this class doesn't want to participate themselves in the war, but want to win the war with the hands of the peasants. These aristocrats, despite their high education and power, will do nothing to help win the war. They live like parasites on the body of Russia's society. This is how Tolstoy describes this class in general, but he also depicts two representatives of this upper class, Andrew Bolkonsky and Pierre Bisuhov, who were the more intellectual ones, and whose lives and views of war and life changed as the result of the war. Depicting the Rostov family, who were also wealthy nobles, but were not in the czar's circle and lived in rural parts of Russia, Tolstoy showed a typical Russian family who were devoted to their country and Russian traditions. All of Tolstoy's sympathy is on their side and he presents them in a positive way. They sing Russian folklore, which the higher aristocrats would not dream of doing. Depicting this class, Tolstoy describes simple and eternal problems such as birth, love, forgiveness, and death. The main national characteristics are in the Russian peasants. Through these people, who hate war, we are shown that they are forced to participate in the war because the have no other choice. They show real heroism during war. Captain Tushin and a soldier, Timohin, give their lives to save their army. Historical figures such as Napoleon and Kutuzov oppose the views of the aristocratic class in the czar's circle. This class of people didn't like Kutuzov, who became the general of the Russian army. They thought he was too