Friday, January 24, 2020

Essay example --

Konsep pembelajaran sepanjang hayat (PSH) ataupun lifelong learning bukanlh merupakan satu perkara yang asing lagi dalam sistem pendidikan negara ekoran daripada perubahan persekitaran baru di mana sekotor ekonomi pada sekarang berasaskan pengetahuan atau K-ekonomi menjadi keutamaan. Justeru itu, institut pendidikan guru hendaklah menerapkan nilai pembelajaran sepanjang hayat dan kemahiran untuk berfikir pada aras tinggi (KBAT). Budaya ilmu ini sangat penting, oleh itu, pengamalan budaya membaca dalam kalangan guru pelatih telah lama dipraktikkan oleh warga IPG malah ia sudah menjadi sebahagian intipati budaya oleh IPG. Di samping itu pelajar-pelajar di IPG bukan sahaja diterapkan dengan nilai pembelajaran sepanjang hayat sahaja, malah guru-guru pelatih di IPG juga telah dilatih untuk meningkatkan teknik pengajaran dalam bilik darjah. Keberkesanan aktiviti pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam bilik darjah juga akan memberikan impak maksima kepada pelajar keraana persekitaran pembelajara n yang kondusif akan memudahkan para pelajar untuk lebih cekap dalam menimba ilmu. Oleh itu, bakal guru yang menuntut di IPG juga diajar dengan pelbagai jenis dan kemahiran mengajar untuk menarik minat pelajar semasa proses pembelajaran dan pengajaran di dalam kelas. Contohnya, penggunaan alat bantu pengajaran telah memudahkan lagi kerja guru dalam menyampaikan pengajarannya dan kaedah melakukan kerja dalam kumpulan juga telah mewujudkan suasana yang seronok untuk belajar dalam kalangan pelajar. Dengan ini guru bukan sahaja melahirkan insan yang berilmu tinggi malah mengamalkan budaya pembelajaran sepanjang hayat agar modal insan yang dihasilkan kelak akan dapat memacu kegemilangan negara sehingga ke peringkat global. Hal ini adalah sangat wajar kerana... ...dunia juga bermaksud kemampuan dan pencapaian cemerlang Malaysia dalam membangunkan sektor pendidikan negara agar kita dapat mempellopori perubahan dan kemajuan dinamis iaitu pembangunan tenaga manusia, kecemerlangan budaya fikir dan pembangunan teknologi dan sains. Jika system pendidikan disusun dengan dirangka dengan telus dan terbaik, maka negara kita akan dapat mengurangkan lagi kadar buta huruf yang berlaku kepada pelajar terutamanya kepada mereka yang bersekolah di kawasan luar bandar. Pendidikan bertaraf dunia juga merupakan satu komitmen dan usaha Kementerian Pendidikan bagi memperbaik kualiti pendidikan negara agar ia dapat dilonjakkan kepada satu standard yang tinggi dan mampu menyaingi negara-negara maju yang lain, pendidikan juga merupakan salah satu langkah penting untuk mengangkat martabat dan status Malaysia salam dunia pendidikan di peringkat global.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Consumer Promotion Essay

I expect this report to fulfill the requirements of my internship program (BBA 449) at Unilever Bangladesh Limited. I have put in my best efforts to make this report a success. However, I am sure that this report could have been a more superior one, if it had not been my first time to conduct such a relational study. However this has obviously been a great source of learning for me to conduct similar research studies in future. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your guidance and suggestions in preparing the report. I will be happy to provide any further explanation regarding this research report if necessary. Thanking You. Sincerely yours, Muhammad Mashfiq Huq ID# 0131001 Acknowledgements In preparing this report a considerable amount of thinking and informational inputs from various sources were involved. I express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed towards making this research report possible. Major contributions were received from officials at Unilever Bangladesh Limited and Independent University, Bangladesh. First of all I would like to thank the authorities of Unilever Bangladesh Limited to give me the prized opportunity to do my internship at their prestigious organization. The experience and knowledge gained at Unilever Bangladesh Limited helped me immensely to address and understand all the elements related to my report, which I otherwise would not have understood so well. I would like to specially thank my supervisor at Unilever Bangladesh Limited, Mr Rajeeb Bhattacharjee, Product Group Manager for Wheel, for his absolute support, co-operation and encouragement that he extended to me from the very first day. In spite of having a very busy schedule, he made sure in every way that I acquire the best possible exposure and knowledge during my tenure as an intern under him. My sincere gratitude goes to my internship supervisor Mr. Muzahid Akbar, for encouraging me at the very first place, to undertake such a relational study to fulfill my internship requirements. He gave all the time and attention, which I needed to complete my research and compile my report in as much orderly way as possible. Last but not the least I would like to thank the respondents of my survey, for sparing the time to fill out the questionnaires. This research would not have been possible without their valuable inputs. Correlation matrix of the study variables 3. Stepwise regression on Product Quality Perceptions 4. Stepwise regression on Brand Loyalty 13 15 16 17 Executive Summary This paper is directed towards exploring the relationship between consumer promotion, price perception, product quality perceptions and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh. Through sizeable literature review and discussions it is known that there is considerable correlation that exists among the study variables mentioned above. The data sampling was conducted on the customers of different brands of detergents. A structured questionnaire was used to find out the views of people regarding consumer promotion in detergent brands, price perceptions about the promoted brands of detergent, product quality perceptions about those brands and also to find out about brand loyalty in the detergent markets. A correlation analysis and a stepwise regression analysis were run on the collected data to analytically explore the relations and their extent. It was found that consumer promotion is positively correlated with the product quality perceptions and brand loyalty of those brands. Meaning that if a person views the consumer promotion positively, then his/ her perception of the product quality about a promoting brand will be proportionately high. It also means that the chances of the same person being brand loyal towards that brand would also be high. There is a positive correlation of price perception with perceived quality and brand loyalty. According to this, if the perceived prices of the promoted brands are fair then it would have positive effects on product quality perception and brand loyalty of that brand. It has also been found that product quality perceptions about promoted brands are positively correlated with brand loyalty of those brands. Overall consumer promotions are expected to give positive results with the people who have positive views about consumer promotion and who can be influenced by promotional efforts. So while deciding about consumer promotion it should be thought in advance that who is the consumer promotion activity aimed at. This way wastage of large amounts of money can be avoided by spending on ineffective consumer promotion activity. Every effort should be given to make the consumers think that the prices of the promoted brand are fair, even when there is no promotional activity is undertaken. Though there is a tendency in the detergent market to provide frequent promotional offers, yet the perceived quality should in no way go down because there is a good possibility that the brand loyalty would also go down. Introduction Bangladesh has a detergent market of about 8. 8 billion taka of which Unilever occupies a share of 30% making it the market leader. The major competitor brands in the detergent market for Unilever are Keya, Chaka and Tibet. To fight this steep competition the above mentioned companies constantly run consumer promotion in hope to sell more than the respective competitors. Although this strategy worked well at first but with the passage of time, the intense consumer promotions have done little to prevent Unilever from loosing shares to its competitors. In 2004, Wheel, Unilever’s largest detergent brand ran about nine consumer promotions where as in 2005 it ran no consumer promotions at all. Consumer promotion over all is a very expensive affair. Unilever has the largest brands of detergent and so the cost of providing a consumer promotion offer is also large by the same proportion. Besides the competitor brands are known to involve in some unfair practices. They pay a very low wage rate to their labours so overhead costs are low, they under invoice their imported raw materials so that they can evade import taxes and other duties, so they save a lot of money in the process. They can then utilize this money for consumer promotion and other competitive activities that can earn them a higher share of the market. Therefore it is imperative that consumer promotions and other dependant elements have to be studied, to make sure that if a consumer promotion activity is implemented it is a highly effective one. This way, precious monetary resources have the minimum chances of being wasted. To understand the competition in the detergent market better price perceptions and product quality perceptions about the brands of detergent on promotion are also considered being worth studying. To look at market share issues, the brand loyalty element should also be explored. Statement of the Problem There are many companies that are operating to serve the detergent markets; as a result the competition has heightened. Consumer promotions are being heavily used in the detergent markets to increase sales of each available brand. Consumer promotions, when implemented use up a lot monetary resources. Failure to implement the consumer promotion activity effectively may result in major loss of money. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between consumer promotions, price perceptions with product quality perceptions and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh. Research Timeline 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 October November November 20 November 28 December 6 Research proposal writing and literature rivew Data collection (surveys etc. ) Data analysis and interpretation Draft submission of research report Submission of research report Limitations There are vast amounts of information and write-ups relating to the topics of this research that are present in the internet and various other sources, but it was not possible to gain access to many such information. So missing out some important aspect of the discussed topics can be a possibility. There is a major time constraint in doing the research work and preparing the report, a much larger pool of information could have been dealt with if there was more time to analyze them. A minimal sample size will be used for this research; if a larger sample was taken into consideration the research would have been more accurate. The survey will be conducted in Dhaka city which could be a possible reason for the people’s mind set to be similar and survey results not being very different from each other, the results could be different if people from outside metropolitan cities were brought under consideration. Review of Literature Consumer Promotion Sales promotions as we know is a very important component of marketing promotion. Consumer promotion (e. g. coupons, samples, contests, sweepstakes, and price packs) is a part of sales promotion that is targeted towards the final buyers of consumer products (Kotler and Armstrong, 2002). There can be various types of consumer sales promotion some are incentive based while others are communicative in nature (Kotler et al. , 1999; Tellis, 1998). The incentive based promotions can be price – oriented promotion or non price-oriented promotion. According to Britannica (article 21279) advertising presents a reason to buy a product but consumer promotion offers a short-term incentive to purchase. Consumer promotions often attract brand switchers (those who are not loyal to a specific brand) who are looking primarily for low price and good value. Thus, especially in markets where products are highly similar, consumer promotions can cause a short-term increase in sales. Abraham and Lodish (1987) stated that many consumer goods categories sold 90% of their volume on special deals which is a result of consumer promotion. Consumer promotion is thought to be a tool that helps manufacturers and retailers to achieve their objectives of generating sales (Alvarez and Casielles, 2004). They also stated that the influence of sales promotions on the consumer will also depend on the consumer’s characteristics Price Perceptions According to Schiffman and Kanuk (2004) price perception is about how customers see a product’s price, as high, low or fair. They also stated that perception of price unfairness affect consumers’ perceptions of value and ultimately their willingness to buy a product. According to Moore et al. (2003) years of research concerned with price show both positive and negative perceptions serve as marketplace cues. Several studies have also portrayed the role of price perceptions as an attribute to success (Jiang and Rosenbloom, 2004). When the price perceptions are high this is a sign of positive quality, prestige and status (Moore et al. , 2003). The concept of reference price is related to price perceptions. Schiffman and Kanuk (2004) stated that reference price is the price the consumers use as a basis for comparison in judging another price. It is through reference price that the price perception of a brand of product is formed. When the consumer plans to buy a product, he or she will judge prices comparatively with the reference prices in order to determine whether the price is acceptable or not (Alvarez and Casielles, 2004). They also stated that, a result of consumers’ comparison between the prices and the reference price, potential losses and gains emerge. The consumer perceives a gain when the reference price is higher than the observed price. If the observed price is higher than the reference price, the consumer experiences a loss. Product Quality Perceptions Product quality perceptions represent consumer judgment about the superiority of a product, which the user-based approaches think is essential in describing quality (Forker et al. , 1996). Bundles of attributes together represent a certain level of quality, which therefore provide utility to the customer (Snoj et al. , 2004). The benefits are measured through a perceived level of quality (level of working superiority), a bundle of attributes in comparison with the consumer’s expectations. Schiffman and Kanuk (2004) stated consumers often judge the quality of a product on the basis of a variety of informational cues that they associate with the product. They also stated that the cues can either be intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic cues are related to the physical characteristics of the product itself, like size, colour, flavour, aroma etc. The extrinsic cues on the other hand are related to elements that are put together with the actual product like packaging, pricing, advertising etc. The perceived quality of products and services is central to the theory that strong brands add value to consumers’ purchase evaluations (Low and Lamb, 2000). Brand Loyalty Brand loyalty is the ultimate desired outcome of consumer learning (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2004). According to Rawly and Dawes (1999) brand loyalty is the likelihood of positive attitudes and behaviours of consumers towards a particular brand, this could amount to repeat purchase and positive word of mouth. They also stated that a loyal customer base is an asset for a company and it reduces the need for seeking new customers. It is also a known fact that retaining current customers requires less money and effort than getting new ones. The strongest measure of brand value is the loyalty a company produces among customers (Aaker, 1996). According to Quester and Lim (2003) brand loyalty is known to have two components, namely attitudinal loyalty and behavioural loyalty. Behavioural loyalty is related to consistent purchase behaviour of a specific brand; it is the consumer’s overt purchase behaviour (Dikempe et al. , 1997) while attitudinal loyalty refers to a highly favourable attitude towards a particular brand. Rowley and Dawes (1999) stated that to understand brand loyalty better the following components of attitude model should be considered: 1. Cognitive component – associated with a â€Å"rational† decision making based on informational determinants. 2. Affective component – associated with emotions and feelings about the product or service. 3. Conative components – associated with a behavioral disposition. Relation between consumer promotion and product quality perceptions A primary reason for consumer promotion is to give an impression of greater quality and appeal to the potential customers (Alvarez and Casielles, 2004). Sales promotion influence the relative weighting of the utility factors and extends the perceived quality (Groth and Dye, 1999). Sales promotions can offer many benefits, the most obvious being monetary savings, and also motivation to perceive higher quality, convenience, value (Quock and Uncles, 2005). The way a consumer promotion is framed is likely to effect consumers’ perceptions of price, quality, value, and purchase intentions (Munger and Grewal, 2001). Ong (1997) on the other hand stated that there is a danger of unfavorable consumer perception as a result of consumer promotion activity like bonus packs etc. Consumers tend to think that at the normal price or offering they over pay for a given level of quality, so their quality perception is affected. Relationship between price perception and product quality perceptions The more quality a product possesses the more utility it contains and the more its price should be in the market (Sjolander, 1992). According to Sjolander (1992) it is very much expected that there is a very strong positive relation between perceived price and perceived quality. Perceived quality explains a considerable portion of the variance in the price the consumers are willing to pay for different brands (Low and Lamb, 2000). Unfavorable price perceptions may have a direct effect on customer intention to switch to a different brand, because the consumers might think that the price does not match quality (Jiang and Rosenbloom, 2004). Companies sometimes attempt to appeal to uninformed consumers by using high prices from start as a signal of high quality, with the belief that if they perceive the price of their products to be high then they automatically perceive the product quality to be high as well (Kalita et al. , 2004). Relationship between consumer promotion and brand loyalty According to Alvarez and Casielles (2004) promotions can have, as an effect, the consumer acquiring a brand that he or she would not otherwise try. They also stated that categories of products whose buyers are very loyal, consumer promotion activity like coupons etc that reward the loyalty could have a bigger effect. Srinivasan and Anderson (1998) acknowledged that many times sales promotions are used by new entrants to break consumers’ brand loyalty toward established brands. In the short run, established brands may be able to ignore sales promotions from new brands without serious loss of sales. Over the longer run, however, unless proper defensive and counter-offensive strategies are developed and implemented, established brands can gradually lose their loyal customer base. Dawes (2004) on the other hand stated that repeat buying rates that buying a brand on promotion decreases the likelihood of a subsequent purchase of that brand. Relationship between price perception and brand loyalty Alvarez and Casielles (2004) stated that when the consumer perceives a loss, the utility that the provides (brand) will diminish, and with it the likelihood of purchase will also go down. If, in contrast, the consumer perceives a gain, he or she will be more inclined to purchase the brand. Price perceptions are expected play an increased role in determining both post-purchase satisfaction and brand loyalty (Jiang and Rosenbloom, 2004). According to representative research higher perceived prices leads to expectation of higher perceived quality and value, in turn lead to higher levels of satisfaction of customers, greater levels of customer loyalty and retention and to a greater success of organizations (Snoj et al. , 2004). Relationship between quality perception and brand loyalty According to Ruyter and Wetzels (1997) the perceived quality is often viewed as a pre-requisite for loyalty and that perceived quality contributes positively to increase loyalty. They also stated that the influence of quality on preference loyalty generally varies per industry. Boulding et al. (1993) found positive relationships between quality and repurchase intentions and willingness to recommend to others. Because product quality perceptions influence value, efforts of marketers have focused on improving product quality in order to enhance perceptions of value, and consequently purchase intentions leading to loyalty (Grewal and Munger, 2001). The loyal customers, who gave indication that they would return, will be the internal level for managers to improve their quality in order to increase customer loyalty (Bowen and Chen, 2001). Research Question The following questions have to be addressed for the study: 1. Is there any significant relationship between consumer promotion and product quality perception in the detergent market of Bangladesh? 2. Is there any significant relationship between price perception and product quality perception in the detergent market of Bangladesh? 3. Is there any significant relationship between consumer promotion and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh? 4. Is there any significant relationship between price perception and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh? 5. Is there any significant relationship between product quality perception and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh? Hypothesis The hypothesis that can be derived from the research questions are: 1. There is significant relationship between consumer promotion and product quality perception in the detergent market of Bangladesh. 2. There is significant relationship between price perception and product quality perception in the detergent market of Bangladesh. There is significant relationship between consumer promotion and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh. . There is significant relationship between price perception and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh. 5. There is significant relationship between product quality perception and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh. Development of Conceptual Framework †¢ Consumer Promotion †¢ Price Perception †¢ Product Quality Perception Figure 1 . Model 1: Conceptual Framework of research variables †¢ Consumer Promotion †¢ Price Perception †¢ Product Quality Perception †¢ Brand Loyalty Figure 2. Model 2: Conceptual Framework of research variables Methodology Research design The illustrations of the conceptual framework model 1 and 2 (Figure 1 and 2) above gives a visual idea of the relationship and structure that exists among the study variables. The main purpose of the research is to assess the existing correlation among the variables. This research is about exploring and understanding the relationship that exists between consumer promotion, price perception with product quality perceptions and brand loyalty in the detergent market of Bangladesh. Here in the first model (figure 1) the independent variables are assigned to be consumer promotions and price perceptions. The dependant variable on the other hand is product quality perception. In the second model (figure 2) the independent variables are consumer promotions, price perceptions and product quality perceptions, in this case the dependant variable is brand loyalty. So the researcher is attempting to find out, if any changes in the independent variable have a changing effect on the dependant ones as well, thereby proving that a relationship exists. The researcher also tried to find out the degree to which a change in the dependant variables has an impact on the independent ones, in other words the degree of relation is also explored here. Therefore the correlation study was chosen for this research. Sampling method The required data for this research was collected from the regular customers of detergents. There was no particular sample frame available for this research so convenience sampling was used, as it is also the cheapest and the easiest methods of sampling. The sample frame for this research consisted of shoppers (mainly house wives) at different shopping centres and stores etc, and also the parents of school children were included. In the shopping centres the researcher surveyed the people who seemed to be the most appropriate respondent for this kind of survey. The parents of kindergarten students, who spend time waiting for their kids outside the schools, were also surveyed, because they usually have a lot of time to spare and can give valuable inputs. Due to time constraints the survey was conducted in Dhaka city only. Over all there were about a 104 people who participated in the survey. Survey instrument A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire consists of different parts to gather information on the different variables under considerations. The questionnaire is the best instrument for the survey in this case because, for a correlation study the sample sizes have to be very large as it is quantitative in nature, so surveying so many people with personal interviews or observations would be next to impossible. With questionnaires, no responses of the respondents can be missed out. It gives more time to the respondents to think and then give the answers. And it is a quicker and cheaper way to conduct the survey. Questionnaires can be conducted in any environment, with minimum influence of the outside environment. Questionnaires also have the advantage of keeping the personal details of the respondents confidential. A sample of the questionnaire has been attached in the appendix.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1664 Words

Dance has shaped the way we look at many different things throughout history. It has shaped how people socialize, what music people listen to, and even whole eras. One such era is the roaring 1920s. How did people socialize in the 1920s? They danced the evening away. What music did people listen to? Jazz music that they could listen to while they danced the evening away. Dance was a huge part of what made up the glorious Jazz Age. So, when a book was written to describe the 1920s scene, no doubt there had to be dance, and lots of it. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the energy level of the parties, music, and dancing to represent a vast array of emotions within the characters. The 1920s was when dance truly flourished in America. In the earlier years of the 1900s dances like the Waltz and Foxtrot were considered scandalous, because it involved contact between the male and female partners. However, once these dances became more clearly demonstrated in America they soon became social norms. These older and more classical styles were still used in the twenties, but the younger generation of dancers began to add new twists and began pioneering new styles of dance. Now that dresses from the Victorian era were out of style and young women were not confined to their corsets, the dance moves became gaudier and the dresses shorter. Soon everyone was dancing, it had become the newest and best form of entertainment for everyone (Scott, 1920-30.com). The Lindy Hop,Show MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. 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The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Antibiotic Essay - 760 Words

Name: Ridhwan Muzaki Class: DBS3B21 Admin no: P0715427 Module: Introductory pharmacology Assignment: Reflection- Anti-infective journal To begin with, I truly believe that the researchers, who have devoted their lives into studying the dynamics of drug interactions for the purpose of enhancing microbial eradication, are heroes in their own right. They have abide to do something with all their heart and soul for the better of mankind. We are living in an age where commitment is often, obscured by day to day life. Individuals make goals, often in the pursuit of glory, but Muhammad Ali once told us that goals, not written down, are only dreams. One can dream all we like but without commitment, nothing can be achieved. Based on the†¦show more content†¦Most of the time, antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria occur not due to mutation, where the protein that the antibiotic target is altered. Instead, it usually involves the bacteria producing enzymes which targets the antibiotic, rendering it inactive. I believe that the widespread use of antibiotics should stop because if a bacterium becomes resistant to all available antibiotics, possibly, there could be a worldwide epidemic of diseases. In conclusion, I believe that finding ways to optimise the efficiency of current antibiotics are necessary, but one should look at the current statistics. Mutations and bacterial resistance to drugs are becoming less of a rarity. It won’t be too long before a ‘superbug’ emerges and threaten to wipe out the entire human race permanently. There are potential agents everywhere around us. For example, nearly a century ago, biologists discovered viruses that prey upon bacteria. When penicillin and other antibiotics emerged a few decades later, however, physicians largely abandoned their efforts to use these bacteriophages, or phages, to thwart infectious diseases. Shouldn’t we tap into these rather promising ‘natural bacterial killers’ instead of relying on anti-biotics? Something must be done because we are living on borrowedShow MoreRelated Antibiotics Essay1643 Words   |  7 Pages Antibiotics have played a major role in our society thanks to Sir Alexander Flemings careful observations in 1928. Without it, many lives would be in danger due to infectious diseases. Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by various species of microorganisms and other living systems that are capable in small concentrations of inhibiting the growth of or killing bacteria and other microorganisms. These organisms can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or animals called protozoaRead MoreAntibiotic Resistance and Children Essays1221 Words   |  5 PagesCausative pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 16, 449-456 This source is unfiltered as it was taken from the biomedical database OVID. It is appropriate to use nursing practice as it discusses pathogens that have become antibiotic resistant. It is becoming more common in the pediatric population to become antibiotic resistant and education to the parents of unnecessary use of antibiotic is vital to avoidRead More Antibiotic Resistance Essay3071 Words   |  13 PagesAntibiotic Resistance I. Abstract When penicillin was first administered in 1943, it proved to be extraordinary at wiping out nasty cases of syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and meningitis infection. With the threat of these deadly infections in ‘check,’ pharmaceutical industries then cut back on their research to discover even more effective antibiotics. This new-found medical confidence inspired patients to merrily run to the clinic to get penicillin prescriptions for everything fromRead MoreEssay on Antibiotic Usage1093 Words   |  5 Pagesproliferation of antibiotic resistance bacteria became evident as Fleming predicted earlier. With the rapid development of infectious disease associated with antibiotic resistance forced us to change the way we view disease and the way we treat patients. However, antibiotic use has not been without consequence and several factors had contributed to the development of resistance. Some resistances are due to spontaneous mutation and these mutations are for select antibiotic resistance whilstRead MoreAntibiotic Resistance Essay1971 Words   |  8 PagesAntibiotic Resistance Nicholas J. Ciotti Nova Southeastern University Biology 1510 Professor A. Hirons March 28, 2011 Abstract Antibiotic resistance is when microorganisms, such as bacteria, are able to survive an exposure to antibiotics and these bacteria are now resistant to the effects of these antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria has been an issue since antibiotics were discovered. The fact that bacteria can become resistant to our medical treatments such as antibioticsRead MoreAntibiotic Sensitivity Lab Essay831 Words   |  4 PagesAntibiotic Sensitivity lab A. Define the term selectively toxic. Why is it an important feature of antimicrobial agents? Selective toxicity is the ability of a chemical or drug to kill a microorganism without harming its host. Selective toxicity is important to microbial agents because it enables these agents to inhibit or kill a microorganism by interacting with microbial functions or structures different from those of the host thereby showing little or no effect to the host. B. WhatRead MoreAntibiotic Resistant Bacteria Essay1109 Words   |  5 PagesAntibiotic Resistant Bacteria â€Å"Antibiotics is the name given to the group of chemicals, particularly in medicine, that stop or inhibit the growth of, microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and parasites, or that kill the microorganism. They are, however, completely ineffective against viruses. There are two kinds of antibiotics, namely; bactericides, which interfere with the cell wall or contents of the bacteria, thereby killing it, and bacteriostatics, which prevent the bacteria from reproducingRead MoreEssay Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria757 Words   |  4 PagesAntibiotic Resistance in Bacteria For about 50 years, antibiotics have been the answer to many bacterial infections. Antibiotics are chemical substances that are secreted by living things. Doctors prescribed these medicines to cure many diseases. During World War II, it treated one of the biggest killers during wartime - infected wounds. It was the beginning of the antibiotic era. But just when antibiotics were being mass produced, bacteria started to evolve and became resistant to these medicinesRead MoreStrategies in Controlling Antibiotic Resistance Essay1288 Words   |  6 Pagesto control antibiotic resistance. I thought it was a good article for me to read so I can adapt some of these strategies in my practice as a nurse practitioner. Healthcare has been forever changed with the discovery of antibiotics. Although considered one of the biggest discoveries in the last century, there has been less work done to create new antibiotics in more recent years. Once antibiotic use became widespread, resistance to these drugs has been slowly brewing. This antibiotic resistanceRead MoreThe Evolution of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Essay1412 Words   |  6 PagesEvolution of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Since antibiotics, such as penicillin, became widely available in the 1940s, they have been called miracle drugs. They have been able to eliminate bacteria without significantly harming the other cells of the host. Now with each passing year, bacteria that are immune to antibiotics have become more and more common. This turn of events presents us with an alarming problem. Strains of bacteria that are resistant to all prescribed antibiotics are beginning

Monday, December 23, 2019

Anorexia Nervosa Is A Disorder Characterized By Abnormal...

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder characterized by abnormal eating behaviors. People with anorexia have a fear of gaining weight which causes them to try and maintain a low weight. They will do anything to prevent weight gain. This includes starvation and exercising too much. They do this because not only do they have the fear of gaining weight they have a distorted body image which means even if they are extremely thin they will believe that they are overweight. (Ehrlich, 2015). Anorexia is not really about food and weight at its core. Many eating disorders are much more complicated than that and they run a lot deeper than just appearance. The real cause of the disorder could be depression, loneliness, insecurity or feeling out of control. Typically, things that just weight loss cannot cure. (Smith and Segal, 2015). It is an emotional disorder that focuses on food. People with anorexia believe that their self worth is tied to how thin they are. Anorexia is common especially in young wo man in industrialized countries where cultural ideals encourage woman to be thin. Anorexia is also affecting a growing number of men, particularly athletes and those in the military who wish to be thin. (Ehrlich, 2015). The exact causes of Anorexia Nervosa are unknown since many factors may be involved. Genes and hormones may be involved, also social attitudes that promote thin body types may also be involved. Risk factors for anorexia include being ore worried about weight and shape, having anShow MoreRelatedEating Disorders Are Generally Characterized By Any Range Of Abnormal Or Disturbed Eating Habits924 Words   |  4 PagesEating disorders are generally characterized by any range of abnormal or disturbed eating habits. The previous DSM editions referenced eating disorders throughout the text, whereas the DSM-5 contains all of the eating disorders in one chapter titled, â€Å"Feeding and Eating Disorders†. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa have endured some changes in the revision of the DSM-5, while there were additional disorders added. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and binge eating disorder were two disordersRead MoreEating Disorders883 Words   |  4 PagesEating Diso rders INTRODUCTION Attention Getter Do you like what you see when you look in the mirror? Imagine looking in the mirror and you see something other than what is truly there. That is a nightmare that many women suffering with eating disorders live with everyday. No matter how pretty or slim they are, all they can see is ugly and obese in that mirror. Thesis Statement Eating disorders affect millions of people every year, and can even result in death. I will explain what a eatingRead More Eating Disorders Essay746 Words   |  3 PagesAn eating disorder is an extreme expression of emotion, distress, or inner problems. An eating disorder can be compared to drug use or self mutilation as a way to relieve pain or stress. Food or the denial of food becomes the drug of choice and is used to numb painful feelings. There are three main types of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, also known as compulsive eating disorder. Anorexia Nervosa is an extremely abnormal fear of gaining weight, a distortedRead MoreEating Disorders Can Be Generally Characterized By Any Range Of Abnormal Or Disturbed Eating Habits897 Words   |  4 PagesEating disorders can be generally characterized by any range of abnormal or disturbed eating habits. The DSM IV has expanded from two categories of eating disorders; Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, to three categories; now including Binge Eating Disorder. As defined in the DSM IV, Anorexia Nervosa is predominately found in adolescent girls and young women. The disorder is defined as distorted body image and excessive dieting that leads to severe weight loss with an obsessive fear of becomingRead MoreEssay on Biochemical Correlates of Anorexia and Bulimia1070 Words   |  5 PagesBiochemical Correlates of Anorexia and Bulimia Millions of people in the United States suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a dangerous eating disorder characterized by distorted body image, obsession with food and weight, drastic reduction in food intake often to the point of starvation, and extreme weight loss (1). Bulimia nervosa is a somewhat similar eating disorder more specifically characterized by recurring episodes of uncontrollable binge eating followed by self-inducedRead MoreThe Three Main Types Of Eating Disorders1305 Words   |  6 PagesEating Disorders The three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating, are complex pschyatriac disorders. The classification and diagnosis of each disorder is challenging because diagnostic symptoms and behaviours overlap. These disorders consist of various biological, psychological and sociological factors. They frequently coexist with other illnesses such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. (ANAD) Eating disorders are commonly associatedRead MoreTaking a Look at Eating Disorders1708 Words   |  7 Pages EATING DISORDERS Introduction: Eating disorders are conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that include excessive or insufficient food eating habits that hampers a person’s mental as well as physical health. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common types. Others are binge eating disorder and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Classification: †¢ Anorexia nervosa (AN), †¢ Bulimia nervosa (BN), †¢ Eating disorders not otherwise specified †¢ Binge eating disorderRead MoreEating Disorders : Anorexia Nervosa1443 Words   |  6 Pages Eating Disorders Sean Boehm Abnormal Psychology Professor. Johnston Farmingdale State College Due November 24th 2014 â€Æ' An eating disorder is a disorder that specifically focuses on the person’s weight and these behaviors are so detrimental not only to their performance in their everyday life but to their physical health. According to Hoeksema (2014) eating disorders can be characterized in three ways which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosaRead MoreEating Disorders And Anorexia Nervosa1152 Words   |  5 Pagespervasiveness of eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, has risen notably amongst women in the Western World. Eating disorders (EDs) are mental disorders â€Å"characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating or eating-related behavior that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning† (American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2013). The most well-known types of eating disorders are Anorexia and BulimiaRead MoreEating Disor ders And Eating Disorder1410 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"An eating disorder is about anxiety and control and healing from trauma and food and weight are just the tools of destruction† (Floyd, Mimms, Yelding, 2008). An eating disorder is defined as a severe disturbance in eating behavior. An eating disorder, as defined by our text book for class, is psychological disturbances that lead to certain physiological changes and serious health complications. The three most common and most easily identifiable forms of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Cell Division Free Essays

I believe that our observations are repressentative of cell division taking place in the oinon root tip. Firstly, this is because our numbers of the number of cells in each phase of mitosis are similar to the rest of the groups, so we can assume our results are most likely correct. We can also assume our calculations are right because we know that Interphase is the most active phase in the process of cell divison, which would agree with our calculations since we assume that approxiamtly 93% of cells are going though Interphase. We will write a custom essay sample on Cell Division or any similar topic only for you Order Now The phases of mitosis are much shorter then that of Interphase, and the cell spends less time in these phases. This agrees with our calculations because they run around 2-10%, conculding the fact that it is right to infere that a smaller amount of cells would be in the phases of mitosis. 5. Plants use a similar process with a few differences than in the human process. A plant cell creates a mitotic spindle and has a centrosome, but it does not have a centrioles, as in human chromosomes. The other major difference in plants is the way in which cytokinesis occurs. In human cells, the plasma membrane invaginates along the equator of the cell, creating a cleavage furrow that will separate the cytoplasm in two daughter cells. Plant cells have rigid cell walls that prevent this. Instead, they use two different approaches for cytokinesis. The plasma membrane and cell wall grow inward together, eventually separating the parent cell into two. Then the cell wall(which human cells do not contain) will separate the two daughter cells, and the cell wall starts growing in the middle of the cell between the two nuclei. This is known as the cell plate. It continues growing until its edges reach the cell’s outer surface, separating the parent cell into two daughter cells. 6. Not all cells in the meristematic region of the onion appear to have a nucleus. This is because The earliest cells, and all prokaryote cells, don’t have a nucleus. Inside these simple cells, the DNA molecules just float around in the cytoplasm. When the cells have devoloped, most likely during telophase,the nucleus will appear. 7. The result of if the chromosomes of the two daughter cells remained on one side of the cell plate could be non-disjunction, where a chromosome may fail to separate during anaphase. One daughter cell will receive both sister chromosomes and the other will receive none. This results in the former cell having three chromosomes containing the same genes (two sisters and a homologue), and will develop into a condition called trisomy, and the latter cell which would only have one chromosome (the homologous chromosome), would be a condition known as monosomy. These cells are considered aneuploid, a condition often associated with cancer. 8. A class result is better in the measure of the time for each miotic phase because we can compare each number of time that each group gets. If the numbers are similar we can infere that it is more probable to be the right answer, and can exclude any numbers that are an abnormal greater difference then the rest. By comparing all the calculations and observations of the class, we can justify the observations that are similar to those of the rest of the class. 9. Biocide 2-4D would harm and prevent the action of the substances within the meristematic cells of the plants. It will also cause major issues in sex cells because the chromosomes during metaphase 1 will not exchange proper genes with each other. How to cite Cell Division, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Feelings and opinions concerning different characters from the play The Merchant of Venice Essay Example For Students

Feelings and opinions concerning different characters from the play The Merchant of Venice Essay As we read Shakespeares comedy play The Merchant of Venice we experience different emotions towards different characters at different times. This is deliberate on Shakespeares part throughout the play. One of the characters we feel most strongly about is Jessica, Shylocks daughter. When she enters the play in Act II Scene III, she immediately makes the audience feel sympathy towards her because of her situation. Although she herself wants to leave home, her father is forcing her into going. In this short scene there is much talk of Jewishness from which we conclude that Jessica is ashamed of her ancestry. As the audience has already met Shylock and know his character, its first impressions of Jessica may be that she has had an unhappy childhood. In line 17, Jessica says, To be ashamed to be my fathers child. Shylock is portrayed as a lone figure in the play, underlined by the fact that even his own daughter is ashamed of him. We feel sympathy for Jessica in this speech. At the end of Act II Scene V, Jessica exclaims to herself Farewell, and if my fortune not be crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost a rhyming couplet is used to add more emphasis to the statement, basically saying that Shylock has lost his daughter. It is at this point that Jessica, probably unintentionally, begins the gradual process of stripping Shylock of everything he possesses. Jessica does not confront Shylock however and in this respect may appear cowardly. She could also be seen as being unfair to her father and slightly black hearted. However, Jessica also appears very strong-willed and determined evidenced by her being prepared to abandon not only her father but also her religion in pursuit of her love for Lorenzo. In Act II Scene VI, Jessica is ashamed and embarrassed to be dressed as a boy. When Lorenzo states that Jessica must be his torchbearer, Jessica says What, must I hold a candle to my shames? Jessicas actions (leaving home and stealing her fathers possessions) may perhaps be justified by her desire to embrace Christianity. This would have been seen as a sign of moral excellence in Shakespeares time rather than an act of abandoning her faith. It might not be so favourable in todays modern society. Although Shylock should provide for his daughter, Jessica may be greedy in taking all of his money and valuables. However, when she does this, she is breaking two of the Ten Commandments by dishonouring her father and stealing. We feel that she is doing wrong and being sinful. We do not hear of Jessica again until Act III Scene I. Shylock is telling Tubal that he would rather his daughter was dead and that he had the jewels than for him to be in his current situation. This is a terrible thing to say about his own daughter and we can understand, maybe even justify, Jessicas wish to elope with Lorenzo and flee her father. All feelings of disgust about Jessicas actions, which may have been greedy, selfish and uncaring, are wiped out when we hear Shylocks words and actions. Even if Shylock is talking in the heat of the moment, his words are still unforgiving. This gives us reason to feel sorry for Jessica. However, when we learn that Jessica traded a very precious turquoise ring for a monkey, we feel that Jessica is cruel and selfish as she knew that it had sentimental value for Shylock (it was given to him by his late wife Leah). Her casual use of Shylocks money, as reported by Tubal, infuriates Shylock and could make us see Jessica as irresponsible and carel ess. Throughout these scenes, Shylocks prime concern seems to be for himself only. I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear. His actions throughout the play make us err on the side of Jessica. Moving on a scene, in lines 284 290, Jessica talks about Shylock and his countrymen. From her words we learn that Jessica no longer sees herself as a Jew. She has moved on and we recognise that Jessica is coping well and we admire her because she has been through a lot and has emerged well. When Shylock bemoans his loss publicly, much to the amusement of all (Salerio and Solanio in particular), it lessens the impact of what Jessica has done and helps to bias the audience against Shylock and towards Jessica. In Scene IV Portia leaves Lorenzo and Jessica in charge of her house in Belmont. As we recognise Portia as wise and clever, this strengthens our belief in Jessica. Jessica complements Portias trust with her generous and thoughtful character sketch of Portia in Scene V. For having such a blessing in his lady is just one of the compliments Jessica gives Portia. Act V is not just about lovers but about love itself. In Scene I we think of Jessica as romantic and loving but unloved herself in childhood. She exchanges words of love with Lorenzo but dislikes sweet music. Again, this makes us feel pity for Jessica. In this scene Lorenzo and Jessica conjure up classical images of love and relax in the moonlight a scene about peace and happiness. Their love for each other and the influence of their surroundings is unmistakable a vivid contrast to the drama of the previous scene. The lyrical poetry in scenes involving Jessica and Lorenzo epitomises the power of love a vital theme of the play. Because of her actions, we see Jessica as a romantic but she also evokes numerous other feelings. The light hearted tone of the concluding scenes helps us to look upon Jessica and her actions in a more forgiving light. Shylock should have been able to give his daughter his love and his wealth. The one thing that cannot be stolen by his daughter and which is worth far more than material things, he does not present at all his love. His wealth, which he values above all, she steals. We see this as Shylocks just reward. Very famous play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare EssayIn the first scene of Act II, Morocco declares his love for Portia and she agrees to abide by her fathers terms. He seems very arrogant. She handles the situation diplomatically and we respect her for this. In Act II Scene VII, Morocco goes for gold because of its appearance and reality. Morocco is very arrogant, he says things like A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross, (referring to himself as having a golden mind). He believes he deserves Portia. In the end he picks Gold (the wrong casket) and leaves, disheartened. Portia ends the scene with a possibly racist rhyming couplet. A gentle riddance, draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. We trust Portia a little less for this and start to feel unsure of her. The Prince of Arragon arrives to choose one of the three caskets. Shakespeare may have chosen his name to suit his arrogance, because, he, like Morocco seems to have this in abundance. An example of this is when he says, that many may be meant by the fool multitude that choose by show. He obviously considers himself to be above other men. He chooses silver after a lengthy conversation with himself. Portia is glad to see the back of him and just wishes they would just get on with choosing; O these deliberate fools, when they do choose, they have the wisdom to by their wit to loose. We can understand this and it shouldnt be held against her. At the end of the scene, a messenger arrives, speaking of a young Venetian. Nerissa and Portia hope that it will be Bassanio. This shows us that Portia likes Bassanio a lot. Our thoughts that Portia is fond of Bassanio strengthen when Portia declares she wants Portia to delay choosing a casket so she can spend some time with him. However, Portia does have trust in her fathers will. She realises that if Bassanio loves her, he will choose the right casket unlike her other unsuccessful suitors. This tells us that Portia does have common sense and that she does think quite clearly. This alters our feelings and opinions of Portia in her favour in this scene (Scene II). Portia asks for music to be played when Bassanio makes his choice but she did not do this with Morocco or Arragon. This could mean she prefers Bassanio to her other suitors, a point reinforced when the first three lines of the song: (Tell me where is fancy bred, or in the heart or in the head? How begot, how nourished?) rhyme with lead. Bassanios correct choice of casket is met with joy from Portia. They both talk of how willing they both are to get married and enjoy life. At this point we feel happy for Portia because she has got what she wants at last. In this same scene, Portia talks about herself as an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractised. This could be modesty. We respect her even more because she is not at all arrogant. Still in scene II, Portia gives Bassanio a ring. She tells him never to remove it. If he does, it will be the ruin of your love according to Portia. Portias intelligence, independence and moral sense have been apparent before, but shes not been very involved so far. In Act III Scene IV this changes completely. She now has to take risks and be deceptive. Portia reveals many other sides to her character in this scene. Then she suddenly reveals a youthful sense of fun and adventure with Nerissa, boasting like a child about what a fine-looking young man she will be. Ill prove the prettier fellow of the two. This may be boasting a little but our feelings of Portia do not dwindle and we are still very much intrigued into what is going to happen. In the Trial Scene Nerissa introduces Balthazar (Portia) Portia soon speaks her Beauty Speech but this has no effect on Shylock as he insists on his bond. Portia is very as she lets clever; letting Shylock think he is going to win, and then, once he has had his chance, she lets him down at the last minute. We respect her intelligence highly. We have to admire Portia as Shylock does for trying to change his mind but when she sees it is no use, she lets him sharpen his knife and walk up to Antonio. However, she declares that not one drop of blood may be spilt. Shylock, tries to take money instead but that is also refused. We have to admire Portias cunning in the scene. It is then stated that half Shylocks goods must go to Antonio and half must go to the State of Venice. His life is also in the balance. In Act IV Scene I, Portia and Nerissa ask Bassanio and Gratiano respectively for gifts. They agree to give their wives, who they think are the doctor and the messenger boy their rings. We admire Portias cunning once again in this scene but she also loses respect from the reader in light of here cruel and uncalled for actions. In the last Act, (Act V), Portia confronts Bassanio about the whereabouts of his ring. He tells the truth and eventually Portia tells him the truth, that she was teasing him. Her point that she has successfully made is that now Antonios life has been saved, the bond that matters now is the bond with Portia. Portias love for Bassanio, and therefore, his friend Antonio, overpowers Shylocks greed and defeats him. She demonstrates the power of love and friendship over greed.