Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman - Essay Example This paper shall look at these concepts through the symbols and characters that are a part of this play. Willy Loman is one of the most important characters of this play. The protagonist, his death in a sense, is the subject of the play and his characterization is an important aspect of the change that Miller seeks to effect in the genre of the tragedy. The character manages to evoke what Miller himself feels is the results that a tragedy should produce in an audience: â€Å"I think the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing – his sense of personal dignity† (Miller â€Å"Tragedy and the Common Man†). Loman’s dreams for Biff are a means for him to live the dream that he was incapable of living himself. Biff is, thus, sought to be turned into a reflection by Willy so that the Great American Dream is lived. This is the means through which Loman seeks to creat e a dignified existence. This is undercut in the play itself through the revelation of his adultery which makes the audience aware of how he is not an extraordinary man in any sense. It also exposes the hollowness of the institution of the family which is thought of as sacrosanct by the middle classes. This hypocrisy of ordinary life, common to people of different levels in life, is what Miller seeks to portray in his play. One of the important symbols in the play is a diamond. When Ben, Willy’s brother, says, â€Å"A diamond is hard and rough to the touch† (Miller, Death of a Salesman 107), it reveals the importance that Willy attributed to monetary success. His suicide is then turned into a decision that he takes for the sake of his family. It is unpleasant; however, it has to be done for the well-being of his family. Here too, ethics and morals take a backseat as monetary concerns are given precedence. The American Dream is, thus, for Miller, one that is bereft of any moral concerns and hence, one that adopts a ruthless stance towards anyone who has not been able to achieve it. Fate, too, is something that a diamond symbolizes in the play whereby it shows how there is no concrete reason as to why Loman’s life turns out the way it does. There is, thus, a certain kind of inversion of Aristotle’s rules of tragedy while certain others are kept intact (Martin 146–7). â €Å"Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground† (Miller, Death of a Salesman 96). This line reveals Loman’s interest in leaving his mark on earth before he leaves it. It is a sign of how he wishes to transcend his mortality. It is also a pointer of how it is through his next generation in Biff that he seeks to achieve what he could not. His immense interest in seeds and growing vegetables for much of the play can be seen to be a reflection of his desire to root himself metaphorically in the earth. This is precisely what he attempts to do through his suicide. He feels that it would further Biff’s dreams, which are, in fact, his own. Another symbol that is of great significance is the stockings that are owned by Linda, Willy’s wife. The presence of the stockings of another woman is what makes Biff aware of his father’s adultery. The stockings are, thus, a symbol of adultery and Willy’s obsession with the pairs of stock ings that are owned by Linda is another instance of his hypocrisy. He seems to be compensating for the mistakes

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Kim Bassingers Final Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kim Bassingers Final Analysis - Case Study Example It must be noted here that the operative word on the $3 million revenue is ‘potential’; hence the amount is the estimated revenue from making the film with Kim Bassinger thus it is relevant to the case. It is relevant because it is an estimate given that Ms. Bassinger had â€Å"committed to do the project† (Barton, Shenkir & Marinas 163). Considering that the $800,000 foreign pre-sales are only probable, which means in accounting term has a less than 50 per cent probability of happening, hence in determining whether the maximum and minimum lost profit estimates of Main Line be adjusted this amount is irrelevant. The appearance of Ms. Bassinger in the film will not make the possibility of having $800,000 in foreign pre-sales more than probable. The realized loss of $2.1 million from producing â€Å"Boxing Helena† without Ms. Bassinger is a relevant cost to the case. This amount is the difference between making the movie with Ms. Fern and with Ms. Bassinger. Hence, it should be included in the maximum and minimum lost profit estimates of Main Line. The given figures for this lost profit estimates should not be adjusted since they have taken into account the $2.1 million loss. Requirement #2a Kim Bassinger's Final Analysis salary of $3 million is relevant to the determination of lost profits to Main Line. Although "Basinger was to be paid $600,000 in guaranteed compensation to appear in "Boxing Helena" with another $400,000 to be paid out of producer revenues "before the bank" was paid on the production loan to finance the film" (Barton, Shenkir & Marinas 164); it is highly probable that her agent would have negotiated a higher salary for the film. Requirement #2b The comparison of revenues for Bassinger films with revenues for Fenn films is relevant to the determination of lost profits to Main Line. The comparison is like that of the incremental revenue comparison done in a make or buy decision. Option 1 here or we can say the make decision is the film starring Ms. Bassinger, while Option 2 or if you like the buy decision is hiring Ms. Fenn to do it instead. Requirement #3 In my opinion, Main Line's expert witness is not correct in attempting to estimate the revenues for "Boxing Helena" beyond pre-sales amounts. In an investment decision, the revenues through out the life of that investment should always be included in determining whether that investment is profitable. In this case, the revenues beyond the pre-sales amounts can be reasonably estimated. Requirement #4 Yes, Main Line's lost profits should be adjusted downward to include an estimate of domestic revenues for the "Without Basinger" film. Hence, only the incremental revenue had Ms. Bassinger appeared in the film should be included in the lost profit estimates. However, the use of the $1.7 million advance made by one of the Main Line partners against domestic revenues as the estimate is not a valid estimate for the domestic revenues for the "Withour Bassinger" film. A good estimate would be the average revenue of Fenn films which is $1.6 million. Requirement #5 It is not reasonable to assume that Main Line's pretax cash position would have increased by $3 million. Part of this amount would be paid to others such as the partner who advances $1.7 million. Moreover, it can be that several of the expenses incurred by the film production have been taken up as liabilities; hence the initial take up from the film will be used to pay up some of these liabilities. Requirement #6 I disagree with the jury's lost profit assessment of $7,421,694. My own assessment based on what is relevant and irrelevant cost figures to the case is $3,000,000 which is the average of the minimum and maximum lost profit figures as presented in