Cebu City Essay

The City of Cebu (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo, Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cebu, Spanish: Ciudad de Cebã º) is the capital city of the region of Cebu and is the â€Å"second city† of the Philippines, being the focal point of Metro Cebu, the second most crowded Metropolitan region in the Philippines after Metro Manila. With a populace of 866,171 according to the 2010 evaluation, it is the fifth most populated city in the country.[2] Cebu City is a noteworthy focus of business, exchange and training in the Visayas zone. The city is situated on the eastern shore of Cebu island. It is the primary Spanish settlement and the most seasoned city in the Philippines.[3] Cebu is the Philippines’ fundamental household dispatching port and is home to about 80% of the country’s residential delivery companies.[citation needed] It is the focal point of a metropolitan region called Metro Cebu, which incorporates the urban communities of Carcar, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay and the districts of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla and San Fernando . Metro Cebu has an absolute populace of about 2.55 million individuals (2010 Census). Cebu City is circumscribed toward the upper east by Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, toward the west are Toledo City, and the towns of Balamban and Asturias, toward the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait toward the east is Mactan Island. Geology Cebu City has a land territory of 315 square kilometers (122 sq mi). Toward the upper east of the city is Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion; toward the west is Toledo City and the towns of Balamban and Asturias; toward the south is Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait toward the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City is found. Further east over the Cebu Strait is the Island of Bohol. Socioeconomics Around the 1960s, the number of inhabitants in the city was around 91,000. The populace contacted 799,762 individuals in 2007, and as of the 2010 Census, the city’s populace has developed to 866,171 in more than 161,151 households.[2] Training Cebu City at present has ten huge colleges each with various school branches all through the city and in excess of twelve different schools represent considerable authority in different courses. Among these schools is the University of San Carlos. It has four grounds around the metropolitan region. It is as of now headed by the Society of the Divine Word. College of the Philippines Cebu, College of San Joseâ€Recoletos Cebu Normal University Cebu Doctors’ University of Cebu University of the Visayas.. Cebu Institute of Technology †University, Southwestern University, St. Theresa’s College, University of Southern Philippines Foundation Cebu Technological University Cebu Institute of Medicine Cebu International School,Sacred Heart School †Ateneo de Cebu Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion. The up and coming Centro Escolar University †Cebu will be the fourth grounds of the college after its Manila (Main), Malolos, and Makati campuses.[17] Cebu City has 68 open grade schools, 23 national secondary schools and 28 night secondary schools. These night secondary schools are worked by the regional government. The Cebu City Public Library and Information Center is the main open library in Cebu.

How much Macbeths character changes during the course of the play Essay Example for Free

The amount Macbeths character changes throughout the play Essay By reference to three key scenes, shoe the amount Macbeths character changes over the span of the play: Act I scene VII, Act III scene IV, Act V scene III The primary we know about Macbeth is the point at which a bloodied officer looking valiant after fight with incredible expanding wounds, depicts a Great War saint: For fearless Macbeth well he merits that name. Shakespeare utilizes this discourse to show Macbeths faithfulness by saying he fended off an entire armed force and for ruler and nation. He likewise said their adversary fled, at that point propelled another assault and that Macbeth and Banquo warded it off even with their serious injuries: They intended to shower in stinking injuries They despite everything repulsed the subsequent assault, just as with recharged quality: So they doubly increased strokes upon the adversary. We can see from this that Macbeth is an honorable, steadfast and confided in man, not to mention a war saint. After Macbeth meets the witches, his character starts to change. He becomes overwhelmed by desire. In my understanding it was consistently there, similar to a gas station with petroleum running all over the place and cracked gas mains (consistently a fire danger), the witches just tossed in a Zippo. They had given him two expectations: 1) They welcomed him as thane of Cawdor Hail thane of Cawdor (which he wasnt) 2) Then as lord hail Macbeth, that shalt be top dog hear after. Subsequent to meeting the witches, the Kings ambassador came to him and named him thane of Cawdor. He is astonished at this and composes a letter home to his significant other enlightening her concerning the things the witches had stated, how out of nowhere he had become thane of Cawdor and even referenced about turning out to be the best. This is the place Shakespeare introduses Macbeths increasingly vile side: For what reason do I respect that proposal whose appalling picture doth unfix my hair and make my situated heart thump upon my ribs As should be obvious Macbeth is beginning to consider murder. We get another understanding into his character from Lady Macbeth. She says that she imagines that he will be excessively kind to really submit murder, and that she should do the majority of it at that point convince him: However I do fear thy nature it is too full o th milk of human generosity We can see from this statement that Macbeth has an inner voice and that his significant other accepts that he would lament a short time later. At the point when Duncan shows up at Macbeths manor, a feast is held. We can se in Macbeths opening monologue (an emotional procedure show the crowd what he is imagining) that he doesnt need to continue with the homicide as he says Could encumber up results By Shakespeares utilization of the word encumber we can se he is considering demise and on the off chance that he should simply be possible with it and that was it, it would be fine however he knows there will be ramifications for executing the lord: Hear upon this bank and sandbar of time, Wed bounce thr life to come This shows the Elizabethans had confidence in existence in the wake of death. He additionally alludes to the Elizabethan conviction of the lord being picked by god: His ideals will argue like heavenly attendants trumpet-tongued against the profound condemnation of his taking off Later on in the scene we see that Macbeth doesnt need to proceed with the homicide and needs to cancel it: We will continue no further around here Also, he gives three reasons he is his host as his host He is his kinfolk I am his brother and his subject Duncan has been amazingly kind to him Duncan hath borne his resources so tame So to cause Macbeth to submit the homicide Lady Macbeth insults him and considers him a quitter: At the point when you durst do it then you were a man Also, at this Macbeth needs to do it to demonstrate he isn't a weakling and we can see this from his next line: If we ought to bomb indicating he is contemplating the homicide. In spite of the fact that Macbeth can wash Duncans blood from his hands he can't wash it from his still, small voice: Will every extraordinary Neptune seas wash this blood clear from my hand? No Macbeth is properly delegated lord Banquo uncovers his doubts about Macbeth in a speech: Thou hast it now lord, Cawdor, Glamis, all the wired ladies guaranteed and I dread thou playdst most disgustingly stronghold Macbeth holds a feast and welcomes each one. After this Macbeth enlists a professional killer to murder Banquo and Fleance his child. Macbeth is by all accounts losing his ethical standing the further he gets into the play. Banquo penances his life to spare his child and Fleance escapes. The professional killer appears at the dinner and stands at the entryway to give Macbeth the news there is blood upon thy face The killer at that point looks for acclaim for the homicide of Banquo: Macbeth at that point gets some information about Fleance and is upset to hear that he is as yet alive: The worm that is fled hath nature in time will venom breed, no teeth for the time present Shakespeare utilizes an analogy to show how Macbeth fears Banquo and Fleance Macbeth at that point goes to take a seat at the table yet he thinks his place is taken and when the figure stands up it is the apparition of Banquo. Nobody else can see the apparition. It is just by Macbeths talks that we can tell he can see an apparition. Macbeth is terrified and begins yelling yet Lady Macbeth quiets everything down. In a phase murmur, She considers him a quitter and says that it is much the same as the blade he saw highlighting Duncans room the apparition evaporates and he quiets down and they send each one home saying he will be fine toward the beginning of the day. Shakespeare use of an apparition reflects ruler James interest with the extraordinary and the Elizabethans general confidence in spirits and phantoms. He likewise utilizes stage murmurs sililoquy and the possibility of nobody seeing the apparition aside from Macbeth, which could simply be him daydreaming. So we are not so much sure whether there truly is an apparition there or the weight of all the slaughtering must him and he has flipped and had mental trips. After this he is as yet suspicious thus to stop this he goes to see the witches again and this time the give him three dreams. 1) Beware Macduff 2) None of lady bore will hurt Macbeth 3) Macbeth will never vanquished be Until extraordinary Birnam wood comes to Dunsunane slope He is woken up by Lenox and chooses to execute Macduff to be protected yet he has fled to England to help Malcolm at this Macbeth is so furious he arranges the professional killers to slaughter his significant other and children and this shows a total exhaustion of his ethics. He as requested professional killers to go kill guiltless kids and ladies without even batting an eye. There has been a character inversion and now Macbeth has no ethics and woman Macbeth as been made distraught with blame. Toward the beginning, Macbeth would not execute Duncan and Lady Macbeth drove him to it. In the following scene Macbeth is getting several reports of the English power gathering not too far off, however of-coarse he had the predications from the witches and feels certain. He doesnt stress over them Bring me no more reports, let them fly all. Till Birnam wood evacuate to Dunsinane This shows a quality of fearlessness and pride. He even blames Thanes that fled for being bogus which was exceptionally amusing as he slaughtered the ruler at that point fly bogus thanes. From his initial discourse we can see he thinks he is invulnerable: The brain I influence by and the heart I bear will never list with question nor shake with dread. At the point when his worker comes he is white and pale so Macbeth calls him lily liveried, in light of the fact that the Elizabethans accepted that mental fortitude originated from the liver. At the point when the specialist said that there was no remedy for woman Macbeth that she needed to fix herself Macbeth offended him, which is an admirable statement, as King James first didnt put stock in specialists. Macduff and Malcolms armed force burst into the stronghold and the main wave come to discover Macbeth and kick the bucket until Macduff discovers him and they battle. Macduff reveals to Macbeth he was conceived by cesarean area as was not conceived of lady and he murders Macbeth. All in all I would state that Macbeths character changes definitely all through the play. Toward the beginning he is a decent and honorable warrior who might never sell out the ruler however gets convinced effectively by his better half. At that point as the story advances we see him begin to lose ethics as he arranges the murdering of Banquo all alone yet is as yet vexed about it, we can see that due to his mind flights (seeing the phantom). At that point he arranges the slaughtering of woman Macduff and her youngsters demonstrating he has gone of the scale and is absolutely detestable. While battling Macduff he is egotistical and saves his life at one point in the battle. So when Macbeth is informed that Macduff isn't conceived of ladies he is stunned and bites the dust a devilish blockhead. So we see the destruction of such a bold character we saw toward the beginning due to a couple of forecasts and the desire. For on the off chance that he saw what being the best would do to him I question he would have needed to be top dog and would have been placated however was deceived by the shrewdness of the witches.

The Role of Human Resource Planning for Organizations Essay

The Role of Human Resource Planning for Organizations - Essay Example How the top administration areas inside this association comprehend the decree of human asset arranging is something that determines sound outcomes. Satisfactory arranging is the need of great importance since it gives the top administration an obvious vision with respect to what it ought to expect because of the center administration and the representatives that are working under its domains (Idris, 1998). The human asset arranging is essentially the measuring stick that chooses the future employing and terminating strategies which are available inside the endeavor. One must comprehend that the human asset arranging roads can without much of a stretch be comprehended if appropriate measures are attempted with the fundamental philosophy to ensure that mental soundness must win inside the related positions of authoritative development and advancement (Dinteman, 2003). Human asset arranging will bring about better gauges as far as execution estimation. In the event that these guideline s are appropriately dealt with, the human asset arranging principles will consistently be esteemed as purposes of achievement. Since the human asset arranging

Violence against Children and the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Viciousness against Children and the Law - Essay Example Different between organizations, state just as the national governments have been embracing measures in endeavor to control this threat however they are looked by various difficulties that make securing youngsters a troublesome and right around an outlandish assignment. There are various components that altogether make the way toward ensuring youngsters a troublesome errand. Some of them incorporate the component of poor administration of state and government reserves, resistance from people in general, the high turnover rate for kids defensive administrations staffing and poor staff preparing, trouble in demonstrating that a minor is been mishandled just as absence of satisfactory state kids guardianships just to make reference to a couple (Mallon and Hess 68). Numerous individuals think that its hard to report an instance of kid maltreatment to the specialists hence totally disappointing the way toward distinguishing and capturing culprits. Much of the time, individuals abstain from meddling with issues concerning different families or people including matters identifying with infringement of children’s rights. Specialists think that its hard to distinguish youngsters whose rights are been disregarded since just a little level of the populace is happy to chip in the fundamental data (Epstein and Schwartz-Kenney 56). For the instance of Joshua, it was blessed enough that his progression mother was strong enough to report that he was been mishandled by his dad however in the late stages; after their separation. Something very similar applies to numerous others who abstain from meddling with other family issues thinking of them as private, or considering how they will disclose it to the authority since they are not related with the you ngsters whose rights are been abused in any capacity. Demonstrating an infringement of a child’s rights is on occasion a troublesome errand particularly if the wrongdoer is a nearby relative like the instance of Joshua who was getting flogging from his own dad. Demonstrating an instance of youngster misuse is likewise a troublesome assignment all the more so if the casualty can't impart

Tours and Travels

Questions: Section An of your report is the assessment of key choices. You have to assess ongoing key choices that have been made by Thomas Cook an outbound visit administrator STA a master visit administrator You should analyze in any event two choices, for example, Pricing techniques Choice of item corresponding to client portfolio, Part B of your report is to think about the strategic reactions and choices that could be taken by a STA and Thomas Cook in specific circumstances. You should look at in any event one reactions to Competition Price wars External variables You will at that point need to inspect at any rate two strategic choices, for example, Fluid evaluating, Yield the executives Answers: Section A Key choice Key choice includes the entire condition wherein the business capacities. It incorporates the assets just as the individuals (Greer, Greenwood Patterson, 2002). It includes blending the hierarchical assets and capacities with the chances and dangers of the business. Vital choice made by Thomas Cook Thomas cook is one of the main travel bunches on the planet. The organization has an arrangement of driving brands in the market. It likewise has a plan of action that is adaptable, and an engaged methodology for business. The organization has a huge group of 31000 individuals, who are continually making the vision of the organization work out as expected (Evans, n.d.). Thomas cook is additionally satisfying the fantasies of their clients just as giving economical incentive to the investors. As of late the Thomas cook bunch has reported that it will bind together the whole brands under the regular image of the bright heart. The logo came into activity in the 2013, first October (Beech Chadwick, 2006). The unification of the different brands of the organization will cause it significantly simpler for the clients with the goal that they to can comprehend the full quality of the business. They can even comprehend the inventive contributions of the items and administrations, and they wil l get a persuasive encounter. The vision of the organization has consistently stayed clear. They generally make their fantasies materialize. They center around reinforcing the current business and furthermore put resources into their future development. The organization has deals which is over 8.5 billion pounds and has in excess of 20 million clients. The organization continually attempts to improve the item blend while attempting to decrease the expense. Thusly, they attempt to improve the expense and net revenue. The gathering runs an armada of 93 airplanes which conveys 17 million travelers. The armada has four carriers: the German aircraft, the Belgian carrier, the UK aircraft and the Scandinavian aircraft. The consolidated carriers have spared a measure of 19 million pound before the finish of the earlier year (Travelweekly.co.uk, 2015). As of late Thomas cook has moved to a solitary valuing procedure over the online channels to diminish the disarray of the clients. The greatest travel retailer of UK has chosen to present an equivalent cost for its bundled occasions that will be reserved online at the site of the organization which is Thomascook.com. This office is additionally accessible for appointments in their store or by means of their call places. A similar evaluating procedure will be applied to their brands, for example, Thomas cook, Manos and Airtours. The organization have now made accessible to its clients, a wide scope of items to fulfill their client needs and inclinations. The occasion bundles of the organization they offer are estate occasions, city occasions, modest bundle occasions, voyage and extravagance occasions. The scope of items likewise incorporates inns and modest flights (Thomascookgroup.com, 2015). The organization consistently places their clients in the front and consistently takes a gander at the necessities of the clients. Remembering the bustling clients they have even thought of the very late occasions separated from their family occasions. Individuals regularly stress over not booking their days off ahead of time, however Thomas concoct has accompanied an answer. They give incredible goals like Egypt, and Turkey in the very late reserving. The organization even gives summer and winter occasion bundles. Vital choice made by STA STA Travel is a movement retailer. They believe them to be not quite the same as others in the business. They have an encounter of over 35 years as specialists in youth travel. The organization gives the understudies and youth to investigate the globe which will make an everlasting encounter (Evans, n.d.). They guarantee that the experience will be loaded up with self-awareness, experience and disclosure. The organization is as of now working in 60 nations which have 200 retail stores. They have a client base of 6 million and that's only the tip of the iceberg (Beech Chadwick, 2006). The organization needs to give an epic experience to their clients. They attempt to get understudies, educators and late alumni and offer them select limits on lodgings visits, flights and that's only the tip of the iceberg (Statravel.co.uk, 2015). One huge activity taken by the organization as of late is that they have halted the visits on Elephant Rides and in Thailand just as the Tiger Temple. The outings in Orlando, the Sea World has been halted, which has prompted drop in their income. The organization needs to set a case of mindful the travel industry to the world just as different organizations. STA travel gives different items and administrations like, understudy airfare, markdown cards worldwide mobile phones, undertakings, travel protection and furthermore online visa application. Their Student restrictive ticket gives understudies a serious valuing in airfare. They get unrivaled straightforwardness and adaptability while they book their tickets. For the understudies the organization gives different alternatives to look over: they are visits, intentional projects, convenience and work. This makes the understudies arrangement their outings easily. The organization gives exceptional limits to the universal understudies and furthermore the instructors. They have cooperated with Apple store, The Body Shop, Target.com and so forth for these markdown cards. STA travel likewise gives go grants to the college understudies, with the goal that they can sponsor their movement costs so understudies can travel. The organization gives an individual Travel Expert who will control the clients to book their movements. They have even plans which will give a markdown to the understudies just as the young a rebate of 40%. The organization appreciates purchasing powers with the best carriers of the world, the settlement providers and the transportations ashore. Part B Strategic choice These choices are identified with the execution of the key choices of the business. It is coordinated toward the improvement of the organizing work processes, securing of assets, for example, cash, materials and men (Mjigal, 2010). These choices are the choices of the center level administration. Strategic Responses and Decisions of Thomas Cook Tomas cook which is one of the most established travel organization on the planet has made exceptional strides as of late. The organization has chosen to eliminate 2500 positions in Britain. The organization has additionally chosen to close 195 of its high road offices. This was done to make the managerial expense of the organization lower. The organization has an obligation of adding to 1.5 billion Euros (Phelan, 2008). The eliminating of the positions accounted to 15% of its representatives. In 2013 august, the organization moved to another area where the lease was modest. On November 23, a crisis was pronounced and the organization was hustling to assemble assets so as to maintain a strategic distance from insolvency (Travelmole.com, 2015). The spontaneous evacuation and loss of the accomplished ability from the key positions have prompted unfavorably harming the business both on a medium and a momentary premise. The downturn of the economies of the source market of Thomas cook ha s prompted a decrease in the requests of the administrations and results of the organization (Thomascookgroup.com, 2015). In addition there was danger from the web distributers and the other low estimated carriers which have enormously caused a fall in the customary bundle voyages through the organization. The organization has started a liquid valuing framework considered the liquid estimating in which the organization diminishes the underlying costs of the tickets. The expense of the tickets stays low when appointments are cleared a path ahead of time. The cost of the tickets rises when the cutoff times of the appointments come. In addition the organization has chosen to converge with an organization called My Travels so it can cut its expense. The decrease in the expense or the complete investment funds is relied upon to be 75 million pounds. The activity was taken to battle the fulfillment from the ease carrier organizations and furthermore the electronic voyaging offices. Strategic Responses and Decisions of STA Travel The STA voyages has in the year 2010 has propelled a movement brand considered the Bridge the World which was its first historically speaking activity outside the understudy and youth advertise. The organization faces a hardened rivalry from the American Express Company. The organization continually attempts to give a less expensive valuing system to its clients (Mjigal, 2010). They have now presented a value beat ensure plot. This won't just guarantee a low cost however is a promise to give the least expensive tickets in carriers for worldwide flights. This was done to battle the extreme rivalry it was looking from the other travel organizations. With an ever increasing number of rivalries coming into the business, the market is getting homogenous. This has permitted the clients search a few other options, while picking an ideal travel office (Statravel.co.uk, 2015). In this manner the organization consistently keeps up its low value procedure with the goal that the name STA Travels goes to the brains of the individuals while booking less expensive tickets for understudies and youth. The organization has revealed another look lead store to stamp its 35th year commemoration in London. They constantly needed to go into the retail chain. The stores had Travel facility related with it (Vanhove, 2005). It was done with the goal that the clients get a wellbeing related counsel while in the stores. The organization gives exceptional limits to the worldwide understudies and furthermore the educators. They hav

Market Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Market Economics - Essay Example Financial experts essentially acknowledge 4 sorts of business sectors for example impeccable rivalry, imposing business model, oligopoly and monopolistic rivalry. Under impeccable rivalry the organizations are various and the purchasers have ideal information on the present market circumstance and consequently the merchants are known as value takers on the grounds that nobody purchaser or vender can impact the market to charge their ideal market cost and subsequently need to sell items at the cost where the market will in general clear. In this type of rivalry there are just transient benefits in light of the fact that there are practically no hindrances to passage and subsequently when the interest expands there are supernormal benefits to be earned for a brief timeframe in light of the fact that when different providers see that the business is procuring too ordinary benefits they will in general move into the market to get a lot of the market, this will in general increment the gr acefully of the business and the benefit levels will in general reduction as an ever increasing number of providers move into the business. This sort of procuring of a portion of the overly typical benefit is known as attempt at manslaughter rivalry since providers move in when the business is gaining very ordinary benefits and leave when the too ordinary benefits are not earned any progressively because of expanded gracefully. Taking everything into account a firm in flawless rivalry is a value taker in view of the ideal information and the quantity of firms and the yield choices are affected by the interest of the products and the quantity of providers. Restraining infrastructures comprise of just one firm in the business which is the sole provider of the products for that specific industry. Such a circumstance rises when the firm has absolute authority over the assets that are expected to create that specific great for this situation it is known as a 'characteristic restraining infrastructure'. The other situation could be that the firm could have set exceptionally high or inflexible boundaries to passage and consequently no other firm can get through these obstructions to pick up section into the business. The monopolistic firm can control both of the two things one after another a) the cost of the great b) the amount that they wish to sell The monopolist can't control both on the grounds that he can't control request, in the event that he wishes to sell the item at a specific value, at that point the interest bend for that industry or that great would figure out what amount of merchandise are sold at that specific cost and in the event that he wishes to sell of a specific amount, at that point the interest for that great would build up the cost at which the great would clear the market. The monopolist capacity to impact cost relies on two variables: a) the quantity of substitutes b) the ability to limit the passage of the organizations into that specific industry Monopolistic rivalry is one where there are countless firms in the business creating comparable items however no two items are the equivalent subsequently the idea of brand picture and quality is taken into account in this market structure and henceforth items are separated, the organizations are value creators. So as to change the value firms should tinker with the degree of amount. The monopolistic rivalry showcase procures typical benefits over the long haul on the grounds that there are not very many hindrances to section into the in

J.R.R. Tolkien The True Lord of the Rings - Literature Essay Samples

There is little doubt that J.R.R. Tolkien has become, in his short reign within literary fiction, nothing short of legendary. His stories, while only recently presented in blockbuster films, have ensnared and enthralled thousands of readers around the world. While many â€Å"cultured† critics still scoff at this work, the effect Tolkien has had on everyday readers is nearly as profound as the control he had over Middle Earth in his novels. Tolkien, while certainly a master of all elements of fiction, displayed unquestionable proficiency in the areas of character and setting. Ann Charters defines character simply as â€Å"any person who plays a part in a narrative† (Charters 1045). Charters also defines flat characters as those which are, â€Å"simple, one-dimensional, unsurprising, and usually unchanging,† and round characters as those who are, â€Å"complex, full, described in detail, often contradictory, and usually dynamic,† or changing (Charters 1045). The interesting part of Tolkien’s work is that there are absolutely no flat characters. The world of Middle Earth is changing and all the creatures within it change as well. Tolkien’s ability to control the fates of the hundreds of characters in his novels may be the single most important aspect of his novels. It is with these characters that readers identify, and this identification moves the readers from a detached, on-looking relationship to an involved, personal experience within the world Tolkien creates. His development of characters seems to focus on one main c haracter at a time, shifting purposefully from one to another. Specifically, Tolkien shifts from Bilbo to Frodo Baggins. In developing these characters, the author teaches his readers much about the world of Middle Earth and characters that populate it. In the first chapter of Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien introduces Bilbo Baggins and seemingly focuses entirely on him. An observant reader will, however, notice that we are given insight into the personalities of dozens of characters. For instance, Ham Gamgee, â€Å"The Old Gaffer,† tells other hobbits, â€Å"Elves and Dragons! I says to him. Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you† (Tolkien 24). When no one objects to this statement, readers are enabled to understand the general character of all hobbits. While Ham Gamgee may play only a small part in the rest of this story, readers also learn about the background of Sam Gamgee through this and other quotes from his father. It is this background that gives Tolkien’s characters the depths into whi ch readers may delve. By telling us not only what a character is like and how he or she changes throughout the story, but also why and how he or she became a certain way within Middle Earth society, Tolkien gives his readers a sense of personal attachment, as if they really know the characters intimately. Tolkien, even while introducing minor parts, never fails to develop specific traits. Even Radagast the Brown, a wizard who is mentioned briefly on no more than two occasions is no exception to this rule. Tolkien tells his readers where Radagast used to dwell and explains his relationship with Gandalf, the only character with whom Radagast interacts (Tolkien 250). Glorfindel, the Elf-Lord whose horse Frodo rides across the ford to Elrond, is also a well developed-character, as Gandalf explains his nature and background to Frodo after their arrival in the House of Elrond at Rivendell (Tolkien 217-218). Through these descriptions of all the characters in his novels, Tolkien provides a n emotional connection with Middle Earth and makes the story seem less fiction and more like a detailed dream in which readers are completely immersed. This immersion, while an exceptional accomplishment, is only one part of what brings readers into Tolkien’s world. The characterization makes readers feel as though they actually know the creatures in the story, while the setting makes readers feel as though they are walking alongside these characters on their journey through Middle Earth. When these two are combined, readers feel that they have become an integral part of the story. In her essay, â€Å"Master of Middle Earth,† Alina Corday stated that Tolkien’s, â€Å"penchant for perfectionism slowed his progress mightily† while writing his novels (Corday 3). She also mentions that Tolkien found it necessary to learn how to stew a rabbit before including such an event in his novel (Corday 3). This perfectionism is evidenced greatly in his development of the setting. After the prologue and before the first chapter, Tolkien includes a detailed map of The Shire. At the end of the novel, he includes six addit ional maps, all of which are drawn in great detail and depict parts of the world he has created. Charters defined setting as, â€Å"The place and time in which a story’s action takes place† (Charters 1051). This simple definition is certainly fulfilled nowhere better than in the maps and, perhaps, a dozen exceptional pages of the novel. Charters does not, however, end her definition there. She goes on to state that setting includes â€Å"the culture and ways of life of the characters and the shared beliefs and assumptions that guide their lives† (Charters 1051). Tolkien even goes so far as to explain what hobbits smoke in pipes, the history behind the practice, and where the best â€Å"pipe weed† is grown (Tolkien 7-9). As the story progresses, detailed descriptions are given of every area through which the story takes us. In fact, Tolkien often presents background on parts of the setting before they are formally introduced to his readers. For instance, T he Old Forest through which the Hobbits pass upon leaving The Shire is discussed in detail before the party even decides to travel through it. It is described as a dark, treacherous place, and is obviously a place that the Hobbits fear (Tolkien 104-109). Because they have this background, readers are able to experience the feelings of apprehension, surprise, and wonder in the same way that the characters experience them. In his obsession with perfection, Tolkien created an entirely new world, complete with customs, languages, races, songs, and countries. He also created a plethora of individuals through whom his story is conveyed and with whom his readers identify. While he created this world and everything in it, he could not stray from the characters and lands he crafted. Because of this, he had little control over the events once he set them in motion. Tolkien, like the Lord of the Rings in the novel, became unable to govern actions beyond himself. He could only set obstacles and helping hands before the characters and allow them to play out the story as they would, as if they were, in fact, real people in a real world that began in one man’s mind and now exists in the minds and hearts of thousands of readers.