Hero’s in Greek Literature Essay

In modern times the word hero can be used to describe many different people. For example, a scientist that develops a cure for AIDs would be thought of to be heroic. Or perhaps one might deem teachers heroic for shaping the youth of tomorrow. Although these jobs are noble, they would not be deemed heroic by the Greeks. Today’s definition of a hero is comparatively broad to that of which the Greek’s would have considered the term of hero to describe. More accurately, a hero is someone who puts themselves in a position of death in order to obtain a morally just cause. This idea of self sacrifice is what makes a hero. In Greek literature, especially in poetry, there are several examples of heroes and heroines. I will specifically discuss Achilles of Homer’s Iliad, as well as Antigone in Sophocles Antigone, and why their character is of heroic stature. In early Greek literature, such as Homer’s Iliad, a hero was more parallel to the concept of a warrior. In book I of The Iliad, Achilles is not just portrayed as a warrior, but is in fact introduced as â€Å"godlike† (Homer, 107). Achilles is an exemplum of one of the defining characteristics of epic poems in that he possesses godlike qualities, such as superhuman strength. In epic poems, the intervention and presence of the Greek gods is a persisting trait. Achilles is born of both mortal and immortal persons, his father a militant mortal Peleus and his mother the sea nymph Thetis. Due to these qualities and over the course of the poem, Achilles proves himself to be the most capable warrior of all. Moreover, Achilles also proves himself a hero by surmising to the idea of self sacrifice. It has always been known that if Achilles kills Hector during the Greek and Trojan War, he will at some point be put to death by the gods. As described in book IX, â€Å"My mother Thetis, a moving silver grace, tells me two fates sweep me on my death. If I stay here and fight, I’ll never return home, but my glory will be undying forever. If I return home†¦ my glory is lost but my life will be long,† (Homer, 141). Therefore Achilles does have the option of going home and living a long life. However, it is the death of Patroclus, Achilles best friend, that sways him to fight even though a sure death will come. This choice is namely why Achilles is a hero. Another central theme to a Greek hero is that he is unable to be destroyed by any other man and therefore a central theme of self- destructiveness exists (Whitman).

Commodity Fetishism

Commodity Fetishism Free Online Research Papers In 1867 Karl Marx published perhaps one of his most important works on political economy and capitalism titled â€Å"Capital†. In this work Marx chooses to introduce the fetishism of commodities in the first chapter. Based on this placement it is easy to see that he considered it an important part of his theoretical framework. By adding â€Å"and the Secret Thereof† to â€Å"The Fetishism of Commodities† Marx (in Appelrouth and Edles 2008:62) hints at the mystical nature of commodities and the unseen power they have over us. In reviewing Marx’s writing three key concepts emerge, each connected to the others. These three key concepts are the theory of value, the theory of commodity fetishism, and the concept of alienation. The first part of this essay will examine the theory of commodity fetishism. Marx defines a commodity as â€Å"†¦an object outside us, a thing that by its properties satisfies human wants of some sort or another,† (Marx in Appelrouth and Edles 2008:59). He goes on to broaden the definition by excluding considerations of the nature of such wants by stating, â€Å"The nature of such wants†¦ makes no difference,† and further â€Å"Neither are we here concerned to know how the object satisfies these wants,† (Ibid.). Marx later qualifies this statement by stating that â€Å"A thing can be useful, and the product of human labour, without being a commodity,† (Ibid.:61). Rather than being contradictory Marx means by this passage to indicate that an object must be useful to others rather than simply to yourself. The usefulness of an object creates a â€Å"use-value† but depends on the unique situation of each individual and is therefore incapable of being compared directly. Being of use to others is one way to create a type of value known as â€Å"exchange-value†. Use-value and exchange-value are the two factors of a commodity that Marx assigns. In assigning use-value and exchange value and examining the interplay between the two Marx develops his theory of commodity fetishism. To understand the term â€Å"commodity fetishism† you must look past the current usage of the term â€Å"fetish†. Fetish now commonly refers to an obsession or disproportionate pleasure, often in a sexual context. While that definition may apply somewhat to Marx’s theory it is more instructive to consider it in historical context. In Marx’s time â€Å"fetish† usually referred to religion. It is clear to me that Marx specifically intended the term â€Å"fetishism† as a critique of capitalist beliefs. This is exemplified by the passage: â€Å"There is a physical relation between physical things. But it is different with commodities. †¦ In order, therefore, to find an analogy, we must have recourse to the mist-enveloped regions of the religious world,† (Ibid.:63) Through this passage we may beg in to grasp the nut of Marx’s commodity fetishism concept. The main thrust of the commodity fetishism concept is that the exchange-value (what makes something a commodity) doesn’t relate in proportion to the use-value. The use-value is inherent in the object, while the exchange-value is entirely a product of society and most particularly of capitalist society. The difference between natural and inherent properties vs. societal properties and the role, or lack thereof, of nature in exchange-value is shown succiently when Marx points out that â€Å"Since exchange value is a definite social manner of expressing the amount of labour bestowed upon an object, Nature has no more to do with it, than it has in fixing the course of exchange,† (Ibid.:65). It is the nature of and disconnect between the different types of value assigned to objects that create commodity fetishism. Marx points to the source of this being capitalism and the related social constructs that underlie the obfuscation of (wo)man’s direct relation to fellow (wo)man. Marx most clearly points this out near the end of his section on commodity fetishism when he writes, â€Å"What confirms them in this view, is the peculiar circumstance that the use value of objects is realized without exchange, by means of a direct relation between the objects and man, while, on the other hand, their value is realized only by exchange, that is, by means of a social process,† (Ibid.:65-66). In examining the prevalence of the fetishism of commodities in capitalistic societies it is easy to see that commodity fetishism is an inescapable product of the production of commodities, which is the main goal of capitalistic societies. Current trends in the post-industrial era serve to create increasing commodity fetishism as people become more and more disconnected from the relationship of their labor to the labor of others. Consolidation of mass media and the increasing number of ways that advertising is thrust into our lives further enhance the illusion of exchange-value being innate in a product. It becomes increasingly hard to see how the (use) value of products could be the same as a more heavily marketed product with a higher exchange value. Examples of commodity fetishism abound in everyday life. I consider myself to be a very utilitarian and frugal person, therefore drawn strongly towards a use-value oriented manner of consumption, yet I can still find examples in my life of commodity fetishism. One example would be watching new movies. New movies obviously have no greater use-value to me than older movies that I haven’t yet seen, but the hype, advertising, and inflated exchange-value often cause me to choose to see a new release even though they are mostly lower quality than those that have stood the test of time. Another example, also in the field of entertainment, would be computer games. New games at the height of their exchange-value, often with expensive hardware requirements, are no better than slightly older games at a fraction of the cost. While introspection can sometimes be tough, it’s easy to see wanton consumer fetishism in others. Some people I know would never even consider buying a generic cereal, even after being shown that it’s the same cereal produced in the same mill. Another example is the consumption of beer in America. The vast majority of beer produced and consumed in America is heavily advertised, but of poor quality. Yet people see nothing inherently queer about pounding down large quantities of tasteless, watered-down swill. Earlier I mentioned alienation as another key point in Marxist theory. One effect of consumer fetishism is to increasingly cause relations amongst people to take the form of relationships between objects. Thus a person’s relationship to the product of their labor is transformed to the relationship of the product of their labor to other commodities, thereby isolating them from their creative value as a human being. This is a component of alienation, which is the topic of the next section. Bibliography Appelrouth, Scott and Laura Desfor Edles. 2008. Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory. Los Angeles, CA: Pine Forge Press Marshall, Gordon. 1998. A Dictionary of Sociology. Oxford University Press Research Papers on Commodity FetishismDefinition of Export QuotasOpen Architechture a white paperEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneThree Concepts of PsychodynamicCapital PunishmentMind TravelComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite Religion

ACT Photo ID 3 Requirements You Must Know

ACT Photo ID 3 Requirements You Must Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The ACT has implemented a number of security measures to maintain the integrity of the exam. One such measure is requiring test takers to show a photo ID. If you don't have an appropriate ID with you on test day, you may not be allowed to take the ACT. In this article, I'll detail all of the ACT photo ID requirements. What's an acceptable form of ID? What should you do if you don't have a photo ID? Read more to find out. Why Is a Photo ID Required? A photo ID is required to confirm your identity and registration. In the past, there have been issues with cheating- students have taken the ACT for other people. The information and picture on your photo ID will be checked against the info and photo on your admission ticket to ensure that everybody takes their own test. If any of the information doesn’t match or you don’t have an acceptable ID, you won’t be allowed to take the test. ACT ID Requirements Your photo ID must meet the following requirements. These rules also apply for international students and students 21 and older. #1: Your ID Must Be Valid Your ID can’t be expired and it must be an official government-issued or school ID. If you use a school ID, it has to be from the school you currently attend. #2: It Must Be the Original ID You can’t show a photocopy or picture of your ID. If you use a school ID, it must be in hard plastic card format. You can’t show a paper or electronic ID. #3: The Text Must Be in English Your name and the text on your ID must be written in English. Don't photocopy your ID. You need to bring the original. Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable IDs Here are some examples of IDs you can and can’t use for the ACT: Acceptable ACT Photo IDs Government-issued driver’s license Government-issued ID card Official school ID from the school you currently attend Government-issued passport Government-issued military or national identification card Talent Search Identification Forms (only if you weren’t required to submit a photo with your registration). This is just for middle school students. ACT Student ID Form (must be prepared by the school you currently attend or a notary) Unacceptable ACT Photo IDs Credit card or debit card, even if it has a photograph Birth certificate Social Security card Employee ID card Any temporary ID card Missing Child (â€Å"ChildFind†) ID card Diploma Family portrait Fishing or hunting license Organization membership card Any document that doesn’t meet the requirements Not an acceptable ID What If You Don’t Have Acceptable ID? Any student that doesn't have an acceptable ID can use the Student ID Form. A current photo must be attached to the form in the area indicated before the form is authenticated. The form will be used to verify your identity like a photo ID. On the form, you just need to provide basic biographical information like your name, gender, birthdate, and current school. If you need to use the Student ID Form, talk to your counselor or any school official who can help you. You'll need a signature from a school official for the form to be valid. If you're homeschooled or not in school, the form must be notarized and signed by an official notary. If you plan on using the Student ID Form as your ID, I recommend getting it filled out and completed as soon as you register, but you just need to have it correctly completed and with you on test day. All of the ID requirements apply to the Student ID Form. The photo you use on your ID form must match the photo on your Admission Ticket and your appearance on test day. You must bring the original Student ID Form to be admitted to the test center. The Names on Your ID and Admission Ticket Must Match The name on your photo ID must completely match the name on your admission ticket. When you’re registering, make sure you submit the name exactly how it appears on your ID. Don’t use a nickname or shortened version of your name. If you submit a name that’s different than the name on your photo ID when you register, you can change the name on your ticket so that it matches your ID. You can make changes by logging into your ACT web account and selecting â€Å"Make changes to your registration.† Or you can call ACT at 319-337-1270. You must make any necessary changes before the late registration deadline. Keep Your ID on You at All Times On test day, your ID will be checked multiple times. Make sure you have it with you from the moment you arrive at the test center. Typically, your ID will be checked when you first arrive. Then, you’ll have to show your ID before you enter the room where you’ll take your test. And when you return to the room after breaks, you may have to show your ID again. Don’t put your ID in your backpack. Keep it on you. Wear something with pockets, and have your ID with you throughout test day. Keep your ID with you on test day. Final Reminders: ACT Photo ID Rules Check to make sure you have an acceptable photo ID when you register for the ACT. When you’re registering, use the name that’s on your photo ID. Don’t forget to bring your photo ID with you on test day. The night before the test, put everything you’re going to need in a backpack. Review what you have to bring. When you’re at the test center, keep your ID with you at all times. If you have any questions about the ID policy, contact ACT Student Services. What's Next? If you have any other questions about the ACT, you may want to check out our article on answers to frequently asked ACT-related questions. If you're applying regular admission to college, find out when is the last ACT you can take before the deadline. Finally, figure out how to choose the ACT test date that's right for you. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Barclays Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Barclays Case Study - Essay Example A number of change management theories help explain this shift in the image of the bank. The theory of open systems forms a good starting point. A corporation such as Barclays constitutes a system. Like any other system, the corporation is made of several components that function together as a unit(Kettinger & Grover, 1995). These components take the form of the internal and the external environments. The internal environment refers to those factors that affect the corporation and over which the corporation has considerable control. These factors include the employees of the corporation. The external environment, by contrast, refers to those factors that are external to the corporation in the sense that the corporation has little or no control over them even though they still affect the daily operation of the organization. These include competition and government regulation. An open system is one that exchanges feedback with its external environment on a regular basis. Given that the organization has limited or no control over the external environment, a healthy open system adjusts the internal factors as needed in order to realize the goals of the entire system(Tam, 1999). Several aspects are necessary for a functional open system. These include the external environment, boundaries and equifinality. Of the external environment, government regulation is arguably one of the most important factors in the case of Barclays given that, the world over, governments regulate the banking industry heavily. Every system has boundaries even though these can be difficult to delimit. An open system should have a porous boundary that allows the exchange of information. In the case of Barclays, it is possible that the bank has deliberately made it difficult for the regulator to access information on their activities, thereby creating a conducive environment for busines s malpractice to thrive. The concept of

3G Vs 4G Wireless Technology Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

3G Vs 4G Wireless Technology - Term Paper Example However, fourth generation (4G) communication system is the descendant of 3G system. The 4G communication system offers ultra speed internet services and it is the latest wireless application service for telecommunication technologies. The discussion in the paper is based on the study of distinctiveness of 3G and 4G wireless technologies and the future prospects of 4G. There are a few issues which are attached with the implementation of 4G network systems for providing important services to users worldwide. However, the advantages of 4G services are quite apparent compared to 3G services which will be helpful in varied applications. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Thesis Statement 5 Problem Description 5 Results 12 Conclusion 15 Works Cited 16 Introduction The broadband services for the telecommunication technologies have advanced in a drastic way for the requirement of broadband internet services by users anywhere. Among the overall 1.8 billion broadb and users on a worldwide basis, almost two-third users have mobile broadband facility. The users who are using this mobile communication system are being offered this service through High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network as well as Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. HSPA services can be used with HSPA modems or USB dongles and the use of fixed DSL modems have been swapped with the availability of these high speed wireless broadband technologies. LTE has provided many advantages to the users as well as to the service providers for its performance of offering speed in excess of 200 Mbps and its capacity of Radio Access Network (RAN) round-trip times is within 10ms. The LTE technology has met the requirement of 4G services of providing ultra broadband internet services (Kumaravel, â€Å"Comparative Study of 3G and 4G in Mobile Technology†). The 4G telecommunication system is the latest wireless application of providing ultra speed internet services and has succeeded the 3G sys tem. It facilitates the users with the services for providing flawless connectivity at any time anywhere while accessing varied information as well as services. It also provides a better quality of services and it is be considered as ‘Always Best Connected’ service (Tellabs, â€Å"4G: The What, Why and When†). In the present day context, people are more attracted to technologies such as smartphones, laptops, notebooks as well as tablets which provide wireless connectivity facilities. The 3G services which facilitate varied applications for smartphones and with the introduction of tablets which require higher capacity as well as performance for better accessibility of varied information and services, there lay the importance of 4G services (Rysavy Research, LLC, â€Å"Transition to 4G†). Thesis Statement The discussion emphasizes on 3G as well as 4G wireless application technologies and the importance of the 4G system has increased with the advancement of t echnology. It will also emphasize on the advantages as well as disadvantages of these two wireless technologies. The implications of 4G system which provides ultra speed broadband service is assessed in the paper. Problem Description The 3G network system has been successfully integrated with the varied applications which are required for smartphones. The technology has advanced to an extent which requires enhanced performance as well as capacity. The 4G network system has been introduced for the new technologies such as tablets as well as notebooks for faster accessing the varied information as well as services. There are certain basic differences in between the 3G and 4G network services which are offered to the people worldwide. 3G is considered as the world’

The Core Competence of the Corporation Assignment - 1

The Core Competence of the Corporation - Assignment Example Effectively, the authors stress on the collective learning of the organization, juxtaposed with technical competencies and production technologies as drivers of core competence. They suggest simple tests that can help assess the construct: i) does the competence help the firm in addressing diverse markets, ii) is it easily imitable? and iii) does the customer perceive a benefit from the end product? In the second part of the report, we apply the learnings to a civil engineering situation where there are two organizational actors: BBCL and El Dorado. We find that the potential Joint Venture could lead to development of core competencies. In the current scheme of things, both companies do not have any clear core competencies. We also analyze the firms in terms of the capabilities that they have developed over the years. The Core Competence of the Corporation 1. ... firms that have helped them differentiate their firm’s advantages from others; additionally, these key strengths, which Prahalad & Hamel (1993) term as core competencies have enabled the companies to make their mark in several products. These strengths have led the firms to sustained and profitable growth. 2. Key definitions The authors begin with an introduction to two different companies operating in the telecommunications space: GTE and NEC. The time frame studied is 1980 to 1988. While NEC started small, it ended up bigger in revenues and market share during the end of the period. This provided an impetus for the authors to try and identify what lay behind the scenes at these two telecommunication giants. One of the definitions put forth by the authors is the term ‘core competence’ itself. A core competence could be something similar to a capability developed by a company that could help establish a sustainable, defensible and profitable market position. In a competitive environment, a core competence could be a strategic asset. The next question this leads us to is this: if a capability needs to be defined as a core competence, then what criteria can be used to test it? The authors recommend three tests: 1) Does the capability help the firm compete in several product markets? 2) Can the competence or capability be easily imitated by rivals and 3) Is the customer capable of perceiving a difference because of the company’s competence in a particular domain? If the answers to all three questions are in the affirmative, then the particular competence could be termed a core competence. 3. Key Insights & Takeaways To explain with the help of an analogy, the authors use a tree with its roots, branches and fruits. The roots are akin to the core competence. They

The Empress Dowager CI XI History Essay

The Empress Dowager CI XI History Essay Empress Dowager Ci Xi was born in 1835. She had two younger brothers. Her father Hui Zheng was a member of the Bordered Blue Banner of the Eight Banners. Bordered Blue Banner was descendant of royal, so she had an excellent familys background. According to annals, she spent her early life in Anhui Province. The earlier period of childhood, she started to learn literature, painting and handwriting. She had been training hard for several years before she moved to Beijing. Ci Xi took apart in a selection program for concubines for the new Xian Feng Emperor. She was a talented girl, so she was one of the few girls selected to be Preparative Concubine. After that, she was promoted to Noble Person after she was selected to serve the Emperors daily life. She was pregnant for the first time in 1855, and she gave birth to Tong Zhi in 1856. Tong Zhi was the only son of the Xian Feng Emperor. So Ci Xi was promoted to Noble Imperial Consort Yi. The Xian Feng Emperor became lazy because of his ba d health, and Ci Xi was good at handwriting, so Xian Feng Emperor looked over the political documents, and asked Ci Xi to write comments on it. So at that time Ci Xi started to contact with politics. British and French troops attacked Beijing in 1860, Xian Feng Emperor took his son and Ci Xi fled Beijing to a safety place called Re He. However Xian Feng was seriously ill at that time, his son Tong Zhi was only 6 years old; its too young to manage the whole country, so Xian Feng Emperor summoned eight of his most prestigious ministers to help his son to manage the country. Xian Feng Emperor died in 1861. After the death of the Xian Feng Emperor, both of his Empress Consort and Noble Consort Yi were elevated to the empress dowager. Tong Zhi became the new emperor and the Eight Regent Ministers tried to reduce the right of the new emperor, but Ci Xi was not satisfied with the Eight Regent Ministers. So she made a plan to arrest them, and killed them with the help of Prince Gong. After that, Ci Xi started to mix in politics. In breaking with tradition, Ci Xi became the first and only Qing Dynasty Empress to rule from behind the curtains. Tong Zhi Emperor died in 1875, Ci Xis nephew Guang Xu became the new Emperor. However, Ci Xi still ruled from behind the curtains. The first Sino-Japanese War was break out in 1894, the result of the defeat the Qing government was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Empress Dowager Ci Xis policy to the war was negative, so after a series of the wars of invading China, we lost our dominion gradually. Empress Dowager Ci Xi died in the Hall of Graceful Bird on 15 November 1908. Empress Dowager Ci Xi, as an emperor had governed the Qing Dynasty for about forty years. When the Qing Dynasty was found at beginning, the emperor not Empress Dowager Ci Xi had set a ban that the imperial harem or seraglio should not participate in the international affairs. When it was Ci Xis turn to govern the whole country, everything seemed changed. She used her beauty to make Xian Feng believe her and they soon got a baby called Tong Zhi. When Tong Zhi emperor controlled the country, it was a bad time. Britain and France united army went through Beijing and attacked and occupied Beijing. Then Xian Feng emperor escaped to a summer retreat. That was absurd that the high status emperor escaped when facing violence. How could the folks look at him? The only thing they responded was laughing at Xian Feng emperor. Just at that moment, Empress Dowager Ci Xi grasped this chance to become herself a psychologist. She came to comfort Xian Feng emperor. But as a pity, he died soon. However Xian Feng emperor knew well about how good or bad Empress Dowager Ci Xi was. So he left an imperial edict to Empress Dowager Ci Xi to prevent her in case she done something harmful. But out of Xian Fengs prediction, Empress Dowager Ci Xi made the imperial in her own hands by using some kind of means. She made herself to be the emperor. How contemptible s he was! When Tong Zhi was died at the age of 21 with sexual disease, it was obvious that Empress Dowager Ci Xi should take over the political power when Guang Xu was too young to take charge of the country. Empress Dowager Ci Xi always insisted on centralism. She suppressed the Taiping Rebellion which was an appeal for peasants` right. But she made it down. She kept the situation which was called centralism. Making the military power hold in her hand, she would not like anyone else to crab anything from her. In 1904, Japan and tsarist Russia made a war because of the territory of China and Korea. It took place in the northeast of China. To everyones surprise, Empress Dowager Ci Xi held the position standing in the middle. Thus made the people lived in northeast of China suffered in great pain. She even could bear that the people who were under her control were in pain not only in physic but also in mental. She made all rights belong to herself. She designed and snared the ministers, judged them with blank commitments. She smashed others` power into ash. She insisted in holding the main power and making everyone who was under her control listen to her. She made a rule which was that anyone could not challenge her position or doubt her ability because all she wanted was the whole nation and the entire power. As a leader, she failed to care about the folks` emotions and even did not know what they really needed and what they worried. She just knew that she had the responsibility to protect her position from being usurped. Not only in her political aspect had she something that made people dissatisfied with her but also in the life aspect. For example, Empress Dowager Ci Xi had a habit that was: where she went, where the meal went. So she did not have a specifically restaurant which was designed to eat.  Incidentally, the bowls she used were colored in bright yellow, covered with silver lid, and some of them were decorated with dragon patterns, while others printed the Chinese character shou ¼Ã‹â€ Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ °. The each meal of Empress Dowager Ci Xi was contained about 150 dishes. All the dishes were neatly arranged in rows. One row was a large line of bowls, and another row was a line of small dishes, followed by a row of a small bowl, in this case order.  When the two female officers came into the bedroom and put the table, they were holding a big yellow food container.  Her tea cups were made by pure white jade, and tea trays and lids were gold. Empress Dowager Ci Xi would not eat with other people.  When she began to eat, she always ordered the eunuchs to brought silver chopsticks, spoons, etc., and then said: Im sorry you have to stand up when you are having your meal, but these are the rules set by our ancestors. I can not break the rules, even the Queen can not sit in front. Im sure if the foreigners know how we treat the woman in the palace, they would certainly think that we are barbarians. But you will soon find that I practice in front of them is completely different, they do not see merely who we are. Many people think that Empress Dowager Ci Xi was a bad woman in the Chinese history. However, she also had her success.    First of all, Ci Xis struggles are worth for us to learn. In Qing Dynasty, nobody can be greater than her. When she was a child, she had already known that using money to bribe eunuch to be close to emperor. After she lived in the palace, she could deal with a lot of complicated things in correct and experienced ways. Then, she gave a birth to a child who was the only son of her husband-Xian Feng emperor. She was a really clever woman that no other concubines could have babies for the emperor. Secondly, Empress Dowager Ci Xi could deal with things without hesitation. Before Xian Feng emperor dead, he told 9 ministers to control Ci Xis rights. However, Empress Dowager Ci Xi didnt afraid of them. She used the hatreds between the ministers to turn the scale. Finally, she took helm of the state and she controlled her son, which was called attended to state affairs. In addition, she usually deals with things without hesitation, such as 1898 Reform period. Thirdly, Empress Dowager Ci Xi ended feudal society in a quick way. The feudal society in China had lasted for more than 2000 years. It was too long and serious to China to develop capitalism, which made China poor and fall behind other countries in Qing Dynasty. However, Empress Dowager Ci Xi was a luxurious woman and she leaded a luxurious phenomenon around the country. She reduced the money of the government, which leaded to the feudal society in China was ended almost 30 years in advance. In the position of Qing government, Empress Dowager Ci Xi was a guilty person, but in the position of the development of history, she helped China to end the feudal society in a quick way. Fourthly, Ci Xis luxurious hobbies-the Chinese feast and Peking opera, which developed Chinese culture. She loved the two things and many foreigners were interested in imperial banquet. The Chinese feast finally fixed many different styles of cooking. Its unique in the world. She loved Peking Opera and she often heard opera in her palace. In this way, many foreigners could have chances to come into contact with Peking Opera. The secrets and culture of Peking Opera could be spread. So that, Empress Dowager Ci Xi made contributions to Chinese culture. Fifthly, hobbies of Empress Dowager Ci Xi improved the society in the process of modernization of China. Was Empress Dowager Ci Xi an old-fogy? If we find the answer from the Chinese history book, we may say she was, because she suppressed the Chinese reform. However, the time she was in power was a high communicated period with western countries. During this period, she certainly learned a lot from western countries. She imported many new things from foreign to China. Electric lights, automobiles, photos, movies and so on. We think that all of them were completed by courage from Empress Dowager Ci Xi, so we have to admit that she was a wise woman. At last, Empress Dowager Ci Xi brought us a famous world culture heritage-the Summer Palace. When we travelled in the Summer Palace, guiders usually told us that Empress Dowager Ci Xi spent the expense of navy in building the Summer Palace in1888, which leaded that China had failed in the Sino-Japanese War. Who knew that the Summer Palace would be a famous imperial garden where must be visited by foreigners. So, Empress Dowager Ci Xi was not only a guilty person all the time, she also had her ability and success. There is no perfect man or woman in the world. Anybody has good aspect meanwhile he or she has the bad side. No one is absolute bad or good. So, is Empress Dowager Ci Xi good or bad? Everyone has his or her own idea.