Identity Theft Essay - 2149 Words

Identity Theft Law enforcement officials have stated that identity theft crime has been one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Identity theft is also one of the fastest growing white collar crimes. This is a serious crime. Identity theft is the act of knowingly transferring or using without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state law. If the offender is found guilty, then the person committing the act could get a fine, property forfeiture, or at maximum of 15 years in prison. How common is identity theft? It is the top†¦show more content†¦Credit card fraud accounted for 54 percent of all identity theft crime; communications services accounted for 26 percent; bank fraud accounted for 9 percent; and fraudulent loans accounted for 11 percent according to statistics from the FDC. According to CNN, Washington, D.C. reported 767,000 thefts in 2001. Other states that were among the topped crime reports were California with 446,000; Nevada had 405,000; and Maryland and New York both had 373,000 reported crimes. Between 1997 and 2003, the losses to U.S. financial institutions due to identity theft increased from 2 million dollars to 9 million dollars. According to an identity theft agency website at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft, throughout the history of the crime, federal agencies and government officials have made an effort to address the problem of identity theft. In October of 1998, Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 to address the problem. If anyone violates this act, they will be investigated by federal agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and, if possible, prosecuted by the U.S.Show MoreRelatedIdentity Theft1365 Words   |  6 PagesThe Dangers of Identity Theft Sharae Ernst IFSM 201 – Summer 2012 8/3/2012 â€Å"Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information (PII), like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.† (Fighting Back Against Identity Theft: Federal Trade Commission). According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft complaints have decreased since year 2008 (314,521 to 250,854). It is estimated by theRead MoreIdentity Theft993 Words   |  4 Pagesridiculous amount of money needed to be paid that you never spent? This is because of identity theft. The FTC estimates that each year, over 9 million people are affected by identity theft. According to Sally Driscoll, this is because almost anyone with a computer and a slight bit of computer knowledge can pull off identity theft. Experts also claim that identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the world. Identity theft is a global problem that cannot be stopped without effective measures. The problemRead MoreIdentity Theft964 Words   |  4 PagesRasmussen College | Identity Theft | The long term issue | | Caden Ross | 2/17/2013 | Authors Note: This research is for Professor Rob Paixao B234/BUL2241 Section 01 Business Law Course written by Caden Ross on 02/17/2013. | Jeffrey Gerald Jackson, otherwise known as Troy Lee Evans, was arrested on September 4,2012 for identity theft. Mr. Jackson used the identity of Troy Lee Evans to gain employment at Credit Concepts Inc. Mr. Jackson had worked at Credit Concepts Inc. underRead MoreIdentification Theft And Identity Theft947 Words   |  4 PagesOur identity is what makes us unique. It is the individual character or personality of an individual, and when a person is a victim of identity theft, it is this distinct characteristic that is stolen Therefore the victims of identity theft often feel a deep sense of violation as they struggle to reclaim their good names. The government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime which is affecting millions of innocent Americans. Until then there are three important waysRead MoreIdentity Theft3413 Words   |  14 PagesIdentity Theft + Fraud= Identity Crime 20 December 2007 There is a thief that lurks around us everyday; this thief can attack in brad day light or in the darkest hour, and just about anywhere you may find yourself. This thief has the power to act in your name, make unlimited purchases, open up credit accounts and ruin your good name and credit all in the matter of seconds; if you are vulnerable enough, you might become his next victim. In many cases all he needs is your name and a social securityRead MoreEssay on Identity Theft895 Words   |  4 PagesIdentity Theft This paper will cover the topic of identity theft via the internet, phone and several other schemes. It will identify various ways in which your identity is stolen and ways which you can safeguard yourself from being victimized. I will also report what the Department of Justice is doing and the penalties associated with these crimes. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Identity fraud is use of a persons name, social security number or other personal identifying information. Once armedRead MoreOnline Identity Theft1414 Words   |  6 PagesOnline Identity Theft What is identity? The word itself can have so many connotations, definitions, and subjects tied to it. However, the most basic definition of our identity would be the qualities, beliefs, and baggage that make up each person. An identity is something that each of us have a claim to from the moment we are born to even past our death. Through the recent technology surges however, our most basic claim is now threatened. We have all heard about crime on the streets but with theRead MoreIdentity Theft (Body)2176 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"unneeded† documents. Three months later, when Bob was applying for a car loan, he found that his credit history had been destroyed. He was a victim of identity theft, a crime that often causes people debt, unjustified imprisonment, and murder, being one of the most dangerous, yet easiest, crimes to commit. Identity theft includes other types of fraud and identity related crimes. It is said that today’s society is now living in â€Å"The Age of Betrayal.† Since an incident with a busboy in Brooklyn, noRead More Identity Theft Essay966 Words   |  4 Pagespersonal information is safe on the internet. This is not to say that if you log online your identity will be stolen; however, there are some necessary things to learn to protect yourself. The purpose of my project is to help make people aware of these dangers on the internet and how to protect themselves to the best of their abilities. I chose to focus on â€Å"phishing† a new kind of internet theft where millions of e-mails are sent out to vulnerable consumers. This is a serious dangerRead MoreIdentity Theft Essay1833 Words   |  8 PagesIdentity Theft What is identity theft? By definition â€Å"Identity theft n. the dishonest acquisition of personal information in order to perpetrate fraud, typically by obtaining credit, loans, etc., in someone elses name; fraud perpetrated in this way. † (dictionary.oed.com, 2007). It’s estimated that 9 million Americans have had their identities stolen each year. â€Å"According to the Secret Service, its investigations show a jump in potential losses due to identity theft, from $851

Women Hobbies Free Essays

Hobbies Preferred By The Women Can you imagine the women walking into each shop in the megamall and try every shoes, clothes, and handbags for 8 hours straight without even feeling tired? Even Haile Gebrselassie, world’s best long-distance runner can’t do that! According to the research done by a group of students from the University of Melbourne, women love to go shopping, grooming, go for a massage or spa, reading, singing, cooking, art craft and so on. Despite being so passionate about their hobbies, not every woman shares the same hobbies. Although it is regarded as the most favorite’s hobbies, shopping is just one of many hobbies preferred by the women. We will write a custom essay sample on Women Hobbies or any similar topic only for you Order Now Shopping is one of the hobbies preferred by the women and is very synonym with women. When I want to talk about shopping, the first thing that will pop out in my head is woman buying things. Although it does sound simple and considered as a light activity, shopping can and will eventually suck out every ounce of your stamina over time and making your legs begging for a massage. However, these creatures from Venus seem not affected by this at all. Most women are so passionate with this hobby till the point where they can eliminate the fatigue just like that even after spending more than 4 hours walking and shopping. Another common hobby shared by most of the women around the world is cooking. Cooking is a wonderful womanly hobby and art that they can enjoy with their loved ones. Women cook for various reasons. Some people just love the taste of good food or they enjoy the time spent cooking together with their love one. While for some women, cooking food has been more than just about feeding one’s body. It is their way to nourish a soul, a relationship, especially with their family members or their loved ones. A hearty meal with family and friends, give them a sense of happiness and appreciation. Sometimes when their family members get into trouble, they will cook, and things somehow seem a little brighter. Most women enjoy reading novels, magazines, newspapers, and also blogs. According to a research made by the popular English newspaper website, www. guardian. co. uk, women enjoy reading as they know how to read properly and with enthusiasm. The new research shows that nearly half of women are avid readers who cannot put a book down once they begin it and who reliably get through a long list of titles in an average year. Women enjoy reading, especially romance novels. It excites them to read the love stories with the unlimited possibilities of what might happen next in the stories. It also gives them a sense of tranquility, a feeling of relaxation when they read. Women also feel that by reading, they are becoming smarter as it helps them in critical thinking skills and the increasing amount of vocabularies. In conclusion, most women usually prefer simple hobbies that are fun and relaxing. Hobbies like shopping, cooking, and reading are widely practiced and enjoyed by many woman although some prefer tougher and more challenging hobbies like mountain climbing, horse-riding, and bungee jumping. Every hobby have their own benefits and it is up to the women to experiment and choose wisely on what they would love to do in order to fill up their time with useful and fun activities. How to cite Women Hobbies, Papers

Corporate Strategy Birds Eye Trade

Questions: 1. Why did Birds Eye develop as a vertically integrated producer?2. In sourcing raw materials, why did Birds Eye adopt different arrangements for peas, fish, and meat?3. Why did the frozen food industry de-integrate?4. What was Birds Eyes problem in the late 1970s?5. What should Birds Eye do? Answers: 1. In early 19th century, soon after Birds Eye trade was commenced, there were certain complexities in the trade of frozen food. So, in order to keep the superiority of the food to be highly kept in mind, it has to be iced up rapidly. Even if the eatables were cold right away then also it has to be kept ice-covered until it gets to the clients. Due to the requirement for high quality of the goods that were being frozen, emerging to be as a vertically-integrated producer permitted it to be the most controlled one. From the time when the operating cost was high in the market of frozen food, it was only worth freezing the best food to keep up the high quality and hence be able to charge a premium cost for the same (Kliein et al., 2008). But the major reasons for developing Bird Eye as a vertically integrated producer was: Lack of a Well-Developed Infrastructure: Irregularity of machines and shortage of skilled labor were the main issues in production. Public cold storages had a limited capacity. The state of retail distribution was also not good. For this reason, Birds Eye was obligated to make its own system (Collis, 1994). Perseverance of Quality: The food must be timely processed and frozen otherwise its quality was cooperated. Therefore, the system must be extremely proficient. Regular Supply of High Quality Raw Material: Birds Eye creates capacity in poultry and attained a majority stake in a fishing corporation. For vegetables, they worked directly with farmers who supply seeds and provide them with farming expertise. 2. For Fish and poultry Birds Eye did a backward integration by inculcating a capability and obtaining a controlling wager in the suppliers. But for peas Birds Eye has worked directly in relation with the people by giving them with both assets and proficiency with the development of high superiority manufacture. There were certain reasons also for the different arrangements like: In the market place Birds Eye was able to be safeguarded for the grant of raw material with longer term agreements with the people of the farm. But with the trawl suppliers, the procedure was harder when the proceeds bought from dock side sales were introduce from Scandinavia. This procedure did not let Birds Eye to have an adequate amount to be in charge of so they fixed the procedure by vertical integration. 3. The De-Integration of Frozen Food Industry was done as a result of a number of factors like: The industry got matured and reduced its capital cost as a result of which there were low entry barriers; New technologies were adopted off the shelf there were an availability of the blast freezers. And integration of freezing lowered the advantages of large scale production; Developments in Retailing for providing counter service and self service which increased marketing opportunities. It also led to new entrants with specialization in particular segments; New firms emerged which provided storage, freezing, transportation services; Development of Supermarkets and large supermarkets chains were done; Developments of Catering Segments were made; Lack of Brand Consciousness, Emergence of Home Freezer Centers, etc (Grant, 2013). When Birds Eye came into the business, as it founded the industry of food which was refrigerated, it utilized vertical incorporation advance. It had lot of income and aggressive benefit over its participants. It had high productivity and market share in comparison to its participants. But later in late 19th century there was add to in opposition, which lead in reduction in market share and productivity of the Birds Eye. 4. Although all the vertically integrated producers were seen to be enjoying certain competitive advantages which were connected to the dedicated dealers, but over time their formation led to certain difficulties in other areas, which canceled their benefits. On the whole the difficulties were seen to be such that they presided over the advantages (Grant, 2016). The advantages comprises of: Having power over the supply chain: A perpendicularly incorporated manufacturer enjoyed the power over the whole supply chain which was most important to more rapid response in order to increase the demand of the same. Quality of goods: Since a perpendicularly incorporated producer has much better power over the excellence at a number of points which were there in the supply chain, they could make sure that a better quality finished product was granted (Grant, 2016). Incarcerating the profit crosswise to the value chain: Vertically integrated manufacturers were able to take into custody both the up and down proceeds. Similarly, the Disadvantages which prevail in such situation were: Augmented overhead prices: The dedicated dealers takes pleasure in lower transparency prices as they were dedicated in only one good, which did not include any exchange prices. On the other side perpendicularly incorporated manufacturers had numerous goods lines, which led to inadequacies. Exit Restrictions: The considerable transportation capital investments by perpendicularly incorporated manufacturers when the market was not mature prohibited them from outlawing less gainful trades (Tadelis, 2009). 5. In order to stay and survive in this competitive world the Birds eye should: Strip/turn off dealer and allocation trades: They should keep into consideration advertising or revolving off its procurement and allocation trades, therefore reduce expenses and attain equivalence in price arrangement with the other rivalry. The smaller mass would also add to making it lither and act in response rapidly to transformations in its trade (Collis, 2017). Influence Brand: They could utilize the brand acknowledgment to enlarge into other goods or certify their brand name for other goods to produce certain proceeds. Advertising to private labels: They should also believe selling to private labels as their share in the market has been growing at a fast speed. From 6% in 1970 to 21% in 1978. Although the margin would be lower in this trade it would assist in recapturing market share (Grant, 2010). Diminish product lines: Over a period of time good production took place at organization in order to struggle in some diverse market areas. This led to issues with marketing as endorsing such widely diverse goods was establishing to be complicated. They should keep in mind and think on the most gainful product lines, utilize its brand image as power and endorse advanced margin goods while doing away with the unbeneficial good lines. References Collis, D. (2017) Birds Eye and the UK Frozen Food Industry, Harvard Business School, 5, 795. Collis, D.J.(1994) Birds Eye and the U.K. Frozen Food Industry (A), Harvard Business School Case 792-074. Grant, R.M. (2010) Contemporary Strategy Analysis and Cases: Text and Cases, 7th ed. Grant, R.M. (2013) Vertical Integration and The Scope of The Firm. [Online] Contemporary strategy analysis. Available from: https://www.contemporarystrategyanalysis.com [Accessed on 8/2/17] Grant, R.M. (2016) Contemporary Strategic management. 6th ed. Grant, R.M.(2016) Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 9th ed. Kliein, B., Crawford, R.G., and Alchian, A.A. (2008) Vertical Integration, Appropriable Rents, and the Competitive Contracting Process. Journal of Law and Economics, 21(2), 297-326. Tadelis, S. (2009) The Innovation Organization: Creating Value through Outsourcing. [Online] Berkeley Haas. Available from: https://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/stadelis/Tadelis_CMR.pdf [Accessed on 8/2/17]

Lincoln and His Generals Book Report Essay Example

Lincoln and His Generals Book Report Paper Lincoln and His Generals Book Review Lincoln and His Generals is a book by Thomas Williams that focuses on the Civil War as being the first modern war and the way President Lincoln lead his divided nation during this dark historic time. Williams introduces the Union army as one that has no shape to it. This includes the lack of any plan of attack, as the thought of war had not been converted into any type of scheme. The armies lacked organization and communication, and existing generals were old and incompetent. The first task that Lincoln had was the immediate selection of Generals. Lincolns selection process was sometimes based on political and personal grounds, and he was in the position of selecting from a pool of generals that had no experience leading a large army. Williams tells us that even if the selection was for political reasons, Lincoln had the best interest of the nation in mind. It appears that control was an important factor in Lincolns selections, however, Williams continually argues that if Lincoln had had generals who were more competent he would not have interfered as much. In Lincoln, one sees a willing amateur, one who had the ability to bring out the best in some men, and also learn from them. Williams gives us insight into Lincolns thought process. Williams supports this with various examples and numerous interactions that Lincoln had with his Generals. One example of this is Lincolns selection of General Scott, the first General of the Union forces. When Lincoln interacted with Scott, he showed an admiration for Scotts age and knowledge. This allowed Scott to show his skills, this humility was shared by General McClellan. We will write a custom essay sample on Lincoln and His Generals Book Report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lincoln and His Generals Book Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lincoln and His Generals Book Report specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Lincoln later changes his approach towards McClellan, trying to boost his confidence and courage. Williams continually shows McClellan as an egotist, who eventually replaced Scott as General in chief. McClellan is depicted as unsure, indecisive, self-centered and fearful of declaring war. Lincoln continually defends McClellan but is not afraid of tactfully sending criticism his way. One could easily be lead to believe that Lincoln was more of an appeaser. Williams shows us that Lincoln never hesitated in making difficult decisions based on results. Lincolns people skills are clearly established in Williams’s writings. Lincoln seems keen at applying pressure as well as giving his generals a free hand when necessary. Williams shows that Lincolns patience does wear thin when there are no early victories and the lack of aggressiveness on the Union side. Williams shows a gradual transformation on Lincolns selection process. Initially each general was selected on characteristics such as battle experience and political backing. As the enemy holds out and there is inaction, Lincoln starts to doubt the ability of his generals and starts to seek generals who can win without excuses. Williams describes the pressure that is placed on Lincoln. The union government and the public were questioning the inactivity of McClellan and his troops. Lincoln was willing to absorb most of this pressure but eventually seeks answers to the same questions. Williams shows the desperate side of Lincoln. Lincoln starts to recklessly allow attack plans that he did not always agree with, just because he was desperate to see action from McClellan. Williams indicates that Lincoln is a misunderstood man through the eyes of his Generals. His chief general McClellan thought little of him and had doubts about Lincoln early on. Union Generals sometimes failed at getting information back to Lincoln. Often a simple suggestion was taken as a direct order. I feel that Williams fails to argue that there might have been a certain awe that people felt towards Lincoln since he was their president. This relationship of a superior officer versus a junior officer is ignored by Williams. There could have been a small amount of intimidation that Generals felt towards Lincoln, especially later on with his reputation for getting rid of officers and generals who did not perform. Lincoln is painted as an intellectual maverick, a great statesman, and yet human enough to make mistakes and feel deterred at times. Williams also shows us a pessimistic side of Lincoln; when McClellan was sick and resources were low, Lincoln confides in his Quartermaster General Meigs, about the futile future. Williams constantly points out Lincolns strategic planning abilities against the fact that Lincoln had never had any formal training in war. I believe Williams does this due to fact that Lincolns WestPoint educated generals had such large egos as compared to a simple yet assertive Lincoln. This allows the reader to truly appreciate the humbleness of Lincoln. Williams might have served the reader better if he had focused on a number of issues. Williams could have put less emphasis upon the detailed descriptions of battle plans and strategy. The book tends to bog down in this area, especially when other books have touched upon this topic in a deeper sense. Despite the use of maps and footnotes, it seemed easy to get lost in this area. There is no doubt that reference is required to the history of the war to tell Lincolns story, but the author does tend to give more detail than necessary. More information on the selection process would have provided a better story for the book. Williams has done this exceptionally, but additional information might have thrown more light on both the generals as well as Lincoln himself. Williams leaves questions as to his objectivity in his true assessment of certain Generals. Williams sometimes seems to be so fascinated with Lincoln that he occasionally takes his side when analyzing questionable war tactics taken by some of the Generals, especially McClellan. Also, he does not offer any speculations as to why McClellan withholds certain battle plans from Lincoln. This question, though a small one, seems like it would deserve some time spent on it. The portrait that Williams paints of Lincoln is that of a frustrated patriot. Time and time again he expects action. It’s here that Williams shows us the greatness of Lincoln; compassion and patience. There are a number of instances when he is really frustrated with his generals, yet he reprimands them gently. Williams brings out this characteristic of Lincoln skillfully. The private Lincoln is deeply affected by the slow movement of war, but in public he almost never criticizes a public figure. Williams gradually unfolds this private compassionate Lincoln. First as a brilliant strategist, then as the father of a broken nation. Williams says that this change is largely due to General Grant. As Grant emerges as the key Union player in the war theater, Lincoln is glad to take a lesser role. This ties in well with what Williams had originally suggested; Lincoln was willing to relinquish control to someone qualified. Williams portrays Lincoln in a very positive light, allowing the reader to realize the greatness of Lincoln, in his compassion, strategy, statesmanship and humbleness. Williams has provided numerous instances where he provides ample support to his arguments and facts. In spite of the unnecessary detail and wordiness that Williams sometimes uses, there is no doubt that this book is a remarkable insight into Lincolns character. Works Cited Dawson, Joseph G. III. T. Harry Williams. Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. 17, 431-446 Williams, T. Harry. Lincoln and His Generals. New York: Dorset Press, 1952.

Argumentative Essay Topics - Addressing The Issues With Drug Addiction

Argumentative Essay Topics - Addressing The Issues With Drug AddictionArguing against drug addiction is a difficult task especially if you have had the experience of actually having been an addict yourself. You probably will understand the feelings of grief and agony you went through and how you wish you never had gone down that path, because it is something you wish you never did. Those who have lost friends to drug addiction are those who know how much struggle is involved in the fight against addiction.So what can you do in order to create a strong argument against drug addiction? Well, you need to explain your emotions on why you feel that you have to express yourself so passionately. You need to be able to write a compelling and emotional essay that is geared toward converting an opponent of drug addiction. Here are some arguments that you can use to convince an opponent that you have the right to have an opinion that will be different from his or her.Be sure to state clearly th e effects of drug addiction on its victims. Don't shy away from saying that what happens is unbearable. Instead of what they do is one way to cure your problem, try to make it clear that what happens is actually horrible. It could be the complete opposite of the choice you would have made if you had not been a victim of addiction. In this way, you can really make an impact on the reader, especially if you have an emotional appeal that is passionate.When writing an argumentation on drug addiction, you need to be sure to include the factor of effectiveness. Drugs destroy lives and it makes it impossible for any member of society to function normally. These are the circumstances when addiction takes over a person's life. The more you try to justify the addiction, the worse things become. In order to help you win, you need to say that being addicted is the worst thing that could happen to a person.This is also another way to put your emotional appeal across. Try to use words such as ter rible, horrible, horrendous, horrifying, traumatic, horrifying, atrocious, torture, and worse. Sometimes you need to use words such as disgrace, disgraceful, shameful, heinous, horrific, repulsive, detestable, disgusting, horrible, disgust, abhorrent, revolting, disgusting, repulsive, disturbing, and so on. You need to be sure to strike a balance in terms of what you want to convey to the reader and what they would have heard from other people. You can tell the reader that addiction is a real problem if you make an emotional appeal that is very strong.Finally, you need to develop arguments that convince the opponent of drug addiction that you are their best advocate. If there is someone who will believe what you say, you can win the argument. They will likely respect your opinion and be willing to give it a try. If you can come up with arguments that only they can see the flaw in, then you will easily win.What you will find is that any argument against drug addiction will most likel y only work for so long. You need to come up with arguments that will win the debate and get them to see how wrong they are.

Fat Pig a Play by Neil LaBute

Fat Pig a Play by Neil LaBute Neil LaBute titled the play Fat Pig (which first premiered off-Broadway in 2004) to get our attention. However, if he wanted to be blunt, he could have named the play Cowardice, because that is what this comedy-tinged drama is really about. The Plot Tom is a young urban professional who has a bad track record of quickly losing interest in the attractive women he dates. Although in comparison to his crude friend Carter, Tom seems more sensitive than your typical cad. In fact, in the first scene of the play, Tom encounters a smart, flirtatious woman who is described as very plus-sized. When the two connect and she gives him her phone number, Tom is genuinely interested, and the two start dating. However, deep down Tom is shallow. (I know that seems like a paradox, but thats how he is.) He is too self-conscious about what his so-called work friends think about his relationship with Helen. It doesnt help that he dumped a vindictive co-worker named Jeannie who interprets his overweight girlfriend as a personal attack: JEANNIE: Im sure you thought this would hurt me, right? It also doesnt help when his sleazy friend Carter steals a photo of Helen and emails a copy to everyone at the office. But ultimately, this is a play about a young man who comes to terms with who he is: TOM: Im a weak and fearful person, Helen, and Im not gonna get any better. (Spoiler Alert) Male Characters in Fat Pig LaBute has a definite knack for obnoxious, callous male characters. The two guys in Fat Pig follow in this tradition, yet they arent nearly as loathsome than the jerks in LaButes film In the Company of Men. Carter might be a slimeball, but he is not too vicious. At first, he is flabbergasted by the fact that Tom is dating an overweight woman. Also, he firmly believes that Tom and other attractive people should run with [their] own kind. Basically, Carter thinks that Tom is wasting his youth by dating someone of Helens size. However, if one reads the synopsis of the play, it asks: How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love? Based upon that blurb, audiences might assume that Tom is pushed to the breaking point by a barrage of awful insults at his girlfriends expense. Yet, Carter is not completely insensitive. In one of the best monologues of the play, Carter tells the story of how he was often embarrassed by his obese mother when in public. He also supplies the wisest piece of advice in the play: CARTER: Do what you want. If you like this girl, then dont listen to a goddamn word anybody says. So, if Carter lays off on the insults and peer pressure, and the vengeful Jeannie calms down and moves on with her life, why does Tom break up with Helen? He cares too much about what others think. His self-consciousness prevents him from pursuing what could be an emotionally fulfilling relationship. Female Characters in Fat Pig LaBute offers one well-developed female character (Helen) and a secondary female character who seems like an artistic misfire. Jeannie doesnt get much stage time, but whenever present she seems like a typical jilted co-worker seen in countless sitcoms and movies. WireImage / Getty Images But her stereotypical shallowness provides a nice foil for Helen, a woman who is bright, self-aware, and honest. She encourages Tom to be honest as well, often sensing his awkwardness when they are out in public. She falls hard and quick for Tom. At the end of the play, she confesses: HELEN: I love you so much, I really do, Tom. Feel a connection with you that I havent allowed myself to dream of, let alone be a part of, in so long. Ultimately, Tom cannot love her, because he is too paranoid about what others think. Therefore, as sad as the ending of the play might seem, its good that Helen and Tom face the truth of their faltering relationship early on. (Real life dysfunctional couples could learn a valuable lesson from this play.) Comparing Helen to someone like Nora from A Dolls House reveals how empowered and assertive women have become in the last few centuries. Nora builds an entire marriage based upon facades. Helen insists upon facing the truth before allowing a serious relationship to continue. Theres a quirk about her personality. She loves old war movies, mostly obscure World War II flicks. This little detail might just be something that LaBute invented to make her unique from other women (thereby helping to explain Toms attraction for her). In addition, it may also reveal the type of man she needs to find. The American soldiers of World War II, by and large, were courageous and willing to fight for what they believed in, even at the cost of their lives. These men are part of what journalist ​Tom Brokaw described as The Greatest Generation. Men like Carter and Tom pale in comparison. Perhaps Helen is obsessed with the films, not because of the pretty explosions but because they remind her of the male figures in her family, and provide a model for potential mates, reliable, stalwart men who arent afraid to take a risk. WireImage / Getty Images The Importance of Fat Pig At times LaButes dialogue seems like it is trying too hard to emulate David Mamet. And the short nature of the play (one of those no bak 90-minute ventures like Shanleys Doubt) makes it reminiscent of those ABC After School Specials from my childhood. They were short films that focused on cautionary tales of modern dilemmas: bullying, anorexia, peer pressure, self-image. They didnt have as many swear words as LaButes plays, though. And the secondary characters (Carter and Jeannie) barely escape their sitcomish roots. Despite these flaws, Fat Pig triumphs with its central characters. I believe in Tom. I have, unfortunately, been Tom; there have been times when I have said things or made choices based upon the expectations of others. And I have felt like Helen (maybe not overweight, but someone who feels like they are removed from those labeled as attractive by mainstream society). Theres no happy ending in the play, but fortunately, in real life, the Helens of the world (sometimes) find the right guy, and the Toms of the world (occasionally) learn to how to overcome their fear of other peoples opinions. If more of us paid attention to the lessons of the play, we could replace those parenthetic adjectives to often and almost always.

Classical Authors Directory

Classical Authors Directory Classical Literature in English Translation | Index of Classical Authors Genres and Literary Terminology: Philosophy | Epic | Epigrams | Old Comedy | Roman Drama | Satire | Epistle | Terminology for Tragedy | Tragedy | Meter in Greek and Latin Poetry At some point in our prehistory people started telling stories to one another. Later, stories were composed in forms that others could repeat. Story-telling is easy to envision as the origin of some forms of literature, especially bardic ballads, novels, and plays. Even philosophy is an attempt to explain a story or truth about the world. Here is a quick look at how the genres of Greek and Latin literature evolved and many of the major contributors to the genres at least those whose works survive.After a quick review of the genres youll find an alphabetical list of the Greek and then the Roman writers. Philosophy Ancient thinkers wrote verse about what they observed in nature. Did that make them scientists? poets? Yes, but they are generally referred to as Presocratic Philosophers. Many aspects of culture were still without distinct form at this time, which was during the Archaic Age of Ancient Greece. Drama / Plays The origin of drama is mired in legend, but to the best of our information, drama seems to have arisen as part of religious worship. Today we divide plays into the categories of comedy and tragedy. TragedyThe word tragedy appears to come from the words for goat and song or ode.ChorusThe first element in Greek tragedy was the chorus, which danced and sang poetry created by the dramatist at the religious festivals.ActorsActors came later, with the great tragedians.ComedyComedy seems to have come from phallic processions followed by sacrifices, but we dont know. Its etymology appears to come from komos (connected with revels), plus the word for song. Poetry Epic PoetryThe man​ who is  credited with creating the epics we know of as the Iliad and Odyssey, (whom we refer to as Homer) was a rhapsode, a person who accompanied his improvised performances with a musical instrument. Epic poetry came to be distinguished by its distinct (epic) meter.Lyric PoetryLyric poetry, developed according to legend, by Terpander, was poetry accompanied by a lyre.EpigramsEpigrams were composed for funerals. It was an epigrammatist, Mimnermus of Smyrna, who is credited with developing the elegiac meter that was used for love poetry (elegies). Prose HistoryHistory, as developed by Herodotus, was a (prose) story about whatever Herodotus set his inquiring mind to.Ancient Historians TimelineSatireIn ancient Rome, satire was a recognized and somewhat defined literary verse genre. It was the only genre the Romans claimed as their own invention. Some early novels fell within the genre of (Menippean) satire.Epistle (main Roman writers)Epistles are linked with Satire, as in the work of Horace, but some epistle writers used the letter for for actual correspondence, so the style is quite varied. Here you will find some resources on this site related to Classical writers and the genres of Classical literature, specifically, timelines of the major Greek and Roman authors, articles about the writers and their genres that are on this site, and links to some of their writing, mostly in English. Timelines Latin WritersEarly Greek PoetsAncient Historians Women Writers Enheduanna (An Akkadian) | Korinna | Moero | Nossis | Sappho | Sulpicia Greek and Roman Writers of Drama - Comedy and Tragedy Aristophanes | Aeschylus | Euripides | Plautus | Seneca | Sophocles | Terence Roman Satire Verse Satire: Ennius | Horace | Juvenal | Persius | Petronius Satire Timeline | Atellan Farce | Fescennine Verse | Menippean Satire Classical Greek and Roman Writers ...and some of their works  mostly translated into English Greek Classical Writers A Aeschylus | Aeschylus Plays in English | Aeschylus ResourcesAesop Biography | Fables of AesopAlcaeusAnacreonAnyteArchilochusAristophanes | About the Individual Plays of Aristophanes | Aristophanes Plays in EnglishAristotle | Aristotle Texts in English B Bacchylides D Demosthenes | Demosthenes in EnglishDio (Cassius Dio) E Euripides | Euripides in English H HecataeusHerodotus | Herodotus in EnglishHesiod | Hesiod in EnglishHippocrates | Hippocrates in EnglishHomer | Homer in English I Isocrates in English K Korinna L Lysias | Lysias in English M Moero N Nossis P PindarPlato | Plato in EnglishPresocratic PhilosophersPlutarch | Plutarch in English S SapphoSemonides of AmorgasSophocles | Tragedies of Sophocles in EnglishStrabo in English T TerpanderThalesTheognisTheophrastusThucydides | Thucydides in English translation Xenophon | Xenophon in English Z Roman Classical Writers (Latin) Also see: A History of Roman Literature: From the Earliest Period to the Death of Marcus Aurelius, by Charles Thomas Cruttwell (1877) A Abelard - Text in LatinAlcuin Texts in LatinAmmianus Marcellinus Texts in LatinApuleius | Apuleius in EnglishAurelius, Marcus | Texts in EnglishAurelius Victor Texts in Latin B Bede English translation of LatinBoethius - Text in Latin and Translation into English C Caesar Civil and Gallic Wars in EnglishCassiodorus - Text in EnglishCato | Cato in EnglishCatullus​Cicero | Cicero texts in LatinClaudian in Latin D Donatus E Ennius | Ennius in LatinEpictetus | Epictetus in English H Horace | Horace in English J Julian | Julian in EnglishJuvenal L Livius Andronicus | LivyLucan | Lucan in English M Martial N Naevius O Ovid P Pacuvius | PersiusPetronius | Petronius in EnglishPlautusPliny the Elder | Pliny in EnglishPliny the Younger | Pliny in EnglishPropertius Q Quintilian S SallustSenecaStatiusSulpicia T Tacitus | Tacitus in EnglishTertullianTibullus V VarroVelleius PaterculusVergil (Virgil) | Vergil in English See: Online Texts in English Translation(Index of Authors and Translated E-texts)