Importance Of Public Relation In Post Modern Organisation Management Essay

Importance Of Public Relation In Post Modern Organisation Management Essay Introduction Communication acts as a mediator in the process of daily human activities. Men are a social animal and hence, they have to be within a society. They all are interdependent on each other and therefore, proper interaction among them is inevitable. Communication helps them in expressing their emotion, motivating, controlling, informing etc (Singh, 2009, p.202). Earlier, during the initial period of human civilization, communication brought revolution in human life, and their lifestyles were improved significantly. However, with increasing complexities in human life, the process of communication has become complex and advanced. Presently, proper and systemic communication is considered as one of the major necessity for social improvements. In the post-modern age, communicational process has had a considerable importance. With the gradual globalisation and modernisation, various aspects of communication have been categorized and their importance has been identified for bring constant impr ovements. Public relation is one of the major concepts that have been derived during the last three decades. In addition, public relation is also an integral part of an economy and its society. The governing authorities and political powers use public relation for communicating their message to the mass population in a democratic society. David W. Guth identifies that public relation has an important contribution in emerging a democratic society as it plays a critical role in the free flow of information in democratic societies (Guth, 2000). During the social crisis, proper communication through public relation is genuine remedy to settle down the prevailing issues. This paper will attempt to present the impact of current trends or future of public relation. The briefing on the stated topic will focus to contribute for the preparations of a TED speech delivered by CEO. Therefore, it is necessary to explain and cover the important aspects of public relation that have significant impacts on public relation related philosophy, issues and multiple strategies for future success. In this process, at first, the importance of public relation in post-modern organisation will be explained. Next, the impact of recent changes in public relation practise will be analysed by focusing on specific areas. The analysis of future of mutual understandings and two way communications are necessary for understanding the future trend of public relation. Next two sections will figure out major issues in public relation followed by a discussion on public relation strategies for reputation management. Finally, the overall discussions, analysis and findings will be conclud ed. Importance of Public Relation in Post Modern Organisation The growth of modern trade and business is major area where public relation plays an essential role. Due to globalisation and technological changes business activities suffered many improvements. The process of communication and public relation has been enhanced with help of advanced technology. The post-modern organisations including non-profit and profit-making organisations have realized the necessity of proper public relation for their organisational reputation and success. It has become very vital tool for achieving the short term and long term organisational goals and objectives. The public relation practises in business organisation is major tasks in marketing activities that helps them in achieving competitive advantage and in developing consumer loyalty. Hiebing has provided a standard definition of public relation. According to him, public relation is the act of evaluating public opinion, and identify your organisations policies and practises with the interests of your audi ence, followed by development and execution of plans that earn public awareness, understanding, acceptance, support and action (Hiebing and Cooper, 2004, p.364). The above stated definition of public relation distinctly identifies its major areas for implementing effective public relation within an organisational process. Identification of target audiences is the foremost task in public relation. Public relation is act of developing and maintaining healthy relationship with target audience as a way of communication.Not being able to identify target audience is a major barrier in incorporating organisational goals and objectives. In the post-modern era, many scholars and public relation experts have presented their perspectives regarding public relation. Some of them offered very general views and rests focus on specific functions and importance of public relation for an organisation. As per the general view of public relation, it is considered as distinct managerial philosophy that helps managers in understanding the target audience for obtaining reputation. On the other hand, specialists in public relation have offered a specific explanation of public relation. J. C. Seidel, one of the eminent scholars in public relation philosophy and understanding has described that public relation is the continuing process by which management endeavours to obtain the good will and understanding of its customer, its employees and the public as large; inwardly through self-analysis and correction, outwardly through all means of expression (Gupta, 2005, p.17). Therefore, the primary importance of public relation is to devel op organisations reputation among the target audience. The target audiences are the people who are directly or indirectly associated with organisation like customers, employees, suppliers, local community, government, shareholders etc. In the post-modern organisation, public relation is important for two major areas of management. Firstly, in case of crisis management, public relation is important problem solving tool. Due to advanced electronic media technology, information travels at very high speed and any bad news like allegation or rumour directly attacks on reputation of an organisation. However, in such critical situation, the management has to take initiative at faster rate, and in this process, public relation is the only tool for managing such crisis (Coombs, 2007). Secondly, in brand building process, public relation is one of the major tools along with value added products or services. Reputation is very important in developing brand image in the mind of target consumers and public relation helps to achieve higher brand image (Blackett and Robins, 2001, p.130). Impact of the Pace of Change on the Practice of Public Relations The pace in post-modern organisation has become faster than ever. Organisational activities have been passing through many significant changes and improvements. This faster pace of improvement has also affected the philosophy and practises of public relations. The growing importance of public relation has led to bring multiple improvements in this field. In the post-modern organisation, managerial thought process and concerns have changed dramatically. For example, in traditional organisation, the business owners used to perceive employees as an expense but in post-modern management, employees are perceived as vital investments. There are five major factors that have shaped the current trend of public relation and these factors have also influenced the trends in prevailing public relation. Firstly, technology is the most important factor in the current trend of public relation practises. The use of internet and social network sites have played very important role. Many companies are using the social network sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc to promote their image. The social network media has become major trend in public relation as the impact of social media on the promotion of travel is particularly powerful and growing exponentially (Dilenschneider, 2010, p136). Secondly, due to globalization, the market expansion and exposure of public relation activity has expanded. A multinational organisation in international market faces difficulties due to cultural differences and diversity. In this respect, public relation is the major tool in understanding the cultural characteristics and needs of target consumers which facilitates the communicational process. Thirdly, increasing concern for the society and environment is also major trend. The business organisations have identified their responsibility towards society, environment and community and hence, they are focusing more on corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. These activities are also helpful in building corporate brand image and for social marketing. In this respect, CSR activities must be communicated to target audiences and this task is executed through public relation practises (Shen, 2006). Fourthly, the necessity of increasing transparency is another major trend in public relation practises. The consumers, employers and shareholders want higher level of transparency in organisation. Companies commit to be more open as the public is demanding more accountability from all of societys institutions (Patrick Harwood.). Finally, the pace of competition has also impacted the public relation practises. Most of the companies have implemented public relation strategies to achieve competitive advantage and upper hand position in market. Future of Mutual Understanding and Two-way Communications Increasing importance of public relation has led to develop certain specific theories and concepts in public relation activities. Johnston and Zawawi have described multiple theories relating to public relation practises and some of the important theories are situational theory, cultural theory, stakeholder theory, relationship management theory, symmetrical or excellence theory etc. Among these theories, the symmetrical or excellence theory is one of the most popular as it primarily focuses on two-way communication and mutual understandings. Johnston and Zawawi have explained that the Symmetrical/Excellence model of public relations theorises that there can be a win-win situation if parties to a discussion are able to reach agreement or at least partial agreement (Johnston and Zawawi, 2009, p.52). Grunig has characterizes this model that uses communication to negotiate with publics, resolve conflict, and promote mutual understanding and respect between the organization and its publi c(s) (Grunig.). The earlier section has explained major reasons that have brought new trends in public relation practises. These factors also lead to enhance the significance of public relation in post-modern organisation. The task of managing a business organisation has been becoming more complex and therefore a better communication process is very necessary for controlling, coordinating and managing. The organisations are more focusing on developing two-way communicational system with their employees, customers and shareholders. The market has become more challenging and it is expected to rise further in future. Reputation risks are major concern for the existing corporation as it determines the stock value. Recently, the issues like WikiLeaks has made the organisations more conscious in maintaining their reputation in market. In this respect, importance of two-way communication and mutual understanding is expected to increase (Trivitt, 2010). Besides, organisations often face troubles due to agen cy problems. The management often fails to communicate properly with the stakeholders and it causes conflicting situations. However, two-way communication and mutual understanding is the primary way to resolve such issues. Therefore, increasing demand of transparency will require better two-way communication within organisation. Issues Impacting on the Public Relation Profession The above sections have analysed and explained the growing necessity of public relation practises in organisation. In future, the complexities in organisation activities will increase and hence, public relation practises will play very crucial role in reputation, conflict and brand management. This fact clarifies the public relation profession will keep emerging and growing with time. However, there are certain underlying issues that have impacted the public relation profession. Most of large and medium size organisations maintain their public relation personnel and they are responsible for building higher corporate reputation among the target audience or public. However due to certain contemporary issues, the public relation professionals encounter hurdles. Firstly, the views and opinions of general public regarding public relation profession is one of the major issues. Target audience and population often interpret public relation practises for influencing peoples opinion by providing, instruction, information and persuasion. This perspective often leads to degrade the public relation profession. However, the primary reason for such negative opinion is due to the gap between the publics expectations and actual performance of an organisation. The people also perceive it as a tool of organisation for image building. People also observe that public relation leads to develop an illusionary nature which causes accountability problem (Plessis, 2000, p.59). Another major issue in public relation profession is job dissatisfaction due to ethical dilemma or conflict. In many organisations, the public relation professional faces ethical issues as the top managements are not serious about the ethical responsibilities. Lack of corporate standards is one the major issues in this respect. Sometimes, the public relation practitioners who have recognised ethical conflicts were likely to leave their companies because the conflicts affected their mental and even physical well being in the workplace (Kang, 2009). When public relation professionals engage into certain specific task in any specialised organisation, they must have sound knowledge regarding organisations core activities, products, technical know-how etc. The public relation professional has to communicate with target audience on the behalf of their organisation. Lack of such information makes their tasks difficult and misguiding. The organisations often fail to provide proper training to their public relation professional (CERP, n.d.). Reputation Management and PR Strategies In the fast changing environment of business, corporate image is one the major criterion for organisational success. Corporate reputation management primarily focuses on the managing the corporate risk within a business environment. There are a number factors associated with business that drives the reputation of a business organisation. Adam Jolly have identified and characterized six major attributes and drivers of corporate reputation. The flowing model portrays these attributes and drivers. Figure 1: Attributes and Drivers (Source: Jolly and Public Relations Consultants Association, 2001, p.31) The public relation professional must identify and analyse the above stated attributes and driver before drafting and implementing public relation strategy. Watson and Noble have developed specific model for public relation strategy which include four phases. The following table presents these four phases for implementation and formulation public relation strategy. Table 1: Phases of Public Relation Strategy (Source: Watson and Noble, 2007, p.56) The above stated nine steps cover the necessary tasks in public relation strategy formulation. The first phase deals with analysis of various attributes and drivers that affects image of a company. The second phase involves the development of specific goals and objectives followed by formulation of communication focused strategy. In third phase, management must choose proper communicational tactics and implement it within cross functional departments. Final phase involves constant evaluation and control the implemented public relation strategy and if necessary, favourable modification should be executed. For developing a comprehensive public relation strategy, there are a number of different approaches available like one one-way communication, two-way communication etc. However, at present, integrated communication approaches is the most popular and effective for post-modern organisations. Integrated communication approaches consider symmetrical or excellence theory i.e. two-way communication (Grunig, Grunig and Toth, 2007, p.302). Integrated marketing communication should not be confused with integrated marketing communication (IMC) as the former focuses on reputation building through communication and later on marketing communication. Grà ¶nstedt defined that integrated communication is the strategic management process of facilitating a desired meaning of the company and its brand by creating unity of effort at every point of contact with key customers and stakeholders for the purpose of building profitable relation with them (Grà ¶nstedt, 2000, p.8). Conclusion This paper has presented various aspects relating to public relation. Public relation is an emerging field with increasing competitiveness and constant improvements due to technological advancement, globalization and economic enhancements. In the post-modern era, there are certain factors that have influenced the trend of public relation. The social networking sites and social environmental concern are two major trends in public relation practises. Issues relating to ethical conflict and negative public opinions are main hindrances for public relation profession that leads to degrade the public relation practises. However, proper public relation strategy with two-way communicational systems is helpful in resolving the underlying issues. In this respect, integrated communication approach is the best and suitable for planning and executing public relation in post-modern organisation as this approach involves the symmetrical or excellence theory.

Zero Fee Tour-Making an Ethical Decision?

Zero Fee Tour-Making an Ethical Decision? Generally, ethic is similar to moral value that regulates the behavior of people and we use ethic to justify what is right and wrong. Business Ethic is therefore the standard to justify what is good or bad in making a business decision or in running a business (Geer, 1994). Business ethic is relevant to both conducts of individuals and business organizations. Some of the enterprises just simple ignore the business ethics and run the business practically as profit was the sole target for them. Ethical action may not be practical to a business, while practical action may not be ethical to others.It constitutes an ethical dilemma. A manager should therefore strike a balance between â€Å"ethical† and â€Å"practical† before making a decision. In this paper, I will explore approaches to address ethical dilemma and what aspects will be considered before making an ethical business decision. I will use the tourism industry as an exampl e to examine that can an enterprise only focus on business ethic or the profit and whether or not the business ethics are the key element for it to consider before making decision. I will examine both the positive correlation and negative correlation and draw a conclusion at last.We always wonder what are our ethical standards base on and how can we apply those standard to different circumstances. Many ethicists and philosophers have suggested several approaches to address ethical dilemma. The most common three approaches suggested are the utilitarian approach, moral right approach, justice approach (Velasquez, Moberg, Meyer, Shanks, McLean, DeCosse, Andre, Hanson, 2009). Utilitarian approach is to make a decision base on ethical action that can maximize the benefit or minimize the harm for the majority of people. It deals with consequences and emphasizes the result of a decision.According to the definition, ethical business action is an action that benefits the stakeholders, the co mmunity, and the environment most. However, it is difficult to find out what is good due to changing characters and behaviors (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer, 2010) and people may not always have the same view on what is a good and what is harm. The moral right approach is based on human nature that people can decide what they want to do on their own. They have the right of free consent, the right to privacy, the right of freedom of conscience, the right of free speech, the right to due process and the right to life and safety (BrowneM.Neil Browne (Author)†º Visit Amazon's M. Neil Browne PageFind all the books, read about the author, and moreSee search results for this authorAre you an author? Learn about Author Central , Giampetro-Meyer, Williamson,2003). According to this approach, ethical action is the best action to protect and respect the stakeholders’ moral right. Right also imply duty, base on this approach people also have duty to respect others’ rights. However, we cannot ensure that the companies maintain the ethical standards depend on their highest value priority.The justice approach bases on the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle that all equals should be treated equally. According to this approach, the ethical actions treat all people equally or fairly based on a standard which is defensible (Conroy, 2010). Favoritism and discrimination are therefore unjust and wrong. However, this approach may not have adequately accounts for the rights and needs of everyone affected and it is difficult to see if the decision is based on a defensible standard or an imbalance of power (Yuter, 2008).All approaches mentioned above help us to address ethical dilemma and to know what we do can be considered as ethical. Although, it is difficult to putting the approaches together as they explain what is â€Å"ethical† in different ways, they give us some information to determine what is ethical in different circumstance. Th e majority of business decisions contain ethical issues, we only have to decide how to fit the issues into the business actions and weigh how much they should be considered (Cadbury, 2002).We should have the ability to determine ethical issues and then weigh the consideration that should influence our business action in order to make a good decision (Velasquez, Moberg, Meyer, Shanks, McLean, DeCosse, Andre, Hanson, 2009). There are five elements enterprises used to think of before evaluating a decision. They are profit, fairness, reputation, community care and sustainability. Profit generally means economic profit, that is, the difference between the total revenue and the total cost (both explicit and implicit) of an enterprise.As assumed in economics, everyone is self-interested and they tend to maximize their profit to achieve profit maximization. Profit is important in business world, especially in profit-making company as profit and money give motivation for business to survive (Williams, 2010). It therefore is an essential element being considered when making business decision. Fairness and reputation is another two elements. Fairness is the mechanism of how we achieve the ideas of just, equal, good, ethical or moral (Bothamley, 1993).Reputation is the feeling or opinion of other people towards an enterprise. It can be defined as the result of what you do, what you say, and what other people say about you. When a company’s reputation for honesty or safety is damaged, it may cause serious impact on the business (Burkhardt, 2008). Community Care will be considered as an element for making business decision also. Community Care is a firm’s obligation as a moral agent extends beyond its legal and economic obligations, to the pursuit of long-term goals are good for society.Assumed that all businesses obey law and pursue economic interest, community care is done voluntarily, but not what it must do by law or they choose to do because of economic s ense (Besser, 2002). Sustainability is the capacity that an enterprise can endure or survive in the market. It is about the doing business better, working with others and staying in business in long run. The enterprise should use division of labors and resources in order to save money, to communicate to the stakeholders and to gain others’ loyalty in order to be sustainable.Enterprises should consider these five aspects with the approaches mentioned before making business decision. For example, if an enterprise wants to make profit ethically, it should focus more on the fairness when it makes decisions. Take the Hong Kong tourism industry as an example. In March this year, a Hong Kong tour guide of Win’s Travel Agency discontented with the insufficient shopping amount of the tourists. She threatened the mainland tourists that if they did not go shopping, she would not let them to eat and did not provide hotel to them for accommodation. She used unethical method to forc e tourist to shop in order to earn more.A tourist recorded what she said and has spread the video online, which seriously influence the tourism image of Hong Kong (Sina, 2010). The cause of this case is the introduction of zero-fee tour. Zero-fee tour was introduced during 2003 the SARS period in Hong Kong. It is tour which charges tourists less than the basic cost of airline tickets, accommodation and attraction tickets. As this kind of tour is charged under-cost, the travel agencies can only earn a profit by receiving commission and tipping from shops (Lu, 2006). According to Wong (2010), we can examine the business ethical problems in two ways.In the view of the travel agency, that is the enterprise, they have to transfer the costs to the service providers in order to save costs of the company as the tour is charged under-cost. The travel agencies therefore do not give basic salaries to the tour guides, and force them to push shopping in order to earn commissions from different s hops. Also, some of the travel agencies may require the tour guides to pay in some cost component in advance and delay the repayment to the guides. In the view of tour guides, they don’t receive any salaries in zero-fee tours.They will earn nothing if the tourists do not shop therefore they tend to force or even threaten tourists to buy in order to earn shopping commissions and tipping. This damages the tourism image of Hong Kong seriously. Using utilitarian approach, the business action should be base on ethical action that can maximize the benefit or minimize the harm for the majority of people. According to Velasquez, Andre, Shanks and Meyer (2010), to use utilitarian approach we should first determine the course of the business action and then find the benefits and harms of taking the action for all stakeholders.In this case, only Win’s Travel Agency gains benefit. The tour guide has no salary in serving a zero-fee zero, she did not earn much benefit and had to for ce the tourists to shop. The business action harmed the tourists, as they were treated badly by the tour guide and are forced to shop. The tourists also had to buy things in unreasonable price as the shops marked up the price of their products in order to pay for the shopping commissions. Also, the action harmed the image of Hong Kong tourism. The action is not ethical as the courses of it cannot maximize the benefit or minimize the harm for the majority of people.By using moral right approach, we should first indicate what rights are involved in a specific case, and then see if the business action conflicts with the rights (Hamilton, 2009). In this case, the tourists had the right of freedom; they can refuse to shop if they do not want to. The tour guide’s action was unethical as she threatened the tourists and forced them to shop in order to fulfill the shopping amount. Also, the tour guide’s action conflict the tourists’ right to life and safety as she threat ened them that they would not be provided a place for accommodation.We should know the distribution first when using justice approach. We have to know who gain benefits and who suffer from losses, and then see if the distribution of the business action is fair (Hamilton, 2009). According to this case, Win’s Travel Agency gained benefits as it have saved costs and the tour guide suffered from losses as she did not earn any salary. It is unethical that the enterprise did not provide the tour guide with basic salary. The tour guide really provided service for the company, and it was not fair for her to receive no pay while other guides not serving zero-fee tour received salaries.Also, it is unfair that those tourists who bought few products were treated badly as all tourists joined the same tour and they had not required to shop when they joined the tour. Now, I would examine why Win’s Travel Agency made the decision to provide this kind of tour according to the five aspe cts mentioned. Firstly, the enterprise mainly focused on profit. Providing this kind of tour, the enterprise need not to pay salaries to the tour guides and it can receive a great deal of commission from shops as most tourists from mainland spend a lot in shopping.Also providing zero-fee tour attracts a great deal of people from mainland to visit Hong Kong, the volume of sales of the enterprise would therefore increase (TICHK, 2009). The enterprise considered less in fairness and reputation. It did not pay the tour guide any salary except the shopping commission although the tour guide deserved to get salary after providing service. It is unfair that the enterprise did this action. As the tour guide was not paid, she treated the tourists badly, this not only damaged the reputation of the enterprise but also that of Hong Kong tourism.In sustainability, the enterprise can use division labors and resources to save costs. However, it communicated to the stakeholders unsatisfactorily as it did not know what the tour guide and the tourists needed. Also, it cannot gain others’ loyalty in order to be sustainable. Finally, in community care, the enterprise did less beyond its legal and economic obligations. Other than increased the sales figure in the tourism industry, it did less that benefited the society. Win’s Travel Agency therefore made decision mainly based on profit rather than business ethics.In conclusion, different businesses would make decisions base on different aspects. They should use the utilitarian approach, moral right approach and justice approach to address ethical issues before evaluating a decision base on the five elements. According to the case above, purely base on making profit practically does not really bring much benefit to an enterprise. Enterprises should therefore strike a balance between practically making profit and the business ethics. It is very important for enterprise to consider ethical issues before making decisions as it is unavoidable. Reference Andre . C, Velasquez .M, Moberg . D, Meyer . M. J, Shanks . T (2010), Calculating Consequences:The Utilitarian Approach to Ethics Andre . C, Velasquez . M, Moberg . D, Meyer . M. J, Shanks . T, McLean . M. R, DeCosse . D, Hanson . K. O (2009), A Framework for Thinking Ethically Besser T. L (2002), The Conscience of Capitalism: Business Social Responsibility to Communities Bothamley . J (1993), â€Å"Dictionary of Theories,† London:Gale Research International Browne . M. N, Meyer . A. G . , Williamson. C (2003), Practical Business Ethics for the Busy Manager Burkhardt . R (2008), Reputation Management in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Cadbury .A (2002), Case Histories in Business Ethics, Conroy . M (2010), An ethical approach to leading change : an alternative and sustainable application Geer . H. D. (1994), Business Ethics in Progress Hamilton J,B (2009), How to Use the Justice Test Hamilton J,B (2009), How to Use the Rights Test TICHK (20 09), Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong Lu . J (2006), ‘Zero-fee' practice damages travel industry Sina (2010), News on Sina. com Williams . W. E (2010), Profit versus Nonprofit Wong . W (2010), Chairman of Hong Kong Association of Registered Tour Co-ordinators, News Yuter R. J (2008), A Fair and Balanced Approach to Social Justice

Dramatically changes Essay

As the play progresses, Prospero dramatically changes. In Act 1 Scene 2, Shakespeare presents Prospero as a powerful, calculating and commanding character. Also in Act 1 Scene 2, he manipulates and controls Ariel. However, in Act 5 Scene 1 he changes dramatically. Whilst he remains powerful and commanding, us as the audience get a completely different impression of him from the way he acts and by the tone of his voice. We begin to see a more merciful, forgiving character. In Act 1 Scene 2, Prospero is full of vengeance. We know this because he creates the tempest as part of his revenge, â€Å"the tempest that I bade thee†. The audience get the impression that he is an evil and tyrannical individual. It also evokes sympathy from the audience for the ones he is attempting to get revenge from. Whereas in Act 5 Scene 1, Prospero is willing to reconcile. We see an example of this when he tells Sebastian and Antonio that he will not tell Alonso about their treason plot, â€Å"I will tell no tales†. This shows the audience that Prospero really does want to sincerely reconcile and that he can be compassionate. This is done in an aside; therefore only the audience, Prospero, Sebastian and Antonio hear this. This excites and involves the audience; enhancing the performance. Throughout the play Prospero’s relationship with Ariel varies from Act 1 Scene 2 to Act 5 Scene 1. In Act 1 Scene 2, Prospero uses harsh tone of voice and imperative verbs to manipulate Ariel. Frequently through out the scene Prospero uses one-word commands when speaking to Ariel, â€Å"Speak. Tell me! †¦ Go! †¦ Hence†. This shows the audience that Prospero is in command and also shows that Ariel is subservient to Prospero. But in Act 5 Scene 1, Prospero uses a softer tone and a more gentle voice. He still uses imperative verbs, but in this scene, he doesn’t use them to manipulate Ariel. For example when he commands Ariel to do something, â€Å"Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell†. This shows the audience that he is still being commanding but by not using a harsh tone he makes Ariel feel as though he is no longer compelled to carry out Prospero’s orders but he now has a choice. Also, in Act 1 Scene 2 Prospero just utilizes Ariel to gain revenge over his usurpers. In this scene, Shakespeare uses uncompassionate phrases to show that Prospero cares only about his revenge and not what Ariel is feeling or thinking; â€Å"Is there more toil? † (Ariel), â€Å"there’s more work† (Prospero). This evokes the audience to think that Prospero is completely selfish and heartless. However in Act 5 Scene 1, Prospero starts to value and heed Ariel’s opinions. There is an example of this when Ariel tells Prospero how guilty and sorry his usurpers feel. He tells Prospero that he would feel sorry for them if he were human. Prospero shows he values Ariel’s opinions, â€Å"Dost thou think so, spirit? â€Å". This demonstrates to the audience that Prospero has changed significantly and that he is a more compassionate and loving character.

Sparta A Military City-State

The same goes for the Spartans. One-against-one, they are as good as anyone in the world. But when they fight in a body, they are the best of all. For though they are free men, they are not entirely free. They accept Law as their master. And they respect this master more than your subjects respect you. Whatever he commands, they do. And his command never changes: It forbids them to flee in battle, whatever the number of their foes. He requires them to stand firm -- to conquer or die. - From Herodotus dialogue between Demaratos and Xerxes In the eighth century B.C., Sparta needed more fertile land to support a booming population, so it decided to take over and use the fertile land of its neighbors, the Messenians. Inevitably, the result was war. The First Messenian War was fought between 700-680 or 690-670 B.C. At the end of twenty years of fighting, the Messenians lost their freedom and became agricultural laborers for the victorious Spartans. From then on the Messenians were known as helots. Sparta: The Late Archaic City-State Helots of Messenia From Perseus Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Homer to Alexander The Spartans took the rich land of their neighbors and made them helots, forced laborers. The helots were always looking for an opportunity to revolt and did in time revolt, but the Spartans won despite an overwhelming shortage of population. Eventually, the serf-like helots rebelled against their Spartan overlords, but by then the population problem in Sparta had been reversed. By the time Sparta won the Second Messenian War (c. 640 B.C.), helots outnumbered Spartans by possibly as much as ten to one. Since the Spartans still wanted helots to do their work for them, the Spartan overlords had to devise a method of keeping them in check. The Military State Education In Sparta, boys left their mothers at age 7 to live in barracks with other Spartan boys, for the next 13 years. They were under constant surveillance: In order that the boys might never lack a ruler even when the Warden was away, he gave authority to any citizen who chanced to be present to require them to do anything that he thought right, and to punish them for any misconduct. This had the effect of making the boys more respectful; in fact boys and men alike respect their rulers above everything. [2.11] And that a ruler might not be lacking to the boys even when no grown man happened to be present, he selected the keenest of the prefects, and gave to each the command of a division. And so at Sparta the boys are never without a ruler.- From Xenophon Constitution of the Lacedaimonians 2.1 The state-controlled education [agoge] in Sparta was designed not to instill literacy, but fitness, obedience, and courage. Boys were taught survival skills, encouraged to steal what they needed without getting caught, and, under certain circumstances, to murder helots. At birth, unfit boys would be killed. The weak continued to be weeded out, those who survived would know how to cope with inadequate food and clothing: After they were twelve years old, they were no longer allowed to wear any undergarments, they had one coat to serve them a year; their bodies were hard and dry, with but little acquaintance of baths and unguents; these human indulgences they were allowed only on some few particular days in the year. They lodged together in little bands upon beds made of the rushes which grew by the banks of the river Eurotas, which they were to break off with their hands with a knife; if it were winter, they mingled some thistle-down with their rushes, which it was thought had the property of giving warmth.- Plutarch Separation from the family continued throughout their lives. As adults, men did not live with their wives but ate at common mess halls with the other men of the syssitia. Marriage meant little more than clandestine dalliances. Even women werent held to fidelity. Spartan men were expected to contribute a prescribed share of the provisions. If they failed, they were expelled from the syssitia and lost some of their Spartan citizenship rights. Lycurgus: Obedience From Xenophon Constitution of the Lacedaimonians 2.1[2.2] Lycurgus, on the contrary, instead of leaving each father to appoint a slave to act as tutor, gave the duty of controlling the boys to a member of the class from which the highest offices are filled, in fact to the Warden as he is called. He gave this person authority to gather the boys together, to take charge of them and to punish them severely in case of misconduct. He also assigned to him a staff of youths provided with whips to chastise them when necessary; and the result is that modesty and obedience are inseparable companions at Sparta. 11th Brittanica - Sparta Spartans were essentially soldiers trained from age seven by the state in physical exercises, including dancing, gymnastics, and ballgames. The young were supervised by a  paidonomos. At twenty the young Spartan could join the military and the social or dining clubs known as  syssitia. At 30, if he were a Spartiate by birth, had received the training and was a member of the clubs, he could enjoy full citizenship rights. The Social Function of the Spartan Syssitia From  Ancient History Bulletin. Authors Cà ©sar Fornis and Juan-Miguel Casillas doubt that helots and foreigners were allowed to attend this dining club institution among the Spartans because what transpired over the meals  was  meant to be kept secret. In time, however, helots may have been admitted, possibly in a servile capacity, to illustrate the folly of excess drinking. Richer Spartiates could contribute more than was required of them, especially a dessert at which time the benefactors name would be announced. Those who couldnt afford to provide even what they were required would lose prestige and be turned into  second-class  citizens [hypomeia], not substantially better off than those other disgraced citizens who had lost their status through cowardice or disobedience [tresantes].