The Murder Of Duncan Philosophy Essay

The Murder Of Duncan Philosophy Essay There is no doubt that Shakespeare was a masterful and clever play writer as well as a great story teller. In Macbeth, two major events were never shown on stage the murder of Duncan and the crowning of Macbeth. Shakespeare may have several reasons for excluding these events from the play. One of these was possibly to keep the play politically correct he did not want to show how easy it was to kill a monarch since this may have ended up landing the play into the horns of controversy.His motive for keeping both these scenes offstage was also to create drama and add suspense to the play. Hence, instead of the scene of the murder, Shakespeare, who had a cunning eye for the dramatic, created drama and suspenseby narrating the events unfolding off the stage to his audience on both occasions.Part of being a good writer is to know what (or how much) to tell the audience and what to leave to their imagination. Hence, I am satisfied that the two major events were kept offstage as I was able to use my imagination to create my own images of how they may have taken place. 2. Explain the irony of Macbeths seeming indifference to Fleance. Is he really unconcerned with whether Fleance dies or not? Explain. It would be wrong to assume that Macbeth is indifferent to whether Fleance dies or not. When Macbeth learns that Banquo is travelling to attend a feast, he promptly asks him if Fleance will be accompanying him. Shortly afterwards, Macbeth sends his servant to summon two murderers whom he sets loose on the tail of Banquo and Fleance. This clearly shows that Macbeth wants Fleance dead too. Moreover, in Act 3 Scene 2, Macbeth makes several quotes that suggest that although Duncan has been killed, someone who may perhaps be a greater threat one day still lives. For example, Macbeth says,We have scorched the snake, not killed it (3.2.15). These lines reveal Macbeths fears that someone (most likely Fleance) would try to kill him when he has grown into a man. 3. Do you feel any sympathy at all for Lady Macbeth as she talks about her doubtful joy in scene 2? Explain. Yes. I feel sympathy and pity for Lady Macbeth. This is because she has an inferiority complex which feeds her greed to rise to a higher status. Hence, she chooses the wrong means to reach her goal and this has adverse consequences for her. Although Lady Macbeth was doing everything for her husband and herself, neither of them is glad that Duncan is dead. The murder of Duncan has not brought her the expected joy and Macbeth grows more and more distant from his wife a thought that is killing Lady Macbeth from inside. Hence, I sympathize with her. 4. Quote and explain a line in this scene which helps develop the theme of sleeplessness. Methought I heard a voice cry sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the ravelledsleave of care. Act 2 Scene 2. This line aptly portrays the dilemma that Macbeth is in. In this line, Macbeth is talking to his wife about how he heard a sound in his head that instructed him to sleep no more. This sound resonates in Macbeths mind along with the disturbing images of all the people whom he has cruelly disposed of. To the misfortune of Macbeth, when he betrayed Duncan by getting him killed, he unknowingly also killed his own sleep and rest by branding himself as depraved and evil. As a result, he has not been able to sleep at all and has spent sleepless nights. Hence, this line clearly portrays the theme of sleeplessness. The theme of sleeplessness depicts two ideas in the play -guilt and fear. 5. What mood is created in this scene with all Macbeths talk of snakes, scorpions, etc.? In many cultures and traditions, snakes and scorpions are looked upon as vile and evil creatures. It is interesting to note that Macbeth talks about snakes and scorpions in this scene. The term snake is a reference to Duncan whom, no doubt he sees as his nemesis, particularly since he wants to usurp his throne. And, when Macbeth says, O, full of scorpions is my mindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (3.2.36), this could imply that his idle mind is full of evil and venomous plots to murder all those who are a threat to him and his plans. However, the word scorpion may also depict treachery and betrayal, an allusion to Macbeths own deadly thoughts which are plotting venomous and murderous plots. Hence, the line could be Macbeths confession where he thinks of himself as a backstabber who has betrayed the one person who was kind and affectionate towards him. 6. Explain what Macbeth means when he says, Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill (3.2.56). Be explicit as you explain what Macbeth means/plans, and comment on the chaos of a world where this statement could seem true. When Macbeth makes this statement, the murder of Banquo and Fleance is on his mind. Therefore, the statement indicates that Macbeth is brooding over the fact that he is delving deeper and deeper into the quagmire by ordering more and more innocent deaths. Macbeth sees these deaths as a necessity in order to achieve his ultimate agenda of usurping the throne and knows that he cannot possibly stop now that he has set upon this treacherous path. The chain of events that he has started by ordering the death of Duncan seems impossible for him to stop now that so many murders have already been committed. Hence, he suggests that the immoral acts that he has committed are themselves encouraging him to do more evil acts. Apart from this, the quote has great significance in the play since, in it, Macbeth is almost making a guilty confession in front of the audience as he reveals that he is conscious of the fact that he has acted in a depraved and immoral way by murdering Duncan. 7. There is quite a bit of literary debate about the identity of the Third Murderer in scene 3. While the question is not clearly answered in the play, who do you think the Third Murderer might be? Explain. Lady Macbeth was indeed a shrewd and ambitious lady who would go to any lengths to help her husband in becoming king. This is evident in the play on various instances. Hence, I strongly suspect that it was Lady Macbeth herself who was disguised as the third murderer. However, this immediately raises the question regarding how she learned of Macbeths plan to kill Banquo and Fleance. In act 3 scene 2, Macbeth mentions to Lady Macbeth that there shall be a deed of dreadful note before the night is done, quickly adding that she had better not know of the deed until it is completed.This may have aroused suspicion in the mind of Lady Macbeth and sparked her curiosity to learn what it is that Macbeth has planned to do. Hence, she may have dressed up as the third murderer in order to figure out what Macbeth was up to. 8. In scene 2, Macbeth lets the murderers think that Fleances murder is an afterthought, just to make things clean and tidy. Do you think the First and Second Murderers would have acted differently inscene 3 if Macbeth had told them how crucial Fleances death is to him? Explain. I believe that Macbeth should have communicated to the two murderers how important it was for him that they also kill Fleance along with Banquo. The fact that he mentions Fleances name among the targets as a mere afterthought may have indubitably given the murderers the strong impression that the boys death was of little consequence to the agenda that Macbeth was pursuing. In fact, th two murderers may have gotten the impression that Macbeth simply mentioned Fleances to emphasize that they do not leave any clues or eyewitnesses behind. As a result, the murderers were little concerned about Fleance becoming an eyewitness nice they were cloaked, meaning that their identities were never revealed. Had Macbeth clearly instructed the two murderers to dispose of Fleance too and emphasized how important Fleances death was for him, they would certainly have acted in a much different manner then they did. 9. Do you think Lady Macbeth would have acted sooner to cover Macbethssuspicious comments at the banquet table if shed known of Macbeths plan tokill Banquo?Do you think Macbeth made the right choice in not telling her? Lady Macbeth was inarguably the closest most loyal and sincere persons that Macbeth knew. Hence, if she had known about Macbeths plans to murder Banquo, she would not have been taken aback by the sudden outburst by Macbeth at the dinner table. Instead, she would have acted in time to avoid the confusion that he caused, possibly preventing the Thanes from suspecting that Macbeth had a hand to play in the murder of Banquo. I believe that Macbeth acted foolishly by not sharing his plans to murder Banquo. However, this was part of Macbeths transformation as he was becoming increasingly paranoid and was hence, hesitant to trust even Lady Macbeth. 10. How do you think the Thanes around the table are feeling after Macbethsoutburst and Lady Macbeths hasty dismissal of them? Macbeths angry tirade at the dining table certainly does well to alarm the Thanes and arouse suspicion in them regarding the sudden and unexpected murder of Banquo. Macbeth starts shoutingat the empty chair since he perceives that Banquos ghost is occupying it. This sudden and uncontrolled outburst from Macbeth raises suspicions in the minds of the Thanes as to the character of Macbeth so that they start to get the strong impression that he is a tyrant who has used despicable means in order to further his agenda to usurp the throne. 11. What does Macbeth mean when he says, Theres not a one of them but inhis house/ I keep a servant feed (3.4.132-33)? In this statement, Macbeth is merely suggesting to his wife that he does not trust anyone and that none of his people are loyal to him. In this statement, he implies that all he has had to buy the loyalty of servants in all the major households in Scotland by paying them a fee. 12. Carefully read the second half of Hecates speech. As specifically as possible,explain what Hecate plans to do as she plays on Macbeths desire to besafely on the throne. Shakespeare has strongly indicated that the weird sisters in the play are the Sisters of Fate. Therefore, the fact that Macbeth meddled with the affairs of Fate herself by murdering Banquo before his death was due and trying to kill Fleance has upset Hecate. Hecate accuses Macbeth of interfering with fate in order to meet his own despicable ends. Hence, he orders the three weird sisters to tell Macbeth half-truths in order to make him overconfident while keeping the details from him. This is their way of getting back at Macbeth for meddling with their affairs.In the second half of her speech, Hecate describes how she will plot a fatal and hopeless end to Macbeths story. She chooses the power of illusions and magic to manipulate Macbeth so that he believes that he shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear/he hopes bove wisdom, grace and fear. Hecate plans to achieve her goal by giving Macbeth a false sense of security by convincing him that he will not die at the hand of a mortal man wh o has been born of a womans womb. 13. Describe the tone of the discussion between Lennox and the Lord.Do you think as a reader/audience member, you are properly preparedfor this absolute change in the opinions of Macbeths Thanes? Explain. The change in the view and opinions of Macbeths Thanes regarding Macbeth is very sudden. However, this change is not completely unexpected. Macbeths outburstat the feast is one of the major blunders that he makes throughout the play as it plants the seed of doubt in the minds of the Thanes.At first, the Thanes only suspect Macbeth of killing Banquo. However, soon they are convinced that he had a hand to play in the murder of Duncan as well. Their suspicions are confirmed when they realize how brutally and heartlessly Macbeth murdered the two guards who were positioned at the entrance of Duncans chambers to provide security. To be honest, I was prepared for this sudden change in opinion. 14. It is a common Elizabethan notion that when there is corruption in the royalfamily, this corruption trickles down to every aspect of the kingdom. Thenatural world, the Kings subjects, even the economy can fall apart as aresult of the Kings wrongdoings. Quote at least three examples the speakers in scene 6 give of the negative impact of Macbeths leadership on the rest of Scotland. we may again/Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights/Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives/Do faithful homage and receive free honors (3.6.33-36) a swift blessing/May soon return to this our suffering country/Under a hand accursed! (3.6.48-50) That, by the help of thesewith Him above/To ratify the work (3.6.32) Act 4 -Questions 1. Are you surprised that Macbeth plays so willingly into the hands of the witches? Shouldnt he have learned his lesson by now? Explain your answer. It is surprising to see that Macbeth falls into the deceitful web of the weird sisters yet again and believes their prophecies, even after going through such an ordeal with the previous prophecies. However, it should be remembered that Macbeth is not himself at the start of Act 4 as he has radically transformed into a heartless and cold-blooded monster who is so drunk on power that he would do anything to meet his goal.The fulfillment of the three prophecies one by one also encourages Macbeth to believe that he is the one who has been chosen by fate to lead the kingdom. Hence, it is nearly impossible for Macbeth to learn his lesson since the prophecies convince him that he has divine authority to rule the kingdom. 2. Do you have any sympathy for Macbeth in Act 4, scene 1? As an audience, I certainly feel sympathy for Macbeth at the start of act 4. This is Macbeth is shown as a man who is no longer in his senses and is completely drunk on his ambition to acquire more power. He is completely trapped by the temptations of evil both outside and inside him.Macbeths state evokes sympathy also because he is portrayed as a man who is being so easily duped and manipulated by the weird sisters. Also, Macbeth literally pleads to young Siward not to provoke him to fight with him. In this particular scene, he confesses to him that his is a soul condemned to hell and that he does not want another shred of guilt on his conscience. This is Macbeths conscience speaking and this convinces the audience that there is indeed a soul inside Macbeth. 3. Imagine you are directing this scene. How would you: design the set dress Lady Macduff and her son direct the characters to act etc. To maximize the sense of innocence i.e. the more innocent Lady Macduff and her son seem to the audience, the crueler their murders seem, and the more wicked Macbeth will look. To add to the drama, I would design the set to show the bedroom of Macduffs son where Lady Macduff is tucking her son in bed. Since they are both retiring to bed, they are wearing their nightgowns, and the room is dimly lit. There is only one candle placed beside the bed that illuminates the room and casts shadows in the far corners of the huge chamber. From one of these dark corners suddenly springs the murderer as he moves swiftly and stealthily towards the targets, plunging the dagger into the bosom of Lady Macduff, narrowly missing her heart but fatally wounding her nonetheless.Lady Macduff falls on to the bed, holding her terrified son tightly in her hands and frantically begging the killers to spare her son. In one swipe of the dagger, the killer stabs the child in the neck, killing him instantly. The killer then advances towards the horrified Lady Macduff to finish the job. 4. In Act 3, Macbeth begins to act without the counsel of Lady Macbeth. Here in Act 4, after the apparitions are presented to him, he begins to act impulsively, seeming not to consult his own reason. His order to murder Macduffs family is the first impulsive act he takes. Do you think that if hed stopped and really considered possible outcomes that he would have decided against this action or do you think that he would have killed Macduffs family anyway? Explain. The state of mind that Macbeth was in was highly unstable and there was little chance that the murder of the Macduffs would have been prevented if Macbeth had stopped to consider the possible outcomes of such a crime. Although Macbeth acts impulsively, it is clear that he is growing increasingly paranoid and is losing his trust in everyone around him. Indeed, it was paranoia and insecurity that motivated Macbeth to murder his good friend Banquo and his son Fleance. Therefore, the murder of the Macduffs would have been of little consequence to Macbeth so that he was not inclined to give it much thought. Hence, even if he had considered all possible outcomes of slaughtering the Macduffs, there is little likelihood that he would have stopped from carrying out his despicable plan. 5. Just after Macduff hears his family has been murdered he says, And I must be from thence! (4.3.212) Explain Macduffs priorities, i.e. which is more important to him, country or family? Are you bothered by Macduffs priorities? Do they make you feel differently about Macduff? When Rossebrings word that the entire family of Macduff has been brutally slaughtered by Macbeth, Macduffs reaction is impulsive. Such a reaction from Macduff does not bother me as an audience since it was emotional, personal, and very much human. The first thought that comes to Macduffs mind is that of going to his family and grieving over their dead bodies. However, it is only upon the insistence of Malcolm that he decides to accompany them in the destruction of Macbeth. This shows that,for a man of his position, his first priority was his family rather than his country. Moreover, when he does decide to accompany the others in their march towards Macbeths downfall, it is because he is filled with uncontrollable rage and vengeance as he wants to slay Macbeth with his own blade. Act 5 -Questions 1. Aside from the obvious manifestations of Lady Macbeths guilty conscience in Act 5, scene 1, quote another piece of evidence, discussed early in the scene, that reveals Lady Macbeths mind is never at ease. The other piece of evidence, apart from the obvious manifestations of Lady Macbeths guilty conscience, in Act 5, scene 1, revealing that her mind is never at ease is discussed earlier in the scene when the Gentlewoman is informing the Doctor of Lady Macbeths habit of walking in her sleep: Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from bed, throw her night-gown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upont, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep. (5.1.3-7). It is being discussed further when the Doctor asks the Gentlewoman if she has heard Lady Macbeth speak or say anything in her sleep; when the Gentlewoman refuses to share annotations: In this slumber agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?; That, sir, which I will not report after her.; You may to me, and tis most meet you should.; Neither to you not any one, having no witne ss to confirm my speech. (5.1.9-15) 2. Is the murder of Duncan the only death that troubles Lady Macbeth? Answer specifically with direct quotations from the text. The murder of Duncan is not the only death that troubles Lady Macbeth, and this is revealed when, in her sleep, Lady Macbeth refers to Banquo being buried and not returning from his grave: Wash your hands, put on your night-gown, look not so pale: I tell you, Banquos buried; he cannot come out ons grave. (5.1.54-56) 3. Are you satisfied that Lady Macbeth is revealed in this state at the beginning of Act 5, or do you think that she should have had more scenes through the middle of the play? Explain your answer. Given the vile rumors already surrounding the death of Duncan and Banquo, Lady Macbeth indeed is, to a great extent, revealed in the state that she is in at the beginning of Act 5. Her constant attempts on trying to get rid of the imaginary blood stains on her hand go to show that she surely had someones blood on her hands: Yet heres a spot! (5.1.26); Out, damned spot! Out, I say! (5.1.29); [Rubbing her hands] What, will these hands never be clean? (5.1.38); [Her hand to her nose] The smell of the blood is still there. All the perfumes of Arabia cannot sweeten this little hand. [She sighs deeply] Oh, oh, oh! (5.1.44-46). All of this, compounded by the fact that Duncan died at her residence as her guest, and that she mentions Banquos name as well: I tell you again, Banquos buried; he cannot come out ons grave. (5.1.55-56), leads to the most obvious conclusion, i.e. she played a pivotal role in arranging the murder of Duncan and Banquo. 4. What does the Doctor mean when he says of Lady Macbeth, Therein the patient/ Must minister to himself (5.3.45-46)? The doctor, here, is trying to explain to Macbeth as to why he cannot cure Lady Macbeth. He realizes that there are things within her conscience that have to be worked out, specifically her guilt on what has transpired in the past. He realizes that cure to her present ailment does not lie within an earthly medicine, and that the only way to cure her is for her to come to terms with her own demons that haunt her still. 5. Describe Macbeths state of mind in scene 3. Macbeths state of mind in the third scene of Act 5 strongly suggests how delusional and anxious he has become under the influence of the prophecies of the weird sisters. Rather than fearing the oncoming army that is headed towards his castle to bring him down and most probably kill him, he takes the prophecy in its literal sense, rejoicing over the false notion that he is invincible. This sense of being invulnerable has been evoked in him by the weird sisters who prophecy that unless BirnamWood itself marches towards him, Macbeth will not die. The weird sisters also prophecy that the one who will slay Macbeth will not be born of woman born. Since all men are born of woman and trees dont march, these prophecies give Macbeth a false sense of security by making him believe that neither man nor man-forged weapon can slay him. 6. In his grief for Lady Macbeth, Macbeth reminds us for a moment of Macduff. Compare and contrast the emotions and reactions of both men as they learn of their wives deaths. Are there other clear examples of ways in which Macduff and Macbeth are parallel characters? (i.e. emotions, relationships,situations, etc.) Explain. The characters Malcolm and Macbeth are polar opposites and the deaths of their wives evoke different reactions in both the men. Where Malcolm is devastated as well as enraged by the murder of his family, Macbeth seems to be indifferent. He has become so cold and heartless after committing the terrible actions that he cannot even react properly to the death of his dear wife. Rather than grieving his wifes death, Macbeth talks about the evanescence of life, explaining how Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow /Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, and that life is a tale / told by an idiot, full of sound andfury, / signifying nothing (5.5.18-27). This is in stark contrast to the reaction of Malcolm towards the murder of his wife and son. 7. How does Lady Macbeth die? Quote and cite lines from the end of the actto support your response. According to the play, Lady Macbeth was suffering from a serious mental illness in the days before her death. Although the illness was not clearly specified in the play, it was probably aggravated by fear, guilt and depression that affected the mental condition of the lady. In the end, Lady Macbeth is thought to have committed suicide, possibly to repent for her foul deeds or simply to seek an end to her agonizing state. This is implied by Malcolms speech in the final play when he says,Who, as tis thought, by self and violent hands/Took off her life (5.8.71-72) Essay Section Outline Macbeth, a nobleman of good character and virtue,was driven towards evil. The failure of the Thanes to realize that Duncans death could be an assassination played a pivotal role in strengthening Macbeths ambitions. Macbeths devious and manipulative wife was evil and she had a major hand in leading her husband down the path to damnation Essay (Approximately 600 words) It is indeed more surprising that there is as much good in the world than evil. It is interesting to note that Macbeth was initially portrayed as a nobleman man of good virtue and unquestionable loyalty to his king. These qualities were what earned him the title Thane of Cawdor. However, in spite of so much good in the world, the desire and the tendency of man to do evil is innate as well as incorrigible. Although he had the favor of the king at his hand, Macbeth was influenced by the lust for more power and the greed to achieve his political ambitions. There is no denying the fact that this lust for power and might was implanted in his mind by Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth played a major role in leading Macbeth towards the dark path. She coerced him by attacking his manhood, saying: And shalt be, What thou art promisd: yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full of  the milk of human kindness, To catch the nearest way. . . . (1.5.11-14) Even then, Macbeth is reluctant to spill blood in order to meet his goal. This is clear when he exclaims upon hearing the prophecy, If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. (1.3.143-145) However, Lady Macbeth is persistent and relentless in her persuasion and, in the end, Macbeth finally succumbs to the pressure. This newly found ambition for more power corrupts Macbeths thoughts and blinds him so that he is unable to realize what repercussions they will have for him. With a little coercion from his devious and manipulative wife, Macbeth has he set out on the path that would ultimately turn him into a monster, permanently. Ironically, when Lady Macbeth teriwes to convince him later that he can make amends, Macbeth says, I am in blood Steppd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go oer (3.5.136-137) This line has great significance in the play since it signifies how Macbeth acknowledges that he has committed such heinous crimes that he cannot possibly turn back and repent for his wrongdoings. It is surprising that even with all the good in the world, and the noblemen who could have stopped Macbeth from following this treacherous and evil path, fate played what she had planned and none of the good men were able to stop him. Evil triumphs when good men fail to act. This is the predicament that has been presented so masterfully in the play Macbeth. It is not because Macbeth was so intent on committing evil acts that he was able to achieve so much through careful conspiring and plotting and was even able to manipulate those who were noble. Macbeths plans bore fruit because Macduff, Malcolm, Banquo and Lennox were not willing to consider the possibilities that the king was assassinated by someone within their own ranks. After all, what motive would two guards possibly have for killing the king? Therefore, it was the failure of good men to act that played an equally destructive role in the unfolding of the events. For example, Macbeths murder of the two guards who were stationed outside Duncans chamber may have alarmed Macduff and the others. All the events that unfold systematically throughout the play should have been averted since Macbeth had so many good men around him. And yet, he was almost successful in his plans. This reflects the truth in the above-mentioned statement that it is more surprising that there is as much good in the world as evil. This is because even in the presence of good, evil has her own way of manipulating the weak.

Philippine Canning Corporation Case Essay

I. Issues that Azucena Inalis must take into consideration. There seems to be two major issues that PCC must tackle in its ‘corned beef venture’; 1) where should PCC get its raw materials? (beef) and 2) Where does PCC source its debt? When it comes to the outsourcing of beef, PCC is considering Argentina, Australia, and/ or India. There are a number of concerns that must be addressed when it comes to importing raw materials from any one of these countries: 1) Political and Legal Considerations 2) Economic Performance and Management 3) Government Protectionist Policies The matter of sourcing debt is relatively simple because there are only two options being deliberated; 1) Denomination in Philippine Pesos, or 2) denomination in US Dollars. II. Evaluating the Issues 1) Political and Legal Considerations Argentina is widely considered to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Argentina scored 35/100 on the Transparency International rating as of 2011. 0/100 would be extremely corrupt while 100/100 would be clean. Crime rates as well as poverty are known issues. There is high risk as far as the political considerations in Argentina are concerned. India scored 36/100 on the Transparency International rating as of 2011. 0/100 would be extremely corrupt while 100/100 would be clean. Australia is would be considered in a low risk bracket, there is a strong legal system in operation and there is high confidence in government Australia scored 85/100 and they are well recognized for their efforts to stymy and eventually eradicate corruption and poverty altogether. 2) Economic Performance and Management Taken from Teadingeconomics.com(2013) | Instituto Nacional de Stadista ^ The latest reported inflation rate for Argentina is 10.5% for this month. It has been steadily decreasing from a high of 11.1% in early February  (Instituto Nacional de Estadista, 2013) but it has been forecasted to increase to 10.8% by mid-October. Taken from Tradingeconomics.com(2013) | Ministry of Comerce and Industry ^ India’s latest reported inflation rate is 4.86%. It has also been decreasing but in a more rapid rate compared to Argentina. From 10% in late 2011 to a sudden drop to7-8% in early 2012, and a gradual decrease to 6.68-7.5% in late 2012 and early 2013. Taken from Tradingeconomics.com | Australian Burau of Statistics ^ Inflation in Australia From 2010-2012, Australias inflation has been in the 2.1% (low) to 3.6% (high) region. Inflation went as low as 1.2% in the mid-2012, and gradually increased back to 2.5% through late 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. In the second quarter of 2013 however, inflation is back down to 2.4%. As far as inflation is concerned, the Australian economy is outperforming both Argentina and India by the proverbial mile. Let’s take a look at economic management. Indian Central Bank Base Interest Rates (Historical) Retrieved from Global-rates.com (2013) The current base interest rate is 7.25%. It has fluctuated in recent years from 5% in 2010 to 8.5% in early 2012- probably to control inflation; it was during this period that India’s inflation rate suddenly dropped frombeen on the decline from a high 8.5% in early 2012. This may be an explanation as to why India’s inflation dropped from 10% to 7+%. Retrieved from: Tradingeconomics.com (2013) 11.38 is the current base interest rate for Argentina. It has been moving in the 9-12% range since early 2012 3) Government Protectionist Policies REFERENCES Transparency International (2013) The Global Coalition Against Corruption; Corruption by Country/ Territory. Retrieved from: http://www.transparency.org/country#ARG_DataResearch Trading Economics (2013) Inflation Rates. Retrieved from : http://www.tradingeconomics.com/argentina/inflation-cpi

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 19

The dealer's house sat away from the road, just like all sinister houses should, I suppose. My biased perceptions aside, there was actually little else about the house that was all that creepy. It was big and expensive-looking, spreading out lazily on beautifully manicured lawns, visible to me even at night. In a region where yards were at a premium, that much land signified a great deal of money. Unlike Bastien's place, this house had no similarly well-to-do neighbors. This house was in a class of its own; it could not be part of a mere suburban neighborhood. â€Å"Where are we?† I asked, because it seemed like the kind of naive, starry-eyed question I should be asking. Alec had met me downtown and then driven me out to this place in his own car. We were about twenty minutes outside the city. â€Å"This is where the guy lives,† he told me happily. His mood improved as we got closer to the house. â€Å"He'll hook you up.† The car followed the long, sinuous driveway and came to a stop by the garage. In an oddly chivalrous way, he opened the car door for me and gestured that I follow him inside. Glancing back at his beat-up Ford Topaz, I couldn't help thinking that being an immortal drug lord's lackey should pay better. Alec led us through a side door in the house, and even I was taken aback at what I found inside. The first word that came to mind was lush. And not the drunk kind either. I meant in the opulent sense, the kind of lush you sink your teeth into. The walls, floor, and ceilings consisted of gleaming dark hardwood, almost like we were inside a lodge – say, a lodge that cost seven figures. Beams of that beautiful wood crisscrossed the open, cathedral ceiling. Jewel-toned oil paintings in gilt frames hung on the walls, and I had enough of a sense for the value of art to recognize they had not come from Bed Bath & Beyond. We crossed out of the foyer and found more of the same in a large living room. Its focal point was an enormous fireplace whose brick faà §ade stretched to the ceiling. A multicolored stained-glass landscape hung above the fireplace's opening, and flames from the roaring fire – along with several strategically placed candles – cast the only light in the room. Nothing electrical. In that dim, flickering lighting, I sensed the man before I saw him. The same unfamiliar immortal signature from the concert carried to me, coupled with something else. This close to him, I noticed how much he felt like the crystals. Or rather, how much the crystals felt like him, as if they were pale, fractured versions of the masterpiece. The whole vibe from him felt weird but not quite as discordant as the crystals themselves had. â€Å"Alec,† said a creamy voice, â€Å"who is your lovely friend?† The man unfolded from the couch, standing in one fluid motion. I now saw the same features as before: flawless tanned skin, long black hair, high cheekbones. He also wore the same hot Victorian couture, complete with another of those gorgeous silk shirts that billowed around his arms and showed smooth skin through the V-neck. â€Å"This is Georgina,† said Alec, voice quaking with nervousness and excitement. â€Å"Just like I said.† The man glided to us and took my hand in both of his. â€Å"Georgina. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.† He drew my hand to his lips – which were full and pink – and kissed my skin. He held my hand a moment, letting his dark eyes bore into mine, and then he slowly straightened up and released me. â€Å"My name is Sol.† I turned off all my impulses to make snappy jokes and/or maul this guy, instead opting for stunned innocence mingled with a little fear. â€Å"H-hello.† I swallowed nervously and looked down at my feet. â€Å"You've done well,† Sol told Alec. â€Å"Very well.† I didn't have to see Alec to tell he was practically melting with relief. â€Å"So†¦does that mean†¦I can, you know†¦?† â€Å"Yes, yes.† Unless I was mistaken, a slight note of irritation underscored that pleasant voice. â€Å"Afterward. Go upstairs now. I'll summon you when I'm ready. â€Å" Alec started to leave, and I grabbed his sleeve, still playing frightened maiden. â€Å"Wait – where are you going?† He smiled at me. â€Å"I'll be right back. It's okay. You wanted more, right? Sol's going to get it for you.† I must have truly looked terrified because he squeezed my arm reassuringly. â€Å"It's okay. Really.† I bit my lip and gave him a hesitant nod. His eyes held mine for a moment, and something very like regret flickered across them. Then he left. â€Å"Come sit with me,† intoned Sol, taking my hand again. He led me to a sumptuous couch by the fire. Warmth from that orange glow spilled over me, and the flames were reflected in his dark eyes. I sat down gingerly, scooting back because the cushions were so big. We sat there quietly. He smiled expectantly, and I gave him a faltering smile back. â€Å"Alec said you could give me more†¦you know†¦of that stuff.† â€Å"You enjoyed it then?† â€Å"Yes. Oh yes. It made me feel†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Immortal?† â€Å"Y-yes, that's it. Please. I need more. I can pay you†¦whatever you want.† He waved a hand carelessly. â€Å"We'll discuss such mundane matters later. For now, let's see if we can't satiate your hunger.† He leaned over to a small table and lifted up two goblets. Goblets. How quaint. â€Å"This should tide you over until we can arrange a larger batch.† I took the cup from him. It felt heavy, like gold. Nothing but the best if you were going to drink the food of the gods, I thought. They held a dark red liquid. If the crystals felt like a weak approximation of Sol, the aura radiating off of this cup felt like mega-Sol. It was intense and strong, making the vibe from the crystals seem like a total nonevent. Maybe that was what happened when ambrosia liquefied. I realized then he'd been waiting for me while I pondered. â€Å"Drink up.† I hesitated, not having to feign apprehension this time. Drink up? What should I do? If I didn't drink, my cover might be blown, and I still hadn't had â€Å"provocation† to smite this bastard or whatever one did to someone with a dart-arrowhead-thing. Carter and Jerome had said ambrosia wouldn't hurt an immortal; they'd even said an immortal could resist its nasty effects to a certain extent, much longer than humans. That didn't necessarily make me feel better, though. I preferred to be in my normal range of skills to deal with this, but it looked like I didn't have that luxury. I couldn't delay any longer. Smiling shyly, I brought the cup to my lips and drank. He did the same. Who could tell? Maybe personality amplification would help me out here. Maybe I had a secret Amazonian alter ego lurking within me who was dying to jump out via the ambrosia and bludgeon this guy with a goblet. Once Sol started drinking, he didn't stop. He tipped the cup back until he'd consumed it all. I followed suit. The stuff really didn't taste so bad. In fact, it tasted sweet, almost sickeningly so. Weirdest of all was its consistency. Thick. Almost viscous. â€Å"There,† he said, taking my empty cup. â€Å"You'll feel better soon, and then we can talk reasonably.† He shifted into a more comfortable position, long legs stretched out and relaxed. He had a slim build and delicate features. His narrow fingers wound one of his black curls around it. â€Å"Tell me about yourself, Georgina. What do you do?† â€Å"I, uh, work in a bookstore.† â€Å"Ah, you're a reader then.† â€Å"I try to be.† He inclined his head toward a wall covered in books. â€Å"I'm a reader myself. There's no greater pursuit than improving one's mind. â€Å" He started talking to me about some of his favorite books, and I smiled and commented as appropriate. As we talked, I began to feel†¦well, for lack of a more descriptive term, good. Really good. Almost like I was buzzed from an excellent liqueur. My limbs tingled a little, and a warm sense of euphoria burned through me. I heard myself laughing at one of his jokes. I almost sounded genuine. â€Å"You're very beautiful,† he suddenly said, and I wondered when he'd moved so close to me. I had to blink to stay focused. The room spun slightly, and my hands and feet kept delaying in obeying my orders. Sol reached out and touched my cheek, trailing those graceful fingers down my neck. â€Å"Your beauty is a gift.† I tried to move, mainly to see if I could actually manage it, not to avoid his touch. Honestly, his touch was pleasant – extremely pleasant. It made my pulse pick up a little. I could, I soon discovered, still move. I was just a little sluggish. â€Å"Shhh,† he crooned, placing a restraining hand on my wrist. â€Å"Don't be afraid. Everything will be all right.† â€Å"W-what are you doing?† He had an arm around my waist now and was moving his mouth toward the spot where my neck met my shoulder. His lips, when they touched flesh, were warm and full of promise. I trembled a little under that kiss and tried to figure out what was going on here. The short answer, obviously, was that something had gone wrong. I felt dizzy and disoriented enough to be at a frat party over at U.W. On top of that, this immortal – this strange immortal I barely knew – suddenly seemed more alluring than I'd imagined possible. Hadn't I come here to kick his ass? Why was I making out with him? Was this what ambrosia did to me? Were these my core traits – the power to get buzzed and take pleasure in sex? To become even easier than I already was? His hands moved down and unbuttoned my shirt so they could slide down and cup my breasts, which were just barely covered by the black mesh bra I'd bought with Dana. He kissed me directly now, his mouth pressing against mine. As his tongue delicately slipped between my lips, I tasted a sweetness akin to the ambrosia. Bottom line: it needs to be self-defense. So Carter had said, but suddenly I didn't really need much defending – unless it was from myself. My own hands were moving without my conscious knowledge to unfasten his pants, and our bodies were becoming entwined together on the soft cushions. Self-defense. Self-defense. Why self-defense? What was I forgetting here? Ah, of course. The dart. I pushed through the red haze muddling my senses, forcing clarity. The dart. The dart would stop Sol somehow, stop him from continuing to spread the poison of ambrosia. It would stop him from hurting people†¦like Doug. I battled through my disorientation and pulled my mouth away from Sol's, attempting to squirm the rest of the way out of his grasp. I won a little room but not much. He was still close. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gasped out. â€Å"Don't do this. Stop.† Sol, regarding me with surprised amusement, shushed me. â€Å"You don't know what you're saying.† â€Å"I do. Stop.† I wriggled one arm free, one arm that then snaked to the pocket containing Carter's pouch. I needed the other arm free too, but Sol was holding it. Looking down, I suddenly saw that his wrist was bleeding. How had that happened? I hadn't caused it. â€Å"Georgina, you are about to be honored above all mortal women. Lay back. Stop struggling. No harm will come to you. You will enjoy this night, I promise.† He moved his mouth back to mine, and again that blazing euphoria swelled within me. A traitorous moan of pleasure caught in my throat. Taking this as submission, Sol's grip on my restrained arm lessened, and I shifted it away just enough that both of my hands now touched the pouch. Yet, it was a hard battle. My motor control still wasn't all it should be. Kissing him, in that moment, seemed much more important than some silly pouch. My mind didn't want to focus on anything else. But I forced it to. Through sheer strength of will, I pushed the physical pleasure out of my head and instead replayed every consequence of the ambrosia I'd seen: Casey's devastation, Doug's wild swings from darkly frenetic exuberance to even darker depression, and finally his limp body in the hospital. Mortals are fragile things. Very fragile. And Sol played with them as if they were nothing. The smoldering coal of my anger began to burn again. He's a stronger immortal than you. Preying on you – especially when you belong to Jerome, so to speak – is a big no-no. You would be justified in protecting yourself. Again, I pulled my mouth away. â€Å"Stop,† I said again more firmly. â€Å"I want you to stop. Stop doing this.† â€Å"I'm not going to stop,† Sol snapped. Anger marred his honeyed tone. His breath was heavy, and his chest heaved with exertion. He – or I – had removed his shirt, and I had a perfect view of that unprotected skin. â€Å"I'm not going to stop, and believe me, once I start, you won't want me to stop either.† My fingers moved to open the pouch; the other hand slowly readied itself to reach inside. The ambrosia in my system dulled my reflexes, but I kept battling through it and sized up where in his chest his heart would be. â€Å"I've asked you three times to stop. Once should have been enough. No means no.† â€Å"No means nothing from someone like you.† He laughed a little, still not taking me seriously. â€Å"What's wrong with you? I thought you wanted to be immortal.† My hand was inside the pouch, pulling the dart out. Sol and I both felt its power at the same time, just as he realized what I was. His eyes widened, but I didn't give him time to react. I didn't think or falter. Just as Carter had ordered, I simply took action – well, with a cheesy punch line, of course. â€Å"Been there, done that,† I said, slamming the dart into his heart. For half a beat, Sol froze, unable to believe this was happening. And that's when things got messy.

Medicare And The Elderly Of The United States - 1160 Words

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