Monday, December 30, 2019

The Worst Hard Time By Timothy Egan - 1079 Words

According to Egan, â€Å"Never let the kids see you sweat† (2006, p.1). The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan was announced as â€Å"a classical disaster tale† by the New York Times. This book was written to inform everyone about the untold story of those who survived the American Dust Bowl. The story documents how the darkest years of the Great Depression affected the economy and the people’s living environment as well. Egan’s book explains the importance of the Great Depression. Within this theme, Egan explores the struggle of survival and the broken promises made by the government. Struggle of Survival Bam and his family were moving from the high desert chill of Las Animas, Colorado, to Littlefield, Texas. Overnight, new towns were rising and inventing new technology like electric streetlights. But sooner than later it was all about to change. The first National Bank of Dalhart did not open for business in the 1930’s. Tens of thousands of farm families have had their savings swept away. At that time social security did not exist yet. So everyone was pissed and had to deal with the fact that their savings were gone. As banks, churches, and businesses were closed, food became insufficient. Prices of oil barrels were dropping drastically. They went from $1.43 a barrel to a Dime! Around 1930-31 2,294 banks went bust and 28,000 businesses failed. People were not buying anything to save the little money they had for survival. At the end of 1931, the Bank of the United States in New YorkShow MoreRelatedExperience in a Community in Essay, The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan 692 Words   |  3 PagesIn the essay, The Worst Hard Time, author Timothy Egan conveys the experience of the community in the town of Dalhart, Texas as it falls from being a town that enjoyed fortune from high demands of product in the market to a town of unrest and helplessness just a while after the market crash of 1929. Egan describes the economic and social conditions in the Texas Panhandle as a whole and in other areas, as well as what it meant for the people of this community in the midst of the Great Depression.Read MoreThe Worst Hard Times Essay1007 Words   |  5 PagesThe Worst Hard Times by Timothy Egan conveys the story of farmers who decided to prosper on the plains during the 1800s, in places such as Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. They decided to make living, and some stayed during the worst droughts in the United States in 1930s. High temperatures and dust storms destroyed the area, killing animals and humans. This competently book reveals the prosperity for many, later revealing the time of the skinny cows. The story is based on the testimoniesRead MoreAristotle s Influence On Democracy1561 Words   |  7 Pagesdo not have the knowledge and resources necessary to make an informed decision. Two and a half months prior to the final vote, Timothy Egan, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, released an article titled â€Å"The Dumbed Down Democracy.† (2016). In the article Egan discusses issues with the electorate’s knowledge of current socio-political issues. To highlight one, Egan is troubled by the fact that 45% of Republicans do not believe in Climate Change, while 99% of the scientific community confirmsRead MoreA Person Growing Up Illiterate With No Education Degree Essay2349 Words   |  10 PagesThe class divide is a serious issue in America. People make decisions that they think are easy to do but they don t test the future impacts that may results from their decisions, that some time huge impact on their life. In the New york times article â€Å"No Degree and no way back to the Middle†,Timothy Egan tells the story of a man who quit high school and wanted to work, without having an education degree the end of his life started to get gloo my and unbalanced, at the end he was very ashamed ofRead MoreSemester A Unit 3 Lesson 61004 Words   |  5 PagesDalhart.† An inference that can be made is: Bam White will continue to work hard. The evidence is throughout the paragraph, but obvious in the final line: â€Å"White’s gut told him this town was going somewhere.† An opinion that may be stated about the paragraph is: Bam White is a hard worker. The evidence includes: him getting his family to this point; working as a sharecropper; time spent selling root vegetables; time spent looking for better work. ELA6_A_3_6_ACT_1 It is important to cite evidenceRead MoreThe Worst Hard Time On The Dust Bowl1909 Words   |  8 Pageswas turning the soil the wrong side up (Egan, p. 114). The High Plains were the most affected, and the wind was the contributing element that made it dangerous for people to live there. In the early 1930s, people were forced out of their homes and had to head somewhere safe. The climate had been dangerous with the wind erosions for a decade or so, and the dust was tearing away the crops, putting dust and other particles in the air, making it thick and hard for people to see when traveling acrossRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Big Reason 907 Words   |  4 Pagesinformation and how it is written. Here are some different types of nonfiction and the author’s purpose. Keep in mind that a narrative can also be noted as a descriptive writing too; an argument can be descriptive also. There can be more than one type at times, but typically one type of nonfiction. Types of Nonfiction Purpose Argument or Persuasive to convince reader to think or act a certain way based on opinion supported by evidence Expository or Informational to presents facts, discusses ideas, or explainsRead MoreSemester A Unit 3 Lesson 31626 Words   |  7 Pagesreading and what is it about? Think about what you have read so far in The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. The entire text has a central idea, so does each section and chapter, as well as each paragraph. Not only does a nonfiction text have a central idea, so does each section, chapter and paragraph. Let’s look at some example paragraphs from your book, The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, andRead MoreSemester A Unit 3 Lesson 31626 Words   |  7 Pagesreading and what is it about? Think about what you have read so far in The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. The entire text has a central idea, so does each section and chapter, as well as each paragraph. Not only does a nonfiction text have a central idea, so does each section, chapter and paragraph. Let’s look at some example paragraphs from your book, The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, andRead MoreThe Worst Hard Time Essay1882 Words   |  8 PagesOne theory in Jared Diamond s Collapse is that soil degradation and erosion leads to insufficient agriculture and a society s demise. In Timothy Egan s The Worst Hard Time, he sets forth in specific and excruciating detail exactly what Diamond outlines in Collapse. Only Egan s book isn t theoretical. It isn t a survey of what s happened in other countries. It s about the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. It s about what happens, right here in the heart of America, when the land is misused, mistreated, and

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Case Study A Private Equity Backed Company Essay

1. What is motivating you to look at this time? I recently left a private equity backed company due to a change in the company’s overall strategy. As a result of the change, my position was eliminated. 2. Why do you want to work at Taylor Communications? I have been aware of Taylor for many years. I have also been a supplier to Taylor in two of my prior roles. Most recently, all of Taylor’s acquisition activity and transformational efforts has stimulated my desire to be part of what is being built at Taylor Communications. My deep insight into this industry, coupled with my background and experience, could help accelerate the transformation of the company. Although Taylor has been around for many years, I almost see the company as a â€Å"diamond in the rough†. I’m excited about the products, services and technology Taylor possesses to help companies communicate their message. I see Taylor as somewhat of a â€Å"great secret† in the marketplace. My current understanding of the people, business practices and capabilities of Taylor all contribute to my desire to at least investigate whether there is a good match between us or not. 3. What defines success as a leader? My experience shows that the success of a leader is based on their ability to exhibit servant leadership in such a way that compels people to want to follow them into any situation or circumstance they are facing, with the belief that the leader will guide and shepherd the group in such a way thatShow MoreRelatedFinancial Intermediaries Exist Purely Because of Information Asymmetries and Agency Conflicts2512 Words   |  11 PagesPrivate equity is usually medium to long-term finance provided in return for an equity stake in potential high growth unquoted companies. These equity investments include securities that are not listed on a public exchange and are not easily accessible to most individuals [1]. There are usually available only to high net worth individual s, corporation s, institutional clients etc. These investments range from initial capital in start-up enterprises to leveraged buyouts of fully grown-up corporationsRead MoreHertz Ipo Case Analysis1980 Words   |  8 Page sExecutive Summary Hertz group had initiated an IPO in July 2006 when Carlyle group, together with Clayton, Dubilier Rice, and Merril Lynch Global Private equity , three prominent firms had filed to take the firm public. However this action has come just seven months after the three had combined to purchase Hertz from Ford Motor Company for Approx. $15 million. Berg, MD of Vandelay Capital Management debated whether to invest in this IPO.The LBO sponsors had borrowed an additional $1 billion onRead MoreThe Great Recession And The Housing Crisis1600 Words   |  7 Pagesfinancial system and reinvigorate our economy, it is essential by learning the lessons of the crisis to prevent it from happening again. Because the crisis was so complex, its lessons are many, and they are not always straightforward. Surely, both the private sector and financial regulators must improve their ability to monitor and control risk-taking. The crisis revealed not only weaknesses in regulators oversight of financial institu tions, but also, more fundamentally, important gaps in the architectureRead MorePrivate Equity And Venture Capital6778 Words   |  28 Pagesproposal TITLE PRIVATE EQUITY/VENTURE CAPITAL INTRODUCTION This section will give a short introduction to this dissertation, by identifying a context for the placement of the research in terms of the literature and also why this topic is worthy of research. An overview of the private equity industry will be given, followed by the research objectives, contributions and targeted audience. This paper examines the effect of private equity industry on the performances of portfolio companies in the UK.Read MoreThe Development Of The Stock Market3382 Words   |  14 Pages[Draft-2703 words] - HARVARD REFERENCES STYLE â€Å"Are Public Equity Markets in Poland in decline?† ===================================================================== Executive Summary This work analyze the development of the stock market in Poland, between 2000 to the current period. As an explanatory variable, it is used the annually number of IPOs. In fact, there is a positive relationship between the stock market index returns and the number of IPOs. This has been proved by many authorsRead MoreAn Analysis Of Investor s Perception For The Investment1571 Words   |  7 Pages-------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract: This Research Paper describes the expectations and satisfaction of those customers who are trading with capital markets in INDIA in consideration with India info line.The study of the Investment is helpful in the following areas. In today s complex financial environment, investors have unique needs which are derived from their risk appetite and financial goals. But regardless of this, every investor seeks to maximize hisRead MoreImplementation of Student Loan Asset-Backed Securitization in Malaysian Higher Education2318 Words   |  10 PagesIMPLEMENTATION OF STUDENT LOAN ASSET-BACKED SECURITIZATION IN MALAYSIAN HIGHER EDUCATION. (A STUDY CONDUCTED AT MALAYSIAN ECONOMY IN THE ASIA) Paper no.60 ABSTRACT The research is to investigate the alternative financing in Malaysian Higher Education by introducing student loan securities as a type of asset-backed securitization. It will analyse and consider possible effects in order to relieve the pressure currently imposed on the Government Budget. The aim of this research is to identifyRead MoreTechnology Industry Is Heading Toward A Bubble?1447 Words   |  6 PagesIPO market saturation First, IPO market saturation tends to be higher during a tech bubble. As mentioned above, during the dot-com bubble, companies flogged to the stock market at alarming rates. Worryingly perhaps, the level of IPOs is currently getting closer to the levels of the 2000. The high IPOs don’t benefit the owners or the employees of the company, but play in the hands of the initial investors. Employees and owners typically have lock-in periods for reselling the stock. But in a bubbleRead MoreStart Up Research Paper1488 Words   |  6 Pages GLOBALSTART Submitted by: GlobalStart Needs of Global Start-up Companies Table of contents Pages 1. Topic: Global Start 2 Introduction Definition 2. Identification of needs of Global Start-ups 3 Introduction Research Development Market development / sales Production / operation Organisation and governance Finance / administration 3. Conclusion Read MoreAfin310 Lecture 5 Essay3546 Words   |  15 PagesInvesting in early stage growth companies – Lecture 1 Brendon Blacker Monday 24 March Introduction to your guest lecturer Brendon Blacker Vice President Macquarie Capital Sydney STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL 2 Agenda Lecture 1 – Monday 24 March 2014 1. Introduction to Macquarie Capital Lecture 2 – Monday 31 March 2014 — Review questions — Quick recap 2. Introduction to venture capital — What is venture capital? How does it work? 3. Investing in early-stage growth companies (continued) — Who are the

Friday, December 13, 2019

Compare Contrast Essay Free Essays

Shane Smith Professor Samuels English 102, Section 13 18 October 2012 Compare Contrast Essay The 1960’s was a carefree time period, a time when the â€Å"hippy† lifestyle was considered the norm. A time when the youth were often the voice, citizens were dedicated to bringing peace to the United States, the abolishment of segregation was occurring, and the Vietnam War had just begun. The poems I analyzed were both written in the early 1960’s, when segregation finally came to an end. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare Contrast Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Gwendolyn Brooks portrays the â€Å"carefree† lifestyle in her poem, â€Å"We Real Cool. Brooks being an African American woman surprised me, because her focus was not on the current major topic of segregation, whereas in contrast, Bob Dylan being Caucasian chose to focus on segregation in his poem/song, â€Å"The Times They Are a-Changin. † The irony in the poem’s I read, is the contrast between ethnicity of the poet’s, to their chosen topics. During the time the two poems were written, is when the African American people rose against segregation. The poem â€Å"We Real Cool,† is an open form poem wrote in 1960 by an African American author, Gwendolyn Brooks. Based on her ethnicity and the date of the poem, the reader would intend the topic to be based around the Civil Rights Movement. At the time Brooks wrote her poem she was in her early forties and the reader would believe her concern for segregation had lessened. Since 1917 Brooks had saw countless occasions of segregation, considering the fact that she had attended an all-black high school. She focused on the new occurring change, the change in attitude of teenagers at that time. Gwendolyn Brooks discovered the topic of her poem while walking by a pool hall. She discovered seven young men playing pool, drinking, cursing and having no worries. Brooks was disgusted at the sight of the younger generation not attending school and having no ambition to move on in life. Brooks was aware that there was a drug epidemic going on at the time and she knew that this behavior and usage of drugs will keep them in the pool hall for all of their lives. Two lines from the poem that would portray this analysis to the reader are the lines that say, â€Å"We strike straight†, and â€Å"We die soon†. (Brooks 4,8). The term â€Å"straight† usually refers to being clean of drugs and a better person and the term â€Å"strike† usually means to be against. With the last line â€Å"We die soon,† Brooks illustrates that the young men are slowly killing themselves. She remembers the struggle of herself and the generations before her, the opportunities for education and good jobs were few and far between. As Brooks sees the times are changing she is discouraged by the lack of ambition and the push-to-side attitude of the opportunities the younger generation has before them. In contrast, the closed form poem, â€Å"The Times They Are a-Changin† written by Bob Dylan had many similarities to Brooks’ poem, but also focused on segregation and the awareness that things were changing. In the poem, Dylan says, â€Å"Come senators, congressman Please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway Don’t block up the hall/For he that gets hurt/Will be he who has stalled/There’s a battle outside/And it is ragin’. † (Dylan 23-30). In the first four lines from this section of the poem, Dylan is talking on a specific time in the Civil Rights Movement. Segregation was ending, but on June 11, 1963 at the University of Alabama, Caucasian officials stood in front of the doorway to an auditorium because they believed in keeping segregation alive. (History). Bob Dylan believed in equality and is believed to be an influence that started the â€Å"hippy† generation, which came about a year or so after Dylan’s 1963 poem/song. Dylan wants to emphasize the point that African Americans were growing into society and to grasp the concept that everything is changing and there will always be change. In comparison, these two poem’s share similarities about the youth of the 1960’s and the â€Å"carefree† lifestyle they were living. Brooks was much older than Dylan, but they were both aware of the change happening to the youth. Brooks had more of a stern way of saying these teenagers had too much freedom, that they were too blinded to realize the meaning of life, and that they were headed in the wrong direction. Brooks was older and wiser and spoke a warning to the youth of the consequences of the fast life, â€Å"We die soon†. (Brooks 8). Dylan himself was of the younger generation and spoke directly to his peers. He said in his poem/song, â€Å"Come mother and fathers/Throughout the land/And don’t criticize/What you can’t understand/Your sons and your daughters/Are beyond your command. † (Dylan 34-39) In comparison, Dylan had a more rebellious tone towards parents and authority. At the time these poems were written, the Vietnam War was being fought, and drugs and free love were popular among most youth. In conclusion, these two poems were both speaking to the young generation during the 1960’s, a tumultuous period in our history. It was a time for anti-war protests, Civil Right Movements against segregation, racism and anti-government sentiment. Brooks who was older and had been on the receiving end of racism and segregation chose to speak to the youth who had chosen a reckless lifestyle and abandon opportunity. Brooks uses sarcasm by saying, â€Å"We Real Cool† to get her point across that they aren’t as â€Å"Cool† from her perspective. Dylan on the other hand speaks to himself and his generation about the changing times. He speaks about the need to keep moving forward. He also seems to speak out against government and authority, their resistance to change mainly where segregation is concerned. Overall both poets are extremely aware of change in society during different periods in their lives and both believe change will continue on for the remainder of mankind. Work Cited Works Cited Brooks, Gwendolyn. â€Å"We Real Cool. † Cheuse, Nicholas Delbanco and Alan. Literature Craft Voice. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 639. Dylan, Bob. â€Å"The Times They Are a-Changin. † Cheuse, Nicholas Delbanco and Alan. Literature Craft and Voice. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 22. History. â€Å"University of Alabama desegregated. † 2012. The History Channel website. 24 Oct 2012 http://www. history. com/this-day-in-history/university-of-alabama-desegregated. Pericles, Hamlet. Helium. 25 January 2008. 20 October 2012 http://www. helium. com/items/818599-poetry-analysis-we-real-cool-by-gwendolyn-brooks. http://rapgenius. com/Bob-dylan-the-times-they -are-a-changin-lyrics http://www. shmoop. com/we-real-cool/analysis. html http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=jyKF2e2CiMk http://www. english. illinois. edu/maps/poets/a_f/brooks/life. htm How to cite Compare Contrast Essay, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

At the end of the play, who do you feel is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Essay Example For Students

At the end of the play, who do you feel is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Essay Romeo and Juliet are the epitome of true love and have been for hundreds of years. Their story is William Shakespeares best-known tragedy and one of his most popular plays. There are many factors that contribute to Romeo and Juliets deaths which include their own actions and decisions, fate and circumstances and the deeds of the other characters. Romeo is a young, intense and love-sick character from beginning to end. He is romantic and compassionate; however he is also fickle and single-minded. His unrequited infatuation for Rosaline: shell not be hit with Cupids arrow, she hath Dians wit; which caused him so much torment and sadness, disappears the moment he sees and meets Juliet as she appears in the dance like a: snowy dove trooping with the crows. This metaphor shows how beautiful Juliet is in comparison to the other young women at the ball. Romeos reaction is ironic as he denied to Benvolio that he could ever forget Rosaline, when Benvolio suggested that Romeo should meet other women at the party to take his mind off Rosaline: By giving liberty unto thine eyes examine other beauties. Romeo falls instantly in love with Juliet and Shakespeare shows us this by describing how Juliet has brought light into Romeos life: teaches the torches to shine bright. From the moment Romeo meets Juliet, his behaviour changes and by the time of the orchard scene, Act 2, Scene 2, he is animated and lively, a far cry from his dull behaviour over his love for Rosaline. Romeos friends and family noticed that his outlook has altered and in the company of his friends, Benvolio states: Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable; now art thou Romeo. He is well-regarded by the other characters in the play and many look up to him. However, his rushed decisions and unpredictable ways are, in the end, his downfall. Juliet is a young, unworldly girl who is not yet fourteen: My child is yet a stranger in the world; she hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Juliet is much quieter, obedient and more innocent than Romeo and is greatly influenced by his actions as she has never been in such a situation, so believes every word that he says. Her youth is a key factor in her changes in character throughout the play. At the beginning of the play, she is not too interested in marriage or finding a husband and when her mother broaches the question of her marrying Paris, Juliet avoids any direct answer: It is an honour that I dream not of. However, as with Romeo, we see a great change of character when she meets her love. She is no longer disinterested and passive but lively and excited: You kiss by thbook. She is now flirtatious and eager at the thought of a new love. When their relationship becomes serious and they are married, she matures a great deal and when problems start to arise, she is the on e who is sensible and practical, whereas Romeo threatens suicide rather than be banished. Her character changes, as she is above all an honest person in the beginning, yet she changes to deceive her family and lie to be with Romeo. By the end of the play, we have seen a complete reversal in Juliets character, from an innocent, honest young girl, to a serious woman who is deeply in love and whose only care is for Romeo. Many consider the rashness of Romeo and Juliets decisions and their youth to be the tragic flaws of their characters which lead to their many problems and downfalls. Throughout the play, from when Romeo and Juliet initially meet until their deaths in the final act, their romance is rushed and hasty, and all of their decisions are made on spur of the moment feelings, without any real thought or deliberation. Romeo and Juliets marriage was not an event that was organised or reasoned, they simply acted on their feelings of lust. The two lovers had known each other barely a day when they were married and this was an odd affair, even in this era, which stunned the friends who were involved in this matrimony. Friar Lawrence notices that Romeo has instantly forgotten Rosaline in favour of Juliet: Not in a grave, to lay one in, another out to have; which means that although he told Romeo to bury his love for Rosaline, he did not expect Romeo to find another so quickly. If Romeo and Juliet ha d had a conventional relationship which gradually developed over time from lust and infatuation into deep, meaningful love; then perhaps their relationship would not have ended in such catastrophe, as many of their problems are simply due to mistiming and emotional decisions. Romeo and Juliet both have their faults, yet Romeo is older and more aware than young Juliet and he is more at fault than her. He makes many of the rushed decisions and does not think through his actions. Romeo is Juliets first love, and first romantic encounter of any kind; she believes every word he says and even though she is intelligent she is also quite naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and very trusting. As time moves on through the play, Juliets entire persona changes and she transforms from an innocent young girl, to a woman who will stop at nothing to be with her love. Another major problem that leads to Romeo and Juliets downfall was the fact that Romeo killed Tybalt. If this had not taken place, it is likely that Romeo and Juliet could have made their marriage public and the feud may have ended. Romeo was angry and upset, as Tybalt had stabbed and killed Mercutio, one of his best friends, he simply did what he believed was right at the time. However, this was possibly one of the worst things Romeo could have done in his situation; any problems Romeo and Juliet had suddenly became much worse. Romeo knows this as soon as he sees Tybalt fall: O, I a fortunes fool. This murder leads to Romeos banishment and both he and Juliet would prefer death to being separated. If Romeo had thought before he fought with Tybalt, he perhaps would have known to stay away, because deep down he knew that he was committing an immoral deed and this action would lead to many more dilemmas and upset. Although it is said that other peoples actions play a major part to Romeo and Juliets deaths, a persons actions are their own doing and the final decision is ultimately their own. The feud between the Montagues and Capulets had been causing problems, antagonism and resentment for years: From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. There were fights in the street (Act 1, Scene 1 and Act 3, Scene1), bitterness between younger members of the family (for example Tybalt) and fear in day to day life. However, against all the odds, Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love. If there had been no feud, or the families could simply build bridges and forget the past, the Romeo and Juliets love may have blossomed and the tale would have had a clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½d happily ever after ending. However, bitterness, pride and revenge ruled the families minds and they would do whatever it took, even kill another man, in order to show their pride. These beliefs resulted in tragedy and the needless death of five family members. The Friar, the Prince and even the tired and weary heads of the families tried to end the feud, in vain. However, in the end, it was love which conquered all and managed to end the warfare between the families, even if this love had ended in heartbreak for both families and all around them. The play is set in the Birling's house; as it is a safe place where life is secure and sheltered EssayLord and Lady Capulet do not care about neither Juliets feelings nor the fact that she has not met Paris, never mind love him. They are strict and want their daughter to marry the proper man, from the right class and family and do not mind if she has no say in the matter. Lord and Lady Capulet should have paid more attention to Juliets wishes and listened to her opinions, she was just fourteen years old and did not want to marry Paris, yet this was forced upon her although she made her views perfectly clear: I wonder at this haste, that I must wed ere he that should be husband comes to woo. Juliet believes that this proposal is happening too fast and tells here mother and father that she does not know Paris and that they cannot marry before they courted. Paris is the opposite of Romeos character; he is calm and decorous, whereas Romeo is passionate and impulsive. Paris does everything the correct way, asks Lord Capulet for his daughters hand in marriage and is always polite and well-mannered whereas Romeo has never met his wifes father and is sneaking around behind his back. Although Paris is not the unpleasant character we might expect the heros rival to be, he does quite forcefully encourage the nuptials and coerces Lord Capulet and Juliet into a quick marriage. When they meet at Friar Lawrences cell, Paris calls Juliet his wife and wants her to admit that she loves him: Do not deny to him that you love me. Although he is not directly involved, Paris does contribute to Romeo and Juliets deaths as their impending marriage is another reason why Juliet feels she must run away, or worse, take her own life. Prince Escalus could have done more to help end the feud and keep peace on his streets of Verona. If he had acted earlier and more forcefully, then perhaps Romeo and Juliets marriage would have been a celebration and wonderful love story, instead of a tragedy. There are many other small roles that play a part in Romeo and Juliets downfall, for example Friar John and Balthasar. However, much of these characterss involvement is due to due to fate, mistiming and bad luck. There are many circumstances and coincidental events in the play that lead to the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. Their destiny is foretold in the stars, as stated in the prologue: A pair of star-crossd lovers take their lifeDo with their death bury their parents strife. This quote means that Romeo and Juliets fate is written in the stars in order to end the feud and bring peace among the families. This quote is also a metaphor, describing the lovers as stars, whose love stands out against the harshness of their backgrounds. They are not responsible for their fates; their problems are simply an awful succession of mistimings that destroys them. The entire play takes place over the short space of just four days, which is an extremely short space of time for all of these tragic incidences to happen in and if any one occurrence had been different, all may have turned out well. Aside from the fact that Romeo and Juliet feel so completely in love in such a short space of time; there are an extraordinary amount of coincidences in the play, all of which are unfortunate and lead to the demise of Romeo and Juliet. Firstly, the fact that Romeo should fall in love with an enemys daughter is a tragic central event. Also, the fact that Paris asks for Juliets hand in marriage at the same time is unlucky, as if he had asked perhaps a few weeks earlier, then he would have found himself a happily married man. There are continuous, ominous suggestions that Romeo and Juliet are fated to die; even before Romeo has met Juliet he says: Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars. Shall bitterly begin his fearful dateBy some vile forfeit of untimely death. This statement is correct and as soon as Romeo sees Juliet, they know that their love is a tragic one and could end in disaster due to their families hatred. However, once they meet and are married there are more disastrous incidents awaiting the star-struck couple. The fact that Tybalt kills Mercutio, although this is expected for a while, is the beginning of a growing number of problems. When Romeo kills Tybalt, he exclaims: O, I am fortunes fool, meaning that he is a victim of fate. Fate and mistiming are now Romeo and Juliets main setbacks. With Romeo banished and Juliet distraught over the death of her cousin and the thought of possibly never seeing her husband again, Friar Lawrences plan to give Juliet a potion to fake her own death seems like a loophole where Romeo and Juliet can live happily together; however this plan is not to succeed. Juliet takes the potion and the plan seems to be working, Friar Lawrence sends a letter with a messenger informing Romeo of his plan and arrangements for a funeral are made. However, Romeo and Juliets destiny ensures that this plan does not go accordingly. Romeos servant and friend, Balthasar, hears of Juliets death, rushes to tell his master and Romeo replies: I defy you stars!, meaning fate, and that Juliets death was foretold. Friar John, the messenger with Romeos letter, is held in quarantine and does not emerge in time to deliver the letter to Romeo. These events lead Romeo to the Apothecarys where he buys a poison, to end his life without Juliet: such soon-speeding gear as will disperse itself through all the veins that the life-weary taker may fall dead. More tragedy is to come; Romeo kills Paris who stands in his way of the tomb. Once inside, Romeo says a last goodbye to Juliet and drinks the potion: O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. Just a she sees Romeo fall, Juliet awakes from her long sleep, but she is too late, another misfortune of fate and she takes Romeos dagger and stabs herself. If she had awoken just minutes earlier, the plan would have worked and the two may have lived happily ever after. In conclusion, there are many people and events which build up and lead to the final demise of Romeo and Juliet, and their tragic end cannot be put down to one solitary event. Although some people play a more significant and obvious role in their death, for example Friar Lawrence, if one single event had been different and their plans had worked out, then perhaps Romeo and Juliet could have run away together and would not have had to take their own lives. However, though it seems that other peoples influences are the main contributors to their problems, Romeo and Juliets fate is written in the stars and chance and coincidence are the dominant themes surrounding their deaths.