The Transmission Model Of Communications

The Transmission Model Of Communications Most professionals need a few theories to back up their thinking and also to help give substance to their recommendations. A few theories and models give us a concrete and rational foundation for decision-making. These are especially helpful when thinking about how to tackle an issue and how to work out what is going on. They are useful too when devising plans and writing communications strategies, explaining concepts to colleagues and clients or giving focus when we need direction. These are my ten top theories, the ones I have found most useful in over thirty years as a practitioner, consultant and lecturer. Theory One Shannon and Weaver the transmission model of communications One of the oldest and simplest theories about communications came from Shannon and Weaver (1949). But Shannon and Weaver were not PR professionals; they worked for Bell Telephone Labs in the USA. Shannon and Weaver were focused on issues about accuracy and efficiency in telephony. Their model is both simple to understand and generally applicable and this originally made it attractive to not only people working in PR and communications but also academics who have since developed more sophisticated models and theories to explain the process of human and organisational communications. Shannon and Weavers original model often called the transmission model consisted of five sequential elements: An information source, that produces a message. A transmitter, that encodes the message into signals A channel, that carries the signals, which have been adapted to allow transmission A receiver, that decodes the message from the signal A destination, where the message arrives. They also included a sixth element, noise, defined as any interference with the message travelling along the channel that could change or impair the signal and so change the original message into something different from that intended. This transmission model, which has been around for a long time, is somewhat simplistic. But it does serve as a reminder to practitioners about the basic processes involved in communications and in PR. Its also the basis for social scientist and guru on propaganda Harold Lasswells explanation of communications as being Who says What to Whom in What Channel with What Effect Shannon and Weaver argued that there are three problems when thinking about communications: The technical problem: how accurately can the message be transmitted? The semantic problem: how precisely is the meaning conveyed? The effectiveness problem: how effectively does the received meaning affect behaviour? They assumed that sorting out the technical problems would largely solve the semantic and effectiveness problems (and that really is simplistic). You can see that there are a few problems with this model. It is linear and one-way there is no engagement with the receiver. The sender is called the information source it is not a complex sender. The receiver appears to be a passive and accepting, a simple and willing absorber of information, hardly a critical interpreter of what he or she is exposed to. There is no way to assess whether the receiver has accurately picked up the message and then believed it or acted upon it. There is no consideration of the context of meaning (is this teacher to parent, politician to floating voter?). Nor to when in terms of time the communication takes place. But then again this theory was devised by and for telecommunications engineers. Consequently this simple model cannot reflect the complex psychology of the human being or the physiology of the human brain. Nor does it accommodate the existing relationships between sender and receiver, or the infinite ways a message can be encoded in term s of words and pictures. Also it does not allow for the unique characteristics of the multiple channels that could be use d to get the message across and that affect how a message will be seen and interpreted. So theor y one is a useful start point. Theory Two James Carey transportation/communications links http://wyolife.com/Thank%20US/morse%20telegraph.jpg Invention and technology have a huge part to play in the development of corporate communications. James Carey was an American academic and journalism specialist. In his book Communication As Culture (1989) Carey discussed the development of the telegraph and its understated role in future developments in communication. The non-electric telegraph was invented by Claude Chappe in 1794 and was a visual system using semaphore, a flag-based alphabet, and depending on a line of sight for communication. The optical telegraph was subsequently replaced by the electric telegraph, the invention of Samuel Morse. Morse proved that signals could be transmitted by wire and, to facilitate this developed the Morse Code. The first news dispatched by electric telegraph was in May 1844. The death knell for the electric telegraph came with the invention of the telephone in 1877. So before the nineteenth century the movement of information was more or less the same as the transport of goods or people and both were described as communication. Before the telegraph (and the telephone) most decisions particularly business and political decisions were made face to face. Carey argued that the telegraph permitted for the first time the effective separation of communication from transportation. So after the telegraph, as soon as messages could travel faster than the people, horses or trains that delivered them, everything changed, in terms of how humans communicated across distances and over time. Geography became irrelevant, enabling communities to move away from the local, towards the national, and international or global. The telegraph allowed people from one side of the world to communicate almost instantaneously with someone on the other side of the world. How quaint this seems in todays digital world but this helps us look at the origins of modern communication. Because this shows to some extent where plain English came from. The short brief telegraph demanded a prose style that Carey noted was more à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦lean and unadorned. Think of a tweetà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. So all those years ago it was the simple old telegraph that first called for the plainest of writing and, as a knock-on effect, changed the way news was written. At the same time style became more objective because these words would be read by individuals of many different beliefs and opinions, from many different communities, regions and countries. Technological advances continue to have a huge impact on how we practice communications on what messages work, on how we encode our message, on what channels to use so that the receiver sees and hears it accurately and so on. The meaning of the message comes from the process listeners, readers and/or viewers go through when they make sense of what they see, hear and feel. Meaning is not extracted from but constructed by the message. Its clear that, while we dont need to be technician, everyone working in the field of communications must keep abreast of developments in technology because you can bet your bottom dollar they will have an impact of professional communications practice. Theory Three Grunig and Hunts Four Models for Public Relations Managing Public Relations written by Grunig and Hunt (1984) highlighted four models for how organizations can chose to practice public relations. The four models developed more or less chronologically through the twentieth century. This is the most often cited theory of public relations and these theories are still relevant, taught as part of graduate, post-graduate and vocational qualifications across the UK and overseas. The Four Models Press agent model one way communication where an organization tells an audience what it wants it to believe. Little or no research to determine audiences needs interests or inclinations to agree with the organisations objectives. This is the simple, original, historic model for PR with the focus on getting favourable coverage (ie publicity) for your organization, cause, celebrity, brand via the media. One -way transfer of information No feedback Little or no research Information is not always accurate all publicity is good publicity Public information model a journalists approach to public relations, offers truthful accurate information about an organisation leaving our damaging or harmful information. This model developed pretty much as a reaction to attacks on large corporations and government agencies by investigative journalists. The leaders of these institutions needed more than simple propaganda peddled by press agents to counter the attacks on them in the media. So they hired their own journalists to act as public relations practitioners, and press handouts were written and distributed to give their point of view and explain actions. This is also the model where essential information is provided to the people and persuasion or attitude change is not essential. Examples might be letting people know about the weather, about road traffic, or internally about new appointments and soon. The approach is very much lets get the facts out. One way transfer of information Some evaluation on effectiveness Little or no research about the audience(s) Used most often by government Truthful and accurate Two-way asymmetrical model emphasises a change in attitudes or behaviours in the audience only in accordance with the objectives and goals of the organisation. Persuasive communication really has its origins here. In 1917 during World War 1 US President Woodrow Wilson set up The Creel Committee (AKA CPI Committee on Public Information). Committee members included the so-called founder of modern public relations practice, social scientist Edward Bernays. Communications took a more scientific approach that made the practice two-way with practitioners both seeking information from and giving information to publics. Theories introduced by Bernays were those of propaganda, persuasion, and the engineering of consent. This model is clearly at work when attempts are made to influence publics to adopt a preferred point of view or behaviour. Research provides input into the process (for example research into why people buy a new car help manufacturers create motivating relevant messages). Scientific persuasion Two-way transfer of information Research done to persuade audience(s) Messages created to persuade Model slanted in favour of organization The two-way symmetrical model uses research to better understand the audience and to resolve disputes. Each party the sender and receiver is willing to alter messages and even behaviours to accommodate the others needs. The two-way symmetrical model makes use of research and other forms of two-way communication. Unlike the two-way asymmetrical model, however, it uses research to facilitate understanding and communication rather than to identify messages most likely to motivate or persuade publics. A good example might be management and workforce in a consultation process enabling a change of policies and practices resulting in higher productivity and better pay and conditions. This model includes ideas and principles like telling the truth, interpreting the client and public to one another and management understanding the viewpoints of employees and neighbours as well as employees and neighbours understanding the viewpoints of management. It is perhaps a communications ideal as many organisations are unwilling to go all the way and engage so fully with audiences as they wish to retain the concept of control. It could be argued that modern technology and digital communications is forcing even the most reluctant organisation to have to consider this model seriously to maintain a competitive or an ethical position that enhances reputation. Behaviour change on both sides Research done to understand, not manipulate, the audience Strategies include consultation, bargaining, negotiation , discussion, compromise Best model of communication? http://tidforlivet.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/tabell.png https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-b0dYUuYF92AVa7X36n1VwTjwvQIQ_sN9zCv0HEJeRkXJkFnAZ2llPJzfcBvqfqIBC7fS6FquvvItzBbVJ8XBTQyXGp5KhXi6Ht3y74FfiD-bgtEiCgmcqISYJdrpxW1kP_HU8WGoRQ/s400/Ethical_Influence.png http://www.derekchristensen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/cialdini-influence-chart.png Theory Four Robert Cialdini and Influence Arguably one of the key tasks of corporate communications is to influence others to comply with what you want; which may be to understand an issue, engage in debate, prefer or like or support your point of view, or behave a different way. Robert Cialdini, Regents Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University has made influence his lifes work. Having observed extensively how influence works by studying compliance professionals (people skilled in getting others to do what they want them to do salespeople, fundraisers, recruiters, advertisers and so on) he published, in 1984, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. I was given this book when I worked in the advertising industry and I go back to these ideas time and time again. Cialdini arrived at what he called his six weapons of influence and we can see these six principles at work in many successful PR and communications programmes. But do take care influence in the wrong hands becomes manipulation. There are many examples when this thinking has been used for evil ends. Use these strategies for good, not to persuade people to do things that are wrong. Examine your conscience and apply this thinking ethically 1. Reciprocity People generally aim to return a compliment. They invite people to come to dinner having been invited themselves; they pay back debts; they treat others as they are treated. Its youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. This leads us to feel obliged to offer concessions or discounts to others if they have offered them to us first because we feel uncomfortable if we feel indebted to them. For example youll giving money to a fundraiser who has given you a little badge or sticker; a free tasting of a new food product in-store may make you buy a pack; you might decide to buy more from a supplier if they have offered you preferential terms first. You can sometimes use this principle by simply reminding the other person of how you have helped them in the past. Key thing is to give a service, information or a concession. Your target will then be primed to return the favour. To use reciprocity ethically to influence others, identify objectives, and consider wha t you want the target to do. You can then identify what you can give to them in return. 2. Commitment and Consistency Once weve committed to something, were then more inclined to go through with it because, says Cialdini, we human beings have an innate desire to be consistent. For example people who sign a petition supporting a new community facility are more likely to donate money to that cause when asked later. Get peoples commitment early on, either verbally or in writing. For example, if the communications programme is building support for the building of a new supermarket, communicate early on with stakeholders, and take their comments and views into account. 3. Social Proof This principle relies on peoples sense of safety in numbers because people tend to follow similar others. For example, were more likely put some money into a dish for staff tips if theres money already in that dish, well buy a product if lots of others have done so and provide testimonials that its good and and were more likely to support a policy if support seems high already. The assumption is that if lots of other people are doing something, then it must be OK, safe to do, good, right to do too. Were more likely to be influenced if we feel uncertain and, another key factor, is whether those people already behaving a certain way are like us in terms of lifetsage and lifestyle. Internally you could use social proof when trying to get support for a new project by getting the support from influential people in your organisation whose opinions others respect. And if you are selling a product, say how many people use it and get them to recommend it on social networking sites. 4 Liking Were more likely to be influenced by people we like. And people are more likely to buy from people like themselves, from friends, and from people they know and respect. Likability comes in many forms people might be similar or familiar to us, they might give us compliments, or we may just simply trust them.. Put in the time and effort needed to build trust and rapport with clients and people you work with, and behave with consistency. Develop your emptional intelligence together with active listening skils. But dont try too hard to be liked by others people can always spot a phoney. Companies that use sales agents from within the community employ the liking principle extensively and with huge success. 5. Authority We feel a sense of duty or obligation to people in positions of authority. This is why advertisers of pharmaceutical products employ doctors to front their campaigns, and why most of us will do most things that our manager requests. Job titles, uniforms, and even accessories like cars or gadgets can lend an air of authority, and can persuade us to accept what these people say. 6. Scarcity This principle says that things are more attractive when their availability is limited, or when we stand to lose the opportunity to acquire them on favorable terms. For instance, we might buy something immediately if were told that its the last one, or that a special offer will soon expire. Authority Here you can use both your own authority, and the authority of others, as influencers. When you use your own authority, be careful not to use it negatively. Our article onFrench and Ravens Five Forms of Power has more on different sources of power, and explains how you can use power and authority positively. To use authority, get support from influential and powerful people, and ask for their help in backing the idea. (Use Influence Maps to help you network with people who can help.) If youre marketing a product or service, highlight well-known and respected customers, use comments from industry experts, and talk about impressive research or statistics. Things like well-produced brochures, professional presentations, impressive offices, and smart clothing can also lend authority. Scarcity With this principle, people need to know that theyre missing out if they dont act quickly. If youre selling a product, limit the availability of stock, set a closing date for the offer, or create special editions of products. This principle can be trickier to apply within your organization if youre trying to influence others to support your ideas or projects. You can, however, use urgency to get support for your ideas. For example, you can highlight the possible urgent consequences of the problem that your idea helps to solve. http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/top460grey.png Tip: Remember that these are just six ways that you can influence others. Use these principles alongside other tools such as the Rhetorical Triangle, Monroes Motivated Sequence, Win-Win Negotiation, the Persuasion Tools Model, and the Minority Influence Strategy. You can also use Stakeholder Analysis and Management to build support for your ideas and projects. http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/bottom460grey.png Resisting Influence You can also use this tool when others are trying to influence you. In these situations, bear the following points in mind: Before accepting a free gift or a discounted service, or before agreeing to hear confidential information, ask yourself whether youre going to feel obliged to give the same or more in return. Should you decline, so that you dont feel indebted? Before agreeing to a course of action, even at a very preliminary level, think about the consequences of your decision. Will you feel so invested in this new course of action that you wont want to change your mind? Though everyone else is pursuing a particular route or buying a product, it may not be right for you. Avoid falling victim to the herd mentality. You might decide that its best to go against the trend. When you feel tempted to buy a product or sign up for a service, ask yourself whether youve fallen under the spell of a particularly likable salesperson. Is the salesperson similar to you, familiar to you, or extremely complimentary? Carefully note your reaction to authority figures. Has the person youre negotiating with triggered your respect for authority? Are you making your choice because you want to, or are you swayed by an expert opinion? And does this person genuinely have the authority he is implying, or is he merely using the symbols of that authority? Before you fall for a sales pitch claiming that a product is running out of stock or that a discount deal is soon to expire, think again. Do you really want or need the product now, or has its lack of availability caught your attention? http://www.mindtools.com/images/box/top460grey.png Key Points The Six Principles of Influence were created by Robert Cialdini, and published in his 1984 book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. The principles are: reciprocity, commitment, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. You can use the six principles whenever you want to influence or persuade others. However, its also useful to use them with other tools. And, by knowing about the principles, you can become resistant to people who try to use them to manipulate you. You also need to make sure that you dont misuse these principles avoid using them to deceive or mislead people, and make sure that you use them for peoples good, rather than to disadvantage them. Theory Five Patrick Jackson and others the people change ladder Patrick Jackson was a public relations practitioner working in the US he and others considered the steps communicators has to go though in order to effect behaviour change Build awareness eg publicity, advertising, face to face communications Develop a latent readiness an inclination to make change during which opinions begin to form Trigger a desire to change via a natural or planned event Utilise an intermediate behaviour during which an individual begins to investigate new behaviours Changing behaviours and adopting the new behaviour Theory Six Mendelsohns Three Assumptions for Success Mendelsohn (1973) believed campaigns often failed because campaign designers overpromised, assumed the public would automatically receive and enthusiastically accept their messages, and blanketed the public with messages not properly targeted and likely to be ignored or misinterpreted. His Three Assumptions are still a touchstone for communications planning 1.Target your messages 2. Assume your target public is uninterested in your messages. 3. Set reasonable, midrange goals and objectives. Theory Seven Hierarchy of effects theory of persuasion This is a sequential representation of how advertising in particular influences a consumers decision to purchase or not a product or service. The hierarchy-of-effects theory is used to set up a structured series of message objectives with the aim of building on each successive step until the sale is achieved. Although this model is often used to plan advertising campaign it is a useful one to look at in relation to PR campaigns as often these too require a stepped approach. This thinking informs AMECs communications objectives funnel (see section on measurement and evaluation) Step 1 Exposure. Some PR programmes get no further than this just putting the message out. But just placing a message in an environment cannot guarantee it is seen or acknowledged. Step 2 Attention Even paid-for placed advertising will fail if the audience is not paying attention. A PR message must be capable of attracting attention and cutting through the noise of daily life. Complex messages have to capture even higher levels of attention, especially with attention spans diminishing as they are. Creativity, presentation and encoding are key elements at this stage. Carefully selected culturally specific and acceptable multi-sensory PR and communications techniques, using symbols, colours and music, are used to grab peoples attention and wake them up. Some aspects of attention are controlled by the potential receiver and some are involuntary responses to sensory cues. A sudden noise, for example, can get someones attention (essentially a human response mechanism to ensure quick responses to danger.) Conversely something amusing will draw attention because the receiver enjoys seeing it. Advertising practitioners may use physiological triggers like fast cut video to get and retain attention. But this is exhausting process requiring high levels of mental processing. So sometimes even though attention is gained, the desired message is lost in term sof being able to remember wht that was all about. Step 3 Involvement/Engagement Although research indicates people pay attention to sudden changes in sounds or visual effects, its true too that they stop paying attention if a message seems irrelevant, uninteresting, or distasteful. Messages that are relevant keep people interested and make them primed to absorb the information. This is essentially saying that communications needs to answer the question Whats in it for me? Once that is demonstrated, techniques like storytelling, examples and case histories and the use of novel content keeps the receiver engaged and interested. Step 4 Comprehension Keeping the receivers attention does not ensure he or she will understand the message. Step 5 Skill acquisition (learning how). Well-intentioned people may be unable to follow through on an idea if they lack the skills to do so. Potential voters without transportation to the polls will not vote; intended nonsmokers will not quit smoking without social support; interested restaurant patrons will not come if they cannot afford it; parents interested in a civic betterment program will not attend a meeting if they do not have child care. An effective campaign anticipates the target publics needs to provide the help they require. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), for example, found, through a Burke Marketing survey, that many people had a passive attitude about fire, many believed they had much more time to escape than they really do, and only 16% had developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. As a result, NFPAs 1998 Fire Safety Week promotion focused on teaching students about fire escape planning and practice, with incentives to encourage them to part icipate in a documented practice drill with their families. Although the Silver Anvil Award-winning campaign generated an enormous amount of publicity, the most dramatic result was that at least 25 lives were saved as a direct result of the families participation in the promotion. Step6 Persuasion (attitude change). Although McGuire listed this step following skills acquisition, attitude change often precedes skill development. People who lack the skills to follow through on an idea may tune out the details, figuring it is not relevant for them. Attitude change is another of the necessary but often insufficient steps in the persuasion process. Sometimes, however, attitude change is all that is necessary, particularly if the goal of a campaign is to increase a publics satisfaction with an organization in order to avoid negative consequences such as lawsuits, strikes, or boycotts. Usually, however, a campaign has an outcome behavior in mind. In that case, remember that people often have attitudes inconsistent with their behaviors. Many smokers believe smoking is a bad thing but still smoke. Many nonvoters say voting is important and they intend to vote, but they still fail to show up on election day. Step 7 Storing the new position in memory emory storage. This step is important because people receive multiple messages from multiple sources all day, every day. For them to act on your message, they need to remember it when the appropriate time comes to buy a ticket, make a telephone call, fill out a form, or attend an event. They need to be able to store the important information about your message in their memory, which may not be easy if other messages received simultaneously demand their attention. Key elements of messages, therefore, need to be communicated in ways that make them stand out for easy memorization. Step 8. Information retrieval. Simply storing information does not ensure that it will be retrieved at the appropriate time. People might remember your special event on the correct day but forget the location. Reminders or memory devices such as slogans, jingles, and refrigerator magnets can help. Step 9. Motivation (decision). This is an important step that many campaign designers forget in their own enthusiasm for their campaign goals.Remember Mendelsohns (1973) admonition that people may not be interested in the campaign? They need reasons to follow through. The benefits need to outweigh the costs. In addition, the benefits must seem realistic and should be easily obtained. The more effort required on the part of the message recipients the less likely it is that they will make that effort. If the message recipients believe a proposed behavior is easy, will have major personal benefits, or is critically important, they are more likely to act. The challenge for the program planner is to discover what will motivate the target audience successfully, an issue addressed later in this chapter. Elgin DDB of Seattle, when asked to help reduce Puget Sound curbside disposal of grass clippings by 5%, realized motivation would be an important focus. Focus groups and phone surveys indica ted that the target group, male homeowners aged 25 to 65, had an interest in grass-cycling but needed the proper tools to make it easy and practical. As a result, they arranged to recycle consumers old polluting gas mowers for free at a special event and sell Torro and Ryobi mulch mowers at below the normal retail price, with an additional rebate. With a goal of selling 3,000 mowers, they sold 5,000. They hoped to remove 1,500 gas mowers from the market and ended up recycling approximately 2,600. And, as for their original goal of reducing curbside disposal of grass clippings by 5%? They more than tripled the target amount, reducing grass clippings by 17%, winning a 1999 Silver Anvil Award. 10. Behavior. Success often is measured in terms of behaviors such as sales or attendance figures. Marketing experts, however, know that getting someones business once does not guarantee long-term success. One study (Building Customer, 1996) found that keeping customers loyal can boost profits up to 80%. As a result, the program planner needs to do everything possible to ensure that behavior attempts

The Proper Golf Stance :: Expository Process Essays

The Proper Golf Stance While there are many factors in determining the outcome of a golf shot, setting up the proper golf stance is the foundation from which all other aspects essential to hitting a perfect shot are judged as success or failure. Proper stance is made up of proper implementation of multiple factors. The entire outcome (shot) depends on setting up properly. There are three elements that comprise the proper golf stance: grip, stance, and body placement. Your grip must be firm with hands in their proper places. The stance is crucial to making your weight shift correctly. The golfers' body placement must be comfortable, with all elements in their proper places. The proper golf starting position allows for the perfect golf shot. NOTE: The stance detailed below is for a right-handed person. Your hands must be placed in on the end of the club creating a grip. The backside of the left hand should be placed even with the end of the club. The right hand should be directly below the left with both thumbs pointing down the shaft (body of the club). Next lock the right pinky finger with the left index finger, turning you hands into a single unit. The left wrist should be bowed (curved outward) and never cupped (curved inward). The golfer should squeeze the club lightly. A common analogy is to hold the club like you would a bird, tight enough so it couldn't fly away but not so tight that you could kill it. The next crucial element is the stance. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart and parallel with the ground. To line up your feet, draw an imaginary line from your back (right) foot toe to your front (left) foot toe. Notice where this imaginary line points and you have a good indication of how you are lined up and where you are aiming your shot. The players weight should be on the inside of the right foot and knee. Hold the club with the proper grip next to the left leg. The club head should rest gently on the ground, centered approximately 18 inches in front of your toes. Allow the club head to lay centered behind the golf ball so it dose not touch or move it.

Who is responsible for the downfall of Macbeth and how far does he fit the role of a Tragic hero?

In my essay I am going to be writing about who is responsible for the downfall of Macbeth and how far does he fit the role of a tragic hero. During the play we see how Macbeth's attitude changes. For example, at the beginning of the play, when he meets the witches, it is the witches want to meet him, â€Å"There to meet with Macbeth,† When he first meets them he talks in mannered voice. However after he becomes a king, he goes back to meet the witches and he is more demanding. In my opinion, there are many people responsible for Macbeth's downfall, Lady Macbeth, the witches and Macbeth himself. I am going to be discussing how they individually responsible and how they contribute to his downfall. For the second part of my essay I have been asked to discuss how far he fits the role of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is the main character who at the beginning is good, brave and noble but who changes because of a fatal flaw. A fatal flaw is a kind of mistake that is very dangerous. It could lead to lots of people suffering. I think Macbeth does fit the role of a tragic hero. He was born of Noble blood. At the begging he is a brave man, known as a noble man, and would do anything for his country and his king. â€Å"For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name,† This tells us that people at the beginning people thought that he was brave. However, at the end becomes bad and kills the king, his friend Banquo and Macduff's family. The fatal flow of Macbeth is his ambition and desire. His ambition and desire made his country and himself suffer. â€Å"My way of life is fallen into the sere.† This shows that he has realized his mistake, which is another thing related to the title ‘tragic hero'. At the end the tragic hero realizes their mistake. In my essay I will be discussing who is responsible for his downfall which leads him to become a tragic hero. Macbeth was based in the 16th century. Supernatural belief during the 16th Century was a huge part of the resulting deaths of thousands of innocent people. Many years ago, people couldn't find any evidence to what caused the natural things like lightning in the sky, rain, birth and death. Because of this, they believed that natural things were controlled by the witches. They believed that witches can do various things, for example, they can control the weather, they can predict the future, they could fly, they could swim and also mostly they were women. Some women were put in the witch test. They would drop somebody in the water and if they can swim, they were witch and they would be punished to death. If they can't swim, they would drown and die. In my opinion, the first people who could be held responsible for Macbeth's downfall are the witches. At first Macbeth was a noble and a loyal man who would never even think about killing his king. However, the witches gave him the idea of becoming king. They prophesied his future. The prophecies were: 1 WITCH: â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!† 2 WITCH: â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!† 3 WITCH: â€Å"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!† These prophecies were saying that he is the Thane of Glamis; he will become the Thane of Cawdor and would eventually become the king. At first Macbeth didn't believe in them. However, as soon he found out that he was the Thane of Cawdor, â€Å"He bade me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor.† He started to think about the prophecies again. â€Å"This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion?† On the other hand, the witches never told him to kill the king. They never told him he had to do anything. He could become the king like he became the Thane of Cawdor. In my opinion, we cannot really say they are entirely responsible for his downfall. God gave free will so he could have chosen not to listen to the witches. I think Macbeth could have ignored the witches' prophecies like Banquo. Banquo was also given prophecies. The prophecies for Banquo were: FIRST WITCH: â€Å"Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.† SECOND WITCH: â€Å"Not so happy, yet much happier.† THIRD WITCH: â€Å"Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.† Macbeth went on to not only kill the king; he also killed his friend Banquo and Macduff's family. He did this because he thought that Banquo's children would become the king and that the witches had placed a â€Å"barren sceptre† in his hand. So he tried killing Banquo's son but was failed to kill him. He wanted his children to become the king after him. Also the witches were involved in giving him the idea of killing Macduff's family. After he became the king of Scotland, he went back to the witches to find out more. They gave him three more prophecies, these prophecies were given by the witches' master, and they were: FIRST APPARITION: â€Å"Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife.† SECOND APPARITION: â€Å"Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for no one given birth to by a woman shall harm Macbeth.† THIRD APPARITION: â€Å"Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.† After hearing these prophecies, Macbeth felt invincible. He thought everyone is born of women so why should he be scared of Macduff, â€Å"Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee?† He also, after hearing the third prophecy, said â€Å"That will never be. Who can impress the forest, bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements, good! Rebellion's head, rise never, till the Wood of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth.† These prophecies led him to kill innocent people, the Macduff's family. I also think that Lady Macbeth can also be held responsible for her husband's downfall. The witches gave Macbeth the idea of becoming the king but Lady Macbeth persuaded him to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth urged her husband to commit murder and it was this action that led to Macbeth's downfall but she did not know that he would go on to kill again and again. Nevertheless, she was just responsible for the murder of King Duncan but after he decided to kill more people, like Banquo and even Macduff to hide his sins. After Lady Macbeth receives the letter about how one of the prophecies from the witches came true, she calls upon the evil spirits. â€Å"Fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty.† She knows that Macbeth is a good person and he would not kill Duncan, â€Å"Yet do I fear thy nature: it is too full o' the milk of human kindness.† In Shakespeare's time women weren't treated equal as men. She would've have had more powers because if Macbeth becomes the King, then she can become the queen. Macbeth, on the other hand, does not like the idea at first of having to kill his king to take his position. He gives lots of reason to not to kill the king, â€Å"First as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself.† He also says that Duncan has been a good king. â€Å"†¦Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will please like angels.† Lady Macbeth becomes aware of her husband's weakness, and persuades him, allowing his ambitions get the better of him, and believed that it was her responsibility to guide Macbeth to being king. She accuses him of being coward and not a man. â€Å"And live a coward in thine own esteem,† here she says that is she living with a coward. Also she says what she would do if she promised something, â€Å"How tender ‘t is to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I sworn as you have done to this.† This shows that she would have done anything she promised, although she is a woman, so he should do as he has promised to be a man. Macbeth tries to make Lady Macbeth understand the possible consequences for killing the king. He always tries to back down, â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business: he hath honoured me of late; and I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people,† but she is always calling him coward and says he is not a man. He is scared if somebody finds out. He is ready to take on the consequences of the hereafter but he is afraid of the consequences of this life. â€Å"But, in these cases, we still have judgement here,† this confirms that he knows he is going to get punished on earth, which he is scared of. The final thing that is responsible for Macbeth's downfall is Macbeth's ambition. Macbeth could not control his urges to be King. He followed his ambitions without regard to humanity or the affects his actions would have on the people around him. He carried on and listened to his wife and the witches. Macbeth had a choice but he picked the bad choice and chose to kill the king and then later decided himself to kill again and again. â€Å"I have done this deed.† Lady Macbeth only manipulated him to kill the king, but the decisions to kill and Banquo and the Macduff family were his own. He decided to kill these people listening to the prophecies of the witches. He killed Banquo, and tried to kill Banquo's son, because he didn't want Banquo's children to be the king. He decided to kill Macduff because of the prophecies that were given by the witches the second time. Evidence that shows that he wanted to become the king is he wrote the letter to his wife. He wanted support from his wife. He should not have written the letter to his wife and not let her know about the prophecies. He chose to let her know and chose to let her persuade him to kill King Duncan. Writing the letter to his wife informing her about the witches and their prophecies shows that becoming king was initially in his mind. Macbeth was not weak but his ambitions made him morally weak. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was described as a brave warrior who was loyal to his king. The king also liked him, â€Å"And, when he reads thy personal venture in the rebels' fight, his wonders and his praises do contend,† but like any other person, he had his fatal flaw. His fatal flaw was he had ambitions â€Å"vaulting ambition†. In conclusion I think that it was the witches and Lady Macbeth who are responsible for the start of his downfall. If the witches had not given him the idea of becoming a king then he probably would not have thought about becoming the king. If Lady Macbeth had not influenced him, then he probably would have stopped. However, Macbeth did listen to the witches and Lady Macbeth. Then he is the one who is actually responsible for his downfall. He is the one made the final decision and he is the one who led him self into the role of tragic hero. He made himself suffer, â€Å"My way of life is fallen into the sere.†

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence.

Rhetorical Analysis of the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is arguably the most important historical work of the pre-modern era. Because of this document, America was recognized for its brash, albeit just demands for independence from Britain. Aside from the obvious historical significance and precedence of the document, its composition was constructed in such a way that conveyed the determination of a new nation to be one in its own. Historical context and rhetorical strategies, such as appeals and fallacies, are used cohesively throughout the Declaration of Independence to convey American sentiments of independence throughout the American Revolution. Historical Background The beginnings of the American†¦show more content†¦Author: Thomas Jefferson Prior to his rise to prominence as a delegate in the Continental Congress, Jefferson was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768, where he served alongside American notables Patrick Henry and George Washington. His reputation as an awkward man of few words relegated his role to the pen. Several of his prior works, notably â€Å"A Summary View of the Rights of British America,† granted him notoriety and respect amongst revolutionary leaders. Jefferson had the most integral role in the drafting of the declaration, despite his position as the youngest of the delegates, and his clear reluctance for the task. In a quote regarding the position of the delegates, he said the task was, â€Å"unanimously pressed on myself alone to undertake the draught [†¦]. I consented; I drew it; but before I reported it to the committee I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections†¦. I then wrote a fair copy, reported it to the committee, and from them, unaltered to the Congress.† Regardless of his initial unwillingness to accept the task, Jefferson created a work which eloquently and definitively outlined the intent of the colonies. The Declaration, which consisted of an introduction, preamble, body, and conclusion, uttered the famous line, â€Å"We hold these truths toShow MoreRelatedThe Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis1639 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Declaratio n of Independence† Rhetorical Analysis Essay Composed by Thomas Jefferson and the representatives in the general congress on the historic date of July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was an expeditious response to the many acts legalized by the British Parliament prohibiting the colonists’ freedom, and a dismissal of a partition to the King by the First Continental Congress. Not only did it oppose British acts of tyranny, but it was also an incentive for many other universalRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence1678 Words   |  7 PagesState the purpose, the audience, the tone, and the speaker of the declaration The purpose is to outline the wrongs the King of Britain and Britain have committed against the colonists, and why this has caused them to want to separate from Britain. The article is written directly for King George III, but it was also for the country of Britain and the thirteen colonies to read, as well as the world to see the separation of the colonies from Britain. 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The Declaration of Independences Preamble is a significant appeal to logos on the grounds of egalitarianism and natural law. His many appeals to logic set the basis for why he believes the thirteen colonies need to secede from Great Britain. Appeals to Pathos: Thomas Jefferson and the drafters of The Decl aration of Independence madeRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis800 Words   |  4 Pages the father of our Declaration of Independence, had the same mentality as him in seeking for freedom. Jefferson decided to write this document as a way of declaring the independence of the United States from Britain. In the document, he states all the harm that Britain has done to the colonists: socially, mentally, and economically. Jefferson just like the colonist wanted peace in their lives, and freedom from the tyranny of King George III. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson usesRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis804 Words   |  4 Pages In the second paragraph of The Declaration of Independence is one of historys most regularly quoted passages. â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.† (Jefferson) The Declaration motivated the colonist to seek independence from from the King of Great Britain. Even though the Declaration was trying to point out a positive outcomeRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Slavery In The Declaration Of Independence708 Words   |  3 Pages In his letter he mentioned how freedom was a blessing from heaven, cited a part from the Declaration of Independence, and even made a reference to someone in the Bible. He used many rhetorical strategies to help argue that slavery should be outlawed, for example ethos, religious appeals, and pathos. Mr. Banneker in the second paragraph established ethos by citing a part of the Declaration of Independence. He cited the part about â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are createdRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Franklin s The Declaration Of Independence 1116 Words   |  5 Pagesparticularly in the post 9/11 era, it is an ongoing debate as to whether we should be trading some or all of our liberty for security. In the 1770’s, our founding fathers declared their independence from the British. They gave up the protection and economic security they gained from the British Empire. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote: We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;Read MoreRhetorical Analysis Essay: Cunt, a Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio1026 Words   |  5 PagesInga Muscio is a very influential writer. Over the years she has earned tremendous credibility within the feminist world. In the chapter, â€Å"Rape not Cunt,† from her well known book Cunt, a Declaration of Independence, Inga passionately writes of her feelings about violence against women. She attempts to use rhetoric and captures the reader with a call of action to help prevent further violence against women. However, although Inga Muscio had many valid points about violence against women, her rhetoricRead MoreThe Life Of Frederick Douglass Context1479 Words   |  6 PagesWith his oratorical appeals, in 1852, Douglass delivered a speech that changed the views of millions over the Fourth of July. By using th e experience Douglas has encountered as a slave, the historical context to support his argument and certain rhetorical devices, Douglass remarks a speech in order for the citizens of Rochester to be aware of the hypocrisy of American Slavery. Research As a child, Douglass escaped the harshness of field labor and was transferred to Baltimore where he was taught by