Investment Avenues in India Essay Example for Free

Investment Avenues in India Essay ABSTRACT:Each investment alternative has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some options seek to achieve superior returns (like equity), but with corresponding higher risk. Other provide safety (like PPF) but at the expense of liquidity and growth. Other options such as FDs offer safety and liquidity, but at the cost of return. Mutual funds seek to combine the advantages of investing in arch of these alternatives while dispensing with the shortcomings.Indian stock market is semi-efficient by nature and, is considered as one of the most respected stock markets, where information is quickly and widely disseminated, thereby allowing each securitys price to adjust rapidly in an unbiased manner to new information so that, it reflects the nearest investment value. And mainly after the introduction of electronic trading system, the information flow has become much faster. But sometimes, in developing countries like India, sentiments play major role in price movements, or say, fluctuations, where investors find it difficult to predict the future with certainty. Some of the events affect economy as a whole, while some events are sector specific. Even in one particular sector, some companies or major market player are more sensitive to the event. So, the new investors taking exposure in the market should be well aware about the maximum potential loss, i.e. Value at risk.It would be good to diversify ones portfolio to include equity mutual funds and stocks. The benefit of diversification are that while risk exposure from a particular asset may not be very high, it would also give the opportunity of participating in the party in the equity markets- which may have just begun- in a relatively safe manner(than investing directly into stock markets). Mutual funds are one of the best options for investors to choose from. It must be realized that the performance of different funds varies time to time. Evaluation of a fund performance is meaningful when a fund has access to an array of investment products in market. An investor can choose from a variety of funds to suit his risk tolerance, investment horizon and objective. Direct investment in equity offers capital growth but at high risk and without the benefit of diversification by professional management offered by mutual funds.INTRODUCTION:Savings form an important part of the economy of any nation. With the savings invested in various options available to the people, the money acts as the driver for growth of the country. Indian financial scene too presents a plethora of avenues to the investors. Though certainly not the best or deepest of markets in the world, it has reasonable options for an ordinary man to invest his savings. Banks are considered as the safest of all options, banks have been the roots of the financial systems in India. Promoted as the means to social development, banks in India have indeed played an important role in the rural upliftment. For an ordinary person though, they have acted as the safest investment avenue wherein a person deposits money and earns interest on it. The two main modes of investment in banks, savings accounts and fixed deposits have been effectively used by one and all.However, today the interest rate structure in the country is headed southwards, keeping in line with global trends. With the banks offering little above 9 percent in their fixed deposits for one year, the yields have come down substantially in recent times. Add to this, the inflationary pressures in economy and one has a position where the savings are not earning. The inflation is creeping up, to almost 8 percent at times, and this means that the value of money saved goes down instead of going up. This effectively mars any chance of gaining from the investments in banks. Just like banks, post offices in India have a wide network. Spread across the nation, they offer financial assistance as well as serving the basic requirements of communication. Among all saving options, Post office schemes have been offering the highest rates. Added to it is the fact that the investments are safe with the department being a Government of India entity. So, the two basic and most sought after features, such as return safety and quantum of returns was being handsomely taken care of. Though certainly not the most efficient systems in terms of service standards and liquidity, these have still managed to attract the attention of small, retail investors. However, with the government announcing its intention of reducing the interest rates in small savings options, this avenue is expected to lose some of the investors.Public Provident Funds act as options to save for the post retirement period for most people and have been considered good option largely due to the fact that returns were higher than most other options and also helped people gain from tax benefits under various sections. This option too is likely to lose some of its sheen on account of reduction in the rates offered. Another often-used route to invest has been the f ixed deposit schemes floated by companies. Companies have used fixed deposit schemes as a means of mobilizing funds for their operations and have paid interest on them. The safer a company is rated, the lesser the return offered has been the thumb rule. However, there are several potential roadblocks in these. First of all, the danger of financial position of the company not being understood by the investor lurks. The investors rely on intermediaries who more often than not, dont reveal the entire truth. Secondly, liquidity is a major problem with the amount being received months after the due dates. Premature redemption is generally not entertained without cuts in the returns offered and though they present a reasonable option to counter interest rate risk (especially when the economy is headed for a low interest regime), the safety of principal amount has been found lacking. Many cases like the Kuber Group and DCM Group fiascoes have resulted in low confidence in this option. The options discussed above are essentially for the risk-averse, people who think of safety and then quantum of return, in that order. For the brave, it is dabbling in the stock market.Stock markets provide an option to invest in a high risk, high return game. While the potential return is much more than 10-11 percent any of the options discussed above can generally generate, the risk is undoubtedly of the highest order. But then, the general principle of encountering greater risks and uncertainty when one seeks higher returns holds true. However, as enticing as it might appear, people generally are clueless as to how the stock market functions and in the process can endanger the hard-earned money.For those who are not adept at understanding the stock market, the task of generating superior returns at similar levels of risk is arduous to say the least. This is where Mutual Funds come into picture.Mutual Funds are essentially investment vehicles where people with similar investment objective come together to pool their money and then invest accordingly. Each unit of any scheme represents the proportion of pool owned by the unit holder (investor). Appreciation or reduction in value of investments is reflected in net asset value (NAV) of the concerned scheme, which is declared by the fund from time to time. Mutual fund schemes are managed by respective Asset Management Companies (AMC). Different business groups/ financial institutions/ banks have sponsored these AMCs, either alone or in collaboration with reputed international firms.Several international funds like Alliance and Templeton are also operating independently in India. Many more international Mutual Fund giants are expected to come into Indian markets in the near future.Investment alternatives in India * Non marketable financial assets: These are such financial assets which gives moderately high return but can not be traded in market.* Bank Deposits * Post Office Schemes * Company FDs * PPF * Equity shares: These are shares of company and can be traded in secondary market. Investors get benefit by change in price of share and dividend given by companies. Equity shares represent ownership capital. As an equity shareholder, a person has an ownership stake in the company. This essentially means that the person has a residual interest in income and wealth of the company. These can be classified into following broad categories as per stock market:* Blue chip shares * Growth shares * Income shares * Cyclic shares * Speculative shares * Bonds: Bonds are the instruments that are considered as a relatively safer investment avenues.* G sec bonds * GOI relief funds * Govt. agency funds * PSU Bonds * RBI BOND * Debenture of private sector co. * Money market instrument: By convention, the term money market refers to the market for short-term requirement and deployment of funds. Money market instruments are those instruments, which have a maturity period of less than one year.* T-Bills * Certificate of Deposit * Commercial Paper * Mutual Funds- A mutual fund is a trust that pools together the savings of a number of investors who share a common financial goal. The fund manager invests this pool of money in securities, ranging from shares, debentures to money market instruments or in a mixture of equity and debt, depending upon the objective of the scheme. The different types of schemes are* Balanced Funds * Index Funds * Sector Fund * Equity Oriented Funds * Life insurance: Now-a-days life insurance is also being considered as an investment avenue. Insurance premiums represent the sacrifice and the assured sum the benefit. Under it different schemes are:* Endowment assurance policy * Money back policy * Whole life policy * Term assurance policy * Real estate: One of the most important assets in portfolio of investors is a residential house. In addition to a residential house, the more affluent investors are likely to be interested in the following types of real estate:* Agricultural land * Semi urban land * Farm House * Precious objects: Investors can also invest in the objects which have value. These comprises of:* Gold * Silver * Precious stones * Art objects * Financial Derivatives: These are such instruments which derive their value from some other underlying assets. It may be viewed as a side bet on the asset. The most important financial derivatives from the point of view of investors are:* Options * FuturesDirect equity vs. mutual funds1) Equity share/Direct investment 2) Mutual funds, a brief introduction 3) Equity Fund 4) Difference between direct equity and mutual fundEquity share/Direct investmentEquity shares: These are shares of company and can be traded in secondary market. Investors get benefit by change in price of share or dividend given by companies. Equity shares represent ownership capital. As an equity shareholder, a person has an ownership stake in the company. This essentially means that the person has a residual interest in income and wealth of the company. These can be classified into following broad categories as per stock market:* Blue chip shares- Shares of large, well established, financially strong companies with an impressive record of earnings and dividends.* Growth shares-Shares of companies that have fairly entrenched positions in a growing market and which enjoy an above average rate of growth as well as profitability. * Income shares-Share of companies that have fairly stable operations, relative limited growth opportunities, and high dividend payout ratios.* Cyclic shares – Share of companies that have a pronounced cyclicality in their operations.* Defensive shares- Shares of companies that are relatively unaffected by the ups and downs in general business conditions.* Speculative shares- Shares of companies that tend to fluctuate widely because there is a lot of speculative trading in them.Mutual Funds: A brief introductionA Mutual Fund is a trust that pools the savings of a number of investors who share a common financial goal. The money thus collected is invested by the fund manager in different types of securities depending upon the objective of the scheme. These could range from shares to debentures to money market instruments. The income earned through these investments and the capital appreciations realized by the schemes are shared by its unit holders in proportion to the number of units owned by them. Thus a Mutual Fund is the most suitable investment for the common man as it offers an opportunity to invest in a diversified, professionally managed portfolio at a relatively low cost. The small savings of all the investors are put together to increase the buying power and hire a professional manager to invest and monitor the money. Anybody with an investible surplus of as little as a few thousand rupees can invest in Mutual Funds. Each Mutual Fund scheme has a defined investment objective and strategy.INCEPTION OF MUTUAL FUNDS IN INDIAThe history of mutual funds in India can be divided into 5 important phases:1963-1987The Unit Trust of India was the sole player in the industry. Created by an Act of Parliament in 1963, UTI launched its first product, the Unit Scheme 1964, which is even today the single lar gest mutual fund scheme. UTI created a number of products such as monthly income plans, children plans, equity-oriented schemes and off shore funds during this period. UTI managed assets of Rs.6,700 crores at the end of this phase.1987-1993In 1987 public sector banks and financial institutions entered the mutual fund industry. SBI mutual fund was the first non- UTI fund to be set up in 1987. Significant shift of investors from deposits to mutual fund industry happened during this period. Most funds were growth-oriented closed-ended funds. By the end of this period, assets under UTIs management grew to Rs.38,247 crores and public sector funds managed Rs.8,750 crores.1993-1996In 1993, the mutual fund industry was open to private sector players, both Indian and foreign. SEBIs first set of regulations for the industry were formulated in 1993, and substantially revised in 1996.Signifficant innovations in servicing, product design and information disclosure happened in this phase, mostly initiated by private players.1996-1999The implementation of the new SEBI regulations and the restructuring of the mutual fund industry led to rapid asset growth. Bank mutual funds were recast according to the SEBI recommended structure, and the UTI came under voluntary SEBI supervision.1999-2002This phase was marked by the rapid growth in the industry, and significant increase in market shares of private sector players. Assets crossed Rs.1,00,000 crore .The tax break offered to mutual fund in 1999 created arbitrage opportunities for a number of institutional players. Bond funds and Liquid funds registered the highest growth in this period, accounting for nearly 60% of the assets. UTIs share of the industry dropped to nearly 50%.Types of mutual funds:Open ended schemesAn open-end fund is one that is available for subscription all through the year. This type of Mutual funds does not have a predefined maturity period. The key feature is liquidity. Direct dealing is another noticeable feature. One can easily buy and sell units at Net Asset Value related prices.Close ended schemesHere maturity period is predefined usually ranging from 2 to 15 years. Investment can be done directly in the scheme at the time of the initial issue and units can be brought and sold whenever units are listed in the stock exchanges.Types of Schemes1. Equity/growth oriented Funds: Equity schemes are those that invest predominantly in equity shares of companies. An equity scheme seeks to provide returns by way of capital appreciation. As a class of assets, equities are subject to greater fluctuations. Hence, the NAVs of these schemes will also fluctuate frequently. Equity schemes are more volatile, but offer better returns.2. Balanced Funds: The aim of balanced funds is to provide both growth and regular income. Such schemes periodically distribute a part of their earning and invest both in equities and fixed income securities in the proportion indicated in their offer documents. 3. Index Funds: An Index Fund is a mutual fund that tries to mirror a market index, like Nifty or BSE Sensex , as closely as possible by investing in all the stocks that comprise that index in proportions equal to the weight age of those stocks in the index.4. Income/debt oriented Funds: These schemes invest mainly in income-bearing instruments like bonds, debentures, government securities, commercial paper, etc. These instruments are much less volatile than equity schemes. Their volatility depends essentially on the health of the economy e.g., rupee depreciation, fiscal deficit, inflationary pressure. Performance of such schemes also depends on bond ratings.1) Equity FundsAs explained earlier, such funds invest only in stocks, the riskiest of asset classes. With share prices fluctuating daily, such funds show volatile performance, even losses. However, these funds can yield great capital appreciation as, historically, equities have outperformed all asset classes. At present, there are four types of equity funds available in the market. In the increasing order of risk, these are:a) Index fundsThese funds track a key stock market index, like the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) Sensex or the NSE (National Stock Exchange) SP CNX Nifty. Hence, their portfolio mirrors the index they track, both in terms of composition and the individual stock weightages. For instance, an index fund that tracks the Sensex will invest only in the Sensex stocks. The idea is to replicate the performance of the benchmarked index to near accuracy. Index funds dont need fund managers, as there is no stock selection involved.Investing through index funds is a passive investment strategy, as a funds performance will invariably mimic the index concerned, barring a minor tracking error. Usually, theres a difference between the total returns given by a stock index and those given by index funds benchmarked to it. Termed as tracking error, it arises because the index fund charges m anagement fees, marketing expenses and transaction costs (impact cost and brokerage) to its unit holders. So, if the Sensex appreciates 10 per cent during a particular period while an index fund mirroring the Sensex rises 9 per cent, the fund is said to have a tracking error of 1 per cent.To illustrate with an example, assume you invested Rs 1,000 in an index fund based on the Sensex on 1 April 1978, when the index was launched (base: 100). In August, when the Sensex was at 3.457, your investment would be worth Rs 34,570, which works out to an annualised return of 17.2 per cent. A tracking error of 1 per cent would bring down your annualised return to 16.2 per cent. Obviously, lower the tracking error, the better are the index funds.b) Diversified fundsSuch funds have the mandate to invest in the entire universe of stocks. Although by definition, such funds are meant to have a diversified portfolio (spread across industries and companies), the stock selection is entirely the prerogative of the fund manager. This discretionary power in the hands of the fund manager can work both ways for an equity fund. On the one hand, astute stock-picking by a fund manager can enable the fund to deliver market-beating returns; on the other hand, if the fund managers picks languish, the returns will be far lower. Returns from a diversified fund depend a lot on the fund managers capabilities to make the right investment decisions. A portfolio concentrated in a few sectors or companies is a high risk, high return proposition.c) Tax-saving fundsAlso known as ELSS or equity-linked savings schemes, these funds offer benefits under Section 88 of the Income-Tax Act. So, on an investment of up to Rs 10,000 a year in an ELSS, one can claim a tax exemption of 20 per cent from his taxable income. One can invest more than Rs 10,000, but then he wont get the Section 88 benefits for the amount in excess of Rs 10,000. The only drawback to ELSS is that one has to lock into the scheme for three years.In terms of investment profile, tax-saving funds are like diversified funds. The one difference is that because of the three year lock-in clause, tax-saving funds get more time to reap the benefits from their stock picks, unlike plain diversified funds, whose portfolios sometimes tend to get dictated by redemption compulsions.d) Sector fundsThe riskiest among equity funds, sector funds invest only in stocks of a specific industry, say IT or FMCG. A sector funds NAV will zoom if the sector performs well; however, if the sector languishes, the schemes NAV too will stay depressed. Barring a few defensive, evergreen sectors like FMCG and pharma, most other industries alternate between periods of strong growth and bouts of slowdowns. The way to make money from sector funds is to catch these cycles–get in when the sector is poised for an upswing and exit before it slips back.2) Difference between direct equity and mutual fundsA mutual fund is the ideal investment vehicle for todays complex and modern financial scenario. Markets for equity shares, bonds and o ther fixed income instruments, real estate, derivatives and other assets have become mature and information driven. Price changes in these assets are driven by global events occurring in faraway places. A typical individual is unlikely to have the knowledge, skills, inclination and time to keep track of events, understand their implications and act speedily. An individual also finds it difficult to keep track of ownership of his assets, investments, brokerage dues and bank transactions etc.Investing in Mutual Fund is convenient because of two basic reasons. All investment carry risks, especially equity investment that bears larger risks, their returns are more volatile and uneven. To cut down the risk one needs to put money in several instruments rather than in one or two products. A Mutual Fund can effectively spread its investments across various sectors of the economy and amongst several products. Risk diversification is the Key. Secondly where to invest and where not to, is a specialized business. One may not have the expertise, time and resources of a well-managed fund.ADVANTAGES OF A MUTUAL FUND1. Professional ManagementQualified professionals manage money, but they are not alone. They have a research team that continuously analyses the performance and prospects of companies. They also select suitable investments to achieve the objectives of the scheme, so you see that it is a continuous process that takes time and expertise that will add value to investment. These fund managers are in a better position to manage investments and get higher returns.2. DiversificationThe clichà ©, dont put all eggs in one basket really applies to the concept of intelligent investing. Diversification lowers risk of loss by spreading money across various industries. It is a rare occasion when all stocks decline at the same time and in the same proportion. Sector funds will spread investment across only one industry and it would not be wise for portfolio to be skewed towards these types of funds for obvious reasons.3. Choice of SchemesMutual funds offer a variety of schemes that will suit investors needs over a lifetime. When they enter a new stage in life, all needed to do is sit down with investment advisor who will help to rearrange portfolio to suit altered lifestyle. 4. AffordabilityA small investor may find that it is not possible to buy shares of larger corporations. Mutual funds generally buy and sell securities in large volumes that allow investors to benefit from lower trading costs. The smallest investor can get started on mutual funds because of the minimal investment requirements. One can invest with a minimum of Rs. 500 in a Systematic Investment Plan on a regular basis.5. Tax BenefitsInvestments held by investors for a period of 12 months or more qualify for Capital gains and will be taxed accordingly (10% of the amount by which the investment appreciated, or 20% after factoring in the benefit of cost indexation, whichever is lower). These investments also get the benefit of indexation.6. LiquidityWith open-end funds, you can redeem all or part of investment any time you wish and receive the current value of the shares or the NAV related price. Funds are more liquid than most investments in shares, deposits and bonds and the process is standardized, making it quick and efficient so that you can get cash in hand as soon as possible. 7. Rupee Cost AveragingThrough using this concept of investing the same amount regularly, mutual funds give investor the advantage of getting the average unit price over the long-term. This reduces risk and also allows you to discipline self by actually investing every month or quarterly and not making sporadic investments.8. The Transparency of Mutual FundsThe performance of a mutual fund is reviewed by various publications and rating agencies, making it easy for investors to compare one to the other. Once you are part of a mutual fund scheme, you are provided with regular updates, for example daily NAVs, as well as information on the specific investments made and the fund managers strategy and outlook of the scheme.9. Easy To AdministerMutual funds units in modern times are not issued in the form of certificates, with a minimum denomination rather they are issued as account statement switch a facility to hold units in fraction upto 4 decimal points.10. Highly RegulatedThe governing of mutual funds by SEBI ensures that the fund activities are carried out in the best interest of the investors. DISADVANTAGES OF MUTUAL FUNDSThe following are some of the reasons which are deterrent to mutual fund investment: * Costs despite Negative Returns — Investors must pay sales charges, annual fees, and other expenses regardless of how the fund performs. And, depending on the timing of their investment, investors may also have to pay taxes on any capital gains distribution they receive — even if the fund went on to perform poorly after they bought shares. * Lack of Control — Investors typically cannot ascertain the exact make-up of a funds portfolio at any given time, nor can they directly influence which securities the fund manager buys and sells or the timing of those trades. * Price Uncertainty — with an individual stock, you can obtain real-time (or close to real-time) pricing information with relative ease by checking financial websites or by calling your broker. You can also monitor how a stocks price changes from hour to hour — or even second to second. By contrast, with a mutual fund, the price at which you purchase or redeem shares will typically depend on the funds NAV, which the fund might not calculate until many hours after youve placed your order. In general, mutual funds must calculate their NAV at least once every business day, typically after the major U.S. exchanges close.Some mutual fund schemes with the point of attractiveness to investors -Comparison of best performing mutual funds with index Equity schemes:Equity schemes are those that invest predominantly in equity shares of companies. An equity scheme seeks to provide returns by way of capital appreciation. As a class of assets, equities are subject to greater fluctuations. Hence, the NAVs of these schemes will also fluctuate frequently. Equity schemes are more volatile, but offer better returns. These can be further classified into three types:1. Diversified Equity schemes:The aim of diversified equity funds is to provide the investor with capital appreciation over a medium to long period (generally 2 – 5 years). The fund invests in equity shares of companies from a diverse array of industries and balances (or tries to) the portfolio so as to prevent any adverse impact on returns due to a downturn in one or two sectors.2. Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS):These schemes generally offer tax rebates to the investor under section 88 of the Income Tax law. These schemes generally diversify the equity risk by investing in a wider array of stocks across sectors. ELSS is usually considered a variant of diversified equity scheme but with a tax friendly offer3. Sectoral Fund/ Industry Specific schemes:Industry Specific Schemes invest only in the industries specified in the offer document. The investment of these funds is limited to specific industries like InfoTech, FMCG, and Pharmaceuticals etc. These are ideal for investors who have already decided to invest in particular sector or segment. Sectoral Funds tend to have a very high risk-reward ratio and investors should be careful of putting all their eggs in one basket.CONCLUSION:In the current scenario, investing is very important and investing in stock markets is a major challenge ever for professionals. The young people should start investing earlier so that they can reap the benefits of investing in future. People should keep their eye open and keep updating themselves about various investment avenues so that they can get safe returns. BIBILIOGRAPHY: 1. Anjan Chakrabarti and Harsh Rungta, 2000, Mutual Funds Industry in India :An in-depth look into the problems of credibility, Risk and Brand ,The ICFAI Journal of Applied Finance, Vol.6, No.2, April, 27-45. 2. Bhalla V.K., Investment Management, S.Chand Company Ltd., Eleventh Edition, 2004 3. Bodie, Kane, Marcus Security Analysis and Portfolio Management, 5th edition Tata Mc Graw hill publications. 4. Customer Orientation in Designing Mutual Fund Products, -An Analytical Approach to Indian Market Preferences, Dr Tapan K Panda, Faculty Member, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. 5. FISHER AND JORDEN (2000): Security analysis and portfolio management, Prentice hall. 6. L.M.BHOLE (2005) : Financial institutions and market, Tata Mcgraw – hill. 7. Preparatory Books For AMFI Exam ;NJ Investment India Pvt. Ltd. Edition June 09 8. Review Of Marketing Research, Volume 5: K. Naresh Malhotra: 9. V.A.AVADHANI (2006): Security analysis and portfolio management, Himalaya publishing house. 6thEdition. |

The Family Reunion :: Reunion

The Family Reunion T.S. Elliott's "The Family Reunion" is a play about the return to home, and the looking back at ghosts of the past. The play starts with Harry returning to his boyhood home for his mother's birthday. The plot centers around Harry's return, the mystery surrounding his wife's death, and his family's desire to have Harry take over the role as head of the household. It's an anticipated return, one that they all have been waiting for. There are concurrent plots threading through the work, such as the mystery involving his own father's death and disappearance, Harry's schizophrenia and Mary's return to the family as well as her inability to leave. In Scene II of "The Family Reunion", Mary and Harry meet in the drawing room, waiting for the family dinner (reunion) to begin. Mary & Harry are second cousins, both growing up in Wishwood. Harry has returned after an absence of eight years, and mysterious death of his wife at sea. There's a recurring thread of "waiting" that runs through the play: waiting for Harry's return, waiting for dinner to begin, waiting for Harry's brothers to appear, waiting for the other guests. In waiting for Harry's return to Wishwood, everything in the house has been kept the way it was when he left. "I had only just noticed that this room is quite unchanged: The same hangings...the same pictures...even the table, the chairs, the sofa...all in the same positions. I was looking to see if anything was changed, but if it is so, I can't find it." The unchanged room symbolizes the Harry of his youth, and the person that Harry is hoping to find when he returns. It also symbolizes his family's inabi lity to accept the fact that Harry has moved on. Their longing to keep life the same. In this scene Mary and Agatha have been waiting for Harry to appear for dinner. Agatha exits and Mary alone says, "Waiting, waiting, always waiting, I think this house means to keep us waiting." Harry, returning from Wishwood after eight years discusses his longing to return back to his childhood home. (The home theme this semester.) His return to Wishwood is actually his need to make peace with his past, his loss of his father and the confines of his childhood. By returning to Wishwood he also is looking to escape his recent past, and his inability to live in the present. The Family Reunion :: Reunion The Family Reunion T.S. Elliott's "The Family Reunion" is a play about the return to home, and the looking back at ghosts of the past. The play starts with Harry returning to his boyhood home for his mother's birthday. The plot centers around Harry's return, the mystery surrounding his wife's death, and his family's desire to have Harry take over the role as head of the household. It's an anticipated return, one that they all have been waiting for. There are concurrent plots threading through the work, such as the mystery involving his own father's death and disappearance, Harry's schizophrenia and Mary's return to the family as well as her inability to leave. In Scene II of "The Family Reunion", Mary and Harry meet in the drawing room, waiting for the family dinner (reunion) to begin. Mary & Harry are second cousins, both growing up in Wishwood. Harry has returned after an absence of eight years, and mysterious death of his wife at sea. There's a recurring thread of "waiting" that runs through the play: waiting for Harry's return, waiting for dinner to begin, waiting for Harry's brothers to appear, waiting for the other guests. In waiting for Harry's return to Wishwood, everything in the house has been kept the way it was when he left. "I had only just noticed that this room is quite unchanged: The same hangings...the same pictures...even the table, the chairs, the sofa...all in the same positions. I was looking to see if anything was changed, but if it is so, I can't find it." The unchanged room symbolizes the Harry of his youth, and the person that Harry is hoping to find when he returns. It also symbolizes his family's inabi lity to accept the fact that Harry has moved on. Their longing to keep life the same. In this scene Mary and Agatha have been waiting for Harry to appear for dinner. Agatha exits and Mary alone says, "Waiting, waiting, always waiting, I think this house means to keep us waiting." Harry, returning from Wishwood after eight years discusses his longing to return back to his childhood home. (The home theme this semester.) His return to Wishwood is actually his need to make peace with his past, his loss of his father and the confines of his childhood. By returning to Wishwood he also is looking to escape his recent past, and his inability to live in the present.

Lebanese Delight

A Lebanese Delight Silent Thesis: Today I am going to inform you about a Middle Eastern side dish called Tabouli or Tabouleh. I. Introduction A. Have you ever stumbled on the Lebanese cuisine more specifically on their various types of food? 1. I’m sure all of you have had a taste of a Middle Eastern dish one point in your life, whether you knew it or not. 2. Just look for a whole table, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, filled with a feast and that is a Middle Eastern tradition except followed everyday. . When I was younger and even until this day I am faced with Middle Eastern hospitality of getting food constantly shoved in my face, but this is how I was introduced to my favorite salad, Tabouleh. b. No matter how hard you try to resist these full course meals, Middle Eastern women are stubborn and would not allow you to leave their house without the proper intake of their food, and I’m talking non-stop service. B. Being Lebanese I am constantly surrounded by the food and culture but whose to argue. C.Today I am going to talk to you about a specific side dish called Taboulie or Tabouleh. 1. First, I will tell you the history of where Tabouleh originated from to get a feel of the eating style in the region of the Lebanese cuisine. 2. Then, I will tell you what Tabouleh is considered to be in the Lebanese Culture. 3. Lastly, I will tell you what Tabouleh consists of. D. I will begin by telling you about the Lebanese Cuisine. II. The Lebanese cuisine is extremely rich in flavors and colors and yet often offers recipes easy to prepare and suitable for a healthy diet. A.According to the book The Complete Middle Eastern Cookbook written in the year 2000 by Tess Mallos, an author and consultant to advertising companies, she states, foreign influences have been felt widely in the area, of Beirut. 1. Lebanon has been ruled by foreign powers and as a result they have influenced the types of food the Lebanese ate. 2. According to the book Mediterranean Cooking written by Andrea Chesman in 2005 she writes, â€Å"Middle Eastern cooking is based in the peasant traditions of the farmers and nomadic peoples who have inhabited the region for thousands of years. a. It’s ancient cuisine and many of the same dishes described in Egyptian texts and in the Bible are still eaten in the Middle East today. b. Its influence was spread all around the Mediterranean. B. The food of the entire Mediterranean region is considered to be a celebration of life. 1. It is fresh, flavorful, and diverse and the cuisine of Lebanon is, as a whole, the Mediterranean diet. a. It includes starches, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood. b. Red meat is eaten less often than poultry, and usually the only red meat is lamb. . Along with the Lebanese cuisines’ flavors, comes a large amount of garlic and olive oil. a. Joe George a chef and culinary educator writes in his article titled Ethnic Cuisine: Lebanon in 2001, that these two ingredients, olive oil a nd garlic, are an essential part in Lebanon and usually a typical meal consists of them. b. Sanaa Abourezk, an author and chef writes in her book titled Secrets of Healthy Middle Eastern Cuisine in 2005 that other than in a few deserts, butter or cream is rarely used and is replaced by olive oil. C.The cuisine of Lebanon focuses on herbs, spices and the freshness of ingredients, the combinations of the dishes are almost limitless. 1. In her book, Tess Mallos writes about the ingredients used for Arabic cooking. 2. It is almost essential that every Arabic or Middle Eastern household stock up on fine and coarse burghul, Tahini, dried beans, chick peas, dried mint and a spice mix called za’tar. 3. Anissa Helou in her book written in 1994 titled Lebanese Cuisine, she mentions that finding fresh vegetables and fruits would be common and is essential diet in the Lebanese Cuisine. D.Now that you have learned about the history of the Lebanese Cuisine, I am going to inform you of what Tabouleh is considered to be in the Lebanese Culture. III. To understand the various types of food you must also understand the Middle Eastern hospitality and when different dishes are served. A. Tess Mallos writes in her cookbook that Middle Eastern hospitality is frequently expressed with the offering of mezze. 1. Mezze is an array of small dishes which portray different colors, flavors, textures, and aromas, basically they are appetizers, and are only limited by the availability of ingredients and the ability of the cook to prepare them. . These various types of appetizers can be cooked on a minutes notice so it can be very quickly but efficiently. b. Mezze may be as simple as pickled vegetables, hummus, bread, Baba Ghannouj, lebneh, Tabouleh, or it can become an entire meal consisting of grilled marinated seafood, skewered meats and a variety of cooked and raw salads. 2. These appetizers can be refrigerated, frozen, and later when entertaining guests, defrosted. 3. Almost all t ypes of mezze are served with the Arabic flat bread also known as pita bread, which is basically a replacement for a fork.B. Tabouleh is one of the most common types of zesty salad appetizers in the Lebanese culture. D. Now that you have learned about the history of the Lebanese Cuisine as well as what it’s considered to be in the Lebanese culture, I am going to inform you of a specific dish called Tabouleh. IV. According to Claudia Roden, a food writer, she writes in her book titled The New Book of Middle Eastern Food in 2000 that Tabbouleh has been around for about 4,000 years. A.Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern salad thought to have originated in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon in the mountain region of Zahle. 1. Tabouleh was one of the local mountain-village foods offered in the cafes and spread far and wide. a. According to Claudia Roden, it started as a â€Å"relatively substantial salad that was rich with Bulgur but was transformed later into an all-green herby affair. † b. Bulgur is basically cracked wheat, that has been boiled and dried, then ground, and it is the basis of many salads in the Middle East, Tabouleh has become one of the famous ones. . Tabouleh’s primary ingredients are burghul, finely chopped parsley, mint, tomato, scallion and other herbs with lemon juice, olive oil and various seasonings. 3. In the hometown Tabouleh is traditionally served with a lettuce leaf, but in the United States it’s eaten with pita bread as a dip. B. Tabouleh is considered to be one of the main salads one will find at every table of a Lebanese family. V. Conclusion. A. The Lebanese Cuisine can be more complicated than one can assume. 1. One simple dish can have a bigger background to it, a deeper origin. 2.I am sure all of you have tried a Middle Eastern dish one point in your life. B. If you have not, well today you have learned what to look for when you come across a Lebanese dish, and what the origin of Tabouleh is. C. We learned three t hings. 1. First, we learned about the history of where Tabouleh originated from and the Lebanese Cuisine. 2. Second, we learned what Tabouleh is considered to be in the Lebanese culture. 3. Lastly, we learned about what Tabouleh consists of. D. The next time you come across a Lebanese dish, more specifically a salad, you now know what to look for.

An Analysis of Macbeths Ambition

Ambition is the driving force of  William Shakespeares tragedy Macbeth. More specifically, it is about ambition that goes unchecked by any concept of morality; this is why it becomes a dangerous quality. Macbeth’s ambition inspires most of his actions, and that results in the deaths of numerous characters and the ultimate downfall of both himself and Lady Macbeth. The Sources of Ambition in Macbeth Macbeth’s ambition is driven by a number of factors. For one, he has a deep internal desire for power and advancement. However, that is not exactly why he turns to crime. It takes two outside forces to ignite this hunger and push him to take violent action to obtain power. Prophecies: Throughout the play, the Macbeth witches make a number of prophecies, including that Macbeth will become king. Macbeth believes them each time, and often uses the predictions to decide his next actions, such as killing Banquo. While the prophecies always turn out to be true, it is unclear whether they are preordained instances of fate or self-fulfilling via the manipulation of characters like Macbeth.Lady Macbeth: The witches may have planted the initial seed in Macbeth’s mind to act on his ambition, but his wife is the one who pushes him to murder. Lady Macbeth’s persistence encourages Macbeth to put aside his guilt and kill Duncan, telling him to focus on his ambition, not his conscience. Controlling Ambition Macbeth’s ambition soon spirals out of control and forces him to murder again and again to cover up his previous wrongdoings. His first victims of this are the chamberlains who are framed by Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan and killed as â€Å"punishment.† Later in the play, Macbeth’s fear of Macduff incites him to pursue not only Macduff but also his family. The unnecessary murder of Lady Macduff and her children are the clearest example of Macbeth losing control over his ambition. Balancing Ambition and Morality We also see a more honorable take on ambition in Macbeth. To test Macduff’s loyalty, Malcolm pretends to be greedy, lustful, and power-hungry. When Macduff responds by condemning him and crying out for the future of Scotland under such a king, he shows his allegiance to the country and refusal to submit to tyrants. This reaction from Macduff, along with Malcolms choosing to test him in the first place, demonstrates that moral code in positions of power is more important than the ambition to get there, especially blind ambition. Consequences The consequences of ambition in â€Å"Macbeth† are dire—not only are a number of innocent people killed, but Macbeth’s life also ends with him being known as a tyrant, a significant downfall from the noble hero he begins as. Most importantly, Shakespeare gives neither Macbeth nor Lady Macbeth the opportunity to enjoy what they have gained—perhaps suggesting that it is more satisfying to achieve your goals fairly than acquire them through corruption. Does Violent Ambition End With Macbeth? At the end of the play, Malcolm is the victorious king and Macbeth’s burning ambition has been extinguished. But is this really the end to over-reaching ambition in Scotland? The audience is left to wonder if Banquo’s heir will eventually become king as prophesied by the trio of witches. If so, will he act on his own ambition to make this happen, or will fate play a part in realizing the prophecy?