Debate on Genetically Modified Food Essay Example for Free

Debate on Genetically Modified Food Essay For millions of years, the world has evolved and developed, by selective breeding to adapt into the society, which it is today. Natural adaptations and changes have occurred in various species of plants and animals, which even modern scientists cannot explain. Our world has survived for well forever, without genetically enhanced produce, so why should it invade humanity now, just because we can? Many scientists, who are in favour of GM foods, claim that it is simply the next step on from selective breeding; however they seem to have overlooked one difference. Genetic modification of anything requires the introduction of alien genes into a species, to modify it and this is certainly not a natural process. For example, GM Soya has been modified using genes that will make it resistant to certain herbicides, such as roundup. Although this may seem like a good thing on the surface, what happens when the pollen from these GM foods is passed on to native species? Aspects like this seem to have been overlooked. It is also a worry, because genetic engineering can be very unpredictable and the damaging effects of GM foods irreversible; if left unconfined it could get out of control. It is possible to end up creating harmful characteristics such as toxins unawares. This doesnt necessarily condemn GMOs but it proves the unpredictability of genetic manipulation. The establishment for GM foods is keen to cover up any findings, which may turn people against GM foods, (possibly due to the huge profits involved). One particular scientist, in a report from the Rowett Research Institute, had been independently researching the effects of GM potatoes on rats. What his studies found was that they had a detrimental effect on the immune system and the growth of the rats. However when the establishment found this out, this man was reduced from being a well-respected researcher to a mad cap scientist. Although it is agreed that genetically modifying grain to include beta-carotene (vitamin C) may aid hunger and poor eyesight problems in third world countries, there is a large-scale scandal going on among large biotech companies, who want to increase their already large profits. GM food production, gives larger firms a loop hole in which they are able to abuse the power of modifying these crops to their own specification. Recently, there have been reports that these companies have developed doomsday seeds, which they want to sell onto the world market particularly the struggling third world. These seeds have been genetically modified, so that once they have grown, the seeds they produce will genetically destroy themselves. These seeds may be an excellent money-spinner for the firms who sell them, but surely it is morally and ethically wrong to sell such seeds to poor and starving countries? The companies also have the added leverage over other seed producers because they are able to genetically modify their plants to grow faster and thus their seeds are cheaper than others. These people in the third world will eventually be forced into a downward spiral of having to buy new crops every year, because they are unable to afford the more expensive normal seeds. And what would happen if these genes happened to escape into the environment? GM genes may spread into wild populations with unpredictable and potentially harmful consequences; In this case, they may even cause crops to produce sterile seeds, which could have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. If we are to have confidence in GM foods, then larger businesses should be kept out of research. The way GM foods are being exploited by powerful corporations is a threat to democracy. These crops are unsustainable in light of longer-term plans and the great majority of the GM market is focussed more on profit rather than improving our diet. Insufficient testing has taken place to ensure their safety for public consumption. Research should be carried out independently, to assess whether such foods would be a benefit to our society and the effects it will have on the eco-system. Only then should they be allowed onto the market.

Dramatic Techniques in Hamlet

Dramatic Techniques in Hamlet A text is exposed as remarkable and memorable as a result of the innovative ideas and the dramatic execution that carry them from writer to audience. Shakespeares theatrical play, Hamlet, exemplifies this fundamental interaction as it underscores the innate human state of indecisiveness, driven by a confrontation between the desires of an individual and the actions of others. Bear[ing] our hearts in grief a state of madness is seen to manifest, and Hamlet ultimately unfurls as a work underpinned by a preoccupation with death, in a great tragedy that will eventually cry on havoc. Shakespeare explores the universal notion of indecisiveness, as his protagonist grapples with actions that contravene historical and contemporary notions of morality. Such indecision in action is explored extensively through Hamlets procrastination concerning vengeance for a dear father murderd. Struggling with the divisiveness of slaughtering Claudius, Hamlets brooding soliloquies best reveal his indecision and apathetic intellectualism. The rhetorical musing To be or not to bewhether tis nobler in the mind to suffer or to take arms against a sea of troubles exhibits, in its mere length, Hamlets universal struggle with morality and hesitancy. Positioned to slaughter Claudius in Act 3 Scene 3, Hamlet rationalises his inaction and indecision, To take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No. Hamlet, tormented by his indecisiveness, is thrust into a reality of otherworldly composites as he identifies with Queen Hecuba and acts out his murderous in tentions through the theatrical slaying of the player king. Stating I, impregnant of my causeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦can say nothing, Shakespeare metaphorically alludes to his inability to exercise courage and determination. Emasculated as he stands barred from his rightful position as King, Hamlets ingrained allegiance to his mother appears to be the root of his indecisiveness. Instructed to Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother, it is only following Gertrudes death that Hamlet can proclaim The kings to blame venom to thy work! and poison Claudius, as highlighted in O.B. Hardisons analysis of Hamlet. Comparably confronted with the death of a father, Laertes overcomes his ambivalence regarding revenge or forbearance, resonating through his contracted and emphatic resolve to cut [Hamlets] throat ithchurch. As a foil to Hamlets indecisiveness Laertes vigour immediately juxtaposes Hamlets procrastination and leads to the rhetorical inquiry Am I a coward? which undoubt edly reveals Hamlets hamartia indecisiveness as a most human, and universal flaw. The universal relevance of Hamlet is evidently best seen in the universality of its protagonist, and the humanity of his flaws, including his consumption by grief. Emphasised with a sense of antithesis, the musing To be or not to be arouses a sense of Hamlets existential nature, as a Machiavellian Renaissance man, willing the freedom to leave his grief ridden mortal coil. Polarising the notions of freedom and damnation in the face of grief, Shakespeare manipulates Ophelia as a foil to Hamlet as she continues the path of suicide to its fruition. A dishonorable act devoid of justification, Ophelias shuffle off her mortal coil and grief is foreshadowed as universally present by naturalistic motifs, asserting I would give you/some violets, but they withered all when my father/died. The dramatic juxtaposition of Hamlet and Ophelia exposes Shakespeares perception that the veiled madness of grief is more pernicious and universally relevant than the antic disposition barbaric Denmark defines as true madness. This is linguistically highlighted through Hamlets poetic declarations Which passes show, the trappings and the suits of woe as paralleled by Ophelia They bore him bare-faced on the bierà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and in his grave rained many a tear. Institution of gender segregation in grief emerges hereafter as only Ophelias crazed state in Act 4 Scene 5 is identified as true madness causing those around her to give her good watch, disparate to Hamlets alienating madness which is disregarded as unmanly grief. The aphoristic notion that wise men knowwhat monsters you make of them serves to highlight Hamlets ingrained distrust for women catalysed by his grief, and is reflexively recognised as he states It hath made me mad. The notion that grief is manifestly inimitable emerges as the consequences of Hamlets grief extend to both misogyny and the deaths of many courtiers, whereas Ophelias madness is brief and auto-retributive. This universal element appears as an integral cros s-contextual statement serving to highlight the deference that must be shown in the face of grief. Shakespeare further explores the manifestation of grief as a universal predecessor to preoccupation with death. The universal relevance of death itself is underscored as Hamlet reflects Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust, paralleling the death of Yorrick and Alexander the Great through the timeless power of death. Raised in Act 1 Scene 2, Hamlet instigates his exploration of death, had the Everlastingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦not fixd/His canon gainst self-slaughter! Ruled unconscionable by the allusion to the Christian doctrine, as a display of weakness and melancholy, discussed in J. Nosworthys dissertation of Hamlet, preoccupation with death is relegated to the domain of vengeancefor a dear father murderd. It is this dramatic manipulation of Hamlets obsession with death which unifies the protagonist and humankind as a whole. Hamlets obsession is seen to manifest in the ghostly appearance of Old Hamlet, as Shakespeare employs fast-paced, interrogation-style dial ogue to engage the audience His beard was grizzled, no? and, Looked he frowningly? The ghosts apparition acts as a vessel to communicate the inherent concern for the afterlife and explores the potential associated with purgatory and supernatural trapping to the earth. A looming figure, the ghost is arguably a metaphor for Hamlets preoccupation with death despite his uncertainty regarding the validity of such a presence O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else / And shall I couple hell O fie! It is this ambiguity regarding death that perhaps allows for Hamlets impulsive rejection or acceptance of responsibility for the deaths of those around him. The dramatic lack of discourse surrounding Hamlets murder of Polonius and his unsettling indifference towards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern They are not near my conscience exposes the sociopathic manifestation of deathly obsession which allegorically claims Hamlets life. Realised in a Feudal context, this dangerously universal fixatio n is a theme that remains edifying for a contemporary audience and enlightens individuals to the peril of fixation. Though Shakespeares thematic explorations are manifest in a context bearing little resemblance to that of the 21st Century, it is through critical thematic and linguistic analysis that much is revealed about human nature today. Having devised such a dramatic triad of tragedy, Shakespeare presents the audience with notions regarding human nature and the universal notion that an individual will be subject to thine own treachery.

Female Representation on the Board of Directors :: womens studies, business

Hillman, Shropshire and Cannella (2007) seeks to answer the question of why do some organizations have women on their board of directors while others do not? This review will seek to identify the objective of the study; basic assumptions and theories deployed; identify the hypothesis and research methodologies used in testing the assumptions, and discuss the results before reaching a conclusion. The research question is appropriate because it focused on the characteristics organisations have that are likely pointers to the level of female representation on its board. Previous research looked at female representations based on work group level (e.g Cox & Nkomo, 1991; Milliken & Martins, 1996) or on an individual level. In addition, despite the several agitations and literatures that show the accrued benefits of having more women on board( e.g Blackman, 2004; Browder, 1995; Gasparino &Boyce, 1998), recent statistics shows that men still hold a greater number of seats on boards of US firms. Schnake et al (2006:31). What could be the reason for this? What are the common attributes/characteristics of these organisations where there are women on their boards? These were referred to as organisational predictors. According to Hillman et al, focusing on organizational characteristics that are predictive of women on corporate boards allows us to systematically explore under what conditions a firm’s board is more likely to include female directors (2007:941). This represents the underlying objective of this study. In achieving this, references were made to existing theory and hypotheses were developed and tested. The resource dependence theory was used as the theoretical framework in the search to answers for these questions. It examines the interdependence between organizations and entities in their external environment. Pfeffer, Pfeffer & Salancik, cited in Hillman et al (2007:942). The Resource dependence theory is also, hinged on the fact that no organisation can succeed without the derived benefits they get from external entities. This remains a crucial factor in board recruitment and female board members can provide such benefits to their organisations. The article is based on deductive research, which entails testing of hypotheses derived from existing theories and concept (Gummesson as cited in University of Leicester 2008:187). The hypotheses tested were as follows 1. Organisational size is positively associated with female representation on a board of directors 2. Firms in industries with greater female employment bases are positively associated with female representation on boards of directors 3. A firm’s level of diversification is positively associated with female representation on its board of directors

Huck Finn Freedom :: essays papers

Huck Finn Freedom It is no surprise that a book that elegantly combines American History, culture, and moral dilemmas along with controversial issues has become a classic novel. This novel’s effects were felt from coast to coast and its presence shaped the nation as no other has ever done. Therefore, it remains no surprise that what many people regard as the first truly American novel, set in the 1840s and written after the American Civil War, should have at its heart the issue that divided the nation, slavery. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn illustrates a slave’s escape from freedom and a boy’s escape from society’s standards, a plot in which the entire theme of freedom and bondage occurs. Twain utilizes freedom as a main theme in this novel in order to illustrate the constant struggle to escape psychological and social imprisonment. Huck’s initiation into adulthood seems to show his inner struggle with the problem of being free from the grips of society. Huck is stuck in a world that he does not respond to. While in captivation, Huckleberry is not the person who he wants to be. He cannot seem to escape the grips of society. As points out, â€Å"Jim can say as soon as he escapes from Ms. Watson, ‘I owns myself,’ while Huck is still ‘owned’ by the official values supervised by his conscience. Huck is not only imprisoned by society but by the grips of his own mind. Due to the abusive relations of his father, Huck is imprisoned by the idea of survival. A healthy person, as demonstrated by noted psychologist Abraham Maslow, is able to meet self-actualization needs. However, Huck Finn on the table of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is stuck at safety needs. Because of his father’s attitude towards him, Huck needs to take care of his safety needs until he is able to fe el secure. When he finally feels secure, he will move from safety needs to love and belongingness needs. However, in order to fulfill these safety needs, Huck must escape from society but, â€Å"he is a fugitive from society who cannot be alone†(219 ). Clearly, Huck is trapped between existing as a prisoner to society or as a prisoner to his own lonesomeness. â€Å"In lighting out, Huck preserves his independence but also commits himself once more to isolation†.

Motivational Theories and Factors Essay

According to DuBrin, â€Å"†¦motivation is an energizing force that stimulates arousal, direction, and persistence of behavior† (2004, p. 121). It is the force inside the individual and process which allows us to get others to put forth effort. There are many motivational theories that can be used to motivate others (DuBrin, 2004). In the workplace, managers may need to find ways to motivate their employees. Three ways a manager might motivate their employees are: Setting goals, using operant conditioning to change behaviors, and using monetary incentives. These may all be used to motivate employees (DuBrin, 2004). Goals are what motivate us and others to strive to achieve accomplishments either set by ourselves or others. Goals create a self-dissatisfaction within us which gives us an incentive to reduce this dissatisfaction by achieving our goal. By setting goals, employees can improve performance and increase productivity (DuBrin, 2004). Another way to motivate employees is to use operant conditioning as used by B. F. Skinner. By providing rewards and punishments for behaviors, an employer can motivate employees to modify behaviors by providing consequences. An employee can use an incentive for positive behaviors such as increasing sales and receiving a commission or promotion. For negative behaviors such as not meeting goals set, an employer might demote the employee or even take away commissions or the promise of a promotion (DuBrin, 2004). Monetary rewards can be used to motivate an employee to improve performance and production. By offering commission or a raise, an employee will be motivated to achieve. By setting clear expectations, an employee can strive to attain or exceed expectations, knowing what they will be eligible to receive the incentive. (DuBrin, 2004). I believe that the three ways of motivating others, can also help me motivate myself. By setting personal goals for myself, I can motivate myself to accomplish those goals. After achieving the original goals, I will set higher goals to challenge me. Monetary or recognition rewards will also motivate me to be more productive. When given a choice between being rewarded or punished for behaviors, I will always avoid the negative behavior and opt for achieving rewards (DuBrin, 2004). Vroom’s Expectancy theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory are two popular motivational theories. The Expectancy theory and Hierarchy of Needs theory have similar and contrasting ways of motivation. The Expectancy theory focuses on personal choices that an individual must make when faced with the possibility of working hard to achieve rewards and are affected by individual perceptions. Expectancy is how a person perceives the subject probability that one thing will lead to another. How a person’s perception of expectancy for effort will lead to performance and how performance will lead to reward probabilities (valance) increase, so does a person’s motivation force increase. (Scholl, 2002). The Hierarchy of Needs theory is based on satisfying our innate physiological needs first (food, shelter, water), then safety (job security, earning an income), then moving up the hierarchy ladder to satisfy our need for growth (love and belongingness needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. Maslow states that until our basic needs are met first, we cannot move up the hierarchy ladder (Olson & Hergenhahn, 2011). The two theories are similar because they both have forces that drive our motivation. However, Maslow generalizes about our motivation whereas Vroom shows that ‘the same people are motivated by different things at different times and that different people are motivated by different things at the same time’ (Motivation Types, 2009). Vroom does not attempt to explain a person’s motivation like Maslow. Instead, he explains how people arrive at decisions to achieve the end they value. Both can be motivated by needs and self-esteem (Scholl, 2002). While financial incentives can be a good motivational tool, it can also have drawbacks. By offering monetary, promotions, or employee benefits to employees, it can increase an employee’s performance and production. However, the drawbacks to this are: a decrease in teamwork and inequitable rewards. If a person is working toward a goal to receive a monetary reward, he will most likely be less of a team player due to competition with coworkers. If monetary rewards go by income, a person who makes less will receive less monetary rewards than someone who receives a higher salary. An example of this is profit sharing (Ehow Money, 2012). Sometimes it may be better to have monetary rewards given as a team effort or equitable financial rewards for the same job performance.

Case Study †Problem Employee

We often hear about the employers that don’t treat employees well; but you know, it sometimes works the other way as well. I had a call from a gentleman who was at his wits end as to what he could do with an employee that he has had on his payroll now for 5 years. This employee is running the entire show! He’s a bully and the employer is to the point that he is actually afraid of him – not in a physical sense – but in the sense that he’s afraid to stand up to him because – oh no – heaven forbid – he may quit! The employer has completely lost control of this fellow because he never had the courage to set any boundaries or expectations from the start and his leadership has been extremely inconsistent. So, how did this happen, you may ask? The background: The business owner has a small restaurant. He and his wife and brother-in-law opened the restaurant about 7 years ago. The business started to grow and he brought in the employee in question to help them out. At first, the employee was really good and the owner gave him more and more responsibilities, to the point that he felt fairly comfortable in leaving him to open up on occasion and actually assist with the business decisions, etc. The business continued to grow and he hired a few more people, mostly part time, to work during lunch and dinner times. After a few more employees were hired, the original employee (we’ll call him Joe), started to exhibit some less than desirable behaviours by coming in late; opening the doors and then within 15 minutes, he would go out back to have a smoke break (virtually leaving the business open without anyone inside, which the owner found out by coming in a couple of mornings right after Joe and finding the place empty); talking on his cell phone right in front of customers (putting the customers on ignore while he chatted away on the phone); and when the owner tried to speak with him, Joe just held his hand up right in the owner’s face shutting him down. On occasion, when Joe decided he’d made enough tips for the night – he would just leave – an hour – sometimes two hours before his shift actually ended! To heck with the schedule†¦ he’d had enough†¦too bad†¦so sad. Oh – and he didn’t like the owner’s wife – so he told the owner to keep her out of the restaurant – and he did! It has now gotten to the point (according to the employer) that Joe comes and goes as he pleases and in fact, he has told the employer that he can’t do anything about it because he’d have to pay him to terminate him. The employer, unfortunately, does not know his rights in this case – and he has let it go on for so long now that he is getting treated this way by all of his employees. The example has been set! The saddest part of all is that the employee tells the employer what he will and will not do and the employer has no one else that can step into this fellow’s shoes because everyone else is part time and does not have the same level of restaurant business experience. At least, that’s what the owner believes at this time. So; how did we go about finding a solution to this problem when up to this point in time nothing was documented?Case Study – Problem Employee – Part 2 Published: November 1, 2010 The first thing we recommended to this employer was to take a good look at his current employees and consider which ones he could provide more training and development to so that if this problem employee did walk out; he could still manage his business. We also advised him that allowing others to develop their skills would not only increase his ability to provide a better quality business for his customers, it would also provide learning opportunities for his employees that would encourage them to stay. The next thing we did for this employer was to give him information around the basic employment standards act that he needed. He was allowing an employee to tell him what was required by law, and in fact; most of what he was being told was inaccurate. Ignorance is definitely not bliss for a business owner who employs others. We gave him â€Å"fact sheets† with the main areas that he should make himself familiar with so that it was easy to understand and didn’t have a lot of unfamiliar language to interpret. The next thing we recommended is that he considers doing is allowing us to develop an employee handbook and some basic policies that would help him in communicating to his employees moving forward. We recommended that he have a staff meeting prior to the construction of the handbook to allow the employees to have some input or suggestions. We offered to provide support at the staff meeting if he wished; but certainly this is something that he could do on his own as well. We offered to present the handbook to the employees with him so that we could respond to any questions and he didn’t have to feel concerned about how to respond (particularly because he believes the problem employee is going to challenge the implementation of a handbook and policies). We next suggested that he implement a performance management system that aligned with the handbook and policies and we will assist him through coaching sessions as to how he can manage the process. While this is a lot of work for him and it will not be an overnight solution; he has unfortunately allowed his employee to gain control of his business – and not in a good way. Due to the fact that he has not managed the whole relationship well and it has deteriorated to this stage, it will be a long process to repair the damage. The good thing is that he did seek help and he will learn how to retain employees through the provision of learning opportunities; he will have some ‘standards of operation and behavioural expectations’; and he will have a performance management system to ensure a more fair and just working environment. Last, but not least; we are also going to provide some ‘culture coaching’ sessions so he can develop a strong and healthy workplace that fits within his mission and values. As this project is not yet complete, we will report back on occasion to let you know how we move through the recommended processes.

Theories About The Conceptual Nature Of Institutions...

Introduction: Sociologists have various theories about the conceptual nature of institutions throughout Sociology, One such institution is family. Some concepts include; The Nuclear Family; The privatisation of the Family; and Structural Functionalism. These three concepts coincide with one another. Families can be found in various cultures and society in some form or another. Schaefer (2009) defines the family â€Å"as a set of people related by blood, marriage or some other agreed-upon relationship, or adoption, who share the primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society.† The family serves different functions in society, depending upon which sociological theory is applied to it, even though the family itself remains the same, despite operating under alternating perspectives. Speaking in a broader sense, the functionalist perspective has mainly focused on the operations of family within society, and the way it s functions affect various members. It looks at family as an institution, regarding how it maintains itself, including key aspects such as order, stability, and its personal significance of individual members. Two of the more well-known functionalists are George. P. Murdock and Talcott Parsons. Murdock (1949). conducted a sociological study of the family involving 250 different families from around the world. Using the analysis from this study he argues that the family operates using four basic functions, for each of the individualShow MoreRelatedCritical Social Theory : Power, Critique And Praxis3794 Words   |  16 PagesSCS730: Critical Social Theory: Power, Critique and Praxis Assessment Task 3: Major Essay ______________________________________________________ In order to delineate the nature of power and domination in understanding contemporary society, this major essay will provide an advanced critical and comparative analysis of the social theory ideas of Karl Marx, Michel Foucault and Dorothy Smith. 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Social scientists and anthropologists since the late 17th century have attempted to rationally answer questions about religion, and while we cant evaluate the veracity of religion’s claims, we can attempt to understand its functions. The methods of comparative religion, comparative mythology, with interdisciplinary analysis throughout the fields

Play Within the Play Concept Ovid and Shakespeare

Shakespeare himself has shown that he was proud to be Ovids successful ape.-R. K. Root   Demetrius, with Helena in hot pursuit, pedals through a forest where an under-skilled amateur repertory group rehearses and a handful of fairies lives. Sound almost familiar? Its the nineteenth century setting of the 1999 movie release (starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Calista Flockhart) of Midsummer Nights Dream, one of William Shakespeares comedies that owe a great debt to the Romans. While Shakespeare may have been the worlds greatest writer, originality in crafting a storyline wasnt his forte. Instead of inventing stories, he embellished ones he borrowed -- principally from other renowned storytellers, like Vergil  and Ovid, who retold familiar myths in their major works, Aeneid and Metamorphoses. The classical equivalent of the Bible, though without canonical authority.​McCarty, Implicit Patterns in Ovids Metamorphoses Neatly interweaving 15 books of stories -- telling the entire mythological history of mankind since the creation -- may have been Ovids greatest achievement in Metamorphoses. Taking the story-in-a-story element from Ovids version, Shakespeare recast the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe seamlessly into his own medium, as a play within a play for wedding entertainment. Both versions have an audience: In Ovids, Alcithoe and her sisters choose not to honor Bacchus but instead stay at home doing their chores and listening to stories. Given a choice, they first opt to hear the tale of the metamorphosis of the mulberry (aka Pyramus and Thisbe).In  Midsummer Nights Dream, where the love flower that changes color through Cupids ministry is love-in-idleness (a pansy), the play is also chosen from a list of mythological alternates and then performed very badly for the highly critical audience of Hippolyta and Theseus. Theseus, like Alcithoe, rejects the ways of Bacchus. Love is unimportant to Theseus. Hermias father wants his daughter to marry Lysander, although everyone knows she and Lysander are in love. Theseus asserts that its the fathers right to choose his daughters husband. If she chooses to disobey, Theseus warns, the consequences will be just as loveless. Hermia...But I beseech your grace that I may knowThe worst that may befall me in this case,If I refuse to wed Demetrius.TheseusEither to die the death or to abjureFor ever the society of men.-Act I Scene i, Midsummer Nights Dream To escape impossible terms, Hermia flees with Lysander into the forest. Its been suggested that even the fairies, albeit borrowed from English and French traditions, may also owe a debt to Ovid. Jeremy McNamara  says the fairies are modernized gods: Like Ovids gods, Shakespeares fairies are menacing and powerful, with a control over nature and men, even if they are ultimately more benign. Metamorphosis (transformation), central to Ovids opus, is clearly represented in Midsummer Nights Dream by Bottoms partial transformation to a fà ªted donkey (a reference to another Metamorphoses, that of the 2nd century A.D. novelist Apuleius). More subtle metamorphoses can be seen in the many love relationships among fairies and mortals. But there are even closer similarities in the plots, close enough to make it hard to determine whether Shakespeare went straight to Ovid or to his translator, Golding. Titania represents classical mythology in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Like Oberon she is a nature deity. She tells Bottom this in Act III, scene 1, when she informs him that I am a sprit of no common rate. / The summer still doth tend upon my state, Her power over nature is also reflected in the disruptions in weather patterns in Act II scene 1, caused by her argument with Oberon. The derivation of her name is uncertain. Ovid used it in Metamorphoses (iii, 173) as a epithet of Diana and later of Latona and Circe. However, this did not appear in the translation available to Shakespeare.* Either he read it in the original, or his use of the name is a coincidence. Another possible derivation is from the Titans of Greek mythology. Source Monmouth College, History department