The Story Of The Boys From Brazil English Literature Essay

The Story Of The Boys From Brazil English Literature Essay The story begins when three men, meet each other in San Paulo, in 1974. They have rented a room for a conference. They also invited six other men which are aged mid-fifties. Sr. Mengele has given the order to kill 94 men on different days in the next 2,5 years: The first will be on October 16, 1974, and the last on April 23 1977. These murders are in the interest of the Aryan race. Every man on the conference has a German nationality, but they get a new identity. Dr. Mengele told them that they are traveling representatives. For the murders they will receive diamonds. Of the six men Schwimmer is going to England ( 13 murders), Farnbach to Sweden (14 murders), Traunstreiner to Norway ( 10 murders) and Denmark ( 6 murders), Kleist goes to the Netherlands ( 8 murders) and northern Germany ( 8 murders), Mundt goes to southern Germany ( 8 murders) and Austria ( 9 murders) and at last Hesse goes to the U.S.A ( 12 murders) and Canada( 6 murders). The 94 who need to be killed are all around the 65 years old, and have as occupation civil servant. They just may murder these men and not their families. It must look like a accident or a natural death, and not like murder. The whole was recorder by a recorder.. A co-worker placed this, against a payment from Barry Koehler, a 23-year-old North-American, the co-worker gives the recorder later to him. One of the maids make a slip and the 3 men searched for Barry because they knew that Barry was behind al thus. Barry did this all, because he would like to work for Liebermann, a Nazi-hunter, but Liebermann doesnt wanted him and therefore he gets further by himself. Barry called Liebermann to tell him about the conversation on the congress, but at that time, while he is talking with Liebermann, storms three men into his house and murder him. Liebermann doesnt know if he should believe what he heard, but he still requests to the British journalist Sydney. he knows Sydney very well, he wants the newspaper articles since 16 October (on which the first man would be murdered) in which men from around the 65 years on an unnatural way have gone dead. Liebermann gets after a few days an envelope with 40 articles which 11 agreed in terms of their age and occupation. Liebermann goes to one of the families of the deceased men, Mrs. DÃ ¶ring in Essen, to see how DÃ ¶ring exactly died. Liebermann speaks with Karla, Mrs. DÃ ¶ring, and her son Erich. After these conversations Liebermann thinks that DÃ ¶ring isnt murdered by the men of Mengele. He also decided to go to Mrs. Curry to check out if her husband perhaps have been killed. Also this woman has a son and when he comes downstairs he thinks it was Mrs. DÃ ¶rings son, but he was astonished that it was Mrs. Currys son. The sons were almost identical to each other. They have bot h a sharp nose, dark hear and blue eyes, they are pale and 13 years old. Also in the two families the fathers both worked as civil servants and around the 65 years, and the wifes are much younger than them, they were 42 years. Liebermann finds out that more families have the same agreements. Liebermann finds out from Mrs. Curry that her son is adopted from the adoption centre rush-gaddis-Adoption agency, where Frieda Maloney worked from 1960 till 1963. Parents could get only a child here when the mothers aged more than if they 45, and the fathers must aged around the 52 years. Liebermann want to talk with Maloney, but she is in jail, because she had committed mass murder in the Second World War. Liebermann goes to the prison to visit Maloney, and he may talk an half hour with her. Maloneys telling that they get the job in 1960. She must detecting men which where born between the 1908 and 1912, and women which must been born between 1931 and 1935. The man must been civil servant , both parents had to be white and Christians with a North European background. Maloney has in three years time 45 people with these characteristics. All adopted babys were boys with black and blue eyes and they came from Brazil. Frieda Maloney cooperated, because they would report her by the police , because she fled from Germany because she did all those mass murder. She didnt know where the babies came from and she also didnt that they where clones. She knew from a number of the parents still the names , one of them was Wheelock. Liebermann still mentions a couple of names and so he finds out that these families gets their babys 4 weeks after each other., the four fathers gets also four weeks behind each other killed. So Liebermann know who is the next whos getting murdered, and this will be murdered Mr. Wheelock is. All six men, recalled by Colonel Seibert, which has a higher rank than Mengele, because he believes that Liebermann knows too much, and this could be very dangerous. Mengele doesnt know anything about this, and he is very mad. He wants Liebermann and the rest of all the men on the list murder by himself. He called the secretary of Liebermann with the excuse that he is the father of the murdered Barry Koehler and so he is know now that Liebermann went to a hotel in Washington. Liebermann has now a appointment with biology-Professor NÃ ¼rnberger. He knows now what Mengele really wants. Mengele would like to make new Hitlers by cloning. The children have all the same genes as Hitler, but they grow up just like Hitler. It would be exactly a Hitler-clone. Mengele wishes that the clones have exactly the same education as Hitler has had. This means, a father who is civil servant and which, if he is 65 years, dies. And they must have a mother who is around the 42 years old. Only in this way , there would be a second Hitler created. Liebermann would go to Washington, but he goes first to the Office of the Young Jewish Defenders which is under the leadership of Rabbi Gorin. Liebermann asked for help to protect Wheelock Fortunately he didnt went to Washington, because Mengele is waiting her for him to kill him. Liebermann would like to speak with Wheelock to explain to him that he is in danger. Wheelock is not afraid because he raises watchdogs. Mengele called the secretary of Liebermann again to ask where Liebermann stays. She tells him that Liebermann is going to visit Wheelock and she tells him the time Mengele is going by himself to Wheelock, acts that he is Liebermann and he shoot Wheelock. Mengele is waiting in the House of Wheelock, this is possible because Wheelocks son is going to school and Wheelocks women is working. When Liebermann arrives, Mengele acts that he is Wheelock. Liebermann finds out that he isnt Wheelock but Mengele. Mengele held Liebermann under fire and tells him first, of his brilliant p lan, before he kills Liebermann. Liebermann hears the watchdogs behind the door. He is trying to run to the door and tries to open it. Thats possible, but he is life-threatening affected by four bullets. The dogs storms in, because Liebermann opened the door. Mengele shoot one dog death and stand all around him. The son of Wheelock, Robbert went home. Mengele explains the little boy that he is adopted and that he can be a perfect leader, because he is a Hitler clone, he has a piece of skin, and a half a liter of blood from Hitler, but the boy doesnt believes him. He lets the dogs bite him, and Mengele dies. Liebermann went to the hospital. When Mengele lays death on the ground, Liebermann took the list with 94 names from Mengeles jacket. Gorin Rabbi of the Jewish organization wishes all boys gets killed, because they all can be the new Hitler, but Liebermann doesnt want this and he flushes the list by toilet. The dogs of Wheelock were killed by the police. The police couldnt identify who was murdered, because the face was completely maimed, and his passport was also under a falls name. The book ends when one of the 94 boys draws a man on a large platform state and that this man has a large public which welcomed him. Perhaps this will be a new Hitler 2.Explain the title. The title of the book is: The boys from Brazil. The title called so because there are 94 cloned boys. Which were cloned to be like Hitler. All of these boys came from Brazil. Parents who adopted those boys where blank Christians from a North European background. Because the boys which have been adopted came from Brazil, they called the book the Boys from brazil. 3. What is the theme of the book and why? The theme of the book is the fair for a new Hitler, how people abused cloning, and murder. Because Dr. Mengele would like to clone boys just like Hitler. Their Father must also die when he is 65, so Dr. Mengele kills all those men. He doesnt want a world without Hitler, so he decided to make a new Hitler. 4. Which genre does the book belong to and why? The cover of the book says its a thriller, but there are also lots of detective-scenes in the book. It could also be a psychological drama because they describe a lot of thoughts and the feelings of the persons. The book was thrilling, and also a lots of detective-scenes, perhaps when Liebermann is wants to solute the murders. 5. Which of the characters could you identify with best and why? I think I could identify me with Mr. Lieberman the best, because he wants to stop the murdering and he doesnt want a new Hitler or a new world with Hitler. 6. Chose a quotation from the book which is exemplary to the book, and explain why you have chosen this quotation. The boys are exact genetic duplicates of him I chose this quotation because it says a bit about what the boys of Brazil. Theyre clones of Hitler. And Dr. Mengele wants to make a new Hitler. 7. Choose a scene from the beginning, the middle and towards the end of the book you liked best/ least/ impressed you most/ disappointed you. And explain why? Begin: I like the part at the conference in San Paolo least. The men which want to kill 94 men had a conference in San Paolo. This part explains to the reader where and who they are going to kill. I liked this part least because it was a bit long- winded to me. And I didnt understand it at the beginning. But after I read more pages I understand it much better. Middle: The part where Liebermann investigates the murders I like best. He goes to different families to investigates why the men are murdered, and he finds out that the children came all from Brazil, and looked almost the same. He wants to know why these boys looked almost identical, and why the men which had been killed had the same age, and all the woman had also the same age. He went to Frieda Maloney and he finds out that dr. Mengele wants to create a new Hitler. I liked this part best because this was a bit of a detective-part. End: The scene where Dr. Mengele goes to the house of Wheelock impressed me the most. Dr. Mengele wants to kill Liebermann by himself, and he know that he is underway to the house from Wheelock. But before Liebermann arrives there Dr. Mengele acts like him and shoots Wheelock. Then he tried to murder Liebermann. But Liebermann pulls the door open en the dogs from Wheelock stormed in. Dr. Mengele shot one, but when the son of Wheelock came home he gives the dogs the order to kill Dr. Mengele. This part impressed me the most because it was really trilling, this part was really exiting to read.

Company Introduction, Market Segmentation, and Product Positioning Essay

The key to successful product implementation in today’s national enterprise system is the effective marketing of a new product with the company’s line of existing products. As stated by Lacobucci (2012), marketing is defined as an exchange between a company and its customers. The customer wants something from the company or firm and vice versa. In previous times, a company would manufacture a product they thought the customer would want or need. The customer purchased that product because of a pending need, which basically meant that marketing used to be product oriented. However, marketing today is more that an advertisement for goods and services in an attempt to attract new business. We live in a customer orientated and empowered marketing environment. We realize the importance and ramifications of having an exchange with our customers and developing a relationship with them. It is this exchange of information between our company and our existing as well as future customers that secures our position in our target market. Our company is a regional tool distributor located in the northeastern section of the United States. Our customer base consists of several major retailers, nationally known in the retail and wholesale tool industry. We used the brand label Blue Steel Tools for marketing and distribution of our products to discuss the implementation of an effective plan to market a new product line, the Illuminated Power Wrench. This paper will analyze market, identify our market segment for sales distribution and discuss the reasoning for the segment. Discussing the target market and why the targeted customers were specifically selected. We will do the SWOT analysis; describe the unique market position and the expected service provided in meeting the needs of the target audience. 1. Identify the marketing segment for the product and provide a rationale for this segment. The definition of a market segment as stated by Lacobucci (2012) is a group of customers that shares similar inclinations towards our brand. To define market segment further for our needs, it is an identifiable group of individuals, professionals or organizations that share one or more characteristics or needs in an otherwise homogenous market. In our case, our product will have a very wide market of consumers and small business owners and employees. Therefore we will need to reduce the market segments to larger chunks. Market segments generally respond in a predictable manner to a marketing or promotion offer. The market segment for the new product will vary widely due to the versatility of our product usage. Our main segment approach will focus on the wholesale distribution to retail repair supply stores who carry lines of tools for resale to the private and business consumer. These market segments will include businesses such as Lowes and Home Depot, retail tool distributors such as Harbor Freight Tools, automobile parts stores such as Advance Auto Parts and tool catalogue companies such as great Northern to name a few. As we analyze this segment we ask the question if this segment is viable and can we profit from using it. Other considerations are accessibility and measurability. This segment is small enough to manage our sales and distribution, but large enough to reach the ultimate user of our product. This market segment possesses the potential and versatility to sell and distribute our product to the target consumer market with a widely diversified audience in the retail industry. The bases for this segmentation include similar demographics, geographical locations, and psychological make-up of customers and behaviors of users/purchasers. In other words, the customer base for our segments meets the desired user of our end product. Anyone who builds or repairs something whether they are a novice or professional is a potential customer. Therefore, by using this method of market segmentation for product distribution, we will successfully sub-divide a large homogenous market into clear identifiable and manageable segments that have similar needs, wants or demand characteristics indicated by Lacobucci (2012). 2. Discuss the target market and provide rationale for this target market. The target market defined is the particular market segment at which a marketing campaign is focused. As stated earlier, this product has been designed for the retail tool industry. We have targeted segments in the industry that will be the most successful in reaching the consumer and generating a demand for our product through steady sales. Lacobucci stated the first perspective in assessing segments target is to have a view of the segments themselves and the primary concern is the segment be profitable. This in turn will become a profitability issue for our company as we continue to hold a place in the small tool market and generate profits with continued sales. The second perspective examined was if the market or segment fit with who we are. In this case the answer is yes. The ultimate target for this product is the consumer. The greater exposure we have, the higher propensity for sales growth. The illuminated ratchet screw driver is a quality tool for use by not only the novice home self repair person; it will also meet the needs of the professional repair person, no matter what the industry. The illumination system in the handle of the wrench will appeal to the vehicle mechanic working in the close quarters of an engine compartment, the electrician repairing the circuit breaker box, the computer repair technician working in between electronic circuitry as well as to the basic consumer performing handy maintenance projects. This tool will come with the standard wrench lugs and have availability to accessories such as wrench tips to enhance its versatility to meet the needs of a wider target audience. The wider target audience is customers of our targeted market segments. Therefore the target market is our pathway to the ultimate user of the product is consumer sales. The strategic sales objective of these retail establishments coincides with our strategic vision of reaching the ultimate user of our products, satisfying their needs and increasing the likelihood of additional product sales. 3. Perform a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities and treats) for the company. As we move forward in the marketing of our product, we need to our own corporate strengths. Lacobucci (2012) suggests the use of a SWOT analysis in identifying our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The strengths and weaknesses characterize our company in relation to competitors where the opportunities and threats characterize the broader environment such as the tool industry, suppliers, the government and etc. Our strengths are in our track record in t he tool industry. We have provided quality products at competitive prices. Another perceived strength is in the management of our company. The senior management of Steel City Tools has provided a strategic vision with clearly defined attainable goals for market position and sales. However a perceived threat is in the foreign market. A number of tool company’s efforts have been over shadowed with a cheaper duplication of products from foreign markets. The US has been plagued with a reduction in the manufacturing industry due to globalized markets, elimination of trade barriers and outsourcing. The end result is our market segment (distributor) could purchase a similar product cheaper and increase their gross margin and not purchase our product for resale. Another threat we are not prepared to react to is loss of a major distributing customer. With more and more businesses merging, we could lose a distribution source with no warning. One of our weaknesses is we have focused on sales east of the Mississippi, thus limiting market expansion. However, this could be turned around as a future opportunity for market expansion. An easy way to expand our market is to establish a retail division and use infomercials through the cable television network to accept mail order/telephone order select product sales such as our new illuminated power wrench. However, a marketing effort of this nature would require careful consideration must be given to the geographical area so as not to alienate our primary segment customers. A move of this nature would require additional capital investment and careful analysis of this type of expansion would be necessary to minimize risk of project failure. The SWOT is useful in clarifying our marketing questions. The key is to address our shortcomings so as not to give the competition an upper hand and not raise concerns with our customers and capitalize on our strengths for continued success. 4. Create the market position for your product and service. Explain your rationale. Product positioning, according to the Encyclopedia of Business, involves the tailoring the entire marketing program to include product features, distribution, price, quality and service to meet the needs of the consumer within the specific market segment. In this manner, the product positioning is part of the overall market segmentation. Product position takes place in our distributors store, or target market segment and tells us how we can strive most effectively in that market segment against our competition which are also present on display. The key is to understand the consumer perceptions of the product and the marketing behind it. Quality, reliability, affordability, unique features, benefits to the customer is just a few attributes of product positioning. According to Lacobucci (2012) positioning is often about modifying the four P’s of marketing (position, price, place and promotion). In the case of our company, our reputation is a reflection of the position to provide a quality product at a competitive price while leading the market in innovation. Our company performance is attributed to the quality of our employment staff. Our employees are at the core to our success. We have established core values for our company’s work force by creating a positive work culture with recognition of the whole person concept. The strategic leadership from the top on down to the employee fosters productivity with reward and recognition to enhance their performance in support of the company operations to include our marketing efforts. Thus the positive and proactive personality of our company in meeting its marketing objectives is a direct reflection of the quality of every member of the Blue Steel Tool Team. As we continue to grow and develop products for sale, we position our products at a distribution sales point or market segment with the greatest customer exposure for maximum market penetration. We will service our product to the satisfaction and benefit of the customer so as not to jeopardize customer confidence as well as the business relationship with our market segment. The product we create and the service we provide are a direct reflection of not only our company, but that of our distributors. Our products are designed to meet the working needs of our professional as well as consumer clientele with a level of quality that meet or exceed expectations at the best value. References Lacobucci, D. (2012) Marketing Management: 2012 custom edition. Mason OH Market Segment Defined Retrieved from http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/market-segment. html Morley R. (2006), Trumpet Print Edition: The Death of American Manufacturing, February 2006 Retrieved from http://www. thetrumpet. com/index. php? page=article&id=1955 Reference for Business Product Positioning: Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed. Retrieved from http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/small/Op-Qu/Product-Positioning. html Target Market Defined retrieved from http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/target-market. html

Environmental Psychology Article Analysis Essay

The concept of environmental psychology is a new one which came into existence following the realization that there is always interplay between human behavior and the environments. In this regard, the term environment is broadly explained to include the natural surroundings, social surroundings, built surroundings, learning and information surroundings. Environmental psychology is a discipline that is committed to the development of a field that is both value and problem oriented giving priority to research that aims at providing a solution to the myriad environmental problems whenever one is pursuing individualistic welfare within the framework of the larger society. This paper shall give an analysis of an article regarding environmental psychology. Environmental Psychology: Environmental psychology is a discipline that deals with behavior in relation to the environment. This discipline focuses on the concepts that concern environment and the aesthetic preferences being presented in behavioral maps. According to Arkkelin and Veitch, (1995), environmental psychology has been defined as â€Å"a multidiscipline behavioral science, both basic and applied in orientation, whose foci are the systematic interrelationships between the physical and social environments and individual human behavior and experience† (p. 5). Environment in this regard becomes more ambiguous as the focus is on the interplay between people, behavior and their surroundings. Environmental psychology gains some ground given that human behavior is generated by interplay between the cyclical interaction of independent variables that include individuals and environment (Arkkelin and Veitch, 1995). Article Analysis: Social concerns in regard to the problems that are experienced in the real world is the driving force behind scientists’ involvement in environmental psychology issues (Rossman, 2009). One major problem that is facing humanity is associated with global warming that is threatening not only human existence but also any form of life on the earth. The article for analysis shall be ‘How to Spur Action on Global Warming’ written by Velasquez-Manoff in the year 2008 and published in the Christian Science monitor (Rossman, 2009). According to the article, the temperatures in the Arctic have been rising and even reached nine degrees higher during the fall of 2009 compared to the previous year. The article also reveals that the Arctic had recorded the warmest temperatures in the year 2008. It goes further to explain that emphasis should be placed on how to address the main problem of global warming as opposed to dwelling much on the cause of the problem. In trying to make individuals change behaviors, human activity is always blamed on the global warming problem and that the problem is said to be a moral issue. This has been found to be potentially counter-productive as individuals take it as criticism (Velasquez-Manoff, 2008). Velasquez-Manoff argues that programs where individuals are required to opt out so as to avoid taking part may be essential in changing behaviors. The opt-out programs employed in organ donation are found to be successful with a rating of between eighty and ninety per cent participation. When the individuals were asked to opt in for organ donation, success was only realized to up to 20% (Velasquez-Manoff, 2008). In a study on the energy usage by individuals, an energy meter was located on both the inside and outside, and there was found to be a reduction in the energy usage of individuals by up to 14% leading to a conclusion that when individuals are able to visualize the amount of energy that they utilize, then they are able to control the amount of energy that they use by reducing it (Velasquez-Manoff, 2008). Global Warming: The world today is faced by the global warming phenomenon which is described as the rising temperatures being experienced due to the emissions of the greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases include the carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane and they are responsible for trapping heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere which in turn increases the temperatures (National Geographic Society, (2010). Carbon dioxide is a non-toxic gas that is usually exhaled by animal’s and absorbed by plants and since the amount of the gas being released is so large, the gas is left in the atmosphere. According to Arkkelin and Veitch, â€Å"With increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the balance between the incoming and outgoing radiation can be maintained only with an increase in surface and lower atmospheric temperatures† (Arkkelin and Veitch, 1995, page 184). The focus of environmental psychology is to devise a way in which people shall be motivated to change their behaviors so as to preserve the environment. In regard to global warming, the interest of the environmental psychologists is to find out the psychological changes that are due to the increasing temperatures. It has been argued that a higher temperature is associated with increasing levels of crime and violent behavior (Rossman, 2009). Rising temperatures are said to be causing irritability and aggressive behavior amongst individuals. Scientist in environmental psychology aim at improving the management of the environment which shall result into improved quality of life and psychological growth (Mathew, 2004). Actions that are aimed at stopping global warming leads to other benefits like preservation of nature, structural and community improvement as well increased environmental awareness. There are various actions that if adopted in the homes, will help in addressing the global warming problem. Such actions include making use of modern push mowers as opposed to gas-powered and electrical mowers that are rampant (Global Warming, 2008). The other ways of reducing global warming include using the below-ground pools instead of the above-ground pools which requires less heat. The use of the light emitting diode lights is also advisable as it not only uses less energy, it also has a long life span and provides more light compared to the conventional bulb (Global Warming, 2008). Conclusion: Global warming is a serious problem that needs to be addressed promptly. To think of the problem in terms of the amount of greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere provides a scenario in which problem appears to be overwhelming to the human race. However, as the old Chinese saying goes that a journey of a thousand miles starts with simple steps; the global warming problem can be addressed through initiation of simple practical solutions such as wearing a pullover instead of turning up the heat. People need to be environmentally conscious and this should be reflected in the effort they make to preserve the environment for this and the next generation. Sustainability of the environment is crucial for the survival of humanity and the general life found on earth. Environmental psychology is therefore important in addressing environmental issues by providing practical solutions to address the environmental challenges as most of the problems are as a result of human interaction with the environment. Reference: Fisher, J. J. , (2007). What is Environmental Psychology? Retrieved on 19th August 2010 from; http://environmentpsychology. com/environmental_psychology. htm. Global Warming. (2008). Global Warming – Climate Change. Retrieved on 19th August 2010 from; http://www. warmingglobal. org/ Matthew, V. G. , (2004). Environmental Psychology. Retrieved on 19th August 2010 from; http://www. psychology4all. com/environmentalpsychology. htm National Geographic Society, (2010). What Is Global Warming? Retrieved on 19th August 2010 from; http://environment. nationalgeographic. com/environment/global-warming/gw overview. html. Rossman, J. (2009). Environmental Psychology Article Analysis. Retrieved on 19th August 2010 from; http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/1928210/environmental_psychology_article_analysis. html. Veitch, R. , & Arkkelin, D. , (1995). Environmental Psychology: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Pearson Education Company. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Velasquez-Manoff, M. , (2008). How to Spur Action on Global Warming. Christian Science Monitor. 100(240). Pp, 13-14.

Essay about Portrayal of Jane Osborne in Vanity Fair

The Redundant Woman Thackeray’s portrayal of Jane Osborne in Vanity Fair is very troubling to the reader of the twentieth century. Grown to be a woman who is stuck under her tyrannical father’s roof, her life appears to be very confining and menial. Her sister snubs her, her nephew mocks her behind her back, her father mocks her to her face, and her main role in life seems to be as her father’s housekeeper. However, Thackeray’s portrayal would have had a very different effect on the Victorian reader. While all of these things which affronted us would have been equally awful to them, Thackeray uses another key phrase which has lost its effect on our modern minds: that unfortunate and now middle-aged young lady (448). Jane Osborne’s†¦show more content†¦Michael Anderson has estimated from a sample of the 1851 census that some 1.8 million adult women, 8.9 per cent of the adult female population were surviving without a husband in the mid-nineteenth century. Furth ermore, this estimate does not include unsupported women below the age of 25 (Parkinson). When this destiny was denied, the fate of a redundant woman was very grim. Fate An unmarried woman was generally left in an untenable situation. Especially for the middle class, a redundant woman was often a disastrous curse, where just a few years before she had been a dubious commodity. Unmarried women, as we have seen in Thackeray, were often governesses. A governess, however, was the subject of much social controversy, even spawning a whole literary trend, the governess novel, which although nice to read was not nice as a character reference. Miss Firkins was the archetypal redundant woman of Vanity Fair; her lot in life was that of a parasitic lady-in-waiting, and temporary, after which she was to be shuffled between country relatives. Beyond these there were few options. For the talented, writing was becoming a viable living, though certainly not at all the easy life for which Victorian women were raised. The many barriers restricting