The Poem ‘Mother To Son’ By Langston Hughes First Published

The poem ‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes first published in 1922 and ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost have a number of similarities. These poems are parables in which experienced people give advice about life choices. In both poems, the personas were initially in some trouble in life but they currently have no remorse for the way they made choices and lived. Also, both poems have a moral lesson that life may not always be easy but at the end, the choices that people make will determine their destiny. However, the poems are considerably different in their writing style, diction, the point of view, tone and imagery. This essay aims to compare and contrast the two poems. Though having similarities in the theme and use of symbolism and†¦show more content†¦He, however, chose the road that was less favorable to people. This road represents a road of hard work or integrity since majority of people love short cuts to life. In the end, the speaker is not only relieved but also proud that he took that road. He says ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh’ (Frost 16). The reason for him telling the story is to give advice because he is proud of the decision that he made. Also, Hughes and Frost both use symbolism and imagery to bring out the picture about life. For Hughes, the stairs symbolize the life- life that has been lived through pressing on because of the difficulties and uncertainties involved. The mother symbolizes the old generation of people who are experienced and their role in giving advice. The old generation is familiar with life challenges that the younger generation, symbolized by the son, are undergoing. They provide hope for the young generation. The dark corners without light symbolize times of uncertainties, the corner symbolizes changes experienced in life, and the climbing symbolizes difficult situations requiring extra effort and so on. Reading through the poem a person can easily picture the life that the speaker lived. Conversely, Frost also uses symbolism in his poem. The divergent roads that emerge as the persona is traveling symbolize a dilemma in life. The persona needed to make a tough choice in life for it was impossible to live a double life.Show MoreRelatedThe Writing Style Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagescollective, is one of the many legacies of Hughes, who has been called â€Å"the architect† of the black poetic tradition. He is certainly one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. Langston Hughes became the voice of black America in the 1920s, when his first published poems brought him more than moderate success. Throughout his lifetime, his work encompassed both popular lyrical poems, and more controversial political workRead MorePoem Analysis : Langston Hughes Poem1258 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper and Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"Mother To Son† is a twenty line poem that seems to be from the perspective of a prudent mother that is giving her son, and possibly the readers, some helpful and supportive advice, telling them that, no matter how many adversities they may face, they can not give up. I believe that this is the main theme of the poem, perseverance. â€Å"So, boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps./ ‘Cause youRead MoreLangston Hughes: A Jazz Poet1045 Words   |  5 Pages Langston Hughes (James Mercer Langston Hughes) was a poet, columnist, dramatist, essayist, lyricist, and novelist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes, like others, was active in the Harlem Renaissance, and he had a strong sense of racial pride. Through his poem, novels, short stories, plays, and kids books, he promoted equality, condemned racism, and injustice, and celebrated African American cult ure, and humor. (Illinois). Langston HughesRead MoreJames Langston Hughes And Countee Cullen934 Words   |  4 Pages James Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were prominent poets. These poets were at the time of the Harlem Renaissance during the 20th century. Hughes and Cullen wrote for others to understand the stories of African-Americans living in the United State. These men had differences in their writing, but one mutual objective. James Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. Hughes began writing poetry when he lived in Lincoln, Illinois. The Weary Blues was his first book of poetryRead MoreGwendolyn Brooks As A Poet2100 Words   |  9 Pagesracial prejudice in school. The young poet found comfort in reading and writing, which her parents actively encouraged Brooks’ mother declared to her, that she is going to be a poet. Brooks published her first poem Eventide at age thirteen in American Childhood magazine. At age sixteen, she met Langston Hughes, who gave her words of encouragement after reading her poems at a poetry reading. In 1934, Brooks graduated from an integrated high school with a career at the Chicago Defender. Soon afterRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead More The Life and Works of Langston Hughes Essay1971 Words   |  8 Pages The Life and Works of Langston Hughes nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å" In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone, I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan – Ain’t got nobody all in this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self. I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’ and put ma troubles on the shelf.† The above excerpt is from Langston Hughes prize winning poem, â€Å"The Weary Blues.† Hughes, considered to be one of the world’s outstanding authors of the twentieth century (Ruley 148), is a prolific poet, novelistRead MoreOvercoming Oppression and Exploitation - Langston Hughes Poems and James Camerons Avatar1566 Words   |  7 Pagesothers become bitter and reclusive and turn on those around them in hopes of feeling better about themselves. And many feel they are victims, rightly so. These are all completely normal reactions, but where do they lead us? Through two of Langston Hughes’s poems and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ I will discuss how oppressed people react to colonial conquest and exploitation, and how they become better people because of it. The painful ordeal of oppression and colonization turned the black people of AfricaRead MoreWhat Was The Overall Impact Of The Harlem Renaissance1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthe end of the Harlem Renaissance? The financial support of African Americans by rich whites came to end after the Wall Street Crash. 22. Who is the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and when was it published? The author of Their Eyes Was Watching God is Zora Neal Hurston and was published in 1973. 23. What was the overall impact of the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance help to how American view African American and their culture. The integration of black and white cultures duringRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United States

The Poem ‘Mother To Son’ By Langston Hughes First Published

The poem ‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes first published in 1922 and ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost have a number of similarities. These poems are parables in which experienced people give advice about life choices. In both poems, the personas were initially in some trouble in life but they currently have no remorse for the way they made choices and lived. Also, both poems have a moral lesson that life may not always be easy but at the end, the choices that people make will determine their destiny. However, the poems are considerably different in their writing style, diction, the point of view, tone and imagery. This essay aims to compare and contrast the two poems. Though having similarities in the theme and use of symbolism and†¦show more content†¦He, however, chose the road that was less favorable to people. This road represents a road of hard work or integrity since majority of people love short cuts to life. In the end, the speaker is not only relieved but also proud that he took that road. He says ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh’ (Frost 16). The reason for him telling the story is to give advice because he is proud of the decision that he made. Also, Hughes and Frost both use symbolism and imagery to bring out the picture about life. For Hughes, the stairs symbolize the life- life that has been lived through pressing on because of the difficulties and uncertainties involved. The mother symbolizes the old generation of people who are experienced and their role in giving advice. The old generation is familiar with life challenges that the younger generation, symbolized by the son, are undergoing. They provide hope for the young generation. The dark corners without light symbolize times of uncertainties, the corner symbolizes changes experienced in life, and the climbing symbolizes difficult situations requiring extra effort and so on. Reading through the poem a person can easily picture the life that the speaker lived. Conversely, Frost also uses symbolism in his poem. The divergent roads that emerge as the persona is traveling symbolize a dilemma in life. The persona needed to make a tough choice in life for it was impossible to live a double life.Show MoreRelatedThe Writing Style Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagescollective, is one of the many legacies of Hughes, who has been called â€Å"the architect† of the black poetic tradition. He is certainly one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. Langston Hughes became the voice of black America in the 1920s, when his first published poems brought him more than moderate success. Throughout his lifetime, his work encompassed both popular lyrical poems, and more controversial political workRead MorePoem Analysis : Langston Hughes Poem1258 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper and Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"Mother To Son† is a twenty line poem that seems to be from the perspective of a prudent mother that is giving her son, and possibly the readers, some helpful and supportive advice, telling them that, no matter how many adversities they may face, they can not give up. I believe that this is the main theme of the poem, perseverance. â€Å"So, boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps./ ‘Cause youRead MoreLangston Hughes: A Jazz Poet1045 Words   |  5 Pages Langston Hughes (James Mercer Langston Hughes) was a poet, columnist, dramatist, essayist, lyricist, and novelist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes, like others, was active in the Harlem Renaissance, and he had a strong sense of racial pride. Through his poem, novels, short stories, plays, and kids books, he promoted equality, condemned racism, and injustice, and celebrated African American cult ure, and humor. (Illinois). Langston HughesRead MoreJames Langston Hughes And Countee Cullen934 Words   |  4 Pages James Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were prominent poets. These poets were at the time of the Harlem Renaissance during the 20th century. Hughes and Cullen wrote for others to understand the stories of African-Americans living in the United State. These men had differences in their writing, but one mutual objective. James Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. Hughes began writing poetry when he lived in Lincoln, Illinois. The Weary Blues was his first book of poetryRead MoreGwendolyn Brooks As A Poet2100 Words   |  9 Pagesracial prejudice in school. The young poet found comfort in reading and writing, which her parents actively encouraged Brooks’ mother declared to her, that she is going to be a poet. Brooks published her first poem Eventide at age thirteen in American Childhood magazine. At age sixteen, she met Langston Hughes, who gave her words of encouragement after reading her poems at a poetry reading. In 1934, Brooks graduated from an integrated high school with a career at the Chicago Defender. Soon afterRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead More The Life and Works of Langston Hughes Essay1971 Words   |  8 Pages The Life and Works of Langston Hughes nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å" In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone, I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan – Ain’t got nobody all in this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self. I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’ and put ma troubles on the shelf.† The above excerpt is from Langston Hughes prize winning poem, â€Å"The Weary Blues.† Hughes, considered to be one of the world’s outstanding authors of the twentieth century (Ruley 148), is a prolific poet, novelistRead MoreOvercoming Oppression and Exploitation - Langston Hughes Poems and James Camerons Avatar1566 Words   |  7 Pagesothers become bitter and reclusive and turn on those around them in hopes of feeling better about themselves. And many feel they are victims, rightly so. These are all completely normal reactions, but where do they lead us? Through two of Langston Hughes’s poems and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ I will discuss how oppressed people react to colonial conquest and exploitation, and how they become better people because of it. The painful ordeal of oppression and colonization turned the black people of AfricaRead MoreWhat Was The Overall Impact Of The Harlem Renaissance1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthe end of the Harlem Renaissance? The financial support of African Americans by rich whites came to end after the Wall Street Crash. 22. Who is the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and when was it published? The author of Their Eyes Was Watching God is Zora Neal Hurston and was published in 1973. 23. What was the overall impact of the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance help to how American view African American and their culture. The integration of black and white cultures duringRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United States

The Poem ‘Mother To Son’ By Langston Hughes First Published

The poem ‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes first published in 1922 and ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost have a number of similarities. These poems are parables in which experienced people give advice about life choices. In both poems, the personas were initially in some trouble in life but they currently have no remorse for the way they made choices and lived. Also, both poems have a moral lesson that life may not always be easy but at the end, the choices that people make will determine their destiny. However, the poems are considerably different in their writing style, diction, the point of view, tone and imagery. This essay aims to compare and contrast the two poems. Though having similarities in the theme and use of symbolism and†¦show more content†¦He, however, chose the road that was less favorable to people. This road represents a road of hard work or integrity since majority of people love short cuts to life. In the end, the speaker is not only relieved but also proud that he took that road. He says ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh’ (Frost 16). The reason for him telling the story is to give advice because he is proud of the decision that he made. Also, Hughes and Frost both use symbolism and imagery to bring out the picture about life. For Hughes, the stairs symbolize the life- life that has been lived through pressing on because of the difficulties and uncertainties involved. The mother symbolizes the old generation of people who are experienced and their role in giving advice. The old generation is familiar with life challenges that the younger generation, symbolized by the son, are undergoing. They provide hope for the young generation. The dark corners without light symbolize times of uncertainties, the corner symbolizes changes experienced in life, and the climbing symbolizes difficult situations requiring extra effort and so on. Reading through the poem a person can easily picture the life that the speaker lived. Conversely, Frost also uses symbolism in his poem. The divergent roads that emerge as the persona is traveling symbolize a dilemma in life. The persona needed to make a tough choice in life for it was impossible to live a double life.Show MoreRelatedThe Writing Style Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagescollective, is one of the many legacies of Hughes, who has been called â€Å"the architect† of the black poetic tradition. He is certainly one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. Langston Hughes became the voice of black America in the 1920s, when his first published poems brought him more than moderate success. Throughout his lifetime, his work encompassed both popular lyrical poems, and more controversial political workRead MorePoem Analysis : Langston Hughes Poem1258 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper and Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"Mother To Son† is a twenty line poem that seems to be from the perspective of a prudent mother that is giving her son, and possibly the readers, some helpful and supportive advice, telling them that, no matter how many adversities they may face, they can not give up. I believe that this is the main theme of the poem, perseverance. â€Å"So, boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps./ ‘Cause youRead MoreLangston Hughes: A Jazz Poet1045 Words   |  5 Pages Langston Hughes (James Mercer Langston Hughes) was a poet, columnist, dramatist, essayist, lyricist, and novelist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes, like others, was active in the Harlem Renaissance, and he had a strong sense of racial pride. Through his poem, novels, short stories, plays, and kids books, he promoted equality, condemned racism, and injustice, and celebrated African American cult ure, and humor. (Illinois). Langston HughesRead MoreJames Langston Hughes And Countee Cullen934 Words   |  4 Pages James Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were prominent poets. These poets were at the time of the Harlem Renaissance during the 20th century. Hughes and Cullen wrote for others to understand the stories of African-Americans living in the United State. These men had differences in their writing, but one mutual objective. James Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. Hughes began writing poetry when he lived in Lincoln, Illinois. The Weary Blues was his first book of poetryRead MoreGwendolyn Brooks As A Poet2100 Words   |  9 Pagesracial prejudice in school. The young poet found comfort in reading and writing, which her parents actively encouraged Brooks’ mother declared to her, that she is going to be a poet. Brooks published her first poem Eventide at age thirteen in American Childhood magazine. At age sixteen, she met Langston Hughes, who gave her words of encouragement after reading her poems at a poetry reading. In 1934, Brooks graduated from an integrated high school with a career at the Chicago Defender. Soon afterRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead More The Life and Works of Langston Hughes Essay1971 Words   |  8 Pages The Life and Works of Langston Hughes nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å" In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone, I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan – Ain’t got nobody all in this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self. I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’ and put ma troubles on the shelf.† The above excerpt is from Langston Hughes prize winning poem, â€Å"The Weary Blues.† Hughes, considered to be one of the world’s outstanding authors of the twentieth century (Ruley 148), is a prolific poet, novelistRead MoreOvercoming Oppression and Exploitation - Langston Hughes Poems and James Camerons Avatar1566 Words   |  7 Pagesothers become bitter and reclusive and turn on those around them in hopes of feeling better about themselves. And many feel they are victims, rightly so. These are all completely normal reactions, but where do they lead us? Through two of Langston Hughes’s poems and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ I will discuss how oppressed people react to colonial conquest and exploitation, and how they become better people because of it. The painful ordeal of oppression and colonization turned the black people of AfricaRead MoreWhat Was The Overall Impact Of The Harlem Renaissance1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthe end of the Harlem Renaissance? The financial support of African Americans by rich whites came to end after the Wall Street Crash. 22. Who is the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and when was it published? The author of Their Eyes Was Watching God is Zora Neal Hurston and was published in 1973. 23. What was the overall impact of the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance help to how American view African American and their culture. The integration of black and white cultures duringRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United States

What Everybody Else Does When It Comes to Essay Samples about Myself and What You Should Be Doing Different

What Everybody Else Does When It Comes to Essay Samples about Myself and What You Should Be Doing Different The Fight Against Essay Samples about Myself Drafting and planning together with researching should be done in order to have a simple writing. You want to finish your analysis before you start writing otherwise you can't achieve success to complete excellent work. Keep in mind that, a great essay takes an excellent grip and comprehension of the writing process. After that, a well-written essay demands an excellent grasp and comprehension of the writing process. The samples will provide you with ideas on the way you answer the questions provided to you. At times, it's possible to just get up and leave. Shipping a few of items, especially from another nation, is much pricier than making the bigger shipments bricks-and-mortar retailers order. The school you've been dreaming of for your entire life is only an essay away. Some individuals have the capacity of great wri ting but find it problematic to work on confusing topics so it's much better to request assistance from a specialist. One of the absolute most important things I've learned throughout the last few years is that important questions are supposed to be asked over and over again. Make sure you have specific topic in your thoughts because general subject area isn't going to help you. The usage of persuasive essay examples is a great way to prepare to compose a successful essay. It is preferable to look at the guidelines for drawn-out essay as you get advice on what you want to prevent. So far as essay structure goes, a 4 or 5 paragraph essay based on the number of points you may wish to argue is a great start. The wording has to be clear and concise. A great essay should have essential points. If writing is essential for you when you read, you can begin with an outline draft first where you mention the most crucial points. Don't pitch an investigative piece in case you don't f ind out how to start reporting it. If you wish to receive a high score in your essay, do your very best to present new suggestions and support your opinions. Details of Essay Samples about Myself Any company which you are evaluating should supply you with adequate samples of their writing history. The strict guidelines and structure make common language in addition to common means of thinking between different researchers that makes it simpler for others to make their paper, whether it's extended essay, article or research paper. Make certain that it is error-free one of the most typical explanations for why an application is rejected is since it is poorly written. What you should do is to explore the topic. Review what you've been requested to address in your essay Sometimes educational institutions wish to find out more than just your career targets. You need to make sure that your thesis isn't difficult to identify. Students should be quite thorough in their research in order to spot the most suitable essay writing firms. Finding a perspective student seeking to college application essays ought to be a college application essay. In the end, make certain you properly cite you sources. Paraphrasing implies retelling some points from the original source in your words, you've got to demonstrate that you understood the material and not simply copy the info you hear or read. Another thing to think about regarding sample essay is that if you're fortunate enough to find one which is in the subject range that you're targeting, you can look at it not just for its structure but also for its content. The essay will test the student wisdom and ability in answering the questions together with analyzing the situation. Using Essay Samples about Myself Keep in mind, all type of activities you're speaking about in the essay must be associated with the scholarship program. Within the body, you have to have three to four ideas. There are lots of students who are having a difficult time on it not only since they will need to fulfill the strict guidelines, but they have to make sure that they limit their creativity. You don't need to be stress with the essay as you can complete it on the most suitable moment.

Cloning11 Essay Example For Students

Cloning11 Essay I choose this article to comprehend the abilities which bioethics gives us. Through generations, technology has advanced immensely. Though cloning is a new technology to the public, it has been around since 1978 The birth of Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, whom generated great controversy. Society has a great concern toward the particular medicine known as cloning. Scientists claim, Through discoveries of disease-related genes, the Human Genome Project has brought hope that human suffering inflicted by inherited diseases might be alleviated. This statement proves the fact that science can eliminate disease, but at the same time I believe that humans creating life is inappropriate. My views about cloning are mutual with the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II understands cloning to be a sin in the eyes of the Catholic Church, and giving life should be left to God alone. The latest break through in cloning was a sheep named Dolly, she had been cloned through here mothers genes. It took Roslin, (a team of scientists) years of research and preparation before Dollys birth became possible. Cloning is an enormous step for man in the scientific world. With knowledge such as this, scientists have massive power. Cloning duplicates a living organism exactly, discarding as to how its brain functions. People thought of cloning as to be a great tool in our world today. One example I came across one day in the Toronto Star, was imagine having a team full of Micheal Jordans What the population failed to understand, was that a clone of something carries all attributes of the original except for the mental characteristics. Looking back at the statement the team would be identical physically, but mentally they may not play as well as the original Micheal Jordan. One more factor is regarding whether cloning is ethical or not in our society. Many of the issues generated by advancements in the biological and medical sciences aid in practical matters, sometimes needing consent from government figures. Not all medicine or biological practices are good, for example nuclear technology. Which includes such things as building bombs that can destroy half of the planet. A second scary detail is that there are not many skilled scientists and they are scattered all around the world, some not having any control over what they create. If a scientist cannot control his or her own creation, how are we the society supposed to defend ourselves from such formations. In conclusion cloning is not the most ethical thing to do. Sure science is placed ahead in its studies, but the practices may not be suitable for the rest of society. Numerous of occasions new technology like this is introduced for the simple fact of giving a good name to technology, without conside ring the affect it may have on the great population. I just hope that the more intelligent and advanced we become through the next generations, we keep a sense of control and not let things get out of hand. Bibliography:

Mncs in India free essay sample

MNCs in India By A V Vedpuriswar[1] Introduction With a GDP growth of almost 7 percent1, India is one of the most promising and fastest-growing economies in the world. But despite the huge potential of the country, the performance of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in India has been decidedly mixed. Many MNCs which have succeeded remarkably elsewhere in the world have yet to make a significant impact in India. The market entry and penetration strategies that have worked so well for these companies in other countries have been for less successful in India. Many MNCs have struggled to understand Indian customers and come up with suitable products and services. At the same time, some MNCs have done pretty well for themselves. Why have some MNCs done so well where others have failed? This article is an attempt to provide an intuitive explanation of what determines success in the Indian market place. Background Today, virtually all the big MNCs in the world have operations in India. We will write a custom essay sample on Mncs in India or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These include Unilever, BAT, Colgate Palmolive, Procter Gamble, General Electric, General Motors, Ford, Pepsi, IBM, Intel, Texas Instruments, Microsoft, Oracle and Coca-Cola. India is now considered by many MNCs to be a strategically important market. Historically, the main reason for the entry of MNCs into India was to jump the tariff wall. High import duties made it difficult if not impossible to export finished goods from the home country to India. On the other hand, once they entered the country and set up operations, the countrys high tariffs guaranteed adequate protection. In some cases, the need to customise products necessitated a strong local presence. Unilever set up its Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Lever and gave it full freedom to develop various products to suit local tastes and usage conditions. This would obviously not have been possible if Unilever had only been exporting its products to India. In recent times, other reasons have made India an attractive destination for MNCs. India has emerged as a low cost back office, manufacturing and research base, thanks to its skilled but relatively cheap manpower. In the computer software industry, many MNCs are establishing offshore development centres to tap local manpower. IBM, Accenture, EDS and Computer Associates have all been strengthening their presence in the country. Not only are Indian software workers among the best in the world, when it comes to technical skills but they are also more comfortable with English, compared to their counterparts in countries such as China. Dell and Deloitte have major back office operations in the country. General Electric (GE) is looking at India as an important R base which can contribute to their global knowledge pool. GEs local outfit has filed for several patents in the last couple of years. Nokia has set up three RD centres that work on next-generation packet-switched mobile technologies and communications solutions. Texas Instruments is also doing cutting edge RD work in the country. Varying degrees of success While several MNCs have entered India, not all of them are doing well. This is evident when performances are compared across industries. However, even within a given industry, some MNCs seem to be doing better than the others. Consider the automobile industry. Here, Suzuki and Hyundai are way ahead of formidable rivals such as General Motors, Honda and Ford. Similarly in the FMCG sector, even after allowing for its relative late entry, Procter Gamble (PG) remains a marginal player compared to Hindustan Lever. In some industries, the MNCs have been left high and dry by the local players. In the paint industry, the local player, Asian Paints has beaten the MNCs by a huge margin. Then, there is also the unique case of an MNC, Indian Aluminium (Indal), actually being taken over by an Indian company, Hindustan Aluminium. One must be careful while explaining the good performance of some MNCs and the poor performance of others. An important point to note here is that different MNCs have entered India at different points in time and responded to the needs of the environment accordingly. For example, MNCs which entered India since the 1990s have in general been more aggressive and proactive in a liberalised business environment, than those which began operations during the license Raj. Hyundai, Samsung and LG are good examples. The older MNCs like Bata have also been handicapped by the baggage accumulated over a period of time. Such companies are often at a disadvantage due to their bloated manpower and inefficient manufacturing facilities. Of the 50-plus[2] MNCs with a significant presence in India, the nine market leaders, including British American Tobacco (BAT), Hyundai Motor, Suzuki Motor, and Unilever, have an average return on capital employed of around 48 percent. Even the next 26 have an average ROCE of 36 percent. The most successful MNCs in India have some common characteristics. Resisting the instinct to transplant to India the best practices of other countries, they have treated the country as a strategic market. These companies have also taken a long term view. They have invested time and resources to understand local consumers and business conditions. They have understood that the price points that matter in India are different from those in other countries. In a country where the middle and lower-end segments are critically important, affordability is a crucial factor. At the same time, some of the successful MNCs have also realised that price is not the only factor driving purchase decisions. Value conscious consumers, will pay a premium if the benefits of superior features and quality are seen to far outweigh their cost. LG for example, has reengineered its TV product specifications in order to develop three offerings specifically for India, including a no-frills one to expand the market at the low end and a premium 21-inch flat TV for the middle segment. By keeping the price of the premium offering to within 10 percent of the price of TVs with conventional screens, LG has persuaded many consumers to buy it. These innovations have helped the company to establish a very strong competitive position in the countrys consumer durable-goods and electronics appliances market. The story of Unilever, Bata and Alcan Consider three of the earliest entrants into the Indian market Unilever, Bata and Alcan (India’s parent). The company which demonstrated the highest degree of early commitment to the Indian market was obviously Bata. The shoe major invested in a fairly elaborate distribution network with company owned retail shops in even small towns. Bata also took the bold step of targeting the mass markets instead of just milking the premium segments. It targeted middle class Indians with value-for-money products. Indeed, many Indians do not know that Bata is an MNC. In targeting up-market segments, however, Bata began to deviate from this strategy in the late 1980s. And even as it struggled to deal with the labour problems in its Calcutta factory, Bata saw its market share being rapidly eroded by nimble footed local players such as Liberty. Like Bata, Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) also displayed a clear intention from early on to take the Indian markets seriously. It set up a huge distribution network and developed a wide product range. HLL’s efforts to penetrate the rural markets have only taken off in recent times. Compared to local competitors like Nirma and Cavinkare, some of its products look overpriced. Yet, HLL has a strong presence in India that has inspired the awe of other MNCs. Despite struggling to grow in recent years, HLL dominates most of the product categories in which it competes. To give a comparative perspective, global rival Procter Gamble is way behind. HLL also continues to attract the best talent in the country. Today, HLL finds itself at a cross roads. To generate further growth, HLL will have to design from scratch, value-for-money products for the rural markets and further strengthen its rural marketing efforts. But there are signs that under new chairman, Harish Manwani and a new expatriate CEO, Douglas Baillie, HLL is poised for a rebound. Growth is back on top of the agenda. The case of Alcan is even more interesting. Unlike Bata and HLL, Alcan showed little inclination to invest and build its business in India. Essentially, Alcan looked at India as a cheap source of bauxite, the main raw material used in the manufacture of aluminium. It did not build captive power plants, despite being fully aware of the pitfalls involved in depending heavily on the countrys poorly managed State Electricity Boards. Alcan depended heavily on outsourced aluminium metal, having decided not to invest adequately in smelters and power plants, the heart of any aluminium manufacturing process. No wonder Hindustan Aluminium, the leading private sector player in the Indian aluminum industry, through its vertical integration strategy was not only able to maintain its competitiveness but even managed to take over Alcan. Today, HLL, despite its recent growth problems is one of India’s best managed MNCs and one of the star performers in the Unilever group. However, it is facing a distinct threat from cheaper brands. On . the other hand, Bata is attempting a turnaround, trying to regain its focus on the mass markets. This is a major correction from the misplaced strategies of the late 1980s and early 1990s. And Indal, no longer exists, having been taken over by Hindalco. The story of the three MNCs offers useful lessons which we shall summarise at the end of the article. Hyundai’s success If Unilever, Bata and Alcan represent the story of MNCs which entered India very early on, the Koreans symbolize the picture in case of companies which have entered the country in the post reforms era. Take the case of Hyundai, which chose to enter the Indian market, with a small car (Santro) which offers value for money to the countrys price sensitive consumers. Hyundai has also made very heavy investments in manufacturing facilities. After its initial success, Hyundai has started to widen its product range. Hyundai is one of the few MNCs to have established meaningful volumes in India in quick time. The company is among the top three car manufacturers in the country and is now emerging as a real threat to the market leader, Maruti in which Suzuki of Japan has a major stake. There are many lessons to be learnt from Hyundai. The company spent several months customizing Santro. Realising that Indian consumers attach much importance to lifetime ownership costs, Hyundai reduced the engine output of the Santro to keep its fuel efficiency high, priced its spare parts reasonably, and made various changes to the product specifications to suit Indian market conditions. In contrast, other global automakers have entered the market with vehicles with low gas mileage and high repair rates and after-sales service costs. Unlike many of the global auto manufacturers in India which source only about 60 to 70 percent of their components locally, Hyundai buys 90 percent. Hyundai has also plans to make India a global manufacturing hub that can serve other countries as the local market matures. Contrast Hyundai with players like Honda and Ford who have been very tentative about setting up full-fledged manufacturing facilities. The importance of commitment Commitment is important while competing in India. Commitment is often reflected in the entry strategy. Multinationals entering emerging markets often form joint ventures with local partners for a variety of reasons. These include their ability to influence public policy, to leverage existing products as well as marketing and sales capabilities, and to comply with regulatory requirements when foreign participation is restricted to less than 50 percent of a business. While joint ventures can facilitate quick access to important assets, especially in â€Å"strategic† industries like metals and mining and oil and gas, they often run into problems, down the line. As a recent McKinsey article[3] has mentioned, of the 25 major joint ventures established from 1993 to 2003, only 3 survive. Most ran into problems because the local partner couldnt invest enough resources to expand the business as quickly as the multinational had hoped. As a result, most of the multinationals that initially entered the market through joint ventures have disbanded them and pursued independent operations. The Korean multinationals, such as Hyundai and LG, have bypassed joint ventures entirely. They have retained management control and closely monitored the operations, making bold investments when the situation has demanded. By being on its own, LG has been able to move at a fast pace. After starting its operations, within a space of five months, it was able to complete its nationwide launch. Almost all companies took up to two years to complete their all-India launch. LG has the support of its parent not only for technology, but also for financial help. For instance, a substantial portion of the bill for sponsoring the 1999 World Cup cricket tournament was picked up by the parent company. The second aspect of commitment is the investments MNCs make in manufacturing facilities and other infrastructure such as distribution. LG has not hesitated to pump in money. By early 2000, it had invested almost $300 million with plans for investing another $100 million. In recent times, LG has been increasing its production capacity in India, for most products including colour televisions, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens and refrigerators. Nokia is another MNC which has shown strong commitment to the Indian market by making necessary investments. From setting up a manufacturing base for handsets in India to creating financing options for cellphones, to working with cellular operators to reduce airtime costs, Nokia has launched various initiatives to lower the cost of owning and using a mobile phone. Nokia has also established a formidable distribution network that reaches over 25,000 dealers, a network that is about three times the size of Samsungs, six times that of Sony-Ericssons and one-fourth of Hindustan Lever’s (India’s largest fast moving consumer goods company). Nokia has built up this network from scratch by focusing on dealers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and consumer durables. Many of Nokia’s regional distributors are former FMCG middlemen who find the margins in the mobile phones business more attractive. In the infrastructure business, Nokia Networks has become a key supplier to all five GSM operators in the country; Bharti, BSNL, BPL, Hutchison, and IDEA. Nokia works closely with the operators to lower the total cost of ownership and usage for consumers. A third aspect of commitment is the amount of time and effort spent on understanding Indian consumers and then meeting their needs. LG has worked hard to understand Indian customers and identify features which appeal to Indian customers. LG televisions incorporate golden eye[4] technology and multilingual on-screen displays; refrigerators use preserve nutrition technology and washing machines the chaos punch plus three†[5] technology. LGs commitment to the Indian market can also be judged from its wide product range. In the case of washing machines, LG has been offering 6-kg equipment instead of its usual 4. kg models, to take into account the requirements of large Indian households. Such efforts have paid rich dividends for LG. The company ended 2004 with market shares of 24 % for color televisions, 33 % for washing machines, 41 % for microwave ovens, 26 % for refrigerators and 35 % for air conditioners[6]. With such high market shares, the company looks well placed to consoli date its presence in the country. A vast segment of India’s population resides in rural areas. So understanding the needs of rural customers is a huge issue. This argument is especially applicable to companies marketing consumer goods. But serving rural markets requires plenty of commitment in terms of understanding customer needs, developing products from the ground up and putting in place the necessary infrastructure especially distribution. LG is trying to build on its early success by aggressively penetrating the rural markets and by offering more value for money items. For the rural market, LG has launched a stripped down range of television sets called Sampoorna. Another company which has taken the rural markets seriously is Coca Cola. In the rural areas, Coca Cola has used a three-tier hub-and-spoke distribution model to ensure deeper penetration. The company depot supplies twice a week to large distributors who act as hubs. These distributors in turn supply goods to smaller distributors in adjoining areas. Large trucks are used to move stocks from the bottling plant to the â€Å"hubs†. Medium commercial vehicles are used to move stocks from the hub to the spokes. The small distributors have their own low-cost means like auto rickshaws and cycles, to reach the product to every nook and corner. Coca Cola provides retailers thermo-cool boxes while others with power connections have been offered cold storage facilities under an ‘own-your-asset’ scheme. The company has negotiated big discounts from refrigerator manufacturers and supplied 2. 5 lakh refrigerators to retail outlets in 2003. Finally, commitment is also reflected in the way MNCs deal with local government regulation. In emerging markets like India, where deregulation is still in progress in many industries and the regulatory authorities are themselves often not clear about what needs to be done, companies must be flexible and patient. Regulations governing the India mobile-telephony sector, for example, have been amended several times since 1994. The government had two licensed operators per region back then and now has as many as six. Although most multinationals left the sector when the regulations changed, Hutchison Whampoa continued to invest in India. Today, Hutchison Essar is one of the top three mobile services companies in the country in terms of market share. The most successful MNCs have invested much time and energy to identify and understand the key policy makers and even to suggest regulatory changes. They have resisted the temptation to appoint agents or joint venture partners to liaison with the bureaucrats involved in policy making. Conclusion The above experiences clearly bring home the point that success in the Indian market depends crucially on commitment. This implies a willingness to set up a fully owned subsidiary as opposed to a joint venture, in full fledged manufacturing facilities as opposed to the assembly of completely knocked down kits, in a widespread distribution network as opposed to a limited presence in the major cities and in customised products as opposed to standard offerings from the parent companys product range. It also implies an ability to work patiently within the constraints of the local regulatory framework. Commitment must be backed by flexibility. MNCs must keep fine-tuning their strategy till they have a winning formula in place. It is MNCs which show both commitment and flexibility that are most likely to succeed in India. References 1. â€Å"Hyundai Motors launches multifunctional small car ‘Santro,’ www. ipan. com, 13 January 1998. Mukerjea, BDN. â€Å"The GE  Juggernaut,† www. businessworldindia. com, 22 March 1999. 2. 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