Is crime rational Essays - Criminology, Rational Choice Theory

Introduction Rational choice theory has no true definition. We can base rational as being a sane act or having the ability to reason. And as far as choice is concerned, it is an option or having the ability to choose. Brooke Miller Gialopsos researched what rational choice theory really consists of. During the research, Miller came across Derek B Cornish and Ronald V Clarke?s Rational Choice Theory. The Cornish and Clarke basically stated that the process of rational choice theory is to understand the rational components of offending and how the offender makes these rational decisions. This created the decision making process. Having the ability to study why offenders react in such a way really astounded Cornish and Clarke. The two came up with four decision making models: initiation, continuation, desistence, and event decision making. We will compare offender behavior with Neal Shover?s Great Pretenders: Pursuits and Careers of Persistent Thieves to better understand why the rational choice the ory was created and sufficed over more complex theories such as the sociology of deviance. Creation of Rational Choice Theory Gialopsos researched that Cornish and Clarke gained interest in the decision making process of offenders while initiated research for the Home Office Research and Planning Unit in the 1960?s to 1970?s. Their main mission was to actively research how the environment background may lead a non-offender into an offender. So to focus more on the issues, they decided to dwell into other disciplines. In July 1985, they decided to attend a multidisciplinary conference at Christ?s College in Cambridge, England and included what they had research from the Home Office Research and Planning Unit. Soon the two created a rational choice framework for studying crime and did not just focus on the aspects of pathological and deterministic elements of criminal offending but the offender perspective of offending. Such a creation led to the main interest of Cornish and Clarke?s rational choice theory. Shover stated that, ?it was not until public disclosures about crime and crime control began moving in the direction of choice-and-punishment that social scientists deigned to examine carefully the merits of key assumptions underlying the change? (pg. 151). Cornish and Clarke did state that many scientists were rejecting theories if only based off of pathological and deterministic elements. Also, some scientists became frustrated with the failure of rehabilitation. Though researching with so many elements, Cornish and Clarke concluded that the perspective of the rational choice theory consisted of outside influences, opportunities, and psychological experiences. Decision Making Models For an offender to decide to commit a crime, the offender has to make the decision to follow through with the activity. Most offenders see the opportunity and seize it while others contemplate before committing the crime. Shover stated that ?an understanding of how decisions to commit serious crime are made and the factors that influence this process are critical in determining the likely impact of crime-control policies that proved for quick, certain, and severe punishment? (pg. 152). Gialopsos stated that Cornish and Clarke believed that ?in reality, different crimes will involve different decisions, not to mention a different number of decisions, for an example, robbery will require different decisions than burglary? (pg. 216). Similar decision making research is presented by Clarke and Cornish?s Modeling Offenders? Decisions: A Framework for Research and Policy. They are basically stating that ?most theories about criminal behavior have tended to ignore the offender's decision m aking--the conscious thought processes that give purpose to and justify conduct, and the underlying cognitive mechanisms by which information about the world is selected, attended to, and processed? (pg. 147). Clarke and Cornish?s continue to state, ?but the existence of a suitably motivated individual goes only part of the way to explaining the occurrence of a criminal event-a host of immediately precipitating; situational factors must also be taken into account. And a further distinction that must be recognized by theorists concerns the various stages of criminal involvement-initial involvement, continuance, and desistance. That these separate stages of involvement may require different explanatory theories, employing a range of different variables, has been made clear by the findings of recent research into criminal careers? (pg. 164). We will begin to explore more of these theories in detail. The Initiation Theory After making the decision to

The Effects of TQM in Eurasia International

The Effects of TQM in Eurasia International Introduction The Eurasia International case study is based on the implementation of total quality management (TQM) to improve the overall performance of the shipping company. TQM involves the application of quality management standards to all elements of the business.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Effects of TQM in Eurasia International specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It requires that the quality management standards be applied in all branches and at all levels in the organization. Characteristic of Eurasia going through the total quality process is an unambiguous and clear, limited interdepartmental barriers, excellent customer and supplier relation, time spent on training and the recognition that quality is product quality as well as the quality of the entire firm, including personnel, finance, sales and other functions. Top management has the responsibility for quality rather than employees and is thei r role to provide commitment, support and leadership to human and technical processes (Kanji Asher, 1996). In as much as the TQM initiative is to succeed, management has to foster the participation of workers in quality improvement and create a quality culture by altering attitudes and perceptions towards quality. Importance of a voluntary system of self regulation Mr. Bajpaee believed a voluntary system of self-regulation was essential for the shipping industry largely because of the need to achieve excellence in maintaining the necessary HR focus while controlling the vessel’s cost structure, keeping on line with customer requirements and foreseeing the competition. That is focusing on the nature of the shipping work and the important roles of individuals in order to meet the diverse needs of the stakeholders. The industry had undergone major restructuring which led to significant growth especially into the international markets.Advertising Looking for assessment o n business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The outcome of the rapid growth was the demand for more resources, yet in an environment with diverse regulatory systems. This led to issues like shipping accidents and other deficiencies as the industry focused more on making profits at the cost of the quality of services. According to Bajpaee, the shipping industry is analogous to any manufacturing industry. Therefore, a ship is likened to a factory where independent control is paramount in order to increase efficiency in operations and effectiveness of the human resources. In addition to the differing needs of the employee, the industry is associated with uncertain environments which call for unique actions and strategies to ensure success. Quality in the shipping industry is measured by the ability of a shipping firm to transport products safely from one place to another. However, there are factors unique to individu al ships that are described by the environment which determine the decision making processes. The self-regulation means that the management is able to respond to these factors free from other restrictions that might not fit in the specific context. In this respect, total quality management is considered to interlock with a self-regulatory system in that the system supports the creation of a quality culture. Managers as well as other employees who are restricted to explore the ideas they think to fit best in their duties are not likely to understand the needs of stakeholders that can lead to value creation. They will likely be endeavoring to accomplish tasks rather than accomplishing them efficiently. Bajpaee observes that a ship manager serves as an intermediary with secondary customers and is different from a manager at the base of a shipping company. Therefore, the success of the two managers is determined by different factors and hence cannot function under a common regulatory fr amework. Each environment demands self-reliance for the managers to offer effective solutions and steer the respective workforce towards achieving the organizational objectives.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Effects of TQM in Eurasia International specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Creating value for people Mr. Bajpaee likens cash flow to blood flow such that as oxygen is important to blood flow, profit is important to cash flow. However, the significance of life is not limited to having a pulse and similarly business existence is not limited to the flow of cash. More important is to create value for the stakeholders: shareholders, customers and employees. These observations mean that profit or cash flow results from value creation and not the other way round. As much as the firm is committed to creating value for the stakeholders, profit is created and the business is also sustained. The Bajpaee’s s aying is directly related to the idea of total quality management. Creating value for the stakeholder means the efforts to bring job satisfaction, customer satisfaction and shareholder satisfaction (Mukherjee, 2006). No business can be sustained if it lacks the capacity to retain employees, attract new customers and encourage shareholders to invest more. The human resources are the source of customer satisfaction which lead to increased sales and profits as well as shareholder satisfaction which is the source of investments. Therefore, value creation is not only the source of cash flow but also the best approach to instill a quality culture. The central purpose of a business’ existence is therefore to create value for stakeholders and profit cannot supersede it. Eurasian international is committed to creating value for stakeholders through total quality management initiatives. First, the organization creates value for its employees through recruitment, training and developmen t. Attracting employees from diverse environments is important to any firm operating at the global level which Eurasia achieves by recruiting seafarers globally and assembling international crews. Value is created through more friendly conditions for employees by offering stable working hours and established career paths.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Job roles are defined and the employees can advance their careers through education and accumulation of experience. Work performance for individual workers is formally appraised on periodic basis as a way to motivate them. Second, customer value in Eurasia is achieved by collecting and acting on customer satisfaction information. There are established Key Performance Indicators corresponding to customer value, shareholder value, human value and leadership/intellectual value. All sea-based and shore-based groups have performance targets at all levels. This ensures that the management is able to observe how all parameters are working on a virtually real-time basis. In addition, the firm collects information from external market and financial information providers which is analyzed by employing TQM methods prior to taking the necessary action. Third, Eurasia creates the value for its shareholders through a number of ways including the proper use and maintenance of resources as well as ensuring the flow of revenue. Since the shareholders are also the ship owners, Eurasia has set a process of monitoring, evaluating the technical conditions of the vessels in an effort to maintain them in good working conditions. The teams responsible are organized such that any deficiency is identified, analyzed and corrected appropriately and on time. As much as the resources are in good conditions, the sea activities are increased and thus higher returns for the stakeholders. In general, the organizational structure, employee training and development, resource allocation and maintenance as well as focusing on customer needs are among the factors that create value for the people. Organizational structure enables the human resource to understand their job roles and responsibility. Employee training and development provides the employees with the necessary skills and motivates them to work hard. Resource allocation enables the company ensures higher returns by reducing inefficiencies in operations. By focusing on the needs of customers, Eurasia ensures brand equity which lead to a royal customer base. Realizing operating efficiencies One of the objectives that Bapjaee put forward when implementing TQM was to increase the operating efficiencies. For this goal, the manager was determined to establish coordination in activities between the sea-based and shore-based groups. This was because any successful operation depended on the effort of both groups. The failure of crew members to deliver cargo safely would as well nullify the efforts by the shore-based groups to complete the transaction with the customer. As a result coordination of activities begins at the initial stages of a transaction and continues through until success is attained and evaluated for recommendations. To start with, the crew members are recruited, trained and developed according to the specific type of vessel under management, the particular type of cargo or the voyage in question. The shore- based group must communicate to the crew the system of safety, guidelines, policies and procedures in order to equip them with tools and knowledge necessary for any probable eventuality. This is backed up with well established daily, weekly and monthly reporting systems; quarterly inspections; pre-embankment and post-dismemberment debriefings and constant satellite-based monitoring to determine whether the vessel was making the right progress. Moreover, Eurasia has established a management structure comprised of self-check, cross-check and external-check constituents corresponding to the firm’s shipboard fleet management and support team. Additionally, when defects or deficiencies are identified in a particular operation, they are analyzed by a reliability team to determine the root course of the failure. For all operations, this determination is widespread involving the crew, system and equipment. The appropriate remedy to the failure is arranged while touching on the releva nt adjustments such as provision of more training and development, making necessary maintenance and revising the policies and procedures. Such a follow up ensures that every other operation is performed better than the previous one; continuous improvement. Other companies have a number of lessons to learn from Eurasia operating efficiencies. First, operating efficiency are achieved when there is corporation between operating groups. This means that operating efficiency touch every party that has influence no matter how small it is. Companies should not assume some departments simply because they are not directly related to the particular operation. They should aim for total quality improvement. Secondly, efficiency is about improving on the weak areas rather than introducing new ideas. When one learns from failure, he becomes more confident to explore new ideas that add to the existing knowledge. Finally, other companies can learn the need to create a quality culture in order to inc rease operating efficiencies. Indeed, quality of service in the service industry translates to efficiency in operations and improving that quality is an effort to increase operation efficiencies (Klefsjo Bergquist, 2006). The role of information Information play a central role in everything that Eurasia does which begun from its establishment to its expansion into the global market. Initially, the selection of Hong Kong as headquarter stemmed from the information gathered about the city. The city had a sophisticated telecommunication, infrastructure, an extensive air transport system, an advanced banking infrastructure, a low tax regime and a productive workforce, all of which suggest extensive research of the market. As a competitive competency, Eurasia deployed advanced database-management and computerized information system that gave users access to timely and accurate information. Most of the strategies established in the firm were based on information attained either from the market environment or failures in the industry. For instance, the strategy to become the best instead of the biggest was established after continued failures of firms in the shipping industry. During this time, Bapjaee observed how many shipping companies competed in a limited marketplace to acquire economies of scale and decided to focus on a completely different direction. Operations efficiencies originated from relevant actions on the weak areas identified through the collection and good flow of information among the operating groups. Another area that information has played a central role is on the Eurasia’s quality journey. Despite Bajpaee having reflected on the changes taking place in the industry to conclude that TQM was most necessary to the firm, he studied processes at other companies that had implemented TQM to confirm the relevant components. Again, these components were based on the need to seek much information on both the industry and the market. A definition of quality in terms of customer’s needs is a matter of seeking information about the diverse needs of customers. An organization-wide quality performance is about integrating stakeholder information into the company. The work system proposed relates to the adoption of an information system by the human resources. A meaningful way to monitor and measure results will require an evaluation and analysis of information pertaining to the performance of the system. Information has also played a center role in recruiting, training and developing employees. The recruitment of seafarers globally and assembling of international crews clearly stipulate the need to have relevant information about the global market needs. Job design that specified the roles of the candidates is a consequence of information about the objectives of the firm and the market needs. Again, organizational learning occurs as information cascades down through the levels of the organization. Employees plight in the information provided by the higher levels while managers take use of the feedbacks from the employee. Appraisal system is also an issue of collecting information about the performance of the employees and weighing them against the objectives of the firm in order to determine the worthy workers. Conclusion Total Quality Management is a concept applied in businesses such as Eurasia with a focus on continuous improvement across all branches and levels of an organization. Being part of Eurasia, the concept defines the way in which the organization can create value for its people. Bapjaee thinks that the most appropriate environment to use TQM is that which has a self regulatory system which allows the appropriate response to the dynamics of the shipping environment. Through TQM, Eurasia has been able to create value which eventually leads to operation efficiencies. These efficiencies have particularly been achieved by continuous correction of deficiencies identified in the process. A pa rticular interest is the central role that information has played in enabling TQM initiatives especially through continuous learning. References Kanji, G. K. Asher, M. (1996). 100 methods for total quality management. Thousands Oak, CA: SAGE. Klefsjo, B. Bergquist, B. (2006). Six sigma and total quality management: different day, same soup. Int. J. Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, 2(2), 162-178. Mukherjee, P. N. (2006). Total quality management. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

Colonial Rule in Peru

Colonial Rule in Peru In 1533 Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, colonized Peru in order to gain power and westernize the country, changing the dynamics of the land completely. Peru was left decimated, as the Spanish bought diseases with them, killing over 90% of the Inca population. Who Were the Incas? The Incas arrived in 1200 CE, an indigenous group of hunters and gatherers, consisting of Ayllus, a group of families controlled by a Chief, called Curaca. Most Incas did not live in cities as these were used for government purposes, only visiting on business or for religious festivals as they were extremely religious. The Incas economy can be considered prosperous as Peru contained mines producing luxuries like gold and silver and they had one of the most powerful armies at this time, using numerous weapons and recruiting every male capable of military service. The Spanish conquered Peru, with the aim to westernize the country, changing the dynamics of the land completely, similar to the intentions of the other colonial powers during the era of exploration and colonization. In 1527 another Spanish explorer commanding a Spanish ship, saw a raft with 20 Incas on board, was amazed to discover numerous luxuries, including gold and silver. He trained three of the Incas as interpreters as he wished to report his findings, this led to Pizarros expedition in 1529. The Spanish Quest The Spanish were eager to explore, allured by the prospect of a rich country. For some, like Pizarro and his brothers, it enabled them to escape from the impoverished community of Extremadura, in Western Spain. The Spanish additionally wished to gain prestige and power in Europe, previously conquering the Aztec Kingdom, Mexico in 1521 and started to conquer Central America in 1524. During his third expedition to Peru, Francisco Pizarro conquered Peru in 1533 after executing the last Inca Emperor, Atahualpa. He had been aided by a civil war occurring between two Incan brothers, sons of a Sapa Inca. Pizarro was assassinated in 1541 when Almagro was made new Peruvian Governor. On 28th July 1821, Peru became independent from colonial rule, after an Argentinian soldier, called San Martin, conquered the Spanish in Peru. Spanish colonization led to Spanish becoming the main language in Peru. The Spanish altered the countrys demographics and left their mark, for example, the Spanish coat of arms still remains a symbol for Peru after being given it by Spanish King Charles 1 in 1537. At What Price?   The Spanish brought diseases with them, killing numerous Incas including the Inca Emperor. The Incas caught malaria, measles, and smallpox as they had no natural immunity. N. D. Cook (1981) showed Peru encountered a 93% population decrease as a result of Spanish colonization. However, Incas did pass syphilis onto the Spanish in return. The diseases killed vast amounts of the Inca population; more Incas dyed from diseases than on the battlefield. The Spanish also accomplished their aim to spread Catholicism in Peru, with about four-fifths of the population of Peru today as Roman Catholic. Perus education system now includes the whole population, differing from focusing on the ruling class during colonial rule. This benefited Peru greatly, now having a 90% literacy rate, contrasting to the illiterate and poor Incas during Spanish rule, therefore not capable of advancing as a country. Overall, the Spanish succeeded in their aim to change Perus demographics completely. They forced the Catholic religion on Incas, remaining the same today and keeping Spanish as the main language. They killed vast amounts of the Inca population due to diseases from Europe, destroying the Inca population and used racial tension to create a hierarchy system with the Incas at the bottom. The Spanish also influenced Peru greatly as they gave it its name, originating from a misunderstanding of the Indian name of river.

Marketing Communications Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Marketing Communications Plan - Essay Example According to Sheth & Kellstadt (1992), a normative model of service quality improvement is built on the concept of continuous improvement. The company that I have been working in has been using this kind of approach to address its issues of quality improvement. This is because the key objective of the company is to achieve sustained improvements in its services delivery. Therefore, throughout my career, I have had an opportunity to experience a situation in which this model was applied. Moreover, I have been able to experience some of the benefits of this kind of a model when used to improve service quality as well as some of its shortfalls. This benefits and shorts could form a very good basis for my evaluation in this paper.  Normative model of service improvement is divided into stages. The stages include management commitment, employee commitment and participation, employee education and training, communication, assessment and modification, outcomes and targets, and integration (Hernon & Whitman, 2001). These stages are interconnected in an intertwined manner. This means that a stage does not necessarily resAfter intensive market analysis, it has been found that following locations are the most lucrative prospect for Premier Inn:†¢ Manchester (Piccadilly)†¢ Birmingham (City Centre-New Street)†¢ Edinburg (Central)†¢ London (Kensington)These four locations are among the top tourist spots in the country currently and generate significant revenue from tourism activities.

Analyze an entertainment product Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyze an entertainment product - Essay Example These questions, and many more, while be explored with respect to television and violence, and the controversial topic of media censorship. Seeking to explore the relationship between television, arguably the most prevalent entertainment product in homes around the United States, and violence, this essay will begin with a look at violence across countries. The relationship between violence and television will be discussed then we turn to a discussion of media censorship, particularly how it relates to violence on TV. This research paper will then conclude with a summary of the findings and an analysis of the research presented. Television is everywhere and has spread to all four corners of the globe. Much like television, violence is a universal phenomenon found all over the world. Violence on TV however is a relatively new concept and is not found across the world. Restrictions placed on violence in the media are culturally-specific and not universal. The result is that violence on television is common in some parts of the world while uncommon in others. In Canada and the United States, restrictions on television are usually not too strong and generally related to violent content or things that are considered to be obscene (generally sex). A good example of this in North America was Janet Jackson’s infamous â€Å"wardrobe malfunction†, in which her left breast was fully exposed during Super Bowl Sunday, the most-watched television event in the United States. Apparently more than 90 million viewers had a fleeting glimpse of the singer’s breast and â€Å"about 542,000 complaints were r eceived by broadcaster CBS† (British Broadcasting Corporation 2008) following the incident. Accordingly, broadcaster CBS was initially fined $550,000 for indecency and obscenity. In other places in the world, China and the countries of Asia in particular, restrictions are placed more strongly on violence, obscenity and

Eulogy for Mother :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Mother My mother was a complex, multi-faceted person. Many of you here today knew my mother personally, and many of you knew my mother indirectly through one of her family members. You may have known her as a coworker, a friend, or a support person. Of course, all of my mother’s family here today each knew a part of her, a â€Å"facet† of her--as a mother, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother, a cousin. I, of course, knew my mother as a mother. As I have reached adulthood and become a mother myself, I have also known her as a friend. My mom shared much of herself with me, and I saw sides of my mother as she struggled with her cancer that I had never seen before, especially her strong belief in positive thinking and the importance of quality of life. I was privileged to know so many facets of my mother, but certainly I did not know all. There were parts of her life that I didn’t see, relationships that I didn’t know about. Last night, at the wake, so many stories were told to me about my mom’s strength, courage, humor, kindness, her quietness, her loyalty as a friend. It was so special to hear of these things that my mom said and did, to know some of these other parts of her life. I hope that her friends and family will continue to share these stories with me and with each other so we can continue to know and remember my mom. So, therefore, I would like to share a little about my mother as I knew her--as her oldest child, her first daughter, her â€Å"firstborn† (as she called me), as her â€Å"Suzy†. As a young child, I knew my mother as strict and consistent. The house was orderly. Rules were clear and expected to be followed. Of course, I was compelled to always test this side of my mother--I can’t tell you how many hours I spent sitting on a chair in the corner of the kitchen, staring at our yellow tile!! Even then, my mother did not believe in spankings and corporal punishment as such, but she did use the occasional â€Å"wap† on the arm or behind when she felt it was necessary. If you watch the old family movies, you will see me in many scenes pouting and rubbing my arm (Testing those limits again!!).

Emma is often said to be about the “education” of its central character

Jane Austen introduces us, the reader to a certain aspect of Emma's character right as the start, she says Emma, â€Å"seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence.† The word â€Å"seemed† shows us that Emma has some lessons to learn. Not lessons in the sense of schooling, but how she develops and matures. During the novel, Emma goes through many changes in her personality. I think she is growing up, helped along by a chain of events which change her outlook on life, and on people. Almost every character in the novel helps Emma on her way along the path to becoming an adult rather than a spoilt child. However, I think the only person in the novel who takes Emma seriously is Mr. Knightly. Though she defies him on many occasions, she has a â€Å"sort of habitual respect for his judgment† and her willingness to be guided by good principles helps her to change. Life for women at the time of Emma's existence was very different to life as we know it today. For a woman then, education was about how to become a good wife and mother. There were no career women. The only careers a woman could have were in the governess or servants trade. Moral fibres were needed to be a lady. Emma has these moral fibres, but she was lacking experience. Not until she learns self awareness and social awareness will she be a good wife. Emma thinks she will not marry and therefore has no need to change, but Jane Austen has other plans for her, and does not have her fall in love until she has changed into a lady. Although Emma knows she is the first lady of Highbury, she knows she is not as well accomplished and Jane Fairfax. This is where some of her jealousy for her comes from and why they are not good friends. When Emma rides home in the carriage in tears after Mr. Knightley's telling off at Box Hill, she decides to act more rationally from that point onwards. This is a significant point in the novel as it is the first time Emma cries, so the first time the reader knows Emma is hurt. She acknowledges that â€Å"With common sense, I am afraid I have had little to do†. It marks a point in her moral education, and now that she has become aware of her â€Å"insufferable vanity† and â€Å"unpardonable arrogance†, she can judge rightly. I think Jane Austen wants the reader to appreciate her honesty about herself, and her willingness to change. Like Mr. Knightley, â€Å"his eyes received the truth from her's, and all that had passed of good in her feelings were at once caught and honoured,† the reader takes her attempts to make amends with Miss Bates and Jane sincerely, for they are met with none of the self congratulation and complacency that were typical characteristics of Emma before her transformation. Though the reader may have felt that Emma was being a snob and lacking in care when she made the cruel remark, the reader also feels that she shows genuine regret for her sins. Mr. Knightley is also put off by Emma's inappropriate behaviour with Frank Churchill at Box Hill. Here Emma and Frank â€Å"flirted excessively†, breaking social convention, and because Mr. Knightley takes Emma seriously he believes that she is in love with Frank. Emma's cruel remark to Miss Bates, prompted by the high spirits of Frank, brings out a strong reaction from Mr. Knightley, who tells her off for this because Miss Bates is poor and has less social status. This shows his strong sense of duty and good judgment. Miss Bates also, at this point, takes Emma seriously, but has the generosity and openness to forgive her. Though at the time, Emma says it was done in jest, she later feels Mr. Knightley's words â€Å"at heart†, and responds by visiting Miss Bates the next day to make up for her cruelty. The language used in the chapter is used to make Emma feel like a sinner, and she has never felt so bad. Emma's encouragement of a romance between Mr. Elton and Harriet nearly wrecks the prospective marriage between Harriet and Mr. Martin, the match which is socially right. The unfortunate illegitimacy of Harriet encourages Emma's imagination about Harriet being the daughter of a gentleman, because she is beautiful. Mr. Knightley, like the narrator, knows â€Å"Harriet is the â€Å"natural daughter of Somebody†, and lucky that Mr. Martin does not object to this.† When Emma is happy that Harriet finds a match in Mr. Martin at the end the reader knows this happiness to be genuine: for Emma's plots have almost prevented this from occurring. This is another event that makes Emma realize that she cannot control the events of everyone and everything. It makes her think about her actions, however, on more than one occasion, her matchmaking goes wrong and she swears not to do it again, but does. When Mr. Elton tells Emma he loves her, her first thoughts are of Harriet, but then of herself, and she feels rather offended. Having slept on it, she feels better, having learnt only half her lesson. By the end of the chapter she is considering match making again. This shows she needed some lessons teaching more than once. After her mistakes, Emma realizes them and she displays an honesty which unites her to Mr. Knightley. The consequences of her absurdities, snobberies and misdirected mischievous ingenuities as well as her habit of self examination (seen after each of her mistakes) and Mr. Knightley giving her his good judgment, are what prompts Emma to â€Å"experience a moral rebirth, under the impetus of self knowledge. Mr. Knightley as the ‘moral yardstick' of the novel is the standard by which Emma and the reader evaluate other characters in the novel,† and because Mr. Knightley takes Emma seriously, the reader too comes to have a concern for Emma's moral development and education, and so take her seriously as the novel progresses. Though sometimes put off by her snobbery and vanity, these are the qualities of Emma which are reformed when the events that take place force her to face the truth about herself. These are also the very qualities which make her such an interesting characte r. The eponymous heroine is â€Å"handsome, clever, and rich† but she is also arrogant and suffers from self deception. With the judgment of Mr. Knightley, and her own self scrutiny, Emma experiences a movement of psyche, from arrogance and vanity through the humiliation of self knowledge to clarity of judgment and ability to be a good wife. As the novel progresses, the reader comes to take her seriously, because of the nature of the issues addressed in the novel, and while at times we may be put off by her snobbery, Jane Austen has written in such a way so as to make us feel sorry for her. â€Å"Emma is a character neither so good as to be uninteresting, nor so wholly cruel as to forfeit our sympathy.† By presenting things from Emma's point of view for the most part of the novel, the reader gets an insight into her inner thoughts and unexpressed feelings. Despite Jane Austen declaring that she would create a heroine â€Å"whom no one but myself should much like†, the reader does like Emma by the end, and appreciate her ability to change for the better. There is a clear difference between Emma's character at the beginning and at the end of the novel. The main lessons Emma learns, and that are clear to the reader from the outset, are that she is like everyone else in the sense that she needs love, and companionship, to be found in marriage, and that Mr. Knightley is always right. He is her morality and keeps her on the right track.