Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Homosexuality in Victorian and Elizabethan Literature.

Alexander Lucero AP English 12 Yu 5.17.12 Homosexuality Portrayed in Literature: Threat To Yourself and Those Around You The Victorian era and Elizabethan era had many homophobic attributes, just as todays society does. Gothic writers of the Victorian Age played off of the fear and immorality of homosexuality and used those feelings as a basis for their novels. Bram Stoker told a story about a vampire that challenged the Victorian gender roles and managed to reverse them, making men faint like women, and making women powerful like men, and called it Dracula. Mary Shelley created a a physical being out of a mans suppressed homosexuality due to his Victorian male upbringing; a man named Frankenstein. Robert Stevenson described what†¦show more content†¦People believe that by allowing homosexuals to marry that it will threaten â€Å"the sanctity of marriage†. Homosexual men are infamous for being promiscuous, at least that is the label that has been placed on most if not all homosexual men, and for this reason sexually transmitted diseases have become something expected of them. This must have been a belief in the Victorian era, since syphilis was the disease that was feared and said to have come from sodomy. In this era, violence from society also attacked homosexuality. Homosexuals were hung, or lynched. (Sadownick par. 5) This history of homophobia shows that it grows in society from a persons upbringing. Things occur in a persons life that cause them to act in certain ways and believe specific things. The public hatred of gay men taught the generations that being gay was wrong, and that people that were gay needed to be punished. Homophobia was strong in the days of the Gothic writers, and though it has weakened, it still affects people in todays society. It even dates back to the Renaissance days, and is presented by Dante Aligheri is his Inferno. And for this reason doth the smallest round/ Seal with its signet Sodom[...]†. Sodom is a city known for crude sexual acts, which is where sodomy gets its name from. Since the Inferno is a world created by Dante, he believes that sodomy is a sin that is worse than suicide, and decides to put it just before the entranceShow MoreRelatedThe Twelfth Night, By Oscar Wilde1158 Words   |  5 Pageslove and courtship by altering the gender roles of Elizab ethan society. In the beginning of the play, Olivia has recently lost her husband. Due to her unbearable grief, she commits herself to seclusion and celibacy for the next seven years. In the meantime, the powerful nobleman Orsino has fallen madly in love with Olivia. As Olivia exhibits passiveness and becomes the object of desire of a man, she follows the conventional feminine norms of Elizabethan era England. However, feminine gender roles are

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Shakespeares Hamlet - The Reality of Appearances Essay

The Reality of Appearances in Hamlet Within Hamlet the notion of appearances (through apparitions and mental afflictions) lies in direct dichotomy of reality. This becomes evident through both plot and character. The continual demise in Hamlet’s mental state is an important issue which leads us to question his actions and motives within the play. In this essay I shall be attempting to elucidate how the reality of appearances is a central theme. The plays plot is full of incidents and events that are not what they appear to be. One such incident is Ophelias ambiguous death. When, from the Queen, the audience first learns of her passing, the girls death seems very peaceful, poetic and accidental. But later,†¦show more content†¦There are also many spy plots set up during the play which may also be considered as deceiving events. These spy plots demonstrate the appearance versus reality theme since they are invisible to the spied upon, but weave a web of dishonesty. In Act II, Scene 1, Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. Polonius does not trust his own son. Later, Hamlet directs a play entitled The Mouse Trap in order to spy on the King, Claudius. He does this to know whether or not Claudius is guilty of his own brothers murder. Hamlet is by far the most observed character throughout the play. Claudius first calls upon two of Hamlets old friends, Rozencrantz and Guildenstern. He asks them to try to find the source of Hamlets madness. Polonius and the King himself later spy on Hamlet. This time, they use Ophelia to try to expose the reason of Hamlets madness. Another spy scene occurs in the Closet Scene when Polonius eavesdrops on Hamlet and the Queen. This proves fatal for the old lord chamberlain. Through Ophelias death, the Triple-Pronged plan, and the various spy plots, the audience becomes aware of the beguiling nature of Hamlets plot. Shakespeare also used the characters in Hamlet to explore the theme of appearance versus reality. For example, Rozencrantz and Guildenstern appear to be Hamlets friends but they are, in reality, spying on him for Claudius. As well,Show MoreRelated Reality and Illusion in Shakespeares Hamlet - Appearance and Reality1313 Words   |  6 PagesAppearance and Reality in Hamlet    In today’s society, appearance is everything. What brand do you wear? What hairstyle do you have? What color is your skin? Are you fat? Are you â€Å"cool†? However, appearances are often deceiving, and sometimes first impressions are anything but accurate. The deceptive quality of appearance plays a major role in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Throughout the entire play, Shakespeare addresses the theme of appearance versus reality through plot and characterizationRead More Reality and Illusion in Shakespeares Hamlet - Reality, Appearance and Deception875 Words   |  4 PagesReality and Illusion in Hamlet    Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, begins with the appearance of a ghost, an apparition, possibly a hallucination. Thus, from the beginning, Shakespeare presents the air of uncertainty, of the unnatural, which drives the action of the play and develops in the protagonist as a struggle to clarify what only seems to be absolute and what is actually reality. Hamlets mind, therefore, becomes the central force of the play, choosing the direction of the conflict by hisRead More Reality and Illusion in Shakespeares Hamlet - Appearance versus Reality1608 Words   |  7 PagesAppearance versus Reality in Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Appearance versus reality is one of the central themes of Shakespeares play, Hamlet. The characters in the play assume roles for the purpose of concealment - Claudius, in reality a murderer and usurper, plays the roles of grieving brother and rightful king; the adulterous Gertrude plays the role of a most seeming-virtuous queen when she is, in her sons view, a most pernicious woman. Even Hamlet himself assumes the role of a madman in his attemptRead More Reality and Illusion in Shakespeares Hamlet - Appearance versus Reality1078 Words   |  5 PagesAppearance versus Reality in Hamlet      Ã‚   Shakespeares play, Hamlet, is a tale of a young prince who must ascertain the truth regarding his fathers death. Throughout the play, the fundamental theme of appearance versus reality is constant. The majority of the main characters hide behind veils of lies and deceptions, obscuring the truth to the point that nearly nothing of their actual selves are visible. The labyrinth of deception is so twisted that only Hamlet is aware of the truth, and onlyRead More Reality, Illusion, Appearance, and Deception in Shakespeares Hamlet1279 Words   |  6 PagesReality, Illusion, Appearance, and Deception in Shakespeares Hamlet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As appearances play an important role in todays society, so they also play an important role in William Shakespeares play Hamlet. From the first scene to the last, Shakespeare elaborates on the theme of appearance versus reality through plot and character.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The plays plot is full of incidents and events that are not what they appear to be. One such incident is Ophelias ambiguous death. When,Read More Reality and Illusion in Shakespeares Hamlet - The Deception of Appearance2133 Words   |  9 PagesAppearance versus Reality in Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is organized around various pairs of opposing forces. One of these forces is the difference between that what seems and that which actually is, in other words, appearance versus reality. What is, and what merely appears to be? We can discern two principal angles from which this question is approached in Hamlet. First, we have the angle of inward and outward emotions, and the profound distinction that is drawn between them. In other words,Read MoreEssay about Appearance vs. Reality in Shakespeares Hamlet497 Words   |  2 PagesAppearance vs. Reality in Shakespeares Hamlet In Hamlet deceiving illusions are frequently used to protect truth from being a destructive force. Situations within acts one and two that appear to be true and honest are really contaminated with evil. Various characters within the first two acts hide behind masks of corruption. In the first two acts most characters presented seem to be good and honest making it a complex task for Hamlet to discover all the lies that have hidden objectives withinRead MoreEssay about Appearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeares Hamlet1007 Words   |  5 PagesAppearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeares Hamlet In Hamlet, one of Shakespeares greatest tragedies, there is a prevailing theme that is concurrent throughout the play. Throughout the play, all the characters appear to be one thing on the outside, yet on the inside they are completely different. The theme of appearance versus reality is prominent in Hamlet because of the fact that the characters portray themselves different from what they really are. In the playRead MoreAPPEARANCE vs. REALITY IN THE PRINCE AND HAMLET1614 Words   |  7 Pages3. Reality and appearances, or if you prefer, being and acting, are important themes for both Machiavelli and Shakespeare. Why? How do their perspectives on this subject agree or differ? APPEARANCE vs. REALITY IN THE PRINCE AND HAMLET One of the most fundamental questions in philosophy is the appearance vs. reality. We find ourselves asking the question of what is genuinely real, and what is viewed merely as just an appearance, and not real? It becomes difficult when we assume there isRead MoreThe Theme of Appearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeares Works729 Words   |  3 PagesThe Theme of Appearance vs. Reality in William Shakespeares Works Characters within one of William Shakespeares greatest tragic plays, Hamlet, appear to be true and honest but in reality are infested with many falsehoods and deceptions. Characters such as Polonius, Claudius, and Hamlet give an impression of a person who is sincere and genuine, but behind their masks are plagued with lies and evil. As

Monday, December 9, 2019

Financial Reporting International Financial Reporting Standards

Question: Discuss about the Financial Reporting for International Financial Reporting Standards. Answer: Introduction To The Companies Wesfarmers Wesfarmers Limited is an Australia-based conglomerate, founded in 1914, with its headquarters at Perth. The company predominantly specialises in New Zealand and Australian retail, together with fertilisers, industrial and safety products, coal mining and chemicals. It has become the biggest Australian company in terms of revenue with AU$62.7 billion in the year 2015, surpassing mining giant BHP Billion and retail competitor Woolworths Limited. Wesfarmers is also the biggest private employer in the country, with a workforce of 205,000 people (IBIS Wrold, 2015). Initially established as a co-operative to offer merchandise and services to Western Australian farmers, the company was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1984 and henceforth grew into a big retail conglomerate. On becoming a public organisation, it diversified its interests through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Wesfarmers purchased Cole, an Australian supermarket, convenience, fuel and liquor retailer in 2007 (Who we are, 2015). Another division of the Group is the Home Improvement and Office Supplies which is made up of the Bunning Warehouse, a retailer of outdoor living and home improvement products, serving commercial and home consumers in New Zealand and Australia; and Officeworks, a supplier and retailer of office merchandise for home, education and business in Australia. Wesfarmers department store business is restructured into a single division named Department Stores wherein Kmart and Target are two major department store retailers. The company is also into industrial businesses i.e. Chemicals, Energy and Fertilizers; Industrial and Safety; and Resources (Wesfarmers Sustainability Report, 2012). The Group has 8 subsidiaries and 79 executives. The organisational structure is divisional with every division having its own structure. Decision making is reserved for the senior management in every division. Wesfarmers has secured many national and international awards and accolades for outstanding works in different streams. A 12% increase in export sales during 2008/09 in the site of the worst and biggest fall in global demand in 40 years, helped Wesfarmers Curragh secure the countrys most esteemed business exporting honour for the Minerals and Energy category (Wesfarmers Resources, 2012). Woolworths Limited Woolworths Limited is an Australian firm with widespread retail interest all across New Zealand and Australia. It is the second biggest company in terms of revenue in Australia after Wesfarmers and the second biggest in New Zealand. Moreover, it is the biggest takeaway liquor retailer in the nation. The main operations of Woolworths Limited, which was founded in 1924, include liquor retailing (as Dan Murphys and BWS in Australia), supermarkets (under the brand name Countdown in New Zealand, and Woolworths in Australia), discount department chains as Big W in Australia, and pubs and hotels under the ALH Group umbrella (IBIS World, 2015). The Group enjoys market leading positions in all the major markets. It is 30% larger in Australian Food and Liquor than its closest rival. Masters stands second in the immensely appealing Home Improvement market. Woolworths is also the biggest domestic internet based retailer in Australia (McArthur, 2013). Again a divisional hierarchical structure is followed in the organisation, with the BOD acting on behalf of its shareholders in controlling the functions and preserving good corporate governance. The Management Board is also charged with the responsibility of managing decisions and operations. As a brand, Woolworths has come to signify outstanding quality and has attained an iconic status in a country where people fondly refer to it as Woolies. The Group has also been bestowed with several awards for its sustainable development initiatives. It was awarded the Disability Employment Award at the Australian Resources Institutes Diversity Awards in 2013 for its disability recruitment drive. Together with its partner WorkFocus, the company was recognised for developing a booklet How to Guide for Recruiting People with Disability. This was designed to help store managers across the organisation to better comprehend the processes and benefits of hiring disabled people (Woolworths Limited, 2013). Sources of Finance Short Term Finance Wesfarmers The business uses short-term business finance to grab quick opportunities which require the business transaction to be finished in short time. The total short-term finance as per companys balance sheet for the year ended June 2015 amount to AU$1,913. These include bank overdrafts (AU$6), Corporate bonds (AU$1,584), and other bank loans (AU$323) (Wesfarmers, 2015). Bank overdrafts allow the company to write checks for an amount greater than what they have in their account during a given period of time. This is especially beneficial when the cash flow moves in and out several times in a month. Moreover, it ensures timely payments thereby avoiding penalties. Corporate bonds which make up the highest proportion of Wesfarmers short-term borrowings, prove to b a highly flexible means of raising debt capital. Wesfarmers has both unsecured current and unsecured non-current corporate bonds, however, the figure mentioned above is in respect of unsecured current corporate bonds (Ehr hardt and Brigham, 2008). These bonds stabilise the companys financed by having significant debts at a fixed interest. This provides protection against the dynamic economic changes and variable rates of interest. Short term Bank Loans enables the retailer to repay the loan amount in a shorter duration and with less interest (Rigby, 2011). Woolworths Woolworths also makes use of short-term sources to finance its short-term business needs. The total short-term finance of the company for the year ended June 2015 was AU$1,645. This included short-term money market loans (AU$10), bank loans (AU$23.8), short-term securities (AU$1,609.9), and finance leases (AU$1.7). All these are unsecured sources of funds. With help of a lease, the company does not need to buy a product which may not be required in the long term, and this source also reduces the business costs (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Long Term Finance Long Term Debt Wesfarmers The company uses long-term debts to finance its fixed asset needs, to fund its permanent component of working capital, to expand its divisions and many other purposes. Long-term debt comprises of financial obligations and loans lasting for more than one year. Wesfarmers total long-term borrowings for the year ended June 2015 were AU$4,615 (Wesfarmers, 2015). This comprised of non-current unsecured corporate bonds of the same value. This implies that the company did not take any long-term bank loans and funded its long-term needs completely through corporate bonds. WoolworthsWoolworths also depends on long-term debts for buying fixed assets, increasing facilities and business expansion purposes. The companys total long-term borrowings for the year ended June 2015 amount to AU$3,079. Woolworths, however, has a diversified portfolio of long-term borrowings, including long-term securities (AU$2,384.6), Finance leases (AU$2.9), and Woolworths Notes II (AU$696.5) (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Equity This is the ownership capital of a company. Any public limited firm can raise funds from promoters or public as equity share capital via the issuance of ordinary equity shares. The owners of Ordinary shares get their return on capital and dividend once the preference shareholders are paid (Kumar and Francisco, 2005). Wesfarmers The shareholders equity in the company for the year ending June 2015 was AU$21,844. These include own shares acquired (Wesfarmers. 2015). Woolworths The owners own equity in Woolworths for the year ending June 2015 was AU$5,064.9. These include fully paid ordinary shares (AU$4,850.1), shares issued because of share options and rights exercised under employee long-term incentive plans (AU$.3), and shares issued because of dividend reinvestment plan (AU$6.5) (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Capital Structure and Financial Ratio Analysis Capital Structure Wesfarmers The main goal of Wesfarmers capital structure is to give a suitable return to its shareholders. Wesfarmers capital is a combination of net debt, shareholders equity and reserves. As an important enabler of delivering suitable returns to shareholders, the company aims to hold an effective capital structure which is aligned with a powerful credit rating and strong investment grade. Robust free cash flow generation, supported by regimented portfolio management has allowed the organisation to undertake capital management (Wesfarmers. 2015). Wesfarmers debt levels rose during the year but they are still low. The component of equity in the capital structure is quite higher as compared to debt. Woolworths Woolworths manages its capital structure with an aim to enhance long-term shareholder value by optimising its weighted average cost of capital whilst withholding flexibility to chase growth and take capital management initiatives. The company has a long-term debt financing policy that entails an inclination toward long-term debt from the capital markets for matching long-term assets; minimizing the risks of refinancing by staggering debt maturities and making use of diverse sources of debt; and, completely hedging foreign currency exposure and interest rate to form certainty around funding costs (Woolworths Limited, 2015). Despite this policy, the company is currently employing very low levels of debt in comparison to equity. Financial Ratios Ratios Wesfarmers Woolworths Current Ratio (Current Assets/Current Liabilities) 9,093/9,726 = .93 7,661/9,169 = .84 Debt-Equity Ratio (Long term debts/Total Equity 4,615/24,781 = .19 3,076/10,834 = .28 Interpretation: The current ratios of both the companies are below the industry standard. The above results of the current ratio show that both the organisations ought to adjust and enhance the value of their current assets because a number of current liabilities cannot be efficiently covered by their current assets. The ratio reveals how best the companies can bail out their short-term debts. The operational efficiencies of both the organisations are not satisfactory (Gibson, 2012). The Debt-Equity ratios of both the companies are also very below the ideal ratio of 2:1. This implies that the company is not adequately leveraged and relying on owners capital. Although the capital structure policies of both the companies are debt favouring, still neither is following it (Helfert, 2013). Companies Financing Structure and Financial Reporting Framework Ever since the worldwide recession of 2009, the Australian economy has witnessed various uncertainties and fluctuations. This financial crisis also ended up hurting the retail sector as domestic demand and customer confidence fell drastically, while unemployment increased from 4.8% in 2008 to 6.2% in 2009. The recent Eurozone crisis and the unhealthy dependence on the resource sector are another challenges in front of both Wesfarmers and Woolworths. Although there is no direct trade flows between Australia and Europe, but the damages are extended through China which is a major exporter of Australia (Abdelsamad, 2010). In light of these uncertain economic conditions, it is presumed that the use of higher equity financing is a protection against situations of loss. Woolworths recorded its biggest loss of AU$1.235 billion in the first quarter of FY16. In such situation, it is wise to use lesser debt and greater equity. However, Wesfarmers recorded high profit in the previous year and se ems to be doing great business. Consequently, the company can opt for debt financing because there would not be a problem of non-payment of dividends (Jenster and Hussey, 2011). Similarities and Differences between Wesfarmers and Woolworths The main similarities between the sources of finance and financial reporting framework of Wesfarmers and Woolworths are that both use greater equity in their capital structure and both follow the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) framework for financial reporting. The main reasons behind these similarities include the nature of their industry and the resemblance of their scale of operations. Both the companies are operating in Australias retail sector and hence are subject to the same environmental changes. Moreover, the nature and scale of their operations are also similar. Besides this, the reason behind following the same financial reporting framework can also be attributed to operating in the same industry and hence being required to follow a generally accepted financial reporting framework. Differences can be seen in the composition of long-term debt and equity sources of finance of the two companies. While Wesfarmers has been conservative in their financing options and has relied only on corporate bonds and owners equity respectively, Woolworths has diversified its composition of both long-term debt and equity. The reason behind this may be attributed to the financing policies of the two companies and their comfort level with different sources. Summary The report highlighted the importance and drawbacks of obtaining finance from different sources i.e. short term and long term. Secondly, the report concludes that no company relies on only a single source of finance. They always use a blend of different sources to create an optimum financial leverage. Thirdly, despite having policies favouring long-term debt financing, both companies appeared to be reluctant in their use of debts. Lastly, irrespective of their size and reputation, both companies have poor operational efficiencies. Recommendations: Both companies are recommended to increase their debt financing. They should be wiser in selecting their creditors who have better credit policies. Both the companies are required to better manage their cash and liquidity. References Abdelsamad,M.H., 2010.A guide to capital expenditure analysis. New York: AMACOM. Ehrhardt, M. and Brigham, E., 2008. Corporate Finance: A Focused Approach. Cengage Learning. El-Firjani, E. R., Faraj, S. M. (2016). International Accounting Standards: Adoption, Implementation and Challenges. Economics and Political Implications of International Financial Reporting Standards, 231. Gibson, H. C., 2012. Financial Reporting and Analysis. Cengage Learning. Helfert,E.A., 2013.Techniques of financial analysis. Homewood, IL: Irwin. IBIS World. 2015. Wesfarmers Limted Premium Company Report Australia. [Online]. Available through: https://www.ibisworld.com.au/car/default.aspx?entid=69. [Accessed on 30 August 2016]. Jenster,P.V. and Hussey,D.E., 2011.Company analysis: Determining strategic capability. Chichester: Wiley. Kumar, A. and Francisco, M., 2005. Enterprise Size, Financing Patterns, and Credit Constraints in Brazil: Analysis of Data from the Investment Climate Assessment Survey. World Bank Publications. McArthur, T., 2013. Woolworths vs. Wesfarmers. [Online]. Available through: https://www.fool.com.au/2013/06/28/woolworths-vs-wesfarmers/. [Accessed on 30 August 2016]. Rigby, G., 2011. Types and Sources of Finance for Start-up and Growing Businesses: An Instant Guide. Harriman House Limited. Wesfarmers Resources. 2012. Wesfarmers Curragh Wins Top National Export Award. [Online]. Available through: https://www.wesresources.com.au/awards/awards-0. [Accessed on 29 August 2016]. Wesfarmers Sustainability Report 2012. 2012. [pdf]. Available through: https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/docs/default-source/reports/2012-sustainability-report.pdf?sfvrsn=0. [Accessed on 29 August 2016]. Wesfarmers. 2015. Annual Report 2015. [pdf]. Available through: https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20150917/pdf/431d8fyj0rz8zy.pdf. [Accessed on 29 August 2016]. Who We Are? 2015. [Online]. Available through: https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/who-we-are/who-we-are. [Accessed on 30 August 2016]. Woolworths Limited. 2012. Woolworths Limited Awarded Disability Employment Award. [Online]. Available through: https://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/page/A_Great_Place_To_Work/Diversity/Woolworths_Limited_Awarded_Disability_Employment_Award/. [Accessed on 29 August 2016]. Woolworths Limited. 2015. Annual Report 2015. [pdf]. Available through: https://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/icms_docs/182381_Annual_Report_2015.pdf. [Accessed on 29 August 2016].

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Napoleons Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia

Table of Contents Introduction Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics Conclusion Annotated Bibliography Introduction Napoleon was a great emperor of France with novel military strategies and tactics that enabled him to conquer his enemies and neighboring empires in a bid to expand his territory. His determination to win battles came from his confession that â€Å"there is no man more pusillanimous than I when I am planning a campaign.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I purposely exaggerate all the dangers and all the calamities that the circumstances make possible†¦I am like an unmarried girl laboring with child† (Nafziger 1989, 23). He derived his military strategies and tactics from inherent fears that kept him on toes due to the imminent battles that revolved in the neighboring empires. The fea rs of losing a battle were constantly haunting him and this prompted him to draw novel strategies and tactics to overcome his enemies. During the great battle of Borodino when he attacked Russia, he demonstrated his military potential and ability to conquer ferocious enemies despite their military prowess. Critical analysis of Napoleon’s strategies and tactics show that his military approach to the decisive Russian battle was quite effective and is still invaluable in contemporary warfare. Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics Although Napoleon exercised his military powers during the early 19th century, his strategies and tactics are still applicable in the 21st century. According to Nafziger, â€Å"†¦his campaigns formed the basis of military education throughout the western world and a lot of military thinking is still influenced by the great Frenchman† (1989, 26). Since his military strategies and tactics have stood the test of time, which is about two centur ies now, and can still prove to be invaluable in this era of great technology, then it shows that his military skills were and still are quite effective. The effectiveness of military strategies and tactics depends on the ability of military commander to mobilize his armies and resources effectively. Napoleon applied time and space as the components of logistics that are necessary to win a decisive battle when he invaded Russia in 1812. By 1812, Napoleon had led France to become a mighty empire in Europe and he boasted the great achievement that he had made. Given the military status of the French Empire, Napoleon was poised to invade and conquer the independent states of Europe. To achieve his mission, â€Å"he managed to destroy the unity of purpose which had fed the coalitions against France for so long, as Austria, Russia and Prussia were now ready to fight each other as well as to fight France† (Tarle Viktorovich 1979, 356).Advertising Looking for term paper on his tory? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Napoleon knew that the unity of independent European states threatened and would eventually ruin his powerful empire and there would be no legacy left for him and his successor, so he had to destroy their unity before conquering Russia individually. Therefore, he employed the tactic of dividing and conquering. The unique strategy that Napoleon employed as a military commander is the use of military professionalism. Many of his successors regard Napoleon as premier general who conceptualized new strategies and tactics in terms of structure and composition of strong armies; impregnable in the face of threatening enemies. â€Å"Napoleon embodied the idea of the professional military leader, not gaining his position through familial or political connection, but earning it by distinguishing himself in combat† (Hoffman 2005, 122). In his military professionalism, Napoleon took two years in mak ing logistical planning to invade Russia, for he realized that decisive battles demanded proper logistics. Due to his logistical approach to battles, many generals have appreciated his approach and have applied his strategies and tactics, which have proved to give consistent successes in various wars. His presence during war made great difference, as he was indispensable in mobilization of resources and troops. Since Napoleon harbored many fears concerning his great empire, which he had managed to hold together through immense challenges, he wanted to guard it jealously without overlooking any possible threats albeit negligible. Napoleon argues that, â€Å"†¦when I am planning a campaign, I purposely exaggerate all the danger and all calamities that circumstances make possible† (Olszewski 2005, 32). This strategy gave him the advantage in case the potential threat of the enemy was underestimated. During the Russia invasion, Napoleon never at any instance overlooked or un derestimated the battle and consequences that arose, for in his logistical skills, he provided for the worst-case scenarios that were bound to occur in decisive battles like Russia invasion that cost the lives of many soldiers. Primary strategy of Napoleon was to identify the enemy. Identifying the location, composition, and structure of the enemies highlighted any possible threats and imminent calamities, which were very critical in determining whether to go ahead with the battle or not. If the battle was inevitable, then effective strategies and tactics were necessary to combat the enemy.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hardeman (2006) notes that, â€Å"when facing a foe superior in numbers, the strategy of the central position was employed to split the enemy into separate parts, each of which could then be eliminated in turn by adroit maneuvering†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (175). With this strategy, though overwhelmed by the Russian armies, Napoleon armies managed to kill more of them as compared to their armies who died in the decisive battle. In this case, central position strategy proved useful in combating armies who were mightier while incurring minimal losses and injuries. Napoleon also utilized the strategy of Battalion Square and the tactic of outflanking his enemies. The Battalion Square consisted of an advance guard, which was to identify the enemy, right and left wings who acted as combating troops that marched within the range where they could offer emergency support to both advancing and reserved troops. At the rear end of the advancing army was a reserved troop, which provided extra support in case the advance troop retreated. Rainey argues that, â€Å"Napoleon could use a mere part of his force to tie down and occupy the attention of one enemy, then rapidly move his remaining force s to build up a local superiority against his enemies† (2006, 158). When Napoleon had built local superiority, he employed the tactic of flanking to combat the Russian armies who were too strong for him to conquer, but at least he demonstrated artful military combat. Conclusion Despite the astounding defeat that Napoleon met during his war against Russia, he demonstrated logistical strategies and tactics that many generals consider artful and worth acquiring in the current generation. Napoleon left military legacy as his successors credit him a military genius who made great impact in military reforms and shaped the approaches of decisive battles. His strategies and tactics still echo through 21st century since military academies recognize and approve them as effective and worth learning. Although Napoleon armies terribly suffered after invading Russia, this does not mean that their strategies were ineffective; only that the Russian armies were many, organized, and smarter. An notated Bibliography Hardeman, Richard. â€Å"General Logistics Paradigm: A study of the Logistics O Alexander, Napoleon and Sherman.† Air Force Logistics Management Agency 26, no. 13 (2006): 120-125.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Compares and contrasts logistical strategies and tactics, which great men like Napoleon, Alexander and Sherman employed in their military leadership to conquer battles. It underscores the fact that military logistics forms the central part of effective strategies in decisive battles. Hoffman, Smith. â€Å"Logistics of Waging War.† American Military Logistics Journal 12, no. 4 (2005): 172-189. Emphasizes the importance of military professionalism by applying logistical planning and consultation, in order to accommodate varied ideas that are paramount in assessing looming threats and dangers. Napoleon demonstrated professionalism in his logistical planning to invade Russia. Nafziger, George. Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics. Ancient Military Journal 58, no. 6 (1989): 17-31. Describes Napoleon strategies and tactics such as divisive diplomacy, military professionalism, logistics, structuring, and composition of the advancing armies. His strategies and tactics enabled him t o survive annihilation during the Russian Invasion. Olszewski, Zbigniew. â€Å"The Battle of Borodino, 1812.† Napoleon Military Conquest 16, no. 9 (2005): 24-47. Portrays Napoleon’s insecure and unassuming character for he never overlooked or underestimated the danger an enemy poses to his empire. It further outlines causes and subsequent implications of the Russia invasion by Napoleon. Rainey, James. Old Lessons New Thoughts. New York: DIANE Publishing, 2006. Explains how old strategies and tactics can be applied into the contemporary world. It also confirms that old lessons of Napoleon strategies and tactics are still invaluable in the current warfare. Tarle, Eugene, and Viktorovich Evgenil. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia, 1812. New York: Octagon Books, 1979. Analyses strategies and tactics that Napoleon used to invade Russian and gives the strengths and weaknesses that led to eventual defeat of the Napoleon armies. This term paper on Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics in His Invasion of Russia was written and submitted by user Abbigail Mills to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.