Thursday, October 31, 2019

Contemporary Management Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Contemporary Management Issues - Essay Example The company’ s business is a large-scale business accounting almost all of the country’s natural gas supply and for more than 70% of its crude oil productions (Petroleum Development Oman, 2014). In order to perform its operational activity at more than 5,000 producing wells the company employs about 6  000 people and works with more than 35, 000 contractors (Petroleum Development Oman, 2014). Taking into consideration this type of business and the number of people involved, the company has extremely huge social and environmental responsibility for its activity. There are two key objectives of the assignment. The first one is to provide an overview of the theories of business ethics to stakeholders and critical analysis of how Petroleum Development Oman Llc develops and sustains business ethics and how the company conducts business ethics to its stakeholders (including shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and government). The second objective is to review different elements of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and to provide critical evaluation of the rewards/benefits of CSR obtains the Petroleum Development Oman Llc while implementing CSR. There are many various definitions and interpretations of the term â€Å"business ethics†. One of the most common interpretations is that business ethics or values set the definitions of good and bad, right or wrong in business environment (Payne, & Landry 2006). Further, these definitions become generally accepted standards in the business context (Gavai 2010). Thomas Garrett explains that business ethics is â€Å"concerned primarily with the relationship of business goals and techniques to specific human needs† (cited by Gavai 2010, 4). There are recognized two traditional theories of business ethics: Raiborn and Payne principles and the Kantian analysis (Payne, & Landry 2006). The idea of the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Considered for academic reinstatement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Considered for academic reinstatement - Essay Example me tasks for the city and borough of Juneau as a Security Officer; (3) I inadvertently took several Law Enforcement classes all over the country which were too structured and used up most of my spare time; (4) I was also an Army reserve and therefore, due to longer hours spent at work, there remained virtually shortened time periods for both compliance to academic requirements and to personal rest; and finally (5) time constraint inevitably limited access to references and sources for academic compliance. Currently, I definitely am not satisfied with my general standing in the program. I am aware that the desire and pursuit to attain my original vision is still aflame. With the awareness of the rationale for failure to sustain the required GPA, I am more than determined to overcome whatever obstacles I have recently encountered. I realize that my ultimate objective of finishing the program I started with Empire State College is still my priority. In this regard, with renewed hope and unwavering spirit, I humbly seek for re-admission in the program. The dilemma brought about by mistakes in the previous semester made me aware that I deeply regret the academic lapses. The realization and threat of being totally obliterated from the program awakened my senses. I have planned the following measures to improve and maintain the required GPA: (1) severance of my employment responsibilities for the state of Alaska and the city of Juneau to make compliance to academic requirements my priority; (2) leave the Army; (3) participate more actively in study groups; (3) consult with my advisor and professors for academic requirements; (4) be more involved in both curricular and extracurricular activities; (5) apply time management techniques to prioritize tasks and responsibilities; and (6) seriously prepare for tests and examinations to maximize learning. I have utilized the same techniques when I took specialized training for the State of Alaska. I am aware that it is a

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Weber’s Formal and Substantive Rationality

Weber’s Formal and Substantive Rationality Weber’s Rationality Concepts and Scientific Management and Human Relation Theory Introduction Max Weber (1864-1920) was a German sociologist, philosopher and economist. His work of rationalization and rationality has influenced the entire sociology discipline. His work of rationality introduces four kinds of rationality, including theoretical, practical, formal and substantive rationality. This paper focuses on the formal and substantive rationality. Weber made distinctions between formal rationality and substantive rationality in his works. Formal rationality mainly refers to rational calculation determined by rules, regulations or laws, and the extend to an action occurs as an outcome of quantitative calculations. In terms of formally rational systems, the primary concern within the system is maximize profitability, this often results into disregardful humanity. On the other hand, substantive rationality is defined as choice of means to ends guided by a set of human values. It concerns several criteria of final ends and disregards whatever they are, it measures the outcomes of the economic-oriented action. This paper is to introduce Weber’s formal and substantive rationality concepts, then to analyze how these two concepts are related to scientific management and human relation theory. Formal rationality Weber defines formal rationality as the degree to an action happens as a result of quantitative and appropriate calculations (Weber, 1987). Formal rationality involves the rational calculation of means to ends that are founded on laws, rules and regulations apply in general (Kalberg, 1980). It also relates to a structure including legal, economic, scientific spheres and the bureaucratic domination with industrialization (Karlberg, 1980). Weber suggests an action is rational because it has a consistent structure, all of its elements point at one direction, no one counteracts another. Therefore, there exists a consistency in its structure, and this is aided by formalization. Formalization can render several contradictions visible through a mechanical form of simplification. Thus, formal calculation is a kind of rationalization which focuses on the process not the result, it emphasizes how the decision is being made rather than how the results are achieved (Rona-Tas,2007). Formal rationality exists in large-scale structures such as bureaucracy and capitalist economy. And these structures and their regulations and laws determine the means to ends (Ritzer, 2005). Since formal calculation is determined by rules, regulations or laws, formal rationality often leads to decisions that are without regard of the needs and values of persons, it may imply that substantive rationality is unnecessary (Ritzer, 2005). An action oriented to rules, regulations or laws is a formal calculation in reference to enacted regulations and opposed to decision making in reference to the personal values (Kalberg, 1980). For instance, the needs of a formally rational economic system are emphasized on actors who can outbid others not because their needs are more important or contain more personal values, but because they have lots of money. In this economic system, making money is the major concern rather than humanity concerns (Ritzer, 2005). Weber (1968) argues, â€Å"decisive are the need for competitive survival and the conditions of the labor, money and commodity markets; hence matter-of-fact considerations that are simply nonethical determine individual behavior and interpose impersonal forces between the persons involved (pp. 1186).† Therefore, capitalistic system is a formally rational economic system, as the major concern of an organization within the system is to make profit constantly. The entrepreneurs disregard the workers’ basic human values and dominate them by enslaving them in the formally rational economic system (Weber, 1975). Formal rationality dominated in industrialized, modern and especially Western world. Weber foresaw that formal rationality would replace other kinds of rationality in the Western world. He also argued that substantive rationality would fade away and people would march forward to formal rationality instead. So, people’s actions are no longer guided by personal values but simply follow the regulations, rules and laws (Ritzer, 2005). Substantive rationality Substantive rationality refers to the clusters of values that lead people in their everyday lives, particularly in how they choose the means to ends. It involves the choice of means to ends guided by a set of human values. For example, Calvinism is when one feels one is fulfilling a duty and Calvinism attempts to rationalize the world in ethical ways and consistent with God’s commandments (Weber, 1958). Other examples include friendship, communism, hedonism Buddhism etc (Ritzer, 2005). When the clusters of values are consistent with particular value postulates that actors prefer, they are considered to be rational (Kalberg, 1980). In terms of economy, on the opposed side of formal rationality, Weber sees substantive rationality as an action that emphasizes on outcomes, an action can be rational also because it reaches successful ends. Therefore, substantive rationality means the success or failure that due to actions are driven by economical orientation in order to achieve final objectives that can be economic or non-economic, for instance, justice and equality (Weber, 1987). That is to say, substantive rationality is relevant to economic action in particular. So, substantive rationality involves a choice of means to ends leaded by some larger system of human values (Ritzer, 2005). Substantive rationality orders action into patterns directly on the basis of a past, present or potential value postulate, instead of just a calculation of means to ends and solutions to routine problems (Weber, 1968). Unlike formal rationality which has just a single value, such as making profit or fulfilling duties, substantive rationality relates to a value postulate which connotes clusters of values that are different in terms of comprehensiveness, content and internal consistency. Therefore, substantive rationality is a manifestation of a person’s capacity for value-rational action (Kalberg, 1980). Substantively rational system do not limit itself to purely follow formal and unambiguous fact or act according to goal-oriented rational calculation with the technical method, it concerns several criteria of ultimate ends regardless they are ethical, utilitarian, feudal etc, it measures the outcomes of the economic action, whereas formally rational emphasizes correct calculati on that may against substantive or value rationality (Weber, 1978). However, Weber did not make it clear that whether certain kinds of results might compound formal calculation, or some ends are more tend to be formal rationality than others. Scientific management Formal rationality Scientific management theory was originally proposed in the book of Fredrick Taylor’s (1856-1915), which was published in 1991 and called ‘The Principles of Scientific Management’. The fundamental goal of scientific management was to maximize workers’ productivity and profitability ultimately. This principles of scientific management theory is accordance with Weber’s formal rationality concept. For instance, Taylor (1991) argues workers should be trained and managed under scientific methods, in order to improve their efficiency. Taylor (1991) also explains this scientific management method in details, that is: managers should abandon the old rule of thumb method and adopt a scientific method for every task; they must use scientific method to train workers, and use rules and regulations to ensure workers follow the instructions of the scientific method they develop. Taylor’s scientific management methods can be considered as the concept of Webe r’s formal calculation, and the objective of that concept is to achieve great profitability. Also, Taylor (1991) thinks the best management should be supervised and ensured under regulations and rules. This is also a formally rational system according to Weber’s point of view of formal rationality. In addition, Taylor (1991) assumes that workers can be motivated and only can be stimulated by economic drives. He designed a salary structure and principle, that was to pay a high salary to a worker who accomplishes his work more efficiently or faster. Furthermore, Taylor (1991) suggests to pay a worker with extra bonus or premium, if the worker finishes his work successfully and productively. Henry Ford implemented Taylor’s scientific management methods and developed a model based on economic expansion and mass production with technological mechanisms (Tolliday and Zeitlin, 1987). Therefore, scientific management theory is driven by achieving great profitability, which is aligned with Weber’s formal rationality concept. Weber saw the triumph of formal rationality in the American system of ‘Scientific management’, as Weber (1978) argues, scientific management uses suitable measurement methods to calculate worker’s productivity and maximize profitability, the way these measurements calculate worker’s productivity is like that of any material means of production. He argues that scientific management was based on rational calculation and improvement of work performance with scientific training methods, and the worker is totally adjusted to the demands of the machines and is shorn of his inherent rhythm through creation of an optimal economy of physical effort. Human Relations theory Substantively rational Human relation theory proposes that an organization is a social system, people in an organization are interdependent. Human relation theory argues that best management is to focus on encouraging people to work, to give workers psychological and social needs and comforts, that way, they would work with more efficiency and effectiveness. Human relation theory is substantively rational as it emphasizes to maximize efficiency and productivity through a set of human values. The basic suggestion of human relation theory was developed through experiments and interviews, the most famous researcher is Elton Mayo, who identified the importance of human values in organizations. Through Hawthorne experiment, Mayo found out that the fundamental factor affects productivity and efficiency is the worker. The workers who engaged in the experiment realized they were concerned by managers and colleagues, and that increased their belongingness, this belongingness changed the worker’s entire value concept, encouraged them to improve their working efficiency. Therefore, Mayo suggested that workers also want social needs and interests, and they cannot be seen as being economically motivated anymore as how they were regarded by Taylorism (Rose, 2005). Thus, human relation theory is an implementation of substantive rationality in We ber’s point of view. Then, human relation theory is related to substantive rationality as it suggests that there is informal communication within an organization. In the study of bank wiring room, a small group of male workers were to produce electrical components. That group emerged to set informal norms that were enforced by peer pressure and an informal leader. The study indicates that workers were not only motivated by economic force but also the informal norms and communications within the organization. Thus, it is more important than just following formal side such as regulations, rules and official hierarchy that formal rational system does (Rose, 2005). However, the human relation theory is argued to be formal rationality as well. The initial impetus for the Hawthorne experiments was to improve worker’s efficiency and productivity and its management was to control physical variables, the idea was informed by the tradition of scientific management (Rose, 2005). It is also argued that human relation theories are embedded with connotation of rational organization and preference of scientific method (Ross-Smith and Kornberger, 2004). This could be understood since Weber did not clarify whether certain kinds of results might compound formal rationality. Conclusion This paper explains Weber’s formal and substantive rationality, and uses these two concepts to analyze scientific management and human relation theory. The paper summarizes that scientific management theory is with preference of Weber’s formal rationality concept, as scientific management theory focuses on managing organizations with scientific methods and formal calculations to improve workers’ productivity and to maximize organizations’ profitability. Whereas human relation theory is relevant to both substantive and formal rationality, because human relation theory emphasizes on principles guided by sets of human values such as social needs and psychological comforts etc. In addition, because within organizations adopts human relation theory, there exists informal norms and communications, which are more important than rules, regulations or hierarchy. At last but not least, human relation theory was originally designed to maximize efficiency and producti vity, and to control physical variables, that was in line with the idea of scientific management theory. Reference List: Kalberg, S. (1980). Max Webers Types of Rationality: Cornerstones for the Analysis of Rationalization Processes in History. The American Journal of Sociology, vol. 85, no. 5, pp. 1145-1179 Muchinsky, P. M. (2006). Psychology Applied to Work. Eighth edition. Boston: Cengage Learning. Ritzer, G. (2005). The Weberian theory of rationalization and the McDonaldization of contemporary society. In: Peter Kivisto (ed.) Illuminating social life: Classical and contemporary theory revisited. Sage. Rona-Tas, A. (2007). The Three Modalities of Rationality and Their Contradictions in Post-Communist Consumer Credit Markets. In Jens Beckert, Rainer Diaz-Bone and Heiner Ganssmann eds. Mà ¤rkte als soziale Strukturen. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt/New York. Rose, N. (2005). Human Relations Theory and People Management. European Management Journal, vol. 34, pp. 43-62. Ross-Smith, A., and Kornberger, M. (2004). Gendered Rationality? A Genealogical Exploration of the Philosophical and Sociological Conceptions of Rationality, Masculinity and Organization. Gender, Work and Organization, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 280-305 Taylor, F. W. (1991). The Principles of Scientific Management. New York, NY, US and London, UK: Harper Brothers Tolliday, S. and Zeitlin, J. (1987). The Automobile Industry and its Workers: Between Fordism and Flexibility. New York: St.Martins Press. Weber, M. (1958). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Translated by Talcott Parsons. New York: Scribners. Originally: (1920) 1972. pp. 1-206 in Gesam- melte Aufsaetze zur Religionssoziologie (hereafter GARS). Vol. 1. Tubingen: Mohr. Weber, M. (1968). Economy and Society. Edited by Guenther Roth and Claus Wittich. New York: Bedminister. Originally: (1921) 1976. Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Edited by Johannes Winckelmann. Tubingen: Mohr Weber, M. (1975). Roscher and Knies: The Logical Problems of Historical Economics. Translated with an introduction by Guy Oakes. New York: Free Press. Originally: (1922) 1973. pp. 1-145 in WL Weber, M. (1978). Economy and Society. Berkeley: California University Press

Friday, October 25, 2019

Feminist Theology :: essays research papers

3Write what you know, the pundits say, and I agree, we are conditioned to take the road less traveled by with only the different drummer to keep us company. As a student, I often find myself stumbling around in the theological woods, feeling lost, losing hope and ending up with mud everywhere, but especially on my face. However, the journey, while it lasts, is more interesting than the interstate highway of common knowledge; it certainly has a way of keeping complacency at bay. For me, that seed has often been something theological. I also often find myself playing the ‘devils advocate’ asking, â€Å"What does God look like to those who belong to the rigid social order of the orthodox church, look like in the twentieth-first century?† When modern feminist theologians look at the text of the scriptures, they are quick to point out neglected aspects of the Word and are quick to challenge the "patriarchal" worldviews and assumptions that many consider to b e biblical, but may indeed only be cultural. Evangelical feminists who uphold the integrity of the biblical text as the Word of God have done much to cause the Church to reexamine its views on the role of women in the Church. The challenge has come not from social movements but from the biblical texts themselves. It is essential that we as students look beyond the hermeneutical value, to that which is ingrained in the text not because of truth but rather because of tradition. Professor Trible's research on Adam and Eve notes that the Fall created an inequality in the family relationship that had not existed before. And if Christ has become a cure for us (Galatians 3:13), that curse of inequality is undone in Him as well as in the text in which she refers our attention. Feminist theologians have also recovered the neglected feminine references to God in scripture (noting: the word for Spirit, Ruach, in Hebrew, is feminine) and pointed out the roles of women in the Bible as deacons, co-laborers with Paul in ministry, judges of the nation (Deborah), and possibly even apostles (Junia of Romans 16:7). There are, of course, other things going on in Professor Trible’s writing, but the subtext of theologic al issues gives each story its texture as the abstract ideas intertwine with the actual plot. If I write about nomadic Arabs in 1919 Palestine and describe the tents and daily tea ritual, how can I fail to bring in the Qur'an?

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Guide

The public services have multiple ways of showing how they go about promoting a diverse work force within the military, health service and police force. The first that would like to pin point is that they have a way of approaching the black minority's ethnic alongside the LIGHT communities, religion or beliefs and gender.As they try to incorporate more people into the military by means of newspapers, social media for example advertisements with different cultures interlinked talking about their experiences and hosting open days or setting up conferences that can be searched via the web making it more aware for the average person to see hat it would be like if they joined the army and in regards to the support that is being offered if they require it.For the equality and diversity they have training to improve on the understanding Of other cultures, religious beliefs and being able to respects those around them, there are also legislations put in place which are connected to the many acts they now follow (Equality Act 201 0, Civil Partnership Act 2004, Employment Equality Regulations Act, and Sexual Orientation Regulations Act 2003). Under representation of the BMW does happen and that is why they have the DART translated into DiverseArmy Recruitment Team, they consist of members from various backgrounds/ genders to show that we do want to improve on the diversity within our ranks, as it is fundamental to society that we start to accept more people from other cultures and religions into our communities, that is why we have them going around making people aware of the support that is given to those that wish to join, where they can go for help if someone is discrimination against them be it direct or indirect, harassment from someone or visitation of that person.So once we have them recruited and ready to go hats to keep them on board, all of the ways that the military provide for their soldiers and ensure that their family is well look after if something does ha ppen and that all of the benefits apply to everyone regardless of background or gender. UP Being able to provide equality within the ranks of all public services can be quite a challenge, the best way to enable them in regards to equality is by following the rules and regulations set by the government and by doing so they can see what impact this regulation would have upon the forces themselves.Not all opportunities will be equal which is sad but true, as some bobs within say the armed forces cannot be occupied by a woman on various grounds that are still under discussion. As such they have ways to entice and enforce the will to stay within the public services by providing annual training that is directed at equality and diversity which can be educational along with the fitness test, associations within the public services there to help and guide them in times Of need for example the Army Families Federation can give you advice and not identify you in regards to the issue.Regardless of the above they do have schemes in place to make life easier for all that wish or join or eave a family member that is currently serving in the military and ensuring that they are protected from certain discriminatory acts or harassment crimes. This also applies to the police force in terms of equality as they would assess how they would improve on the current affairs; there are many specific duties that are being carried out for example enabling equal opportunities for men and women when applying for a job within that station that can be a promotion.As stated above they do have duties but there are two types of duties that are created in order to ensure that all discrimination, reassessment, bullying etc is seen to accordingly or that there is some form of problem in regards to how we treat our personnel and their families.The first one is the General Duties now these are the ones that mostly come under the laws and regulations to see that they are not broken and carried out pro mptly, the second is the Specific Duties those are designated towards a direct objective or goal that has been put across the board on current procedures and policies, if they can change them to suit the needs of others and would it be appropriate or fair to do so depending on the rule.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Equus: Analysis Scenes 20 & 21

Equus scene 20 Introduction: First we will summarize the scene, after that we will analyze the following features. (we will be discussing scene 20 first). Summary: Dysart and Alan are in the office of Dysart, however they are pretending to be at the stables. Dysart asks questions to Alan and Alan answers all of them. Alan tells about his ritual in the stable. He does this ritual every time before he rides a horse. In this ritual he gives the horse sandals and the ‘’Chinkle-chankle’’. Later they go to the place of Ha Ha, which is a big field Alan describes to be full of mist and covered with nettles.Setting: The place is actually in Dysart’s office but they pretend to be in the stable. This is at night or late in the evening, which we can know because Dysart says: ‘’Dalton may still be awake’’ and because Alan says: ‘’he doesn’t like it so late’’. In this sentence he refers to ‘he†™ as Nugget the horse and ‘it’ as the ‘’Chinkle-chankle’’. The stable Alan talks about is home to a couple of horses, including Nugget. Plot development: This scene was actually very predictable. During the previous scene, so scene 19, the events in scene 20 were foreshadowed.In scene 19 Dysart asked many questions to Alan about his rituals with the horses. In this scene Dysart goes on with questioning and asks Alan to do the rituals that he told Dysart about in the previous scene. Alan accepted this and that is why they pretend to be at the stable. This scene builds up tension and again foreshadows what will happen in the next scene, because it has an open end. The next scene will probably be about the rituals too Character development: Alan is different in this scene. In the previous scenes, he did not like to give answers to Dysart’s questions.He wanted to ask him questions in return or he used tools such as the tape recorder. In t his scene Alan answers all of Dysart’s questions without being ashamed, without using tools and without playing games. Next to that, he seems to follow all of Dysart’s instructions without any hesitation. He is not the only character who has developed. Dysart has also developed. In the previous scenes he was someone who did not like his job. He said that he did the job because he had to. In this scene, Dysart seems very interested and wants to know more about Alan.He still is careful with Alan, but he has to watch out because he could become too curious and make actions without thinking about them. Themes: The theme of this scene is religion, because Alan tells more about his god equus. He tells us about the rituals which he has to do in order to ride on Equus. Language: The only striking about the language is that Alan uses the word â€Å"Ha Ha† to describe a place. Alan mysteriously tells Dysart: â€Å"It’s his place of Ha Ha†. Dysart does not as k for more information about this place, so we don’t get to know what happens there†¦ yet.Symbolism: The sandals in the scene are used as a symbol. He gives the sandals to the horse and he kisses them before he does that. There can be two views however. One of them is religious. Alan gives Nugget the sandals. Alan is a boy who knows a lot about the bible so he also knew that Jesus always wore sandals. In this way, Alan symbolizes Jesus. He sees the horse as Jesus. Therefore he gives the horse the sandals to wear, just like Jesus. The other view however is simply to reduce the noise that the horse makes. It is night and Alan wants to do his rituals and ride on the horse.This will make a lot of noise. So in order to prevent people from noticing this or prevent to wake them up, he gives sandals to the horse. Equus scene 21 Summary: Alan and Dysart move on to the huge field. Alan goes on with his rituals. He completely undresses in front of the horse. Next to that he gets hi s ‘’Manbit’’. It is a sacred stick on which he bites. After that he touches the horse everywhere; On its belly, ribs, flank, eyes etc. After that Alan offers Nugget some sugar, in order to take his sins away. Then he mounts the horse and he says that it hurts because of little knives in his skin.Alan calls himself ‘’The king’’ and says that only he can ride Equus, the mightiest of horses. The king (Alan) tramples all of his foes and after that he says: ‘’Equus I love you’’ and ‘’Make us one person! ’’. Finally he drops of the horse to the ground and ends with: ‘’Amen’’. Setting: Alan and Dysart are still in the office of Dysart, however they are still pretending as if they weren’t. Now they pretend to have walked to the huge field. This huge field is full of mist. They went from the stable to the field so we can assume that it is still dark ou tside.We can also assume that it is night because Alan told us in the previous scenes that he does his rituals during the night. It probably is not very cold, otherwise Alan would have had difficulties to stay outside without his clothes. There is also a gate and a tree in the field. We know this because Alan mentioned it. Plot development: This scene is in chronological order with the previous scene. So it was predictable that Alan would go on with his ritual. But the ritual itself was very surprising. It turned from a simple ritual to a very extreme one.We can see that some of these rituals come from Christianity. Alan bows for his god Equus and he talks about sins. The tension from the previous scene gets to its climax where Alan has an intense moment riding Nugget. After that, the action drops significantly when Alan says: â€Å"Amen†. Character development: Alan was already excited during the previous scene, but we have not seen him this excited yet. There is no sign lef t of the shame that Alan had previously. He reveals everything. In the previous scene he just demonstrated a part of his rituals, but now he has shown the extremes of his ritual.He stands firmly behind his thoughts and he shows his love towards his god, Equus. It seems as if he has turned into a radical believer of his own religion. Dysart is still very curious and does not show any signs of feeling weird. He acts as if everything is normal, as if he is a child wanting to know more about football. From all the sentences that Dysart says, only 2 do not end with a question mark. This shows that Dysart is very curious. Theme: The themes of scene 21 are religion and normality. In this scene we learn a lot about the rituals and the religion of Alan.That is why one of the themes is religion. The rituals can be seen as weird. It challenges our sense of what is normal and what is not. With the help of this scene the writer wants to standardize our view on the strange. That is why the second theme of scene 21 is normality. Language: Alan’s use of the language is very striking. He does not use colloquialism. Instead he uses very holy and sacred words. He has created a lot of names for his religion. When Dysart asks him about who his enemies are, Alan gives a lot of new names. He tells us that he is the king and therefore he talks like a king.He also uses heroic language such as: ‘’Equus the Mighty rose against all! ’’ and ‘’His enemies scatter, his enemies fall! ’’. Symbolism: The sugar that Alan gives to the horse is a symbol that is linked to Christianity. By giving the sugar, he offers up his sins to Equus. So the sugar stands for sins. He says that this is his last supper, which refers to the last supper of Jesus. Conclusion: Finally, we could say that scene 20 and 21 are quite strange scenes. We discover what the real Alan is like and we get to understand him better. Especially scene 21 seems to be a very important scene for the whole play,