“We could have done it” Fanaticism in The Long Walk - Literature Essay Samples

In Stephen King’s novel The Long Walk, 100 teenage boys walk the border of Canada and the United States in the ultimate game. If these boys slow down too many times, or stop walking, they are shot until only one is left, upon which he is the winner of the ultimate prize. This prize is only described as â€Å"Anything you want, for the rest of your life,† (305) something that draws many boys to apply. The event is public, and draws a large crowd. Is is due to this crowd’s fanaticism that the Long Walk continues, and they are thereby culpable for the ritualistic murders of 99 boys on the Walk. Stephen King uses the crowd to highlight the horrors that a mindset of winners and losers can enable in real life events. The crowd’s fanaticism can be seen in several situations, one of the first being a crowd seen shortly after Curley’s death. Due to Curley being the first walker to â€Å"buy his ticket,† when the news reaches the crowd â€Å"for some reason they began to cheer more loudly.† (35) The horribly violent way that Curley met his end was met with cheers and whistles from a crowd desperate for blood. This is not the only crowd that is eager to see someone fall, Garraty compares a farmer and his family watching the walkers to â€Å"Western movies he had seen on all the Saturday afternoons of his youth, where the hero was left to die in the desert and buzzards came and circled overhead.† (91) Just like the vultures, the family was watching for someone to die, in order to appease their need for entertainment. Later on, another crowd even more bloodthirsty than the first begins to cheer and wave placards. One person â€Å"threw a burning road flare,† ano ther man â€Å"advertised his own candidacy†. (275) Despite this, the crowd is described as â€Å"dull and bland as the turnpike itself,† (276) due to the lack of individuality or humanity in it. In fact, the crowd is willing in several situations to risk their lives and the lives of others in order to procure some kind of memory or token from the event. Stebbins describes when he saw the end of the Long Walk â€Å"four years ago,† when his father took him in order to showcase to his son how much he despised it. According to Stebbins, â€Å"‘They had the National Guard out and Sixteen Federal Squads to augment the State Police†¦ Over twenty people were trampled to death before it was all over.’† (95) There were so many people watching the event that others died to watch two boys walk to their deaths. Several people dart into the road to grab souvenirs, discarded clothing and even excrement, even though they know it’s against the rules. Beyond their demand for blood, the crowd is responsible for not putting a stop to the Long Walk. According to Stebbins’ description as well as other scenes in which we see large crowds, the crowd is packed â€Å"sixty people deep for five miles† more than enough to overpower the five to six guards that accompany the boys. Hank Olson tries to escape from the Walk, climbing the turnpike and yanking a gun out of a guard’s hand, where it â€Å"clattered into the crowd.† (254) No one came to his aid, and the guards shoot him in the gut, leading to his painful and slow death. It would have been possible for a crowd member to take up arms and fight back, but â€Å"they shrank from it.† (254) Collie Parker later overpowers a handful of guards, wrestling a gun from one of them and killing one of them. McVries explains to Ray that â€Å"he wanted us all up there with him, Garraty. And I think we could have done it.† (359) There were twenty-one boys whe n Parker stole the gun, more than enough to overpower the guards, and countless members of the crowd, but due to their inaction, the Walk goes on. King’s moral in The Long Walk is that fanaticism is dangerous, and while the events in the novel are fictionalized, it is a warning. By beginning new chapters with quotes from game shows and competitions, King reminds the reader that the mindset of the crowd is not too far away from being acceptable, unless something changes. In the beginning of Chapter 14, the quote is from The Ten Thousand Dollar Pyramid, a gameshow with very strict rules that led to a prize. The host reminds players that â€Å"if you use your hands or gesture with any part of your body, or use any part of the word, you will forfeit your chance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (315) This reflects the mindset of The Long Walk, where the Walkers remind themselves constantly of hints like â€Å"Conserve wind,† (117) and â€Å"Conserve energy whenever possible.† (11) While events like The Ten Thousand Dollar Pyramid or The College Bowl don’t result in the mass loss of human life at the demands of a crowd, the mindset of someone losing is there. Sporting events have often ended in riots and violence, just as the end of the Walk that Stebbins witnessed resulted in the deaths of twenty onlookers. Stephen King’s novel is a moral warning to a society that believes in winners and losers, and demands to see each. He informs the reader that in the situation of the Walk, the crowd is every bit responsible for the deaths of the Walkers due to their fanaticism, and that if society becomes fanatics as well, they hold responsibility for the outcome.

The Concept of Organizational Structure - Free Essay Example

The concept of organizational structure Organizations may be mechanical and organic structure or some mechanical tasks, other tasks may maintain an organic structure. Mechanical design of technical methods for each position in the business, duties and powers are described in detail. Working relationships within the organization is vertical. Obedience is important in mechanical systems. More do the job cases are available. Top-down communication that does not depend on the elements work. Efficiency is very low. administrators and obey all work would usually expect intervention. This situation causes quite accusations and complaints. According to the status in an environment where everyone has value. Everyone has to do a good job. Communication is very limited. Organic structure and is less flexible in the definition of work. Responsibilities, functions, methods and powers vary continuously. Relations and communication and discussion in the form of solidarity is ho rizontal rather than vertical orders. Because mutual communication efficiency is high. everyone has their own personality value the importance of. Statute does not matter. as an internal control environment for the advice and support is available. Save and thereby increases production. Everything would be innovative. everyone is responsible for the work done is not a single administrator. thoughts on employees job well done shaped. If you have a problem here, the problem is solved together. Everyone expects respect from each other. A person working in the organic system, just how good a job as well as the best to do business with the targets. In the mechanical system of the first embodiment is not permitted, the emphasis on the second. The new system helps to ensure the implementation of decisions given in the field, time is lost by waiting directives from the center, in the old system. In the new system with the participation of members of the various units of the organization ( or even in general) to be made about brainstorming ideas will emerge with a wealth of best will be helpful in finding the. The organic system of the major benefits One, administrators, element (necessary knowledge and courage hardware after) in the business baÄÅ ¸Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ±msÄ ±zlaÃ…Å ¸tÄ ±rÄ ±p; overall coordination, follow the innovation, strategic planning and self-development as well as vital issue to take the time to be making opportunity is. 100% of people and organizations applying mechanical or organic systems, they can not say 100%. In fact, this rate the quality of the organizations member-managers, together with internal factors such as age, under the influence of external factors change. Widespread organic system administration excels in being a power and interest. Modern business team of experts will develop further understanding and would diminish the authority of the leader are indicated. Communication networks while reducing the import ance of boundaries, reducing the authority of the organic system on people who are not administrators. In the new system, rather than the status of the power, personal power will come to the fore, people in different ways, conquered much of their status, knowledge, and experience gained through sacrifice and administrators will be. Im doing my job, I get my salary in the conception, routine work and the pursuit of common holidays are the elements in this system will be eliminated. Local governments gained power, the bureaucracy will shrink and democratic values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹will spread to the entire community. Need to possess our own valuesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹, as well as adapting to the world community to be a lot more thought and being unresponsive stacks get rid of. For this, the Administrator and member status to reconsider our gerekmektedir.bat world of trial-and-error methods for reaching our valuesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹, our hand written despite the fact that for centuries ulaÃ…Å ¸amayÄ ±Ãƒâ€¦Ã… ¸Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ± Our very painful condition, but, at the same time is a reality. BURNS and STALKER Technological changes and market changes in the management of these enterprises constitute what effects, it studied. Results from studies in the organizational structure has been classified in two groups: mechanical and organic. Mechanical organizational structure, static and stable environmental conditions, there are very few cases where the rate of change most suitable structure, the organic structure of the environmental conditions are changing continuously and as fast as the best organizational structure is indicated. Mechanical properties of the organizational structure ; The problems facing businesses and jobs are divided into specific areas of expertise . Every staff member in a business , all business interests to consider the purpose and act accordingly , instead of entering the field activities of his department and a very small part of the whole purpose of which is to act according to . Each specialization and functional levels determined in detail the rights and responsibilities of methods and techniques which will be used is decided here . Authority and command and control relationships are defined as clearly and distinctly . Relationships between members of the organization , essentially the top in the form of relationship to other relationships. Work to be done and will be shown to a large extent the behavior of those in the upper echelons is in line with their decisions and orders . Of command and staff personnel is defined as the differences between the clear . Control areas are usually narrow and closely oversee . The properties of organic organizational structure ; Members of the organization work to do, constantly , according to the members of the organization re- set relationship with each other . Detailed job descrip tions and narrow rather than expand the business based systems is essential. The lower level is given in many decisions and decentralization is essential. Tightly connected to the chain of command , rather than find solutions to problems , and weight the importance of contacts and relationships with people who are . Personnel in certain jobs , rather than to specialized staff will do the job changes constantly according to the organizations overall objectives is essential. Horizontal communication is at least as important as vertical communication . Communication between members of the organization are advisory rather than command and control communications . Organizations in general are more vulnerable to environmental factors . The organic structure of the mechanical structure and the relationships that have openings in duty and walk away from the hierarchical structure. What to do and how to do business with staff constantly communicating with others impro ves. Organization administrators stressed that non-formal fear of powerful business groups and social system divides thinkers including internal systems and external systems to Geoarg Homans. Burns and Stalker experiencing a sudden change in the market and technological management in enterprises of this type have a tendency to see that. The birth of new problems constantly in a system where there is stability, this type of organizational structure is the structure that gives the most positive results. Because organizations must be solid and lasting relationships with experts by making existing plans should be able to adjust to the new conditions. This companys management philosophy is overcome strict boundaries between functional departments and organizations shown in the scheme of the communication channels to be taken into account when necessary, can be accomplished by supporting horizontal and diagonal communication. Two Organizational Forms Difference Specizalition Mechanical : The organization’s problems and tasks are divided according to function. Organic : Ä °mportant contribution to solving the problems of the organization depends on the expertise and experience. Difference General orientation Mechanic : Ä °ndividual tasks, one is given without regard to specific techniques. Organic : Ä °ndividual tasks, in a realistic manner depending on the organizations total is given. Difference Coordination Mechanic : Coordination of tasks divided according to the persons immediate superior. Organic : Ä °ndividual tasks are in continuous interaction with other individuals. Difference Rights and obligations Mechanic : Everyones rights, obligations and work is relevant to the role. Organic : Responsibility for a persons rights, obligations and duties according to the change. Difference Control Mechanic : Control, authority and communication are hierarchically structured. Organic : C ontrol, authority and communication are in the form of a network structure. Difference Information centre Mechanic : Hierarchy is supported by centralizing information about ongoing problems. Organic : Management is not perceived as omniscient. Information is located along the entire network. Information, traveling into central authority. Difference Direction of communication Mechanic : Trend among employees, is divided into upper and lower. Organic : When a problem is applied vertical communication. so communication becomes more constructive. Difference Instructions Mechanic : Work and tasks are controlled by the superiors. Organic : Communication of information and guidance when making decisions rather occurs. Difference Loyalty Mechanic : Loyalty to superiors at work if you help an important win. Organic : organizations mission and technical progress is more important than loyalty. WOODWARD Organizations engaged in mass production units i n the mechanistic organizational structure and processes of organizations engaged in the production of organic organizational structure were found to be more successful. This means that the structure and organization of the technology used is proven that there is a tight relationship. Technology progresses, organizations will want to switch to organic organizational structure, organic organizational structures that carry the future of the structural features of the organization said. PERROW Charles Perrow relationship between technology and work organization structure, routine and non-routine works by classifying form, organizational structure can be determined accordingly argued. According to Perrow; technology as an independent variable by kalmayÄ ±p organizational structure is thus transformed into a dependent variable. If you do the job with less work to do the necessary knowledge and technology to own mechanical organizational structure would be more appropriate. If you do not have clear and distinct issues, work to be done to understand and difficult to determine the specific techniques not available previously tried and an organic structure in such organizations would be more appropriate. CONCLUSION: The main idea of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Contingency approach, one of the factors that determine the organizational structure and processes, the technology used in the organization to be associated with the organization is that environmental factors. Note: Contingency approach is based on an open system approach. Modern Vision Organization Modern approaches in organizational essentially systems approach, the contingency approach are discussed under the names. According to this view of the structure of the organization should be how the business is not simply an administrative choice. On the contrary, the organizational structure of the organization surrounding environmental conditions will determine how it should be . Modern views across the organic organizational structure and the mechanical organization of open systems versus closed systems is related to understanding the organization. The main feature of modern opinion, based on specific scientific concepts have a structure consisting of analytical, empirical research, and above all to benefit substantially from the general synthesis, the model and the system is moving towards establishing a character. According to the modern view of the structure of the organization should be how business is not simply an administrative choice. On the contrary, environmental conditions surrounding the organization, the organizational structure will determine how it should be. Modern opinion organic organizational structure rather than mechanical organizational structure, rather than closed systems to open systems is the understanding of the organization.