The Fiftieth Gate and The Pianist Essay Example for Free

The Fiftieth Gate and The Pianist Essay Memory helps form the basis of history, whereas history can be used to clarify fragmented memories. For a true understanding of the past there has to be a balance between documented evidence and personal experiences and memories. In Mark Baker’s nonfiction biography ‘The Fiftieth Gate’ (1997), and Roman Polanski’s film ‘The Pianist’ (2002) have both reconstructed the past through a combination of memories and historical documentation. The interplay of historical documentation and memories is critical for an accurate portrayal of an event. The Fiftieth Gate’ follows Baker’s own investigation into the history and memories of his parents to understand the events of the Holocaust. He adopts a style of writing similar to Midrash, a religious method of biblical interpretation of ideas, to bridge the gap between the past and present. Intially memories are inconsistent for Baker. They can leap out â€Å"at him, like a jack-in-the-box†, the simile enhancing the notion that memories are unpredictable and therefore not entirely reliable. Baker’s value of historical exactness over memory is seen through the juxtaposition of his father’s shared experience against his mother’s lone survival. He sees his father’s past â€Å"written on page of history shared by other survivors† while his mother â€Å"could not point to anyone†. As the novel progresses, this preference for history over memory is diminished. History is characterized as cold and lifeless being: â€Å"papers (that are)†¦echoes of the past, dark shadows without screams, without smells, without fear†. The repetition of â€Å"without† emphasizes the lack of emotion present in historical accounts. At the end of the novel Baker arrives at the rhetorical question â€Å"Why do I crave the contents of this single lone sentence†¦when all it says is what she has repeated throughout her life? while summarising his mother’s experience. The historian eventually learns to stop only looking at â€Å"numbers and lists† but rather hear the â€Å"pleas of a human being†. With this final combination of history and memory Baker is able to acquire a deeper understanding of the past. A similar focus on the interplay of historical documentation and memories is seen in Roman Polanski’s film ‘The Pianist’. Polanski’s own memories and the experiences of Wladyslaw Spzilman are verified by archival images taken by the Germans and historical data about the Warsaw Ghetto. In contrast to Baker’s describing of events, ‘The Pianist’ visually recreates the memories of the Holocaust victims. Polanski uses monochromatic colours, costumes and lighting to produce a morose World War II concentration camp atmosphere. Within the film the interplay of history and memory is shown as black and white footage intercut with contemporary scenes of Spzilman from Pianist. To ensure that the â€Å"smallest detail would be exact†, the director employed research experts, who found artefacts from the Holocaust to use in the film that would provide authenticity. This is enhanced with dialogue that enlightens the audience to the attitudes and values of that time, â€Å"They hang†¦ (those) for helping Jews†. Allusions to official decrees that were placed at that time where â€Å"No jews are allowed† and newspaper articles and radio broadcasts of that time is used by Polanski to place the audience accurately within that time. He uses an evocative setting of ruins in Europe and Warsaw, and intercuts actual historical World War II footage and data. In â€Å"†¦trying to rebuild the world exactly as it was†¦ no more, no less,† he melds history and memory to reveal truths. For an accurate understanding of past events there needs to be a balance between historical documentation and personal memories. Baker creates these metaphorical gates that open his parent’s memories, a link to his Jewish heritage, with each gate drawing a separate memory. He enhances the eternal power of memories through sensory imagery: â€Å"Can you hear, or do the screams from the mass grave drown out the sounds and melodies of Wierzbnik in its innocence? † The experiences endured by his parents continue to torment them, their memories: â€Å"broken like fragments of sacred tablet†. The motif of stone in this simile corresponds with the Jewish belief of memory not being remembered by flowers but rather by stones as they are â€Å"mysterious and eternal†. The lasting effect of the Holocaust is seen in Genia’s dialogue: â€Å"Don? t interrogate me. I? m your mother, not your prisoner, the negative word connotations linking back to her own circumstance during the Nazi regime. Personal memories explore emotions that can never be captured by written documents, a notion that is illustrated through the repetition and rhetorical question of: â€Å"You read, you read. Books, books, everywhere. But do you know how it feels? † Baker employs evocative languge of his mother remembering: â€Å"the sound of shots† of â€Å"screaming†, which is contrasted to the historical facts of this event: â€Å"the death toll†¦ of atleast 40,000 Jews†, demonstrating the value of memory, as it provides greater substance and accuracy than documented evidence. Through an investigation of both history and personal memories Baker is able to gain an accurate understanding of the past. Polanski is â€Å"a survivor telling a survivor’s story†. The Pianist’ explores past events through the diary of a German officer, the memoirs of Wladyslaw Spzilman and Polanski’s own personal memories. Three accounts interweave in this film to display an accurate interpretation of the Holocaust. The accuracy of the Pianist’s memory is justified as it â€Å"was written immediately after the war†. Polanski himself remembers the â€Å"one thing that is burned in my mind is the arm band with the star of David†. He places this image to symbolise the dehumanisation of the Jewish people. This corresponds with the number branded on Baker’s father, Yossl. Polanski indirectly questions the link between memories and time. He suggests that memory is not entirely reliable and adapts to changing contexts. This is emphasised through the use of the cross fade technique. Images of Spzilman playing the piano blur into one another, which suggest that memory will eventually fade and transform. The piano itself is a visual leitmotif within the film for Spzilman’s survival spirit. Polanski visually enhances the Spzilman’s memory of being isolated in Warsaw ghetto by placing the pianist as a single figure in the centre of the foreground. All that remains in the background are possessions abandoned by the Jews who have been deported to death camps. Memory enriches history while history informs memory. These two key ideas are presented in Mark Baker’s non-fiction biography, The Fiftieth Gate and Roman Polanski’s film The Pianist, allowing the audience to understand the importance of memory and history. By examining personal experience, memory and documented evidence, an individual can a balanced and informed understanding of the past.

Cultural Differences In Interpersonal Relationships English Language Essay

Cultural Differences In Interpersonal Relationships English Language Essay What is your friendship style. It is probably different for each one of you and you all have your own friendship style as well. Friendship consist of mutual liking, trust, respect, tolerance, and often even love and acceptance under any conditions. They are established usually on the basis of similarities or common ground between the individuals. Friendship in real life may involve intimate touching between individuals. We can be a friend no matter what reasons. It does not matter where we from, which countries. Therefore, I would want to discuss about the difference between friendship styles with cultural background especially, cultural differences in interpersonal relationships. Many foreigner comers to the United States mention that people from US do not know what true friendship is. Americans seem very friendly at first time, but the friendships do not forward to another step. Americans are usually very friendly and kind to people eventhough they are not really close with, and they also being more generous in what others talk about than people are from many other countries. Because of this, it can be make someone to confuse who comes from a country where people are deserved first. It may seem like some difficulty to other people who from many other countries. 2 Case descriptions Steve and Yarer first met in their chemistry class at an American university. Yarer was a student from Jordan. He was excited to get to know an American; he wanted to learn more about American culture and hoped that he and Steve would become good friends. At first, Steve seemed very friendly. He always greeted Yarer warmly before class. Sometimes he offered to study with Yarer. He even invited Yarer to eat lunch with him. But after the semester was over, Steve seemed more distant. The two former classmates didnt see each other very much at school. One day Yarer decided to call Steve. Steve didnt seem very interested in talking to him. Yarer was hurt by Steves change of attitude. Steve said we were friends, Yarer complained. And I said friends forever. What was wrong in the relationship between Yarer and Steve? Are Americans fickle? Why did Yarer feel confused? Because he is an outsider to American culture, he doesnt understand the way Americans view friendship. Americans use the word friend in a very general way. They may call both acquaintances and close companions Friends. Americans have school friends, work friends, sports friends and neighbourhood friends. These friendships are based on common interests. When the shared activity ends, the friendship may fade. 3 Analysis and solutions of the case 3.1 Problems and underlying cultural differences As you can see this case, there is one big problem. Steve and Yarer they did not understand their cultural background. Understanding ones cultural background is not easy and simple. However, if you want to make effort to make a friend, you should know about his or her cultural differences. What is the most important point to considered an appropriate topic to discuss about with your friends from many other countires. Many international students said that they do not know how to make a good conversation with Americans and suffered from make a friend in US, because of a lack of understanding ones cultural factors like background information. People from different cultures have different organizations of interpersonal relationships and they have different expectations of people in the same category. As you know, Steve is from US. He seemed very friendly at first time, but it did not go for long relationship. So Yarer disappointed about Steves behave and he confused why Steve changed. From this case, we can find out what is American friendship style like. According to Cornell University international student and scholars office department, they mentioned that what is American friendship like. The American pattern shows typical Americans friendships are like they initially kind at first time because they do not really put any meaning to word friend. For instance, in US, word friend mean anything like many kinds of friend. There could be work friend, study friend, gym friend and so on. Therefore you do not have to put a big meaning to be a friend. Just try to get use to their friendship style because we all have other kinds of friendship style depends on what countries we are from. 3.2 Solutions and recommendations Your friendship and the way you look at friendships will be influenced by your culture. In cultures around the earth we observe friendship defined by the way people interact with each other, how they display their affection toward close and loving friends. But the word friend has different meanings in different countries. The misunderstanding about friend during intercultural communication sometimes may hurt ones feeling and cause in bad effects as well. Many international newcomers or students feel very disappointed that they do not know Americans well. Here are some advices: Even though you wish that Americans will invite you to come over and hang it out to get to know each other, do not take it seriously. They may not put any meaning of it. Just try to take it as a refuse to your request. Take the first step as make you to get close with them. Do not be frustrated to ask about certain thing that you need to know. talk with them with interesting topics. Such as talk about your country, cultural background and etc. They will interest to those topics because differences between culture factors always sounds fun. -Approach to them with your own friendship style. Do not frustrated to talk to them and shared your thinking. They will welcome what you think about them and care about them as well. If you want to be a good friend, just show them your true heart. It will bring out a trustworthy friendship to you If you think too much to make friend from many other countries, it will not forward to another steps to move on. You should act with confidence. And do not forget you should try to know other peoples cultural background. Also, you need to understand and respect their cultural background. 4 Conclusion The meaning of friendship may give everyone to interest but it also sort of difficult to describe. Communication style differences can also bring out misunderstandings about the other persons intentions and purpose. A main point to having successful intercultural relationship is establishing an effective relational culture. It is true that understanding ones cultural background is sort of difficult however; we should put our effort to make a good relationship with people from many other countries. If you want to maintain a good friendship with others, you should respect others first and approach to them with your true heart. People from many other countries may have different friendships between you have so we should prepare to comprehend others cultural fact and background information. Like any other friendship, intercultural friendships still hold a lot of uniqueness. In fact, friendship rules are individually negotiated so that no two friendships are alike. We create our own relat ional culture that determines whether we will be successful. 5 Literature http://www.silvaultramindsystem.com: The Silva Methods latest and most up to date program for training your intuition http://www.china-nafsa.aief-usa.org/chpter3.pdf http://www.friendship.com.au/ http://www.helium.com/knowledge/143177-what-is-friendship

South African Forced Removals History Essay

South African Forced Removals History Essay In South Africa, apartheid was an important factor in the forced removal of many innocent South Africans, due to the color of their skin. Throughout the 1900s the struggle between segregation and equality was brought to attention, affecting almost every aspect of a black South Africans life. Equality was a struggle starting as far back as the 1600s, when white settlers first came to Africa establishing white supremacy over the black majority, rendering them helpless. From the causes, to the effects upon the civilians, the forced removals majorly affected the present day South Africa. There are many causes as to why the forced resettlement of blacks was conveyed by the government. The apartheid more or less originated back in 1652 when white settlers first arrived in South Africa. This history did impact the way the laws and policies were enforced later on 1948 on by the nationalist party. In 1910, the Union was formed. After this, the territorial segregation the white settlers had impressed was put in law with the 1913 Black Land Act. The Black Land Act limited the areas black Africans could occupy through ownership or rent, basically to the Bantustans reserves, which made up 7% of the total land area of South Africa. This act would become the basic land policy of South Africa up until the end of the resettlement. The Act also made the number of migrant laborers increase, since most of the industries and mines, which was and still is the main source of income for Africans, were occupied by black workers, but were located on white land. In 1936, due to the large a mount of blacks enforced into the reserves, the Development Trust and Black Land Act added land to the reserves. The total land area increased from 7% to 13% land area for blacks, and 87% owned by whites (Henard). During the 1930s and 40s, the amount of money blacks were paid in urban areas was considerably better than that of rural, and this began a migration of black Africans into urban areas. This countered the wants of the dominant agricultural capitalists, who needed a good, cheap work force during the agricultural boom of the 1950s. Thus began the move towards forced removals, to keep blacks out of white urban areas. This need for the removal was the implementation of the Bantustan (Homeland) Policy. The Bantustans consisted of a set of ten tribes, known as homelands. Bantustans were territories set aside for the black inhabitants of South Africa that were unofficially independent. The Bantustan Policy was directed towards rural, urban, and Bantustan resettlement. These resett lements were to direct blacks from designated white urban land and areas, which led to a superfluous amount of farm laborers. In 1950, the Group Area Act was put into action. The Group Area Act mandated residential segregation throughout South Africa. Over 860,000 Africans were forcibly moved to divide and control racially-separate communities. Multiple multi-racial communities were destroyed by the government using things such as bulldozers, and other machinery. To further enforce the eviction of blacks to the Bantustan reserves, the white government created the Prevention of illegal Squatting Act in 1951. An illegal squatter by definition was someone living illegally on land without permission from the land owner. They also extended that to even with permission from the owner; they could still be convicted and ejected by the authority. Illegal squatters were removed to the Bantustans. As time progressed, black political organizations such as the African National Congress and Pan A frican Congress were banned from interference. Whites dominated in politics and economy, strategically dividing black majority into small townships with separate political structures. Having them divided kept them from coming together and forming their own ideologies and political ideas. This also prevented them from doing any type of resistance against the white dominated government. Overall there were many events leading up to the forced removals. By the beginning of the 1980s, almost 60% of the African population was based in the Bantustans (source 2). The black spots, or communities the blacks were forced into, were overcrowded and unsanitary. These communities more or less became the dumping grounds for unwanted blacks, namely the elderly, women and children. By forcing these Africans into overcrowded settlements, they prevented them from having political or economic advantage over the whites. As a result of the enforced removal of blacks from white urban and most rural areas, the black majority (87% of the total population) was refocused into the 13% of Bantustan land reserves, by white authoritative (MSU). Places such as Sophiatown in Johannesburg (1955-63), and District 6 in Cape Town (beginning in 1958) were evicted from their homes. If blacks were to rebel or resist movement, they were forcibly moved, as demonstrated in 1985 over a period of four days, in Crossroads, South Africa. Blacks were being removed to a new tow nship that was government run called Khayelitsha. Their peaceful demonstration turned violent, causing 18 civilians to be killed, and 230 injured. Between the periods of 1960 to 1983, 3 million black Africans were moved. After the institution of the Bantustan Policy, places such as Dimbaza, Illinge, and Saba on the Eastern Cape became overcrowded and infertile. At first the Africans did nothing, but beginning in the 1980s popular resistance to the removals was widespread amongst the migrated. The resistance was massively influenced by Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, who both stood for the end of apartheid and segregation. Gandhi represented peaceful movement and protest, while Nelson Mandela rooted strongly for changing the type of government and the people controlling it, allowing blacks into the political loop. By the 1980s, the crumble of forced removals began to take place. There was widespread resistance, along with massive amounts of unemployed blacks living largely in poverty. In 1990, the African National Congress was finally unbanned, along with Nelson Mandela freedom. Working together, they were able to hold the first multiracial democratic elections in 1994. Upon this success, the African Nation Congress dominated with 62% majority of the vote. Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa after 28 long years in prison by the parliament, therefore actively ending apartheid and bringing back equality to South Africa. The Bantustan reserves were later incorporated back into the country of South Africa as a whole. Even after it ended, a great amount of the blacks that were forced into small townships remained there, out of the result that they had no work or money to leave for or with. Bantustan reserves are ridden with poverty and crime, due to the forced removals. South African forced removals had a large effect on the current state of South Africa. Starting as early as the first white settlers in Africa from Europe, blacks were faced with apartheid and white supremacy for many long years. Over three million Africans were forced from their homes, having to move to overcrowded, infertile, and unsanitary areas so that the white and blacks would stay separated. This separation was made legal through a series of laws, policies, and acts by the white dominated government. The struggle for equality and erosion of apartheid was a long and continuous process, but finally came to an end in the early 1990s.

Computers and Their Impact :: Technology Papers

Computers and Their Impact The extreme increase in the use of computers has drastically changed the lives of many people. Computers, as Sherry Turkle in "Who Am We" discussed, initially were used as simple calculators, but through the years they have come to be valued as more than simple machines (442). "The computer has gained new qualities, it is not only used as a calculator, but now it entails simulation, navigation, and interaction" (443). With the increase in computer usage, comes new software that attracts people's attention even more. Adults, adolescents and even children find themselves "losing track of time" when they sit down and play on the computer for half an hour and suddenly realize that thirty minutes has turned into a couple of hours. As changes occur in technology, we must also contemplate the effect these changes will have on individuals. We must realize that individuals are vulnerable to the virtual world and that they can get lost. "Our need for a practical philosophy of self-knowledge ha s never been greater as we struggle to make meaning from our lives on the screen" (456). The computer can serve many purposes, such as an aid for research, finishing homework and even as a means for keeping in touch with loved ones, but it can also cause an individual to get lost in the "virtual world." This topic sparked my interest when aclose friend of mine began to notice changes in her boyfriend's attitude. Her problems began when her boyfriend bought a laptop computer. He had never had a computer before, so this was something new and exciting for him. Within a couple of weeks my friend began to notice changes in his attitude. Suddenly, she noticed he spent hours a day in front of a computer screen. He was fascinated by the internet and the immense amount of resources it had to offer. His free time no longer consisted of spending quality time with his friends and significant other, rather he found browsing the web more fascinating and worthwhile. My friend suddenly found herself competing against a machine for her boyfriend's attention. My friend is not the only one who has experienced problems due to the amount of time her boyfriend spends on the computer. My cousin for example, can spend hours a day playing computer games and surfing the net. Interestingly enough, he denies spending so much time on the computer.

Global Warming and its Causes and Solutions :: essays research papers

Global warming has been one of the leading environmental issues for the past several years. Global warming is when an excess of certain gasses are produced and trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. One of the most abundant of these gasses is carbon dioxide. It is released when fossil fuels and other things are burned for their energy. The average American family of 2 will produce 41,500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. The Earth is able to cope with a certain amount of these gasses otherwise known as greenhouse gasses. With all of this the earth is heating up faster than most of it inhabitants can adapt. Some just can’t cope with the new conditions and some are having their habitat destroyed by it. Other gasses are destroying the ozone and letting in harmful UV rays and heating the earth even more. The earth has been doing fine but now many countries are in the industrial age and are manufacturing things and releasing more greenhouse gasses. The earth is essentially being thrown out of its natural balance. We started doing harmful things and only now do we realize what we have done and what we are doing. At this current rate by the middle of next century the earth’s temperature may rise a predicted 10 degrees Fahrenheit. This may not seem as much but with the earths delicate balance we will have lost several species and habitats. We all say that we are working to help the earth and yet we have only done a very small percent of what we need to do. Scientists are worried that soon the effects of what we have done may be irreversible. We have the technology to do it, but countries are concerned they will lose too much money. They are already wasting it on other unnecessary things and if they were to reduce funding to them we could have enough money to do these changes and probably still have some left to help fund other countries efforts. We are cutting down thousands of earth’s natural air filters as we speak. Trees and plants take some of the carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen helping us and the environment.

Geography of Cuba Essay -- Essays Papers

Geography of Cuba The geography of Cuba is very diverse, with large mountain ranges spanning the western and south central regions, and a beautiful 2,320 mile coastline that boasts white, sandy beaches to the north. The semitropical climate of Cuba supports lush, agricultural fields in which many species of plants and animals thrive. The main island of Cuba is about 40,543 sq. miles, and Cuba's Isla de la Juventud (Island of Youth) covers about 1,180 sq. miles. Also part of the Republic are four sets of small archipelagos: the Sabana, the Colorados, the Canarreos and the Jardines de la Reina. The main type of soil found in Cuba is red clay, along with some sand and limestone hills. A surprising three quarters of Cuba's land is fertile countryside and is readily accessible to many harbors. Cuba has a unique advantage over the other Carribean islands because of its accessibility to harbors, which allows for the transport of agricultural goods easily and efficiently to foreign markets. ...

Complete monopoly Essay

Today, many firms are enjoying a monopoly of their products/services in the market. Monopoly may be defined as the complete control over a commodity enjoyed by a particular company in the market. There will be only a solo manufacturer or provider of the commodity and customers have to depend on them whenever there is a demand since there are no substitutes available. As a result, such a manufacturer can have an absolute control over the price as well as quantity available in the market. Another benefit enjoyed by the monopolies are that they do not face any risk of an opponent entering the market. In order to establish complete monopoly, usually companies take care of the following things: 1. They acquire the complete control over the key raw materials required for manufacturing the product. 2. They may acquire a patent in order to be the solo manufacturers or providers of the product or service. 3. They acquire the technical and productive efficiency to meet the market demand for their commodity. Usually a commodity produced by the monopolies will be manufactured in fewer quantities only and their cost may be higher. Since there is no market competition, the advantages are mostly enjoyed by the manufacturers. Little are the benefits obtained by the consumers, since they have no choice when a demand arises. FEATURES OF MONOPOLY The following are the main features of a monopoly market: 1. In a monopoly, there is a solo manufacturer or provider of a commodity. So all the demands in the market are to be met by this single vendor. 2. Highest benefits are enjoyed by the solo manufacturer. 3. The price, quantity as well as the quality of the commodity is the absolute decision of the manufacturer. Normally, commodities available in a monopoly market will have a higher price. 4. There is no competition or substitutes in a monopoly market. Even if a competitor wants to enter a market, it is a very difficult task. TYPES OF MONOPOLY There are various types of monopoly prevailing in the market. Various classifications have been made based on different criteria. This section checks in detail the classifications: 1. Based on ownership a. Public Monopoly: In a public monopoly, the product/service is provided and controlled by the Government of the country. Unlike other monopolies, public monopoly does not depend upon maximizing profit theory. Rather it is concentrated on the benefits of the people. For example, the Oil Industry in Abudhabi is the monopoly of ADNOC. There are no competitors to ADNOC and still gasoline is provided to the residents at a reasonable price. b. Private Monopoly: In strong contrast to public monopoly, in the case of private monopoly, the product/service is provided and controlled by private firm or an individual. Their main concentration will be on maximizing the profit and hence such commodities will have a higher price. For example, the diamond manufacturers De Beers enjoyed a complete monopoly over the market for about 100 years. In a drive to achieve maximum profits, they created a false impression that the diamond supply was becoming limited and hence increased the rates which mounted up their profits. 2. Based on the price a. Simple Monopoly: In the case of simple monopoly, the price of a product/commodity is the same regardless of the customers. Usually it has control in a particular market only. For example, the water supply in Abu-Dhabi is taken care of by ADWEA. The price charged is the same across the emirate indicating a simple monopoly. b. Discriminating Monopoly: In the case of a discriminating monopoly, the price is discriminated according to the customers. Such a commodity will have different prices in different regions. Normally, such a firm has control in various markets. For example, the cost of Mercedes Benz car is different in different countries of the world. In Germany, where it is manufactured, it is usually sold at a relatively lower price. In UAE, the price is higher than that in Germany. In India, the price is higher than that in UAE. 3. Based on competition level a. Perfect Monopoly: In perfect monopoly, there is absolutely no threat from any competitors. Such firms enjoy complete control without the fear of any competitor entering the market. This is the most ideal case and is difficult to be established in realty. b. Imperfect Monopoly: In imperfect monopoly, there is no competitor in appearance. But the company may be in the fear of an opponent entering the market in the near future. As the name indicates, the seller do not enjoy the complete features of an ideal monopoly because there is a threat of competition. For example, until recently Etisalat enjoyed the monopoly of telecommunications and internet services in the UAE. But with the entry of du, Etisalat is facing an imperfect monopoly as du is widening its service to all the realms of Etisalat. 4. Based on how the monopoly is achieved. a. Legal Monopoly: Legal monopoly is usually the monopoly acquired by a firm by legal procedures with the sanction from the Government. Copyrights, trademarks, patents etc are legal tools for obtaining monopoly over a product or service. For example, the company Telstra acquired a legal monopoly over providing telecommunications service in Australia. b. Natural Monopoly: Natural Monopoly is the monopoly obtained naturally without any legal procedures. Such a monopoly is obtained due to the advantage of good-will, plentiful resources, good site etc. For example, Middle East enjoys a natural monopoly over the gasoline resources in the area. CONCLUSION Although many firms enjoy a monopoly over their products, seldom do such regulations benefit the customers, except for the case of public monopoly. Since there no competitions, the competitive advantage is also denied to the customers and mostly they are forced to buy the product despite their hesitation. However, monopoly is most enjoyed by the firms exercising it. REFERENCES 1. Goodwin, Nelson, Ackerman, Weissskopf. (2009). ‘Microeconomics’, 2nd edition.