Best Crucible Act 1 Summary

Best Crucible Act 1 Summary SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The first act of The Crucible sets the stage (literally, heh) for the disturbing sequence of events that will unfold in Acts 2, 3, and 4. Most of the major characters are introduced, and there are critical insights into various political and personal conflicts that threaten to disrupt the social order in the town of Salem. We also learn how the witchcraft craze got started and why it spiraled out of control. This article will go over the very important sequence of events and their thematic relevance so you can answer all the questions your English teacher throws at you. I'll provide both a short summary and a long summary. The short summary is just the bare bones of what happened without getting into too much detail about conversations that are less relevant to the central plot. It's more of a review to read after you've already gone through the play yourself. The long summary, which I'm choosing to call the "oops, I didn't read it" summary, is more in-depth. It goes through everything that occurs in Act 1 without getting too far into the weeds. Despite the title of the second summary, I urge you to actually read the play so you have a stronger understanding of the voices of the characters and the thematic points Miller is trying to make. Also, if you don't read it you'll miss out on some amazing stage directions that can be easily misinterpreted as giggle-worthy euphemisms if you're as immature as me and my fellow blog writers. The CrucibleAct 1 Summary - Short Version Ten-year-old Betty Parris has contracted a mysterious illness that renders her mute and bedridden. Her father, Reverend Samuel Parris, caught her dancing in the woods the night before with a group of girls. The group included his teenage niece, Abigail Williams, and his slave, Tituba. Rumors have spread around town that witchcraft is the cause of Betty’s illness, and people are now gathered at the Parris household. Parris questions Abigail about the rumors, but she claims the girls were just dancing. Ann Putnam says that her daughter, Ruth, who was with the group in the woods, is also afflicted with a strange illness. All of Ann’s children except Ruth have died as infants. Ann sent Ruth to Tituba in hopes that she would be able to communicate with her siblings and find out who or what was responsible for their deaths. To her uncle's dismay, Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. Abigail and two girls named Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren, who were also in the woods, are left alone with Betty. They try to wake her up as they get their story straight. Betty blurts out that Abigail drank chicken blood in an attempt to cast a spell that would kill Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail warns her to keep quiet (or else). John Proctor enters the room, and Mercy and Mary leave Abigail alone with him. John and Abigail had an affair when Abigail worked as a servant in his house, and Abigail wants it to continue. John insists that he has recommitted himself to his wife, Elizabeth. Betty whimpers when she hears the Lord’s name in a psalm that people are singing outside the room. Everyone who is singing outside the room rushes in to check on her. Betty's distress is taken as additional evidence of witchcraft by Ann Putnam, and some of the others start to come around to this theory as well. An intellectual church leader named Reverend Hale arrives from the town of Beverly to investigate the situation and see if he can detect any signs of witchcraft. Abigail confesses that Tituba called the Devil after more details about the previous night are revealed. Tituba isn’t allowed to tell her side of the story (that Abigail was actually the instigator), and when she is threatened with hanging she confesses that she’s been forced to work for the Devil. She also names Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn as fellow witches after prompting by Parris and Hale. Abigail and Betty then admit their unwilling involvement in witchcraft and shout out the names of several other womenwho they claim to have seen with the Devil. I want YOU to join my plot to totally mess with a super lame town in Massachusetts. The CrucibleAct 1 Summary - â€Å"Oops I Didn’t Read It† Version Act 1 opens on a bedroom in Reverend Samuel Parris’ house in the spring of 1692.Parris’ daughter, 10-year-old Betty, is in a deep sleep as a result of an unknown illness, and Parris is kneeling in prayer next to her bed.A woman named Tituba is introduced as the Parris family's middle-aged slave from Barbados; she tries to check on Betty, but she is immediately ordered out of the room by Reverend Parris. Abigail Williams, Parris’ 17-year-old niece, enters the room.She tells him that Susanna Walcott is there with a message from the doctor.Susanna is a teenager a little younger than Abigail.She says that the doctor can't find anything physically wrong with Betty, and they should start to consider supernatural forces as a potential culprit.Parris is very concerned about damage to his reputation if witchcraft is discovered in his house. He urges Susanna to tell the doctor to continue looking for medical reasons for Betty’s condition. However, he has also summoned Reverend Hale from the neighboring town of Beverly to quietly investigate whether there is any truth to this supernatural hypothesis. Susanna leaves, and Abigail and Parris are alone with Betty.Abigail reveals that the rumor of witchcraft has already spread around town, and many people are gathered in the parlor of the house.Parris is reluctant to discredit these rumors because he fears they may be true.The previous night, he saw Abigail and Betty dancing in the forest with Tituba. He also saw a dress on the ground and a girl running naked through the woods. Abigail says that they were just dancing, but Parris knows that she’s not telling the whole truth.Parris demands to know whether witchcraft was involved. He thinks that his reputation is shaky in town and that there’s a group of people who would like to oust him from his position of power.He doesn’t want one of his enemies to find out what really happened before he does and use it against him.Abigail continues to insist that the girls were just dancing. Parris still doesn’t trust her, and he brings up another suspicious scenario.Abigail was dismissed from the household service of a man named John Proctor without explanation, and Proctor’s wife Elizabeth seems to strongly dislike her.Abigail says Elizabeth is just a big ol’ meany and she didn’t do anything to deserve this. At this point in the conversation, a tormented middle-aged woman named Ann Putnam enters the room along with her husband, Thomas Putnam.Ann’s only daughter, Ruth Putnam, is acting catatonic, and Ann thinks Betty is afflicted with the same apparently supernatural illness.Ann is a firm believer in witchcraft because seven of her babies have died in infancy, leaving her with only one living child. She sees no possible explanation for this that is not supernatural in nature. The Putnams are glad that Parris has summoned Reverend Hale to investigate the situation because Hale supposedly caught a witch in Beverley recently. Parris is still trying to shut down the witchcraft conversation because of the damage it might do to his reputation.Ann reveals to Parris that she actually sent Ruth to consult with Tituba the night before because Tituba can communicate with the dead.Ann wanted Ruth to talk to her dead siblings and find out who killed them.The Putnams say they are convinced that a baby-killing witch is running rampant.Abigail realizes that she can’t hide the truth completely now that Ann has revealed that she sent Ruth to Tituba to try and communicate with the dead.Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits.Parris is convinced his livelihood is ruined now that someone who lives under his roof has been revealed to be a witch. ThomasPutnam tells Parris he should get ahead of the situation and make the witchcraft accusations himself so no one can accuse him first. A girl named Mercy Lewis, who is Putnam’s servant, arrives to check on how Betty is doing, and the Putnams and Parris leave so that Parris can lead everyone in a psalm.Abigail and Mercy are left alone, and they try to rouse Betty to no avail.The two girls decide their official story will be that they were just dancing, and there was no magic involved. Then, another teenage girl named Mary Warren enters the room.She was also with them in the forest the previous night, and she is convinced they must confess to what they’ve done because of the rumors swirling around. Suddenly, Betty gets a burst of energy.She reveals that Abby drank chicken blood in the forest in an attempt to cast a spell to kill Elizabeth Proctor.Abigail slaps her and tells everyone that they had better stay quiet about the details of what really happened. Abigail says that she's seen some stuff (i.e. her parents were murdered by Native Americans right in front of her), so she has no qualms about resorting to violence to force them to keep her secret. John Proctor, a farmer, then enters the room.He yells at Mary Warren, who is his servant, for leaving his house when he forbid her from doing so.Mary and Mercy both leave, and Abigail and John are left alone. Abigail and John had an affair that was discovered by his wife, which was the reason for her dismissal from their household. Abigail is still in love with Proctor, but he wants to distance himself from her and recommit to Elizabeth.Abigail is angry and frustrated that he won’t return her advances.She insults his wife and continues to insist that he still loves her. Their attention is diverted because Betty starts whimpering after the words â€Å"going up to Jesus† are uttered in the psalm people are singing in the other room. ReverendParris, the Putnams, and Mercy Lewis all rush in to check on her.Ann Putnam is convinced that they upset Betty by saying the Lord’s name and that her reaction clearly means that she is bewitched with black magic. Rebecca Nurse, and old and highly respected woman in Salem, enters the room along with an old man named Giles Corey.Rebecca stands calmly next to the bed,and Betty quiets down.Everyone is impressed with this, and the Putnams ask if Rebecca can also help Ruth, but Rebecca doesn't think there's anything supernatural going on. Betty is just acting up as kids are prone to do. John Proctor questions Reverend Parris on his decision to summon Reverend Hale. This action seems to imply that Parris believes witchcraft could be the source of Betty’s illness.Rebecca suggests that they should rely on the doctor and avoiding bringing Reverend Hale into the situation because it will cause unnecessary conflict.Thomas Putnam takes issue with this, and he tells Parris that when Reverend Hale arrives they must look for signs of witchcraft. Proctor says Putnam can’t tell Parris what to do just because Putnam owns a lot of land in the town.Putnam fires back that he hasn’t seen Proctor in church recently, so he clearly doesn’t care that much about upholding the integrity of their society.Proctor claims he doesn’t go to church because all Parris talks about is Hell.Parris says that a lot of people in Salem need to hear more about Hell because he hasn’t been properly compensated for his job based on his qualifications.He then implies that Proctor is the leader of a faction against him in the church.Proctor is unaware of the existence of this faction, but he says he would gladly join it because he’s fed up with Parris’ superiority complex. He expects Giles Corey to be on his side, but Giles unexpectedly suports Parris because he thinks there may be something to the witchcraft hypothesis.Giles has been in court six times that year for various lawsuits. He says that everyone has been suing each otherleft and right, so there must be some sort of dark magic going on behind the scenes.Proctor points out that Giles is the cause of many of these suits because he is always suing people for defamation for no reason. Proctor and Putnam argue briefly about who owns a certain tract of land near the woods where Proctor plans on gathering lumber.It turns out that there is a lot of ambiguity in Salem over who owns which tracts of land because in his will Putnam’s grandfather claimed land that he didn’t actually own. Reverend Hale enters the room with a stack of academic books.He speaks briefly with everyone, and it’s clear that he’s well-respected. Hale views the investigation of witchcraft as serious scientific inquiry.He makes everyone agree not to push the issue if he doesn’t find anything pointing to the Devil’s work.He brought the books because they explain all the different forms the Devil can take. With this information on hand, he's sure that he can find out whether Betty's illness is linked to the work of Satan. Rebecca Nurse is skeptical of the whole situation, and she leaves the room before Hale begins his investigation.Giles tries to consult Hale about his wife, Martha, who he says has been reading strange books.He is worried that this might signify something sinister because he was unable to say his prayers while she was reading.Hale is somewhat intrigued and says they can discuss the issue later. Hale addresses Betty, asking her if someone is bewitching her. Betty does not respond to his questions at first.Abigail is pressed with more questions about what exactly was going on in the woods.Parris says that when he came upon the girls, he saw that they had a kettle with a frog in it.Faced with this damning evidence of black magic, Abigail admits that Tituba called the Devil.Tituba is dragged into the room to face these charges.Immediately, Abigail places all the blame on her, claiming that Tituba made her drink chicken blood from the kettle.Tituba protests that Abigail was the one who instigated the meeting in the woods, but she is drowned out by further accusations from Abigail.Parris and Hale also talk over her attempts to explain herself. Parris says Tituba must confess to what she’s done or he will whip her to death, and Putnam says she must be hung.Tituba is terrified, so she breaks down and says the Devil forced her to work for him.She claims someone else is bewitching Betty because she’s seen other people with the Devil.Putnam, Parris, and Hale encourage her to tell them who she has seen (and plant the names of Goody Good and Goody Osburn in her mind as potential witches).They claim that after renouncing her allegiance to the Devil, she is now God’s instrument in the village sent to help them uncover the full extent of his Satanic plot. Tituba says the Devil told her to kill Reverend Parris, and he promised her a better life if she worked for him.She claims that she saw Goody Good (Sarah Good) and Goody Osburn (Sarah Osburn) with the Devil.Goody Osburn was Ann Putnam’s midwife three times, so this accusation confirms the Putnams' suspicions that witchcraft was involved in the deaths of their babies.Abigail soon chimes in with her own hysterical set of confessions, claiming thatshe saw the Devil and wrote in his book.Abigail adds more people to the list of the accused.Betty suddenly wakes up and joins her in shouting out additional accusations.Hale and Parris rejoice at Betty's apparent miraculous recovery.Putnam summons the marshal so that they can arrest the witches and bring them to justice. The Devil apparently has some kind of special friendship book that he makes people sign when they join his crew. Adorable. The CrucibleAct 1 Quotes In this section, I'll go over a few quotes that I think are important in establishing the themes and characterizations that emerge in Act 1. â€Å"I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character.† (Reverend Parris pg. ) This quote shows the gravity with which Parris views his position in the town and the degree of authority he thinks should accompany it.He’s less focused on spreading the word of God than on exploiting his position as a religious authority so he can gain greater power in the community. Now his reputation may be ruined, which means he’ll be back to square one and have to rebuild the control he has worked so hard to acquire. â€Å"My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!† (Abigail Williams pg. 12) The value of a person's name is a recurring topic in The Crucible. Reputation is hugely important to these characters because it’s inextricably linked to respect and power in a highly interdependent community. Here Abigail shifts the focus away from her own reputation by trashing the reputation of Goody Proctor.If she can convince people that Goody Proctor is not to be trusted, the rumors about her own sins will lose credibility. â€Å"Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!† (Abigail Williams pg. 19) Abigail threatens the other girls with violence if they dare tell anyone that she tried to kill Goody Proctor with black magic. This quote tells us that Abigail has experienced severe emotional trauma in the past that almost certainly affects her current mental state.It also gives us a taste of how far she’s willing to go to achieve her desired outcome and/or exact revenge. â€Å"I look for John Proctor who took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew what lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes?† (Abigail Williams pg. 22) Abigail pleads with John Proctor to continue their affair, which she feels has enlightened her to the hypocrisy that permeates Salem’s culture.She can’t go back to her ignorant state after she’s already seen the light, and the affair is the only outlet available to her to feel special and different within a community where she has little power or outlets for honest expression.After John's rejection, her angst will find another, even more destructive path to follow. â€Å"There are wheels within wheels in the village, and fires within fires!† (Ann Putnam pg. 26) Ann Putnam says this because she’s convinced that there are supernatural Satanic forces conspiring against her that have led to her family misfortunes.However, this quote has a much broader secular meaning that applies to the events in the play overall.There are all kinds of underlying motivations that trigger accusations of witchcraft in Salem.Petty vengeance, greed, and jealousy are festering beneath the surface of an outwardly respectable community, and they’re about to find their release. â€Å"We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her.† (Reverend Hale pg. 35) From our modern viewpoint, this quote is a very strong example of irony. Bysearching for marks of the Devil’s presence in the first place, Hale has already subscribed to superstition.People are also condemned throughout the rest of the play for involvement with the Devil when there’s absolutely no hard evidence besides the word of one other person.Hale's adherence to scientific principles will give him just enough insight to see the injustices that have been committed in Salem after it's too late for him to turn back the tide of hysteria. I'm not sure what Hale expected to find. A pentagram ankle tattoo? A little souvenir pitchfork? A button that says "Satan 4 Prez"? Eh, I guess there are a lot of possibilities. The CrucibleAct 1 Thematic Analysis Let's go over some of the play's key themes and how they relate to the first act. Irony Irony and hypocrisy are recurring concepts in The Crucible. There are several exchanges in Act 1 that are rife with irony. Abigail claims that John Proctor opened her eyes to the pretenses of Salem (pg. 22). She realized all the lies she’d been told by people who supposedly adhered to the conventions of respectable society.However, in distress from Proctor’s refusal to acknowledge their relationship, Abigail creates her own lies that give her increased control over the society she resents.By putting on a false front to advance her status and get what she wants, she becomes just like the hypocrites she claims to despise. The most prominent example of dramatic irony in this act is the quote from Hale (pg. 35) that was explained in the last section. Hale claims that they must avoid superstition and hasty conclusions in their investigation of Betty’s affliction. We, the modern audience, know that searching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is an inherently superstitious practice. Hale, however, is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. Hysteria In Act 1 it becomes clear how mass hysteria can evolve out of desires for self-preservation. When Abigail admits that Ruth and Tituba were conjuring spirits, Thomas Putnam urges Parris to go on the offensive immediately with this information. If he makes his own accusations of witchcraft, he will prevent others from accusing him first and putting his credibility at stake. As rumors of witchcraft spread, this fear-driven philosophy will be universally adopted, leading to more and more accusations and an environment of paranoia. The speed at which rumors morph into accepted truths is too rapid for a few rational voices to contain them. Although Parris only calls Reverend Hale to examine Betty as a precaution, people assume that Hale’s involvement means there must be a supernatural element to her illness.Even as Parris tries to avoid supernatural explanations to protect his reputation, he is quickly caught up in the misplaced interpretations of others and forced to adopt them as his own so that he isn't gobbledup by the hysteria monster. It becomes abundantly clear that people see only what they want to see (i.e. whatever keeps them in the good graces of society) in situations that don't appear to have easy rational explanations. Ann Putnam, for example, will seize at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children.Extreme conclusions like Ann's "a witch murdered my babies with black magic" are accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge this consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. Reputation Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation take center stage, so to speak, in Act 1. Parris initially insists that there are â€Å"no unnatural causes† for Betty’s illness, not because he’s devoted to science and rationality, but because he fears that he will be disgraced if witchcraft is discovered under his roof.He interrogates Abigail because he’s worried his enemies will learn the full story first and use it to discredit him. Once he gets confirmation from Abigail that some witchy business happened in the woods, he is quick to position himself on the side of the accusers and threaten violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. 42). He has no central belief system beyond a desire to do what makes him look best in the eyes of the majority. Abigail is also concerned about her reputation. She is enraged when Parris insinuates that there was something untoward about her dismissal from the Proctors’ service.She insists that she has done nothing wrong and tries to discredit Elizabeth Proctor to divert attention away from her own actions. "My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (pg. 12). These actions and reactions in Act 1 establish the importance that characters place on maintaining respect for their names. A poor reputation can severely affect a person’s position in this small, interdependent society, whether the assumptions or rumors swirling around are true or not. Power and Authority The church has a great deal of power in Salem, and therefore much of the authority we see exercised in the play is associated with religion. Reverend Parris is currently in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader. However, he is convinced there is a faction in town that is determined to unseat him, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control.He demands unconditional respect for his authority as God’s instrument in the community. From his point of view,"There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!" (pg. 28) Abigail, on the other hand, struggles to claim greater agency outside of traditional means. Her dominant personality doesn't fit with her low status in society as a young woman with no family. Initially, she sees a path to higher standing in society through becoming John Proctor’s wife. When he rejects her, she takes another route to power through accusations that exploit the fears of others to a point where even the most respected people in town are afraid to challenge her. The power structure in Salem is also responsible for the blame heaped on Tituba and the misinterpretations that follow.Tituba has the least authority out of anyone, so it’s easy for Abigail to use her as a scapegoat. IfTituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the tragic events of the rest of the play might have been prevented. However, she is only given a voice when she agrees to corroborate the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority believe to be accurate.She becomes, according to Hale, "God's instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil's agents among us" (pg. 44) after she renounces her presumed allegiance to the Devil and accepts her role as a pawn to be used by those with greater power. As has been the case throughout history in both fiction and reality, the desire for power ends up costing way too many innocent people their lives. The Crucible Act 1 Summary:Conclusion In Act 1 of The Crucible, the roots of the witch hysteria are established, and we learn critical background information about many of the characters. Let's do a super short bullet point recap of the important plot points: The play is set in the town of Salem, MA, and the year is 1692. Betty Parris, a young girl, is sick, but no one can figure out why. Rumors spread around town that she's been bewitched. Betty's dad is Reverend Parris, the new-ish church leader in Salem, who is paranoid about his reputation amongst the townspeople. Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris' teenage niece and Betty's cousin, is questioned by Parris about the cause of Betty's illness. He knows that Abigail, Betty, and Parris' slave, Tituba, were dancing in the woods the night before and perhaps conducting some kind of ritual. Abigail claims there was no witchcraft involved. Abigail had an affair with a farmer named John Proctor while serving in his house, and she's still into him, but he wants to forget it ever happened. Betty says that Abigail tried to put a curse on John's wife, Elizabeth Proctor, in order to kill her and take her place, but no one else knows about this, and Abigail warns her to keep quiet. Reverend Hale, the church leader from the town of Beverley, is summoned to examine Betty because he's an expert on witchcraft. Tituba is accused of calling the Devil in the woods based on Abigail's testimony, and she confesses under pressure from Hale. Tituba names Goody Good and Goody Osburn as fellow witches after their names are suggested. Abigail plays the victim and accuses more women of witchcraft. Betty wakes up and makes accusations of her own, following Abigail's lead. In Act 2, you can look forward to learning more about the state of the Proctors' marriage and just how crazy things have gotten in Salem in the weeks after the initial accusations. Also, John Proctor throws a few more tantrums borne of emotional immaturity, so get PUMPED. What's Next? If you want a complete summary of the whole play rather than just one act, we've got you covered. Check out our holistic summary article to review what happens from start to finish. Looking for some in-depth analysis of characters in The Crucible? Read our complete assessments of John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, and Mary Warren. If you want some advice on understanding the ideas behind the play so you can write a killer essay or ace your next test, read our guide to the most important themes in The Crucible. 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The Marketing Mix Essays

The Marketing Mix Essays The Marketing Mix Essay The Marketing Mix Essay Running Head: The Marketing Mix: Distribution Channels What might the inventors of new â€Å"flying cars† need to consider to develop a distribution strategy for their proposed products? Customers are more sophisticated than ever before and they have access to high quality information from the internet, so they make decisions based off excess information. The first step that should be considered to sale Flying Cars is a centralized location. Once a location is established then what would be the most cost-effective way to create demand for Flying Cars? Followed â€Å"by how do customers want to shop and buy? I think the best distribution channel for selling Flying Cars would be the producer to wholesaler, to retailer to consumer. As for the Distribution Intensity, I think the best bet would be the Exclusive Distribution. The first step that should be considered is a centralized location. Producers find that it is an issue to figure out where to invest. They have to pick the ri ght place to sale their product. I don’t think that an airline would necessarily be the right place to sale the Flying Cars because an airline consists of large planes and thousands of people a day. If a Flying Car is going to be used as something that people can take to work, school, grocery store, and ect. Then perhaps they should be sold in an area where regular cars are sold. Once a location is established then what is the most cost-effective way to create demand for Flying Cars? A transportation method can be created to implement both a driving and flying status. Consumers would be thrilled to be able to commute faster and alleviate the traffic jams. An advertisement through television coupled with radio commercials would be a suffice way to ensure that the word is going out to the public on the latest and greatest transportation method. In addition to this way of advertising the producer can also advertise through internet, billboards, flyers, and magazines. Customers would eventually be persuaded through advertisement to want to purchase a Flying Car. I think the best distribution channel for selling Flying Cars would be the producer to wholesaler, to the retailer to consumer. The wholesaler will get the products from the manufacturer, usually in very large quantities, and in turn sells them to retail establishments at a higher up price. The wholesalers can also sell to institutions and professional groups. This will take the burden of distributing off the manufacturer and allows them to focus on developing and advertising new products. As for the Distribution Intensity, I think the best bet would be the Exclusive Distribution. This is when the manufacturers grant certain dealers special rights to sell the product. This type of distribution is used for selling cars, and because it is the same concept for Flying Cars, it would be beneficial to use the same strategy. The retailer benefits from the lack of competition, and the manufacturer benefits from a greater sales commitment on the part of the retailer. Furthermore, exclusive distribution gives the manufacturer better control over the way the product is merchandised. References: indusperfgrp. com/newdiststrat. htm wisegeek. com/what-is-a-wholesaler. htm The Marketing Mix Essays The Marketing Mix Essay The Marketing Mix Essay The major marketing management decisions can be classified in one of the following four categories:* Product* Price* Place (distribution)* PromotionThese variables are known as the marketing mix or the 4 Ps of marketing. They are the variables that marketing managers can control in order to best satisfy customers in the target market. The marketing mix is portrayed in the following diagram:The Marketing MixThe firm attempts to generate a positive response in the target market by blending these four marketing mix variables in an optimal manner.ProductMicrosoft needs the Xbox to be the leader in the gaming market and needs a competitive advantage over the Sony Playstation and the Game cube. Xbox has many features, which will appeal to different audiences. From the SWOT an analysis I conclude the Product should contain the following features:* A good reputation with customers* Development potential* To become the hardware giant not just the software giant* To have good game development companies behind the XboxThe Xbox has many functions such as a DVD player which only can be activated by purchasing remote control which is sold separately, Microsoft should decide that to give this free with the Xbox when someone purchase it, because the competitor Sony Playstation 2 has a DVD facility; as to my secondary information I done a questionnaire, and I asked what do you consider first when buying a games console, and the results showed that 10 people said graphics, 4 people said DVD Compatibility and also 4 people said price and 2 people said broadband compatible. This tells us that 4 people from 20 people who done the questionnaire said they would buy a console which had DVD compatibility; people are willing to pay extra for extra features. This tells us that Microsoft needs to include the remote control, and also that Microsoft need to grow the Xbox brand even bigger.PlaceA product is unlikely to be successful if customers find it difficult to purchase, so place is a v ital part of the marketing mix. After doing my research I found out the many people by gaming related products from the High Street, Microsoft needs to continue to attract new shops to sell their product, also Microsoft needs to sell their Xbox to a respectable businesses such as these,Microsoft needs to continue the relationship with stores like these; they cannot afford to sell the Xbox to corrupted businesses which can ruin the Xbox, but also they need to sell the Xbox to as may outlets as possible. Also in my survey I found out that many people like to buy products from the Internet, on the Internet you can find the Xbox for sale on many websites such as these,www.gameplay.com, www.game.uk.com and www.amazon.co.uk.PricePrice is another element of the marketing mix. Microsoft must decide how to price its product. In making this decision Microsoft has to consider, what the prices are set by competitors, how price can be used to increase sales of the product, whether the price will cover costs of production, whether customers are willing to pay that set price and different pricing strategies such as skimming or penetration pricing. For the Xbox Microsoft need to use the penetration pricing strategy because, Microsoft needs to build market share and also from my primary information I found out that price was the one of the main consideration when they considered in buying a games console.Penetration pricing pursues the objective of quantity maximization by means of a low price. It is most appropriate when:* Demand is expected to be highly elastic; that is, customers are price sensitive and the quantity demanded will increase significantly as price declines.* Large decreases in cost are expected as cumulative volume increases.* The product is of the nature of something that can gain mass appeal fairly quickly.* There is a threat of impending competition.As from above penetration pricing is appropriate as for one reason, if there is a threat from competition, th is is very true because Microsoft have lots of competition, and by pricing the product lower than the competition, they can persuade the public to buy the Xbox. All the prices can be found in table 1 in the secondary information section.PromotionMicrosoft needs to decide how best to promote the products they make and sell. The decision involves weighing up the relative cost of each form or promotion and how best to target their customers. Microsoft needs to use this promotional mix to promote the Xbox.Advertising Actual game play footageMicrosoft need to continue to advertise the Xbox on television, when they are advertising they need to show, what the Xbox can do, they need to show a bit of game play of the video games so people can see the graphics, because in my primary information I found out that that from my research that 10 out of 20 people, half of the people that I handed out the questionnaire out, said they would consider to purchase a games console, if it had good graphic s. This is good for Microsoft because they have produced a very powerful console and they need to show it to the public so they know what the Xbox is about. Also I feel that Microsoft can advertise in magazines, because from my primary information I found out that 4 out of 20 people were subscribed to gaming a magazine, which is nearly quarter of people that I handed out the questionnaire.Sales PromotionMicrosoft needs to work with the retailers to produce the best sale promotions from its competitors. They need to make offers such as buy the Xbox and receive free games with it. They have started to do this with different retailers, as you can see below I found this on the Internet, it was a offer, you got the console, an extra controller, Halo, and a free copy of MGS2 Substance which just has been on released on the Xbox on 28/03/2003.Xbox Console + Joytech Controller + Halo + FREE MGS2 Substancestreet price: à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½257.96gameplay price:à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½199.99you save: à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 57.97FREE DELIVERYà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½312.48 currency converterUsually sent within 3 dayscategory: Hardwareage: 15 years old and above.Promotion from www.gameplay.comMicrosoft needs to continue doing this working with the retailers and also giving the retailers trade discounts so they can pass on the savings to the public so they can buy the Xbox.Personal SellingMicrosoft needs to sell the Xbox personally because they need to target their audience so they can market their product to the right people who are willing to purchase the Xbox. I feel that Xbox should do this buy sending leaflets explaining what the Xbox is about, to schools, youth centers and colleges, where mainly the age group that they are targeting usually are.Public RelationsMicrosoft needs PR because it is free and also the Xbox can be promoted for free. For Microsoft there are many third party magazines about the Xbox, as you can see from the picture that there is a magazine which has been produced by a third party company, they need to continue to build their brand so third party magazine companies have a interest in them and also when people go to the Newsagent they might decide to buy the magazine and decide to buy the console. Also the Xbox has been through many newspaper reviews, newspapers cannot do reviews if a company does not advertise or continue to promote the product, Microsoft needs to continue this, when the public read the reviews about the Xbox that might decide them to purchase the Xbox.Direct mailMicrosoft needs to use direct mail because they need to market their Xbox to certain members of the public, who are willing to buy the Xbox. They can use many different ways in which they can promote the Xbox using direct mail.When you buy an Xbox you are given a registration card to fill in ; send back to the company, when the people send back the registration card Microsoft will have knowledge of who has purchased their console. Microsoft can use this information to send promotional materi al to their existing customers; Microsoft can use this information to send special offers to existing customers. The special offer can include, that if a family member or a friend of a existing customer buys a Xbox console they are given a free game; this will appeal to Microsoft because they are using existing customers to market their Xbox to new customers, who might be in the same age group, or they might fit into the same criteria which Xbox are looking to market their Xbox at.Also Microsoft can use these two other methods:SponsorshipMicrosoft Xbox has sponsored Linkin Parks Projekt: Revolution tour, which included bands such as, Cypress Hill, Adema and DJ-ZTRIP. The 19-city tour started on Jan. 29 in Colorado Springs and concluded in Las Vegas Feb. 24.Linkin ParkPhoto: APThe tour sponsorship marked the first deal between the game and a music partner. Also Xbox is in year two of a three-year Agreement with footwear company Vans and PepsiCos SoBe. Late last year Xbox concluded it s launch marketing program with Tricon Global Restaurants Taco Bell. The Xbox will likely partner with a soft drink brand by the summer, said Cindy Spodek-Dickey, group manager or national consumer promotions and sponsorships for Xbox.Microsoft needs to sponsor big band concerts such as the Linkin Parks concert, because bands like Linkin Park attract huge audiences to their concerts, with the Xbox logo all round the stage people will see the Xbox logo and they might decide to buy it, also what Microsoft can do is that before the concert begins they can show linkin Park playing the console and having fun, this may also lead the audience to go out and buy the Xbox because they will see their favorite band playing the Xbox.Internet PromotionMicrosoft can also promote the Xbox by using Internet promotion, they can do this by using e-mail because a person might be registered with a gaming website and they might receive gaming news every fortnight they might links of stores websites where you can purchase the Xbox, Xbox can pay these websites to do this. Also Xbox have advertised on their own official website where they give you a list of the places where you can purchase the Xbox, this is because if someone visits the website and they decide that the Xbox is the console for them they do not have to leave there seat and they can chose the best package deal for them. This is good because from my primary research I found that 5 out of 20 people I handed out the questionnaire purchased their gaming related products from the Internet.

Current Trend in the Area of Telecommunication Research Paper

Current Trend in the Area of Telecommunication - Research Paper Example The impact of essential forces which regulate the demand and supply of telecommunication services has been enlarged by the international trend in its open markets. As a consequence of current trend in telecommunication, the majority of the telecom service providers are now functioning privately. Major improvements have also come about to stimulate competition at the domestic, local and international levels. Besides, the liberalization in the telecommunication industry had also commenced considerable changes in areas like ‘value-added services’ and long-range calls among others (ITU, â€Å"Trends and developments in the telecommunication environment†). Current Trend in Telecommunication Despite the global economic decline, the telecommunication sector has developed continuously. It is due to this reason that major contribution to the development arises from the emerging markets. The increased utilization of mobile services is one of the significant drivers for the development of telecommunication. ...   The markets for telecommunication are becoming more competitive in providing wireless and the 3G services while other telecom services such as fixed line continue to drop back with respect to effectiveness (ITU, â€Å"Trend in Telecommunication Reform 2010/11†). Description of Wireless Technology Wireless technology help to transmit data in long range without any cables. It is usually measured as a division of telecommunication. Wireless technology enables long-distance communication developing an incorporated network. Through wireless technology, people can use the internet with the assistance of low power radio signals. The most important use of wireless technology can be illustrated with reference to laptop users who usually travel to the distant place. Another important use of wireless technology is the mobile wireless network which links through satellite (Krishnamurthy & Rajashekara, â€Å"Current Trends in Wireless Technologies in Academic Libraries†). In pre sent days, the wireless technology has comprehensive application because of its easy installation and flexibility. Organizations often replace their old LAN system to implement wireless technology in their business because it allows moving the computer from one place to another place without losing the internet connectivity and affecting other devices. The most important uses of wireless technology in present days can be seen in educational institutions, airports, and sometimes in coffee bars. They offer customers with constant internet usage to make their work easier. Making a wireless network in the organization is an inexpensive technique to accomplish the chosen connection with the convenient environment.