Critically Discuss Corporate Social Responsibility - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2275 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Critical essay Level High school Did you like this example? Critically discuss Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). What are the implications for a firm that does not conduct CSR? Date authored: 30 th August, 2014. Introduction Management is defined as working with and through other people to deliver services or products desired by certain segments of the society (Schnietz Epstein, 2004). Organisations are adopting corporate social responsibility (CSR) due to the surrounding society. A business unit that engages in CSR goes beyond being compliant with the law, international norms and ethical standards set by the industry. An organisation that practises CSR has self-regulating mechanisms in which the firm implements some actions of social goodwill that goes beyond its profitability and what is inscribed in the law (Schnietz Epstein, 2004). Managers across the world have recognised the benefits of CSR as a factor that enables organisational sustainability and business success. In most cases, companies usually leave a trail of a negative impact on the community in which they exist. CSR is, therefore, an initiative in which such organisations embrace responsibilities for their actions and inspire posit ive effects through activities on consumers, environment, employees, stakeholders, community and the entire public domain. Stakeholder theory best explains how morals and values are addressed in organisational management. These morals define both the internal and external stakeholders of an organisation that are defined in CSR. The diagram below gives examples of both internal and external stakeholders The government of Canada discerns the value of CSR as a factor that contributes to broad-based economic benefits for Canada as a country and other nations that Canadian companies operate in internationally (Government of Canada 2013). Organisations that have CSR principles in their core values operate responsibly by promoting socially worthy business practises that are desired by their client segment in addition to the communities in which they have established their investment. Every organisation has its understanding of CSR as there has been no specific definition and policies that govern the subject. The importance of CSR is thereby discussed below: Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Critically Discuss Corporate Social Responsibility" essay for you Create order Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in Business Most of the multinational corporations work under CSR policies to pride themselves in a triple bottom line of people, planet and profits. The triple-bottom line gives most organisations a narrow field of view and focus in which they operate in, in order to be sustainable. When multinational corporations operate in a socially, economically and environmentally conscious manner, they consider doing so in a transparent manner. CSR assists them to succeed in a competitive environment particularly through encouraging social license and shared values. Considerably, managing and mitigating of social and environmental risk factors are gradually becoming of the essence for the success of businesses abroad (Thorpe 2013). This is so as it can be costly for companies to lose social license in terms of the triple bottom line and share price. As multinational companies take advantage of business opportunities abroad, there is a significant understanding that incorporating responsible busi ness practises into operations and investments in foreign countries not only benefit the local communities and economies, but enhances good business sense. Good CSR policy is a major driver of daily operations and guides the future progress of many multinational corporations. Corporations benefit through CSR when their clients work with them because they are focused on a healthier and better productive initiatives. The direct benefit of CSR is efficient and effective operations; however, the true value of CSR is that of social good-will (Whitman 2013). Companies that operate under the directive of CSR set good example hence; they work to inspire other organisations and individuals to ‘improve on their game as far as social and environmental responsibility is concerned (Whitman 2013 p.41). It is through such initiatives that the community gets inspired resulting to a more rational perspective on how to run small and medium enterprises as well as how to lead ones life. Researcher Devin Thorpe (2013, p. 56) found out that 51 out of 59 organisations that he interviewed on the benefits of CSR believed that they had happier employees. Under the same research, Thorpe (2013, p. 57) also realised that 45 out of 59 companies that he interviewed believed that as a result of CSR, they have better employees; this comes as a result of either being capable of attracting better talent or as a result of CSR programs being able to develop better employees (Thorpe 2013). Managers believe that organisations are only good when they have high performing employees who are focused on achieving the missions and visions of their respective organisations. Because of shared values, CSR policies assist planners to forge standard operating procedures that reflect the integrity and better performance (Simply CSR 2008). It is no doubt that organisations that practice CSR have a better reputation around the globe and are profitable. RBC Wealth Management, a US company that has realised $227 billion in management assets (Hopkins 2012), has a philanthropic initiative dubbed from the RBC Blue-water project, in which the company offers $50 million in the non-profit initiative (Hopkins 2012). For the sixth year in a row, clients and employees of RBC participates in Blue-water day to protect the fresh watersheds and encourage access to clean drinking water (Hopkins 2012). When the top management and employees intermingle with members of the community to assist in non-profit initiatives, the product of such investment is better-organisational acceptance by the surrounding community (Karnani 2010). The involvement of top management in such hands-on initiative is also a motivating factor to the line employees since they have time to interact without any issues concerning portfolios. With such CSR initiatives that involve communal good will, employees feel proud and are better committed to work. One of the key aspects why organisations get involve d in CSR is promotion of diversity. In this aspect, organisations earn respect. The case of DLA Piper Pro Bono, an Australian law firm, is a prototype of an organisation that has earned the respect tremendously by initiating projects that tend to reduce disparities between the poor and the fortunate (Mulleratt 2011). DLA Piper has structured pro bono programs named â€Å"Signature Projects† in which the company commits resources to assist the less privileged to access justice, tackling social issues, hunger relief programs, serving veterans and providing legal assistance to post-conflict and developing regions (Mulleratt 2011). The case of DLA Piper Pro Bono also helps one understand that CSR enhances conflict resolution between companies that are not in compliance with the ethical standards and the communities involved. Implication for a firm that does not conduct CSR There are many negative implications that come as a result of not implementing CSR. Some of the notable multinational organisations such as Nike and McDonalds have been victims of poor CSR implementation. The global custodians of CSR are: a) World Trade Organisation (WTO), b) United Nations Global Impact, c) United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, d) ISO 26000 Guidance Standards on Social Responsibility, e) International Labour Organisation Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises on Social Policy, and f) Governments of the respective nations. There are clear guidelines laid by the above movements that define the types of CSR to be implemented: Community-based CSR: businesses work as partners to foster well-being of local communities as well as strategising on how to improve on peoples quality of life. Environmental based CSR: focus is built on Eco-concerns such as climate change and the environmental impact the organisation has on the surrounding environment (Handy 2002). Human Resource-based CSR: recognising HR issues and implementing projects that focus on well-being of the staff. Philanthropy: businesses donate part of their profits for good cause, most often through a charity partner. In the contemporary business world, any organisation, be it small or multinational, lack of a CSR program can lead to disastrous results in terms of relations with the local community and international regulatory bodies. Losing the trust of people who are important to the business such as clients, stakeholders, suppliers and the work team will automatically lead to poor business reputation and eventually closure (Godelnik 2012). Increased cost of doing businesses in both foreign and local countries Implementing a CSR program does not cost money as long as the policies are known. On the contrary, it can be much costly for a company that does not have CSR program running. The increased costs can be due to: Inefficiency in staff hire and retention Zero implementation of energy saving programs Poor management of potential risks and liabilities More investment in traditional marketing (Schwartz 2008). Dissatisfied employees Usually, employees have the tendency of feeling proud of the company they are working for. Employees who are proud of their workplace in most cases have a positive attitude towards work and are less likely to search for work elsewhere. CSR promotes initiatives such as environmental awareness and philanthropy, which makes it easier for employees to mingle with the community that they are part of. They thus become proud of their organisations achievement in the locale. On the other hand, a dissatisfied employee will seek better job opportunities, and employee turnover may be high (Simply CSR 2008). A case of McDonalds that was profit oriented and did less for the working environment as well as social initiatives had its employees migrating to other competitors (Simply CSR, 2008). An organisation with good CSR program has a better reputation and will receive more job applicants. More choice results to a better workforce. High positive effects of CSR on employee motivation, diver sity and well-being result to a better-performing organisation. Dissatisfied customers/clients Organisations that have weak or no CSR record have poor customer relations (Confino 2013). Customers have a bad attitude towards products and services offered by such companies and will be willing to swap to other brands. Service rendering or products manufacturing companies who have better CSR programs, on the other hand, have healthier customer relations. Insufficient implementation of CSR programs by organisations lead to customers not having trust on the goods or services produced by such companies and without trust, customers are willing to switch to other brands of the same calibre. Reeves (2010) in their research that focused on customer satisfaction due to CSR program implementation indicated that more than 88% of consumers thought that companies should try and achieve their business objectives while improving the environment and the society. An interpretation of this result reveals that 88% of clients will have doubt on the intentions of organisations that do not h ave CSR programs (Reeves 2010). Less or no Business opportunities An organisation that does not implement CSR programs blocks its communication links with clienteles, suppliers, employees and other parties that influence the organisation both from within or out. The absence of constant interaction diminishes managers liaison roles thereby translating to ill-informed managers on business opportunities as well as threats. Additionally, organisations that implement CSR programs casually have less or no opportunities to share their positive stories through mass media, thereby, increasing advertisement costs since they do not breed free publicity. Such organisations hardly benefit from the value of mouth marketing. Criticism of CSR It is difficult for the contemporary organisation to survive without corporate social responsibility. Though CSR has become part of everyday business practice, many managers still do not believe in sharing of ideas. Every organisation, therefore, has its CSR practises that increase confusion especially during employee transfers, board meetings and mutual relationship between companies. Secondly, the link between CSR and financial performance is highly mixed. While some scholars agree that investing in CSR improves financial benefits of a firm, others tend to disagree. The conflicting results have not been enough to convince sceptical executives and investors that by doing good, a firms well-being is also improved. CSR is a confusing tactic from businesses economic roles (Godelnik 2012). Godelnik (2012) argues that a proper research and development model is the basic element of financial outcome; therefore, CSR plays a neutral role in determining financial performance. Summary and Conclusion Apart from the non-profit organisations, profitability is the end goal for any operational business. However, conducting business responsibly has enabled organisations to attract more investors, has reduced the social and environmental risks, increased profitability and growth and has assisted organisations to address stakeholder concerns transparently. Moreover, organisations top management have better understanding of the work environment and are not susceptible to make errors in their judgements. The simple mantra of â€Å"doing well is good business† summarises the roles and functions of CSR in the corporate arena. Confino, J., 2013. Oxfam report shows multinational companies failing on CSR goals. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/oxfam-multinational-companies-failing-csr [Accessed 19 August 2014]. Godelnik, R., 2012. 5 Reasons Why Apples CSR Strategy Doesnt Work. Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit, 3(1), p. 1. Gov ernment of Canada, 2013. Industry Canada. [Online] Available at: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/csr-rse.nsf/eng/h_rs00100.html [Accessed 19 August 2014]. Handy, C., 2002. Whats a Business For? Havard Business Review, 54. Hopkins, M., 2012. Corporate Social Responsibility and International Development: Is Business the Solution?. 1st ed. Mississippi: Earthscan. Karnani, A., 2010. The Case against Corporate Social Responsibility. The Wall Street Journal . 1. Mallin, C., 2009. Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study Approach. 1st ed. London: Edward Elgar Publishing. Mulleratt, R., 2011. Corporate Social Responsibility: The Corporate Governance of the 21st Century. 1st ed. New Jersey: Kluwer Law International. Reeves, J., 2010. New Study: Consumers Demand Companies Implement CSR Programs. New Jersey: Citizen Polity. Schnietz, K.E. Epstein, M., 2004. Does Corporate Social Responsibility Pay Off: Evidence From the Failed 1999 WTO Meeting in Seattle. Graziad io Business Review, 7(2), pp. 1-9. Schwartz, M., 2011. Corporate Social Responsibility: An Ethical Approach. Carlifonia: Broadview Press. Simply CSR, 2008. The Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility. [Online] Available at: https://www.simplycsr.co.uk/the-benefits-of-csr.html [Accessed 19 August 2014]. Thorpe, D., 2013. Why CSR? The Benefits Of Corporate Social Responsibility Will Move You To Act. Forbes Magazine, pp. 1-2. Whitman, M., 2013. Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility. [Online] Available at: https://sustainablebusinessforum.com/sbtoolkit/179556/benefits-corporate-social-responsibility [Accessed 19 August 2014].

Alternative Health Care Essays - 960 Words

Alternative Health Care Alternative health cares, also known as holistic or homeopathic care, are countless ways of unconventional health care approaches to healing and improving illnesses. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann discovered homeopathy in the early 1800s. He was sick of the art of medicine practiced in his time; he said it was barbaric. He knew there had to be alternatives so, like any devoted science lover would do, he experimented on himself and his friends. Hahnemann found that large dosages of herbs increased symptoms so he decreased the dosage and found that the symptoms decreased and usually ceased (Smith 10). Homeopathy became popular in the nineteenth century. This may be accounted for because most patients at that time†¦show more content†¦When someone chooses alternative care he must take into consideration its dangers. One could actually overdose on vitamins or misuse herbal therapies. Instead of feeling better, I felt increasingly worse, like a spaced out zombie complained Carol Co peland, a former holistic patient who almost lost her life to cancer because her homeopathic physicians were too proud to think they were wrong thus they neglected an ovarian cyst (Copeland 104 Wekesser 95). Another problem with these unconventional health care alternatives is that they give false relief. What this means is that when someone uses a holistic remedy and then feels relief he tends to credit the remedy. This method does not hold water because most ailments resolve themselves (headache for example). Nevertheless, holistic medicine has strengths. One, it recognizes the psychological, environmental and social aspects of illness. Two, it involves the patient in his own treatment with activities etc... And three, it emphasizes preventive medicine as its base (holistic). Holistic medicine is a practice of health cares that that emphasizes treatment of the entire patients body, mind and spirit. Homeopathic care, compared to allopathic is expensive. There are no doct ors visits or expensive antibiotic prescriptions necessary. This is not to say that doctors are not useful; obviously, if there were a serious injury one should not hesitate to go to a medical (allopathic) doctor (SmithShow MoreRelatedAlternative Health Care Plans Throughout the World Essay871 Words   |  4 PagesIn the book, the author Reid discusses the different alternatives and models in healthcare provision that have been embraced by different countries around the world. For America in particular, the author holds the idea that the healthcare system is disastrous and explores other alternatives that can serve as better choices. According to the author, far from the widely held belief that universal healthcare is a universal socialized system, there are multiple and distinct plans that other countriesRead MoreAlternative Medicine, Cost Containment, Prescription Medication, And Health Care Industry Essay1939 Words   |  8 PagesThe health care industry is continually changin g. The industry always has the opportunity for growth and improvement. However with that come many different topics to consider and analyze. Each topic brings its own views and ideas as to how it can help or affect the health care world. We will be analyzing some of these important topics and how they partake in health care. The health care industry is evolving. There is so much progress being made, new technology being introducedRead MoreThe Constitution And The Articles Of Confederation953 Words   |  4 Pagesfinding a solution for health care in America is a unique and profound video involving impertinent details. It’s a constant battle of America have a stable balance of health care for people. It’s Dr. Robert Pearl has some interesting views about the topic of health care such as health care in 21st century which is the center focus of the video. The major theme of this video entails the world coming terms with 40 to 50 million Americans who are uninsured. Not to mention how health care will change in theRead MoreHealth Insurance Of The United States1597 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Health insurance in the United States is very dynamic and costly to most citizens; however, it is necessary to ensure healthy living and protection from outrageous debt owed to health providers. With the recent changes due to the Affordable Care Act started by President Barack Obama, people now are being pushed to get health insurance. Some citizens of the United States have opposed this health reform. There were people who could not keep their previous health insurance plans andRead MoreHolistic Medicine Is A Healing Process1047 Words   |  5 PagesHolistic Medicine Most people in the US usually treat their medical problems with prescription drugs, but there are alternative ways to relieve their physical pain. The health care system is making billions of dollars in researching new drugs to treat medical conditions and takes many years of research to find an effective way. Medical professionals have to consider the risk of trying new drugs on patients such as clinical trials to reduce heart disease or other conditions. However, there are otherRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )1589 Words   |  7 Pagesfor their country should be given all respect and care when they return home. Veterans come home with injuries that can affect them from living a healthy comfortable life. Their injuries can be from physical to mental injuries like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) from combat. Veterans who come home with these injuries should be provided, by the government, health care where they can live an enjoyable life. Having veterans take a n alternative rout like qualifying for medicade could help a lotRead MoreCost Containment Solutions For Employers1042 Words   |  5 Pagesincreasing access to quality care for injured workers within the workers’ compensation system. Although organizations spend substantial amounts of money on Workers Compensation insurance, there are fundamentals organizations can consider where appropriate to drive down Workers Compensation costs while improving employee health and safety. Consider these Aspects: 1. Claim duration. Too many claims and claims that last too long. Focus on strategies that will deliver value-based care, superior patient outcomesRead MoreThe Role Of Accountable Care Organizations And Physician Joint Ventures1720 Words   |  7 PagesAccountable Care Organizations and Physician Joint Ventures The relationship between physicians and hospitals is very important. If the relationship between the two is negative then the organization cannot be successful and can fall to the ground. If the relationship is positive then the organization becomes successful. Physicians bring business to the hospitals with their clinical experience, with the patients they see, by admitting them or performing procedures, and decide on what type of suppliesRead MoreThe First Reading By Sarah Helene Duggin973 Words   |  4 PagesIn the first reading by Sarah Helene Duggin, compared the Obama care reform introduced by Obama and the New Deal reform introduced by Roosevelt. She highlights how these two reform are similar because in both there are two categories of people. There is people are favorable to the reform while other see the reform as a threat. For Sarah, these two cases have brought up major constitutional principles such as the separation of powers, taxing and spending power and Commerce Po wer. Finally, the authorRead MoreExpansion Of Medicaid Expansion : The Affordable Care Act1347 Words   |  6 Pages Expansion of Medicaid The Affordable Care Act was put in place by President Obama in 2010, providing Americans access to affordable health insurance. But South Carolina’s governor, the republican Nikki Haley is still rejecting the Medicaid expansion. My paper has detailed information on why Governor Haley and republicans made their decision to opt out of the expansion. Also, alternate approaches to expanding access to care and implementing or reconsidering the state’s decision of opting out of

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20 Free Essays

string(56) " they moved into the shadows just as Fache rushed past\." CHAPTER 18 Fache sprinted down the Grand Gallery as Collet’s radio blared over the distant sound of the alarm. â€Å"He jumped!† Collet was yelling. â€Å"I’m showing the signal out on Place du Carrousel! Outside the bathroom window! And it’s not moving at all! Jesus, I think Langdon has just committed suicide!† Fache heard the words, but they made no sense. We will write a custom essay sample on The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20 or any similar topic only for you Order Now He kept running. The hallway seemed never-ending. As he sprinted past Sauniere’s body, he set his sights on the partitions at the far end of the Denon Wing. The alarm was getting louder now. â€Å"Wait!† Collet’s voice blared again over the radio. â€Å"He’s moving! My God, he’s alive. Langdon’s moving!† Fache kept running, cursing the length of the hallway with every step. â€Å"Langdon’s moving faster!† Collet was still yelling on the radio. â€Å"He’s running down Carrousel. Wait†¦ he’s picking up speed. He’s moving too fast!† Arriving at the partitions, Fache snaked his way through them, saw the rest room door, and ran for it. The walkie-talkie was barely audible now over the alarm. â€Å"He must be in a car! I think he’s in a car! I can’t – â€Å" Collet’s words were swallowed by the alarm as Fache finally burst into the men’s room with his gun drawn. Wincing against the piercing shrill, he scanned the area. The stalls were empty. The bathroom deserted. Fache’s eyes moved immediately to the shattered window at the far end of the room. He ran to the opening and looked over the edge. Langdon was nowhere to be seen. Fache could not imagine anyone risking a stunt like this. Certainly if he had dropped that far, he would be badly injured. The alarm cut off finally, and Collet’s voice became audible again over the walkie-talkie. â€Å"†¦ moving south†¦ faster†¦ crossing the Seine on Pont du Carrousel!† Fache turned to his left. The only vehicle on Pont du Carrousel was an enormous twin-bed Trailor delivery truck moving southward away from the Louvre. The truck’s open-air bed was covered with a vinyl tarp, roughly resembling a giant hammock. Fache felt a shiver of apprehension. That truck, only moments ago, had probably been stopped at a red light directly beneath the rest room window. An insane risk, Fache told himself. Langdon had no way of knowing what the truck was carrying beneath that tarp. What if the truck were carrying steel? Or cement? Or even garbage? A forty-foot leap? It was madness. â€Å"The dot is turning!† Collet called. â€Å"He’s turning right on Pont des Saints-Peres!† Sure enough, the Trailor truck that had crossed the bridge was slowing down and making a right turn onto Pont des Saints-Peres. So be it, Fache thought. Amazed, he watched the truck disappear around the corner. Collet was already radioing the agents outside, pulling them off the Louvre perimeter and sending them to their patrol cars in pursuit, all the while broadcasting the truck’s changing location like some kind of bizarre play-by-play. It’s over, Fache knew. His men would have the truck surrounded within minutes. Langdon was not going anywhere. Stowing his weapon, Fache exited the rest room and radioed Collet. â€Å"Bring my car around. I want to be there when we make the arrest.† As Fache jogged back down the length of the Grand Gallery, he wondered if Langdon had even survived the fall. Not that it mattered. Langdon ran. Guilty as charged. Only fifteen yards from the rest room, Langdon and Sophie stood in the darkness of the Grand Gallery, their backs pressed to one of the large partitions that hid the bathrooms from the gallery. They had barely managed to hide themselves before Fache had darted past them, gun drawn, and disappeared into the bathroom. The last sixty seconds had been a blur. Langdon had been standing inside the men’s room refusing to run from a crime he didn’t commit, when Sophie began eyeing the plate-glass window and examining the alarm mesh running through it. Then she peered downward into the street, as if measuring the drop. â€Å"With a little aim, you can get out of here,† she said. Aim? Uneasy, he peered out the rest room window. Up the street, an enormous twin-bed eighteen-wheeler was headed for the stoplight beneath the window. Stretched across the truck’s massive cargo bay was a blue vinyl tarp, loosely covering the truck’s load. Langdon hoped Sophie was not thinking what she seemed to be thinking. â€Å"Sophie, there’s no way I’m jump – â€Å"Take out the tracking dot.† Bewildered, Langdon fumbled in his pocket until he found the tiny metallic disk. Sophie took it from him and strode immediately to the sink. She grabbed a thick bar of soap, placed the tracking dot on top of it, and used her thumb to push the disk down hard into the bar. As the disk sank into the soft surface, she pinched the hole closed, firmly embedding the device in the bar. Handing the bar to Langdon, Sophie retrieved a heavy, cylindrical trash can from under the sinks. Before Langdon could protest, Sophie ran at the window, holding the can before her like a battering ram. Driving the bottom of the trash can into the center of the window, she shattered the glass. Alarms erupted overhead at earsplitting decibel levels. â€Å"Give me the soap!† Sophie yelled, barely audible over the alarm. Langdon thrust the bar into her hand. Palming the soap, she peered out the shattered window at the eighteen-wheeler idling below. The target was plenty big – an expansive, stationary tarp – and it was less than ten feet from the side of the building. As the traffic lights prepared to change, Sophie took a deep breath and lobbed the bar of soap out into the night. The soap plummeted downward toward the truck, landing on the edge of the tarp, and sliding downward into the cargo bay just as the traffic light turned green. â€Å"Congratulations,† Sophie said, dragging him toward the door. â€Å"You just escaped from the Louvre.† Fleeing the men’s room, they moved into the shadows just as Fache rushed past. You read "The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20" in category "Essay examples" Now, with the fire alarm silenced, Langdon could hear the sounds of DCPJ sirens tearing away from the Louvre. A police exodus.Fache had hurried off as well, leaving the Grand Gallery deserted. â€Å"There’s an emergency stairwell about fifty meters back into the Grand Gallery,† Sophie said. â€Å"Now that the guards are leaving the perimeter, we can get out of here.† Langdon decided not to say another word all evening. Sophie Neveu was clearly a hell of a lot smarter than he was. CHAPTER 19 The Church of Saint-Sulpice, it is said, has the most eccentric history of any building in Paris. Built over the ruins of an ancient temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis, the church possesses an architectural footprint matching that of Notre Dame to within inches. The sanctuary has played host to the baptisms of the Marquis de Sade and Baudelaire, as well as the marriage of Victor Hugo. The attached seminary has a well-documented history of unorthodoxy and was once the clandestine meeting hall for numerous secret societies. Tonight, the cavernous nave of Saint-Sulpice was as silent as a tomb, the only hint of life the faint smell of incense from mass earlier that evening. Silas sensed an uneasiness in Sister Sandrine’s demeanor as she led him into the sanctuary. He was not surprised by this. Silas was accustomed to people being uncomfortable with his appearance. â€Å"You’re an American,† she said. â€Å"French by birth,† Silas responded. â€Å"I had my calling in Spain, and I now study in the United States.† Sister Sandrine nodded. She was a small woman with quiet eyes. â€Å"And you have never seen Saint- Sulpice?† â€Å"I realize this is almost a sin in itself.† â€Å"She is more beautiful by day.† â€Å"I am certain. Nonetheless, I am grateful that you would provide me this opportunity tonight.† â€Å"The abbe requested it. You obviously have powerful friends.† You have no idea, Silas thought. As he followed Sister Sandrine down the main aisle, Silas was surprised by the austerity of the sanctuary. Unlike Notre Dame with its colorful frescoes, gilded altar-work, and warm wood, Saint- Sulpice was stark and cold, conveying an almost barren quality reminiscent of the ascetic cathedrals of Spain. The lack of decor made the interior look even more expansive, and as Silasgazed up into the soaring ribbed vault of the ceiling, he imagined he was standing beneath the hull of an enormous overturned ship. A fitting image, he thought. The brotherhood’s ship was about to be capsized forever. Feeling eager to get to work, Silas wished Sister Sandrine would leave him. She was a small woman whom Silas could incapacitate easily, but he had vowed not to use force unless absolutely necessary. She is a woman of the cloth, and it is not her fault the brotherhood chose her church as a hiding place for their keystone.She should not be punished for the sins of others. â€Å"I am embarrassed, Sister, that you were awoken on my behalf.† â€Å"Not at all. You are in Paris a short time. You should not miss Saint-Sulpice. Are your interests in the church more architectural or historical?† â€Å"Actually, Sister, my interests are spiritual.† She gave a pleasant laugh. â€Å"That goes without saying. I simply wondered where to begin your tour.† Silas felt his eyes focus on the altar. â€Å"A tour is unnecessary. You have been more than kind. I can show myself around.† â€Å"It is no trouble,† she said. â€Å"After all, I am awake.† Silas stopped walking. They had reached the front pew now, and the altar was only fifteen yards away. He turned his massive body fully toward the small woman, and he could sense her recoil as she gazed up into his red eyes. â€Å"If it does not seem too rude, Sister, I am not accustomed to simply walking into a house of God and taking a tour. Would you mind if I took some time alone to pray before I look around?† Sister Sandrine hesitated. â€Å"Oh, of course. I shall wait in the rear of the church for you.† Silas put a soft but heavy hand on her shoulder and peered down. â€Å"Sister, I feel guilty already for having awoken you. To ask you to stay awake is too much. Please, you should return to bed. I can enjoy your sanctuary and then let myself out.† She looked uneasy. â€Å"Are you sure you won’t feel abandoned?† â€Å"Not at all. Prayer is a solitary joy.† â€Å"As you wish.† Silas took his hand from her shoulder. â€Å"Sleep well, Sister. May the peace of the Lord be with you.† â€Å"And also with you.† Sister Sandrine headed for the stairs. â€Å"Please be sure the door closes tightly on your way out.† â€Å"I will be sure of it.† Silas watched her climb out of sight. Then he turned and knelt in the front pew, feeling the cilice cut into his leg. Dear God, I offer up to you this work I do today†¦ . Crouching in the shadows of the choir balcony high above the altar, Sister Sandrine peered silently through the balustrade at the cloaked monk kneeling alone. The sudden dread in her soul made it hard to stay still. For a fleeting instant, she wondered if this mysterious visitor could be the enemy they had warned her about, and if tonight she would have to carry out the orders she had been holding all these years. She decided to stay there in the darkness and watch his every move. CHAPTER 20 Emerging from the shadows, Langdon and Sophie moved stealthily up the deserted Grand Gallery corridor toward the emergency exit stairwell. As he moved, Langdon felt like he was trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle in the dark. The newest aspect of this mystery was a deeply troubling one: The captain of the Judicial Police is trying to frame me for murder â€Å"Do you think,† he whispered,† that maybe Fache wrote that message on the floor?† Sophie didn’t even turn. â€Å"Impossible.† Langdon wasn’t so sure. â€Å"He seems pretty intent on making me look guilty. Maybe he thought writing my name on the floor would help his case?† â€Å"The Fibonacci sequence? The P. S. ? All the Da Vinci and goddess symbolism? That had to be my grandfather.† Langdon knew she was right. The symbolism of the clues meshed too perfectly – the pentacle, TheVitruvian Man, Da Vinci, the goddess, and even the Fibonacci sequence. A coherent symbolic set, as iconographers would call it. All inextricably tied. â€Å"And his phone call to me this afternoon,† Sophie added. â€Å"He said he had to tell me something. I’m certain his message at the Louvre was his final effort to tell me something important, something he thought you could help me understand.† Langdon frowned. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! He wished he could comprehend the message, both for Sophie’s well-being and for his own. Things had definitely gotten worse since he first laid eyes on the cryptic words. His fake leap out the bathroom window was not going to help Langdon’s popularity with Fache one bit. Somehow he doubted the captain of the French police would see the humor in chasing down and arresting a bar of soap. â€Å"The doorway isn’t much farther,† Sophie said.† Do you think there’s a possibility that the numbers in your grandfather’s message hold the key to understanding the other lines?† Langdon had once worked on a series of Baconian manuscripts that contained epigraphical ciphers in which certain lines of code were clues as to how to decipher the other lines. â€Å"I’ve been thinking about the numbers all night. Sums, quotients, products. I don’t see anything. Mathematically, they’re arranged at random. Cryptographic gibberish.† â€Å"And yet they’re all part of the Fibonacci sequence. That can’t be coincidence.† â€Å"It’s not. Using Fibonacci numbers was my grandfather’s way of waving another flag at me – like writing the message in English, or arranging himself like my favorite piece of art, or drawing a pentacle on himself. All of it was to catch my attention.† â€Å"The pentacle has meaning to you?† â€Å"Yes. I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but the pentacle was a special symbol between my grandfather and me when I was growing up. We used to play Tarot cards for fun, and my indicator card always turned out to be from the suit of pentacles. I’m sure he stacked the deck, but pentacles got to be our little joke.† Langdon felt a chill. They played Tarot? The medieval Italian card game was so replete with hidden heretical symbolism that Langdon had dedicated an entire chapter in his new manuscript to the Tarot. The game’s twenty-two cards bore names like The Female Pope, The Empress, and The Star.Originally, Tarot had been devised as a secret means to pass along ideologies banned by the Church. Now, Tarot’s mystical qualities were passed on by modern fortune-tellers. The Tarot indicator suit for feminine divinity is pentacles, Langdon thought, realizing that if Sauniere had been stacking his granddaughter’s deck for fun, pentacles was an apropos inside joke. They arrived at the emergency stairwell, and Sophie carefully pulled open the door. No alarm sounded. Only the doors to the outside were wired. Sophie led Langdon down a tight set of switchback stairs toward the ground level, picking up speed as they went. â€Å"Your grandfather,† Langdon said, hurrying behind her,† when he told you about the pentacle, did he mention goddess worship or any resentment of the Catholic Church?† Sophie shook her head. â€Å"I was more interested in the mathematics of it – the Divine Proportion, PHI, Fibonacci sequences, that sort of thing.† Langdon was surprised. â€Å"Your grandfather taught you about the number PHI?† â€Å"Of course. The Divine Proportion.† Her expression turned sheepish. â€Å"In fact, he used to joke that I was half divine†¦ you know, because of the letters in my name.† Langdon considered it a moment and then groaned. s-o-PHI-e. Still descending, Langdon refocused on PHI.He was starting to realize that Sauniere’s clues were even more consistent than he had first imagined. Da Vinci†¦ Fibonacci numbers†¦ the pentacle. Incredibly, all of these things were connected by a single concept so fundamental to art history that Langdon often spent several class periods on the topic. PHI. He felt himself suddenly reeling back to Harvard, standing in front of his† Symbolism in Art† class, writing his favorite number on the chalkboard. 1. 618 Langdon turned to face his sea of eager students. â€Å"Who can tell me what this number is?† A long-legged math major in back raised his hand. â€Å"That’s the number PHI.† He pronounced it fee. â€Å"Nice job, Stettner,† Langdon said. â€Å"Everyone, meet PHI.† â€Å"Not to be confused with PI,† Stettner added, grinning. â€Å"As we mathematicians like to say: PHI is one H of a lot cooler than PI!† Langdon laughed, but nobody else seemed to get the joke. Stettner slumped.† This number PHI,† Langdon continued,† one-point-six-one-eight, is a very important number in art. Who can tell me why?† Stettner tried to redeem himself. â€Å"Because it’s so pretty?† Everyone laughed.† Actually,† Langdon said,† Stettner’s right again. PHI is generally considered the most beautiful number in the universe.† The laughter abruptly stopped, and Stettner gloated. As Langdon loaded his slide projector, he explained that the number PHI was derived from the Fibonacci sequence – a progression famous not only because the sum of adjacent terms equaled the next term, but because the quotients of adjacent terms possessed the astonishing property of approaching the number 1. 618 – PHI! Despite PHI’s seemingly mystical mathematical origins, Langdon explained, the truly mind-boggling aspect of PHI was its role as a fundamental building block in nature. Plants, animals, and even human beings all possessed dimensional properties that adhered with eerie exactitude to the ratio of PHI to 1. â€Å"PHI’s ubiquity in nature,† Langdon said, killing the lights,† clearly exceeds coincidence, and so the ancients assumed the number PHI must have been preordained by the Creator of the universe. Early scientists heralded one-point-six-one-eight as the Divine Proportion.† â€Å"Hold on,† said a young woman in the front row. â€Å"I’m a bio major and I’ve never seen this Divine Proportion in nature.† â€Å"No?† Langdon grinned. â€Å"Ever study the relationship between females and males in a honeybee community?† â€Å"Sure. The female bees always outnumber the male bees.† â€Å"Correct. And did you know that if you divide the number of female bees by the number of male bees in any beehive in the world, you always get the same number?† â€Å"You do?† â€Å"Yup. PHI.† The girl gaped. â€Å"NO WAY!† â€Å"Way!† Langdon fired back, smiling as he projected a slide of a spiral seashell. â€Å"Recognize this?† â€Å"It’s a nautilus,† the bio major said. â€Å"A cephalopod mollusk that pumps gas into its chambered shell to adjust its buoyancy.† â€Å"Correct. And can you guess what the ratio is of each spiral’s diameter to the next?† The girl looked uncertain as she eyed the concentric arcs of the nautilus spiral. Langdon nodded. â€Å"PHI. The Divine Proportion. One-point-six-one-eight to one.† The girl looked amazed. Langdon advanced to the next slide – a close-up of a sunflower’s seed head. â€Å"Sunflower seeds grow in opposing spirals. Can you guess the ratio of each rotation’s diameter to the next?† â€Å"PHI?† everyone said.† Bingo.† Langdon began racing through slides now – spiraled pinecone petals, leaf arrangement on plant stalks, insect segmentation – all displaying astonishing obedience to the Divine Proportion. â€Å"This is amazing!† someone cried out. â€Å"Yeah,† someone else said,† but what does it have to do with art?† â€Å"Aha!† Langdon said. â€Å"Glad you asked.† He pulled up another slide – a pale yellow parchment displaying Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous male nude – The Vitruvian Man – named for Marcus Vitruvius, the brilliant Roman architect who praised the Divine Proportion in his text De Architectura. â€Å"Nobody understood better than Da Vinci the divine structure of the human body. Da Vinci actually exhumed corpses to measure the exact proportions of human bone structure. He was the first to show that the human body is literally made of building blocks whose proportional ratios always equal PHI.† Everyone in class gave him a dubious look. â€Å"Don’t believe me?† Langdon challenged. â€Å"Next time you’re in the shower, take a tape measure.† A couple of football players snickered. â€Å"Not just you insecure jocks,† Langdon prompted. â€Å"All of you. Guys and girls. Try it. Measure the distance from the tip of your head to the floor. Then divide that by the distance from your bellybutton to the floor. Guess what number you get.† â€Å"Not PHI!† one of the jocks blurted out in disbelief. â€Å"Yes, PHI,† Langdon replied. â€Å"One-point-six-one-eight. Want another example? Measure the distance from your shoulder to your fingertips, and then divide it by the distance from your elbow to your fingertips. PHI again. Another? Hip to floor divided by knee to floor. PHI again. Finger joints. Toes. Spinal divisions. PHI. PHI. PHI. My friends, each of you is a walking tribute to the Divine Proportion.† Even in the darkness, Langdon could see they were all astounded. He felt a familiar warmth inside. This is why he taught. â€Å"My friends, as you can see, the chaos of the world has an underlying order. When the ancients discovered PHI, they were certain they had stumbled across God’s building block for the world, and they worshipped Nature because of that. And one can understand why. God’s hand is evident in Nature, and even to this day there exist pagan, Mother Earth-revering religions. Many of us celebrate nature the way the pagans did, and don’t even know it. May Day is a perfect example, the celebration of spring†¦ the earth coming back to life to produce her bounty. The mysterious magic inherent in the Divine Proportion was written at the beginning of time. Man is simply playing by Nature’s rules, and because art is man’s attempt to imitate the beauty of the Creator’s hand, you can imagine we might be seeing a lot of instances of the Divine Proportion in art this semester.† Over the next half hour, Langdon showed them slides of artwork by Michelangelo, Albrecht Durer, Da Vinci, and many others, demonstrating each artist’s intentional and rigorous adherence to the Divine Proportion in the layout of his compositions. Langdon unveiled PHI in the architectural dimensions of the Greek Parthenon, the pyramids of Egypt, and even the United Nations Building in New York. PHI appeared in the organizational structures of Mozart’s sonatas, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, as well as the works of Bartok, Debussy, and Schubert. The number PHI, Langdon told them, was even used by Stradivarius to calculate the exact placement of the f-holes in the construction of his famous violins. â€Å"In closing,† Langdon said, walking to the chalkboard,† we return to symbols† He drew five intersecting lines that formed a five-pointed star. â€Å"This symbol is one of the most powerful images you will see this term. Formally known as a pentagram – or pentacle, as the ancients called it – this symbol is considered both divine and magical by many cultures. Can anyone tell me why that might be?† Stettner, the math major, raised his hand. â€Å"Because if you draw a pentagram, the lines automatically divide themselves into segments according to the Divine Proportion.† Langdon gave the kid a proud nod. â€Å"Nice job. Yes, the ratios of line segments in a pentacle allequal PHI, making this symbol the ultimate expression of the Divine Proportion. For this reason, the five-pointed star has always been the symbol for beauty and perfection associated with the goddess and the sacred feminine.† The girls in class beamed. â€Å"One note, folks. We’ve only touched on Da Vinci today, but we’ll be seeing a lot more of him this semester. Leonardo was a well-documented devotee of the ancient ways of the goddess. Tomorrow, I’ll show you his fresco The Last Supper, which is one of the most astonishing tributes to the sacred feminine you will ever see.† â€Å"You’re kidding, right?† somebody said. â€Å"I thought The Last Supper was about Jesus!† Langdon winked. â€Å"There are symbols hidden in places you would never imagine.† â€Å"Come on,† Sophie whispered. â€Å"What’s wrong? We’re almost there. Hurry!† Langdon glanced up, feeling himself return from faraway thoughts. He realized he was standing at a dead stop on the stairs, paralyzed by sudden revelation. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! Sophie was looking back at him. It can’t be that simple, Langdon thought. But he knew of course that it was. There in the bowels of the Louvre†¦ with images of PHI and Da Vinci swirling through his mind, Robert Langdon suddenly and unexpectedly deciphered Sauniere’s code. â€Å"O, Draconian devil!† he said. â€Å"Oh, lame saint! It’s the simplest kind of code!† Sophie was stopped on the stairs below him, staring up in confusion. A code? She had been pondering the words all night and had not seen a code. Especially a simple one. â€Å"You said it yourself.† Langdon’s voice reverberated with excitement. â€Å"Fibonacci numbers only have meaning in their proper order. Otherwise they’re mathematical gibberish.† Sophie had no idea what he was talking about. The Fibonacci numbers? She was certain they had been intended as nothing more than a means to get the Cryptography Department involved tonight. They have another purpose? She plunged her hand into her pocket and pulled out the printout, studying her grandfather’s message again. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! What about the numbers? â€Å"The scrambled Fibonacci sequence is a clue,† Langdon said, taking the printout. â€Å"The numbers area hint as to how to decipher the rest of the message. He wrote the sequence out of order to tell us to apply the same concept to the text. O, Draconian devil? Oh, lame saint? Those lines mean nothing. They are simply letters written out of order.† Sophie needed only an instant to process Langdon’s implication, and it seemed laughably simple. â€Å"You think this message is†¦ une anagramme?† She stared at him. â€Å"Like a word jumble from a newspaper?† Langdon could see the skepticism on Sophie’s face and certainly understood. Few people realized that anagrams, despite being a trite modern amusement, had a rich history of sacred symbolism. The mystical teachings of the Kabbala drew heavily on anagrams – rearranging the letters of Hebrew words to derive new meanings. French kings throughout the Renaissance were so convinced that anagrams held magic power that they appointed royal anagrammatists to help them make better decisions by analyzing words in important documents. The Romans actually referred to the study of anagrams as ars magna – â€Å"the great art.† Langdon looked up at Sophie, locking eyes with her now. â€Å"Your grandfather’s meaning was right in front of us all along, and he left us more than enough clues to see it.† Without another word, Langdon pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and rearranged the letters in each line. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! was a perfect anagram of†¦ Leonardo Da Vinci! The Mona Lisa! How to cite The Da Vinci Code Chapter 18-20, Essay examples