Security Technology Evaluation of Bank Solutions

Introduction Maintenance of data security in banks is vital. Agency’s Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Plan is needed to proceed with this process. This plan allows some parts of the business to continue operating without interruptions to the customers. CSIA 485 case study presents the failure in ensuring data safety with regard to handling of storage tapes.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Security Technology Evaluation of Bank Solutions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The system in use limits on accountability and credibility of data security. The plan which is used in CSIA 485 involves the development of information security policy, standard backup procedures, network design, information detection systems and various encryption methods. In the case of CSIA 485, there was a failure in system update. Such an incident was caused by some technical issues, which shows that the participants of the crit ical plan did not have adequate training on the means of using DRBCPs (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2009). The IT problem the company faces is rooted in the sever inefficiency that can be mitigated through efficient upgrading of the bank data systems. Capabilities Servers have different designs that function to provide for networking, cooling, management, interconnection and dynamism in data management and control. Servers help in consolidation of data and software for effective management, security and sharing within the bank. This allows for moving of data, files, software and digital assets from laptops, desktops and mobile devices for central management and storage for the reduction of risks and costs. The shift is a vulnerable process since the bank intends to maintain process continuity as it upgrades the systems without disrupting services to customers. Through adequate training on the use of the DRBC systems, users learn the best ways of confidential shari ng of information within the bank. The technology shows security aspects relevant to the needs of Bank Solutions, Inc, which will allow for the development of standards of information security policy, backup procedures, network designs, information detection systems, and various encryption methods among others. The system assures reliability through central monitoring and ensures efficiency in system updating (Kim Solomon, 2011). The disadvantage of this system is that upgrading can make some of the bank employees in the decentralized data centers lose their jobs. Such a situation can lead to resistance from the staff members. Centralization reduces the responsibilities of staffs due to data centers. However, overworking server maintainers can cause delays in acquisition of authorization for access in critical times.Advertising Looking for report on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Cost The costs associated with the setup of a secure server infrastructure involve acquisition, setting up and ongoing costs. Acquisition costs involve the acquiring of software and hardware necessary for the setting up of the system. This includes variable costs of EDA and CAM/ CAD tools dependent on the number of engineers employed to work on the process. Setup costs involve professional services for constricting the storage server, application server as well as other applications. These costs involve the training of branch administrators on handling with daily operations for basic level support. Ongoing costs are classified in two divisions, labor costs and maintenance costs. Maintenance costs are fixed and used only on demand, while there is variability of labor costs. Each server in the company requires regular daily administration within the year for about 4 hours, and the labor involved costs about $50 per hour. Decentralization strategy for the servers will cost the bank $1.6 million – 52.5%, as a one-time h ardware, software and setup cost. Ongoing maintenance and support cost take 33% on a spending within 3 years. This can increase to 46% of overall operating costs within five years. To avoid the failure in systems’ updating, Bank Solutions can use a centralized approach to setup its server operations. Such a measure is helpful of reduction of setup and administration costs. Instead of spending on pocket servers for the use of few users, the IT managers can take advantage of economies of scale through the creation of few servers, storage servers and powerful applications. The cost of acquisition in the centralized system is $544,000 with setup being $33, 000 and ongoing expenses of $334,200. However, through the utilization of the power of performance efficiency of decentralized systems and the possibility of elimination of distance through virtual connectivity of users, the centralized solution is the best choice for the data security. It will help in reducing of acquisition c osts, setup and ongoing costs for short and long-term operations. Maintenance The maintenance of this technology is an issue, which requires comprehensive dissection to prevent any instances of abrupt failure (Slezak, 2009). For instance, the section of maintenance calls for periodical upgrading of software, computers, payments of employees responsible for taking care of the technology, replacement of hardware and other security equipment. The maintenance of the servers will facilitate security services to avoid detrimental complications of server issues. Users must be responsible for protection of sensitive data through secure management of passwords.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Security Technology Evaluation of Bank Solutions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The database administrator takes care of administration of databases, assigning local user roles and granting system privileges. It also requires the maintenance of underlying security in data transmission in various operating systems. Trusted application administrators help in creation and administration of accesses and user privileges as well as maintenance of security in the centralized enterprise. Avoidance of server issues requires ongoing checkups and proper management to ensure smooth running of the technical infrastructure. A barrier to success in the centralization of the server system can result from employees who feel that they may lose their jobs. It is also apparent that centralization increases responsibility of fewer IT specialists and calls for advanced trainings to handle the new systems. Requirements The security system must be FDIC compliant for the bank to develop a storage area network in the head office of the bank. The second one can be developed in one of the data centers with a reduction of server requirements to a single rack and elimination of patched storage of data storage tapes. The main server is c apable of rescuing information in the alternate data center within 5 minutes allowing customers and employees to continue accessing their accounts without noticing the failure interruptions. The achievement of this comes with its financial implications; such training requires huge financial commitment (Camara et al., 2011). Lack of required skills can delay effectiveness in convergence that can hamper the daily operations of the bank. Any slight hitch in shifting from decentralized to centralized servers, unless professionally executed, can hinder normal bank operations and lead to customer dissatisfaction. Such vulnerability requires thorough evaluation and timing of the transformation processes. Flexibility The setup has ample proximity advantage since it enhances the performance of Windows’ applications in the bank. Since users and applications are at the same location, high performance may be guaranteed. Centralization of the server system is flexible and not bound to spe cifications. It will allow the bank to make extensions on its systems and alter its layouts without resource wastages. It helps in consolidation and reduction of crowding of server racks in the data centers ultimately reducing the maintenance costs. Centralization allows for integration of operations and monitoring of the systems for the ease of cross sectional analysis necessary for upgrading the Bank Solutions information gained from all the departments regarding the customers, costs and employees’ data to ensure the effectiveness of updating.Advertising Looking for report on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such an approach ensures the improvement of service quality. The system helps in enhancing performance through coordination of security, customer support and cost control. In CSIA 485 case, the failure happened due to obsolete servers which they were no longer necessary in the centralized system. This challenges the viability of the costing of upgrading resources since they are irrelevant to the new system. Feasibility Centralization of Bank Solutions, Inc seeks to address the issues in the server security system. The management should address such issues as updates of software, perform regular tests of item process facility, provide secure channels, partition employees according to levels of data access, and improve system efficiency as required by the bank. It will reduce the present data tape storage in unsecure means within data centers, external storage facilities backyards and at Bank Solutions Data Center East, which can lead to data being compromised. However, as the case of CSIA 485 shows, the disadvantage rests on IT professionals, who are in charge of the data centers, since their services become unnecessary in the centralized system, and it might lead to firing most of them, which can result in resistance hampering smooth operations in the bank. Conclusion The case of CSIA 485 requires that Bank Solutions, Inc centralize its servers to effect efficient management of the data systems. Through the adoption of efficient standards, the bank data remains secure and available to only those who receive authorization. Centralization will eliminate duplication of IT infrastructure in the offices and reduce on unnecessary IT expenses leading to high efficiency of utilization of resources and elimination of potential data insecurities. The company must be ready to incur the costs involved and take advantage of the flexibility that the system will provide. Through effective maintenance and availability of the necessary requirements, the company will be in a po sition of assuring customer satisfaction always. References Camara, S., Crossler, R., Midha, V. Wallace, L. (2011). Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: A Case Study for CSIA 485. Journal of Information Systems Education. 22 (2), 117-122. Kim, D., Solomon, M. (2011). Fundamentals of information systems security. Sudbury, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning. National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2009). Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organization. NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 3. Retrieved from https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-3/archive/2010-05-01 This report on Security Technology Evaluation of Bank Solutions was written and submitted by user Eliseo L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Cyber Security

Cyber Security and E-Commerce Many businesses in today’s financially competitive corporate world rely heavily on e-commerce to survive with their markets. Companies such as Ebay, AOL, Amazon, and Yahoo, are e-commerce-based on rely solely it solely for their revenues. With this in mind, this issue of cyber-security is tied directly in link with the business that sell using e-commerce and the customers who buy their products; as is the threat of cyber terrorism, which has the ability to disrupt e-commerce servers, steal consumer information, and essentially cause economic chaos throughout the e-commerce world. Many serious issues exist within this link, most of which deal with the safety of making purchases over the Internet. Many e-commerce customers have major concerns with the fact that their billing information my be intercepted while in transit over the Internet. Many questions have been raised as to whether or not personal information is encrypted, and moreover, whether the encryption stays encrypted. In relation to this, In a February 10, 2003 article from Indian Express Newspaper reports, â€Å"A recent survey has shown that of the total online assessors, only 43 per cent are online buyers, the rest are concerned about security and privacy of their personal information, especially their credit card number. Does this mean that those who are transacting, on the Internet are ignorant about the risk? Banks offer electronic funds transfer service; do they offer an assurance that customer's account will not be debited without his consent? How can we have an assurance that the cybershop-keeper and its staff will not misuse our credit card number?†[2] In answering these questions, in an article from the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Edna Sarty reports, â€Å"Despite industry growth, consumer concern over Internet security is very strong, limiting the potential of e-commerce. Internet security problems have a neg... Free Essays on Cyber Security Free Essays on Cyber Security Cyber Security and E-Commerce Many businesses in today’s financially competitive corporate world rely heavily on e-commerce to survive with their markets. Companies such as Ebay, AOL, Amazon, and Yahoo, are e-commerce-based on rely solely it solely for their revenues. With this in mind, this issue of cyber-security is tied directly in link with the business that sell using e-commerce and the customers who buy their products; as is the threat of cyber terrorism, which has the ability to disrupt e-commerce servers, steal consumer information, and essentially cause economic chaos throughout the e-commerce world. Many serious issues exist within this link, most of which deal with the safety of making purchases over the Internet. Many e-commerce customers have major concerns with the fact that their billing information my be intercepted while in transit over the Internet. Many questions have been raised as to whether or not personal information is encrypted, and moreover, whether the encryption stays encrypted. In relation to this, In a February 10, 2003 article from Indian Express Newspaper reports, â€Å"A recent survey has shown that of the total online assessors, only 43 per cent are online buyers, the rest are concerned about security and privacy of their personal information, especially their credit card number. Does this mean that those who are transacting, on the Internet are ignorant about the risk? Banks offer electronic funds transfer service; do they offer an assurance that customer's account will not be debited without his consent? How can we have an assurance that the cybershop-keeper and its staff will not misuse our credit card number?†[2] In answering these questions, in an article from the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Edna Sarty reports, â€Å"Despite industry growth, consumer concern over Internet security is very strong, limiting the potential of e-commerce. Internet security problems have a neg...

The New Deal and Opportunities in the World Wars Assignment

The New Deal and Opportunities in the World Wars - Assignment Example As the paper outlines, the New Deal’s biggest achievement was restoring faith in American democracy in a time when there was very little if any, faith when people thought that they could only turn to communism or fascism. The greatest failure of the New Deal was its inability to bring full recovery to the economy. The New Deal set out to finish the work of progressivism but succeeded in more than it had been planned to. It would not be considered an actual revival, but something even greater than what it had been before.  Many accomplishments brought on by the New Deal owed much to the Progressive movement. Even so, progressivism also brought along many major events and changes by itself, without the need of the New Deal. The New Deal merely finished the work of progressivism and made a few changes of its own, such as the unfair civil welfare practices that the progressive era brought being noticed and eliminated. Without progressivism, the New Deal would have never come int o existence. While separate, they are each a branch of the other.  The changes that took place during the progressive era and the New Deal, when compared to the events and changes that took place in the 1920s, only set up a foundation for what was to take place during the 1920s. Historians refer to progressivism as an influential social movement that started in the later 1800s and came to an end with the United States entering into the first World War. Progressivism succeeded in many things; some of these things concerned state and national income tax, minimum wage laws, increased business regulation, and the creation of the Federal Reserve System. One of the biggest successions of progressivism was the passing of antitrust laws, broke up numerous trusts and set things in the right direction for future prosperity. This was passed because huge businesses were heightening up their prices and monopolizing the economy. With these laws passed, the economy was able to be at a more avera ge and solid rate.

Tracing the Emergence of the Symphony from Sammartini and Stamitz Essay

Tracing the Emergence of the Symphony from Sammartini and Stamitz through the Works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven - Essay Example A symphony is a method of music that scales large and in its performance at orchestra. Symphony is comparable to concept of the novel in literature. Symphony emerged from the baroque period as sinfonia. In the baroque period, sinfonia referred to brief instrumental pieces that preceded larger works. In certain contexts, it would achieve full identity as an independent piece. A prominent example concerns concert grosso. However, trio sonata, concerto and sinfonia were treated as synonyms. The Italian sinfonia had the structure of fast-slow-fast while the French overture had the structure of slow-fast-slow. These overtures entailed small orchestra, short duration and easy compositions. In the eighteenth century, symphony emerged as a form that entailed performance by several instruments and independent identity. This was dominant, especially, in Italy whereby there were artists such as Giovanni Sammartini. Other early composers of the same include artists such as Johann Stamitz and Bac h. Symphony grew in prominence since the baroque period initiated a revolution whereby the popularity of secular music surged beyond gospel music. The concept of the Orchestra, as a musical form, expanded to constitute an average of twenty players. The pieces involved use of different musical families such as woodwinds, keyboard instruments and strings. Orchestral performance became a public rather than the royalties’ affair. The second half of the eighteenth century had Joseph Haydn compose 104 symphonies. They entailed experiments with forms such as six pieces. Mozart had 41 symphonies. It is vital to note that he had his first composition at eight years of age. Haydn provided the transition from the pre-classical age into mature classic symphony. His first fourteen compositions had the elements of the pre-classical period. Mozart and Haydn achieved a significant celebration as the classical symphony’s composers (Wright 162). Haydn and Mozart initiated the definition of current symphony. In the age of reason, classical symphony possessed a balance, intricate design and distinct symmetry. Examples of the same include rondo, minuet, sonata form and trio (Wright 165). The structure of the same was typical of four movements. They occurred in the pattern of fast, slow, moderately fast, and quite fast. The performance did not require the role of a conductor. The choirmaster, who would be the first violinist, performed the role of guiding the performance. The performances of Haydn and Mozart were usually short pieces that would take an average of thirty minutes. Ludwig van Beethoven played an essential role of expanding the concept of symphony (Wright 209). This expansion occurred in terms of density of sound, tempo, rhythm and dynamics. In addition, he initiated the use of additional instruments such as the piccolo, trombone and the contrabassoon (Wright 210). Describe the individual musical styles of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Support your charac terizations with musical examples. It is essential to note that Haydn and Mozart belonged to a slightly earlier age of music growth. Beethoven later sprung as a fundamental artist of the eighteenth century. However, they all belong to the classical period of music growth. To begin with, the article explores the works of Joseph Haydn. Haydn, just as Mozart, sprung from the baroque age of music. He is part of the group that established a

Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees Essay Example for Free

Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees Essay In Sue Monk Kidd’s novel The Secret Life of Bees there is a psychological allegory present, which is proven by the characters in the story. The psychological allegory is based on the theory by Sigmund Freud, this theory states that in the human brain there is three major psychological portions, the id, the ego, and the super ego. The id is the portion that induces selfishness and hatred and other â€Å"bad† actions, the super ego is the opposite of the id, putting others before ones self and caring for others, the ego is the perfect balance between the two and is almost always the psyche portrayed be the protagonist. In this novel it is T. Ray who illustrates the id, through his bad treatment of Lily, his lack of commitment to Rosaleen, and his selfishness when Lily is gone. May Boatwright is the character who illustrates the super ego by her innocence, her caring and by her need for perfection. The ego is portrayed be Lily, through her good decision making, her panning abilities, and by the way she stands up to her father. All of these characters are uniquely important to proving the psychological allegory that can be found in this novel. In this story it is the character T. Ray who fills the role of the id in the psychological allegory, T. Ray fills this role by the way he treats Lily, the way he doesn’t care about his worker; Rosaleen, and by the way he only thinks of himself during lily’s absence. T. Ray’s only family left to him is his daughter Lily, yet he still treats her poorly. T. Ray finds Lily outside in the dark and without any proof of misbehaviour he punishes her rather severely â€Å"He poured a mound of grits the size of an anthill onto the pine floor â€Å"Get over here and kneel down† (p24) T. Ray seems to almost enjoy punishing Lily, perhaps because he still blames her for his wife’s death. This is a trait which fits the id portion of the psyche. T. Ray does not seem to care about the only other adult in the house he lives in; Rosaleen. Rosaleen is the closest thing he has to a friend and T. Ray couldn’t care less for her. Lily is trying to convince T. Ray to let Rosaleen out of jail, and T. Ray refuses â€Å" What I ,mean is, I wouldn’t be surprised if he flat out killed her â€Å" (p30) T. Ray know Rosaleen might die but he still wont try to help her because it would mean standing up to the people of his  community. He is only thinking of himself, which is a quality of the id. T. Ray also only thinks of himself when Lily leaves him, instead of considering the fact that she might be happier without him. T. Ray has found Lily at the Boatwright house and is insisting she come back â€Å"I spent half my summer looking for you, and I’m taking you out of here† (290) T. Ray spent half his summer looking for Lily because he was happier with her, instead of thinking of Lily and considering the fact that she might be happier with out him. In this he was only thinking of himself and was demonstrating the id. Through all of these excerpts it can de determined that the character of T. Ray demonstrates the id in the psychological allegory, through his bad treatment of Lily, his lack of caring with Rosaleen, and the way he only thinks of himself. In this novel the character of May Boatwright portrays the super ego, by her unbiased caring, by her innocence, and by her need for perfection. May cares for every one no matter what race or gender, and created a wall to pray for the people of the world. May has just heard that Zach is in jail and is upset â€Å"I’m going to the wall† (p187) May knows Zach is in trouble so she immediately starts praying for him, this shows a great amount of caring which is a super ego quality. May is also extremely innocent when it comes to the people around her. May becomes very upset when she sees a Negro man dead with a widow and her family â€Å"that’s all right, May. Let all misery slide right off you† (p89) May is demonstrating the super ego be the way she is putting other people before herself and is feeling their misery. May has a need for perfection which is in keeping with her super ego character. May is making pancakes for every one and shows Lily’s to her â€Å"This ones yours† â€Å"L for Lily† (p103) May is not going to be happy with just a plain pancake, she is making a perfect L for Lily. This is a quality of the super ego. Each of these quotes shows the ways the character May Boatwright acts as the super ego in this story, through her caring, her innocence, and her need for perfection May fits this potion of the psychological allegory. The last character who completes the psychological allegory is Lily herself who portrays the ego. She does this through her calm decision making, her panning ahead, and the way she stand up to her father. The character Lily  has good calm decisions making. Lily is at home after Rosaleen’s encounter with the men â€Å"In a matter of seconds I knew what I had to do-leave. I had to get away from T. Ray who would be back soon† (p41) Lily does not panic, she does not give up, she simply makes the best decision available to her, which is an ego trait. Lily also has good planning skills; she thinks ahead and does not get stuck in the present. Lily and Rosaleen have just reached the outskirts of Tiburon â€Å"If we can find some place open when we get into town ill go get us some food† â€Å"if they don’t have a hotel we’ll have to rent a room† (p60) Lily is portraying the ego by the way she is planning for the future to insure she and Rosaleen will have food and shelter. In the end of the novel Lily displace the Ego by the way she stands up to her father. T. Ray has come to The Boatwright house to find Lily and bring her home â€Å"I’m Staying here† â€Å"I’m not leaving† (p296) Lily is standing up for what she wants and is taking control of her own life, and is portraying the ego. By her decision making, planning and standing up for herself, it can be determined that Lily is the ego of this novel. Each of these characters has uniquely contributed to the psychological allegory that is present in this novel. T. Ray representing the id by his bad treatment of lily, his lack of caring for Rosaleen, and his selfish ways. May demonstrates the super ego by her caring, innocence, and perfection. And Lily portraying the ego, by her planning, decision making, and the way she stands up for herself. Through all of this proof it can be determined that there is a psychological allegory present in this novel.

The accident Essay -- essays research papers

The Accident Every once and awhile I'll look back on my life and I'll laugh. Particularly at the times I spent with my best friend Nate and all the mischief we caused. I look back now and I think what the HELL were we doing? How did we not die? Have you ever sat down and had a conversation with a male teen between the ages of 14-17? I should've been locked away for that period of my life, I swear I was temporarily insane. I had NO concept of "consequences" or "repercussions". I did whatever, whenever. Unfortunately this little package of immaturity also came with other misleading thoughts such as a sense of invincibility, a total disregard for any authority, and taking pretty much EVERYTHING in my life for granted. What's also unfortunate, is that I had to learn all of these life lessons the hard way, and in one horrible night when I was just sixteen and a half years old. As I said, Nate and I are best friends, a little out of touch now, but best friends nonetheless. I guess it was the fact that we were both rebelling against the environment we were slowly growing up in that it made us so much alike. In a town where white-pride isn't just common, more like a way of life, we were just a couple of 12 year old kids looking for an escape. What's strange about growing up in a small town is that it encourages a sense of self-value, independence, and creativity which can be lost in large towns or cities. I mean, if you're not doing something creative in our town, what the hell else would you be doing? So, Nate and I developed a VERY similar sense of humor. A dry sense of humor that I assume no one else really appreciated because we didn't have all that many other friends. We entered middle school with hopes of new experiences and meeting new interesting people. This was when I met Jeff, my other life-long-hetero friend. Jeff and I played hockey together when we were eight. He quit, and I hadn't seen him since. Once I introduced him to Nate, we all became very close friends. Finally the day came that every 16 year old dreams about. Jeff and I got our licenses. We were both a little older than most people in our graduating class, so we were a couple of the lucky kids. And on top of that, we both had very nice cars. Mine a ... ... at Nate, he was clutching his chest from a deep cut he got from the seat belt, I was almost too ashamed to look directly at him, his face covered in blood. He looked at me and said â€Å"I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have egged you on, I’m sorry†. Before I could respond Jeff interjected, â€Å"Nah, I shouldn’t have taken you guys down here, this was a stupid idea, I’m an idiot. I‘m just so glad you guys aren‘t dead.† I couldn’t believe this, I screwed up, almost killing one of my best friends and here they were trying to make excuses for MY mistake. The car was totaled, we drove through a fence, hit a tree and then a mound of dirt which was what tossed the car on its side. The backseat had collapsed, everything in the trunk was now in the front of the car. Most of it hitting Nate on the way there. We stood there. Quiet. In shock from all the life lessons we had just learned in about 5 seconds. You could almost feel the childhood slip away. It was then that I realized how lucky I was to have such great friends, and how precious life really is, and how it can be altered, permanently, so quickly. I’ll think about this night every once in awhile. It reminds me how happy I should be to still be alive.

Explore and compare the characters, achievements and deaths of Lennie Small Essay

In this essay I will explore and compare the characters, achievements and deaths of Lennie Small, from John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ and Bill Sikes from, Charles Dickens ‘Oliver Twist’. I have read both novels and enjoyed them immensely because of the wonderful characters, language and techniques used by the authors especially when describing the worlds they conjured within their novels. These two books also express perfectly the pioneering views of Dickens and Stienbeck; they both used their writings in an attempt to make their socialist views subtly heard by the masses. In the eras of Dickens and also Steinbeck, problems such as, racism, sexism, poverty and the class divide were simply accepted by society. These two authors saw the problems of their social structures, the discriminative attitudes of the people and wanted to make the public aware, being greatly frowned upon by some. Dickens and Steinbeck were soldiers of the same struggle and that is where the similarities between ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Oliver Twist’ begin. Most of the characters in both novels represent the poverty that plagued both countries at the time the books were set, especially George and Lennie in ‘Of Mice and Men’; the epitome of poverty in the USA. Their lives are an endless trek around California constantly looking for work, scratching a buck or two a day from the back breaking work they do on the ranches. The poverty Oliver lives in (and that Dickens also experienced as a youth) is just the same, with a different back drop, which is why these novels relate so well to each other. Where these two stories really raise a lot of similarities, but at the same time a lot of paradoxes, are definitely the murder scenes and the deaths of the killers themselves. The characters and situations appear to be very alike, but once you read deeper you can see the differences that sneak through. Lennie Small is a very big, powerful, strong man; Steinbeck describes him as a bull. Sikes is also a large burley fellow, but where Sikes is pure evil, Lennie is childish, innocent and inhibited, a man who entirely relies on someone else to guide him, like a dog and master; their personalities are almost an antithesis. They are like this to bring out certain emotions in the reader to make us feel, hatred towards Sikes (and ultimately satisfaction when he dies), but sympathy, love and empathetic humour for Lennie. Their victims, on the other hand, are almost identical; Nancy is a prostitute and, in a way, so is Curley’s wife; she gives her body to Curley in exchange for marriage and money. We have to feel sorry for Curley’s wife when she when she confesses her sins to Lennie in the barn and the unfortunate way she has been mistreated and abused in the past. The sad thing is she is so naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve that she doesn’t realise. She confesses that she doesn’t love or even like Curley: â€Å"I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is exactly what she says to Lennie, something she has never told anyone. Nancy also repents before she dies and pleas with Bill to do so too: â€Å"†¦ let us both leave this dreadful place, and far apart lead better lives†¦ It is never too late to repent.† She even breathes a short prayer of mercy before she dies. In actual fact the whole reason Sikes kills Nancy is because she has been trying to do the lawful, honest thing and try to work her way out of this life of crime and sin she has lived in for so many years. We feel a lot more sympathy for Nancy when she dies because of this and for other reasons. To start with she is killed by a man contained with pure malice, hatred and evil, who is supposed to be her lover. Contrastingly Curley’s wife’s death is a complete accident or if anything, her fault. Also Dickens writes Nancy’s murder scene so graphically and violently it is almost impossible not to feel sorry for this woman: â€Å"†¦ Beat it twice upon her upturned face.† She must have died in agony and terror when Sikes killed her in cold, merciless blood. Nancy had to wait for her death in absolute terror for a minute or so, knowing she would be violently murdered, which must have seemed like an age, she even gets down on her knees and begs for mercy before she is savagely and callously slain. On the other hand Curley’s wife dies quickly and painlessly. There is a simple reason why this is. Dickens wants us to feel nothing, but pure, unadulterated hatred for Sikes when he kills Nancy, so when Sikes finally dies we feel justice is done. This is slightly because of Dickens’ audience, the Victorian public, being so religious and believing themselves to be so good hearted, would have demanded the death of Sikes and enjoyed the novel more without Sikes shadow hanging over the proceedings. Dickens being the man he was gives the people what they want. I prefer the way Steinbeck handles his murder scene purely because I think it is extremely clever. Steinbeck’s’ characterisation of these two characters has been leading up to this moment and it comes together perfectly. He intends us to feel sorry for Curley’s wife, but no hatred of any kind towards Lennie. Even though we have just heard of all the false promises she has been made in her life along with her failed ambitions, her belief they could still come true, all the times she has been sexually abused and the fact that she is still oblivious to all of this, we still can strongly empathise with Lennie. He is as innocent as the day he was born, a child trapped in a mans body. Lennie doesn’t have a scratch of malice in him and we could never feel anger toward a character we have come to love. After reading this scene I actually found myself almost as sorry and sympathetic towards Lennie as Curley’s wife, but not only Lennie, Candy and George too because I knew that any hopes of their long awaited dream had now been shattered. Finally in the two murder scenes to makes us feel complete hatred for Sikes and sympathy for Lennie the two authors both use similar metaphors to give the final impression that the two confessed and repented women are forgiven. With Nancy she is released from this world in the form of one of her hairs being cremated above the glowing embers and symbolically having her soul rise to Heaven. The scene after Curley’s wife is killed is heavenly enough, with the soft light of the mid-afternoon sun penetrating between the planks of the barn and the golden straw almost ceremoniously spread across the fallen maidens body, utter peace. A single dove, the messenger of God, flies in through the open barn door circles, almost giving the site its blessing, and exits with Curley’s wife’s soul on a journey to the heavens. Now I will move on to Lennie and Sikes’ deaths. In contrast to Nancy, when Sikes dies he falls straight to hell. His death is showered in chaos and fear twice that of what Nancy felt. It is a chase through the lowest and darkest place of London. A mad crowd of angry people screaming for Sikes’ blood, holding torches aloft like a crazed lynch mob. This ‘hue and cry’ of gentlemen, policemen, thieves and citizens of all kind all share a hatred and loathing of Sikes and what he has done. The way Dickens describes this scene is superb. When reading I could hear the shouts and screams of the crowd, feel the heat of the torches and feel Sikes’ fright: â€Å"†¦ a waving crowd in the outer darkness like a field of corn moved by an angry storm!† is probably one of the best pieces of description he uses and it really does make you feel the sense of chaos and vengeance that spurs on this ‘hue and cry. The satisfaction that it gives the reader when Sikes accidentally kills himself is enormous. In his efforts to escape he ties a rope around his waist and falls 40 feet as it moves to his neck and hangs him. Sikes dies in more agony than anyone else in either novel; not from pain, but fear. In the time he falls, his body experiences sensory overload; a panic and fear so great it is enough to kill a man on its own. He falls towards the crowd of flames and symbolically hell, the complete antithesis of the deaths of Nancy and Curley’s wife. Hanging would also have greatly contented the puritan population of Victorian England as hanging was the accepted capital punishment of the period, perfect for Sikes. To eradicate completely any emotion for Sikes his loyal dog also jumps for his master, smashing its head on the ground below. Any empathy we may have is transferred to Bullseye. This is probably the most dramatic of the entire novel. If one scene in ‘Of Mice and Men’ could match the pure drama and tension of Sikes’ death it would have to be the final chapter – Lennies death. The build up of tension in the scene is literal genius. When George produced Carlson’s’ Lugar I was on the edge of my seat right up until the end of the novel. Sikes’ death had to be quick to give a real sense for the excitement of the chase. Lennies death had to be draw out and milked for all it is worth, not solely for tension, but to give a character we have become so familiar with and very fond of, a memorable and proper send off. Thanks to George’s skill with words and his love for him, Lennie could not be more content when he dies. The last thing I wanted was for Lennie to die, but it is inevitable. I found myself sating ‘don’t do it George,’ but it is much better that he dies like this than face the men from the ranch. He must die; he cannot go on being tortured by what he has done. Lennie’s death shares some similarities to Curley’s wife’s; they both die quickly and painlessly and like Curley’s wife his soul is take to heaven. The gunshot rolling up the heavenly hills of Salinas makes you feel that Lennie has been released. To summarise, these to classic novels have many things in common, but also sharply contrast each other. It’s this that makes comparing the two so fascinating, as you new things they share and interesting differences every time you read them. It seems strange, but pleasing that two such comparable novels could come from different centuries, different, different countries, but share the same messages and morals.