Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Internal State of the Character Hamlet Essay - 1869 Words

The Internal State of Hamlet Abstract: This essay uses psychoanalytic, new historicism, and deconstructive methods of criticism to expore the scene in which Hamlet stands before Claudius and Gertrude after he has killed Polonius. The oblective is to provide a better understanding of how Shakespeare uses the events in the play as a means of shaping or changing Hamlets actions or emotions Hamlet is a character with emotions that are so complex and intriguing that we, as readers or viewers, are drawn into this story until Hamlets situations, actions, and feelings become things we can understand, and relate to, as if his emotions were as human as our own. This genuineness Hamlet holds creates for this play an audience who†¦show more content†¦Hamlet later says he has left Poloniuss body in the hall and he is placid as he says these things and through this riddle-like speech we see Hamlet as a character whose actions are open to different interpretations. To see this scene through a psychoanalytic lens is to first examine Hamlets mental state and to see the actions of Hamlet in this scene as different from those we have viewed earlier in the play. Up until this general point in the play we have seen a Hamlet who is struggling to remain rational. Prince Hamlet seeks to be sure that Claudius is in fact guilty, he expresses his thoughts and anger to his mother in her bedroom, and he internally fights to do what is right. The knowledge of Claudiuss guilt and the murder of Polonius has cast a solemn shadow over Hamlet by this time in the play, though. The Hamlet in this scene is one who has reached a proverbial breaking point and he is now a man who has wrongly killed someone and a man who knows he must kill again. Psychoanalytically Hamlets internal stress could be causing a breakdown of his superego. Ross C. Murfin describes the superego as something outside the self, making moral judgments, telling us to make sacrifices for the good causes... (242). Hamlet does not seem to be acting under the influences of his superego. The part of his brain that once urged him to operate morally, to express his anger or feelings, and to act within theShow MoreRelatedCharacters Influenced by Traumatic Internal Events: Hamlet, and Death of a Salesman1018 Words   |  5 Pageshuman actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.† Demonstrating a link between internal thoughts and external action, characters in both William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman harness Aristotle’s philosophical ideology. In both plays, a main character becomes so overwhelmed by mental or psychological events t hat their actions become reflective of them. Although set in different time periods and involvingRead MoreInternal And External Conflicts In Hamlet959 Words   |  4 Pagesthe play. Hamlet faces both internal and external conflicts from the beginning of the play. In the play, the inner and outer conflicts of Hamlet seem to arise from the death of his father, King Hamlet, by his uncle, now King Claudius. Since Hamlets’ life pervades with conflicts as the confusion he faces essentially becomes the main focus of the play. However, Hamlet contains a diverse set of conflicts, of which Hamlet’s inner conflicts are as prominent as his conflicts with other characters. As HamletRead More Denmark s A Prison : Sovereignty, Surveillance And Oppression1211 Words   |  5 PagesPresley Balholm English 155 Response Paper #1 â€Å"Denmark’s a prison†: Sovereignty, Surveillance and Oppression in Hamlet In Act II, Scene II, Hamlet characterizes his oppression by the state by comparing it to one of the clearest manifestations of the government’s control over the subject’s body: a prison, â€Å"A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ th’ worst† (Act II, Scene II). This statement succinctly describes the claustrophobicRead MoreAnalysis Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare And A Fine Balance1210 Words   |  5 Pagesshape us into people we are today. In the novels, Hamlet by William Shakespeare and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry the characters are presented with difficulties due to the effects of the emergency. The aftermath of being in a state of emergency results in the countries of Denmark and India experiencing corrupt government, death and violence, forcing the characters to find the purpose for their lives. After living in a state of emergency, Hamlet and Dina use the effects of corrupt government toRead MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare1725 Words   |  7 Pagesuses the supernatural in a very logical way, providing a glimpse into his characters unique dispositions through the use of witches, ghosts, or magic to represent their internal thoughts and struggles. Each play deals with corruption and morality as a main themes, which are enhanced by the otherworldly elements within their respective stories. Macbeth focuses on the corruption of unchecked ambition and greed for power, Hamlet considers the corruption of power and the repercussions of action in theRead MoreSoliloquies in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Essay1042 Words   |  5 PagesA soliloquy is a literacy device that is used to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character. Shakespeare uses soliloquies to expose fascinating insights into the thoughts and actions of Hamlet and in doing so: the readers can grasp his character . The first soliloquy of the play, introduces the main theme for the rest of hamlet’s thoughts and actions, this soliloquy allows the audience to understand hamlets inner thoughts that are repetitive throughout the play. Secondly, Hamlet’s famous soliloquyRead MoreMental Conflict In Hamlet741 Words   |  3 Pagesfighting. However, in his play, Hamlet, he focuses more on mental conflict and thought, which he gives excitement by mimicking and creating parallels between(and switching between†¦?) different aspects of external actions. As the play begins, Shakespeare creates multiple conflicts wrapped together, which are internally contemplated, but externally connected. Hamlet’s most painful conflict is presented as he discovers that his Uncle Claudius has committed regicide, killing Hamlet Senior. Suddenly, Hamlet’sRead MoreShakespeare s Hamlet - External And Internal Conflict1738 Words   |  7 Pages In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Hamlet must deal with both external and internal conflict. Hamlet encounters many struggles and does not know how to cope with all of them. By having so many corrupt people in his life, he feels isolated from everyone because he does not know who to trust anymore. A result from this isolation leads Hamlet into depression and forces more issues to occur. Both inward and outward conflicts are displayed in the play when, Hamlet struggles withRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare1483 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’ s The Tragedy of Hamlet is a misfortunate play that exhibits Prince Hamlet’s internal and external conflicts which show the ultimate purpose of the story. Revenge is perhaps the greatest theme in Hamlet, and is shown by the conflicts Prince Hamlet has with his family, friends, and a girlfriend as well as within his self. The anguish Hamlet feels towards his new father and his mother is magnified by the discovery that they were both involved in his father, the king’s, murder. ThisRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s King Lear, Hamlet, Othello And Macbeth1206 Words   |  5 Pagestragedy texts by Shakespeare, I have noticed he uses the fall of the main character as the primary focus in his tragedies as this creates good suspense and climax as an added attraction for the audience. A Shakespearean tragedy, is a five-act play and they usually revolve around a similar idea of conflict. This is the Internal and external Conflict within the character. The four plays I have chos en to analyse are; King Lear, Hamlet, Othello and Macbeth. I chose these plays specifically because they all

Monday, December 23, 2019

My Career Path How My Goals Fit Into A National And...

The future, by definition, is said to be something that will exist or happen in time to come -a realm of unknown space, continuously anticipating our arrival with each passing second. Looking ahead at what the future may uphold by means of conducting strenuous research on future career and lifestyle goals, allows reality to sink in. In order to understand the impact of my economic decisions, I began by creating a plan for my chosen career path, how my career goals fit into a national and global economic landscape, and steps I would take it career setbacks were presented. Through intensive research and planning a successful future career path, I have been able to understand how the economic decisions I have made have an impact on my personal future along with how the actions of a single individual are consequential to the entire American economy. Ever since a young age, along from exposure to struggles faced by family members trying to establish economic stability and cultural influences in which I have been brought up, I have had only one aspiration- to achieve the goal of becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. In order to make this aspiration a reality, I had always dreamt of attending a well-accredited university, somewhere busy, a place that would excite me, where I would be able to experience city life and meet new people- somewhere where I would be inspired by my surroundings and be able to reflect that in achieving my aspiration. From this, I realized that theShow MoreRelatedMotivation Letter Sample6058 Words   |  25 Pagescurrently in my first year at (XYZ) College, would like to apply for a 6 month internship for a post in the marketing department of your reputed company. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Marketing and at our college, we understand the importance of gaining practical knowledge which will complement the textbook knowledge and help a student gain a wider perspective of the subjects. During this course I have found that I am decently skilled in the art of persuasion, as my teachers and my former employerRead MoreThe Impact of Agricultural Sector on Economic Growth in Nigeria18675 Words   |  75 PagesAgricultural Economics of Nigeria: Paradoxes and Crossroads of Multimodal Nature Professor Eric C. Eboh Professor of Agricultural Economics University of Nigeria CONTENTS 1.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 2 2.0 CONCEPTUAL APPROACH OF THIS INAUGURAL LECTURE 6 REFLECTIONS ON THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY 8 3.0 4.0 5.0 AGRICULTURE FROM THE LOOKING GLASS OF MAN’S ECONOMIC HISTORY 16 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY FROM PARADIGMATIC VIEWPOINTS ABOUT THE STATE VIS-A-VIS MARKET 21 6.0 NIGERIAN AGRICULTURERead MoreTalent Management Issues and Challenges15913 Words   |  64 Pagesconducted case studies of 20 companies that were perceived to have considerable talent. The study concluded that companies are about to be engaged in a war for senior executive talent that will remain a defining characteristic of their competitive landscape for decades to come. The report’s even more troubling conclusion was that â€Å"most companies are ill-prepared, and even the best are vulnerable.† This new age economy, with its attendant paradigm shifts in relation to the human capital, in terms ofRead MoreAchievement of the Millennium Development Goals (Mdgs) for Education in Ethiopia14429 Words   |  58 PagesTHE Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for education in ethiopia PREPARED BY: ABIY NEGUSSIE A senier ESSAY SUBMITTED in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration and development Management Department of Public Administration and Development management Faculty of business and economics Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia JUNE 2008 ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to express my deep appreciation for my mother and father for theirRead MoreStrategy Management18281 Words   |  74 PagesDedication To my eternal family for their love, support, and sacrifice: Kelleyn, Harris, Winston, Roman, and Adelaide —Frank T. 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Sloan Industry Studies Fellow, and also holds a National ScienceRead MoreEducation response Essay example43180 Words   |  173 PagesA progress report by the Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty October 2012 University Challenge: How Higher Education Can Advance Social Mobility A progress report by the Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty October 2012 University Challenge: How Higher Education Can Advance Social Mobility Contents Foreword and summary 1 Chapter 1 Introduction 11 Chapter 2 Access all areas 19 Chapter 3 Making the grade Read MoreMarketing Project of Reckitt Benckiser19417 Words   |  78 PagesContents 1 History 2 Present Environments and Culture 3 Visions and Mission 4 Employment Hierarchies 5 Commitments 6 Develop Strategy Marketing Sales Finance Operational INTRODUCTION TO COMPANY Reckitt Benckiser is a British global consumer goods company, making and marketing home, health and personal care products. Headquartered in Slough, near London, UK, it has operations in over 60 countries, including 42 manufacturing facilities, and sales in nearly 200countries. RB is ranked 6th in the 2008Read MoreMarketing Project of Reckitt Benckiser19403 Words   |  78 PagesContents 1 History 2 Present Environments and Culture 3 Visions and Mission 4 Employment Hierarchies 5 Commitments 6 Develop Strategy Marketing Sales Finance Operational INTRODUCTION TO COMPANY Reckitt Benckiser is a British global consumer goods company, making and marketing home, health and personal care products. Headquartered in Slough, near London, UK, it has operations in over 60 countries, including 42 manufacturing facilities, and sales in nearly 200countries. RB is rankedRead MoreSkills Needed to Be an Effective Manager8864 Words   |  36 Pagesmust be cultivated and enhanced by the organization are technical, human, and conceptual. The degree of development a manager has in each of these three skills will have a strong impact not only upon the success of the organization but also upon the career success of the manager. Therefore, for those students who aspire to be managers need to know or at least be aware in the required skills for them to be effective in their desired position in the industry. Setting of the Study Figure 1.1 TheRead MoreMba Final Hr Recuitment Project10109 Words   |  41 PagesRecruitment and Selection, Training and Development, career planning, Transfer and Promotion, Risk Management, Performance Appraisal and so on. Each objective needs special attention and proper planning and implementation. For every organisation it is important to have a right person on a right job. Recruitment and Selection plays a vital role in this situation. Shortage of skills and the use of new technology are putting considerable pressure on how employers go about Recruiting and Selecting staff

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Rotc in the Philippines Free Essays

ROTC: Empowering the youth for peace and progress â€Å"Why take the hard way, if there’s an easy way†, these are the words that will come out from the mouth of an average and malingering human being, but taking the Reserved Officer Training Corps as their National Service Training Program will make them no average human being. These Cadets like me stepped out from the rest, to be above all the rest. Taking up the Civic Welfare Training Service, will be no extra ordinary just like every civilian can do and unlike a militiaman can do. We will write a custom essay sample on Rotc in the Philippines or any similar topic only for you Order Now Not all students in the tertiary level have the guts and courage to take the ROTC as their chosen NSTP or to enter a Military Service, but why do you think these students outside the military profession did not take this path of being a future reservist, a defender of the republic and a keeper of harmony among the Filipinos? First, they say that in ROTC they will stand up under the heat of the sun for a long time, yes they will stand under the heat of the sun, but that is part of their training however, they will not stand up that long that will be too hazardous for their wellbeing. Second, they say that Hazing is rampant and were being conducted to cadets in ROTC, but Hazing is clearly not tolerable in the organization, how will a Cadet, a youth will empower peace and progress if they will be exposed to unlawful violence such as hazing? Third, ROTC is full of burden and hardships. These people consider Physical Training as burden and hardships; these are only part and parcel of their training as Cadets and to be a future defender of the state. Physical training is for the betterment of their wellbeing and life when they came back as a civilian in the society, they entered a Military Service not a playground. These are the three common reasons on why these students who did not take the ROTC and rejected to be part of the corps. These students or even the civilian world perceived only the one side of the coin, the negative side of Military Service. In ROTC, it promotes patriotism, moral values, virtues, respect for rights of the civilian and adherence to the constitution, the core values on empowering peace and progress. These youths, the cadets are casted to be future leaders of our country and to be the hope of our nation, here where some of our finest warriors are products of the ROTC. They are equipped mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. They are trained to be disciplined, to build a better personality, and to overcome weaknesses. Military Professionalism is not the only lesson taught here but as well as the Conduct of a good Civilian. ROTC is one good way of keeping the youth away from harmful vices. As Rizal quoted â€Å"The youth are the hope of the nation†. ROTC Cadets as part of the youth sector are the hope of the nation and one of the primary movers on empowering peace and progress of the nation. As they come back to civilian life they are prepared to be a soldier, a leader, and a better civilian or member in the society. They are deployed as civilians to contribute in the development and progress of the society and nation. What Parents cannot taught and straighten up to their children for years, can be done and straighten in several Sundays in ROTC. Disciplined and cooperative members of the society are one of the ingredients for the peace and progress of the nation. The reservists, including the ROTC Cadets are the backbone of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and as well as the society. The ROTC Cadets, Reservists and the Regular Force together with their Civilian Counterparts are having a joined force for the betterment and the advancement of the Philippines. The Military especially the reserve force supports all civic welfare activities done by the government and some Non Government Organizations; in regard with this the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched the OPLAN Bayanihan that was criticized by numerous activists, leftists, and detractors. Despite of these criticisms, this operation was pursued and successfully continues to help the wellbeing of the civilians, such activities are food programs, medical missions, clean up drives, and other civic and humanitarian efforts, these is to promote peace and to prevent armed struggle among the Filipinos . In times of catastrophe and calamity the ready reserve force and a number of ROTC cadets are called to respond, help and rescue the people in need, after these, these soldiers remained in active duty to conduct relief operations. These duties and service to the nation may be done not only by the Cadets or men in military service, but also by people in the civilian community or any ordinary citizen in the society. Small actions can make a big difference. Men in uniform cannot do these things all by themselves effectively, but rather if the civilians will come in aid to them or cooperate with them big difference will come out, Peace and Progress in the Philippines. In this we can say that Military is no powerful or more useful than the civilians. Men in uniform have been trained to gain more abilities, but they are trained to phold the civilian supremacy at all times. The ROTC Cadets magnifies the epitomical image of an ideal Filipino who contributes to the progress and keeping the harmony among the Filipinos in the Philippines. This shows that the ROTC Cadets as a future reservist are the epitome of an ideal citizen of our country. A citizen that has a heart to sympathize his fellow Filipinos, and a soldier th at has patriotism to preserve the peace and order in the country. Be a young hero, join the unit, be an ROTC Cadet! * CDT. DIEGO MARIANO How to cite Rotc in the Philippines, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

E-commerce on social media free essay sample

The design of websites is increasingly incorporating social cues like helpfulness and familiarity, especially in e-commerce websites with the primary objective of facilitating the exchange relationship (Adapa, 2008). This draws on the assumption that social cues in websites evoke a social response from the visitors of the websites, which in turn leads to enjoyment. As a result, users have a tendency to patronize exciting, entertaining and stimulating websites. Studies affirm that lack of product touch and interaction with organizational representatives may inhibit the acceptance of and positive attitudes toward e-commerce (Ahasanul, Khatib, Shameem, 2009). High levels of interactions with e-commerce commodities and organizational representatives may increase positive attitudes towards electronic commerce, which in turn plays an integral role in influencing the decisions to use e-commerce systems. E-commerce surveys conducted in 2009 reported that online shoppers have a preference of an interactive online shopping experience because they considered it more informative (Mehdi, 2011). This implies that online shoppers are likely to make a purchase from a website that has interactive components incorporated in the form of social cues. We will write a custom essay sample on E-commerce on social media or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This research paper discusses the effects of social media on Australia e-commerce. The Pervasive effects of Social Media on Australian E-Commerce A study by Wakefield et al (2011) reported the inclusion of social clues in a website leads to greater beliefs regarding their user intentions, enjoyment, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. The inference from this view is that social media tends to make the website friendly, informative and helpful, which increases the likelihood that such users will make a purchase from that website. The study by Wakefield et al (2011) further stated that website socialness tends to evoke an effective social response from the users of e-commerce websites. This is because users associate website social clues with life-like attributes such as friendliness, informative, usefulness, helpfulness, politeness and intelligence. The fundamental assertion is that user’s perception of website’s sociability is a core element in approach used in explaining and predicting behavioral intentions in electronic commerce (Dunt Harper, 2002). As an analogy, users liken the inclusion of social media in the e-commerce websites to digital representatives. E-commerce websites having immense social cues establish efficiencies for business enterprises through a reduction of ambiguity and enhancing continuing relationships with customers, suppliers and business partners. It is apparent that websites embedded with social cues create a social response from the users of the e-commerce website leading to high levels of enjoyment when using the site because they believe that social cues in websites are enjoyable, adventurous and exciting (Wakefield et al. , 2011). There is a positive correlation between enjoyable website experience and higher intentions of using the site, which in turn increases their personal connection with the online retailers. Such personal connections offer a valuable opportunity that online retailers can use to establish sustainable competitive advantage. Wakefield et al (2011) asserts that electronic retailers aiming at enhancing consumer attention and purchasing must evaluate the social aspects of the internet. Social Media Eliminates Barriers to Personal Interaction The current software and hardware used for personal interaction with online retailing websites target simultaneous group of online shoppers instead of the individual. This is a significant barrier to personal communication eliminated by the inclusion of social media in the web retailing sites (Town, 1999). Irrespective of the shopping motivation, shopping behavior does not necessarily translate to a pleasant shopping experience or the purchasing behavior. This is a typical characteristic of web retailing sites lacking the social aspects in their design. Fennech Tino (2010) asserts that the ultimate role played by the incorporation of social media in web retailing sites is that it leads to high levels of customer retail satisfaction at an individual level. This draws on the view that the shopping orientation of an individual is the significant determinant of the environment selected to engage in the shopping activity and their overall retail satisfaction (Tino O’Cass, 2001). A study by Tino O’Cass (2001), to examine the constructs that affect internet users’ adoption of web retailing and their perception towards product types bought via the web, indicated that attitude towards electronic retailing and perceived usefulness played an integral role in influencing the adoption of  web retailing. The study indicated that favorable attitude resulted in high adoption of web retailing, while unfavorable attitudes resulted in under-utilization of web retailing frameworks. Tino O’Cass (2001) pointed out that lack of personal communication and interaction is the key determinant that differentiates between favorable and unfavorable attitudes, which implies that web retailing sites devoid of personal communication t ools reported low levels of customer retail satisfaction. It is apparent that social media plays an integral role in eliminating barriers to personal interaction in web retailing sites, which in turn helps in increasing user retailing satisfaction. In addition, social media plays an integral role in building trust of web retailing among internet users, this is because users place greater significance on interpersonal influence from sources like peer groups when making such a decision (Sujana, 2011). The basic inference from this observation is that the incorporation of social media in electronic commerce helps in eliminating barriers to personal interaction and communication, which in turn increases the utilization of electronic commerce among Australian internet users. As such, online retailers can incorporate social media in their retailing sites to build trust from the potential internet shoppers. Social media has the potential of increasing the number of web shoppers, generating repeat purchases and fostering positive attitudes towards the use of online retailing in Australia. Tino O’Cass (2001) asserts that social media is a key driver for the adoption of web retailing and eliminating the potential barriers associated with the utilization of web retailing. Therefore, online retailers can make use of social media to establish and increases their market share in the online environment because social media is a perfect tool for enhance online visibility. Social media presents a new retailing opportunity that online marketers can use to influence attitudes and usefulness of their retailing sites (Stephens, 2010). Social Media and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) According to Mira Youn (2009), word-of-mouth is an instance of interpersonal communication relating to commodities and products between consumers. Mira Youn (2009) considers word-of-mouth as the most influential source information for consumers because consumers have a high level of trust towards their peer consumers than the trust they have for advertisers and marketers (Sia et al. , 2009). Word-of-mouth is not dependent on marketers selling intentions’, implying that consumers consider such information credible and trustworthy. Research studies affirm the influential nature of word-of-mouth on consumers’ decisions and purchasing behaviors. WOM is increasingly becoming significant with the advent of the internet, taking numerous forms such as product review websites, brands’ websites, personal blogs and social networking sites. The increase in eWOM platforms has facilitated consumer communication in terms of product-related information. A study by Mira Youn (2010) pointed out that the various eWOM platforms played an integral role in influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions. The ongoing growth of blog sites and social networking impose significant effects on brands and their respective marketing. It is increasingly becoming apparent that consumers are researching products and brands via social networking sites such as Facebook and Google+, which reach a significant percentage of internet users. The impacts of social media can take place in three perspectives including product ratings and review, publicity of customer experiences, and constant innovation (Rafaeli Raban, 2005). Most aspects of electronic word-of-mouth take the form of social media such as discussion boards and other online communication platforms. Studies affirm that that electronic word-of-mouth plays an integral role in influencing the adoption and use of commodities and services, which implies that eWOM influences consumer behavior of web retailers. It is increasingly becoming apparent that eWOM is becoming a significant component of the marketing mix because they determine the buying decisions adopted by online consumers (Joey, 2002). The fundamental argument is that social media, through eWOM, plays a vital role in the establishment of a computer-mediated environment, whereby the purchasing decisions of consumers depend on the perceived quality of information they get. When consumers get the information that meet seems to meet their needs and requirements, they are willing to criticize the product/service value basing on the criteria for the purchasing decision (Dunt Harper, 2002). This implies that online markers have to determine the customers’ insight of information quality on the internet, which helps in assessing their potential purchasing behavior. Marketers can make use of social media to manipulate variables of information quality such as timeliness, accuracy, relevance and comprehensiveness (Dholakia Chiang, 2003). The usefulness of information imposes significant impacts on consumers’ decision to adopt information gathered from online communities. Information usefulness depends on credibility and quality of information. As such, online consumer forums are increasingly becoming important to consumers because the information gathered from such social online communities are from peer consumers and devoid of marketers’ intentions (Chang Sturt, 2004). Comprehensiveness of information gathered from online communities tend to increase the pervasive nature of social media on electronic commerce. Mira Youn (2011) asserts that the social media era has imposed significant changes in relation to product reviews and ratings. Previously, product reviews and ratings were a reserve for publishers such as Consumer Reports and CNET magazines (Andrews et al. , 2007). The paradigm shift currently includes social media users engaging in constant product reviews and ratings. It is vital to note that, in social media, there is no storage of product ratings and reviews on retailers’ website. The second impact of social media is the publicity of consumer experiences (Andrews et al. , 2007). In social media, consumer experiences are a core driver of most of brand conversations, which certainly imposes significant impacts on the brand reputations of retailers. Social media and blog sites impose significant effects on the marketing of brands. In fact, social media provides an avenue for mass-market advertising over the internet (Chang Sturt, 2004). A good marketing approach does not only incorporate mass marketing, but also seek ways to communicate with customers via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and other blogging platforms by creating an engaging content for social media users to interact with both the retailers and among themselves (Dholakia Chiang, 2003). The eWOM trend imposes significant implications on marketing strategies. This is because effective online market is increasingly depending on social influence, with conventional marketing losing its significance and increasingly becoming ineffective. Australian marketers have to appreciate that they have no control on their online brands. This is because people will discuss the brand without involving the marketers, who cannot the circulation of negative comments on the various social media platforms (Chang Sturt, 2004). However, Australian marketers can embark on maximizing the probability of distributing good conversations relating to a product. Australian online marketers are increasingly adopting this strategy. Effective marketing strategies in the wake of social commerce require smart vital techniques for increasing the distribution of positive comments about a brand or product. With the internet increasingly becoming social, it is imperative that online stores in Australia adopt social media integration in their electronic commerce websites to foster member engagement and product discovery (Andrews et al. , 2007). Social Commerce Social commerce refers to the use of social media platforms in the context of electronic commerce, with the primary objective of enhancing online buying and selling. Social commerce entails an integration of two digital trends including electronic commerce and social media. Electronic commerce depends on web-based communities and effective web-based communication, which has a significant effect on online visibility and sales. Web-based communication has the potential of changing corporate advertising, nature of community sponsorship strategies and the business model. Social media emerges as the most powerful tool for online communication. In the present digital economy, setting up an online store and waiting for potential customers is not adequate (Chang Sturt, 2004). Online retail outlets have to adopt a proactive approach by seeking ways to engage consumers, establish relationships and form online communities. The difference between social commerce and conventional e-commerce is the incorporation of social elements in the online business model. Social commerce entails features such as consumer ratings and reviews, referrals, social shopping platforms, user recommendations and online communities. These social features play an integral role in the creation of a trusted environment whereby people generate content relating to the referral and sale of commodities using customer feedback, reviews, ratings and testimonials (Cheung et al. , 2008). The key drivers of social commerce include electronic business opportunities, online communities and the emergence of internet technologies such as web 2. 0. The core characteristics of social commerce include gathering of collective intelligence, viral marketing, market disruption, and a platform for participation. Gathering collective intelligence implies that the competitive advantage of social commerce websites depends on the critical mass of retailers and consumers (Andrews et al. , 2007). The key towards attaining online market dominance is the network effects derived from user contributions. In relation to the aspect of viral marketing, it is apparent that social commerce relies significantly on word-of-mouth marketing, which takes place when customers promote a commodity via their positive experiences with the product. Therefore, branded communities can establish long lasting relationships and deeper affinity with their customers. Most social commerce websites are instances of phenomenal networks characterized by democratic participation, whereby people generate what other people want on an equal platform. Social commerce websites such as Facebook integrates numerous social media tools like sharing of photos and blogs, to provide users with an avenue through which they can express their opinions and preferences. Such websites also serve the role of a central communication hub for social networks.