The True Tragic Hero of Antigone - 879 Words

What makes a hero? In our society, a hero is thought of as a tall man who wears a cape and has super powers, but to the Greeks, it was very different. In every Greek tragedy, there is the tragic hero, defined by Aristotle as a character who is an extraordinary person, with both good and bad qualities. Although the character reaches a level of insight, a tragic flaw, such as hamartia, leads to their failure in the end. A perfect example of this can be found in Sophocles’ trilogy, The Theban Plays which follows the struggling city of Thebes and the efforts of its rulers to escape their misfortune. Antigone, the third play is an excellent example of this. As the title is Antigone, one would assume that she is the tragic hero, or heroine, but†¦show more content†¦He serves the law without wavering, but he neglects the needs and wants of the Thebans. When Creon is informed the people of Thebes disagree with his decision regarding Antigone, he responds: â€Å"The people o f Thebes! / Since when do I take my orders from the people of Thebes?† (Antigone 146). This shows his inability to accept any way but his and his apathy regarding others. The contrast in his traits of determination and indifference makes Creon a combination of good and bad. Creon’s tragic flaw is hamartia, or error in judgement. This error drives him to refuse Polynices his burial rights and to sentence Antigone to death. As king, Creon believes no one can tell him what he should or should not do, but he ignores the fact that not even a king has power against the gods. Creon lives only by the laws of the city, while Antigone, and the rest of Thebes live by the more powerful laws of the gods. Leaving Polynices to be eaten by dogs and vultures is not only disrespectful, it is a crime against the laws of heaven, and Creon pays dearly for his crime. When Creon is visited by the blind seer Teiresias, he realizes he has made a mistake. Yet despite threats from Antigone and hi s son Haemon, Creon continues with his original intentions until Teiresias declares: Ere the chariot of the sun Has rounded once or twice this wheeling way, You shall have given a son of your own loins To death, in payment for death - two debts to pay:Show MoreRelatedThe True Tragic Hero of Antigone877 Words   |  4 PagesHas your pride ever stopped you from doing something? In Sophicles play Antigone. The king Creon indirectly kills his whole family by being stubborn and not listening to others opinions. Throughout his journey he displays the characteristics of Aristotle; tragic hero. These include being extraordinary, having good and bad sides, a tragic flaw, becoming aware of his mistakes and failing miserably in the end. Read MoreEssay about The True Tragic Hero of Creon in Sophocles Antigone1621 Words   |  7 PagesThe True Tragic Hero of Creon in Sophocles Antigone There has always been a great debate over who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone. Many scholars would stake claim to Antigone possessing all the necessary characteristics of a true tragic hero, but many others would argue that Creon holds many qualities as well. It is hard to discount Antigone as a tragic hero, because in fact, the play bears her name, but from careful reading, Creon meets Aristotles criteria exactly and fitsRead MoreEssay on Sophocles Antigone923 Words   |  4 PagesThebian play of Antigone has excited many debates over the years. The most prevalent being who exactly could be characterized as the tragic hero in the story. The argument that Antigone is the hero is deffinatly a strong one. There are many critics who believe that Creon, however, is the true protagonist of the play. In order to determine whether or not Creon is the tragic hero one must first examine what a tragic hero is. Aristotle states that a hero is neither purely innocent nor purely malevolentRead MoreEssay on The Tragic Hero of Antigone871 Words   |  4 PagesGreek tragic hero. In fact, Aristotle had Oedipus specifically in mind when he first set down the requirements for tragedy in his Poetics. However, in other Greek tragedies, the tragic hero isn’t always so easy to identify. For example, in the play Antigone, the reader may have some difficulty deciding who the tragic hero is. Nevertheless, a careful examination of the facts reveals that Antigone is the true tragic heroine because she’s brave, flawed, and noble. Antigone is a tragic hero becauseRead MoreEssay on Creon as the Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone997 Words   |  4 PagesCreon as the Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone?   This question has been the subject of a great debate for numerous years.   Equal arguments exist that portray Antigone as the tragic heroine in the play and Creon as the tragic hero.   Aristotle, in his study of Greek drama entitled Poetics, provided the framework that determines the tragic hero of a work.   Though Antigone definitely possesses the characteristics and qualities thatRead MoreCreon from Antigone Essay612 Words   |  3 PagesCreon from Antigone A tragedy, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is â€Å"the story of a falling from a high place to a lower place by a character.† In other words, a tragedy is a story of an individual who starts in a high position and descends throughout the story to end in a position that is lower than original position. The individual who makes the descent is known as the tragic hero. The tragic hero, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is â€Å"the character who falls from grace as a result of fate and/or a weaknessRead MoreEssay on Creon as the Tragic Hero in Sophocles Antigone1326 Words   |  6 PagesCreon as the Tragic Hero in Antigone     Ã‚   This essay will compare two of the characters in â€Å"Antigone†, Antigone and Creon, in an effort to determine the identity of the tragic hero in this tale.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To identify the tragic hero in Sophocles’ renowned play â€Å"Antigone†, we should first consider both the elements present in Greek tragedies and what characteristics define a tragic hero. Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is: â€Å"Tragedy is a story taking the hero from happiness to miseryRead MoreWho Is More Tragic, Creon or Antigone?863 Words   |  4 PagesThe Imperfect Hero For many people who knew Pat Tillman, he was an American Hero, who forestalled his professional football career and joined the army after seeing his country attacked on 911. He valiantly fought for his country and for his beliefs, and even when Pat died in Afghanistan in 2004, his memory lives on in the minds of many people. According to Aristotle, the hero is not a true hero like Pat Tillman, but rather a person who has serious flaws that lead to the downfall of the characterRead MoreTragic Hero775 Words   |  4 PagesTragic Hero Essay The play Antigone, written by Sophocies, is a great example of a classical Greek tragedy. For years, there has been a debate weather Antigone or Creon is the tragic hero. The king of Thebes, Creon has some qualities of a tragic character, but doesn’t have all of the necessary traits. However, Antigone contains all the traits that are require to be a tragic hero, especially three traits. In Sophocles’s Antigone, Antigone is the tragic hero because she is not completely good, norRead MoreEssay about The Tragic Hero Creon in Antigone by Sophocles818 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play, Antigone by Sophocles, at first glance readers assume that Antigone is the tragic hero. However, this is not the case. Although Antigone does display some characteristics of a tragic hero, I believe that Creon is the true tragic hero. For many readers, it may be a challenge to see Creon as the tragic hero; however, when you take a second look at the play, you can see that Creon displays ever y quality of a tragic hero. Creon’s power and pride as well as going against the gods all lead

Pages and Common Sense Analysis and Review free essay sample

This Is greatly In part to the lascivious attempts of royal propagandists to smear Pains unblemished reputation by muddying the realities of his heritage. (pig. 24) Notwithstanding the difficulty, Lie aptly delivers valuable particulars of Pains past and associates them succinctly to the events leading up to and following the tutoring of Common Sense. Like many of his American contemporaries, Paine came from humble beginnings. His father, a corset maker from Debtors, and his mother, a woman of high-esteem and an Fenton household, made an unusual couple given their societal hereditary differences.It was this variance In heritage that nurtured both Pains familial recognition of the common mans adversity in a monarchs dominion and his natural predisposition for the written word and self-dilatation. Ell draws on this point clang Pains short lived days at a grammar school near his homeland. pig. 27) Such an opportunity was uncommon for the son of a corset maker and although it would have been more anticipated that he would simply follow his further established his kinship and compassion of the common man when he ventured out as a privateer, despite his fathers previous attempts of curtailing such adventures. Not much is known of Pains days as a privateer other than it was short lived. It is assumed that he had grown distaste for the lifestyle, perhaps because he simply found it disagreeable or found disdain for the lack of principles for which privateers stand. Nonetheless, the experience left Paine with a greater understanding of the soldier class. Not too long after his days as a privateer, Paine finds himself under the employ of the government, a peculiar position for the man who would inspire a revolution against the same government not but a few years later. Furthermore, Paine was an excise man.Not the position a man of the people would be expected to fill. However, Paine, in many ways, was an opportunist and, even after once being dismissed as an excise man for stamping the whole ride, (pig. 34) Paine was able to build such a rapport with the people in the community he revered that he became a favored citizen. It was this talent, the talent of garnering the favor of the people that was truly Pains gift. Writing, oration, and anything else were secondary components to Pains charismatic mastery and aptitude for earning the affection of the societies around him.I believe no matter where Pains endeavors had brought him he would always be of the people, so much so that he would actually become one of those people, Just as he became an American. Paine, born and raised in England, was relieved from his position as an excise man and after various unsuccessful business endeavors, Benjamin Franklin was finally able to persuade him to venture to the Americas. It is peculiar to consider that had he been allowed to retain his position as an excise man, Common Sense may have never been penned and the revolution may have never come to fruition.Benjamin Franklin saw in Paine what so many others did, a commonality to the people with whom he was surrounded. It didnt take long for Paine to ingratiate himself into the lives of the colonials. Not long after his arrival, even while recuperating from an arduous reincarnations Journey that left him in the shackles of bed rest, Paine was already reaching out to the people through his writings. Lie greatly accentuates the importance of Pains connection to the people who were in reverence and the dissension of those in disaccorded to his ideals. I think this aspect is most greatly reflected in the chapter The Devil is in the People. Pains writings were offered in such a way that made them easily digestible and comprehensible to the uneducated underclass, but he still provided poise and provocation that would entice citizens of greater status and intellect to read his pamphlet as well. Paine signed his work as the Englishman, a decision I think further solidified his position as an unbiased observer who truly was invested in providing the most honest and sensible testimony to the conflict between the oppressive English monarch and the burgeoning metropolises of America.Eventually, Pains ideologies became the basis of popular American beliefs. Prior to Common Sense there was not an utterance of independence or an American Republic. Paine was so effective in persuading the ide als of the people that the silent unspoken fear of independence was replaced with he clamor of revolutionary hordes charging congress of moving too slowly to declare it. And as one loyalist put it The Devil is in the People. (Nicholas Crewels pig. 13) of American literature was crafted not by a true blue Revolutionary, but by an unassuming English tax man. It doesnt exactly resonate with the concept of Taxation without Representation but, as Lie pointed out, that was never a fair slogan, or proper cause bellum (pig. 117), to represent the cause of liberation from the British. What Paine spoke of, and what Lie developed on, was much more armament than simple grudges over imbalanced levies and tariffs.Paine spoke of King George as an evil tyrant and of independence as not Just an American right, but as an egalitarian necessity for a new world era to begin for all mankind; an era in which no man is less than another, an era where all mens voices can be heard, and an era where no ones liberty or right to property can be taken from them. A new American country would become the template of liberty for other countries to follow. I also enjoyed Lieus final chapter where he divulges the perspective of the founding ethers on Paine and Common Sense.Benjamin Franklin seemingly surprised by the rise to fame of his fellow Whig, John Dams scorned by a lack of attention claiming Paine garnered an unfair amount of recognition, and George Washington reading Common Sense out loud to inspire and invigorate his otherwise disheartened troops are all illustrations of the monumental prominence of Pains contributions. Ultimately, despite all their efforts, none of our founding fathers had the propensity to galvanism the people for a cause as Thomas Paine did, and he did it with Just a little common sense.

Caesar And Brutus Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Julius Caesar

Caesar And Brutus Brutus was a trusted friend of Caesar and an honorable man, or so you thought. In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus is presented as a loyal companion to Caesar showing himself as honorable only to turn around and betray his friend by death. This to me does not sound like the act of an honorable man. Can a man who is honored, be honorable? Brutus was a noble man in Rome and a good friend to the leader Caesar. Many looked up to Brutus as an honest man, and a person to trust and confide in. Trust is a basis in a friendship, and the one thing that failed to enter the relationship between Caesar and Brutus, leading to the one thing to drive their friendship apart. He may be looked apon as honored but was definitely not an honorable man. Someone who kills one of his own because he was persuaded to by the thoughts and ideas of others is easily manipulated and therefore cannot be thought of as honorable. He does not have strong character if he does not have faith in himself. "Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face while I do run apon it." (Shakespeare The Tragedy of Julius Caesar 5. 3. line 49) These were words Brutus spoke moments before killing himself, dying full of shame. How could a man who does not have the strength to carry on with his life, be considered honorable? Half of having the title of being honorable, is having faith in yourself, a quality which Brutus showed he did not have by timorously taking his own life. Inner weakness portrays itself in an outer manifestations of lies and anger. How can these characteristics be considered honorable? Like a chameleon, Brutus changed his words and ideas to fit the political climate, betraying Caesar, his country, and eventually himself. Brutus, having no self-assurance, or confidence he resulted to being a follower right down to his death. These are all signs of a weak person. With so much going for him, he lost it all to an easy way out of a difficult situation. We are all presented with effortless ways to get out of complicated circumstances, but it's not always the best. As loyal and trustworthy as Brutus was first thought to be, his true side was eventually shown in the end. He was no friend to Caesar, or anyone else. Betrayal, lies, suicide, and murder were result of a weak and deceitful man. This man showed he was anything but honorable in anyway. On who is honored can't always be honorable.

7 Things You Should Do in Your 20s to Become a Millionaire by 30

7 Things You Should Do in Your 20s to Become a Millionaire by 30 We all wish we could be rich. But if you’re young and smart and driven enough, you could be! In some cases, it is possible. Particularly if you’re able to make tough choices and choose to save where others choose to spend. Regardless,  one of the most important things you should be doing is managing your money responsibly. If done so correctly, you may very well become a millionaire by 30. That being said, here are 7 steps towards making your millionaire dreams come true. Start following them now before you hit the big Three-Oh.1. Write your planNo amount of desire is going to put the wealth in your account. You’ll need to actually come up with a feasible plan and put it on actual paper. Calculate exactly what you’d need to earn- and invest- to reach your goal. Then plan the options on how you’ll do it, whether that means focusing on a Roth IRA or a 401k, etc.2. SAVEYou can’t get there without this step. Period. Start saving immediately- fi rst an emergency fund, and then a high interest yielding account for everything you accumulate on top of that. Make a point of putting away half of every raise or tax refund, for example. And then don’t touch it unless an emergency occurs.3. Live cheaplyYou don’t need to be in poverty to live beneath your means. Just say no to high profile purchases that will crack open your budget- like expensive cars, extravagant houses, even expensive designer clothing and accessories. Live modestly, save decadently.4. Ease off on the credit cardsDon’t accumulate too many credit cards- one or two will do. And don’t put anything on your cards that you can’t pay off within three months. And if you can’t eat it- or wear it- don’t charge it. Keep your cash flow for investments.5. Put your money to workBuild a diverse portfolio with a mutual fund company that offers no-load funds and low expense ratios. You could be earning 8-10% interest on your money! 6. Start a businessA sizeable majority of millionaires are self-employed. Channel your entrepreneurial spirit and come up with a business plan to create wealth- and not just for yourself.7. Ask for helpFind yourself a good financial planner and make sure your investments are sound and working for you, not against you. If you build a good working relationship with someone you trust, you can really help your money grow.Remember, work smart not hard. It takes money to make money. But it’s never too late to start putting yours to work for you.

FindLaw website evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FindLaw website evaluation - Essay Example The paper aims to present an evaluation of the website http://www.findlaw.com and to provide a three-page narrative discourse that explains in detail what information is contained in this web site.The presented narrative structure would thoroughly review the content and web links and thereby state one’s personal opinion regarding whether or not this web site offers meaningful information for viewers, including students of criminal law and procedure. Website Evaluation: â€Å"FindLaw† General Description The home page of the website â€Å"FindLaw† presents six general headings such as Learn About the Law; Find a Lawyer; FindLaw Answers; Legal Forms; News; and Blogs. Upon browsing the home page, one finds that under Find a Lawyer, for example, a search browser offers options to seek a lawyer using a name search, or through typing legal issues or locations. It also offers a tick box where seekers can opt to have a lawyer contact him or her. Under Learn About the Law , there are three sub-topics: the Popular Topics, Legal Topics, Super Lawyers, Knowledge Base, and Legal Video. The popular topics range from accidents and injuries; criminal law; DUI; Employee Rights; Family Law; Real Estate; and Small Business. Legal topics are more diverse including bankruptcy and debt; car accidents; dangerous products; immigration; and wills, trust, estate planning, among others. The Super Lawyers section offers finding top rated attorneys; while the Legal Video segment shows The Divorce Basics, Medical Malpractice Cases, and Stages of a Criminal Case. Another prominent section, What’s New at FindLaw, offer three separate subtopics such as FindLaw Answers, Legal News and Legal Commentary. There are also Recent Answers indicated with the respective time within which these answers were posted. Likewise, there is a section entitled Latest FindLaw Consumer Blog Posts of various legal topics across the United States. At the upper right hand side portion is a search option for viewers who are seeking immediate access to topics based on their general description. Right below this portion is the section that states Getting Started at FindLaw, which offers three options: Find Lawyers, Learn about the Law; and Find Answers. There is also the Do It Yourself Legal Documents portion that offers legal forms to be tailored according to the users’ needs. Finally, the portion below the home page reiterates the major topics: Learn More About, Find a Lawyer, Find Answers, Get Legal Forms, For Lawyers, About Us, Local Lawyers, and Find Us On (Facebook, YouTube, Scibd, and Twitter) portions. A copyright statement follows the abovementioned topics. Parallel to this portion, at the right hand bottom side appears the heading: Are you a legal professional? Two subtopics are offered: Online Marketing Solutions and Download our White Papers. The format and structure of the home page is very professional with highlighted colors of orange for major topi cs and prompts; blue highlighted sections; and fonts in black and blue within a predominantly white background. Only the portion below was typecast in gray background with black and gray fonts. Selected pictures and photographs are seen from four major stories: Dad Charged After Car Stolen With Kid Inside; WA Avalanche Shows ‘Sidecountry Skiing’ Risks; Affirmative Action Returns to the Supreme Court; and Couple Gets Married in NC Walmart Where They Met (FindLaw, 2012). Also, there is a photograph of a family of three: a father, mother and a young girl just above the Do It Yourself Legal Documents portion. Personal Opinion It is one’s personal contention that the website offers comprehensive legal information to viewers, including students of criminal law and procedure. Clicking the criminal law link in Learn About the Law, for example, would generate the information that one â€Å"will find definitions for dozens of common crimes, an overview of stages in a typi cal criminal case, tips on your constitutional rights,

Descartes and The Matrix to address a topic Essay

Descartes and The Matrix to address a topic - Essay Example It is about human beings being deceived by their own senses into believing that the state of events in the world around them is true but in actual sense they are in a dream state. In analysing the film in light of Descartes first three meditations, the first meditation is about the things that people may doubt, the second about the nature of people’s minds and how it is easier to know it than the body while the third meditation is about God and whether he actually exists (Wilson 13). In the film, Descartes malicious and evil deceivers are represented by the agents within the matrix whose core aim is to hide the truth and cause doubt in our minds. They deny us the chance of actually differentiating between what is reality and what is false. In the first meditation, Descartes suggested that he believed not an optimal God but somewhat an evil demon was responsible for hiding the truth from him and thus leading him to spiral down a trail of doubts and scepticism that eventually le d him to a possible truth that nothing is actually certain (Wilson 34). In the movie, the matrix is displayed as a program that is fed into one’s mind which causes the person to believe the reality of the false world that is being projected to them. The program deceives senses into thinking that an individual is at that time experiencing a false world but in essence they are just lying in a pod which is wired to the Matrix. The agents, as mentioned earlier, are part of the programme that is fed into a person’s mind to stop people from discovering reality. However, the difference between what is real and what is a dream is still hard to correctly identify as was exemplified in the movie where the main character, Neo, is captured by the agents in the matrix and bugged but instead he wakes up in his bed thinking that it was all a dream. It is with his dream argument that Descartes is able to exercise his doubts on the evidence given to us by our senses. He goes to the ext reme of questioning his own existence in his second mediation where he wrote: â€Å"I am--I exist: this is certain; but how often? As often as I think; for perhaps it would even happen, if I should wholly cease to think, that I should at the same time altogether cease to be† (Chappell 56). Further, in his second meditation, he posits that there is a truth in the existence of a powerful malignant being who is omnipresent and all his endeavours are toward deceiving him. Descartes says â€Å"But [as to myself, what can I now say that I am], since I suppose there exists an extremely powerful, and, if I may so speak, malignant being, whose whole endeavours are directed toward deceiving me? Can I affirm that I possess any one of all those attributes of which I have lately spoken as belonging to the nature of body? After attentively considering them in my own mind, I find none of them that can properly be said to belong to myself.†-Descartes (Wilson 23). He also believes that the possibility of an external world that remains true may also be meddled by the Evil deceiver and still cannot be trusted fully without question. Later, he also introduced the concept of God into his third meditation who actually overpowers the Evil deceiver’s power much like in the matrix where Neo’s Powers was much stronger than the agents who were keeping him and people from discovering reality. The deceiver presented in the Matrix and that proposed have shown certain

Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay Introduction The process of restructuring the telecommunication sector truly got under way in Cameroon in June 1995, when the authorities decided thoroughly to reform network industry sectors such as water, electricity and telecommunications with a view to creating a favourable environment in which to develop their infrastructure and services and thus to satisfy increasingly exigent demand. The process took the form of liberalization, State withdrawal from the sectors concerned and the establishment of a  market structure enabling Cameroon to remain in step with the especially rapid global developments in the telecommunication sector; indeed, in spite of the investments made, the coverage rate and quality of service offered had remained largely inadequate. The process was carried out not only by defining the conditions and mechanisms liable to guarantee the sectors opening to private initiative, but also by enacting regulations and taking measures intended to enable the sector to play the decisive role incumbent on it in Cameroons economic development. Telecommunication sector reform in Cameroon is not limited to the establishment of new regulations and legislation, to the revision of the institutional framework and the establishment of an interconnection regime or to the introduction of competition. It should also comprise bringing behaviour in line with the times. One of our chief concerns is therefore also effective application of the regulations with a view to fulfilling the universal service obligation, ensuring consumer protection and providing for effective and appropriate regulation of true competition. The acquisition of the required know-how is the biggest challenge we face. The institutional players on Cameroons telecommunications scene are, as in many other African countries, of the opinion that any society that delays in jumping on the NTIC train will remain mired in a state of underdevelopment. Observations Background Before 1990, as in most African countries, telecommunication services were managed by a national publicly-owned monopoly. The administration in charge of telecommunications set the rules, ensured they were applied and was itself an operator. The results did not always live up to expectations. In June 1990, the President of the Republic signed the order on the programme to privatize public and semi-public enterprises. The telecommunication sector was added to the programme in June 1995. In July 1998, law 98/014 governing telecommunications in Cameroon (the Telecommunications Act) was promulgated. It established the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency and attributed sector responsibilities to a variety of players: the operation of  telecommunication networks to operators, regulatory matters, i.e. application of the rules and supervision of operators, to a regulatory body, the definition of sector policy and the enactment of market regulations to the telecommunication administration. In September of the same year, two public enterprises, CAMTEL for the fixed telephone service and CAMTEL MOBILE for the mobile telephone service, were set up to take over the telecommunication activities of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and of the public enterprise INTELCAM, which was in charge of operating and developing international telecommunication installations. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency was set up at the  same time. Immediately after, the sale of a mobile telephone licence and the process of privatizing CAMTEL and CAMTEL MOBILE got under way. In June 1999, a mobile telephone licence was granted to a private enterprise. The privatization of CAMTEL MOBILE was completed in February 2000. The privatization of CAMTEL is not yet complete. A third mobile telephone licence is to be issued. In less than two years, the sector has undergone sweeping change. Suffice it to mention one indicator: in January 2000 there was one mobile telephone operator with about 5 000 subscribers; on 31 March 2001 there were two operators with over 140 000 subscribers. This rapid and in-depth transformation is taking place within a constantly improving legal framework. II A liberal legal framework The development of new technologies and liberalization have permitted access to new telecommunication services which, depending on their specific natures, require appropriate regulation. The Telecommunications Act sets forth a new regulatory framework, opening the telecommunication sector to competition. The framework, which distinguishes between public and private networks, provides for three legal arrangements: concessions, authorizations  and declarations. 1 Concessions The State can grant one or several public or private corporate bodies all or part of its rights to establish and/or operate telecommunication networks. The concession is subject to strict compliance with the requirements set forth in a list of terms and conditions. This arrangement allows the State not only to keep a watchful eye on the harmonious development of modern telecommunication infrastructure, but also and above all to heighten its control over the development and supply of the basic services and facilities us ually demanded by the majority of users. 2 Authorizations The arrangement of prior authorization applies to the establishment and/or operation of telecommunication networks by physical persons or corporate bodies with a view to providing the public with a basic telecommunication service, a value-added service, a bearer service or any other service by using one or several radio frequencies. A list of terms and conditions containing the requirements to be met is attached to the licence issued to the bearer of a prior authorization. The authorization is issued for a fixed period and can be withdrawn under certain circumstances. 3 Declarations Declarations apply to the establishment of private internal networks, low-range and low-capacity private independent networks (that are not radio networks), low-range and low-capacity radio installations (to be determined  by the Administration), and the provision to the public of telecommunication services other than those subject to the arrangements of concession and authorization. Telecommunication terminal equipment is either freely provided or subject to type-approval. Certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act are detailed in decrees and implementing legislation. We shall not examine all of them here; indeed, some of them are still being drafted. The reform in Cameroon established the separation between the regulatory and operating functions. It works in favour of operators being entities controlled by private capital. The general framework for competition is governed by legislation on competition. The legal framework is supplemented by institutions. III 1 A revised institutional framework The telecommunication administration Spectrum management and the legislation and regulations relating to telecommunications are the exclusive domain of the State. The telecommunication administration has been invested, on behalf of the government, with general jurisdiction over the sector. It sets the general regulatory framework. It therefore establishes and implements telecommunication sector policy, whose aim must be to safeguard the missions of public service, to promote harmonious network development throughout the national territory and effective private sector participation in the sectors wealth and employment-generating activities, and to ensure compliance by all operators with the applicable treaties, laws and regulations. In addition, the administration supervises the telecommunication sector, oversees public telecommunication enterprises, represents the State at international telecommunication-related organizations and events, and manages the radio spectrum on behalf of the State. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency, which technically answers to the telecommunication administration, is the specialized body in charge of  facilitating actual application of the regulations issued. 2 The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency The organization of the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency established by the Telecommunications Act is set forth in decree No. 98/197 of 8 September 1998. The Agency has three main duties: – to ensure the regulations are implemented; – to guarantee respect for the regulations and the exercise of competition; – to settle certain disputes between operators. The Agencys regulatory authority is subject to performance of the following activities: – definition of the principles governing tariffs for services; – examination of requests for authorization and declaration and of type-approval files for terminal equipment to be connected to public networks; – establishment of principles for calculating interconnection costs; – establishment and management of numbering plans; – management of the frequencies attributed to telecommunications; – submission to the government of proposals aimed at developing and modernizing the sector; – opinions on draft legislative and regulatory texts concerning telecommunications; – control and penalties for infractions. The Agency is specifically competent to settle disputes concerning interconnection, access to a public network, numbering, cases of harmful interference, and sharing of infrastructure. The Telecommunications Act provides the Agency with a quasi-judicial body and an arbitration procedure can be set in motion should one or the other of the parties be opposed. The parties remain free to bring their case before the competent court. IV Human resources Human resources are the key to management and progress, for they have knowledge, that rarest of economic commodities in the 21st century. The current transition from a monopoly environment to that of controlled competition has given rise to new demands in terms of basic knowledge and know- how in telecommunication regulation. Telecommunication leaders and staff in Cameroon were still dealing with the transition from analogue to digital when circuit switching was suddenly replaced by packet switching. This recent change has reshaped the concept and definition of telecommunication networks and services. Everything must therefore be done to make sure the human resources acquire the skills they need for their own development and that of companies, which create wealth for the well-being of peoples. The Ecole Nationale Supà ©rieure des Postes et Tà ©là ©communications, an independent facility run by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, provides basic instruction in telecommunications and ICT to technicians (technical and operating staff), supervising technicians (operating technicians and supervisors) and senior technical managers (works engineers and operating inspectors). It plans to organize standing professional certification for the staff of public and private enterprises and of the public administrations in charge of telecommunications and ICT. V International cooperation Cameroon has always been present and active in regional and international telecommunication organizations. It is a member of the Administrative Councils of both the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It has had very few bilateral exchanges of experience and information with other African countries. The ineffectiveness of regional (ATU) and subregional organizations (CAPTAC) has precluded the launch at subregional level of cooperation activities aimed at developing telecommunications in Cameroon. At the international level, ITU  has not been closely involved in telecommunication sector reform. In the past eight years, it has provided some technical assistance but otherwise almost no support for telecommunication development projects in Cameroon, possibly because the Area Office in Yaoundà © is not functioning. The capacities of the Area Office in Yaoundà © should be reinforced. Its main duties should be: – To disseminate ITU documents and information in the area. For this, it should have the means required to provide the documentation centres of the main players in each of the areas countries with the documents and books needed to acquire knowledge in telecommunications and ICT, for most of the sectors African managers will have to teach themselves. In this respect, hard as opposed to electronic copies remain invaluable in Africa.