Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Malaysian Market For Sago Palm

Malaysian Market For Sago Palm In this chapter, we will discuss the background of Malaysia market for sago. The discussion of the market consists of production, consumption, export and price. To understand about sago, we will first briefly discuss on sago palm, sago starch and sago processing. 1.1 Sago Palm Sago palm or Metroxylon sagu is a crop that produces starch for food and non-food processing industries. Sago palm is widely cultivated in Sarawak with more than 60,000 hectare of area recently. Commercial cultivation area for sago palm was increased from 43 hectare in 1988 to 10,700 hectare in 1996 and the remaining was cultivated by smallholders. In year 2000, there are 21 sago processing plants which produced around 60,000 tonne of sago starch. In west Malaysia, sago palm cultivation is too small with only 2 sago processing plant operated in Johor. 1.2 Sago Starch Most of sago starch that been produced in Sarawak is used in west Malaysia (almost 30,000 tonne). Sago also been exported as high quality food grade starch and low quality industry grade starch. Export for food grade starch was increased from 3,600 tonne in 1985 to 11,000 tonne in 1995 while export for industry grade starch was decreased from 8,400 tonne in 1985 to 5,100 tonne in 1995. The major destinations for sago starch export are Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and Thailand. 1.3 Sago Processing Sago Palm Sago palm took 10 to 15 years to be matured. When sago palm is matured, it will be felt down so that its trunk can be cut. Sago palm has a huge trunk, upright, reaches a height of 10-12 meters, with the contents of the soft and contain high starch content. It is a staple food source for indigenous people in Sabah and Sarawak, including ethnic Bisaya, and Melanau. Sago Log Sago trunk is cut into section with each section is 75 cm to 90 cm long. This section is known as sago log. Every sago trunk yield around 10 to 12 sago log. Then, these sago logs will be tied together in the form of rafts and tugged by boats to sago processing plant through river. Sometimes, these sago logs are carried by lorry to sago processing plant. Processing Sago Starch Processing of sago starch is done in the sago processing plant. In the sago extraction process, the sago logs are first debarked, followed by maceration using a rasper. Newer types of raspers have eliminated the need for debarking. The sago chips resulting from the maceration process are then further disintegrated using a hammer mill. The starch slurry is then passed through a series of centrifugal sieves to remove the coarse fibres. Cyclone separators are then used to extract the starch which is then dried using a rotary vacuum drum drier, followed by hot air drying. 1.4 Malaysia Market for Sago Source: Department of Agriculture, Sarawak. Agricultural Statistics of Sarawak From table 1.4, we can see how the development and the status of sago industries in Malaysia were. The number figure shows inconsistency in the export of sago starch every single year. Thus, it is influenced by the current economic climate. We can see that the figure of the total export of sago starch are not really consistence compared to its price which is going high all the way starting from the year of 1993 until it reaches its highest price in the year 1998. The year after, the figure shows that the price is going down. Even though, the total of production was increased in 2002 and 2003. The lowest price ever was in year 1993 where it was only around RM584 per tonne for industry grade starch and RM596 per tonne for food grade starch. The highest price was RM915 per tonne for industry grade starch and RM 897 food grade starch in the year 1998; a year after the economic erosion occurs. From the view of total export quantity and production, Malaysia produced the highest quantity of sago starch back in the year 1995 where it reaches its highest possible production with exported quantity up to 45,130.96 tonne for food grade starch and 4,816.43 tonne for industry grade starch. The lowest total production was in the year 1997 where only 27,285.50 tonne of food grade starch and 5,121.83 tonne of industry grade starch were exported; the same year when the economic erosion occurs. If referred to the net export value, the biggest amount is during the sago price recorded its highest price which is in year 1998. The amount is RM5, 638,142. Meanwhile, the lowest export value was in year 1993 with the net total of export value is RM2, 314,787. CHAPTER 2: CURRENT POLICIES DESCRIPTION 2.0 Introduction This chapter will discuss the agricultural policies relevant to sago; providing an accurate, clear understanding of the policies affecting the market for sago and its product. There are 4 policies that relevant to sago consist of policies by the Malaysia government (federal) and Sarawak government (state). 2.1 Sarawak Policy on Sago Plantation (Before NAP3) The Sarawak government is trying to pioneer the cultivation of sago on a plantation scale, trying to tap 20th century agricultural technology and large-scale organisational structure to grow this supposedly wonder crop. The aim of sago plantations is the application of modern, scientific agricultural technology and a large-scale institutional organisation, to exploit the cultivation of sago that has thus far been cultivated in a very primitive and semi-wild fashion. This is the first attempt at growing sago on a plantation scale anywhere in the world. Since the clone material and plantation technology for sago palm have not been established by private entrepreneurs, Sarawak government had developed the policies to cultivate sago palm on a plantation scale. With proper drainage, maintenance and fertilizer in plantation, sago palm will mature faster. This will increase the productivity of sago palm which supply starch to the local and international market. 2.2 Third National Agricultural Policy (NAP3) on Sago (1998-2010) In NAP3, sago is fallen under the group of new product and future industries. The policy objective for this group is: To develop innovative products and new industries which will provide source for the development of agriculture in the future The strategies for this policy are: To strengthen the economy base To generate and encourage private sector participation To reduce cost and increased productivity, commercial sago cultivation in large scale by private sector has been encouraged. This has been done alone by private sector and in collaboration with government subsidiaries. Infrastructures and basic facilities have been provided by the government to support the production of sago by private sector. Furthermore, cultivation with high quality seeds and better agronomy practices has been done to increase the productivity of sago smallholders. Sago cultivation has been encouraged on peat soil area in Sarawak due to the suitable of this crop with peat soil. This is the best way to use peat soil area in natured way. Production of value-added sago based products have been implemented to wider the market opportunities. The products include modified sago starch, sorbitol, dextrin and ascorbic acid. Research and development on both upstream and downstream activities for sago has been strengthen. The activities include: Breeding high quality crops material Farm management Processing technology New products development Usage of side products including wasted materials and sago scraps Sago smallholders have been encouraged to wider their farm through institution support. Research and market encouragement for sago starch and other sago products have been stressed due to strengthen the existing market and venture the new market. Sago processing plants have been encouraged to practice quality control management. Investment and strategic raw material gain for upstream industry has been encouraged. This is to sustain the supply of sago in the industry. To control the wasted materials and sago scraps, pollution control management has been implemented. 2.3 Sarawak Policy on Sago (Based on NAP3) Sarawak Policy on Sago has been formulated, planned and developed from NAP3 by Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak (MoMA). The policy is for sago starch-based product industry as a potential industry and sago as a crop industry. For sago starch-based product industry as a potential industry, the policy objective is: To explore new frontier industry which might have substantial return to the local producers and the economy The strategies for this policy are: To encourage private sector participation To intensify research and development on sago starch product development For sago as a crop industry, the policy objective is: To develop and expand sago industry and exploit the opportunities of market of sago and sago starch-based products The strategies for this policy are: To assist smallholder in planting sago using mini estate approach To encourage private sector participation in planting and processing of sago 2.4 Ninth Malaysia Plan; Policy on Sago Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, sago is one of the crops that included in land consolidation and rehabilitation. Land consolidation and rehabilitation will be continued on a larger scale to accelerate the modernisation of smallholdings as well as increase productivity of the crops. CHAPTER 3: OBJECTIVE Objective To determine Sago cultivation area in Sarawak To determine policy implication on Sago industry in Sarawak To determine the changes of policy in Sago industry CHAPTER 4: POLICY ANALYSIS 4.0 Introduction In this chapter, we will analyze the effects of policy that have been discussed in the previous chapter. The policy that we will analyze here is the Sarawak Policy on Sago based on NAP3. 4.1 Effects on Sago Cultivation Area According to Chew, Abu Hassan Isa and Mohd. Ghazali Mohayidin (1999), the aim of sago plantations is the application of modern, scientific agricultural technology and a large-scale institutional organisation, to exploit the cultivation of sago that has thus far been cultivated in a very primitive and semi-wild fashion. With commercial planting on large scale have been encouraged through the policies, the sago cultivation area was increased. The estimated area for sago cultivation in 1998 is 45,000 ha and it increased to 60,700 ha in 2000 (Third National Agricultural Policy, 1998) Since year 2000, the estimated area for sago cultivation in Sarawak is over 60,000 ha and slowly increased from year to year. The increment of sago cultivation area in Sarawak from year 2000 to 2004 is shown as below (Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005). Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Hectares (ha) 60,709 61,523 62,141 63,053 62,308 % compared to other crops 7.8 7.6 7.3 7.1 6.7 Table 4.1: Estimated Area for Sago Cultivation Source: Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005 Even though the area for sago cultivation is increased in term of hectares, but in term of percentage compared to other crops, sago cultivation is decreased. The policies might be effective to increase the area of sago cultivation, but the increment is rather too slow compared to other crops especially oil palm. Figure 4.1.1: Sago Cultivation Area in Sarawak Source: Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005 Figure 4.1.2: Percentage of Sago Cultivation Area Compared to Other Crops in Sarawak Source: Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005 4.2 Effects on Sago Starch Export and Starch Import The highest sago starch export was in 1998 with 46,518.43 tonne of sago starch was exported and the value of it was RM41, 855,722 with price per tonne is RM897 for food grade starch and RM915 for industry grade starch (Craun Research Sdn Bhd, 2004). After 1998, the sago starch export decreased making the worst export value was in year 2000 with only 36,382.78 tonne was exported and the value of it was RM29,782,916 with price per tonne is RM830 for food grade starch and RM766 for industry grade starch. This might be derived from the price drop of starch in world market. The effects of the policies were only been seen after year 2000 where the export value of sago starch increased every year starting from year 2001 to 2004. Only in year 2003, the export value was decreased by RM55,000. The export value of sago starch from year 1998 to 2004 is shown as below (Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005). Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Export Value (RM000) 42,182 36,450 29,783 30,680 32,165 32,110 37,020 Table 4.2.1: The Export Value of Sago Starch SOURCE: Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005 While exporting sago starch, Malaysia still has to import other starch due to local consumption. In year 1997, estimated total production of sago starch in Malaysia is 60,000 tonne with almost 30,000 was used for local consumption (Third National Agricultural Policy, 1998). In 1998, the import value of starch was RM552,000 made it was the highest import value for starch. With local demand for starch is good for food and non-food industries, the policies were able to support the supply of starch in local market. It helps to reduce the import value of starch in 1999 to RM55,000. From this year, the import value of starch per year was going up and down where in year 2000 there is no starch was imported. The import value of starch from year 1998 to 2004 is shown as below (Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005). Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Import Value (RM000) 552 55 134 0 45 71 57 Table 4.2.2: The Import Value of Starch Source : Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture Sarawak, 2005 Figure 3.2: Export Value of Sago Starch and Import Value of Starch from 1998 to 2004 4.3 Effect on Sago Research Involvement According to Chew, Abu Hassan Isa and Mohd. Ghazali Mohayidin (1999), there was no private group and only two government centres carrying out research on sago in Malaysia. Researches on sago are important to avoid the extinction of sago industry in Malaysia. When the policies were implemented, Land Custody and Development Authority of Sarawak (PELITA) have formed Craun Research Sdn Bhd to carry out research and development on sago. Craun Research Sdn Bhd was once lead by former Sarawak MARDI Director, Mr. Yusup Bin Sobeng. The policies also encouraged local universities to carry out research on sago. With UPM already carry out researches on sago before the policies; UNIMAS have joined them to do more researches on sago. Recently on 4 August 2006, UNIMAS signed an MOU with New Century Fermentation Research Co. Ltd. (NECFER) of Fukoka to enable both institutions to cooperate and collaborate in the establishment of the fermentation parameters and structural set-up in a joint research and development endeavour on sago starch fermentation for large-scale production of ethanol and lactic acid. 4.4 Effects on Private Sector Involvement in Sago Plantation Presently, sago is grown in Sarawak as a smallholders crop (Chew, Abu Hassan Isa and Mohd. Ghazali Mohayidin, 1999). When Land Custody and Development Authority of Sarawak (PELITA) started the development of two sago plantations; Dalat Sago Plantation and Mukah Sago Plantation, several private companies in Sarawak got the initiative to involve in sago industry. With the policy encouraged private sector participation in planting and processing of sago, the numbers of private companies involve in sago plantation and processing had increase. Now, private companies which involve in sago industry have their own association for the benefits of members in the industry. Sarawak Sago Manufacturers Association is the well known sago companies association in Sarawak. It is joined by: Nee Seng Ngeng Sons Sago Industries Sdn Bhd Nitsei Sago Industries Sdn Bhd Song Ngeng Sago Industries (EM) Sdn Bhd C. L. Nee Sago Industries Sdn Bhd Grand Safeways (S) Sdn Bhd Igan Sago Industries Sdn Bhd 4.5 Effects on Traditional Sago Starch Production Before the policy was introduced, there were 11 modern sago processing plants in Sarawak which had fixed assets and equipment valued around RM2-RM5 million (Chew, Abu Hassan Isa and Mohd. Ghazali Mohayidin, 1999). The policy helps to increase this number to 21 modern sago processing plant in year 2000. The increasing number of modern sago processing plant had slowly replaced the production of traditional sago starch called lemantak with high quality, dry sago flour. 4.6 Effects on Sago Starch Contribution in World Starch Market In the world market, sago starch has to compete with other starch such as maize starch, potato starch, cassava starch and wheat starch. According to ISO Technical Committees (2005), the world starch output was estimated to be 48.5 million tons in year 2000. Below is the total export value (in USD) for starches in world market based on type of starches between years 2000 to 2002 (ISO Technical Committees, 2005). 2000 2001 2002 Wheat Starch 79,299,188 66,494,945 71,158,617 Maize Starch 247,354,215 254,598,496 250,744,561 Potato Starch 186,513,628 192,451,543 189,591,770 Cassava Starch 155,221,419 146,818,270 27,307,528 Other Starch 44,592,792 42,295,983 42,245,903 Table 3.6: Export Value (USD) for Starches in World Market Source: ISO Technical Committees, 2005 Other starch in table 3.6 refers to barley starch, rice starch, sago starch and waxy xaize starch. Though the export value of other starch is decreased from year 2000 to 2002, it was only 5% reduction compared to 82% reduction of cassava starch. However, the percentage or reduction for other starch including sago starch is higher than wheat starch, maize starch and potato starch. The policy to develop and expand sago industry in Malaysia helps to make Malaysia been acknowledged as one of the main exporter for starch in the world market. Malaysia also been acknowledged as the highest sago starch exporter in the world (ISO Technical Committees, 2005). CHAPTER 5: POLICY IMPLICATIONS This chapter will discuss the positive and negative aspects of the policies analyzed in the previous chapter. The discussion demonstrates a close relationship between the analysis in the previous chapter and the implications drawn in this chapter about the positive and negative aspects of the policies analyzed. 5.1 Positive Aspects First positive aspect, the policies implicate the sago cultivation to be increased. With 1.69 million hectares of peat soil in Sarawak, the policies had increased the sago cultivation area. This was due to the encouragement of private sector participation in sago plantation and the assistant of smallholder in planting sago using mini estate approach. Private sectors will not just focusing to oil palm plantation in term of the land usage in Sarawak. Even though sago is less profitable compared to oil palm, the policies which imply government support in sago cultivation helps to involve private sector in sago cultivation. Second positive aspect, the policies implicate the export and import of starch in Malaysia. With current consumption of starch in Malaysia is estimated around 100,000 tonne per year, the policies help to increase the supply of starch for local consumption. More than half of sago starch is been exported because of its high value as food grade starch and industry grade starch. This is more profitable than using it for local consumption. However, the usage of sago starch for local consumption still can support the local demand where the import value of starch in Malaysia is far too small (below RM80,000 from year 2001) compared to the export value of sago starch. Third positive aspect, the policies implicate the sago researches involvement in Malaysia. The policies help to increase the number of government subsidiaries and private group involvement in sago researches and development. The researches mostly focus on increasing its starch yield, reducing the gestation period of sago and reducing the cost of sago production. Fourth positive aspect, the policies implicate the income of sago smallholders. With most of sago palm is cultivated by smallholders, the policies help to increase their income. Most of sago farmers are having income from non-sago agricultural activities or from off-farm employment. This is because sago palm has the gestation period of 10 to 15 years which considered as too long to generate income. The policies are focusing on economic strategies in planting sago at farm level where the farmers can maximize the profit in sago cultivation. Fifth positive aspect, the policies implicate the collaboration between federal government and state government. With agriculture as the third instrument to generate Malaysias economy, the policies play an important role in developing the abundant crop such as sago. The federal government creates policies to develop sago cultivation for the state government. Then the state government will innovatively formulate, plan and develop the policies to be implemented. The policies consist of budget and land for sago cultivation. Finally, the policies ensured sago not to be abundant and will be developed to support the agriculture industry as well as other industries in Malaysia. 5.2 Negative Aspects First negative aspect, the policies implicate the manipulation of private companies in sago industry. Most of private companies that involve in planting and processing sago have their own association to protect their importance in the industry. They might control the price of sago section (sago trunk which is cut to yield its starch) and the fee for transportation to factories. When this happened, the sago smallholders might gain small profit or even worst they gain loss. Second negative aspect, the policies implicate the traditional value of sago processing. With the number of modern sago processing plant is increased, the traditional, small-scale cottage mills which produce a type of inferior wet sago called lementak for the local markets are slowly being wiped out. The Melanau community especially will slowly lose their traditional way in processing sago. Finally, the policies are considered not very effective in developing sago industry. This can be seen in the small increment of sago cultivation area for the past 5 years compare to other crop in Malaysia. CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS Even though, sago is considered by many plant scientists, especially Japanese scientists, as the starch crop of the 21st century (Jong, 1995), the present method of cultivation of sago palm shows that it is currently grown using very primitive agricultural technology. Sago is at present grown essentially as a smallholder crop, producing low yields with minimal maintenance and zero fertilization. Current methods of cultivation in Sarawak is not that much different from what had occurred through the millennium and what is occurring now in the virgin, unexplored jungles of Papua New Guinea. The policy was implemented and sago industry also given impotency in Sarawak region. The cultivation area was showing increment and the yield as well, at the same time Malaysia market and world market for sago also increase. We found every policy try their level best to develop the sago industry from cultivation up to market it. Now they also start focus in research and development (RD), which will improve the sago industry. The sago plant lot of RD, to improve the plant and make it more economically profit. In sago industry there need two important thing need to improve. Make sure the plant produce high starch or high yield and decrease the gestation period that is from 10 to 15 years to 5years. The yield can be improved by good plant materiel and good plant breeding as well. This can only be achieved by a prolonged, sustained research program in plant selection and breeding work. The spectacular improvements in the yield of oil palm and its maturity period in Malaysia were achieved by a similar long-term research program, undertaken by a wide variety of governmental and private groups, beginning in the 1900s (Hartley, 1967). Unfortunately, there are currently no private groups carrying out research on sago in Malaysia. In fact, there are now only two government centers, the Dalat Sago Research Station and CRAUN (Crop Research and Application Unit, Lembaga Pembangunan dan Lindungan Tanah, Sarawak or PELITA), carrying out research on sago cultivation. The amount of research resource devoted to sago is clearly inadequate for the monumental task of converting sago from its present semi-wild status to a modern clone with high yields, short maturity periods and responsiveness to fertilizers. The proper management and good care to sago will improve Sarawak Sago industry and the policy will make the sago as golden crop of Sarawak.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Human Growth Hormone Essay -- Drugs Health Science Essays

Human Growth Hormone Human growth hormone, a substance produced in the human body, is now being sold over the Internet. Companies are marketing the product as an anti-aging product. At the web-site, http://www.awakenhgh.com, the company claims that there is a possibility that one can "stop the aging process." On the home page, they claim that the product can reduce fat and cellulite, increase energy and muscle tone, elevate mood, improve sexual performance and sleep, remove wrinkles, balance cholesterol, re-grow and re-color hair, and more. The product is a dietary oral spray that they claim contains a product that is "identical to the growth hormone manufactured in the human body" and is designed for oral consumption. They also provide a brief history of human growth hormone and how medical professionals have used it to treat children with growing deficiencies to promote a normal pattern of development. Human growth hormone used to be available through cadavers only, so they claim an inexpensive, synthe tic form is a real breakthrough for the public. The company claims that the product burns fat by increasing one’s metabolism, and that it is the "most effective anti-obesity agent ever discovered." It also "selectively" reduces the waist, hips and thighs while increasing muscle mass. Most of the improvement claims that are made do not explain how the product will do what it is purported to do. The creators claim that the HGH product is produced in an FDA approved lab, but there is a disclaimer in small print at that says that the Food & Drug Administration has not evaluated the statements that "Awaken" makes about the products. They also claim that there have been no significant side effects in children and adults with g... ...effects on the body and the mind, and without the additional cost of an unapproved supplement. Many more studies on HGH need to be done in order to learn more about the side effects and whether or not additional hormone had any positive effects on healthy individuals. The claims that are made on the internet are enticing and may possibly have medical research to back them up in some cases, but there has not been enough research done to sell this product to healthy individuals without unbiased scientific information. Works Cited Anti-aging Hormones. Harvard Womens Health Watch, 6 (8), 2-3. 1999. Inzucchi, S. (1997). Growth Hormone in Adults: Indications and Implications. Hospital Practice, 32 (1), 79-86, 90-91, 95-96. Morley, J. (1999). Growth Hormone: Fountain of Youth or Death Hormone? Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 47 (12), 1475-76. Human Growth Hormone Essay -- Drugs Health Science Essays Human Growth Hormone Human growth hormone, a substance produced in the human body, is now being sold over the Internet. Companies are marketing the product as an anti-aging product. At the web-site, http://www.awakenhgh.com, the company claims that there is a possibility that one can "stop the aging process." On the home page, they claim that the product can reduce fat and cellulite, increase energy and muscle tone, elevate mood, improve sexual performance and sleep, remove wrinkles, balance cholesterol, re-grow and re-color hair, and more. The product is a dietary oral spray that they claim contains a product that is "identical to the growth hormone manufactured in the human body" and is designed for oral consumption. They also provide a brief history of human growth hormone and how medical professionals have used it to treat children with growing deficiencies to promote a normal pattern of development. Human growth hormone used to be available through cadavers only, so they claim an inexpensive, synthe tic form is a real breakthrough for the public. The company claims that the product burns fat by increasing one’s metabolism, and that it is the "most effective anti-obesity agent ever discovered." It also "selectively" reduces the waist, hips and thighs while increasing muscle mass. Most of the improvement claims that are made do not explain how the product will do what it is purported to do. The creators claim that the HGH product is produced in an FDA approved lab, but there is a disclaimer in small print at that says that the Food & Drug Administration has not evaluated the statements that "Awaken" makes about the products. They also claim that there have been no significant side effects in children and adults with g... ...effects on the body and the mind, and without the additional cost of an unapproved supplement. Many more studies on HGH need to be done in order to learn more about the side effects and whether or not additional hormone had any positive effects on healthy individuals. The claims that are made on the internet are enticing and may possibly have medical research to back them up in some cases, but there has not been enough research done to sell this product to healthy individuals without unbiased scientific information. Works Cited Anti-aging Hormones. Harvard Womens Health Watch, 6 (8), 2-3. 1999. Inzucchi, S. (1997). Growth Hormone in Adults: Indications and Implications. Hospital Practice, 32 (1), 79-86, 90-91, 95-96. Morley, J. (1999). Growth Hormone: Fountain of Youth or Death Hormone? Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 47 (12), 1475-76.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener” Essay

In Melville’s â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener,† Melville displays the life of a person, named Bartelby, who does almost nothing with his life except write. Even latter in the story, Bartelby gives up writing and on life itself. Melville’s story brings up two major themes, which include writing and freedom. The story revolves around scriveners whose job it is to constantly copy documents and in a sense become a slave to writing. Bartelby, though one of the scriveners, resists the command to do exactly what he is told and as the story unfolds, he consistently refused to do what he was told. This defiance leads the reader to question whether Bartelby was protecting his freedom or just setting himself up for an early demise. Barthe includes in his essay â€Å"The Death of the Author† that the author has no control over how his work is interpreted and the reader must decide what the work truly means. Authors are only limited to being authors when they are in the midst of writing but once they have finished their work and are not writing then the Authors are no longer authors. Freedom is constantly emphasized throughout Melville’s story because Bartelby chooses to quit writing do to the fact that he is not being a true author but only a â€Å"scriptor.† Most of â€Å"Bartelby and the Scrivener† centers on writing and how it is necessary in the law practice. Scriveners are law copyists which means their job is to copy law documents for the lawyer to have. At first, Bartelby was a dedicated worker who never stopped copying throughout the day. He did not even take the time to take a lunch break but rather had snacks delivered to him. But as the story continues, Bartelby deteriorates as a worker by first refusing to look over copied documents then finally giving up writing all together. Writing, in this story, seems to be a chore and does not require the person to be an individual in any way. The scriveners had to tediously copy documents, which explain why the scriveners were not exactly the best-qualified workers. Turkey couldn’t work in the afternoon and Nippers couldn’t work in the morning. In any other job that requires serious thought, these two would be fired due to their inability to work all day. According to Barthe, these scriveners are not authors but only scriptors because they mimic the writing and don’t create something original. Bartelby could no longer do this seemingly unimportant writing and finally just stopped writing at all. The only time Bartelby was considered a scriptor was while he was currently copying the documents because â€Å"the modern scriptor is born simultaneously with the text, is in no way equipped with a being preceding or exceeding the writing† (Barthe 145). To be a scriptor, the person must be constantly writing which explains why at the beginning of the story Bartelby never leaves his room but works throughout the day. Bartelby did this because he believed that the only time his life was worth something was when he had the title of a scriptor. Over time though having this title stopped meaning something to him and he eventually quit writing. When Bartelby lost his title of a scriptor, he lost his will to live and that is why when he was in jail he refused to eat. Freedom is an extremely complicated theme in â€Å"Bartelby and the Scrivener† because it is unclear who exactly is free. The scriveners are all slaves to writing because they must spend their time copying documents and don’t really do anything else that would lead another person to say the scriveners are living productive lives. But each scrivener exercises a bit of his or her own type of freedom. Turkey works well in the morning but as the day goes on, he tends to make more and more mistakes. The lawyer tries decides to only have Turkey work in the morning but Turkey refuses that request. This refusal shows that Turkey has a certain free will and doesn’t just spend his time mindlessly copying documents and doing exactly what the lawyer tells him to do. The much younger Nippers has the opposite problem that Turkey has and he cannot work well in the morning because Nippers needs time to get adjusted for work. At first, Bartelby looks to be the least free scrivener at work because he would work nonstop throughout the day without even taking a lunch break but as the story progressed the reader would see that this is untrue. Bartelby on several occasions refuses to do work for the lawyer and eventually stops writing all together. The lawyer is very curious with Bartelby’s response and actually seems to admire his unyielding response to looking over copies. â€Å"His steadiness, his freedom from all dissipation, his incessant industry†¦his great stillness, his unalter- ableness of demeanor under all circumstances, made him a valuable acquisition† (Melville 19). Bartelby’s decision to quit writing demonstrates his desire to become free from the tediousness of writing. Bartelby, however, cannot handle this freedom being captive by writing for so long. He needs to make choices with his freedom and he really didn’t know what to do with his life. This is why he stayed in the office until he was thrown in jail and then died of starvation because he refused to eat. Bartelby couldn’t decide what to do with his life without writing and it led to his death. The lesson learned about freedom from this story is that complete freedom means complete loneliness and helplessness. Barthes’ â€Å"Death of the Author† combines writing and freedom together in order to express how certain writings should be interpreted. Barthes explains to his readers that â€Å"a text is not a line of words releasing a single ‘Theological’ meaning but a multi-dimensional space in which variety of writings, none of them original, blend and clash† (Barthes 146). This quote iterates that the author does not come up with a work that is truly original but takes aspects of different works to create his own. Barthes emphasizes that the author should not instill his own opinions in his work but rather allow the reader to have the freedom to come up with his own interpretation. This is where freedom intertwines with writing. The author must give up control of his work and allow the reader to take authority and decide what exactly is meant be the work. But also, the author’s duty is to limit how much is actually expressed in the text. â€Å"To give a text an Author is to impose a limit on that text, to furnish it with a final signified, to close the writing† (Barthes 147). The readers must separate a literary work from the author in order to free the writing from being read only as the author’s opinion. Every work of writing contains multiple interpretations. Barthes compares text to textiles by explaining that â€Å"everything is to be disentangled, nothing deciphered; the structure can be followed, ‘run’ (like the thread of a stocking) at every point and at every level, but there is nothing beneath† (Barthes 147). This quote explains that much of writing read through thoroughly but conclusions don’t necessary need to be drawn. Reading a work is much different than figuring out a puzzle. To truly grasp writing, a reader must capture the actual literature and realize exactly what each word in the writing is trying to express. The meaning of the work is derived from the ideas of the reader, rather than the thoughts of the writer. The reader has the freedom to capture whatever meaning he desires from a work of writing. Barthes explains that the author cannot put his own opinions into his own work because the reader must come up with his own interpretation of the work. Melville’s â€Å"Bartelby and the Scrivener† emphasizes this concept by showing the role of a scrivener, who only copies documents and puts nothing of himself into it. Bartelby feels like his life has been wasted just copying documents and finally decides to quit writing. Once Bartelby loses his will to write, he completely loses his will to do anything of importance, even eat. Writing must be entangled like threads of a cloth, and the author must place a limit on how much can be inferred from the text. Bartelby is not an author but only a scriptor because he is not performing art by copying legal documents. This explains why Bartelby believes his life is useless because he wasted it away copying documents. Works Cited Barthes, Melville. â€Å"Death of an Author.† 1977. Melville, Herman. â€Å"Bartelby the Scrivener.† 1870.