Monday, May 25, 2020

Development Of Islamic Banking And Finance In Bangladesh Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2034 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Bangladesh has a mixed banking system consist of private, nationalized, and foreign commercial banks. Bangladesh Bank is the central bank of the country and is responsible for monetary policy of the Government and all commercial banks. After the independence the Government of Bangladesh initially nationalized the entire domestic banking system and proceeded to reorganize and rename variety of banks. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Development Of Islamic Banking And Finance In Bangladesh Finance Essay" essay for you Create order In 1980s, commercial bank privatization decision revolutionize the entire banking system. At present the total banking Bangladesh system consists of four state-owned banks, four specialized banks, thirty private commercial banks and nine foreign banks. The banks financial performance evaluation is important for all stakeholders owner such as debtors, investors, government, creditors, regulators, and bank depositor managers. Bank performance provides direction to stakeholders in making decision. For example it gives direction to the investors and debtors to decide either they should invest money in the bank or invest somewhere else. Similarly, it gives direction to the bank managers whether to improve loan service or service deposit or both to improve its finance. Regulatory agencies and the government are also keen for the regulation of financial performance purposes. BACKGROUND This Islamic banking, as a new paradigm has begun in Bangladesh in 1983 with the establishment of the first Islamic bank Islamic Bank Bangladesh Limited. After that, six more banks were established in the country to achieve this welfare banking to the doorsteps of the people. In the last two years decades, it has shown a great strength in achieving the goals of Islamic Shariah. From observing the success, most of the conventional banks have been allured to open their own Islamic branches with the traditional ones. In Bangladesh, the most important development in Islamic Banking and Finance (IBF) and in the recent few years has been the entry of some conventional banks in the market and their use of Islamic modes of financing through their Islamic branches, windows, or units. Some of the giants in the banking and finance industry, Islamic banking is a necessities and can encourages that bank. Bangladesh was moving from time to time and presently 9 percent from conventional banks have opened 19 Islamic banking branches alongside their interest based branches. Thinking in devising the banking policies and framework on the basis of Islamic Shariah in the second half of the twentieth century witnesses a major shift and the end of third quarter of the century as a new system of banking called Islamic banking, this new thought finally was institutionalized. Moreover to the Islamic Banking movement, the establishment of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in 1975 gave momentum to that banking system. Then a number of Islamic Banking and financial institutions have been established all over the world irrespective of Muslim and non-Muslim countries since the establishment of the IDB. The most part of the operational financial resources of Islamic banks came from different types of deposits mobilized of the principles of Al-Wadia which also known as safe custodianship and Al-Mudaraba which means trust financing. Islamic banking has opened various ways for making loan conforming to Islamic Sharia by utilizing of fund under the framework. In the conventional banking, the term loan is called Investment in the Islamic banking. They have devised different types of interest- free financing devices ever since the Islamic banks cannot lend on the interest. As can be seen today, the Islamic finance has become extremely sophisticated as well as increasingly competitive. Today through Islamic subsidiaries, very large number or western financial institutions are involved in the Islamic finance. It was known as Islamic windows or can be called marketing of Islamic products. Recently, more of the new Islamic products have appeared such as Islamic bonds (called as sukuk) and Islamic derivatives. With around 135 million populations of which 90 percent are Muslim, Bangladesh became the third largest Muslim country in the world. After the OIC recommendation at its Foreign Ministers meeting in 1978 at Senegal to develop a separate banking system of their own, that give hope and aspiration of the people to run the banking system on the basis of Islamic principle came into reality. Then Bangladesh established its first bank after 5 years of that declaration which is in 1983. After that, out of 49 banks in Bangladesh, 7 from it full-fledged Islamic Banks and 19 Islamic Banking branches of 9 conventional banks were working in the private sector on the basis of Islamic Sharia. THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE IN BANGLADESH Global Islamic finance is growing rapidly making their way and gaining popularity in Bangladesh, with experts predicting that the Shari `ah compliance with industry will continue in steady steps to become the mainstream of Islamic banking system in South Asian countries. The future of the Islamic banking system is so bright, Mominul Islam Patwary, chairman of the executive committee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, to IslamOnline.net. The Islamic banking in Bangladesh is seeing an impressive growth in Bangladesh. Bangladesh entered the Islamic banking system only in 1983, with the establishment of Islami Bank Bangladesh. Since then, five other private fully Islamic banks and 20 Islamic banking branches of conventional banks have been established. Patwary says that his bank is now one of the top performers in terms of bank business and profit of 48 commercial banks operating in the country. Islamic Bank Bangladesh Limited has gained first position in all private banks in term deposits, investment, export import and remittance collection. According to Bangladesh Bank (BB), the countrys central bank, the deposits of Islamic banking system is now 25 percent of all private bank deposits and investments is 30 percent. Bahauddin Mohammad Yousuf, vice chairman of Al-Arafah Islamic Bank, has an explanation for Islamic finance boom Bangladesh. He says that for a Muslim, the religion forbids any gain or pays riba, Islamic banking makes it possible to operate a business without interest. The people of this country are religious, Patwary, Islami Bank, agrees. Islam forbids Muslims from usury, receiving or paying interest on loans. Islamic banks and finance institutions cannot receive or provide funds for anything involving alcohol, gambling, pornography, tobacco, weapons or pork. Shari `ah-compliant financing deals resemble lease to own arrangements, installment payment plans, joint purchase and sale agreements, or partnerships. Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim-majority country in the world, and the Muslims who make up more than 80 percent of the countrys 148 million population. Bankers believe that Islamic banking set to progress even more, if the laws governing Islamic banking policy was introduced. If the introduction of Islamic banking, Islamic banking system though will continue to grow, said Patwary. Experts predict that the rapid rise of Shari `ah-based systems, the industry will eventually move on to become the mainstream finance in Bangladesh. Without the benefit of Shari` ah-based systems will be mainstream banking and conventional banks will become the minority in the OIC countries including Bangladesh in 2002, M Azizul Haque, a leading expert on Islamic banking in Bangladesh, told IOL. Azizul Haque, who is also chairman of the Shari `ah Council of Dhaka, believes that Bangladesh will follow throughout the world to the Islamic banking sector. He explained that the rate of growth of Islamic banking in the OIC countries for example is 15 to 20 percent, while conventional banks are 10 to 15 percent. Islamic finance is one of the fastest growing secto rs in the global financial industry. In the grounds of the credit crisis, the global Islamic finance market has grown about 15 percent in three years ago, and is now worth about $ 700 billion worldwide. At present there are nearly 300 banks and financial institutions worldwide. Assets are forecast to grow to $ 1 trillion by 2013. Azizul Haque expects that higher growth rates in the next decade will force the global financial system to Islamic banking. There is no any kind of concern about the success of Islamic banking, said renowned economist. Capital cannot solve global economic problems.The world is looking for a new economic order. Islamic economic system would be that the new economic order. Bangladeshs aspiration to conduct banking system based on Islamic principles move closer to becoming a reality in 1978, after the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting of foreign ministers of member countries. OIC recommends its members (including Bangladesh) to develop their own system of Islamic banking. Five years after the declaration, in 1983, the countrys first sharia-compliant bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh, was established. More banks have followed including Al-Arafah Islami Bank (opened in 1995) and Shahjalal Islamic Bank Ltd in 2001. Observing the success of their Islamic counterparts, the number of conventional financial institutions has been keen to launch Islamic banking products and services with those of conventional ones. To ensure adherence with Shariah, conventional banks just like the Islamic ones, need strong Shariah supervisory board, which helps in providing model agreements, approves all new operational structure and put basic guidelines for Islamic fi nancing. Premier Bank Ltd, one of the top ten banks in the country. The Bank has maintained two parallel lines of business since 1995. Meanwhile, other banks, Premier Bank Ltd, has opened two separate, dedicated branch (in addition to those of conventional 25) operating in accordance with the principles of Shariah. Some banks, such as Exim Bank (Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Ltd.) has taken a step further and fully changed to Islamic banking. Growth of Islamic banking in Bangladesh is ongoing day by day. A remarkable shift or conversion of conventional banks and their branches into Islamic lines give banking a high signal received by the public interest in general. The Islamic banking industry continued to show steady growth in 2005 in line with economic growth, as reflected in increased market share of Islamic banking industry in terms of assets, financing and deposits of the banking system total. Islamic banks in Bangladesh started from a very limited resource base. But with the passage time, they have shown a steady performance in respect of the mobilization deposit. Total deposits of Islamic banks and Islamic banking branches conventional banks stood at Taka is so many in September 2005. CONCLUSION Analysis leads us to conclude that even if we see that we need to take lessons from the Islamic Bank, which is supposed to make the banking system less prone to problems of non-performing assets of banks, but we have a lesson that Conventional Bank should concentrate on short-term loan that is anti-growth oriented. But it is not possible to switch to Islamic banking practices become even impossible because ICBs also failed to adopt Shariah compliant banking operations. From a practical Islamic Bank Bangladesh, we can conclude that the Islamic Bank failed in general to claim yourself a pioneer for an alternative to interest-based banking system that is not based on a share as Islamic banks and finance invest nearly 80-90 per cent of their funding under the rate protected and is set to return based financing. A financial system built solely around the modes of financing cannot claim superiority over an interest-based system on the grounds of equity, efficiency, stability and growth. The questions of how to improve the recovery rate of Bangladesh Banking is still open. Perhaps, we need to find the answer is not in Islamic banking but in the regulatory framework and the legal and business risks instead of emphasizing on security risks. Analysis and comparison between Islamic and Conventional Banks revealed that no significant difference exists in the lending and financing procedures between the two banking systems. In both types of system, from approaching the Bank to finance the delivery of loan facilities and similar facilities except Bank Shariah Board exists in Islam, also known as the Religious Supervisory Board. From the comparison of our instruments found that only Mudaraba and Musharaka are financial instruments that truly Shariah-based Islam. The rest of the instruments are skillfully with the Conventional Banking System. Clearly, the returns to finance provided financial mode based on Murabaha, Ijara, and Bai-Muajjal with service charges are all set out as benefits. In Islamic banking, all modes other than the mode of financing secured ideal because there is no practical risk involved (and collateral have a structure based on short-term financing.) This enables the Bank to get their loan portfolio and take advantage of its financing instruments to make rate better recovery on Conventional Bank.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The American Dream And The Roaring Twenties - 1336 Words

Eric Rogers Mrs. Goebel English 11 9 March 2016 The American Dream and the Roaring Twenties The 1920’s was knows as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age because of all the dramatic political and social change, more people lived in cities rather than farms, and the nation’s wealth doubled between 1920 and 1929. There were many new technological innovations and many factors that made the United States the place to be to find the â€Å"American Dream†. The 1920’s were known as the Roaring Twenties or The Jazz Age because of many things. The roaring twenties was a different time because of all the different things happening in the time period. The 1920’s in the United States, called â€Å"roaring† because of the different and new types of popular culture coming into the style that decade (â€Å"Roaring Twenties†). The movie industry skyrocketed in the 1920s with the growth of theaters being built downtown and in Hollywood. Silent films gradually came to be replaced by talkies†, which were films that had sound, in the late 20s. Some more innovations are; visual art and architecture, radio, music, dance, fashion, literature, and intellectual movements. There were many more innovations that made the 1920’s â€Å"Roaring† but one of the biggest changes was the automobile. The 1920’s were known as the Roaring Twenties or The Jazz Age continued. The Roaring Twenties was a time when many people defied prohibition, indulged in new styles of dancing, and rejected many traditional moral standardsShow MoreRelatedExamples Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby903 Words   |  4 Pagesthe American Dream F. Scott Fitzgeralds â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, depicts the lavish and privileged lives of an affluent cast of characters living in East and West Egg (Long Island), during the height of the Roaring Twenties. Fitzgerald illustrates an â€Å"up for grabs† world where anyone can make it to the top. No one better embodies this than Jay Gatsby, a midwest farm boy turned self-made millionaire. While many such as Gatsby were able to amass a large amount of wealth during the Roaring Twenties, itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald931 Words   |  4 PagesWar I, during the Roaring Twenties, women in The Great Gatsby such as Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan, display the new ideology of women while attempting to reach the American Dream. Women embody the new flapper era and are expected to work for their own money and gain more independence after earning the right to vote. Flappers were seen as significant figures during the Roaring Twenties, as they helped define a new gener ation for young women who are trying to achieve the American Dream, â€Å"[Flappers] wereRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1389 Words   |  6 PagesRoaring Twenties of America The Roaring Twenties era was a time of not only of crime, changing action and roles of women, but also of many other different social and cultural trends. The 1920s was the Progressive era that was a response to the Gilded Age. The Progressive era was filled with many reformers that aimed to reform the social issues like the women’s movement who had started a temperance movement to prohibit people from drinking. The 1920s was also a time of a social gap where the wealthyRead MoreThe Roaring Twenties And The Great Gatsby1284 Words   |  6 PagesThe Roaring Twenties Eng III I-Hui Chen Period3 1920 is a really important time in America, it starts after the World War One until the Great Depression. People start to enjoy their life and having parties, alcohol, everything is about money and goods. We can see people’s amazing and colorful life from the,†The Great Gatsby†. But was The life at Twenties really this wonderful? Or actually there’s a lot of hard things behind the amazing life? This era is after the World War One, there’s notRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald992 Words   |  4 Pagesin this a time of boundaryless death, and urban decimation. The Great Gatsby is modeled towards the death of the American dream during the 1920’s. Based on the happening of the 1920’s, this model is certainly reasonable. F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby use the motifs of materialism, carelessness, and decay seen in the 1920’s in order to show a decimation of the American Dream, and the human race. Throughout The Great Gatsby it is very easy to recognize how the time period affected theRead MoreCharacteristics Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1615 Words   |  7 PagesChuck Palahniuk once said in his novel Haunted,Thats the American Dream: to make your life into something you can sell. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the protagonist is a man named Gatsby who is accustomed to the party lifestyle of the Roaring Twenties. The novel follows a group of people living in a fictional town known as West Egg and East Egg.The two towns represent old money and new money. Jay Gatsby overcomes his poor upbringing and earns an enormous amount of moneyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And Harlem By Langston Hughes1089 Words   |  5 PagesThe roaring 20’s was an astounding time in the history of the United States of America. Many authors published novels, poems, and other works of literature to show their readers what it would be like to experience this time fra me. Some examples of these works include The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and â€Å"Harlem† by Langston Hughes. Both of these pieces of literature include literary elements to appeal to the reader’s senses and imagination. A prevalent theme that has been found in works ofRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1379 Words   |  6 Pagesunprecedented growth and a rapid increase in the wealth of the richest Americans (Smiley 1). As it follows the excessive lives of wealthy individuals, the novel highlights the negative effects of an unregulated capitalist economy. Fitzgerald portrays the inequality and unnecessary material extravagance that was caused by faulty economic policy. In his novel, he displays his criticism of capitalism and American society during the roaring twenties. The Great Gatsby is especially critical of the economic divideRead MoreLifestyles of the Rich and Famous in the Roaring Twenties Essay1015 Words   |  5 PagesFamous in the Roaring 20’s The Roaring Twenties†, The Era of Wonderful Nonsense, The Decade of the Dollar , The Period of the Psyche, Dry Decade and the age of Alcohol and Al Capone†, these slogans are all ways to describe the 1920’s in just a few words. (The 1920s: Lifestyles and Social Trends: Overview) The 1920’s were a decade of parties, money, and extravagant lifestyles. The decade portrayed the American Dream of women, money, alcohol, music, and partying. In the twenties dresses wereRead More1.10 the Great Gatsby Essay864 Words   |  4 PagesII: 1. The American dream is the common desire to be successful. Every American wants to make a lot of money with a high paying job, and all the luxuries of having money. 2. The media advertisement, salaries, and society match my definition because students and adults work as hard as they can get into the best schools, the best paying jobs, and all the luxuries of having money. 3. Elements That Make Up Jay Gatsbys American Dream What is Wrong With Gatsbys Concept of the Dream or The Way

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Debate Over The Legalization Of Prostitution - 1551 Words

Recently, a controversial American website, Backpage.com, which is the second largest classified advertising listing service on the Internet in the United States, comes to public attention because of a lawsuit that is filed on several brave girls. The girls allege that they were pimped on Backpage.com to involuntary prostitute. Being known as the â€Å"oldest profession in the world,† prostitution is defined as a criminal act in most of the U.S., except in some rural counties of the state of Nevada. The debates on prostitution are always come with many legal problems, for instance, human trafficking, violence, sexual slavery and the use of children, as well as public health and moral issues. Different from the U.S., prostitution practices a legitimate business in some countries in the world, such as Brazil, Germany and Canada. Thus, the heated debate over the legalization of prostitution goes on in the U.S. There are proponents, who opposed to the legalized prostitution, belie ving that prostitution is simply immoral and should be considered a crime. But legalization would financial benefit local government, would promote public health and protect sex workers. Although the sex trade is illegal in most of the U.S, it is alive and runs well. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were about 78,000 arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice in 2007, while many sex workers and consumers were not caught (FBI 2007). Also, the sex trade is extremely lucrative. ItShow MoreRelatedShould Prostitution Be A Victimless Crime?1506 Words   |  7 PagesThe act of prostitution has been a leading topic of moral and legislative debate for centuries. Sometimes referred to as the ‘world’s oldest profession’ because it dates back to around 2400 B.C., prostitution is the practice of exchanging, selling or trading of sexual acts for payment. Although this service is forbidden amongst the world more often than it is not, the debate of its legalization has remained a heated issue (ProQuest Staff).The legalization of prostitution and whether or not prostitutionRead MoreProstitution Essay1724 Words   |  7 Pages Prostit ution has been a part of our worlds culture since the beginning of time, and is the worlds oldest profession. Ever since the beginning of time man has felt the need to pay for services of a sexual nature, whether are legal or not. In our culture; however, prostitution has become a topic of debate concerning the merits of this professions legality. In viewing the legalization of prostitution one must take into account all the pros and cons of the situation, but more importantly what isRead MoreThe Legal And Social Implications Of Prostitution1039 Words   |  5 PagesThe legal and social implications of prostitution have been a topic of much concern over the past few decades. Although the issue has been heavily debated, a proper answer to its legalization or criminalization has not yet been defined in many countries throughout the world. While some view that â€Å"sex work† is a justifiable occupation that should be protected under human rights, others argue that it’s legalization would do more harm than good. According to the Health and Human Rights Journal (2014)Read MoreThe Social Stance Of Prostitution1323 Words   |  6 PagesProstitution is the selling of one’s body in exchange for money, and it is the oldest occupation in the world, beginning in the early society of Mesopotamia (Fanni, 2014). Prostitutes were seen as inhumane and disease ridden since in the early 1980’s, when prostitution was most prevalent, there was an increase of HIV/AIDS because of the transferring of disease from prostitutes to their clients (Carrasquillo, 2014). Although there is such a negative perception of prostitution, it is a source of continuousRead MoreLegalized Prostitution : Taking Back Control1470 Words   |  6 PagesLegalized Prostitution: Taking back Control â€Å"I originally intended to write in defense of legalizing prostitution, but hindsight has made me realize that I cannot defend a profession that dehumanizes its workers.† Tlatenchi, Fredy. Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized. The Sundial. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2015. The statement above would lead the author’s readers to believe that prostitution if legal would be no different than it is now, shameful, dangerous, disease ridden and exploitationRead MoreThe introduction of new technological advanced innovations and methods during the Market Revolution1700 Words   |  7 PagesThe introduction of new technological advanced innovations and methods during the Market Revolution changed the means of production and transportation for the future, creating an easily accessible, interconnected world. As people rejoice over the positive outcomes due to the spread of ideas, goods, and services, many neglect the detrimental results. Due to modern mechanism of trans portation and production, ideas, goods and services arent the only things transported across national borders. HumanRead MoreProstitution : Taking Back Control1475 Words   |  6 Pages Legalized Prostitution: Taking back Control â€Å"I originally intended to write in defense of legalizing prostitution, but hindsight has made me realize that I cannot defend a profession that dehumanizes its workers.† Tlatenchi, Fredy. Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized. The Sundial. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2015. The statement above would lead the author’s readers to believe that prostitution if legal would be no different than it is now, shameful, dangerous, disease ridden and exploitationRead MoreUs Social Issues Prostitution1361 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Issues of Prostitution Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, It is defined is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is most often called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including john. Prostitution is a growing social problem around the world, and continues to grow here in the United States. The existenceRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legalized?1298 Words   |  6 PagesProstitution is considered to be the oldest profession in the world. Many people support the idea of legalizing prostitution, while others do not. This controversial debate has been ongoing since the beginning of time. Paul Armentano states many points that push towards why prostitution should be legalized, but the truth is that prostitution is just the sexual objectification of women. It is viewing them solely as de-personalized objects of desire instead of as individuals of complex personalitiesRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Prostitution1481 Words   |  6 PagesProstitution has always been a controversial topic not only in our country but all around the world. Although its been said to be the oldest profession, the social stigma that comes with it makes it taboo. Despite these disapprov ing views, the majority of individuals in prostitution turn to it in desperate need of money. This negative connotation that comes with prostitution is most likely derived from the thought that sex is an immoral act. Society in this country is slowly becoming more accepting

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

In both Sidneys Astrophel and Stella XXXIX Essay Example For Students

In both Sidneys Astrophel and Stella XXXIX Essay Words such as embalmer, casket and hushed connote a sense of the ultimate escape, death, reinforced by the religious lexicon of other verses. Normally reserved for God alone, a hymn is a religious song that sings the praises of the Lord. By conferring this type of praise onto sleep, the speaker is demonstrating its importance to him. The notion of the climactic volta is also reinforced by the rhyming of the first verse of the volta with the first group of the poem. The vocabulary used in this group is very dark (midnight, shutting, gloom-pleasd, enshaded) and contrasts strikingly with the negatively-bright daylight in the volta. The carefully chosen words of the poems give a deeper understanding of the themes of the poems, and help the listener to more fully feel the plight of each speaker. The most obvious poetic device used in either of the poems is the personification of sleep. In Astrophel and Stella XXXIX, sleep is very much a saviour for the speaker. He asks sleep to shield and protect him, to save him from having to face the image of Stella. Despair is also personified, as Astrophels mortal enemy whom sleep must vanquish. This relationship reinforces the theme of conflict and the peace that only sleep can bring. Another poetic device used in the sonnet is direct opposition to show conflict. In the first body of rhymes, Astrophel gives three examples of the power of sleep to cure fighting. The first is as the baiting-place of wit and the balm of woe. The parallel between the words is immediately striking, as are the differences. The hard t sounds in baiting and wit connote aggression and gaiety, while the long vowel sounds of balm and woe are heavier and more serious, an immediate contrast. Further developing this idea, Astrophel speaks of figurative versus literal freedom, and the impartiality of a decision between two extremes. Another common figure of speech to the two sonnets is the use of alliteration. Specifically, the s sound in verses like civil wars to cease and save me from curious Conscience that still lords lends a softness to the poem, akin to a gentle breeze blowing or a mother soothing an young child. Further assonances in To Sleep, such as soft embalmer or pillows, woes give the sonnet a heavy, sombre tone. The personification of both sleep and conscience in this poem again shows how the speaker needs sleep to protect him, this time from himself. The desperate need to escape of both speakers in these poems is made evident in the construction of the arguments and rhyme schemes, the vocabulary chosen by the poet and in the devices used to emphasize the disquiet in each of them. The conflict Astrophel is running away from in the first sonnet is more situational; he cannot get Stella out of his mind and therefore can get no rest. In To Sleep, however, the conflict is within the speaker; it is his own conscience troubling him. Both represent the desire in all of us to step back from our problems and yet illustrate the very temporary nature of this retreat.