Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 51

Summary - Assignment Example Further, the firm has established a team of caring and genuine people, which contributes in winning trust from its clients. This aids in ensuring that the firm does not face challenges in conducting its business activities. These persons also have the essential skills and knowledge to ensure that they have the ability to deliver the best results as expected. Moreover, the firm embraces the concepts of effective communication. This ensures that there is a two way channel of interaction in terms of winning trust and communicating effectively. The communication strategy, which is adopted by the firm, ensures that customers get satisfied with the information they get. It is this communication strategy that supports effective interaction through the social media where individuals can gain immediate feedback on their queries. Moreover, the communication strategy eliminates issues of delay and client dissatisfaction, which may have negative impacts on the business activities of the

Individuals and Their Discoveries Are Not Enough to Bring Medical Progress Essay Example for Free

Individuals and Their Discoveries Are Not Enough to Bring Medical Progress Essay Individuals and their discoveries are not enough on their own to bring medical progress. Explain how far this statement applies to Jenner and his work. Jenner’s discovery of the link between cowpox and smallpox was significant to the development of a vaccine for smallpox. However, it can be argued that Jenner and his discovery were not enough on their own to bring medical progress. The factors Scientific thinking, Government Communication and Changing attitudes played a major and important role to bring medical progress. One reason as to why the statement applies to Jenner and his work is because the Government worked in Jenners favour to bring medical progress. In 1802 and 1807, Parliament gave Edward Jenner  £30,000 to develop his work on vaccination. This clearly indicates that without the help of Parliament, Jenner’s work would not have shown as much signs of advancement; hence he would not have had the money to progress. In addition to this, fifty years later vaccination was made compulsory in Britain which led a dramatic drop in smallpox cases. This evidently shows that without the help of the Government, Jenner’s work would not have been as widely spread and used by the people as much; therefore the government did play a significant role his Edward Jenner’s development of Vaccinations. A different explanation as to why the statement is relevant to Jenner and his work is because of the communication. This factor is seen to have an impact on the medical progress of Jenner, is because without the spread of Jenner’s discoveries, people would not be aware of vaccinations. In 1798, Jenner published his own accounts of his discover, spreading the details of his methods worldwide. Consequently, that people could see his work but scientists in particular were able to see his work and they could learn from his work. This is evidence that by spreading his work worldwide, it brought medical progress; it was not just Edward Jenner alone brought medical progress to the development of a vaccine for smallpox. A different factor as to why the statement applies to Jenner and his work is because of the changing attitudes. Due to many people who had begun to think in a more scientific way, this meant that they were more open into accepting Jenner’s theory for Vaccinations. This implies that if people’s attitudes were similar to people who had supernatural beliefs, they would not have accepted the theory, therefore without the changing attitudes, Jenner’s work would not have caused a huge medical progression. Another reason which explains how the statement is relevant to Jenner and his work is because of the scientific thinking. Edward Jenner was able to use scientific method and experimentation in his research which is a clear indication his work can be considered trustworthy and it is likely to be accurate. Jenner also tested out his theory on a small boy which proved his theory to be correct but also on twenty-three other people. This shows that without the scientific methods and experiments, Jenner would not have reached the conclusion that his hypothesis was correct; therefore this is evidence for medical progress. Jenner’s scientific thinking is a key factor because without it, scientists would not have been able to see his work. Also his work would not have been as widely spread; people would not trust his work if it hadn’t been tested accurately, therefore people would not use his work. Another explanation as to why the statement applies to Jenner and his work is because of the individuals. Jenner himself had the insight to realise the link between cowpox and smallpox was important. If Jenner was not a determined individual and did not carry and publish his research, the theory of vaccination would most likely not exist today. Jenner had carried on, despite opposition and criticism which indicates with Jenner’s determination, he brought medical progress. In addition to this, Jenner also tested his theory of vaccination on twenty three people, including his six month old baby which shows he is a very dedicated individual. To conclude, there are many factors to support this statement: Government, Communication, Changing attitudes and Scientific thinking all bring medical progress, alongside the individuals and their discoveries. However, Scientific thinking caused the biggest impact on the medical progress because without whilst his methods and experiments, people would not trust his work, therefore people would not use his work.

Management Essays Operations Management

Management Essays Operations Management Operations Management This paper will argue the analysis of the book â€Å"The Goal† by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox. It will stress the positive and negative aspects of the book, and will discuss the criticism and which areas of the book were least interesting. The paper will also emphasize the areas of interest. The Goal is a riveting, fast-paced business novel about overcoming the barriers to making money. It has helped me better understand the fundamentals of identifying and solving problems created by constraints. After finishing the book one will be able to start successfully addressing productivity and quality problems. The authors feature some important aspects of business management; they have explained the theories in simple terms that make it appealing and logical for the readers. In this captivating business novel, which illustrates modern economic theory, Alex Rogo is a UniCo plant manager whose factory and marriage are failing. Alex Rogo manages a failing manufacturing plant, and because he dedicates most of himself to his work his marriage is difficult. When he learns from his district manager that profits must increase or the plant will be closed, Alex realizes he needs assistance. He turns to a former professor, Jonah, whom Alex discovers is now a management consultant. With his help and the help of the plant staff, Alex turns the plant around. However, in the process he also abandons many management principles that he previously thought were ironclad. To regenerate the plant, he follows advice from a vague former college professor who teaches that reduction in the efficiency of some plant operations may make the entire operation more productive. Alexs attempts to find the road to profitability and to keep his employees in the struggle involve the reader. Thankfully the authors economic models including a game with match sticks and bowls are easy to understand. Although some characters are as mysterious as the goods manufactured in the factory, others ring true. Also, the story of Alex and his wifes separation and reunion makes a touching contrast to the rest of the book. The reading is recommended for anyone with an interest in the state of America’s economy. It is energetic and interesting and offers food for thought for managers in any field of work. The performances are natural, with sound effects to enhance a picture of reality. Although it is a novel, its title is more attractive for business collections. Anyone who considers himself a manager should buy and consume this book immediately. If you are the only one in your work place to have read it, your progress to success may suddenly increase as this is one of the most exceptional business books I have ever encountered. After reading The Goal I was very impressed with the way it was written. Reading a business book in a narrative format was something I was not expecting. The narrative format caught and kept my attention throughout the entire book. That explains why it has sold over a million copies. I have since recommended this book to both my family, who manages their own business, and to my friends. It is not just as a book about business but it can help one in every aspect of life. Some of my manager friends who have started the book say that the approach to keep it away from the traditional, boring business books is wonderful and interesting. I enjoyed the fact that the authors allowed the reader figure out what Jonah (an oracle like figure) meant before Alex got it. I felt it did take Alex a long time to understand; and it seemed as though there were some basic changes in his plant that the amateur eye could see but over all, I have nothing but praise for this book. If it was not for Jonah arriving at the plant one could have assumed that Jonah was the subconscious of Alex Rogo and that he had the answers the whole time. I felt that The Goal did an excellent job leaving an open ended question and showing that life is indeed a process of ongoing improvement. Let me explain some of the many levels on which this novel is important. First, the book shows how to view businesses as systems better then any other business book on the market. It compares important works as a guide to constraints and well defines them in everyday life. The metaphor of how to speed up a slow-moving group of boy scouts will be beneficial to anyone who has done any hiking with a group. Second, the book helps you learn how to progress the performance of an organization by providing you with a replicable process that you can apply to analyzing any human or engineering system. The main metaphor is improving a manufacturing process but the same principles apply more broadly to other circumstances. Third, you will experience the power of the Socratic Method as a way to encourage your mind to learn and to use Socratic questions to stimulate the minds of others to become better thinkers. Fourth, the authors use problem simulation as a realistic way to help you experience t he learning process they are advocating. And last, the book is good in bringing home the consequences of allowing your business processes to run in a cycle. Eli Goldratt truly has a modern approach not only to management but also in teaching his theory. The Goal is about the ongoing struggle of a manufacturing plant manger as he searches for a way to save his plant from being shut down. With the leadership of an old high school physics professor Jonah, he develops a tactic to make his factory run more efficiently and become more beneficial. The theory of constraints is a simple theory that is usually the most effective and unnoticed. Goldratt understood that no matter how simple the theory is to comprehend, it would not be as successful unless it was deeply understood. If he were to simply set rules in a textbook style format as to how to approach a constraint, the chances of long-run improvement would be slim. Since business is in a steady stage of change, the constraints within them must also change. Unless the manager has a true comprehension of the theory they will be unable to adjust the environment to the changes to remain successf ul. This book was enormously effective in delivering its message and educating readers on management and accounting theories. Through the text, author Eli M. Goldratt introduces and explains the Theory of Constraints. His main character, Alex Rogo, and Rogos team of plant executives must save a declining production plant by increasing throughput and cutting operational costs. He uses the characters to guide readers through the thought process behind the theory as the characters ask questions and search for answers. Readers are given time to consider these questions and form ideas before the answers to the theory are given. Students can carefully consider all the information and weigh all possibilities to form their own opinions at times his theories become too complex and conflicting. Goldratt has been an especially productive author in recent years. Goldratt has written a novel in which he provides an analysis of those concepts as applied in a imaginary company. He has a cast of characters, a plot, and a context. He relies greatly on conversation to advance the narrative. At times these advanced narratives can be confusing for a new reader, but he tries to explain the theories in an easy and understandable manner. As in any other well-written novel, The Goal examines issues in dispute that create conflicts. Ultimately they are resolved, even if somewhat too neatly. Although of greatest relevance to manufacturing companies, Goldratts Theory of Constraints with suitable modifications can also be of extensive value to other companies with bottlenecks that also delay and often disrupt a process of some kind. The Theory of Constraints portion was a bit put down and the romance line was a little tedious, but all in all it was a decent read. The Goal is a business management book which tries to explain the theory of constrain in a manner that hasn’t been done before. The author’s way of explanation is different and does not feel like a business book, instead gives the feeling of a novel. This new way of narration can at times feel complicated, as it makes a person loss touch with the business and management, and make them involved with the interpersonal conflicts of the book. The Goal introduces the Theory of Constraints, is changing how America does business. The Goal is a fascinating, business novel about overcoming the barriers to making money. It helps to learn the basics of identifying and solving the problems created by constraints. From the moment you finish the book you will be able to start successfully addressing chronic productivity and quality problems. This theory provided a persuasive solution for factories struggling with production delays and low revenues. Theory of Constraints is strange but can be the best resource for organizations that have established improvement. The simplicity of the ideas Goldratt places on constraints helps him teach his ideas. He helps us define our organizational goals and the concepts of productivity throughput, inventory, and operational cost. Jonah the teacher makes Alex and his staff the students discover the questions and answers they have been searching for to save their factory. This work is incredible for any new business manager. It is also a very common sense and basic approach to describing some of the major problems of the manufacturing organization. These problems are easily overlooked when dissecting financial reports. An extraordinarily effective novel for learning management, this novel succeeds in being exceptional at so many levels that it could receive a multiple of five stars. It is difficult to picture a management book in novel form ever approaching this one in usefulness. Most people will learn more that they can apply from this book about management than many learn to apply from an M.B.A. The central story is built around the dilemmas facing Alex Rogo, a newly appointed plant manager. The plant can not seem to ship, its losing money, and bad things can happen to good people if all this does not change soon. Alex is at a loss for what to do until he pulls out a cigar that Jonah had recently given him. That cigar reminds him to contact Jonah for help. From there, the path to revival begins. Unlike many books that take complex ideas and oversimplify them so the ideas lose their meaning, this book simplifies ideas in ways that boost their meaning. They do this by making the ideas easier to view and employ. If you do not understand about typical factory accounting, you may get a little lost from time to time; but that is not a problem. The accounting just alters common awareness of what needs to be done. Companies that do not put an asset charge on operational assets could make the mistake from this book of seeking too little earnings. Companies need to earn on-going returns that surpass the cost of capital, too. The greatest success from this book is The Fifth Discipline following it. The discussion of the beer game simulation in The Fifth Discipline will add to the comprehension of system dynamics. Elis character as a slaughterer of sacred cows began in 1979 when the beginning of his computerized scheduling system disproved the legend that fixed scheduling does not work. This work led to the awareness that the present measurements used on the shop floor are a major stumbling block to improvement and led to the almost unavoidable next development step. But when he attacked Cost Accounting as enemy number one of productivity, he should have produced great conflict. Instead, Eli was sincerely welcomed by both manufacturing and financial people. Many companies are now discarding efficiencies and questioning other uses of cost accounting for making decisions. Today Elis process of ongoing improvement is increasingly accepted as a powerful, practical holistic approach in which other methods such as MRP, Just in Time, Statistical Process Control are synergistically matched. It seems suitable that a man characterized as unconventional but also full of common sense should mask The Goal, a manufacturing textbook, as a novel or, as some say, a love story. It is also appropriate that it should become an underground best seller in boardrooms, universities and on the factory floor. Eli Goldratt demonstrates his intellect both as a scholar and as a teacher with The Goal. The operational ideas that he presents are innovative in their practicality and common-sense approach. These concepts, jointly described as Theory of Constraints have closed the loop for prepared thinking and problem solving. This has lead to a change in this thinking that connected the departments into chains and emphasized up-stream suppliers and down-stream consumers. Where these short falls were in looking at the productivity of the entire chain and providing a problem solving method for continuously improving that productivity, Theory of Constraints provides a problem solving method as well as an executive approach that drives ongoing improvement in any business. The business novel approach is very attractive as a delivery and teaching method. Most of us struggle through the yearly crop of dry business texts that are commonly uninspiring. This book is presented with a storytellers obsession for detail, while still driving the key points of the theory. Every organization can gain from the concepts presented in The Goal. Implementation is not costly, unlike other improvement fads. Theory Of Constraints shows you, the manager, how to hub on what is really important in your operation, in spite of your daily fire drills. In conclusion, â€Å"The Goal† by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox is a business text camouflaged as a novel. It is a remarkable cast of actors that dramatizes a charming tale of discovery and freedom. In the story the manager of a troubled plant learns from a mathematician turned consultant that many of his management practices and financial assumptions are faulty. After he retools his thinking, he convinces everyone at the factory to get with the new program. The storys flow is slowed by irrelevant dialogue and subplots, but it is still a good story and a appealing format for serving up the authors messagethat businesses weighed down by archaic habits can be wildly beneficial when fresh mathematical methods are used courageously. References Mathematics books, last viewed: 20th May’04 http://mathematicsbooks.org/Business_Economics_Finance_Theory.html

Egyptian Pyramids Essay -- Egypt Pyramid

In the deserts of Egypt lie the colossal remains of an ancient civilization. These enormous works of human endeavor are the only member of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World that time has passed down to us. These are, of course, the great pyramids of ancient Egypt. But these imposing structures were not built to impress civilization millennia down the road. The pyramids in fact had a purpose to the ancient Egyptians. While they seem very simple in nature, as they are simply four-sided pyramids with square bases, they had a meaning for those that had them built. Even by today’s standards, the pyramids of ancient Egypt were an impressive feat of engineering, due to their enormous size, both in building materials and finished product. Indeed, there is more to these mysterious pyramids of the ancient Egyptians than meets the eye. Before a decent discussion of the pyramids is begun, a bit of background history must be set forth. The ancient Egyptian empire lasted for over 3,000 years, beginning at around 3,100 BCE and ending just shy of 300 years before the dawn of the Common Era. Historians break up the empire chronologically into nine separate eras. The second of these eras, known as the Old Kingdom, is when all of the pyramid construction took place, and dates from 2,686-2,181 BCE (Edwards 1). During this era, Egypt’s kings and queens were buried inside these pyramids. Presently, there are about ninety such pyramids—or remains of pyramids—which stretch along the desert just to the west of the Nile River (Edwards 2). The previous style of burial of Egyptian pharaohs was the mastaba, a flat-roofed structure made of brick. However, at the beginning of the Old Kingdom, stone was introduced as a building material. Building with... ...never be known, but some, such as Senefuru and Khufu have, in a sense, reached immortality. Imhotep, the architect of many of these great monuments, has too become immortalized in history as being one of the first known architects as a result of his work on the pyramids. These pyramids have solidified these ancient rulers as well as others in the pages of history. These pyramids have stood the test of time, and most likely, thousands of years from now, when all our modern skyscrapers have either toppled or been dismantled, the pyramids of the ancient Egyptians will still stand tranquilly in the desert and invoke the same mystery and inspiration to the future generations who gaze at them. Works Cited Edwards, I.E.S. The Pyramids of Egypt. Middlesex, England: Viking Books, 1985. Fakhry, Ahmed. The Pyramids. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1961.

Kurt Vonnegut :: essays papers

Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut is one of the greatest pacifist writers in the world, although criticized by many he still tries to get his message across to the public. Kurt Vonnegut has written many novels in his lifetime the most well known is Slaughterhouse Five, which tells of his experiences somewhat in World War Two. Throughout all his novels he seems to keep the same â€Å"recurring Vonnegut theme is the evil that occurs when technology is allowed by man to run rampant. I am the enemy of all technological progress that threatens mankind.†(Saturday Evening Post, May/June 86 pg. 38) Kurt Vonnegut was born on November 11th, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born into a family where the father was a respectable architect, but less than a year after his parents marriage came World War One. â€Å"Prohibition ended the Lieber income from brewing and the Great Depression brought a halt to building and hence unemployment to to Vonnegut’s architect father. Looking back on those years, Vonnegut has said that the time of the Great Depression was not particularly hard for him.†(American Writers, A Collection of Literary Biographies, Supplement 2,Part 2 pg 754) Kurt Vonnegut had his first writing experience a Shortridge Highschool in Indianapolis. He then attended Cornell University where he majored in chemistry and biology. After being kicked out of Cornell he then Enlisted in the army. Soon after his enlistment his mother committed suicide and his father died roughly 13 years after. He had become a German prisoner of war in 1944 which was the inspration fo r his book Slaughterhouse Five. After returning home he began the start of many novels. Many things had affected his life such key items as the Great Depression, his parents dying when he was young, being captured in the war and the death of his 41 year old sister. This would lead him to mock how society would be in years to come. In his first novel Player Piano he makes fun of an electric company that sacrifices humanity for technology. This was set in years to come where scientists and other people of that field were attempting to have machines take over humans jobs. This is the start of many personal experiences that motivate him to either mock society or warn them if they are not careful. In using his own experiences he makes his points more realistic.

Coffee Trends in Singapore Essay

†¢In 2011, the total volume growth of coffee was 5%, which was a similar trend as in 2010 due to the continuous strong economic growth in Singapore. Due to the high density of on-trade channels including chained local coffee shops such as Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Old Town White Coffee and chained Western-style specialised coffee shops such as Starbucks and Gloria Jean’s Coffee, coffee drinking culture has penetrated into the Singaporean market. The manufacturers have also launched high-quality products in the off-trade channel. Hence, consumers are seeking to have the authentic high-quality brewed coffee at home. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE †¢Nestlà © Singapore Pte Ltd continued to post the leading position in terms of off-trade value sales with a 40% value share. This success could be attributed to its constant research and development as well as the frequent promotional campaigns due to the companies’ economic scale, which can keep attracting the consumers. Due to the companies’ global strong presence, the company develops not only instant coffee products but also enhances the fresh coffee category by introducing the coffee machines and fresh coffee pods such as Nespresso and Nescafà © Dolce Gusto. PROSPECTS †¢Total volume of coffee is expected to increase by 2% CAGR over the foreacst period. Considering the review period, this growth is slightly conservative, which reflects the current uncertain global economic condition. Although local consumers are becoming more affluent and have more disposable income, their consumption patterns are likely to follow the economic outlook in Singapore, which will reflect, in particular, the growth in on-trade volume.

Eros, Thanatos and the Depiction of Women in “a Farewell to Arms” Essay

A career as distinguished as that of Ernest Hemingway cannot simply be condensed into a handful of words. If one were to make the attempt anyway, no choice seems to be more fitting than â€Å"love, death and women†. These topics are constant companions throughout all of his work and indeed, his life. His 1929 masterpiece, â€Å"A Farewell to Arms†, is a particularly good example of this. In this paper, I will show how these recurring subjects – the fascinating interplay between Eros and Thanatos and the depiction of women – help shape this seminal work. To fully appreciate the tale told in the novel, and to better understand the aforementioned, seemingly inadequate three-word summary of Hemingway’s life, some key events in his biography should be made known. Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois. In his high school years, he wrote for the school newspaper and would go on to work for the Kansas City Star; these early journalistic experiences would influence his distinctive writing style. In 1918, he signed on to become an ambulance driver in war-torn Italy. On July 8, he was severely injured by a mortar shell and received a medal for bravery. During his sixth-month recuperation, he fell in love with a Red Cross nurse; after deciding to get married, she left him for an Italian officer. This traumatic experience would decisively shape his view of women. (â€Å"Wikipedia†) Hemingway would endure further trials throughout his life; shortly after the particularly difficult delivery of his son in 1928, he received word of his father’s suicide, foreshadowing his eventual demise by his own hand on July 2, 1961. Until then, he suffered through severe alcoholism, multiple divorces, crippling accidents, bouts of depression and dangerous war coverage. (â€Å"Wikipedia†) Taking this eventful existence into consideration, the importance of both Eros and Thanatos and the noteworthy depiction of women in â€Å"A Farewell to Arms† come as no great surprise; it is the latter which I will first examine more closely. Hemingway and, by extension, his works, have often been accused of misogyny; â€Å"A Farewell to Arms† is no exception (Wexler 111). Catherine, the main female character, â€Å"defines herself in terms of men† (Fetterley 67). When her late fiancee goes to war, she joins him as a nurse because of the â€Å"silly idea he might come to the hospital where [she] was [,] [w]ith a sabre cut [†¦] [or] shot through the shoulder [;] [s]omething picturesque† (Hemingway 19). Later on, her stereotypical wish to nurse her lover back to health even comes true when Frederic is placed in her care (Fetterley 67). She also shows a significant need for reassurance: â€Å"You are happy, aren’t you? Is there anything I do you don’t like? Can I do anything to please you? † (Hemingway 105). Her self-loathing and unhealthy self-image also reveals itself in this telling passage: How many [girls] have you [†¦] stayed with? [†¦] It’s all right. Keep right on lying to me. That’s what I want you to do. [†¦] When a man stays with a girl when does she say how much it costs? [†¦] I do anything you want. [†¦] I want what you want. There isn’t any me any more. (Hemingway 95-96) This section is a particularly damning example of misogyny; in effect, Catherine is asking Frederic how to be a whore, demeaning both herself and her entire sex in her quest to please her beloved at any cost (Fetterley 68). Catherine is far from the only victim of the sometimes debasing treatment of women in the book. During the retreat, the â€Å"girls from the soldiers’ whorehouse† (Hemingway 168) are loaded into a truck; one of the soldiers present remarks: â€Å"I’d like to be there when some of those tough babies climb in and try and hop them. [†¦] I’d like to have a crack at them for nothing. They charge too much at that house anyway. The government gyps us. † (Hemingway 168-169) This stunning disdain of female dignity makes apparent the utter disregard the soldiers have for women as human beings. A passage later on exemplifies this victimization and objectification of women during war even more clearly; when the retreating convoy picks up two virgins, their fearful demeanor leaves no doubt: there are only two roles for them on the battlefield – â€Å"whores if they are picked up by their own side, victims of rape if they are captured by the enemy†. (Fetterley 50) The contempt of the fair gender does not stop at the disparagement of women themselves; the very thing that makes them female is attacked. When the â€Å"gray leather boxes heavy with the packs of clips of thin, long 6. 5 mm. cartridges† are described as making the troops look â€Å"as though they were six months gone with child† (Hemingway 4), deadly implements of war are directly linked to pregnancy. This paints an unsettling picture of female biology itself as a source of death, not life, culminating in Catherine’s passing in the final chapter (Fetterley 62-63). This depiction of women as subservient to men, trying to fulfill their every need, is almost Puritanical in nature, hearkening back to the earliest, primary incarnations of the American myth. The fact that sexual gratification, not conception and childbirth – which is indeed presented as a â€Å"biological trap† (Hemingway 125) and, eventually, a death sentence – is extolled as the primary reason for a relationship shows, however, that Hemingway’s work is firmly in the subversive consummatory phase. Thankfully, the view of women presented in the novel is not wholly sexist. Catherine in particular manages to distinguish herself as a strong woman both in the beginning and the end of the novel, despite losing her identity to Frederic in the middle. Frederic’s courtship of Catherine starts with a literally stinging rejection; when he first tries to kiss her, he is rewarded with a â€Å"sharp stinging flash† of a slap (Hemingway 24). Thus, Catherine asserts her dominance, taking control of their early relationship. After Frederic manages to make her laugh, however, she quickly accepts his advances. (Wexler 114) Frederic’s intentions towards Catherine are less than noble to begin with: â€Å"I knew I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards† (Hemingway 29). Catherine, however, is not only aware of the deceptive nature of their faux-relationship, but actively addresses it: â€Å"This is a rotten game we play, isn’t it? [†¦] You don’t have to pretend you love me. † (Hemingway, 29-30) With the mutual acknowledgment of their pretense, Catherine is using Frederic just as much as he is using her – where he seeks to escape the horrors of the war with carnal gratification, Catherine needs someone to fill the hole left by her late fiancee. (Wexler 114-115) Despite the loss of self and neediness experienced by Catherine throughout most of the middle of the novel, her strong, confident side manages to reassert itself before her unfortunate demise in childbirth. Even though she faces her imminent death, the only thing on her mind is reassuring her husband: â€Å"Don’t worry, darling, [†¦] I’m not a bit afraid. It’s just a dirty trick† (Hemingway 292). This serenely selfless behavior is far removed from the desperate need to please she displayed earlier. As has hopefully become apparent, both death and life (or love, both physical and romantic) play a crucial role in â€Å"A Farewell to Arms†. In the following section, I will take a closer look at this compelling relationship between Eros and Thanatos. Since the novel takes place during the uncompromisingly brutal conflict that was World War I, Thanatos is always active. Eros always manages to weave its way into the proceedings, however, even gaining the upper hand at one point in the novel. In the beginning, however, Thanatos prevails (Flores 29). The reader is presented with uncompromising scenes of violence and carnage, but the horrors of war are met with stoicism by the protagonist Frederic Henry. The death of thousands barely qualifies for a single paragraph: â€Å"At the start of the winter came the permanent rain and with the rain came the cholera. But it was checked and in the end only seven thousand died of it in the army. † (Hemingway 4) Frederic also seems to have no particular reason for even being in the war; being in Italy seems to be enough (Flores 29). He is not driven by any particular ideological reason, either: â€Å"Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the numbers of roads, the names of rivers, the numbers of regiments and the dates. †(Hemingway 165) Almost every character in the novel also engages in self-destructive behavior – excessive drinking. Seeking oblivion instead of actually facing the horrors of war, alcohol is a constant companion to all throughout the book (Flores 31). Even when Eros touches the characters in the beginning, it is only in its basest forms. The flirtatious Rinaldi seems incapable of real love, seeking only sexual gratification (Ganzel 587). And, as mentioned above, even the relationship of Frederic and Catherine starts out as a lie, filling a need in both of them not with love, but lust. As the story unfolds, however, the grip of Thanatos on Frederic begins to weaken. Following his injury on the battlefield, his stoicism and aloofness are only slightly fazed (Ganzel 594). During his extended period of recuperation in the hospital, Frederic and Catherine start developing real feelings for each other; learning about her pregnancy in particular shakes him to his core: â€Å"Her conception forces him into a continuum in which the death of another can subtract from his own life. † (Ganzel 579) During the Italian retreat, Thanatos tries to reassert its grasp on Frederic – but after not only witnessing, but being directly responsible for a number of deaths in a harrowing experience, he finally slips its grasp (Ganzel 595). Having truly fallen for Catherine, his new commitment to Eros is confirmed in his baptismal â€Å"farewell to arms† in the river. Frederic voices these new life-affirming thoughts after escaping the river: â€Å"I was not made to think. I was made to eat. My God, yes. Eat and drink and sleep with Catherine. †(Hemingway 206) Thanatos reclaims his power at the end of the novel after the deceptively light-hearted stay in Switzerland; in a cruel twist of fate, it is childbirth, the ultimate expression of Eros, that takes Catherine’s life, springing the biological trap and leaving Frederic to trudge out into the rain, forlorn (Ganzel 581). He poignantly laments his fate: â€Å"Poor, poor dear Cat. And this was the price you paid for sleeping together. This was the end of the trap. This was what people got for loving each other. † (Hemingway 283) Frederic is not the only one affected by an insidious turn of events like that, however; Rinaldi also becomes a victim of the biological trap, falling prey to syphilis (Hemingway 289). Thus, Thanatos is not only able to turn the lofty side of Eros – romantic love – against its followers, but even manages to turn its basest side into death. Thus, Frederic Henry is â€Å"the first completely developed example of what was to become Hemingway’s dominant motif: a man [†¦] who is forced to recognize the inevitability of death and the concomitant frustration of trying to secure something of value from its onslaught† (Ganzel 577). The â€Å"good soldier†, protected from feelings of loss and fear by an uncaring stoicism, loses his â€Å"gift† through love, only to reach the tragic realization that his newfound feelings can be turned against him. (Ganzel 578) This portrayal of life and death, distinctive of the â€Å"Lost Generation† of modernist authors, stands in stark contrast to earlier, romantic and playful depictions. Where Whitman is able to confidently boast â€Å"And as to you Death, and you bitter hug of mortality, it is idle to try to alarm me† (â€Å"Song of Myself† 1289), Hemingway’s view of death paints a much more sobering picture: If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry. (Hemingway 222) Even spring, once the ultimate symbol of hope and life flourishing anew, is turned into a mockery of itself. As Eliot aptly puts it: â€Å"April is the cruelest monthâ€Å" (â€Å"The Waste Land† 1), bringing only death and desperation to Frederic and Catherine. Winter, on the other hand, once the harbinger of struggles and hardship for the first pilgrims that reached the shores of America, is shown as peaceful, quiet, serene: â€Å"It was a fine country and every time that we went out it was fun. † (Hemingway 269) The future, once viewed with optimism, a â€Å"Manifest Destiny† to look forward to, suddenly looked much bleaker, an outlook colored by a war that defied belief. Compassion and courage were nowhere to be found, but cruelty abounded, as illustrated in this passage: â€Å"’If there is a retreat, how are the wounded evacuated? ’ ‘They are not. They take as many as they can and leave the rest. ’† (Hemingway 167) In conclusion, I hope that the importance of the changing influence of Eros and Thanatos and the questionable portrayal of women in â€Å"A Farewell to Arms† has become obvious. These topics appear in all of Hemingway’s works, with varying importance. Much of the novel becomes clearer when viewed through the lens of Hemingway’s biography. Taking into consideration some of the key points of his life I mentioned in the introduction, the autobiographical tendencies of the book should emerge – perhaps helping to make his overt machismo understandable, if not palatable. Most importantly, â€Å"A Farewell to Arms† does an excellent job of showing the reader the sheer insanity and, through the author’s unique style, the stark reality of war. Hemingway himself put it quite succinctly: â€Å"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime. †Bibliography: * Eliot, T. S. The Waste Land. Project Gutenberg. http://www. gutenberg. org/files/1321/1321-h/1321-h. htm (Last accessed: 13. 08. 2013) * Fetterley Judith. The resisting reader: A Feminist Approach to American Fiction. Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 1978. * Flores, Olga Eugenia. Eros, Thanatos and the Hemingway Soldier. American Studies International, Vol. 18, No. 3/4 (Spring/Summer 1980), pp. 27-35. * Ganzel, Dewey. â€Å"A Farewell to Arms†: The Danger of Imagination. The Sewanee Review, Vol. 79, No. 4 (Autumn 1971), pp. 576-597. * Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. London, Arrow Books, 2004. * Wexler, Joyce. E. R. A. for Hemingway: A Feminist Defense of â€Å"A Farewell to Arms†. The Georgia Review, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Spring 1981), pp. 111-123. * Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. University of Toronto RPO. http://rpo. library. utoronto. ca/poems/song-myself (Last accessed: 13. 08. 2013) * http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway (Last accessed: 13. 08. 2013)