What made the Soviet experiment work, and what did eventually lead to Essay

What made the Soviet experiment work, and what did eventually lead to its failure - Essay Example This paper has presented a comprehensive account of the cause of the revolution. It has described how, a rush into a new system with very little knowledge and experience, coupled with other factors such as; conflicts within the parties, and the civil war; led to the failure of the soviet experiment. There is a description of the soviet experiment. Also included is a description of capitalism and its integration with the Russian economy, as well as, a description of socialism and its compatibility to the Russian economy. There is also a discussion about the qualities of the revolutionary leaders that led to the success and failure of the experiment, conflict between the two parties that formed the revolution, the civil war, and the outcome that led to the abandonment of socialism. All these have been described with reference to examples from historical texts and documents.Before 1914, Russia was a country of great wealth considering the farmed land estates that it had. These lands wer e however, inadequately used and there were millions of peasant farmers that grew poorer by the day due to increased population of industrial works, and high rents imposed on them by the landlords. The state of the economy of Russia was not good because of a variety of factors. Russia had no domestic market for its industrial products. The country had built a railway to be used to export products, and also invested largely on foreign capital.

The study of physics has had Essay Example for Free

The study of physics has had Essay Introduction The study of physics has had a large impact on the development of road safety. The study of Newtons Laws, impulse and momentum help to reduce initial momentum or decrease impulse (rate of change of momentum) to protect passengers. Technological advances and studies of vehicle crashes increase the automobile industrys understanding of the forces involved and ways of reducing effects of collisions. Within vehicles, many car safety devices are installed, such as seat belts, air bags, crumple zones and head rests. Modern road design reduces the initial or rate of change of momentum and consequently the impact of collision through crash barriers, speed zones and speed humps. Car safety devices Seatbelts Seatbelts are designed so that passengers are restrained instead of continuing to move forward at the cars speed when the brakes of a moving vehicle are applied. In this situation, there is a tendency for a body to resist changes to its motion, called inertia. (Newtons first law) The stopping force is applied to the more durable parts of the body such as hips, chest and shoulder. This is instead of the human head crashing into windshield if no seat belt is worn. Inertia reel seatbelts Inertia reel seatbelts have a cylinder that stores extra belt material on a spool. The spool turns freely normally for movement. In the event of a sudden change in velocity, a pendulum in the reel plunges forward to lock and restrain the occupant. It is named inertia reel due to the inertia of the pendulum to cause belt locking. Different types of seatbelt The lap seatbelt is tightened over the pelvis and absorbs force over a sizeable area. However they do not prevent the head and upper body from lurching forward in response to deceleration and are inadequate especially for front passengers, who risk hitting the windscreen. The lap sash seatbelt combines a lap seatbelt over the pelvis as well as over one shoulder across the chest. This greatly limits movement of the upper body and head as well as spreading the stopping force over a larger area. Shoulder harnesses restrain upper torso movement even further. Two are belts fall over the shoulders and an optional strap lies over the sternum. It is effective in the way force is spread over both shoulders compared to one shoulder in lap sash. Shoulder harnesses are usually used in child restraint systems and racing cars. The nylon webbing material in seatbelts is slightly flexible so that the stop is not as abrupt. Airbags Airbags provide an extra degree of protection in a collision by cushioning passengers in a collision, greatly limiting fatalities and serious injury. They are designed to increase the time interval during which the drivers momentum decreases in a collision to decrease the net force of the driver. They inflate when crash sensors detect large deceleration. Sensors then ignite the sodium azide, producing sodium compounds and nitrogen gas for a reactive explosion. The airbags inflate rapidly to cushion the impact of the passenger against the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. Airbags are to be used with seatbelts, not as a replacement. A disadvantage of airbags is they provide no protection against side-on hits, only frontal collisions. More expensive cars are developing side airbags to combat this. Head rests Padded headrests provide protection in rear end collisions. When a car is rear-ended, a large net force pushes the car and it accelerates forward. The inertia, based on Newtons first law, pushes the passenger into the seat. Without a head rest for support, the head remains at rest until the spine pulls it forward. This sudden, sharp acceleration for the head causes it to fling back and results in hyperextension and whiplash injuries. Crumple Zones Many cars are designed to crumple at the front and rear. Crumple zones increase the time interval during which the momentum of the car changes during a collision, thus lessening the forces. Newtons second law (f=ma) can be applied, as increased ? time will result in a decreasing rate of deceleration a and consequently reduce force. Crumple zones are built using the integration of steel and fiberglass in the front and rear end assemblies of the automobile. Rigid structures between crumple zones protect the passenger compartment. In a collision, the crumple zones deform to slow the actual impact. The car doesnt regain all its original kinetic energy, as some of this is converted to heat and sound energy to reduce damage to passenger area through smaller forces. As crumple zones are placed in strategic locations, the collapse is controlled and energy from impact is directed away from passenger area. Road design Speed humps and low speed zones. Local councils introduced Speed Humps to reduce the overall speed of cars. Evidence shows that slower moving cars cause less damage to occupants if a crash results. It has been estimated that risk of death or serious brain damage doubles with every 16km/h over 80km/h. Speed humps restrict drivers from speeding as hitting the hump too fast can cause car damage. Low speed zones also reduce the speed of cars. A reduction of speed will reduce the chance of an accident as drivers have more time to react as well as decreasing the change in momentum and associated inertial forces in collisions. The police enforces speed signs and limit zones and speeding is monitored by speed cameras. In NSW, the general urban limit is 60 km/h for roads in built up areas where there are pedestrians. Crash Barriers Crash barriers are road design features that absorb the impact of collisions. They are constructed out of steel, concrete or wire. Some types of rigid crash barriers cannot absorb much of the kinetic energy of the vehicle, but keep the vehicle on the road and prevent crashing into more dangerous roadside hazards or cars from opposite direction. Crash barriers should be relatively weak with energy absorbing structures so that they can deform easily and transfer large amounts of kinetic energy to them in collisions. For barriers shielding against hazards such as trees, they need to be a fair distance away, as space is needed for it to deform. When a vehicle collides, the barriers deform and stop the vehicle through a plowing action, keeping the reaction forces relatively low. The impulse (change in momentum) is reduced, as the vehicle takes longer to slow down. The disadvantage of crash barriers is they may cause vehicle damage (crumpling) and rigid ones may deflect a car into the opposite lane. The advance of road safety The development of vehicles with greater size, power and momentum has resulted in the need for improvements in car safety devices and modern road design. The study of physics has allowed safety features in both the interior and exterior of cars to prevent large forces acting on passengers in collisions. This is why researchers and engineers are continually turning to laws of physics for advice. Road design features reduce initial velocity to reduce the risk of accidents as well as its impact on the passenger. Automotive safety companies are continuing to develop devices to improve vehicle safety, including inflatable seatbelts, 4-point seatbelts and knee airbags to name a few. With the large percentage of the population driving forces, momentum, impulse and energy are all factors that must be controlled as our lives depend on it.

The Eclectic And Reflective Nature

The Eclectic And Reflective Nature The outline of the case including factors in connection with history, presentation and the need for a revised therapeutic approach in many ways mirrors the clinical case evaluation detailed by Sherry (2006) in the application of an Attachment Theory Approach to the Short-Term Treatment of A Woman With Borderline Personality Disorder and Comorbid Diagnoses. This study highlights the difficult support/treatment pathway of borderline personality disorder (BPD) which stems from the comorbidity with other diagnoses including severe depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (Zimmerman Mattia, 1999) and harmful misuse of alcohol and other substances (Trull et al, 2000) which are all clearly present in Ruths life. The symptoms typically identified with these disorders are often challenging to mental health practitioners and there appears to be a groundswell of opinion that suggests the disorder is largely untreatable because they are entrenched within the personality and coping mechanisms of the individual. (Raven. 2009) As is common with many people who experience severe mental distress, Ruth has been unable to respond to the demands of the workplace and therefore financial insecurity is likely to be a significant factor for her and also in shaping the life options and experiences of her daughter, Megan. Gould (2006) identifies some of the most pertinent and enduring difficulties that contribute to child poverty in situations where parents have poor mental health and details the difficulties of securing employment (just 24% of people with long term mental health issues in employment), the typically low level of remuneration for people in this category and inflexible nature of moving from benefit claimant through into employment as limiting factors in increasing the life chances of children and young people in this kind of situation. To support this claim the more general findings of Tunnard (2004) are highlighted which link parental ill health problems and family poverty and indicate that 50% of dis abled people have incomes below half the national average, this rises to 60% for disabled adults with children (Gould 2006). Speculation in this report suggests that the figures would be worse in families where one or more parents experience significant and enduring mental problems. Therefore it is reasonable to presume in the case of Ruth and Megan that their level of income is and will remain at a low level without some significant lifestyle changes. Specific links between financial hardship and mental health are taken from an unpublished paper by Social Exclusion Unit in 2004 detailing the impact of poverty on mental ill health, the difficulty people experience had in accessing financial advice /services, disproportionate dependence on state benefits, fluctuating incomes determined by health status and the challenge of securing the right level if benefit/personal finance. General findings about the impact on family poverty are also relevant in the case of Ruth and Megan and it is a factor that is very likely to add to the symptomology common to people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Furthermore, as benefits and social care resources are constrained against a backdrop of central governments drive to put people back into work, Spencer and Baldwin (2007) argue that many parents in the UK are expected to bring up their families in the context of unreasonably scarce resources. Therefore, practitioners need to take into account Ruth and Megans social and economic factors when assessing their individual needs, risk and in determining a therapeutic pathway for this family. As might be expected, given these negative financial, health and well-being determinants social exclusion is a likely to be a factor that needs to be overcome if an holistic, person-centred approach is to be adopted in supporting this family. Developing strategies to overcome the destructive behaviours that Ruth has developed as her personal coping from mechanisms is a key factor in addressing the wider concern of her and Megans social exclusion and isolation. Megans current situation, which is one of compromised opportunity, a limited social life, burdensome responsibilities, isolation, scarce personal resources and a lack of attention to her own needs, represents the situation of many carers in the UK, especially so those who have or have had responsibilities as a young carer. . Research by Aldridge and Becker, (1999, p.306) suggests that children who provide caring support to parents with mental illness will be more susceptible to increased levels of anxiety, depression, fear, change in behavioural and social patterns as well as being more at risk of transmission of the particular parental condition. As caring moves through into adulthood the future tends to remain bleak and research from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (2010) reports increased evidence of poor health, low income and a general sense of hopelessness for carers in the light of on-going cuts to social care budgets. The prospect for any significant improvement is equally depressing. In considering the details of this case the eclectic and reflective nature of social work is an approach that seems suitable for the complexities supporting people with mental ill health, particularly the ever changing presentations of people who have a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Payne (2009, p.100) describes the usefulness of these approaches in case work highlighting how practitioners can adopt and use theories together, perhaps all at once or perhaps successively or use different theories in different cases. Because this method requires significant skill and discernment Payne cites Epstein (1992) who suggests that flexible team approaches to reflection, debate and application offer a useful way forward to the delivery of flexible moment to moment practice in response to complex cases. Payne (2009) identifies systems theory as being an important aspect of eclecticism. Pincus and Minahan (1973) applied the approach to social work practice and describe three types of system these being informal or natural (friends/family), formal (community groups, etc.) and societal systems (hospital/schools, etc.). People with mental health problems are likely to have some difficulty in using helping systems to improve their health, life experiences and general well-being. Applying systems theory involves identifying the point, and problems individuals experience in the interactions with their environment. The phases of this include assessing; making/negotiating contracts; forming/coordinating actions; re-forming and influencing action systems; terminating change efforts. Payne (2005) extends the application of this approach and makes clear links to ecological systems theory, crisis theory/models and task centred working. The application of these, particularly crisis intervention, could work in connection with Ruths current difficulties and potentially offers short term bridge toward longer term therapeutic work. However in adopting this approach it is wort h considering the caution raised by Doel (2009) and he notes that if done poorly than crisis/task centred work can become inflexible, routine and possibility lead to some level of social control. Doel suggests using these methods should be accompanied by training that considers factors such as values, attitudes and their application in practice. Sherry (2007) identifies the increasing consideration and application of attachment theory (Bowlby 1973) in the causation of borderline personality disorder and cites numerous influences as threats to attachment in childhood. Risk factors in this regard include sexual traumas (Laporte Guttman, 1996), parental neglect (Paris, 1997, 1998), family instability and emotional neglect all of which are considered to contribute to the development of personality styles in adult life. For practitioners, the reasoning of Ivey 1989 who suggested extreme behaviour by clients could be linked to their development history and the way they respond and bring meaning to their experiences in later life. Therefore poor parenting experienced by Ruth could have been instrumental part in the development of behaviours that for her now carry the label of borderline personality disorder (West Sheldon-Keller (1994). Therefore the gathering of information in assessment processes can be a crucial factor in worki ng out the style and content of social work intervention. In considering the pathways of someone who experiences significant mental health issues it is clear that from many perspectives that society perceptions, life opportunities and thereby individual well-being are compromised in many areas of life. The fight for a more balanced and supportive approach to mental health has been carried by the service user/survivor movement for many years and the need for reform has led to many campaigns. It is easy to understand the need secure better treatment and push through system reforms given oppression, rejection and widespread ignorance that characterises the history of mental health in the UK. Ferguson (2008) highlights how the now accepted position of the survivor movements pushing for greater recognition of the plight of people with mental health issues came from the enduring effects of stigma, powerlessness, inequality and segregation which have been utilised to push governmental thinking and maintain mental health, well-being and social care as political issues. The fight for improved rights and opportunity among the survivor movement only really gathered pace in the 1970s (Campbell 1996) (Beresford, 1997) and in the early stages tended to focus on small scale self-help and mutual support initiatives. More recently there has been greater, towards collective national campaigns concerning treatment, responding the revisions of the mental health legislation and broader struggles to change attitudes and understandings of madness and distress. This has been key to shifting the stigma of mental health and clearly it is something that needs to continue. General concerns expressed by Campbell (2005) link well to Ruths situation and the pressing structural concerns that tend to bring of poverty, lack of opportunity, isolation, boredom, hopelessness and therefore a continuing commitment to state imposed legal and medical restrictions are clearly relevant to the case study. Evidence of the negative impact of mental ill health can be found in the health inequalities highlighted in research carried out for the Disability Rights Commission in 2006 which showed that people with severe mental illness are at higher risk of ill health across a number of conditions. Their report Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap highlighted increased incidence of clinical obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure among people with severe mental health issues. It also noted higher risks in connection with people developing high blood pressure, stroke, respiratory problems and bowel and breast cancer. They are also more likely to smoke. Althou gh the reasons for this inequality are complex and have far reaching implications for public health policy makers, the consequence remains that people who experience long-term mental ill health die on average 5 to 10 years younger than other people, often from preventable illnesses. The response to this research and the continued focus on issues of inequality, injustice and stigma by organisations such as Rethink Mental Illness is yielded some significant results with increased focus on physical health being pursued within community mental health teams, increased focus on talking therapies and Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill moving through to the House of Lords for further debate. (Rethink, 2012) However it is increasingly apparent that people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder are subject to a specific type of stigma and discrimination that impacts on the relationships that are key to achieving to achieving some level of stability in their lives, these being the therapeutic links with practitioners within community mental health services. Ruths condition unfortunately fits in with the perception held amongst professionals that it is almost or completely untreatable. Personality disordered patients are often described as the patient physiatrists dislike and are often viewed as time wasting, difficult, attention seeking, and manipulative bed blockers. (Hadden Haigh, 2002). Having previously highlighted the significance of person-centred theory and approaches in developing therapeutic alliances, it is supremely that discrimination within helping professions can be raised so easily as central limiting factor. Markham (2003) highlights multiple differences in th e reactions of professional staff towards people who have a diagnosis of BPD. The suggestion is that the label leads to increased social rejection, deceased optimism and adoption of stereo typical attitudes by staff therefore creating risk of less favourable and thereby effective treatment as compared to other groups of people with severe and enduring mental health issues. As might be expected, the research draws heavily on labelling theory: The negative service user experience detailed by Wright Jones (2012) in typifies Ruths historical therapeutic pathway and include direct quotes that are clearly relevant: Rightly or wrongly, I interpreted the label as a sign that I was fundamentally flawed, that the bad parts of me far outweighed any good attributes that might also be part of my personality à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and being told that I had a personality disorder and that there was no cure or treatment. The inference was that I was just made this way and that was the end of it. The article also highlights the findings of Pilgrim (2001) who suggest that poor responses to personality disorder occur because causes are not known and that treatment outcomes are often unpredictable and unreliable. In considering this kind of evidence, it is easy to understand Ruths resignation following another A E admission which in her mind will bring about yet another dissatisfying cycle therapeutic hopelessness with little chance of any success. (should this paragraph be justified or left centred?) The situation raised in the case study typifies many of the negative issues associated with the support that people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder receive: dismissive attitudes, inconsistent approaches and authoritarian approaches seem to be consistent themes and are obviously not changing the nature and outcomes of therapeutic interventions. While it might be difficult at this stage, it seems important for Ruth to take some responsibility possibly self-managing some degree of the presenting risk which is consistent with the guidance provided by Wright and Jones (2012) and is also in line with best practice as detailed in the NICE guidance (2009). This should be clearly stated within the care plan. Mead and Copland (2000) suggest that people are able to grow through positive risks taking and that empowerment through person centred support can reframe typical service user response to difficult, crisis situations. Practically this can be supported through clear and effective care planning and this should be built into an individuals treatment and crisis plan. Ruth, along with her care coordinator, should carefully consider strategies to manage acute and chronic risks developing and incorporating these in the care plan as appropriate. This will ensure consistency when the care coordinator is absent, ensuring that Ruths care and support follows boundaries and consistency agreed with her and thereby ensuring she is treated with dignity, respect and compassion. Although risk to self which Sherry (2007) clearly links to the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder must be responded to in the context of community mental health services, admission to psychiatric inpatient unit should only take place as a last resort and the least restrictive options should be pursued. The stepped care model offers a useful statutory response and if risks remain elevated then Ruth should be considered firstly for the high intensity team then a referral crisis resolution and home treatment team, notwithstanding any negativity that may surround her historical presentations. If possible extra support from care coordinator would be the ideal solution, as this would utilise the therapeutic relationship in place to support and guide Ruth through her crisis. In consistently challenging situations Ruths care coordinator could also explore with Ruth and Megan a self-directed support (SDS) package. This package could support with activities of her choice and it is po ssible for this to be used for Ruth to explore and access some community resources therefore building social networks for Ruth and relieving Megan of some of the pressure of her carers role. Hatton and Waters (2011) identify the relative success of SDS/personalisation in connection with people experiencing mental health issues and this is at its most beneficial when individuals pursue direct payments and secure support on their own terms. Whichever option in terms of on-going support is chosen then it seems that there is need for a more collaborative, shared approach both in connection with risk and also around longer-term support strategies. The work and theories of Rogers (1956, 1957) define the core conditions of counselling including unconditional positive regard (UPR), empathy and congruence for therapeutic relationships to succeed particularly so in the context of personality change. It is important to note that this is a value based approach and faith that the person can shape their own positive future if the condition highlighted above can be provided. It is not a set of tools and techniques that can be turned on and off to suit practitioner needs at a given time or opportunity. It links well to considerations around motivational approaches and Ruths and Megans desire to move on is a good indicator in this regard. Fundamentally, by adopting humanistic approaches, the aim is to develop a pattern of interaction and support which keeps Ruth centrally involved in the nature and shape of the therapeutic relationship which will naturally involve key decisions about, risk, treatment options, care planning and goal planning. Clearly this type of interaction is difficult to outline to all involved professionals but careful entries and assessment within electronic records can help significantly in modifying the responses all statutory workers who may encounter Ruth in the professional work. If this person-centred approach is adopted then it will represent a significant shift in the care and support Ruth has received in her short psychiatric career.

Advancements in Medical Technology Essay -- Ecploratory Essays

Advancements in Medical Technology Advancements in technology, especially advancements in computers, have caused a major impact on today’s society.â€Å"More specifically, profound effect on modern day medicine.†[instruct.lanagara.ba.ca 1.] [1] It has changed almost every aspect of the medical field, from the instruments used to the medicines prescribed to the operations preformed.â€Å"New technologies allow healthcare professionals to save people they never could have saved before.†[collegeview.com 1.] [2] â€Å"The 20th-century has brought with it many advancements in medicine.† [utep.edu 1.] [3]Below is a list of the then most important advancements, none of which would have been possible without improvements in technology. The Ten Most Important Discoveries of the Century 1 Antibiotics (Penicillin) 2 Anesthesia 3 Polio Vaccine 4 Birth Control Pill 5 Open Heart Surgery 6 Organ Transplant 7 Medical Imagery (x-rays, MRI, CAT scans) 8 Anti-inflammatory (Aspirin) 9 Ambulance Services 10 Genetic Based Research [4] Almost every instrument in the medical field has become computerized.Everything from thermometers to CAT scans is either a type of computer itself or is monitored by a computer.They calculate and factor all the data leaving rarely any information to be determined.Thus, allowing for more efficient results because it reduces the risk of human error.Plus, since other healthcare professionals are busy caring for the patients new jobs are created to operate the computerized instruments.â€Å"Carefully designed instruments have given researchers the opportunity to better understand biological processes.† [instruct.langara.ba.ca 1.] [5]Microscopes, for example, have allowed organism and cells to be studied a... ...d be significantly increased. Advancements in technology have positively affected the medical field more than any other professional field.Without technology researchers would not be able to discover new medicine and new way of preventing disease.Doctors would not be able to receive such accurate testing results and they would not be able to perform nearly as many surgeries as they can with improved technology.Who knows what even more technological advancements will mean for all of medicine and for all of society. Bibliography Advancements in Medicine.[On-line]. Available:http://www2.utep.edu Medicine and Health.[On-line]. Available: http://www.collegeview.com Technological Advancements in Medicine.[On-line]. Available: http://www.instruct.langara.bc.ca Wilmore, Jack H. and David L. Costill. â€Å"Physiology of Sports and Exercise.† 2nd ed. 1999.

Jollibee Foods Essay

1. On what key resources and capabilities did Jollibee build its market position in the Philippines? Jollibee’s success in its home market developed as a result of its ability to better meet the needs of the Filipino customer. Although its success was mediated by the political and economic crises of 1983, Jollibee was still able to deliver a product that both cheaper and better tasting than that of McDonald’s. †¢As one of the â€Å"5 Fs,† flexibility was an asset of Jollibee. The ability to push forward the Champ burger, competing with the Big Mac, highlights a source of competitive advantage. Market research indicated that Filipinos preferred Jollibee burgers’ spicy taste to McDonald’s plain beef patty. †¢Another source of competitive advantage was Jollibee being able to broaden its core menu of chicken, spaghetti, and a peach-mango dessert pie during the economic and political crisis. McDonald’s foreign brand appeal faded making J ollibee dominantly present in the market with 31 stores. †¢Implementing the â€Å"5 Fs† philosophy and the ability to offer all of these to customers at an affordable price was a well developed operations management capability. Jollibee was able to deliver quality food and service consistently and efficiently in a fun and friendly environment. These were key success factors that allowed Jollibee to expand quickly throughout the Philippines. 2. Which of these deliver sustained advantage? The flexibility to cater to customer needs is a sustained advantage. Not only did Jollibee create a spicy burger that appealed to native Filipinos, they also were able to customize meals for local tastes in foreign markets. Another sustained advantage was the international strategy to target expatriates and planting the flag. The targeting of expatriates allowed the company to ease its transition into an unfamiliar market. The popularity amongst expats could generate publicity and attract walk-in traffic from non-Filipino ListValuable?Rare?Difficult to Imitate?Without Substitutes?Implications for Competitiveness? Developing spicy burger preferred by FilipinosYesYesNoNoTemporary competitive advantage Opening stores where competitors had little or no presenceYesYesNoNoTemporary competitive advantage Flexibility to adapt to local customer needsYesYesYesYesSustainable competitive advantage International strategy targeting expatriates and planting the flagYesYesYesYesSustainable competitive advantage Expanding overseas into new marketsYesNoNoNoCompetitive parity

Jack London and His ‘Wild Side’ Essay

Many of Jack London’s novels have the unique characteristic of portraying survival of the fittest, the humanizing of animals, and a contrast of savagery and civility in their protagonists. Subsistence was the number one priority for heroes and â€Å"villains† in many of London’s books. This quest for existence and life was a difficult one in the harsh environments Jack London favored as settings in his books. Therefore survival of the fittest was the law and it sparked the transitions between savagery and civility in its wake. Those affected were traditionally the lone animal heroes prevalent as protagonists in London’s works. To portray these characters, the humanizing of them was a necessary and well-employed tactic that London also utilizes to hold the readers’ interest. As most of London’s works take place in the wild, it is only natural that his heroes and heroines should be individualists to be able to survive. They challenge the wrath of nature, and those who are strong enough generally live (Ludington). Although the natural world plays a grim role in London’s works, it â€Å"plays no favorites,† and requires those existing in it to meet its demands. This proves to be a central conflict and consistent theme in many works. â€Å"‘To Build a Fire’ demonstrates the conflict of Man versus Nature†¦reveal[ing] London’s sense of the awesome appearance of Nature, sometimes harsh but always impressive† (McEwen). On London’s famous novel, White Fang, Earle Labor comments it is â€Å"structured on ideas rather than upon myth, [it] is a sociological fable intended to illustrate London’s theories of environmentalism† (79). London’s works focused on what he considered his philosophy of life. Through his canine protagonists in The Call of the Wild and other books, he expresses the themes of survival, courage, strength, determination, and respect for the truth (McEwen). Jack London’s so-called â€Å"Klondike Heroes† were an independent but still compassionate group who showed respect to the eternal laws of nature and to the overwhelming presence of conscience (Labor 50). Those who took to these values and lived by them at the very least survived, and at the most became leaders of their surroundings. In The Call of the Wild, Buck is â€Å"snatched from an easy life and submitted to brutal treatment and a harsh environment in the Klondike, [and only] survives because he is the superior individual† (Ludington). The dogs learned that â€Å"kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law.† Almost above these laws is Buck. â€Å"When he was made, the mould was broke,† says Pete, a sleigh driver in the book (Ashley). The dog was not instantly a leader however, he first overcomes terrible hardships and falls into brutal skirmishes with both men and other animals, displaying the level of courage and cunning required in Jack London’s philosophy to become a hero (McEwen). Among the lessons learned by Buck are â€Å"treachery and nobility, faithfulness unto death, and a conviction that moral nature is ‘a vain thing and a handicap in the ruthless struggle for existence'† (Ashley). Part I of The Call of the Wild, the most naturalisticsection of the book, deals with physical violence and amoral survival of the dogs which paves the way for their progression into the heroes that London wished to portray them as (Labor 73). In London’s book The Sea Wolf, Wolf Larsen is an arrogant individualist who survives for awhile on an island without many provisions. Though he later perishes, supposedly as an indirect result of his moral flaws, his prolonged existence on the island can only be attributed to his admiral strength and skill- two characteristics that London holds in high esteem (Ludington). These are, however, not the only traits necessary to survive in a harsh environment as London stresses in â€Å"In a Far Country.† Survival of the fittest is expressed as not only a matter of physical fitness, but also of ethical integrity (Labor 53). Individualism, though sometimes detrimental to the character, is also a major theme in many of London’s works. Few persons who have ever encountered his work can totally forget†¦the lost miner who wanders across the Arctic waste land in a nightmarish odyssey of starvation and exposure, sustained solely by an incredible will to live; or either of the magnificent dogs: Buck, captivated by the call of the Northland Wild, and White Fang, tamed by the loving-kindness of a gentler master. (Labor 49) Wolf Larsen, in The Sea Wolf, goes beyond survival to domination. He is the captain and master of his vessel and its crew. What gets in his way goes overboard whether it’s a scullion or his first mate. Larsen’s motives of ambition and absolute superiority dominate his character to form a totally different connection between him and his â€Å"pack† than did Buck with his (Sandburg 30). Another dominant theme in London’s works is the humanizing of animals. By giving animals characteristics of a man, basically personifying them, London makes it easier and more enjoyable for the reader to relate to the animal’s situation. His ability to have the reader â€Å"connected† with creatures, to have the reader peer into their minds and hearts, makes their struggles, triumphs, and defeats all the more poignant (McEwen). Both The Call of the Wild and White Fang are beast fables because they provoke peoples’ interest -whether we know it or not- in the human experience, not in the plight and hardships of lower animals (Labor 69). Buck, in The Call of the Wild, takes on an almost human personality, not because of his actions or thoughts but because the reader can see his thoughts and understand his actions (McEwen). â€Å"The difference is [the book’s] radical departure from the conventional animal story in style and substance- the manner in wh ich it is ‘overdetermined’ in its multilayered meaning,† letting readers understand the dogs better than they may understand themselves (Labor 72). Not only are dogs humanized in London’s canine novels, but the humans are significantly de-humanized. This personification of animals gives them very flexible personalities than those of the humans, which tend to lack depth. This reversal of roles makes it entirely possible for the dogs, which are even given names, to be characters in the sense that the humans of the novels will never achieve. Even Judge Miller, â€Å"by whose Santa-Clara, California, fireside the young Buck lay in innocence and peace before he was ‘dognapped,’ has more of a function than a character at all. The humans in The Call of the Wild such as John Thornton, ‘Black’ Burton, and other bad guys are ‘stock characters’ for which the reader ‘provides’ their qualities from other reading rather than discover them in the novel (Ashley). The only real character is the dog who displays the humility and natural wisdom which the man fatally lacks: â€Å"Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s judgement†¦The dog did not know anything†¦But the brute had its instinct† (Labor 64). Perhaps the most dominant and glaringly obvious message in London’s work is the conflict of savagery versus civility and the transgressions and progressions between the two. In a letter Jack London wrote to George Brett in 1904, explained the plan behind his book White Fang. He decided to compose a complete antithesis and â€Å"companion† book: â€Å"†¦I’m going to reverse the process. Instead of devolution or decivilization of a dog, I’m going to give evolution, the civilization of a dog- development of domesticity, faithfulness, love, morality, and all the amenities and virtues† (Labor 78-79). The noble dogs in White Fang and The Call of the Wild revolt against their roots. White Fang shifts from an untamed life in the wild to one of civilization, while Buck eventually turns on his domestic background towards the wilderness (McEwen). â€Å"The law of club and fang† present in many of London’s wilderness novels is approached and embraced by Buck and cast away for a tamer life by White Fang (Ashley). The Call of the Wild is a â€Å"study of one of the most curious and profound motives that plays hide-and-seek in the human soul. The more civilized we become the deeper is the fear that back in barbarism is something of the beauty and joy of life we have not brought along with us† (Sandburg 29). So it is in fact, not all transgression for Buck, he gains something a domestic being could never achieve. On the other hand, White Fang, too, involves contrasting values: life, love, civilization, the Southland; and the protagonist dog’s progression towards these (Labor 79). Although the most noticeable transformations in London’s novels are in that of animals, the civil to savage metamorphosis is well-developed in humans too (McEwen). â€Å"Among [London’s] various studies of the North†¦nothing will set you thinking about how far the human race has progressed, the gulf between savagery and civilization, than the tale of ‘Nam Bok the Unveracious. ‘† (Sandburg 29). In Nam Bok the Unveracious, Nam Bok, after an absence of many years returns to his isolated fishing village on the shores of Alaska. Late into the night they talk, and Nam Bok, who has been to California, tells them he has †¦been upon a boat larger than all the boats of the village in one; he describes the sails of the vessel and the avers it made head against the wind as well as with it; he describes an iron monster that sped upon two streaks of iron faster than the wind, was fed up on black stones, coughed fire, and shrieked louder than thunder. Early the next morning he is informed that his sense of truth is mournfully degenerate. Their message runs this wise: ‘Thou art from the shadow-land, O Nam Bok. With us thou canst stay. Thou must return whence thou camest, to the land of the shadows.’ So much for Nam Bok. (30) The raging forces of human and natural forces that battle in these works â€Å"erode the layers of civilization to reveal the glimpse of the most primeval impulses inherent in men and their environments (McEwen). When a being is thrust into an unfamiliar environment, it must learn to adapt to and coexist with everything around it. In The Sea Wolf, Wolf Larsen eventually dies despite his strength and skills; he was an utterly egotistical an immoral character on an isolated island. London’s point was that Wolf could not have survived in a modern society with the traits he possessed. Buck, on the other hand, is returned to the wild from a tamed existence. He eventually joins a pack of wolves, but he is at the head because of the combination of intelligence he gained in the civilized world and the strength he acquired as part of his transgression to primeval instinct and the wild (Ludington). Even when ill treatment has the adverse affect of not taming Buck but sparking his change, he shows what dog (and man) can do to get past its hardships and become a leader (Ashley). His mistreatment was not the only factor in Buck’s transformation, the sense of a call back to â€Å"nature and her primal sanities† is felt by even the rankest degenerate, this is the cal of the wild (Sandburg 29). And with a fitting ending, The Call of the Wild closes: When the long winter nights come on and the wolves follow their meat into the lower valleys, he may be seen running at the head of the pack through the pale moonlight or glimmering borealis, leaping gigantic above his fellows, his great throat a-bellow as he sings a song of the younger world, which is the song of the pack. (Ashley) Throughout these novels, there can be seen a pattern of the same prevalent three prevalent themes. Each interrelated with one another, forming the same types of scenarios, and the same consistent fantastic plots that made London’s works famous. The main characters’ discovery of themselves sets in motion the reader’s own self-discovery. The fact that this lesson lies in the lives of canines and not other humans is the true test of London’s ability to humanize animals. In the end this combination forms for a more potent emotional attachment to these dogs than to any other type of fictional character. All these attest to London’s novels being viewed as timeless classics. Works Cited Ashley, Leonard R. N. â€Å"The Call of The Wild: Overview.† Reference Guide to American Literature. 3rd ed. Ed Jim Kamp. St. James Press, 1994. [Galenet] Labor, Earle. Jack London. New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc., 1974. Ludington, Townsend. â€Å"Jack London: Overview.† Reference Guide to American Literature. 3rd ed. Ed Jim Kamp. St. James Press, 1994. [Galenet] McEwen, Fred. â€Å"Jack London: Overview.† Twentieth-Century Young Adult Writers. 1st ed. Ed Lauren Sandley Berger. St. James Press, 1994. [Galenet] Sandburg, Charles A. â€Å"Jack London: A Common Man.† Critical Essays on Jack London. By Jacqueline Tavernier-Courbin. Boston: G.K. Hall and Co., 1983.