Transportation In The 19th Century During The First Half Of The 19th C Essay Example For Students

Transportation In The 19th Century During The First Half Of The 19th C Essay Transportation in the 19th CenturyDuring the first half of the 19th century, improvements in transportation developed rather quickly. Roads, steamboats, canals, and railroads all had a positive effect on the American economy. They also provided for a more diverse United States by allowing more products to be sold in new areas of the country and by opening new markets. Copied from ideas begun in England and France, American roads were being built everywhere. In an attempt to make money, private investors financed many turnpikes, expecting to profit from the tolls collected. Although they did not make as much money as expected, these roads made it possible for cheaper (not cheap) domestic transportation of goods. It still cost more to transport a ton of freight a few miles over land than it did to send it across the Atlantic Ocean. We will write a custom essay on Transportation In The 19th Century During The First Half Of The 19th C specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now But because of turnpikes, for the first time, goods were able to make it over the formidable Appalachian mountains.The steamboat was the first economical means of inland transport. It was faster and cheaper then the rafts used before them. Additionally, the steamboats made it possible to travel back up the Mississippi, allowing farmers and lumbermen to come down by raft, and travel home in the luxurious comfort of a steamboat after selling their goods. This also made the northwest less self-dependent because it was now able to purchase southern goods.While steamboats sparked the economy on the western frontier, canals became increasingly popular on the east coast. Although expensive ($25,000 per mile), and difficult to build, canals were an important source for those farmers and merchants who needed a cheap method of inland transportation. The water allowed horses, once only able to pull a ton of materials, to now pull over a hundred tons with the same amount of work. These canals were not only economical for exporters, but also for the state. Tolls alone collected from the Erie Canal had, by 1825, already paid for the entire project ($7,000,000), and now was making a substantial amount of profit.Even though it had not totally expanded yet, the cheapest, most economical method of transportation was the railroad. Speed, durability, and safety all contributed to the success of it. State legislatures and the national government all provided aid to the railroad companies by decreased the tax on rail iron.During this time period, manufacturing also boomed. New ideas and inventions made it faster to produce products. However, it is because of these new modes of transportation that this was ever able to occur. The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, would never have been able to develop fully if the transportation system did not make it easy to obtain cotton from the south.With these new technological breakthroughs, American economic growth was significantly increased. By allowing cheaper importation and exportation of goods, manufacturers were able to produce more of these products. Also, it opened new markets to different places. In the northwest, where coffee was an expensive luxury (costing almost seventeen cents per pound), it was now a common item. The steamboat reduced the price by over thirteen cents. Also, our new transportation system helped other regions work together. And aside from material items, our country benefited economically from tourism. Any tourist to the New York area would not miss The Great Western Canal.So although manufacturing did have a significant role in developing the American economy, it is because of transportation that manufacturing could have ever improved.

Quotes to Mark International Womens Day

Quotes to Mark International Womens Day The United Nations instituted International Womens Day, celebrated every year on March 8, to commemorate the contribution of women in the socio-political sphere as well as in global peace and security.​ International Womens Day can be traced back to the womens suffrage movement  starting in the 19th century. Over many decades, women achieved tremendous progress in many areas of life. Womens emancipation from​ traditional roles took on new meaning when they traveled into space and fought alongside men in combat. Insightful Quotes About Womenhood Mahatma Gandhi Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity. Farrah Fawcett God gave women intuition and femininity. Used properly, the combination easily jumbles the brain of any man Ive ever met. Harriet Beecher Stowe Women are the real architects of society. Charles Malik The fastest way to change society is to mobilize the women of the world. Barbara Bush Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the Presidents spouse. I wish him well! Virginia Woolf Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of a man at twice its natural size. Timothy Leary Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition. Ville Valo Women are always beautiful.. Loretta Young A charming woman doesn’t follow the crowd. She is herself. Philip Moeller Women are seldom silent. Their beauty is forever speaking for them. Nancy Pelosi Women are leaders everywhere you look from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes. Melinda Gates A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. Eleanor Roosevelt Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. Robert Elliott Gonzales, Poems and Paragraphs All the worlds a stage, and its a dead easy guess which sex has all the speaking parts. Louise Otto The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves. Margaret Sanger A free race cannot be born of slave mothers. Ellen DeGeneres I really dont think I need buns of steel. Id be happy with buns of cinnamon. Joseph Conrad Being a woman is a terribly difficult task  since it consists principally in dealing with men. Margaret Thatcher If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. Christabel Pankhurst Remember the dignity of your womanhood. Do not appeal, do not beg, do not grovel. Take courage, join hands, stand beside us, fight with us. Roseanne Barr The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it. Erma Bombeck It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. David Bower ï » ¿Dream the dreams that have never been dreamt.

Media writing - Feature Story (media newspaper or magazine) Essay

Media writing - Feature Story (media newspaper or magazine) - Essay Example Modernising the dating domain as we recognise it, these Internet sanctuaries are reconstructing the boundaries of love and the search of love, from all over the world. â€Å"We’re trying to reach the whole world—people of all spiritual orientations, all political philosophies, all racial background,† (Kornblum 2005: para 10) declares Neil Clark Warren, originator of one of the largest on-line dating sites in the world, eHarmony.com. So how does on-line dating works? She met him on the Internet, his screen name was Gizzy. He only knew her by his first name, Sarah. They have not met each other personally. But they immediately knew that they are destined for each other, merely by communicating through the Internet. â€Å"We always have a lively conversation and I miss it every time,† reveals Michael Thompson, 43, a retail store manager who met his soul mate through an on-line chat room. â€Å"I always feel that she is very close to me every time we chat. When I heard her voice for the first time I promised to myself that I will do everything to make her mine.† Seattle supermall saleslady Sarah Martin spent the whole night chatting on-line, from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. They then decided to call each other on their mobile phones. The couple talked throughout the rest of the next morning exchanging funny and embarrassing stories about each other. Sarah decided to give her address to Michael, and the latter was in Sarah’s doorstep the next day. One month later, the couple got married. â€Å"I enjoyed talking to him on the phone, and I really loved his humour,† says Sarah, a 35-year-old who works as a saleslady for a supermall in Seattle. â€Å"It’s funny but we started talking about our future together. Then he asked me if I am ready to settle down. I said ‘Of course, why not!’ Then we finally got married after a month. It was a very solemn wedding†. While it is seldom for a man and a woman who have not met each other face-to-face, and who are not aware of each

Preschool Observation at CCLC Daycare Case Study

Preschool Observation at CCLC Daycare - Case Study Example He dislikes arts and crafts. I chose Tomi to observe because of his reaction when I dropped my pencil at the beginning of the observation. Tomi was the only child who looked over at the sound; he picked it up and handed it to me, getting my attention with that gesture of kindness. I could tell with that one action that Tomi was both observant and sociable, and the observation that followed confirmed this instinct. It was just after naptime when I arrived, and the children were picking up their rest things. Tomi was doing so very neatly, gently placing his blanket on the table and handing his rest mat to his teacher. When he was finished with this, he walked over to another child who was still sleeping. He knelt down and woke her up, saying "Hey, it's a wake-up time, wake up!† His friend stirred and woke up, and as soon as her eyes were open, he asked her if she needed his help. This showed me that Tomi is able to identify with others' needs, which places him at an advanced leve l within the context of Piaget's theories. At the pre-operational level, most children have difficulty identifying with others, but Tomi's tendency to be helpful without prompting shows that perhaps he is beginning to be able to take on others' perspectives. When Tomi began wandering around the room again, he found a few friends who were already awake and packed up, and started talking with them. The subject of Ninja Turtles came up, and Tomi talked about them animatedly. I was able to observe a great deal about his speech and language development during this time. Tomi uses full sentences of about 5 to 6 words each. He uses past tense correctly, talking about what one of the Ninja Turtles did during an episode of the cartoon. He is able to tell a simple story, using a two-sentence description of what one of the Turtles did in the same episode. In speech and language, Tomi appears to be at a normal developmental level. Snack time followed rest. Cheese and crackers were served, but T omi asked his teacher for only cheese because he didn't want the cracker. He made this request very politely, and his teacher was happy to oblige. This showed an ability to make requests to meet his needs and use polite terms like â€Å"please,† which he did, placing him at a developmentally appropriate level. When Tomi finished his snack, he found a cube of cheese on the floor and he ate it. He did this without seeming to perceive that anyone might not think it an appropriate thing to do; he didn't check to see if the teacher was looking or act secretive. Without knowing whether or not he has been told not to eat things off the floor, it is difficult to infer cognitive ability from this action. However, it does show an ability to reason logically: Cheese is tasty, that cheese is there, I will eat it. As the children cleaned up their snack, Christmas songs were playing in the background. When Tomi was finished cleaning, he started dancing around the room to the music. When hi s teacher noticed, she asked him to go back to his place. I couldn't help wishing she had complimented his dancing or remarked that he must be enjoying the music before she asked him to stop dancing. He seemed very free and excited, and I wanted someone to share his joy.  

Strategic decisions of human resource management

Strategic decisions of human resource management Introduction The intention of this report is to analyse and evaluate communication systems which impact upon strategic decisions with reference to modern-day views of human resource management within a medium sized contracting firm. Taking a look at relevant theorists views and whether they would fit in to the medium sized contracting firm model The following areas are to be analysed and considered Types of communication systems: How these impact on strategic decisions Strategic resource management overview Theorists relevant to Human resource management (HRM) How these impact on a medium contracting firm Reference is to be made specifically to theorists models (e.g., Guests 1997 model and Legge 1995) how they compare and weather they fit into the modern HR model Communication methods See Appendix 1. Within the modern working environment the problem for management and employees alike is how to select the most effective method of communicating with other individuals and groups many factors can help to determine this selection: Formal or informal content of message; Speed and delivery and response; Individual or small group or large group as receiver; Cost of communications; Availability of information and communication technology Communication systems There are many communication systems which are relied on within the modern working environment but are we sure that we mean the telephone, meetings, computer or even written these themselves have become mobile with the introduction of the mobile phone and lap top linked to a wifi network constantly giving access to internet and emails. These are the tools for communication. Communication can be broadly classified as verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication includes written and oral communication Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions and visuals diagrams Verbal Communication Verbal communication can be further divided into written and oral communication. The oral communication refers to the spoken words. Oral communication can either be face-to-face communication or a conversation over the phone. The other type of verbal communication is written communication. Written communication can be by email or written. The effectiveness of written communication depends on the style of writing, vocabulary used, grammar, clarity and precision of language Nonverbal Communication Non-verbal communication includes overall body language of the person who is speaking, which includes body posture, hand gestures, and overall body movements. The facial expressions also play a major part since facial expressions say a lot. Non verbal communication can also be in the form of pictorial representations, signboards, or even photographs, sketches and paintings Communication is a process that involves exchange of information, thoughts, ideas and emotions. Its important that the delivery of communication is received and under stood by all subordinates; this will then allow communications to play an active role within strategic decisions. Would this be relevant within a medium sized contracting firm? Most would find it difficult to operate without effective communication. Communication can take various forms as described above but all forms involve the transfer of information from one party to the other. In order for the transfer of information to qualify as communication, the recipient must understand the information conveyed to them. If the recipient does not understand the meaning of the information conveyed to them, communication has not taken place. Communication is the life source of all organisations because organisations involve people. People cannot interact with each other without communication. Internal/Organisational Communication Communication that takes place within an organisation, in addition to the usual face to face, telephone, fax or mail; modern organisations will more often than not use technology to communicate internally. Technology may be used for e-mails or a linked internal communication system such as the intranet which is an internet system designed solely for use by those working within the organisation. External communications conversely external communication is communication between the organisation and those outside the organisation. Modern organisations may design technological systems so that they can communicate with customers and undertake e-Commerce. Alternatively they communicate with other businesses through the internet or similar systems and undertake e-Business. Upward and Downward communication Downward communication is communication created by directors and managers and passed down the hierarchy of workers in the organisation. In traditional organisations this is the preferred method of communication i.e. Managers decide what the systems, rules and procedures will be and then they pass these down to employees they manage and supervise. Downward Communication can increase efficiency by synchronising organisational procedures and can ensure that everybody is working towards the same overall aims and objectives. Types of downward communication include job descriptions, appraisals/evaluations, organisational policy, and organisational systems Effective communication is the foundation for effectiveness (McNamara) experts on organisations; management and leadership avow there cant be too much communication. Leaders and managers have realised that there is a need to effectively convey and receive information, To reiterate (McNamara Carter) subordinates need to be given proper communication from managers, as this is believed to lead to an increase in absenteeism amongst workers thus effecting productivity, there should be two-way communication in an organisation. Its enviable that the Manager should have personal contact with his subordinates. He should clearly communicate goals and policies of the organization to his subordinates and should get feedback on these goals and policies. Feedback plays a very important role in the communication process. It enables us to evaluate the effectiveness of our message. Giving the subordinates chance to provide feedback is important for maintaining an open communication within the organisation. The manager must create an environment that encourages feedback Performance appraisal Performance appraisals the process of obtaining, analysing and recording information about the relative worth of an employee. The focus of the performance appraisal is measuring and improvingthe actual performance of the employee and also the future potential of the employee. Its aim is to measure what an employee does andencourage employee communications about job-related and professional matters. (Harris, F 2006)Forms of communication include coaching, counselling, training and feedback on job performance. Strategic Human resource management What is strategic human resource management? Strategic human resource management (SHRM) could be defined as a process which is constantly evolving within many organisations, and should be constantly reviewed to suite employees and employers needs. Its definition and relationships with other aspects of business planning and strategy is not conclusive and opinion varies between many different theorists Theorists views Strategic HRM is the key to improved business performance within which there is comprehensive coverage of the various definitions and approaches to HRM, strategy and strategic HRM Armstrong, M and Baron, A. (2002) Is this statement a true reflection on what is believed to be the contemporary views of human resource management? Strategic HRM is regarded as a general approach to the strategic management of human resources in harmony with the intentions of the organisation on the future direction it wants to take. Strategic HRM is concerned with longer-term people issues and macro-concerns about structure, quality, culture, values, commitment and matching resources to future need. Boxall and Purcell argue that strategic HRM is concerned with explaining how HRM influences organisational performance. They also point out that strategy is not the same as strategic plans. Strategic planning is the formal process that takes place, usually in larger organisations, defining how things will be done, Purcell, J. (2003) To simplify these statements Strategic HRM is based on HRM principles incorporating the concept of strategy. So if HRM is a rational approach to the management of people, strategic HRM now implies that that is done in a planned way. Individuals, who are highly skilled, highly motivated and have the opportunity to participate within the organization by being given tasks to undertake. However, this will only feed through into higher levels of organisational performance if these individuals have positive management relationships with their superiors in a supportive environment with strong values. All these factors will support the willingness of individuals to perform above the minimum. It also could be said that the case is made for building the worker into the analysis of HRM, on the one hand, by incorporating worker attitudes and behaviour in the study of the HRM-performance relationship, and on the other, by paying serious attention to the association between HRM and worker-related outcomes. Evidence is presented to suggest that worker attitudes and behaviour mediate the HRM-performance relationship and that certain HR practices are associated with higher work and life satisfaction. (Guest, D 1997) Models on Strategic human resource management Human resource policies and practices have been linked with strategic objectives of many organisations. A number of British academics have made major contributions to the concept of HRM and their work is summarized below. Guest, D (1991) has taken the Harvard model and developed it further by defining four policy goals which he believes can be used as testable propositions: 1. Strategic integration: the ability of the organisation to integrate HRM issues into its strategic plans, ensure that the various aspects of HRM cohere and provide for line managers to incorporate an HRM perspective into their decision-making. 2. High commitment: A behavioural commitment to pursue agreed goals and attitudinal commitment reflected in a strong identification with the enterprise. Guest (1989) believes that the driving force behind HRM is the pursuit of competitive advantage in the market-place through provision of high-quality goods and services, through competitive pricing linked to high productivity and through the capacity swiftly to innovate and manage change in response to changes in the market-place or to breakthroughs in research and development. Legge, K (1989) considers that the common themes of typical definitions of HRM are that: Human resource policies should be integrated with strategic business planning and used to reinforce an appropriate (or change an inappropriate) organizational culture, that human resources are valuable and a source of competitive advantage, that they may be tapped most effectively by mutually consistent policies that promote commitment and which, as a consequence, foster a willingness in employees to act flexibly in the interests of the ‘adaptive organisations pursuit of excellence Summary Overall a medium sized contracting firm needs strategic systems in place especially taking into account the current economic climate, situations may arise where downsizing of the company and redundancies that may be prevalent due to the expected down turn in work load. At times of high unemployment, workers are thought to be concerned about losing their jobs and hence more conscientious and tolerant of strict management they become, its important to maintain communication in this situation. As states its important in difficult times for employees to become more flexible and foster willingness (Legge, K 1995) Other areas where lack of communication creates animosity between clients and contracting firm its proven that advising client of their needs and subsequently bring the projects successfully to implementation will help secure a good working relationship. Added values such as back up service of experienced staff and well qualified staff in all the requested areas of the construction programme this fits in with Guests model of giving high-quality goods and services, through competitive pricing linked to high productivity. (Guest, D 1997) If a business has highly motivated team then success will follow, this has to be lead from the top down and strategic integration from HR is paramount in the delivery of success as described in guests theory K, Legge at first contradicts Guests theory with whats known as a hard model theory by stating that employees are a resource just as any other business resource. Thus, human resource should match business needs and help achieve objectives. Management may monitor their performances for recognition and rewards. Furthermore, organizations will always try to acquire them as cheaply as possible, and exploit them to maximise profits. This model may sound less humanistic but the objective of achieving humanism should not compromise the objectives of organisations (Legge 1995). Theorists then began to look at other types of models and agreed that a softer approach was more fitting in certain current climates Harvard Business School developed soft or developmental humanism model, also tak es into consideration integration critical for the development of business strategies. At the same time, it also emphasises on treating people as valued assets. They should be treated as human capital, which is fundamentally different from other business resources. The soft model encourages developing employees so that they become proactive in organizational development and progress (Legge 1995). Many authors question the underlying practical applications of HRM models. Similar concerns are raised about SHRM. Its managerial focus, strategic perspectives and ‘realities‘ of HR practice have been questioned by several writers (Legge 1995; Guest 1997). SHRM is certainly concerned primarily with contributing to the ‘bottom line success of an organisation, which may sometimes involve a unitarist approach to the management of employees. SHRM may also infer a ‘hard HRM focus, which does not sit comfortably with some authors. However, as Legge (1995) points out, †˜If HRM, in either its ‘hard or ‘soft guises, involves the reassertion of managerial prerogative over the labour process, the strategies of flexibility reflect and constitute a path to this, employees as both resourceful humans and human resources Conclusion The above essay has analysed and evaluated various literature of human resource management, strategy and the links between these elements. While there is considerable discussion in relation to organisations using HRM strategically with a view to enhancing their organisation performance the actual implementation seems variable. The review of the literature also suggests there is a multi layer framework in which human resource management is located. (Guest, D. 2002) The relationship between organisations and workers is increasingly secured through different forms of involvement, ranging from an alienative to a moral involvement and from compliance to commitment as the basis for the ongoing attachment. Relationship and the interaction between the worker and employer have focused attention on outcomes. These outcomes can be perceived in terms of whether they are processes, procedures or practices, but at another they can be seen to be a mechanism for securing the objectives (Manning K 2005) Bibliography Books Bratton, J Gold, J (2003), Human resource management theory Practice 3rd edition, New York. Chaffee, E (1985) ‘Three models of strategy Academy of Management Review, London. Foot, M Hook, C. (2005), Introducing Human resource management 4th edition, London Harris, F McCaffer. (2006), Modern Construction Management sixth Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford Price, A (2003), Human resource management in a business context 3rd edition, London Purcell, J. (2003), Strategy and human resource management, London. Mintzberg, H. (1994), The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning, Prentice-Hall. Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B. and Lampel, J. (1998), Strategy Safari: A guided tour through the wilds of strategic management, The Free Press. Whittington, R. (2000), What is Strategy And Does It Matter? 2nd edition Thomson Learning. Manning, Dr. K (2005), Strategic Human Resource Management and Performance. Internet McNamara, C 1997 (http://managementmrktng/org) accessed 10th Dec 09 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=347150 accessed 5th Jan 10 http://www.business.vu.edu.au/Mgt/working_papers/2005/wp6_2005_worland_manning. Accessed 5th Jan 2010 Journal articles Guest, D. E. 1997, ‘Human Resource Management and Performance: A Review and Research Agenda, International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 263-276. Guest, D. 2002, ‘Human Resource Management, Corporate Performance and Employee-Well-Being: Building the Worker into HRM, the Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 44, no. 3. pp. 335-358. Guest, D. E., Conway, N. Dewe, P. 2004, ‘Using Sequential Tree Analysis to Search for ‘Bundles of HR Practices, Human Resource Management Journal, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 79-96. Guest, D. E. Michie, J. Conway, N. Sheehan, M. 2003, ‘Human Resource Management and Corporate Performance in the UK, British Journal of Industrial Relations, vol.41, no. 2, pp. 291-314. Reilly, P. (2008) Strategic HR? Ask yourself the questions.HR Director. No 44, February. Richards, J. (2007) Aligning HR with the business: two steps forward, one step back. IRS Employment Review. No 866 March.

Macbeth :: essays research papers

How do the witches create an atmosphere of nightmare And evil in ‘Macbeth’? The play ‘Macbeth’ was written in the early seventeenth century, in a time when the English people believed very strongly in the existence of witches. A range of powers were certified to these evil beings, including the ability to see into the future, control the weather, fly and become invisible at will and communicate with the devil. The witches were believed to enjoy making human beings suffer, by causing livestock to get ill and die, for example. From the outset of this play, when three witches appear on stage, the contemporary audiences would have anticipated a plot that demonstrated just how evil such creatures could be. In Act 1 Scene 1 Shakespeare introduces the witches immediately and this sets the tone for the rest of the play, it sets a mood of evil and supernatural influences. In this scene the witches meet close to the battlefield, this associates them with destruction and death. The first impressions we get from this scene is that there is aggressive weather which reflects their tendencies and their presence causes chaos in nature, also darkness links the witches with evil, two thirds of the play is set in the darkness. An absence of light suggests an absence of God and he is associated with light and goodness. The witches speak in rhyming couplets â€Å"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightening or in rain?† Speaking in rhyming couplets gives the impression of chanting or a spell being cast. Their control over the weather is alluded to as they discuss what it should be like the next time they meet. The witches refer to the current battle as a ‘hurly-burly’. Bu t really this was a battle of horrific proportions that was to decide the fate of an entire country, resulting in many deaths. The witches’ description of this as a ‘hurly-burly’ suggests that they are dismissive of it, comparing it more to a childish scuffle in a playground. This shows how contemptuous they are to the affairs if man and their lack of concern at such human carnage and suffering. The witches know when the battle will be over suggesting that they may have some influence on this and reinforcing the idea that they can see into the future. They discuss their plan to meet with Macbeth, an intention that convinces the audience they mean to cause him harm.

Nature in Sons and Lovers by David Herbert Lawrence Essay

In his introduction to The Letters of D. H. Lawrence, (Aldous Huxley, 1932) declared that Lawrence was ‘above all a great literary artist†¦one of the greatest English writers of any time. ’ Born in Eastwood near Nottingham, England on the 11th of September, 1885, D. H. Lawrence wrote novels that presented the dehumanizing effect of industrial culture and preached a glorified union with nature along with its corollary, sexual fulfilment. His experience growing up in a coal-mining family provided much of the inspiration for Sons and Lovers, his third novel, also considered his ‘crowning achievement’ (Qamar Naheed, 1998). Written in 1913, it is considered a pioneering work for its realism, vivid characterisation, treatment of sex complications and faultless control over tone and narrative method. Sons and Lovers is referred to as a Kunstlerroman (a version of the Bildungsroman), which is a novel charting the growth and development of an artist. The novel contains many autobiographical details, leading Mary Freeman (1955) to define Lawrence’s ‘most pervasive aim’ as the attempt to link experiences in his writing; she declares Sons and Lovers as the starting point from which Lawrence ‘moved towards more complex speculations’. Undoubtedly Lawrence used his own experiences very fully in the novel: his parents’ relationship, attitudes and personalities are mirrored in that of Morel’s. He remarked in a letter, ‘one sheds one’s sickness in books’ and Sons and Lovers is a way of his coming to terms with those formative experiences which made him the man he was (Jenny Weatherburn, 2001). Lawrence was an acute observer of the natural world who took great joy from it (Weatherburn, 2001) and the novel reveals a great preoccupation with nature. One of the important artistic features in Sons and Lovers is the symbolic meanings associated with nature. Lawrence applies the symbolism of nature to reveal Paul Morel’s complicated relationships with the three women in his life – Mrs. Morel, Miriam and Clara. These characters bond deeply in nature and Lawrence uses nature, and specifically flowers throughout the novel to symbolize these deep connections. Nature is used as a central symbol throughout Sons and Lovers and it is intricately linked to Lawrence’s presentation of Paul’s female relationships. Lawrence’s use of landscapes and nature images in Sons and Lovers directly contributes to the development of Paul’s relationship with his mother, Mrs. Morel. For Mrs. Morel, the garden proves to be a place of poetry, meditation and a means of escape from the ugly reality of her life. At the end of Chapter 1 when Mr. Morel, in a fit of rage and drunkenness, locks Mrs. Morel outside in the gardens to demonstrate his power in the household, the pregnant Mrs. Morel wanders into the garden and succumbs to ‘a kind of swoon’ – ‘her self melted out like scent’ – and the child too melted with her in the mixing-pot of moonlight. Her stillness in the garden where she contemplates the flowers and finds peace in their perfume highly contrasts with the noisy restlessness of her husband – ‘Mrs. Morel gasped slightly in fear. She touched the big, pallid flowers on their petals, then shivered. They seemed to be stretching in the moonlight. ’ (SL Page 31. ) Here Lawrence uses pathetic fallacy as the garden mirrors her emotions and she seeks refuge and comfort among her flowers. According to Stefania Michelucci, 2002; ‘In this nocturnal episode, the garden also represents a threshold from which she establishes a relationship with the unknown, with forces of nature which intoxicate and disturb at the same time. ’ (Page 38) Here the lilies in full bloom are symbolizing Mrs. Morel’s young exuberant life, while the pollen is breeding the new life. She and the embryo immerse and bond in the atmosphere all in a lethargic sleep; from the onset Lawrence uses flowers to reveal Paul’s and Mrs. Morel’s unordinary relationship. Lawrence was aware of Freud’s theory and Sons and Lovers uses nature to underscore the Oedipus complex present in Paul’s relationship with his mother. Paul is hopelessly devoted to his mother, and nature is used to reveal the love that often borders on romantic desire. Paul was born when she no longer loved her husband, and did not want to have this child. Ms. Morel decides to love this child well, as compensation for bringing him in to a loveless world. Nature, specifically flowers, connects the two, as Paul shows love by giving flowers to his mother from as early as infancy. Whenever Paul brings her flowers the mood is gay, lively, warm or poignant. In addition, Lawrence presents scenes that go beyond the bounds of conventional mother-son love: as the two spend a day in the country together at the Leivers’, the beauty and sensuality of the countryside are reflected in their relationship – ‘Then they went out into the wood that was flooded with bluebells, while funny forget-me-nots were in the paths. The mother and son were in ecstasy together’. (SL Page 145) Throughout the duration of this isit to the countryside, the beauty of nature entrances mother and son; so much in fact, that they both insinuate that their feelings of happiness can be attributed to this intimate, countryside visit. Upon leaving ‘his heart was full of happiness till it hurt. His mother had to chatter because she, too, wanted to cry with happiness’. (SL Page 148) The description of their unordinary relationship is replete with sensual descriptions of nature, of budding flowers and dew speckled grass, as well as of passion expressed through art. The imagery is clearly erotic and would have been unacceptable in Victorian England, therefore leading to harsh criticism upon publication. Similarly, Lawrence uses nature to symbolize Paul’s intricate relationship with Miriam. Nature has a strange fascination for both Paul and Miriam; the beauty of nature, her changing colours and forms stimulate them and Lawrence conveys this to the reader through descriptive paragraphs and dialogue. The nature aspects that are in the extract convey purity; the two characters are young and fresh and the descriptive language used reflects this. Miriam is eager to show Paul a ‘certain wild-rose bush she had discovered’ and the emotive language used reveals Miriam’s belief that until Paul has seen the bush ‘it had not come into her soul’; the bush is a way of representing the relationship between Miriam and Paul as whilst it holds great importance to Miriam it meant nothing unless it was shared with Paul. The language used to describe the nature suggests the writer finds euphoria in nature. The bush is described as ‘splashing darkness everywhere with great split stars, pure white’ which give is imagery of the night and the ‘stars’ are seen as the most beautiful aspect of the night. The ‘pure white’ reiterates the youth and beauty between the two characters. The ‘pure white’ can also be seen as representative of newness of the events. It is not only the characters’ love of nature that is portrayed in the extract but also the writer’s as the language Lawrence has used to describe the natural surroundings is beautiful and euphoric. Romanticism depicts that external nature is described accurately and sensuously and should be centered with human experiences and problems. The rose bush, described as having a ‘cool scent of ivory roses- a white virgin scent’, symbolizes the sexual tension between Paul and Miriam and reflects Miriam’s inner battle whether or not to have a physical relationship with Paul. Here again, Lawrence focuses unflinchingly on sexual experience and sexual feeling –‘She saw the dark yews and the golden crocuses, then she looked at him gratefully. †¦ And now he asked her to look at this garden, wanting the contact with her again. Impatient of the set in the field, she turned to the quiet lawn surrounded by sheaves of shut-up crocuses. A feeling of stillness, almost ecstasy came over her. It felt almost as if she were alone with him in this garden. ’(S L, p. 190). This chapter begins to suggest that Paul needs some connection beyond what he shares with his mother. In his free time, Paul is a painter, and he still needs his mother to do his best work, but Miriam allows him to take his work to another level; she makes him feel an intensity he has never before experienced. Miriam also seems to have some sense of this connection, evident especially when she feels that, until she shows him the rose bush, she will not fully have experienced it herself. The connection between Paul and Miriam may be one reason that Mrs. Morel dislikes Miriam – ‘She could feel Paul being drawn away by the girl. ’ She seems to view Miriam as direct competition for her son’s love and attention. Lawrence also links Miriam with nature in a psychological level. She is depicted as having a pantheistic worship of the natural world – ‘Miriam went on her knees before one cluster, took a wild-looking daffodil between her hands, turned up its face of gold to her, and bowed down, caressing it with her mouth and cheeks and brow. He stood aside, with his hands in his pockets, watching her. One after another she turned up to him the faces of the yellow, bursting flowers appealingly, fondling them lavishly all the while. â€Å"Aren’t they magnificent? † she murmured. â€Å"Magnificent! It’s a bit thick—they’re pretty! † She bowed again to her flowers at his censure of her praise. He watched her crouching, sipping the flowers with fervid kisses. ’ (SL Page 248) The disharmony between the two is evident from Paul’s annoyed reaction to Miriam’s almost sexual appreciation of nature – â€Å"Why must you always be fondling things? † he said irritably. â€Å"But I love to touch them,† she replied, hurt. â€Å"Can you never like things without clutching them as if you wanted to pull the heart out of them? Why don’t you have a bit more restraint, or reserve, or something? † (SL Page 248) Paul’s complex innermost feelings are evident; e is evidently fettered by Miriam and yearns for freedom – ‘When she bent and breathed a flower, it was as if she and the flower were loving each other. Paul hated her for it. There seemed to be a sort of exposure about the action, something too intimate. ’ (SL, p. 199) The way she holds the flower symbolizes her attitude toward Paul. Finally, toward the end of the book when Paul makes his final break with Miriam, he presents her with a bowl of flowers. A flower in the novel, seems to represent life. For Miriam, the flowers represent the rootless flowers of death. Nature is also used symbolically in the representation of Paul’s relationship with Clara. Lawrence uses nature to metaphorically symbolize the intense feelings Paul has for the women in his life and Clara’s connection to nature is portrayed to be totally antithetical to that of Mrs. Morel and Miriam – ‘The flowers were very fresh and sweet. He wanted to drink them. As he gathered them, he ate the little yellow trumpets. Clara was still wandering about disconsolately. Going towards her, he said: â€Å"Why don’t you get some? † â€Å"I don’t believe in it. They look better growing. â€Å"But you’d like some? † â€Å"They want to be left. † â€Å"I don’t believe they do. † â€Å"I don’t want the corpses of flowers about me,† she said. â€Å"That’s a stiff, artificial notion,† he said. ’ (SL Page 270) According to Mark Spilka (1980), Clara ‘doesn’t want to be ‘picked’ or taken by any man; she has separated from her husband and for her flowers become as proud and frigid, in their isolation, as she would like to be in hers. ’ This ritual of picking flowers causes Paul and Clara to engage in their first spirited conversation which reveals opposing values of both characters. The way they pick flowers reflects their values –‘Miriam with false reverence; Paul with love, like a lover; and Clara not at all – but at least she respects the life in them, and the flowers, in their turn, will defend her – whereas Miriam’s sheltered blooms will quickly die. ’ Lawrence entitles the lyrical chapter ‘Lad –and-Girl-Love’ and punctuates it with Paul’s intense enjoyment of the world of leaves and flowers, while relating it to the sexual attraction between Paul and the women in his life – Miriam Leivers and Clara Dawes. In the cene where Paul, Miriam and Clara are together on an open field in the country, Miriam is evidently aware of the attraction between Paul and Clara and uses it as a test to see if her spiritual hold over his soul will prevail over his desires for Clara’s body –‘Clara’s hat lay on the grass not far off. She was kneeling, bending forward still to smell the flowers. Her neck gave him a sharp pang, such a beautiful thing, yet not proud of itself just now. Her breasts swung slightly in her blouse. The arching curve of her back was beautiful and strong; she wore no stays. Suddenly, without knowing, he was scattering a handful of cowslips over her hair and neck, saying: â€Å"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust, if the Lord won’t have you the devil must. † The chill flowers fell on her neck. She looked up at him, with almost pitiful, scared grey eyes, wondering what he was doing. Flowers fell on her face, and she shut her eyes. †(SL Page 271) The relation between man and nature is direct and vital. Lawrence’s characters experience moments of transcendence while alone in nature, much as the Romantics did. More frequently, characters bond deeply while in nature. Lawrence uses flowers throughout the novel to symbolize these deep connections. Sons and Lovers, perhaps more than any other of Lawrence’s books, is full of images of flowers. The different traits of the characters personalities are brought home to the reader through the help of flowers. Throughout the development of the novel, as intimacy is shared, it is only through nature and natural elements that we see this â€Å"intimacy† occur. This comparable relationship with nature metaphorically symbolizes and is intricately linked with the intense feelings Paul has for the women in his life.