In Birdsong, Faulks represents different relationships with Stephen throughout. Many different relationships portray different experiences of love with each character and Stephen. Within my essay I will explain some of the different relationships with Stephen and how Faulks explores them. The form of Birdsong is a novel, this helps Faulks describe with detail the relationships with Stephen to give the reader a detailed idea of character’s opinions on other character’s and how they feel. Faulks also mixes the time periods around throughout the novel, this could be to help illustrate the changes in Stephen and his personality over time.
The first relationship with Stephen that Faulks tells us about is with Isabelle. Their relationship gradually turns into a sexual love. With this they have to have a secretive relationship, bringing them both excitement which neither of them have had before. Faulks writes “Stephen found that their hurried and clandestine couplings were made more powerful to him by their element of fear” showing that the fact their relationship is a secret is the reason why their relationship is so powerful and passionate.
By using alliteration with “clandestine coupling” makes it sound unemotional and less romantic. “The feeling of impalement” is a violent image written to describe a sex scene to suggest that their relationship was very physical and intense. “Impalement” could demonstrate the relation made by Faulks in Birdsong with war and sex as they are very closely linked throughout. Stephen’s relationship with Isabelle is later suggested to be perhaps a wrong and selfish decision. Their relationship could symbolise the decisions later made by authority that lead to the first world war.
Faulks writes “To mention what they did seemed more shameful then to do it” which could suggest that their relationship was only ever going to be a secret as they knew it was wrong. The thing that they had both thought was love had ended with no excitement as there was no secret any more. Stephen then loses all happiness and trust. Stephen then meets Jeanne during the war and gradually becomes close to her. His relationship with Jeanne is family love as they become dependent on each other and need each other for some stability in their lives. This relationship is very different to Stephen’s with Isabelle as Stephen is now ore mature and now knows what is best for him after seeing a lot during the war. Jeanne said to Stephen “I will wait for you”. Faulks could be suggesting that she immediately cared for Stephen and wanted him to stay close to her. Jeanne wanted to reassure Stephen that someone would be here for him when the war was finished. Even though there relationship was a lot less physical, their relationship had more trust then Stephen’s relationship with Isabelle. Arguably, this is the relationship Faulks uses to represent a stronger and more committed love with Stephen and a women.
Jeanne says to Stephen “Because I love you” and Stephen says “We will try”. This could shows the trust in their relationship. It also shows that they both know that the relationship is right and what they both need to help them after the war. Jeanne says “come and let me hold you” to Stephen to comfort him and show that she loved him. Faulks represents this relationship with more trust and comfort than Isabelle and Stephen. This could be to suggest that the war changed people and their decisions. “Stephen laughed for the first time” when with Jeanne to demonstrate that their relationship gradually making him happier.
It could also illustrate that Stephen is beginning to recover because of his relationship with Jeanne. Faulks also uses this relationship to show the change in Stephen’s personality after the war. Compared to Isabelle, which was a more selfish relationship, he has now changed to being more dependent and wanting a stable relation that isn’t just for himself. Structurally, the importance of Isabelle coming before the war shows how the war changed Stephens view on relationships as he became less selfish and more mature.
Their relationship may also show the selfish decisions that started the war. Even when Stephen fell silent for over a year, which was common for soldiers after the war, Jeanne stuck by him showing their love and stability. Stephen then goes into the war and becomes very close to another soldier called Wier. This relationship is Stephen’s main relationship during the war. These two characters could relate as neither of them had been loved as children. Wier’s parents had not loved him and didn’t understand how horrific the war was.
This was common during the war for people at home to not understand the true horror for the soldiers in the war. Stephen and Wier had a brotherly love for each other and trusted one another. Wier wants reassurance from Stephen and says “hold me” as he “crawled” over to him for comfort. This shows how close they were and that affection was shown slightly for each other because of how horrific the war was. Also, because he “crawled” Faulks could be suggesting that Wier looks up to Stephen for a parenting comfort as a child would because he didn’t have a good relationship with his parents.
Wier also looked for reassurance from Stephen through superstition as this was very common during the war. Although some affection was shown between the two soldiers when Wier was alive, after his death Stephen reveals more love towards Wier. Stephen thought “Wier alone had made the war bearable” as he was one of the only reasons he had stayed strong and coped with the war. Faulks also writes “yet he had loved him” which emphasises the strength of their relationship and the brotherly love between them. This also suggests that this is the first person Stephen had really loved.
Stephen also knew that “Wier had been braver by far than he was” but Wier still looked to Stephen for reassurance which shows the trust that their relationship had and how each other had made the war bearable. Another relationship with Stephen experienced during World War One was with Jack Firebrace. This is also another relationship Faulks has used to portray a brotherly love between soldiers. Earlier in the novel Jack had saved Stephen’s life which had helped create their strong relationship between each other.
When Jack is dying he says to Stephen “I could have loved you” portraying the love he had for Stephen and how he had respect for him. By using a auxiliary verb, “could” this may represent the idea of Jack never having the chance to love Stephen or perhaps that he never thought that he could have loved Stephen until now. This relationship also shows the two classes coming together in the war. When Jack dies “Stephen held the body in his arms, out of respect” to show how he admired Jack and wanted to hold him in respect for him because he meant a lot to Stephen.
At the end of the war, when Stephen meets a German soldier Levi, Faulks writes “For no reason he could tell, he found that he had opened his arms in turn” showing a strong male relationship with someone who has been an enemy. Faulks could perhaps be implying when Stephen opens is arms “For no reason he could tell” that compassion had been unexpected towards an enemy, but because he has been away from the war for a while, it didn’t make a difference who it had been that saved him. Faulks also writes that Levi opens his arms for Stephen unconsciously which could also demonstrate that compassion in the situation they were in was only atural but war had made them forget about gratitude. Levi also gave Stephen a belt saying ‘Gott mit uns’ for Stephen to remember him buy. This belt is later found by Elizabeth is granddaughter. Structurally, this shows the connection between the relationships Stephen had and how Stephen is still a part of the family after his death. The structure of the novel illustrates the contrast in relationships between Stephen when he was younger and didn’t know what was best for him, to after the war when he was a man and needed stability.
At the end of the novel Stephen had a lot more knowledge of the world because of the war which changed his view on relationships and what he needed. At first he was selfish and driven by excitement and after the war he was looking for trust and real love. Arguably, Faulks could be suggesting that Stephen’s first relationship is portraying what the decisions were like that led to the war and his relationship with Jeanne were like the reasons that ended the war. For example, just like Stephen, the Germans knew what was best for them.
Elizabeth, Stephens granddaughter, demonstrates how relationships can carry on even after death. Faulks writes “Somehow she would repay the debt; she would complete the circle” illustrating how relationships can still be shown even when the people have not met. It also illustrates that, what goes around, comes around meaning that it is continuous and that Stephen will carry on through other family members. Elizabeth also names her child John because Stephen had promised Jack that he would showing that Elizabeth saw her relationship with her grandfather as strong and wanted to keep his word even after his death.
Faulks represents many different types of love with Stephen to show the different sides of Stephen and how he gradually changed throughout the book. Over time Stephen gradually became more mature and learnt a lot through his different experiences through love. Faulks could be suggesting that an experience can change somebody’s decisions and how they look at the world. As Stephen went through the war, his knowledge of the world grew and he began to learn more about himself and what was best for him. Faulks could perhaps also be suggesting that the way we love might have much to do with the context in which we find ourselves. Naomi Body.
Benefits Of Learning A Foreign Language
Understanding the importance of learning a foreign language becomes evident when communicating with people who speak a different language. Language is the use of organized sounds or symbols to exchange information, and being able to speak another language offers both social and professional benefits. By interacting with speakers of the new language, we can improve our skills through practice. In terms of careers, having proficiency in a foreign language gives us an advantage as professionals fluent in a second language are highly sought after for travel and business purposes.
In addition, these individuals can also gain advantages and explore innovative technologies and ideas. Additionally, speaking a second language not only builds trust with international business professionals but also encourages their involvement in a business venture. When communicating in their native language with foreigners, the latter are more likely to feel comfortable dealing with sales or business personnel. Expanding on this idea, we can recognize another benefit of learning a new language: it promotes a wider perspective and cultural sensitivity.
Learning a new language not only alters one’s mindset but also provides an opportunity to immerse in a different culture and gain a deeper understanding of one’s own. In the present era, younger generations are increasingly inclined towards travel and exploring various corners of the globe, something unimaginable for our ancestors.
While it may be impractical to learn the language of every desired travel destination, knowing the local tongue simplifies solving everyday problems that arise while traveling. Moreover, it enhances the overall experience by facilitating comprehension of the foreign country and its culture, eliminating frustrations and feelings of isolation during the journey.
In essence, vacationing with language proficiency offers greater enjoyment as it not only garners appreciation from locals who recognize your effort to learn their language but also improves service quality in establishments like shops and restaurants where you can read signs, understand menus, and engage in conversation with staff.
The process of learning impacts our perspective on both the world and others. It is crucial to acknowledge that acquiring knowledge of a foreign language does not automatically result in empathy towards native speakers. Nevertheless, studying a language significantly contributes to cultivating understanding and empathy towards members of a specific society.
Studying foreign languages can promote understanding and dispel misunderstandings with native speakers. This is particularly evident when language learning starts early and persists for a considerable duration. Moreover, it is commonly believed that being bilingual fosters an open-minded perspective towards concepts and ideologies. This belief arises from the captivation of bilingual individuals with the customs and practices linked to the language they are acquiring. Additionally, some people initially become deeply interested in the music, literature, history, and culture of a specific country. This interest serves as motivation to acquire a comprehensive understanding through language learning.
Learning a foreign language offers various advantages, including better social skills, increased cultural knowledge, and improved cognitive development. Not only does it facilitate communication, but scientific research also demonstrates its positive effects on mental abilities. Historically, studying a foreign language was considered a way to enhance intellectual capacities.
Researchers have found practical and humanistic benefits to acquiring a new language. Moreover, individuals who study a foreign language from elementary school until college tend to achieve higher average scores compared to those who do not engage in extra learning. The amount of time dedicated to studying a specific subject also impacts the improvement in average grades.
When students focus on subjects such as math, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social studies, their average scores increase. However, studying a foreign language stands out because the more time a student dedicates to it, the more their scores improve. Therefore, students who have spent four or five years studying a foreign language achieve higher scores than those who have studied other subjects for the same duration. This is truly remarkable! And there’s even more when it comes to the cognitive development associated with language studies.
Research indicates that individuals who are multilingual tend to possess superior problem-solving skills compared to those who speak only one language. In various tests assessing verbal and nonverbal intelligence, bilingual participants consistently outperformed monolingual participants. This advantage is often attributed to the linguistic abilities of bilingual individuals, which enable them to exhibit greater mental flexibility. Additionally, being fluent in multiple languages and cultures can enhance communication with people from different countries and cultures. As a result, learning another language and culture can facilitate more effortless and logical problem-solving, providing a wider array of solutions for social issues.
Regardless of the motives underlying the acquisition of a foreign language, gaining proficiency in a second language offers remarkable experiences and numerous advantages. It not only enhances comprehension of written text in everyday activities but also fosters personal growth concerning cognition, perception, cultural awareness, and interactions with diverse individuals.
Hamilton Power Tools
Hamilton Power Tools, under the leadership of Mr. Campagna, the marketing manager, is a sales-driven company that seeks to incorporate a customer-centric approach into their marketing tactics. With more than three decades of expertise, Hamilton Power Tools has dedicated themselves to promoting industrial products, specifically within the construction and industrial tool sectors. Their collection of offerings for the construction industry encompasses power trowels, concrete vibrators, generators, and power-driven tools.
Their primary industrial lines consisted of pneumatic tools such as drills and screwdrivers. However, they decided to differentiate themselves by acquiring a small chain-saw manufacturer. This move was motivated by their desire to expand into other markets, as the chain-saw market was experiencing rapid changes in the 1970s. Recognizing the need for expert guidance, Hamilton Tools executives sought advice to navigate this evolving industry.
Based on various sources, including trade publications, statistics from The Chain-saw Manufacturers’ Association, and his own 15 years of experience, the marketing executive believed that the chain-saw industry consisted of professionals (lumberjacks), farmers, institutions, and casual users. To gather more information, a short questionnaire was included on the warranty cards that customers returned after purchasing a Hamilton Chain-saw. The results of this “survey” indicated that the homeowner or casual user market segment was experiencing the fastest growth in the chain-saw market.
This market was made up of wood-cutters who only used the chain-saw occasionally, either for cutting firewood or trimming trees in their own yards. The sales of chain-saws started to decline in 1978 because the business was seasonal. As a result, Mr. Campagna and Ray Johnson arranged a meeting with John Hamilton to persuade him that conducting consumer research was necessary. The research was carried out by Frank Baggins of Consumer Metrics, and the presentation took place with Dale Conway, the Vice President of the research corporation present.
The research included two parts: a survey of chain-saw consumers and the implementation of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), which is a motivational research method proposed by Consumer Metrics of Chicago and involves using picture exhibits. The findings showed that Hamilton Chain Saws are experiencing significant growth in the market on the West Coast. The retail outlets and service distributors in this region align with the marketing strategy. To obtain a sample, Consumer Metrics used warranty cards from California men who had purchased HCS in 1977 and 1978, as these cards listed the purchasers during those years.
The purpose of the research was to examine how consumers behave when purchasing ultimate chain-saws, specifically in relation to their usage in public or private institutions. A total of 463 questionnaires were handed out, with 201 (43.4%) being returned and 18 (3.9%) undeliverable. The findings reveal that individuals aged 25 and above were the ones who purchased HCS Chain-Saw. More than two-thirds had a combined family income exceeding $18,000 per year, with over half earning more than $20,000 annually. Professionals made up 5.5% of the market, farm users accounted for 20%, renters constituted 3%, and casual users represented over 70%.
The quality was rated as good or excellent by 85% of the respondents, and satisfaction was expressed by 75%. When purchasing a chain-saw, special stores were preferred by 35%, equipment stores were chosen by 20.5%, hardware stores were visited by 9.5%, farm stores were opted for by 7%, and sports stores were chosen by 5%. The research also revealed that only 32% of respondents had complete familiarity with chain-saws, while 44% claimed to have some familiarity, 19.5% stated they were unfamiliar, and 63.5% had no knowledge at all. Furthermore, only 20% of all respondents planned to purchase Hamilton Chain-Saws.
According to a survey, 45% of chain-saw purchases were influenced by salesperson recommendations, emphasizing the important role dealers have in marketing. However, it is worth noting that other factors also contribute to purchase decisions. About 26.5% of respondents said the dealer had no influence, while 16% mentioned some influence and 6.5% noted minimal influence from the dealer. Moreover, more than one-third of respondents did not interact with the dealer or dealer salespersons during their initial visit to the dealership. Only 21% witnessed a chain-saw demonstration and just 28.5% learned about the appropriate chain-saw model for their needs. Overall, it seems that most customers had passive buying experiences when first visiting a chain-saw salesperson, relying more on interactions with salespeople rather than visual assessments of products. As a result, if their preferred dealer does not have the desired chain-saw in stock, customers may need to visit another store.
QUESTION – ANSWERS
a) Why did Hamilton Power Tools wait so long before conducting and utilizing consumer research? What is your opinion on the usefulness of market research for managers?
Mr. John Hamilton, a successful entrepreneur with an ego, trusted his own instincts and believed he understood his market. He was convinced that his chain-saw sales had been strong for the past ten years. However, in the 1970s, the chain-saw market started to evolve rapidly, prompting his executives to recognize the need for expert guidance. During a meeting in March 1978, when the chain saw market showed signs of slowing due to its seasonal nature, Mr. Campagna and Ray Johnson convinced John Hamilton that conducting consumer research was essential.
According to the group, marketing research plays a vital role in managerial decision-making by helping to reduce uncertainty in the face of fierce competition and a changing environment. Additionally, the group evaluates the sampling frame used by Consumer Metrics and expresses discomfort with their research methodology. Consumer Metrics used warranty cards from purchasers during 1977 and 1978 as their sampling frame, which is not representative of the entire population. The survey results indicate that 63.5% of these individuals had no knowledge of the chain-saw, suggesting that the research was not systematic. The research findings lack information regarding the remaining 214 questionnaires, such as whether they were emailed, left at doorsteps, or conducted via telephone conversation.
Consumer Metrics should have taken into account salespersons, owners, and other members of the public. They should have focused on the existing data they had collected. Consumer Metrics should have engaged with the general public to obtain a clearer understanding of the market. They could have accomplished this through telephone conversations. C) Based on the information provided in the case, develop a marketing plan. In your group’s opinion, what is a marketing plan? What notable insights does this research provide that may impact planned marketing – mix variables and the marketer’s understanding of the target market?
Steps involved in a marketing plan:
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Begin by providing a comprehensive description of your business and product line, emphasizing the key features. It is essential to mention if the product is still in development or ready for launch. Hamilton Power Tools Corporation has an extensive experience in marketing industrial products, particularly serving the construction and industrial tool markets for more than 30 years.
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Identify your target market.
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Establish a budget.
The company has a product line that includes power trowels, concrete vibrators, generators, and power driven tools. They also have an industrial line which features pneumatic tools such as drills and screw drivers. In 1949, they introduced the Gasoline Powered Chain – Saw as a way to expand into new markets. Market research conducted by Mr. Campagna, who has 15 years of experience in the chain-saw industry, identified professionals (lumber jacks), farmers, institutions, and casual users (home or estate owners) as the main target markets for this product. A survey conducted by the marketing executive at Hamilton Power Tools Corp. found that the homeowner or casual user market, referred to as “weekend wood-cutters,” was the fastest growing segment.
Chicago’s Consumer Metrics were contracted by Hamilton to oversee two market research endeavors: a survey of consumers who purchased chain saws and a Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). According to Consumer Metrics, the West Coast is experiencing rapid market growth for Hamilton Chain Saws. As a result, men from California who bought HCS chain saws in 1977 and 1978 were chosen as the ideal sample group. The warranty cards served as the sampling frame, with institutional name cards being disregarded since the focus was on the behavior of individual chain saw consumers rather than their use in public or private institutions.
According to the group, Consumer Metrics made a mistake by excluding cards with institutional names. They should have included all the cards and, furthermore, could have distributed questionnaires to shop owners to have them filled out by their customers. By solely relying on warranty card surveys, they fail to capture the entire market of California or the West Coast. A true representation of the population requires considering both warranty card surveys and conducting interviews with shop owners, salespersons, and customers.
Focus Group Discussions and Expertise Group Discussions would be included. The cost of the product and research budget are not mentioned in the case. The group conducted research on customer perception of product pricing and satisfaction with pricing strategy. After analyzing Hamilton Power Tools Corporation, the strengths are high market share in industrial, professional, and product technology.
The weaknesses of the current marketing plan include a lack of preparation for changing market trends and insufficient information on the casual user market. The group defines a Marketing Plan as the combination of marketing mix, marketing strategy, and details related to time and cost. The conducted research provides important information such as quality assessments, retail outlets that carry Hamilton Chain-Saws, dealer visitation frequency, number of different dealers visited, length of time respondents considered purchasing a chain saw, familiarity with chain saws among respondents, specific brand names mentioned during initial visits, brand preference for chain saws, and the influence of dealers or salespeople. According to the research findings, 85% rated Hamilton Chain-Saws as good or excellent while 75% rated them satisfactory. Specialty stores accounted for 35% of purchases made by respondents followed by equipment stores at 20.5%, hardware stores at 9%, farm stores at 7%, and sports stores at 5%. More than 60% of respondents visited two or more stores while 32% were familiar with chain-saws and another 44% were somewhat familiar. Additionally,19.5% were unfamiliar with chain-saws and an overwhelming majority (63.5%) had no knowledge about them whatsoever. Only one-fifth (20%) of respondents initially planned to purchase Hamilton Chain-Saws while half had another brand name in mind but ultimately changed their decision with30% intending to buy a Hamilton Chain-Saw instead.
The study found that 45% of participants relied on dealer/salesperson recommendations when making their decision. Additionally, 6.5% were not influenced much, while 21.5% saw a chainsaw demonstration and 28.5% learned about the correct model. These findings provide valuable insights for the marketing mix. The group believes that additional information is necessary before presenting a comprehensive marketing plan to Hamilton’s management. This information includes understanding customer preferences and behaviors, analyzing competitors, determining pricing strategies, identifying distribution channels, planning advertising and promotion tactics, and conducting market research on the casual user segment.
In the questionnaire, the element of “Price” was not mentioned. Price is a crucial factor that influences customers’ purchasing decisions. It would have been beneficial for Customer Metrics to include a question addressing respondents’ satisfaction with the pricing strategy of the Hamilton Chain-Saw. The research should accurately represent the population, but in this case, the population was not accurately represented. The data is biased because the researcher only focused on researching within the customer base of those who purchased the chain-saw in 1977 and 1978, which was advantageous for him.
Regarding recommendations for research and demand forecasting for Hamilton Power Tools, the research conducted by Consumer Metrics was generally well-performed but had some drawbacks and flaws in its strategy. Specifically, the researcher did not involve Focus Group Discussions or questionnaires for salespersons and store owners. Additionally, the sample size and sample frame used were incorrect based on the target market, and therefore not representative of the population. Furthermore, there is no information provided about the remaining 214 questionnaires. The focus was solely on customers who purchased questionnaires in 1977 and 1978, neglecting others.
To ensure the accuracy of data collected from warranty card survey forms, it is crucial for researchers to conduct interviews with salespeople. These interviews aim to establish the percentage or proportion of customers who buy chain-saws on a daily basis at the store. Moreover, researchers need to ascertain how many of these customers specifically purchase Hamilton Chain-Saws and whether they return the warranty card survey sheet. Obtaining this information will enable them to assess the representativeness and relevance of the selected sample frame and its capacity to yield meaningful findings. Additionally, this case emphasizes the significance of market research by highlighting how qualitative research helps in comprehending the underlying reasons behind particular phenomena.
Qualitative research is the collection and analysis of data to gain a deeper understanding of situations, emphasizing the importance of representative research. This case highlights the significance of market research, specifically qualitative research, in understanding causation. It showcases the process of conducting qualitative research through data collection and analysis.
According to the research conducted by Hamilton Power Tools Corporation, they discovered that the homeowner or casual user market segment experienced the highest growth in the chain-saw market. This specific market consists of individuals who, on occasion, use a chain-saw to cut firewood or prune trees in their backyard. This case demonstrates the value of qualitative research in gaining a comprehensive understanding of a situation. It also highlights the importance of ensuring that a research study accurately represents the population being studied. The researcher distributed a total of 463 questionnaires, with 201 being returned and 18 not delivered. However, details regarding the remaining 214 questionnaires and the research method employed were not provided. It is crucial that the data gathered is unbiased.