Scientist's Accomplishments in John M. Barry's "The Great Influenza"

In The Great Influenza, John M. Barry characterizes scientific research as a field that requires bravery and creativity to succeed in. Scientists must come up with entirely new methods that no one in the world has ever tried before. There are a lot of obstacles initially, but as more information is gathered, the details become more clear. Barry uses a variety of rhetorical strategies throughout the passage to convey this message.

In the beginning of the passage, Barry discusses the characteristics that a scientist must have. Barry contrasts certainty and uncertainty, saying that certainty gives one “something upon which to learn,” while uncertainty makes one “tentative, if not fearful.” He is not talking about the certainty that comes after a successful experiment; he really means that scientists have to be sure of themselves. The contrast between certainty and uncertainty is used to show the difference between an unsuccessful scientist and a successful one. He lists the qualities of “passion, patience, creativity, self-sufficiency, and courage,” which are all important for a successful scientist. By using enumeration, Barry shows that scientific researchers are far braver than they may seem. Their bravery allows them to “embrace uncertainty” and eliminate their own self-doubt.

Barry continues the passage by showing the difficulties of scientific procedure. He uses the metaphor of venturing into a wilderness where the scientists know “almost nothing, where the very techniques needed to . . . bring order to it do not exist.” His metaphor shows that although the scientists may know what they want to accomplish, they do not always have the tools to do so. This example reinforces the idea that research is far more difficult than scientists are given credit for. Barry employs contrast again, saying that a single step can either take scientists into “a world that seems entirely different,” or it can take them off a cliff. The contrast shows that although bravery is the foundation of scientific research, new experiments can very easily end in disaster or disappointment.

Barry closes the passage by talking about the results that a researcher will achieve for their hard work and dedication. A scientist will take a difficult journey to make a discovery. Then, after their work is done, their colleagues will “pave roads over the path laid” that are “orderly and straight.” This metaphor shows the dilemma that researchers must face. It would be easy to let others do the hard work and take the orderly, straight road. After all, Barry points out that “not all scientific investigators can deal comfortably with uncertainty.” However, this fact makes the actual researchers seem all the more impressive. They set out to do what few others have the bravery or intelligence to do themselves. And thanks to the scientists, new discoveries can be made that facilitate the scientific process for everyone else.