Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Pacing
- Moderate
- Mood
- Dark, Gritty, Meditative, Resilient, Unflinching
- Read it if
- You appreciate raw, unflinching literary fiction exploring the depths of human suffering and resilience, with a focus on character-driven stories.
- Skip it if
- You prefer light, optimistic narratives or find graphic descriptions of illness and violence too distressing.
The Pugilist at Rest Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
The Pugilist at Rest: The First Encounter
Adorno, a former professional boxer now studying philosophy at a New England college, has a severe epileptic seizure in his dorm. The seizure leaves him confused and hurt, bringing back many memories of his brutal boxing career. He remembers the physical toll, the mental discipline, and the violence of being a fighter. His current studies feel very different from his past, yet the raw energy of boxing still affects him, shaping how he sees the world and his own fragile life. His girlfriend, Clara, often struggles to understand his deep inner conflict, caught between his intellectual goals and the lingering shadow of his boxing past.
The Pugilist at Rest: Philosophical Musings and Physical Decay
Adorno focuses on his philosophy studies, especially the works of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, finding similarities between their dark views and his own experiences. He attends lectures, joins discussions, and tries to express his complex thoughts, but his mind is often interrupted by clear flashbacks of fights, injuries, and the taste of blood. His epilepsy, a direct result of his boxing, constantly reminds him of his body's fragility. He has more seizures, each one weakening his body and mind, making him question consciousness and existence, and whether his intellect can truly overcome his physical limits.
The Pugilist at Rest: Clara's Concern and Adorno's Isolation
Clara, Adorno's girlfriend, tries to understand his deep sadness and physical pain. She tries to talk to him about his past, offering support and affection, but Adorno often pulls back, unable or unwilling to fully express his inner torment. His boxing experiences have created an emotional gap between him and others, making him feel alone even with those who care for him. He sees the world through a lens of violence and struggle, which makes it hard for him to fully accept the comforts and closeness of a normal relationship, even with Clara, who offers a potential escape from his past.
The Pugilist at Rest: The Weight of Memory
Adorno's mind is a battleground of memories, especially those of his most brutal fights. He vividly remembers opponents like 'The Hammer' and 'The Cobra,' replaying punches, dodges, and the raw pain of combat. These memories are not just recollections but deeply felt sensations that appear physically, sometimes causing phantom aches or a sense of coming doom. He remembers the friendship and rivalry in the gym, the smell of sweat and liniment, and the constant training that shaped him. These memories are a double-edged sword: they inform his philosophical understanding of suffering but also trap him in a cycle of reliving past traumas, making it hard to move forward.
The Pugilist at Rest: The Doctor's Prognosis and Adorno's Defiance
Adorno sees a doctor about his worsening epileptic seizures. The doctor gives a grim prognosis, pointing out the irreversible brain damage from his boxing career and the potential for further cognitive decline. The medical assessment confirms the physical cost of his past. Despite the doctor's warnings about needing rest and less mental strain, Adorno defiantly delves deeper into his studies, as if intellectual rigor can somehow counter the physical decay. He sees his mind as his last strength, refusing to give it up to the damage of his body, even as his condition worsens.
The Pugilist at Rest: A Moment of Fragile Peace
In a rare break from his inner battles, Adorno shares a quiet evening with Clara. They might listen to music, read together, or simply sit in comfortable silence. During this time, the heavy weight of his past seems to lift, if only for a moment. Clara's presence offers a glimpse of a different life, one less defined by violence and suffering. Adorno values these brief moments of normalcy and connection, but the peace is always fragile, shadowed by his declining health and the constant threat of another seizure. It shows his desire for a life free from his past, even if it feels impossible.
The Pugilist at Rest: The Return of the Ring
As Adorno's condition worsens, the lines between his past as a boxer and his present as a student begin to blur. His dreams are vivid, brutal replays of fights, and even when awake, he finds himself mentally shadowboxing or analyzing opponents. The academic environment, once a safe place, now feels like another ring where he must constantly prove his strength. He sees philosophical arguments as intellectual sparring matches, applying the same intensity and strategic thinking he once used in the ring. This blurring shows his inability to fully escape his boxing identity, no matter how hard he tries to intellectualize his life.
The Pugilist at Rest: A Confrontation with Mortality
Adorno increasingly thinks about death, seeing his own physical decline as a direct confrontation with it. He grapples with the existential questions from his philosophical heroes, especially the concepts of suffering, will, and the meaning of life in the face of inevitable decay. He finds a grim comfort in the idea that suffering is a part of existence, a truth he learned firsthand in the boxing ring. His intellectual pursuits become a way to process his physical pain and fear, to find a framework that justifies or at least explains the harsh hand he has been dealt, rather than seeking a cure or escape.
The Pugilist at Rest: The Final Seizure and Aftermath
Adorno experiences one of his most violent and long epileptic seizures yet. The episode leaves him deeply weakened, both physically and mentally. Afterward, he feels extreme confusion, memory loss, and deep despair. Clara, seeing the brutal toll it takes on him, is terrified and heartbroken. This seizure marks a clear turning point, forcing Adorno to face the undeniable reality of his worsening condition and the limits of his intellectual strength. He can no longer deny the physical consequences of his past, and the future looks increasingly uncertain and bleak, threatening to extinguish his mind entirely.
The Pugilist at Rest: Resignation and Endurance
After his severe seizure, Adorno reaches a form of resigned acceptance. He acknowledges the irreversible damage and the ongoing battle within his own body. While his intellectual capacity is lessened, a core strength, built in the boxing ring, remains. He is the 'pugilist at rest,' no longer fighting professionally but still enduring the internal struggle. He continues to read, though with more difficulty, and finds a quiet strength in simply persisting. His journey shows the human spirit's illogical strength, clinging to life and consciousness even when the body and mind are ravaged, finding a kind of grace in simply not giving up.
Principal Figures
Adorno
Protagonist
A former professional boxer turned philosophy student grappling with his past and severe epilepsy.
Adorno is a complex character defined by the stark contrast between his brutal past as a boxer and his intellectual present as a philosophy student. Physically scarred and suffering from severe epilepsy, he is deeply introspective, constantly analyzing his experiences through a philosophical lens. He is driven by a need to understand suffering and existence, drawing parallels between the violence of the ring and the bleak worldviews of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer. Despite his physical deterioration, he possesses an indomitable spirit and a fierce intellectual curiosity, refusing to surrender his mind to the ravages of his body.
Relationships: Clara (Girlfriend; a source of comfort and concern, though often unable to fully penetrate his emotional isolation.); His former boxing opponents (Adversaries; represent the physical and mental challenges that shaped him and continue to haunt his memories.)
Clara
Supporting
Adorno's girlfriend, who cares deeply for him but struggles to understand his internal battles.
Clara is a compassionate and supportive presence in Adorno's life. She genuinely loves him and tries to bridge the emotional distance created by his past and his illness. She represents a connection to a 'normal' life, offering tenderness and concern. However, she often finds herself helpless in the face of Adorno's profound melancholy and the physical reality of his epilepsy. Her role is to highlight Adorno's isolation and the difficulty of truly connecting with someone whose inner world is so deeply scarred by trauma and philosophical contemplation.
Relationships: Adorno (Boyfriend; she deeply cares for him but struggles with his emotional distance and the severity of his condition.)
The Doctor
Mentioned
A medical professional who delivers the grim prognosis about Adorno's brain damage.
The Doctor serves as a voice of medical authority and harsh reality. Their role is to provide a stark, undeniable scientific assessment of Adorno's physical condition, confirming the irreversible brain damage caused by his boxing career. This character, though briefly appearing, is crucial for externalizing the internal fear Adorno harbors about his declining health. The doctor's prognosis underscores the irreversible consequences of Adorno's past choices and acts as a catalyst for his deeper philosophical contemplation of mortality and suffering.
Relationships: Adorno (Patient-doctor; delivers a grim medical diagnosis to Adorno.)
Nietzsche
Mentioned
A philosopher whose ideas resonate deeply with Adorno's experiences of suffering and will.
Friedrich Nietzsche, though not a character in the traditional sense, is a significant intellectual presence in Adorno's life. His philosophy, particularly his ideas on suffering, the will to power, and the affirmation of life in the face of nihilism, provides a framework through which Adorno interprets his own experiences. Adorno finds validation and understanding in Nietzsche's bleak but powerful assertions, using them to intellectualize his physical pain and the brutal realities of his past. Nietzsche's influence reinforces Adorno's introspective nature and his struggle to find meaning in a world without inherent mercy.
Relationships: Adorno (Intellectual influence; his philosophy deeply informs Adorno's worldview and self-understanding.)
Schopenhauer
Mentioned
A philosopher whose pessimistic views on existence align with Adorno's suffering.
Arthur Schopenhauer, like Nietzsche, is an important philosophical influence for Adorno. Schopenhauer's pessimistic worldview, emphasizing suffering as an inherent aspect of existence and the futility of human striving, resonates with Adorno's own experiences of physical pain and the seemingly endless struggle. His philosophy provides another lens through which Adorno can process his past and present, offering a grim comfort in the idea that his suffering is not unique but rather a universal condition. This intellectual framework helps Adorno rationalize, if not escape, his personal torment.
Relationships: Adorno (Intellectual influence; his philosophy helps Adorno contextualize his suffering and view it as universal.)
The Hammer
Mentioned
A former boxing opponent, representing the brutal physical challenges Adorno faced.
The Hammer is a composite or specific memory of a particularly formidable and brutal boxing opponent from Adorno's past. This character represents the raw, physical violence and the relentless challenges Adorno faced in the ring. Memories of fighting The Hammer resurface with vivid intensity, contributing to Adorno's post-traumatic stress and the lingering physical sensations of combat. The existence of such opponents underscores the extreme physical demands and dangers of Adorno's former profession, directly linking to his current brain damage and epilepsy.
Relationships: Adorno (Former opponent; represents the physical challenges and brutality of Adorno's boxing career.)
The Cobra
Mentioned
Another past boxing opponent, embodying the strategic and dangerous aspects of fighting.
Similar to The Hammer, The Cobra represents another significant boxing opponent from Adorno's career. This character might symbolize a more cunning or strategically challenging adversary, highlighting not just the brute force but also the mental chess involved in boxing. Memories of fighting The Cobra contribute to Adorno's internal replays of his past, emphasizing the lasting psychological impact of his career. These figures are crucial in demonstrating how Adorno's past continues to define his present, even as he attempts to intellectualize it.
Relationships: Adorno (Former opponent; represents the strategic and dangerous aspects of boxing that shaped Adorno.)
Themes & Insights
The Enduring Impact of Trauma
The story explores how past physical and psychological trauma, especially from a brutal career like boxing, continues to affect an individual. Adorno's epilepsy and brain damage directly result from his time in the ring, appearing as debilitating seizures and vivid, intrusive memories. These physical and mental scars prevent him from fully escaping his past, even in an intellectually demanding environment. His philosophical studies become a way to process, rather than overcome, the deep-seated trauma, showing how past violence reshapes one's present and future.
“He was the pugilist at rest, but the war raged on inside his skull.”
The Mind-Body Divide and Interplay
A main theme is the complex relationship between the mind and the body, especially when the body is failing due to past abuse. Adorno, an intelligent man, tries to overcome his physical decay through philosophy, yet his body constantly betrays him with seizures and pain. The story shows how physical decline directly affects mental abilities, blurring the lines between intellectual thought and bodily suffering. It questions whether the mind can truly stay independent and superior when the body is declining, or if they are closely linked in a cycle of mutual influence.
“His mind, once a swift and brutal weapon, was now just another casualty of the war.”
The Search for Meaning in Suffering
Adorno's philosophical pursuits are largely driven by a need to find meaning in his great physical and existential suffering. He turns to philosophers like Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, who offer ways to understand pain as a natural part of existence rather than an unusual event. This theme explores how people try to rationalize, intellectualize, and cope with deep hardship. For Adorno, suffering is not something to avoid but a condition to understand, a harsh teacher from whom he learns grim lessons about life and strength.
“There was a certain truth to be found only in the deepest pits of pain.”
Resilience and Tenacity of the Human Spirit
Despite the constant physical and mental battering Adorno endures, a core theme is the improbable grace of the human spirit that refuses to collapse. Even as his body declines and his mind struggles with memory and clarity, Adorno continues to fight, not in the ring, but for his consciousness and dignity. His continued engagement with philosophy, his quiet endurance, and his refusal to completely give in to despair show a deep, almost illogical, strength. This highlights that redemption or meaning is not always found in triumph, but often in the simple, stubborn act of persisting.
“He was broken, yes, but he was not yet defeated.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Flashbacks and Intrusive Memories
Adorno's past boxing career constantly intrudes upon his present.
The story frequently employs flashbacks and intrusive memories of Adorno's boxing matches and training. These are not always ordered or complete narratives but often vivid, sensory fragments – the smell of the gym, the taste of blood, the impact of a punch. This device serves to illustrate the enduring psychological and physical trauma of his past, blurring the lines between his former life and his current academic existence. It emphasizes how deeply ingrained his identity as a pugilist remains, constantly threatening to overwhelm his intellectual pursuits and present reality.
Internal Monologue and Philosophical Reflection
Adorno's inner thoughts and philosophical musings drive much of the narrative.
Much of the narrative unfolds through Adorno's internal monologue, where he grapples with philosophical concepts, analyzes his suffering, and reflects on his past. This device provides deep insight into his complex character, revealing his intellectual prowess and his attempts to make sense of his deteriorating condition through the lens of philosophy. It highlights the mind-body conflict and his struggle to maintain intellectual control over his physically failing body, making the reader intimately privy to his existential crisis and his search for meaning in suffering.
Epileptic Seizures as Plot Catalysts
Adorno's seizures are not merely symptoms but significant events that propel the narrative and deepen character insight.
Adorno's epileptic seizures serve as crucial plot catalysts. Each seizure is a physical manifestation of his past trauma and brain damage, but it also triggers deeper introspection, philosophical contemplation, or a renewed sense of urgency. They are moments of intense vulnerability that force Adorno to confront his mortality and the limits of his resilience. These episodes are not just medical events; they are narrative turning points that underscore the story's themes of enduring trauma, the mind-body connection, and the relentless nature of his internal battle.
The Pugilist at Rest Quotes
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.”
“There are some things you can't come back from. Some things that just break you.”
“Sometimes you have to hit bottom before you can even think about coming up.”
“The world is full of people who are trying to tell you who you are. Don't let them.”
“Pain is just weakness leaving the body.”
“A man learns a lot about himself when he's got nothing left to lose.”
“The hardest thing in life is to know yourself.”
“We're all just trying to make sense of the chaos, aren't we?”
“There's a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you've done your best, even if your best wasn't good enough.”
“Memory is a funny thing. It plays tricks on you.”
“The greatest battles are fought within.”
“You can't outrun your past, no matter how fast you go.”
“Sometimes the only way out is through.”
“Life is a series of adjustments.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
In the title story, 'The Pugilist at Rest,' what is the narrator's profession after his boxing career?
- English Professor
- Gym Owner
- Medical Doctor
- Journalist
Show answer
A. English Professor The narrator, an ex-pugilist, becomes an English Professor, contrasting his past physical life with a more intellectual present, though his past experiences heavily influence his teaching and worldview.
Question 2
Which recurring physical ailment afflicts many of Thom Jones's characters, particularly the narrator in 'The Pugilist at Rest'?
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
Show answer
B. Epilepsy Epilepsy is a significant and recurring affliction for several of Jones's characters, including the narrator in the title story, often leading to hallucinatory or disorienting experiences.
Question 3
In the story 'I Want to Live!', what is the protagonist's primary motivation for seeking medical treatment and clinging to life despite his severe condition?
- To reconcile with his estranged family
- To finish writing his magnum opus
- An illogical resilience and tenacity of the human spirit
- To win a final boxing match
Show answer
C. An illogical resilience and tenacity of the human spirit Consistent with the overall themes of the collection, the character's drive is rooted in an 'illogical resilience' and 'ennobling tenacity' to simply cling to life, even in a world without apparent mercy or redemption.
Question 4
In 'The Pugilist at Rest,' the narrator often reflects on his time serving in which conflict?
- Korean War
- World War II
- Vietnam War
- Gulf War
Show answer
C. Vietnam War The combat zones of Vietnam are explicitly mentioned as a setting for some of Jones's stories, and the narrator of 'The Pugilist at Rest' frequently draws parallels and memories from his experiences there.
Question 5
What kind of institution serves as a significant setting for some of the stories, particularly contrasting with the characters' often brutal pasts?
- A remote monastery
- An elite New England college
- A high-stakes casino
- A bustling urban hospital
Show answer
B. An elite New England college The 'brittle social and intellectual milieu of an elite New England college' is specifically mentioned in the description as a setting for some of Jones's stories.
Question 6
The description notes that Jones's characters are 'physically battered, soul-sick, and morally exhausted.' Despite this, what quality are they unable to concede?
- Their intellectual superiority
- Their sense of humor
- Defeat
- Their past mistakes
Show answer
C. Defeat The provided text states: 'Jones's characters are yet unable to concede defeat: his stories are infused with the improbable grace of the spirit that ought to collapse, but cannot.'
Question 7
In 'The Pugilist at Rest,' how does the narrator's past as a boxer influence his teaching style and his interactions with his students?
- He strictly adheres to academic conventions, suppressing his past.
- He uses boxing metaphors and a confrontational style to engage students with literature.
- He avoids any mention of physical exertion or combat in his lectures.
- He encourages students to take up boxing as a form of intellectual discipline.
Show answer
B. He uses boxing metaphors and a confrontational style to engage students with literature. The narrator's past as a boxer deeply informs his present, leading him to infuse his teaching with the grit and directness of his former life, often using vivid, sometimes shocking, analogies from boxing or combat to make literary points.
Question 8
The collection often features characters experiencing 'hallucinatory visions.' These are frequently a direct consequence of what specific medical condition?
- Narcolepsy
- Migraines
- Epileptic fugues
- Severe dehydration
Show answer
C. Epileptic fugues The description explicitly mentions 'hallucinatory visions of an American wandering lost in Bombay in the aftermath of an epileptic fugue,' highlighting this condition as a source of such experiences.
Question 9
According to the provided description, what is it that 'finally redeems us' in Thom Jones's extraordinary pieces of fiction?
- Goodness and moral uprightness
- The heart's illogical resilience and ennobling tenacity
- Religious faith and spiritual awakening
- External societal recognition and achievement
Show answer
B. The heart's illogical resilience and ennobling tenacity The description states: 'For in these extraordinary pieces of fiction, it is not goodness that finally redeems us, but the heart's illogical resilience, and the ennobling tenacity with which we cling to each other and to our lives.'
Question 10
In the story 'Mambo,' the protagonist, a former boxer, finds himself in a dire situation in which city, experiencing vivid hallucinations and a struggle for survival?
- Paris
- Bombay
- New York
- Saigon
Show answer
B. Bombay The description specifically mentions 'the hallucinatory visions of an American wandering lost in Bombay in the aftermath of an epileptic fugue,' referring to the events in 'Mambo.'
The Pugilist at Rest FAQ
What is the central premise of the title story, 'The Pugilist at Rest'?
The story follows Adcock, a former boxer and Marine who is now an English professor, as he grapples with the lingering effects of head trauma from his fighting and military service. He experiences seizures, memory loss, and a profound sense of physical and mental decay, while trying to maintain his intellectual life and connect with his students.
Who is Adcock, and what is his primary struggle in the title story?
Adcock is the protagonist, an ex-Marine and boxer turned English professor. His primary struggle is the devastating neurological damage he sustained from his past, manifesting as severe epileptic seizures, memory degradation, and a constant battle to maintain his cognitive functions and dignity in the face of his declining health.
How does Adcock's past as a boxer and Marine influence his present life and teaching?
His past profoundly impacts his present through chronic pain, neurological damage, and a sense of brutal realism that informs his teaching style. He often uses boxing metaphors and his experiences in Vietnam to illustrate literary concepts, sometimes shocking his students with his raw honesty about suffering and resilience.
What role do Adcock's seizures play in the narrative of 'The Pugilist at Rest'?
Adcock's seizures are central to the narrative, serving as physical manifestations of his brain damage and a constant threat to his autonomy and intellectual life. They punctuate the story, disrupting his thoughts and interactions, highlighting his vulnerability and the relentless nature of his condition.
What is the significance of the 'pugilist at rest' imagery in the title?
The 'pugilist at rest' signifies Adcock's current state: a fighter whose battles have ended, but whose body and mind bear the permanent scars of combat. It suggests a forced cessation of physical struggle, yet an ongoing internal war against his deteriorating health and the memories of violence.
Are there recurring motifs or symbols across multiple stories in the collection?
Yes, recurring motifs include physical and psychological trauma, often stemming from combat or boxing, the struggle for dignity in the face of suffering, and the paradoxical resilience of the human spirit. The imagery of damaged bodies and minds, often accompanied by moments of unexpected grace, appears in various settings.
How does the story 'I Must Be Going' connect thematically to 'The Pugilist at Rest'?
'I Must Be Going' often features characters grappling with similar themes of physical decay, the burden of past violence, and the search for meaning amidst suffering, much like Adcock. Both stories explore the internal lives of men confronting their mortality and the consequences of their choices.
Are there subtle hints about the lasting impact of the Vietnam War on characters beyond direct exposition?
Yes, beyond direct references, the pervasive sense of a world without mercy, the characters' stoicism in the face of pain, and their often-detached view of violence can be interpreted as subtle reverberations of the Vietnam War's psychological toll. Many characters carry an unspoken weight of past trauma.
What is the psychological impact of Adcock's condition on his identity as an intellectual?
Adcock's condition creates a profound internal conflict, as his decaying physical and neurological state threatens his very identity as an intellectual. He constantly fights to maintain his mental acuity, fearing that the damage will strip him of his ability to think, teach, and connect with the world on an intellectual level.
How does Adcock cope with his pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally?
Adcock copes through a combination of stoicism, dark humor, and an almost brutal self-awareness. He often internalizes his pain, using his intellect to analyze his own decline, and sometimes finds solace in teaching, which provides a temporary escape from his physical reality.
What is the psychological significance of Adcock's teaching profession given his past?
His teaching profession offers a paradoxical form of redemption and intellectual engagement, allowing him to channel his experiences into lessons on human nature and resilience. It's a way for him to impose order and meaning on his chaotic internal world, and to connect with others through shared intellectual pursuit, despite his physical deterioration.
How do the characters in Thom Jones's stories often exhibit 'illogical resilience'?
Characters like Adcock often exhibit 'illogical resilience' by continuing to fight, endure, or seek meaning even when all logical hope is lost or their bodies are failing. This resilience isn't based on optimism but on an inherent, almost primal refusal to concede defeat, a tenacious clinging to life despite overwhelming suffering.
Is there a sense of redemption for Adcock by the end of 'The Pugilist at Rest', or merely acceptance?
It's more accurately described as a profound acceptance rather than traditional redemption. Adcock doesn't find a cure or an easy peace, but he achieves a certain grace in his stoic endurance and continued engagement with life, demonstrating an unyielding spirit despite his physical decline.
How does the book challenge conventional notions of heroism or strength?
The book challenges these notions by portraying strength not as physical dominance or victory, but as the internal fortitude to endure immense suffering, both physical and psychological. Heroism is found in the characters' tenacious will to live and maintain their humanity, even when outwardly broken.
What is the author's stance on human suffering as depicted in the collection?
Thom Jones depicts human suffering as an inescapable, brutal, and often senseless aspect of the human condition. However, he also suggests that within this suffering, there is an inherent, almost illogical resilience and dignity that allows characters to persist, finding moments of grace or connection.
To what extent does the violence in the stories serve as a metaphor for internal struggles?
The physical violence, whether from boxing or war, often serves as a powerful metaphor for the characters' internal battles against their own minds, memories, and physical deterioration. The external brutality mirrors the internal chaos and the struggle for self-preservation and meaning.
How does the setting of an elite New England college contrast with Adcock's background?
The elite college setting provides a stark contrast to Adcock's brutal background as a boxer and Marine, highlighting the intellectual and sheltered environment against his raw, physical reality. This juxtaposition emphasizes his unique perspective and the lingering disconnect between his past and present self.
What message, if any, does the collection convey about the nature of memory?
The collection suggests that memory is often fragmented, unreliable, and deeply intertwined with trauma. For characters like Adcock, memory is both a source of past pain and a fragile link to identity, constantly threatened by physical decay and the mind's protective mechanisms.
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