Sense of Survival

"All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive." (p.41) During the first section of the novel The Life of Pi, the idea of survival on your own is displayed through animals escaping the only life they know, life in the zoo. Many think that zoo animals are blood-thirsty and crave human flesh, when the animals are the opposite of that. The animals don't always escape so they have the chance to run free and attack, but to escape from something. In the novel, Pi tells a story of a black leopard escaped the zoo, and wasn't found for ten weeks; how can a huge animal walk around a city, stay hidden, and not attack any human, for ten weeks? The answer is that everything has common sense and a sense of survival. When a young adult leaves their home and family to experience the journey of college, they may have some doubts of how they will make it through, but they always return with stories of success. Most students try to make their new home seem like their old room to have a sense of safety and familiarity; they don't want to leave the life they have always known, lived, and loved. Just like the black leopard, college students find a way to live a normal and safe life. Not everyone wants to leave their life, but little do they know, everyone has the sense of survival to make it on their own.

Deathly Impaired Driving: Real World Problem

Real World Problem Final 2

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Scenario:
Over the years, the teen crash rates have sky-rocketed; this problem needs to be solved. Recently, I was severely impacted by the consequences of a young driver texting behind the wheel. On October 16, one month after my 20th birthday, I was hit by a teenage girl that was texting; she ran the red light, hit my car straight on, and sent us both spiraling into the barrier. Luckily, my injuries weren't fatal; I have two broken legs, and three broken ribs. The young driver, wasn't so lucky; she is now paralyzed from her neck down. Both the young girl and I have learned a tough lesson; she got her license three days prior to the crash. Since the incident, I have joined the group PATWD (people against texting while driving). We go around and talk to high school students, share our stories, and even do a re-enactment of a car crash. Our programs show the students what could happen to them if they chose to drive irresponsibly. Before talking to students, our group has to ask permission of the local parents; I obviously believe that this program is very effective, and I hope your community allows us to come and talk to your children and maybe even save a couple of lives.

Connection to the novel:
Throughout a section of Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse talks about the violence and driving issues with her classmates; little did she know that the issue would end her short, happy life. In Clarisse's life, teens are violent and reckless; in our life, teens are the same way--their ways of violence are different. On contrast, both sets of teens drive recklessly--in the novel, they drive way over a speed limit that we have now, and in our world, teenagers are texting and talking while driving; a decision that is fatal. In the novel, it was even peculiar to drive under 40 mph. We now have speeding limits--a limit which you are enforced to drive under; throughout Fahrenheit 451, they had speeding limits--a limit which you are enforced to drive over. This, along with many other facts, shows just how different our two worlds are.

Fahrenheit 451: Differences Between Two Worlds

During the second section of the novel, Fahrenheit 451, Mildred Montag has friends, other people obsessed with watching the parlor walls, over to watch their 'families' on the parlor wall, leaving their real families behind to do the worrying; they seem to be closer to the shows on T.V, than their husbands at home; this only proves how different our world is compared to theirs. It is almost like the people on the T.V are their real friends and family; they forget about everything that is going on in the world around them, and focus on the shows. How can someone be so into T.V, that they completely ignore their loved ones, and even forget where they first met? Unfortunately, times have changed; things that are so important to us now, seem to go down the drain; the people forget these things because they no longer think or discuss, they only make small talk, and ignore their loved ones.

Guy Montag feels that his wife pays more attention to the T.V, than him; he decides to do the unthinkable, and read a book to his wife and her friends. Reading a book is illegal to normal citizens, but even more against the rules to a fireman--a man that is supposed to burn any book insight; after seeing a woman, along with her books and house, go up in flames, Montag catches the 'fever,' and starts to read--an action that horrifies his wife. While reading his book aloud, one of Mildred's friend bursts into tears. "Mrs. Phelps was crying. The others in the middle of the desert watched her crying grow very loud as her face squeezed itself out of shape. They sat, not touching her, bewildered with her display. She sobbed uncontrollably. Montag himself was stunned and shaken." (p.100) The other ladies defend Mrs. Phelps by saying that they always knew that poetry was suicide, and that the words were silly and hurtful; the ladies have no idea what the poem is about, they only know that it is against the law to read books; because of this law, and their controlled thoughts, every person there seems to think that his action was unforgivable and revolting. In our time, poetry, and other reading, is beautiful, relaxing, and a form of expressing yourself; the fact that the people cannot comprehend the reading, and that reading is an action that is unforgivable proves how our world is different than theirs, and the fact that these women enjoy T.V more than their families is completely ironic, and horrible.

The Two Majesties

Sitting here on a rock,

Looking over my kingdom,

Looking over the valleys below,

Looking over the vibrant colors in

The sunset above

I am King.

Thinking about my life,

My struggles,

My successes,

My admirers,

I am King.

I've lived a life of power,

Everybody listening,

Everybody agreeing,

Nobody speaking their mind.

I realize I’ve lead my dear kingdom,

As a ruler not leader.

I’ve gave them orders,

Not suggestions.

Sitting here on a rock,

Looking over my kingdom,

Looking over the valleys below,

Looking at the vibrant colors in

The sunset above.

I regret time I spent,

Being King.

Love of Pain

“I'll tell you…what real love is. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust and belief against yourself and against the whole world, giving your whole heart and soul to the smiter—as I did!” (p.240) Throughout the course if the novel, Great Expectations, the different types of love are displayed--love through fear, love of self, love of power, and so on--clearly through different characters; Miss Havisham shows love of pain--she can't let go of the past and move on, she can't live without her pain, and she can't show love for anyone anymore. After being stood up on her wedding--a day that is supposed to be filled with love and happiness, instead was filled with humiliation and despair--she gives advice to Pip, a young man, about love, and how you shouldn't love. What kind of person tells a young, happy gentleman that love is a bad thing; love could turn his life around. Miss Havisham is saying that love just ends up in humiliation; that was her story, but other people are different. It seems as though she has remorse towards the thought of ever loving a man; she can't forgive herself, she can't feel good about herself when people around her care for each other, and she can't, and will never, find the light at the end of a tunnel-- the courage to move on.

Discussion on Wemmick

As Pip has gone to work with Wemmick and has gone to his house, he discovers that this man-- who is very serious, cruel, and efficient at work, and loving, giddy with joy, and care-free at home-- has two very different sides, and even witnesses the transformation from Wemmick's work side to and his kinder side at home. When Pip goes over to Wemmick's house after work, Wemmick turns from a serious man, to a loving man as they got closer to home; once they arrived at Wemmick's house, which he calls a castle, Wemmick is a full-on loving man. He gives Pip a tour of his house, showing pride and happiness at every corner of his property; Wemmick loves is flag pole-- and the fact that he puts the flag on it at a certain time each day--and his draw-bridge that covers the small hole in front of his house, and the gothic windows. On their way to work, every step that the two took, Wemmick's face hardened, and even seemed to have cracks in it. This transformation, that Pip just witnessed, proved that this man has two total different sides; it almost seems as if Wemmick is afraid to be affectionate towards his friends in front of Jaggers, as if he is intimidated by him.

Discussion on Pip's Home Life

At home, Pip's life is very difficult; it seems as though his sister-- someone who should acre deeply for you-- hates him, hates her husband, and hates her life. Mrs. Joe and her husband aren't intelligent, and don't seem to have a lot of common sense. When Pip disappears for a while, when he was in the churchyard, his sister goes looking for him with the Tickler-- an abusive device. Of a child disappeared like that today, their parents would go looking for them, be worried, and definitely wouldn't carry around a torture stick. Anytime that Pip does something wrong, his sister questions why she ever raised him and didn't leave him to die; she even said that if she could have the choice to, she would go back and leave him to die. What kind of family wishes that their sibling was dead, so they didn't have to work hard? Pip's home life is uncaring, abusive, and horrible.