When writers decide to write a story, many themes may come to mind. In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, many themes are present. The theme that most appeals to me would be Survival of the Fittest.
Two characters that support this idea are Candy's dog and Lennie. Candy's dog represents the fate awaiting anyone who has outlived his or her purpose. Once a fine sheep dog and extremely useful on the ranch, Candy's mutt is now debilitated by age. Despite Candy's plea to Carlson to let his dog live for no other reason than Candy's sentimental attachment to the animal, Carlson's insistence that the old animal must die supports a cruel, natural law that the strong will dispose of the weak. Lennie also supports this idea. Lennie is completely defenseless. His innocence raises him up to a standard of pure goodness, but his ignorance as to his own strength and actions makes him weak and needy in the eyes of others. Ultimately, the fact that Lennie is so dependent on George makes him easily dispensable when proven to be a limitation for George. Without George, Lennie could not function by himself, and in turn, could not survive. Although, one is an animal and the other a human, both support the theory in this novel of Survival of the Fittest.
One literary element that maintains to this theme is Candy's dog being a symbol for Lennie. When you look a the characteristics of Candy's dog, they highly support this suggestion. Candy's dog was once an excellent sheep dog, but now has become a burden on everyone on the ranch. Due to his age, he has become dispensable and therefore, must be disposed of. After Candy lets another man put his dog out of its misery, he admits to George that, "I ought to have shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog." This directly translates to George and Lennie, signifying that if anyone ever has to shoot Lennie; George must be the one to do it. Lennie is similar to Candy's dog in many ways. Lennie is strong and extremely useful on the farm, but as time passes, he turns out to be a liability. Another literary element presented is foreshadowing. When Candy's dog is shot, that foreshadows the shooting of Lennie by George. Another example is Curly's wife. The men on the ranch often refer to her as a rat trap and Lennie's love for mice leads to the accidental killing of Curly's wife for Lennie kills all the mice he has ever owned. These elements highly support the theme of Survival of the Fittest.
Survival of the Fittest is only one of the many themes in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. But it's also one of the most significant and powerful in the entire novel. Many themes may go through a writer's mind when he or she decides to write a story. John Steinbeck chose Survival of the Fittest.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Legalize Euthanasia
Euthanasia can be easily defined as: the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die by withholding extreme medical measures. Sounds reasonable, but is it morally just or just suicide? I believe that a dying person has every right to decide their path of death if they are given that choice. If you lose the right to end your suffering, you might as well lose the right to control your own life. And if you lose control over your own life, what do you have control over?
A doctor's function has changed over time. In the past, the doctor was the person who, besides being your friend, treated the diseases. Now a doctor is a stranger who combats diseases, but he/she is not always your friend. What will never change is their constant struggle against death. However,their job is not only to prevent death but also to improve their patients' quality of life. Many times, there is nothing a doctor can do to prevent death, especially if a patient has a terminal disease. All the patient and doctor can do is wait for death to arrive. This waiting period can be very painful for the patient and their family. Not practicing euthanasia at the request of the dying person is violating a person's rights and increasing the suffering.
Deciding between suffering through a terminal illness or ending your suffering peacefully is a personal decision. Neither the doctors nor the government have the power to decide if you should live or not. Since it is not their life and they are not in your situation, they cannot tell you what is or isn't the right decision. In fact, many of the people who seek this option, hate and fear what is happening to them. It's the ultimate loss of control and dignity. It might sound like suicide but all these people want is to be in control of their death just as they were in control of their life.
We are given the right to the liberty to decide our career, what car we want to drive, our religion, and even our sex preference. Why should the government not give us the right to decide if we want to live being sick or not? That should be the first right above all others. It is not logical that we can choose in all those other decisions if we cannot first choose to live or die.Physician-assisted euthanasia is a compassionate choice for those who suffer and have reached a clear decision to end their lives peacefully. Anything less is a form of betrayal.
Many times we do not have the money to pay for the needed medical care not knowing whether the patient is going to get any better. Euthanasia is certainly cheaper for a health plan to cover a prescription for lethal drugs once rather than years of expensive life-prolonging measures. In a way, we are just wasting time and money on a situation that, chances are, won't improve at all.
Nowadays doctors have the ability, and are legally allowed, to grow human beings artificially in labs. Who gave them that right? The government did. If doctors have the right to create life, why not end it as well, especially when the person desires it. Euthanasia should be legally practiced because it stops not just one person, but a group of people from suffering any longer than they need to. A doctor is supposed to improve the quality of life for his/ her patients. But that quality of life is defined by the patient, not the doctor or government.
I have never been in this situation myself, but I will support anyone who seeks this to better their lasts days of life. Choosing how we will die is not an option alot of us get. I think it's safe to say, that most of us want to die at home, surrounded by our family, and to just drift off peacefully. That is probably the best argument to legalize Euthanasia: so that we may all be able to die when we're really old, and pooping in diapers again, that we can die in the most peaceful way possible.
A doctor's function has changed over time. In the past, the doctor was the person who, besides being your friend, treated the diseases. Now a doctor is a stranger who combats diseases, but he/she is not always your friend. What will never change is their constant struggle against death. However,their job is not only to prevent death but also to improve their patients' quality of life. Many times, there is nothing a doctor can do to prevent death, especially if a patient has a terminal disease. All the patient and doctor can do is wait for death to arrive. This waiting period can be very painful for the patient and their family. Not practicing euthanasia at the request of the dying person is violating a person's rights and increasing the suffering.
Deciding between suffering through a terminal illness or ending your suffering peacefully is a personal decision. Neither the doctors nor the government have the power to decide if you should live or not. Since it is not their life and they are not in your situation, they cannot tell you what is or isn't the right decision. In fact, many of the people who seek this option, hate and fear what is happening to them. It's the ultimate loss of control and dignity. It might sound like suicide but all these people want is to be in control of their death just as they were in control of their life.
We are given the right to the liberty to decide our career, what car we want to drive, our religion, and even our sex preference. Why should the government not give us the right to decide if we want to live being sick or not? That should be the first right above all others. It is not logical that we can choose in all those other decisions if we cannot first choose to live or die.Physician-assisted euthanasia is a compassionate choice for those who suffer and have reached a clear decision to end their lives peacefully. Anything less is a form of betrayal.
Many times we do not have the money to pay for the needed medical care not knowing whether the patient is going to get any better. Euthanasia is certainly cheaper for a health plan to cover a prescription for lethal drugs once rather than years of expensive life-prolonging measures. In a way, we are just wasting time and money on a situation that, chances are, won't improve at all.
Nowadays doctors have the ability, and are legally allowed, to grow human beings artificially in labs. Who gave them that right? The government did. If doctors have the right to create life, why not end it as well, especially when the person desires it. Euthanasia should be legally practiced because it stops not just one person, but a group of people from suffering any longer than they need to. A doctor is supposed to improve the quality of life for his/ her patients. But that quality of life is defined by the patient, not the doctor or government.
I have never been in this situation myself, but I will support anyone who seeks this to better their lasts days of life. Choosing how we will die is not an option alot of us get. I think it's safe to say, that most of us want to die at home, surrounded by our family, and to just drift off peacefully. That is probably the best argument to legalize Euthanasia: so that we may all be able to die when we're really old, and pooping in diapers again, that we can die in the most peaceful way possible.
A Rasin In the Sun
When artists, writers, and playwrights develop a storyline, they often reflect issues that directly applies to them. In Lorraine Hansberry's, A Rasin In the Sun, she confronts two very huge issues during the 50s, women's changing roles in society and racial tension.
Racial tension was probably the biggest issue splitting the nation during the 50s. In Hansberry's book, when the Younger Family want to move into their new home, Mr. Lindner stops by to offer the family money to not move into their new neighborhood. Mr. Lindner tries to convince the Younger Family that, "...Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities"(91). Even when laws were put in place to stop this kind of segregation, the people living in the whites communities would just anything to keep the African American families out. Secondly, every person in the Younger family had horrible, low-paying jobs. Walter, for example, has a job as a limo driver. Sounds like a pretty good job, but unfortunately, a job like that, "...that ain't no kind of job...that ain't nothing at all"(54). Even during the Civil Rights Movement, Black people couldn't acquire decent, well-paying jobs and the jobs they did have, were lots of hard work with minimal payment. African American Men suffered greatly, but not nearly as much as African American women.
Women's roles were changing no matter what race you were. The first indication of it in Hansberry's book is when Walter comments to Benetha that, "...ain't many girls who decide--to be a doctor"(18). In the past, women's roles were purely to be a mother to the children and get the house clean. If a woman had a job outside the house, it was either a secretary, a teacher, or a nurse. Benetha questions this when she seeks to be a doctor. Secondly, women getting abortions was, simply, unheard of. It just wasn't allowed, mainly for religious reasons. When Ruth finds out she is pregnant, she considers,"...getting rid of that kid"(56), because the family can barley support themselves; the last thing they needed was another baby. For centuries, when a woman got pregnant, not only was there no procedure for an abortion yet, but it was very highly frowned upon. Lastly, many times women were persecuted for speaking their minds. When Walter finally hits rock-bottom, Benetha strongly proclaims, " that is not a man. That is nothing but a toothless rat"(117). For hundreds of years, women were viewed as the lowest in society. If a woman were to ever speak her mind, she was often consider a witch. It wasn't until WWII that women were allowed to have real jobs and, eventually, allowed to speak their minds.
In conclusion, Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Rasin in the Sun, confronts many issues like racial tension and women's changing roles. Hansberry's play represents these issues and how they were dealt with during the 1960s.
Racial tension was probably the biggest issue splitting the nation during the 50s. In Hansberry's book, when the Younger Family want to move into their new home, Mr. Lindner stops by to offer the family money to not move into their new neighborhood. Mr. Lindner tries to convince the Younger Family that, "...Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities"(91). Even when laws were put in place to stop this kind of segregation, the people living in the whites communities would just anything to keep the African American families out. Secondly, every person in the Younger family had horrible, low-paying jobs. Walter, for example, has a job as a limo driver. Sounds like a pretty good job, but unfortunately, a job like that, "...that ain't no kind of job...that ain't nothing at all"(54). Even during the Civil Rights Movement, Black people couldn't acquire decent, well-paying jobs and the jobs they did have, were lots of hard work with minimal payment. African American Men suffered greatly, but not nearly as much as African American women.
Women's roles were changing no matter what race you were. The first indication of it in Hansberry's book is when Walter comments to Benetha that, "...ain't many girls who decide--to be a doctor"(18). In the past, women's roles were purely to be a mother to the children and get the house clean. If a woman had a job outside the house, it was either a secretary, a teacher, or a nurse. Benetha questions this when she seeks to be a doctor. Secondly, women getting abortions was, simply, unheard of. It just wasn't allowed, mainly for religious reasons. When Ruth finds out she is pregnant, she considers,"...getting rid of that kid"(56), because the family can barley support themselves; the last thing they needed was another baby. For centuries, when a woman got pregnant, not only was there no procedure for an abortion yet, but it was very highly frowned upon. Lastly, many times women were persecuted for speaking their minds. When Walter finally hits rock-bottom, Benetha strongly proclaims, " that is not a man. That is nothing but a toothless rat"(117). For hundreds of years, women were viewed as the lowest in society. If a woman were to ever speak her mind, she was often consider a witch. It wasn't until WWII that women were allowed to have real jobs and, eventually, allowed to speak their minds.
In conclusion, Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Rasin in the Sun, confronts many issues like racial tension and women's changing roles. Hansberry's play represents these issues and how they were dealt with during the 1960s.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Beginnings
Running down the street, my feet stepping on pieces of old buildings and trees, I could see only where the streetlamps shined. I remember it was a beautiful night, cool and quiet but none of that mattered. All I thought about was home...and how I never wanted to go back there.
It was downtown Detroit in the middle of June. I pass by my old school and my favorite ice cream parlor when I was a kid. I had no idea why I decided to go this way tonight. This isn't the normal route I take to get out of my house. I see the old building I was looking for, destroyed and abandoned, just sitting on the street corner. Everyone in town seems to think that this building is haunted. Ironically, this is the building I feel safest in.
I step around George, a fifty-six year old homeless guy who justs LOVES to hang out here and yell at people on the street. He seems to be sleeping so I walk up the broken steps to the door, but right as I'm about to reach for the door, I hear George mumble something to me.
"Go back to sleep George!"
I'm still way too upset to deal with drunk idiots tonight. Once I'm inside, I walk through the dining area which has painting peeling off the walls, who knows how many species of numerous bugs, and smells like a few people died in here. I see the broken elevator down the hall but I must take "The Twenty-Seven Flight of Stairs Trip" to the roof of the building. Even if the elevator did work, I don't think I would trust it not to kill me and take the entire building with me.
By the time I reach the final step, all I can do is hope that there isn't any drug addicts up here again. I push the door open, and I step inside. As I walk over to a mattress I found up here, the floor creeks and shakes. It stops me for only a second, then I lay down, close my eyes, and just think. How did I get to this point?...How did my family get to this point?...
After a long while, I become aware that another person has come to the roof, but I don't remember hearing the door open. I open my eyes. I see the silhouette walk around but I don't hear feet or feel the building creek and shake.
"Who are you?..."
"Okay, seriously, I am NOT in the mood for this shit!"
No answer but now I can tell that its a man. Probably just a druggy. So I close my eyes and try to think some more. I open my eyes again and he's standing next me. I look up...he has the beauty of a full moon. The mystery, the feel, the smell, the intensity. I'm stuck, lost in his eyes. Then, somehow, a sound catches my attention and I break the gaze. When I look back, my full moon is gone.
When reality catches up to me, I zoom down the rickety stairs, and almost step on George. I hear him yell a few creative expletives but I'm in too much of a hurry to care right now. Finally I reach my house, I step inside and there's no lights, no sounds, no family. I search all the rooms...nothing. Did the cops come pick them up again? Are they at the hospital again? As I stand there, alone, I think about my family...I never should have left. I should of stayed here to keep the peace...
It was downtown Detroit in the middle of June. I pass by my old school and my favorite ice cream parlor when I was a kid. I had no idea why I decided to go this way tonight. This isn't the normal route I take to get out of my house. I see the old building I was looking for, destroyed and abandoned, just sitting on the street corner. Everyone in town seems to think that this building is haunted. Ironically, this is the building I feel safest in.
I step around George, a fifty-six year old homeless guy who justs LOVES to hang out here and yell at people on the street. He seems to be sleeping so I walk up the broken steps to the door, but right as I'm about to reach for the door, I hear George mumble something to me.
"Go back to sleep George!"
I'm still way too upset to deal with drunk idiots tonight. Once I'm inside, I walk through the dining area which has painting peeling off the walls, who knows how many species of numerous bugs, and smells like a few people died in here. I see the broken elevator down the hall but I must take "The Twenty-Seven Flight of Stairs Trip" to the roof of the building. Even if the elevator did work, I don't think I would trust it not to kill me and take the entire building with me.
By the time I reach the final step, all I can do is hope that there isn't any drug addicts up here again. I push the door open, and I step inside. As I walk over to a mattress I found up here, the floor creeks and shakes. It stops me for only a second, then I lay down, close my eyes, and just think. How did I get to this point?...How did my family get to this point?...
After a long while, I become aware that another person has come to the roof, but I don't remember hearing the door open. I open my eyes. I see the silhouette walk around but I don't hear feet or feel the building creek and shake.
"Who are you?..."
"Okay, seriously, I am NOT in the mood for this shit!"
No answer but now I can tell that its a man. Probably just a druggy. So I close my eyes and try to think some more. I open my eyes again and he's standing next me. I look up...he has the beauty of a full moon. The mystery, the feel, the smell, the intensity. I'm stuck, lost in his eyes. Then, somehow, a sound catches my attention and I break the gaze. When I look back, my full moon is gone.
When reality catches up to me, I zoom down the rickety stairs, and almost step on George. I hear him yell a few creative expletives but I'm in too much of a hurry to care right now. Finally I reach my house, I step inside and there's no lights, no sounds, no family. I search all the rooms...nothing. Did the cops come pick them up again? Are they at the hospital again? As I stand there, alone, I think about my family...I never should have left. I should of stayed here to keep the peace...
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