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Comparing Mawi's Of Beetles And Angels

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Sometimes life’s most important lessons are not taught at school. Mawi Asgedom, in Of Beetles and Angels, narrates his story of how goes on a journey from a refugee camp in Sudan, to Harvard, one of the best schools in the United States. Mawi learns how important it is to become a man, from his father who exhibits these traits the best. Mawi observes different men such as his brother, friends, and teachers to find what the qualities of being a man look like. He completely overlooks his father, Haileab who is the ideal example of what it means to be a man. Haileab teaches Mawi that the man must take, “responsibility for... [the] family” (110). Even as Haileab’s eyesight decreased, he continued to work hard at trying to provide for his family. Mawi learns from his father by watching him while he worked with, “tireless dedication” (130). After moving to America, Haileab was having trouble finding a job he preservers and eventually gets a job as a janitor. Mawi learns first-hand from his dad about the qualities of being a man, but also watches painfully as these characteristics were taken away from him. …show more content…

He could barely afford to pay for daily necessities for his family. Haileab felt like he was, “transformed into a monstrous black beetle” (95). Without a job, he could not provide for his family. This means he is viewed as less in society. Beetles are insects, they do nothing to contribute, or bother the flow of life. Once Haileab realizes that he is a beetle, “no one respects you anymore” (97). As Haileab’s eyesight decreases and he is diagnosed with diabetes, he realizes that he will no longer hold a respectable position in society. For Haileab, this was the most devastating experience he had to bear, because this meant he would not be significant

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