Look Both Ways

Throughout the world, an undeniable, yet perpetual force is responsible for tearing nearly everyone apart: hopelessness. Often caused by instability or vulnerability, hopelessness plagues those who refrain from combating its vile side effects. Hopelessness loves company, producing an inseparable bond between itself and self-doubt. During wartime events, it’s imperative to display some form of resistance towards the crippling despair. Although on the surface hopelessness seems insurmountable, it can be fought. In All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr emphasizes how the vital tool of resilience can be used to conquer hopelessness in all situations.

Ji-Li successfully argues that in a time of despair, families can overcome their sadness and rise up again; Ji-Li is able to prove this point effectively by providing her own detailed story and including not only her perspective, but also the perspectives of different people such as her classmates and teachers.

Harding brings three important themes to his novel Tinkers that brings the reader to fully understand the emotion of the lives of his characters. The theme of life being the first. Harding demonstrates that life has its ups and downs but will eventually come to a pause at a more satisfying point where the hardships of life will come to pass. George partakes in this satisfaction by the end of his life when surrounded by those he loves and those that love him back. The moment at which the hardships come to pass, in the novel, is at a point of death. The death theme in the novel entices the readers in two forms of which death can be present. The first being that only the animate can die and memories with it and the other the complete opposite in which the inanimate can also posses the ability to ‘die’. As life and death goes, the fine line between them is the relationship that develops in between the two. Harding demonstrates that the relationship theme can be distinguished in forms that are unnatural but nonetheless still demonstrate relationship. At one point, the father-son relationship in the novel is expressed through fear but is also not to be expressed at all when referring to affection. Harding provides engrossing themes to progress the novel in its fragmented world but uses clear examples to help clear up the conflicting views

This movie does a really good job on portraying the emotional and psychological responses to life-threatening illness, also famously known as Kubler-Ross’s model. The five stages of this model are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. This model describes the process by which people cope and deal with grief especially when diagnosed with life threatening illness. Kubler-Ross pointed out that, during the course of an illness,

Distinctive visuals allow us to view how negative experiences can act as a catalyst in ones search for a better life. Luke and Anna’s bleak,

The reader receives the impression that Nick’s self analysis of his own character tries to influence their opinion of him. Therefore the reader becomes inclined to question his judgements. Nick Carraway’s narration takes the reader into his confidence; he describes significant experiences in an almost voyeuristic way. Nicks narrative style uses elaborate and very mature vocabulary that gives extra depth and description to his account; drawing the reader further into the story. Additionally Nick’s tone creates a sense of authority and immediacy which encourages the reader to read on.

Society often fail to understand and see the mental pain that individuals carry throughout their lives. Some people bear its burden, while others suffer greatly because of it, to the point of choosing self-destruction. The narrators from “The Gargoyle” (Davidson) and “Walk to Morning” (Boyden) both experience this pain that ultimately sets them on a course to a deep pit. They survive their near-deaths and later encounter unique life-changing people. As a result, they become better individuals.

People deal with grief in different ways. As a small child, the way the narrator handles uncertainty and pain is distressing, yet also expected. She finds distractions in the furniture and decorations. The child notices a

Jess Walter creates a post 9/11 world that balances precariously between real and surreal. It is real enough that the reader is able to comprehend how awful the attack truly was; but surreal enough that the reader feels the same way most Americans did at Ground Zero—confused, frightened, and grief stricken. Remy, the unwilling hero in all of this is exposed to many different forms of grief both public and personal. Using irony and satire, Walter critiques the way public forms of grief were presented as the only viable ways of grieving after 9/11. Reporters wanted to broadcast each and every loss. The government wanted to exploit the grief of the American people so that they could continue what they were doing in

Billy Collins’ “Special Glasses” uses humor, personification, and a lighthearted tone to mask an uncharacteristically dark theme that shows the overwhelming denial that one experiences when grieving and to express the dangers of not addressing such feelings.

To have hope is to be able to see the light amid the darkness. This is a notion shown in Ned Vizzini’s “It’s Kind of a Funny Story”. The protagonist is a teenage boy named Craig, who struggles with depression. One night, Craig checks himself into a hospital because of his suicidal thoughts. He then gets placed in the adult psychiatric ward called Six North. The novel “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” demonstrates that it is crucial to remain positive during hard times as there will be better days, with the usage of conflicts and characters. This is important because everyone undergoes hardships at some point in their life and must be able to prevail.

Reading this book has been interesting and heartbreaking experience. A Year of Magical Thinking, a journey through the grieving process. While dealing with the death of her husband, she is confronted with the sickness of her only child. This book touches me, and it makes me think of what would happen if my loved one died. This paper is a reflection of my thoughts and feelings about this woman’s journey that has been explored by book and video. I will also explore the author’s adjustment process, and how she views her changed self.

Each person experiences loss and the pain and grief that coincides with it at some point in their life. Often times, these people gain a new outlook on life, and begin to see the world differently. People change as a result of pain; they think and act differently. Margaret Atwood utilizes characterization through Verna’s presentation, thoughts, and actions in “Stone Mattress” to show that pain changes people.

Despite the small role of logos, the PSA successfully reached listeners; hence, “Evan” currently has 9 million views on YouTube. Making up for the lack of logos, the ethos and more importantly pathos, persuades audiences to take a closer look at those around them. While one’s personal drama may seem vital at the moment, much like how the young couple in the video felt, reflection exposes that the most significant duty of each human on earth is to care for one another. If only those characters has seen the signs, if only you would look for the signs in your school, lives might have been saved, including the soul of the

In Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss gives life to The Four Corners of Civilization through his storytelling. Storytelling gives the author an opportunity to show their experiences and reflect their beliefs within the world they are creating. During the time this book was being written, there was the Iraq and Afghanistan War taking place which had been sending many soldiers back home with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Rothfuss parallels this disorder within his book through the main character, Kvothe, when he experiences trauma and he shows how Kvothe copes with the persisting trauma through grief theory, “four doors of the mind” (135) . His four doors of the mind is similar to the Kubler-Ross Model, which is widely accepted by practitioners, but challenges it by believing the mind copes with pain through the central idea of numbing. However, this mindset of categorizing emotions experienced within grief can be destructive behavior towards any griever rather than helping them cope; stages of post-loss grief do not exist.