Luc Santé's Resume is a personal account of cultural and socio-economical changes throughout Europe during the mid 20th century, and how they potentially correlated to impact his life. Resume consists of nine different life summaries, each with introductory constants (Luc Santé birth details, Lucien Santé's work history), before an opposing tale is expressed to conclude each paragraph. These vary in positive and negative connotations, but the concluding argument Santé's work puts forth aligns with the cliché that 'every action has a reaction'. In essence, one slight tweak in his life, or resume, starts a chain effect that differs each life from one another. Santé constructs his own identity foremost, but also the identities of his parents …show more content…
This repetitive identity can also be linked throughout the paragraphs, as opposing as they are, to the text's primary themes. The importance of money is a constant in Resume, as paragraphs beginning with Santé's father losing his job ends with his son struggling to survive, living in poverty and fear, or performing criminal acts. In the two paragraphs in which Lucien Santé did not fall out of an iron foundry job, Luc was educated and lived either a life of debauchery, or a life as a Jesuit. The two vehemently opposed each other, but they both allowed Luc to live by privileged means. This idea dictates that Santé believes the absence of parental income and support almost consigns the child into a poor life near unchangeable, insinuating that Santé's identity is one driven by pessimism.
Santé also constructs identities for his parents, the two individuals featured apart from himself. He does this not by describing their characteristics and idiosyncrasies, but by stating the major events they were involved in that eventually shaped his life. Often throughout Resume, Santé describes how his parents shipped the family to a distant country, or at the very least away from Verviers, inevitably failing in their quest to start a new, better life. It is also worth noting the one time Santé's tale concludes as one of happiness and success, there is little parental involvement in his choices
Jeannette is very insecure about her past life of poverty, and although she has now dug herself out of the rut of destitution, her parents’ continued homelessness is always a reminder of
Though Jeannette gave her all to support her family, she did the same for herself without anyone’s support. She understood what it was meant to be poverty at a very young age and realised that she could not have what others did. While Jeannette didn’t have money, she was smart and resourceful to achieve whatever she could for herself. When Jeannette was young, she had already decided that if she wanted to do something for herself, she was going to have to do it herself. An example of this was when she herself to have buckteeth, and promptly said, “I decided to make my own braces,” and she did (Wall 200). In spite of Jeannette being underprivilaged and with less money, she found ways time and time again to succeed.
Jeannette and her siblings adapt to self- sufficiency from a young age, from being emotionally and physically neglected by their parents. The children don’t expect anything so they learn to work with what they have and what opportunities come their way. Jeannette saw the suffering of the family and took this leadership for the family guiding her sibling in the correct path.
As a child, Jeannette’s sense of wonder and curiosity in the world undermine the need for money. During her young adult years, a new wave of insecurity associated with her poor past infects her. Finally, as an experienced and aged woman, Jeannette finds joy and nostalgia in cherishing her poverty- stricken past. It must be noted that no story goes without a couple twists and turns, especiallydefinitely not Jeannette Walls’. The fact of the matter is that growing up in poverty effectively craftsed, and transformsed her into the person she becomeshas become. While statistics and research show that living in poverty can be detrimental to a child’s self-esteem, Jeannette Walls encourages children living in poverty to have ownership over their temporary situation, and never to feel inferior because of past or present socio-economic
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the book "The Return of Martin Guerre" by Natalie Zamon Davis. Specifically, it will discuss the life of the peasant during the Middle Ages. This book is a fascinating account of a true case that happened during the 16th century in France. The book is also an excellent example of how the peasants lived in the Middle Ages, from what they ate, to how they traveled and what their family lives were like.
Since the story uses a certain object, the Jacket, as the meaning of several issues, it primarily focuses on the narrator's poverty-stricken family. First of all, an example of the poverty is demonstrated when the narrator complains that the jacket "was so ugly and big that I knew I'd have to wear it a long time"(paragraph 3). It is clear that his lack of money was a problem in which he
Jeannette shows that wealth is subjective. Even when she's an adult and has nice things and money, but she is still not happy. She is not happy because she is worried about her parents and she feels guilty living in a nice apartment and having all these nice things when her parents are homeless. Jeannette tries to quench her guilt by offering them help to get a house and food but her parents don't want the help. After Rex received clothes for a gift he says "you must be mighty ashamed of your old man. You think I'm some sort of goddamn charity case" (Walls 263). Jeannette sees her parents struggling to survive homeless but her dad says "Don't you fret a bit have you ever known your old man to get himself in a situation he couldn't handle" (Walls 260)?
In the movie “looking for alibrandi the director presents the viewer with the idea that people can attain an enduring sense of both identity and belonging. The director believes that many life experiences compel us to alter our sense of self. Both text, movie and the story of my friend suggest that our identity changes depending on
Victor derives from an exquisite and loving childhood in Geneva with a flourishing thirst for knowledge. He is more than content with the comfort of his family and stability as, "No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants
Charlie was constrained into adulthood early through him having to fill his father’s boots. Therefore, Charlie had to become the financial provider of his family.
The narrative of Davis’s monograph and Vigne’s movie has similarities and differences as well. For example, the return of Martin Guerre after eight years to the court in the neck of time is basically the same in both works, but the starting point is different in terms of time and place. The book starts with a detailed background of Martin’s family, their journey from the Basque region to Artigat, and how they adopt the life of the new place by changing their names, changing their customs, and learning the language so that they become like the villagers. On the other hand, the film begins with villages of Artigat and soon with the marriage of Martin and Bertrande in order to capture audience’s attention to be engaged in watching the film. However, the movie’s director ignores all the background of the Martin’s family.
Jeannette’s parents tried to embrace in their children, to live life to its extent. As you can imagine, the parents lived mostly on the wild side. Rose Mary, a drug addicts who worries about herself constantly. She endlessly searches through garbage and panhandles for money, usually forgetting everything that is occurring at the exact moment. If
Jeannette used this scholarly excellence to begin making a better life for herself as a teenager. She explained “I made money babysitting and doing other kids’ homework...I charge a dollar per assignment...I also tutored kids for two dollars an hour” (224). Jeannette learned at a young age that in order to get out of the problems of living with her parents she would have to work her way out. Even before she got out of high school, she used her intellect to start the dig out of the deep hole of her parents’ money management issues. The tentative beginnings of her lucrative work built up to her being able to move to New York with her sister Lori who was already there and get a job to further support herself. Her success even allowed her to have leeway to try to pull her mother out of the financial ditch as well. Upon her astonishment that her mom brings forth that she’s worried about her, Jeannette reassures “‘I’m doing very well. I’m very, very comfortable’” (269). She has acquired comfort and now can function as a regular member of society like she has wanted
Throughout the story there are several aspects of the Protagonist’s character that play a major role in the shaping of her future. During her childhood she
Again, social status leads Monsieur Jourdain to think in terms of how to better himself in the eyes of society. He recognizes that Lucile is a crucial element in his quest to become a gentleman, for he lacks the privileged rite of birth that the aristocracy benefit from. His emphasis on social status has driven Monsieur Jourdain to sacrifice his daughter’s preferences for his own personal and selfish gain. Monsieur Jourdain, however, does not view this act as selfish, but rather as necessary. After drawing criticism from his wife for denying Cléonte Lucile’s hand in marriage, Monsieur Jourdain counters, “Those are sentiments that show what a small mind you have – not wanting to better yourself” (226). Monsieur Jourdain realizes that Lucile is his ace in the hole for becoming a member of the elite, and he scolds his wife for not recognizing the great opportunity that Lucile’s marriage can bring them. Again, the thought of social status causes Monsieur Jourdain to degrade his own daughter from a human being, to a mere bargaining chip for his (family’s) benefit.