The Man In The Water Research Paper

People may say that they would come to the rescue of one in need, however they are truly tested when they come face to face with a life or death situation. In “Is Survival Selfish by Lane Wallace,” Wallace refers to a “famous mountain climbing accident.” Where one climber Simon Yates had first attempted to save his friend Joe Simpson who was hurt and fell down the mountain. However, when his plan to save his friend did not go as plan. He realized that he too was at risk of dying. So, he cut the rope that connected Joe to himself in order to survive. People may say that they would save others however, when in the process of being in risk. This further explains how one would give up another’s life for their own. They will to anything

This is Water is the most read piece by David Foster Wallace. This is Water was written in the twenty-first century and used as a commencement speech. David Wallace delivered the speech at Kenyon College in two thousand five, for a graduating class. Throughout the essay, Wallace gives references to the generations today. Also, Wallace does such by his illustrations of how many are unconscious in life if its from traffic, worship, or their default settings.

In Washington in 1982 there was a plane crash on the pentatonic river. A man repeatedly saved other lives in the place of his own. Rosenblatt states “The odd thing is that we do not even really believe that the man in the water lost his fight.” This man had so much courage and faith to put others lives before his. This saying, he had a plan in mind, he followed through with it, and achieved it so he did not lose the fight, he really won, and also shared his victory with others. He gave up everything he had to give hope to others. Rosenblatt gave another point being, “When the helicopter took off with what was to be the last survivor, he watched everything in the world move away from him, and he deliberately let it happen.” One could think he was content with what he had done. He sacrificed himself for the life of another life. This being said, the anonymous man in the water not only saved 5 lives with a humble heart but gave hope to

You, a single individual, are not the center of the world; contrary to the belief many people are fed as children. This Is Water by David Foster Wallace continues well into detail about such. It is a natural human instinct to care more about your personal situation than that of others. We choose to place ourselves first because of the fear of vulnerability. When fellow human beings become obstacles in our lives we label them as any condescending adjective under the sun; often the terms stupid, annoying, infuriating, pig-like, and slow make their appearances. This is only because the individuals have become hindrances to your daily life however most pose no threat. It is difficult to break the mold but it is indeed possible. Every human has

In this story there was a plane crash, and when help arrived a rope was ladder was passed down for the survivors to climb onto. The man in the water let all of the other people onto the ladder before him even though it meant that he would die. The man in the water knew that not getting on the ladder would mean he would die, but he continued to let people on the ladder. This man did end up dying but he saved the lives of many other people, and now he is another unknown hero who saved so many

The man in the water is responsible for saving many people, but he didn’t have training to save people like a firefighter or police officer. The man in the water was an ordinary civilian with no rescue training. That makes him more courageous than the trained first responders; they had training and preparation, he didn’t. Just like that any person can become a hero whether or not you are a passenger on flight 90 a bystander in a disaster or just a friendly neighbor who helps out you never know how your contribution will help. Small acts of courage save

Man creates the simplicity in which he lives, until faced with a choice; a choice that can change the perception of life, love, and selflessness. The man in the water is perceived as a hero, however, that man may have never quite known what it meant to be truly selfless. He is known for his anonymity, and his heroism, but what a person may not realize, is that he is known for making a choice, an amazing factor in this, is he made his choice many more times than one. Also, he is seen as courageous, however his true act of courage may not have been the saving of lives, but the giving of his own in the process. Lastly, the man in the water fought for his life, and many others until his death. The true selflessness, heroism, and deliverance, of the man in the water, prove that there is good in the world, however, good is a choice one must make.

January 13th, 1982 a day just as normal as most something crazy happened that would change the lives of many, Flight Air Florida 90 came down on the city of Washington D.C. This plane came down not necessarily in the town more over a bridge and into the water, where “the man in the water” came to become know. This man's selflessness lead to his own death, the irony of saving the lives of others cost him his, his actions were to only save others while keeping him life at risk. While he just let others go before him he must of realized that eventually if he didn’t go he would die, and is it true that no man is ordinary given the right circumstance. By the time the helicopter came back the last time the man had went under, how can a man know that everytime he lets someone go before him his risk for death gets higher and can all men be like this? “The Man in the Water” has an ironic way because this man puts his life at risk to stay in the water and save the lives of five other people, then he dies before he can be rescued from the water.

A hero instills order where chaos exists. In many of the images in the HUffington Post article, there are people who work very hard, willing to sacrifice things like education and sleep, to provide their family with food and a better future. This helps create order in the family, allowing everyone else the chance for a job or even education. This is similar to the article, “The Man in the Water” because the survivor of the plane crash gave up everything to help others. The man was in his 50’s and he created order by allowing everybody else get back to their family and have a better future. Alfred form The Contender helped instill order as well. He learned to fight, which helped build his confidence, so he could stand up to Major and

Ronald Reagan, who was an American politician, actor, and 40th President of the United States, from 1981 to 1989, once said “You can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” The story The Man in the Water did not provide sufficient background information. The story’s author, Roger Rosenblatt, lacked contribution of details. In the story, the essential, influential character was never named, but only referred to as the man in the water. Information is imperative to any story.

One example of how heroes are courageous and unselfish is seen in the life of Eddie Aikau. According to Source 1, “Not one life was lost while he served as lifeguard of Waimea Bay, as he braved waves that often reached 30 feet (9.1m) high or more.” This shows that heroes are courageous, and unselfish because Eddie Aikau will risk his life to save others and nothing would stop him, even the biggest wave in the world won’t stop him.

The characteristic of selflessness can also be viewed in the Plos One study titled, Social Representations of Hero and Everyday Hero: A Network Study from Representative Sample by Keczer, where the study focuses on heroes and everyday heroes. Keczer states in the results, “Hero and Everyday Hero cannot be differentiated on the dimension of challenge. Both have “self-sacrificing” as a global hub” (Keczer 12). The selflessness and self-sacrificing theme allows for the hero to be in touch with their emotions and will themselves to protect others and sacrifice themselves for the greater good of everyone. The heroes know that they may perish in the battle and so it is selflessness that in turn can create martyrs. Martyrs are the heroes who rally the people, but in the beginning it may just only be they who rise up against evil and it is their death that becomes the catalyst for change. According to the American Journal of

“Ocean man, take me by the hand lead me to the land…”, those words changed Patrick Jansen’s life forever. Patrick was having a nightmare about getting put in a mental facility when he woke up. He saw that he was actually in a mental hospital. “What the flab” Patrick said. He didn’t think he would actually be in a mental hospital. He passed out and when he woke up he noticed he was in a office room and his parents were enrolling him in the school. Patrick was begging for his parents to not put him in the mental institution. He begged them saying it’s not what Ocean Man would have wanted. They said “Ocean man isn’t real, kid.” And he screamed at them saying, “But I’m not lying!!”

Heroism is an act of fearlessness and it requires valiant, a trait that not all people carry. In her historical fiction, The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah, an author, highlights, “He cut his own throat with piece of glass rather than name anyone or confess.”(138) In other words, Chartres who slit his throat after being hostage and tortured, showed heroism by protecting his own people and not lead them to danger. He decided to remove his vocals, so he wouldn’t be able to reveal any confessions. From my experience, I am willing to donate blood to others who are in needs with no reward. Many people have the ability to help others who are in danger because they lack fear. These are the people who are willing to take bold attempts and risk their life for others because they care for

old man more strength and will to push on and fight the fish until he wins.