The Reluctant Journal Of Henry Be Larsen Essay

Throughout the story, it is overtly shown how guilt can play a powerful role in one’s actions, which is fundamentally shown through our protagonist, Duncan. Duncan is a teen who suffers from a phenomenon known as survivor’s guilt as a result of him being unable to save Maya from drowning. Being tormented by his guilt for over a year, Duncan sees the discovery of Roach’s journal as an opportunity to redeem himself as he subconsciously cannot bare the thought of being accountable for another death. (McNamee 104) After the killer dies, he is able to find closure as he no longer feels responsible and vindicates himself for Maya’s death. Through this, readers are able to perceive how the redemption of guilt can be a pivotal factor to lead to a person’s gallant actions while they recuperate from their guilt, thus showing how the redemption of guilt can empower heroic actions.

| Tom wants his old life back prior to the accident and he sees the accident as the end of his life as he knew it. He loses his sense of identity and sense of family in particular.Feels guilty and ashamed about the irrevocable consequences his brother’s irresponsibility had for other people and their familiesRetreats into a depressed state which feels empty and black.

Many young people are affected in some way by suicide, and must learn to cope with the horrible loss it has taken from them. “Dogrib Midnight Runners”, by Van Camp, “was inspired by a suicide. As far as [he knew, that was] the first published story that ever takes place in Fort Smith. And [Van Camp wanted] to talk about what a great thief suicide is: the huge, never-ending echo of its fatal decision” (Vranckx). In this short story, a group of friends are faced with their friend, Justin, committing suicide for no clear reason. Justin was remembered as an intelligent, fun individual and appeared happy. The reason why Justin committed suicide was unclear. One particular humorous, happy memory his friends had of him was that when he drank too much, he would take off all his clothes and run. In Richard Van Camp’s short story, “Dogrib Midnight Runners”, the “ritual of running” is so important to healing and rebirth because it allows the group of friends to cope with the loss of their friend while rebuilding a meaningful friendship and support system they had lost during the tragedy.

There are times when we feel like we must be perfect in other to please others. No matter if we did the best we could, if it isn’t perfect, we felt like a failure. We want the approval that comes with perfectness but perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be our best. Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth; it 's a shield. Perfectionism is refusal to accept any standard short of perfection. “Suicide Note,” by Janice Mirikitani, is about an Asian American college student who commits suicide by jumping from her dormitory window. This poem is read as the suicide note that was left behind by this young woman to apologize to her parent s for having received less than a perfect four point grade average and not being perfect in life. Her last thoughts and feelings were left on this note, describing why she did what she did. The pressure to succeed that this student felt from herself and her parents was far too much to overcome. Even though the girl worked really hard and did her very best, it wasn’t good enough in her mind and maybe in her parents’ minds to be worthy of her parents’ love or life itself and so her only option was death to atone for her sin of imperfection. Sometimes pressure to succeed that a student feels from herself and her parents is far too much to overcome.

Abdomen: The lipases appeared unremarkable. The liver, spleen, gallbladder adrenals, kidneys, pancreas and abdominal aorta appeared unremarkable. The bowels seen on the study appeared thickened. Dilated appendix seemed consistent with acute appendicitis. All the structures of the abdomen appeared unremarkable. No free air was seen.

Despite the fact that human beings are oftentimes reluctant to admit it, it is a fact of life that one of the most fundamental aspects of human nature is self-interest. Selfishness pervades everyday life, no matter what efforts are made to deny and rationalize its existence. In the novel As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, the unique method handling the death of Addie that each character uses exemplifies the inherent selfishness apparent in human nature and outlines the various emotions that accompany the death of a loved one.

The perishing of Henery has led younger brother Lyman to have no other way of coping with it, but to get rid of every memory regarding Henry. Lyman states, “ That picture. I never look at it anymore. A few months ago, I don’t know why, I got his picture out and tacked it on the wall… All I know is I couldn’t stay in the same room with that picture… We put the picture in a brown bag, folded the bag over and over tightly, then put it way back in a closet” (328). Lamentably, the relationship Henry and Lyman sustained, died as Henry died too. This is greatly portrayed as Lyman tries to demolish all memories involving Henry. The relationship that was once thought to be enduring, came to an end. Unfortunately, Lyman was unable to retain the relationship he hoped would come back following the arrival of Henry. Lyman came up with the conclusion that he will never be able to regain the bond with Henry thus, he was unable to cope with the loss and decided to abolish all memories associated with Henry.

She wanted to be a role model for her children and at the same time, she wanted to become friend with them. Helen valued education, and she wanted Julie to go to college and have a successful life. However, after she found out that Julie had secretly being together with Tod, the poor, unambitious man. She was disappointed, betrayed, sad. Julie moved out of Helen’s home. Later, when Helen found out that Julie and her husband Tod had nowhere to live, she let them move in with her. She is a permissive parent, yet, she cares about her children, provides them as much support as she can. Helen stayed calm when Gary told her he wanted to live with his dad for a while. I can see her heart was bleeding when she heard her son’s words. She gave Gary his father’s phone number anyway, and Gary talked to his dad over the phone and figured out the cruel fact that his dad didn’t care for them anymore. Helen wanted to comfort Gary but he refused to talk. I felt Helen’s guilt and desperation at that moment. After she broke into Gary’s room and found out that Gary was carrying the bag that contains pornography, she immediately asked Tod’s help to talk to Gary. She had a chance to talk to Tod and had learned that Tod came from a broken family. She had a better idea of who Tod was and his help to Gary gained Helen’s respect. Helen supported Tod and helped her daughter Julie overcame the tough situation in marriage. Helen

“When people kill themselves, they think they’re ending the pain, but all they’re is passing it on to those they leave behind. For months after Helen’s death, pain laid so dark and heavy on me, like a big slab of lead, that most days I wouldn't have gotten out of bed if I had’nt had kids to teach. The idea of riding horses-much less racing-play cards, or driving the Flivver out into the country seemed so pointless as to be repulsive.” Pg. 165

It was a hot blistering summer day not a leaf in sight or a hint of shade to be found. Mouth is dry as cotton from thirst and hands bleeding and blistering from a hard days work, exhausted from fatigue and hunger, because Master had me out here since the crack of dawn. Tending to the crops in the field and told me not come until every last crop has been tended which is about three football fields long. This is some of the Vigorous work that slaves had to endure. Slavery is a big part of American history. Many of the African Americans you see today are descendants of the 500,000 plus Africans who were sent to North America as slaves. To work

“After a traumatic experience, the human system of self preservation seems to go into permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment” (Judith Lewis Herman). The psychoanalyst Lewis Herman describes how encountering agonizing pain causes individuals to become more cautious as a result. The psychoanalytic lens is based on Freudian theories and asserts that “ people’s behavior is affected by their unconscious:...the notion that human beings are motivated, even driven, by desire, fears, needs, and conflicts of which they are unaware…” (Tyson 14-15) High schools a place where tragedy are brought upon people, but their voices aren’t heard. Melinda, a high school freshman, is the protagonist in Laurie Halse Anderson’s book, Speak.

This news is disheartening to Tom, but the family’s only choice is to keep traveling west. Tom’s grandmother eventually dies too from exhaustion and heat. Finally after many grueling days in the hot sun and numerous stops to fix the car, the Joads arrive at California. However, their dreams of finding a wonderful place to live are shattered when they hear California residents calling them Oakies and saying bad things about them. Californians feel threatened by the families migrating into California because the newcomers will take all the job opportunities and they will steal food to avoid starvation. At first the Joads can’t find work and they are forced to live in one of the Hoovervilles. The Hoovervilles are very run down and Connie , Tom’s brother, runs away from the family because of the disappointment of realizing his dreams will not come true.

If it is difficulty that shows what men are, there should be no doubt about what kind of man Carl Brashear is. The Navy's first African-American Master Diver, Brashear faced difficulties that would have defeated most people. His spirit and determination resulted not only in his overcoming great odds to become a U.S. Navy diver, but also in his surviving the loss of a leg in an accident on the USS Hoist in 1966 - and more amazingly - in his attaining the rank of Master Diver.

While Mrs. Mallard remembers Mr. Mallard as a kind and tender man who loved her, she also viewed him as the oppression that marriage put upon women and men. While Mr. Mallard was kind and loving to his wife, he was also controlling and overbearing. Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister and Richards, Mr. Mallard’s friend is there to break the news of Mr. Mallard’s death. Richards has learned of Mr. Mallard’s death at the newspaper office, not wanting to believe the information that was received, Richards waited for the new to be delivered for a second time before enlisting the help of Josephine. They are both there to support Mrs. Mallard and their support shows that they care for Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.

This had become a daily routine for he had become a wreck to the point where he was starved and clueless of what to do anymore. Eventually, Jonah was in his mid 20’s and the cobblestone bridge that was once loved and contained so many memories was demolished as a ruling from the townspeople since they thought it would be best to build something else, that they believed would be more useful in the future. For the time being, all that was left behind in reminiscence was the river that streamed around the small grassy hill outskirts of the city life. Jonah sat there and stared at all what used to be his happiness and regained flashbacks of all that had happened. As a result, a sharp pain was sent throughout his head which then traveled throughout his body. A snapped into reality when he felt the corner of what appeared to be a book at the glide against the edge of his cedar boots. He picked up the drenched book that he assumed had arisen from the river and flipped open the pages. Page after page, he found the written name of Abigail signed at the bottom of each log that had documented each and every single day they had spent