September 7, 2010
Humanities
Theme Notebook #2
Showing Compassion Builds Character
Showing Compassion Builds Character
Kindness and consideration can shape your identity in the short story “Thank You, Ma’am”, written by Langston Hughes. The tale revolves around the main protagonist, Luella, who is wandering around at night, and is almost robbed by a young boy, named Roger. Outraged, the woman grabbed a hold of him, and rushed him into her home. Instead of harming him, as he expected, she allowed him to wash his face, and offered him food. At one point, they began conversing, and she learnt of his longing for a pair of shoes. Through this, Luella sympathized with him. “‘I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.’” She told him this, because she wanted him to know that a few wrong choices in life don’t shape who you are. Everyone is imperfect and contains flaws. Since she identified with him, he became more comfortable with her, and considered her perspective. He noticed that she was similar to him when she was young, but had turned into a strong, admirable person. A few moments later, Luella left the room in order to prepare supper, but left her purse unattended. Because of her compassion, Roger didn’t want to lose her trust. “-the boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner of her eye, if she wanted to. He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.” Through this quotation we can better unravel Roger’s nature. Even though he made an immoral choice, and caved into his greed, one act didn’t define who he was. Luella inspired him to be a righteous person, and make the moral choices. As readers, we are left with the belief that through compassion we can transform other people’s character.
Compassion influences personality in many styles and forms throughout literature. In the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”, kindness and consideration are portrayed through the unlikely friendship of two young children. The story begins through the perspective of a young, naive boy named Bruno, living during the time of the Holocaust. Unbeknownst to him, his father is a high-ranked SS officer, and when he is promoted to ‘Commandant’, he and his family must move from Berlin to Auschwitz. This change in environment takes a toll on Bruno, for he is confined into his new home, and can’t go to school. His curiosity gets the better of him, when he decides to ‘explore’ the world outside his house. He comes across a large metal fence, and discovers a small, frail boy wearing pair of pale striped pyjamas, opposite him. The weak boy’s name was Shmuel. He was dirty, sick, and had brown eyes, unlike Bruno’s blue ones. After a short conversation, they realize that they share the same birthday, but come from completely different cultures and lives. Regardless, their forbidden friendship blossoms. Bruno “visit[ed] him daily, often sneaking leftover food for him from the kitchen.” Although Bruno is always clueless to Shmuel’s situation in the concentration camps, he still shows concern and friendliness towards his new companion. Through Bruno’s compassion, Shmuel’s personality gradually evolves. At first, he was shy and reserved, while Bruno did all the talking. As his strength began to build up from the snacks, and through the influence of Bruno’s audaciousness, Shmuel gradually turned more adventurous. This new, curious Shmuel, convinced Bruno to come and ‘explore’ the world within the concentration camps. Although his intentions were good, both he and Bruno became stuck within the camps, and were eventually gassed, and slaughtered, with the rest of the Jews. This story shows us that although compassion can alter your character, it may have severe consequences.
Although “Thank You, Ma’am” and “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” are set decades apart, their themes are connected. In “Thank You, Ma’am” Luella’s empathy and generosity showed Roger that it’s never too late to turn your life around, and that you will always have an opportunity to make the right choices. In “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”, Bruno’s friendliness relieved the fear and sadness that had been chipping away at Shmuel’s spirit. This allowed him to open up, be an average child, and block out the atrocity occurring to his loved ones. The only difference is, his new characteristics had a negative effect in the long run. When comparing both situations, we can deduce that compassion can be found anytime, anywhere, and can completely alter a persons identity. One simple act of kindness can transform someones perspective in life and completely reconstruct their existence.
image source: http://img.xcitefun.net/users/2009/08/110624,xcitefun-boyinstriped.jpg
image source: http://img.xcitefun.net/users/2009/08/110624,xcitefun-boyinstriped.jpg
August 16, 2010
Humanities
Theme Notebook #2
There are two sides to Justice
'There are two sides to justice' is the dominant theme in the short story "Lamb to the Slaughter", by Roald Dahl. The main protagonist of the story, Mary Maloney, lives a typical life in the 1950's. She is married, six months pregnant, and adores her life. Everyday includes ensuring everything appears flawless for her husband- 'the room [is] warm and clean, the curtains [are] drawn', the whiskey is on the sideboard, and he can comfortably subside at home, after work. Her world revolves around him, and to Mrs. Maloney, she is living in the ideal world- or so she thinks. After a long day of work, Patrick Maloney returns home anxious and tired. Mrs. Maloney's immaculate bubble of life is instantly popped, as her husband composedly reveals his intentions to leave her, and their unborn child-"There needn't be any fuss.". As he prepares to flee, Mary impulsively strikes his head, with the frozen leg of lamb she intended to prepare for dinner. Partick Maloney was dead, and Mary Maolney was the murderer. When Mary's facade of happiness shattered, and she results to rash actions, we see her dark side. The moment she felt betrayed, Mary lost control of her emotions, and instinctively seeked vengeance. The only question is, does her husbands betrayal justify her actions? Who was the victim, and who was the culprit?
The lines between right and wrong are constantly blurred throughout the world. In the BBC article, "Should we take and Eye for and Eye?", "a Somali man stabs to death his father's killer in a public execution and Kenyan women call for the castration of rapists". In Mogadishu, a man was sentenced to death for murder, and was ordered to undergo a public execution. Instead of having an executioner end his life, the son of the man he murdered stabbed him to death, which is allowed by Islamic law. This seemingly inhumane method of execution has been questioned by many, but it will still be tolerated as long as Sharia Law stands.
Other laws are being question by Kenyan women, on the situation of rapists. The laws indicating that rapists must be castrated have stopped being followed, which has sparked a surge of frustration through female activists. Many of them believe that it is the best way to seek vengeance against the treacherous criminals.
In both situations, the revengeful actions of the Somali man and Kenyan women seem justified, but if they are permitted to take such drastic revenge, they could be perceived as criminals themselves.. What is the limit before 'an eye for an eye' sparks a viscous cycle? Is it right to result to such brutal punishments?
When there are two sides to justice, neither aren't innocent, yet each are victims. Both sides have a motive, and there is pain and revenge from both ends. In the situation of "Lamb to the Slaughter", Patrick destroyed her life, but Mary ended his. In the case of the Somali man and the rapists, the world must decide whether seeking harsh revenge is always the legitimate way to punish criminals. Just as there are two sides to every story, there can also be two sides to justice. Although Mr. Maloney and the criminals did horrible things, we aren't any better than them if we harm them back. In both these cases, vengeance is never the answer.
image source: http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/files/images/090203_somalia.jpg
The lines between right and wrong are constantly blurred throughout the world. In the BBC article, "Should we take and Eye for and Eye?", "a Somali man stabs to death his father's killer in a public execution and Kenyan women call for the castration of rapists". In Mogadishu, a man was sentenced to death for murder, and was ordered to undergo a public execution. Instead of having an executioner end his life, the son of the man he murdered stabbed him to death, which is allowed by Islamic law. This seemingly inhumane method of execution has been questioned by many, but it will still be tolerated as long as Sharia Law stands.
Other laws are being question by Kenyan women, on the situation of rapists. The laws indicating that rapists must be castrated have stopped being followed, which has sparked a surge of frustration through female activists. Many of them believe that it is the best way to seek vengeance against the treacherous criminals.
In both situations, the revengeful actions of the Somali man and Kenyan women seem justified, but if they are permitted to take such drastic revenge, they could be perceived as criminals themselves.. What is the limit before 'an eye for an eye' sparks a viscous cycle? Is it right to result to such brutal punishments?
When there are two sides to justice, neither aren't innocent, yet each are victims. Both sides have a motive, and there is pain and revenge from both ends. In the situation of "Lamb to the Slaughter", Patrick destroyed her life, but Mary ended his. In the case of the Somali man and the rapists, the world must decide whether seeking harsh revenge is always the legitimate way to punish criminals. Just as there are two sides to every story, there can also be two sides to justice. Although Mr. Maloney and the criminals did horrible things, we aren't any better than them if we harm them back. In both these cases, vengeance is never the answer.
image source: http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/files/images/090203_somalia.jpg
