The great Maya Angleou, an American poet, author, and civil rights activist, once said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” (BrainyQuote). This theme of seeking for more in life than just survival in life is important to living a fulfilling existence in the world. In Emily St. John Mandel's novel, Station Eleven, Kirsten is a young girl when a pandemic destroys most of society. The Georgia Flu removed all luxuries from the Earth and left people to defend for themselves. Fifteen years later, Kirsten is determined to do more than just survive. "Survival is Insufficient" is a common phrase in Station Eleven that the characters use as a way of motivation to live life to the fullest. Kirsten defines her life by this motto as she strives to do more than …show more content…
Kirsten stays focused on her memories of Arthur because they remind her of a time when life was better. Since she was so young when the pandemic hit, "[t]here were countless things about the pre-collapse world that Kirsten couldn’t remember…but she did remember Arthur Leander, and…she went through every magazine she could find in search of him" (St. John Mandel 40). Kirsten focuses on remembering people from before the pandemic to remind her of her former life and take her mind off of the current harsh conditions. Kirsten has positive memories of Arthur that help her to stay optimistic. When Kirsten remembers Arthur, she thinks of him as an "impression of kindness and grey hair, a man who'd once pressed two comic books into her hands" (41). Since the world since the pandemic is hard and depressing, her happy memories of Arthur ease these negative feelings and help her remain positive. Not only does Kirsten comfort herself through Arthur, but she also uses her humanity to her advantage as
Memories can help you understand your past so you don’t make the same mistake in the future. On page 119 it said “One of jonas arms is immobilized in pain and he see through his shirt through his own his torn shirt sleeve something that looked like ragged flesh and splintering bone.”This is a memory
In “Eleven”, written by Sandra Cisneros, Cisneros uses literary techniques such as diction and imagery to characterize Rachel’s character during her transition from age ten to age 11. These literary techniques help to describe how Rachel feels in certain situations while also explaining her qualities and traits. Through the use of these literary techniques Cisneros also collaborated on Rachel’s feelings when she was other ages and how she felt at that time during her life.
In the short story "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros, a young girl named Rachel is characterized. Through a specific incident, Cisneros shows how Rachel does not act as old as eleven ideally should. Through repetition and metaphor, Cisneros alludes to Rachel?s personality and childish views.
... education. Katie firmly believes that schooling is her children’s only escape from poverty. She is not embarrassed that Francie’s knowledge surpasses her own, instead she pushes her daughter to work harder. Kaite’s constant pushing results in Francie’s acceptance into a college university. Katie Nolan is the heart and soul of the Nolan family and without her Francie would not grow up to be a hard working, intelligent young woman.
Kristen’s tattoo read, “Survival is insufficient.” In the beginning of the novel, Station Eleven, there is a quote, “No one ever thinks they’re awful, even people who really actually are. It’s some sort of survival mechanism” (20 Mandel). Emily St. John Mandel portrays throughout the book how survival is insufficient, a repeating statement and theme. Arthur, Kristen, Tyler, Elizabeth, Jeevan, Clark, Miranda, in the book play a main role in this theme and connect into how survival and death is one of the greatest factors in the book. The novel contends that people, to be human, must accomplish something other than survive; they should live.
The short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, focuses around the main character Rachel as an insecure developing girl who lacks the experience to handle everyday encounters. Rachel, an eleven year old girl truly encapsulates the thoughts that are present within an adolescent. The lack of confidence in herself, excessive fear of being judged, and ideas of growing up are ideals that are relevant within each and every one of us. The reader is able to relate to Rachel because her feelings and experiences that are described by the author are similar to what most people have been through and are currently experiencing. The characterization of Rachel is expressed through the author’s usage of point of view, imagery, and repetition.
Since Francie was young she saw the city as opportunity and a way of getting out of the poverty she was always struggling in. Now she realizes that no matter where is she is, she can overcome anything she puts
Her struggles are of a flower trying to blossom in a pile of garbage. Growing up in the poor side of the southside of Chicago, Mexican music blasting early in the morning or ducking from the bullets flying in a drive-by shooting. Julia solace is found in her writing, and in her high school English class. Mr. Ingram her English teacher asks her what she wants out of life she cries “I want to go to school. I want to see the word” and “I want so many things sometimes I can’t even stand it. I feel like I’m going to explode.” But Ama doesn’t see it that way, she just tells, Julia, she is a bad daughter because she wants to leave her family. The world is not what it seems. It is filled with evil and bad people that just want to her hurt and take advantage of
If my life had no purpose, no individuality, and no happiness, I would not want to live. This book teaches the importance of self expression and independence. If we did not have these necessities, then life would be like those in this novel. Empty, redundant, and fearful. The quotes above show how different life can be without our basic freedoms. This novel was very interesting and it shows, no matter how dismal a situation is, there is always a way out if you never give up, even if you have to do it alone.
she gets flashbacks of the past incidents that occurred all because of her uncle. This story overall,
The protagonist of the story is Ellen. Ellen is thirty-two years old, with limp blond hair and a plain face and whose eyes oozed sympathy. She is also a fifth-grade teacher who has recently left her job after having experienced the embarrassment of a public fight with her partner Roy in front of her colleagues. From the beginning of the story she is frightened, anxious, with head down and shoulders slumped, indicating she has a lot of pain and suffering kept inside her. Doctors have described her as anemic and depressive and she knows that that life she has led so far has contributed for that diagnosis. The protagonist is a dynamic character because although she starts as a person who keeps all her emotions to herself, in the end, she explodes and releases her frustration on Mr. Lercher, the passenger who tried to kill everyone on the airplane. Her change in attitude can be observed when the narrator describes, “ All she knew was that she’d had enough, enough of Roy and this big, drunken testosterone-addled bully and the miserable, crimpled life that awaited her at her mother’s, and she came up out of her seat as if she’d been launched…”
One can learn responsibility through experience, whether the experience is great, or if it is tragic. In The Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, twelve year old Lanesha demonstrates her growth by bringing her and others to safety during a deadly storm. Once nurtured and cared for by her non-biological grandmother, Lanesha learns to take care of herself and others. This significance shows her transitioning from a girl to a young woman.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel shows us people who, despite the horrors they are forced to endure, remain good and kind hearted. For example Clark, despite his loss of a boyfriend and being stranded in an unknown airport far from his old life, goes on to create the museum of civilization and teach people about the past. The symphony is another example, they go from town to town performing for people and spreading news around the new isolated country. However, though some people endure and stay good, some turn to terrible acts which they would have never even considered before. Emily St. John Mandel uses The Prophet to show how otherwise normal and kind people can be driven to terrible
Losing a phone compared to being raped, starved, killed, and eaten in pieces makes everyday life seem not so excruciating. Cormac McCarthy was born July 20, 1933 and is one of the most influencing writers of this era. McCarthy was once so poor he could not even afford toothpaste. Of course this was before he became famous. His lifestyle was hotel to hotel. One time he got thrown out of a $40 dollar a month hotel and even became homeless. This is a man who from experience knows what should be appreciated. McCarthy published a novel that would give readers just that message called The Road. Placed in a world of poverty the story is about a man and his son. They travel to a warmer place in hopes of finding something more than the scattered decomposing bodies and ashes. The father and son face hunger, death, and distrust on their long journey. 15 year old Lawrence King was shot for being gay. Known as a common hate crime, the murderer obviously thought he was more superior to keep his life and to take someone’s life. Believing ideas in a possible accepting world with no conditions is dangerous thought to that person’s immunity to the facts of reality.
As December approaches Jonas feels apprehensive because this year his group will be given their assignments (Lowry 9). He is chosen as the receiver of memory. While this position holds high honor it is also a painful load to hold. Jonas will hold all memories of the past. Receiving memories is not like watching a movie, as Jonas soon expe...