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Persistence and perseverance essay
The importance and influence of perseverance
An essay on perseverance
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“I will work harder” (Sinclair 22), a quote spoken by Lithuanian Immigrant Jurgis Rudkus. Jurgis is a fictional character in the book “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair. Whenever things get hard, he says these words and gives himself and his family hope. James Braddock is an American boxer who was most definitely making enough money to live, however with the great depression his life soon got turned upside down. James is a nonfiction character who was portrayed by Russel Crowe in the movie “Cinderella Man” which was directed by Ron Howard. A quote from James is “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.” When his family were threatened with starvation and losing their home, he did anything he could to lead them to a better life. …show more content…
The fact that he is an immigrant helps him also, as they were easy to fool and manipulate. In the middle of The Jungle, Jurgis suffers a major injury. When he was moving out of the way of a runaway steer, he turned his ankle. This injury gets worse however, as when he is walking home it starts to hurt worse and eventually swells up (Sinclair 116-117). This is bad news for his family as his income was a great part of the families’ money. Without being able to work, Jurgis becomes miserable as his family suffers because of his injury. Lastly, in the end of the story Jurgis is crippled (Sinclair 276). He has multiple injuries and lives on the streets. He no longer has a real family to support, as his wife and children are no longer with him and he abandoned the remainder of his family. The only hope that he has left is socialism, which gives him some strength. James Braddock in the beginning of the Cinderella Man is strong and durable. His physical strength plays a major part in getting his job as a boxer. Then in the middle of the story he has an incident similar to Jurgis’s, in which he breaks his hand in a fight. This results in his right hand being significantly weaker than his left. His injuries …show more content…
Even when he finds out that he has to pay more than expected, and with more unexpected events he always says this. He wants to do his best for his family. However, after more misfortune his outlook becomes more warped, as he longer sees America as a land of opportunity but instead a terrible system that chews people up (Sinclair 160-161). Lastly, as he becomes poor and crippled once more, he decides to stick by the last of his family. They give him a new source of happiness in the dire times that he is tine. However when things went wrong he also went to Socialist movement meetings. As his family progressively suffered more and more under an oppressive environment, he changed views progressively over the story (Sinclair 325). James from the very start is shown to be a family oriented person, as he comes home to his loving family. During the great depression his family is forced to move into a much smaller home. He believes very strongly that he will do what’s best to change his family’s life for the better. To support this statement is one of his famous quotes, “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them”. Unlike Jurgis who blames the “capitalistic system” for his family’s tribulation, James takes full responsibility when his stock investment flopped. He says to himself that he made a poor investment. Eventually he gains another job opportunity as a boxer and builds his
He was offered a “Club cap” but James “gave it back” to his friend, Kris. They waited until Kris left the apartment building, then played a game of checkers. James had wanted to fit in with his friends in the “K-Bones” club but had realized that his brother was more important. He pushed his friend away to play games with Isaac. Furthermore, James has to “take care of” Isaac when his mother is at work. Even when he is trying to fit in with a devious club, he would still “hold Isaac’s hand” or even “carry him home”. James is a very nice and caring brother. This is logical because, that is what a good brother should look like. James must truly love Isaac as his brother, and admires his family more than his
Unknown, to James at this point he did not realize that he was having a problem with a psychological theory called behaviorism. Now this theory is one that is saying human behavior is developed through learning experiences which in this case would apply to James. His behavior as an adult was reflected by the way he was treated as a kid by his father and mother because they fought all the time. They never truly paid any attention to him, which in terms taught him how to stay out of their way and learn how to steal and burglarize places without getting caught. Therefore, within the psychological theory of behaviorism Behaviorists saw crime as something that is a learned response to life’s situations such as James situation which led him to a life of crime because of his parents. Although, he was never truly mistreated, he did not receive his father attention due to the fact of the way his father was treated as a child growing up an abusive household. Therefore, he did not want to place his son in the same situation. There is also the fact that James could be suffering from the psychodynamic theory which says that a person’s personality can be controlled by their unconscious mental process and that is grounded in them in early childhood. These entire things such as the id, ego, and superego
In the story, A Long Walk to Waters, written by Linda Sue Park, the readers are introduced to many different individuals that were able to survive challenging environments. Those individuals used those factors, perseverance, cooperation, and independence. Those factors have allowed individuals to make it past through the harsh environments throughout their journey. Perseverance shows how those individuals kept on going without giving up. Meanwhile, cooperation represents how struggling individuals are able to work together in order to achieve their goal. Last but not least independence shows how individuals can conquer a hurdle by him or herself.
One of the main themes of Cinderella Man is overcoming adversity. Facing some of the most challenging obstacles, both literally and figuratively, Braddock always found a way to weather the storm and wind up on top. This is due to his determination which is exemplified in the following quote; “I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them.” This quote is a testament to the working ethic of Braddock and his determination to make sure that both him and his family turn out O.K. Another quote which speaks to Braddock overcoming adversary explains how he doesn’t take this opportunity for granted. “You think you're telling me something? Like, what, boxing is dangerous, something like that? You don't think working triple shifts and at night on a scaffold isn't just as likely to get a man killed? What about all those guys who died last week living in cardboard shacks to save on rent money just to feed their family, 'cause guys like you have not quite figured out a way yet to make money off of watching that guy die? But in my profession - and it is my profession - I'm a little more fortunate.” This quote explains how he understands the magnitude of his comeback and that he is embracing it. Another theme which is prominent in Cinderella Man is the trying times of the Great Depression. The Depression leaves a giant footprint on the entire film, dictating the entire storyline. This is especially noticeable during the beginning of the movie when Braddock is begging for money to his former boxing associates. “The thing is I can't afford to pay the heat and I had send my kids to live with relatives, they keep cutting shifts down at the dock, you just don't get picked every day, I sold everything I got to anybody who would buy, I went on public assistance at the relief office, they gave
Upton Sinclair's Purpose in Writing The Jungle Upton Sinclair wrote this book for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, he tries to awaken the reader to the terrible. living conditions of immigrants in the cities around the turn of the century. Chicago has the most potent examples of these. conditions.
The United States of America is known as the land of opportunity and dreams. People dream of migrating to this nation for a chance of a better a life. This belief has been around for many years, ever since the birth of the United States; therefore it’s a factor in which motivate many people migrate to the United States. Upton Sinclair, author of the Jungle, narrates the life of a Lithuanian family and there struggles with work, crime, family loss, and survival in the city of Packingtown. Sinclair expresses her disgust as well as the unbelievable truth of life in the United States involving politics, corruption, and daily struggle that many suffered through in the 19th and 20th century.
It causes a drift into their family and it influenced James from then on out. A few months after he died, everything changed. James writes, “She sent us off to school and tried to maintain her crazy house as usual, ranting about this and that, but the fire was gone. In the evening, she often sat at the kitchen table completely lost in thought” (137). When Ruth becomes lost in her own world, her behavior influences James. They both grieved for his death in different ways yet, his mothers grieve influenced him the most. Seeing her slowly fall apart was too much for James. He started skipping school, shoplifting, hanging with the wrong crowd, and he eventually became addicted to smoking reefer or drinking alcohol. Slowly, James is sinking into a hole he can't climb out of with all of his bad decisions. On an afternoon, after James nearly dies, he talks with chicken man, “Everybody on the corner is smart. You ain't no smarter than anybody here. If you so smart, why got to come on this corner every summer? ‘Cause you flunking school! You think if you drop out of school somebody's gonna beg you to g back? Hell no. They won't beg your black ass to go back. What makes you so special that they'll beg you! Who are you? You ain't nobody! If you want to drop out of school and shoot people ad hang on this corner all your life, go ahead, it's your life” (150). After James spoke with Chicken
In The Jungle, Sinclair deeply understands his subjects and can make the plots real for the reader. Even in a small section of the book, Sinclair makes me feel, imagine and contemplate his words. Chapters 18 through 23, were chapters that Sinclair took time and effort to write and make it to perfection. In my own perspective, I think he achieved this accomplishment and made these chapters a realistic event.
Discuss how Upton Sinclair portrays the economic tensions and historical processes at hand in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
“I aimed for the public’s heart, and by accident I hit them in the stomach” (Sinclair). Upton Sinclair uses these words to describe the reaction his novel, The Jungle, receives upon first publication. Sinclair’s original purpose of The Jungle intends to illustrate the difficult challenges of immigrants in Chicago at the turn of the century; giving details and samples of abuses in the Chicago meatpacking industry to highlight their troubles. Instead, the public demands government intervention against the atrocities and this public outcry leads to the 1906 Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. Elements of Naturalism exist throughout most of the text. Naturalism attempts to apply scientific ideals and division when studying the human race. In Upton Sinclair’s brutally descriptive novel, The Jungle, the literary elements of character, setting, and theme show three areas where the book illustrates naturalistic fictional trends.
A well-discussed debate among today’s economy is the issues concerning immigrants and their yearning desire to become American citizens. As displayed in The Jungle, a rather perturbing novel about the trials and ruthless temptations early America presents to a Lithuanian family, adjusting to new surrounding and a new way of life is quite difficult. To make matters worse, language barriers and lack of domestic knowledge only seems to entice starvation and poverty among newly acquired citizens, who simply wish to change their social and economic lives to better themselves and their families.
Employment is hard to find and hard to keep and a job isn’t always what one hoped for. Sometimes jobs do not sufficiently support our lifestyles, and all too frequently we’re convinced that our boss’s real job is to make us miserable. However, every now and then there are reprieves such as company holiday parties or bonuses, raises, promotions and even a half hour or hour to eat lunch that allows escape from monotonous workloads. Aside from our complaints, employment today for majority of American’s isn’t totally dreadful, and there always lies opportunity for promotion. American’s did not always experience this reality in their work places though, and not long past are days of abysmal and disgusting work conditions. In 1906 Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” was published. His novel drastically transformed the way Americans felt about the unmitigated power corporations wielded in the ‘free’ market economy that was heavily propagandized at the turn of the century. Corporations do not have the same unscrupulous practices today because of actions taken by former President Theodore Roosevelt who felt deeply impacted by Sinclair’s famous novel. Back in early 1900’s in the meatpacking plants of Chicago the incarnation of greed ruled over the working man and dictated his role as a simple cog within an enormous insatiable industrial machine. Executives of the 1900’s meatpacking industry in Chicago, IL, conspired to work men to death, obliterate worker’s unions and lie to American citizens about what they were actually consuming in order to simply acquire more money.
To solve this problem, he would often steal in order to look good enough to attend school. By the time James reached 16 years old, he was arrested, and served 3 years in prison. While in prison he started a gospel group and earned the title “Music Box” (Brenchley, 2003, DVD). James tried to find his place in life, his interest was boxing, and his idol was Bo Jack the boxer. He did some semi-pro boxing in his days, and played baseball.
From a young age, James Gatz has plans to change his social status; he plans his days hour by hour; forfeits his given name for a new one; deserts his home, family and friends; and most importantly picks up a job as a bootlegger to make his desired sum of money. The schedule taken from an old book of James' shows his plan for an entire day and includes a list of "GENERAL RESOLVES (Fitzgerald, 173)," both of which show a general urge for success. James' resolve to, save $3.00 per week (Fitzgerald, 173), displays an early understanding of the American dream and the necessity of money. His further understanding of the way life works is expressed through the action of changing his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby, a name that seems to flow easier and deserve a greater deal of respect than his previous, harsh name of James Gatz. His new name, in essence, opens up a new life for Gatsby, and allows him to start over the way he wants to. Gatsby's next choice, to abandon his home, family, and friends in order to sail aboard a yacht for years with a near stranger, displays Gatsby's belief that living a fanciful life aboard a yacht will enable him to lead a fantastic lifestyle in all aspects of his living. Finally, it is at this point where Gatsby makes the biggest decision of his life, solely on the belief that a high income will bring him happiness, and ultimately the love of his life; Gatsby chooses to accept partnership with a man working as a bootlegger of grain alcohol.
By living through several racist and microaggressive situations in his life, he learned to assimilate and be quiet. This is shown when Nath is being bullied at the pool at the YMCA. The other children refuse to play with Nath and taunt him because he is Chinese, and James doesn’t do anything. James wondered “could he make the children get back in the pool? Saying anything would draw attention to the trick” (pg. 90). Even though he was the adult in the situation and he could have stood up for his son, he decided to do nothing. This shows how scared James is to stand out or draw attention to the fact that he and his children are Chinese. James has always tried to fit in, and marrying a blonde white woman made him feel more ‘normal’. However, he was still aware that he was “too different” (pg. 242). He gets angry at Marilyn for always trying to stand out, and tells her: “You think it’s such a good thing, standing out. But look at you” (pg. 242). Here it is evident that James just wants to conform and assimilate so his life will be as easy as possible. Marilyn’s life has been full of turmoil and her issues with fitting in even affected James’ life. The way James sees it, had she chosen to fit in both of their lives would have been much easier. Time after time James wishes that he was white or that Marilyn had married a white man just because their lives would be easier. James has learned that conforming and assimilation are