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Recommended: A writeup on humility
A survivor is someone who remains alive while others have died during a time of disaster. The most vital attributes a survivor must uphold are humility and independence.
A survivor should be able to uphold the trait of humility in a time of crisis. In the article, “Miraculous Survivors: Why they live while others die” about many people who exemplify attributes of a survivor, J. Blake states, “They survive because they are humble… They know when to rest, when they shouldn’t try something beyond their capabilities”( Blake, 19). This conveys that they are humble and know when to stop when they can’t continue on. In a time of crisis, people often feel fear before anything else. Fear often keeps a person from controlling their emotions or decisions.
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Blake stated, “Survivors tend to be independent thinkers as well… They headed downstairs through a smoke-filled stairwell and didn’t wait to be rescued”( Blake, 20). This example highlights the independence of these people as they decided to not follow the instructions given to them and did what they thought was best for themselves. Followers don’t do what is best for themselves during a tough situation thinking that what the leader thinks is best might be best for them. On the other hand, those who think for themselves can survive because they do what they know is best for them, knowing that they are capable of going through with their plan. In regards to the quote above, during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, there was a security telling people who were trapped to stay put and wait to be rescued, but some people went down a smoke filled stairway where they were told not to go, and survived. The attribute of independence in these people helped in their survival because if they would have stayed and waited to be rescued they would have never survived. Independence can allow someone to think what is best for themselves, because no one knows when something could go differently than expected in a time of
This was from the mind of young Grealy, the girl who had a depressed and angry mother, the mother that taught her that it was never okay to show weakness or cry (Grealy 30). Young Grealy believed that the way she earned acceptance during her first visit to the ER could carry over into her home life. I think that this moment encompassed all that Grealy was feeling at this time. The feeling that she was responsible for her mother’s unhappiness and depression, the feeling that if she showed she was not afraid, no one else in her family would be either, and the feeling that if she was not brave, her family would be unhappy forever. This was important because she felt that she had discovered a way to make her family whole again.
He was able to think for himself instead of allowing the brotherhood or Bledsoe to do it for him. The narrator was able to live and understand the mistakes he made and allow it to enrich his knowledge of society. Exile in the narrator’s case was a positive influence on his life due to the narrators gain in self-knowledge. The narrator uses his experiences and put them together so that he is able to enrich the next persons mind with knowledge and experience. Being able to encounter the knowledge without experiencing the pain is a great way to understand the struggle another man had to go
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.
Survival skills can take over when in a life or death situation. The protagonist, Rainsford, in the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell is a clear example of this. While on the way to hunting expedition Rainsford is thrown overboard his ship and swims to the nearby shore of Ship Trap Island. He explores the island and finds a chateau. He is invited in by the owner, General Zarroff, and they begin to converse. Here Rainsford learns something dark about this man that will lead to him being on the run for his life. He is forced to let his survival skills, resourcefulness, thinking on his feet, and his good eye, take center stage in the fight for his life.
In the article it talks about how it was a extremely ordinary day for the main character and he had no indications that today would be his last day on earth. With that in mind, this man chose to be courageous not knowing the consequences of his actions. "Every time they lowered a lifeline and flotation ring to him, he passed it on to another of the passengers". When the water was to take this mans life, it was unbeknownst to him, but he still had the courage to pass the rope to save another. Courage is not a attitude that one might claim in just a day. It is a characteristic that is made, created, and molded as you use it. With unfathomable courage, this heroic man passed the rope one last time, knowing he would never lay a hand on it again. Imagine the character he would have had to possess in order to utilize his agency, without hesitation, by passing on his chance of life to someone he didn't even
According to Hunter Thompson, “Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it.” In “To Build a Fire,” by Jack London, the man was clumsy and fell to the side of disaster. According to the tips in “Deep Survival,” by Laurence Gonzales, there are many steps the man could have taken that would have given him a better shot at surviving. For example, the man may have survived if he would have taken correct, decisive action, if he would have stayed calm, and if he would have surrendered. Each time that he failed to complete these actions, it was like the wind blew and pushed him closer to his final disaster.
The tone in this quote contributes to the story because it supports the idea of not being afraid and moving on. It sets the mood for the readers, making it more interesting to them. According to Divergent, “It’s not about being fearless. It’s about acting in spite
A true survivor can only depend on himself. The novel Deliverance is a story about four characters each with different views on surviving. Every man in the world can relate to one of the three secondary characters in the novel Deliverance. Men can relate to Lewis Medlock for his primitive views, Drew for his rationality, or Bobby for his lack of ability to survive. Many people say that Lewis is the man that most men want to be like, Drew is the man that most men are like, and Bobby is the man that most men fear becoming. Lewis is the man most men want to be because he does not depend on anyone or anything. He loves a challenge and will do anything he can to live life to its fullest extent. Ed Gentry, the central character, represents all in the way he looks up to Lewis and strives to be like him. Most men fall into the same category as Drew because their ability to survive has been clouded by rational thoughts. Then there is Bobby. Most men do not want to be linked with Bobby because he can not live without help from civilization. Even though these characters posses many of the same traits, their main differences are in their ability to survive life. They also have different views on life. Lewis sees life as a game that you must constantly challenge if you are to survive. Drew sees life as a struggle that should never be challenged. Then there is Bobby who sees life as something he does not have to worry about because their will always be someone their to help him through it. All three of these characters possess traits that can be identified in every man. First there is Lewis, a middle aged man that is at the prime of his life, and fears nothing. He is the strongest character in the book. He is, "… a physical-conditioning perfectionist with misplaces survival-of-the-fittest instincts and cave-man yearnings"(Warren). Lewis is the man that most men want to be like because he needs no one to survive but himself. He constantly demonstrates a primitive life-style that no longer exists. The primitive life-style he demonstrates is one of survival. Lewis is an attractive character for males because of his need for no one. He needs no one to life his life for him.
are rescued. They are not really facing the truth of their situation. It may be a long time until they are rescued or worse, they may never get rescued. Later in the novel, when the boy...
In the article, “The Man in the Water” the author, Roger Rosenblatt, shows humans potential selflessness. After a plane crashes into the ocean, one man, the hero of the story, saves the lives of many before saving himself. As the rescuers were handing down the floaties to bring people to safety, every time one was given to this man he risked his life and handed it to someone else. Every time that he decides to save someone else he is one step closer to dying, and he knows that too, but instead he helps those in need around him. Although in the end he did not survive, what he did had effects on those watching. It showed people that any person could be a hero. The man in the water was a man with courage, and no fear, he sacrificed his life for the life of many who may not have survived if it wasn't for him or what he had done. While nature was against him and the people he fought against it to let those people live the rest of their life. In the article, the author, Roger Rosenblatt demonstrates the potential heroism and
Survival, a life or death situation, one wrong move and you could die. It’s hard to remain calm in these situations, but some can do it. Lee had to escape from North Korea, Ralston was trapped alone under a rock, and Rainsford was being hunted alive, they survived from three things. It took Lee’s courage, Ralston’s Endurance, and Rainsford’s Intelligence to show they were survivors.
Nostalgic finales just seem too good to be real with the quaint happy endings that typically conclude fairy tales; not with Flannery O'Connor's writings, which depict sarcasm with disquieting twists and mordant characters. One of O'Connor's most successful works, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" epitomizes her writing style that is characteristically seen by many as grotesque and sardonic. This short story represents the antithesis of a fairy tale, ingeniously warping its vital elementsdamsel in distress (Lucynell, the daughter), the mother (Mrs. Lucynell Crates), and knight in shining armor (Mr. Shiftlet)to make its readers see the latent malevolence of all human beings. Utilizing a keen consideration on each fictional component in the story, O'Connor conveys her message effectively by contrasting hideousness against pulchritude. She makes effectual use of liars to demonstrate the truth. O'Connor's deep perspective is evident in the way she inflicts ruthless challenges to the characters in the story.
After analyzing what this character chooses to do, it is easy to detect characteristics of resiliency. These characteristics resemble Chris from Into the Wild. For example, the ability to recover from challenging situations is shown in the following quote: “Placing it on the foundation, he fed the young flame with wisps of dry grass and with the tiniest dry twigs. He worked slowly and carefully, keenly aware of his danger. Gradually, as the flame grew stronger, he increased the size of the twigs with which he fed it.” (London) This quote also reveals that the character possesses the ability to act independently, another characteristic of resilient people. The character, after falling through ice, must build a fire to ensure survival. The fact that he is capable of building the fire at all shows that he can willingly recover from demanding situations. Despite the taxing situations the character has been through, he continues on to attempt to meet up with his friends, “At half past twelve, to the minute, he arrived at the forks of the creek. He was pleased at the speed he had made. If he kept it up, he would certainly be with the boys by six.” (London) This shows that he can readily recover from adversity, and that he possesses resilient
Survival is indeed a word that can change a human’s perspective on what they need to do to remain alive. In order to survive, people have been known to go to great lengths and to do things they would not ordinarily do. I have noticed this throughout my life by watching movies, and reading books. Most of the time, it is the main character who comes face to face with death, and does anything to keep themselves alive. I have set up a few great examples that show’s people in their survival situations, and what they will do to get out alive.
If life were merely a contest with fate, then should we not think before we act? Though some may argue that the proper time to reflect is before acting, I have learned from experience that, more times than not, this is not the best approach. The ability to act on instinct is crucial to success, in many situations. During an earthquake, for instance, one must quickly respond in whichever way necessary to protect themselves, as well as their loved ones. No matter how prepared, or trained, one may be, there is no way to predict what the essential motions should be taken at the time of an emergency.