When confronted with life-threatening situations, the body becomes stronger as a mix of both adrenaline and chemicals rush through your veins, creating the fight or flight response. This fact itself provides sufficient evidence to support the claim that, as humans, we are born with an innate survival instinct. This allows us to relate it to the actual person. For example, in the book Unbroken, Louis Zamperini shows an instinctive quality of perseverance and defiance and uses that to survive throughout WW2. In the poem Still I Rise, Maya Angelou lives as an American activist and speaks out against the discrimination placed amongst black-Americans at the time. Louis Zamperini and Maya Angelou are, by far, the strongest examples to support this …show more content…
Considering all the factors that were against him, Louis Zamperini showed resilience and a strong will to survive through his will to survive. These traits have always been an important factor in Louie’s life, even in his childhood. Early on, Zamperini had to undergo physical therapy daily. While most would argue that we, as humans, are not able to express such survival instincts in non-life-threatening situations, Louie proves otherwise as he stands up to his abusers. In the book, Hillenbrand states “He (Zamperini) could have run away, but he refused to bend.” (Hillenbrand, 10). This quote represents Louis’ instinct for survival, as he is defiant to the bullies no matter the severity of each beating. This further shows Louie’s natural ability of defiance, as he used it early in his life while most children would cry or give in to the bullies. Decades later, Louis would use the same determination to survive 47 agonizing days at sea. From the very moment Zamperini crashed into the ocean, he quickly acquired the leadership position while in charge of his fellow crewmates. At the same time, the author states “Louie established …show more content…
Louis possessed all the qualities necessary for survival, as he had a strong will to live and survive. In conclusion, Louis Zamperini remains an influential figure in history, which makes it clear to see why he is an ideal reference to an innate sense of survival. Maya Angelou would tell, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” For the 86 years she would live, Angelou spent 45 of them living as an American activist. During this time, Angelou would use her voice to speak out against the discrimination and segregation against African Americans. As opposed to others who stood by and remained silent, there is no doubt that Maya Angelou shows a natural ability to lead and inspire others through her words. She proved the importance of resilience in the face of discrimination, proving that survival is not solely based on physical or athletic abilities. In Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise she states “You may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.” (Angelou, 23 & 24) These quotes further highlight that, when faced with hatred, Maya Angelou showed resilience and remained both confident and prideful about
Randy Pausch once said, “No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse (Goodreads).” This statement reflects the theme of human conditions that have been encountered by the characters in the novel, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Human condition discusses the idea of the positive and negative aspects of existence as a human being (Dictionary). As Hillenbrand recounts the journey to survival during the World War II of Louie Zamperini, she created an inspiring, non-fiction literature. Louie Zamperini was once a young boy, completely different compared to what he had become as a man. As a young boy, he was persistent and stubborn who listened to no one. In the long run, his persistent character derived him to be an Olympic runner,
She did not complain about her childhood, racism, divorce, losing her friends, or rejection. She has overcome all the obstacles with courage; that is another lesson we can learn. In her poem, she says, “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise!” Angelou knew who she was. She learned not to live according to people’s opinions.
When we think about heroes and people who are courageous, most people will think of the military rather than some John Doe who died in a plane crash. However, so many citizens are willing to sacrifice their lives for another. When Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., one of these unsung heroes emerged. This unidentified man saved many people and showed an enormous amount of bravery through his willingness to sacrifice himself. The author's usage of similes and metaphors is helpful to the reader to point out emphasized ideas. In The Man in the Water, by Roger Rosenblatt, the theme of courageousness is shown through the descriptions of the man's actions, the comparison between man and nature, and Rosenblatt's response to the situation.
Zamperini found small victories that helped him to get through the day and through the journey. Surviving for the next hour was a great example about learning to focus on the the now – not the future. He wasn’t focused on not getting out of camp and home before the holidays, but on staying in the moment and surviving that moment. Small victories lead up to the big ones in ALL situations.
Maya Angelou lived through a time where she was discriminated against for not only her race but also her gender. In her poem “Still I Rise” Angelou sarcastically talks about how no matter what is thrown at her she will rise above it and she will do it with resilience and confidence. Her poem discusses racism and sexism and gives minorities and women a sense of hope to overcome and endure both of those things. Angelou’s self-assurance in the poem makes you believe that you too can overcome whatever obstacle. Although this poem was intended for blacks, and women, and specifically black women, the poem helps build up strong and courageous people no matter what race or gender you are. Maya Angelou in “Still I Rise” uses both pathos and ethos to
Award-Winning author Laura Hillenbrand writes of the invigorating survival story of Louie Zamperini in her best selling book, Unbroken. Louie Zamperini was an ambitious, record-breaking Olympic runner when he was drafted into the American army as an airman during World War II. On the mission that led him to embark on a journey of dire straits, Louie’s plain crashed into the Pacific Ocean, leaving only him and two other crewmen as survivors. Stranded on a raft in shark infested waters, without any resources or food, and drifting toward enemy Japanese territory, the men now have to face their ultimate capture by Japanese, if they survive that long. Louie responded to his desperation with dexterity, undergoing his plight with optimism and confidence,
Angelou’s writings give voice to those who have faced discrimination in their lifetime. Having a personal experience with discrimination also has affected her writings. She has the introspective poems that change people’s thoughts about her and her poems. Angelou was greatly in...
... all audiences can face their personal hardships. No matter the color of your skin or gender, Maya Angelou’s works are timeless testaments to the potential of the human spirit to overcome adversity, and constant reminders that even if the world is against us, we must still rise.
In conclusion, the key to survival in dire and drastic situations comes from deep within every human. Every individual will go through changes in order to adapt and survive the harsh conditions and challenges they are put through. In order to survive, one must be ready to give up their morals, one must find a way to keep their mind fresh and sane, and one must be ready to compromise and sacrifice. Most humans are generally very civilized under normal conditions, but when the need to survive becomes the top priority the wild animal inside everyone takes over. The author, William Golding, of Lord of the Flies once wrote, “Maybe there is a beast....maybe it's only us” (80).
Rising Up in Still I Rise by Maya Angelou ? Still I Rise? by Maya Angelou is directed towards blacks on how to be proud of their ancestry, themselves, and their overall appearance. The poem is a special and motivating poem that African-Americans (and other races for that matter) should read and take to heart. According to African-Americans, Maya Angelou states that no matter what white Americans (slave owners) say or do to African-Americans (slaves) they can still rise up to make a better life for themselves and their race as a whole.
Maya Angelou describes the situation, feelings and descriptions of a person (probably herself) who does not need people to try and lift her up. Maya shows us within the poem that all those oppressed in general are strong. Within the poem we are shown some of the feelings and thoughts people have displayed against her, but in reality she won’t let them get her down. Maya’s moral opulence allows her to rise above where her ancestors fell to slavery; carrying herself as a strong woman. Her ancestors dream was to have a life in society without the fear of what might happen to them (slavery). The author herself is portrayed in the...
I believe this is the theme because just by reading the title of her poem; “Still I Rise” i can tell its about a person who has faced many difficulties and has been ridiculed many times throughout her life and instead of giving up she decides to stay strong and continue to stand up even though the world is trying to push her down. Also another reason why i believe the theme of her poem is, “to never give up” because of her history. Maya Angelou is a Black- American who was born in the year of 1928. she has been discriminated throughout her life only being judged by the colour of her skin. Just as how Harriet Tubman was a black- Canadian who helped many slaves through the use of the underground railway as a escape path back to their native land, she has also suffered being discriminated by the use of words and in further cases, being abused. In that era African- American women were treated brutally and were always being pushed down and were not even treated like humans. They never got the respect they deserved and were treated like absolute disgrace just because of the colour of their skin. The theme of Maya Angelou’s poem is very significant because she was born during the generation where black people could not say what they wanted without others reacting with distraught and anger. Just by the title of the poem it tells us that no matter what difficulties we come across in our life we have to manage to stay strong and keep
“Dr. Angelou experienced the brutality of racial discrimination, but she also absorbed the unshakable faith and values of traditional African-American family, community, and culture”(www.mayaangelou.com, 2014).
“While her poems remind readers of past tragedies and injustices, overall they are a testimony to the power of striving to survive in life with dignity and grace” (Overview, 2). Maya may not be speaking as an emotionally damaged victim, but rather as a role model inspiring others to overcome their situations just as she did. The speaker continues to use her strength and resilience as an equality to natural forces. Maya Angelou is only a single voice in a crowd, but uses her assertiveness to hopefully overcome
She has written a number of poems that inspire and help people with their daily lives. She has an “insatiable hunger to learn and experience all that life has to offer” (Gale Biography in Context, "Maya Angelou: More than a Poet") which makes her poems meaningful. However, Maya Angelou had many pieces that considered equality due to her experience