“The Pura Principle” by Junot Diaz and “Brotherly Love” Jhumpa Lahiri are two pieces of literature that illustrate how making certain decisions based on expectations and beliefs can impact the “brotherly bond”. Throughout life individuals make choices to fulfill their personal needs and desires. Sometimes we fail to realize how these can have a negative impact on family and friends. Both pieces of literature demonstrate how cultural expectations and values have an influence on the development of an individual’s identity, compassion versus cruelty. While making life-changing decisions, we don’t always think about the potential sacrifices it can have on those around us. For example, in the short story “Brotherly Love”, Udayan wants to be …show more content…
part of the change to prevent and stand up against the government’s unfair actions. “If we don’t stand up to a problem, we contribute to it.”(Lahiri 15) Subhash knows his brother’s actions are illegal, unsafe and the potential consequences of spreading propaganda.
If the police discovered the truth there would be potential repercussions. Subhash always stuck by his brothers’ side, fearing they would lose their brotherly bond had Subhash refused to assist him in his rebellious actions. Since childhood, Udayan has always been rebellious, sneaking outside and vanishing into the back yard sending his mother into panic. Subhash on the other hand was the “golden child”. His father, an employee of the government, was unable to choose a party and revolt against what was happening. Subhash wanted to study abroad once they had finished their education in India. “He suggested that Udayan should go abroad, too, where there were more jobs, where it might be easier for both of them.” (Lahiri 16) Udayan opposed, making his own desires a priority failing to understand what Subhash wanted. Udayan believed his brother was self-centered for wanting to leave the country in order to continue his education and he would never return. “You’re the other side of me, Subhash. It’s without you that I’m nothing, don’t go.” (Lahiri 16) Growing up, Subhash always listened to his brother and followed him …show more content…
regardless of the consequences. Putting his own needs ahead of his brothers, Subhash decided to fulfill his dreams and study abroad. Staying behind and trying to fight for what he believed was right, Udayan continued to stand up against his government, ultimately leading to his execution. If Udayan had thought about the consequences of his actions he would have saved his own life. Individuals will make choices that come with major risk to stand up for what they believe is right. Moreover, it can lead to their death regardless of how it can affect their loved ones. As humans, personal identity reflects the choices one makes, as well as our level of empathy towards others, which affects the way we treat individuals.
“The Pura Principle” by Junot Diaz provides great examples on how two brothers raised by the same parents can treat others so differently. Rafa estaba Jodido, the oldest brother of the household believed he had the male privilege, which affected the way he treated others. Growing up, he was the first-born child that often led to favoritism. Although he was struggling with cancer, he always had a horrific personality. “Not a week out of the hospital, he cracked this illegal Peruvian kid in the face with a hammer and two hours later threw down at the Pathmark because he thought some fool was talking shit about him…” (Diaz 2) Instead of solving the problem he chose to come off as a bully and would injure someone else for his own satisfaction to boost his ego. Not only did this have an effect on his relationship with others, but also a major impact on the relationship he had with his younger brother. “We hadn’t really been close before the cancer struck, so it’s not like I had any wins with him.” (Diaz 3) Diseases can destroy someone mentally, which could have an effect on how they treat others. However, Rafa had always treated others as if he was more superior to everyone. Growing up, I was always told to treat others the way I wanted to be treated, this has had an everlasting effect on how I have and will continue to treat
individuals. Rafa did not care if it was someone he loved, he treated everyone the same. He nearly knocked his own brother out and laughed, “Didn’t I tell you I was going to fix you? Didn’t I?” (Diaz 20) The choices Rafa made as the type of individual he was has a significant impact on how his brother looked up to him, despite having cancer. Furthermore, an individual is the only one who can choose their level of empathy, ultimately affecting their relationships with others. One impact that affects the choices an individual makes can be partly influenced by their surroundings. James Baldwin illustrates in his literature “Sonny’s Blues” how ones race and economic class affects the direction of ones life as well as their personal identity. As African American men growing up in Harlem, crime, drugs and poverty surrounded them. Sonny and his brother faced many hardships and difficulties throughout life. The negatives influences in their community never distracted his brother leading to his success. However, Sonny made some rash decisions finding a different way to cope with his personal struggles. This led the two brothers going their separate ways as if they were “dead” to each other. One day, commuting to work, Sonny’s brother read of his arrest in the newspaper for using and dealing heroine. Prior to this, the brothers did not have the best “brotherly bond”. Upon losing his daughter, Sonny’s brother decided to send him a letter while Sonny was in jail, ultimately a turning point in their relationship. After loosing both parents, Sonny’s older brother was supposed to look out for him and felt as if he had failed. He felt responsible for Sonny’s misguidance and felt he was to blame for his brother’s negative actions. Not only had the decisions Sonny made affected him, but also allowed him to realize how his actions hurt his brother. From this, the brothers were able to understand how they both affected each other in different ways and started to repair their “brotherly bond”. Nonetheless, the environments’ around an individual can have an influence on the decisions one makes and the consequences can also impact those who love you. As individuals find their way through life they are continuously making decisions. The decisions that we make are influenced by cultural expectations and beliefs that are carried from early adolescence through adult hood and beyond. Occasionally, these decisions not only affect the individual making the decisions but also loved ones such as family and friends. Ultimately, decisions can have an everlasting impact.
A sacrifice is a strong action in which one is willing to put a priority before oneself. “Proofs” is an essay written by Richard Rodriguez about a Mexican adolescent teen who narrates the harsh reality of his family members going through immigration. The essay focuses on the differences between the American lifestyle versus immigrant lifestyle. “The Apology: Letters from a Terrorist” is an essay written by Laura Blumenfeld. It’s about how her father was shot by a terrorist. Thirteen years later, she decided to visit the gunman’s country to get an apology to her father, to find out how he feels about the situation, and what happened in his perspective. In both pieces of writing, family is a strong theme that is shown in multiple ways.
Individuals often experience unfortunate sufferings and difficulties through their life; some may continue to persevere and endure these arduous circumstances in hopes of achieving a more desirable, comfortable way of living. While attempting to fulfill their own objectives, individuals may also unexpectedly receive the attention and assistance from others which instigates a change in their previous attitude towards life. In the short story “Divisadero”, Michael Ondaatje suggests that when individuals receive unexpected forms of kindness and understanding from others, they may suddenly realize their own individual potential and capabilities they possess as they aspire to attain greater possibilities and goals. These unforeseen acts of compassion
To begin, I witness these judgments, comparisons and assumptions being made almost every day amongst my family, leaving me astonished with human nature’s judgmental side. As the oldest child in my family, my brother is always expected to be
How much are you willing to sacrifice for another? Whether they are a family member or a complete stranger. In the novel The Kite Runner Baba was was willing to risk his life when he had stood up and was trying to stop the Russian soldier from rape the young woman as payment for letting them pass through one of the checkpoints. Then there had been Amir it was when he had suffered extreme injuries, nearly losing his life when he had fought Assef, so that he could save Sohrab for the abuse he was suffering from the Taliban. Both Character Baba and Amir were willing to sacrifice themselves for another person, regardless of who they were. Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, teaches the reader sacrificing your life can lead to another person’s happiness through Baba saving the woman from the Russian soldier and Amir fighting Assef.
When two siblings are born together, and are close in age, many people wonder whether they will be the same or different altogether. A “River Runs through it” shows two brothers who grew up in the same household, and grew up loving to do the same activity fly fishing. Both brothers were raised in a very strict presbyterian household. Norman is the older brother, and he is much more responsible and family orientated. Paul is the irresponsible younger brother; Paul as an adult was not at home much anymore. Both brothers were loved equally as children, but how they view and use love is what separates them. Paul and Norman differ in behavior and character.
Morality can be separated into many entities, one of which being one’s willingness to personally sacrifice for someone else. One’s own mind may factor into one’s decision when put in a difficult situation, a situation as extreme as putting your own well-being on the line for someone else’s. Many people, when asked if they would help others at nearly any cost, would automatically answer yes; however, when faced with this type of hardship, one, more often than not, does what is in their self-interest. That, however, does not define whether one should help others or not. One is morally obligated to sacrifice their well-being for the benefit of another’s.
It is unquestionably true that the real individuality, the real human nature can be revealed in extreme situations, when the human life is at stake. This work represents an attempt to show that each individual has an opportunity to change his/her life completely, to make it really humanistic and do something good even if it is the last thing he/she can do in his/her life. A Lesson Before Dying suggest the audience to reevaluate its views on life and realize that everything may be changed. At the same time, it is never late to change the life for better and reveal positive traits of character or even commit some heroic or humanistic acts even if it threatens to end the entire life of the individual.
Throughout human history one has seen horrible atrocities and insightful tragedies, one has seen determined, figures of hope and brutal ends. Somehow, mankind has continuously found a way to mess up time and time again, to slaughter its own kind, to discriminate against a slight difference, to determine one's life without repercussions. Yet, despite all these unjust mistakes humanity has evoked, in the roughest of times humanity has always banded together to eradicate the wrong. With time there is prevailance, a joined society, forgiving the death and injustice that once torn it apart. We accept and learn from the mistakes of the past in order to move forward. This concept brings me to the theme that one’s ambition and ability to endure pain,
The effects of love and sacrifice on one’s life can be shown through the character of Lucie Manette in the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The way Lucie applies warmth to her friends and family and sacrifices for them has a greater impact than anything else could possibly do. In fact, loving gestures have the power to do anything. They can brighten moods and ameliorate one’s day. Overall, Love is a powerful feeling. It can be defined in many ways, but is always an important emotion to have. Without it, humans are empty. It is a necessary part of living; with it, anything is possible.
For this first analytical essay, I have decided to have a go at analyzing the Nature Vs. Nurture using my own viewpoint as a sibling. No doubt this is a topic that has been debated to mental death already, but I think it is something I will benefit from thinking about. Also, at the end of my main topic, I will quickly address a topic brushed on in the book.
One example of this would be the dissonance between two generations of Lightwood kids and their parents. These kids would be Isabelle Lightwood, Alexander Lightwood, Max Lightwood, and Jace Herondale. (Max being deceased, and Jace being the adopted son.) Their parents? Maryse and Robert Lightwood.
Love and family modified whether or not they choose the path of
Parents tend to show different parental treatment to their children, especially if they’re of the opposite gender. For instance, girls tend to get stricter treatment than boys. It may come from the understatement that parents tend to protect girls more than boys for a simple reason: boys tend to be raised to be protectors, while girls are most often considered in need of protection. It’s exhibited by how the parents gave the girls an earlier curfew, a certain age to date, certain clothing to wear and an academic agenda to adhere to. While on the other hand, when it comes to the boys, the rules get bended a bit which makes it unfair and usually sparks sibling tension.
An example of both these is my mother who is a single parent. She was stereotyped from the beginning, being a single parent back than meant her children would be raised in an unfair and disadvantaged environment and wouldn’t have the support we needed to grow which turns out was completely untrue. With our physical attributes I was given the short genes my brother the tall genes, both of us have blue eyes and brown hairs. With regards to our environment thought we grew up in a normal surrounding nothing different from a two parent family. The only difference was I believe we were closer as a family, more open to each other’s views, yes mum worked two jobs but at the same time we spent a lot of time together as much as any family would. Now at the age of 25 and 23 my brother is applying for the police force and I am here studying what I’ve always wanted to do.
We make choices every hour, every minute, and every second of our lives; whether big or small our choices are slowly putting us in the direction we choose or end up. Many of us do not realize what contributes to the choices we make and why it affects others the same way if affects us and because of this many authors and writers have written stories and articles about coming to terms with making a choice and how to better ourselves when it comes to decision-making for the future.