In life, changes mark a new chapters in one’s journey and it happens in a variety of ways alongside a variety of people. The short essay “Suicide’s Forgotten Victims” by Lisa Keiski and the excerpt from the novel That Night by Alice McDermott both demonstrate how young people gain valuable lessons from the experiences they go through. From these happenings, they start to get a larger perspective on life and thus become more knowledgeable about everything around them, ultimately maturing in the process. Keiski and the children learn from society, authority figures, and peers.
Keiski shows social norms when it comes to the issue of suicide. She urges for a call to action: “We, as a society, need to stop stigmatizing the friends and relatives
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of a suicide victim and start helping them” (Keiski 94). The general public tends to disregard and stereotype people close to those in need. Over the course of time, this has become natural for people to relate a negative connotation to the family and friends of attempted suicidal people or be neglected altogether. Because they usually seem to have close relationships and bonds with the suffering people, others strongly associate them with the result of the situation and relatives get stereotyped as people who did not do much to prevent the mishap. Keiski claims that we should refrain from having these negative feelings towards the friends and family of the targeted because they also endure a lot and require additional aid as well. Outside people do not know the personal stories of the people close to lost ones and therefore, have no right to judge and group them into one category. Keiski acknowledges that she plays a part of the problem but also brings to light the fact that she, with others, must contribute to the solution as well. People need to understand the importance of learning to go against the norms of everyday life and reaching out to those undergoing depression or hurt. Similarly to Keiski, McDermott describes a world in which society limits what people allow themselves to say in public. The narrator speaks of “that generation who spelled the words they couldn’t speak and followed strict rules regarding what could be discussed in mixed company” (McDermott 397). In the narrator’s world, cultural conventions and unwritten rules ultimately affect people’s inability to freely express their true thoughts and opinions. Though many possibilities of expression exist, when in the public eye, they hold themselves back in how much they disclose. Because the public holds many diverse people, thoughts, and opinions, people tend to watch what they say and do. There exists a place of unwritten rules and laws, which ultimately restrict people’s behaviors and freedom. In this sense, children mature and learn that the general public does not always welcome new opinions. The narrator discovers how she and the other children must adjust how they present themselves in public. Social norms play a big role in how people choose what to say or do, and children learn this as they grow up governed by invisible rules of society. McDermott illustrates authority figures as knowledgeable people who guide others in the right direction.
Authority figures rush to aid Sue after an attempted suicide. Keiski says, “They took her away in the ambulance and left me standing by myself” (94). The EMT’s symbolize help, care, and aid, working together to bring immediate treatment to Sue, the victim. Because of the emergency, it seemed as if they stole Sue away from her friends without them having a say in anything. As a result, they abandoned the Keiski without a second thought because she was ultimately unneeded in the situation as they only focused on getting Sue to the hospital. In the midst of all the commotion, Keiski felt neglected, lost, and without any person to lean on in a time of confusion and chaos. She did not know what to do because at that moment in time, no one cared to sympathize or reach out to her. As a result of this experience, Keiski discovers that she cannot always depend on authority figures to take care of her and that she must learn how to gain independence in times like …show more content…
these. Like Keiski, the children in That Night learn from authority figures. The narrator reveals, “parents… offer their children short, contingency courses in the birds and the bees” (397). Because they withhold a greater amount of experience, the older generation provides their children with brief lessons about sex. They treat these talks as a means of educating the younger generation and approach them carefully to help them gain a better understanding. The parents simplify the teachings in order to provide the children with as much clarity as possible, while approaching with caution at the same time. By teaching adolescents this, they look out for what could possibly happen in the chance that something does occur. These informative talks enable the parents protect their children by sugarcoating it when they euphemize sex. They feel compelled to avoid direct acknowledgement of the subject and instead play it safe and camouflage the true meaning in order to preserve the kids’ innocence while making sure that they understand as well. The children in That Night gain knowledge from authority figures who help inform and assist them. Not only authority figures, but peers also have an influence on Keiski.
When she detects something emotionally off about Sue, she states, “I went to a mutual friend… and indicated my worry…. He said that she’d be all right for the few hours that he worked at his computer” (Keiski 95). Because Keiski thought that the person she went to would understand the situation and have the ability to offer her trustworthy advice, she turned to him but got pushed away instead. Her genuine concern for the wellbeing of Sue affected her enough to go out of her way to pursue help from someone in a seemingly similar situation as she because she thought that he would feel the same pain that she did. Contrary to her expectations, she did not get the consultation that she wanted and instead received ordinary words saying that Sue would feel okay and back to normal in a matter of a short amount of time. The friend that Keiski turns to pushes off Sue’s situation as one of equal importance as him doing schoolwork and he does not see the hurt in Keiski’s feelings. While Keiski feels a sense of urgency in the situation, the friend feels as if it will eventually pass with time and does not need any outside force to try and fix it. From this encounter, Keiski realizes that she has misplaced her expectations of help as she cannot depend on him because he ignores her concern for
Sue. Just like Keiski, McDermott illustrates a scene in which a group of close friends learn new lessons together. The narrator reveals, “Sitting on the curb, we began again, slowly and more seriously now, trying words the way a locksmith might go through a large set of keys” (McDermott 400). The children, together, comprehend a new concept. They explore the dangers and risks of the unknown alongside each other, knowing that if they fail, they will fail together. They persevere at what they attempt to figure out and keep on experimenting with new and different ways. With each new pursuit, they find and realize their faults and alter them little by little in order to better fit the outcome that they look for. Although they do not know the exact answer they search for, they presume that it will unlock the ambiguity of life and pave a new path for them to continue their journey on. The children’s naïveté curses their opinions and thoughts about the world because their concepts of life sway easily. They possess the will to use a variety of different methods and theories in order to figure out the mystery of the undiscovered. From this, children grow alongside each other from the situations they witness together. Both Keiski and McDermott demonstrate how people learn and develop from society, authority figures, and peers. People change and evolve on the path to maturity. Relationships with others play a big factor in how people learn. As people age, self-development emerges from the experiences they go through. Other people have a great influence on the way people think and act. With the help of others over time, individuals become more independent and capable.
to the assistance of the heroine when she thinks all is lost…” (Liselotte Vitzliputzli, 231) After he realizes
...d both of them do not quite understand what being saved actually means. In the end, “when she saw the man’s face twisted close to her own (367).” the grandmother realizes that she and The Misfit are both on the same level and she is no worse than the latter. Almost like taking a look into a mirror and pondering upon one’s own reflection. The story takes a quick pause, when the author writes the line, “His voice seemed to crack and the grandmother’s head cleared for an instance (367).” What were the thoughts that went through the grandmother’s head? What happened during the “instance” that changed the grandmother’s view on her beliefs? The sole purpose of the phrase drowns a reader with questions and uncertainty. The story makes a final closure with The Misfit’s remark on how his source of happiness by performing violent acts brings “no real pleasure in life.”
“Well, Alice, my father said, if it had to happen to one of you, I’m glad it was you and not your sister” (57). Even though Alice was the victim of the horrid crime, she had to stabilize her own emotions, so that she could help her sister cope with this tragedy. Throughout Alice’s childhood, Jane struggled with alcoholism and panic attacks. “I wished my mother were normal, like other moms, smiling and caring, seemingly, only for her family” (37).
Suffering from the death of a close friend, the boy tries to ignore his feelings and jokes on his sister. His friend was a mental patient who threw himself off a building. Being really young and unable to cope with this tragedy, the boy jokes to his sister about the bridge collapsing. "The mention of the suicide and of the bridge collapsing set a depressing tone for the rest of the story" (Baker 170). Arguments about Raisinettes force the father to settle it by saying, "you will both spoil your lunch." As their day continues, their arguments become more serious and present concern for the father who is trying to understand his children better. In complete agreement with Justin Oeltzes’ paper, "A Sad Story," I also feel that this dark foreshadowing of time to come is an indication of the author’s direct intention to write a sad story.
The critics who perceived this book's central theme to be teen-age angst miss the deep underlying theme of grief and bereavement. Ambrosio asks the question, "Is silence for a writer tantamount to suicide? Why does the wr...
Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a person takes their own life once every fourteen minutes in the United States (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP], 2011). Still, with suicide rates so high, suicide is a taboo topic in our society. Though suicide is intended to end one person’s pain, it causes an immeasurable amount of pain and suffering to loved ones close to the deceased.
Suicide AwarenessVoices of Education (SAVE) proclaims, “When a person faces his grief, allows his feelings to come, speaks of his grief...it is then that the focus is to move from death and dying and to promote...
Looking back on the death of Larissa’s son, Zebedee Breeze, Lorraine examines Larissa’s response to the passing of her child. Lorraine says, “I never saw her cry that day or any other. She never mentioned her sons.” (Senior 311). This statement from Lorraine shows how even though Larissa was devastated by the news of her son’s passing, she had to keep going. Women in Larissa’s position did not have the luxury of stopping everything to grieve. While someone in Lorraine’s position could take time to grieve and recover from the loss of a loved one, Larissa was expected to keep working despite the grief she felt. One of the saddest things about Zebedee’s passing, was that Larissa had to leave him and was not able to stay with her family because she had to take care of other families. Not only did Larissa have the strength to move on and keep working after her son’s passing, Larissa and other women like her also had no choice but to leave their families in order to find a way to support them. As a child, Lorraine did not understand the strength Larissa must have had to leave her family to take care of someone else’s
Chandler, Michael. "Self & Cultural Continuity as a hedge against youth suicide." university of british columbia, 7 february (2012).presentation.
She continues in this sequel to talk about the abuse she faced and the dysfunction that surrounded her life as a child and as a teen, and the ‘empty space’ in which she lived in as a result. She talks about the multiple personalities she was exhibiting, the rebellious “Willie” and the kind “Carol”; as well as hearing noises and her sensory problems. In this book, the author puts more emphasis on the “consciousness” and “awareness” and how important that was for her therapeutic process. She could not just be on “auto-pilot” and act normal; the road to recovery was filled with self-awareness and the need to process all the pieces of the puzzle—often with the guidance and assistance of her therapist. She had a need to analyze the abstract concept of emotions as well as feelings and thoughts. Connecting with others who go through what she did was also integral to her
After Evelyn Sandalwood files a lawsuit against Josie because Josie, her dentist, did not see her mouth cancer, Josie is convicted of malpractice. This was the final straw in Josie’s life that prompted her to move to Alaska. Yet, while she is in Alaska, she gets a call that Sandalwood has passed away. This does not change anything about the lawsuit, but it gives Josie hope that another bad soul is gone, and good souls like her children are being raised and only growing stronger.
Durkheim identified four causes of suicide: egoism, altruism, anomie and fatalism. Key to all of these was the focus on integration and regulation. Egoistic suicides occurred with low integration, altruistic with excessive; anomic suicides with low regulation, and fatalistic with excessive. He distinguishes between the ‘pre-modern’ suicides – altruism and fatalism, and the ‘modern’ suicides – egoism and anomie. The transition, he claims, from pre- to modern society has led to individualism, through greater social and economic mobility, and urbanisation. This personal autonomy has led to lesser...
In the introduction to The Help, author Kathryn Stockett says, “I started writing it the day after September 11... I was really homesick – I couldn 't even call my family and tell them I was fine. So I started writing in the voice of Demetrie, the maid I had growing up.” Demetrie was a strong source of stability in Stockett’s life, just like the characters in her own novel. Everything Demetrie did for the Stockett family was well before she started thinking about Demetrie’s point of view on the situation. Stockett states, “I am ashamed to admit that it took me 20 years to realize the irony of that relationship. I 'm sure that 's why I wrote my novel, The Help – to find answers to my questions, to soothe my own mind about Demetrie.” (Stockett 528-529) Throughout the heartbreaking yet ironic novel, Stockett made sure to unveil how writing has enough power to develop positive changes on not only individuals, but communities that have a strong mindset of what they think is right and wrong.
“Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain” (I-10). Ending a life is a big step in the wrong direction for most. Suicide is the killing of oneself. Suicide happens every day, and everyday a family’s life is changed. Something needs to be done to raise awareness of that startling fact. Suicide is a much bigger problem than society will admit; the causes, methods, and prevention need to be discussed more openly.
A young, teenage girl sits with her friends, talking, laughing, and making jokes. She seems completely normal and happy, even. What people don’t know is that this is nothing but a mask covering the loneliness that seems to run through her veins, and the unexplainable sadness that never goes away. She fears speaking of it, of admitting the uncontrollable hatred she feels for everything about herself, so much that she contemplates ending it all. The fact is, suicide is the third leading cause for death in people under the age of twenty-five. Our country needs to stop seeing this as a casual thing. Depression, anxiety, and suicide in youth are real and serious issues that we need to be more aware of in today’s society.