batman

It is interesting to think that an individual’s life can be represented with a timeline, containing either two or three defining points, which vary according to the individual. The first timeline that can represent someone’s life contains two important points: birth and death. A relatively stagnant line, which spans between the points of birth and death, factor the normal years life. The other timeline that can be used to exhibit one’s life contains three points: birth, discovered meaning in life, and death. The line that imitates the years between these three major points is generally anything but stagnant. It is a line that varies in height and depth between birth, discovered meaning in life, as well as death. Is it possible that either one of these timelines can represent the life of a specific individuals of the past, present, and future?
Timeline #1 Timeline #2

Birth Years Death Discovered Meaning in Life
Birth Years Death

The first individual that will be assessed with one of the two timeline styles shown above, will be Ivan Ilych. The short story “The Death of Ivan Ilych” by Leo Tolstoy depicts the simple, and most ordinary life of Ivan Ilych, which spans the years of 1837 (Ivan’s birth) to 1882 (Ivan’s death). Just from knowing that Ivan’s life was most ordinary and simple, it can be assumed that the line on the timeline, representing the years of Ivan’s life, is pretty stagnant. Especially if nothing interesting happened. What made Ivan’s life so ordinary? His life was so o...

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...line Style #2

Discovered Meaning in Life
Birth Years Death

Even though timeline style #1 was not used, it is still considered valid among people of the past, future and present. There are people who say that everyone is special and has a meaning in life. Even though this may be true, the individual in his or her lifetime may not find out what makes his or her life so special, or meaningful.

When comparing a meaning of life text (“The Death of Ivan Ilych”) to examples of popular culture (Batman Begins and Batman Beyond), it can be determined that when one finds meaning in life, it is the climax of that individual’s life. Also, everyone finds his or her purpose in life at different times, or not at all. More importantly, there is a strive to find meaning in life, and it is up to the individual to find what his or hers is.