As Tragedy Strikes, Real Living Begins
“Everyone's life, no matter how unremarkable, has a singular tragic encounter after which everything that really matters will happen,” or so believes the protagonist of Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything, Ezra Faulkner. Numerous characters in the novel are hit with unimaginable tragedies. However, the one character who struggles the most with their tragedy is Ezra. Although, with the help and continued support from his various peers at a time when his entire world is crashing down on top of him, he overcomes his challenges and in the end, he becomes a much stronger individual while also discovering his true self. This boy demonstrates his growth in several ways. He overcomes his belief that
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His tragedy leaves him with a wrist brace, a cane and no friends. The support from his new group of friends, the misfits, is one of the only things allowing him to recover from his lonely state and feel like he belongs somewhere. They willingly accept him into their group with wide arms and no judgement and expectations when he has no one else. He explains how he feels on page 41 of the novel, “It was like the part of me that had enjoyed [the jocks] had evaporated, leaving behind a huge, echoing emptiness, and I was scrabbling on the edge of it, trying not to fall into the hole within myself, because I was terrified to find out how far down it went,” (Schneider 41). This vivid description shows Ezra’s loneliness after he no longer enjoys the company of the jocks, for he knows they are not true friends and they limit his life experiences. Ezra spends time experiencing and embracing the world of the misfits and their interests, including debate club, video games, monthly movie night adventures, silent flash mobs and so much more. All of which, lead to his eventual recovery and long awaited happiness. They help him stay clear of the “hole within himself,” and help him to feel like he finally belongs somewhere by distracting him from his negative thoughts with positive life experiences. He explains, “I knew what it was like to have …show more content…
She is introduced into Ezra’s life as the true friend he undoubtedly is in need of. Ezra discovers himself while at the same time overcoming his insecurities with her help. He is able to rebuild himself, piece-by-piece, thanks the many adventures and experiences they share. Ezra struggles physically and he is not at all comfortable with his appearance. Near the beginning of the novel, Ezra explains, “I was supposed to pick up an elevator key from the front office; it came in a matching set with that little blue parking tag for my car, the one I was never, ever going to display,” (Schneider 24). This evidence demonstrates Ezra’s insecurity and embarrassment with his situation. He despises the attention he gets as he hobbles down the hallway with his physical disability. By sharing living fully and openly, Cassidy helps him forget about his disability. Her support helps him leave his insecurities behind and feel comfortable. One of the many lessons she teaches him throughout the novel, is that he should never let his appearance get in the way of anything, for he is capable of doing anything he sets his mind to. Moreover, Ezra is not at ease mentally and is insecure about much more than just his body. He says, “The way I figured it, keeping quiet was safe. Words could betray you if you chose the wrong ones, or mean less if you used too many,” (Schneider 66). Ezra’s words show that he would rather
Authors in many instances use the main elements in the story such as setting and narrative to prove a point in the story. For example, writers often use characters, their actions, and their interaction with other characters to support or prove a theme. In the short story “Our Thirteenth Summer”, Barry Callaghan effectively uses characters to develop the theme that childhood is fragile and easily influenced. One of the ways that Callaghan makes effective use of characters to develop the theme is by describing the tension between Bobbie and his parents. This usage of characters supports the theme because Bobbie’s childhood is no longer free to do what he wishes, but has to bow down to his parents’
One of the challenges of growing up is loneliness. As a small child living in Brooklyn Francie had no friends her age, the kids in her neighborhood that would have been candidates for friends either found her too quiet or shunned her for being different. "So
Everyone has to mature someday Anita, main character of the book, knows that she, too, must as well, before it’s too late. With the SIM invading along with the dictator, El Jefe, looming over her family, just how fast can she do so? Anita is a twelve-year old girl living in the Dominican Republic during the 1960’s. In the book, Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez, her family is secretly opposing the government and their dictator, El Jefe (Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina), so they can someday become a free nation. Over time, in the novel, Anita does grow up, but her change is gradual. Maturing and dealing with trauma is hard for her, just like would be for anyone.
Jimmy knows too well the agonies of abandonment. First, when his mother, Cecilia, ran away with Richard to pursue a better lifestyle. Then, due to his father’s, Damacio Baca, alcoholisms and violent behavior; he also had to leave Jimmy behind. In spite of the drawbacks from abandonment to being a maximum security prisoner in Arizona State Prison, Jimmy preserver’s the darkness of prison by overcoming his illiteracy. However Cecilia and Damacio is not as fortunate as their child; Cecilia is shot by Richard after confronting him for a divorce and Damacio chokes to death after he is released from the detox center(Baca 263). Therefore the most significant event in this section of the memoir, A Place to Stand by Jimmy Santiago Baca is the death of Jimmy’s parents.
I was pleased to have attended a lecture cosponsored by the Ethics Center, the Fresno State office of the president, the Fresno Bee and Valley PBS. The lecture began with Dr. Castro recognizing a few leaders on campus, including a past Fresno State president, Dr. John D. Welty and campus volunteer Mary Castro. Dr. Castro then mentioned a few things about Mr. Brooks stating that he is a columnist for the New York Times and an analyst for the PBS “News Hour” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Dr. Brooks also teaches at Yale University, one the finest university in the country. Dr. Castro continued by saying that he learned that Mr. Brooks office hours are from 9am to 1pm and how “cool” it sounded to him. I was surprised how many people attended the event. I was fortunate to find a seat. David Brooks mentioned how he has some remote roots in the Central Valley because his father grew in Chowchilla, CA but Mr. Brooks grew in New York.
Have you ever changed after something you have been through? In the book, The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, Hannah changes when she realized what the Holocaust was about. She doesn't know why it is important to remember so she doesn’t want to. She doesn't like going to there family dinners to celebrate any of their jewish holidays. Throughout the book, Hannah's character changes how she feels toward her Jewish history.
"Anything Goes" is a comedy, romance, and drama filled musical. In this play there are several different characters with their own plots and problems. All the plots later intertwine somehow as the characters interact with each other. The main character, Reno is a stage performer who is the main performer in "The Angels", a group of "evangelist" showgirls. Reno is in love with Billy. Billy is a businessman working for Elisha Whitney. Billy is also in love with a girl named Hope Harcore. Hope is engaged to a wealthy English man named Lord Evelyn, but she secretly loves Billy. Billy is supposed to be in New York doing work after he drops Elisha's passport off, but then he realizes Hope is on the boat. He sneaks onto the boat using an extra passport and ticket from a "pastor" who is actually a famous mobster named Moon Face Martin. He is trying to win Hope over. Reno and Moon are helping Billy stay under cover while getting to Hope. All of these characters interact which each other as they are all on the same boat and all have different purposes. In a turn of events, Reno and Evelyn fall in love. This helps Hope and Billy be able to get married, but Hope's mom, Evangeline, insists Hope marries Evelyn for his money. Elisha ends up receiving a large profit for a deal and Evangeline Harcore changes her mind. A triple marriage ceremony concludes the musical as Hope and Billy, Reno and Evelyn, and Evangeline and Elisha become married couples. This show is filled with plot twists,
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines takes place in 1940’s, a time period of segregation. This was a time when blacks were often at fault for a crime they did not commit, such as what transpired in this book. A man named Jefferson was convicted of a crime he did not commit and was insulted during court. Now his family, friends, and even Jefferson himself were trying to prove the white community wrong about their beliefs that a black man is unequal and lacks dignity against Jefferson and the black community. Not only is Jefferson going through a period of suffering on death row, but others, like Grant Wiggins and Miss Emma, are also facing their struggles and they will try to prove others wrong and redeem themselves through knowledge,
All refugees, the circumstances notwithstanding, face immense hardship throughout their lives. In time, these hardships give way to new opportunities, dreams, and perspectives, as even in the face of suffering, one always retains their intrinsic self. Kim Ha, the protagonist in Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again, experienced this through her family’s daring escape from war-torn South Vietnam. Consequently, Inside Out and Back Again serves as a fitting title for her story.
A Lesson Before Dying A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines tells the story of a black man, Jefferson, with unequal rights, being accused of killing a white man. Although, the accusation was far from being right, he is a black man, and blacks were treated unfairly. Throughout the journey of the trial, Jefferson and Grant became very close, and they both learned a lot from each other and the trial. Grant learns the lesson of being a man, because he develops feelings, and becomes humble.
"We attract who we are and repel what we are not, which is who you are, what you love, and why it has your attention with attraction." ~ Jon Barnes
Awley has shown me just how important yet fragile friendship is. Those who have it nearly always take it for granted. Whether it be the cool lacrosse jock who everyone in the school knows or someone with a few close friends, both will likely lose sight of the value their friends hold at some point. Awley knows how quickly all his friends can abandon him, for seemingly no reason at
An advocacy activity I observed this following weekend was at an off-Broadway play performed at Second Stage Theater in New York City. The play, Notes from the Field is written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith. In this performance, she gives her viewers a look into the past history of our country as well as some recent major headlining news that took part in our society. She re-enacts the behaviors of some characters but gives the viewers a different perspective then what the media portrays it to be. In the play, Anna shows some tragedies that took place in schools, and prisons systems. She shows the division of ethnic groups and how the civil rights actions have still failed even in today’s communities.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a novel about coming of age that is seen through the perspective of Charlie, a young ‘wallflower’ that is starting high school and experiences the troublesome teenage life filled with drugs, sexuality and love. Charlie writes this book in a series of letters to an anonymous person. Charlie is the main protagonist of the story who is apprehensive and a kind-hearted boy however he has many problems happening in his life that he doesn’t like to concern others with “I just don’t want you to worry about me, or think you’ve met me, or waste your time anymore”. I admire Charlie because he is very considerate of others and although he is shy he overcomes this fear when he tries to find friends and step out of his comfort zone” Normally I am very shy, but (Patrick) seemed like the kind of guy you could just walk up to at a football game even though you were three years younger and not popular”. In return Charlie is rewarded with his first real friend at high school. I also admire Charlie for his mature attitude towards finding new friends and moving on from the death of his friend Michael. Charlie really needed to start interacting more with people, during the story we find out that Charlie misses having a friend and that being alone can be difficult and cause negative effects “It would be very nice to have a friend again. I would like that even more than a date”. I think
From the beginning of the book, the reader gets a very avid view of Hannah, one of the protagonists. While seeming to be a very outgoing person she has her own struggles, varying from getting bullied by classmates to someone even stalking her, however, she strives on and finds composure making up her life in her new town. Even though she was a happy person she did indeed take her own life by swallowing prescription pills. Many would come to assume she was depressed, but this is not the case for she did not show one symptom of major depressive disorder throughout the book. One of the most common symptoms of depression is social isolation. While Hannah did have trouble finding good loyal friends in the beginning she did end up acquiring some, even after every single one of them betrayed her or left her to spend time with someone