She is aware of the fact that many people are uncomfortable with the word “cripple”, but “wants them to wince”. Only she knows all the ways having MS has affected her and believes that “cripple” is the best word to describe her because it is “straightforward and precise”. She believes other words such as “disabled” and “handicapped” “move away from [her] condition”. Though she is not exactly lucky to have the condition she has she wants to be seen as someone “who can face the brutal truth of her existence squarely”. She has lost full use of her limbs and “refuses to…deny that [she has] lost anything” while having her disease.
Her inspiring words shows that when faced with troubles Minerva becomes an even greater force to be reckoned with. Adversity lights the fire in her thoughts and actions. Resilience in Minerva is also seen when Dedé and Mama plead to Minerva to come home. Minerva states, “I’m not going to run scared” (193). Minerva is sick and out of money but does not lose faith.
Antigone is so determined to honour her brother, and equally certain that her path was the correct one that she believed that the punishment she would receive would ‘...not be any pain’ and would’ve been had she ‘...left [her] mother’s son lie there unburied.’ Antigone appeared to be unafraid of death, as she believed she lived in ‘...daily torment’ due to the inherited family “curse”. To Antigone, her death was unavoidable, and honourable thus she was able to bear the
Eudora Welty gives us a very illustrated story entitled “A Worn Path.” It is a tale about a little old woman who journeys to the city to obtain some medicine for her sickly grandson. Still, one can’t help but notice the peculiar and even shady ways that she decides to go about reaching this goal. It is clear that Welty wants us to feel uncertain about this seemingly innocent and good-willed grandmother, because she isn’t all that she offers at face-value: She is a con-artist who has become extremely good at what she does through experience and extensive practice. Coincidentally, and unfortunately, this grandmother suffers from a mental illness. Old Phoenix Jackson seems to have no problem dealing with things that someone at a much younger age and in better shape would have issues with.
This is an appropriate name for the character in this short story, for she too has a strength and decorum about her that enables her to arise from the difficulties of life imposed on her by racism, in order to obtain care for her grandson. Achieving this goal satisfies her need to love and care for her grandson, and in so doing, also transmits this love and care to a new generation, enabling it to rise above racism as well. In this way, she carries two important themes of the story: first, the ugliness of racism that tries to defeat this strong woman, secondly, the power of love seen in her determination to do everything she can to obtain help for her grandson. “A Worn Path” communicates a theme to humankind about rising up to meet life’s challenges; in fact, the connections between the literary elements of setting to plot and character to symbolism contribute to the story’s overall theme of love, and rising up through determination. In “A Worn Path” the setting is an integral part of the plot structure due to the main character’s age and poverty, as well as the social limitations of the time period.
Unknit that threatening unkind brow”, it is amazing that she still holds that same authority, preventing the widow and Bianca from interrupting. She uses language such as “unable worms” and “graceless traitor” where as a proper Elizabethean wife would never use such foul language. Furthermore, throughout the duration of her speech, not one person had dared to interrupt. Katherine has spent all her lifetime filling in the character of a shrew that it would be hard to break her out of that habit. Her speech was for show, knowing that she will be at an
“As the hunter is hunted down, she slays her enemies on sacred ground.” Throughout life we will experience things that will sometimes cause us want to give up or give in, but in order to be successful one must face the trials and tribulations with strength and hope. One day looking back upon each and every obstacle, then seeing how far one came because of not giving up, a new admiration will come about for one’s self. Gloria Allred has proven this to be so, throughout her lifetime. Although she was faced with obstacles, she never gave up. Developing from a young child to an American lawyer, Gloria has exhibited great strength, courage, and bravery.
Line. 10 -11 “ He was an old head, on young shoulders.” Our narrator was a ‘planner’ she had everything sorted out, and was sure of what she wanted to do in her future. She was not a wild or spontaneous person like Jed. But that was also one of their relationship’s contrasts, as mentioned before, their differences made them strong, but also weak in the end. The narrator is still a person who is sure of herself; she has grown up and proves it, when Jed told/texts that he drove his wife insane because she wasn’t our narrator, and she didn’t reply, because she knew she can’t be stuck in her past, and can’t go back to her high school love life.
Yet another example is that Hester Prynne became a stronger woman. Guilt is ugly and it can also paralyze you into doing and learning nothing. It can allow the damage or punishment to continue. Hester Prynne was evidence that she overcame her guilt and made it positive not only for herself but also for her daughter. Lessons learned are never easy.
I enjoyed reading Nancy Mairs’s “On Being a Cripple” because she really emphasized the struggle she must endure each and every day with her disease and how she copes with the fact that her life will never be the same as it once was. After reading this essay, I have learned that having a crippling illness is no excuse to give up on what you love to do. Nancy Mairs proved herself by continuing to teach and be the best mother and wife she could be, even after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She would not let her condition keep her away from what she loved most in her life. Nancy Mairs is truly an inspiration to those suffering with MS and other crippling disabilities because she shows us that being disabled isn't the end of the world.