A Human View

An essay response to the novel The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene.

In the novel, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, the life of Jesus Christ is ironically portrayed through the life of a flawed, unworthy priest. "It was for this world that Christ had died; the more evil you saw and heard about you, the greater glory lay around the death. It was too easy to die for what was good or beautiful, for home or children or a civilization-- it needed a God to die for the half-hearted and the corrupt." (97)Just as Jesus was of no value to the Jews, this priest had lost all respect. Aside from the fact that religion was illegal, the priest had made many mistakes and committed many crimes that caused judgment. Although, there were still some that followed the beliefs of the priest, they longed to find God once again and they believed the only way they could do so was through the priest.

Often times when he would near a village, immediately the priest would be asked if he could listen to confession. This shows the villagers obvious concern with their wrongdoings. As humans we are naturally imperfect, the only man that has ever walked this earth that wore the title of perfection was Jesus Christ. The irony of this is that the priest is the Christ figure; he is far from perfect, however. We strive to be perfect, but the reality of the fact is that the world's view of perfection is much different than God's view of perfection. Once a human being figures that out they can admit to needing help. No one can walk alone; they can't make all these decisions on their own.

The novel is laid out in a way that is parallel to the passion. As it begins the priest is called by a young man with a donkey to help his mother. The young man allows the priest to ride his donkey, just as Jesus rode his donkey into Jerusalem. The priest, however, was lead into an alley of filth and dirt, while Jesus walked upon palms; this is true irony. Along with being lead through such grime, the priest also missed his ship. This ship was meant to take him away from the land that hated him so; it was to provide an escape for him. Many of the other priests were long gone, this priest was one of the few that were left. Christ had the power to escape his death, but he chose not to. The priest could have boarded the boat and never looked back, but he chose to go help this poor woman and he gave up his freedom. Doing good can look so unattractive while evil can draw us in so strongly. In the bible there is a reference to how hard it is to do good in this world we live in. Matthew 7 :13 says Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. The world stands on one shoulder-- tending to sound much more attractive-- and God stands on the other, it is our responsibility to choose which side to listen to.

After Jesus entered Jerusalem he called his disciples for one last meal: The Last Supper. He talked of the breaking of his body and the pouring of his blood. He displayed to the disciples the reason he was to give his life-- to save the world. The priest was given some sandwiches before he finally left for the village that held the murder. The sandwiches were from Ms. Lehr-- a woman that he had stayed with. "He was aware of an immense load of responsibility: it was indistinguishable from love." (66) As he turned to leave, he was leaving behind all that he knew, the people he cared for, he was going to lose his life so they could gain from it. We tend not to think of losing someone as gaining anything but, in this time killing the priest seems to be the only thing that will bring peace to such a broken world. People were losing their lives just so the government could find the priest. Once he was found innocent lives were not sacrificed. It is amazing that all the hostages never spoke a word about the priest's location. They gave their lives for the priest; they gave their lives for a man they barely knew. They were God's examples of humility.

As the priest traveled alongside with the Mestizo uncomfortably, he knew the man had no good in his heart and had no drive to help the priest in any way. As they got further and further, the priest realized he was walking with Judas. In the Bible, Judas was a disciple who betrayed Jesus. He went to the government and turned Jesus in for only a small amount of money. Before he did this Jesus told the disciples as a whole the one of them was to betray him. This is parallel to the moment that the priest becomes aware who he is walking with. "He knew. He was in the presence of Judas." (91)

Shortly after Judas turns Jesus in to the officials, police are sent out to arrest Jesus. They find him in a garden praying to his father. The officials take him to Pontius Pilate immediately. In the novel the priest is arrested for use of alcohol. They catch the priest, after chasing him through the city. He is brought to the Lieutenant and is forced to stay at the jail for a night. The irony of a religious man getting arrested is unbelievable. Christianity stresses the importance of staying pure and following the commandments. God knows that humans are imperfect but he always forgives us, even before we do something, he has already forgiven us. That is why he came to this earth, so he could be the ultimate offering-- the ultimate sacrifice.

There is a difference between all other religions and Christianity, we have grace-- the ability to forgive. It is apparent that we are imperfect and even though we were made in God's image, we make mistakes and God is gracious and forgives even before we ask for it. "But at the centre of his own faith there always stood the convincing mystery-- that we were made in God's image. God was the parent, but He was also the policeman, the criminal, the priest, the maniac, and the judge." (101) The priest, though he was a religious man, made mistake after mistake, but was forgiven by God. He suffered through small punishment, but life is paradox. You must go through that which is hard to see that which is beautiful.

The priest and the Mestizo were traveling to hear the confession of a man who was both a murderer and a thief. When they arrived there the priest was able to talk to the man and work to convince him that he must confess. The man died soon after. This is parallel to the bible because when Jesus was on the cross he had two men next to him: a thief and a murderer. It is apparent that Graham Greene is trying to display the life of Jesus in complete irony. After the man died, the officials arrived at the hut where the priest was. They had come to take him away. The priest was to the point where he felt it was best to just go along. They took him back to the city and the next morning he was shot. Jesus was brutally nailed to a cross and displayed for all to see. His suffering was a blessing however. He had come to this earth to save and he was leaving it content with what he had done. When the priest left the earth, he had accomplished all he could as such an imperfect man.

Every life is important, whether a certain person accomplished enough in the time they were given is not for a human being to determine. Jesus had prayed that God would forgive the officials while he was hanging on the cross. He displayed humility and grace to all around him. Even as the men brought hammers to his palms he was praying that they would get more out of their life here on earth than they were at that moment. As the priest left the world he was leaving behind a mass of imperfect beings just as Jesus had done. In the novel, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, two lives are ironically intertwined to recreate the passion through a human body. For we know Christ was perfect, and Greene displays how far from perfect man really is when compared to Jesus who walked the earth flawless for over thirty years. We can't grow without learning first. Jesus came to be our teacher, he knows we need his help.

An Undiscovered Strength

an essay on the novel Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Life is journey upon journey to find yourself. You grow older everyday, learning new things. You are exposed to situations that force you out of your comfort zone. In the novel, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, a young man travels across the expanse of the earth discovering the strength he never knew he had. "The individual soul touches up on the world soul like a well reaches for the water table. That which sustains the universe beyond thought and language, and that which is at the core of us and struggles for expression, is the same thing." (48-49) This world that we live in has the ability to change us in ways we never knew possible. As Pi travels across the unknown he finds that he has skills and strengths that he would have never discovered as a small town boy.

Living in Pondicherry was quite modest and simple. As Pi grew older he grew more and more curious. He became exposed to religion on a trip with his father. His curiosity got the better of him and he found himself caught up in multiple religions; Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. In this area of the country and this generation we aren't exposed to very many religions. It is common for people to be Catholic, Lutheran, as well as any denomination of Christianity. They follow the same guidelines and read the same book. Some see religion as just part of their routine, while others live by it, spending day after day improving their walk with their God. Something Pi discovers that not many people see is that all religions have something in common; they all are on a mission to reach God. The only difference is the path they take to get there. Pi reaches a point where he is overwhelmed with understanding. "I was filled with a sense of peace. But more than the setting, what arrested me was my intuitive understanding that he was there--open, patient-- in case someone, anyone, should want to talk to him; a problem of the soul, a heaviness of the heart, a darkness of the conscience, he would listen with love." (52) He realizes the importance of believing in something, of having something to call his own. The relationship he creates with God is strong and unbreakable; a relationship he had never thought possible.

His family soon decides to part from Pondicherry and start a new life in Canada. He is ripped from his sources of religion; his ties are broken and he is forced to continue on his own without guidance although in reality he is still with God. Finding himself on a ship with men who find it funny to drink too much at night and lose control of the ship in the morning, Pi ends up as the only known survivor of a shipwreck. He then experiences hunger, loneliness, and fear. Adapting to these feelings becomes second nature to Pi Patel. He uncovers ways to provide for himself with limited supplies. Once living in a small town, getting everything handed to him as needed, he is now required to take care of himself and maintain his own wellbeing-- something he has never had to do before.

He begins with the simple concept of food. Slowly he begins to find ways to catch fish and collect water. From the little survival experience he's had, he begins to learn. Aristotle once said "One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try." This is what Pi was discovering. Though he had never really needed to catch food for himself or collect fresh water, he was now learning through experience. He was surprising himself with all that he knew how to achieve. As people in this world we learn of new skills we have everyday. And as we go on, those skills mature and grow. Pi finds his routine; he goes about the same things each day improving upon them. "A little bit of hope-- hard earned, well deserved, reasonable-- glowed in me." (176)

In our world today it is necessary to have a career in order to support a home and a family. As we work through school and onto college we acquire more and more knowledge. To do this we have to expose ourselves to different situations. We find out what we enjoy and that plays a huge part in what we do for the rest of our lives. When Pi is on this journey, it seems there is a representation of life. Pi begins to find himself and discover new traits that had never been uncovered before. When he lands on Mexico and eventually starts his life in Canada these discoveries affect his way of life and the person he becomes. In the novel, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, a young man finds his place in life after journeying from the discovery of God to a higher realm of self confidence and understanding.

Farenheit 451

Relation to Farenheit 451

Teenagers can be so violent and mean to eachother. Clarrisse talks about gangs of teens hanging around theme parks just waiting to pounce on a helpless kid. And when they speed down the highway swerving and going crazy. These are all forms of teen violence and this isn't just a problem in the book it's a problem all across America.

Scenario

STATE NOTICE.
The government has received $200,000 to spend as needed in the state. If you have any problems to report please contact Tad Martin. He will be collecting all reports/complaints and they looked over by the state government, and decisions will be made so every cent will be spent wisely.
Send to:
PO Box 15326
Madison, WI 53701

Teen Violence

Dear Domestic Violence Center of Wisconsin,

My name is Olivia Ritchie. Milwaukee County has been my home for 10 years as I've attended Milwaukee Public Schools. I find pride in involving myself in every opportunity possible and developing strong relationships with other students and neighbors. Although at times it can feel like a dangerous place to spend my time with. Slowly I've learned to adapt and look out for myself and those I love; sticking up for those who can't stick up for themselves. Pain is a hard thing to deal with and if I can prevent even just one person from that situation I believe it will make a difference.

This year has been a difficult year, however. One of my fellow students punched and knocked out his football coach; there have been many teachers filing workers compensation cases, due to assault; boys of a young age have been caught vending guns; everyday, people are mugged when walking down the street . Sadly these things occur more often than just once. I feel it is my responsibility, as well as my fellow students, to change this. As I've observed these things it seems the only thing I can do is turn to you for help.

Recently, it has come to my attention that you've received $200,000 from the government to spend as needed. Well, teen violence is a problem all over the state, as well as all over the world. As a teenager myself I feel the most good influence comes from the next generation--the people who have already been through it all, they've seen and experienced it. They are the wise ones, we just need time to listen. Although, you may think we can grow arrogant and completely disregard what our elders say, I think by showing that there are people that have little faith in us, would be the answer. So often, teens can feel so unimportant and we constantly seem to get the excuse "you're too young", when we really are not. We've been through the same amount, if not more, of hardships. Most of us are mature, beyond our years. I believe that by showing us our opinion matters--our life matters-- this is the answer.

It's a scary world and no one can really change that. I feel that the way some students act, by pushing away any help, they are only trying to cover up that fear. Bringing in someone who was once in that exact situation--someone these we can relate to-- this is what would make a real difference. Even if some don't take it to heart, we can always say we tried and maybe, just maybe, we could change a few lives and direct some on the right track to success.

As these thoughts crossed my mind, I felt I should do a little research for you. I came across many elders who I believe could relate the greatest. There is a gang conference that is held and speakers come from all over, and all walks of life to share their stories and skills. One man I came across, TJ Leydon, is a former neo-Nazi gang member. I felt that this would be a very relatable man. He's fallen to the deepest of depths, feeling the pain and the guilt. It seems his testimony would be extremely appropriate and affective for my age group. High school is when most of the peer pressure starts and the decisions you make can be life changing; whether these changes are for the best or the worst is up to us as people.

Counseling is a concept that many people grasp onto, but it doesn't work for everyone. Teenagers, especially avoid this idea of help, they prefer looking to their friends for advice-- advice that, at times, can be unpredictable. Counselors are wise but most of the time can not be related to. I feel that if they put people like TJ Leydon into struggling high schools, counseling would be much more affective. The students would be able to talk about their problems and feel like there wasn't just empty advice bouncing back at them.

Like counselors, police are suited to handle violent and emotional situations between teens, but to me, and I'm sure I am speaking for the entire student body, they are only doing their job and they only care for a short amount of time. If we were able to bring in people who could truly see and feel what these struggling teens are going through, the recovery would go much more smoothly. The truth is, we just need someone to show they care and they believe in us. That means more than anything in the world. As a teen I can feel so insignificant and not good enough for anything. It's that stage in our lives where we stand right in between a kid and an adult--a hard place to be. You receive freedom but much less than you feel is right.

I'm sure it is understandable to all that growing up is hard, but the journey is great. When you're young you wish you were older; when you're old, you wish you were younger. The human population never really seems to be satisfied. Yes, teen violence is a problem and yes, kids do make some terrible decisions, but they just need a little help. Using the money you've received to sponsor these ideas, could change lives. And isn't that our goal? We only long to help and protect the people of our great country; the United States of America. Please consider what I've said. I speak for my generation and hope that together we can create a better tomorrow. "Together we stand, divided we fall". ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you,

Olivia Ritchie

Milwaukee, WI

True Love Stays

True love is a concept that many have yet to grasp. Although, why do so many long for this feeling? Why do so many spend their days searching for this? The answer to this: love is the closest thing we have to magic. In the novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, love stays, never leaving, through every terrible word or thought, through every rise or fall, through every smile or frown. After such cruelty from Pip, Joe stays—his loyalty and love for Pip, everlasting.

As a youth, Pip grew to be Joe’s companion, Joe’s escape. They were inseparable and worked through every hardship, growing fonder of each other through it all. “But I loved Joe—perhaps for no better reason in those early days than because the dear fellow let me love him.” (40) There is truth in these words. Loving a person is not a forced thing it is a feeling that grows over time; something that you have to work at. Joe had discovered that Pip was worth pursuing. Though he pushed him away once he became successful, Joe knew that the little, innocent boy whom he loved, was somewhere deep inside of him. And he was willing to wait for that boy to resurface.

When Joe discovers that Pip is home and ill he immediately goes to tend to his every need. This loyalty is a shock to Pip. “For Joe had actually laid his head down on the pillow at my side, and put his arm around my neck, in his joy that I knew him. ‘Which dear old Pip, old chap,’ said Joe, ‘you and me was ever friends. And when you’re well enough to go out for a ride—what larks!” (468) Joe sees no reason to hold any grudges against poor Pip, but only comes to comfort him and show that he truly has forgiven and forgotten. Their friendship had always meant more to him than life itself.

As Pip grows stronger each day, Joe becomes more and more detached. Though he loves Pip with all his heart, his fear of getting hurt and pushed away once more is obvious. Joe’s strategy is to give Pip no reason to push him away, for he will already be gone. But the thought of Pip will hold a place in his heart for eternity. To show this to Pip, he pays off the young man’s fine for him. Seeing this, he realizes how he’s lost his chance of apology. Instantly, he sets out for home—on a mission to mend the ties between Joe and himself. For Joe fled before he was able to show how he had changed; how he had found himself once more and was regretful of his behavior—longing to fix what had been broken.

It is a glorious thing to find what truly matters to you. Sometimes you don’t see what you have until you’ve lost it—and finding it once again can be the adventure of a lifetime. Pip realized this slowly, but the important thing is to see what truly matters before you lose it. Take nothing for granted and your chance of losing those things will lessen over time. Joe comes to nurse Pip back to health. He comes with a humble heart and a caring heart. Through all that Pip has done to him, he comes, bringing no complaint. Throughout this novel, love is apparent; the truest of love is demonstrated through the most wounded of relationships. This only proves that love can find you, and love can stay—bringing joy to what once was silence and abandonment. “I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape. Be as considerate and good to me as you were, and tell me we are friends.” (489)

When is the right time to honor our Military Heroes?

As I strolled down the sidewalk the other day I spotted a bumper sticker on the back of an old, beat-up car, which stated, “Do you enjoy your freedom? Thank the veterans.” I couldn’t help but think of how rarely we do take time out of our day to appropriately thank these men and women that fight day after day—not because they have to, but because they find value in their country worth fighting for. Though thinking of these people, often, does not come naturally to us.

People across America watch the news every day where they see updates of what goes on in Iraq and Afghanistan, but seldom do they truly react to this information. It seems such frequent news, the war. So many do not see it really is a much larger thing than we realize. If there was no one willing to keep our country safe where would we be? Our soldiers along with any who fight for freedom are worthy of respect and honor. There is no wrong time to honor them for each day giving them just a moment of thought can do some good. Saying the pledge each morning and thinking about the words that are escaping your lips, can perhaps spark a little excitement and lead you to motivate others to see the bravery of these leaders.

I don’t know how you feel about becoming part of the army or if you would even consider fighting, but there is always room to encourage a little bit more, or love a little bit more, and of course be thankful a little bit more. Everyone has a choice of whether they’ll take time to help or not. There are plenty of opportunities in the community to get involved. By doing so it is the first step to making a difference in world. Though it seems little eventually it can grow into something much bigger. This is how it all began with the people that are now fighting over in Iraq and Afghanistan. They began as small leaders, but soon grew to great men and women that are honored by citizens all across America. Growing older makes these concepts much more clear to me. These soldiers that risk their lives to keep their country safe should not only be honored but respected and envied for their bravery.