Varieties of Protest: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner
The differences between the image of life as a race and the image of life as a run in The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner are distinct ones that have a large impact on how Smith chooses to live his life. In particular, Smith believes that his life is a run and not a race, specifically due to the fact that he does not see himself as some sort of race-horse for Borstal, and running is what keeps Smith going. By running Smith allows his thoughts to flow freely, which is exactly what he wants in life.
The first and foremost difference that can be spotted between the idea of life as a race and life as a run can be seen in the immediate temperament that Smith has in the story.
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This is in exact opposition to a race, where the runner is FORCED to run as fast as they possibly can regardless of whether they enjoy it or not. As such, if one races through life, they will not have time to slow down and enjoy the parts of it that are good, as opposed to if they run through life at their own pace and have time to truly live. This is demonstrated by Smith in the story after he throws away the race that he was in, when he says “It’s about time to stop; though don’t think I’m not still running, because I am, one way or another” (Sillitoe 1230). This shows how much Smith values running and how he is against the idea of racing, as he will continue on in his life “running” - whether that be through metaphorical or literal means.
Due to all of this, life as a run is far more enjoyable than life as a race. Life as a run allows oneself to have freedom in what they do and actual thought behind what they do, rather than being some race horse that is bred to do nothing but win and cannot think for itself. Additionally, racing through life is far less enjoyable than running through life, since racing through life has only one goal: to finish. As such, running is far more enjoyable as you can take time and slow down through the moments that you enjoy, then speed up
They race against themselves: to conquer their wills, to transcend their weaknesses, to beat back their nightmares" (603). This quotation shows that running is not always competition, but it helps runners overcome their
Throughout life people encounter a numerous amount of obstacles, some of these obstacles can be tougher than others. These obstacles don’t define who you are, how the situation is handled does. In the book The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen, Jessica encounters a tremendous obstacle that life could throw at her. Jessica has had to learn to adjust her life from the way that she used to live. Her life is changing and she has to decide if this accident defines who she is going to be while being surrounded by the love and comfort of her family.
I-Chieh Chen (2015) in The study The Scale for the Loneliness of College Students in Taiwan (http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jedp/article/download/46795/25238) stated that Loneliness was initially studied by Sullivan (1953) (A Peplau, D Perlman, LA Peplau… - Loneliness: A …, 1982 - peplaulab.ucla.edu) who proposed that loneliness was an unpleasant and intense experience related to unsatisfied requirements for intimacy (http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jedp/article/download/46795/25238). Sullivan’s research was all but neglected in his time. This neglect lasted until 1973, when Weiss, an American scholar who was an adherent of Bowlby’s attachment theory, published an article entitled “Loneliness: the experience of emotional and social isolation” (RS Weiss - 1973 - psycnet.apa.org).
The story is concerned with the conflict between his conception of himself and the reality.
Throughout the novels we have read this semesters, one can makes observation that many of the characters from each novel have gone through fear whether it was due to racial strife or threat to life. We then see the characters go out and find their salvation or in some cases leave their homes before being faced with the consequences they have brought upon themselves.. Finally, most character are then faced with their fate in life where in most situation it is death or freedom. We see these variations first develop by author Richard Wright 's in his novel and movie Native Son. Each variations can been seen within different characters from both Cane and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. The variations are shape within
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” - Mother Teresa
The poem "The Race" by Sharon Olds depicts a woman struggling to overcome the obstacles that are set before her so that she can spend her father's last moments with him. Through her use of repetition and alliteration she is able to convey the daughters anxiousness to her audience.
T.S. Eliot and William Butler Yeats portray their characters as two men, who are trying to deal with the idea of loneliness. Both men are presently depressed with their existing lifestyles and crave to become a part of an entirely different state of affairs. As these authors present their characters desires to live a separate life from their recent one, Prufrock and the narrator (Yeats) take a different approach to expressing their ideas of loneliness. Eliot chooses to depict his character as an overly educated man, whose mental state is deteriorating because he longs for companionship, while Yeats chooses to depict his character as a man, who wants to live-out his childhood dream in solitude. Both authors show their characters as men who are trying to cope with their feelings toward seclusion.
The poem, “Young Athletes Dying Young” written by A.E. Housman gives inspiration to those who are athletes but teaches them that anything can happen. According to Mark Ruby, “A. E. Housman's ‘To an Athlete Dying Young’ was published in his first collection, A Shropshire Lad, in 1896 and is generally considered one of his best poems. Like much of the poet's work, its themes include the preciousness of youth and the nature of early death. It is a speaker's narrative, or dramatic monologue, that tells the story of an athlete, a runner, who has died at the peak of his youthful and abundant athleticism. The lyrically presented images contain the irony that the same crowd of townspeople who once carried the runner on their shoulders after he had won a race now carries him to his place of final rest” (Overview). Young Athletes around fear that one thing in their career is losing their stats and records. In sports as the years go by, better and stronger athletes are getting in these leagues and it is getting harder to even compete.
Runner is a novel written by Robert Newton which describes life in Richmond in 1919. The novel follows the protagonist, Charlie and his family, struggling with the effects of poverty, corruption and sorrow. However, there is an emerging theme which overpowers all these and that is the values of friendship. There are a vast amount of ‘values’ of friendship but the ones that occur in the novel are loyalty, companionship and trust. He establishes friendships with three main people in the book which are Alice, Norman Heath and Mr Redmond. The novel Runner clearly demonstrates the values of friendship.
Running can improve your mood, as well as physical health, “Running reduces stress by boosting levels of serotonin in your brain and creating a more positive mood. Self-esteem is improved and goals are achieved through running. Runners realize a greater sense of self-reliance and accomplishment… Cardiovascular health is greatly improved through running by increasing your heart rate and working the heart muscles on a regular basis” (RunAddicts). Running is similar to a drug, however without the withdrawal effects. Similar to MDMA (ecstasy), running releases serotonin. After running one feels tired but refreshed and energized due to the serotonin released, which is referred to as the “runner’s high”. This runner’s high, somewhat similar to a drug intoxication, causes a euphoria and creates a positive and energized mood, which temporarily regulates anxiety, improves sleep quality, and constructs a better self-image. As well as being mentally advantageous, running is also physically constructive. Like running and swimming, through working the heart muscles and increasing your heart rate running can also improve endurance and cardiovascular health by allowing the blood to pump more powerfully. Furthermore, running can drastically improve one’s
...nd place in the world. He receives an anonymous letter stating “don’t go too fast” (Ellison 9) which was a quaint reminder that he was merely a black man living in a white man’s world. The narrator struggles throughout the majority of the novel with his image and the very image inside of his head of who he was supposed to be, the image planted for him by his peers and oppressors. “Who are you? No one of consequence must know. Get used to disappointment.”(William Goldman, the Princess Bride) this quote seemingly to be the very essence of the entire novel, and the exact problem that the narrator struggles with. He did not realize that he had to stand on his on and fight off the notions that he couldn’t be his own person no matter what other people thought and especially no matter the color of his skin. He stated “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” (Ellison 6)
People are defined and shaped by the choices they make; and those choices are heavily influenced by their surroundings, whether they be isolated or not. The characters in Gabriel García Márquez’s novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, exhibits this kind of development. The novels follows the journey of the Buendía and the Aureliano family as they live out their lives in the isolated and timeless town of Macondo. Through heavy amounts of fantasy realism, the characters, as individuals, are faced with the choice to leave Macondo and return changed from the experience. In the secluded town, the families face the conflict of outside influences and adapting or eradicating the source of change. One Hundred Years of Solitude shows how surroundings affect a character through different forms of isolation.
The exhaustion you feel after finally crossing the finish line at a marathon is like nothing you have felt before. You are completely drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your legs hurt to the bone, at the same time you are gasping for air while your throat screams for moisture. All of this is a small price to pay for the overwhelming feeling of self pride and accomplishment you are overcome with. Running the marathon is only half of the process. Training is very important with steps such as finding motivation, diet, safety, stretching, and last preparations the day of the marathon. With many physical, mental, and social benefits the hardship is well worth it. I greatly enjoy running and hope to one day run a full marathon.