The Children's Blizzard Analysis

Tragedy:

An Event Causes Strong Feelings of Sadness David Laskin’s The Children’s Blizzard is a heart wrenching story based upon the Great Blizzard of 1888, which was appropriately titled the The Children's Blizzard because of “the 213 children across the Great Plains who died in its wake” (Beccy Tanner). Many immigrants took the big step of journeying out west, seeking the promising lifestyle it offered. The government would give these migrants a set amount of acreage for only a small fee as encouragement, so the empty land could be put to use. At this period in time, “It was the age of confidence. Arrogance was epidemic” (Laskin 5). Many people believed they knew all there was to know, especially the meteorologists of the era. Their oversight

The blizzard of 1888 was unanticipated by the meteorologists, leaving the migrants who had ventured out to the midwest, without any precise warnings or means of communication to notify them of severe weather, let alone a blizzard that would come to be known as the Great Blizzard of 1888. That day, many school children walked to school without their cold-weather wear, because the temperature was warm enough for them to do so. Some children were released from their schoolhouses destined for their homes before the blizzard began its reign, not knowing the trepidation they would face. This problem was not just for the children, but for others who had begun their day, not knowing that a petrifying blizzard would wreck havoc on their lives. David Laskin’s The Children’s Blizzard illustrates a tragedy. A tragedy could be an event that is caused by a terrible situation that results in utter chaos and destruction. According to Merriam-Webster, a tragedy is a very sad, unfortunate, or upsetting

A definition of tragedy could be an event that was caused by a terrible event that results in utter chaos and destruction, but according to Merriam-Webster, a tragedy is a very sad, unfortunate, or upsetting situation, that causes strong feelings of sadness or regret. Many of the people who were caught outdoors when the storm struck, suffered tremendously, whether it was themselves or others. Many of the victims suffered a hypothermic death, like the Schweizer boys who had been forced to halt their journey indefinitely, as a result of the cold temperatures and frigid wind, infiltrating their bodies. Others managed to survive the bitter night, by seeking shelter, then later roving the land to find a warmer place, and yet still perished due to cardiac arrest, like Jesse Beadel. Or like John Jensen, who was trapped outside in the blizzard, and managed to find shelter and survive, but his wife and daughter died frozen inside of his home, leaving him and his newborn daughter by themselves. The people in the Midwest had no warnings as to the desolation that would come. They didn't anticipate seeing their sons or daughters for the last time or their children taking their final, shuddering breaths. Fathers and mothers were forced to grieve for their lost children and orphans grieved the loss of their parents as a result of this storm. It brought about a great sense of sadness and regret among all who suffered from the