Explication 2: Smith’s Guests on Earth Throughout Lee Smith’s Guests on Earth we see the main character, Evalina Tousaint, struggle with handling life’s traumatic moments. She first falters after the death of her mother then, once at Highland Hospital, slightly breaks at the news of one of her good friend’s, Robert, suicide. Even after “release” from the hospital her mental and emotional strength/health is tested and broken when her infant daughter passes away shortly after birth. The reader sees the aftermath of, perhaps, Evalina’s worst mental collapse as she is unaware of how long she has been back at Highland Hospital and briefly tells of her treatments consisting of shock treatments (which she had avoided during her previous stent at the clinic). She is unable to even inform the reader what had come to be of her child and how she had wound back at Highland. After some time we see her have a breakthrough after building true connections with some other patients and staff. With this breakthrough, she not only tells the complete …show more content…
What Evalina experienced as a mother who lost a child is the very ordinary response; it was her growth after the loss that impressed me. My sisters took much longer to heal and move forward after the deaths of my niece and nephew; however, once they were ready to cope with the loss it came in unintended life-altering moments such as Evalina’s. Finding someone that you feel whole with, such as Evalina did, can truly help heal holes in hearts and give a person a reason to live again. It was beautiful to see this happen for Evalina and just made me reflect upon how happy I was and am for my sisters when they found that reason to live in life again. It is a remarkable thing when someone who has dealt with so much loss, unimaginable loss, can find freedom, happiness, and love
Reading this book has been interesting and heartbreaking experience. A Year of Magical Thinking, a journey through the grieving process. While dealing with the death of her husband, she is confronted with the sickness of her only child. This book touches me, and it makes me think of what would happen if my loved one died. This paper is a reflection of my thoughts and feelings about this woman’s journey that has been explored by book and video. I will also explore the author’s adjustment process, and how she views her changed self.
I, of course, knew my mother as a mother. As I have reached adulthood and become a mother myself, I have also known her as a friend. My mom shared much of herself with me, and I saw sides of my mother as she struggled with her cancer that I had never seen before, especially her strong belief in positive thinking and the importance of quality of life. I was privileged to know so many facets of my mother, but certainly I did not know all. There were parts of her life that I didn’t see, relationships that I didn’t know about. Last night, at the wake, so many stories were told to me about my mom’s strength, courage, humor, kindness, her quietness, her loyalty as a friend. It was so special to hear of these things that my mom said and did, to know some of these other parts of her life. I hope that her friends and family will continue to share these stories with me and with each other so we can continue to know and remember my mom.
There are certain aspects that may have provided better treatment, but probably could not have prevented the tragedy. Clear communication and understanding for the culture were essential aspects that were lacking during her treatment. Additionally, the presence of a questionnaire like the one developed by Arthur Kleinman would have bridged the gap between the patient and the provider (Fadiman, 1997, p. 260).
No matter how much he put her through, she kept fighting for her life. I was confused by this because, in my eyes her life was completely over. I did not see how she could ever live a functioning life after all of the things that she went through. I would have thought that this reality would have been a reason for her to give up and choose fiction. Fiction would have been the easy way out of the pain, loses, and suffering that she faces and would continue to face. Then I thought to myself that is what makes humans amazing. Being able to endure the challenges of life and keep going. Originally, I thought she was a fool to keep going then I realized that she was strong. If I was her I would have chosen my reality
Later that day, Tita found Nacha dead on the floor holding a picture of her fiance in her hands(41). Nacha suffered the most from the added ingredient in the cake. Nacha understood what Tita was going through. Overwhelmed with loneliness and grief of the loss of her fiance which Mama Elena too, strictly forbid her from marrying. Mama Elena went through a similar experience like Tita. “Jose was the love of her life. She hadn’t been allowed to marry him because he had Negro blood in his veins”(137). Mama Elena has a moment where if she cannot find true love, than not even her own daughter can find true love. Mama Elena channels her anger when Tita mentions Pedro. “Unquestionably, when it came to dividing, dismantling, dismembering, desolating, detaching, dispossessing, destroying, or dominating, Mama Elena was a pro”(97). Ironically, this is an issue that runs in the family. Someone falls in love, but are not allowed to move forward with their relationship. First with Mama Elena, Nancha and now Tita has to live with the fact that true love is within reach but is also
She zoomed in on the moments that both built and broke down her and her daughter. However, the love and joy that being a parent still offers her is priceless. After, all if we don’t fall short, we did not try. My sister is now utilizing her reflection to assist her daughter in being a better mother. Now, as a grandmother to 2 kids, a boy 8 months old and a girl 3 years old, she can rectify her wrongs and demonstrate the rights. After all of her hardship her daughter has still managed to make her mother proud by living a better life then she did. Her daughter now has her own place, car and is attending college. Which goes to show, with all our parental failures, success was in the love and effort we
After reading the book called “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman it made me think about life a little different. It made me view life as if I were Lia and her family and going through everything they are going through within this book. How they have overcome every obstacle and challenge. No woman in the world should have to go through a phase where they have lost their child. Reading this book also made me realize some the things I don’t want to go through when I have children of my own when I get older. I give all the woman in the world my respect and support because the pan they have to go through when they have a child especially if they don’t have a home of their own.
“Alone in the world, cast off by it, and with this sole treasure to keep her heart alive, she felt that she possessed indefeasible rights against the world, and was ready to defend them to the death…God gave me the child!...She is my happiness – she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me, too...She is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved…Ye shall not take her! I will die first!” (The Scarlet Letter). Women who are alone often confided in their children for support. Their children bring them happiness, even though they can be a constant reminder of what they have done at times. Mothers have a right to defend their children and anyone who threatens to take them away, they are willing to do anything to keep them. “All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by this red-hot brand, and had long ago fallen away, leaving a bare and harsh outline…Even the attractiveness of her person had undergone a similar change. (The Scarlet Letter). People who have traumatic experience are often changed in some way, shape, or form. They can change in a positive way or a negative way; it all depends
She chose to not let this injury define who she is. She had plenty of support from her friends and family that was comforting for her. She deals with some depression in the beginning of losing her leg, but finally finds her ground her new life and starts to love it. The ending was definitely worth the wait. It was nice to experience her get a happy ending after going through the tough journey with her. I gained the knowledge of knowing that everybody has a different story to them, and you find out who you really are in your most trying
After speaking with her mother, she was so relieved that it did not matter to her who came. All that mattered was that her real mother loved her, and that was enough.
Eva is a single mother of three children. The father of these children left her to raise them by herself. This proves to be an extremely difficult task for her to complete. Eva is a very poor woman, and does not have much to provide for her children with. Her, “children needed her;
During the past few days, many of our friends and family have come to our home to show their love for us and for Arlyn. I have been especially moved by the fact so many of her teachers and principals have shown up and cried with us. I am also touched by the love her young friends had for her. Our memories of this sad time in our lives will therefore not all be bad.
Mira had her nervous breakdowns from her struggles in being a housewife working diligently to keep everything well maintained. Once Mira recovered, she finally divorced her husband and later became a graduate student from Harvard University to study for a PhD in English literature. Although it was unpleasant and laborious, Mira comes to the point with herself and notices her future. Furthermore, Mira mastered to live with herself honestly and happily. When I was younger I knew my mother was happy, or so I thought since she never really showed much emotion, however, I do know when my mom divorced my father she began to struggle trying to handle two children on her own and trying to get a job that pays well with no college degree and not to mention her lack in work experiences due to the fact she did not have much from being a housewife. However, I did realize my mother became a much more happy person when she decided to go to college and get a degree and make a better living not only for herself, but also for my sister and I. Until this day I have realized I never thanked or told her how proud I was for her in going the extra mile in order to make a better
Many people do not make it to this stage and they continue to dwell within the walls of grief never knowing that there is a chance to move on and be happy. I do not think my mother would have bounced back as quickly after my father’s death if it had been for the family she had surrounding her. My oldest daughter had her first daughter, so my mother had her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to help her overcome the loss of my father (Axelrod).
“The children have been a wonderful gift to me, and I’m thankful to have once again seen our world through their eyes. They restore my faith in the family’s future” (Anderson, 176). Her children were her world; everything she did was for them. She tried her best to be the perfect mother.