The Man In The Water Summary

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Every human is given the gift of agency, how we use this gift is quite different depending on the person. In the article, The Man in the Water, we see an unidentified man use his agency for something much larger then himself. This man uses his agency to demonstrate selflessness for those around him. He also elected to show courage and to be a strong leader in dire circumstances. In spite of the fear, danger, and hopelessness likely felt by the man in this story, he knowingly gives up his life to save others. If that isn't selflessness then what is. It says in this article, The Man in the Water, that he "must have realized that he would not live if he continued to hand over the rope and ring to others. He had to know it". Yet, this man willingly handed that rope to the last person, he was not thinking of how the water itself would take his life. He did not focus on the pain he felt, but displays that the man in …show more content…

In the article it talks about how it was a extremely ordinary day for the main character and he had no indications that today would be his last day on earth. With that in mind, this man chose to be courageous not knowing the consequences of his actions. "Every time they lowered a lifeline and flotation ring to him, he passed it on to another of the passengers". When the water was to take this mans life, it was unbeknownst to him, but he still had the courage to pass the rope to save another. Courage is not a attitude that one might claim in just a day. It is a characteristic that is made, created, and molded as you use it. With unfathomable courage, this heroic man passed the rope one last time, knowing he would never lay a hand on it again. Imagine the character he would have had to possess in order to utilize his agency, without hesitation, by passing on his chance of life to someone he didn't even

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