There are parts of all of us that will always stay the same. Sometimes we hate these characteristics that are our nature, and sometimes they are what make up the best of us. Either way, there are some parts that we carry for our entire lives. Some people are born thoughtful writers: people who know how to express themselves in a colorful way from early childhood and keep that skill. Some develop this is adolescence or adulthood. Regardless, defining characteristics such as those are what make us up eternally.
Not to say that we are everything that we once were forever. As O'Brien says, “I was Timmy then; now I'm Tim.” (O'Brien, 236) The little things change. We grow older, and perhaps, more mature. But envy is still envy if it is over a new toy or a new washer and dryer. Being a jealous person is the same no matter how old you are, and the like. People will change how they look and how they dress, but that can't change the basics. Of course, a lot of things change, but it seems that most of important values and characteristics that we gain in life are from kindergarten and first grade- everyone is still somewhat those curious little faces finger painting and making friends and asking where babies come from.
It seems that instead of really changing, we gain more instead. Whether it's knowledge or just more baggage, such as O'Brien, “a twenty-three-year-old infantry sergeant, a middle-aged writer knowing guilt and sorrow.” (236) For better or for worse, the core of a person will generally stay the same, even if the outside influences of the individual's life change them outwardly. Shy individuals could find a reason to be more outward and become more social, but they could also become calloused and anti-social because of being mistreated or neglected due to their coy nature. Although our outsides may be adulterated by personal life experiences, our insides are conclusive, or as O'Brien eloquently puts it, “ Inside the body, or beyond the body, there is something absolute and unchanging.” (236)
There are parts of all of us that will always stay the same. Sometimes we hate these characteristics that are our nature, and sometimes they are what make up the best of us. Either way, there are some parts that we carry for our entire lives. Some people are born thoughtful writers: people who know how to express themselves in a colorful way from early childhood and keep that skill. Some develop this is adolescence or adulthood. Regardless, defining characteristics such as those are what make us up eternally.
Not to say that we are everything that we once were forever. As O'Brien says, “I was Timmy then; now I'm Tim.” (O'Brien, 236) The little things change. We grow older, and perhaps, more mature. But envy is still envy if it is over a new toy or a new washer and dryer. Being a jealous person is the same no matter how old you are, and the like. People will change how they look and how they dress, but that can't change the basics. Of course, a lot of things change, but it seems that most of important values and characteristics that we gain in life are from kindergarten and first grade- everyone is still somewhat those curious little faces finger painting and making friends and asking where babies come from.
It seems that instead of really changing, we gain more instead. Whether it's knowledge or just more baggage, such as O'Brien, “a twenty-three-year-old infantry sergeant, a middle-aged writer knowing guilt and sorrow.” (236) For better or for worse, the core of a person will generally stay the same, even if the outside influences of the individual's life change them outwardly. Shy individuals could find a reason to be more outward and become more social, but they could also become calloused and anti-social because of being mistreated or neglected due to their coy nature. Although our outsides may be adulterated by personal life experiences, our insides are conclusive, or as O'Brien eloquently puts it, “ Inside the body, or beyond the body, there is something absolute and unchanging.” (236)
3 comments:
You write about envy. Do you think a person can be genuinely good and experience envy? Is envy something constant or is it something that happens now and again.
I find your comment, "although our outsides may be adulterated by personal life experiences, our insides are conclusive," interesting because of the two words, "adulterated" and "conclusive."
What do you mean by our outside being adulterated? What do you mean by our insides being conclusive?
I think that all people will feel envy or jealousy at some point for some thing, or someone. That's normal. What I'm referring to are people who are almost defined by that jealousy; some seem to be envious of everything that they see and cannot have. Like a child who wants everything and grows up and stays that way.
By "adulterated", I mean tainted. Outsides isn't the best way to describe it, however. What I mean is how we are outwardly is tainted by experience. In my opinion, our "insides" are conclusive, or decisive. They essentially stay the same with us throughout life, such as O'Brein portrays it.
I enjoyed the blog. I think you made a great point about the envy we all have, whether it be strong or weak. Envy is still envy regardless of what it is over and an envious person will remain that way to an extent. I think you also made an interesting statement when you said, "It seems that instead of really changing, we gain more." This is certainly one valid path to take when analyzing the quote of O'Brien's.
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