Carla Sabbatini
Dr. Ellis/ EN 101.21
September 11, 2013
Essay 2
The Change In
Perspective From Experience
A
Jesuit education, characterized by serving faith and promoting justice is a
significant way one is able to transform his or her perspective on the world.
This type of education also targets the whole person as a way for people to
learn through service about the world while reflecting on it and learning about
themselves. The poems by Frost, McDonough, and Harper all display a change in
perspective where each person gains something in the end that they once did not
have.
In Robert Frost’s
Poem, “Mending Wall” two men are walking along a stone fence that not only
separates their properties, but also their lives and opportunities of knowing
each other. The wall is an impersonal and unemotional object. When it
physically divides two people, it causes those people to act in this way to
each other. There would be no way for the two to become friends if there was a
wall. The wall was a way for the men to both gain and transform a perspective
on the wall and eachother. In the springtime, just once a year, the men take a
look at the wall. One man views that the wall should be taken down just like
the stones are naturally falling out. The other views the wall as a necessity
and kept repeating, “good fences make good neighbors” (line 24). This reveals
the difference the two have of the wall, but also how two perspectives can be
completely different in the same situation. It was clear that the two gained a
friend from this acrimonious wall.
The poem “Accident, Mass. Ave.” by Jill
McDonough is also a poem about not seeing someone else’s perspective in a
situation. This time the interaction is not between two men, but the narrator
and an older woman who is not native to English. The two are driving on Mass
Ave and get into an accident with each other. Accidents are temperamental
situations and no one enjoys being in one. They are usually filled with rage,
confusion and sadness, which are three emotions that the two felt. This poem
demonstrates that one cannot judge another in a situation. Although the reason
for the accident is not determined, the two quickly realize that getting into
the accident was not the worst thing in the world since there was no harm to
either of them. They both realized that fear and the expectation is what caused
the rage, but in the end “[they] laugh” (line 38).
Perspective is
also demonstrated in Frances E. W. Harper’s poem “Learning to Read”. This time
the issue is not a wall, or a car accident, learning how to read. It is evident
from the diction that this poem is set in the rural south where slavery was
still prevalent. It is uplifting to read how the narrator has such a passionate
view on reading. To the narrator, learning how to read is an opportunity and a
way to strengthen a connection with God through the Bible. Independence and
pride was also gained through the ability of leaning how to read. This poem is
a reflection how with a good perspective and determination it is possible to do
whatever someone sets their mind to.
Perspective is
definitely something that is always changing and is greatly affected by the
world were in and experience. Stephen Graham Jones, a fictional short story
writer, is one who can agree with that statement. He traveled and read a lot during
his career, which inspired him to start writing. He was truly inspired in 4th
grade by the book Where the Red Fern
Grows. He didn’t realize that writing would become his passion. He said it
started with some lies, then some high school love letters, and lastly
transformed into a fictional piece of work. At some points, Jones said his
writing disturbed him. His process of writing includes reflection and revision
as vital parts. He looks over the introduction or first part of writing a
numerous amount of time then continues to develop an outline. It may not be
easy to write in the style that he does the reflection helps change is
perspective on his writing and world for the better.
No comments:
Post a Comment