A Narrative and Analysis of Two Stories - Essay Example

Section/# A Narrative and Analysis of Two Stories Although both of the stories that have been viewed with regards to this particular essay could be interpreted as unrelated and of completely different subject matter, the fact of the matter is that both of these stories contribute to an understanding of the means by which humans engage in difficulty adversity and seek to overcome these. Whereas the first story was specifically centric upon the means by which an individual sought to escape the confines of an overly oppressive dictatorship, the second deals specifically with the means by which individual sought to conquer their own difficulties. Moreover, even though both of these stories deal with different subject matter, the fact the matter is that difficulty in seeking to surmount it, form the backbone of both stories. According to this the following analysis will seek to relate these determinants to the reader as a means of comparison as well as greater understanding for the underlying core an ideal that they represent in the means by which humanity integrates with difficulties, reality, and an understanding of goals as well as the impossible. Hyeonseo Lee’s story engages the reader with the cold, harsh realities that exist within North Korea and explains the level of realization that exists within a heroine is a function of time. Where is a maybe difficult for the average individual to understand and appreciate the difficulties of life within an oppressive communist regime, Lee was able to come to such an understanding as a result of the suffering detailed in the letter which was discussed. However, rather than choosing just to run and enjoying her own freedom once she was outside of North Korea, Lee spent a significant amount of her own time as well as all of the money that she it saved in order to rescue the remainder of her surviving family from the clutches of the regime. The tale represents not only extreme sacrifice but extreme loyalty and understanding that can only exist within an individual who is actualized and understands the reality of the given situation. One aspect of this particular story that was not found in the next story which will be related is the excess repower that an additional and unrequited individual can provide. Whereas Lee had been able to a compass great deal with her own money and her own efforts, she was eventually stymied within Laos prior to being able to fully realize independence and freedom for herself and her family members. However, just as the moment seemed as if all was lost, an unknown and unrequested entity entered and was able to change the situation entirely. Whereas almost the entire story up until this point had been focused upon Lee at her own individual efforts, the introduction of a secondary character willing and able to sacrifice of their own time and money was something that showed a great deal of the human condition. As such it is this very human condition of understanding difficulties in seeking to ameliorate them that provides the true object lesson in parallels that can be found within Lee’s escape and subsequent citizenship that form the backbone of her biographic story. Conversely, Diana Nyad’s stories emphasize a much more internal and personalized approach. Rather than having impacts upon the lives and freedom of other people, as did Lee’s story, Nyad’s struggle was basically one that was internal. This cannot be discounted to mean less than Lee’s. Rather, it is merely different in that Nyad sought to conquer her own weakness as opposed to seeking the comfort of others. On a broader level, Nyad and Lee show the ways in which the human brain and consciousness integrate with extreme difficulty. Whereas it would been much easier for both Nyad and Lee to merely walk away from the dreams that they shared, the much more difficult and nobler aspect was seeking to face them head on and accomplishing the impossible. As Nyad notes, what she was attempting to do, was ultimately never attempted previously; nor has been attempted cents by anyone without the assistance of shark cage. In such a way, Nyad’s escapade was groundbreaking and required a great deal of courage and strength to accomplish or even set out to a compass. In much the same way the risks that Lee took were groundbreaking in the sense that she not only took them for herself, she also took the first family members and risk her own life on multiple occasions to accomplish these impossible goals (Hong 3). In much the same way, Nyad realized the dangers associated with her journey; however, rather than allowing these difficulties to stop her, she used in his encouragement as a means of setting personal goals and accomplishing impossible tasks that she probably would of never before realized. A further level of comparison can of course be drawn between Nyad and Lee due to the fact that Lee was ultimately successful; if only by the skin of her teeth. Conversely, Nyad failed in her attempt but nonetheless was able to draw inspiration from, and encourage others from this failure. Ultimately, what one can realize is the fact that the human spirit is based upon challenge. Without a challenge, there is little that one can accomplish. Both of these stories reveal the fact that the human brain is splendidly wired to accept conflict to accept challenges and to seek to find a way to a conversation possible even in the direst of circumstances. Although the situation is not nearly as bright as has been illustrated in both of these stories, the fact of the matter is that they illustrate what can ultimately be accomplished if the individual is willing and able to devote themselves entirely to the task at hand. From such an understanding, it is the hope of this author, that the previous stories can allow the reader to call upon their own sense of courage and integrate with their own goals to accomplish those aspects of dreams that they might have previously thought impossible. Work Cited Hong, Terry. "Escape From North Korea." Christian Science Monitor 26 Nov. 2012: N.PAG. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. Read More