Comparison of the character of Mercedes from Fall on Your Knees with that of Katniss from Hunger Games - Essay Example

Essay, English Literature ic and Modern) Topic: Comparison of the character of Mercedes fromFall on Your Knees with that of Katniss from Hunger Games. Introduction Every individual is a unique creation and is different from the other. Wise ones speak about the concept of unity in diversity and similar is the case with people. Their similarities are the uniting factors. People may belong to different geographical areas, practice different lifestyles; each one is a contrasting personality as compared to the other. Some of their desires are common; the trait to help others is inherent in them. Small and big acts of kindness depending upon the situation bring inner peace and joy. Sacrifice is one of the highest ethical gestures; the giver and the one who is the beneficiary are affected by its positive vibrations to a great extent. The act of sacrifice has immense potency as it involves the cause for the sacrifice, the heart for the sacrifice, the will, grit, stamina to carry out the intended act of sacrifice and finally to accept the negative or positive consequences of the sacrifice with a balanced mental attitude. Acts of sacrifice transcend own desires and motivated interests. Sacrificial actions are committed for the wellness of others. This is true of the character of Katniss Everdeen in “Hunger Games” and Mercedes in “Fall on Your Knees”. Both these characters commit many acts of sacrifices for the benefit of others. The ultimate commitment at the altar of sacrifice is one’s life: Of all the acts of sacrifice, the willingness to commit one’s life for the sake of others is the supreme sacrifice and it is worthy of great respect and commendation. Suzanne Collins In “Hunger Games”, articulates how Katniss displays the quality of sacrifice from the beginning when she pushes her younger sister out of the harm’s way to give up her own life to protect her. This act on her part is without any motivated desires and she declares, “I volunteer as tribute” (32). Katniss, who is a tough, strong and a defiant girl, is willing to give up her own life to protect and save her younger sister without expecting anything in return. Although Katniss knows that there are slim chances of her survival, she does not hesitate to protect her sister by exchanging the place with her. The ultimate act of sacrifice of willingness to commit one’s life need not be proved by that individual’s death. Such an inclination alone is praiseworthy. Ann-Marie MacDonald in her novel “Fall on Your Knee”, articulates about a similar character, Mercedes. She is willing to make a great sacrifice, though that is measured in a different scale for the purpose of comparison. She sacrifices her own comforts and future prospectus about her life for the sake of her sisters. Mercedes is an obedient girl who is gentle, polite and displays maturity of a grown up lady, despite her young age. Although her dream is to pursue university education and fall in love, she unhesitatingly gives priority to the needs of others before hers despite the fact that she will never have the occasion to shape her life in the intended manner. This is evident as the author argues, “she has turned down her scholarship to Saint Frances Xavier University, for how can she think of leaving home when Lily is still a child.” Mercedes remains at home to help and protect her sisters and watches the boy that she loves gets admitted in the university and her dreams vanish, but she thinks that the welfare of her sister is paramount in comparison to her life. Thus, both the abovementioned girls are willing for the ultimate sacrifice of their life to make sure about the welfare of their sisters. Any act of sacrifice, big or small is great: Any act of sacrifice, big or small, is great because it indicates one’s nobility of character and the internal strength. Both the girls do not care for the security of their lives while performing such actions. In an act of defiance Katniss decorates Rue’s body with flower and whispers “Bye, Rue,” and presses her middle finger to her lips and holds it out in her direction. Katniss knows that this is not allowed because it shows defiance toward the capitol and she can lose her sponsors that are her lifeline, but she sacrifices the financial security to allow Rue a proper burial and to show the people of Rue’s district the importance of Rue. Mercedes also does not worry about her security and takes the blame on her to defend her sisters, on a number of occasions. She owns the blame by stating, “I knocked her over while I was dusting”. The problems caused by her sisters would have put the security of her relationship with her father at risk. Sacrifice done when one is young and innocent, is comparable to a divine act: Often one is not aware what the beneficial results are about the actions performed. They are so young that they do not realise the importance of the impact the act of self-sacrifice is going to have on the life of the beneficiary. Such individuals think that it is the right thing to do and therefore do it. Both Katniss and Mercedes encounter such situation and they willingly give up the comforts of their childhood in order to give their sisters a chance at the formative stage of their lives. Katniss recalls, “At eleven years old, with Prim just seven, I took over as head of the family”. With the death of Katniss’s father, her mother goes into depression and is unable to care for the family. Katniss takes over the responsibility of the maintenance of the family and she becomes the caregiver to the younger sister. Similarly, at 8 years old Mercedes volunteers her services, “I’ll look after it. Don’t worry Daddy. I’m the mother now.” She takes on the role of mother to a brand new baby. By the age of 12, Mercedes is doing the grocery shopping, housekeeping, cooking and washing. Both Katniss and Mercedes sacrifice their childhood to ensure that their sisters are cared for properly. In desperate situations desperate solutions can be resorted to, ignoring morals and self-sacrifice. Sometimes, self-sacrifice may come in to conflict with one’s moral beliefs but the choice has to be made by weighing the pros and cons of the decision. From the beginning Katniss despises the Hunger Games, but she has no choice in the matter. Hunting is punishable by death. Moreover, what she catches or collects that her family doesn’t need to eat, she sells in the district’s black market, again implying a disregard for rules. She believes in killing an animal for food, but is against the killing for the sake of the Games. At one point during the Game she finds herself in conflict as she thinks, “If Cato broke through the trees right now I wouldn’t flee, I’d shoot. I find I’m actually anticipating the moment with pleasure”. Her morals are beginning to change with the impact of the Game and for a moment she enjoys the hunt. Similarly, Mercedes finds herself in a moral dilemma as she must choose between physically hurting her father deliberately to save Francis or keep her morals of not hurting anyone. When James is frantically looking for Francis he shrieks, “I’m not going to hurt Frances,” and Mercedes sacrifices her morals, though with great reluctance, and chooses to push her father down the stairs. This shows that she is willing to overlook her beliefs to better the life of Francis and protect her from their father. Conclusion: Self-sacrifice under all circumstances is great and it is twice-blessed. It blesses the giver and the receiver. The giver enjoys internal happiness for having done a good thing, and the receiver enjoys in secular aspects as well. Both Katniss and Mercedes make the lives of others happy and are responsible for changing them for better. Although both girls are very different in personalities and beliefs, they share the similarity to give up their lives for the benefit of someone else without expecting anything in return. They do it without any motivated desires. They forgo their comforts and security and live for the sustenance of their family members. In the process they forfeit their childhood. One of the toughest conflicts that they face is to confront tough situations, and sacrifice their own morals for the betterment of someone else. Thus, sacrifice is a great quality when one surrenders self-interests for the wellness of others. . Read More