Pushing Tin by Nick Falzone - Essay Example

Analysis of Nick Falzone’s Stress in the Fill “Pushing Tin” Stressors Nick and Russell engage into a contest of determining who the better man is. They vie for this job to the point of wrestling for the top spot. This makes Nick more stressed as he competes with Russell. He is even more stressed by the contest that involves a lot of stressful engagements. He is pressured by racing their vehicles which make him very stressed. In another incident, Nick is given more pressure in a basketball shooting. The pressure never ends as the two characters compete to prove who has the better marriage than the other. This gives Nick Falzone a lot of pressure as he tries to become the better man of the two. Controlling one of the busiest airspaces in the United States is a major reason that gives Nick a lot of pressure hence his stressful life. The job is very stressing as indicated by the 50% dropout of new recruits. The new recruits are unable to cope with this pressure and quit the job at its earliest stages. Later, Russell Bell joins the air controllers. Nick is challenged such that he is envious of the power and endurance portrayed by a new recruit (Pushing Tin). Perceived Stress The entry of Russell into the airspace controlling job becomes a reason to pressure Nick since he always thought that he was the best in the crew. It is something that he can do away with by just swallowing his pride but since his inner character shows him otherwise, he ends up being very stressed by everything Russell does in life. Nick is jealous of the power to handle stressful tasks at the workplace that is portrayed by Russell. He perceives him as his competitor in everything in life. He always thought that he would be the toughest man to cope with compromising situations at the work place and at home, but someone appears into his life and proves to be even better. No matter how good somebody can be at their workplaces, there is always someone out there who is even better (Bickerstaff, 4). Stress Response Nick is fed up by the strength and wit shown by Russell. He thinks of ways to hurt him and ends up liking his wife Mary. He competes with Russell in physical battles including racing cars, basketball shooting contests and worse still competing on a basis of who has the better marriage. Surprisingly, it is Nick who becomes stressed by these contests. He feels that he is losing every battle against Russell who seems not to be bothered by the contests at all. Nick takes everything that Russell does to be a contest and tries to be better than him but ends up being a loser in his view of things (Parker, 27). Behavioral Response Nick tries in every way to make Russell act like him because he wants him to see the rivalry between them the same way he does. He likes Russell’s nineteen-year-old wife Mary and ends up wooing her. Nick succeeds to convince Mary to cheat on Russell with him. Mary gives Nick another stressful chapter in life by telling him that she confessed to her husband. The incident stresses Nick because Mary insists that her husband was not surprised by the affair and it even made their marriage better. Though it is comical, Nick wonders why Russell is not bothered by such a bad thing. Later, Russell plots to revenge on Nick by doing the same thing he did to him. He woos Nick’s wife Connie until he succeeds. Russell is engaged into adultery with Nick’s wife Connie. The pressure falls on Nick who is stressed by the incident. He feels like he has lost everything to his main rival. He is much stressed by the way things turn out. Nick confronts Russell at workplace due to frustrations for something he started himself. It shows the stressful nature of Nick who responds in an even more tempered manner. It is clearly evident that Nick is frustrated when Connie confesses that he has slept with Russell. Coincidentally, their plane takes a wrong turn just after the confession by Connie. Nick thinks that it is Russell who is distorting the plane’s movement (Pushing Tin). Nick is pressured by Russell at workplace and ends up doing things that he would have otherwise not done. For instance, just after confronting Russell, there is a call for a bomb threat. Since Russell has decided to volunteer, Nick does the same thing. They volunteer to land planes in the airspace within 26 minutes before the bomb goes off. Just before it goes off, Nick leaves the place in fear of the bomb. Russell opts to remain in the place. Later on, Nick feels jealous when Russell is lauded as a hero since the threat was not true. Such incidences make Nick even more stressed hence the changes in his behavior at workplace and even at home. Moderators Nicks strength, skills, and intelligence make him cope with the pressure at workplace. Otherwise, he would not survive the pressure. However, most of the pressure at workplace can be avoided. This is not the case since Nick always wants to be the best. Russell’s entry into the workplace affects Nick’s life in every way. All the stress that Nick goes through seems to due to the existence of Russell. On the other hand, Russell gives Nick the determination to endure tough situations such as volunteering to remain in a place where a bomb is about to go off. Connie was supportive of Nick but she lets him down in the end (Pushing Tin). Distress Results Nick’s battles with Russell last for a long time. Russell quits the job and abruptly leaves for Colorado. Connie leaves Nick and his performances at the airspace become poor. For example, there is a day when he is sent home because he was responsible for two occasions where planes almost collided. It gives Nick stress at a time when his competitor is longer around and his wife is gone. His pressure at work was all because of his view of life (Bickerstaff, 12). Eustress Results Nick learns that Russell was involved in the incidences where planes almost collided even though he was away. After realizing that he cannot handle the pressure he looks for Russell to reconcile with him (Parker, 27). He drives to Colorado and asks Russell to advise him on getting back to his good days. The two reconcile and Nick goes back to New York a better man. He does the same thing with Connie and they get back together. Work Cited Bickerstaff, Linda. Stress. New York: Rosen Pub., 2007. Print. Pushing Tin. Con Film, 2000. DVD. Parker, Henry. Stress Management. Chandni Chowk, Delhi: Global Media, 2007. Print. Read More