Compare And Contrast David And Goliath

Success can easily come from intelligence, wealth, or pure luck. However, Roman poet Horace argues that one’s misfortune and suffering provide a path for success and positivity. He says, “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.” True prosperity has been repeatedly found in cases where life’s challenges are considerable. In essence, when people are faced with sacrifice and hardship, the human condition’s deep-rooted attitude of striving beyond limits is touched upon, ultimately leading to accomplishments.
In Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath, he discusses how the so-called “underdog” is actually more advantageous. Through numerous examples Gladwell concludes that since the “underdog”
has more to work towards than the oftentimes laid-back “giant,” the “underdog” will predominantly end up in a more favorable position. One of his many examples is about David Boies, who faced an everyday struggle with dyslexia. Boies “went from a construction worker with a high school education to the top of the legal profession” (Gladwell 108). In order to do this and strive beyond the limitations of dyslexia, Boies had to figure out how to learn under normal learning circumstances, which he did. He listened in law school lectures to the point of memorization and strategized to get himself to a level above his classmates. Boies’ dyslexia provided him with a reason to become proactive. Gladwell states, “He was such a terrible reader that he had to scramble and adapt and come up with some kind of strategy that allowed him to keep pace with everyone around him” (113). Evidently, Boies just so happened to end up on top.
In addition, in Maya Angelou’s memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she reflects on the events in life that have cumulatively shaped her into who she is today. Angelou, born as Marguerite Anne Johnson, discusses the controversy she faced while growing up involving racial prejudices against her, rape, and identity struggles. However, through all of this, Angelou had self-motivation to become smarter than the whites and did not let their prejudices against her stop her. She had a dream to become the first African American streetcar ticketer, which she fought for and eventually became. Her mother’s words “Nothing beats a trial but a failure” stuck as Marguerite Anne Johnson persevered through all of the limitations that held her back (Angelou 265). Maybe if Angelou were not met with these difficulties in her life, then she would not have become as successful. After all, Marguerite Anne Johnson became Maya Angelou because she was told numerous times that she could not do something. Angelou fought back to show herself that she could do what she was idealistically held back from. She also fought back to help others that followed her in similar positions. Maya Angelou lived the rest of her life as a well-respected author and civil rights activist.
Another example of where one’s disadvantages can become advantages is in Temple Grandin’s The Autistic Brain.
Temple Grandin grew up with little ability to speak, destructive behavior, and sensitivity to certain objects and feelings. In the 1950’s when she was diagnosed, autism was not a highly explored topic. Therefore, her mother received the message that Grandin would face many difficulties in life. Eventually, Grandin realized, “Oh, it’s me that’s different,” though she did not let this stop her from going to enough school to get her doctorate (9). Throughout her life, she has used her disadvantage with autism in participating in studies to help those with autism now lead a more successful life. She is also now able to look at herself differently than she would have years ago. Years ago, she would have looked down upon herself in a mental institution because there were not studies to assess the autistic brain. Now, she is even able to study her own brain. Grandin states, “I find these results fascinating because they highlight some of the odd things going on in my brain that help make me who I am” (33). Throughout Temple Grandin’s life, autism has come a long way. Grandin has demonstrated that her difficulties contributed to her success and passion in helping others and striving beyond the limits set by the autistic
brain.
Lastly, in Viktor Frankl’s memoir, Man’s Search for Meaning, he has revealed by experience that people are only able to realize their potential and meaning when all aesthetic needs are stripped.
In his memoir, Frankl is able to psychoanalyze the minds of those with him at Auschwitz in the terror during the Holocaust. Frankl powerfully states, “If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering” (67). At Auschwitz, Frankl and his co-inmates were deprived of almost everything they have ever considered a need; some even began to lose their minds also. However, “the lack of having these simple desires satisfied led him to seek wish fulfillment in dreams” (Frankl 29). Frankl realized that it is in human condition to stay strong, even in the darkest of times. He learned that these hopeless times are what give people, especially those in the Holocaust, the hope and will power to succeed. Prior to the war circumstances, Viktor Frankl would have lived on as a successful logotherapist. However, the Holocaust provided him with an internal success, mentally and emotionally. Frankl presents the idea that man’s meaning is not to become wealthy or famous, but instead to live life happily and survive any given circumstances, which in the end are
accomplishments.
Despite the negative connotation, misfortune allows people to uncover life’s significance and reach success. Throughout these four books Horace’s message was interpreted in distinct, yet comparable ways. In all examples the main character was held within certain boundaries and managed to bypass those boundaries, which contributed to self-progress. People are characterized and are able to influence others by the events in their lives that shaped them. These books serve to support the general idea that disadvantages can play a significant role in positively influencing those faced with hardships. Although the prefix “dis” on “disadvantages” implies negation, through these four examples disadvantages can indeed become synonymous with advantages.