Is Survival Selfish?
Survival is not just a matter of life or death. It is the ability to sustain oneself through physical, mental, and emotional hardships. Every day, all around the world, people are facing undocumented stories of survival. Those fortunate enough to recall their experiences can be found through memoirs such as Elie Wiesel’s “Night”, the speech “Truth at All Costs” by foreign correspondent Marie Colvin, and the argument “Is Survival Selfish?” by Lane Wallace. Although these texts vary in context, they all share the topic of survival. When facing adversity, people should utilize their instincts in the most effective way possible. The characteristics one must possess in order to survive include staying strong-willed in spite of the danger they may face, as well as the ability to think and react quickly.
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Elie Wiesel’s memoir about his experience during the Holocaust titled “Night”, focuses on various aspects of survival.
Wiesel describes his time during the Holocaust by recalling, “It was my turn. I ran without looking back. My head was spinning: you are too skinny… you are too weak… you are too skinny, you are good for the ovens… The race seemed endless” (Wiesel 310). When in a threatening situation, humans often panic or become petrified. Later on in “Night”, Wiesel asks himself, “Were there still miracles on Earth? He was alive. He had passed the second selection” (Wiesel 312). As Wiesel puts it, one must keep these “miracles” in mind, as to not lose faith and hope in what is to come. In like manner, the argumentative essay “Is Survival Selfish?” presents the characteristics one must have to
survive. In the argument, “Is Survival Selfish”, Wallace states many opinions on his outlook of survival. Wallace says, “Some people hold it together in a crisis and some people fall apart” (Wallace 320). The way one reacts depends on the type of person they are, as well as the situation. Some may make it through, while others might not be able to cope with the situation. In Wallace’s essay, he also briefly describes a story of survival, saying, “After realizing that the people around her were too paralyzed to react, she took direct action” (Wallace 318). To survive in a dangerous situation, one must think and react quickly rather than become frozen with fear. These realizations are essential in unpredictable settings. In addition, Marie Colvin’s “Truth at All Costs” shows her take on survival. As a war correspondent, Colvin faces many difficulties with her career. In “Truth at All Costs,” Colvin says, “Many of you must have asked yourselves… is it worth the cost of lives, heartbreak, loss? Can we really make a difference?” (Colvin 87). One often tends to question themselves in the face of adversity. This initial “gut-instinct” should be used to the advantage rather than being questioned in order to maximize the potential of survival. Colvin also describes her take on survival by stating, “It means taking risks not just for yourself, but often for the people who work closely to you” (Colvin 85). To survive, a person must be willing to make certain sacrifices such as possessing enough courage to help others in a time of need. Furthermore, all the text above recall various accounts of survival and the qualities needed to survive. In conclusion, one must utilize their instincts to survive. The characteristics they must possess include courage and bravery. While some may not be fortunate to document their experiences of survival, one can learn from those that are. Survival is much more than life or death.
Elie Wiesel’s memoir about his experience during the Holocaust titled “Night”, focuses on various aspects of survival.
Wiesel describes his time during the Holocaust by recalling, “It was my turn. I ran without looking back. My head was spinning: you are too skinny… you are too weak… you are too skinny, you are good for the ovens… The race seemed endless” (Wiesel 310). When in a threatening situation, humans often panic or become petrified. Later on in “Night”, Wiesel asks himself, “Were there still miracles on Earth? He was alive. He had passed the second selection” (Wiesel 312). As Wiesel puts it, one must keep these “miracles” in mind, as to not lose faith and hope in what is to come. In like manner, the argumentative essay “Is Survival Selfish?” presents the characteristics one must have to
survive. In the argument, “Is Survival Selfish”, Wallace states many opinions on his outlook of survival. Wallace says, “Some people hold it together in a crisis and some people fall apart” (Wallace 320). The way one reacts depends on the type of person they are, as well as the situation. Some may make it through, while others might not be able to cope with the situation. In Wallace’s essay, he also briefly describes a story of survival, saying, “After realizing that the people around her were too paralyzed to react, she took direct action” (Wallace 318). To survive in a dangerous situation, one must think and react quickly rather than become frozen with fear. These realizations are essential in unpredictable settings. In addition, Marie Colvin’s “Truth at All Costs” shows her take on survival. As a war correspondent, Colvin faces many difficulties with her career. In “Truth at All Costs,” Colvin says, “Many of you must have asked yourselves… is it worth the cost of lives, heartbreak, loss? Can we really make a difference?” (Colvin 87). One often tends to question themselves in the face of adversity. This initial “gut-instinct” should be used to the advantage rather than being questioned in order to maximize the potential of survival. Colvin also describes her take on survival by stating, “It means taking risks not just for yourself, but often for the people who work closely to you” (Colvin 85). To survive, a person must be willing to make certain sacrifices such as possessing enough courage to help others in a time of need. Furthermore, all the text above recall various accounts of survival and the qualities needed to survive. In conclusion, one must utilize their instincts to survive. The characteristics they must possess include courage and bravery. While some may not be fortunate to document their experiences of survival, one can learn from those that are. Survival is much more than life or death.