Teen Helps Save Abduction Victim's Life

Without courage there would be no bravery in the world. “Courage” by Anne Sexton reaches out and tells us what it is to be brave, she teaches us that we have to have courage, for our own sake. The article “Mich. Teen Helps Save Abduction Victim’s Life” by John Carlisle introduces us to a boy that lives us to the expectations of courage. He shows us that it is hard, but worth it to be courageous. In Michigan, a fourteen year old boy, James Persyn the third had to be more courageous than ever when he decided to save the life of a woman that he did not even know until she came knocking on his door asking for help. In Anne Sexton’s poem “Courage” she talks about staying strong during tough times, what courage is, and why we should have it. Courage is a very hard, but amazing trait to have. Everyone needs it, having courage teaches us what it is to be strong. You do not know you are strong until you see it for yourself. When Anne Sexton says “If your
buddy saved you / and died himself in so doing, / then his courage was not courage, / it was love; love as simple as shaving soap.” (Sexton, 23, 24, 25, 26) I believe that she meant that your “buddy” had enough love and courage for the both of you, she means that telling apart courage from love is not easy.
Having courage means you must care, no matter what. In John Carlisle’s “Mich. Teen Helps Save Abduction Victim’s LIfe” Carlisle says “He could have ignored the woman’s screams for help, could have kept this frightening intrusion out of their house and lives” ( Carlisle 2) This showed that James Persyn cared. He was extremely courageous. He risked his life, to save a stranger. He was her buddy that would have died to save her. Even though she was a complete stranger, he cared enough to be there for
her, he was courageous enough to save her. Anne Sexton says “Picking the scabs off your heart, wringing it out like a sock,” (Sexton 30, 31) This is meaning coping, healing, and making herself feel better. Much like how Persyn coped with his situation by hiding together with everyone. “There they were, a rape victim, a dog too friendly to offer much protection, and three frightened children, hiding in the dark” (Carlisle 4) These articles compared shows the different ways to have courage, how scary it can be to have courage, and how to save your life along with the lives of others, just by caring, and showing love.