Value of Life Essay Example

Value of Life Essay Is the glass half empty or half full? The age old question of whether you view life itself as predominantly negative or positive. In Hamlet's Soliloquy, written by Shakespeare, Hamlet questions whether suffering through life is worth the pride. In It's Not About the Bike, written by Lance Armstrong, his excitement for life is hard to miss. While Hamlet is correct in the fact that, yes, times can be painstakingly hard; Armstrong's point of view is one I would hope sticks to people the most. No matter your situation, there is always a brighter side to turn to. During Hamlet's Soliloquy, Hamlet argues with himself over whether or not life is worth living entirely. "To be or not to be- that is the question"(1). Hamlet is in a time of panic, where he is facing several devastating problems. In the moment, Hamlet has no high standard for how life will turn out eventually. "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off of this mortal coil"(11). Hamlet's conclusion is that the only thing worse than life itself is the unknown afterlife. In Lance Armstrong's novel, It's not About the Bike: My Journey back to life, Armstrong is not unwilling to share he is enthralled to be alive despite his hard comings. "The truth is Cancer was the best things that ever happened to me"(17). It is obvious that the troubles, no matter how big, won't keep Lance Armstrong down. Armstrong admits that he had "shameful episodes" he says "I had to ask myself, 'If I live who is it I intend to be?"(15). Lance Armstrong's inspiration for living was that he was going to strive to be a better person when he got through his life-threatening illness. During my life, I've been faced with thousands upon thousands of issues to