The Alchemist: The quest for the personal legend

The alchemist is probably one of the greatest inspirational stories ever written. Its reading helps us try and organize our thoughts and put into perspective whether what we are doing in life is indeed important or just a means to achieving our personal legends. Yet what is a personal legend? According to the book it is that which the universe has set out for each of us to become. It is a journey, an adventure or simply a way of life. What the book is trying to teach us goes beyond the boundaries of the small paperback in which it is encased. It is trying to tell us that we must never give up on anything that we want to achieve. It does not matter whether what we want to do in life sounds absurb to some, but as long as its imagined and wanted by us is all that really matters. As the book would say if you really want something, " the universe will conspire in order for you to get something you really want". Now doesnt this quote represent what life truely is about. We tend to forget that life is about living and striving for the impossible. Its about becoming a hero in our own life and taking the drivers seat onto new adventures. Its about holding the reins of something that might be dangerous but makes our adrenaline pump. Its about doing what we want to do and not become just mere spectators of our own lives. Grasping the knowledge that to want is all there needs to be in order to accomplish something, is what this book tells us. The only barrier between us and our dreams is ourselves. Once we remove all of our inhibitions we are set to go along for the ride called life. So as I hop on board to my own train of adventure, I'm ready to hold the reins of danger and the unknown as well.

The House on Mango Street: Reaching the end of the street

The story of Esperanza is a story that I personally can identify with. It's a story of trying hard to figure out who one is within the greater scheme of things in society. It's about trying to organize ones own ideas and personality according to what the environment around us wants us to do, yet fail to do so because our inner spirit tells us that there is more to life than just what is around us. The story is about going after what you think is right, its about following the road that is laid out for you yet have yet to wander onto it. Its about becoming yourself despite all odds. Thats what this story is about and thats what a bildungsroman is about as well. Its about going on a journey in order to determine how one fits into the universe. For Esperanza her journey was a hard one. She had to face dillemas concerning herself with respect to her family, her friends and her society and the expectations that each of them had of her. She rose up to the challenge and went beyond, because she realized that the expectations that were there were not the ones she truely had for herself. It is this inner deep realization that makes her such a strong character. It is because of this that we are able to see just how amazing she truely is. She followed her gut and became her own person. Whether she liked it or not, Mango street helped develop her, and it is through this that we can see that all the things in life that are given to us are for a reason. There maybe times in which we ask why couldnt things have been different, but life has a plan for everyone of us. It is up to us whether we listen to her plan and follow it.

The House on Mango Street: Who's Esperanza most similar to?

The assignment for this blog was to determine which character from all of the readings we've had before is most similar to Esperanza. For me I considered two characters to be similar to her. The first one is Harry Potter. I found that they are similar because they are both young people trying to figure out who they are in the world. They are both trying to make their own identities without having to resort to being identified with their past. In the first few books Harry Potter wants to create his own person, be known as Harry Potter, not just Lily and James son. But in the end he becomes proud of who he is because he has formed his own identity and combined it with his family roots. At the same time I found that Esperanza is similar to Lucy because both of them are women with different struggles they have to endure. In Lucy's case it was trying to break away from her society and her family and to be able to think freely and give in to love. Esperanza's struggle is that of breaking away from her heritage, her traditions which she thinks might be holding her down. Its interesting to analize how all of the characters we've encountered have tried to forge their own identities dispite adversities like society, family and their own personal demons, yet in the end these are the very things that are what make us become who we are. If it werent for these struggles we would not know how to live or what to live for.

The House on Mango Street: The first walk down this street

Reading this book has been an experience so far. Being able to present about it is also going to be an experience. The root of this book is about finding ones identity admist such a diverse and rich culture which is submersed in another culture as well. The hispanic heritage which Esperanza has is a rich one she is trying to get away from, yet at the same time she is afraid of the American culture which surrounds her, for she feels she does not fit in. Not fitting in either cultures is the cause of her loosing herself but in the end, she must embrace her own identity without letting many aspects of society influence her. This is the challenge she must face, especially during her adolescent years which we all agree are the hardest. This is the prime time in which we are faced with trying to not fit in and make out our own paths and also trying to assimilate with our surrounding so we fit in and are liked and therefore lead a pleasant social life. Its quite a struggle.

Life of Pi: The last look

For me life of Pi was a significant book because it ventured into areas which i seem to consider important, such as religious views and its role within society. Growing up in 2 cultures which expect you to fall under certain faithful denominations is a hard choice one has to make. Like Pi i found myself just trying to be a combination of Catholic and Baptist. Althought these 2 are more similar than Pi's three religions I can understand where he is coming from. In the end I concluded that faith should have no boundaries, that if you are comfortable with your identity and belifef system then there is no need to search further or try to persuade others to think and believe like you do. If this ideology became true then the world would be pretty boring and loose all of its marvel and distinctiveness that make the world what it is. The big question in this blog is whether Life of Pi is a bildungsroman. In my opinion it is and isn't. It isn't because in a way Pi doesnt really identify his personality, he doesnt seem to choose something concrete to which identify with, thus making it easy for him to believe what he believes. At the same time this is a conflict for he critisized those who wouldnt make or change their minds either. All of this confusion sums up at the end when we're dealing with both stories and cant determine which one is real. Yet at the same time, it is a bildungsroman because Pi is unique, the story we come to read the first time around tells us about his travel and his struggle with survival, making him who he is later on in life. This is what being a bildungsroman novel is all about.

Life of PI: Chapter XXII, An existentialist chapter

In this chapter we encounter just how the deaths of an atheist and an agnostic would go about. Pi is the one who is trying to capture the way this event would happen to both of them. In this image we are able to see how in the mind of the atheist just as he is about to approach death he is convinced of the afterlife. On the otherhand the agnostic still refuses to believe in anything and continues to hold on strong to his own beliefs. At this point I didn't know whether to be impressed by the fortitude of a person holding on to such strong convictions despite being shown the contrary or to be disturbed by this. This lead me to think about a topic we have been discussing in class about time and how sometime throughout the course of our life we always seem to put things off for later or tommorrow, always trying to keep our convicions or way of life by not regretting anything we do in this life, just like the famous Don Juan, who never repented of the way he lead his life. Just like him, I sort of imagined this agnostic person not regretting or changing what he believed in his entire life despite being shown there is something more. Yet on the other hand as we discussed in class the Christian view of him would make him stay within the limbo, for eternity. In reference to my title, I do consider this chapter to be one of the most existentialists ive read in a while because of the view of death and the afterlife, for the modern existentialist there is no afterlife. You live life the way you live and theres nothing more, this reminded me of the agnostic character to which Pi makes reference to. In life there are many beliefs, people may be wrong or right, who are we to judge if they are or we are. We won't know until it's our time to pass. This life is given to us to tolerate and love those who think different than us, who believe differently then us. Otherwise what was the point in God making such diverse of a creation. Doesn't this give us something to think about? All we need is love.

The Life of Pi: 1st view

After going to war and being in the middle of the woods, we encounter a tale that is refreshing and provides a breath of air to our minds. In this story we find Pi or Pistine, but he prefers Pi. The beginning of the book we find ourselves reading his naration as a grown man. He recounts his life as a boy later on in the book. Whats facinating is his view on life. He considers himself a Hindu, Muslim and a Christian. This is amazing since the root of his belief is that the love for God should have no boundaries or separation, for loving God has no name and requieres only true love. This is so interesting to me because it has been through BIC that I have been able to experience all of these other religions around me. I've learned that indeed, loving God is what is essencial, it doesnt matter what denomination one is. It was in World Cultures as well where we learned that all of these religions have the same roots. Pi seems to understand this notion, which is why he is happy with his view on life.