The Blood Stone: Final Essay

Greed and Desire

Erich Fromm, a philosopher, once said, “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” The Blood Stone, by Jamila Gavin, reflects the negative aspect of greed through characters like Geronimo, Noor and Bernardo. Greed may not lead to consummation; instead, it causes serious corollary, such as death and stress.

Greed is not the absolute solution to success. Noor, a dancer, craves to dance for the emperor of Moghul (304). She refuses to marry Filippo, because she chooses to stay in India and to dance for the rest of her life (351). She is excessively eager to dance that she would rather die (304). However, just because of her greed does not guarantee she will. When Noor visits Filippo in Venice, she tells him that she “[is] given in marriage within a year of [Filippo’s] departure”, and “only ever danced for children” (399). She never achieved her goal though she has a determined goal and strong desire.

      Greed causes consequences, like death. Bernardo longs for the precious pendant (53) that Geronimo’s father received from the Moghul Prince who he saved (55). Bernardo even tries to get the diamond through Elizabetta, who Teodora trusts drastically (75). Bernardo even “[strikes] Elisabetta a blow which [pitches] her to the ground” (91). He is so greedy and enraged that he no longer cares if Elisabetta realizes he is only taking advantage of her. The result of his avidity was death. Bernardo goes to the Veroneo family to get the diamond himself (315). He becomes angry at Teodora, which provokes Carlo who stabs Bernardo in self defense (307). Bernardo dies because he is covetous; death is the price he must pay for his acquisitiveness.

      Avarice can also generate stress to the family of the person. Geronimo is adventurous which makes him a selfish husband and an irresponsible father. He longs for traveling and finding diamonds (12). He leaves his family behind for his own desire. Teodora always believes that Geronimo is still alive though the society gives her much pressure (5-27). The children do not understand where their father is. Filippo has never even seen his father until the rescue was successful. Geronimo causes sorrow and grief to his family because of his own greed.

      Rapacity does not guarantee prosperity, but on the contrary, it evokes consequences. People from this generation are becoming greedier and more longing. They want more than they need. This leads to damage to relationship and friendship, broken down of countries, harm to the Earth, which would eventually cause war. They all should try to become more abstemious and liberal, so the world will gradually become a more peaceful and joyful place for every one of them. 

Wolf Brother: Final Essay

Cherise Sinclair once said, “Responsibility and confidence are internal, so don't overlook the quiet guy in the corner. He might be shorter, and yet able to drop you to your knees with a low command.” The protagonist, Torak from Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver is a confident and responsible boy who did not know his own personality. Confidence and responsibility is important for people to be successful though some do not show or know their true ability. Torak is the responsible and confident Listener who completes his quest perfectly, even though he used to be afraid and diffident.

Torak is fearful and unsure when he first hears he is the Listener who needs to give his heart’s blood to the Mountain (66). He is scared of death – being sacrificed by giving his heart’s blood away. He tries to flee (81) though he is caught later by Renn (88). He is shown unconfident in the fight with Hord as “they [circle] each other [warily]” (60). Torak copies exactly what Hord does because he is so faithless and afraid to use his own moves he learned from his father (60). “He [thinks] it wouldn’t be much longer” because “[he doesn’t] think [wolf and him] are going to get out” (62). Torak doubts his ability because he is in lack of faith in himself.

Even though Torak used to be an unwilling boy, Torak becomes certain and accountable. Torak puts his own life at risk to search for Renn in the fierce snow storm (185). He is unselfish and answerable for his partner, Renn even though he knows he might die. Torak argued without hesitation with Hord who is aggressive and tough, that Torak is the Listener and he would be the one who goes to the Mountain of Spirits and fights the Demon Bear (202-203). Torak is liable because he thinks fighting the Demon Bear and protecting the human race is his responsibility as he is the Listener. He is also assured because he has courage to claim in front of every member of Raven Clan that he would try to kill the Demon Bear and he has faith that he stands a chance of defeating the Demon Bear. Torak is dauntless, caring, accountable and responsible.

Torak completes his quest entirely. Torak’s quest is to collect three Nanuaks and defeat the Demon Bear. The only clue of finding the three Nanuaks is a riddle: “Deepest of all, the drowned sight. Oldest of all, the stone bite. Coldest of all, the darkest light.” (102). His first Nanuak is found at the bottom of the freezing and fast river after he almost drowns (111). Even though Torak almost dies from lack of air in the river, he does not give up on the Nanuak and even dives for it. The second Nanuak is found in a dark stone mouth that Torak goes into where he is attacked by the Watchers, the evil spirits (139-141). The third Nanuak is found in an ice hole on the Ice River (180). Torak is tested right after to see if he would sacrifice himself for searching Renn (182). He passes the test by deciding to take a chance to save Renn (183). Torak finally makes it to the Mountain of Spirits to kill the Demon Bear (227). He offers the three Nanuaks to the Spirits of the Mountain through his wolf brother and the spirits helped Torak defeat the Demon Bear (230). Torak completes his quest successfully and saves the human race.

Torak used to be craven and faithless, but he progressively becomes assured and amenable and completes his quest faultlessly. Wolf Brother reveals that being responsible and confident is vital for a person. Therefore, people should all start to build confidence and sense of responsibility day by day to become a mentally mightier person filled with determination. 

Wolf Brother: Descriptive Paragraphs

Descriptive Paragraphs

The spring sun was high in the sky but was hidden behind the dense branches. The bright and warm sun ray prodded through the fissures in between the boughs as it melted the frost on the berry bushes and the icy streams. The ground was muddy and living once again as the wild flowers bloomed gracefully. The forest was peaceful and quiet other than the sound of fast running water. The birds that just got back from the South were resting on the thin branches after flying for weeks. The energetic but hungry bears just woke up from their long dreams during hibernation, silently searching for food. The wolves intermittently howled at somewhere far away. As the hunter roamed around his campus, he could almost taste the refreshing minty and sweet smell of the pine and cedar trees mixed together in his mouth. He collected a basket of fresh berries from the berry bushes and was mesmerized by the strong nectarous smell.

I sat on a black stone like a pure gem alone. I sang as the birds hummed along. Watching the nature gradually resurrecting from the deadly winter is like listening to a long and slow piece of music becoming faster and at the same time, more enjoyable, and as the joy and bliss behind the never-melting frost is finally shown completely in the warmth. I ate a rabbit leg that I just cooked on the open fire, and prayed that it would draw no animals. As I enjoyed the peace and calmness of this forest and forgot the time, I realized the sun is already down. This piece of rabbit leg plus the scene in front of my eyes got me eating for hours. It seemed like I got stuck in my day dream until the crisp breeze blew me awake. I threw the rest of the rabbit leg by the river, letting it become the food of the wild creatures.

      The two young hunters took small and quiet steps on their tiptoes towards the deer behind the trees. They walked as silent as they could. At the time, they walked cautiously with their hunting guns on their hands. Suddenly, the deer sensed danger and looked back suddenly. It started running to the opposite direction because it spotted the hunters coming towards it. The hunters fired at the deer which was helplessly aimed already. But because of its speed, the first shot missed. But as the shooter reloaded and ran after, the other hunter aimed carefully through the trees and “Bam”. The deer fell as its soul was suddenly taken out of its body. However, it managed to keep running with its bleeding neck. Its determined and valiant spirit kept it running. The first hunter took a shot patiently as its appearance was almost blocked behind the thick trunks of the trees. However, he did not miss this time but shot the deer’s neck. It fell at once. Its body twitched hard as it had gotten a seizure. It was a piece of dead meat a minute after. The hunters cut it up and collected the useful parts on the spot. 

The Neverending Story: Fantastica in My Imagination

    The waterfall is enormous and forte. It sings with the pines in the forest as the wind runs by. The gnomes take showers under the huge and plentiful water drops as they falls on the gnomes like the rain of a storm. The waterfall slows down as it gradually becomes a river. The river is peaceful but rich with lives. The pandas collect bamboos for their babies by the river. The male beetles with beautiful, wide butterfly wings fly freely and flirt playfully with the cute, fat caterpillars that are enjoying sun bath. Bastian, the human hero, picnics with the Moon Child on the flat land by the river. They are talking about the new world without the Nothing. The green grass tickles Bastian’s back when he lies down and the flowers bloom beside his head. The mountains surround them like a bowl and the pine trees are tall and straight, shooting into the sky like a rocket. 

    At night, the sun does not go down and there is no moon or stars. But everything becomes an underwater play land. The sea water floods the bowl and blocks out the strong sun light, and everything is able to live underwater at night. The sea water is calmer and less salty near the bottom, the ground, than the surface. Every land creatures go to sleep at night, excluding the living things in the ocean. They swim around peacefully with no land creatures bothering them. All kinds of fishes meet at night with each other and play and sing. However, when the day time comes and the sea water ebbs, the fishes go to rest quietly until it is night time again. 

Dear President Snow

Dear President Snow,

      Hello President Snow, how are you? I am Annie from District 6. I am the older daughter of the two famous architects who designed the train of Panem starting from District 12 going across the whole nation to the Capitol. I would like to believe you respect and honor my parents. So please, take my letter seriously for I am the oldest daughter of them and as I am speaking for all the people of District 6. Also, please do not stop reading if I offend you with something unpleasant for you to hear, because the words I am going to tell you are serious and necessary to be heard.

      The Hunger Games once a year may be entertaining for you and the Capitol residents to watch, but they sacrifice too many young lives, break the dead ones’ family forever and overall, they are not necessary at all.

The Hunger Games is a competition that only one tribute out of twenty four will survive. Every year, young people cross their fingers and pray that they would not get chosen as a tribute. If they did not get picked, they would continue fearing that they might get chosen the next year. Even when they finally broke through of the wall of being scared to be a tribute, they would have to worry for their children. Fear of the Hunger Games is like people’s own shadows. It is always there and it will forever be haunting them. The Hunger Games not only destroy twenty three tributes’ lives, it also may ruin the rest of the victor’s life. Even though the victor survived, he may be physically broken for the rest of his life or he might feel guilty for being the only one coming out of the arena where the lives of the twenty three others who once were just like himself were taken away. The Hunger Games kill young people and damage victors’ souls, just for the sake of satisfying you Capitol people.

The family going crazy for their sister or father is even worse than being dead. A tribute died peacefully. But it is his family that has to bear with eternal sorrow. Can you imagine your own son being taken away? When you know they have no chance of coming back alive? And when the peacekeeper shows you your son’s copse with no sense of life in his dull eyes? Would you still be able to stand there still and calmly? Well, twenty three families have to suffer like this, seeing their beloved children or siblings but being powerless to do change anything. Families are scattered like a thousand pieces of puzzles because of the Hunger Games. I have a good friend who was chosen this year; her name is Amy Zhou. She was taken away and she is probably not going to walk down the train in a few months. I cannot describe my feelings. But I am certain I will always remember her and the pain plus the sorrow. Anyway, do you not feel guilty at all? Taking away the people and forcing family and friends to live with it.

The Hunger Games are not necessary at all. They are only entertainment, but while using lives in exchange for laughter. If you like entertainment, you can replace real and solid human being with animals or insects. Killing twenty three lives every year for the past seventy four years is not necessary. You know that, but you just love seeing tributes suffer so much, you’d rather go to hell, just like every other Capitol residents. However, you are the powerful president; you can stop the Hunger Games and save twenty three lives every year! Listen to my words with your conscience. Listen to all the people’s words with your heart! Save the man-kind! By simply stopping the Hunger Games.

Best regard,

Annie, from District 6

A Piece of Mushroom

I am a piece of mushroom. I contain a lot of carbohydrates, Vitamin C, B6 and D, proteins etc. I am low in saturated fat and sodium. I was placed on a plate, facing a young girl seemed bothered. She played with me with her fork for a while, and stabbed me hard and put me in her mouth. She chewed me several times and I was separated into several small pieces called boli, covered with saliva. The little girl swallowed and immediately drank a mouth full of water. As the girl swallowed, the epiglottis automatically closed and stopped the boli from going into airway tube to avoid choking the girl. My body parts passed through the pharynx into esophagus which is a tunnel that transports food into the stomach. The muscles in the esophagus pushed me down as a process called peristalsis. Later, I was in the stomach covered in gastric juice which is acidic. The pepsin, an enzyme (a protein found in human body that helps speeds up reactions) presented in gastric juice breaks down the boli into liquid, called chyme. If I were a kind of liquid already, it wouldn’t be so complicated. I traveled as chyme through the first meter of the small intestine called duodenum. My nutrients got absorbed by the villi on the wall of the small intestine. Villi cover the inside of the small intestine to increase surface area to fasten the absorption rate. If I was fried-chicken or corn, I would have became feces and been stored in the rectum until eliminated through the anus. However, fortunately, I am very easy to digest, so I became urine, which was stored in the bladder. I waited for a while until the bladder was full and was eliminated through the urethra. 

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