Write a critical response following the instructions bellow: Discuss one point you like/agree with, and one point you dislike/disagree with, and why

Discussion Rubric

Reply to Others’ Postings:

Write a critical response following the instructions bellow:

Discuss one point you like/agree with, and one point you dislike/disagree with, and why. Always be respectful of your classmates’ points of view but also feel free to disagree.

 

2. Length should be about ½ page – 1 page (double spaced) in length and response should be fairly well written.

 

Post: By Margarita Garcia

 

Martin Eden 2^nd half:

Martin Eden continued to struggle having his submitted work constantly rejected by publishers. This forced him to attain a job like the lower-class working in a laundry room to sustain himself while his career took off. During this process he met lower-class people that he didn’t necessarily feel he was like them but definably connected with them in ways that he could not with the upper-class. The upper-class did not offer him a helping hand and rejected him for not being part of their class. He especially had a connection with Maria, a lower-class woman with several kids. Maria fed him and cared for him when he was ill when no one else would. Through all the rejections she stood by him, always having faith in his writing.

Eventually his work gained attention and his writings began to get published. He became almost celebrity like. Ruth also became more interested in him and eventually they were engaged. Martin was then being invited to upper-class dinner parties. Thus, realized that these upper-class people weren’t truly interested in who he was as a writer, as they were only interested at his celebrity status.  He realized the writings that were suddenly being sought after were the same that he had previously submitted only to be rejected. He began to notice that these upper social he had long wanted to be a part of weren’t that great after all. They were passionless and lack human emotion, spirit. He noticed there really was nothing special about Ruth and she was interested in social status appearances. She didn’t have a mind of her own and mostly believed in things that were known common practice in her social class. He realized she was not in love him “Martin Eden”, but with his money and popularity. This prompted him to break off the engagement.

Eventually this state of limbo, and his inability to belong to either social class, and the knowing he was not really appreciated for who he really was, took him into a state of depression and despair. He was no longer interested in anything and wanted to sleep more. He ultimately jumped off his boat to end his suffering. In the end, as his body was ceasing to exist he realized that there was no pain in dying, but the pain of life. Life was suffocating. “He had fallen into darkness. And at that instant he knew, he ceased to know.”

Martin Eden’s life. I feel was a sad one. I feel if he just accepted himself and did not feel that urge to fit in, he would have been happier. We have seen how time has proven to change people’s perception. Authors, scientists, artists and philosophers that were once viewed as crazy or unworthy are now seen as innovators, or their creations and theories as genius works of art.  I believe time could have changed things and he would have seen this change. I do believe as the last line says “The instant he knew, he ceased to know”, he did realize this, but, unfortunately and the end of his life.