Give Me Some Pi

The extreme situations experienced by Pi if read metaphorically could have almost infinite meanings attached to them, but I find a couple of the more obscure, and possibly unintended, themes particularly captivating. The events that are described by Yann Martel in his book, though fictional, have some interesting significance if we were to look for applicable lessons. To analyze this book effectively, evoking the historical contextualization to understand the background and events leading to the end of the book are necessary, as well as careful evaluation of the significance this novel possesses.

            As Pi begins to describe the turmoil that is occurring in India at the time, I made some quick assertions that this would have a significant role in the way that the novel turns out. One of the first things that occurred to me as I was reading the book was the interesting contrast in religions and things that he encounters. In small discussion with Mr. Kumar he encounters atheism, but the book never really goes deep into trying to describe whether or not he ponders on this deeply. The possibility for an atheist deeply entrenched in a sort of positivism, as well as an Islamic baker, a tremendous influence of Hinduism, and the meeting of a Christian priest who reforms a young boy’s beliefs, could only happen in a more modern period of peaceful coexistence. India was the perfect setting for a novel of this type to be placed. It’s home to the largest democracy in the world and because of imperialism has been influenced and shaped by so many cultures, and styles of governance. The moral pluralism that Pi practices could only happen in a place where religious tolerance and freedom have been seen or perhaps even emphasized. The revolutionary turmoil that was happening in India at the time was mainly trying to establish individual freedom and a stronger democracy. Yann Martel described this book as one that was written when he was looking for direction in his life, and this book ultimately guided him. The background of chaos in India could perhaps be very representative of the way that Martel felt. The historical context was chosen very carefully by the author.

             Some of the best parts of this book are connected with realizations that nature is everything. Nothing exists outside of it. This is perhaps one of the bridges that Pi crosses in his connection of beliefs, and especially in the way that he isn’t bogged down by atheism. However an interesting contradiction to his beliefs occur on page 241 in the discussion of what an animal is, and he says that he is a’ human being.‘ The response to his assertion is, ‘What boastful pride.’ In this moment he affirms that he is beyond nature, yet one of the interesting beliefs that was possibly assumed by Pi was that he was a part of nature. Here we come up with a dualism that occurs a couple more times where Pi says that he is a part of nature, and even an insignificant part of it, but at the same time he believes he’s beyond the cruel animalistic processes that nature exhibits. Is anthropocentrism damning to his religious beliefs? I would argue that it is not. His final conclusion is that nature was what kept him alive and the personification of animals proves that to an extent, the beliefs of inferiority and superiority he perceives can be synthesized. The way that he combines seemingly contradictory ideas really is interesting, and gives insight into each of our own lives. 

A Slice of Pi

Mark Woodbury
Professor Cowley
Writing 150H
4 October 2010
A Slice of Pi
Recently, I had the opportunity of reading the publicly acclaimed book, Life of Pi. This book is one of works listed on the Science Literature section of the Great Works list. It is chuck full of examples of the laws of nature and the interactions between humans and our fury and sometimes not-so-fury companions here on earth. Yann Martel is able to effortlessly synthesize a beautiful compound between science and religion in a gripping prose fiction novel. Lending to this creation are Martel’s use of vivid imagery, detailed descriptions, and poignant illusions. These factors, when employed by the author, lead to a stunning scientific novel.

And this is all I have for now...

The Context of Life of Pi

Historical Context

The tragic journey of Piscine Molitor Patel began with the sinking of the Tsimtsum on July 2^nd, 1977. The real story, however, can be traced to the election of Mrs. Indira Gandhi six years prior. Defeating Raj Narain, Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India for six years before she was charged of election fraud and the misuse of state machinery. Having been found guilty of the charges, Mrs. Gandhi was unseated from her position, and the election was declared null and void. In a wild attempt to maintain her position of authority, Gandhi advised President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare a State of Emergency on the grounds that “there is an imminent danger to the security of India being threatened by internal disturbances.” And so began one of the darkest periods in democratic India’s history: the Emergency.

While there have been noted benefits of Gandhi’s reign, including the significant stabilization and growth of India’s economy, the period was most heavily associated with a blatant attack on civil liberties. Elections were suspended, and political opposition became almost entirely ineffective. As such, many citizens of India lived in some degree of fear or their families and property. Pi’s father was one such concerned citizen. Fearful that his Pondicherry zoo would be taken over by the corrupt government, he decided that the best course of action would be to lead his family to a better life across the seas.

The Patel family accordingly packed their belongings and set sail on the Japanese cargo ship known as the Tsimtsum. Leaving their home in the midst of economic woes, Pi and his family were not able to afford any mode of transportation other than the shoddy likes of the Tsimtsum. While not a great deal of the political environment is explored throughout the novel, it is clear that the historical context plays an important role in establishing and initializing the plot.

I wish I were eating Pie

Initially, I was excited to read “Life of Pi”. The cover was engaging, the plot creative, the illustrations beautifully done, and initially I was right. The first few chapters captured my attention and pulled me into the intriguing world of Pi. Then came chapter eight.

I read to escape the world. I read to put myself in another place and time and get swept away in someone else’s story. I read for enjoyment and pleasure. These are not the things I found in chapter eight. After the first paragraph I was feeling a little depressed. Paragraph two brought revulsion and sickness. By paragraph three, I was ready to put the book down and never open it again – if I had been reading the novel of my own choice I would have – but for the fact that it was required for the course. Maybe I am more sensitive than others. Maybe I am just weak stomached or faint of heart, but when I read about meaningless pain or suffering described in graphic and evocative terms, I feel that I lose the companionship of the Spirit. I cannot feel its presence near when I am focused on gruesome experiences. This fact alone tainted the rest of the novel for me. I couldn’t fully enjoy something that kept leaving me feeling so awful. Nevertheless, I continued onward, hoping that I could find something within the book that would redeem it for me, but to no avail.

I had nightmares. I’ve been blessed with a very active imagination, which translates into vivid and realistic dreams. This is a wonderful thing when you’re dreams are about a handsome Prince Charming, but a horrible thing when you’re dreams are about a man eating tiger trying to eat you or fighting for your life on a sinking ship or worse watching those you love be murdered and eaten by a crazy Frenchman. Each time I opened the book I was filled with dread. I would think to myself, “I wonder what happens in this book today that is going to leave me in a cold sweat tonight?”

At this point, I must give some credit to Yann Martel. True, his novel completely horrified me; however, I respect his ability to do so. Martel’s writing was so lifelike, so descriptive. The words on the page held such power that they affected my life drastically and continually after I put down the book. This is the mark of a great writer, and one reason why I believe “Life of Pi” is categorized as a Great Work. My favorite writers are the individuals who can, like Martel, change my daily existence with mere words. I simply prefer to read works that make positive changes instead of negative ones.

My personal dislike of survival stories because they are just plain gross aside, there was one more detail that slammed this book to the bottom of the heap for me: the ending. While the final chapter of the book is well written and sums up the main story, I felt that the side story, that of the supposed author gaining a belief in God through Pi’s experience, could have been developed better. The whole lead into the story was that it was meant to make the supposed author believe in God. In the introduction, it does say that after hearing the tale the author agrees with that statement, but frankly, by the end of the novel you don’t remember that it says that in the introduction. You reach the end and think, “Wait, what about the author’s belief in God?” Even knowing that the question is resolved in the introduction, one still wonders how the story and belief in God changed the author’s perspective.

While I have the utmost respect for the skill in which “Life of Pi” was crafted, I can’t say that the novel left any lasting impact on me besides the knowledge that if I were ever put in such a life or death situation, I would not survive. Gruesome imagery, inducing nightmares, and an ending that left me feeling unfulfilled, “Life of Pi”, three strikes and you’re out.

Life of Pi Uncovered

Life of Pi is a fantastic book. It’s full of interesting story line, adventure, and fantasy. A reader finds himself hooked when he begins reading it for one of two reasons: first of all, it’s an attention-grabbing story that is different than any other and attracts the senses; second, it contains many different points that can be analyzed for deeper meaning. Life of Pi by Yann Martel is viewed as a scientific novel because it deals with psychological, biological, and religious aspects; each a certain characteristic of science.

Psychologically, Life of Pi could be analyzed in many ways. Pi is stranded on a boat for many grueling days. Not only that, but he’s threatened by vicious animals on every side of him. First there’s the hyena and the zebra (though the zebra is not quite as menacing). Next comes the orang-utan who appears to be kind and nurturing, but also shows its aggressive animal nature. The ever-present Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, is also a major threat as well. On top of all these obstacles, Pi has to worry about sharks all around him and an engulfing ocean just daring him to take a swim. Talk about emotional overload! It’s a wonder that he survived as long as he did, not even mentioning the fact that he had little food and water. All these stresses were sure to perform wonders on his brain: not the happy type of wonders either. Because of all this psychological stress, the reader begins to question what is truth in Pi’s account. He tells the two interviewers his story as outlined throughout the whole book, but they don’t believe him. Because of this, he starts a different narrative that is actually quite gruesome. The reader begins to question: which account is true? Also, the two stories have parallels. Could he be mixing truth with what he wanted to be reality? Was his first account an interesting story to make his fate seem less tragic? Or could it be the other way around? Either way, this brings up an interesting question that one cannot overlook and takes a look at the psychological feature as presented throughout the story.

(This is just the first couple of paragraphs from my paper and definitely needs some touching up!)

Pi

Rachel Zitting
Kathy Cowley
4 October 2010
Writing 150 Honors

The Life of Pi ‘s context is extremely unique when compared to many works of writing. Yann Martel’s plot is strange and different, and factors like politics, social problems, and economics relate to the story in a different way than most. Taking place in the 1970s, The Life of Pi is about a boy who becomes stranded on a life raft in the ocean with a Bengal tiger.
Moving across the sea from India to Canada, sixteen-year-old Pi Patel has prepared to live in a new country with a new lifestyle. Little does he know, he will have to survive in an even harsher and foreign ecosystem than he expected. At the time of his family’s departure from India, Prime Minister Indira Ghandi had thrown India into a state of emergency. Pi’s father becomes nervous that his zoo will not prosper or will be shut down by a stricter government and he decides to move the family and sell his zoo animals. The economic conditions of the society do not look promising.
Pi has grown up in a highly concentrated area of Hindus. Through a search for God, Pi ends up becoming a Muslim and a Christian also. This range of religion brings context from each religion into the story, as Pi ventures to find out the different stories. Socially, Pi does not fit in. He was teased because of his name—Piscine—and has just now begun to feel slightly confident in himself. He is also looked down on by many because of his peculiar religious choices. Even his parents do not understand him completely.
The Life of Pi is a story full of surprises, survival tips, and spiritual epiphanies. The plot is intriguing and new, and there is a dominating theme of ‘beating the odds.’ Pi is an example of what kind of risks and decisions people will make when they have no other choices. Previously a vegetarian, Pi has to eat all sorts of animals and he also has to watch animals consume one another. The novel is, at times, vivid and graphic. When Pi finally makes it to Mexico and is interviewed, he first tells the version of his story which includes the tiger and all the animals he encountered. When asked for the straight facts, he tells the story which involves his mother and the ship’s chef instead. This version is even more morbid, grotesque, and unimaginable than his previous story. The reader has to decide for himself whether this is the true story that Pi couldn’t bring himself to believe, or whether he knows no one will believe his tiger tale and is just replacing it with something more reasonable. The reader is left to decide many things for himself throughout the book. Either way, the book is fantastical and involves the use of imagination.
I enjoyed reading The Life of Pi because of its uniqueness and the knowledge I gained about survival. Although at times I found myself skeptical like the men in the end of the novel, wanting things to make more sense. I loved how Pi accepted all kinds of religion and had no prejudices against anyone just because they were different. This helped him get along with Richard Parker—the tiger—and he was able to adapt easier to conditions because of his open mind. The novel was creative and many hidden meanings with every chapter. Now that I know the purpose of the novel and the outcome, I would consider reading it a second time just so I can delve into the novel’s messages.

Pi and Science

Jacob Bagley

Kathy Cowley

Writing 150

10-5-2010

The Life of Pi: A Science Reflection

Historically the sea has been, in works of literature, a great metaphor for almost anything. It can represent isolation, or home; fear, or freedom. Truthfully, the sea is a paradox if ever one could be found. It is the source of immense amounts of life, yet through its power it also causes great destruction. It is the duality of this nature that has caused it to recur in literature as a powerful metaphor. In “Life of Pi” the sea is no different, it serves as both the life giver and the proving ground for Pi, his greatest asset and test combined into one. This modern metaphor for life, and faith within life, is canonized by Pi’s experience on the high sea, and his interpretation of it.

Pi is not the modern man. He believes in God, he chases morality and faith, and he loves to make and keep covenants with God. This attitude is symbolic of older, more antiquated notions of man’s existence, yet Pi throughout the novel does not seem false, or preachy. His identity as a modern person of faith is the defining point of his character; as later in the novel he is trapped in a “no-escape” kind of situation that, to many, may seem like a “punishment from God”. Historically, people have always blamed, or at least attributed, accidents on the high sea as “acts of God” or “providential”. It is within this context that we see Pi turn, not away from God, but to himself and his faith to solve his problem and survive.

The novel as a whole reads quickly; the pacing is well done and easy to follow. Yann Martel gives decent exposition, but wastes little time (only what is needed to explain Pi’s religious affiliations and upbringing) before diving (pardon the water pun) into the meat of his story: Pi’s life on the ocean with his faithful sidekick Richard Parker. The short length of the 1^st and 3^rd parts adds weight to what they say, and also serve to emphasize the main point of the story: Pi’s survival skills.

Perhaps the most interesting point of Yann Martel’s novel comes from the fact that he spends so much time on the middle section, only to cast shadows on what is said there by what is given in the 3^rd part, and also indirectly by what is said in the 1^st part. A fantastical tale of animals, algae, and high sea adventure is given in part 2, but an alternate explanation is offered that casts doubts on the truth of that entire part. Our question must be: why would Martel take so much time explaining part 2 if it were not what we were meant to believe? There is no simple answer, but perhaps we are meant to take from that what we are to take from Pi’s multiplicity of belief. Belief is real regardless of how perception accepts it; Pi believes his story to be true, and though the harsh light of reality may try to destroy that for him, his belief remains, and his faith as well.

I loved the book. Pi’s faith, his love for life, and his eventual banishing of the demons of loneliness, fear, and doubt stand as strong testaments to the reality of God and the reality of man’s faith in Him. The contrast between what the world constantly seeks to force Pi into; harsh dreams, one dimensional beliefs in God, and “the truth” is a metaphor for us: the youth of the world. We stand on uncertain ground, crossing an Ocean of falsehoods and disbelievers and we too, like Pi, reach a point where we tell our story. Sometimes, the world will not believe it. But we do, and like Pi, we keep our eyes out for Richard Parker.

Life of Pi Great Works

Life of Pi by Yann Martel was published in 2002 and has since won the Man Booker prize for writing. This seemingly new novel has made the great works list for science because of its intense use of scientific themes, as well as because of Martel’s scientific style of writing. Martel continually questions the role of religion in such a scientific world. Martel’s immense discussion of religion, amongst his use of such a scientific story, brings to pass many themes that relate and distinguish the differences and similarities between science and religion.

Within Life of Pi there many themes stand out concerning science and religion: the most being credibility of logical science versus faith and religion. Pi lives most of his life in the faith of many religions. Pi’s odd open-mindedness allows him to pick out pieces of truth from all religions, while not being entirely apart of any faith. Pi, however, was also raised in a very scientific way; forced to learn many scientific facts about animals resulting from his dad being a zookeeper from India. When Pi becomes stranded on the life boat, it becomes evident the need for both faith in religion, and a use of practical science. Pi begins by immediately falling into despair and depression. Feeling a sense of hopelessness, Pi faces the reality that his family is dead. Instead of being consumed in his feelings, Pi demonstrates an immense faith in his knowledge of religion, enabling his to power through these feelings. Pi soon realizes, however, that pure faith alone is not going to get him out of this situation; Pi must struggle himself to fix his own problems. Pi immediately begins making observations, recording ideas and sightings in a journal, and using them to make predictions about the best way to survive on a life boat. Pi uses this scientific method when he trains Richard Parker, finds ways to stay hydrated and get food and to just stay alive. Pi, however, also knows that science alone will not get him through his struggle: he must continue to use faith. By using faith and prayer to keep him sane, and logical science to fix seemingly impossible problems, Pi is able to overcome many challenges on the life boat, that otherwise would have led to death.

The Different Faces of Greatness

Greatness can be many different things; in fact, it doesn't even take the same form from one person to the next. It can be defined as a goal reached, a dream achieved, or a life fulfilled. Greatness is the driving force that everyone strives for. Generally, we all want to be known for the great things that we've done. This is how we make ourselves known in the world. It's what guides our everyday actions.

The definition for greatness varies with age. For example, greatness for me is getting high grades and doing my best in school, whereas my little eight year old sister may define greatness as making a goal in her soccer game and leading the team to a win. My eighty-eight year-old grandmother, however, may define greatness as finishing a book that she's always wanted to read or remembering each of her one-hundred plus grandchildren's birthdays.

Greatness can also be swayed by where a person lives, how a person was raised, or what a person values in their life. Another example: a pig farmer defines greatness as entering the biggest, fattest porker into a fair and winning the grand prize! This scenario, however, would not apply to the CEO of a high-class fashion company in New York City who defines greatness as having the most money, the classiest friends or acquaintances, the biggest penthouse apartment, and the best fashions. Both people would probably despise the other's version of greatness and achievement, yet it's their own personal driving force. This is all a matter of perspective, and that perspective changes with every single person.

No matter who a person is or what their circumstances might bring them in life, they should all strive for some form of greatness, whether it be winning a million dollars or passing a college final. This will inspire great works which tend to make the world a better place to live in.

Literary Bulldozer

On this earth at this very point in time, there are approximately 3,493,685,789,422 books on this earth (or so it seems), all waiting for us to open and peruse their leafy pages. Obviously, one could never read this myriad of works, and it is not socially acceptable or healthy to make such an attempt. So how do we, “… seek… out of the best books…” (D&C 109:7) as it counsels to do in one of the many I have read? What, or who decides which books are to be considered “great”? Is there a committee who decides which works are worthy of acceptance onto the “great works” list? I would submit that is not that way.
Defining greatness in literature is a slippery task. Any definition make must be nebulous, at best, in order to include the many genres and styles worthy of this category. My definition is exactly this way. Before I attempt to define greatness, I must give you another definition for a word in this context: moving. Something is moving when it is: “actuating, instigating, or impelling; stirring or evoking strong feelings or emotions, esp. touchingly or pathetically.” (dictionary.com) With that stated, I would submit that a “great work” is any work which moves the audience in an emotional or spiritual way. The more “movement” that occurs within the audience, the better the work. Remember that this movement occurs completely within the heart of the reader. You wouldn’t conclude from this definition that a bulldozer is an excellent literary work.
Within this broad definition, many interpretations can be made. People are different. Each has a different heart and mind – each a tool of interpretation. One person, considering his or her social standing and background, will receive a different impression than the person next to him or her. Depending upon age, a work may be taken as great or plain silly; to a five-year-old, Sesame Street and The Giving Tree are the greatest things since Mac and Cheese. However, to a thirty-five-year-old, these works have lost some of their former passion. Even mood and situation can alter the weight of a certain passage. As one can see, the amount of emotional movement within the heart of a reader changes with the background, age, and situation of the reader.
So where does that leave us? It seems we are no closer to choosing one of the three trillion or so books on the earth because all of which can be moving to someone at sometime. However, I would also like to submit to you that there comes a point in the existence of each great work, where it moves and continues to move enough people throughout history, and it eventually comes to be considered one of the “Great Works” of today. Works that are able to do this are characteristic in there applicability, versatility, and universal nature. They often teach moral lessons and can be allegorical in nature. However, these characteristics do not a great work make. It comes from a combination of these, as well as other numberless effects an author may add to bring power to his words, that qualify a text for greatness.
In conclusion, out of the many books on earth today, many of them are on the “Great Works list,” and rightfully so. But it is not a number of literary devices or a pattern of writing which defines these works to be great. Instead, a work can and should be considered great if it moves the audience, whether emotionally or spiritually; the more motion, the better the work. Just as a bulldozer is great if it can move dirt and get the job done, so too is a work great when it moves us, getting the “job” done.

Gold Isn't Everything

“Figure out what floats your boat and make sure it’s not gold because gold will sink your boat.” This silly phrase was said by my Biology 100 teacher, Riley Nelson. When I first heard him say it, I, like the rest of the class, burst out in laughter. My professor is known for saying some pretty senseless things, but I later realized that that statement actually has truth behind it. In today’s society, money seems to be everything. If you live in a big house, wear the most fashionable clothes, and drive the fastest car, you are admired. People will look at you and think that you are special. Although being rich may have its perks, those who are simply rich will not have the same satisfaction in life as those that are viewed as great. Instead of just having riches or fame, greatness is about demonstrating respectable characteristics while remaining humble in the process.

“To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them,” said Charles de Montesquieu. When I read this quote, it made me stop and think. Oftentimes, I think of prestigious men and women to be great because they have demonstrated extraordinary talents and abilities. But after examining their lives further, I realize that although they were in fact amazing people, they did not act superior to others because of it. Jefferson coined the phrase “all men are created equal” and although King Benjamin is a prime example of an ambitious servant of God, he reminded his people that he did “not desire to boast” (Mosiah 2:16.) Throughout history, there are countless examples of distinguished individuals who although accomplished great things, were humble in the process.

Today’s society has a perception that greatness is achieved by “being the best.” If you are the best football player, if you have the best clothes, if you get the best ACT score, you are great. However, people who should truly be considered great are those that demonstrate respectable characteristics while remaining humble at the same time.

It Moves You

            I admit this prompt has made me miserable. I’ve moaned and complained to my roommates, my friends, my parents, to that great black hole known as Facebook. I’ve asked endless hoards of people (okay, maybe three people) what they thought greatness was. All to no avail! And so here I am, hoping to beat this paper out at 1:00 AM the day it’s due.

            All through my high school AP English class we were constantly asked to look for the “theme” of a variety of short stories, books, and poems. My teacher would urge us to find the “human element” of each piece, how the author highlighted a certain bit of humanity. I suppose that’s what made a work great. It was some bit of writing that brought forward some trait all humans had or knew about and expounded on it.

A great work is something that touches the human soul. It resonates inside us, invoking some emotion or memory or recognition. Take Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Inside all of us is both an Elinor and a Marianne. When it comes to love we are sensible and reserved at time, but we can also be wild and romantic. We deal with heartbreaks like Elinor, quiet and suppressed, pretending like all is well. We also deal with them like Marianne: with violent fits of sorrow, selfishly throwing our disquiet into the faces of all those around us. Other times we are yet in the middle. The point is, in reading this “great work,” we see ourselves and those around us.

Music can do the exact same thing. I find that Chopin’s romantic style often invokes a variety of emotions in me. As I learned in Psychology, music is incredibly powerful. It is so easy for the brain to link music with a particular memory, feeling, or thought. As a girl I have ruined many a great song by linking it to a boy who later turned out to not be so great (the use of that particular word was fully intended). I have a CD that was played when I was a child to get me to fall asleep and I find that that music can still knock me right out. Greatness is achieved in music when it can make that sort of lasting influence on an individual or a crowd.

I believe greatness becomes relative to the individual on some level. Crime and Punishment may make you think about your own guilt, but it can also be extraordinarily boring. It may not be great to you, but it is great to someone else. A great work is that book that makes you want to change the world or that song that makes you want to cry or that painting that reminds you of that time you threw spaghetti sauce on the wall and then threw in some melted clocks. They move you.

The Different Faces of Greatness

Greatness can be many different things; in fact, it doesn't even take the same form from one person to the next. It can be defined as a goal reached, a dream achieved, or a life fulfilled. Greatness is the driving force that everyone strives for. Generally, we all want to be known for the great things that we've done. This is how we make ourselves known in the world. It's what guides our everyday actions.

The definition for greatness varies with age. For example, greatness for me is getting high grades and doing my best in school, whereas my little eight year old sister may define greatness as making a goal in her soccer game and leading the team to a win. My eighty-eight year-old grandmother, however, may define greatness as finishing a book that she's always wanted to read or remembering each of her one-hundred plus grandchildren's birthdays.

Greatness can also be swayed by where a person lives, how a person was raised, or what a person values in their life. Another example: a pig farmer defines greatness as entering the biggest, fattest porker into a fair and winning the grand prize! This scenario, however, would not apply to the CEO of a high-class fashion company in New York City who defines greatness as having the most money, the classiest friends or acquaintances, the biggest penthouse apartment, and the best fashions. Both people would probably despise the other's version of greatness and achievement, yet it's their own personal driving force. This is all a matter of perspective, and that perspective changes with every single person.

No matter who a person is or what their circumstances might bring them in life, they should all strive for some form of greatness, whether it be winning a million dollars or passing a college final. This will inspire great works which tend to make the world a better place to live in.

It's All Good

Achievement. Success. Wealth. Authority. Words we usually associate with greatness could also be used to describe the criminality of Al Capone. The words we should really use are those such as goodness, compassion, and peace. And although I may not be able to define exactly the formula that makes something great, I can tell you about things that are great, and why they posses that element of greatness. Greatness is a case by case inspection, not a mass produced, FDA-certified product, just like in the examples of greatness that we encounter everyday.

When I think of greatness, I think of snowcones on summer days, of my mom, and of Buddha. Although these are all completely different things, they all gave me a feeling of balance in the world and in my life; they are great to me. Snowcones bring back memories of my family and I just being together and enjoying each other's company – something that truly makes me feel the greatness of the world and the mercy of God. My mom is another prime example of greatness. She is crazy, weird, embarrassing, funny, helpful, compassionate, and extremely generous. She watches NCIS religiously, but is always ready to help anyone in our ward or make someone a meal (even if it is just pasta). The meshing of these qualities makes her great; she is both human and godly in one mortal body. When I think of Buddha, I feel like I'm in the center of the circle of the world, ready to handle whatever comes my way with grace and poise. I feel ready to do my best and be great in the sight of God.

There is one other prime example of greatness in my life: Jesus Christ. He was, and is, capable of the greatest love, the greatest sacrifice, and the greatest example for us to emulate. He, “the greatest of all,” is our Savior and loves us so much that He suffered to redeem each one of us – me, and you – so we could live with Him again (D&C 19:18).

If that's not great, then I don't know what is.

Spenny the Great!

Spencer Tolson

Katherine Cowley

Writing 150 Honors: Writing and Rhetoric

30 September 2010

Spenny the Great

What constitutes greatness? Most might argue that to achieve greatness one must come up with a new invention or idea that changes how mankind thinks about the world around them, as with Albert Einstein. Some might argue that greatness is achieved by those earning prestigious awards and titles, such as earing the Nobel Peace Prize. Most say that greatness is a term that is applied to people generally accepted as having an influence on the world, such as kings and queens that are given command of armies and wealth. I believe that these are all valid examples of greatness. However, I also I argue that greatness is a choice; made every day, by everyone single one of us.

As a poor college student, it is hard to see how I can change the world. I am not smart enough to get a perfect score on a test, nor do I have many titles to my name. I probably will not negotiate peace between two warring nations, or invent something that will change the world as we know it. However, I make a personal choice to be great. Greatness might be different for everyone. For one, it might be becoming the president of the United States, or discovering a new element. For me, greatness consists of waking up every day and being the best I can be in every aspect of my life. And doing the same tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. Millions of people get up every day to work an eight hour shift to provide for themselves, families, and others. People selflessly give of themselves with no kind of fanfare or award. Are these not great people? Are they not greater than those who do get some kind of recognition or satisfaticon?

Not all of us are geniuses. Not all of us can run a hundred meter dash in under ten seconds. However, we can be the greatest we can be. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Take pride in what you do. Do what you do the best you can. People might not laud your name, or read it in a book fifty years from now. But internally, you will know that you are the best you can be. Self-satisfaction is a key to this. Does it really matter if others know what your name is? This might mean greatness for some, but not to me. I have achieved something great when I can lay down at night and know that I did my best. That is true greatness.

Greatness Everywhere

Art Exhibits, Operas, Concertos, Theaters, Planetariums are all considered “great works.” To graduate from the honor’s program at BYU, students are asked to participate in a vast range of great works projects; but what classifies something great? While the definition might be unclear, clearly greatness can be found in a variety of places.
This semester, I’ve attended a dance performance, heard the choir showcase, viewed an international film, and am currently reading Life of Pi, all defined as great works. The connection I draw between all of them is the passion which with they pursue their own fields. The dancer spends hours polishing a routines while a writer takes many months proofreading and perfecting his work. When a person puts time and effort into something they love, it touches the lives of those around them.
Greatness can also be found outside the professional world. When I went home last weekend, my younger brother Isaac gave me his latest art project. It was by no means a Picaso, but to me it was amazing. Isaac put all the hard work and time a nine year old could and it was one of his best drawings so far. It meant a lot to me that primary age brother would spend his time making something that meant so much to him for me.
We’ve studied people who have done great things throughout the history of the world: Gutenburg’s printing press, Jesus Christ’s ministry, George Washington’s leadership, and the list could keep going on. However, greatness can be found anytime a person uses their time and talents to bless the lives of those around them. So yes, the BYU ballroom team is great, and the little girl who danced for her grandma because it made the old woman smile is great. We all have the potential for greatness; we just need to open up and decide how to use it.

Be not afraid of greatness

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." William Shakespeare wrote this. But do you know where I really got this quote? The great movie She's The Man. Yep. I just finished watching it about ten minutes ago. Was it great? Yes. Sleep is great also. But I must post something on this great blog first.
My point is, so many things can be great. Where does the line of greatness begin? This night was great, my family is great,the hot cocoa I just drank was great, God is great, and my biology test yesterday was not so great. It's such a generic word. How can something so overused have any meaning anymore?
In reference to Shakespeare, are people 'born great' or 'have greatness thrust upon them'? I don't believe so. Greatness is not innate and it is not something simply handed to someone. Greatness needs to be reached through effort. It requires much thought also, because many people who achieve greatness in one area, fail in another. Many star athletes achieve greatness in their sport yet many are terrible people. Many artists achieved greatness in their paintings or sculptures, yet suffer from depression. Many celebrities claim greatness, yet have not one single friend. To me, only one person has truly achieved pure greatness.
On the 1-10 scale of greatness, Christ must be at 100, at least. Christ was completely selfless, he rejected no one, he obeyed every commandment, and he died and suffered so that every human being could be resurrected. He saw himself as equal with others. He never uttered a single complaint. How could someone as great as Jesus Christ not let that kind of greatness go to his head? That, to me, is true greatness.

What's So Great?

The primary characteristic realized in being "great" or achieving "greatness" is so individual that even trying to establish a collective definition is extremely difficult. Despite this, there are some properties that can generally be agreed upon that are intrinsic in the discovery and development of greatness. Defining some of these could be extremely valuable in helping people to connect and create "greater" works.
One question that is immediately posed when we think about what greatness is made of, is whether something will possess the same amount of greatness over time. We often value things because they are rare, and we see this rarity is something that is "great" and valuable. However, we should be careful not to assume these two terms as completely synonymous. They are undoubtedly different, generally we can see why, depending on the context that we are evaluating them. Something is generally held to be great because some aspect of it, is able to assert power over the norm that exists in its distinct category.
One interesting thing about greatness is the way that it can be a foundation for itself. If we continue from this thought, we are forced to realize that perhaps nothing is really great. From an optimistic framework though, everything is great. I prefer to assume the conclusion that everything is great. This falls in line with many of the teachings that we have learned since primary. God created everything on the earth. We have to embrace every aspect of our lives. Every event, down to its finest detail, must be embraced by us. All of these moments are key to the unfolding of life. To reject parts of our life because they aren't "great" is to refuse the greatness that is intimately bestowed from God to each of us. Even suffering should be considered "great." Not because it allows us to become stronger, but because it intrinsically has value. Affirm life in every instance and truly become someone who is great.

Great? Really?

Greatness is a woefully cliche topic on which to write an essay. Not to say that it is unworthy, boring, or unimportant; it is none of these things. The problem with greatness is the fact that everyone has written on this topic before, about someone they admire, some great hero they know about, or perhaps about some everyday incident that was great to them. All good things, but, in order to write a great essay, there must be some level of ingenuity, freshness, and individualism present. So, the task at hand, if I do say so myself, requires nothing less than the absolute greatest writing imaginable to bring something new to this overdone topic.

I remember 10th grade English, preparing for an omnipresent writing test that would seal our futures as "studs" (those who passed) or "duds" (everyone else). Oh how we toiled for long days, writing till our fingers cramped and under extreme pressure to procure that oh so elusive of papers, the perfectly structured essay. Everything about it had to be in order, from introductory paragraph to the neat and tidy "put your 'toys' away" conclusion. Our topic was often greatness, because this prompt had occurred so often among the test prompts, and so we were subjected to endless hours of writing about Johnny the fireman, who rescued little Billy, or "House" from House's TV show (which was quite popular at the time). It was, to say the least, quite boring.

Eventually, I grew completely unable to muster one more person I thought was great. I had written about my family, my church leaders, Jesus; everyone. So, in secret, I betrayed the prompt. Instead of writing about greatness, I wrote about the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich; how it must be layered just so, and how some people prefer chunky peanut butter over creamy. The possibilities thereof were endless, as anyone could well imagine. However, the desired outcome was not achieved.

My teacher called me up after class, demanding an explanation as to why I would do such a thing; why I would be discontent to fit within the narrow parameters I was given and write another mundane essay. "Did you not enjoy it?" was my question. The teacher was befuddled; "What should that have to do with anything?" she asked. "I enjoyed writing it," was my only reply to her, and I took the F.

Sadly, this prevented me from getting an A that quarter on my report card, a sad truth my parents were not pleased with. I did however get the top score on the writing test (the topic wasn't greatness, no worries). What this taught me, however, is what the soul of a writer really is. Greatness isn't putting on paper memoirs of past heroes, though they are great. Greatness is doing something you love, and not always worrying about the conventions you have to break to achieve this. Writing is thinking outside the box; shouldn't greatness be that as well?

True Greatness

Society’s view of greatness is skewed. Individual’s are declared great because of how many times their names appear in the papers or of how many zeros are written on their paycheck. Instead of merit or morals, society bases greatness on the material things of life. Those who are truly great live their lives not on the front page but in the background. How can they who are so great not be known by the world? It is because greatness is not continuing to stand when those around you are applauding. Greatness is continuing to stand when those around you are falling.

To find true examples of greatness, we turn not to the tabloids, but to things of real value. We turn to the scriptures, to our church leaders, to our family history, and to our own lives. The scriptures are filled with individuals we proclaim to be great: Lehi, Nephi, Abinadi, Alma, Captain Moroni, King Benjamin, Mormon, Helaman, Ammon, and scores of others. Why were they great? Some may say it was because they experienced mighty miracles, prophesied of things to come, suffered the pains of death for the Lord, or were righteous warriors and leaders. While this is all true, these acts did not make them great. They make them strong and righteous, brave and true, but not great. They are great because they stood for what was right even when those around them did not. Lehi preached the gospel to the wicked people of Jerusalem even when they sought to take his life. Nephi was righteous amidst ridicule and attempted murder from his own brothers. Abinadi was burned to death because he refused to fall to temptation, and the list goes on.

While our church leaders today are not often asked to die for what is right, they are asked to live for what is right. They dedicate their lives to righteousness in a wicked world. If one opens their eyes, they will see that not only do prophets and apostles stand strong but so does the average person. Many people I consider great have never held prestige in the eyes of men. They just do little things that make a big difference. They hold open doors and always offer to help do dishes. They are great because they choose to be good people.

The world grows darker. There are temptations all around. Voices call out to join the ranks of those who cast all that is true and pure aside. They claim to offer greatness, to offer fame and success, but all they offer is a lie. Men seek for greatness. It is in our nature. Therefore, we must commit to seek after true greatness not the fallacies of the world. To be truly great we must commit to stand and never fall until the day that we fall at the feet of our Redeemer.