Amy Goelz Post # 2

The endless search of figuring out what it means to be human has been a question everybody asks at one point in their lives. No matter how they ask this, or who they ask it to, they are unconsciously acting out one of the biggest answers to this question. What they are doing is attempting to solve the problem, or question in front of them. Sorting out what is in front of you is a trait humans have acquired throughout our existence. Whenever a problem comes up in our lives, our immediate goal is to fix it somehow, whether it is a big issue, or a small annoyance. Life and being human is all about progress, and the only way to progress is if you solve the problem in front of you.

Lakshmi is a perfect example of this trait, because the whole basis of this story is that she leaves home to fix the problem in front of her- her family's impoverished lifestyle. But she obviously had to become poor to get to that problem, and the reason for that is her stepfather gambling away everything they have worked for. He selfishly buys himself unnecessary items, like a motorcycle, a new jacket, and expensive cigarettes. That and other things lead to Lakshmi's family's distress and strife, so she attempts to fix that problem. She hears of the chance to go to the city and work, so she understands that she must do this to help her family. By doing this, she is on her way to solving the problem of her family's poverty. However many problems she goes through in the future, and there are a lot, she knows that facing them is the point of everything she exists for. In order to be human, solving that problem or problems in front of you is the most important and meaningful thing to do.