noun
a human being, esp. a person as distinguished from an animal or (in science fiction) an alien.
Being a human is not something we can define, it is how we look, speak, and act. From the day we are born we are defined as a human what makes us different from animals and other life forms? Just about nothing. When I think of a human I think of the same characteristics we all share. I breathe, you breath but so do just about every other living organism on this planet and they aren't humans. All humans have emotions, we can laugh and cry, we can love and hate. To have emotions and to detect how we feel makes us humans. There aren't many things that divide us from other species on the outside but, our brains develop more, we grow, and we have thumbs! I like to think that being a human is a gift. We get to eat when we want, sleep when we want, and usually act how we want unlike many other species on this planet. To be a human is hard to define especially when everyone has their own definitions and I believe Lakshmi does a good job showing what it is like to be a human.
As stated above, one thing all humans have in common is the ability to have feelings. Lakshmi experiences being sad when (spoiler alert!!) she finds out she isn't going to be a maid in the big city, when she loses her friend "The David Beckham Boy" and her even closer friend Shahanna. Her jealousy towards Monica builds up throughout the entire story line until Monica returns to the brothel finding out the truth that no one in her family was proud of what she did. Lakshmi remembers the American men that come and try and save her, she is intelligent and stubborn. Although animals can have different personalities like humans, the ability that humans have to be more than one, two, or three things is greater than the level animals can take it to. Lakshmi feel sorry, sad, amazed, mad, hopeful, and discouraged while living in the 'Happy House'. She was able to detect how she felt as her new family saw her at her worst and what seemed to be her best. Lakshmi lost everything she had, she lost the smell of the Himalayan mountains, the sound of her goat, and her family. Although she gained new friends, and took an even harsher look at her already terrible life. Throughout her time in the Happy House, Lakshmi became more of a down to Earth human being that she already was.
Hi Kate,
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you put the definition of human at the top. Also, i like the way you talk about animals, and how they differ from humans, for i hadn't thought about this as i was writing mine, but i do agree.
You really showed how she had feelings, and how she had sadness, aside from being sad, there were also parts of the book that she seemed to carry happiness (although not nearly as many) i realized that the majority of the times that she was happy, was when she was back at home, either with her goat, or caring for her cucumbers,or just being with her family. At home there didn't seem to be much sadness aside from her stepfather, and what impact he had on her, but once she went to the city, all of her emotions seemed to change for the worse.
Nice Job!