Ryan Meagher: Post #2

There are two characteristics that separate us from about every other animal in the world. Those two qualities are self consciousness and intelligence. It is from our brain capacity that we have become self conscious and are therefore able to think with reason and logic, allowing us to dive into nuclear chemistry and construct monolithic structures that show our prowess in the animal kingdom. Our ability to make logical decisions entails that we can organize ourselves chronologically by creating deadlines, hours of business, and goals and ambitions for the future. A human lives to conquer the obstacles that surround them, to progress and make things better for themselves as well as for others. Though we try to be pragmatic with our hopes and dreams, it is purely in our nature to fantasize and dream of what could be.

In Sold, a novel written by Patricia McCormick, the protagonist Lakshmi and her mother Ama dream of what could be if there lives go seemingly perfect. While sitting down eating popcorn in their small hut, they venture into the maybe's that could result from thatching the roof and having a successful harvest. On page 28, Ama tells Lakshmi "With the money from this years crop, we may have enough to make you a new dress. Perhaps from that red and gold fabric you've been eying at Bajai Sita's store." To this Lakshmi replies "Maybe, there will be enough to go to Bajai Sita and buy sugar for sweet cakes." They then go on to discuss how they will make their money, but eventually they realize that "the first thing we must do is pay the landlord." This anecdote shows that while humans may tend to be overly hopeful and unrealistic, we are also rational beings capable of understanding setbacks and when things get overly ambitious. Lakshmi was wrong with her predictions, they never got a tin roof and there was never a successful harvest. While things turned out terribly for Lakshmi, she was able to use her faith to get her through perilous times just like humans have done forever.