Zoe Donnenfield Post #2

To be human is to learn how to behave civilized. To act away from our atavistic instincts and not to conduct ourselves like animals. To be human is also to have to ability to feel emotions and compassion towards others. To be able to treat others how to would want to be treated, but there are some cases where a human becomes very self centered. They wish to only please themselves in ways that could or would harm others. They stop feeling compassion towards others and agree to things only if there is something in it for them. They stop caring and loving so then emotions like greed and anger take over.

Dignity. That is what Lakshmi, the main character from the book Sold by Patricia McCormick, still has. After unknowingly being sold into the prostitution home know as the "Happiness House", Lakshmi is forced to give herself away to older and unknown men. After Lakshmi's very first customer comes into her room to take advantage of her, she bites him and tries to run away. The house owner Mumtaz catches her, cuts off all of her beautiful hair, beats her with a whip and locks her in a room with neither food nor water. But Lakshmi still resists with the little shred of humanity and dignity she has left and says "'No,' I hear myself say in a ragged voice. 'I will not do this disgraceful thing.'" (115). Lakshmi does not want to end up like the rest of the young girls who are forced to work in the "Happiness House". She does not like being treated like merchandise or an animal, for she is a human being. She wishes for a better life for herself, her Ama, her baby brother, her baby goat, and even for her untrustworthy stepfather.