One Word - Fear

      As a young child I had been accompanied by fears – fear of detachment, fear of isolation; fears that were indescribable through words alone. There were continuous days in preschool where I cried because my mother had let go of my hand and walked away. In the end, she had to come to the floor and sit with me, which made me smile again. Or so my parents tell me.

       Fears are our sources of inhibition; they are what make us vulnerable when faced upon challenges and new stages of life. I was unwilling to trespass through the invisible barriers I had emotionally placed for myself, unwilling to change, unwilling to try. Till this very day, I am still hindered by fears. Many of the fears I had in the past gradually faded as time passed. In this stage of growth, however, I realize that I now have many more fears to face. Public performances are one of my worst fears. Whether it is performing a piano recital or participating in competitions of any kind – my fear of possibly making a mistake and rendering embarrassment obstructs me from fully experiencing the enjoyment of performance. Similarly, one of my most significant weaknesses is my fear of failure. It had never occurred to me until the beginning of high school how important it was to achieve the standards set out for me by the larger world, and more specifically, my family. I understood that this should not have been shocking, as every individual in our world has goals to attain and dreams to chase. It was not until this fear became an obsession – a lesson to teach and remind me how crucial it was not to disappoint those around me that I realized I was really lacking in ability and sense of responsibility. It is also this fear that further reflects my weaknesses: I do not have enough determination and passion inside to accommodate these ambitions, whether they are set out for me by others, or by myself. The fear of failing to achieve my academic goals, failing to reach my full potentials, failing to fulfill the expectations others have for me – these have become the ultimate hindrance of fully expressing my desires and how I truly feel.  Simultaneously, it is again, these fears – that allow me to ponder my imperfections and what drives me to become stronger both physically and emotionally.

      Nevertheless, fears can, at the same time, act as both a negative impact and a positive force. Fears may inhibit us from reaching our dreams and our full expression, controlling our actions and thoughts. On the other hand, fears also serve as our sources of motivation; it is what causes us to stop and consider our perspectives and emotions. Subtly but surely, we feel the effects of our fears which results in the attempt to overcome those specific challenges. 

The Complexities of Life

       Stories are composed of phrases and words holding meaning to its plots, its moral lessons, and the author’s opinions and suggestions on life. Extracting meaningful quotes out of the story allows the reader to further develop an understanding for the novel’s characters and the overall theme. The following are three significant references to Kim Edwards’ novel, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, which demonstrate unexpected results, burning secrets, character foils and dualism altogether.

       In Kim Edwards’ novel, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, there is a clear message to the readers that a significant change will occur in the main characters’ ways of living: “Our world will never be the same” (Edwards 17). The moment the main protagonist, Dr. David Henry, decided to send away his newborn daughter, diseased with Down syndrome, to an institution far away - everything was changed. Phoebe’s birth and Dr. Henry’s decision, together, became the catalyst for the upcoming tragedy in the novel. This quote directly indicates that what once existed would disappear; what once was strong could eventually fall to pieces. To begin with, Dr. Henry and his wife had never expected twins, let alone one of them bearing Down syndrome. Without Mrs. Henry’s knowledge and consent, Dr. Henry decided to take action on his own, asking his nurse to take away Phoebe secretly. He then proceeded to tell his wife that the baby daughter had passed away at birth. This quote, said by Mrs. Henry earlier, had been said with a positive connotation. By commenting that their worlds would be different, she had meant bringing their newborn baby home, welcoming new life; embracing new hope. The irony in this quote is that the outcome is not what was desired. The dualism of this quote – a positive and negative connotation, both at the same chance, proves that there is no absolute certainty in life. In the end, the couple’s worlds, as mentioned, did change.  The father gradually retreated into reclusion and the mother slowly swayed away from the family, depressed by her daughter’s death as well as angered at her husband’s lack of emotions. Phoebe, unexpectedly, is raised by Dr. Henry’s nurse in a faraway place…

       Other dominant elements of the novel include suspense and secrecy: “He held it, warming in his palm, thinking of all mysteries the world contained: layers of stone, concealed beneath the flesh of earth and grass; these dull rocks, with their glimmering hidden hearts” (Edwards 122). The significance of this quote lies in the fact that Edwards focused heavily on the protagonist’s approach to his actions and his feelings, including remorse. Under his dull appearance, his heart, including his deep sense of pain and guilt, was crystallized over the many years. On the outside, one cannot see nor feel what Dr. Henry’s emotions are, neither can one differentiate between him and another with a perfectly unsickened heart. Edwards is commenting that the deepest and truest emotions are those found deep under the many layers portrayed outside; the faces and words on the demeanor of an individual do not truly define who they are or how they feel. Even more commonly, mankind is not always adept at expressing themselves, leading to misunderstandings and confusion which serve as barriers between them and those attempting to connect to them. The dull appearance of the rock symbolizes Dr. Henry’s cold and emotionless outer shell, whereas the glimmering heart signifies his wrongly-portrayed affection for those he truly loves, his wish for this love to be returned, and the indescribable amount of remorse which is about to be burst out the seams. The idea of the glimmering heart once again, conveys dualism by which it represents a hidden shame and a secret burning force of passion simultaneously.

       In contrast to Dr. Henry’s negative outlook, Phoebe’s approach to life itself is positive and filled with determination: “…But using Al’s chest for resistance, her small fingers scraping and scraping the medallion into her palm until she could close her fist around it” (Edwards 105). Although very young, not even one year old, Phoebe’s subtle sense of certainty presents the other side of the scale, as if being a character foil to her father. Dr. Henry decided to sink into his pain and to be enveloped by depression, while on the other hand, Phoebe, although the one physically disabled, grows healthily mentally. By scraping the medallion multiple times before clutching it in her fist, Phoebe is demonstrating her will to survive; the will to face whatever hardships she may later face – this force being the complete opposite of Dr. Henry’s. Here, the complexity of one family and the passionate differences between father and daughter are observed.

       In conclusion, the above three quotes signifies the consequences of actions – how a mistake in one moment of life could eventually haunt the rest of lifetime. Dr. Henry’s decision had broken the hearts of those around him, including himself. The quotes also exhibit the burden of lies and secrets which are so immensely scattered throughout this novel. Dr. Henry and Phoebe’s clash of personality, rather than questioning their relationship of father and daughter, only strengthens their connection by the passion in which they share. Lastly, dualism is a main pillar of the story as it illustrates contrasting connotations, opposite forces, and the double-sided perspectives one should use to view life. 

NO TXTISM PLZ $:

       It is well understood that as humanity evolves and man’s lifestyles modernizes, society will too, along with its character and ideals. Change is inevitable, yet the emergence of textism is signifying the depletion of English’s former beauty, a truth that must be taken notice of.

       The beginning of mankind started with symbols and pictures – there were no lovely phrases, smoothly sounding sentences, or a network of diverse alphabets and words in which humans greatly admire today. Yes, it is true that drawings and sketches depict their own type of beauty, but the fact that English in itself holds a different sense of artistry – a marking of human development in which so many individuals learned to love, cannot be forgotten.

       By shortening and simplifying a phrase such as “to be” into “2b” exactly pinpoints the apathy in mankind today; a lacking of admiration and passion for the language meant to be learned since young. Typing “2b” on devices such as cell phones and instant messenger is inevitable since there is simply no time in today’s fast-paced society; for education and for learning, on the other hand, this is undoubtedly, unacceptable. English is a type of illustration, meant to be sensationalized and captured into the heart after reading through from the first letter to the last. In other words, a piece of literature can only fully convey its message after manifesting itself into the reader’s mind through its delicate details and small nuances. By changing a word from head to bottom, it has been stripped of its purpose, or whatever the writer had been trying to communicate. Although alterations of words can serve as a memory aid to students, in the long run, yes – they can memorize the piece of literature with no problems, but would they be able to digest the deeper meaning behind it all?

       Not only do altering words provide little benefit to students, they completely crumble the efforts of the writer. For example, Francis Bacon and William Shakespeare are credited for their competency in detail and elegance; altering pieces of great literature is a sign of unappreciation and disrespect.

       In the end, there is no way of anticipating how English will continue to develop in the future. Whether textism is only a trend or another stage of English’s development – there is no knowing. Will “2b” further break itself down into symbols, just like how language all began, or will mankind finally realise the charm of English? Either way, “man’s language will continue to be the mirror of his progress” (Columbus 92).