On April 17, 2007 Virginia Tech envelops a massive panic. A gunman bursts into the room, methodically points a gun at each student and shoots. This event requires a great deal of courage to survive something like this, but presents itself in Trey Perkins specifically. Mr. Perkins exhibits physical courage-bravery at risk of bodily harm or death. According to the article “Students Panicked and Then Held off Gunman” by Raymond Hernandez, after harming many people in room 207, Mr. Cho, the gunman leaves the room. Fearful for everyone’s life, Mr. Perkins takes leadership, regardless of fear. “’ I told people that were still up and conscious, ‘just be quiet because we don’t want him to think there are people in here because he’ll come back in,”
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Lessing construed Jerry as a courageous character that seeks adventure. Also displaying physical courage and a near death experience, Jerry gains independence and a sense of self-worth. While on vacation in France, he comes across local boys while swimming at the beach. Waiting anxiously for the boys to come back up from under the waves, astonishingly several minutes pass beforehand. They then leave while he imagines all the wonders below. “He knew he must find his way through that cave, or hole, or tunnel, and out the other side.”(Lessing 330). A curious persistence envelops him as day by day he learned to control his breathing by allowing himself to sink down to the ocean floor with large stones. “He lay underwater on the white sand, littered now by stones he had brought down from the upper air, and studied the entrance to the tunnel.”(Lessing 331).After days of practice and dizzying nosebleeds, it was time to put himself to the test for it was almost time to return home. Thoughts such as, will I back out? What if I die trying? And is this a mistake? coursed through his head. In the end, Jerry summons his courage and makes up his mind. “He put on his goggles, fitted them tight. Then he chose the biggest stone he could carry and slipped over the edge of the rock. He looked up once at the empty sky, filled his lungs, once, twice, and then sank fast to the bottom with the stone. He let it go
Lessing construed Jerry as a courageous character that seeks adventure. Also displaying physical courage and a near death experience, Jerry gains independence and a sense of self-worth. While on vacation in France, he comes across local boys while swimming at the beach. Waiting anxiously for the boys to come back up from under the waves, astonishingly several minutes pass beforehand. They then leave while he imagines all the wonders below. “He knew he must find his way through that cave, or hole, or tunnel, and out the other side.”(Lessing 330). A curious persistence envelops him as day by day he learned to control his breathing by allowing himself to sink down to the ocean floor with large stones. “He lay underwater on the white sand, littered now by stones he had brought down from the upper air, and studied the entrance to the tunnel.”(Lessing 331).After days of practice and dizzying nosebleeds, it was time to put himself to the test for it was almost time to return home. Thoughts such as, will I back out? What if I die trying? And is this a mistake? coursed through his head. In the end, Jerry summons his courage and makes up his mind. “He put on his goggles, fitted them tight. Then he chose the biggest stone he could carry and slipped over the edge of the rock. He looked up once at the empty sky, filled his lungs, once, twice, and then sank fast to the bottom with the stone. He let it go