How Can A Significant Moment Affect An Individual's Life

How can a significant moment affect an individual’s life? Everyday, we all come across problems, whether they are big or small, that may or may not affect us, creating different responses from different people. In the short story, “Tuesday Siesta”, written by a famous Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a mother and her twelve year old daughter of poor social status travel to a small town by train on a scorching hot August Tuesday. The mother arrived at the town along with her daughter in search of her son, Carlos Centeno, who was identified as a thief that was shot and killed the previous week. They went directly to the priest’s house, gaining permission to visit the cemetery and see her son’s grave, as a result many emotions were shown …show more content…
Determination can in a way represent the confidence (and self-esteem) someone has in themself as well. An important scene that showcases the mother’s determination was the moment she knocked on the door of the priest’s house. Although the priest’s sister, who opened the door, stated that he has just laid down for his nap and she should come back after three, the mother stood strong and convinced his sister to let her in to address an emergency. The move taken shows that the mother did not want to give up the chance to see her son’s grave even after being told to visit another time, as well as the level of patience she has in order to complete what she came to do. Determination is also portrayed in “Tuesday Siesta” when Carlos Centeno’s mother made an effort to correct the priest, who asked if she ever tried to get her son back on the right track. She confidently replied that ‘he was a very good man’, and that she has always taught him to not steal from anyone. What the mother did reflects on her effort made to protect her son’s image and innocence, and to avoid further misconception from the people towards her son. Additionally, the mother showed a sense of determination as she held on to her daughter’s hand and walked out onto the street. Even with the priest’s warning to exit through another door and his sister’s suggestion to use an …show more content…
It is seen that certain events can impact an individual greatly, for instance by expressing through their determination, their pride, and staying strong. A person being strong through an experience might not indicate that they are weak, but that they are prepared to deal with the significant event. Besides that, showing one’s pride may be a representation of how proud they are, instead of expressing unhappiness. Lastly, the determination of a person reveals the confidence they have gained to face and overcome an experience. Obviously, different people will create different responses to events, one may build up the courage to face it as another may stay broken down. Although individuals will eventually accept what happened, that process will occur at a variety of speeds, at one that the individual feels comfortable in. A person’s response to something significant can not be changed by anyone, however, it can definitely be affected by their