Canvas Essay
In the short story, “The Greatest Gift”, by Philip Van Doren Stern, the theme of believing that your important is revealed through characterization and tone. To begin with, the theme of believing that you are important is first described in the beginning of the story, when George thinks about jumping off the bridge. George had the idea of killing himself because he thought life would be better for everyone, if he was not around. Although, as he was looking over the bridge, thinking about jumping, an angel appeared saying, “‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you’” (Van Doren Stern 1). The man wanted George to be alive. Nobody had wanted George dead, but he didn’t believe that, otherwise he wouldn’t have to think about jumping off …show more content…
This situation changes his perspective on life, when he sees how different everything is. He sees that no one knows him. His wife had seemed to never met him, his kids didn’t know who he was, and his parents didn’t know he existed. He was forgotten and this is exposed when he visits his house, in the past life of when he is dead, and sees “two small children rush in. A little, homely-faced flung herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing loudly as a boy of seven came running after her, snapping a toy pistol at her head” (Van Doren Stern 6). This quote is what conveys that the kids and wife had forgotten about him, and don’t even recognize him in the room. And, after realizing this, he knew that it was best if he didn’t kill himself. It was hard for him to watch this, so he ran back to the bridge and said to the man, “I’ve had enough, get me out of this- you got me into it” (Van Doren Stern 6). This is when George regrets even thinking about killing himself. He knows that life is better with him there, and he wants to be there, for his wife, his kids, and for
In the short story, “The Greatest Gift”, by Philip Van Doren Stern, the theme of believing that your important is revealed through characterization and tone. To begin with, the theme of believing that you are important is first described in the beginning of the story, when George thinks about jumping off the bridge. George had the idea of killing himself because he thought life would be better for everyone, if he was not around. Although, as he was looking over the bridge, thinking about jumping, an angel appeared saying, “‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you’” (Van Doren Stern 1). The man wanted George to be alive. Nobody had wanted George dead, but he didn’t believe that, otherwise he wouldn’t have to think about jumping off …show more content…
This situation changes his perspective on life, when he sees how different everything is. He sees that no one knows him. His wife had seemed to never met him, his kids didn’t know who he was, and his parents didn’t know he existed. He was forgotten and this is exposed when he visits his house, in the past life of when he is dead, and sees “two small children rush in. A little, homely-faced flung herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing loudly as a boy of seven came running after her, snapping a toy pistol at her head” (Van Doren Stern 6). This quote is what conveys that the kids and wife had forgotten about him, and don’t even recognize him in the room. And, after realizing this, he knew that it was best if he didn’t kill himself. It was hard for him to watch this, so he ran back to the bridge and said to the man, “I’ve had enough, get me out of this- you got me into it” (Van Doren Stern 6). This is when George regrets even thinking about killing himself. He knows that life is better with him there, and he wants to be there, for his wife, his kids, and for