Breath

During the course, the class read the novel, Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat. Over two weeks of classes, the class picked apart the book and found some subtles within the book. For example, while it was never specifically mentioned, the relationship between the characters of Louise and Tante…

Have you ever wondered what the true meaning of life is? What makes somebody want to live when they are facing the possibility death? When Breath Becomes Air is a heartbreaking story in which the author, Paul Kalanithi, talks about his life while he was dying of stage IV lung cancer. Kalanithi discusses many of his life experiences and how they impacted the way he though about the meaning of life. The book chronicles Kalanithi’s journey from being a medical student, to becoming a neurosurgeon…

They use their characters as if it were them. The characters have many of their characteristics. In the novel, “Breath, Eyes, Memory” written by Edwidge Danticat. Edwidge Danticat writes about a character named Sophie who was left to be with her aunt just as Edwidge Danticat was left to be with her aunt. In the short story, “Girl” written by Jamaica Kincaid, Kincaid…

Bad Breath in Cats Cat owners know for a fact that bad cat breath can be downright awful. It isn’t that much different from bad human breath, as both are caused by bacteria found in the mouth that breaks protein down and releases the sulfur compounds out into the air. Sulfur smells really bad on its own, which is why breath containing it smells bad as well. The bacterium that causes bad breath with cats is normally associated with a buildup of tartar around the teeth. Tartar is yellow in color,…

“What makes life meaningful enough to go on living”?—Paul Kalanithi. Summary As what Dr.Kalanithi questioned in When Breath Becomes Air, the true meaning of life is what everyone will discover and pursue for their whole life. When Breath Becomes Air is the memoir of Paul Kalanithi, a brilliant neurosurgeon and a thoughtful soul, who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at his age of 36. This book is written at the period Paul Kalanithi fought against with his cancer bravely and positively.…

Paul Kalanithi was an English major turned neurosurgeon by the age of 35. However, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer he decided to fulfill his dream of being an author. In his personal memoir “When Breath Becomes Air”, Paul Kalanithi uses personal experiences to explain the effect of death on the living through logos, ethos, and pathos. When the doctors informed Kalanithi that he had stage IV lung cancer he knew his time was running out, so he decided to do the one thing he had left:…

In a short article, “The Last Word on the Last Breath” by Jan Hoffman, published by The New York Times, the author discusses the statistics of do not resuscitate, CPR, and the fights families and doctors face while up against this therapeutic technique. The author is discussing the topic on how do not resuscitate has been an issue for several years. Hoffman explains the effects with do not resuscitate and the effects that come with CPR. Discussing whether the decision should be left up to the…

Reflection of When Breath Becomes Air The story of both a neurosurgeon and patient provides a unique understanding of the concept of mortality. There is a strong disconnect between patient and provider in health care today, yet Kalanithi offers a perspective anybody and everybody can relate to. I felt comfortable exploring death and mortality with Paul on his journey through what turned into terminal lung cancer, and questioned my values and faith along with him. This book delves into…

women have face throughout the years. Many of these stories involved poverty, violence, and sexual abuse. The stories we read throughout the semester were amazing and I’ve chosen to compare and contrast Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2003), and Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat (1994). These stories have many similarities, for example, they both tell a story of two young girls who are sent away from their native homeland due to the traumatic events they were being exposed to. Satrapi…

Lines 1-2 The whisky on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; • The title of this poem indicates that the poem is written about the father, and the son is the speaker. • The father has been drinking heavily, as he always does, I assume. Judging by the poem, I would state that the father is an alcoholic. The speaker writes, “could make a small boy dizzy”. Explains that this is an all too familiar smell to him. Line 3 But I hung on like death: • This line indicates that the speaker; despite…