Never Fall Down Analysis

Reflecting and Understanding Each Other
Belonging is a perception in which everyone must face. Everyone wants to feel the love and warmth that a mother gives a child; the protection a husband gives to his wife; or feel the undying happiness one gets from being a friend. This craving for an emotional connection to others, commonly leads to people feeling isolated mentally and physically. These feeling are the reason why literature is so comforting because it helps one to come to the knowledge within the world there is at least one person who feels the same way. Through themes and characterization, literature reflects and improves people's understanding of different cultures and people. Generally speaking themes are what could be taken
In Never Fall Down, Arn describes how his life was different before the Khmer Rouge came to power. “My little brother and me, we stand in front of the movie palace and sing for them. We do the twist also (McCormick 4)." Even though the reader isn't personally there to see what Arn is doing; the reader connects with Arn's experience. Additionally literature gives the reader an understanding of what goes through others minds. F. Scott Fitzgerald is noted as saying, “That is part of the beauty of literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” This quote focuses on how literature frees people from their insecurities and connects people to each other. Furthermore Caesar is noted as saying," In an era of modern media, such as television and movies, people are misled into thinking that every question or problem has its quick answer or solution; however, literature confirms the real complexity of human experience (Ismall)." Following this further, Elie Wiesel's account of the holocaust in Night unveils one of the cruelest genocides known to man. "I heard his voice, grasped the meaning of his words and the dimensions of the moment yet, I did not move (Wiesel)." This exert from the passage illustrates the psychological impact the mistreatment the Jews endured while in concentration camps. Chinua Achebe is noted for saying, “I tell my students, it’s not difficult to identify with somebody like yourself, somebody next door, who looks like you. What’s more difficult is to identify with someone you don’t see, who’s very far away, who’s a different color, who eats a different kind of food. When you begin to do that, then literature is really performing its wonders.” This quotecommunicates how literature unites one person’s life to another. To further the point,