Analysis of The Concept of Life Portrayed in Different Writings

While reading these stories, it was clear the messages that each individual story was trying to convey. Each story in some way correlates with the next because they are all along the same theme. Each story has an underlying theme about human life and prosperity of the individual. Each story also talks about a person’s effect on other societies and cultures. These stories attempt to answer the key life questions and put the questions into perspective.

Each one of these readings are different from one another, but somehow have somewhat of the same theme. In “Allegory of the Cave” we are able to see Plato’s point of view and his mentor’s point of view, who is Socrates. Socrates guides him and teaches him the way of life. He imposes his idea and beliefs. They are trying to reach the truth of life which is very hard given that each person has their own way of living so there is no deemed right way to the truth of life. In the excerpt from “Think about it”, we learn about how a young boy is working at all of these jobs and watching other people. He watched the two shoe shiners he worked with and always was wondering why they were looking off into space. It was not until later in his life that he realized they were looking off and dreaming of a better life and of something they wished that they could have. They wanted a better life for themselves but were stuck in the subway and could not get out. Finally in “The True Nature of Reality”, we learn about the nature of our own true reality and how everyone has a different reality and calling in their life. We all have our own destiny in life and we have to adhere to it.

These readings speak and correlate to one another in many similar ways. They are all talking about the theories of life and how to solve the many problems that we have. Each story has someone guiding them, whether that is Plato and Socrates or the shoes shiners with the young boy. Each has an adult like figure that is deemed to be the person who teaches and guides the people who are younger than them. They are almost seen as like a parent figure who is teaching their children the way of life and how to become the best person possible. We see many different angles of this through education, intelligence, common knowledge and the experience of our elders. They teach us the way of life through their own experiences and we come to see how many different people live through them. We are also able to see that each person lives and works in a different way and there is no right way to live or work. Each person has their own method that works for them and that is the way it is. Some people learn through being taught while others learn through observation. Each person is different and that is what makes every unique and good at something.

Since these readings correlate with one another, it is easy to say that some problems in one can be solved by the other. Some of the problems and issues mentioned with Plato can be solved in the excerpt from “Think about It”. Each of these stories talks about a different way of learning and observation. So if one way does not work for someone, then they could easily try the other way. Each person learns in a different way which is expressed in these two stories. One is very clean cut and to the point while the other describes people being unhappy and looking off into the distance while dreaming about what could have been better for them. All the problems are not aligned and fixed throughout each story but some are laid out clean and clear so that we as the readers can see all the options of living.

The reading that had the most impact on me was “Thinking about it.” It was a great essay to read due to the very nature its context. It taught me that I should follow my dreams and it was very inspiring. It also taught me that I should never settle for something if I am not completely happy with it. While I may like doing something, I should follow my ambition and never settle for anything less than my best. It taught me that everyone has a dream and goal in life that they should follow no matter what it is. It could be running a store or even becoming a musician. Each person has something that they are good at and I just have to go out and find what it is that I am good at. As stated in “Think about It”, “education does not end until life ends.” This means that we are always constantly learning and evaluating our life in terms of how we can make it better and how we can succeed in life. Each of us is being taught something new every day whether we realize it or not. We have the amazing opportunity to learn something new every day and apply it our own lives for the better. It is amazing that we are always learning so that we can teach ourselves and other people new things every day. We learn constantly from other and our own mistakes which make us who we are today and that is exactly who we are supposed to be. We are in the right stage of life that we are supposed to be in and learning new things every day is helping us change and evolve into the people we are supposed to be in the future.

In conclusion, these stories all have a similar theme and are able to teach us the different ways of living as well as teach us about humanity and how each and every person is different. We are able to evaluate different types of situations and are presented with how to solve them and learn from them. Life is full of givers and takers in the world and we have to find out which is the best one for us to be. There is no right or wrong answer to living; we just have to figure out the best way for us to live. These stories all have great themes and memos for people to learn and take away advice from. Plato and Socrates are a great example that can be used for this. Socrates was a great mentor and leader for the people who were following behind him in his footsteps. Each person was set because they learned something different that they did not know before. A great teacher and mentor will bring out the positive and good side of you while also teaching you to stay humble and teach others what you have learned from them. To be able to pass on the teachings is a key item to have for it helps the next generations after you to become successful if not even more. And it is important to remember that education does not stop until you die. We have more and more to learn each day that we can use to help us in the future.