Class by Alexie is about a Indian American guy, named Edgar Runner. In this short story, Edgar goes through a journey of trying to find himself and trying to figure out where he belongs. He marries a middle classed white woman and experiences the lifestyle of how she lives. Compared to other Indians, Edgar has "it" made. When trying to find himself, he runs across two other Indians that explains to him how much they'll pay to be in his shoes. Edgar finally realizes what he has taken for granted. "We have to worry about what to eat. What do you have to worry about? That you're lonely? That you have a mortgage? That your wife doesn't love you? F*** you" (Alexie, 186).
Class relates to real life situations because most of the time, those who have it better than someone else doesn't even realize it. For instance, I bet some of you, at some point of your life had felt upset about something that was so minor and made it into something bigger than what it was. Such as, if your phone suddenly stops working, if you can't get something you want exactly right now, or if the line in McDonald's is too long. These small examples is how some people like Edgar take advantage of, and what lower class would've liked to have.
It is true that we may take a lot of things for granted. When I find myself doing this, I think to myself, "There is always someone out there that has it worst." A lot of times we do it on accident and don't even realize it. I feel that Edgar should be more intact with his people and try to help as much as he could, but I also feel that Edgar is not wrong for striving for bigger and better. The way he handles it may be wrong though. In my opinion, his people should be a little more supportive of Edgar because family should always want each other to prosper but if that person forgets where they came from, of course he or she is wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Lamar. A lot of people would kill to have some of the things that I take for granted nowadays. One thing about me that I always complain about is how crappy my car is. There are some people who would be perfectly happy with it, but, unfortunately cannot afford to own a car. I have been lucky enough to be able to afford buying the car and my insurance and gas every month.
ReplyDeleteIn life, we tend to take things for granted. Whether it is having 2 dollars or 2 million dollars we take it for granted. Whether it is having a home that may not be as big as we may want it to be. We complain about the little things but forget that some people in this world have nothing and compared to what they have, we are millionaires. Sometimes I complain about the small things and my mom has to remind me that I have it better than some and in the blink of an eye, the privileges I have can be taken right away from me.
ReplyDeleteI also agree, In life class is everything we are known by. It is unfair how we get judged for the class we are in. Not just that we all take the litotes's things for granted, including myself. I tend to complain about the littlest things and after reading this, I regret it. It is selfish of me to complain when I know how lucky I am. I take going to college for granted sometimes, but I know how lucky I am because I had family members that did not have the chances I have.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to take a step and remember to be thankful for what we do have and not obsess over what we don't. There are so many people out there who don't have a home and don't know where their next meal is coming from. It is so important for us to be grateful for all of the niceties in our lives because we truly don't realize how lucky we are.
ReplyDeleteYour statement is very much true. Honestly I never looked at those things in that way but now I do. I see that we have took advantage of our class rank. Also towards the story Edgar has too. He doesn't see that mess that everyone does he doesn't see the "life" that everyone else sees. He has let himself get the best of him. And he's eyes are so far from the big picture that I don't know if he'll actually see it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. Many people don't realize how lucky they actually are. Just like you said, I can recall many times in which I found myself worrying about things that truly didn't matter. It's important to constantly remind yourself of the bigger picture and what's most important in your life.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is a really good eye opener to people who focus on little problems that don't really matter. This made me realize how often I do this. I take what I have for granted and forget how little other people have compared to what I have. As a society we need to stop being so critical of the small struggles we deal with and step back to look at the big picture and how lucky we are.
ReplyDeletepeople really do not know what they have till its gone or how wonderful it is to have something. for instance when i go to dinner we order our food eat and go. but when i use to go with another family that was definitely richer then me would go to dinner they would buy a bottle of wine appetizers main course and desert. it was crazy to me i would spend 45 mins to an hour and half in a restaurant. every time i went with them it took 3 to fours before we left. it was crazy they would do this every other day and not be phased at the cost or anything.
ReplyDelete