Writing Myself Into the Story Essay

Submitted By peachybeachy
Words: 1298
Pages: 6
Open Document
"They were all waiting for the large puppet to speak, but it could say nothing. It stamped a foot to try and bring out a language. The figure knelt, one hand banging down on the wooden floor as if pleading for help - a terrible loudness entering the silent performance (Ondaatje, 117)." This is a statement from In The Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje that describes the actions of the actress, Alice Gull, as she is portraying the protagonist puppet in the play.

Alice Gull is a character who had once been a nun but had decided to step out of that life to be someone more. To be a nun means to be cautious of the body and to be limited in the ways of communicating through the usage of the body. After falling off of the bridge and being saved by a male bridge worker, and after associating herself to this male by listening and drinking with him for a night, Alice becomes determined to use her body language to communicate to as much individuals as possible about her ideology, about what people needed to know, about the inequality of wealth that exists in their society; she conveys the plight of the workers and uses actions to voice the marginalized. To have been able to achieve this, she neglected her identity as a nun in the dark, "If Alice had been a nun... (144)", and became an actress in the light.

I can relate to this shift in lifestyle that took place in Alice's life. Ever since childhood, I have always been someone who was very focused on myself. I knew very well of what I wanted and what my goals and plans were; it was very rare that I gave thought to how I can contribute to society. This was my personality until I walked into the Toronto Public Library one day when I was in grade nine and came across a group of teenagers just like myself, each sitting next to an elementary student genuinely tutoring them. I have always been a student with high grades and so that image I saw got me to think about how much I can contribute just by communicating my skills and knowledge to those elementary students whom might need it to do better at school. I immediately went to register in the program as a volunteer and ever since then, I have been a tutor in the Leading to Reading Program at the Toronto Public Library. Like the way audiences look up to Alice when she is on stage and in the light, teaching for me puts me in the light as the student depends and looks up to me. I also volunteered at YEP where I taught parents to use computers, and at the RPSM where I helped young kids who had trouble with learning the piano. I was able to contribute to society the skills of education and the knowledge of the academics by stepping out of the obliviousness of what I can do and becoming a tutor.

Alice is one of the few characters in Ondaatje's novel who lived to serve an obvious purpose. Alice's goal, like Ondaatje's as he write the book, is to bring out the importance of those that are forgotten in history. Through Alice, readers understand the message of Ondaatje as she strive as an actress to perform and imitate the existence of those that we don't acknowledge (117) but are the individuals who have worked harder than anyone else and only because of them, did the riches manage to accomplish. Similar to Alice, I have a main purpose at this age too which is to do well in school and university and be able to do what I want to in the distant future; however unlike Alice, my purpose is not as compassionate as hers due to the current lack of understanding of oneself.

Alice's character emphasizes the famous saying: Action Speaks Louder Than Words and this can be justified as the first quotation of this essay describes the absence of words and the presence of action Alice uses to present meaning (117). I am not an actress and I have no skill in acting but like Alice, I do use gestures very frequently on an everyday bases to accompany the words that I speak. Sometimes I would notice that phrases in which I try but am not able to express
Show More

Related Documents: Writing Myself Into the Story Essay

Lies My Teacher Told Me

English Story I first knew I loved English my freshman year, reading To Kill a Mockingbird. It was the first time I ever really thought about what I can learn from reading. Not only that but also what can be truly said through writing. I learned through the guided discussion of the book, the dissection of what everything meant. With all of these things, from reading to writing to guided discussion, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Connor Brown’s English Story. I…

Words 1118 - Pages 5

My Journey To Literacy Essay

a young age, like most peoples. It first started through the typical bedtime stories read to me by my mother. I can remember her reading from numerous children books such as “Rainbow Fish”, “The Three Little Pigs”, and “Aesop’s Fables” to read aloud as I fell asleep. Due to her influence of literacy at a young age, I have had a passion for reading different books and storylines. The first book I remember reading by myself was “No, David” by David Shannon. Building upon this foundation of literacy…

Words 872 - Pages 4

Synopsis Of Block 1

decade since I have stepped foot into a classroom setting. After reading each power point on the writing process, I took a moment to reflect into how this information will help me develop into an effective writer. Each set of power point slides contained information on the proper writing process, in which is something that I have not used in some time. Although, I have not used these techniques in writing, I have used them in something that I am familiar with; parenting. I have to brainstorm, create…

Words 565 - Pages 3

The Importance Of Academic Success

I wanted it to go the person I thought was going to help me understand my assignments is not there in my corner as if she’s waiting on me to fail .I have encounter a slow start at academic success I keep trying to apply myself so I can be successful At college but I find myself often doubting me and my chances. I don’t believe I’ve found a strategy yet that will minimize their effect on my success. My attendances could be better I miss two days so far for the most part I have been on time I do my…

Words 521 - Pages 3

Things That Make Up English

It is my belief that thinking, writing, and reading are some of the most important skills that one needs to acquire as a student. These three perspectives of literature work like gears in a machine. They all complement each other to make your essays, or anything you do, the best that I can be. These key elements that make up English are simple to learn and use, but they make the biggest impacts towards your future and your world. I like to think of myself as a creative thinker. I like to think…

Words 558 - Pages 3

Personal Narrative: Me As A Writer

Creative writing is an experience. There is nothing like the feeling I get when my creativity starts flowing. Once the pen touches the page or my fingers touch the keyboard, I am transported into a whole different world. The words flow out of me like a river dancing across the page. My hands are shaking and my heart is racing. I spill my soul all over pages and then I am left with more room in me for more words. As I come to my finishing sentence in my pieces my feelings climax. Similar to riding…

Words 621 - Pages 3

Why I Want To Start College Essay

is my interest in writing. I enjoy writing fictional stories and have spent the past couple of years working on my own skills. While I don’t consider myself to be great, I do have confidence in my abilities to write. With that said, I know that I still have a good bit to learn. That’s where…

Words 440 - Pages 2

Why Is Writing Important To Me

such as writing, speaking, listening, or even using body languages. Like everyone, I always have issues on my mind on each single day. Writing is also one of the parts of my issues in my life. Writing in English usually makes me feel exhausted and panic all the times when I’m sitting down, beginning to think, and trying to have some idea about the topic that I’m going to write about. As a write, I had many wonderful experiences, terrible experiences, and challenge experiences with writing throughout…

Words 671 - Pages 3

Effects Of Trauma

Through Consciousness-Based Creative Writing: A Personal Reflection For my senior project portfolio, I chose memoir/creative nonfiction as my primary writing form, or I could say, it chose me. Prior to coming to Maharishi University of Management, I had tried to write fiction, but I would get caught up in doubt about what I perceived was my combination of lack of imagination and underdeveloped writing skills. In grade school, I wrote short illustrated stories about experiences in my life—at that…

Words 1678 - Pages 7

My Writing Journey

This semester in Teaching and Writing, has further developed and enhanced my skills as a writer, a reader, and an aspiring teacher. On the very first day of class, we wrote about what writing means to us, and since that day I have further developed my passion and purpose for writing (Class1_Seeds18 ppt.). For me, writing has always been a major part of my life. Writing provides me with a way to share my story, to embark on journeys, to place my emotions onto a page. Writing is like a mirror, since it…

Words 1904 - Pages 8