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Essay / A transformation of the main character in Unbroken
Humans are actually rubber bands when you think about it deeply. Both are extremely resistant to stress and can reach their greatest heights after being stretched to their maximum limits. However, there is one thing that sets humanity apart from rubber bands and everything else: dignity. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand beautifully tells the story of protagonist Louis Silvie Zamperini and the trials he undergoes while spending time in Japan as a prisoner of war during World War II. Although he endures the same dehumanizing treatment that caused the deaths of many people, Louie never loses his self-esteem and maintains a proud attitude towards his torturers. The dignity that Louie defends keeps him from succumbing to death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original Essay The first thing many people do when faced with difficulties is to give up, so it would have made sense for Louie breaks up while struggling to live in the appalling conditions of the prisoner of war camp to which he was transferred. Rather, Louie somehow retains his dignity, which reignites his motivation to fight back. While Louie was stuck in the POW camp, the guards constantly attacked him mentally and physically, determined to tear away his pride. In retaliation, Louie and the other POWs decided to sabotage everything they could and steal while doing their jobs. “By risking their lives to sabotage their enemy, men were no longer passive captives. They were soldiers again. (pp. 248-249). These small acts of defiance helped men come out of their dark holes and regain their dignity. Additionally, the men used other means to fight against their captors. “And in a place founded on degradation, the theft of the enemy has reconquered the dignity of men.” (p.250). Men managed to survive by winning small victories against the enemy by stealing from them. While residing in another POW camp, Louie and a group of other prisoners managed to maintain their dignity by keeping a small diary and writing notes. “Even though the resistance of the captives was dangerous, through such acts, dignity was preserved. » (p. 212). These otherwise tiny acts of rebellion helped the men maintain their dignity and thus propelled them to continue fighting. The idea of maintaining one's identity was omnipresent throughout the novel. The dignity that many men in the POW camps fought for was the only thing that anchored them. “Without dignity, identity fades. In its absence, the men are defined not by themselves, but by their captors and the circumstances in which they are forced to live. (p.189). Louie, even though he was in the hands of the enemy, refused to let others define who he was and longed to prove his worth to his captors and to himself. While he and Phil were stuck on Kwajalein Island, Louie noticed nine names of marines who had perished. Struck by the desire to want to preserve himself, he forges his own name alongside the nine others. “Louie often looked at the names of the marines, wondering who they were, if they had wives and children… In large capital letters, he carved his name on the wall next to theirs. (p.187). Although it doesn't seem like much, Louie provides a statement just by performing this simple action. By thinking these thoughts and carving his name on the wall, he shows that he still has self-esteem even though he is captive. Normally,.