Common themes connect many seemingly unrelated works of art and literature. This is true for The Illegal by Lawrence Hill, The Step Not Taken by Paul D’Angelo, and the song Get Up Stand Up by The Wailers. Although they revolve around entirely different stories, the two works of literature and Bob Marley’s song examine the same topic. This essay will argue that the selected works exemplify resilience through the notion of defying circumstances.
The idea of resilience in the selected works is developed through the illustration of the necessity of strength and endurance for one’s survival. Resilience can be defined as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change” (Merriam-Webster). If for Viola Hill from The Illegal, resilience means being professional, for D’Angelo’s character, it is about having the strength to do “the right thing. The human thing” (D’Angelo 1). Overall, the actions and convictions of the heroes in these works show different meanings of resilience in the modern world.
The works selected for the essay illustrate the characters’ resilience, or its absence, through various situations. The strength of Hill’s protagonist, Keita, is not the same one D’Angelo’s unnamed narrator failed to show to the stranger in the elevator. It is also not the same power and resistance The Wailers’ song tries to arouse in listeners when Bob Marley sings the words “Don’t give up the fight” (The Wailers). However, all types of resilience are important as they help survive people overcome the most adverse circumstances.
Hill focuses on depicting the strive and resilience through the immigrant experience. The main hero, Keita, is an illegal immigrant in the fictional country Freedom State, where the government tries to deport all the refugees living within its borders. As an undocumented migrant, Keita lives in constant fear of deportation, while his sister’s life depends on him winning underground races. The escape to the new country should have been his escape from danger, but Keita found himself in a more precarious situation. In both countries, Keita focuses on running as a means of survival, telling himself, “Run, Keita. Just run” (Hill 15). It is his resilience that helps him overcome his circumstances.
In his song, Marley invokes the listeners to rebel against adversity and fight for their rights. The song has a clear religious subtext, evoking people to fight for freedom to follow the religion they choose. In the second verse, Marley sings, “But if you know what life is worth, You will look for yours on earth” (The Wailers). These words provoke listeners not to wait for a paradise that may not come but to fight for their life while they have the chance. This song can be chosen as an anthem for any cause. It shows that resilience also means active actions against one’s oppressors, not only perseverance.
Hill also develops the concept of resilience in everyday experiences through the character of Viola Hill, a journalist investigating the government of the Freedom State. Throughout the novel, her resilience is shown through her commitment to her job and her unwavering professionalism. Viola does not even take sick leaves to ensure she receives the best assignments, as she “didn’t want people thinking she’d keel over and die” (Hill 113). Through this character, the readers can see that one needs to be flexible and resilient to succeed in everyday life.
Resilience can also be seen in how characters help others in unfortunate circumstances. In The Step Not Taken, D’Angelo depicts a character who is too embarrassed to ask a crying man in the elevator if he needs help. The protagonist believes he did the wrong thing and wants to find that person again to tell him “I was wrong, dreadfully wrong, not to step forward in his time of need” (D’Angelo 2). Overall, the short story shows that resilience can help adjust to the socially uncomfortable situation to help others, not just yourself.
In all the selected works, resilience is instrumental to survival. Keita would not survive as an illegal immigrant in the Freedom State if he were not resilient. In his case, giving up would mean a life of persecution back in Zantoroland. Similarly, freedom of religious expression and the ability to adjust to uncomfortable social situations are essential for the survival of civilized society. The theme of doing the right thing in both stories, with D’Angelo’s protagonist thinking, “I should have thrown caution to the winds and done the right thing” (D’Angelo 1). It is the resilience of every character in the face of their unique circumstances that allows them to do the right thing and survive.
Overall, the selected works show that resilience leads to personal growth. Keita’s experience of living as an undocumented refugee and participating in illegal races made him a better person. The absence of strength shown by D’Angelo’s nameless narrator in the elevator makes him realize its importance. He reflects on the experiences as a disgraceful one, stating, “and what I did next still shames me” (D’Angelo 1). It can be argued that he will never make this mistake again, and this error made him a more compassionate person.
In summary, the stories The Illegal by Lawrence Hill and The Step Not Taken by Paul D’Angelo, and the song Get Up Stand Up by The Wailers are united by the topic of resilience. The authors of these works illustrate the importance of being resilient in difficult times and everyday situations to survive in modern society. Overall, the selected works exemplify resilience through the notion of defying circumstances.
Essay Outline
Works Cited
D’Angelo, Paul. The Step Not Taken. The Ontario Educational Communications Authority, 2018.
Hill, Lawrence. The Illegal: A Novel. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
Merriam-Webster. “Definition of Resilience.” Merriam-Webster: America’s Most-trusted Online Dictionary. Web.
The Wailers. “Get Up, Stand Up.” Burnin’, 1973.