Arthur Woloszyn
Professor Brady
English 102
April 24, 2018
Love That Encompasses Authentic Depth
Love that encompasses authentic depth is a subject matter that appears in the short stories “Children of the Sea” by Edwidge Danticat and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway. Love is one of the strongest emotions one can feel. A deep feeling of love towards someone places them at the top of all things important and causes people to even do the extraordinary to keep them safe or happy. Both pieces of literature display certain actions and thoughts that would not have occurred without a deep authentic love. This theme of love that encompasses authentic depth also connects to the film “A Quiet Place” directed by John Krasinski, in which a family is living in a world of silence and must stay quiet so deadly creatures do not come and kill them. Lee Abbot, the main character of the film and his family display heroic actions because of their deep loves for one another. In “Children of the Sea” an undisclosed man does whatever he can to stay in touch with his lover by writing letters as he is fleeing the country. In “Hills Like White Elephants” the character referred to as “the girl” is willing to do what her significant other wishes because he believes it will make them happier. This love that encompasses authentic depth is displayed by each character in their own ways. Love is an overpowering emotion that creates the selfless of acts for the sake of your beloved.
In the short story “The Children of The Sea” written by Edwidge Danticat, a love that encompasses authentic depth is is most certainly displayed. The story takes place during a rough time in Haiti in which systematic violence and human rights abuses were used to suppress political opposition. The main character, who’s name was undisclosed, was part of a youth federation group and had to flee the country because his death was inevitable if he have stayed. He left behind the female he loved and they wrote letters to each other about memories and also their current experiences. The two characters are writing letters to each other that will never be received or read. The deep love between them brings hope that they will once again see each other and reunite. The love is so deep that the female writer keeps writing so that once they reunite, it will seem as if no time was lost, meanwhile she doesn't even know if he is alive or not. “Did you really get out? I wish there was some way I could be sure that you really went away. Yes, I will. I will keep writing like we promised to do. I hate it, but I will keep writing. You keep writing too okay? And when we see each other again, it will seem like we lost no time.” (8). This desire and deep emotional connection towards one another has put their minds into the belief they will meet again and is what causes their “communication” through letters they don’t receive to continue, despite them meeting again seems very out of reach and not likely.
A love that encompasses authentic depth is portrayed in the short story “Hills Like White Elephants” written by Ernest Hemingway. In this story, the female is willing to do something her significant other wishes because he believes it will make them happier. The man, referred to as “The American” mentions an operation that at first the girl did not seem sympathetic for because of her silence. The man goes on to claim the operation is simple, perfectly natural, and that everything will be fine afterwards. This operation he is speaking of is not directly stated, but he is speaking about an abortion. The only thing that is keeping the two unhappy is the pregnancy, although it seems as if it is the man that is more affected and upset about the pregnancy. “The girl: Then what will we do afterward? The man: We'll be fine afterward. Just like we were before. The girl: What makes you think so? The man: That's the only thing that bothers us. It's the only thing that's made us unhappy."(230). The man kept saying she didn’t have to go through the operation if she didn’t want to, but it was clear that he was pushing for it. The girl just kept asking the man for assurance that afterwards they will be happy. Her love towards him and and especially his assurance that they will both be happy was all she wanted and needed in order to agree to get the operation done. She was even saying that she doesn’t care about herself. As long as he was happy and still loved her then she was okay. “The Girl: I don't care about me. The Man: Well, I care about you. The Girl: Oh, yes. But I don't care about me. And I'll do it and then everything will be fine." (231). With this statement she is implying that she doesn’t care that she would go through the operation because she cares so much about him and his happiness that she will do whatever to make sure he is happy with her. Being pregnant and having a child on the way is not a reason happiness should be seized from a relationship. Her deep love for her significant other is what is persuading her to go through with the operation because that is what he wants and what will ultimately make him happy again. It is as if the man is unintentionally controlling her through her own deep love for him.
The theme of love that encompasses authentic depth also is affiliated with the film “A Quiet Place” directed by John Krasinski. In the film, Lee Abbott, along with his pregnant wife and their three children, live in a world of silence in which if they made any noise, creatures would quickly come find them and attempt to kill them. They communicated using sign language as well as speaking very quietly when in very safe and secure conditions. Lee’s wife, Evelyn, was approaching her due date for her child. Staying almost completely silent during labor is very near impossible. Lee and and his children were distracting the creature and bringing its attention towards them and away from Evelyn who was giving birth. They all greatly love their mother and knew and were willing to put their lives in great danger so that she could safely birth the baby. Along the way Evelyn was always assuring her scared children that their father would never let anything happen to them. “Evelyn: Your father will protect you. Your father will always protect you.” (A Quiet Place). Your own child is one that you will love unconditionally the moment they are born. The love for your child far exceeds anything else. A love that encompasses authentic depth is truly one for your child. You place your child above your ownself and they are at the top of your world. At the end of the film, Lee commits an act that sincerely shows the deep love for his children. Two of his children, Marcus and Regan are trapped in a car in which the creature is attempting to break in. The children see their father. In sign language, Lee signs “I love you. I’ve always loved you.” (A Quiet Place). He then proceeds to let out a large yell, straying the creatures attention away from the children and towards him. The creature attacks Lee and kills him. Lee’s deep love for his children allowed for him to make the decision, without thinking, to sacrifice himself to let his children escape and be safe. Having yourself be killed for the survival of another portrays the deepest of loves towards them.
The theme of love that encompasses authentic depth is one that is seen throughout the short stories Children of the Sea, Hills Like White Elephants, and also the film A Quiet Place.
Different actions occur from having a deep love as shown by each short story and film. Such a deep love for someone may cause you to sacrifice yourself for their safety if ever put in that situation. A deep love can also have you do what makes the person you desire to be happy, although it may not be something you necessarily want to do. Love being one of the strongest emotions can also keep an endless sense of hope and drive in your mind, even if what you are hoping for is unrealistic and may never be reached again.
Works Cited
Danticat, Edwidge. Krik? Krak! New York : Vintage Books, 1996. 1st Vintage contemporaries ed.
Hemingway, Ernest. Hills Like White Elephants: Men Without Women, 1927.
Krasinski, John, director. A Quiet Place . Production Dunes, 6 Apr. 2018.
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