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Briana Marin

Mrs. Bowyer

Expos

1 November 2018

The Value Of Life

The meaning of life is what describes our lives in general. It can show people many

lessons and how to go from right and wrong. We already know that life is always a battlefield to

succeed in our life or to go through a situation. As a society and as individuals, we should

recognize that life holds value when in there is joy, relationships, and finding a purpose because

they give value and meaning to life.

First, when it comes to a heartbreaking situation we always need that somebody or

something that brings us joy. The article “Roger Ebert: The Essential Man” by Chris Jones, is an

interview about a movie critic who has cancer and is paralyzed from the waist down, no jaw, as

an excessive amount of surgeries. Ebert mentions, “ I believe that if at the end of it all according

to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier and something to make

ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do” (Jones 54). He defines the way he has

been living the end of his few years with happiness, it can shape the way how you are and the

way you view your life. I can relate to this because I am a funny person and when I make my

sisters laugh, I see how they are smiling and enjoying the conversation, and that makes me happy

and appreciate the life that I live in. In that way, this could bring you happiness and joy into your

life when things are not going the way you want. At that point of his life when he got sick he

couldn’t move anymore or talk, and we use those physical things to move on with our life, “we
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must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our

circumstances” ( Jones 54). When you are sad and heartbroken that does not mean you will be

like this forever, involve yourself on what makes you happy, take positive actions, visit family

and do something that you're passionate about.

More on, the meaning of life can be with a special relationship with whoever, you have

so many people that can make your life complete and change the way you are. The movie ​Me

Before You​ is about a young girl who takes care of a young man who cannot physically do any

activities, and he decides to end his life in six months to live. She attempts to change his mind in

that amount of time he has left but towards the end, he leaves her. Lou explains to Will why he

can’t leave while it is the day before he takes his life way. “ You’re not giving it a chance, you’re

not giving me a chance. I have become a whole new person these last six months because of

you” (​Me Before You).​ She is trying to convince him to not leave and evidently, she loves him

and does not want him to leave. Lou also tells him, “I don’t want you to miss all the things that

​ ou wants Will to give her a chance so they can

someone else can give you” ​(Me Before You). L

have a relationship together and share a life together. He has always suffered mentally and

physically but what he did not notice is that Lou helps him forget about his suffering and looks at

the meaning of life and without her his life is not the same. Having a special friend or family will

always help you with your ins and outs, and they will support and care for you no matter what.

Lastly, another meaning or value is finding the purpose to live. This can be an important

value because they are many ways to have a purpose in life. In Hamlet’s Soliloquy from

Shakespeare, Hamlet is a point in his life where his father dies and his uncle is King now and

married his mother. He believes that he does not want to live anymore because he is suffering
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and in pain. “The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks, That flesh is heir to” (III.l.line 8).

He describes the way he looks at life as suffering and always in pain, but there are many ways he

could get through his loss. He can always fight for the throne, that could be his purpose to be a

hero and fight for what is his and him saying that there is always pain in life. Hamlet also states,

“Who would fardlst bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life” ( Act III, Scene i). Many people

know what their purpose in their life is and have worked hard to find it. Just like Eber, who is a

great example of this topic because he knew his purpose and find ways to make the meaning of

his life the same way he viewed it back then. Jones implies the way how Ebert still tries to ignore

the fact that he is still sick and cannot do any physical activities, “ He has had to find a new way

to laugh-by closing his eyes and slapping both hands on his knees…”(Jones 54). Ebert finds

ways to still enjoy thind even though if he can’t move or talk.This gives a good example of ways

be brings ways to enjoy his last few years of living. Ebert gave value in his life to make his life

worthwhile and with his fame and loving friends and family, he believed he was not alone, he

would always bring the happiness in his life.

I think Ebert shows many values of life and gives good examples to the readers out there

who are having a hard time. As a society and as individuals, we should recognize that life holds

values when it has joy, relationships, and the finding of a purpose. Whatever you have in

yourself and out and see what you got for a example your friends and family, everyone goes

through a tough time through their lives but once they go through with these main elements like

happiness relationships that is the meaning of life and values.

Word Count: 1,110

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Work Cited Quiz

Jones, Chris. “ Roger Ebert: The Essential Man.” ​Esquire​ 16 Feb. 2010. Web.

Me Before You.​ Dir. Thea Sharrock. Perf. Emilia Clarke, Sam Clafin. MGM, 2016. DVD.

Ripely, Amanda. “ What Is a Life Worth?” ​Time ​11 Feb. 2002. 22-2. Print.

​ ct lll, Sc. 1: Hamlet’s “ To be or Not To Be” soliloquy.

Shakespeare, Willam. ​Hamlet. A