Water For Elephants Week 2, Post B

“I cling to my anger with ever ounce of humanity left in my ruined body, but it’s no use. It slips away, like a wave from shore…then I let myself drift because there’s really not use fighting it” (69). This is an incredibly deep and thoughtful passage in the book. I can’t believe how true it really is to probably many elderly people’s lives. I talked about this topic a lot in my last book’s blogging. I think that the two main characters of these two books have completely different opinions of aging. Morrie, from Tuesdays with Morrie, wasn’t ashamed of getting old, and, in the end, dying. However, the main character in Water for Elephants, Jacob has a different view. When he does become old and close to death, he will definitely be ashamed. He doesn’t want to be waited on at all, he wants to keep his independence and liveliness exactly the same as it was when he was young. Morrie actually kind of liked being waited on like a small child again. He enjoyed it every time that it could happen. Jacob really didn’t want to have to give up his liveliness and independence. He “clung” to it, but eventually gave it up. He couldn’t fight the aging process anymore. I think I probably have the opinion of Jacob. I wouldn’t enjoy being babied and waited on for everything.