The Need for Appreciation (a Reflection to “Flight Patterns”) Essay Example
The Need for Appreciation (a Reflection to “Flight Patterns”) Essay Example

The Need for Appreciation (a Reflection to “Flight Patterns”) Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 3 (556 words)
  • Published: October 21, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Appreciation - the act of acknowledging the qualities of things and giving them their proper value, and gratitude or thankful recognition - is a universal need shared by all people, whether it is received or given willingly or reluctantly. Despite this, in “Flight Patterns”, the steadfast character of William Loman fails to understand and appreciate its importance. His pride in himself, heritage, and family convinces him that appreciation is unnecessary, leaving him with no desire to receive or express it. However, when confronted with the story of a stranger's life, William's perspective broadens and his narrow-mindedness transforms into compassion.

William Loman possessed a mentality that allowed him to recognize the importance of appreciation, although his dedication to his career surpassed even that of his family. In "Alexie", he affirmed, "He despised departing, but adored h

...

is profession. He was a man and men require work." Despite caring for his loved ones, he regrettably only expressed it through self-centeredness.

Although he felt proud of his family, he failed to recognize their true value, leading to an emotionally distant relationship. Despite expressing verbal affection, he maintained a certain level of distance. His spouse expressed a need for more connection, repetitively urging him to stay at home and holding onto him tightly.

Alexie (39) stated that due to being completely absorbed in his work, he left his family on the bed without prioritizing them. William not only took pride in his family but also held himself in high esteem as a superior individual.

While daydreaming, he frequently focused on his identity and ancestral ties. He aimed to make his co-passengers aware of his true self: “I am a Native American and hence, posses

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

ten thousand additional grounds to instill fear in the U.S. compared to any Taliban morons. Yet, I have opted to embrace citizenship and civic responsibility. Therefore, all Caucasians must acknowledge my benevolence, ethical righteousness, and impressive forgiveness” (Alexie 43). Additionally, he habitually passed negative judgments and attributed stereotypes to diverse cultures and heritages.

William's metal outbursts were a subconscious cry for recognition, but they came to a halt after listening to Fekadu's tale. Fekadu, an Ethiopian taxi driver, shared his story about serving his country, being unable to bear the responsibility of taking lives, and the heartbreaking choice of leaving behind his family to flee to America. Although William initially doubted the authenticity of this experience, he soon realized that this could be a reality for anyone around the globe.

William quickly forgot about his possessions at the airport as he dashed through the terminal frantically searching for a pay phone or landline that would give him a sense of stability. Eventually, he found one and connected with reality once again.

(Alexie 50) William Loman, a man once consumed by pride, now has a wider perspective thanks to his conversation with his wife. When she answered the phone, he immediately replied with “I'm here” (Alexie 50). In a taxi ride with Fekadu, William learned about Fekadu's life story and came to the realization that he had not appreciated the important things in his own life. This new understanding frightened William because he faced the possibility of losing everything he valued.

William gained a new perspective and understood the importance of appreciation, as the concept of longing for being heard, listened to, and respected resonated with him.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New