The Evolution And Purpose Of The American Dream - 1741 Words

The Evolution and Purpose of the American Dream Across the economically, ethnically, and socially diverse United States, millions of unlike Americans share the same desire to overcome the vast array of obstacles the modern day era presents in the hopes of becoming the ideal member of society. Looking back at multiple generations, evidence of this drive to succeed can be found in the roots of society’s progression. This omnipresent goal that motivates the population to build sustainable lives has become known as the American Dream. In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men and Barbara Ehrenreich’s nonfiction piece Nickel and Dimed, the protagonists define the American Dream in contrasting yet similar ways in response to the time periods in†¦show more content†¦Two of the major obstacles Lennie and George come into contact with are money and physical attributes of the body. As George and Lennie discuss their dream place, Old Candy, an aged man with a missing hand, takes a particular interest. A lack of money has been the barrier between Lennie and George reaching the American Dream, which has pushed them to work thus far in the novel. The interaction between Old Candy, Lennie, and George about pooling their money together to buy the land illustrates how money is an obstacle the three strive to overcome while also bringing to light how Old Candy works to find a way to own land as he combats physical disability and age. When they find a solution, George reacts, in which the text reads, â€Å"George said reverently, ‘Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her.’ His eyes were full of wonder. ‘I bet we could swing her,’ he repeated softly† (Steinbeck 59). If the American Dream did not exist, the three characters would not have been driven to formulate a plan to live on being self-sufficient. The impulsive and enthusiastic response to the proposition of pooling the money together to buy the land demonstrates how the pursuit of the American Dream functions in the time period as motivation. While Barbara Ehrenreich’s nonfiction piece Nickel and Dimed is written in a time period in history aboutShow MoreRelatedThe Ideas On Social Reform1072 Words   |  5 PagesCold War era in American History. He published Rules For Radicals in 1971. As the name implies, the manifesto contains some radical ideas on social reform. The manifesto outlines the ethics, tactics and philosophy of how to successfully shift power from the â€Å"Haves† to the â€Å"Have-nots.† Alinsky created a controversial body of propaganda in the way he challenges core moral values of American beliefs for the time period such as Capitalism and the class system. He further challenges American beliefs by questioningRead MoreAnalysis Of Jim Crow s Counterculture1468 Words   |  6 Pagesbook â€Å"Jim Crow`s Counterculture† is developed around the issues of racial discrimination, and development of music as a reaction to employment activism. Through the book development of blues mus ic is understood as detailed journey taken by African Americans and motivated by social factors. Its thematic concepts are built around a musical biography. The author has an interest in blues music genre, and its development relationship with blacks and whites communities. He adopted a critical approach towardsRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1572 Words   |  7 PagesIndestructible Dreams: The role of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby The world is always in motion. All aspects of life are constantly changing, reforming, and developing. The American Dream has evolved greatly since the actual term was formulated in 1931 by James Truslow Adams. He proposed the American Dream was â€Å"that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller†. But F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is based on an entirely different American Dream, one thatRead MoreThe World War I Warfare Techniques1090 Words   |  5 Pagessuccess. The people using the tanks made great advancements in attempting to gain the upper hand. While the British were using tanks, the Germans came upon a new idea. They started using flamethrowers in the midst of a war. The flamethrower’s purpose is to spread fire by launching burning fuel. The uses of these weapons were demoralizing and too powerful for the Germans to control at the time. The use of the flamethrower was successful but also backfired in some ways. The person using the flamethrowerRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Harlem 1303 Words   |  6 PagesJames Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet; a Joplin, Missouri native and an active, versatile writer, earning acclaim as a poet, novelist, playwright and columnist. He was one of the first poets to explore an innovative sing-songy, stylized delivery called jazz poetry. As an African-American, his point of view, collectively synergized with this then-new literary art, catapulted his writings between the 1930s - 1960s. He is often credited as the leader of the Harlem Renaissance, and â€Å"famouslyRead MoreFight Club Analysis1678 Words   |  7 Pagesinternal battle to find purpose and one’s role in modern day America. The Narrator’s struggles are displayed through himself and his alter ego Tyler Durden, his mundane lifestyle, his formation of Fight Club and its evolution into the terrorist group Project Mayhem. The Narrator in Fight Club, whose name is not spoken, is a young male struggling to find his place in modern American society. He places value on purchasing materialistic things for his apartment, what most Americans would classify as beingRead MoreDream Symbolism Essay932 Words   |  4 PagesDream Symbolism Essay by Kristina Zavala The study of dreams began in 1953 after Eugene Aserinsky and Nathaniel Kleitman discovered REM sleep - a period of rapid eye movement that corresponded with vivid dream recollections (Aserinskiy and Kleitman). Since that time, psychologists have sought out what the biological purpose of dreams was. Dream psychology can be a difficult field of study due to the fact that we have not found an accurate way to record dreams, relying on the subjective recollectionsRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and the American Dream1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream      Ã‚   Websters dictionary describes the American dream as the widespread aspiration of Americans to live better than their parents did.   F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel The Great Gatsby is a literary masterpiece that takes a fascinating look at the nature of the American dream that made its fiery inception during the American War of Independence 1776-83 when it became the central theme of the American Declaration of Independence.  Ã‚   In short, it stated, weRead MoreThe American Dream1678 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream is an idea that has always been different throughouttime. It changes in diverse forms and in the end involves success. The American Dream was a phrase used by the American people and peoplewanting to become American. It was always the idea that you can become a success. This is true in a partial way, but the true American Dream is that with somework and determination anyone can build themselves up in the economic classsystem. The 80 s was an eye opener to a lot of newRead MoreThe Political Context Of Education1504 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity Fall 2013â€Æ' Final Exam The political context of education today has a lot to do with how its purpose has changed over time. Throughout history, there have been two competing purposes of education –public aims and advancing the interests of individual economic consumers who want more societal access and advantage (Labaree, 2011). These two competing views have illustrated the evolution of the purpose of education from keeping the faith, to preserving the republic, to stimulating the economy, to

The Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women - 889 Words

Domestic violence can often go unnoticed, unreported and undeterred before it’s too late. Unfortunately, recent awareness efforts have gathered traction only when public outcry for high profile cases are magnified through the media. Despite this post-measured reality, a general response to domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) by the majority of the public is in line with what most consider unacceptable and also with what the law considers legally wrong. Consider by many, more than just a social discrepancy, the Center of Diseases Control and Prevention currently classifies IPV and DV as a social health problem (CDC, 2014). National data gives us an indication of the severity of this issue. When 1 in 5-woman report being victims of severe physical violence (NISVS, 2010), we must ask ourselves if enough is being done to prevent this from occurring. From a historical point, there has always almost been a distinction from men on woman violence. Based on the d isparity of cases reported, male inflicted violence on females is much higher and prevalent. When the perpetrators of DV, and IPV are predominately males, we can no longer dismissed this issue as a cultural, or psychological lapse in judgment. Currently the state of California requires all domestic violence offenders to take court order classes as a form of reprimand and in part to educate offenders. It is important to understand that a justice system intervention can sometimes fall short and failed toShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women1652 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic violence is present in all regions of the world regardless of race, culture, or religion. It is not uncommon for men to experience spousal abuse. However, in reality abuse done by men towards women is a much more common occurrence. Men often abuse women as a result of negative domestic relationships experienced during childhood, the feeling of inadequacy and mental illness. However, the leadin g cause for this behaviour is the feeling of inferiority and the need to exert power. StereotypicallyRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women1654 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Violence against women has been recognised internationally by the world Health Organization (WHO, 2013).Women has been facing different types of violence since the age of 15 such as physical, emotional or verbal abuse. The highest prevalence of domestic violence (DV) is from their intimate partner/perpetrator both physical emotional (WHO, 2013). It has been depicted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2013) that rate of domestic violence against women by their intimateRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women1601 Words   |  7 Pagesquestions that women who suffer from domestic violence ask themselves everyday. Thousands of women every year face abuse from their male partners. It is estimated that three women a day are murdered in the US everyday by a current or past male partner (Huffington Post), therefore proving that an argument between two people in love can result in more than just heartbreak. Partner abuse against women is an epidemic that needs to be addressed. Domestic violence is a very serious issue that women face in modernRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On Women1599 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic violence is a large social issue around the world that is commonly associated with the mistreatment of women. However, there are many different forms of domestic violence that affect men, women, and children (Domestic Violence 1). Victims of domestic violence may suffer not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. Domestic violence is a very important social issue because it negatively affects both the abuser and the victim. In the article, â€Å"Domestic Violence and Abuse: TypesRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women Essay1246 Words   |  5 Pagesaddressed the domestic violence and continue to persist as a social problem affecting a large number of Canadian Women. The authors are trying to answer this question giving some statistics, how the women are abused from their partner, such as the violence reported when the relationship is ended, and is some other case the violence starts after the separation. Furth more the authors mention another key answer that I think could be a question, is what are the effects of domestic violence? Alaggia, RegehrRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women1362 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic violence is a sensitive topic even though media and society are providing more information about this topic. Domestic violence not only affects women but children and family in general. This issue is a very sensitive topic and not a lot of individuals are comfortable talking about it or sharing if they have either experience or have someone in their lives that had been subjected to abuse. Sadly, domestic violence is experienced by many people and it does not matter what race, gender, socialRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Women2258 Words   |  10 Pagespossible effects of witnessing domestic violence as a child. Use psychological theory to explain your answer. Research has continuously shown that men are the primary perpetrators of violence and women being the victims which has led to increased awareness of the effects of Domestic violence on women. However, what researchers have failed to acknowledge is that women too can be perpetrators of violence and abuse against their partners and children (World Health Organisation, 2012). Although women canRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On Women1183 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom there. Everyone in a homebound affiliation is at risk of obtaining a violent status. Domestic violence has had the grandest impact on women. It can be found all over the world, within various countries. Domestic violence has a harsh, negative, and destructive influence on women; domestic violence can lead to emotional, physical, and psychological damage. Domestic violence is defined as an act of violence within the household. The aforementioned is one of the most underestimated and underreportedRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence Towards Women2023 Words   |  9 Pages Domestic violence towards women is a problem that is often overlooked by society. Violence is defined in Webster s Dictionary as: â€Å" Physical force employed so as to damage or injure. As an instance of violent action.† (Webster) If this is the case, then why is it that so many women are beaten by loved ones each year? And little or nothing is done to correct this violent situation? A battered woman is pictured by most people as a small and flimsy person who might once have been pretty. SheRead MorePhysical and Psychological Effects of Domestic Violence on Women1593 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States† (Jones 87). Every twelve seconds, a woman is beaten by a man (Jones 6). Every nine days, a woman is murdered by her husband or boyfriend (Jones 7). Statistics like these outline the severity and seriousness of the domestic violence epidemic in this country. Unfortunately, it has taken lawmakers too long to recognize domestic violence as a devastating situation that affects millions of people both physically

The Host Chapter 20 Freed Free Essays

Jeb let me cry myself out without interrupting. He didn’t comment all through the following sniffles. It was only when I’d been completely silent for a good half hour that he spoke. We will write a custom essay sample on The Host Chapter 20: Freed or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Still awake in there?† I didn’t answer. I was too much in the habit of silence. â€Å"You want to come out here and stretch?† he offered. â€Å"My back is aching just thinking about that stupid hole.† Ironically, considering my week of maddening silence, I wasn’t in the mood for company. But his offer wasn’t one I could refuse. Before I could think about it, my hands were pulling me through the exit. Jeb was sitting with crossed legs on the mat. I watched him for some reaction as I shook out my arms and legs and rolled my shoulders, but he had his eyes closed. Like the time of Jamie’s visit, he looked asleep. How long had it been since I’d seen Jamie? And how was he now? My already sore heart gave a painful little lurch. â€Å"Feel better?† Jeb asked, his eyes opening. I shrugged. â€Å"It’s going to be okay, you know.† He grinned a wide, face-stretching grin. â€Å"That stuff I said to Jared†¦ Well, I won’t say I lied, exactly, because it’s all true if you look at it from a certain angle, but from another angle, it wasn’t so much the truth as it was what he needed to hear.† I just stared; I didn’t understand a word of what he was saying. â€Å"Anyway, Jared needs a break from this. Not from you, kid,† he added quickly, â€Å"but from the situation. He’ll gain some perspective while he’s away.† I wondered how he seemed to know exactly which words and phrases would cut at me. And, more than that, why should Jeb care if his words hurt me, or even if my back was aching and throbbing? His kindness toward me was frightening in its own way because it was incomprehensible. At least Jared’s actions made sense. Kyle’s and Ian’s murder attempts, the doctor’s cheerful eagerness to hurt me-these behaviors also were logical. Not kindness. What did Jeb want from me? â€Å"Don’t look so glum,† Jeb urged. â€Å"There’s a bright side to this. Jared was being real pigheaded about you, and now that he’s temporarily out of the picture, it’s bound to make things more comfortable.† My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to decide what he meant. â€Å"For example,† he went on. â€Å"This space here we usually use for storage. Now, when Jared and the guys get back, we’re going to need someplace to put all the stuff they bring home with them. So we might as well find a new place for you now. Something a little bigger, maybe? Something with a bed?† He smiled again as he dangled the carrot in front of me. I waited for him to snatch it away, to tell me he was joking. Instead, his eyes-the color of faded blue jeans-became very, very gentle. Something about the expression in them brought the lump back to my throat. â€Å"You don’t have to go back in that hole, honey. The worst part’s over.† I found that I couldn’t doubt the earnest look on his face. For the second time in an hour, I put my face in my hands and cried. He got to his feet and patted me awkwardly on the shoulder. He didn’t seem comfortable with tears. â€Å"There, there,† he mumbled. I got control of myself more quickly this time. When I wiped the wet from my eyes and smiled tentatively at him, he nodded in approval. â€Å"That’s a girl,† he said, patting me again. â€Å"Now, we’ll have to hang out here until we’re sure Jared’s really gone and can’t catch us.† He grinned conspiratorially. â€Å"Then we’ll have some fun!† I remembered that his idea of fun was usually along the lines of an armed standoff. He chuckled at my expression. â€Å"Don’t worry about it. While we’re waiting, you might as well try to get some rest. I’ll bet even that skinny mattress would feel pretty good to you right now.† I looked from his face to the mat on the floor and back. â€Å"Go on,† he said. â€Å"You look like you could use a good sleep. I’ll keep watch over you.† Touched, new moisture in my eyes, I sank down on the mat and laid my head on the pillow. It was heavenly, despite Jeb’s calling it thin. I stretched out to my full height, pointing my toes and reaching out with my fingers. I heard my joints popping. Then I let myself wilt into the mattress. It felt as if it were hugging me, erasing all the sore spots. I sighed. â€Å"Does me good to see that,† Jeb muttered. â€Å"It’s like an itch you can’t scratch, knowing someone is suffering under your own roof.† He eased himself to the floor a few yards away and started humming quietly. I was asleep before he’d finished the first bar. When I woke up, I knew that I’d been solidly asleep for a long time-a longer stretch than I’d slept since coming here. No pains, no frightening interruptions. I would have felt pretty good, except that waking on the pillow reminded me that Jared was gone. It still smelled like him. And in a good way, not the way I smelled. Back to just dreams. Melanie sighed forlornly. I remembered my dream only vaguely, but I knew it had featured Jared, as was usual when I was able to sleep deeply enough to dream. â€Å"Morning, kid,† Jeb said, sounding chipper. I peeled back my lids to look at him. Had he sat against the wall all night? He didn’t look tired, but I suddenly felt guilty for monopolizing the better accommodations. â€Å"So the guys are long gone,† he said enthusiastically. â€Å"How ’bout a tour?† He stroked the gun slung through a strap at his waist with an unconscious gesture. My eyes opened wider, stared at him in disbelief. A tour? â€Å"Now, don’t turn sissy on me. Nobody’s going to bother you. And you’ll need to be able to find your way around eventually.† He held out a hand to help me up. I took it automatically, my head spinning as I tried to process what he was saying. I would need to find my way around? Why? And what did he mean â€Å"eventually†? How long did he expect me to last? He pulled me to my feet and led me forward. I’d forgotten what it was like to move through the dark tunnels with a hand guiding me. It was so easy-walking barely took any concentration at all. â€Å"Let’s see,† Jeb murmured. â€Å"Maybe the right wing first. Set up a decent place for you. Then the kitchens†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He went on planning his tour, continuing as we stepped through the narrow crevice into the bright tunnel that led to the even brighter big room. When the sound of voices reached us, I felt my mouth go dry. Jeb kept right on chatting at me, either missing or ignoring my terror. â€Å"I’ll bet the carrots are sprouted today,† he was saying as he led me into the main plaza. The light blinded me, and I couldn’t see who was there, but I could feel their eyes on me. The sudden silence was as ominous as ever. â€Å"Yep,† Jeb answered himself. â€Å"Now, I always think that looks real pretty. A nice spring green like that is a treat to see.† He stopped and held his hand out, inviting me to look. I squinted in the direction he gestured, but my eyes kept darting around the room as I waited for them to adjust. It took a moment, but then I saw what he was talking about. I also saw that there were maybe fifteen people here today, all of them regarding me with hostile eyes. But they were busy with something else, too. The wide, dark square that took up the center of the big cavern was no longer dark. Half of it was fuzzy with spring green, just as Jeb had said. It was pretty. And amazing. No wonder no one stood on this space. It was a garden. â€Å"Carrots?† I whispered. He answered at normal volume. â€Å"This half that’s greening up. The other half is spinach. Should be up in a few days.† The people in the room had gone back to work, still peeking at me now and then but mostly concentrating on what they were doing. It was easy enough to understand their actions-and the big barrel on wheels, and the hoses-now that I recognized the garden. â€Å"Irrigating?† I whispered again. â€Å"That’s right. Dries out pretty quick in this heat.† I nodded in agreement. It was still early, I guessed, but I was already sweaty. The heat from the intense radiance overhead was stifling in the caves. I tried to examine the ceiling again, but it was too bright to stare at. I tugged Jeb’s sleeve and squinted up at the dazzling light. â€Å"How?† Jeb smiled, seeming thrilled with my curiosity. â€Å"Same way the magicians do it-with mirrors, kid. Hundreds of ’em. Took me long enough to get them all up there. It’s nice to have extra hands around here when they need cleaning. See, there’s only four small vents in the ceiling here, and that wasn’t enough light for what I had in mind. What do you think of it?† He pulled his shoulders back, proud again. â€Å"Brilliant,† I whispered. â€Å"Astonishing.† Jeb grinned and nodded, enjoying my reaction. â€Å"Let’s keep on,† he suggested. â€Å"Got a lot to do today.† He led me to a new tunnel, a wide, naturally shaped tube that ran off from the big cave. This was new territory. My muscles all locked up; I moved forward with stiff legs, unbending knees. Jeb patted my hand but otherwise ignored my nerves. â€Å"This is mostly sleeping quarters and some storage. The tubes are closer to the surface here, so it was easier to get some light.† He pointed up at a bright, slender crack in the tunnel ceiling overhead. It threw a hand-sized spot of white onto the floor. We reached a broad fork-not really a fork, because there were too many tines. It was an octopus-like branching of passageways. â€Å"Third from the left,† he said, and looked at me expectantly. â€Å"Third from the left?† I repeated. â€Å"That’s right. Don’t forget. It’s easy to get lost around here, and that wouldn’t be safe for you. Folks’d just as soon stab you as send you in the right direction.† I shuddered. â€Å"Thanks,† I muttered with quiet sarcasm. He laughed as if my answer had delighted him. â€Å"No point in ignoring the truth. Doesn’t make it worse to have it said out loud.† It didn’t make it better, either, but I didn’t say that. I was beginning to enjoy myself just a little. It was so nice to have someone talk to me again. Jeb was, if nothing else, interesting company. â€Å"One, two, three,† he counted off, then he led me down the third hallway from the left. We started passing round entrances covered by a variety of makeshift doors. Some were curtained off with patterned sheets of fabric; others had big pieces of cardboard duct-taped together. One hole had two real doors-one red-painted wood, one gray metal-leaning over the opening. â€Å"Seven,† Jeb counted, and stopped in front of a smallish circle, the tallest point just a few inches higher than my head. This one protected its privacy with a pretty jade green screen-the kind that might divide the space in an elegant living room. There was a pattern of cherry blossoms embroidered across the silk. â€Å"This is the only space I can think of for now. The only one that’s fitted up decent for human habitation. It will be empty for a few weeks, and we’ll figure something better out for you by the time it’s needed again.† He folded the screen aside, and a light that was brighter than that in the hallway greeted us. The room he revealed gave me a strange feeling of vertigo-probably because it was so much taller than it was wide. Standing inside it was like standing in a tower or a silo, not that I had ever been in such places, but those were the comparisons Melanie made. The ceiling, twice as high as the room was wide, was a maze of cracks. Like vines of light, the cracks circled around and almost met. This seemed dangerous to me-unstable. But Jeb showed no fear of cave-ins as he led me farther in. There was a double-sized mattress on the floor, with about a yard of space on three sides of it. The two pillows and two blankets twisted into two separate configurations on either half of the mattress made it look as if this room housed a couple. A thick wooden pole-something like a rake handle-was braced horizontally against the far wall at shoulder height with the ends lodged in two of the Swiss cheese holes in the rock. Over it were draped a handful of T-shirts and two pairs of jeans. A wooden stool was flush with the wall beside the makeshift clothes rack, and on the floor beneath it was a stack of worn paperback books. â€Å"Who?† I said to Jeb, whispering again. This space so obviously belonged to someone that I no longer felt like we were alone. â€Å"Just one of the guys out on the raid. Won’t be back for a while. We’ll find you something by then.† I didn’t like it-not the room, but the idea of staying in it. The presence of the owner was strong despite the simple belongings. No matter who he was, he would not be happy to have me here. He would hate it. Jeb seemed to read my mind-or maybe the expression on my face was clear enough that he didn’t have to. â€Å"Now, now,† he said. â€Å"Don’t worry about that. This is my house, and this is just one of my many guest rooms. I say who is and isn’t my guest. Right now, you are my guest, and I am offering you this room.† I still didn’t like it, but I wasn’t going to upset Jeb, either. I vowed that I would disturb nothing, if it meant sleeping on the floor. â€Å"Well, let’s keep moving. Don’t forget: third from the left, seventh in.† â€Å"Green screen,† I added. â€Å"Exactly.† Jeb took me back through the big garden room, around the perimeter to the opposite side, and through the biggest tunnel exit. When we passed the irrigators, they stiffened and turned, afraid to have me behind their backs. This tunnel was well lit, the bright crevices coming at intervals too regular to be natural. â€Å"We go even closer to the surface now. It gets drier, but it gets hotter, too.† I noticed that almost immediately. Instead of being steamed, we were now being baked. The air was less stuffy and stale. I could taste the desert dust. There were more voices ahead. I tried to steel myself against the inevitable reaction. If Jeb insisted on treating me like†¦ like a human, like a welcome guest, I was going to have to get used to this. No reason to let it make me nauseous over and over again. My stomach began an unhappy rolling anyway. â€Å"This way’s the kitchen,† Jeb told me. At first I thought we were in another tunnel, one crowded with people. I pressed myself against the wall, trying to keep my distance. The kitchen was a long corridor with a high ceiling, higher than it was wide, like my new quarters. The light was bright and hot. Instead of thin crevices through deep rock, this place had huge open holes. â€Å"Can’t cook in the daytime, of course. Smoke, you know. So we mainly use this as the mess hall until nightfall.† All conversation had come to an abrupt halt, so Jeb’s words were clear for everyone to hear. I tried to hide behind him, but he kept walking farther in. We’d interrupted breakfast, or maybe it was lunch. The humans-almost twenty at a quick estimate-were very close here. It wasn’t like the big cavern. I wanted to keep my eyes on the floor, but I couldn’t stop them from flashing around the room. Just in case. I could feel my body tensing to run for it, though where I would run, I didn’t know. Against both sides of the hallway, there were long piles of rock. Mostly rough, purple volcanic stone, with some lighter-colored substance-cement?-running between them, creating seams, holding them together. On top of these piles were different stones, browner in color, and flat. They were glued together with the light gray grout as well. The final product was a relatively even surface, like a counter or a table. It was clear that they were used for both. The humans sat on some, leaned on others. I recognized the bread rolls they held suspended between the table and their mouths, frozen with disbelief as they took in Jeb and his one-person tour. Some of them were familiar. Sharon, Maggie, and the doctor were the closest group to me. Melanie’s cousin and aunt glared at Jeb furiously-I had an odd conviction that I could have stood on my head and bellowed songs out of Melanie’s memory at the top of my lungs and they still would not have looked at me-but the doctor eyed me with a frank and almost friendly curiosity that made me feel cold deep inside my bones. At the back end of the hall-shaped room, I recognized the tall man with ink black hair and my heart stuttered. I’d thought Jared was supposed to take the hostile brothers with him to make Jeb’s job of keeping me alive slightly easier. At least it was the younger one, Ian, who had belatedly developed a conscience-not quite as bad as leaving Kyle behind. That consolation did not slow my racing pulse, however. â€Å"Everybody full so quick?† Jeb asked loudly and sarcastically. â€Å"Lost our appetites,† Maggie muttered. â€Å"How ’bout you,† he said, turning to me. â€Å"You hungry?† A quiet groan went through our audience. I shook my head-a small but frantic motion. I didn’t even know whether I was hungry, but I knew I couldn’t eat in front of this crowd that would gladly have eaten me. â€Å"Well, I am,† Jeb grumbled. He walked down the aisle between the counters, but I did not follow. I couldn’t stand the thought of being within easy reach of the rest. I stayed pressed against the wall where I stood. Only Sharon and Maggie watched him go to a big plastic bin on one counter and grab a roll. Everyone else watched me. I was certain that if I moved an inch, they would pounce. I tried not to breathe. â€Å"Well, let’s just keep on movin’,† Jeb suggested around a mouthful of bread as he ambled back to me. â€Å"Nobody seems able to concentrate on their lunch. Easily distracted, this set.† I was watching the humans for sudden movements, not really seeing their faces after that first moment when I recognized the few I could put names to. So it wasn’t until Jamie stood up that I noticed him there. He was a head shorter than the adults beside him, but taller than the two smaller children who perched on the counter on his other side. He hopped lightly off his seat and followed behind Jeb. His expression was tight, compressed, like he was trying to solve a difficult equation in his head. He examined me through narrow eyes as he approached on Jeb’s heels. Now I wasn’t the only one in the room holding my breath. The others’ gazes shifted back and forth between Melanie’s brother and me. Oh, Jamie, Melanie thought. She hated the sad, adult expression on his face, and I probably hated it even more. She didn’t feel as guilty as I did for putting it there. If only we could take it away. She sighed. It’s too late. What could we do to make it better now? I didn’t mean the question more than rhetorically, but I found myself searching for an answer, and Melanie searched, too. We found nothing in the brief second we had to consider the matter; there was nothing to be found, I was sure. But we both knew we would be searching again when we were done with this asinine tour and had a chance to think. If we lived that long. â€Å"Whatcha need, kid?† Jeb asked without looking at him. â€Å"Just wondering what you’re doing,† Jamie answered, his voice striving for nonchalance and only just failing. Jeb stopped when he got to me and turned to look at Jamie. â€Å"Takin’ her for a tour of the place. Just like I do for any newcomer.† There was another low grumble. â€Å"Can I come?† Jamie asked. I saw Sharon shake her head feverishly, her expression outraged. Jeb ignored her. â€Å"Doesn’t bother me†¦ if you can mind your manners.† Jamie shrugged. â€Å"No problem.† I had to move then-to knot my fingers together in front of me. I wanted so badly to push Jamie’s untidy hair out of his eyes and then leave my arm around his neck. Something that would not go over well, I was sure. â€Å"Let’s go,† Jeb said to us both. He took us back out the way we had come. Jeb walked on one side of me, Jamie on the other. Jamie seemed to be trying to stare at the floor, but he kept glancing up at my face-just like I couldn’t help glancing down at his. Whenever our eyes met, we looked away again quickly. We were about halfway down the big hall when I heard the quiet footsteps behind us. My reaction was instantaneous and unthinking. I skittered to one side of the tunnel, sweeping Jamie along with one arm so that I was between him and whatever was coming for me. â€Å"Hey!† he protested, but he did not knock my arm away. Jeb was just as quick. The gun twirled out of its strap with blinding speed. Ian and the doctor both raised their hands above their heads. â€Å"We can mind our manners, too,† the doctor said. It was hard to believe that this soft-spoken man with the friendly expression was the resident torturer; he was all the more terrifying to me because his exterior was so benign. A person would be on her guard on a dark and ominous night, a person would be ready. But on a clear, sunny day? How would she know to flee when she couldn’t see any place for danger to hide? Jeb squinted at Ian, the barrel of the gun shifting to follow his gaze. â€Å"I don’t mean any trouble, Jeb. I’ll be just as mannerly as Doc.† â€Å"Fine,† Jeb said curtly, stowing his gun. â€Å"Just don’t test me. I haven’t shot anybody in a real long time, and I sort of miss the thrill of it.† I gasped. Everyone heard that and turned to see my horrified expression. The doctor was the first one to laugh, but even Jamie joined in briefly. â€Å"It’s a joke,† Jamie whispered to me. His hand strayed from his side, almost as if he was reaching for mine, but he quickly shoved it into the pocket of his shorts. I let my arm-still stretched protectively in front of his body-drop, too. â€Å"Well, the day’s wasting,† Jeb said, still a little surly. â€Å"You’ll all have to keep up, ’cause I’m not waiting on you.† He stalked forward before he was done speaking. How to cite The Host Chapter 20: Freed, Essay examples