Relating literature to real life -Everyday Use by Alice Walker and American Dream by Judith Ortiz Cofer and the homecoming of a fallen soldier.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Throughout life we all face challenging situations that leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere with no place left to go but up. In society today most of the things we do are based on "change," both kinds, from positive to negative and could also include major life events such as death or marriage.

Most life changing events result from traumatizing situations that leave the victim wounded either emotionally or psychically. In the short story "Everyday Use," by Alice Walker, Maggie's life changes when she is burnt in a house fire that sent her home burning to the ground. "Sometimes I can still hear the flames and feel Maggie's arms sticking to me, her hair smoking and her dress falling off her in little black papery flakes" ( Walker 560) . At the blink of an eye life can take a turn for the worst and ruin everything a person has worked towards.

Everyday individuals lose their lives overseas fighting for our freedom. Most people don't understand what those men and women go through everyday just to keep this country safe. Many individuals come home with hearing problems and more importantly a life time