A Little Respect
What is respect? One definition of respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. At a young age most people learn to have and give respect. They’re taught how to spell the word by an Aretha Franklin song written in 1965. We’re told that if we give respect, we will receive respect. Respect your elders, parents say. That or parents are telling us to have some respect. Sometimes they use it as an excuse it seems, but we listen to them anyway. They are our elders, aren’t they? We must respect the people and objects around us. In most novels and short stories at least one character has great amounts of respect for those around them. Young Scout Finch from Harper Lee’s infamous To Kill A Mockingbird is growing up in an era where it isn’t often you see respect for everyone. People are harsh to anyone that is different than them. Whether it is by beliefs or just skin color. Being so young Scout must not only learn respect, but she puts it to good use throughout the novel. Santiago, from Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea also knows a lot about respect. He mostly displays it while talking about his love for the sea. Both Scout and Santiago show the amount of respect they have for the people and objects around them.
Being as young as she is Scout Finch has many lessons to learn, one lesson picked up on quickly was respect. She has a highly respectful and respected father to learn from. When addressing her father, Scout often calls him sir, this shows that she knows he is the authoritative figure who needs to be respected. On the day she fights with Walter Cunningham Atticus tells her that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Meaning exactly that. No one will ever know how a person is truly feeling until they see the world from their eyes. She decided to take his words into consideration and never fought with the boy again. She had respect for Atticus’ words and did as she was told. Towards the end of the novel when Scout finally meets Boo Radley she politely offers to walk him home, showing him that it was okay and being polite by offering her arm to him. Scout is the type of person who has respect for those around her, but people can also have respect for the creatures and objects around them.
Similarly, Santiago shows respect for the young boy when he politely tells him to stay with the boat that’s catching lots of fish. He respects the choice the boy’s parents made when sending the boy to work on that boat. Deep sea fishing is Santiago’s favorite things in the world. Next to Africa and baseball that is. He is a man filled with respect from head to toe. He speaks highly of the sea and all of its inhabitants. If no one knew otherwise they would think he and the sea were the best of friends. Santiago “loved green turtles and hawk-bills,” (36) because they would eat the vile Portuguese men-of-war. Although he loves everything in the sea those are the one and only exception. The marlin seems to be one of his greatest loves.
During his four day battle with the marlin he prays for its death, but then adds in “wonderful though he is” (65). This shows that he still respects the fish and its life even though he wants it dead. It’s the fish’s life or his own. Santiago may be old, but he will still fight for his life. When the sharks arrive and mutilate the marlin, Santiago begins to feel awful about killing the poor fish and injuring the shark. He respects the creatures of the sea because they are alive too. He had to do anything he could to survive. Even if that meant killing those sea creatures, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have remorse over doing exactly that.
Without respect, Scout and Santiago’s lives would be much different. Scout would’ve gotten into many more fights and a lot more trouble. She would have been just like the majority of the town in hating people because their skin is a different color. Scout wouldn’t have hesitated to beat up Walter once again. Santiago would be a completely different person. He would be rude instead of humble. He would most likely boat upon the sea only caring about himself. Not the creatures there with him. Therefore, it is a wonderful thing that both characters are respectful people.
Showing respect can have a positive effect on someone. People could have a positive experience in their workplace and daily life. They can also make other people’s days better. A simple, respectful thank you can brighten a person’s day in an instant. Being respected can possibly cause someone to feel important. Without respect the world would be a much different place.
Being as young as she is Scout Finch has many lessons to learn, one lesson picked up on quickly was respect. She has a highly respectful and respected father to learn from. When addressing her father, Scout often calls him sir, this shows that she knows he is the authoritative figure who needs to be respected. On the day she fights with Walter Cunningham Atticus tells her that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Meaning exactly that. No one will ever know how a person is truly feeling until they see the world from their eyes. She decided to take his words into consideration and never fought with the boy again. She had respect for Atticus’ words and did as she was told. Towards the end of the novel when Scout finally meets Boo Radley she politely offers to walk him home, showing him that it was okay and being polite by offering her arm to him. Scout is the type of person who has respect for those around her, but people can also have respect for the creatures and objects around them.
Similarly, Santiago shows respect for the young boy when he politely tells him to stay with the boat that’s catching lots of fish. He respects the choice the boy’s parents made when sending the boy to work on that boat. Deep sea fishing is Santiago’s favorite things in the world. Next to Africa and baseball that is. He is a man filled with respect from head to toe. He speaks highly of the sea and all of its inhabitants. If no one knew otherwise they would think he and the sea were the best of friends. Santiago “loved green turtles and hawk-bills,” (36) because they would eat the vile Portuguese men-of-war. Although he loves everything in the sea those are the one and only exception. The marlin seems to be one of his greatest loves.
During his four day battle with the marlin he prays for its death, but then adds in “wonderful though he is” (65). This shows that he still respects the fish and its life even though he wants it dead. It’s the fish’s life or his own. Santiago may be old, but he will still fight for his life. When the sharks arrive and mutilate the marlin, Santiago begins to feel awful about killing the poor fish and injuring the shark. He respects the creatures of the sea because they are alive too. He had to do anything he could to survive. Even if that meant killing those sea creatures, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have remorse over doing exactly that.
Without respect, Scout and Santiago’s lives would be much different. Scout would’ve gotten into many more fights and a lot more trouble. She would have been just like the majority of the town in hating people because their skin is a different color. Scout wouldn’t have hesitated to beat up Walter once again. Santiago would be a completely different person. He would be rude instead of humble. He would most likely boat upon the sea only caring about himself. Not the creatures there with him. Therefore, it is a wonderful thing that both characters are respectful people.
Showing respect can have a positive effect on someone. People could have a positive experience in their workplace and daily life. They can also make other people’s days better. A simple, respectful thank you can brighten a person’s day in an instant. Being respected can possibly cause someone to feel important. Without respect the world would be a much different place.