Melissa Chau
Lee, J
ENG3U0 - I
May 25th, 2015

The Journey of Hardships Novelist author, Rainer Maria Rilke, once said, “it is clear that we must trust what is difficult; everything alive trusts in it, everything in Nature grows and defends itself any way it can and is spontaneously itself, tries to be itself at all costs and against all opposition…“ in which he explains that it is not the hardships of life, but how one handles the hardships that defines them. The overwhelming feeling of, isolation, and seduction filled with both the magic of life and its lurking evils. The novel, The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz, the protagonist, Beth Weeks, goes through many obstacles, thus demonstrating hardships of terror, isolation, and non-ethical actions. In today’s society there are many individuals who may seem to have newly/and or more common issues due to how we as a economy are developing. For instance, the protagonist Beth’s issues such as, terror from sexual harassment/abuse,
“They came and pushed me down. Parker and Lily Bell and those kids. They took my clothes. Parker, again today, he pushed me down.” (Anderson-Dargatz 151) would not often be ignored in the twenty-first century and in our society in the world that we live in. Though these unfortunate events do occur from time to time, times are changing and issues are being dealt with regarding the situation. Correspondingly, once a incident like such has occurred in the novel it was viewed as ethical due to nothing being done to punish and or individuals not wanting to believe the fact that an incident like such occurred.
“He put his hand up my skirt and pulled down my panties. He undid his pants and pushed himself between my legs, hurting me, unable to find an opening.” (Anderson-Dargatz 146)
A typical lifestyle for the youth population is a happy and studious life at home with parents, yet Beth seemed to have encountered many more issues rather than just that.
“Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all. You just don’t want to go to school. Don’t lie to me. Tell me where you’ve been all day. Where you go.” (Anderson-Dargatz 151)
With violence and sexual abuse taking place this novel does not seem to have many female advocates/rights in general. When one’s self expectations are taken away as a result of a specific discouraging event, one will feel displaced and discouraged in their own eyes. Having an individuals dignity and pride being taken away much like Beth once sexually, results in the characters own downfall. In the beginning of the novel, Beth did not seem to be isolated too far from society/others. Though her and her families house was not close to the town/village, she was still willing and permitted to go into it. Further on into the novel we learn about her fathers incident with the towns people. From harsh words to physical abuse, Beth’s welcome had been little to nothing.
“Morley stepped in, to defend your mother. He had to! And your father knocked him over, sent the stocking rack flying! What kind of father you got? Don’t you hold your head up to me! Hoarders!” (Anderson-Dargatz 10)
Though being isolated may have caused Beth to rebel and to her down fall, having a over- protective parent may have also influenced the way that Beth was during the climax of the novel. Nature verses nurture had a large role in Beth’s life, whether the individual is able to have a terrible nature but still be able to be nurtured into something better is up to the individual.
As an example, Beth’s life at home was corrupted and terrible, though she was natured into such thing at the peak of the novel the nurture she later found during here journey made her stay.
“Glad you stayed? I’m just glad I didn’t go with her.” (Anderson-Dargatz 292)
Self-battles affect everyone in the surroundings, even when it does not directly affect them Humanity is an important aspect throughout the novel, lacking humanity the gateway as to what leads the characters to their own downfalls. Though the novel lurked with mysterious and horrific stories, these unfortunate tales were always lingering through each of the characters heads.
“Then he pulled all his only wrinkly skin tight and tied it up in a bow behind him and pretended to be his own son. He trued ti issue with his sons two wives - Coyote probably killed her. He killed all his wives sooner or later” (Anderson-Dargatz 169)
Though seduction lurks through the novel, non-ethical actions behind closed doors also did, from explosive sexuality pervades, sexual abuse, and horrific small-town inhabitants, Beth experiences not only traumatic, but cringing experiences throughout the novel. Though in the times of WWII, rights and ethics were hard to differ once real and imagined predators submerged treating characters as slaves, dogs, etc. personal rights and ethics did not. Though with various adaptions and perspectives of ethics Beth Week’s life around home was the most un-ethical. With an insane father who beats, sexually harasses, and has a terrible temper, a mother who talks to her mothers got when comfort is needed, to a brother who disobeys, workers who may be murders, a friend named Nora who does sexual things to Beth,
“Landed a kiss hard on my lips - She pulled her blouse closed - She touched my hair and smoothed her hand down my face, then adjusted the bundle on her shoulder…” (Anderson-Dargatz 283) and lastly corrupted friendships/relationships Anderson-Dargatz’s main focus of the novel was not to portray ethics throughout society in Beth’s time and age. Through the manipulation of setting, character, and plot throughout the novel was terrifying, Beth, who had been displaced and dirty in the eyes of society when she decides to go into the small village is un-ethical due to her fathers actions. In the real world and in the twenty-first century, a family members action is becoming more prevalent; although, kept behind closed doors. As upsetting as it may be, having opinions and rumours forced upon an individual due to their mother/fathers wrong-doing is, ethics and society did not play large role for Beth. unfortunately. In addition to unfortunate outcomes throughout the novel, living in isolation and in a corrupted household/community also had an impact on Beth’s characters growth. In terms of effect that ethics has upon all characters, and in order to overcome such an obstacle it is important to endure the pain, and to not allow un-ethical actions define and or slow you down.

With the feeling of error, isolation, and non-ethical actions, the protagonists are forced to not only suffer but endure the pain and tragedy that lays ahead. Although perspectives are different on the multiple actions, throughout the duration of a persons life, one may encounter what Beth Week’s has had to, and or worse. An individual may feel obligated to give up, or to continue pushing and to go through the Journey of Hardships.

WORK CITED
"Rainer Maria Rilke: Trust In What Is Difficult." 99U. Web. 8 June 2015. http://99u.com/articles/6977/rainer-maria-rilke-trust-in-what-is-difficult Dargatz, Gail. The Cure for Death by Lightning. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. Print.