Analysis Of Jane Goodall's My Graduation Speech

Thousands of years ago, in the name of the goddess of wisdom, Athenians created a beautiful society that valued curiosity, creativity, intelligence and most of all imagination. They sought out the truths of the universe and of mankind and they left a great impact on civilization through the ages. Although Athens left us Athenian society disappeared more than two thousand years ago, some people still demonstrate their its ideals and continue to create beauty in our world. One of them, Jane Goodall is an exceptional woman who makes the world a greater place to be. She follows in the footsteps of the Athenians in their curiosity, their many new discoveries of great significance, and in their engagement in society.
A thirst for knowledge is one of the best and most Athenian traits that one might have. It is the driving force for many of the greatest discoveries known to mankind. As stated in “My Graduation Speech”, “To be Athenian is to hold knowledge and, especially, the quest for knowledge in high esteem.” (Postman 3), meaning that curiosity is a crucial characteristic of

Jane Goodall also follows that logic, bringing her to participate in the world’s community as an activist and educator. She spends about 300 days a year on the road, educating others and advocating for animals, the environment, and the poor. In Neil Postman’s words, “To be Athenian is to take interest in public affairs and the improvement of public behavior.” (Postman 3), meaning that, like Jane Goodall, Athenians should concern themselves with bettering society. This is where Jane Goodall shines the most: she has her own non-profit organization to help chimpanzees, is a great advocate for the environment, and has written various books to spread knowledge and attempt to have others join in to help the causes that she believes