Horace’s Assertion
The Roman poet Horace states that adversity awakens talents that lie dormant in prosperous times. Horace’s assertion analyzes the role that adversity plays in the development of an individual's character. When an individual faces adversity, their true character becomes apparent. Horace observed that times of struggles elicit greater talents that prosperous circumstances. Periods of hardship expose an individual's true character and hidden talents that they themselves did not even know existed.
Adversity’s are almost impossible to avoid. When an individual faces such problems, they are bewildered by such difficult situations. Thus far, the person has only experienced prosperous circumstances, so their ability to respond has been dormant. However, once that person reacts to the adversity that has been brought into their life, it reveals their true character. Talents that are usually locked away, are brought forth during times of struggle. Once an individual’s talents are discovered; they realize as to what all they are capable.
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The Joad’s quickly realized that in order to overcome such a misfortune there must be a change in their ways. While experiencing various accounts of adversity, the Joad’s were forced to come face to face with their problem. The Joad’s had a set mind that they were not going to be overcome by the fear that their adversities brought. They were able to pick themselves up and persevere. By the end of their journey, the love and hope of the family had become an indestructible
American author, John Steinbeck, in an American realist novel titled “Grapes of Wrath” (1939), demonstrates how man gets stuck being controlled by a bigger power. Steinbeck supports his claim through the use of rhetorical strategies, such as, personification, repetition, and dialogue. Steinbeck's purpose is to demonstrate how man gets stuck in the relentless cycle of powerlessness. Steinbeck uses a desperate tone and old-fashioned language to appeal to the readers of the 20th century. Steinbeck begins by making the Bank come to life through personification.
Horace, an ancient Roman poet from around 50 BC (Coolidge 90), is quoted on saying “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.” Now while Horace was very intelligent, and this quote seems to be correct, there are also numerous occasions in which adversity has brought about the inverse reaction. Throughout history, adversity has repeated both of the effects many times, such as: in Horace’s life, the biblical story of Joseph, the War of 1812, during the Great Depression and throughout World War II.
Adversity, or misfortune, affects everyday life by engendering the present. Without misfortune, humans are unable to develop and learn from mistakes. For instance, in The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the plot of this novel is omphalic around how Hester Prynne, the protagonist, is given hardships for committing the transgression of adultery and having covert knowledge of who her adulter is.
The Great Depression was a time of economic crisis around the world from the time period 1929 to World War II. To help capture the feeling in this period, John Steinbeck published The Grapes of Wrath. The main plot of of the story is about the Joads, a farming family forced from their home sent to search for work in California. Steinbeck includes a series of intercalary chapters to help paint a picture of migrant workers and the challenges they faced. In chapter 9, Steinbeck explores the emotional trials the tenants forced to endure when they are required to leave their homes and their lives, this chapter is an appeal to pathos.
Easy to encounter, not so easy to overcome, failures claw at hopes and successes. They bring down those who are weak enough to let them in. They strengthen those that can get past them. I got past one that almost ruined my chances for new opportunities.
The roman poet Horace once wrote “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.” I believe that Horace’s quote about adversity eliciting talents, is correct. While there may be some outliers to this assumption, I assume that there would not be many. I think Horace makes a fairly good point, in that talents only really shine when faced with a challeng. Horace’s quote is backed up by the fact that the poet Horace was famous in ancient rome.
As the Roman poet Horace once said, "adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant." In other words, he believed that challenges are beneficial because they bring out talents that would have stayed hidden otherwise. He thought that adversity would force a person to use their unknown talents out of desperation. Some argue that his theory is irrelevant and that a person 's skills will develop just as well without adversity if they have the capacity, but I believe that hardships will evoke and improve on their dormant talents.
Ava Yannucci Mr. Williams Honors English II 28 February 2023 Conflicts of the Realism Period “If you're in trouble or hurt or need–go to poor people. They're the only ones that'll help–the only ones”, a truthful quote declared by John Steinbeck in his famous novel The Grapes of Wrath. The Grapes of Wrath, one of many famous realist novels during the Naturalism movement in American history, tells a gut-wrenching story of a extremely poor family moving to California after their previous life had gotten ruined by the dust bowl.
The Roman poet, Horace once said, “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant”. Horace argues that difficult circumstances critically impact the development of one’s character. Although some may argue that character will reveal itself regardless if adversity is present, I agree with Horace’s perspective, adversity determines one's potential capabilities, strengthens personal values, and provides a feeling of self-worth. Sure, there are cases in which prosperous circumstances lead to internal development.
John Steinbeck has a style of writing unparalleled in history and in the modern world. In the same way, his philosophies are also unparalleled, with his focus in socialism not extending to communism or abnegation of spiritualism. His ideal world is utopian, holding the dust bowl migrant at the same level as the yeoman farmer was held in Jeffersonian times. In The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck Steinbeck, who posses impregnable technique, conveys his message of a group working tirelessly for the betterment of the community.
Adversity can take us by surprise, but everyone at some point in life experiences it. The way our personal identity can be shaped is through our phases of adversity. The experiences of dealing with difficulties can shape the way we view life and the actions that will show our persona. When we persevere adversity and obstacles it shows our reputation and our true type of identity. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare, illustrates the way Hamlet, as well as other characters, deal with adversity through the types of motives they are seeking.
“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.” the wise Greg Kincaid says. This explains resilience and that you can overcome bad situations with hard work and perseverance. In A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, this kind of resilience connects with Beneatha Younger.
Propaganda is generally used as a derogatory term; the word itself signifies that the person distributing the propaganda has ulterior motive. The Grapes of Wrath was seen by many Americans as a work of propaganda against the American system. However, those people may not have been aware of the complete definition of propaganda: “information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.” While John Steinbeck was clearly publicizing the hardships of many migrants during the Dust Bowl, it is unfair to say the information he presented was biased or misleading in nature. Steinbeck did not publish a piece of propaganda, because he uses plot and intercalary chapters to show
Mankind Pushing Thru In chapters two and three of The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck's novel introduces the central plot that is underway and foretells of the future events that will come to the sharecroppers and their families. Chapter two starts outside of a diner, a man walks up to a new red transport truck and waits for a ride in his newly made cheap suit and shoes. Inside, the truck driver sits enjoying good company and food. After some warm food and company, he says his good byes and returns to his truck.
Many people say that hardships are a part of life and that you need to fight through them to survive. Some of the hardships faced in this book are things like the weather, a tannery and several other things. Despite all of these hardships, though, the family in the novel never give up or break apart.