The Revised Response Essay:" Gretchen the Squid", by Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers introduces a gigantic squid who wants more than anything to have a good education and to follow the American dream. At a first glance, the author is narrating a humorous fiction story. Taking it further and deeper away, what he really does -is using a fiction story as his weapon to speak out to the world. He becomes the voice among the voiceless people, who always point out the several problems and big dilemmas of society, but do not have the will to fix the broken parts. Through his leading fictional character, the author touches the heart of reality.

Gretchen, is the symbolic figure of a child who needs support by his parents, acceptance by his environment and wants to follow his dreams. Living at a time were American ideals consider being the ultimate and greatest achievement that man could have -she seeks her piece of the American pie. She wants to go to university, to be a great accountant, to join a large corporation, to wear the fancy and classy suit and to hung out in well-know bars and restaurants. Although, she is very good with numbers, confident and competent, she is facing disappointment and rejection from her surroundings.

It will always be the "Us versus them", the insignificant other. The idea of being superior than the “other” is not something that we find in front of us, the current moment. The “ Us versus them” has always existed. When we go back in time,despite how much people longed and long for equality and unity - the negative impacts of a modernized society, leave no signs of hope. However, is there another way to go with this?

"There is just one life for each of us: our own", (Euripedes). Gretchen is fully aware, that species of her kind can not have the same opportunities as humans- but yet, that does not stop her of dreaming the impossible. The writer, from the begging until the end of the letter argues the fictional reality of the world we live in. Turning back the clock, we come across to all the struggles of people who fought for their rights- their different skin color, race, gender and religion beliefs.

Utopia does not exist. The key for a better world is respect and accept "the other".If we were all the same and had same ideologies, cultural and religion beliefs- then life would have no greater meaning, since we would not have any sign of progress. "We are not abandoning our convictions , our philosophy or traditions, nor do we urge anyone to abandon theirs" (Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev).

The aim is not to engage ourselves in the ethnocentric approach of changing “the other”. Our goal, is to create a world that unites, not necessarily nations and locations, but ideas or sets of different ideas. What completes a puzzle, is the different pieces and parts that inevitably attach each other.

Gretchen is searching for her oasis- what do humans search for? We struggle and fight, some more and some less, to reach our goals and dreams. We all want a piece of that happiness, regardless of what that is, for each and everyone of us. Our biggest fear is failure. However, what we all really desire, is to belong in a world that accepts "us and the different other". We can not be the same; we must not wish to be the same.

“ The worst form of inequality, is to try to make unequal things equal”, as the Greek philosopher Aristotle said. Therefore, w

e must maintain our own identity and culture and accept the "interesting other", which nevertheless redefines our own unique identity.

People say, that time heals the wounds of a broken heart-does it heal though, the wounds of a broken mind? "It’s hard but wise, to have the ability to manipulate and control life through formal legislation. However, we should all attempt to eliminate those barriers which hinder us from progressing and evolving as individuals. With our perspective true to our skills, talents and traits. Having always in mind that the best are yet to arrive, we are entering the final path and we are taking off, having as our luggage the wonderful gifts of knowledge and the will to carry out a precious mission, called Life".

　

References

www.motivational-inspirational-corner.com/getquote.html?authorid=4

PS: a reminder that the last paragraph, though in quotations, is also my own work.