<p>This is my very first essay and i want to see how i stand. Please be very critical and list ways i can improve. Thanks!</p>
<p>Prompt: "That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value."
Thomas Paine
Do we value only what we struggle for? Plan your response, and then write an essay to explain your views on this issue. Be sure to support your position with specific points and examples. (You may use personal examples or examples from your reading, observations, or, knowledge of subjects such as history, literature, science.)</p>
<p>Response:
Struggling is crucial in obtaining satisfaction in the things we do as it provides meaning and purpose. This is seen through events such as the American Revolution, the Scarlet letter, and in my life as I practice for swimming.</p>
<pre><code>The idea that value is empty without struggle is exemplified in the American Revolution. The build up of the Revolution was marked with constant tensions between America and Britain, taxes, and little representation. With these factors in mind, the Americans struggled to eliminate them and fought their hardest against Britain in the war. Eventually, America prevailed and was finally able govern its own country on its own accord. Not only that, the aftermath of the war led to increased unity and nationalism in America as Americans had rallied together to defeat a common enemy, no matter the hardships. Without the struggle of the war, the Americans would not have felt this unity with one another and the newly formed America might have collapsed due to domestic tensions. Therefore, struggle was necessary in giving the Revolution value because the unity that struggle provided allowed America to be successful rather than collapse.
As seen in Scarlet Letter, value is empty without struggle. In the novel, Hester Pyrnne committed adultery with a minister and was forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest. Because of this, she was excluded from the town and seen as a sinner. Therefore, she lived in seclusion in the forest and focused on tenaciously making a living through her needlework. Eventually, she gained the town's respect and the letter “A” shifted from adultery to able, as in able to be a part of society. Through Hester's struggle to make a living and cope with the cruelty of others, Hester was able to change the value of the letter into a positive trait. Therefore, struggle gave the letter a new meaning and purpose.
One last example of struggle and value is seen in my life. I am a competitive swimmer and swim 6 days a week, sometimes 4 hours a day. It is incredibly hard work, and sometimes I wish I could just be fast without having to put in the work. But I catch myself when I say that. After an athlete has accomplished something great, they always say it was because of the hard work that got them there. I realize that if I were somehow able to circumvent the hard work and become fast without it, my successes would feel empty. There would be no rewarding value in a victory if I didn't have to work to get it. Therefore, struggle provides a rewarding value that would be otherwise absent.
As seen in the Revolution, the Scarlet Letter, and my life, value is indeed empty without struggle.
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<p>I ran out of time on the conclusion but otherwise i think i did a decent job.</p>