Earthbound

   As all short stories the twists and turns in “Earthbound” first changes the perspective when mentioning ‘girl-hood’.  Also, the understanding of the world and that all humankind should not be the dominant species in the world, that we are all intruders upon the real rulers of nature.  The humility represented by the country people show their understanding for the need to be organic, in the meaning being one with nature. 

   The idea of equality is also outlined by the beliefs of the country people, where they understand there should be no race, no class, no gender, and everything is one. The ideal of life being equal shows the author understands the necessary belief that nothing can last because all are destined to end.  Although, even though the people understand this, they still speak of the white oppressors, but the hope lies in the fact that they have a powerful belief that the black “folks” will be saved from “dehumanization.”   They knew the divine spirit of nature and the greater world would understand the oppression of the black people and the white people were not gods as they believed themselves to be.

   The Buddhists beliefs laid out in the sixties and early seventies also recognize this connection that all human life will be joined together at the end of being.  The hatching of turtle shells symbolize the hatching of a new life for the ‘black’ people who have been oppressed throughout their lives understand their lives will be changed and alternate for a new dawn.   The turtles may be small but their hard shells show their perseverance to endure the hard times in their lives until the new and easier times.  Such as the small, new turtles coming out of their rubbery shells and trekking into the harsh surf.  The hard journey to their safety is a true test if they can survive the journey that the people need to make until the light shines at the end of the tunnel and their freedom is restored.  Because of the country people’s understanding of this symbolism in nature, they know that their struggle will have an end.

    The social and critical aspect and value of the plot is shown by the symbolic nature of writing and life reflections used in the context of the writing. The use of the turtles in the story shows the author had a deep understanding of nature.  The showing of humility needed in nature shows the simple belief that all is destined to end and reconnect to our beginnings again where no race or classes will ever begin or exist.  All will achieve a peace, or nirvana in the Buddhist beliefs used in the story.  This composition shows a positive message that all need to understand in order to live in life or in a peace for life after the real life.  The application to our college lifestyle is too handle our situations with ease and understanding that certain challenges in life are not challenges at all but lessons needed to be learned.