The Most Dangerous Game Analysis - by Muhammad Raza

 What “The Most Dangerous Game” tells us about ourselves

by Muhammad Raza

“The Most Dangerous Game”, a short story about a Russian General who hunts humans for sport, is one of the most thrilling and suspenseful works of literature I have ever read. I could feel my heart thumping as Zaroff walked under the tree Rainsford was hiding in (making me feel like I was the one being hunted), and I remember feeling this huge wave of relief when we find out that he actually survives at the end of the story. However, this otherwise gruesome and morbid story has caught my attention by making me realize one fact that rarely occurred to me prior. It is one that has somewhat changed my outlook and nature and history, and has given me confidence in my own abilities. That realization being that humans truly are the most dangerous and unpredictable creatures on this earth. 

One of the pivotal themes behind “The Most Dangerous Game” is that General Zarrof has grown tired of hunting traditional sport, like deer, wolves and even leopards. As a result, he turns towards hunting stranded humans as means of satisfying his lust for game. However, the fact that they needed to turn to hunting humans instead of, say, elephants, hippos, tigers, and rhinos, suggests something about the danger of man. We have General Zarrof as an example of a human who can take down all kinds of species, and then we also get Rainsford who is the first being to ever evade Zarrof for 3 days straight. Furthermore, thinking logically allows one to understand the sheer strength that even an average human or group of humans could present in the wild or in the case of the hunt. While we are not incredibly strong nor incredibly fast, we are the smartest creatures in the world. In the hunt, a human can craft tools, use their intelligence to find the best hiding places, and be able to rationalize through which confrontations they can and cannot handle. As hunters, humans are even more scary: equipped with tools and intelligence to track most prey, humans should be able to defeat any other animals that dare challenge them on their home turf. While animals are driven by their raw instinct, humans are powered by intelligence, logic, emotion, and the desire to not only survive but to dominate. It’s no coincidence that humans are the top of the food chain today, and “The Most Dangerous Game” beautifully highlights why that is the case. 

Why I Love Superheroes by Muhammad Raza

 Why I Love Superheroes

by Muhammad Raza

The concept of superheroes is silly: if someone told you to imagine masked men and women in halloween costumes fighting crime, you would laugh and think that they were crazy. Despite this, it seems that almost everyone in the world knows of at least one or two superheroes, and that so many want to be like them. Sure, the appeal of powers such as superhuman strength, flight, super speed, and the ability to shoot fire is understandable, but some of these powers are also silly and are not necessarily always associated with superheroes. Why is it that superheroes are so popular then? While there are definitely a plethora of reasons to explain their fame, the reason why I personally like them is not because of how much they can lift or how fast they are, but because of the lessons they teach.

My favorite superhero is Spiderman. Yea, I like the way he can dodge bullets, swing from building to building, and knock out bad guys with a single punch, but the main reason I follow him these days is because he inspires me to be better. Spiderman is a hero who faces constant hardships, heart-breaks, financial troubles, and more, yet he continues to get up and fight everyday because he knows his inaction can lead to harm reaching others. Spiderman gets back up and fights even when his body is broken, even when there is no hope, even when the world is against him, and this makes me want to continue working hard as well. Like us, he makes mistakes (grave mistakes, at times), but he continues to persevere and push because he knows he can still help and improve himself. Furthermore, almost all superheroes possess inspiring virtues that make us want to improve and be like them: Superman can enslave the Earth with a fraction of his power, but chooses to be a beacon of hope; Batman lost his parents at a young age and actively uses his resources to ensure that no child has to suffer the same fate; Captain America embodies the ideals of courage and accountability, often in the face of death and destruction. These examples illustrate that superheros are not mere figments of imagination conjured for our entertainment, but are figures that teach us important lessons and encourage us to strive for what is right. I speak the truth when I say that some superheroes have actually inspired me to become a better person and embody better values, which is why I love them and think that they deserve praise world-wide. 

“It Was Nothing” by Carol Richards, an analysis by Fatima Azeem

 “It Was Nothing” by Carol Richards

by Fatima Azeem

The essay written by Carol Richards, “It Was Nothing,” was a carefully written piece that captures her journey with vitiligo, specifically using figurative language to describe how this condition affects pigmented skin. The lack of color on Carol’s body is not the only thing that shifts throughout the biography; frankly, it focuses on her slow acceptance of feeling different. At first, the narrator has a difficult time acknowledging the change her skin is going through. Carol does not want to think about it. Still, she successfully conveys her emotions through short metaphors, highlighting her negative stance with what she calls “...a collection of reverse freckles” (Richards 307). One sentence that stands out and really describes Carol’s journey with vitiligo is through the use of another metaphor, where her skin is “…a battlefield,” with “white overtaking brown,” when referencing melanin (Richards 306). This skin condition is hard for Carol because time and time again, she compares herself to people who are not like her, feeling jealous of girls for having the skin she can never have. What is beautiful throughout the biography is the narrator compares the pigments on her body to objects, to things, like a “dime” or something “the shape of England” and “Australia,” how they “...morphed to include Scotland and New Zealand,” and slowly, slowly through cute similes and comparisons, Carol has a shift in perspective, in what her vitiligo can really be instead of what it is (Richards 305-307). The colors on her skin can, instead,  shape out to be “...clouds of elephants and horses and dragons,” strong, hearty animals that almost look like “...a constellation” (Richards 307). Sure, Carol is self-conscious, and anyone would be; everyone can be, no matter what they look like. But throughout the story, the narrator enforces the idea of not being alone, and even looks at her skin more, understanding that though she is changing, she is still the same woman she was a few years ago. Just different. A different woman, with or without vitiligo, and that same figurative language used throughout the biography, highlights the shift in perspective, from repression to understanding, and then, acceptance of who Carol is becoming. How wonderful is that?

Hamartia for All Ages by Fatima Azeem

 Hamartia for All Ages

by Fatima Azeem

I think you left a fingerprint on my heart. When it’s inspected, do you think I’ll be able to track you down? Don’t leave evidence where hurt is committed, sometimes it leads you into an ocean of enemies. The thing is, after you leave, it gets easier to breathe; still, I find your presence much more worth it. This is kind of unpredictable and down-right chaotic. I feel as though maybe I’ll end up finding myself surrounded by water, standing lone on a rock that is still and slow. Through you, I will embrace the paradox of being calm, so much so, that when the water reaches my lips, I will not know. The waterline will trail up my eyelids and behind them I will see the culprit, the one who forgetfully touched my soul and never came back to remove themselves from my memory. The blue will wash over me and ripples of light will shine against the sky or maybe the ocean or maybe my hands, I don’t know. The water will spiral and take me with it and the salt will stain my teeth as I try to speak, but it won’t matter because I know you understand what I want. You know because you struck yourself deep into my pores and I remember that this doesn’t matter either; one day I will be alone and you will forget me and I will forget and my name will not be known. This is supposed to be the part where I will miss you and then everything cuts to black. This is burning and something else. Passion? Regret? Embarrassment? I wouldn’t have noticed, but would you have seen me from a thousand miles away? Maybe I was born for something else, someone else, and now I’ll never know. 

Wii, a poem, by Fatima Azeem

 Wii

Life is not a game

And yet sometimes I wonder

When will it start?

See, actions are enforced

But my stillness is loud

Clarity is a quiet noise 

That may never feel sound

I feel stuck in an ad

And I can’t skip anything

But it’s hard to wait

It’s difficult to be patient

My presence is waning

And soon it’ll be empty again

But I guess even that is a sign

To keep close and listen

Because even with these craters

The only way to be seen

Is to see my reflection in a dark sky

Maybe I won’t go too high

Maybe I won’t be full

But at least I won’t end up being nothing

And even if I am

I think that’s okay

I’ll think of this game as a long journey

To where I’ll find peace underneath a tree

Next to a river of golden honey

by Fatima Azeem

“Phoniness” in The Catcher in the Rye by: Muhammad Raza

 “Phoniness” in The Catcher in the Rye

by: Muhammad Raza

The Catcher in the Rye is a book that seems to have been read by almost every American high schooler and college student. It entails the confusing and miserable life of Holden Caulfield, a pessimistic 16 year old old student who is having trouble growing up and finding his place in the world. While many (including myself) dislike the book due to its haphazard plot, whiny protagonist, and inappropriate scenes, there are still themes present throughout the book that provide great insights into human nature and how difficult it can be to find oneself in society. One of themes that is perhaps extremely relevant to children entering adulthood–and one that I believe is sometimes unjustly over-shadowed by other ideas in the book–is the theme of "phoniness".

Phoniness in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden’s belief that someone or something is superficial and inauthentic. He often uses this word to refer to people who believe they are acting fake in order to please others or gain some other personal benefit. He employs this word for many people throughout this book: Principle Thurmer, the school headmaster, is phony because he acts proper and polite with the parents of rich kids despite actually being a caustic and mean individual; Sally Hyes, one of Holden’s love interests, is also phony because she only cares about aesthetics and materials rather than emotions and truly having love for Holden. The reason why this concept of phoniness is so important to the book is because it relates to the central theme of loss of innocence. As part of maturing and entering the adult world, Holden comes to realize that so many people in his life wear masks, hide their true intentions and put up facades at the cost of others. This phoniness is also the reason why Holden believes that innocence and youth are so valuable, because young children are much more likely to talk about their true feelings and be authentic than their older counterparts (as evidenced by the straightforward personality of Holden’s kid sister Phoebe). One reason why I personally value this theme of phoniness in the book is because I have experienced first-hand how many older teenagers and adults act differently in front of their teachers, their bosses, their parents, relatives, and some of their friends in order to appease them or gain personal benefit. Though one can argue that this is unavoidable, it does not negate the fact that it is a sickening aspect of our society as we cannot even be our real selves except to a small number of people, and that almost no one is who you think they are. While I do not enjoy this novel as a whole, I still think this theme that Salinger developed was especially relevant to me and so many other young teenagers, and one that does not receive as much attention as it should. 

Random Word Poem by: Aditi Chaugule

  Random Word Poem

by: Aditi Chaugule

Surprisingly,

this isn’t the first

random word poem

I’ve made...

So,

I’ll skip the introduction as the title

Is pretty self-explanatory

Restless

Is the word in front of me

What

Makes us restless?

Tests, friend drama,

Various types of worries

About the

Future, past, present

... Well then the solution is easy!

Just stop worrying!

(hehe scratch that, that may be impossible)

but, i actually think there is something we can do?

breathe,

(it really doesn’t matter how deep)

Just

Breathe,

...

...

Because the human mind never stops,

We need to think about something

So,

Choose what to think about:

Your favorite vacation

Your pet

Sources of happiness and gratitude

Make sure to fill up your mental bucket

With things that make you

Content

Serene

Remember peace is a choice that your mind makes

Remember to take a rest.

by: Aditi Chaugule