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Essay / The effects of war on life from every angle we cannot see
Despite disabilities, everyone is affected by war in one way or another. Anthony Doerr addresses this topic in his novel All The Light We Cannot See. It focuses on Marie-Laure Leblanc, a young French girl who loses her sight at the age of six. After fleeing Paris with her father named Monsieur Leblanc, she quickly learns to adapt to the new city of Saint-Malo thanks to the model of the city that her father sculpted for her, accompanied by his cane. Doerr supports the idea that tragedies do not end an individual's way of life through Marie-Laure's speeches, thoughts, and actions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Doerr describes how the tragedy of war does not change the way Marie-Laure feels about her security. Chaos hits Paris and her father rushes home to inform her that they have to leave by train. We see Marie-Laure scared as she asks questions at the station. She continues by asking: “And the armies? to which her father replies: “There are no armies, Marie. Doerr says, "His hand finds his." His fear subsides slightly. The rain flows down a downspout.” As a tragedy strikes Paris, Marie-Laure fears that the German army will arrive before they board the train. Her father reassures her that there are no armies and continues to hold her hand and let her relax. Despite all the war in Paris, Marie-Laure does not let her fears become a force beyond her control. As tragedies continue in Marie-Laure's life, she learns that certain disabilities do not prevent her from living the life she desires. The way an individual thinks can change the outcome of the situation. Marie-Laure does not let her loss of sight put an end to the life she desires. Her imagination is her way of “seeing” things and she lets it replace her sight. For her ninth birthday, Marie-Laure receives a large book in Braille. She spends her time going through the novel, suggesting its imaginative plot and charismatic characters. Marie reads and “imagines Jules Verne’s characters walking the streets, chatting in the shops… on the other side of the room is a miniature young girl, an open book on her lap; inside his chest something enormous is throbbing. Something that is not afraid. As Marie-Laure begins to read, she connects and yearns for the characters within it. His imaginative mind allows him to visualize the book in his head. His ambition is to understand the world using his creative imagination. She also aspires to do the same act as Phileas Fogg, someone in the book who uses his imaginative mind to understand the world. Marie-Laure not seeing does not prevent her from imagining the life she desires. Losing his sight does not change his lifestyle. Anthony Doerr explores his idea that tragedies do not end an individual's way of life through the actions of Marie-Laure. Marie-Laure's survival instinct does not fail her. As bombs fall overhead, she uses her navigation skills to navigate her way to safety even though she can't see. She said to herself, "Six steps to the stairwell...eight curved steps to the bottom...eight steps down the hallway to the third floor bathroom." Marie-Laure gets out of bed, leaves the house and goes down to the cellar. While someone accustomed to relying on their vision is likely to be disoriented by the bombardments, Marie-Laure's navigation training gives her a huge advantage during her descent to the cave. Thanks to the state of mind.