Short Story 2 pt.1- When I Lay My Burdens Down

1.Summary

I read the story "When I Lay My Burdens Down" by Maya Angelou. I came up with this summary: this story shows the reader how courage and will power can conquer over anything. I say this because in the story the character Anne Henderson shows will power when the white girls try to make fun of her,and how one girl is so disrespectful that she does a handstand in a dress without any underwear on right in front of Ms.Henderson. Ms.Henderson's daughter cant believe what she is seeing. She feels like literally killing the girls,but she sees that her mother isn't budging because of the cruelty she is witnessing, so now the daughter is confused. Because she has known for being punished for being rude or disrespectful, but she sees that her mother isnt punisjing the little white girls.

Although she has been taught to never disturbed the white mans atmosphere, she still doesnt understand why her mother is accepting being degraded. But at the end of the story she realizes what her mother was trying to demonstrate. Which was how someone who can stand all the burdens and obstacles given to you with willpower.

2.Authors Purpose

I believe the authors purpose was to show people how self-discipline,willpower, and dignity can overcome anything challenge life gives you. Why i say this is because if you read the story it says: "I thought they were gonna throw a rock at momma, who seemed to have turn to stone herself." this sentence indicates that even in the midst of being moched by children and disrespected, she still stood her ground and continued doin what she was doing before the girls had even arrived.As if she didnt even the see the girls.

I think the story also shows how there are some people who have the ability to maintain calmness,while there are others who feel the need to react towards anything the seem agitates them. A sentence from the story which supports this is when the daughter had said: "I thought about the rifle behind the door and the .410 sawed-off shotgun." indicating that she wouldn't have stood for the mochery,instead she would have reacted to it.

3.Importance of reading non-fiction

I believe it is important to read about other peoples lives because it lets you know that you might not be the only one who feels how you feel about life and the many daily struggles and challenges in life. it also allows you to learn from the mistakes made by some people. Say you might bein in the middle of making a decision which you aren't to sure about. well there might be someone who has already made that exact same decision. That could assist you in making your decision because im pretty sure if when they had chose the decision that they chose,and the consequences came out to be negative; im pretty sure you would make the opposite decision.

Stories like these might be popular because they could influence someone,could give them insight, or it could just satisfy them to read about things that really happened.

I think there are alot of instances in my life that could be very helpful towards someone on the path to destruction. because i have been through a lot of things throughout my life, and believe you me..there is someone out there that could prevent making a tragic mistake just by reading what I had to endure from making the choices I had made.