Writing 3

What does it mean to be human?

  So, what exactly is a human? What exactly are the conditions that makes an object/animal into a human? The answer is as always; it depends. Mainly, it is dependent on the perspective on how we look at things; realistically, metaphorically, symbolically, etc. In this essay, I will be mainly tackling the topic from a society’s point of view and a figurative point of view, with the description of the responsibilities and obligations that comes with the right of being a human. 

  First of all, let’s look at how society defines a human. Before that, we have to know that the definition of a human was not the same throughout history. For example, slaves were treated as trading objects, rather than people. In wars, men/ soldiers were used as the food for the cannons, guns, waiting to be killed. Even today, within us, even though we do not directly classify people (that we are uncomfortable to be with) as “non-human”, we are sometimes subconsciously treating them as a thing rather than a human. In conclusion, it all comes down to one thing; the social status of oneself. However, I am not referring to the general social status, but a subjective social status. In my opinion, defining whether someone is human socially comes down to the subjective opinions of people that would to decide whether one is human or not. This can be also either collective or personal, where a group of people can decide whether someone is inhumane, or rather just one person thinking about it.

  Secondly, let’s explore the way we define the conditions of being a human figuratively, mainly or solely in literature. I believe that one of the main things we should be looking at is the existence of the literary technique, “personification”. This technique helps to give inanimate objects or non-human creatures human characteristics, and in some works, they do represent humans directly. In conclusion, being a human figuratively requires mainly 2 things; the characteristics of a person, and the relevancy of the problems they are facing in their plots. For example, we can make use of the book, “Animal farm”, by George Orwell. In the plot, we are first clearly given the fact that the animals can talk, or at least made in a way that the readers can understand them. This element of being able to talk indicates that they have been personified. Later on, they start to move on to the next “problem”, which was to create a society without a human. As the plot progresses, it starts to resemble the era of communism, which was a relevant topic back when it was published. This relevancy helps to connect with the readers of that era and this also helps the characters that appear in the book be ‘more human’.

  Lastly, what kind of responsibilities and obligations will be required to be fulfilled in order to be a human? Being a human can mean that you have the supremacy and better intelligence than other creatures, but this also means that you will be responsible to take care of more things, which I will list it below: 

Surviving is not enough:

If you are a human, you have to know what you are living for, and have a constant existence of a goal, even if it changes regularly.

Take responsibilities of your actions

Since humans are more intelligent, this means they can do more things. However, having more freedom also comes together with pain and sorrow, and you have to be able to deal with them.

Learn to know and like yourself

If one-self hates him/herself, that person will simply have no life, while being chained in a cage they created themselves.

Be a part of something bigger than you.

In order to achieve something on a big scale, being a part of something can always help to achieve it easier. This also encourages to be more self-less, and more giving, making you a better person.

Julius Popper- 11IB student