StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Critics of Alice Walker's The Abortion - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Critics of Alice Walker's The Abortion" sheds some light on the after-effects of abortion on her health. Like Imani, I never wanted to have someone with the same story. But I have seen many families which have faced such situations like Imani…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.6% of users find it useful
Critics of Alice Walkers The Abortion
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Critics of Alice Walker's The Abortion"

The abortion The term abortion means any premature expulsion of human fetus, either naturally like miscarriage or either through artificial process which is also called as chemical process. A simple yet meaningful definition of abortion is the expulsion of the product of conception before embryo or fetus is viable. However, a spontaneous expulsion occurring within the twelve weeks of gestation is termed as a ‘miscarriage’. On the other hand, the cessation of a pregnancy may also occur due to induced expulsion of human embryo or fetus (Gupta, 2011, p. 359). Abortion seems to be a mystery when it comes to ethicality and an argument in favor of supporting family life. The Reader-response criticism of the story “The abortion” by Alice Walker, however, provided a better view on my perceptions and beliefs on the topic of “abortion”. Induced expulsion is done intentionally by parents themselves. It is done by using medicines to kill the fetus while the baby’s heart starts beating. It is either because parents do not want to have another child or they do not want a child at all. There are numerous procedures for induced abortion. However, the chosen process or way should be in accordance with the age of fetus, laws and rules, service availability and the coordination between doctor and patient about the chosen process (Surgery 2009). The most common medical reasons that are claimed to be strong and in favor of abortion include the struggle to save woman’s physical and mental well being. An induced abortion is “that brought on intentionally by medication or instrumentation” (The Free Dictionary by Farlex). But does this intentional act actually an individual and sovereign decision? Was Imrani willing to undertake that abortion? Was it morally and ethically justifiable? The ethical reasons most people present often include the argument that their child is of less age and he or she needs more attention of the mother. But it is a crime and it is unfair means to avoid a child. The mother, often forcing herself into this decision, suffers a lot. Imrani’s immediate response to the abortion was painful, torturing and suffering. “She could not imagine being fine again” (p. 212). This is what happens to mothers due to their natural affection and love that they hold for their children. If the abortion was to save Imrani’s life or mental health, it was deteriorated anyways. The story “The Abortion” by Alice Walker, is based on this brutal act of aborting one’s child. The incidents and scenarios provided in the story resemble the circumstances that one of my friends went through. She had a 7 months baby and she was pregnant again but her husband persuaded her to abort the child as their first child was still too young. My friend really did not like the idea to kill her own child as she feels his heartbeat and she was very upset. But as her husband insisted she agreed to abort it. The consequences of not opting for an abortion seemed devastating for her married life. Her husband got too harsh while persuading her on the abortion. However, her strong will and determination led her to resist all the forceful arguments against the birth of her second child. The financial problems that her husband referred to, the health issue that he used as a prop and the worsened relationship between them were difficult to resist. Like Imrani, she also took a wrong decision due to continuous conflict with her husband. This was the day she killed her baby and her happy life. She felt awful after getting the abortion and could not accept her husband’s love and affection to be true. She felt cruel and inhuman. Her views changed about herself and her husband. She could not continue with her happy life and did not feel contented ever again. The guilt of killing a child and taking his breath away stayed with her, even after her divorce! Abortion has been legalized during 1973 in approximately 50 states for social, medical or other valid reasons. But as everyone knows, in the modern society, the decision of abortion is usually made for social reasons. This include but is not limited to the woman’s desire of not having another baby as her first baby is less than 1 year or either her husband does not want a child and so on. No less than 90 percent of the abortions are carried out for unlawful and non-therapeutic factors. Walker (2007) stated a story of a girl named Imani in the book named “We are the stories we tell” who is living with two years old daughter and her husband, now she is pregnant again. And she’s getting very emotional while discussing with her husband that whether they want the baby right now or not. She is literally crying hard as she, in the inside, have feelings for the baby being a mother. She is not ready for the abortion because she wanted to save her child’s life. But somehow it is decided to abort the child. She is thinking of her first abortion when abortion law has not passed yet. She has to face some difficulties while aborting but now, as abortion law has passed it would become easier to do so. Imani aborted the child. She could only blame herself for what she had done which she felt was un-fair and un-just. She was really upset because she went through a self-destructive process. I remember the quote said by Robert Casey in his saying that “abortion is the ultimate violence” which is violence for both the woman and her child. No body can understand such pain as felt by the mother. After abortion mostly woman are caught by one or the other kind of mental and psychological trouble. Women start to have negative feelings and thoughts about their act and feel that they have killed their own child. The situation worsens as they try to act normal, strong and happy as was the case of Imani. The consequences force her to do that and this feeling of guilt stays with her for a long time. She does not want to do this crime by killing her child by herself, yet fate, society and people make it happen. This is what exactly happened to Imani. She was constantly blaming herself for such an un-just act. She thinks her marriage would have deteriorated otherwise. This is mostly the case that happens with every third woman after abortion. However, like Imani, separations and divorce happens even if woman does as her husband asks her to do so. The situation and circumstances, however, are different. After the abortion, women’s psychological distress leaves the marriage unsuccessful, whereas, without abortion the husband’s dissatisfaction and reluctance to face financial and other troubles end up with the destruction of the family. So, it’s very important for a woman to know the after effects of abortion on her health. Like Imani, I never wanted to have someone with the same story. But I have seen many families which have faced such situation like Imani. Although I don’t want anyone to have experience all this but after reading her story many people would learn a lot from it. I think after reading this story many people will oppose abortion and they will realize that a beautiful gift that God gave us should not be wasted. It is not something which may be classified as a problem, mess or a hurdle in one’s happy life. If women knew who they were killing, if they could see the process of developing a child from the fetus, then they would never opt for an abortion. They think that they are not killing a human life but it’s just a bunch of cells and nothing else. Women, today, think that by opting for abortion they will stop that pain which they may experience in other stages of pregnancy or the expenses and issues that may arise after giving birth to a child. In today’s world there are millions of babies whose lives are stolen from them by this evil act named “ABORTION.” References: Gupta, S. A Comprehensive Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Jaypee Brothers Medical Pub, 2011. Print. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/induced+abortion Martin, Wendy. We Are the Stories We Tell: The Best Short Stories by North American Women Since 1945. New York: Pantheon Books, 1990. Print. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. New York, NY: Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2002. Print. Surgery, 2009. "Induced Abortion." Surgery.com. Surgery.com, 17 feb 2009. Web. 4 Apr 2012. . Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Critics of Alice Walker's The Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words, n.d.)
Critics of Alice Walker's The Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1770327-critical-analysis-of-a-short-story
(Critics of Alice Walker'S The Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
Critics of Alice Walker'S The Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1770327-critical-analysis-of-a-short-story.
“Critics of Alice Walker'S The Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”. https://studentshare.org/social-science/1770327-critical-analysis-of-a-short-story.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Critics of Alice Walker's The Abortion

Critical Analysis of The Abortion by Alice Walker

Name Tutor Institution Subject code Introduction In this story, “the abortion”, Alice Walker and depicts the struggles a black woman (Imani) goes through in her life when she undergoes multiple abortions.... For Imani, abortion is not an easy process to undergo, having lost most of her blood during her school days.... abortion is always known to be an issue when procured out of marriage, but this family carries its struggles to their home as Imani is tired of having more children since she needs to focus on her career....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Juxtaposition of Waltz with Bashir and Alice Walker Poem 'Thousands of Feet Below You'

hellip; walker's has based her poem in her learning of the human requirement and her obligation to bring awareness to social injustices.... walker's talks of the young boy's broken bones meaning he never lived beyond the tragedy.... walker's poem could be addressing Forman.... The poem ‘Thousands of Feet below You' by alice Walker describes the fear of a naive young boy running from a bomb.... Juxtaposition of Waltz with Bashir and alice Walker Poem 'Thousands of Feet Below You' Part journal, part imaginative masterwork, the explicit novel portrays Ari Folman's complicated effort to restructure his own position in the dispute....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

A bibliographical sketch of Alice Walker

She is considered by many as a widely travelled, controversial and versatile writer of literature that mostly touches on the African American community… Bibliographical sketch of alice Walker Alice Malsenior Walker is a renowned African American writer, poet, novelist and activist.... alice Malsenior Walker is a renowned African American writer, poet, novelist and activist.... Though many had written her off as a one hit wonder who would briefly wallow in the public realm only to become vague later, alice has remained relevant through her writing....
3 Pages (750 words) Research Paper

International Tax Law

RIFA (Author's name) (Institutional Affiliation) Introduction The report I am about to present will review, examine and discuss financial positions of four people, most of whom (with the exception of Jonny) are from the Murray family.... This report will employ different financial methods and techniques in order to come up with valid conclusions and answers to the various questions facing Jonny and different members of the Murray family....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Am I Blue by Alice Walker

The essential argument which comes across in walker's article makes it clear that… There are also other themes in the writing such as connecting the position of captive animals to slaves and the notion of loneliness Am I Blue by Alice Walker Am I Blue is one of the writings by Alice Walker that hold the distinction of being banned but reading it does not seem to clarify the reason why the article should be banned in the first place.... The essential argument which comes across in walker's article makes it clear that animals are shown cruelty and the idea of eating them is quite incompatible with the idea of allowing animals to be free and being kind to animals....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Legalizing Abortion: A Critical Perspective

The paper "Legalizing abortion: A Critical Perspective" discloses a very urgent issue in modern society, legalizing abortion.... No other issue in recent years has caused more political as well as psychological disturbance than the rigorous discussion about legalizing abortion in some states in America.... When abortion issue surfaces in American politics, it always ends in a feisty discussion because there are groups of people that publicly support it and those who strongly oppose it (Meckler, 2010)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Term Paper

Abortion as a Controversial Topic

Today I am going to talk about the reasons why I believe that abortion is wrong.... I understand that abortion is a controversial topic these days, but I will show you the issue from a new point of view. The first issue that I am going to discuss is a… Whenever a young child is kidnapped and brutally murdered, the vast majority of us get up in anger about it.... Today I am going to talk about the reasons why I believe that abortion is wrong....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Published in 1982, alice walker's novel The Color Purple explores various social aspects of the Southern United States African communities of the 1930s.... This oppression Lecturer: Violence in alice walker's novel The Color Purple Published in 1982, alice walker's novel The Color Purple explores various social aspects of the Southern United States African communities of the 1930s.... In her masterpiece and through use of literary elements, alice demostrates various social issues affecting the particular… One of the major social issues evident throughout the novel is oppression....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us