While finishing
the reading “Orbiting Izzy”, one can become really disappointed at the
protagonist. Why is that? Well, the story is based on the autobiography of
Nancy Whiteley, which basically explains a certain period in her adulthood,
where she was influenced in a positive and negative way by two different men. Izzy
(her boss) taught her responsibilities, while Aldo (her husband) taught her how
to be a criminal by committing multiple credit card frauds. At the end of the
story, she goes to jail (for the second time) for committing credit card fraud.
In the story, the reader can see how hard it was and for how long she tried, to
avoid the negative influence that Aldo had already created within her.
Whiteley’s story,
is one that definitely many people can relate to. Maybe with different aspects
of their lives, but it’s relatable. For example, a person wants to start a diet
and spends ten days eating healthy, but since everyone else around the person
is eating junk food, the person on the eleventh day gives up and eats junk
food.
Or, when an alcoholic has been sober for a year and breaks his sobriety. All
of these derailments can be avoided, in my humble opinion, with three key
things. The first one being, having a good support group that encourages you to
follow your goal. Secondly, avoiding the persons who don’t support that goal.
Thirdly, have a very strong willpower. In other words, if you know what you are
capable of, and you have your goals and priorities straight, there is no person
that will ever derail you from the correct path.For my class, I had to do a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast two aspects of Nancy's short story, Orbiting Izzy. The two aspects I chose were Nancy's life when she was with Aldo, and her life when Izzy was her boss. With this Venn Diagram, you will have a better understanding of how both men influenced her life, in a positive or negative way.
In my opinion, in
Nancy Whiteley’s case, even though she had her sister as a good supporter, she
had no willpower. Her urge for a luxurious life was bigger than her urge to be free,
or maybe she simply didn’t think of the consequences. Also, in her defense,
maybe her love for Aldo blinded her from making the correct choices. I also
think that she didn’t acknowledge the good person she was, and the successful person
that she could have become, while working with Izzy or any other boss. With
this story, I learned that willpower is a thing that many people lack, and that
to lack willpower can sometimes get you in bigger problems than you should’ve
had.
When I read the story, I didn't think of Nancy's mentality as you did: she prefers a luxurious life over her freedom. However, you are totally correct. Before going back to Aldo, she even mentions that she knows that he is a bad influence and that she will end up in jail again if she ever takes him back. Nevertheless, she succumbs to temptation. This reminded me of an interview I once listened to in which a drug dealer gets asked about his lifestyle. He mentioned that he decided to pursue a life in the underworld because prefers to die young and rich, rather than old and miserable.
ReplyDeleteI found very interesting and different how you opted to compare the two different situations Nancy had, and not her with Izzy. Although Nancy held different lifestyles being with Aldo and being an employee for Izzy, I personally believe it was the same spoiled and irresponsable Nancy throughout all the story. She just mildly tries to ignore her temptation while working for Izzy. Also, she never showed to be truly responsible. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story, I really learned from it.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way as you did. The end of the story was very disappointing for me because she had already experienced prison and yet again she did what got her in there for the first time. But you know what they say, you only learn from your own experiences. I think the same as you, once you set your goals, nothing will ever stop you from achieving it if you truly want it. Her love for Aldo was what made her do all the things she did. If only she would have strong willpower... She lived a millionaire life in account of others and she loved it, that's why it was so hard for her to adapt and accept her reality.
ReplyDeleteOkay, past post was Ted from 'Bill and Ted's Awesome Adventure' and now we have Patrick Star debuting as a vacuum cleaner. I know this is a rather serious topic, but I have to point these things out because they're amazing! I love the subtle humor you bring to your posts through your pictures and gifs.
ReplyDeleteNow, on to serious things once more.
Nancy Whiteley certainly had no willpower. She showed her lack of control over her own actions many times throughout the short story. And it's a shame she didn't stop her life from spiralling out of control. But from her mistakes, her readers are able to learn about the perils of giving in to impulses. And hopefully, by now, she's also learned her lesson and is on a straight and narrow kind of life.