Based on the short story Horses of the Night by Margret Lawrence. Discuss the idea(s) developed by the text creator in your chosen text about the interplay between how individuals perceive themselves and are perceived by others. Integrate at least three quotations into the text of the essay.

1. Horses of the night
Introduction
Everyone affects his/her life differently depending on how they consider it. The
difference in one’s life is significantly influenced by how he/she looks at life and not how others
perceive it. This aspect is evident in the narration “Horses of the Night” by Margret Lawrence
where Chris’s life is impacted by what he believed and not what others saw in him. Much as he
shows a positive view about himself from outside, he harbors a negative view in the inside which
blocks his success. A person’s life is mainly impacted by how he/she sees it because that is
what they turn out to be and not and not what others perceive it.
The first time Chris is introduced to the story, his appearance infuses the atmosphere of
despair due to how he was dressed. At first sight, Vanessa remarks, “Heavens, look at the shirt
and trousers, must’ve been his father’s, the poor kid” (p. 1). However, Chris was confident
because he believed that he was smart in that suit regardless of how others saw him, and he knew
that he believed in himself.
The author asserts that Chris had hopes of succeeding in college while on the other hand,
his family knew that he cannot make it. For instance, his grandfather at one point states “if the
boy takes after his father, it’s a poor lookout for him” (p. 4). This never bothered Chris because
he knew what mattered in his life is what he believed and not what others saw in him.
Peoples’ lives are impacted by what they believe in and not what others see in them. In
the story, Chris escapes his state of desperation by choosing the point view of optimism. For
instance, he calls himself a world traveler when he is a traveling salesman. That aspect gives him
a positive perspective towards his life even though it was not easy. However, when he spends

2. time with Vanessa at the lake, he tells her that “We won’t ever get to know” when they were
discussing the stars (p. 12). It means that as much as he believed that he would make it in life, his
negative perspective kept dragging him behind.
Conclusion
People’s lives are impacted by what they believe and not how others consider them. In
the narrative of “Horses of the night”, Chris tries to stay positive regardless of how people saw
him as a failure because of his origin. Nevertheless, what proves the results of his life is the
negative perspective that is within him and that hinders his success.