Through the use of first person point of view and a static main character, the short story "My Life is a Joke" by Sheila Heti explores the devastating impact of depression, particularly on women. The unnamed main character, speaking from beyond the grave, recounts her lonely death from depression and her lifelong struggle with feeling that her life lacked meaning without having someone to witness and validate her existence. As a static character who does not change over the course of the story, she represents the permanence of depression. The story highlights the importance of human connection and having others who can speak to the truth of one's life experiences.
El documento presenta una serie de adjetivos para describir cómo podría ser un barrio, incluyendo divertido, aburrido, bonito, feo, moderno, antiguo, turístico, industrial, tranquilo, ruidoso, limpio y sucio. El vocabulario se proporciona para que las personas puedan elegir palabras que capturen mejor la descripción de su propio barrio.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare contains several important quotations that illustrate key themes in the play. The first quotation from the balcony scene portrays Romeo seeing Juliet as beautiful as the sun and transforming the night into day. The second famous quotation has Juliet asking why Romeo must be a Montague and deny his family name for her love. The third quotation is Mercutio's Queen Mab speech about dreams. The final quotation discusses Romeo and Juliet being star-crossed lovers destined to die as mentioned by the Chorus, Romeo declaring himself fortune's fool, and defying the stars by taking his own life.
El manifiesto argumenta que aunque la paz mundial parece lejana, los actos cotidianos de compasión entre las personas, como abrazos, besos y ayuda mutua, demuestran que la solidaridad vence al egoísmo y la paz a la guerra a nivel individual. Aunque no podemos detener todas las guerras, sí podemos trabajar para hacer del mundo un lugar más justo y humano respetando los derechos humanos y ayudando a los demás.
El documento describe el aprendizaje colaborativo, que implica que los estudiantes trabajen juntos en grupos tanto dentro como fuera del aula para construir conocimiento de manera cooperativa y no competitiva. Se basa en la interdependencia positiva, la aceptación de las ideas de los demás, y la voluntad de cada miembro del grupo de participar activamente para lograr consensos que beneficien el aprendizaje de todos.
Este documento describe cómo diferentes situaciones de la vida como caer y levantarse de nuevo, fracasar y volver a empezar, y pasar por momentos buenos y malos, no deben ser llamadas adversidades, castigos o rutinas, sino sabiduría, enseñanza, experiencia y amistad.
La preparatoria "Dr. José Ma. Luis Mora" ofrece un examen de admisión para el nivel de educación media superior. El examen se denomina DDE y se puede encontrar información adicional sobre él en el sitio web http://www.multibusca.org/.
El aprendizaje colaborativo es un sistema de interacciones cuidadosamente diseñado que organiza la influencia recíproca entre los miembros de un equipo para promover la construcción de conocimiento. Fomenta el pensamiento individual y en grupo, así como valores como la cooperación y el trabajo en equipo. Además, mejora la comunicación entre los miembros al establecer normas grupales que disminuyen el temor a la crítica y mejoran las relaciones interpersonales.
El documento presenta una serie de adjetivos para describir cómo podría ser un barrio, incluyendo divertido, aburrido, bonito, feo, moderno, antiguo, turístico, industrial, tranquilo, ruidoso, limpio y sucio. El vocabulario se proporciona para que las personas puedan elegir palabras que capturen mejor la descripción de su propio barrio.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare contains several important quotations that illustrate key themes in the play. The first quotation from the balcony scene portrays Romeo seeing Juliet as beautiful as the sun and transforming the night into day. The second famous quotation has Juliet asking why Romeo must be a Montague and deny his family name for her love. The third quotation is Mercutio's Queen Mab speech about dreams. The final quotation discusses Romeo and Juliet being star-crossed lovers destined to die as mentioned by the Chorus, Romeo declaring himself fortune's fool, and defying the stars by taking his own life.
El manifiesto argumenta que aunque la paz mundial parece lejana, los actos cotidianos de compasión entre las personas, como abrazos, besos y ayuda mutua, demuestran que la solidaridad vence al egoísmo y la paz a la guerra a nivel individual. Aunque no podemos detener todas las guerras, sí podemos trabajar para hacer del mundo un lugar más justo y humano respetando los derechos humanos y ayudando a los demás.
El documento describe el aprendizaje colaborativo, que implica que los estudiantes trabajen juntos en grupos tanto dentro como fuera del aula para construir conocimiento de manera cooperativa y no competitiva. Se basa en la interdependencia positiva, la aceptación de las ideas de los demás, y la voluntad de cada miembro del grupo de participar activamente para lograr consensos que beneficien el aprendizaje de todos.
Este documento describe cómo diferentes situaciones de la vida como caer y levantarse de nuevo, fracasar y volver a empezar, y pasar por momentos buenos y malos, no deben ser llamadas adversidades, castigos o rutinas, sino sabiduría, enseñanza, experiencia y amistad.
La preparatoria "Dr. José Ma. Luis Mora" ofrece un examen de admisión para el nivel de educación media superior. El examen se denomina DDE y se puede encontrar información adicional sobre él en el sitio web http://www.multibusca.org/.
El aprendizaje colaborativo es un sistema de interacciones cuidadosamente diseñado que organiza la influencia recíproca entre los miembros de un equipo para promover la construcción de conocimiento. Fomenta el pensamiento individual y en grupo, así como valores como la cooperación y el trabajo en equipo. Además, mejora la comunicación entre los miembros al establecer normas grupales que disminuyen el temor a la crítica y mejoran las relaciones interpersonales.
Este documento describe varios tipos de contaminación ambiental, incluyendo plásticos, lluvia ácida, calentamiento global, residuos orgánicos, dioxinas, metales pesados, detergentes, combustión de petróleo y derivados, y radiación ionizante. La contaminación altera el medio ambiente de manera nociva y estos contaminantes específicos amenazan la salud humana y el planeta.
Un repositorio es un sitio centralizado para almacenar información digital como bases de datos o archivos. Los repositorios pueden ser de software, institucionales o temáticos. Almacenan recursos digitales como imágenes, videos, audio y documentos y permiten compartir y consultar este contenido.
Este documento presenta información sobre la memoria RAM (Random Access Memory). Describe las características de la RAM, incluyendo su localización interna, capacidad, método de acceso aleatorio y alta velocidad. También explica los diferentes tipos de módulos de RAM (SIMM, DIMM, etc.), tipos de RAM (DRAM, SRAM, swap), y consejos para la compra y mantenimiento de la memoria RAM.
El documento describe las cinco generaciones de computadoras digitales desde 1951 hasta el presente. Cada generación introdujo mejoras tecnológicas que hicieron que las computadoras fueran más pequeñas, rápidas, eficientes y asequibles. La primera generación usaba válvulas de vacío, la segunda transistores, la tercera circuitos integrados, la cuarta microprocesadores y la quinta se enfoca en inteligencia artificial y sistemas expertos.
Este documento describe los beneficios del trabajo colaborativo, incluyendo que genera interdependencia positiva entre los miembros del equipo, promueve valores como la cooperación y el trabajo en equipo, y asegura la calidad de las ideas y soluciones al aprovechar las capacidades individuales de cada persona para beneficio del grupo.
El documento describe 8 criterios pedagógicos para evaluar la calidad de los sitios web. Estos criterios incluyen que el sitio web debe ser organizado, atractivo visualmente, contener información actualizada, precisa y no discriminatoria, proporcionar enlaces e interactividad, motivar e interesar a los usuarios, ser adecuado para diferentes niveles cognitivos, ofrecer recursos didácticos mediante texto e imágenes, y promover el autoaprendizaje a través de herramientas cognitivas y retroalimentación.
El documento compara los criterios de LES de 1997 con los nuevos criterios de 2012. Los criterios de 1997 se centraban en manifestaciones clínicas como erupciones cutáneas, úlceras orales, artritis, serositis y enfermedad renal. Los nuevos criterios de 2012 también incluyen criterios inmunológicos como los niveles de anticuerpos y complemento.
La situación en la provincia de Espinar se está volviendo preocupante debido a dos noticias recientes: 1) una drástica reducción de más del 90% en las transferencias del canon minero, lo que significa una pérdida de ingresos programados para este año, y 2) un pedido de diez años de prisión para el alcalde y dirigentes sociales de la zona. Estos hechos han generado inquietud e incrementado la tensión en una zona que ha estado trabajando para superar un escenario de conflicto relacionado con la min
El aprendizaje colaborativo implica el esfuerzo intelectual conjunto de estudiantes y profesores que trabajan en grupos para comprender conceptos o crear productos. Los elementos clave incluyen objetivos de desarrollo personal, un ambiente que estimula la creatividad, y una preocupación por la experiencia de aprendizaje en sí misma más que por la productividad.
Las TIC conforman la necesaria infraestructura de información y comunicación para el tratamiento, almacenamiento, registro y transmisión de datos, imágenes, voz y vídeo de forma digital. Se encargan de adquirir, procesar, almacenar y transmitir la información según su naturaleza a través de redes, terminales e infraestructuras.
Las tecnologías de información han revolucionado la forma en que las personas trabajan, se comunican y se relacionan, eliminando las barreras del tiempo, la distancia y el espacio. Actualmente, las empresas usan la tecnología para tomar decisiones informadas, pero deben aprovechar mejor la información y experiencia generadas para crear nuevo conocimiento. A medida que continúan surgiendo nuevas tendencias tecnológicas como la computación en la nube, los medios sociales y el análisis de datos, es importante que las empresas y países inviertan en infraestr
La investigación-acción en las escuelas analiza las acciones y situaciones experimentadas por los profesores para diagnosticar y comprender mejor sus problemas, adoptando una postura teórica que busca cambiar la situación a través de la acción. El proceso incluye construir un contexto para el problema, interpretarlo desde la perspectiva de quienes lo experimentan y describirlo con su propio lenguaje, además de contemplarlo desde su punto de vista a través de un diálogo libre.
La articulación coxofemoral es una sinovial esférica que une el miembro inferior a la pelvis. La cabeza del fémur se articula con el acetábulo, cubierto por cartílago excepto en la fosa para el ligamento de la cabeza femoral. La cápsula articular está formada por una capa fibrosa externa e interna sinovial, y los ligamentos iliofemoral, pubofemoral e isquiofemoral refuerzan la articulación. Los movimientos de la cadera incluyen flexión, extensión, abducción
Descargar Pdf Primera circular Tucumán 2016CARLALURATI
Este documento presenta la primera circular del XII Encuentro Nacional y VI Congreso Internacional de Historia Oral que se llevará a cabo en la provincia de Tucumán, Argentina. Se anuncian las mesas temáticas sobre las que versarán las discusiones, se convoca a la presentación de resúmenes y ponencias, y se establece el cronograma del evento. El encuentro busca reunir a investigadores de diferentes disciplinas para debatir sobre el uso de las fuentes orales y su aporte al estudio de temas como los movimientos estudiant
Suzanne Lagerweij - Influence Without Power - Why Empathy is Your Best Friend...Suzanne Lagerweij
This is a workshop about communication and collaboration. We will experience how we can analyze the reasons for resistance to change (exercise 1) and practice how to improve our conversation style and be more in control and effective in the way we communicate (exercise 2).
This session will use Dave Gray’s Empathy Mapping, Argyris’ Ladder of Inference and The Four Rs from Agile Conversations (Squirrel and Fredrick).
Abstract:
Let’s talk about powerful conversations! We all know how to lead a constructive conversation, right? Then why is it so difficult to have those conversations with people at work, especially those in powerful positions that show resistance to change?
Learning to control and direct conversations takes understanding and practice.
We can combine our innate empathy with our analytical skills to gain a deeper understanding of complex situations at work. Join this session to learn how to prepare for difficult conversations and how to improve our agile conversations in order to be more influential without power. We will use Dave Gray’s Empathy Mapping, Argyris’ Ladder of Inference and The Four Rs from Agile Conversations (Squirrel and Fredrick).
In the session you will experience how preparing and reflecting on your conversation can help you be more influential at work. You will learn how to communicate more effectively with the people needed to achieve positive change. You will leave with a self-revised version of a difficult conversation and a practical model to use when you get back to work.
Come learn more on how to become a real influencer!
Carrer goals.pptx and their importance in real lifeartemacademy2
Career goals serve as a roadmap for individuals, guiding them toward achieving long-term professional aspirations and personal fulfillment. Establishing clear career goals enables professionals to focus their efforts on developing specific skills, gaining relevant experience, and making strategic decisions that align with their desired career trajectory. By setting both short-term and long-term objectives, individuals can systematically track their progress, make necessary adjustments, and stay motivated. Short-term goals often include acquiring new qualifications, mastering particular competencies, or securing a specific role, while long-term goals might encompass reaching executive positions, becoming industry experts, or launching entrepreneurial ventures.
Moreover, having well-defined career goals fosters a sense of purpose and direction, enhancing job satisfaction and overall productivity. It encourages continuous learning and adaptation, as professionals remain attuned to industry trends and evolving job market demands. Career goals also facilitate better time management and resource allocation, as individuals prioritize tasks and opportunities that advance their professional growth. In addition, articulating career goals can aid in networking and mentorship, as it allows individuals to communicate their aspirations clearly to potential mentors, colleagues, and employers, thereby opening doors to valuable guidance and support. Ultimately, career goals are integral to personal and professional development, driving individuals toward sustained success and fulfillment in their chosen fields.
Este documento describe varios tipos de contaminación ambiental, incluyendo plásticos, lluvia ácida, calentamiento global, residuos orgánicos, dioxinas, metales pesados, detergentes, combustión de petróleo y derivados, y radiación ionizante. La contaminación altera el medio ambiente de manera nociva y estos contaminantes específicos amenazan la salud humana y el planeta.
Un repositorio es un sitio centralizado para almacenar información digital como bases de datos o archivos. Los repositorios pueden ser de software, institucionales o temáticos. Almacenan recursos digitales como imágenes, videos, audio y documentos y permiten compartir y consultar este contenido.
Este documento presenta información sobre la memoria RAM (Random Access Memory). Describe las características de la RAM, incluyendo su localización interna, capacidad, método de acceso aleatorio y alta velocidad. También explica los diferentes tipos de módulos de RAM (SIMM, DIMM, etc.), tipos de RAM (DRAM, SRAM, swap), y consejos para la compra y mantenimiento de la memoria RAM.
El documento describe las cinco generaciones de computadoras digitales desde 1951 hasta el presente. Cada generación introdujo mejoras tecnológicas que hicieron que las computadoras fueran más pequeñas, rápidas, eficientes y asequibles. La primera generación usaba válvulas de vacío, la segunda transistores, la tercera circuitos integrados, la cuarta microprocesadores y la quinta se enfoca en inteligencia artificial y sistemas expertos.
Este documento describe los beneficios del trabajo colaborativo, incluyendo que genera interdependencia positiva entre los miembros del equipo, promueve valores como la cooperación y el trabajo en equipo, y asegura la calidad de las ideas y soluciones al aprovechar las capacidades individuales de cada persona para beneficio del grupo.
El documento describe 8 criterios pedagógicos para evaluar la calidad de los sitios web. Estos criterios incluyen que el sitio web debe ser organizado, atractivo visualmente, contener información actualizada, precisa y no discriminatoria, proporcionar enlaces e interactividad, motivar e interesar a los usuarios, ser adecuado para diferentes niveles cognitivos, ofrecer recursos didácticos mediante texto e imágenes, y promover el autoaprendizaje a través de herramientas cognitivas y retroalimentación.
El documento compara los criterios de LES de 1997 con los nuevos criterios de 2012. Los criterios de 1997 se centraban en manifestaciones clínicas como erupciones cutáneas, úlceras orales, artritis, serositis y enfermedad renal. Los nuevos criterios de 2012 también incluyen criterios inmunológicos como los niveles de anticuerpos y complemento.
La situación en la provincia de Espinar se está volviendo preocupante debido a dos noticias recientes: 1) una drástica reducción de más del 90% en las transferencias del canon minero, lo que significa una pérdida de ingresos programados para este año, y 2) un pedido de diez años de prisión para el alcalde y dirigentes sociales de la zona. Estos hechos han generado inquietud e incrementado la tensión en una zona que ha estado trabajando para superar un escenario de conflicto relacionado con la min
El aprendizaje colaborativo implica el esfuerzo intelectual conjunto de estudiantes y profesores que trabajan en grupos para comprender conceptos o crear productos. Los elementos clave incluyen objetivos de desarrollo personal, un ambiente que estimula la creatividad, y una preocupación por la experiencia de aprendizaje en sí misma más que por la productividad.
Las TIC conforman la necesaria infraestructura de información y comunicación para el tratamiento, almacenamiento, registro y transmisión de datos, imágenes, voz y vídeo de forma digital. Se encargan de adquirir, procesar, almacenar y transmitir la información según su naturaleza a través de redes, terminales e infraestructuras.
Las tecnologías de información han revolucionado la forma en que las personas trabajan, se comunican y se relacionan, eliminando las barreras del tiempo, la distancia y el espacio. Actualmente, las empresas usan la tecnología para tomar decisiones informadas, pero deben aprovechar mejor la información y experiencia generadas para crear nuevo conocimiento. A medida que continúan surgiendo nuevas tendencias tecnológicas como la computación en la nube, los medios sociales y el análisis de datos, es importante que las empresas y países inviertan en infraestr
La investigación-acción en las escuelas analiza las acciones y situaciones experimentadas por los profesores para diagnosticar y comprender mejor sus problemas, adoptando una postura teórica que busca cambiar la situación a través de la acción. El proceso incluye construir un contexto para el problema, interpretarlo desde la perspectiva de quienes lo experimentan y describirlo con su propio lenguaje, además de contemplarlo desde su punto de vista a través de un diálogo libre.
La articulación coxofemoral es una sinovial esférica que une el miembro inferior a la pelvis. La cabeza del fémur se articula con el acetábulo, cubierto por cartílago excepto en la fosa para el ligamento de la cabeza femoral. La cápsula articular está formada por una capa fibrosa externa e interna sinovial, y los ligamentos iliofemoral, pubofemoral e isquiofemoral refuerzan la articulación. Los movimientos de la cadera incluyen flexión, extensión, abducción
Descargar Pdf Primera circular Tucumán 2016CARLALURATI
Este documento presenta la primera circular del XII Encuentro Nacional y VI Congreso Internacional de Historia Oral que se llevará a cabo en la provincia de Tucumán, Argentina. Se anuncian las mesas temáticas sobre las que versarán las discusiones, se convoca a la presentación de resúmenes y ponencias, y se establece el cronograma del evento. El encuentro busca reunir a investigadores de diferentes disciplinas para debatir sobre el uso de las fuentes orales y su aporte al estudio de temas como los movimientos estudiant
Suzanne Lagerweij - Influence Without Power - Why Empathy is Your Best Friend...Suzanne Lagerweij
This is a workshop about communication and collaboration. We will experience how we can analyze the reasons for resistance to change (exercise 1) and practice how to improve our conversation style and be more in control and effective in the way we communicate (exercise 2).
This session will use Dave Gray’s Empathy Mapping, Argyris’ Ladder of Inference and The Four Rs from Agile Conversations (Squirrel and Fredrick).
Abstract:
Let’s talk about powerful conversations! We all know how to lead a constructive conversation, right? Then why is it so difficult to have those conversations with people at work, especially those in powerful positions that show resistance to change?
Learning to control and direct conversations takes understanding and practice.
We can combine our innate empathy with our analytical skills to gain a deeper understanding of complex situations at work. Join this session to learn how to prepare for difficult conversations and how to improve our agile conversations in order to be more influential without power. We will use Dave Gray’s Empathy Mapping, Argyris’ Ladder of Inference and The Four Rs from Agile Conversations (Squirrel and Fredrick).
In the session you will experience how preparing and reflecting on your conversation can help you be more influential at work. You will learn how to communicate more effectively with the people needed to achieve positive change. You will leave with a self-revised version of a difficult conversation and a practical model to use when you get back to work.
Come learn more on how to become a real influencer!
Carrer goals.pptx and their importance in real lifeartemacademy2
Career goals serve as a roadmap for individuals, guiding them toward achieving long-term professional aspirations and personal fulfillment. Establishing clear career goals enables professionals to focus their efforts on developing specific skills, gaining relevant experience, and making strategic decisions that align with their desired career trajectory. By setting both short-term and long-term objectives, individuals can systematically track their progress, make necessary adjustments, and stay motivated. Short-term goals often include acquiring new qualifications, mastering particular competencies, or securing a specific role, while long-term goals might encompass reaching executive positions, becoming industry experts, or launching entrepreneurial ventures.
Moreover, having well-defined career goals fosters a sense of purpose and direction, enhancing job satisfaction and overall productivity. It encourages continuous learning and adaptation, as professionals remain attuned to industry trends and evolving job market demands. Career goals also facilitate better time management and resource allocation, as individuals prioritize tasks and opportunities that advance their professional growth. In addition, articulating career goals can aid in networking and mentorship, as it allows individuals to communicate their aspirations clearly to potential mentors, colleagues, and employers, thereby opening doors to valuable guidance and support. Ultimately, career goals are integral to personal and professional development, driving individuals toward sustained success and fulfillment in their chosen fields.
Mastering the Concepts Tested in the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Assoc...SkillCertProExams
• For a full set of 760+ questions. Go to
https://skillcertpro.com/product/databricks-certified-data-engineer-associate-exam-questions/
• SkillCertPro offers detailed explanations to each question which helps to understand the concepts better.
• It is recommended to score above 85% in SkillCertPro exams before attempting a real exam.
• SkillCertPro updates exam questions every 2 weeks.
• You will get life time access and life time free updates
• SkillCertPro assures 100% pass guarantee in first attempt.
Collapsing Narratives: Exploring Non-Linearity • a micro report by Rosie WellsRosie Wells
Insight: In a landscape where traditional narrative structures are giving way to fragmented and non-linear forms of storytelling, there lies immense potential for creativity and exploration.
'Collapsing Narratives: Exploring Non-Linearity' is a micro report from Rosie Wells.
Rosie Wells is an Arts & Cultural Strategist uniquely positioned at the intersection of grassroots and mainstream storytelling.
Their work is focused on developing meaningful and lasting connections that can drive social change.
Please download this presentation to enjoy the hyperlinks!
This presentation, created by Syed Faiz ul Hassan, explores the profound influence of media on public perception and behavior. It delves into the evolution of media from oral traditions to modern digital and social media platforms. Key topics include the role of media in information propagation, socialization, crisis awareness, globalization, and education. The presentation also examines media influence through agenda setting, propaganda, and manipulative techniques used by advertisers and marketers. Furthermore, it highlights the impact of surveillance enabled by media technologies on personal behavior and preferences. Through this comprehensive overview, the presentation aims to shed light on how media shapes collective consciousness and public opinion.
This presentation by OECD, OECD Secretariat, was made during the discussion “Competition and Regulation in Professions and Occupations” held at the 77th meeting of the OECD Working Party No. 2 on Competition and Regulation on 10 June 2024. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found at oe.cd/crps.
This presentation was uploaded with the author’s consent.
This presentation by Professor Alex Robson, Deputy Chair of Australia’s Productivity Commission, was made during the discussion “Competition and Regulation in Professions and Occupations” held at the 77th meeting of the OECD Working Party No. 2 on Competition and Regulation on 10 June 2024. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found at oe.cd/crps.
This presentation was uploaded with the author’s consent.
XP 2024 presentation: A New Look to Leadershipsamililja
Presentation slides from XP2024 conference, Bolzano IT. The slides describe a new view to leadership and combines it with anthro-complexity (aka cynefin).
My Soul is a Witness: An Analysis of Depression and Human Connection in Shelia Heti’s “My Life is a Joke”
1. McAlaster1
My Soul is a Witness:
An Analysis of Depression and Human Connection in Shelia Heti’s “My Life is a Joke”
If you could come back from the dead to say one last thing to the world what would you
say? Would you talk about the importance of love, or generosity, or forgiveness? Or would you
talk about your own life and for one last time tell our own story? In “My Life is a Joke” by
Sheila Heti, Heti’s main character, a dead woman, is invited to speak before an audience where
she tells the story of her death. Through the use of first person point of view and static
characterization Heti explores the devastating impact of depression, specifically as it relates to
women, and the importance of “having a witness”, someone to be present for and speak to the
validity of one’s life.
That “My Life is a Joke” is written in first person point of view is clearly evident and
requires little debate. “I was the only witness to my life …” (Heti). Words such as “I” and “my”
prove the use of a first person perspective. What is up for discussion however is how this
perspective influences the story and how the reader is engaged by it. Allowing the main
character, an unnamed woman, to speak directly to the reader creates a sort of intimacy that is
hard to develop with other points of view. Because it is the main character as opposed to a far
flung narrator or a sidelined secondary character telling the story, they are the one sharing the
details of their emotions. They express how they felt, what it smelled like, how it hurt. Beyond
the actual shock and horror of the subject matter, the importance and popularity of “The Diary of
Anne Frank” rests in many ways on the fact that it is a personal account. The readers of the
“Diary of Anne Frank get the opportunity to get to know Anne directly through her own thoughts
and words and once you get to know someone for better or worse you feel connected to them and
2. McAlaster2
in that connection lies the intimacy. This is generally true of all first person accounts. That
connection and thus intimacy makes it easier to be moved by the main character’s story and to
ultimately both care and feel for her.
There are generally two types of characters in works of fiction, dynamic or static.
Dynamic characters change and develop over the course of the story whereas static characters
remain the same from beginning to end, displaying no real or evident growth. Because conflict is
for better or worse more appealing then constant steady perfection and it so often precipitates
any form of change, dynamic characters tend to serve as main characters more often than not.
[education.seattlepi.com]. There are however exceptions to every rule and “My Life is a Joke”s
main character stands as a prime example of a static main character. From top to bottom the main
character doesn’t change in any noticeable or measurable way. She starts by saying she is ok
with the fact that she died alone but confesses early on that in actuality she is lying about her true
feelings and assumes that the reader has cottoned on to this as well. “Now, you can probably tell
that I’m lying. If I really am O.K. with the fact that no one I loved witnessed my death, why did I
come all the way back here from the dead?” (Heti). She is in fact depressed. Deeply and
tragically depressed. That she lied about the lonely state of her death means that she wanted
someone there by her side as she passed or at least on the sidelines watching the moment occur.
Towards the end of the story her sadness is still present. “Is death the same for everyone, or is
this laughing world a death made just for me?” (Heti). Even in her grave she cannot find peace.
The misery she felt in life she has carried over with her in death.
There are some who would argue that the woman is in fact a dynamic character because
of her admission of multiple changes in her perspective. “I didn’t like his idea of what a wife was
for—someone to just hang around and watch your life unfold. But I understand him better now”
3. McAlaster3
(Heti). But if a story is about a change that has occurred as opposed to a change that is occurring
can the character who has experienced the aforementioned change still be defined as a dynamic
character? By the time the audience/reader meets the main character she had been dead for a total
of four years and has spent those four years alone with the lingering thought of her boyfriend’s
last words to her. “A few days later, I died. It has taken me since that time—four years—to
understand the full significance of what he said: that I was a joke and my life was a joke” (Heti).
By the time she appears on stage to give her speech all the change and growth that she will,
conceivably ever, endure has come and gone and the finality of who she is has settled with her in
the grave. “Tomorrow I will be on an airplane home, down there with all the luggage, peace in
my bones, having declared what I came here to declare – what I realized when I was
underground” (Heti). Hers is not a story in progress but a story that has reached an inevitable
end. The change for her has already occurred. The conflict that defines dynamic characters is a
thing of the past. Now she is simply a woman retelling her story.
Because she, in her present state, does not change, Heti’s use of static characterization
also makes for a useful prop to explore depression, specifically in women. There are roughly
twenty million people diagnosed with depression in the United States. [nlm.nih.gov] One in
every five women develop depression at some point in their lives and are two times as likely as
men to suffer from it [mayoclinic.org]. There are a multitude of risk factors for depression both
social and biological as well as different forms of the illness. Women in particular are at risk for
post-partum, premenstrual dysphoric disorder also known as PMDD, severe depression
throughout pregnancy as well as during menopause [mayoclinic.org]. In “My Life is a Joke” the
main character appears to suffer from depression. “I didn’t come here to depress you. I came
here to tell you a joke. Or, rather, to show you a joke. Me” (Heti). Even at their worst moments
4. McAlaster4
people want to believe good things about themselves. Most people strive to see themselves in a
positive light and fight against that temptation to spew their own brand of hateful language onto
themselves but the main character has clearly fallen into that temptation. She genuinely sees
herself as a joke and in no self-deprecating fashion either. She has twisted the words of her last
boyfriend to assuage her sense of worthlessness in comparison to the life her high school
boyfriend has made for himself and her heartfelt belief in the words that the last man she loved
said to her. “My life and death were witnessed, I tell you! Witnessed and foretold! You did not
fare any better than me. It seems both of us won, in the end” (Heti).
There is a sense that she has moved beyond depression and slipped perhaps into insanity
– a need based insanity. She needs to believe she had some worth in this world and that her life
wasn’t less than for not getting married or not having kids. The lack of a “witness” in her life is
something she openly regrets. “It is no small thing to have someone who loves you see your life,
and discuss it with you every night” (Heti). There is a value to being seen. There is almost
something tangible about having people see who you are, and to know the truth of you, and
vouch for the validity of your life. Without other people left behind to tell the stories of our lives
and to attest to our overall existence what is to say that we were even here. “When all his
witnesses die, his life will be over. When his son is dead, and his son’s wife is dead, and the
children of his son are also dead, the life of my first boyfriend will be through” (Heti). There is
no one to account for the woman’s existence. No husband, no child, presumably no parent, or
sibling. She is left to verify the proof of her own life on her own and it is a fate that in all
honesty she has not come to reconcile with. “My first boyfriend found himself a witness, and I
have come to declare that I found one, too. I won, you see? I won!” (Heti). Her belief that her
second boyfriend “foretold” her death and that the only way he could do so was to see her, really
5. McAlaster5
and truly see her for who she was, is her attempt to gain herself a witness. She has chosen to
create one for herself, however misshapen and sad a witness it may be.
“My Life is a Joke” is a hauntingly heartbreaking tale. It offers no happy endings, no
glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, just a peek into the mind and heart of a woman whose
sense of self and self-worth has left her. Her story isn’t uncommon and less shocking perhaps
then what it should be, but in spite of that, Heti still manages to touch the audience by
developing an attachment between the reader and the dead woman through her use of first person
point of view and by creating a static character she is able to explore depression in its finality.
Works Cited
6. McAlaster6
"Depression:MedlinePlus." U.SNationalLibrary of Medicine. U.S.National Libraryof Medicine,n.d.
Web.08 Dec. 2015. <https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html>.
Heti,Sheila."MyLife Isa Joke." The NewYorker.The New Yorker,11 May 2015. Web.16 Nov.2015.
<http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/my-life-is-a-joke>.
Staff."Depression(majorDepressive Disorder)." Depression in Women:Understanding theGenderGap.
Mayo Clinic,n.d.Web.06 Dec.2015. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-
depth/depression/art-20047725>.