The Spirit That Catches You And You Fall By Anne Fadiman

“The Falling Man,” taken by Richard Drew on September 11, 2001, remains one of the most controversial, yet underappreciated images of the 21st Century. The picture captures one of the final moments of a victim from the World Trade Center, who chose to commit suicide rather than perish in the burning fires on the top floor. As the man plunges to his doom, he is positioned upside-down with legs flailing in the air. In the background lies the Twin Towers, positioned precisely to split right in the middle of both the image and the man himself. Understandably, this scene drew much backlash by the public, as it revealed the private moments of a man on the worst day in modern American history. At the same time, it also caused others to reflect soberly

Accused witches were forced to admit to various practices believed to be witchcraft. Details from the French Court of Rieux and the insanity that ensued are jaw dropping by today’s standards. Suzanne Gaudry’s judgement confession was no different, being forced and tortured into confessions including having given herself to the devil, renouncement of God, lent and Baptism. Moreover, Gaudry was also forced to confess that she had cohabited with the devil as well received the devil’s mark on her shoulder and being at dances. Of note however, the judgement confession seems to acknowledge Gaudry having technically only confessed to having had killed by poison, Philip Coine’s horse. Nevertheless, Gaudry’s confession was made

Later on the Lee’s took Lia home in order to have her “hu plig” which is a cultural birth ritual that “includes a sacrifice for ancestral soul to invite a soul into Lia’s body.” (Fadiman, 21) After some time, Lia becomes diagnosed with severe epilepsy by the doctors at Merced, where the Hmong call it “qaug dab peg” (aka the title of the book!) (Fadiman, 21). This is an example of medical anthropology because the Hmong see illness as something that is physical where the soul and the body are tangled or conflicted. Whereas the doctors (whom are classified as agreeing with the cultural views of American culture) see illness as biological, with viruses, bacteria,

This applied theory paper will analyze both the macro and micro analysis of the Novel, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman (Fadiman, 1997). In the book “The Spirit Catches You and Falls Down”, the character Lia illness resulted in a cultural divide between the Hmong culture and the American culture. Throughout this paper both the conflict theory and the family systems theory will be used to examine themes of behaviors among the characters in the text. The family and medical team use the applications of a number of different social work theories to navigate through her illness implementing a number of different strategies to nurse her to health. The author Fadiman explores the Lee’s family

“In the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”, Anne Fadiman explores the subject of cross cultural misunderstanding. This she effectively portrays using Lia, a Hmong, her medical history, the misunderstandings created by obstacles of communication, the religious background, the battle with modernized medical science and cultural anachronisms. Handling an epileptic child, in a strange land in a manner very unlike the shamanistic animism they were accustomed to, generated many problems for her parents. The author dwells on the radically different cultures to highlight the necessity for medical communities to have an understanding of the immigrants when treating them.

They believe their children “were the most treasure possession a person can have” (page 23) and the Lee family truly believed they could provide the best care for their daughter Lia, and that her illness held her of a higher status in the Hmong community (Txiv neeb “person of healing spirit”, page 32). Moreover, the act of removing Lia from her family by the caregivers and government who took Lia from their care was both incomprehensible and upsetting for their entire family. The clash in this particular situation is where Dr. Neil (page 79) felt his best form of care to Lia was what he believed through his own constitudedness and situatedness (American society and western medicine practices). As well, in the refugee camps, many of the Hmong came to believe that “Western” medicine was a “form of coercion” (page 37) and in fact not a practice of healing.

The book titled The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: Talks about a Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures written by Anne Fadiman. Anne Fadiman is an American essayist and reporter, who interests include literary journalism. She is a champion of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Salon Book Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest. In the book, Anne Fadiman explores the clash between a county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the health care of Lia Lee. Lia Lee is a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy, whose parents and the doctors wanted the best treatment for her, but the lack of communication cause a tragedy. The essay paper will state and explain what went wrong between Lia’s family and the doctors. The central point is a lack of understanding between them leads to Lia’s tragedy.

In the story “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”, by Anne Fadiman is about a family who youngest child Lia Lee is diagnosed with epilepsy. Not only is the story about Lia Lee, but it also talks about the Hmong cultural group different beliefs compared to the American cultural beliefs. Throughout the story you see the differences throughout three different stages. Each stage shows at least one difference from the Hmong cultural belief, American cultural belief, and the techniques and practices that were used when Lia was born. The main theme in this story is the difference in how each stage handles giving birth to a child. In addition, to the differences there also happened to be a couple of similarities as well

Holding Onto the Air an autobiography by Suzanne Farrell takes the reader backstage in the dramatic life of the world-renowned Balanchine ballerina. From her childhood in Cincinnati to her retirement from ballet in 1989, Farrell's story is truly a remarkable one. The book describes at length her time with the New York City Ballet as well as her complex relationship with the legendary Balanchine. Although Mrs. Farrell goes a bit too far into the ballet descriptions, her beautiful imagery allows reader to experience the joy of performing on stage.

“Katherine O’Flaherty was born in St. Lois, Missouri, to a Creole-Irish family that enjoyed a high place in society. Her father died when she was four, and Kate was raised by her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Very well read at young age, she received her formal education at the St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart. In 1870, she married Oscar Chopin, a Louisiana businessman, and lived with him in Natchitoches parish and New Orleans, where she became a close observer of Creole and Cajun life. Following her husband’s sudden death in 1884 she returned to St. Louis, where she raised her six children and began her literary career. In slightly more than a decade she produced a substantial body work, including the story collection Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897) and the classic novella The Awakening (1899), which was greeted with a storm of criticism for its frank treatment of female sexuality” (Mays 439).

How would you feel if you were forced to live a life you never intended to? To have to live without the one you love? Or to face the loss of a loved one that leaves you dumbfounded? Katniss Everdeen, also known as the girl on fire, is put in these situations and more. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins shows the importance of taking life one step at time. With the themes of courage, love, war, betrayal, and justice, and a genre of realistic fiction, Mockingjay proves to be perfect for anyone that is looking for adventure or just a good book to read.

Margaret Atwood’s Poem “You fit into me”, a love poem, briefly explains Atwood’s metaphorical feelings of being destined to be with another person. Her simile in this particular poem to describe objects such as, “like a hook into eye” clasp to emphasize the perfect “fit” or security in her relationship. As a result of being destined and connected to this person, she also feels vulnerable and is in pain as described as a real “hook” into her eye. This poem actively reflects Atwood’s life by its actions, emotions, theme, and symbolism that is shared seamlessly.

“You Fit into Me” is a poem written by Margaret Atwood, who is an acclaimed Canadian poet, novelist, and literary critic from Ottawa, Ontario born in 1939. The poem is from a collection of her works titled “Selected Poems (1965 - 1975)”, meaning it was written sometime during her marriage to American writer Jim Polk that ended with divorce in 1973; this poem may have been influenced by that relationship and their drift apart from each other. “You Fit into Me” is a relatively short poem at only 16 words, but what is conveyed is so profound that it only seems appropriate for it to be short. Through clever wordplay, a shocking twist, and simplicity, it portrays the pain of being trapped in a dangerous relationship. In the first two lines, the poem describes a relationship where the two partners seem to be a good match for each other, as shown by the comparison to a hook-and-eye closure, which are made specifically to fit with each other.

YOU FIT INTO ME -Margaret Atwood ABOUT THE POET Margaret Atwood is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. While she is best known for her work as a novelist, she has also published fifteen books of poetry. Many of her poems have been inspired by myths and fairy tales, which have been interests of hers from an early age. “You fit into me

The short story by Naomi Wood was written in 2012, and is about Pia, who is a middle-aged woman and the day where the short story takes place, is her 40th birthday. In this story we meet Pia, her partner Daniel and random people from the streets and of course Pia is our main character.