How To Read Literature Like a Professor (Chapters 22-24)

Chapter 22 -- 24

One example of a death by disease can be seen in the 2005 musical RENT. RENT follows one year in the life of a group of friends struggling in modern day New York City. One of the friends, Angel, is dying from AIDs. As problems within the group of friends begin to worsen Angel does the same until his death. After his death the group of friend diverge into separate path ways in order to clear their minds. Angek's death gives them the realization that life is short and almost scares the group into changing their life styles. However, when Mimi, another member of the group who is dying of AIDs, goes missing, the group reunites just in time find her and save her life. In this musical, disease shows the group that they must pursue each day as if it will be their last.

Another example of a disease in literature can be found in P.S. I Love You. The husband dies of cancer shortly after he gets married. This disease was basically put into the story just to make the plot work. The whole movie is about a guy who planned out the next year for his wife so it could be like they were still together. He makes all the arrangements for flights and trips and he writes all kinds of letters for her before he passes away. The disease was cancer and so he knew he was going to die and relatively when. If it were a quick passing disease, he wouldn’t have been able to make the arrangements, and the story wouldn’t have worked obviously. The fact that he had cancer let the viewers realize that you can’t have a grip on everything. Nobody asks for cancer and you can’t necessarily prevent it. You have to live your life to the fullest because you don’t know when you are going to go. That is the message that the writer was trying to get across and cancer was the perfect disease for the plot because it allowed time for the husband to make plans. It also made the viewers totally unaware of what was going to happen since cancer is such an unexpected disease.