“The Good Short Life” by Dudley Clendinen is about how the author
looks at his life once he learns that he is going to die. Clendinen is sixty-six
years old, gay and a recovering alcoholic. Also, he has amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, more commonly known as ASL or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He is not
negative or angry about his end. In a way, Clendinen is at peace - death is
accepted. “[He] realized [he] had a way of life”. His life was a good life and Clendinen is happy and
appreciative about everything wonderful in it, including his friends, family,
and daughter.
Clendinen
shows how life should be treasured. Once he learned he was going to die, he was
not prepared. His diseases gave him this epiphany on his life; giving him the
credibility sought after by all writers.
Even though Clendinen’s diseases will eventually cause his life to end,
it also allows him to view his life in a new way. This new perspective on life
is what brought about this essay.
Anyone
can learn from Dudley Clendinen and his view on life. He wrote this essay for
anyone willing to read it. This piece shows how even with Lou Gerhrig’s disease,
the author was able to be accepting of death and loving of life. The author
used the memory of when he was first struck by the fact that he was going to
die to appeal to pathos. This memory caused him to realize that he does have a
life plan and “[he] can do anything, one day at a time”.
The
purpose of this essay was to express to the reader that he has a wonderful
life, but he is ready for death. As the reader, I believe Clendinen did an
astounding job of showing how death no longer scares him and he is in control
of his whole life. The essay intrigued me and kept me interested throughout;
but I think that end of the essay sums up the piece perfectly. “When the music
stops… I’ll know that Life is over. It’s time to be gone”.
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On Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Dudley Clendinen is
Self-actualized because he has accepted the fact that he is going to die.
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