David By Earle Birney

The Significance of Ruling Passions Throughout human existence, ruling passions hold significant rank in an individual's life. Every human experiences important values and elements within their life. Passions are seen to influence almost every circumstance and situation in life. Throughout the story “David” written by Earle Birney, the fatal death of David represents the contribution of ruling passions. The morals, decisions, and loyalty of the characters appear to be the most important pieces of the influence of leading passions. Ruling passions pose significant importance in an individual's life due to the influence they have on decisions, therefore impacting factors such as loyalty and moralistic values.

The decisions an individual makes

As a result of Bobbie and David being best friends, Bobbie’s loyalty is emphasized throughout the story. “Somehow I worked down the fifty impossible feet/To the ledge, calling and getting no answer but echoes”. Bobbie's act of putting in the effort to retrieve and check on David shows great loyalty between the two friends. The dedication Bobbie puts into confirming David's survival shows the prominence of protection and care Bobbie has for his friend. Instead of taking any other safety precaution or action, Bobbie decided to put his life at risk for David as well. “He shut the lids/Of his eyes to stare at the sky while I moistened his lips /From our water flask and tearing my shirt into strips/I swabbed the shredded hands”. Due to David's situation, Bobbie's actions display an emphasis of loyalty towards David. David's importance to Bobbie encourages Bobbie to make efforts to comfort him and manage his injuries. Bobbie’s tender care shows great loyalty in ensuring his friend is taken care of. “I’d do it for you, Bob”.This statement said by David exhibits great loyalty between the two friends. David expressed loyalty by disclosing to Bobbie that he would comply with his demands if asked. The decision Bobbie makes after that articulates the same feeling towards David. An individual's passions are controlled by loyalty and can impact the results of certain situations. Bobbie’s bond with David directs

Throughout the story, Bobbie fights with himself between what is right and wrong, and the importance of the situation. “This time I knew what he meant and I grasped for a lie/And said, ‘I’ll be back here by midnight with ropes/And men from the camp and we’ll cradle you out’”. Although Bobbie decided to lie to David, it was what he thought would be best for David. Bobbie attempts to give David hope of living and surviving the incident, which shows his moral stance. Although Bobbie understands that this promise will be hard to keep, he decides that it is the right thing to do to provide David with comfort and hope. “But I curled beside him and whispered, ‘The bleeding will stop./You can last.’ He said only, ‘Perhaps.For what? A wheelchair,/Bob?’ His eyes brightening with fever unbraided me”. This quote demonstrates Bobbie's pondering about what to do. After the tragic fall and David's request to be mercy killed, Bobbie was required to take action and decide on the right thing to do. This event tested Bobbie's morals. “I said that he fell straight to the ice where they found him,/And none but the sun and the incurious clouds have lingered/Around the marks of that day on the ledge of the Finger”. Bobbie's story about the events with David reveals his true morals about the incident in the mountains. Throughout the entirety of verse IX, it is shown that Bobbie is attempting to come to terms with