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Jesse Thistle's Lack Of Dignity In 'From The Ashes'

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From the beginning of time, the world has been plagued by various forms of abuse, whether it be emotional or physical. In many cases, the harm inflicted upon others can be a result of one's ignorance or lack of understanding. "From the Ashes" is a memoir written by Jesse Thistle. He tells his own story of growing up in poverty, struggling with addiction, abuse, and homelessness, and eventually finding a way to turn his life around and achieve success. The book focuses on Thistle's journey to overcome the challenges he faced and reclaim his dignity and self-worth. Jesse Thistle's memoir, "From the Ashes," reveals that human dignity is an accessory and not a necessity depending upon the circumstances in which one is born. Thistle illustrates his lack of dignity by projecting on each page the ability to toy with the emotions of the audience by stating his emotional and physical abuse, homelessness, and drug abuse, as well as using an extended use of explicit imagery in his text to convey his inner growth and progress in rejoining society once again. The effects of emotional abuse on Thistle were significant and persisted for …show more content…

I noticed that my belt was undone, and my pants were open and hanging off my waist." "My underwear was gone" (Thistle 172). This passage not only highlights Thistle's experiences with physical abuse and violence. According to RAINN, "Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor. These effects aren't always easy to deal with, but with the right help and support, they can be managed" (RAINN). Furthermore, showing Thistle's loss of control and dignity allows the readers to feel a sort of unpleasantness that can remind them of the significance of this event and the courage it takes to share such an event with such bold

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