For every one hundred thousand men, approximately thirty-six thousand and nine hundred will be diagnosed with some form of cancer and two hundred and eight of those cases will be completely fatal (National Cancer Institute). The statistics of cancer to many are terrifying, especially those affected in some way. Reactions vary from person to person when presented with such a murderer 's disease, whether they themselves are suffering or someone they care about is suffering. Many ideas are shared about cancer and much research is done but in simplicity, cancer is “any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively” (Dictionary.com). Although it is not only the sufferers of the disease suffering horribly but the loved ones in their lives too, …show more content…
In the story “Learning to Drive”, Ron Rindo gives an all too realistic tale of a man, nameless throughout the tale, who well-battling cancer lost his leg and was fitted with a new article prosthetic leg and a pair of fine silver …show more content…
At first, it seemed the protagonist had accepted his fate by trying to move on and perform a simple task but then came along the anger and frustration, well his wife tries to be there for him but finds to be quite difficult. In the end, it is revealed to the protagonist 's cancer has returned quickly slipping his into depression leaving only his wife to save him. The wife 's reaction and the protagonists varied greatly. Ron Rindo, the author, uses irony and symbolism to contrast the protagonist 's reaction to the situation of that of his wife.
Rindos use of symbolism in “Learning to drive” brings to light how the protagonist and the wife react differently to the situation. When dealing with difficult situations a person can lose control or zone out or into parts of their lives. Elaine, the protagonist 's wife, in the beginning, after he had come home lost all control and cleaned the floor as if her life depended on it distracting her from the real plague on her house, her husband 's cancer. Elaine had always had the “cleanest floors in the neighborhood for the past twenty-two years. Now there [were] black spots scattered in pairs all across the floors”