Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air

Once faced with morality it completely changes the human minds thought on ones value of life. It forces people to change their perspective on life and to view it with more meaning. Death truly brings life more meaning. Paul Kalanithi the author of the novel When Breath Becomes Air, was taken away far to early. he expresses his emotions and feelings all throughout the novel where he records his personal journey. Kalanithi writes about his experiences, good and bad. He also writes about how comfortable he becomes with death and yet how he is still slightly scared by it. He reveals the universal truth of death. Living a life worth living is what everyone needs to be thinking about. Life is such a gift and for some, like Paul they were taken away

Life and death have an everlasting connection from start to finnish. With life comes death and with death comes life. Kalanithi writes in the novel a lot about the relationship between life and death. Kalanithi is knowledgeable and sagacious. “Time for me is now double-edged: everyday brings me further from the low of my last relapse but closer to the next recurrence- and, eventually, death. Perhaps later than I think, but certainly sooner than I desire” (Kalanithi 196). Kalanithi saw the inextricably of death and how it correlates with living life to the fullest. He believes that everything happens for a reason. In the novel Kalanithi uses the words itinerant visitor which symbolises his cancer and how it is travelling in his body from place to place and spreading without he having any say on the matter. Although Kalanithi handled his sickness far more calmly and effectively than others he still was frustrated and sad from time to time. When he makes notice of the fact that being brought further from his last relapse is also bringing him closer to his next relapse. He is showing mixed emotions about that circumstances, he is accepting but also frightened. Kalanithi changes his way of viewing life and death. “One day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second. . . . Birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more” (Kalanithi 65). The author is talking about the balance between life and death and how close together they are. Kalanithi uses symbolism to show the importance of this quote. He makes reference to light gleaming and then it is night once again. The light symbolises life and night symbolises death. Thus showing how frequent life and death connect to one another. Kalanithi uses imagery to portray his message to clarify what he is trying to say, Birth astrides of a grave meaning rebirth. Kalanithi firmly believes in rebirth and that is why he found it easier