Short Essay On Unbroken By Laura Hillenbrand

The French leader who quickly rose through military ranks once stated “ Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them." In Laura Hillenbrand’s nonfiction book Unbroken, the determined and ambitious man, Louie Zamperini against the belief of others persevered and qualified to run in the 1936 Berlin Olympics at a very young age. Through all of the miles that he ran it was Louie’s determination that made him a record breaker and a hero in the sport. Hillenbrand showed that Louie was not only determined to run in the Olympics but to survive through later tragedies in his lifetime.

A rebellious thief who stole from others at

During the earlier stages of his life, Louie caused trouble by stealing food from others and giving it away to those who needed it more. Ultimately, Louie remained a kind hearted man throughout all his life whether it had shown or not. As a young man, Louie took up running track and field and, all of the efforts that he had once put into stealing he now put into running: “ In the summer of 1932 Louie did almost nothing but run” (16). Through this ambition to improve and accomplish incredible feats he beat college runners by the young age of sixteen:.“ Observers began speculating on when the boy in the black shorts was going to collapse. Louie didn’t collapse… Louie had won by over a quarter mile” (19). In the summer of 1936, Louie qualified for the Berlin Olympics and devoted himself to win. During the nerve racking race, Louie said, “ All I had, I gave it” (35). After his Olympic accomplishment Louie continued

After the crash several men perished while few survived: Louie, Phil and Mac, stranded on a cramped raft. Phil appointed Louie in charge. On a second’s notice, Louie climbed from a follower to a leader: “Louie knew that he had to get Phil’s bleeding stopped, but if he went to him, the raft would be lost and all of them would perish” (131). Louie is now the one who has to make critical decisions in order to keep himself and the other men alive. Using the items provided in the safety provisions box in clever ways. After 47 days adrift at sea, the Japanese captured Phil and Louie, and are taken by them to a POW camp. At the camp Louie encountered a man named “The Bird” whose character is the direct opposite of Louie. “Louie had met the man who would dedicate himself to shattering him” (239). Through these punishments The Bird tried to weaken Louie both mentally and physically, through this Louie was dedicated to stay strong, not give in and go insane, like other POW. Prisoners of war resented The Bird Jack Brady a fellow POW stated “ He was absolutely the most sadistic man I ever met” (243). Louie had a strong mind and was dedicated to not have given up and become insane, during punishments if prisoners flinched or moved they would endure more punishment, Louie stayed strong