In life, there are many battles to be fought, and presumably, won. Sometimes one loses a few battles on the way to winning the war with themselves and others. Every skirmish can be of great consequence to those fighting. Those who fight are those who live. No one can stand forever, and eventually everyone falls. Some may say this makes everything futile; on the contrary, this struggle gives meaning to life. There is evidence of this in many different places, but those that are most obvious can be found in the arts; human nature is most often reflected on in writing. One example of such beliefs is Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” In the story, citizens of an anonymous town participate in a draw, the winner of which is promptly stoned to death. …show more content…
Another example would be the widely renowned play “Pippin,” written by Stephen Schwartz. “Pippin” recounts a relatable tale in which the play’s titular young prince seeks a “completely fulfilling” life; he ventures through all common paths: religion, war, revolution, and love, among others, until he finally settles for ordinary life. This idea is also highlighted in a study on the difference between a meaningful life and a happy one that was published in the Journal of Positive Psychology by social psychologist Jennifer Aaker of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each of these examples make evident the ways in which struggle gives meaning to life. Struggle is important because it creates purpose, it makes progress in life fulfilling, and it characterizes a valuable