LIFE

While reading I came across, “I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life.” This quote really surprised me because being the daughter of the Pope, she shouldn’t say such things, for suicide is a terrible sin for the Catholic Church. It is also very ironic how this old lady refers to people not killing themselves because they “love life”, not because they are resigned or scared of eternal punishment (hell). I think maybe because of all the terrible events that have happened to her, maybe she doesn’t believe in god anymore or in the afterlife. I would completely understand her, for if god is so great, was he in all her suffering. Why didn’t he help her out? What did she do to have to go through all that? These are questions I often ask myself, for If god is so great why does he allow so much suffering and hurt to be caused. If he is so powerful, why doesn’t he help the one who really need it?

The old lady also says, “I should have never of my misfortunes if you had not provoked me a little, and if it were not the custom to pass the time on board ship by telling stories.” Even though the old lady is very pessimistic due to all the events in her life, she does not want anybody to feel sorry for her. By telling her stories she is not looking for sympathy, it is only to cope with the boredom. Yet, her sufferings have influenced greatly who she is. She now sees life as being misery, yet forced to love it.