Overcoming Adversity
It is an unfortunate and terrifying fact
that there are evil people in this world. As someone who tries her hardest to
see the good in everyone, it is getting more and more difficult as I am exposed
to the evils and wrongdoings of others. On October 12th, I attended
the Sister Cleophas Costello Lecture where Elizabeth Smart spoke about
overcoming adversity. Surprisingly, I was able to draw connections between
Elizabeth’s story and the works of Countee Cullen, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and
Mary Shelley. Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her own bed in 2002 at the age
of 14. She was taken from her home at knifepoint and was kept in a tent in the
mountains for 9 months by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. Elizabeth was
stunned to hear that her captor made her his “wife” and that it was time to
consummate their marriage. Mitchell took something from Elizabeth that she
would never get back.
Elizabeth Smart talked about how religion
shaped her experience and mindset. She grew up in a conservative, Christian
household and was taught that sex was solely for marriage. Her entire life, she
had teachers tell her through ridiculous metaphors that premarital sex ruins a
person. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “Theology,” is a short but humorous
depiction of heaven and hell. Elizabeth made light of her Christian background
but showed how it affected her outlook when she was kidnapped. She was
devastated after he raped her. She was always taught that sex was intended for
marriage and after her abductor raped her, she felt dirty, broken, and damaged.
Her innocence was forever lost.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein reminded me of Elizabeth’s time she spent captive in
the woods. The monster in the novel is a deeply misunderstood creature. Even
his own creator, Victor, is afraid of him. When Elizabeth was taken from the
comfort of her bed, she was led through the woods and mountains for hours. She
was disoriented and confused while trying to make sense of her surroundings.
The monster was alone and confused after he left Victor’s home. He just wanted
to be understood by people but instead, they all fled in fear. The monster is
shunned and isolated by society. There were times when Elizabeth Smart was in
public with her captors and was so close yet so far away from being discovered
and rescued. Elizabeth talked about how people always ask her how why she
didn’t try to run when she had the chance or didn’t speak up when she was in
public. Until you are in the same exact situation, you have no right to judge
or assume someone didn’t do everything in their power to survive. Elizabeth’s
captors had her brainwashed and scared to death. They seemed invincible in
everything they did. Mitchell threatened to kill her entire family if she did
anything out of line. She suffered for the sake of her family.
When she was finally reunited with her
family 9 months later, Elizabeth’s mother told her, “Elizabeth, what this man
has done to you is terrible and there are not words strong enough to describe
how wicked and evil he is. He has stolen 9 months of your life that you will
never get back. The best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy.”
Elizabeth said that she made the choice to listen to her mother’s words and
tries not to dwell on the past and let it consume her every thought. She
decided not to give them another second of her life.
Countee Cullen’s poem, “Tableau” reminded
me of Elizabeth’s journey after her kidnapping. In the poem, a black boy and a
white boy walk arm in arm down the street as people of both races look on in
disgust. Elizabeth Smart has taken great action in order to help victims of
child abuse and sexual abuse. She uses her voice to speak out against those who
hurt the innocent and uses her platform to raise awareness for missing
children. The only way to spread awareness is to put the facts out there in the
open even if it might make others uncomfortable. Elizabeth is a reminder that
no matter what trials and tribulations are thrown your way, there will always
be a way to survive and overcome adversity.
Although what has happened to her is
unimaginable, Elizabeth does not know where she would be if it had not.
Everything that has happened to her, has allowed her to be where she is today.
She is a face of survival and perseverance. At the end of her lecture, the
entire audience was on their feet and many had tears in their eyes. It was just
unbelievable to think that the strong, beautiful, articulate, personable woman
standing before us was once a victim. She had this graceful, wise, air to her
that just lit up the room. Her smile and laugh was contagious. Because
Elizabeth Smart made the decision to fight back, she is still here today. It
was an honor to hear her story.
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