Ambitions, dreams, conquering obstacles, whatever it is in life, they can all be achievable if one focuses, be determined, and believes positively in him/herself. The steps taken toward this positive attitude is to look at the goal to be achieved, what the fears and obstacles may be, and turn those into positive challenges. Unfortunately, one of the major flaws we (humans) in society face when first encountering a goal is being pessimistic. We seem to think of ourselves incompetent of leaping through obstacles or prevailing over the goal. Michael Jordan once stated, “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.” This is a inspirational quote that people can turn to when in despair of not succeeding. In his short story, “Leiningen vs. the Ants”, Carl Stephenson illustrates that in order for one to prevail, they must have a determined, positive attitude (without being too overconfident) and constantly remind themselves of their power and capabilities.
Leningen, a plantation owner, is an overconfident man who believes that nothing, not even elements-“act of God” can intimidate or defeat him. He boastfully states, “I’m not going to run from it just because an elemental’s on the way….When I began this model farm plantation three years ago, I took into account all that could conceivably happen to it. And now I’m ready for anything and everything-including your ants” (4).
The Coursework on Personal Goals Paper
Deciding on and obtaining personal goals for my future have become a recent priority because of changing events in my life. It is an enlightening experience to make the decision to enrich my life, according to what goals I have set. I am enthusiastic to share my short-term and long-term goals that include professional and personal development goals, skills I will need to accomplish the goals, ...
Not even the Brazilian official’s thought-provoking words would make him think twice of his actions. From his experience, Leinigen confidently felt that these ants were probably no different from the other elementals.
“During his three years as a planter, Leningen had met and defeated drought, flood, plague, and all other “acts of God” which had come against him-unlike his fellow settlers in the districts, who had made little or no resistance….His brain had triumphed over every difficulty and danger it had so far encountered. And now he was sure he would prove more than a match for the “irresistible” ants” (4).
In this quotation we can sense that Leiningen is a pugnacious fighter, assiduous worker, and wise in his decision-making through all his successful victories. In addition, I feel that he is a boastful person and capable in defeating anything and anyone.
The ten-mile long, two miles wide, black army ants came marching in at noon; little did they know what laid ahead before them, Leinigen’s multitudinous planned out sly schemes. His first strategy was surrounding his plantation with water-filled ditches that surrounded the plantation’s three sides that resembled a “horseshoe.” By constructing a dam, he was able impose abundant of water to encompassed the plantation as well. Just envision it, a moat in which all sides are filled with water and the only way for the ants to get across was to be build a raft. This was the myriad of ants’ strategy:
“…thousands were already drowning in the sluggish creeping flow, but they were followed by troops after troop, who clambered over their sinking comrades, and then themselves served as dying brides to the reserves hurrying on in their rear” (7).
As you can see, the ants were smarter than they seemed. Through their actions, the ants were making it lucid that they would not be defeated so easily without putting up a fight. These intelligent ants physically made a statement, like “ We’re not going to be defeated so easily, we are going to put up a fight.” Leiningen realized that this was not going to be a facile task after all. It was literally a war between “Leiningen’s brainpower and twenty square miles of life-destroy-ants.” His next plot included petrol sprinklers around the plantation and in the ditches to drown the merciless ants. Slowly, it seemed that the ants were slowly perishing, but it was not going to be over yet.
The Report on Leiningen Versus the Ants
Would you risk your own life and the lives of another 400 people just so you might have a chance at saving a coffee plantation? Well that’s what Leiningen did in the short story “Leiningen Versus the Ants”. And by doing so he has proved himself to be an over confident, persuasive, and sexist man. And is not a person to be admired. In this story Leiningen has shown himself as an extremely over ...
Unfortunately, after the first futile attempt, the myriad of merciless ants returned the next day and Leinigen was now determined to finish them off. His brainpower was in full gear. Despite all the gallons of petrol tank thrown in the ditched and surface of the plantation, the ants kept returning. At this time, Leinigen was really fretful that he and his peons will soon be facing defeat and death. His final attempt was to sacrifice his body:
“He pulled on high leather boots, drew heavy gauntlet over his hands, and stuffed the spaces between breeches and boots, gauntlets and arms, shirt, and neck, with rags soaked in petrol. With close –fitting mosquito goggles he shielded his eyes, knowing too well the ant’s dodge of first robbing their victims of sight. Finally, he plunged his nostril and ears with cotton wool, and let the peons drench his clothes with petrol.”(16).
In this action taken, the reader might be getting anxious and tense, thinking this might be near his death or victory. The climax is when Leiningen stumbles and collapse. His determination and motivation is to get to the weir. He is back to his feet but tottered, staggered, and then collapsed again. Even though flames ignited and flooded destroyed the whole plantation it was all worth it. “They’re gone,” said the nurse, “To hell.” His response, “I told you I’d come back, even if I am a bit streamlined.” Then he dozed off.
Through this story we saw that conquering and obstacles required one’s brainpower’s capabilities as well as how perseverance and determination played a role in victory. A flaw of Leiningen was being overconfidence and boastfulness because this nearly cost him his life. There is no telling what is going to happen after Leiningen gets better, but we can assume that he will never underestimate ants or be so sure about himself again. Hopefully this elemental will never exist in life.