Examples of Courage and Determination in The Signal and Beyond The Bayou

Every individual has a set of values by which they live by. However, these values are challenged when a person encounters difficulty. The ability to show courage and determination even in the face of extreme adversity or likely death is a rare feat. Most often, people would rather hide or strive to avert the impending disaster rather than offer help to others. Through the character of Semyon, The Signal by Vsevolod Garshin offers practical lessons about courage and determination. The story offers provides hope and reassurance that even in the face of great difficulty, courage and determination can impact greatly upon the lives of other people.

The story revolves around the life of Semyon and Vasily a neighbor who Semyon meets while working as a track walker. Semyon had previously served in the army; an experience that had left him crippled with rheumatism. He battles extreme weather and dodges bullets on a daily basis; an experience that had left him terrified. He returned home to find that his father and four year old son had died, leaving his wife all alone. Due to rheumatism, he is unable to plough and thus has to leave village in search of good fortune. He seems to be unlucky until he meets a station master who offers him a job as a track walker. While at the job, his encounters with Vasily leave him concerned. He commits to helping Vasily to embrace life in appreciation of what he has.

Seymon demonstrates extreme courage when he risks his life in a bid to save the train passengers when at the time when Vasily had torn up the rail. Despite constant persuasion from Semyon, Vasily was bitter and sought to avenge the humiliation and misery he had faced in the hands of the inspector. In a bid to teach him a lesson, Vasily loosens the rail with the intent of causing an accident. With no tools at his disposal to repair the rail line, Semyon decides to cut his arm, and uses his blood to soak a scarf that he intends to use as a red flag. With the flag he is able to warn the train master of the impending danger. He risks being run over; all with the intent of saving lives. Garshin asserts that, “In this he soaked his scarf,…The driver would not see him--would come close up, and a heavy train cannot be pulled up in six hundred feet.”

Secondly, while in the army, Semyon braves extreme weather and a raging war to deliver food to the officers in the battlefield. He constantly faces death but he persistently continues to serve the officers. He keeps them contented with hot tea whenever they are in need. Garshin explains that, ”The bullets hummed about him and rattled viciously against the rocks… The officers were pleased with him, because he always had hot tea ready for them.” Through this act, Semyon provides manifests great courage and once again risk his life in service of others. Similarly, while serving as a track walker, Semyon commits to help Vasily overcome the bitterness in his life. Despite encountering hostility from Vasily as well as his wife, Semyon and his wife persistently choose to help Vasily transform.

The Signal and Beyond the Bayou are both similar in that the main characters; Semyon and La Folle manifest a great deal of courage. Despite being aware of the limitations in their capabilities, both characters work hard to save the lives of their friends or colleagues. In Beyond the Bayou, La Folle overcomes great fear and crosses the bayou in a bid to save the life of Cheri who had accidentally shot her leg. She even offers to stay with Cheri in a bid to nurse her back to good health. Seymon on the other hand is crippled with rheumatism but risks his life to save the lives of the passengers on the train and the crew as well. He also offers help to Vasily in a bid to help him change his mind about his plan to derail the train as well as seek vengeance upon the train officer who had previously assaulted him and forced him to uproot his vegetables..

            In conclusion, the two short stories offer practical examples of the need to show extreme courage even when faced with extreme limitations. Seymon dedicates his life towards helping those in his life to overcome challenges. Even in desperation, he commits to avert the impending disaster of the train crash. La Folle on the other hand chooses to overcome her mental fear to help Cheri who is injured. She appreciates the help accorded to her by Cheri and is desperate to reciprocate. In the end, Semyon and La Folle are able to impact upon the lives of the people that they choose to help. These characters offer hope to individuals in the real world that even when faced with fear, hostility or uncertainty, courage and determination can help to change the lives of those around them.

Works Cited

”Beyond the Bayou” Kate Chopin. Retrieved from http://americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/beyond-the-bayou

The Signal Vsevolod Garshin. Retrieved from http://www.classicreader.com/book/2150/1/