By Elana Quaye
By Elana Quaye
Hunger, by Maggie Helwig, is an interesting article about a rather unusual subject matter. Both historically informative and well written, Hunger puts a different spin on the relatively new disorders of anorexia and bulimia. Unlike the typical articles about the reasons why the disorders exist, Helwig says, "You do not stuff yourself with food and force yourself to vomit just because of fashion magazines. You do not reduce yourself to the condition of a skeleton in order to be attractive" (385). This counters the beliefs of most people. Perhaps the disorders begin this way, but it's not really about that. According to Helwig, "to be skeletally thin makes one strong statement. It says, I am hungry" (385). This is a rather different take on things, instead of saying, "I am trying to be beautiful." The general public view is that young women and girls become anorexic attempting to model themselves after celebrities.
The author questions what is real. She explains that in our modern society, where everything is over materialized, some feel the need to discover what is real, what is necessary in life. The article tells of Simone Weil's story, a brilliant French woman who died of self-starvation during the Second World War.
Next, Helwig makes a strong statement when she says, "we have too much; and it is poison" (388). In my opinion this is true. We don't need anything or rather, we need very we need very little to survive. We don't need CK jeans, Lucky Charms or the Spelling mansion. We don't need movies, the Internet or Nintendo 64. We simply need decent air, simple shelter from the elements, sex and bread, water, meat, roots and berries. Originally, anorexia was the disorder of the upper class. The more you have, the more you want and the more you lose touch of what is real.
One of the points that really struck me was when Helwig explains how women take guilt and pain upon themselves and into their bodies. I believe this to be true because men release their tension by means of outward violence. When I get angry at myself, sometimes I don't eat, thinking that it is a suitable punishment. We turn to food for comfort. Seems like a funny notion doesn't it?
I knew a girl in high school who was anorexic. I remember sitting behind her in class and looking at her back, with its bones showing through. We never knew what to say to this girl but when she wasn't around, everyone talked about her. I'm not sure anyone knew what had driven her to imperil her own body, because most of us were too afraid to ask. It is difficult when someone's illness is staring you right in the face.
In conclusion, Hunger by Maggie Helwig is a fresh article with a different look, well structured and a good read. It is of the right length and challenging but not too difficult.
Comments? Mail me!lana_007@hotmail.com