<p>Assignment: Do people truly benefit from hardship and misfortune?</p>
<p>People benefit from hardships and misfortunes. Examples from literature, history and science clearly show that hardships strengthen ones resolve and lead him to victory.</p>
<p>In the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas, a young man named Edmond Dantes is falsely accused of treason, and is sent to prison. During his decade-long stay in the formidable Chateau dIf, he meets another prisoner, Abbe Faria, from whom he learns several lessons. Edmonds hardships along with Abbe Farias lessons make Edmond a stronger and more patient person, and he eventually escapes the prison and becomes wealthy and famous by virtue of the skills he attained during his tumultuous stay at the Chateau dIf.</p>
<p>Examples showing the fact that misfortunes make people stronger go far beyond the realm of literary works and fictional characters; Nelson Mandela spent nearly three decades in prison, during which he keenly observed his jailors and gleaned important facts about human nature. His hardships in prison molded his character and made him a powerful leader whose contributions to society will never be forgotten.</p>
<p>Similarly, Sidney Farber was born to an impoverished household during the early 20th century. In spite of his indigence, he had an ambitious goal he wanted to find a cure for leukemia. He painstakingly read a myriad of books on science and human anatomy, putting himself through intense hardships. Years later, he obtained an internship at a laboratory, where he spent years trying to find a cure for leukemia. Even though he received harsh criticism, Farber doggedly persisted in his attempts to find a cure for leukemia, and eventually succeeded when he discovered anti-folates which could cure leukemia in its early stages. Farber asserted that the reason for his success was the hardships and misfortunes that he had endured as a young impecunious man.</p>
<p>Therefore, we can see from The Count of Monte Cristo, Nelson Mandela and Sidney Farber that people do indeed benefit greatly from hardships and misfortunes. Hardships shape ones character, give him strength and enable him to overcome obstacles.</p>