Do you think that ease does not challenge us and that we need adversity to help us discover who we are?
Throughout history, society was developed by overcoming hardships. Through thinking of ways to overcome obstacles, people looked for newer, and better ways. Without any challenges, the society would become lethargic and apathetic. Often the difficulties and dangers led person to one’s true identities and prevent him/her from becoming lifeless. The examples of Dr. John Snow and ‘Time Machine’ by H.G wells support the notion.
Time Machine is science fiction novel written by H.G. Wells. It was written during Victorian Age in 18th century. This book starts with one scientist talking about 4th dimension, time. He believes that since width, length and height can go back and forth, people can also travel through the time. He creates a time machine which allows him to go the future. He travels forward to 801,702 years. He confesses that he expected to see developed human society with advanced science and technology. However, what he saw was the opposite of what he expected. Creatures at 801,702 years don’t know what to do except to get up, eat and rest. All the buildings was rusted and ruined, but no one even cared about them. Soon, he figures out that lack of motives and dangers resulted by advanced technology and science made descendants lethargic and unable to do simple normal tasks. A perfect world with well-developed medicine and science, Ethiopia made the world to become Dystopia, world with creatures who can’t do anything by themselves. Therefore, people need challenges and adversities to keep them busy active.
Dr. John Snow is well-known as the father of epidemiology. Epidemiology is study of health-related events such as Ebola outbreak and prevention of such events. In 1800s, there was a huge outbreak in London, which affected many citizens. London citizens began to suffer from Cholera disease which was highly contagious and could be transmitted via water or food. To make the case worse, there was no available cures for this disease. Dr. John Snow wondered what caused this outbreak and started to mark infected people on the map. He found out that there were clusters of infected people around the pump A and went to investigate what might had caused the problem. He found out that the pump handle was the cause of this outbreak and stopped the outbreak by removing the handle. The procedures he performed in Cholera outbreak became the standard steps for epidemiologist and he was called the ‘father of epidemiology’. However, without deadly Cholera outbreak, he wouldn’t have to conduct an investment and he wouldn’t be able to develop the standard steps for epidemiologists.
In conclusion, as seen for the Dr. John Snow and ‘Time Machine’ by H.G. Wells, adversities and hardships are needed to develop society and to identify true identities. As seen in the example of ‘Time Machine’, too much ease can result in Dystopia which disabled everyone from performing normal tasks. In the example of Dr. John Snow, without the danger of Cholera outbreak, he wouldn’t have been able to develop epidemiology. Without need and motivation, there won’t be any growth in society.
