"Do as you would be done by:Deep to the Roots of mercy"

Do as you would be done by: Deep to the Roots of mercy

Mercy is stronger than your sword. Where mercy is shown, mercy is given.

Supervisor:

Peshcherskaya Olga

The aim of my review.

To prove the importance of reading such kinds of books through the analyzing and revealing of several themes, a strong main idea, immortal values and an unusual development of a plot.

The tasks.

• to name some principle positive features and hidden ideas of the book ““You changed my life” (author Abdel Sellou) making it so impressive, breathtaking, enjoyable and unforgettable
• to prove my hypothesis that the right choice of books for reading/films for watching/has a great influence on the process of upbringing, self –education and self-improvement
• To learn how to differ a cheap-staff art from a first-rate art for a real well-educated and all-round person;
• to take a poll among the students of my school, using different ways of investigation and come to several conclusions

The topicality of this review.

The topicality of my survey is concerned with some ills of the day. We became indifferent , cruel and harsh, we are lacking in sympathy and kindness, wish to help. The highest rate of men’s suicide, drug and alcohol addicted people , criminals and simple the growth of lonely men is a real indicator of this trouble.

Practical usefulness of my investigation.

This work is the first step to make you think of your life , your inside intentions and a try to wake up the best side of your nature.

Theoretical part.

• Form a “general idea” about this book
• Name the main characters and show their positive traits which can be brought to our life
• Enumerate some interesting methods and parallel lines of narration
• Point out several ideas of genius and interesting quotations from the book
• Express my personal attitude and opinion to this masterpiece

Survey:

• How often have you lend a helping hand to those who needs it?
• How often have you felt a wish to share anyone’s problems and ease anyone’s life?
• Have you ever been happy to do a good deed, something good to a stranger, without waiting his thanks ?
• How many times have you thought that while you are living in your own little world you slipped away anything important and stop being yourself?

If you have ever asked these questions yourself and tried to change

your life –this book/film/ is a real guide book for you!

The appearing of this book is strange, cause at first was shoot a film. Then a prototype of the main character published his book to make clear and even unmask some moments. The film is “Untouchables 1+1”, the book is “You changed my life” written by unknown amateur Abdel Sellou

Short introduction.

• Genre: a novel of everyday life with elements of psychological drama and social novel
• Author : an Arabic writer, amateur Abdel Sellou
• The scene is laid in France/Paris/, from 1975 to 1985
• Topic: the development of relations between people and the process of upbringing and education people from different social classes
• Main idea : A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person.
• Main characters : PhilipPe Pozzo do Bordo and Abdel YaSmin
• Film : “Untouchables 1+1”

Several key moments transformed the book into exciting and instructive reading.

1. There are two parallel lines of narration

• The story of relations between two people from various social classes.
• The life story of Abdel/Driss/ and his surroundings

2. This story is a tragic novel of everyday life and must make us cry and feel down but after reading I felt a surge of energy, a wish to help everyone and love to all people. This story is optimistic, reassuring and give a good shake-up. It’s a real slogan to stay a human being and appreciate good attitude, mercy and clear intentions. They are unique nowadays.

3. This book gave us a chance to notice some advantages of different social systems, classes or worlds. I’d “take” from the Philippe’s world-his high level of education, his ability to speak different languages, his nice taste in art, his ability to follow the etiquette, his good gallant manners and reverence for a woman and his ability to see, find and feel beauty and harmony in the world.

The world of Driss wasn’t so rosy and promising. He was an adopted boy from Algeria, his adoptive parents have never take part in his education. No wonder, that he was different from Philippe.

I admire his flexibility and life adaptability, his clear vision of life and the right attitude to people and situations, his fabulous sense of humor and ability to feel sympathy for others. Also his own interests, wishes, emotions can be sacrificed on the altar of another man’s life cause someone needs his support. I think, that this is named mercy; to forget yourself and your needs for another person.

Comparative table.

Philippe Pozzo do Bordo

Abdel Yasmin

• He was a native of Paris. He came from a long line of aristocrats and had done well on top of that. He passed through the strict system of education, private teachers and absorbed all good manners, rules of public behavior and etiquette rules.

• He came from a poor family from Algeria and got to Paris at the age of 4 . He was adopted by their relatives’ family. His adaptive parents had no idea of his education and tried to imitate others Parisian families.

• He had multiple college degrees and had gotten the best education available, he talked like Victor Hugo .He was an outstanding, noble and respectable citizen with good connections and huge wealth.
• He didn’t have to earn money, his ‘clan’ provided him of money for all his life. His family consists of his wife and 2 children.

• School was a place for fun: to steal money, mock at losers . The lessons were heard, never done! He guilt school in the 9 th grade. He was always free from his school and family
• He was independent, rebellious to any discipline , established order or morals.
• He couldn’t become the model citizen that society was hoping for. His weapon was strength, no laws, no limits. His character didn’t tolerate any kinds of rules.

He needed a life auxiliary to accompany

him everywhere, to be his hands, adviser, driver and a trusted man. He had had got a terrible paragliding accident when he was 39 and became a disabled men or a tetraplegic. He was a prisoner to a wheel -chair. He had to watch a movie of his life as a spectator.

He was a small-time crook, a thief who earned money stealing cameras from tourists near the Eiffel Tower , could steal modern brands of clothing or tasty food. He was put into prison for one year and than he was made to work .

He offered Driss a large sum of money and luxurious separate accommodations for living.

He changed and tried many dirty jobs from 18 to 21:

He was a talking puppet, a dead guy with alive soul and working head.

• Guarding an empty parking at night
• Planting flowers
• Filling a tank at the filling stations
• Carrying goods from a track to the warehouse. One day he got a summons from the police and must have they signed. He went on the given address.

He was offered a good but difficult job and he stayed for 10 years. It wasn’t a rip-off.

Philippe made him better:

Abdel taught him to live:

• To enjoy speed during driving
• To arrange real amazing parties
• To communicate with women
• To get up an appetite for full life
• To paraglide one more time
• Not to think about his disease and live a normal life

• To read and judge works of art
• To know some rules of right and cultural behavior
• To see and appreciate beauty and harmony
• To enjoy living

• He had crept his way into this helpless man’s life like a wolf in a sheep’s pen.
• He stayed because we aren’t just animals, without any contracts or moral obligations, he stayed because he could help a man who needed his help.
• Later they became companions, moved to Morocco, Philippe settled in there and found a woman. Abdel got married and had 3 children.
• Then was shoot a film where Francois Cluzet played a part of Philippe and Omar Sy played the part of Driss. This book and film conquered the world.

Why is this book so popular?

If people have much in common, they can change life each other for the better

We must be yourselves, keep our reputation free of all slugs

Stand out, break silly stand-offish rules . Don’t turn into ruck

A good sense of humor and ability to laugh at yourself are the best methods to have a way with people

You should set a life goal no matter how gloomy and miserable your life is

Mutual support, help and friendship, mercy, frank, helpful and sympathetic heart are the main moral values

Why is this story attracted and impressed so many people?

• We become witnesses of the relations between 2 persons, two absolutely different universes and styles of living. But they have something very important in common: they like life in all its manifestations and follow their moral principles: to be a human with kind heart and humanistic attitude to others.

• You can enjoy living and get all sweets of life no matter how difficult, gloomy and pessimistic your life seems .If you are alive, you should find a new aim of your life, set a goal and try to reach it.

• We are social “creatures” and our surroundings ,mansion, the ways of education influence us, but we are as we want to be. So, if you want to keep your reputation free from all slurs , nobody can spoil you.

• Friendship, mutual support and mutual help, warm and trustful relations and love are the most important values in our life. Money, material wealth, high social position and all your riches only a waste of time if they are a goal in itself.

• Every person can change for the better if someone helps him to extend his best qualities and shows that he needs in your help, support very much. You can change a person, help him to find oneself, if you give him a chance to do a good deed, make him responsible for you or your life, believe in him.
• A good sense of humor, an ability to laugh at yourself and your weaknesses can be a real medicine and the best way to be out of doldrums/ выйти из депрессии

• We should always be yourself and be able to break silly social rules and generally accepted rules of behavior if they are too artificial, stand-offish and turn us into ruck. Stand out, do what you want and live a full life!

This book proved that our human characteristics partly depend on the society, family, social institutes we were educated but our world outlook, actions, moral values are inbuilt and immortal interplays of us and we need a push, bright motive to come in full force and show our best sides.

• For some people to live a full life it means to serve another person, to sacrifice their own interests and priorities. So, self-sacrifice can be enjoyable and becomes your goal.
• We should be yourself, never betray our principles, way of living in order to please somebody or get profit. We should carry out our point, be strong enough not to become a ruck or one of a crowd .

We change each other lives greatly, influence taking decisions and don’t realize the power of our influence and pressure. Be careful with your nearest and dearest , remember that we are social creatures and can’t live unnoticed!

I strongly recommend you to read this book and watch this unforgettable and thought-provoking film!

7 steps to a ..better life.

• Never refuse to help if someone asks you for help.

• Be attentive and patient to people, their mood swings and state, sometimes your supportive words or good advise can cheer up them. But don’t be too obtrusive.

• Never try to hurt someone’s feelings or cut to the heart or practice on weaknesses.

• Learn to hear your interlocutor unemotionally, calm and if your point of view differs , you should carry it out without offensive words, aggression, with arguments.

• Try to support people who got into trouble , depressed or in despair. Feel their state, pain and heart cry –sometimes they need a kind word, warmth of human contact or…simple to be heard. You can be in their shoes one day!

• Kindness should be demonstrated and shown always, good deeds can’t be one-time or time by time. You are either always helpful, open-hearted and sympathetic or indifferent and selfish .

• Never be pitiful to yourself and don’t overstate your troubles –there are a lot of more miserable, neglected and distressed people who need your active help.

Thank you for your attention!