In my current novel study You Know I’m No Good the main character, Mia, proposes a question of why good people die, while bad people get the privilege of living a longer life. I chose to write on this topic because I know that it is a common question that is asked yet has never received just one answer.
As Mia is sent to a rehabilitation center for struggled teens, she begins a process of self reflection. These reflections are based on the bad behaviors she exhibited, which included actions of punching her step-mother, getting into drugs and alcohol, alongside participating in promiscuous activities. This is what guides Mia to create this rhetorical question with the belief that she is a bad person who deserves to die.
To start simply, what makes someone a good person? Everyone has different ideas about what qualities make up someone who is good, which is why the given question is open ended. My personal belief is that everyone dies, regardless of their character. The death of good people is perceived as more common because people tend to care more about the death of those they consider to be good people, meaning more emphasis is placed on the death of good over bad people. An example of this can be seen in the novel The Great Gatsby when nobody shows up to Gatsby’s funeral because the whole of society believed he was a bad guy for “killing” Myrtle. If the circumstances were varied and Gatsby was seen as innocent in society’s eyes, all opinions and feelings would have switched, becoming more solemn and sympathetic. Countless people die every day; there is no such thing as only good people dying. People mourn the loss of good because they think that they deserved more time alive than those who were -in their eyes- bad. They have this concept in their head that good people are more important and contribute more to the world than someone who is “bad”, which isn’t necessarily true. Good people are held up on a pedestal while others are thrown to the side and labeled as insignificant
All in all, there will always be different answers to this question based on an individual’s beliefs and experiences, with no answer being correct or incorrect. Death is an inevitable occurrence that everybody experiences.
Citations:
https://www.peoplematters.in/blog/watercooler/responding-to-being-left-out-important-meetings-14994
proud and earn a sense of admiration. 
relaxation and enjoyment. After the tournament, Amir’s dad decides to go on a big family road trip to Jalalabad, with extended relatives including cousins, uncles, and aunts. During the vacation, the dad on several occasions boasts about his son’s win at the kite tournament. While the dad was attempting to make Amir feel good and proud, it only made him feel revolted and sick because the recollection of the unfortunate event and his lack of interference took place in his consciousness. The guilt still lingered and ate at the boy, which took away from his chance to relax and enjoy his time with his family. 
and bravery to stand up for his best friend. He assumes that he can never raise a child successfully or be a role model. In this instance, Amir denies himself the opportunity of fatherhood and having a child.
Today as a part time instructor, the experiences I have had with my old swim team intertwine with the themes throughout the novel. Specifically, the resilience and determination of Louise that has influenced my approach to teaching. I strive to establish a positive environment that I ensure everyone receives the same attention, support and respect regardless of one’s swimming style/ skill level. Cynthia Smith has remarkably captured the sense of isolation and being part of a minority group in this novel.
Holidays were the one time I was expected to be ‘perfect’. I was expected to have my hair curled or in a tight bun. My dress was to be wrinkle free and whereas my face was meant to have a beautiful smile. I was to sit at the table quietly, and nod, agreeing with everyone’s arguments. Just like Katie from the book 
family. In this more liberal and open environment, Kambili experiences a different way of life and begins to question her father’s authority. As political turmoil escalates in Nigeria, Eugene’s strict control over the family increases. The novel explores themes of family, religion, politics, and the impact of colonialism on Nigerian society. Kambili’s journey involves a struggle for self-discovery and autonomy as she navigates the complexities of her family dynamics and the broader social context. As the narrative unfolds, secrets are revealed, and the family faces a crisis that forces Kambili to confront the realities of her father’s actions. The story has a strong exploration of the effects of abuse, the search for identity, and the resilience of the human spirit. “Purple Hibiscus” is a powerful novel that delves into the complexities of Nigerian society while also portraying the theme of personal growth and the act of taking responsibility.
Kambili must navigate the complexities of family loyalty and the impact of her father’s actions on her relationships. As the novel progresses Kambili’s relationship with her Aunt and cousins strengthens as she experiences true love and companionship. When she got out of her father’s control for a few days, she started to have a slow change in her voice too. In the beginning of her cousin and Aunt’s encounter, she was quiet and shy. Later on Kambili’s aunt pushed Kambali to talk back saying “ Kamabili, have you no mouth? Talk back to her” This is a significant step in breaking free from the silence imposed by her oppressive father.
personality and worries less about the consequences that may face her. She begins to take more risks, doing things that she previously would not have even fathomed pursuing in fear of her dad’s disapproval such as bringing home a painting of her grandfather who is a heathen. She allows her personality to blossom like the purple hibiscus flower which symbolizes freedom. Kambali evolves into a young woman by recognizing the importance of personal responsibility in shaping her identity and future.
Amir is a privileged Pashtun boy, the child of a wealthy man who is referred to as Baba throughout the book. Hassan is from the Hazara cultural group and is the son of Baba’s servant, Ali. The Hazaras are an ethnic group marginalized in their society as they look different from the Pashtuns. The story starts in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1963. The novel is about the complicated relationship between the two boys, which is tested by expectations created by society, envy, and a traumatic event that influences their lives. The book explores the themes of guilt, redemption, loyalty, family dynamics, and the influence of personal decisions on one’s future.
The death of his mother weighs heavy on Amir, as he lacks a mother figure in his life. Moreover, he feels a sense of guilt as he believes his mother would still be alive if she didn’t give birth to him. Amir was raised by his father, who was emotionally unavailable for most of Amir’s life as he created emotional distance from his son due to his wife’s death. Baba was a hard-working man who proved his critics wrong by achieving everything he said he would. He became wealthy and surrounded himself with upper-class people. Baba is an influential and traditional figure who expects Amir to live up to the Pashtun ideas of bravery and strength. However, in the story, Amir is nothing like his father, which upsets Baba as he worries that Amir will not be able to stand up for himself and will never become a true man. Instead, Amir is described as a gentle character who likes to keep to himself. Amir desperately desires to be seen as worthy in his father’s eyes, so he constantly tries to prove his worth to his father to win approval and appreciation. Furthermore, Amir has a gift for writing. 
He tries to impress his father by showcasing his literary work, but Baba wants Amir to play soccer or games with the other children instead and act as an average child would. Due to this tension, Baba ushers Amir away and diverts his attention to Hassan. After yearning for his father’s approval, Amir grows jealous of Hassan and Baba’s relationship over time. Their connection leads Amir to work even harder to win his father’s love so he can feel the sense of belonging he has always wished for. Baba cares about Hassan because he has recognizable moral qualities and is seen as a family member, as Baba’s parents adopted Ali. Baba also favors Hassan over Amir because his moral virtues of loyalty, bravery, and integrity stand out to him, which Amir lacks. Baba’s love for Hassan reflects the purity of heart and character Hassan possesses. Hassan and Baba’s relationship influences Hassan and Amir’s friendship as Amir finds ways to prank Hassan by teaching him English words that disrespect Hassan. But Hassan is uneducated, so he stays faithful to Amir and follows all expectations to fulfill their friendship. Cultural expectations influence Amir and Hassan’s friendship. As mentioned before, Amir and Hassan are from different castes, which causes a source of conflict and guilt for Amir. Amir is expected to follow certain societal norms and expectations. 
As Amir is seen as superior in caste, his friendship with Hassan contradicts societal standards and complicates Amir’s feeling of belonging in society. When Amir betrays Hassan, Amir lives with guilt for the rest of his life. The main reason for his guilt is that Hassan was loyal to Amir despite any circumstances. The author portrays this loyalty by telling the reader that Hassan’s first word was Amir’s name. To overcome this guilt, Amir looks for a sense of belonging in his morals and personal living standards that he avoided when he decided not to help Hassan many years ago. 
A sense of belonging can be present in society, relationships, and one’s internal morals. The sense of belonging is evident in the character Amir as he represents the human condition of wanting to achieve a sense of belonging in all aspects of one’s life. Amir’s character is influenced by Baba’s approval, cultural and societal expectations, living to his fundamental morals, and feelings of guilt, which all drive his desire to belong.
