What We Take for Granted essays

What We Take for Granted essays People always say its the little things that we take for granted. Whether it be being able to talk with someone, or hold someone, or even just being able to tell what time of day it is. In Dalton Trumbos novel, Johnny Got His Gun, one really begins to understands what it would be like to have very simple things taken away from them. Joe Bonhame, finds himself tragically injured from the war. Over time he slowly begins to realize all of the things that he has lost. The first thing that he loses is his hearing. He was awake even though he couldnt hear a thing except a telephone that wasnt ringing. He was mighty scared(p9). At first Joe doesnt realize that he has lost his hearing and he is under the impression that there is actually a phone ringing somewhere, but, its really only in his mind. But once he realizes that he actually cant hear anything at all, he goes into a state of shock almost. The shock caused his heart to smash against his ribs. He grew prickly all over. His heart was pounding away in his chest but he couldnt hear the pulsing in his ear(p10). He then begins to think about all the things that he will never again get to experience. At first he thinks about all the bad things that he wont have to ever have to deal with hearing again. He never wanted to hear the biting little castanent sound of a machine gun or the high whistle of a .75 coming down fast or the slow thunder as it hit or the whine of an airplane overhead...(p10-11). But as he stops and really starts to think about what this all means, he then realizes all the little things that he has taken for granted; the things that he wants to hear again. His mother was singing the kitchen. He could hear her singing there and the sound of her voice was the sound of home(p15). Sadly though, Joe ...