Love: A Potential Path to Self- Degradation

Prompt: The Alligator River Story

On occasion, desperate measures are taken to be with the ones that we love. However, things don’t always go as we plan, or just don’t work out in our favor, so what are we to do? Do we wait it out, or just take the chance, even if it requires degrading ourselves? Abigail was in love and did what she had to do to be in the arms of her lover.

Abigail would be rated a 4 in terms of respect because, although she was willing to go through desperate measures to be with her lover, Gregory, she degraded herself in the worst way possible. Yes, she didn’t have any mode of transport across the river, but I don’t think she had to have sexual encounters with a man in order to get a boat ride to the other side. After crossing to the other side and consoling in Gregory, he lost all respect for her after hearing the story, because it said that he “cast her aside with disdain.” In the end she also laughed at Gregory after he got beat up, but she needs to understand his point of view of the situation. If she loved Gregory so much, why would she be happy seeing him get beaten and laugh at him?

Gregory would be rated a 3 in terms of respect because, instead of Abigail crossing the river he could have crossed the river in order to see Abigail. If he crossed the river then Abigail would have never had to have sex with Sinbad, the river boat captain. However, if I was Gregory I would have been furious with Abigail also, but if he was so in love with her he probably would have been more consoling and tried to forgive her. Sinbad would be rated a 5 because, he took advantage of a desperate woman. Sinbad should be ashamed of himself, he knew Abigail had no other means of transportation, and he took all control over the situation. I think he should have been the one getting beat up instead of Gregory.

Slug would be rated a 2 in terms of respect because, he was more consoling of Abigail in her time of need. Also, he stood up for her even though I think he took his anger out on the wrong person. He should have found a way back across the river and beaten up Sinbad. Ivan would be rated a 5 in terms of respect because, he didn’t even want to help Abigail in her time of need, and he was supposed to be her friend. She even told him about Sinbad’s proposition, and he couldn’t find it in his heart to just take her across the river to Gregory.

This goes to show the importance of true friends and the loyalty of love. Anyone can go through desperate measures to be with someone, but you never know the true essence until you are put in a situation like Abigail’s. However, degrading yourself just to show your love for another person is not the answer, follow your heart but also use better judgement.