Rough Draft

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Marianne Duer Alvarez

ENGL 1302

B. Harris

7 Nov. 2015

Determined Minds and Selfless Hearts

They are widely known—various tough men riding in a massive red truck, capable of

putting out fires and saving people from burning buildings. The job title, firefighter, itself tells a

story of someone whose purpose is to fight incredibly hot flames for the greater good of

humanity. This same purpose is conveyed in the above image where a single firefighter stands on

the left-hand side of the image, fully clothed in protective uniform. Visible is a helmet, an

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oxygen tank, a tool in his right hand as well as a tool belt around his waist. In front of him is a

turbulent fire of bright yellows and ambers, a background that blurs into a dark abyss. This

heroic figure, the firefighter, is portrayed as sacrificial and courageous because they will directly

face danger and prioritize others’ lives before their own.

Going into a perilous situation, the firefighter demonstrates courage in his figure and

selflessness in his preparation evident in his gear as well as his outfit. It is important to note the

positioning of the firefighter’s body, in that he is not facing the camera, but his body faces

towards the fire in a position suggesting movement directed in that direction. His determination

to move forward and not look back in hesitation portrays strength of mind and body. His relaxed

posture furthers this commitment. He does not appear to be frantically searching for a way out

but instead seems to maintain a calm composure with a mindset on what he must do in that

particular situation. In a similar manner, the firefighter’s uniform and gear express readiness for

the mission ahead. For instance, his full uniform—consisting of a coat, pants, helmet, gloves,

face covering and an oxygen tank—indicates that he has done all he needed to do to protect

himself from the fire so that taking care of his life is not a concern while at the site. In doing so,

he has put aside his needs so that he is fully concentrated on saving those in danger as well as

putting out the fire in front of him. The gear that he carries is also indicative of his pre-

meditative preparation as he is carrying a metal tool in his right hand and wearing a tool belt

around his waist. Both the tool belt and the metal tool in hand convey a sense of preparation for

any unexpected obstacle ahead, a situation that not many people would walk right into. The

firefighter’s valor and readiness in an extremely dangerous situation clearly demonstrate the

sacrificial and brave nature of these heroes.

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Beyond the central character in the image, it is evident that the fire threatens and the

darkness frightens those who approach it—two aspects that continue to demonstrate the courage

and selflessness of the firefighter. Closest to the viewer is the snapping fire near the bottom right

corner; sparks are flying towards the firefighter as the flames increase in intensity. While the

typical reaction would be to back away from danger, firefighters will continue straight into the

hostile fire that licks at their fingertips. The vibrant yellows and oranges of the fire present a

warning for the viewer to remain at a safe distance. However, because firefighters are willing to

sacrifice their lives to save those in greater danger, they will persistently fight the heat and

smoke of the fire. Past the great fire in the bottom right corner, the colors of the fire begin t o

blend into a solid orange color and the background suddenly turns black. This change in colors

indicates that there are many unknown dangers ahead. Knowing this, the firefighter continues to

go further into his hazardous surroundings. This action emphasizes the fact that firefighters will

conquer a fear of danger to take on a greater fear—that of leaving someone behind in a fire.

With a greater strength of mind and character than physical strength, firefighters can save

others and extinguish fires. It is necessary for heroes such as these to not be held back by danger

or fears, and to be able to value others’ lives as well as needs above their own. These two

characteristics are similar to the typical heroes in a costume that the world is familiar with.

Whether giving up seconds of their time or their whole lives, firefighters are exceptional

examples of selfless heroes. Their willingness to walk, if not run, straight into uncertainty and

danger speaks volumes about their integrity, kindness, and boldness.