Weaknesses

Wanting, wanting something you know you should not receive. Forever feeling the pain of this wanting, knowing that this pain will only stop when what you want is resting on your palms. Only this, this thing you try so desperately to get hold of, will satisfy you; and you know it is not out of reach. Every human has a weakness; they are what make us humans and carry us along through our struggles in life. Giving in to your weaknesses shows just what kind of a person you are, and if you choose to give in to your weakness, people will see you as weak.

Having a weakness, as Francie's father does in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, is not something to be ashamed of; letting your weakness break you down is something to be ashamed of. Johnny not only gives in to his weakness, but he lets it destroy him; and he knows that it won. Sissy also has a weakness that she tends to allow control over her; giving birth to a healthy, beautiful baby. This weakness has caused her to feel the pain of much loss, yet she does not give up on winning over her weakness. When you win against your weaknesses, you become stronger; being strong in Brooklyn was a very important thing.

Francie knew that her father was a drunk; she knew he tried to give it all up, and she knew he was too weak to do so. Knowing what your weakness is, and trying to correct it, are completely different tasks. Johnny knew that his drinking was causing him and his family to lose money and he knew that people in the neighborhood thought that he was a bad father; he thought so too. Johnny continued to drink and waste his life away; by the time he decided to stomp his habit, it was too late. His weakness won the battle, and cost him his life.

Letting the control you have over your life be taken away from you, giving in to its power; its calling. Terminating the one thing that you cannot resist, will save your life; save your family members from hurt, shame, because becoming weaker than what makes yourself weak, will, in one form or another, kill you.