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The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks Analysis

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‘Immortality’ is defined by The Merriam-Webster Dictionary as, ‘lasting fame,’and ‘unending existence.’ Through The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, a reader learns that each of those definitions could be used to describe the cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks. Known in the scientific world as HeLa cells, the undying cancer cells taken from the cervix of Henrietta Lacks were a scientific breakthrough. The human cells were experimented on, and used to develop treatment for polio and develop the standard cell culturing methods. Bought and sold by the billions, creating these cells was an extraordinary accomplishment. However, the accomplishment that came from Henrietta’s cells had no affect on her life. The woman’s cancer still

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Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks Analysis

...that could be used to describe Rebecca Skloot’s nonfiction writing of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta, wife of David and mother of four, had cells taken from her body without her consent. The Lacks family did not know this until a much later date. Henrietta’s cells are now referred to as HeLa which is the pattern of which most doctors used to label the cells they took from patients, willing and unwilling: First two, Last Two. This hides the identity of the patient. Throughout this memoir you will be taken back and forth between 2 points of view, the story of Henrietta’s life as well as the struggles Rebecca Skloot goes through to contact and speak with the Lacks family....

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...One should always appreciate his or her ancestors and the struggles they have gone through throughout history. Such as, learning all the information you can about your mother, where she came from, what she went through, etc. Though negativity can easily effect ones past and future, one should not dwell on it, but learn to move forward, grow as a person, and look for the positive aspects in life. Without the past there wouldn’t be personal memories, or things for the future generations to learn from. One should remember the good memories as well, appreciate them, and hold on to them. In Rebecca Skloot’s, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, proves that through past experiences, whether negative or positive, the memories or struggles that Deborah...

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...The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Essay Prompt 2 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks details how one woman’s immortal cells brought forth a medical revolution, with advances in medical technology and the development of a polio vaccine. Years earlier, the Industrial Revolution generated a wave of major breaks in biomedical engineering and the surgical field, with the invention of x-rays, anesthetics, and antiseptics (Local Histories). In a time rich with major breakthroughs in science, one may wonder at what cost have these developments revolutionized modern medicine? And at what point do we cease to advance our knowledge in the medical field for the sake of science and helping others, and instead let greed and money motivate scientific pursuits?...

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...The book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks [HeLa] by Rebecca Skloot is a very well written and insightful book that discusses the life of Ms. Henrietta Lacks as well as the journey that her immortal cells have taken since her untimely death. After reading the first half of the book, many conclusions were made about the author’s style of writing and ways of informing the reader on facts about both Ms. Lacks and her cells. One of the creative ways that were very much appreciated about the book’s layout is the fact that the author switches from one subject to another throughout the chapters. Instead of telling the story in a “straight line” so to speak, the author switches from telling the story of Henrietta’s life and death to her (the author’s)...

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...The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is uniquely arranged in a complex double plot line between Henrietta Lacks’ life story and the journey of discovery that the author, Rebecca Skloot, embarked upon in search of the truth behind HeLa (the cells of Henrietta Lacks). The narrative perspective of the work differs between both plot lines: the sections from the author’s point of view are spoken in first person, while the parts pertaining to Henrietta and her family have a third-person omniscient perspective. Beginning at Ch 29: A Village of Henriettas, the two plot lines of the novel converge, bringing together Rebecca Skloot and Henrietta’s devoted daughter, Deborah, as the two passionately collaborate to uncover the emotional shocking truth behind the mystery of HeLa. Book Context: Ch. 1-10 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks reveals the true story of the woman from the 1940-50s who was behind the miracle HeLa cells; these cells were the first to permanently survive outside the human body and they are still alive today in laboratories across the globe. Furthermore, these HeLa cells...

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...Two sets of research will be covered in this paper first we have prevaricator, John D’Agata with his research article Lifespan of a Fact and second Rebecca Skloot book/research, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The purpose of this paper is to detail the day and night between the two pieces, the literary analysis and the overall attitude felt by the authors. Starting off from a quote out of D'Agata's article "I'm not writing for public office. I'm trying to write something that's interesting to read.” That's D'Agata summed up in one sentence. He is merely writing for entertainment and sport. Not interested in the truth in the least but how he can bend the truth to fit his story so it sounds good. While on the other hand Skloot gives a nice story in chronological order. Not only that but she gives us history of the time period in which she is investigating. She also gives a nice genealogy of Lacks life and family. This is something not found in D'Agata's research, this is actual facts about the person being researched....

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