How You Became You

First of all, I must comment on the fact that this was a beautifully constructed essay. Like the letter Einstein wrote too Miss Wright, it flowed like water, with smooth and fluid transitions from topic to topic. His main focus was the basic building block of all matter: the tiny atom and how it makes YOU. Those simple particles, bonded together in such a unique way that it can only create one individual: You. The author says, “To begin with, for you to be here now trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and intriguingly obliging manner to create you. It’s an arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once.” (Pg, 93) Every person is unique because there always slight differences present even if they are not obvious, all because of the simplicity of atoms.

Life is so simple when you examine it on the atomic level. Most living organisms are made of the 4 basic elements; carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen (there are other elements that make up life but those are the major four). Those four essentially give birth to life. The author mentions, “ It is a slightly arresting notion that if you were to pick yourself apart with tweezers, one atom at a time, you would produce a mound of fine atomic dust, none of which had ever been alive but all of which had once been you.” Indeed a curious question arises from that statement: How can one define being alive or living when one is made up of dead particles?

The author mentions, “There were no atoms and no universe for them to float about in. There was nothing-nothing at all anywhere”. Then he deviates completely from his scientific analysis and says, “So thank goodness for atoms”. I find that intriguing and on my opinion a very wise move on the authors part. There is a very fine line between science and religion when it comes to the birth of the universe from two single atoms