Response to an "Athlete Dying Young"
...ence sounds no worse than cheers” (15) means that the spectators had enough respect to remain silent as the body was carried by. Also, the fact that the community was out there shows the magnitude of respect and reverence the runner received. Whether the crowd is cheering or silent, the amount of respect remains equivalent. Furthermore, there might be more respect hidden through the silence. The runner will be remembered as a champion, but his glory will not last forever. Eventually, a better runner will come along and steal his glory. The runner was laid “From fields where glory does not stay” (10). The runner died young and still maintained his glory; no one had stolen it. For this reason, it was better that he died young. The young runner not only kept the title of champion, but he died with the glory still in his grasp. I can relate to the line that states “And silence sounds no worse than cheers” (15). I have been first leg on the sprint and mile relays since my freshman year. At most track meets the crowd is strident and pumps me up for my race. No matter how loud the crowd is there is always a silence. As the runners place their feet in the blocks and prepare for the start silence overwhelms the spectators. The silence is only brief, but at that moment in time my heart really gets pumping. The silence is what really gets my adrenaline going and has more influence on the outcome of the race than the deafening cheers after the gun is shot. Thus, “…silence sounds no worse than cheers” (15). The silence is the hidden motivation that pushes...