Summary of What I Require from Life

The essay What I Require from Life explains the simple and honest needs of a person from life. The writer does not ask for great wealth, power, or fame. Instead, the writer wants a life that gives peace, freedom, and happiness. According to the essay, true happiness does not come from money or luxury, but from good health, meaningful work, and loving relationships.

The writer wishes for a life where there is time to enjoy nature, read books, and think freely. He wants to live without fear and unnecessary pressure. A balanced life is important, where work and rest go together. The essay also highlights the importance of friendship and kindness. The writer believes that life should be lived with honesty and sympathy towards others.

The writer does not support blind ambition or competition. He prefers a simple life with self respect and independence. Overall, the essay teaches that real success in life lies in inner satisfaction, freedom of thought, and peaceful living rather than material achievements.

Understanding the Text

a. How does the writer distinguish between a peaceful age and a heroic age?
The writer distinguishes between a peaceful age and a heroic age by comparing two different time periods. He says that the time of his birth was a peaceful age. In contrast, he calls the year 1914 a heroic age because the First World War began at that time. The war period required courage and struggle, which makes it different from a peaceful age.

b. Why does the writer want more freedom of speech than most people?
The writer wants more freedom of speech than most people because he wishes to express his true thoughts about society. He wants to speak openly about social problems. He feels that many things like medicines, newspapers, and drinks do not maintain proper quality, and he wants the freedom to speak against such issues.

c. According to the writer, what are the four general human needs?
According to the writer, the four general human needs are work, freedom of speech, health, and friendship. He believes that these needs are necessary for a happy and meaningful life.

d. What is the difference between desire and demand according to the writer?
According to the writer, demand is related to the basic needs of life such as food, clothes, and shelter. These are necessary for survival. Desire, on the other hand, includes things that make life more comfortable and enjoyable. The writer gives examples like a car, a garden, a bathing pool, and a nearby beach as desires.

e. Why does the writer demand security?
The writer demands security because it is very important for living a happy and safe life. He lived during a time of war and disorder, when many people’s lives were in danger. Because of this experience, he feels that security is a basic need for everyone.

Reference to the Context

a. “The satisfaction of adventure is something much more solid than a thrill.”
This line is taken from the essay What I Require from Life. In this context, the writer explains the difference between true adventure and a momentary thrill. He believes that adventure gives deep and lasting satisfaction, while thrill is short lived. The writer shares his own experience to explain this idea. He says that reading Rimbaud’s poetry only gave him temporary excitement, but working on the war front in Madrid for six months gave him real satisfaction. Through this comparison, he shows that meaningful work and experience are more valuable than mere excitement.

b. “I want the workers to see the fruit of their own work not in profits for others, but in their own and their friends’ well-being.”
This line reflects the writer’s support for socialist ideas. In this context, he expresses his belief that workers should benefit directly from their hard work. He feels that the profit of labour should not go only to factory owners or rich people. Instead, it should improve the lives of workers and their families. The writer wants fairness and cooperation in the workplace. He compares modern industrial work with earlier forms of work like hunting and farming, where people worked together and shared the results. He believes that such a system creates a healthy and pleasant working environment.

c. Why do you think the essayist has taken reference from the ancient philosophers?
The essayist has taken references from ancient philosophers to support his ideas and make his argument strong. By referring to thinkers like Aristotle and others, he shows that his views about work, life, and death are not new or personal only. These philosophers also believed in meaningful work and a decent life. Their ideas help the writer convince the readers about the value of good work and a dignified death.

d. Discuss the essay in terms of its language, purpose, subject, point of view, and mode of writing.
The language of the essay is simple, clear, and easy to understand. The writer uses short and direct sentences, which makes the essay suitable for all readers. At first, the subject appears personal, as the writer talks about his own needs and experiences. However, later it becomes clear that he is presenting ideas that are important for society as a whole.

The purpose of the essay is to express what a person truly needs from life and to suggest how society should be organized to meet those needs. The point of view of the writer is that of a social critic who wants a fair and free society. The mode of writing is mainly descriptive and argumentative, as the writer describes his ideas and also argues for social and political changes.