Julia Calderon

Humanities
14 March 2015
To Die Living
Power is not something that is granted, it is found when one has lost their way. This is similarly
expressed in the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Throughout Wild, Cheryl Strayed tells her story of finding
the strength to live after her mother passes away. Cheryl tries coping with her mothers death by pursuing
the Pacific Crest Trail, but it does not turn out to be as manageable as she anticipated. Much of her
motivation to hike the trail came from a very strong poem titled Power by Aderinne Rich. On Cheryls
first night of her hike she communicates the importance this poem has for her, I opened it up and read
the first poem out loud, my voice rising above the sound of the wind battering the walls of my tent. I read
it again and again. It was a poem called Power (Strayed 60). The poem makes many references to Marie
Curie and her life as a scientist. Most particularly in its final stanza, She died a famous woman denying /
her wounds / denying / her wounds came from the same source as her power (Rich). Cheryl Strayed
relates deeply with the poem Power because of the similarities her and Marie Curie share through their
passion and motivation.
Both Cheryl and Marie Curie share a strong sense of passion for what they do. Cheryl has a
passion for wanting to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and Marie for continuing her studies in science. Marie
Curie excelled in sciences, she prioritized much of her time studying physics and chemistry. In 1898
Marie, discovered a new radioactive element. She named the element polonium, after her native country
of Poland. She also detected the presence of another radioactive material in the pitchblende, and called
that radium (Bio.com. A&E). Maries passion for Chemistry is vast and lead to many of sciences greatest
achievements. Just like Marie, Cheryl also had a great passion for the journey she would soon face on the
Pacific Crest Trail. Cheryls journey began as she drove home after having an abortion. While in her car
Cheryl realized something that brought hope back into her life. As she left the clinic before going home
she shares, Instead, I drove to REI and bought The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume I: California and took it
back to my apartment and stayed up reading it all night. I read it a dozen times over the next months

Calderon 2
(Strayed 57). As Cheryls life begins to fall apart, she transfers all of her time and energy into going on
this hike. Cheryls newfound passion for completing this trail goes hand in hand with Marie Curies
passion for continuing her research.
However, while Cheryl and Marie are very passionate, they both have to deal with the
consequences of following their passions. While Cheryl feels very strongly about hiking the Pacific Crest
Trail, her lack of preparation lead her to face many difficulties that could have led her to her death.
Throughout Cheryls hike across the Sierra Nevada, she underwent many painful experiences. Like the
pain caused by Cheryls backpack, As I hiked, I tried to force myself not to think about the things that
hurt - my shoulders and upper back, my feet and hips - but I succeeded for only short bursts of time
(Strayed 82). Similarly, Marie Curie suffered from radiation sickness as she aged. Being killed by what
they live for is the greatest relation Cheryl and Marie share. This is also why Cheryl relates to the poem
Power. The final stanza of Power shares this very story of consequence. Referring to Marie and shares,
Her wounds came from the same source as her power (Rich). After years of endless research Marie
Curie, died on July 4, 1934, of aplastic anemia, caused by prolonged exposure to radiation (Bio.com.
A&E). Even though Marie understood the severity of working under radiation she ignored her wounds,
because she would rather die doing what she loved than to live without it. Just as Cheryl would rather
undergo the pains of her hike than turn back and continue leading the painful life she had.
Regardless of the consequences, Marie and Cheryl share a great sense of motivation to continue
their lives. Their want to live greater lives is stronger than their fear of dying in the process. Due to
Maries motivation she became, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win the
award in two different fields (physics and chemistry) (Bio.com. A&E). When reading the poem Maries
motivation to continue her studies on radiation are very empowering for Cheryl, and inspire her to keep
pushing forward across the Pacific Crest Trail. While Cheryl is hiking through the extreme conditions of
the desert she reminds herself, I had to change, was the thought that drove me in those months of
planning. Not into a different person, but back to the person I used to be - strong and responsible clear-

Calderon 3
eyed and driven, ethical and good. And the PCT would take me that way (Strayed 57). Regardless of
Cheryls many difficulties, she continues to move forward, inspired by Marie Curies endless drive to
strive and achieve.
Marie Curie is the reason why Cheryl Strayed relates to the poem Power, because of the
similarities her and Marie share. Cheryl and Maries lives both display a great amount of passion and
motivation. However, what truly connects Cheryl and Marie are the mutual consequences of following
their passions as expressed in the final stanza of Power. Both of these extraordinary women face journeys
that put their lives at risk, but their motivation and perseverance overrule the fear of losing their lives, and
lead both of them to extraordinary achievements. Their legacies live on because they did the unthinkable
and were not afraid to put everything on the line. This is one of the greatest lesson that Cheryl Strayed
and Marie Curie can teach, that in life it is far better to die for a cause and be remembered, than to live
without purpose and be forgotten.

Calderon 4
Works Cited
Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/marie-curie9263538>.
"Marie Curie - Biographical." Marie Curie - Biographical. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1903/marie-curie-bio.html>.
Rich, Adrienne, and Adrienne Rich. The Dream of a Common Language: Poems, 1974-1977. New York:
Norton, 1978. Print.
Strayed, Cheryl. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.
Print.