The Gift

After reading the entire story, I now think that Zell Kravinsky is crazy and should seek mental help. It seems as if to him, giving is an addiction. It doesn't even bring him joy. He calls it living a moral life, but in my opinion he needs to set his morals straight and see that if he keeps his way of life up, his life will ultimately fall apart.

I think the fact that Kravinsky is depressed plays a big role on his insane want to give. There is obviously a hole in Kravinsky, probably caused by the way we was raised (as is suggested early in the story) or by the relationships (or lack of) that he has with the people in his life. Constant giving fills this hole, making him feel the self-worth to continue to live. This is displayed through the drastic sacrifices he would be willing to make in order to give. For instance, when asked to compare his love for his children to the love he has for unknown children, Kravinsky says, "I don't know where I'd set it, but I would not let many children die so my kids could live...I don't think that two kids should die so that one of my kids has comfort, and I don't think that two children should die so that one of my kids lives." He is basically saying that he values his children just as much as children he does not even know. Most people would be willing to sacrifice the world for their families, showing where his morals and values are. Kravinsky's mindset of treating his kids like all the other objects he would be willing to give away is appalling, even more so for me because I think that faith and family should come first, especially before any object.

Peter Singer has called Kravinsky "a remarkable person who has taken very seriously questions of what our moral obligations to assist people" [he also says,] "I think it's very difficult for people to go as far as he has, and I don't think we should blame people who don't, but we should admire those who do." There are parts of this statement I do agree with and parts that I do not. Yes, it's extremely difficult for a person to give to the same degree that Kravinsky has, and he should be applauded, but no, what he did should not be considered a moral obligation. I do not think we should be obligated to give everything we have because then we will just become part of the problem.

Although it is generous and kind of Kravinsky to give to the less fortunate, it is also quite selfish of him not to take care of the family that partially depends on him to live, the people who are supposed to be the closest to you. He often fantasizes about donating his entire body, which is unfair to his family, especially his children, who deserve a father figure to guide them through life. Also, Kravinsky is willing to give, even to the point of poverty. What I don't think he realizes is that he can't support others if he can't even support himself. And by the looks of it, even at poverty, Kravinsky will still want to keep giving, until he is the one who'll need receiving.