search for passion and family legacy

 In the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney, the author explores family values through the relationship between his father, grandfather, and himself. He recounts his father and grandfather farming as an honorable and artful livelihood, saying, “By god, the old man could handle a spade./Just like his old man” (Heaney 15,16). Though the act of farming is physically taxing and burdensome career, he admires the work ethic and craftsmanship he saw growing up. Heaney notes at the beginning and end of the poem that he is not following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather to become a potato farmer but is instead a writer. Throughout the poem, Heaney repeatedly uses the word ‘dig’ or ‘digging’, literally and symbolically (5,9,24,31). When he uses these words, it represents the physical act of digging needed for potato farming and the task's repetitive and relentless nature. In the poem's final line, Heaney concludes, “Between my finger and my thumb/ The squat pen rests./And I’ll dig with it.”(Heaney 29,30,31). These final lines symbolize his intent to use his pen to hone his craft as his father and grandfather used spades. After reading the poem, one can conclude that success to Heaney is finding purpose and passion in what you do. Though he is forging his path in life, different from his family, he values the lessons he has learned through watching his father and grandfather work, carrying the relentlessness and skillfulness needed for family into his writing.

The theme of success resonates with my personal life because I see Heaney's journey through my parents and siblings. On both sides of the family, my grandparents owned family businesses that have been in the family for generations. On both sides of my family, my parents were the only people not to stay in the family tradition. Though they forged their path and careers, they held the same values of education and hard work to reach their goals. Like my parents, my siblings and I have chosen different paths from the family norm. My family defines success as finding the paths you are passionate about and trying to be successful for yourself. A successful life consists of finding personal fulfillment in what you do and helping others with your skills.