Research Paper on:
A Look at Guibert's To The Friend : Who Did Not Save My Life

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
in Herve Guiberts To the Friend: Who Did Not Save My Life. Clearly, a fine line exists between what the public needs to know and an individuals right to  privacy. Guiberts implication is that it is obvious that there is no redeeming factor in knowing who is affected by AIDS and who is not, inasmuch as there is  still no cure. It makes absolutely no sense to put people through the pain and suffering of exposing themselves to an already hostile community; by doing so, the HIV-infected  person only stands to receive incessant persecution for something that cannot be helped at this point in time. Two incidents within the book  where the issue of privacy is addressed occur when Herve decides it is finally time to be tested, and the point at which he plans his suicide. Inherent suspicions  prompted his decision to test for the incurable disease; being that he would have to know sooner than later if he was going to have any treatment options. It  is with significant reluctance, however, that he accompanies an old friend who is also homosexual - Jules - to be tested. "...This certainty became official, even though it remained  anonymous, it became intolerable" (Guibert PG). When the time comes for the author to make his life or death decision, he opts for  suicide as a means by which to address the now-apparent presence of AIDS. Guibert wonders who is to tell a person that he or she is not allowed to  end his or her own suffering. Do people not have the right to live a fruitful and quality life, and if that life is to be permanently interrupted by