In "Here Is New York" by E. B. White, White starts off by defining New York as what it is not because it shows that New York City is flawed. The idea of the essay is to show that there is beauty in chaos, and NYC exemplifies this statement. While to a traveler or tourist New York City may seem like an unforgiving, cold and harsh place, the native New Yorker knows different: whether you live in SoHo or the Bronx, you are part of a community more tightly knit than many small villages and towns. New Yorkers revel in their toughness, their ability to face extremes without showing any sign of fear, and while this can come across as impersonal, it is hardly the case. Neighbors, whether they know each other well or not, look after each other, shop owners are on one on one terms with customers, and people who live near each other are in it together. While New York City can be crowded, smelly, and occasionally dangerous, the residents all share a certain pride that helps them get through the problems of such a complex system. This unity with strangers is the beauty of the city- while walking a crowded street, sitting on a stalled subway, or waiting in line for the coffee shop or deli, you can turn to the stranger next to you and talk like you have known each other for years.
This sense of community is also demonstrated in Thurber's "University Days" in the fact that the students watch out for each other. While Thurber struggled with apathetic and harsh professors and teachers, he still felt connected to his classmates. University life was somewhat different than Thurber expected, as shown in his Botany class. Instead of acknowledging Thurber's sight disability, the professor got aggravated at him. His stubborn professor caused him to fail the class, while it could be avoided by a mutual understanding. While this was unfair, Thurber also did not live up to the University standards. He did not try to swim laps in gym (instead having another boy do the work for him), and his work in ROTC was also below average, due to his own fault. Even with these disappointments, Thurber still felt like a part of something. When a classmate struggled, the entire class tried to help. The students at the university were all connected emotionally, and this led to a sense of community and mutual trust.
