Clinging To What We Hate

"They hated Krajiek, but they clung to him because he was the only human being with whom they would talk or from whom they could get information." (53). This sentence from "My Antonia" made me think about how often in today's society people may hate something so much, and it may bring them so much distress, but they still cling to it because they feel they need it. I have conversed with many people about how they cannot stand the job that they feel committed to. Especially in today's economy, many people are forced to spend the majority of their time doing something that they cannot stand, only because they feel that there is no way out or around it. Jobs are scarce and the risk of quitting a current job to find a new one is too high. So these people cling to their workplace because although they hate it, it gives them some sort of security. There are even instances were people find themselves in relationships that cause them unhappiness, but they cling to this person, no matter how much pain they bring them because they feel that it is better than to know what its like to be alone. The way that the Shimerdas feel about Krajiek is not uncommon. It seems to be a reoccuring theme in the world and people will most likely put themselves into situations like this for the rest of time.