What are some events in History or Literary works that ...?

Question

... show people who only appreciate things when they lose them?
>Give:
>spicific examples, such as story titles, book titles, names of historic events etc. (wars etc.)
>Summaries too if possible

for example

Kinf Midas, and his unfortunate wish for the gold touch which in turn causes him to turn his own daughter into to gold. This helps him understand the realy worth of family, not money.

Answer 1

A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge finally appreciates the true things in life after the 3 ghosts show him his life, past & present, and eventual miserable death. The Depression had an entire society thankful for the little things after some people lost everything. In the Count of Monte Cristo, the Edmond Dantes appreciates freedom and his beloved after being thrown into prison and tortured. Eventually he escapes. The prince and the pauper (book) has the prince realizing how hard it was to live as a peasant and appreciating life in the palace and the pauper realizing that being a prince wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Ben Hur is another story of a man who started out in a bad situation and eventually when he was through could appreciate the good things in life.

Answer 2

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

It's about a young boy, Amir, who takes things for granted because he is part of a rich family in Afghanistan. He grew up with their servant's son, Hassan. Amir was jealous of Hassan because he felt his father liked him more. One day Hassan and his father have to leave. Once Amir grew up and with the aid of his father's death, he realizes that his father never loved Hassan more. As a young boy Amir didn't spend much time with his father. It was only until his father's death that he thought of all the things they did and the things they could have done. Also with the news of Hassan's death Amir realized he wouldn't have survived his childhood if it wasn't for Hassan defending him.

ot a good and sad book. if you do get to read it, i hope you enjoy it.