Life as Arnold Schwarzenegger Essays - Arnold Schwarzenegger

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30,1947, in Thal, Austria. His parents were Aurelia and Gustav Schwarzenegger, and his older brother was Meinhard, who was liked better than Arnold by his father. Arnold's family believes he inherited his physique from Karl Schwarzenegger, Arnold's grandfather. Arnold's father was the head of the German military police during the war years in Belgium. Gustav was legendary for his strict discipline toward Arnold and Meinhard. For example, he would make Arnold eat every meal with books pressed tightly under his arms to teach him to keep his elbows to his side while he ate. His father would make Arnold and Meinhard compete to see who the best was in boxing matches, races, and studying. His father humiliated the loser with scornful remarks. Each Sunday Arnold and Meinhard were permitted to choose among hiking, visiting a farm, seeing a play, museum, or art show. After their Sunday excursion, their father required them to write a ten page essay describing their day, which he graded Monday morning, and mistakes were not tolerated. Arnold could never win his father's praise, and at the age of thirteen he began dreaming of becoming bigger and stronger than his father. Arnold would sneak into movie theaters to watch Hercules with Steve Reeves and Reg Park, who were bodybuilders. He would judge, and admire Reg Park, promising himself that one day he would surpass him. Arnold was determined that he wouldn't be like othe...