Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Chapters 24 to END.
Until this part of the story, I had forgotten that Victor was telling this story as a narrative to Robert Walton.
I realize that I was warned to keep that in mind throughout the story, but I thought it would be more fun to just disregard that request.
The end of the novel was in a way anticlimactic. Victor, for one, dies. Before he dies, however, he requests that Walton continues his hunt for the creature. Walton's crew wishes to go to England as soon as the ice clears. One night, Walton hears a noise coming from the room where Victor's body was being kept. Investigating, Walton found the creature, weeping over his creators' body.
"He paused, looking on me with wonder; and, again turning towards the lifeless form of his creator, he seemed to forget my presence, and every feature and gesture seemed instigated by the wildest rage of some uncontrollable passion" (Shelly, 163).
With no purpose or reason to live any longer, the creature states that without his creator or anyone associated with him left, the creature itself had no purpose left in the world. The creature seems to be begging for pardon from Victor, or maybe God, for his crimes and actions against humanity.
Walton does not eliminate the creature, but lets it go. The creature tells Robert of his woes and his story of his failure to control his impulse to cause Victor the misery that he had experienced in his life. The creature jumps ship into the cold water and disappears into the darkness.
I like stories like this. This story left no loose ends or open ended, for the most part, questions. Great read.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Frankenstein Post 9.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Chapters 21-23.
Murder trial, the same, but different.
"As time passed away I became more calm; misery had her dwelling in my heart, but I no longer talked in the same incoherent manner of my own crimes; sufficient for me was the consciousness of them" (Shelly, 137).
This is a case of Déjà vu where the victim of the crime was strangled to death, and the person charged with the crime was nowhere near the crime scene when they were supposed to be killing the victim. Coincidence? I think not. While circumstantial evidence was enough to convict Justine to death, the case is not the same with victor. Victor is acquitted and was released from prison where he became depressed because, like with the deaths of Justine and William, Victor felt completely responsible for Henry's death.
Some time passes and Victor and Elizabeth eventually get married. On their wedding night, Elizabeth is killed by the creature. After hearing this news, Alfonse dies a few days later. Victor devotes the rest of his life to seeking and destroying the creature.
This seems like an extreme case of irony. Victor, from an early age, was obsessed with defeating death so that he did not have to see his loved ones die. In overcoming death, the fates of his family and friends was sealed. I thought that Victor would have been better off just creating the second creature so that he would never have to see of think about either of them for the rest of his life.
Murder trial, the same, but different.
"As time passed away I became more calm; misery had her dwelling in my heart, but I no longer talked in the same incoherent manner of my own crimes; sufficient for me was the consciousness of them" (Shelly, 137).
This is a case of Déjà vu where the victim of the crime was strangled to death, and the person charged with the crime was nowhere near the crime scene when they were supposed to be killing the victim. Coincidence? I think not. While circumstantial evidence was enough to convict Justine to death, the case is not the same with victor. Victor is acquitted and was released from prison where he became depressed because, like with the deaths of Justine and William, Victor felt completely responsible for Henry's death.
Some time passes and Victor and Elizabeth eventually get married. On their wedding night, Elizabeth is killed by the creature. After hearing this news, Alfonse dies a few days later. Victor devotes the rest of his life to seeking and destroying the creature.
This seems like an extreme case of irony. Victor, from an early age, was obsessed with defeating death so that he did not have to see his loved ones die. In overcoming death, the fates of his family and friends was sealed. I thought that Victor would have been better off just creating the second creature so that he would never have to see of think about either of them for the rest of his life.
Frankenstein Post 8.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Chapters 18- 20.
"I felt as if was about the commission of a dreadful crime, and avoided with shuddering anxiety any encounter with my fellow-creatures. At one time the moon, which had before been clear, was suddenly overspread by a thick cloud, and I took advantage of the moment of darkness and cast my basket into the sea; listened to the gurgling sound ass it sunk, and then sailed away from the spot" (Shelly, 125).
During this part of the novel, I think that Victor realized that he was becoming a slave to his creation, a flip of the usual understood roles, Victor being the master and the Creation being subordinate. The flip occurred when Victor let his creation get out of his control. Victor goes to England to be secluded during his creation of a new thing. While in the process of creating his second monster, he gets cold feet and disposes of the remains at sea. When he returns, Victor is suspected of murder.
This part of the book was rather upsetting to me. Victor would not complete his second creation because he was afraid that the new creature would not leave with the original or, worse, that the creatures would procreate. I thought, Victor is responsible for what goes into the creature, why does he not just exclude the organs for childbearing. That would essentially disarm the ability for the creatures to have children. But, that would not make for a suspenseful story, would it?
"I felt as if was about the commission of a dreadful crime, and avoided with shuddering anxiety any encounter with my fellow-creatures. At one time the moon, which had before been clear, was suddenly overspread by a thick cloud, and I took advantage of the moment of darkness and cast my basket into the sea; listened to the gurgling sound ass it sunk, and then sailed away from the spot" (Shelly, 125).
During this part of the novel, I think that Victor realized that he was becoming a slave to his creation, a flip of the usual understood roles, Victor being the master and the Creation being subordinate. The flip occurred when Victor let his creation get out of his control. Victor goes to England to be secluded during his creation of a new thing. While in the process of creating his second monster, he gets cold feet and disposes of the remains at sea. When he returns, Victor is suspected of murder.
This part of the book was rather upsetting to me. Victor would not complete his second creation because he was afraid that the new creature would not leave with the original or, worse, that the creatures would procreate. I thought, Victor is responsible for what goes into the creature, why does he not just exclude the organs for childbearing. That would essentially disarm the ability for the creatures to have children. But, that would not make for a suspenseful story, would it?
Frankenstein Post 7.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Chapters 16-17.
This section of reading, to me, raised some interesting questions.
Reading informs that the creature's request is for a companion or mate that Victor creates to keep him company. Much like Eve was created to be a companion to Adam.
"If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again: I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment" (Shelly, 105).
As shown by the quote above, the creature offers Victor a deal where he creates a bride for the creature and the creature leaves humanity alone forever. Sounds pretty good in my opinion. Victor will not be tormented by his creation any more and the creature gets something that will tolerate his frightening appearance. Victor at first is a bit apprehensive to do this but eventually agrees to do the deed.
As I said before, this section created questions. If the creature could learn so quickly, and he had victor's instruction manual to create a person, why did the creature not just make his companion himself?
Just food for thought.
This section of reading, to me, raised some interesting questions.
Reading informs that the creature's request is for a companion or mate that Victor creates to keep him company. Much like Eve was created to be a companion to Adam.
"If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again: I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment" (Shelly, 105).
As shown by the quote above, the creature offers Victor a deal where he creates a bride for the creature and the creature leaves humanity alone forever. Sounds pretty good in my opinion. Victor will not be tormented by his creation any more and the creature gets something that will tolerate his frightening appearance. Victor at first is a bit apprehensive to do this but eventually agrees to do the deed.
As I said before, this section created questions. If the creature could learn so quickly, and he had victor's instruction manual to create a person, why did the creature not just make his companion himself?
Just food for thought.
Frankenstein Post 6.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Chapters 13-15.
This section of the novel gives the reader the deepest glimpse of the creature that has been seen so far in the novel
"God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred" (Shelly, 93).
I saw the in the creature, above all else, duplicity. The creature presents himself as a sophisticated and suave thing with an elegant speech. However, him getting close to Victor has more dark intent than to just tell him what it has been doing for two years. Chapter XV, to a specific degree, foreshadows that the creature is going to make a request to victor. From the quote above, it is clear what that request might be. That is not the point of these chapters.
These chapters close the gaps between the creature being like a child on the night of his creation, to an eloquent eight foot tall beast. The literary works that the creature learn from become his surrogate parents, which do not teach him the concept of self control, which will be clearly illustrated later on.
So far, we have gone from a frame story to going into another frame story. In a way, this book reminds me of Inception. Just a thought.
This section of the novel gives the reader the deepest glimpse of the creature that has been seen so far in the novel
"God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred" (Shelly, 93).
I saw the in the creature, above all else, duplicity. The creature presents himself as a sophisticated and suave thing with an elegant speech. However, him getting close to Victor has more dark intent than to just tell him what it has been doing for two years. Chapter XV, to a specific degree, foreshadows that the creature is going to make a request to victor. From the quote above, it is clear what that request might be. That is not the point of these chapters.
These chapters close the gaps between the creature being like a child on the night of his creation, to an eloquent eight foot tall beast. The literary works that the creature learn from become his surrogate parents, which do not teach him the concept of self control, which will be clearly illustrated later on.
So far, we have gone from a frame story to going into another frame story. In a way, this book reminds me of Inception. Just a thought.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Frankenstein Post 5.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Chapters 8-12.
This was perhaps the most interesting section of the book besides the creation of the monster. Victor again encounters the creature while on reprieve from his guilt. The monster is not the belligerent creature that could only murmur nonsense that it was upon its creation. The monster had developed the ability to speak and had learned some life skills. The creature recognizes that people fears him and thus stays away from people. The monster learns of suffering and poverty and seems to be almost civilized.
"I was partly urged by curiosity, and compassion confirmed my resolution. I had hitherto supposed him to be the murder of my brother, and I eagerly sought a confirmation or denial of this opinion" (Shelly, 70).
I thought it was fascinating that Victor, who responded to the creature with pure horror, and who I had come to expect to hate for suspectedly killing his brother, would ever admit to being compassionate towards the creature.
Moreover, I thought it was really cool how the creature developed and learned for it self all of the things that he experienced. Pain, hunger, cold, the creature had been touched by all of them and he had taken some lesson from that experience.
Frankenstein Post 4.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. chapters 6-8.
This section of reading outlines more grief that is felt by Victor and his family. After his creation and the horror of the event, Victor becomes ill. He decides to take a vacation from school and visit with his friend Henry and show him his school. Victor and Henry take a tour of the country to clear victor of his illness. When Victor returns to Ingolstadt, he finds a letter from his father that states that his brother, William, had been murdered. Victor takes a trip to Geneva. He finds the creature he created near the place that Will had been murdered.
Grief made victor vie for the innocence of Justine, who had been arrested and sentenced for the murder. However, Victor could never tell the truth about his horrible creation. Justine was executed anyway.
This family seems to attract the bizarre and sad. I thought that it was in a way ironic that the creature that Victor created to cheat death was a cause of death and anguish for Victor and his family. This section of reading is a good indication of why Victor was in pursuit of the creature in the beginning of the story.
"Yet she appeared confident in innocence and did not tremble, although gazed on and execrated by thousands; for all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have excited was obliterated in the minds of the spectators by the imagination if the enormity she was supposed to have committed" (Shelly, 54).
This section of reading outlines more grief that is felt by Victor and his family. After his creation and the horror of the event, Victor becomes ill. He decides to take a vacation from school and visit with his friend Henry and show him his school. Victor and Henry take a tour of the country to clear victor of his illness. When Victor returns to Ingolstadt, he finds a letter from his father that states that his brother, William, had been murdered. Victor takes a trip to Geneva. He finds the creature he created near the place that Will had been murdered.
Grief made victor vie for the innocence of Justine, who had been arrested and sentenced for the murder. However, Victor could never tell the truth about his horrible creation. Justine was executed anyway.
This family seems to attract the bizarre and sad. I thought that it was in a way ironic that the creature that Victor created to cheat death was a cause of death and anguish for Victor and his family. This section of reading is a good indication of why Victor was in pursuit of the creature in the beginning of the story.
"Yet she appeared confident in innocence and did not tremble, although gazed on and execrated by thousands; for all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have excited was obliterated in the minds of the spectators by the imagination if the enormity she was supposed to have committed" (Shelly, 54).
Frankenstein Post 3.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. The CREATION!
ITS ALIVE! or not.
In chapters four and five, Victor outlines his college career learning Chemistry and Natural Philosophy and becoming especially interested in further advancing the antiquated and dead sciences of Alchemy. During his college career he began toying with the idea of reanimating tissue, or, in laymen terms, bringing the dead back from the dead. This process is nothing like the stereotypical Frankenstein stories that we've all heard as children. No evil henchmen, no maniacal laughter, no castle or mob of upset villagers, no eerie organ music or tumultuous thunderstorms. NO. Victor took a long time, quietly collecting body parts to assemble the body, quietly assembling the creature on the floor of his dorm room at college, quietly bringing the thing to life only to immediately regret his actions. The key word being quietly.
I personally love how the creature's appearance is described. It is not synced with the typical flat headed sewn together green monster that we have been raised on. It is a partially skin covered, yellow, black haired, and yellowed eyed thing that, by the way, is eight feet tall. When Victor described the creature taking its first breath and coming to life, the creature "breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated the limbs" (Shelly, 35). There was no exclamation of success or the "ITS ALIVE", only fear and regret.
It is really interesting to compare different renditions of this classic horror story to the original script.
ITS ALIVE! or not.
In chapters four and five, Victor outlines his college career learning Chemistry and Natural Philosophy and becoming especially interested in further advancing the antiquated and dead sciences of Alchemy. During his college career he began toying with the idea of reanimating tissue, or, in laymen terms, bringing the dead back from the dead. This process is nothing like the stereotypical Frankenstein stories that we've all heard as children. No evil henchmen, no maniacal laughter, no castle or mob of upset villagers, no eerie organ music or tumultuous thunderstorms. NO. Victor took a long time, quietly collecting body parts to assemble the body, quietly assembling the creature on the floor of his dorm room at college, quietly bringing the thing to life only to immediately regret his actions. The key word being quietly.
I personally love how the creature's appearance is described. It is not synced with the typical flat headed sewn together green monster that we have been raised on. It is a partially skin covered, yellow, black haired, and yellowed eyed thing that, by the way, is eight feet tall. When Victor described the creature taking its first breath and coming to life, the creature "breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated the limbs" (Shelly, 35). There was no exclamation of success or the "ITS ALIVE", only fear and regret.
It is really interesting to compare different renditions of this classic horror story to the original script.
Frankenstein Post 2.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Character introductions (first three chapters)
I personally was bored to death by this section of reading. It seemed that victor wanted to just pour his heart out to Walton.
This section of reading is essentially telling the reader who everyone is and the background to set up the main event, the monster.We learn about Victor's father, a merchant of Geneva who is very kind and reasonable. His mother, who's life is seemingly surrounded by tragedy. His sister Elizabeth who was an orphan who was adopted into the family and whom everyone adored, and who is intended to become Victor's bride. And finally we learn about Victor's friend Henry, a boy obsessed with heroic archetypes.
These people are of importance to the story but the two most important characters that contribute to the main story are the mother and Elizabeth. Victor knew about his mother's tragic life and had to experience her sudden death. He also had to face the realization that Elizabeth, whom he adored, would die someday too. I think that is the most important fact that drives Victor to find some way to beat death by bringing the dead back to life, so he can stay alive with his sister (bride) for ever.
There is even a bit of foreshadowing in the second chapter when Victor says "No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me - my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only" (Shelly, 18).
Creepy thought that a person you've known to be your sister for most of your life is to become your bride.
Frankenstein Post 1.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Letters.
The beginning of this book is following the pursuits of Robert Walton, an Englishmen who has gone to Russia to begin a voyage into the arctic oceans to discover something. Vaguely, this part of this book reminded me of another book I had read last year, Endurance which detailed another arctic voyage to the other side of the world and that ended in a much different way. That is besides the point, just me off topic again. Anyways, the fourth letter that Walton sends his sister is actually a collection of journal entries that he has compiled detailing his discovery of a stranger whom we come to know as Victor Frankenstein. Where this frame story ends is with the transition into Frankenstein telling his misfortunes to Robert.
The most exciting part of this section of reading was when we see the monster for the first time and do not even recognize it.
"We perceived a low carriage, fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs, pass on towards the North, at the distance of a half mile; a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently gigantic stature, sat on the sledge, and guided the dogs" (Shelly, 8).
Yeah, that just happened.
Blink and you'll miss it, but we soon find out that Victor became stranded on the frozen ocean while in pursuit of the creature which is where the next section of reading picks up.
The beginning of this book is following the pursuits of Robert Walton, an Englishmen who has gone to Russia to begin a voyage into the arctic oceans to discover something. Vaguely, this part of this book reminded me of another book I had read last year, Endurance which detailed another arctic voyage to the other side of the world and that ended in a much different way. That is besides the point, just me off topic again. Anyways, the fourth letter that Walton sends his sister is actually a collection of journal entries that he has compiled detailing his discovery of a stranger whom we come to know as Victor Frankenstein. Where this frame story ends is with the transition into Frankenstein telling his misfortunes to Robert.
The most exciting part of this section of reading was when we see the monster for the first time and do not even recognize it.
"We perceived a low carriage, fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs, pass on towards the North, at the distance of a half mile; a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently gigantic stature, sat on the sledge, and guided the dogs" (Shelly, 8).
Yeah, that just happened.
Blink and you'll miss it, but we soon find out that Victor became stranded on the frozen ocean while in pursuit of the creature which is where the next section of reading picks up.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Unit 6. Post 5.
I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain by Emily Dickinson.
"And I, and Silence, some strange Race" (Dickinson, line 14).
This poem, right from the start created a very strong image. Question one from the reading asks what kinds of senses are being presented from the poem. I can simply say that it is easy to picture the scene that is depicted. The funeral, I relate emotions of sadness, and quiet. That is contrasted by the pounding in her head.
I don't know why she organizes her poems in this way, but for me, this type of structure is very hard to follow. However, I think that I can decipher what she is trying to get across.
Obviously, something is causing her grief or anguish. That, in my opinion, is a reason for having a funeral in her brain.
I must say that Emily Dickinson has always done an excellent job at making her poems multi-faceted. At least to me, anyway. This poem, and the other one from this unit have done an excellent job of making me think of multiple different interpretations. That can be a good thing, or it can be absolutely infuriating. Anyways, I am at a loss for this one.
"And I, and Silence, some strange Race" (Dickinson, line 14).
This poem, right from the start created a very strong image. Question one from the reading asks what kinds of senses are being presented from the poem. I can simply say that it is easy to picture the scene that is depicted. The funeral, I relate emotions of sadness, and quiet. That is contrasted by the pounding in her head.
I don't know why she organizes her poems in this way, but for me, this type of structure is very hard to follow. However, I think that I can decipher what she is trying to get across.
Obviously, something is causing her grief or anguish. That, in my opinion, is a reason for having a funeral in her brain.
I must say that Emily Dickinson has always done an excellent job at making her poems multi-faceted. At least to me, anyway. This poem, and the other one from this unit have done an excellent job of making me think of multiple different interpretations. That can be a good thing, or it can be absolutely infuriating. Anyways, I am at a loss for this one.
Unit 6. Post 4.
Much Madness is Divinest Sense by Emily Dickinson.
"Much sense - the starkest madness" (Dickinson, line 3).
This poem made me think of the novel Catch 22 and how the recognition of insanity made one in fact sane. Might I add that that novel was too confusing. I think that Dickinson was trying to differentiate how those who are insane have some other view of the world from those who are sane, and how that alternate view of the world is what makes the insane sane in their own respect. I also feel that by saying the majority, Dickinson made the statement that those who claim sanity are in fact insane for blindly following the majority.
I simply don't know what she was trying to get across in this poem. Maybe Dickinson is exploiting the beauty of poetry by allowing her poem to bring forth many different interpretations. Nevertheless, it can be inferred that she is creating a contradictory relationship between sanity and insanity.
Question one asks how specific words within the poem provide a resolution for the paradox between sanity and insanity. I think that Majority provides a justification of how those who are claiming they are sane because the majority states that they are. Discerning, meaning of good judgment, I am not sure how to interpret.
"Much sense - the starkest madness" (Dickinson, line 3).
This poem made me think of the novel Catch 22 and how the recognition of insanity made one in fact sane. Might I add that that novel was too confusing. I think that Dickinson was trying to differentiate how those who are insane have some other view of the world from those who are sane, and how that alternate view of the world is what makes the insane sane in their own respect. I also feel that by saying the majority, Dickinson made the statement that those who claim sanity are in fact insane for blindly following the majority.
I simply don't know what she was trying to get across in this poem. Maybe Dickinson is exploiting the beauty of poetry by allowing her poem to bring forth many different interpretations. Nevertheless, it can be inferred that she is creating a contradictory relationship between sanity and insanity.
Question one asks how specific words within the poem provide a resolution for the paradox between sanity and insanity. I think that Majority provides a justification of how those who are claiming they are sane because the majority states that they are. Discerning, meaning of good judgment, I am not sure how to interpret.
Unit 6. Post 3.
APO 96225 by Larry Rottmann.
"'Please don't write such depressing letters'" (Rottmann, 846).
I can relate to this in some way. My great uncle was a pilot in the Vietnam War and when I was younger, I would ask him what it was like to go to war. He would tell me that he got to fly over the forests and look at the canopy. Being the little kid, I took this at face value and did not press with my questioning. As I grew older and became interested again in my great uncle's past, I once again asked what he did in Vietnam. Since I was older, I felt that it was within my power to press further if I was met with resistance. No such resistance came forth. Instead, honesty. Complete, horrifying honesty. From his description of what it was like to drop napalm and agent orange over acres of forest, I was saddened. In ways, I wanted to ask him to stop, just as the father did in the poem, because truth was upsetting. But, because I needed the reality check, since I am considering joining the Marines, I listened intently to his wisdom and was moved and came away from my conversation with my Great Uncle with more understanding and clearer judgment as to what joining the armed forces meant for my soul.
The main point of this poem is that the truth of witnessing or performing some unspeakable act can destroy your relationships with family or loved ones. How withholding the truth is a way of keeping ties to those you love still in tact, and how keeping that truth concealed can bare heavily on ones conscious.
Remember, the truth is not always what we want to hear.
"'Please don't write such depressing letters'" (Rottmann, 846).
I can relate to this in some way. My great uncle was a pilot in the Vietnam War and when I was younger, I would ask him what it was like to go to war. He would tell me that he got to fly over the forests and look at the canopy. Being the little kid, I took this at face value and did not press with my questioning. As I grew older and became interested again in my great uncle's past, I once again asked what he did in Vietnam. Since I was older, I felt that it was within my power to press further if I was met with resistance. No such resistance came forth. Instead, honesty. Complete, horrifying honesty. From his description of what it was like to drop napalm and agent orange over acres of forest, I was saddened. In ways, I wanted to ask him to stop, just as the father did in the poem, because truth was upsetting. But, because I needed the reality check, since I am considering joining the Marines, I listened intently to his wisdom and was moved and came away from my conversation with my Great Uncle with more understanding and clearer judgment as to what joining the armed forces meant for my soul.
The main point of this poem is that the truth of witnessing or performing some unspeakable act can destroy your relationships with family or loved ones. How withholding the truth is a way of keeping ties to those you love still in tact, and how keeping that truth concealed can bare heavily on ones conscious.
Remember, the truth is not always what we want to hear.
Unit 6. Post 2.
Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield.
"'But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there?'" (Mansfield, 186).
This story is relatively creepy and disturbing. Miss Brill is an presumed to be an older woman living in a retirement, or some kind of assisted living community, where she rarely receives visitors or has family. Her situation with her fur creature that she wears reminds me of a child with a stuffed animal that they just won't give up despite the fact the animal has outlived its term. From the description of the creature, the lifeless eyes and the worn nose, it is assumed that the fur is old, just as Miss Brill.
To me, the mood at the beginning of the story is in ways deceptive. The author chooses to describe a happy setting with the bright skies and the happiness and excitement from Miss Brill. Reading on reveals an almost unhealthy obsession of Miss Brill with her fur creature. It is also unsettling to me that Miss Brill enjoys just sitting in the park, watching people. To me, I was not really sure how to feel about this story. I guess that I was disturbed....
"'But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there?'" (Mansfield, 186).
This story is relatively creepy and disturbing. Miss Brill is an presumed to be an older woman living in a retirement, or some kind of assisted living community, where she rarely receives visitors or has family. Her situation with her fur creature that she wears reminds me of a child with a stuffed animal that they just won't give up despite the fact the animal has outlived its term. From the description of the creature, the lifeless eyes and the worn nose, it is assumed that the fur is old, just as Miss Brill.
To me, the mood at the beginning of the story is in ways deceptive. The author chooses to describe a happy setting with the bright skies and the happiness and excitement from Miss Brill. Reading on reveals an almost unhealthy obsession of Miss Brill with her fur creature. It is also unsettling to me that Miss Brill enjoys just sitting in the park, watching people. To me, I was not really sure how to feel about this story. I guess that I was disturbed....
Unit 6. Post 1.
Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street by Herman Melville.
"'I would prefer not to'"(Melville, 653).
This story made almost no sense to me the first time I read it. After reading a second time, and after class discussion, I could finally make sense of the main point of the story. The main point of the story is not focused on Bartleby, but his soullessness and complete apathy towards everything. At first, I thought that Bartleby was just a stubborn jerk, but upon rethinking, I see that he is emotionally dead and can't help being stubborn. This is really about how people who work on Wall Street, or in any financial or dull job for that fact, become deadened by their routine. Bartleby being the extreme case, of course. I think it is important to recognize not only Bartleby as emotionally dead, but the narrator too.
I would just like to take this time to express how aggravating it is to me that I cannot call the narrator by name and that I am forced to use the arbitrary terms "him" or "the narrator".
The narrator himself is really in a rut from his job as a menial lawyer. It might be safe to hypothesize that as the reason for him sympathizing with Bartleby, they had a common connection.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The beginning really had nothing of interest, but the end had some entertainment, or intrigue value.
"'I would prefer not to'"(Melville, 653).
This story made almost no sense to me the first time I read it. After reading a second time, and after class discussion, I could finally make sense of the main point of the story. The main point of the story is not focused on Bartleby, but his soullessness and complete apathy towards everything. At first, I thought that Bartleby was just a stubborn jerk, but upon rethinking, I see that he is emotionally dead and can't help being stubborn. This is really about how people who work on Wall Street, or in any financial or dull job for that fact, become deadened by their routine. Bartleby being the extreme case, of course. I think it is important to recognize not only Bartleby as emotionally dead, but the narrator too.
I would just like to take this time to express how aggravating it is to me that I cannot call the narrator by name and that I am forced to use the arbitrary terms "him" or "the narrator".
The narrator himself is really in a rut from his job as a menial lawyer. It might be safe to hypothesize that as the reason for him sympathizing with Bartleby, they had a common connection.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The beginning really had nothing of interest, but the end had some entertainment, or intrigue value.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Unit 5. Post 5
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas.
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (Thomas, Line 3).
I was on shaky ground with this poem. I always enjoy poems that have some kind of rhyme scheme attached to them. However, I did not really have a fabulous time following this scheme. I did however get the gist of what the author is trying to say. Thomas is telling the reader to not simply submit to the hand of death dragging a person to his or her grave. This poem to me anyway was really inspirational. I think that the author wants the reader to be empowered to believe that he does not have to simply submit to death. And while death and taxes are pretty much the only thing that we are assured in life, we can fight. That to me was a really feel good message. The thought of opposing such a forceful authority as death is really scary, but raging against it, count me in.
The fact that the author might not have intended for this to be a pep talk for the reader is not going to stop me from interpreting it as such. This poem makes me want to find death and punch him in his bony face!
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (Thomas, Line 3).
I was on shaky ground with this poem. I always enjoy poems that have some kind of rhyme scheme attached to them. However, I did not really have a fabulous time following this scheme. I did however get the gist of what the author is trying to say. Thomas is telling the reader to not simply submit to the hand of death dragging a person to his or her grave. This poem to me anyway was really inspirational. I think that the author wants the reader to be empowered to believe that he does not have to simply submit to death. And while death and taxes are pretty much the only thing that we are assured in life, we can fight. That to me was a really feel good message. The thought of opposing such a forceful authority as death is really scary, but raging against it, count me in.
The fact that the author might not have intended for this to be a pep talk for the reader is not going to stop me from interpreting it as such. This poem makes me want to find death and punch him in his bony face!
Unit 5. Post 4
Death, Be not Proud by John Donne.
"Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so" (Donne, Line 2).
Quick question, why is death always represented by sleep? I just realized that a lot of authors use that to represent death. Not important, just a question.
Finally, a positive note, a declaration of victory over death. The speaker in this poem is declaring, quite blatantly that death has no power over him and can not touch him. A bold accusation from my point of view. In this poem, the speaker is declaring that while people fear death and death has so much power and influence, reality is the opposite, death is very limited and is basically the result of fate, kings, and desperate men. The main argument the speaker has for his objection to death's power is that after death, there is only eternal life. essentially, the speaker says that in death, death dies. That might be confusing, but at the same time, profoundly reassuring. This means that in death, death has no authority or power over us. To me, that sounds cool.
"Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so" (Donne, Line 2).
Quick question, why is death always represented by sleep? I just realized that a lot of authors use that to represent death. Not important, just a question.
Finally, a positive note, a declaration of victory over death. The speaker in this poem is declaring, quite blatantly that death has no power over him and can not touch him. A bold accusation from my point of view. In this poem, the speaker is declaring that while people fear death and death has so much power and influence, reality is the opposite, death is very limited and is basically the result of fate, kings, and desperate men. The main argument the speaker has for his objection to death's power is that after death, there is only eternal life. essentially, the speaker says that in death, death dies. That might be confusing, but at the same time, profoundly reassuring. This means that in death, death has no authority or power over us. To me, that sounds cool.
Unit 5. Post 3
That Time of Year by William Shakespeare.
"That on the ashes of his youth doth lie" (Shakespeare, line 10).
This poem was very deep in meaning. In the beginning it is describing the Fall season and how few leaves hang from branches and those that still linger are yellow and decaying. All of the collective symbols the speaker says are represented in him. One can infer that the speaker is on his death bed and is waiting for death to come. There is no more joy in youth for the speaker, much like the happy chatter of birds singing is gone from the Fall air.
I enjoy poetry like this. I don't know why, but I particularly feel like I connect with how the author is wanting to put his point across. I feel like I can more easily understand a symbol an author is trying to make when that symbol is connected to a season. Fall specifically is an excellent connection to death. before the afterlife.
The end of this poem to me was hard to understand. I can see how the speaker's death should bring more love to who ever the poem is aimed at. However, the last line is where I get completely lost.
Unit 5. Post 2
A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner.
"We did not say she was crazy then" (Faulkner, 284).
This short story I particularly enjoyed. Specifically the point of view. The point of view caused me to remember Anthem by Ayn Rand and how a collective consciousness had a first person point of view. The second reason why I liked this story is because anytime old people go insane, it is a joy to observe. How Miss. Emily interacts with the townspeople is peculiar and rather frightening, or at least that is how I would imagine encountering her would feel. Miss Emily is particularly objected to change and progression. She refuses to pay taxes, get a mail box, update or renovate her house, or bury her father until three days after his death. Her lack of will to follow the rest of the town in the path of progression shows a specific trait to be recognized about Miss Emily, she is holding on to the past for some reason. In the end, we can find that her obsession with living in the past is not restricted to only her house or tax tradition.
After Miss Emily's funeral, townspeople were utterly fascinated with the idea of seeing the inside of her dusty old house. While exploring, they came upon a locked door. After breaking the door down, they found a skeleton that Miss Emily was quite literally keeping locked away for no one to see.
There was the severely decomposed corpse of who was suspected to be Homer Baron.
I learned two particularly important lessons from this story. First, NEVER give an old woman arsenic unless they have a REALLY good reason for it, even if she gives you the evil eye. Second, accept change with open arms, it is inevitable.
"We did not say she was crazy then" (Faulkner, 284).
This short story I particularly enjoyed. Specifically the point of view. The point of view caused me to remember Anthem by Ayn Rand and how a collective consciousness had a first person point of view. The second reason why I liked this story is because anytime old people go insane, it is a joy to observe. How Miss. Emily interacts with the townspeople is peculiar and rather frightening, or at least that is how I would imagine encountering her would feel. Miss Emily is particularly objected to change and progression. She refuses to pay taxes, get a mail box, update or renovate her house, or bury her father until three days after his death. Her lack of will to follow the rest of the town in the path of progression shows a specific trait to be recognized about Miss Emily, she is holding on to the past for some reason. In the end, we can find that her obsession with living in the past is not restricted to only her house or tax tradition.
After Miss Emily's funeral, townspeople were utterly fascinated with the idea of seeing the inside of her dusty old house. While exploring, they came upon a locked door. After breaking the door down, they found a skeleton that Miss Emily was quite literally keeping locked away for no one to see.
There was the severely decomposed corpse of who was suspected to be Homer Baron.
I learned two particularly important lessons from this story. First, NEVER give an old woman arsenic unless they have a REALLY good reason for it, even if she gives you the evil eye. Second, accept change with open arms, it is inevitable.
Unit 5. Post 1
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.
"'I tell you it wasn't fair. You didn't give him time enough to choose. Everybody saw that'"(Jackson, 270).
I particularly enjoyed this story because it reminded me of an episode of South Park. I am not going to go into details but I will say I got a good chuckle out of this. All of that is relative and unimportant however. This story is centered around a dead tradition that has no real meaning to the townspeople anymore. The tradition I speak of is the so called "lottery". The lottery is said to bring a high yield for the harvest. Sounds good, right? WRONG! The intent might be in the interest of benefiting the town, however the means by which the good is achieved is archaic, barbaric, and plain inhuman. The lottery is to choose what lucky citizen is stoned to death as a sacrifice to the harvest.
The way the lottery is talked about and presented as this somber occasion, despite having a title that indicates that someone has a chance of winning some fantastic prize, which is the reader's first clue that something is not all well with this lottery deal. There are subtle hints throughout the first half of the story that indicate that nobody is particularly enthused to participate, which, by the way, they are forced to do. The way the townspeople act around each other and the lottery box seems uneasy and apprehensive, another clue to show how dark this occasion really is. Pretty much the entire beginning half of the story foreshadows the twisted reality of the lottery.
I like this story because it makes me enjoy how society today has come to its senses on some of the more important things like human sacrifices. I like the Mayans, don't get me wrong, but I would not want to be living there because my heart belongs inside my chest cavity. If only humanity could realize how awful Jersey Shore is.
"'I tell you it wasn't fair. You didn't give him time enough to choose. Everybody saw that'"(Jackson, 270).
I particularly enjoyed this story because it reminded me of an episode of South Park. I am not going to go into details but I will say I got a good chuckle out of this. All of that is relative and unimportant however. This story is centered around a dead tradition that has no real meaning to the townspeople anymore. The tradition I speak of is the so called "lottery". The lottery is said to bring a high yield for the harvest. Sounds good, right? WRONG! The intent might be in the interest of benefiting the town, however the means by which the good is achieved is archaic, barbaric, and plain inhuman. The lottery is to choose what lucky citizen is stoned to death as a sacrifice to the harvest.
The way the lottery is talked about and presented as this somber occasion, despite having a title that indicates that someone has a chance of winning some fantastic prize, which is the reader's first clue that something is not all well with this lottery deal. There are subtle hints throughout the first half of the story that indicate that nobody is particularly enthused to participate, which, by the way, they are forced to do. The way the townspeople act around each other and the lottery box seems uneasy and apprehensive, another clue to show how dark this occasion really is. Pretty much the entire beginning half of the story foreshadows the twisted reality of the lottery.
I like this story because it makes me enjoy how society today has come to its senses on some of the more important things like human sacrifices. I like the Mayans, don't get me wrong, but I would not want to be living there because my heart belongs inside my chest cavity. If only humanity could realize how awful Jersey Shore is.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Unit 4. post 5.
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.
Perhaps one of the most underwritten characters that had the greatest impact on the plot was the father, absent, yet still present. His memory is a driving force for many of the decisions that Tom makes. His wish to get away from the family constantly is brought up as a reminder to Amanda of how Tom is just like his father. Tom's behavior is consistent with that of the father who was described as a delinquent and a drunk. Amanda explodes and is infuriated by Tom's behavior and even states that his destructive behavior was dangerous for the family. "What right have you got to jeopardize your job? Jeopardize the security of all of us? How do you think we'd manage.(Williams, 1247)" By saying this, Amanda might as well be saying that she does not want a repeat of her husband.
The Father is a driving force behind many of the decisions and actions of the characters. Amanda can't stop living in the past because it was her only happy time, as now she has to deal with her children and the fact that she was abandoned by her husband. This is why Amanda emphasizes to Laura that she needs to get as many gentleman callers as she can so that she can choose a husband who will stay by her. This is also why Amanda condemns Tom's behavior at night.
Effectively, the father is the antagonist of the story.
Unit 4. post 4
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Scene 6 & 7.
Scene 6 begins with a twist in a set of circumstances. Jim O'Connor is coming over for dinner and Amanda is telling Laura to get ready for dinner. Amanda informs Laura of who is coming over. She freaks because, OMG, Jim O'Connor was her high school crush. Amanda dismisses her worries saying "It won't be him! It isn't the least bit likely. but whether or not, you will come to the table. You will not be excused. (Williams, 1265)" In reality (awkward turtle) it is the Jim O'Connor from high school that she had a crush on.
We first meet Jim and he seems to be a down to earth and realistic person. His nonchalant disposition in his dialogue with Tom makes him seem to be a very friendly and suitable person. In his interaction with Laura in Scene 7, he is polite and very extravagant. Jim even downplays her affliction which she says makes her inadequate.
Amanda enters later on to check on their conversation, she still lives in the past, recounting how her generation acted differently from the younger one.
However, at the end of the scene it is revealed that Jim is engaged to someone. This realization leads to an argument between Amanda and Tom, where Tom is trying to tell Amanda that he had no idea that Jim was engaged. Tom ultimately leaves and fulfills his dreams.
The end....
Scene 6 begins with a twist in a set of circumstances. Jim O'Connor is coming over for dinner and Amanda is telling Laura to get ready for dinner. Amanda informs Laura of who is coming over. She freaks because, OMG, Jim O'Connor was her high school crush. Amanda dismisses her worries saying "It won't be him! It isn't the least bit likely. but whether or not, you will come to the table. You will not be excused. (Williams, 1265)" In reality (awkward turtle) it is the Jim O'Connor from high school that she had a crush on.
We first meet Jim and he seems to be a down to earth and realistic person. His nonchalant disposition in his dialogue with Tom makes him seem to be a very friendly and suitable person. In his interaction with Laura in Scene 7, he is polite and very extravagant. Jim even downplays her affliction which she says makes her inadequate.
Amanda enters later on to check on their conversation, she still lives in the past, recounting how her generation acted differently from the younger one.
However, at the end of the scene it is revealed that Jim is engaged to someone. This realization leads to an argument between Amanda and Tom, where Tom is trying to tell Amanda that he had no idea that Jim was engaged. Tom ultimately leaves and fulfills his dreams.
The end....
Unit 4. post 3.
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Scene 4 &5.
This scene begins with Tom returning from his movie, drunk of course. Laura is there to greet him. One of the most important symbols of the play is revealed within this sub-scene. Tom recalls a magician who preformed a trick where he escaped a coffin without removing any nails. Tom relates the coffin to the family, perhaps more specifically his mother. Tom says "There is a trick that would come in handy for me --- get me out of this 2 by 4 situation! (Williams, 1249)" This can be tied back to the father of the family who left them. Tom almost admires his father for being able to get out unscathed. We even learn that Tom has a plan to get out of the family. He has a letter from the Merchant Marines and is lined up to join. Amanda creates one stipulation for him. He can only leave after they find some gentleman caller for Laura.
Tom, anxious to get away from his mother as soon as possible, tries finding gentlemen callers for Laura. Tom plans on lining up Mr. John D. O'Connor as a gentleman caller for Laura. Tom, while discussing with Amanda his set up for Laura, reveals that Laura lives in her imagination with her glass figurines, a visual image of her own fragility as a person and emotionally. This is a very important note when regarding Laura.
This scene begins with Tom returning from his movie, drunk of course. Laura is there to greet him. One of the most important symbols of the play is revealed within this sub-scene. Tom recalls a magician who preformed a trick where he escaped a coffin without removing any nails. Tom relates the coffin to the family, perhaps more specifically his mother. Tom says "There is a trick that would come in handy for me --- get me out of this 2 by 4 situation! (Williams, 1249)" This can be tied back to the father of the family who left them. Tom almost admires his father for being able to get out unscathed. We even learn that Tom has a plan to get out of the family. He has a letter from the Merchant Marines and is lined up to join. Amanda creates one stipulation for him. He can only leave after they find some gentleman caller for Laura.
Tom, anxious to get away from his mother as soon as possible, tries finding gentlemen callers for Laura. Tom plans on lining up Mr. John D. O'Connor as a gentleman caller for Laura. Tom, while discussing with Amanda his set up for Laura, reveals that Laura lives in her imagination with her glass figurines, a visual image of her own fragility as a person and emotionally. This is a very important note when regarding Laura.
Unit 4. post 2
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Scene 3
This scene highlights the conflict between Amanda and Tom. Tom is a man of the night and enjoys going out to the movies and getting a drink, but Amanda and her controlling attitude pries into Tom's life and pushes him over the edge. Amanda fears that Tom is becoming like her husband who walked out on the family and was an alcoholic. She accuses Tom of being an alcoholic and being just like his father.
While Amanda seeks control, her children hold most of the responsibilities like doing chores and Tom even says "House, House! Who pays rent on it, who makes a slave of himself. (Williams, 1246)" He is suggesting that despite the fact that he controls how Amanda lives and where she lives, Amanda still fights him for control where it is not her place.
This scene really shows how Laura is a child mentally. Whenever there is some argument or traumatizing event, Laura goes back into her room and plays with her glass figurines. She lacks knowledge of how to deal with social problems, because her family has not taught her how to. This is crucial in understanding how she relates to the hostility between Tom and Amanda.
Unit 4. post 1
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Scene 1 & 2
Scene one seems to act as an introduction to the characters of the play, as well as the environment and emotion that is present between characters. Tom, the narrator and a character in the story, first introduces us to his mother, Amanda. She is characterized as an overly reminiscent person who dwells in the past. Her obsession with her own past and success as an attraction to gentlemen callers seems to drag on to her children. Amanda seems to micromanage everything her children do in the house. For example, as the family is sitting down for dinner after Tom's introduction, Tom becomes tired of his mother nagging him about how to eat saying, "I haven't enjoyed one bite of this dinner because of your constant directions on how to eat it.(Williams, 1237)"
After our introduction to Amanda, we meet the sister of Tom, Laura. She is shy and receded from her emotional attachment to her mother. In scene two, we find that after only a few days of business school, Laura dropped out because she could not handle the pressure, or maybe the social obligation of interacting with other people.
Laura calls herself a cripple but her mother denies that statement, in almost a delusional fit, and reassures her that Laura will have just as many gentlemen callers as Amanda did when she was young. However, Laura denies that she is going to have any gentlemen callers, which upsets Amanda.
For some reason, Amanda seems completely detached with reality. Perhaps it is her being traumatized from her separation from her husband who is absent and present in the plot at the same time.
Scene one seems to act as an introduction to the characters of the play, as well as the environment and emotion that is present between characters. Tom, the narrator and a character in the story, first introduces us to his mother, Amanda. She is characterized as an overly reminiscent person who dwells in the past. Her obsession with her own past and success as an attraction to gentlemen callers seems to drag on to her children. Amanda seems to micromanage everything her children do in the house. For example, as the family is sitting down for dinner after Tom's introduction, Tom becomes tired of his mother nagging him about how to eat saying, "I haven't enjoyed one bite of this dinner because of your constant directions on how to eat it.(Williams, 1237)"
After our introduction to Amanda, we meet the sister of Tom, Laura. She is shy and receded from her emotional attachment to her mother. In scene two, we find that after only a few days of business school, Laura dropped out because she could not handle the pressure, or maybe the social obligation of interacting with other people.
Laura calls herself a cripple but her mother denies that statement, in almost a delusional fit, and reassures her that Laura will have just as many gentlemen callers as Amanda did when she was young. However, Laura denies that she is going to have any gentlemen callers, which upsets Amanda.
For some reason, Amanda seems completely detached with reality. Perhaps it is her being traumatized from her separation from her husband who is absent and present in the plot at the same time.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Unit 3. post 5.
Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden.
I can connect with this poem very well because I have a somewhat similar relationship with my father. The father is seen as a gruff and unforgiving. His image is created as that of a hard and unloving individual.
"with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fire blazes" (Hayden, line 3-4).
The father is not appreciated by the family, it seems. Maybe it is that lack of appreciation that forces him to be so cold and unresponsive to love of others. My father works 7 days a week sometimes and it makes him grumpy and unexcited. I feel like my father feels unappreciated for his efforts sometimes and that makes him spiteful and impatient. I love my father, unconditionally, and I think that the message of this poem revolves around the concept that we should stop and thank our father for all the effort they put forward for their love of us. This poem has a profound impact that strikes the reader's pathos. Because many of us might have the same type of relationship with our fathers as what is described in the poem, a reader might be swayed to make their appreciation for their father more visible. I think that the author wanted the reader to relate so they reflect on their own relationship with their father.
Unit 3. post 4.
The Joy of Cooking by Elaine Magarrell.
While this story is rather creepy and, lets face it, strange, it offers a profound way of experiencing the emotions and personalities of siblings. When the speaker says "I will have my brother's heart, which is firm and rather dry, slow cooked" (Magarrell, line 9-10), I don't think it means she will literally rip her brother's heart out and eat it. I think that the speaker is referring to how her brother acts. The speaker's brother is probably lacking in emotion and very distant to his siblings. Maybe the speaker is suggesting that he lacks love or compassion. I don't think that there is any literal meaning to any of these metaphors, all of them are meant to be viewed symbolically. How these two siblings are described, it seems that the sister is talkative and very loose with how she speaks to others. The brother's heart is compared in size to a beef heart, which could be seen as a literal comparison, is more likely a symbolic representation of how his heart is lacking and does not have the capacity to provide love for more than one person.
While there is a disturbing outer message, there is a more focused lesson underneath. That is that siblings are all different, and how they relate is a very balanced, sometimes caustic if not nurtured or developed, relationship.
Unit 3. post 3.
The Drunkard by Frank O'Connor.
This was my favorite work of this unit. For what reason, because a nine year old got wasted in the process. That's why. That is not the main point of the story. The plot begins with the death of a character named Mr.Dooley, who is not important for any other reason than the fact that his death initiated a major change in the character of focus in this story. Larry's father is a man who is a good, hard working man with one downfall, his hubris if you will. That downfall is alcohol. After the funeral of Mr. Dooley, the father takes Larry, a nine year old to the pub. While at the bar, Mick, the boy's father, turns his back to talk with other patrons. Taking advantage of the opportunity to experiment, Larry chugged the pint of lager that his father had ordered. This kid gets HAMMERED. The father finds his son, plastered, and takes him home. The hilarity is not the focus of the story. The main point is the effect on the father's character. Seeing first hand how alcohol can make someone act, the father decides after that day that he would never drink again so he could set a good example for his children. The most important quote comes at the very end when the mother talks to Larry, saying "'My brave little man!'she said with her eyes shining. 'It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian Angel'" (O'Connor, 351). This is a touching moment because that one act of Larry getting drunk was enough to save his father from alcoholism, and, in turn, his family. It is an out loud family lesson of love and how small mistakes can have a profound positive change.
Unit 3. post 2
Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer.
This story had some very obvious irony attached to it. Cruel irony to be specific. Because of the family being constantly paranoid that they were being watched or threatened by their neighbors, they made an effort to make it impossible for burglars to enter the house uninvited. However, it is those additions to security that ultimately led to the downfall of the family because their son was injured by one of these security additions. That irony is also reflected by the author who in the beginning objected to the idea of writing a children's story, but ended up writing a twisted tale about how paranoia and superstition can lead to the demise of a family, which, I guess can be called a children story. There is also a lot of irony tied into the text, for example "In a house, in a suburb, in a city, there were a man and his wife who loved each other very much and were living happily ever after" (Gordimer, 232). That quote suggests the whimsical nature of a child story, but opposes the true theme of the story. I enjoyed this story because it provides a good life lesson. That is one can always be too cautious, and that caution and superstition can lead to catastrophe. A very valuable life lesson indeed.
Unit 3. post 1
A Worn Path by Eudora Welty.
This short story I had particular trouble understanding until I reread it and applied the questions to the story. Specifically question six cleared up a lot of confusion that I had. It made me reassess how I was reading the story. I was so caught up in how the story was about the grandson that I lost sight of what it was really about. This story is about unconditional love for family, dead or alive. When the author was questioned about whether the grandson was really dead or alive, the author responded that Phoenix was alive and that was all that mattered. That was my "ah-ha" moment. I realized how this story connected with the idea of family. Family is supposed to involve unconditional love, in death and life, in sadness and happiness, in health and sickness.
Maybe when Phoenix said "'My grandson. It was my memory had left me'" (Welty, 229) the reader could point that Phoenix's mind was going. However, even if Phoenix's grandson was not alive, her memory was enough to justify her action of love. I think that Phoenix forgetting that she had gone on a long journey for grandson foreshadows that he is in fact dead, but not in the mind of those who love him.
This short story I had particular trouble understanding until I reread it and applied the questions to the story. Specifically question six cleared up a lot of confusion that I had. It made me reassess how I was reading the story. I was so caught up in how the story was about the grandson that I lost sight of what it was really about. This story is about unconditional love for family, dead or alive. When the author was questioned about whether the grandson was really dead or alive, the author responded that Phoenix was alive and that was all that mattered. That was my "ah-ha" moment. I realized how this story connected with the idea of family. Family is supposed to involve unconditional love, in death and life, in sadness and happiness, in health and sickness.
Maybe when Phoenix said "'My grandson. It was my memory had left me'" (Welty, 229) the reader could point that Phoenix's mind was going. However, even if Phoenix's grandson was not alive, her memory was enough to justify her action of love. I think that Phoenix forgetting that she had gone on a long journey for grandson foreshadows that he is in fact dead, but not in the mind of those who love him.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Unit 2. post 5
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Symbolic analysis.
Perhaps one of the largest symbols in the entire play is the plant that Mama keeps nurturing despite it's tiny chance of living. From the beginning, the plant receives an inadequate amount of light to sustain life. In a way, this represents dreams and how they have little chance at living and thriving if they were not given the necessary tools to live and grow. At one point Mama says "Like this little old plant that ain't never had enough sunshine or nothing" (Hansberry, 52). She implies that it is not being given a chance to grow, much like the dreams of the family, especially Walter Sr.. That plant becomes a predominant symbol of how the dreams of everybody in the family had been put off and how they were suffering because of being put off for so long. The plant becomes a physical representation of what happens when a dream is forced to survive off of the bare minimum.
The plant is such an important symbol that is is carried through to the end of the story when Mama carried the plant out of the apartment as if to state that their dreams were getting the chance that they needed to erupt into a vibrant story of success.
Unit 2. post 4.
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Act three.
"There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you learned nothing" (Hansberry, 145).
Question 4 asks how pressure can change the decision of a character. Mr. Lindner had earlier offered to buyout the Youngers in order to keep them away from the predominantly white neighborhood. The Youngers were not going to accept the offer. However in Act III, Walter gets the idea of accepting the offer that Mr. Lindner had given them. It seems the only reason for Walter wants to agree to the deal is because he realizes racial limitations. He tries to justify his decision to the rest of the family by stating that they don't belong in the white world. However, the rest of the family rebukes that argument by saying that Walter was giving up on the dream of not only the family, but an entire ethnicity. He faces unanimous opposition to giving in from the family. In the end, Walter and the rest of the family stand against Mr. Lindner and refuse to give in to his oppression. They end up moving out of the tiny apartment and into their new home.
"There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you learned nothing" (Hansberry, 145).
Question 4 asks how pressure can change the decision of a character. Mr. Lindner had earlier offered to buyout the Youngers in order to keep them away from the predominantly white neighborhood. The Youngers were not going to accept the offer. However in Act III, Walter gets the idea of accepting the offer that Mr. Lindner had given them. It seems the only reason for Walter wants to agree to the deal is because he realizes racial limitations. He tries to justify his decision to the rest of the family by stating that they don't belong in the white world. However, the rest of the family rebukes that argument by saying that Walter was giving up on the dream of not only the family, but an entire ethnicity. He faces unanimous opposition to giving in from the family. In the end, Walter and the rest of the family stand against Mr. Lindner and refuse to give in to his oppression. They end up moving out of the tiny apartment and into their new home.
Unit 2. post 3
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Act two, scene two and three.
Question 12 addresses how many characters go through point of no return decisions. Mama faces her own point of no return decisions in her life. Many of the decisions are created by the decision to put off dreams. The biggest point no return for Mama was her decision to sacrifice all of her insurance money to put a down payment on a new house for all of her family. That is a point of no return because it is an immense expense and sacrifice that cannot be taken back. Ruth is thinking about making a no returns decision by deciding whether or not to abort her child. Mama is opposed to this because she lost a child when she was younger and always wanted to fulfill her dream of having another child.
Question 10 asks for a character who is dynamic character. I believe that the most dynamic character is Beneatha. In the beginning she seems to only care about her own dream of becoming a doctor and avoiding marriage, especially to George. However, halfway through the play, Beneatha discovers her african heritage, much like Dee from Everyday Use. She loses part of her drive to achieve because she focuses on her expansion of cultural immersion.
Question 9 asks how characters might feel trapped by those who oppose their dreams. I feel like the appearance of Mr. Lindner shows how the Youngers are trapped by their ethnicity. They are trapped because they are seen as unequal and are discriminated against. While they refuse to accept the buyout that was offered, it upsets the Youngers that they will never rise above what they are seen as. In a sense, they are trapped by their ethnicity.
"Claybourne Park? Mama, there ain't no colored people living in Claybourne Park" (Hansberry, 93).
Question 12 addresses how many characters go through point of no return decisions. Mama faces her own point of no return decisions in her life. Many of the decisions are created by the decision to put off dreams. The biggest point no return for Mama was her decision to sacrifice all of her insurance money to put a down payment on a new house for all of her family. That is a point of no return because it is an immense expense and sacrifice that cannot be taken back. Ruth is thinking about making a no returns decision by deciding whether or not to abort her child. Mama is opposed to this because she lost a child when she was younger and always wanted to fulfill her dream of having another child.
Question 10 asks for a character who is dynamic character. I believe that the most dynamic character is Beneatha. In the beginning she seems to only care about her own dream of becoming a doctor and avoiding marriage, especially to George. However, halfway through the play, Beneatha discovers her african heritage, much like Dee from Everyday Use. She loses part of her drive to achieve because she focuses on her expansion of cultural immersion.
Question 9 asks how characters might feel trapped by those who oppose their dreams. I feel like the appearance of Mr. Lindner shows how the Youngers are trapped by their ethnicity. They are trapped because they are seen as unequal and are discriminated against. While they refuse to accept the buyout that was offered, it upsets the Youngers that they will never rise above what they are seen as. In a sense, they are trapped by their ethnicity.
"Claybourne Park? Mama, there ain't no colored people living in Claybourne Park" (Hansberry, 93).
Unit 2. post 2
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Act two, scene one and two.
In this blog, I hope to answer question 11. Characters in this play seem to be overwhelmingly lonely in their own respects, while being together in a cramped apartment. Walter seems lonely because he is unanimously unsupported in his dreams by the rest of the family. His desires are shot down by Ruth and Beneatha because they require money. Beneatha is in the same boat as Walter because she is seen as a chaser of unattainable dreams. Mama and Ruth mock her for her desires and say the only way that she will make something of her self is if she marries George, a rich man who is dating Beneatha. Ruth seems alone because she is responsible for nurturing the ambitions of the rest of the family while she puts her own dreams alone. Mama seems alone in her own struggles because she wishes to see her family happy which will not happen in the oppressively small apartment. I believe that Mama buying the house is a symbol of how they are overcoming the oppression and finally making their dreams a reality, at least Mama and Ruth. Beneatha and Walter are displeased that the money, which they assumed as their own when it really wasn't, had been all spent on something that was not beneficial to their own selfish desires. Although the Youngers are achieving some of their dreams by moving into the new house, they are still having to delay some of their other ambitions because of a lack of means to achieve them.
"It's been rough, ain't it, baby? I guess between two people there ain't never as much understood folks generally thinks there is" (Hansberry, 88).
In this blog, I hope to answer question 11. Characters in this play seem to be overwhelmingly lonely in their own respects, while being together in a cramped apartment. Walter seems lonely because he is unanimously unsupported in his dreams by the rest of the family. His desires are shot down by Ruth and Beneatha because they require money. Beneatha is in the same boat as Walter because she is seen as a chaser of unattainable dreams. Mama and Ruth mock her for her desires and say the only way that she will make something of her self is if she marries George, a rich man who is dating Beneatha. Ruth seems alone because she is responsible for nurturing the ambitions of the rest of the family while she puts her own dreams alone. Mama seems alone in her own struggles because she wishes to see her family happy which will not happen in the oppressively small apartment. I believe that Mama buying the house is a symbol of how they are overcoming the oppression and finally making their dreams a reality, at least Mama and Ruth. Beneatha and Walter are displeased that the money, which they assumed as their own when it really wasn't, had been all spent on something that was not beneficial to their own selfish desires. Although the Youngers are achieving some of their dreams by moving into the new house, they are still having to delay some of their other ambitions because of a lack of means to achieve them.
"It's been rough, ain't it, baby? I guess between two people there ain't never as much understood folks generally thinks there is" (Hansberry, 88).
Unit 2. post 1
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Act one.
"Big Walter used to say, he'd get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, ' Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams'' (Hansberry, 46).
Perhaps one of the most outstanding differences between two characters is that between Beneatha and Walter. These two characters could even be called foil characters. This difference is in how each one presents their own ambitions and dreams. Walter seeks to make something of himself through monetary gain. His plan revolves around using the life insurance check to invest in a liquor business which he hopes to profit off of. Beneatha, on the other hand, seeks to make something of herself through title and overcoming limitations created by her ethnicity. Primarily she wants to become a doctor, a title that was seen as incapable for a black person to attain. Mama wants both to succeed but she lacks the means to provide the money for both of them to succeed. Both Beneatha and Walter seek the money from Mama to do what they want to do, without considering what others in the family need or want.
One of the biggest characters was Walter Younger Sr. who is presented as a person who loved his children and worked himself to death for his children to have the chance to make their dreams possible. When Ruth finds that she has been pregnant, it brings Mama hope because Walter Sr.'s love of children had been passed down to Mama. I believe that is the reason for Mama to take her money and buy a house for the family to expand in because the apartment they are in is cramped and not suited to raising another member of the family.
"Big Walter used to say, he'd get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, ' Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams'' (Hansberry, 46).
Perhaps one of the most outstanding differences between two characters is that between Beneatha and Walter. These two characters could even be called foil characters. This difference is in how each one presents their own ambitions and dreams. Walter seeks to make something of himself through monetary gain. His plan revolves around using the life insurance check to invest in a liquor business which he hopes to profit off of. Beneatha, on the other hand, seeks to make something of herself through title and overcoming limitations created by her ethnicity. Primarily she wants to become a doctor, a title that was seen as incapable for a black person to attain. Mama wants both to succeed but she lacks the means to provide the money for both of them to succeed. Both Beneatha and Walter seek the money from Mama to do what they want to do, without considering what others in the family need or want.
One of the biggest characters was Walter Younger Sr. who is presented as a person who loved his children and worked himself to death for his children to have the chance to make their dreams possible. When Ruth finds that she has been pregnant, it brings Mama hope because Walter Sr.'s love of children had been passed down to Mama. I believe that is the reason for Mama to take her money and buy a house for the family to expand in because the apartment they are in is cramped and not suited to raising another member of the family.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Unit ONE. post FIVE.
"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
In this short story, I was for the most part lost in the plot line. But after reading it a couple of times, I sort of understand the message. To me, the message was that there is something lost when two cultural identities inter mix. Mr. Kapasi and The Dases are two completely different entities of different cultures, different pasts, and different experiences. Yet the two try to co exist in one environment. Which proves to be unfruitful. I especially found that Mr. Kapasi was very wise in explaining to Mrs. Das how her lie to her husband about her illegitimate son was ruining her relationship with her family. Mr. Kapasi explained it to Mrs. Das that "Is it really pain you feel... or is it guilt?" (Lahiri). This spoke to me. How two emotions could be confused and manipulated to feel like the same thing. Perhaps the point of this reading was to express how there can be a loss of emotional identity when there is no truth, or true love. As abstract as that concept is, it made sense to me.
I think that this and all the other works in this unit express how identity is lost through our own actions. How we determine what traits and aspects of our lives can ruin what makes us each individual. This story especially, taught me that we lose a part of ourselves when ever we lie, or hide and alter what is important to our identity, much like in "Everyday Use".
In this short story, I was for the most part lost in the plot line. But after reading it a couple of times, I sort of understand the message. To me, the message was that there is something lost when two cultural identities inter mix. Mr. Kapasi and The Dases are two completely different entities of different cultures, different pasts, and different experiences. Yet the two try to co exist in one environment. Which proves to be unfruitful. I especially found that Mr. Kapasi was very wise in explaining to Mrs. Das how her lie to her husband about her illegitimate son was ruining her relationship with her family. Mr. Kapasi explained it to Mrs. Das that "Is it really pain you feel... or is it guilt?" (Lahiri). This spoke to me. How two emotions could be confused and manipulated to feel like the same thing. Perhaps the point of this reading was to express how there can be a loss of emotional identity when there is no truth, or true love. As abstract as that concept is, it made sense to me.
I think that this and all the other works in this unit express how identity is lost through our own actions. How we determine what traits and aspects of our lives can ruin what makes us each individual. This story especially, taught me that we lose a part of ourselves when ever we lie, or hide and alter what is important to our identity, much like in "Everyday Use".
Unit ONE. post FOUR
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker.
I would like to comment on how this work especially ties into the theme of this unit. Identity. In the beginning of the story, the speaker and her two daughters are a lower class African American family living in a small shack. Dee, the oldest goes away for school and Maggie and her mother are left at home. This story picks up with Maggie and her mother waiting for Dee to come visit. This is where identity comes in. Dee had participated in one of the Back to Africa movements that were oh so popular in the early twentieth century. This is apparent by the way she speaks. For example, her greeting to her mother and younger sister includes her telling her mother that her names is "Not 'Dee,' Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo!" (Walker). I think that the point of the story is that identity does not lie in cultural past, rather it lies with your family, how you were raised, and what you were taught to believe. This story is deceptively sad in the end because Dee, in trying to discover her identity and heritage, abandoned what really defined her personality, her identity, her true self. This Story paints a vivid picture message that we do not have to look far to find what we really are. When understood, this message is especially powerful when it is expressed ironically as in this work.
I would like to comment on how this work especially ties into the theme of this unit. Identity. In the beginning of the story, the speaker and her two daughters are a lower class African American family living in a small shack. Dee, the oldest goes away for school and Maggie and her mother are left at home. This story picks up with Maggie and her mother waiting for Dee to come visit. This is where identity comes in. Dee had participated in one of the Back to Africa movements that were oh so popular in the early twentieth century. This is apparent by the way she speaks. For example, her greeting to her mother and younger sister includes her telling her mother that her names is "Not 'Dee,' Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo!" (Walker). I think that the point of the story is that identity does not lie in cultural past, rather it lies with your family, how you were raised, and what you were taught to believe. This story is deceptively sad in the end because Dee, in trying to discover her identity and heritage, abandoned what really defined her personality, her identity, her true self. This Story paints a vivid picture message that we do not have to look far to find what we really are. When understood, this message is especially powerful when it is expressed ironically as in this work.
Unit ONE. post THREE.
"Mr. Z" by M. Carl Holman.
In question two, the book asks to identify Mr. Z's motivation to achieve.
This was kinda tough, yet at the same time obvious. While reading this poem, I got the impression that Mr. Z was put down most of his life because of his ethnic background. Specifically his mother, who is implied to have been African American. This poem reminds me of the typical teenager who would do something because his parents said he could not do it. His character develops from a country boy to a sophisticated member of society who is said to have been "unclogged by ethnic weights" (Holman). We see him climb from racial boundaries to become well mannered and educated. His drive was to get away from the racial stereotype that had held him down in the past. And he did, or so he thought. In his death, he was not even viewed as an equal even though he walked like a white person, ate at high end restaurants like white people did, and even spoke like a white person did. None of that changed the fact that he was viewed differently. In the end, his obituary read "One of the most distinguished members of his race" (Holman). This gives the connotation that Mr. Z could never escape his ethnic past, no matter how similar he was to White people. So ultimately he failed at his goal to get away from his culture. He lost his identity, which is all others could see him as.
In question two, the book asks to identify Mr. Z's motivation to achieve.
This was kinda tough, yet at the same time obvious. While reading this poem, I got the impression that Mr. Z was put down most of his life because of his ethnic background. Specifically his mother, who is implied to have been African American. This poem reminds me of the typical teenager who would do something because his parents said he could not do it. His character develops from a country boy to a sophisticated member of society who is said to have been "unclogged by ethnic weights" (Holman). We see him climb from racial boundaries to become well mannered and educated. His drive was to get away from the racial stereotype that had held him down in the past. And he did, or so he thought. In his death, he was not even viewed as an equal even though he walked like a white person, ate at high end restaurants like white people did, and even spoke like a white person did. None of that changed the fact that he was viewed differently. In the end, his obituary read "One of the most distinguished members of his race" (Holman). This gives the connotation that Mr. Z could never escape his ethnic past, no matter how similar he was to White people. So ultimately he failed at his goal to get away from his culture. He lost his identity, which is all others could see him as.
Unit ONE. post TWO
"Toads" by Philip Larkin
In the first question, made me realize that there were two toads, and although I did not answer what the question wanted, I believe understanding the purpose of the two toads is much, much more important.
The first Toad can be described as, in lay man's terms, Senior-itis. The speaker sees the first toad as the temptation to give in and quit. To essentially give up all of his worldly plans to succeed and live off the land. The first toad is his justification to living off the street and materialistically. In Line 13, the speaker says "Lots of folk live up lanes With fires in a bucket, Eat windfalls and tinned sardines - They seem to like it" (Larkin). He says this as if to say that he might like it if he tried to live off the street.
All that the first toad is is negated by the second toad, which we can simply call ambition or self determination. The second toad is the speaker's internal drive to become more than nothing. It is his want to succeed. Quite simply, the second toad gets in the way of satisfying the first.
The point of the poem is to state that one cannot satisfy his desire to be nothing and something at the same time.
In the first question, made me realize that there were two toads, and although I did not answer what the question wanted, I believe understanding the purpose of the two toads is much, much more important.
The first Toad can be described as, in lay man's terms, Senior-itis. The speaker sees the first toad as the temptation to give in and quit. To essentially give up all of his worldly plans to succeed and live off the land. The first toad is his justification to living off the street and materialistically. In Line 13, the speaker says "Lots of folk live up lanes With fires in a bucket, Eat windfalls and tinned sardines - They seem to like it" (Larkin). He says this as if to say that he might like it if he tried to live off the street.
All that the first toad is is negated by the second toad, which we can simply call ambition or self determination. The second toad is the speaker's internal drive to become more than nothing. It is his want to succeed. Quite simply, the second toad gets in the way of satisfying the first.
The point of the poem is to state that one cannot satisfy his desire to be nothing and something at the same time.
Unit ONE. Post ONE.
"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of this poem is the author's use of simile and metaphor. This use of metaphor creates powerful images in the readers imagination. The diction chosen elevates the effectiveness of the literary device. For example, "or does it fester like a sore"(Hughes), creates a strong visual while being read.
Question two of in the book states that this poem describes any dream, but makes the reader realize that Hughes was an African American. Knowing his life span and the history of that era, one can put together the puzzle that the poem specifically describes the dream African Americans had for civil freedoms and how they had to fight to attain them. I might even go as far as to say that this poem is a look back on the civil rights movement and how it exploded from the will and dreams of an oppressed people. All of the similes could also be used to describe how African Americans were not acting on their dream of being free from segregation and it was weighing on their mind, or it sugared over like a treat they could never get to. Or it festered and irritated them that that they were doing nothing about their horrible treatment. Or maybe it withered and dried in the sun as their hopes of civil equality died with the rise of Jim Crow Laws.
Maybe I am reading into it too much and I am tying in too many things outside the text, but I believe that when taking the author's history into context, this boils down to the dream of civil equality.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of this poem is the author's use of simile and metaphor. This use of metaphor creates powerful images in the readers imagination. The diction chosen elevates the effectiveness of the literary device. For example, "or does it fester like a sore"(Hughes), creates a strong visual while being read.
Question two of in the book states that this poem describes any dream, but makes the reader realize that Hughes was an African American. Knowing his life span and the history of that era, one can put together the puzzle that the poem specifically describes the dream African Americans had for civil freedoms and how they had to fight to attain them. I might even go as far as to say that this poem is a look back on the civil rights movement and how it exploded from the will and dreams of an oppressed people. All of the similes could also be used to describe how African Americans were not acting on their dream of being free from segregation and it was weighing on their mind, or it sugared over like a treat they could never get to. Or it festered and irritated them that that they were doing nothing about their horrible treatment. Or maybe it withered and dried in the sun as their hopes of civil equality died with the rise of Jim Crow Laws.
Maybe I am reading into it too much and I am tying in too many things outside the text, but I believe that when taking the author's history into context, this boils down to the dream of civil equality.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Poetry interpretation article.
I found that Perrine had some valid points to his lesson on how to interpret poetry. However, there is a fundamental point that I have trouble grasping, primarily for the fact that I do not believe it to be true. Perrine stated that one must be able to find an interpretation that had no contradictions and if there were contradictions, that visualization is false or wrong. Also, Perrine stated that if there were more than one visualizations, then the one that is most correct is the one that is most "economical" (whatever that means). I disagree with both of these because I do not believe that there is one concrete way of reading and analyzing any type of poetry. I say this because it is hard to pinpoint the exact feelings and purpose the author of a poem is trying to convey without having years of practice and experience with that poet's works. For a novice, such as myself, the idea of poetry, to me at least, is to come up with an interpretation that is satisfying to the reader's imagination (or lack of). That is one of the beauties of poetry, it allows the reader to have his creativity factor into the poem. When we decide that there is one, and only one, way of reading and analyzing a poem, all of the joy is taken out of reading that poem. Secondly, what if the poet wanted you to question your own interpretation by using contradiction. That may be the purpose of the poem, make you question and think.
When reading this article, I believe that Perrine had some very beneficial advice for how to read a poem. Being the lazy person that I usually am, I would normally take words arranged in a poem at face value. I was only able to see literal meaning, which, in poetry, is almost never the correct way to view a poem. I think after reading this article, especially the section about the symbols, it would be helpful to me to open my mind to the different meanings that the words could mean. I think that when reading a poem that contains literary symbols, I would more cautiously consider the higher meaning. Perfect example: the William Blake poem that we went over in class. I had no idea what the rose or worm could have meant. My tiny and underdeveloped literary brain only had the capacity to take the words at face value rather than dig deeper into what the author intended for them to mean. From now on, I think that I will write possible ideas for what authors are trying to say onto a white board or piece of paper, just so that I can grasp the deeper meaning that the author may intend to convey. Similarly, I think that I will have to learn when symbols mean nothing more than their face value.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
My reading photo.
I currently work for a non-profit organization called Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc., a wonderful company that I personally love working for. What I do is fulfill the company name. How? Glad you asked.
In the included photo, I am reading F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby while providing water to this poor, thirsty Liquidambar styraciflua (better known as the Sweet Gum or Tree Stars from the "Land Before Time" films).
Every year, KIB plants hundreds of native trees around Marion County, as far down as Southeastway park. Who in the world cares for the nearly 5000 trees planted in Indianapolis by KIB and its volunteers? That is where I come in. I am a member of the Youth Tree Team. I, and 80 or so of my coworkers, travel around Indianapolis every week and water all of the trees that we have planted. With this drought, our job has never been more important. As you can see from the photo, every tree is given two five gallon buckets of water each week. Think that it is easy to carry ten gallons of water? Think again. Each bucket weighs forty pounds. And we do it hundreds of times a day, over distances of up to a football field (sometimes the water trailers can't get to some of the trees, which are really far away). Over the summer, as a group, the YTT carried an average of 121,000 buckets of water, which when multiplied by five gives you 605,000 average total gallons of water. Still sound easy? Oh, I forgot to mention that we had to deal with the ridiculous heat daily. In addition to watering the trees, the YTT is tasked with mulching and general care of trees (sadly, including removal of dead trees). I am happy to do my job because I love the people I get to work with, I love helping bring nature to the city, and I love being part of a company that is motivated by the environment rather than corporate advancement.
If you would like to learn more about KIB, volunteer for an event, or apply to be a YTT member, go to KIBI.org/youth_tree_team
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Great Gatsby. Final Thoughts.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Well, I enjoyed this book. That is after sifting through all of the useless and filler material. I enjoyed reading the fun parts, especially the last chapters. Certainly, I liked this book more than The House of Mirth, primarily because it is 50 pages less in length, but also, because it was not as dry and emotionless as the first novel. I think that the style of narration made this novel so much better. That is because it was actually a first hand account of a character who was looking back on the event. Instead of a narration given by an outside omniscient being. This novel particularly struck me as the typical cheesy love story that you would see on Hallmark or Lifetime. While that may be, Fitzgerald did a superb job of engaging the reader and capturing their attention and keeping it. I especially enjoy how the plot progressions were not really noticeable and that everything just kinda flowed together almost seamlessly. However, there was a lot of information that seemed pretty useless to me. It made me ask what it's purpose was to help to story. Often, I had trouble answering that question. This was an overall enjoyable, but confusing, novel to read.
"He seemed reluctant to put away the picture, held it for another minute, lingeringly, before my eyes" (Fitzgerald, 172 )
Well, I enjoyed this book. That is after sifting through all of the useless and filler material. I enjoyed reading the fun parts, especially the last chapters. Certainly, I liked this book more than The House of Mirth, primarily because it is 50 pages less in length, but also, because it was not as dry and emotionless as the first novel. I think that the style of narration made this novel so much better. That is because it was actually a first hand account of a character who was looking back on the event. Instead of a narration given by an outside omniscient being. This novel particularly struck me as the typical cheesy love story that you would see on Hallmark or Lifetime. While that may be, Fitzgerald did a superb job of engaging the reader and capturing their attention and keeping it. I especially enjoy how the plot progressions were not really noticeable and that everything just kinda flowed together almost seamlessly. However, there was a lot of information that seemed pretty useless to me. It made me ask what it's purpose was to help to story. Often, I had trouble answering that question. This was an overall enjoyable, but confusing, novel to read.
"He seemed reluctant to put away the picture, held it for another minute, lingeringly, before my eyes" (Fitzgerald, 172 )
The Great Gatsby. Chapters 8 & 9.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
By far the most exciting chapters. Ok, so this is going to get complicated, try to follow along. After the confrontation with Tom about his love of Daisy, Gatsby returns home. Later, Daisy is driving Gatsby's car through the valley when she hits Myrtle Wilson, Tom's lover. Tom, in turn, tells George that Gatsby was driving the car. George goes to Gatsby's house, kills him in his pool, then kills himself. Give me a minute to breathe.... that is the short version.
Nick then takes through his account of the events of that day as if it was a flashback. The last chapter goes through the funeral arrangements and other proceedings after Gatsby's death.
This reminds me of the oh so cliche Hollywood love stories that you go to pay $11 to see in a theater. This love triangle, scratch that, love pentagon, developed from a complicated situation to a deadly one. It is interesting to see how an American classic can be used as a template for so many cheesy movies produced by Lifetime or Hallmark. That is not really interesting, but sad, because Fitzgerald made his such an elegant and wonderful masterpiece. I think that this escalation in plot progression was just what Fitzgerald wanted the reader to experience.
"It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete" (Fitzgerald, 162)
By far the most exciting chapters. Ok, so this is going to get complicated, try to follow along. After the confrontation with Tom about his love of Daisy, Gatsby returns home. Later, Daisy is driving Gatsby's car through the valley when she hits Myrtle Wilson, Tom's lover. Tom, in turn, tells George that Gatsby was driving the car. George goes to Gatsby's house, kills him in his pool, then kills himself. Give me a minute to breathe.... that is the short version.
Nick then takes through his account of the events of that day as if it was a flashback. The last chapter goes through the funeral arrangements and other proceedings after Gatsby's death.
This reminds me of the oh so cliche Hollywood love stories that you go to pay $11 to see in a theater. This love triangle, scratch that, love pentagon, developed from a complicated situation to a deadly one. It is interesting to see how an American classic can be used as a template for so many cheesy movies produced by Lifetime or Hallmark. That is not really interesting, but sad, because Fitzgerald made his such an elegant and wonderful masterpiece. I think that this escalation in plot progression was just what Fitzgerald wanted the reader to experience.
"It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete" (Fitzgerald, 162)
The Great Gatsby. Pages 130 - 147.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
From the beginning of this section of reading, you see some irony. Tom talking about honesty in relationships and family. Which is absolutely hilarious because he has no room to be talking. That is not the most spicy part of this section. Tom essentially has his marriage thrown in his face when Gatsby says "Your wife doesn't love you" (Fitzgerald, 130). This is the most drama and emotion that has been seen out of Gatsby.
All throughout this argument, Gatsby peppers in his "old sport" saying... I HATE IT!
Now we see all of the marital issues come to the surface and this argument gets a lot more heated. During this argument, Tom inadvertently admits his infidelity openly (not that he needed to). Tom tries to pull the "i'm going to be a better husband, if you stay with me" card, but Daisy is not going to have it. We also find out that Gatsby had been a bootlegger in Chicago. Interesting, I know.
This all explains why Gatsby was always dishonest and always seemed worried.
This section of reading is chock full of interesting facts that were not obvious earlier. I would without a doubt say that this is the climax of the novel.
From the beginning of this section of reading, you see some irony. Tom talking about honesty in relationships and family. Which is absolutely hilarious because he has no room to be talking. That is not the most spicy part of this section. Tom essentially has his marriage thrown in his face when Gatsby says "Your wife doesn't love you" (Fitzgerald, 130). This is the most drama and emotion that has been seen out of Gatsby.
All throughout this argument, Gatsby peppers in his "old sport" saying... I HATE IT!
Now we see all of the marital issues come to the surface and this argument gets a lot more heated. During this argument, Tom inadvertently admits his infidelity openly (not that he needed to). Tom tries to pull the "i'm going to be a better husband, if you stay with me" card, but Daisy is not going to have it. We also find out that Gatsby had been a bootlegger in Chicago. Interesting, I know.
This all explains why Gatsby was always dishonest and always seemed worried.
This section of reading is chock full of interesting facts that were not obvious earlier. I would without a doubt say that this is the climax of the novel.
The Great Gatsby. Pages 113 - 129.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
At the beginning of this chapter, more peculiar behavior from Gatsby can be seen. Apparently, he had fired all of his servants in order to hire some others. These new servants had acquired a favor from Wolfsheim who asked Gatsby to provide that favor. All of this is irrelevant. Now on to the quasi important stuff. Nick and Gatsby go to the Buchanans for lunch and come to find Jordan there. It seems that Daisy urgently wanted them there for the occasion because she was scheming something. Perhaps her marital issues had come to a point that she could not bare any longer? We can see that she is having feelings for Mr. Gatsby when she says "'You know I love you'" (Fitzgerald, 116).
I would just like to stop and ask... are they really complaining that it's hot? I wish they could experience this weather.
Later, Tom finds that his mistress is leaving with her husband to go out west. George had discovered that Myrtle was living a separate life. Simultaneously, Myrtle was staring out the window and saw Jordan Baker in the car and thought that she was Tom's wife. This entire situation is ridiculous to me.
The Great Gatsby. Pages 104 - 111.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Ah, its time for another Gatsby party, and this time with a twist. The Buchanans show up at this affair. Tom creates an uneasy feeling to Nick. Tom apparently came to the party because he was increasingly suspicious of Daisy going about by herself. This party was not as enjoyable to Nick as previous ones had been. Whether it be Tom's presence or it was just not the right night to have a party, Nick and Daisy were not having a particularly enjoyable time.
One of the most enjoyable parts of this book has been the incorporation of history. Throughout the book, it can be seen that direct historical references are pulled straight from the era. From Jazz to bootlegging during the prohibition, Fitzgerald made history part of the plot, which I particularly like. This is an excellent writing strategy because it gives the reader something to anchor the reading to in history, which can make the plot easier to understand.
"Or perhaps I had merely grown used to it, grown to accept West Egg as a world complete in itself, with its own standards and its own great figures, second to nothing because it had no consciousness of being so" (Fitzgerald, 104).
Ah, its time for another Gatsby party, and this time with a twist. The Buchanans show up at this affair. Tom creates an uneasy feeling to Nick. Tom apparently came to the party because he was increasingly suspicious of Daisy going about by herself. This party was not as enjoyable to Nick as previous ones had been. Whether it be Tom's presence or it was just not the right night to have a party, Nick and Daisy were not having a particularly enjoyable time.
One of the most enjoyable parts of this book has been the incorporation of history. Throughout the book, it can be seen that direct historical references are pulled straight from the era. From Jazz to bootlegging during the prohibition, Fitzgerald made history part of the plot, which I particularly like. This is an excellent writing strategy because it gives the reader something to anchor the reading to in history, which can make the plot easier to understand.
"Or perhaps I had merely grown used to it, grown to accept West Egg as a world complete in itself, with its own standards and its own great figures, second to nothing because it had no consciousness of being so" (Fitzgerald, 104).
The Great Gatsby. Pages 97 - 103.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
After his bout of confusing and difficult to understand behavior, Gatsby seems to be in a state of normal as he talks to a reporter who is chasing a long shot.
This section of the book, like so many others before it, serves the purpose of doing nothing more than acting as filler. There are a few recognizable secondary characters that had disappeared earlier who reappear for a stint in the spotlight. We do see some history of the characters come to the surface, but nothing spectacular or of notation. Thus far in the book, I am not really sure what to think of the main characters. Nick appears to be a bystander in most of the situations. That may be a byproduct of him being the narrator, or it could be that he has a boring personality. Gatsby has gone through some personality shifts which make me question his purpose and sanity. Daisy seems like she is unhappy underneath her upbeat facade. If anything, I think that she is displeased with her marriage to Tom, primarily because of his infidelity. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how these characters evolved from the beginning to now. However, this section of the book acts as a cutaway from the main story to a different story.
"He had been coasting along all too hospitable shores for five years when he turned up as James Gatz's destiny in Little Girl Bay" (Fitzgerald, 99).
After his bout of confusing and difficult to understand behavior, Gatsby seems to be in a state of normal as he talks to a reporter who is chasing a long shot.
This section of the book, like so many others before it, serves the purpose of doing nothing more than acting as filler. There are a few recognizable secondary characters that had disappeared earlier who reappear for a stint in the spotlight. We do see some history of the characters come to the surface, but nothing spectacular or of notation. Thus far in the book, I am not really sure what to think of the main characters. Nick appears to be a bystander in most of the situations. That may be a byproduct of him being the narrator, or it could be that he has a boring personality. Gatsby has gone through some personality shifts which make me question his purpose and sanity. Daisy seems like she is unhappy underneath her upbeat facade. If anything, I think that she is displeased with her marriage to Tom, primarily because of his infidelity. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how these characters evolved from the beginning to now. However, this section of the book acts as a cutaway from the main story to a different story.
"He had been coasting along all too hospitable shores for five years when he turned up as James Gatz's destiny in Little Girl Bay" (Fitzgerald, 99).
The Great Gatsby. Pages 92 - 96.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Gatsby's peculiar behavior continues as he shows Nick around his house.
By the way, the "old sport" thing is really starting to tick me off.
I feel like nothing particularly special is happening in this section of the book, other than observing how characters are behaving, of course. I don't really understand the significance of this part of the book, it seems like useless filler to me. Then again, if this part did not exist, we would not get to see Gatsby act like a lunatic. Other than the entertainment factor, this part of the book did not really do anything to progress the plot or to advance the character profiles. Maybe that was Fitzgerald's intention so that the reader would have a retreat from absorbing detail or doing anything to interpret the symbolism. I can't tell. I enjoy reading and being able to paint a mental picture with the detail that the writer provides. Fitzgerald has done a remarkable job of making that possible.
"The rain was still falling, but the darkness had parted in the west , and there was a pink and golden billow of foamy clouds above the sea" (Fitzgerald, 94)
Gatsby's peculiar behavior continues as he shows Nick around his house.
By the way, the "old sport" thing is really starting to tick me off.
I feel like nothing particularly special is happening in this section of the book, other than observing how characters are behaving, of course. I don't really understand the significance of this part of the book, it seems like useless filler to me. Then again, if this part did not exist, we would not get to see Gatsby act like a lunatic. Other than the entertainment factor, this part of the book did not really do anything to progress the plot or to advance the character profiles. Maybe that was Fitzgerald's intention so that the reader would have a retreat from absorbing detail or doing anything to interpret the symbolism. I can't tell. I enjoy reading and being able to paint a mental picture with the detail that the writer provides. Fitzgerald has done a remarkable job of making that possible.
"The rain was still falling, but the darkness had parted in the west , and there was a pink and golden billow of foamy clouds above the sea" (Fitzgerald, 94)
The Great Gatsby. Pages 81 - 92
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
This is one time where Gatsby displays especially erratic behavior. Nick is getting home late when Gatsby approaches him and says "'Lets go to Coney Island, old sport. In my car'" (Fitzgerald, 81). Gatsby is showing very peculiar and restless behavior as he is having a conversation with Nick. This strange behavior would continue for the rest of this section of the book. Nick and Jay had arranged to meet for tea with Daisy, and without Tom. I am not exactly sure why Gatsby is acting so strangely, or if it will be explained later. This section covers primarily the tea party and that is pretty much it.
Gatsby and Nick seem to be worried about their own situation but Gatsby seems to be nervous about something, important or not. I think that it is strange how he responds to Nick and how he is talking in general. It seems like something is bothering him in some way.
This is one time where Gatsby displays especially erratic behavior. Nick is getting home late when Gatsby approaches him and says "'Lets go to Coney Island, old sport. In my car'" (Fitzgerald, 81). Gatsby is showing very peculiar and restless behavior as he is having a conversation with Nick. This strange behavior would continue for the rest of this section of the book. Nick and Jay had arranged to meet for tea with Daisy, and without Tom. I am not exactly sure why Gatsby is acting so strangely, or if it will be explained later. This section covers primarily the tea party and that is pretty much it.
Gatsby and Nick seem to be worried about their own situation but Gatsby seems to be nervous about something, important or not. I think that it is strange how he responds to Nick and how he is talking in general. It seems like something is bothering him in some way.
The Great Gatsby. Pages 72 - 80.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
In this section of reading, we are introduced to Mr. Wolfsheim. He seems to know something of Mr. Gatsby's history. It turns out that Gatsby had been lying about some parts of his past. Instead of being educated at Oxford like he said, Gatsby was instead educated at Oggsford. I am personally confused about the dishonesty, but I guess that is one of the mysteries of the book. This section of the book serves as a bridge between two different time periods. Essentially Nick presses the fast forward button and goes into the future by a few years. Nick gives a synopsis of how the different characters have evolved and advanced.
Just a side note, Tom had pretty much dropped off the plot line up until this point. Another side note, I think it is annoying how Gatsby keeps calling Nick "old sport" (Fitzgerald, 71). I am not sure why it is annoying to me, but it is.
Tom seems to have not developed any more than when we last saw him. He is still a demanding and forceful person.
"'How have you been ,anyhow?' demanded Tom of me" (Fitzgerald, 74).
We also see Daisy playing with the idea of getting married (and drunk). It could be presumed that Daisy found out about Tom having an affair with Myrtle, but I am not entirely sure. All of this part is told in a style that resembles "How I Met Your Mother". Later we find that Tom had an accident and was injured along with his passenger, who he was cheating on his wife with. Daisy drifts around for a few years after that.
In this section of reading, we are introduced to Mr. Wolfsheim. He seems to know something of Mr. Gatsby's history. It turns out that Gatsby had been lying about some parts of his past. Instead of being educated at Oxford like he said, Gatsby was instead educated at Oggsford. I am personally confused about the dishonesty, but I guess that is one of the mysteries of the book. This section of the book serves as a bridge between two different time periods. Essentially Nick presses the fast forward button and goes into the future by a few years. Nick gives a synopsis of how the different characters have evolved and advanced.
Just a side note, Tom had pretty much dropped off the plot line up until this point. Another side note, I think it is annoying how Gatsby keeps calling Nick "old sport" (Fitzgerald, 71). I am not sure why it is annoying to me, but it is.
Tom seems to have not developed any more than when we last saw him. He is still a demanding and forceful person.
"'How have you been ,anyhow?' demanded Tom of me" (Fitzgerald, 74).
We also see Daisy playing with the idea of getting married (and drunk). It could be presumed that Daisy found out about Tom having an affair with Myrtle, but I am not entirely sure. All of this part is told in a style that resembles "How I Met Your Mother". Later we find that Tom had an accident and was injured along with his passenger, who he was cheating on his wife with. Daisy drifts around for a few years after that.
The Great Gatsby. Pages 61 - 71
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
"'One time he killed a man who had found out that he was nephew to Von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil'" (Fitzgerald, 61).
This part of the book provides one very important clue as to the narration and writing style. For one thing, we get hints that Nick is recounting past events because he tells of a timetable that "is an old timetable now, disintegrating at its folds, and headed 'This schedule in effect July 5th, 1922.' But I can still read the gray names" (Fitzgerald, 61). Essentially, Nick is telling a story that is based in the past. In this section of the book, there are several secondary characters that are introduced to the story line. Most of these characters, I suspect, will more than likely disappear into the background and never surface again. Pretty much that is all that happened in this section of the book. Small characters were introduced and a small bit of plot development. My suspicion about Gatsby's personality thus far has been correct. It seems that Gatsby is a soft spoken and quiet person who is very reserved. We also learn a little of Gatsby's origins and history. Specifically how he acquired his wealth. Nick believes that Gatsby is not being completely honest with him, just as Miss Baker had suspected.
"'One time he killed a man who had found out that he was nephew to Von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil'" (Fitzgerald, 61).
This part of the book provides one very important clue as to the narration and writing style. For one thing, we get hints that Nick is recounting past events because he tells of a timetable that "is an old timetable now, disintegrating at its folds, and headed 'This schedule in effect July 5th, 1922.' But I can still read the gray names" (Fitzgerald, 61). Essentially, Nick is telling a story that is based in the past. In this section of the book, there are several secondary characters that are introduced to the story line. Most of these characters, I suspect, will more than likely disappear into the background and never surface again. Pretty much that is all that happened in this section of the book. Small characters were introduced and a small bit of plot development. My suspicion about Gatsby's personality thus far has been correct. It seems that Gatsby is a soft spoken and quiet person who is very reserved. We also learn a little of Gatsby's origins and history. Specifically how he acquired his wealth. Nick believes that Gatsby is not being completely honest with him, just as Miss Baker had suspected.
The Great Gatsby. Pages 49 - 59.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The Roaring Twenties... the Jazz age... all parts of the setting that Fitzgerald has set up for the reader to experience. Fitzgerald has done an excellent job making all of the setting very visual for the reader. We can see more development in Mr. Gatsby's personality. For one, we find that Gatsby is a loner, standing alone while everyone else is having a good time at the party. Also, we can see that Gatsby has a thing for Miss Baker because Gatsby pulls her aside to speak alone.
So far, this book seems to be rather dry and kinda boring. Maybe it is just me. I have not seen very much plot progression and that makes me wonder what Fitzgerald's strategy was. However, I am learning a lot about characters and how they will relate to one another later on in the story. Really, there is nothing going on other than Nick giving his accounts about his experiences with his neighbors and cousins.
I think I can see similarities between Nick and Mr. Gatsby. I feel that they have very similar personality traits. For one, Nick and Gatsby have no wife and are the quiet loner types. Secondly, I think that despite him being so wealthy, Gatsby is a down to earth person, unlike Tom, Daisy, and Jordan. I will see if I am correct in my analysis.
"The caterwauling horns had reached a crescendo and I turned away and cut across the lawn toward home" (Fitzgerald, 55).
The Roaring Twenties... the Jazz age... all parts of the setting that Fitzgerald has set up for the reader to experience. Fitzgerald has done an excellent job making all of the setting very visual for the reader. We can see more development in Mr. Gatsby's personality. For one, we find that Gatsby is a loner, standing alone while everyone else is having a good time at the party. Also, we can see that Gatsby has a thing for Miss Baker because Gatsby pulls her aside to speak alone.
So far, this book seems to be rather dry and kinda boring. Maybe it is just me. I have not seen very much plot progression and that makes me wonder what Fitzgerald's strategy was. However, I am learning a lot about characters and how they will relate to one another later on in the story. Really, there is nothing going on other than Nick giving his accounts about his experiences with his neighbors and cousins.
I think I can see similarities between Nick and Mr. Gatsby. I feel that they have very similar personality traits. For one, Nick and Gatsby have no wife and are the quiet loner types. Secondly, I think that despite him being so wealthy, Gatsby is a down to earth person, unlike Tom, Daisy, and Jordan. I will see if I am correct in my analysis.
"The caterwauling horns had reached a crescendo and I turned away and cut across the lawn toward home" (Fitzgerald, 55).
The Great Gatsby. Pages 39 - 48
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The opening of chapter three describes the type of extravagant parties thrown by the rich of the twenties. The great decadence described does so much for the senses, it almost feels like you could be at the party. To read about the behavior and demeanor of the guests paints a picture of how these parties went. "Once there they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park" (Fitzgerald, 41).
The attention to detail that Fitzgerald put into his diction makes it so easy to imagine how the scene plays out.
We can glean a lot of information about many of the character's personalities. Especially Jordan Baker. We learn of her competitiveness and habits through her conversations with Nick and two other women. At the end of this section, we really meet Gatsby for the first time and have extended contact. We get some insight into his personality and see how his behavior reflects upon what kind of person he is. We see that he is a kind person and has humility despite his fortune. It seems that his riches have not made him into an impolite person.
The opening of chapter three describes the type of extravagant parties thrown by the rich of the twenties. The great decadence described does so much for the senses, it almost feels like you could be at the party. To read about the behavior and demeanor of the guests paints a picture of how these parties went. "Once there they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park" (Fitzgerald, 41).
The attention to detail that Fitzgerald put into his diction makes it so easy to imagine how the scene plays out.
We can glean a lot of information about many of the character's personalities. Especially Jordan Baker. We learn of her competitiveness and habits through her conversations with Nick and two other women. At the end of this section, we really meet Gatsby for the first time and have extended contact. We get some insight into his personality and see how his behavior reflects upon what kind of person he is. We see that he is a kind person and has humility despite his fortune. It seems that his riches have not made him into an impolite person.
The Great Gatsby. Pages 23 - 38
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
At the beginning of chapter two, we see a different side to the beauty and wealth of the Eggs. In between the two Eggs, there lies a desolate wasteland where nothing grows. Later we will find out that this area is a product of industrialism. In this chapter of the book, we are introduced to poorer characters of the story. In explaining the billboard depicting Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, Fitzgerald leaves the symbolism up to interpretation. This is a strategy that I expect to see throughout the book. We are introduced to two more characters in this section of the book, George and Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle is Tom's lover and Tom seems to have control over what she says and does. Myrtle joins Tom and Nick on a train to go to New York City. New York is vastly different from the setting of the West Egg, East Egg, or the desolate valley. There are several more secondary characters that are thrown into the mix. I expect most of them, aside from Myrtle Wilson, to disappear into the background.
"''You can't live forever, you can't live forever ''"(Fitzgerald, 36).
At the beginning of chapter two, we see a different side to the beauty and wealth of the Eggs. In between the two Eggs, there lies a desolate wasteland where nothing grows. Later we will find out that this area is a product of industrialism. In this chapter of the book, we are introduced to poorer characters of the story. In explaining the billboard depicting Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, Fitzgerald leaves the symbolism up to interpretation. This is a strategy that I expect to see throughout the book. We are introduced to two more characters in this section of the book, George and Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle is Tom's lover and Tom seems to have control over what she says and does. Myrtle joins Tom and Nick on a train to go to New York City. New York is vastly different from the setting of the West Egg, East Egg, or the desolate valley. There are several more secondary characters that are thrown into the mix. I expect most of them, aside from Myrtle Wilson, to disappear into the background.
"''You can't live forever, you can't live forever ''"(Fitzgerald, 36).
The Great Gatsby. Pages 13 - 21
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
This part of the book provides a look into the lifestyle people are living during the early twenties. We were introduced to several characters earlier and now we are introduced more to their personalities. Tom Buchanan, a rich man who had recently settled down in the East, seems paranoid and restless. We see in Tom the turn of the century racism and fear of other races threatening the security of white dominance. Daisy seems to give off a light-hearted and almost care free vibe. Miss Baker, to me anyway, seems to be the typical snooty rich girl. One who you would see on VH1's "You're Cut Off". Pages 13 to 24 serve as a look into the turn of the century life that many upper class people were living. Fitzgerald seems to have depicted the attitudes and behaviors of stereotypical rich people of the era. I feel like this book provides an accurate representation of what the upper class was like in the twentieth century. So far, there have been no real plot developments other than an introduction to a few of the main characters and their personality. At the very end of chapter 1, we see the first appearance of the so talked about Mr.Gatsby.
"When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness" (Fitzgerald, 21).
This part of the book provides a look into the lifestyle people are living during the early twenties. We were introduced to several characters earlier and now we are introduced more to their personalities. Tom Buchanan, a rich man who had recently settled down in the East, seems paranoid and restless. We see in Tom the turn of the century racism and fear of other races threatening the security of white dominance. Daisy seems to give off a light-hearted and almost care free vibe. Miss Baker, to me anyway, seems to be the typical snooty rich girl. One who you would see on VH1's "You're Cut Off". Pages 13 to 24 serve as a look into the turn of the century life that many upper class people were living. Fitzgerald seems to have depicted the attitudes and behaviors of stereotypical rich people of the era. I feel like this book provides an accurate representation of what the upper class was like in the twentieth century. So far, there have been no real plot developments other than an introduction to a few of the main characters and their personality. At the very end of chapter 1, we see the first appearance of the so talked about Mr.Gatsby.
"When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness" (Fitzgerald, 21).
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The Great Gatsby. Pages 1 - 12
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
After reading the first few pages, all that went through my mind was the question, what does this mean? There is so much symbolism and imagery contained within this first small section. For example, the main character talks about his father giving him advice which he uses throughout his life. Some strong Imagery can be seen when Nick says "And after boasting this way of my tolerance, I come to the admission that it has a limit. Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes, but after a certain point, I don't care what it's founded on" (Fitzgerald, 2). It seems that this first section of the book provides a look into the past of the main character. Nick Carraway, the novel's narrator and main character, seems to emanate a feeling of either contempt or envy for the rich upper class that he is surrounded by while living in the East. I got this feeling from when he was thinking about Tom and Mr. Gatsby. I am not sure as to which he is feeling but I am sure that I will find out as I read into it more.
F. Scott Fitzgerald has done a great job of making his transitions to different parts of the book impossibly smooth. While I was reading, I did not realize that I had gone on to a completely different part of the plot. This is a book that one could easily loose track of time while reading.
After reading the first few pages, all that went through my mind was the question, what does this mean? There is so much symbolism and imagery contained within this first small section. For example, the main character talks about his father giving him advice which he uses throughout his life. Some strong Imagery can be seen when Nick says "And after boasting this way of my tolerance, I come to the admission that it has a limit. Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes, but after a certain point, I don't care what it's founded on" (Fitzgerald, 2). It seems that this first section of the book provides a look into the past of the main character. Nick Carraway, the novel's narrator and main character, seems to emanate a feeling of either contempt or envy for the rich upper class that he is surrounded by while living in the East. I got this feeling from when he was thinking about Tom and Mr. Gatsby. I am not sure as to which he is feeling but I am sure that I will find out as I read into it more.
F. Scott Fitzgerald has done a great job of making his transitions to different parts of the book impossibly smooth. While I was reading, I did not realize that I had gone on to a completely different part of the plot. This is a book that one could easily loose track of time while reading.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Thought Pause. Endgame
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
From Riches to complete poverty, Lily went full circle. Her values that she learned from her mother were her ultimate demise. Vanity, greed, and her constant pursuit of wealth became her undoing. I believe that she learned that it was nobody else's fault but her own and that she had the power to change her fate. However, she lacked the will to do so. Despite her tremendous loss, Lily ultimately cleared her name of any debt and made right with the world. I feel as if Lily could have came out above all of the people whom she envied if she had chosen to practice a little humility and marry Selden to begin with. However, Lily did not believe that he could bring her happiness because he did not have the funds to do so. In that decision, Lily paid the price. If I was to remove all of the cluttering details, this story would bare particular resemblance to Romeo and Juliet with a few minor, ok, major differences. It is interesting to see how writers recycle plot lines and put a different name and spin on it. Just enough to make people believe that the story is new and unique from any other.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. This book really made me pay attention to detail, especially through the confusing and convoluted parts. While this story does bare some similarities to the Hollywood romance, there were unique things that made this story pop out from the rest. In my eyes, this was a five star read.
"Strive as she would to put some order in her thoughts, the words would not come more clearly; yet she felt that she could not leave him without trying to make him understand that she had saved herself whole from the seeming ruin of her life" (Wharton, 250).
From Riches to complete poverty, Lily went full circle. Her values that she learned from her mother were her ultimate demise. Vanity, greed, and her constant pursuit of wealth became her undoing. I believe that she learned that it was nobody else's fault but her own and that she had the power to change her fate. However, she lacked the will to do so. Despite her tremendous loss, Lily ultimately cleared her name of any debt and made right with the world. I feel as if Lily could have came out above all of the people whom she envied if she had chosen to practice a little humility and marry Selden to begin with. However, Lily did not believe that he could bring her happiness because he did not have the funds to do so. In that decision, Lily paid the price. If I was to remove all of the cluttering details, this story would bare particular resemblance to Romeo and Juliet with a few minor, ok, major differences. It is interesting to see how writers recycle plot lines and put a different name and spin on it. Just enough to make people believe that the story is new and unique from any other.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. This book really made me pay attention to detail, especially through the confusing and convoluted parts. While this story does bare some similarities to the Hollywood romance, there were unique things that made this story pop out from the rest. In my eyes, this was a five star read.
"Strive as she would to put some order in her thoughts, the words would not come more clearly; yet she felt that she could not leave him without trying to make him understand that she had saved herself whole from the seeming ruin of her life" (Wharton, 250).
Chapters 13 & 14. Book 2
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
Lily descends into depression. Surrounded by loneliness, without anything to look forward to, Lily falls into a delirious and depressed state. She is found wandering Bryant Park by an old acquaintance from when Lily participated in Gerty's charity program. Lily's encounter with Nettie Struther, who has achieved greatly and is living a comfortable family life, made Lily stronger and happier, however, this happiness did not last long. Lily receives a check from Mrs. Peniston's estate and she begins clearing her debts. After removing herself from debt, Lily was struck with the reality that she had no money to live on. Depressed by her situation, Lily overdoses on her sleep aid and dies in her sleep. The next day, Selden sets out to visit Lily and to ultimately propose to her. Gerty Farish had arrived first to find Lily dead in her bed. Selden remains with Lily and realizes how deep his love truly was for her. Selden feels as if he was partly responsible for her demise because he never had the nerves to tell how he truly felt about her.
Love and sadness are usually two motions that go hand in hand. This book kept that true. Even I, who believed that Lily got what she deserved for living such a lavish and frivolous life, felt sympathy for her and her situation. She did clear her name and make right with her affairs which was a good decision. I feel that if she had not been in a distraught state, Lily could have started with a clean slate.
"His words overwhelmed him in a realization of the cowardice which had driven him from her at the very moment of attainment" (Wharton, 267).
Chapters 10, 11, & 12. Book 2
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
A day in the shoes of the working class. Something that Lily Bart could never end up doing. WRONG. Lily leaves Mrs. Hatch to live in a boarding home by herself. Completely secluded from society, Lily becomes a maker of women's hats. From being a rich party girl to being a working class milliner, this marks the complete transformation of Lily's life. No more can she afford expensive clothes or jewelry, or to gamble away her earnings. Instead, she turns to a new addiction, sleep aids. However, her sleep medication has unforeseen consequences because, in spring, Lily is fired from her job due to lack of attendance and attention. Rosedale, who had started visiting her, tries to offer her money, however, she refuses. In an emotional fit, Lily visits Selden who confronts her. Lily apologizes for her insincerity over the years and thanks Selden for his kindness before she throws the letters from Bertha into the fire.
This book, if read in reverse would resemble so many of the "rags to riches" stories that Hollywood enjoys releasing to the public. Cinderella, Slum dog-Millionaire, the list goes on. That is if the story is told in reverse. Played in the forward direction, this book provides an excellent manual on how to not squander your money. If you remove all of the love triangles and drama, you get a story of a girl with a serious spending addiction who learns an important life lesson after it's too late. Call me a heartless person, but Lily got what was coming to her. Good for her that she refused help from Rosedale. She needed to be brought back down to reality.
"Beneath it she discovered an increasing sense of loneliness - a dread of returning to the solitude of her room, while she could be anywhere else, or in any company but her own. Circumstances, of late, had combined to cut her off more and more from her few remaining friends" (Wharton, 239).
A day in the shoes of the working class. Something that Lily Bart could never end up doing. WRONG. Lily leaves Mrs. Hatch to live in a boarding home by herself. Completely secluded from society, Lily becomes a maker of women's hats. From being a rich party girl to being a working class milliner, this marks the complete transformation of Lily's life. No more can she afford expensive clothes or jewelry, or to gamble away her earnings. Instead, she turns to a new addiction, sleep aids. However, her sleep medication has unforeseen consequences because, in spring, Lily is fired from her job due to lack of attendance and attention. Rosedale, who had started visiting her, tries to offer her money, however, she refuses. In an emotional fit, Lily visits Selden who confronts her. Lily apologizes for her insincerity over the years and thanks Selden for his kindness before she throws the letters from Bertha into the fire.
This book, if read in reverse would resemble so many of the "rags to riches" stories that Hollywood enjoys releasing to the public. Cinderella, Slum dog-Millionaire, the list goes on. That is if the story is told in reverse. Played in the forward direction, this book provides an excellent manual on how to not squander your money. If you remove all of the love triangles and drama, you get a story of a girl with a serious spending addiction who learns an important life lesson after it's too late. Call me a heartless person, but Lily got what was coming to her. Good for her that she refused help from Rosedale. She needed to be brought back down to reality.
"Beneath it she discovered an increasing sense of loneliness - a dread of returning to the solitude of her room, while she could be anywhere else, or in any company but her own. Circumstances, of late, had combined to cut her off more and more from her few remaining friends" (Wharton, 239).
Chapters 7, 8, & 9. Book 2
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
Lily has her heart set upon marrying Rosedale... mmm, that might be a problem. It turns out that Rosedale no longer wishes to marry Lily because he believes that he could do better because he heard of the things that happened with Lily and the Dorsets. Lily contemplates blackmail but she refuses that option because it would harm Selden and Bertha as a side effect. Lily realizes that she has been defeated completely by Bertha and her resources. Lily realizes that she can never work her way back into a higher status. Despite recognizing her complete downfall, Lily refuses to give up her expensive taste in clothes and living, or her greatest battle, gambling.
Like a true addict, Lily does not back down from her drug, gambling. It is kind of pathetic to see how someone who has realized their own defeat can be so stubborn as to not give up what became her downfall in the beginning. Frankly, I fail to see how Selden and Gerty can stand to help her when she refuses to help herself. Later on, when Lily become the secretary for Mrs. Hatch, whom is a divorcee, she still pursues the rich life even though she lacks the capacity to do so. It was a good moral decision for to not get involved with Mrs. Hatch and Fred Van Osburgh. This seems to be the end for Lily Bart and her bachelorette life.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen... "Miss Bart had not revealed to Gerty the full extent of her anxiety. She was in fact in urgent and immediate need of money: money to meet the vulgar weekly claims which could neither be deferred nor evaded" (Wharton, 217).
Lily has her heart set upon marrying Rosedale... mmm, that might be a problem. It turns out that Rosedale no longer wishes to marry Lily because he believes that he could do better because he heard of the things that happened with Lily and the Dorsets. Lily contemplates blackmail but she refuses that option because it would harm Selden and Bertha as a side effect. Lily realizes that she has been defeated completely by Bertha and her resources. Lily realizes that she can never work her way back into a higher status. Despite recognizing her complete downfall, Lily refuses to give up her expensive taste in clothes and living, or her greatest battle, gambling.
Like a true addict, Lily does not back down from her drug, gambling. It is kind of pathetic to see how someone who has realized their own defeat can be so stubborn as to not give up what became her downfall in the beginning. Frankly, I fail to see how Selden and Gerty can stand to help her when she refuses to help herself. Later on, when Lily become the secretary for Mrs. Hatch, whom is a divorcee, she still pursues the rich life even though she lacks the capacity to do so. It was a good moral decision for to not get involved with Mrs. Hatch and Fred Van Osburgh. This seems to be the end for Lily Bart and her bachelorette life.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen... "Miss Bart had not revealed to Gerty the full extent of her anxiety. She was in fact in urgent and immediate need of money: money to meet the vulgar weekly claims which could neither be deferred nor evaded" (Wharton, 217).
Chapters 4, 5, & 6. Book 2
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
Just Deserts...
Upon their return to New York, come to find that Mrs. Peniston has died. In her will, she left the bulk to Jack Stepney, who was wealthy to begin with, and left practically nothing to Lily, who only received $10,000, "and the residue of my [Mrs. Peniston] estate to my dear cousin and name-sake, Grace Julia Stepney" (Wharton, 180). Lily felt abandoned by her aunt and was heart broken. Oh, I forgot to mention that when Lily returned from her vacation, her reputation had been obliterated. She was discredited by almost everyone she knew, which motivates her to put all of her effort into regaining her status, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Still haunted by financial troubles, Lily wishes to repay Trenor. She asks for a loan from Grace who promptly refuses, which shows that her family has abandoned her. In an attempt to gain social, and in turn, financial security, Lily associates with the Gormer family. This is her power play to gain some popularity with the Trenor and Dorset group. After vacationing with the Gormer family in Alaska, Lily returns to New York with some of her status returned. Carrie Fisher convinces Lily to marry as soon as possible to ensure future financial stability. Lily resolves to marry Mr. Rosedale, however, upon seeing him, she is left with feelings to contemplate before she makes her ultimate decision.
I feel as if Lily is trying to find an easy way back to the top. This makes me wonder if Lily really deserves anything from anybody. I mean, she had the opportunity for happiness with Selden, instead, she squandered her fortune and ruined her chances at true happiness. Who else thinks that she got what she deserved?
Just Deserts...
Upon their return to New York, come to find that Mrs. Peniston has died. In her will, she left the bulk to Jack Stepney, who was wealthy to begin with, and left practically nothing to Lily, who only received $10,000, "and the residue of my [Mrs. Peniston] estate to my dear cousin and name-sake, Grace Julia Stepney" (Wharton, 180). Lily felt abandoned by her aunt and was heart broken. Oh, I forgot to mention that when Lily returned from her vacation, her reputation had been obliterated. She was discredited by almost everyone she knew, which motivates her to put all of her effort into regaining her status, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Still haunted by financial troubles, Lily wishes to repay Trenor. She asks for a loan from Grace who promptly refuses, which shows that her family has abandoned her. In an attempt to gain social, and in turn, financial security, Lily associates with the Gormer family. This is her power play to gain some popularity with the Trenor and Dorset group. After vacationing with the Gormer family in Alaska, Lily returns to New York with some of her status returned. Carrie Fisher convinces Lily to marry as soon as possible to ensure future financial stability. Lily resolves to marry Mr. Rosedale, however, upon seeing him, she is left with feelings to contemplate before she makes her ultimate decision.
I feel as if Lily is trying to find an easy way back to the top. This makes me wonder if Lily really deserves anything from anybody. I mean, she had the opportunity for happiness with Selden, instead, she squandered her fortune and ruined her chances at true happiness. Who else thinks that she got what she deserved?
Thought Pause. Book 2
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
The beginning of Book two can be characterized with a masking of the primary themes of early on in Book one. No longer is this simple cliche love story, rather a complicated who-done-it of lies and dealings. For me, it is hard to follow the web of lies that the Dorsets, Rosedale, Trenor, Ned Silverton, and Lily have weaved. I can understand how these lies came about, but I cannot see how any of them can continue to keep up the charade. I have seen some convoluted lies and tall tales that bare a resemblance to this instance, but from the original themes of the story that dictated that individuality and happiness were one in the same, I could have never guessed how this plot could have come about. I guess that it should have been obvious how this should have happened, it always is in hindsight. I probably could have figured out that Lily would have ended up in a financial nightmare after learning of her habitual gambling and frivolous spending, but the author did a good job of masking that outstanding eventuality with detail and diction that kept me in the now of the story. I guess that Wharton intentionally made it so that the original "message necessarily left large gaps for conjecture" (Wharton, 168), otherwise, it wouldn't be a good story. After all, predictable stories are almost always boring.
I am eager to find how this web of lies and dealings will untangle.
The beginning of Book two can be characterized with a masking of the primary themes of early on in Book one. No longer is this simple cliche love story, rather a complicated who-done-it of lies and dealings. For me, it is hard to follow the web of lies that the Dorsets, Rosedale, Trenor, Ned Silverton, and Lily have weaved. I can understand how these lies came about, but I cannot see how any of them can continue to keep up the charade. I have seen some convoluted lies and tall tales that bare a resemblance to this instance, but from the original themes of the story that dictated that individuality and happiness were one in the same, I could have never guessed how this plot could have come about. I guess that it should have been obvious how this should have happened, it always is in hindsight. I probably could have figured out that Lily would have ended up in a financial nightmare after learning of her habitual gambling and frivolous spending, but the author did a good job of masking that outstanding eventuality with detail and diction that kept me in the now of the story. I guess that Wharton intentionally made it so that the original "message necessarily left large gaps for conjecture" (Wharton, 168), otherwise, it wouldn't be a good story. After all, predictable stories are almost always boring.
I am eager to find how this web of lies and dealings will untangle.
Chapters 1 &2. Book 2
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
Book 2 opens with a setting change. Selden is in Monte Carlo with Carrie Fisher and the Dorsets. Much to Selden's surprise, Lily also arrives in Monte Carlo (strange how someone in debt can swing a vacation)," he was vaguely aware that Miss Bart was cruising in the Mediterranean with the Dorsets, but it had not occurred to him that there was any chance of running across her on the Riviera" (Wharton, 150). The only reason that Lily is on the trip is to distract Gorge while Bertha carries on her affair with Ned Silverton. Later this turns into a rumor that Lily and Gorge are having an affair of their own. Selden spots Ned and Bertha and figures out that Lily is being used as a distraction.
None of this can distract Lily from feeling dread about returning to her financial problems back in New York. Frankly, Lily is getting what she deserves for her dealings and trickery. She dug herself into this hole, she should suffer the consequences, one way or another, and find a way out herself. I am also confused that she is vacationing when she knows very well that she is dangerously low on funds to be squandered away. One might think that when facing a debt crisis that Lily would make sensible decisions. This reminds me of how our government, Lily, has a tremendous debt and yet instead of reducing spending, we continually get ourselves deeper into trouble.
None of this can distract Lily from feeling dread about returning to her financial problems back in New York. Frankly, Lily is getting what she deserves for her dealings and trickery. She dug herself into this hole, she should suffer the consequences, one way or another, and find a way out herself. I am also confused that she is vacationing when she knows very well that she is dangerously low on funds to be squandered away. One might think that when facing a debt crisis that Lily would make sensible decisions. This reminds me of how our government, Lily, has a tremendous debt and yet instead of reducing spending, we continually get ourselves deeper into trouble.
Chapter 15. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
The truth shall be revealed...
After leaving Gerty's house, Lily goes to see her Aunt to tell her the truth about her debt. At first, Lily tries to lie about the origin of her debt by saying that it was caused by living expenses however "her aunt's implacable memory had never been more inconvenient" (Wharton, 139). Mrs. Peniston had remarked that living expenses for a girl of her age could never amount to the sum that Lily had proclaimed. Lily finally admits to gambling away her money. Mrs. Peniston is appalled to find that Lily has been playing cards for money. Mrs. Peniston essentially leaves Lily out to dry and assumes the debt owed to the dress maker.
After Mrs. Peniston abandoned her, Lily saw Selden's affection as the only refuge at this point. However, Selden never came to visit Lily, instead, it was Mr. Rosedale, who arrived to propose to Lily for her hand in marriage. Lily explained to Mr. Rosedale that she would contemplate his marriage proposal and she dismissed him, hoping that Selden would come to see her. Selden never came. As it turns out, Selden had left for Havana in the afternoon.
Lily's anguish over her debt and her Aunt's refusal to help her left Lily in a desperate situation which she saw Selden as the only refuge. However, Selden had seen Lily with Trenor the night earlier and was still upset so he never came to her, instead, Rosedale came to her to propose to her with the enticing offer of clearing all her expenses. However, Lily still had feelings for Selden despite her lack of desire to marry him. It seems that Lily faces another life decision in the face of treacherous situations. All of Lily's financial hiccups are now catching up to her, making her choose between happiness and wealth.
The truth shall be revealed...
After leaving Gerty's house, Lily goes to see her Aunt to tell her the truth about her debt. At first, Lily tries to lie about the origin of her debt by saying that it was caused by living expenses however "her aunt's implacable memory had never been more inconvenient" (Wharton, 139). Mrs. Peniston had remarked that living expenses for a girl of her age could never amount to the sum that Lily had proclaimed. Lily finally admits to gambling away her money. Mrs. Peniston is appalled to find that Lily has been playing cards for money. Mrs. Peniston essentially leaves Lily out to dry and assumes the debt owed to the dress maker.
After Mrs. Peniston abandoned her, Lily saw Selden's affection as the only refuge at this point. However, Selden never came to visit Lily, instead, it was Mr. Rosedale, who arrived to propose to Lily for her hand in marriage. Lily explained to Mr. Rosedale that she would contemplate his marriage proposal and she dismissed him, hoping that Selden would come to see her. Selden never came. As it turns out, Selden had left for Havana in the afternoon.
Lily's anguish over her debt and her Aunt's refusal to help her left Lily in a desperate situation which she saw Selden as the only refuge. However, Selden had seen Lily with Trenor the night earlier and was still upset so he never came to her, instead, Rosedale came to her to propose to her with the enticing offer of clearing all her expenses. However, Lily still had feelings for Selden despite her lack of desire to marry him. It seems that Lily faces another life decision in the face of treacherous situations. All of Lily's financial hiccups are now catching up to her, making her choose between happiness and wealth.
Chapters 13 & 14. Book 1
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
In this section of the novel, there is a development in character relationships between Gerty Farish and Lily Bart. Specifically after Lily meets with Gus Trenor she becomes upset and asks to stay with Gerty for the night. There Gerty and Lily begin to become friends. Lily even aids Gerty in her philanthropy where Lily learns what true poverty is. This chapter marks a drastic change in Lily, a change that made Lily "a stranger to herself, or rather there were two selves in her, the one she had always known, and a new abhorrent being to which it found itself chained" (Wharton, 120).
In chapter 14, Selden is realizing that despite his reservations about loving someone who obsesses over money, his love for Lily is not subsiding. Selden's love for Lily is recognized by Gerty, who becomes jealous. After having dinner with Gerty, Selden goes to Carrie Fisher's house to find Lily, however, Lily had already left for the Trenor house. When Selden arrives there, he finds that Lily and Trenor were walking outside. Selden now believes that Trenor and Lily are truly having an affair. All the while, Gerty suspects that Selden and Lily are in an affair. Lily appears at Gerty's house and confesses that she is in need of money and that her situation is desperate. Gerty allows Lily to stay the night.
This section of the book is focused upon the development of the relationship between Gerty and Lily. Despite jealousy and differences, this unlikely friendship begins to build. Lily's gambling and dealing are now beginning to catch up with her, which will lead to future conflict.
In this section of the novel, there is a development in character relationships between Gerty Farish and Lily Bart. Specifically after Lily meets with Gus Trenor she becomes upset and asks to stay with Gerty for the night. There Gerty and Lily begin to become friends. Lily even aids Gerty in her philanthropy where Lily learns what true poverty is. This chapter marks a drastic change in Lily, a change that made Lily "a stranger to herself, or rather there were two selves in her, the one she had always known, and a new abhorrent being to which it found itself chained" (Wharton, 120).
In chapter 14, Selden is realizing that despite his reservations about loving someone who obsesses over money, his love for Lily is not subsiding. Selden's love for Lily is recognized by Gerty, who becomes jealous. After having dinner with Gerty, Selden goes to Carrie Fisher's house to find Lily, however, Lily had already left for the Trenor house. When Selden arrives there, he finds that Lily and Trenor were walking outside. Selden now believes that Trenor and Lily are truly having an affair. All the while, Gerty suspects that Selden and Lily are in an affair. Lily appears at Gerty's house and confesses that she is in need of money and that her situation is desperate. Gerty allows Lily to stay the night.
This section of the book is focused upon the development of the relationship between Gerty and Lily. Despite jealousy and differences, this unlikely friendship begins to build. Lily's gambling and dealing are now beginning to catch up with her, which will lead to future conflict.
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