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.
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