"She would have it, this baby. She grabbed for the baby's other arm. She caught the baby around the wrist and leaned back. But he would not let go...He pulled back very hard."
The tone of this story was definitely dark, in the actions of the characters and in the descriptions. The introduction paragraph describing the dark, cold setting establishes the overall mood of the action to come. A significance aspect of the author's style is the absence of quotation marks. The dialogue runs together with the other sentences, making it seem like the characters aren't even speaking to each other. An objective observer tells the story, but it seems like the reader is watching from afar or reading the transcript of what occurred. The action happens quickly as the fight escalates and gets more heated. The syntax consists of short, direct sentences with very little descriptions. The baby is like an object they fight over, and possession of the infant proves superiority. Finally the issue was decided, and I got the impression that the baby was torn in half. This is ironic because both parents get the baby, yet neither of them really gets the baby. This is like the story of Solomon threatening to split the baby, but it this story there was no love involved that saved that child.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
You're Ugly, Too
"..Trapped out on a balcony with- with what? 'Really, I was just kidding!' Zoe shouted...She smiled at him, and wondered how she looked."
I got the impression that Zoe is mentally ill, perhaps bipolar. Her eccentricities seem more crazy than just weird, especially her social interactions, her Baggies of things, and her objects in her house. Even though other people find her strange, Zoe seems oblivious. She seems to have a distorted image of herself, thinking she's connecting with the students or that she's ironic. Evaluations of the students tell the reader a different story which adds both irony and humor. Those reviews give the reader a much deeper insight into Zoe and expose even more strange mannerisms. Because she's so weird and possibly crazy, she's a sympathetic character. I felt bad for her because she was so pitiful. She is so lonely, but she makes light of her situation. She applies her ironic, joking nature to many problems in her life: her class, her family, and her medical condition. She chooses to focus on her appearance which is insignificant and not appropriate given her current situation, especially at the party. She tries to cover up her issues and emotions with jokes, just like she used humor to cover her speech impediment.
I got the impression that Zoe is mentally ill, perhaps bipolar. Her eccentricities seem more crazy than just weird, especially her social interactions, her Baggies of things, and her objects in her house. Even though other people find her strange, Zoe seems oblivious. She seems to have a distorted image of herself, thinking she's connecting with the students or that she's ironic. Evaluations of the students tell the reader a different story which adds both irony and humor. Those reviews give the reader a much deeper insight into Zoe and expose even more strange mannerisms. Because she's so weird and possibly crazy, she's a sympathetic character. I felt bad for her because she was so pitiful. She is so lonely, but she makes light of her situation. She applies her ironic, joking nature to many problems in her life: her class, her family, and her medical condition. She chooses to focus on her appearance which is insignificant and not appropriate given her current situation, especially at the party. She tries to cover up her issues and emotions with jokes, just like she used humor to cover her speech impediment.
The Drunkard
"'That's a nice accusation, that I was drinking. Not one drop of drink crossed my lips the whole day. How could it when he drank it all? I'm the one that ought to be pitied, with my day ruined on me, and I after being made a show for the whole road.'"
The most prominent instance of irony was the boy's inebriated state, making his sober father take him home. Usually the father drinks too much at a funeral, and the boy expected Mr. Dooley's funeral to be no different. However, instead of the father staggering home drunk, his young son was the one that consumed too much alcohol. Another ironic situation was the blame placed on the father. Everyone assumed that he let the boy drink, but in reality the boy drank without his father knowing. In addition to the many ironic situations, humor is present in the story. The boy's behavior towards the women, yelling and swearing at them, is the funniest part of the story. Although humor lightens the mood, there is an undertone of pathos. This arises from the family's struggles: coping with the father's drinking problem and financial strain. The boy's ridiculous behavior then acts as a deterrent, discouraging his father from drinking. His father probably did not know how he behaved when he was drunk, but he witnessed possible behaviors in his son. This spectacle shamed him, and he didn't want to put himself in that position now that he knew of the drunk's behavior.
The most prominent instance of irony was the boy's inebriated state, making his sober father take him home. Usually the father drinks too much at a funeral, and the boy expected Mr. Dooley's funeral to be no different. However, instead of the father staggering home drunk, his young son was the one that consumed too much alcohol. Another ironic situation was the blame placed on the father. Everyone assumed that he let the boy drink, but in reality the boy drank without his father knowing. In addition to the many ironic situations, humor is present in the story. The boy's behavior towards the women, yelling and swearing at them, is the funniest part of the story. Although humor lightens the mood, there is an undertone of pathos. This arises from the family's struggles: coping with the father's drinking problem and financial strain. The boy's ridiculous behavior then acts as a deterrent, discouraging his father from drinking. His father probably did not know how he behaved when he was drunk, but he witnessed possible behaviors in his son. This spectacle shamed him, and he didn't want to put himself in that position now that he knew of the drunk's behavior.
The Lottery
"Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'...There's always been a lottery."
This story was very interesting because of the surprising turn of events and the subtle irony that contributes to the unexpected ending. One of the most ironic situations involved Old Man Warner addressing the gossip that other towns had abandoned the lottery. He talks about how without the lottery, people might go back to prehistoric rituals, like living in caves. The lottery itself is a barbaric, prehistoric tradition, but the townspeople don't see it that way. The phrase connecting the lottery to the corn harvest shows that the drawing of names used to ensure a plentiful harvest. Since they have let some of the tradition go, it probably has less to do with the corn crop and more to do with the feeling of necessity concerning the lottery. It's been going on for so long, it's ingrained in the town's rituals. The people don't see the stoning as wrong or barbaric; it's just part of the ritual. This and the fact that lotteries usually involve winning prizes adds to the irony. The reader is able to pick up on the irony because of the objective narrator. The person telling the story passes no judgment, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions from the plot and the characters.
This story was very interesting because of the surprising turn of events and the subtle irony that contributes to the unexpected ending. One of the most ironic situations involved Old Man Warner addressing the gossip that other towns had abandoned the lottery. He talks about how without the lottery, people might go back to prehistoric rituals, like living in caves. The lottery itself is a barbaric, prehistoric tradition, but the townspeople don't see it that way. The phrase connecting the lottery to the corn harvest shows that the drawing of names used to ensure a plentiful harvest. Since they have let some of the tradition go, it probably has less to do with the corn crop and more to do with the feeling of necessity concerning the lottery. It's been going on for so long, it's ingrained in the town's rituals. The people don't see the stoning as wrong or barbaric; it's just part of the ritual. This and the fact that lotteries usually involve winning prizes adds to the irony. The reader is able to pick up on the irony because of the objective narrator. The person telling the story passes no judgment, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions from the plot and the characters.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Once Upon a Time
"Someone has written to ask me to contribute to an anthology of stories for children. I reply that I don't write children's stories... And then last night I woke up- or rather was awakened without knowing what had roused me."
The entire story is ironic, from the characters' actions to the story itself. The author was told to write a story for children, a request she did not want to oblige. She comes up with a story that is definitely not meant for children. The story was prompted by sounds she heard in the night, and she considers the possibility of burglars. When she tells the story, she includes a string of burglaries that gives the neighborhood motivation to protect the homes. What prompted their protection crusade was the wise witch, the grandmother of the little boy, warning them to not let anyone in. Even though they kept building their defenses, all of the fences and alarms couldn't protect their son. The people were warned, but they took they witch's advice too far. The theme is that the best may not always be the best; the greatest protection equipment caused the death of the little boy. The family worked to keep harm out, but that defense system harmed the boy. The author introduces her point that defenses can't always protect us in the beginning of her story, saying that a woman was murdered in broad daylight and fierce dogs did not save a widower.
The entire story is ironic, from the characters' actions to the story itself. The author was told to write a story for children, a request she did not want to oblige. She comes up with a story that is definitely not meant for children. The story was prompted by sounds she heard in the night, and she considers the possibility of burglars. When she tells the story, she includes a string of burglaries that gives the neighborhood motivation to protect the homes. What prompted their protection crusade was the wise witch, the grandmother of the little boy, warning them to not let anyone in. Even though they kept building their defenses, all of the fences and alarms couldn't protect their son. The people were warned, but they took they witch's advice too far. The theme is that the best may not always be the best; the greatest protection equipment caused the death of the little boy. The family worked to keep harm out, but that defense system harmed the boy. The author introduces her point that defenses can't always protect us in the beginning of her story, saying that a woman was murdered in broad daylight and fierce dogs did not save a widower.
A Worn Path
"'Tell us quickly about your grandson, and get it over. He isn't dead, is he?' At last there came a flicker and then a flame of comprehension across her face, and she spoke. 'My grandson. It was my memory had left me. There I sat and forgot why I made my long trip.'"
Phoenix is an interesting character, making a long, difficult journey in order to get medicine and a toy for her grandson. Many obstacles slowed her journey, but she kept walking, slowly getting closer to town. She gets around the obstacles and interacts with people in unique ways. She asks a complete stranger to tie her shoe, even though the woman had a handful of boxes. When a hunter points a gun at her, she never blinks and tells the man that bullets have come closer to her before. She then steals a nickel from the man, saving it to buy her grandson a paper windmill. In addition to dealing with these strangers, she moves around natural obstacles at her slow pace, eventually moving closer to goal. She must also deal with her old age and her memory loss which almost causes her to forget her purpose. Based on her age and memory, I thought that her grandson could be dead. She mentions how he sits there with his blanket with his mouth open, and I thought that she could have forgotten that he died. She may not have wanted to accept his death because she loves him so much. Her intense love for her grandson is the theme; her love knows no bounds, allowing her to routinely make the journey.
Phoenix is an interesting character, making a long, difficult journey in order to get medicine and a toy for her grandson. Many obstacles slowed her journey, but she kept walking, slowly getting closer to town. She gets around the obstacles and interacts with people in unique ways. She asks a complete stranger to tie her shoe, even though the woman had a handful of boxes. When a hunter points a gun at her, she never blinks and tells the man that bullets have come closer to her before. She then steals a nickel from the man, saving it to buy her grandson a paper windmill. In addition to dealing with these strangers, she moves around natural obstacles at her slow pace, eventually moving closer to goal. She must also deal with her old age and her memory loss which almost causes her to forget her purpose. Based on her age and memory, I thought that her grandson could be dead. She mentions how he sits there with his blanket with his mouth open, and I thought that she could have forgotten that he died. She may not have wanted to accept his death because she loves him so much. Her intense love for her grandson is the theme; her love knows no bounds, allowing her to routinely make the journey.
Eveline
"No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy. Amid the seas she sen a cry of anguish...She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition."
Eveline reflects on her life, agonizing over her decision to leave her home to travel with Frank to Buenos Aires. Even though her descriptions of her life paint a bleary picture, Eveline admits that her life is not undesirable. She had many ties to Dublin, including a job and her family. Even more pressing was a promise she made to her dying mother to take care for the family as long as she could. Keeping the home together was not an easy task; her brother traveled and her father was abusive. Although she dealt with many difficulties, this life is familiar to Eveline which is why she did not get on the boat. She did not make the conscious decision to stay; she simply could not leave her tiring but predictable life behind. Buenos Aires offered a new, exciting, and unfamiliar life for Eveline, but circumstances beyond her control tied her to Dublin. Even though a theme can be applied directly to Eveline's story, the theme can be extended to include the people of Dublin. The author wrote about a "spiritual paralysis" the people of Dublin faced, and Eveline embodied this idea. Not only was she not physically able to get on the boat, her inner conflict kept home. She was not able to overcome those circumstances in her life, like her family.
Eveline reflects on her life, agonizing over her decision to leave her home to travel with Frank to Buenos Aires. Even though her descriptions of her life paint a bleary picture, Eveline admits that her life is not undesirable. She had many ties to Dublin, including a job and her family. Even more pressing was a promise she made to her dying mother to take care for the family as long as she could. Keeping the home together was not an easy task; her brother traveled and her father was abusive. Although she dealt with many difficulties, this life is familiar to Eveline which is why she did not get on the boat. She did not make the conscious decision to stay; she simply could not leave her tiring but predictable life behind. Buenos Aires offered a new, exciting, and unfamiliar life for Eveline, but circumstances beyond her control tied her to Dublin. Even though a theme can be applied directly to Eveline's story, the theme can be extended to include the people of Dublin. The author wrote about a "spiritual paralysis" the people of Dublin faced, and Eveline embodied this idea. Not only was she not physically able to get on the boat, her inner conflict kept home. She was not able to overcome those circumstances in her life, like her family.
Miss Brill
"But today she passed the baker's by, climbed the stairs, went into the little dark room- her room like a cupboard- and sat down on the red eiderdown...She unclasped the necklet quickly; quickly, without looking, laid it inside. But when she put the lid on she thought she heard something crying."
I completely misinterpreted this story when I first read it, and I did not understand how the story had a plot, much less a theme. After another read, more details became apparent, and I began to understand Miss Brill. She is a foreigner, teaching English. From the conversation between the young couple, she might be in France. Since she is in a strange land, she is trying to fit in with the community. To accomplish this, she puts on her favorite fur and goes out into the park to listen to people. Although she is an English teacher by profession, she also considers herself to be an actress. She listens and watches people, taking in the smallest details. Miss Brill reflects on how everyone acts in public, like they are in a play. She watches their performance, enjoying the scenes before her. Her actions directly tie into the theme of her not fitting into the community. Even though she tries so hard to be accepted, Miss Brill is rejected by the community. She passes up her customary almond cake, dejectedly putting her fur away. Her prized fur was mocked by the people of the community, making Miss Brill realize that she would not be accepted.
I completely misinterpreted this story when I first read it, and I did not understand how the story had a plot, much less a theme. After another read, more details became apparent, and I began to understand Miss Brill. She is a foreigner, teaching English. From the conversation between the young couple, she might be in France. Since she is in a strange land, she is trying to fit in with the community. To accomplish this, she puts on her favorite fur and goes out into the park to listen to people. Although she is an English teacher by profession, she also considers herself to be an actress. She listens and watches people, taking in the smallest details. Miss Brill reflects on how everyone acts in public, like they are in a play. She watches their performance, enjoying the scenes before her. Her actions directly tie into the theme of her not fitting into the community. Even though she tries so hard to be accepted, Miss Brill is rejected by the community. She passes up her customary almond cake, dejectedly putting her fur away. Her prized fur was mocked by the people of the community, making Miss Brill realize that she would not be accepted.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Bartleby the Scrivener
"His face was leanly composed, his gray eyes dimly calm. Not a wrinkle of agitation rippled him. Had there been the least uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner, in other words had there been anything ordinarily human about him, doubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises."
I will now attempt to characterize Bartleby and the people he bothered. I'll start with Bartleby because he is the character I understand least. I think the quote from the narrator is very telling, especially the part about Bartleby not exhibiting any human emotions. This shows that not only is Bartleby not like any other normal person, but he probably has something wrong with him. The author suggested that the man might be deranged, and I agree that Bartleby seems like someone with a mental illness. He refused to do anything, lived in the office, and then starved himself to death. He was firm in his refusals, never taking the narrator's bait to make him mad. Bartleby may have resisted change which would explain why he wouldn't leave the office. The narrator tried to understand his employee, but his methods were questionable. He often tried to avoid direct confrontation, and he never fired Bartleby or sent him to jail. I don't understand why the narrator felt close to Bartleby, or why he felt like he needed to help him. I especially don't understand why he tried to help him when Bartleby caused him nothing but trouble.
I will now attempt to characterize Bartleby and the people he bothered. I'll start with Bartleby because he is the character I understand least. I think the quote from the narrator is very telling, especially the part about Bartleby not exhibiting any human emotions. This shows that not only is Bartleby not like any other normal person, but he probably has something wrong with him. The author suggested that the man might be deranged, and I agree that Bartleby seems like someone with a mental illness. He refused to do anything, lived in the office, and then starved himself to death. He was firm in his refusals, never taking the narrator's bait to make him mad. Bartleby may have resisted change which would explain why he wouldn't leave the office. The narrator tried to understand his employee, but his methods were questionable. He often tried to avoid direct confrontation, and he never fired Bartleby or sent him to jail. I don't understand why the narrator felt close to Bartleby, or why he felt like he needed to help him. I especially don't understand why he tried to help him when Bartleby caused him nothing but trouble.
Bartleby the Scrivener, Who Wasn't a Scrivener because He Didn't Do Anything the Entire Story!
"But ere parting with the reader, let me say that if this little narrative has sufficiently interested him to awaken curiosity as to who Bartleby was, and what manner of life he led prior to the present narrator's making his acquaintance, I can only reply that in such curiosity I fully share, but am wholly unable to gratify it."
This blog post's purpose is solely to let me vent my frustrations about this story and the characters. I dedicated a decent amount of time to reading this story which was no small feat. To get to the end of the story and still not have any significant insight into the purpose of what I just read was frustrating. What was even more frustrating was the fact that Bartleby and the narrator are two of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered. I knew Bartleby was weird from that movie clip we watched in class, but I did not gain much additional information from the story. Maybe I didn't read enough into his actions or his motivations to understand who he was, but he still came off as just really weird. Why would he get a job just to refuse to work? Why would he refuse to leave the office? The narrator does not help much in understanding Bartleby because the narrator himself didn't know Bartleby. I didn't understand their relationship at all, especially why the narrator concerned himself with Bartleby's well being. Even though he has a strange connection with Bartleby, the narrator went about dealing with his weird scrivener in an annoying manner, essentially avoiding the problem.
This blog post's purpose is solely to let me vent my frustrations about this story and the characters. I dedicated a decent amount of time to reading this story which was no small feat. To get to the end of the story and still not have any significant insight into the purpose of what I just read was frustrating. What was even more frustrating was the fact that Bartleby and the narrator are two of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered. I knew Bartleby was weird from that movie clip we watched in class, but I did not gain much additional information from the story. Maybe I didn't read enough into his actions or his motivations to understand who he was, but he still came off as just really weird. Why would he get a job just to refuse to work? Why would he refuse to leave the office? The narrator does not help much in understanding Bartleby because the narrator himself didn't know Bartleby. I didn't understand their relationship at all, especially why the narrator concerned himself with Bartleby's well being. Even though he has a strange connection with Bartleby, the narrator went about dealing with his weird scrivener in an annoying manner, essentially avoiding the problem.
Hunters in the Snow
"'I'm going to the hospital,' Kenny said. But he was wrong. They had taken a different turn a long way back."
This story was like a sadistic episode of the three stooges. These three guys, Kenny, Tub, and Frank, were all idiots, and I had trouble sympathizing with any of them. Tub was set up to be the most sympathetic character in the beginning, with Kenny playing the role as the jerk. Once Tub shot Kenny and they left him in the back of the truck, my sympathy turned to Kenny. Tub was the stereotypical fat, dumb guy, always enduring the jokes of his friends. Frank and Kenny enjoyed jokes at Tub's expense, and Kenny even went as far as to pretend to almost run Tub over. Tub could never keep up with them, with their private jokes or when they were walking through the woods. Frank was fickle wit his loyalty, at first aligning himself with Kenny because he was the strongest in the group. Once Kenny was no longer the leader, Frank befriended Tub, telling him his secret about the babysitter. Both lie to their friends and family, covering up their secrets. They act like their problems are incredibly significant while Kenny is freezing and bleeding to death in the back of their truck. Frank and Tub's alliance may have been much stronger than any relationship either of them had with Kenny, and they may have shared resentment towards Kenny. This maybe true because of the wording of the "different turn," not wrong turn. Perhaps sharing their secrets brought Tub and Frank so close, and they decided they didn't need Kenny around anymore.
This story was like a sadistic episode of the three stooges. These three guys, Kenny, Tub, and Frank, were all idiots, and I had trouble sympathizing with any of them. Tub was set up to be the most sympathetic character in the beginning, with Kenny playing the role as the jerk. Once Tub shot Kenny and they left him in the back of the truck, my sympathy turned to Kenny. Tub was the stereotypical fat, dumb guy, always enduring the jokes of his friends. Frank and Kenny enjoyed jokes at Tub's expense, and Kenny even went as far as to pretend to almost run Tub over. Tub could never keep up with them, with their private jokes or when they were walking through the woods. Frank was fickle wit his loyalty, at first aligning himself with Kenny because he was the strongest in the group. Once Kenny was no longer the leader, Frank befriended Tub, telling him his secret about the babysitter. Both lie to their friends and family, covering up their secrets. They act like their problems are incredibly significant while Kenny is freezing and bleeding to death in the back of their truck. Frank and Tub's alliance may have been much stronger than any relationship either of them had with Kenny, and they may have shared resentment towards Kenny. This maybe true because of the wording of the "different turn," not wrong turn. Perhaps sharing their secrets brought Tub and Frank so close, and they decided they didn't need Kenny around anymore.
Everyday Use
"'What don't I understand?' I wanted to know. 'Your heritage,' she said. And then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, 'You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It's really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you'd never know it.'"
When I first read the story, I had trouble understanding the characters or their motivations. They turned out to be much more complex than they seemed on the surface, especially Dee. Mama described herself like a man, saying she has characteristics of a man, dresses like a man, and works like a man. This is probably because a husband is not mentioned, so she has to play the roles of mother and father to provide for her family. She seemed to give into Dee, adjusting to her new man and her new name. Even though she let Dee have her way until the end, I don't think this was because she was weak. Mama is a strong woman since she cares for her daughters, acting as their mother and doing the work of the father. Maggie, however, is not a strong character. She is extremely self conscious because of the scars she sustained from a house fire. Maggie lets Dee step all over her, afraid to speak up and get anything for herself. Dee is the exact opposite of Maggie; she is overly confident and knows what she wants. What was interesting about Dee is her conflicting actions and beliefs. She had previously made her distaste for their way of life known, and then she returns with a new name, distancing herself from her family's heritage. Even though she distanced herself from her family, she was trying to reclaim their African heritage. It seemed insincere and hypocritical, like she was just trying to keep up appearances for whatever reason. This is shown through the quilts and her wanting to display them, not actually put them to everyday use.
When I first read the story, I had trouble understanding the characters or their motivations. They turned out to be much more complex than they seemed on the surface, especially Dee. Mama described herself like a man, saying she has characteristics of a man, dresses like a man, and works like a man. This is probably because a husband is not mentioned, so she has to play the roles of mother and father to provide for her family. She seemed to give into Dee, adjusting to her new man and her new name. Even though she let Dee have her way until the end, I don't think this was because she was weak. Mama is a strong woman since she cares for her daughters, acting as their mother and doing the work of the father. Maggie, however, is not a strong character. She is extremely self conscious because of the scars she sustained from a house fire. Maggie lets Dee step all over her, afraid to speak up and get anything for herself. Dee is the exact opposite of Maggie; she is overly confident and knows what she wants. What was interesting about Dee is her conflicting actions and beliefs. She had previously made her distaste for their way of life known, and then she returns with a new name, distancing herself from her family's heritage. Even though she distanced herself from her family, she was trying to reclaim their African heritage. It seemed insincere and hypocritical, like she was just trying to keep up appearances for whatever reason. This is shown through the quilts and her wanting to display them, not actually put them to everyday use.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Rose for Emily: Observations
"We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will."
I made a series of observations that may not have any significance whatsoever, but I was looking for details to help me understand the plot better. One thing I noticed after reading the questions was the significance of Homer Barron's name. My interpretation was that his name is similar to barren home which describes the home of Miss Emily. After her father died, she had no one to share the house with until she made sure that Homer would be with her indefinitely. Another detail was Miss Emily's appearance. When the town pitied her and the reader saw her as a strange, lonely, but harmless woman, she was slender and pretty. Once she got older and committed murder, her appearance worsened. She became fat, and her hair turned that telling iron-gray color. Her appearance changed when she murdered Homer, signifying the loss of her innocence and the people's pity. Faulkner called this a "ghost story," and I think that is because Miss Emily was a ghost of a person. She was not seen often and exhibited strange, antisocial behavior; she was a mystery to the town. Everyone in town knew about her, but they didn't know her.
I made a series of observations that may not have any significance whatsoever, but I was looking for details to help me understand the plot better. One thing I noticed after reading the questions was the significance of Homer Barron's name. My interpretation was that his name is similar to barren home which describes the home of Miss Emily. After her father died, she had no one to share the house with until she made sure that Homer would be with her indefinitely. Another detail was Miss Emily's appearance. When the town pitied her and the reader saw her as a strange, lonely, but harmless woman, she was slender and pretty. Once she got older and committed murder, her appearance worsened. She became fat, and her hair turned that telling iron-gray color. Her appearance changed when she murdered Homer, signifying the loss of her innocence and the people's pity. Faulkner called this a "ghost story," and I think that is because Miss Emily was a ghost of a person. She was not seen often and exhibited strange, antisocial behavior; she was a mystery to the town. Everyone in town knew about her, but they didn't know her.
A Rose for Emily
""Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair."
This story was so creepy! A reason for the story's unappealing nature is the surprise ending. The reader may suspect that Homer Barron is dead, but it was difficult to anticipate that his dead state did not stop Miss Emily from sleeping with him. A possible motive for Miss Emily's murderous act maybe that Homer did not want to marry her. The reader gets pieces of the story from the collective narration, and some details suggested that Homer was gay, or at least "not a marrying man." This attitude would not be acceptable to Miss Emily who had difficulty letting things go, as seen by her refusal to bury her father's body. The structure of the story also added to the suspense because it was not in chronological order. The reader tries to understand Miss Emily's situation, but the plot raises more questions than it answers. Because of this, the reader is led to certain conclusions but cannot know for a fact what really occurred. The story is told like a group of people sitting around gossiping, adding bits of information out of order to develop the story. Since the narrator is not Miss Emily, the reader does not get to know her thoughts which may have shed light on some of the mysteries surrounding the story.
This story was so creepy! A reason for the story's unappealing nature is the surprise ending. The reader may suspect that Homer Barron is dead, but it was difficult to anticipate that his dead state did not stop Miss Emily from sleeping with him. A possible motive for Miss Emily's murderous act maybe that Homer did not want to marry her. The reader gets pieces of the story from the collective narration, and some details suggested that Homer was gay, or at least "not a marrying man." This attitude would not be acceptable to Miss Emily who had difficulty letting things go, as seen by her refusal to bury her father's body. The structure of the story also added to the suspense because it was not in chronological order. The reader tries to understand Miss Emily's situation, but the plot raises more questions than it answers. Because of this, the reader is led to certain conclusions but cannot know for a fact what really occurred. The story is told like a group of people sitting around gossiping, adding bits of information out of order to develop the story. Since the narrator is not Miss Emily, the reader does not get to know her thoughts which may have shed light on some of the mysteries surrounding the story.
Interpreter of Maladies
"When she whipped out the hairbrush, the slip of paper with Mr. Kapasi's address on it fluttered away in the wind. No one but Mr. Kapasi noticed. He watched as it rose, carried higher and higher by the breeze, into the trees where the monkeys now sat, solemnly observing the scene below."
Throughout the story, I sort of pitied Mr. Kapasi. He had these impressive dreams of becoming "an interpreter for diplomats and dignitaries," but those crumbled as he had to care for his family. Instead of such an important position, he settles for giving tours and interpreting for a doctor. He also is very lonely, becoming accustomed to his wife's indifference towards him. It was the culmination of these things that led to his overall unhappiness and his brief obsession with Mrs. Das. He planned out the relationship they would have, even going so far as to calculate when her first letter would arrive. His hope seems desperate and a little pathetic, but his pursuit of Mrs. Das is resolved at the end. His dreams of being with her float away with his address. Even though this conflict was resolved, I don't think the story had a happy ending; nothing really changed for Mr. Kapasi. Another smaller conflict in the story was when Mrs. Das demanded Mr. Kapasi to ease her pain and guilt. This situation was ironic because they interpreted the meaning of his position as an interpreter in two different ways, and the title lends itself to this misunderstanding.
Throughout the story, I sort of pitied Mr. Kapasi. He had these impressive dreams of becoming "an interpreter for diplomats and dignitaries," but those crumbled as he had to care for his family. Instead of such an important position, he settles for giving tours and interpreting for a doctor. He also is very lonely, becoming accustomed to his wife's indifference towards him. It was the culmination of these things that led to his overall unhappiness and his brief obsession with Mrs. Das. He planned out the relationship they would have, even going so far as to calculate when her first letter would arrive. His hope seems desperate and a little pathetic, but his pursuit of Mrs. Das is resolved at the end. His dreams of being with her float away with his address. Even though this conflict was resolved, I don't think the story had a happy ending; nothing really changed for Mr. Kapasi. Another smaller conflict in the story was when Mrs. Das demanded Mr. Kapasi to ease her pain and guilt. This situation was ironic because they interpreted the meaning of his position as an interpreter in two different ways, and the title lends itself to this misunderstanding.
How I Met My Husband
"He always tells the children the story of how I went after him by sitting by the mailbox every day, and naturally I laugh and let him, because I like for people to think what pleases them and makes them happy."
This short story's plot and structure revolved around the surprise ending. The author set up the story so the reader would expect Chris Watters to marry Edie, but he never comes for her. Looking back on the story, Edie's relationship with Chris did seem too good to be true. She was a young, innocent girl, and he was the pilot from the war craving adventure. Since Chris was always searching for excitement by traveling in his plane and offering rides, he was not the type of man to want to settle down. He had not married his fiancee yet, and they had been engaged for awhile. He would not suddenly settle down with young Edie, and eventually she realized that and stopped waiting for the letters. It was then, at the end of the story, when the reader is finally introduced to the husband, the mailman. I changed my expectations when Edie started to talk about how long she waited by the mailbox, and I doubted whether the letter would come. It seemed like Edie then settled for the mailman, and she ends with a humorous telling of how he thinks she was waiting for him.
This short story's plot and structure revolved around the surprise ending. The author set up the story so the reader would expect Chris Watters to marry Edie, but he never comes for her. Looking back on the story, Edie's relationship with Chris did seem too good to be true. She was a young, innocent girl, and he was the pilot from the war craving adventure. Since Chris was always searching for excitement by traveling in his plane and offering rides, he was not the type of man to want to settle down. He had not married his fiancee yet, and they had been engaged for awhile. He would not suddenly settle down with young Edie, and eventually she realized that and stopped waiting for the letters. It was then, at the end of the story, when the reader is finally introduced to the husband, the mailman. I changed my expectations when Edie started to talk about how long she waited by the mailbox, and I doubted whether the letter would come. It seemed like Edie then settled for the mailman, and she ends with a humorous telling of how he thinks she was waiting for him.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Elegy For My Father, Who is Not Dead
"I see myself on deck, convinced/ his ship's gone down, while he's convinced/ I'll see him standing on the dock/ and waving, shouting, Welcome back."
It was quite obvious that the speaker is not ready for his father to die even though he wrote a premature elegy. His father is ready to die, however, and it seems that he is even looking forward to death. The son is preparing himself by writing the elegy, getting ready to answer that phone call when the time comes. The son and the father have very different outlooks on death which accounts for their levels of preparedness. The father is much more optimistic than his son, and he sees death as a beginning. On the contrary, the son is pessimistic and sees death as an end. While he prepares himself for the inevitable, the speaker mourns the eventual loss of his father. The poem does not have an overall optimistic or pessimistic tone; both sides, hopeful and dejected, are represented. The speaker is making an effort to understand his father's view, but the speaker does not think he is right. This can be considered an elegy because the son is already mourning for his father and for his father's eventual death.
It was quite obvious that the speaker is not ready for his father to die even though he wrote a premature elegy. His father is ready to die, however, and it seems that he is even looking forward to death. The son is preparing himself by writing the elegy, getting ready to answer that phone call when the time comes. The son and the father have very different outlooks on death which accounts for their levels of preparedness. The father is much more optimistic than his son, and he sees death as a beginning. On the contrary, the son is pessimistic and sees death as an end. While he prepares himself for the inevitable, the speaker mourns the eventual loss of his father. The poem does not have an overall optimistic or pessimistic tone; both sides, hopeful and dejected, are represented. The speaker is making an effort to understand his father's view, but the speaker does not think he is right. This can be considered an elegy because the son is already mourning for his father and for his father's eventual death.
Edward
"The curse of hell from me shall ye bear, / Mother, Mother, / The curse of hell from me shall ye bear, / Such counsels you gave to me, O."
When I began to read Edward's confessions, I did not realize that the first two were not true. I thought he had killed the hawk, the steed, and his father, but I realized my mistake when I read the question about his false answers. Most of the questions made me reread the poem, and I began to analyze their dialogue more. I did not get the impression that the mother knew about Edward's crime, but she did know what questions to ask. Perhaps she motivated him to kill his father which is why Edward curses her for her counsels. Edward himself is not an outstanding character. He is from a noble family because he must deal with the towers and the hall. He does not really care about his family since he is willing to leave his wife and children to beg and kill his father. I also got the impression that he does not like his mother, especially when he curses her. Edward's mother seems manipulative and cares only for herself.
When I began to read Edward's confessions, I did not realize that the first two were not true. I thought he had killed the hawk, the steed, and his father, but I realized my mistake when I read the question about his false answers. Most of the questions made me reread the poem, and I began to analyze their dialogue more. I did not get the impression that the mother knew about Edward's crime, but she did know what questions to ask. Perhaps she motivated him to kill his father which is why Edward curses her for her counsels. Edward himself is not an outstanding character. He is from a noble family because he must deal with the towers and the hall. He does not really care about his family since he is willing to leave his wife and children to beg and kill his father. I also got the impression that he does not like his mother, especially when he curses her. Edward's mother seems manipulative and cares only for herself.
Lonely Hearts
"Please write (with photo) to Box 152. / Who knows where it may lead once we've begun? / Can someone make my simple wish come true? / Do you live in North London? Is it you?"
I immediately thought that this poem was a series of personal want ads placed in the paper, and I became more convinced of that as I kept reading. I think the variety of people placing the ads is important; all different kinds of people in different situations were represented. One was gay, another bisexual, straight, Jewish, vegetarian, or a Libran. These people all asked for someone to make their simple wish come true. Those placing the ads asked for different kinds of people to respond, and each person had a different situation in life. However, the wish was essentially the same; they all wanted companionship and new experiences. The type of companionship may have differed, but that is because the people have different styles and lives. The array of people searching for the same thing showed that despite people's differences, we basically all want the same things. Perhaps I am reading too much into the poem, but I payed attention to the types of people placing the ads. I also kept seeing North London throughout the poem, but that probably relates to where the author is from.
I immediately thought that this poem was a series of personal want ads placed in the paper, and I became more convinced of that as I kept reading. I think the variety of people placing the ads is important; all different kinds of people in different situations were represented. One was gay, another bisexual, straight, Jewish, vegetarian, or a Libran. These people all asked for someone to make their simple wish come true. Those placing the ads asked for different kinds of people to respond, and each person had a different situation in life. However, the wish was essentially the same; they all wanted companionship and new experiences. The type of companionship may have differed, but that is because the people have different styles and lives. The array of people searching for the same thing showed that despite people's differences, we basically all want the same things. Perhaps I am reading too much into the poem, but I payed attention to the types of people placing the ads. I also kept seeing North London throughout the poem, but that probably relates to where the author is from.
Death, be not proud
"Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; / For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow/ Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me."
This poem was an interesting apostrophe to death, personifying death as the speaker addresses it. The speaker seemed confident, telling death that it cannot kill him. The way the speaker belittled death gave the impression that he was mocking death or bragging to death, saying that it is not mighty or dreadful. Death has always been perceived as this powerful force that steals lives from people, never to be avoided or overpowered. The speaker tells death that this is not so, and the poem is ironic because of this. Death is called "poor death," and that phrase is ironic because death is never thought of as weak or "poor." The speaker even calls death a slave "to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men." With those words, the speaker takes death's power by saying that others control dying. I got the impression that this poem has religious connotations because of the phrase "one short sleep passed, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die." The eternal life refers to heaven, and the speaker says that death is only a short sleep. We will have eternal life in heaven because death has been defeated.
This poem was an interesting apostrophe to death, personifying death as the speaker addresses it. The speaker seemed confident, telling death that it cannot kill him. The way the speaker belittled death gave the impression that he was mocking death or bragging to death, saying that it is not mighty or dreadful. Death has always been perceived as this powerful force that steals lives from people, never to be avoided or overpowered. The speaker tells death that this is not so, and the poem is ironic because of this. Death is called "poor death," and that phrase is ironic because death is never thought of as weak or "poor." The speaker even calls death a slave "to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men." With those words, the speaker takes death's power by saying that others control dying. I got the impression that this poem has religious connotations because of the phrase "one short sleep passed, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die." The eternal life refers to heaven, and the speaker says that death is only a short sleep. We will have eternal life in heaven because death has been defeated.
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
"Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight/ Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, / Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
This whole poem was paradoxical, suggesting contrary images that added to the meaning of the poem. Descriptions like "blind sight," " curse, bless," and "dark is right" all present conflicting emotions. The speaker tells the men to not go gently into the night by raging against the dying of the light. These men used to be happy and content in life no must fight death, and their emotions changed to sadness and mourning. The phrases "do not go gentle into that good night" and "dying of the light" both symbolize death. The speaker addresses various groups of men, telling them to not accept their impending death. The wise men seem to be the most accepting of death because they know dark is right. The good men seem reluctant to leave their lives behind, crying for what they could have accomplished. The wild men learned to appreciate life too late, so they grieve its passing. The grave men seeing with "blinding sight" seem to have an understanding of death, like they can see it better than others. Maybe the speaker was trying to tell the men that this was not their time to die; that they must fight for their lives and not go gently into the night.
This whole poem was paradoxical, suggesting contrary images that added to the meaning of the poem. Descriptions like "blind sight," " curse, bless," and "dark is right" all present conflicting emotions. The speaker tells the men to not go gently into the night by raging against the dying of the light. These men used to be happy and content in life no must fight death, and their emotions changed to sadness and mourning. The phrases "do not go gentle into that good night" and "dying of the light" both symbolize death. The speaker addresses various groups of men, telling them to not accept their impending death. The wise men seem to be the most accepting of death because they know dark is right. The good men seem reluctant to leave their lives behind, crying for what they could have accomplished. The wild men learned to appreciate life too late, so they grieve its passing. The grave men seeing with "blinding sight" seem to have an understanding of death, like they can see it better than others. Maybe the speaker was trying to tell the men that this was not their time to die; that they must fight for their lives and not go gently into the night.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
To His Coy Mistress
"Thus, though we cannot make our sun/ Stand still, yet we will make him run."
Time was an important theme in the poem, and the speaker begins by saying that they do not have enough time together. He speaks of what they would do together had they the time, and three of the instances have to do with water. The speaker mentions the Indian Ganges, the Humber, and the Flood. I did not see the connection between them as the Ganges is in India, the Humber in East England, and the Flood an allusion to the biblical event. Another interesting image was the "vegetable love." Love ripens and grows like a vegetable, so that is an apt description. The sun is metonymy for a universe which they cannot make still. Again he mentions that they do not have enough time, but then he urges her to make the most of what time they do have. Time's chariots, eternity, and time's power all are forces that can tear them apart. The poem was more about time than love, however. The poet is saying that we should make the most of our short time.
Time was an important theme in the poem, and the speaker begins by saying that they do not have enough time together. He speaks of what they would do together had they the time, and three of the instances have to do with water. The speaker mentions the Indian Ganges, the Humber, and the Flood. I did not see the connection between them as the Ganges is in India, the Humber in East England, and the Flood an allusion to the biblical event. Another interesting image was the "vegetable love." Love ripens and grows like a vegetable, so that is an apt description. The sun is metonymy for a universe which they cannot make still. Again he mentions that they do not have enough time, but then he urges her to make the most of what time they do have. Time's chariots, eternity, and time's power all are forces that can tear them apart. The poem was more about time than love, however. The poet is saying that we should make the most of our short time.
My mistress' eyes
"And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare."
I thought this poem was so insulting when I first read it, but the last two lines dulled the sting of the insults. The speaker spends most of the poem going against many similes associated with one' love or a beautiful woman. His descriptions are ironic and seem very insulting. He says she does not compare to a rose, white snow, the sun, perfumes, music, or a goddess. I think what the speaker was trying to say was that his mistress may not be the most beautiful or perfect thing on this earth, but he thinks she is rare. He says those comparison are "false," and that they misrepresent her. Overall this poem was meant to be a compliment, but that was hard to identify throughout most of the poem. The tone was not as insulting as it originally seemed, and he really is paying respect to his mistress.
I thought this poem was so insulting when I first read it, but the last two lines dulled the sting of the insults. The speaker spends most of the poem going against many similes associated with one' love or a beautiful woman. His descriptions are ironic and seem very insulting. He says she does not compare to a rose, white snow, the sun, perfumes, music, or a goddess. I think what the speaker was trying to say was that his mistress may not be the most beautiful or perfect thing on this earth, but he thinks she is rare. He says those comparison are "false," and that they misrepresent her. Overall this poem was meant to be a compliment, but that was hard to identify throughout most of the poem. The tone was not as insulting as it originally seemed, and he really is paying respect to his mistress.
Getting Out
"Yet I think of the lawyer's bewilderment when we cried, the last day. Taking hands we walked apart, until our arms stretched between us. We held on tight, and let go."
The poem begins with the use of the pronoun "we," then transitions into "you" and "I." The end of the poem revisits the "we," and the use of the pronouns symbolizes their feelings at different points in their relationship. The we tells of a time when they were a couple, trapped together in an unhappy relationship. When they were apart and "you" tried to leave, the pronouns are solitary. "We" is used again, but it has a different meaning than it did before. They are not together anymore, but they are free and are able to care about each other. The poem is about a divorce as seen in the line about the lawyer. The speaker made it sound like both were to blame, but the partner was the one who tried to leave. I thought that the speaker involved herself in the tightening of the heart. The tone shifts from desperation and unhappiness to acceptance tinged with regret. They are no longer in love, but they still care about one another.
The poem begins with the use of the pronoun "we," then transitions into "you" and "I." The end of the poem revisits the "we," and the use of the pronouns symbolizes their feelings at different points in their relationship. The we tells of a time when they were a couple, trapped together in an unhappy relationship. When they were apart and "you" tried to leave, the pronouns are solitary. "We" is used again, but it has a different meaning than it did before. They are not together anymore, but they are free and are able to care about each other. The poem is about a divorce as seen in the line about the lawyer. The speaker made it sound like both were to blame, but the partner was the one who tried to leave. I thought that the speaker involved herself in the tightening of the heart. The tone shifts from desperation and unhappiness to acceptance tinged with regret. They are no longer in love, but they still care about one another.
Crossing the Bar
"I hope to see my Pilot face to face/ When I have crossed the bar."
When I read this poem, I interpreted it very literally and thought the speaker was describing his journey across a sandbar into the ocean. Once I got to the line that reads "I hope to see my Pilot...", I realized that crossing the bar stood for something else entirely. The Pilot the speaker is talking about is God, and crossing the bar symbolizes death. His death occurs during the night as shown through all of the terms illustrating nighttime: "evening star," "asleep," "dark", "evening bell," and "twilight." He also asks for no sadness or mourning, saying "may there be no mourning of the bar." The speaker describes death in a variety of ways, saying he is crossing the bar, going to embark, or being put out to sea. The death he is describing sounds very peaceful and I got the impression that he has been preparing for that moment. He contrasts the "boundless deep" with "home." He came from the boundless deep, like the universe, and is returning home to his Pilot, God.
When I read this poem, I interpreted it very literally and thought the speaker was describing his journey across a sandbar into the ocean. Once I got to the line that reads "I hope to see my Pilot...", I realized that crossing the bar stood for something else entirely. The Pilot the speaker is talking about is God, and crossing the bar symbolizes death. His death occurs during the night as shown through all of the terms illustrating nighttime: "evening star," "asleep," "dark", "evening bell," and "twilight." He also asks for no sadness or mourning, saying "may there be no mourning of the bar." The speaker describes death in a variety of ways, saying he is crossing the bar, going to embark, or being put out to sea. The death he is describing sounds very peaceful and I got the impression that he has been preparing for that moment. He contrasts the "boundless deep" with "home." He came from the boundless deep, like the universe, and is returning home to his Pilot, God.
Hazel Tells Laverne
"how i can be a princess/ me a princess/ well my mouth drops/ all the way to the floor/ an he says/ kiss me just kiss me/ once on the nose/ well i screams/ ya little green pervert"
I found the tone of this poem to be humorous. There was no punctuation throughout, but I had no trouble following the poem; it did not run together as one thought. The diction was uneducated, but that added to the understanding of the character. As for the situation, the woman was cleaning out the Howard Johnson's ladies room because she is a maid. She does not think she can be a princess and repeats "me a princess." Perhaps this is because of her life or career, and she does not want to get her hopes up over something so unfathomable. She must look out for herself, so she does not believe the frog. Her actions fit with her character and also add humor to the poem. This is based on the fairytale "The Princess and the Frog," but the ending was very different. The ironic ending also contributed to the humor of the poem.
I found the tone of this poem to be humorous. There was no punctuation throughout, but I had no trouble following the poem; it did not run together as one thought. The diction was uneducated, but that added to the understanding of the character. As for the situation, the woman was cleaning out the Howard Johnson's ladies room because she is a maid. She does not think she can be a princess and repeats "me a princess." Perhaps this is because of her life or career, and she does not want to get her hopes up over something so unfathomable. She must look out for herself, so she does not believe the frog. Her actions fit with her character and also add humor to the poem. This is based on the fairytale "The Princess and the Frog," but the ending was very different. The ironic ending also contributed to the humor of the poem.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sorting Laundry
I have never experienced such a deep reflection of life while sorting laundry, but I can see how the speaker could assign parts of her life to articles of laundry. Perhaps that makes laundry not so much of a chore, since I thought the speaker did not resent her role as the housekeeper. The hyperbole at the end of the poem, the "mountain of unsorted wash," is built throughout the preceding stanzas. Every article of clothing she describes is thrown onto the bed, adding to the height with each description. The clothes are folded and arranged neatly to make a single pile. This is comparable to how the speaker had to arrange her life to incorporate her lover to make one cohesive life together. Since she is so reflective when sorting laundry and sees so much more than clothes and loose objects, I think she enjoys doing the laundry. That gives her time to see her life laid out before her in the form of everyday laundry.
Barbie Doll
This poem was so depressing, although it's message was true and applicable to today's society. The author immediately establishes the fact that this girl is not a Barbie doll, and she has "a great big nose and fat legs." Even though the girl focuses on these differences, she has other traits not found in the plastic doll. She has intelligence, "strong arms and back," "abundant sexual drive," and "manual dexterity." These distinctions are so important because they show that even though the girl is not physically perfect like Barbie, she has other enviable traits that Barbie never will have. Unfortunately, the girl never focuses on her positive features. The author describes the girl as a "girlchild" in the first line to establish her innocence and vulnerability, and the reader sees that eroded as society corrupts her view of herself and the world. The irony at the end is especially bitter because the girl achieved her perfect look, but she cannot enjoy her "beauty." This was not a happy ending, and the author targets the society that pressures girls to strive to be like a plastic, lifeless doll.
APO 96225
Even though I change my favorite poem every time we have a new set, I am almost certain that this one will continue to be my favorite. I cannot really describe why I am so drawn to this poem, but I think the message is incredibly powerful. The author presents his message in a subtle way, disguised in a story. This poem exemplifies the attitude of the American public about the Vietnam War. The public was not ready to know all of the horrible details, yet this war was the most exposed to the public. The mother begs her son for details but is unable to handle the harsh realities of war which it true for many people. I thought the irony is dramatic because the reader knows about the conditions the son hesitated to tell his mother as she pleads for more details. The author did not write this poem objectively; he was putting the public's views into words. He really highlights how the majority of people felt, and I felt like he had a personal tie to war, like this topic was close to him. The speaker's attitude is almost sarcastic, and I think the last stanza shows his lack of respect for the public's reaction. The son must keep the horrors of war to himself because his mother finds them "upsetting" which seems like an understatement considering the experiences of the soldiers.
Mr. Z
Usually when I read a satirical poem, I do not immediately understand the message. Mr. Z's message seemed more obvious and not hidden by metaphors. The poem did contain metaphors such as "matched chameleon" and "an airborne plant, flourishing without roots." In regards to the first metaphor, the author is saying that Mr. Z and his bride so not have one skin that identifies them. Instead, they change their colors to match what they perceive to be what society expects of them. It also implies that they can change their colors easily, that they have adapted to blending into society. The other metaphor about "flourishing without roots" means that the pair create their own success without reflecting on their past. They are not connected to their history and their heritage; in fact, they try to avoid such connections. The author was criticizing society that caused Mr. Z to be ashamed of his heritage, and he illustrated this point through the life of Mr. Z. The man of the poem is not given a name because the message does not apply to just one person; it is almost like an "insert name here."
next of course god america i
I had to read this poem a couple of times because I had difficulty piecing together the sentences due to the lack of punctuation. While reading the beginning of the poem, I noticed the different parts from various patriotic songs, like "land of the pilgrims'," "oh say can you see by the dawn's early," and "my country 'tis of." The next set of phrases that caught my attention were "by gorry by jingo by gee by gosh by gum." The author was incorporating and paying tribute to the various regional dialects of America, and it may have related to the author's reference of "every language." I thought the "heroic happy dead" were the soldiers that fought during the Revolutionary War, and they rushed into "the roaring slaughter" because no one thought the Americans could actually win the war. I have the impression that both the speaker and the author admire the soldiers not stopping and thinking before entering the war. Had they done so, they probably would not have entered into the fight for freedom and won our independence. The speakers says "next of course to god" in the first line of the poem to illustrate the depth of his love for America; his love is second only to God. I did not even notice the quotation marks until I read the last line, and then I realized the speaker was telling this to an audience. I could not figure out who the speaker is or what the purpose is of the last line. I thought of professional speakers drinking from water during pauses in the presentation, and this speaker maybe in a formal situation, addressing a certain crowd. He offers a thought provoking question at the end of his dialogue, perhaps to challenge the group.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Toads
This poem uses toads as a metaphor for certain aspects of life. One toad, work, "squats" on life, soiling with its "sickening poison." The other toad is the complete opposite of the previous toad. As much contempt as the speaker has for the first toad, he has this second toad to combat the work toad. This toad, which I thought to be motivation, sits inside of him. I think it is not explicitly identified so the reader can draw his or her own conclusions about this second toad with haunches as "heavy as hard luck and cold as snow." This cold drive allows the speaker to tolerate the work toad. He says "it's hard to lose either, when you have both," and I agree. When one has motivation, the do not lose their work ethic. Although the speaker expresses his apparent distaste for work, I find it ironic; I think he is actually a hard worker who appreciates the toil of labor. He probably truly does not appreciate those he mentioned avoiding the work toad.
Bright Star
This apostrophe was interesting since it directly addressed both the appealing and unappealing characteristics of a star. The speaker longs to be as "steadfast" as the star, but he does not envy all of the star's traits. For instance, the speaker does not wish to be alone, forever watching the world from the night sky. The star watches the changing of the earth but never changes itself. The speaker does not wish for this trait because he is in love. He wished to feel, to change, to sleep, and to be with his love, not suspended in the sky, patiently remaining there for eternity. He wants these things, to "so live ever- or else swoon to death." The repetition of the word "still" ("still steadfast, still unchanging") implies a sort of finality. The star has always been this way, and still has not changed; it will never change. The speaker wants "sweet unrest," not this certainty of never changing.
I taste a liquor never brewed
I had to read this poem a couple of times before I began to understand the figurative language and its intended meaning. When I first read it, I mainly focused on the words associated with alcohol: "tankards," "vats," "inebriate," and "drunken." Taken literally, the poem creates a convincing scenes of drunkenness. I read of a drunk getting turned away by his landlord, and people watching from their windows as a drunkard leans against the light post. During my next readings, I altered my focus to the nature words: "air," "dew," "summer days," "bee," "foxglove," and "butterflies." This led me to believe that the poem could be about drinking in nature or being intoxicated by nature's beauty. I thought the "inns of Molten Blue" could be the sky and the "snowy Hats" could be the clouds, but I am not sure what the "Tankards scooped in Pearl" could be. When discussing this nature, the speaker says "I shall but drink the more!" as if he or she cannot get enough of the scene of the bee, foxglove, and butterflies. This extended metaphor offers a unique look at the powerful appeal of nature.
Dream Deferred
I really enjoyed this poem, even though it was relatively simple and straight forward. The author uses many similes while pondering the fate of a dream deferred. He uses images of "a raisin in the sun," "a sore," "rotten meat," "a syrupy sweet," and "a heavy load" to create different possibilities for this dream cast aside. Although all of these similes are effective in their ability to conjure images of this withering dream, the most powerful line was the last. "Or does it explode?" This is the only metaphor in the poem, and its placement at the end gives it a much stronger effect. The previous instances of figurative language were unpleasant, but relatively calm images. This last line, especially with the emphasis from the italics, adds almost a violent power to the ending. The word explode has so much more destructive force than "dry up," "fester," "stink, "crust," or "sags." Knowing a little of the author's background makes me wonder if this poem has a personal connection to him, if he was writing from experience.
The Joy of Cooking
This poem was not at all what I had anticipated to read, to say the least. The figurative language of preparing the sister's tongue and the brother's heart for a meal is quite grotesque but also somewhat humorous. Descriptions of the tongue and heart characterize the brother and sister, and that is done so in a way that complements the style of the poem. When mentioning the sister's tongue, the speaker "trimmed the roots, small bones, and gristle," saying "it probably will grow back." These descriptions of the tongue correlate to the sister's personality; perhaps she is quite loquacious and has a sharp tongue. The brother's heart is "firm and rather dry" and needs "stuffing to make it interesting at all." Her brother's heart "barely feeds two," and this description is much harsher than the speaker's criticism of the sister. Saying that the brother's heart is too small, not interesting, and dry certainly conveys the speaker's feelings about the brother's lack of love. The tone seemed bitter, and it provided an interesting way to complain about one's siblings.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Panther
I immediately felt the tense tone of this poem, created by the imagery of the bars and the panther's pacing. The bars form the panther's small prison in which he paces, and I felt his restlessness. The simile "like a ritual dance around a center in which a mighty will stand paralyzed" contributes to the overall tone of anxiousness and intensity. I had difficulty interpreting the image that enters into the panther's heart. Perhaps it is some sort of symbol, as is the panther. Maybe the image was one of freedom, or a scene from his life outside of the cage. Whatever the image, it held significant meaning since it "plunged into the heart." It must not have been something the panther cared to dwell in because it promptly disappeared. The line "it seems to him there are a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world" was incredibly desperate and lonely which contributes to the previous mentioning of weariness. The panther's actions speak of his inner weariness and struggle.
Those Winter Sundays
Even though this poem was short and straight forward, I really enjoyed "Those Winter Sundays." Some lines were especially powerful to me, and I felt the subtle emotion in the words. The imagery was painful in places, like the "blueblack cold" and "with cracked hands that ached from labor." Paired with lines like "No one ever thanked him" makes me think that the speaker is not only expressing gratitude but also shares his regret. Now the speaker realizes the sacrifices and labor the father endured for his son, and he did not properly express the appropriate gratitude. I sympathized the most with the father, going out on Sundays in the freezing cold so his son would be warm when he got up. The author's imagery when describing the cold made me understand the magnitude of the father's actions, warming a house of people that never expressed thanks. For most of the poem, the speaker details the events of those Sunday mornings, but at the end he says "What did I know, what did I know of love's austere and lonely offices?" I think that something may have happened to the father that makes the son reflect back on his indifference those Sunday mornings. The speaker's emotions peak at those very last lines, strengthening this sense of regret and reflection.
The Widow's Lament in Springtime
When I read this poem, I noticed the use of nature and colors, all creating the image of spring. This spring, however, was tainted with grief. Her obvious depression seemed to be a contrast to the vibrant whites, yellows, and reds of the flowers around her. She used to be able to appreciate the beauty that surrounded her, but now she is unable to cast aside her grief to revel in the colors of spring. When I read the line "sorrow in my own yard," I thought that perhaps that yard held to many memories of her husband, so it only added to her sadness. She is confined in her yard just as she is confined by her sorrow. Maybe going to that meadow to fall into the flowers would be her way of not only escaping her yard but also escaping her sorrow. I got the impression that she was contemplating suicide when she says she wants to "sink into the marsh" near the flowers. I see the marsh surrounding her, enveloping her, and giving her a sense of comfort and peace. The flowers no longer are beautiful to her without her husband, and that represents her outlook of life, how her sorrow has erased life's beauty. Her grief seemed so strong and consuming, even though the poem describes the beauty of spring.
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain
As strange as this poem was, I consider it to be one of my favorites out of the group. When read literally, the poem may not be perfectly clear. Even though the poem contains realistic details about a funeral, it seems to revolve more around the mind. I considered the details of the funeral to be a metaphor for the speaker's loss of sanity. The line "And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down-" was the strongest piece of evidence I have for my interpretation. The speaker compares her loss of reason to a funeral, mourning the loss of her sanity. When that plank of reason broke, that was his or her breaking point, and the speaker completely lost his or her mind. The tone is somber which is appropriate for the funeral setting. The phrases "my mind was going numb" and "Wrecked, solitary hear" seemed melancholy, like the speaker was all alone in his or her descent into insanity. I got the impression that the speaker struggled against going crazy, but in the end the speaker could not retain his or her sanity.
London
This poem by William Blake used imagery in a way that I found to be rather unique. Instead of appealing to the reader's sense of sight, smell, or touch, Blake almost exclusively engaged the reader's sense of hearing. The most predominant sound in the poem was crying which I thought symbolized the desperation of the people. Institutions of corruption, like the Church, the monarchy, and prostitution, all caused the people suffering. Blake pairs the source of the wails, the chimney-sweeper, soldier, and infant, with the instigator that prompts these cries. My favorite line was "In every voice, in every ban, the mind-forged manacles I hear." The citizens of London are caught in their daily struggles, trapped by powerful rulers like the king and the Church. Another strong piece of imagery was "how the youthful Harlot's curse blasts the new-born Infant's tear, and blights with plagues the Marriage hearse." This shows that even things as sacred as marriage cannot avoid the poison of corruption in London; the sacrament has been poisoned by prostitution. Blake paints a bleak, troublesome picture of London with his sounds, using the cries and wails of the people to tell his story.
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry
Perrine's concept of incorrect and correct poetry interpretation was entirely new to me, and when I began to read the article, I was hesitant to accept his theory. I had always thought the poetry could mean many things to many people, and that was one of the unique quirks of poetry. With Perrine's explanation in mind, I now realize that poetry cannot mean everything to everyone, and that is a significant difference. Although poems may have more than one right interpretation, they cannot have an infinite number of meanings. Taking that into consideration, I agree with Perrine's method of determining the right interpretations, especially the second point that the explanation must be the most "economical." The idea that most stuck out to me and was perhaps was one of the most convincing points was Thomas Huxley's concept of the missing silverware. To me that point best summarized what Perrine was saying about the economical approach to interpreting poetry. With that illustration in mind, I better understand Perrine's point and the correct way to evaluate poetry's meaning. I had never thought of looking at the details in the poem and seeing if my interpretation is contradicted by any of those details. Now that I have an actual method for evaluating poetry, hopefully I will not produce as many "farfetched" or incorrect interpretations that Perrince mentioned.
Although I agreed with Perrine's approach to interpreting poetry, I was not in agreement with some of the comments he made concerning the poems he used as examples. When he explained the correct meaning behind the poems, he made the true interpretation seem so obvious. The interpretations are obviously not obvious; otherwise, he would not have to explain them. On the fourth page, when describing Melville's poem "The Night-March", Perrine commented, "The five words together form a constellation whose reference, once the pattern is recognized, is almost immediately clear." I do not think we need to have references in mind in order to interpret poetry, nor should we need to be familiar with other works by the same poet. Perrine mentions other works by Dickinson and references Whitman's life, suggesting the reader should have some background knowledge when reading poems. I do not necessarily agree with that; a reader should be able to correctly interpret a poem using just the poem itself. After the various explanations of poems I would have never correctly interpreted, I was back to agreeing with Perrine once he began to explain symbols in poetry. A concept I really liked was that "the areas of greatest meaning are created by symbolical poems...but even a symbol does not have unlimited meaning." I also understood the difference between metaphors in poems, like the poems by Dickinson and Melville, and symbolical poems like "The Sick Rose" by William Blake.
Although I agreed with Perrine's approach to interpreting poetry, I was not in agreement with some of the comments he made concerning the poems he used as examples. When he explained the correct meaning behind the poems, he made the true interpretation seem so obvious. The interpretations are obviously not obvious; otherwise, he would not have to explain them. On the fourth page, when describing Melville's poem "The Night-March", Perrine commented, "The five words together form a constellation whose reference, once the pattern is recognized, is almost immediately clear." I do not think we need to have references in mind in order to interpret poetry, nor should we need to be familiar with other works by the same poet. Perrine mentions other works by Dickinson and references Whitman's life, suggesting the reader should have some background knowledge when reading poems. I do not necessarily agree with that; a reader should be able to correctly interpret a poem using just the poem itself. After the various explanations of poems I would have never correctly interpreted, I was back to agreeing with Perrine once he began to explain symbols in poetry. A concept I really liked was that "the areas of greatest meaning are created by symbolical poems...but even a symbol does not have unlimited meaning." I also understood the difference between metaphors in poems, like the poems by Dickinson and Melville, and symbolical poems like "The Sick Rose" by William Blake.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Comparison to Brave New World: Never Let Me Go
"'In the early days, after the war, that's largely all you were to people. Shadowy objects in test tubes'" (261).
"'Suddenly there were all these new possibilities laid before us, all these ways to cure so many previously incurable conditions'" (262).
"'Yes, in many ways we fooled you'" (268).
"'I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel world'" (272).
Once I approached the end in Never Let Me Go, I began to see the similarities between this novel and Brave New World. First, I will point out the obvious similarity: both stories take place in London. With that out of the way, I will tell of some not-as-obvious relations. The last quote, when Madame describes Kathy dancing, is a great description of the New World in Brave New World. The world in Never Let Me Go is approaching the scientific cruelty of the New World, a place where people ignore the problems around them and instead celebrate scientific progress. Also similar to Brave New World is Miss Emily's admission that she fooled that students. She can be compared to Mustapha Mond, sheltering those beneath her and not allowing them to see the truth. Clones are like the people in the New World, originating from test tubes as products of scientific breakthroughs. The world in Never Let Me Go begins to see the benefits of highly advanced science, like the cures for many previously incurable illnesses. Now that they can cure anything, the people of Never Let Me Go may continue to expand the boundaries of scientific progress, becoming more and more like the New World in Brave New World.
"'Suddenly there were all these new possibilities laid before us, all these ways to cure so many previously incurable conditions'" (262).
"'Yes, in many ways we fooled you'" (268).
"'I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel world'" (272).
Once I approached the end in Never Let Me Go, I began to see the similarities between this novel and Brave New World. First, I will point out the obvious similarity: both stories take place in London. With that out of the way, I will tell of some not-as-obvious relations. The last quote, when Madame describes Kathy dancing, is a great description of the New World in Brave New World. The world in Never Let Me Go is approaching the scientific cruelty of the New World, a place where people ignore the problems around them and instead celebrate scientific progress. Also similar to Brave New World is Miss Emily's admission that she fooled that students. She can be compared to Mustapha Mond, sheltering those beneath her and not allowing them to see the truth. Clones are like the people in the New World, originating from test tubes as products of scientific breakthroughs. The world in Never Let Me Go begins to see the benefits of highly advanced science, like the cures for many previously incurable illnesses. Now that they can cure anything, the people of Never Let Me Go may continue to expand the boundaries of scientific progress, becoming more and more like the New World in Brave New World.
New Way of Thinking: Never Let Me Go
"'It's one thing to create students, such as yourselves, for the donation programme. But a generation of created children who'd take their place in society? Children demonstrably superior to the rest of us? Oh no. That frightened people. They recoiled from that'" (264).
The feelings normal humans had towards clones surprised me, as did the purpose of the clones. Since our modern world has not been able to clone humans, the topic is not familiar to me. I did not really have any preconceived notions about how the world would receive clones, but this book offered some interesting outlooks. I never really considered that clones would be seen as repulsive anomalies, but I suppose that makes sense. We are frightened by things we do not understand, and clones could certainly fall under that category, at least for the average human. I myself would find clones to be strange, and I cannot imagine interacting with one as I would a normal human. Also, I never thought of clones having a defined purpose other than being a scientific breakthrough. The thought that they would be created just so we could have their organs saddened me, although being able to cure diseases like cancer would be amazing. Miss Emily also mentions genetic engineering while speaking about the Morningdale scandal, and she talks about the fear people felt at the prospect. Many people support genetic engineering, citing its potential benefits; I had never thought that people would fear the results. Even though they have never been accomplished with humans, cloning and genetic engineering are hotly debated topics in today's world, and now I can only imagine the problems that would arise from the success of these processes.
The feelings normal humans had towards clones surprised me, as did the purpose of the clones. Since our modern world has not been able to clone humans, the topic is not familiar to me. I did not really have any preconceived notions about how the world would receive clones, but this book offered some interesting outlooks. I never really considered that clones would be seen as repulsive anomalies, but I suppose that makes sense. We are frightened by things we do not understand, and clones could certainly fall under that category, at least for the average human. I myself would find clones to be strange, and I cannot imagine interacting with one as I would a normal human. Also, I never thought of clones having a defined purpose other than being a scientific breakthrough. The thought that they would be created just so we could have their organs saddened me, although being able to cure diseases like cancer would be amazing. Miss Emily also mentions genetic engineering while speaking about the Morningdale scandal, and she talks about the fear people felt at the prospect. Many people support genetic engineering, citing its potential benefits; I had never thought that people would fear the results. Even though they have never been accomplished with humans, cloning and genetic engineering are hotly debated topics in today's world, and now I can only imagine the problems that would arise from the success of these processes.
The Illusion of a Utopia: Never Let Me Go
"'Most importantly, we demonstrated to the world that if students were reared in humane, cultivated environments, it was possible for them to grow to be as sensitive and intelligent as any ordinary human being'" (261).
When I read about Kathy's life at Hailsham, I thought the school was like a regular boarding school. The students certainly thought so, or at least they did not give any indication that they thought otherwise. To them, this school was a "privileged estate" whose purpose was to give the students a well-rounded education and to prepare them for their futures. They came to know what a privilege it was to be a Hailsham student, and they held the school in high regards. I also thought that their time at Hailsham had been an ideal experience, and the school had been somewhat of a utopia, keeping them safe and happy. Miss Emily shattered my illusion of the school when she told Tommy and Kathy of Hailsham's real purpose. The school and the students were an experiment designed to show the world that clones were just as intelligent and astute as regular people, given the proper education. The students led these perfect lives at Hailsham, but they were just to prove a point. The students were kept in the dark about the whole purpose, believing that they lived in a perfect school. Kathy mentioned the profound effect the school had on her and probably on the other students, saying she could not stop thinking about it and that she felt lost when it closed. I think the students cannot escape the thought that Hailsham was a perfect place, and that was where they spent the better part of their lives. Unfortunately, Hailsham was not what it appeared to be, and it certainly was not a utopia.
When I read about Kathy's life at Hailsham, I thought the school was like a regular boarding school. The students certainly thought so, or at least they did not give any indication that they thought otherwise. To them, this school was a "privileged estate" whose purpose was to give the students a well-rounded education and to prepare them for their futures. They came to know what a privilege it was to be a Hailsham student, and they held the school in high regards. I also thought that their time at Hailsham had been an ideal experience, and the school had been somewhat of a utopia, keeping them safe and happy. Miss Emily shattered my illusion of the school when she told Tommy and Kathy of Hailsham's real purpose. The school and the students were an experiment designed to show the world that clones were just as intelligent and astute as regular people, given the proper education. The students led these perfect lives at Hailsham, but they were just to prove a point. The students were kept in the dark about the whole purpose, believing that they lived in a perfect school. Kathy mentioned the profound effect the school had on her and probably on the other students, saying she could not stop thinking about it and that she felt lost when it closed. I think the students cannot escape the thought that Hailsham was a perfect place, and that was where they spent the better part of their lives. Unfortunately, Hailsham was not what it appeared to be, and it certainly was not a utopia.
Truth Behind Kathy Dancing: Never Let Me Go
"'When I watched you dancing that day, I saw something else. I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh cruel world. And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old kind world, one that she knew in her heart could not remain, and she was holding it and pleading, never to let her go'" (272).
When Madame revealed why she wept when she saw Kathy dancing, I was surprised at the depth and meaning behind her answer. Her reason was much more tragic than Kathy had originally thought. With the closing of Hailsham, the new students would not have the care and protection the school had offered Kathy and so many others. They would face the cruel treatment that Madame and Miss Emily fought to prevent, and people did not care to change that system. Madame recognized what the closing of Hailsham meant: the closing of the old world in which rights for the students was possible. The new world had arrived where the treatment of clones meant nothing to people just as long as they got the organs. This harsh cruel world did not care about the source of the organs; this scientific world cared about the cures for illnesses. The old world struggled to understand the needs of clones, funding places to care for them. That world was gone, and Madame had predicted this day before she saw Kathy dancing. Kathy could not have known this when she saw Madame crying, but she did sense Madame's deep sadness. Madame saw how the changing of the world would hurt innocent girls, like Kathy, who long for the old world to never let them go.
When Madame revealed why she wept when she saw Kathy dancing, I was surprised at the depth and meaning behind her answer. Her reason was much more tragic than Kathy had originally thought. With the closing of Hailsham, the new students would not have the care and protection the school had offered Kathy and so many others. They would face the cruel treatment that Madame and Miss Emily fought to prevent, and people did not care to change that system. Madame recognized what the closing of Hailsham meant: the closing of the old world in which rights for the students was possible. The new world had arrived where the treatment of clones meant nothing to people just as long as they got the organs. This harsh cruel world did not care about the source of the organs; this scientific world cared about the cures for illnesses. The old world struggled to understand the needs of clones, funding places to care for them. That world was gone, and Madame had predicted this day before she saw Kathy dancing. Kathy could not have known this when she saw Madame crying, but she did sense Madame's deep sadness. Madame saw how the changing of the world would hurt innocent girls, like Kathy, who long for the old world to never let them go.
Sheltered Pawns: Never Let Me Go
"'You see, we were able to give you something, something which even now no one will ever take from you, and we were able to do that principally by sheltering you...Yes, in many ways we fooled you...But we sheltered you during those years, and we gave you your childhoods...You built your lives on what we gave you. You wouldn't be who you are today if we'd not protected you'" (268).
I completely disagree with Miss Emily's statement about the guardians' protection shaping the students lives. The only part of her dialogue that I agree with is that they fooled the students. In fact, the way the fooled them was quite cruel. The guardians cared for them, giving them a place to live and learn without any negativity from the outside world. When the students had to enter the outside world, they were not at all accustomed to the way people received them. Like Kathy mentioned earlier, the students were not used to being on their own, facing the world as a donor or a carer. They were not conditioned for the true ways of the world, filled with negativity and disgust for them. Sheltering did not benefit the students, and it certainly did not shape their lives. It's not like the sheltering steered the students towards different career paths or different things to do with their lives; their lives were set the moment they were created. Nothing the guardians at Hailsham did could change the fact that the students had to donate. The students became who they are by learning to accept their fate and deal with their surroundings, and Hailsham kept them from doing that. They were sheltered pawns in Miss Emily's crusade, and they were kept in the dark about her quest and their role.
I completely disagree with Miss Emily's statement about the guardians' protection shaping the students lives. The only part of her dialogue that I agree with is that they fooled the students. In fact, the way the fooled them was quite cruel. The guardians cared for them, giving them a place to live and learn without any negativity from the outside world. When the students had to enter the outside world, they were not at all accustomed to the way people received them. Like Kathy mentioned earlier, the students were not used to being on their own, facing the world as a donor or a carer. They were not conditioned for the true ways of the world, filled with negativity and disgust for them. Sheltering did not benefit the students, and it certainly did not shape their lives. It's not like the sheltering steered the students towards different career paths or different things to do with their lives; their lives were set the moment they were created. Nothing the guardians at Hailsham did could change the fact that the students had to donate. The students became who they are by learning to accept their fate and deal with their surroundings, and Hailsham kept them from doing that. They were sheltered pawns in Miss Emily's crusade, and they were kept in the dark about her quest and their role.
Masked Dread: Never Let Me Go
"'Is she afraid of you? We're all afraid of you. I myself had to fight back my dread of you almost every day I was at Hailsham. There were times I'd look down at you all from my study window and I'd feel such revulsion...' She stopped, then something in her eyes flashed again. 'But I was determined not to let such feelings stop me doing what was right. I fought those feelings and I won'" (269).
During the end of the novel, many parts shocked me, especially passages about the true reason for Hailsham. This part in particular surprised me because I never suspected that Miss Emily would feel any sort of dread towards the students. I think that Kathy and Tommy never suspected the disgust she had for the students either. She masked her true feelings well, leading the school and making the students feel safe. Kathy obviously respected her and gave no indication that Miss Emily feared the students. I admire Miss Emily's determination; she would not let her feelings for the students get in the way of helping them. However, I am surprised that she still feared them even after spending so much time with the students. Surely she was able to see that they were as normal as "real" humans, and I do not see why she continued to fear the children. Maybe the thought of them being clones repulsed her more than the students themselves since they did not appear any different from regular people. Whatever the reason for her fear, Miss Emily pushed that aside to continue her crusade for the students at Hailsham. I am sure that Tommy and Kathy were just as surprised to learn of Miss Emily's disdain for them.
During the end of the novel, many parts shocked me, especially passages about the true reason for Hailsham. This part in particular surprised me because I never suspected that Miss Emily would feel any sort of dread towards the students. I think that Kathy and Tommy never suspected the disgust she had for the students either. She masked her true feelings well, leading the school and making the students feel safe. Kathy obviously respected her and gave no indication that Miss Emily feared the students. I admire Miss Emily's determination; she would not let her feelings for the students get in the way of helping them. However, I am surprised that she still feared them even after spending so much time with the students. Surely she was able to see that they were as normal as "real" humans, and I do not see why she continued to fear the children. Maybe the thought of them being clones repulsed her more than the students themselves since they did not appear any different from regular people. Whatever the reason for her fear, Miss Emily pushed that aside to continue her crusade for the students at Hailsham. I am sure that Tommy and Kathy were just as surprised to learn of Miss Emily's disdain for them.
A Touch of Horror: Never Let Me Go
"How maybe, after the fourth donation, even if you've technically completed, you're still conscious in some sort of way; how then you find there are more donations, plenty of them, on the other side of that line...how there's nothing to do except watch your remaining donations until they switch you off. It's horror movie stuff, and most of the time people don't want to think about it" (279).
Throughout the novel, I have been shocked by the idea that the organs were harvested while the patient was alive. This to me was a bit horrifying, but the thought of that does not compare to the situation that Kathy describes. I have trouble fully understanding what Kathy is describing since the concept of organ harvesting from clones is new to me. I suspect that the organs harvested after completion are vital organs that today are taken from patients that have died. Perhaps the clones are kept conscious so that the organs remain fresh; however, I cannot imagine such an inhumane process taking place. She talks about being conscious for more donations, watching as things are taken from your body until there is nothing left and the doctors "switch you off." Even the terminology is awful, how dying is described as being "switched off." This relates to Miss Emily's talk about how the students were seen as less than humans, as soulless scientific specimens that magically produced organs. The clones do not die; they "complete" or have to be "switched off." The author does not give much insight into the horrors of their donations, but this part really stood out to me as "horror movie stuff."
Throughout the novel, I have been shocked by the idea that the organs were harvested while the patient was alive. This to me was a bit horrifying, but the thought of that does not compare to the situation that Kathy describes. I have trouble fully understanding what Kathy is describing since the concept of organ harvesting from clones is new to me. I suspect that the organs harvested after completion are vital organs that today are taken from patients that have died. Perhaps the clones are kept conscious so that the organs remain fresh; however, I cannot imagine such an inhumane process taking place. She talks about being conscious for more donations, watching as things are taken from your body until there is nothing left and the doctors "switch you off." Even the terminology is awful, how dying is described as being "switched off." This relates to Miss Emily's talk about how the students were seen as less than humans, as soulless scientific specimens that magically produced organs. The clones do not die; they "complete" or have to be "switched off." The author does not give much insight into the horrors of their donations, but this part really stood out to me as "horror movie stuff."
Tragic Irony: Never Let Me Go
"'I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart. That's how I think it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever'" (282).
I thought that this was one of the most despairing parts of the novel. The fact that Tommy and Kathy have finally realized that they have always loved each other but cannot be together is ironic but also very tragic. I think that Kathy knew she loved Tommy, but I am not sure that Tommy was fully aware of his feelings for Kathy. With Ruth gone, they can finally be together, but the tragic part is that they cannot be together for long. Tommy's metaphor was a perfect comparison to their situation, being torn apart by donations. Both of them tried to stay together in the river, trying to earn the deferral. In the end, however, the deferrals did not exist and the river began to pull them apart. This scene ties in directly to the melancholy mood of the end of the novel, adding to the feeling of loss. I pitied Tommy and Ruth the most at this scene, seeing how important time became to them. If they had been able to be together earlier, they would have had more time to spend with each other. Their time was running out, and they could do nothing to stop the waters from tearing them apart.
I thought that this was one of the most despairing parts of the novel. The fact that Tommy and Kathy have finally realized that they have always loved each other but cannot be together is ironic but also very tragic. I think that Kathy knew she loved Tommy, but I am not sure that Tommy was fully aware of his feelings for Kathy. With Ruth gone, they can finally be together, but the tragic part is that they cannot be together for long. Tommy's metaphor was a perfect comparison to their situation, being torn apart by donations. Both of them tried to stay together in the river, trying to earn the deferral. In the end, however, the deferrals did not exist and the river began to pull them apart. This scene ties in directly to the melancholy mood of the end of the novel, adding to the feeling of loss. I pitied Tommy and Ruth the most at this scene, seeing how important time became to them. If they had been able to be together earlier, they would have had more time to spend with each other. Their time was running out, and they could do nothing to stop the waters from tearing them apart.
First Person Point of View: Never Let Me Go
"That was when I first understood, really understood, just how lucky we'd been- Tommy, Ruth, me , all the rest of us" (6).
The story is told in the first person point of view by Kathy H., a former student at Hailsham and a carer. I think that the story could not have been told by any other character; Kathy's narration offers the best perspective of what happened at Hailsham. Although Kathy seems like a timid character, she is actually quite strong and has many provoking thoughts about her life that add to the story's overall effect. She carefully observed all that happened around her, taking special notice of her friends Tommy and Ruth. Tommy could not have told the story because he was too naive and innocent; he would not have noticed all that Kathy did nor been as perceptive as Kathy when she observed other people. Ruth is not the ideal narrator either since she often was a pretender, playing the part of the person she thought everyone would like. Kathy described her as being a fake sometimes, and so Ruth would not have been a reliable narrator. The purpose of the first person point of view is to let the reader into the world of Hailsham and the lives of the students as told by a fellow student. An impartial observer could not have made the same observations Kathy did about people's motivations, emotions, or actions. She told the story by sharing her memories, recalling events as she perceived them. Kathy's narration was effective, telling the story with the right balance of emotion, opinions, and unique observations.
The story is told in the first person point of view by Kathy H., a former student at Hailsham and a carer. I think that the story could not have been told by any other character; Kathy's narration offers the best perspective of what happened at Hailsham. Although Kathy seems like a timid character, she is actually quite strong and has many provoking thoughts about her life that add to the story's overall effect. She carefully observed all that happened around her, taking special notice of her friends Tommy and Ruth. Tommy could not have told the story because he was too naive and innocent; he would not have noticed all that Kathy did nor been as perceptive as Kathy when she observed other people. Ruth is not the ideal narrator either since she often was a pretender, playing the part of the person she thought everyone would like. Kathy described her as being a fake sometimes, and so Ruth would not have been a reliable narrator. The purpose of the first person point of view is to let the reader into the world of Hailsham and the lives of the students as told by a fellow student. An impartial observer could not have made the same observations Kathy did about people's motivations, emotions, or actions. She told the story by sharing her memories, recalling events as she perceived them. Kathy's narration was effective, telling the story with the right balance of emotion, opinions, and unique observations.
Hubris: Never Let Me Go
"...They tried to convince themselves you weren't really like us. That you were less than human...Here was the world, requiring students to donate" (263).
Although the characters' tragic flaw was not revealed until later in the novel, the reader easily sees that the flaw that will lead to their downfall is the fact that all of the students at Hailsham are clones. The hubris is very effective in establishing the mood of the novel. Even though the clones are restricted to a single life path in which they donate their vital organs, Tommy still struggles to escape the fate set for him. The reader follows the lives of Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy as they either accept their fate or try to change the life chosen for them. This is an emotional journey, and the reader senses the desperation the characters feel. All of their frustration, anguish, and eventual resignation stems from their lives as clones and how that world, the "normal" people, prefer to cast them into the shadows. The students could not escape their downfall as they were required to donate and then complete. They struggled to understand their fate and their place in the world, and this was because of their fatal flaw. The purpose of the hubris is that the novel revolves around the characters coming to terms with their lives as clones and their struggles in life before their inescapable donations.
Although the characters' tragic flaw was not revealed until later in the novel, the reader easily sees that the flaw that will lead to their downfall is the fact that all of the students at Hailsham are clones. The hubris is very effective in establishing the mood of the novel. Even though the clones are restricted to a single life path in which they donate their vital organs, Tommy still struggles to escape the fate set for him. The reader follows the lives of Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy as they either accept their fate or try to change the life chosen for them. This is an emotional journey, and the reader senses the desperation the characters feel. All of their frustration, anguish, and eventual resignation stems from their lives as clones and how that world, the "normal" people, prefer to cast them into the shadows. The students could not escape their downfall as they were required to donate and then complete. They struggled to understand their fate and their place in the world, and this was because of their fatal flaw. The purpose of the hubris is that the novel revolves around the characters coming to terms with their lives as clones and their struggles in life before their inescapable donations.
Parallelism: Never Let Me Go
"But Ruth didn't get my point- or maybe she was deliberately avoiding it. Maybe she was determined to remember us all as more sophisticated than we were. Or maybe she could sense where my talk was leading, and didn't want us to go that way" (18).
This parallelism not only shows Ruth's reluctance to discuss something as innocent as the student's appreciation for poetry, but it also reveals a part of Ruth's character. When Kathy questions the students' understanding of poetry, Ruth changes the subject. Perhaps this subject was not innocent; this could relate to how the students really did not understand much at Hailsham. Somehow they came to believe that poetry was important, so they respected it without understanding or even caring much about it. This blind following could apply to many aspects of their life at Hailsham; they pretended to understand life, but it was an illusion. Ruth may have understood the implications of that conversation which is why she changed the subject. Kathy gives various explanations for Ruth's reluctance, and it shows that Ruth puts on an act. She pretends not to see Kathy's point, and throughout the novel, Ruth plays the part of the pretender. While Kathy and Tommy struggle to understand their situations, Ruth avoids analyzing their life at Hailsham. The parallelism is effective because the reader sees how Ruth's reasons for changing the subject all relate to her personality and shows the larger implications of the conversation.
This parallelism not only shows Ruth's reluctance to discuss something as innocent as the student's appreciation for poetry, but it also reveals a part of Ruth's character. When Kathy questions the students' understanding of poetry, Ruth changes the subject. Perhaps this subject was not innocent; this could relate to how the students really did not understand much at Hailsham. Somehow they came to believe that poetry was important, so they respected it without understanding or even caring much about it. This blind following could apply to many aspects of their life at Hailsham; they pretended to understand life, but it was an illusion. Ruth may have understood the implications of that conversation which is why she changed the subject. Kathy gives various explanations for Ruth's reluctance, and it shows that Ruth puts on an act. She pretends not to see Kathy's point, and throughout the novel, Ruth plays the part of the pretender. While Kathy and Tommy struggle to understand their situations, Ruth avoids analyzing their life at Hailsham. The parallelism is effective because the reader sees how Ruth's reasons for changing the subject all relate to her personality and shows the larger implications of the conversation.
Suspense: Never Let Me Go
"I was still looking into the darkness when I heard Madame let out a kind of snort, and she came striding past us into the dark... Madame emerged pushing a figure in a wheelchair...It was the voice more than anything that helped me recognize her. 'Miss Emily,' Tommy said, quite softly" (255).
This scene creates much suspense right until the point where Tommy speaks Miss Emily's name. The reader waits for the arrival of this person in the wheelchair, anticipating the moment when the person's identity is revealed. From the time that Madame goes into the darkness until Tommy says Miss Emily's name, the reader wonders who could possibly be living in Madame's house. The suspense is all part of the emotions that the reader shares with the characters. The author chose not to immediately reveal who was in the wheelchair; instead, he allows time for the suspense to build and for the reader to question the person's identity. The characters were feeling the same anticipation, waiting for Madame to emerge from the darkness. The suspense is effective, creating more curiosity about the situation. The reader wonders why Miss Emily would be in the house, and why Madame brought her out while Tommy and Kathy asked about the deferrals. With the arrival of Miss Emily, the characters and the reader feel even more uncertain about the upcoming events. This suspense is the perfect precursor to Miss Emily's explanation of Kathy and Tommy's life at Hailsham since the suspense about their lives has been building throughout the novel.
This scene creates much suspense right until the point where Tommy speaks Miss Emily's name. The reader waits for the arrival of this person in the wheelchair, anticipating the moment when the person's identity is revealed. From the time that Madame goes into the darkness until Tommy says Miss Emily's name, the reader wonders who could possibly be living in Madame's house. The suspense is all part of the emotions that the reader shares with the characters. The author chose not to immediately reveal who was in the wheelchair; instead, he allows time for the suspense to build and for the reader to question the person's identity. The characters were feeling the same anticipation, waiting for Madame to emerge from the darkness. The suspense is effective, creating more curiosity about the situation. The reader wonders why Miss Emily would be in the house, and why Madame brought her out while Tommy and Kathy asked about the deferrals. With the arrival of Miss Emily, the characters and the reader feel even more uncertain about the upcoming events. This suspense is the perfect precursor to Miss Emily's explanation of Kathy and Tommy's life at Hailsham since the suspense about their lives has been building throughout the novel.
Imagery: Never Let Me Go
"She just froze... She didn't shriek, or even let out a gasp... I can still see it now, the shudder she seemed to be suppressing, the real dread that one of us would accidentally brush against her... She was afraid of us in the same way someone might be afraid of spiders" (35).
This scene led to many more questions for me, and I thought that it be very important to the rest of the novel. The author used imagery so that the reader would be able to properly visualize Madame's reaction. Since the author did not want Madame's actions to be misinterpreted, he went into great detail to help the reader visualize the situation. I had no trouble seeing Madame struggle to hide her disgust, just as someone who feared spiders would react at the sight of the eight-legged creature. Even though the imagery helped me visualize what was happening, I did not fully understand the situation. I think the purpose of this imagery is to make the reader question the passage. Through imagery, the reader can visualize Madame's aversion to the students but then questions why she has reason to fear them. By seeing the situation as the author intends, the reader questions Madame's reaction. Does she hate children, and if so, why would she react so dramatically during the encounter with the students? The imagery helps tie the event into the rest of the mystery surrounding the students and probably relates to how "special" they are.
This scene led to many more questions for me, and I thought that it be very important to the rest of the novel. The author used imagery so that the reader would be able to properly visualize Madame's reaction. Since the author did not want Madame's actions to be misinterpreted, he went into great detail to help the reader visualize the situation. I had no trouble seeing Madame struggle to hide her disgust, just as someone who feared spiders would react at the sight of the eight-legged creature. Even though the imagery helped me visualize what was happening, I did not fully understand the situation. I think the purpose of this imagery is to make the reader question the passage. Through imagery, the reader can visualize Madame's aversion to the students but then questions why she has reason to fear them. By seeing the situation as the author intends, the reader questions Madame's reaction. Does she hate children, and if so, why would she react so dramatically during the encounter with the students? The imagery helps tie the event into the rest of the mystery surrounding the students and probably relates to how "special" they are.
Hyperbole: Never Let Me Go
"Afterwards, when we discussed it, some of us were sure she was dying for someone to ask: 'Why?'..."(69).
This quote refers to the time when the children were listening to Miss Lucy speak about the dangers of smoking. She had told them that even though she had smoked before, they should never smoke because it was much worse for them. Kathy made the observation that Miss Lucy longed for them to ask "why," to question why smoking would be so much worse for them. Kathy exaggerated the situation by saying Miss Lucy "was dying for someone to ask," but the hyperbole has an important purpose. This situation ties into the other times Miss Lucy had spoken to either the children as a group or just Tommy. She always hinted that they were special, but they were not being told enough. Kathy and Tommy puzzled over the meaning of her words when she told him the students at Hailsham were not being told enough. Miss Lucy has yet to elaborate on what she means, but it is obvious that she really wants to tell the students more. Another thing that is clear to the reader is that Miss Lucy has a different way of thinking than the other guardians. All of the other guardians prefer to shy away from topics such as their own smoking, and they do not go into detail about how special the students are. With all of that in mind, Miss Lucy might clarify the meaning behind her vague words, and this will probably help explain the mystery surrounding the children at Hailsham.
This quote refers to the time when the children were listening to Miss Lucy speak about the dangers of smoking. She had told them that even though she had smoked before, they should never smoke because it was much worse for them. Kathy made the observation that Miss Lucy longed for them to ask "why," to question why smoking would be so much worse for them. Kathy exaggerated the situation by saying Miss Lucy "was dying for someone to ask," but the hyperbole has an important purpose. This situation ties into the other times Miss Lucy had spoken to either the children as a group or just Tommy. She always hinted that they were special, but they were not being told enough. Kathy and Tommy puzzled over the meaning of her words when she told him the students at Hailsham were not being told enough. Miss Lucy has yet to elaborate on what she means, but it is obvious that she really wants to tell the students more. Another thing that is clear to the reader is that Miss Lucy has a different way of thinking than the other guardians. All of the other guardians prefer to shy away from topics such as their own smoking, and they do not go into detail about how special the students are. With all of that in mind, Miss Lucy might clarify the meaning behind her vague words, and this will probably help explain the mystery surrounding the children at Hailsham.
Foreshadowing: Never Let Me Go
"Take all this curiosity about Madame for instance. At one level, it was just us kids larking about. But at another, as you'll see, it was the start of a process that kept growing and growing over the years until it came to dominate our lives" (37).
I have been very engaged in this novel from the beginning, trying to understand the mystery that Kathy is slowly revealing. Kathy hints at pieces- events, people, things- that maybe related to this puzzle, but she has yet to connect them. To the reader, all of these memories are somewhat of a jumbled mess. As confusing as these pieces may be, Kathy guides the reader throughout the novel by highlighting people or events that could be important later. This foreshadowing about Madame is effective more many reasons. The reader knows that Madame is not just a passing figure; she will become an integral part of the solution. Also, the reader learns that this time of Kathy and Tommy observing their environment with curiosity and questions is not just a phase. In fact, the process of them gathering clues only grows, eventually consuming their lives. This is probably how they come to solve the mystery surrounding their lives; they will not stop investigating until they know the truth. Although the reader has not seen the evolution of this process, it will become evident later in the novel. The reader is able to realize that through the foreshadowing.
I have been very engaged in this novel from the beginning, trying to understand the mystery that Kathy is slowly revealing. Kathy hints at pieces- events, people, things- that maybe related to this puzzle, but she has yet to connect them. To the reader, all of these memories are somewhat of a jumbled mess. As confusing as these pieces may be, Kathy guides the reader throughout the novel by highlighting people or events that could be important later. This foreshadowing about Madame is effective more many reasons. The reader knows that Madame is not just a passing figure; she will become an integral part of the solution. Also, the reader learns that this time of Kathy and Tommy observing their environment with curiosity and questions is not just a phase. In fact, the process of them gathering clues only grows, eventually consuming their lives. This is probably how they come to solve the mystery surrounding their lives; they will not stop investigating until they know the truth. Although the reader has not seen the evolution of this process, it will become evident later in the novel. The reader is able to realize that through the foreshadowing.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Figurative Language: Never Let Me Go
"...that there are people out there... who nevertheless shudder at the very thought of you- of how you were brought into this world and why... The first time you glimpse yourself through the eyes of a person like that, it's a cold moment. It's like walking past a mirror you've walked past everyday of your life, and suddenly it shows you something else, something troubling and strange" (36).
I found this quote to be very interesting, not just for the figurative language it contains, but for the questions it elicits. Although I thought about what the entire quote could mean, I was especially drawn to the figurative language the author used, specifically a simile. The purpose of the figurative language is to make the characters' experience more personable to the reader. Most people reading the novel probably have never experienced being contained in a school while others "on the outside" dread them or the thought of coming in contact with them. This situation is unique to the students at Hailsham who are feared by those outside of the school. By giving the reader the mental picture of the mirror, the author provides an experience that is easier for the reader to visualize and understand. The author wants the reader to share in the emotions of the characters, so he uses figurative language to describe the emotions in a way the reader can understand. Also, the figurative language evokes an image in the reader's mind of an experience that could potentially be life changing. To have an idea of who you are or what your image in the mirror is and then have that picture forever altered in an abrupt and strange manner must be a pivotal point in one's life. This illustrates the magnitude of the effect the new knowledge had on the characters. In addition to helping me understand the characters' emotions on a deeper level, the figurative language prompted me to question why the students at Hailsham are so different and why others dread them.
I found this quote to be very interesting, not just for the figurative language it contains, but for the questions it elicits. Although I thought about what the entire quote could mean, I was especially drawn to the figurative language the author used, specifically a simile. The purpose of the figurative language is to make the characters' experience more personable to the reader. Most people reading the novel probably have never experienced being contained in a school while others "on the outside" dread them or the thought of coming in contact with them. This situation is unique to the students at Hailsham who are feared by those outside of the school. By giving the reader the mental picture of the mirror, the author provides an experience that is easier for the reader to visualize and understand. The author wants the reader to share in the emotions of the characters, so he uses figurative language to describe the emotions in a way the reader can understand. Also, the figurative language evokes an image in the reader's mind of an experience that could potentially be life changing. To have an idea of who you are or what your image in the mirror is and then have that picture forever altered in an abrupt and strange manner must be a pivotal point in one's life. This illustrates the magnitude of the effect the new knowledge had on the characters. In addition to helping me understand the characters' emotions on a deeper level, the figurative language prompted me to question why the students at Hailsham are so different and why others dread them.
Dynamic Character: Never Let Me Go
"'You've turned things around for yourself. I've been watching. So that's why I was asking.' Tommy shrugged. 'I've grown up a bit, I suppose...A couple of months back, I had this talk with Miss Lucy...But she said something, and it all felt much better'" (23).
Although dynamic characters are probably best identified later in the story when they have had more time to develop, I think that Tommy' evolution so early in the novel makes him a dynamic character. Perhaps he will change even more as the story progresses, but I consider the shift from his angry behavior to a calm demeanor very significant. The purpose of this change is probably to highlight the significance of his conversation with Miss Lucy. Something incredibly significant or meaningful must have happened for Tommy to suddenly abandon his temper tantrums and calmly handle potentially aggravating situations. The explanation he offers for this somewhat bizarre and sudden change is the conversation he shared with Miss Lucy. Although Tommy tells Kathy what the guardian said, both are still puzzled at the true meaning behind her words. Since the characters cannot decipher Miss Lucy's intentions, the reader cannot fully comprehend what she means either. I think the author's purpose behind Tommy's behavioral evolution and his conversation with Miss Lucy is to establish more pieces of this mystery. The characters struggle to connect the parts of this puzzle formed by conversations- like with Miss Lucy- and various events. The reader struggles along with the characters, not knowing what the puzzle really is. The purpose of Tommy's role as a dynamic character will probably become clearer as the story progresses.
Although dynamic characters are probably best identified later in the story when they have had more time to develop, I think that Tommy' evolution so early in the novel makes him a dynamic character. Perhaps he will change even more as the story progresses, but I consider the shift from his angry behavior to a calm demeanor very significant. The purpose of this change is probably to highlight the significance of his conversation with Miss Lucy. Something incredibly significant or meaningful must have happened for Tommy to suddenly abandon his temper tantrums and calmly handle potentially aggravating situations. The explanation he offers for this somewhat bizarre and sudden change is the conversation he shared with Miss Lucy. Although Tommy tells Kathy what the guardian said, both are still puzzled at the true meaning behind her words. Since the characters cannot decipher Miss Lucy's intentions, the reader cannot fully comprehend what she means either. I think the author's purpose behind Tommy's behavioral evolution and his conversation with Miss Lucy is to establish more pieces of this mystery. The characters struggle to connect the parts of this puzzle formed by conversations- like with Miss Lucy- and various events. The reader struggles along with the characters, not knowing what the puzzle really is. The purpose of Tommy's role as a dynamic character will probably become clearer as the story progresses.
Characterization: Never Let Me Go
"She was a tall, narrow woman with short hair, probably quite young still, though at the time we wouldn't have thought of her as such...She wouldn't talk to us and kept us at a distance with her chilly look. For years we thought of her as "snooty"..." (32).
The author uses characterization- both direct and indirect- early on in the novel, so the reader knows much about many of the characters. The personalities of Kathy, Ruth, Tommy, Laura, and some of the guardians like Miss Lucy, Miss Emily, and Miss Geraldine are revealed to the reader, and some of the physical characteristics are known as well. One character described through indirect characterization is Madame, and the use of characterization establishes not only her qualities, but also gives her an aura of mystery. She is portrayed as a severe, stern woman who drifts through Hailsham, selecting art in an arcane manner for this curious Gallery. Since the students do not know much about her, the description of Madame is brief. However, the characterization is effective because not much is said about Madame, but the reader is able to infer much about her through the descriptions given. Kathy repeatedly alludes to encounters with Madame and the Gallery, so the characterization could be very important. Knowing Madame's personality and relationship to the Hailsham students could help the reader understand the plot as the story unfolds. The author also reveals that Madame has an aversion to the children at Hailsham. Kathy likens Madame's feelings for the students to a person's fear of spiders. I think this is important, especially since Madame is not from Hailsham. Madame probably has a reason for these feelings, and her characterization can help the reader decipher her behavior.
The author uses characterization- both direct and indirect- early on in the novel, so the reader knows much about many of the characters. The personalities of Kathy, Ruth, Tommy, Laura, and some of the guardians like Miss Lucy, Miss Emily, and Miss Geraldine are revealed to the reader, and some of the physical characteristics are known as well. One character described through indirect characterization is Madame, and the use of characterization establishes not only her qualities, but also gives her an aura of mystery. She is portrayed as a severe, stern woman who drifts through Hailsham, selecting art in an arcane manner for this curious Gallery. Since the students do not know much about her, the description of Madame is brief. However, the characterization is effective because not much is said about Madame, but the reader is able to infer much about her through the descriptions given. Kathy repeatedly alludes to encounters with Madame and the Gallery, so the characterization could be very important. Knowing Madame's personality and relationship to the Hailsham students could help the reader understand the plot as the story unfolds. The author also reveals that Madame has an aversion to the children at Hailsham. Kathy likens Madame's feelings for the students to a person's fear of spiders. I think this is important, especially since Madame is not from Hailsham. Madame probably has a reason for these feelings, and her characterization can help the reader decipher her behavior.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Questions about Hailsham: Never Let Me Go
"He wanted to hear about Hailsham...About our guardians, about how we each had our own collection chests under our beds, the football, the rounders, the little path that took you all round the outside of the main house, round all its nooks and crannies, the duck pond, the food, the view from the Art Room over the fields on a foggy morning" (5).
Once again I had questions arise in the midst of my reading. Since I have just begun the novel, I believe that these questions will be answered later, but now I have a focus and things to look for throughout my reading. This time I wondered about Hailsham, Kathy's school. She hinted at the fact that Hailsham is considered to be a privileged estate, so I assumed that it is some sort of boarding school. Kathy also mentioned guardians which I thought was a term for teachers. The term guardians implies much more than just teachers; however, since the word is synonymous with protectors. I wondered if this is just how the students refer to their teachers, or if the guardians have a much larger role. One thing I misinterpreted was the terms "Junior" and "Senior." I associated these terms with high school juniors and seniors, but apparently the juniors and seniors in the novel are middle school age. This could be due to the fact that the story takes place in London, and they may use different terms to describe their school levels. Since much of the novel seems to take place at Hailsham, I am sure that my questions will soon be answered.
Once again I had questions arise in the midst of my reading. Since I have just begun the novel, I believe that these questions will be answered later, but now I have a focus and things to look for throughout my reading. This time I wondered about Hailsham, Kathy's school. She hinted at the fact that Hailsham is considered to be a privileged estate, so I assumed that it is some sort of boarding school. Kathy also mentioned guardians which I thought was a term for teachers. The term guardians implies much more than just teachers; however, since the word is synonymous with protectors. I wondered if this is just how the students refer to their teachers, or if the guardians have a much larger role. One thing I misinterpreted was the terms "Junior" and "Senior." I associated these terms with high school juniors and seniors, but apparently the juniors and seniors in the novel are middle school age. This could be due to the fact that the story takes place in London, and they may use different terms to describe their school levels. Since much of the novel seems to take place at Hailsham, I am sure that my questions will soon be answered.
Questions about Kathy's Career: Never Let Me Go
"...I've been a carer now for over eleven years...My donors have always tended to do much better than expected. Their recovery times have been impressive, and hardly any of them have been classified as "agitated," even before fourth donation" (3).
When I began to read the background of Kathy and her career in the very beginning of the novel, I had some questions about some of the terms she used. She spoke about her career as a carer for donors, and I struggled to understand exactly what that meant. As I continued to read, I surmised that a carer was similar to a nurse, offering care and companionship to the donors. As for the donors, I wondered if that meant organ donors. I believe that it is some sort of medical procedure because Kathy mentioned recovery time. This seemed unusual to me because the donors are alive, and organ donations are done when a patient is deceased. Another term I questioned was "completing." Kathy spoke about one of her patients that was "close to completing" (5). I assumed this meant he was close to dying, but the term completing seems like a strange synonym for dying. Perhaps this is used as an euphemism so as not to agitate the donors, especially since Kathy mentioned that some donors get agitated around their fourth donation. Based on my theory that the patients are organ donors, I was surprised that they are able to endure four donations. I just do not see how that is possible to survive having organs removed on four separate occasions, and I wonder what organs are taken. I feel like the author was being intentionally vague with these terms, and everything will probably be clarified later in the novel.
When I began to read the background of Kathy and her career in the very beginning of the novel, I had some questions about some of the terms she used. She spoke about her career as a carer for donors, and I struggled to understand exactly what that meant. As I continued to read, I surmised that a carer was similar to a nurse, offering care and companionship to the donors. As for the donors, I wondered if that meant organ donors. I believe that it is some sort of medical procedure because Kathy mentioned recovery time. This seemed unusual to me because the donors are alive, and organ donations are done when a patient is deceased. Another term I questioned was "completing." Kathy spoke about one of her patients that was "close to completing" (5). I assumed this meant he was close to dying, but the term completing seems like a strange synonym for dying. Perhaps this is used as an euphemism so as not to agitate the donors, especially since Kathy mentioned that some donors get agitated around their fourth donation. Based on my theory that the patients are organ donors, I was surprised that they are able to endure four donations. I just do not see how that is possible to survive having organs removed on four separate occasions, and I wonder what organs are taken. I feel like the author was being intentionally vague with these terms, and everything will probably be clarified later in the novel.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Overall Reaction towards Brave New World
"'We've gone on controlling every since. It hasn't been very good for truth, of course. But it's been very good for happiness. One can't have something for nothing. Happiness has got to be paid for. You're paying for it, Mr. Watson- paying because you happen to by much too interested in beauty. I was much too interested in truth; I paid too'" (228).
I disliked this statement when I read it, but then I realized the truth behind the words "happiness has got to be paid for." People must earn their happiness, but I disagree with Mond's belief that control harbors happiness. When people are controlled to that extent, they do not have expectations or goals; they are content with their way of life because that is all they know. True happiness is achieved through struggles and accomplishments, by working towards a purpose. The statement presents the biggest difference between the Old and New World, and it is also my biggest problem with the modern society. Also, Mond's words directly relates to the overall theme of the novel; the only way to achieve a utopia and happiness is to eliminate truth and purpose. My overall reaction towards the idea of a utopia is one with disagreement and disgust. I did not at all like the lack of individuality in most of the characters, the suffocating control of rulers like Mond, the apathetic processes like hatching, or the way of life in the New World. In fact, the New World did not appeal to me at all which was the author's intent. Aldous Huxley wanted to show the world the dangers of a utopia, like how much had to be sacrificed. He achieved his goal by presenting statements like these, forcing the reader to evaluate both worlds. I was able to see Huxley's warnings about utopias, and I fully appreciate the ways of the Old World, as "uncivilized" as they may be.
I disliked this statement when I read it, but then I realized the truth behind the words "happiness has got to be paid for." People must earn their happiness, but I disagree with Mond's belief that control harbors happiness. When people are controlled to that extent, they do not have expectations or goals; they are content with their way of life because that is all they know. True happiness is achieved through struggles and accomplishments, by working towards a purpose. The statement presents the biggest difference between the Old and New World, and it is also my biggest problem with the modern society. Also, Mond's words directly relates to the overall theme of the novel; the only way to achieve a utopia and happiness is to eliminate truth and purpose. My overall reaction towards the idea of a utopia is one with disagreement and disgust. I did not at all like the lack of individuality in most of the characters, the suffocating control of rulers like Mond, the apathetic processes like hatching, or the way of life in the New World. In fact, the New World did not appeal to me at all which was the author's intent. Aldous Huxley wanted to show the world the dangers of a utopia, like how much had to be sacrificed. He achieved his goal by presenting statements like these, forcing the reader to evaluate both worlds. I was able to see Huxley's warnings about utopias, and I fully appreciate the ways of the Old World, as "uncivilized" as they may be.
Resolution of Brave New World
"Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west; then paused, and, after a few seconds, turned as unhurriedly back towards the left" (259).
The resolution of Brave New World came at the very end of the novel, when John hanged himself. He had previously said that he would not be an experiment, that he would go somewhere to be alone. Once his solitude had been compromised and he violently lashed out against a crowd, John must have felt that he deserved the ultimate punishment. His death could be viewed as his final punishment or his final escape. Either way, John's struggle against the evil of society and his own wickedness finally ended. This resolution was particularly sad but also very effective. The reader felt the strongest connection to John and hoped that he would overcome his internal battles to defeat society in his external struggle. This did not happen, and I felt saddened that the New World had driven John to such drastic measures. The resolution is the final and perhaps strongest point saying that the New World is not civilized, perfect, or even ideal. The resolution supported the theme and provoked emotions in the reader that would help he or she realize the true meaning of the theme. The reader saw the full extent of the power and evil of the society, enough to destroy a young man's life.
The resolution of Brave New World came at the very end of the novel, when John hanged himself. He had previously said that he would not be an experiment, that he would go somewhere to be alone. Once his solitude had been compromised and he violently lashed out against a crowd, John must have felt that he deserved the ultimate punishment. His death could be viewed as his final punishment or his final escape. Either way, John's struggle against the evil of society and his own wickedness finally ended. This resolution was particularly sad but also very effective. The reader felt the strongest connection to John and hoped that he would overcome his internal battles to defeat society in his external struggle. This did not happen, and I felt saddened that the New World had driven John to such drastic measures. The resolution is the final and perhaps strongest point saying that the New World is not civilized, perfect, or even ideal. The resolution supported the theme and provoked emotions in the reader that would help he or she realize the true meaning of the theme. The reader saw the full extent of the power and evil of the society, enough to destroy a young man's life.
External Conflict: Chapter 18 of Brave New World
"The Savage nodded. 'I ate civilization.' 'What?' 'It poisoned me; I was defiled. And then,' he added, in a lower tone, 'I ate my own wickedness'" (241).
Throughout John's stay in London, he struggles against society. He is not able to fit in and conform to the ways of the New World. At first he tries to be "civilized" like the people in London, but then he realizes that he must help them attain their freedom from the modern society. This conflict between John and society is so effective because it is also the struggle of the reader against society. John is from the reader's world, and he does not find the New World to be appealing, much like the reader. I related most to John because I understood him better, and I was able to understand his struggle. The purpose of John's struggle is to show the reader that he or she would also struggle to live in the restrictive utopia and that the imperfections of today's society are far better than the perfection of the New World. The more John tried to live in London, the more it poisoned him. Once he realized his purpose and set out to free the people, John finally took control of his struggle. John would not let society defeat him; he would not be an experiment. He continued to fight society, but this time he fought for his own freedom and happiness.
Throughout John's stay in London, he struggles against society. He is not able to fit in and conform to the ways of the New World. At first he tries to be "civilized" like the people in London, but then he realizes that he must help them attain their freedom from the modern society. This conflict between John and society is so effective because it is also the struggle of the reader against society. John is from the reader's world, and he does not find the New World to be appealing, much like the reader. I related most to John because I understood him better, and I was able to understand his struggle. The purpose of John's struggle is to show the reader that he or she would also struggle to live in the restrictive utopia and that the imperfections of today's society are far better than the perfection of the New World. The more John tried to live in London, the more it poisoned him. Once he realized his purpose and set out to free the people, John finally took control of his struggle. John would not let society defeat him; he would not be an experiment. He continued to fight society, but this time he fought for his own freedom and happiness.
The Claim to the Old World: Chapter 17 of Brave New World
"'Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind.' There was a long silence. 'I claim them all,' said the Savage at last" (240).
I found this quote to be the most significant because it describes our world today, the Old World in the novel. Mond described everything horrible in the Old World, trying to show the appeal of the New World to John. Despite these arguments, John laid claim to his way of life, the way of society before modern London was developed. John knew that although the world consisted of these plights, the Old World also had so much more beauty and freedom than the New World. John speaks for the reader when he rejects the modern society and claims the old society, troubles and all. He wants the right to believe in God, the right to read Shakespeare, the right to be an individual, the right to have a purpose in life, the right to enjoy beautiful things, and the right to create one's own happiness. It was at this moment that I was the most proud of John because he stood for what he knew was right and laid claim to what was his. He did not bend under the pressure from the New World, and he did not conform to the ways of the New World because that was the easiest thing to do. John knew that for every horrible thing that happened in the Old World, many more beautiful things happened as well. John not only laid claim on the Old World, but he also claimed his freedom and happiness. I really admired John's strength and his decision, and that was when he became the hero in my eyes.
I found this quote to be the most significant because it describes our world today, the Old World in the novel. Mond described everything horrible in the Old World, trying to show the appeal of the New World to John. Despite these arguments, John laid claim to his way of life, the way of society before modern London was developed. John knew that although the world consisted of these plights, the Old World also had so much more beauty and freedom than the New World. John speaks for the reader when he rejects the modern society and claims the old society, troubles and all. He wants the right to believe in God, the right to read Shakespeare, the right to be an individual, the right to have a purpose in life, the right to enjoy beautiful things, and the right to create one's own happiness. It was at this moment that I was the most proud of John because he stood for what he knew was right and laid claim to what was his. He did not bend under the pressure from the New World, and he did not conform to the ways of the New World because that was the easiest thing to do. John knew that for every horrible thing that happened in the Old World, many more beautiful things happened as well. John not only laid claim on the Old World, but he also claimed his freedom and happiness. I really admired John's strength and his decision, and that was when he became the hero in my eyes.
A Chance at Freedom: Chapter 16 of Brave New World
"'He's being sent to an island. That's to say, he's being sent to a place where he'll meet the most interesting set of men and women to be found anywhere in the world. All the people who, for one reason or another, have got too self-consciously individual to fit into community life'" (227).
Motivation: Chapter 15 of Brave New World
"Linda had been a slave, Linda had died; others should live in freedom, and the world be made beautiful. A reparation, a duty. And suddenly it was luminously clear to the Savage what he must do; it was as though a shutter had been opened, a curtain drawn back" (210).
John's motivation to change the modern society was revealed shortly after Linda's death while he was in the midst of a soma distribution. John's sudden clarity about his purpose probably was fueled by his loss of Linda, caused by society and aided by soma. John, being decent and loving, felt he must help others escape the society that had failed Linda, and those people must not suffer Linda's fate. Since he could not save Linda, John must save the rest of the people trapped by society and reliant on poison. The purpose of John's motivation is to further the theme that this utopia is far from perfect. In fact, the people are enslaved in this utopia. John was motivated by Linda's demise to make the world beautiful and offer people freedom. If this was truly a utopia, such actions would not be necessary. John felt that his duty was to fix this "perfect" society, to free the "happy" people. The author effectively showed that a utopia can never exist, for a society will always have flaws. John wanted to open the people's eyes to this truth.
John's motivation to change the modern society was revealed shortly after Linda's death while he was in the midst of a soma distribution. John's sudden clarity about his purpose probably was fueled by his loss of Linda, caused by society and aided by soma. John, being decent and loving, felt he must help others escape the society that had failed Linda, and those people must not suffer Linda's fate. Since he could not save Linda, John must save the rest of the people trapped by society and reliant on poison. The purpose of John's motivation is to further the theme that this utopia is far from perfect. In fact, the people are enslaved in this utopia. John was motivated by Linda's demise to make the world beautiful and offer people freedom. If this was truly a utopia, such actions would not be necessary. John felt that his duty was to fix this "perfect" society, to free the "happy" people. The author effectively showed that a utopia can never exist, for a society will always have flaws. John wanted to open the people's eyes to this truth.
The Irony of Reality: Chapter 14 of Brave New World
"...that beautiful, beautiful Other Place, whose memory, as of a heaven, a paradise of goodness and loveliness, he still kept whole and intact, undefiled by contact with the reality of this real London, these actual civilized men and women" (201).
I found this line to be incredibly ironic, especially when John still refers to the people in London as "actual civilized men and women." John was known as the savage, and those in London were considered civilized which I thought was not only ironic but also a bit saddening. The reality of this paradise took a toll on John, who was able to see through London's perfect front. To John, the imperfections were glaringly obvious. The people in London are the true savages, taking as many women as they please, burning their dead and using them to grow plants, and not having a purpose to life, living life they way they were instructed. Those savages are educated only on the social caste, not the classics like Shakespeare. Those savages do not appreciate the beauty of books and flowers. John is the civilized man, daring to challenge the modern society and pointing out its flaws. John understands Shakespeare, is able to love, and knows beauty when he sees it. John acts with decency and acknowledges his emotions. The real London did not live up to Linda's stories and John's expectations, so John chooses to remember it as a true paradise, an actual utopia.
I found this line to be incredibly ironic, especially when John still refers to the people in London as "actual civilized men and women." John was known as the savage, and those in London were considered civilized which I thought was not only ironic but also a bit saddening. The reality of this paradise took a toll on John, who was able to see through London's perfect front. To John, the imperfections were glaringly obvious. The people in London are the true savages, taking as many women as they please, burning their dead and using them to grow plants, and not having a purpose to life, living life they way they were instructed. Those savages are educated only on the social caste, not the classics like Shakespeare. Those savages do not appreciate the beauty of books and flowers. John is the civilized man, daring to challenge the modern society and pointing out its flaws. John understands Shakespeare, is able to love, and knows beauty when he sees it. John acts with decency and acknowledges his emotions. The real London did not live up to Linda's stories and John's expectations, so John chooses to remember it as a true paradise, an actual utopia.
Clash of Two Cultures: Chapter 13 of Brave New World
"'Hug me, honey, snuggly...' The Savage caught her by the wrists, tore her hands from his shoulders, thrust her roughly away at arm's length. 'Ow, you're hurting me, you're... oh!' She was suddenly silent. Terror had made her forget the pain" (194).
This is a very important scene because it shows how two cultures of Lenina and John are so incompatible. Since the modern culture did its best to distance itself from the past, the two societies are too different. The people of Lenina's society see John as a savage and mock his way of life. Once John was exposed to Lenina's culture, he was horrified by what he saw. I wanted John and Lenina to be able to be together, but they could not overcome what their prospective cultures had taught them. I thought that if John and Lenina could form a relationship, some sort of change within London would occur. However, John was disgusted with Lenina's promiscuous behavior, and Lenina was confused and then terrified by John's response to her. Lenina's actions were probably so repulsive to John because that was how his mother behaved, and she was ostracized by the community. This probably triggered his frightening outburst because it brought back the memories of the pain he and Linda endured due to her promiscuity. I think this was the point when John began to see how this world was not as brave as he once thought.
This is a very important scene because it shows how two cultures of Lenina and John are so incompatible. Since the modern culture did its best to distance itself from the past, the two societies are too different. The people of Lenina's society see John as a savage and mock his way of life. Once John was exposed to Lenina's culture, he was horrified by what he saw. I wanted John and Lenina to be able to be together, but they could not overcome what their prospective cultures had taught them. I thought that if John and Lenina could form a relationship, some sort of change within London would occur. However, John was disgusted with Lenina's promiscuous behavior, and Lenina was confused and then terrified by John's response to her. Lenina's actions were probably so repulsive to John because that was how his mother behaved, and she was ostracized by the community. This probably triggered his frightening outburst because it brought back the memories of the pain he and Linda endured due to her promiscuity. I think this was the point when John began to see how this world was not as brave as he once thought.
Life Without Purpose: Chapter 12 of Brave New World
"'The author's mathematical treatment of the conception of purpose is novel and highly ingenious, but heretical and, so far as the present social order is concerned, dangerous and potentially subversive. Not to be published'" (177).
This was one of the most profound scenes to me because it truly demonstrated the amount of control rulers had over the public. Mustapha Mond was able to censor literature to keep certain ideals from the people in order to maintain the "perfection" of society. Also, I was able to see what the characters were missing in their lives: purpose. This saddened and surprised me because I can not imagine living without purpose. This is why men like Bernard and Helmholtz are so displeased with their lives; lives without purpose often lack meaning. The fact that rulers considered an analysis of purpose to be heretical fully illustrated the sad state of the society. The reason society believes that everyone is happy is because no one knows anything different. They were taught to be satisfied with life and not to strive to be greater or to find a purpose to their existence. I think that this is the greatest difference between our society and the modern society, between a chaotic world and a utopia. Considering what I have learned about this fictional utopia, I prefer the chaos and imperfections of the world around me. I believe that the author's goal was to illustrate how unappealing the quest towards perfection is and that perfection can never really be achieved; even a utopia has flaws.
This was one of the most profound scenes to me because it truly demonstrated the amount of control rulers had over the public. Mustapha Mond was able to censor literature to keep certain ideals from the people in order to maintain the "perfection" of society. Also, I was able to see what the characters were missing in their lives: purpose. This saddened and surprised me because I can not imagine living without purpose. This is why men like Bernard and Helmholtz are so displeased with their lives; lives without purpose often lack meaning. The fact that rulers considered an analysis of purpose to be heretical fully illustrated the sad state of the society. The reason society believes that everyone is happy is because no one knows anything different. They were taught to be satisfied with life and not to strive to be greater or to find a purpose to their existence. I think that this is the greatest difference between our society and the modern society, between a chaotic world and a utopia. Considering what I have learned about this fictional utopia, I prefer the chaos and imperfections of the world around me. I believe that the author's goal was to illustrate how unappealing the quest towards perfection is and that perfection can never really be achieved; even a utopia has flaws.
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