Saturday, February 2, 2008
"A Good Man Is Hard To Find"
In "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" the "pretender" in the story is the grandmother and the mother and father have true faith. When faced with death, the mother and father do not beg for their lives. They know that God will take care of them. The father goes with Hiram, willingly, knowing he is not going to come back. When The Misfit asks the mother if her and her children would like to join her husband, she replies, "Yes, thank you" (363). She knows she is going to be joined with her husband and children in a better place. The grandmother is the "pretender". She has manners and cares very much about her appearance, but then calls the African-American child a "nigger". She doesn't seem to care about anyone, but herself. It seems as though she only had faith when death came calling. The Misfit said, "She would of been a good woman [...] if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life" (365). The price of achieving a moment of religious grace is that it is just that-only a moment. To have true faith means that you live your life knowing God and obeying Him, not just in the moment before death. According to David Allen Cook, "[t]he literary works of Flannery O'Connor often contend that religious belief can only be consummated by direct confrontation with evil..." (365). The violence of The Misfit is the direct evil that the grandmother is faced with which pushes her to that moment of religious grace, however, it is not enough.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
A Good Man is Hard to Find
There are many conflicts in this story. There is a conflict between the grandmother and her son Bailey. There is a conflict between the grandmother and her grandchildren. There is also a conflict between the grandmother and her daughter-in-law. Toward the end of the story there is a conflict between the grandmother and the "misfit".
The grandmother lives with her son's family. The story portrays her to be a typical older woman. She has lived enough years that she will give her opinion whether anyone asks for it or not. It seems as if the whole family resents her presence in their home. She seems to be in the way. In paragraph two, the grandmother complains about where they are all going on their trip. In paragraph four the grandchild asks "If you don't want to go to Florida, why dontcha stay at home?" This seemed odd to me. When I was growing up we wouldn't have dared to speak that way to our elders, especially our grandmother. The question shows the children have no respect for their grandmother. This attituded probably trickled down from their parents.
The grandmother seems to demand too much. Throughout the story, she talks of the "misfit" she read about. As the family is driving down the road the grandmother remembers a place she once visited. She really wanted to revisit this place. Bailey did not want to change his plans and stop, but after the grandmother got the children interested in the place they kept nagging him. On page 358, paragraph 5, Bailey was looking straight ahead. His jaw was rigid as a horseshoe. "No," he said. You could tell by the tone that Bailey did not want to give in to his mother once again. She was an intruder. She was intruding on his family once again. The children kept yelling and screaming in the car that they wanted to see the place, so Bailey finally gave in. He didn't give in to his mother, only his children.
The conflict between grandmother and the children's mother is in the beginning of the story, paragraph 3. "The children's mother didn't seem to hear her..." The child did hear her and responded. In think this is the way the mother dealt with her difficult mother-in-law. She ignored her. She probably resented her for intruding.
Question 10, Page 365 - Who are the religious "pretenders," and who has true faith? The grandmother has true faith. Even at the end of her life she has an epiphany. She realized that the "misfit" was just another human being that had been misguided throughout his life. When she called him on it, he shot her. The pretenders I believe are her family. They were going through life resenting everything it had to offer and not appreciating anything. It portrayed through their children being unruly and rude. The price of achieving a moment of religious grace came to the whole family at their moment of death. What role does violence play in this equation? On page 361, paragraph 11, Bailey states to the "misfit", "listent," Bailey began, "we're in a terrible predicament! Nobody realizes what this is," and his voice cracked. He knew it was the beginning of the end. Bailey knew that the situation would have a poor outcome. The irony of this story is that they wouldn't have come across the "misfit" and his accomplices if the grandmother hadn't insisted upon going to see this place she wanted to see. Even after she ralized they were on the wrong road she didn't tell Bailey so he could turn around.
The grandmother lives with her son's family. The story portrays her to be a typical older woman. She has lived enough years that she will give her opinion whether anyone asks for it or not. It seems as if the whole family resents her presence in their home. She seems to be in the way. In paragraph two, the grandmother complains about where they are all going on their trip. In paragraph four the grandchild asks "If you don't want to go to Florida, why dontcha stay at home?" This seemed odd to me. When I was growing up we wouldn't have dared to speak that way to our elders, especially our grandmother. The question shows the children have no respect for their grandmother. This attituded probably trickled down from their parents.
The grandmother seems to demand too much. Throughout the story, she talks of the "misfit" she read about. As the family is driving down the road the grandmother remembers a place she once visited. She really wanted to revisit this place. Bailey did not want to change his plans and stop, but after the grandmother got the children interested in the place they kept nagging him. On page 358, paragraph 5, Bailey was looking straight ahead. His jaw was rigid as a horseshoe. "No," he said. You could tell by the tone that Bailey did not want to give in to his mother once again. She was an intruder. She was intruding on his family once again. The children kept yelling and screaming in the car that they wanted to see the place, so Bailey finally gave in. He didn't give in to his mother, only his children.
The conflict between grandmother and the children's mother is in the beginning of the story, paragraph 3. "The children's mother didn't seem to hear her..." The child did hear her and responded. In think this is the way the mother dealt with her difficult mother-in-law. She ignored her. She probably resented her for intruding.
Question 10, Page 365 - Who are the religious "pretenders," and who has true faith? The grandmother has true faith. Even at the end of her life she has an epiphany. She realized that the "misfit" was just another human being that had been misguided throughout his life. When she called him on it, he shot her. The pretenders I believe are her family. They were going through life resenting everything it had to offer and not appreciating anything. It portrayed through their children being unruly and rude. The price of achieving a moment of religious grace came to the whole family at their moment of death. What role does violence play in this equation? On page 361, paragraph 11, Bailey states to the "misfit", "listent," Bailey began, "we're in a terrible predicament! Nobody realizes what this is," and his voice cracked. He knew it was the beginning of the end. Bailey knew that the situation would have a poor outcome. The irony of this story is that they wouldn't have come across the "misfit" and his accomplices if the grandmother hadn't insisted upon going to see this place she wanted to see. Even after she ralized they were on the wrong road she didn't tell Bailey so he could turn around.
"A Rose for Emily" and "The Yellow Wallpaper"
In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the two female protagonists are confronted with isolation because of internal and external effects.
The woman, Miss Emily Grierson, in “A Rose for Emily” is isolated from the outside world by her own choice. After her father's death she was rarely seen out. Then, “after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all” (p. 202). I think part of the reason she stayed in her house and away from people after her father's death is because she was a Grierson and she couldn't keep herself up to the expectations of noblesse oblige. She knew she was constantly judged and watched by her neighbors in town. Also, after Homer disappeared she never went outside and I feel that is because when she was home, he was with her in the house. Though he was dead because she poisoned him, he was always with her.
In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the woman who narrates the story is suffering from temporary nervous depression. Her husband, John, who is a physician, tells her she needs to rest in order to get better. Whenever the unnamed woman wants to do anything her husband tells her she can't and must rest by herself. This forces her to be stuck by herself in their large bedroom with yellow wallpaper that drives her insane. The illness she actually had was postpartum depression, since she had just given birth to a baby boy. She even says, referring to her son, “and yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous” (p. 369). Thus proving that the reason she is sick is from postpartum depression and not just a temporary nervous depression. After being isolated from the real world and stuck in the same room for a couple months she beings to see thing. Before she hated the ugly wallpaper, but then it started to fascinate her. She wanted to watch the wallpaper all the time in the bedroom. She was really isolated for her depression, but in turn became isolated because of her isolation.
The woman, Miss Emily Grierson, in “A Rose for Emily” is isolated from the outside world by her own choice. After her father's death she was rarely seen out. Then, “after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all” (p. 202). I think part of the reason she stayed in her house and away from people after her father's death is because she was a Grierson and she couldn't keep herself up to the expectations of noblesse oblige. She knew she was constantly judged and watched by her neighbors in town. Also, after Homer disappeared she never went outside and I feel that is because when she was home, he was with her in the house. Though he was dead because she poisoned him, he was always with her.
In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the woman who narrates the story is suffering from temporary nervous depression. Her husband, John, who is a physician, tells her she needs to rest in order to get better. Whenever the unnamed woman wants to do anything her husband tells her she can't and must rest by herself. This forces her to be stuck by herself in their large bedroom with yellow wallpaper that drives her insane. The illness she actually had was postpartum depression, since she had just given birth to a baby boy. She even says, referring to her son, “and yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous” (p. 369). Thus proving that the reason she is sick is from postpartum depression and not just a temporary nervous depression. After being isolated from the real world and stuck in the same room for a couple months she beings to see thing. Before she hated the ugly wallpaper, but then it started to fascinate her. She wanted to watch the wallpaper all the time in the bedroom. She was really isolated for her depression, but in turn became isolated because of her isolation.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Story of an Hour
In this story, everyone believes that Mrs. Mallard is fully in love with her husband. They come to tell her of her husband’s death, and are worried of how she will handle the news. She goes into her room and shuts the door; they think that she is depressed. She is actually whispering to herself, “Free, free, free!” (P. 194). I think that she was really excited to finally be her own person and to live her own life.
I think the irony starts out this story, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble…” (P. 193). They don’t want to tell her the news of her husband’s death for fear it will break her heart. In the end of the story, her husband walks through the door, definitely alive. Mrs. Mallard dies when she sees him alive. She died from “…heart disease – of joy that kills” (P. 194).
I think the irony starts out this story, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble…” (P. 193). They don’t want to tell her the news of her husband’s death for fear it will break her heart. In the end of the story, her husband walks through the door, definitely alive. Mrs. Mallard dies when she sees him alive. She died from “…heart disease – of joy that kills” (P. 194).
Monday, January 28, 2008
"Story of an Hour"
In "The Story of an Hour" there are several key descriptions in the story that foreshadow its outcome. The first is the mention of Mrs. Mallard’s health condition, "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble [. . .]". We realize at the end of the story the importance this statement had at suggesting the outcome of the story. By pointing out Mrs. Mallard's heart problems it validates the doctor's diagnosis at the end, and makes the cause of death seem more probable to the reader. Secondly, the narrator’s description of the surroundings suggests the outcome may be different than you expect. In paragraph five the narrator describes what Mrs. Mallard saw outside of her window, “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life”. The new spring life symbolizes the rebirth of Brently Mallard after he was presumed dead. Unfortunately for the characters Mr. Mallard’s sudden rebirth also brought about Mrs. Mallards death.
"The Story of an Hour" foreshadowing, Ironies
There are many examples of foreshadowing in the “Story of an Hour.” Right away in the first paragraph the author mentions Mrs. Mallards heart trouble. In paragraph four Mrs. Mallard feels it is necessary to rest, as it is noted she feels tired inside and out. In paragraphs five and six she is deeply observant looking outward and hearing things of life. In paragraphs eight through ten she is initially suspended in thoughts of looking outward and inward, she can only stare, she is feeling a range of emotions. Then she really begins sensing something approaching her that she wants to fight. I think this could very well be death. Her erratic breathing around this time could also be contributed to her heart troubles. In paragraphs eleven , twelve, and sixteen she is wrapped up and content with being Free. Body and soul free, which many of us including myself have imagined death to be like. Her perception and joy are heightened. I also have imagined myself that just before death things become clear, on a different level.
The entire poem was ironic, in that she felt a true desire to live just before her death. And although I could find the fore shadowing after reading the story I surely could not have guessed the ending.
The entire poem was ironic, in that she felt a true desire to live just before her death. And although I could find the fore shadowing after reading the story I surely could not have guessed the ending.
Story of an Hour
In Story of an Hour, I don't think there was a way to tell what the end of the story might be. I thought it would end up with her dying of sadness of his death, but that wasn't the case. In the story several things are said about the way that she rejoices after his death. Not because she was happy he was gone, but because now she has the freedom she has always wanted. At first when she hears of her husbands death she "wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms." (Pg 193) She then goes upstairs and sits in her armchair. She sinks in and then notices the "delicious breath of rain was in the air." (Pg 193) Her heart starts beating faster at her newfound freedom as she whispers, "free, free, free!" Although the story makes it seem like she did not care for him at all, she clearly did. In the passage on pg 194 she says that "she knew she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead." There really wasn't a way to know what the end of the story would bring with all the ironies in it. When her husband arrives home she realizes that she will have to go back to the old ways and won't have her newfound freedom anymore.
The Story Of An Hour
The Story Of An Hour takes a surprising turn at the end. Before knowing what does happen in the end, the reader is lead to believe that Louise Mallard's husband has passed. I will discuss some passages that reinforce this belief. The bulk of the story seems to focus on her reaction to the news of her husband's passing. The first indication that the news is true is on page 193. Richards stayed long enough to hear a second telegram stating the message of the train accident and those involved. Louise Mallard goes through all the emotions of hearing of the loss of a loved one. She weeps wildly in her sister's arms. She goes to her room alone and stares off into space for some time. She has a sudden realization that this may be a new life for her. It is at this point that the reader may think that she is off to a new life of freedom, or perhaps something drastic is going to change everything. On page 194 this idea is again reinforced by the passage, "She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead." (194) This passage sounds very final. "There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself." (194) These passages certainly suggest the new free life that is to come for her. However, they are only suggestions. It is not a guarantee to the ending that is to come. The ending is ironic in that she finds new life in her husbands's death however, she dies at the realization of his life.
"A Rose for Emily"
In "A Rose for Emily", the death of her father begins the story. About a year after the passing of her father, Homer Baron comes to town to pave the streets. After some time passes, Emily goes to the drugstore to purchase arsenic, her cousins arrived from Alabama, Homer finished the streets and left, her cousins departed, and Homer returned. She was not seen (and neither was Homer) for quite some time, except for her presence in the window. Some time later (about six or seven years), she began giving china-painting lessons until the newer generation arrived and quit sending their children. "Daily, monthly, yearly" the Negro was seen leaving and returning with his market basket, until the day she died.As I wrote in the discussion area, I am puzzled about the relationship between Emily and her father. In paragraph 28, "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.", and paragraph 47, "if that quality of her father which had thwarted her womans' life so many times had been to virulent and too furious to die." Did her father sexually or physically abuse her? Did he drive everyone away to keep her for himself? I don't know, does anyone else?
Story of an Hour
The one passage that epitomizes the story's significance to me is when the married woman who had just lost her husband had expressed how free she was. "She said it over and over under her breath: "Free, free, free!" (p.194) I feel that in this story the author gives us the feeling that she was happy in her marriage but also felt trapped. When she finds out that her husband had been killed she feels remourse for a short time but then realizes the sense of freedom that is yet to come in her life. In paragraph 20 it also tells us as she opens the door to her sister she has triumph in her eyes and carries herself unwittingly like a goddess of victory.
A Rose for Emily
In the beginging, A Rose for Emily, she was a person who would go out into the town and greet people. Then her father died and the towns people started feeling sorry for Emily. "being left alone, and a pauper, she ahd become humanized."(206) The when the next generation of came she stayed in her home more often, and she started looking older then she did before.
Then she seeing a foreman named Homer Barron. Everybody thought she would marry him, he disappeared for a while until her cousins left. Then when the cousins left he came back to her. Then after time he disappeared and so did she. All the towns people would see is the black man come home with a bag of groceries. When she died they broke into her home and found that the man she was going to marry was in the room and she was laying there with him sometimes.
Then she seeing a foreman named Homer Barron. Everybody thought she would marry him, he disappeared for a while until her cousins left. Then when the cousins left he came back to her. Then after time he disappeared and so did she. All the towns people would see is the black man come home with a bag of groceries. When she died they broke into her home and found that the man she was going to marry was in the room and she was laying there with him sometimes.
"Rose for Emily"
It took me awhile to put into order the events of Emily's life. I think they went like this: her father's death, remittance of her taxes-"the dispensation dating from the death of her father" (206), Homer arriving into town-"and in the summer of her father's death they began work" (209), the cousins come to visit-"and while the two female cousing were visiting her" (209), she purchases arsenic, Homer disappears-"we were not surprised when Homer Baron...was gone" (210), people complain of the odor around Emily's house, and the aldermen visit her.
At first reading of this story I seemed to have the events of Emily's life a little mixed up. I thought that she had murdered Homer because a man she was previously going to marry had left her and now she didn't want to lose him too. However, after reading again, knowing the story, and then trying to put everything together, I realized he was the man who had left her. Then, I had to look for a different motive for killing Homer. I came to the conclusion their family thought very highly of themselves and wanted to hold onto the Old South's ways. Her father kept her very alone, thinking that no man was good enough for Emily(208). The narrator remembering "all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which robbed her, as people will." (208) I think Emily realized that when the construction job was done, Homer would be leaving her and she didn't want to feel alone again. Therefore, she found a way to remain with him.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A Rose for Emily
A Rose for Emily talks about the passing of time while telling the tragic story of Miss Emily's life. It gives a sneak peek into the way Small Town USA operated at the turn of the last century and still is run today. Since the beginning of time, people of small towns have been notorious for being in everyone else's business. The people of small towns never forget where someone came from, even if someone has done something in adulthood to change their lives, people in small towns never forget how the person grew up. People in small towns also want to know who is dating who, so when the story talks about weather or not Miss Emily and Homer Barron are dating (page 209) and weather or not he is good enough for her and how she needs to remember noblesse oblige (the obligation of those of high birth or rank to behave honorably), that still goes on today.
On page 210 in the book the second paragraph talks about how the town is guessing what is going on in her life. When she started seeing Homer, they thought that she would marry him. Then they think that she is going to kill herself. It is like the are putting together a story that they have to make up and fill in the blanks just for something to talk about. I hear people doing this all of the time in my small town. If a man and a woman are seen having a meal together, they must be dating, if a man gives woman a ride somewhere and they are seen by someone else, it is assumed that they are having an affair. These assumptions happen all of the time in present day, and this story is filled with them too.
The other thing that happens in the story that happens currently is the way a town can change from generation to generation depending on who is in office. In my town 20 years ago you could buy anything, have entertainment (bowling, movies, arcade). Then we got people on our city council who would not let new business in so those business went to towns near by. Slowly our town started to die, we can't buy clothes or shoes in town anymore, the bowling alley is no longer, etc. Now we have a new city council and MNDOT moved highway 10 over a block this fall. Now we have 3 new stores opening this spring, we have hotels in the works, and it looks like our town is on the up swing again. In the story it talks about (on page 206) the "next generation" and their "modern ideas". They do not go into details on the town itself, but you get the feeling that Miss Emily's taxes aren't the only thing changing in the town.
The whole time I was reading this story, I could picture people in my town, and the rumors that go around. Knowing everyone in your small town can be a blessing and a curse, but I wouldn't change the fact the when I walk into my grocery store the people smile and call me by name for anything in the world.
On page 210 in the book the second paragraph talks about how the town is guessing what is going on in her life. When she started seeing Homer, they thought that she would marry him. Then they think that she is going to kill herself. It is like the are putting together a story that they have to make up and fill in the blanks just for something to talk about. I hear people doing this all of the time in my small town. If a man and a woman are seen having a meal together, they must be dating, if a man gives woman a ride somewhere and they are seen by someone else, it is assumed that they are having an affair. These assumptions happen all of the time in present day, and this story is filled with them too.
The other thing that happens in the story that happens currently is the way a town can change from generation to generation depending on who is in office. In my town 20 years ago you could buy anything, have entertainment (bowling, movies, arcade). Then we got people on our city council who would not let new business in so those business went to towns near by. Slowly our town started to die, we can't buy clothes or shoes in town anymore, the bowling alley is no longer, etc. Now we have a new city council and MNDOT moved highway 10 over a block this fall. Now we have 3 new stores opening this spring, we have hotels in the works, and it looks like our town is on the up swing again. In the story it talks about (on page 206) the "next generation" and their "modern ideas". They do not go into details on the town itself, but you get the feeling that Miss Emily's taxes aren't the only thing changing in the town.
The whole time I was reading this story, I could picture people in my town, and the rumors that go around. Knowing everyone in your small town can be a blessing and a curse, but I wouldn't change the fact the when I walk into my grocery store the people smile and call me by name for anything in the world.
Story of an Hour
"Story of an Hour" seems to hint at the thought that, during this time period, a woman married a man, not because she was deeply in love, but because it was the respectable thing to do. Louise seems trapped in her marriage, unable to do what she truly loves and desires. To please society, she becomes a wife, a role with countless limitations. After Louise learns of her husbands death, she weeps, then goes to her room. The open window greets her, subtly drawing her near, asking her to gaze upon the world that lies beyond her life of confinement. This open window symbolizes her newly found sense of freedom, which allows her to go beyond the limitations that hindered her while Brently was alive. Louise begins to observe the cheerful activities that are happening outside, making it evident that the death of her husband is now sparking flames of joy that begin to grow inside of her. She observes her surroundings positively, sensing the "…delicious breath of rain.." (p.193) that is in the air and even picks up on the faint sound of music that is coming from a person singing in the distance. She notices the blue sky behind clumps of clouds, suggesting that she now sees the freedom that was once hidden behind the constrictions of her marriage that had bound her. With flames burning rapidly inside of her now, she proceeds downstairs with a new found love for life, carrying herself "…like a goddess of Victory" ( p. 194). When she sees Brently walk through the door, the fire in her soul is instantly extinguished, and so is her life. The cosmic irony is that Louise gains great happiness when she learns of her husbands death because she finally has control of her life, then she dies from the heart ache she gains from learning that he is alive and that her freedom is once again gone.
There are many sentences and phrases in “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin that suggest the ending to the story. The first one is the first sentence of the story. It reads “Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble”. (193) This sentence makes the ending fit together when Mrs. Mallard dies of heart disease in the ending. The second clue I found was when the narrator said “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same.”(193) this made me wonder why she didn’t react to her husband’s death the way many other women have reacted to their husband’s death. The third clue is the sentence that says “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully.”(193) this sentence caught me off guard because the poor lady has already went through the death of her husband and now something more was coming for her. The last clue that suggests that ending says “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her.”(194) This gave me the insight that something bad was about to happen in the ending.
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