A Good Man Is Hard to Find

My first impression of this story was great. I was really interested in starting to read it. It made me remember my past and trips my family would take and how my sister and I fought in the back seat most of the way.
Little John seems to be very bright for an eight year old boy. I say this because of some of the comments he makes throughout the story. While they are in the car he says, "Lets go through Georgia fast so we won't have to look at it much." "Tennessee is just a hillbilly dumping ground, and Georgia is a lousy state too." Some strong opinions for such a young boy. I seemed to get a kick out of June Star. She seemed to back up whatever her brother said. Whether he was bashing a state or arguing with grandma.
While reading the story I asked myself a few times why it was called A Good Man Is Hard to Find? It wasn't until the end of the story that I figured it out. While they were at Red Sammy's Red made that first comment and then at the end of the story it all made sense. Grandma seemed to have so much trust for others and wanted to believe in them and to find out she got killed was a huge turning point for me. I never thought that was how the story would end. I really thought at the end of the story they would make it back home and the new mileage would be talked about and how long it took them on their trip. On the other hand this story kept me on my toes and I wanted to keep reading. It goes to show that every story can have different endings.

Diary Entry for Miss Emily

I called Homer and let him know that my sisters were gone and that it was safe for him to come back to me. He didn't sound to happy to hear from me. I worry often about him leaving. I have heard the talk around town and I just know it's not true. Homer loves me and will always love. Won't he? Yes, Yes he will. What if he is only coming back to tell me that he has found someone else? Then, who will I have. What if he doesn't want to marry me? He is going to leave me, isn't he! But, he can't leave me. I love him. He is mine. If he doesn't love me now, I will make him. I will make him a wonderful dinner and get everything ready. Then, he will stay with me forever. Stay in this house forever. I will not let him leave me like everyone else has. No! I won't.

When I started writing this journal entry I thought I had picked one of the easier ones. But now after writing it I think I have come to understand Miss Emily a little more. Because, no one wants to be left all alone in this world. So, she did the only thing she could think of to keep him around. I am not saying it was the right thing to do but when your distrait and grieving loss your mind can think up so pretty crazy things. Again, I am not sayinig that it was her only chose. I am just saying I understand.

Take a moment to laugh

OK, so I love ids and the funny things they do so when I found this video on You Tube entitled Children I laughed so hard. So, I thought I would share it with you all.

A&P

If I were to write a diary entry for this story, I would choose “Queenie”, this would be my entry.

Dear Diary,

It was beautiful outside today, it was so hot the girls and I decided to go swimming. I got out my old pink swim suit, threw my hair in a bun and a way we went. We had a great time; it was one of those days that you are just glad to be where you are and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Mom sent us to the store to get some herring snacks for her; it was so hot we didn’t change out of our swimsuits for the quick trip to the store. The old ladies who were shopping in the store looked like they had never seen a girl in a swim suit before; I think that they are just jealous that we don’t care what we look like. I am not ashamed of the way I dress, so they shouldn’t care either! The great day got a little crazy when the store manager told us that we were not dressed appropriately. I think that he too needs to undo a notch or two on his belt. It was embarrassing when he told us that we were not at the beach, everyone stared at us, and at that time I did wish we were anywhere but there! These people in town are uptight, I don’t see what is wrong with young girls wearing a swim suit to pick up a few things from the store, and it wasn’t like we went to church that way. The cashier seemed like a nice boy, he wasn’t bad looking either. I think that he was embarrassed for us too, he looked a little mad about what his boss said. I am not sure why he would work at such a place; I can’t see that he would like his job at all. Looking at those women with the curlers in their hair all day asking what is on sale would drive me crazy. I am glad that I don’t have to wait on those people; I would want a job where I could wear what I want and not those silly little bow ties. The all look alike, they have no individuality, I am glad that my friends and I are unique. Even if they don’t like the way we dress or act, I am pleased with how I look. I will not let that man’s comments make me feel bad, we did nothing wrong. I just wish that I could have been able to talk to the check out boy a little. The manager’s crude comments wrecked any chance we would have had to talk a little. Oh well, just another day, maybe tomorrow will be more interesting.

The Yellow Wallpaper

This story has been quite a challenge for me thus far; I perceive it in two different ways. Although I do not know if what I am getting out of the story is correct or not, I do find it quite intriguing none the less. It is absolutely glorious in description; the sheer imagery grabs you and thrusts your imagination into that English type mansion.
I think that she is suffering from postpartum depression and her husband John and her brother don’t realize that depression isn’t something that may be cured with isolation. John only wants what is best for his wife; therefore he tries to protect her from everything. His sister stays with them to help out with the baby and housework, allowing her to rest as much as possible. The problem with all of this is that it had the complete opposite effect of their good intentions. People with depression can get worse when isolated and not allowed to get out and about once in a while. You would begin to feel like a caged animal if you were not depressed, so compounding inactivity and isolation is a horrible combination!
The story is wrapped around the wallpaper in the bedroom, but it goes much deeper than that. I feel that the wallpaper is the symbolism about what is going in inside of her head and in her emotions. The comment about the paper “slaps you in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you. It is like a bad dream”. This comment says it all when it comes to depression and the thoughts that go along with it, especially postpartum depression. It is as though the wallpaper is able to bring to her the emotions that she is feeling come to life, even though it is an object, it depicts her.
I think that the depression got the best of her and lead to greater mental issues, possibly paranoia and/or Schizophrenia. Due to the disorganized speech and erratic thoughts and writings the closer it gets to the end of the story makes me feel like this is her escalation into her deepest mental illness state. She clearly gets progressively worse as the story goes on, but John is blind to this progression, he believes that she is “flourishing.” This story also brought to mind that it was all a delusion and she was actually in a mental institution, but I am having trouble getting enough information to prove that, so I can’t justify reacting to the story from that angle. Even though I am confused a little with the story in general, it really has made me think and relate with the character, I just wish she could have received the proper treatment instead of going through all of the insanity and isolation

The Story of an Hour

I thought that this was a very unusual story for having a title of an hour. It was confusing at first and at the end to try and figure out what was going on for the names got mixed up for me. I thought that Josephine was with her and that Louise was her name Mrs. mallards. It shows you what freedom would be like if you were not married to someone you love, but hate at the same time. She so wanted freedom that when she looked outside she smelt the rain coming in and could see that it was going to wash away the old and bring in the new. That spring was bringing renewal to live and that she could have a better life to do what she wanted to do. The ending was a bit for she did get her freedom at last but it took her death for her to find it.

A Rose For Emily

I found this story to be quite sad, yet very interesting. The story starts with death and ends with death. I feel that Emily was a very sheltered person growing up. Emily's father I beleive was very controlling over her, and when he passed she did not know what to do in life. When Emily finally found Homer, she was going to hold on for dear life. Emily needed someone to help give her direction. She was unable to function in society on her own. I feel that Emily did to Homer what she did out of fear of losing him and having to be alone.

The Story of an Hour

I really enjoyed this story and found it rather intriguing. I did not see where the story was going as I read and after reading the ending it took me a while to make sense of that. To me this story speaks about the importance of living our lives happily. Poor Mrs. Mallard spent her life with her husband feeling miserable, unable to enjoy life, and now she has a serious heart condition. Within no time at all after hearing about the death of her husband she is openly rejoicing. What a strange thing to do! I believe that if she would have been mourning the death of her husband she wouldn't have been so riled up and therefore would not have died when she saw him once again. I believe Mrs. Mallard could be as happy as she wanted to be even if things were not right between her husband and her.

The Story of an Hour

I attempted to read “Story of an Hour” carefully and thoughtfully, looking for descriptive words and phrases that might use the hint of foreshadowing to give me an insight to the ending of this short story. The awareness that Mrs. Mallard was actually at peace with her husband’s supposed passing was evident as early as the fifth chapter. Phrases such as “trees that were all aquiver with new spring life,” “delicious breath of rain,” “patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds” caught my attention immediately. The words of freedom were used later on in the story, but the impression of a newness of life after Brently Mallard’s death suggested that Mrs. Mallard was already imagining her own new life beginning during that first hour of the tragic news. So, the idea that she was not grieving, and my wondering how this was to be revealed to the other characters in the story, Richards and Josephine, left me somewhat dumbfounded by the ending. I was totally shocked that Brently Mallard was still alive, and even more shocked that his wife, afflicted with heart trouble, keeled over dead at the sight of her living husband!

The Story of an Hour

When I was reading "The Story of an Hour" I thought it was interesting because it started off that the wife Mrs. Wallard was afficted with a heart trouble. My thoughts were that something was going to happen to her in the story. The more I was reading I realized that it was about her husband that was died. Her sister had to tell her without trying to get her very upset due to her heart problem. Her husband's friend Richard who had herd the news first because he received it at office where he worked at a newspaper office. When Mrs. Wallard got home she sat in a chair by the window looking outside of it. She was relived that she was free and probaly could do what she wanted. As the story goes on she gets sad that her husband is gone but it also saying "Free! Body and soul Free". Her sister comes in to see how she is doing. And so does Richard stood at the bottom of the steps waiting. Then a door opens and her husdand Brently walks through the doors. It shocked her and her heart couldn't handle it. The doctors said that she died of heart disease that was full of joy.
I thought this storty had a twist because Mrs. Wallard was kindof happy that her husband was died and that she could be free of him. Then when he walked in the room she was shock and the heart just couldn't take it. Thats is what I got out of the story.

A Rose for Emily

This story begins with the death of Emily then moving back in time to explain her peculiar life. Narrating Emily's life is the community she lives in. The town creatively tells a tale of a woman who lost at love so many times at one point she gave up for years. After the death of her pristine father the only man in her life for the most part is her servant. When Emily reaches her thirties and the town really begins to worry about her love life or well being if you will she takes a liking to a construction worker named Homer Barron. Homer according to the town is not the marrying kind. Homer is a man's man which could mean he is homosexual or it could mean he is not the kind to commit to only one. Emily and Homer soon become inseparable. They are seen together quite often. Emily is seen buying objects which may suggest marriage.
Homer is absent for a short while and the town believes he is off preparing for marriage. At this same time Emily is buying arsenic from the town druggist. The town assumes she is going to kill herself. Soon there after Homer returns and is seen one night entering Emily's home. Homer is never seen alive again. After that night Emily never leaves her home again. The town assumes she has lost at love again but it is quite obvious at this point that Emily has done something to Homer. Especially since earlier in the story there is mention of an odor issue coming from Emily's house.
The ending was as suspected. After Emily's funeral the town realizes that there is still one room in Emily's old house that lies undisturbed. When entering the room what is found reinforces Emily's need for lasting love. In her bed lie what is left of a man and next to him is a pillow still sunken from Emily's head. On the pillow is one of Emily's graying hairs. Emily was so desperate for someone who would not leave her that she did the only thing she could think to do...commit a crime of passion.

Story of an Hour

The first fact noted in this story is Mrs. Mallards heart condition which is a foreshadow to the ending. Mrs. Mallard as well as her sister Josephine and husband's friend Richards believe Mr. Mallard has just died tragically in a train disaster. Mrs. Mallard seems to be torn between grief and relief. Mrs. Mallard loved her husband but not all of the time. She is sad that he has died but she feels more relief than sadness. She will no longer live as a shadow of her husband. She will have a new freedom. A freedom that allows her to answer to no one but herself. Josephine and Richards are blind to this relief or excitement that Mrs. Mallard is feeling. They believe she is grief stricken.
The ending is quite surprising. It is stated earlier in the story that Richards himself confirmed twice that Mr. Mallard had indeed perished however the story ends in a twist with Mr. Mallard walking in the door unscathed. Mrs. Mallard with her heart condition dies instantly at the shock of her husbands presents. Mrs. Mallard had grieved for a short moment and then consumed the new found freedom. In an instance the freedom was taken back. However looked at freedom in its many forms is important for survival and for a moment Mrs. Mallard lived for it.

The Story of an Hour

This is a story of love lost and freedom regained through the eyes of a fragile woman named Louise. Knowing she has a heart condition, her sister Josephine and a family friend named Richards try to tell her of her husband's death. Even though they are leery about her health, they try to give her the news of the death as gently as they can. After she finds out, Louise locks herself in her bedroom and looks out her window. At this point I am feeling sorry for her loss, but upon further reading I discover that she isn't really sad at all.
I believe that Louise was a lonely sole who happened to be in a marriage that felt like a prison to her. I was able to really relate with her at this point, and I could imagine myself in her shoes. At a time in my life I too was willing to let my life go for the slight hope that what is in store for us after we die might be better than where I was. Marriage was not the wonderful thing that the people around me talked about, it was draining. Being able to relate with Louise on this made me stop and be thankful that I am still here and was able to try to live again. Unlike Louise, I didn't stick with my marriage that kept me confined, so we both ended up free but her freedom came at a price for the ones who love her.