A Worn Path

Themes

 

"A Worn Path" is a story about determination and resolution. From the introduction, the reader is made aware of the fact that the protagonist – Phoenix Jackson – is either of strange circumstance or stoic resolution: "It was December... far out in the country... she was old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows." The story explains that "she looked straight ahead (449),"even with the knowledge that there be "wild animals (449)." Despite some degree of isolation, she persisted "past cabins silver from weather, with the doors and windows boarded shut... (451)." She also knew that she was ailing from some degree of delirium: "when she went to take it there was just her own hand in the air (450). In these examples we see that Phoenix is braving weather conditions, despite the fact that she is physically helpless against wild animals and is of no great physical strength. Because of this contrast, her mental strength is more pronounced in the story. Even while having a gun in her face miles from any help, she stands unimpressed by her assailant: "he lifted his gun and pointed it at Phoenix... 'Doesn't the gun scare you? (452)'" She then responds, "No, sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done... (452)."In this same encounter, we see that Phoenix endures racism in comments like, "I know you old colored people (452), but Phoenix is undeterred. She endures ageism inherent in the elder-speak of nurse: "'that's just old Aunt Phoenix'... 'Aunt Phoenix, don't you hear me? (452)'"This being said, the story can be interpreted as a message of persistence and rising above circumstance. An equal theme, being dignity, and lesser themes: prejudice and civic duty. The latter is not elicit in any singular passage, but rather, a need that is developed and demonstrated throughout the story as a whole. We see a deficiency in the civic duty of charity when the hunter tells Phoenix, "I'd give you a dime if I had any money with me," immediately after money falls from his pocket.

The Lottery

The Lottery can be defined in many ways, by author, by setting, by the time in which it was written, as a pseudo-allegory, etcetera. The “Cultural Context” preface says that “political scientist Hannah Arendt wrote about totalitarianism as it pertained to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust…she introduced the concept of ‘the banality of evil,’ the potential for ordinary people to do evil things.” We are also exposed to the idea that “The Lottery” may be “seen as a protest against totalitarianism.” (404). There is some credence in drawing a likeness between The Lottery and the evils of Nazi fascism. Some might argue this point by drawing attention to the fact that Shirley Jackson married a Jewish man (http://www.brothersjudd.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/396). These interpretations noted; a great disdain is portrayed for institution in general. Rather than portraying any particular institution as enriching any persons’ life, we see institution as something to be abhorred. We have many institutions in society: family, education, religion, economic, and political. We see the first attack on institution as early as paragraph 2: “School was recently over for the summer, and the felling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them.” In turn, the institution of school can be interpreted as the opposite of something liberating, more confining (even gothic). Some religious overtones can be interpreted in the statement “lottery in June, corn be heavy soon (408).” This statement comes at a time when the tradition of the practice is challenged. Ultimately, the religious-like tradition proves to be fatal. The institution of family is the last attack made, as Tessie’s stoned because of the household in which she belongs (bottom 409). The condemnation came in the form of a piece of paper made up of “heads of families, heads of households in each family, members of each household in each family” to be drawn in that order (bottom 406). This same statement could also be likened to an attack on the institution of government, as there is a system of sorts that must be followed, without bias. Because of the blurred lines between religion and government in this piece, fascism certainly could be another target of attack as if it were equated to the evil that institution can propagate.

Doe Season-question # 3

The references to the woods and the ocean are very meaningful in this story. I feel that the woods being referred to by Andy as always the same references childhood years in most children. When you are young, things seem to be the same and never changing for many years until that child is forced to grow up and realize that things change, situations change and the world itself changes. In most cases, it is very comforting to both children and adults to know that some things never change. When things do not change, then we do not have to deal with issues, questions and decisions. But when things change, then we must do what we can to either change with it or accept the change for whatever reason. Going from being a child to an adult is one of the hardest parts of life. In this story there were also references to the ocean being huge and empty yet always moving. This, in my opinion, refers to the advancement into adulthood. It is at first very huge and big and also very empty because the new adult has not experienced enough to fill their "ocean", so to speak. The ocean is always moving and never quiet just like life when you are an adult. At the end of this story it refers to the "wind blowing through the treetops, like the ocean where her mother floated in green water, also calling Come in, come in, while all around her are the mocking of the terrible, now inevitable, sea.". This, again, is referring to the ocean as adulthood and the fact that she cannot turn back into childhood. She has experienced a taste of being an adult and has "gotten her toes" wet in the ocean and adulthood is now inevitable.
I, as all adults, often wish I could just turn back time and once again be a child for even a little while. The worries of a child are more like a river compared to the worries of an adult which is like the ever churning ocean.

"The Lottery"

I did not like this story at all. The beginning was great, and leading to the finale had me in suspense, but the ending just ruined the whole thing. Did Mrs. Hutchinson die, or just get rocks thrown at her? And why did the Mrs. Delacroix pick up such a huge rock that she needed two hands?! Some people are so cruel! I don't understand why such a horrible ritual would be carried on for so long. "Seventy-Seventh year I been in the lottery" Old Man Warner stated, (p.409 first paragraph).
When I hear lottery, I think of winning money or a prize of some sort, like a car, or house. A lottery is supposed to be something positive. Never have I heard of a negative lottery or one that determines death or injury. Thus possibly the true meaning behind the "black box". Black could symbolize death and the box could also be a coffin. It sure wasn't a pink box or a green box to maybe represent money. In the beginning of the story they compared the way the lottery was conducted to the square dances, teen-age club, and halloween program (p. 405). To me, these are all happy events that should have laughter and smiling at all times.
The characters were not dressed in their best clothes "The women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters" (p. 405). They obviously knew this was nothing special, and didn't really dress up for this occasion. The small talk that was made amongst the women, didn't make the setting seem like a happy time either, almost like a type of foreshadowing.

The Storm

I thought the storm was an interesting story, and I didnt realize till I read a previous journal that Calixta and Alcee were having an affair. It all made sense also in the end when Alcee wrote a letter to her telling her to stay away a month longer (p. 259) section 4. That to me would have been a tip off that my husband was cheating or he was up to something. I would think that the husband would want to see his wife all the time or at least want her to come home after her long trip that has already taken place. Calixtas husband also was a caring manthat notices detail to have thought of her favorite food to bring her home from the store. This short story had great detail of the storm coming and also of the intimate ways Calixta was being with the other man. I love reading about things in detail, it makes me feel like I can really see what they are describing. Describing the way the wind and rain came down, and the way she was kissed was a great description of the event.

"I Stand Here Ironing"

The narrator in Olsen's work , " I Stand Here Ironing", has overwhelmed herself with undue guilt by depreciating her own parenting. In the 1930's the social norm was more that a man work and a woman tends to the family and the house work. The rarity of this mom working has implanted a feeling of guilt in her that in today's society would not be warranted. Olsen portrays this feeling of guilt throughout the story; " I let her be absent, though sometimes the illness was imaginary. How different from my now-strictness about attendance with the others. I wasn't working."(p.286) There is guilt in her for having to work to get by and leaving her daughter alone at nights to do so, but not having to do the same now with Emily's siblings. The only act she is guilty of is doing the best she could for Emily. Any good parent would do what they had to get by and support their children, and there is no shame or guilt in that. It is the ones that would not that should have to bear the weight of such guilt.

The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper was a very well written descriptive story of a woman on the verge of a mental breakdown. Else is surrounded by men of high standing(p.367) in a time when a woman's thoughts were very meaningless. After the birth of her child and her depressive state worsens she knows something is truly wrong with her, and nobody will listen, not even her husband, John. After they move to a new house her entire day becomes consumed with dwelling on the yellow wallpaper in the room she just can't stop staring at. "The color is repellent, almost revolting; a smouldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight." (p. 368) She speaks of this wallpaper as though there is absolutely nothing else that matters to her at the time. As time progresses she starts to enjoy the room, "I'm getting really fond of the room in spite of the wallpaper. Perhaps because of the wallpaper. It dwells in my mind so!" (p. 371) Before you know it the wallpaper consumes her every moment. Later Else becomes so infatuated with the wallpaper she begins to see a woman trapped behind bars, just as she feels and believes she is real. "I think that woman gets out in the daytime!" (p. 375) Everything in her life is now overtaken by this wallpaper and the woman behind bars. Else is quickly losing her sanity. Later her depression leads to delusions and she eventually becomes the woman in the wallpaper, "I wonder if they come out of the wallpaper as I did?... I suppose I shall have to get back behind the pattern when it comes night, and that is hard." (p. 377) She locks herself in the room and when John tries to get in he panics, "For God's sake, what are you doing?" In the end as John opens the door and before he faints she tells him, "I've got out at last,... I pulled off most the paper, so you can't put me back." Back where, feeling trapped behind bars where she was made to keep her emotions a secret. Else was so unable to seek correct treatment perhaps because of her husbands high standing and embarrassment he might suffer and he would rather keep her locked away from judgement until she frees herself like the woman in the wallpaper.

The Storm-answer to question # 9

In this short story, the actual storm of the weather plays a huge part of the adultery--thus, the name "The Storm". Storms are naturally known aphrodisiacs in the first place and the fact that the two former lovers were left alone in the storm made this even more tempting to them. I don't necessarily feel that the storm excuses their actions at all, but it certainly would aid to the fact that they gave in to their desires so seemingly easily, without a lot of hesitancy. If it were not for the storm itself, Bibi and Bobinot would have been home with her, Alcee would not have been "stranded" at her house and brought into the house. I think that the storm was not all to blame for aiding to their passions--there was probably an immense amount of passion still leftover from when they were truly lovers in the past. It was probably something that may have happened even if it were a sunny day and the two were left alone because this was their first meeting since Calixta was married. But, again storms seem to bring out the "wild side" in much of us.

A Rose for Emily - kind of late, but whatever!

I don't understand why anyone would want to poison someone that they liked or even loved. I guess it is possible to love a person too much, and she went to that extreme. I don't think she is all there upstairs and I think she had some serious issues when she was younger. The story should have gone into more detail about what else happened to make her look like such a hermit. I know it would be hard to lose a father and a love, but there are plenty other fish in the sea and her father will always be in her heart to guide her.

"The Lottery"

In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, symbolism plays a huge role in the meaning of her story. Her use of explaining everything, from the weather to the way the villagers gathered, had some other meaning than what one might originally think. Jackson describes the day as “clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day” (p.405), this represents the beginning of the season that is associated with life and new beginnings; all the while the reader knows that seasons come to an end.
The village square is located in between two major buildings, the “post office and the bank” (p.405); this represents the fact that “the lottery” is just as important and necessary for their village to run. On page 409, Old Man Warner is portrayed as a proud civilian getting ready to do his part for his long-lived tradition. In line 40 and 41 Jackson writes Old Man Warner as saying “seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery, seventy-seventh time”. One would have to wonder what he would think if he “won” the lottery.
Perhaps the main symbolic items in the story are the actual pieces of paper the villagers hold. This paper holds their fate on it, a fate that they are willing to put in the hands of the town leader, Mr. Summers. “He dropped all the papers but those onto the ground, where the breeze caught them and lifted them off” (p.410), shows how Mr. Summers just lets the papers fly away with the wind like he is throwing them away. These papers represent the people themselves getting thrown away. As for the black spot on the slip of paper, that represents death, death by the hands of their children, neighbors, husbands, wives, and friends.

"I Stand Here Ironing"

The events the story presents from the 1930s could happen today because it seems as though the economy still has it's ups and downs as it did back then. The gas prices and poor housing markets, etc. seem to be effecting our nation everyday.

In "I Stand Here Ironing" the reader gets the sense that the mother is trying her hardest to make ends meet, being she's a single parent and the hard times of the depression. There seems to be more single parents than there ever used to be. It's not unlikely to hear of a single parent trying to raise their children on top of trying to make ends meet. Reading about a single parent and trying to make ends meet during the time of the depression of the 1930s was strange because it was unheard of back then. Today, it's not unlikely at all to hear of a single parent trying to keep their head up above.

The reader can get a sense of the jealousy between Emily and her younger sister on page 287 in the 2nd paragraph. The narrator states, "Oh there are conflicts between the others too, each one human, needing, demanding, hurting, taking - but only between Emily and Susan, no, Emily toward Susand that corroding resentment. It seems so obvious on the surface, yet it is not obvious. Susand, the second child, Susan, golden-and curly-haired and chubby, quick and articulate and assured, everything in appearance and manner Emily was not; Susan, not able to resist Emily's precious things, losing or sometimes clumsily breaking them; Susan telling jokes and riddles to company for applause while Emily sat silent (to say to me later: that was my riddle, Mother, I told it to Susan); Susan, who for all the five years' difference in age was just a year behind Emily in developing physcially." A young girl being jealous of her younger sister is also something that hasn't changed from the 1930s especially being from different fathers. Jealousy is becoming a bigger thing as the years keep coming and going. Today, it seems there's more competition between siblings in things like sports and other extra-cirricular activities than there used to be, being there wasn't as many choices back then. Also, there seems to be more competition in natural beauty and "getting the guy" today than there used to be. The reader can see how Emily tries to get a boy to like her on page 286 in paragraph 8 where the narrator says, "There was a boy she loved painfully through two school semesters. Months later she told me how she had taken pennies from my purse to buy him candy."

Overall, there are a few things that wouldn't be unheard of happening today that happened in this story during the depression. In a way we are going through another (not as rough) depression today. Jobs are becoming more scarce, lay-offs are becoming more popular, and there are many more families today that are single parent families just trying to make ends meet.

I Stand Here Ironing

The guilt the narrator is expressing is in part deserved for the choices made by herself in an uncertain time of her young life.
The argument here is if she has been a good mother or not. All indications would point no as in the case of Emily. She seems to have gotten her act together when the other children where born but there are references to the mother leaving Emily alone when she was not old enough so she could go out and come home late in the night.
She also seemed to fixated on the appearance of her daughter, her love did not seem unconditional. As she said she had lost all of her cuteness by the time she was two.
Again we see signs of bad parenting when the story is riddled with times the mother had to move Emily out of the house for whatever reason and left her there with in-laws or at the convalescent home.
Emily seemed to be begging her mom throughout the story to just spend some time with her but she seemed to always have something more important to do.