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.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"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.
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.
Monday, February 9, 2009
"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.
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.
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.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
"The Storm"
The storm in no way excuses the characters from the responsibility of their actions. The storm set the story up in such a way that you knew something was going to happen. The comment, "She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone," seems to have a hint of jealousy. (256)
The storm outside and the "storm" of emotions in the house was a great set up for the story. Once they were inside they were sheltered from the one storm yet another was raging to be released. "Do you remember --In Assumption," seemed to be the thought that would throw them into a world of their own. (257)
Alcee and Calixta were not expecting anything to happen though neither regretted. They both knew what they did was wrong yet at the same time they felt it was something they needed to do. They may not exactly be unhappy in their marriages but it would be interesting to know why they were not together rather than being married to different people.
The storm outside and the "storm" of emotions in the house was a great set up for the story. Once they were inside they were sheltered from the one storm yet another was raging to be released. "Do you remember --In Assumption," seemed to be the thought that would throw them into a world of their own. (257)
Alcee and Calixta were not expecting anything to happen though neither regretted. They both knew what they did was wrong yet at the same time they felt it was something they needed to do. They may not exactly be unhappy in their marriages but it would be interesting to know why they were not together rather than being married to different people.
"The Storm"
I believe that the characters want to say that the storm excuses them from their responsibilities of their actions, but I don’t think it does. Before the storm even came into the picture Calixta explains her feelings about her marriage. The storm to me means more than just a weather condition. I think it means how Alcee and Calixta feel about their marriages and how they feel about each other.
Calixta and Alcee once were boyfriend and girlfriend. After all the years that had passed they still feel a strong connection towards each other. Paragraph 25 states, “the generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never been reached.” This to me makes it seem that they are not guilty at all about what they are doing. They obviously still have passion for each other.
Even when Calixta’s husband arrives home from the storm, she acts like nothing has happened. Calixta wanted to find some comfort from the storm and from her husband leaving. Alcee just happened to come in at the right time. I think for some odd reason the affair helped bring each of Alcee and Calixta’s marriages closer. On paragraph 35 Chopin states, “…and she gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek that resulted.”
This is a strange situation in which an affair actually brings people together instead of pushing them away. The storm was just an excuse for Calixta and Alcee to have the affair that they wanted to have for some time. After it was done they returned to their loved ones with more compassion then they ever had.
Calixta and Alcee once were boyfriend and girlfriend. After all the years that had passed they still feel a strong connection towards each other. Paragraph 25 states, “the generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never been reached.” This to me makes it seem that they are not guilty at all about what they are doing. They obviously still have passion for each other.
Even when Calixta’s husband arrives home from the storm, she acts like nothing has happened. Calixta wanted to find some comfort from the storm and from her husband leaving. Alcee just happened to come in at the right time. I think for some odd reason the affair helped bring each of Alcee and Calixta’s marriages closer. On paragraph 35 Chopin states, “…and she gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek that resulted.”
This is a strange situation in which an affair actually brings people together instead of pushing them away. The storm was just an excuse for Calixta and Alcee to have the affair that they wanted to have for some time. After it was done they returned to their loved ones with more compassion then they ever had.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
I Stand Here Ironing...
The mother believes that she has not raised her daughter Emily well by not smiling at her when she was younger. She got knocked up at a young age, divorced and then her husband left her. She could not give her daughter everything and was a struggling single mother. I believe that she tried her hardest to keep her babies happy, but I don't recall who the father of the other children were. I think if she realized how hard it was to take care of one child on her own, maybe she should have been a little more careful before she had the other two. I don't know what kind of birth control they had back then, but something could have been done. I think she could have been a little more caring to Emily like she was the other children, but in the end Emily turned out just fine. The mother did the best job that she knew how to do, and sending away Emily had to have been a tough decision but it needed to be done. Not everything is an easy decision but everything will be okay in the end.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Yellow Wallpaper
By the end of the narrative, the fragile mind of the narrator has begun to crack, beyond the nervousness diagnosed previously. She repeatedly tries to tell her husband that the treatment plan is not working. The very things he tries to tell her not to do, such as letting her mind go on with fanciful thoughts, becomes her escape from her isolated state. With nothing to do she stares at the wallpaper, studying and agonizing over the details, seeing things moving and a woman creeping. Many of her recorded thoughts show that she still comprehends reality and does care about things around her, such as her baby, "There's one comfort, the baby is well and happy, and does not have to occupy this nursery with the horrid wallpaper." (p.372). The wallpaper seems to be a symbol of her mental condition, in that she wouldn't want her baby harmed by its effects. The change in plot occurs with the woman's changing view of the wallpaper. The wallpaper that had repulsed her when she first moved into her room becomes an enjoyable obsession for her (p.374) When her husband expresses pleasure for her improvement,"in spite of my wallpaper", in her mind, she credits the wallpaper (p.374) Though she goes along with her husband (and other family members) urgings, the woman of the story appears to be greatly misunderstood. By isolating her in a room and trying to keep her mind inactive, her husband inadvertenly trapped her into her mental illness and furthered its progress. Even in her apparent insanity, the woman has clarity of mind to see that escaping from her room through the window would be "miscontrued" by others (p.377). Instead, she becomes the woman creeping in the room as a means of escape. When they first arrive, the woman expresses her dislike of the whole situation,"... there is something strange about the house--- I can feel it." (p.367). "I don't like our room a bit." She does not go into detail as to why she dislikes the room, but describes the room she would have preferred, "I wanted one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings." However, as happens too often in the story, her husband decides what is best for her and ignores her desires, "But John would not hear of it." (p.368). And the "repellent, almost revolting" yellow wallpaper. (p.368), which becomes a source of excitement, "Life is very much more exciting now than it used to be. You see I have something more to expect, to look forward to, to watch." (p.374). I don't believe this woman was so much insane, as forced to be obsessed with her mental state, much like she became obsessed with the yellow wallpaper.
"A Good Man is Hard To Find"
The only religious pretender in this story is the the grandmother. She pretends to the this righteous person, but instead is a very selfish person, who lies and is prejudice. She was selfish with wanting to have her son Bobby turn the car around and go look at a house with a secret panel with hidden silver. When realizing, the house was in a different state, she did not speak up to tell him. She was prejudice toward the the little colored boy calling him "picnicking" and "Niger". When the family met up with The Misfit, she only worried about herself. Stating, "You wouldn't shoot a lady" (pg 361) showing no remorse, as her family is being brought out to the woods and shot. When she reaches out to The Misfit, is the moment of grace for her "Your one of my babies, your one of my children". It's like she was asking for forgiveness, knowing she was going die. She had to die, to achieve grace.
The Misfit was the the one with true faith. While talking with the grandmother, she raised doubts with his beliefs with Jesus. When the grandmother talked about Jesus raising the dead, The Misfit said " if I would of been there I would of known and I wouldn't be like I am now". (pg 364) And in the last sentence, The Misfit said "It's no real pleasure in life". (pg 365) He got upset with Bobby Lee stating it was fun to have taken lives.
The Misfit was the the one with true faith. While talking with the grandmother, she raised doubts with his beliefs with Jesus. When the grandmother talked about Jesus raising the dead, The Misfit said " if I would of been there I would of known and I wouldn't be like I am now". (pg 364) And in the last sentence, The Misfit said "It's no real pleasure in life". (pg 365) He got upset with Bobby Lee stating it was fun to have taken lives.
A&P
I think that this story was about conformity. The narrator talked about how the people moved around like "sheep", just grazing along the aisles in the same pattern so they do not disrupt anyone else (221, paragraph 2). Then in walks these three young girls deciding to make a statement. Not only were they barefoot in a grocery store, but in nothing but bikinis. Considering it was inappropriate to dress like that anywhere other than the beach, and the beach was five miles away (page 221, last paragraph), what excuse did they have? They even seemed to acknowledge they knew they where breaking the rules by acting a little nervous about being in the store. The narrator stated (page 220, paragraph 2 toward the end) "She kind of led them, the other two peeking around... but you got the idea she had talked the other two into coming in here with her..." When Lengel told the girls he wanted them to be dressed decent the next time they come in, "Queenie" responded, "We are decent" (page 233, paragraph 2 &3). I believe this is why Sammy spoke of them like he had just seen a couple of movie stars walk in to the store. He was also bored with the humdrum ways that most people lived and found the action of these girls exciting, changing the pace. When his boss came into the picture and embarrassed the girls in front of him. Sammy felt that he had to stand up for them. He hoped by saying he quit , the girls would think of him as their hero (page 223, paragraph 7). I think that Sammy really felt that the girls did nothing wrong. He could have taken what he said back, his boss would have forgave him. Although everyone thought he was making a bad choice, he still felt it was the right one. I think the epiphany Sammy had, was when he realized that nothing turned out the way he thought it was going to, and after looking back into the store he had some regret knowing how his choice will affect his future.
"A&P"
"A&P" is a story about conformity. Conformity is all around Sammy in his job at the grocery store. Customers walk down the rows in the same directions every day. Lengel spends each work day in his office, hiding away. Stokesie's life dream is to replace Lengel and manage this small town grocery store.
However, when the three girls walk through the door, they are the image of nonconformity. They walk against the usual traffic patterns, wearing nothing but their bathing suits, which is against the store's policy of customers having their shoulders covered. Queenie is even wearing her straps down off her shoulders, and she argues with the manager when he says that their clothing choices are inappropriate. The girls transform the story into a struggle between conformity and nonconformity.
Sammy can't seem to take his eyes off these girls, and becomes somewhat entranced by their every move. When they are confronted by Lengel at Sammy's register, Queenie is embarrassed and blushes. We are later told that that's what made Sammy upset enough to quit his job. He is angry at Lengel for embarrassing the girls, and he also hopes to become a hero for them and draw their attention with his quick resignation. As Sammy begins to remove his uniform, he has second thoughts about his decision. He knows that the girls have already left, without paying any attention to his attempt at becoming their hero, but feels that "once you begin a gesture it's fatal not to go through with it" (223). This is when Sammy begins to understand his final epiphany. He has the option of sticking around at the grocery store, keeping his parents and Lengel happy, but he wants to stick out, to get attention, and to be a nonconformist. Thus he loses his job, the respect of his boss, and possibly the approval of his parents all for Queenie, who may never give him a second thought. However, he seems to gain a sense of pride in his ability to make his own decisions. While his family experiences feelings of dismay over Sammy's unemployment, Sammy doesn't think it's sad. Nevertheless, this experience causes Sammy to realize that deciding matters on his own has made his world much more complicated than ever before.
However, when the three girls walk through the door, they are the image of nonconformity. They walk against the usual traffic patterns, wearing nothing but their bathing suits, which is against the store's policy of customers having their shoulders covered. Queenie is even wearing her straps down off her shoulders, and she argues with the manager when he says that their clothing choices are inappropriate. The girls transform the story into a struggle between conformity and nonconformity.
Sammy can't seem to take his eyes off these girls, and becomes somewhat entranced by their every move. When they are confronted by Lengel at Sammy's register, Queenie is embarrassed and blushes. We are later told that that's what made Sammy upset enough to quit his job. He is angry at Lengel for embarrassing the girls, and he also hopes to become a hero for them and draw their attention with his quick resignation. As Sammy begins to remove his uniform, he has second thoughts about his decision. He knows that the girls have already left, without paying any attention to his attempt at becoming their hero, but feels that "once you begin a gesture it's fatal not to go through with it" (223). This is when Sammy begins to understand his final epiphany. He has the option of sticking around at the grocery store, keeping his parents and Lengel happy, but he wants to stick out, to get attention, and to be a nonconformist. Thus he loses his job, the respect of his boss, and possibly the approval of his parents all for Queenie, who may never give him a second thought. However, he seems to gain a sense of pride in his ability to make his own decisions. While his family experiences feelings of dismay over Sammy's unemployment, Sammy doesn't think it's sad. Nevertheless, this experience causes Sammy to realize that deciding matters on his own has made his world much more complicated than ever before.
"The Yellow Wallpaper"
The narration follows a woman’s thoughts as she descends from sanity to insanity. At the onset, the narrator is convinced, much at the prompting of her husband, that she is ill, though her thinking and reactions are reasonable. A disliking for the wallpaper for esthetic reason becomes obsession, obsession becomes insanity. "This paper looks to me as if it knew what a vicious influence it had!” is the first hint of her degrading state of mind. Her obsession of frivolous “fancies” concerning aspects of the house is actually a reaction to not being able to live a normal life and engage to normal activities. “I’m getting really fond of the room in spite of the wallpaper. Perhaps because of the wallpaper” she thinks, as delusion sets in when distain becomes fondness, the wallpaper being the only thing on which she is allowed to focus. As the story progresses, isolation causes her imagination to become more and more vivid, convinced a woman “lives” behind the design in the wallpaper. In the end, true insanity sets in to the point where she is the woman, escaping the wallpaper, symbolically escaping her chains of isolation.
A Good Man Is Hard to Find
In this story, I feel as though there is only one religious pretender. I feel that the religious pretender is the misfit because even though he is quite intelligent in my eyes when it comes to believing in Jesus, he still kills the innocent family. I feel that if he was really a firm believer in Christ he would have shown the family at least a little mercy and wouldn't have killed them. I also feel like he made them suffer by only killing Bailey and his son first, and making the grandmother, mother, and the two girls suffer by having to hear what was going on in the woods. I feel that if he was truly a believer in Jesus he wouldn't have killed them let alone made them suffer.
I think that the grandmother is the only person who has true faith because throughout the scene with the misfit and his buddies present she tried several times to convince the misfit not to go through with killing her and her family. She also tried to convince the misfit that praying to God in a time of need would do him some good and that just going through with killing them wasn't the only answer or the only way out of the situation. I personally don't understand why he killed the family in the first place.
The only person I feel had a moment of religious grace was the grandmother because she was praying only moments before she was killed.
I think the role violence played in the equation was simply pointless. I don't think that anybody gained anything from the innocent family being killed. The background information on the misfit was too vague for me to understand why he did it, but I think maybe he felt safe in the pen, no matter how boring or how crazy it made him to be locked up in it. I think he felt a sense of satisfaction for breaking out of the pen and then he realized that he was better off in the pen than out in society so he would do anything to be found and put back in the pen, even if that meant killing an innocent family.
I think that the grandmother is the only person who has true faith because throughout the scene with the misfit and his buddies present she tried several times to convince the misfit not to go through with killing her and her family. She also tried to convince the misfit that praying to God in a time of need would do him some good and that just going through with killing them wasn't the only answer or the only way out of the situation. I personally don't understand why he killed the family in the first place.
The only person I feel had a moment of religious grace was the grandmother because she was praying only moments before she was killed.
I think the role violence played in the equation was simply pointless. I don't think that anybody gained anything from the innocent family being killed. The background information on the misfit was too vague for me to understand why he did it, but I think maybe he felt safe in the pen, no matter how boring or how crazy it made him to be locked up in it. I think he felt a sense of satisfaction for breaking out of the pen and then he realized that he was better off in the pen than out in society so he would do anything to be found and put back in the pen, even if that meant killing an innocent family.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"A Good Man Is Hard To Find"
I found the story very interesting. Certainly not what I expected to read as I am sure most people think when they finish reading it. In my opinion it is only between the grandmother and The Misfit on the question of religious "pretenders". They are the main characters that are singled out in their conversation. I believe the grandmother believed in her God. I think she really even believed that her God may get her out of that predicament. At the same time, and maybe it is my own beliefs on God that play a part, I feel as though the grandmother said a lot of what she did to get pity from him. Try to make him see that she is a good religous person and doesn't deserve to die a death that he had planned for her. A way to try to make him change his mind on killing her. When she said, "Why your one of my babies," (364) that was the last straw for him and he shot her.
I also believe that The Misfit was true in his own stance on God (Jesus). He had true faith in his belief that "Jesus thrown everything off balance." (363) The Misfit was true to himself and his faith that no matter what you do bad things happen. Because of this I feel he was not a "pretender" as he was very open about his belief (non-belief) in Jesus and needing his help.
As for violence playing a role in the equation, without the violence the grandmother would not have brought up her beliefs and try to make The Misfit "see the light" and pray. You hear stories all the time of people, when faced with an unimaginable event in their lives, start to pray. They suddenly realize or believe that there is a God out there that will help them.
This was a very difficult question to answer. Not sure if I am even close but this is what I interpreted from the story.
I also believe that The Misfit was true in his own stance on God (Jesus). He had true faith in his belief that "Jesus thrown everything off balance." (363) The Misfit was true to himself and his faith that no matter what you do bad things happen. Because of this I feel he was not a "pretender" as he was very open about his belief (non-belief) in Jesus and needing his help.
As for violence playing a role in the equation, without the violence the grandmother would not have brought up her beliefs and try to make The Misfit "see the light" and pray. You hear stories all the time of people, when faced with an unimaginable event in their lives, start to pray. They suddenly realize or believe that there is a God out there that will help them.
This was a very difficult question to answer. Not sure if I am even close but this is what I interpreted from the story.
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