"All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her." pg 222
Eveline
James Joyce
Eveline is a character who has a led a difficult life, between her abusive father and low-income family. After her mother died due to an illness, she was left with no one to protect her. Eveline was then forced to be the main provider for the family and she had to cast all her well-earned money to her father. While working at the store, she meets Frank, who is directly characterized as, "kind," "manly" and "open-hearted." Being with Frank makes Eveline feel like there is hope to escape her hard life. Eveline's father, though, does not favor Frank because he is a sailor, meaning he most likely is unreliable and full of talk. Frank serves almost as a foil character to Eveline's father because they act opposite of each other; Frank wants to free Eveline of her current lifestyle, while Eveline's father would prefer her to remain confined with her father and brothers. At the end of the story, Eveline is forced to make a decision between freedom with Frank or the familiar route-staying with her family. The above quote reveals Eveline's fear that Frank "would drown her." This means she did not really trust Frank and what he said he could do for her. Eveline chooses to go back to her regular lifestyle for two reasons: She made a promise to her mother that she would keep the home together as long as she could, and she also had a fear of the unknown, a fear that she might dislike this new life more than her current life. Eveline didn't know if she could handle the contrast of a completely different lifestyle with Frank so she decided to stick with what she knew, and what was familiar to her.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Hunter in the Snow
"Frank, when you've got a friend it means you've always got someone on your side, no matter what. That's the way I feel about it anyway." pg 198, paragraph 197
Hunter in the Snow
Tobias Wolff
I find it ironic that Tub considers Frank to be a good friend of his, when earlier in the story, Tub was telling Frank, "You used to stick up for me," and complaining about how Frank was being mean to him. In the beginning of the story, Frank was mainly friends with just Kenny, joking around with him and making fun of Tub. Yet once Kenny was hurt, Frank sided with Tub. It seems that Frank is a follower, rather than a leader. He follows the stronger person in the situation; at first he went along with Kenny, the reckless, talkative guy, yet once Kenny was hurt he turned his attention toward Tub. I don't think any of these men know the meaning of friendship because they don't really seem to know when the appropriate time to tell each other things is. For example, Kenny shoots the dog. Tub mistakes that action as an action of cruelty, causing Tub to then shoot Kenny ..(and because Kenny said he hated Tub). All of this may have been avoided if Kenny had maybe said something about being told to shoot the dog because it was sick...then Tub probably wouldn't have shot Kenny. Also, though Tub and Frank were having a heart to heart in the restaurant and being friends, I think they should have been doing more important things like taking their supposed friend Kenny to the hospital, rather than leaving him in the cold in back of the truck. Yet Tub and Frank decided to be selfish and warm themselves in a sheltered building, and they left Kenny to be outside bleeding to death. All of these characters need a lesson or two about friendship...
Hunter in the Snow
Tobias Wolff
I find it ironic that Tub considers Frank to be a good friend of his, when earlier in the story, Tub was telling Frank, "You used to stick up for me," and complaining about how Frank was being mean to him. In the beginning of the story, Frank was mainly friends with just Kenny, joking around with him and making fun of Tub. Yet once Kenny was hurt, Frank sided with Tub. It seems that Frank is a follower, rather than a leader. He follows the stronger person in the situation; at first he went along with Kenny, the reckless, talkative guy, yet once Kenny was hurt he turned his attention toward Tub. I don't think any of these men know the meaning of friendship because they don't really seem to know when the appropriate time to tell each other things is. For example, Kenny shoots the dog. Tub mistakes that action as an action of cruelty, causing Tub to then shoot Kenny ..(and because Kenny said he hated Tub). All of this may have been avoided if Kenny had maybe said something about being told to shoot the dog because it was sick...then Tub probably wouldn't have shot Kenny. Also, though Tub and Frank were having a heart to heart in the restaurant and being friends, I think they should have been doing more important things like taking their supposed friend Kenny to the hospital, rather than leaving him in the cold in back of the truck. Yet Tub and Frank decided to be selfish and warm themselves in a sheltered building, and they left Kenny to be outside bleeding to death. All of these characters need a lesson or two about friendship...
Heritage
"But they're priceless!" she was saying now, furiously; for she has a temper. "Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they'd be in rags. Less than that!"pg 180, paragraph 68
Everyday Use
Alice Walker
Dee is a complex character because of her contradictory view of her heritage. In the story she stated that she "couldn't bear being named after the people who oppressed" her. This is a reference to slavery, but Dee is clearly confused because her Mother insists she was just named after her Grandmother Dee.
Nonetheless, later Dee wants to claim the family quilts as hers, to honor and respect her heritage. I find it confusing that she rejects her heritage, yet wants to claim it at the same time. Dee most likely is ashamed of her her skin color which causes her to rename herself Wangero. Her powerful and controlling manner over her sister Maggie cause her to yearn for the quilts; she wants the quilts because she doesn't want Maggie to have them--she feels like she deserves them more. I feel like her demand for the quilts is rooted in her "must have it all" personality rather than her supposed want to honor her heritage. Dee obviously doesn't understand her heritage, and I think that this is why Mama gives the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee. Dee will never be able to appreciate the quilts for what they really stand for.
Everyday Use
Alice Walker
Dee is a complex character because of her contradictory view of her heritage. In the story she stated that she "couldn't bear being named after the people who oppressed" her. This is a reference to slavery, but Dee is clearly confused because her Mother insists she was just named after her Grandmother Dee.
Nonetheless, later Dee wants to claim the family quilts as hers, to honor and respect her heritage. I find it confusing that she rejects her heritage, yet wants to claim it at the same time. Dee most likely is ashamed of her her skin color which causes her to rename herself Wangero. Her powerful and controlling manner over her sister Maggie cause her to yearn for the quilts; she wants the quilts because she doesn't want Maggie to have them--she feels like she deserves them more. I feel like her demand for the quilts is rooted in her "must have it all" personality rather than her supposed want to honor her heritage. Dee obviously doesn't understand her heritage, and I think that this is why Mama gives the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee. Dee will never be able to appreciate the quilts for what they really stand for.
Everyday Use
"I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open." pg 181, paragraph 76
Everyday Use
Alice Walker
Throughout this story, the character Maggie is directly characterized by her mother. She talks about how Maggie is, "nervous," "not bright,"and "standing hopelessly in corners." We can conclude that when the old house burned down, it caused permanent damage to her self-confidence because it left behind burn scars on her skin. This is one of the reasons that Maggie feels inferior to her older sister, Dee. Maggie "ey[es] her sister with a mixture of envy and awe" because she is like the opposite of herself: Dee is assertive, aggressive, confident, and the kind of person that gets what she wants.
When Dee wants to claim the quilts so that she can proudly display her heritage, Maggie is submissive to what Dee asks for and says she can have the quilts. Maggie allows her to go through with it because it's what she's used to; Maggie is used to Dee winning an argument, and coming out with the item she wants. In the story there is the overall notion that Maggie and Mama put up with Dee's bossy attitude, allowing Dee to control them. Dee wants to be an important and dignified person, and it's not until the end of the story that Mama stands up for herself and Maggie by giving the quilts to Maggie, who really deserves them, reversing the accepted authority of Dee in the household.
Everyday Use
Alice Walker
Throughout this story, the character Maggie is directly characterized by her mother. She talks about how Maggie is, "nervous," "not bright,"and "standing hopelessly in corners." We can conclude that when the old house burned down, it caused permanent damage to her self-confidence because it left behind burn scars on her skin. This is one of the reasons that Maggie feels inferior to her older sister, Dee. Maggie "ey[es] her sister with a mixture of envy and awe" because she is like the opposite of herself: Dee is assertive, aggressive, confident, and the kind of person that gets what she wants.
When Dee wants to claim the quilts so that she can proudly display her heritage, Maggie is submissive to what Dee asks for and says she can have the quilts. Maggie allows her to go through with it because it's what she's used to; Maggie is used to Dee winning an argument, and coming out with the item she wants. In the story there is the overall notion that Maggie and Mama put up with Dee's bossy attitude, allowing Dee to control them. Dee wants to be an important and dignified person, and it's not until the end of the story that Mama stands up for herself and Maggie by giving the quilts to Maggie, who really deserves them, reversing the accepted authority of Dee in the household.
The Eccentricites of Bartleby
"I might give alms to his body, but his body did not pain him; it was his soul that suffered, and his soul I could not reach" pg 658, paragraph 93
Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville
The narrator has a very complex attitude towards Bartleby. On one hand, the lawyer cannot stand Bartleby for his passiveness and refusal to do anything which can be rather irritating and irksome. On the other hand, the narrator feels sorry for Bartleby and he feels as though no one else would hire Bartleby or care for him better than he does at his workplace. The narrator also accepts Bartleby because he could "eventually prove a sweet morsel for [his] conscience." The narrator is in fact, being a good Christian and acting as a good person by caring for someone that others would merely cast aside as "loony."
When Bartleby is asked to do a task, the lawyer usually receives the response, "I would prefer not to," in a very calm tone, instead of an angry tone of refusal. This mysterious manner of Bartleby causes the narrator to want to know more about Bartleby and why he acts the way he does. Why does this man think he can choose when he wants to work? And what is causing this man to only want to work at certain times? The narrator starts to spend all of his time pondering Bartleby and why he acts so eccentric and odd. At one point, the narrator concludes that his eccentricities are involuntary, and that he has some sort of disorder. He decides that his soul is suffering and this causes him to be so solitary, quiet, and "free from dissipation."
At the end of the story it appears that the narrator's own selfishness and fear that Bartleby may "claim possession of office by right of his perpetual occupancy" cause him to decide that he must get rid of Bartleby by basically whatever way possible. The other lawyers were already concerned as to why the lawyer allowed a strange man to stand around looking out the windows for extended amounts of time, so in an attempt to save his own reputation, the narrator decided to move the office so that he could rid of Bartleby forever.
My theory as to why Bartleby is so mysterious and strange is that something may have happened during his childhood that caused him to be rather timid and nervous around other people. I'm not sure what exactly might have happened, but it seems like Bartleby doesn't trust anyone. Maybe it's not important as to why he acts the way he does, but I feel bad for him because there must be something that went wrong at some point in his life that causes him to act in a such a way.
Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville
The narrator has a very complex attitude towards Bartleby. On one hand, the lawyer cannot stand Bartleby for his passiveness and refusal to do anything which can be rather irritating and irksome. On the other hand, the narrator feels sorry for Bartleby and he feels as though no one else would hire Bartleby or care for him better than he does at his workplace. The narrator also accepts Bartleby because he could "eventually prove a sweet morsel for [his] conscience." The narrator is in fact, being a good Christian and acting as a good person by caring for someone that others would merely cast aside as "loony."
When Bartleby is asked to do a task, the lawyer usually receives the response, "I would prefer not to," in a very calm tone, instead of an angry tone of refusal. This mysterious manner of Bartleby causes the narrator to want to know more about Bartleby and why he acts the way he does. Why does this man think he can choose when he wants to work? And what is causing this man to only want to work at certain times? The narrator starts to spend all of his time pondering Bartleby and why he acts so eccentric and odd. At one point, the narrator concludes that his eccentricities are involuntary, and that he has some sort of disorder. He decides that his soul is suffering and this causes him to be so solitary, quiet, and "free from dissipation."
At the end of the story it appears that the narrator's own selfishness and fear that Bartleby may "claim possession of office by right of his perpetual occupancy" cause him to decide that he must get rid of Bartleby by basically whatever way possible. The other lawyers were already concerned as to why the lawyer allowed a strange man to stand around looking out the windows for extended amounts of time, so in an attempt to save his own reputation, the narrator decided to move the office so that he could rid of Bartleby forever.
My theory as to why Bartleby is so mysterious and strange is that something may have happened during his childhood that caused him to be rather timid and nervous around other people. I'm not sure what exactly might have happened, but it seems like Bartleby doesn't trust anyone. Maybe it's not important as to why he acts the way he does, but I feel bad for him because there must be something that went wrong at some point in his life that causes him to act in a such a way.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Rose for Emily
"When she had first begun to be seen with Homer Barron, we had said, 'She will marry him.' Then we said, 'She will persuade him yet,' because Homer himself had remarked-he liked men, and was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elk's Club-that he was not a marrying man." pg 287
A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
For this story I'll answer number 6:
"How is the point of view related to the plot structure? What might be the rationale for diving the story into five distinct sections and for violating narrative chronology?"
The point of view of this story is first person plural. It is most likely said by the viewpoint of the townspeople observing Emily's life. This point of view does not help to give in-depth insight into why Emily acts the way she does. Although, the structure of the story is divided into 5 different sections to foreshadow the reasons as to why Emily poisoned Homer with arsenic. Section 1 describes her initial anger at having to pay taxes when she didn't used to have to pay them. The second section goes into the detail of the foul smell surrounding her house. This smell is most likely the dead human body that has been decaying in her house. She kept the body in the house because, as concluded above, "she would persuade him," to be with her even if it was by killing him. Section 3 describes how she would get Homer to forever be with her, because she buys the arsenic. Section four shows Emily's old age, greying hair, and death. Section five reveals that Emily was the criminal, because her grey hair is found on the bed where the body was. These five sections show Emily's motives for her actions. When things don't go her way, she makes sure they do, even if it involves killing someone.
A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
For this story I'll answer number 6:
"How is the point of view related to the plot structure? What might be the rationale for diving the story into five distinct sections and for violating narrative chronology?"
The point of view of this story is first person plural. It is most likely said by the viewpoint of the townspeople observing Emily's life. This point of view does not help to give in-depth insight into why Emily acts the way she does. Although, the structure of the story is divided into 5 different sections to foreshadow the reasons as to why Emily poisoned Homer with arsenic. Section 1 describes her initial anger at having to pay taxes when she didn't used to have to pay them. The second section goes into the detail of the foul smell surrounding her house. This smell is most likely the dead human body that has been decaying in her house. She kept the body in the house because, as concluded above, "she would persuade him," to be with her even if it was by killing him. Section 3 describes how she would get Homer to forever be with her, because she buys the arsenic. Section four shows Emily's old age, greying hair, and death. Section five reveals that Emily was the criminal, because her grey hair is found on the bed where the body was. These five sections show Emily's motives for her actions. When things don't go her way, she makes sure they do, even if it involves killing someone.
Interpreter Again
"When she whipped out the hairbrush, the slip of paper with Mr. Kapasi's address on it fluttered away in the wind." pg 166
Interpreter of Maladies
Jhumpa Lahiri
Throughout the story, there is a sympathetic tone set up toward Mr. Kapasi's character. He finds his job as an interpreter for doctor's to be mundane and unimportant. He had always hoped to be something more honorable like an interpreter for diplomats. He is a lonely tour guide too, even though he is married. His marriage seem to be failing, as his wife does not appear to be truly in love with him. He finds hope in Mrs. Das's kindness and interest in him, yet his hopes all come crashing down as the story comes to a close, and his address flies away from her purse. All of these things cause us to feel sorry for or sympathetic toward Mr. Kapasi. The ending of this story was unhappy because Mr. Kapasi realized that he wasn't fit for Mrs. Das and her life. I feel bad for Mr. Kapasi because he doesn't seem to have any joy in his life. Meanwhile, Mrs. Das has children and a husband that does care about her, and she does not seem to fully appreciate them. Mr. Kapasi really just wants to be noticed, which is why he initially took interest in Mrs. Das, because she displayed curiosity about his job as an interpreter. Even though Mr. Kapasi doesn't realize it, he does have worth and meaning in his life: he helps to cure people from maladies all the time, which couldn't even be done without his interpretations.
Interpreter of Maladies
Jhumpa Lahiri
Throughout the story, there is a sympathetic tone set up toward Mr. Kapasi's character. He finds his job as an interpreter for doctor's to be mundane and unimportant. He had always hoped to be something more honorable like an interpreter for diplomats. He is a lonely tour guide too, even though he is married. His marriage seem to be failing, as his wife does not appear to be truly in love with him. He finds hope in Mrs. Das's kindness and interest in him, yet his hopes all come crashing down as the story comes to a close, and his address flies away from her purse. All of these things cause us to feel sorry for or sympathetic toward Mr. Kapasi. The ending of this story was unhappy because Mr. Kapasi realized that he wasn't fit for Mrs. Das and her life. I feel bad for Mr. Kapasi because he doesn't seem to have any joy in his life. Meanwhile, Mrs. Das has children and a husband that does care about her, and she does not seem to fully appreciate them. Mr. Kapasi really just wants to be noticed, which is why he initially took interest in Mrs. Das, because she displayed curiosity about his job as an interpreter. Even though Mr. Kapasi doesn't realize it, he does have worth and meaning in his life: he helps to cure people from maladies all the time, which couldn't even be done without his interpretations.
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