The End... And The End again? Frankenstein part 2- blog 5

In this final section of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein the end is near two times. The first end is the end of  Victor's story; he had chased the creature through the ice on a sledge. He had become worn down, sick, he had lost some of his dogs, and that is when Walton's ship finds him. Therefore, we see the end of Victor's frame story. It was a long journey of creation, destruction, murder, and many lessons learned. Then we are redirected to Walton's letters to his sister. Like Frankenstein, Walton found himself in a huge predicament regarding a dangerous voyage due to his love of a challenge. What he found was the his trip to the North Pole would be practically impossible, and this changed the minds of many of his shipmates. "They insisted, therefore, that I should engage with a solemn promise, that if the vessel should be freed I would instantly direct my course southward," (Shelley 159). Once the ship is clear of ice, he does as they request. Then, with a heavy heart due to the death of Victor and the encounter with the creature, he returns home to England to his sister and to his family. With this, the final theme, I would suggest would be not to bite off more than one can chew because one cannot know for certain what such dangerous desires will do!

Changes coming fast!!! Frankenstein Part 2- blog 4

The last three chapters of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein wraps things up fairly quickly. It is very confusing to readers that Victor still believe that the monster is going after him on his wedding night. From the history of the monster and his threats to Victor previously, it is obvious that his love, Elizabeth, will be the victim. This is exactly what took place. Victor left her so that he could face the demon alone, but that left Elizabeth helpless when the creature came for her. Using his same technique as the other victims, he choked her to death easily. While I believe there have been a number of events leading up to the rising action, the murder of Elizabeth is most likely the turning point. It sets in motion the rest of the events of the falling action. Upon Victor's return to Geneva, his father soon dies, leaving Victor lonely and vengeful. "The deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to rage and despair," (Shelley 150). I am very curious to find out what will occur next. Does the creature still seek to bring suffering to Victor? Will Victor be able to suppress his feelings enough to find and stop his creation once and for all? Hopefully as I near the end, all of my concerns will be addressed.

You are not God... Frankenstein Part 2- Blog 3

    A new theme seems to have arisen in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein- or rather, I just noticed it recently. There have been various references to the Bible throughout the novel, but they were not on accident, they had a clear purpose all along. Victor Frankenstein is realizing and learning very quickly the consequences of playing God. He created a living creature out of dead human body parts- something that is an ability that humans should not have. God is the Creator, not just of the world, but also of all people; Victor Frankenstein became a partaker in the creation of life. Then, In case he did not learn the lesson from his first creature and all of it's after-effects, things were about to get even uglier as he began his second similar creation. He was very aware the second time of what he was in the process of doing. "As I sat, a train of reflection occurred to me, which led me to consider the effects of what I was now doing,"(Shelley 120). Thankfully, he realized his error and thought of the consequences of creating another being, and he quitted the project before it was too late. How much longer will the madness continue of the ramifications of such an act? As we near the end of the book, we are sure to find out!

Suspense is a Powerful Thing! Frankenstein Part 2- Blog 2

    What causes a reader to not only keep interest but keep reading and reading clinging to every new piece of information? That would be suspense. Mary Shelley does a most excellent job in incorporating this tool into Frankenstein, keeping readers on their toes and begging for more. While this is utilized in the first part of the novel, it is much more prevalent in the second part. "Sometimes I thought that the fiend followed me, and might expedite my remissness by murdering my companions," (Shelley 118). Victor is constantly worried that the creature sees everything and that he might strike again; his history would suggest that as a possibility. Victor is living in constant fear of the next attack, especially after he decides to destroy the new creature he had been working on. After the murder of Henry and the trial, readers learn of Victor's nightmares and illusions. In these nightmares he could feel, "the fiend's grasp in my neck, and could not free myself from it..." (Shelley 135). As Victor is struggling with all of this emotional distress, readers cannot stop reading, knowing that the end is near- the desire to figure everything out continues to increase.

Characterizzzzation!- Frankenstein Part 2- Blog 1

    The De Lacey's were significant in the first part of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley because they were given the title of the creature's "protectors" which gives them importance to him. However, in the later section of the book, we learn more about there history and where they came from. The De Lacey's were an affluent French family, but in helping an innocent Turkish merchant escape from prison, things get complicated. Exiled from their hometown, they seek refuge elsewhere, which is how they ended up in the cottage that the creature found. Later on, the daughter of the merchant, who had fallen in love with Felix earlier on, joined the De Lacey's in their humble abode. This history had a huge impact on the creature. He learned of their history, learned the language, learned to read, and learned about the family and their personalities. He saw them as understanding, sympathetic, and the kind of people who accept and assist strangers the best they can. "I required kindness and sympathy,; but I did not believe myself unworthy of it," (Shelley 94). All of this, along with finally understanding the language, allowed the creature to finally gain enough confidence to encounter the old blind man one day. When the old man understands the creature, hope is given. But just as quickly as it came, it went. The family went crazy once the returned home and saw him. This rejection really hurt the creature and caused him to become the true monster that he is.

A New Mood- Frankenstein 5

      The mood changes significantly as we change points of view from Victor to the creature. Victor was angry and desired to kill the "monster" he had created. He was full of guilt, contempt, and hate which were all visible as he narrated the story. He wanted to kill off his creation once and for all, so that no more harm could be done. However, when the creature begins speaking with compassion and knowledge, the mood changes to one of good feelings and sympathy for the creature. For two years the creature was on its own and picked up on small parts to everyday living. Learning about humans and how they differ from him to their language. He observes it all, especially while watching the family in the hut. He feels sorry for taking their food and making them unhappy, so he constantly gets them wood for their fires. Emotionally, he also develops as well as he watches this family. "He raised her, and smiled with such kindness and affection that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering nature: they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never before experienced, either from hunger or cold, warmth or food; and I withdrew from the window, unable to bear these emotions." Now starting to understand humans, the audience begins to feel sympathy for him instead of Victor.

Themes- Frankenstein 4

     One theme that shows up in chapters 6-8 is what fear can do to person. Following Victor's brother's murder and return to Geneva, he believes he knows who really committed the murder. Spotting him on the outskirts of Geneva, he is instantly convinced that the creature he created two years ago must be the culprit. However, he does not stand up for Justine as she is on trial for the murder of William. Even though he knows she will be put to death for the crime, he chooses to keep the secret for fear of being called crazy. Once she pleads guilty, all hope is lost. Now, because of the secrets he chose to keep to himself from being called crazy, he now has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He believes he has caused the death of two members of his family, and that guilt will continue to haunt him now. "I had before experienced sensations of horror; and I have endeavored to bestow upon them adequate expressions, but words cannot convey an idea of the heart-sickening despair that I've been endured." He feared being called crazy, and he fears the creature now as well. Fear will probably cause many other actions to take place as well as the story goes on- we will have to find out as the plot thickens!

Imagery- Frankenstein 3

"His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriance is only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were sent, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips." Imagery is a key component thus far in the book. Shelley's descriptions of setting as well as emotions have helped a great deal to set the tone of the book. However, imagery is even more useful when it comes to describing the creature that Victor Frankenstein has created. It make readers want to cringe- giving it a feeling of fear. Additionally, the actions of this creature create suspense that will continue throughout the rest of the novel. When Victor and Henry return to the room, suspense is created to know what they will find. Also, imagery gives a whole new meaning to Victor's sickness following the creation of the creature. Victor describes it as, "in doing this, I underwent a kind of rough usage, ill befitting the wounds that my mind had sustained." The sickness was mental as well as physical, he had gotten himself so worked up about the creature he had created that he no longer even liked natural philosophy. As the story continues, we will see how imagery continues to play a huge role in the plot.

Foreshadowing- Frankenstein 2

    In addition to the frame story having a significant impact on the plot, foreshadowing has a lot to do with it as well. Through the introduction of a frame story, we are also given a reason for the stranger to be involved. He is chasing a creature that Walton noticed and wrote about in an earlier letter. This reference causes readers to take a step back and take notice of the details of that creature. Walton describes this creature as "...a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge, and guided the dogs," (Shelley 8).  This gives us foreshadowing, especially when the frame story begins. Why was the creature being chased? What importance does he hold? These questions are brought up because of the existence of a creature and because of the set up of a frame story. Clearly, the creature has significance because he was being chased and the stranger was very shaken up and not willing to share the story behind it- that is until the two became close and he realized how similar they really are. The stranger wants to protect Walton from his same fate, and in doing that he must tell the story- but what was the stranger's fate? We will soon find out!

Frame Story- Frankenstein 1

    Having only read the first letters of the book, there is already evidence of a frame story. These letters to his sister are only the beginning of the story. Walton is on an expedition to discover the North Pole and is consistently writing letters to his sister. However, the plot of the story does not thicken until the fourth letter. The stranger the Walton meets while sailing begins to tell Walton a story of his own in order to caution him for the rest of his exploration and adventure. This begins the story within a story- or a frame story- because the stranger is telling his own tale as Walton is writing letters to his sister. "Strange and harrowing must be his story, frightful the storm which embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it- thus." (Shelley 14). Therefore, there is clear evidence to a frame story, so at some point we must return to Walton's letters and find out the end of his story, in addition to the end of the stranger's story. This aspect of the novel will expand the plot and give the novel and themes great depth as they will apply to more than just one narrator.

Do You Want To Know Or Not?- APO 96225

   Firstly, the title of the poem "APO 96225" by Larry Rottmann says a great deal about the poem- almost as much as the poem itself. This says that it is an Army Post Office address and from this alone, sympathy is evoked. People that fight for our country make a huge sacrifice, and so do the families of those who serve. Therefore, seeing the correspondence between the two already serves as pathos in the poem.
   Present as well in this poem is irony. Even though the mother asked specifically to hear of every endeavor, when he told her, she could not bear it emotionally. She probably did not realize what the implications of her request would be. " Today I killed a man. Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children," (Rottmann 46).The violence and gore of war is not exactly the most light of subjects, and certainly not appropriate for a mother to imagine. However, it is reality. There is not all sunsets, funny monkeys, and rain; there is killing, there is blood, there is death. Maybe we all want to close our eyes to it, but if we keep our eyes open and aware, we see the horror that is war.

Sense is Madness- Yeah, That Makes Sense.

    "Much Madness is Divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson is a very different spin on what we think of as normal and accepted. This poem presents a challenge to its readers. It says do not just go along with everyone else and their opinions and beliefs; question them! Who has ever discovered something great without going against what people think is possible or reasonable? This wonderful paradox definitely goes against sense in an of itself.  We see this in the line, "Much Sense- the starkest Madness" (Dickinson 830). Having sense can be madness- a contrasting idea. Yet, that contrasting idea is exactly the point she is trying to get across. People who don't think with their senses and instead think outside the box, they are not crazy, they are actually the normal ones! They inspire change and make the differences in our world that keep us improving each and every day. Where would we be today without the first person to say, "What if we could make a vehicle for transportation that has wheels and runs on an engine?" or the first person to say, "What if we could put a man on the moon?". Our world is constantly changing and if we all start thinking with the majority, then we cannot continue to prosper.

Trapped- "I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain"

    The most important part of "I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain" by Emily Dickinson is the point of view from which the poem is written. The speaker is the honorary member of the funeral- the person who has passed. She describes the funeral and burial from the vantage point of the coffin. There is also a clear tone of desperation as she is clenching to life while she begins to lose her mind. "Keep beating-beating-till I thought My Mind was going numb-" (Dickinson 776). She is fighting to hold on, to whatever is left of her. What really creates this amazing imagery, however, is the many senses the speaker uses to describe her surroundings. She feels the presence of the mourners, hears the sounds of the service and feet of the men that will take the coffin away, and feels the dropping of her coffin at the burial. We can get a much better sense of the alienation she is feeling as she knows everyone that once knew her is saying their goodbyes. Trapped inside a coffin, going crazy, all alone- what an image for the mind to ponder.

Miss Brill- Life is a Play

    The first things I noticed about Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield was the imagery and similes. In the first paragraph alone she describes the beautiful sky, and then describes the air using a simile, "like a chill from a glas of iced water before you sip..." (Mansfield 182). This did not seem unusual as I continued reading; she is simply noticing and appreciating a beautiful day. Even when she started describing the people that she observed along the way, I thought it was normal. This illusion ended when I realized that she not only did this on a regular basis, but also that she saw it all as a play. "It was exactly like a play. Who could believe the sky at the back wasn't painted?" (Mansfield 184). To me, I believe this shows that she is somewhat disconnected with reality. These scenes she is witnessing are not scenes of a play, and it is almost as if she is living vicariously through them. In a way, she is living behind the scenes, unrealistically. Lastly, I am not sure what the significance of the fur is, but I feel that it might just be another symbol of her clash with reality.

I'd Prefer Not to Blog About It- Bartelby

    In one of the most bizarre, confusing short stories I have ever read, I still managed to find the theme in Bartelby the Scrivener by Herman Melville. The setting of this story play a huge part in it as well. This is a story of Wall Street and describes what happens to some people with that kind of continuous, repetitive, and mindless work. It can seriously take a toll on a person's life and their functioning as a social person. Clearly, the character Bartelby portrays this happening. It is considered that after working as a "subordinate clerk in the Dead Letter Office at Washington, from which he had been suddenly removed my a change in the administration..." and then as a copier at an office on Wall Street, he may have changed him in a way that his soul was never the same after that (Melville 675). However, though he is the most obvious displayer of the theme, the lawyer speaker also conveys it in a very important way. He is similar to Bartelby in his want to do the least work possible all the time. In the beginning of the novel, he says, "I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury or in a way draws down public applause..." (Mellville 643). Bartelby and the lawyer speaker are both proof of what mindless work can do to a person, which causes Bartelby's insane actions and the speaker's continued sympathy toward him.

Seasons of Love- That Time of Year

    Beginning with a beautiful image of a fall day, "That Time of Year" by William Shakespeare it is actually the changing of the seasons that represents the theme of death. Though the images are beautiful, there is definitely a shift in mood with the line, "Which by and by black night doth take away". Death does take life away, that is not news. However, the mention of love at the end gives the poem some sort of a theme. Death makes us mortal, but love is eternal, and can make us strong- if we allow it.
   What really makes this poem so potent is the mood. The distraught, sad mood gives us the sense of darkness that we need to truly understand the poem. Death is inevitable as the person lies on his deathbed. But he still has a lesson to learn: life and love cannot be taken for granted because we never know how much time we are really going to have. Death does not wait for us, so why should we wait for death to start living?

Fear No Evil- Crossing the Bar

    Death does not always have to be grotesque, gory, or gloomy, and this is greatly conveyed through Alfred Lord Tennyson's Crossing the Bar. Death seems like less of a dreadful thing when the poet uses words like "sunset and evening star" (Line 1) and "twilight and evening bell" (Line 9). The diction and imagery definitely eases the pain off of the topic of death. Also, towards the end, when he mentions "seeing the Pilot face to face" it gives the readers a sense of hope. He portrays that there is something greater that is waiting for us beyond this life, and that fact is also comforting.
   The symbolism comes into play with the details of the night. Death for the character is upcoming and at night, which means that there is hope for light at the end of the tunnel. There is a bridge- a division- between life and death and he will soon cross it.The adventure has only begun.

Letting Go- A Rose for Emily

    With a story so jumbled and mixed up, it is difficult to come up with a series of events that help us to understand and identify with our main character, Emily, in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner. The reason the story does not have much of a timeline is the point of view and narrator(s). The story is told by her town, so the story is based off of rumors because not many people were close to her.
    Even so, we can gather some information on Emily, just based on these rumors. She had a difficult time letting things go. We see several examples of this throughout the story. When her father died, it was written that, "She told them that her father was not dead". Emily did not want to believe that he was gone, so she refused to. Although we do not get the same direct information as that, we can also assume that it was the same way with Homer Barron. It was said that he liked men, which made him not able to marry or have a relationship with Emily. Instead of letting him go, she gets poison, and at the end of the story, we come to know and understand that she killed Homer, and had kept his body in a room that she visited often. What we can tell from both of these examples is that she was holding on to what little she had. Her father and Homer were the only people she was even remotely close to, which eventually drove her to insanity.

Tradition? The Lottery- Questions 1 & 4

    The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is not quite as it seems. Most people would think of a lottery as some sort of reward that one is lucky to win. This is not the case for this short story as we are soon introduced to a wicked twist on that word. However, if one does not pick up on the clues, there is quite the surprise waiting for Mrs. Hutchinson at the end. In just the second paragraph, Jackson writes, "Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones". This is a subtle hint that this lottery is  different than what we may have originally thought. Also, the fact that no on is excited, but just kind of there waiting for things to start up as we see when Jackson states, "their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed". There is a certain tense feeling in the town. 

    Though the tradition is clearly an important part of the town- seeing that no one has cared to stop it over the years- we must try to understand how something as crazy as a human sacrifice might have come about. The answer is in paragraph 32 when we hear Old Man Warner say, "'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon'". They had started this tradition years back when they believed that a human sacrifice would help the harvest. Now, we see that the tradition probably won't be ending anytime soon.

    

Death, Be Not Proud- Questions 2 & 3

    John Donne writes in "Death, be not proud" saying that death should not be proud because it is not awful and dreadful. Death, according to the author is not capable of killing. This type of language is hard to imagine. The most contradictory line in the entire poem comes near the end, "Death, thou shalt die." (Donne, Line 14). I feel like the author is trying to deeply convey that death can be a blessing in disguise. This is especially true as it mentions the waking eternally which implies that there is something to look forward to beyond our years. We can dread the future knowing that we are not immortal, or instead we can accept it, embrace it, and move forward with it. 

    The author's reasons are incredibly persuasive because instead of ending with a line where a lot of negative images can be formed, instead, the last four lines provide hope in the shadows of the darkness of death. However, the arguments are not consistent because in line 10, the author mentions death from poison, war, and sickness which are evil ways to die, while in the next line, the author says that poppies and charms can be the peaceful cause of death. The tone of the poem is also evident as faithful. The author strongly believes that death is more of an obstacle in life, not something to be feared- "a short sleep" he calls it. 

All Good Things Must Come to an End- Glass Menagerie Blog 5

    All in all, I remain with a pretty positive outlook on the play, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. I am not usually one for unhappy endings, but in this case, I was not at all surprised by anything that happened. I honestly never expected Laura to even come as far as she did, so I was pleasantly surprised by that. She had a serious conversation with Jim that brought her out of her protective shell; he even got her to dance! Williams writes, "He executes some sweeping turns by himself then holds his arms toward Laura," (Williams 1281). Having her build some self-confidence was a reason the ending was actually not too disappointing.
    Also, because of all the foreshadowing in earlier scenes, I expected and wanted Tom to leave- so I was glad that he did in the end. For Tom, he needed to let his dreams and adventurous side out, and he could not do so while trapped in his home. He may have left Laura behind, but she will do okay on her own, I believe. I also maintain that his mother is the primary reason for his leaving. Tom worked an awful job everyday day to support the ladies, and he even tried to set up Laura with someone that he knew she was fond of. Selfless is a word to describe Tom, not selfish as his mother did so many times. However, in the end anyone could see that his dreams were bigger than his home could provide for him- he had to escape or go crazy.

It's not what you say, it's how you say it!- Glass Menagerie Blog 3

The way The Glass Menagerie is written, by Tennessee Williams, is strange and unusual- even foreign to some readers. Not only do we have a dream within a play, but we have stage directions with as much importance as the dialogue, and diction that says everything!
    As it pertains to stage directions, we see them play a huge role especially with Laura. During Laura and Jim's time together, we see Laura's protective walls slowly come down, but not with what she says, but how she acts. For example, the stage directions read, "Laura stares at him, even her shyness eclipsed in absolute wonder,"(Williams 1280). We can tell by this alone that she is beginning to be more comfortable around him, her shyness is not painful, it is just as entranced as the rest of her.
   In regard to diction, Williams does a fabulous job picking the right words in the right situations. This quality is expressed throughout the play. We see her write: "ducks jauntily out," (Williams 1287) to describe the manner in which Jim left, "salmon loaf- with Durkees dressing!" (1258) to illustrate the dinner for the caller that will be elaborate, and "honest warehouse worker by day, by night a dynamic czar of the underworld..." (1246) which describes how stressed out and stretched thin Tom has become.  With all the descriptions, we as readers are more keen on those important details that make the play what is.

Glass Menagerie- The Song

Just for you Mr. Costello!! Fellow classmates, enjoy!

I Dreamed a Dream-Glass Menagerie Blog 3

    Keeping in mind that the entire concept of Tennessee William's The Glass Menagerie is that it is a dream, I have been trying to get a sense of the character that this dream belongs to. The answer I am foreshadowing is that this dream is Tom's. I believe that this is Tom's dream because he seems to me like the only character that would make sense that he could have this dream, this memory, after he has left the family.
    It is no secret that Tom is considering leaving the family just as his father did. We see some proof of this during a few of the beginning scenes. In scene four, Laura is trying to get Tom to make up with his mother after their dispute. Tom says, "It don't take much intelligence to get yourself nailed up in a coffin. But who in the hell ever got himself out of one without removing a nail?" (Williams 1249). Well, his father did just that. We see that Tom is stressed, overworked, feeling neglected, and still craves adventure. With these things in mind, I can infer that there is a good possibility that he might go away later on, and be in make-up dream about this critical time in his lifeLastly, it is with great thought, that I foreshadow Tom's leaving the house.
   

Mother Knows Best- Glass Menagerie Blog 2

As scene 4 opens of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Mother and Tom are not on speaking terms, and Laura worries a great deal about this. However, after Laura leaves, Amanda and Tom end up both apologizing to each other about the things they'd said. This discussion actually leads us readers to characterize Amanda more closely and accurately. At first, to me, she seemed to be an overbearing mother to Tom and Laura- accusing Tom of going out to much and Laura for not being good enough to stay in school. Really, however, she is just a concerned mother who wants what is best for her children. Amanda confides in Tom, telling him how much she truly worries about Laura. She worries because Laura has cried over Tom's absence at home, Laura is no longer in school, and because Laura is not yet married. She tells Tom all of this and also gives him a few valuable words of advice, "'Try and you will succeed!'"(Williams 1251). Hopefully, as we dive more into the play, Amanda will stick to her own words of advice and let Tom take care of himself a bit more by letting him make his own choices and mistakes. Keeping a close eye on her, we will continue to see how she grows and reveals more about herself and the other characters as well.

The Music- Glass Menagerie Blog 1

     Music in the background is a small, but significant detail in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Later on in the play, it could even represent an important symbol. I would do anything to hear the music as it was throughout the play after all the scenes where it is played.  From what I can tell now, it is the kind of music that plays at the perfect time every time. I believe it is used to bring attention to certain scenes as a way to show that an important action just took place. Also, I believe that it helps the tone and mood to change in favor of the characters. For example, after Amanda found out that Laura had dropped out of school, the two had a huge fight. The way it ended was with Laura yelling that she is crippled, and her mother responds with, "'When people have some slight disadvantage like that, they cultivate other things to make up for it...'"(Williams 1244). With such a tense feeling after the emotions came out in that scene, the music helps to calm it down a bit. Lastly, the music also begins to draw some attention to the glass that Laura makes, and how that will clearly play a larger role as the play goes on.

"Edward"

     The very first thing I noticed while beginning to analyze "Edward" by an anonomynous author was the immediate repetition in the first stanza. The repetition is in every other line, and is probably the author's way of emphasizing those lines as opposed to the others. I also found it interesting how the poem was basically a conversation. The author was very clever in the way he went about doing that, with the quotations. I have never seen a poem written in that way, so I took interest in that. Other than those structural things, the rest of the poem confused me. He lied about killing his father at first, and then we he admitted it, his mother reacted by asking what he will give to her? I do not understand why! Edward seems sorry for murdering his father, but the mother is asking what he will do as penance. Then, it is implied that she just wants to know what she is going to get out of this. Once, Edward realizes this, he gets very angry with her and leaves her nothing.

The Drunkard- Frank O'Connor

   The questions at the end of each story actually have meaning! While most of the time, there are about typical parts of a novel like characters, setting, symbols, and irony, now we have a question about pathos! While reading this short story, I realized just how much emotion the author evokes. This is a fictional story, but the concepts that it uses give readers a lot of emotions to sort through. First, I would say that we experience sympathy for the mother because this is one of those family's where the father is absent, and the wife works incredibly hard to make up for it. O'Connor actually mentions clearly early on by writing, "Drink, you see, was Father's great weakness,"(O' Connor). Knowing this, we automatically know and recognize that the mother is going through a lot, and we feel sympathy for that reason. The other emotion evoked is frustration. The irony of the story, to me at least, evoked frustration because the concept of a child drinking is ridiculous. And who is to blame for this? The father who goes to the bar is responsible. He brought his child to a bar and was planning on drinking in front of his son. Then his son, who must learn from his father, drinks the entire thing. With the outrageous event, O' Connor definitely succeeds in using pathos to create a mindset of sympathy for the mother, and frustration with the father.

Once Upon a Time- Nadine Gordimer

     In the short story "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer, the first thing that we notice and take into account is "the sound". Now, after finishing the story, I realize that I was very hung up on the beginning. It was more than just a sound; it was a symbol, and it held incredible significance through the entirety of the novel.
    There are two possibilities given for the cause of the sound. A figment of the imagination, or as Gordimer writes, "...a voice in the echo-chamber of the subconscious?" (Gordimer) is the first option. Then, the person elaborates on the fact that it might be a person. It is this very assumption that sets the tone for the rest of the story. Now that he has fixated on this possibility, he cannot get it out of his mind, therefore, causing him to make up this gruesome scenario. In this children's story that he thinks to himself, while starting out completely normal with the "ideal" family in mind, things quickly get out of hand with the constant obsession with having someone break into their home. In the end, we have a situation that shows that obsessing over something like that only leads to more trouble. It is ironic, and yet, from the very beginning, anyone could have predicted that it would not end well for at least one person, if not more.

A Worn Path

    In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, involves a lot of minor characters that help us to characterize Phoenix- the protagonist. On Phoenix's journey to the city, she encounters quite a few people and they each teach us different things about her. One of those people is the hunter. The hunter helps us to see and visualize her courage. Being a old, African American lady, she was incredibly brave and shows her perseverance even when he holds a gun to her head. Unyielding and strong, she knows her purpose and according to her, no one will stop her. She tells him, "'I bound to go my way, mister,'"(Welty). She is a role model for her race because she never let that hinder her from reaching her destination. From the nurse, we learn that she is making this entire journey for her grandson, which shows her unconditional love.  Willing to travel through a sketchy forest, have a gun pointed to her head, and find her way through the city, she underwent incredible circumstances, all to help out her grandson. This love reminds me of the love between most mothers and their children. The motherly instinct to take care of a child is almost second nature, and it seems to be the same with Phoenix.

Those Winter Sundays

    The poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden was a very interesting poem to read and analyze. I assume the poem was describing how a job is never fully done, and therefore this boy and his dad continued their work even on Sundays. A very important aspect however is the imagery that deals with winter. These descriptions are put there to try and allow us to better understand that the work they were doing in the dead of winter was not easy by any means. Hayden writes, "in the blueblack cold" (Hayden, Line 2) and "I'd wake and hear rrhe cold splintering, breaking." (Hayden, Line 6). The father and son do not just work on Sundays, but they work practically regardless of the weather. The imagery allows us to feel sympathy for them for having to work in the cold on Sundays.
   Also, I noticed the mentioning that his dad never received any thanks for the work that he did. This may serve as the main purpose to the poem. He wanted to give some credit to his father for all the hard work he put into his job and family. This seems to make sense because even while the author does not use positive imagery, it does paint the readers a picture of what the father had to endure working to support his family.

A Raisin In The Sun- The Oldies vs. The...Newies?

     One of the conflicts that really helps the storyline of A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is the generation gap. The setting of the play being in Chicago in what we believe to be the early 1950s helps to display this very well. Mama is the elder in the family and actually lived in the South in her earlier years, before moving to Chicago. Needless to say, she grew up in a completely different era than her children- Walter and Beneatha- which contributes the most to this generation gap.
     Mama always seems to have the words of wisdom because of her life experiences. For example, she says to Beneatha, "When you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is," (Hansberry 530). She has known struggle and what it means to really work and earn everything one gets. On the other hand, we have Beneatha and Walter the dreamers! With Beneatha, her dreams are way beyond any person of her race and gender. With the help and reassurance of her friend Asagai, she has high hopes for the future- unlike her mother was able to do.
   With these two alternating perspective on the concept of "dreams" and what it means to be successful, we see the generation gap really play a big part in this play. In the end, though, it all works out as Beneatha plans to live out her dream with Asagai, Walter accepts that while reaching for the stars he has to keep his priorities straight, and Mama and Ruth get ready to embrace a big change in their lives- and know that everything can and will work itself.

A Raisin in the Sun- Even scripts have imagery!

    Even the smallest of details are significant; sometimes those things are the most significant. In a play, however, things are clearly going to be different than in a regular novel. Plays are meant to be acted, so a person's thoughts are not considered like in a novel. Therefore, the imagery and detail comes through body language- acted out in a performance, or in parentheses in the script. Body language gives us big hints on characters during specific scenes, like how they react to certain situations, their opinions, and their attitudes at critical points.
     A great example of this occuring in A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry occurs right after Walter learns about his money being lost. Mama's reaction to this event will set the tone for everyone else's, and Hansberry writes, "Mama stops and looks at both of her children and rises slowly and wanders vaguely, aimlessly away from them," (Hansberry 518). We don't even have to read her next line to know that she is upset, and more importantly disappointed in Walter.
    Another example of this is a simple one word description, "beaten," (Hansberry 476). This is right after Mama explains to Walter that Ruth is considering an abortion, and before Ruth butst in to confirm what Mama has told him. One word, "beaten" has such incredible meaning. Ruth is not just tired, sad, or desperate, she is just beaten down.

A Raisin in the Sun- Thematics! (I think that's a word...)

    This play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, demonstrates a theme that seems to be recurring in a good number of the works we have read and analyzed. This theme is that money does not bring happiness in life. Family, friends, love, dedication, perserverance, and hard work- those things can bring true happiness in life. The Younger family illustrates this in an exceptional way- each character in his or her own way. Walter and Beneatha have big dreams, but without money they are dissatisfied since they aren't living up to their dreams yet. Ruth and Mama just want to be rational and intelligent with the money, not making any decisions without careful thought and evaluation.
    When the money comes it is divided between a down payment for a house, money for Walter to start his own business, and money for Beneatha's schooling. Satisfied for the moment, everyone seems to be happy again, but as soon as most the money is gone in a bad investment, suddenly, everyone is bitter again. The only thing they have left is the house, and even so, there are worries that they might not be able to afford it, in which case they would sell it back. However, luckily, our theme comes full circle now, and Asaga puts it very well, "' You talk about struggle , what good is anything! Where are we all going and why are we all bothering!... I LIVE THE ANSWER!" (Hansberry 522). We have struggles and failures to make us stronger, and we have family and friends to get us through when things get tough. That is what the Youngers are learning, now. Money is not the answer, but learning to get over these bumps in the road, with the support of loved ones beside us, that is.
     Finally, at the conclusion of the play, we see this. We are shown it when Walter says to Lidner, "And we have decided to move into our house because my father-my father- he earned it for us brick by brick,"(Hansberry 532). Despite all the things that were holding them back, they realized it was time for change, and for the start of something new.

A Raisin in the Sun- What does it take to save a family?

    In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, a family torn apart by years, by skin color, by crushed hopes and dreams, and a family torn apart by too many years without change. Is there anything that can fix this? This is the conflict I cannot help but focus on, since it seems central to all the other conflicts that are taking place. A broken family under a lot of pressure, waiting for a check to come in the mail. The check is a very important symbol here because every person is convinced that it can fix their individual problems. However, the catch is that they believe it can only fix one person's problems. It can go the Beneatha for schooling, to Walter to invest in business, or to Ruth, Mama and Travis for a new home.
    There is more to life though than money, and it is Mama who understands this the best. She says, "Oh- So now it's life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life- now it's money. I guess the world really do change..." (Hansberry 475). The money symbolizes a "temporary" solution to a big problem, a problem bigger than any monetary value can fix. Even when the check comes in, it is not going to fix the family's underlying brokenness. It may fix a problem or even two, but money does not bring happiness like a true family does. And right now, since no one seems able to communicate, the Youngers are struggling to be a true family.
    Will they recognize that there is some serious change that needs to take place, or will they continue to believe that money can solve all problems? As the plot unfolds, the answer is sure to be found.

A Raisin In the Sun- Time to Characterize!

     In the first few pages of this play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, we are introduced to all of the main characters. In addition, we see all the different personalities and how they begin to play into the storyline early on. First, we have Mama, who runs the house and is mother to both Walter and Beneatha. She may be old, but she still has the biggest influence on the things that happen in the Younger household because of her strong-willed nature and the fact that she will soon receive a ten thousand dollar insurance check. Then, we have Walter and Beneatha. They each have their own dreams for the future, but neither has the funds at the moment, so they are both hoping for help from Mama. These characters also demonstrate the difficulty of being black during this time period- Beneatha also being a woman. Walter has a job he despises as a chauffeur, and Beneatha is desperately wishes to become a doctor. Ruth illustrates for us the typical housewife. A dutiful wife, she too wonders if they are ever meant for something greater, and how her and her husband, Walter, came to be so distant. One of the first sentences in the play, not even a part of the dialogue, demonstrates this: "Life has been little what she expected, and disappointment has already begun to hang in her face," (Hansberry 436).
    As we dive into the play, I'm sure we will learn more and more about these characters, and the way that their lives are about to change for the better.

What is Happiness? Some People Just Don't Get It..

     Reading and understanding "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumba Lahiri, was no easy task, but I will admit that I did remain fairly interested the entire time. The irony of Mr. Kapasi dreaming of a future friendship with Mrs. Das and then her basically telling him everything about her because she needed a friend was actually surprisingly entertaining to me. I cannot say that I saw it coming. Mr. Kapasi just looked like a big idiot to me when he was planning a secret step-by-step plan in his head of a future with the woman. Then she dropped a bomb on him with the fact that one of her sons was not even the son of her husband! Additionally, she continued to recap her entire history with her husband all to a man who had other motives than being the advisor. All in all, I just thoroughly enjoyed the irony of it.
     Another thing worth noting is the imagery that Lahiri uses that is very effective in creating her visions and scenes that she wants the audience to connect to. Lahiri writes, "She was a short woman, with small hands like paws, her frosty pink fingernails painted to match her lips, and was slightly plump in her figure,"(Lahiri). This paints a picture for readers, not only of what Mrs. Das looks like, but the way that Mr. Kapasi sees her, which holds more importance later on.

Ladies and Gentleman.. The Antagonist! ("Everyday Use")

    Studying the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, I was puzzled by the character of Dee. The point of view is from her mother, which is why the beginning was so confusing! At first, I get the impression that the mother is envious of Dee, but later on it becomes more and more clear that Dee is the problem. She dropped everything and ran the second she got the chance, changed her name, showed her selfishness, and showed incredible rudeness to her family. I think these things describe an antagonist.
    The most obvious example, and the moment when I think we see Dee's character come out the most, would be the incident with the quilts. Dee is used to getting what she wants, and clearly manipulates her family whenever she gets the opportunity. "' This churn top is what I need'","'And I want the dasher, too'" (Walker) are a few of the examples of the items in her mother's house that she wants and takes. However, when she is told no to the quilts, it was obvious she was not used to not being given what she wants. She accused her sister of being able to appreciate the quilts, and not putting them to the right use, when actually it's the opposite. Maggie would use them and give them the love they deserve, while Dee only wants them for show. Lastly, when Dee accuses her mom of not knowing her own heritage, it shows how truly self-centered she is, and completely oblivious to the feelings of those around her.

Who the heck is Mr. Z?

    In all seriousness, "Mr. Z" by M. Carol Holman was a well-written, insightful poem. What I don't understand is why the author decided to give the main character a name in the title at all if he was not going to mention it or use it in the poem at any point? Is there an underlying meaning that I'm not picking up? If so, what is it?
    However, besides my hang-up on the name, I actually found this poem interesting to say the least. One of the first details I picked up on was the fact that the character was black. "His mother's skin was the sign of error," (Holman) being in the first line, must mean that his being African American was important. And as we see in the remainder of the poem, this turns out to be true. He worked hard at everything, hoping that one day, it would all pay off. He married a former Jewish women, which to me says that it was probably out of love- that was probably the kind of thing that could ruin both of their reputations. Then, in the end, though he may not have gotten very far in society at that time, he did become "'One of the most distinguished members of his race'"(Holman). I feel like that last line speaks volumes. Even though he sought after his ambitions, worked hard, and never gave up trying, the majority of people will never realize it because they cannot see past the color of his skin. It's utterly disappointing, and yet completely true.

Simile Mania! "Dream Deferred"

     Five similes has got to be important, right? Well, I think so. In "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes, the literary technique of similes is incredible. Who knew that using the word "like" could be so effective? Hughes is showing us, through these similes, the different dreams we have and how we remember some and forget others, depending on what it is about. We are given the line, "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" (Hughes). I take this to mean that this is the kind of dream that we forget the minute we wake up because it bears no real significance. Also, we are shown, "Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?" (Hughes). This line, for me, paints the picture of a dream that we love, and we want to cherish and keep forever.
     Lastly, I also wanted to note the breaks he uses in the poem. Hughes starts and ends with a question, and this holds some importance, I believe. Really, I think both are rhetorical, because even though he attempts to answer the first one, there is no one definite answer. And clearly the last one is posed just to get us thinking. With more analysis, I'm sure I will understand the meaning behind it.

Analysis on Hazel Tells LaVerne

     For the poem "Hazel Tells LaVerne" by Kathryn How'd Machan, I decided to answer and elaborate on the first question following the work. In my mind, the setting of the poem is clearly stated through good imagery throughout the poem. I see this scene taking place in a bathroom at night. Clues like "last night im cleanin out my howard johnsons ladies room.." (Machan) and "has ta flush the toilet down three times.." (Machan) allow me to make the assumptions about the setting. Picking up on those key words was so important in envisioning a maid and a frog and their awkward bathroom encounter.
     This revision of the fairy tale "The Frog Prince" was interesting to say the least. It definitely gave a new twist to the story, considering how the endings are completely differed. I am not sure that I liked this so much though. The language and vernacular of the poem made more difficult to understand, and I don't really know what the purpose of that was yet. Also, I am not a big fan of changes to good things, and I do like the original story, so changing its ending was not going to please me.

Perrine Poetry Post! (Bonus Points for Alliteration?!)

        I'm not going to lie, I may have began reading this six page article, The Nature in the Interpretation of Poetry, with the wrong intentions. Before reading this article, I have always believed that any interpretation of poetry that makes logical sense, should be considered an acceptable interpretation. Who has the authority to tell me that what I think about a poem is wrong? Well, reading this article by Lawrence Perrine has given me a whole new perspective on the subject! I cannot say that my mind is completely changed because I still believe there should be room for discussion on different interpretation. However, many of the points he makes, I understand and agree with- especially the way he comes up with the most sensible interpretation. Also, I had never considered some of the things he said about the authors and how they may have trouble explaining the meanings of their own poems. Perrine makes the statement, "He cannot say, 'What I really meant was...' without admitting failure, or without saying something different (and usually much less) than what his poem said." This makes complete sense to me because it would no longer e a mystery waiting to be solved, which is sometimes the beauty of a poem, but instead it becomes an image that the author just describes in a creative way.
        Now the main piece of this article that I plan to utilize in guiding my study of poetry in this class would be this: "Of several interpretations, the best is that which fully explains the details of the poem without itself being contradicted by any detail." This statement made in the first page was a profound one, though I may not have realized it until I saw the few examples he gave, using poems we had read last week for an assignment. Perrine presented the poem by Emily Dickinson, and explained the difference between what his students had written was the subject of the poem and what he believed to be the subject of the poem. Interestingly enough, most of the students' interpretations coincided with most of my own class's interpretations. Most people in my class thought it described a meadow, just like Perrine's students; although, we did have a few that said the poem described a sunset. A sunset is believed to be the correct interpretation according to Perrine, and some other external proof that the poem was published in earlier years under the title, "Sunset". Even so, Perrine goes into detail explaining how those who interpreted the poem as a garden, failed to account for some of the details in the poem- like the Wharf. Therefore, I was struck by how true the statement I originally mentioned turned out to be! Knowing this, I will go about the study of poetry knowing that every detail is important, and if I'm not accounting for each one, I am not doing it correctly.

Yes, My Nose Is Literally In the Book..

Yes, on our fun trip to King's Island, Joey Wolf and I decided to whip out the Great Gatsby and show off our awesomeness. People wish they were as cool as us, sort of. Either way, I was so scared to drop it, and have to redo all of my annotations, that he had to hold it and I checked on it whenever I wasn't screaming! But it was safe and even after 2 tries, my face is still not visible. But there it is!

Gatsby 15: 171-189- Another Happily Never After

    Okay, it was bad enough reading one novel that ends in tragedy, but why two? And why the one I liked better? The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has no "happily ever after"- how could it with 3 characters dying? An accident, a murder, and a suicide- at least he's creative!
    So before I go into my spiel theme and my overall final thoughts, I have to say I still don't feel satisfied. Gatsby, the namesake of the novel, still appears a mystery to me. Up until this very last section, and even still, I don't feel like anyone could really know this character. Everytime I learned something new about him, it meant that what I thought I knew previously about him, wasn't true. From how he became rich, to his family, and even his name, it was really difficult to pin this character when all we continued to be told was mostly lies. Learning about his father that was never mentioned, even though I wasn't expecting it, does not surprise me in the least.
    Now we enter the subject of themes. First,. I see materialism and obsessesion with money as a theme; they don't guarantee happiness in any way. Second, I thought that Gatsby's dad spoke some exceptionally wise words when he said, "'It just shows you.'" (Fitzgerald 182). Mr. Gatz may have just been referring to his son, but how true is that for a lot of things? We don't know everything about anyone or anything, so it is never our job to judge, we just have to be trustworthy people, and never be close minded.
   This book overall kept me interested. While I may not like tragic endings, it is not like I don't understand. There was no other way because Gatsby was never going to give up on Daisy; he may have been killed by a gun, but he died because of his infatuation with Daisy and refusal to let it go, even when he'd lost.
    So if I learned anything, it would be that you can never really know a person for certain, and don't ever get involved with a married person- in the two books we have read, that has not gone well.

Gatsby 14: 154-170- A Thousand Ways to Die

I guess one way of dying could be by getting caught up in a crazy love pentagon, being involved in a hit and run/homicide, and then being murdered by a half-psychotic maniac. I would prefer something a little less intense, but that's just me. F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, just wanted something a little more dramatic, and we can definitely see that!
So this is it then? The Great Gatsby has died- along with the less important Mr. Wilson- as a part of the novel's falling action. So what now, well since that was pretty much the bulk of what happened in this section, along with all the events that led up to it, I feel like I can bring up something I found incredibly random to stick in to the book at this point in time. "'You ought to have a church, George, for times like this. You must have gone to church once. Didn't you get married in a church?...'" (Fitzgerald 165). Where in the world did this sudden concern with religion become a thing? I have not heard a thing about anyone being a man of God or even religious at all. Now all the sudden, because there has been a death, God has become a priority? I understand the need for God in a person's life especially during a tragedy, but I guess I just found it interesting that now for the first time in the course of the novel, religion is mentioned.

Gatsby 13: 145-153- Blame it on the...what?

It was all about timing- a perfect storm kind of situation. So if one were to ask me, I would blame all of this on the setting. It was night, driving home from a long, stressful, and eventful day. Circumstance and chance played a bigger part in this whole happening than the driver or the driver's pure desire to run over poor Myrtle Wilson in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
So the deed is done, now what happens next? Tom is of course deeply affected by the loss, but has to play it off right now to avoid being connected to the whole situation. Mr. Wilson is devastated and just wants answers. He yells,"'You don't have to tell me what kind of car it was! I know what kind of car it was!'" (Fitzgerald 147). Nick and Jordan are just kind of stuck in the middle of the mess at the moment. Daisy is probably distraught on the inside, but doing a good job of keeping it hidden. And Gatsby, he is just concerned about Daisy- which makes sense after he reveals that she was the driver of the car.
What is to become of this mess now? I'm sure that we will get more answers as we journey on.

Gatsby 12: 134-145 -Ouch, Getting Personal!

Turning point, here we are. I did believe that the heated discussion between Tom and Gatsby over Daisy is climax worthy for F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. However, I then continued on to find that Myrtle had been run over by a car and instantly killed. That was the definite turning point in the novel.
Fighting for the love of Daisy, Tom and Gatsby make incredibly personal attacks at each other, and I followed along completely engrossed in the conflict. Gatsby knows he has Daisy's love now, but in his flaunting that in Tom's face, he also learns that Daisy did love Tom at a point in time. 
Then I take time to think about Daisy's part in all of this mess. While at first, I may have felt bad for her, she put this upon herself. Having Gatsby and Tom in the same room at all was asking for it in my opinion. Furthmore, she continues to stun readers by dropping a bomb to her husband. "'Daisy's leaving you,'" (Fitzgerald 141) says Gatsby to Tom.
Arguing, pointing fingers, making accusations, then of course, what better way to end a this night than with someone dying. And lastly, we are left with many questions that will hopefully be resolved in the falling action of the novel.

Gatsby 11: 127-134-That Awkward Moment When...

That awkward moment when your husband realizes he's being played. So Tom has figured out the Daisy and Gatsby have a thing going on in this portion of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I understand that he's upset, but he has nothing to stand on. He's been cheating on poor Daisy for a long time, and I'm not defending her actions, but her and Tom's relationship was having problems before Gatsby came into the picture.
Now Tom has put everyone in a very awkward situation by giving into Daisy's request to go downtown. I also foresee this being another indicator of Tom's obsessive and controlling personality. This absolutely cannot end well. Then, let's just add one more awkward encounter to this scenario- just for kicks and giggles. Where did Tom stop for gas? Why the Wilson's drugstore of course. There, he finds out the they are planning a trip out West.
So in the matter of just a few pages, we have seen Tom realize his own wife's unfaithful actions and then that his mistress is going away with her husband. Our most controlling character is watching as his most prized possessions slip through his finger tips. Fitzgerald describes it as "feeling hot whips of panic," (Fitzgerald 131). I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Gatsby 10: 110-127- Ca$h Money

    "'Her voice is full of money,'" (Fitzgerald 127) is the line that stuck out most to me after reading 17 pages of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Maybe it's a theme, or maybe it reminded me of the recently read House of Mirth, but that profound line really said a lot. Is Gatsby in this game for the money? It is most definitely a possibility, but I really thought better of him than that,and I hope he proves that line to be untrue.
    Aside from that line that I saw as having great significance- especially for a possible theme later on- there were a few other important events that are contributing to the rising action. One of them being Tom and Daisy's attendance at Gatsby's party. And then also there was when Daisy said I love you to Gatsby in so many words- and Tom caught on! These very events, while having a great importance on the plot, also point out the great irony. These things that Daisy is doing behind Tom's back are the exact same things that Tom is doing with Myrtle behind Daisy's back. It is a horrible situation, but it is rather amusing, and maybe it's because I'm a girl and want to sympathize with Daisy, but I think that right now, Tom is getting what he deserves.

Gatsby 9: 90-110- Here We Go Again

    I never thought the day would come when a part of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, would remind me of a Demi Lovato song! When I read of the afternoon of tea between Daisy and Gatsby along with Nick, one of the first things I thought of was the song "Here We Go Again". As it looks, Daisy and Gatsby had a thing many years ago, but it ended and both were left unsatisfied. So here they are 5 years later, and the opportunity has somewhat presented itself again. After some tension at first- when Daisy was practically ambushed- they do seem to actually reconnect. I get this feeling when Fitzgerald states, "Her throat, full of aching, grieving beauty, told of her unexpected joy," (Fitzgerald, 94). For whatever reason, it didn't work out then, and I'm not sure what makes them think it will now, but they both seem to want to try. 

    Following those scenes in the novel, I also am left wondering about Gatsby's name change. I found it incredibly interesting and a strange way of dealing with his past. And yet, I can also relate as well with his desire to start over, and I can see how changing a name can give him that feeling. From James Gatz to Jay Gatsby, the character we have gotten to know is formed. New name, new life- makes complete sense to me!

Gatsby 8: 79-90- I Wish That I Could Have Moment For Life

    Many important contributions to the plot occur in this section of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One being Jordan Baker revealing Gatsby's admiration for Daisy years and years ago! Now we can have a more clear look at Jay Gatsby. Hopelessly in love with a woman he could not have, he moved to West Egg just to be close to her. This is probably one of the most helpful details I have seen while looking at Gatsby and his personality and motivations.
    Also in this section, we gain a bit more insight on Daisy. She had always been very fickle when it came to men and relationships. In fact, it was mentioned that Jordyn didn't hear much of Daisy for a while until she was engaged to Tom. Even after that, it sounds to me like Daisy was always on Gatsby's mind, and Gatsby was always in the back of Daisy's mind. 
    Finally for this passage, I was introduced to more foreshadowing. When Miss Baker says, "'And Daisy ought to have something in her life,'" (Fitzgerald 85) I took that to mean that something will happen for Daisy because she is the protagonist of the story. 

Gatsby 7: 72-79- In Depth

As the plot begins to unfold itself in this section of The Great Gatsby, I was very excited to see some symbolism used by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The bridge symbolizes a choice, and once it is crossed/made, there is no turning back. Fitzgerald writes, "anything can happen now that we've slid over this bridge..anything at all," (Fitzgerald 73). The stakes are high and things are going to change, for better or worse, now.
    Also, I was a bit confused about Tom and Gatsby's relationship. I couldn't pinpoint if they had met before. The disappearing act of Gatsby definitely says that something is wrong. I see it as sort of a foreshadowing of conflict in the near future. The relationship between the two won't be positive and it clearly has everything to do with Daisy- that is the only possibility. I cannot wait to see where this takes us as we continue to the rising action!

Gatsby 6: 60-72- To Be Honest

    In this section of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, we receive a great deal of character development in the span of about 12 pages. Starting with Miss Jordyn Baker, although I'm not sure of her actual role as a character, I did learn that she is a compulsive liar and a golf champ. Maybe these are two completely random facts that have absolutely no meaning whatsoever, but I have a feeling that the lying trait will come into play here as the plot continues. With our narrator Nick, he believes that there are few people in the world that do NOT lie- one of them being himself. Therefore, right now, he doesn't see Miss Baker's lying as much of a problem. Lastly, we have the development of the one whose name is also the title of the book. Mr. Gatsby is sure to become a major character in this novel in a short time, and Fitzgerald has made getting to know him an easy task for readers. He basically spells out Mr. Gatsby's background for us in about a page. I acquired that he was the son of wealthy people in the Midwest, and was educated at Oxford because of a family tradition. Fitzgerald also mentions how Gatsby was, "trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago," (Fitzgerald 70) and that he tried hard to die in war, showing that deep down beyond the tough exterior, he just has a lot to deal with and is a truly troubled person.

Gatsby 5: 51-60- Picture Perfect

    Reading this section of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I was struck finally by the author's style. Great diction and imagery make details very easy to visualize. Phrases like "florent and corpulent person" (Fitzgerald 53), "quavering soprano" (Fitzgerald 56), and "jaunty salute" (Fitzgerald 57) give the extra meaning that the author wants the audience to understand. I'm enjoying learning the new vocabulary and gaining a whole new understanding of Fitzgerald's style.
    Also in this section, I was a surprised by the appearance of Miss Baker at the party. Then, even more so by Gatsby's invitation to speak privately with her. What does he want with her, and when will we find out?
    Lastly, I am very curious as to the significance of the car accident toward the end of this section. I think it might be foreshadowing something but I don't know what yet. Or the other possibility I thought of was that it might have been and introduction to important characters. Either way, I will need to continue reading in order to find out!

Gatsby 4: 39-51- At First Sight

Before the beginning of the third chapter of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I took note of a few more details about Myrtle and Tom. First, I found Myrtle’s first meeting with Tom to be strange. She saw Tom as a once in a lifetime opportunity, and therefore, went for it. She repeated, “You can’t live forever” and I’m not sure if I’m clear on what she meant by that. Did she intend for the affair to be a fling? Because with an apartment and the fact that Daisy knows about all of it, it has become much more than a fling. Also, Tom hit her during an argument; he hit her! Though I thought I was in shock at first, the more I looked at it, the more I realized that I was correct in my last blog when I said that he was a very demanding person, and is used to getting what he wants.
Moreover, as I began reading the third chapter, I was very excited to finally be introduced to Gatsby, the namesake of the novel! However, I was thoroughly disappointed when it turned out to be another person! Plus, to add on to that, it is well known that his parties are typically wild and most people are not even invited, they just show up. Hopefully, as we continue the novel, we will finally the character whose name this book is named after.

Gatsby 3: 27-39- Sound Familiar?

    Finally getting into the deeper parts of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I’m noticing numerous connections to our recently read House of Mirth. Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson- two of our main characters at this point- have found that in their marriages, what they have isn’t enough.
    This reminds me a lot of Bertha Dorset in the House of Mirth, a character whose constant dissatisfaction in her  own marriage led to her cheating on her husband repeatedly with different men. Unlike Myrtle, however, Bertha married for the money, and does not regret her decision to marry, whereas Myrtle finds her entire marriage to be a mistake. Also, when Mr. George Dorset finds out about Bertha’s infidelities, he cannot look past them, but this is not the case with Daisy Buchanan. Daisy has done nothing at this point, she knows all about the affair, but is letting it happen. I don’t understand why especially when Nick informs us that she is not Catholic. What reason does she have for trying to save her marriage?
    Other details I picked up on and thought were noteworthy include some personality developments that occurred in this section. For example, Tom Buchanan-I have concluded- is very demanding, like when he says, “'I want to see you...Get on the next train,’”(Fitzgerald 30). It’s very clear that when he wants to see her, he doesn’t usually get much of an argument. Also, Myrtle Wilson is much the same way; she is incredibly spoiled. When she pointed out the fact that she wanted a dog, she was not turned down, and quickly given what she wanted.

Gatsby 2: 12-26- That Was Fast

I'm a bit surprised that we were introduced to such a big conflict so early on in the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It makes me believe that this affair that Tom Buchanon is having must lead to something even greater- Nick. So adding that to what we already learned about him in the first section, we can certainly come to the conclusion that he is a main character who will provide an interesting perspective for the rest of the novel. I have also discovered that Daisy and Tom are most definitely main characters, and Tom may even be the antagonist. I am hoping that Daisy and Nick are the protagonists- especially Daisy, considering what she has been through up to this point. Furthermore, I am curious to see where Miss Baker plays into this mess of things. Also, at this point, I'm very confused at Nick's deal with Gatsby, something's missing and I'm hoping in the next few chapters I will be able to figure it out. Fitzgerald mentions, "Something in his leisurely movements and the secure position of his feet upon the lawn suggested that it was Mr. Gatsby himself, come out to determine what the share was his of our local heavens," (Fitzgerald 25). Nick has been keeping an eye of Gatsby, enough to know some important details about him, and yet the two have never spoken? I know that very soon they will have to, though, because Gatsby is obviously a main character, and will need to be closely associated with the narrator in order for that to happen.

Gatsby 1: 1-12- On Your Mark, Get Set(ting), Go!

    As we are introduced to F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, one of the first things I noticed about this novel in particular was the effectiveness of the setting in the few few pages of the book. It is said the the narrator lives in what is known as West Egg in New York. From what little information there was about the time period, I was able to gather that it is probably the early 1920s. The biggest clue to that was the fact that I knew that the narrator graduated from school in 1915. Fitzgerald writes, "I graduated from New Haven in 1915, just  quarter of a century after my father..." (Fitzgerald  7). Also, Chicago was mentioned early on as a place the narrator had visited, and his cousin and family used to live. I'm not sure if this will have any significance later but we will see. The questions I've come up with to start include: what will the East Egg and West Egg differences mean for the story? Does this lead into some conflicts? Who is the narrator? And lastly, will his schooling at New Haven play into the story later?

The House of Mirth: Blog 15- pages 252-THE END!

   I hate unhappy endings. So, yes this novel was a huge disappointment to me.
   As much as I was not expecting the ending, I am not very surprised, either. I just hate when a book ends, leaving everyone to make their own assumptions about what happened next, but here we are with a hundred unanswered questions. However, the ending does comply with our ongoing theme of materialism. Plainly, simply: money, wealth, power, reputation, and those materialistic things do not assure happiness in life. And for some people that's okay. For Mr. Rosedale, Bertha Dorset, Percy Gryce, Mr. and Mrs. Bry, and many other characters, that is okay for them. But for Lily Bart, Seldon, and Gerty Farish, it's not. It may have taken Lily an entire novel and a random run-in with Nettie Struther-practically a stranger- for her to finally come to terms with this fact of life. "But it had taken two to build the nest; the man's faith as well as the woman's courage" (Wharton 260). Giving up love for money may work for some people, but Lily has a big heart, and Seldon was right all along- that kind of a life would never satisfy her. And realizing this, makes me all the more upset with the way things ended. I truly believe after all those times I was disappointed thinking she would change and didn't, I believe now that she really was going to change this time and become the person that I wanted to see the entire novel. The one who chooses love. But it was a tragedy, and tragedies don't have happy endings.

House of Mirth: Blog 14-pages 241-252

    So, Lily Bart is not cut out for the world of working-shocker! Just as she doesn't know how she is going to go on any longer, Rosedale shows up to save the day, to save Lily. They agree to marry as soon as Lily uses the letters to clear things up with Bertha. Then, just as all the readers think it's the end of the story, we are wrong once again. It is only the beginning of the end, and there are still a few lessons to be learned. Primarily, she needs to recognize and admit to all the mistakes with Seldon- the man she actually did truly love and lose. Stopping by his house on the way to Dorsets', Lily finally lets her guard down and is honest, pouring her heart out to poor Seldon. She admits that it was his love, and belief in her was what kept her going all this time. Though she desperately wishes things could be different, she is convinced that they can't be. Finally we see that Lily recognizes and regrets the mistakes she made, people she hurt, and all the things she ever took for granted. This may not be the turning point for the plot line in the novel, but it is definitely a turning point for our main character who, while in struggling to secure her place in society, thought she had wound up all alone with nothing. It is now that she realizes that she will always have these friends like Seldon and Gerty who were there through the whole thing. Wharton writes, "I remember your saying such a life could never satisfy me...that is what I wanted to thank you for. I wanted to tell you that I have always remembered..." (Wharton 250).

House of Mirth: Blog 13-pages 221-241

    This section of Edith Wharton's House of Mirth may as well be titled, Let's Start Over Again. New job, new place to live, new reputation. Our main character finally did make some life changes, but are they the right ones? Working as an assistant to a new character, Mrs. Hatch, Lily finally has a real job that includes living in a hotel! However, Mrs. Hatch is not exactly the most reputable person in New York, so when that doesn't work out, she is left to live at Gerty's flat for the time being. But she is sick of being a "moocher"-to put it in modern terms- off of her friends, so she goes to work at a hat shop.
    Meeting Rosedale sort of gives me a sense of how serious Lily's situation is. He and Lily have a pleasant discussion, but he has such a difficult time believing that she is actually in the working class. The place that she's currently residing symbolizes this as well- Lily Bart: member of New York's Working Class. It seems as though she is living the life of "dinginess" that her mother warned her about.

House of Mirth: Blog 12-pages 201-221

   As the House of Mirth by Edith Wharton is slowly coming to the ending, we see that Lily has fallen almost completely off the ladder of high society. Almost completely broke, with her inheritance money soon to be used to pay off her debt to Gus Trenor, life is not looking up anymore for our poor protagonist.
    Furthermore, when she confronts Rosedale, and brings up his previous marriage proposal, he denies it. He isn’t stupid and knows that Lily only needs him now because of the ongoing circumstances between Lily and Bertha. But he does say that he would be willing to take Lily back if she cleared her name and settled things with Bertha using the letters. More specifically, it is written: "he would marry her tomorrow if she could regain Bertha Dorset's friendship" (Wharton 209). Which brings me to a good point: the letters have now come back into the novel, as a weapon to be used to get back at Bertha, but for now, Lily has not succumbed to their power. She loves Seldon too much to let his reputation be tainted by those letters. 
    However, come autumn, Lily is intent on changing things for herself. She and Carry Fisher begin a job search, while Gerty Farish-concerned as ever for her friend-is trying to get Seldon to help out Lily. Maybe as the book nears its end, Lily will finally accept who her real friends are and where her life is at this point, and stop giving in to the pressures of materialism. Not everyone in life gets to come out the victor, sometimes we lose.

House of Mirth: Blog 11-pages 183-201

Lily’s financial situation has led to some new major changes in her lifestyle in this section of Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth. I see this as the falling action of the novel. Having almost no money to support herself, she is relying a lot on the support of her dear friend Gerty Farish. Thanks to Carry Fisher, she was able to spend the summer with some new characters, the Gormers, in Alaska. Wharton writes, “She knew that Carry Fisher was right: that and opportune absence might be the first step toward rehabilitation, and that, at any rate, to linger on in town oit of season was a fatal admission of defeat" (Wharton 191).

One other thing Lily has to think about is getting married. If she could manage to get married, she could still save her reputation. The way Carry Fisher puts it, she has two options: George Dorset or Rosedale. She actually considers marrying Rosedale, though she wants the marriage to be out of love.

What really makes things interesting for Lily, though, is when George Dorset comes to Lily asking for forgiveness. Lily, aware of the danger that being seen with Mr. Dorset proposes, quickly turns him away, focusing all of her attention on Mr. Rosedale for the time being.

House of Mirth: Blog 10- pages 168-183

    In this next section of Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth, we are more acutely aware of the Dorsets’ situation, and its possible consequences for Lily. Seldon sees the potential problems for Lily and strongly advises her to move out of the yacht before things get bad. She doesn’t take his advice at first, and unfortunately she will come to greatly regret that decision. Bertha Dorset, in an attempt to save her own reputation, throws Lily out under the bus saying that she tried to  have an affair with her husband and it made her very jealous. After all Lily had done for Bertha during the entire trip, entertaining her husband so she could enjoy the company of Ned Silverton! I was so disappointed to read that about Bertha, however, I was not at all surprised.
    These kinds of situations go on in the real world as well. All of us have known that person who wants to be your friend to get something out of you. Then the second things get bad, they take off running and leave you to pick up the pieces. This would be Bertha in a nutshell. Our antagonist has found yet another way to prevent our protagonist from surviving in the “society”. And poor Lily just accepts it for what it is, and Edith Wharton describes it perfectly, “She had risen, and stood before him in a kind of clouded majesty, like some deposed princess moving tranquilly toward exile.”
    What happens next throws all the characters in the novel for a loop, though not surprising at all to myself. Mrs. Peniston passes away and leaves her fortune to Grace Stepney, only leaving a small amount to Lily to survive on for a while.

House of Mirth: Blog 9- pages 147-168

Nice, France

As Book II of Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth commences, as a reader, we have to pick up quickly on the new setting. No longer in New York, most of the “society” we have gotten to know in the first book are in Europe traveling abroad. Opening the second book, it is mid- April now, and we know that the majority of them are currently in Monte Carlo and Nice- including Seldon, Carry Fisher, Mrs. Stepney, Mrs.  Bry, Lily, the Dorsets, and others. I personally found the change of scenery to be awesome. All of the character are admiring the beauty of France and Monaco, which I know myself to be true since I have been to Nice and driven through Monaco. Both are so marvelously beautiful and having that experience myself makes me all the more appreciative of the characters in the book and their descriptions of the sights. Good diction and imagery by Wharton, paint beautiful pictures for all the readers. For example, Wharton describes, "Unclouded sunlight enveloped sea and shore in a bath of purest radiancy" (Wharton 157).

The characters, especially Lily and Seldon, had had a more difficult few months back in New York with stresses brought on by money problems, and other more emotional troubles. Unfortunately, vacations don’t last forever, and their problems will just be waiting for them when they get back. For now though, they get to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings.  

Lastly, a new conflict is introduced as Mr. George Dorset realizes that his wife has been having an affair with one of the people on the trip, Ned Silverton. At the end of the second chapter, George even decides to send for Seldon, a lawyer, to prepare himself for what might be coming.

House of Mirth: Blog 8- pages 132-146

In the last section of the first book of the House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily Bart sets  herself up for the second book in that she has decided to rid herself of all of her debt and make some serious changes in her life. Her encounter with Trenor taught her that much. Thanks to Gerty Farish and her ongoing selflessness- even despite her broken heart- Lily was able to recover from what seemed like a nightmare.

Throughout the past few sections of the book, I have really taken a liking to Miss Farish. Even though Seldon loved Lily instead of her, she still saw her friend in need, and was her rescue. Gerty has a big heart and is definitely a big part in helping the theme of materialism. She was never a big believer that money buys happiness, instead she spends her time working at charities to help those less fortunate than herself. If only Lily could take after her, things might work out better for her in the future. Gerty knows that the “real” Lily is a genuinely kind person, and maybe that person will prevail by the end of the novel. But at this point, Lily still has selfish wants. Hopefully, with the life changes she is making, she will come out a better person, but until then, we can only wait and see what the second book brings.

House of Mirth: Blog 7- pages 112-132

This section of Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth includes one of the most important conflicts in the entire book. Lily received a letter from Judy Trenor telling her to meet at their house late at night, but she had no idea what would be waiting for her when she got there. Only Gus Trenor was waiting for her when she arrived because he purposefully did not inform her that Judy was unable to make it. The interaction between Lily and Gus left Lily a wreck. They had bickered over their current situation: he had invested money for her and expected things of her in return for the favor. He frightened her more than she allowed him to see, and he had tried to take advantage of her in this weak state. Thankfully, Lily got out unscathed physically; however, she was broken emotionally. The only place she could think to run to is Gerty Farish. Then, we see Wharton use a bit of irony here because although Lily sees Gerty as her best friend, Gerty cannot stand the thought of Lily, especially after realizing Seldon’s feelings for Lily and not her.

Wharton has done a marvelous job in this section of the novel using many literary techniques to add to the conflict brought about. Her irony, diction, and imagery greatly help to create the dramatic scen she was looking for. For example, Wharton writes, “His first rush of inarticulate resentment had been followed by a steadiness and concentration of tone more disconcerting to Lily than the excitement preceding it” (Wharton 117). This is an instance where Wharton’s diction and imagery add to the suspense and drama of one of the most important scenes in the novel up to this point.

House of Mirth: Blog 6- pages 97-112

In this section of the House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily’s Aunt that cares for her- Julia Peniston- becomes a more prominent character. When her preferred company, Grace Stepney, sheds light on Lily’s life and what the rumors are saying now. She explained the situation with Gus Trenor and all of the awful allegations that have been made against her regarding that. Also, Lily’s gambling problem is brought to light, and Mrs. Peniston’s reactions to all of this new information comes as a bit of a surprise. She remains calm the entire time, excusing Grace and not even mentioning one part of it to Lily! Any other guardian probably would have gone insane knowing the behavior that Lily was accused of conducting. What Edith Wharton has planned for this character later on, we can only guess. 

Also, while reading chapter 12, it was very interesting to hear all the characters' comments on Lily's incredible beauty highlighted by a portrait drawn by artist Paul Morpeth who had been hired for a party that the Welly Bry family. They are all looking on the outside and noticing her obvious beauty. But Seldon, a character I have a great liking for, sees her as so much more than that. He loves her, and wants more than anything to be with her for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, she still doesn't feel the same, even after they share a kiss. As much as I want them together, I have a bad feeling that they won't, and it breaks my heart, especially for Seldon. Lastly, I am very interested to see how the relationship between Gerty Farish and Lily develops because Gerty is a genuinely good-hearted person. Her comment, "It makes her look like the real Lily" (Wharton 110) shows that.

House of Mirth: Blog 5-pages 79-97

    Analyzing chapters 9 and 10 or Edith Wharton's House of Mirth is quite the task. Many significant events take place- a great deal of them in Lily's favor! With the news of Percy Gryce's engagement fresh in mind, the first major event in chapter 9 is that minor character Mrs. Haffen actually plays a major role in the plot at this point in time. She shows up at the Peniston household with a stack of letters from Mrs. Dorset to Seldon that Seldon had not taken the time to properly dispose of. These potentially reputation-ruining, sold to Lily, give Lily a whole new power in this "game". Unfortunately, the power is dangerous because while she may be thinking short term of how she could get revenge on Bertha, exposing those letters could have consequences on her own precious reputation in the long run.
    Later on in the chapter, I noticed a newer theme introduced. Wharton writes, "...she saw only a future of servitude to the whims of others, never the possibility of asserting her own eager individuality," (Wharton 82).  Might that be a new theme? Yes, the idea of materialism is a big theme, but Lily has just come face-to-face with an entirely new realization- that her life is her own life. She ought to figure out who the real Lily Bart is and not worry about who she should be, according to society's standards. Now whether she will actually try this is undecided.
    Lastly, the end of chapter 10 sounded to me like foreshadowing. With the mention of the Malay proverb on enemies, and the reminder of Lily's power with the letters, anyone can predict that this will come back to haunt someone, we just don't know who yet.

   

House of Mirth: Blog 4-pages 61-79

    In this section of the House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, we really get a good glimpse to how far Lily is willing to go to get what she wants; and she wants money. After learning that Percy Gryce ran home, possibly after being told of Lily's gambling problem, Lily devises a plan in her mind and gets Gus Trenor to feel such pity for her "situation" that he lends her money and invests it in stocks. So our protagonist has now dug herself in a pretty deep hole because now, no matter where Lily goes, she will always be somewhat indebted to Mr. Trenor. Also, it has become increasingly clear up to this point that one of our antagonists is Miss George Dorset. And with her last stunt with Mr. Gryce, there is no doubt in my mind that she has it out for Lily, most likely because Seldon did indeed come to Bellomont for Lily and not Bertha. 
    Chapter 8 of House of Mirth takes place at Miss Van Osburgh's wedding, and within the first few pages, I was able to see a resemblance of the scene at hand to the movie 27 Dresses. In that movie, actress Katherine Heigl plays the girl who has been bridesmaid one too many times, and wants so desperately to be the one on the altar. While reading, I immediately saw the connection between Heigl and protagonist Lily Bart. Lily even thought it to herself, "The truth was, she had attended too many brides to the altar: when next seen there she meant to be the chief figure in the ceremony" (Wharton 70). As the plot thickens even more, hopefully more questions will become clear. Which of Lily's dreams will come true: her want to be married, her obsession with wealth, or her heart's desire for love? And does it really have to be a choice between them?