Mao II- last chapters

I am surprised by how much sympathy Karen expresses for the individuals mourning the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.  DeLillo writes: “ Karen could go backwards into their lives, see them coming out of their houses and shanties, streams of people, then backwards even further, sleeping in their beds, hearing the morning call to prayer, coming out of their houses and meeting in some dusty square to match out of the slums together” (188).  Karen develops such a deep concern for these people and feels like she knows them personally. She feels she is right there with the mourners, experiencing the anguish and grief at the hands of death.  This perhaps demonstrates the power of a crowd’s influence on a person. Maybe Karen is particularly vulnerable to be swayed by crowds, indicated by this example and her involvement in the Moonie ceremonies. This is in contrast to Brita who maybe has the tendency to remain independent.  The conflict between individuality vs. mass identify is once again presented.  After she notices that Brita is completely emotionless and unattached from the pictures on the screen, Karen questions how some individuals can remain unscathed through times of pain. DeLillo writes, “If others saw these pictures, why is nothing changed, where are the local crowds, why do we still have names and addresses and keys?” (191) Really, this is legitimate question people ask when bad events occur. Because one person’s life is turned upside down, it is hard to comprehend that others are still perfectly okay. Since Karen is wondering this, it suggests that she is experiencing the sheer anguish with the masses, as if it were happening to her alone.

     I was also struck by the prisoner’s longing to write. “The only way to be in this world was to write himself there. His thoughts and words were dying. Let him write ten words and he would come into being again” (204). He seems to be very independent, identifying himself not from the masses, but through his own writing. He has to express himself to know he is alive. This is in contrast to those who merely follow the masses to form their identify through others.
 
      I know I probably missed important themes in this book that became lost in the dull dialogue, descriptions, etc.  Even though this was not an easy read, I still glad I read it.

Mao II- The Middle

What an overwhelming experience so far. Remember how last time I said that I am willing to give this book a chance? I really did and, sadly, I have decided I don’t much care for this book at all. I force myself to read it, but then derive no meaning from it.  DeLillo may have well just have thrown a whole bunch of words together and called it a story as far as I’m concerned. This negative outburst and my inability to comprehend this novel may be partly because I am just struggling to focus. It’s hard for me to sit down and read a book right now with all of my other homework and finals looming over my head. Perhaps this would be a better book for me to read while I did not have any other responsibilities and could concentrate more.

            What I can say though is that I am really glad some more background is finally revealed regarding Karen and her past. For a while there I saw barely any connection to the prologue.  The way Karen meets Scott is almost creepy, though. He just stumbles upon her while driving around at night and kind of taker her under his wing. It is nice, really..... but just kind of an unusual start to an unusual friendship. I do notice the theme of crowds vs. individuality coming across. Being lost in a crowd can be negative, as in Karen’s experience of becoming “programmed.” Although she became part of a mass group, she still feels completely isolated. Page 78 reveals these feelings as Karen reflects on being separated from her husband and missing the little things in life such as her parents birthdays. She seeks more freedom. This reminds me of page 88 where Scott talks about the masses of people walking the streets, trapped in their own monologue completely detached from everyone else. Although these masses of people are not actually alone, they might as well be.

Please excuse my rather simple and negative post. I just don’t know what to write about when I don't really understand much of what I am reading.

Mao II- ch.1-5

Similar to many other opinions that have been expressed, I too, have a problem with the author’s style of writing. But I will give this novel a chance before I immediately decide I dislike it.  I do wish DeLillo would have included a few more “he said” “she said” references to help me out. But it does make the story more authentic, especially in portraying how chaotic conversations can be. This is something Dr. Dyer alluded to in class.

Bill Gray is an interesting fellow. I can understand the pressure one would feel after having written such a successful book in the past. Now, he must feel he has to beat himself, essentially, by once again succeeding in producing a successful piece. I can also understand how publishing his novel will make him feel like he is completely exposed to the world. When I read literature I find myself failing to distinguish between the “speaker” and the “author.” I do know that they are often separated and distinguished. However, it is something I have to remind myself of sometimes. Even when they are separated, I feel like it is inevitable that some of the author’s personality, ideals, and ways of thinking are going to be exposed and revealed to the world. Maybe this is the way Bill feels and why he keeps his work to himself. He seems like a guy who likes his privacy.

On page 48 he reveals to Karen, “the deeper I become entangled in the process of getting a sentence right in its syllables and rhythms, the more I learn about myself.”  Writing used to be a big part of Bill’s identity.  However, he also states that now he has forgotten what it means to write and fails to see himself in his writing. In a sense Bill has psyched himself out. Perhaps he is struggling in his work because he can no longer identify or recognize himself.

Raymond Carver's "Cathedral"

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Carver really did write in a “plain, simple, manner” as his introduction suggests. Although simple and straightforward, this story really surprised me; I kept waiting for a negative outcome that never came. This is probably because the narrator seems like he has so much contempt and irritation towards Robert. He is very inconsiderate, not wanting “the blind man” in his house and showing no sympathy for him after his wife’s death. I noticed that Robert’s actual name is not made known until pretty well into the story, forcing the reader to zone in on his blindness.

I found it sad that apparently the narrator has no friends, according to his wife. This may be because he appears to be incredibly intolerant and judgmental. However, when Robert arrives, the reader develops a new outlook on the narrator. For the most part, he is rather pleasant and even tends to their guest by buttering his bread at dinner and offering refreshments afterwards, (including marijuana.)Towards the end, the narrator becomes very compassionate and sympathetic to Robert by attempting to describe the essence of a cathedral.  What a change of heart.  This compassion is furthered when the narrator is willing to draw a cathedral, with Robert following his fingers. While the narrator is initially very weary and skeptical of Robert just because of his blindness, he learns to understand and better connect with him. He may enable Robert to better picture the essence of a cathedral, but Robert helps him to begin to look past stereotypes and petty differences. Really, Robert is the teacher here. The narrator is able to realize that some differences do not account for anything. I really like how the ending is full of hope and optimism for the narrator’s previously simple mind.

O'Connor and Roth

Good Country People-Flannery O’Connor

                This story is intriguing in how Hulga (Joy) initially believes she has a handle on the world, only for it to be proven otherwise.   Perhaps, she is aware of this all along and tries to hide her lack of control behind her rudeness and harshness. It is also interesting how she is so concerned with privacy and becomes easily annoyed with other individuals around her.

                When Pointer enters the picture, there is an interesting dynamic between his “beliefs” and Hulga’s.  Pointer claims that he is a Christian and that “you can never know when you’ll need the word of God.”  Hulga, on the other hand, is an atheist and believes she needs nothing other than common sense and her mind’s control. Even in the time they spend together she pities Pointer and sees herself as superior to him. In the end, obviously, Hulga’s belief system fails her as she is easily deceived. Whereas she initially perceives herself as a confident individual with superiority, it is clearly demonstrated otherwise.  This ties into the themes of some of the other short stories we have read, including Kerouac’s Big Sur. In both stories, the characters almost become overwhelmed with the complexity of the world, failing to keep up with the pace.  Whereas Jack stresses over the evolving, detailed society, Hulga flounders in her belief system and learns one cannot control every circumstance, or persons.  

 I also noted how this story dealt with the issue of hypocrisy.  Hulga writes,” You’re a Christian! You’re a fine Christian! You’re just like them all—say one thing and do another. You’re a perfect Christian.” I wonder what experiences O’Connor has had with Christians that influenced her to add this line. It’s sad that  her definition of a “perfect Christian “has such a negative meaning. (Obviously, there is no such thing as perfection, but still. Wow.) This short story definitely touches on the fact that one is not always who they claim to be.

                                                Defender of the Faith -Phillip Roth

One should not be denied the right of religious practices, not even in training. That’s why, in the first few pages, I really felt for Grossbart. It was only when the letter issue came up that I became a little suspicious of him. Because he feigned the letters, I began to perceive him as untrustworthy.  His next actions, however, are what really made me suspicious. When Marx denies Grossbart the favor of signing the pass, he becomes manipulative, threatening to leave anyway. He also accuses Marx of “closing his heart to his own.” At this point, I am thinking, “What are you talking about?  Marx did so many things to try to help you!” Grossbart knows Marx is a good guy and that this statement would guarantee him the weekend pass. Grossbart also knows that Marx understands what it’s like to be separated form one’s previous life. He knows that Marx misses the same things he does, and he uses this to his advantage.  If Grossbart genuinely wants to spend time with his family and celebrate the holiday, then that would have been another story. However, one may begin to wonder where the special treatment stops. If it is granted to some individuals, shouldn’t it be granted to all? That would definitely add some complication.

I feel bad for Marx that his compassion and generosity is used against him. He really does put himself on the line for Grossbart and his friends to leave the camp, only to realize he has been deceived. However, I am very pleased that Marx catches on to Grossbart’s next scheme and succeeds in adjusting the location assignments.  I do not really look at this as revenge, but I see it as Marx attempting to be just and fair after he let things slide before.

 I notice a similarity in the themes of these two stories; both deal with deception in light of one taking a risk. 

Kerouac and Ginsberg

          Big Sur- Jack Kerouac

In the chapter 12 Kerouac compares Dave’s driving to sitting on a rocking chair relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Jack seems to have a carefree attitude at this point, simply enjoying the scenery.  It is only when he notices the housing developments and factories does this attitude change.  Jack and David both begin to reflect on how a writer is unable to capture every detail of life because it changes and develops so quickly.  There is a sense of despair and helplessness as they reflect on how so much has been accomplished. Yet, if a person cannot even comprehend and keep up with the changing world, then one cannot write about it.  Because the passengers in the van conclude that they cannot understand life, they just drink it away.

This story kind of reminds me of Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Although this story is clearly not Hemingway’s autobiography, one may assume that a lot of it reflects his life.   The main character, too, becomes overwhelmed with his life, unable to keep up with it and, therefore, unable to write about it.  This makes me wonder if Kerouac follows Harry’s pattern in the Snows of Kilimanjaro and let’s distress and cynicism get the best of him, failing to carry out his desires. I suppose I do know the answer to that, however, because Kerouac was clearly an alcoholic who lost his life because of it.

                                                                Allen Ginsberg: “Howl"

I really did try to understand Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl.” I even tried listening to a clip of Ginsberg reading it out loud, however, to no avail.  What I can recall about this poem is the vulgar language and discussion of drugs and sex. That’s about it.

Ellison, Baraka, Lorde, Walker

Invisible Man- Ralph Ellison

The narrator of this story feels his grandfather’s influence in everything he does. They share similar personalities and interact in similar ways.  The difference is, however, that the grandfather was well liked because he was pretending, while the main character is well-liked and praised by being himself.  Maybe the title of this poem is referring to the grandfather’s invisible presence in the narrator’s life. Whenever he thinks of his grandfather, he feels uncomfortable and uneasy. Or, perhaps, maybe the title is connected to the fact that both men are, in a sense, invisible to white men because they “remember their place” and are well-liked and courteous

I found Ralph Ellison’s comment interesting in the introduction. He didn’t want his novel to be perceived as a statement about the American Negro and wished it would have been read as simply a novel, instead.  I think it is natural to search for deeper meanings in poems or stories, and I try to do that almost all the time. However, sometimes it’s important to just sit back and take the literature as it is. While interesting, I do not really know what to make of this story.

                                       “An Agony. As Now.” - Amiri Baraka

            This poem is basically centered on the fact that the writer is extremely dissatisfied with himself. The introduction says that this writer was born as Everett Leroy Jones and later assumed the name Amiri Baraka.  I wonder if this small dissatisfaction with his former name reflects his larger discontent with his whole self. Baraka perceives the physical body as merely a machine.  According to him, the physical body restricts and limits the soul that is screaming inside to be heard.  I am somewhat confused by the meaning of the middle of this poem, but this where the class discussions really come in handy.

               “Harriet”- Audre Lorde

I could be wrong, but I wonder if the narrator and Harriet used to be really close and possibly have a romantic relationship. However, they had too many differing opinions and eventually ended on bad terms.  I wonder if society put too much pressure on Harriet and influenced her decision to distance herself from the speaker.  However, both the speaker and Harriet end up lonely, sad, and empty. It’s sad to think that people cannot experience happiness because the views of society get in the way.

              Everyday Use- Alice Walker

This was my favorite story/poem out of the bunch. Dee is portrayed as rather uppity, high maintenance and out spoken, which is in contrast to Maggie who seems more down to earth and less confident.  I found it notable that Dee inherits the family name while she doesn’t even value it; she didn’t even know who she is named after.  Maggie however, is the one who seems to be more family orientated and aware of her family history. She seems to truly value the quilts and other materials that are being passed down, but values the people who created them even more. Dee is the one who is more vocal about inheriting the quilts, yet she fails to value where they come from.  I really liked how Maggie is willing to give up the quilts because “ she can ‘member grandma Dee without them.”  While she would have liked to have the quilts, she realizes that that her memories with her grandma are more important.  In the end, the mother gives the quilts to Maggie instead, realizing that she is the one who truly deserves them.  I also enjoyed the end of the story after Dee storms off. Maggie and her mom are finally able to relax and enjoy themselves, something they can’t really do while Dee is around. They are more laid back. I like that.

Bishop

“The Fish”

Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish” is the poem that stood out to me most. We talked in class how she has a remarkable gift for description; she does more than merely observe. I think this is definitely true as I almost felt like I was right there in the poem.  I could clearly imagine the old fish with its brown, wall papery skin speckled with barnacles.   Bishop also used personification while describing the fish’s eyes, sullen face, and jaw.  In many ways, the fish was likened to an individual.    While reading this poem, I couldn’t help but think of the struggle for women’s rights. At this point in time, being 1946, women had achieved a substantial amount of rights compared to earlier times.  Perhaps, Bishop is using the fish as a reflection on what it feels like to feel constrained and, in a sense, imprisoned.  At the end of the poem the fish is finally set free, no longer captured or held back. A beautiful rainbow is then presented, perhaps signifying the victory over constraint.

“One Art”

What a sad poem.  I almost wonder if Bishop really believes what she is writing or if she is just being sarcastic.  She writes, “Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster.” How will this not bring disaster, I wonder. If a person forgets the places they visited, names of people they care about, and the places they want to visit someday, I feel like they are also losing a part of themselves in the process. Don’t memories shape part of a person’s identity?

On the other hand, maybe Bishop really does mean what she writes. She lost her mother and father at a very young age; she is accustomed to loss and moving on afterwards. Because her life was shaped by loss, she knows how to live with it. The introduction says that Bishop did not participate in self-pity. Perhaps this poem was a reflection of that. Maybe Bishop believes that one should not fret about what they have lost. Instead, some aspects of life and the past are better forgotten.

I guess I don’t really know for certain where she was going with this poem, but I wanted to try.

Their Eyes: Until The End

    “Tea Cake, the son of the Evening Sun, had to die for loving her.” P. 169

  After finding out the truth about Tea Cake’s condition and that he might die, Janie begins to blame herself for Tea Cake’s inevitable death. If he would never have had to save her from that mean dog, Tea Cake would have never been bitten and would be okay. Of course, he did that out of love for Janie. If Tea Cake wouldn’t have loved her, he wouldn’t have risked his life. That’s one way to look at it.  However, Tea Cake was too proud to listen to all of the warnings regarding the hurricane. If he would have decided to listen and follow the Native Americans’ idea to leave the Everglades, then they would have never even been in the predicament where Tea Cake would need to save Janie. In a sense, Tea Cake’s pride and ego is his downfall.

I also think it’s important to note Janie’s differing feelings between Jody and Tea Cake’s death. After Jody passed away, although initially somewhat saddened, she found herself mostly reveling in her new found freedom. She was criticized by the fact that she didn’t openingly mourn for a long period afterwards. However, she didn’t feel the need to mourn if she no longer felt grief. Her reactions to Tea Cake’s death are much stronger. Obviously, this is because she feels responsible for his sickness and was the one to pull the trigger. However, she is also more strongly affected because her feelings towards Tea Cake are much deeper. He’s the one who helped her establish a sense of self-worth and dignity. Through him, she developed a voice. The fact that she was willing to kill in order to save herself demonstrates how far she has come as an individual.

On another note, I really liked the passage on page 151 where Tea Cake asks Janie if she would blame him if they lost their lives to the hurricane because it was his idea to move to the Everglades. Janie responds with, “If you kin see de light at daybreak, you don’t keer if you die at dusk.” If Janie’s life ended right then and there, she would have been content with that because she experienced genuine happiness in her life. This is a feeling that many people never find and certainly a feeling Janie may have at one point thought not possible for her. But Tea Cake helped open that door. The happiness Janie felt was partly due to her love for Tea Cake, but mostly due to her freedom and independence as a woman. Now, even without Tea Cake, she can continue to be in control of her life and feel joy because of that.

Although I initially didn’t much care for this novel, partly due to the dialect, I finish it with a sense of appreciation.  In many ways it is a story of success, as Janie battles oppression and comes up victorious.

Their Eyes: 12-16

I am incredibly suspicious of Tea Cake. Maybe he’s not that great of a guy after all. He leaves Janie too often and then gives inadequate excuses for his absences. And Janie just accepts them!   I don’t care that Tea Cake supposedly did something nice for those railroad workers by buying them dinner and providing them with entertainment; He still shouldn’t have taken the money from Janie without her consent or knowledge. Then he came back with a grin on his face playing the guitar. Are you for real right now, Tea Cake? You had been gone all day and then you just walk in like nothing happened? It was also peculiar that Tea Cake said he didn’t want Janie there because he felt like the people he was with are too “low.” He’s most definitely hiding something. It also noteworthy that Tea Cake begins gambling and flirting with another girl. Maybe Tea Cake is just not what he was cracked up to be. This was to be expected, I suppose, considering we already know she leaves him at the end.  

Janie genuinely loves him, though. That is why she accepts his shortcomings. He also has the power to make her sincerely happy through his personality, charm, and playfulness. This is something Jody could never accomplish. I particularly liked the passage on page 135 where Janie is talking to Mrs. Turner about Tea Cake. She says, “He kin take most any lil thing and make summertime out of it when times is dull. Then we lives offa dat happiness he made till some mo’ happiness come along.”  Tea Cake has the ability to make Janie laugh and make any situation entertaining and humorous.  Being with Tea Cake also gives Janie a freedom she has never known before. She can finally participate in the community life she had always wished to engage in.

 I am anxious to see what events cause Janie to decide to leave Tea Cake since she is so smitten. Maybe Tea Cake is only after her money, or maybe he actually loves her. At this point, I honestly can’t tell.

Their Eyes Were Watching God (6-11)

Wow. Joe became incredibly controlling and degrading towards Janie. He was so obsessed with power that he became jealous of Janie’s every action. Page 67 made me sad. Her whole life Janie has this ideal image of a loving husband and a good life. However, after Joe hit her, she finally realizes that she cannot be “petal-open” with him anymore.  Joe officially no longer fulfilled her expectations of what love is supposed to be like. However, I was so happy when Janie finally put Joe in his place. Good for her! By doing so in front of so many other people, Joe felt robbed of his “irresistible maleness” and prestige. It’s interesting how Joe makes it seem like Janie is completely powerless but her words have such an effect on him.

            I really like Tea Cake. One cannot blame Janie for being skeptical of his intentions considering her past relationship. Because of Joe, she has an obscured impression of men. However, in contrast to Joe, Tea Cake is actually encouraging, loving, and respectful towards Janie.  This is demonstrated, for example, by his faith in her ability to learn checkers.  He doesn’t doubt her ability to participate in everyday tasks. Instead, he encourages her. Tea Cake also doesn’t seem to care about the material aspects of life or his poor status.  This is very much Janie’s attitude towards life, too, as she does not merely seek stability and material wealth.

Because Janie is held in high regard being the mayor’s wife, I am sure that other people will look down on their relationship. Society tells them they should not be together because of their differing status and age.

However, this is most definetely the epitome of a good love story.

Their Eyes Were Watching God (1-5)

I have to admit that, while authentic and most definitely needed, I find the dialect somewhat maddening. Although not much different than the dialect of Huck Finn, I feel like it makes my reading process a little bit slower and tedious.

Regardless, I enjoy this story so far.  An interesting dynamic is added when a story beings at the end, as this one does.  The reader has to spend the first few pages in a state of wonderment and confusion trying to figure out what is happening.  As someone mentioned in class, this story is also interesting in that the dialect changes when the narrator speaks. I kind of like that… maybe just because it gives me a break from the dialect but it also adds to the story.

Something that struck me in these chapters was the difference between Janie’s views of love and her grandmothers. Janie wants the romance, excitement, and attraction. Her grandmother, on the other hand, almost discourages Jaime from this. She perceives love in a different manner; to her it solely brings comfort and stability. Physical attraction is not needed. “Nanny” clearly had a very difficult life and only wants the best for her granddaughter. Janie can’t understand her ways of thinking because she is young and naïve. However, this may not be a bad thing; although she does marry Logan Killicks, she soon decides to make her own choices and leaves him for Joe Starks.  She wants something more for her life and acts upon that desire.

I noticed that while she was married to Logan, Janie didn’t want to help with the outside chores. Instead, she just wanted to stay in the kitchen and stated, “Youse in yo’ place and Ah’m in mine. “ I guess it makes sense that Janie acted this way if you look at it as her simply choosing to be stubborn and not submit to any authority. However, the rest of what I read seems to convey that Janie doesn’t want to accept her “place.” This is indicated by her longing for real love and her decision to leave with Joe in hopes for a better life. When someone in the city suggests Janie to give a speech, Joe immediately intercedes and rejects that idea. This angers Janie. I don’t think she is going to be happy with Joe for very long. He’s too controlling.

"The Snows of Kilimanjoro" by Ernest Hemingway

Today we discussed how modernism often deals with irony. However, it is not the type of irony that most people initially think of. Instead, it is presented as a tension between two difference forces or possible experiences.

In Hemingway’s short story, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”, a form of irony is present as Harry goes back and forth between blaming his own self and his wife for his dissatisfaction and “destroyed” writing talent. Throughout much of the novel, Harry’s bitterness and contempt towards his wife is very present.  He even blames her for their current predicament of being stranded in Africa.  Regarding his failed writing career, Harry believes that Helen destroyed all of his talent by holding him back from his writing. He is very cruel to her and bitter towards her wealth.  Now, as he realizes he is dying, he regrets not writing about the people and places he cared about.

However, the reader also sees that Harry is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is the only one to blame for his shortcomings. On page 1026, it is suggested that maybe Harry does acknowledge his own faults. Hemingway writes: “He had destroyed his talent himself and what he believed in, by drinking so much that he blunted the edge of his perceptions, by laziness, by sloth, and by snobbery, by pride, and by prejudice, by hook and by crook.” Perhaps Harry does completely blame himself; He only blames his wife to hide his own shortcomings.

I also see other aspects of Modernism in this poem. Like the narrator in” The Love Song of Alfred PruFrock,” Harry was very much “stuck” in his own head throughout much of his life. Because of that, he wrestles with his perception of self and has to deal with his shortcomings. This story is very much driven by the actions and thought processes of Harry.

Another theme that seems to be present in lot of modernist stories is death. Other modernist poems, such Wallace Steven’s Sunday Morning, present death in a positive light and even welcome it. However, The Snows of Kilimanjaro almost depicts death in negativity as it comes with the expense of lost opportunities.

On "Sunday Morning" and " The Emperor of Ice-Cream."

Today we reflected on some of the characteristics of modernism. One of these characteristics is that fact that modernism is noteworthy for its fragments and lack of explanation. According to the introductions, “its elements may be drawn from disparate areas of experience. The effect may be shocking and unsettling; the experience of reading will be challenging and difficult.” (p.664)

                        Yeah. I would say that’s about right.

I was rather confused reading these poems the first time through. However, after one better understands modernism, these poems become somewhat easier to construct meaning from. The introduction states that modernism conveys that “truth” cannot exist objectively. (p.665) Instead, truth is the product of the mind’s interaction with reality. Modernism moves away from traditional beliefs and ways of thinking.  I can see this theme in Wallace Steven’s poems” Sunday Morning” and “The Emperor of Ice-Cream.”

As we discussed in class Sunday Morning emphasizes the importance of the natural world through a poetic persona.  The lady in this poem decides that she can find pleasure and fulfillment not from a “dead” religion, but from pleasures and nature of the earth.  She also thinks that death is beautiful as it facilitates change. Stevens didn’t think that Christianity was powerful and his poems express this belief. Through his poems, the reader can see his search for fulfillment and the meaning of life. He is conveying what his description of truth is, although it will not be the same for everybod

Moving on to “The Emperor of Ice-Cream.”  I found this poem incredibly confusing. However, after better understanding “Sunday Morning,” I can somewhat better understand this poem. In this poem, people are gathering for a woman’s funeral. But instead of mourning her loss, they are making ice-cream; it’s almost as if they feel no sadness for the deceased. Instead, they celebrate.  This is in accordance to Steven’s belief he conveyed in the previous poem: nature is made greater because of the fact that one day we will be removed from it. The attendants don’t mourn death because they feel it is the natural process. They find enjoyment in every moment, fully embracing the changes the world offers.  Once again, I think Stevens is conveying his perception of truth by emphasizing the importance of pleasure in the natural world.

Carnival Post

Reviewing the majority of the blog posts, I did notice some similarities in the themes that were reflected on. For instance, beginning with The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin, many discussed society’s impact on Huck and his struggle to reconcile his own view of Jim with society’s.  On one hand, through his experiences with Jim, Huck was able to truly value Jim’s humanity. On the other hand, Huck really struggled with this.  In Rachel’s blog she describes this issue, stating, “We, as readers, know that Jim is a person in his own right, and that a person does not deserve to be property. And in a way, Huck recognizes that, albeit unconsciously. At the same time, he is caught in a society, and a community, that acknowledges slavery as an acceptable part of life.”  http://rjsunshine.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-part-4/

Going along with this issue, others reflected on the times where Huck showed genuine concern and compassion for Huck.  Mariana reflected on Huck and Jim’s friendship and how they grew closer through the conversations and shared status as runaways, writing, “The conversations between Jim and Huck also contributed to their friendship….. It didn't matter what exactly they were talking about whether it was about Jim being a slave or about Solomon; conversing helped them bond and rely on each other since both were runaways. Jim looked out for Huck like family.” http://marianaslit.blogspot.com/2013/02/huck-chapters-6-17.html

 Kerri also contributed to this theme, writing, “While Huck does "tease" and kid around with Jim he never really treats him as less than himself. They work together as a team to survive.” http://eng224americanlit.blogspot.com/2013/02/chapter-6-17.html

Another theme I noticed in the discussion about Huck Fin was the frustration with Tom. His romantic schemes in contrast to Huck’s realist way of thinking were very evident. Mariana wrote: “This kid (Tom) is so blinded by his romanticized ideas that he doesn't think of others or himself, of the danger or the risk.” http://marianaslit.blogspot.com/2013/02/huck-chapters-37-end.html

 Rachel questioned, “I wonder if Tom understands the difference between reality and fiction.” http://rjsunshine.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn-part-5-finally/

 I also became rather annoyed with Tom and his silly, elaborate plans.

Another theme that many had an opinion on was the ending of the story. Since this was a realism novel, one would expect that it would follow through with that theme. Because of this, Huck Fin novel has been criticized, as we discussed in class. Jacki made a good point by mentioning that everybody who jeopardized Huck’s happiness somehow conveniently died. In her opinion, she believed that Twain took the “easy way out.” http://jahartman.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/happy-endings/

Kerri also acknowledged the ending with her opinion that it really did seem more romantic than realistic. However, she looks at the novel more as a social commentary, suggesting that perhaps Twain was trying to be hopeful in that someday blacks would be treated equally. http://eng224americanlit.blogspot.com/2013/02/chapters-37-43.html

Chris also had an intriguing view on the ending. Although he was disappointed in the ending, he still believes that Huck Fin has value. In his blog, he wrote about the fact that Huck and Jim were runaways together, even though Huck technically had no need to run away since everyone thought he was dead. Chris wrote,” The beauty in it is that Huck acted on impulse (since the men were already on their way) to hurry back to Jim and help him escape, indicating that he recognized his natural right to freedom instinctively, which is incredible when considered in light of his upbringing. In that, there is certainly value, and not even the poor ending can ruin it.” http://amlitsurvey.blogspot.com/2013/02/is-huck-finn-ban-worthy.html

Moving away from Huck Fin, I also noticed themes in the discussions regarding Washington and Dubois.  It is easy to see the sense and reason behind Washington’s address. In Sabrina’s blog, she mentioned that Washington seemed to be very realistic. Although he wanted change, he was very sensible about it. In contrast to Washington, Dubois wanted change rapidly. Sabrina wrote, “Dubois, however, aggressively fought for African American equality and expected to see it happen in his lifetime. While he had every right do expect this, I do not think he was seeing things vey realistically.”http://eng224americanliterature.blogspot.com/2013/03/washington-vs-du-bois.html

Rachel and Chris both commented on the fact, that in a sense, both addresses seem to go together. Rachel mentioned that both men wanted the same thing-equality for African Americans. The only difference was the way the two men went about it. Rachel believes that both of their views have merit. http://rjsunshine.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/washington-and-dubois/

In Chris’s blog he mentioned that the two approaches “are two halves to the same whole” and that they should not be viewed in competition to one another. http://amlitsurvey.blogspot.com/2013/02/divided-we-fall.html

To conclude, a lot of people had interesting insights on the literature read for this class. Although differing opinions and responses were expressed, many people did reflect on similar themes. Definitely interesting to read!

Sister Carrie -Theodore Dreiser

I think the story that stood out the most to me was Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. I have always been fascinated with city lights and I could almost feel Carrie’s excitement as she neared Chicago. I particularly liked the passage on 572 where Dreiser described the city, writing: “---that mystic period between the glare and the gloom of the world when life is changing from one sphere or condition to another. Ah, the promise of the night. What does it not hold for the weary? What old illusion of hope is not here forever repeated!”  I feel that this passage captures the excitement and adventure Carrie was feeling. As we talked about in class, the city really was presented as a “tempter” to Carrie.

Here was a girl on the brink of adulthood, yet completely unsure and self-conscious of herself. In contrast to this, however, she was also extremely ambitious. As we touched on in class today, Carrie seemed to be infatuated with the idea of how she wanted her life to be. In order to achieve this new lifestyle, she first had to put aside her fears.

 Something I noticed was that Carrie seemed to feel completely inadequate in every situation. Comparing her own plain, blue, dress, she became very conscious of the differences between herself and the man who charmed her on the bus and the fancy, materialistic, women on the Chicago sidewalks. Additionally, Carrie was very timid while job searching, fearing the humiliation she would experience if she were to be turned down. I felt sympathy for her as she was continuously told that experience was needed to be suitable for the job. I thought it was interesting that Carrie then found comfort in wandering with the city crowds. I think there is a safe appeal to being surrounded by people who know nothing about you, as it enables a person to stop fearing judgment and expectations.  Perhaps, this was what Carrie was feeling in that moment.

Carrie was definitely a victim of her environment, demonstrating the naturalist aspect of this novel. Growing up in the country, she was probably not very aware of the big world around her and was naïve because of it. She is also a victim of her new environment as she learns that people can be harsh. I almost wish I could finish this story to see how Carrie adjusts to Chicago.

 I wonder if she does ever find contentment and happiness. I feel like naturalism focuses on human distress and, considering this is a naturalistic novel, maybe I already know the answer to that.

On Washington and Du Bois

Wow. Both of these writings were very convincing. I found myself initially thinking Washington’s viewpoints sounded fairly logical. However, after reading Du Bois’s, I could definitely understand his criticism.

For starters, I like that the section before Washington’s address reminds the reader to consider the time and context in which it was presented. When one considers the fact that not long before this address African Americans were slaves, it enables the reader to better understand Washington’s suggestions and outlooks. Since African Americans were treated so severely in the past, I understand how this address would appeal to them.  Although African Americans would have to sacrifice full equality under Washington’s ideas, they would still begin to participate in society and in industrial education.  Washington would accept this because he was optimistic that African Americans would continue to rise from this small improvement by their individual effort.

 While this initially appealed to African Americans, I understand why many would disagree. Why should any human being have to submit to unjust treatment? …..Even if it was in the hope of future rights and in return for white man’s respect and apperception.  What do African Americans they owe them? Nothing. I can see how this would be infuriating. However, I also understand that you have to start from somewhere.

 

Du Bois effectively explained the flaws in Washington’s way of thinking. His writing was very captivating. I cannot even imagine how degrading and hopeless it would feel to be a “problem.” Du Bois addressed the fact that Washington was, essentially, suggesting that African Americans can only survive through submission. By doing so, they were giving up political power, civil rights, and higher education while they should be fighting for equal rights, instead. Du Bois’s last point was particularly poignant as he stated that it should not be African American’s burden to raise themselves in society. Not only should whites refrain from judging the African Americans in their efforts, as Washington stated, but they should also aid them. In Du Bois’s view, African Americans should not have to rise all by themselves. And why should they? It should be (have been) the white's reponsibility.

The last chapters

Ugh... Tom Sawyer. I can't decide if the fact that he knew Jim was free makes what he did worse or not. On one hand, Tom was the one enslaving Jim and putting him in danger through his extravagant, pointless, schemes. On the other hand, since Jim was already free all of this time, there wasn't really any hurry for them to escape, anyway. If Jim actually needed to escape for his freedom, then it would have meant Tom held his desire for imagination and adventure above Jim's well-being. I don’t know if I explained what I am thinking correctly. It's bad either way you look at it. Regardless, Tom should have never done what he did.

After Tom told Huck that Jim was already free, I thought it was interesting that Huck said, "I couldn't ever understand, before, until that minute and that talk, how he could help a body set a nigger free, with his bringing up" (p. 279.) This makes me feel that I may have been too hard on Tom; I forget that he is even younger than Huck. Yes, his actions were degrading towards Jim, but I can't really blame him if that's the only way of thinking he has ever known... what was instilled in his mind at a young age. But I wonder how different Huck's bringing up was than Huck’s. If Huck was able to value Jim, despite his upbringing, I wonder if Tom could change for the better, too.

I also noticed how unselfish Jim is. The fact he was so worried about Tom’s well-being and wanted him to see a doctor demonstrates he really cares about him. He was also putting his freedom at risk in the process.

I wasn’t surprised to learn that it was Pap’s body Jim and Huck came across in the beginning. It was nice of Jim to try to shield this from Huck but it seemed like Huck didn’t really care, anyway.

22-36

Finally what I had been waiting for happened in these chapters: Huck made the final choice to help Jim become free without second-guessing it any longer. He decided that he would no longer listen to his “conscious”, which is really not his conscious at all, but instead, the way he was brought up to think. It’s interesting because Huck thinks he is neglecting his conscious, while in actuality, he is listening to it by helping Jim. I actually pity Huck. He thinks that he is going to go to hell for what he is doing. His upbringing caused this backwards thinking which was beyond his control. The fact that Huck is willing to do this for Jim really shows how much he cares for him. I admire Huck for that and I’m glad that his friendship with Jim prevailed. Except, in chapter XXXll, it is suggested that Huck’s feelings towards Jim do not account for all slaves.  When Aunt Sally asksHuck if anyone was hurt when a cylinder head was blown out, Huck replies, “No’m. Killed a nigger.”

       When Tom Sawyer arrived in chapter XXXIII, I was initially pretty excited. How convenient that he happened to be the real nephew!  I was really happy for Huck and Tom that they could be reunited and then work together to free Jim. However, I soon became rather annoyed with Tom and his completely unrealistic plans based off of romantic literature. There was nothing wrong with Huck’s initial plan to free Jim! I didn’t like how he shrunk back and let Tom take the reins when all Tom wanted to do was play pretend. Imagination can be a good thing, but not when it is taken too far. Huck has proven in the past that his practical, “simple,” schemes can be successful and Jim would have been freed by now if they would have followed his original plan to steal the key. Huck can be a leader but he chose to be a follower, instead.

Huckleberry Finn: Ch. 18-22

In these chapters I was really struck by Huck's cleverness. He was able to identify the fact that the two men claiming to be the duke and the Dauphin of France were actually nothing other than frauds. This shows that he is not easily deceived. It's fortunate he realized this because he then knew he needed to protect Jim. To do so, he came up with a story that the two men easily believed. (This maybe suggests that Huck is even more clever than these two men.) This is not the first time Huck successfully whipped a story out of thin air, which I find rather impressive.

I also noticed how much Huck and Jim care for one another. Huck lied multiple times in order to protect Jim. He wouldn't do this if he didn't genuinely care about his well-being. Additionally, it is evident that Jim cares a great deal for Huck, as well. When Huck disappeared to the Gangerford household, Jim was incredibly worried about him and relieved when they reunited.

Since Huck and Jim are friends, it is frustrating that Huck still thinks of him as property. I am waiting for Huck to come to his senses.

I thought it was interesting how repulsed Huck eventually became of the Grangerford Shepherdson feud. Initially, he didn't give it much thought and wasn't concerned about it. However, after better understanding the feud and becoming more involved Huck's opinion on the feud changed. He became sickened by the brutality of the situation and couldn't stand to even think about it. This makes me think that Huck probably doesn't fully understand the concept of slavery if this doesn’t repulse him, as well. Perhaps, if he had a better understanding of how degrading and unjust it was, he would change his opinion on it. I feel like Huck really does care about people. (In these chapters, this was shown by the fact that Huck desired to help the two frauds and felt sympathy for them.) Since slavery is a concept that Huck was brought up with, he's accustomed to it; it's all he's ever known. This makes me wonder how society has influenced me, personally. I wonder how strongly my code of conduct and morals are affected by how people in the world act around me. Would my concept of right and wrong would differ if I grew up in a different time period? Also, would Huck's concept of right and wrong differ if he lived in this time period, a period where even the thought of slavery is absolutely unacceptable?

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapters 6- 17

 An aspect that really stood out to me in chapters 6-17 is that fact that Huck  battles between what society wants him to believe and his own thoughts on what is right and just.  At times throughout the story, he appears to genuinely care about other people. For instance, he feels sympathy for the 3 thieves who become trapped on the vessel. In an attempt to save them, he tries to convince the captain on a ferry-boat to save them from their death. Also, despite the tricks Huck plays on Jim, he seems to really value Jim as a person. Instead of treating him as less of a human being, he accepts him and becomes essential to Jim’s opportunity for freedom.

                However, society’s negative affect on Huck becomes evident, especially in chapter 16.  Huck begins to feel guilty for keeping Jim a secret and attempting to aid him to freedom. He wonders whether he should have turned Jim in for escaping in the first place, questioning what Miss Watson ever did to him that he would keep this a secret. This causes Huck to feel incredibly miserable and confused regarding what he should do. Despite this confusion, Huck cannot bring himself to betray Jim to the men who are looking for the runaway slaves. At this point in the story, Huck’s loyalty to Jim outweighs the pressure he feels to obey society’s standards.

           For my LAR class, I read part of Frederick Douglass’s autobiography where he talks about his journey learning how to read and write. To describe his determination and excitement after learning the alphabet from his master’s wife, Douglass stated, “Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me form taking the ell. (This is similar to the saying “give a nigger an inch and he’ll take an ell” that Huck used to describe Jim’s excitement upon nearing Cairo.) Because of his strong desire to read and write, Douglass asked white boys his age to help him with this process. He also expressed his grief to these boys, stating, “You will be free as soon as you are twenty one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?” Hearing these words, they became greatly troubled and expressed great sympathy and sadness for Douglass. Douglass then stated that he wished he could thank these boys for helping him achieve literacy. However, he didn’t want to embarrass them because it was an “offense” to teach slaves how to read. I found myself wondering what kind of men these boys became and if they still held onto the belief that Douglass deserved to be treated justly, despite the color of his skin, or if society pulled them into the lie that African- American’s were somehow less than human.  Reading this reminded me of Huck and how he faces the same struggle between society and what he knows is right.  His decision to help Jim achieve freedom is similar to the young boys’ decision to help Frederick Douglass read. In both instances, these young individuals are taking risks by acting in a way that was not socially acceptable and, perhaps, punishable.  However, because these individuals were not yet victims of society, they were able to see past insignificant differences of human beings, and thus, express human compassion.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Unlike a lot of the other students in this class, this is my first time reading Adventures of Huckleberry Fin. I approached this novel with a bit of apprehension, as I had previously been informed it was a tedious read. Despite this, I have found that it is not difficult to follow and only takes a little bit of extra effort to understand the dialects of the characters. 

As we discussed in class, I quickly noticed the differences in personality between Tom and Huck. Tom is adventurous and imaginative, basing his thoughts and plans off of his readings. In contrast, Huck seems more practical and has less of an imagination. This is demonstrated by his disappointment upon arriving at the Sunday school picnic that was supposed to be the scene of the Spanish merchants and Arabs. In a sense, although he is practical, Huck also seems somewhat gullible to believe that Tom's imaginations would actually play out. 

          Despite this, Huck also seems intelligent in some ways. Initially, I didn't really understand why Huck stated that he did not want any of his money, and instead, wanted the judge to have it. However, it became evident that he only did so because he feared his father would return and try to take advantage of him. Huck figured that if he actually did not have money, his father would be more likely to leave him alone. This suggests, perhaps, that Huck does have the ability to think critically, which is in contrast with his father.

We also talked about the use of the word "nigger" in the novel. In the interim class I participated in, we discussed this issue relating to this novel, as well.  One of the major themes we discussed was the fact that people desire to read literature that reflects real life, which can sometimes be cruel and unkind. Even so, this story is authentic in how it demonstrates the terminology people used. While many people may have a hard time reading this novel because of this, removing them could take away from the meaning of the story. Since I have not yet read this whole story, I cannot yet say if I think the term " nigger" is essential to the story line or not. However, it's something to ponder.