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!