BigKev

Bastard out of Carolina:Sexual Abuse

2006-05-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

I found the novel, Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison, to be interesting but also quite disturbing. She had me turning the pages always wondering what was going to occur next but at the same time I found myself unsatisfied with the outcome of many situations because I was wishing to help Bone in her endless struggles. Once again the topic of masculinity raised eyebrows in the feminine author's perspective; the typical Boatwright male was depicted as lazy, drunk, stupid, and sexually driven. This may be somewhat of a harsh description but I believe it helps set up the plot and puts much more emphasis on the family heritage and the culture as a whole.

Constantly I found myself wondering why Daddy Glen chose to sexually abuse Bone and to degrade her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Perhaps it was because his father did not outwardly show his love and affection for Glen when he was growing up; because of this neglect he was forced to grow up without the advice and knowlege of a male figure. Combine this with Glen's inability to make enough money to support his family, and his ambition and desire to impress his father and you get anger and rage as a result. His passion to be the "man" drove him to desperate measures to impress Anney, he wanted to be the strong hardworking husband, however for some reason his attitude always seemed to get the best of him and he was forced to change jobs.

The sexual attraction between Glen and Anney appears to be the thread thats holding their relationship together, I think that Glen realized this and he felt threatened that Anney's children were going to take her focus and attention away from him. Not giving him an excuse, but maybe this is why he decided to exert such dominance and control over Bone; Allison even leaves room to ponder if he had abused Reese as well. Glen is portrayed almost monster-like and emotionless, but sometimes i get the feeling that he had split personalities(due to Anney always excusing him and saying he had changed) but he always seemed to return to his disturbing, agressive habits. Although she claimed she truly loved Glen, you would think that upon seeing her husband rape her daughter, Anney would leave him for good, however, she is quite fast to forgive and forget his sins.

This is rather troubling because to whom is Bone to turn to? Having never met her real father, she has bounced around between living with Anney, Glen, and Reese and staying with her Aunts and Uncles. Since Anney fails her motherly duties in a way, Bone combines the advice and learns a little something from each Aunt, almost like they all raise her from their past experiences. She is forced to live a very isolated and secluded life, I imagine it would be hard to put your trust into anybody after the childhood she endured. Bone could’ve easily told people about her situation but I think the fear of upsetting her mom, and the trauma of the whole scenario most definitely gave her a feeling of embarrassment, (she developed a something is wrong with me attitude) and seemed to accept it, which is sad because she became accustomed to Glen's beatings ,while he didn’t even develop a guilty conscious, but instead just worsened his perverted habits. On the other hand i was glad to see that Bone will be able to start anew, and have almost a rebirth, hopefully putting her past troubles and experiences behind her and creating new memories.

There also appeared to be similarities that developed between Bone and Daddy Glen. Life seems to be coming full circle as Bone and Glen were both severely neglected in their respective childhoods, both characters strive for attention, and they also seem to be lost and doing a bit of soul searching. Regardless, I did some research that was quite shocking to me dealing with sexual abuse. In a composition of substantiated child abuse in the year 2000, 879,000 children were victims of child maltreatment. 63% were neglected, 19% were physically abused, 10% were sexually abused, and 8% were psychologically damaged. Out of every thousand children 11.2 males and 12.8 females were subject to abuse.

As you can see Bone was not alone in her struggles, to me these statistics are staggering and I would have never imagined the numbers to be as high as they are. Whoever made the comparison between Allison and her character Bone was right on (in that Allison was sexually abused and raped by her stepfather), to me it seemed as if she used Bones struggle to educate America on poverty, sexual abuse, and the corruption of society. This being the last blog I wanted to say that writing responses and reading everyones posts really helped me understand and formulate ideas on the readings in a way I wouldnt have been able to without blogging. Thanks to those who helped clarify my pile of ideas and straighted out the confusion for me, good luck to everyone on the final exam.

statistics found at http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/stats.htm#Disclosures

James Dickey- Cherrylog Road

2006-04-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

In the midst of a junkyard filled with old deteriorating vehicles a male character is in awe of his surroundings. He had a deep appreciation for the past, each car had it's own story as each one had a particular owner, this is described in great detail as Dickey paints a good picture for his audience. The fact that the man was able to realize and day dream about cars, whiskey, and racing, shows his masculinity, but it also hints towards the injustice of society and how easily we can forget what has gone before us. In the seventh and eighth stanzas, the character thought of what could have occured between "Lady and colored driver" many years prior. With the phone being intact he invisioned a possible conversation the lady could have had with the driver; i thought this displayed social order and how blacks often had to cater to whites in terms of a job. More interesting, to me, is the fact that Dickey told a love story within the poem as well. The girl, Doris Holbrook, appears to be his girlfriend; moreover, it seems that dating was a sore subject with parents back in the day since he was so worried about her father, and the fact that they were forced to meet in the junkyard. However, this could just be a reflection of his character and maybe the father felt he was a threat and didnt want his daughter with such a risktaking and on the edge person. "So the blacksnake, stiff, with inaction, curved back into life, and hunted the mouse", this line is used to show the Father,as the snake, hunting down the boy(mouse), who he does not want with his daughter. The boy pictures the Father chasing him with a twelve gauge shotgun, but he enjoys it, i think the thrill of the chase is kind of the type of personality he has, perhaps he likes to flirt with danger. A physical interaction and sexual encounter seems to be suggested in stanzas fifteen and sixteen, "I held her and held her and held her", "As we clung, glued together". The thrill and excitement that the boy exhibits is represented in the motorcycle he drives; as the couple went their separate ways, Dickey did not put an emphasis on the goodbye, most likely because this is is not unusual for the boy to sneak off and live life on the "wild side". In the final stanza "Drunk on the wind in my mouth, wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever", shows how much the boy loves the thrill and anxiety of possibly getting caught. Drunk on the wind, is used to show how happy he is, wringing the handle bars displays how fast he lives life and how excited he is, and his desire to a lifetime of living dangerously is shown in the final line, wild to be wreckage forever. Driven by speed, girls, and whiskey, Dickey portrays the boy as a typical male; this relates quite well with Faulkner's stories as masculinity was commonplace. I wasnt really sure how to interpret this poem but this is my best guess at what Dickey was portraying, hopefully i wasn't completely off in my response.

James Dickey Poetry

2006-04-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am no expert or critic when it comes to reading or writing poetry; therefore, I have to respect anyone who can make words flow as fluently and coherently as Dickey does. I was very interested in "Sleeping out at Easter" how he was able to italicize certain lines and then bring them all together for the final stanza. I dont know the name of this technique, or if it was something he originated, but it almost acts like a small poem inside another poem; he obviously intended to make the reader aware of the significance of these lines. His works appear to be very religious as well; "All dark is no more, in your palm is the secret of waking. Put down those seeds in your hand; all presences change into trees. A feather shall drift from the pine-top. The sun shall have told you this song, for this is the grave of the king; for the kings grave turns you to light." A possible interpretation of this is, Jesus the (King), holds everyones destiny, he created all and spreads his light for everyone. The feather could act as opportunity and an open palm is one that is willing to experience new things, and (with the assistance of the King) darkness shall no longer be feared because he overseas everything in Heaven and on Earth. I may be completely off track with these opinions and interpretations but the poems all seem to make sense in that they are meant to inspire. In every poem there seems to be a reoccuring theme that is urging people to not look past life here on earth. Yes the religious and heavenly aspect is there, but beyond that original impression Dickey is trying to tell us it is okay to liberate oneself, such as in the poem "Falling". Perhaps the lines "opening my eyes superhumanly", and " opening the natural wings of my jacket " suggest such freedom and liberation that is uncommon to those who arent willing to admire and appreciate what we have on Earth. James Dickey's use of animals and nature are most likely used in parrallel with celebrating life on earth, his use of animals and beautiful descriptions of nature paint vivid imagery for the audience. Moreover, he seems to write about people and animals that set themselves apart from the rest of the kingdom of mammals; "Walking on Water", could be interpreted as a religious work but also the fact that if a man was to 'walk on water' then he would be viewed as superior. Also, in "The Heaven of Animals" nature is described in its truest form, only the strong survive, those that are higher on the food chain will end up outdoing all things that are of less in stature and beauty. One point that I am almost certain of is that it is no coincidence that animals, humans, and nature were all intertwined in these works; similarly to Flannery O' Connor, Dickey seems to use biblical references when trying to make sense of life. I think Dickey might be trying to send a warning to celebrate life while you can, make the most of each day, live in the moment ( not in the past or in the future), because as we found out in O' Connors works often times it is too late to change your ways. These are just a few of the thoughts that I confused myself with upon reading the packet of poems, hopefully someone can give me a better graps of Dickey's meanings.

Presentations

2006-04-10T10:16:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to say everyone has done a great job on their presentations, i was impressed with how comfortable every group seemed to be up in front of the classroom. Sitting in the audience, listening to and observing the presentations made me think of situations in my own life that could relate. For example, country music has always been big in my family as my Father and my Sister would always be listening to it in the car or on the house radio. This drove me crazy since i preferred rap or the popular music genre for its beats and stylish lyrics, even though they are highly criticized for the vulgar language. Country music always seemed depressing and boring to me, if i heard it i would complain and whine stating "why do you want to listen to this ho-down music anyways?" I suppose i was a bit harsh as my ears were not accustomed to as wide of a varitey of music as they are know. I agree with the point that was made in class that although commercialization may be taking certain customs and cultures away from their roots it can be viewed as a positive as it provides more people with the opportunity to experience them. Today, i dont think country music is all that bad, i like the fact that many artists tell a story within their lyrics, and i can respect the fact that music is a skill and it should be appreciated. Southern food, reminds me of a mall not too far from my hometown that contains a Cajun Cafe in the food court. One day my sister and i were in the mall and she wanted something to eat and she brought me there; "What is this, im going to taco bell!" was my reply. Reluctantly, i tried the cajun food and loved it, my sister simply said "i told you so". Years later when my friends and I were old enough to drive to the mall i went over to eat at the Cajun Cafe, and they followed showing some interest in how it was possible to not be in line for taco bell. Eventually after some protest i convinced them to eat a Cajun lunch and they too loved it. Im sure it doesnt compare to the taste of true Cajun/creole food from Louisiana, but it sure is delicious for a northern version. I think the theme for our presentations as a class could be titled "Changes", since in the modern world people are more willing to alter their ways and adapt to other cultures and customs than in years past. Morever, i think that as the cultures of the south and the north blend, a universal culture is the end result, a large melting pot of diverse people and customs which creates one unique world.

Flannery O' Connor: Revelation

2006-04-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

Flannery O' Connor consistently uses her characters, namely Mrs. Turpin in the Revelation, to depict the typical human-being, those who are quick to judgements and opinions of others, all the while making herself look rather self-centered and oblivious to what she is doing. The scene in the doctors office consists of Mrs Turpin rambling on about social class, she said "If it's one thing I am, it's grateful. When I think who all I could have been besides myself and what all I got, I just feel like shouting, 'Thank you, Jesus, for making everything the way it is!' It could have been different!... Oh thank you, Jesus, thank you!" The way in which Mrs Turpin describes people immediately picking out their faults gives a glimpse of her personality, she seems to act superior to everybody and everything. A great deal of conversation goes by in which Mrs Turpin proceeded to tell the pleasant lady her opinions on everybody below her in the social order, then she continues on to degrade them. The ill child, Mary Grace, might represent the rest of society when she throws her "human development" book at her, thus telling her to grow up and get over herself. O'Connor probably used this for humor but the struggle and violent ordeal that came forth following the long conversation also has an important meaning. "Go back to hell where you came from you old wart hog", was Mary Grace's reply to Mrs Turpin when she asked "what you got to say to me?". Does this imply that O'Connor doesn't think much of her character Mrs. Turpin and that maybe she really does think she's a hog? I did notice that upon her return to their house she becomes very paranoid and self conscious, even around Claud. She then infuriatingly asks God, "Am I hog and me both? How am I saved and from hell too?" Turpin seems to think that since she is wealthy, kind to the Negro workers, and volunteers at church is justification for behaving in the manner displayed in the doctors office. Revelation defined means God's disclosure to humanity of divine truth; the scene in which Mrs. Turpin has the vision of the lower orders of society(Blacks, white trash, poor people) entering into heaven before the "superior classes" like herself comes shockingly to her. God created every child with a purpose with the intention of everyone beginning life equally; it is sad to see that some people are allocated more opportunities and fortunes than others, but it happens. I think Mrs Turpin finally realizes that anyone who believes in God has the ability to be saved by his Grace, eventually ending up in heaven. I dont think it is a coincidence that the girl's name was Mary Grace either... moreover, Mrs. Turpin figured out that she cant continue on acting the way she had so she must improve her act. Furthermore, she hoses down the pigs cleansing them of the dirt and grime that had built up over the course of the day, possibly this represents a confession(since she was called a Hog), in which a person admits his/her sins to the priest, and thus has a clean slate for coming forth and admitting his/her wrong doings after completing a penance. Regardless, this story is similar to "A good man is hard to Find" in that the character is changed by the revelation, in "The Displaced Person" the characters arent so lucky.

A Street Car named Desire:Tennessee Williams

2006-03-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

After having read the play, and now seen the majority of the film, it has become increasingly easier to point out the differences and similarities between the two. Obviously it is going to be much more difficult to portray characters emotions and personalities on paper than it is to do it on screen. Therefore, I found the movie easier to follow along with and more in depth than the play itself, because the movie allows you to visualize what is going on rather than having to imagine it for yourself. The director of the movie seems to be mocking males more so than in the play or in any other work we have read this semester. The old ways in which men were dominant and superior to females seems to clash in the movie at the expense of Blanche and Stella. Marlon Brando, who plays Stanley, is always seen in tight shirts(buy a shirt that fits, please) he is your typical mans man, he is portrayed as macho and appears to be invinceable to the world that surrounds him. I believe the director did this with a purpose, he is trying to prove that every human being has two sides or two personalities. While Stanley is seen as mighty and superior to all, it is all an act, he is actually weak and quite sensitive when he is stripped of his power. When i say power i mean his self control, he resorts to bullying his poker friends, beating Stella, and raping Blanche. When these people all leave the scene Stanley is left crying and whining for Stella to come back, so he not only has his wife(more so a sexual partner) and also he has someone weaker to rule over. Than you have Mitch, who is never seen without wearing a three piece suit, (even when the weather is scorching), I loved the scene where he was trying to impress Blanche with his build, he had recieved a gym membership and he tells her his exact height and weight. She could care less, maybe because she, too, is concieted, but this demonstrates another poking fun of the male gender. Is the director implying males depend on others to make them feel good about themselves? Is he saying that on the outside males appear to be intimidating and superior to females, but at the same time they have weak hearts and cannot live without women? Blanche's two personalities are quite interesting as well, one minute she is looking for compliments and pitying herself, then the next moment she is trying to seduce the young boy who comes to the door taking a collection. It's funny how people can change their act with the blink of an eye, confidence, self-worth, and humility play a large role in this play. As i mentioned before, I seemed to find two different sides to each character, maybe all humans have two sides. Everyone has the ability to act differently at any given moment, but to me i was confused on why these characters acted as if they were living the rich and glamorous life. The director of the movie and the playwright both made it very clear that the neighborhood was not much of a sight to look at, so why would Blanche be wearing clothes fit for a luxurious ball and Mitch be wearing suits all of the time? Most likely because each character is "ashamed to be there" as Blanche was qouted of saying, therefore they have to act with confidence to prove their self-worth(Or dress up and imagine you are someone else). However, there is a line to be drawn between confidence and arrogance, and some of the characters including Stanley and Blanche cross it often. Lastly, i think one of the more overlooked themes of the play/movie is that each person need another to rely and depend upon. The more a person tries to be independent (which should be considered superior, because my theory is that everybody needs someone else), the more they actually DESIRE and need the love and assurance of another person. Blanche came crawling to her sister looking for sympathy and caring(she needed help), and Stanley's violent acts are a call for help. Although the harmful deeds themselves are not calls for help, the way he reacts afterwards displays that he needs people to comfort him and make him feel superior. I know this post is somewhat rambling and all over the place but I was stumped about some of these issues i discussed and was trying to make sense of it all, maybe some of you can help me out.

Zora Neale Hurston:Their Eyes Were Watching God

2006-03-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

Upon the completion of the novel I was left puzzled with the ending, it seemed almost anticlimatic and I found myself turning the pages expecting another chapter, this surely could not be the end. After I thought about it though, I figured that Hurston did this with a significant purpose; there are many key themes that are emphasized throughout the book, by leaving the ending "unfinished" I think she allows the audience to create their own story and ending for Janie. Maybe she meant to prove to society that these things that are left incomplete should not be forgotten, rather they should be exploited and remembered, and eventually practiced in everyday circumstances. Hurston was critiqued for her inability to expand upon her liberating ideas, these emancipating thoughts that she would hint towards, but never go into great detail with , provided the reader with just enough information to think outside the box. I applaud this technique, obviously if a critic is able to determine the ideas that Hurston brought up (ever so briefly) then she had done a good enough job to make a statement to society. As corrupt as society was at the time of slavery and in the years that followed such as the Jim Crow Laws, people of the time were not stupid. They knew the difference between right and wrong and even though they might not believe that discriminating against a black person or harassing them with physical and verbal assaults is wrong, they certainly wouldnt do it to a fellow white person. Moreover, I think this already gives them enough knowledge to know better than to treat a fellow human being in such a manner, no matter the skin color, whether it is a white or black person, it shouldnt make a difference.
Mind you, Hurston was not naive, she knew that change doesnt come with the blink of an eye; perhaps this is her reasoning for leaving the ending unclear and uncertain. How was she to know the future of what was to become of the relationships between the races of blacks and whites? She can provoke controversy in her writing by using powerful meanings and putting her characters in situations in which the reader puts him/herself in their shoes, always wondering whats going to happen next. However, she never ruled out the possibility that people can change, in fact, her characters in the novel made a habit of this. As Janie fell in and out of love, each man she was with (Logan, Jody, Tea Cake) all demonstrate a keen ability to change, whether it be for the better or worse. The questionable court room scene gives hope to societies ability to adapt and for the two races to coexist together; although the scene is somewhat ironice in the fact that the blacks are against Janie, and the whites are the people sympathizing with her, it proves that humans have adaptable qualities that can be improved and changed. As society finally begins to realize that everyone puts on their pants the same way in the morning, breathes the same air, and has the same emotions the better off it will be.
Hurston uses Janies character as somewhat of an ambassador to usher in this new era of hope and prosperity for all. Although it is a long way off it is worth noting the significance and how brave Hurston was for even speaking out during these times. As much as i disliked the ending i found it fitting for Janie to let Phoebe tell her story to the rest of the world. Free from judgements and scutiny she finally grew into her own individual, by letting Phoebe tell it in her own words the story will change ever so slighty, and as the person she tells tells the next person in line(like the game telephone) the story will continue to alter as it is passed down. Is Hurston stating that everyone has a story that is worth being told? I think the possibility of Janies story being altered is a very good one, it allows people to dream and to be their own person, never settling for anything less than the best, and never being satisfied.
In conclusion, as much as I have said i dislike the ending in fact i think it is very effective, to the point where she begs many questions to the reader and throws jabs at society. This book is very instrumental to the changes that come about not only for blacks and females of the time period, but for everyone, all races alike. Hurston teaches us that people dont strive to be identical, they just want an opportunity to be equal, individuality should be valued not looked down upon. With time comes change, and I think that Hurston was way ahead of her peers in the realization that better days were really not that far off, and it only takes the actions of a few (such as Janie and Teacake) to make a difference.

Zora Neale Hurston:How it feels to be colored me

2006-03-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

Hurston set a good example for all races of people in the fact that she was able to look beyond the corruption of racisim, almost to the point of ignoring it, but at the same time she took pride in her heritage. The way in which she described her childhood she seemd somewhat naive to segregation, "white people differed from colored to me only in that they rode through town and never lived there." Since she was but an innocent child it obviously would be natural for her to interact with anyone she wanted to, it doesnt matter the color of someones skin, all children are quite similar, loving and not a care in the world, if they can look beyond the discrimination why can't the older more wiser people in society too? When she moved to Jacksonville, I think that was when she first tasted a little bit of racism; "I was now a little colored girl." The difference in geographical location provided a perspective that was not visible prior to the move, Hurston realized she was different from the other kids, although she wasnt fazed by being black, instead extremely proud. Rather than sulk and be disappointed in the civil rights struggle, she felt the world was full of opportunities; she explained how slavery was the price her ancestors paid to make life better for the future generations and how proud it made her. Although Hurston was said to ignore too much, she made an excellent point,"I feel most colored when i am thrown against a sharp white background, and sometimes it is the other way around." In this passage she realizes that even if all races are equal both have their own distinct culture and way of life. This is important since it is the opportunity to be equal that blacks wanted, not to be the same. She endorsed indivuality and feminism on top of her pride to be african american; she compared herself to a woman in Paris, "she has nothing on me", and "I am the eternal feminine with its string of beads." She said how it didnt bother her to be discriminated against, this is quite appalling, even now looking back on the past, the fact that people could treat each other in the manner they did is bothersome. The last paragraph was my favorite when she described the Great Stuffer of Bags, (God) and how he created everyone equally, just an empty colored paper bag with all the contents on the floor. It didnt matter the color of the bag but rather what is found inside, a lesson that should be valued by everyone.

Katherine Anne Porter:The Grave

2006-03-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a continuous theme in the readings dealing with the transition from a simpler way of life in the woods, to the more complex and chaotic industrial age. After reading Go Down Moses by Faulkner, and now The Grave, by Porter the transition comes full circle. The children Miranda and her brother Paul, are hunting rabbits and doves one day when they come upon the family cemetary. All that remains is the holes in the ground where the coffins used to be, they have since been moved to another plot of land. The children wander aimlessly around without caring much for the land itself but more for the materialistic items such as the gold ring and the dove screw head. The innocent little garden that engulfs the cemetary has been trying to survive and is not quite overgrown, but more so reaching out to anything and everything. The fact that it has been neglected shows the change in civilization, perhaps the garden is gasping for a breath of fresh air, or trying to prove its worth one last time. (Tangled rose bushes, ragged cedar trees, wild grass and stones rising out of the ground) all depict a undernourished yet at one time proud, beautiful garden which is now overshadowed by industry and machines. The scene where Paul and Miranda are hunting just for the fun of it, shows the lost respect for nature. The lack of maturation to know any better is very revealing as Paul kills a mother rabbit with young bunnies ready to be birthed. This might be a turning point for the characters, especially Miranda, as she realizes during the horrific accident, that animals are not all that different from us, and that the wilderness is a unique and special place that should be respected not destroyed. I couldnt help but think of Isaac from Go Down Moses, in this situation, as he was taught by Sam Fathers to respect wildlife and to appreciate it, almost in a sacred way. Now with new and more high powered weapons, and less of an understanding of the traditional way of life, nature seems to be on the downfall a little bit at a time. With each new generation of people and civilization comes change and growth, it continues to impede upon the woods but it has yet to diminish its spirit completely, most likely because of certain people much like the characters Isaac, Sam Fathers, and now Miranda, who know that there is much more to nature than plants and animals.

Go Down Moses

2006-02-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

Samuel Worsham Beauchamp, who is being tried for murder, is percieved in two different ways in the final chapter. The white men in this chapter, county attorney Gavin Stevens and the editor of the newspaper view Samuel as a cold hearted murderer. It is not until later on when Stevens meets Miss Worsham that he feels sympathy and a sense of remorse towards Samuel. The fact that she is unable to comprehend that Samuel has done anything wrong, gives me the sense that she was very proud of him. She wants his body to be escorted in a parade like fashion, and in the end she tells the editor that he should be plastered in the newspapers. I dont think she would be saying all of this if she knew that he killed a police officer, but it is rather ironic, the fact that Aunt Mollie wanted to keep Samuels murder, and eventual death quiet, meanwhile you have Miss Worsham who wants everyone to know about it. I think that there is a great deal of misunderstanding in this chapter, not just Miss Worsham and Aunt Mollie, but racial misunderstandings as well. The scene where Stevens goes to the house to comfort Miss Worsham and then ends up running away out of his own discomfort for being in that situation is odd. Also the scene where the editor and Stevens are arguing over the "parade" of the body, and the confusion over whether or not it is necessary seeming he was a murderer. Nevertheless it appears that Faulkner intentionally left this chapter for last so that the reader is left with images of black and white. I think he was trying to get the point across that there will always be differences amongst race, and at times there will still be discrimination and racisim, but the fact of the matter is that every human being, whether they are white, black, asian, indian, hispanic, etc. has the same senses as every one else. Just because the color of skin is different doesnt mean that different races of people dont feel the same sensations when they are happy, sad, angry, excited and so forth. The way in which Miss Worsham is in shock and how she pities for Samuel is the same way in which for example Stevens or the editor, or any other human would. In conclusion i think this is Faulkners attempt to bring an end to discrimination and the corruption of society by exploiting certain situations and utilizing each and every character throughout the novel to prove his point.

The importance of nature

2006-02-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

After reading this section of the book and discussing it in class I was really engrossed in the fact that Faulkner had such passion for the outdoors. After growing up in a very rural area, in which neighbors are considered those that live nearly a mile away, it was interesting to see Faulkner's thoughts concerning the wilderness. In order to give the woods a sense of spirit Faulkner utilized the character Sam Fathers, a native american, who has a deep relationship in nature. Sam, being a fatherly type figure, especially for Isaac, expresses his knowledge of the world, his perceptions, and a variety of valuable lessons throughout the excerpt in the form of nature. Sam is at peace in the outdoors, the suttle sounds and movements that help to create the otherworldy atmosphere beyond city life. Upon leaving the woods there is a sense of remorse and sadness upon the characters as if they are scared of leaving the protection that nature provides them. I believe that Faulkner wanted time to stop when Isaac, Sam, and the rest of the hunters entered the forest; when the storyline focused on Sam teaching Isaac how to hunt and what to watch for, it was almost as if Isaac was at home with his new surroundings. Hunting is a very manly activity, Sam teaches Isaac that you have to respect nature, in order to take an animals life it must be for a purpose. At the moment when Isaac shot his first deer, I got the feeling that he was growing up, not just because he had his first big kill, but because when he did it he was in a way "one with nature". The life cycle of nature is one in which the larger, more dominant animals tend to kill off the smaller ones and the food chain then continues to go full circle. However, when a human is brought into play the cycle is broken; the human ultimately becomes the enforcer. Furthermore, if you are just going to walk into an animals habitat and start killing the inhabitants then you have to do it in a just and respectful manner; besides, it isnt like animals walk into the city and start attacking humans. Hunting teaches Isaac the value of civilization; the importance of being proud of where you are from, and respect for others. Although hunting is a direct relationship between human and animal, these same concepts can and should be applied to everyday interactions between people.

The autobiography of an ex-colored man by: James Weldon Johnson

2006-02-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

We can all learn a little bit from the lessons James' mother teaches in this excerpt. She kept young James immune to the racism and discrimination of the time period; he grew up under the assumption that everyone was equal, and even though some people looked different, looks dont determine a persons character. Not knowing he was partially black himself, he got along and related well with the other kids in school. It wasnt until one day in school that he found out about his racial background, that he began to think differently. I found it sort of ironic that when he found out he was partially black that he was angry with his mother and seemed to be guarded from the rest of the world. It wasnt like he changed overnight, his appearance remained the same throughout the story, so why does everything go haywire and the other children act superior to him and James inferior to them? As his mother says "you are as good as anybody, dont let anyone tell you different". The emotional outburst James had was shocking considering how calm and smooth the story had went prior to the school incident. I can only figure that his time spent in school interacting with the white children made him feel as if he was part of a group; then he no longer feels welcome because he is considered "different" by society. His pride is probably damaged due to the fact that he feels like he doesnt recognize the face in the mirror any longer. However, his mother did a good thing teaching him that it shouldnt matter if he is white or black, or even partially colored, its the type of person you are on the inside that should determine what people think of you, not the color of your skin.

The Storm

2006-02-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

I remember reading this piece back in highschool, and it is much easier to interpret the second time around. I was very disturbed with this story as i feel sorry for Bobinot and his son Bibi. Mostly my sympathy goes to Bobinot who seems to care about his wife dearly and is even worried about her being mad upon their return home, "Bibi, what will your mamma say, you ought to be ashamed"(his clothes were muddy). He also bought Calixta a can of shrimps since she was very fond of them; these suttle but caring gestures exhibited by Bobinot show his love and affection towards Calixta. My sympathy also goes to young Bibi who quite possibly will be dealing with the breakup of his parents, if i read into the story correctly, it doesnt sound like the relationship is going to last, moreover it wont be a healthy one if it continues.
On the other end of the story is the sparking love between Calixta and Alcee continued from "The Cadian Ball". This angered me as i could only think of how heartbroken and devastated Bobinot would be if he was ever to find out. The affair seems to be covered up and hidden in the climax of the storm, it acted as a blinder for both Calixta and Bobinot. Bobinot was unable to see the corruption that was happening to his relationship( since he was stuck at the store), and Calixta was unsuccessful in being loyal and seeing past her hidden desires and passion for other men. In the end,everyones slate appears to be wiped clean due to the rain, however another storm appears to be brewing ahead as both parties involved seem to be content with spending time apart, everyone except poor Bobinot. I found it sad to see that marriage can be as corrupt as Chopin described it to be but i suppose she is correct in many cases due to the rise of divorces in the U.S.

The Fall of the House of Usher

2006-01-26T17:54:00.000-08:00

After reading Edgar Allen Poe's work for the first time since 8th grade I remembered just how skilled he was in creating vivid imagery. He was said to have lived a dark and depressing life which ultimately is reflected in his writing. His diction and fine ability to tell a story with his words is unparralled amongst todays writers and poets. It is not so much the story that he tells that should be most appreciated, but rather how Poe creates and develops his tales through finate detail and word choice. A disturbing tale is what most would say about The Fall of the House of Usher, however, to me, it is less scary than it is talent. The creepy mansion, the dead spirit of Lady Madeline, and the "insufferable gloom" that engulfed the whole story is all very well depicted by Poe. An average horror story at best, The Fall of the House of Usher can give goosebumps because of the way Poe wrote it. This is similar to most all of his other pieces in that he is able to capture his audience by perhaps a curiousity for the grotesque and their fantasy for death and destruction.

Jefferson/ Wheatley

2006-01-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

After reading the Thomas Jefferson excerpts and the Phillis Wheatley poems it became apparent that they are rather closely related. Both having to do with judgments and race, the two readings, to me, can be viewed as a cry for help. Though Jefferson seems more naive to his writing than what is morally right, he does bring about many good points concerning the differences amongst people and how society views them. Im not sure if his intent was to expose the wrongful image that has been created of America, or if he was simply echoing his own personal thoughts on the issue; regardless of intent the impact was of great importance, as it most likely opened the eyes of thousands of people. On the other hand, Phillis Wheatley seemed to be writing with a purpose, to make a statement dealing with the issues of racism. By doing so she gave hope to all African Americans by putting her writing on display and showing that the barrier between whites and blacks can eventually be broken piece by piece. It is my opinion that all of society had the same feelings as Jefferson and Wheatley; however, they were two people brave enough to make a statement, while the rest of America was in denial of the corruption that had been and that still lingers in society today.

1st Post

2006-01-19T10:37:00.000-08:00

I created my blog today and am very excited about learning more about the diversity in the southern region of America. Furthermore, the way history and literature depict similar and also separate perspectives on life in the South.