Sunday, October 28, 2007
Doris Lessing's To Room Nineteen
When Susan and Matthew was married everyone thought they were the perfect couple. They had 4 children, and had a big house to go along with the family. As the marriage goes on Susan and Matthew wonder if their marriage will survive. Matthew was always working late, so all the chores, and children's events were left up to Susan to handle, as well as the maid. Susan tried to find peace in the top room of the house, but eventually it was a family room, too. Susan lost her independence by quiting work and staying home in the house that was bought in Richmond, England. She finally found peace and quiet time in room 19, at Fred's Hotel. She gradually increased her visits to the hotel room due to not being able to cope with all that is going home anymore. Not feeling that she belongs to her family anymore, she commits suiside by natural gas inhalation. Over time Susan was lost in her own reality of what she is going through at home and also loses her independence feeling and decided to escape the reality by suiside.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
summary of A Thousand Acres.
In the novel, A Thousand Acres their are many misfortunes that happen through out book one and two. The misfortunes are,
1. Ginny had many miscarriages and her husband dont want to try anymore.
2. Ginny and Rose would say or do anything to "please" their father and let him hear or do what ever he wanted them to do.
3. Caroline was a stubbern woman that will love her father like a daughter does no more, no less and her truthfulness and love is rare and true from her heart.
4. Rose was diagnosed with breast cancer, which turned into lymphatic cancer.
5. The sisters mother passed away from cancer when Ginny was 14.
6. They had to deal with a father that drank alot.
7. The corn crop in storm county was destroyed by a storm
Through all the misfortunes Caroline really did care about her father, but left it to Ginny and Rose to care for him most of the time, on occations Caroline would care for her father though.
1. Ginny had many miscarriages and her husband dont want to try anymore.
2. Ginny and Rose would say or do anything to "please" their father and let him hear or do what ever he wanted them to do.
3. Caroline was a stubbern woman that will love her father like a daughter does no more, no less and her truthfulness and love is rare and true from her heart.
4. Rose was diagnosed with breast cancer, which turned into lymphatic cancer.
5. The sisters mother passed away from cancer when Ginny was 14.
6. They had to deal with a father that drank alot.
7. The corn crop in storm county was destroyed by a storm
Through all the misfortunes Caroline really did care about her father, but left it to Ginny and Rose to care for him most of the time, on occations Caroline would care for her father though.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The emptiness in "Winter In The Blood"
Bernadette Miner
Mr. Doug Joyce
20TH Century Fiction
October 20, 2007
The Emptiness in Winter In The Blood.
The main character in Winter In The Blood is a young Native American man who lives with his mother, grandmother and a Cree woman, everyone thought to be his wife. The main character is going through an identity crisis, mainly emptiness. He feels cooped up in his native land that the white man took. The white man also brought vicious destruction and introduced alcohol to his people. James Welch purposely meant to keep the name of the main character from us, the reader, so we could get the feeling that the main character is absent in his own self destructive behavior, because without a defined identity, it shows an emptiness within his soul.
He sometimes lives in the past due to the memories of his father, First Raise and his brother, Mose who are both dead. For instance, “He was around enough- he was on his way home when they found him, too” (19). Another instance was when Teresa was enraged and said,
“ Do you suppose he was happy lying in that ditch with his eyes frozen shut, stinking of beer…” while the main character saw something other than Teresa, “ But that was a different figure in the ditch, not First Raise, not the man who fixed machinery, who planned his hunt with such care that he never made it. Unlike Teresa, I didn’t know the man who froze in the borrow pit. Maybe that’s why I felt nothing until the funeral” 20).
As time passed the main character felt that no consequences had come to him, after ten years when his fathers wandering ended in that ditch. When his father died, the main character always wondered why his father disappeared most of the time. After a conversation with his mother, he realized that she never understood his father either. That’s why his father went to town and made the white men laugh like he did. For instance, “ Despite their mocking way, they respected his ability to fix things. They gave him more that his wife” (21).The only reason the main character’s father stayed as long as he did was “because of my brother, Mose and me”(21). Going against his grandmother’s feelings about his “ wife”, the young Native American man went after her, to bring her back. As he was walking down a street he had a flashback 20 years before while a young boy when his father, brother, and him had done many things together. Those days were the happy times. His brother, and him felt loved and protected by his father while he was alive.
The main character’s so called wife had left him and that incident helped create the emptiness he felt throughout this “heroes journey” to the new world. Some instances was when he had went to town, and a few days later the Cree woman (his “wife”)had left him. “ She left three days ago, just after you went to town”. “It doesn’t matter,” I said (3). He had pulled an invisible shield over his family because he really did care and it did matter that she left him. He decided to go after her even though his grandmother’s feelings toward the Cree woman. For instance, “ The old lady imagined that the girl was Cree and enemy and plotted ways to slit her throat” (5). Another instance is,
“ She was Cree and not worth a damn. Not worth going after. My grandmother, before she quit talking, had told me how Crees never cared for anybody but themselves. Crees drank too much and fought with other Indians in bars, though they had never fought on the battlefield. She told me how frees were good only for the white men who came to slaughter Indians. Crees had served as scouts for the mounted soldiers and had learned to live like them, drink like them, and the girls had opened their thighs to the Long Knives. The children of these unions were doubly cursed in the eyes of the old woman. So she sat in the rocker and plotted ways to kill the girl who was thought to be my wife” (33).
With that judgment she put on the Crees and his “ wife” he decided to locate and bring her back home with him thinking, that make things all better for him and his life as It is in the present.
Finally, there were instances that helped him fulfill his emptiness, become solid and whole again, and find his identity as he desperately needed to move on from his old world and create and live in his new world. For example, he returned home to find out that his grandmother had died, “ The old lady must have died. That’s why the house was so quiet” (131). Another example was when he discovered blood on his shirt, “ I hadn’t noticed the bloodstains on my shirt before-there were five of them, one after another, down the front. I opened a burner plate on the wood stove and stuffed it in” (132). With the digging of his grandmothers grave( on the homeland) and burial of his grandmother, it brought back the memory of how his brother, Mose died. For instance,
“ Dust from the road drifted toward the graveyard. There was a grave I hadn’t looked at yet. It was marked with a wooden cross just tall enough to stand above the weeds which grew up around it. Although I couldn't see it, there would be an unpainted wooden border around the grave. A circle of Styrofoam hung from the top point of the cross. From the bottom of the circle, pointing down, a piece of wire wrapped in green, and , below that, a faded paper flower barely visible in the weeds. There was no headstone, no name, no dates. My brother”(143).
“ It was this necessity, this knowledge of death”(145) helped the main character forgive himself for his brothers death, and realize that his brother Mose, sacrificed himself out of love and protection so that his younger brother could live, “ the smaller figure flying slowly over the top of the car to land with the hush of a stuffed doll”(142). He realized that he needed to change for the better when he finally decided that “This greedy stupid country” (169) was what made him as he is and what he wants to change about himself, “ I crouched and spent the next few minutes planning my new life”(169). when he was wondering whether his brother and father was comfortable where they were now, “I wondered if Mose and First Raise were comfortable . They were the only ones I really loved, I thought the only ones who were good to be with” (172). Finally, the last passage that allowed him to get his reward, actually move on in the new world was, “ I threw the pouch into the grave”(176).
In conclusion, the main character had to understand not only why his brother died for him, but also see his father the way he really was. Also experience the death of his grandmother needed to fulfill his emptiness and become “whole” again. This caused him to want to make a change within himself and move on into the new world. James Welch meant to have the main character nameless to show that he has emptiness within his soul. Also when the white men brought the alcohol, vicious destruction to his native land and took his native land from his people, he feels cooped up.
Mr. Doug Joyce
20TH Century Fiction
October 20, 2007
The Emptiness in Winter In The Blood.
The main character in Winter In The Blood is a young Native American man who lives with his mother, grandmother and a Cree woman, everyone thought to be his wife. The main character is going through an identity crisis, mainly emptiness. He feels cooped up in his native land that the white man took. The white man also brought vicious destruction and introduced alcohol to his people. James Welch purposely meant to keep the name of the main character from us, the reader, so we could get the feeling that the main character is absent in his own self destructive behavior, because without a defined identity, it shows an emptiness within his soul.
He sometimes lives in the past due to the memories of his father, First Raise and his brother, Mose who are both dead. For instance, “He was around enough- he was on his way home when they found him, too” (19). Another instance was when Teresa was enraged and said,
“ Do you suppose he was happy lying in that ditch with his eyes frozen shut, stinking of beer…” while the main character saw something other than Teresa, “ But that was a different figure in the ditch, not First Raise, not the man who fixed machinery, who planned his hunt with such care that he never made it. Unlike Teresa, I didn’t know the man who froze in the borrow pit. Maybe that’s why I felt nothing until the funeral” 20).
As time passed the main character felt that no consequences had come to him, after ten years when his fathers wandering ended in that ditch. When his father died, the main character always wondered why his father disappeared most of the time. After a conversation with his mother, he realized that she never understood his father either. That’s why his father went to town and made the white men laugh like he did. For instance, “ Despite their mocking way, they respected his ability to fix things. They gave him more that his wife” (21).The only reason the main character’s father stayed as long as he did was “because of my brother, Mose and me”(21). Going against his grandmother’s feelings about his “ wife”, the young Native American man went after her, to bring her back. As he was walking down a street he had a flashback 20 years before while a young boy when his father, brother, and him had done many things together. Those days were the happy times. His brother, and him felt loved and protected by his father while he was alive.
The main character’s so called wife had left him and that incident helped create the emptiness he felt throughout this “heroes journey” to the new world. Some instances was when he had went to town, and a few days later the Cree woman (his “wife”)had left him. “ She left three days ago, just after you went to town”. “It doesn’t matter,” I said (3). He had pulled an invisible shield over his family because he really did care and it did matter that she left him. He decided to go after her even though his grandmother’s feelings toward the Cree woman. For instance, “ The old lady imagined that the girl was Cree and enemy and plotted ways to slit her throat” (5). Another instance is,
“ She was Cree and not worth a damn. Not worth going after. My grandmother, before she quit talking, had told me how Crees never cared for anybody but themselves. Crees drank too much and fought with other Indians in bars, though they had never fought on the battlefield. She told me how frees were good only for the white men who came to slaughter Indians. Crees had served as scouts for the mounted soldiers and had learned to live like them, drink like them, and the girls had opened their thighs to the Long Knives. The children of these unions were doubly cursed in the eyes of the old woman. So she sat in the rocker and plotted ways to kill the girl who was thought to be my wife” (33).
With that judgment she put on the Crees and his “ wife” he decided to locate and bring her back home with him thinking, that make things all better for him and his life as It is in the present.
Finally, there were instances that helped him fulfill his emptiness, become solid and whole again, and find his identity as he desperately needed to move on from his old world and create and live in his new world. For example, he returned home to find out that his grandmother had died, “ The old lady must have died. That’s why the house was so quiet” (131). Another example was when he discovered blood on his shirt, “ I hadn’t noticed the bloodstains on my shirt before-there were five of them, one after another, down the front. I opened a burner plate on the wood stove and stuffed it in” (132). With the digging of his grandmothers grave( on the homeland) and burial of his grandmother, it brought back the memory of how his brother, Mose died. For instance,
“ Dust from the road drifted toward the graveyard. There was a grave I hadn’t looked at yet. It was marked with a wooden cross just tall enough to stand above the weeds which grew up around it. Although I couldn't see it, there would be an unpainted wooden border around the grave. A circle of Styrofoam hung from the top point of the cross. From the bottom of the circle, pointing down, a piece of wire wrapped in green, and , below that, a faded paper flower barely visible in the weeds. There was no headstone, no name, no dates. My brother”(143).
“ It was this necessity, this knowledge of death”(145) helped the main character forgive himself for his brothers death, and realize that his brother Mose, sacrificed himself out of love and protection so that his younger brother could live, “ the smaller figure flying slowly over the top of the car to land with the hush of a stuffed doll”(142). He realized that he needed to change for the better when he finally decided that “This greedy stupid country” (169) was what made him as he is and what he wants to change about himself, “ I crouched and spent the next few minutes planning my new life”(169). when he was wondering whether his brother and father was comfortable where they were now, “I wondered if Mose and First Raise were comfortable . They were the only ones I really loved, I thought the only ones who were good to be with” (172). Finally, the last passage that allowed him to get his reward, actually move on in the new world was, “ I threw the pouch into the grave”(176).
In conclusion, the main character had to understand not only why his brother died for him, but also see his father the way he really was. Also experience the death of his grandmother needed to fulfill his emptiness and become “whole” again. This caused him to want to make a change within himself and move on into the new world. James Welch meant to have the main character nameless to show that he has emptiness within his soul. Also when the white men brought the alcohol, vicious destruction to his native land and took his native land from his people, he feels cooped up.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A summary of D.H. Lawrence's Why the Novel Matters
As a man needs change and continuous moving on by mental and physical ways, a novel needs the characters to "live" in the story. If the patterns of "life" doesn't change and stays the same, life will cease to live within the man, woman, or story.
Also depending on the scenario , life can be good, bad, right, wrong, life , or death. So to live your life and the characters live their life in the story, something in their life or the surroundings involved with the characters need to change whether it be good, bad, right, or wrong. With that said, the change decides who lives the chosen life, and how it is to be lived in a physical way or in a novel so that the reader understands the characters way of life, consistency, and acceptance of life.
Also depending on the scenario , life can be good, bad, right, wrong, life , or death. So to live your life and the characters live their life in the story, something in their life or the surroundings involved with the characters need to change whether it be good, bad, right, or wrong. With that said, the change decides who lives the chosen life, and how it is to be lived in a physical way or in a novel so that the reader understands the characters way of life, consistency, and acceptance of life.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Janie's Voice and Identity essay, revised
Bernadette Miner
Mr. Joyce
20TH Century Fiction
September 19, 2007
Janie’s Voice and Identity
In Hurstons novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, she used many symbolic descriptions, voices, and identities. Janie Crawford had many voices and identities in the story. Voices can be expressed verbally or nonverbally. Identities are different for all human beings, but involves individuality. Janie has many of them in many events of her life. Hurston used the character, Janie, in such a way that finds a voice that helps her realize that she has the power of intelligence, controlling her own destiny, adjusting the hurt she feels, and places Janie in a place of succession. Through many struggles and tribulations finds, protects, and delivers her voice and identity by the end of the novel.
For instance Janie’s grandmother, Nanny, was a slave and never able to speak. “You
know, honey, us colored folks is branches without roots and that makes things come round in queer ways. You in particular. Ah was born back due in slavery so it wasn’t for me to fulfill my dreams of whut a woman oughta be and to do. Dat’s one of de hold-backs of slavery. But nothing can’t stop you from wishin’.” ( 16 ). Another quote showing this evidence is, “ Ah wanted to preach a great sermon about colored women sittin’ on high, but they wasn’t no pulpit for me.” ( 16 ) She wanted Janie to have a voice and have people listen to her. Janie married Joe Starks, left for EatonVille where Joe became mayor. Eatonville citizens wanted Janie to make a speech, but Joe interrupted by saying,” Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know
nothin’ bout’ no speech makin’.. ah never married her for nothing’ lak dat. She uh woman and her place is in de home.”( 43 ). She wanted to speak at another occasion about Matt Bonner’s mule, but was again forbidden to do so, as well as telling stories to other people, which she was good at and liked to do. “ Janie loved the conversation and sometimes thought up good stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge. He didn’t want her talking after such trashy people.” ( 53-54). Eventually she is tired of being belittled and insulted by Joe, that she is less conversational as time goes on and decides to quit fighting back. It wasn’t worth trying anymore. “ Dat’s ‘cause you need telling’,” he rejoiced hotly.” It would be pitiful if Ah didn’t. Someone got to think for women and chillun and chickens and cows. I god, they sho don’t think none
themselves.”( 71 ).
Later on she married Tea Cake. Janie is allowed speak her mind. He wanted and encouraged her to speak what she felt and react to them, as opposed to Joe. In the Ever Glades, Janie feels that she can contribute to the stories other people are telling and she had a voice there.
Hurston used very interesting and different identities in the book Their Eyes Were Watching God. For instance, when Janie has no grip on her identity when she was a girl, until she sees a picture of herself as a young child. “So when we looked at de picture and everyone got pointed out there wasn’t nobody left except a real dark little girl with hair standing by Eleanor. dat’s where Ah wuz supposed to be, but Ah couldn’t recognize dat dark chile as me. So Ah ast, ‘where is me? Ah don’t see me.’( 9 ). “ Everybody laughed, even Mr. Washburn. Miss Nellie, de Mama of de chillun who come back after her husband dead, she pointed to de dark one and said, ‘Dat’s you, alphabet, don’t you know yo’ ownself?’( 9 ). Janie not knowing she was “mulatto” until she found out that her mother and grandmother were both raped by white men. She was
confused and unaware of her identity when everyone called her by many different names. “ Dey all useter call me Alphabet ‘cause so many people had done named me different names. Ah looked at de picture a long tome and seen it was mah dress and mah hair so ah said:” Aw, aw! Ah’m colored!”( 9 ).
Raised by her grandmother, Janie unaware of her family history, and not knowingher father put mental confinement on her own identity. Janie’s identity grew as she become a woman by realizing that love don’t make a marriage, but a wonderful relationship between a couple. “ Ah know all dem sitter-and-talkers gointuh worry they guts into fiddle strings till dey find out whut we been talkin’ ‘bout. Dat’s all right, Pheoby, tell ‘em. Dey gointuh make ‘miration ‘cause mah love didn’t work lak they love, if dey ever had any. Then you must tell ‘em dat love ain’t something’ lak uh grindstone dat’s de same thing everywhere and do de same thing tuh everthing it touch. Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.”(191). For instance when Janie married Logan Killick, so that her grandmother can pass away peacefully and know her wish for her granddaughter was fulfilled. She had no grip on her identity again when Janie married Joe
Starks as he has her tie her hair up in head rags out of jealousy of other men wanting her and not allowing her to be herself. As Joe Starks passes away, her identity grew. She unties her hair, burns her head rags, and decides to do as she pleases, and live her life the way she chooses. For instance her hair became her unique identity and a representation of her power. It also represents her independence and defiance of other peoples’ thinking and symbolize“whiteness”contributing to the normally white male power that she empowers that disrupts the traditional power relationships.” Nigger, whut’s yo’baby doin’ wid gray eyes and yaller hair?” ( 17 ).
She realized her identity changed in a good way, when her grandmother wanted her to search for things, when all Janie wanted was someone to love and someone to giver love back, as Tea Cake achieved. Janie achieved her identity when she has been to the horizon and back, met her dreams, and feels her soul was once separated from her body and now her soul is part of her. All the experienced events, trials, and tribulations help achieve this.
In conclusion, Janie had no voice, no identity when she was younger. As she grew, experienced new events, and lived her life that she had, Janie finally succeeded her voice, identity, and sense of living for the future, what ever it may be.
Mr. Joyce
20TH Century Fiction
September 19, 2007
Janie’s Voice and Identity
In Hurstons novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, she used many symbolic descriptions, voices, and identities. Janie Crawford had many voices and identities in the story. Voices can be expressed verbally or nonverbally. Identities are different for all human beings, but involves individuality. Janie has many of them in many events of her life. Hurston used the character, Janie, in such a way that finds a voice that helps her realize that she has the power of intelligence, controlling her own destiny, adjusting the hurt she feels, and places Janie in a place of succession. Through many struggles and tribulations finds, protects, and delivers her voice and identity by the end of the novel.
For instance Janie’s grandmother, Nanny, was a slave and never able to speak. “You
know, honey, us colored folks is branches without roots and that makes things come round in queer ways. You in particular. Ah was born back due in slavery so it wasn’t for me to fulfill my dreams of whut a woman oughta be and to do. Dat’s one of de hold-backs of slavery. But nothing can’t stop you from wishin’.” ( 16 ). Another quote showing this evidence is, “ Ah wanted to preach a great sermon about colored women sittin’ on high, but they wasn’t no pulpit for me.” ( 16 ) She wanted Janie to have a voice and have people listen to her. Janie married Joe Starks, left for EatonVille where Joe became mayor. Eatonville citizens wanted Janie to make a speech, but Joe interrupted by saying,” Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know
nothin’ bout’ no speech makin’.. ah never married her for nothing’ lak dat. She uh woman and her place is in de home.”( 43 ). She wanted to speak at another occasion about Matt Bonner’s mule, but was again forbidden to do so, as well as telling stories to other people, which she was good at and liked to do. “ Janie loved the conversation and sometimes thought up good stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge. He didn’t want her talking after such trashy people.” ( 53-54). Eventually she is tired of being belittled and insulted by Joe, that she is less conversational as time goes on and decides to quit fighting back. It wasn’t worth trying anymore. “ Dat’s ‘cause you need telling’,” he rejoiced hotly.” It would be pitiful if Ah didn’t. Someone got to think for women and chillun and chickens and cows. I god, they sho don’t think none
themselves.”( 71 ).
Later on she married Tea Cake. Janie is allowed speak her mind. He wanted and encouraged her to speak what she felt and react to them, as opposed to Joe. In the Ever Glades, Janie feels that she can contribute to the stories other people are telling and she had a voice there.
Hurston used very interesting and different identities in the book Their Eyes Were Watching God. For instance, when Janie has no grip on her identity when she was a girl, until she sees a picture of herself as a young child. “So when we looked at de picture and everyone got pointed out there wasn’t nobody left except a real dark little girl with hair standing by Eleanor. dat’s where Ah wuz supposed to be, but Ah couldn’t recognize dat dark chile as me. So Ah ast, ‘where is me? Ah don’t see me.’( 9 ). “ Everybody laughed, even Mr. Washburn. Miss Nellie, de Mama of de chillun who come back after her husband dead, she pointed to de dark one and said, ‘Dat’s you, alphabet, don’t you know yo’ ownself?’( 9 ). Janie not knowing she was “mulatto” until she found out that her mother and grandmother were both raped by white men. She was
confused and unaware of her identity when everyone called her by many different names. “ Dey all useter call me Alphabet ‘cause so many people had done named me different names. Ah looked at de picture a long tome and seen it was mah dress and mah hair so ah said:” Aw, aw! Ah’m colored!”( 9 ).
Raised by her grandmother, Janie unaware of her family history, and not knowingher father put mental confinement on her own identity. Janie’s identity grew as she become a woman by realizing that love don’t make a marriage, but a wonderful relationship between a couple. “ Ah know all dem sitter-and-talkers gointuh worry they guts into fiddle strings till dey find out whut we been talkin’ ‘bout. Dat’s all right, Pheoby, tell ‘em. Dey gointuh make ‘miration ‘cause mah love didn’t work lak they love, if dey ever had any. Then you must tell ‘em dat love ain’t something’ lak uh grindstone dat’s de same thing everywhere and do de same thing tuh everthing it touch. Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.”(191). For instance when Janie married Logan Killick, so that her grandmother can pass away peacefully and know her wish for her granddaughter was fulfilled. She had no grip on her identity again when Janie married Joe
Starks as he has her tie her hair up in head rags out of jealousy of other men wanting her and not allowing her to be herself. As Joe Starks passes away, her identity grew. She unties her hair, burns her head rags, and decides to do as she pleases, and live her life the way she chooses. For instance her hair became her unique identity and a representation of her power. It also represents her independence and defiance of other peoples’ thinking and symbolize“whiteness”contributing to the normally white male power that she empowers that disrupts the traditional power relationships.” Nigger, whut’s yo’baby doin’ wid gray eyes and yaller hair?” ( 17 ).
She realized her identity changed in a good way, when her grandmother wanted her to search for things, when all Janie wanted was someone to love and someone to giver love back, as Tea Cake achieved. Janie achieved her identity when she has been to the horizon and back, met her dreams, and feels her soul was once separated from her body and now her soul is part of her. All the experienced events, trials, and tribulations help achieve this.
In conclusion, Janie had no voice, no identity when she was younger. As she grew, experienced new events, and lived her life that she had, Janie finally succeeded her voice, identity, and sense of living for the future, what ever it may be.
A Continuity of Parks
The surrealism of A Continuity of Parks is so strong that he, the reader gets into a split screen while reading the story.For instance he caresses the green velvet, just as the lady carresses her secret lover when he arrives. The secret lover is not so interested in her anymore and wants to get away from her somehow, just as the reader has signed over his estate to someone else due to not interested in it anymore either. The unwantedness is unbearable and the reader, as well as the secret lover, the gentleman, wants to escape somehow out of the situation they are in right now.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Winter In The Blood, part 2 summary
In part 2, the nameless narrator has an issue with the emptiness feeling that is haunting him where ever he goes. He seeks women, booze, and fights to try to fill that emptiness. Where he was raised by mostly women, loseing his father and 14 year old brother Moses, and drinking to forget memories he doesnt want to remember causes him to want to lose himself, have his shadow along with himself erased. He is a victim archetype and uses self pity on himself at times he is at his lowest inner conscious.
research question
Where archytypes are used in writing of fiction stories, how many ways are they used in the 20th Century Fiction and what are the ways that they are used?
Monday, October 8, 2007
Summary of Signs and Symbols by Vladimir Nabokov
In Signs and Symbols by Vladimir Nabokav, he is portraying the couples son, as a victim archetype. First he wants no desires like most people. Secondly, he comes from a lower class family.Thirdly, has mental problems. Finally, trys to end his life many times to escape the real world. Some instances were as follows:
" For the fourth time in as many years they were confronted with the problem of what birthday present tdo bring a young man who was incurably deranged in his mind. He had no desires."(659).
" A nurse they knew, and did not care for, appeared at last and brightly explained that he had again attempted to take his life."(660)
"The last time he had tried to do it, his method had been, in the doctor's words, a masterpiece of inventiveness; he would have succeeded had not an envious fellow patient thought he was learning to fly- and stopped him. What he really wanted to do was to tear a hole in his world and escape." (660)
"She wore cheap black dresses." (659)
" Her husband, who in the old country had been a fairly successful businessman, was now was wholly dependent on his brother Isaac, a real American of almost forty years standing."(660)
"Four years old, in the park: moodily,shyly, with puckered forehead, looking away from a eagerly squirrel as he would from any other stranger."(661)
" Age six- that was when he drew wonderful birds with human hands feet, and suffered from insomnia like a grown- up man."(661)
His parents saw a bird under a tree and symbolized it as being their son and the way he is having to live right now.An instance would be," A few feet away, under a swaying and dripping tree, a tiny half-dead unfledged bird was helplessly twitching in the puddle."( 660).
" For the fourth time in as many years they were confronted with the problem of what birthday present tdo bring a young man who was incurably deranged in his mind. He had no desires."(659).
" A nurse they knew, and did not care for, appeared at last and brightly explained that he had again attempted to take his life."(660)
"The last time he had tried to do it, his method had been, in the doctor's words, a masterpiece of inventiveness; he would have succeeded had not an envious fellow patient thought he was learning to fly- and stopped him. What he really wanted to do was to tear a hole in his world and escape." (660)
"She wore cheap black dresses." (659)
" Her husband, who in the old country had been a fairly successful businessman, was now was wholly dependent on his brother Isaac, a real American of almost forty years standing."(660)
"Four years old, in the park: moodily,shyly, with puckered forehead, looking away from a eagerly squirrel as he would from any other stranger."(661)
" Age six- that was when he drew wonderful birds with human hands feet, and suffered from insomnia like a grown- up man."(661)
His parents saw a bird under a tree and symbolized it as being their son and the way he is having to live right now.An instance would be," A few feet away, under a swaying and dripping tree, a tiny half-dead unfledged bird was helplessly twitching in the puddle."( 660).
Thursday, October 4, 2007
summary of Winter In The Blood, part one
To begin with, it seems that the main character, who is nameless, is from a Indian reservation.
He had come home from partying at the town near by, got in a fight, and when he come home his, who everyone thought to be his wife to be, had left him and took his 30-30 gun with her. to me he seems as if he don't care about nobody but himself. For instance, "She left three days ago, just after you went to town." " It doesn't matter," I said. (3). The only one he seemed to care about was his father.An example, "But Ill tell you one thing--Ive never seen a sorrier sight when he did come back." (17). He had many hobbies and they were fishing, drinking, putting Cree women down, and hang in bars. For instance, "She was Cree not worth a damn"(33). Another example of his hobbies were, "I drained off my beer and pointed to the empty bottle. " "Barman!" (45). A final example was when he , the nameless character (narrator) said, "..... picked up my fishing gear and drove away." (45). One final note to part one, is the setting and plot is in the modern days of indians and how they live yet to this day.
He had come home from partying at the town near by, got in a fight, and when he come home his, who everyone thought to be his wife to be, had left him and took his 30-30 gun with her. to me he seems as if he don't care about nobody but himself. For instance, "She left three days ago, just after you went to town." " It doesn't matter," I said. (3). The only one he seemed to care about was his father.An example, "But Ill tell you one thing--Ive never seen a sorrier sight when he did come back." (17). He had many hobbies and they were fishing, drinking, putting Cree women down, and hang in bars. For instance, "She was Cree not worth a damn"(33). Another example of his hobbies were, "I drained off my beer and pointed to the empty bottle. " "Barman!" (45). A final example was when he , the nameless character (narrator) said, "..... picked up my fishing gear and drove away." (45). One final note to part one, is the setting and plot is in the modern days of indians and how they live yet to this day.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
An interview with Hemingway
To begin, Hemingway believes that eliminating many titles thought up while writing the story
helps decide the final title of the book.By observing you are constantly writing and sometimes you can observe consciously or unconsciously. For instance, " Surely. If a writer stops observing he is finished. But he does not have to observe consciously nor think how it will be useful" (990). If a writer don't know right from wrong, the writer shouldn't be writing novels at all. Hemingway in his interview said, "A writer without a sense of justice and of injustice would be better off editing the Year Book of a school for exceptional children than writing novels" ( 992). With prior experiences, observation, and knowledge of what you, the writer is writing about , it makes it easier to put things and ideas down, organize, and create a story or novel and bring the novel " alive" and can call your writing your own, no one else's.
helps decide the final title of the book.By observing you are constantly writing and sometimes you can observe consciously or unconsciously. For instance, " Surely. If a writer stops observing he is finished. But he does not have to observe consciously nor think how it will be useful" (990). If a writer don't know right from wrong, the writer shouldn't be writing novels at all. Hemingway in his interview said, "A writer without a sense of justice and of injustice would be better off editing the Year Book of a school for exceptional children than writing novels" ( 992). With prior experiences, observation, and knowledge of what you, the writer is writing about , it makes it easier to put things and ideas down, organize, and create a story or novel and bring the novel " alive" and can call your writing your own, no one else's.
Character analysis and archetyps in Cannery Row
Miner 1
Bernadette Miner
Mr. Joyce
20TH Century Fiction
October 2, 2007
Character analysis and Archetypes in Cannery Row
In Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, he has many different characters with personalities that are unique. Archetypes can be adapted to the characteristic personalities at the same time. Everyone has a personality, whether they have one or multiple personalities. Any one character or person can be one or more archetypes. For instance: in The Grapes of Wrath also by John Steinbeck, Tom Joad had become hero archetype,the one who must tackle obstacles , the prostitute archetype who engages lessons in integrity or negotitiations in integrity or spirit due to fears of physical or financial survival or for financial gain, and the outcast archetype, who was cast out of a social group for crime(s) committed, all in one story. He had a soft, gentle heartedness, but lunging anger personality when tested. Doc, and Mack, characters in Cannery Row have multiple Archetypes, adapting their personality values.
Doc was a calm and collective Marine Biologist. He liked to travel and collect many different species of animal life who owned his own Western Biological Laboratory. “Doc was collecting marine animals in the Great Tide Pool on the tip of the Peninsula” (30). He had many friends, but no female friends. If he had any female friends, the relationship didn’t last long. For
Miner 2
most part he was lonely. One of Doc’s personalities was sympathy. For instance: “Doc clipped
Frankie’s hair and got rid of the lice. At Lee Chong’s he got him a new pair of overalls and a striped sweater and Frankie became his slave”(58). Doc has adapted his sympathy with his
mentor archetype, one who advises or teaches. For instance, “He wanted to work in the laboratory. He swept out everyday, but there was something a little wrong. He couldn’t get a floor quite clean. He tried to help with grading crayfish for size. There they were in a bucket, all sizes” ( 59).Frankie tried and the perspiration stood on his forehead but he couldn’t do it”, “No,” Doc would say. “Look, Frankie. Put them beside your finger like this so you’ll know which ones are this long. See? This one goes from the tip of your finger down to the same place and it will be right”(59).
He had become angry when he come home from La Jolla where he was collecting baby octopi due to his laboratory torn to pieces like a tornado went through it. The archetype that is connected to this emotion would be the victim. For instance “Doc’s eyes flamed red with anger” (129). “ Did you do this?”, “Well, I and the boys--” Doc’s small hard fist whipped out and splashed against Mack’s mouth. Doc’s eyes shone with a red animal rage” (130). An example to show the victim archetype was, “The lights blazed in the laboratory. The front door hung sideways by one hinge. The floor was littered with broken glass. Phonograph record, some broken, some only nicked, were strewn about. The plates with pieces of steak ends and coagulating grease were on the floor, on top of the bookcases, under the bed. Whiskey glasses lay sadly on their sides. Some one trying to climb the bookcases had pulled out a whole section of
Miner 3
books and spilled them in broken-backed confusion on the floor” (126).
Doc had another personality value, Loneliness. It seems that he has a lot of friends and is
very friendly himself, but when it comes to lady relationships he isn’t successful. For instance, “ Henri went over the story again and the girl’s eyes sparkled” (138). “ Doc watched them go a little sourly. After all it had been his date” (138). The archetype Doc can be categorized in is
the hero. He finds out about the party and decides to do something to help out without all of the town people catching on. An example of this archetype is, “ The next day he began making his own preparations for the party. His best records he carried into the back room where they could be locked away.He moved every bit of equipment that was breakable back there too. He knew how it would be-- his guests would be hungry and they wouldn’t bring anything to eat. They would run out of liquor early, they always did. A little wearily he went up to the Thrift Market where there was a fine and understanding butcher” (170). Another site of evidence was, “Doc ordered fifteen pounds of steaks, ten pounds of tomatoes, twelve heads of lettuce, six loaves of bread, a big jar of peanut butter and one of strawberry jam, five gallons of wine and four quarts of a good substantial but not distinguished whiskey” (170- 171).
Mack, the second main character in Cannery Row also had many personality values and archetypes that adapted as well. One was Low Self Esteem. For instance, “ Mack’s head jolted but he was braced now so he wouldn’t fall. And his hands stayed at his sides, “Go ahead, Doc,”
Miner 4
he said thickly through his broken lips.” “ I got it coming” (130). Another example would be, “She got out of hand,” said Mack. “ It don’t do no good to say I’m sorry. I been sorry all my life. This aint no new thing. Its always like this.” He swallowed deeply from his glass. “ I had a wife,” Mack said. “Same thing. Ever’thing I done turned sour” (131).
Mack was a concerned individual for hurt animals and any friends of his that may need help for any reason. For instance, “ Now a genuine panic came over the Palace Flophouse. Darling had come to be vastly important to them”(146). “ Hazel and Jones were chosen to call on Doc” ( 146). “ It’s Darling,” they said. “ She’s sick.” “ What’s the matter with her?” “ Mack says it’s distemper” (147).He also has a “take charge” mode as well, the common courtesy value of life for him and other people around him. He decided for saving Darlings life and ruining Doc’s laboratory, Mack wanted to do something for him. Dora suggested a party. “Well,” said Mack, “ I and the boys thought we’d ask you. You know what we think of Doc. We wanted to ask you what you thought we could do for him that would kind of show him” (150). “ She shook out a cigarette, lighted it and studied. “You gave him a party he didn’t get to. Why don’t you give him a party he does get to”(150)?
An archetype that Mack fits into would be the Child archetype, who is awaken with desire to find path of service to help others, as well as the Scapegoat archetype, who takes the blame for all that has happened. As it suggests in the following proof of evidence. “ Mack came back from the laboratory with his mouth torn and his teeth broken. As a kind of penance, he did not wash his face. He went over to his bed and pulled his blanket over his head and he didn’t get up all day. His heart was as bruised as his mouth. He went over all the bad things he had done in his life and everything he had done seemed bad. He was very sad” (139).
He is a Trickster (one who provokes and cons to get what he/she wants) archetype also. . For instance, “ I and Eddie and the rest heard you own the Abbeville place.” Lee Chong nodded
and waited. “ I and my friends thought we’d ast you if we could move in there. We’ll keep up the property.” He added quickly. “Wouldn’t let anybody break in or hurt anything. Kids might knock out the windows, you know--” Mack suggested. “Place might just burn down if somebody don’t keep an eye on it” (10). “ Good,” said Mack. “ I knew Doc could depend on you” (56). “He turned about to leave. “By the way,” he said. “ Doc’s paying us five cents a piece for those frogs. We’re going to get seven or eight hundred. How about taking a pint of Old Tennis Shoes just ’til we can get back with the frogs?” “No!” said Lee Chong”(56).
In conclusion, John Steinbeck uses multiple character analysis and archetypes in Cannery Row. He uses many characters, but Doc and Mack are the two main characters used. That isn’t to say all the characters in the story don’t play an important role and carry multiple personality values and archetypes. This book is written very well and uses many archetypes and personality values to help us understand the way of living in Monterey, California at the area of Cannery Row. Therefore Steinbeck’s’ use of archetypes through the characters, helps to portray the faces and souls of the citizens around Cannery Row. This leading to an understanding of how they each lived to survive.
Bernadette Miner
Mr. Joyce
20TH Century Fiction
October 2, 2007
Character analysis and Archetypes in Cannery Row
In Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, he has many different characters with personalities that are unique. Archetypes can be adapted to the characteristic personalities at the same time. Everyone has a personality, whether they have one or multiple personalities. Any one character or person can be one or more archetypes. For instance: in The Grapes of Wrath also by John Steinbeck, Tom Joad had become hero archetype,the one who must tackle obstacles , the prostitute archetype who engages lessons in integrity or negotitiations in integrity or spirit due to fears of physical or financial survival or for financial gain, and the outcast archetype, who was cast out of a social group for crime(s) committed, all in one story. He had a soft, gentle heartedness, but lunging anger personality when tested. Doc, and Mack, characters in Cannery Row have multiple Archetypes, adapting their personality values.
Doc was a calm and collective Marine Biologist. He liked to travel and collect many different species of animal life who owned his own Western Biological Laboratory. “Doc was collecting marine animals in the Great Tide Pool on the tip of the Peninsula” (30). He had many friends, but no female friends. If he had any female friends, the relationship didn’t last long. For
Miner 2
most part he was lonely. One of Doc’s personalities was sympathy. For instance: “Doc clipped
Frankie’s hair and got rid of the lice. At Lee Chong’s he got him a new pair of overalls and a striped sweater and Frankie became his slave”(58). Doc has adapted his sympathy with his
mentor archetype, one who advises or teaches. For instance, “He wanted to work in the laboratory. He swept out everyday, but there was something a little wrong. He couldn’t get a floor quite clean. He tried to help with grading crayfish for size. There they were in a bucket, all sizes” ( 59).Frankie tried and the perspiration stood on his forehead but he couldn’t do it”, “No,” Doc would say. “Look, Frankie. Put them beside your finger like this so you’ll know which ones are this long. See? This one goes from the tip of your finger down to the same place and it will be right”(59).
He had become angry when he come home from La Jolla where he was collecting baby octopi due to his laboratory torn to pieces like a tornado went through it. The archetype that is connected to this emotion would be the victim. For instance “Doc’s eyes flamed red with anger” (129). “ Did you do this?”, “Well, I and the boys--” Doc’s small hard fist whipped out and splashed against Mack’s mouth. Doc’s eyes shone with a red animal rage” (130). An example to show the victim archetype was, “The lights blazed in the laboratory. The front door hung sideways by one hinge. The floor was littered with broken glass. Phonograph record, some broken, some only nicked, were strewn about. The plates with pieces of steak ends and coagulating grease were on the floor, on top of the bookcases, under the bed. Whiskey glasses lay sadly on their sides. Some one trying to climb the bookcases had pulled out a whole section of
Miner 3
books and spilled them in broken-backed confusion on the floor” (126).
Doc had another personality value, Loneliness. It seems that he has a lot of friends and is
very friendly himself, but when it comes to lady relationships he isn’t successful. For instance, “ Henri went over the story again and the girl’s eyes sparkled” (138). “ Doc watched them go a little sourly. After all it had been his date” (138). The archetype Doc can be categorized in is
the hero. He finds out about the party and decides to do something to help out without all of the town people catching on. An example of this archetype is, “ The next day he began making his own preparations for the party. His best records he carried into the back room where they could be locked away.He moved every bit of equipment that was breakable back there too. He knew how it would be-- his guests would be hungry and they wouldn’t bring anything to eat. They would run out of liquor early, they always did. A little wearily he went up to the Thrift Market where there was a fine and understanding butcher” (170). Another site of evidence was, “Doc ordered fifteen pounds of steaks, ten pounds of tomatoes, twelve heads of lettuce, six loaves of bread, a big jar of peanut butter and one of strawberry jam, five gallons of wine and four quarts of a good substantial but not distinguished whiskey” (170- 171).
Mack, the second main character in Cannery Row also had many personality values and archetypes that adapted as well. One was Low Self Esteem. For instance, “ Mack’s head jolted but he was braced now so he wouldn’t fall. And his hands stayed at his sides, “Go ahead, Doc,”
Miner 4
he said thickly through his broken lips.” “ I got it coming” (130). Another example would be, “She got out of hand,” said Mack. “ It don’t do no good to say I’m sorry. I been sorry all my life. This aint no new thing. Its always like this.” He swallowed deeply from his glass. “ I had a wife,” Mack said. “Same thing. Ever’thing I done turned sour” (131).
Mack was a concerned individual for hurt animals and any friends of his that may need help for any reason. For instance, “ Now a genuine panic came over the Palace Flophouse. Darling had come to be vastly important to them”(146). “ Hazel and Jones were chosen to call on Doc” ( 146). “ It’s Darling,” they said. “ She’s sick.” “ What’s the matter with her?” “ Mack says it’s distemper” (147).He also has a “take charge” mode as well, the common courtesy value of life for him and other people around him. He decided for saving Darlings life and ruining Doc’s laboratory, Mack wanted to do something for him. Dora suggested a party. “Well,” said Mack, “ I and the boys thought we’d ask you. You know what we think of Doc. We wanted to ask you what you thought we could do for him that would kind of show him” (150). “ She shook out a cigarette, lighted it and studied. “You gave him a party he didn’t get to. Why don’t you give him a party he does get to”(150)?
An archetype that Mack fits into would be the Child archetype, who is awaken with desire to find path of service to help others, as well as the Scapegoat archetype, who takes the blame for all that has happened. As it suggests in the following proof of evidence. “ Mack came back from the laboratory with his mouth torn and his teeth broken. As a kind of penance, he did not wash his face. He went over to his bed and pulled his blanket over his head and he didn’t get up all day. His heart was as bruised as his mouth. He went over all the bad things he had done in his life and everything he had done seemed bad. He was very sad” (139).
He is a Trickster (one who provokes and cons to get what he/she wants) archetype also. . For instance, “ I and Eddie and the rest heard you own the Abbeville place.” Lee Chong nodded
and waited. “ I and my friends thought we’d ast you if we could move in there. We’ll keep up the property.” He added quickly. “Wouldn’t let anybody break in or hurt anything. Kids might knock out the windows, you know--” Mack suggested. “Place might just burn down if somebody don’t keep an eye on it” (10). “ Good,” said Mack. “ I knew Doc could depend on you” (56). “He turned about to leave. “By the way,” he said. “ Doc’s paying us five cents a piece for those frogs. We’re going to get seven or eight hundred. How about taking a pint of Old Tennis Shoes just ’til we can get back with the frogs?” “No!” said Lee Chong”(56).
In conclusion, John Steinbeck uses multiple character analysis and archetypes in Cannery Row. He uses many characters, but Doc and Mack are the two main characters used. That isn’t to say all the characters in the story don’t play an important role and carry multiple personality values and archetypes. This book is written very well and uses many archetypes and personality values to help us understand the way of living in Monterey, California at the area of Cannery Row. Therefore Steinbeck’s’ use of archetypes through the characters, helps to portray the faces and souls of the citizens around Cannery Row. This leading to an understanding of how they each lived to survive.
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