This story makes me so angry. Reading the first hundred pages or so it made me angry and almost sick by what Daddy Glen did to Bone, the worst was that I didn't see it coming. What makes me so angry was that I don't understand how someone can do this , especially with all the circumstances at the time. It was her stepfather and Bone's mother was at the time trying to have a baby at the hospital, the thought of this makes me sick.
Beyond all this I feel bad for Bone in many ways. Because of her families financial status, I think Bone seems to have a hard time. But to add what Daddy Glen does, I feel, puts her over the edge sometime. When it gets to this point she tries to leave, not be at the house. Think about if it were you, afraid to go home? What would you do, where would you go. Also it makes me sad that her mother isn't doing more at this point to help her.
What really gets to me is the Bone seems to be blaming herself for what Daddy Glen is doing to her. I believe the reason she is doing this is because of how old she is. Children most times blame themselves for things, like if their parents got divorced, usually the child thinks it is something they did wrong. I think the same thing is happening here. Bone believes that it is something she did to make Daddy Glen act this way. I also think it has something to do with fear, because she knows what he is doing is wrong but she might think that if she tells someone that her mother has to choose between her and Glen, and in the back of her mind scared that her might pick Glen over her.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The Heaven of Animals
This poem made me think of doggie heaven. Like what your parents tell you your pet went, when it really died. But there was the difference, there was still the voilence like there is on earth. But to me I thought about it as for one animal. Say a lion, they hunt all day wanting the best kill, thats what they do. So if you think about it, if you believe in heaven, you want to think that you can do whatever you want there, in the lions case, getting the best kill.
Some of the description also sets a good picture of what they think the animals want as animal heaven, like
To match them, the landscape flowers,
Outdoing, desperately
Outdoing what is required:
The richest wood,
The deepest field.
With this you can see the picture of the beautiful land the animals are on.
This poem makes me think that the author was trying to say that there is a difference between humand and animals and that they do more and think more then we believe they do.
Some of the description also sets a good picture of what they think the animals want as animal heaven, like
To match them, the landscape flowers,
Outdoing, desperately
Outdoing what is required:
The richest wood,
The deepest field.
With this you can see the picture of the beautiful land the animals are on.
This poem makes me think that the author was trying to say that there is a difference between humand and animals and that they do more and think more then we believe they do.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A Dog's world
Reading the poem, "A dog sleeping on my feet" by James Dickey the whole time make me thing about my dog and being home. It was a very cozy poem, one that's soothing and fun to read. To me most of the poem was her thinking or writing in a dogs brain or was of thinking. It seemed like since the dog was on her feet it seemed to give her insight to their minds.
I know what she goes through, my dog wants to be with you at all times, especially if you are sitting in a comfortable chair. Even if you are just standing she wants to be close anyways, so she lays on your feet, sparled out, taking over. But like in the poem sometimes when she is on your feet or laying with you, you seem to think about the dog and what she is thinking more than what you had been doing before the dog got there.
It seems like she is writing his dream like in the lines,
"Like a twisting shout through the trees
Sent after the flying fox
Through the holes of logs, over streams"
It seems to me that the dog is dreaming of chasing a fox, running through the forest in pursuit. Overall I liked this poem, it was fun cute, like seeing things from a dogs eyes, but not on purpose.
I know what she goes through, my dog wants to be with you at all times, especially if you are sitting in a comfortable chair. Even if you are just standing she wants to be close anyways, so she lays on your feet, sparled out, taking over. But like in the poem sometimes when she is on your feet or laying with you, you seem to think about the dog and what she is thinking more than what you had been doing before the dog got there.
It seems like she is writing his dream like in the lines,
"Like a twisting shout through the trees
Sent after the flying fox
Through the holes of logs, over streams"
It seems to me that the dog is dreaming of chasing a fox, running through the forest in pursuit. Overall I liked this poem, it was fun cute, like seeing things from a dogs eyes, but not on purpose.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Seeing is Believing
Throughout most of the play I didn’t really see what was really wrong with Blanche. From just the dialogue you couldn’t really tell or notice anything. In the play reading it there was some stage direction but not too much to explain what Blanche was really doing. Like in the beginning of the play when Blanche is already there and Stanley comes home. At the time Stella is in the other room. In the play reading this you don’t know if there is tension or if Blanche is acting strange because there isn’t as much dialect talking about it. But in the movie you see the tension between them and the looks they are giving each other. Blanche also seems to have an attraction towards Stanley by the looks she gives him and the music in the background.
In the movie you also got a better sense of what the characters were like more because you could see what they looked like. But what I didn’t understand is in both the movie and the play Stanley is played up to be a macho guy who is tough, and handsome. But in the movie after the first time he attacks Stella when he is calling to her in that well known scene he is crying. He is crying and almost breaking down, the same scene in the book to be just sounded like he was drunk and yelling, not as upset as it seemed in the movie version.
Mitch in the movie version looked very shy and not very confident. All the other guys are mostly rude and don’t really care. Mitch dresses nice and leaves the games early to take care of his sick mother. All this was even more present in the movie in his dress, voice and everything he did. What he most reminded me of was in the movie “Chicago” the husband Amos. They both look alike and are both shy and let people, especially women walk all over them and take charge, or wear the pants in the family.
In the movie you also got a better sense of what the characters were like more because you could see what they looked like. But what I didn’t understand is in both the movie and the play Stanley is played up to be a macho guy who is tough, and handsome. But in the movie after the first time he attacks Stella when he is calling to her in that well known scene he is crying. He is crying and almost breaking down, the same scene in the book to be just sounded like he was drunk and yelling, not as upset as it seemed in the movie version.
Mitch in the movie version looked very shy and not very confident. All the other guys are mostly rude and don’t really care. Mitch dresses nice and leaves the games early to take care of his sick mother. All this was even more present in the movie in his dress, voice and everything he did. What he most reminded me of was in the movie “Chicago” the husband Amos. They both look alike and are both shy and let people, especially women walk all over them and take charge, or wear the pants in the family.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Living in the past
I found the play, "A Streetcar Named Desire" to be very interesting. But to me it depicted the south as a culture only in a person rather than a whole. Blanche who was Stella's sister seemed to try to be as much as the "southern belle" as she could trying to hold on to the past and things she know. But from the play you know the culture has changed and immigrants have come in and the southern culture is in this play almost lost, except for Blanche who is holding on to it for dear life.
What I found interesting is how Blanche acted. She made it seem like she was so much better than them especially Stanley. But through the whole play you know she seems slightly strange, but there is no knowing if they stories are true until Stanley finds out and exposes her. But what I find disturbing is how Stanley rapes her to get her out of the house. He know she wasn't stable and he knew he could break her but attacking her like he did. He also know no one would believe her because of all the lies she has told. I know Blanche was a ignoring person to live but but I do not agree with what Stanley did at all.
What I found interesting is how Blanche acted. She made it seem like she was so much better than them especially Stanley. But through the whole play you know she seems slightly strange, but there is no knowing if they stories are true until Stanley finds out and exposes her. But what I find disturbing is how Stanley rapes her to get her out of the house. He know she wasn't stable and he knew he could break her but attacking her like he did. He also know no one would believe her because of all the lies she has told. I know Blanche was a ignoring person to live but but I do not agree with what Stanley did at all.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
There Eyes Were Watching God Part 2
As I finished reading this story I realized how much it was different than other southern stories that we have read this year. Some have been of discovery like this one, but more of discovery of themselves in society or compared to society, in instead of discovery of themselves like this story is.
What I find interesting about this book is that for the time period that she was married three times in her life. My perception was that people in that time when married would stay married, especially black and workers. Like Janie's grandmother explained is that she needs to find in a husband someone who will be able to care for you, calling that love. I think my perceptions besides coming from stories and movies is that too me thinking about workers it seemed like the women would be doing different work from the women and at the end of the day everyone was exhausted and just wanted company, like they didn't have time to fight or disagree, which I realize I am wrong.
Also interesting is that each time Janie got married her husband's were completely different. But in the beginning they were all the same, they all told her that they would give her things like fun, protection, a supporter and adventure. But over time this faded with everyone except Tea Cake, could this be why she really loved him and only him? It seems this is directly related to freedom of love vs. relationships, the more freedom she was given the better she did.
What I find interesting about this book is that for the time period that she was married three times in her life. My perception was that people in that time when married would stay married, especially black and workers. Like Janie's grandmother explained is that she needs to find in a husband someone who will be able to care for you, calling that love. I think my perceptions besides coming from stories and movies is that too me thinking about workers it seemed like the women would be doing different work from the women and at the end of the day everyone was exhausted and just wanted company, like they didn't have time to fight or disagree, which I realize I am wrong.
Also interesting is that each time Janie got married her husband's were completely different. But in the beginning they were all the same, they all told her that they would give her things like fun, protection, a supporter and adventure. But over time this faded with everyone except Tea Cake, could this be why she really loved him and only him? It seems this is directly related to freedom of love vs. relationships, the more freedom she was given the better she did.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
There Eyes Were Watching God
What I found interesting is how different the characters and there customs were portrayed. The roles of men and women were very different than the usual portrayal of the southern gentlemen and the southern belle.
The opening paragraph started it, changing and challenging the gender roles. "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some then come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by time. That is the life of men." This opening looking back sets the stage for different gender roles. It seems like it is saying that the men dream of things, like being the southern gentlemen. So they seemed mocked by it trying to live up to a standard, trying to do the right thing and fight their desires. But it seems like eventually there dreams get the best of them and they make the change.
Like Janie's first husband, who she really didn't love from the start, gradually changed. I think part of it was that maybe he knew that she didn't love him, but he started out doing everything for her and treating her nicely. By the time she left him it seemed like she wanted her to do everything.
With her second husband, who I am still not sure it she truly loves goes through the same changes. He started out telling her she deserved more and needed someone to care. When they moved to the new town soon he had her running the store and doing things she really didn't want to do and maybe didn't know how.
It seems that part of the problem is Janie and not knowing what love is. It was like a tradition or a culture thing of that time to find a man based on how wealthy he was and if he had land and could support you. So I think that Janie at this point in the book doesn't know what love is.
The opening paragraph started it, changing and challenging the gender roles. "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some then come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by time. That is the life of men." This opening looking back sets the stage for different gender roles. It seems like it is saying that the men dream of things, like being the southern gentlemen. So they seemed mocked by it trying to live up to a standard, trying to do the right thing and fight their desires. But it seems like eventually there dreams get the best of them and they make the change.
Like Janie's first husband, who she really didn't love from the start, gradually changed. I think part of it was that maybe he knew that she didn't love him, but he started out doing everything for her and treating her nicely. By the time she left him it seemed like she wanted her to do everything.
With her second husband, who I am still not sure it she truly loves goes through the same changes. He started out telling her she deserved more and needed someone to care. When they moved to the new town soon he had her running the store and doing things she really didn't want to do and maybe didn't know how.
It seems that part of the problem is Janie and not knowing what love is. It was like a tradition or a culture thing of that time to find a man based on how wealthy he was and if he had land and could support you. So I think that Janie at this point in the book doesn't know what love is.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Katherine Anne Porter
Katherine Anne Porter has a very unique style of writing, but goes very well with the other southern writers we have read this year. All the writers seems to write about the same ideas or underlining themes like race relations, tradtiton and gender roles.
In "The Old Order" by Katherine Ann Porter depicts different aspects of race relations though the relationship between the Grandmother(Miss Sophia Jane) and Nannie. It is a very interesting relationship from the beginning till the end, it starting when they were both young and Miss Sophia Jane's father bought Nannie and her parents as slaves. It describes the big differences between Sophia Jane and Nannie, creating a clear picture that Sophia Jane was quite wealthy, well taken care of, and spoiled. In the beginning when the two girls meet it describes Sophia Jane in a little dress and hair curled just so, and Nannie with a bot belly and skinny arms from being malnourished. It is interesting how Porter puts this descitption in her because as the story progresses to be there seems to be only little difference between the two girls, except for the color of their skin. Even though Nannie was a slave it seems like Sophia Jane didn't treat her that way. Both women through their there lives had a lot of children, each child only a few months apart. At one point Nannie was too sick after her child to nurse it so Sophia Jane nursed both her child and Nannie's. This to me did not seem like a typical relationship for two people of different races at this time. "She sat nursing her child and her foster child, with a sensual warm pleasure she had not dreamed of, translating her natural physical relief into something holy, God-sent, amends from heaven for what she had suffered in childbed" Also very interesting to me is how she treated the child she helped nurse when Nannie was ill. "Charlie remained her special favorite among the Negro children. "I understand now," she said to her older sister Keziah, "why the black mammies love their foster children. I love mine." So Charlie was brought up in the house as playmate for her son Stephen, and exempted from hard work all his life." This seems interesting to me, and for this time very new treatment for the people of race. Also since Sophia Jane was so much against the "new women".
In "The Old Order" by Katherine Ann Porter depicts different aspects of race relations though the relationship between the Grandmother(Miss Sophia Jane) and Nannie. It is a very interesting relationship from the beginning till the end, it starting when they were both young and Miss Sophia Jane's father bought Nannie and her parents as slaves. It describes the big differences between Sophia Jane and Nannie, creating a clear picture that Sophia Jane was quite wealthy, well taken care of, and spoiled. In the beginning when the two girls meet it describes Sophia Jane in a little dress and hair curled just so, and Nannie with a bot belly and skinny arms from being malnourished. It is interesting how Porter puts this descitption in her because as the story progresses to be there seems to be only little difference between the two girls, except for the color of their skin. Even though Nannie was a slave it seems like Sophia Jane didn't treat her that way. Both women through their there lives had a lot of children, each child only a few months apart. At one point Nannie was too sick after her child to nurse it so Sophia Jane nursed both her child and Nannie's. This to me did not seem like a typical relationship for two people of different races at this time. "She sat nursing her child and her foster child, with a sensual warm pleasure she had not dreamed of, translating her natural physical relief into something holy, God-sent, amends from heaven for what she had suffered in childbed" Also very interesting to me is how she treated the child she helped nurse when Nannie was ill. "Charlie remained her special favorite among the Negro children. "I understand now," she said to her older sister Keziah, "why the black mammies love their foster children. I love mine." So Charlie was brought up in the house as playmate for her son Stephen, and exempted from hard work all his life." This seems interesting to me, and for this time very new treatment for the people of race. Also since Sophia Jane was so much against the "new women".
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Dry September
It is interesting that through this story, and the characters, you can see the story both ways, as Minnie Cooper being attacked or making it up for the attention. Even in this short story you get so many different kinds of characters, like the barber and McLendon. It seems to me that the barber is a character who is with the times, who accepts that blacks are not slaves anymore and that they should be given a chance. It seems like the other men are stubborn and set in their ways, not willing to change. Even though the barber doesn't succeed in changing the guy's mind he tries even though he knows that he is going to be made fun of and name called by other people in the town.
What makes me curious is that you don't know how it ends, you don't know if it true or not. Myself, I am undecided but more leaning towards it being a lie. The way he describes Minnie makes me think that she felt like people forgot about her, and she wanted some attention. Which in some way I can understand (wanting some attention, but not in this way) because to me the stereotype of southern ladies seems hard. Just because she wasn't the prettiest or smallest lady no one liked her or payed attention to her, including the boys. It makes me feel like this is today's high school, and even some colleges, where for the most part you are judged on your looks and sometimes on your class. Like the "popular girls" and the clicks within the school. Like in the story "Do you feel strong enough to go out?" they said, their eyes bright too, with a dark glitter. "When you have had time to get over the shock, you must tell us what happened. What he said and did; everything." I feel like these girls aren't really her friends and just want to know the gossip so they can spread it around town first. So thinking about it in a non-racial sense like the story is, Minnie herself and her life seem to be the same of some people today, and in which I know that both would wish to change it.
What makes me curious is that you don't know how it ends, you don't know if it true or not. Myself, I am undecided but more leaning towards it being a lie. The way he describes Minnie makes me think that she felt like people forgot about her, and she wanted some attention. Which in some way I can understand (wanting some attention, but not in this way) because to me the stereotype of southern ladies seems hard. Just because she wasn't the prettiest or smallest lady no one liked her or payed attention to her, including the boys. It makes me feel like this is today's high school, and even some colleges, where for the most part you are judged on your looks and sometimes on your class. Like the "popular girls" and the clicks within the school. Like in the story "Do you feel strong enough to go out?" they said, their eyes bright too, with a dark glitter. "When you have had time to get over the shock, you must tell us what happened. What he said and did; everything." I feel like these girls aren't really her friends and just want to know the gossip so they can spread it around town first. So thinking about it in a non-racial sense like the story is, Minnie herself and her life seem to be the same of some people today, and in which I know that both would wish to change it.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Kate C
What I found interesting about all of the Kate Choplin's pieces that we read was that they seemed to be more love stories, or had a romantic side compared to all the other stories we have read this semester.
What I found interesting is in "the storm" how even though she had an affair, she seemed to have no feelings of remorse of what she did, along with the man she had the affair with. Also what I don't understand is why she doesn't feel anything, especially since when her husband and son came back they were worried about being late, and brought her a can of sh rip, knowing that she likes them.
Opposite of "the storm" was "Desirre's Baby" with the complete different problem. In "the storm" she was unhappy with her life. But in "Desiree's baby" she was happy, so happy that she felt blessed when her husband just smiled. Then it was her husband who wasn't happy with their marriage because of their baby. I think that since her husband who she loved so much, didn't want her there anymore, that when she left and didn't go to the farm to her mother's house, that she went the other way to kill herself. Possibly thinking that she didn't want to live anymore if she couldn't live with her husband, because of the shame she put on him. Also the possibility that the word would get out about her and her baby, that they wouldn't be looked highly upon the rest of her life.
What I found interesting is in "the storm" how even though she had an affair, she seemed to have no feelings of remorse of what she did, along with the man she had the affair with. Also what I don't understand is why she doesn't feel anything, especially since when her husband and son came back they were worried about being late, and brought her a can of sh rip, knowing that she likes them.
Opposite of "the storm" was "Desirre's Baby" with the complete different problem. In "the storm" she was unhappy with her life. But in "Desiree's baby" she was happy, so happy that she felt blessed when her husband just smiled. Then it was her husband who wasn't happy with their marriage because of their baby. I think that since her husband who she loved so much, didn't want her there anymore, that when she left and didn't go to the farm to her mother's house, that she went the other way to kill herself. Possibly thinking that she didn't want to live anymore if she couldn't live with her husband, because of the shame she put on him. Also the possibility that the word would get out about her and her baby, that they wouldn't be looked highly upon the rest of her life.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Frederick Douglass
When reading this section, even though he was depicting his life, at some parts it seemed that he was almost repeating himself, writing about the same thing over and over again. Through the middle at points I got confused of where he was, who his master was, and what plantation he was on.
Although some of the stories seemed to be the same many did stand out, and for good reason. The story that most stuck out to me was when he was describing watching for the first time, someone receive a whipping, which also happens to be his aunt. There is so much description in this, that even though there seems not to be too much emotion, you as reader feel emotion because of the description. Although there is some debate whether he wrote this all himself and if he made some of it up or added to it, I and not sure what I believe. I think certain things like the story of his aunt being whipped isn't something you can forget, especially since it was his first time seeing this painful part of slavery. But I think that some for the parts like where he was , and everything very descriptive isn't something you can remember that clearly for so long. If you think about it, usually people can't remember most things they did in their childhood, only certain things, maybe good or bad.
Although some of the stories seemed to be the same many did stand out, and for good reason. The story that most stuck out to me was when he was describing watching for the first time, someone receive a whipping, which also happens to be his aunt. There is so much description in this, that even though there seems not to be too much emotion, you as reader feel emotion because of the description. Although there is some debate whether he wrote this all himself and if he made some of it up or added to it, I and not sure what I believe. I think certain things like the story of his aunt being whipped isn't something you can forget, especially since it was his first time seeing this painful part of slavery. But I think that some for the parts like where he was , and everything very descriptive isn't something you can remember that clearly for so long. If you think about it, usually people can't remember most things they did in their childhood, only certain things, maybe good or bad.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
George Fitzhugh
Reading George Fitzhugh I became very confused. Since he went back and forth between different issues, I found it hard to not like him, but at the same time I didn't like him. His first points that he makes were to me the most confusing. He believes that slavery should be for black and whites, but overall is for slavery. In the same page he says he is against racism. To me racism isn't all about back or white but about people and their treatment from other people and society. So when George says he isn't racist but is for slavery, it makes no sense to me.
Throughout the rest of the passage he goes on to contradict himself about many different issues. He makes a comment that he doesn't like or agree with the Declaration of Independence or the Virgina Bill of Rights, which are about equal rights. But then he wants women to be educated and believes "for it is the mother who first affects opinions". This goes against his hatred of the Declaration and equal rights. So while I like him for wanted women to be educated, I don't agree with him about others right whether they are slaves or not.
Also through the passage he brags about the south. He believes that the south is better than anywhere else, like it is a separate country from the rest of the states. He even compares the south to Europe. So although you start to hate George, he will then go and say something that you can't help agree with him on. He just seems like one of those people that even if you wanted to you can't hate.
Throughout the rest of the passage he goes on to contradict himself about many different issues. He makes a comment that he doesn't like or agree with the Declaration of Independence or the Virgina Bill of Rights, which are about equal rights. But then he wants women to be educated and believes "for it is the mother who first affects opinions". This goes against his hatred of the Declaration and equal rights. So while I like him for wanted women to be educated, I don't agree with him about others right whether they are slaves or not.
Also through the passage he brags about the south. He believes that the south is better than anywhere else, like it is a separate country from the rest of the states. He even compares the south to Europe. So although you start to hate George, he will then go and say something that you can't help agree with him on. He just seems like one of those people that even if you wanted to you can't hate.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
For our first assignment we had to read about John Smith. I thought I knew a good amount about him but I was completely wrong. All though elementary school and through the Disney movie Pocahontas you are given this image of John Smith, that he is a good guy and wanted to help people and not take over the Native American’s land or try to change their traditions or ways of life in any sense. But when I read this I got a totally opposite vision of John Smith.
In the first reading I feel like he is preaching of his ways and ideas. Making it sound like he believes that there is only one way to live. It seems that he believes that wealth is the key to everything, along with land. He keeps preaching like he is trying to get people to come over from England, talking about all the good land and great fishing. In the end this passage makes me believe that John Smith went over there to change everything,to become a leader or king of the land, to take over the land and change it to his ways not even thinking about the people that already live there and there traditions.
In the first reading I feel like he is preaching of his ways and ideas. Making it sound like he believes that there is only one way to live. It seems that he believes that wealth is the key to everything, along with land. He keeps preaching like he is trying to get people to come over from England, talking about all the good land and great fishing. In the end this passage makes me believe that John Smith went over there to change everything,to become a leader or king of the land, to take over the land and change it to his ways not even thinking about the people that already live there and there traditions.
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