Nathaniel Hawthorne
Young Goodman Brown
“My Faith is gone!” cried he, after one stupefied moment. “There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.”
During Brown’s journey in the woods, he discovers that many people in his community are participating in this ceremony. These people are Christian that range from his minister and deacon. He than noticed that his wife was there and that’s when he said I lost my Faith, in both senses because he now has followed the “devil” and their rituals and his wife did as well.
I think this passage is most important to me, because in a sense the devil is within the world. There are many people that claim to be Christians, or Muslims or any religion and claim that they live holy, but they are easily susceptible to the cruelness of the devil and they commit sins and add to the destruction of the universe. Kanye West once said “I told God I be back in a second, man it’s so hard not to act reckless”. I think that phrase can be compared to the characters of this story because people try to live right but there are certain force in the world such as the devil and his will that keep you from completing your goals and keeps you from living holy, if you don’t have the will power and strength to proceed and live the “right” way based on your religion than you will fail
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Charlotte Perkins Gilman-The Yellow Wallpaper
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow wallpaper
“What is the matter? He cried.”For God’s sake, what are you doing!”
I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder.
“I’ve got out at last,” said I, “in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!”
Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time! (Gilman, 497)
I chose this quote to represent Jane’s freedom against her husband and society. First I will explain the oppressive life style she lived through. John secluded her in a room away from the world, with no way to communicate with anyone other than the people who are assisting her. She couldn’t read or write, she couldn’t cook or clean or do anything she loved to do. He locked her up against her will, and controlled her every move. You tell me, that wouldn’t make you angry? She was imprisoned in her own home, forced to abide by the rules of a man who knew nothing of her, forced to do whatever he said, forced to look at yellow wallpaper for weeks, forced away from the rest of society. You tell me if that’s not oppression?
“I believe there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those doing the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the system of exploitation. “(Malcolm X). I believe that the oppression that existed in the Yellow Wallpaper between Jane and her husband John eventually led to her maturation, freedom, and emancipation. The conditions that she lived through led not to her insanity, but to her liberation. We know that through painful experiences that the oppressor never voluntarily gives freedom; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Jane eventually wanted her freedom, and she took it.
The Yellow wallpaper
“What is the matter? He cried.”For God’s sake, what are you doing!”
I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder.
“I’ve got out at last,” said I, “in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!”
Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time! (Gilman, 497)
I chose this quote to represent Jane’s freedom against her husband and society. First I will explain the oppressive life style she lived through. John secluded her in a room away from the world, with no way to communicate with anyone other than the people who are assisting her. She couldn’t read or write, she couldn’t cook or clean or do anything she loved to do. He locked her up against her will, and controlled her every move. You tell me, that wouldn’t make you angry? She was imprisoned in her own home, forced to abide by the rules of a man who knew nothing of her, forced to do whatever he said, forced to look at yellow wallpaper for weeks, forced away from the rest of society. You tell me if that’s not oppression?
“I believe there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those doing the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the system of exploitation. “(Malcolm X). I believe that the oppression that existed in the Yellow Wallpaper between Jane and her husband John eventually led to her maturation, freedom, and emancipation. The conditions that she lived through led not to her insanity, but to her liberation. We know that through painful experiences that the oppressor never voluntarily gives freedom; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Jane eventually wanted her freedom, and she took it.
William Faulkner-A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
A Rose for Emily
That night the Board of Aldermen met-three graybeards and one younger man, a member of the rising generation.
“It’s simple enough, “he said. Send her word to have her place cleaned up. Give her a certain time to do it in, and if she don’t…”
“Dammit, sir, ‘Judge Stevens said, “will you accuse a lady to her face of something bad?” (Faulkner, 406)
Throughout the short story, I noticed that there was a struggle between two generations. The struggle was clear throughout the book starting from when they claimed she owed taxes. She was not paying based on past agreements her father had with past men that were in power. She held on to things, while others wanted her to let go and move on. In a way it is good to hold on tradition without it we would not be where we are today. There was numerous amounts of time where I believe her beliefs clashed with the newer generation, from the time when the men wanted to go into her house and let her know about the smell in her house but they wanted to do it I a not so respectful way but Judge Stevens wouldn’t let them, he wanted them to show some respect to the lady. Another time is the fact that she when to the druggist and bought rat poison. I believe that this in fact is one clear fact of how she held on to tradition, or let just say “old times”. I have come to believe that she used this rat poison to kill Homer, but my argument is the fact that now a day you wanted see too many killings do to somebody poisoning you. In this generation you would probably see somebody shooting you, or stabbing you, or anything put poison. She lived an odd lifestyle different from the generation that ruled over the town, I was similar to the conservative versus the liberal, who comes out the winner.
A Rose for Emily
That night the Board of Aldermen met-three graybeards and one younger man, a member of the rising generation.
“It’s simple enough, “he said. Send her word to have her place cleaned up. Give her a certain time to do it in, and if she don’t…”
“Dammit, sir, ‘Judge Stevens said, “will you accuse a lady to her face of something bad?” (Faulkner, 406)
Throughout the short story, I noticed that there was a struggle between two generations. The struggle was clear throughout the book starting from when they claimed she owed taxes. She was not paying based on past agreements her father had with past men that were in power. She held on to things, while others wanted her to let go and move on. In a way it is good to hold on tradition without it we would not be where we are today. There was numerous amounts of time where I believe her beliefs clashed with the newer generation, from the time when the men wanted to go into her house and let her know about the smell in her house but they wanted to do it I a not so respectful way but Judge Stevens wouldn’t let them, he wanted them to show some respect to the lady. Another time is the fact that she when to the druggist and bought rat poison. I believe that this in fact is one clear fact of how she held on to tradition, or let just say “old times”. I have come to believe that she used this rat poison to kill Homer, but my argument is the fact that now a day you wanted see too many killings do to somebody poisoning you. In this generation you would probably see somebody shooting you, or stabbing you, or anything put poison. She lived an odd lifestyle different from the generation that ruled over the town, I was similar to the conservative versus the liberal, who comes out the winner.
Philip K. Dick-We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
Philip K. Dick
We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
“The trip is very vivid in his mind—at least under sedation. But apparently he doesn’t recall it otherwise. Someone, probably at a government military science lab, erased his conscious memories; all he knew was that going to Mars meant something special to him, and so did being a being secret agent. They couldn’t erase that; it’s not a memory but a desire, undoubtedly the same one that motivated him to volunteer for the assignment in the first place.”(Dick, p359)
I believe that this quote is important because during the process of them placing false memory in to his head the workers at the Rekal incorporations found out that Mr. Quail really did take a trip to Mars but at this point wasn’t sure about why, and who sent him there. I believe that the story became interesting to me at this point because I was unsure about where it was leading. At this point we learn that he actually wasn’t trying to take a trip to Mars but that his memories wasn’t completely erased that sort of placed images in his head, to make him have a desire to go to Mars. But during this process he knew so much in so little time that he had to have been there before. I just thought the author brought this short story to life by putting in so much information; it kept me thinking and wondering about what’s going to happen next.
We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
“The trip is very vivid in his mind—at least under sedation. But apparently he doesn’t recall it otherwise. Someone, probably at a government military science lab, erased his conscious memories; all he knew was that going to Mars meant something special to him, and so did being a being secret agent. They couldn’t erase that; it’s not a memory but a desire, undoubtedly the same one that motivated him to volunteer for the assignment in the first place.”(Dick, p359)
I believe that this quote is important because during the process of them placing false memory in to his head the workers at the Rekal incorporations found out that Mr. Quail really did take a trip to Mars but at this point wasn’t sure about why, and who sent him there. I believe that the story became interesting to me at this point because I was unsure about where it was leading. At this point we learn that he actually wasn’t trying to take a trip to Mars but that his memories wasn’t completely erased that sort of placed images in his head, to make him have a desire to go to Mars. But during this process he knew so much in so little time that he had to have been there before. I just thought the author brought this short story to life by putting in so much information; it kept me thinking and wondering about what’s going to happen next.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Open Boat-Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane
The Open Boat
“Look! There’s a man on the shore!”
“Where?”
“There! See ‘im? See ‘im!”
“Yes, sure! He’s walking along.”
“Now he’s stopped. Look! He’s facing us!”
“He’s waving at us!”
“So he is! By thunder!” (Crane, 346)
When reading this dialogue in the story, I found it very interesting to me; one reason being is because I didn’t understand it at first. I didn’t understand why the men didn’t help them and why they were waving instead of trying to help them. They didn’t just see one person they see many people, and they also seen a life boat but no one helped them. They were stuck at sea and no one bothered to see if they were alright, the light house, and house of refuge was useless to them. It was insane how no one actually noticed their situation. I also found it kind of strange how the light house stayed lit and there wasnt anyone in there. I really dont understand the significance of that part of the story. For instance why the author chose to use the light house, and why these people seen them but didnt bother to help them. Other than this dialogue, I wasn’t too fond with the story. It really didn’t grab my attention.
The Open Boat
“Look! There’s a man on the shore!”
“Where?”
“There! See ‘im? See ‘im!”
“Yes, sure! He’s walking along.”
“Now he’s stopped. Look! He’s facing us!”
“He’s waving at us!”
“So he is! By thunder!” (Crane, 346)
When reading this dialogue in the story, I found it very interesting to me; one reason being is because I didn’t understand it at first. I didn’t understand why the men didn’t help them and why they were waving instead of trying to help them. They didn’t just see one person they see many people, and they also seen a life boat but no one helped them. They were stuck at sea and no one bothered to see if they were alright, the light house, and house of refuge was useless to them. It was insane how no one actually noticed their situation. I also found it kind of strange how the light house stayed lit and there wasnt anyone in there. I really dont understand the significance of that part of the story. For instance why the author chose to use the light house, and why these people seen them but didnt bother to help them. Other than this dialogue, I wasn’t too fond with the story. It really didn’t grab my attention.
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