Getting into "Bastard Out of Carolina," I was immediately drawn to the character Bone, which I'm sure many are considering that she is the main character. She is very interesting, and I like her point of view. She's not very typical of a ten year old in my eyes, but still seems somewhat innocent and young.
In the start of the book it seemed like she was a bit of an outcast, but a happy little girl. She had a mother who was beautiful and they were very close, and eventually a little sister, Reese, with whom she always played with and it seemed like they were very close. I definitely think that Bone's mother was the most influential person in her life. It seems that she altered her life in order to please her.
For example, their happiest time seemed to be when Anney and Lyle were together. Bone never really said anything negative about her feelings or her mamma's feelings during that part of the book. Once Lyle died though, Anney became very sad, and I think that Bone really felt that. She hated to see her mother looking old, and see that empty smile. Bone knew that her mother was sad and lonely, and it seemed to me that Bone was a little sad too. She really cared for her mother, and worked very hard to please. While Anney was in this slump it seemed that Bone was very understanding for a young girl and that she wanted to help her mamma.
Then when Anney first met Glen Bone seemed pretty happy for her. Some feeling came back into Anney's eyes that she hadn't seen in a while. When Anney asked Bone if she liked Glen there was no way that Bone was going to say anything negative because she could see how badly Anney wanted her to like him.
Eventually, this protecting of her mother became an issue for Bone. It was no longer just trying to make her mother happy, but it was putting her in danger. When Glen beat Bone all the time and broke her bones, she never really told anyone what was happening. She wanted to make her mom happy more than anything. She could see how tired and old her mother was looking again, and she just tried to be the best girl that she could.
Although, I haven't yet finished reading, I can see that Bone has been through so much. She takes criticism and abuse all the time, but somehow she still seems strong. Although the readers can see that she is hurt, scared, and lonely, I can see a happy ending in the future for Bone.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
"Walking on Water"
After we went over this poem in class and I understood it, I liked it. At first I was a little bit confused, but now that I know what is going on I find it to be a very calm, relaxing, and a sweet poem.
I like how the kid in the poem is so confident and really enjoys his little experience. He doesn't take his it for granted and really seems to use it to reflect on himself. Although his "walking on water" experience wasn't actually walking on water and it happened when he was a kid, he still reflects on it when he is an adult.
Dickey uses words that are relaxing and pretty. For example I like how he said this, "A curious pilgrim hiking/ Between two open blue worlds,/ My motion a miracle,/ Leaving behind me no footprint,/ But only the shimmering place of an infinite step upon water." Once I put the words to a meaning I got a strong mental picture. It just seems so peaceful and relaxing.
Throughout the rest of the poem Dickey uses the same language to make the child seem so happy just gliding across the water. When the kid sees the shark it's kind of scary, but he just keeps on going, like he has all of the animals in the water mesmerized. It almost seems that he is mesmerized at well. No one can really believe he's just pushing his way across the water all by himself.
I also like how Dickey is telling the story of him "walking on water." I feel that he is telling it as it has actually happened to him, and perhaps it has because the details that he uses are so familiar.
I like how the kid in the poem is so confident and really enjoys his little experience. He doesn't take his it for granted and really seems to use it to reflect on himself. Although his "walking on water" experience wasn't actually walking on water and it happened when he was a kid, he still reflects on it when he is an adult.
Dickey uses words that are relaxing and pretty. For example I like how he said this, "A curious pilgrim hiking/ Between two open blue worlds,/ My motion a miracle,/ Leaving behind me no footprint,/ But only the shimmering place of an infinite step upon water." Once I put the words to a meaning I got a strong mental picture. It just seems so peaceful and relaxing.
Throughout the rest of the poem Dickey uses the same language to make the child seem so happy just gliding across the water. When the kid sees the shark it's kind of scary, but he just keeps on going, like he has all of the animals in the water mesmerized. It almost seems that he is mesmerized at well. No one can really believe he's just pushing his way across the water all by himself.
I also like how Dickey is telling the story of him "walking on water." I feel that he is telling it as it has actually happened to him, and perhaps it has because the details that he uses are so familiar.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A Dog Sleeping On My Feet
Oftentimes I have a lot of trouble reading poems. There is always some hidden message and I feel that I can't ever quite figure it out. Occasionally though there is a poem that I like and I think I get the feel for. I liked this poem, "A Dog Sleeping On My Feet." I thought that it was a sweet poem that was very relaxing and cozy somehow.
I like how Dickey uses his pet dog for inspiration. He seems to be sitting in his chair with his dog sitting on his feet, warming them. Apparently the dog has been there for quite some time because his feet become prickly and fall asleep. I like how he tries to sit through it though and uses it as an inspiration. Not wanting to disturb his friend he writes. He writes about a fox and relates it to the prickles in his feet.
"All, all are running.
Marvelous in pursuit,
Like a dazzle of nails through the ankles,
like a twisting shout through the tress
Sent after the flying fox"
When the dog gets up he is nearly finished. He concludes describing how he will go into his bed and
"From the dream of an animal,
Assembling the self I must wake to,
Sleeping to grow back my legs."
I like all of the descriptions that Dickey used. While describing his "pine-prickling legs" I can almost feel the same thing, and I know exactly what he means. Also, I like how he can relate it to something, and use the scent in the air to bring everything together. It gives a certain feel to the poem that is very relaxing.
I like how Dickey uses his pet dog for inspiration. He seems to be sitting in his chair with his dog sitting on his feet, warming them. Apparently the dog has been there for quite some time because his feet become prickly and fall asleep. I like how he tries to sit through it though and uses it as an inspiration. Not wanting to disturb his friend he writes. He writes about a fox and relates it to the prickles in his feet.
"All, all are running.
Marvelous in pursuit,
Like a dazzle of nails through the ankles,
like a twisting shout through the tress
Sent after the flying fox"
When the dog gets up he is nearly finished. He concludes describing how he will go into his bed and
"From the dream of an animal,
Assembling the self I must wake to,
Sleeping to grow back my legs."
I like all of the descriptions that Dickey used. While describing his "pine-prickling legs" I can almost feel the same thing, and I know exactly what he means. Also, I like how he can relate it to something, and use the scent in the air to bring everything together. It gives a certain feel to the poem that is very relaxing.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
O'Connor
At first when I read the O'Connor story I didn't really realize that it was religious. Once we talked about it in class though I was able to see it a lot more in the second reading, "Revelation." I thought that "Revelation" was a very interesting piece. To me it seemed humorous and religious at the same time and it was enjoyable.
Mrs. Turpin was my favorite character. I thought that she was funny. I liked how she prideshe realized that she wasn't really the person that she thought that she was all along. She made a strong point in telling herself all the time that she was kind and good, and that she always went to church. She would tell herself that she was a good Christian and thank God and Jesus for giving her a little of everything.
Mrs. Turpin really seemed to appreciate herself. She saw herself as pretty, kind, a good Christian and although she was a little overweight she was very pleased with herself. This pleasure with herself seemed to have come from viewing others negatively. Throughout the whole story we hear her describing her impressions and the appearance of those around her in the doctors off. This one was fat, that one was ugly, this one was rude, etc... Luckily though she was none of those bad things, therefore it seemed that those negative things were just that much worse.
When Mrs. Turpin finally comes to the realization after the ugly girl calls her a warthog from hell I think it's really amusing. She knew all along that she wasn't that great of a person, but now hearing from someone that she didn't actually know really got her thinking about her life. She was completely devastated by a teenager telling her she was from hell. Although she sees this as a sign from God and that she has actually known this girl for years it still comes out of an ugly teenager.
I think it's interesting when they finally head home from the hectic doctors office and Mrs. Turpin expects everything to crumble right in from of her practically (her home, farm, Claude). She gets so upset and practically challenges God because of what he called her. Mrs. Turpin just didn't understand how someone so faithful to the church and above the white trash and the black people could be looked down upon so much by God.
As the reader we can see the whole time that she is very judgemental and critical of others. She has no respect for the lower class and really thinks of herself as better than so many people. When she finally is exposed to this knowledge it is almost too much for her to take, and I was just really amused at how she handled the whole situation.
Mrs. Turpin was my favorite character. I thought that she was funny. I liked how she prideshe realized that she wasn't really the person that she thought that she was all along. She made a strong point in telling herself all the time that she was kind and good, and that she always went to church. She would tell herself that she was a good Christian and thank God and Jesus for giving her a little of everything.
Mrs. Turpin really seemed to appreciate herself. She saw herself as pretty, kind, a good Christian and although she was a little overweight she was very pleased with herself. This pleasure with herself seemed to have come from viewing others negatively. Throughout the whole story we hear her describing her impressions and the appearance of those around her in the doctors off. This one was fat, that one was ugly, this one was rude, etc... Luckily though she was none of those bad things, therefore it seemed that those negative things were just that much worse.
When Mrs. Turpin finally comes to the realization after the ugly girl calls her a warthog from hell I think it's really amusing. She knew all along that she wasn't that great of a person, but now hearing from someone that she didn't actually know really got her thinking about her life. She was completely devastated by a teenager telling her she was from hell. Although she sees this as a sign from God and that she has actually known this girl for years it still comes out of an ugly teenager.
I think it's interesting when they finally head home from the hectic doctors office and Mrs. Turpin expects everything to crumble right in from of her practically (her home, farm, Claude). She gets so upset and practically challenges God because of what he called her. Mrs. Turpin just didn't understand how someone so faithful to the church and above the white trash and the black people could be looked down upon so much by God.
As the reader we can see the whole time that she is very judgemental and critical of others. She has no respect for the lower class and really thinks of herself as better than so many people. When she finally is exposed to this knowledge it is almost too much for her to take, and I was just really amused at how she handled the whole situation.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Movie vs. Reading
For the most part the movie "A Streetcar named Desire," and the actual play seemed very similar to me. Most of the characters were portrayed in way that I had them imagined in my head. There were a few things though that didn't really match up with my interpretation of reading the play.
To me, the most different character was Blanche. Although she was crazy in both the play and the movie, I think she seemed a little bit more over the top in the movie. She didn't seem as confident as I thought she would. Although she was conceited and tried to be proper, in the movie she seemed almost timid. Her voice was more hushed and she would have pauses between her quick sentences. Also, rather than just annoyed by Stanley's rudeness it seemed that in the movie was a more scared of him. Obviously in the rape scene in both the book and the movie I could sense her fear, but to me she seemed more often scared in the movie.
I get this sense because all throughout the movie we see Blanche burying her head in Stella. Stella seems almost like a mother to her. Every time she gets upset (which is often) she's there crying in Stella's arms. This brings me to another interesting point about the movie. To me it seemed that Blanche and Stella were almost too close in the movie. Instead of Stella just standing up for her and waiting on her like she did in the book, I was surprised how much the girls touched each other and hugged each other. I just didn't the impression that they were so affectionate while reading the play.
I also think that Blanche is a lot more crazy in the movie. The music playing in her head really seems to affect her and it shows. While reading the play I just thought that she played it off as nothing when others were around. In the movie however one can really see her company look at her funny, like they know something is going on inside her head.
In the movie as a whole, the main difference was the ending. After Blanche was taken away I was just waiting for Stella to run back into Stanley's arms like she did in the play. Instead of this she took the baby and ran. I think that may have been more powerful of a statement, but it wasn't Stella like we knew her in the play. Instead of looking for her comfort in Stanley it's obvious that she realizes what he's done, and it doesn't seem like she's coming back.
To me, the most different character was Blanche. Although she was crazy in both the play and the movie, I think she seemed a little bit more over the top in the movie. She didn't seem as confident as I thought she would. Although she was conceited and tried to be proper, in the movie she seemed almost timid. Her voice was more hushed and she would have pauses between her quick sentences. Also, rather than just annoyed by Stanley's rudeness it seemed that in the movie was a more scared of him. Obviously in the rape scene in both the book and the movie I could sense her fear, but to me she seemed more often scared in the movie.
I get this sense because all throughout the movie we see Blanche burying her head in Stella. Stella seems almost like a mother to her. Every time she gets upset (which is often) she's there crying in Stella's arms. This brings me to another interesting point about the movie. To me it seemed that Blanche and Stella were almost too close in the movie. Instead of Stella just standing up for her and waiting on her like she did in the book, I was surprised how much the girls touched each other and hugged each other. I just didn't the impression that they were so affectionate while reading the play.
I also think that Blanche is a lot more crazy in the movie. The music playing in her head really seems to affect her and it shows. While reading the play I just thought that she played it off as nothing when others were around. In the movie however one can really see her company look at her funny, like they know something is going on inside her head.
In the movie as a whole, the main difference was the ending. After Blanche was taken away I was just waiting for Stella to run back into Stanley's arms like she did in the play. Instead of this she took the baby and ran. I think that may have been more powerful of a statement, but it wasn't Stella like we knew her in the play. Instead of looking for her comfort in Stanley it's obvious that she realizes what he's done, and it doesn't seem like she's coming back.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Desire
"A Streetcar Named Desire," I think is a very interesting title first of all. The streetcar isn't really the important part though. I think that desire plays a big part in this play though for many characters. Blanche, being a main character that really sticks out. She is so needy and it's ridiculous. Blanche has lost everything that she knew and it seems that she really can't handle it. Having a rich upbringing really brought her down. When she goes to stay with Stella for a little while, it seems that it's more than just a visit. She ends up staying for a while, and the whole time it doesn't really seem like she grew as a person.
Blanche really couldn't believe that Stella lived in such a small place first of all. Both of them had such wealthy upbringings, but Stella had been able to get past that and live a happy life. Unfortunately Blanche couldn't, and she had such a strong desire to be how she used to be. The whole play she is critiquing things on and off, and trying to change things, and convince Stella that Stanley isn't up to her standards.
Although Blanche just wants to be back to Belle Reve there isn't any way, and she doesn't really seem to be trying either. She wants and wants but does nothing to get it. The only thing that she really seems to be good at is getting men. With her southern belle ideals in mind it is hard for her because she seems to have such a strong sexual desire. For example, although she never slept with Mitch it was defiantly in her mind. Their first date she asks him to sleep with her in French. Obviously Mitch didn't know what she said, and they didn't sleep together it is clear that she had that desire, and was fighting it.
All in all, I'm not really sure if I felt sorry for Blanche or if I even liked her as a character. She was very interesting and definitely was a big part of the play, but she was so needed that sometimes the reader/viewer seemed to get annoyed by her. she couldn't do anything for herself but wanted so much.
Blanche really couldn't believe that Stella lived in such a small place first of all. Both of them had such wealthy upbringings, but Stella had been able to get past that and live a happy life. Unfortunately Blanche couldn't, and she had such a strong desire to be how she used to be. The whole play she is critiquing things on and off, and trying to change things, and convince Stella that Stanley isn't up to her standards.
Although Blanche just wants to be back to Belle Reve there isn't any way, and she doesn't really seem to be trying either. She wants and wants but does nothing to get it. The only thing that she really seems to be good at is getting men. With her southern belle ideals in mind it is hard for her because she seems to have such a strong sexual desire. For example, although she never slept with Mitch it was defiantly in her mind. Their first date she asks him to sleep with her in French. Obviously Mitch didn't know what she said, and they didn't sleep together it is clear that she had that desire, and was fighting it.
All in all, I'm not really sure if I felt sorry for Blanche or if I even liked her as a character. She was very interesting and definitely was a big part of the play, but she was so needed that sometimes the reader/viewer seemed to get annoyed by her. she couldn't do anything for herself but wanted so much.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Their Eyes Were Watching God
While reading this I really enjoyed it. I just thought it was good, and I liked the story to it. It wasn't until after we had our class discussion that I really started thinking about the contradicts or the possibilities of it being a feminist novel. Although I could see how the book could be classified under a feminist novel it may not necessarily. There are also good masculine representations throughout the book as well as negative female representations. But, looking at it from the feminist side, I see Janie as a very strong, intelligent character that I liked.
Janie seemed to be always looking for more in her life and never really finding it. She was pushed aside by her first two husbands because she was a woman. A lot of this novel was focused on Janie's life while married to Jody and working in the store. That is when I really started to feel for Janie. I thought that she was going to be happy leaving Logan and I thought that Jody would make her feel good and treat her well. In his eyes he did do this. It seems like Jody was kind of proud of having Janie as his wife. She was young and beautiful and he could see other men's desires for her. He seemed to think of her more as a trophy wife. This also lead him to some jealousy. Because Janie had very unique and beautiful hair other's wanted to see it and touch it, but Jody felt that it was only for him. He made Janie hide the one thing that really made her stand out. Instead of treating her well, Jody seemed to have really drained Janie. She wasn't really allowed to speak her mind, he called her stupid/made her feel stupid often, he made her tie back her hair, and never really spent any quality time with her.
It seems that possibly at first Janie may have enjoyed her time with Jody. She flirted with him while she was married to Logan, and she left Logan for Jody. Unfortunately the happiness didn't last, and Hurston tells us that eventually they weren't intimate any more. It just seemed like Janie was kind of a robot that got punished when she went out of the "natural order" Jody had in mind for her. Even when Janie brought this to the attention of Jody he still didn't seem to get it, and was only bitter. Because he had made such a successful life for them financially and status wise he thought that Janie should have been happy. To him, he had given her all that money could buy and that any woman would love to be Janie. It wasn't just about the money to Janie though. She always wanted to know what love was like and if it was real, but she felt trapped in Jody's world of belittled women.
Once Janie found love with Tea Cake I really started to be happy for her. I liked how Hurston wrote about Janie using her older years when she was younger, and now that she was older she was younger at heart. I thought that was cute. The reader really sees how much Janie loves Tea Cake and Janie realizes what she had been missing out on in her previous marriages. I think that it's interesting how once Janie finds love she loses love for her grandmother. Now that she knows what her grandmother has kept from her she is angry. To Janie, love was important, not money, but to her grandmother, money was important. Perhaps the grandmother was just trying to do the best thing that she could for Janie and set her up for a good life, but she really caused Janie to waste a lot of time being miserable.
Janie seemed to be always looking for more in her life and never really finding it. She was pushed aside by her first two husbands because she was a woman. A lot of this novel was focused on Janie's life while married to Jody and working in the store. That is when I really started to feel for Janie. I thought that she was going to be happy leaving Logan and I thought that Jody would make her feel good and treat her well. In his eyes he did do this. It seems like Jody was kind of proud of having Janie as his wife. She was young and beautiful and he could see other men's desires for her. He seemed to think of her more as a trophy wife. This also lead him to some jealousy. Because Janie had very unique and beautiful hair other's wanted to see it and touch it, but Jody felt that it was only for him. He made Janie hide the one thing that really made her stand out. Instead of treating her well, Jody seemed to have really drained Janie. She wasn't really allowed to speak her mind, he called her stupid/made her feel stupid often, he made her tie back her hair, and never really spent any quality time with her.
It seems that possibly at first Janie may have enjoyed her time with Jody. She flirted with him while she was married to Logan, and she left Logan for Jody. Unfortunately the happiness didn't last, and Hurston tells us that eventually they weren't intimate any more. It just seemed like Janie was kind of a robot that got punished when she went out of the "natural order" Jody had in mind for her. Even when Janie brought this to the attention of Jody he still didn't seem to get it, and was only bitter. Because he had made such a successful life for them financially and status wise he thought that Janie should have been happy. To him, he had given her all that money could buy and that any woman would love to be Janie. It wasn't just about the money to Janie though. She always wanted to know what love was like and if it was real, but she felt trapped in Jody's world of belittled women.
Once Janie found love with Tea Cake I really started to be happy for her. I liked how Hurston wrote about Janie using her older years when she was younger, and now that she was older she was younger at heart. I thought that was cute. The reader really sees how much Janie loves Tea Cake and Janie realizes what she had been missing out on in her previous marriages. I think that it's interesting how once Janie finds love she loses love for her grandmother. Now that she knows what her grandmother has kept from her she is angry. To Janie, love was important, not money, but to her grandmother, money was important. Perhaps the grandmother was just trying to do the best thing that she could for Janie and set her up for a good life, but she really caused Janie to waste a lot of time being miserable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)