Final Blog Post

Three blogs that I think are my best work? Well I think my Villanelle was one of my better works. Only because I finally wrote a piece of poetry for the first time in a very long time. I am not even sure if it qualifies as a villanelle. But it just felt nice to finally put some poetic words to paper. And I seem to have this thing for writing about clams and pearls. Weird right?http://meaganweybright.blogspot.com/2012/04/tales-from-sea.html

                Another that I thought I did pretty decent with was probably when I wrote my ideas on question five from  “A Good Man Is Hard To Find”.  I felt like I really got into that one. I had several ideas and I actually had quite a few examples from the pages that I had read right down to whether or not it was at the bottom, middle, or top of the page. All of the concepts O’Connor was trying to convey in the story I felt like I was picking up as the reader. Which felt nice to understand on a different level.http://meaganweybright.blogspot.com/2012/04/5.html

                I loved the “Dream Songs”, Berryman was so interesting. With his whole life being based upon trying to deal with the deaths in his life. Like his father’s suicide and his friend dying of cancer.  Through his writing he spoke about different pieces of himself. But then when he committed suicide himself it really blew my mind. Then when my contextual presentation was based upon Confessional poetry I was able to bring Berryman into my presentation. Ah! Berryman! http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=662916276407537088#editor/target=post;postID=8800727103266436433

Overall I would say that my performance in this class was a bit more than average. I will admit that there were nights that I didn’t read the entire text, or that I made very educated guesses on the quizzes. Although, overall I would have to say I really was more active in class conversations and way more willing to voice my opinion. Normally I get annoyed with the students that talk way too much and control the entire class discussion so I rarely speak. But I did manage to get my thoughts out there and I think some of them may have been pretty insightful. Somehow I think that all English majors think that they have some great insight into whatever reading they are discussing, even though it may be very average and probably not as amazing as they see it in their heads. Sad but so very true, and I do not think I am above that statement hahaha! 

Weaknesses as a writer? I do this thing where I will say something like “She seems almost excited by the idea by his advances…” (Like I said in my Midterm essay) But I never gave anything to back up why I thought that. It’s little things like that make me miss out on some major points. I could really beef up my essays by rechecking my silly mistakes. Ah! 

I really don’t like the idea of giving myself a grade based upon what I think. I feel like that’s kind of selfish? Greedy? Whatever the right word might be. I feel that I deserve a grade based upon the requirements of the class. Obviously everyone is going to give some long explanation about why they deserve to have a passing grade. Just makes me uncomfortable. Hah! Silly I know right?

Who?

I feel like Oedipa is very chameleon like. I can’t say for sure quite yet if she does everything on purpose. I feel almost as if subconsciously she does things Oedipa’s  body takes over for her in times of need. Especially when she meets with the Igor baby actor and she feels self conscious upon her first meet up with him and then as the evening progresses she seems to feel more confident and sexier as a woman.

I really like how she uses her abilities as a woman, because I think all women have this “power”, about us that can really be altering. I am not sure if that is even the right word for what I am trying to say. Who knows exactly what it is? Is it even a power?

I would really like to watch her change as a person and as a woman further along in the story as well as see if she finally chooses a single personality that can make her the most happy in her skin.

Good luck Oedipa!

49

First off I have to say that I loved the opening with the Tupperware party, I just like it is so common. Something people would actually be doing haha.

Oedipa’s character is really very interesting, especially with her nightmares causing her to have trouble sleeping. And going to see a therapist who prescribes her tranquilizers to sleep yet she refuses to take them. But what is even more interesting is that upon an episode she calls him in the middle of the night and then when the nightmare is brought up Mr. Hilarious asks her not to describe it. Then goes on about some new pill being made and wanting he to be apart if it when she is already unwilling to take what she is given.

Also when she is at the lot and faced with that younger boy who wanted to be a musician thinking that all she wanted from him was…ya know. And she grabbed the TV antennas as a way to defend herself from him. Then upon him realizing that wasn’t what she wanted he backed off which helped her to calm down. Oedipa gives off this vibe that she has to be ready at any moment to take down anyone who might try to hurt her.

Then later on when she meets Metzger she feels that he is too gorgeous to be an actual man, that he must be an actor. Oedipa’s character is extremely paranoid, and very frantic. While sharing a glass of wine with Metzger he tells her that as a child he was an actor and randomly one of his pieces of work pops up and they watch it together and Metzger even sings along. For a moment Oedipa thinks that Metzger was in cahoots with the guy at the cable company putting this is show on specifically for that moment.

Although as they drink more Oedipa becomes less, well her current self, and becomes more relaxed with Metzger. Obviously drinking does her some good.

I just really like Oedipa’s character and all of the changes in emotion that we witness as they story goes on and how she reacts to situations based on her circumstances and what we know about her as a character.

Discussion Blog

How did I prepare for this assignment compared to others?

Well let me tell you there was a little less procrastination, although not too much.

I was mostly thinking about trying to look studious, like I drink black coffee (ew) and get lost deep in thought, and use quotes from the great writers in hopes of sounding interesting.

Well, I hate to break it to everyone but black coffee is disgusting. The other two still apply to me…totally kidding.

How did I do this in all seriousness? Well, I read the story several times. Picked out the questions that I actually wanted to answer, picked ones that I thought my “mind” could best represent. Does that make any sense? Then I busted out my yellow post-it notes. I wrote down which question that sticky note section answered, as well as page numbers and small notes in case I needed a jump start into the conversation. Although when I was actually involved in the discussion I found myself spitting out all of my notes, honestly I don’t even know if I was actually talking. I was pretty much spitting out facts.

At one point I did look up other’s views on what the Misfit said about “she would have been a good woman if there had been someone there to shoot her everyday of her life”? (Probably not word for word) although, I am sure we all got the point.

I was reading some people’s views on that topic and I was dying. Some of the answers were so pathetic. What was even worse was reading the comments from the self-deemed intellectuals, and knowing that what they were saying was SO wrong that I was almost sure they had never read the material! One person said this “The misfit was sad with himself for shooting her because she was such a good woman and he wasn’t.” Oh my gosh!

Three things I learned?

1. I am way better at English then I am at Pre calculus

2. That it is okay to talk, someone will tell you to shut up when you have said enough, or nothing relevant.

3. Also those others in my discussion group had some excellent points and I wished I had thought of some of the things that they had said.

Altogether I found the exercise to be a success and I liked hearing everyone’s opinions. It really opened my mind up to so many different things that I hadn’t thought about. I also loved the idea of be O’Connor delving into so many topics just within a short story. Especially concerning the religion. Great use of ideas.

5

Decided to talk about Question 5 from our discussion for the blog for tonight:

 In the very beginning of the story when she reads aloud from the Journal about the Misfit “ I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscience if I did (1304)

When the family stops for lunch at Red Sammy’s BBQ, we get a small insight into what a good man is when we hear Sammy talk about the following “Two fellers come in here last week driving a chrysler. It was a old beat up car but it was a good one and these boys looked alright to me. Said they worked at the mill you know I let them fellers charge the gas they bought? Now why did I do that?” (1307) Talking about how the times have changed and how you can’t trust a soul anymore.

Later on in this conversation it switches to the wife of Sammy, “Did you hear about the Misfit, that escaped?” said the grandmother. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he didn’t attract this place right here. Two cents… bottom of page (1307)

(1309) bottom perhaps a car will come along. (1310) Grandmother is the one who waves down the car, and is the one who makes it come to their “rescue”. Which I find interesting especially since we all  know that this is the Misfit, and it is rather funny that she is the one who made them go on this trip and then in the end she was the one who brought them right to the feet of the killer. Which was said on page (1304)

(1311) Grandma telling the Misfit that he shouldn’t call himself that because she “knows” He is really a good man at heart. Interesting how those changes from her initial thoughts about him when she has no reason to fear for her life, but when she does suddenly everything she has been saying is irrelevant. So good man, not?
And further on in the reading as she tries to convince Misfit that he is a good man to spare the lives of her family and herself. So if she has to do that what makes a good man? Certainly makes the title far more interesting. Of course it’s hard to find if you are trying to pull it from a man that originally didn’t fit your stereotype.
Obviously when you hear the gun shots and the screams as her family dies, then finally when she is shot and dies the misfit says “She would have been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.”  “it’s no real pleasure in life.”-Misfit.

We spent all of this time talking about what a good man is, what is a good woman?

Tales From The Sea

I am terrible when it comes to poetry

 I have a lot of Math homework, and attempting a poem sounded quicker than writing an analysis.

Although, I will probably be proven wrong and I will wish that I had done the analysis. I am hoping for the best.

Tales From The Sea

You are such a deceptive yet seasoned clam
Holding pearls prisoner, created from the sand
Using it as bait to lure in a curious girl, which I am

Although so unaware of the plans I conspire
You feel powerful beneath the ocean floor
Soon it will be me who defeats your empire

“Hello, Hello”, you call, “Let me show you something grand
Dutifully I approach to see what you have to show
Gently you place a shiny pearl into my salty wet hand

“Isn’t it pretty?” spoke the clam, “My creation of the sand?”
Eyes wide, full of utter glee, I hold the crest of the sea
“Silly clam… I will never return what I hold in my hand”

“Wait!” screeches the clam “Please return the ocean’s crest!”
The clam meant to guard it from curious girls like myself
The deceptive clam failed his own ridiculous test

The Clam not as deceptive as he thought he might be
The clam meant to guard it from curious girls
Too bad he lost the crest of the almighty sea
Failed the whole sea to a curious girl like me

I knew a woman

I knew a woman.

Upon my first read all I could think about was Disney princesses.
Then the next thought that came into my mind was from the movie Enchanted.

Giselle: Oh it’s you!

Prince: Yes, it is me. And you are?

Giselle: Giselle

Prince: Oh, Giselle! We shall be married in the morning!

(All of this happening just seconds after meeting.)

The reason my mind wandered to these ideas? Although I am sure the idea of the poem was not based upon my Disney theme. While the woman was being described made her sound very elegant, and when you read the very first line:

“I knew a woman, lovely in her bones,

When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them;” (1084)

This reminded me of Snow White had this “special” bond with the animals and she could sing a little tune and they would all come crawling out of nooks and crannies to help her clean a very messy house.

Following my outrageous ideas, I began to think of it as a personal idea of a woman. And her movements, the way they were described reminded me of dancing. Like her body in every action that she conducted was in tune with a personal rhythm.

The line “But who can count eternity in days?

These old bones live to learn her wanton ways:

(I measure time by how a body sways).” (1085)

Is this perhaps talking about that one’s age doesn’t really exist as long as the body is lively and full of life?

Am I totally missing the point? Probably.

“She was the sickle; I ,poor ,I, the rake,

Coming behind her for her pretty sake

(But what prodigious mowing we did make).” (1084)

Is the speaker of this poem possibly comparing itself to a rake? Is the rake even an actual rake in this poem?

Mini Blog

I know this a day late, I just completely spaced it! http://nathanaelgracelovesliterature.blogspot.com/


I really enjoyed the quote Nathanael used for her Dream Song Blog “Yes. That’s right. You “rebels” are all only another kind of sheep. Or the same kind of sheep.”

I feel that way all the time looking at other people who are trying to be out of the ordinary, and then you see twenty others dressed exactly the same, doing the very same thing trying to be “rebellious”.

Is it possible to say that no one could ever be completely rebellious? That perhaps it is not ever possible? Since in the end several others will be doing the exact same?

But then again we have to think is one person rebellious and they have just recruited several others to help them build their foundations? Will there ever be an answer?

Perhaps we are only rebels based upon another person’s definition of what that should be. Perhaps I could be rebellious to one person, while not to another.

So what are you all classified as?

So obviously Gaga did have a brief moment where she was kissing another woman. Our society still finds that uncomfortable since it goes against the “norm”. Although who is to honestly say what the “norm” is? I found what she did with this part both flattering and upsetting. Yes, she did show the world hey two women kissing shouldn’t be an issue, but at the very same time she made it almost seem like a joke. I feel that Gaga doesn’t realize that while she is trying to make a point that it shouldn’t be a big deal, that she is also saying to society that it’s not about actual love, it’s about having fun and giving it a try.

 It also felt like she was making attraction between two women look dirty and raunchy. I mean no one really goes around grabbing one another’s downstairs parts like that( I don’t know if I am allowed to say this…so sorry if anyone is offended). I know she was in a jail and it seemed like she was falling into the classic stereo type of what we “imagine” jail to be like. I’m sure I don’t need to describe. 

When Gaga was wearing the American flag attire, I kind of got the impression that this is supposed to be America, and what people are like, or at least what they have been labeled as by society. By her wearing that I felt like her actions throughout the entire storyline were just little jabs at all of us as people trying to make us more open minded and realize that we are more than what we have been classified as.

Although, I could be very wrong and it is very possible that Gaga just wanted to dance around in caution tape, and make sandwiches with miracle whip. Who’s to say?

     So…I decided to talk about “The Dream Songs”… So before it begins there is always the excerpt describing the story.  The Dream songs “is essentially about an imaginary character (not the poet, not me) named Henry, a white American in early middle age sometimes in blackface, who has suffered an irreversible loss and talks about himself sometimes in the first person, sometimes in the third, sometimes in the second; he has a friend, never named. Who addresses him as Mr. Bones and variants thereof.” (Berryman 1129)

     Berryman is very closely related to Henry, at least in my own opinion. I feel that this was Berryman giving himself a home on paper. Perhaps his way of making himself concrete with all of the things he has already known of himself in his head. I mean Berryman had suffered several losses in his life, his father dying, his friend dying from cancer, being bullied. 

     Things like this can really alter a person’s life and steer them in very odd directions. Someone can be one way for years and then one small thing can happen to them and they can no longer be the person that they had once been. Berryman had endured such an intense loss at such a young age that he cleaved to the pain and darkness that life can provide. 

     I admit I did Google and this was something interesting that I found ““There is a fiendish resemblance,” Berryman has said, “between Henry and me.” Like Berryman, Henry is a poet, teacher, heavy drinker, and incessant needer whose father shot himself when his son was twelve years old. ( http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/27542549?uid=3739648&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=56000401343)

 

     One line that I really liked was “Where did it all go wrong? There ought to be a law against Henry. –Mr. Bones: there is.” (Berryman 1130) I feel like Berryman is giving us personal insight. All of his thoughts and feelings warped, out of control. What does he deserve as a human being? What is natural to want, what is natural at all? You see Henry restricting himself, a law, and then with the reply “there is”, of course there is because Henry has placed it on himself, he created it. 

     When I read that Berryman committed suicide, I felt like he had betrayed himself and Henry. Berryman had killed himself just like his father had. This single act from his father had consumed his life and now he recreated it. 

     Ah! Too many thoughts! Sorry if that was too deep for anyone. It wasn’t meant to be. Mainly my mind racing with all of these reasons why? 

http://nathanaelgracelovesliterature.blogspot.com/

Okay, so maybe I totally missed it, but there was an extra credit reading aloud thing? So you did one of your own personal readings? And if I am not totally off topic, what did you write about? How did you come to decide that you wanted to read about that? And finally, where you freaking out?
So when you mention other readings being cleaner this time then last time, what would you say made for a better atmosphere? And did it make you feel more comfortable with less “pornographic” readings? Obviously. Hahaha.
Did you find other readers to be more experienced than others? Was there one particular reader that you liked the best out of all of the ones that you heard?
I wish I would have listened better so I could have gone, I doubt I would have read because I am a huge chicken. I can perform any character in a play, but putting me on stage reading a poem is a totally different story. Probably because I wouldn’t have my character identity to hide behind.
That’s neat that you experienced that, hopefully you do continue to do readings!

Week 10

So Picasso…when I first began reading it I actually thought that it was just the same words written over and over again for a page and a half. Then I realized it pretty much was the same words written over and over but with other added words being said in the same yet various ways. Either way it is very repetitious and a little bothersome.

            Anyways The first segment that I found interesting was “ One whom some were certainly following was one working  and certainly was one bringing something out of himself then and was one who had been all his living have been one having something coming out of him.” (Stein 856) I could be wrong but this text seems to me to say that this was a person who was working, and who was bringing something much greater out of himself by working on that specific idea, while others were following hoping to gain something like this person who had been working had gained for themselves. See even as I try to describe it in the terms that I understand it appears to make very little sense. Although I swear I am meaning to.

            At the end it says “ This one was one who was working. This one was one who was almost always working. This one was not one completely working. This one was one not ever completely working. This one was not one working to have something come out of him. He always did have something coming out of him. He was working; he was not ever completely working. He did have some following. They were always following him . Some were certainly following him. He was one who was working. He was one having something coming out of him something having meaning. He was not ever completely working.” (Stein 857)

For a moment I wondered if it was multiple kinds of people being described especially when it talks about those working and having something coming out of them that is meaningful while others are working and they are not fully working and they don’t have as much coming out of them so they follow others who have meaning coming from them.

            Although, as I was reading further I thought of it like we as people, following others who have great talent and strength and hoping something great will come out of us, while other follow and only try half heartedly and can’t provide something as wonderful because they are not trying hard enough. But the very last line when it says “He was not ever completely working.”(Stein 857) I think that might mean perhaps some people are just made with a certain skill or talent and there is no extra hard work given because it just comes naturally.

            Just so everyone knows I feel as if I may so wrong about this entire segment. Feel free to give me your input.

Response to Prof Inquiry

 "Great close reading of this section, and you raise some really interesting questions. Do you see any similarities between Nick and the Hopper? What are we to make of all the focus and attention that the story pays to them? The story tells us they're important because they get some much space, but the story doesn't tell us *why* they're important (which is often one of the frustrating and brilliant things about Hemingway).

What do you think?"  

I know I am supposed to responding to my group members, but I thought that I could further my argument and understanding of the reading if I elaborated on this.

One of the things my group discussed about the Hoppers in this story was that they represented the Soldiers that Nick had previously served with. I think the reason that they were charred in color was meant to be a representation of the men and the weight that they had to carry, with the deaths of their friends and others they had grown so close with. The black coal color was covering the original colors of the hopper, just like the weight of the war had changed the men and their “colors”.

When Nick originally has the Hopper lodged into his sock I got this feeling that it was signifying the war always being something lodged into his life pestering him. Then when he picks it up and really looks at it and looks at the surrounds charred just like this Hopper and it may have been a subconscious reminder.

I also get this feeling that when Nick is finally done examining the Hopper and tosses it back into the charred tree stump and the Hopper blends in with the mess; that it is him trying to let it go, maybe letting a fallen mate or even the memory of it all fall back into his mind and trying to make it all only a memory and leaving all of those men exactly where they lay never having any continuum.

Of course I must remind that this is just me rambling on about my crazy ideas. So take what you will.

Week 9

First off I decided to discuss a few things I found interesting in Hemingway’s Big Two-Hearted River. Yay!

In the prelude to the story we learn that Nick has been a very prominent character in Hemingway’s writing, I am wondering why this is?

What I found most interesting was the way that the grasshoppers were so detailed very early into the story. Nick has this grasshopper wedge its way into his sock and from there a paragraph describes these hoppers “They were not the big grasshoppers with yellow and black or red and black wings whirring out from their black wing sheathing and whirring as they fly up. These were just ordinary hoppers but all sooty and black in color.”(Hemingway 982)

And all this time we are gathering this description about these hoppers before Nick finally removes this grasshopper from his sock. Which makes me wonder how long he had let that grasshopper tag along before he finally decided to actually remove it? Then Nick contemplates further on the identity of these hoppers and decides this “He realized that the fire must have come the year before but the grasshoppers were all black now. He wondered how long they would stay this way.” (Hemingway 982)

Okay so now he finally, after all of this decides he is (for real) going to remove this grass hopper and at this point after already contemplating the reason for this color he actually looks at it. Actually puts a visual to all of his thoughts about this bug. “He turned him up, all his legs walking in the air, and looked at his jointed belly. Yes, it was black too, iridescent where the back and head were dusty.” (Hemingway 982)

So after such a long inquiry of the bugs visual being and then put a visual to his conclusion Nick simply tosses the bug away saying “Go on Hopper, fly away somewhere.” (Hemingway 982) Notice though how the word Hopper is capitalized, like a name would be. Why does the word Hopper become capitalized? Names are very important, why would this insect receive a name? Nick lets this Hopper go “He tossed the grasshopper up into the air and watched him sail away to a charcoal stump across the road.” (Hemingway 982)

I think just the description and the identity of the grasshoppers play a huge role into the character of Nick, and his own personal identity. But how?

The Road Not Yet Taken Week 6

Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Yet Taken”, In a few brief words it is the choice between two roads and which one to take, and the character’s decision to choose the road less traveled and that it ended up making all of the difference.

1.       The title reminds me of the ability to walk alone as an individual instead of following everyone else and their trail. Because you need to make your own. If there was any other title I suppose you could call it the road with the grass more squished down, but then who would want to read that? Kidding. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine any other title for a poem, because it feels like there couldn’t be one any better.

2.       There weren’t any words that I didn’t understand.

3.       I hear some rhyming like line 1 and 4wood and could. It seems that in one line there will be the beginning rhyming word and then two shorter phrases would pass before the next rhyming word would follow.

4.       If you looked at the poem literally; there is a person (we don’t know if it is male or female, although I think it is meant to be sexless so we can all relate to the meaning of the poem.) and they are at a crossroad. They have the ability to choose two paths. One that is obviously more worn from being used more often, while the other is less used. So the path less traveled was taken and apparently that was worth it for the main character.

5.       Things that I am seeing are 1. The roads. 2. The first road looking like the grass had been beaten down. 3. The second road not worn and grass is fresh. 4. The road less traveled almost begging to be walked through. 5. Also the character of this poem looking back and feeling confident with his decision.

6.       1. The speaker is sexless. 2. There is a decision to be made. 3. Obviously at a crossroad in his/her life. 4. Weighing options and decisions. 5. Having the feelings of following comfort. 6. Or following the road that will make the speaker grow as a person. 7. The speaker finally makes a decision. 8. starts moving forward in the chosen direction. 9. Feeling confident. 10. And having no regrets for the decision made.

7.       The attitude of the speaker is about making decisions concerning the entirety of one’s life. And deciding to live it like everyone else or to march to the beat of your own drum.

8.       The poem has some structure but overall it’s a lesser amount it gives the mind some freedom to roam while still giving it boundaries.

9.       Obviously the tension in the poem has to do with the speaker trying to determine which way to go after traveling thus far. The decisions don’t seem too terribly difficult for the speaker, although it did take some thought.

10.   “And sorry I could not travel both…” I found this interesting. Not having the ability to see what both paths could produce at the end and having to make one decision and hoping it is the right decision. “Because it was grassy and wanted wear…” I like how the road almost has its own voice begging to be trodden on. “ I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere  ages and ages hence two roads diverged in a wood and I…I took the one last traveled by, and it has made all of the difference.” I like the feeling that a decisions was well made, and even in old age there is no regret, which should be how we all live our lives.

I like the feeling of life giving you choices and you can make a decision and once it has been made you can’t go back. Life is set in motion the moment a decision is made. And I love how the speaker says “And sorry I could not travel both…” because I think we all want both, wonder what could have happened if we had made better decisions in our lives, even simply just making decisions in our lives. And the path more worn is like our comfort zone and our fault at following the footsteps before us in fear that going the other way may result in our downfall. And the path less worn is giving the ability to march to your own drum and become independent, and decide a life based on what is important personally as opposed to what is expected.  

What's your path?

Essay

Right now I am currently in a dilemma. I can’t decide whether or not to discuss the irony aspect or the trickster aspect over the readings we have been studying. I really want to discuss the irony in the passing of Grandison and how after the colonel boasts of Grandison’s faithfulness, and Grandison’s constant expression towards his faithfulness that he still escapes. Not only does he escape, but he also helps his family escape. But at the same time I want to talk about Grandisons as a trickster as well as Dick and Charity .      

                Then I also wanted to talk about the role that women play, I thought I could talk about Charity and then the infidelity of the wife from the short story the storm. I just want to express how these two women really have this control over there men. Charity making Dick “free a slave”, and Dick only doing it in hopes that he can have Charity. And then the infidelity and the stress that relationships can cause. I just like the idea that men can so easily be influenced by women, and how women can have so many secrets and abilities to achieve what they want in these stories.

Ah! Decisions, decisions!

Washington

 “ while doing this , you can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law abiding, and un resentful people that the world has seen. As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, in nursing your children, watching by the sick-bed of your mothers and fathers, and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, in our humble way, we shall stand by you with a defense of yours, interlacing out industrial, commercial, civil, and religious life with yours in a way that shall me the interests of both races one. In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress. (443)

Washington was making an attempt to express that the slaves were just as much as equal as those who are white. That they are mothers and father, employees, people who will buy up plots of land and contribute to the overall culture of mankind. That if there was a willingness to create a whole community instead of many individual ones, that there would be several more things accomplished and with a higher success rate.

Washington also displays pure honesty, which I found to be very refreshing. He wasn’t simply pleading the case of his people as innocent and without fault. He says himself “Nearly sixteen millions of hands will aid you in pulling the load upward, or they will pull against you the load downward. We shall constitute one-third and more of the ignorance and crime of the South, or one-third its intelligence and progress; we shall contribute one-third to the business and industrial prosperity of the South, or we shall prove a veritable body of death, stagnating, depressing, and retarding every effort to advance the body political.” (444)

Washington admits that the change won’t come easily, that it will be a struggle each and every day and can’t be forced upon people, but slowly introduced. That the privileges of the law can be theirs, and are deserved, Although, exercising these privileges needs to be learned. 

Washington wraps up his speech and his last few words were “…will bring into our beloved South a new heaven and a new earth.”(445). which was referring earlier to what could be possible if everyone was able to pull themselves together in a joint unit. I find him realizing the possibilities and being very hopeful for the best outcome possible.

Du Bois

“How does it feel to be a problem?” (454) Du Bois admits to it being a strange experience. Du Bois goes argument is that the Negro is what it is and it shouldn’t be anything else than what it is. He say’s himself “The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife- this longing attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. Into his merging he wishes neither of the older slaves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of opportunity closed roughly in his face. (455)

It seems as if Du Bois is basically expressing that Negros have been forced to be so many other things than it actually is. He drives home the actual struggle that it has taken his people to come to the point at which they now reside. And the further actions they will have to take to continue on a forward motion and sometimes things ahead of them seemed dark and without any head way, but for others a process which would eventually provide a positive.

Du Bois even speaks of Washington and his recent proclamation, he says “ Mr. Washington’s counsels of submission overlooked certain elements of true manhood, and that his educational programme  was unnecessarily narrow (462)  

Which at this point it makes me really think about Washington’s speech? Was it really a plea for submission? Or was it a compromise? Did he basically roll over and play dead in hopes of gaining even an ounce of freedom?

Du Bois also mentions that due to Washington’s past he tip toes about with his ideas to presents them in ways that would be more pleasing to his audience. Du Bois is just expressing that every man should be made to be equals.

I feel that Washington makes very valid points and I feel Du Bois is right about him. He does appear to be presenting his case in ways that are more appealing to the ear of the audience. While on the other hand Du Bois is straight up with his facts and feelings. Washington appears in my opinion to be more conservative based on the fact that he is trying to please while create a change, and Du Boise is more militant in his actions.

Response

http://nathanaelgracelovesliterature.blogspot.com/ I like the quote you used about Grandison be “aboloishinist proof”, It makes me think about what exactly the Colonel picked up from Grandison’s personality that made him think this way. I also find it interesting how the Colonel could be so ignorant and big headed to think that a human being would be thrilled with the idea of being a slave. Yes the conditions on that plantation were far better than other plantations with other slave holders.  While Dick is about to leave on his trip the Colonel says something to him that I feel accurately describes his personality. “…I hope you will keep your eyes and ears open to find out what the rascally abolitionists are saying and doing. They’re  becoming altogether too active for our comfort, and entirely to many ungrateful niggers are running away…”(pg 233) The ungrateful part is where in my opinion the Colonel went wrong. Thinking he could ever own a person as if an object introduced him to embarrassment and reality. So when Grandison escapes and then brings along the whole family it’s like a huge screw you. And the fact that the Colonel chases after Grandision and his family just further proves the Colonel’s ignorance as well as his hurt pride.

The Passing of Grandison  

Words are only words. Darn that Irony.

In the beginning Dick is convinced he has to prove himself to be worthy before he can be married to Charity. Finally it is decided in some form that Dick has to “run a negro off to Canada.” So Dick originally picks Tom to run off, but his father the Colonel decides that Dick should take Grandison instead. The colonel’s main fear is that he cannot send a slave that might escape. The colonel says to Dick “I’d just like to catch any one trying to run off one of my darkeys. He’d  get short shrift ; I don’t think any Court would have the chance to try him.” (pg 233)

            Which I find rather interesting that he would say that when his own son is trying to do exactly what his father is trying to prevent. It’s what Dick says to his father afterwards that really confirms the irony. They are a pestiferous lot and dangerous to our institutions. Well Dick appears to be just as dangerous.

            Perfect example

            So I have to say Grandison’s technique for escape was amazing. Throughout the entire story you get this very strong feel that Grandison is devoted to his master and that he never has any intention of leaving. Even though Dick has been diligently trying to get rid of him.

Especially when Dick says this to Grandison “Gradison, I am going away for a day or two, but I shall leave you here. I shall lock up a hundred dollars in this drawer and give you the key. If you need any of it, use it and enjoy yourself, -spend it all if you like,- for this is probably the last chance you’ll have for some time to be in a free state, and you’d better enjoy your liberty while you may.”(pg 237) Then after Dick returns he finds Grandsion still waiting to serve him and along with that has not touched the money.

            What a Jerk.

            In the reading, Dick makes it to Canada with Grandison and goes into an inn for lunch. Dick leaves Grandison to sit in free territory where he has the opportunity to run free at any moment. But still Grandison remains waiting patiently for his Master. Although, when Dick returns Grandison is asleep on the ground and Dick uses this as his opportunity to leave Grandison and return home. Where he delivers lies about the disappearance of the faithful Grandison.

            Oh the Irony!

            In the reading we learn that Grandison comes crawling back home after being tortured and facing severe turmoil. Dick’s father the Colonel proudly says “Grandison had no intention of running away; he knew when he was well off, and where his friends were. All the persuasions of abolition liars and runaway niggers did not move him.” (pg240) Then three weeks go by and Grandison is treated very well all the while sharing his story with the town about his faithfulness to his master. Then one morning Grandison and all of his loved ones flee for Canada, to freedom. It blows my mind at Grandisons sneaky act to gain freedom. That is honest irony, the act of cleverly anticipating the moment of escape, even when it was so readily available earlier.

So did anyone else find these examples of Verbal and Situational Irony?

           

            

In Response to http://nathanaelgracelovesliterature.blogspot.com/2012/02/stormy.html

     I really like what you said in the first paragraph of your blog, "The ending is surprising because it not only rejects the need for consequences for adultery, but it goes so far as to provide a happy ending for everyone involved." I do have to agree with you on that point. I find it interesting that after this affair Calixta  seems almost temporarily released from her former self. Almost as if cleansed if that makes any sense. Even though what she did seems to have made her very unclean. 
    I want to know why she doesn't confess, or does she even feel like she has to? I also feel terribly sorry for Bobinot  who has received the bitter end of his wife. Then comes home after traveling in the storm preparing himself for his Calixta and her wrath, if you so chose to classify it as wrath. And comes home to a happy wife. Imagine Bobinot's response if he had learned that his wife's infidelity is the reason for her new found happiness. How distraught would he be knowing that the happiness his wife is experiencing was all thanks to Alcee? It's terrible watching Bobinot go on in innocence feeling happy and at peace with his wife when in all actuality those feelings are not deserved? Perhaps that is not the right wording? Which makes me wonder what is love, actually?
     

Week 2, Working out the kinks

1. My question so far is what reading was most significant to the reader and to the writer? For example I found myself more attracted to several of Whitman's writings. Even though I didn't agree with everything that he said I did find him to be amusing.

2. Also I was wondering what the fine line between Dickinson's dark poetry and classic high school woe is me poetry?