Carver

"In this manner, the issue was decided." 

Honestly, I have no idea what to think about this story.  At first, I just assumed the baby literally ripped in half due to the game of tug of war going on.  Then, people at school told me that idea was silly.  I am still not firmly convinced that this is not true.  Here are some details that make me wonder:

1. The father "pulled back very hard" on the baby which is not the way a person should treat a baby.
2. In the introductory material, the text states that the short story ends with :a startling conclusion."  What is more startling than a baby ripping in half?
3. Apparently this story alludes to the Biblical story of Solomon.  In this story, God presents a solution to two woman who are fighting over which mother the child belonged to.  In this story, God tells the women to rip the baby in half; however, this does not actually occur. 

 Even though this reasoning may not be the most logical, I think it is certainly possible that the baby did not actually survive the splitting couple's battle.  That seems startling enough for me!

Moore

"That was the funny thing about beauty, thought Zoe.  Look it up in the yellow pages, and you found a hundred entries, hostile with wit, cutesy with warning.  But look up truth - ha!  There was nothing at all."  (p. 362)

Sarcasm and irony - two of my favorite things!  And I'm not being sarcastic.

In the excerpt above, Zoe describes the irony of our media-obsessed world.  Every magazine placed on the shelves at Target include tips on "beauty" - how to get skinny fast, make your face glow, or get the latest looks; however, what really defines beauty?  This sounds extremely cliche, but is anything posted in magazines actually the truth?  With the internet, magazines, newspaper, television, Twitter, and Facebook, news on so called beauty spreads quickly, but the truth about beauty is hard to find. Throughout the story, Zoe struggles with how she looks because she is constantly comparing herself to her sister.  Zoe relies on her sarcasm to keep her own mind clear of negative, depressing thoughts.  Sarcasm and irony are Zoe's ways of avoiding reality.  Zoe's discovery of this irony in the modern world helps her to focus not on her own flaws, but the flaws of society. 

O'Connor

"...but I was being attached to the party to act as a brake on Father.  As a brake I had never achieved anything, but Mother still had great faith in me."  (p. 344)

Throughout "The Drunkard," the author uses an image of brakes.  For example, in the excerpt above, Larry describes his presence at the funeral as "brakes" on his Father.  Larry states that he had never actually stopped his father from drinking before, but his mother still believed he would.  It was almost as if she knew what was going to happen.  This metaphor is ironically played out.  To prevent his father from drinking, Larry (as a young child) finds himself drunk, distracting his father from his alcohol addiction.  Larry has no intention of becoming drunk or stopping his father from drinking.  This irony adds an element of humor to the story even though alcoholism is a completely serious issue.  At the end of the story, Larry's mother credits her young child for saving her husband by protecting him from alcohol.  I thought it was humorous that she did not even care about her son getting drunk; she was only worried about his father.    

Jackson

"'Some places have already quit lotteries,' Mrs. Adams said.
 'Nothing but trouble in that,' Old Man Warner said stoutly."  (p. 268)

While reading this entire short story, I kept feeling an eerie vibe that something really bad was going to happen.  Actually, this story is extremely similar to The Hunger Games.  In both stories, a drawing is held in the town - in one, the drawing is referred to as "the lottery."  This name is extremely deceiving because I pretty much automatically assumed that a lottery would produce a negative outcome.  In The Hunger Games, a drawing is held every year to choose "tributes" from each district.  Basically, these tributes are supposed to fight to the death in order to keep the districts from rebelling against the Capital.  In both drawings, there is a traditional element and fatal outcomes.  The drawings are repeated continuously in order to keep order and enforce tradition.  In the excerpt above, Old Man Warner warns Mrs. Adams of the danger in living without these lotteries.  This is ironic because the lottery causes so much stress and chaos in every family.  This small town is so traditional that they can not even rid themselves of a horrible act.  Without change, no progression can occur.

Here is the trailer for the upcoming Hunger Games movie!!!  I am so excited :)

Gordimer

"And they took heed of the advice on a small board fixed to the wall:  Consult DRAGON'S TEETH the People for Total Security." (p. 235)

When I think of dragons, I usually imagine childhood stories of knights in armor and princesses; however, this story is far from a fairytale.

In the story, the parents are constantly upgrading the security of their house in order to "protect" the family.  Usually, consciousness of security is a good thing.  In this story, a large worry of safety leads to horrible consequences.  If we spend our lives constantly worrying about danger, nothing can be truly enjoyed.  For example, the parents in this story are so concerned about the family's safety that they forget to focus on the actions of their child.  This is pretty ironic because their actions were actually supposed to improve his safety instead of hurting him.  Also, the company is supposed to provide "Total Security."  Sure, it provided security from the outside world, but who would have ever thought of the danger within the home - imagination.

Welty

"I remembers so plain now.  I not going to forget him again, no, the whole enduring time."  (p.230)

Now the ultimate question... is the grandson really alive?

According to Bryan Rainey, the grandson is very much alive; however, what if the grandson was dead?  In one of the questions, the author states that "Phoenix is alive."  At first I was extremely confused because obviously Phoenix is alive.  Maybe the author meant that many people just like Phoenix must fight their way to make a living every single day.  Phoenix is alive in every single oppressed person in the world.

But this still does not answer the question.  I decided that the grandson was not alive.  For one, she "forgets" about her grandson when the nurse questions Phoenix.  I'm not sure even an old lady could make an entire journey and forget the reason why they made it.  Secondly, I believe that Phoenix possesses a sound mind because she is clever enough to create a distraction to steal the nickel.  Also, in the excerpt above, Phoenix states that she will not forget her grandson this "whole enduring time."  I am not sure if she is only referring to the span of the journey or her lifetime.  I would not refer to the journey as an "enduring time" because it is short in comparison to the journey of life.

Mansfield

"She unclasped the necklet quickly; quickly, without looking, laid it inside."

In this excerpt, Miss Brill refers to the fur she describes in the opening paragraph of the story.  This fur represents much more than a luxurious item of clothing.  It is an attempt for the English woman to blend in with the French culture.  Since Miss Brill teaches English, I am assuming she appears different to many of the people in France.  Miss Brill does not want to stand out; however, she is obviously failing miserably.  I think the fur also represents a kind of companion.  Since she enjoys people watching, Miss Brill must be pretty lonely at home.  The prized fur symbolizes something she can be attached to such as a pet.  Even though it is a little creepy, this is also very sad.  Since all the French people ostracize Miss Brill, she must turn to a fur coat in order to feel wanted.  She also does this when she thinks about being a part of the "play" that takes place every Sunday.

Joyce

"She sat at the window watching evening invade the avenue." (p. 218)


This quote contains an example of personification.  Evening is described as "invading" the avenue.  Eveline does not welcome the passing of time; the author shows this through negative diction such as the word "invading."  Personification presents the evening as dangerous.  With the passing of time, Eveline must decide whether or not she will stay with her family or travel with Frank to Buenos Aires.  Eveline wants to break the cycle of violence in her life.  Eveline's mother was abused by her father, and ever since her mother died, Eveline has taken her place.  Even though this seems a good enough reason to leave, Eveline still feels attached to her family.  Just as she watches the evening pass, she watches her life cycle out of her control.  Although family connections are important, deep roots can sometimes create a negative impact; however, Eveline still has the free will to decide her fate.  Without action, her life will always remain the same.

Meville

"For a few moments I was turned into a pillar of salt standing at the head of my seated column of clerks." (Bartleby the Scrivener - p. 650 ¶ 32)


In this quote "a pillar of salt" is an allusion to the chapter of Genesis in the Bible.  In this story in the Bible, Lot is told to flee his city in order to avoid God's punishment on the citizens of the town.  He tells Lot and his family to not look back; however, Lot's wife lags behind as if she is longing for her hometown.  Consequently, Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt.  Just as Lot's wife disobeys, Bartleby disobeys the narrator.  Honestly, Bartleby "prefers not to do" anything.  


I think the pillar of salt allusion shows that the narrator is beginning to lose his patience with Bartleby.  Even though Bartleby never showed any anger or aggression, he still annoys the narrator.  After the narrator says this, he questions Bartleby wondering why he refuses to do everything.  I personally believe it is because the narrator allows it; instead of firing Bartleby, he still asks him to do his work.  I honestly think that Bartleby just keeps the work world interesting for the narrator.  Personally, I would get tired of the refusals, but whatever floats your boat.

Wolff

"Finally they stopped by the creek to eat.  Kenny had several slices of pizza and a couple of candy bars; Frank had a sandwich, an apple, twi carrots, and a square of chocolate; Tub ate one hard-boiled egg and a stick of celery."  (Hunters in the Snow - p. 189 ¶ 25)


All I can say is: AMERICAH!


But seriously, look at those meals these men packed for a day of hunting.  Wow, they are really straining themselves living off the wild.  Honestly, this is the society we live in.  We are so accustomed to pre-made food; I know for a fact I would die if I suddenly had to live off of the wild.  But these men are hunting for goodness sake!  I think they should at least trust their skills enough to not pack meals.  I wonder if they would even eat a deer anyways.


I think these meals pretty much characterize these men.  Kenny eats slices of pizza and candy.  Usually, these foods are consumed at a party or social event.  Kenny is very outgoing and likes to make jokes just like a person at a social event.  Frank consumes a very plain, typical meal; this is suiting because Frank is the most level-headed and ordinary of the three men.  Finally, Tub eats two things that are healthy; this shows how Tub is self-conscious about his weight.  He does not want the others to know that he overeats and that he does not actually have a glandular problem.  Maybe you really are what you eat!  

Wolff

"Up ahead they saw some lights off the road.  It was a tavern.  Outside in the parking lot there were several jeeps and trucks.  A couple of them had deer strapped across their hoods."  (Hunters in the Snow p. 196 ¶ 157)


Well, Kenny, Tub, and Frank definitely proved their combined intelligence multiple times in the story.  I mean, the story starts with Frank and Kenny trying to run over Tub while it is dangerously icy outside.  I'm not really sure who gave these people guns, but whoever did needs to take them back or something.


I thought this quote was ironic.  After a day of unsuccessful "hunting" (I'm not even sure you can call it that...), Tub and Frank pull into a bar while Kenny is bleeding to death in the back of their truck.  The irony is established when the narrator states that some of the cars "had deer strapped across their hoods."  During the trip, Kenny, Tub, and Frank did not kill shoot any deer.  Instead of a deer, Tub and Frank have Kenny as their number one kill.  While many people go into the bar and drink, they leave the deer strapped on the car; Tub and Frank leave Kenny in the car like he is their prize.  They do not even care about how Kenny is doing, they just know that they are cold.  Great friends I'd say.  Whoever said that Frank is the most likable character in class:  I totally disagree with you.  I think Frank is a horrible person who only influences negative activity.  For example, he encourages Tub to eat after Tub admits he has a problem with overeating.  And on a lighter note, Frank is also a pedaphile who is in love with a fifteen year old girl.  Oh, and he is going to leave his wife for this girl.  Like him now?

Walker

"Dee next.  A dress down to the ground, it this hot weather.  A dress so loud it hurts my eyes."  (Everyday Use p. 176 ¶ 20)


In this story, Dee and Maggie serve as total opposites.  Dee is modern, outgoing, and rude while Maggie stands in the shadows enjoying her traditional life with her mother.  In the excerpt above, synesthesia is used when the narrator states that the dress was so loud that it "hurt her eyes."   Synesthesia is basically when senses are confused.  For example, people who experience synesthesia associate colors with numbers and letters.  So basically, the numbers and letters are inherently colored.  In the quote, Mama mixes the sense of sight and hearing; therefore, she associates the color of the dress with sound.  The color is described as being "loud."  Many people describe colors as loud because they are bright or even obnoxious.  Also, Mama says the color hurts her eyes.  This is another literary device - an overstatement.  Obviously the color did not literally hurt Mama's eyes, but this adds effect to the story.  I think this description also serves to characterize Dee as a loud, obnoxious person who does not really take others into consideration.  To illustrate, Dee basically tells her mother that she is taking her valuables without even asking.  Not exactly the type of thing my mom would allow.  Also, the description of Dee's dress is the exactly the opposite of the description of Maggie's dress which is "a pink skirt and red blouse" - something simple and traditional.  While Maggie leans toward the traditional, Dee wishes for modern, expensive things.

Munro

"He always tells the children the story of how I went after him by sitting by the mailbox every day, and naturally I laugh and let him, because I like for people to think what pleases them and makes them happy." (p. 146)

This story ends with many different types of irony.  In the quote above is an example of dramatic irony.  Dramatic irony takes place when there is a discrepancy between the reader's understanding of a scene and a character's understanding of a scene, usually because the reader has knowledge the character does not.  In this short story, we are aware of the circumstances under which Edie met her husband.  She had been waiting and waiting for a letter in the mail to arrive from a her "dream man" - a war hero who flew planes for money.  Although this man was supposively engaged, Edie still believed what he had told her was true; therefore, Edie waits everyday by the mailbox in order to see what the mail woud bring that day.  In the eyes of Carmichael, Edie was waiting at the mailbox each day in order to see him.  According to the story, Edie never told Carmichael the real reason why she went to that mailbox.  She wanted him to believe what he thought to be true.  This irony makes the relationship even more meaningful.  Even though things may not work out perfectly, there is always another opportunity waiting around the corner.  Another type of irony in this story in situational irony.  Situational irony takes place when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what really does happen.  Personally, I expected Chris to fly back in the plane, and swoop Edie into his arms; however, this is not the case.  Instead, Edie meets her husband while waiting on the "love of her life." 

Lahiri

"Mr. Kapasi gathered Bobby in his arms and brought him back to where his parents and siblings were standing."  (p. 165)

In this enitre short story, Bobby is an important symbol even though he is totally unaware of the conflict he represents.  Only Mrs. Das is the only person in the family who knows what his meaning - disloyalty and conflict in marriage.  Bobby is the result of an affair Mrs. Das had with one of her husband's friends.  Mrs. Das admits this to Mr. Kapasi, their lowly tour guide; she tells him that she has been unhappy and uninterested in her marriage.  In addition, Mrs. Das even shows no interest in her children pushing them away whenever they desired attention.  However, Mr. Kapasi is able to pull the family together.  I would consider Mr. Kapasi an antihero - he does not contain the traditional qualities of a hero, put he is still able to save Mrs. Das' relationship with her family.  In a way, he serves as a person who is willing to listen and not criticize Mrs. Das' life.  Also, in the excerpt above, he saves Bobby from the attacking monkeys.  When everyone else stood helpless, Mr. Kapasi stepped in to save the day.  After this moment, Mrs. Das shows affection toward her children.  She even uses her own personal brush to comb Bobby's hair.  Although this is probably not what he needed at that moment, this sign of affection showed that Mrs. Das did truely love her children.  Maybe her marriage was not as ruined as she had thought.  Even though Mr. Kapasi had opposite intentions, he was able to help the American woman in many ways.  Mr. Kapasi's story does not end in such a positive way.  In fact, he saw the opportunity for a new life float away in the wind - literally. 

Munro

"I kept on going to meet the mail, but my heart was heavy now like a lump of lead.  I only smiled because I thought of the mailman counting on it, and he didn't have an easy life, with the winter driving ahead." (p. 146)

Carmichael or Chris Watter?  That is the ultimate question.

First of all, Chris Watter is a total tool.  Even though he is engaged, he totally uses Edie just to escape the reality of his actual relationship.  His fiancee is also not the nicest person in the world.  She even calls Edie a "little country tramp."  Both Chris and Alice are probably from a higher class of people then Edie.  Chris shows his authority over Edie by telling her that he is "used to shy girls" and by inviting her to take a free ride on the plane.  At first, I thought he was just a nice guy, but I was wrong.  I highly doubt this is a Notebook type situation in which Mrs. Peebles has been hiding all the letters Chris sends from Edie.

On the other hand, Carmichael is totally the perfect man for Edie.  He is obviously not a super smart and wealthy person (after all, he is a mail man).  He compliments Edie's smile and tells her that he has been waiting for it all day.  Although Edie focuses on Chris' lies and deceitful actions, this simple gesture is what ultimately keeps Edie returning to the mailbox day after day.  Her relationship with Carmichael is accidental.  I like how the author elaborates on Edie's two day fling with Chris for about fifteen pages, then briefly explains her lifelong relationship with Carmichael for a paragraph.  I think the suspense makes the relationship even more sweet.  Without heartache and tears, true love can never be found.  How cute.

Faulkner

"He talked to no one, probably not even to her, for his voice had grown harsh and rusty, as if from disuse." (p. 288)

What an appropriate short story for Halloween!  Murder, poison, and much more.

Anyways, the excerpt above refers to the Negro servant of Miss Emily.  This man seems to just work behind the scenes; however, his silent actions play a big role into the story.  He is really the only visible evidence of Miss Emily's life to the outside community who is constantly watching.  If the servant still is running to the market, Miss Emily must still be alive.  This quote is an example of a paradox.  Usually, a person's voice grows harsh and rusty from constant use or screaming.  However, in this short story, the servant never speaks a word; therefore, it is said that his voice is lost due to disuse.  This statement seems impossible, but metaphorically, it makes sense.  The servant's lack of speaking out caused a man to die.  He saw everything that occurred in Miss Emily's household, and he had the power to speak out.  Because of his lack crying for help, he was so stunned that he could not speak anymore.  The misuse of voice caused his speaking to flee.  My guess is that he was not able to speak his mind due to his position in the household.  Because Emily was rich, she had a lot more power then a lowly servant; therefore, it would be difficult for the man to step up and say something about the situation.  Also, Miss Emily was probably mentally insane.  Usually, keeping a dead body for a long period of time is not something a stable person would do.

Changing Times

"I see a wild civility;"
("Delight in Disorder" - Herrick)

This poem is short, and to the point; however, it is full of oxymoron's and contradictory statements.  First of all, the poem is titled "Delight in Disorder."  For me, disorder is not a good thing.  I like to know where things are and what is going to happen next.  All the jewels and riches the woman wears are "distractions" to the speaker.  Usually, pretty clothing and jewelry is worn to attract the attention of men.  The speaker is not enthralled with all the riches; instead, he focuses on the one thing that is out of order with her outfit - her shoelace.  If I put all that effort into an outfit, I would be pretty mad to find out that the man I was trying to impress only liked my shoelace.  I think this poem serves as a wake up call for women.  Not all men want woman to dress extravagantly.  In order to describe this shoestring, the author uses the oxymoron "wild civility."  The out-of-place shoestring is something that is considered improper or uncivilized for the woman's society.  However, the woman is trying her best to be civil.  Really, a shoelace is not a big deal.  However, since the woman's ideals are different than mine, this may be a big deal in her society.  This poem really shows how ideals and times change.        

Confidence?

"And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die."
("Death, be not proud" - John Donne)

The theme of this poem is:  Death, I am not scared of you.  Or am I?

In the quote above, there is a paradox which I really had to think about.  In the poem, death is compared to sleep.  Since sleep is a leisurely activity, death should also be pleasurable.  Pretty logical reasoning I'd say.  With this eternal sleep comes eternal life.  Therefore, death kills earthly life, but in the process, death is killed by eternal life.  Okay, maybe that does not make any sense, but trust me, it makes sense in my mind.  Maybe.

The speaker is so insulting towards death, almost like an immature fourth grader.  I thought calling death a "slave to fate" was pretty low.  I mean, I don't think death is that bad; in fact, it allows us to enter God's kingdom.  So, why does the speaker keep insulting death over and over again?  Personally, I believe the speaker is trying to give himself a pep talk.  He is probably terrified out of his mind because everything that occurs after death is so unknown.  The unknown is always something that scares every person (especially that axe murderer living in the cheer closet the other day).  The speaker is not confident;  in fact, he is acting quite desperate.  He even contradicts himself in his argument.  Sometimes, we just need to let the impossible go.

Ships in the Night

"I see myself on deck, convinced
his ship's gone down, while he's convinced
I'll see him on the dock..."
("Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead" - Andrew Hudgins)

I'm beginning to love poems where the title tells me exactly what to expect.  However, this poem is a little misleading.  When I think of a elegy, I imagine a sad, nostalgic speech describing the good qualities of a recently deceased person.  Obviously, the speaker's father is not dead, but he is approaching death.  Maybe he has some type of illness that is threatening his life, or he is just approaching old age.  Either way, the speaker has a subdued or indifferent approach on his father's death.

Many differences are pointed out between the beliefs of the father and the speaker.  For example, the speaker does not really believe in the afterlife.  In the excerpt above, the father's belief in the afterlife is described using a metaphor.  The father compares the afterlife to a journey specifically made on a ship.  While the father believes his ship will stay afloat, the speaker believes the ship will sink after death.  The speaker shows that he is not completely confident by using the phrase "I think" instead of "I know."  In reality, no human being can really fully comprehend the afterlife.  In admitting this, the speaker is admitting that his father could be right; however, the speaker still has a pessimistic attitude.

A Walk to Remember

"Old age should burn and rave at close of day;"
("Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" - Dylan Thomas)

This poem reminded me of the movie A Walk To Remember.  This movie tells the story of a girl named Jamie who is dying of leukemia.  Instead of waiting around for her death, she attempts to complete a list of things she wants to do before death.  One thing I specifically remember is when Landon helps her be in two places at one time.  Jamie could have made her situation ten times worse, but she chose to make it better by keeping a positive outlook on life.  Jamie and Landon even get married right before she dies.

Although Jamie does not die of old age, her life still "burns and raves" until her death.  Thomas is trying to tell the reader that death should not be something we try to hide from.  Instead of acting depressed and worried when thinking about death, we should think of death as just another unforeseen bump in the road.  Wise, good, wild, and grave men all had regrets in life because they feared death.  For example, the "good" man will cry when he dies because his deeds could have touched the lives of many people if he was not so concerned about death.  Without a fear of death, we are able to accomplish more things and live a fuller life.     

Winter Winds

"Consumed with that which it was nourished by."
("That time of year" - Shakespeare)

One image that particularly struck me in this poem was the image of fire.  This poem presents the death of fall into the season of winter.  Winter is compared to a fire that consumes the fall.  The "ashes" referred to are the ashes of a youthful world in which plants thrive and animals move about freely.  However, winter brings this entire process to a stop.  In the excerpt above, it says that a fire consumes everything that nourishes it.  This seems selfish at first; however, a fire must consume it's ingredients in order to keep burning.  In the same way, fall must turn to winter in order for the process of life to begin all over again.  Without winter, there would be no new life.

The first three quatrains refer to the passage of fall into winter.  However, the last two lines serve to compare this process to a greater lesson in life.  In order for a person to fully appreciate something, it must be taken away first.  Winter serves a purpose of allowing us time to fully appreciate the beauty of spring.  If we are given something for too long, the value begins to deteriorate.  Therefore, time apart from this thing will allow a person time to grow.

Our Pilot

"I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar."
("Crossing the Bar" - Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

I was trying to figure out what the word "bar" means in this poem.  Obviously, it metaphorically represents some sort of barrier the speaker must cross after death in order to reach heaven.  However, I thought that the word may have a definition associated with the sea.  Apparently, a type of seabird is called a "sea bar" or "tern." I found this interesting because maybe the word "bar" is used in more than one context.  The speaker literally wants to cross the bar in order to reach heaven; however, the "mourning of the bar" can represent a bird's call as it flies along the beach.  These birds metaphorically represent those who mourn for a person who has died.

In the excerpt above, the word "pilot" is capitalized.  At first, I thought this was just a thing with poets. Emily Dickinson capitalizes all of her nouns, so everyone else should too, right?  Well, upon closer examination, the pilot in this poem is metaphorically referring to God.  In our life, God is the one who choses when we will join his kingdom and what will happen to us.  The speaker is trying to prove to his loved ones that mourning loss after death is pointless because God has carved a pathway for each and every person on Earth.  Describing God as a pilot is appropriate because the speaker is putting "out to sea" in the first stanza and embarking on a journey in the third stanza.  In both scenarios, a pilot is needed in order to guide the way.

"but sohelpmegod he starts talkin
bout a golden ball
an how i can be a princess
me a princess"
("Hazel Tells LaVerne" - Katharyn Howd Machan)

I love this poem.  First of all, the poem takes place in a restaurant in New York.  For example, the speaker says "an he says" and "well i screams."  These phrases exemplify the typical New Yourker accent.  The lack of punctuation and grammar shows how the speaker is not educated.  I'm assuming she works in the restaurant industry because she was cleaning her "howard johnsons ladies room" and she is speaking to her coworker.  In my experience at Steak n' Shake, servers are usually more personal with one another just because we have to help each other in order to get everything done.  The speaker does not speak formally with the person she is speaking with; therefore, both people are probably uneducated, minimum wage servers.

 The theme of this poem is:  When an entire society sets all odds against you, it is hard to believe that something beyond the stereotype will occur in your life.  The speaker obviously has all odds against her. After all, before this "magical" event occurred, she was cleaning the bathrooms of another person's business.  When the frog appears in the toilet bowl, she does not believe it.  She thinks that she is only a lowly commoner with nothing special to offer to society.  However, the frog tells the woman that she can become a princess with just a kiss.  When the frog asks her to kiss him, the speaker calls the frog a "pervert" and comically attempts to flush him down the toilet.  I think the frog represents the dream every girl has of becoming a princess.  However, every little girl soon realizes that this dream is quite impossible.  It is quite depressing... Here is a clip from The Princess and the Frog :)

Love is a Battlefield

"That year we hardly slept, waking like inmates
who beat the walls..."
("Getting Out" - Cleopatra Mathis)

This poem creates a shift in tone that explains the before and after of a divorce.  Before the divorce occurred, the speaker uses the pronoun "we" in order to explain how the two people acted as a unit.  In the quote above, the couple is described using "we"; however, the marriage has made the two people "inmates."  This word has a pretty negative connotation because it connects with prison.  In this context, the couple feels as if they are inmates because they are slaves to their own marriage.  The speaker is trying to show how they are trapped because they care about each other, but they are also miserable because of all the problems the marriage has caused.  Later in the poem, a shift in pronouns occurs.  Instead of the pronoun "we," the pronoun "you" is used to place blame on the speaker's former husband.  The speaker accuses the husband of trying "to pack up and go."  At the end of this accusation based stanza, the speaker refers to the pair as a unit once again.  I think this couple has major problems because they can only unite through arguing and problems.  It is interesting how they are only described as a unit after a major fight occurs.

Here is a song that relates to the poem in a way.  My dad would be so proud.

What is Beauty?

"And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

As any she belied with false compare."
("My mistress' eye" - William Shakespeare)

Central theme:  Too many authors use romantic cliches in poetry that do not hold true with every individual.

I love how Shakespeare can insult poets and totally get away with it.  I wish I was as creative and witty.

In this poem, Shakespeare exaggerates qualities that are often glorified by poets by pairing the qualities with negative diction.  For example, instead of "hair like spun gold," the author describes the mistress' hair as "black wires" growing on her head.  Instead of using this typical cliche, Shakespeare describes the hair with a seemingly oxymoron-ish twist.  When I first think of black wires, I think of garbage.  However, beautiful art can be made from wires.  Therefore, the definition of beauty varies from person to person.  The woman Shakespeare is describing is not stereotypically beautiful.  To illustrate, she does not  have "roses" in her cheeks and her lips are not the color of "coral."  However, the woman's natural appearance is beautiful to the speaker.  This poem proves that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Stereotypes used in poetry do not describe what is beautiful to every person in the world.

The excerpt above is taken from the conclusion of the poem.  This quote signaled a change in idea and tone because the speaker directly states "And yet...".  In this excerpt, the speaker is saying that love in poetry is as rare as woman being lied to with false comparisons.  This statement is sarcastic; love in poetry is not rare (in fact, many people believe poetry can only be about love).  Shakespeare is criticizing his fellow poets and challenging them to use a little originality in their works.      

A Dark Past

"Bathed in a cold quicksilver sweat, wilt lie
A verier ghost then I..."
("The Apparition" - John Donne)

This poem seems a little bitter, and I think I understand why.  Donne's diction seems to be generally negative with words such as "scorn," "murderess," and "feigned vestal."  In context, "feigned vestal" means a a person who is pretending to be a virgin.  Obviously the woman is not a virgin.  I think the speaker was a short lived lover who does not want the woman to ruin her life by committing two sins: adultery and lying.  She can not take back the sin of adultery; however, she can avoid lying by telling her husband (I assume) about her past.  The speaker is not seeking revenge even though he seems bitter.  I think he is just warning her about what might happen if she does not tell the truth.

The quote above describes the husband's reaction after a hypothetical scenario is laid out by the speaker.  The speaker says if the woman does not repent, she will be forced to call out her former lover's name in her sleep, and her husband will then know of her past.  Donne uses the word "bathed" to show how the emotion will quickly engulf the man.    In this context, quicksilver means a quick change.  Instead of stating that the man was shocked, Donne compares the husband to a ghost.  This does not literally mean that the man turned to a ghost; in contrast, it means that the man became "as pale as a ghost," showing that he was shocked and devastated by the situation.  In this poem, diction ultimately sets the dark, bitter tone.

Amuricah!

"thy sons acclaim your gorious name by gorry 

by jingo by gee by gosh by gum..."

("next to of course god america i" - e.e. cummings)

Well, I have to say I did not understand the majority of this poem.  From what I can tell, the speaker is either totally uneducated or just totally wasted.  I'm not sure which is correct, however, nothing he says grammatically makes sense.  I love how at the beginning Cummings mixes two of the most patriotic songs of America with the lines "oh say can you see by the dawn's early" and "my country 'tis of."  The speaker never actually finished either song, but instead, uses the words to create his own thought (about what, I am not sure).  I think the speaker is saying that as America ages, more and more people migrate to this country seeking dreams and happiness.  America is personified as a god in the poem because so many people see the United States as the "promise land."  Cummings satirically states that young men sacrifice themselves to America in order to make the country more "beautiful."  He says that nothing could be more beautiful then "these heroic happy dead."  This is ironic because dead people can not physically be happy; however, many people in America assume that those who are killed in the name of this fine country die happily.  I am not 100% sure, but I believe that this poem is criticizing the American people.  Many people today are ignorant of the horrible things that occur in the world.  Also, citizens only want to believe the happy and dream-like view of America.     

The Sugar Coat

"Dear Mom, sure rains a lot here."
("APO 96225" - Larry Rottmann)

In our society, truth is often hidden in order to protect the fragile minds of America's citizens.  Every account of a tragedy is somehow sugar-coated so that Americans who hear the news do not discover the real truth.  This poem points out this flaw in America through satirical understatements.  In this line from the poem, a soldier from the Vietnam War writes to his mother about the war.  Instead of telling her the details, he just tells her about the weather using an understatement of how things are going.  However, the mother is not satisfied with the small talk.  She wants to know the every detail of the war and how her son is actually doing.  After hearing the truth, she denies that this is even occurring.  The father even accuses the son of writing a purposefully depressing letter just to worry his mother. 

America is exactly like this family.  People in our country only want to know about the good things that occur in the world.  Just last week, we watched a documentary in Government about 9/11.  I had always heard about this tragedy, but never before did I actually realize how great of an impact the attack made on our nation.  My understanding was due to the sugar-coating of accounts by broadcasting stations.  When I saw the real footage, I realized what had actually happened on that day.  I think America purposefully builds naive citizens in order to allow government to have more control.  That is a different story....

A Dangerous Game

"well-washed dollars, legal tender
for all debts public and private,
intact despite agitation;"
("Sorting Laundry" - Elisavietta Ritchie)

Well, this poem was a little bit bitter.  I can totally understand where this woman is coming from, and I thought it was clever how the author revealed this attitude to the reader.  Instead of directly stating how the speaker feels, images of clothes and other things put into the laundry are described.  My favorite image is in the quote above.  I think the "dollars" in this scenario represent the two people in the relationship.  Both were well worn and accustomed to each other.  Both parties took care of each other in public and private even when times were tough.  The "tough times" are referenced through the word "debts."  The speaker says that the money was intact despite going through the wash just as relationships can put us through the ringer. However, true love stays in place even through complications.  The woman thought her relationship was perfect until the one day when she discovered it had all been a lie.  I like how the author subtly mentions this through the "strangely tailored shirt."  The speaker seems to show indifference; however, the reader can tell that the speaker is depressed because all the clothes that she posses could not fill "the empty side of the bed."  I think this side of the bed represents her heart.  The speaker believes that no one person can fill the part of her heart she has lost.

Ask Me in the 21st Century

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair."
("Ozymandias" - Percy Bysshe Shelley)

This picture is obviously real.

Ozymandias seems like a pretty mean dude.  He is characterized through many details such as "cold," "frown," and "wrinkled lip."  Personally, I would not want to be under his command.  However, the above excerpt is pretty ironic.  These words have stood the test of time; however, that is the only thing that has made it through the many years.  Around the statue is a "colossal wreck" which contains nothing.  No great power or empire exists from Ozymandias' time.  His statue stands alone among the sand - no person despairs at his work because all of it is gone.  Words may be eternal, but being eternal does not always mean they are true.

I'm not exactly sure what the image of the "hand" and the "heart" is referring too.  I was thinking that "the hand that mocked him" was a metaphor to the people that never thought that he could cause such destruction or have such a powerful rule.  Maybe "the heart that fed" is the people who served this tyrant.  The "hand" and "heart" are synecdoche because one part of a person represents an entire group of people.  A synecdoche is effective because the speaker is placing the blame at the "hand" and "heart" of those who mocked the tyrant.

Under Pressure

"To every woman a happy ending."
("Barbie Doll" - Marge Piercy)

The central theme of this poem is:  society's view of "perfection" can not be realized.

Evidence of imperfection exists throughout the poem.  First of all, the girl is said to be a "fat nose on thick legs."  In the poem, the girl is said to be intelligent, healthy, and strong.  However, not one person looks past her looks.  Also, the girl is said to be like a "fan belt" that wears out over time.  This simile is appropriate because women in today's culture are seen as objects over and over again.  Over time, this harsh view can wear away self confidence.  This can eventually lead to the suicide of many young women.  In the poem, the girl "cuts off her nose and legs."  This overstatement serves to show that the young girl killed herself by ridding herself of her "imperfections."  Unfortunately, many women see death as a happy ending away from all the pressures of life.

Today, society focuses way too much on looks.  From magazine to tv shows, the perfect body is always flashed in young girl's faces. The author is criticizing society's view on women.  This "perfect" image can never be accomplished realistically.  This poem reminded me of an ad we watched in AP Spanish.  When told to reflect on the commercial, I pretty much had the same reaction to the commercial as this poem.  Anorexia, bulimia, self-confidence issues, and depression usually all boil down to one cause:  societal pressure.

 

Questions, Questions.

"Or does it explode?"
("Dream Deferred" - Langston Hughes)

This poem only consists of rhetorical questions.  When I was first reading it, all I could think of was an annoying first grader who asks a millions questions.  However, these questions actually have a purpose.  These questions create images of things that slowly decay over time.  For example, a raisin that is left in the sun eventually will dry up.  Each image is connected to the question of how a dream is deferred.  The author is really asking:  How does a dream end in a person's life?  The slow-tempo images are juxtaposed with the question stated above.  This quote also contains an example of a metonymy.  The action of exploding is used to represent a bomb without directly mentioning the bomb.  This is effective because in the previous stanzas, imagery and similes are used to back up the reasoning.  The image of a bomb is powerful in and of itself to explain how a dream can die quickly and effect many people.  Rhetorical questions allow the reader to see the thought process of the speaker.  The last question is sudden and the opposite of the rest of the poem.  This really emphasizes that the speaker feels as if dreams can be taken from a person suddenly.

Love, that's enough for me

"But it's love that does us in."
("February" - Margaret Atwood)

We all know that feeling right after Christmas break - the anticipation for warm weather and spring break to roll around.  To me, February is a dull month with little to be excited for (besides Jimmy and Lizzie's birthdays of course!).  I honesty spend half of my time wishing it was spring.  This poem grasps that negative feeling through the symbol of the black cat.  I think this cat is a looming image of the misery the speaker feels about the late months of winter.  It is interesting that the cat sits on the speaker's chest; maybe the cat represents the depression on the mind and heart of the speaker throughout the dreary month.

The excerpt above is a paradox presented in the poem.  Before, the author blatantly states that humans should not have young in order to have a worry-free life.  At first, I was extremely shocked (after all, the author uses the image of a shark eating her young);  however, this paradox reveals something true about love.  Love brings humans happiness and joy in life; however, love can also bring heartache and worry.  For example, parents love their children, but if this child gets into trouble, this can cause heartache and worry for the parents.  Without children, there would be no love; on the other hand, there would also be no worry or stress in life.

Lipstick on a Pig

"Didn't you know?  It's been in all the papers,
to solve this problem, how they deal with beggars?
They take and throw them in the tidal rivers."
("Pink Dog" - Elizabeth Bishop)

The central idea of this poem is the poor treatment of those who appear to be impoverished, and the remedies (or lack there of) used to "solve" these problems.  The poem starts with light, carefree diction of a lovely day on the beach.  The sun is out, the sky, a bright shade of blue...and suddenly, the description is interrupted by a naked pink dog walking across the beach.  I admire how the author just nonchalantly states this like nothing is new or surprising.  Personally, I would be totally shocked.

After this stanza, the poem takes a turn toward the negative side of things.  The people automatically judge the dog and assume that she left her children to find food for herself.  I think the dog represents the poor in society; most people scoff and consider these people to be dirty and worthless. 

In the excerpt above, Bishop uses a hyperbole to show how the government only puts ridiculous plans into action that never have a chance of actually succeeding.  Bishop is encouraging the government to find a better solution to this huge problem.  Also, the community can not just dress up the beggars for Carnival and act like they are okay.   Putting lipstick on a pig does not solve anything.  Both the government and the community need to work together to find a solution. 

"Woe is Me"

"Six days of the week it soils
With its sickening poison - 
Just for paying a few bills!"
("Toads" - Philip Larkin)


Larkin combines both sarcasm and wit to criticize the middle class of his day.  The toad is used throughout as a symbol of the hardships in the average person's life.  Many feel as if they can not escape from their working reality.  The symbol of the toad is obviously negative; for example, the toad squats on his life with "sickening poison."  The middle class man is complaining because he has to work six days a week with no means of escaping his fate.  He even goes as far to say that the poorest of the poor have a "better life" because they do not have to work.  Even though they live in the worst of worst conditions, the speaker goes as far to say that "no one actually starves."  I'm assuming that the author is being sarcastic here.  Obviously, many people have died of starvation.  No living person has actually ever died from working day in and day out.  A second toad is mentioned later that is said to be inside the speaker.  This toad limits the speaker from money, girls, and fame.  Larkin is criticizing the working class here for only striving for fame and fortune out of life.   Many people do not care about having a family or purposeful life.  At the end of the poem, the author presents irony.  The speaker says that he possesses spiritual truth.  However, in the stanza before this statement, the speaker talks about fame and money.  The author establishes that through the desires of the middle class, spiritual truth is actually absent from their lives.  

High on Life

"Inebriate of Air - am I -
And Debauchee of Dew..."
("I taste a liquor never brewed" - Emily Dickinson)

Diction, or word choice, is a major part of this poem.  The speaker describes him or herself as tasting "a liquor that was never brewed" and "inebriate of Air."  (Inebriate means to be drunk).  However, the speak is not drunk on alcohol or liquor; instead, the speaker is drunk on the simple things of life.  In the excerpt above, the speaker is made drunk by something as simple as air.  Even the dew makes this person drunk. 

I think my interpretation is a little far-fetched, but when I first read this, I thought that the poem was describing clouds moving carelessly through the sky.  Air and dew both fill a cloud, and clouds "reel through endless summer days."  I interpreted the "inns of Molten Blue" to be the blue sky.  Also, in the final stanza, it says the drunkard was "leaning against the sun." 

The image of the bee confuses me.  When the bees crawl out of the flower, they are drunk as well.  However, what is the speaker trying to prove?  Maybe that he or she is more drunk on life then even the bees who are constantly drinking nectar. 

In the last stanza, the Seraphs and Saints run to watch the drunkards.  I think the message of this poem is that if you are happy with life, God will allow you to go to heaven.  Even saints will admire those who enjoy life.

The Zoo?

"...It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world."
("The Panther" - Rainer Maria Rilke)

The poem of the panther really caused a lot of controversy in my small group today.  When I first read through the poem, I honestly just thought it was pretty straight forward... just your regular old panther trapped inside a cage at the zoo.  However, from the circus to people who can not reach their potential, a wide variety of responses were mentioned. 

This poem relies heavily on hyperbole and dramatic imagery.  In the excerpt above, it states that behind the bars of the cage, there was "no world."  Now obviously, if the cage exists on Earth, the world exists beyond the zoo.  However, this exaggeration adds effect of confinement to the poem.  The panther feels trapped and has never seen the outside world; therefore, to him, there is no escaping the prison life he must lead. 

Another literary device used in the poem is irony.  I thought it was a little ironic that Rilke placed an image of a "ritual dance" in the poem.  Maybe this is a little far-fetched, but this reminded me of tribes of Indians.  I think Indians are being compared to animals trapped in captivity.  Just as animals live in captivity, Indian tribes were placed in Reservations as if they were animals.  This cruel act is still criticized today. 

Trapped!

"A Service, like a Drum -

Kept beating - beating - till I thought

My Mind was going numb."

("I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" - Emily Dickinson)

After a major discussion with my small group today, I think I finally have an understanding of this poem.  However, before I even knew what the poem was about, I still knew that imagery played a major part in this Dickinson poem.  Most of the the imagery appeals to the sense of hearing.  For example, "creak," "drum," and "beating" all refer to sounds.  Also, the author specifically leaves out the sense of sight.  The inner workings of the body are also described through the imagery.  In the excerpt above, the heart is compared to a drum that is constantly beating. 

Even from the title, a reader can see that the image of a funeral is involved with this poem.  The opening stanzas even describe the speaker as if he or she is inside the casket.  I think this poem's aim is to describe the process of going insane.  Even throughout the poem, Dickinson hints at the process of insanity through phrases such as "my Mind was going numb," and "Wrecked, solitary here."  The author's diction produces an image of being trapped and helpless.  This reminded me of an episode of Bones where two of the main characters who investigate criminal cases are buried alive.  Both the character in this poem and the characters in Bones feel the same exact way - hopeless.  However, Dickinson's character is trapped inside his or her own body, whereas Bones and Hodgins are physically trapped underground.

"Bleared and Black and Blind"

"Jewels in joy designed
To ravish the sensuous mind
Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind."
("The Convergence of Twain" - Thomas Hardy)

This poem has a tone of an ominous situation composed through contrasting imagery.  In the excerpt above, "jewels of joy" are described as lying lightless "bleared and black and blind."  Usually, jewels represent happiness and riches; however, in this situation, the riches actually led to the downfall of the characters.  Many people in this predicament would have never boarded the Titanic if money did not play a huge role in their life.  Another contrasting image is the opulent mirrors and the sea-worm, both mentioned in the same stanza.  Mirrors remind the reader of the passengers aboard the ship who are carefree about their journey.  However, the "grotesque, slimed" sea-worm shows the reader that although the Titanic may appear lavish on the surface, there are many things that the passengers do not know.  I think the sea-worm also represents the passengers in a way.  Both the passengers and the worm are oblivious to the outside world.  These two images come together and form a dark tone of danger.  Also, details such as the Iceberg growing in the "shadowy silent distance," the "welding" of the iceberg and ship after the collision, and the "cold currents" drifting through the sea further work to achieve this tone.  

This poem really contrasts with the movie Titanic.  No detail or description even remotely relates to a love story or even a positive outcome.  Hardy tells the story of the accident with no sympathy or care for any of the passengers.  In most historical accounts, the iceberg is portrayed as the "villan" while the Titanic is the innocent, naive bystander.  However, Hardy blames both sides.

Death is at your doorstep...

"Today my son told me 

that in the meadows, 

at the edge of the heavy woods..."

("The Widow's Lament in Springtime" - William Carlos Williams)

Symbols are extremely important to this poem about death and misery.  In the excerpt above, "meadows" is mentioned as a symbol of moving in a new direction.  This location is also related to another symbol in the story, the "yard."  The meadow and yard both represent life when the woman was happy and her husband was alive.  However, that joyous "fire" now ends with the loss of her husband.  No longer can she enjoy the spring with all the colors and flowers that it brings.  The "woods" in the excerpt represent the woman's despair.  The two locations of the "woods" and "marsh" hint at dark and depressing places.  This easily observed because the woods are described as being heavy which seems to be an odd adjective choice.  However, heavy literally means "something of great weight, difficult to life or move."  Sorrow is something that is difficult to shake in a person's life; memories of a person will last forever.  The marsh is obviously negative because the woman hints that she would kill herself before even attempting to find hope.  It is interesting how the meadows are at the edge of the dark woods, almost as if life is the meadows and the woods represent death.  

Innocence and Poison

"A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning

    In Eden garden - Have get, before it cloy..."  

+"Spring" Gerard Manley Hopkins

This poem begins with the innocence of spring with references to "thrush," or songbirds, and "lambs."  Each animal adds to the imagery of purity and innocence.  However, carefully placed in these descriptions of spring are words with negative connotations.  For example, "weeds" rise in the spring, and the ear "strikes like lightning" to hear the songbird.  These words suggest sin and greed.  I think the image of the ear striking like lightning means that many times, people selfishly take advantage of things in nature.

The second part of the poem alludes to the Bible.  In the excerpt above, "Eden garden" refers to the story of creation.  I think that spring represents innocence in the lives of all.  However, life's pleasures sometimes make our lives impure.  The word "cloy" means disgust from excessive sweetness.  With excessive pleasures, our lives can become boring and not enjoyable.  Sin only poisons the mind.  Without sin, it would be easy to see the difference between purity and impurity.       

Interpretation 101

"It is, as we would say, too farfetched." Laurence Perrine

"The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry" presents difficult concepts for me to wrap my head around.  For one, Perrine's opening argument states that no author should reveal his interpretation of a poem for it "limits its suggestibility."  I understand this part of the article - this is the same with every type of art, for art should speak for itself.  In fact, one of the most hated question during an art show or critic is "what does this mean?" Imagination and creativity should speak for the observer.  However, later in the article, Perrine clearly argues that only ONE interpretation can be correct.  If this is true, wouldn't the reader need to rely on the author's interpretation?  I think an author would be much less reluctant to explain his or her work if this was the case.  But instead, the author allows room for interpretation to leave room for the reader or observer to grow.  I disagree with the author - no opinion is too farfetched.  Without these odd and wacky interpretations, how would a reader be allowed to grow? 

This article really revealed how non-observant I really am.  First of all, I need to connect details.  In Melville's poem, I never really thought about the idea of a constellation in the night.  Sometimes, it is necessary to look past the literal meaning of the words (such as "legions" and "chief") and find the bigger picture.  Poems are like puzzles - tiny pieces fit together to make a whole.  Also, instead of reading a poem like a novel, I should observe it as if it is art.  In my personal opinion, a painting is much more exciting to study then a bunch of words put together on a page.  However, poems are more like a painting than a novel.  All the minute details and descriptive language come together to form one image.  For example, Emily Dickinson uses words that would normally relate to a garden to describe a sunset.  Again, literal meaning is not always the correct answer (if there even is a correct answer in the art of interpretation...)

 

Dust In the Wind

"I was thinking about the rubbish, the flapping plastic in the branches, the shore-line of odd stuff caught along the fencing, and I half-closed my eyes and imagined this was the spot where everything I'd ever lost since my childhood had washed up, and I was now standing here in front of it, and if I waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field, and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy, and he'd wave, maybe even call."  Never Let Me Go (p. 287)


I think it is interesting how Ishiguro ends the book.  Instead of a happy ending, we are left wondering what Kathy will do next.  Will she continue to be a carer, or will she finally become a donor?


The image of the rubbish caught in the fence represents Kathy's life.  When a piece of trash is on the side of the road, no one ever pays attention to it.  Usually, it is unknown as to where it came from and how it got there.  In the same way, Kathy has no idea how she got in this place.  Everything that made her who she was (Ruth, Tommy, and Hailsham) are gone.  She has lost that sense of identity and purpose in her life.  


Both Brave New World and Never Let Me Go end with the loss of everything.  Both Kathy and John lose a sense of purpose in their lives.  They feel they have no identity because they are outcasted by "normal" society.  In John's case, he was left out because he was a normal human.  On the other hand, Kathy was a clone who served the purpose of benefitting the modern world by giving up her own life. I think the two books connect on one similar basis: outcasts.  When someone feels left out of society, it can cause many negative effects both mentally and morally.   


After reading Never Let Me Go, I learned that humans want what is right, but if something stands in the way of a loved one, morals are allowed to be twisted.  Miss Emily wanted what was best for the students of Hailsham, and yet, she was still scared of them.  Madame even referred to the students as "little creatures."  I was confused by this, but I guess humans naturally are afraid of the unknown.  Feeling sorry for a person or group of people is never enough - action must be taken in order for change to occur.  


Here is a song I imagined playing in the background as the story ended.  I thought it was kind of a good summary of how Kathy feels.  

:)

Head Games

"I can see," Miss Emily said, "that it might look as though you were simply pawns in a game."  Never Let Me Go (p. 266)


An ongoing theme in this novel is this idea of Kathy's entire life just being one big game.  Truthfully, I would have to agree.  Even though Kathy was treated with more respect then other donors, this does not change her future.  No matter what she thought at Hailsham, her fate was always set even from day one.  But the question becomes, should we seize the opportunity to make someone's life better now, or should we just make someone's life miserable just because they are different and are bound to die anyways?  Since everyone is set to die one day, obviously, we should seize the day and make the most of what comes our way.  However, this situation is extremely different.  If donors are hidden in the shadows from the normal people, there is something morally wrong with the donations.  This is kind of like sweeping dust underneath a couch - it becomes out of sight and out of mind, but it is still always there.  


In the excerpt above, the word "pawns" represents the game of chess.  This is a metonymy because one part of the game represents the whole.  However, this game is also a motif in the novel, or a recurring image used throughout a work unifying the current situation to previous ones.  As I said before, Kathy is always comparing her life to a game of chess.  Whether it was with Ruth, her life at Hailsham, or becoming a carer, Kathy always felt like she was being played.  Hailsham only wanted the best for Kathy, but it was disappointing to her that even the guardians could not help her escape reality.  Hailsham was just a school of pretending - pretending that the life ahead would be different from what she was made to do.    

Today Was A Fairytale...

"Tommy, afterwards, said he thought she was about to burst into song, and that those curtains behind her would open, and instead of the street and the flat grassy expanse leading to the seafront, there'd be this big stage set, like the ones we'd had at Hailsham, with even a chorus line to back her up." Never Let Me Go (p. 251)

This quote reminded me of a Broadway musical-type fairy tale.  And it is interesting that Madame is the center of it.  For starters, Hailsham has been a fairytale-type place to all the students that attended the school.  Most donors treasure the time spent at the school.  For Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy, Hailsham represents an escape from reality.  At Hailsham, students were allowed to dream and reach for the stars no matter what the world presented.  A fairytale does the same thing.  In Cinderella, an outcast stepsister became a princess against what everyone thought.  In Tangled, Rapunzel escapes her tower and finds her true parents after seeing the floating lights and falling in love.  In Aladdin, Jasmine falls in love with a lowly, poor citizen of the kingdom.  All these fairy tales have one ting in common - dreams.  Without dreams, you can not experience a complete and full life.     

Even though this quote reminded me of a fairy tale, the rest of the chapter is pretty eerie.  The way Madame's house is described just sounded a little spooky to me.  It seemed a little too dark with too floors and rooms.  I am also still curious about what the Gallery is actually used for.  What is the Gallery?  Does it actually exist?  Why is Miss Emily inside Madame's house?  I guess I will just have to wait and find out...

Mr. Sun

"And beyond the dead trunks, maybe sixty yards away, was the boat, sitting beached in the marshes under the weak sun."  Never Let Me Go (p. 224)

I'm still not exactly sure why all the donors were so obsessed with the boat.  Is this just an excuse the donors use to escape their homes?  Or, did seeing the boat remind them of their own damaged selves?

In the quote above, the words "weak sun" are purposefully placed together to create a paradox.  A paradox occurs when two seemingly opposite words are placed together for a certain purpose.  When I think of the sun, I never think of it as weak (after all, all it has to do is explode, and we are all dead...).  Since the sun is the center of the universe and the source of all energy on Earth, it is extremely powerful.  Without it, we would not be alive.  However, Ishiguro still describes the sun as "weak."  This paradox serves a purpose to show that it probably was not a very sunny day.  The sun was probably hidden behind the clouds in the sky.  Also, "weak" was an appropriate adjective for the situation.  Both Tommy and Ruth were weak from their donations, but they were still powerful because they still had words.  The paradox not only describes the weather conditions, but it also shows just how tough Tommy and Ruth really are.

I thought it was extremely interesting how Ruth finally apologized.  I truly believe the donations changed her opinion on the world, but more specifically, her friends.  The reader can see that she does not want to die with regret or shame.  Really and truly, Ruth and Kathy were great friends even though they struggled through so many things.  I think the battles made them stronger in the end.

A New Chapter

"I thought about Hailsham closing, and how it was like someone coming along with a pair of shears and snipping the balloon strings just where they entwined above the man's fist.  Once that happened, there'd be no real sense in which those balloons belonged with each other any more."  Never Let Me Go (p. 213)

I think clowns are extremely ironic.  The one and only purpose for a clown is to create happiness; however, many people are afraid of clowns.  I think it is no mistake that Ishiguro used this image to create a metaphor.  In a way clowns are mysterious - after all, you never know what they might do next and their identity is usually sealed.  In the same way, Hailsham's closing was a type of mystery.  Hailsham, a place of happiness and dreams, scared many people who did not know what exactly made this school so special.  

The excerpt I found was part of a metaphor comparing the closing of Hailsham to the snipping of the strings of balloons.  The balloons actually represent the students of Hailsham who are connected by the very existence of the school.  Without a common denominator, people tend to drift apart.  Even though this has already happened, Kathy is still upset.  Hailsham is her last chance to hold on to the past,of sharing that escape from reality with others.  But now that this is gone, Kathy has to face the world alone.  But really, I think that everyone who attended Hailsham will always remember their experiences.  Nothing that is truly meaningful ever actually leaves a person's memory no matter how hard he or she tries to forget.  However, the closing of Hailsham is like a closing of a big part of Kathy's life.  When one chapter ends, another begins.      

All good things must come to an end...

"It wasn't long after that I made my decision, and once I'd made it, I never wavered."  Never Let Me Go (p. 202)


Part Two of the novel ends with Kathy's final decision to become a carer.  But, what led to this point?


First of all, I think Kathy struggled to find her own voice at the Cottages.  She tried way to hard to fit in with Ruth, Tommy, and all her friends from Hailsham.  I think her decision showed that she was now ready to face reality and the cruel world.


Secondly, Kathy needed to get away from Ruth.  Even though Ruth was a good friend at a time, she just became manipulative and bossy.  Kathy did not need that kind of influence in her life.


Finally, Kathy's hopes of holding on to Tommy were crushed.  Since Ruth told Kathy that Tommy would never be interested in her, Kathy feels there is nothing left at the Cottages that could really benefit her life.


I believe the exact moment everything changed was when Ruth said:  "It's not just me, sweety.  Kathy here finds your animals a complete hoot."  This showed a loss of trust between the triangle of people.  Without trust, relationships can not build.  I would also say that this was the climax of the novel.  This is the place where the most intensity and suspense is created.  Basically, all relationships start to fall down hill after this is said.  Without a climax, the novel could never come to a proper conclusion.


Unfortunately, Ruth's ride around her fate must end.  Now she must face it on a day to day basis.  How will she react?  How will seeing her friends die effect her?  

Winning!

"...and for several minutes, I felt as though I'd triumphed; that now they'd been left in each other's company, they were suffering a fate they thoroughly deserved."  Never Let Me Go (p. 196)


Even though most people will not admit it, everyone loves winning and being right.  Maybe not as much as Charlie Sheen, but you get the idea.  No one ever wants to face the fact that they are wrong.


When Kathy thinks this, it is verbal irony, or a discrepancy between literal and implied meaning.  Literally, she is correct.  When she left the situation, Ruth and Tommy were left in their own company to figure things out on their own.  However, the implied meaning is that each other's company would destroy their relationship.  Since they are a couple, usually spending time together and solving problems builds relationships - it does not tear them down.  Although Kathy wishes to destroy the corrupt relationship from the inside out, she probably actually helped them out by leaving.  Therefore, she didn't actually win which I believe she will realize later.  However, she made the best decision she could in a bad situation.


I'm beginning to wonder who Tommy really likes.  Ruth is bitter and sarcastic when she learns that Kathy knows more about Tommy then she does.  Apparently, Tommy does not regret telling Kathy everything until Ruth opens a can of worms by telling Tommy that Kathy had laughed at his artwork.  I felt really bad for Tommy at this point.  He has been trying so hard to make something worthy of the Gallery, and all Ruth ever does is laugh at him.  So my question is who is Tommy trying to prove he is in love with: Ruth or Kathy?  His relationship with Kathy is probably damaged at this point, but I think even now a relationship with Kathy would healthier then the relationship he is in right now.