In the story, “IND AFF” Fay Weldon demonstrates the comparison between her secret passionate life with a professor of hers, and the historical assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand through the setting in which it takes place. The narrator creates a struggle within her mind on whether or not to end the relationship between her and her married professor. She relates her struggles with Princip who was the assassin of the Archduke. The opening description of the setting helps create an understanding of what the narrator’s emotions were. The setting ties directly to the theme, since both crimes of passion had occurred in the same exact locations.
Fay Weldon opens up her story by describing the beautiful location in which the story takes place. The location is Bosnia, Yugoslavia. She sets up foreshadowing by how the story will end saying, “This is a sad story. It has to be. It rained in Sarajevo, and we had expected fine weather.” (Weldon, 201) This shows that the story shall open up with a promising mood, yet end with a diminishing ending. During the forbidden love that was occurring, everything was fine. Towards the end was where the guilt had come in. She had to make a dramatic decision whether or not to end the relationship. Weldon also writes, “It couldn’t possibly go on raining forever. Could it? Satellite pictures showed black clouds swishing gently all over Europe…” (202) The idea of a storm comes into mind, rain is a symbol for purification and refreshment. After everything was said and done, she could get on with her life and begin as a new person. After every storm there is a new beginning, and she was waiting for hers. The realization of a new beginning is set up ironically due to them being located in the same place.
Weldon relates the narrator’s realization to the process of Princip dying within his prison cell. She decided to base her life off of logic rather than pure emotion. She uses this through the realization of Princip’s life. Princip had made a horrible decision by murdering the Archduke and his wife. He was put into jail, and forever lived and died with the feeling of guilt inside of him. The narrator and her professor were in the exact same location as where Princip had committed his crime. The narrator came to the realization that she did not want to base her life off of guilt and live a life that was not meant for her. The weather really acted as a compass for the narrator’s life. As rain fell, she realized that this was not the life for her. The purification process had begun.
The narrator and her professor Peter visit a café together located near the assignation markers on the ground. They discussed present and historical events together, including the assassination itself. Peter has never quite decided who he would rather be with, his wife or the narrator. Without Peter making a decision, the narrator decides that their love is nothing more than a mere “inordinate affection.” She wants to live her own life and start fresh. Although feelings are there, she knows that she must move on and not follow the steps that Princip did that just lead to his death. Weldon writes that “Second chances are rare in life: they must be responded to.” (205) Although Princip took that chance to fire at the Archduke (having missed the first time); the narrator knew that her second chance would not be taken lightly. She decides to leave Peter and end any relationship that they had ever had. She is beginning a new life that is not based on guilt and lies. The ties that were once binding her down are now the broken. It was once said, “In order to be free, one must be chained.” The narrator is a living example of that. She was once bound down with the idea of her being a mistress, but now as the ties are broken; she may now be herself and move on with the life that she wants to live.
The setting and the theme of “IND AFF” are directly related to one another. The narrator’s life and Princip’s life were occurring at the same location in different time periods. Outside a café in Yugoslavia, both characters got the second chances that they needed. Princip was able to try and shoot the Archduke again while the narrator was able to end a relationship that just wasn’t meant to be. It was as if the spirit of Princip itself had given the narrator that once chance to seize the opportunity that she was looking for. She came to a realization and began her own purification process of breaking away from a not so great situation. Within this small town, two non-related events directly ended up coinciding with each other, settling the idea of realization into effect.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"The Red Carpet" Characterization Paper.
In the story, “The Red Carpet,” Lavanya Sankaran writes about the everlasting shift in characterization of one of the main characters known as “May-dum.” Sankaren uses contradictions, cultural conflicts, and sympathy to show just how much her character actually changes as the story progresses. May-dum is characterized as a well off snob of some sort, but as the story continues, she starts to relate to Raju. Only at the end, we find her back to her old ways based on the caste system. She demonstrates that she feels higher and better than the people around her. Little does she know Raju is there for her no matter how powerful she is or feels.
Sankaren uses contradictions throughout her writing to show that even though May-dum changes, she ends up in the same place as where she had started. In the beginning of the story, May-dum is a high class woman who believes that she should get everything her way. She doesn’t like the car that was brought for her and believes that the red carpet was tacky. May-dum is like that for most basically the entire first part of the story. As time continues, Raju actually feels comfortable around her and Sankaren writes, “Before he knew it, he was telling her everything: all his hopes, his dreams…” (Sankaren, 8) This shows that the author is trying to change the personality of her character to be a bit more kind to her worker. She is creating a bond that would never have been imaginable from the snob that was introduced in the beginning of the story. Sankaren creates a changing character by making May-dum go back to her old ways at the end of the story. She leaves Raju and goes off with her friends. The fact that there is contradiction of the character’s personality shows that sometimes people do not change, and that society is always creating a circle ending up exactly where it had started.
Lavanya Sankaran includes social conflicts within her writing that exist today. Cultures are not educated on each other, so sometimes the way another acts may come as a shock to someone of a different culture. Raju thinks of May-dum as someone who dresses very inappropriately, but the thing is, he doesn’t understand that where she comes from it is okay to dress the way that she does. His religion and culture are much different than hers. Sankaran includes this to show that sometimes social conflicts are key to understanding someone from a different region as another. May-dum’s character does not change due to a conflict. She continues to dress the way that she would like to. The fact that she covered herself up when she met Raju’s family shows the tension that is between religions. People strongly influence one another, and sooner or later people begin to change as their environment and the people around them change. Although May-dum’s character itself returns back to normal, there is still the evidence that at one point, social conflicts made her give in and be something she was not for a short period of time. Sankaran develops her characters based on the environment that is around them, as people and places change, so do her characters. It is exactly how things run in society today.
Sankaran grasps resources to give detail to her characters that some people wouldn’t recognize. There is always the idea of sympathy for a character. As an author, she breaks down moments to create a mood where sympathy is felt for a certain character at a certain time. It gives the character a true quality for itself. May-dum is brought up as an expensive and high spending character. The thing that creates the sympathy is that Sankaren does not express anything about her character’s family. She seems well off, but the fact that she secretly befriends her worker, Raju, shows that inside, she is lonelier than she may appear. When a friend of May-dum appears in the story, she drops what she is doing with Raju to talk to her friend as if Raju is nothing but an employee of her. It creates a mood that makes the reader feel, in a way, bad for May-dum. Reading this applies a moral to the story. Sometimes the people who seem happiest on the outside are the people who lack something on the inside. May-dum is the perfect example. Sankaran develops a character that at one point the reader may feel sorry for, but once she continues to leave Raju, the mood changes back to maybe not liking that character.
Sankaran develops a character that changes as the story progresses. Within each character shift, comes a new mood. She uses contradiction, cultural conflicts, and sympathy to show how her character changes and the characterization of it each time. She uses moods and personality to get her point across about her characters. Within her writing is a style that creates an interesting character that is never in one way predictable.
Sankaren uses contradictions throughout her writing to show that even though May-dum changes, she ends up in the same place as where she had started. In the beginning of the story, May-dum is a high class woman who believes that she should get everything her way. She doesn’t like the car that was brought for her and believes that the red carpet was tacky. May-dum is like that for most basically the entire first part of the story. As time continues, Raju actually feels comfortable around her and Sankaren writes, “Before he knew it, he was telling her everything: all his hopes, his dreams…” (Sankaren, 8) This shows that the author is trying to change the personality of her character to be a bit more kind to her worker. She is creating a bond that would never have been imaginable from the snob that was introduced in the beginning of the story. Sankaren creates a changing character by making May-dum go back to her old ways at the end of the story. She leaves Raju and goes off with her friends. The fact that there is contradiction of the character’s personality shows that sometimes people do not change, and that society is always creating a circle ending up exactly where it had started.
Lavanya Sankaran includes social conflicts within her writing that exist today. Cultures are not educated on each other, so sometimes the way another acts may come as a shock to someone of a different culture. Raju thinks of May-dum as someone who dresses very inappropriately, but the thing is, he doesn’t understand that where she comes from it is okay to dress the way that she does. His religion and culture are much different than hers. Sankaran includes this to show that sometimes social conflicts are key to understanding someone from a different region as another. May-dum’s character does not change due to a conflict. She continues to dress the way that she would like to. The fact that she covered herself up when she met Raju’s family shows the tension that is between religions. People strongly influence one another, and sooner or later people begin to change as their environment and the people around them change. Although May-dum’s character itself returns back to normal, there is still the evidence that at one point, social conflicts made her give in and be something she was not for a short period of time. Sankaran develops her characters based on the environment that is around them, as people and places change, so do her characters. It is exactly how things run in society today.
Sankaran grasps resources to give detail to her characters that some people wouldn’t recognize. There is always the idea of sympathy for a character. As an author, she breaks down moments to create a mood where sympathy is felt for a certain character at a certain time. It gives the character a true quality for itself. May-dum is brought up as an expensive and high spending character. The thing that creates the sympathy is that Sankaren does not express anything about her character’s family. She seems well off, but the fact that she secretly befriends her worker, Raju, shows that inside, she is lonelier than she may appear. When a friend of May-dum appears in the story, she drops what she is doing with Raju to talk to her friend as if Raju is nothing but an employee of her. It creates a mood that makes the reader feel, in a way, bad for May-dum. Reading this applies a moral to the story. Sometimes the people who seem happiest on the outside are the people who lack something on the inside. May-dum is the perfect example. Sankaran develops a character that at one point the reader may feel sorry for, but once she continues to leave Raju, the mood changes back to maybe not liking that character.
Sankaran develops a character that changes as the story progresses. Within each character shift, comes a new mood. She uses contradiction, cultural conflicts, and sympathy to show how her character changes and the characterization of it each time. She uses moods and personality to get her point across about her characters. Within her writing is a style that creates an interesting character that is never in one way predictable.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Point of View: "Miss Brill" story
In the short story “Miss Brill,” the stream of conscious narration creates an insight into the mind of the main character as her thoughts begin to cross the line from sanity to insanity. Katherine Mansfield uses details, isolation, and corruption of the mind to show the overall meaning of the story itself. Each of these creates a deeper understanding of what the author is actually trying to say about the society that we live in today.
Mansfield’s attention to small details creates a picture in any readers’ mind. There is never a moment where confusion may take place. Each sentence is thoroughly thought out before it is added to the story. Opening up the story, Katherine Mansfield immediately introduces a sentence or two that shows exactly where Miss Brill is and what it looks like. Mansfield writes,
Although it was so brilliantly fine—the blue sky powdered with gold and great spots of light like white wine splashed over the Jardins Publiques—Miss Brill was glad that she had decided on her fur. The air was motionless, but when you opened your mouth there was just a feint chill, like a chill from a glass of iced water before you sip, and now and again a leaf came drifting—from nowhere, from the sky. (Mansfield, 33)
Right away, the reader can see that Miss Brill is a higher class woman, or at least she believes that she is. This is created through the imagery of a woman sitting in a beautiful area with a fur coat over her body. Mansfield makes her writing very personal as if she is actually there, in the mind of her character. She uses phrases like “Never mind” to connect to the reader on a more personal level. This opening paragraph brings across the idea that Miss Brill may believe that she is too good for everyone else around her. It does not state that she is sitting with anyone else. This creates the idea of isolation from all others.
Miss Brill seems to separate herself from everyone else around her. Everyone in the park is said to have come in pairs, but not Miss Brill. She sits alone as if that fur coat was her partner. Mansfield gets the point across that her main character bases everyone on their clothes and feels like she is the only high class person around. Ironically, Miss Brill is the one being rejected. Towards the end of the story, Mansfield says that a young couple is sitting in the park talking about Miss Brill. They say,
‘But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there?’ asked the boy. ‘Why does she come here at all—who wants her? Why doesn’t she keep her silly old mug at home?’ ‘It’s her fu—fur which is so funny,’ giggles the girl. ‘It’s exactly like a fried whiting.’ (36)
Miss Brill was actually the outcast. Although she was telling herself that she was the only one who was decent in her society, she was rejected by the people due to how she dressed and acted. The meaning behind this is to show that society will reject people based on looks, and that many people are extremely judgmental to others around them. The stream of conscious narration helps to explain the fact that she realizes that she is the outcast and she no longer believes that she is better than everyone else. Her mind is now shifting from one way of thinking to another.
Katherine Mansfield creates a not so stable mind for Miss Brill. Right in the beginning of the story, Miss Brill takes out her fur coat and begins to talk to it. This is how Mansfield sets the mood for the rest of the story. It is as if the fur is her only friend and it is the thing that she talks to. Within her mind are things that a normal person would not think. The thing is, her old age must be taken into account. Often with aging, peoples’ minds begin to wander in places that other minds do not. At the end of the story when Miss Brill puts her fur away, she believes that she hears it crying. This is how Mansfield shows that her character as, in fact, crossed the line between sanity and insanity. It was stated earlier in the story that this Sunday was like no other. This was the day that Miss Brill would put the fur away for good. She realized that she was the outcast and that the fur was one of the reasons. Miss Brill started to feel as if her identity was dying along with the fur. Mansfield creates option with her writing. Some readers may feel as if it were the fur that was crying, while others may take it as Miss Brill crying herself. Although there is option, it is hinted that the fur is crying as it is going inside the box. Miss Brill is seen as a character that is really not completely there in her own mind. This creates a way that Mansfield can show some people that those who believe that they are truly happy can sometimes be the unhappiest after all.
Katherine Mansfield uses her own technique to show that her main character, Miss Brill, is actually not stable in her mind. She is shown to be insane throughout the story. She is isolated and corrupted, and the use of detail also adds to it. The story talks about the idea of rejection in a society, and the use of detail also adds to it. The story talks about the idea of rejection in a society, and how it is taken sometimes. It just goes to show that sometimes the people who think as highly of themselves as Miss Brill, can crack under the influence of people rejecting them. One person’s opinion can lead to another’s downfall. That was the life of Miss Brill, and she clearly wasn’t accepted from her environment as much as she had wished. Katherine Mansfield creates a new meaning to the definition of the word insanity.
Mansfield’s attention to small details creates a picture in any readers’ mind. There is never a moment where confusion may take place. Each sentence is thoroughly thought out before it is added to the story. Opening up the story, Katherine Mansfield immediately introduces a sentence or two that shows exactly where Miss Brill is and what it looks like. Mansfield writes,
Although it was so brilliantly fine—the blue sky powdered with gold and great spots of light like white wine splashed over the Jardins Publiques—Miss Brill was glad that she had decided on her fur. The air was motionless, but when you opened your mouth there was just a feint chill, like a chill from a glass of iced water before you sip, and now and again a leaf came drifting—from nowhere, from the sky. (Mansfield, 33)
Right away, the reader can see that Miss Brill is a higher class woman, or at least she believes that she is. This is created through the imagery of a woman sitting in a beautiful area with a fur coat over her body. Mansfield makes her writing very personal as if she is actually there, in the mind of her character. She uses phrases like “Never mind” to connect to the reader on a more personal level. This opening paragraph brings across the idea that Miss Brill may believe that she is too good for everyone else around her. It does not state that she is sitting with anyone else. This creates the idea of isolation from all others.
Miss Brill seems to separate herself from everyone else around her. Everyone in the park is said to have come in pairs, but not Miss Brill. She sits alone as if that fur coat was her partner. Mansfield gets the point across that her main character bases everyone on their clothes and feels like she is the only high class person around. Ironically, Miss Brill is the one being rejected. Towards the end of the story, Mansfield says that a young couple is sitting in the park talking about Miss Brill. They say,
‘But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there?’ asked the boy. ‘Why does she come here at all—who wants her? Why doesn’t she keep her silly old mug at home?’ ‘It’s her fu—fur which is so funny,’ giggles the girl. ‘It’s exactly like a fried whiting.’ (36)
Miss Brill was actually the outcast. Although she was telling herself that she was the only one who was decent in her society, she was rejected by the people due to how she dressed and acted. The meaning behind this is to show that society will reject people based on looks, and that many people are extremely judgmental to others around them. The stream of conscious narration helps to explain the fact that she realizes that she is the outcast and she no longer believes that she is better than everyone else. Her mind is now shifting from one way of thinking to another.
Katherine Mansfield creates a not so stable mind for Miss Brill. Right in the beginning of the story, Miss Brill takes out her fur coat and begins to talk to it. This is how Mansfield sets the mood for the rest of the story. It is as if the fur is her only friend and it is the thing that she talks to. Within her mind are things that a normal person would not think. The thing is, her old age must be taken into account. Often with aging, peoples’ minds begin to wander in places that other minds do not. At the end of the story when Miss Brill puts her fur away, she believes that she hears it crying. This is how Mansfield shows that her character as, in fact, crossed the line between sanity and insanity. It was stated earlier in the story that this Sunday was like no other. This was the day that Miss Brill would put the fur away for good. She realized that she was the outcast and that the fur was one of the reasons. Miss Brill started to feel as if her identity was dying along with the fur. Mansfield creates option with her writing. Some readers may feel as if it were the fur that was crying, while others may take it as Miss Brill crying herself. Although there is option, it is hinted that the fur is crying as it is going inside the box. Miss Brill is seen as a character that is really not completely there in her own mind. This creates a way that Mansfield can show some people that those who believe that they are truly happy can sometimes be the unhappiest after all.
Katherine Mansfield uses her own technique to show that her main character, Miss Brill, is actually not stable in her mind. She is shown to be insane throughout the story. She is isolated and corrupted, and the use of detail also adds to it. The story talks about the idea of rejection in a society, and the use of detail also adds to it. The story talks about the idea of rejection in a society, and how it is taken sometimes. It just goes to show that sometimes the people who think as highly of themselves as Miss Brill, can crack under the influence of people rejecting them. One person’s opinion can lead to another’s downfall. That was the life of Miss Brill, and she clearly wasn’t accepted from her environment as much as she had wished. Katherine Mansfield creates a new meaning to the definition of the word insanity.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Final Summer Essay: Anaysis of the use of a quest in "The Remains of the Day"
In the novel, “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” Thomas Foster writes about the actual meaning of a quest or a journey. The novel “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro is a prime example to what Foster is discussing in his opening chapter. The entire novel is about the protagonists’ journey that he embarks on in order to meet with one woman.
“The Remains of the Day” is about an English butler named Stevens who embarks on a journey to find an old worker of Darlington Hall. Stevens was a butler he can remember. It is basically all he knows and lives by. From his proper manors to his sincere language, he is seen as the “greatest butler.” All throughout the novel, Stevens talks about what it takes to be a “great butler.” He has never lived outside of the walls of Darlington Hall, so everything that he encounters on his journey relates somehow back to his profession.
According to “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” basically every trip is considered to be a quest. “The quest consists of five things: (a) a quester, (b) a place to go, (c) a stated reason to go there, (d) challenges and trials en route, and (e) a real reason to go there.” (Foster, 3) Thomas Foster also states that the state reason for a quest is never the real reason. The real reason for someone to undertake a quest is always for self-knowledge. Although the real reason is hidden, the quester makes it easy to realize it when the end of the quest is found. The reaction gives away a lot of information about what they are really thinking.
Stevens’ journey has all of the qualities needed for it to be considered a quest. First off, Stevens is the quester. He took it upon himself to embark on this journey for his own intentions, whether good or bad. His journey is to go meet with a previous Darlington Hall employee, Miss Kenton, due to the lack of service that is there now. There used to be feelings between Stevens and Miss Kenton when they had both worked together for Lord Darlington. One large disagreement has made it so they haven’t spoken in a while. Stevens has told everyone he is going for pure business. Deep inside, he is hoping for closure, or maybe for sparks to flare up again. Even though he will not admit it at many times, he misses Miss Kenton and what used to be. Hope is what makes Mr. Stevens continue on this long journey.
Stevens’ journey did not run as smoothly as he had planned. This was his first time actually seeing the English landscape, and noticing what the outdoors has to offer. Everything was new to him. He was often unsure of which way to go. Car troubles occurred as well. At one point, Mr. Stevens had to sleep in a foreign town due to his car having difficulties. He met new people, who weren’t as highly ranked as the people he was used to. They basically looked up to Stevens as a hero of some sort. The journey was a long process for Stevens and he knew that giving up was not an option. He was experiencing a whole new life that he could not see from inside the walls of Darlington Hall.
Towards the end of the novel, Stevens finally reaches his goal. He finds Miss Kenton. Although his hopes are high, it does not go as well as he had hoped it would. He found out that Miss Kenton is already happily married and is not coming back to Darlington Hall. Reading the context clues proved that there were once feelings between the two of them. When they finally met with each other Miss Kenton said to Stevens, “But that doesn't mean to say, of course, there aren't occasions now and then- extremely desolate occasions—when you think to yourself: 'What a terrible mistake I've made with my life.' And you get to thinking about a different life, a better life you might have had. For instance, I get to thinking about a life I may have had with you, Mr. Stevens. And I suppose that's when I get angry about some trivial little thing and leave. But each time I do, I realize before long—my rightful place is with my husband. After all, there's no turning back the clock now. One can't be forever dwelling on what might have been." This was a huge blow to Mr. Stevens. For the first time he had said that he wanted to breakdown and cry. He realized that greatness wasn’t everything. He wanted to just be happy. Although Mr. Stevens did not get Miss Kenton to come back, he found a new meaning to life and learned a lot about himself during this journey of a lifetime.
The purpose of adding a journey like the one in “The Remains of the Day” is to show that everyone has goals that they want to achieve. No matter what trip is taken, there is always a desired point. It can be considered as a quest of some sort. Although the times will get rough, it is the challenges that will make the people stronger. Mr. Stevens did not think of it as him going on a quest, but at the end of the novel he learned that there is much more to life than what is shown looking through the windows from the insides of Darlington Hall. The element of a quest, as shown in “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” establishes a more meaningful task of finding self-knowledge rather than just taking a trip for a set reason. A meaningful quest often makes the ending that much more worth it. The characters grow as time goes on, and purpose of adding it makes it that much more clear.
“The Remains of the Day” is about an English butler named Stevens who embarks on a journey to find an old worker of Darlington Hall. Stevens was a butler he can remember. It is basically all he knows and lives by. From his proper manors to his sincere language, he is seen as the “greatest butler.” All throughout the novel, Stevens talks about what it takes to be a “great butler.” He has never lived outside of the walls of Darlington Hall, so everything that he encounters on his journey relates somehow back to his profession.
According to “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” basically every trip is considered to be a quest. “The quest consists of five things: (a) a quester, (b) a place to go, (c) a stated reason to go there, (d) challenges and trials en route, and (e) a real reason to go there.” (Foster, 3) Thomas Foster also states that the state reason for a quest is never the real reason. The real reason for someone to undertake a quest is always for self-knowledge. Although the real reason is hidden, the quester makes it easy to realize it when the end of the quest is found. The reaction gives away a lot of information about what they are really thinking.
Stevens’ journey has all of the qualities needed for it to be considered a quest. First off, Stevens is the quester. He took it upon himself to embark on this journey for his own intentions, whether good or bad. His journey is to go meet with a previous Darlington Hall employee, Miss Kenton, due to the lack of service that is there now. There used to be feelings between Stevens and Miss Kenton when they had both worked together for Lord Darlington. One large disagreement has made it so they haven’t spoken in a while. Stevens has told everyone he is going for pure business. Deep inside, he is hoping for closure, or maybe for sparks to flare up again. Even though he will not admit it at many times, he misses Miss Kenton and what used to be. Hope is what makes Mr. Stevens continue on this long journey.
Stevens’ journey did not run as smoothly as he had planned. This was his first time actually seeing the English landscape, and noticing what the outdoors has to offer. Everything was new to him. He was often unsure of which way to go. Car troubles occurred as well. At one point, Mr. Stevens had to sleep in a foreign town due to his car having difficulties. He met new people, who weren’t as highly ranked as the people he was used to. They basically looked up to Stevens as a hero of some sort. The journey was a long process for Stevens and he knew that giving up was not an option. He was experiencing a whole new life that he could not see from inside the walls of Darlington Hall.
Towards the end of the novel, Stevens finally reaches his goal. He finds Miss Kenton. Although his hopes are high, it does not go as well as he had hoped it would. He found out that Miss Kenton is already happily married and is not coming back to Darlington Hall. Reading the context clues proved that there were once feelings between the two of them. When they finally met with each other Miss Kenton said to Stevens, “But that doesn't mean to say, of course, there aren't occasions now and then- extremely desolate occasions—when you think to yourself: 'What a terrible mistake I've made with my life.' And you get to thinking about a different life, a better life you might have had. For instance, I get to thinking about a life I may have had with you, Mr. Stevens. And I suppose that's when I get angry about some trivial little thing and leave. But each time I do, I realize before long—my rightful place is with my husband. After all, there's no turning back the clock now. One can't be forever dwelling on what might have been." This was a huge blow to Mr. Stevens. For the first time he had said that he wanted to breakdown and cry. He realized that greatness wasn’t everything. He wanted to just be happy. Although Mr. Stevens did not get Miss Kenton to come back, he found a new meaning to life and learned a lot about himself during this journey of a lifetime.
The purpose of adding a journey like the one in “The Remains of the Day” is to show that everyone has goals that they want to achieve. No matter what trip is taken, there is always a desired point. It can be considered as a quest of some sort. Although the times will get rough, it is the challenges that will make the people stronger. Mr. Stevens did not think of it as him going on a quest, but at the end of the novel he learned that there is much more to life than what is shown looking through the windows from the insides of Darlington Hall. The element of a quest, as shown in “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” establishes a more meaningful task of finding self-knowledge rather than just taking a trip for a set reason. A meaningful quest often makes the ending that much more worth it. The characters grow as time goes on, and purpose of adding it makes it that much more clear.
Summer Reading Posts: "Things Fall Apart"
Post #1: I also noticed the continued use of dehumanization throughout part one of the novel. The people are often treated or given animal-like qualities. Achebe often uses terms such as "roared" to get his points across. One other thing I realized is that women basically don't have many rights at all. They get beaten if they do things wrong and they rarely ask any questions. They keep everything inside, in fear of getting beaten for speaking up. It was said that, "No woman ever asked questions about the most powerful and most secret cult in the clan."(88) I really found it interesting how much the people depend on each God. After the accidental death by Okonkwo, he had to leave the land and only return in seven years. That was because he murdered a female. It really showed how they are not used to using technology that would be easy used in today's times. I wanted to know what would have happened if he had killed a male. Would he had ever been able to come back? I find the rules of the clans very difficult to keep track of, but very interesting to learn about as well. I am very eager to know the future of Okonkwo since he is forced to leave the clan. Will people try to locate him, breaking the rules, or will he just be forgotten until his return in seven years?
Post #2: I agree with all three of you when you said that the second part is very ironic. Okonkwo is always the stronger of the men and believes that men rule over all. The fact that he is exiled isn't enough, but he is sent to his mother's land as well. That just shows that sometimes things happen and you cannot always be the tough man that you are so set on becoming. I agree with Angel when she used the quotes where Uchendu asked Okonkwo all those questions, and he did not know the answers. It really did show that he is still a child in people's minds and he isn't this great person that he thought he was. I also really concentrated when Uchendu said, "You think you are the greatest sufferer in the world? Do you know that men are sometimes banished for life? Do you know that men sometimes lose all their yams and even their children?"(135) That really must have struck Okonkwo's ego. He came into the new clan expecting to have everyone feel bad for him and help him. This isn't the case, people understand what he is going through but also know that people are going through much worse then he is.The new religion was quite a suprise to me. Throughout the beginning of the book everything was based on this one religion. No one ever disobeyed it. If they had, they were punished according to the religion. Now, a whole new religion is emerging that they are unfamiliar with. It relates very much to the title "Things Fall Apart" Right when Okonkwo murdered the female, everything began to go downhill. The religion was supposed to have failed long ago due to them being put into the "Evil Forest," but now that it hasn't people are becoming much more skeptical of their religion.The course of Okonkwo's exile has really gone by fast. I was not expecting it to be time for him to return already. I am very anxious to see wether this new religion completely takes over the one that has been built upon for such a long time. I also find it very ironic that the white man who everyone kind of looks up to now has the same name as our principal. It just adds to the irony.
Post #3: When i began reading the third part of "Things Fall Apart" I noticed that Okonkwo is becoming very upset with the white men. He is planning on returning and earning back his rightful spot. Also there was a reference to the title right away. Okonkwo says, "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."(176) This really shows the meaning of the title. When the new religion emerged, the old one is beginning to be wiped out. People such as Okonkwo are not ready to give up their religion and say that it is beginning to fall apart. Akunna made a good point on page 179. He was saying that the other Gods are false. He said that if you put a face on a piece of wood and call it a God, it is still only a piece of wood. I believe that this religion is better then the old one because the older one is very aggressive and hostel. There are way too many rules and many innocent people die due to them. Schools, churches, and hosptitals were being built. There was also a stable government emerging. I do like the new religion better, but I feel as if the people of Umuofia are better off with their own religion. The white men have no right to try to take over a place that was doing fine on their own. Okonkwo is sick of what is happening to his land and is ready to try to fix it. He is very angry with the fact that so many men are converting to this new religion. Okonkwo also refers to the men in Umuofia as becoming "soft like women."(183) It really shows the inequality between men and women in the clans.I understand what the missionaries are trying to do, but in a way i feel as if they shouldn't have intruded on a clan that already had a set religion. Also the demasking of the spirit stood out to me as what is going on in the society. The old religion is being demasked and turned into something it is not supposed to be. I found it quite ironic that it happened. The white men are basically torturing the leaders until the fee is paid off. I thought they were trying to bring a better society into place, but now i know that they are just trying to take over everything and control all the lands. I agree with Angel when she talked about the strike to Okonkwo's ego. Eventually he kills himself, and Obierika knows that it is the commisioners' fault. Okonkwo always followed the rules of society and was completely against the evil. So it is pretty ironic that in the end, Okonkwo becomes one of the "evil bodies." In my mind he died for what he believed in and shouldn't be considered evil. The society believes otherwise, and "Things Fall Apart."
Post #2: I agree with all three of you when you said that the second part is very ironic. Okonkwo is always the stronger of the men and believes that men rule over all. The fact that he is exiled isn't enough, but he is sent to his mother's land as well. That just shows that sometimes things happen and you cannot always be the tough man that you are so set on becoming. I agree with Angel when she used the quotes where Uchendu asked Okonkwo all those questions, and he did not know the answers. It really did show that he is still a child in people's minds and he isn't this great person that he thought he was. I also really concentrated when Uchendu said, "You think you are the greatest sufferer in the world? Do you know that men are sometimes banished for life? Do you know that men sometimes lose all their yams and even their children?"(135) That really must have struck Okonkwo's ego. He came into the new clan expecting to have everyone feel bad for him and help him. This isn't the case, people understand what he is going through but also know that people are going through much worse then he is.The new religion was quite a suprise to me. Throughout the beginning of the book everything was based on this one religion. No one ever disobeyed it. If they had, they were punished according to the religion. Now, a whole new religion is emerging that they are unfamiliar with. It relates very much to the title "Things Fall Apart" Right when Okonkwo murdered the female, everything began to go downhill. The religion was supposed to have failed long ago due to them being put into the "Evil Forest," but now that it hasn't people are becoming much more skeptical of their religion.The course of Okonkwo's exile has really gone by fast. I was not expecting it to be time for him to return already. I am very anxious to see wether this new religion completely takes over the one that has been built upon for such a long time. I also find it very ironic that the white man who everyone kind of looks up to now has the same name as our principal. It just adds to the irony.
Post #3: When i began reading the third part of "Things Fall Apart" I noticed that Okonkwo is becoming very upset with the white men. He is planning on returning and earning back his rightful spot. Also there was a reference to the title right away. Okonkwo says, "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."(176) This really shows the meaning of the title. When the new religion emerged, the old one is beginning to be wiped out. People such as Okonkwo are not ready to give up their religion and say that it is beginning to fall apart. Akunna made a good point on page 179. He was saying that the other Gods are false. He said that if you put a face on a piece of wood and call it a God, it is still only a piece of wood. I believe that this religion is better then the old one because the older one is very aggressive and hostel. There are way too many rules and many innocent people die due to them. Schools, churches, and hosptitals were being built. There was also a stable government emerging. I do like the new religion better, but I feel as if the people of Umuofia are better off with their own religion. The white men have no right to try to take over a place that was doing fine on their own. Okonkwo is sick of what is happening to his land and is ready to try to fix it. He is very angry with the fact that so many men are converting to this new religion. Okonkwo also refers to the men in Umuofia as becoming "soft like women."(183) It really shows the inequality between men and women in the clans.I understand what the missionaries are trying to do, but in a way i feel as if they shouldn't have intruded on a clan that already had a set religion. Also the demasking of the spirit stood out to me as what is going on in the society. The old religion is being demasked and turned into something it is not supposed to be. I found it quite ironic that it happened. The white men are basically torturing the leaders until the fee is paid off. I thought they were trying to bring a better society into place, but now i know that they are just trying to take over everything and control all the lands. I agree with Angel when she talked about the strike to Okonkwo's ego. Eventually he kills himself, and Obierika knows that it is the commisioners' fault. Okonkwo always followed the rules of society and was completely against the evil. So it is pretty ironic that in the end, Okonkwo becomes one of the "evil bodies." In my mind he died for what he believed in and shouldn't be considered evil. The society believes otherwise, and "Things Fall Apart."
Summer Reading Posts: "The Remains of the Day"
Post #1: My first thoughts on this novel were all about the narrator's way of life. He is very much confined inside the walls of Darlington Hall as jlam09 had said. He doesn't know much of anything around him. With every topic that seems to be brought up in discussion, he somehow relates it back to Darlington Hall. Stevens has his mind set on what his trip is for (to see Miss Kenton) that he really doesn't take the time to be himself.I really wanted to comment on the fact that we were not given much information on Steven's past life, before Darlington Hall that is. We know all about how he has worked at the Hall for many years and knew Lord Darlington himself. Yet, we really do not know much about Steven's OWN personality. It is as if his personality lies within the walls of Darlington Hall only. I do agree with kavsgojsw1 on the topic of dignity. Stevens always makes sure he looks proper and uses the correct language when associating with others. I still think that he really bases himself way too much on being correct in society, and not enough on getting to know his inner self and actually being his own person. I really just think he doesn't feel comfortable with real relationships with other people. He feels very uncomfortable around people and isn't too sure how to act. That is where the idea of dignity comes into place. He knows how he is supposed to act around people considering his standings. That is all he bases his personality on. I find it kind of aggravating that he isn't his own person in a way. My prediction on the following parts of the novel is a bit undecided. In a way i feel as if Stevens won't actually find Miss Kenton but will learn a greater lesson instead. I also feel as if maybe he won't change and will stay conformed with society. He may just find Miss Kenton and say exactly what he needed to and that is that. I would really like to see other people's idea of how they think the novel will end.
Post #2: Stevens' journey so far wasn't what i would call, "a walk in the park." Nothing seems to be going his way. I truely believe his nerves are getting the best of him. He may play it off as if he is calm and collected, yet everything he interacts with relates back to Miss Kenton and Darlington Hall in some shape or form.Stevens continues to talk about his "turning points" with Miss Kenton. The interesting part is, out of all the ones he explained, they all seemed to be his fault. He overreacted about Miss Kenton trying to brighten up his room, and he definately overreacted about her wanting to know what book he was reading. He seems to want things his way only when he is around her. In my opinion, he was being so dramatic when Miss Kenton was tired. He canceled all the meetings over cocoa, just because she had a long week and was tired one of the nights. I mean come on, he does seem to talk alot. I would loose my attention towards him too. I just finished reading the "Day three evening" section of the book and I found the people in the village to be kind of odd. Who is this Mr. Lindsay character they keep talking about. They say he proved he wasn't a gentlemen, but how? Also, they are treating Stevens as if he was a hero of some sort. I wasn't really sure why. I feel the whole village is a bit sketchy.I am really interested to see how the rest of the book turns out. Does anyone have any feelings towards the people in the village? i would really like to know.
Post #3: The final stretch.. Well overrall I did enjoy reading this novel. The end of Stevens' journey really tied everything in. Dr. Carlisle seemed as if the subject of "dignity" really didn't interest him at all. While he was discussing that topic with Stevens, on the ride to the Ford, he seemed as if he was trying to change the topic. Also when asked about his definition of dignity, he completely ignored Stevens and started talking about how nice the Ford was. I think it may have been because dignity comes in so many ways and his view of it may cause that peaceful ride to turn into some form of argument. Also, Mr. Cardinal and his view on the meetings was somewhat odd. He truely believed that the intentions of the meetings were bad. I was a bit confused about the actual meaning of the meeting. Can someone please explain their view on if Mr. Cardinal was right or not. The meeting with Miss Kenton wasn't what I had expected. They didn't really seem to have the connection I thought they would until the end. Miss Kenton had tears in her eyes, and Stevens had stated earlier that his heart was breaking. Also, the way that Stevens opened up with a complete stranger really surprised me. It is really not like him to do that. He is a very confined man and doesn't often open up. The man was right though. It was related back to the title, "The Remains of the Day." It is true, stop looking back on the past like Stevens always did. It doesn't help the future at all. You still have the rest of your life. Like they say, "The evening's the best part of the day." One last thing, I do believe he is a new man and he will soon start to be himself and stop trying so hard to impress others. I do believe he will be able to say simple sentences and just express how he feels after the experience he had on this journey of a lifetime.
Post #2: Stevens' journey so far wasn't what i would call, "a walk in the park." Nothing seems to be going his way. I truely believe his nerves are getting the best of him. He may play it off as if he is calm and collected, yet everything he interacts with relates back to Miss Kenton and Darlington Hall in some shape or form.Stevens continues to talk about his "turning points" with Miss Kenton. The interesting part is, out of all the ones he explained, they all seemed to be his fault. He overreacted about Miss Kenton trying to brighten up his room, and he definately overreacted about her wanting to know what book he was reading. He seems to want things his way only when he is around her. In my opinion, he was being so dramatic when Miss Kenton was tired. He canceled all the meetings over cocoa, just because she had a long week and was tired one of the nights. I mean come on, he does seem to talk alot. I would loose my attention towards him too. I just finished reading the "Day three evening" section of the book and I found the people in the village to be kind of odd. Who is this Mr. Lindsay character they keep talking about. They say he proved he wasn't a gentlemen, but how? Also, they are treating Stevens as if he was a hero of some sort. I wasn't really sure why. I feel the whole village is a bit sketchy.I am really interested to see how the rest of the book turns out. Does anyone have any feelings towards the people in the village? i would really like to know.
Post #3: The final stretch.. Well overrall I did enjoy reading this novel. The end of Stevens' journey really tied everything in. Dr. Carlisle seemed as if the subject of "dignity" really didn't interest him at all. While he was discussing that topic with Stevens, on the ride to the Ford, he seemed as if he was trying to change the topic. Also when asked about his definition of dignity, he completely ignored Stevens and started talking about how nice the Ford was. I think it may have been because dignity comes in so many ways and his view of it may cause that peaceful ride to turn into some form of argument. Also, Mr. Cardinal and his view on the meetings was somewhat odd. He truely believed that the intentions of the meetings were bad. I was a bit confused about the actual meaning of the meeting. Can someone please explain their view on if Mr. Cardinal was right or not. The meeting with Miss Kenton wasn't what I had expected. They didn't really seem to have the connection I thought they would until the end. Miss Kenton had tears in her eyes, and Stevens had stated earlier that his heart was breaking. Also, the way that Stevens opened up with a complete stranger really surprised me. It is really not like him to do that. He is a very confined man and doesn't often open up. The man was right though. It was related back to the title, "The Remains of the Day." It is true, stop looking back on the past like Stevens always did. It doesn't help the future at all. You still have the rest of your life. Like they say, "The evening's the best part of the day." One last thing, I do believe he is a new man and he will soon start to be himself and stop trying so hard to impress others. I do believe he will be able to say simple sentences and just express how he feels after the experience he had on this journey of a lifetime.
Summer Reading Posts: "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
Post #1: Okay so to start off. These names have to go. I wish they were just a bit more, you know, NORMAL? That would probably help a lot.Anyways, on to the book. First off I wanted to say that this book really must be read symbolically for the most part in order to fully understand. I completely agree with Kevien about Amaranta's symbolic meaning. Love always has twists and turns, and so does Amaranta's "love." It is as if the author is trying to have love speak as if it were human. It represents a sort off chaos that really intrigued me.Also, I really wanted to comment on gypsyloo. That quote on page 13 really caught my attention as well. I think the statement is very true. I mean, it's not a home unless it is permanent. What other way is completely and utterly permanent besides death? Not much I would say. I do also believe it is foreshadowing as well.This society is basically insane. As paul_in_a_nutshell said, the society was in a way, a perfect society. The love however, completely opposite. Everyone is dating everyone and it is quite unbelievable. I would say that this is all organized chaos.
Post #2: I wanted to immediately comment on babaloo's post. So the idea of fate and reusing names is a huge sort of theme to the novel. Once the name is chosen it is foreshadowing what the fate of that child is. Also, everything seems to relate to time. I'm thinking that it is a major theme? Once someone dies, it is like it is forgotten. It is as if it is just a continues cycle. The one thing I am curious about, what if the cycle is suddenly ended for some reason? What will happen?I also feel like before the war, the past was focussed on. Now, it is like the past just repeats itself all the time. Maybe even without the people even noticing. Can it somehow symbolize something on the lines of the "circle of life?"I found it interesting how allthatjazz_07 said it was like a "curse." That ties in to the theme of fate. I didn't realize that a book that is so repetitive can be completely different at the same time. Ironic huh?
Post #3: As more and more people died, the title became that much clearer. Solitude was becoming more and more realistic in this society.I also completely agree with steph113 about Ursula. While reading this, i made the connection with the bible as well. She was the only one who stayed true to herself and did what she felt was right. She didn't give in to the temptation that led everyone else to their downfall. If she had given as as adam and eve did, she would have probably had the same downfall.Finishing this novel really made me think about my last blog. When Colonel Aureliano Buendía died everyone kind of just forgot his heroic deeds he did. It is related back to the theme of time. Everything was forgotten, and the past actually became the past.Overall, i really enjoyed reading this novel. It teaches a lesson that following your heart and doing what you believe in is the overall key to success.
Post #2: I wanted to immediately comment on babaloo's post. So the idea of fate and reusing names is a huge sort of theme to the novel. Once the name is chosen it is foreshadowing what the fate of that child is. Also, everything seems to relate to time. I'm thinking that it is a major theme? Once someone dies, it is like it is forgotten. It is as if it is just a continues cycle. The one thing I am curious about, what if the cycle is suddenly ended for some reason? What will happen?I also feel like before the war, the past was focussed on. Now, it is like the past just repeats itself all the time. Maybe even without the people even noticing. Can it somehow symbolize something on the lines of the "circle of life?"I found it interesting how allthatjazz_07 said it was like a "curse." That ties in to the theme of fate. I didn't realize that a book that is so repetitive can be completely different at the same time. Ironic huh?
Post #3: As more and more people died, the title became that much clearer. Solitude was becoming more and more realistic in this society.I also completely agree with steph113 about Ursula. While reading this, i made the connection with the bible as well. She was the only one who stayed true to herself and did what she felt was right. She didn't give in to the temptation that led everyone else to their downfall. If she had given as as adam and eve did, she would have probably had the same downfall.Finishing this novel really made me think about my last blog. When Colonel Aureliano Buendía died everyone kind of just forgot his heroic deeds he did. It is related back to the theme of time. Everything was forgotten, and the past actually became the past.Overall, i really enjoyed reading this novel. It teaches a lesson that following your heart and doing what you believe in is the overall key to success.
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