Dreiser:
Sister Carrie was a bit interesting in that the story revolved around a young woman coming to Chicago. Just reading two chapters didn't give me a full perspective on the novel, however, I saw Dreiser's theme come into play mostly in the third chapter where Carrie tries to find a job. In the intro, it mentioned that Dreiser's novel, Sister Carrie, "addresses many issues still of significance today...greater independence for women" (567). I felt bad for Carrie who persistently asked for an opening only to be turned down because she had no experience. In some ways, it is a necessity to have experience, but what if one does not a hire a woman no matter what kind of experience they've had? This happens often. Carrie had to be persistent to make herself known, to find a place in society as a female.
Crane:
I read Crane's Red Badge of Courage in high school and loved it. (I don't remember much of it though, but I know I liked it a lot back then.) I found both his stories entertaining, although "The Blue Hotel" ended strangely. I also write stories and am always looking for inspiration, so having read Crane's stories, I got a new perspective on short stories in general. In "The Blue Hotel," I was impressed by Crane's direction of the plot. A man owning a hotel, having visitors, one visitor beats up the owner's son, and then eventually gets killed. The irony truly made the story unique. And his poem: I loved it, especially the first section. What a sad picture and yet Crane refers to war as being "kind." "Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches, raged at his breast, gulped and died, do not weep. War is kind" (619).
London:
I imagine Jack London like the guy from Man vs. Wild. In "To Build a Fire," I could just picture the man out in the winter wilderness trying desperately to survive. He tries to build a fire only to fail and then eventually die. Nature and man can be portrayed as enemies. Even animal and man can be portrayed as enemies. The dog, not really doing much in the story, leaves the dead man to go find some food, knowing all along where it was. Ah, frustrating! But I enjoyed the story. I'm hoping to read London's Call of the Wild which I've heard is really good. Jack London's story also reminds me of Into the Wild, a true story where the main guy Chris dies in nature. Sad but really thought provoking.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Washington and Du Bois
It's hard for me to imagine, without feeling nervous, Booker T. Washington going up to address thousands of people representing African Americans. The pressure, the stress. How careful he had to be to choose the right words that wouldn't offend or cause controversy. Not to mention his approach: his speech was respectful, discussing the issues wisely, etc. Even W. E. B Du Bois had such a beautiful, intelligent style in The Souls of Black Folk that presented the African American race very well. These men were well educated knowing to express their concerns on civil rights.
I'd have to say Du Bois definitely gave me a good impression. His voice and style are effective in that he is logical, able to emotionally grasp his audience, and he is very intelligent. What really hit me was his question "How does it feel to be a problem?" (533) It's hard to fathom the idea of African Americans being the problem during that era. How could one race be considered the problem? That's degrading. Du Bois goes on to mention, "...being a problem is a strange experience...It is in the early days of rollicking boyhood that the revelation first bursts upon one, all in a day, as it were" (533). Imagine a boy...discovering he was the problem.
However, what can an African American do? It is stressful to be under the watch of the White man knowing you are despised for being Black. But Du Bois says that, "...to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another" (536). Really. One should learn from that kind of attitude. They are despised, but yet they are strong. I wonder what it would be like for Asians or Latinos or any other race to be treated the way African Americans were. What would be their strongest quality? Their persistence? Their strength? Their intelligence?
I'd have to say Du Bois definitely gave me a good impression. His voice and style are effective in that he is logical, able to emotionally grasp his audience, and he is very intelligent. What really hit me was his question "How does it feel to be a problem?" (533) It's hard to fathom the idea of African Americans being the problem during that era. How could one race be considered the problem? That's degrading. Du Bois goes on to mention, "...being a problem is a strange experience...It is in the early days of rollicking boyhood that the revelation first bursts upon one, all in a day, as it were" (533). Imagine a boy...discovering he was the problem.
However, what can an African American do? It is stressful to be under the watch of the White man knowing you are despised for being Black. But Du Bois says that, "...to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another" (536). Really. One should learn from that kind of attitude. They are despised, but yet they are strong. I wonder what it would be like for Asians or Latinos or any other race to be treated the way African Americans were. What would be their strongest quality? Their persistence? Their strength? Their intelligence?
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Huck: Chapters 37-End
Dear Lord! Tom and his romanticized ideas! I wanted to enter that story and slap him for being so selfish. He knew! He knew all along that Jim was a free man. And yet he went through all this brainstorming and led both Huck and Jim through all that trouble just because he "wanted the adventure of it" (278).
Both Tom and Huck love adventure; it is obvious. Huck lived it mostly because he was on his own for most of his life before Miss Watson took him in. Tom imagined it. Huck truly portrays the image of realism in that he plans things out simple and lies realistically. Huck is also a thinker. He has arguments with himself thinking logically--poorly--and even at times thinking critically. (For example the time when Huck was considering whether to free Jim.) He's incredibly smart too (faking his own death creatively) and can lie on the spot. But when compared to Tom, Huck is too...simple.
Tom is the complete opposite. Because he is a bit younger than Huck, his imagination is strong and highly used. Tom fantasizes life; his plans are way out there. Huck has a plan, but Tom's plan is much more complex. As Huck is becoming more mature, Tom annoyingly holds on to Romanticism.
For example:
"You don't want spring water; you want to water it with your tears" (264).
"...but Tom was the gladdest of all, because he had a bullet in the calf of his leg" (270).
He was happy he got shot?! Jim and Huck had to take him to a doctor--they are thinking realistically--and Tom is all like, "Don't stop, now; don't fool around here, and the evasion booming along so handsome; man the sweeps, and set her loose! Boys, we done it elegant!--' deed we did" (270). This kid is so blinded by his romanticized ideas that he doesn't think of others or himself, of the danger or the risk. In the beginning, it seemed that Tom was smarter than Huck because of his education. But in life, Huck is wiser and is more careful than Tom. Huck sees life as it is while Tom brings his ideas from the adventure books he's read.
In the end, I respected the way Twain ended the novel: Jim found his freedom. Realistically, he would have been sent back to slavery, but like Tom, Twain saw other options...better options.
Both Tom and Huck love adventure; it is obvious. Huck lived it mostly because he was on his own for most of his life before Miss Watson took him in. Tom imagined it. Huck truly portrays the image of realism in that he plans things out simple and lies realistically. Huck is also a thinker. He has arguments with himself thinking logically--poorly--and even at times thinking critically. (For example the time when Huck was considering whether to free Jim.) He's incredibly smart too (faking his own death creatively) and can lie on the spot. But when compared to Tom, Huck is too...simple.
Tom is the complete opposite. Because he is a bit younger than Huck, his imagination is strong and highly used. Tom fantasizes life; his plans are way out there. Huck has a plan, but Tom's plan is much more complex. As Huck is becoming more mature, Tom annoyingly holds on to Romanticism.
For example:
"You don't want spring water; you want to water it with your tears" (264).
"...but Tom was the gladdest of all, because he had a bullet in the calf of his leg" (270).
He was happy he got shot?! Jim and Huck had to take him to a doctor--they are thinking realistically--and Tom is all like, "Don't stop, now; don't fool around here, and the evasion booming along so handsome; man the sweeps, and set her loose! Boys, we done it elegant!--' deed we did" (270). This kid is so blinded by his romanticized ideas that he doesn't think of others or himself, of the danger or the risk. In the beginning, it seemed that Tom was smarter than Huck because of his education. But in life, Huck is wiser and is more careful than Tom. Huck sees life as it is while Tom brings his ideas from the adventure books he's read.
In the end, I respected the way Twain ended the novel: Jim found his freedom. Realistically, he would have been sent back to slavery, but like Tom, Twain saw other options...better options.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Huck: Chapters 23-36
First of all, let's look at Huck's "talent" again. His skill for lying is incredibly cunning. He's so good at it that I myself could have fallen for his lies. It naturally comes to him like humans breathing air. It happens so often that I've accepted it just because it's a part of who he is. As I'm reading, I'm like "Oh look...he lied...again. Goodness people are really stupid, falling for his lies." But he does it so well, who wouldn't? The more he lies, the more I realize that he lies because of fear. Fear of what? Being caught. Every time he lies, he tries to save himself and times has saved Jim in the process.
But suddenly, Huck...feels bad for lying? This happens when he comes across Miss Mary Jane and can no longer hold in the truth. Why? Huck says, "Well, I says to myself at last, I'm agoing to chance it; I'll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you'll go to" (218). Huck's conscience made him feel guilty of how he, the duke, and the king were lying to them. Huck couldn't bare looking at the young ladies being deceived. But this won't be the first time.
His second time of revealing the truth was more of an attempt and was never executed. He was going along when he says to himself, "...here's another place where I got to resk the truth" (239). Huck wants to tell the truth! But ends up being pushed into the situation to lie...again. However, I have also noticed that when he lies, it usually turns out to benefit him so well. He escaped the hands of danger several times including the time when he lied to the duke and the king about him and Jim running away. Huck got away with it. But his current lie--pretending to be Tom Sawyer--I'm curious to see how it will end up turning out.
But suddenly, Huck...feels bad for lying? This happens when he comes across Miss Mary Jane and can no longer hold in the truth. Why? Huck says, "Well, I says to myself at last, I'm agoing to chance it; I'll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you'll go to" (218). Huck's conscience made him feel guilty of how he, the duke, and the king were lying to them. Huck couldn't bare looking at the young ladies being deceived. But this won't be the first time.
His second time of revealing the truth was more of an attempt and was never executed. He was going along when he says to himself, "...here's another place where I got to resk the truth" (239). Huck wants to tell the truth! But ends up being pushed into the situation to lie...again. However, I have also noticed that when he lies, it usually turns out to benefit him so well. He escaped the hands of danger several times including the time when he lied to the duke and the king about him and Jim running away. Huck got away with it. But his current lie--pretending to be Tom Sawyer--I'm curious to see how it will end up turning out.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Huck: Chapters 18-22
Wow, a lot of events happened within these chapters. Huck's involvement with a feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons (which I thought was really entertaining). The lost and found Jim. Two new characters: the duke and the king. But in these chapters, I paid close attention to Huck's sadly useful skill: lying.
As I was reading, I was thinking, "Wow, this kid is a pathological liar!" He just lies; that's what he's really good at. He got away with it several times, including the time when he pretended to be a girl to Mrs. Judith Loftus. Yes, he did get caught for disguising himself as a girl, but even then, he created another lie as to not get caught. Genius! But so wrong! He also lied when he was staying with the Grangerfords. In these chapters though, his lie actually protected someone: Jim. When he explained to the "duke" and the "king" that Jim was not a "runaway," it seemed very convincing. In that situation, Huck did right to save his friend. During this time, if Jim would be caught, he would be sent back to slavery, and he didn't want that. Huck knew it; he know how Jim felt. Although still quite young, Huck is able to understand Jim's situation. Like I mentioned before, they look out for each other.
As I was reading, I was thinking, "Wow, this kid is a pathological liar!" He just lies; that's what he's really good at. He got away with it several times, including the time when he pretended to be a girl to Mrs. Judith Loftus. Yes, he did get caught for disguising himself as a girl, but even then, he created another lie as to not get caught. Genius! But so wrong! He also lied when he was staying with the Grangerfords. In these chapters though, his lie actually protected someone: Jim. When he explained to the "duke" and the "king" that Jim was not a "runaway," it seemed very convincing. In that situation, Huck did right to save his friend. During this time, if Jim would be caught, he would be sent back to slavery, and he didn't want that. Huck knew it; he know how Jim felt. Although still quite young, Huck is able to understand Jim's situation. Like I mentioned before, they look out for each other.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Huck: Chapters 6-17
Within these chapters, the relationship between Jim and Huck was no longer between a slave and a runaway boy but rather an actual friendship. I didn't think Jim would be mentioned much in the story--another part I had forgotten. However, it was interesting to see who Jim and Huck's relationship progressed. Also, in these chapters, I was quite upset to discover that poor Jim was accused of Huck's "murder."
Huck's response to the discovery of Jim was heartwarming. I could see how relieved Huck was. Only a young boy--who knows what exactly was going on his mind after getting away with his planned murder (which was quite clever by the way). For him, knowing that he was no longer alone, probably made him feel safe. Analyzing Huck's reaction could portray Huck as having a "weak spot." Here is this young boy who could fend for himself, provide for himself. He did so well escaping his father's harsh treatment, and there he was admitting how happy he was to see Jim. See! He does have fears.
The conversations between Jim and Huck also contributed to their friendship. It was kind of hard for me at first to get the hang of Jim's dialect, but after reading it for the second time, I kind of got the main idea of what he was saying. It didn't matter what exactly they were talking about whether it was about Jim being a slave or about Solomon; conversing helped them bond and rely on each other since both were runaways.
Jim looked out for Huck like family. When Huck had run off and "tricked" Jim, Jim truly thought Huck had disappeared. Jim expressed his worry when he said "...my heart wuz mos' broke bekase you wuz los'" (157). Of course Huck should feel guilty about this, and he was. "...I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make [Jim] feel that way" (157). To add, Huck did look out for Jim as well. While Huck was contemplating to himself whether he should give up on Jim, Huck would feel bad. So he didn't.
Huck's response to the discovery of Jim was heartwarming. I could see how relieved Huck was. Only a young boy--who knows what exactly was going on his mind after getting away with his planned murder (which was quite clever by the way). For him, knowing that he was no longer alone, probably made him feel safe. Analyzing Huck's reaction could portray Huck as having a "weak spot." Here is this young boy who could fend for himself, provide for himself. He did so well escaping his father's harsh treatment, and there he was admitting how happy he was to see Jim. See! He does have fears.
The conversations between Jim and Huck also contributed to their friendship. It was kind of hard for me at first to get the hang of Jim's dialect, but after reading it for the second time, I kind of got the main idea of what he was saying. It didn't matter what exactly they were talking about whether it was about Jim being a slave or about Solomon; conversing helped them bond and rely on each other since both were runaways.
Jim looked out for Huck like family. When Huck had run off and "tricked" Jim, Jim truly thought Huck had disappeared. Jim expressed his worry when he said "...my heart wuz mos' broke bekase you wuz los'" (157). Of course Huck should feel guilty about this, and he was. "...I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make [Jim] feel that way" (157). To add, Huck did look out for Jim as well. While Huck was contemplating to himself whether he should give up on Jim, Huck would feel bad. So he didn't.
Huck: Chapters 1-5
It's been years since I've read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I also read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer around the same time, so I tend to mix the plots when trying to recall what each book was about. So coming into Huck with a somewhat lost memory of what I had read before, there were a few things that kind of caught me by surprise.
Firstly: the dialect. I'm currently taking a language and grammar class, so I had to put the this-is-an-incorrect-form-of-grammar thoughts while reading Huck. However, as I read on, Huck's "version of English" is what makes Huck...Huck. He is that hobo-like kid with no education who used to live in the "wild" so to speak. He is independent and care-free, able to live alone and provide for himself.
Secondly, I thought it was cute that Huck, Tom, and their fellow friends created a gang. I could just picture my younger brothers making their own little gang with their neighborhood friends, carefully planning the rules. But no! The condition of killing one's family if they revealed the secret of the gang was a little...disturbing. Innocent as it started, I cannot picture my brothers and their friends coming up with a condition like that. Of course they might not act on it, but the thought is unhealthy. Are young boys aware of the morality of their intentions?
Lastly, Huck's thought process of Biblical elements taught by Miss Watson. For example, Miss Watson told Huck that if he prayed for something every day, he would receive it. And indeed, he did as she said, but unfortunately, did not receive anything. Whether he believed it or not is not a big deal--being only a child--but the fact that he was thinking, contemplating could be uncommon for a boy like Huck. When Miss Watson talked about spiritual gifts, Huck said, "I went out in the woods and turned it over in my mind a long time, but I couldn't see no advantage about it--except for the other people--so last I reckoned I wouldn't worry about it any more, but just let it go" (112-113). His curiosity, at times, is not a bad thing because he is willing to learn and to try new things...sometimes.
Firstly: the dialect. I'm currently taking a language and grammar class, so I had to put the this-is-an-incorrect-form-of-grammar thoughts while reading Huck. However, as I read on, Huck's "version of English" is what makes Huck...Huck. He is that hobo-like kid with no education who used to live in the "wild" so to speak. He is independent and care-free, able to live alone and provide for himself.
Secondly, I thought it was cute that Huck, Tom, and their fellow friends created a gang. I could just picture my younger brothers making their own little gang with their neighborhood friends, carefully planning the rules. But no! The condition of killing one's family if they revealed the secret of the gang was a little...disturbing. Innocent as it started, I cannot picture my brothers and their friends coming up with a condition like that. Of course they might not act on it, but the thought is unhealthy. Are young boys aware of the morality of their intentions?
Lastly, Huck's thought process of Biblical elements taught by Miss Watson. For example, Miss Watson told Huck that if he prayed for something every day, he would receive it. And indeed, he did as she said, but unfortunately, did not receive anything. Whether he believed it or not is not a big deal--being only a child--but the fact that he was thinking, contemplating could be uncommon for a boy like Huck. When Miss Watson talked about spiritual gifts, Huck said, "I went out in the woods and turned it over in my mind a long time, but I couldn't see no advantage about it--except for the other people--so last I reckoned I wouldn't worry about it any more, but just let it go" (112-113). His curiosity, at times, is not a bad thing because he is willing to learn and to try new things...sometimes.
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