When I began the story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” I found the narrator to seem quite normal (perhaps she was prone to a slight nervous condition, how should I know?!) and I thought that the severity and strictness of her husband’s rules were a little much – no company, no activity, etc., nothing but sleeping and eating. Because the character seemed rather normal, I found the story to be rather boring – a rather repetitive, running commentary of all the narrator’s thoughts on basically…nothing, since she is cooped up with nothing to do but write, secretly. Anyways, I was glad to find that the story became increasingly more interesting as I began to realize that the narrator is indeed sick in the mind…crazy, very crazy! I began reading into things she commented on (you can’t always trust a crazy person you know!)… were the knawed corners on the bed really from before, or were they her doing all along? When she commented on getting a rope to capture the woman and a stool to stand on, I wondered if she was going to commit suicide during a crazy hallucination, thinking herself to be the woman that she was trying to catch! This, however, brings me to another question.
Who is the woman behind the bars in the wall, and what is the connection between her and the narrator, and what does this tell us about the narrator? At first, I believed the figure in the wall to be a trick of the wallpaper, a simple abstract shape found within the lines, a being not unlike those that we found in our rooms as children (for me it was a pine tree outside that, in the shadows of the night, looked like a witch and really scared me). However, as I began to realize her craziness, I thought that the woman was definitely a representation of the narrator’s feelings. The woman, being trapped behind bars shows how the narrator is trapped inside this house, and is going increasingly insane because of it! It is expected that the narrator would feel sympathy for this woman since she can relate to her situation, but the narrator displays increasing insanity and hallucinating by claiming to see the creeping woman all around when looking out the windows, and even more so by becoming the creeping lady! Well, finally coming to the conclusion that the creeping lady behind the bars in the wall did not exist and that it was a representation of her feelings (and craziness!) that morphed into a physical reality is what led me to wonder if in her attempts to catch the woman (who was actually herself) with rope, to lasso her with, and a stool, to stand on in order to reach further, was going to end up as a suicide (one which she had no control over, but was the result of “mixed up identities” so to say). I am, however, slightly unsure of what the ending meant (perhaps you talked about it in class, but I was absent that day…and I was sad to miss English!). The narrator says that her husband fainted, but like I said, crazy people can’t always be trusted. I, personally, find it difficult to believe that her husband, being a physician and aware of her condition (even if he did not know how bad it was), would have such a reaction to actually faint, therefore I am not sure what to make of the ending. The only conclusions that I could make were that 1) she brought some kind of harm to him, knocking him out or something, or 2) he fainted from walking in upon a scene that was much more shocking than the narrator has told us (for example, if she were standing on the stool with the rope around her neck)!!!
The scariest, creepiest, and most interesting aspect of the story was definitely having such insight into the mind of a crazy, hallucinating woman! I found it rather eerie to be “reading her thoughts,” to almost be in her mind….scary!!!
Lastly I wanted to say a bit about some of the short story reading that I have done. This past week I read “A View From Castle Rock.” It is the first story that captured my interest from the beginning, part of this may be because the fifth word of the story is “Edinburgh” (one of my favorite places!!! J). It is a very captivating story about a journey to America on a ship, and it explores so many themes and different emotions, etc. that it would present a myriad of topics that one could write about, a few of them being 1) the American dream, 2) the blending of religion and superstition, 3) new versus old times, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!!! (I won’t write any more now though, because I’ve already written way too much! J)
word count: 814
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Revelation of Equality
The author of Revelation seeks to make a statement about equality through a very judgmental, superior-thinking, and fake character. By reading the thoughts of Ruby Turpin, as well as what she actually says, the reader is allowed to discover just how skewed of a person she is. It is by having the ability to know Ruby’s thoughts that the reader finds how contradictory of a person she is, and is able to come to the conclusion, as she eventually will, that she is definitely not any better than the other people that she meets that day.
Ruby Turpin is revealed to be a very judgmental and critical person from the very beginning. Upon her entrance into the doctor’s waiting room, she observes the rude manners of the little boy and criticizes the size of the room. She then goes on to observe the others in the room, and it is obvious by her thoughts that she believes she has everyone figured out, not leaving any room for getting to know the actual person. Ruby comments that the woman who she describes as white-trash and “worse than niggers any day” (20) is wearing bedroom slippers, something that she does not find surprising, as she admits that it is “exactly what you would have expected her to have on” (22). Throughout the story she continues to make judgments about the “white-trashy” woman that we see through her thoughts and the internal, rude comments that she makes to herself. While attempting to engage in normal, casual conversation with the other women, the white-trash woman says about her son and mother, “Look like I can’t get nothing down them two but Co’Cola and candy” (77), only to receive a judgment from Ruby who thinks to herself, “that’s all you try to get down em” (78). Without knowing anything about the woman
except the way she dresses and talks, Ruby assumes that she does not attempt to feed her child and mother properly, making a judgment about her character without knowing her at all.
Aside from being judgmental, it is clear that Mrs. Turpin places herself a cut above the rest, the best kind of person, superior to the other individuals in the waiting room, especially the white-trash woman. Her superior-thinking nature is displayed in many ways, through her body language, tone of voice, and thoughts. Ruby clearly takes class very seriously, and, after hearing a comment made by the white-trash woman, exchanges a look with the lady that she is talking to that “indicated they both understood that you had to have certain things before you could know certain things” (52). This shows that Ruby figures since the woman is obviously poor and of a lower class, she does not have the ability or right to know certain things, placing herself superior to the woman and others like her. She also uses her tone to express her self-endowed superiority. When discussing the Back-to-Africa solution (which was popular during the time), Ruby points out how the white-trash woman’s ideas are very foolish and could never work. The author indicates that Ruby’s tone was demeaning by using the word “explained” (65), as if talking to a foolish child who did not understand. Her thoughts reveal her superior thinking by all of the questions she admits to pondering upon before she goes to bed. Mrs. Turpin describes how she debates whether she would be white-trash or black if she could not be herself and had to choose. Here, she is clearly placing herself above both groups and then asking which is the less bad of two undesirable classes. These are but a few ways that Ruby exerts herself as being superior.
Despite her thoughts of being exceptionally good, the readers discover that Ruby is actually a very fake, insincere person. Mrs. Turpin obviously finds herself to be a good and generous person, noting that to help anybody out was her life’s philosophy, that she “never spared herself when she found somebody in need, whether they were white, black, trash or decent” (75). As a reader, however, this is difficult to believe. Knowing her true sentiments about different types of people, her judgment, her criticism, and other prejudices, it becomes clear that she does not help anybody out of a pure goodness in her heart, but rather helps people so that she can say, “Look at me! Look how good I am,” so that she can put a checkmark on a list of the things she thinks a decent person would do. She acknowledges another fake quality about herself when describing to a woman in the doctor’s office how she pretends to be kind to the blacks who are working for them, allowing them to think that she thinks of them as equal to herself. These instances show how Ruby is not at all the person she thinks or hopes to be.
These aspects of Mrs. Turpin’s character, her being judgmental, superior-thinking, and fake, do not raise her up as a virtuous woman. The insight the readers have into her thoughts, which are usually sarcastic and rude, support the point that a person cannot be judged just by what is apparent when first looking at him/her. One cannot size up someone’s character or moral integrity by an outward appearance. In this way, Ruby has a very humbling experience in the story. Mrs. Turpin wonders why she would be singled out to receive this message “when there was trash in the room to whom it might justly have been applied” (130). The answer is in her question: it is her pride that causes her downfall. The other individuals in the room had their own faults, no doubt, but Ruby failed to see her faults, labeling people as trash and finding herself superior. Why was she singled out for this message? Because she had not figured out that she was no better than everyone else, and she needed to be told.
Ruby finally learns her lesson through her vision. After seeing a variety of souls entering into heaven via a bridge in the sky, she has a revelation, understanding that just because she is white or has a better house or more money, does not make her more favored than other human beings. Through this vision and revelation, the author makes his point about equality, that as far as worth and trash are concerned, everyone is equal.
(1067 words)
What did you find interesting about Mary Grace? What was the reason for her attitude and scowl at the beginning of the story and how did it change throughout?
Did you find Mary Grace's choice of action to be surprising? Why or why not?
What do you think this story says about race relations at the time? How did Mrs. Turpin's and the white-trash lady's opinions differ when discussing blacks and why do you think this is?
Ruby Turpin is revealed to be a very judgmental and critical person from the very beginning. Upon her entrance into the doctor’s waiting room, she observes the rude manners of the little boy and criticizes the size of the room. She then goes on to observe the others in the room, and it is obvious by her thoughts that she believes she has everyone figured out, not leaving any room for getting to know the actual person. Ruby comments that the woman who she describes as white-trash and “worse than niggers any day” (20) is wearing bedroom slippers, something that she does not find surprising, as she admits that it is “exactly what you would have expected her to have on” (22). Throughout the story she continues to make judgments about the “white-trashy” woman that we see through her thoughts and the internal, rude comments that she makes to herself. While attempting to engage in normal, casual conversation with the other women, the white-trash woman says about her son and mother, “Look like I can’t get nothing down them two but Co’Cola and candy” (77), only to receive a judgment from Ruby who thinks to herself, “that’s all you try to get down em” (78). Without knowing anything about the woman
except the way she dresses and talks, Ruby assumes that she does not attempt to feed her child and mother properly, making a judgment about her character without knowing her at all.
Aside from being judgmental, it is clear that Mrs. Turpin places herself a cut above the rest, the best kind of person, superior to the other individuals in the waiting room, especially the white-trash woman. Her superior-thinking nature is displayed in many ways, through her body language, tone of voice, and thoughts. Ruby clearly takes class very seriously, and, after hearing a comment made by the white-trash woman, exchanges a look with the lady that she is talking to that “indicated they both understood that you had to have certain things before you could know certain things” (52). This shows that Ruby figures since the woman is obviously poor and of a lower class, she does not have the ability or right to know certain things, placing herself superior to the woman and others like her. She also uses her tone to express her self-endowed superiority. When discussing the Back-to-Africa solution (which was popular during the time), Ruby points out how the white-trash woman’s ideas are very foolish and could never work. The author indicates that Ruby’s tone was demeaning by using the word “explained” (65), as if talking to a foolish child who did not understand. Her thoughts reveal her superior thinking by all of the questions she admits to pondering upon before she goes to bed. Mrs. Turpin describes how she debates whether she would be white-trash or black if she could not be herself and had to choose. Here, she is clearly placing herself above both groups and then asking which is the less bad of two undesirable classes. These are but a few ways that Ruby exerts herself as being superior.
Despite her thoughts of being exceptionally good, the readers discover that Ruby is actually a very fake, insincere person. Mrs. Turpin obviously finds herself to be a good and generous person, noting that to help anybody out was her life’s philosophy, that she “never spared herself when she found somebody in need, whether they were white, black, trash or decent” (75). As a reader, however, this is difficult to believe. Knowing her true sentiments about different types of people, her judgment, her criticism, and other prejudices, it becomes clear that she does not help anybody out of a pure goodness in her heart, but rather helps people so that she can say, “Look at me! Look how good I am,” so that she can put a checkmark on a list of the things she thinks a decent person would do. She acknowledges another fake quality about herself when describing to a woman in the doctor’s office how she pretends to be kind to the blacks who are working for them, allowing them to think that she thinks of them as equal to herself. These instances show how Ruby is not at all the person she thinks or hopes to be.
These aspects of Mrs. Turpin’s character, her being judgmental, superior-thinking, and fake, do not raise her up as a virtuous woman. The insight the readers have into her thoughts, which are usually sarcastic and rude, support the point that a person cannot be judged just by what is apparent when first looking at him/her. One cannot size up someone’s character or moral integrity by an outward appearance. In this way, Ruby has a very humbling experience in the story. Mrs. Turpin wonders why she would be singled out to receive this message “when there was trash in the room to whom it might justly have been applied” (130). The answer is in her question: it is her pride that causes her downfall. The other individuals in the room had their own faults, no doubt, but Ruby failed to see her faults, labeling people as trash and finding herself superior. Why was she singled out for this message? Because she had not figured out that she was no better than everyone else, and she needed to be told.
Ruby finally learns her lesson through her vision. After seeing a variety of souls entering into heaven via a bridge in the sky, she has a revelation, understanding that just because she is white or has a better house or more money, does not make her more favored than other human beings. Through this vision and revelation, the author makes his point about equality, that as far as worth and trash are concerned, everyone is equal.
(1067 words)
What did you find interesting about Mary Grace? What was the reason for her attitude and scowl at the beginning of the story and how did it change throughout?
Did you find Mary Grace's choice of action to be surprising? Why or why not?
What do you think this story says about race relations at the time? How did Mrs. Turpin's and the white-trash lady's opinions differ when discussing blacks and why do you think this is?
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Importance of Amanda
The story Teenage Wasteland by Anne Tyler displays a variety of challenges and problems caused by families and the way they function. Amanda, though a small character, is very significant to the overall picture that we see. Her tiny presence allows us to see past just the major characters and realize how the dysfunctionality of the rest of the family will not only effect them, but others also, possibly having a domino effect.
Daisy notes how when she first began helping Donny with his homework, she would often brush Amanda aside. This is an early sign that she (Amanda) is not going to have a good relationship with her mother. Amanda, however, unlike Donny, actually wants to have a relationship with her mother and is clearly trying to by attempting to talk to her. Daisy, however, is too wrapped up in Donny and his problems to give Amanda the attention that she needs.
When contemplating what she did wrong in her raising of Donny, Daisy wonders if she neglected him when Amanda was born, failing to give him the proper attention. This is very ironic seeing that she now is doing what she questions as a potential source to her problems with Donny to her other child. Reading this, one wonders where Daisy’s head is, if she is not completely stupid, and how she could be so blind!
In their messing up with Donny, Daisy and her husband also ruin any hope for normality with Amanda. With a seemingly absent father and a clueless mother who does not pay attention to her, it is no surprise that by the end of the story it is commented that Amanda tries to spend as much time as possible away from home! This final statement brings the story full-circle, showing how Daisy and her husband have officially messed up another kid. They start with one problem teenager, but the potential of good and normality in Amanda, only to end up with a really disturbed, vanished son, and an elusive daughter who has been chased away.
Anne Tyler’s story concerns the inner workings of the family and how parents and children effect one another. Without Amanda, this story would only show a small, confined picture, a bomb that blows up within the home but does not reach outside of it. By means of Amanda’s character, Anne Tyler can now show how these effects will reach out into the world through the daughter. Although we cannot know for sure, it is not unreasonable to assume that Amanda will influence the world by means of a domino effect. Amanda may now have her own family, and without having a good example of parenting, could cause similar problems in her children like those that Daisy caused in her, and so on through the generations. This is not for sure, however, whether Amanda creates a domino effect in this way or not, it can be said for sure that the outside world was effected. Amanda’s character allows us to see how Daisy’s bad parenting and neglect led to even more problems outside of the home as she pushed Amanda away.
(519 words)
Daisy notes how when she first began helping Donny with his homework, she would often brush Amanda aside. This is an early sign that she (Amanda) is not going to have a good relationship with her mother. Amanda, however, unlike Donny, actually wants to have a relationship with her mother and is clearly trying to by attempting to talk to her. Daisy, however, is too wrapped up in Donny and his problems to give Amanda the attention that she needs.
When contemplating what she did wrong in her raising of Donny, Daisy wonders if she neglected him when Amanda was born, failing to give him the proper attention. This is very ironic seeing that she now is doing what she questions as a potential source to her problems with Donny to her other child. Reading this, one wonders where Daisy’s head is, if she is not completely stupid, and how she could be so blind!
In their messing up with Donny, Daisy and her husband also ruin any hope for normality with Amanda. With a seemingly absent father and a clueless mother who does not pay attention to her, it is no surprise that by the end of the story it is commented that Amanda tries to spend as much time as possible away from home! This final statement brings the story full-circle, showing how Daisy and her husband have officially messed up another kid. They start with one problem teenager, but the potential of good and normality in Amanda, only to end up with a really disturbed, vanished son, and an elusive daughter who has been chased away.
Anne Tyler’s story concerns the inner workings of the family and how parents and children effect one another. Without Amanda, this story would only show a small, confined picture, a bomb that blows up within the home but does not reach outside of it. By means of Amanda’s character, Anne Tyler can now show how these effects will reach out into the world through the daughter. Although we cannot know for sure, it is not unreasonable to assume that Amanda will influence the world by means of a domino effect. Amanda may now have her own family, and without having a good example of parenting, could cause similar problems in her children like those that Daisy caused in her, and so on through the generations. This is not for sure, however, whether Amanda creates a domino effect in this way or not, it can be said for sure that the outside world was effected. Amanda’s character allows us to see how Daisy’s bad parenting and neglect led to even more problems outside of the home as she pushed Amanda away.
(519 words)
Monday, September 1, 2008
Social Commentary and Satire in Mr. Collins, The Fool
In chapter 19 of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Collins makes his marriage proposal to Elizabeth, and in his words we find many of Jane Austen's stylistic traits. Also, we see how the subject matter of Mr. Collins and Lizzy's discussion (marriage) is, obviously, a major theme of the novel. In this passage it is evident that Jane Austen uses Mr. Collins' character to convey her social commentary. Mr. Collins verbalizes the popular sentiment of the time about the importance of marriage and how often it was more of a business transaction than it was about love. After Lizzy's refusal to his proposal, he argues that "it does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desireable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bourgh and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favor." Here, Mr. Collins displays his bewilderment of why anyone would not want to marry such a wonderful man, and completely ignores the notion of love. His ignorance of love in the course of marriage is also displayed in his statements a couple pages earlier when he says, "my reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. secondly, that I am convinced it will ass very greatly to my happiness, and thirdly, which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advise and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness." Here, as in the other passage, Mr. Collins makes no mention of love in his reasons for marriage (for neither himself nor Elizabeth). He goes on to point out to Elizabeth that, "in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you." This uncertainty pointed out by him is why so many women married without love, for if they passed up an offer to get married, they may be left with nothing when their father died and his inheritance was transfered to the male members of the family.
Aside from Jane Austen's social commentary, we see other aspects of her style through Mr. Collins. Jane Austen's language is very elegant, but it is often satirical at the same time, and her characters can be very funny in what they say (and how they act) while still speaking eloquently. Mr. Collins displays this elegant satire in his obstinate display with Elizbeth. After proposing marriage with a long speech, he ends saying, "when we are married," forgetting that Lizzy has yet to make an answer, so confident is he that she cannot decline. She does, however, decline, stating that her feelings could simply not allow their union (for Lizzy does consider love, or at least attraction in her consideration of marriage). Mr. Collins proceeds to be sure that Elizabeth really does mean to marry him, but that it is her wish to increase his love by suspence, "according to the usual practice of elegant females," and thus continues to look foolish. He repeats these suspicions after numerous refusals by Elizabeth where she practically begs him to believe her sincerity. This scene, while using Jane's elegant language, is certainly satirical and hilarious in Mr. Collins' ignorance and pompous confidence.
Aside from Jane Austen's social commentary, we see other aspects of her style through Mr. Collins. Jane Austen's language is very elegant, but it is often satirical at the same time, and her characters can be very funny in what they say (and how they act) while still speaking eloquently. Mr. Collins displays this elegant satire in his obstinate display with Elizbeth. After proposing marriage with a long speech, he ends saying, "when we are married," forgetting that Lizzy has yet to make an answer, so confident is he that she cannot decline. She does, however, decline, stating that her feelings could simply not allow their union (for Lizzy does consider love, or at least attraction in her consideration of marriage). Mr. Collins proceeds to be sure that Elizabeth really does mean to marry him, but that it is her wish to increase his love by suspence, "according to the usual practice of elegant females," and thus continues to look foolish. He repeats these suspicions after numerous refusals by Elizabeth where she practically begs him to believe her sincerity. This scene, while using Jane's elegant language, is certainly satirical and hilarious in Mr. Collins' ignorance and pompous confidence.
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