The naturalism of the "Snows of Kilimanjaro" by Ernest Hemingway is seen throughout the main character's hubris. Harry's pride in his body manifested when he did not take care of his cut on his leg. He thought it would heal itself, because minor injurys had always healed themselves in the past. Consequently, the inattention to his injury led to his eventual demise.
Stream of consciousness is demonstrated by the narrator as he show, by italics, Harry's thoughts. Many of his thoughts are morose. Death is the major theme of the piece as the dying character dwells on his own dying process.
The writer, Harry, blames the rich women in his life for not allowing him the freedom to write, because of his great love for them. Their smothering love, he believes, distracted him.
Thinking of nothing but death and the regret of not having the potentioal life to write anything else, Charlie tells his present wife of his impending death, but only blames her in his mind.
I believe that if not for the encouragement by his present wife there would not have been a story. The spouse encourages Harry to believe that a plane is coming for him, which will take him to a hospital.
As the gangrene-filled man slips into a coma, he dreams that he is being rescued, but as they get to the place where the pilot and Harry see the snowy part of Kilimanjaro he sees his death in the cold snow topped mountain instead of a hospital.
Ultimately, Harry's wife's optimism did rub off on him, as evidenced by his last dream.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
My Blog on "Babylon Revisited" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald's modernism piece of work, "Babylon Revisited" about the main character, Charlie, was a work about the upper class and then upper middle class struggles of one man to regain custody of his daughter from his sister-in-law's highly protected guardianship.
The hardships Charlie emotionally endures to regain custody of Honoria are tremendous. Just when one thinks he will succeed in gaining custody of his little girl, a foreboding of defeat for the primary character is seen in the abrupt interrruption of Charlie's old friends. Lorraine and Duncan, drunk and insistant on resuming old relationships with Charlie, convince Marion, the child's present guardian, that Charlie is not ready to raise his child properly.
Surprisingly, after Mr. Peter's, Charlie's brother-in-law, tells Charlie that Marion has given him another six months to prove himself, Charlie does not go on a drinking binge as I thought he would. Charlie goes on enduring and living without his child for six more months, or will it be forever? The narrator vever completely ends the fable.
I like an ending like that. The narrator leaves it to my imangination as to the conclusion.
What amazes me about the work is the liberty the author took with the idea of a woman of that time period having the power to make a decision like that over the opinion of her husband.
The hardships Charlie emotionally endures to regain custody of Honoria are tremendous. Just when one thinks he will succeed in gaining custody of his little girl, a foreboding of defeat for the primary character is seen in the abrupt interrruption of Charlie's old friends. Lorraine and Duncan, drunk and insistant on resuming old relationships with Charlie, convince Marion, the child's present guardian, that Charlie is not ready to raise his child properly.
Surprisingly, after Mr. Peter's, Charlie's brother-in-law, tells Charlie that Marion has given him another six months to prove himself, Charlie does not go on a drinking binge as I thought he would. Charlie goes on enduring and living without his child for six more months, or will it be forever? The narrator vever completely ends the fable.
I like an ending like that. The narrator leaves it to my imangination as to the conclusion.
What amazes me about the work is the liberty the author took with the idea of a woman of that time period having the power to make a decision like that over the opinion of her husband.
My Blog on "The Streetcar Named Desire" by Playwright Tennessee Williams
I believe that there are four main characters in "The Street Car Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams. Blanche is the primary character at the beginning of the narrative in the movie, but the written play begins with Stanley Kowalski and his friend Mitch walking around the corner of a building toward Stanley's rented home in elysian Fields, New Orleans. Stella Knowalski, Stanley's wife is a third main character in the naturalistic play. As Stanley yells at Stella the character reveals his own hubris to the reader. Even though Stella seems to stand up to her husband commanding him not to "holler" (1162) at her, at the end of the story and even throughout, her submission is seen to his dominant pride.
Blanche is the focus of the other main characters as she, right from the start, plays the victim. Instead of accepting and living in the present she chooses to buck the system by continually critizing it and complaining about it. The cultural clash Blanche brings about by her refined Southern mannerisms end up creating a no-win situation in the Kowalski household.
Mitch is initially seen as a different kind of person than the rest of the lower class people in the play. However, at the end of the story, when he shows his true colors, he is actually not any different than Stanley as he tries to rape Blanche in the same room that Stanley later does.
The hubris of Blanche reminds me somewhat of a Greek tragedy herorine. Even though the character was not put to death, she sacrificed herself for her principles, however wrong they seem to be to the reader.
If a real person read the work and had been a victim of rape it could possibly be a very difficult piece to read, unless the memories are totally healed.
Blanche is the focus of the other main characters as she, right from the start, plays the victim. Instead of accepting and living in the present she chooses to buck the system by continually critizing it and complaining about it. The cultural clash Blanche brings about by her refined Southern mannerisms end up creating a no-win situation in the Kowalski household.
Mitch is initially seen as a different kind of person than the rest of the lower class people in the play. However, at the end of the story, when he shows his true colors, he is actually not any different than Stanley as he tries to rape Blanche in the same room that Stanley later does.
The hubris of Blanche reminds me somewhat of a Greek tragedy herorine. Even though the character was not put to death, she sacrificed herself for her principles, however wrong they seem to be to the reader.
If a real person read the work and had been a victim of rape it could possibly be a very difficult piece to read, unless the memories are totally healed.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My blog on "The Lost Phoebe"
Even though the main focus of Theodore Dreiser's, "The Lost Phoebe" is "Old Henry Reifsneider." (www.bsu.edu/ourlandourlit/literature/Authors/dreisert.html#lost) Mr. Reifsneider's wife is a main character also, I believe.
The Mid-West is, I believe, the region of interest within the piece. Primarily, because of the quote, "They lived together in a part of the country which was not so prosperous as it had once been, about three miles from one of those small towns that, instead of increasing in population is steadily decreasing."(www.bsu.edu/ourlandourlit/literature/Authors/dreisert.html#lost) In the South, which I thought was the location at the beginning of the story, there were many more miles between farms in those days. During the depression years, when the story was written, many people, especially young people, left the countryside and moved to the cities to search for work, because of dropping farm crop prices. However, Henry Reifsneider and his wife did not move to a city choosing to live a extremely common and isolated life. Naturalism, is the mode of writing Theodore Dreiser chose for his epic narrative. For Henry, the head of the household, revamped his family homestead, adding onto the original log portion with framing boards, lovingly for his bride, is the impression I received from the narrator's voice. As the narrator's flashbacks at the beginning or introduction of the piece is completed in the final sentence stating Henry's age and marriage, I, the reader, gleaned the idea from the beginning that Henry poor, but not destitute, ordinary man. Thus, whosoever he married was destined to join him in a very plain life.
The German decended man, married for love, certainly not for riches! In those days, whatever a woman owned automatically became the property of the husband, especially the wife. The wife apparantly did not come with a dowry. I did not realize the extent of the legal aspects of marriage until I began studying American history and American literature more in depth. Now I am enlightened.
The devoted husband loved his wife Phoebe to the point of obsession, I believe.
I do not think I could love anyone, but Jesus to that point. Not one person on this earth has been willing or is willing to pay for my sins, in a horribly tortured manner, with his natural life.
My mother-in-law loved her husband almost to that point, though. I do not know if the cause of her seeing his shaddow, hearing his voice sometimes, and dreaming of him as if he were still alive, after he died, is that she is on too much medicine or too much imagination, or something else. The 75-year-old woman would never chase a fantasy off of a cliff, however, like Henry did.
"The Lost Phoebe" tale is not such a far-fetched fiction to me in light of my hearing my mother-in-laws reports.
The Mid-West is, I believe, the region of interest within the piece. Primarily, because of the quote, "They lived together in a part of the country which was not so prosperous as it had once been, about three miles from one of those small towns that, instead of increasing in population is steadily decreasing."(www.bsu.edu/ourlandourlit/literature/Authors/dreisert.html#lost) In the South, which I thought was the location at the beginning of the story, there were many more miles between farms in those days. During the depression years, when the story was written, many people, especially young people, left the countryside and moved to the cities to search for work, because of dropping farm crop prices. However, Henry Reifsneider and his wife did not move to a city choosing to live a extremely common and isolated life. Naturalism, is the mode of writing Theodore Dreiser chose for his epic narrative. For Henry, the head of the household, revamped his family homestead, adding onto the original log portion with framing boards, lovingly for his bride, is the impression I received from the narrator's voice. As the narrator's flashbacks at the beginning or introduction of the piece is completed in the final sentence stating Henry's age and marriage, I, the reader, gleaned the idea from the beginning that Henry poor, but not destitute, ordinary man. Thus, whosoever he married was destined to join him in a very plain life.
The German decended man, married for love, certainly not for riches! In those days, whatever a woman owned automatically became the property of the husband, especially the wife. The wife apparantly did not come with a dowry. I did not realize the extent of the legal aspects of marriage until I began studying American history and American literature more in depth. Now I am enlightened.
The devoted husband loved his wife Phoebe to the point of obsession, I believe.
I do not think I could love anyone, but Jesus to that point. Not one person on this earth has been willing or is willing to pay for my sins, in a horribly tortured manner, with his natural life.
My mother-in-law loved her husband almost to that point, though. I do not know if the cause of her seeing his shaddow, hearing his voice sometimes, and dreaming of him as if he were still alive, after he died, is that she is on too much medicine or too much imagination, or something else. The 75-year-old woman would never chase a fantasy off of a cliff, however, like Henry did.
"The Lost Phoebe" tale is not such a far-fetched fiction to me in light of my hearing my mother-in-laws reports.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
My blog on Jack London's "To Build a Fire"
The main characters in the epic narrative "To Build a Fire" by Jack London, were the weather and the man, I believe. Nature's element, cold, killed the man, showing the greatest opposition to the main character. Therefore, demonstrating the character's antagonistic frame. A name was not even given to the man, even though he was the main character and protagonist. In the Bible, if a name is not given to enlighten me as to the identity of the person remonstrated about, then I get the idea that that person was not worthy to be remembered by name. Was that idea inferred by the narrator? I believe it was, because of the young man's pride of self-sufficiency, he lost his life and his identity.
Usually, travel is done in the Yukon, I thought, by sled dog teams. From what I have read, it is a faster, and safer mode of travel. To travel alone in 50 degree below zero weather, to me, is ludicrous.
Most people in real life, I have heard, when they get in trouble say an exclamation about God or to God. I did not see those words when the primary human character got into trouble.
When I read a fictional story such as, "To Build a Fire" or a real reported story of a similar happening I wonder about what prompts a person to risk his or her life in such a seemingly useless purpose? It makes me want to interview a risk taker like the man in the story was, to ask them; why do you take such great risks?
I would never purposefully place myself in such a predicament unless the Lord called me to. However, I know that that situation may happen to me at some future time.
God called me to tutor in the Dayton and Montgomery County Human Rehabilitation Center a few years ago. to some it is a dangerous place to be, but it was not to me, because I was in God's perfect will.
Usually, travel is done in the Yukon, I thought, by sled dog teams. From what I have read, it is a faster, and safer mode of travel. To travel alone in 50 degree below zero weather, to me, is ludicrous.
Most people in real life, I have heard, when they get in trouble say an exclamation about God or to God. I did not see those words when the primary human character got into trouble.
When I read a fictional story such as, "To Build a Fire" or a real reported story of a similar happening I wonder about what prompts a person to risk his or her life in such a seemingly useless purpose? It makes me want to interview a risk taker like the man in the story was, to ask them; why do you take such great risks?
I would never purposefully place myself in such a predicament unless the Lord called me to. However, I know that that situation may happen to me at some future time.
God called me to tutor in the Dayton and Montgomery County Human Rehabilitation Center a few years ago. to some it is a dangerous place to be, but it was not to me, because I was in God's perfect will.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
my blog on "Triffles" by Susan Glaspell
Although, the deceased minor character, John Wright, had no dialogue from the narrator, he spoke volumes through what the other characters said about his wife. Even though, Mrs. Wright was also a minor character, her plight in the story impacted me greatly. The story line reveals her underlying trouble through the protagonist of the work, Mrs. Hale. Mrs. Peter's dialogue with Mrs. Hale carries the tale to the reader and involves the reader in the narration as if the reader is invited to help solve the murder mystery presented by the narrator.
The third person omniscient is used greatly in "Triffles" by Susan Glaspell. The narrator speaks knowingly through most of the characters.
I believe, the antagonist is the county attorney. The county attorney is at odds with the women throughout the entire epic. The county attorney is very condescending to the women. I know men like that. Those kind of men are not comfortable for me to be around, therefore, I try to avoid them.
I can empathize a small amount with the minor character, Mrs. White, in the story. My mother stayed in an emotionally abusive marriage until my dad died of ALS. Divorce was not an option to my mother for different, but yet similar reasons as the character in the work. My father stated that if my mother divorced him he would make sure that she was left penniless. Therefore, she stayed with him until his death.
In the period in which Susan Glaspell was living women had no recourse, but to stay in unhappy marriages because they had few legal rights in those days.
I do not believe in murder is a righteous act, regardless, if that is what the character, Mrs. White, did perform within the imaginary home of the writer's mind. The Bible says, "Thou shalt not kill." Thou, in my opinion, means everyone.
The underlying theme, I believe, is sexism in marriage within some American homes.
I did not want to end up like my mother and in a different way Mrs. White. As a result of my mother's marriage woes, I looked for a different kind of spouse than my father was. I was successful!
Did MS. Glaspell write "Triffles" to elicit empathy for the plight of such women in the past society of the U.S. at the time?
Was MS. Glaspell opening up a closed subject within our society in her time period?
I do not know, but I do know that the work is very thought provoking to me as an American woman interested in social issues pertaining to men and women in relationship.
The third person omniscient is used greatly in "Triffles" by Susan Glaspell. The narrator speaks knowingly through most of the characters.
I believe, the antagonist is the county attorney. The county attorney is at odds with the women throughout the entire epic. The county attorney is very condescending to the women. I know men like that. Those kind of men are not comfortable for me to be around, therefore, I try to avoid them.
I can empathize a small amount with the minor character, Mrs. White, in the story. My mother stayed in an emotionally abusive marriage until my dad died of ALS. Divorce was not an option to my mother for different, but yet similar reasons as the character in the work. My father stated that if my mother divorced him he would make sure that she was left penniless. Therefore, she stayed with him until his death.
In the period in which Susan Glaspell was living women had no recourse, but to stay in unhappy marriages because they had few legal rights in those days.
I do not believe in murder is a righteous act, regardless, if that is what the character, Mrs. White, did perform within the imaginary home of the writer's mind. The Bible says, "Thou shalt not kill." Thou, in my opinion, means everyone.
The underlying theme, I believe, is sexism in marriage within some American homes.
I did not want to end up like my mother and in a different way Mrs. White. As a result of my mother's marriage woes, I looked for a different kind of spouse than my father was. I was successful!
Did MS. Glaspell write "Triffles" to elicit empathy for the plight of such women in the past society of the U.S. at the time?
Was MS. Glaspell opening up a closed subject within our society in her time period?
I do not know, but I do know that the work is very thought provoking to me as an American woman interested in social issues pertaining to men and women in relationship.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
My blog on "The Yellow Wallpaper"
John, John's wife, and the yellow wallpapered room, I believe, are the main characters of the narrative "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I have very little knowledge about mental illness such as is described in the work by Gilman. At times however, under stress, I can empathize with the character in the story and the author whom, I believe, was writing the story in response to a tremendous stress in her own life.
The antagonist in the piece, I believe, is the husband, John, who even though a doctor, did not know how to treat his ill wife, or maybe her hormone imbalance.
When the paper in the room was new, bright, pretty, and happy looking for the children in the nursery who enjoyed it, it was a joy to look at. However, the mentally disturbed wife dwells on the deterioration of the paper to the extent of excessive compulsiveness. Now the paper is a dirty faded yellow, which to some represents fear and cowardice. To the imagined woman caught in the yellow wallpaper the doctor's wife thought that she could not escape without her help. In setting the woman free in the wallpaper, by tearing it down, she would be freeing herself. The confused wife would be in control instead of John.
According to Charlotte Gilman's biography, she had been wrestling with a postpartum nervous breakdown. Gilman was treated by a doctor in real life to whom the wife in The Yellow Wallpaper was threatened with being sent to if she did not get well quickly. Silas Weir Mitchel was the name of her real life doctor.
The third-person omniscient is used by the author as she has the main character, the doctor's wife, equate scripture with the wallpaper. "It sticketh closer than a brother" (511) . The quote found in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Gilman can be found in Norton Anthology of American Literature Shorter Edition Vol. II. Edited by Nina Baym and in the King James Version of the Bible. In the situation in the wallpapered room, the paper was not considered a blessing to the disturbed main character. Jesus in contrast meant the words found in the book of Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." The friend, or woman in Gilman's story caged in the wallpaper was herself, and she needed to free herself in her mind because she was her only true friend and savior.
Constantly referring to the wallpaper, the action rises to a climax as her husband passes out when he sees that his wife has gone completely mad. By crawling all over the floor of the room in the midst of her handiwork of tearing the yellow wallpaper off the walls she demonstrates her separation from reality.
I guess the question is; should a woman stay with a man that is driving her nuts or should she stay until he dies or he divorces her? God hates divorce, but he also hates abuse. By not understanding his wife's needs was John abusive? I do not think so, but others might.
The antagonist in the piece, I believe, is the husband, John, who even though a doctor, did not know how to treat his ill wife, or maybe her hormone imbalance.
When the paper in the room was new, bright, pretty, and happy looking for the children in the nursery who enjoyed it, it was a joy to look at. However, the mentally disturbed wife dwells on the deterioration of the paper to the extent of excessive compulsiveness. Now the paper is a dirty faded yellow, which to some represents fear and cowardice. To the imagined woman caught in the yellow wallpaper the doctor's wife thought that she could not escape without her help. In setting the woman free in the wallpaper, by tearing it down, she would be freeing herself. The confused wife would be in control instead of John.
According to Charlotte Gilman's biography, she had been wrestling with a postpartum nervous breakdown. Gilman was treated by a doctor in real life to whom the wife in The Yellow Wallpaper was threatened with being sent to if she did not get well quickly. Silas Weir Mitchel was the name of her real life doctor.
The third-person omniscient is used by the author as she has the main character, the doctor's wife, equate scripture with the wallpaper. "It sticketh closer than a brother" (511) . The quote found in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Gilman can be found in Norton Anthology of American Literature Shorter Edition Vol. II. Edited by Nina Baym and in the King James Version of the Bible. In the situation in the wallpapered room, the paper was not considered a blessing to the disturbed main character. Jesus in contrast meant the words found in the book of Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." The friend, or woman in Gilman's story caged in the wallpaper was herself, and she needed to free herself in her mind because she was her only true friend and savior.
Constantly referring to the wallpaper, the action rises to a climax as her husband passes out when he sees that his wife has gone completely mad. By crawling all over the floor of the room in the midst of her handiwork of tearing the yellow wallpaper off the walls she demonstrates her separation from reality.
I guess the question is; should a woman stay with a man that is driving her nuts or should she stay until he dies or he divorces her? God hates divorce, but he also hates abuse. By not understanding his wife's needs was John abusive? I do not think so, but others might.
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