The reading for today is "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" by Richard Wright.
In reading this story I notice the lack of usual racist at the beginning of the story as the young protagonist is shown conversing with a white man that he is working for. The latter scenes in the story where white and black men stand together shows a strange lack of racism found in many of the other stories read so far.
I think the main character is a bit of a sinister character in the way that he manages to get into his mother's heart so that he can receive the money to buy the gun from the store. Also, later in the story the manner in which the character finds the gun that he hid just so that he can fire it again and feel more like a man. The main character is a strange one in how he deserves to be a man so much and yet he at times acts like a child to get out of situations.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Journal for "The Second Choice"
The reading for today is "The Second Choice" by Theodore Dreiser.
In reading this story I am immediately struck by the character of Shirley and how she reminds me of many people in life that often believe that safe equates to boring and thus if a person does not necessarily have stability they are an exciting person. It brings up the idea of why people often have affairs and Shirley actual reminds me of characters from novels such as "The Awakening" and "Fences" that have characters that desire and respect safety but are also tired of the boredom they feel and wish for more excitement. I think this contrast between safety and freedom and the desire for both is a very common archetype that offers a lot of thought to why people have this idea. I like the story though I must admit none of the characters within it appeal to me very much.
In reading this story I am immediately struck by the character of Shirley and how she reminds me of many people in life that often believe that safe equates to boring and thus if a person does not necessarily have stability they are an exciting person. It brings up the idea of why people often have affairs and Shirley actual reminds me of characters from novels such as "The Awakening" and "Fences" that have characters that desire and respect safety but are also tired of the boredom they feel and wish for more excitement. I think this contrast between safety and freedom and the desire for both is a very common archetype that offers a lot of thought to why people have this idea. I like the story though I must admit none of the characters within it appeal to me very much.
Journal for "South of the Slot"
As we move into a naturalist background the reading for today is "South of the Slot" by Jack London.
This story is a strange and interesting one indeed. The main character can be said to have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex as he wrestles with the beast that is within himself. Taking from his naturalistic roots, London does eventually have the wild and natural man win out in the end even though he can be said to be the created persona.
This story offers up great philosophical ideas such as whether or not a man can create a second persona that becomes so real and so much a part of him/herself that they can no longer control it. The story shows the naturalistic love for wilderness and freedom and its contempt for the mundane and humdrum lives of controlled people within society. I think this story creates a great debate about what is more real and better: a wild persona or a controlled one.
This story is a strange and interesting one indeed. The main character can be said to have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex as he wrestles with the beast that is within himself. Taking from his naturalistic roots, London does eventually have the wild and natural man win out in the end even though he can be said to be the created persona.
This story offers up great philosophical ideas such as whether or not a man can create a second persona that becomes so real and so much a part of him/herself that they can no longer control it. The story shows the naturalistic love for wilderness and freedom and its contempt for the mundane and humdrum lives of controlled people within society. I think this story creates a great debate about what is more real and better: a wild persona or a controlled one.
Journal for No Name Woman
The journal reading for today is "No Name Woman" by Maxine Hong Kingston.
In reading the story I find it impressive how Kingston analyses her aunt throughout it and her possible reasons for her actions. In the story it is revealed that Kingston's aunt is possibly raped, discovered to be pregnant while her husband is gone, brings shame to her family, and then kills herself by throwing herself and her child into the town's well. Kingston analyses if whether or not perhaps her aunt knew the man who raped her and instead loved him and gave herself to him. This idea creates an idea of free sexual will that I do not find common in most Asian culture and I find that interesting that Kingston brings this point up.
Also, she brings up the idea of honoring her aunt's memory despite how she brought shame to her family and her family tries to forget her. It is strange how strongly this family feels about this aunt and how much shame she brought to the family despite her pregnancy not possibly being her fault. In reading this story it offers a deep look in Chinese culture and beliefs and one is able to see how patriarchal the society is.
In reading the story I find it impressive how Kingston analyses her aunt throughout it and her possible reasons for her actions. In the story it is revealed that Kingston's aunt is possibly raped, discovered to be pregnant while her husband is gone, brings shame to her family, and then kills herself by throwing herself and her child into the town's well. Kingston analyses if whether or not perhaps her aunt knew the man who raped her and instead loved him and gave herself to him. This idea creates an idea of free sexual will that I do not find common in most Asian culture and I find that interesting that Kingston brings this point up.
Also, she brings up the idea of honoring her aunt's memory despite how she brought shame to her family and her family tries to forget her. It is strange how strongly this family feels about this aunt and how much shame she brought to the family despite her pregnancy not possibly being her fault. In reading this story it offers a deep look in Chinese culture and beliefs and one is able to see how patriarchal the society is.
Journal for Chinese Poetry
The journal reading for today is from Carved on the Walls: Poetry by Early Chinese Immigrants.
To give context on these poems, they were all written on the walls of the holding centers at Angel Island. Angel Island was called during its time "the Easter Island of the West" and many Chinese immigrants would wait here during the process to come into America.
While reading these poems I notice the varying views towards America, but all of them observe some sort of idea of working hard in order to achieve stability and a better life in America. It shows how far the idea of the American dream has reached throughout the world. On the other hand, while many poems show approval towards America and excitement to come into the countries other poems show contempt and anger towards Americans for putting the immigrants through this process. I think these poems are great views into history and the ideas of the people at the time. They are also great explanations towards determining why people would continually willingly come to America despite the dangers and hostility.
To give context on these poems, they were all written on the walls of the holding centers at Angel Island. Angel Island was called during its time "the Easter Island of the West" and many Chinese immigrants would wait here during the process to come into America.
While reading these poems I notice the varying views towards America, but all of them observe some sort of idea of working hard in order to achieve stability and a better life in America. It shows how far the idea of the American dream has reached throughout the world. On the other hand, while many poems show approval towards America and excitement to come into the countries other poems show contempt and anger towards Americans for putting the immigrants through this process. I think these poems are great views into history and the ideas of the people at the time. They are also great explanations towards determining why people would continually willingly come to America despite the dangers and hostility.
Journal for "Mrs. Spring Fragrance"
The journal reading for today is an excerpt from "Mrs. Spring's Fragrance", a novel by Sui Sin Far.
In reading the story one can immediately see the racist and trials and tribulations inherent within the life of the Chinese that came to America. The story could be described as a plea towards readers' sympathies as the reader reads about the things that the mother has to suffer as she waits for her son to be returned to her and her confidence and resolve slowly wither away. I think Far creates a strikingly painful story with the last scene as the reader sees how all of the mother's patience is rewarded. This racist and trials within the lives of the Chinese immigrants to America reveals a hard time that provides the context for the poems found in my next journal entry about Chinese poems found at Angel Island. The stories from Far and these Chinese poems show that coming to America, while a dream for most Chinese, was not without things that disillusioned many to what America had to offer or really was.
In reading the story one can immediately see the racist and trials and tribulations inherent within the life of the Chinese that came to America. The story could be described as a plea towards readers' sympathies as the reader reads about the things that the mother has to suffer as she waits for her son to be returned to her and her confidence and resolve slowly wither away. I think Far creates a strikingly painful story with the last scene as the reader sees how all of the mother's patience is rewarded. This racist and trials within the lives of the Chinese immigrants to America reveals a hard time that provides the context for the poems found in my next journal entry about Chinese poems found at Angel Island. The stories from Far and these Chinese poems show that coming to America, while a dream for most Chinese, was not without things that disillusioned many to what America had to offer or really was.
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