Exploring the Mother-Child Relationships of A Raisin in the Sun

        A Raisin in the Sun opens with the relatable scene of a mother waking her son with "a good, final, rousing shake." A mother's pushy attitude on a school day morning is an allowed annoyance. She is your mother, and she knows what is best. You listen to her nagging even if it is a quarter past seven and you are incredibly tired. Ruth's assertive actions in the opening scene establish her character as the responsible mother. She may not be the head of the household, but she does her best to improve the lives of those around her. In Act I Scene I, Travis becomes angry at his mother's refusal to give him fifty cents. He shoves away his breakfast in outrage to Ruth's clear tyranny. Ruth cheers on his pouting by telling Travis to make his bed, fix his hair, and put on his jacket. Before he makes his exit, Ruth lifts the mood by mocking the child. She teases his critical, masculine attitude through her portrayal of Travis, "I wouldn't kiss that woman good-bye for nothing in this world this morning!" The relationship between Travis and Ruth is heartwarming, but contrasts the relationship between Walter and Mama.
        While Ruth and Travis settle the conflict before exiting, Mama and Walter leave the house without any closure. While Mama is the head of the household, she is neither a great leader nor mother. Mama talks about Big Walter being an excellent father to his children, but after his death Mama is unable to control her children. At the end of Act I Scene I, Beneatha argues that there is no God to her extremely religious mother. Instead of appealing to her daughter, Mama slaps her across the face to inflict shame and punishment. She makes Beneatha repeat the phrase, "In my mother's house there is still God," but  Beneatha won't change her views on God through a slap. She may know not to express her personal views in her mother's household, but she still feels the same on the inside. Walter's desire to use the money towards opening a store is a major conflict of the play, but his dream is just a universal desire for escaping poverty. Walter's dream is different in that he wants to escape through financial opportunity. When Walter shows complete indifference to his wife's own turmoil, Mama sees the difference in the placement of values between Big Walter and Walter. Mama states, "I'm waiting to hear you talk like him," but sees how Walter is a "disgrace to [his] father's memory." Her yelling pushes Walter out of the house, and the conflict is not resolved. It can be predicted that Mama has played the role as the loving mother, and does not know how to correct the children without her husband. Ruth, however, is able to control Travis on her own. Her relationship with Walter has forced her into a position as the lover and punisher of her child. Although Travis' confliction is minor to that of Walter and Beneatha, Ruth is not any less capable of correcting their behavior.

Life's Influences on Fitzgerald's Novels

     Wealth is a major aspect of Fitzgerald's work. His characters face adversity through the struggle for wealth and the struggle against wealth's disturbing influences. The Fitzgerald home sat on the same stretch as the lavish home of multi-millionaire James J. Hill. Hill could be seen as the character build for Gatsby, as Nick views the Gatsby mansion the same way Fitzgerald may have viewed the Hill home. Gatsby's father also references Hill at the funeral. Fitzgerald's mother survived on the wealth of her family, while his father worked to support the family. In 1908, Fitzgerald's father lost his job at Proctor & Gamble which resulted in the family relying on Mrs. Fitzgerald's inherent wealth. Inherent wealth contrasting working wealth is apparent in The Great Gatsby. The people of East Egg live off of inherent wealth, while those of West Egg come from newly made fortunes.
     F. Scott Fitzgerald did not have a life of pleasant romance. Before dropping out of college, Fitzgerald led a relationship with a woman named Ginevra King. Fitzgerald considered Ginevra to be his first love, however, she broke off the relationship after three years. This bond would help structure many of his future characters' conflicts. During his station at Camp Sheridan, Fitzgerald attended a dance, and he met a southern bell named Zelda Sayre. Zelda was the daughter of the Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice. It should be noted that Zelda was the youngest of three other siblings, and, naturally, could get away with any antics she pulled. Also, the mental instability of her family should be considered because of Zelda's own future pyschological problems. Her father suffered mental breakdowns, and her brother and grandmother committed suicide. Disregarding her genetic flaws, the exciting spirit of Zelda enticed Fitzgerald. Unfortunately, he could not court Zelda because of his financial inability to provide for the woman. At the end of World War I, Fitzgerald was discharged from the army, and he proceeded to find work in order to provide for his love, Zelda. Proving his worth through hard work and financial wealth is another factor that influences Fitzgerald's characters. Gatsby creates false reality in order to impress and attract Daisy. In "Winter Dreams," Judy Jones breaks off several engagements because she fears the man is not wealthy enough for her. This idea is also contrasted with "The Rich Boy." Anston Hunter believes he is able to marry his love by attracting her with his wealth. Ultimately, she grows tired of his egotism, and marries another man. It is unclear how Fitzgerald feels about acquiring wealth, but it is clear that the events in his life have influenced his work.In September 1919, Fitzgerald published his first novel. Zelda and Fitzgerald married the following year.
     Many aspects of Fitzgerald's own life become part of his novels. As Zelda grew more unstable, she was placed in a mental institution. Her asylum forced him to write. Fitzgerald's drinking problem and Zelda's hospital bills eliminated all of his funds. His nightmare influenced Tender is the Night to be much bleaker than his other novels. Unfortunately for Fitzgerald, not all of his work grew richer in story through his own experiences.

Celestial Eyes

     This week, we read the most popular American novel of all-time. The Great Gatsby characterizes the debaucherous lifestyle of the 1920's. Of course, a thorough analysis would not be complete without inspecting the cover. Francis Cugat's piece, Celestial Eyes, was used for the dust jacket for the original publication of The Great Gatsby. There is a lot of misinformation between who influenced whom, however, the popular understanding is that Cugat's artwork made Fitzgerald add to his novel in order to incorporate the cover. We have already discussed in class how the piece was shown to Fitzgerald as he was writing, but the final product of Cugat's genius would not have been finished in time for Fitzgerald to add any changes. 

Sketch #1

     More likely, Cugat knew Fitzgerald's novel showed how the wealthy life produced waste in the form of ashes around New York City. This is shown through one of Cugat's preliminary sketches in which a train travels through a depressing depot. The sketch relates to Fitzgerald's then proposed title Among the Ash Heaps and Millionaires. In this sketch, strange faces, with no noses, are stretching over the hills into the blue sky. It should be interpreted that Fitzgerald viewed the image and was inspired to write in the billboard of Dr. Eckleburg. 

     Others recognize how Nick Carraway's description of Daisy as a "girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs" of New York City is a distinct description of the cover. This quote occurs in Chapter four which means that Cugat would have been inspired again by Fitzgerald's writing.  Cugat's sketches begin to take the shape of the final product. He begins to use faces with striking eyes and feminine, red lips. Tears appear on two faces who look across to one another. Homes sit below the faces, which eventually turn into a city landscape. Dotted circles are shown in sketches 6 and 7. Aspects of Cugat's technique combined with Fitzgerald's writing. This culmination of genius created a mysteriously alluring cover. A cover which would also establish Fitzgerald's novel. 

Sketch #2

Sketch #3

Sketch #4      

Sketch #5

     

Sketch #7

Sketch #6

Should I Tell My Kids the Truth About Santa Claus?

"I think you should sit down before I tell you this. Are you ready? Okay, Santa isn't real...I'm sorry you had to hear that. Don't ruin it for your little brother/sister or you won't get anything this year."

Well that's better than what I got. I should have seen it coming.
"Why would Santa forget a few presents upstairs?" I thought.
"Why does Mom have a bunch of bags in the back room?" I pondered.
Then one day, I was hit with the biggest life of my childhood. My sister, Kristin, was having a tantrum and screamed in my face, "Santa isn't real!" Whoa!
I hope all of us are aware that Santa Claus isn't real. He was just a lie, told by our parents, to get us to behave around Christmas time. The feeling of betrayal is so musty that it still remains after several years. When asked if they will continue the tradition of Santa Claus onto their kids, most youths will respond with a big "No!" You can tell it's a touchy subject. That hate is still so fresh and juicy that you could serve it for Thanksgiving dinner. I can still hear my Mom say, "Erik! Quit it or you'll get coal for Christmas!" Fortunately for me and my siblings, my Mom had an actual love for the holidays. Her cheer seemed genuine and I feel she actually enjoyed being Santa. She would tell my sisters to put out cookies and milk for Santa. "And don't forget carrots for the reindeer," I always chimed in. When we came back the next morning, the cookies were nibbled, the milk half drunk, and the carrots crunched by the molars of an authentic reindeer from the North Pole. Through my eyes, it all seemed so magical. Santa came to my house! I want to see that shimmer in my child's eyes.

It's strange to have such love for a fat stranger that gives you gifts. What's wrong with just loving my Mom for giving me those presents? She did all the work. All the shopping, planning, and decorating. In the end, your kid loves a man in a red suit. All those years of providing him with gifts goes down the drain with 3 words.

Santa isn't real.

The kid will resent you for it. All that love materialized into presents has turned sour, but it doesn't last forever. Kids grow up and eventually become parents. Every new parent is really a kid winging child raising for the first time. If you feel the need to lie to your child in order to keep him/her in line, it's okay. But I hope you have that giddy feeling of being Santa for the first time, nibbling on those carrots.

Giovanni and Collins

After reading “Sanctuary: For Harry Potter the Movie”, I didn’t know what to feel for the piece. I connected the part of the baby elephant, alone after the slaughter, with little Harry, but got somewhat confused as the “poem” went on. Giovanni’s piece didn’t seem very deep the first time through. I thought, “You’re reading it wrong!” There was obviously something under the surface that Giovanni was trying to convey, but I couldn’t decipher her rambling into an intelligent theme. After our discussion in class, the message was so clear. How could I have been so blind?

That takes us to this week with Billy Collins’ piece “The History Teacher.” Last year, Mrs. Parks gave us a taste of Billy Collins’ work, but he didn’t seem nearly as serious as Giovanni. When dissecting poems such as “Litany”, “Introduction To Poetry”, and “Flames”, I guess we don’t see the poet’s entire armada of argumentative strategy. The poems, which were very entertaining, were only a precursor to dissecting Collins’ mature poetry. I understand in “The History Teacher” that the teacher is purposely giving the students wrong information in order to “protect his students’ innocence.” This is where the analysis seems to take a bit of a stretch. The teacher is making the children blind to the wrongs in this world, and they respond accordingly. By being unaware of humanity’s trespasses, Collins portrays the children as ruthless bullies on the playground. Collins uses the playground abuse as a connection to the atrocities committed during the conflicts. I love the image of the teacher walking home, full of self- satisfaction with a grin on his face, and thinking that he has impacted his students for the better.  

Is there an underlying message that I am not yet reaching? Or, is this just another Collins’ piece used to entertain the reader?

Hawthorne's Use of Sin and Hope

Nathaniel Hawthorne and his work can be interpreted in many ways. Most interpret his writing as that of a transcendentalist, but Hawthorne is unique because he suffers from the guilt left behind by his great-great-grandfather, Judge Hawthorne. Hawthorne was ashamed enough to subtly change his name, but his disassociation from his ancestors was just as apparent with The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne wrote an anti-puritan novel that showed how a puritan world is affected by sin. The sins committed in a puritan world are sometimes trivial, but because these are acts against god, the punishments associated are very damaging. A theocracy uses these punishments to make a world that is despairing and gray. A world that is reflected by Hester's appearance.

In Hawthorne's idea of a puritan world, Hester Prynne makes her appearance as a beautiful, young woman strutting out of the decaying prison with the fragrance of hope still expelling from her pores. Her character has accepted the sin, and Hawthorne uses this scene to show how hope can thrive in someone who has accepted the situation. Hester does not blame others for her misfortune, nor is she in denial of her crime. She takes society head on, which is rewarded with hope, life, and beauty practically steaming from her skin. Hope and sin are connected by Hester's character. In a puritan society, Hester's punishment is not only the wearing the scarlet letter, but also losing all hope. She is bright on the scaffold, but slowly loses her color as the years drag on. Her hope is slowly draining from her body. When she removes the scarlet letter in chapter 18, Hester displays new life, "A crimson flush was glowing on her cheek, that had long been so pale"(Hawthorne 199). Hope has again flourished from Hester, who wants to start a life with Dimmesdale. Unfortunately for her, this is a piece by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the novel would lose its meaning if Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale lived happily ever after. It's disappointing to see Hester lose her hope after Dimmesdale's death, but Hawthorne needed to make the association of hopelessness in a puritan society. 

Dimmesdale's Guilt

In Hawthorne's masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne creates a world dictated by sin, and the resulting guilt impacts each character. Hester Prynne, a woman with no husband for support, is publicly shamed, yet she sheds no tears. Guilt has not taken over her life. Hester is able to accept the sin she has committed, and embrace the torture from her sin. 

Hester's example of bravery is a stark contrast to Dimmesdale's pitiful cowardice. Dimmesdale avoids his responsibility of taking care of his child and sharing the blame with Hester. Not only is he avoiding support of Hester, but he has also committed a crime against God. As a clergyman, Dimmesdale is well aware of God's views toward sinners. When there is guilt from abandonment coupled with guilt from betraying his won faith, Dimmesdale will begin to fall apart in one way or another. As a result, his body slowly deteriorates into a pale, sick mess. As he grows more ill, the townspeople see him as even more holy. In order to stop his guilt from lying to his city, Dimmesdale would need to tell his congregation of his lie. Instead, he does not deliver any words because he is a coward. Guilt has taken over his life, and his lack of bravery fights his desire to embrace his sin. Because of his inability to display his sin, Dimmesdale actually envies Hester. This is shown by Dimmesdale going to the scaffold late at night. He wouldn't dare go in the middle of the day surrounded by hundreds of people because he is such a coward. He is a sinner in the eyes of God and a coward to his own. 

Hawthorne's Depiction of the Puritans and God

Judge Hathorne's actions during the Salem witch trials made Hawthorne bitter towards the Puritans.  Hawthorne is haunted by hereditary guilt, and does not make the puritans out to be a civilized, happy people.  As he sets the mood in chapter 1, the people appear "sad" and "gray." The reader is able to give Boston a somber tone. The depressing mood is extended with the prison and its heavy oak doors. Hawthorne explains that the prison is as old as the new world, yet it appears much more weathered than any of the other buildings. Next to the prison, a rose bush is bursting with beauty. Hawthorne contrasts the rose bush with the prison. The prison is a symbol for the dependence on God, and his peoples' allegiance. The rose is a symbol for the ideals of transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is bursting with life, while religion is decrepit and dying. Hawthorne shows how he holds transcendentalism over puritan society. 

I’m very interested in knowing how much of Hawthorne’s transcendentalist views are authentic. He already has distaste for the puritans, but the transcendentalist views could be inspired from other leading writers, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Hawthorne’s depiction of Hester, as the self-reliant protagonist, was even inspired by his strong wife. There is no doubt that Hawthorne was one of the greatest transcendentalist writers, but Hawthorne uses effective realism that is not used by other writers. Hawthorne does not add an excessive amount of positivity into his writing. He is able to deal with the idea of sin and evil, and writes accordingly. 

Let's Bash the Declaration of Independence

The publication of the Declaration of Independence set a standard of freedom in the new world. Its writers argued that colonists were restricted under the tyranny of King George III. In a free nation, everyone would be able to prosper. The Declaration of Independence stated, "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." However, not all people fall under the category of "all men." 

According to the Declaration of Independence, the phrase “all men” only pertains to rich, white, land owning males. At the time, slaves were not considered people, but were merely property. Women were second class citizens, and did not qualify as a real person with "unalienable rights." The Declaration of Independence was read by dozens of nations and inspired the oppressed, all across the globe, to revolt. The colonists set an example for the world, but did not give all men liberty. Minorities of Colonial America have remained oppressed. 

Even today, the ideas established as the foundation of our country have not resonated to all corners of our society. The 50’s and 60’s were characterized by the Civil Rights Movement. This was a time that Americans had to justify social integration, biracial marriage and of segregation. Why did it take 200 years for blacks to receive equal rights in a country establish against tyranny? Today, homosexuals and sympathizers argue for gay marriage.  Arguments against gay marriage are also arguments against human rights.

In the 236 years after the publication of the Declaration of Independence, America has progressed in promoting equal rights for all. However, people are still fighting against tyranny. The writers did not have the foresight to see the impact this document would leave upon the world, but they hoped to ensure their personal freedoms. Because of their lack of foresight, the writers cannot be blamed for any unbalanced freedom happening today. America can only praise the example these men presented to the World.

Elizabeth Proctor

In The Crucible, Proctor’s decision to end his life is interesting. In death, his name is untarnished, but he leaves behind his family. He is only seen as honorable to Elizabeth and himself. Now, Elizabeth is forced to endure her troubles alone. Although Proctor’s actions were in no way selfish, seeing as his wife will go through a pregnancy, a trial and an execution, all alone, his actions do seem rash.

Where is the sympathy for your wife, John? Abigail being a whore does not make you get you off the hook. Take responsibility for your actions. You may have been a terrible husband, but look who stood by you.

During the trial, Elizabeth was there to even bail John out. Her actions were completely ironic, but where is her praise? She honorably held up her husband’s good name, and lied before the court. By stating that he did not commit adultery, Elizabeth kept John from being degraded any lower. Also, Elizabeth was forced to watch John die because he chose the honorable route. She realizes that it wouldn’t be right to take away his dignity, and save his life. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, the Salem Witch trials do not end when The Crucible closes. Elizabeth is still suspected of being a witch, and her safeguard is her pregnancy. At the time she gives birth, her shield will be gone and she will be put to death.

John and Elizabeth’s final moments are tender, compared to the time following the adultery. These moments show that Elizabeth is willing to let go, in order for John to be at peace with himself.

Power of an Individual in a Hysterical Community

      When most think of power, they apply it to society’s role models, like the president or the officials in government. Others relate power to military and the destruction caused by using powerful, dangerous weapons. But what does power really mean? In  a democratic society, we choose whom we want to be accountable for holding more power. Logically, we desire a dependable person. However, society is often let down by its elected leaders. More often than not, our leaders abuse the power they possess, and instead use the power to make life easier for themselves. 

In The Crucible, the character that demonstrates the amount of power an individual holds was Abigail. With just a few words, Abigail was able to manipulate almost everyone into believing her lies. As a result, Abigail obtained more and more power. Not only did Abigail have more power than those deemed innocent, but she also held the power to determine the fate of the lives others. Instead of being honest with her community, Abigail abused her power and carelessly threw away valuable lives for her benefit. Abigail is an example of an individual who uses power to manipulate others. Although Abigail had no tangible evidence to support her claims, the evidence against her was not as easily accepted as her accusations. Proctor challenges the court with petitions, but these petitions are fought strongly against. Accusations against people in the community would have been entirely accepted because of the hysteria at the time. Abigail's goal is to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor, and with her new found power, her desires are easily attainable.

The Beautiful Thoughts of a Neutral Mind

Dr. Mykee Fowlin opened his presentation on Wednesday with a light joke involving Superman killing a man, and remarked about his daughter's instance of childhood genius. Dr. Fowlin's daughter replied to the punchline, "Superman's not supposed to kill you." A simple response, but a response that triggers a lot of thought. Dr. Fowlin went on to discuss how differently his daughter and other children view the world. These young human beings have not yet been disrupted by the thousands of social influences in our lives today, and see people without the effect of stereotypes. The stereotypes that affect our judgement are instilled at some point in our lives. When does this transformation, from naivete to unjust hate, occur? What exactly causes a child to call another classmate the "N" word? Fowlin provided the parents as the primary reason for a child's actions, but also included other children, teachers, and social norms established by earlier generations. Troy High's student body, labeled as a compassionate school, is heavily affected by these examples.

The examples of influence stated by Fowlin were similar to the examples stated in out class discussion. The Native American stereotypes forever tarnished the image of a race of people. An established stereotype in turn tarnishes the perception of that particular race of people. In our class discussion, it was difficult to produce an example of a Native American that was not heavily altered by media. Any instance of truth was overshadowed by the stoic stare of a chief or the savage scream of a warrior. We can always see how Native Americans truly are, but we will never see how our early minds would see true Native Americans.

Fowlin wanted us to be able to open our eyes for the first time in many years. He wanted us to see the world through our own, genuine interpretation, which is very difficult today. It is important to take a step back from the situation and reflect in this way.

The Cyclical Destruction of Alcohol and Native Americans

In Sherman Alexie's piece, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Alexie made it clear that alcoholism is a major problem among many Native Americans. Native Americans have a history of adversity, and the common "treatment" for these problems is to turn to alcohol. As displayed in the short stories, alcohol, like any other drug, causes a physical and/or emotional addiction. By trying to cope with their already depressing lives, the consumption of alcohol causes more damage than was intended to heal. 

Calling the assumption, that native americans start drinking at a young age, a stereotype is in fact a misconception. The harsh reality is that most Native Americans do start drinking at a young age. When Alexie writes about his high school graduation,  he remarks that “a few can’t read, one or two are just given attendance diplomas, most look forward to the parties,” this points out that their main focus is not to graduate, but to drink (Alexie 179). This is life on the reservation. The cause of alcoholism among Native Americans can be debated, but the main factor is depression. They drink to escape their problems, but the drunken high can only last for so long. Addiction starts here. Many young Native Americans grew up with alcoholic parents. Impressionable children saw drinking as a way out of their hardships. Each generation is affected and alcoholism becomes a part of life on the reservation. Alexie stays away from the addiction that destroys the life of his father, but only because he is determined to be the “fucking eagle,” for his reservation (Alexie 188). 

Although not all Native Americans become alcoholics, a majority see alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with life. Alexie evokes the most emotion by describing the painful effects alcohol has on an individual, a family, a community, and a race of people. 

First Post

I am now able to post on my blog.