Potpourri 4 - You're Ugly, Too

"What is your perfume? a student asked. Room freshener, she said." pg. 353

I feel really bad for Zoe. I know that she brings her troubles upon herself, but she doesn't know how to act around people. She is so unsure of herself that she makes jokes in inappropriate situation. She lacks self-esteem even though she acts like she is very confident. She uses humor as a defense mechanism so that she never has to be sincere with people. Because of this, she lacks connection with people. She is very lonely, but it is her own doing. She began using humor to mask herself at a young age. As a kid, she had a speech impediment and was embarrassed to speak. She began telling jokes because people knew the answers to the jokes. This made it okay if people didn't understand her.

Potpourri 3 - The Lottery

"It isn't fair, it isn't right." pg. 271

I would absolutely hate to live in this disturbed society. These people are all crazy. When I started reading this, I assumed the lottery had good connotation to it, because it does in our world today. However, I was wrong. Instead of the lottery being some lucky person wins a large sum of money, it was one unlucky person was going to be stoned to death. I just don't understand how this could go on in a living community, especially with children. The children even participated in the stoning of one unlucky person. The worst thing was that Mrs. Hutchinson's family partook in the stoning. They didn't even seem to really care that they were killing their mom/wife. If that were happening to someone in my family I would be going crazy retaliating.

Potpourri 2 - The Drunkard

"You were his guardian angel." pg. 351

This story was full of irony and humor. The humorous part was the drunk 12 year old. He found beer to be completely disgusting, but wanted to experiment. The irony of the story is that the mom refers to her son as a guardian angel sent from God. This isn't the typical reaction of a mother when finding out her 12 year old got drunk at a bar. The mother was angry with her husband for letting the 12 year old drink, but was so glad that that prevented the father from drinking. When dragging his drunk and obnoxious son home through the streets, the father was embarrassed. That is ironic because he is usually the one being dragged home because he's so plastered. The father doesn't realize the error of his ways, so he probably continued to go on drinking binges.

Potpourri 1 - Popular Mechanics

"I want the baby." page 2

Although it was very short, this story left me with many unanswered questions. Why was the couple breaking up? Why did they physically fight for the baby? Was the baby their child? Why were no quotation marks used? I find ironic that the title of the story is "Popular Mechanics," yet many grammatical mechanics were omitted. Also, I have a thought as to why the couple is breaking up. I think the man may be abusive. This probably would explain the woman's irrational behavior when the man wanted to keep the baby. If the man is dangerous, she would not feel comfortable leaving the baby in his care. I think that the style of the mechanics may coincide with the theory that the man is abusive. Maybe the lack of quotations is supposed to reflect that the man is uneducated. Uneducated men are more prone to abuse than educated men.

Theme 4- Once upon a Time

"The alarm set up wailing against the screams while the bleeding mass of the little boy was hacked out of the security coil with saws, wire-cutters, choppers, and they carried it--the man, the wife, the hysterical trusted housemaid and the weeping gardener--into the house." pg. 236

This was not your typical fairy tail children's story. It was full of violence and irony. The man and wife were so paranoid about danger. They purchased all kinds of security systems that eventually led to the death of their child. It is ironic how their paranoia of danger is what ended up killing their son. I think that it is strange that the parents held security as such a high priority. There was never any significant danger near them, and nothing had ever happened to them. They didn't even pay that much attention to there child. Also, the alarm falsely triggered so regularly that it wasn't taken seriously. Why buy all that security if you aren't going to use it? I guess the moral of this story is not to let paranoia get the best of you.

Theme 3- A Worn Path

"Without warning, she had seen with her own eyes a flashing nickel fall out of the man's pocket onto the ground." pg. 227

While I was reading this story, I sensed a very suspicious vibe towards Phoenix. I felt like she was a little crazy, but also a little scheming and devious. One of the questions from the story asks if Phoenix's grandson is dead. I think that he is. I have a theory as to what happened but I am probably way off. I think that Phoenix was a very concerned, good intended grandmother. She regularly would go get medicine for her sick grandson, but then he died. She probably didn't tell anyone about what happened. She was probably also very distraught over his death. Instead of dealing with his death, she continued on her normal routine as if nothing had happened. She probably began taking the grandson's medicine and began losing her mind. Through the author's diction, we can see that Phoenix is very uneducated, so she most likely is in desperate need of money. With her losing her mind, she takes advantage of every opportunity to get money. When the nickel fell out of the man's pocket, she intensely stared at it, then made a distraction so she could pick it up and keep it. I know that this is a really far-fetched idea, but I just have a feeling that Phoenix has an agenda.

Theme 2- Eveline

"No! No! No! It was impossible." pg. 222

I feel very sympathetic towards Eveline. Many people she was close to have died including her mother, her father is abusive towards her, and she has to give all of her hard earned money to her father. She doesn't have a very optimistic life ahead of her until she meets Frank. The meet and Eveline sees their relationship as an opportunity to leave her misery. What I do not understand is why she didn't take it. She had absolutely nothing holding her back besides a promise she made to her now dead mother. Under the circumstanced, I would think that the mom would understand why she didn't uphold her wish. This section is about theme, but I am failing to see the point of this story, let alone the theme. If I had to guess, I think the theme of this short story is to never break a promise, no matter how much pain it causes.

Theme 1- Miss Brill

"Why does she come here at all--who wants her?" pg. 186

Through this indirect characterization, we see that Miss Brill is a very lonely woman. She spends her days people watching and imagining far-fetched situations as realities. She thought that her life was part of some huge play. This clearly shows that she has issues. She personifies her fur by talking to it as if it were a human. She also thinks she hears it cry when she puts it away. I think that the cry represents her loneliness. Its as if she is imagining this to be someone desperately pleeing to be with her. I found it strange that she didn't seem to let the harsh word of the young couple phase her. Considering she had no one, I would think those words would have some impact on her. I wonder if she has something wrong with her or if she is just lonely.

Characterization 4 - Bartleby the Scrivener

"I would prefer not to." pg. 653

I thought that Bartleby was so incredibly annoying. He started off as a quiet but hard worker. But then when he was asked to do something, he just responded, "I would prefer not to." I don't understand why he kept saying that every time he was asked to do something. I also don't understand why the Lawyer never fired him. If Bartleby way my employee, I would have fired him right away. His annoying nature made me not be able to sympathize with him even though he had know where to live.I am so curious as to why he wouldn't do anything that he was asked to do, even when it came to basic needs of life. My only thought is that he was trying to assert that he made his own decisions at all costs. He wouldn't let people persuade his life in anyway, but in reality that is what happened. By not doing things he was asked to do, he died.

Characterization 3 - Everyday Use

"But they're priceless." pg. 180

Dee and Maggie could not be any more opposite than they are. Maggie has a very shy and timid persona. Oppositely, Dee is very outspoken and driven. I think that Dee is going about embracing her heritage in the wrong way. It is like she is trying too hard to make life what she thinks its supposed to be. She needs to rather, let the heritage come to her. If she wouldn't have basically disowned her family, I think she could have learned a lot about who she really is. I think the characterization of the mother is deceiving. Even though she isn't well educated, she still has a wealth of knowledge about where she came from. If Dee would have spoken to her mother about their family history, she would have been able to connect to her heritage on a deeper level. It would have encompassed her life rather than being forced on her.

Characterization 2 - Hunter's in the Snow

"They are not doing him any good," Frank said. "We might as well get some use out of them." pg. 201

The irony in this story is reflected through the initial characterizations of Tub and Kenny. At first, Tub is characterized as the helpless victim. He is unable to stand up to Kenny's jokes. He also faces insecurities about his weight and over indulgence issues. We see Kenny as a bully who picks on others to make himself feel better. Even when he can sense Tubs attitude, he keeps it up. However, mid way through the story their roles are completely reversed, but to a more drastic measure. Kenny is truly a helpless victim. He is left to die in the freezing cold. Tub becomes the real bully. He leave his friend to die without attempting to help him. I think that throughout the story, Frank provided the stable, non hectic attitude. He never over reacted to either Tub or Kenny being a bully. He seemed to want to stay out of it.

Characterization 1 - Hunter's in the Snow

"They had taken a different turn a long way back." pg. 201

I found this story to be completely strange and ironic. In the beginning, I thought Kenny was a huge jerk. He constantly made fun of Tub and never knew when to quit. I also felt really sympathetic towards Tub. He was fat and lonely and let all of Frank and Kenny's jokes get to him. Then, out of know where, Tub shoots Kenny. At that time, I didn't even know what to think. I thought it was ironic how Tub, who was depicted as the victim, turned out to be the real jerk. He shows absolutely no concern for his friend that he just shot. Tub and Frank leave Kenny, who is dying from a shot wound inflicted by Tub, in the freezing cold snow while they go have a heart to heart. This made me really hate both of them. I don't feel sorry for Tub for being fat at all. He brings it on himself. He needs to learn some self control.

Plot 4. Interpreter of Maladies

"The slip of paper with Mr. Kapasi's address on it fluttered away in the wind." pg. 166

I think there were two central conflicts in this story. Both of which were internal. One was Mrs. Das's struggle to deal with her guilt of cheating on her husband and having an illegitimate child. The other is Mr. Kapasi's fantasy like desire towards Mrs. Das. I sympathize with Mrs. Das because she has no one to confide in. She has to live with her guilt and has no one to help her deal with it. I don't sympathize with Mr. Kapasi on the other hand though. I find him to be pathetic. He becomes overwhelmingly infatuated with Mrs. Das when she is simply gives him a little attention. I feel like he made every encounter they had more significant than it really was. I'm glad that Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi never got involved. I felt like that was what the suspense of the story was leading to, but I'm glad it wasn't. I think once Mrs. Das learns to deal with her guilt, she will begin to love her children and husband again. I also hope Mr. Kapasi finds something more meaningful in his life.

Plot 3. A Rose for Emily

"Then we said, "She will persuade him yet," because Homer himself had remarked--he liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elk's Club--that he was not a marrying man." pg. 287

During small group discussions today, my group discussed Emily's motive for killing Homer. We came up with the idea that he refused to marry her. He probably had several reasons for not wanting to marry her. They were not compatible for each other. He was from the North, and she was from the South. The text mentioned that Homer "was not the marrying type" and "liked men." I think it would be rather difficult for her to persuade a homosexual man to marry her. I think that Emily became enraged by his refusal to marry her, and she retaliated by killing him. She has a personality complex that makes it had for her to let things go. She couldn't accept the death of her father, so she stored his corps with her until authorities took it away. Also, she could not accept that Homer wouldn't marry her, so she killed him and stored his body so that it seemed like he was still with her.

Plot 2. How I Met My Husband

"So I said yes, and I went out with him for two years and he asked me to marry him, and we were engaged a year more while I got my things together, and then we did marry." pg. 146

I was very surprised by the way the story ended. I found it very ironic that the title is "How I Met My Husband," yet she describes him and their encounter in two paragraphs. I know that Edie's desire to receive a letter from her former lover, Chris Watters, was the reason she met her husband, but I thought the excessive detail of their meaningless fling was irrelevant to her meeting her husband.  The structure of the story provided suspense for the reader. I didn't know what was going to happen. I certainly didn't predict that she would meet and marry her husband within the last page. If we had known that Edie wouldn't end up with Chris, I wouldn't have been as engaged in the story. Because the story is told retrospectively, it makes sense that she wouldn't end up with Chris. As a young girl, she  fantasized about her dream husband, Chris. Now, based on Edie's tone, looking back at herself, she sees how foolish and naive she was. She realizes that logically she needs to be with a normal, nice guy, like Carmichael.

Plot 1. A Rose for Emily

"One of us lifted something from it, and leaned forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair." pg. 289

The purpose of the structure of this story is to create suspense. If this had simply been told in chronological order, the suspense wouldn't have been as effective. To begin the story, Emily is depicted as a victim. She was hassled by the police and imprisoned by her father. So as a reader, I am thinking to myself, poor Emily, as do the people of her town. But, in the end we discover Emily isn't really so helpless. She is in fact crazy. Ironically, Emily turns out to be the so called villain. She has been storing a dead body in her house and laying with it night after night. I think that Emily's change in physical appearance, from thin and pretty to fat and ugly, alludes to the change in how the reader sees her. When Emily is young and beautiful, no one suspects she could be crazy or harmful, but as she begins to age and let herself go, the suspense of what she did begins to build. It is not until she loses all her beauty and youth that we see the true, insane Emily.

Pattern 5: Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead

"I don't think he's right. He's ready. I am not." lines 13-14

In this poem, the son and the father have two completely different views on death. The father sees death as a great opportunity. He will be able to start a new life in the presence of God. The son sees death as the ultimate end. He thinks that once he dies, that is it. Their views on immortality are different too. The father believes in a spiritual immortality, where as the son believes in a physical one.  There differences are clearly conveyed throughout the poem in lines such as, "he's ready. I am not." and "I don't think he is right." Although the tone seems to be pessimistic, I think the son will greatly miss the father when he dies. "I can't just say good-bye as cheerfully as if he were embarking on a trip," conveys that he doesn't know how to handle death. Through the son's description of the father's attitude, it seems that the father has been attempting to teach his son how to see death as a "new desire." But, the son cannot grasp the concept of afterlife.

Pattern 4: Delight in Disorder

"I see a wild civility; Do more bewitch me than when art is too precise in every part" lines 12-14

This poem was written sometime in the 1600's. During this time period, women were expected to look a certain way. Everything they wore had to reflect proper and modest behavior. It also had to be arranged in a precise and orderly fashion. Women were not aloud to stray from these fashion guidelines like women can today. That is what makes this poem so ironic. The speaker describes a woman that is dressed in chaos and disorder. This woman's time would have never accepted her "ribbons to flow confusedly," and "careless shoestrings." But, the speaker is enchanted by the way she looks. He finds her disorderly dress to be more attractive and appealing than the other prim and proper women.

Pattern 3: Lonely Hearts

"Can someone make my simple wish come true?" line 1

This poem seems to be very fitting with its title. These are a series of want adds or advertisements. In each one, it is clear to see the persons dilemma in finding the type of person they're seeking. It is very hard for people in the gay community to find love for many reasons. They may be ridiculed or disrespected for the way they are. Also, the single mother may have trouble meeting people since she is always taking care of her child. Each one poses a rhetorical question that inspires a sense of hope. The first question says that these advertisements are "Personals." I find this to be very ironic because each one appears to be anonymous. If it were truly personal, it would reveal much more than a single line description.

Pattern 2: Death, be not proud

"we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die." lines 13-14

In this poem, the speaker personifies death and addresses it through an apostrophe. The speaker is firm in his belief that is nothing to be feared. He expresses this at the beginning of the poem, "though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so." He believes that death has no real powers in itself, rather it is a "slave to fate, chance, kings,and desperate men." The speaker expresses that death will never overpower us as humans. He supports this with the thought of after life. Jesus died for us so that we could live with him in heaven for all of eternity. The speaker argues that even though death may take our physical life, it will never rob us of our spiritual life with God. That is why he doesn't think death should be feared. We will be able to live with God for all of eternity regardless of how, when, where, or at what age we die.

 

Pattern 1: Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." lines 18-19

The two quotes above are refrains. Each one provides advice at how to deal with the approach of death. "Do not go gentle into that good night," means live each moment to the fullest without the fear of death haunting you. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light," means don't let hardships or troubles prevent you from living your life. The speaker addresses multiple groups of people and advises each one how to deal with life before death. He tells the old not to let their age bring them closer to death. He implies that age shouldn't have limitations. He advises good men to live there life more thrillingly, and the grave men to not let their struggles hold them back. I think the speaker advises the wise men and the wild men in contrasting ways. He warns the wild men not to let death sneak up on them, and the wise men to not think about death to much. Its almost as if they need to meet in the middle. The repetition of the two refrain lines enforces the message of the poem: don't let the fear of death hold you back.

Tone 5: The Apparition

"And that thou thinkst thee free." line 2

This poem has an eerie sense to it. The speaker seems to have been murdered by a former lover. In a source  of revenge, the man is going to haunt his murderess while she sleeps. "And that thou thinkst thee free," displays the mans intent to haunt and torture the woman's mind. "Bathed in a cold quicksilver sweat," implies that the woman will suffer from the mans ghostly presence. By killing the man, she thought she would be rid of him. She never thought he would come back to haunt her when she is with other men at night. Through the line, "wilt lie a verier ghost than I," shows that the man is willing to go to extraordinary measures to get back at this woman. He wants her to suffer more than he did. I wonder what this man did for the woman to murder him and why he so diligently seeks revenge.

Tone 4: Hazel Tells LaVerne

"ya little green pervert an i hitsm with my mop"

There were two things I noticed right away about this poem. The first was that there was no punctuation, like "next to of course god america i." But, this one was much easier to follow based on the structure. The second thing I noticed was that the speaker was uneducated. It is clear through her diction. One of the questions at the end of the poem is, "What creates the poems humor?" Personally I didn't find this poem humorous at all, besides when she refers to the frog as a "little green pervert." I thought that this poem was incredibly sad. I just pictured this poor uneducated young girl cleaning toilets and thinking to herself that she will never be worthy enough to be a princess. I think that is why she develops such a harsh tone with the frog. She sees it as a joke, or as if the frog is mocking her. She cannot even fathom the idea that kissing the frog would actually make her a princess. She puts on a rough exterior to mask the pain she feels in knowing she will never be anything more than she is. If she lets herself hope, then she will be seen as a fool. Her doubtful attitude towards the frog is simply a wall of protection, so she doesn't get hurt.

Tone 3: Getting Out

"We held on tight, and let go." line 24

The poem begins with the simile, "walking like inmates." This immediately implies confinement and unhappiness. It seems that this couple was once very much in love, but when they began living together, tension grew. Its like they couldn't adjust to living in each others lives daily. This is reflected by the tone, which is one of stress and unhappiness. After awhile of trying to coexist, "exhausted, we gave up." The end of this poem is rather sad. The couple seems to have rushed their relationship to quickly. Maybe they didn't know everything they needed to know about each other before getting married. Despite the way the couple treated each other, I think they deeply cared for one another. I thought this from the line, "Yet I think of the lawyer's bewilderment when we cried, the last day." By the way the couple acted, the lawyer was shocked they had any feelings for each other at all. I think their parting was bittersweet. Even though they loved each other, they needed to be apart.

Tone 2: Crossing the Bar

"And may there be no sadness of farewell" line 11

I found this poem to be an extended metaphor for death. The line "and may there be no moaning of the bar" and line 11 reflect the image of death. The speaker is telling people not to mourn over his passing. By the description of the sunset and tides in the poem, it seems that the speaker wants a peaceful death. Perhaps he hopes to die in his sleep. I think that he sees a peaceful passing as a reason for people not to mourn. Maybe he hopes that if people realize he didn't suffer, they would have no reason to grieve. The last stanza provides the speaker's hope in afterlife. The speaker wants to "see his Pilot face to face." His Pilot is God. A pilot is someone that steers a ship in the right direction. God is the Pilot that steered the speakers life in the right direction. "Crossing the bar" seems to be the ultimate task, which is getting into heaven.

Tone 1: My mistress' eyes

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun." line 1

I find this poem to be very sweet and romantic. The speaker describes his lover in a very unattractive manner. His tone while doing this seems to be satisfied and nonchalant. Its as if he doesn't care and is almost pleased that she isn't  attractive. However, despite her unfortunate looks, the man loves her. It seems that he doesn't care that society would describe her "eyes nothing like the sun" and "black wires grow[n] on her head" as unattractive. Despite everything, this woman is perfect in his eyes. This is shown in the last line, "she belied with false compare." This basically means that all her imperfections make her perfect to him.

5. next to of course god america i

"He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water" line 14

This poem was definitely hard for me to comprehend, and I probably still don't have an analysis close to what it is supposed to be. But, I'm going to make an attempt. The quotation in the poem and the last line imply that the speaker is talking directly to an audience. To me, God seems to be the most prominent thing in the speakers life, and America is a close second. He recites a small part of the national anthem as well as praises the nation. This leads me to believe that he is very patriotic. He seems to sarcastically say, "these heroic happy dead," meaning the soldiers and then compares them to "lions rushing into roaring slaughter they did not stop to think they died instead." I think the speaker is criticizing the mindset of the soldiers here. Being so patriotic himself, he thinks everyone should posses that same national pride that he had. He is saying that the soldiers basically went in fighting without knowing what it was they were fighting for. Also, the lack of punctuation really confused me.

4. Sorting Laundry

"Folding clothes, I think of folding you into my life." line 1

In this poem, I think sorting laundry is an extended metaphor for the woman trying to figure out what she wants. As she is folding the laundry, she is sorting the details of wanting to be with a man. The speaker uses many similes and metaphors to express that what the woman wants is the man in her life. It seems to me that this couple has had a pretty rocky relationship, and the woman is fighting to keep it together. Each simile/metaphor is an argument for why she wants to be with him. "All those wrinkles to be smoothed" refers to the issues they need to work out. "is tough to discard" is representing how hard it would be for the woman to let him and their memories together go. "In pockets, surprises" is the connection that will grow between them in time. As they continue to get to know each other, there will be surprises that will bring them closer. In the end, the woman realizes that what she wants is for them to be together. But, through the line, "left by a former lover. . . ." we see the woman is afraid the man will leave her. The end of the poem ties the metaphor of laundry together. Not being with this man will be like "a mountain of unsorted wash."

3. Barbie Doll

"Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs." line 11

This poem expresses the shallow nature of society.  The ironic, "magic of puberty," makes all people go through awkward phases. But, this "healthy, tested intelligent," girl was being compared to the "perfect" body image of a plastic barbie doll. It is clearly unrealistic to expect all women to look like an unproportioned plastic doll. This poor girl, despite her good personality and intelligence, was only seen for her looks. Society was unable to see past her ordinary looks and discover who she was as a person. This pressure to be "perfect" led the girl to suicide. She "cut off her nose and her legs" in order to live up to the perfect body image. The pressure this girl, as well as many others, face is what is wrong with our society. As a society, we need to be able to find the good qualities within people to prevent the deadly paths women take in order to become "perfect." I think this poem is cautionary to young girls. The drastic overstatements throughout the poem  convey to girls that it is normal to not look like a barbie doll. The poem encourages women not only to accept the way they look, but also like it. It also warns society what dangers come from criticizing the looks of others. It can lead to anorexia, bulimia, depression, and in this case, suicide.

2. APO 96225

"Today I killed a man. Yesterday, I helped drop napalm on women and children." lines 14-15

This poem by Larry Rottmann possesses situational irony. A young man writes to his mother while he is away serving in the Vietnam war. Anticipating his mothers reaction to the truth, the young man writes generic letters describing unrelated topics. However, the mother pleaded, wanting to know the truth. This is what is ironic. Once the young man conveys the truth to his mother, he received a letter from his father saying, "Please don't write such depressing letters. You're upsetting your mother." Even though the mother wanted to know the truth, once she found out, it was too much for her to bare. She wished she wouldn't have discovered the true horror going on where her son was. I think this irony expresses the feelings of most Americans. They wanted to know every detail that was going on in the war, but when endless deaths and killings were reported daily, the pain and sorrow was uneasy to take in. In result, the Americans turned their heads to the hardships and despair in Vietnam and pretended not to know the truth.

1. Mr. Z

"Taught early that his mother's skin was the sign of error." line 1

Through the first line of this poem, we learn that Mr. Z is an African American man. At a very early age, he discovered the racial discrimination he would face his entire life. I really feel bad for Mr. Z. It seems like all he wants to do is fit in with the white community, but it seems almost impossible. He had to come to the realization that society can't get past physical characteristics. He did his best to behave properly by, "[Winning] scholarships, and [attending] the best schools," hoping to blend in with the over powering white society. Despite his efforts, he was unsuccessful. Later in life, he married a Jewish woman. At his wedding, the pastor sarcastically "proclaimed them matched chameleon." I think that this sarcastic comment influences the entire tone of the poem. It is really sarcastic. The speaker is almost criticizing Mr. Z for thinking he had a chance at fitting in with the white population. I applaud Mr. Z's desire to fit in; however I criticize the fact that he didn't embrace his own culture. That is why I think the speaker is passing judgement on him.

Figurative Language 5- A Valediction: Forbbiding Mourning

"Our two souls therefore, which are one." line 21

This poem by John Donne seems to be written to his significant other. The title, like many of the other poems in this unit, exhibits the main concept of the poem. The speaker is about to embark on a journey, and he tells his wife not to mourn their separation. The reason they are not to mourn their separation is because their love for one another is deeper than just a physical relationship. Mourning separation is a sign of a "lover's love" as Donne puts it. The speaker knows that his connection to his wife well exceeds physical intimacy since they are spiritually linked. Because the couple is connected at the soul, there is no need to cry over the loss of touch. In their hearts they know they are together. Donne uses an analogy to the Church. The laity's relationship with God simulates the relationship of the lovers, and the clergy's relationship with God mirrors the speaker and his wife. The clergy has a much closer and deeper connection to God, just as soul mates have deeper connections than physical lovers.

Figurative Language 4- I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed

"Inebriate of air--I am--" line 5

This poem by Emily Dickinson has very similar format to "I Felt a Funeral in my Brain." So, in analyzing this poem, I took the same approach that we did in class. Literally, the speaker is describing intoxication. In the poem she is drunk. Many words lend themselves to this literal meaning such as; liquor, Tankards, Vats, alcohol, Inebriate, drunken, and several others. However, following the analysis of the previous Emily Dickinson poem, I searched for an alternate meaning. I found that the description of intoxication is an extended metaphor for the speakers overwhelming love of summer and nature. The speaker is expressing that she will love summer nature until the day she dies. The title in itself exhibits the metaphor. "I taste a liquor never brewed" refers to the pleasurable intoxicated feeling without having had a sip of alcohol. The sense of summer and nature cause the speaker to feel elated as if she were intoxicated. Words such as "air, dew, foxglove, bee, butterflies, and endless summer days" led to my conclusion that the speaker wanted to take in all the summer nature she could.

Figurative Language 3- Toads

"But I do say it's hard to lose either, When you have both." line 35

In Philip Larkin's, "Toads," the speaker describes two toads or hardships in his life. One of these struggles is material and superficial, where as the other is spiritual and within himself. The first toad is material. The speaker describes his inability to attain material possession. He often refers to the shortcomings he is faced with financially. He describes this through lines such as "Eat windfalls and tinned sardines--They seem to like it." and "Their nippers have got bare feet." The speaker claims to work diligently but is forced to spend his earnings on necessity items. However, I think the speaker is lacking in quality education, making him unable to earn a sufficient salary. I came to this conclusion from the speaker's diction. He fails to use proper English lines such as, "Their nippers have got bare feet," and "Ah, were I courageous enough." Besides the speaker's material hardships, his spiritual relationship is challenged. I think the speaker is asking God why he isn't satisfied with what he's been given, when many others in his situation are seemingly content.

Figurative Language 2- The Joy of Cooking

"I have prepared my sister's tongue." line 1

The first time I read through Elaine Magarrell's, "The Joy of Cooking," I was completely disgusted! But all grotesque details aside, I saw the speaker was indirectly characterizing her siblings.The tone that was implemented was very negative and condescending. The brother and sister seem to have opposite personalities with the same core issue. Neither of them can properly communicate with others. The sister often says too much, and some of what she says causes issue. I determined this from the line, "I have prepared my sister's tongue, scrubbed and skinned it." This implies that the speaker is attempting to change the way her sister speaks. The way in which her tongue is prepared simulates a punishment. It is "trimmed and gristle" and topped with spices. To me, this seems to be torturous like a punishment. The brother on the other hand seems to have no emotion. "[His] heart, which is firm and rather dry," expresses a guarded, emotionless soul. The way it is prepared seems to try to be evoking a reaction. "An apple-onion stuffing" and "sour sauce" are attempts to stimulate the brother's heart. The end of this poem seems to reflect an inevitable lack of change. The speaker sees that no matter how they are prepared, their personalities will never change.

Figurative Language 1- Dream Deferred

"Or does it explode?" line 11

"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes uses a combination of similes and a metaphor to describe the loss of an aspiration. In each simile, a deferred dream is compared to something unpleasant or with a negative connotation. The similes seem to represent individually negative aspects of a lost dream. The metaphor on the other hand, seems to encompass the similes into one. The metaphor compares the dream to an exploding bomb. When I think of a bomb exploding, I hear the ticks that count down to the explosion. To me, each simile seems to represent one tick, and the metaphor is the explosion itself. I think this makes sense because the metaphor has the most emphasis in the poem. A lost dream is an utter explosion to the person who lost it. The dried raisin, festering sore, rotten meat and heavy load are merely branches that build up the suspense of the ultimate explosion or loss of the dream.

Imagery Poetry 5- The Convergence of the Twain

"And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres."  line 33

I don't think this poem takes place in chronological order. It begins with the ship, the Titanic, already sunken below the sea and ultimately ends with the devastating collision. When many people think about the tragic Titanic shipwreck, they think about all the lives that were lost. But, in this poem, it seems that the author is more concerned and hurt by the loss of the ship itself. I think that this author must have had some sort of connection to the ship. Perhaps he was a staff member or craftsman. I highly doubt he was a passenger due to his judgement of them, "Deep from human vanity." Either way, he had some passion about the ship. His tone seems distraught when saying, "The sea worm crawls--grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent." As the poem progresses, I feel like the author saw some sort of inevitability to the crash. Based on my background knowledge of the Titanic, maybe he knew about the ignored ice warnings. Lines such as "A Shape of Ice, for the time far and dissociate." and "In shadowy silent distant grew the Iceberg too," support my thinking of inevitability. I think that this poem is reflective upon the popularity and status of the ship. Looking back, the author can see how unimportant vanity was, because ultimately, the ship ended up under the sea.

Imagery Poetry 4- The Widow's Lament in Springtime

"Sorrow is my own yard." line 1

In this poem, the woman is clearly grieving the loss of her husband. In her mourning, she fails to see the beauty in her garden. It is like without her husband, nothing is as it was. I really feel bad for this woman; she seems to be very distraught over the situation. Because of her misery, she is unable to take pride in her garden like she used to. The bright yellow and red flowers appear bland to her now. I think this poem is sort of ironic in a way, because of the way the poet so vividly describes her garden. But, the women can only see a bland memory that has escaped from her. The beauty in her garden is masked by sorrow. Then, the woman's son makes some suggestion about "heavy woods in the distance." the poet doesn't describe this setting near as vividly as the garden. However, the woman sees this meadow as a clear path she must take. It seems to be the only thing she knows for sure. I think that the "distant meadow" represents the woman going to be with her husband. She thinks that it would be better not to live than to live without her husband. I think the irony is that what we, the readers, see so vividly is what is so unclear to the woman, but what is unclear to us, is what seems to be clear to her.

Imagery Poetry 3- I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

"My Mind was going numb--" line 8

To me, this poem seems to possess ambiguity. When I first read this poem, I thought that the author was describing her own funeral. Lines like, "And Mourners to and fro" and "And I dropped down, and down," lend themselves to the idea of an actual funeral. However, lines such as, "My Mind was going numb--" and "And creak across my Soul," make me think differently, like it isn't a physical thing. Perhaps it is a conflict within her mind. I feel like certain aspects of the poem seem one way and others seem the opposite. This is why I believe it is ambiguity. Physically, it seems as if her soul is watching as the funeral proceeds. Then, when silence embarks, she is placed either at the gates of Heaven or Hell, described by, "And hit a World, at every plunge." Heaven or Hell is the other world she is about to take part in. On the other hand, I feel like this is also a funeral for her mind, almost as if she is going insane. It seems like she couldn't escape her mind. Noises of, "A Service, like a Drum--Kept beating--beating..." appear to be such a disturbance, and then once there is silence, its as if she has completely lost her sanity. The other World would be the world in the eyes of the insane. She has buried what was left of her sanity, and is now left with a new outlook on life.

Imagery Poetry 2- Those Winter Sundays

"Sundays too my father got up early." line 1

I think that Robert Hayden's poem, Those Winter Sundays, is written in a retrospective point of view. It seems like a man is recalling all the laborous things his father did for him as a child, and realizing the extent of what he did. Hayden uses vivid imagery to describe how burdensome the work of the father was. In lines such as, "with cracked hands that ached" and "who had driven out the cold," we see that the father would do all he could for his family. The line "Sundays too my father got up early," implies that the father never rested or took a day off. The too provides special emphasis on his work ethic because Sundays are known as the day of rest. I think the author of this poem is feeling regret for not appreciating all that his father did for him. He is remorseful because he never exhibited any gratitude, even though he really did love his father. Maybe this poem is a warning to children to be greatful for all their parents do for them. It almost seems like the man no longer has the opportunity to express his sorrow to his father. Maybe the father passed away before he was able to thank him, so he is writting this to tell others to show gratitude towards your loved ones before it is too late. 

Imagery Poetry 1- London

"Marks of weakness, marks of woe." line 4

William Blake's poem, London, conveys a very depressing tone. It seems that all the citizens of London are imprisoned by something. Based on the first two lines, "I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow," I think the government is controlling and oppressing all of its' people. By using the word chartered in reference to the streets and the Thames river, I think this demonstrates the range of control possessed by the government.  Blake uses imagery to describe the emotions and feelings of despair the people posses. Through lines such as "In every cry of every man" and "Marks of weakness, marks of woe," we can feel the unhappiness in their hearts. I think Blake is trying to convey the hardships of living in London at every level, regardless of social class. From the "Runs in blood down Palace walls," to "How the youthful Harlot's curse," it is evident how class isn't a factor. I think that the "Marks of weakness" represent the fear the citizens possess about the powers hanging over them. As a result to the control, all the citizens live an unhappy and oppressed life.

Perrine Poetry

"These two criteria I ask you to notice, are not different from those we bring to the judgment of a new scientific hypothesis."

Poetry has always been an intimidating aspect of literature for me, so when Perrine referred to the interpretation of poetry as a scientific process, I felt relieved. When I would consider the meaning behind a poem, I typically looked for a hidden and often "far-fetched" meaning. Now having read Perrine's view in interpreting poetry, I realized why I was always wrong in my view of each poem. I agree with his idea that the meaning of a poem "relies on the fewest assumptions not grounded in the poem itself." It just makes sense. Perrine's example of the thief presented a clear path in intpretation. Poetry is going to be logical. The poets don't set out to confuse the readers. They are trying to convey an image they picture. When I look at poetry now, I will be sure to consider the connections between details. In Melville's poem, I assumed that it was about an army, but if I would have really analyzed it, I would have seen all the star references. I think details are very pertainent in discovering the meaning of a poem.

Even though this essay has provided me with some insight, I do not agree with evey aspect of it. I don't think that there is only one true meaning of a poem. Who's to say one interpretation is more correct than the other, within reason. I think that studying the details within a poem will lead you down the right direction, but there is not only one correct answer. Take the William Blake poem for instance. Perrine tells us that it is really about a rose and a worm, but how do we know that there isn't some deeper meaning within it that matches the critera he proposes to us? For some poems, I believe there is a set meaning, but when it comes to symbolism, how do we know what is right? The details can be thought of and interpretated in many ways. Symbols are not as concrete as a description. Overall, I think Perrine is right, but I feel like some poems don't lend themselves to just one interpretation.

Never Let Me Go 20

"It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But, in the end, we can't stay together forever." pg. 282

It really is a shame. The ending to this book just depressed me. I felt so sorry for Kathy. Everything she has ever loved was now gone, and she was standing there helplessly not knowing what was in store for her next.  I so badly wanted her fantasy of Tommy to come true, but realistically, I knew that could never happen. But, that is life. Life doesn't always end happily. That is what I think one of the main messages of the book was: live life to the fullest and to enjoy those people in your life while they are still there, because you never know when they'll be gone. Another major point I think Ishiguro is trying to make is the same one made in Brave New World. That is to beware of technology and scientific advances. We can't let these thing take away the relationships we have with people and the families we live in. I just hope that our society never resorts to using the lives of lesser people for the betterment of others. We need to keep the idea of every person is equal regardless of race, age, background, and anything else, as a major focus in our lives.

Never Let Me Go 19

"Tommy and I couldn't quite believe that was the end of it." pg. 265

In this chapter, I feel so sorry for Kathy and Tommy. I just knew disappointment was coming but didn't want it to be true. I feel like all their hopes and dreams had just been crushed. As sad as this chapter is, many of my questions were answered.  The mystique of Madame and the Gallery is finally clear now. I think I was kind of on the right track of thinking. Madame was on the side of the students and she did take the art for their benefit. This chapter also reminded me a lot of Brave New World. The society discriminates against the clones without knowing much about them. The clones were treated the same way as the Epsilons. In Never Let Me Go, normal people avoid the clones and ignore how they are treated. They close their eyes to the cruelty the clones are put through and neglect to recognize what they sacrifice for them. The Alphas in Brave New World do the same thing to the Epsilons. The Alphas never acknowledge the work that the Epsilons do for them. In both books, the "normal" people take advantage of the "outcasts" or the inferior people.

 

Never Let Me Go 18

"We'd been thinking about the deferrals, the theory about the Gallery, all of it, for so long--and now, suddenly, here we were. It was definitely a bit scary." pg. 244

I'm really glad that Tommy and Kathy finally get together. I just hope it isn't too late. I understand how they are feeling though. Its like waiting for something you've talked about, dreamed about, and desperately wanted your entire life, then it is right in front of you. I would think that this feeling would be overwhelmingly intimidating rather than "a bit scary." It's almost like your first day of high school. While your in grade school all you want to do is go to Roncalli, and the closer you get to your first day, the more anxious you become. Then, once the day finally arrives, your completely filled with nerves. Once Tommy and Kathy finally track down Madame, its up to them to take control of their lives. They're no longer fantasizing about what could be. The opportunity is right in front of them. Thankfully, they take it. The chapters leading up to meeting Madame are so incredibly suspenseful. I really don't think I've ever read as fast as I did! I can't wait to see what happens to Kathy and Tommy and what Miss Emily's new role in the story will be.

Never Let Me Go 17

"The main thing is, I kept you and Tommy apart." Her voice had dropped again, almost to a whisper. "That was the worst thing I did." pg. 232

I was really surprised by this chapter. I never expected Ruth to mature to the level she did and to admit the things she'd done wrong. I actually became quite emotional when Ruth was about to complete. I think the moment Ruth and Kathy had was the perfect way for their relationship to end. Ruth finally let her guard down and there were no barriers between them. I'm really glad she admitted that Kathy and Tommy should be together. I'm also curious to see if the deferral process is real and if it is, if they are able to attain it. As much as I want Kathy and Tommy to get a deferral and live together for the rest of their lives, I don't foresee that happening. I just think that the process is too good to be true. Basically, I predict that it will be a tragic ending, but I hope that I'm wrong!

Never Let Me Go 16

"In other words, it was a really encouraging start--better than I'd dared expected." pg. 214

I was not surprised at all by the way Ruth and Kathy's first encounter went. There was no reason for them to get into discussing what happened between them when they were seeing each other for the first time in years. But, they clearly couldn't go on avoiding it for long. The longer it isn't discussed the more tension that grows.  Ruth, being in the condition that she's in, doesn't need any extra stress or tension around. Once Tommy is mentioned, things seem to turn up, but I don't think things will ever be truly back to normal if things aren't discussed soon. I know this from experience. This happened with me and one of my best friends. We had a falling out and didn't speak to each other for a long time. Then, once we got over all our anger towards each other, we began making small talk. We never really discussed what happened between us. It was like we both had an understanding to just let it go; however, I think looking back, that was the wrong thing to do. We needed to sit down and work everything out just like Ruth and Kathy need to do. If they don't do this, there friendship will never be like it once was. There will always be a barrier between them, no matter how hard they try to forget the past.

Never Let Me Go 15

"Some carers, though, their whole attitude lets them down. A lot of them, you can tell, are just going through the motions, waiting for the day they're told they can stop and become donors." pg. 208

Beginning part three, I noticed a major shift in tone. Before this, the reader was usually in suspense and anticipating what was about to happen. Now, the tone has become drab, slow, and uneventful. I think that the shift in tone represents the shift in lifestyle. At Hailsham and the Cottages, there was always something going on, whether it be relationship drama or friendship troubles. But now, all the drama and excitement is gone. The life of a carer seems to be about the worst job ever, and I think they do that for a reason. By making the job so demanding and draining, a carer can soon forget what his or her old life was like. It could be a sort of preparation for becoming a donor. I think they make the job so miserable so that the carers don't put up a fight when its time for their donations. Its almost like the carers look  forward to it, just because it means they are no longer carers. Kathy seems to be unlike the rest of the carers. She actually doesn't mind it. I think that could be why Kathy has been a carer for so long. She has yet to despise the job so much that she longs for her time to donate. Hopefully this will benefit her in the long run.

Never Let Me Go 14

"But I kept a certain distance from her, just as I did from Tommy. We didn't really talk properly again at the Cottages, and before I knew it, I was saying my goodbyes." pg. 203

I am very disappointed in how Kathy left things with Tommy and Ruth. After every thing they went through together, I would think Kathy would try to patch things up with them before she left. I really don't understand why she wouldn't talk to Tommy. I know Ruth's comment to her about Tommy basically not dating whores must have hurt, but she needed to realize where this information was coming from. As soon as Ruth found out that Tommy told Kathy his theory before her, she instantly became jealous and set out to sabotage their friendship. It clearly worked. Kathy needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and attempt to explain what happened in the churchyard. I know most of the readers were probably mad at Ruth for stirring all this up, but that was to be expected. It's just how she is. I, on the other hand, am mad at Kathy. She was so stupid in not trying to patch things up with Tommy and Ruth and leaving so abruptly. Hopefully when they meet again, all three of them will have matured, and they are able to straighten out the issues from the past without any barriers between them.

Never Let Me Go 13

"She told Roy that things like pictures, poetry, all that kind of stuff, she said they revealed what you were like inside. She said they revealed your soul." pg. 175

I don't know how much I agree with Tommy's theory. I do believe that the artwork reflects the person's soul, and I do believe that there is some sort of deference policy. But, I don't think it has to do with being truly in love. To me, it seems like Kathy was able to have a very long deference because she has yet to make any donations and Ruth and Tommy both have. If it has to do with love, I don't know who Kathy would be in love with other than Tommy. But, he has already made donations which makes me think that it has nothing to do with love after all. However, I have no other idea of what it could be. Or, perhaps Kathy wasn't deferred at all and something happens to her later on that prevents her from making donations. Therefore, she is forced to remain a carer for an extended period of time. It seems to me that Kathy's tape is a very important part of the story. I have two idea of what its purpose is. One is that it symbolizes her love for Tommy. When she was at Hailsham, they always payed special attention to each other. Then, the tape goes missing and Ruth and Tommy become a couple. Later on, Kathy finds the tape and Tommy and Kathy's feelings for each other resurface again. My second theory is that the tape influences Kathy to do something that makes her unable to be a donor. Maybe she somehow gets hold of cigarettes and develops a lung disease. That could explain why Kathy hasn't made donations and Ruth and Tommy have. Why else would Kathy be a carer for 12 years? She even says that's an unusually long length of time to be a carer. Could she be unable to donate? Or, could she have been deferred?

Never Let Me Go 12

"We all know it. We're modelled from trash. Junkies, prostitutes, winos, tramps. Convicts, maybe, just so long as they aren't psychos. That's what we come from. We all know it , so why don't we just say it?" pg. 166

Up until now, I thought Kathy and her friends were at peace with their destines and how they were created. But, with Ruth going on this rant, I see that each one of them is extremely fearful of donations and uneasy about their creation. I think that they were all just trying to mask their insecurities and play it off like it was no big deal. But, they truly want to be like normal humans and live normal lives. They dream of working and being with the person that they love. I think the only thing that keeps them going from day to day is their daydreams about a different life. When they look at their lives objectively, they see that they have no real importance as people, that their life up until the time of donation doesn't matter. It must be so incredibly difficult to live a life like that, knowing they wouldn't be accepted in society if people knew they were clones. My sympathy grows more and more for them each chapter. I wonder why they are aloud to venture into the real world. I would think that being around normal people would stir up unnecessary emotions, like it did for Ruth. As hard as it would probably be, I think that the clones should remain isolated from the rest of the world until their donations, so that they don't know about a life better than their own. But really, I don't think there is any good way for the clones to be raised. It would be a difficult situation for them no matter what.

Never Let Me Go 11

"And something told me we were coming to what was, for Chrissie and Rodney, the central purpose of this whole expedition." pg. 153

In this chapter, we learn the true colors of Chrissie and Rodney, as well as why Hailsham students in particular are so special. The veterans lure Ruth to Norfolk with a sighting of her possible, when in fact, they only wanted to know about the deferring process granted to few Hailsham students. This motivation reveals the true identities of the veterans. They were never truly interested in befriending the younger students. They had an ulterior motive to gain information for themselves. The veterans were characterized as very manipulative and selfish people. They used Ruth to see what she knew about the rumored deferral process. When Ruth implies she knows what they are talking about, I think Tommy reevaluates his relationship with Ruth. I think he sees that she is really just a shallow person with the goal of popularity. I really hope that Tommy and Ruth separate for good after this trip, and I think they will based on the inklings Kathy mentions when telling about Norfolk.

Never Let Me Go 10

"The point about Chrissie--and this applied to a lot of the veterans--was that for all her slightly patronising manner towards us when we'd first arrived, she was awestruck about our being from Hailsham." pg. 145

This motif that the Hailsham students are "special" must have a deeper meaning than I thought. Originally, I knew that Hailsham was a special place, but didn't know why. Later I learned that these students were created to donate their vital organs. That's why they were special. So, as I kept reading, I assumed that all people raised to donate their organs, like the rest of the people at the Cottages, were special too. But, according to the quote above, it seems that Hailsham in particular is more prestigious and special than any of the other places, if there are other places. I wonder why that is. Could it be that the Hailsham students are clones of more powerful and influential people? Or is it just the luck of the draw where the clones are raised? I am really curious as to why Hailsham is so highly regarded, and why they would be any more special than the rest of the clones. What is so different about Hailsham?

Never Let Me Go 9

"The point is, they claim they saw this. . . person. Working there in this open-plan office. And, well, you know. They reckon this person's a possible. For me." pg. 139

Through this synecdoche, we learn that the students are in fact scientifically created. The idea of possibles come from the cloning process. A possible is a person that a particular student may have been created from. I'm really curious how the people being cloned are chosen. If it were me, I wouldn't want some replica of myself somewhere out in the world, especially if I knew there sole purpose in life would be to donate their organs. Maybe this process is controlled by the government, and people don't have a say in the matter. Also, if I were a clone like Kathy or Ruth, I don't think I would want to find the person I was created from. I would just see a life I could never have. I think that would be too difficult to deal with. I really sympathize with Kathy and the rest of the clones, because they fantasize about a normal life, knowing very well that it will never happen. Perhaps its a coping mechanism they use in order accept their fate. Maybe thinking about there possibles helps keep their minds off of donations all together.

Never Let Me Go 8

"As soon as I said this I realised I'd made a mistake; that until I'd mentioned these two, I'd had Ruth in a corner, but now she was out. It was like when you make a move in chess and just as you take your finger off the piece, you see the mistake you made..." pg. 124

There is a change made in part two. Eight of the Hailsham students arrive at the Cottages. I think the Cottage is designed as a place for maturing before entering the real world. However, as seen by the simile above, the new students need to mature much more before they are ready to venture on their own. The dynamics of the Cottage reminds me of the dynamics of high school. Kathy and her friends arrive at the Cottage as freshman. They are very insecure and scared, because they aren't used to the situation around them. They do everything that they can to prove that they have matured, even going as far as mimicking the upper class men, but it is very evident they are stuck in their middle school ways. Ruth and the rest of the eight are consumed with the child like mind games they partook in at Hailsham. I'm wondering if they, and anyone else for that matter, will ever be able to mature into adults. Or, is everyone truly a "child" deep down?

Never Let Me Go 7

"Listen, Tommy, your art, it is important. And not just because it's evidence. But for your own sake. You'll get a lot from it, just  for yourself." pg. 108

Up until this point, I've been very confused why creativity was so highly stressed at Hailsham. Now, I think that their creativity is what argues that these students are real people. In one of my earlier blogs, I thought that Madame took their art to protect them from something being hidden from them. Thinking about that now, it could still be somewhat true. I think that Madame is very against the plot to use the Hailsham students as organ donors. Maybe she takes the most creative and insightful pieces to some higher power, that dictates the entire process, to plea that the students are just as real of human beings as any of the "normal" people. Perhaps the higher power I'm envisioning is somewhat like the Controller in Brave New World. I think that maybe all the guardians feel that the students don't deserve their destined life because each one of them seem to express the importance of creativity. The only thing that still confuses me though is, why would Miss Lucy originally tell Tommy that he doesn't need to worry about his creativity? I feel like if this theory is true, Miss Lucy would have never given Tommy or anyone the impression that creativity and art work was something of unimportance.  

Never Let Me Go 6

"We'd been 'told and not told,' as she put it." pg. 82

I think that the reasoning behind the paradox, "told and not told," was to make the students believe that organ donation was not a big deal. The way the guardians nonchalantly work the students' futures in organ donation into the lessons gives the impression that it is not a worrisome matter. Maybe the guardians neglect to go into full detail about organ donation to protect the children. To me, the donation process seems to be very frightening. I think the guardians sympathize with the students and want them to live a full but short worry free life. If I knew that I was destined to die at a young age I would be constantly worried that it would happen at any time, and that is no way to live your life. On the other hand, the guardians could be withholding this information for safety reasons. If people knew their purpose in life was to die early, many of these people would probably go crazy. They would blow off school, get into trouble, and neglect responsibilities because they know it won't affect them in the future since they won't be there. I understand why the guardians would tell and not tell the students their destinies, however I also believe they deserve to know what's in store for them in their later life. I think being a guardian would be an extremely difficult job. That is probably why Miss Lucy reacts so strongly sometimes and why Madame cried watching Kathy. I feel like these two in particular really sympathize with the students and maybe don't agree with what happens to them. Could these feelings present conflict later in the book?

Never Let Me Go 5

"You're. . . special. So keeping yourselves well, keeping yourselves very healthy inside, that's much more important for each of you than it is for me." pg. 69

Chapter six is still part of the exposition. Kathy is still reflecting on events that happened in the past and there has yet to be any major conflict. However, her memories continue to allude to some mystery. I know that these Hailsham students different, but I still am not sure why. I'm beginning to think that the donors referred to in the first chapter are organ donors, and that the students are being bread to donate their organs. That would explain why it is much more important for them to remain healthy. But, who on earth would volunteer their child for this type of sacrifice? Maybe they are orphans, or perhaps they were scientifically created like in Brave New World. If they are in fact created scientifically, that could be why they are unable to have kids. But, if Kathy and the rest of the Hailsham students are destined to give up their organs,  why is the exposition so long? Why do we need to get to know the characters if they are going to die young? Could the long, detailed exposition be to present the conflict? Maybe, if the students are scientifically created, some people don't see them as real humans, but from the descriptive exposition, the readers see that they are indeed real people, which presents an ethical conflict. Should these people have to give up their lives just because they were created differently? I am really curious to find out if my line of thinking is right or if I'm way off base. Either way I am anxious to see what happens next!

Never Let Me Go 4

"There were between six and ten of us, the figure changing whenever Ruth allowed in a new member or expelled someone." pg. 49

Through Kathy's personal anecdotes, we see that Ruth is a very bossy and controlling person. She is the center of attention and likes everything to be her way. Ruth's dynamics with the other girls reminds me of the television show Pretty Little Liars. I feel like Ruth is Ally. She decides who can and cannot be in the group of friends, and despite how brutally mean or annoyingly conceited she is, everyone wants to be her friend. Ruth has the same sort of power over people as Ally does. She will do things to make you angry but when you finally build up enough courage to confront her, she makes you feel bad for accusing her. Personally, I don't understand why someone would want to be friends with a person like that. It seems like that friendship is not worth the work it involves. I would just be too frustrated to even deal with everything she does. Also, I don't really see where the book is going. Earlier on, I thought the chapters were alluding to many suspenseful events, but nothing has happened. It's simply Kathy rehashing her relationship with Ruth. I'm ready for some action to start.

 

Never Let Me Go 3

"Madame was afraid of us. But she was afraid of us in the same way someone might be afraid of spiders." pg. 35

Ishiguro's use of this analogy made me understand how Madame reacted to the children. But i don't understand why she would be afraid of them. Throughout this chapter I picked up some inklings that these Hailsham students are different from ordinary people, but I'm not sure how. I feel like the students at Hailsham are being sheltered from some aspect of life. There is something that they are not being told or exposed to. That is what I think the Gallery is for. Maybe the art work that Madame selects isn't necessarily the best, but perhaps it reflects whatever is being hidden from the students. I feel like if Madame took the best art work, it would be put on display, not taken to some secret gallery that may or may not exist. To me, Hailsham seems to be a very mysterious place with many secrets that will soon unfold. I can't wait to discover what happens in the rest of the novel.

Never Let Me Go 2

"Or maybe she could sense where my talk was leading, and didn't want to go that way." pg. 18

To me, this quote above foreshadows a bad memory or experience from Hailsham. Ruth, in her recovery, seemed to only want to reminisce about the good aspects of her time at Hailsham.   I think that the neglect to address whatever way Kathy is discussing will be a major conflict in the story. I just think that Hailsham can't be this perfect boarding school. It has to have its' secrets, and its these secrets that I think will provide conflict. Also, I am astonished that people tease and make fun of Tommy. With his physical appearance, I would think everyone would be too intimidated to even dare to bully him. But, maybe the dynamics at Hailsham are different than in today's society. Maybe there, athletics aren't a source of popularity and intimidation. However, I'm glad that people finally quit bullying Tommy.  I'm curious to find out what he tells Kathy when they meet. I'm also curious why Kathy is so interested in Tommy and wants to know all of his business. Could it be that she is a genuinely caring person or could it be that she simply has a crush on Tommy and is too afraid to admit it?

Never Let Me Go 1

"And anyway, if I'd never started choosing, how would I ever have got close to Ruth and Tommy after all those years." pg. 4

Well, I'm on to book number two. The first major difference I noticed in the book was the point of view. It's first person as compared to third in Brave New World. I think this will provide the readers with more insight to the main character, Kathy H. Ishiguro implements rhetorical questions that lead to the use of flashbacks.  The flashbacks seem to have a nostalgic feel to them; however, I think that certain aspects of them may contain a dark mystery. I don't know why, but I feel like there is something that is being purposely omitted from Kathy's memory of Hailsham. I don't think Hailsham is as perfect as she claims to remember. I was also a little confused by the terminology of "carers" and "donors." Hopefully this will be explained soon. I just hope that this novel isn't as out there as Brave New World was.

Brave New World 20

"And then the solitude! Whole days passed during which he never saw a human being" pg. 245

While I was reading this last chapter (and most of the rest of the book), I was confused. But now, stepping back and looking at it as a whole, it sort of makes sense to me. Overall, I really pity John. He has had a rough life and it never got any easier for him. He was always different from others. Even though John claimed he wanted to be alone, I think that it was his solitude that drove him to lash out against Lenina and ultimately take his own life. I think its ironic how Huxley describes John as an ape and savage, but then the "civilized" people join in the same ape-like, uncivilized behavior. I think that this, and the entire purpose of the novel, was to warn us of the dangers of technology. Huxley creates a seemingly "perfect" society driven by technological advances, but in the end, the citizens resort to savage, uncivilized behavior. I think Huxley's message is to not let technology take over our society. In today's world new inventions are created everyday, but it is our job to remember what is important in life and what truly produces happiness.

Brave New World 19

"But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin." pg. 240

In chapter 17, I was very impressed with the way the Controller was able to refute everyone of John's arguments. There was always a well thought out explanation as to why certain circumstances are the way they are. These explanations all stem back to the idea that stability produces happiness. But, I don't agree with that logic. I think that happiness comes from connections to people and overcoming struggles. If a person lives a perfect life, there is no thrill or excitement to become happy about. If you think about all the genres of movies, each one evokes emotion. Thrillers produce a mood of excitement and suspense, comedies produce laughter and giddiness, and tragedies produce sadness and angst.  If you were to watch a movie about a person living a squeaky clean, perfect life, with no problems, what type of emotion would you feel other than boredom? This is what John is trying to convey to the Controller. He wants to live in a place where there is real thrill and excitement, not an artificial sensation created by soma. I really don't know what to expect in this last chapter. I hope that there is some real excitement and some sort of change is made. I know that deep down the Controller really wants the world John is describing. I just don't understand why "stability and happiness" are worth giving up a life of freedom.

Brave New World 18

"I almost envy you, Mr. Watson." pg. 227

I was pretty surprised by this chapter. I never would have guessed that the Controller would have been so sympathetic and understanding. As I think about the reasoning behind the World State, I almost understand the purpose. I think that this world was created so that no one has to endure suffering or pain. It seems to me that the Nine Years' War was such a tragic event, that the survivors wanted to help the future generations. They didn't want people to have to experience something so horrible. Even though the people are being deprived from individuality, it is being done for the right reasons. Its not so much an evil cult, but a sort of parental protection for the young. Mustapha Mond sacrificed his life of curiosity so reign over the World State, to ensure that these people will be able to live a life of "happiness and stability." Then, for those like Helmholtz, there are secluded places where it is okay to be an individual and express ideas and thoughts. That is why Mustapha envies Watson. Mustapha knows that Watson is about to go embark on the life he has always dreamed about; however, he knows his duty is to preside over the World State.

Brave New World 17

"Twins, twins. . . Like maggots they had swarmed defilingly over the mystery of Linda's death." pg. 209

This simile expresses John's true disgust and hatred with the World State. In realizing his feelings about this place, he decides to take action. I'm glad to see that someone is able to see past all the lying and superficial happiness and is willing to attempt to stop it. While reading this chapter, my initial feeling that this society was a cult was reemphasized. The workers are brainwashed into liking their minimal role in society. Then, when someone tries to help them become free, the police come and arrest the person (John) and fill the air with soma so that everyone is "happy." How is this society not a cult? I finally understand the purpose to this novel now. John is sent to help free the citizens in the World State. Without him, the people will never experience what it is like to connect to someone, to be a free man, or to have a soul.  John, like myself, realizes that the main element of brainwashing is soma. In order to rescue the people, he will have to find a way to either eliminate all the soma, or convince the people that they do not have to depend on it.

Brave New World 16

"The nurse stood irresolute, looking now at the kneeling figure by the bed (the scandalous exhibition!) and now (poor children!)..." pg. 206

I understand why John became so angry during this chapter. No one could comprehend why John would be grieving over a death. It is so odd because John's reaction would be fairly typical in our world; however, everyone in the World State found it very strange that John felt the need to mourn. None of the people at the hospital had ever been so emotionally connected to another person before, so they found John's remorse to be disrespectful and inappropriate. I think that is kind of ironic because today when someone close dies, it is often disrespectful and inappropriate not to mourn. I think that this death will be very hard on John, one because he has just lost the only person he has been truly close to, and two because he has no one to share in his grief. I know (at least for me personally) it is much easier to deal with tragedy when you are surrounded by loved ones. I could not even imagine dealing with a death so close to me, let alone being isolated and without comfort and support from others. I would not be surprised if John's violence becomes a more prominent issue as a result of Linda's death.

Brave New World 15

"I love you more than anything in the world." pg. 192

In this chapter, John expresses his overwhelming feelings for Lenina, and Lenina asserts her sexual drive towards John. Their encounter is nothing but disastrous. Their opposite beliefs leave them in a controversial  conflict that results in John harming Lenina. He reacts so violently when he sees Lenina as a whore. However, she cannot seem to see why he is so distraught. Their different backgrounds prevent them from having a rational discussion about their feelings. I think that John hurt Lenina because that is what he experienced growing up. Its almost as if he didn't know it was wrong. But, I'm curious if Lenina will forgive John for what he did to her. Also, if Lenina does forgive John, I wonder if John will be able to let go of his strict traditional values, or if Lenina will be able to commit herself to one man.

Brave New World 14

"It was the sort of idea that might easily decondition the more unsettled minds among the higher castes--make them loose their faith in happiness as the Sovereign Good and take to believing, instead, that the goal was somewhere beyond, somewhere outside the present human sphere; that the purpose of life was not the maintenance of well-being, but some intensification and refining of consciousness, some enlargement of knowledge." pg. 177

Mustapha Mond's reaction to this "new theory of biology" really surprised me. I wasn't shocked by the rejection, but I was shocked about how forceful the rejection was. Mustapha seemed to be more baffled by the presentation than by the concept itself. It was as if he knew that the ideas were true, but couldn't admit it. In the quote above, it mentions that this was the type of concept that would provoke others to betray their conditioning. I think he reacted so strongly because he was fearful that this could happen. If this new theory was released to the public, the World State, as they knew it, would be forever changed.  The theory developed a life purpose for enriching knowledge rather than a pursuit of happiness. The new theory is like how the world is constructed today. We (most people) strive to accomplish all that we can in order to ensure that we are happy. This is because in our world, happiness is equated with success rather that pleasure. If the people of the World State knew they were capable of so much more physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, the dynamics of their lives would severely alter. I think that Mustapha knows that the new theory is more of an ideal scenario, but in his world, it is blasphemy to admit it. 

Brave New World 13

"Success went fizzily to Bernard's head, and in the process completely reconciled him to a world which, up till then, he had found very unsatisfactory." pg. 157

During this chapter, my opinion of Bernard changes significantly. I'm extremely disappointed that he would let the spot light get to him like it does. I used to feel sorry for Bernard because  he was an outcast and was above all the superficial behavior of the World State. But now, it's as if he is the ring leader of it all. He is using John as a source to gain popularity. I think Bernard will have a rude awakening when the citizens of the World State begin to lose interest in John. Bernard will no longer have his clutch to success and superiority. He will be back to the same old awkward Bernard that he was in the beginning of the novel. However, I think that he won't be able to recover from his status loss, which will leave him more isolated and alone then ever before. This is because he will have burnt every friendship he had prior to his rising popularity. His compulsive boastfulness towards Helmholtz will drive that friendship away, and Bernard's poor treatment of John will diminish that friendship as well. This reminds me of the movie Mean Girls. Lindsay Lohan starts the school year off as the new girl with no friends. She befriends a few outcasts early on in the film. Then, she is invited to sit with the "plastics" or the popular girls. Her status quickly rises and she is now "popular" and leaves her friends behind. Then when the popular crowd turns on her she is left with no one. I think this is what will happen to Bernard.

 

Brave New World 12

"There was a gasp, a murmur of astonishment and horror; a young girl screamed..." pg. 150

Even though this chapter was fairly short, many key events occurred. Bernard Marx is exiled from the World State and the Director encounters his son for the first time in his life. But, despite all the action going on in this chapter, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Linda. First of all, she was described as a horrifying monster based upon her looks. I bet that must have been hard for her because she used to look like everyone in the World State. As if her wretched looks weren't enough, she faced condemning judgment because of having a child. Then, to top it all off, Tomakin didn't acknowledge who she was and that he was truly the father of her child. I think that is a lot of misfortune to encounter in one day. If I were Linda, I would have terribly low self-esteem now and possess major resentment towards the Director. He robbed her of her lifestyle, the only one she had ever known. I think the Director needs to assume responsibility for his actions and learn how to deal with the situation in a proper way.  

Brave New World 11

"How beautiful she was! How beautiful!" pg. 144

It is quite evident from this chapter that John's attraction to Lenina is continuously growing. John recites one of William Shakespeare's lyric poems to express his desire for her. I'm torn as to what I foresee happening next in the novel. I think that Lenina will not be able to resist John's passion for her. As a result, they will get together and through spending time with one another,  John will very slowly release Lenina from her conditioned mindset, leaving Bernard hurt that he was not able to do the same. Or, Lenina will still fall for John's passion, however, it won't be in the way he was hoping. Lenina will see John as just another conquest of promiscuity, and John will be devastated when he discovers his deep, heartfelt feelings are not reciprocated. Then, Bernard, with his overwhelming insecurities, will revel in John's disappointment and heartbreak. Despite Lenina's reaction to John, I think the two of them will physically get together leaving someone hurt and alone.

Brave New World 10

"O brave new world," he repeated. "O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once." pg. 139

After accepting Bernard's invitation to go to London, John is eager to encounter civilized people. I think that is completely normal and expected given the life he has lived so far. Through flashbacks to John's childhood, we learn how truly savage these Indians are. When they were first referred to as "savages," I thought that Bernard was just over exaggerating, but I now think they really do fit their description. The Indians whipped and stoned John just because he was different. There is really not much difference between the civilized and uncivilized people in their treatment of outcasts. They both resort to abuse. The uncivilized use physical abuse, where as the civilized use mental abuse. Either way, it is still very hurtful to the individual that is different. As if the abuse from the Indians wasn't enough, John was constantly reminded of how he ruined his "mother's" life and how unwanted he was. I don't blame John for his optimism about the Other Place, as Linda calls it. If I experienced the childhood John had, I would dream of going to a world that was described as pure happiness too.

Brave New World 9

"And I was so ashamed. Just think of it: me, a Beta--having a baby: put yourself in my place." pg. 120

During this chapter, I made quite a few realizations. First of all, Linda is the woman the director became so emotionally attached to. This happened because Linda became pregnant with the directors baby, John. After discovering she was pregnant, Linda decided to remain in New Mexico rather than returning to the World State. Her reasoning was shame. By the way Linda describes her life on the Reservation, the standards must be extremely high and the judgement unbearable in the World State for her to choose to stay in New Mexico over returning to London. Also, the conditioning systems in the World State must be designed for long term remembrance, because Linda can still spout off lines she learned in her sleep after a significant period of time away. The last thing I noticed was the way John and Lenina were each characterized. They were both beautifully described which led me to sense the attraction they have for each other. I think that this foreshadows the development of a relationship between them. However, with their significantly different upbringings, I think a relationship between the two of them will only cause severe conflict.

Brave New World 8

"Don't imagine," he said, "that I'd had any indecorous relation with the girl. Nothing emotional, nothing longdrawn. It was all perfectly healthy and normal." pg. 97

While reading the director's personal anecdote of his trip to New Mexico with his girl at the time, I discovered a flaw in the conditioning system. The conditioning does not prevent people from having the capability to relate to others in a deeper way. I think that the "savages" in New Mexico had an unspoken effect on the director that caused him to develop feelings of compassion and concern. With enough distance from the World State, I believe any person could gain individuality and separation from their predestination. But, any trigger will send the person back to their original mindset. Also, once a person experiences these deeper feelings, he is always reminded and conflicted by them, just like the director. I think this is why, in the World State, the people must obtain permits before traveling to places that have "savages." If too many people experience what is normality in today's world, then the social system in the World State will break down.

Brave New World 7

"I want to know what passion is," she heard him saying. "I want to feel something strongly." pg. 94

At this point in the novel, Bernard encounters his first direct external conflict. Lenina has trouble comprehending how Bernard is able to think on his own and break away from his conditioning. This further emphasizes Bernard's difference from the rest of the World State. Bernard longs for a woman he can connect to and commit to; however, Lenina desires the exact opposite. She wants to have fun with many different men. I find that kind of ironic because today in America the role of each gender is switched (stereotypically at least). Its odd to read about a man wanting to settle down and a woman wanting to let loose. But then again, this entire book is strange and twisted so why am I surprised? Bernard has fantasies about a world without predestination and conditioning, and Lenina would not even fathom what that could be like. I thought that this conflict would be the end of their time together, but I was wrong. Even though Lenina refers to Bernard as "odd," she still accompanies him to New Mexico. I think that Bernard hopes that this blossoms into a relationship, but I do not foresee that happening. I don't think Lenina will be able to stray from here pre-conditioned beliefs. But, who knows, maybe Bernard's continuous influence will overcome Lenina's chosen mindset.

Brave New World 6

"Yes, everybody's happy now." pg. 75

This quote reiterates the conditioning each person undergoes in World State. The controllers program each "class" to appreciate their own particular ranking in society. Each class, no matter how high or low they are ranked, are perfectly content where they stand. The reasoning behind this is perhaps to avoid social rebellion. If the lower ranked classes are conditioned to be happy with their placement, they have no reason to revolt. This just enforces the power the controller has over each human being. I think that this power is symbolized by the "drug" soma. When the people take soma, they are reminded of the social structure of the World State and are more freely promiscuous and willing to be with others, which is highly accepted in this society.

This quote is also rather misleading. Bernard, who would be included in everybody, is not happy. He is still an outcast and can not seem to accept the structure of society. He does his best to fit in by participating in his Solidarity Service and then lying about how fulfilling of an experience it was. Instead of being wonderful, Bernard felt more isolated and separated than ever before. Its as if the void between Bernard and the others is continually growing more and more, leaving Bernard to be more frustrated by the social customs of the World State.

Brave New World 5

"What the two men shared was the knowledge that they were individuals." pg. 67

Throughout this chapter, Bernard Marx came to realize how different he truly was from everyone. However, he also realized he was not alone. He had a friend, Helmholtz Watson, who was also unlike the rest of the robotic humans. During a meeting together, Watson pondered a series of rhetorical questions such as, "What is there more important to say?" and "Can you say something about nothing?" I think that these rhetorical questions were asked in seeking to find the meaning to why they are different. These questions show how differently their mind's work in comparison to the others. Bernard and Watson represent a deeper intuition to knowledge and curiosity.  They understand that they have been set apart from the other people, yet they do not understand why. These two characters seem to have more complexity to them and also reflect a nature of care and concern, where as the rest of the society does not. Watson hopes that Bernard may have an answer to why they are different, but he is wondering the same thing. I think that being outcasts will form a union between these characters and that their curiosity will cause conflict with the head of their society, resulting in a major turn of events.

Brave New World 4

"After all, every one belongs to every one else." pg. 43

The quotation above displays an aphorism about the lifestyle of the World State. In the years After Ford (A.F.), people are subconsciously programed to not "attach" to other  people. I think this belief stems from the creator of the World State. My theory is that sometime during this person's life, he or she was severely hurt and betrayed by someone of trust. This person was unable to recover from the tragedy and as a result created an alternate universe where people are trained from birth to never grow attachment to anyone. If this is done, no one will get hurt. The creator must have feared being alone above anything, because the mere utterance of the word alone horrified Fanny and everyone else in the World State. I think its kind of ironic how here the ultimate fear is being alone when these people are conditioned to distance themselves emotionally from everyone. To me, I think that this would cause more loneliness than becoming vulnerable with people. However, it is clear that not all people in the World State agree with this method. Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne seem to stand out from the normality. It seems that they would each rather be with one person than with everyone, which is the ideal scenario in today's world. I think that this different mindset will result in major conflict later on in the book.

Brave New World 3

"They'll grow up with what the psychologists used to call an 'instinctive' hatred of books and flowers." pg. 22

The second chapter introduces us to the allusion of Pavlov's Dog. This was an experiment done by Ivan Pavlov in which he trained a dog to produce saliva at the sound of a bell. At the Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, infants are trained to associate books and flowers with hatred. The author alludes to this experiment to help develop the dynamics of the factory. This allusion helps to describe the types of programing and conditioning that take place at the factory; however, the reason for why they take place is unclear to me. I am really not seeing the point to the entire factory or it's dynamics. To me, this seems to be huge cult with an evil dictator. The author writes, "A love of nature keeps no factories busy." (pg. 23). What is the purpose of the factory and why does it need to be busy? Is it to mass produce a desired society? If so, why is this social structure so desired? Hopefully my questions will be answered as I continue reading.

Brave New World 2

"Singapore has often produced over sixteen thousand five hundred; and Mombasa has actually touched the seventeen thousand mark. But they have unfair advantages." pg. 9

When I started these blogs, I was just going to do one for each chapter. But, there's only eighteen chapters, so I'm going to do two for chapter 1. As I was reading, I noticed how competitive the director and Mr. Foster were with other countries when it came to the number of human adults produced from a single ovary. Singapore and Mombasa were currently beating London, but they were not giving up. This reminded me of the Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union beginning  in the 1950's. This race consisted of space exploration and sending man to the moon. The race ended when the United States became the first country to send men to the moon. Apollo 11 landed on July 20, 1969, with Neal Armstrong being the first man to step foot on the moon. The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union is very similar to London's competition with Singapore and Mombasa.

Brave New World 1

"A troop of newly arrived students, very young, pink and callow, followed nervously, rather abjectly, at the Director's heels." pg. 4

First of all, I think that this book is really strange and hard to follow. So, I think I'll start of with something I know, (or think I know): Indirect characterization. The author, Aldous Huxley, portrays the director in an intimidating and controlling manner. By the way the students nervously responded to him and viciously wrote down every word he said, I concluded that the director was a rather frightening man. The director's characterization showed he is a figure of authority.This authority is definitely needed in this place of such intellectually and technologically advanced processes. I think that the director was indirectly characterized to separate him from the humans that are being mass produced, who were directly characterized. These humans are developed with little individuality, making them almost robotic. By characterizing the director in a different way, the author is distinguishing a difference between the true humans and mass produced humans.