Quote 1
"She tailed painfully up the steps. Shapeless, breathing heavily" (268).
Dilsey is climbing up the stairs to wait on Mrs. Compson. Dilsey is the servant of the Compson family. This scene shows her old because she is having a hard time doing her duties. However, it also shows how she has sustained throughout time. She is old with age because of time but time has not torn her down like the other members of the Compson family. The factor that is different between her and the family is that she does not dwell on the past. She does her job to take care of the family and doesn't ponder about her memories. Dilsey is the figure that survives the deterioration of the family.
Quote 2
"I've seed de first en de last... I seed de beginning, en now I sees de endin" (297).
Dilsey has witnesses the downfall of the Compsons without being directly affected. Dilsey has been with the Compson family since their children, Jason, Caddy, Benjy, and Quentin were little. Dilsey had to deal with the family falling apart. She has a sense of the time that has past. Unlike the other characters, the sense of time is sequential and is a normal way of life. Benjy does not have a sense of time and has multiple flashbacks. Quentin also has flashbacks but he is trying to stop time and forget the sense of time. Jason has flashbacks as well but only to justify his anger. Dilsey is the character that truly understands that life moves on with time.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Saturday, December 6, 2014
The Sound and The Fury: Book 3
Quote 1
"By the time I got the car stopped and grabbed her hands there was about a dozen people looking. It made me so mad for a minute it kind of blinded me" (188).
Jason is always angry in the novel, whether it be in the past or present. He always tries to blame things on other people and never himself. He is also obsessed with Caddy, but not like his brothers, he is obsessed about how she ruined his life. She was the reason why he didn't get the job Herbert promised him. Jason is capable of many things because of this anger. This hatred "blinded" him because when he is mad, the emotion acts for itself. He is no longer in control when he is furious. Because he is always mad, it portrays the message that he is rarely in control of his life.
Quote 2
"Once a bitch, always a bitch, what I say" (180).
Jason believes that people will always remain in fault. This is the first line Jason says in his part. It basically describes his personality. He is spiteful and believes that people will not change. He blames his job opportunity loss to Caddy because Herbert promised him a job as a banker but Caddy ruined it. Jason now has to look after Caddy's daughter, Quentin. Jason thinks Caddy's bad qualities have all transferred to Quentin because after all, Caddy was horrible and so is Quentin. He doesn't even consider the fact that Quentin is terrible is because she was raised by a terrible person like Jason. The reason why Jason has gone through so much misfortune is due to Caddy and he goes through more misfortune because of Quentin.
"By the time I got the car stopped and grabbed her hands there was about a dozen people looking. It made me so mad for a minute it kind of blinded me" (188).
Jason is always angry in the novel, whether it be in the past or present. He always tries to blame things on other people and never himself. He is also obsessed with Caddy, but not like his brothers, he is obsessed about how she ruined his life. She was the reason why he didn't get the job Herbert promised him. Jason is capable of many things because of this anger. This hatred "blinded" him because when he is mad, the emotion acts for itself. He is no longer in control when he is furious. Because he is always mad, it portrays the message that he is rarely in control of his life.
Quote 2
"Once a bitch, always a bitch, what I say" (180).
Jason believes that people will always remain in fault. This is the first line Jason says in his part. It basically describes his personality. He is spiteful and believes that people will not change. He blames his job opportunity loss to Caddy because Herbert promised him a job as a banker but Caddy ruined it. Jason now has to look after Caddy's daughter, Quentin. Jason thinks Caddy's bad qualities have all transferred to Quentin because after all, Caddy was horrible and so is Quentin. He doesn't even consider the fact that Quentin is terrible is because she was raised by a terrible person like Jason. The reason why Jason has gone through so much misfortune is due to Caddy and he goes through more misfortune because of Quentin.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
The Sound and The Fury: Book 2
Quote 1
"It was Grandfather's and when Father gave it to me he said I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire; it's rather excruciating-ly apt that you will use it to gain the reducto absurdum of all human experience which can fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father's" (76).
Quentin destroys his watch because it is really no use to him. The watch signifies the actual time. Each second passing by is the past. However, if you do not know the time or cannot see the seconds ticking by on the watch, you do not really know how much time has passed or whether it is the present or the past. Quentin does not like knowing the time because it reminds him of how much time has past. He specifically asks the man at the clock store not to tell him the time. The actual time is different from individual time. Time is perceived differently for different people. Time seems to pass by really quickly when you're distracted or occupied. But when you have nothing to do, time seems to drag on. Mr. Compson gives this watch to Quentin but he tells Quentin that it can "fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father's" (76). Therefore, this watch is of nothing use because it does not measure an individual's perception of time.
"I could hear mine, ticking away inside my pocket, even thought nobody could see it, even though it could tell nothing if anyone could" (85).
Quentin wants to escape the sound of time. At first, he tries to ignore time. In contrast, he actually has a great sense of time because he'll feel like it's noon. He says he hears time ticking away like a clock. However, he broke his watch as an attempt to stop time. Quentin wants to leave the world because life is meaningless to him. He cannot escape the sound of the ticking clock in his life so the only way to truly escape is to end his life.
"It was Grandfather's and when Father gave it to me he said I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire; it's rather excruciating-ly apt that you will use it to gain the reducto absurdum of all human experience which can fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father's" (76).
Quentin destroys his watch because it is really no use to him. The watch signifies the actual time. Each second passing by is the past. However, if you do not know the time or cannot see the seconds ticking by on the watch, you do not really know how much time has passed or whether it is the present or the past. Quentin does not like knowing the time because it reminds him of how much time has past. He specifically asks the man at the clock store not to tell him the time. The actual time is different from individual time. Time is perceived differently for different people. Time seems to pass by really quickly when you're distracted or occupied. But when you have nothing to do, time seems to drag on. Mr. Compson gives this watch to Quentin but he tells Quentin that it can "fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father's" (76). Therefore, this watch is of nothing use because it does not measure an individual's perception of time.
"I could hear mine, ticking away inside my pocket, even thought nobody could see it, even though it could tell nothing if anyone could" (85).
Quentin wants to escape the sound of time. At first, he tries to ignore time. In contrast, he actually has a great sense of time because he'll feel like it's noon. He says he hears time ticking away like a clock. However, he broke his watch as an attempt to stop time. Quentin wants to leave the world because life is meaningless to him. He cannot escape the sound of the ticking clock in his life so the only way to truly escape is to end his life.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
The Sound and The Fury: Book 1
Quote 1
"Caddy smelled like trees" (44).
Caddy is the mother figure in Benjy's life. She takes care of him and plays with him more than his own mother. Caddy impacts Benjy's life greatly so Benjy often gets flashbacks of Caddy. Benji associates Caddy with the smell of trees. The smell of trees represents the Caddy Benjy wants her to be. When Caddy is with Charlie, Benjy cries because he doesn't like Charlie. However, Charlie doesn't like Benjy either and keeps telling Caddy to get Benjy's nigger. When that doesn't happen, Charlie kisses Caddy in front of Benjy. Caddy and Benjy escape and Caddy washes her mouth with water and soap. After she is done, Benjy says, once again, "Caddy smelled like trees" (48). Once Caddy washed away her sins, she became the Caddy Benjy knew and was familiar with.
Quote 2
"'It's froze.' Caddy said. 'Look.' She broke the top of the water and held a piece of it against my face. 'Ice. That means how cold it is'" (13).
Benjy is the idiot because he is obviously, mentally retarded. However, William Faulkner conveyed a lot more in Benjy's character than the label "idiot". Benjy knows what is happening around him, but he does not understand why it is happening. He relies on Caddy to translate what is happening in the real world into his world. Without her, he can only smell things and see shapes without knowing what they mean. Benjy is the character with the strongest sense of right and wrong. He acts like Caddy's conscience when she does something with a guy, "Hush. I won't anymore" (48). Benjy cries whenever something is wrong or out of order.
"Caddy smelled like trees" (44).
Caddy is the mother figure in Benjy's life. She takes care of him and plays with him more than his own mother. Caddy impacts Benjy's life greatly so Benjy often gets flashbacks of Caddy. Benji associates Caddy with the smell of trees. The smell of trees represents the Caddy Benjy wants her to be. When Caddy is with Charlie, Benjy cries because he doesn't like Charlie. However, Charlie doesn't like Benjy either and keeps telling Caddy to get Benjy's nigger. When that doesn't happen, Charlie kisses Caddy in front of Benjy. Caddy and Benjy escape and Caddy washes her mouth with water and soap. After she is done, Benjy says, once again, "Caddy smelled like trees" (48). Once Caddy washed away her sins, she became the Caddy Benjy knew and was familiar with.
Quote 2
"'It's froze.' Caddy said. 'Look.' She broke the top of the water and held a piece of it against my face. 'Ice. That means how cold it is'" (13).
Benjy is the idiot because he is obviously, mentally retarded. However, William Faulkner conveyed a lot more in Benjy's character than the label "idiot". Benjy knows what is happening around him, but he does not understand why it is happening. He relies on Caddy to translate what is happening in the real world into his world. Without her, he can only smell things and see shapes without knowing what they mean. Benjy is the character with the strongest sense of right and wrong. He acts like Caddy's conscience when she does something with a guy, "Hush. I won't anymore" (48). Benjy cries whenever something is wrong or out of order.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
A Farewell to Arms: Book 5
Quote 1
"She was unconscious all the time, and it did not take her very long to die" (331).
Catherine just gave birth; however, the baby dies. Frederick stays by her side as the doctor is sewing her wounds. This quote shows that death does not have to be dramatic. Even though it was painful for Frederic to see his loved one die, it was good that Catherine was freed from her agony quickly. It would've been more painful for both of them if the process dragged on.
Quote 2
"But after I got them to leave and shut the door and turn off the light it wasn't any good. It was like saying good-by to a statue. After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain" (332).
In the end, death will triumph everything, leaving ones in isolation. After Catherine dies, Frederick wants to be alone with Catherine. But he finds out that this is not comforting because it was like "saying good-by to a statue". All the life has been drained out of her and she is now just a body. Frederick is heartbroken and this scene shows how much he loved her because he didn't love her for her body, he loved her for her. We continually see this repetition of rain symbolizing as isolation and loneliness. Catherine has told Frederick, many times, that she had a phobia of the rain but it would be okay if he was with her. Catherine has also said, "...sometimes I see me dead in it" (126). She is referring that she will die alone and in a sense she does because Frederick doesn't die with her. However, Frederick stayed by her side the entire time she was dying and his love remained pure. Catherine kind of foreshadows what happens to Frederick when she says, "And sometimes I see you dead in it" (126). The reader does not know about Frederick's death but the reader does know that, "[Frederick] walked back to the hotel in the rain". Frederick is not dead but he is in solitude without Catherine. There is a parallel between the rain and death because before, the rain tore the couple apart but death is a more powerful factor. Death is unavoidable and part of nature, just like rain. But in the end, death is the one who leaves Frederick in the rain alone.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
A Farewell to Arms: Book 4
Quote 1
"It is hard to leave the country but in no way impossible" (238).
Frederick has gotten off the train in Milan and heads towards a wine shop. There, he has a conversation with the proprietor. The proprietor mentions that if Frederick is in trouble, he could stay there and that it is hard to leave the country but not entirely impossible to leave. This gives a glimmer of hope that no matter how difficult leaving the country is, it is still doable. This gives a parallel to real life where you have to believe that no matter how the odds are against you, you always have that chance, no matter how slim, to succeed.
Quote 2
“It’s cheerful rain” (278).
Isolation is an illusion brought upon a time of chaos. In the beginning of the book, Catherine displayed her fear of the rain, “I’m afraid of the rain” (125). The rain symbolizes isolation as it separates Catherine and Frederick during the war. When Frederick has to go back to the front, leaving Catherine all alone, the rain is present in the background “The retreat was orderly, wet, and sullen” (188). However, when Catherine and Frederick leave the war zone, there is happy rain. This cruel rain has lost its power of tearing them apart outside of the war. Catherine and Frederick believe that they will be together and the fear of solitude has vanished.
Monday, October 13, 2014
A Farewell to Arms: Book 3
Quote 1
"I am very tired of this war. If I was away, I do not believe I would come back" (165).
Frederick was talking to the major and the major stated that he was exhausted of the war and if he could leave, he would never come back. Throughout the book, Frederick discusses the war with many people. The major says an "elephant in the room" thought. The major says out loud the possibility of running away. This puts Frederick and the major at the same level because later on, Frederic does plan to run away from the army with Catherine.
Quote 2
"'I'm sorry he makes you so uncomfortable' I was asleep all the time, she said. You've been talking in your sleep" (197).
In this passage, Ernest Hemingway portrays the idea that true love has the potential to flourish in a time of chaos. The interactions between Frederick and Catherine has been set in a time of war. The actual disorderly army plans, "...nothing had been done about organizing them for defense" (183) shows the chaos the war has put people in. Frederick and Catherine manages to fine each other during this disarrayed event. Their love grows as Frederick believes he can as psychic connection with Catherine. Even in Frederick's sleep, he worries about the baby disrupting Catherine's sleep. This shows the strengthening of their love not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
A Farewell to Arms: Book 2
Quote 1
"When I saw her I was in love with her" (91).
After Frederick gets shot in Milan, he was rushed to the American hospital. Miss Barkley goes to visit him after not seeing him for a long time. When Frederick sees Miss Barkley again, he states how beautiful she is and says he was in love with her. Throughout the story, Miss Barkley asks Frederick multiple times if he loves her and Frederick just lies and says yes. This is the first time he tells the reader he loves her on his own.
Quote 2
"And you'll always love me, won't you?" (125).
Love will be a companion at a time of loneliness. Catherine asks Frederick if he will ever stop loving her and he replies that he will always love her. Catherine asks him "...the rain won't make any difference?" (125). In this sense, rain symbolizes an inevitable thing that will separate them and leave them in solitude. Rain is a naturally occurring thing that surpasses the human capabilities. Catherine thinks this rain will tear things apart, leaving them divided. Catherine states her fear of the cold rain to Frederick: "Because I'm afraid of the rain" (125) and asks him to stay with her. Catherine hints for a companion in the rain when she says she's not scared of the rain if she is with Frederick. Catherine shows her fear of dying alone when she says "...sometimes I see me dead in it" (126). She says the rain can take anyone because "And sometimes I see you dead in it" (126) to Frederick. In order to solve her fear of the rain and isolation, she seeks Frederick's love as a companion that will be with her through the storm. If he's love is not strong enough to comfort her, it will be a distraction from the rain. But if Frederick's love is as strong as they portray it to be, then it will truly rid her fear of dying alone and isolation in general.
Bo
"When I saw her I was in love with her" (91).
After Frederick gets shot in Milan, he was rushed to the American hospital. Miss Barkley goes to visit him after not seeing him for a long time. When Frederick sees Miss Barkley again, he states how beautiful she is and says he was in love with her. Throughout the story, Miss Barkley asks Frederick multiple times if he loves her and Frederick just lies and says yes. This is the first time he tells the reader he loves her on his own.
Quote 2
"And you'll always love me, won't you?" (125).
Love will be a companion at a time of loneliness. Catherine asks Frederick if he will ever stop loving her and he replies that he will always love her. Catherine asks him "...the rain won't make any difference?" (125). In this sense, rain symbolizes an inevitable thing that will separate them and leave them in solitude. Rain is a naturally occurring thing that surpasses the human capabilities. Catherine thinks this rain will tear things apart, leaving them divided. Catherine states her fear of the cold rain to Frederick: "Because I'm afraid of the rain" (125) and asks him to stay with her. Catherine hints for a companion in the rain when she says she's not scared of the rain if she is with Frederick. Catherine shows her fear of dying alone when she says "...sometimes I see me dead in it" (126). She says the rain can take anyone because "And sometimes I see you dead in it" (126) to Frederick. In order to solve her fear of the rain and isolation, she seeks Frederick's love as a companion that will be with her through the storm. If he's love is not strong enough to comfort her, it will be a distraction from the rain. But if Frederick's love is as strong as they portray it to be, then it will truly rid her fear of dying alone and isolation in general.
Bo
Thursday, September 25, 2014
A Farewell to Arms: Book 1
Quote 1
"You don't have to pretend to love me" (31)
Catherine is talking to Frederick after he has been away for three days. He didn't write to her while he was gone. When she asks him if he said he loved her before he left, he lied and said "yes". Catherine says that Frederick doesn't have to pretend to love her because she knows he's playing a game with her. Frederick denies this by saying that he truly loves her but Catherine just dismisses him. I chose this quote because Catherine actually knows what Frederick is doing to her. He sleeps with woman on his trips and goes to the prostitution houses. Because this story is told from a first person narration, we know what Frederick is thinking. Within the text, he says "I lied... I had not said it before...I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards" (30). Frederick doesn't actually love Catherine, and like he said, he's just playing a game. Because this story is a memory of Frederick, we see that in the beginning, he is just playing with Catherine. There may be a development or change in their relationship further in the story.
Quote 2
"They are not organized to stop things and when they get organized their leaders sell them out" (71).
Hemingway implies that society functions like an inescapable war. We can see the complications of war through Frederick's conversations with multiple people in the war zone. Because the priest tells Frederick that the war won't stop for a long time, Frederick gets even more tired from the war. All of his conversations with people about war is about how bad it is and how much he wants the war to end. War is portrayed as something chaotic, hurtful, and harmful. Hemingway makes the connection between war and society when he states that, "There are people who would make war. In this country there are many like that" (71). Society in general, make this chaotic and messy war that inflects upon itself. The priest says that this war is inescapable because the soldiers are not ordered to stop and the leaders have total control over them. If the leaders, the people who "make war", do not want to end it, then the war will carry on.
"You don't have to pretend to love me" (31)
Catherine is talking to Frederick after he has been away for three days. He didn't write to her while he was gone. When she asks him if he said he loved her before he left, he lied and said "yes". Catherine says that Frederick doesn't have to pretend to love her because she knows he's playing a game with her. Frederick denies this by saying that he truly loves her but Catherine just dismisses him. I chose this quote because Catherine actually knows what Frederick is doing to her. He sleeps with woman on his trips and goes to the prostitution houses. Because this story is told from a first person narration, we know what Frederick is thinking. Within the text, he says "I lied... I had not said it before...I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards" (30). Frederick doesn't actually love Catherine, and like he said, he's just playing a game. Because this story is a memory of Frederick, we see that in the beginning, he is just playing with Catherine. There may be a development or change in their relationship further in the story.
Quote 2
"They are not organized to stop things and when they get organized their leaders sell them out" (71).
Hemingway implies that society functions like an inescapable war. We can see the complications of war through Frederick's conversations with multiple people in the war zone. Because the priest tells Frederick that the war won't stop for a long time, Frederick gets even more tired from the war. All of his conversations with people about war is about how bad it is and how much he wants the war to end. War is portrayed as something chaotic, hurtful, and harmful. Hemingway makes the connection between war and society when he states that, "There are people who would make war. In this country there are many like that" (71). Society in general, make this chaotic and messy war that inflects upon itself. The priest says that this war is inescapable because the soldiers are not ordered to stop and the leaders have total control over them. If the leaders, the people who "make war", do not want to end it, then the war will carry on.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings Log
Quote 1
"Sea and sky were a single ash-gray thing and the sands of the beach, which on March nights glimmered like powered light, had become a stew of mud and rotten shellfish"
A man, Pelayo, and his wife, Elisenda, are taking care of their sick child by sweeping up the crabs that have gotten in their house. They think that their child is sick because of the stench created by the crabs. This quote is a description of the third day of rain where the sand, sky, and sea all fused into a murky gray. I chose this quote because I really liked how the author described how the environment was impacted by the rain because it implies that it rained really hard without bluntly stating it in the text. The sand that "glimmered like powered light" on a March night turned into the same ash-gray color as the sea and sky. I also really like the concept of the sea and sky being one. I think this quote sets the scene of a colorless place that foreshadows a dream-like experience. This is the setting where the the couple discovers the fallen angel.
Quote 2
""Those consolation miracles, which were more like mocking fun, had already ruined the angel's reputation when the woman who had been changed into a spider finally crushed him completely"
The center of attention will shift when people are tired of it or when something triumphs it. When the old man fell to earth in the beginning, word spread quickly about him being an angel. The fallen angel was the center of attention when they were deciding what to do with him, "...they did not have the heart to club him to death...decided to put the angel on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three days and leave him to his fate on the high seas". The angel was a new and extraordinary thing so everybody was worked up about him. There wasn't another angel or out-of-the-norm person at this moment, so the old angel was in the spotlight. Many people came to see the angel; however, the angel did not care to be seen, "[t]he angel was the only one who took no part in his own act". Because the angel had been in Pelayo's chicken coop for an extended amount of time, many people have already visited him. When Pelayo and his wife first encounters the angel, they stared at him for so long that they "very soon overcame their surprise and in the end found him familiar". Even over that short period of time, the couple adapted to the fallen angel. Society tires of things very quickly due to their skill of adjustment. The people felt no need to visit him anymore because he was not responsive to people. When the spider-lady arrived at the town, everybody left the fallen angel to see the spider-lady. The spider-lady told the tale of her becoming a spider while the old angel did not announce to the public anything. Essentially, the spider-lady stole the old angel's spotlight that was already fading due to the time factor.
"Sea and sky were a single ash-gray thing and the sands of the beach, which on March nights glimmered like powered light, had become a stew of mud and rotten shellfish"
A man, Pelayo, and his wife, Elisenda, are taking care of their sick child by sweeping up the crabs that have gotten in their house. They think that their child is sick because of the stench created by the crabs. This quote is a description of the third day of rain where the sand, sky, and sea all fused into a murky gray. I chose this quote because I really liked how the author described how the environment was impacted by the rain because it implies that it rained really hard without bluntly stating it in the text. The sand that "glimmered like powered light" on a March night turned into the same ash-gray color as the sea and sky. I also really like the concept of the sea and sky being one. I think this quote sets the scene of a colorless place that foreshadows a dream-like experience. This is the setting where the the couple discovers the fallen angel.
Quote 2
""Those consolation miracles, which were more like mocking fun, had already ruined the angel's reputation when the woman who had been changed into a spider finally crushed him completely"
The center of attention will shift when people are tired of it or when something triumphs it. When the old man fell to earth in the beginning, word spread quickly about him being an angel. The fallen angel was the center of attention when they were deciding what to do with him, "...they did not have the heart to club him to death...decided to put the angel on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three days and leave him to his fate on the high seas". The angel was a new and extraordinary thing so everybody was worked up about him. There wasn't another angel or out-of-the-norm person at this moment, so the old angel was in the spotlight. Many people came to see the angel; however, the angel did not care to be seen, "[t]he angel was the only one who took no part in his own act". Because the angel had been in Pelayo's chicken coop for an extended amount of time, many people have already visited him. When Pelayo and his wife first encounters the angel, they stared at him for so long that they "very soon overcame their surprise and in the end found him familiar". Even over that short period of time, the couple adapted to the fallen angel. Society tires of things very quickly due to their skill of adjustment. The people felt no need to visit him anymore because he was not responsive to people. When the spider-lady arrived at the town, everybody left the fallen angel to see the spider-lady. The spider-lady told the tale of her becoming a spider while the old angel did not announce to the public anything. Essentially, the spider-lady stole the old angel's spotlight that was already fading due to the time factor.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
The Ballad of Plastic Fred Log
Quote 1
"The anonymous plastic Indian sat casually on the back seat"
After Kay, the narrator's sister, hit the mailbox, she went and bought the boy and his friend, Innis, their plastic Indian doll. The narrator wanted "Fred", the Indian doll they usually play with, but after the run-in with the mailbox, Kay did not care if the Indian doll was Fred or not. Because there is a dent in the car, the narrator and Innis wanted to find a dead cat to tell Kay's mom that the dent was because of the cat. The plastic Indian sat in their back seat. I chose this quote because I thought it was interesting why the author included this in the text. The little boy thought about the Indian figurine when he should have been thinking about how they should cover the dent on the car. He also later refers to the Indian figure when his mom drives Fred's parents to the airport to get Fred's body. The Indian Chief experiences death because he was sitting in the back seat when Innis killed the cat and when the boy's mom declares Fred dead.
Quote 2
"Maybe he just couldn't find someone to stomp on his throat"
In the real world, death is not something that is exciting; rather, it is just part of life. In the beginning, the narrator and his friends would find elaborate ways to "kill" the plastic Fred. They found it humorous and a fun way to pass time. When the narrator's sister, Kay, placed a dent in the car, they went to find a dead cat to cover the deed up. Kay, the boy, and his friend, Innis, found a cat, they saw it barely alive. Kay and the boy were not going to kill it but Innis did by stomping on the cat's throat. The deed was done but the children did not experience its death like the way they set up Plastic Fred's death. It was uneventful and they had to deal with the body. When they hear the news of Fred Howkowski's suicide, the boy wondered why Fred killed himself. Fred always played the character with dramatic deaths and yet he took his life in an uneventful way. The narrator questions Fred's way of death because he thinks that dying by someone stomping on another's throat is more exciting than just taking away their own life. We see the narrator grow as he encounters death in real life. Instead of the Hollywood-coated, action-packed deaths, he faced the reality of death. Death takes place of a matter-of-fact form where someone can even take their own life.
"The anonymous plastic Indian sat casually on the back seat"
After Kay, the narrator's sister, hit the mailbox, she went and bought the boy and his friend, Innis, their plastic Indian doll. The narrator wanted "Fred", the Indian doll they usually play with, but after the run-in with the mailbox, Kay did not care if the Indian doll was Fred or not. Because there is a dent in the car, the narrator and Innis wanted to find a dead cat to tell Kay's mom that the dent was because of the cat. The plastic Indian sat in their back seat. I chose this quote because I thought it was interesting why the author included this in the text. The little boy thought about the Indian figurine when he should have been thinking about how they should cover the dent on the car. He also later refers to the Indian figure when his mom drives Fred's parents to the airport to get Fred's body. The Indian Chief experiences death because he was sitting in the back seat when Innis killed the cat and when the boy's mom declares Fred dead.
Quote 2
"Maybe he just couldn't find someone to stomp on his throat"
In the real world, death is not something that is exciting; rather, it is just part of life. In the beginning, the narrator and his friends would find elaborate ways to "kill" the plastic Fred. They found it humorous and a fun way to pass time. When the narrator's sister, Kay, placed a dent in the car, they went to find a dead cat to cover the deed up. Kay, the boy, and his friend, Innis, found a cat, they saw it barely alive. Kay and the boy were not going to kill it but Innis did by stomping on the cat's throat. The deed was done but the children did not experience its death like the way they set up Plastic Fred's death. It was uneventful and they had to deal with the body. When they hear the news of Fred Howkowski's suicide, the boy wondered why Fred killed himself. Fred always played the character with dramatic deaths and yet he took his life in an uneventful way. The narrator questions Fred's way of death because he thinks that dying by someone stomping on another's throat is more exciting than just taking away their own life. We see the narrator grow as he encounters death in real life. Instead of the Hollywood-coated, action-packed deaths, he faced the reality of death. Death takes place of a matter-of-fact form where someone can even take their own life.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Work sited
Scott Fitzgerald, F. Tender is the Night. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1934. 1934.
Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. 1929.
Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury 1929. New York: Vintage International, 1984. Print.
Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. 1929.
Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury 1929. New York: Vintage International, 1984. Print.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Tender is the Night: Book 3
Quote 1:
"There was some element of loneliness involved--so easy to be loved--so hard to love" (245).
Dick is having a conversation with Francisco Dick realizes that he has loved many friends and significant others. He carries the personality of each person but only has complete as the person himself. At first, it is noticeable that Dick Diver is loved by all, hence the "so easy to be loved" but he says it is "so hard to love". Previously, he says he has "early met and early loved" which contradicts his following statement of not being able to love. This portrays a perplexing concept. But if you approach it with another view point, the author could be referring to the personality itself easily loved but hard to love. It is easy to love a person's personality at a first encounter so you collect bits and pieces of it. But like everything, there are flaws in the personality you've attained. You've already attained it so it is hard to actually love it completely with the flaws.
Quote 2:
"She only cherishes her illness as an instrument of power" (239).
Frau Kaethe Gregorovius visits Franz to check up on Nicole. Franz says Nicole is his responsibility since Dick is not present. He says that Nicole will forever be a patient. Kaethe mentions to Franz that she doesn't think Nicole is as sick as she makes everyone think. Kaethe says that Nicole uses her illness to get what she wants. She compares Nicole to Franz's Norma Talmadge, saying that Nicole is healthy and well enough to be at the cinema with them. During the conversation, she not only attacks Nicole, she attacks the Americans as a whole. Kaethe may have some dislike for Nicole, but her main bias is to be hateful towards Americans. She states that she hates all Americans except for Dick. However, she does admit Dick has flaws because she says he married Nicole for her money. Kaethe says that Nicole uses "her illness as an instrument of power"; however, she is actually saying that all Americans use their weaknesses to their advantage. Because of her preconception towards Americans and since Nicole is American, anything Nicole does means all Americans must do.
"There was some element of loneliness involved--so easy to be loved--so hard to love" (245).
Dick is having a conversation with Francisco Dick realizes that he has loved many friends and significant others. He carries the personality of each person but only has complete as the person himself. At first, it is noticeable that Dick Diver is loved by all, hence the "so easy to be loved" but he says it is "so hard to love". Previously, he says he has "early met and early loved" which contradicts his following statement of not being able to love. This portrays a perplexing concept. But if you approach it with another view point, the author could be referring to the personality itself easily loved but hard to love. It is easy to love a person's personality at a first encounter so you collect bits and pieces of it. But like everything, there are flaws in the personality you've attained. You've already attained it so it is hard to actually love it completely with the flaws.
Quote 2:
"She only cherishes her illness as an instrument of power" (239).
Frau Kaethe Gregorovius visits Franz to check up on Nicole. Franz says Nicole is his responsibility since Dick is not present. He says that Nicole will forever be a patient. Kaethe mentions to Franz that she doesn't think Nicole is as sick as she makes everyone think. Kaethe says that Nicole uses her illness to get what she wants. She compares Nicole to Franz's Norma Talmadge, saying that Nicole is healthy and well enough to be at the cinema with them. During the conversation, she not only attacks Nicole, she attacks the Americans as a whole. Kaethe may have some dislike for Nicole, but her main bias is to be hateful towards Americans. She states that she hates all Americans except for Dick. However, she does admit Dick has flaws because she says he married Nicole for her money. Kaethe says that Nicole uses "her illness as an instrument of power"; however, she is actually saying that all Americans use their weaknesses to their advantage. Because of her preconception towards Americans and since Nicole is American, anything Nicole does means all Americans must do.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Tender is the Night: Book 2
Quote 1:
"'Well, how can any one tell what's eccentric and what's crazy?'" (151).
This statement took place in a conversation between Nicole's sister, Baby Warren, and Dick. Dick reassured her that Nicole is fine and just eccentric. Baby responded with a question about how could anyone decipher normal activity from abnormal activity. I think this quote brings out the issue of the fine line between crazy as in an illness and crazy as in eccentric. Baby said Nicole was a normal girl before her breakdown and her family thought Nicole had mix emotions about a boy. But in reality Nicole's father had raped her and this impacted her to be emotionally unstable. Like Miss Warren pointed out, it's hard to see what is really happening. She had no idea what Nicole went through and just thought it was a normal reaction over some generic boy. This shows highlights the percentage of uncertainty between two neighboring subjects.
Quote 2:
"Nicole's world had fallen to pieces, but it was only a flimsy and scarcely created world;" (143).
This quote supports the idea of how a little event or word could destroy even the strongest person. An average person has a mediocre world, one that is at least planted into the soil. In Nicole's case, she was already fragile, so her world isn't even fully functioning or stable. Her world was like a city rebuilding after it had been hit by a typhoon, only to get crushed under an earthquake. In context, it goes on saying "was it an hour ago she had waited by the entrance, wearing her hope like a corsage at her belt". Nicole was hopeful an hour before this encounter and her world was in the best state it could be. But after how Dick indifferently treats her, her world became shaky again. This just shows how unstable Nicole still is. Even though she is improving her condition, she could relapse any minute.
"'Well, how can any one tell what's eccentric and what's crazy?'" (151).
This statement took place in a conversation between Nicole's sister, Baby Warren, and Dick. Dick reassured her that Nicole is fine and just eccentric. Baby responded with a question about how could anyone decipher normal activity from abnormal activity. I think this quote brings out the issue of the fine line between crazy as in an illness and crazy as in eccentric. Baby said Nicole was a normal girl before her breakdown and her family thought Nicole had mix emotions about a boy. But in reality Nicole's father had raped her and this impacted her to be emotionally unstable. Like Miss Warren pointed out, it's hard to see what is really happening. She had no idea what Nicole went through and just thought it was a normal reaction over some generic boy. This shows highlights the percentage of uncertainty between two neighboring subjects.
Quote 2:
"Nicole's world had fallen to pieces, but it was only a flimsy and scarcely created world;" (143).
This quote supports the idea of how a little event or word could destroy even the strongest person. An average person has a mediocre world, one that is at least planted into the soil. In Nicole's case, she was already fragile, so her world isn't even fully functioning or stable. Her world was like a city rebuilding after it had been hit by a typhoon, only to get crushed under an earthquake. In context, it goes on saying "was it an hour ago she had waited by the entrance, wearing her hope like a corsage at her belt". Nicole was hopeful an hour before this encounter and her world was in the best state it could be. But after how Dick indifferently treats her, her world became shaky again. This just shows how unstable Nicole still is. Even though she is improving her condition, she could relapse any minute.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Tender is the Night: Book 1
Quote 1:
"'If you're in love it ought to make you happy, You ought to laugh'" (22).
Rosemary joins Dick Diver's party and meets Nicole Diver, his wife, Abe North, an alcoholic musician, Abe's wife Mary, and Tommy Barban, a solider. She compares the men to Dick and finds them incomparable to Dick. Rosemary went home and cried in her mother's lap. Her mother, Elsie is consoling Rosemary.
I chose this quote because it shows a mother-daughter bonding time. Mothers are older so they've had experience and can share some sense and insight with their daughters.
Love usually does not go smoothly, without any bumps. This may be foreshadowing disruptions that occur in-between Dick and Rosemary. This quote can imply an early-on message from her mother to keep her head up.
This quote may seem simple-minded because we all think it's common sense to be happy when you're in love. However, this is not always the case. There could be complications with yourself, your lover, or the people around you. When the feeling is not mutual or known, it is not a happy experience. This quote brings us back to the baseline idea that when you're in love, you have to be happy. If you are not happy, then is this relationship or love really worth all the pain?
"'If you're in love it ought to make you happy, You ought to laugh'" (22).
Rosemary joins Dick Diver's party and meets Nicole Diver, his wife, Abe North, an alcoholic musician, Abe's wife Mary, and Tommy Barban, a solider. She compares the men to Dick and finds them incomparable to Dick. Rosemary went home and cried in her mother's lap. Her mother, Elsie is consoling Rosemary.
I chose this quote because it shows a mother-daughter bonding time. Mothers are older so they've had experience and can share some sense and insight with their daughters.
Love usually does not go smoothly, without any bumps. This may be foreshadowing disruptions that occur in-between Dick and Rosemary. This quote can imply an early-on message from her mother to keep her head up.
This quote may seem simple-minded because we all think it's common sense to be happy when you're in love. However, this is not always the case. There could be complications with yourself, your lover, or the people around you. When the feeling is not mutual or known, it is not a happy experience. This quote brings us back to the baseline idea that when you're in love, you have to be happy. If you are not happy, then is this relationship or love really worth all the pain?
Quote 2:
"'I fell in love on the beach,' said Rosemary.'Who
with?''First with a whole lot of people who looked nice. Then with one
man'" (12).
This quote supports the idea that "innocence makes
unsupported decisions". Rosemary is only eighteen years old. She mentioned
that she did not have the chance to date many men because of her work as an
actress. She states that she has fallen in love with many people but then
stated that she's actually only in love with one man. This suggests the idea
that she's searching for a special kind of love but maybe she doesn't know what
she wants. Rosemary is young and innocent, which leads her to do things without
background information. If she fell in love with that many people, then how
does she know that Dick Diver is "Mr. Right"? She mentioned that
these people "looked nice", but she does not know them because she
just met them. She bases people by their appearance. Rosemary isn't looking for
a special person to be with her for forever, she's looking for the experience
with someone so she can use it in the future because she is currently
inexperienced and innocent.
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