This is Just to Say

I have almost finished my poetry project and have completed 8 poems. I started working on my 9th poem –“This is Just to Say” by: William Carlos Williams; however, I am having a particularly hard time with this poem, for the simple fact that Williams usually crams tons of meaning into simple images, leaving small, subtle hints that lead to the true meaning behind his words.
This Is Just to Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
William Carlos Williams (1934)
First of all, it seems the narrator of the poem has betrayed the trust of someone close to him. He ate the plums even though he knew someone wanted to use them for breakfast. This not only shows very little respect for the desires of those around him, but also demonstrates very little willpower, almost as if the plums were so enticing he had no power to say no. Such lack of willpower almost seems sexual, although I do not necessarily see much evidence to support this assertion.
In addition, I attempted to analyze the connotation of plums in the poem. Why would Williams select this fruit over others? Plums are very soft a juicy on the outside; however, at the center, they have an impenetrable, painful-to-chew pit. This almost seems comparable to the narrator, who on the surface appears innocent and childlike –slyly eating a plumb. Yet, upon closer inspection, he appears to have a darker, more forceful, and more sexual persona. Like the shunned, hidden, and disliked pit of a peach, these qualities in the narrator are hidden from the world because few would openly condone such characteristics in a person. The dictionary also states that a plum is a highly desired position or award. By eating someone’s plums, the narrator could have almost prevented a person from achieving or receiving something they really wanted, as if he was literally taking away their plum or desired position.
It is also interesting to note that the narrator demands forgiveness; he does not ask for it, but rather asserts, “Forgive me.” I think this furthers my above observations that the narrator is an extremely forceful, possible violent person. He first takes away something useful from someone close to him, both literally and figuratively, and then does not apologize but rather demands forgiveness. This assertion seems rather abusive, suggesting a highly dangerous relationship.
Finally, the last two lines seem to confirm the above sentiment. At first, Williams says the plums are very “sweet,” as is true for many beginning relationships during the first few weeks. However, he ends with saying that the plums are very “cold,” which is what his relationship with the unspoken person has turned into –cold, violent, and abusive. By not ending the poem with punctuation, Williams suggest that this violence and abuse will not come to an end anytime soon and that the narrator will continue to take his beloved’s plums.
If you see any more important aspects of the poem, please tell me. Many of my assertions are conjectures, and I need more evidence to back them up. I am also unsure as to how to approach the title.

Turkey Time! Last blog before break

I guess I will start by talking about the timed writing we did today. It was a very interesting piece we read, and I really enjoyed it. I thought that Sylvia’s climb to the top of the tree had a lot to do with her loss of innocence, although I am not sure there is enough evidence in the passage to really make a solid conclusion on this topic. What I did focus on was the various extended metaphors in the passage. For one, the author draws a comparison between the strength of the tree and the strength of Sylvia. The comparison demonstrates Sylvia’s ability to not only overcome this feat, but many others in the future. Furthermore, as is demonstrated by her metaphorical ability to fly at the end of the passage, the journey allows Sylvia to discover her own strength, transition away from the weak, dependent child she had previously been.
Moreover, the climb enlightens Sylvia, and by the end, she sees the world in an entirely different light than she had before. Like the rising sun, a light bulb in Sylvia goes off. She goes from being on the ground, limited in her line of sight and by comparison, her amount of knowledge. However, her adventure through the tree branches makes Sylvia privy to a brand new universe. She sees new parts of the world and expands her horizons, showing that she has awoken from her sleep and has begun to see the great, limitless nature of the world.
Moving on, I personally love Grendel (A LOT more than I liked Beowulf). First of all, Grendel’s snarky, humorous attitude is without-a-doubt entertaining and to some, perversely endearing. As a reader, I can’t help but associate with Grendel as he attempts to grasp the concepts of the world. Like a misguided teenager, he is trapped between the meaningless depths of atheism and the seemingly more poetic, purposeful call of Christianity. He has difficulty compromising his hopes and desires with his observations, knowing that his heart will lead him away from his brain’s warnings. He wants to believe the glorious words of the humans. He wants to believe he has a purpose, but he knows what they say is all a lie and that their version of history is completely skewed. Thus, he remains trapped, as he was in the beginning in the tree, waiting for someone to pull him out and direct him along. Unfortunately, he has grown too old for his mother to be his knight in shining armor. In a possibly misguided light of hope, he visits the dragon hoping that he will dig him out of the hole of confusion. However, there he finds, as was the case in other places, that the answer can only come from within. In the end, the book is a journey, possibly of a hero making sacrifices not only for himself, but also for the good of human kind that craves the good/evil structure.
I am very excited to see what the story holds. Hopefully the humans won’t destroy Grendel’s sarcasm.

Reflections on Week's Work

I want to start by saying that I am very excited about the grade I received on my The Picture of Dorian Gray essay. I worked very hard on it, and I am really glad Mrs. Clinch enjoyed reading it.
Also, I would like to add one more observation about Beowulf that, because we are now reading John Gardner’s Grendel, is still pertinent. During the discussion, I pointed out the lack of strong women in the poem. The only truly powerful female character was the sinister, outcast Grendel’s mom. What readers should also notice is that women are rarely given names in this novel. The poem often lists out the names the sons in a family and then refers to the daughters simply by the title “daughter” or as possessions of their husbands, for example “Othella’s queen.” Not only that, but the most feared creatures in the novel –Grendel and his mom –are termed “fatherless creatures.” This suggests that the Anglo-Saxons believed a child needed a father, not just a mother, to be well-bred and respected. Supposedly we will be hearing more of this in Grendel so I am very excited!
I also did some research on the zodiac signs to help learn more about how the author is using them in Grendel. According to astrology.com, aries is ruled by Mars, the Roman God of War. This enhances Grendel’s battle with the Danish people. Furthermore, I think it’s ironic that Grendel initiates such a war and causes such death in the middle of spring, a season devoted to the creation of life. Gardner may use this to add irony to the story. Furthermore, the sign aries is heavily associated with the element fire. This association foreshadows the introduction of the dragon into the story. Readers already know the unpleasant nature of said dragon for Grendel said he “was not a friend.”
I want to conclude with some things I noticed while analyzing more poetry. I began looking at W. H. Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen”. The title of the poem alludes to “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” suggesting that the citizen has faceless and nameless. By undermining the necessity of personalizing the subject of the poem, Auden begins to demonstrate the cookie-cutter people his government is creating. He further underscores this idea through his reference to Ford Motors Inc. when he talks about “Fudge Motors Inc.” Ford Motors Inc. invented the assembly line, mass-producing parts. Similarly, in the society Auden is criticizing, the government mass-produces people so that they are all alike and so that they all conform to the government. You can see that Auden is being sarcastic and crude through his many hyperboles. For example, he says that “everything necessary to the modern man” is “a phonograph, a radio, a car and a Frigidaire.” Clearly, this is an overexageration of man’s true necessity; however the affect creates irony and underlines Auden’s critical tone.
This is all for this week. I look forward to our upcoming timed writing and lit circles.

Lit Discussions :)

I want to start by discussing AP Lit discussions. Disclaimer: I LOVE DISCUSSIONS. Because I am a very opinionated person, especially when it comes to literary works, discussions are one of my favorite parts of lit class. However, discussions can often become tedious or rushed, due to many reasons. Much to my frustration, many students do not prepare their discussion work before coming to class. I'll admit; a few times I have been extremely busy and unable to complete the assigned discussion work. That being said, it is really upsetting when I put in all the work and other people in my discussion wait until the last minute to prepare for the group discussion. As a result of this, they contribute very little if at all, affecting the grades of everyone in the discussion. So, please, DO YOUR WORK, or at least do most of it. For example, actually read the book/play. That would be a great start. I know many people in the class, including me, would appreciate it very, very much.
Moreover, have an open mind. During a walking discussion, or even a simple group discussion, I sometimes change my stances on certain issues. This is because I listen to what other people have to say (or try to, sometimes I understand that it is difficult...) Nevertheless, it is unnatural to never, ever, 100% of the time, change sides. If you are truly listening to the well-thought-out, fascinating arguments of your peers, you might see that certain issues aren't black-and-white. Understanding others viewpoints is vital to an interesting, intellectual discussion.
Also, and while I understand this is difficult, timing is often an issue when it comes to discussions. I think an effective discussion would be spread over two or three class periods. By doing this, students wouldn't feel so pressured to speak whenever there is a pause, giving everyone more time to look closely at an issue and find useful and insightful textual evidence. Furthermore, the shyer kids would be given more chance to speak up because discussions wouldn't be so hectic and stressful. Again, I understand that this is difficult; however, maybe devoting more time to each work would be the solution. The class could then read one or two less novels in class and, in stead, be assigned those books over Christmas break or Spring Break. (Of course, assign really interesting books during those time periods, like A Thousand Splendid Suns, because no one will honestly be able to focus on a 400 page, old English novel while they are partying in Panama City or whatever.)
Finally, I'm not sure everyone should have a discussion "role". Really interesting discussions are based on simple questions. I think that for class discussions everyone should come prepared with their own questions as well as answers/support to some questions you have provided for us. Then, during smaller group discussions, students can just come prepared with questions (and possibly a summary of the section) and proceed for there. It makes the groups discussions a little more engaging and slightly less hectic (because everyone isn't trying to get their role sheets read). Again, discussions are always more interesting when they are fluid and relaxed, something hard to achieve when everyone has their own agenda.
These are just my thoughts. I really do love discussions which is why I feel so passionately about the issue. I would never want to get rid of something so vital to an English class though I think the system could always use some improvements, mostly on the part of the student...

"A Doll's House" Timed Writing

This weekend, while studying for Monday’s timed writing, I began noticing a different side to Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” that I had never noticed before. It was clear that Kristine and Nora were foils in more ways than one. While Nora was a member of the so-called “doll house” and a rich, comfortable wife and mother, Kristine was a poor, widowed, and childless outsider. The different lifestyles of the two women seemingly make them opposites. However, this is not necessarily the case. In previous years, Kristine incessantly worked for her family –to make them happy and comfortable—and never worked for herself. Instead of relishing the freedom that came after her mother’s death, Kristine instead felt a great “emptiness” for she no longer had anyone to work for and please. Looking at Nora’s life, Kristine desires that ideal life where she can be a wife and mother devoted to the happiness of others. This can best be seen by Kristine’s exuberant reaction to her revived relationship with Torvald near the end of the play. Just as in previous years, Kristine now lives for another again, able to be a doll to someone else’s needs. Through this character, Ibsen shows that Victorian age women, even with experience and independence, will desire to be part of a dollhouse. Thus, no one in that society can escape the dollhouse.
Similarly, Nora also works to please others throughout her life. Throughout her marriage with Torvald, she consistently bows to his and the children’s needs. When Torvald is sick, she risks her honor and forges a signature to save his life. Subsequently, she works for years, giving up only her own goodies, to pay off this loan. Just like Kristine, Nora shows an inherent sense of selflessness and desire to please. Because of their ingrained nature, Nora, even after she leaves and finds independence, will always desire to be part of the doll house. Whether she will go back to Torvald or find another man, it is likely that Nora will return to situation similar to the one she is leaving.
In looking at the play in this manner, you must also consider the fact that Nora willingly leaves the dollhouse while Kristine’s “dollhouse” was taken from her. Also, Kristine’s life was never ideal ; thus she has never known the problems experienced when living in a doll-like state. These two differences may be enough to change Nora’s fate. Because she knows the ugliness of the dollhouse, she may never choose to return, as did Kristine who never felt the weight of perfection.
Even if Nora will eventually choose to return to a dollhouse-like household, should she still leave Torvald? It may be possible for her to find a slightly more respectable husband; although, if the dollhouse state must persist, then Nora will always remain cushioned and babied. Even still, Nora may be able to find a husband sufficiently concerned with her well-being and who truly loves her, unlike Torvald who only cares about his reputation. However, does finding a slightly better husband justify Nora leaving her children? After I have thought about it, I am very conflicted on this issue, simply because there are so many factors and parties involved. In the end, I don’t know if there is any right answer, and Nora may discover what is best for her on her journey.
P.S. Mr. Gay might do A Doll’s House for the next drama production. I’m really excited because I love this play!

Reflections on A Thousand Splendid Suns

For my lit circle book, I chose to read A Thousand Splendid Suns. This book has exposed me to numerous atrocities in the Afghanistan culture. First of all, I was unaware that there was a progressive movement occurring in the Middle Eastern country. Through Hakim’s family, the author shows how some so-called “modern” families are allowing their women more freedom of dress and education. This was very shocking to me because I had formerly believed that all women were expected to cover all parts of their body. In addition, I never realized that many husbands physically and mentally tortured their wives. In one scene in the book, Mariam’s husband Rasheed forces her to chew on rocks to teach her a lesson. Later, Rasheed further hurts Mariam by taking a much younger second wife. The amount that these women endure is shocking. However, because I know that the work is a piece of fiction, I wonder how accurate the author truly is. It would be very interesting to compare the experiences of real women during the rise of the Taliban to the experiences of the women in this novel.
Another interesting aspect of this book is the prominence of the color green. It is a common color in furniture as well as a common wedding color. Upon doing a little research, I realized that green was part of the Afghanistan flag. The green stripe stood for independence and future prosperity when the Majuhideen came to power. Thus, it is ironic that this color of “independence” appears often in Mariam’s oppressed life.
This week, as I was working on my literature circle duties, I struggled with finding motifs in the novel. For one, I have never fully understood the definition of a motif; however a little research showed that it is a reoccurring element in the novel. One motif I saw the Buddha statue visit. One day, Laila’s dad took her and Tariq to see two large statues of Buddha. The day was very peaceful and remained forever imprinted in Laila’s mind. When she encounters difficulties, she forces her mind to recall that scene and the tranquility that came with it. That trip represents innocence to Laila. During that trip, Tariq and her father were still alive. She saw her father’s true love for her mother. She was able to spend a day free from the troubles of war. Thus, she associates that time with the innocence of childhood and uses the recollections to purify her from the difficulties of adulthood.
Rasheed is another interesting character in this novel. He appears to be very static, consistently using the same tricks to achieve the same means. With Marian, he bought her gifts and treated her very gently as to try to get her to bear him a son. When he realized that she was infertile, he quickly became abusive and emotionless. Similarly, when Laila comes along, he is very sweet and caring towards her, eventually revealing that he would like to marry her. Thus, he is only using this sweet façade to get what he really wants –a son. Because Rasheed has such a desire to have a son, I question whether his wife actually died or if he murdered her. If there was an accident and the wife survived but the son did not, Rasheed would most likely become incredibly abusive like he did with Mariam after she miscarried his other children. I am not sure if this is the case, but it will be interesting to see what the rest of the book reveals.

We never know how high we are--poetry analysis

With the extra time this past weekend, I began researching some poetry to put in my poetry journal. I’m picky about my poetry, so I scrutinized each and every poem, choosing only a select few for the journal. In the end, one of the best ones I found was written by Emily Dickinson. Characteristic of Emily Dickinson, the poem has no title; however, it goes something like this,

“We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies—

The Heroism we recite
Would be a daily thing,
Did not ourselves the Cubits warp
For fear to be a King—“

Not only did love the message of the poem, but it also boasts many interesting characteristics. The first thing that caught my eye was “Cubits,” a word I have never heard used in the English language. According to answers.com, a cubit is “an ancient unit of linear measure, originally equal to the length of the forearm from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow, or about 17 to 22 inches (43 to 56 centimeters).”
If Cubit is a unit of measurement, a warped Cubit would be an inaccurate measurement. Used in this context, the speaker is saying that we are mismeasuring ourselves (“Did not ourselves the Cubits warp”) and thus undercutting our abilities because we are too afraid to live up to our full potential.
Another important thing to look at in this poem is the tone change between the first and second stanza. In the first four lines, the speaker boasts of humanity’s ability to “touch the skies,” using a proud and hopeful tone. However, in an abrupt switch, the speaker then discusses how humanity cannot live up to its full potential because it undercuts its abilities. In these last four lines the tone is much more pessimistic and upsetting.
I think it’s important to consider what causes this change. Why would Dickinson’s tone change so abruptly between the first and second stanzas?
It appears that the speaker makes this transition to juxtapose the two different fates humanity can choose. On one hand, as shown in the first stanza, people who choose to plan and believe can fulfill their dreams. On the opposing end, those who undercut their abilities, fail to touch the sky “for fear to be a king.” The rapid transition shows the stark discrepancies between the two fates. The structure of the poem also helps portray its meaning. Each line starts far to the left, and the next line is slightly indented. This structure makes the lines appear as if they are falling to the right. In the same manner, people who underestimate their abilities fall from their thrown because they do not believe they have the capabilities to handle such responsibilities. Thus, the “falling” structure of the poem parallels humanities fall from excellence.
In the end, it was the message that really drew me to the poem. Through her complex structure and wording, Dickinson tells the world that it can do anything, if only everyone believes. To me, that is a very refreshing sentiment.

Today, our essay on summer reading was due. I did my essay on the musical imagery in The Picture of Dorian Gray which parallels the fall of Dorian Gray due to the influence of Lord Henry. While most students struggle with analysis in their essay, the hardest part for me is writing the conclusion. In elementary and middle school, teachers encourage you to restate the ideas of your essay in your conclusion; however, everyone knows this is boring and does little to contribute to the overall meaning of the essay. In AP Literature, we are supposed to write a conclusion that analyzes the significance of the subject of our essay. For me, I would have to analyze the "so what?" for musical imagery in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
When I began thinking about writing my conclusion, I had a difficult time deciding what to put in the last paragraph. In following the format described in class, I discussed the overall meaning of musical imagery at the end of each significant point; thus I felt like I had already covered "so what?" of musical imagery. However, I soon came to discover that I had only discussed the significance of musical imagery with regards to the novel. Instead, I needed to discuss the greater significance of the musical imagery with how it relates to other works of literature and with how it relates to life.
This discovery led me down an entirely new path. I began asking questions such as How does the theme of the fall from grace due to influence relate to other works of literature? How is this theme applicable to life? How long has this theme been present in literature? Is musical imagery used in a similar manner in other novels? Is this novel's theme an exact copy of other novels' themes or is it original and unique?
By asking these questions, I began to connect my essay to other literary works and to life. I realized that the theme of the fall from grace is an age-old Biblical allusion dating back to the story of Adam and Eve. Just like Eve, Dorian Gray was manipulated by an outside force; in his case, Lord Henry changed the course of his life while the devil in snake form changed the course of Eve’s life. Because of this influence, Dorian Gray fell from grace and was forced to live a life of sin. By making this connection to the Biblical allusion, I recognized that the theme of the novel has been used in many other novels throughout time. For example, in Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio, his chapter titled “Respectability” makes a reference to Adam and Eve. The wife in the chapter destroys her husband, just as Eve forced Adam into sin. Also, the wife is ashamed to be naked, just as Adam and Eve were ashamed to be naked after they ate from the tree of knowledge.
This thought train allowed be to discover the greater meaning of the theme of the novel because I was able to connect it with life and previous literary works.

I Accidentally Read a 12 Page Paper and Loved It!

After being assigned our literature circles for Winesburg, Ohio, my group decided to make me the criticism challenger. This weekend, I set out to find my critical article; however, in a momentary brain lapse, went looking for critical articles about The Picture of Dorian Gray instead of about Winesburg, Ohio. It was only after I finished reading a 12 page paper titled "A Portrait of Child Abuse in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'" by Esther Rashkin that I realized I was supposed to read an essay on the chapter "The Philosopher" in Winesburg, Ohio. Although the Dorian Gray essay helped me little with my Winesburg, Ohio lit circle, it did give me considerable incite into The Picture of Dorian Gray which I will discuss in this blog.
The author of the article argues that the "invasive influence...does not appear to originate with Lord Henry, who seems only to awaken influences already present within Dorian." The author draws this conclusion from various quotes in the novel, including the quote when Dorian Gray said that the influences "seem to him to have come really from himself," page 20. The author believe such influences actually came from Dorian Gray's grandfather of whom Dorian Gray has "hateful memories." (page 92)
At this point in his argument, the other draws from the writings of psychologist Sandor Ferenczi in "Confusion of Tongues between Adults and Children." Ferenczi teaches that a child subjected to sexual abuse creates "an image of itself as a desirable love object to the adult." In other words, if the adult consistently tells the child that they are worthless, as does Dorian's grandfather, the child will act as though it is vile and worthless. Rashkin writes, "If Lord Kelso imprisoned this isolated boy and persistently treated him as vile and despicable, Dorian, in his inability to resist such aggression and his lack of any mitigating, kindly, adult influences, could well have identified with the image of him created by Kelso and incorporated it as his own."
In the novel, Wilde says that Lord Kelso hated his grandson for his "strange likeness to his mother," (page 95) Margaret Devereux. Devereux, in French, means decayed, vile, and rotten. Because Lord Kelso saw his own daughter as a rotten creature because she married a poor man, he also saw her son, Dorian Gray, as vile and rotten because he came from Margaret Devereux. Thus, because Lord Kelso consistently told Dorian Gray he was like his horrible mother, Dorian Gray, as taught by Ferenczi, began to act as he thought his mother would have acted.
His grandfather's influence, thus led him to fall in love with Sybil Vane and murder Basil Hallward. Because Dorian's mother married a penniless man, he reflected her actions by becoming enamored with Sybil Vane, a poor actress. He also identified with Sybil because, like him, she "lived by assuming other personae." Later, when Dorian murders Basil Hallward, the author argues that he is actually killing his grandfather Lord Kelso. When Basil comes to visit Dorian that fateful night, be consistently reprimands him for acting in vile ways, and when Basil sees Dorian's true self in the portrait, Basil reacts violently, accusing Dorian of being an evil, retched creature. These accusations evoke memories of Dorian Gray's childhood abuse by Lord Kelso, so in a moment of passion, Dorian kills Basil because to him, Basil has turned into his evil grandfather.
This is the argument made by the author of the article. I thought it was a very interesting take on the novel and highly suggest you read the article. It provides tons of evidence and completely changed by views on the The Picture of Dorian Gray.

The Book of the Grotesques

Many critiques of Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg Ohio, argue that the book is a collection of short stories rather than a novel; however, quit to the contrary, Winesburg Ohio is a novel detailing the growth and development of a boy named George Willard. Each story in the novel contributes to the maturing of George Willard, and in the end, the boy leaves on an “adventure” that could lead to his eventual development from an adolescent to a man.
The first chapter of the novel sets up the theme for the story of George Willard. In this primary chapter, “The Book of The Grotesque,” Anderson develops the idea of omnipresent “truths.” These truths can destroy people; however, they do not destroy the narrator because a bit of his youthful innocence remains. This example suggests that the truths are only destructive if you let them destroy your hopes and dreams, but if you let the truths help you grow and become more alive and interesting, then the truths will help you become a mature, functional adult.
Each chapter subsequently either makes mention of George Willard or of a person somehow connected to or involved with George Willard. These supporting chapters each present a unique truth, a truth that has ruined the subject of the chapter. The subjects of these chapters, or those close to the subjects of these chapters, then try to teach George Willard the truth that has destroyed them. Not only do these people attempt to explain the truth to young George Willard, but they also try to clarify the means by which these truths destroy them. In this manner, these people hope to save George Willard from destruction by the truths; however they don’t want to protect him from the truths either. Like the narrator in the first chapter, they want George to understand the truths in order to grow and become a more interesting, life-loving person.
In the final chapter of the novel, Willard leaves for his final adventure. Anderson writes that, as Willard was preparing for his departure, “He thought of little things –Turk Smollet wheeling boards through the main street of his town in the morning, a tall woman, beautifully gowned, who had once stayed overnight at his father’s hotel, Butch Wheeler the lamp lighter of Winesburg hurrying through the streets on a summer evening and holding a torch in his hand, Helen White standing by a window in the Winesburg post office and putting a stamp on an envelope.” Willard is thinking of the “little things” because these little people, these inconsequential, obscure people, are the people who changed his mindset and subsequently, his life. The lives of these virtually unknown people showed George Willard the sadness of the truths, the depressing nature of a world ruled by truths, but they also showed him that there was hope. Not for them but for George Willard, who was young and vibrant, who had time to understand all that life held in store. So, with these people in mind, George leaves for his adventure to become a master of the truths.
Understanding this, it is very likely that George Willard is, in fact, the narrator in the first chapter. After he has completed his adventure, he understands the nature of the truths and how to live without the truths destroying him. In understanding this, he remembers everyone who taught this to him—“the grotesques”— his friends from Winesburg, Ohio. From these flashbacks, George Willard writes his novel –“The Book of the Grotesques”—to show others how they to can save themselves from destruction by the truths.

The Failure to Adventure

Adventure, an idea that is prominent in three chapters (so far) of Winesburg, Ohio, seems to be detrimental to those who attempt such a feat. George Willard, his mother, and Alice Hindman all fail in their quests, causing each individual to lose a part of themselves.

This idea is first expressed in the chapter titled, "Mother," when "plunged in gloom, Elizabeth Willard had an adventure." (page 27) Before her failure even occurs, the imagery of the passage sets the tone for future events. Nearly every paragraph makes a mention of the darkness or gloom of the hallways through which Mother Willard travels. The overbearing darkness seems to choke any possibility of success out of the adventure, foreshadowing the events that are to come. Elizabeth travels to her son's room, only to hear her husband giving George advice that "infuriated the women." (page 28) In her rage, Mrs. Willard decides to stab her own husband but fails in the resolution of the adventure when, "the strength that had been a miracle in her body left." (page 32) This failure to complete her mission, the goal derived from her adventure, represents Elizabeth's inability to counteract her husband's overly-ambitious and hateful nature. In the end, "the expression of joy" (page 33) becomes impossible for her. She loses all hope she originally possessed and becomes a completely empty, soulless creature.

Similarly her own son, George Willard, loses parts of himself in his adventure that takes place in a later chapter titled “Nobody Knows.” In this chapter, George Willard embarks on an adventure that brings him close to a woman named Louise Trunnion. During their meeting, he becomes “wholly the male, bold and aggressive. In his heart there was no sympathy for her.” (page 46) The two then escape into rural parts of the town, after which George returns alone, wishing to speak to “some man” (page 47). The “aggressive” nature George develops suggests that he feels possession over Louise Trunnion. This, combined with the secrecy of their meeting, suggests that Louise is a prostitute. When the two sneak away, Louise being a prostitute, it is likely that they have sex. Thus, George’s adventure is supposed to make him into a man by his sexual possession of Louise. This idea of his rebirth into a man is compounded by the picture of rain falling when he returns as well as his desire to be in the presence of another man. While all seems to have gone smoothly in George’s adventure, his apparent nervousness on page 47 suggests that the adventure was actually a complete failure. Also, George continuously tries to convince himself that Louise has nothing on him. This fear and overcompensation demonstrate the control Louise has over George, and thus demonstrate that George failed in his adventure’s goal –to become a man –by becoming the servant to a woman.

The final example, presented in the chapter actually titled “Adventure” has many of the same ideas expressed above; however, because I believe it could connect with other parts of the book, I will save the discussion of this section for a later time.

Mother! Oh God, mother! Blood! Blood! (Psycho)

Just this week, I have begun to read Winesburg, Oho, a book that seems to bring endless fascination to me. Although it does not have a gripping plot, the novel is so shrouded in mystery the reader can never become bored. Every sentence presents a new enigma, something that the reader must not only interpret but also connect to the rest of the novel. The story is a labyrinth; although it appears there are many monstrous truths in the middle of the maze, not just one ugly giant. I could spend hours discussing the numerous connections I have found in just the five chapters I have read; however, because I have not finished the novel, I feel I do not know the true depth and meaning of each of these connections. Instead, let’s focus on an allusion in the chapter titled “Mother” that, as Foster in How to Read Literature Like a Professor promised, has contributed significantly to my overall understanding of the story.
“Mother,” the story of the very ill mother of Wing Biddlebaum’s friend George Willard, seems to share many qualities with the ever-popular Alfred Hitchcock movie “Psycho" (which in turn was based on the 1959 novel Psycho by Robert Bloch). In case you’re unfamiliar with the horror film, it is a black-and-white classic about a disillusioned hotel keeper who has an extremely odd relationship with his mother. A series of murders plague his hotel, and many of the guests fear that his mother is the psychopath behind the horrid events. It isn’t until the close of the movie where everyone realizes that his mother is actually dead; however, because he is the one that murdered her, he has developed a split personality and believes his mother is still alive.
Similar to the movie, “Mother” takes place in a run-down hotel that was “unprofitable and forever on the edge of failure.” (p. 23) The mother, although alive in the book, seems to take on many characteristics of a corpse, thus baring many similarities to the dead mother in Psycho. Author Sherwood Anderson describes her as a “tall, ghostly figure” (p. 23) who had hands that are “white and bloodless,” (p.26) and she always appear to be sitting “listlessly.” (p. 23) Also, bearing a chilling resemblance to Psycho, Willard’s mother’s life seems dependent on that of her son. Just as the hotelkeeper’s mother only survives in his mind, Willard’s mother only survives for the sake of her son. She even says that she “‘will come back’” (p. 25) to save her son from failure, and later, on page 28, she experiences renewed, even murderous strength, when she senses that her son is in danger. She resolves on page 30 to kill her own husband in the name of her son. Thus, as in Psycho, this mother becomes murderous due to the influence of her son. In Psycho the son is the killer; however, it is the dominance of his mother that forces him to this end, and in Winesburg Ohio, it is the mother’s obsession with her son that almost forces her to murder. However, as if sensing that her son will leave her, “the strength that had been as a miracle in her body left.” (p. 32) She is unable to kill her husband because of a sudden bout of weakness. Shortly after she loses all strength, readers learn of her son’s departure. Similar to Psycho’s storyline, Willard’s mother can only live through him, and when he leaves, she loses her strength.
The similarities –murder, obsession, protectiveness—between Psycho and “Mother” provide a chilling backdrop to the chapter’s storyline. Not only does it accentuate the “grotesque” nature of the chapter’s events, it also highlights the extremely intimate relationship between Willard and his mother. Although it never seems to turn sexual, her obsession with her son borders on creepiness, and it makes readers wonder, what truth destroyed Willard’s mother?

All The King's Men--a different spin on things

During our few discussions in class, thus far, about All the King's Men, many people have emphasized the presence of corruption throughout the story. While I do recognize that corruption had a significant role in the plot line, I truly believe it was only a device used by Robert Warren Penn to get at the true meaning of his words. My observations lead me to believe that Penn wrote this book, not to highlight the corruption of mankind, but to highlight the complexity of mankind --which includes the good and the bad alike. Its seems that throughout the stories, the so-called villains have many redeeming qualities while Penn's little angels have their own demonic undertones.

First of all, Willie Stark, the classic corrupted politician, proves to have his own soft spots. This is best seen through his attempt to create the perfect hospital. He refuses, at first, to taint the sacred building with the corrupt hands of contractor Gummy Larson. Willie wants to design this legacy, a free hospital, so people would remember him for the good deeds he did. While the act is apparently selfish, there are a few moments when Willie seems genuinely concerned with the quality of the hospital for the people's sake-- especially when he chooses to hire Adam Stanton as the manager of the hospital. Also, Willie's devotion to his son, however misguided, demonstrates his truly loving nature. When Willie's son is injured in a car accident, Jack reports that the "Boss, pale as a starched sheet, and with his hair hanging and his eyes wild and sweat running down his cheeks, paced the floor of the waiting room and ground one fist into the palm of the other hand while his breath made a labored sound like the breath of his son in the room beyond." The Boss is clearly very worried for his son's safety. His love for his son is further demonstrated when, after Tom's death, he decides to name the hospital in memory of Tom Stark. From these examples, I believe that despite Willie's corruption, he had a desire to help his people and a devotion to those he cared about. Maybe this is what Anne was referring to when she told Jack (talking about Willie), "‘you’ve known him all these years and you don't know him at all.'"

On the other end of the spectrum, Judge Irwin, a supposedly honorable and caring man, has a very dishonorable past, as Jack finds out. Following a late night visit to the Judge, Willie asks Jack to uncover some dirt on Judge Irwin as a way to discredit the Judge after he sided with Willie's opponent. Jack doesn't believe that there is anything to find about the man, however, as Willie states, "Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption and he passeth from the stink of the didie to the stench of the shroud. There is always something." As it turns out, Judge Irwin was quite a shady character in his early days. "He had cuckolded a friend, betrayed a wife, taken a bribe, driven a man, though unwittingly, to death," Jack says on page 532. This respected Judge was filled with as much evil as Willie. Everyone thought him an angel; however, in truth, he was "conceived in sin and born in corruption" just like everyone else. Yet, staying true to his theme, Penn also demonstrates the good side of Judge Irwin. He was not only been a fair judge and a proud man, he also helped raise Jack after the scholarly attorney left. "After Ellis Burden went away [Judge Irwin] was more of a father to me than those men who had married my mother and come to live in Ellis Burden's house. And the Judge was a man." (page 61)

These two examples, and many more, emphasize an even greater theme in Penn’s All the King’s Men –man can be corrupt and evil or beautiful and spotless, but even the worst or the best of men generally have a little angel or demon in them. In other words, the world isn’t a black and white movie; it’s filled with color, and you have to remember to look at characters with that mindset.