Boy Vs. Girl (Pages 20-44)
While reading, I noticed that the male gender is focused on a great deal amount when it comes to serious matters. The author, Anouilh, shows females in a different view, one may say "sexist" but I do not believe this is the case. For an example oh how men are focused on more is when the guard tells Creon that the body of Polydices was buried. Creon assumes it is of a male gender. "A kid! I can imagine what he is like, their kid: a baby faced killer, creeping in the night with a toy shovel under his jacket." (Page 22) This struck me. Creon assumes not only that the criminal is a male but a child. Why is this? I believe this is due from the fact that kids can be "hard to handle" and mostly mischevious. They can be quite the con artists. On the other hand, I wonder why he would think that the person is a child, children are not supposed to be smarter than adults. Thinking about it, it seems to me that Creon made a remark that may have been hurtful to the guard. That the guard(s) are not mature enough to handle a child criminal.
When speaking of tragedy, Anouilh refers to a girl. "Anything will set it going: a glance at a girl who happens to be lifting her arms to her hair as you go by...." (Page 23) The sentence goes on talking about other things that could disrupt a characters day, but that is besides the point at this particular moment. The author was referrring to a girl as though she causes tragedy for someone. This may be true in a way. Correct me if I am wrong, but when a male looks at a girl, and she is playing with her hair, moving her hair, isn't that supposed to be some way of saying that male is attracted to that female? "The unbreathable silence when, at the beginning of the play, the two lovers, their hearts bared, their bodies naked, stand for the first time face to face in the darkened room, afraid to stir." (Page 23) Sex is a serious matter and Annouilh seems to be telling the reader just that by reffering the woman to a tragic moment in a man's life.
November 16, 2011
November 15, 2011
Antigone Journal Two
Timeline(Page 7-20):
-Nurse and Antigone are conversing about Antigone not being in bed.
-Ismene comes into the scene while Nurse and Antigone are talking.
-Nurse leaves the scene due to Antigone asking her to leave so she can converse with her sister Ismene.
-Nurse's voice comes to scene, but not her personally.
-Ismene leaves the scene by leaving through the arch.
-Nurse enters back to scene from arch.
-Haemon comes from arch.
-Antigone asks Nurse to leave. She does so.
-Haemon leaves through arch.
-Ismene enters from the arch
-Antigone leaves after a discussion.
-Ismene follows her.
(AFTER CLASS DISCUSSION)
-Antigone spoke with her sister about burying their brother. Ismene tells Antigone that she wants to sleep on the decision.
-Antigone takes clothes from her sister, Ismene. She then dresses herself and heads over to Haemon's house.
-Antigone arrives at Haemon's house. Antigone was excited.
-Haemon opens the door to see Antigone. He then laughs at her.
-Haemon and Antigone get in a fight, therefore, she leaves.
-Antigone decides to bury her brother.
-She then goes home and talks to Nurse.
Interesting:
I find that this play is really dramatic. There are many pauses through out the play, to show the characters are thinking, and "taking in" what other characters are saying. The colors, as discussed in class, have been popping up a lot. There is also a lot of sarcasm. (As discussed in class.)
Sardonic (I am not positive if these sentences are correct):
"Later on he will come running in to announce that Haemon is dead."
-I thought this might be sardonic due to the Chorus is being non-chalant with this sentence with such a serious matter.
"That's what he is brooding over."
-This is the follow-up sentence. The Chorus says this sentence, and with my point of view he is seeming sarcastic in a rude way. Someone has died, and the Chorus uses "brooding" which it seems to show no sympathy.
"As for those three red-faced card players-they are the guards."
-This seems to just be rude. (Probably not sardonic, so ignore this one.)
I think I should have "sardonic" explained to me one more time.
-Nurse and Antigone are conversing about Antigone not being in bed.
-Ismene comes into the scene while Nurse and Antigone are talking.
-Nurse leaves the scene due to Antigone asking her to leave so she can converse with her sister Ismene.
-Nurse's voice comes to scene, but not her personally.
-Ismene leaves the scene by leaving through the arch.
-Nurse enters back to scene from arch.
-Haemon comes from arch.
-Antigone asks Nurse to leave. She does so.
-Haemon leaves through arch.
-Ismene enters from the arch
-Antigone leaves after a discussion.
-Ismene follows her.
(AFTER CLASS DISCUSSION)
-Antigone spoke with her sister about burying their brother. Ismene tells Antigone that she wants to sleep on the decision.
-Antigone takes clothes from her sister, Ismene. She then dresses herself and heads over to Haemon's house.
-Antigone arrives at Haemon's house. Antigone was excited.
-Haemon opens the door to see Antigone. He then laughs at her.
-Haemon and Antigone get in a fight, therefore, she leaves.
-Antigone decides to bury her brother.
-She then goes home and talks to Nurse.
Interesting:
I find that this play is really dramatic. There are many pauses through out the play, to show the characters are thinking, and "taking in" what other characters are saying. The colors, as discussed in class, have been popping up a lot. There is also a lot of sarcasm. (As discussed in class.)
Sardonic (I am not positive if these sentences are correct):
"Later on he will come running in to announce that Haemon is dead."
-I thought this might be sardonic due to the Chorus is being non-chalant with this sentence with such a serious matter.
"That's what he is brooding over."
-This is the follow-up sentence. The Chorus says this sentence, and with my point of view he is seeming sarcastic in a rude way. Someone has died, and the Chorus uses "brooding" which it seems to show no sympathy.
"As for those three red-faced card players-they are the guards."
-This seems to just be rude. (Probably not sardonic, so ignore this one.)
I think I should have "sardonic" explained to me one more time.
November 14, 2011
Antigone Journal One
The Staging for Antigone (Pages 3-6)
While reading, I envisioned the stage to be set to modern times. To explain, I shall post the first paragraph of this play, then explain my thoughts from it to better show my imagery I got from the text.
"ANTIGONE, her hands clasped round her knees, sits on the top step. The THREE GUARDS sit on the steps, in a small group, playing cards. The CHORUS stands on the top step. EURYDICE sits on the top step, just left of center, knitting. The NURSE sits on the second step, left of EURYDICE. Ismene stands in front of arch, left, facing HAEMON, who stands left of her. CREON sits in the chair at right end of the table, his arm over the should of his PAGE, who sits on the stool beside his char. The MESSENGER is leaning against the downstage portal of the right arch."
Picture this. You are in New York. Walking down a sidewalk with trees beginning to turn from the color green to the colors of Fall. They are becoming orange, red, and brown. As you are walking, they are slowly falling one after the other down to the earths soil or to the pavement. Most of the leaves are being caught by the wind and fall onto the pavement instead of the two foot by two foot enclosed black fence where each tree stands in. Of course, these trees are evenly spaced, because that is how nature works. (sarcasm) To the left, there are Townhouses with five gray steps leading to the doors where families live. You keep walking the streets, while cabs honk and people on their bikes are pedaling. Everyone has some place to be, but with all of this madness you are surrounded by, you come across a townhouse that is twice as large as every other one. There is a black fence, and to enter to the five gray steps that are larger and wider, you have to walk under an arch. There is a woman who is sitting on the top step to the far left with her hands crasped around her knees. There are three police officers who are sitting on the top steps to the far right bypassing time by playing cards even though they live in New York, and there is a lot of criminals in the area...... (Which they should be fullfilling their job description when they are CLEARLY NOT!) Then you see a man who seems very proper. He is wearing a gray pin striped suit, and looks as if he has important business to be discussing at that particular time. Your eyes are drawn to the older lady sitting in a rocking chair knitting like the sweet old lady that she seems to be. She is rocking back and forth at a steady pace, looking as if she is in her own world although she is close to the woman named Antigone. One step down and to the right,there is a lady dressed in her work clothes from the night before. Her light blue outift and her plain white shoes indicate she is a nurse from the local hospital. A woman, Ismene, is standing to the left of the arch in front of it. You see her staring at a person by the name of Haemon. You also notice that Haemon is standing to the left of Ismene. Your eyes are directed toward a man, Creon, who is sitting in front of the gate, on the right of Ismene and Haemon, on a chair. While his arm is around his girlfriend who is sitting on a stool. Then, there is the mail man. He is taking a break from work. So he decided to stand by the nearby max station stairs.
This may be completely off, but that description is how I envisioned this part. To me, it seemed like it was a little chaotic, and everyone wanted to be somewhere, but for some reason, they were, where they were. On the other hand, I can envision this being set by a midevil castle and outside the gates of the Kings land. I mostly try to see the play in how it makes sense to me, meaning more modern because I can experience what is going on theoretically, sometime in my life.
While reading, I envisioned the stage to be set to modern times. To explain, I shall post the first paragraph of this play, then explain my thoughts from it to better show my imagery I got from the text.
"ANTIGONE, her hands clasped round her knees, sits on the top step. The THREE GUARDS sit on the steps, in a small group, playing cards. The CHORUS stands on the top step. EURYDICE sits on the top step, just left of center, knitting. The NURSE sits on the second step, left of EURYDICE. Ismene stands in front of arch, left, facing HAEMON, who stands left of her. CREON sits in the chair at right end of the table, his arm over the should of his PAGE, who sits on the stool beside his char. The MESSENGER is leaning against the downstage portal of the right arch."
Picture this. You are in New York. Walking down a sidewalk with trees beginning to turn from the color green to the colors of Fall. They are becoming orange, red, and brown. As you are walking, they are slowly falling one after the other down to the earths soil or to the pavement. Most of the leaves are being caught by the wind and fall onto the pavement instead of the two foot by two foot enclosed black fence where each tree stands in. Of course, these trees are evenly spaced, because that is how nature works. (sarcasm) To the left, there are Townhouses with five gray steps leading to the doors where families live. You keep walking the streets, while cabs honk and people on their bikes are pedaling. Everyone has some place to be, but with all of this madness you are surrounded by, you come across a townhouse that is twice as large as every other one. There is a black fence, and to enter to the five gray steps that are larger and wider, you have to walk under an arch. There is a woman who is sitting on the top step to the far left with her hands crasped around her knees. There are three police officers who are sitting on the top steps to the far right bypassing time by playing cards even though they live in New York, and there is a lot of criminals in the area...... (Which they should be fullfilling their job description when they are CLEARLY NOT!) Then you see a man who seems very proper. He is wearing a gray pin striped suit, and looks as if he has important business to be discussing at that particular time. Your eyes are drawn to the older lady sitting in a rocking chair knitting like the sweet old lady that she seems to be. She is rocking back and forth at a steady pace, looking as if she is in her own world although she is close to the woman named Antigone. One step down and to the right,there is a lady dressed in her work clothes from the night before. Her light blue outift and her plain white shoes indicate she is a nurse from the local hospital. A woman, Ismene, is standing to the left of the arch in front of it. You see her staring at a person by the name of Haemon. You also notice that Haemon is standing to the left of Ismene. Your eyes are directed toward a man, Creon, who is sitting in front of the gate, on the right of Ismene and Haemon, on a chair. While his arm is around his girlfriend who is sitting on a stool. Then, there is the mail man. He is taking a break from work. So he decided to stand by the nearby max station stairs.
This may be completely off, but that description is how I envisioned this part. To me, it seemed like it was a little chaotic, and everyone wanted to be somewhere, but for some reason, they were, where they were. On the other hand, I can envision this being set by a midevil castle and outside the gates of the Kings land. I mostly try to see the play in how it makes sense to me, meaning more modern because I can experience what is going on theoretically, sometime in my life.
November 13, 2011
Dystopian Journal Two
"What should I (Offred) take? Something that will not be missed. In the wood at midnight, a magic flower. A withered daffodil, not one from the dried arrangement. The daffodils will soon be thrown out, they're beginning to smell. Along with Serena's stale fumes, the stench of her knitting.
I grope, find an end table, feel. There's a clink, I must have knocked something. I find the daffodils, crisp at the edges where they've dried, limp towards the stems, use my fingers to pinch. I will press this, somewhere. Under the mattress. Leave it there, for the next woman, the one who comes after me, to find.
But there's someone in the room, behind me.
I hear the step, quiet as mine, the creaking of the same floorboard. The door closes behind me, with a little click, cutting the light. I freeze: white was a mistake. I'm snow in moonlight, even in the dark.
Then a whisper: 'Don't scream. It's all right.'
As if I'd scream, as if it's all right. I turn: a shape, that's all, dull glint of cheeckbone, devoid of color.
He steps towards me. Nick.
'What are you doing in here?'
I don't answer. He too is illegal, here, with me, he can't give me away. Nor I him; for the moment we're mirrors. He puts his hands on my arm, pulls me against him, his mouth on mine, what else comes from such denial? Without a word. Both of us shaking, how I'd liketo. In Serena's parlor, with dried flowers, on the Chinese carpet, his thin body. A man entirely unknown. It would be like shouting, it would be like shooting someone. My hand goes down, how about that, I could unbutton, and then. But it's too dangerous, he knows it, we push each other away, not far. Too much trust, too much risk, too much already.
'I was coming to find you,' he says, breathes, almost into my ear. I want to reach up, taste his skin, he makes me hungry."
On page 98, this is the scene when Offred and Nick encounter each other in Serena's parlor. It is late at night and they are both supposed to be in their assigned areas. These two are partaking in illegal actions and could both get in a severe amount of trouble. This page shows that there is sexual tension between them. They both find each other attractive and would like to partake in sexual actions with each other. By reading this page, the reader should be able to tell that this is an important part of the book. Not only does it show there is something between these two characters, it foreshadows what will happen later. This particular scene is the start of their relationship. The setting is also very important to due them being in a restricted zone. One where they should not ever be with out supervision. This shows that they know they are in a place that if caught, they will be sent away, but they keep staying there. Only for a few moments. Why? In general people, even in books, will get adrenaline from partaking in activities that an individual knows that is against the rules.
Characters: Nick/Offred
Setting/Items: Serena's parlor, daffodils, end table, mattress!
I grope, find an end table, feel. There's a clink, I must have knocked something. I find the daffodils, crisp at the edges where they've dried, limp towards the stems, use my fingers to pinch. I will press this, somewhere. Under the mattress. Leave it there, for the next woman, the one who comes after me, to find.
But there's someone in the room, behind me.
I hear the step, quiet as mine, the creaking of the same floorboard. The door closes behind me, with a little click, cutting the light. I freeze: white was a mistake. I'm snow in moonlight, even in the dark.
Then a whisper: 'Don't scream. It's all right.'
As if I'd scream, as if it's all right. I turn: a shape, that's all, dull glint of cheeckbone, devoid of color.
He steps towards me. Nick.
'What are you doing in here?'
I don't answer. He too is illegal, here, with me, he can't give me away. Nor I him; for the moment we're mirrors. He puts his hands on my arm, pulls me against him, his mouth on mine, what else comes from such denial? Without a word. Both of us shaking, how I'd liketo. In Serena's parlor, with dried flowers, on the Chinese carpet, his thin body. A man entirely unknown. It would be like shouting, it would be like shooting someone. My hand goes down, how about that, I could unbutton, and then. But it's too dangerous, he knows it, we push each other away, not far. Too much trust, too much risk, too much already.
'I was coming to find you,' he says, breathes, almost into my ear. I want to reach up, taste his skin, he makes me hungry."
On page 98, this is the scene when Offred and Nick encounter each other in Serena's parlor. It is late at night and they are both supposed to be in their assigned areas. These two are partaking in illegal actions and could both get in a severe amount of trouble. This page shows that there is sexual tension between them. They both find each other attractive and would like to partake in sexual actions with each other. By reading this page, the reader should be able to tell that this is an important part of the book. Not only does it show there is something between these two characters, it foreshadows what will happen later. This particular scene is the start of their relationship. The setting is also very important to due them being in a restricted zone. One where they should not ever be with out supervision. This shows that they know they are in a place that if caught, they will be sent away, but they keep staying there. Only for a few moments. Why? In general people, even in books, will get adrenaline from partaking in activities that an individual knows that is against the rules.
Characters: Nick/Offred
Setting/Items: Serena's parlor, daffodils, end table, mattress!
October 20, 2011
The Handsmaid's Tale
"We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. The floor was of varnished wood, with stripes and circles painted on it, for the games that were formerly played there; the hoops for the basketball nets were still in place, though the nets were gone. A balcony ran around the room, for the spectators, and I thought I could smell, faintly like an afterimage, the pungent scent of sweat, shot through with the sweet taint of chewing gum and perfume from the watching girls, felt-skirted as I knew from pictures, later in miniskirts, then pants, then in one earring, spiky green-streaked hair. Dances would have been held there; the music lingered, a palimpest of unheard sound, style upon style, an undercurrent of drums, a forlorn wail, garlands made of tissue-paper flowers, cardboard devils, a revolving ball of mirrors, powdering the dances with a snow of light." (Page 1, Chapter 1)
The first sentence shows that there are multiple people the main character is near. A gymnasium is a large amount of space, this shows the reader that more than likely, there is a big group of people in this particular area. There is constant imagery within this paragraph, this shows the setting and how this character is looking back in her life. By how the gymnasium is described, it resembles a high school gymnasium. The reader now knows that the main character as well as the "we" characters are in a high school. "...though the nets were gone." This shows that people are not able to play basketball in this area. It shows that having simple fun, as in playing a game, is not allowed. A balcony is over a particular area. The people who are on the balcony are higher than them showing dominance. The rest of the paragraph seems to be a flashback of when there was a dance in the gym around the time of halloween from the "...cardboard devils..." description. This must be a fond memory of the main character.
The first sentence shows that there are multiple people the main character is near. A gymnasium is a large amount of space, this shows the reader that more than likely, there is a big group of people in this particular area. There is constant imagery within this paragraph, this shows the setting and how this character is looking back in her life. By how the gymnasium is described, it resembles a high school gymnasium. The reader now knows that the main character as well as the "we" characters are in a high school. "...though the nets were gone." This shows that people are not able to play basketball in this area. It shows that having simple fun, as in playing a game, is not allowed. A balcony is over a particular area. The people who are on the balcony are higher than them showing dominance. The rest of the paragraph seems to be a flashback of when there was a dance in the gym around the time of halloween from the "...cardboard devils..." description. This must be a fond memory of the main character.
October 17, 2011
The Stranger: Journal Six
Maman.
Father.
Murderer.
Executed.
Ideas.
Mistake.
Realized.
My heart.
Escapes.
Serious.
Possibility.
Fact.
Understand.
I don't feel like talking.
Father.
Murderer.
Executed.
Ideas.
Mistake.
Realized.
My heart.
Escapes.
Serious.
Possibility.
Fact.
Understand.
I don't feel like talking.
The Stranger: Journal Five
First off, part one of this book show's how Meursault seems to be indifferent about everything. He would not go in depth with what he thought or how he felt. He would go to work, drink coffee, smoke, sleep, and partake in sexual activities with Marie. When she asked him about marriage he was indifferent upon the thought. I can back this up by the quote, "That evening Marie came by to see me and asked me if I wanted to marry her. I said it didn't make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted to." (Page 41) By him saying this, it shows to the reader how he is indifferent about his personal relationship. On a side note, I was wondering to myself why she would stay with him. Why would she put herself through a relationship where she loves him, but he does not know what he truly wants and won't give a straight answer? To me, that would be a major red flag with the relationship. In part one there were a few minor characters that were introduced, as in, Marie, Raymond, the boss, the funeral man, the old man with his dog, the girlfriend of Raymond, and Masson. These people were talked about most. Anyhow, Meursault would notice people's physical characteristics through out part one, he would not make such harsh judgements towards people. He seemed grouchy, but he would not say anything, because that was the type of person he was. After he met Raymond, his thoughts and actions became different. He began to think more like Raymond. In part two he stopped drinking coffee, stopped smoking, his sexual life became non-existent due to him being in prison, he stopped noticing people's eyes. There were more people in part two who were talked about. The jury, the judge, the lawyers, the type-writer, the chaplain, some of the other men who were in prison, ect. The setting changed to his house to the prison. His thoughts changed to him actually being thoughtful and appreciating life and not wanting it to end. He thought about how he lived and what he wanted. His thoughts became in depth and he tried to realize that he could have had a better life. He had sudden realizations as in why his Maman had a fiance at the end of her life. Religion was also talked a lot in this part. I think this was to show how important religion is to people. How people use religion as a tool to feel safety, and that there is something better than life on Earth, that there is something to look forward to and not be scared of. I find it interesting how the chaplain says that the people he has seen have converted to God before there death, I find this to be kind of upsetting in a way, that they are either believing in God because they are scared adn do not want to die; but I also find it good that they are believing in something. I am not sure though.
(This may seem a bit jumbly, that is because, it is. My thoughts with this journal are a bit on and off but I hope I made a couple good points.)
(This may seem a bit jumbly, that is because, it is. My thoughts with this journal are a bit on and off but I hope I made a couple good points.)
The Stranger: Journal Four
"He was waving his crucifix almost directly over my head." (Pg. 68)
"He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him." (pg. 69)
"For the third time I've refused to see the chaplain." (Pg.108)
"I said that I didn't believe in God. He wanted to know if I was sure and I said that I didn't see any reason to ask myself that question: it seemed unimportant." (Pg.116)
"Every man I have known in your position has turned to Him." (Pg. 116-117)
"I had only a little time left and I didn't want to waste it on God." (Pg. 120)
-Characters in this book push religion on others.
-Meursault does not believe that he should turn to religion because he is in a tough spot.
-The second to last quote shows that most people who are scared to die turn to religion.
-Meursault stays true to his beliefs.
"One last thing: it seems your mother often expressed to her friends her desire for a religious burial." (Pg. 6)
"While not an athiest, Maman had never in her life given a thought to religion." (Pg.6)
-Maman never thought about religion. When she was close to dieing, she wanted something better to hope for. Therefore she went to religion.
Marie almost sounds like Mary. This seemed to be reffering to the Virgin Mary in bibical terms; although the reader understands that she is the exact opposite of the bibical woman.
"Over his bed he has a pink-and-white plaster angel, somepicture of famous athletes, and two or three photographs of naked women."
-Raymond uses the angel to justify his actions.
"He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him." (pg. 69)
"For the third time I've refused to see the chaplain." (Pg.108)
"I said that I didn't believe in God. He wanted to know if I was sure and I said that I didn't see any reason to ask myself that question: it seemed unimportant." (Pg.116)
"Every man I have known in your position has turned to Him." (Pg. 116-117)
"I had only a little time left and I didn't want to waste it on God." (Pg. 120)
-Characters in this book push religion on others.
-Meursault does not believe that he should turn to religion because he is in a tough spot.
-The second to last quote shows that most people who are scared to die turn to religion.
-Meursault stays true to his beliefs.
"One last thing: it seems your mother often expressed to her friends her desire for a religious burial." (Pg. 6)
"While not an athiest, Maman had never in her life given a thought to religion." (Pg.6)
-Maman never thought about religion. When she was close to dieing, she wanted something better to hope for. Therefore she went to religion.
Marie almost sounds like Mary. This seemed to be reffering to the Virgin Mary in bibical terms; although the reader understands that she is the exact opposite of the bibical woman.
"Over his bed he has a pink-and-white plaster angel, somepicture of famous athletes, and two or three photographs of naked women."
-Raymond uses the angel to justify his actions.
The Stranger: Journal Three
Stranger:
1. a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.
Outsider:
1. a person not belonging to a particular group, set, party, etc.
Foreigner:
1. a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration; alien.
(Definitions from Dictionary.com)
I am not quite sure if my interpretation of the title is correct, or even remotely accurate, but this is what I think the title is reffering to. Obviously the book focus's on Meusault. I believe that the title refers towards this character in some way. He is a type of person who keeps to himself; he is also the type of person when he doesn't have a preference or does not really care for something, he will not say anything. "I didn't say anything..." (Pg. 29) He seems to be a stranger, because he is indeed an "interesting" character in society, but he always seems to be an outsider. Since he killed a man, he was sent to prison, criminals are thought to be "outsiders" due to their actions. They are sent away. Away from society. I think the foreign part is talking about the Arabs. I am a little confused upon this concept.
1. a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance.
Outsider:
1. a person not belonging to a particular group, set, party, etc.
Foreigner:
1. a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration; alien.
(Definitions from Dictionary.com)
I am not quite sure if my interpretation of the title is correct, or even remotely accurate, but this is what I think the title is reffering to. Obviously the book focus's on Meusault. I believe that the title refers towards this character in some way. He is a type of person who keeps to himself; he is also the type of person when he doesn't have a preference or does not really care for something, he will not say anything. "I didn't say anything..." (Pg. 29) He seems to be a stranger, because he is indeed an "interesting" character in society, but he always seems to be an outsider. Since he killed a man, he was sent to prison, criminals are thought to be "outsiders" due to their actions. They are sent away. Away from society. I think the foreign part is talking about the Arabs. I am a little confused upon this concept.
October 3, 2011
The Stranger: Journal Two
Minor Characters in Chapter Three:
The Boss: He asked Mersault how he was feeling the day he returned. "The boss was nice." (Pg.25)
-He seems to be afraid of death due to him asking Mersault what age his mother was when she died. He was relieved by the age he told him, therefor I believe he was relieved that his time may not be as close as he expected.
Emmanuel: "...who works as a dispatcher."(Pg.25)
-He seems to e a pal of Mersault. He enjoys laughing.
Celeste: Owner of restaraunt? "Celeste was there, as always, with his big belly, his apron, and his white moustache."(Pg.26)
-I think he is hard-working, and not really in anyone's business besides his own.
Salamano: "I ran into old Salamano, my neighbor across the landing." (Pg.26)
-He has a dog that he has had for eight years. He is mean to the dog, and the dog whimpers a lot due to him hurting him.
Raymond Sintes: "Generally speaking, hi's not very popular."(Pg.28)
-Seems that he wants more friends. Upset with what his mistress had done. Wanted revenge. Doesn't seem pleasant.
Raymond's mistress: "I knew this lady... as a matter of fact, well, she was my mistress."
-She seems like she is a gold digger. She was using Raymond's money, and she is accused of cheating on him although he does not seem to have too much evidence.
The Boss: He asked Mersault how he was feeling the day he returned. "The boss was nice." (Pg.25)
-He seems to be afraid of death due to him asking Mersault what age his mother was when she died. He was relieved by the age he told him, therefor I believe he was relieved that his time may not be as close as he expected.
Emmanuel: "...who works as a dispatcher."(Pg.25)
-He seems to e a pal of Mersault. He enjoys laughing.
Celeste: Owner of restaraunt? "Celeste was there, as always, with his big belly, his apron, and his white moustache."(Pg.26)
-I think he is hard-working, and not really in anyone's business besides his own.
Salamano: "I ran into old Salamano, my neighbor across the landing." (Pg.26)
-He has a dog that he has had for eight years. He is mean to the dog, and the dog whimpers a lot due to him hurting him.
Raymond Sintes: "Generally speaking, hi's not very popular."(Pg.28)
-Seems that he wants more friends. Upset with what his mistress had done. Wanted revenge. Doesn't seem pleasant.
Raymond's mistress: "I knew this lady... as a matter of fact, well, she was my mistress."
-She seems like she is a gold digger. She was using Raymond's money, and she is accused of cheating on him although he does not seem to have too much evidence.
October 2, 2011
The Stranger: Journal One
Religion: His mother is not religious. She is not an athiest, she just never really cared about religion, although she wanted her buriel religious. This is explained on Page 6, "One last thing: it seems your mother often expressed to her friends her desire for a religious burial. I have taken the liberty of making the necessary arrangements. But I wanted to let you know.' I thanked him. While not an athiest, Maman had never in her life given a thought to religion."
Meursault: This character seems to be under a lot of stress. He also seems to not really care about his mothers death. The narration is very short, which I find that to mean something. Although I am not quite sure what that "something" is.
In the first paragraph I noticed the sentences were very short. He does not seem to care about his mothers death by the two sentences, "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know." A person would think, or even care when the death of their mother was. This really astounded me. I feel that their relationship was not so great or he is just selfish. He did not cry when he was at her funeral, he did not even want to see her in the casket. When a woman started crying he did not want to hear it. You would think he would be crying due to the death of his mother; But he is not.
I have noticed eight events that reoccur in a short amount of time. Although these may not particularily have any significance, I feel that I should brainstorm with them.
Smell: Meursault is very in tune with what he smells.
".... the smell of gasoline..." (Pg.4)
"....and the smell of flowers on the night air is coming through the open door." (Pg.9)
"I breathed in the smell of fresh earth and I wasn't sleepy anymore." (Pg.12)
I feel that this man is very in tune with what is going on around him. He puts his senses to good use and I feel that this protrays his character to be intelligent. I am not quite certain if the meaning is what the author would like me to realize though.
Sky: Meursault seems to always know what the color of the sky is.
"...the glare of the sky..." (Pg.4)
"Darkness had gathered, quickly, above the skylight." (Pg.8)
"Dawn was creeping up over the skylight." (Pg.11)
"...the sky was streaked with red." (Pg.12)
"The sky was already filled with light." (Pg.15)
So on and so forth. I have realized that the sky helps settle the mood for the reader. When an event is upsetting, the sky becomes darker. When Meursault seems to be in a happier mood, the sky is lighter.
Sleep: Meursault is always tired and seems to sleep quite often.
"....that I dozed off." (Pg.4)
"...the white walls were making me drowsy." (Pg.9)
"I think I dozed off for a while." (Pg.9)
"Then I dozed off again." (Pg.11)
"I was tired." (Pg.12)
He is a very tired man. When someone is upset or depressed they are most likely wanting to sleep all the time. I feel that he is in a depressed state. This may also explain the reason why he is very short answered and the narrator is speaking with short sentences.
Eyes: Meursault pays attention to other characters eyes very often.
"He looked at me with his clear eyes." (Pg.4)
"Maman used to spend her time following me with her eyes...." (Pg.5)
"He had nice pale blue eyes...." (Pg.6)
" ....She had a bandage wrapped around her head just below her eyes." (Pg.7)
"I'd had my eyes closed..." (Pg.9)
The eyes of the character show something about the character itself. I think the eyes show who a person really is.
Crying: There is a lot of crying through out the first couple of chapters. This is because of his mothers death. Although he does not cry. He only seems to be thinking about her death, but not about her, herself.
"A few months later and she would have cried if she was taken out." (Pg.5)
"Soon one of the women started crying." (Pg.10)
"....and went on crying as much as before." (Pg.10)
Neck: Meurasult's neck hurts quite a bit. When you are tense about something, your neck tenses. He seems to be very stressed.
"...breathing down my neck...."(Pg.7)
Coffee: When people are overly tired they drink coffee.
"....to bring a cup of coffee....."(Pg.8)
"I have to get some chairs and some black coffee." (Pg.9)
"....the coffee had warmed up...."(Pg.9)
Smoking: He has a bad habit of smoking too.
"Then I felt like having a smoke." (Pg.8)
"I offered the caretaker a cigerette and we smoked." (Pg.8)
"I smoked a couple cigerettes..."(Pg.22)
"I wanted to smoke a cigerette." (Pg.24)
Meursault: This character seems to be under a lot of stress. He also seems to not really care about his mothers death. The narration is very short, which I find that to mean something. Although I am not quite sure what that "something" is.
In the first paragraph I noticed the sentences were very short. He does not seem to care about his mothers death by the two sentences, "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know." A person would think, or even care when the death of their mother was. This really astounded me. I feel that their relationship was not so great or he is just selfish. He did not cry when he was at her funeral, he did not even want to see her in the casket. When a woman started crying he did not want to hear it. You would think he would be crying due to the death of his mother; But he is not.
I have noticed eight events that reoccur in a short amount of time. Although these may not particularily have any significance, I feel that I should brainstorm with them.
Smell: Meursault is very in tune with what he smells.
".... the smell of gasoline..." (Pg.4)
"....and the smell of flowers on the night air is coming through the open door." (Pg.9)
"I breathed in the smell of fresh earth and I wasn't sleepy anymore." (Pg.12)
I feel that this man is very in tune with what is going on around him. He puts his senses to good use and I feel that this protrays his character to be intelligent. I am not quite certain if the meaning is what the author would like me to realize though.
Sky: Meursault seems to always know what the color of the sky is.
"...the glare of the sky..." (Pg.4)
"Darkness had gathered, quickly, above the skylight." (Pg.8)
"Dawn was creeping up over the skylight." (Pg.11)
"...the sky was streaked with red." (Pg.12)
"The sky was already filled with light." (Pg.15)
So on and so forth. I have realized that the sky helps settle the mood for the reader. When an event is upsetting, the sky becomes darker. When Meursault seems to be in a happier mood, the sky is lighter.
Sleep: Meursault is always tired and seems to sleep quite often.
"....that I dozed off." (Pg.4)
"...the white walls were making me drowsy." (Pg.9)
"I think I dozed off for a while." (Pg.9)
"Then I dozed off again." (Pg.11)
"I was tired." (Pg.12)
He is a very tired man. When someone is upset or depressed they are most likely wanting to sleep all the time. I feel that he is in a depressed state. This may also explain the reason why he is very short answered and the narrator is speaking with short sentences.
Eyes: Meursault pays attention to other characters eyes very often.
"He looked at me with his clear eyes." (Pg.4)
"Maman used to spend her time following me with her eyes...." (Pg.5)
"He had nice pale blue eyes...." (Pg.6)
" ....She had a bandage wrapped around her head just below her eyes." (Pg.7)
"I'd had my eyes closed..." (Pg.9)
The eyes of the character show something about the character itself. I think the eyes show who a person really is.
Crying: There is a lot of crying through out the first couple of chapters. This is because of his mothers death. Although he does not cry. He only seems to be thinking about her death, but not about her, herself.
"A few months later and she would have cried if she was taken out." (Pg.5)
"Soon one of the women started crying." (Pg.10)
"....and went on crying as much as before." (Pg.10)
Neck: Meurasult's neck hurts quite a bit. When you are tense about something, your neck tenses. He seems to be very stressed.
"...breathing down my neck...."(Pg.7)
Coffee: When people are overly tired they drink coffee.
"....to bring a cup of coffee....."(Pg.8)
"I have to get some chairs and some black coffee." (Pg.9)
"....the coffee had warmed up...."(Pg.9)
Smoking: He has a bad habit of smoking too.
"Then I felt like having a smoke." (Pg.8)
"I offered the caretaker a cigerette and we smoked." (Pg.8)
"I smoked a couple cigerettes..."(Pg.22)
"I wanted to smoke a cigerette." (Pg.24)
September 25, 2011
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Final Journal Entry
Themes:
Curiosity
Concern
Eagerness
Judging
Experience
Time
Racism
Relationships
Frustration
Anger
Disappointment
Jealousy
Racism: People of lighter skin thought it was necessary to put other people with lighter skin in coffins. In the book, they talk about how they only have enough for white people and not people of darker skin.
Relationships: Janie has had a few relationships. She had to go through emotional and physical abuse, but she ended up in a relationship where she cares and loves Tea Cake.
Curiosity: Tea Cake was very curious on what was happening outside of where he was staying after the hurricane. Curiosity got the better of him and he was forced to bury people that died from the natural disaster.
Curiosity
Concern
Eagerness
Judging
Experience
Time
Racism
Relationships
Frustration
Anger
Disappointment
Jealousy
Racism: People of lighter skin thought it was necessary to put other people with lighter skin in coffins. In the book, they talk about how they only have enough for white people and not people of darker skin.
Relationships: Janie has had a few relationships. She had to go through emotional and physical abuse, but she ended up in a relationship where she cares and loves Tea Cake.
Curiosity: Tea Cake was very curious on what was happening outside of where he was staying after the hurricane. Curiosity got the better of him and he was forced to bury people that died from the natural disaster.
September 19, 2011
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Journal Number Six
Topic Sentence #1:
In this paragraph, it is showing a different characters hardship and how they have passed waiting for something that would never "show up." This was to show how Janie feels that she may be waiting for Tea Cake to come home, but he may never show again.
Topic Sentence #2:
Imagery is the focus on this paragraph. How there are memories around Janie and she can not get past them. This is due to Tea Cake's absence.
Topic Sentence #3:
First person is happening in this paragraph to show how Janie is feeling about Tea Cake's disappearance. The mood becomes distressed, upsetting, and somewhat angering.
Topic Sentence #4:
The mood is quite relaxing but also tense in a way. Uses dark and also light in the same paragraph comparing and contrasting.
Purpose: To show how much Janie cares about Tea Cake and how his disappearance is making her distressed. She is a strong woman and does not want to end up like Annie Tyler. She also does not want to know that Tea Cake, the love of her life, did not feel the same way she did about him.
In this paragraph, it is showing a different characters hardship and how they have passed waiting for something that would never "show up." This was to show how Janie feels that she may be waiting for Tea Cake to come home, but he may never show again.
Topic Sentence #2:
Imagery is the focus on this paragraph. How there are memories around Janie and she can not get past them. This is due to Tea Cake's absence.
Topic Sentence #3:
First person is happening in this paragraph to show how Janie is feeling about Tea Cake's disappearance. The mood becomes distressed, upsetting, and somewhat angering.
Topic Sentence #4:
The mood is quite relaxing but also tense in a way. Uses dark and also light in the same paragraph comparing and contrasting.
Purpose: To show how much Janie cares about Tea Cake and how his disappearance is making her distressed. She is a strong woman and does not want to end up like Annie Tyler. She also does not want to know that Tea Cake, the love of her life, did not feel the same way she did about him.
September 18, 2011
Their Eyes Were Watching God:Journal Number Five
They put her to bed and sent for her married daughter from up around Ocala to come see about her. The daughter came as soon as she could and took Annie Tyler away to die in peace. She had waited all her life or something, and it had killed her when it found her.
The thing made itself into pictures and hung around Janie's bedside all night long. Anyhow, she wasn't going back to Eatonville to be laughed at and pitied. She had ten dollars in her pocket and twelve hundred in the bank. But oh God, don't let Tea Cake be off somewhere hurt and Ah not know nothing about it. And God, please suh, don't let him love nobody else but me. Maybe Ah'm is uf fool, Lawd, lad dey say, but Lawd, Ah been so lonesome, and Ah been waitin', Jesus. Ah done waited uh long time.
Janie dozed off to sleep but she woke up in time to see the sun sending up spies ahead of him to mark out the road through the dark. he peeped up over the door sill of the world and made a little foolishness with red. but pretty soon, he laid all that aside and went about his business dressed all in white. But it was always going to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn't soon come back. She got out of the bed but a chair couldn't hold her. She dwindled down on the floor her head in a rocking chair.
RED: Words that popped out while reading.
LIGHT ORANGE: Characters in the text.
PURPLE: Point Of View: Changes from third person to first person, then back to third person.
Repeated Words:
-Her
-She
-God
-Him
-Don't -Forceful. (Tone)
-Lawd
-Ah
-He
"They put her to bed and sent for her married daughter from up around Ocala to come see about her. The daughter came as soon as she could and took Annie Tyler away to die in peace. She had waited all her life or something, and it had killed her when it found her."
-They: Third person point of view.
-Bed: This word popped out for me because a bed is somewhere you sleep, to rest.
-Married daughter: A character.
-Ocala: Setting
-Her: Repeated word. The narrator is trying to keep the reader interested by repeating.
-Annie Tyler: Character.
-Die: Harsh word.
-Peace: Contrasts with "die." Someone is truly in "peace" when they have passed. (Or so I have been told.)
*This paragraph is before Janie's side of the story. This is told for the reader to know that this was the story that one of her friends from Eatonville shared. It was about how Annie Tyler went off with a younger man and he left her after he was able to get a hold of her money. This is to let the reader know that Janie is nervous that Tea Cake may have done such a thing. She is questioning his faith to her.
"The thing made itself into pictures and hung around Janie's bedside all night long. Anyhow, she wasn't going back to Eatonville to be laughed at and pitied. She had ten dollars in her pocket and twelve hundred in the bank. But oh God, don't let Tea Cake be off somewhere hurt and Ah not know nothing about it. And God, please suh, don't let him love nobody else but me. Maybe Ah'm is uf fool, Lawd, lad dey say, but Lawd, Ah been so lonesome, and Ah been waitin', Jesus. Ah done waited uh long time."
-Hung: A word that caught my attention. Hung is a word that is descriptive. The reader is able to imagine what is "hanging."
-Janie: Character
-She: Point of View=First
-Wasn't: Harsh word.
-Laughed: A word that can really hurt someone's feelings.
-Pitied: Can make a person or character tense. No one wants to have someone pity them.
-God: Has faith.
-Don't: Another harsh word. Demanding.
-Tea Cake: Character
-Hurt: A word that could really affect someone.
-Ah: Point of View= First
-Love: One of the strongest emotions a person/character can have.
-Fool: Overlooking something.
-Lonesome: Feeling the need for someone.
*A very descriptive paragraph. The first sentence definitley has imagery. This is about how Janie feels that she has been left. Then she thinks that Tea Cake may have gotten hurt, then she would feel guilty. She is becoming tense and nervous for Tea Cake. She is trying to figure out what she would do if he didn't return. She doesn't want the feeling of being alone again.
"Janie dozed off to sleep but she woke up in time to see the sun sending up spies ahead of him to mark out the road through the dark. he peeped up over the door sill of the world and made a little foolishness with red. but pretty soon, he laid all that aside and went about his business dressed all in white. But it was always going to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn't soon come back. She got out of the bed but a chair couldn't hold her. She dwindled down on the floor her head in a rocking chair.
-Dozed: Fell asleep. A word that, to me, means didn't want to sleep, but eventually did.
-She: Point of View: Third person!
-Spies: To watch something with out them knowing. Descriptive.
-Him: Repeated!
-Dark: Descriptive. Eerie tone.
-Peeped: Looked over something. Descriptive. Imagery.
-Foolishness: Descriptive. Feelings.
-White: Symbolic
-Dwindled: Descriptive. Imagery. Innocence.
*I was a little confused on this paragraph. Who is the "he"? (I feel uneducated for not knowing.) Again, Janie is questioning Tea Cake's faith to her. She dwindled, showing how she does not have strength to get up. She feels weak with out Tea Cake.
PURPOSE: To show that Janie and Annie Tyler may have the same situation. Janie does not want to be left. She put her faith into Tea Cake, she trusted him. If he has done such a thing, then her friend from Eatonville was right, and she would be ashamed for not listening. In the back of her head she is questioning and feels bad also for questioning him if it is not true.
MOOD AND TONE:
Dark- Eerie
Don't- Forceful. Tense. Stressed word.
Dwindled: Upset. Sad. Lost hope.
Dozed: Fell asleep but not wanting to. Tired. Relaxing (In a way)
Peeped: Curious.
The thing made itself into pictures and hung around Janie's bedside all night long. Anyhow, she wasn't going back to Eatonville to be laughed at and pitied. She had ten dollars in her pocket and twelve hundred in the bank. But oh God, don't let Tea Cake be off somewhere hurt and Ah not know nothing about it. And God, please suh, don't let him love nobody else but me. Maybe Ah'm is uf fool, Lawd, lad dey say, but Lawd, Ah been so lonesome, and Ah been waitin', Jesus. Ah done waited uh long time.
Janie dozed off to sleep but she woke up in time to see the sun sending up spies ahead of him to mark out the road through the dark. he peeped up over the door sill of the world and made a little foolishness with red. but pretty soon, he laid all that aside and went about his business dressed all in white. But it was always going to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn't soon come back. She got out of the bed but a chair couldn't hold her. She dwindled down on the floor her head in a rocking chair.
RED: Words that popped out while reading.
LIGHT ORANGE: Characters in the text.
PURPLE: Point Of View: Changes from third person to first person, then back to third person.
Repeated Words:
-Her
-She
-God
-Him
-Don't -Forceful. (Tone)
-Lawd
-Ah
-He
"They put her to bed and sent for her married daughter from up around Ocala to come see about her. The daughter came as soon as she could and took Annie Tyler away to die in peace. She had waited all her life or something, and it had killed her when it found her."
-They: Third person point of view.
-Bed: This word popped out for me because a bed is somewhere you sleep, to rest.
-Married daughter: A character.
-Ocala: Setting
-Her: Repeated word. The narrator is trying to keep the reader interested by repeating.
-Annie Tyler: Character.
-Die: Harsh word.
-Peace: Contrasts with "die." Someone is truly in "peace" when they have passed. (Or so I have been told.)
*This paragraph is before Janie's side of the story. This is told for the reader to know that this was the story that one of her friends from Eatonville shared. It was about how Annie Tyler went off with a younger man and he left her after he was able to get a hold of her money. This is to let the reader know that Janie is nervous that Tea Cake may have done such a thing. She is questioning his faith to her.
"The thing made itself into pictures and hung around Janie's bedside all night long. Anyhow, she wasn't going back to Eatonville to be laughed at and pitied. She had ten dollars in her pocket and twelve hundred in the bank. But oh God, don't let Tea Cake be off somewhere hurt and Ah not know nothing about it. And God, please suh, don't let him love nobody else but me. Maybe Ah'm is uf fool, Lawd, lad dey say, but Lawd, Ah been so lonesome, and Ah been waitin', Jesus. Ah done waited uh long time."
-Hung: A word that caught my attention. Hung is a word that is descriptive. The reader is able to imagine what is "hanging."
-Janie: Character
-She: Point of View=First
-Wasn't: Harsh word.
-Laughed: A word that can really hurt someone's feelings.
-Pitied: Can make a person or character tense. No one wants to have someone pity them.
-God: Has faith.
-Don't: Another harsh word. Demanding.
-Tea Cake: Character
-Hurt: A word that could really affect someone.
-Ah: Point of View= First
-Love: One of the strongest emotions a person/character can have.
-Fool: Overlooking something.
-Lonesome: Feeling the need for someone.
*A very descriptive paragraph. The first sentence definitley has imagery. This is about how Janie feels that she has been left. Then she thinks that Tea Cake may have gotten hurt, then she would feel guilty. She is becoming tense and nervous for Tea Cake. She is trying to figure out what she would do if he didn't return. She doesn't want the feeling of being alone again.
"Janie dozed off to sleep but she woke up in time to see the sun sending up spies ahead of him to mark out the road through the dark. he peeped up over the door sill of the world and made a little foolishness with red. but pretty soon, he laid all that aside and went about his business dressed all in white. But it was always going to be dark to Janie if Tea Cake didn't soon come back. She got out of the bed but a chair couldn't hold her. She dwindled down on the floor her head in a rocking chair.
-Dozed: Fell asleep. A word that, to me, means didn't want to sleep, but eventually did.
-She: Point of View: Third person!
-Spies: To watch something with out them knowing. Descriptive.
-Him: Repeated!
-Dark: Descriptive. Eerie tone.
-Peeped: Looked over something. Descriptive. Imagery.
-Foolishness: Descriptive. Feelings.
-White: Symbolic
-Dwindled: Descriptive. Imagery. Innocence.
*I was a little confused on this paragraph. Who is the "he"? (I feel uneducated for not knowing.) Again, Janie is questioning Tea Cake's faith to her. She dwindled, showing how she does not have strength to get up. She feels weak with out Tea Cake.
PURPOSE: To show that Janie and Annie Tyler may have the same situation. Janie does not want to be left. She put her faith into Tea Cake, she trusted him. If he has done such a thing, then her friend from Eatonville was right, and she would be ashamed for not listening. In the back of her head she is questioning and feels bad also for questioning him if it is not true.
MOOD AND TONE:
Dark- Eerie
Don't- Forceful. Tense. Stressed word.
Dwindled: Upset. Sad. Lost hope.
Dozed: Fell asleep but not wanting to. Tired. Relaxing (In a way)
Peeped: Curious.
September 15, 2011
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Journal Four
So Christine contemplated Life. Life, The peculiar way with sharp nails that lived farther than the eye could see. The immense concept that existed with out substance. What is the need for Life, what breeze can gust against her? She poises in her elevated home that has a prospect of inspects over great distances. Poise she is, gazing with stillness from sunrise to sunset with her dagger from behind her, bides one time for the prophet to arrive. Been standing patiently upon knowledge of when, where, or then. She was to be accountable to discover a white feather from the artwork behind her house sometime in the near future. She was distressed and enraged too. Poor pitiful Peter! He should never contemplate by his lonesome. She appointed Jesse to appear, but Peter told the man to not bother with such duties. The medical practitioners were extroardinary with their work, but a situation has occurred, that they will not be able to solve. He tried to stay healthy but he was unsuccessful in the run against death. People came from around the world to see such a sight. So brutal, but yet so peaceful he layed.
September 13, 2011
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Journal Three
"This business of the head-rag irked her endlessly. But Jody was set on it. Her hair was NOT going to show in the store. It didn't seem sensible at all. That was because Joe never told Janie how jealous he was. He never told her how often he had seen the other men figuratively wallowing in it as she went about things in the store." (55)
Joe is the type of man where he will not show his emotions. It seems to me that the character does not want other characters to know he has weaknesses, it would make him less "powerful". Jealousy is a type of fear, and by being fearful of something, in this case, losing Janie to another man, would be nerve wrecking to the character Joe. Also, by not being able to communicate with his wife, the reader will notice how strong, or in this case, how weak their marriage is. Communication is the key to any relationship, with out communication bonds start to weaken and feelings tend to be hurt. Another note, hair is a sign of youth, and by putting up Janie's hair, it makes the character seem older, may not be physically, but possibly mentally. I am starting to get a little frustrated with this book, because this seems to be foreshadowing the relationship between Joe and Janie, and how it is breaking. I believe Hurston is trying to show that everyone has weaknesses and Joe's weakness is his wife.
Joe is the type of man where he will not show his emotions. It seems to me that the character does not want other characters to know he has weaknesses, it would make him less "powerful". Jealousy is a type of fear, and by being fearful of something, in this case, losing Janie to another man, would be nerve wrecking to the character Joe. Also, by not being able to communicate with his wife, the reader will notice how strong, or in this case, how weak their marriage is. Communication is the key to any relationship, with out communication bonds start to weaken and feelings tend to be hurt. Another note, hair is a sign of youth, and by putting up Janie's hair, it makes the character seem older, may not be physically, but possibly mentally. I am starting to get a little frustrated with this book, because this seems to be foreshadowing the relationship between Joe and Janie, and how it is breaking. I believe Hurston is trying to show that everyone has weaknesses and Joe's weakness is his wife.
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Journal Two
In my sixteen years of life, I have come to realize that people don't try to portray themselves as liking another person. Human beings try to stay as civil as long as possible to another until they have had enough. Not only does this action happen a lot in personal accounters, but it also is shown in literature. '"Whut Ah don't lak 'bout de man is, he talks tuh unlettered folks wid books in his jaws," Hicks complains" (49) Hicks is telling other people that he doesn't like how he feels uneducated around him. I can sense from how the story is written, that Hicks feels that he is not that important to Joe Starks. When Joe is talking to the people of the new created town, he portrays himself as superior to them because he is educated. He does not get to know the citizens because he does not feel like he has to, because he is "better" than them. The citizens may feel unimportant, timid, and possibly gloomy due to how they have been treated by the mayor. "Showin' off his learnin'. To look at me you wouldn't think it, but Ah got uh brother pastorin' up roud Ocala dat got good learnin' If he wuz here, Joe Starks wouldn't make no fool outa him lak he do de rest uh y'all." (49) This can make the reader feel frustrated with the character, Joe Starks, for making the citizens of the town feel uneducated. The character Hicks, puts himself superior to the other citizens. By saying "....Joe Starks wouldn't make no fool outa him lak he do de rest uh y'all." Hicks is trying to tell his equals that he doesn't feel the way other's do. But in all actuality he does feel dismal. "Ah often wonder how dat lil wife uh hisn makes out wid him, 'cause he's uh man dat changes everything, but nothin' don't change him." (49) This was spoken by Sim Jones, he is saying that Starks is a man that is stubborn. He goes after something and he will achieve what he wants. His wife, Janie, would never be able to change any bit of him. This could make Jones feel various emotions including frustration, assured, and timid. It sets the tone to matter-of-fact, serious, and wonderous. "You know many's de time Ah done thought about dat mahself. He gits on her ever now and then when she make little mistake round de store."(49) Said by Hicks. This shows how well maintained Strarks is. He is a person of quality, and with everything he does and is around him, should be of perfection. "Whut make her keep her head tied up lak some ole 'oman round de store? Nobody couldn't git me tuh tie no rag on mah head if Ah had hair lak dat."(49) Instead of proceeding to talk about Starks, they drift their conversation to Janie. Hair is a sign of beauty. The longer and healthier the hair is, the better quality she is. Hair is a sign of youth, so by putting it on top of her head with a rag, shows a little bit of aging. Aging comes with stress and also not having direction of life. This shows some anger and how this character is serious. In my eyes, I find the purpose to show a different side of Starks. Not everyone will think of Starks as a great person. Characters are starting to realize qualities about him, that they do not appreciate. Not only do the citizens see his worse sides, but also Janie. This could become a problem later on in the story.
September 12, 2011
Their Eyes Were Watching God: Journal One
The text talks about people wishing. The paragraph is a generalization to all sailors instead of a specific sailor or person. "For some they come in with the tide" (1) This statement shows to the reader that not every person knows what they want out of life, but someone may figure out what they wish for at an unexpected time. When a wish "...comes in with the tide." (1) I portray the meaning to be that life and realization can come to a person. A human being needs to go with the rythym of life. "For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time." (1) By analyzing this sentence, I realized that it is talking about how a person will have a wish or a dream that they want to achieve, but are not able to achieve before they pass. A person will realize, or believe, the time they had to make their wish come true has run out and they need to stop trying. To give up. "That is the life of men." (1) This is a generalization to all human beings and how no one is able to reach or achieve their goal before they pass.
"Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches." (8) Janie has experienced a lot in her lifetime. "...a great tree..." (8) This part of the sentence symolizes how her life has been good altogether. The better parts of her life overpower the worse. The leaves of the tree are how her life played out. The leaves symbolize everything that has happened, not only the good but also the bad. Each leaf is part of her past and how it helped her become the woman she is today. "...things done and undone." (8) This last part really speaks to me because it shows how people make mistakes, it's natural to, and by doing so, a person learns how to fix these wrongs. Branches are after the base of the tree. The base holds the tree together, but you need braches to have leaves. The base of the tree is who Janie is all together. The branches are her paths she has taken to get to the little decisions she has made that have affected her life. "Dawn" is the beginning of a new day, new everything, but doom overpowers everything. This can make the reader feel the mood of tension, sorrowful, and detatched.
"Have some sympathy fuh me. Put me down easy, Janie, Ah'm a cracked plate." (20) This was spoken by Janie's grandmother. She told Janie about a few of her hardships because she wants her grandchild to end up in a better environment than she was in. "Put me down easy..." (20) She wants to know her grandchild is safe so she can pass in peace.
There are many questions that have been rambling on in my mind while analyzing these few quotations. My thoughts are jumbled and I can not make sense of some of my thoughts or bring them to words. Some of them I can, and I feel as if what Hurston says on wishes, and how she explains that a person can not achieve their wish before it's too late, makes me feel very frustrated. Not only to Hurtson herself, but also to my own self. By her stating "....his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men." (1) makes me want to show Hurtson that people can achieve what they want out of life. Why would Hurston make such a broad generalization? Maybe it is true, but it seems quite unfair to those who have achieved their dream. I feel as if those people, by reading the text, would make them want to reach out to their community and say something on the lines of. "You can achieve your dreams. No matter who says you can not."
To be honest, I am still confused on what this "Oak tree" is about. My thoughts are directed to how tree's have life. This tree could mean that Janie has life and in her life for the most part, is good. I also wonder if the Oak tree will eventually begin to lose it's life or be taken down sometime later in the story. This would show how something in Janie's life has gotten to be worse. Then again, I feel that if this does happen, she will be able to get back up, and make her life grand because she seems to be a strong character.
I have no further questions to the quotes from Janie's grandmother, because I feel that I, for the most part, understand what she was trying to explain to Janie.
"Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches." (8) Janie has experienced a lot in her lifetime. "...a great tree..." (8) This part of the sentence symolizes how her life has been good altogether. The better parts of her life overpower the worse. The leaves of the tree are how her life played out. The leaves symbolize everything that has happened, not only the good but also the bad. Each leaf is part of her past and how it helped her become the woman she is today. "...things done and undone." (8) This last part really speaks to me because it shows how people make mistakes, it's natural to, and by doing so, a person learns how to fix these wrongs. Branches are after the base of the tree. The base holds the tree together, but you need braches to have leaves. The base of the tree is who Janie is all together. The branches are her paths she has taken to get to the little decisions she has made that have affected her life. "Dawn" is the beginning of a new day, new everything, but doom overpowers everything. This can make the reader feel the mood of tension, sorrowful, and detatched.
"Have some sympathy fuh me. Put me down easy, Janie, Ah'm a cracked plate." (20) This was spoken by Janie's grandmother. She told Janie about a few of her hardships because she wants her grandchild to end up in a better environment than she was in. "Put me down easy..." (20) She wants to know her grandchild is safe so she can pass in peace.
There are many questions that have been rambling on in my mind while analyzing these few quotations. My thoughts are jumbled and I can not make sense of some of my thoughts or bring them to words. Some of them I can, and I feel as if what Hurston says on wishes, and how she explains that a person can not achieve their wish before it's too late, makes me feel very frustrated. Not only to Hurtson herself, but also to my own self. By her stating "....his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men." (1) makes me want to show Hurtson that people can achieve what they want out of life. Why would Hurston make such a broad generalization? Maybe it is true, but it seems quite unfair to those who have achieved their dream. I feel as if those people, by reading the text, would make them want to reach out to their community and say something on the lines of. "You can achieve your dreams. No matter who says you can not."
To be honest, I am still confused on what this "Oak tree" is about. My thoughts are directed to how tree's have life. This tree could mean that Janie has life and in her life for the most part, is good. I also wonder if the Oak tree will eventually begin to lose it's life or be taken down sometime later in the story. This would show how something in Janie's life has gotten to be worse. Then again, I feel that if this does happen, she will be able to get back up, and make her life grand because she seems to be a strong character.
I have no further questions to the quotes from Janie's grandmother, because I feel that I, for the most part, understand what she was trying to explain to Janie.
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