Journal #12 Antigone

Yes and No


During Antigone and Creon's discussion, the concept of yes and no are brought up several times. Antigone repeatedly says no to Creon's pleas to just go back to her room. She blames him for saying yes to the duty of becoming King. According to Creon though, saying no is the easy route. "To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows" (37). What he means it that  'yes' involves responsibility and action, while 'no' is denying the path of nature. "Can you imagine a world in which trees say no to the sap?" (37) Animals are simple and are motivated by survival instincts: yes I am hungry, yes I am tired, yes I am thirty, yes I need to reproduce. On the other hand, humans are complicated because they have emotions. If Antigone was an animal, she would say yes to Creon because it would deter away from death, a survival instinct. That is Creon's argument. Antigone accuses Creon of taking a job he does not want. "I don't have to listen to you if I don't want to. You've said your yes" (35). Creon gave up life for a duty. Antigone is giving up her life for moral righteousness. One could argue for either character because a tragedy shows the inevitable deaths. It is destiny not evil or good that the two disagree.

Journal #11 Antigone

The chorus' tone has changed from casually retelling events to an emotional explanation. This change it due to the turn of events in the play. In the beginning, everyone seems fine so the chorus need not hype up the audience. Now, the audience is getting more engaged so the chorus uses this moment to explain to them, what makes a tragedy. It is kind of like another definition or essay on what a tragedy is. The chorus states that "In a tragedy, nothing is in doubt and everyone's destiny is known. That makes for tranquility [...] You're trapped. The whole sky has fallen on you" (24). In a couple paragraphs, the chorus' tone has changed once again to a more laid back voice. He understands the excitement in the audience and mimics it, but than draws them to the realization that there is no real suspense because there is no doubt or mystery about everyone's destiny. The chorus is also getting more personal with the audience by using 'you' and 'I'. This is Anouilh's way of forcing the audience to reflect the play on their own life.

Journal #10 Antigone

List of Events


-Polynices and Eteocles have killed each other in battle. 
-Creon declares Polynices shan't be buried and anyone that does so much to grieve him will be put the death
-At a ball, Haemon asks Antigone to marry him and she agrees
-Antigone knows she will die and thinks intensely
-She sneaks out to talk to Haemon
-They quarrel
-Nurse catches her


Reflection


Anouilh begins the play with the chorus who narrates the preceding and succeeding events. The tone is very casual even when talking about the deaths to come. She does this in order to give the audience the whole picture of the plot. A tragedy always ends in death so it does not matter that the ending is revealed, rather, the explanation prepares the audience for the cathartic reactions to the performance. 


Antigone's motivation is to go against King Creon which is punishable by death. That is why her actions are kept secretive and she secludes herself. When the nurse catches her she purposely talks strangely and repeats things over and over as if mocking the Nurse. She uses many words to describe the beauty and wonderfulness of the night. "The garden was lovely. It was still asleep. Have you ever thought how lovely a garden is when it is not yet thinking of men?" (6). Her tone becomes precise as she tells the truth. "Antigone [soberly]. No. Not wicked" (7).  It is soon revealed, that Antigone is afraid. After the argument with Isemene she begs Nurse to give her strength. With that strength she goes to tell Haemon that she cannot marry him. Antigone's actions are very well thought out, although she shows mild fear, she is determined to follow her plans. Anouilh shows what Antigone did during the night through Antigone's conversation with Haemon to better understand her feeling and motivation. Instead of showing the scene played out, the audience sees it through Antigone's view. This causes the audience to relate with Antigone more. 

Topic Sentence

In Blood Wedding, by Fredrico Garcia Lorca, Father's optimistic attitude leads him to overlook inevitable truths.

Journal #9 Blood Wedding

Journal #9: Create a list of themes that Lorca creates in the play.


1. Choosing between family obligations, traditions versus personal passion


The Bride is expected by her father and the community to get married to the Groom. This leads her to lie about her true feelings for Leonardo. She is pressured to follow the social norms, and attempts to, but in the end follows her passion.


2. The Bride's decision to let both the men she love kill each other, instead of choosing one-fate


Fate moves the Blood Wedding. It could be said that another Felix coming to kill the Groom was predetermined. This could be why the Mother fretted so much because she feared that this was inevitable. The Bride also leads the men to kill each other, although this is something she did not want herself. The Bride is guilty at the end she describes her motivation as "a woman consumed by fire". This was something that affected her emotionally and physically burning at her soul that she had to leave the Groom.


3. Living in an unhappy situation drives a person to seek control


The mother's character is very controlling of her son, the Groom. She is afraid of him marrying a bad girl. She is unhappy because she cannot forgive nor forget the death of her other son and husband. Thus she needs to control her son in hopes of keeping him from being killed as well.


The Bride is limited by traditional obligations to marry, especially after she gave the Groom her promise. This makes her very unhappy. She takes it out on the maid by being rude and bossy.


Both of these characters have no easy escape for their situation and this makes them very mad/unhappy. The loss of control is the main cause of depression. To cope, the mother and bride seek controlling another aspect of their life. In both cases, they control another character.

Journal #8 Blood Wedding

Journal #8: How does the set change between acts and what effect does the set have on the atmosphere? 


Act I had simpler scenes that took place in the homes of the mother, Leonardo, and the Bride. In Act II, there is a larger contrast from Act I. Act II, Scene I, starts off at the wedding party. Everyone is dressed nice and maids put a lot of preparation for the guests. In the Bride's cave, where in Act I seemed simplistic and plain, it is also festive. There are shades of white, grays, and cool blues. These colors begin to set the tone for the end of the play. In the final Act III, the atmosphere has completely darkened. It is described as murky. This foreshadows the death that awaits. Lorca uses these three main settings to keep the play unpredictable. Especially in the second Act when there are a lot of people and festives. The subtle color shades transition the setting to the last. 

Journal #7 Blood Wedding

There are a variety of youth in the second act. Why? How does Lorca use the youth to affect the themes of the play?


In the second Act II, Lorca shows youth in a variety of ways and how it can waste away. The bride speaks of her own mother "[she] came from a place where there were many trees, from a fertile land..but she wasted away here" (39). This indicates that where they are now is a place that is like the old and barren, a place to die. This contrasts with the maid who treats the Bride like a child who reluctantly continues the wedding. The Bride is a complex character. She does now wish to marry and seems to see it as losing her freedom, yet, she instigates Leonardo and the Groom's slaying leaving her all alone. I think the orange flowers she refuses to wear represent youth and innocence. Like a flower, they have a blooming and golden period before they wither away. Than there is the chorus of girls (first, second, and third) who sing about the excitement before a marriage. They imagine a gallant lover and her long hair flowing like something out of a fairy tale. This again shows the innocent, beauty of youth. They use nature in their versus, especially flowers. Unlike the Bride, the Bridegroom enjoys this feeling of youth. "It makes me happy to see you wearing your crown!" (54). 

Journal #6 Blood Wedding

Which characters appear to be miserable int he play and why?  When and how do the characters express their misery? What do the characters desire and what stops them from going after what each desires? 


The mother is the most miserable character because she has already lost a husband and son, and soon will lose another. By the way she constantly expresses her hatred towards the Felix and the pain it caused her, it is evident she had not started the healing process what so ever. She is constantly suspicious of anyone with the name Felix and this causes herself more misery because she is not free, but weighted by these heavy emotions. "I ache down to the end of my veins! On all their faces, I see nothing but the hand that killed what was mine. Do you seem? Don't I seem mad to you? Well, I am mad-from not having shouted out everything I needed to. I have a scream in my throat" (60). From this quote, the mother describes how repressed she is from expressing her emotions. The people around her tell her to "leave it alone!" (60) or "Control yourself! What do you gain from this?" (16). Thus, because of society the mother dwells in her misery, only able to express it when she has the rare chance, only to get shut up.

Journal #5 Blood Wedding

Journal #5 Examine how Lorca characterize the archetypes of the play.  Does Lorca embrace or reject the archetype?  What is the effect of the characterization? 


I noticed how female characters and male characters contrast. At the start of Act II, the mother in law is singing a lullaby to the child. This shows the universal role as a homemaker. In her song or poem, she foreshadows the future. This also shows she is wise. Leonardo, however, is portrayed as a man who doesn't give too much time to his family. He lies to his wife about traveling to the wasteland. But in the case of the Brides and the Bridegroom, the gender traits are flipped. The bride is rude and unfaithful. The bridegroom although a lot more caring than Leonardo, still is portrayed harsher than the other females (besides the bride). Lorca rejects the norm that females are patient, faithful, and kind in the Bride's character. 


Another symbol is money. Leonard's mother, the mother in law, states "Two wealthy families are going to be joined" (24). This shows how wealthy people are talked about and have a higher status. The girl is very interested in what they can buy. "The bridegroom came to the store, and he's bought the best of everything!" (24). Again, this shows the status people hold if they have money. However, the bride rejects the presents even though "women dream of such stockings!" (24). Her rejection is due to the fact that she does not look forward to the wedding because she is in love with another man. Lorca's characterizes the Bride to not fit the female stereotype nor value money. I think he embraces both because the Bride is expected to marry off and therefore attempts to do that. Her disdain for the gifts shows her love for Leonardo. Although a dislikable character, Lorca uses her to address social symbols. 

Journal #4 Blood Wedding

Two symbols that emerged in Act I are flowers and walls. The mother brings up both of them. She describes the knives as evil and the creation of monsters that destroyed her husband and son who were like flowers. She uses different flowers to describe them: carnations, germanium, and several others throughout the play. The mother treats the wall as her commitment. "I didn't look at anyone. I looked at your father, and when they killed him, I looked at the wall in front of me. One woman with one man, and that's it" (10). And again, she mentions the wall with her commitment to her husband and honoring his death. "Because I will dig him up with my fingernails! And all by myself, I will smash him against the wall!" (9). There is a metaphorical and physical wall. One that blocks the mother from the outside world and one she uses to destroy. The mother varies in tone, from beautiful flowers to smashing against walls. It shows her distress from the lives lost. Lorca uses a lot of nature in the play. Flowers are one of the natural beauties in the world. Describing people as flowers shows genuine beauty and kindness. The wall is man made. Marriage is man made. Jealousy, anger, killing, love are all derived from men. When the mother talks about her commitment as a wall, she makes it sound like something she was enslaved to, not necessarily out of love.

Journal #3 The Wild Duck

Isben carefully lays the plot in a way where the reader has trouble naming the blame on one character. I have listed the characters I believe are guilty and list the reasons why.

Greggers: Instigating the whole plot. His hatred of his father leads him to want to anger him by telling Hjalmar the truth. He also convinced Hedvig to kill the wild duck as a symbol of her love and sacrifice. Greggers romanticizes how truth makes way for happiness, without looking at the consequences. He expected Hjalmar and Gina to resolve quickly.

Relling: He creates deception in Hjalmar's life. He thinks that the invention is a good lie though, to keep him motivated to live. This is debatable. He is guilty to adding more lies into his life.

Gina: She lied to Hjalmar from the very start and kept it a secret. I believe she is to be blamed the most. She also does not seem very apologetic when he finds out the truth. Rather, she calls Greggers a monster that has walked through their lives. If she had been truthful from the start, Hjalmar could have decided whether to forgive her or not.

Werle: He cheated on his wife which created Greggers suspicious personality. He pursued Gina. He supported Hjalmar financially, but by doing this, takes away his dignity.

Hjalmar: He does not tell Hedvig the truth about her eyes. He treats her as Gina has treated him. He also tries to make himself feel better by feeling guilty. Instead of facing the truth, he lies to himself. Saying how hard he works, and how hard it is to be a breadwinner.

All the characters can be argued that their action was justifiable because they thought it was the best thing to do. Isben does not directly show what he believed in. We don't know how Hjalmar ends up. He could end up an alcoholic according to Relling, or learn from Hedvig according to Greggers. Who knows? I do know that Isben believed that honesty was the best way to enter a situation, even if it is ugly. Mrs. Sorby and Werle are honest about everything and are able to forgive each other. It is hard to say what should have been done in Hjalmar's situation, but if Gina had been honest from the start, everything could have been prevented.

Mrs. Sorby, Hedvig, Ekdal, and Molvik are not to blame. Either they did not know the truth, were the victim of deception, or were not obliged to step into the situation.

Wild Duck Journal #2

Journal #2:  How does Ibsen use the motif of decay, disease, illness, etc and to what effect?  Use at least three quotes in the defense of you claim. 


Ibsen uses the motif of decay, disease, and illness to show secrecy and suspicion. He does this show how these thoughts began to infest the mind and body. Like a parasite or cancer, the owner can only cure it. It is with them for life until they do so. Gregers is described with this disease and acknowledges it himself. 
"Gregers: 'And besides-if I'm ever to go on living, I'll have to find a cure for my sick conscience'
Werle: It's never be sound. Your conscience has been sickly from childhood. It's an inheritance from your mother Gregers-the only inheritance she left you" (176). 
From the text, it is known that Greger's mother had been jealous of Gina and suspected Werle being with other women. These thoughts became a disease that eventually killed her, according to Gregers. Like most diseases, they are contagious. Since Gregers and his mother were very close, it can be understood they discussed many thoughts together. Even after her death, Greger's is embodies with the same life sickness that he is determined to cure. 
Relling explains to Gina Greger's condition, "He's suffering from an acute case of moralistic fever [...] it's a national disease, but it only breaks out now and then" (178). 
After Greger's reveals the truth to Hjalmar, he becomes infested with it. Greger recovers and expects Hjalmer to also. However, in his bitter conflict he asks, "Do you think a man can recover so easily from the bitter cup I've just emptied!" (185). Medicine is most often bitter and drunk in cups. As if by letting out his suspicions he drank the cup, and hopes to heal soon enough. 

Wild Duck Journal #1

• Option 2: Examine how characters perceive themselves or others.  Who has false conceptions of him/herself?  Who has misconceptions of others?  Who recognizes the facades created by other characters?  Does the character embrace the facade, ignore it, or confront it?

In the Wild Duck, characters perceive each other quite differently then they do themselves. At the start of Chapter 2, Hedvig and Gina are conversing. Hedvig brings up her Dad, Hjamler, numerous times, awing at how he is at a dinner party. "Isn't it something to think that Daddy's at a big dinner party at old Mr. Werle's?" (138). She is very excited when he returns as well. "At last you're home, Daddy!" (140). Hedvig's perception of Hjalmer is imaginative and full of illusions that even Hjalmer wants to believe. As his wife and daughter ask him about his dinner party, he weaves in lies about what really happened. "'So you served that up to them, eh?' Hjalmer. 'Smack between the eyes they got it'" (142). Hjalmer depends on his illusions for his life goal to make the Ekdals something to be proud of. Another interesting part of the text was the disagreement of whether or not Hjalmer's hair is curly or wavy. Although this does not seem to be important, it can be added to Hedvig's view of Hjalmer. Curly hair is natural and wild, amounting to a facade  of innocence. 

At times, Hjalmer does show signs of knowing that he is not as great as he appears to his daughter. He uses the method of self pity and ignorance though. "What incredible things a family breadwinner is asked to remember; and if he forgets even the tiniest detail" (144). And when Hedvig calls him 'dearest', he replies, "No, don't call me that. There I sat, helping myself at a rich man's table, gorging myself with all good things" (145). Hjalmer is obsessed with money, success, and his image. Having those things are what keeps him living. This is why when he learns Hedvig may not be his real daughter, he goes mad conceiving that Hedvig's admiration for him was all a disguise. 


Hedvig's happiness and innocence is also a lie. Hjalmer shields her from the truth; her eyes will fail her in the future. "She suspects nothing. She's carefree, gay, and singing like a tiny bird" (148). It is ironic, Hjalmer reacts so viciously when the truth was revealed to him but he has no problem keeping Hedvig's reality to himself. He says 'he doesn't have the heart to tell her'. Gina definitely took this approach as well when the to got married. 

Brave New World #3 Journal

Shakespeare is weaved into John's dialogue. Where as before Lenina repeated hypnopaedia now Huxley is showing how John was conditioned by the only book he read. The conclusion of the book i realized is also influenced by his readings of Shakespeare. There is a lot of killing and suicide in Shakespeare when the truth becomes too unbearable. In the World State people would take soma to forget. Both extremes do not try and learn from their mistake they either take their life or just completely forget it. I think Shakespeare is very important because it first appears good and real in contrast with the World State, but at the end it is evident that Huxley is pointing out the dangers of any method conditioning.

The setting of the World State remains the same, but with John there is a juxtaposition of two ideals. The reservation and the World State. When he is crying over Linda's death it directly contrasts with the ways of the World State and becomes a problem. In the Controller's secret room it contains things that are common in our society. The conversation between the Controller and John is important especially in the setting. The room contains books and knowledge. In John's world this knowledge is free to attain but the Indian's are still very rural. In the technological World State it is banned to remain stability.

The language in the last third stays relatively the same. John's language contrasts with the rest of the World State because of the influence of Shakespeare. However, he realizes how Shakespeare has mocked him, "The singing words mocked him derisively. "How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world …" (Chp 15). John's language becomes more and more emotional as he desperately please the people around him to see his cause, that they are not free.The rest of the World State continue to use uniform and scientific dialogue such as "Ford helps those who help themselves." Huxley continues to use descriptions containing crimson, twilight, and pneumatic as a motif. Crimson and twilight create an red glow atmosphere that has connotations of blood and flesh. Pneumatic demonstrates the comfort the World State allows and how problems are lost in the comfy airy chairs.

Brave New World Journal #2

Motif: I have noticed the use of 'crimson' and 'twilight' come up a lot to describe the setting and characters.

"The liftman slammed the gates, touched a button and instantly dropped back into the droning twilight of the well, the twilight of his own habitual stupor" (chp 4) This character is compared to the darkness of the well, inferring that his soul is empty. And than here: "and there, in the crimson darkness, stewingly warm on their cushion of peritoneum and gorged with blood-surrogate and hormones, the foetuses grew and grew or, poisoned, languished into a stunted Epsilonhood" (chp 10). On the dictionary.com I found that crimson means dark red and sanguinary.

Sanguinary: full of or characterized by bloodshed; bloody:

ready or eager to shed blood; bloodthirsty.

It is interesting Huxley chooses to describe the room in which humans are created as a bloodshed room. It could mean that the passion, flesh, real substance of humans is being lost because the babies are scientifically maid. His diction has connotations of negativity. Such as poisoned and darkness.

Setting: John learns in the World State that his home is: "savage reservation is a place which, owing to unfavourable climatic or geological conditions, or poverty of natural resources, has not been worth the expense of civilizing" (chp 11).

When Bernard and Lenina had gotten there, it was described as "THE MESA was like a ship becalmed in a strait of lion-coloured dust. The channel wound between precipitous banks, and slanting from one wall to the other across the valley ran a streak of green-the river and its fields. On the prow of that stone ship in the centre of the strait, and seemingly a part of it, a shaped and geometrical outcrop of the naked rock, stood the pueblo of Malpais. Block above block, each story smaller than the one below, the tall houses rose like stepped and amputated pyramids into the blue sky. At their feet lay a straggle of low buildings, a criss-cross of walls; and on three sides the precipices fell sheer into the plain. A few columns of smoke mounted perpendicularly into the windless air and were lost."

In the second description, it seems like a peaceful valley still raw with nature. Nature is lacking in the World State. There is too much technology. While in contrast, the World State's description depicts it as an awful place to be.

Language: Many of the characters speak robotic-ally because of their conditioning. "A gramme is better than a damn," said Lenina mechanically from behind her hands. "I wish I had my soma!" (Chp 7). They use sophisticated, unorthodox language. It demonstrates how the people in the society think. Comparable is John the Savage, although he speaks poetically it is still a repetition of what he has read, Shakespeare.

"Then suddenly he found himself reflecting that he had only to take hold of the zipper at her neck and give one long, strong pull … He shut his eyes, he shook his head with the gesture of a dog shaking its ears as it emerges from the water. Detestable thought! He was ashamed of himself. Pure and vestal modesty " (chp 9).

In the quote above, we see how language has affected the way John thinks. His words are elegant and passionate, and that's how he wants his life to be.

Brave New World Journal #1

Motif: In the first third, I noticed several things. The word pneumatic describing Lenina and chairs, identifying the people as animals, the phrase 'Oh Ford!', and the repetition of the hypnoaedic jingles. The dictionary definition of pneumatic is 1. containing air spaces to reduce weight 2. well rounded, esp with a large bosom. We first see the word used to describe Lenina. "Oh, she's a splendid girl. Wonderfully pneumatic" (chp 3) and than " When they had arrived and were comfortably stretched out on the pneumatic sofas in Bernard's room" (Chp 4). Pertaining to air holes is a strange way to describe things. It suggest the society has lots of holes, things that are lost in exchange for comfort. The repetitious use of 'Oh Ford' demonstrates what is important in the society. Ford alludes to Henry Ford who emphasized consumerism and technology. By changing the religious 'Oh Lord' to 'Ford', I can conclude that this society has replaced religion with materials and technology.

Setting: The first chapter is in some sort of science building. "And in effect the sultry darkness into which the students now followed him was visible and crimson, like the darkness of closed eyes on a summer's afternoon" (Chp 1). This description gives connotations of blood, organic body, organ pictures in the mind. Ironically, this is where they have replaced natural reproduction with decanting. As the Director shows the students around I can tell this society is very organized. People are in their places and doing their job.

Language: The language is rather formal. The characters use scientific words such as pneumatic and decanting in place of comfy and born. It is also mentioned about all the dead languages such as German, Spanish, and French. This novel was purposely written in English to show how the English prospered after the 9 years war. A lot of what the characters say is very rhythmical because they are repeating the sleep teachings. This society talks in very similar ways. Simple, scientific, and robotic-like.

Journal #5

#5 Personal Philosophy

You will demonstrate your understanding of the importance of one's world view by scrutinizing your thoughts on how the world works and indentifying guiding principles for your own philosophy.

A. Give it a name

B. Identify seven to ten guiding principles: These should be clear and thoughtful – no clichés

C. Explain from where each principle developed and why it is important

A. Verdadasca

B.

1. Exploration of consciousness through meditation, isolation, altering substances, deprivation

My mom has mediated every day for 2 hours for the past 2 years and I have seen a distinct change in her nature. From stress to a more peaceful state of mind. Personally I find that when I have quality time with myself to ponder or not think at all I feel really refreshed. People need to focus on their self well being more.

2. Connecting with nature

Nature is very calming and can help the individual's well being. It is important to not forget our roots and also to leave our busy lives. When I take go hiking, camping, backpacking I feel human again.

3. Emphasis on self-learning, reading

Teenagers should be able to take their own classes that will directly help their career along with interests. School should be emphasized at a young age to be for one's self not for teachers, parents, or grades. It's important that what we do is for ourselves.

4. Limits on technology for recreational use

Even I am guilty of all these new 'toys' coming out. It is so much easier to play a game or go on Facebook than to do some meditation or read a thought provoking book.

5. Exercising and healthy dieting

America eats too much bad food. My mom always emphasized healthy eating, and I appreciate it now. Exercising I don't do so much, I wish I did though. I think it's important because in the future what I want to do will be determined by my health.

6. Accepting the meaningless of life, being honest with ourselves. Being rational.

Even if people make their own purpose of meaning to life, which is fine, I think people need to realize what they are creating and not just blindly follow it. Not denying what death is being open to talk about biological aspects of life.

7. Confidence in oneself and being alone

Inspired by Mr. Hunter S. Thompson "We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and -- in spite of True Romance magazines -- we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely -- at least, not all the time -- but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your self-respect so important, and I don't see how you can respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness.”

Journal #4

#4 What conclusions does Mersault come to at the end of the novel. Does Camus want the reader to come to the same conclusions?

Meursault comes to the conclusion of having no hope and accepting his fate. Before he explained how the executed should be given a morsel of hope, just a little. But now he says "that blind rage had washed me clean, ride me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world" (122). He is having an epiphany, for the first time he is letting go of his wall and opening himself to the world. He says its like his brother because it is neither against or for him, just is. He feels happy. I believe Camus wants us to open up to the world and accept it for what it is, no matter how cruel or indifferent it seems to be truly happy. Probably not the day before your execution though. As soon as possible.

Journal #3

Camus splits the novel into two parts for the narrator's purpose. In part one, he is explaining the events leading up to his imprisonment that resulted in his new ideas about life. In the first half, although in past tense, there is less of a sense of story telling: "I even had the impression that the dead woman lying in front of them didn't mean anything to them. But I think now that was a false impression" (11). In part two, we learn a lot about Meaursalt's thoughts. Even though he is living in a prison now he still holds his content personality. "I was almost surprised that I had ever enjoyed anything other than those rare moments when the judge would mead me to the door at his office" (71). However, the longer in prison he is the more realizations he has of life. He begins to reflect on life and meaning because "life was coming to a standstill" (72). In part one the sunlight was a given, to the point where it was unbearable. In prison he strains "toward the light" (73). The split shows the actions of a free man and the thoughts of a restrained man.

Journal #2

Albert Camus uses first person point of view because it is a lot more personal. The reader knows all of Meursault's thoughts, which seem at first insignificant, but as we read on we realize how important they were. If this book was written from a third person point of view there would only be his action's to judge. Also, the reader has to trust the narrator. As first person, the reader can understand it is Meursault's story and he wants to tell every part because at the end of his life he realizes the significance to everything he has done or not done. Before, "To stay or to go, it amounted to the same thing" (57). He found soon after that he was quite wrong.

Journal #1: The Stranger

3 Characters:Marie, Salamano, Raymond

Marie: As Meursault's girlfriend, her character serves to see how he reacts to her emotionally. He desires her physically and seems to enjoy his company, but when she asks if he loves her he "told her it didn't mean anything but that [he] probably doesn't" (35). This reveals that Meursault does not believe love is meaningful. Later on he denies that marriage is serious too.

Salamano: When Salamano is first introduced he is with his dog. Meursault's describes their love hate relationship and everyday routines. When the dog gets lost, Salamano is flustered. Meursault hears him crying and thinks of Maman, but doesn't know why. Salamano shows a common emotion to losing someone close that Meursault did not. However, Salamano did not love the dog. He only says he had gotten used to the dog. He had not been happy with his wife either, but had gotten used to her company and got lonely when she died. "His life changed and now he wasn't too sure what he was going to do" (46). This contrasts how unemotional Meursault was towards his mother's death. They both were not too happy with them before, but unlike Salamano, Meursault had not created meaning to his Maman.

Raymond: This character is looked down upon by society so he sought companionship. Meursault's agreeable nature is demonstrated by Raymond's assertiveness. He agrees to help Raymond because he doesn't see a reason not to please him. He also says that Raymond interests him. The point of this character is to show how Meursault's actions to help him which seemed harmless later on has strong consequences.

Journal #8

1. The effect Hurston created with the title Their Eyes Were Watching God is that the reader knows that a group of people are watching God for his moves and how it will effect their life. It affects my reading knowing that the people in the book are religious and before starting I had an idea this book would be more tragic than happy, because the people's lives are controlled by what God decides. During the hurricane when Hurston uses her title in the narration, I got a better sense of what the title mean. God could also mean nature.

2. An alternate title she could have used was Janie. This would alter the reader's interpretation because they would go in knowing who the is wrapped around and expect it to be all about Janie. Which it is, but I think Hurston uses Janie to demonstrate themes.

3. The title of my pastiche is The Gaze Remained. I think this is the strongest title, because similar to Their Eyes Were Watching God the reader will get a sense of helplessly waiting, watching for something to happen.

Journal #7

“He kin take most any lil thing and make summertime out of it when times is dull. Then we lives offa dat happiness he made till some mo’ happiness comes along” (Hurston, 141) This technique of metaphor was used to show the power Joe had on Janie to make her happy. It relates back to the beginning when Janie is sitting under the trees, feeling the wonders of marriage through nature. Now Joe can make any day into summertime.

“Ah wuz fumblin’ round and God opened de door” (Hurston, 158) The allusion to religion sets the characters and what their society was like. From this sentence the reader can tell God is an important figure in their lives when things go wrong or go really well, he is called upon. It also shows the power they give God to give them new opportunities in life.

“It woke up old Okechobee and the monster began to roll in his bed. Began to roll and complain like a peevish world on a grumble. […] Chink up your cracks, shiver in your wet beds and wait on the mercy of the Lord. The bossman might have the thing stopped before morning anyway. It is so easy to be hopeful in the day time when you can see the things you wish on. But it was night, it stayed night. Night was striding across nothingness with the whole round world in his hands” (158) The use of personification of nature demonstrates the power over everything else it has. Okechobee is a real lake. And is referred to as a monster, who is usually asleep. It brings a strong common feeling of fear to the reader of being chased down by something fast and dangerous.

Journal #6

Revision Process:

First, I re-read and fixed some sentences to flow easier. I added length to the story and re-wrote some of the original to make more sense. I found better adjectives and played around with word choice. It was hard to decide what to keep or take out, but reading it through helped to find what fit most naturally. Overall, I felt revising was improved my pastiche because I saw what hadn't worked before and after not reading it for a few days I felt less attached to what I had written so it was easier to cut out anything that I noticed didn't' work.

Journal #5 Mini-Pastiche

After a while, Vera plunged into a deep reverie of Love. Love, that whimsical grip with the delicate fingers who lived in the night from sunset, starry night sky, to dawn. The gentle one that breathed through big smiles and red lips without cultivation, without a brain. How than does Love break tear open the heart of the strongest men? She poises giving her seductive looks that powers over all humans. Poised veiled and ready all day with her ecstasy ripe, lingering for the calling for her to breeze in. Always erect since the first newborn crawled out of the womb into the world of here and now. Vera was anxious to hear the whispering wind prance into her bedroom late at night. She was aroused and beautified as well. Bless Franz! He shall not have to madden himself alone. She sent Janus to advice a reconcile but Franz said No. These ideas were right for the books and movies, but they knew nothing about an instance like his. He'd be fine right when the deceptive gnomes were satisfied from their little game. He would not love ever. Or so he believed. And Janus confirmed the truth, and she realized. But even had he not, at dusk she was instilled to know, for thoughts grew in her useless brain beneath the layers of flesh and bone. Thoughts she never allowed to rise into her consciousness crawled in yet refused to form into words. Only causing confusion inside and stayed. Infidelity, that mocking hyena, had stripped off the mask.

" The gentle one that breathed through big smiles and red lips without cultivation, without a brain." is similar to Hurston's because she writes about a house without a side or roof, things that are expected for a house. Lips are attached to a face and brain, however in Love's case, the brain is not used.

"These ideas were right for the books and movies, but they knew nothing about an instance like his." is similar to Hurston's because the voodoo doctors know only what has been passed down from generation or they falsely believe, but they can't not really cure the sick. Many ideas work in books and movies and influence the viewers who find out the hard way that reality is often much more difficult and harsh.

Journal #4

Read chapters 7 and 8.

Journal #4: Choose a passage that clearly depicts Hurston's awareness and manipulation of language. Analyze the passage for one aspect of EACH of the following: syntax, word choice, tone, and sound devices.

Passage: "After that night Jody moved his things and slept in a room downstairs. He didn't really hate Janie, but he wanted her to think so. He had crawled off to lick his wounds. They didn't talk too much around the store either. Anybody that didn't know would have thought that things had blown over, it looked so quiet and peaceful around. But the stillness was the sleep of swords. So new thoughts had to be thought and new words said. She didn't want to live like that. Why must Joe be so mad with her making him look small when he did it to her all the time? Had been doing it for years. Well, if she must eat out of a long-handled spoon, she must. Jody might get over his mad spell any time at all and begin to act like somebody toward her." (81)

Syntax

Hurston uses the narrator to explain Jody's reaction, Jody and Janie, the towns, and than how Janie felt about it. She starts the first few sentences with 'he', 'they', than 'anybody'. They are simple and straight to the point, her progression of different points of view of the situation lets the reader have a less bias view of the situation to openly interpret Janie's next reaction. Her thoughts are posed in questions and than final decision.

Word Choice

Some words that stick out of this passage are crawled, lick, wounds, sleep, swords, must, mad, and spell. These words could easily be replaced with a synonym. Hurston used crawled, lick, and wound to depict a picture of Jody as a hurt dog. He later dies. Tea Cake died from a dog wound later on. Her choice of 'sleep of swords' creates connotations of war and death. She repeats 'must' a few times in the last sentences, she is emphasizing that she has no choice in the matter, justifying her reason to the reader. 'Mad spell' infers that Jody is not acting as who he really is. Janie left with a man she thought would make her life better and believes that that man is still somewhere.

Tone

The overall tone of this passage is afflicting. There is a lot of affliction between Janie and Jody's conflict through actions and silence.

Sound Devices

Hurston uses an alliteration in this passage: "But the stillness was the sleep of swords". The 's' sound is smooth, however its also reminds me of a snake ssss...and snakes bite and are poisonous. I think Hurston uses the 's' sound to show how quiet and peaceful the environment seemed, but Janie could feel the invisible tension and infliction.

Journal #3

Absent: 2/13, 2/14, 2/15

1. "And when Ah touch de match tuh dat lamp-wick let de light penetrate inside of yuh, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine" (45) Reference to religion and God

2. "They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down" (50). oxymoron

3. "But Joe kept saying that she could it if if she wanted to and he wanted her to use her privileges. That was the rock she was battered against" (54) metaphor

4. "They wanted to begin, but the Parson wasn't there, so a messenger was sent to the ruler in a tree where he sat" (61). parallel to the town and Joe

5. "'What killed this man?'

The chorus answered, "Bare, bare fat.'

'What killed this man?'

'Bare, bare fat.'

'What killed this man?'

'Bare, bare fat.'

'Who'll stand his funeral?'

'We!!!!!!!'

'Well, all right now.'" (62)

anthropomorphism

Analysis:

When Joe relates the lamppost to God, he is making the event more of an Holy event than what it actually is. The book has many references to God, and the way Joe is portrayed may be mocking the use of God in the world because he is using its power to highlight a lesser event. This style also better describes the setting of the story, where religion is a very important aspect to African Americans. God symbolized as hope during slavery, and for equality after the Civil War. The lamppost symbolizes a better change and hope for the town.

Hurston's use of anthropomorphism of the buzzards is a little scary, it reminds me of the head of the pig talking to Simon in the Lord of the Flies. She uses this technique to bring out human attributes in the beasts. It is curious that they refer to the mule as a man as well as how the people make a mock human funeral as if the mule was more than a mule representing something else. The chorus of the buzzards chant in reply to the leader. This symbolizes the town or social norm, everything follows the leader.

Journal #2 Dialect

*Absent 2/13,2/14,2/15

South African language

the short 'i' sound is pronounced 'uh'

long 'a' sound used, for words such as France and cast

double t's are pronounced with a 'd' sound such a little or pretty

Slang Words from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_African_slang_words

awe=greeting

stukkie=girl

hard up=in love

gunner a pehrer=fighting

swak=bad

Vrou=wife

grafts=work

pozzy=home

Dialogue taken from p22

"Awe, What's the maytter, stukkie ? You do not look to well" asked Ouma

"Uht's nothing. I just need a lidle information from you" replied Johan.

Ouma laughs, "Hayve you already goden knocked up already-let us see,

thus Saturday uts two month and two weeks.

"No, Ouma, Thayts not uht" Johan said sheepishly.

"Don't feel ayshamed, stukkie , you and him are hard up, just like every other couple"

"I'm just not sure about that"

"Has he been gunning a pehrer with you"

"No, he isn't swak to me. He treats his Vrou very nicely. He grafts in the factory all day and keeps the pozzy kept and clean"

Journal #1

Absent 02/13, 2/14, 2/15

From chapter 1, I see Janie as a beautiful confident women that does not care what other people think. She follows what she believes in, even if it doesn't fit the social norm. "The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had grape fruits in her hip pockets; the great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling int he wind like a plume" (2)This personality causes other women to be jealous of her. "Seeing the woman as she was made them remember the envy they had stored up from other times" (2). Judging by the way Phoebe stands up for her, I perceive Janie as misunderstood and not what the other women say about her. "The worst thing Ah ever knowed her to do was taking a few ages offa her age and dat ain't never harmed nobody" (3). From the first chapter, it is evident Janie has gone through many experiences that has changed her outlook on life. When Janie begins to tell Phoebe her story she is "full of that oldest human long-self revelation" (7).

I perceive the narrator as an older person looking back on his mistakes and making sense of life with a somewhat pessimistic tone as if he realizes there is much more pain in life than happiness. "His dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men" (1). He also makes a point to differentiate men from women. "Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget" (1). This is made most likely due to Hurston's background, writing this story during the Harlan Renaissance. The narrator describes Janie's life, from an observer's view, often using metaphors and personification to describe the setting. For example instead of just saying 'the women began gossiping' she describes it as "They became lords of sounds and lesser things. They passed nations through their mouths. They sat in judgement" (1).