"I want the baby, he said."
This is yet another example of irony. A horrible, horrible situation to say the least. But it is ironic nonetheless. This couple is fighting. They hurt each other. They continue to hurt each other. And when it all is said and done, they decide to fight about the one thing they have left in common: their child. One would think that in this sort of situation, they would take a step back and one of the two would leave and decide later. However they cannot do this. They end up playing tug of war with their precious child. And they end up hurting the thing they love and want the most. Or do they love it? The baby may be simply another tool used to hurt the other. You cannot fight over a human being. It is not an object to possess. Yet the two seem to forget that and forget the importance of its life. They hurt what they both want. This sort of irony eerily reminds me of "Once Upon a Time".
Thursday, December 8, 2011
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
"'All right, folks,' Mr. Summers said. 'Let's finish quickly.'"
What an incredible idea! I tell you, the logic behind this story is flawless. I mean, why not stone someone for no reason? Seems like a good idea to me. But no worries. It IS a fair lottery after all. It's the luck of the draw. Or should I say, the bad luck. Nothing irritates me more than pointless concepts in stories. This plot was terrible. If there was some deep, hidden meaning about the downfall and shortcoming of society I surely missed it. And I don't care to find it. Jackson wasted all of our time with a worthless story that has nothing to it. Why would they kill someone once a year? It doesn't make any sense. There is no reason to it. I understand it's a tradition in their little town, but one would think you would wake up and say, "Hey. This is really dumb. Let's not murder someone because our lives are so boring." Wow, good one Jackson. Write another one about ripping babies in half. Oh, wait. Ray Carver beat you to that one.
What an incredible idea! I tell you, the logic behind this story is flawless. I mean, why not stone someone for no reason? Seems like a good idea to me. But no worries. It IS a fair lottery after all. It's the luck of the draw. Or should I say, the bad luck. Nothing irritates me more than pointless concepts in stories. This plot was terrible. If there was some deep, hidden meaning about the downfall and shortcoming of society I surely missed it. And I don't care to find it. Jackson wasted all of our time with a worthless story that has nothing to it. Why would they kill someone once a year? It doesn't make any sense. There is no reason to it. I understand it's a tradition in their little town, but one would think you would wake up and say, "Hey. This is really dumb. Let's not murder someone because our lives are so boring." Wow, good one Jackson. Write another one about ripping babies in half. Oh, wait. Ray Carver beat you to that one.
"You're Ugly, Too" by Lorrie Moore
"'I'm going out of my mind,' said Zoe to her younger sister,"
Too true, Zoe. She is perhaps the most unlikable character in any short story we have read thus far, surpassing even Dee and Bartleby. I know today in class you had said that we should try to sympathize with her, though it is extremely difficult. Her life is indeed boring. Teaching at a small libral arts school could get frustrating. However this is no excuse to treat life as one huge joke. Whether it is a possible condition (she joked during the ultrasound) or a possible boyfriend, Zoe manages to make everybody hate her with her horrible sense of humor. This may be a defense mechanism of hers, seeing as an unknown abdominal condition can be intimidating. Additionally, we know she had a failed relationship before, so maybe her attitude towards Earl is simply her way of making sure she never gets hurt again...even if that involves pushing naked-women men off of twenty-story balconies. In the end, Zoe does not change at all. Her cynical sarcasm is just as present in her last action, pushing Earl and treating it as a joke, as it was in the beginning when her class complained of her.
Too true, Zoe. She is perhaps the most unlikable character in any short story we have read thus far, surpassing even Dee and Bartleby. I know today in class you had said that we should try to sympathize with her, though it is extremely difficult. Her life is indeed boring. Teaching at a small libral arts school could get frustrating. However this is no excuse to treat life as one huge joke. Whether it is a possible condition (she joked during the ultrasound) or a possible boyfriend, Zoe manages to make everybody hate her with her horrible sense of humor. This may be a defense mechanism of hers, seeing as an unknown abdominal condition can be intimidating. Additionally, we know she had a failed relationship before, so maybe her attitude towards Earl is simply her way of making sure she never gets hurt again...even if that involves pushing naked-women men off of twenty-story balconies. In the end, Zoe does not change at all. Her cynical sarcasm is just as present in her last action, pushing Earl and treating it as a joke, as it was in the beginning when her class complained of her.
"The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor
"'It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian angel.'"
O'Connor's story is hilarious! And at the same time, the situation irony brings out a good point. It is evident that the boy knew that his father's drinking was a bad thing, as it kept him home with a hangover instead of at work earning money for the family. His mother's statement to him, put above, was perfectly true. Although getting drunk resulted in him being sick, getting cut over the head, and shaming his father publicly in front of the town, it also made his father reconsider drinking ever again. It is also ironic how the tables were turned. At the beginning of their time in the bar, the boy expected that he would be the one carrying his father home through the streets, stumbling drunk and embarrassing their family. Yet when it was the other way around, the father was mortified and humiliated to be in what would normally be his son's shoes. But perhaps the final irony comes from the fact that these drunkards are Irish! Haha!
O'Connor's story is hilarious! And at the same time, the situation irony brings out a good point. It is evident that the boy knew that his father's drinking was a bad thing, as it kept him home with a hangover instead of at work earning money for the family. His mother's statement to him, put above, was perfectly true. Although getting drunk resulted in him being sick, getting cut over the head, and shaming his father publicly in front of the town, it also made his father reconsider drinking ever again. It is also ironic how the tables were turned. At the beginning of their time in the bar, the boy expected that he would be the one carrying his father home through the streets, stumbling drunk and embarrassing their family. Yet when it was the other way around, the father was mortified and humiliated to be in what would normally be his son's shoes. But perhaps the final irony comes from the fact that these drunkards are Irish! Haha!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
"Eveline" by James Joyce
"No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy. Amid the seas she sent a cry of anguish."
Eveline's story is a sad one indeed. Her family life was full of turmoil and grief. Her mother passed, her father was abusive, and she lived hopelessly, losing everything familiar slowly. However when she gets the chance at freedom, she does not take it. Rather, she CANNOT take it. She is overcome with emotion and is incapable of physically moving onto the boat with Frank. However, she is referred to as a "helpless animal". i believe this to be true. She is an animal, trapped in her life, unable to leave the pain. This may be because it is all she had known. Or it could be because of the promise she gave to her mother. Regardless, we cannot judge her for turning down her new and (possibly) happy life with Frank.
Eveline's story is a sad one indeed. Her family life was full of turmoil and grief. Her mother passed, her father was abusive, and she lived hopelessly, losing everything familiar slowly. However when she gets the chance at freedom, she does not take it. Rather, she CANNOT take it. She is overcome with emotion and is incapable of physically moving onto the boat with Frank. However, she is referred to as a "helpless animal". i believe this to be true. She is an animal, trapped in her life, unable to leave the pain. This may be because it is all she had known. Or it could be because of the promise she gave to her mother. Regardless, we cannot judge her for turning down her new and (possibly) happy life with Frank.
"Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer
"...the alarm set up wailing against the screams while the beleeding mass of the little boy was hacked out of the security coil with saws, wire-cutters, choppers, and they carried it- the man, the wife, the hysterical trusted housemaid and the weeping gardener- into the house."
This entire story is one giant ironic situation. But in my opinion, it shows a serious problem in our society today. There is no doubt we live in a dangerous world. However, I do not believe it is any more dangerous than it was tens, hundreds, or thousands of years ago. When only Native Americans lived here, they were constantly in danger of drought, raids by other tribes, war, and disease. Wild animals such as wolves and bears threatened the lives of their children. The same goes for settlers. Even in my parents' generation, there was no absence of evil and harmful things throughout the world. The problem is that we try to create such a perfect environment, try so hard to keep the bad out of our lives, that in the end it only harms us. Parents who shelter their children only create adults who are incapable of handling the realities of life. I am not saying anarchy is the way to go, but perhaps it is time to take a step back and tear down our security fences and cut our barbed wire before our own sons get tangled up in its razor-sharp coils.
This entire story is one giant ironic situation. But in my opinion, it shows a serious problem in our society today. There is no doubt we live in a dangerous world. However, I do not believe it is any more dangerous than it was tens, hundreds, or thousands of years ago. When only Native Americans lived here, they were constantly in danger of drought, raids by other tribes, war, and disease. Wild animals such as wolves and bears threatened the lives of their children. The same goes for settlers. Even in my parents' generation, there was no absence of evil and harmful things throughout the world. The problem is that we try to create such a perfect environment, try so hard to keep the bad out of our lives, that in the end it only harms us. Parents who shelter their children only create adults who are incapable of handling the realities of life. I am not saying anarchy is the way to go, but perhaps it is time to take a step back and tear down our security fences and cut our barbed wire before our own sons get tangled up in its razor-sharp coils.
"A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty
"Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead"
Phoenix Jackson is herself a symbol of nature. In her characterization by Welty, she is described using scenes from the wild, such as trees and spiderwebs. In class, we had said that she is very bird-like in action and mannerisms. The further symbolism of Phoenix is shown in her own struggle with nature. The thorns rip her dress and animals rustle in the brush, but she is not intimidated. She simply tells the creatures to stay out of her way. She talks aloud to all of her obstacles as if they were people and compares trees to black men. In all honesty she fits in well with nature around her. Perhaps her senility allows her to fit in with such a chaotic environment.
Phoenix Jackson is herself a symbol of nature. In her characterization by Welty, she is described using scenes from the wild, such as trees and spiderwebs. In class, we had said that she is very bird-like in action and mannerisms. The further symbolism of Phoenix is shown in her own struggle with nature. The thorns rip her dress and animals rustle in the brush, but she is not intimidated. She simply tells the creatures to stay out of her way. She talks aloud to all of her obstacles as if they were people and compares trees to black men. In all honesty she fits in well with nature around her. Perhaps her senility allows her to fit in with such a chaotic environment.
"Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield
"The old people sat on a bench, still as statues. Never mind, there was always the crowd to watch."
Miss Brill is such an ironic character. She goes to the park to people watch the crowd. However when she sees other old people doing the same as she, she considers them boring. What's more is that she herself is by no means in her youth. By calling these old people watchers boring, she simply separates herself from them, when in reality she is no different. The same goes for the woman she sees greeting the man who walks away from her after losing interest. She pities her, yet Miss Brill is the one who is lonely. She is the one who needs pitied. The rude, harsh young man who says such mean things to her simply opens her eyes to the fact that she is not any higher than those around her, and perhaps that she should not pass judgement so quickly.
Miss Brill is such an ironic character. She goes to the park to people watch the crowd. However when she sees other old people doing the same as she, she considers them boring. What's more is that she herself is by no means in her youth. By calling these old people watchers boring, she simply separates herself from them, when in reality she is no different. The same goes for the woman she sees greeting the man who walks away from her after losing interest. She pities her, yet Miss Brill is the one who is lonely. She is the one who needs pitied. The rude, harsh young man who says such mean things to her simply opens her eyes to the fact that she is not any higher than those around her, and perhaps that she should not pass judgement so quickly.
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