Blog #16

One of the reasons i find this book so intriguing is because of the narration structure. The author uses lets you see different view points by using multiple authors These include Claudia as a child, Claudia as an Adult, and an omniscient narrator. I think Claudia, as a child is the most critical narrator. She understands how Pecola feels because she is going through the exact same thing. They bot are facing the challanges and difficulties of social norms. They are both told they are not beautifuk enough for the society they live in they just handle it in two very different ways. Like in the example where Frieda was touched inappropriately by Henry. Frieda was crying, their mother screaming profanities, and their father shooting the socks off Henry, and yet Claudia was upset that she “was missing it”, feeling let out of the action and sadness for always having things happen “last” to her. Their two personalities, though different, lead for a connection by the end of the book, and the narration makes it all the more interesting.

"Housewife" By Anne Sexton

I found this poem to be afully clever simply by the title, overtime, we have created this image of what a "Housewife," is. A woman that stays at home while the husband works. So essentially, the woman really is "married" to her house. But even towards the house, the woman isnt seen as a lover or other half, but almost as a slave. Just as a partner to pleasure the other. Sexton at one point makes the reference, "On her knees." Obviously she is talking about cleaning the house, but it also has somewhat of a sexual inuedo, with the idea that some women are on their knees for the house, and some are on their knees for their husbands, "faithfully." The line "Men enter by force," just suggest the typical dominance role men play over women, especially in marraige. Many women don't have a say, they just work all day, then disrespect what the women hae been working on all day. This also implies more sexual references with the idea that many women have sex with their husbands because they tell them to or make them, not necessarily because they want them to. The only thing that confused me in the poem was the reference to mothers....

Denise Levertov’s “The Ache of Marriage” and “Divorcing”

Both poems share a somewhat similiar veiw on marriage, but at the same time, are portrayed in two very different ways.

"The Ache of Marriage," alot of emotions and struggles on marraige are related to the body. Such as the line thst says, "throbs in teeth." I think she is trying to parallel the image of when once has a tooth ache and the constant throbbing is an annoyance to say the least, but there is nothing you can really do but live with it. It depicts the constant efforts and annoyances associated with marraige. She also refers to the thigh and the tongue, which to me are both very sexual references. They are "Heavy," with the weight of the marriage, showinng that both ends of the marriage are somewhat burdened by the relationship.

"Divorcing," also portrays the same feeling of almost being forced to deal with someone, but in this poem they are set free. Instead of it being a happy-go-lucky feeling of freedom, it a scared hesitant one. I think this is because most people feel this way when deciding to leave their signfigant others. Whether they can or cannot find love and live on their own.

Both poems are obviously about a marraige, and the womans true life within the marraige, but one other similarity i saw were the somewhat relaigious refernes in each poems.“The Ache of Marriage” has some apparent themes such as “communion”, “leviathan”, and “two by two in the ark”. This is because religion and marraige often go hand and hand throughout the ages. In “Divorcing” a garland of thorns is mentioned, with could refer to the Christ’s crown that he wore open the cross. This could be a complete stretch but it definitely caught my eye.

Compare and Contrating "Now that I am Forever With Child" and "The Lost Baby Poem."

Though both of these poems are about benig pregnant with a child, they veiw the experience, and conclude in very different ways. The first poem, "Now that I am Forever with Child," share the beauty of being a mother. As she describes the time process and different stages she goes through with the growing child in her womb, there is a tone of love and excitement, joy. One can tell before the child is even born, the mother is attatched and has a bond with her soon to be baby girl. It portrays the idea that women naturally have a maternal nature. It almost idolizes becoming a mother, and makes you feel confident in the speaker.

"The Lost Baby Poem," does almost the exact opposit. Just by the title you can clearly see this is not a "happy-go-lucky," piece of literature. This poem is potentiallu referring to many things. But what i intitially pick up after first reading it, is a poor(maybe homeless), single woman, who becomes pregnant. The reason i have the feeling she is homelesss is because many times she refers to sewages in the city when talking about bodies of water. Also it relates to the tone of the poem because one usually doesn't find joy in sewage waters. She also talks about having no car in the wonter, when the child SHOULD have been born, so the flee to canada, the authors actual home(fun fact). She also infers the idea if the child were to be born, it;s life would be much better if set for adoption, but they will never know. This poem is definitely a reflection and story of how the narrator had somehow killed her unborn child. The tone of the poem is much different then the first. It is sad, regretful, dark, and has a feeling of shame. This sounds odd, but i almost feel cold while reading it. Due to all the refrences to bodies of water and drowning, i am picking up that the woman was an alcolic, and drank her baby to death.

How do you feel about Life's business in prostitution?

After reading Life, i feel extremely conflicted about the idea of prostitution in the story. Society has taught us to carry a negative connotation with prostitution, and it is normally looked down upon. But as one reads the story, they begin to almost look up to Life, and root for her to keep doing what she is doing. I believe Head made the "village" so narrow-minded and naive to kind of mirror society as a whole. By using prostitution, and have the reader almost agree with the idea as a business, the readers an people of our society start to become more open minded. Even though it seems contradictory, Life's prostitution was her sense of freedom. Even though she was judged by the "village," she felt as if this was the one thing she had control over in the story. She decided what she wanted to do with her body and who would get to use it. It might have been a false sense of control, but it still satisfied her and her freedom. Though i wouldn't normally support prostitution, Head makes the reader believe it was just a proud way to express a womens sense of power, sexuality, freedom, and individuality. When Life does get married, the reader see's all those qualities disappear.

By this story, I believe Head was was trying to reflect how women in society carry false senses of power in almost all we do. Though Life thought she was free by using her body as a business, she was still being controlled by a man, but at least it was her own decision. Once she got married, her freedom really did come to a close. Life and all the women of the village ran their lives under the man's rules.

"The Yellow Wall Paper"

I believe the theme that Gilman was trying to portray i this story was how greatly women were suppressed and limited in the 19th century, and how they were taught to accept it. The narrator is apparently "sick" with nervous depression and other mood habits. Even though she seems fine and desires to get out, her husband and brother, who are both doctor's, force her to stay in this terribly wall-papered room. They make her believe that she needs rest and the real world would make her conditioned worse, and that women belong in the house anyhow. The whole story is written in perspective of the women, through her journals. She is under the impression she must hide her journal from everyone, especially her husband, since it is only "feeding," her disorder. Though she is controlled by the men in her life, and almost a prisoner within the room because if them, all she continues to say is how good they treat her. This shows that most women of that time believed hey were the weaker sex, and played into the social norms of letting them men tell them what is right and wrong. The narrator almost lives in fear, not only of letting her husband see her write, but not coming off as appreciative, or obedient to him. Even though she was being kept from the world, and her child, she was convinced it was all for the best. in the end, the room and the wall paper ended up making her actually mentally and psychologically insane, at least more then she was in the beginning of the story.

Blog post prompt for Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market, Think about how bodies are commodified in this poem - pay specific attention to issues of markets and buying. What exactly is being bought and sold?

When i first read the Goblin Market, I could be wrong, but i definitely picked up on some sexual undertones. I don't know if the poem is necessarily implying things of that nature but they human body is very sexualized within this play. The way the goblins grab the girls, the way they eat the fruit, the girls are very objectified within the story. Also i believe that this is just the classic plot of the girl falling for the "forbiddon fruit" of a man. Girls are scene as not having strong wills, so they are easily tempted and swayed. She is selling a part of her body to the goblin men, then makes the sister do the same. She could have fruit from the regular market, but something about that fruit taste so sweet. I guess its all about girls behaving badly!

The Walls do not Fall

When I read this poem the first time, I have to admit, I was terribly confused. So, I went through it stanza by stanza the second time I realized there is a whole lot happening in this poem. So, while I am analyzing this, I'm warning you, I could in fact be completely off-track, but these are the things a picked up while reading. But fair warning, I'm still pretty confused of the complete message, bare with me :)

I briefly read the author's biography, and it explained how she was very interested in spirituality and how she had traveled all over the world. This is very apparent in her writing because there are indeed multiple, and different religious references within this poem.

To start the poem, she makes many references to Egypt, such as the Luxor, lapises, and tombs. In biography it said she visited there, and Egyptians had many religious rituals and beliefs that are being reflected in the poem. Back in the day, tombs are where the Egyptians would keep the dead, so I assume when she describes the "desolate," and "gloomy," state of the tomb, she is inferring she is dead or dying. She is then visited by Samuel, who in the Roman-Catholic religion, is the prophet of God. He takes her to many places.

The one place she really elaborate on however is Pompeii. Pompeii is known as the "forgotten city," because it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption years and years ago. It killed a majority of Pompeii's population and is now "abandoned."(yes, I looked this up) When goes on to describe "Apocryphal fires," "bedeviled, drunk men," and skeletons without organs or souls. Basically a vision of hell. But Samuel doesn't keep her there.

This brings up the idea of reincarnation and Karma. She comes back as a worm, working hard just surviving through life. The last two stanzas are the most striking to me, and actually gave me chills when I read it. I think what she is trying to say is she isn't worried about her death or after life Karma, because she has done everything she could to make the best of the life as a worm that when she dies she will be in God's presence and he will reward her in her next life.

Another thing that may be a stretched, was when she writes, "when I, the industrious worm, spin my own shroud." I am picking up the message of self-sacrifice. A shroud is typically a protective cover people bury people in, so that is one possible interpretation of that stanza. And the idea that Jesus died for God, so self sacrifice is the "unselfish" act for God.

So because of her cultural and spiritual past, I believe by using conflicting religions and beliefs such as hell and reincarnation she is conveying a very powerful message. The idea that religion isn't necessarily important or definable, but spiritualism is. She is giving that religion isn't black and white, so having faith and beliefs is what is most important. Showing that religions so somewhat overlap and are similar in more ways than one, and in either religion, it is important to always praise god and be a "good human being," or worm...

So, I could be completely wrong...and wayyyy over-analyzed this poem, but with her cultural background, it makes sense to me...kind if. So those are my thoughts!

How has pre-adolescent/adolescent sexual trauma shaped the adult version of Li’l Bit?

Throughout her life, Lil' Bit suffers alot of sexual abuse from her Uncle Peck, but she also suffers emotional abuse from the rest of her family members as well. It is not directly stated, but you can see throughout the play her family is not like most. They do not support her with most everything in her life, including the sexual abuse.

In most stories that involve abuse as a child, the child tends to grow up an abuser themselves. Or they seem to have troubles with alcohol or drugs. They also usual have feelings of anger and resentment towards their abuser. In this story however, Lil' bit takes a lesson from her experiences. She learns that forgiveness and family are most important. She realizes her unlce has a problem, and that even though he manipulated her, he does love her. So she forgives him.

The book ends with her driving away. Cinsidering this, and the fact she does forgive Uncle Peck, you can see the way she tends to deal with things now in life is basically by running away from her problems.

Blog prompt-Bogan’s “Women” and Smith’s “The Queen and the Young Princess”

The main theme these two poems have is the idea that woman are simply inferer to men in most aspects of everyday life. While they are presented in different ways and tones, they both embody the idea that woman have certain roles in life and are uncapable of preforming certain tasks that men are supposed to do.

In thw poem, "Women," i felt as if the way women were percieved was through the most generic, classic lens that society was grown overtime. Basically with the idea that woman were meant for very specific things, loving and caring for theor men. They would never be at all capable of doing any labor, or jobs our society percieves as "the man's job." It really set the idea that not only couldnt't we do anything, but we just honestly would never want to anyway.

The second poem, "The Queen and the Young Princess," it was presented more as a story, which i liked. The young princess wanted to go out and experience the world, but her mom has played into the same old story as woman have throughout time. That woman have certain roles in society and simply cannot handle the real world such as a man can. The queen i think doesn't WANT to hold her daughter from the world, but she is just trying to be realistic with her. I felt as if in a way, the queen had almost "given up." She begins to realize that more i think watching the spunkiness and desire in the princess.

What does Cixous mean when she urges woman to “write her self,” to “write about women and bring women to writing”?

In Helene Cixous’s “Laugh pf Medusa,” she urges woman to “write about woman and bring woman to writing.” I believe she is addressing issues much deeper then what most people might initially assume. She isn’t just making a statement, i believe she is implying the struggles and hardships woman have gone through over the years, and trying to raise awareness to woman that they do have the “right to write.” She touches on the fact that over the years woman have been taught to almost think less of themselves. Woman have had to repress their ideas and creativity in writing because men are superior and more respected, which doesn’t need to be true. This has shaped our culture in more ways ten just writing. In this piece i feel she is telling woman they do deserve to write what they want and they can make a significant impact in literature as men. She is begging people to not let our cultures norms stop woman from expressing themselves such as men do, especially through literature. By bringing woman to writing, our whole ideas of writing will change.

What elements of the descriptions of Zofloya might be considered racist?

Because of the setting and time period of the book, many things could be portrayed as racist to us now that wasn't necessarily evident back then. The fact that Zofloya is the "dark-skinned" servant working for white men.  Also as the book goes on he is portrayed more and more as manipulative and seductive towards Victoria(white women). Also as they go deeper into the novel, he is associate more with evilness, and darkness. When Zofloya’s true identity is revealed to be Satan, it becomes even more evident that the darkness of his skin is meant to illustrate evil.  Illustrating the idea of unintentional racism within the story.

Give a few examples of words/phrases/etc. used to describe Victoria and Lilla, respectively. What is Lilla’s role in the novel? (Don’t just tell me that she’s Henriquez’s love interest—think beyond the superficial.)

Victoria's image definitely is never completely wholesome, but she clearly makes personality shifts throughout the book. She begins somewhat "virtuous," but later is described as "Haughty," "Proud(not in a good way)," and "self-sufficient." These are not necessarily the proper ways young ladies in that time should act. She becomes very string and manipulative with the men she encounters. She acts upon passion and "evil," instincts.

                                                        

Lilla on the other hand, is described as very "angelic." on page 144, it uses the words, "innocent," "fairy-like," "sweet," and "small." She is portrayed as helpless and beautiful in a softer way. The perfect woman of that time. Basically the complete opposite of Victoria.

Why I believe Dacre made the character of Lilla so opposing to Victoria is to really show Victoria's evil qualities and her downfall throughout the novel. Lilla strikes the envy and jealous side of Victoria which I believe ultimately throws her over the edge.

In Zofloya, why does the narrator make so much of Laurina’s (Victoria and Leonardo’s mother) extramarital relationship? In other words, how does Laurina’s affair have larger consequences than simply a broken marriage?

In Zofloya Volume 1, the narrator makes it very clear that adultery more than just Laurina's marriage throughout the novel. Before the whole affair, Victoria was described as an "innocent," "virtuous," and overall polished young woman. She wasn't perfect but she was respected within her society. As the affair emerges throughout the book, you see Victoria's image take a drastic turn. You see her take part in her own personal affair, like her mother. She also becomes violent, manipulative, and acts upon her passion which woman are not "supposed" to act upon.

Her brother Leonardo takes part in some spontaneous behavior as well. He disappears from Venis after the affair, leaving his father starting own affairs. Ultimately, Laurina's actions have deeply impacted and greatly shaped her children's decisions. The two of them have actually taken after her and followed in their mothers footsteps. Also in the process, her husband was killed. So obviously, Laurina's external affair not only caused a broken marriage, but a broken family.

Another impact of the relationship was a shift in the social order. Their family was greatly respected within their community and held quite the status within the town. This scandal stirred up the norm and started drama in the town, ultimately shaming their images. I'm sure some of the reason for all of them "fleeing," the town