Monthly Archives: September 2023

The quote “literature is painting, architecture, and music” is reflected in a simple and powerful way in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s story “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World”. The story describes a small village’s discovery of a remarkably handsome and enormous drowned man. The author’s words paint a vivid picture in our minds of this extraordinary man, how he looks, and how he changes the lives of the villagers. This is like literature as painting because the words create a visual image in our heads. In this way, Marquez’s story embodies the idea that literature combines painting, architecture, and music to tell a compelling and beautiful tale.  

Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it”. – C.S. Lewis This quote relates to “The story of hour” as i take this story for my essay. In the story  married woman husband death taken suddenly at first she was very sad about that but after some time she realize that now she his free from all the marriage rituals now she can do whatever she want to do now she don’t have to follow somone rules. However now women are free to chose whateveer they want they have to stay at home or not but before they can’t leave home they are not allowed to do work. So it not right they also have there life whatever they want they can do it now. “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it”. – C.S. Lewis it tells the reality of life but it not describe what they going from.

In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, Boris Pasternak’s quote resonates profoundly, “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” The narrative unfolds in a Harlem neighborhood, portraying seemingly ordinary children exposed to economic disparity. The protagonist, Sylvia, becomes a lens through which readers witness the jolting realization of social inequality. Ordinary moments, like a trip to a toy store, transform into a exploration of privilege and societal injustice. Bambara utilizes everyday language to articulate the extraordinary challenges faced by marginalized communities. Through the characters, the story unveils layers of societal critique, echoing Pasternak’s idea of extracting the extraordinary from the ordinary. “The Lesson” is a good example of literature’s power to show profound truths about ordinary lives, acting as a mirror reflecting the disparities woven into the fabric of society, thereby fulfilling Pasternak’s vision of literature as a pathway for extraordinary revelations

Reading through all the quotes,I chose-” literature adds to reality,it does not simply describe it.”(C.Slwels) because literature expands into many different understandings around society today. In the the story “The lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, Syliva plays a big role in how society is seen from two different perspectives. she sees the way Miss Moore describes the social classes in front of the kids and expands her thoughts about the rich and poor people. She goes on by saying “What kinda work they do and how they live and how come we ain’t in on it?”..In other words, she finds that society is unfair and people who work hard get everything they want while people who struggle still try and can’t get what they want or need. Miss Moore describes these locations herself, as well as the differences in how the children behave while there- to express and have the kids think more about lifting themselves out of poverty and experience life outside of the projects.

According to Salman Rushdie, “Literature is where I go to explore the highest and lowest places in human society and in the human spirit, where I hope to find not absolute truth but the truth of the tale, of the imagination and of the heart.” This statement was picked since it is something that we all face on a regular basis. I like how Salman Rushdie says, “I hope to find not absolute truth, but the truth of the tale of the imagination and the heart.” To me, it is finding things in life or deciding the reality of things, not just the truth but also the experience itself, in order to learn more from the truth. It inspired me and makes a lot of sense.I really enjoy how he states literature is a part of human civilization and the human soul. That means a lot to me. Saying that there is literature even in our own communities and in our hearts.

“Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere” (Rhys). This quote reveals that literature helps us understand things that are unknown or “immigrants” to us. It opens new doors and perspectives. The story I’ve read a few weeks ago called “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara relates to this quote by Jean Rhys. In the story, Sylvia, our narrator faces something similar as she, her cousin and some of her friends visits an expensive toy store. When she first visits the city she is an immigrant to the world outside of that her neighborhood. “So we. . .And then she gets to the part about we all poor and live in the slums which I don’t feature” (Bambara). Inside the store she finds a toy that cost $39 and a toy with a $1000 tag on it. As a result she questions herself if they lived in the same world as the people who shop there do. “Who are these people that spend that much for performing clowns and $1000 for toy sailboats? What kinda work they do and how they live and how come we ain’t in on it?” (Bambara). Sylvia learns about the economic inequalities they face and the different worlds they live in. Furthermore, the story highlights how literature can take both Sylvia and her cousin away from their home but more importantly, help them find new perspectives everywhere.

C.S. Lewis’ literary quote, “We read to know that we are not alone.” In “Araby,” the unnamed young protagonist experiences the turmoil of first love and subsequent awakening to reality, representing the human experience of desire and disillusionment. The narrator is infatuated with Mangan’s sister, and her feelings transform the everyday into something magical, representing literature as an escape from reality. The boy’s journey to the bazaar is a lonely journey driven by his dream of obtaining a gift for the girl. This journey represents his attempt to fulfill his romantic desires. The harsh realities he experiences there, the closing stalls, the indifferent conversations, make him feel alone and betrayed by his own expectations. It is this shared experience of weakness, hope, and disappointment that aligns with Lewis’s quote and shows how this literature connects us through shared emotions and experiences. Literature expands our imagination, gives us different ideas, and changes our view of the world.

The literature quote that I have chosen for my literature essay is “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it.” The literature quote was written by C.S Lewis. I chose this quote because I believe that it is a metaphor to what we see in our everyday lives. Whether we use it to see life in a new way, a diferent way, or the same way, it advocates that literature has the ability to change our perception of life and the world. It can also present new outlooks to the world. This quote can tie into the recent reading “The Necklace.” The dissapointed and unhappy look from the hero Mathilde Loisel because she is money hungry and only cares for materialistic things, but that is not what life is all about. Those type of things only heal you temporarily, not forever. It is also pretty unnecessary. Life is much bigger than worrying about materialistic things you crave for.

The quote I selected “reading makes us immigrants of us all, it takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere” by Jean Rhys embodies perfectly the essence of the story I chose “The Handsomest Drowned Man” by Gabriel García Marquez. As I was reading the story, I was able to capture vivid images of the island and the houses of the people where the story is taking place. Because of how well, the narrator explains the details of the island and the houses of the people who live on the island. For me, this quote signifies that as we read, the author’s precise descriptions of the story’s settings can enter our minds. And we start to become familiar with those places even though we haven’t seen them in real life or visited them. But because we can imagine them, we can know the place. An example is Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s story “The Handsomest Drowned Man” When we are reading the story, the narrator starts explaining the small doors and ceiling of the house. We could imagine some parts of the house. And how the villagers made them bigger, so the spirit of the man could pass through them.

The quote I decided to use fro my essay was “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” by C.S Lewis meaning that literature evolves all around the world. Literature shows a different type of view in any  circumstance without judging and in the story by  Toni Cade Bambara’s story “The Lesson” Sylvia was taken to see two different  aspects in society and  seeing the difference between the rich and the poor and race. In this view it gives of look of competency because its if they were to be  competing for which society side it better. Rich people don’t have poor people problems, “the poor” struggle to pay and earn certain privileges, “the rich” not so much. Their world are normally seen to get things easier, be able to afford and sometimes not be appreciative and want more.

“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it”. – C.S. Lewis I chose this quote for the story “Story of The Hour” because it captures the aspect that a work of fiction transcends from being more than just literature. The story follows a married woman who at first grieves the death of her husband. After processing her husband’s death, she comes to the realization that his death could possibly bring more good than bad. In a society where all women had to look forward to was marriage, we see a woman suddenly become free from marriage and start to envision a life with endless possibilities that benefit no one else but herself. In today’s society, women now have the freedom to choose whether or not to be a stay-at-home wife, a choice that wasn’t possible for women before. However, there are still women who find themselves trapped in marriages they have devoted the majority of their life to. This work of literature isn’t just a short story, in some ways, women can still relate to it. The longing to be more than just a wife, and the harsh reality of how unlikely it can be to spread your horizons.

“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” by C.S Lewis In other words, through the eyes of literature, everyone can view the world in a fresh, new approach. It is an active and imaginative interpretation of the world around us rather than just a passive reflection of it. Literature can change how we view the world and provide new ideas and insights. Children are taught in Toni Cade Bambara’s story “The Lesson” that despite their poverty, they may overcome social obstacles and eventually earn the toys and be treated equally. Sylvia went on the journey with the most attitude and ignorance, expecting to learn nothing at all, yet she was the one who fully understood the most. She lacks the knowledge necessary to understand that there is a struggle in society between the rich and the poor, which may be characterized as social classes. Although there is no obvious ending, Sylvia does understand the lesson Miss Moore has been trying to teach to the children.  

When I first read “The Wife” I had a hard time understanding the comparisons made in the last stanza of the poem. I understood the comparison of “pearl and weed” as wife and husband. The pearl being caught up in the weed, yet it will go unnoticed in “the sea” and it will always be overlooked in society. The peom also points out loosing the freedom of being a girl when she must become a woman and wife at the same time. This theme of a young woman having to sacrifice her youth and freedom is also seen in the story “Story of an Hour”. When Mrs. Mallard was first notified of her husbands death, she wept as it is expected from a wife devoted to her husband. We then see her whisper to herself “Free” and even become overjoyed when she realized that as a result of her husbands death she would become free and independent. In the end when she finds out that her husband had not died, she drops dead. This shows that ultimateley her wellbeing, and her life was at the fate of her husband.

In the time referred in this story “The Story of an Hour” and the poem “The Wife”, the 19th century, women where more seen as property and house maids rather than someone cherish and hold. It is apparent in both and story and poem they show the thought process and being a women during those time, and having a husband. In the poem the “The Wife” I interrupt it as, although a wife has her own life and accomplishments they will always been overlooked and seen as something little, especially without a husband. However, when I comes to men or husbands wives are seen as accessories and shall just be there, not because can do more, only to up value him in a way. Wives rarely have a say, and only really do for and serve their husbands. Relative to “The Story of an Hour”, Louis Mallard thought her husband was dead after bad accident at work. After her “grieving” process she sought opportunity that she thought she could’ve never done before his supposed “death”, once she found out he was very much alive, her heart condition took her life, and she died with the unfulfilled dream that was to be without a husband and have a world of other opportunities.

“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara is about a well educated black woman named Miss Moore who takes a group of kids from the neighborhood to experience new things. Miss Moore takes the children to a toy store on the wealthy side of Harlem, to expose the kids to social inequality and the income gap between them and the rich. One of the main character’s, a young girl named Sylvia, shows her pushback towards Miss Moore and her trip throughout the story. Sylvia felt like Miss Moore made things worse in a way because she talked about all these problems but never gave them clear solutions or answers on how to fix their situations. Sylvia also expresses her dislike towards Miss Moore throughout the story because of her tone of voice and the way she carried herself, this wasn’t something any of the kids were used to seeing in a person, especially where they lived in Harlem. The main conflict in the story started when Sugar, Sylvia’s cousin, agreed with Miss Moore’s lesson and showed understanding in what was being said. Sylvia also showed some understanding in the lesson, but gave pushback because she didn’t like Miss Moore and the topic was probably uncomfortable for her. At the end of the story, Sugar sided with Sylvia, but we can infer that’s not what she really wanted to do and this may start a split between the cousin’s relationship in the future. “ Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it”( C.S. Lewis). The quote is embodied in the story in many ways. The first way is having the story told in first person by Sylvia, giving us more of a connection to the kids and how they felt. Also throughout the story Toni uses slang as it’ll be […]

The theme in the poem “The Wife ” Written by Emily Dickinson is echoed in “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin through both containing the idea of a women’s position in society was at that time and striving for greater independence. In the story,  Mrs. Mallard was distraught after learning that her husband had died. After his passing however she realized that she had gained a sense of peace and tranquility through her newly found independence and that she was now free to do whatever she pleases without being tied down or restricted. She realized that she truly wasn’t in love with her husband as even though she felt sorrow after his passing it was nothing compared to the immense relief that she felt learning about her husband’s death. The relief she felt was evident as she mentions that “There would be no one to live for during those coming years: she would only live for herself”. It emphasizes how many women felt confined within their marriage and found joy once those times had gone.

The theme in the nineteenth century, Emily Dickson’s poem “The Wife ” echoed in “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin through the conception of thoughts and emotions women have towards their independence. Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble at the news of her husband’s death. She expressed her emotions and liberty as a result of how she felt about her husband limiting her rights “There was a feverish triumph in her eyes and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of victory”(paragraph 18)In other words, Mrs Mallard’s wasn’t happy and didn’t have the deepest love for her husband. therefore, his death did impact her emotionally but made her realize that she would be at peace through her independence. In Emily Dickson’s poem it states “to take the honorable work of women and of a wife” isn’t always an easy outcome because Mrs. Mallard cried out her pain and relief of the negativities she had to go through in her marriage.

I believe Professor Conway chose this as the first narrative in the course to help us grasp what individuals are capable of and what they can accomplish for our future. According to the final line, “men and women became aware for the first time of the desolation of their streets, the dryness of their courtyards, the narrowness of their dreams as they faced the splendor and beauty of their drowned man.” It shifts from sadness at the man’s death to excitement and admiration for his looks. After visualizing how their environment has changed, the villagers discuss what they would do differently in the future.

The theme in the poem “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson is echoed in “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin because they both have a part in womans roles and positions in society. On one hand you have a woman whos life changed for the better after a death, and on the other hand you have a woman who discounts her life for someone else. Both stories take place with both a husband and a wife. In “The Story of An Hour'”, the wife realized after all this time she didn’t really love her husband, but once her husband suddenly passed away she felt relieved in the thought of being a widow, which she claims “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself”. In “The Wife”, the wife gave up all of her life and personal identity for her husbands petition, which she claims “She rose to his requirement, dropped the play things of her life”

The theme in the nineteenth-century Emily Dickinson poem “The Wife’ is echoed in “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin because these two readings show the complexity faced by women in that era, offering an understanding of their desire for independence and self-discovery.  the two reading describe a female character who is married but they are not in love with their husband. In “The Story of an Hour” the female protagonist doesn’t love her husband and when she hears that her husband has died, she starts to realize that she is free from him and that “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” (Kate Chopin). On the other hand, in “The Wife” the female protagonist sacrifices her joyful things in life to surrender to her husband’s petition. “She rose to his requirement, dropped the playthings of her life to take the honorable work of a woman and of a wife.” (Emily Dickinson).

The theme in the nineteenth-century Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Wife” echoed in “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin because It portrays loneliness and the benefits and disadvantages that come with it. The events in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour” develop swiftly; it appears that a person’s life and personality may change significantly in just one hour. Less than an hour passes while Mrs. Mallard processes the death of her husband. By doing this, she quickly progresses through her sadness to reach a “dream” or “story” of what life would be like for her on her own. In the story it states “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.” She has become used to the concept of a completely different future; one she looks forward to rather than one she fears. She later finds out that her husband is still alive, and destroys her brand-new vision for the future.    Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Wife” it says, “She rose to his requirement, dropped The playthings of her life To take the honorable work Of woman and of wife.” Both the poem and the story convey the idea that women sacrifice their lives to be a wife to their husbands and experience less independence and freedom.      

As I was reading the writings of this week “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin’s and the poem “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson’s both address the theme of women’s roles and their boundaries in the 19th century. The theme in the nineteenth century Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Wife” echoed in the story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin in the sense of how women were treated as someone who was expected to meet their husbands needs as the poem reads “She rose to his requirements” (Dickinson). The poem highlights the idea of a woman being nothing but a wife. Similarly Mrs. Mallard in the story “The Story of an Hour” grieves by listening to her husband’s tragic accident she realized that she was now free “She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!” (Chopin para10). She was filled with excitement and joy for becoming free from being merely a wife”.

The story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and  the poem “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson, both reflects freedom, , independence in women and the unfairness that marriage holds. In the poem, the poet seem to identify how a single women transform  herself after marriage, as it seem in “The Story of an Hour” which mentions how free,relieved and excited  Louise felt after finding out about her husband’s false death. In the poem says “dropped the plaything of her life to take the honorable work of a woman and of wife” and i believe the meaning behind this quote is that woman get married and become wife,where back in those times they were not free or being under the man’s command. Also in the story there is a quote that says  “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself” which means, that now Louise will be living for herself, free and independent and not under a man dominance. I think both the story and the poem echoed because both talks about how woman used not to be free when they got married in the 19th centuries, and how a person could find liberty by it’s couple’s death.

Emily Dickinson’s The Wife details a woman’s journey as she follows society’s expectations and takes on the role and responsibilities of a wife. A woman abandons her own desires and aspirations and fulfills her expected duties. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” features Mrs. Mallard, a woman with problems with her heart and learns of her husband’s presumed death. She experiences a fleeting sense of freedom in place of her lingering sadness and envisions a future for herself in which she can live for herself. In conclusion, Emily Dickinson’s The Wife and Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour both explore the norms of marriage and the role of women in the 19th century. Chopin’s story depicts Louise Marard, who, after mourning the death of her husband for a while, feels an unexpected sense of freedom and opens her heart to a life free from the constraints of her marriage and society. Her reflections resonate with the message of Dickinson’s poetry, which expresses the hidden conflicts and repressed desires of a woman who conforms to the expectations of her marital life. However, Louise’s newfound freedom does not last long, as her husband’s unexpected return leads to Louise’s sudden death, depicting the tragic irony of her fleeting liberation. . ​

The theme in the nineteenth- century Emily Dickinson poem “The Wife’ echoed in the ” The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin because they focused on female gender. It demonstrated that men where the one who dominated the marriage. In “The Story of An Hour” Mrs.Mallard was grieving her husband death but then has a realization of what a future with freedom would be like. The quote “She rose to his requirement” ( Emily Dickinson) broke down that females in the 19th century had to put any type of emotions and privilege their husband first. The theme was described as a women’s role in society and marriage. A women won’t have time to think about the future desires she wanted and how it would only be to provide for the husband.

“The Wife” by Emily Dickinson and “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin both explore themes related to marriage and the role of women in the 19th century. In “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin, the story follows Louise Mallard, who initially mourns her husband’s death but then unexpectedly feels a sense of liberation. She thinks about the newfound freedom with lines like, “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long.” This echoes the idea that marriage can be constraining, just like in Dickinson’s poem. It shows initial fear of a long life bound by marriage and societal expectations. “The Story of an Hour” takes a tragic turn when Louise’s husband returns alive and the shock of seeing him again leads to her demise.

“The story of hour” by Kate Chopin is a brief yet strong investigation of a lady’s close to home excursion. After learning of her husband’s unexpected death, Mrs. Mallard at first responds with shock yet before long finds a recently discovered feeling of opportunity and self. She embraces the possibility of existence without her better half’s presence, just to have her expectations run when he suddenly gets back. The story dives into subjects of cultural assumptions, individual personality, and the intricacies of human feeling in a compact story.So anything can happen any time in life so we have to ready for everything. In Emily Dickinson’s poem”The wife,” the writer investigates the subject of cultural assumptions and the concealment of uniqueness. The poem tells the narrative of a lady who at first adjusts to the requests of a man yet in the long run understands the expense of forfeiting her personality and freedom to meet his prerequisites. Both the stories are similar They tell us the story of a 19th century marriage and the role of women. How women are treated at that time is shown. They both show the freedom, unfairness and independence in the marriage.

This quote about literature is embodied in “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara because it strengthens the required skills that everyday life necessitates and supplies, and in this way, it maintains the already-existing defects in our lives. In the story, the lesson of the field trip is social and economic inequality. The children are taught that despite their poverty, they can overcome obstacles in society and, in time, not only purchase toys but also be treated equally. They take a field trip to the toy store where they discover that they are not bound by the rules of society. Once you acknowledge that you have the ability to do so, I believe you can overcome society’s obstacles. This is true when the narrator says, “And something weird going on, I can feel it in my chest. Anybody else learned anything new today? Lookin dead at me. I walk away.” The narrator resolves her inner battle regarding her ability to change her situation at this point.

I can connect with the narrator of “Salvation” because of my faith or life experiences. It was his method of verbally expressing his thoughts and feelings exactly as he had experienced them. the emotions of regret from being let down and remorse about lying. The phrases “I cried” and “I don’t believe” stand out as indicating a relationship of cause and effect between getting hurt because of a cause and its impact of not believing. This confirmed my belief that a person cannot be compelled to feel or think anything against what they choose to believe. In the story “Araby,” I can connect with the narrator because he showed the contrast between the reality that the church or society constructs and the real world. In “Araby,” he illustrates the abrupt transformation brought on by losing innocence. At the end of the story, the narrator had an epiphany that everyone had at some point. He sees that the world he assumed was flawless is corrupt and weak. The narrator also makes use of imagery to highlight the differences between how he sees his everyday life and that of Mangan’s sister and Araby. He describes his street as “North Richmond Street, being blind, was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers’ School set the boys free”. He describes his house and his street with phrases like “uninhabited,” “blind,” “detached,” “imperturbable,” “musty,” and “littered.” On the other hand, he portrays Araby as a lovely, happy, and mystical environment and Mangan’s sister like you would imagine an angel. I agree with the narrator’s desire to escape his dull and depressing daily routine in favor of the wonderful idea of romantic love and a bazaar.

I think Professor Conway has assigned this as the first story of the course because she wants us to understand the concept of what people can do to move forward and change the future. In the last paragraph, it states, “While they fought for the privilege of carrying him on their shoulders along the steep escarp- ment by the cliffs, men and women became aware for the first time of the desolation of their streets, the dryness of their courtyards, the narrowness of their dreams as they faced the splendor and beauty of their drowned man.” I’ll note that the tone fluctuates a few times throughout the narrative, but overall it seems to be very authentic. It transitions from being depressed over the man’s passing to being joyful and admiring of his appearance. The villagers discuss what they would do differently in the future after imagining how their environment has altered.

The first thing I noticed when I started reading “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, was the writing style. Her writing style would be considered “Informal” due to how accurate the dialogue is when actually spoken in conversations. I myself wouldn’t consider it informal, taking a language that was forced on you and making it your own shouldn’t be considered informal given its history. The quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” (C.S. Lewis) embodies this story because of the writing style. The descriptiveness and the spelling of certain words give the reader the true essence of the setting, the era, the emotions, and the characters. The author can grasp the feelings of anger and hesitation of the character who has seen clear differences in the character’s social and economic lifestyle compared to others. This adds to reality, especially for adults reading this story who at some point in their childhood also felt like this.

I believe the quote “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply does not describe it” by C.S lewis represents ” The lesson ” by Toni Cade Bambara through accurately describing how what is portrayed in literature can often occur in the real world, especially ones relating to our current day society. Through the clever use of literary devices and different techniques, Bambara is able to describe the reality, which is often quite harsh surrounding certain people within different communities. I believe that it also carries the idea of how important literature and overall writing is to our present day lives, whether or not we consider it so. It depicts present day societal expectations that we see very commonly today. The story revolves around how prevalent and commonplace social and racial inequality was, and the overall message shows that literature can bring great value as it teaches us new perspectives and discover valuable lessons we carry with us today.

The quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” by C.S. Lewis embodies “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara because it shows a comparison and connection of real text to real-world affection that takes place in society as of the present. In this story we see how the woman -Miss Moore comes across Saliva and other kids who aren’t wealthy and takes them to a toy shop, leading them to want an expensive toy. As a lesson from Miss Moore, she begins to expand her thoughts about how young children should earn expensive/wants from working hard. Including that, she mentioned how stealing isn’t the right way but to work for what you want so you can obtain anything you see. This shows a connection to the real world as a kid because you can’t always have everything you want at a certain age but if you work hard for what you want, one day you will reach to have it and even more.

I feel like literature this quote embodies the story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade because though these are words on paper, the words that are said and the way they are express is much more than a description. Its giving preceptive, it shows freedom of speech. The words used in the story gives much context on the tone, setting and what’s happening, however the perceptive that is give through the character we as reading are in the minds of, has been experience by many people while growing up. the feeling of other black being to “uppity” or “white speaking” / acting for their own good.  I personal have gone through this because I spoke very “proper” around my black family and friends, but I’ve also experience black people  feel “too good” to be around other black people and putting them down because they don’t pay the same amount of taxes. This piece of literature gives isn’t only a writing described by words. Its a story given with preceptives which can be related to many real experiences.

The lesson is an story by Toni Cade Bambara, which talks about the injustice, classism and social inequalities. Today we were assigned to discuss how does this quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” by C.S Lewis about literature embodied in “The Lesson”. This quote to me, is the  an appropriate description of the importance of  literature in our lives. Literature not only describes reality but also adds to it, and it picture the thinking patterns and social norms prevalent in society. story talks about social and racial inequality back then, and how Miss Moore, the children’s teacher, is pointing it out to the children by taking them to a trip to the city. And this is the connection between the lesson and how literature have influence in our lives.

The quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” by C.S Lewis means to enhance mandatory skills that life brings to you/adds depth into your life and this shows throughout the story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. In the story, a black woman named Miss Moore came across Silvia and these other unprivledged kids and decided to take them to a toy store. The kids wanted to buy a sailboat in the store but they realized that it’s too much money. Miss Moore then goes on to tell them how people work hard to get their money and not decide to start stealing things. This goes to show how some people are priveledged and unpriveledged with their lives and  you can’t get everything you want in your life. This goes to show a more sensitive understanding of true disparities in the economic world and how people earn for what they work for.

I think the quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply, describe it”(C.S. Lewis) embodied “The lesson by Toni Cade Bambara, we can examine how the story uses literary elements to go beyond and to discribe  the insights into the reality of social and economic difference .Bambara was uses literary techniques to convey that harsh realities of  individuals and people in the communties .It demonstrates that literature has the ability to create awareness and being able to think quickly .At the end of the story where Sylvia reflects on the implications of the lesson” embodies the idea that literature goes beyond simple description .In the Lesson Literary work as a good value lesson to individuals and  to educate them.

The quote “literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it”(C.S Lewis) is embodied in the short story “the lesson” by toni cade Bambara it tells us the reality what going on the world.  A child named sylvia goes toy store with is friend and miss moore ,she is well educated black women. So there some unjustice happen it is story of every black people so its not right i think people should not judge people by color, race, income, languages and even based on jobs it is very bad thing .The quote “Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough”(toni cade bambara) it tells how hard work they will do it will never come to good side but still some people are getting very good chance but not 100% they are still with old mind set , so they have to change .

I think the quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” (C.S. Lewis) embodied “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara by taking the fundamental factors of social issues (education, economic inequality, and environmental) and making them into a storytelling work of literature that adds perspective, emotions, and story. The short story “The Lesson” Is about a well-educated and experienced black woman professor who shows the reality and the economic differences of the world to her students to see how her students react and what emotions they get when they are faced with a rich environment that is quite unfamiliar of what they live.

C.S. Lewis’s quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” means that literature goes beyond just telling a story; it adds depth and meaning to our understanding of life. In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. In the story an educated black lady named Miss Moore took Silvia and other children for field trip to a fancy toy store. Miss Moore wants the children to understand how some people have a lot of money and privilege while others have very little. As the story continues it makes us think about the world we live in. It adds depth to your understanding of the issues it talks about.  

The quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” (C.S. Lewis) embodied in the “The lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara because it describes what is going on in the world. There are many kinds of interaction you get put through in life  before and now in days. Some example may be inequality, discrimination, poverty, and just basic judgement. Like in the story “The lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, when a well educated and experienced black woman who took Silvia and others to see how the world is and how unjust they are towards black people how they are signalize and discriminated.  The quote “Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough” ( Toni cade Bambara) proved to them that no matter how hard they worked for things it will never compensate because of inequality. I agree with this quote because even people now define you by color, race, income, languages and even based on jobs,      

The powerful short tale “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara perfectly exemplifies C.S. Lewis’s claim that writing enhances reality rather than merely describing it. The main plot of Bambara’s story centers on a journey that some underprivileged kids from Harlem take with their unconventional teacher Miss Moore to Manhattan’s F.A.O. Schwarz toy store.On the surface, the narrative presents a simple illustration of the glaring economic inequalities that exist in society. however, Bambara does more than simply explain this inequality; she magnifies and adds layers to it, causing readers to consider more fundamental societal and moral issues. Readers can feel the weight of injustices and consider the fundamental unfairness of the children’s socioeconomic circumstances thanks to the children’s reactions, particularly Sylvia’s internal conflict. For instance, the children’s outright shock and outrage when they see a toy sailboat with a price tag of more than $1,000 serve as a tangible reminder of the size of the socio-economic divide. This observation of the pricey toys becomes more than just a simple reflection on access, privilege, and societal value. Bambara gives the reader a more empathetic understanding of the realities of economic disparity by contrasting it with the wealth of the toy store and the world of these kids.

The quote “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” (C.S. Lewis) is embodied in the short story “the lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. In the story a child named Sylvia visits a toy store with a few neighborhood children and Miss Moore, an educated black woman who Sylvia finds unpleasant. This story describes the economic injustice that was the reality for many Americans at this time, but goes over and beyond by putting the reader in the mind of a child trying to wrap their head around the fact that their family’s yearly income is a child’s toy sailboat for the rich. We are not only told that Sylvia feels like an unjust has been done against her, the author also uses vivid imagery so that we also feel this unjust too. “Then Sugar run a finger over the whole boat. And I’m jealous and want to hit her. Maybe not her, but I sure want to punch somebody in the mouth.” (Toni Cade Bambara). This quote brings to life the anger that Sylvia feels, and we feel the anger too. Mourning for these impoverished children, and the bit of innocence that left them when they exited the toy store empty handed.

“Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it”. From the very get go of the story Sylvia our narrator introduces us to Ms Moore using these very descriptive details about her. “Back in the days when everyone was old….and she not even related by marriage or blood”. (Bambara para1) The description doesn’t simply describes Miss Moore but somehow adds reality to it, fascinating how we could imagine what everything that was being conveyed to us. Similarly, by drawing a comparison between two things the author creates additional meanings (like) in line 6 of paragraph 2 the narrator mentions something to the line of Fat Butt already wasting his peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich like the pig he is. Fat Butt isn’t really a pig but the narrator uses a form of literature here simile to describe how his friend had already fished his food comparing him to a pig (pigs are usually known for eating too fast).

Toni Cade Bambara’s The Lesson illustrates C.S. Lewis’s literary criticism by telling us how Sylvia perceives and thinks about her environment as an impoverished black kid in the 1960s. The narrative reminded us of some of our personal challenges, which some of us are still dealing with in 2023.

In the short story” Salvation” by Langston Hughes. I think the author has a big confusion. Contrary to all expectations, a young Hughes is not saved by Jesus, but is saved from his innocence. While attending a church revival, he comes to the sudden realization that Jesus will not physically come to save him. The innocence shown by the young boy at the beginning of the story can be attributed to many factors, the main reason being his Auntie Reed. She goes on talking for days about the big revival. Just like any other kid would, He listens and believes word-for-word what his aunt tells him: She said ”You could see and hear and feel Jesus in your soul”. With all the hype and anticipation surrounding this event, Hughes is certain something is bound to happen. His disappointment is manifested when he does not see Jesus. From what he has been told, he was expecting to see a human incarnation of Jesus. He is more than just expecting to see him; he badly wants to be saved! Seeing Westley give up so carelessly, triggers an awkward feeling inside of Hughes. The thought that Jesus is not going to show up after all is starting to grow. That leads him to eventually give up and join Westley in lying. It is only at night that he comes and joins the crowd in disappointment.

In the short story” Salvation” by Langston Hughes. I think the author has a big confusion. Contrary to all expectations, a young Hughes is not saved by Jesus, but is saved from his innocence. While attending a church revival, he comes to the sudden realization that Jesus will not physically come to save him. The innocence shown by the young boy at the beginning of the story can be attributed to many factors, the main reason being his Auntie Reed. She goes on talking for days about the big revival. Just like any other kid would, He listens and believes word-for-word what his aunt tells him: She said ”You could see and hear and feel Jesus in your soul”. With all the hype and anticipation surrounding this event, Hughes is certain something is bound to happen. His disappointment is manifested when he does not see Jesus. From what he has been told, he was expecting to see a human incarnation of Jesus. He is more than just expecting to see him; he badly wants to be saved! Seeing Westley give up so carelessly, triggers an awkward feeling inside of Hughes. The thought that Jesus is not going to show up after all is starting to grow. That leads him to eventually give up and join Westley in lying. It is only at night that he comes and joins the crowd in disappointment.

To summarize the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, it all revolves around pressure. The narrator was waiting to see Jesus to save him in the church. He preached as much and as long as he could but Jesus wouldn’t come to him, which made his beliefs change. After that he cried in his bed, but then his aunt heard him cry which made her think that the holy ghost had arrived. The narrator was pressured to say that he did come but in reality he didn’t. This reminded me of when I was pressured to steal money from my parents. When they found out there was money missing and confronted me about it, I lied and said no i didn’t take it. To summarize the story “Araby” by James Joyce, it’s about how a boy fell in love with a girl and thought she was full of bright colors when in reality it was dark, which made him fall into delusion. I remember falling into delusion when I thought Santa Claus was real until I entered high school. But then I realized that Santa Claus is really Jesus.

C.S. Lewis’s quote about literature is embodied in The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara by giving us a glimpse of how Sylvia see’s and feels about her world in tje 1960’s living in poverty as a black child. Bambara introduces us to Ms Moore who is a black educated women, which was looked upon in the “ghetto” at those times. Looked upon for speaking proper english, or just simply dressing in a professional way. In the story Ms Moore takes Sylvia and her cousins to a fancy toy story, which Sylvia doesn’t seem interested by. Until they get to the store and see the toys from the window and there “ridiculous” prices. Sylvia starts to feel ashamed and gets frustrated. “And I’m jealous and want to hit her. Maybe not her, but punch somebody in the mouth”. (Bambara, 1972) Ms Moore’s lesson over all was to show these kids how others live, and if they could do it they could to. The story gave us a feeling of some of our day to day life struggles that some of us faced in the 60s and even now in 2023. “That this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means and equal crack at the dough, don’t it?” (Bambara, 1972)

The story of “Salvation” by Langston Hughes has always resonated with me. After my first read, bothe me and the speaker seemed to overlap which only made me enjoy the story more. “Salvation” is ment to be a story on a kid finding some sort of salivation through the church his aunt forces him to attend. The story is ment to play apon the irony that despite the title, our speaker was never truly able to find this “salvation” everyone wanted to receive. As someone with a religious family I understand the speakers feelings so well. My church would often talk about receiving this “salvatuon” from God, how this will change your life and you will receive blessings. Yet despite this, just like I speaker I never felt anything. I never understood how those around me could cry and shout about being saved, yet I have never experienced such a feeling. It was upsetting, I want to experience the love of God. I wanted a reason for why my mom forces me and my brother to attend church every Sunday. It was experience like this that made my faith waver as I aged.   The short story of “Araby” by James Joyce did connect with me, but not as much as “Salvation”. The story was a commentary on growing up and no longer very things through rise tinted glasses. The speaker describes idolizing other’s but when faced with the truth he is heavily disappointed. I can understand the speaker within this story, to believe in something or someone only to be faced with the horrible truth of them not living up to expectations. Tying this back to religion, you hear nothing but how God saves you or how he is wonderful and merciful. People praise him wholeheartedly due to their […]

I have connected with the the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes by having been in his shoes at one point in my life. I also remember the times I have visited church throughout my early childhood into my teen years and having felt pressure to follow and believe in the same ideologies and principles that are taught in church. I’ve felt peer pressured into joining many activities revolving around the church and trying to experience and understand what everyone else around me felt. Many of whom came often in attempt to repent for their sins and get saved, while I sat and witness but was obligated to become involved to external pressure from the people around me. I connect to the story “Araby” by James Joyce through the depiction of how reality is often disappointing and at a certain point being stuck within a state of delusion, yet often later results in a period of self reflection.

In a post of at least 150 words, please respond to the following two questions: In what way did you connect with the narrator in “Salvation?” Why? Refer to specific scenes or language in the story. Salvation has a strong meaning of how the narrator loses his faith through a wish he wanted to see and never had the chance to experience.In a way i could connect with the narrator in ”salvation” by Langston Hughes because when i was small around 10 year old i’ve always had the wish and faith if visiting my grandma in another country ,while i was told from my dad “i’ll take you soon to visit her” id never got the chance to see her besides our amazing calls we had.In other words,when my grandma passed away at a certain age i had already lost my faith of believing my father in promises and i had grudge with him because my dream never came true.When you want to see something and experience an amazing wish you will always remember that faith it key but not promising . In what way did you connect with the narrator in “Araby?” Refer to specific scenes or language in the stories. I connect with the narrator in the article “ Araby” by James Joyce because he is a young boy with disillusionment that is full of excitement ,fun and with imagination .The narrator of the story believes these feelings will carry into his budding adulthood, but instead, he is disillusioned.This article connects with me because i’m a believable person that always get delusional for the smallest things and i agree that it does carry into your path way of growing such as adulthood therefore when you believe and get very excited over man things that you wish to happen […]

I have connected to the narrator in “Salvation” because it reminds me of times in life where I was peer pressured into doing things I never really wanted to do. Most of the time however, I wouldn’t actually fall through with the ideas people try to make me do, usually because I never felt the need or want to. It reminds me of how Langston in the church was sitting there waiting to be saved and have sight of Jesus while while everyone were trying their best to make him feel, and be “saved” by Him. Their have been times in my life where I was trying to stay on track and I was taking steps in your future, or even waiting for come in my life to happen then there would be distraction or people telling to take a chance or, leap of faith, and I would move because I never saw the prize in it. I have in a way connected to the story “Araby” when I first got into my first real relationship. In the mist of everything I was in a dark place in life due to having not much of a social life and many stressors from school and worrying about my future in general, so much so at one point the only thing that brought life back into me was my relationship. Spending day in and day out together with no light without my partner. It reminds me of when the boy in this story, seen everything and everyone as dark, gloomy, and shady. But once describing this girl in story he adored, she was this sense of happiness, beauty, and light, in the dark place he once was.

In the story “salvation” by langston hughes. The narrator was very disappoinment and feeling guilty when giving in to peer presure.Langston was waiting to be saved and to see Jesus at the same time. When that never came he initially refused to lie to everyone until he realized that the only outcome to it all was for him to be “saved”. He then cried in bed because he couldn’t admit that he never saw god, resulting in him not believing in god at all. But I not agree with langston for not beliveving in jesus am not christian, I am hindu so i think god can help us in anyway anytime they are with us always we can’t see god but they always there when we need him . And all what things happen with us its for a reason if it is bad or good.  If you are disappoinment by god so he has  other big plan for you so just be clam and follow your dream it will come true one day . When I was in 7 standard i was also dreaming to study in usa and now its happining. In “Araby” the narrator was in love with the girl and other all things he can’t see light all he saws dark things .when he saw his girl he can see light so he was in love with the girl . I also have crush on girl of class 8 when i was in class 7 but, I never told her that because I know she will never accept it.I was so obsessed with her I always stak her on instagram when i want to see her. I just want to talk to her but it never happen.

In the  short story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes I somewhat connected because you can have guilt and feel sad when lying or being lied too. The quote that I most connected with was “But I was really crying because I couldn’t bear to tell her that I had lied, that I had deceived everybody in the church, that I hadn’t seen Jesus, and that now I didn’t believe there was a Jesus anymore, since he didn’t come to help me.” I would’ve felt really guilty because I wouldn’t be able to hold in something like that especially if its about god. In the reading “Araby” from James Joyce i have some similarities with it being as the older you get your experiences change with it being life, religion or love. In the story when they” when he saw his girl it was his light”. During times dark, gloomy, or just being spacious a person can really make you feel brightness in you again.

In the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, when the narrator thinks “God had not struck Westley dead for taking his name in vain or for lying in the temple. So I decided that maybe to save further trouble, I’d better lie, too, and say that Jesus had come, and get up and be saved” at that time Langston was struggling between his desire to be honest and the pressure to conform to what’s expected of him by the congregation. I was born and raised in Nepal, where the majority of the population is not Christian, so I don’t know much about Christianity. But I could feel the pressure and conflict he was having at that moment. Also the story “Araby” by James Joyce is about a young boy’s love for a girl and his disappointment when he realizes that the world is not as romantic as he had imagined it to be. When I was in high school, I had a crush on my teacher. It was just a minor crush and I used to think about her most of the time. But, eventually I realized it was just a crush and I left that feeling behind.  

I read Langston Hughes’s novella “Salvation” for this.One of the most moving sequences in the novel is when the narrator finds himself as the last child on the mourners’ bench, surrounded by a crowd praying passionately for his redemption. Waves of joy washed across the area. Women sprang into the air. My aunt wrapped her arms around me.” Despite the fact that my background is a little different. But when I was 7-8 years old, I was a horrible child. I used to fight, cuss, and do other nefarious things. But one day, my aunt took me to church. I had never considered attending to church when I was younger. Everyone in the congregation was astounded that I was not fighting.

For this I read the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes .One of the most striking scenes in the story is when the narrator finds himself as the last child on the mourners’ bench, surrounded by a congregation praying fervently for his salvation. The lines “And I kept waiting serenely for Jesus, waiting, waiting – but he didn’t come” encapsulate the disconnect between the overwhelming external pressure and the quiet internal truth he felt. This dichotomy paints a vivid picture of how external pressures can lead one to act against their innermost feelings or beliefs. Additionally, the story’s conclusion, where the young Hughes lies to appease the church and his family, speaks volumes about the lengths one may go to in order to conform. The ending is particularly heart-wrenching because it’s clear that the act of lying has a profound impact on his self-perception and beliefs.In essence, I connected with Hughes’s story cause it serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of growing up, the challenges of navigating societal pressures, and the internal conflicts that can arise from trying to fit into expected molds. Through the lens of young Hughes’s experience, the story offers insights into the universal human experience of grappling with external expectations versus personal truths.   James Joyce’s “Araby” resonates with me in many ways. The meticulous depiction of North Richmond Street depicts a quiet and serene environment, which anyone who grew up in a quiet area may be familiar with. This silence is broken only by the boys’ play. This scene evokes anecdotes from my own childhood and personal memories of the sheer joy of free play. What I really felt was the description of a winter day “Dusk approached before we could eat enough dinner.” It vividly depicts the dark and cold days and the […]

In the short story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, I felt connected to the narrator in this scene “Suddenly the whole room broke into a sea of shouting, as they saw me rise. Waves of rejoicing swept the place. Women leaped in the air. My aunt threw her arms around me.” Even though, my history is a little different. But when I was 7–8 years old, I was a bad kid. I used to fight, curse, and all those bad stuff. But one day my aunt took me to the church. I never thought of going to the church at that age. And everyone at the church was amazed that I was calm and not fighting.  And when they baptized me, I stopped doing all those bad things. Post data, I didn’t see Jesus either. In the short story “Araby” by James Joyce, I felt connected to the narrator in this scene, “Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance.” Even though my history is a little different. When I was a teenager, I had a crush on a girl who was in the eighth grade, I was in the sixth grade. I never told her anything because I Knew she was going to make fun of me in a good way. But I knew she was not going to take me seriously. She and I used to spend a lot of time in middle school. Before she went to high school, she kissed me, and we took a photo together. I was seeing that picture night and days for weeks. Post data, I didn’t become obsessed with her.

I liked the story “Salvation” the most between both stories. I can relate more to the narrator when it comes to disappointment and feeling guilty when giving in to peer pressure. Langston was waiting to be saved and to see Jesus at the same time. When that never came he initially refused to lie to everyone until he realized that the only outcome to it all was for him to be “saved”. He then cried in bed because he couldn’t admit that he never saw god, resulting in him not believing in god at all. Langston’s inability to lie, his disappointment, and his feeling of guilt compared to how Westley didn’t seem to feel anything at all is ironic. I find myself feeling like Langston in certain situations where I can’t ignore my feelings yet I see others choose to feel nothing so easily resulting in me being disappointed in society. In “Araby” I realized that the narrator remained in a state of delusion. He was in love with a girl he didn’t actually know well enough to love. He was only in love with the idea he made of her in his head. On a deeper level, being caught up in a state of delusion is how I connect to the narrator. It is easy to fully immerse yourself in the beliefs you make up of someone or something. Towards the end of the story, the narrator realizes that the bazaar he was looking forward to wasn’t like he expected. He couldn’t find anything of value to gift his crush even if he really wanted to. At some point, realization hits, and with that can come feelings of self-anger.

This week we read the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes. In the story the narrator talks about his childhood experience in religion and faith. When I was 9-12 years old, there is a church next to my house and  I used to go very often. At that time I could not understand very well about religion, since in Dominican Republic people practice different religion, making the people who didn’t have any religion believe in theirs and act like the others religion are “bad” or “fake”. The church I used to go was a christian church, therefore my religion or believe was christianity.  All my christian neighbors used to say that if you want to be save you have to repent and convert to christian. Once I was in church and the paster pointed at me and asked me if I was ready to repent and convert to christian and I said yes, even though I didn’t want to be christian yet. After i got home I felt so guilty because we can never play with god and his rules, and I ask for forgiveness, because I knew that what I did was wrong. In the story  of ” salvation”, the narrator says “I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved”, this connects with me because like Langston, I also lied to the church and everyone in the church, I felt guilty and embarrassed. Also we read the story “Araby” by James Joyce. the story shows desilucion, emotion and sensitiveness. The narrator has an active imagination and a sense of wonder. He imagines that the bazaar he could get a gift for the girl he’s attracted to,  he is met with the truth that life is often disappointing. In fact, he knows so little […]

In the story “The Handsomest Drowned Man” a small village discovers the body of an unknown man on its shores. I believe professor Conway assigned this as our first class reading because this stories ending was very unexpected. The villagers, especially the women created the story of Esteban. Although he was an unknown man they knew his size and handsomeness made him an outsider wherever he was. They understood that “Esteban” was misunderstood and lived a sad life because he never could fit in. Another reason I believe this was given as the first reading in this course is because this stories writer had an descriptive way of expressing the emotions this villagers felt about this unknown man. Not only were the women smitten but after seeing Esteban’s face, the men knew that he was also very special. Although no one spoke at the end, the villagers would all agree that Esteban’s story would live on. They would make sure he was remembered through inclusivity.

Despite growing up in a Buddhist family I can somehow relate to this week’s story. I was five when my parents moved to Nagaland, India. I attended a Christian school for 14 years. Unlike other states in India majority of the people in Nagaland are Christians, therefore you could imagine I was surrounded by Churches, retreats, revivals, fellowships and etc. When I was a junior is middle school I had to attend the summer retreat program. A lot of different people had come from different places including foreigners, to worship God, to pray and to talk about their stories of salvation. I vividly remember the last day when it was time for the prayers, people in the corners started screaming and crying. “And he held out his arms to all us young sinners there on the mourners’ bench. And the little girls cried. And some of them jumped up and went to Jesus right away. But most of us just sat there”. (Hughes para3) Similar to Langston Hughes I was one of the people who just sat there feeling ashamed of myself or more so nervous to how my friends will perceive me. Like the narrator in the story Araby I also had a crush on this cool senior in high school. I would stalk his IG and Tiktok until my data was over (back then we didn’t have wifi) but It felt like I was more so like a fan observing her Idol. My story is rather different than the narrator’s story, however like the girl was the only light in his gloomy world I think my admiration for my crush was the only reason I went to school. “I thought little of the future. I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, […]

This week we read the short story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes. While reading this story I found Hughe’s struggle with religion to be very relatable to my own struggle with faith & religion. I specifically resonated with this part of the passage. “And I kept waiting serenely for Jesus, waiting, waiting – but he didn’t come. I wanted to see him, but nothing happened to me. Nothing! I wanted something to happen to me, but nothing happened. (Hughes)” As a teen I was very religious. I saw God as an anchor in my life, keeping me safe and far from harm’s way. But when I noticed that in reality God was nowhere around me, I felt much like Hughes did in this quote. I had the words of other Christians echoing in my head, “You don’t have enough faith.”, “You were never saved to begin with.” “You aren’t praying hard enough.”. I identify with Hughes and understand what it feels like to learn that the very foundations of your beliefs may be a complete lie. This week we also read “Araby” by James Joyce. I think that it was harder to relate to the protagonist in this story because I didn’t have many crushes as a child, especially none who were older than me. However, I do identify with the protagonist’s need to find light in the dark. The protagonist was very infatuated with his friend’s sister who he barely knew, because he wanted something to hope for despite his circumstances in life, being a poor orphan in oppressed Ireland. I think that we all look for hope in the rough patches in life, and the protagonist dealt with his need for hope in a way many children would.

To summarize the short story of “The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World”by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, it is about how a drowned man was washed up by shore at a village. The body was first discovered by children who had innocent brains to process what a dead body was. They began playing around with the body until the adults of the village stopped them. They carried the body back to try and discover if this was either one of their people or if it was from somewhere else. But as they were discovering the body, they began to appreciate the beauty of the man from his physical features to their imagination on what they thought he was and did. Since they didn’t have any room in the village to keep the body and couldn’t determine if the body was one of them, they let it float back into the ocean. Professor Conway could’ve used this story as a way of showing that there is hope in this cruel world. And also to be positive when expecting the unexpected and embrace it because everything happens for a reason.

I feel we were given this reading for us all to internalize and think about what makes an identity. In this reading we are to think about, what event can happen that will change preceptive, settings, and people? In this book, “The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World”, we quickly realized the impacted of a mystery and unexplainable event, shine beauty and life into a village of people. While building a identity for this unknown, dead yet, handsome man, this village soon builds a identity for themselves through them being captivated by this stranger later named Esteban. They come together to send him away the right way with a funeral. They built an identity for this man, even gather other to be as his family and relative for his send off. Once given to the sea again by the people in the village and neighbors, the villagers once with no purpose or bustling work, decided to work on their own village and make it more vibrate and welcome to people like Esteban whom they adore. Both the people in these villages and Esteban gave each other something that matters in life and death, which is identity. Overall, I feel this book moving and gives me a lot of food for thought.

In the short story ” The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World”, written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez the author describes the wonder and appeal of discovering something unexpected, becoming fascinated and curious of it’s beauty. It perfectly encapsulates a person’s reaction to the unknown, and how they will create narratives to try and comprehend and explain what is before them. I believe the professor assigned this short story because it’s a symbolic gateway into opening up our creativity and to not be afraid of new possibilities but rather embrace them. Being open minded and willing to learn is a lesson displayed by the villager’s in the story, as there point of view had shifted after the encounter with the handsome drowning man. It represent how we should also remember to see things through an open mind and embrace the unexpected as it may serve as way in order to better our lives.

The story “The handsomest Drowned man” it is a very good story by “Gabriel Garcia marquez”. In this story author is describing a fishing village and  one day some handsome long man drowned to that village he was dead they were very curious to watch him they clean is body and taking care of the body and they don’t have space in there house but steal they want to make big house for him.In this cruial world the good people are also there we can say that by people are taking care of the dead man. I think professor has given this reading for the first week because for the understanding of figure and hope . After that the lady was so obessed with the esteban and want to change the surrounding for  him.so from this we can learn that we have to change for people and we have to always help them in any situation.

“The Most Handsome Drowned Man “by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ,the Author is describing a very tall ,handsome breath taking man that drowned and was found by villagers in a small town. The decease was so handsome that when then the  women in the village saw him they began day dreaming , they called him Esteban , his body was built. Even the men was in shock of his beauty .I think professor choose this reading first so we can use our imaginations.

The short story “ The Most Handsome Drowned Man” by Grabiel Garcias Marquez shows how people interact with beautiful and unexpected things. And also how people make stories about things they don’t know about. I believe that the professor assigned this short story as the first reading because it shows how some people have creativity, are curious, and interact with unexpected things differently and how they improve their lives because of that. An example of their life improvements is when the people were thinking of making their house door, and ceiling bigger, so Esteban’s memory can pass easily. And other people can stay the same as before when an unexpected thing happens. An example of that is when the men were thinking about why the women were putting so many things on Esteban. He will be the food of a shark anyway.

The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” is a short story by the renowned Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. The narrative revolves around a small fishing village that discovers the body of a massive, drowned man washed ashore. Initially, the villagers are curious about this stranger, but as they begin to clean and prepare his body for burial, they become increasingly enchanted by his unparalleled beauty and stature. They imagine a life for him, giving him the name “Esteban.” The women, particularly, are taken by Esteban, comparing their husbands and the men in their lives unfavorably to this idealized figure. As the story progresses, Esteban’s presence begins to transform the villagers’ perspectives on their own lives and the limitations of their small world. They dream of a grander existence, inspired by the drowned man. In the end, they give him a spectacular funeral and make changes to their village in honor of his memory. Through this tale, García Márquez beautifully examines the power of myth and the human tendency to elevate the unknown. I guess that the professor made this work our first assignment not because he wanted to convey that our world is full of unknown forces that we do not yet know.

In the short story  “The Most Handsome Drowned Man” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I believe the author is trying to open readers imaginations and to establish a sense of identity as well as question it. In the story, the drowned man was going to be disregarded at first, but after cleaning and a proper dressing, villagers were drawn to the man because of his unorthodox features and abnormal beauty. I believe the professor assigned this as our first reading to teach us the significance of an important figure and hope. Without the people, Esteban would cease to exist and without Esteban, the people would have no hope. When the women became obsessed with Esteban, they gave him identity and this gave them purpose to better the land around them as well as themselves. This change resulted in plentiful springs, a change in architecture and a change in spirit. After reading these stories, us reader are now left to question ourselves and morals. When everything you’ve dreamed of is suddenly in the palm of your hands, will you take advantage of it? Will you change your way of living?

“The Most Handsome Drowned Man” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez shows how unexpected events and exceptional beauty can inspire people to see new possibilities and hope for a better future. I think the professor assigned this story as our first class because It teaches us that even in ordinary places, extraordinary things can happen, and people can transform their lives through imagination and hope. The story shows that how a small village’s perspective and dreams change when they discover the body of a very handsome drowned man. I think the professor wants us to be as imaginative and curious as the people in this story.

The story ” The handsomest Drowned Man in the World” and “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” have a deep meaning regarding to people’s imagination. I think the professor assigned this story as our first class because it argues about how a great person can change others, even after death, and inspire them to be better people. In the story it shows how a dead man change a whole views, he was a very “big man” compared to rest of the village, they would’ve wanted him to be small like the rest, but after his death a woman from the village had an internal feeling  of changing  their surroundings instead. I think we were assigned for this story first to show us how valuable something that we don’t find important can be, and how little things can change our life or the way we think. It also shows how to be genuine, help and understand people.

I think that the teacher assigned us to read short parts of the stories by GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ because his thoughtful stories have a meaningful background that identifies the irony of the plot. Example in the story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” we see that the working and upper classes see the old man differently & directly treat him as someone who isn’t worth it but is in pain… On the bright side, people in the community still understand his pain.“The Handsomest Drowned Man In the World” has a similar plot realizing the narrowness of their dreams to do better. Gabriel Marquez has similar plots to his stories that expand the understanding of the unbelievable to believable as a way of seeing things to be done in a better way.

When I was reading our first short story “The Handsomest Drowned Man” written by Gabriel García Márquez, I was hoping the story will take a different turn then what it was actually portrayed. Nevertheless, the story had a very deep and profound meaning to it. According to me we were assigned this astonishing story “The Most Handsome Drowned Man” as our first story as we will be able to learn about the change and transformation. A change that could benefit you as well as the people around you. How a superficial thing could constrain change in someone’s life for good. As explained by Rena Korb, a professional writer, children book author and editor, change in honor of Esteban is not simply for the moment but forevermore: “The lives of the villagers will continue to change over the next twenty-four hours and on into the future.” (overview of “The Handsomest Drowned Man” para 5).