Ahmad Deedat

“Born Bad” was the vignette that surprised me the most. It astounded me by contrasting childhood innocence with unintended cruelty. The children’s innocent game became insensitive as they imitated their sick Aunt Lupe. The unexpected shift from innocence to unintentional cruelty was shocking, highlighting the complexities of empathy and understanding in children. “A Smart Cookie” intrigued me deeply. It got me thinking about Esperanza’s mom and all the things she could’ve done. Her dreams and talents, they were something else. Yet, here she is, living a life that doesn’t quite match up to all she could be. But what struck me most was her encouragement for Esperanza. She’s pushing her daughter to learn, to write, maybe hoping she’ll get what she didn’t. That mix of her potential and the limitations she faces, it just made her feel so real, like someone with dreams left unexplored. The vignette that puzzled me was “Geraldo No Last Name.” What struck me was how nobody seemed to care. He’s just another immigrant, and society doesn’t even bat an eye. Marin, this girl who knew him from a dance, can’t even explain who he was. It’s like immigrants are invisible, facing this indifferent, cold world. Reading that, I couldn’t help but question how society treats people who aren’t seen as part of the ‘in’ crowd. It left me feeling pretty shaken up about how we value some lives over others.

My research essay focuses on how female characters in fairy tales have changed over time. I picked this topic because I’m curious about how these characters evolved from older versions where they often waited to be rescued to newer versions where they are more independent and strong. I’ve gathered different versions of fairy tales like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White from various cultures and time periods. I’m comparing these versions to see how the female characters differ, looking at their actions, personalities, and how they interact with others. I’ve also read articles and analyses about these fairy tales. They discuss things like how society’s views on women have changed over time and how these tales reflect those changes. I’m using these studies to understand the historical and cultural contexts that influenced the evolution of these characters.

According to Bruno Bettelheim, “Little Snow White” symbolizes the journey of a young girl transitioning into maturity. He emphasizes Snow White’s growth and development as a key focus of the tale. In contrast, Anne Sexton’s adaptation delves into Snow White’s emotional landscape, highlighting her sorrow and hardships—a facet less explored in the original narrative. Sexton’s version intricately explores Snow White’s emotional turmoil, presenting a more complex and intense relationship between her and the prince, delving into the deeper emotional nuances of the story.

In O’Connor’s story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” when she talks about suspense moving from the surface to the interior, I believe she means that the real suspense in the story comes from deeper ideas and feelings, not just the things that happen. Inside the story, it’s about how people are not always good, how they struggle with what is right and wrong, and how they can change. The story is not just about a family on a trip, but about their moral choices, like the grandmother being selfish, and their encounter with the Misfit, who challenges their beliefs. The suspense comes from their inner conflicts and the big questions about good and evil that they face. So, the story’s “interior” is all about these deep thoughts and feelings that make you wonder what will happen next and what it all means.

Reading poetry requires both attitude and technique. The attitude in W. B. Yeats’ poetry “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” is the emotional response to the poem, depicted by the speaker’s deep longing for a peaceful place. The technique component was the poem’s structure, such as vivid imagery and sensory language, which helped me in seeing and engaging with the speaker’s desires. Lines such as “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore” express emotions. In my experience both of these components, attitude and technique, come together to create a deeper emotional reading experience through which I can find the poem’s themes and appreciate the work of art.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” and the greeting card “Why Do I Love You So Much?” has the same central theme, which is the depth of love. Despite having differing structural and creative approaches, both express the depth of love. Words like “trust,” “help,” and “memories” are used in the greeting card’s lyrics to show strong emotional ties and trust. The card relies on the strength of common English to convey its message rather than using traditional poetry devices like rhyme. Browning’s sonnet, in comparison, is carefully organized, using rhymes. To convey the limitless and endless nature of love, it makes use of abstract yet effective imagery like “the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach”. Both works express a deep love and affection, the greeting card through the use of direct language, while the sonnet by carefully combining literary components to emphasize the powerful feelings.

There are a number of universal human emotions and actions portrayed in Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” that cut across all historical periods. Oedipus’ constant search for the truth and information, which is represented by his will to discover his true identity and the cause of the plague in Thebes, is a reflection of humanity’s ongoing yearning for knowledge and resolution. As Oedipus struggles with his tragic destiny predicted by prophets, the idea of fate vs free will is essential, touching on the age-old human conflict between predetermined fate and personal action. Oedipus’s pride, or arrogance, which led to his demise, acts as the spark for a timeless lesson about the consequences of uncontrolled arrogance, a trait of human nature that goes beyond historical boundaries.

COVID-19, like the plague in “Oedipus the King,” made people act in various ways in the United States. At first, Americans, like Thebes citizens praying to their king, relied on the government and doctors for help. But as the pandemic continued, things changed. Just as Thebes citizens went from being desperate to unsure, some Americans became skeptical too. The key difference was unity: Thebes people stuck together because they were loyal to their king, while Americans had diverse opinions due to their different cultures and politics. Some followed safety rules, while others wanted personal freedom. Still, both stories show how people kept searching for answers, like Oedipus discovering his past and scientists working hard to find a cure to COVID-19.

“They thought that he would have had so much authority that he could have drawn fish out of the sea simply by calling their names and that he would have put so much work into his land that springs would have burst forth from among the rocks so that he would have been able to plant flowers on the cliffs” (MÁRQUEZ). In “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” the quote captures the profound transformation that occurs within the small coastal village upon discovering the handsome drowned man. Initially, the villagers perceive themselves as ordinary and their village as insignificant. However, the arrival of the stranger stirs their collective imagination. They begin to envision the drowned man as a figure of unparalleled authority, believing he could draw fish from the sea with a mere call and make their land flourish with lush springs and flowers. This perception inspires the villagers to undertake an extraordinary collective effort to honor the stranger in death. They treat him as a beloved, legendary figure, constructing grand plans for his funeral and even changing the layout of their homes to accommodate his imagined stature. The quote embodies the central theme of transformation, illustrating how the stranger’s mere presence leads the villagers to reimagine themselves and their village as something extraordinary, ultimately highlighting the power of storytelling and the impact of the extraordinary on the ordinary.

Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” resonates with C.S. Lewis’s quote that “Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it” due to its engaging plot that goes beyond simple description. The narrative acts as a compelling platform for social commentary, offering readers a thought-provoking glimpse into the harsh economic disparities of society. Bambara highlights how literature can expose us to various facets of reality and compel us to think about the profound inequities within it by transporting the kids from their impoverished neighborhood to the luxurious world of F.A.O. Schwarz. The story’s characters’ growth also demonstrates how literature may capture people’s changing reactions to the circumstances they face, giving their identities greater depth. “The Lesson” shows how literature pushes us to think critically and deal with complex topics by refusing to provide simple answers and instead leaving readers with unanswered questions and thoughts. Bambara adds layers of meaning to the story through the use of symbolism and metaphor, such as the pricey toys and the idea of a “lesson,” and she shows how literature can improve our understanding of reality by giving it depth, complexity, and an invitation to explore the rich fabric of human experience.

As a student, I connected with Langston Hughes’ “Salvation” on a personal level. The narrator’s struggle to conform to societal and familial expectations resonated with my own experiences, as I’ve often felt pressured to meet certain standards, even when they didn’t align with my beliefs. The story’s exploration of the loss of innocence and the realization that adults can be deceptive and misunderstand us struck a chord, reflecting moments of disillusionment I’ve encountered. Additionally, the theme of grappling with cultural and religious identity spoke to the universal challenge of reconciling personal beliefs with external expectations, making “Salvation” a relatable and thought-provoking read for students like me. Although I can relate to the narrator’s youthful infatuation and the excitement leading up to important events, my experiences differed in some key ways. Unlike the narrator, who idealized his crush and constructed elaborate fantasies, my own youthful crushes were typically less exaggerated and more grounded. Additionally, while I’ve faced moments of disappointment where expectations didn’t align with reality, these experiences were often learning opportunities rather than leading to profound disillusionment. The narrator’s intense disillusionment at the bazaar highlights the contrasting ways individuals navigate the complexities of growing up, showing that while we share some common experiences, our reactions can vary widely.

I believe “The Handsomest Drowned Man” by Gabriel García Márquez might have been assigned as the first story of the course to immediately immerse us in the intriguing world of magical realism. Starting with a story that blends reality and fantasy in such a captivating manner can ignite our curiosity and set a tone for the entire course, making us eager to explore more of this unique literary style. Additionally, this story’s haunting beauty and thought-provoking themes could encourage us to analyze literature more deeply, fostering critical thinking skills that will be valuable throughout the course. Overall, it seems like an excellent choice to engage and stimulate our interest from the very beginning.