Monthly Archives: March 2023

1. Identify the author and the literary work you are focusing on for your research essay. I am focusing on the literacy work “The Most Handsome Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for my research essay. 2. Please share the actual word-for-word thesis statement of your research essay in your post. . The drowned man’s physical appearance throughout the story which leads the people from the village to question his life and create different stories about his character.The story they create convey deeper themes of life, death, beauty, and acceptance. 3. Explain what specific kind of secondary source information you feel will support your thesis. I think that the secondary sources that will help support my thesis is the Authors Biography because the author was also grew up in a small town in Columbia, and had always been famous for his imagination and story telling abilities which I do think might have reflected in this reading.Another source that i can possibly use is by looking for articles that would discuss the villagers reaction to the drowned mans beauty and how that would give me a better understanding of the meaning of the story. 4. Identify the BMCC databases you have explored to date and what the results have been I have used the Jstore data base and found a biography on Gabriel Garcia Marquez,I also used the Academic Search complete database and found a really good article on Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his point of view on telling stories and his dreams.

For the most recent class we were task to write our first draft. The story I chose to use as inspiration was “The Lesson” by Toni cade Bambara. The story perfectly hit on many points that I use even in my life and was the perfect choice for ne to write about. The thesis of my story was Life is situational if you want to change your situation you have to go beyond your imagination to achieve your goals nothing is given but all is earned. A secondary source I used to help support my thesis was a literary critique. The literary critique I used to help support my thesis was from JSTOR and it gave a lot of information about Toni Cade Bambara and her upbringing as a Harlem born author who chose to embrace the language of her culture and community. She used that to convey a strong message of empowerment in her story as if she had something to prove.

My essay is centered around “The Lesson” By Toni Cade Bambara.  My Thesis: Cade uses the theme of Inequality to showcase the unique reactions of African American children when confronted by the harsh reality of economic disparities in America. I feel like a Literary critique would be the best secondary source to support my thesis. I’ve looked through JSTOR, Short Story Criticism online, and Gale Literary Resource Center which are all found in the English and Literary section of the BMCC library database. I avoided essays that delve too deep into stories that are not included in my essay but most of the listed sources provide similar bodies of work. I found Gale Literary Resource Center to be most helpful as I found a Biography/Literary critique that I’m satisfied with. It includes information about the life of the author and what inspired Bambara to write stories about the struggles African Americans go through, usually in their adolescence. Along with the life story the writer includes critiques of Toni Cade Bambara’s stories. 

1. Identify the author and the literary work you are focusing on for your research essay. For my research essay, I will be focusing on “The Most Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 2. Please share the actual word-for-word thesis statement of your research essay in your post. “The short story “The Most Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez explores themes of mystery, reflection and magical realism by engulfing the readers in a concept so strange it can only be described as a dream.” 3. Explain what specific kind of secondary source information you feel will support your thesis. I will be using a literary critique written by Rena Korb on “The Most Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” for the secondary source information. This will support my thesis because she discusses García Márquez’s use of magic realism. 4. Identify the BMCC databases you have explored to date and what the results have been. I have explored OneSearch and Gale Literary Sources. OneSearch did not provide any articles in specific reference to this literary work but Gale Literary Sources proved to be more helpful in finding the specific critique I was looking for.    

The short story I will be using is “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. 2. The children and parents all laugh at Miss Moore, but she is actually an important character in the story and provides these children with knowledge they are not getting in the community where they live. 3. The secondary source that I found to be help is an article titled “Toni Cade Bambara’s Use of African American Vernacular English The Lesson” by Janet Ruth Heller. This article will help me back up my information as Vernacular English is the form of Black speech that distinguishes itself from standard English with its unique grammatical structure, pronunciation, and vocabulary. 4. In the BMCC databases I found many different articles, books, short stories and much more about anything you want to find. They have great examples to relate too and even have a section where you can pick the certain class to help you even better.

Identify the author and the literary work you are focusing on for your research essay. Please share the actual word-for-word thesis statement of your research essay in your post. Explain what specific kind of secondary source information you feel will support your thesis. Identify the BMCC databases you have explored to date and what the results have been MY RESPONCES: The literary work I will be focusing on is “Salvation “by Langston Hughes. Exact Thesis: Through character analysis, the author paints a picture of the young boy to be innocent and trusting; his naiveness is expressed more perceptibly and clearly through his experiences. A specific kind of secondary information I have found and can use is a biography on the author, Langston Hughes. Digging deeper into the life of this American Poet will help me support my thesis is numerous ways. In regard to BMCC databases, I have so far explored the direct link of activity 6, week 3. I also have explored the BMCC literature resource center. However, I still have a little more exploring to do to see what the best source is to use for my research essay.

Identify the author and the literary work you are focusing on for your research essay. “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Please share the actual word-for-word thesis statement of your research essay in your post. “The story illustrated the power of imagination and creativity as the villagers create a life story for a dead man they never knew.” Explain what specific kind of secondary source information you feel will support your thesis. The literary critique is the secondary source of information that will support my thesis. Identify the BMCC databases you have explored to date and what the results have been. I’ve explored the JSTOR database, short story criticism Online, and the direct link posted under our week two lesson, which we covered on “The Handsomest Drowned Man” that had the PDF of the literary critique and the Biography of Gabriel Garcia Marques. I’m still researching and haven’t decided what’s the best fit.

For my research essay, I will be focusing on Toni Cade Bambara, and “The Lesson”. My thesis word for word is: The narrator’s change in voice from the beginning of the story and towards the end demonstrates her determination to not be defined by her childhood. For the secondary source information, I decided to use a literary critique written by Rena Korb in reference to “The Lesson”. The reason why I chose this is because she gives an in-depth analysis of the characters in the story as well as background information on the time period and how it connects to the development of the characters. This can support my thesis because I am focusing on the development of Sylvia based on her environment. So far, I’ve looked into the BMCC Literature Resource Center, and I used the direct link posted under Week 4 when we covered “The Lesson” that had the PDF of the literary critique.

For my research essay I will be using “Araby” by James Joyce. “The use of symbolism and imagery are used to communicate a message about the limitations of romantic idealism and the harsh realities of adulthood.” I have found a few literary articles that can support my thesis. But settled on one that compares a rewrite of my primary source from a different point of view. I used the Gale Literature Resource Center database and I was able to find few articles on “Araby” and other perspectives of it.

For my research essay I will be using “Salvation” by Langston Hughes. “This story also deals with the influence of identity, authenticity, and social forces on individual choices. Provides a powerful and moving critique of how religion shapes personal identity and community expectations. I have found an informational article to support my thesis. I used the JSTOR database to Search related materials.

1. Identify the author and the literary work you are focusing on for your research essay. 2. Please share the actual word-for-word thesis statement of your research essay in your post. 3. Explain what specific kind of secondary source information you feel will support your thesis. 4. Identify the BMCC databases you have explored to date and what the results have been.   My research essay will be focused on Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson”, with my thesis sentence being the following: “First impressions are always skin deep”. In all honesty, I haven’t explored many of the BMCC databases. There is so many sources and information, it can be a tad overwhelming. I have dipped into JSTOR and found this source fairly easy to navigate and find specific information without providing many specific details. It provides me the opportunity to be exposed to works that I weren’t looking for or even thought of. I believe reading excerpts from or books that interpret this piece, or writing that is a criticism of literature would be supportive in my research. Reviewing others point of view(s) may bring a fresh take on my research, allowing me to go deeper in gathering supportive information of my thesis.  

The literary work I am focusing on for my research essay is “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel García Márquez. My thesis statement is “Women are typically characterized as more empathetic and nurturing, and men typically as more stoic, such as in ‘The Handsomest Drowned Man.’” I think the type of secondary source that will best support my thesis is an article on gender stereotypes. So far, I have found an article called “Content Analysis and Gender Stereotypes in Children’s Books” on the JSTOR database which seems perfect for my essay.

For my research essay I will be using “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” By Flannery O’Connor “Violence is a very horrible thing. That’s what you’re learning from this story, if you didn’t already know it.” I have done some research and have found some biographies to support my thesis. The databases I used was Literature Resource Center. It helped me with providing access to biographical information, bibliographies, and critical analysis of authors and their literary works.  

   For my research paper, I’ve decided to do“The magdalen path awakens the power of your feminine soul” – by Clair sierra and the quote I chose was  ‘Are there places in your own life where you feel particularly called — situations or issues that grab your attention? Are you able to speak up with care, concern, and compassion? Often we keep these awarenesses hidden for fear of upsetting the status quo, wanting to keep the peace, etc. Those days need to be over, as we are reaching crises of epic proportions in almost all areas of society”    Clair Sierra: Stepping into Feminine Leadership The main idea of “stepping into feminine leadership” is about learning and stepping into the life of being a feminist and the steps it takes to become one. This chapter mentions the issues that also occur when being a feminist. For example “As women, we thrive in working together, yet we often feel isolated. We don’t have to do it alone anymore. What can you do to get support? Can you get your community involved with you?” It talks about how it sometimes feels like we are on our own in some situations and realize that we are not alone and that many people experience the same thing. Clair Sierra wrote ‘The Magdalene path” Because she wanted to express her passion for feminism and how even when it can be overpowering and scary there is always a way to feel passionate and creative when being a feminist. It also mentions that the stress they feel is being overpowered by the masculine mindset in this world and what can help to make it better. She also helps women in a way with art to help with dealing with these types of things. She also has an office […]

For my research essay I will be using “The Lesson” By Toni Cade Bambara “Sylvia emerges from her trip with a different view of her world and a deeper understanding of her reality than she had in the beginning, she wonders about the people who can afford the toys, she reflects on her living situation, and she takes time to process the lesson she has learned.” I have found some biographical articles that will support my thesis. I used the JSTOR database and I was able to find many articles about the short story and author. I had to narrow down what I could use based on relevance to my thesis.

In this narrative, Mathilde made the terrible error of borrowing a necklace in an effort to appear wealthy and higher class. She then had to deal with the consequences when she lost the necklace and had to endure 10 years of agony before repaying her debts and learning her lesson. This caught my attention because so many people overlook the existence of karma. Anything you do at night will come back to haunt you.

1. One of the surprising aspects of “The story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is the major plot twists that were presented in the story. The story starts with Mrs. Mallard being informed of her husband’s death in a train accident, and initially, she is deeply sad. However, as she processes the news, she realizes that she is now free from the limitations of her marriage and can live the way she wants. This was unexpected for me because I first thought Mrs. Mallard was content with her marriage. Another surprising twist that was shown in the story is when Mrs. Mallard’s husband returns home, alive and well. Mrs. Mallard, who had just experienced a glimpse of freedom, dies from the shock and disappointment of returning to her old life. The story’s ending is both tragic and ironic. 2. What I found interesting in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin was the way she used irony to show how Mrs. Mallard’s feelings contrasted with what society expected of her. Instead of being devastated by her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard feels free and liberated. However, in the end, Mrs. Mallard’s freedom is taken away, leading to her tragic death. This shows how women were limited by societal expectations in the 19th century and how this could be damaging to their mental and emotional health. The use of irony in the story highlights the conflict between personal desires and societal norms and its consequences.   3. One thing I confusing in “The Story of an Hour” is Mrs. Mallard’s relationship with her husband. The story starts with Mrs. Mallard feeling oppressed by her marriage, but also loving her husband sometimes. This makes readers wonder what was missing in their relationship.  

Upon my initial reading of the story, I was taken aback by Mathilde and her husband’s extraordinary efforts to replace their misplaced necklace. It seemed unfathomable that they would choose to live in destitution for ten years simply to pay off this debt. As a result, I felt both shocked and empathetic towards these characters who were struggling with repayment. What added another layer of complexity was when it was eventually revealed that the original piece itself had been nothing more than an imitation – as Madame Forestier herself stated: “Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was imitation. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs!” This revelation left me feeling saddened at how easily avoidable all those twelve grueling years could have been on account of one mistake. The shift in Mathilde’s character piqued my interest. Observing her progression from a conceited and covetous woman to someone more resilient and resourceful was gripping. It was impressive how she persisted in repaying the debt even when challenged by adversity, which inspired me greatly. Nevertheless, I found myself baffled as to why she did not immediately confess to Madame Forestier about losing the necklace at hand – it made me wonder if pride or anxiety played into her judgment-making process significantly. As you delve through this story, myriad emotions will surface- ranging from awe-inspiring shock that could spark deep curiosity within oneself inducing thought-provoking conversation amongst peers making “The Necklace” quite an engaging read overall!

“The Story Of An Hour” by Kate Chopin is a short story about a woman named Lousie Mallard who is informed of her husband’s death in a train accident. She is filled with grief and sadness but then experiences a sense of freedom when she realizes that she is now free of marriage and its burdens. However all of that would soon vanish as her husband shows up alive and well. This is the aspect of the story that includes all three of what surprised me,what intrigued me and what puzzled me. What surprised me is that the husband was alive after all because the introduction is when the audience first sees that the husband is dead so it was a very shocking plot twist in the end. What puzzled me is why was there false information regarding the husband’s death? How could the people identify that it was for sure him? “He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one” (chopin 19) this quote is also what puzzles me. What was intriguing was the fact that she felt liberation and freedom from her husband’s death. I expected grief and mourn for a long time. But no. She felt free from the domination and controlling of her husband’s part of the marriage.

One thing that surprised me from the short poem “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson was how short the poem actually was but the message that it gave off in such little time left me a little baffled trying to think of a response for it. It hits on a topic of a women at the ready of her man for in any given moment she would drop everything for him. The same thing that surprised me was also what intrigued me in the language they use to describe her actions. “She rose to his requirement dropped the playthings of her life.” That metaphor gives me almost everything I need to get a sense in this story. She’s given up everything for her man but at what cost. The last part puzzled me as “But to himself is known the fathoms they abide.”  I cannot decipher it to internalize its value at all. In the “Story of an Hour” The only thing that came as a Suprise was the woman actions after finding out her husband had died. The happiness could be covering something much deeper that hits only the surface, but it really made me think. Something that interested me was how the woman began to see   two options be sad and sulk and grief or move on with a newfound freedom and opportunity.

The story I chose to write about is “Story of an Hour”. While reading this story, what really surprised me initially, is the fact that the woman showed emotions of happiness when she learned that her husband had died. Now, as a woman, I would personally feel devastated in this situation, so this was definitely a shocker. Considering the fact that she also had health issues, wouldn’t she want her life partner there with her? At first, I thought that maybe this was a coping mechanism because as humans, we all cope differently in all types of situations. But, as I continued reading, I realized that instead of a coping mechanism, this is really how she feels because at the end, when she learns that her husband is actually alive, she died from a heart attack. Basically, she died from shock. Again, as a female, you would assume that one would be happy but instead, she died. It was overall a shocker of a story.

Something that surprised me from the story “The Necklace” by Guy De Maupassant was its abrupt ending because it was totally unexpected. The Loisels spent many years paying off the debt of a necklace that at the end of the story is revealed to be fake. Imagine living 10 years in poverty and making the effort to pay something that has no value at all.. Something that intrigued me from this story was how Mathilde’s urge to appear wealthy and become higher class led her to make the huge mistake of borrowing a necklace and having to face the consequences when loses it and lives 10 years of misery, after paying off her debts and learning the lesson, the situation seems to humble her. Why would you want to hide who you really are? Why would you want to adopt other people’s habits? Why do we believe we need to impress others with things we can’t even afford sometimes to be loved/ be part of their daily lives?  Something that puzzled me can be found in “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson “She rose to his requirement, dropped The playthings of her life To take the honorable work Of woman and of wife.” This puzzled me because she refers to what she likes to do as “playthings” as if it had no value. I think this might be because women’s work is less valued than men’s and they see it as something to spend/kill her time. I’m a little confused by this. Also, referring to her “wife role” as an honorable role? while her dreams, passions and expectations are “playthings”? 

In the story of an hour I was surprised that they lady was happy when her husband was reported dead in a accident. I thought the lady would be sad that now she has to live without her husband and considering she has a heart issues she is probably old so I was surprised to see she was happy and “free” without her husband in her life.  I was very intrigued when  the lady in the story viewed her husband death as a victory for herself and thought that she was free, I thought this was a weird way for someone to grieve the death of a loved one who recently died. I was puzzled at the end of the story when she had died after finding out her husband was alive and the report was false, I believed that she should of been happy and celebrating his survival because he is her husband but instead she got a heart attack Im sure that also left her husband confused when she suddenly died at the sight of him.

The reading I wanted to focus on which entertained me the most was The Necklace. I had to review the date this piece was written and published because I was intrigued by the fact that it was plainly stated that women didn’t really need anything more than being pretty to obtain a higher social rank. I was intrigued by the fact that it states a woman from the poorest family could be of the same social class as a socialite because she would be pretty enough to allure a well-off man. I think this way of thinking still exists and sadly has become a societal norm [insert Instagram models obtaining fame and money for taking pretty pictures]. I was surprised that Mathilde worked hard to right her wrong. From reading, Mathilde did not come across as the type to want to work hard or make sacrifices. In afterthought, perhaps I misjudged her misery of poverty, with laziness. In reading how she lamented about her poverty, her ungratefulness at her husband’s ability to get an invite to the ball and then seeming to find reason after reason to emphasize her misery at her poverty, I was very surprised that she was agreeable to dismissing their servant and she pulling her weight. On that note, I was puzzled at their social class and how they lived. When the couple were able to locate a necklace similar to replace the lost one, we find out there is 18,000 francs available. They also had a servant on staff. If this was obtainable and they are able to pay a servant, then why is Mathilde so miserable? This puzzled me initially, but again, another afterthought, perhaps Loisel was keeping what was inherited from his father for a rainy day. It was also mentioned that he […]

Based on STORY OF AN HOUR by Kate Chopin I was surprised by Mrs. Mallard’s initial reaction to her husband’s death, which is shock and disbelief, followed by a sense of liberation and joy. This reaction may seem unexpected given the societal norms and expectations of the time period, where women were expected to be devoted to their husbands and mourning for their loss. I was intrigued by the use of language and symbolism by Chopin, such as the description of the open window and the springtime outside, It intrigues me as they symbolize new beginnings and the possibility of a fresh start for Mrs. Mallard. Additionally, Mrs. Mallard’s sudden death when her newfound freedom is taken away may also raise questions about the nature of freedom and its relationship to identity and self-fulfillment. Lastly I was puzzled by the complex and ambiguous portrayal of Mrs. Mallard’s emotional state. It may be difficult to reconcile her initial shock and disbelief with her eventual sense of liberation and joy, and some readers including me may question the suddenness and intensity of her reaction to her husband’s return. These complexities and ambiguities left me  with unanswered questions and a desire to explore the story’s themes and meanings further.

In the story “The Necklace” by Guy De Maupassant, one thing that surprised me was from the end of the story when Madame Loisel found out that the necklace that she actually lost was fake and was not even close to value that her and her husband had taken the loan for and had spent years paying off the debt by working hard.One thing that intrigued me was the character of Mathilde Loisel how she was very curious and fascinated with her dreams of being rich and living like the upper class that she borrowed a necklace for the party, lost it and then had to work hard all her life in order to pay it off.One thing that puzzled me in the reading was that why did she not tell her friend that she lost her necklace and why did she not have any conversation related to the necklace in years? because if she did tell her friend she could have found out the actual worth of the necklace and would not have to take on such a huge debt.

After beginning the story “The Necklace” you learn about Mathilde and her ungrateful and unaspiring nature as she attempts to navigate life as a woman in the middle class in the 19th century. She constantly expresses her disdain for her current situation and birrates her husband about not having more without ever providing a plan to improve their lives. So I was surprised by the end of the story when Mathilde pulls herself up by the bootstraps and works 10 hard years to pay off a necklace she needed to replace after borrowing it and losing it at a party. What intrigued me can be found in the same story. After Mathilde’s debts were paid she ran into her childhood friend who she had borrowed the necklace from. After keeping a secret from a friend for years, she grabbed her attention without hesitation, letting Jeanne know she was and what happened to her necklace. This interested me because before this Mathilde was self conscious and insecure about her appearance because she didn’t look wealthy, but in that moment she didn’t care that Jeanne couldn’t recognize her at first due to the physical wear of working hard for 10 years straight. All she cared about was letting an old friend know the truth. You can almost say she felt proud, as if she was humbled by the experience. After reading the poem “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson, the first stanza confuses me. It reads: She rose to his requirement, dropped The playthings of her life To take the honorable work Of woman and of wife. I don’t understand the almost militarized approach to 19th century domestic roles. Why do “playthings” of one’s life need to be dropped? Does a Man have the same responsibilities to sacrifice things they consider fun in […]

This week the readings were “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, “Love Poem 17: The Wife” by Emily DIckinson, and “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, I was surprised by “The Necklace”. It surprised me how at the end of the story Madame Loisel sees Madame Forestier and approaches her to tell her how about the replacement necklace. It was remarkable and showed how proud of herself Madame Loisel was because she told her the truth about the hard work she went through to pay off her debt. I was surprised to hear from Madame Forestier that it was a fake necklace. In my opinion, this would be something that she could have very easily heard about considering the amount of people Madame Loisel and her husband had to borrow money from in order to pay it off. I feel like it is definitely something that could have been mentioned before. I was intrigued by “Love Poem: 17” because in very few words, Dickinson demonstrated how the wife “dropped” her life to take on the role of a wife and became what her husband required of her as his significant other. This caught my attention because many times in life we unfortunately hear how a woman drops everything around her to become what a man wants or needs of her. Therefore, it was something that was, in a way, relatable. I was puzzled by “Story of an Hour”. From my understanding, Mrs. Mallard was someone who was not in a healthy relationship with her husband, which is why she was yelling “Free! Free!” when she was by herself after hearing of his death. She maybe felt relieved because she was no longer going to have to deal with him. It was shocking to me to find out he was […]

During this week’s readings, the one that stood out to me was, “The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860”, by Barbara Welter. Throughout reading this, numerous things about the text surprised, intrigued, and last but not least even puzzled me at times. For instance, according to the text, it states, “Woman understood her position if she was the right kind of woman, a true woman. “She feels weak and timid. She needs a protector. She asks for wisdom, constancy, firmness, perseverance, and she is willing to repay it all by the surrender of the full treasure of her affection”. When I first encountered this quote, I was a bit shocked/surprised at what George Burnap expressed in his lectures. This is something that would be said by the typical American man in the years of the 1820s and up. However, this is contradicting of what women are and should stand up for, especially when it comes to “womanhood”. In defense to this, Mrs. Sigourney assured women that even though they were sperate sexes, everyone was equal. According to the text, it states, “Religion or piety was the core of woman’s virtue, the source of her strength. Young men looking for a mate were cautioned to search first for piety, for if that were there, all else would follow states”. This quote expressed how woman are pure and can help a man have faith back in Christ. This is representing women in a positive connotation, even if it is to help a man become settles emotionally and adhere to the different factors at play. Last but not least, the thing that intrigued me the most in regard to this excerpt would be how these ideologies were adopted and expected to be mass followed in the 18th and 19th centuries. This fascinates me because […]

Within the readings of this week, Story of an Hour was the most intriguing to me. I feel as a woman in that era, it was common to rely strongly on a man and feel that when they pass or they are gone, it’s as if your entire world is gone even. To have that shift where Mrs. Mallard is in a deep state of sadness and then a deep state of happiness is funny and realistic because sometimes in relationships women tend to lose themselves in a sense where we are not the independent and “free” girls we were before our relationships. To have her husband’s death not turn out to be true and causing her death afterwards was even more intriguing because of that unexpected outcome towards the end. The story that surprised me the most was, The Necklace. I certainly did not expect that tragic ending. Learning that such an event like that can make two people’s lives change and live like that for ten years is something to consider when you do something and need to think about your choices and how it can or will affect you. Madame Loisel should’ve been grateful enough of her husband and what he did for her. That small irresponsible move influenced years of torture and unnecessary debt and if I was in that position I’d feel so many negative emotions I would not know what to say or do, I’d just be speechless. The Cult of Womanhood and the short youtube video puzzled me in the right ways. It puzzled me because I rarely hear or get access to stories or excerpts that involve a meaning of womanhood and the role and positions a woman plays in society and in a family. To hear and read about it is […]

What surprised you and why? What surprised me in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin was Mrs. Mallard’s response to her husband’s death as well as her response to seeing her husband alive and well. I was not expecting her to feel triumphant by realizing that she would have the ability to be independent following the death of Mr. Mallard and I was most definitely not expecting her to drop dead upon seeing him alive. I assumed her “piercing cry” was one of excitement rather than dread until I re-read the last paragraph a few times. What intrigued you and why? What intrigued me about the story ” The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant was the lesson it seemed to teach. Throughout the beginning of the story, Madame Loisel is miserable because she is living what she deems to be a ‘poor’ life. In preparation for a ball, she ends up borrowing a necklace to present herself as belonging among the rich and when she loses the necklace, she lies and ends up putting her and her husband in debt in order to pay the debt back. For ten years she now experiences what it really means to be poor, and all to find out that the necklace she borrowed to begin with, was fake. The lesson I gather from this story is to be grateful, always, for what you have and to always tell the truth. If Madame Loisel had told the truth to begin with, she would have known the true value of the necklace she lost and would not have had to suffer, but perhaps she had to suffer to gain a new perspective on her life. What puzzled you and why? The poem “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson puzzled me. “She rose to his […]

In “The Wife” by Emily Dickenson, what surprised me was her use of verbal irony when she says, “She rose to his requirement, dropped/The playthings of her life/To take the honorable work/Of woman and of wife” (Dickenson 1-4). This surprised me because during her time in the 1800s, being a wife in the way that was expected was to live a life in the house, being subservient to your husband. In these lines, she portrays womanhood and marriage as an honorable thing for women, when in reality it wasn’t, and a lot of women secretly hated it.  This is surprising to me because it shows that Emily Dickenson was critical of her time despite the cultural norms and gender standards put in place. When she describes the woman’s individuality before marriage as the “playthings of her life” it reiterates the idea that it wasn’t important, and her responsibility and focus lie with a man not with herself or in other words, “the playthings of her life”. The part of the poem that intrigued me was Dickenson’s inclusion of the sea when she says, “as the sea/Develops both pearl and weed” (Dickenson 9-10). This intrigued me because pearls are beautiful creations that come from the sea, but seaweed is bothersome. When you go to the beach and the water is covered with seaweed, it feels weird on your skin, it’s hard to swim through and it tangles up in everything. On the contrary, oysters make pearls, and they are often beautiful and worth a lot of money. This intrigued me because she amplifies how both beauty and ugly can be found in the same place. In relation to marriage, it can be both beautiful and ugly especially in this case where the Cult of Domesticity is the norm. Marriage is beautiful […]

The reading “The Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin, surprised me when Mrs. Mallard excused herself to her room to be alone; I understood she was grieving and, yes, she would need her space, but it made me question at her age, she would want to be around family and friends, but not knowing she secretly was celebrating in silent. Her weeping intrigued me, but she had joy deep down inside her soul. Thinking when two people become one, it’s because of their love and affection for each other. This shows us that in society, not even the person we commit our lives can put our trust in them. The death of Mrs. Mallard was puzzling after she saw her “dead” husband, her renewed life she was happily celebrating in silents, ended up being a dream that she would never wake up from. My Jamaican Patois says, “Donkey seh worl nuh level,” be careful of what you wish for.

Starr White Professor Conway ENG 201 sec 0501 March 5th- 20TH   Araby is about not love but it is about a boy who likes his friend’s older sister and tries everything to impress her by buying her things and going places with her to impress her in many ways, in reality, it is about growing up and realizing. The book mentions that this boy grew up in a religious home and still doesn’t understand many things in the world, especially regarding his father’s state of being and mind. He speaks about the way they would exit from the back of the home to avoid a-lot of the people. Moral of the story the character deals with not really enjoying childhood and lives in delusion to keep him going in life, he realizes that the way he observed things are not what they seem and he things otherwise.

In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, I found several aspects to be surprising, intriguing, and puzzling. What surprised me the most was the sudden twist ending. It was revealed that Louise’s husband was not actually dead, and this completely changed the emotional direction of the story. I was initially led to believe that Louise was happy to be free from her marriage, but then the story takes a dramatic turn, leaving me feeling shocked and surprised. What intrigued me was the complexity of the characters and the societal norms that governed their lives. Louise’s reaction to her husband’s supposed death was not straightforward, and her range of emotions added depth to her character. The story also challenged the reader’s expectations of a 19th-century marriage, which was fascinating to consider. What puzzled me was the ambiguous ending, which left me with unanswered questions. It was unclear whether Louise’s death was caused by shock, joy, or a combination of both. This ambiguity added to the emotional depth of the story, leaving me feeling puzzled and reflective. Overall, “The Story of an Hour” was a thought-provoking story that left a lasting impression on me.  

What surprised me in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is the fact that Louise does not allow herself to be free as a woman even after the announcement of her husband’s death. She resists this awareness by apprehending with fear. But the death of her husband opened her eyes and made her realize many things that she would probably never have discovered if he were still alive.From the moment she accepts the death of her husband, her character evolves and she then allows herself to recognize her freedom, the fear she felt is transformed into excitement and even begins to consider her future where her freedom belongs to her completely. The end of this story completely blew me away because the irony was at its height after the doctors believed that she “died of heart disease – of a joy that kills”. For me this shock was not due to the fact that her husband was alive but rather the fear of losing her freedom which had just been regained.

I was very impressed by Kate Chopin’s “Story of An Hour,” she effectively combines comedy and tragedy in my opinion. My concern was amplified by the Victorian era’s setting when I considered the restrictive lifestyle women were expected to live during the period. I was immediately drawn to Mrs. Mallard’s excitement and sense of freedom after learning of her husband’s unexpected death. Yet as I continued to read I observed her go from crying to daydreaming of a life free of her husband’s influence, and my feelings swiftly changed. I was baffled and astonished by the ending’s unexpected twist; I never imagined that her spouse would still be alive. My heart sank as Mrs. Mallard’s joy turned into a shocking surprise and ultimately led to her tragic death from a heart attack.  

One of the most surprising elements of Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is the sudden and brutal violence that occurs towards the end of the story. After a series of misadventures and mistakes, the family finds themselves stranded on a remote road where they encounter a group of escaped convicts led by a man known as The Misfit. Despite the grandmother’s attempts to appeal to his better nature and convince him to spare their lives, The Misfit orders his men to kill the entire family. What intrigued me was the elements of Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is the complex and flawed characters that populate the story. From the self-centered and manipulative grandmother to the morally ambiguous and enigmatic Misfit, each character is carefully crafted to challenge the reader’s assumptions and expectations. One of the puzzling elements of Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is the ending of the story and the meaning behind it. After the family is brutally murdered by The Misfit and his gang, the story ends with The Misfit making a cryptic statement about the grandmother: “She would have been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” This statement is puzzling because it raises a number of questions about The Misfit’s motives and the nature of grace and redemption.  

I believe the interior of this story is to show transformation between two characters and how compassion and grace can come into play. The grandmother is a selfish, hypocritical woman who is unaware of her behavior, she is flawed just like everyone else. The misfit is a criminal who shows very little emotion, yet he is an experienced man who is aware of his behavior and what is right or wrong. He knows the power of Jesus that the grandmother makes aware to him constantly, however he doesn’t have much belief, he doesn’t need nor want the help of Jesus. Both characters show a potential for receiving grace. Both characters show how you can change in a spec of a moment and how that affects a person differently. The misfit became egotistic as the grandmother had the realization of acceptance and seeing the good in someone and relating that to your own life, a soft moment. The interior can also be about how selfishness and fate can come into play.

I was surprised by two things in “Story of An Hour.” The first is Mrs. Mallard whispering “freedom” to herself after sobbing when hearing her husband has passed away. I was taken aback by this unexpected change of emotions. The other section that surprised me is the end when Mr. Mallard winds up being alive. That was completely unexpected! I was intrigued and entertained by the irony in “Story of An Hour” and “The Necklace.” These stories use humor to deal with underlying themes; patriarchy in “Story of An Hour” and class differences in “The Necklace.” I found it clever that Guy de Maupassant decided to make Madame Forestier’s necklace fake, ultimately making a statement of how artificial the wealthy world is. I am puzzled by female authors who contributed to sexist ideas in the various female lifestyle magazines quoted in the article “The Cult of True Womanhood,” like Mrs. A. J. Graves and Fanny Forester. How can they just blindly follow this strict description of what being a woman is? Not only adhere to this submissive role, but to reinforce it. It is so hypocritical to write an article for a publication that will publish another article on how women need no education other than religion.

What surprised me about this story was that Madame Forestier said at the end that her necklace was fake. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs. the couple had worked hard and lived in poverty for ten years to buy the necklace. Little did they know that it was just a fake. What intrigued me about this story was that when the necklace was lost, I was curious to know what the couple would do. How do they compensate for this expensive necklace for them. What confused me was the fact that the heroine was a very vain person. She thinks she was born to have expensive jewelry and live a good life. Mathilde spends all her time doing heavy housework. she is no longer as beautiful as before, she looks like other women from poor families. Ten years passed in this way.

I was very surprised by the end of the necklace. It is comical that this couple dedicated their life to this task of replacing the necklace only to discover it was a fake. All the effort was for nothing. It ended up being a sad ending to a sad story. What intrigued me was that I see so many examples of this in today’s society. People strive to acquire material things, trying to convey an image of success. The reality is the celebrities or influencers that people look up to have a carefully curated image that in most cases are unattainable. The fact that this story highlights the same social economic views is astonishing to me. Classic example of keeping up with the Joneses. The Irony is in this frivolous pursuit, the the couple lost themselves, which to me resonates with todays society. What puzzled me is how much we as a society still cling to the gender roles described in the lecture on the “Cult of Domesticity”. Many current roles that women are expected to fulfill are derived from these principles established in the 19th century. However there is hope that peoples (men and women) views are changing.  

“If aught she missed in her new day Of amplitude, or awe, Or first prospective, or the gold In using wore away” Mrs. Mallard, in fact, is full of dreams and hopes. Moreover, dreams are not about something specific, because it doesn’t matter what it will be: gold, prospects, position in society, but rather about choosing what to dream about. That she can do something without looking at her husband and society,  decide for herself where to go and who to be.  “Freedom, freedom,” she whispers, long-awaited freedom. “Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her.  Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She rejoices simply in the fact that, from now on, she is free, and no matter what the days are, the main thing is that now they are only hers. “It lay unmentioned, as the sea Develops pearl and weed” All the feelings that burst out at once lay deep at the bottom of her soul, under the pressure of the norms of society, and the power of her husband.  However, his death in a storm brings all the “pearls and weed” out.  She is happy.  We can see the parallel of the environment and its feelings.  In the spring, all living things begin to live anew, and bloom.  She also looks to the future in anticipation of a new life. “But only to himself is known The fathoms they abide” Through the dramatic irony of the last sentence, we see that no one guesses what was in her soul, what kind of person she really is.  Because no one cares, generally.  Since a woman is only an object in the cult of womanhood, having only a number of utilitarian functions. Having escaped from the dungeon […]

Throughout the story of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’ Connor, we understand what’s the borderline surface of this story. A family going on a road trip that eventually encounters a group of criminals along the way. The story in its interior, is much deeper however, showing this through the use of the grandma. At its interior, the story is focused on death of how the Old South operated and a birth of a new era. This is shown through the grandma, a flawed character who in the beginning, wanted nothing more than to visit the old plantation house. Her selfish desires to do so can be inferred her longing for the past, and not wanting to accept the current present on how things are now. She was represented at this point, as the old South and how things used to be. Then, when the criminals came and killed her and the entire family, it was to show the death of this Old south. With the death of the Old South, it would come with the birth of a new era. She wasn’t able to accept the change of the modern day, and as a result, she was killed off.

In Flannery O’Connor’s short fiction, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” a family is preparing to fly from Georgia to Florida for a vacation. The grandmother tries to talk the family into traveling to Tennessee instead because she has relatives there that she wants to see. But instead of disclosing her genuine intentions, the grandma uses deceit. The grandmother makes the claim that a criminal known as The Misfit has broken out of a federal prison and is rumored to be traveling to Florida. She expresses concern that they might run into him while traveling. It examines how appearance and reality clash. The grandma presents herself as a ladylike Christian, yet her interaction with The Misfit demonstrates that she does not adhere to the fundamental principle of christianity. Yet she believes herself to be a fountain of wisdom, offering advice and opinion on a myriad of topics. The Misfit, on the other hand, is exactly what he appears to be. The exchange between the Misfit and the grandmother leads to her moment of epiphany. I think what’s in the interior is the revealing of grandma’s true identity and the point that goodness can be found in the most unexpected places and people, even in an evil creature.  

Man is Hard to Find.” The story is indeed a meditation on the nature of evil, the possibility of redemption and the transformative power of grace. The character of the grandmother who initially seems like a shallow and self-centered person, is transformed through the course of the story as she confronts the reality of evil and the limitations of her own worldview the grandmother is forced to confront her own limitations and beliefs. This process is difficult and challenging, and it is characterized by elements of suspense and tension as the family’s encounter with the Misfit becomes increasingly dangerous.. Ultimately, the story shows that even in a world full of bad people, being good will always bring you redemption and will transform your character through humanity grace and empathy and understanding others.  

  Wow I can’t lie when I was first reading this story I wouldn’t expect the ending the way I was reading the introduction. In the story “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” By Flannery O’connor is a story about a family taking a road trip to Florida. The family includes the grandmother, her son Bailey, his wife and their three children. Along the trip the grandmother insists on going to this old plantation house which will then lead to this family’s demise. Going to the plantation house resulted in the family being stranded on a road that’s basically a “ghost” road. It’s deserted. Being so they are confronted by these escaped convicts led by a man called “The Misfit”. The misfit was known for having a very dark criminal record. The story takes a dark turn as The Misfit and the other convicts brutally murdered the entire family including the children. The interior of the story is basically in my opinion the idea of the nature of good and evil. The grandmother who is very flawed undergoes a moment of self awareness and is able to see the flaws when in the face of evil (the misfit) as to the misfit who can’t see the flaws in his ways.

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” is about a family on a trip to Florida and the trip goes downhill before it even started. Based off my interpretation of the family, everyone has a not-very-nice attitude. The grandma, especially. She seems to be very racist and harsh. Her family seemed to just go along with everything she said as well, so I can assume they are probably the same. I feel that the “interior” of the story leads to the grandmother and her personality/motives. It is a reminder to be mindful of our actions and words, as everything in life has consequences, some that we cannot prevent. The story also shows that even the most miserable and unkind person can change within seconds when put in a certain situation. When we think about certain things, while always hoping for the best, we must also be prepared for the worst.

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” delves into themes of grace, redemption, and the nature of evil. The story’s underlying message revolves around the spiritual transformation of the grandmother, who initially comes across as a selfish and manipulative character. However, as events unfold and her family encounters the ruthless criminal known as the Misfit, the grandmother is forced to confront her own and the reality of evil in the world. Through the character of the grandmother, the story encourages us to consider the transformative power of grace and the importance of confronting our own limitations and beliefs. the story can be seen as a possibility of redemption in a world where evil exists. It challenges readers to question their own values and beliefs and to consider the transformative power of grace in the face of darkness and despair.

We know what the story is about on the surface. What do you feel the story is about in its “interior?” On a surface level, the story is about the unfortunate murder of a family on a road trip to their final destination of Florida. Ironically, this trip did indeed end up being their “final destination”. The story seems to explore a family dynamic, and the clashing personalities of generations. The grandmother, who has more “traditional” values honestly annoyed me. However, she being brought up in a different era, her actions were understandable. Underneath the words written, the picture behind this piece is one of a woman, remembering her past, exploring her maternal instincts while also seeming to be in her own way, caring of her family but disregarded by them. Bailey, ignores his mother’s words completely. Bailey’s wife, seems to treat her mother-in-law in the same respects as her husband – perhaps because she sees it as “that’s just how the grandmother is”. The children are rude and downright disrespectful to their parents and moreover their grandmother. My view of a woman who cares deeply but is ignored, and maybe a little hurt by it, comes from what I have previously stated – the ignoring by her own son and daughter-in-law, but John Wesley and June Star’s snide remarks and comments about their grandmother coming along on all trips they take. June Star seems to always have a smart remark (even in the face of death with her comment of not wanting to hold Bobby’s hand because he looks like a pig). The grandmother, in all of her annoyance, just seems to want to enjoy her family and “the good ol’ days”. Although her constant chatter gets under everyone’s skin – remove Red Sammy – nothing she says is […]

In the case of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the interior of the story is complex and multilayered. One of the central themes of the story is the concept of grace, which is represented by the grandmother’s moment of recognition of The Misfit’s humanity before her death. The story suggests that grace is available to everyone, even those who have committed terrible acts, but it can only be attained through an understanding of our own flawed humanity and the humanity of others. The story also explores the idea of the South as a region with a dark history and a legacy of violence and racism. The grandmother’s nostalgia for the old plantation house, which represents a time when slavery was still legal, can be seen as a symbol of the South’s troubled past. Another important aspect of the story’s interior is its use of grotesque and violent imagery. The story’s shocking and brutal events serve to highlight the darkness and evil that can exist within human beings. This imagery also serves to underscore the story’s bleak view of the human condition.

The interior of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor revolves around the themes of sin, grace, and redemption. While the surface of the story revolves around a family’s tragic encounter with the Misfit, the interior focuses on the grandmother’s transformation. Through her journey, the story becomes a reflection on the nature of morality and the potential for redemption. The grandmother initially appears as a manipulative and self-centered character, but as the story unfolds, she undergoes a transformation that leads to her moment of grace. This transformation highlights the possibility for redemption in even the most flawed individuals and emphasizes the power of humility and acceptance of one’s faults. Additionally, the story explores the Misfit’s nihilistic worldview, which serves as a foil to the grandmother’s journey towards grace, and underscores the importance of embracing faith and morality in one’s life. Ultimately, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” invites readers to reflect on their own struggles with morality and the possibility of redemption in the face of sin and evil.

The story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner entails a family of six trip down to Florida that quickly takes a turn for the worse. The story shows how one’s true colors in the face of adversity.  Midway through the second page we learn how even after such a long life the grandmother still isn’t ready to face death. Some elements do make the story work with any action unlike any other in the story here’s where the part of the story comes where I feel it’s interior. When the grandmother is last alone facing the Misfit, we the reader point out all of her flaws that got her to this point being manipulative and sly. It lets you start to see a theme from the story with morality and narcissistic only in the face of death we saw the error of her ways.

I feel that the stories interior is based on the grandmother who has transformed herself from being a person that is self centered and who manipulates other people to having sympathy and a warm corner for other people including the killer.It also tells us no matter how many bad deeds you do in life but as long as you repent to God with the intention to be a better person and not repeat those mistakes can actually bring you close to God. The interior of the story also tells us how a person thinks that everything they do is right no matter how big the crime, instead of realizing what actually is the right thing, which causes a conflict between our moral and ethical beliefs and our actions caused by those beliefs

On the surface “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor is about a family that ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time after suffering a car accident, and is murdered one by one by a group of psychopathic murderers that have escaped from prison. When you fully analyze the characters and what they go through, the story can be broken down with more detail. In my interpretation, it is about a family full of rotten attitudes that are met by bad karma in the most extreme fashion. It’s like when Regina George from the movie “Mean Girls” is hit by a Bus by the end of the film. In reality did her horrible actions mean she deserved to go through that? No, but since it’s fiction and no real harm is done, there can be a sense of “that’s what you get” for some. It is very clear that the grandmother in the story is racist by the way she spoke about the poor children with no pants that they drove by, or the story she told about the black boy that stole the watermelon. By the way her family never condemns the way she speaks about black people, I can only assume they didn’t have an issue with her politics. During the climax of the story, the grandmother pulls every trick out of the book to try and stop the group of men from continuing their acts of evil when finally the killer had enough and finished the job. The punch to the ground beforehand was more about his conflicting feelings about religion than what the grandmother had to say, he seemed tired of her talking and finally reached a boiling point when she touched him. The misfit says that the grandmother would’ve […]

The story ”A Good Man Is Hard To Find” by Flannery O’Conner definitely took a sudden turn I was not expecting. I probably should have expected it based on the foreshadowing in the beginning with the grandmother talking about The Misfit headed toward Florida and the family going on the trip to Florida anyway despite her suggestion to go to Tennessee instead. On its interior, the story portrays prejudicial ideations. The grandmother seems to be unaware of the internalized racism she is exhibiting on the drive. She has also proven to be manipulative by her actions leading up to the accident, but turns into a completely different person in the face of death. The story also portrays tense relationships between family members. This can be seen throughout the story with the constant disrespect Bailey exhibits toward his mother – especially at the end of the story, “Bailey turned his head sharply and said something to his mother that shocked even the children. The old lady began to cry and The Misfit reddened.” Interestingly, there is an aspect of psychology that can be seen in this quote because while we know The Misfit to be a murderer, he seems to be equally offended by the way Bailey speaks to his mother. To further this point, the Misfit implies the possibility of religion having been able to save him, “The Misfit said. ‘I wisht I had of been there,’ he said, hitting the ground with his fist. ‘It ain’t right I wasn’t there because if I had of been there I would of known. Listen lady,’ he said in a high voice, ‘if I had of been there I would of known and I wouldn’t be like I am now.’ His voice seemed about to crack…” In this quote, The Misfit is […]

In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” Flannery O’Connor is about the struggle between good and evil, and the consequences of making the wrong choices. The story follows a family of five, the grandmother, her son and daughter-in-law, and her two grandchildren, as they travel to Florida for a vacation. Along the way, the grandmother insists that they take a detour to visit an old plantation she remembers from her childhood. This detour leads them to a confrontation with a dangerous criminal, The Misfit, and his gang. The story is a commentary on the human condition, and the consequences of our choices. The grandmother is a symbol of the human tendency to make bad decisions, and her insistence on taking the detour leads to the family’s downfall. The Misfit is a symbol of evil, and his presence serves as a reminder of the consequences of our choices. The story also serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and arrogance, as the grandmother’s pride leads her to make the wrong decision. Ultimately, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a story about the struggle between good and evil, and the consequences of our choices. It is a warning against pride and arrogance, and a reminder of the importance of making the right choices.

After reading the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, the story’s interior depth can be analyzed for a better understanding.  The main character, the grandmother was plagued by her own bad traits that eventually led to her own downfall. The grandmother was manipulative and tricky, even if she transitions a little towards the end. When the author shows this transition to readers, it portrays an emotional journey that the grandmother undertakes. For example, the surface of the story as described is a tale of suspense dealing with a family. However, the interior of the story can be described as that emotional journey the grandmother goes through. Furthermore, the author is trying to convey how even the most detrimental person to others can change with a moment of realization or tragedy that occurs to them. A main theme I noticed while reading this short story was grace and humanity. This story shows a close resemble to the society we live in today and expresses very similar experiences we all have had.

Flannery O’Connor demonstrates how racism is taught in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” (a novel). My personal favorite was the granny character. She made racial jokes, was critical of black people, and exudes pride. Since they harbored such a great amount of anger, I think the accident that occurred was their karma. She moved around with an air of intoxication. Because of this attitude, she made poor choices. To boost her self-confidence, she boasts to the kids about a variety of things. She took pleasure in the kids’ emotions. She centered the entire trip around herself and demonstrated how much power she wielded over everyone with whom she came into contact.

“A Good Man Is Hard To Find” tells of a family driving from Georgia to Florida. They get into an accident while driving and are found by a trio of men led by the Misfit, an escaped convict mentioned by the grandmother in the beginning of the story. This interaction between the family and the Misfit is not just a murderous event. The Misfit and the grandmother discuss morality, religion and the penal system. This conversation evokes the nature vs. nurture debate- what determines the Misfit’s evilness, genetics or the environment. The Misfit states that a psychiatric doctor at a penitentiary told him he killed his father, despite him remembering his father dying from the flu earlier in time. With this information and the descriptions of the cruel treatment he has endured, the reader cannot help but put blame on the penal system for the Misfit’s violent disposition. This also made me think of how the harshness of an older generation, shown by the grandmother’s selfish stubbornness, can negatively affect the younger generation. It is not just the penal system, but the standards of society set by closed-minded people that are also to blame. Realistically, Jesus is not going to save the Misfit, like the grandmother keeps proclaiming. What would have saved him from this fate is a righteous judicial system and loving support from a caretaker growing up.

The story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner not surprising to me. I felt I had an idea of what to expect. It gave me the feeling of society precisely what’s going on in the 21st century. There is a saying that says, “history repeats itself.”  O’Connor’s story reminds me of a family with a grandmother that always seems correct. Because we respect our elderly, we tend to do as they say because they always say they have more knowledge than anyone younger. It shows that the grandmother’s request to visit the old house killed the family. The grandmother was manipulating her family by using her evil tricks to fool them, and because her only child wanted to please her and get the kids to be quiet, he fell for it. Sometimes we put ourselves in a particular predicament, saying, “if I did know.” But as for the grandmother, when she remembers the house they were about to visit was in Tennessee, she kept it to herself; that drives me so much anger. In society, we have families that portray the same attitude as the grandmother, which usually causes arguments and disagreement, which could lead to death. After the vehicle crashed, a car came from nowhere, which seemed like it was just waiting for something like that to happen. It was like a movie scene; I was predicting what would happen. As I guess it was the Misfit, there goes O’Connor describing the men, nothing good they were up to, and unfortunately, they were being honest, but at the same time, it was a bit of fun for them. The grandmother uses Christianity words, which she might think would save her, but doesn’t show any goodness towards the story; there is violence. I think it’s like […]

In reading Flannery O’Connor’s story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” I realized that the story made me feel very sad about what had happened to that family. While I went through the pages, I was struck by how the story made me feel and think of the family and how the grandmother’s manipulative and superficial ways ultimately led to their downfall. which ultimately led to calamity they could have never anticipated or avoided. The depiction of the grandmother by O’Connor acts as a cautionary tale about how our decisions and conduct can result in disastrous outcomes. Several people within society, much like the granny herself, tend to make hasty judgments based on one’s looks or history. I believe that the “interior” of the story explores human nature intricately. It reflects on how our actions can lead to consequences and emphasizes empathy and comprehension. The final act of kindness shown by the grandmother is a poignant example that shows us an opportunity for redemption in life, while also underscoring why people should be given second chances if they want to improve themselves or change something within themselves. The sadness of this tale weighed heavily , yet I gained insight into the significance of withholding judgment based on someone’s history or outer shell.

O’Connor herself also mentioned that her creative inspiration mainly comes from religion, In the author’s view, novels should never be religious propaganda. “In every good novel there is a moment when you can feel the grace is there, waiting to be accepted or rejected.” So the old lady uttered the only profound words she said in the whole novel to the “misfit” who was wearing her son’s clothes: “You are my son, you are my own son!” She was full of enthusiasm for the murderer. Compassion may be the murderer’s unhappy childhood and the unjust case he encountered, and this moment is also a kind of “benevolent moment” for “misfit”, although this cruel nihilist did not accept this day Hui, but instinctively shot and killed the old lady, but this moment still struck his soul, and he would start to reflect on his actions. Although the old lady who accepted “Tianhui” ended her life, she was no longer the selfish and vain person at the beginning of the novel at the last moment of her life. She was “like a child” and “smiled towards the cloudless sky” “” died, and she felt happy at the end of her life.

In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” Flannery O’Connor is a complex and multi-layered story that can be interpreted in many ways. At its core, the story is about the destructive power of pride and the human capacity for grace and redemption. The grandmother, who is the central character, embodies the theme of pride. She is selfish, manipulative, and judgmental, and believes that her own desires and opinions are more important than anyone else’s. Her pride leads her to make a series of bad decisions that ultimately result in the deaths of her entire family. However, the story also contains elements of grace and redemption. The Misfit, the violent criminal who murders the family, represents the possibility of grace and redemption. Despite his crimes, he is portrayed as a complex and sympathetic character who is struggling with issues of morality and faith. He recognizes the grandmother’s attempts to connect with him and acknowledges that she is a good person at heart, even though she has made mistakes. In the end, the grandmother’s encounter with the Misfit leads her to a moment of profound realization and humility. She recognizes her own faults and weakness, and reaches out to the Misfit with an act of compassion and love. Her act of grace is ultimately rewarded with her own redemption, as she finds a sense of peace and acceptance in the face of death. The story is about the transformative power of grace and redemption, and how it can come from unexpected sources. The element of suspense in the story serves to highlight the inner struggles and transformations of the characters, and to emphasize the possibility of redemption even in the darkest of circumstances.

After reading this story I realized its inner depth. First of all, the story tackles sensitive and controversial subjects that anyone can face early or late in their life, such as racist prejudices or stereotypes. But this text also talks about religion and being human and behaving as such. The more you read, the more you realize that the grandmother has racist prejudices that you can drink through what she says and what she does. But as the story progresses we notice that her behavior changes and this radically transforms her character. She then goes from someone totally blinded by her prejudices about others to someone more empathetic and more open to others. It is then that we approach the last two themes of this reading which are humanism and religion. This story demonstrates humanism is something that can be learned and can change a person. For example, it was by having interacted with The Misfit that she had a clearer vision of what surrounds her and that prejudices are not always true.

“Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor is a tragedy. I agree with O’Connor when she writes that readers “should know what is going to happen in this story so that the element of suspense in it will be transferred from its surface to its interior.” While reading the story, I did predict that The Misfit would want them all killed as soon as he told Bobby Lee, for the second time, to watch the kids because they “make him nervous” (line 82). In its interior, I feel that the beginning of the story is about a woman who wants her grandchildren to learn to appreciate the things around them: the scenery, the people, and the stories she had to tell. Even though she was ignorant and didn’t realize how her behavior and the things she was saying was offensive, I think she had a good intention-with the kids at least. Towards the end, I feel the story is about a man who is so angry with his upbringing that he takes it out on random people who have no significance for him as a way to heal his inner child. In the story, The Misfit saw the accident happen and then waited to approach the group, as if he was waiting for it or like he expected it to happen. After he approached them he told his story to the Old Lady, which I saw as a way for him to try and justify his actions, as he was having the others killed. He then maybe feels remorse because he tells Bobby Lee that there is no fun in killing people, yet it’s something he regularly does.

By reading the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” I discovered that the “inside” of the story is about the elusive definition of “good man. definition. The grandmother’s reckless use of the label “good man” suggests that “good man” does not mean “moral” or “good “. For the grandmother, a man is a “good person” if his values are consistent with her own. But the grandmother was not actually a good woman. She was flawed and weak, and her age did not entitle her to special respect or reverence. In the last moments of her life, the grandmother suddenly realized that The Misfit was a fellow human being and a child of God. She took pity on him and tried to comfort him. This revelation came to her at such a time, and allowed her to die with peace in her heart. Ironically, The Misfit, while acting like a monster, creates a situation in which the grandmother experiences a moment of true selflessness before she dies.

The number of universal and personal experiences I discovered while reading Oedipus the King astounded me. First, there was karma. The drama explores the struggle between karma and morality, a perennial problem facing people today. Oedipus has the ability to make decisions that will ultimately lead to a catastrophe even though he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother.

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor is a story that operates on two levels. On the surface, it is a tale of a family’s encounter with a violent criminal, and the suspense that comes with the possibility of violence and death. However, O’Connor also uses this story as a vehicle to explore deeper themes related to sin, grace, and redemption. At its core, the story is about the moral and spiritual journey of the grandmother. Initially portrayed as a selfish and judgmental character, the grandmother experiences a transformation as she comes face to face with the Misfit. Through this encounter, O’Connor raises questions about the nature of evil, the possibility of redemption, and the role of faith in shaping our lives. The story suggests that even the most flawed and sinful individuals can potentially experience a moment of grace and redemption, and that this experience may come in unexpected ways. By knowing what is going to happen on the surface, we are able to fully appreciate the interior themes of the story and the questions it raises about human nature and the human condition.  

The struggle between man and fate is an eternal human experience. In the ancient Greek period, people knew little about the universe and nature and firmly believed that there was an irresistible force controlling destiny. Therefore, the protagonists or heroes in ancient Greek tragedies often actively struggled against the unchangeable destiny, and most of them ended up with The failure ended, but the light emitted by the struggle between man and fate is great and dazzling, and it is inspiring. The tragedy “Oedipus the King” is a representative tragedy of the typical ancient Greek period, and it is also the highest interpretation of the tragedy of fate. After learning everything, he resolutely decided to goug his eyes, punish himself and exile instead of escaping with death. own guilt. Human beings need such a spirit that even in the face of failure, they will try their best to keep trying, and finally bear the consequences and make up for their mistakes with a responsible attitude. In tragedy, human dignity is as important as fate. The essence of tragedy lies in revealing the inner strength of human beings and showing that human beings are great.

In my opinion, the interior of the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” presents unstable families and bad societies. There are people in the world that use violence to have things go their own way, since back then and nowadays people lack the empathy for one another. In the text it states, “Our age not only does not have a very sharp eye for the almost imperceptible intrusions of grace, it no longer has much feeling for the nature of the violences which precede and follow them.” (O’Connor 2). Furthermore, violence has been the answer for the good and bad throughout history, so it is safe to say that violence will never end if it’s now considered to be human nature. The Grandmother in the story was someone with no moral integrity, she wasn’t that much different from a serial killer known as, “The Misfit”, who ends up murdering her and her family after she told them to follow orders.   There is no place without violence in this world.

The interior of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is on the character’s spiritual quest and the issue of atonement. The Grandmother, who serves as the story’s main character, goes through a transformational event in which she is forced to face her own death and reevaluate her views and values. The Grandmother holds onto her beliefs about what makes a person “good” or “evil” throughout the novel, but when she encounters the Misfit, a violent criminal who exposes her to humanity’s darker side, her worldview is challenged. The Grandmother comes to understand later in the narrative that the Misfit’s brutal worldview is inimical to her moral convictions. The Grandmother’s journey for redemption, as she tries to relate to the Misfit on a human level and persuade him to spare her life, is ultimately the subject of the story’s interior. Offering the Misfit a little moment of grace as her final act of kindness before dying reveals that she has undergone a profound spiritual development and that her journey has deepened her knowledge of what it means to be “good.”

As I read the short story”A Good Man is Hard to Find,” I noticed the story’s interior depth. It discusses various issues, including racial prejudice, stereotyping, humanism, and religion, using colorful language and imagery that draws the reader’s attention to the author’s point of view. One of the most striking examples of stereotyping in the narrative is shown by the grandmother and The Misfit’s opinions. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the grandmother maintains feelings of racial biases, which are reflected in her behavior and vocabulary. But, as the story goes, we see her prejudices and judgments eventually shift, resulting in a total transformation of her character. This transition does not end with the grandma. The character of The Misfit is similarly portrayed as a stereotype, with his criminal past and violent actions overlooking any possibilities for compassion or understanding. In addition to the themes of stereotyping and prejudice, the story also explores themes of humanism and religion. The grandmother’s transformation, from a self-centered and manipulative character to a more empathetic and self-aware one, is indicative of a larger message about the power of humanism. Through her experiences and interactions with The Misfit, she is forced to confront her own prejudices and shortcomings, ultimately leading to a more profound understanding of herself and the world around her.

In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner we are given a Southern murder story of a family on a road trip to Florida. In this story, the grandmother is the protagonist and her character is built on pride. The grandmother prides herself in her impression on others as well as taking care of her family. She tries to lead by example by maintaining her neat appearance and teaching her grandchildren manners while also reiterating her superiority to others. Through the change of setting and building on the grandmothers paranoia of getting caught up by The Misfit during their road trip, O’Conner forebodes the fact that the family was going to get murdered eventually. I think this story reveals the interior lesson that appearance does not equate to one’s morality. For example, throughout the story, the grandmother switched from teaching her grandchildren manners and looking down on their behavior, to making racist remarks about Black people. The author builds on this irony in the conversation between the grandmother and Red Sam when he says, “A good man is hard to find” (O’Conner paragraph 42). He said this because he was cheated by guys that looked respectable and even though the grandmother has a prejudiced character, one would never know because she cleans up her appearance before the road trip just in case, “anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady” (O’Conner paragraph 12). This highlights how one’s appearance does not reflect their morality because you can look good and have an ugly personality. This is later addressed when the grandmother faces The Misfit and the grandmother realizes his “strong white teeth” (O’Conner paragraph 88). Even in a life threatening situation, the grandmother considers the “nice” appearance of The Misfit […]

In the story of Flannery O’Connor “A good man is not easy to find” at first glance, you can see the story of a not very close-knit family that was unlucky enough to run into a maniac in the middle of a dirt road somewhere in Tennessee. From the very beginning of the story, we understand that something terrible is going to happen. “Chekhov’s gun” in the form of a message that a dangerous criminal has escaped from prison does not bode well for the whole family, which is going to a long journey. The whole story seems to slow down, leading us to that very tragic moment. The protagonist of the story is the grandmother of the family. Loving to manipulate the family and an extremely superficial lady. In the end, because of her love of manipulation, and doing as she wants, the whole family ends up in a fatal situation. If we consider this story from the point of view of an ancient Greek tragedy, then it has undeniable similarities. In the end, the protagonist must die, and through sufferings finds catharsis. According to the author, she uses violence to bring the hero back to reality, to catharsis. And the antagonist finally says: “If it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” So what is the story about? From the articles of this week we can see that there are different interpretations. One of them, as mentioned above, she finally receives her sight, clears herself before the death and grace descends on her and she touches the outcast, as the author says, “like the mustard-seed, will grow to be a great crow-filled tree in the Misfit’s heart, and will be enough of a pain to him there to turn him, into the prophet…”. […]

The story ” A Good Man Is Hard To Find” by Flannery O’Conner took me completely by surprise. I didn’t know what to expect, but I did not expect that. That being said, what this story is about on the interior in my opinion is the darker corners of American society, and the horrific fascination with murder. In the beginning we get familiar with what would have been a typical southern American family preparing for a road trip. The grandmother seems to be the protagonist, she is the one leading the family. Her son, Bailey seems to reluctantly follow her orders the whole time. Unfortunately, it’s by following her order of visiting this house she suggested, that leads to the families demise. This story turns into an American horror story after they take that turn on the dirt road. Being a big fan of murder mysteries and horror movies, I can see this story playing out on the big screen. I was now fully engaged in the story once I realized the strangers they encountered happens to be The Misfit. My curiosity was peeked, I wanted to understand why this character would do this. It’s like trying to understand why the killer in slasher movies does what he does. In reality there is no answer. He was honest, for him it was fun. He says “it’s nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you go left the best way you can by killing somebody or burning down his house or doing some other meanness to him”. We have seen so many movies, stories, and documentaries about murders and serial killers. We as a society seem to be fascinated by it. The tragic ending of this story with the family being murder in and thrown in the woods […]

The timeless and human experiences I have found while reading Oedipus the king is surprising. The first one I noticed was fate and free will. The play explores the idea of fate versus free will, a timeless human experience that still resonates with people today. Oedipus is fated to kill his father and marry his mother, but he still has the free will to make choices that ultimately lead to his downfall. Another experience I read was searching for truth. Oedipus is on a quest to uncover the truth about his past and the murder of King Laius. This search for truth is a timeless human experience that is often depicted in literature and is still relevant today. Last one I felt was guilt and shame. Oedipus experiences intense feelings of guilt and shame when he realizes the truth about his past. These emotions are timeless and relatable to many people.

Some tireless hum an experience i get from reading Oedipus the King are pride and fate. Oedipus is a very powerful leader and throughout the story you start to see that he wants to outrun his fate in hopes of it not happening. Soon we start to see that the pride becomes his downfall  He tries to stop his destiny but ends up meeting the requirements unknowingly. Pride is a really big behavior that I see all during the whole story as because of that it make Oedipus susceptible to his own fate add along with that his pride try to use his power to control everything ended up in disaster for him.

In Oedipus the King, the human experience I saw was facing reality. In the play, Oedipus was given a prophecy on how his life would turn out and he did everything to escape his fate. This relates to the human need for control over the outcomes of their lives. There are certain things that happen in our lives that are meant to happen, but humans are blinded by the fantasy of having perfect, mistake free lives. Eventually, Oedipus’s prophecy came true while he was searching for his identity and role in the murder of King Laius. This highlights Oedipus facing who he really is for example, in the ending of the play, Creon told Oedipus, “Do not seek to be master in everything/ for the things you mastered did not follow you/throughout your life” (Sophocles, 1722). This shows that Oedipus faces his reality and surrender to the reality that he was not meant to be a king. This is applicable to humans now because we often change who we are to escape who we were and who we can be. In the play, it demonstrates that, we cannot run from ourselves.

The story about Oedipus the King shows the importance of knowledge and truth. Throughout the story a powerful king Oedipus uses his power to try to change his destiny and fate and even run away from it. Oedipus try’s to use his power to control his own destiny and his country’s destiny as the king, Oedipus later learns that somethings are still out of his control. No matter what Oedipus did to try to control his life his fate and destiny kept coming back. Oedipus pride for himself as a king and for his people becomes his downfall when he is forced to look into his own past. The reading shows that Oedipus had to go after the truth even if it hurt him the reading also highlights the importance of gaining truth and knowledge even if it hurts the person seeking it. The reading shows the power of fate and destiny and also the consequences of suffering and trying to avoid the truth.

According to Aristotle, poetry surpasses history as it portrays the timeless elements of human experience. Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus the King, is a prime example of this notion. The play delves into the idea of fate and free will, as Oedipus tries to avoid his prophesized destiny but ultimately fulfills it unknowingly. The plot shows how a king kills his father by accident and gets married to his mother through a series of events. Within its narrative are themes such as destiny versus free will, conceit and hubris, yearning for truth, and queries regarding fate’s judgment on gods and men alike that also exist in everyday life today. This tale has survived through the ages due to its striking capacity to capture fundamental aspects of humanity that transcend time itself – reminding us all about unexpected destructive outcomes despite well-meaning intentions; It is a cautionary tale that emphasizes the importance of humility, self-reflection, and the acceptance of what we cannot control.

The struggle for knowledge and truth: Oedipus relentlessly pursues the truth about his past and the identity of the murderer of the former king, despite the warnings of those around him. This is a universal human experience as people often seek knowledge and truth, even if it may be painful or difficult to encounter. The power of fate and destiny: Oedipus is incapable to escape his fate, which is foretold by the oracle. Despite his soundest efforts to avoid it, he ultimately fulfills the prophecy and suffers the consequences. This highlights the human experience of feeling helpless in the face of destiny and the inability to control certain events in our lives. The complexity of human relationships: The play explores the intricate relationships between family members, particularly between parents and children, and the consequences of actions taken in the past. It illustrates the human experience of grappling with the effects of our actions and decisions on our loved ones. The dangers of pride and hubris: Oedipus’ downfall is ultimately caused by his excessive pride and belief in his abilities. This is a universal human experience as people often struggle with the harmony between confidence and arrogance. Overall, “Oedipus the King” highlights the timeless human experiences of the search for truth, the influence of fate and destiny, the complexity of human relationships, and the dangers of excessive pride.

While reading the play “Oedipus the King”, we come across a number of timeless human experiences. One of the human experiences/behaviors that I would like to talk about is the search for truth. As human beings, it is natural for to want to know more. We want to know why certain things happened, or why they happened the way that they did. Sometimes, we’ll find ourselves chasing that truth and we may or may not get an answer. In the play, Oedipus is trying to find the truth about himself and his life, but as the truth is getting closer to him, it’s as if he does not want to know. In situations like this, it’s like we know what the outcome will be, but because we already have a feeling of what it is, we simply choose not to hear it. Eventually, Oedipus found out the truth about what he was looking for, he loses everything.

Some of the timeless human experience and behaviors that I find in the reading of Oedipus the King, is the struggle for finding the truth about his identity and his past, but once Oedipus finds out the reality he just cannot believe it and is in a state of shock.Another  timeless human experience or behaviour that I found in the reading was his desire for keeping his power and protecting his people from the plague.Another timeless human experience or behaviour that I found in the reading was that Oedipus started taking taking responsibility for his actions and mistakes and realized that he would have to face all the problems that are associated with it. Another timeless human experience or behavior that i found in the reading was that Oedipus realized that he would have to marry his mother after killing his father, and there is no way to stop this from happening.

“Oedipus the King” is a reflection of the shared human experience of suffering throughout all of human history. Oedipus is responsible for his own misery, yet he is unable to free himself from the consequences of his actions. This is a reflection of misery and how one’s suffering can be brought on by our own actions, whether through ignorance or carelessness. The tragedy that came upon Oedipus serves as a demonstration of suffering and illustrates how, depending on the circumstances, this experience can be both inescapable and unavoidable. Another human experience that is revealed throughout the play is pride. Because of his pride, Oedipus was not able to come to his senses and try to accept his “fate”, as the Chorus was trying to get him to do. Him not being able to accept his fate leads to his own demise. This is a reflection of the human experience of pride and how it can lead us to make decisions that would end up bringing about our own pain.

The chosen passage from the antistrophe of the Chorus in Oedipus the King is rich with beautiful language that invokes powerful mythological figures. The Chorus calls upon Athene, Artemis, and Phoebus, three of the most revered gods in ancient Greek mythology, to come to their aid in a time of great crisis. The language used to describe these deities is particularly noteworthy. Athene is called the “deathless daughter of Zeus,” highlighting her divine status and immortal nature. Artemis is described as the “Earth Upholder,” emphasizing her connection to the natural world and the vital role she plays in sustaining life on Earth. Phoebus is called the “Far Shooter,” a reference to his role as a god of archery, and his ability to shoot arrows across great distances. The Chorus then implores these three gods to come to their aid, asking them to drive away the flames of destruction that threaten their land. The use of the word “ruin” emphasizes the gravity of the situation, and the urgency of the Chorus’s plea. Overall, this passage is a prime example of the Chorus’s ability to use beautiful language to invoke powerful mythological figures and convey the depth of emotion and urgency felt by the citizens of Thebes in this time of crisis. Quote: “First I call on you, Athene, deathless daughter of Zeus, and Artemis, Earth Upholder, who sits in the midst of the marketplace in the throne which men call Fame, and Phoebus, the Far Shooter, three averters of Fate, come to us now, if ever before, when ruin rushed upon the state, you drove destruction’s flame away out of our land.” (Lines 189-195)

Throughout reading the play, “Oedipus the King”, there are numerous timeless experiences that can be correlated to our own experiences in reality.  For instance, in part two of the play, Jocasta states, ” For Oedipus excites himself too much at every sort of trouble, not conjecturing like a man of sense”. Initially this quote explains to readers how Oedipus gets too “caught up” in every situation that comes his way but isn’t prepared to deal with the consequences. Instead, he goes unprepared and lacking important knowledge of the trouble in hand. This is something that is relatable to many people in reality/society as we are all human at the end of the day. When given specific situations to deal with, many factors can come into play and therefore we can make irrational decisions. Instead, as described in the quote, individuals should be of “sense” and work with their head and not their emotions. In another quote, the Chorus states, “If there is any ill worse than ill, that is the lot of Oedipus. I cannot say your remedy was good; you would be better dead than blind and living”. This quote can be related to society in various ways. The Chorus is illustrating to readers and to Oedipus how he is better dead, than to be alive and running from the truth that haunts him. Rather than living in shun and regret, it is better to be dead, according to the Chorus. Personally, I think this seems like a relatable experience as in a sense not to run away from the truth and be able to move on with any predicament. There is no point in living a life in which you’re too frightened to do anything for yourself or others. Therefore, I would have to agree with the Chorus […]

Oedipus the King is a timeless tragedy that explores universal themes and human experiences. The reading delves into the concept of fate and the idea that some things are beyond human control. Oedipus’s story is a reminder that no matter how much we try to control our lives, fate can still play a significant role in shaping our destinies. The human desire for power and control is another central theme in the story. Oedipus is a powerful king that believes that he can control his destiny and the destiny of his people, but he eventually learns that some things are beyond his control. Additionally, the reading examines the consequences of hubris and pride. Oedipus’s pride leads to his downfall as he is forced to confront the truth about his past. The reading shows the importance of seeking truth and knowledge, even if it means confronting uncomfortable realities. It highlights the impact of suffering in the human experience and how it can shape someone’s life.   

When comparing history and literature, Aristotle believes that literature like poetry is superior since you can relate to some of the experiences or behaviors no matter the time you’re reading it, these works transcend time. In “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, there are many experiences and behaviors that still happen in reality today like lying to loved ones, murder within the family and public humiliation. To be specific, Jocasta lies to Oedipus bout the truth of his origins and his current situation in order to protect her son from a harsh reality. It may not be as extreme as the events in the story, it is very common for someone close to you to lie in order to protect your feelings, but just like in the story, that never ends well. Another example is when Oedipus finds out the truth and that the residents of his city have become aware. Oedipus is so ashamed and embarrassed that he basically exiles himself assuming that it’s what the people of Thebes would want anyways. It’s almost human nature to assume the worst when information that you would want secret gets out. Once again, not as extreme as blinding yourself, but that sense of embarrassment can still be exhibited today.

We look at this man’s words and yours, my king, and we find both have spoken them in anger. We need no angry words but only thought. how we may best hit the God’s meaning for us. This remark caught my attention the most because, despite what people often claim, some things can be painful to hear and express. When they do, it hurts so much that we don’t stop to consider the impact of our words or the harm they may cause. We never apologize after angry speech and continue. When we finally realize how much harm our words caused, it is already too late.

Several timeless experiences and behavior displayed in the play are relevant in society today. We tend to live off our fate and free will, which is essential to us. But, when we think about it, someone always influences our life daily. As the play showed how King Oedipus wanted to find closure to know the truth about the killing of Laius, little did he know that he was about to get shocked in his life to know that Laius was his father and his wife Jocasta was his mother. As a human, and I’m a victim of this, I must say that we always dig deep when we want to find things out and sometimes don’t agree with the outcome, which could cause pain and sorrow. That’s what the saying said, “what you don’t know won’t kill you. “Finding out how you were bought into society the way King Oedipus did would have drawn an everlasting burden, causing depression, questioning oneself, there are thoughts of suicide, just to be shamed and having that guilt will just want not to be a part of society. King Oedipus begged that he be hidden outside the country, killed, or thrown into the sea, just to be out of the sight of others. Could we imagine all the vulnerable young adults in our society that experience these traumas and don’t have the support or the correct tools for assistance? The shame and emotional reck just scared me for my life. Oedipus tried his best to be strong, but he had no control over what happened to him.