One of the readings that resonated with me the most this semester is “Salvation” by Langston Hughes. It is a powerful essay that connects with a lot of people and explores common themes of belief and uncertainty. The essay reflects the struggle people face when reconciling their doubts with societal expectations. It also shows the negative impact of group influence and emphasizes the importance of thinking independently. This essay extends beyond religious matters and can be applied to other parts of people’s lives where they feel pressured by others. On the other hand, I found “Oedipus the King” to be one of the least enjoyable readings this semester due to its dark and disturbing nature. The tragic ending and the protagonist’s downfall didn’t make for a satisfying read. Additionally, the complexity of the ancient Greek language and dramatic structure made it challenging for me to fully appreciate the play. It was a great semester though and I hope it went well for all.
Daily Archives: May 15, 2023
A story I found very meaningful is the first reading we were assigned, “The Handsomest Drowned Man In the World.” I really like the magical realism quality; it makes me think of ancient mythology and the origins of storytelling. The union of men and women coming together for a greater, peaceful good is also a lovely message that I find very enriching. A group of coming of age stories I also found meaningful are “Salvation,” “The Lesson,” “Araby,” “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “The House on Mango Street.” Seeing the young protagonists of these stories having these experiences and epiphanies that are guiding them into their adult life, or the mysterious dark fate for Connie in “Where Are You Going, Where Have you Been?”, is so powerful. The readings I enjoyed the least are the British poems and sonnets. I can’t help but find them too rigid. I have never been the biggest Shakespeare fan. I really enjoyed the wide variety of readings and exchanging thoughts about them with everyone in the class.
One of the most important readings of this semester was “ The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. Reason being is because there are a lot of kids out there that live in poverty and have goals and dreams and determination of one day being better than they are right now or have a dream of moving their family out of that situation. It has the most meaning because it is a story I can relate to. One story that was my least favorite was “ The House on Maple Street” . The reason being is because they broke up the story in parts that I felt didn’t correlate with the first issue. Also in the first paragraph the main character was giving an expression of being ungrateful and unappreciated of the things her family is trying to do for them even though they’re accomplishing things that were said but wasn’t how it was stated I felt like she needed to be proud of things she did have.
The reading that had the most meaning to me was “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. It was a story that I used to reflect on where I was coming from; just a little girl who grew up in Jamaica wishing she could come to America to live the “American Dream” to where she is presently. Many kids don’t get the opportunity to explore and come out of their comfort zone, and to see Ms. Moore takes her time to educate these children for they to see the other side of what luxury looks like and know they one day can be able to afford anything they like or to achieve anything they put their mind to. Many kids don’t get the opportunity to leave their community, especially when they grow up in the “ghetto.” One of the characters that stood out for me was Sylvia. She could see firsthand how privileged the upper class was compared to the low-income class, which she was in. The trip for Sylvia and the rest of the children were a learning experience not to take their education for granted because one thing is for sure, no one can take your education from you, and not because you grew up in a low-income household doesn’t means you’ll be there for the rest of your life. Education is the key for you to get anywhere in society. There was no reading I liked the least; I learned something from each lesson throughout the semester.
The story that had the most meaning to me this semester was, “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bamabara. This story had lots of meaning to my culture and is very relatable. Not only did it include AVEE which means African American Vernacular English, it had showed how just one person in a kids life could change a lot for a kid. Miss Moore being generous and took time out her life to try and show these kids better then what they are used too. Most of the kids before Miss Moore took them on trips, never even knew places like this existed or even the prices on items, people can afford. The one student who took most of what Miss Moore was saying and wanted a change in her life was Sylivia. One of the many children who went on trips with miss Moore seen the outside world of Harlem and by the end wanted a change. I didn’t find any story bad in my opinion.
The three prior assumptions I made during and after reading the poem, “The Mother”, I assumed that it was going to be a simple poem that I can easily understand and know exactly what I am reading about. ” Abortions will not let you forget. You remember the children you got that you did not get, ” Through this sentence I knew what I would be reading and thought to myself “I have a clear vision and explanation about what the meaning of this poem would be.” However as I continued to read I fell off track and thought to deeply and assumed that maybe it won’t be a simple poem that I would understand and that there could be another meaning that I was unaware about. However as the lines as the poem continued, ” If I poisoned the beginnings of your breaths, Believe that even in my deliberateness I was not deliberate. Though why should I whine, Whine that the crime was other than mine?— Since anyhow you are dead.” After reading I understood this poem clear after not overthinking and reading with a clear mind with deep understanding because I struggle with interpreting poems.
The specific observations Of the story “Little Snow White” that strike to me as relevant is the womanly feeling of insecurity, empowerment and jealousy. The stepmother is obsessed with being seen as the most beautiful that she will go through great measures to make sure her only competition and the only girl to be seen as beautiful as her is dead. “The queen took fright and turned yellow and green with envy. From that hour on whenever she looked at Snow-White her heart turned over inside her body, so great was her hatred for the girl. The envy and pride grew ever greater, like a weed in her heart, until she had no peace day and night.” To feel such hatred for a girl only because of her beauty is a shallow, insecure thing of a woman to do. The position of a woman and her role compared to a man is relevant and seen in this story as well. The way the dwarfs allow her to stay because she is so beautiful, they expect her to do her womanly duties such as clean and cook while they do their jobs outside in the world. “The dwarfs said, “If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything clean and orderly, then you can stay with us, and you shall have everything that you want.” It also brings into light how beauty in a girl can affect her life in beneficial ways where she is more likely to receive help and how it can be negatively affected in a sense where other woman would be jealous where they will wish bad upon you or do bad to you themselves.
1.”The Family of Little Feet” is the vignette that took me off guard unexpectedly. Esperanza and her friends discover a pair of high-heeled shoes in the cellar in this particular episode. The stark contrast between the little girls’ innocent demeanor and the high heels, which stand for femininity and adulthood, astonished me. It made me rethink my own presumptions and challenged cultural conventions and expectations. 2. The vignette that intrigued me the most is “Red Clowns.” The moment Esperanza describes the arrival of two nuns in the neighborhood dressed in red dresses and wearing makeup, my curiosity was piqued. It challenged my preconceived notions of how nuns are typically portrayed, creating a stark contrast between their unconventional appearance and their religious role. This intriguing image leaves me pondering the nuns’ motives and the complexity of their identities. What led them to adopt such a playful and unconventional image? How do they reconcile their spiritual calling with their individuality? The vignette “Red Clowns” serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between spirituality and personal expression, and it continues to captivate my imagination. 3. The vignette that puzzled me is “The Three Sisters.” As Esperanza visits the three elderly sisters believed to possess magical abilities, I found myself grappling with the blurred line between reality and mysticism. The sisters’ prophetic words regarding Esperanza’s future, her departure from Mango Street but also her eventual return, left me puzzled. Are the sisters truly able to see into the future? Or do their prophecies represent symbolic aspirations and hopes for Esperanza’s future? This vignette raises questions about the nature of fate, destiny, and the power of belief. It both captivates and perplexes me, as I attempt to unravel the layers of meaning behind the sisters’ predictions.
