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.
Rashad Greaves
Some specific observation made by Bettlehiem that struck me was the use of the symbolism of the evil stepmother. According to Bettleheim, the villainous female character symbolizes the main character’s inner tensions and tribulations. All three of these works can be viewed from this angle. In “Little Snow White,” Snow White’s struggle with her own burgeoning sexuality and power is represented by her stepmother. Similar to this, Connie’s interaction with Arnold Friend in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” mirrors her internal struggle to claim her identity and negotiate her developing sexuality. The Queen represents Snow White’s inner tensions and wants as she develops her own femininity in Sexton’s poem. Another important insight by Bettleheim is the exploration of themes related to sexual awakening and coming of age. Fairy tales often provide a platform for this exploration, and the selected works are no exception. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the young female characters grapple with their burgeoning sexuality and encounter predatory figures. Bettleheim’s perspective allows us to delve into the psychological implications of these encounters and understand the characters’ struggles to assert their identities amidst external threats.
Different interpretive perspectives are put forward in Rena Korb’s critical overview, providing a place to start in understanding the narrative. However, my interpretation of the story as a study of power relations, particularly those involving gender and sexuality, has shaped my understanding of it. At the heart of the story Arnold Friend, a supposedly charismatic and alluring man who poses a serious threat to the story’s adolescent protagonist Connie, is the central figure. Friend is a multifaceted character whose identity is obscured, rather than just a straightforward predator. He blurs the lines between the masculine and the feminine by embodying both. The way that Friend appears, with his painted-on eyebrows and wig, questions conventional ideas of male strength and attractiveness. He plays on Connie’s anxieties and vulnerabilities while manipulating and intimidating her with his remarks. In this approach, the story could potentially be understood as a critique of the ways in which toxic masculinity and patriarchy are employed to oppress and control women. The men in Connie’s life, from her controlling mother to the scary Arnold Friend, consistently stand in the way of her attempts to claim her own identity and independence. Due to the objectification and sexualization woman experiences from both males and the general public, her sexuality in particular becomes a cause of vulnerability and shame. The story can also be seen as an examination of the dangers of youth and the maturation process. Connie experiences several difficulties as she develops from a naive and self-centered teenager to a more self-aware and compassionate young woman. She is compelled to face both the harsh facts of the world around her and the darker sides of her own ambitions and inclinations. The story can also be seen as an examination of the dangers of youth and the maturation process. Connie […]
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet “How Do I Love Thee?” and the greeting card lyric “Why Do I Love You So Much?” convey love in similar ways but contain different literary aspects. Both pieces convey a strong love and devotion for the subject. The poem by Browning emphasizes on the depth and intensity of love, whilst the card talks of trust and emotional support. The card refers to recollections and dreams, and Browning’s poem makes use of natural images to depict the wide nature of love. Both pieces use imagery to convey their emotions. The way the two pieces use rhyme and meter is the primary difference between them. The card isn’t bound to any particular meter or rhyme scheme, unlike Browning’s sonnet, which adopts the standard rhyme pattern. This shows the differences between a sonnet’s organized shape and a greeting card’s free-verse style. Browning’s poem has the well-known phrase “How do I love thee? “Let me count the ways,” she says, emphasizing how extensive her devotion is. The card, on the other hand, emphasizes the value of trust in a relationship by stating, “Because I trust you more than anyone in the world,” which communicates affection.
For my research essay, I will be using “Salvation” by Langston Hughes The short story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes explores the themes of faith, spirituality, and the pressures and consequences of religious belief through the experience of a young boy who attends a revival at his aunt’s church. The secondary source information I will be using to support my thesis will be a biographical/informational article. The database I’ve used so far is JSTOR. You can discover a wide selection of biographical and informational articles on a variety of subjects thanks to JSTOR’s access to thousands of scholarly journals, books, and other resources.
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.
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 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.
“For whoso slew that king might have a mind To strike me too with his assassin hand. Therefore in righting him I serve myself This passage reflects Oedipus’ sense of duty as a king to seek justice and to protect his people, but it also reflects his personal motivation to protect himself. Oedipus is aware that if the murderer of King Laius is not found, he himself may be the next target. In this way, Oedipus’ search for the murderer serves a dual purpose: to protect his own life and to uphold justice for the sake of his people. The passage also suggests a deeper message about the interconnectedness of humanity. Oedipus recognizes that the murder of King Laius not only affected the royal family but also had repercussions for the entire city of Thebes. In seeking justice for the king’s death, Oedipus is serving not only his own interests but also the interests of his people. Overall, this passage conveys a message about the importance of acting with a sense of duty and responsibility towards others. It reminds us that our actions have consequences and that we are all interconnected in ways that we may not always realize.
In the story “Araby,” the boy is about 12 years old and has a crush on a girl who lives across the street. He spends a lot of time daydreaming about her and imagines himself as a brave knight who will win her heart. One day, the girl mentions that she would like to go to the Araby bazaar, a market that sells exotic goods. The boy sees this as an opportunity to impress her by buying her a gift at the bazaar. He becomes very excited and starts making plans to go. However, he has to wait until his uncle comes home to give him money for the bazaar. When his uncle finally arrives, it is already late and many of the stalls are closing. The boy rushes to find a gift for the girl, but he is too late and most of the good items have already been sold. Feeling disappointed and disillusioned, the boy realizes that his romantic ideas and dreams were not realistic. He sees the bazaar as a symbol of his lost innocence and the harsh reality of the adult world. He understands that he can never go back to his childlike beliefs and that he must face the challenges of adulthood.
The two characters I picked from “The lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara are Sugar and Sylvia. In this story, a well-educated woman named Miss Moore has taken it upon herself to expose the unappreciative children of the neighborhood to the world outside of their broken-down community. The location where the central part of the story takes place is the FAO Schwarz Toy Store in Manhattan. Slyvia, the Black narrator, and her younger cousin Sugar are roped into accompanying Miss Moore on an educational day trip. Slyvia and Sugar dislike Miss Moore because of her “proper” way of speech and her preaches about the value of money but Sylvia would much rather spend the day at the pool or the movies where she and Sugar can “terrorize the West Indian Kids and take their hair ribbons and their money too. When the group arrived at Fifth Avenue the children begin to look through the windows at the toys on display. They’re astonished by both the high price tags and the items themselves: Big Butt wishes he could afford a $300 telescope, and all of the children are shocked by a $480 paperweight. The kids are particularly fascinated by a toy sailboat that costs $1,195, and they wonder why any parents would ever spend that much money on a toy when it would be so fragile, and they could just make their own toy boat for cheaper. Eventually, Miss Moore suggests that they go into the store. Sylvia and Sugar lead the way, but both of them feel suddenly anxious and ashamed as they get to the front door. Sylvia remembers feeling the same way when she and Sugar snuck into a Catholic Church—they were going to pull a prank on the parishioners, but Sylvia couldn’t go through with it
The boy in the story “Salvation” By Langston Hughes experienced a wide range of emotions while in the church. The boy expresses the values of trust and respect for his elders shown in paragraph two. He believes he will see Jesus because he heard his aunt and many old people explain that Jesus would come to him. He also expresses the value of honesty. In paragraph fifteen Hughes reveals the pain he feels for lying about seeing Jesus. He stated, “I was crying because I couldn’t bear to tell her that I had lied, that I had deceived everybody in the church” (15). Along with values and emotion, Hughes expresses self-definition. In the first paragraph, he states that he is a sinner. He also defines himself as a calm and thoughtful child. In Paragraph two he explains that he sat “calmly in the hot, crowded church, waiting for Jesus.” The boy is heavily anticipating the arrival of Jesus stated in paragraph 5 “Still I kept waiting to see Jesus. In the final paragraph, the boy regretted lying to his aunt, and to everyone in the church, he stated he was ashamed of himself and that he cried while he was in bed. He stated, “I cried, in bed alone, and couldn’t stop…[my aunt] woke up and told my uncle I was crying because the Holy Ghost had come into my life and because I had seen Jesus. But I was crying because I couldn’t bear to tell her that I had lied, that I had deceived everybody in the church, that I hadn’t seen Jesus, and that now I didn’t believe there was a Jesus anymore, since he didn’t come to help me. The boy started to question his belief after not being saved by Jesus, and that’s when […]
