Final Discussion

In the semesters reading I believe that had the most meaning to me was “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara because in the story, during the trip, the children are accompanied by Miss Moore, a woman who aims to teach them an important lesson about social inequality and economic disparity. As the children explore the store and encounter expensive toys, they begin to realize the stark contrast between their own impoverished lives and the luxurious lifestyles of others. The meaningful aspect of the story lies in the children’s growing awareness of the economic disparities and the injustices they face. It exposes the stark reality of social and economic inequality, as well as the impact it has on individuals and communities. The story raises questions about the distribution of wealth and opportunities, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities. “The Lesson” is significant because it sheds light on the pervasive issues of poverty and social injustice, while emphasizing the power of knowledge and self-awareness in confronting these challenges. It serves as a reminder of the need for empathy, understanding, and collective action to address systemic inequalities and create a more just society. And I enjoyed the rest of the readings, but “The Lesson” stood out to me more.

The reading that I found the most meaningful from this semester was “Araby” by James Joyce because the narrative emphasizes the boy’s environment’s limitations and restrictions. The boy’s limited options and his life’s stagnation are reflections of the harsh social and religious climate. I can relate to this since I’ve faced similar obstacles or been confined by certain circumstances in my life. In addition, “Araby” examines how innocence is lost and the harsh truths of life. The kid is exposed to adult life by traveling to Araby, where he discovers indifference and learns that his romantic desire is pointless. I can relate to this sense of losing innocence as I recall on my own times of disappointment and the inevitable passage from childhood to maturity. With that being said the majority of the other pieces I’ve read during this class I found interesting. The one I liked the least has to be “House on Mango Street” simply because it was a piece I’ve read numerous times in the past.

The reading I liked the most was “Araby” by James Joyce. This had the most meaning for me because the author shows how everything one desires is not always attainable and having high hopes, living in an illusion that just exists in one’s mind can lead to disillusionment, something all of us will experience throughout our lives in order to learn, making the right decisions in a future and grow mature. The one I liked the least was “Oedipus the King” because I found it too long and boring. I had a hard time engaging with the reading and actually paying attention to it, however, it teaches a great lesson.

During this semester, the text I liked the most was “Araby” by James Joyce, and the one I liked the least was probably “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles. I liked Araby, because it’s a story about love and how it sucks sometimes. The story is relatable for anyone who has ever been on the wrong side of unrequited love or who has ever felt let down by life. On the other hand, I didn’t really like “Oedipus the King” because he killed his dad and married his mom. The story is pretty sad, bloody, and gross. He eventually gouges out his eyes and exiles himself. One thing I did like about the story was the sphinx, because I like mythological creatures, and like the sphinx, the Greek mythos has many interesting and intelligent creatures and monsters. The story also uses dramatic irony, where you know more than the characters do, which makes you feel like everything is doomed and hopeless.

“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara stood out to me the most and made a lasting effect of all the texts we read this semester. This short story honestly spoke to me since it dives into the harsh truths of social inequity and the transformational power of education. It follows, Sylvia, and her circle of friends as they confront the inequalities between their lives and the lives of the rich. “The Lesson” stuck with me because it emphasized the huge role of education in breaking free from the cycle of poverty. It reminded me that information has the capacity to empower people and enable them to combat injustices in society. It was very interesting to witness Sylvia’s shift from ignorance to awareness, and it served as a reminder of the benefits that education can give. On the other side, “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles was the least enjoyable reading this semester. While I realize its historical relevance, its tragic and dismal themes did not truly resonate with me. My own tastes weren’t in line with the examination of fate, guilt, and self-discovery. Furthermore, the play’s use of antiquated language and intricate structure made it difficult for me to connect with the text completely. Nonetheless, I recognize the play’s literary significance.      

There were quite a few stories that I enjoyed reading this semester, but I must say “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” definitely kept me on my toes while reading. There was so much suspense while reading this, and although the ending was extremely sad, because we don’t know what ended up happening with Connie, this was one of my favorite reads because as a woman, I can feel for Connie. The world we live in can be so cruel towards us women, and some may not realize it. As women, we have to be extremely careful of our surroundings and the type of people we associate ourselves with. One of the stories that I probably did not enjoy as much was “Salvation”. Although the story itself and the way it was written was great, I wasn’t really into it while reading. There was a lack of attention from my end. I feel like I didn’t enjoy reading “Salvation” because I couldn’t really relate to it.

I must say I have enjoyed many of the readings throughout this course so it’s difficult to choose one that resonated with me because many of them did in a way. One story I related to on a personal level was “The Lesson” which I chose to do my essay on. This story reminded me of myself growing up in the impoverished neighborhoods of New York City and wondering how I could make it out. The story touched me deeply and I felt compelled to write about it. I too learned many lessons as a child and adolescent, some not so easy to swallow. However I do believe that adversity builds character, and in this story the lesson strengthened the character and hopefully the reader. Another story that resonated with me was “Where are you going, where have you been”. This antagonist in this book Arthur Friend stood out to me for the simple reason that during this time I was reading a book called “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson. The antagonist in this book based in the late 1800s was one of the first recorded serial killers Dr. H.H. Holmes. The characters have many similarities, what really made some connections for me was the reference to Arthur Friend as “Arch Fiend” and as the devil. In the overview of the story this was pointed out in great detail. The descriptions of Arthur Friend and Holmes were so glaring that it was a bit of serendipity for me as I was reading these stories at the same time. Holmes was also referred to as “the devil’ and “arch fiend” among many other monickers. He also stalked women who were his primary victim, women like Connie. The timing was just too good. The story that resonated with me […]

Of all that we read this semester, ‘On Her Own Work’: The Element of Suspense in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find.’” had the most meaning to me and it was one I enjoyed reading this semester. My mind tends to drift off and I zone out sometimes while reading something. However, when this was assigned to read for class, it kept me intrigued and invested in what will happen next. The twist of events and how things turned out for the old lady and her family, followed by sudden choices and the ending kept me on track and I truly enjoyed it. I enjoyed House on Mango Street as well. Certain vignettes were relatable in terms of “never finding a home”, to live in a place that is not so great and the living conditions aren’t the best, and the narrator’s perspective on life. The reading that was my least favorite was Oedipus. Though it is great story and Oedipus finding out about his fate and the true state of his life was a great twist of events and plot of the story, I read this in senior year of high school. To be able to receive it as a reading was memorable for me. However, I had remembered what happened as I first read it in high school, so the events weren’t surprising or shocking to me.

The reading that I liked the most this semester was “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner because it represented old school and new school mindsets and how neither one is better than the other. For example, the grandmother was a traditional, racist Southern woman and the kids demonstrated the innocence of the newer generation, there was also very clear hypocrisy. Also, I just found it amusing that the grandmother caused the family’s death and she was the main one trying to lead them, and I know that even though the son wanted to keep driving, he respected his mom, as she is his elder and listened to her which caused their demise. I also enjoyed “Little Snow White” because that’s a fairy tale I grew up on as a child and now I can read it as a sinister fairy tale versus how I used to read it as just a simple princess love story. The reading that I liked the least was Oedipus the King by Sophocles because Greek plays has always been my weakness due to the vernacular. I had to re-read certain parts over in order to understand the characters roles and what they were talking about because it also jumped a lot to different characters.

It is very difficult to say which of the readings I liked the most, since there were a lot of interesting texts that made me think about many topics. However, I can say that most of all I was hooked by the stories devoted to the problem of  woman position in society. “Wife” “The Story of an Hour” is very capacious and filled with emotion and meaning work touched me the most. Just as interesting was the article about the real cult of femininity. Therefore, I would rather single out the 9th week as the most important for me, probably because this topic is a burning issue to me. Another reminder of what place we occupy in society, and we are in general. And I can’t help but mention two stories that keep me in great tension: “a good man is hard to find” and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. In these stories, I was struck by the plot, and how it kept me in suspense throughout the entire reading process, and in the second case, I can say that I haven’t experienced anything like that for a long time, it’s even hard to describe. If we talk about the story that caught on the least, then probably it will be  “Araby”. Partially, probably, because I basically like stories in which I can associate myself with someone, in which topics close to me are raised, although this probably reveals me as a slightly narrow-minded person, but still. I can’t say that I was imbued with the existential problems of this boy.

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.  

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.