Freedom Breeze

My thoughts on Bastard Out of Carolina

2006-05-03T17:37:00.000-04:00

Dorothy Allison’s writing style in Bastard out of Carolina, was phenomenal, as a result I often got the chills. My heart just poured out for Bone; however, I almost felt like I was reading about Dorothy Allison’s horrific childhood experiences because the abusive events were extremely descriptive. Furthermore, it enrages me to think that people can just abuse children and forget about the damage that they are causing. Since studies show that most children don’t speak up about being abused, just think about how many cases we don’t know about. Young children are developing human beings who have not yet, learned what abuse is and how to deal with the problem, so if they don’t know about it, then they won’t know that it’s wrong.
Throughout much of the novel we understand Bone is struggling as she desperately searches for her self-identity. In the beginning Bone asks her mother, Anney, who her birth father is; however, she never gets a response. Instead of finding Bone’s real father or telling her about him, Anney feels the need to replace him by finding men she thinks will be good fathers, who will love and care for her and her girls. However, I personally think that this was a cover story. I think Anney just wanted a man to love for herself (I realized this much in the end). We clearly detect that Anney is selfish by not taking action when Daddy Glen beats Bone and for that, she is the one to blame for destroying Bone’s self worth. Bone begins to think that she desires the beatings and is afraid if she doesn’t then it will ruin her mom and Daddy Glen’s relationship. Eventually the beatings make her an angry person. On page 262 Allison states, “Anger was like a steady drip of poison into my soul, teaching me to hate the ones that hated me.” The affect of Daddy Glen abusing Bone caused her to not only hate herself but others too. Bone felt trapped because she felt no one could help her so she found ways to cope by becoming angry, using music as therapy, and masturbating. Lastly, I noticed that Daddy Glen felt the need to abuse Bone because it appeared his whole life he strived for the attention/love that Anney gave him. Moreover, it was a competition between him and Bone. Glen felt that Bone had taken away the love that Anney should have been given to him.
Anney looks one way but acts in different way; like Blanchie in A Streetcar Named Desire. She wants people to think that Daddy Glen loved her and the girls so that she could keep him; however, when the truth is revealed she runs away and abandons her girls. On the other hand, Blanchie acts rich when she is really poor and when her truth comes out she denies it and ends up in a mental institute. Both Anney and Blanchie don’t want to face their problems but rather cover up their shameful lifestyles.
I have provided a website that includes a biography of Dorothy Allison and mentions some of her masterpieces if anyone is interested in future readings.

http://www.answers.com/topic/dorothy-allison

I believe as any educator, it my duty to educate my students about abuse and how to approach the problem; however, at what age are we suppose to start talking to children about such an issue?

My interpretation of the “The Underground Stream”

2006-04-24T18:46:00.000-04:00

I am lost when it comes to reading James Dickey poems; however, after our class discussions, I got the general sense that he is trying to convey that humans, nature and animals are all in unison because they are God’s creation. One poem that interests me was “The Underground Stream.” I believe this poem is about a man who died falling into a well after seeing his reflection in the water/stream. Through the stream in the well he is searching for his spirit as he is falling- “I sought how the spirit could fall.” The man, the well, and his spirit become one within the stream. As the man falls into the well he comes closer to his reflection in the water, hits the water and dies- “An eternal grin.” Suddenly, the poem seems to take a twist to where the man is in his grave. He leaves behind a lover and shares a grave with his brother-“I turned from the girl I had found. In a song once sung by my mother, And loved my one true brother.” Although, he shares this grave with his brother he seems to be lonely without his lover-“Gazing up at the sky alone.” Moreover, he is angry with his brother for being in his grave, when it should be his lover beside him-“And claim his own grave face; That mine might live in its place.”

James Dickey poems are extremely hard to follow and interpret so I am sorry if it is difficult to understand my interpretation, but I tried.

Revelation: Mrs. Turpin Deserved It

2006-04-18T18:23:00.000-04:00

Flannery O’Conner is my favorite author so far. I think the reason that I love her writing style so much is because her religious subject becomes somewhat relatable while also being dramatic. They show lots of depth such as, in her story, “Revelation.” Her readers are taken behind the characters thoughts which is very unique and takes talent. Mrs. Turpin wants to be well liked and be known for her great character. On the other hand, she puts on an act for others and thinks differently. To me she resembles a “silent hypocrite.” A “silent hypocrite” is someone who acts one way, but deep down thinks the complete opposite of how they WANT to act but can’t because society or religion rules their decision. In Mrs. Turpin’s case her decision revolves around social class and religion. Her biggest concern is class; however, when Mary grace confronts her by saying “Go back to hell where you came from, you old wart hog, (827)” she is deeply scared and doesn’t feel that she deserved the treatment. Mrs. Turpin was clearly, in denial about her subconscious thoughts. I think she thought that since she acted “Godly” that her “Evil,” thoughts would never be detected by anyone but herself, not even God. Personally, I believe Mrs. Turpin deserved every bit of what she got.

How did Mary Grace know what Mrs. Turpin was thinking? Was it the girl’s intuition that made her dislikes Mrs. Turpin? Was it the way Mrs. Turpin was talking to others that made Mary Grace detect Mrs. Turpin’s “corrupted” or “evil” thoughts?

This is the part that I found the most intriguing. Mary Grace clearly read what Mrs. Turpin was thinking. In many ways Mary Grace resembled God because they say that he knows everything that we are doing, thinking, and saying. Just like God she knew what Mrs. Turpin was all about. Mary Grace discovered Mrs. Turpin’s true character.

Teaching English within a Diverse Classroom

2006-04-09T11:35:00.000-04:00

Everyone is doing a great job on their presentations! However, Amy, Rae, Courtney, and Brian encouraged me to think, specifically, about the type of students that will be within my classroom. Furthermore, some day I may be teaching students who are Native American and/or Southerners (e.g. Red Necks- Brian and Courtney’s subject)

As a future teacher in the field of Education, I must develop a well rounded curriculum for students of many cultures. A cultural diverse classroom often contains an assortment of different family structures, economic backgrounds, cultural heritages, religious beliefs, and regional customs. As a result, I must be sensitive of each student’s individuality.

One essential element within the curriculum is to teach our students to speak and write the English language correctly. However, each student comes from a different background and up bringing. Furthermore, a teacher needs to consider that some students have been taught slang, Ebonics, and English as a second language (such as Native Americans). My questions are: How can a teacher instruct all these students to learn the English language, correctly? Are we forcing our students to speak more like white people or are we instructing them to speak the English language correctly? Do we tell our students that it isn’t proper to use Ebonics or slang (such y’all), if that’s how their region talks? Is the Educational system being judgmental and/or insensitive, to the student’s native language?

Flannery O'Connor

2006-04-05T20:44:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed reading Flannery O’Connor’s stories because her creative, yet peculiar writing kept me interested. Furthermore, I loved her dramatic storylines. The story that I liked the most was “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” I have to admit that when I first read the title I thought the story was going to center around a woman searching for a ‘good’ man that she wanted to marry. However, we later interpret that the title suggests that it is hard to find a good person. I believe O’Connor’s stories are suggesting that there is a little evil in everyone, regardless of how religious they are. The Grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” plays the role as a religious person on the outside but on the inside, she seems somewhat self-centered (evil). Being too self-centered can be a bad thing. She dictated where and what the family did; as a result, they were all killed. The Grandmother was a threat to the Misfit so he decided to kill her; just like Christ was a threat to society. After reading the story, I tried to analyze why Flannery O’Connor had shot the Grandmother three times in the chest; rather than once or twice. When you are doing the “sign of the cross” you touch the middle of your chest (son), then the left side (Holy) and lastly the right side (Spirit). It almost symbolized that she died similarly to Christ. I guess, for me, it seemed a little ironic that he shot her in the chest three times. Why do you think he shot her three times? Could I be right or am I looking too deep? I mean O’Connor is a hard writer to decode.

Here are a few of Flannery O’Connor’s statements that reflect the type of writer she is…

All my stories are about the action of grace on a character who is not very willing to support it, but most people think of these stories as hard, hopeless and brutal.

I don't deserve any credit for turning the other cheek as my tongue is always in it.

Manners are of such great consequence to the novelist that any kind will do. Bad manners are better than no manners at all, and because we are losing our customary manners, we are probably overly conscious of them; this seems to be a condition that produces writers.

http://www.literarytraveler.com/literary_articles/flannery_oconnor.aspx- This is a website that gives information of Flannery O’Connor and her stories.

“A Streetcar Named Desire”

2006-03-27T17:29:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed reading the play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Before our class discussion today I didn’t realize that Stanley raped Blanche. In my notes I wrote “Stanley was a gentleman for carrying Blanche to bed.” I thought that Blanche and Stanley were arguing, she tried to hit him, then she passed out and got tired from all the arguing and drinking (“she sank to her knees”-page 684) and he carried her to ‘her’ bed. While, I knew that he still didn’t like Blanche, I thought he was so happy about the arrival of his baby, that he overlooked her disgusting attitude. Oh well, I guess I was wrong on my interpretation (funny huh). Now that this is clarified I can better understand the conversation that Stella and Eunice had about whether to believe Blanche.
Stella: I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley.
Eunice: Don’t ever believe it. Life has got to go on. No matter what happens, you’ve got to keep going.
Eunice’s response upset me. Her comment implied that life for women will never change and that they need to live with their circumstances. I think that Eunice character can easily be compared to Richard Wright’s attitude about life. While both addressed different topics, they both live in the present and don’t think that within their life time there is going to be any good outcomes.
If I were in Stella’s position, I don’t think I could go on living, thinking that Stanley may have slept with my sister. In the beginning Blanche admitted to flirting with Stanley, so that would make me believe that it really did happen. However, it is Stanley that could easily say Blanche lied because eventually, she gets caught up in her lies. I think that Stanley took advantage of her lies and knew that Stella would believe him over Blanche because she cried wolf too many times. Plus he has complete control over Stella.
Another thing that I found funny was that Stanley tried his hardest to get rid of Blanche by buying her a bus ticket home, but when she wanted to leave he stood in front of the door, trapping her. Although, Stanley’s character is gorgeous (in the movie) I still think Stanley is a jerk for betraying his wife by sleeping with Blanche.

What I liked in "Their Eyes Were Watching God," by Zora Neale Hurston

2006-03-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

I absolutely loved reading “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” by Zora Neale Hurston. She is such a powerful writer who uses creative and colorful passages to enable the reader to create emotions. Lastly, the entire book was full of images. I love Janie, for being such a spontaneous character and often she made me laugh. She fought for what she felt was right in her heart. She was just as hard of a worker as the men. I got the impression that the men expected more of the women, while the men got the pleasure of sitting back watching their wife slave over them and the children. It wasn’t fair and I admire Janie for standing firm in her believes (even though they didn’t have children). I loved her strength.
Throughout reading the book, I had pictured each character in my mind. For me, although it wasn’t stated in the book, I had pictured Janie having muscles and Tea Cake’s being a scrawny man. I don’t know why, because I felt like he did just as much work as Janie, if not more. He wanted to make her happy and for this he is a true gentleman. I can see why she loved him so much. On the other hand, I felt bad for Janie when Mrs. Turner’s brother came home because Janie got beaten for Tea Cake’s jealously. Hurston stated that “Before the week was over he had whipped Janie. Not because of her behavior justified his jealously, but it relieved that awful fear inside him. Being able to whip her reassured him in possession. Not brutal beating at all. He just slapped her around a bit to show he was boss.” I loved this quote because Tea Cake’s felt the need to do this because it not only made him feel better but also because this was the way the husbands were supposes to treat their wife. They were the boss; there was no equal medium back then, but in their relationship there was. Tea Cake’s allows her to have an equal say or he at least wants her to. Another reason why Tea Cake’s beat Janie was because he feared that she would leave him. I felt like Janie allowed him to do this because she knew his intentions and why he did it.
I found it ironic that Mrs. Turner, a black person, does not like other Negroes, especially Tea Cake’s. She wanted to hook Janie up with her brother, another black man. She is a hypocrite. I hated her for this. I felt she wanted to ruin a perfect relationship, because she was jealous of what the two had. I think she wanted to ruin Janie because she was a free spirited woman and was jealous of her strengths. I think deep down inside Mrs. Turner wanted to be Janie.
During the storm scene I laughed when I found out the name, Motor Boat. This name was a clever one. One would think that Motor Boat was going to come out a survivor; instead he wants to stay and sleep and ends up dying. Another thing that popped out was when Janie and Tea Cake’s ended up in a strange place, where Tea Cake’s found himself burying dead people, he felt out of place and hates the job. He wants to move back home where he knows people, even the whites. When he gets home he loves doing the same kind of work, simply because he is surrounded by familiar people. I can’t say that I blame Tea Cake’s because when times are bad we turn to our family and friends who know us best. These are the people who we except to help us gather our strengths.
I wish the book ended with Tea Cake and Janie living happily ever after, but that would be too great. Life wasn’t good for the blacks. Everyday was a struggle for them and that’s why Hurston makes Janie kill her lover; the only person who made her whole. I hope everyone loved reading this book just as much as I did. I found it interesting and believe that Zora Neale Hurston is a brilliant writer. Here are a few websites that I found interesting and could be helpful in the future.
A) http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/hurs-zorx.htm This Website gives a brief description of Zora Hurston and shows an image of her posing as an independent, dignified, and strong woman.
B) http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/zn_hurston.htm This website gives a short description of Hurston and several selected quotations from her.
C) http://www.loa.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=52&section=notes This third website gives us a better understanding on how she became to writing “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” It also offers insight to her other masterpieces.
D) http://www.bookrags.com/notes/tewg/TOP1.html This website maybe helpful for studying for the final. It gives chapter by chapter descriptions on how Janie defined and searched for her identity. It will also reveal the theme of nature. If you go to this website it will help summarize the book. It’s a helpful and great website.

The Ethics of Living Jim Crow

2006-03-09T18:18:00.000-05:00

This was a powerful piece that really touched my heart. The first line of the story expressed that his first lesson in life was to live as a Negro. Life is an experience and everyone learns from their strengths and weaknesses; but for the boy and other Negroes, life was not only about their experiences and lessons but to get in the minds of the whites because the whites were manipulative. For example, they needed to answer “Sir” to any white person and if they found out that you didn’t you were beaten or discriminated against in some form. Now this task may seem easy but god forbid if someone of a colored race messed up they knew about it. If you did say what was proper, the whites would call them forth to humiliate and lie to the Negroes saying they were disrespected. I felt sorry for the boy in the story, but more importantly disguised with the whites for having no respect for others. Although this was a story written awhile ago, it still holds some truth. What I am saying is that discrimination still happens, we see it, ear it, but do we all stop it…No. We may want to but we don’t stop it all the time because maybe we have other things higher on our list of agendas. After reading this story it makes you realize just how discrimination alters ones life. The Negro in the story had so many obstacles to accomplish and he achieved them well or to the best he possibly could before a white person made life harder on him. The boy is stronger and an admirable person for having such courage to put up with the bullying. The phrase “sticks and stones, may break my bones but names will never harm me,” does not hold truth when it comes to reading this story because the boy was challenged with both and bottom line is that they (discrimination and violence) both hurt.

Katherine Anne Porter

2006-02-26T22:49:00.000-05:00

I must say that Katherine Porter’s stories are extremely enjoyable compared to William Faulkner. However, I couldn’t help but to notice that Faulkner and Porter demonstrated an overlap in their writing styles. They both used nature to demonstrate human growth in a world that was transitioning from slavery to emancipation; community to capitalism; a representation of a social hierarchy and birth to death. Regardless the world changes, which Isaac clearly dedicated in “Old People,” and “The Bear.” Once the old people of the past died than a new wave of society would slowly begin to form. Eventually, time would reshape society. The death of Sam Father’s and Old Ben were significant because it symbolized that society was cursed until the old people and their traditions were gone. This theme is also presented in Porter’s story “The Old Order.” Grandmother who was strict and very authoritative eventually dies which symbolized that a new generation would up rise. She dedicated everything her grandchildren did so after her death they were under the full care of their father would enabled them to be set free, just like Old Ben was in “The Bear.”
The next theme that I also found ironic was that both stories illustrated a displacement in family. Isaac was raised by his cousin and Sophia Jane who was superior to Nannie had a sister relationship after being given as a wedding present. The only difference is that Faulkner portrayed women lower in on the social ladder and Porter created woman to be strong figures, especially when for having to pick up the slack from the men’s mistakes, while raising a family.
Thirdly, an illustration that symbolized the past, present, and future was in “The Grave.” After Paul skins the rabbit he and his sister, Miranda discover that the hare was about to have babies. The hare resembling the past was producing the future, her babies which were on the children’s hunting trip, the present. Nature and time are beautifully depicted by both Faulkner and Porter.
Finally, I like how Porter created the discussion between Sophia Jane and Nannie when stating, “They would agree that nothing of as they had known it, the world was changing swiftly, but by the mysterious logic of hope they insisted that each change was probably the last; or if not, a series of changes might bring them, blessedly, back full-circle to the old ways they had known.”

Good luck on the midterm everyone!

Delta Autumn

2006-02-21T23:25:00.000-05:00

Delta Autumn is a highly detailed, yet confusing chapter, which I need clarification on it. In the previous chapter, Isaac believes that the land is cursed which is why he didn’t want to inherit the land. He relies on time to pass in order for the curse to fade. However, he feeds into the curse because he is prejudice in some aspects. He is just like the others, except he doesn’t own slaves. Isaac, now older in Delta Autumn, becomes furious because he doesn’t think society is ready for interracial relationships. But I am confused on who is a descent from whom? Which family member sleep with whom? I left knowing that Isaac was upset when he found out Carothers had a negro son. Isaac wants society to be equal as far as whites allowing the blacks to live their lives separately, but he doesn’t feel that the white and black races should be mixing. He wants separate but equal rights. Faulkner painted Isaac as a hypocritical person. I maybe wrong on my interpretation so if please inform me.

One passage I really liked was when Faulkner explained God’s intentions:
“God created man and He create the world for him to live in and I reckon He created the kind of world He would have wanted to live in if He had been a man-the ground to walk on, the big woods, the trees, and the water, and the game to live in it…”

I agree with Carothers statement because it holds truth when expressing:
“…men behave well solely out of fear of punishment.” For example, most people don’t speed because of fear of getting a ticket or possibly killing an innocent person. Laws are what keep people in order (hopefully). To this end, Carothers statement is truthful.

Pantaloon in Black

2006-02-14T19:32:00.000-05:00

“Pantaloon in Black,” unravels the themes of masculinity and strength. Other than this I don’t see much of a connection with the rest of the book. So why did Faulkner include this? The other parts deal mainly with patrimony and the traits among Father and Son. I still can’t get who is who and who their parents are…but I am trying. Is everyone having a sturggle?

Riders, who is described as a manly African American works at a sawmill, who despite all his strength, can’t get through the grief of his wife’s death. Although, Rider found ways to try to cope by drinking his vision of his wife’s ghost, Mannie shows that there is no way he can escape his feelings. Yet, he refuses to accept any flaws or weaknesses. I liked this trait about Rider because it portrayed a man who was a fighter.
At the end, I felt anger when the sheriff simply over looked the fact that Rider was going through personal struggles and the lynching and instead was more concerned about maintaining a social hierarchy because Birdsong’s son got him elected. It was merely retribution for killing a white man. I was even more annoyed because it seemed like people causal accepted lynching. What did people have no heart? I know it’s just a book that is historically fictional but it makes me ashamed to know that this even existed in history.

Desiree's Baby

2006-02-05T17:29:00.000-05:00

I absolutely loved reading Kate Chopin’s local color fiction, Desiree’s Baby. She brilliantly and uniquely applied symbolism and irony in this short story. When Desiree felt a change in her husband’s manner Chopin describes Armand having the spirit of Satan. Armand wanted to remain ignorant so when Desiree asked Armand to look at his baby he doesn’t and automatically jumps to conclude that she is of the Negro race. His manner pushed Desiree and his baby out of his life, as a result, she returns back to Madame Valmonde. I don’t blame Desiree for leaving him…I would have too!
One line that foreshadowed and suggests that Armand was of the African American race was when Kate Chopin stated, “Armand Aubigny sat in the wide hallway that commanded a view of the spectacle; and it was he who dealt out to a half dozen negroes the materials which kept this fire ablaze.” This line is deep: Armand also known as Satan is the master and father of these slaves that kept the plantation alive and burning. He has come to realize that he is part of them when he reads his mothers letter to his father. He should feel guilty for having pushed Desiree out of his life for he is the one who produced a beautiful biracial baby boy. I wonder if Armand would ever have a chance to make amends with his son now that he knows the truth behind his own history (if there was a sequel).

From Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass

2006-01-31T22:42:00.000-05:00

Fredrick Douglass was a heroic figure in history. His determination to strive for freedom encouraged me to further learn about his struggles in life. Much of his narrative included detailed violence. My heart bleed for the slaves, especially when the overseers got joy from severely beating them. Since interracial mixing among the masters and the slaves occurred, an uninformed white brother would tie up their black brother. Furthermore, I believe many masters kept their slaves ignorant from knowing their age to keep the slaves thinking they were young and were far from being crippled (allowing them to do more work).
Douglass reveals truth and optimistic views when he expressed:
“My treatment, while in his employment was heavenly, compared with that I experienced at the hand of Mr. Edward Convey.”(pg.202) Here he realizes that some masters are better than others so he should be appreciative for the one he has.
“I succeeded in creating in them a strong desire to learn how to read.” (pg202)
“The work of instructing my dear fellow-slaves was the sweetest engagement with which I was ever blessed.” (pg203) These statements show he is fulfilling a goal not only for himself but for others.
I admire Fredrick Douglass for his bravery that enabled him to escape slavery and political speak on behalf of others. In my opinion, Douglass summed slavery up when saying “They had been shut up in mental darkness.”

from Southern Thoughts

2006-01-24T22:05:00.000-05:00

George Fitzhugh's excerpt were intriguing and an eye opener about our past. He makes valid points reguarding slavery and the after affects. I felt like he strongly focused on abloishing slavery for all races; however, he mentioned a great deal about white slavery. In my opinion Mr. Fitzburg nailed history when he stated "The poor produce everything and enjoy nothing." I believe this statement holds real truth.

Respond from the poems and reading

2006-01-22T10:47:00.000-05:00

After reading Phillis Wheatley poems I believe that she was once a slave and used her poetry to escape and release her feelings. I say this because she stated "Muse! bow propitious while my pen relates..." I was wondering if my conclusion seemed reasonable? Do any agree? Her poems offers meaningful messages, depth and clarification but overall, after reading them a few times I enjoyed her poetry. In the last poem I thought she was comparing slavery to Jesus's situation. I translated this poem's message as her forgiving those who took in slaves and to improve life from this day forward.
The readings from Notes on the State of Virginia had similar messages reguarding race and gender. I thought Thomas Jefferson's message was to express that Indian men and women serve different roles in society; however, for white men, women and men should be treated equally as a partnership. He explained every detail in difference between whites and indians even going as far as saying that Indians have less hair on their body. I felt that he was trying to mold the Indians under the white races morals, values, and religion. Although these readings seem confusing I attempted to reveal the message stated. Did everyone understand the readings?

Diane

this is my first post

2006-01-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

Today I am starting my first blog ever for my class at Saint Rose. I am very new to blogging so bare with me. I am interested in learning about this class.