THE LAST BLOG

Thank God it this is finally our last blog. I do not think I could handle one more of these. Five hundred words have proven to be much more than I anticipated. Let’s see, what should I talk about… Well first of all, I think that our last seminar on “A Good man is Hard to Find” was pretty successful. Everybody assumed their typical positions- Max took his usual cynical outlook, Prosper attempted to bring in Bible verses in every scenario, Jonathan threw in some commentary for my own entertainment, and it got pretty heated. I think I will miss the enthusiasm of my first period peers. But anyways, personally, I think that The Misfit is exactly that of a distorted Christ figure. The Misfit ironically saves the grandmother in the end by shooting her. He has opened the grandma’s eyes and she can finally see things clearly. He even mentions that she would have been a good lady if someone shot her every second of her life. So, he acknowledges that she is saved in the end. He realizes that his actions made her a good lady. Also, he goes from believing that murder is a pleasure to shortly after discovering that it is not. In the end, it is almost as if he is plagued by this duty to continue on his evil ways, perhaps for the better of humanity. He has given up his life to save others. Although it is cruel and bizarre, The Misfit certainly has Christ-like characteristics. I think that he becomes so solemn in the end because he has accepted his fate and looks at murder as a job rather than a pleasure. The Misfit is a smart guy; he is just a bit confused on his path in life. What he knows for certain though is that his murders made someone good and I think he knows how rare it is to find a genuinely good person. I am not really sure what Flannery O’Connor’s goal was. I guess she had a lot in mind. Obviously hypocrisy is evident throughout the story so I guess she felt the need to satirize society in that matter. Another interesting thing to think about is that maybe Max was right and there really was not much meaning behind this story. Although where is the fun in that? I guess it could just be about an annoying old lady getting what she deserves but then the ending would not really make sense. That is why I am pretty sure there is a deeper purpose behind this. In the lit book Flannery O’Connor makes some comments on this story saying that The Misfit is not a Christ Figure and that there is hardly any symbolism. But all of the notes on her emphasize her Catholicism and her common use of a distorted Christ figure. O’Connor was probably just being sassy when she said what is in the lit book. Well, that’s all for now folks. yayyyy

The Grandma

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a very odd short story. Firstly, the grandma is super annoying. She never seems to stop talking and she passes judgment on everyone and everything. She is incredibly egotistical because she never stops talking about her wants, her needs, or her opinions. Furthermore, her entire family is killed entirely because of the grandma’s actions. Had the grandma listened to the other adults for a second none of the murders would have occurred. She brought her cat when she was asked not to, she lied to the kids, and she did not admit her mistakes. Also, she even fakes an injury to be sympathized with… Her pride and self-admiration is what ultimately kills the family. She also never asks the Misfit to spare her family. She only wishes for him to spare herself. Even after she had ruined everything she is still only thinking about herself. In this story, everything is according to the grandma. Things are good only if she deems them so and she believes that people should live by her moral standards. She basically inconveniences everyone for her own selfish desires. It is interesting because The Misfit is actually a very self-aware and non-judging person. He seems very wise actually. When I was reading the story I really did not mind The Misfit even though he murders people for the sake of it. The grandma’s last line is thought-provoking when she says “you’re one of my own children!”  (508). I think that this is some sort of moment of enlightenment for the grandma. Maybe she realizes that it is not all about her. I think she begins to care about The Misfit just as she should care for her own children. At this moment, I think some of her egocentrism has diminished. O’Connor makes some powerful remarks throughout the story. I think that the main point is to consider others in everything. Nobody is worthy to pass judgment, and those who pass judgment are those who will suffer. The grandma considers herself a good Christian lady, but she is definitely hypocritical. Maybe by the end she is actually a Christian when she realizes that she is equal to The Misfit. I am not really sure what the whole deal is with her being obsessed with being a lady. To her, it is as if being a lady is the best thing a person can be. She even begs The Misfit not to kill her simply because she is a lady. A lady is a woman who obeys societal expectations of a woman: politeness, Christian views, femininity, etc. I guess the grandma believes that because she is a lady, she is superior to most people. This short story is very strange. I like it, but it definitely has a shocking twist to it. The grandma got what was coming to her which was sad but well deserved in some ways. 

The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde was quite the witty character. I never imagined that I would find The Importance of Being Earnest to be so funny. Now that we are nearly finished, it’s cool to see all of the connections. First we have Jack who is interested in Gwendolyn. He is incredibly responsible and has a high moral tone in the country for his ward, Cecily. However, he has a double life. He is also a more care-free person called Ernest. It is obviously ironic that a name such as Ernest would be the name for a double life. Perhaps Wilde is noting that what appears earnest is most likely not earnest at all. Then there is Algernon. He is incredibly sarcastic and cynical, but also the voice of truth about society. Ironically, Algernon is almost never telling the truth about personal matters. He too has an alter ego which he calls “Bunburrying”. So, both Jack and Algernon lead double lives as a way to escape the real world. Next there is Lady Bracknell. She is something else. Lady Bracknell is the epitome of what was wrong with society at the time. Everything trivial she takes seriously and everything serious she takes trivially. She cares deeply about social standing and outer appearance. However, she is rather indifferent to actual feelings. To Lady Bracknell, life is a business deal. Also, we have our dear air-headed young women, Gwendolyn and Cecily. They are essentially the same person. They are dead set on marrying men named Ernest but could not care less if the men they marry are actually earnest. Evidently, the girls care more about how the world sees a person named Ernest rather than the actual character of the person. Both of them are completely lied to by their beaus to the point where they pretty much know nothing about them. Yet, they quickly forgive them once the men express their love for the ladies. Wilde seems to be commenting a bit on the role of women in society. He apparently finds women superficial and dumb. I suppose it makes sense that Wilde was into guys. It is interesting that this entire play is based on materialistic awards. The love that the couples have for one another is halted because a) the men’s names are not actually Ernest b) Jack has no important background or name for himself. Their relationships are fueled by a) Cecily’s million dollar fortune b) their names potentially being Ernest c) Jack’s habit of smoking. Okay, obviously something is wrong with this society. Life at this time period is strictly money, names, and deception. As long as the lie is good, it is acceptable. Basically all society wanted was for society to approve of them. The members of society trapped themselves in a vicious cycle of superficiality and snootiness. Overall, I like this play. It is short, funny, and satirical. It brings up some interesting points about society that are still relevant today and probably always will be.

Middlesex

I really enjoyed reading Middlesex for my free-choice. I have unfortunately not been reading very much on my own this year, so it was awesome to read a book that I would have chosen for myself had I walked through Barnes and Noble. I find it interesting that literally every character has a battle to fight. Desdemona and Lefty are plagued by their incestuous relationship and must live their life in secret and also they must face whatever consequences their relationship might create. Additionally, Milton and Tessie struggle to be successful within American society. Milton struggles to support his family while Tessie struggles to accept her children and embrace their lifestyles. Additionally, they have to deal with Chapter Eleven’s bizarre phases and Calliope’s unique condition. Speaking of Chapter Eleven, the name says it all. The term “Chapter Eleven” can be associated with United States code for bankruptcy. So, Chapter Eleven must deal with the financial ruin that he digs himself into. Also, throughout the novel he tries to find himself through drug experimentation and free thinking. He battles society and himself all throughout Middlesex. And of course Calliope has his/her own battle to fight. She struggles to first be the girl that she is expected to be. She becomes frustrated with her slow physical development and her awkward body appearance. By the end of the book, Callie has become Cal and he thus now battles to be a perfect male. Although Cal has endured all types of difficulties in life, he still struggles to be completely comfortable with himself. Every other character really had an issue of some sort as well. I like that Eugenides includes every character’s personal battle because he is able to include the reader in one way or another. Some of my favorite parts of the novel were the discreet things. I love how Desdemona’s spoon predicts Calliope’s sex even though it appears to be incorrect. It was kind of a battle between old world cultures versus the new world cultures, and in this case, old world wins. I also love that his name is Calliope. In Greek Mythology, Calliope is the muse of poetry. She wrote several epics such as the Odyssey and Iliad. It makes sense that Cal, being named after her, is on an adventure of his own. Attempting to live life as a hermaphrodite is brave and dangerous, just like the men Calliope wrote about in her poems. Also, I like that hair is a symbol throughout the novel. Desdemona is forced to chop her hair when she enters America. This symbolizes the shedding of her old life. Later, Cal discusses the constant waxing that women must endure. Again, hair is used, this time to portray the beginning of womanhood. Lastly, Callie becomes Cal by chopping her long hair into a boy’s haircut. She has abandoned her life as a girl just as Desdemona abandoned her life in Greece. Eugenides’ use of so many minute details makes for a wonderful read. 

Cavalier Poems

I like the cavalier poems because I like that they are relatively straight forward. Of course, the poems can still contain deeper meaning, but for the most part, I think they are what they are. Like in class today, I disagreed with some of my peers’ interpretation of “To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars”. I understand where some of them might have seen a battle of love between one another or some sort of love triangle, but it just does not add up. To me, Lovelace is clearly declaring his love for war as greater than his love for his lover. I just do not think that there is more to really say. It is beautifully written, and the idea is interesting and captivating, but in my opinion, it is not meant to be looked at too deeply. Some poems are written to be witty and straightforward and not all poems necessarily need to be scrutinized so severely to where it changes the poet’s original meaning. Well that is how I see it anyway. I like the reoccurring theme of “Carpe Diem”. I know that the phrase can be used in destructive ways, but in life, I have found this quote to be incredibly important. When I think about it, the most spontaneous and sporadic things that I have done have been some of my best memories. Like I said, some people (such as many of the poets we have studied) tend to take this saying a little out of hand. But all in all, taking advantage of every opportunity is a great way to live. The people only thinking of the future might forget to live in the present. Every second is a gift and nobody knows what life will bring. You might as well live life to the fullest because tomorrow is not definite. The bird imagery used throughout some of the poems is a cool concept. Birds migrate with the seasons, almost as if they carry time or something. Also, they shed their feathers as if starting anew. Furthermore, birds chirp in the morning and owls hoot at night. For centuries, people depended on birds for a wake up call… it is interesting to think that birds are programmed to be our natural alarm clock and also clock. Birds are also fast and they do not live particularly long. Likewise, time is rapid and the more time has been spent, the less a person has to live. By living minute by minute, one is keeping up with time. But unfortunately, it is easy to let time’s rapid pace pass us by. So, I guess the term “time flies” is appropriately deemed. Overall, I’m enjoying this segment of poetry although I find it difficult to discuss for too long of a time. I suppose most poems can be looked at more deeply, but I feel like these are meant to personally relate to the individual reading them. So, no analysis can really capture how one is personally affected by it.

The Epic of Calliope

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, is so far a captivating read. The content is rather controversial and unique which makes it a book that is incredibly difficult to put down. I like how Eugenides has the main character be the narrator as well. Cal’s story telling makes the novel scientifically informative and all the while entertaining. It is interesting how he goes all the way back to his grandparents to discuss the beginnings of his mutation. Cal seems like a great guy. He has gone through the entire trauma one can surely take in a life, yet he talks almost light heartedly. I suppose with his situation one almost has to take it light heartedly. His story of his grandparents is intriguing and incredibly disturbing…  I do not get squeamish about much. I can handle the whole hermaphrodite ordeal, but incest… It is hard to swallow. Although, it is cool to see the roots of his family just because it makes the novel more intimate and it has certainly made me attached to their Greek family heritage. Although his grandparent’s situation is bizarre, the way that Cal tells the story also makes it semi understandable. It is still very difficult for me to wrap my head around it, but the entire chapter based solely on explaining the chain of events helps me slightly grasp the concept. Regardless, it is pretty weird. But anyways, I am still trying to figure out why his brother is named Chapter Eleven. Hmmm.. Also, Calliope is the muse of epic poetry in Greek Mythology. She apparently always carries around a tablet and is the wisest of the Muses. She is supposedly also the inspiration of the Odyssey and Iliad. So, it seems that the main character, Calliope or Cal, is very intelligent. This is already evident. The first couple of pages make him sound as if he is a science experiment. So, Cal is exposed to the various depths and complexities of science which thus suggests that he is educated far beyond his years. Also, the fact that the Greek Muse Calliope created the most famous epic adventures suggests that Cal will be enduring an adventure of his own. As a hermaphrodite, I would certainly think that his life would be an adventure. “Adventure” suggests over coming obstacles, achieving tasks, and discovering something new. Maybe Middlesex will do just that. Furthermore, Calliope may have been the lover of a war god. In parallel, I am certain that Cal’s condition creates a war amongst society and his friends and family. Lastly, “Calliope” means “beautiful voiced”. Just as Calliope the Greek Muse told poetry, Cal is eloquently telling his story. Perhaps his name means “beautiful-voice” because he is a voice of reason and intrigue. I am not sure what all will happen in this novel, but I am sure it will include times of trial and harshness. But, by barely even reading the novel it is apparent that he has overcome his obstacles and is living to tell his epic. 

Gatsby and such

Today in class I realized that I would be happy to read any of the lit-circle book choices. I’m looking forward to reading something enjoyable but also with literary value. It was cool to see how the opening couple pages really do reveal so much about a book. Like you said, we definitely have become better readers. Now I do not know if I can read a book or watch a movie without attempting to analyze it… This is somewhat concerning to me. It is safe to say that your teaching is rubbing off on us. I think that all of us are AP-litting things we never imagined we would. I think over the summer I will try to read all of the books that you listed because they all seem like they will be beneficial to have read for college, and they sound interesting. Also, I started to do my part of the major works chart and quickly remembered how much I like The Great Gatsby. I think I enjoy it so much because I am intrigued by the twenties. I just like the fact that the twenties were so rebellious and everything seemed so glamorous. When I picture the upper class described in The Great Gatsby, I imagine them all to be incredibly attractive. Nick definitely has swag. The guy is level headed, relatively wealthy, and in my mind, attractive. Gatsby is a bit of a mess, but hey, he throws some killer parties. Tom is a jerk but still ends up with Daisy, so props to him. Overall, these men create quite the prime cast of 1920’s men. Also, The Great Gatsby includes everything anybody could ever want in a book: infidelities, illegal actions, crazy parties, amazing fashion, murder, and mystery. It’s the whole package! It is also a short and quick read. I like the fact that it can be read for enjoyment or looked at in a much deeper meaning. Salinger really exemplifies the likely results of having too great of dreams. Americans have the sense that anything is possible, which I guess it is to a degree, but it is important to keep reality in mind. The characters of The Great Gatsby deeply experience the consequences of avoiding responsibilities and realities. Salinger throws several social criticisms into a seemingly light and entertaining read which is why the book is so brilliant. Overall, The Great Gatsby totally drew me into the story. While I read, I could picture everything so vividly and I felt like I knew all of the characters. I’m glad we had to do a chart on an old book that we have read because it now makes me want to re-read some of the earlier books I read in high school. I am sure I will notice so much more and I will undoubtedly appreciate the novel more. I guess I am going to have a lot to read this summer.