"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is a short story based on the trip an Indian-American family takes to India. The story uses multiple examples of foreshadowing that I caught onto very easily in the short story. The first, and most important, example of foreshadowing is when Mr. Kapasi observes, "That this boy was slightly paler than the other children" (Lahiri, 151). The second I read this passage of the story, I knew there was a secret that was unknown to the reader. This statement just screamed "PAY ATTENTION!" to me. By making this observation, I started making assumptions and my own thoughts on how the story was going to end. Through creating these assumptions, the author was able to inadvertently build suspense on how what would happen next. It was almost dissapointing to find out that I was right, Mrs. Das had cheated on her husband. She was so caught up in the fact that her marriage was doing downhill that she allowed herself to make a careless mistake. Since I was able to predict that this is what had occurred, I did not find it to be a surprise when Mrs. Das made this confession to Mr. Kapasi.

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

The short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker illustrates a variety of past memories and explains the personality of each character in order to explain a small event that occurs. In order to convey this information, Walker examines every bit of detail in order to explain how much meaning there is to the details. One way in which Walker conveys this information is through the use of simile. When explaining the narrator of the story, the narrator states that, "I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man" (Walker, 174). This offers insight that the narrator is not really observed by most people as a female. The narrator is not very attractive, and tends to accomplish, with ease, the jobs that most men would do. This simile helps to establish how different this mother is from her two daughters. Even though Maggie is also unattractive, their personalities are way different. Dee has the more outgoing and established personality like her mother. All of these personal appearances and personalities end up clashing at the end of this short story. I feel as though Maggie and Dee take their mother's personalities to the extremes.

"Hazel Tells LaVerne" by Katharyn Howd Machan

Hazel Tells LaVerne by Katharyn Howd Machan is a poem very similar to the story of The Frog Prince  but has a very different end to the poem. The second question after this poem asks about the poem's humor, how the language reveals Hazel's personality, and if how Hazel treats the frog is consistent to her character. The only "humor" I really observed in this poem was when Hazel called the frog a, "Little green pervert an i hitsm with my mop" (Machan, lines 20-21). In all honesty I did not find much humor in this statement, but that is as humorous as this poem will get. When it comes to Hazel's language, she uses jargon the whole time throughout the poem. Hazel's uneducated vernacular reveals that Hazel is very poor and struggles for money. This language may also imply that Hazel is not very confident in herself because she does not talk as though she is attempting to impress others. This also is revealed in the way she treats the frog. Her treatment of the frog is consistent because she is almost offended by the idea of being a "princess." She does not see herself as a princess, so she abuses the frog.

"Mr. Z" by M. Carol Holman

M. Carol Holman's Mr. Z is yet another poem about racism, prejudices, and stereotypes. The second question at the end of this poem asks what motivations and strategies Mr. Z uses to achieve his goal. First, I established he was black when he was, "Taught early that his mother's skin was the sign of error" (Holman, line 1). This seams to be very vague considering any race could be implied, but the poem later states he was trying to gain, "Whatever ground was Anglo-Saxonized" (Holman, line 8). The fact that Mr. Z is trying to act more "Anglo-Saxonized", in other words white, shows that his mother's skin must have been black. Now that I know Mr. Z is black, I see that his motivation throughout the poem is to conform with the white society in order to be accepted. Mr. Z rejects his music and foods in order to be accepted and avoid being judged. His goal is not to achieve happiness with who he truly is, but to achieve a lifestyle that avoids hardship. Mr. Z uses the strategy of concealing his true identity and masking it by distinguishing himself as having more merit than other blacks. Furthermore, Mr. Z lies to himself and never allows himself to reach his full, happy potential in order to reach his "goal."

"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes

The poem Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes is packed full of imagery and similes in order to convey the author's meaning of the poem. At the end of the poem, the second question asks if knowing the author was a black American added to my understanding of the poem. This important concept helped me give me complete meaning of the entire poem. The author of the poem is explaining that he has dreams of being more than, "A raisin in the sun... a sore... rotten meat... Or crust... a heavy load" (Hughes, lines 3-10). Knowing the author is black, helps understand that these examples of imagery are actually how he feels he is treated. He has created beautiful dreams in his head, but they are hindered by the fact that his skin color sets him apart from society. After looking up the word "defer" in the giant dictionary located in Mr. Costello's room, I learned that defer essentially means "to postpone." Knowing that the author is black, and that defer means to postpone, the author is trying to say that because of these hindrances in society he is has to put his dreams aside temporarily. This also adds more meaning to the poem when the author states, "And then run?" (Hughes, line 5). Obviously this line shows that this author is running from something, but what is he running from? His dreams or the labels placed on him by society? As a black American, the author is able to express his feelings of oppression through out the whole poem.

Perrine Poetry Blog Entry

Altogether, I see Perrine's point of view and can honestly say that his approach is very convincing and persuasive. With this being said, I still do not agree with the idea that poetry has a specific meaning and interpretation behind the words. I believe that writing is an art form that can be manipulated and shaped into any meaning possible. Poetry especially has  these capabilities. Every little detail of a poem can completely change the meaning of a poem, whether it is the structure, or a minor detail, or the mood. Poetry is flexible in it's meaning, and the fact that every individual's interpretation is inconsistent is a perfect example. Besides, why does there even have to be a "correct" meaning behind a poem? What does it matter? I enjoy different points of view when it comes to subjects like poetry, art, etc. Every person thinks differently, which is the beauty behind interpreting poetry.

Even though I did not agree with Perrine, there were still points he made that I found to be interesting and logical. I like how he compared judging and interpreting a poem to a scientific hypothesis. Even though the two are not linked in any way possible because science is fact and poetry is opinion, I still find the comparison amusing. The comment, although slightly flawed, has some logic behind it, and I liked the attempt. I also liked the idea of the Emily Dickinson poem being about a "garden", although he does not agree with this interpretation. I found this interpretation be very beautiful and unique. I never thought of that poem in such a way, and I wish I could view poems in such a way. Perrine's ability to interpret poems in such a way challenges me to observe the little details of poems. As far as the poetry in class goes, I hope to notice similar aspects of poems that Perrine observes.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter IX (pages 174-180) [Overview]

F. Scott Fitzgerald finishes The Great Gatsby by explaining what happened with Nick's relationship with Miss Baker, and by finding out the truth from Tom. I personally found the ending of this book to be quite sad. Nick never married Jordan, Gatsby was murdered, and Nick's only friends, Daisy and Tom, left him. Despite the sad ending, I found this book to have a good story behind it. Although I am sure there where a large amount of lessons and messages to take from this novel, I personally observed very few. I still question whether one of the lessons is that people with wealth, "[Smash] up things and creatures and then [retreat] back into their money or their vast carelessness" (Fitzgerald, 179). I do not believe that Fitzgerald is attempting to say that rich people mess things up and then coward away from the consequences, but that may be what he is trying to get across to the reader. Furthermore, I believe Gatsby's character was a good role model in saying one should fight for their dreams. I also believe one of the biggest lessons to take away from this book, although I already said this in another blog, is that alcohol has more negative affects than positive. I enjoyed reading this book and felt as though it was very well written and realistic.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter IX (pages 163-174)

The end is finally coming to F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby when plans for the funeral are taking place. Although Gatsby's character is technically no longer in the book, the reader may still learn a great deal about him. First, the reader is able to learn from Gatsby's father that, "'Jimmy was bound to go ahead... Do you notice what he's got about improving his mind'" (Fitzgerald, 173)? After learning of this observation that Henry Gatz made about Gatsby, the reader can infer that Gatsby always strove to improve and better himself. This is the reason behind Gatsby's success. Gatsby worked everyday to make himself greater just the slightest bit more. Second, the reader is able to learn from this chapter that although Gatsby threw massive house parties, he had very few true friends. When it actually came time for the funeral it was delayed for a period of time because they were waiting on friends to show up, "But it wasn't any use. Nobody came" (Fitzgerald, 174). Gatsby strove to please people by entertaining them with parties, but he never became close friends with any of them. Nick was his only true friend who stuck around even after he was murdered.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter VIII (pages 152-162)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald begins to use a great deal of suspense throughout this section. The rising action begins when Wilson disappears and begins to head toward West Egg. Then the conditions turn just right when Gatsby orders his butler to stay inside while he goes swimming. I question whether the phone was even on the hook because Nick was never able to get any of his phone calls through. As Gatsby is going swimming the climax reaches is peak when the butler, "Heard the shots -- afterward he could only say that he hadn't thought anything much about them" (Fitzgerald, 161). The climax is finally over. Gatsby has been shot dead. The decision has been unwillingly made as to who Daisy will have to choose. Although it was all a misunderstanding, I think Gatsby would have sacrificed himself in order to keep Daisy alive. Fitzgerald was able to manipulate his writing in a way that kept the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what would happen next. Sadly, the worst possible outcome occur, leaving Gatsby no longer a character in the novel.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter VIII (pages 147-151)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby involves using many flashbacks of Gatsby's life in order to explain unknown information. Gatsby and Nick have a conversation after Gatsby gets home about his past with Daisy. After Gatsby went off to war, Daisy felt pressure to talk with other men so she began dating a large amount of men. Daisy is waiting for her life to form and finally, "That force took shape in the middle of spring with the arrival of Tom Buchanan" (Fitzgerald, 151). There are a great deal of differences between this novel and the book Dear John, but I believe in some aspects this flashback connects similar themes between these two novels. In both of these stories there is a man who has to go off to war, and the woman they are in love with feels obligated to marry another man. These stories are very unfortunate in the fact that the men's emotions and heart are shattered. I personally do not understand why Daisy could not be patient enough to wait for Gatsby if she truly loved him. Daisy was going through a confusing time in her life and desired some type of reassurance in her life, which is where the story line to Dear John does not match The Great Gatsby. This whole situation just frustrates me that Daisy married another man.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter VI (pages 125-145)

In the second section of Chapter VI in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby there is a great deal of drama and arguing. Gatsby and Daisy finally inform Tom about the truth of their love for each other. After Tom is informed of this he becomes enraged and tries to deny the situation. Once Tom has realised that Daisy and Gatsby truly love each other, Tom begins to blackmail Gatsby by revealing, "'He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter'" (Fitzgerald, 133). Tom turned an argument about who Daisy truly loved into an ad hominen argument. Quickly realising he was losing the argument, Tom brought up events in the past in order to scare Daisy. These facts about Gatsby's past not only tarnished Gatsby's character, but caused Daisy more confusion on which man she should pick. By attacking Gatsby's character during this situation made matters worse. Tom is weak with arguing so he had to resort to the last measure he had. Judging by the end of the chapter, it looks as thought Tom may have unfortunately won Daisy back.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter VII (pages 113-125)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald continues on with more exciting twists and turns in this chapter. The first section of this chapter involves a great deal of tension between Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy due to a great heat wave. Tom makes several comments that pertain to his research on science, and of course none of his information is true. When talking about how hot the day is, Tom states, "'I read somewhere that the sun's getting hotter every year... It seems that pretty soon the earth's going to fall into the sun -- or wait a minute -- it's just the opposite -- the sun's getting colder every year'" (Fitzgerald, 118). This quote is an example of dramatic irony because I know that none of these facts are accurate. First, the sun is not getting colder, nor will it. Second, due to gravity, the Earth will stay at a constant orbit around the sun, so there is no way the "earth's going to fall into the sun." Lastly, the sun may be getting hotter every year, but it is not that extreme to where the tempurature is that noticable. The sun has its own "life" and as it gets "older" it burns hotter. Tom's facts are rediculous and unreliable that he has to correct his own information because he knows it is ludacris.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter VI (pages 101-111)

This next small section of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was actually extremely confusing to me. First, I did not understand why Tom was at Gatsby's house at the beginning of this section. Second,  I understand that the party was not Daisy's scene, but I do not understand why Daisy did not appreciate the small amount of alone time with Gatsby. The third area of confusion is actually the main focus of this blog. Toward the end of the section I believe that Nick gave some insight to one of Gatsby's past memories. The memory recounted, "Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete" (Fitzgerald, 111). This flashback is used to present what I believe is the first kiss that Daisy and Gatsby. By creating the image of this flashback the reader is able to understand the relationship and bond that had been held between these two lovers. Through observing Gatsby's memory the reader can infer that Daisy and Gatsby were madly in love and passionate for each other. This is the relationship Gatsby remembers with Daisy and he is having a hard time accepting any different association to her.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter VI (pages 97-101)

In this section of  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald we learn the truth about Gatsby's past and how he became wealthy. Gatsby actually had very little education and began working just to survive. I do not understand how he is so wealthy he received such little legacy money from his friend Dan Cody. Another big piece of information that can be taken from this chapter is, "The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted [Gatsby] in his bed at night" (Fitzgerald, 99). Fitzgerald now makes it clear that something occurred in Gatsby's past that disturbs him. These details of Gatsby reminds me a lot of Miss Bart in The House of Mirth. Both Gatsby and Miss Bart have made mistakes in their past that cause them to lay awake at night fearing their dreams. They both went through times of poverty and both received less money than they would have expected from legacies. Another aspect that brings them together is that they both struggle to obtain love. While Gatsby is trying to get the love of his life back, Miss Bart had to figure out that love was happiness. It is strange how closely related Gatsby and Miss Bart are through their money issues, sleeping habits, and love life.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter V (pages 91-96)

Now that I am a little over halfway in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I am going to give my opinion so far of the novel and point out spots of confusion. So far I think the book is very well written. I do not know what it is about the book, but the characters act and interact with each other as though a real people would. The novel is pretty easy to understand, but one point of confusion I have found is why Tom is cheating on Daisy with a less attractive woman. It just does not make since to destroy a marriage, especially when Tom has a daughter, for a less attractive and more annoying woman. Another point of confusion that I found in this section of Chapter V is that Gatsby makes comments to Daisy that would be considered creepy in today's society, and Daisy finds it sweet. While they are looking out the window Gatsby says, "'If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay... You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.'" Daisy responds by, "Put[ting] her arm through his abruptly" (Fitzgerald, 93). In today's society a comment like that would not go over well with a girl or woman. Other than these few points of confusion the book is fairly interesting.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter V (pages 81-90)

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby there is a lot of detail to describe each scene in the novel. In order to create this detail, Fitzgerald uses large amounts of imagery. Fitzgerald describes Gatsby throughout the book as a very energetic and constant moving man. It almost seems as though Gatsby is always talking and interrupting others because he is so outgoing. This chapter shows a different side to Gatsby when he is waiting to see Daisy for the first time in almost five years. The clothing Gatsby is wearing is of very high quality but Gatsby, "Was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes" (Fitzgerald, 84). The reader already has a sense that Gatsby is nervous, but this quote is able to evoke a picture in the readers mind of how ill Gatsby looks. By picturing this the reader may realise that Gatsby has passed the point of just being nervous and is now worrying himself sick over the whole situation. The novel even goes on further stating that he was so nervous that his conversation lacked depth and expression. This comes to show that Gatsby truly is in love with Daisy and has dreamed about this day for a long time.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter IV (pages 71-80)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has finally reached a turning point in the novel now that Nick learns Gatsby's true motives. Contrary to my last blog post, the novel goes into first person from Miss Watson's point of view. Nick is informed by Miss Watson of Gatsby's unexpected secret. Gatsby is in love with Daisy and wants Nick to, "Invite Daisy to [Nick's] house some afternoon and then let [Gatsby] come over" (Fitzgerald, 78). This further makes Daisy a more important character to the story. Daisy will now have to make a decision as to whether she will divorce her husband or turn Gatsby down. I believe this would make Daisy a dynamic character because action has taken place, which is finding out about the past, and now her role in the novel has changed. She use to be a minor character who was just in the first part of the novel and now she has reappeared as a love interest for one of the major characters. I also find this whole situation to be ironic because previously in this chapter Nick and Gatsby run into Tom Buchanan. The action of the novel is beginning to rise, and I am interested to see how the novel will unfold.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter IV (pages 61-70)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has taken a turn in this chapter when Nick gets to finally learn about Gatsby's past. This chapter, and of course all of the other chapters, are narrated by Nick himself. Furthermore, since Nick narrates the novel from his vantage point, the book is written in the first person point of view. Nick recounts that, "Once I wrote down on the empty spaces of a timetable the names of those who came to Gatsby's house that summer" (Fitzgerald, 61). Nick is able to share his own personal story, and show the reader things like all the visitors of Gatsby's home that the reader would not know otherwise. Sharing this minor detail of who visited the home helped me to picture in my head what hundreds of strangers piling into Gatsby's home would look like. By being in the first person point of view, the novel is able to be written as if it is a true story that actually occurred. I think it also helps cut down on confusion on comprehending the story because it eliminates the possibility of mistaking one character's thoughts for another. The first person point of view makes the novel more enjoyable because the reader gets to be in Nick's head and experience his details and thoughts. Fitzgerald is able to explain minor details that make a situation more interesting because he uses the first person point of view.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter III (pages 39-59)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby offers a great deal of insight and lessons on how certain things can lead to negative outcomes. Beside just the outcomes of having money, Fitzgerald makes it very obvious about how alcohol causes havoc. Earlier in the novel Tom punched Mrs. Wilson because they got into an argument while they were both intoxicated. This chapter offers even more proof that alcohol can destroy relationships when, "Most of the remaining women were now having fights with men said to be their husbands" (Fitzgerald, 51). It seems as though with this society drinking and nonsense arguments go hand-in-hand. Another negative aspect about alcohol is that the day after each party it seems as though some part of Gatsby's home needed, "repairing [for] the ravages of the night before" (Fitzgerald, 39). One man even got into a car accident and was not even conscious enough to understand what had happened. Gatsby, who does not drink at his parties, is a perfects example that being sober helps him to think rationally and actually remember events. Fitzgerald shows us through one of Nick's experiences after another that drinking may be fun, but in the long run it causes a great deal of problems. Nick has moved into a society that seems to do a great deal of partying because they have so much excess money.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter II (pages 22-38)

This next chapter of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald allows the reader to observe the character of Mrs. Wilson, also known as "the mistress." When we first meet this character, she lives in a very poor area and has very little money. Once Tom and Mrs. Wilson are able to meet up, Mrs. Wilson's character begins to show. At the party they throw, Mrs. Wilson acts as though she is more important when she says, "'I told that boy about the ice... These people! You have to keep after them all the time'" (Fitzgerald, 32). Tom is finally able to provide to Mrs. Wilson whatever she wants and needs. She finally is experiencing money in her life. Money changes people, and Mrs. Wilson is a direct example of this cliche. Mrs. Wilson becomes very bossy, acts as though purchased items are not a big deal, and altogether acts as though she is more important than anyone else at the party. From this section the reader may conclude that Mrs. Wilson thinks that having money means that one can be snobby and stuck up. I personally do not like the character of Mrs. Wilson, especially because she is way less attractive than Daisy. I really just do not understand this whole situation because Mrs. Wilson seems to be worse than Daisy.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter I (pages 1-21)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald begins by explaining who the main character Nick is and a few minor characters. Tom and Daisy Buchanan seem to be going through a tough time in their marriage due to Tom having another woman on the side. Daisy has a very peculiar personality because it seems as though she is very spasmodic and cheerful. When Nick first walks into the room that Daisy is in, she acts very odd when she, "Made an attempt to rise -- she leaned slightly forward with a conscientious expression -- then she laughed, an absurd, charming little laugh" (Fitzgerald, 8). These actions may not seem all that out of the ordinary since we do not fully understand Daisy's character, but I have experienced divorce before and I understand Daisy's motivation. Daisy is acting silly and obnoxious throughout this chapter because she is trying to hide her true feelings. Nick has come back into Daisy's life at a time where she is in despair because she does not know how to react to her husband cheating on her. Rather than showing her sadness, Daisy acts cheerful, talks a great deal, and laughs a lot in order to conceal her true feelings. Being experienced with divorce, I would say that Daisy just wants some attention. Nick thinks she should leave Tom, but I believe she is staying with Tom so that her daughter can have a father figure in her life.

Picture Contest: The House of Mirth, Biltmore House

I visited the Biltmore House earlier this summer. This house was opened in 1895 in Ashville, North Carolina. I could not take pictures inside the house, but I was able to take a picture of me reading The House of Mirth on a fountain about a quarter mile away. The house itself sits on about four acres of land, while the estate stretches about to about 80,000 acres of land. Not only having over one hundred bed rooms and almost fifty bathrooms, the house also contains a library with 23,000-volume collection of books, a swimming pool, bowling alley, gymnasium, and acres of gardens. I found this house to be very interesting because the inside (although it is not shown in the picture) reminds me exactly of the type of lifestyle the characters in The House of Mirth lived. The house even had a dinning room designated specifically for "luncheon" similar to The House of Mirth. Although this home is a little bit more luxurious then the homes Lily Bart visited, I still found it interesting to experience how people during this time period lived. (I also have a pamphlet with information about the tour if Mr. Costello would like to see it).