A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
This short story explores the connection between life and death and their effects on the living. Emily was burdened by death. Her fathers death caused a great amount of grief for Emily. Emily even refused to give up his body for a few days saying that he was not dead. "She did that for three days, with the ministers calling on her, and the doctors, trying to persuade her to let them dispose of the body" (Faulkner). Later, Emily faced the death of Homer. This suspicious death suggests that Emily killed Homer, but if so, why would she do this? Perhaps Emily felt like her father was taken away from her, so in order to stay forever close to Homer, she killed him and secretly kept his body in her house. Emily again denied his death by keeping his body in her house. An even more disturbing denial of death was that Emily layed next to Homer's body. "Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair" (Faulkner). Emily wanted to keep Homer close, but she killed him to do so. Emily refused to accept death. In a way, this is slightly ironic because ultimately death accepted her even when she would not accept the death of others.
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Lottery
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
This short story contained multiple pieces of foreshadowing. One example of this is the little boys collecting stones. This example could be easily overlooked because the reader could simply see the collection of stones as child's play, but as the end of the story approaches, the reader realizes the significance of gathering the stones. The little boys protected the pile of stones until after the lottery when the townspeople then took the stones to use against Mrs. Hutchinson. Another use of foreshadowing was in Mrs. Hutchinson's late arrival at the lottery. One quote that suggests her demise is "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie''(Jackson). This may seem insignificant, but this suggests that her family will have to live without her in the future. After being stoned, presumably to death, Mrs. Hutchinson's family will have to carry on with their lives without her.
Shirley Jackson
This short story contained multiple pieces of foreshadowing. One example of this is the little boys collecting stones. This example could be easily overlooked because the reader could simply see the collection of stones as child's play, but as the end of the story approaches, the reader realizes the significance of gathering the stones. The little boys protected the pile of stones until after the lottery when the townspeople then took the stones to use against Mrs. Hutchinson. Another use of foreshadowing was in Mrs. Hutchinson's late arrival at the lottery. One quote that suggests her demise is "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie''(Jackson). This may seem insignificant, but this suggests that her family will have to live without her in the future. After being stoned, presumably to death, Mrs. Hutchinson's family will have to carry on with their lives without her.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Glass Menagerie: Post 5
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
Tom's last monologue of the play confuses me. I understand that he left his family in search of adventure. However, I do not understand why he is so upset about leaving Laura specifically. He almost has a creepy love for his sister. "I am more faithful than I intended to be" (Williams, 1289). The word faithful makes me think more of a spouse than a sibling.Tom is evidently more upset about leaving Laura than he is about leaving his mom.
Another part of the end of the play that confuses me is the importance of the candles. Laura blowing out the candles ends the play, so it must have some significance. I am confused why Tom specifically tells Laura to blow out the candles. "Blow out your candles, Laura- and so goodbye..."(Williams, 1289). Perhaps blowing out the candles signifies the end to Tom's relationship with his family. However, I am still confused.
Tennessee Williams
Tom's last monologue of the play confuses me. I understand that he left his family in search of adventure. However, I do not understand why he is so upset about leaving Laura specifically. He almost has a creepy love for his sister. "I am more faithful than I intended to be" (Williams, 1289). The word faithful makes me think more of a spouse than a sibling.Tom is evidently more upset about leaving Laura than he is about leaving his mom.
Another part of the end of the play that confuses me is the importance of the candles. Laura blowing out the candles ends the play, so it must have some significance. I am confused why Tom specifically tells Laura to blow out the candles. "Blow out your candles, Laura- and so goodbye..."(Williams, 1289). Perhaps blowing out the candles signifies the end to Tom's relationship with his family. However, I am still confused.
The Glass Menagerie: Post 4
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
Throughout the play, Tom desperately desired adventure. After returning from the movies one night, Tom described a magician's ability to escape from a coffin that was nailed shut. This description could reflect how Tom felt trapped. Tom held a responsibility to his mother and to his sister. He provided financial support for his family. This responsibility restrained him from the adventure he desired. In search of adventure, Tom often went to the movies. "I go to the movies because - I like adventure. Adventure is something I don't have much of at work, so I go to the movies" (Williams, 1252). At the end of the play, Tom stated that he left his family and "followed,from then on, in my father's footsteps" (Williams, 1288). Despite his mother's wishes to prevent him from following the actions of his father, Tom abandoned his family in pursuit of adventure just like his father. Perhaps Tom wished to escape his life so badly because his mother tried too hard to restrain him.
Tennessee Williams
Throughout the play, Tom desperately desired adventure. After returning from the movies one night, Tom described a magician's ability to escape from a coffin that was nailed shut. This description could reflect how Tom felt trapped. Tom held a responsibility to his mother and to his sister. He provided financial support for his family. This responsibility restrained him from the adventure he desired. In search of adventure, Tom often went to the movies. "I go to the movies because - I like adventure. Adventure is something I don't have much of at work, so I go to the movies" (Williams, 1252). At the end of the play, Tom stated that he left his family and "followed,from then on, in my father's footsteps" (Williams, 1288). Despite his mother's wishes to prevent him from following the actions of his father, Tom abandoned his family in pursuit of adventure just like his father. Perhaps Tom wished to escape his life so badly because his mother tried too hard to restrain him.
The Glass Menagerie: Post 3
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
Laura's glass menagerie is symbolic of her character. Laura is portrayed as a type of delicate wall flower. Unlike her mother, she is not popular, and she does not have callers visiting her. She appears to be unwanted. Her glass menagerie is similar to her in this way. The glass pieces only hold value in Laura's eyes and are not of popular demand by others. In addition,the glass unicorn represents special part of Laura. The unicorn is unique just like Laura. It is different from the other figurines just as Laura is different from other women. "Poor little fellow (the unicorn) must feel sort of lonesome" (Williams 1281). When the unicorn's horn broke, this could have symbolized Laura's heart breaking from the disappointment of her missed opportunity with Jim.
Tennessee Williams
Laura's glass menagerie is symbolic of her character. Laura is portrayed as a type of delicate wall flower. Unlike her mother, she is not popular, and she does not have callers visiting her. She appears to be unwanted. Her glass menagerie is similar to her in this way. The glass pieces only hold value in Laura's eyes and are not of popular demand by others. In addition,the glass unicorn represents special part of Laura. The unicorn is unique just like Laura. It is different from the other figurines just as Laura is different from other women. "Poor little fellow (the unicorn) must feel sort of lonesome" (Williams 1281). When the unicorn's horn broke, this could have symbolized Laura's heart breaking from the disappointment of her missed opportunity with Jim.
The Glass Menagerie: Post 2
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
This play is nonrealistic due to multiple reasons. One reason that this is nonrealistic is that the play has a narrator. In real life, narrators do not exist, so the presence of a narrator in this play contributes to its nonrealistic presentation. Another reason why the play is nonrealistic is that the narrator directly addresses the audience and states that he is a character in the play. In a realistic play, the characters do not know that they are characters. (They think they are real.) In this nonrealistic play, Tom knows that he is a character and he acknowledges the presence of the audience. In addition, Tom adds to the nonrealistic qualities by pointing out the fiddlers in the wings. Tom often cues the music and spotlights contributing to the nonrealistic qualities of the play. Another contributing factor is the set. As seen in the stage directions Tom "deliberately lays his imaginary fork down and pushes his chair back from the table" (Williams 1237). In nonrealistic plays, props are minimal or imaginary, whereas in realistic plays, the props are real and abundant.
Tennessee Williams
This play is nonrealistic due to multiple reasons. One reason that this is nonrealistic is that the play has a narrator. In real life, narrators do not exist, so the presence of a narrator in this play contributes to its nonrealistic presentation. Another reason why the play is nonrealistic is that the narrator directly addresses the audience and states that he is a character in the play. In a realistic play, the characters do not know that they are characters. (They think they are real.) In this nonrealistic play, Tom knows that he is a character and he acknowledges the presence of the audience. In addition, Tom adds to the nonrealistic qualities by pointing out the fiddlers in the wings. Tom often cues the music and spotlights contributing to the nonrealistic qualities of the play. Another contributing factor is the set. As seen in the stage directions Tom "deliberately lays his imaginary fork down and pushes his chair back from the table" (Williams 1237). In nonrealistic plays, props are minimal or imaginary, whereas in realistic plays, the props are real and abundant.
The Glass Menagerie: Post 1
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams
This play is a memory play, but of whose memory? "This play is memory...I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it" (Williams, 1236). As the play begins, Tom directly addresses the audience and states that he is both the narrator and a character in the play. Because he narrates the play, this eludes to the idea that the play is filled with his memories. Many scenes contain some form of a direct address from Tom to the audience. In these speeches, Tom seems to explain his view of the happenings in the play in a more removed/objective fashion than watching his direct interactions with other characters. In addition, the actions of the play seem to develop from Tom's character in the play. For example, the main event of the play was introducing a caller to Laura. Tom's reluctant/coerced invitation made this event possible. Because the actions stem from Tom, this also contributes to the idea that the memories are Tom's. In addition, Tom's character in the play gives the audience a look at his thoughts in a more personal way than his speeches directly addressing the audience.
Tennessee Williams
This play is a memory play, but of whose memory? "This play is memory...I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it" (Williams, 1236). As the play begins, Tom directly addresses the audience and states that he is both the narrator and a character in the play. Because he narrates the play, this eludes to the idea that the play is filled with his memories. Many scenes contain some form of a direct address from Tom to the audience. In these speeches, Tom seems to explain his view of the happenings in the play in a more removed/objective fashion than watching his direct interactions with other characters. In addition, the actions of the play seem to develop from Tom's character in the play. For example, the main event of the play was introducing a caller to Laura. Tom's reluctant/coerced invitation made this event possible. Because the actions stem from Tom, this also contributes to the idea that the memories are Tom's. In addition, Tom's character in the play gives the audience a look at his thoughts in a more personal way than his speeches directly addressing the audience.
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