Linder's Laudable Blog

The Things They Carried

2010-04-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

The book "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien is an interesting combination of a memoir, vignettes, and historical fiction. The part of the novel that stood out at first was the style of prose that O'Brien uses. It is very clean and concise without the clutter of complicated syntax and large words. This is done intentionally to place the reader in the minds of the soldiers, showing their honest thoughts and emotions. The narrator of the novel is revealed to be O'Brien himself on page 36 so I assume that there are autobiographical aspects in it drawn from his Vietnam war experiences. What struck a cord with me was the way that O'Brien was able to sculpt other stories around his core experience in Vietnam and the network of emotion connecting them all. He openly admits his youthful naivete in the short story "On the Rainy River". This story was particularly powerful when I read it, because O'Brien actually reaches out to the reader by using the pronoun "you". When he is contemplating whether or not to jump off of Elroy's boat and swim to Canadian soil, he states, "What would you do? Would you jump? Would you feel pity for yourself?". With this question, O'Brien beckons the reader to think through the moral dilemma that he was working through at the time and truly place oneself in his situation. The way that O'Brien conveys the different emotions that he felt in Vietnam and what he observed in his fellow platoon mates is so incredibly believable and accessible to digest. So far, I really do enjoy the novel and I'm glad that I've chosen this to write my paper on.

Hamlet Blog

2010-03-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare, arguably one of the most important playwrights in history, has created a character that is just as famous. Hamlet, from Hamlet, is full of rich emotions and presents the audience a multi-layered perspective on a nervous and unstable young man. Hamlet, and other notable characters from Shakespeare's works, display a genuine sense of thought and sentience that is not common in many plays. Hamlet in particular shows the depth and complexity of his subconscious in his "To be, or not to be". In it, Hamlet contemplates whether or not he should commit suicide to end his suffering. This is not explicitly states though, since his emotions and thought in the soliloquy are found in the metaphors and imagery. At first, Hamlet views suicide as favorable. He compares death to a similar state to sleep, but later adds the idea of dreams.

One of the most significant parts of Hamlet's soliloquy is also the aspect of the afterlife, or what he calls, "something after death". There is a sense of menace and uncertainty that surrounds the afterlife.

Oedipus the Boss

2010-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

Initially, Oedipus appears to be a confident, valiant hero. This is alluded to at the beginning of the play when Priest recalls the time when Oedipus saved Thebes from the evil reign of the Sphinx. He answered her riddle with complete knowledge of the desire outcome had he failed. A tragedy typically introduces the main character as one with a grand sense of self-esteem and bravery. In the first chorus of the play, which represents the unified voice of the Thebans, they pray to the Gods to alleviate a new affliction that plagues their city. Immediately after this, Oedipus states, “Is this your prayer? It may be answered. Come” (p. 1291, l. 51). This demonstrates a sense of hubris that is a common aspect in many classical tragedies. Oedipus also becomes informed of a new fate of his foretold by the blind seer Teiresias. Oedipus will only learn about his true fate once he discovers the truth to his father’s murder. Only after he solves the mystery of Laios’ murder will Thebes be purged of the plague that has stricken the city.

Oedipus' character quickly changes to a man in denial-a man more like a tyrant than a king-as he begins to solve the new riddle of Laios' death. A mounting paranoia grips Oedipus when Jocasta, his mother, recounts the story of her husband's murder, leading the king to suspect his own past actions. Oedipus still retains a high level of hubris since he refuses to place blame on himself for the plague. He shifts the blame onto others as he continues the investigation of his father’s murder. This is evident when Oedipus goes on the defensive when Teiresias accuses Oedipus of being the murderer. Oedipus goes on the counter-offensive and tries placing blame on Teiresias. As the play progresses, it is the truth that Oedipus faces that changes who he is and the reality that he has grown comfortable with.

"White Lies" by Natasha Trethewey

2010-01-21T23:54:00.000-08:00

Natasha Trethewey’s poem “White Lies” revolves around a young girl struggling to acknowledge her true identity as being half-white and half-black. She lives her daily life under the façade of a pure white girl. The inclusion of certain key colors in the poem provides the reader with vivid imagery as well as a significant underlying message. The colors also paint a portrait of a young girl untrue to herself and the sad yet honest proclamation of her betrayal towards her heritage.

In order to fully grasp the meaning of the poem, it is important to understand Trethewey’s upbringing. Threthewey was born in Mississippi in 1966 to a black mother and a white father. At the time, interracial marriage was illegal in Mississippi and was viewed with a great deal of shame by the “race-sensitive” society. Based off of these facts, a reasonable inference can be made that the speaker in the poem is indeed Trethewey. The taboo of an interracial marriage at the time only reinforced the unfortunate stigma that Tretheway felt as a half-black half-white girl living in the South.

In the first stanza, the colors “light-bright, near-white, [and] high-yellow” are all obviously very light and to the speaker, pure. These bright colors stand in the mind of the speaker as tones of skin that are racially superior. In her eyes, and the sad reality of the time period, acceptance in society was dependent on one’s skin color. If gaining privileges in her community meant lying about her skin color to others, than a small “white lie” like that couldn’t do much harm, or could it? In the second stanza, the speaker establishes her desire to gain acceptance into white society in the form of lies. The first lie that she states, “I could easily tell the white folks/that we lived uptown” illustrates her ability to hide her socio-economic position and feign her identity as a well-off white girl. This relates closely to her second lie describing how she “could act/like [her] homemade dresses/came straight out of the window/of Maison Blanche”. The dress that she made clearly displays some fine craftsmanship, but it would only be assumed by others that it was from a luxury store if it was worn by a white girl. Her final “lie” in the stanza is arguable the worst. The speaker retains her white identity by remaining silent in the presence of a white girl in her class. The white girl in the class said, “Now/we have three of us in the class”. The speaker refuses to speak up when the other girl in her class assumes that she is white. She has sacrificed her true identity for one that is a false image of herself. She has silenced her black-side and prevented it from surfacing. With each lie that she tells, she is slowly losing a grip on her black background and whole-heartedly dismissing it.

The final stanza , also the saddest, depicts the final turning point in the young girl’s life when she abandons the black side of her character. In the stanza, the speaker explains the punishment that she received from her mother for deceiving others. The speaker’s mouth is purged of her sinful lying by a bar of “Ivory soap”. The mother states that it “is to purify/and cleanse, your lying tongue.” The speaker swallowed the suds “thinking they’d work/from the inside out.” At this moment in the poem, the speaker looses any piece of her identity that she has kept. She is embracing her white side by having the suds wash out any black left inside of her. A choice like this that she is committing to is not one that can be easily reversed. Although contrasting colors, her white and black sides could have provided her with a sense of balance unique to her identity. This is forfeited though when acceptance into the white community became an overpowering desire in her life. The “white lies" are not the lies Trethewey told throughout the poem but rather, the “white lies" she created within herself.

WTB vs. HOD

2009-12-07T22:21:00.001-08:00

Both the novels Heart of Darkness and Waiting for the Barbarians share a lot of similarities in both the main characters and the “western world’s” reaction towards “uncivilized” people. Both the main characters deal with a connection with an imperial empire that has operations dealing with barbarian tribes people. The setting for Darkness takes place in Africa, but Barbarians takes place in an unknown territory of a nameless empire. Both novels approach issues involving barbarism and what it is truly defines as. Both of the imperial powers in the novels view themselves and more civilized than the barbarians that they have power over, but in reality it is the western powers that inherently more less moral.

Both the narrators of the stories, Marlow for Darkness and the magistrate from Barbarians, view the western powers that they work for with a level of awareness absent in the other white people in the novels. The magistrate originally started off as a dutiful servant of the empire for many years, but eventually, enlightened himself to the wrongdoings surrounding his work. Both characters follow a path of truth and eventual form a new perspective on the actions of the western world. The pursuit of truth becomes a core value in each of the two characters.

Although one could argue that Kurtz also grew a connection with the uncivilized tribes in Africa, his intentions were brought on by “his own greed” (Kerr 23). Kurtz brought the worst the worst vices from imperial Europe and unleashed them on the tribes people. In Darkness, Marlow came to realize that Kurtz’s nature was actually more savage than the natives. Kurtz brought his avarice into Africa by creating conflicts between tribes so that he could obtain ivory. The magistrate in Barbarians grows closer to the tribes people as well but without a personal gain in mind.

The method that each of the author’s presents the depiction of savagery is also varying. Conrad uses a more subtle approach to convey the evil actions of the white men visiting Africa. Since colonization of Africa was still happening when the novel was written, a less explicit approach was deliberate and thoughtful. Coetzee exposes the white-man’s savagery in a much more graphic manner. This is due to its debut at a much later time. The evils of imperialism had already been exposed to the world and didn’t need to be expressed in a softer tone.

WTB Initial Reaction

2009-12-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

The setting of the novel Waiting for the Barbarians is ambiguous and never explicitly stated. This deliberate choice allows the story to be allegorical and applied to other similar situations. The main character, who goes unnamed other that being simply "the magistrate", has been working for the empire for a while. This frontier town has apparently been plagued by "barbarian" attacks. Rumors claim that traders and officials are attacked while traveling. He has not actually seen this barbarian army and has no reason to believe in the potential uprising that is presumed to occur. The magistrate is a very curious individual who seeks the truth and does not believe everything for its face value.

The narrator's initial thoughts point towards a more critical perspective on the empire. He feels a sense a frustration when Colonel Joll comes to town, because of his aggressive tactics. The Colonel believes that the use of torture on a captured barbarian is justified if it produces the truth. According to Joll, a person telling the truth inflects their speech slightly. Many lies precede truth only until a certain amount of pressure is applies, breaking the individual into submission. This concept is quite applicable in today's world in regards to the ethics of torture. The father of the boy was killed in the interrogation room leaving the boy alone in the small hut where he was held captive. The magistrate visits the boy at night to comfort him and gives the guard on duty orders to tie the rope back on his hands but looser and to leave his father's body in the yard. The magistrate shows a level of dignity toward the barbarians not evident in the Colonel's actions or on a larger scale, the Empire's.

Heart of Darkness Articles

2009-11-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

"Are Humans One Race or Many?" by Alfred Russell Wallace

Published in 1870 and based on the science of natural selection at the time.
Two contrasting arguments over the diversity of mankind.
One believes that no race is "homogeneous"- there is a tendency to vary. Environmental changes are responsible for the differences in races.
Opposing view argues within its own group that the race should have specific organization, whether it is a race of a hundred people or simply race based nations that spring into existence.
Natural selection powerfully effects animals due to their "self-dependence and individual isolation" (219).
Animals perish because of a simple injury or illness. In the animal kingdom, there is no mutual assistance between adults. Each animal is essentially on their own.
Mankind's "natural selection" is evaluated very differently. Even in "the rudest tribes" the sick are at least assisted with food.
Natural selection is therefore balanced. People with physical disadvantages do not face such an extreme penalty such as death.
Mental and moral qualities are more influential on the human race.
Mankind's intelligence has taken away nature's power to change humans based on external influences.
Extreme changes in nature that affect animals don't have the same modifying power that it wields on humans.
The mind is what changes based off of nature, not the body.
The inhabitants of a temperate region are mentally superior to those in hotter climates.
Invasions and displacements of races has always been from North to South. i.e. European colonization in Africa.
Human features became fixed because the success of mankind is contingent upon the strength of its mental faculties. Physical abilities are of lesser importance.

"The Comparative Worth of Different Races" by Francis Galton

Galton believes that in the future, civilization will lose its superficiality and overspread the globe.
This is destined to happen because "civilization is the necessary fruit of high intelligence when found in a social animal" (224).
Animals with a higher intelligence are at a greater advantage to those with physical strength. The most intelligent variety will "prevail in the battle of life" (224).
The most social race of intelligent animals will also be the most successful.
Galton established a system to measure the cognitive intelligence of different races into sixteen classes. (A-G) for those above the average, (a-g) below the average, and X for a genius and x for an "imbecile".
Comparison based on the letter system between the Negro race and Anglo-Saxons, without accounting for the "social disabilities" of the Negroes.
There are a few main observations that take place:

The negro race rarely produces class F individuals such as Toussaint l'Ouverture, the leader of a slave rebellion in Haiti.
The negro race is capable of having men who become "thriving merchants" and "good factors" or others above the average of white, but struggle with this since their intellectual standard is about two grades below.
A white traveler meeting a black chief will usually feel as if he was the better man because he can hold his own in their presence. The chief has knowledge that pertains to the tribe, but the traveler has knowledge "current in civilized lands" (226).
"The number among the negroes of those whom we should call half-witted men is very large". Mistakes that negroes make are often childish and simpleton-like.

I am the Alpha and the Omega

2009-11-04T21:16:00.001-08:00

Without a doubt, the most symbolic portion of part IV of The Sound and the Fury is Reverend Shegog’s Easter Mass sermon. In fact, many of the biblical references that he preaches are directly connected to the state of the Compson family and even an retrospective look at past events. The Reverend makes assertions of the phrase “blood of the Lamb”several times throughout his sermon, clearly suggesting Jesus’s sacrifice and in time his resurrection. I didn’t really know much about the significance of the blood of the Lamb so I researched a bit. I discovered that the blood of Jesus is mentioned several times in the Bible as a powerful, sanctifying symbol that redeems individuals, brings peace, and cleanses sins. What character in the book committed the greatest act of sacrifice? Quentin of course, taking his own life. Was this an action taken to cleanse Caddy of her promiscuous wrong doings? Is it possible that his love for Caddy was the driving force to sacrifice his own flesh and blood? Caddy was also figuratively sacrificed by the family when she was cast out. The possible rebirth of the family was dependent upon Quentin. She was the member who had the potential to revive the family. She squandered her chance by sneaking out and following in Caddy's promiscuous lifestyle. This, in essence, represents the downfall of the Compson family.

Another prominent line in the section is when Dilsey states, "I seed de beginnin, en now I sees the endin" (297). Seeing as this portion of the section is closely intertwined with biblical meaning, it is reasonable to think that Faulker inspired her statement from the Bible's line, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." Disley's line signifies her connection with the Compson family during its prosperous years, as well as during its current degradation. In a way, it parallels the cycle that human nature. With death comes revival.

The part of the quote regarding the water of life relates to Disley's unconditional love and support that she provides the Compsons with. The family gains the benefits of Dilsey's help without sacrifice on their behalf.

How else could the reverend's sermon be applied to different aspects of the novel? Are there any other substantial biblical references connecting to the characters?

Response to JSTOR Article for The Sound and the Fury

2009-10-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

For my blog this week, I chose the JSTOR article titled "The Words of The Sound and the Fury". I found the article intriguing, because it delves much deeper into the symbolism present in the novel that we just scratched the surface on a few time in class. The author, Robert Martin, explains in his opening paragraph that although the story is quite simple, "The way in which [Faulker] arranges images, sequences, scenes and whole chapters...demands attention" (46). This statement accurately summarized the approach that readers need to take while tackling the unorthodox style of narration and chronology. Yes the novel's story isn't complex, but the underlying word choice and meaning is something more noteworthy. Martin explains in the article how there are key word or phrases found in each individual section, or throughout the book to signal a commonality. In the "Benjy" section of the novel, the word "fire" is used roughly forty-three times in the last twenty-four pages of the section. For Benjy, fire is concrete and eternal. Although Caddy brings Benjy a great deal of joy, she will eventually wither whereas fire will remain "basically static" (47). As a mentally unstable individual, Benjy needs to have a stable object to find solace in. The state of the fire plays a key role in Benjy's emotional state. Fire provides Benjy with a sense of comfort; on the contrast, the absence of fire instills unease. Martin provides evidence in the conversation between Luster and Benjy. The hushing of the fire brings Benjy discomfort. Caddy instills the connection between fire and comfort in Benjy by leading him to it. In Quentin's sections, the image of "Shadow" dominates his thoughts. The shadow that is behind him constantly fills his thoughts. This is evident when Quentin states, "I stepped into the sunlight, finding my shadow again" (50). Quentin's description of the shadow makes it seems as though it was a sentient being, always trying to outsmart him. Another prominent object in the Quentin section is Louis Hatcher's lantern. I never really places much thought into its significance, but Martin believes that it symbolizes "man's ability to shed light" which is quite an optimistic outlook (51).Overall, I think that this article is insightful in terms of bringing new meaning to objects and images present in the novel. Martin's writing is interesting and accessible allowing reader's to grasp the concepts that he provides.

Jason Mother Relationship

2009-10-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

As we discussed in class, part three of the novel revolves around Jason, the most cynical and bitter of all the Compson children. The issue prevalent in Jason's case is his lack of to support for the family and his active decision to inhibit the reciprocation of love that his mother gives him. Jason is Mother's favorite child, but the reason is not wholly present in the text. She does however state that he is "her own flesh and blood" and "isn't a reproach" to her (181). Jason wrongfully rejects the compassion that she has provided him with and interacts with her in a rude tone of voice. Despite her unconditional love, Jason abuses her love and financial support for his own benefit. This is evident when Caroline presents Jason with a check of $1000 to aid in the establishment of the business. Instead of appropriately spending the money, he cashes it and spends it on a car. The unfortunate aspect of Jason is his inability to feel guilt or regret for his actions. Jason does not accept the responsibility as the new head of the family leading it into the lowest trough that it has ever experienced. His apathetic mindset to improve the family's status only accentuates his failure as a person.

How does Jason's core values and ideals further hinder the family's ability to improve?

Short Stories Half Blog

2009-10-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

While reading through the table of contents for The Best American Short Stories 2008 Edition, I stumbled upon the short story "Puppy" by George Saunders. What originally drew me, was the title. Without even knowing the basis of the story, I already knew that at least a part of it revolved around one of my favorite animals. Whether this was figurative or literal was unknown to me until I actually skimmed through the story. I had not heard of the writer George Saunders, nor of any other work that he had written after looking through a brief list of his past works. From the initial paragraph, it is evident that his writing is very contemporary. The entire first paragraph which is close to 20 lines on The New Yorker website is one long continuous sentence sprinkled with a variety of punctuation such as parenthetical, comas, dashes, and an exclamation point to conclude the lengthy thought. There are a few words that are repeated for emphasis such as "autumnal sun", "brilliance", and "haunted house". Saunders uses parenthetical throughout the story to introduce a different voice's opinion. This is really contemporary from what I am normally used to in a story. I'm not sure whether this will be the story and author combination that I will use for my essay, but an open mind to a story like this couldn't hurt.

The Ruin of Vanity

2009-09-29T23:14:00.000-07:00

Connie, a typical female teenager, lives a life that revolves around two major facets, appearance and music. Although it is natural for young girls to be heavily concerned with their looks, Connie takes this concept to an extreme and becomes narcissistic, creating an overconfident and vain individual. The crux of Connie’s character circulates around the idea that she understands that her looks are paramount and truly her only worth as a person. Her confidence depends on the state of her appearance, forcing her to constantly keep an updated impression. Her need for being validated based on her looks creates a vulnerable psyche, leading to her ultimate ruin.

By acknowledging her beauty, Connie only drifts deeper into an unhealthy and egotistical lifestyle. The make-up of Connie’s character holds her own beauty as the definitive quality of her personality. This is evident when the narrator states, “she knew she was pretty and that was everything” (1¶). Connie is even arrogant enough to believe that her mother secretly favors her over June due to her better looks. While visiting the restaurant “shaped like a big bottle”, Connie’s vanity is exposed once again while walking through the parking lot with Eddie. As the narrator explains, “Connie couldn’t help but let her eyes wander over windshields and faces all around her” (8¶). The necessity to constantly remind herself of her good looks displays a clear lack of poise in her personality. She requires a gratifying glance in a reflection to once again reassure herself that she is indeed good looking.

Connie’s open exhibition of her beauty and arrogance is the main factor contributing to Arnold Friend’s creepy interest in Connie. This disturbing character first appears when Connie is walking away from the restaurant. He jeers at her and barks, “Gonna get you, baby” (8¶). From the get-go, he has clearly taken in interest in Connie from his blunt remark. Her arrogant behavior is furthered when she rejects the barbecue invitation presented by her mother. Connie rolls “her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it (13¶). By excluding herself from the barbecue, Connie creates a greater rift between herself and the rest of her family. It is natural for a teen to want to distance themselves from their family. Connie is clearly struggling to fit into her own skin and uses rebellious actions to ease the transition into womanhood. She is associated with a history of poor judgment that can be viewed as a stress outlet for Connie’s confusing stage of adolescent life. While unsure of her role in society, Connie’s mind is malleable and easily manipulated by a seductive influence. This unfortunately gives Arnold Friend an accessible path that he can follow right into Connie’s life.

From the initial moment that Arnold and Ellie pull up in the car, the reader is aware of their malicious intent. At first, Connie is enticed by Arnold. In her eyes, he is simply masculine teen boy, driving a golden jalopy convertible, with a radio playing Bobby King. The playing of Bobby King on Arnold’s part was a clever way to gain quick entry into Connie’s comfort level. Prior to Arnold’s arrival, Connie was singing along to a Bobby King song. How he knew that she enjoyed Bobby King is a mystery, but it is undeniable that his utilization of popular music was a sure way to influence her. The pivotal moment in their encounter occurs when she questions his age. Connie grows substantially more suspicious of the two figures who actually appear to be closer to middle aged men than their teen facades.

Connie’s depressing encounter with Arnold illustrates how the proper exploitations of the instabilities of a personality can strongly influence and even control the targeted individual. Arnold specifically preys on Connie because of his knowledge of her obsession over appearance. Her preoccupation with her looks generates the ideal mentality for Arnold's manipulation. As a willing victim by the story’s conclusion, her incapacity to draw strength from her hollow persona enables Arnold to direct her thoughts and actions.

(676)

Response to "Cathedral"

2009-09-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

This week, I decided to write my blog about "Cathedral" because of its unique perspective on blindness.

The story starts off with the narrator describing how Robert, a blind friend of his wife, had recently lost his wife and is visiting. Right from the get-go, the narrator has formed an narrow-minded prejudice against Robert. The concept of blindness is very foreign to him a creates an unsettling feeling. He expresses this when he states, "And his being blind bothered me...A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to" (99). His only true observation of a blind individual was from a movie which clearly does not depict him/her in an accurate, personable manner. The narrator also feels threatened by the strong relationship that Robert shares with his wife. As though initially very cynical of the blind man, the narrator gradually learns to figuratively lifts his own blindness and accept Robert for who he really is. The narrator passed ignorant judgment on Robert before even meeting him when he found out that his wife's name was Beluah. According to the narrator, "That's a name for a colored women" (101). He is already making rash assumptions of Robert based on something barely related to Roberts personality.

Although Robert is blind, the narrator can understand that Robert can see into his wife's emotion better than himself. This is seen when Robert arrives and the narrators wife greets him on the curb. While walking to the house, both are laughing and apparently already sharing a joyous moment. This sort of happiness is not seen in the wife prior to Roberts visit. The wife and the narrator clearly don't share a very deep relationship when the narrator feels compromised by his wife's best friend. The narrator even goes as far as criticizing Robert for having a beard. This is expressed when the narrator state, "This blind man, feature this, he was wearing a beard!...Too much, I say" (101). Does Robert feel this need to belittle his beard because he knows that Robert has no way of seeing it?

The narrator begins to gain some respect for Robert at the conclusion of the meal By listening to Robert's various jobs and interesting tasks, the narrator starts to understand the depth of Robert's character. Initially, the narrator viewed Robert as a helpless handicapped blind man, but by the end of the story, the narrator grows truly connected to Robert and can see life with a fresher perspective. The narrator sees how Robert has had the experiences of a lifetime while at the same time faced the disadvantage of lacking eyesight. Robert seems to gain a great deal of satisfaction from his past full of exciting experiences specifically his work as a ham radio operator. While smoking marijuana on the living room couch, the narrator attempts and struggles to describe what a cathedral looks like to Robert. This is expressed when the narrator explains, "They reach way up...I'm not doing so god, am I?" (107). The narrator needs leaves his comfort zone, illustrating what a cathedral looks like by drawing it on paper and having Robert hold on to his hand. While drawing it, the narrator closes his eyes and begins to understand life through the eyes of Robert. This is the deepest connection between the two individual in the story and the point where the narrator lifts his veil of ignorance. He begins understanding that he has freed himself from a blinding barrier of ignorance.

(581)

Repsonse to "Interpreter of Maladies"

2009-09-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

For this blog entry, I wanted to reflect on my favorite short story that we have read this unit, “Interpreter of Maladies”. The two characters that the narrator focuses on most are Mr. Kapasi, the tour guide, and Mina Das, the tourist. Although they both share a common Bengali background, there is a clear deviation in Mrs. Das’s strong Americanized culture and Mr. Kapasi’s Indian culture. Mrs. Das finds comfort in materialistic items such as her purse whereas Kapasi finds satisfaction in visiting one of his favorite places, the Sun Temple. There is another commonality that links the two characters: the difficulties of a failed marriage.

The origin of Mrs. Das’s marriages begins when both her and Mr. Das were proposed in high school and married by the time they were in college. I can infer by this that Indian society places its youth in a stressful position to marry early and without great contemplation in order to secure the social and financial success of two the two families. The level of devotion and mutual recognition of love in her relationship was apparently lacking from the beginning. She birthed a child at a very young age forcing her to cut off many of her social relations with her friends. Both Dases seemed to have lived perfunctory lives, not taking the necessary time to discuss their feelings and issues with each other. Mrs. Das also committed the adulterous action of having an affair with Mr. Das’s Punjabi friend while he was on a business trip. In that moment, Mrs. Das also conceived a child that Mr. Das never knew wasn’t his own. Mrs. Das views Kapasi as therapeutic source for this failing marriage because of her knowledge of his profession as a medical interpreter. This is evident when she states, “Eight years, Mr. Kapasi, I’ve been in pain eight years. I was hoping you could help me feel better, say the right thing. Suggest some kind of remedy” (591). Mrs. Das misunderstands Kapasi’s role as an interpreter for a doctor, believing that his task involves more than simply translation of Gujantari. She creates a exaggerated, idealized image of Kapasi making him a solution, curing her marriages issues. Mrs. Das gives Kapasi much more attention than she gives her own husband and appears to be very interested in his life and profession. Her deep desire to communicate with a male than can aid her in mending her broken love life is disappointed at the realization that Kapasi cannot emotionally satisfy her.

Reciprocally, Kapasi has grown deeply attracted to Mrs. Das ands is deeply interested in her. She provides Kapasi with female attention that he has evidently been lacking since his failed marriage with his own wife. Whereas Mrs. Das referred to his interpreter profession as “romantic”, Kapasi’s own wife displayed a lack of interest in his work life and over all existence (584). This is apparent when the narrator explains, “She never asked him about the patients who came to the doctor’s office, or said that his job was a big repsonnsibility” (585). This unusual interest that Kapasi receives from Mrs. Das sparks a feeling of infatuation. Having been emotionally starved for a while, this sudden female attention wisps him away into a delusional impression of Mrs. Das’s true reason for displaying affection. He creates an unhealthy fantasy version of his future relationship with Mrs. Das extending far into the future with the exchange of letters, full of his anecdotes that she enjoys. His strong feeling for her culminates at the conclusion of the story when the piece of paper containing his information is blown away by the wind. At this moment, he is grounded back into the reality of knowing that he will most likely never have a relationship with Mrs. Das. This also dispels his embellished idea that they both will continue share a strong relationship in the future.

Some of my Favorites

2009-08-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

This blog chronicles the 10 most memorable books that I have read.

1. Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
This novel stuck with me because it graphically illustrated that a great amount of intelligence does not necessarily lead to happiness. It also teaches the value of lasting relationships with people that one truly cares about.

2. The Golden Compass, Phillip Pullman
As a fan of fantasy books, I am always looking for a new and original novel to read. The Golden Compass was one of the most creative novels that I have read with themes that can appeal to both children and adults.

3. Black Boy, Richard Wright
Black Boy serves as a brutal and harsh autobiographical perspective about a young Black male trying to live in the South during the early 20th century. I can't recall another non-fiction novel where the author has experienced so much hardship in his/her youth.

4. The Giver, Louis Lowry
Consequent to reading this novel, I had a great deal of difficulty coming to a conclusion whether the main character, Jonas, ended up living or dying. The society envisioned in this novel is elegantly crafted with a dark background that lingers in one's mind long after the story is completed.

5. The Odyssey, Homer
As an avid fan of mythology whether it be Greek, Roman, Norse, or Egyptian The Odyssey more than satisfied my appetite for epic adventures and powerful deities. My sophomore year teacher also introduced me to one of my favorite concepts while reading this epic, called "The Hero's Cycle" created by writer John Campbell.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
This novel truly sticks with me because of its masterfully crafted characters that are extremely realistic. This novel blends a vast amount of themes together seamlessly making it a true masterpiece. The novel eloquently incorporated comical parts as well as very saddening parts.

7. Hiroshima, John Hersey
This book narrates the harrowing tale of six lucky survivors of the fateful day when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Its an incredibly powerful book that allows readers to truly digest the act of brutality that was committed August 6, 1945.

8. The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
My father introduced this book to me at a very young age and this was also my first taste of fantasy writing. Tolkien's Middle-Earth is one of the the most richly imagined worlds that I have ever encountered in my years of reading books. The history, races, languages are all beautifully flushed out and glow with a vivid flair of originality.

9. The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
This book is a very interesting look and study of human nature through the viewpoint of a well experienced demon, Screwtape, to his apprentice ,Wormwood. This book has a very unusual perspective stating that God is "the enemy" and Satan is "the father below". One of the most interesting pieces of advice that I recall Screwtape giving Wormwood was negatively influencing "the patient" when he was in one of life's troughs making him weakest and most susceptible to the devil's influence.

10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, Ursula K Le Guin
Although technically a short story and not a full-fledged book, this story left a very haunting impression on me during my first read through. This was one of the most shocking encounters that I have ever experienced with a text. The happiness that is displayed in this Utopian society called Omelas is sustained at the expense of an exceedingly mistreated child. The descriptions provided to illustrate his or her condition are absolutely revolting and contrast in the most polar way to the serene and gorgeous description of Omelas on the preceding pages.

Summer Reading!

2009-08-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

Book that I have read this summer:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
Everything's Eventual, Stephen King ( I read a few of the short stories)
The Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

At a glance, my summer reading list probably appears rather elementary and inappropriate for a high school student entering 12th grade. My purpose for beginning the Harry Potter series over was not for any intellectual merit, but rather for pure, unadulterated literary entertainment. My primary motivation for digesting all of the novels again is to build up to the 7th book with a fresh memory of all character and events since I haven't yet *gasp* read the final installment, The Deathly Hallows. Truthfully, I would be proud to say that the novel that I enjoyed most was The Life of Pi making it appear that I am a well educated and enlightened consumer of thought-provoking books. That statement would clash with my honest perspective and would leave and unsettling feeling inside of me. The novel that I thoroughly enjoyed most this summer was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

This Harry Potter book captivated me the most out of the first three due to its substantially darker themes and finely polished plot. Assuming that most readers in the 21st century are familiar with the novel's plot, I'll briefly summarize it. The notorious servant of Lord Voldemort, Sirius Black, has recently escaped from the wizard prison called Azkaban. His apparent motivation for pursuing and killing Potter is due to the fact that 13 years ago Potter stripped Voldemort of his power and life force. Potter faces the arduous challenge of protecting himself from the dark forces that linger over him and piecing together his first encounter with Voldemort the night his parents were murdered. Although this novel is not regarded by critics as a magnum opus of literature, Rowling creates an engaging and wonderfully crafted narrative that can be easily enjoyed by a wide range of ages. One of the most unique aspects of this novel is the information that I have absorbed at age 17 that I wouldn't have when I read it as a ten year old. The previous two installments in the series had a commonality of terrible defense against the dark arts professors. The third book introduces characters with a truly passionate individual by the name of Remus Lupin. As the ten year old reader, I acknowledged that he was an interesting character sharing a strong bond with Harry, but not his true importance. Lupin is manifested as one of the first paternal mentors that Harry has connected with. Lupin served as an approachable link to Harry's father and his escapades as a student years back at Hogwarts.

While reading this novel at camp, a feeling of nostalgia also surfaced. Camp for me evokes my most cherished and happy memories. For a reason I can't fully comprehend, reading this Harry Potter novel only added to the feelings of nostalgia. This book greatly complemented my camp experience and while reading it I felt as though I were visiting a childhood friend that I had long forgotten.