main characters: Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy Loman. These four are the main characters that the story revolves around, particularly Willy. Bernard and Charley are son and father, respectively, who are the Loman's good friends and next door neighbors. Uncle Ben is Willy's older brother who had died a few years before this particular time.
previously known info about the topic: I honestly didn't know much about the early 1900's until I read the footnotes that referred to significant people of that time period.
what i can imagine that is not specifically outlined: I can understand Biff's frustration in the beginning of act one when his father is constantly jumping Biff's case. I know what it is like to not be completely sure of who and what you were destined to be. And then when you have someone who keeps pressuring you to be just like them it becomes a very stressful situation. I can also imagine how furious Biff was with Willy towards the end of act two, when the guys were having it out at one another. Biff was so hurt and didn't know how to say what he truly felt to Willy. It was painful for me to read because I wished it wasn't such a struggle for Biff to get the things off of his chest that he needed to express.
my opinion on the reading: I loved the story and I loved the meaning behind the words. Miller stressed the importance of time when he constantly referred to Uncle Ben checking the time on his watch. It seemed to me that the significance of time related to the fact that Biff and Willy had this internal, and external, conflict with their relationship. Neither one was going to live forever. I felt like Miller was trying to show that living life to its highest and happiest level is the most important thing and that you should civilly mend broken relationships, especially with family.
my emotional response: I felt connected with a few characters. Biff I felt pity for because he was just a lost soul. He didn't know who or what he was supposed to be and felt like his life was wasted away, and nobody should have to live like that. I felt sorry for Linda because Willy treated her poorly and talked down to her all the time. But at the same time it made me mad because she should've stood up for herself. It was a sad story and made me a bit sorrowful because it was the "American Dream" gone all wrong. These people just wanted the "perfect" life and never got it.
what I want to learn more about: I want to know about how society looked at families like Willy's and if they thought less of them because everything wasn't exactly perfect. I want to find out about how hard salesmen had to work to earn a living.
my reaction if it were me: I probably would have felt the same exact way as Biff if I were in his position throughout the whole story. If I would have found my father cheating on my mother with another woman I probably would have turned my back on him for a long time, instead of just saying nothing. I would have told my mother as soon as I got home because nobody deserves to be treated like that. If I were Linda, Willy would have NEVER talked to me the way he did because I am the kind of woman who rarely lets people walk on me. I would have gotten a job to help pay for the bills that were piling up and would have worked hard to help out my sons if they needed it. But, there are differences in age, and I know that typically the women rarely worked in the business world. They were designated to house keeping and raising a family.
reflecting my life: I have had my go-abouts with plenty of people in my life, especially my father. There really wasn't a steady period of time when my dad was there for me 100 percent of the time. We have had our fights and it is sad to see how parents only want the best for their children (most parents), but sometimes make life hell because they push too hard. I understand not knowing what and who you are destined to be, because I still feel that I am not completely sure what God has made for me (sorry if anyone disagrees with "God") and what path I am supposed to take. I know its a diverse one, and one that not many others have taken.
****after class discussion****
info about the author: Arthur Miller came from a German Jew family in Manhattan and "Death of a Salesman" was one of his most famous works. He stressed how society looked at the American Dream back during World War II.
my favorite section: my favorite section of the play was when Biff stood up to his father and told him the truth about who he was and that his father would never be happy and satisfied with him. It showed that he had courage and independence.
summary of discussion: Throughout class we discussed how the "American Dream" has changed with the ideals of Americans after World War II. We also talked about how certain characters held specific roles and personalities that made the story go on. The story was about a torn family that is trying to find its way. A father and son battle their relationship until death.
evaluation: I liked the story because it showed that not everyone is perfect and people find their happiness in their own ways. I would recommend this play to anyone. The story gave a new insight to how reality is.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Invisible Man (ch.1) - ralph ellison
Main Characters: The narrator who was called "Sambo." He seems to be African American and had just graduated from school as one of the best students in his class.
Previous knowledge of the topic: I knew that even though slavery ended in the early 1900's, Southern white men were still extremely racist against African Americans and that they harshly discriminated against them up until the Black Rights Movement.
What can you imagine: I can imagine how embarrassed the black boys were standing in front of a bunch of wealthy, yet pathetic, white men. I can see how desperately Sambo wanted to give his speech and to just get away from where he was at that moment. I can also imagine how greatly Sambo appreciated the scholarship and how proud of himself he was for fighting through the fight and electric rug before his speech. He was able to hold his head high and recite every word, even when the white men were being disrespectful. The fact that Sambo held his ground and stood up for what he believed was astonishing and the pride he showed was worth everything.
What do you think about: Every time the narrator described a horrible moment of that night, I would catch myself thinking, "How could people find this amusing? How can you watch a person get the crap beat out of them, and shocked over and over, without feeling anything? How can men laugh at the situation?!" The teachings of that time were wholesome and loving and caring, yet you have these "elegant, smart, powerful, influential" people who are acting like savages. How could the government and other people just let things like that happen, and why weren't they thrown in jail? They should've suffered just like the poor African Americans. No human deserves that kind of treatment.
How do you feel about it: The story gave me a new perspective on racism and how apathetic humans can be toward other human beings. It deeply disturbed me that things like the story actually did and still do happen in this world. I honestly could feel everything the narrator was presenting because I do have a heart and I just can't imagine anything like that happening to someone I love and care for. It would devastate me if I had to experience that.
What do you want to learn more about: I want to learn more about the Black Rights Movement and how great African American leaders emerged to step up and fight for what was right to their people. I want to know about the obstacles they encountered and overcame.
My reaction if it would've happened to me: The narrator was brave and dead set on proving to the white men that African Americans should have the same rights and laws as white people. If something that traumatic happened to me, I would be scarred for life. I would probably fight through it like he did, but the impact it had on my life would devastate me for a while. In the end, I feel like it would make me stronger. I would realize that this world is full of people who are there to put you down, but at the same time, teach you to fight for what you believe is the best thing for you. Nobody can create what you will become except you.
Relation to my own life: Obstacles and situations are thrown your way everyday you wake up. That is life. Those who are strong enough to overcome life's everyday battles are the most likely to succeed. I believe that things that leave the greatest impact on your life are the things that will influence you the most and determine the rest of your path you walk in time.
**after discussion**
Information about the author: Ralph Ellison wrote "Invisible Man" in 1953 and won the National Book Award. He was not writing a novel of social protest, he was trying to show the country how his people were being treated.
My favorite passage/section: My favorite section would have to be when the narrator was standing in front of all the white men and was giving his speech while spittting blood out of his mouth. He had gotten beat down just so that he could have his voice heard. But he was still standing there. Even though the superintendent of his school was taking part of the terrible things they were putting the boys through, he listened the whole time for the narrator's speech. It makes me wonder how he can be so insensitive to him physically but mentally aware of the narrator. When the narrator is giving his speech he fights through the other men who arent paying a bit of attention to him and showing ill manners. He says what he wrote and memorized the meaning of it all and the passion he has about the subject at hand.
Summary: In class, we talked about how African Americans of the time would have much rather been communisitic since they would be equal to the white society. The book tried to present ethics (what is right or wrong, and is a person's morals and values.) It made people who read it think about how they discriminated against African Americans in the United States.
Ellison also seems to be writing a parody because he pokes fun at the narrator, Booker T. Washington, and the white men. He is trying to make people realize the situation in its whole context.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed the story because it presented discrimination against minorities as realistic and meaningful. It was a step to standing up and showing what is right and what is wrong. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the black rights movement and the road to equality they had to establish.
Previous knowledge of the topic: I knew that even though slavery ended in the early 1900's, Southern white men were still extremely racist against African Americans and that they harshly discriminated against them up until the Black Rights Movement.
What can you imagine: I can imagine how embarrassed the black boys were standing in front of a bunch of wealthy, yet pathetic, white men. I can see how desperately Sambo wanted to give his speech and to just get away from where he was at that moment. I can also imagine how greatly Sambo appreciated the scholarship and how proud of himself he was for fighting through the fight and electric rug before his speech. He was able to hold his head high and recite every word, even when the white men were being disrespectful. The fact that Sambo held his ground and stood up for what he believed was astonishing and the pride he showed was worth everything.
What do you think about: Every time the narrator described a horrible moment of that night, I would catch myself thinking, "How could people find this amusing? How can you watch a person get the crap beat out of them, and shocked over and over, without feeling anything? How can men laugh at the situation?!" The teachings of that time were wholesome and loving and caring, yet you have these "elegant, smart, powerful, influential" people who are acting like savages. How could the government and other people just let things like that happen, and why weren't they thrown in jail? They should've suffered just like the poor African Americans. No human deserves that kind of treatment.
How do you feel about it: The story gave me a new perspective on racism and how apathetic humans can be toward other human beings. It deeply disturbed me that things like the story actually did and still do happen in this world. I honestly could feel everything the narrator was presenting because I do have a heart and I just can't imagine anything like that happening to someone I love and care for. It would devastate me if I had to experience that.
What do you want to learn more about: I want to learn more about the Black Rights Movement and how great African American leaders emerged to step up and fight for what was right to their people. I want to know about the obstacles they encountered and overcame.
My reaction if it would've happened to me: The narrator was brave and dead set on proving to the white men that African Americans should have the same rights and laws as white people. If something that traumatic happened to me, I would be scarred for life. I would probably fight through it like he did, but the impact it had on my life would devastate me for a while. In the end, I feel like it would make me stronger. I would realize that this world is full of people who are there to put you down, but at the same time, teach you to fight for what you believe is the best thing for you. Nobody can create what you will become except you.
Relation to my own life: Obstacles and situations are thrown your way everyday you wake up. That is life. Those who are strong enough to overcome life's everyday battles are the most likely to succeed. I believe that things that leave the greatest impact on your life are the things that will influence you the most and determine the rest of your path you walk in time.
**after discussion**
Information about the author: Ralph Ellison wrote "Invisible Man" in 1953 and won the National Book Award. He was not writing a novel of social protest, he was trying to show the country how his people were being treated.
My favorite passage/section: My favorite section would have to be when the narrator was standing in front of all the white men and was giving his speech while spittting blood out of his mouth. He had gotten beat down just so that he could have his voice heard. But he was still standing there. Even though the superintendent of his school was taking part of the terrible things they were putting the boys through, he listened the whole time for the narrator's speech. It makes me wonder how he can be so insensitive to him physically but mentally aware of the narrator. When the narrator is giving his speech he fights through the other men who arent paying a bit of attention to him and showing ill manners. He says what he wrote and memorized the meaning of it all and the passion he has about the subject at hand.
Summary: In class, we talked about how African Americans of the time would have much rather been communisitic since they would be equal to the white society. The book tried to present ethics (what is right or wrong, and is a person's morals and values.) It made people who read it think about how they discriminated against African Americans in the United States.
Ellison also seems to be writing a parody because he pokes fun at the narrator, Booker T. Washington, and the white men. He is trying to make people realize the situation in its whole context.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed the story because it presented discrimination against minorities as realistic and meaningful. It was a step to standing up and showing what is right and what is wrong. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the black rights movement and the road to equality they had to establish.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)