Okonkwo's fear of change finally caught up with him this week, but not in the way he (or I) would have liked. Instead, Okonkwo, constantly concerned about losing his reputation among his fellow clan members or fretting about how he is surrounded by cowards, failed to recognize the demands and feelings of the new generation that was now the base of the clan. The young people weren't concerned with "honor" and "social status" nearly as much as Okonkwo was and as a result, were much more accepting of the church and the white missionaries. They were not able to relate to the ideas of war with neighboring tribes over pride. Okonkwo, not seeing this, believed that if he killed the messenger from the District Commissioner, the whole clan would go to war with him against the white man it would be just like old times. However, the new generation believed in being rational and having peace talks before simply barging into war and causing dozens of unnecessary deaths.
While some may argue that this new generation is the superior one, preferring liberal and progressive ideas as opposed to the traditional ones of their fathers, there is certainly something to be said for Okonkwo's old regime mentality. Okonkwo's chivalrous nature has lead the clan through many tough times and acts as guidepost to help them stay true to their course. Now, with the infusion of the white missionaries into their society, they have lost many of their customs and traditions that make the clan unique and not just another group of humans. And so, in this way, Okonkwo's suicide was a very sad one indeed, as it represents not just the death of a great leader, but also the death of the tradition and the old generation.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 7, Post A
This week, I found the conflict between Christianity and the religion of the tribe to be intriguing. "'You can stay with us if you like our ways. You can worship your own god. [...] This is the house of God and I will not live to see it desecrated.' [...] We cannot leave the matter in his hands because he does not understand our customs, just was we do not understand his. We say he is foolish because he does not know our ways" (191). In this excerpt, the new pastor at the church, Mr. Smith, tries to protect the church and Enoch, the religious offender who took asylum at the church, from the mob of religious elders, the egwugwu, who are trying to burn it down and kill Enoch. Eventually, they do find Enoch, kill him, and burn down the church, but this is reported to the District Commisioner, who sends out messengers to bring back the criminals. They are brought to the Commisioner, who holds them as prisoners until they can pay a large sum of money. In the meantime, they are whipped and preached to about the righeousness of God.
I found this to be sort of darkly ironic, as the religion of love, as Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown had been saying, was now torturing potential converts instead of trying to correct the situation rationally. This hypocrisy seems to present in most of the missionaries that Okonkwo encounters: they preach on being a good, peaceful Christian, but if someone goes against the church, they call in the militia to destroy the village, as was the case in Agabe. However, the religion of the tribe doesn't seem to be much better. They are equally as backwards and oppressive as the Christian missionaries and are eager to crush any dissenters at a moments notice, as was the case with Enoch. So, it seems that Chinua Achebe could be hinting at this theme that religion is the true evil among men and the only thing that seperates the fraternity.
I found this to be sort of darkly ironic, as the religion of love, as Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown had been saying, was now torturing potential converts instead of trying to correct the situation rationally. This hypocrisy seems to present in most of the missionaries that Okonkwo encounters: they preach on being a good, peaceful Christian, but if someone goes against the church, they call in the militia to destroy the village, as was the case in Agabe. However, the religion of the tribe doesn't seem to be much better. They are equally as backwards and oppressive as the Christian missionaries and are eager to crush any dissenters at a moments notice, as was the case with Enoch. So, it seems that Chinua Achebe could be hinting at this theme that religion is the true evil among men and the only thing that seperates the fraternity.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 6, Post B
Okonkwo-
Why do you fear change? Why are you so stubborn and stuck in your ways? Why do you continue to fail to realize what is going on around you? It seems like you are now purposely attempting to shut out the rest of the community from the old regime by simply labeling them as "heathens". Sure, maybe you seemed justified in rejecting your son simply because he was weak and failed to live up to your expectations, but surely half the population of your village is not weak? They are simply more eager to embrace change than you are, not corrupt or evil. So, why then, do you continue to denounce these new ideas and religions as pure heresy? It seems to me that if the population of dissenters starts to rival that of the "majority", then they are no longer dissenters, but simply a minority among the villagers. These things are all easily recognizable facts, yet for some reason, you have shrouded yourself in your protective bubble of denial, always reaching back to your past and claiming that we must beat the newcomers out of the village and maintain the status quo. Well, unfortunately for you, the status quo is changing and you must act now and adapt to the change or be left in the dust with your outdated social customs, technology, and government. You may be afraid of the change and fear the wrath of the gods, but remember what the missionaries were talking about when they moved into the evil forest: why are there simply arbitrary items or patches of land that are designated as holy or cursed? Think about that.
Why do you fear change? Why are you so stubborn and stuck in your ways? Why do you continue to fail to realize what is going on around you? It seems like you are now purposely attempting to shut out the rest of the community from the old regime by simply labeling them as "heathens". Sure, maybe you seemed justified in rejecting your son simply because he was weak and failed to live up to your expectations, but surely half the population of your village is not weak? They are simply more eager to embrace change than you are, not corrupt or evil. So, why then, do you continue to denounce these new ideas and religions as pure heresy? It seems to me that if the population of dissenters starts to rival that of the "majority", then they are no longer dissenters, but simply a minority among the villagers. These things are all easily recognizable facts, yet for some reason, you have shrouded yourself in your protective bubble of denial, always reaching back to your past and claiming that we must beat the newcomers out of the village and maintain the status quo. Well, unfortunately for you, the status quo is changing and you must act now and adapt to the change or be left in the dust with your outdated social customs, technology, and government. You may be afraid of the change and fear the wrath of the gods, but remember what the missionaries were talking about when they moved into the evil forest: why are there simply arbitrary items or patches of land that are designated as holy or cursed? Think about that.
Outside Reading, Week 6, Post A
Probably the most frustrating aspect of Okonkwo's culture that I found was their persistence in enforcing their ridiculous and mostly oppressive social expectations and customs. Just one such example is their tradition of creating "osu" or social outcasts who are not able to shave or cut their hair and are forced to live by themselves, outside the village: "'You fear that you will die. Why should that be? How are you different from other men who shave their hair? THe same God created you and them. But they have cast you out like lepers. [...] They alos said I would die if I built my church on this ground. Am I dead?'" (157) This quote comes from the Christian missionary who visits their village, Mr. Kiaga. Kiaga, while also instilling his new Christian religious beliefs and values into the villagers, attempts to disprove many of their long held social rituals. While most of Kiaga's actions are generally beneficial and help to modernize the village, Okonkwo and many of the elders seem disgusted by this new wave that is sweeping over the village and turning their warriors into "those who are soft like women" (183). So, in this way, Kiaga is also corrupting the very foundations of the village hierarchy and government, which in the long run could completely destroy the village and ruin the sanctity that Okonkwo's generation has held so dear.
On the other hand, maybe it is time for these terrible customs to be done with. Some of them seem completely inhumane, such as their policy of killing all twins and keeping social outcasts completely isolated from the rest of their society. Also, a lot of their traditions are based purely on superstition, including their so-called "Evil Forest", where they bury all of those who died from disease so that they can rest with the evil spirits. This essentially only harms themselves, as they are restricting themselves from an otherwise perfectly viable plot of land.
On the other hand, maybe it is time for these terrible customs to be done with. Some of them seem completely inhumane, such as their policy of killing all twins and keeping social outcasts completely isolated from the rest of their society. Also, a lot of their traditions are based purely on superstition, including their so-called "Evil Forest", where they bury all of those who died from disease so that they can rest with the evil spirits. This essentially only harms themselves, as they are restricting themselves from an otherwise perfectly viable plot of land.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 5, Post B
In other books that I have read that take place in developing nations, whenever the natives are exposed to aspects of modern society, such as new technologies or people of different color skin, the author always address it in the cliché and childish way of describing how the natives react. Many simply create new phrases using words the natives already know, such as "iron bird" for airplane or "boom staff" for gun, while others always make the natives attribute the new elements to the gods or some sort of mystical force. Despite the fact that these are widely used and accepted, I have never felt that they are fully satisfying as a reader. It seems like real people wouldn't react in this way and it completely ruins any immersion that the novel had going for it. I am glad to say, however, that Things Fall Apart takes a new approach to this rather outdated concept by allowing the natives to describe things rationally.
While when the white men first arrive, Okonkwo and the other tribe members describe the bicycles as "iron horses", the author quickly escapes that oft-traveled rut and escapes into something more realistic. When the missionaries finally arrive at the town, Okonkwo doesn't describe them as "sand skinned" or some other ridiculous name like that, he simply calls them "white skinned", a very sound description. Also, when the missionaries start preaching to the villagers, he doesn't simply speak in English or attempt to communicate by pointing, he hires a translator from a nearby village, but who speaks in a different dialect, creating a bit of confusion. These seem like much more reasonable occurrences in this type of setting, again demonstrating why Things Fall Apart is set aside from the rest of the books of this genre.
While when the white men first arrive, Okonkwo and the other tribe members describe the bicycles as "iron horses", the author quickly escapes that oft-traveled rut and escapes into something more realistic. When the missionaries finally arrive at the town, Okonkwo doesn't describe them as "sand skinned" or some other ridiculous name like that, he simply calls them "white skinned", a very sound description. Also, when the missionaries start preaching to the villagers, he doesn't simply speak in English or attempt to communicate by pointing, he hires a translator from a nearby village, but who speaks in a different dialect, creating a bit of confusion. These seem like much more reasonable occurrences in this type of setting, again demonstrating why Things Fall Apart is set aside from the rest of the books of this genre.
Outside Reading, Week 5, Post A
While a system of law is present in almost every culture or society, the justice brought my Okonkwo's tribe seems to relatively rational. When Okonkwo is celebrating with the other warriors around the campfire to mourn the death of an elder, he accidentally kills a child when his gun explodes. Instead of simply assuming that Okonkwo purposely killed the child, the crime is analyzed with their system of law. There are "two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years" (124). Consequently, Okonkwo is forced to leave the village and all of his possesions are burned, but he is allowed to return after living for seven years in his motherland. While some may see his punishment and claim that it is rather strict when compared to his crime, especially when you look at our legal system, we must remember the legal systems in other developing countries. In many, a man may have his hand chopped off for stealing or may be stoned to death for adultery. These seem like far lesser crimes than Okonkwo's, but with far greater punishments.
In the US legal system, Okonkwo's accident could be classified as "manslaughter" which could cost him 2-11 years in prison. This seems like a relatively equitable punishment to the punishment which he actually receives in the book. In this way, our cultures are similar, but in the way the verdict is decided is much different. In the US legal system, Okonkwo would be assessed by a jury of his peers, where as in Things Fall Apart, the council of elders has ultimate say on any accident or crime. In this way, Okonkwo's sentencing may be unjust, in that he has no say in his case and the people of village are not the ones judging him, only the all mysterious elders, who have no authority to answer to.
In the US legal system, Okonkwo's accident could be classified as "manslaughter" which could cost him 2-11 years in prison. This seems like a relatively equitable punishment to the punishment which he actually receives in the book. In this way, our cultures are similar, but in the way the verdict is decided is much different. In the US legal system, Okonkwo would be assessed by a jury of his peers, where as in Things Fall Apart, the council of elders has ultimate say on any accident or crime. In this way, Okonkwo's sentencing may be unjust, in that he has no say in his case and the people of village are not the ones judging him, only the all mysterious elders, who have no authority to answer to.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 4, Post B
One aspect of Things Fall Apart that I really don't understand is the whole theocracy rule of the village. For some reason, the prophetess or priestess is able to control all the villagers and demand whatever she wants whenever she wants. For example, in this last section, the prophetess Chielo came to Okonkwo's compound in the middle of the night demanding his youngest daughter. So, Okonkwo just hands her over to her. WHY? Why would you simply trust someone just because they claim to have a connection to God? What makes you so sure that they aren't just completely making things up or just suffering from the effects of narcotics, as prophetesses often do. It seems that the people of Okonkwo's community are being unjustly exploited out of their hard labor and toil by some faux-goddess who has an unconfirmed and most likely false "connection with God".
Of course, it could just be that they are reluctant to challenge anything because that's the way they were raised and it is unheard of to question the prophetess. Okonkwo could honestly be afraid of God's wrath and believe that the only way to appease him is to obey everything that his messenger Chielo says. However, he seems pretty sharp to me and may only be following her orders in order to maintain peace and stability and not upset the other villagers. In doing this, Okonkwo is able to keep his current lifestyle and not be kicked out for disrupting the status quo.
Of course, it could just be that they are reluctant to challenge anything because that's the way they were raised and it is unheard of to question the prophetess. Okonkwo could honestly be afraid of God's wrath and believe that the only way to appease him is to obey everything that his messenger Chielo says. However, he seems pretty sharp to me and may only be following her orders in order to maintain peace and stability and not upset the other villagers. In doing this, Okonkwo is able to keep his current lifestyle and not be kicked out for disrupting the status quo.
Outside Reading, Week 4, Post A
Another interesting difference that I found between Okonkwo's culture and our culture is the tradition of explaining natural phenomenons with folk tales. Ekwefi and Enzima share stories with each other that while entertaining, also provide the origins of certain aspects of nature, such as why the tortoise shell is not smooth. Instead of using empirical reasoning or the scientific method, they make assumptions based on observation or mythology, which, while entertaining, exists more for the purpose of being a cultural staple than a logic explanation. Also, folk stories allow Ekwefi and Enzima to bond after dark, when "low voices reached Okonkwo's from his wives' huts as each woman and her children told folk stories" (96). While the American culture does have some weak parallels to this, such as nursery rhymes or folklore, a majority of the populous realizes that the stories are only meant for entertainment and nothing more. We, instead, believe in approaching things rationally and conducting experiments, providing reasonable and sound answers to questions.
However, despite the fact that the American answers are more factual, it's difficult to say whether or not it is better than the tribal method of folktelling. Sure, if you really need to know how a toroise shell is formed or how spiders got eight legs, it might be worth knowing the actual origin, but for the people of Africa, it probably isn't a necessity in their lives and an entertaining tale may be more valuable. The folk stories certainly enrich their culture and provide somewhat- universal truths to their children, giving families and communities a chance to bond and share a common heritage.
However, despite the fact that the American answers are more factual, it's difficult to say whether or not it is better than the tribal method of folktelling. Sure, if you really need to know how a toroise shell is formed or how spiders got eight legs, it might be worth knowing the actual origin, but for the people of Africa, it probably isn't a necessity in their lives and an entertaining tale may be more valuable. The folk stories certainly enrich their culture and provide somewhat- universal truths to their children, giving families and communities a chance to bond and share a common heritage.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 3, Post B
Okonkwo-
Okay, maybe I was a little quick to judge. It certainly seemed like you tried to redeem yourself and I was finally able to witness the stress that it placed on you as the surrogate father of Ikemefuna. You suddenly appeared to be a kind and gentle man, certainly not the tough, courageous leader you seek to be, when you starved yourself for two days after Ikemefuna's death. Although it was too late to do anything, maybe you really were a good father after all and just had a terrible lapse in judgement. Then, you showed your compassion to the rest of the family when you thrust yourself into action to save the life of your daughter Ezinma. Even though you secretly confessed that you wished she was a boy, you still admired her personality and vigor and quickly rounded up all of the ingredients necessary to save her life. A truly remarkable feat and a test of your commitment as a father.
Finally, you showed your wisdom and logic at the council of the elders, where you devised a reasonable and sensible solution to the problem of the stolen wife. In short, perhaps I was just caught up in my emotions and felt like I needed to quickly pigeonhole you so I could concentrate my hatred. It seems that you were, in fact, and loving and caring father and community leader who simply was torn between two sides and was forced to make a hasty decision.
Okay, maybe I was a little quick to judge. It certainly seemed like you tried to redeem yourself and I was finally able to witness the stress that it placed on you as the surrogate father of Ikemefuna. You suddenly appeared to be a kind and gentle man, certainly not the tough, courageous leader you seek to be, when you starved yourself for two days after Ikemefuna's death. Although it was too late to do anything, maybe you really were a good father after all and just had a terrible lapse in judgement. Then, you showed your compassion to the rest of the family when you thrust yourself into action to save the life of your daughter Ezinma. Even though you secretly confessed that you wished she was a boy, you still admired her personality and vigor and quickly rounded up all of the ingredients necessary to save her life. A truly remarkable feat and a test of your commitment as a father.
Finally, you showed your wisdom and logic at the council of the elders, where you devised a reasonable and sensible solution to the problem of the stolen wife. In short, perhaps I was just caught up in my emotions and felt like I needed to quickly pigeonhole you so I could concentrate my hatred. It seems that you were, in fact, and loving and caring father and community leader who simply was torn between two sides and was forced to make a hasty decision.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 3, Post A
This week, I chose to blog about the differences in marriage rituals between the tribe of Umofia and our society. I found the marriage ritual that is described in detail in chapter 8 to be quite intriguing. Like in many non-western countries, it is an arranged marriage, but with a very distinct twist. Instead of having the wife's family pay the dowry to the groom's family, the groom instead amasses a sum of wealth to pay for the bride, called the "brideprice". This, in a sense, is what the groom pays for the wife, like buying any sort of merchandise, whereas a dowry is what the wife pays for the husband. As a result of this, many times the groom attempts to return the bride and receive her "brideprice" back as a refund, resulting in a lot of conflict in the village between in laws. The brideprice seems to be a major factor for Obierika for marriage, when he states that, "My daughter's suitor is coming [...] I hope we will clinch the matter of the bride price" (65), indicating that it is a very important aspect of the marriage for him.
This, obviously, presents a stark contrast to our American marriage process, in which both the groom and bride have a mutual say in the relationship and people aren't simply "purchased" for marriage. In an American relationship, there is also generally a much higher sense of respect for the other partner, probably resulting in less spousal abuse, which is rampant in Things Fall Apart. Also, the American culture generally frowns upon polygamy, which, conversely, is widely accepted and practiced in Okonkwo's culture. This too seems to create a breakdown of basic spousal interaction between Okonkwo and his wives, using them only for food and sex.
This, obviously, presents a stark contrast to our American marriage process, in which both the groom and bride have a mutual say in the relationship and people aren't simply "purchased" for marriage. In an American relationship, there is also generally a much higher sense of respect for the other partner, probably resulting in less spousal abuse, which is rampant in Things Fall Apart. Also, the American culture generally frowns upon polygamy, which, conversely, is widely accepted and practiced in Okonkwo's culture. This too seems to create a breakdown of basic spousal interaction between Okonkwo and his wives, using them only for food and sex.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
World Issues
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 2, Post B
Okonkwo-
What's going on, man? Seriously, it seems like you need some help. You act like you are some sort of "man's man" and an honorable warrior, but then you allow Ikemefuna to be killed? He was like a son to you! You raised him like your own since he was only a child and then you just allow him to be taken away from you and slaughtered simply because a group of senile old men think that it is best for the tribe? What happened to making a name for yourself? What happened to standing up for what you believe is right? Is that not what makes a man noble? You seemed like a pretty cool guy up until this point: you utilized all the honorable traits in a man (determination, strength, passion) to rise up from poverty and create your own estate. Why suddenly stop standing up for these ideals? What is the point of having all of these material things if you always have to be subservient to the tribal elders? What's to stop them from going after you or your things next?
Overall, I'm very disappointed and I don't know if there's anything you can do to make it right again. After commiting an atrocity such as this, I'm not sure if there's anything you can do to make yourself right again in my eyes. Betraying your son like that is so hypocritical and so disgusting, it make me wonder what else you might have to done to control so much land.
What's going on, man? Seriously, it seems like you need some help. You act like you are some sort of "man's man" and an honorable warrior, but then you allow Ikemefuna to be killed? He was like a son to you! You raised him like your own since he was only a child and then you just allow him to be taken away from you and slaughtered simply because a group of senile old men think that it is best for the tribe? What happened to making a name for yourself? What happened to standing up for what you believe is right? Is that not what makes a man noble? You seemed like a pretty cool guy up until this point: you utilized all the honorable traits in a man (determination, strength, passion) to rise up from poverty and create your own estate. Why suddenly stop standing up for these ideals? What is the point of having all of these material things if you always have to be subservient to the tribal elders? What's to stop them from going after you or your things next?
Overall, I'm very disappointed and I don't know if there's anything you can do to make it right again. After commiting an atrocity such as this, I'm not sure if there's anything you can do to make yourself right again in my eyes. Betraying your son like that is so hypocritical and so disgusting, it make me wonder what else you might have to done to control so much land.
Outside Reading, Week 2, Post A
Another interesting difference that I found between the African tribal culture of Things Fall Apart and our culture is the increased emphasis on community gatherings and councils. In Okonkwo's society, everyone seems to be thinking the same things, attending the same ceremonies, and almost living the same lives. There just seems to be a few major events that define their lives every year, like the wrestling tournament, in which "the whole village turned out [...] men, women, and children" (46). It could be that I don't come from a small, rural town where apparently life is more community focussed, but it seems like these is a stark contrast to Edina life, where the community feels fragmented. Everyone is divided into their little sects and while there is some overlapping, it seems to be much more isolated than in Okonkwo's village. Just one example of this distinction is the village yam festival and wrestling contest. Everyone prepares for the festival a week ahead of time and shows up for the wrestling contest, giving the tribe a very unified air about it. On the other hand, if such an event happened in Edina, I'm sure that a large percentage of the population would attend, but it most certainly not be the entire city, as shown in Things.
Whether or not this is a bad thing is uncertain. I could certainly seem some advantages to a tighter knit community (greater support), but conversely, I could see the potential downfalls, as evidenced by the quick spread of rumors around Okonkwo's village.
Whether or not this is a bad thing is uncertain. I could certainly seem some advantages to a tighter knit community (greater support), but conversely, I could see the potential downfalls, as evidenced by the quick spread of rumors around Okonkwo's village.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 1, Post B
One thing about the book that has fascinated me so far is the story of how Okonkwo was able to escape his father's negative shadow and build his own fortune. Through several smart and savvy deals, Okonkwo was able to gain respect in his community, create a network of relationships, and amass a large holding of yams, the measure of wealth in Okonkwo's village. Okonkwo seems to have a deep understanding of how the culture and trade relations work, despite the fact that his father was a deadbeat and never taught him anything. It seems like a bit of a plot hole and Okonkwo is seemingly born with these talents of negotiation and business, allowing him to maneuver his way into power. Also, Okonkwo is able to succeed in his farming arrangements, even though the narrator says that it was the worst weather that the elders have ever seen. This seems like another gaping plot hole. Why is it that Okonkwo is able to come out ahead, while the other farmers have all their crops burn up? It just seems like this book is taking the fictional/mystical aspect too far sometimes, and downplaying it at others, which creates for a very confusing reading experience. Sometimes Okonkwo and the others are held back by physical limitations and real reasons, yet at other times, randoms acts are attributed to the gods. I'm fine with either having a mystical book or a realistic book, but it seems too difficult to do both.
Outside Reading, Week 1, Post A
Easily the most prominent difference between the culture of Things Fall Apart and our culture is the notion of honor and amassing a reputation of one's self. This difference is exemplified through Okonkwo's quest to become is own man and differentiate himself from his father. The narrator attempts to explain Okonkwo's nature to the reader by describing his fear of being average: "Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man [...] Okonkwo's fear was was greather than these [...] It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father. Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness" (13). Okonkwo's father had been the village idiot/drunk and simply existed for his own pleasure; he wasted all of his money on entertainment and palm-wine and never attempted to build an estate for his family. Okonkwo realizes his father's follies and attempts to become a better man by doing the exact opposite of what his father did: play all day and love everyone one. As a result of this, Okonkwo grows to be a stubborn and hardened man, always reluctant to show any emotion except anger. This shows a little bit of irony to the topic of honor and wealth: Okonkwo, despite being more respected and having a larger estate than his father, is seemingly an overall unhappier man. While his father lived a carefree life, Okonkwo has to work continuously to maintain his current standard of living, causing him to be bitter. This is a slight contrast to the United States, where honor and passing down reputations is not as important as it is in African society.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Outside Reading Quarter 4 Book Choice
For outside reading this quarter, I am choosing to read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. This book first caught my eye (or ear) when we talked about it in class. The topic (African tribes) sounded interesting to me and after doing some research, I found that it is a critically-acclaimed novel. A positive review from my mom sealed the deal on my choice.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 7, Post B
Wow. Well, that was surprising. You spend the entire book building up to this point, the moment where our two plot lines intersect and Blair finally meets Ludmila, and then you throw something like Blair and all of Ludmila's family dying on us like that? What is it with writers and twisted endings. They always fail miserably and leave the reader disappointed and frustrated with the writer and characters and talk about your deus ex machina! Where did this Gnez soldiers come from? You just felt like throwing them into the equation because you weren't creative enough to think of a rational solution to the conflict, huh? Did killing everyone really solve your story line problems? You can't just go around throwing guns into the conflict, hoping that the people who are causing trouble for you get shot, and then leave with the characters who are easy to write for!
Also, while we're on this topic, your epilogue makes no sense at all. Why are Bunny, Ludmila, and Maks living together? Bunny didn't even like Ludmila in the first place, and Maks and Ludmila were estranged last time I checked. Also, why did she name her child Blair? There didn't really seem to be much of a connection between the two of them and they only met for a few hours, if that. Your whole ending is ill conceived and overall, very disappointing. What you should have done is either had a) Blair and Ludmila come in from outside and kill the two Gnez soliders. Then the two families can be friends (maybe move back to England?) or b) Blair and Bunny realize that they only really need each other to be a family and having a pseudo relationship with Ludmila doesn't constitute a family. Hmmm...maybe I should have written this for you.
Also, while we're on this topic, your epilogue makes no sense at all. Why are Bunny, Ludmila, and Maks living together? Bunny didn't even like Ludmila in the first place, and Maks and Ludmila were estranged last time I checked. Also, why did she name her child Blair? There didn't really seem to be much of a connection between the two of them and they only met for a few hours, if that. Your whole ending is ill conceived and overall, very disappointing. What you should have done is either had a) Blair and Ludmila come in from outside and kill the two Gnez soliders. Then the two families can be friends (maybe move back to England?) or b) Blair and Bunny realize that they only really need each other to be a family and having a pseudo relationship with Ludmila doesn't constitute a family. Hmmm...maybe I should have written this for you.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 7, Post A
Vocab
hovel (244) : a small, very humble dwelling house; a wretched hut
gestate (266): to carry in the womb during the period from conception to delivery
Figurative Language
"The twins swayed shoulder to shoulder in the back seat of the Gaz as it bounced and yawed like a cannonball across the ice, Ivan brawling with the wheel while Anya screeched oaths and clutched dramatically at things" (249).
In this passage, Pierre uses a simile to compare the way the Gaz crosses the ice to Kuzhnisk to the way a cannonball would do the same thing. It seems that the comparison exists solely to help the reader envision Blair and Bunny's situation, not to provide any hidden meaning.
"They rolled like a pair of urchins in a fight, robes and belts flying, and disappeared with a thud into a drift at the bottom of the ramp" (270).
Pierre uses a simile yet again to the way Bunny tackles Blair down the hill to the way a pair of urchins would do the same thing. While it helps the reader visualize the situation, I think that it also alludes to the fact that there is still a lot of sibling rivalry between Bunny and Blair and that even though Blair acts sophisticated, he still has a lot of base emotions.
"Ludmila didn't look at her brother. Her face broke like sunshine over cloud as the cage door creaked open, and she burrowed a hand under the sleeping kitten" (316).
In this excerpt, Pierre uses a simile to compare the way a smile broke on Ludmila's face to the way sunshine breaks over clouds. It seems that this simile is meant more to be symbolic of Ludmila's joy at last and ending her strife. Throughout the sections in Kuzhnisk, Pierre devotes many lines to describing the bleak and dreary landscape, as well as the constantly overcast sky. Ludmila's "sunny" face breaks her previous hardship in Kuzhnisk by breaking the overcast sky.
Quote
"Still a nervous flutter ran through him. It was because he felt part of nothing. He was no longer a part of the Albion community. And still not a part of any community inside it" (322).
This quote describes Bunny's attitude at the end of the book towards finding a family that loves you and community that supports you. Blair and Bunny had many struggles and quarrels over their relationship and finally ended up happy together (with the exception of Blair getting shot). Bunny now realizes that you don't have to have a family with just your blood relatives: that anyone who you love and truly care about can be apart of your family. So, he is happy giving up membership in his community because now he had Ludmila, Maks, and Madron.
Theme
There was a big change in the them over the last section. There were a lot sacrifices for others and deaths, culminating in a final showdown at Ludmila's house. Blair sacrificed himself to save Bunny, as did Kiska for the Inspector. There seems to be this new theme that you really only need to find people who love you and care about your, doing anything you can to reach that goal. Blair takes a bullet for Bunny, so that he, Ludmila, and Maks can live a normal life together. Also, Kiska takes a bullet for the Inspector, so that he can protect the family.
hovel (244) : a small, very humble dwelling house; a wretched hut
gestate (266): to carry in the womb during the period from conception to delivery
Figurative Language
"The twins swayed shoulder to shoulder in the back seat of the Gaz as it bounced and yawed like a cannonball across the ice, Ivan brawling with the wheel while Anya screeched oaths and clutched dramatically at things" (249).
In this passage, Pierre uses a simile to compare the way the Gaz crosses the ice to Kuzhnisk to the way a cannonball would do the same thing. It seems that the comparison exists solely to help the reader envision Blair and Bunny's situation, not to provide any hidden meaning.
"They rolled like a pair of urchins in a fight, robes and belts flying, and disappeared with a thud into a drift at the bottom of the ramp" (270).
Pierre uses a simile yet again to the way Bunny tackles Blair down the hill to the way a pair of urchins would do the same thing. While it helps the reader visualize the situation, I think that it also alludes to the fact that there is still a lot of sibling rivalry between Bunny and Blair and that even though Blair acts sophisticated, he still has a lot of base emotions.
"Ludmila didn't look at her brother. Her face broke like sunshine over cloud as the cage door creaked open, and she burrowed a hand under the sleeping kitten" (316).
In this excerpt, Pierre uses a simile to compare the way a smile broke on Ludmila's face to the way sunshine breaks over clouds. It seems that this simile is meant more to be symbolic of Ludmila's joy at last and ending her strife. Throughout the sections in Kuzhnisk, Pierre devotes many lines to describing the bleak and dreary landscape, as well as the constantly overcast sky. Ludmila's "sunny" face breaks her previous hardship in Kuzhnisk by breaking the overcast sky.
Quote
"Still a nervous flutter ran through him. It was because he felt part of nothing. He was no longer a part of the Albion community. And still not a part of any community inside it" (322).
This quote describes Bunny's attitude at the end of the book towards finding a family that loves you and community that supports you. Blair and Bunny had many struggles and quarrels over their relationship and finally ended up happy together (with the exception of Blair getting shot). Bunny now realizes that you don't have to have a family with just your blood relatives: that anyone who you love and truly care about can be apart of your family. So, he is happy giving up membership in his community because now he had Ludmila, Maks, and Madron.
Theme
There was a big change in the them over the last section. There were a lot sacrifices for others and deaths, culminating in a final showdown at Ludmila's house. Blair sacrificed himself to save Bunny, as did Kiska for the Inspector. There seems to be this new theme that you really only need to find people who love you and care about your, doing anything you can to reach that goal. Blair takes a bullet for Bunny, so that he, Ludmila, and Maks can live a normal life together. Also, Kiska takes a bullet for the Inspector, so that he can protect the family.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 6, Post B
Now that I'm starting to get towards the end of my book, it's interesting to see how different characters are reacting or conforming to this new overarching theme of returning to your family. I discussed this in one my earlier posts, that the characters are realizing that maybe the real world isn't as great as they thought it was and that they had friends and family who loved them all along.
Blair is probably the foremost and best example of this theme. Blair had truly great and noble intents going into the world, but ended up going back to his brother and the only family he had left. Blair started out the book by chastising Bunny and giving him a lecture on how lazy and selfish he is, only to eventually fall flat on his face and come crawling back to him. Blair learned first hand that all the women that flirt with you don't always like you and that all your business partners aren't always your allies. However, a lot of good came from this experience. Blair and Bunny originally had an estranged and stressed relationship, as they could never quite fully accept each other as brothers. Now, Blair and Bunny have finally come to terms with each other and the fact that they no long have a mother or father. Blair and Bunny are now closer with each other than they ever would have been with out this sojourn.
Blair is probably the foremost and best example of this theme. Blair had truly great and noble intents going into the world, but ended up going back to his brother and the only family he had left. Blair started out the book by chastising Bunny and giving him a lecture on how lazy and selfish he is, only to eventually fall flat on his face and come crawling back to him. Blair learned first hand that all the women that flirt with you don't always like you and that all your business partners aren't always your allies. However, a lot of good came from this experience. Blair and Bunny originally had an estranged and stressed relationship, as they could never quite fully accept each other as brothers. Now, Blair and Bunny have finally come to terms with each other and the fact that they no long have a mother or father. Blair and Bunny are now closer with each other than they ever would have been with out this sojourn.
Outside Reading, Week 6, Post A
Vocab
enmity (171) : a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred
maudlin (203) : tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
Figurative Language
"No sooner had Lamb stepped out to summon help on his telephone, than a polished man emerged from the club's twilight like a lily breaking the surface of a lake" (165).
Pierre describes Truman, the new American CEO, as a sort of arrogant brute who completely messes up the Heath's current situation. In this passage, he uses a simile to compare the way Truman intervenes into the Heath's life to "a lily breaking the surface of a lake". This gives the reader a good visual image, as Truman, like a lily, seems to be not a big deal at first, but causes huge changes over time.
"Ludmila huddled in the station's shadows. Her pupils swam after the light on the back of the Kropotkin train as it swayed into the mist" (194).
In this excerpt, Pierre uses personification to allow Ludmila's pupils to swim. Obviously, they cannot, but it allows the reader to picture Ludmila's expression and feelings at this time. One can almost see her chasing after the train car with her eyes, as it was her last chance to succeed.
"The the weight and colour of their mood became clear. The moment was as breathtaking, as intimate, as the moment a jungle butterfly emerges for its fortnight of sweet life" (199).
In this passage, Pierre uses a simile to compare the intimacy of the moment that Blair and Bunny leave the dance club to the intimacy of "the moment a jungle butterfly emerges for its fortnight of sweet life". It seems that this was done primarily for comedic effect, as Blair is big fan of the Discovery Channel and the obscurity of the allusion made sounds like something from the Discovery Channel.
Quote
"Blair's eyes hit the last word of the letter and stopped, hanging glazed for some moments. Then he lowered the page and took his brother into his arms, sniffing softly on to his shoulder. Bunny sniffled in return, and brought a hand to Blair's back". (203)
This quote really defines the evolution of Blair and Bunny's relationship. As a reader, we are able to see it progress from the beginning of the book to it's current state, as well as all the little ups and downs in between. In this quote, we are able to see Blair and Bunny fully embrace each other as brothers, which is something they have never been able to do before. It also echoes back to the theme a little bit, as Blair is finally coming back to this family.
Theme
The theme hasn't really changed much since last time. Blair is still realizing the theme and is coming to terms with his brother and his family. Ludmila, on the other hand, is still a little delusional. She continues to believe that she will make it without her family and is making one last effort for her independence on a mail order bride website.
enmity (171) : a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred
maudlin (203) : tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
Figurative Language
"No sooner had Lamb stepped out to summon help on his telephone, than a polished man emerged from the club's twilight like a lily breaking the surface of a lake" (165).
Pierre describes Truman, the new American CEO, as a sort of arrogant brute who completely messes up the Heath's current situation. In this passage, he uses a simile to compare the way Truman intervenes into the Heath's life to "a lily breaking the surface of a lake". This gives the reader a good visual image, as Truman, like a lily, seems to be not a big deal at first, but causes huge changes over time.
"Ludmila huddled in the station's shadows. Her pupils swam after the light on the back of the Kropotkin train as it swayed into the mist" (194).
In this excerpt, Pierre uses personification to allow Ludmila's pupils to swim. Obviously, they cannot, but it allows the reader to picture Ludmila's expression and feelings at this time. One can almost see her chasing after the train car with her eyes, as it was her last chance to succeed.
"The the weight and colour of their mood became clear. The moment was as breathtaking, as intimate, as the moment a jungle butterfly emerges for its fortnight of sweet life" (199).
In this passage, Pierre uses a simile to compare the intimacy of the moment that Blair and Bunny leave the dance club to the intimacy of "the moment a jungle butterfly emerges for its fortnight of sweet life". It seems that this was done primarily for comedic effect, as Blair is big fan of the Discovery Channel and the obscurity of the allusion made sounds like something from the Discovery Channel.
Quote
"Blair's eyes hit the last word of the letter and stopped, hanging glazed for some moments. Then he lowered the page and took his brother into his arms, sniffing softly on to his shoulder. Bunny sniffled in return, and brought a hand to Blair's back". (203)
This quote really defines the evolution of Blair and Bunny's relationship. As a reader, we are able to see it progress from the beginning of the book to it's current state, as well as all the little ups and downs in between. In this quote, we are able to see Blair and Bunny fully embrace each other as brothers, which is something they have never been able to do before. It also echoes back to the theme a little bit, as Blair is finally coming back to this family.
Theme
The theme hasn't really changed much since last time. Blair is still realizing the theme and is coming to terms with his brother and his family. Ludmila, on the other hand, is still a little delusional. She continues to believe that she will make it without her family and is making one last effort for her independence on a mail order bride website.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 5, Post B
Mmmm...yes. Your tears sustain me. How deliciously ironic. You, Ludmila Ivanova, the poster child for oppressed women everywhere, the epitome of women running away for a better life, now has to face the dismal truth that you were not cut out to run away. You thought you were the big man (or woman) on campus back at the house, the cock of the walk, if you will, but now that you actually have you fend for yourself, you realize that perhaps you weren't all the great after all. It turns out that your friend only was nice to you because she wanted to sucker you into a mail-order bride scam, and you're left with nothing. You thought you were better than the mail-order bride system; you weren't that petty, that trashy. You thought that there was so much demand in the job market for a woman like you, that you didn't have to resort to selling yourself on the Internet, but now, it turns out that you were wrong. Dead wrong.
Well, maybe not dead wrong, but still pretty wrong. There are no jobs in Kuzhnisk, Misha hasn't come, and you are starting to get homesick. Maybe you just weren't cut out for being the independent woman you strive to be. Maybe you are more dependent on your families and your community than you thought you were, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If only you knew the troubles your family faced at home, you would see how much they care for you and need you. That could be your true calling: to care for your family and community. These people you are meeting don't seem to care for you at all, or, at least, not like your family would.
Well, maybe not dead wrong, but still pretty wrong. There are no jobs in Kuzhnisk, Misha hasn't come, and you are starting to get homesick. Maybe you just weren't cut out for being the independent woman you strive to be. Maybe you are more dependent on your families and your community than you thought you were, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If only you knew the troubles your family faced at home, you would see how much they care for you and need you. That could be your true calling: to care for your family and community. These people you are meeting don't seem to care for you at all, or, at least, not like your family would.
Outside Reading, Week 5, Post A
Vocab
mottle (155): a diversifying spot or blotch of color
protuberant (124): bulging out beyond the surrounding surface
Figurative Language
"Like a fat mother and child, the lorry and tractor waddled some grey hours over ice to the outskirts of Kuzhnisk" (109).
This passage uses a simile to compare the way the lorry hauled the tractor to Kuzhinisk, to the way a fat mother and child would waddle the same way. While this helps the reader picture what this scenario might look like, it also hints at Ludmila's homesickness, in that she longs for her "fat mother" to waddle home with her.
"A broad, moustachioed man leant beside a stuffed weasel at the farthest end of the bar" (111).
In this excerpt, Ludmila enters a bar in Kuzhinisk to look for Ivan. She sees him, but claims that she sees a "stuffed weasel", showing a hyperbole (as she actually saw Ivan, not a stuffed weasel). This helps the reader see how Ludmila views Ivan, what Ivan looks like, and Ludmila's sarcastic wit.
"Around them flashed the naked circuitry of London: tail-lights splashing down glycerine roads, figures bustling like great-coated trolls past sand-and-soot structures daubed wet on to the night" (116).
Pierre uses several hyperboles to describe Blair and Bunny's first venture into the big city. He uses phrases like "great-coated trolls" and "sand-and-soot structures", which are obvious exaggerations (as there are no great-coated trolls nor structures made of sand and soot) to show how isolating the city seems to Blair and Bunny. Everything seems so big and new, yet at the same time, so hostile and unwelcoming.
Quote
"'[...] Better still, take my advice and get back on the train yourself, while you still have clear eyes. Take the advice from an old woman from Kuzhnisk'" (161).
I felt that this quote exemplifies the emerging theme of being frightened by new places that is driving the story forward. In both plot lines, characters attempted to be brave and leave home in search of success, but are now realizing that maybe the grass isn't greener on the other side. Now, they have to decide whether or not to go back, which is where this quote plays into Ludmila's decision.
Theme
The theme hasn't really changed much since last week, it is just more pronounced. Ludmila is now being fully thrust into an unfamiliar and hostile world and now longs to return home more than ever. In addition, Blair is now completely confused by the London social life and doesn't understand how to interact socially. He, too, now wants to return home.
mottle (155): a diversifying spot or blotch of color
protuberant (124): bulging out beyond the surrounding surface
Figurative Language
"Like a fat mother and child, the lorry and tractor waddled some grey hours over ice to the outskirts of Kuzhnisk" (109).
This passage uses a simile to compare the way the lorry hauled the tractor to Kuzhinisk, to the way a fat mother and child would waddle the same way. While this helps the reader picture what this scenario might look like, it also hints at Ludmila's homesickness, in that she longs for her "fat mother" to waddle home with her.
"A broad, moustachioed man leant beside a stuffed weasel at the farthest end of the bar" (111).
In this excerpt, Ludmila enters a bar in Kuzhinisk to look for Ivan. She sees him, but claims that she sees a "stuffed weasel", showing a hyperbole (as she actually saw Ivan, not a stuffed weasel). This helps the reader see how Ludmila views Ivan, what Ivan looks like, and Ludmila's sarcastic wit.
"Around them flashed the naked circuitry of London: tail-lights splashing down glycerine roads, figures bustling like great-coated trolls past sand-and-soot structures daubed wet on to the night" (116).
Pierre uses several hyperboles to describe Blair and Bunny's first venture into the big city. He uses phrases like "great-coated trolls" and "sand-and-soot structures", which are obvious exaggerations (as there are no great-coated trolls nor structures made of sand and soot) to show how isolating the city seems to Blair and Bunny. Everything seems so big and new, yet at the same time, so hostile and unwelcoming.
Quote
"'[...] Better still, take my advice and get back on the train yourself, while you still have clear eyes. Take the advice from an old woman from Kuzhnisk'" (161).
I felt that this quote exemplifies the emerging theme of being frightened by new places that is driving the story forward. In both plot lines, characters attempted to be brave and leave home in search of success, but are now realizing that maybe the grass isn't greener on the other side. Now, they have to decide whether or not to go back, which is where this quote plays into Ludmila's decision.
Theme
The theme hasn't really changed much since last week, it is just more pronounced. Ludmila is now being fully thrust into an unfamiliar and hostile world and now longs to return home more than ever. In addition, Blair is now completely confused by the London social life and doesn't understand how to interact socially. He, too, now wants to return home.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 4, Post B
Now that I think about it, I may have been wrong about Ludmila being such a strong and independent character. It seems she was just acting the part while she knew that there was always a safety net to catch her if she fell. However, now that she is out on the road by herself, she seems to be more to be more cautious and afraid to venture out from the things she knows. For instance, while back at her house, she always talked about escaping with her boyfriend to Kuhznisk. However, now that she has a ride to get her there, she tries to create issues that will delay her departure and let her remain close to home. I really hope she snaps out of it or this is going to be a very boring section of the book.
Bunny is facing a very similar situation. Up until this point, Bunny has been bragging about how superior he is to Blair and how Blair is wasting his time trying to get a solid job. This was most likely a way for Bunny to hide is insecurities about himself, seeing as now that an inspector has arrived and is taking them off of welfare, Bunny has to fend for himself and is frightened at the thought. Bunny, like Ludmila, keeps trying to create issues and delay the inevitable, while Blair is working hard at his job and creating a life for himself. This fear of moving forward could be an emerging theme in the book, seeing as it is determining of the future of two main characters. I wonder it Pierre is trying to show that people can be fickle or fake, as Ludmila and Bunny both acted like strong characters earlier in the book.
Bunny is facing a very similar situation. Up until this point, Bunny has been bragging about how superior he is to Blair and how Blair is wasting his time trying to get a solid job. This was most likely a way for Bunny to hide is insecurities about himself, seeing as now that an inspector has arrived and is taking them off of welfare, Bunny has to fend for himself and is frightened at the thought. Bunny, like Ludmila, keeps trying to create issues and delay the inevitable, while Blair is working hard at his job and creating a life for himself. This fear of moving forward could be an emerging theme in the book, seeing as it is determining of the future of two main characters. I wonder it Pierre is trying to show that people can be fickle or fake, as Ludmila and Bunny both acted like strong characters earlier in the book.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 4, Post A
Vocab
settee (100): a seat for two or more persons, having a back and usually arms, and often upholstered.
juniper (91): any evergreen, coniferous shrub or tree of the genus Juniperus, esp. J. communis, having cones that resemble dark-blue or blackish berries used in flavoring gin and in medicine as a diuretic.
Figurative Language
"'You get to stay while they investigate your status. We almost definitely would get through - me a deserter, from a place raining bombs'" (80).
In this passage, Misha, Ludmila's boyfriend, is talking about how their potential escape West. He uses a hyperbole to describe Ublisk and the current war situation. He claims that the place is "raining bombs", meaning that it seems that the war is everywhere and is non-stop, not that it is literally raining bombs.
"A radio hit blared across the road, featuring an electric guitar that plinked and plonked like a handful of bullets tossed into a pond" (85).
Ludmila arrives at Pilo's house and hears his radio before she enters the house, the first time she's gone outside her land in quite awhile. She compares the electric guitar to the sound of "a handful of bullets tossed into a pond" using a simile. Her choice of a comparison shows how much her wartorn country has affected that way she thinks. It would seem abnormal for someone in a more developed nation to think of this sound and compare it to bullets falling into a pond, but unfortunately for Ludmila, war is apart of her everyday life.
"'I meant to say.' Bunny stiffened like an old lady at a slight. 'Now me portal vein's throbbing.'" (99)
Pierre compares the way Bunny tenses up and complains to the way an old lady would do the same thing using a simile. I suppose this line is a kind of ironic in that Bunny is usually the more outgoing of the two twins, yet now, he appears to be more conservative and wants to stay home instead of going out. This hints that Bunny is actually enjoys living off of welfare and mooching off of his brother and is rather scared at the possibility that he may be forced to move out soon.
Quote
"Blair stood up slowly from his settee. He gazed down at Lamb, then up through the window, to the street outside. 'Bunny' he said softly,'opportunities wafting through that door is what we discussed earlier. Opportunities for my independence.'(100)
I felt that this quote is pretty significant and helps sum up the new feel of the book. Blair is responding to Bunny's fear of moving forward and making it clear that he is going to be his own man, whether Bunny comes with him or not. Blair finally seems to be realizing his dream and taking action now that Bunny is being legally forced to separate from him and the welfare system.
Theme
The previous theme has been modified now that the oppressed are breaking out of their origins. Ludmila moves out with her brother to go to work in a factory town, but actually intends to sneak off with her boyfriend. However, once she gets outside of her hometown, she starts to realize that the world is a scary place and has seconds thoughts. Bunny, likewise, is starting to come to the realization that his support may be cut off and he will have to stop suckling on his brother's teat. Bunny, up until this point, has acted as the big man on campus, pretending that he is better than Blair. Now, Bunny has to but his actions where is mouth is and fend for himself, but is scared that he will fail.
settee (100): a seat for two or more persons, having a back and usually arms, and often upholstered.
juniper (91): any evergreen, coniferous shrub or tree of the genus Juniperus, esp. J. communis, having cones that resemble dark-blue or blackish berries used in flavoring gin and in medicine as a diuretic.
Figurative Language
"'You get to stay while they investigate your status. We almost definitely would get through - me a deserter, from a place raining bombs'" (80).
In this passage, Misha, Ludmila's boyfriend, is talking about how their potential escape West. He uses a hyperbole to describe Ublisk and the current war situation. He claims that the place is "raining bombs", meaning that it seems that the war is everywhere and is non-stop, not that it is literally raining bombs.
"A radio hit blared across the road, featuring an electric guitar that plinked and plonked like a handful of bullets tossed into a pond" (85).
Ludmila arrives at Pilo's house and hears his radio before she enters the house, the first time she's gone outside her land in quite awhile. She compares the electric guitar to the sound of "a handful of bullets tossed into a pond" using a simile. Her choice of a comparison shows how much her wartorn country has affected that way she thinks. It would seem abnormal for someone in a more developed nation to think of this sound and compare it to bullets falling into a pond, but unfortunately for Ludmila, war is apart of her everyday life.
"'I meant to say.' Bunny stiffened like an old lady at a slight. 'Now me portal vein's throbbing.'" (99)
Pierre compares the way Bunny tenses up and complains to the way an old lady would do the same thing using a simile. I suppose this line is a kind of ironic in that Bunny is usually the more outgoing of the two twins, yet now, he appears to be more conservative and wants to stay home instead of going out. This hints that Bunny is actually enjoys living off of welfare and mooching off of his brother and is rather scared at the possibility that he may be forced to move out soon.
Quote
"Blair stood up slowly from his settee. He gazed down at Lamb, then up through the window, to the street outside. 'Bunny' he said softly,'opportunities wafting through that door is what we discussed earlier. Opportunities for my independence.'(100)
I felt that this quote is pretty significant and helps sum up the new feel of the book. Blair is responding to Bunny's fear of moving forward and making it clear that he is going to be his own man, whether Bunny comes with him or not. Blair finally seems to be realizing his dream and taking action now that Bunny is being legally forced to separate from him and the welfare system.
Theme
The previous theme has been modified now that the oppressed are breaking out of their origins. Ludmila moves out with her brother to go to work in a factory town, but actually intends to sneak off with her boyfriend. However, once she gets outside of her hometown, she starts to realize that the world is a scary place and has seconds thoughts. Bunny, likewise, is starting to come to the realization that his support may be cut off and he will have to stop suckling on his brother's teat. Bunny, up until this point, has acted as the big man on campus, pretending that he is better than Blair. Now, Bunny has to but his actions where is mouth is and fend for himself, but is scared that he will fail.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 3, Post B
Considering Blair's crummy luck and his brother's relative success, I kind of feel bad for him. He seems like one of those people who always get the raw deal, the short end of the stick, if you will. Not only this, but now his girlfriend seems to be into Bunny and Bunny is playing her like a violin. It's a shame to see a man like Blair, someone with conviction and determination, be shut down time and time again by society and life in general. In addition, it seems like Bunny doesn't care for Blair at all, whereas Blair tries to help Bunny and gives him advice on how to get his life in order. Bunny almost causes them to get reexamined and possibly have their freedom taken away, just because he refuses to admit that something was his fault. It seems like Pierre is just playing them off of each other for comedic effect, but it still annoys me a little that Blair is getting all of this abuse.
On the other hand, I'm overjoyed for Ludmila and her good fortune. Hopefully, Misha will be able to save Ludmila from going to work at the munitions factory before her family finds out. Her mother and grandmother seem like "the Bunny" of this family: they always rely on other to do work for them, yet seem to consistently succeed. In this way, Ludmila is essentially used by her family, like how Blair is used by Bunny. It seems, however, that Ludmila has some good fortune coming her way through Misha, who has connections and will be able to help them escape West, if they make it out in time.
On the other hand, I'm overjoyed for Ludmila and her good fortune. Hopefully, Misha will be able to save Ludmila from going to work at the munitions factory before her family finds out. Her mother and grandmother seem like "the Bunny" of this family: they always rely on other to do work for them, yet seem to consistently succeed. In this way, Ludmila is essentially used by her family, like how Blair is used by Bunny. It seems, however, that Ludmila has some good fortune coming her way through Misha, who has connections and will be able to help them escape West, if they make it out in time.
Outside Reading, Week 3, Post A
Vocab
fusty (77) : having a stale smell; moldy; musty
fastidious (68) : excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
Figurative Language:
"'What I'm trying to put out before your face are the obvious facts - the district is cultivating dead soldiers like peas, do you think a man follows them all around to make papers?" (59)
In this excerpt, Pierre compares the way the district is cultivating dead soldiers to the way one would cultivate peas using a simile. I think he chose to use this comparison to help the reader understand the current environment that Ludmila is living in. She and her family are in the middle of a war zone and the sound of gun fire and artillery is a part of their everyday life. This also helps show the atrocities of the war and toll that it is taking on the young men of their community.
"London was a power grid churning with such potentials. Blair was electrified by her possibilities" (68).
Pierre uses a metaphor to compare London to a power grid, meaning that London is full of life and energy, much like a power grid. However, Pierre couples this with a sort of pun in the next sentence, claiming that Blair was "electrified by her possibilities." Electrified, in this sense, means inspired or excited, not the literal definition. However, a power grid IS electrified in the literal sense, putting a humorous spin on these two lines.
"He curled an eye over his back like Quasimodo, and sent a pitiful shrug to Nicolah. Her eyes cradled him. [...] Bunny turned side-on, still hunched like a serf awaiting the cat-o'-nine, and pointed empty eyes at his brother" (77).
Throughout the book, there has always been some tension between Blair and Bunny, most likely as the result of their polar opposite ideologies. Now that Nicolah, Blair's girlfriend has entered the picture, the tension is escalating. Nicolah tends to sympathize with Bunny and care for him, rather than realize that most of the time, he is the cause of his problems. Bunny hams it up, but Blair sees right through it and sort of mocks him in this passage. He uses two similes to compare Bunny to things that one might have pity on (Quasimodo and a serf that is waiting to be punished), but he uses these similes sarcastically. Blair sort of pretends to fall for Bunny's trap in a sarcastic manner, reflecting his growing hatred for his brother.
Quote
"A cushion of tongue appeared at the gap in Kiska's teeth. She raised a finger to her lips. Ludmila scowled, and followed another little finger through the curtain to the back window. Misha Bukinov was there" (67).
I felt that this quote was significant because it foreshadows a dramatic change in the life of Ludmila. Up until this point, she was being essentially forced to go to one of the larger cities and labor to support the family, but now that Misha, her boyfriend, is here, she may have a chance at escaping and finally making it West like she always wanted.
Theme
Right now, I would say that in addition to the theme of an individual's obligation to themselves vs. their obligation to their family members, there is an emerging theme of jealousy, especially between Bunny and Blair. Despite Blair's constant attempts to start a new life and be productive, he seems to get no further than Bunny, who just sits around all day and drinks. In addition, Blair's girlfriend seems to be sympathizing and warming up to Bunny, which annoys Blair even more.
fusty (77) : having a stale smell; moldy; musty
fastidious (68) : excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
Figurative Language:
"'What I'm trying to put out before your face are the obvious facts - the district is cultivating dead soldiers like peas, do you think a man follows them all around to make papers?" (59)
In this excerpt, Pierre compares the way the district is cultivating dead soldiers to the way one would cultivate peas using a simile. I think he chose to use this comparison to help the reader understand the current environment that Ludmila is living in. She and her family are in the middle of a war zone and the sound of gun fire and artillery is a part of their everyday life. This also helps show the atrocities of the war and toll that it is taking on the young men of their community.
"London was a power grid churning with such potentials. Blair was electrified by her possibilities" (68).
Pierre uses a metaphor to compare London to a power grid, meaning that London is full of life and energy, much like a power grid. However, Pierre couples this with a sort of pun in the next sentence, claiming that Blair was "electrified by her possibilities." Electrified, in this sense, means inspired or excited, not the literal definition. However, a power grid IS electrified in the literal sense, putting a humorous spin on these two lines.
"He curled an eye over his back like Quasimodo, and sent a pitiful shrug to Nicolah. Her eyes cradled him. [...] Bunny turned side-on, still hunched like a serf awaiting the cat-o'-nine, and pointed empty eyes at his brother" (77).
Throughout the book, there has always been some tension between Blair and Bunny, most likely as the result of their polar opposite ideologies. Now that Nicolah, Blair's girlfriend has entered the picture, the tension is escalating. Nicolah tends to sympathize with Bunny and care for him, rather than realize that most of the time, he is the cause of his problems. Bunny hams it up, but Blair sees right through it and sort of mocks him in this passage. He uses two similes to compare Bunny to things that one might have pity on (Quasimodo and a serf that is waiting to be punished), but he uses these similes sarcastically. Blair sort of pretends to fall for Bunny's trap in a sarcastic manner, reflecting his growing hatred for his brother.
Quote
"A cushion of tongue appeared at the gap in Kiska's teeth. She raised a finger to her lips. Ludmila scowled, and followed another little finger through the curtain to the back window. Misha Bukinov was there" (67).
I felt that this quote was significant because it foreshadows a dramatic change in the life of Ludmila. Up until this point, she was being essentially forced to go to one of the larger cities and labor to support the family, but now that Misha, her boyfriend, is here, she may have a chance at escaping and finally making it West like she always wanted.
Theme
Right now, I would say that in addition to the theme of an individual's obligation to themselves vs. their obligation to their family members, there is an emerging theme of jealousy, especially between Bunny and Blair. Despite Blair's constant attempts to start a new life and be productive, he seems to get no further than Bunny, who just sits around all day and drinks. In addition, Blair's girlfriend seems to be sympathizing and warming up to Bunny, which annoys Blair even more.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 2, Post B
There now a definite emerging theme of protecting and caring for one's own interests vs. the interests of other and those around you. Ludmila is probably having the hardest time in this debate, as she is constantly stuck between protecting her own interests and trying to support the family and protect the family's interests. Unfortunately, she has always chosen her family up to this point despite having many opportunities open to her. She could easily escape with her boyfriend and head West, and she knows English, so she could easily get a job somewhere. However, she continues to stay with her family, even though they treat her terribly.
Blair, too, has to face this dilemma. He was recently separated from his twin, Bunny, and the two are now trying to live a normal life with the funds and programs that the government gave them after they received so much media attention. Blair seeks to find a job and start a lifelong career, whereas Bunny choses to lounge at home, living off of government welfare checks. This debate gets them into constant arguments and even turns violent occasionally. However, Bunny is soon learning that he needs Blair to help him survive and get a job, as he is running low on funds and is extremely sensitive to light. Blair, like Ludmila, chooses to support his brother.
I suppose in Blair's case, I can see why he would chose to help his sibling. The two of them have a very strong bong and Bunny is truly in need of Blair's support to keep living a normal life. Ludmila, on the other hand, I just can't quite figure out. She is very talented and could easily find a better life, but instead, choses to live with her family, who treat her terribly in the first place.
Blair, too, has to face this dilemma. He was recently separated from his twin, Bunny, and the two are now trying to live a normal life with the funds and programs that the government gave them after they received so much media attention. Blair seeks to find a job and start a lifelong career, whereas Bunny choses to lounge at home, living off of government welfare checks. This debate gets them into constant arguments and even turns violent occasionally. However, Bunny is soon learning that he needs Blair to help him survive and get a job, as he is running low on funds and is extremely sensitive to light. Blair, like Ludmila, chooses to support his brother.
I suppose in Blair's case, I can see why he would chose to help his sibling. The two of them have a very strong bong and Bunny is truly in need of Blair's support to keep living a normal life. Ludmila, on the other hand, I just can't quite figure out. She is very talented and could easily find a better life, but instead, choses to live with her family, who treat her terribly in the first place.
Outside Reading, Week 2, Post A
Vocab
klaxon (56): a loud electric horn, formerly used on automobiles, trucks, etc., and now often used as a warning signal.
parasiticide (55): an agent or preparation that destroys parasites.
Figurative Language
"A pain twinkled in Bunny's chest when he surfaced. He spun about to smooth the flannel that clung to the tub's rim like a slice of ragged ham" (44).
In this excerpt, DBC Pierre uses a simile to compare the way the flannel clung to the tub's rim to the way a slice of ragged ham would do the same. I believe that he chose "a slice of ragged ham" as his object of comparison for comedic effect. Earlier in the chapter, all Bunny talked about was his craving of ham and all the different cuts of ham. So, after not talking about it for several paragraphs, Pierre ends the chapter with a obscure/humorous reference to the beginning of the chapter, overall entertaining the reader.
"Her breasts and belly, and the fat that hung from her cheeks and neck, traveled downwards to sniff her grave" (45).
DBC Pierre is describing Irina Aleksandrovna to the reader in this quote and he does so in a very entertaining manner. This passage could be thought of as a hyperbole and a personification, as well as possibly even a foreshadowing. I say this is a hyperbole because with the text "the fat [...] traveled downwards to sniff her grave" isn't meant to be taken literally. DBC Pierre uses this to say that a lot of fat was sagging on her and was traveling towards the ground. I also say that this could be a personification because the fat doesn't have the ability to "sniff", but Pierre gives it this ability in order to compliment the hyperbole. One has to be close to sniff something, so coupling this with the hyperbole lets the reader see how far the fat will sag in the hyperbole. The use of the word "grave" also hints that it could be used as a foreshadowing, saying that the fat would eventually kill Irina.
Quote
"'Stay this side of the gate,' he whispered. The gate was a concept of Bunny's, a mental tool he had devised to help him cope with the world around him" (57).
I felt that this quote very accurately portrays the general feeling of the plot right now. In both plots, there is one person who is trying to progress forward and do something meaningful and useful, but they are being dragged down by those around them. These people that are dragging them down on the "other side of the gate" so to speak. They don't completely understand the situation and try to attach themselves to others or depend on others as a result. In Bunny's case, he is trying to latch on to Blair so he won't "fail" the social experiment, whereas in Ludmila's case, Irina and Olga are trying to make her do the work and support the family.
Theme
Currently, I would have to say there is an emerging theme of an individual's obligation to themselves vs. their obligation to their family members. Ludmila's family is trying to force her to work for them and support the family, but at the same time, she wants to run away with her boyfriend and live a better life. In Blair's case, Bunny, his separated twin, is trying to leech onto him and make him fail the social program, but Blair wants to live a normal life and try not to be held back by the fact that he was attached.
klaxon (56): a loud electric horn, formerly used on automobiles, trucks, etc., and now often used as a warning signal.
parasiticide (55): an agent or preparation that destroys parasites.
Figurative Language
"A pain twinkled in Bunny's chest when he surfaced. He spun about to smooth the flannel that clung to the tub's rim like a slice of ragged ham" (44).
In this excerpt, DBC Pierre uses a simile to compare the way the flannel clung to the tub's rim to the way a slice of ragged ham would do the same. I believe that he chose "a slice of ragged ham" as his object of comparison for comedic effect. Earlier in the chapter, all Bunny talked about was his craving of ham and all the different cuts of ham. So, after not talking about it for several paragraphs, Pierre ends the chapter with a obscure/humorous reference to the beginning of the chapter, overall entertaining the reader.
"Her breasts and belly, and the fat that hung from her cheeks and neck, traveled downwards to sniff her grave" (45).
DBC Pierre is describing Irina Aleksandrovna to the reader in this quote and he does so in a very entertaining manner. This passage could be thought of as a hyperbole and a personification, as well as possibly even a foreshadowing. I say this is a hyperbole because with the text "the fat [...] traveled downwards to sniff her grave" isn't meant to be taken literally. DBC Pierre uses this to say that a lot of fat was sagging on her and was traveling towards the ground. I also say that this could be a personification because the fat doesn't have the ability to "sniff", but Pierre gives it this ability in order to compliment the hyperbole. One has to be close to sniff something, so coupling this with the hyperbole lets the reader see how far the fat will sag in the hyperbole. The use of the word "grave" also hints that it could be used as a foreshadowing, saying that the fat would eventually kill Irina.
"Maksimilian moved like an upholstered whip of muscle, dragging an oil drum into the tractor's lea, lighting dung bricks in it, and carring chairs from the shack" (48).
Quote
"'Stay this side of the gate,' he whispered. The gate was a concept of Bunny's, a mental tool he had devised to help him cope with the world around him" (57).
I felt that this quote very accurately portrays the general feeling of the plot right now. In both plots, there is one person who is trying to progress forward and do something meaningful and useful, but they are being dragged down by those around them. These people that are dragging them down on the "other side of the gate" so to speak. They don't completely understand the situation and try to attach themselves to others or depend on others as a result. In Bunny's case, he is trying to latch on to Blair so he won't "fail" the social experiment, whereas in Ludmila's case, Irina and Olga are trying to make her do the work and support the family.
Theme
Currently, I would have to say there is an emerging theme of an individual's obligation to themselves vs. their obligation to their family members. Ludmila's family is trying to force her to work for them and support the family, but at the same time, she wants to run away with her boyfriend and live a better life. In Blair's case, Bunny, his separated twin, is trying to leech onto him and make him fail the social program, but Blair wants to live a normal life and try not to be held back by the fact that he was attached.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 1, Post B
Wow. Just wow. Could this book be any more messed up? I don't believe so. In the first 30 pages alone, Ludmila kills her grandfather by jamming a mitten down his throat while he was raping her so that she could feed the family dinner....yes, that's right, the grandfather was raping his granddaughter. But wait, it's not over! Ludmila's brother comes over to Ludmila while she is being raped and asks her if she is almost done because he is starving. What is this? I don't understand. Ludmila was originally portrayed to be such a strong character and now this? It just doesn't flow with the plot line.
Also, I don't see why Ludmila would make a sacrifice like this for her family when they really haven't done anything for her. Her brother is rude and selfish and her sister is completely useless. She really doesn't need to do this, but she does it anyway. Is the author trying to convey something to the reader about selflessness and sacrifice for the common good? Is he trying to throw some dark humor in and spice things up a bit? It seemed like he tried to twist some comedic elements in, but they didn't play out so well. Could he be setting up a larger plot element later on in the novel? Possibly. Whatever Pierre is trying to do, it's really not connecting with me for right now. Hopefully this will make more sense in the coming chapter and I won't come to regret my book choice.
Also, I don't see why Ludmila would make a sacrifice like this for her family when they really haven't done anything for her. Her brother is rude and selfish and her sister is completely useless. She really doesn't need to do this, but she does it anyway. Is the author trying to convey something to the reader about selflessness and sacrifice for the common good? Is he trying to throw some dark humor in and spice things up a bit? It seemed like he tried to twist some comedic elements in, but they didn't play out so well. Could he be setting up a larger plot element later on in the novel? Possibly. Whatever Pierre is trying to do, it's really not connecting with me for right now. Hopefully this will make more sense in the coming chapter and I won't come to regret my book choice.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 1, Post A
Vocab
arabesque (21): A complex, ornate design of intertwined floral, foliate, and geometric figures.
maelstrom (15): a restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs.
Figurative Language
"He never fully recovered from the operation. Both sensed that he wouldn't survive that first Christmas. Blair, meanwhile, crackled like gunfire out of Bunny's dominion. He found himself in a world churning with opportunity [...] self-empowerment." (14)
In this passage, DBC Pierre uses a simile to compare the way Blair crackled out of Bunny's dominion to the way gunfire crackles. I believe his choice to use "crackled" and "gunfire" was part of a deliberate attempt to convey how powerful and wild Blair was when he was finally separated from Bunny.
"The mountains threw a shadow beside her, an early consulate of the night." (19)
In this excerpt, Pierre uses a personification to help the reader fully envision the setting by giving the mountains the human ability to throw. Ludmila is preparing to meet with her boyfriend and escape, but right now, she is alone and slightly nervous. It seems like Pierre gave the mountains this quality so it would seem like Ludmila is really not alone.
"An icy gust ran its fingers through her hair, flicked it high around her face, to seem like ravens abducting a cherub. Behind her the sky was a pool getting deeper, though not deep enough to contain her excitement and resolve." (20)
Pierre uses a metaphor to compare the sky to a pool getting deeper, without using like or as. Pierre most likely chose a pool for a comparison so that the reader can get a feel for the setting and visualize the sky as completely blank and dark.
Quote
"Ludmila shook herself into the present, and hurried through the snow to fetch home her grandfather. She wasn't to know things were about to change." (21)
I felt that this quote will be significant coming up because it foreshadows some upcoming change. Ludmila believes that she has the situation under control, but according to this quote, there will be unforeseen consequences to her decisions.
Theme
Right now, I'd have to say that the major theme is probably deciding a fate for yourself and taking action, no matter the cost. Ludmila is leaving everything behind so that she can escape from all the war and hardship that she and her family are experiencing right now. However, she has to give up her family and brave it on her own.
arabesque (21): A complex, ornate design of intertwined floral, foliate, and geometric figures.
maelstrom (15): a restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs.
Figurative Language
"He never fully recovered from the operation. Both sensed that he wouldn't survive that first Christmas. Blair, meanwhile, crackled like gunfire out of Bunny's dominion. He found himself in a world churning with opportunity [...] self-empowerment." (14)
In this passage, DBC Pierre uses a simile to compare the way Blair crackled out of Bunny's dominion to the way gunfire crackles. I believe his choice to use "crackled" and "gunfire" was part of a deliberate attempt to convey how powerful and wild Blair was when he was finally separated from Bunny.
"The mountains threw a shadow beside her, an early consulate of the night." (19)
In this excerpt, Pierre uses a personification to help the reader fully envision the setting by giving the mountains the human ability to throw. Ludmila is preparing to meet with her boyfriend and escape, but right now, she is alone and slightly nervous. It seems like Pierre gave the mountains this quality so it would seem like Ludmila is really not alone.
"An icy gust ran its fingers through her hair, flicked it high around her face, to seem like ravens abducting a cherub. Behind her the sky was a pool getting deeper, though not deep enough to contain her excitement and resolve." (20)
Pierre uses a metaphor to compare the sky to a pool getting deeper, without using like or as. Pierre most likely chose a pool for a comparison so that the reader can get a feel for the setting and visualize the sky as completely blank and dark.
Quote
"Ludmila shook herself into the present, and hurried through the snow to fetch home her grandfather. She wasn't to know things were about to change." (21)
I felt that this quote will be significant coming up because it foreshadows some upcoming change. Ludmila believes that she has the situation under control, but according to this quote, there will be unforeseen consequences to her decisions.
Theme
Right now, I'd have to say that the major theme is probably deciding a fate for yourself and taking action, no matter the cost. Ludmila is leaving everything behind so that she can escape from all the war and hardship that she and her family are experiencing right now. However, she has to give up her family and brave it on her own.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Days of Their Lives Soundtrack post
Athena is, in a sense, the guardian angel of both Telemachus and Odysseus in The Odyssey. She provides divine assistance to both of the men many times, such as when she gathers a crew and boat for Telemachus, or when she, along with Ino, saves Odysseus from Poseidon's wrath. Athena is also very empowered and confident, as she is the main cause behind the gods' mission to save Odysseus. This really interests me, as she seems to have a major role in the progression of the plot and will most likely affect outcomes in the book later on.
One example of Athena's courage and confidence is in Book 2, when she morphs into Telemachus and gathers a boat and crew so he is able to set sail even quicker. "Then bright-eyed Pallas thought of one more step. Disguised as the prince, the goddess roamed through town, pausing beside each likely crewman, giving orders: 'Gather beside our ship at nightfall - be there.' She asked Noemon, Phronius' generous son, to lend her a swift ship. He gladly volunteered" (422-427). This is just one instance where Athena uses her divine assistance to help Telemachus and Odysseus complete their journeys. In addition to helping Telemachus get a ship and crew, Athena also helped Odysseus get to safety after Poseidon ruins his ship in Book 5. "With that threat he (Poseidon) lashed his team with their long flowing mains [...] But Zeus's daughter Athena countered him at once. The rest of the winds she stopped right in their tracks, commanding them all to hush now, go to sleep" (419-423). In this excerpt, Athena protects Odysseus from Poseidon's violent storm, allowing him to reach safety on an island and thus exemplifying her "guardian angel" quality.
For my song, I chose Weezer's My Best Friend. I felt that the lyrics really exemplified Athena's purpose throughout the book: to protect Odysseus and Telemachus. For example in My Best Friend, the following lyrics exemplify Athena's helpful and assistive nature: " When everything is wrong I'll come talk to you / You make things alright when I'm feeling blue/ You are such a blessing and I wont be messing /with the one thing that brings light to all my darkness". These lyrics describe someone of Athena's disposition: an absolute helper that one can turn to in times of trouble. I particularly felt that the line"You make things alright when I'm feeling blue" exemplifies Athena's actions at the beginning of the book, when she inspires Telemachus to be courageous, kick out the suitors, and venture into the sea for his father.
One example of Athena's courage and confidence is in Book 2, when she morphs into Telemachus and gathers a boat and crew so he is able to set sail even quicker. "Then bright-eyed Pallas thought of one more step. Disguised as the prince, the goddess roamed through town, pausing beside each likely crewman, giving orders: 'Gather beside our ship at nightfall - be there.' She asked Noemon, Phronius' generous son, to lend her a swift ship. He gladly volunteered" (422-427). This is just one instance where Athena uses her divine assistance to help Telemachus and Odysseus complete their journeys. In addition to helping Telemachus get a ship and crew, Athena also helped Odysseus get to safety after Poseidon ruins his ship in Book 5. "With that threat he (Poseidon) lashed his team with their long flowing mains [...] But Zeus's daughter Athena countered him at once. The rest of the winds she stopped right in their tracks, commanding them all to hush now, go to sleep" (419-423). In this excerpt, Athena protects Odysseus from Poseidon's violent storm, allowing him to reach safety on an island and thus exemplifying her "guardian angel" quality.
For my song, I chose Weezer's My Best Friend. I felt that the lyrics really exemplified Athena's purpose throughout the book: to protect Odysseus and Telemachus. For example in My Best Friend, the following lyrics exemplify Athena's helpful and assistive nature: " When everything is wrong I'll come talk to you / You make things alright when I'm feeling blue/ You are such a blessing and I wont be messing /with the one thing that brings light to all my darkness". These lyrics describe someone of Athena's disposition: an absolute helper that one can turn to in times of trouble. I particularly felt that the line"You make things alright when I'm feeling blue" exemplifies Athena's actions at the beginning of the book, when she inspires Telemachus to be courageous, kick out the suitors, and venture into the sea for his father.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Outside Reading, Week 7, Post B
Well, overall, I'd have to say I was rather disappointed by the novel's ending. Hosseini seemed to realize about 60 pages from the end that he was up no-realistic-plot-ending-in-sight creek without a paddle and started to grasp at the only straws he had left, namely Tariq. WHY? Why would you do this to such a wonderful book? I believe I mentioned this is my previous post, but when an author kills a character, he should be dead. Gone. Deceased. 6 feet under. Whatever you want to call it, they should be removed from the story completely, except maybe if a character that is still alive wants to reference them. Hosseini had no need to bring Tariq in. The only thing that he really brought to the story was the safety that Laila had at the end of the story, but that's about it. Hosseini could have done something out of the ordinary and gone with a tragic ending to a tragic story, but instead he wimped out and went the cliché "everything's okey-dokey" route and allowed Laila to run away with her prince charming. What I would have done is had Mariam and Laila kill Rasheed, then, again, have Mariam take the fall for it while Laila takes the kids and starts a new life. My ending truly exemplifies that "women against society" that Hosseini keeps beating the reader over the head with throughout the novel and creates a unique ending that a reader will remember, not something that smells like a heaping serving of unicorn vomit lightly sauteéd in a stars-and-rainbows sauce.
So, in short, is A Thousand Splendid Suns a good book? Yeah, I would say so. It provided for an entertaining read. But the ending leaves the reader walking away with a rotten taste in their mouth. Probably from all the moonbeams.
So, in short, is A Thousand Splendid Suns a good book? Yeah, I would say so. It provided for an entertaining read. But the ending leaves the reader walking away with a rotten taste in their mouth. Probably from all the moonbeams.
Outside Reading, Week 7, Post A
Vocab
boisterous (317) - noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained
cantankerous (335) - disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish
Figurative Language
"She thought, Volumes, and another shudder passed through her, a current of something sad and forlorn, but also something eager and recklessly hopeful." (306)
In this passage, Laila reflects on her conversation with Tariq and what her life could have been. When she thinks about how much Tariq wrote to her, she shudders and Hosseini compares this to "a current of something sad and forlorn, but also something eager and recklessly hopeful". By this, he means that Laila is sad that she missed her opportunity to be with Tariq, but she is also optimistic because there is still hope for them.
"He sat up straight, and, for a few brief moments, he appeared merely thoughtful, like a ship captain informed of imminent mutiny taking his time to ponder his next move." (307)
After Rasheed finds out that Laila has been talking to Tariq, he becomes so upset that he freezes. Hosseini uses a simile to compare this action to that of "a ship captain informed of imminent mutiny." Hosseini probably chose this image because it both helps the reader visualize Rasheed and helps portray him as wicked and oppressive husband that the reader has come to know him as.
"And, in the end, when the words dried up, the tears did not, and all Laila could do was surrender and sob like a child overwhelmed by an adult's unassailable logic." (319-320)
After Mariam decides that she will behind and take the punishment for killing Rasheed, she and Laila cry and reminisce about their times together. In the end, Laila feels like she can't do anything and Hosseini compares her to "a child overwhelmed by an adult's unassailable logic." This helps reinforce the mother-daughter relationship that Mariam and Laila form, seeing as they both grew up without one.
Quote
"The drought has ended. It snowed at last this past winter, knee-deep, and now it has been raining for days. The Kabul River is flowing once again. Its spring floods have washed away Titanic City." (361)
I felt that this quote embodies the general feeling of the ending of the book. Despite the loss of Mariam, all is well with the world. Afghanistan is returning back to the way it was, Laila and Tariq are together, and the overall quality of life has substantially improved for both Laila and all Afghanis.
Theme
Now that the book is over, I would have to say that the overall theme is that even through tough times, remain optimistic and never lose hope. Laila and Mariam suffered through some terrible events and abuse under the Taliban and Rasheed and lost many of their loved one. However, at the end of the book, justice has prevailed and all is right with the world.
boisterous (317) - noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained
cantankerous (335) - disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish
Figurative Language
"She thought, Volumes, and another shudder passed through her, a current of something sad and forlorn, but also something eager and recklessly hopeful." (306)
In this passage, Laila reflects on her conversation with Tariq and what her life could have been. When she thinks about how much Tariq wrote to her, she shudders and Hosseini compares this to "a current of something sad and forlorn, but also something eager and recklessly hopeful". By this, he means that Laila is sad that she missed her opportunity to be with Tariq, but she is also optimistic because there is still hope for them.
"He sat up straight, and, for a few brief moments, he appeared merely thoughtful, like a ship captain informed of imminent mutiny taking his time to ponder his next move." (307)
After Rasheed finds out that Laila has been talking to Tariq, he becomes so upset that he freezes. Hosseini uses a simile to compare this action to that of "a ship captain informed of imminent mutiny." Hosseini probably chose this image because it both helps the reader visualize Rasheed and helps portray him as wicked and oppressive husband that the reader has come to know him as.
"And, in the end, when the words dried up, the tears did not, and all Laila could do was surrender and sob like a child overwhelmed by an adult's unassailable logic." (319-320)
After Mariam decides that she will behind and take the punishment for killing Rasheed, she and Laila cry and reminisce about their times together. In the end, Laila feels like she can't do anything and Hosseini compares her to "a child overwhelmed by an adult's unassailable logic." This helps reinforce the mother-daughter relationship that Mariam and Laila form, seeing as they both grew up without one.
Quote
"The drought has ended. It snowed at last this past winter, knee-deep, and now it has been raining for days. The Kabul River is flowing once again. Its spring floods have washed away Titanic City." (361)
I felt that this quote embodies the general feeling of the ending of the book. Despite the loss of Mariam, all is well with the world. Afghanistan is returning back to the way it was, Laila and Tariq are together, and the overall quality of life has substantially improved for both Laila and all Afghanis.
Theme
Now that the book is over, I would have to say that the overall theme is that even through tough times, remain optimistic and never lose hope. Laila and Mariam suffered through some terrible events and abuse under the Taliban and Rasheed and lost many of their loved one. However, at the end of the book, justice has prevailed and all is right with the world.
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