In Flannery O'Conner's "Good Country People," the symbolism of the chosen names is very apparent. In the story, certain names seem to hold some sort of meaning.
One example is Joy and when she changed her name to Hulga. After loosing her leg at the age of ten, she didn't feel as though she deserved such a name as Joy. Joy considered her name a personal affair. Originally, she had chosen the name based on the pure ugliness of it, but then she realized it had a deeper meaning. "She had a vision of the name working like the ugly sweating Vulcan who stayed in the furnace and to whom, presumably, the goddess had to come when called" (1215).
Another example of symbolism is through The Freeman's name. The Freeman's last name is ironic because they are not in fact free. Their social status represents the exact opposite of free. Oddly enough, The Freeman's work as tenant farmers for Mrs. Hopewell and are referred to as "good country people." Even though we read that Mrs. Freeman rests her elbow on the refrigerator every now and then, she is by no means a free woman.
As we look at the name Hopewell, we recognize that it's very fitting for Mrs. Hopewell. In the story, she portrayed a very patient woman who always looked at things optimistically. She had a few favorite sayings that she repeated throughout the story. These included "Nothing is perfect," "That is life," and "Well, other people have their opinions too."
Manley Pointer's name is also ironic. Flannery depicted this character as a tall gaunt youth named Manley, yet he was only nineteen years old.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Fiction and Social Networking
For the "Fiction and Social Networking" assignment, our group had the option to choose between "Blackberry Winter" and "A Spinster's Tale." Amongst the two stories, we chose to use Peter Taylor's "A Spinster's Tale" in our social network. After reading over both stories, we felt that "A Spinster's Tale" was the more appropriate choice for this assignment.
Taylor's "A Spinster's Tale" is about a motherless, young girl named Elizabeth whose father and brother are both drunks. She also has a neighbor, Mr. Speed, who was a drunk too. Even though her brother was a drunk, Mr. Speed put a different kind of fear into her than he did. In fear that Mr. Speed would enter her house, she continually sat terrified at the window on a regular basis waiting for him to show up on her doorstep.
I'm anxious to see how we can play around with this short story using a social network. This story has a lot of material that we can work with.
Taylor's "A Spinster's Tale" is about a motherless, young girl named Elizabeth whose father and brother are both drunks. She also has a neighbor, Mr. Speed, who was a drunk too. Even though her brother was a drunk, Mr. Speed put a different kind of fear into her than he did. In fear that Mr. Speed would enter her house, she continually sat terrified at the window on a regular basis waiting for him to show up on her doorstep.
I'm anxious to see how we can play around with this short story using a social network. This story has a lot of material that we can work with.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Angel Levine
Malamud's "Angel" has often been connected with the Biblical story of Job. The book of Job tells the story of a Godly man named Job. He lived in the land of Uz along with his seven sons, three daughters, and numerous servants. Job was a wealthy man. He owned a large number of animals that included sheep, camels, oxes, and donkeys. Job frequently offered sacrifices for each of his children in fear that they had sinned. The Lord tested Job by taking everything he had away from him. The animals, servants, and children were all taken out of Job's life.
After reading Malamud's "Angel Levine," it is easy to relate it to the story of Job. Like Job, Manischevitz was very well off. He was a fifty-one year old tailor living in New York. Due to a fire, caused by the explosion of a cleaning fluid container, he lost everything. This fire not only emptied his bank account, but it also the start to a series of bad events. Manischevitz lost his son to war and his daughter to a man she ran off to marry. His wife, Fanny, had been suffering from shortness of breath, which they later discovered was due to the hardening of her arteries at an advanced stage. Throughout these series of events, "He had remained somewhat stoic, almost unbelieving that all this had descended upon his head, as if it were happening" (911). Because he was a religious man, Manischevitz prayed and prayed, asking God why this was all happening. When the black angel appeared, he question whether or not he was real. Never giving up, he continued to question God why he had been neglecting his misery. He received a sign of hope when he was at the synagogue in Harlem. And it was then when he restored his faith in God.
After reading Malamud's "Angel Levine," it is easy to relate it to the story of Job. Like Job, Manischevitz was very well off. He was a fifty-one year old tailor living in New York. Due to a fire, caused by the explosion of a cleaning fluid container, he lost everything. This fire not only emptied his bank account, but it also the start to a series of bad events. Manischevitz lost his son to war and his daughter to a man she ran off to marry. His wife, Fanny, had been suffering from shortness of breath, which they later discovered was due to the hardening of her arteries at an advanced stage. Throughout these series of events, "He had remained somewhat stoic, almost unbelieving that all this had descended upon his head, as if it were happening" (911). Because he was a religious man, Manischevitz prayed and prayed, asking God why this was all happening. When the black angel appeared, he question whether or not he was real. Never giving up, he continued to question God why he had been neglecting his misery. He received a sign of hope when he was at the synagogue in Harlem. And it was then when he restored his faith in God.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Author's Note
Originally I had chosen to write my film adaptation proposal on "The Management of Greif," but then after reading "Veldt," I changed my mind. Upon the completion of the short story "Veldt," I knew right away that's what I wanted to write about. The story immediately caught my attention and engaged me while I was reading it. Because of it's appealing plot, there was a lot of potention to turn this into a full length film.
As of today, I'm now finished with my paper. It was difficult at times, but overall, I enjoyed this assignment and the opportunity to play with the plot.
As of today, I'm now finished with my paper. It was difficult at times, but overall, I enjoyed this assignment and the opportunity to play with the plot.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Paul's Case
In the opening paragraphs, Cather paints a vivid picture of Paul's attire. He was wearing a jacket that was too small and fraying around the collar, a oral pin in his neatly knotted neck tie, and a red carnation in his buttonhole. Cather describes Paul as a tall, thin, boy with cramped shoulders and a narrow chest. "His eyes were remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy, and he continually used them in a conscious, theatrical sort of way, peculiarly offensive in a boy."
Later in the story, Cather uses the same detailed description for Paul's bedroom. His room is upstairs covered with horrible yellow wallpaper. Pictures of George Washington and John Calvin along with the framed motto "Feed my Lambs," hang over his painted wooden bed.
New York City is different for Paul because he gains a sense of freedom. He no longer has to be under the roof with his father. The only thing he liked about home was the theater and the shows because they made him feel free. So when those were taken away from him, he had to find it elsewhere which resulted in him going to New York. New York allowed him to be free from his father, his school, and his burdens.
Later in the story, Cather uses the same detailed description for Paul's bedroom. His room is upstairs covered with horrible yellow wallpaper. Pictures of George Washington and John Calvin along with the framed motto "Feed my Lambs," hang over his painted wooden bed.
New York City is different for Paul because he gains a sense of freedom. He no longer has to be under the roof with his father. The only thing he liked about home was the theater and the shows because they made him feel free. So when those were taken away from him, he had to find it elsewhere which resulted in him going to New York. New York allowed him to be free from his father, his school, and his burdens.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Generational Conflict
In all three of the stories, I sided with the younger generation. There's something about children that make you want to be on their side. In Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," Walker describes Maggie as the unnoticed sister who was always out shined by her older sister, Dee. Throughout her sisters visit, Maggie "stood nervously in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe." Knowing that she is nervous and ashamed to be in the presence of her own sister, I find it hard to believe that the reader wouldn't sympathize with Maggie or immediately side with her. I'm sure there are many of us that have felt betrayed or discouraged by the ones that they love and can relate to the way Maggie felt in this story.
Film Adaptation Proposal
For my film adaptation paper, I'm going to be writing about "The Management of Grief" by Bharati Mukherjee. "The Management of Grief" provides enough information to build a strong foundation for the film's plot. Because the short story gives us a good foundation to build upon, there are many areas where I can implement my own ideas to provide the viewer with more information about the plot and characters. In doing so, I will be able to turn this story into a full length film.
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