"Fences"
By: August Wilson
The setting takes place in the front yard of Troy Maxson's house. The family is a blended family with Troy's wife Rose, son Cory, who is still in the house, Lyons, Troy's oldest son from a previous marriage, Bono who is Troy's friend and Gabriel, Troy's brother. Troy has lived a hard life and never seemed like her was truly happy. He feels like being black held him back from succeeding in life.
Troy as a child life home at the age of fourteen and ended up in prison trying to support his first wife and son. He spend fifteen years in prison where he meet his friend Bono. After he got out he meet Rose and they got married and had a son. Troy would not let his son Cory play football when he found out a recruiter wanted to come and look at him. He thought it would be a waste of time for Cory because he was black. Troy always thought he would be a great baseball player, but didn't try because he thought white people wouldn't give him a chance because he was black. Troy was building his wife a fence around his yard and wondered why she wanted the fence. Bono suggested that so people built fences to keep people out and others built them to keep people in. With Troy being the looker he was I wonder wish one it was.
Troy ended up having an affair on his wife of eighteen years and fathered a daughter, Raynell, with another women. The woman died during childbirth and Rose raised the girl as her own, but never really forgave Troy for what he did. Not long after Raynell was born Troy and Cory got into a fight and Troy kicked him out. At this time Cory was only seventeen. Cory didn't return home until seven years later for his father's funeral. During the years he was gone Cory became a officer in the Marines and made something of his life.
To me Troy thought that he could do whatever he wanted and people was suppose to except his decision and I thought he was very selfish. He thought his wife was suppose to be okay with him having a child with another woman. He didn't want his son to play ball because he thought he should have been able to play but he didn't even try. After all that I couldn't believe his wife stayed with him till he died.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Week 14
"A Raisin in the Sun"
This drama's setting was during the 1950's. It is about a poor black extended family that all live in this very small apartment. The Younger family consist of the mama (Lena), her son Walter, her daughter Beneatha, Walter's wife Ruth, and their son Travis. Each one of these family members have their own personal dream they are trying to achieve. They have just come into ten thousand dollars because Lena's husband just died and everyone wants the money.
Walter is a man who works as a chauffeur for a white man and hates his job. He is always coming up with these get rich quick plans. He wants his mother to give him all the money to invest into a liquor store with two of his friends. Mama doesn't agree with this and doesn't want to give him the money. She and her husband had always dreamed of owning their own house and that is what she wants to do. Her daughter is going to college to become a doctor and she plans on putting some money towards her education. Walter's wife finds out that she is pregnant and thinks about aborting the baby because they don't have the money to take care of another baby, plus the apartment is already too small for everyone. Mama does not agree with this.
When the money comes Mama takes some of the money and puts a deposit on a house in a white neighborhood. When she tells the family Ruth is extremely happy, but this crushes Walter. Mama finally agrees to give Walter the rest of the money after he puts three thousand in the bank for his sister's education. The climax is when Walter doesn't listen and gives the money to his friend Willy for the investment, but come to find out Willy takes off with the money. During this time a man from the white neighborhood's committee comes and tries to buy them out of their house because they don't want black people in their neighborhood. Walter decides to talk to the man about excepting the money, but this upsets the rest of the family because this family has always been a proud family until now. Mama and her husband has always worked so hard to raise their children to be strong, proud people even though they didn't have much. They survived just like Mama's plant she has that doesn't get enough sunlight. When the man gets to the house Walter decides to not except the money and let someone run them out of their home. His mama and wife are very happy of the choice he made. Mama says "He finally come into his manhood today".
I couldn't get the movie but I finally found the written version and I have to say I really enjoyed reading this. Lena is like most mother's who give up their dreams to fulfill their children's. She spent her life teaching her children how to always love people even when they make mistakes because that's when they need you the most. Also we as parents have to let our children try at life even when we think they are making the wrong decision, because this is how they learn and grow.
This drama's setting was during the 1950's. It is about a poor black extended family that all live in this very small apartment. The Younger family consist of the mama (Lena), her son Walter, her daughter Beneatha, Walter's wife Ruth, and their son Travis. Each one of these family members have their own personal dream they are trying to achieve. They have just come into ten thousand dollars because Lena's husband just died and everyone wants the money.
Walter is a man who works as a chauffeur for a white man and hates his job. He is always coming up with these get rich quick plans. He wants his mother to give him all the money to invest into a liquor store with two of his friends. Mama doesn't agree with this and doesn't want to give him the money. She and her husband had always dreamed of owning their own house and that is what she wants to do. Her daughter is going to college to become a doctor and she plans on putting some money towards her education. Walter's wife finds out that she is pregnant and thinks about aborting the baby because they don't have the money to take care of another baby, plus the apartment is already too small for everyone. Mama does not agree with this.
When the money comes Mama takes some of the money and puts a deposit on a house in a white neighborhood. When she tells the family Ruth is extremely happy, but this crushes Walter. Mama finally agrees to give Walter the rest of the money after he puts three thousand in the bank for his sister's education. The climax is when Walter doesn't listen and gives the money to his friend Willy for the investment, but come to find out Willy takes off with the money. During this time a man from the white neighborhood's committee comes and tries to buy them out of their house because they don't want black people in their neighborhood. Walter decides to talk to the man about excepting the money, but this upsets the rest of the family because this family has always been a proud family until now. Mama and her husband has always worked so hard to raise their children to be strong, proud people even though they didn't have much. They survived just like Mama's plant she has that doesn't get enough sunlight. When the man gets to the house Walter decides to not except the money and let someone run them out of their home. His mama and wife are very happy of the choice he made. Mama says "He finally come into his manhood today".
I couldn't get the movie but I finally found the written version and I have to say I really enjoyed reading this. Lena is like most mother's who give up their dreams to fulfill their children's. She spent her life teaching her children how to always love people even when they make mistakes because that's when they need you the most. Also we as parents have to let our children try at life even when we think they are making the wrong decision, because this is how they learn and grow.
Friday, November 12, 2010
"Trifles"
"Trifles"
By: Susan Glaspell
The story starts out with the county attorney, the sheriff, the neighbor, and the wives walking in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. The scene of the kitchen is very gloomy and depressing. As I read more I realized that this was a symbolism of what Mrs. Wright's life has become. The neighbor begins to describe the murder of Mr. Wright but then is stopped by the county attorney. This is when we learn more about Mrs. Wright and that she is being held for her husbands murder. I think this is so we will sympathise with Mrs. Wright instead of her husband, who was murdered.
Mrs. Hale has known Mrs. Wright since before she was married. She was a happy woman who sang in the choir and now that she is married she is quiet and stays to herself. She is a lonely woman who has never had any children and according to Mrs. Hale her husband was a very quiet man.
The men were more worried about how the woman kept her house than getting evidence for the case. The women begin to get some things for Mrs. Wright and find a broken birdcage. Then they find her sewing kit and wonder if she was quilting or knotting the quilt and the men just thought this was funny. Apparently during this time the things that women did was not important according to the men. I think this is why they over looked the evidence of the murder because the women noticed that the last few stitches was done nervously. Mrs. Hale began to fix this for her. While looking in the basket they found a box that held the dead bird. It looked like its neck had been wrung. These women knew then why Mrs. Wright put a rope around her husband's neck. He has sucked the life out of her and she had had it so she just chocked the life out of him.
As the men finished up there investigation finding nothing the women decided to get rid of the bird and tell them nothing. At the end the attorney says well we found out that she was not quilting the quilt but what was it you call it he asked the women. Mrs. Hale says "We call it- knot it, Mr Henderson" as she held her pocket with the bird in it. I believe "the knot" is a not guilty verdict because they are a jury of her peers.
By: Susan Glaspell
The story starts out with the county attorney, the sheriff, the neighbor, and the wives walking in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. The scene of the kitchen is very gloomy and depressing. As I read more I realized that this was a symbolism of what Mrs. Wright's life has become. The neighbor begins to describe the murder of Mr. Wright but then is stopped by the county attorney. This is when we learn more about Mrs. Wright and that she is being held for her husbands murder. I think this is so we will sympathise with Mrs. Wright instead of her husband, who was murdered.
Mrs. Hale has known Mrs. Wright since before she was married. She was a happy woman who sang in the choir and now that she is married she is quiet and stays to herself. She is a lonely woman who has never had any children and according to Mrs. Hale her husband was a very quiet man.
The men were more worried about how the woman kept her house than getting evidence for the case. The women begin to get some things for Mrs. Wright and find a broken birdcage. Then they find her sewing kit and wonder if she was quilting or knotting the quilt and the men just thought this was funny. Apparently during this time the things that women did was not important according to the men. I think this is why they over looked the evidence of the murder because the women noticed that the last few stitches was done nervously. Mrs. Hale began to fix this for her. While looking in the basket they found a box that held the dead bird. It looked like its neck had been wrung. These women knew then why Mrs. Wright put a rope around her husband's neck. He has sucked the life out of her and she had had it so she just chocked the life out of him.
As the men finished up there investigation finding nothing the women decided to get rid of the bird and tell them nothing. At the end the attorney says well we found out that she was not quilting the quilt but what was it you call it he asked the women. Mrs. Hale says "We call it- knot it, Mr Henderson" as she held her pocket with the bird in it. I believe "the knot" is a not guilty verdict because they are a jury of her peers.
"Naked Lunch"
"Naked Lunch"
By: Michael Hollinger
The scene of this story is of Lucy and Vernon who are sitting down to a dinner. As the scene was described I realized that Vernon had set the table and cooked the dinner. The flowers being in an awkward vase made me first think of a man doing something that he doesn't normally do because he has done something wrong and is trying to apologize. As I read more I learned they had broken up, but not sure why. When I read the story again I thought that maybe the awkward vase was a symbolism of there relationship.
As they were eating Vernon the antagonist saw that Lucy wasn't eating her steak and asked why. Lucy told him that after their break up she did some soul searching and decided to become a vegetarian. She doesn't want to eat anything with a face. Vernon being the controlling type of man did not like this. He then begins to talk about the other choices Lucy has made. Vernon does not respect Lucy or any of her choices. Lucy asked Vernon if they could just start over trying to get him back on his conversation, but he is not letting up on this.
Vernon gets up and holds Lucy's plate in front of her face asking do you see a face over and over again. He is just tormenting her. Then he cuts a piece off and makes her eat it. He then tells her how juicy it is and she just shakes her head in agreement. The rest of there dinner is in silence. I think at this moment Lucy realizes that the meat was not the poison in her life it was Vernon.
He then
By: Michael Hollinger
The scene of this story is of Lucy and Vernon who are sitting down to a dinner. As the scene was described I realized that Vernon had set the table and cooked the dinner. The flowers being in an awkward vase made me first think of a man doing something that he doesn't normally do because he has done something wrong and is trying to apologize. As I read more I learned they had broken up, but not sure why. When I read the story again I thought that maybe the awkward vase was a symbolism of there relationship.
As they were eating Vernon the antagonist saw that Lucy wasn't eating her steak and asked why. Lucy told him that after their break up she did some soul searching and decided to become a vegetarian. She doesn't want to eat anything with a face. Vernon being the controlling type of man did not like this. He then begins to talk about the other choices Lucy has made. Vernon does not respect Lucy or any of her choices. Lucy asked Vernon if they could just start over trying to get him back on his conversation, but he is not letting up on this.
Vernon gets up and holds Lucy's plate in front of her face asking do you see a face over and over again. He is just tormenting her. Then he cuts a piece off and makes her eat it. He then tells her how juicy it is and she just shakes her head in agreement. The rest of there dinner is in silence. I think at this moment Lucy realizes that the meat was not the poison in her life it was Vernon.
He then
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Week 12 Poems
"To My Dear and Loving Husband" By: Bradstreet
This poem was written by a woman who loved her husband more than anything. "More than whole mines of gold" which is stated in line 5. Even though her husband probably knows how much he is loved I think she wrote this poem to put in into words for him. She wants him to know that even after they die she thinks that their love for one another will continue through eternity. She believes they are soul mates.
"Memorandum" By: Bolton
When I first read this I wasn't sure it was a poem. It was more of a woman complaining of all the things that her boyfriend does wrong and that she is fed up with him and his actions. He seems to be a person that is all about himself and doesn't care about anyone else or their feelings. I think that she has had it with him not caring anything about her and is tired of being run over and taken advantage of.
"Before the Birth of One of Her Children" By: Bradstreet
When I started reading this I thought that it was a letter to her child but the more I read it I think it is also to her spouse. She seems to think that she is going to die and wants to leave a note to her child to let him/her know how much she loved them and didn't want to leave but all she could do was write this letter. She says "look at my babes, my dear remains" also " protect from stepdame's injury" which made me believe this was to her spouse as well. She is telling him to protect the child and when the loss is to hard look at the good (child) she left behind.
"Battle Hymn of the Republic" By: Howe
I think that this poem is about soldiers that are fighting for freedom and are praying to God to keep them safe. The soldiers are still worshiping the Lord even though they are in a battle zone and they know that even though they have the training they still need the Lord to keep them safe. In line 13 it talks about the end of time and facing God on judgement day and their soul being saved. The soldiers are not only in a battle for freedom they are also in a battle with themselves and need God to save them.
"Thinking About Bill, Dead of AIDS" By: Williams
This poem is about someone who had a friend die with AIDS. They are not sure how to act towards him because they don't know much about AIDS. They didn't realize how it damages a persons body and are scared they are going to catch it also. They stay by his bedside, kiss him to easy some tension, but I think the more they try to hide their fear the more the tension grows. Its hard for everyone because they don't know how that person is going to respond to their friends actions.
This poem was written by a woman who loved her husband more than anything. "More than whole mines of gold" which is stated in line 5. Even though her husband probably knows how much he is loved I think she wrote this poem to put in into words for him. She wants him to know that even after they die she thinks that their love for one another will continue through eternity. She believes they are soul mates.
"Memorandum" By: Bolton
When I first read this I wasn't sure it was a poem. It was more of a woman complaining of all the things that her boyfriend does wrong and that she is fed up with him and his actions. He seems to be a person that is all about himself and doesn't care about anyone else or their feelings. I think that she has had it with him not caring anything about her and is tired of being run over and taken advantage of.
"Before the Birth of One of Her Children" By: Bradstreet
When I started reading this I thought that it was a letter to her child but the more I read it I think it is also to her spouse. She seems to think that she is going to die and wants to leave a note to her child to let him/her know how much she loved them and didn't want to leave but all she could do was write this letter. She says "look at my babes, my dear remains" also " protect from stepdame's injury" which made me believe this was to her spouse as well. She is telling him to protect the child and when the loss is to hard look at the good (child) she left behind.
"Battle Hymn of the Republic" By: Howe
I think that this poem is about soldiers that are fighting for freedom and are praying to God to keep them safe. The soldiers are still worshiping the Lord even though they are in a battle zone and they know that even though they have the training they still need the Lord to keep them safe. In line 13 it talks about the end of time and facing God on judgement day and their soul being saved. The soldiers are not only in a battle for freedom they are also in a battle with themselves and need God to save them.
"Thinking About Bill, Dead of AIDS" By: Williams
This poem is about someone who had a friend die with AIDS. They are not sure how to act towards him because they don't know much about AIDS. They didn't realize how it damages a persons body and are scared they are going to catch it also. They stay by his bedside, kiss him to easy some tension, but I think the more they try to hide their fear the more the tension grows. Its hard for everyone because they don't know how that person is going to respond to their friends actions.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Week 11 poems
I enjoyed most of the poems this week. They were a little easier for me to understand than some of the others from the past weeks.
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" By Langston Hughes
The poem talks about "rivers" , but I think that the rivers really stand for African men and women that he knew or learned about and tried to relate with. These people are from all over the world and lived differently from each other depending on the time and location they lived. As he learns more about his ancestors over time he grows bigger and stronger like the rivers have that he mentions in the poem.
"I, Too" By Langston Hughes
This poem talks about how black people "the darker brother", use to be sent to the kitchen to eat when company "white people" came over. When he says "I laugh, eat well, and grow strong" he means that he hopes for a change and knows that being healthy mentally and physically will help. He knows African Americans have to fight for a change and equal rights or nothing will ever change. He believes that when that change comes white people will be ashamed of how they treated African Americans differently. The first and last line means that even though we have different colored skin doesn't mean we are different. We are all Americans and deserve to be treated equally.
"Mother to Son" By Langston Hughes
I really liked this poem. It is about a mother fighting for a better life for her and her child. She is telling her son that her life has been very hard, but she has never given up and no matter how hard he thinks life is he should never give up. Nothing is easy and if you want something out of life you have to fight for it. Giving up is not and option. The only thing I didn't understand was what the word "crystal" stood for.
"Dream Variation" By Langston Hughes
What I got out of the title was that this person is dreaming for change. He wants to be able to walk around and dance when everyone is treated equally and not discriminated against "the white day is done". He wants white people not to be afraid of black people because of the color of their skin, "while night comes on gently Dark like me". I think the first two lines means that he wants to be about to stand in front of someone white with power and be able to have that same kind of power.
"Dusting" By Julia Alvarez
Julia Alverez was born during a time when women stayed at home and took care of the household chores and raised the children. The men were the bread winners, money makers. She watched her mother clean house and cook everyday and knew that, that was not what she wanted to do. To her, her mother had no life of her own, she was a nobody, invisible, "anonymous". So to have the life she wanted she educated herself, "I refused with every mark to be like her".
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" By Langston Hughes
The poem talks about "rivers" , but I think that the rivers really stand for African men and women that he knew or learned about and tried to relate with. These people are from all over the world and lived differently from each other depending on the time and location they lived. As he learns more about his ancestors over time he grows bigger and stronger like the rivers have that he mentions in the poem.
"I, Too" By Langston Hughes
This poem talks about how black people "the darker brother", use to be sent to the kitchen to eat when company "white people" came over. When he says "I laugh, eat well, and grow strong" he means that he hopes for a change and knows that being healthy mentally and physically will help. He knows African Americans have to fight for a change and equal rights or nothing will ever change. He believes that when that change comes white people will be ashamed of how they treated African Americans differently. The first and last line means that even though we have different colored skin doesn't mean we are different. We are all Americans and deserve to be treated equally.
"Mother to Son" By Langston Hughes
I really liked this poem. It is about a mother fighting for a better life for her and her child. She is telling her son that her life has been very hard, but she has never given up and no matter how hard he thinks life is he should never give up. Nothing is easy and if you want something out of life you have to fight for it. Giving up is not and option. The only thing I didn't understand was what the word "crystal" stood for.
"Dream Variation" By Langston Hughes
What I got out of the title was that this person is dreaming for change. He wants to be able to walk around and dance when everyone is treated equally and not discriminated against "the white day is done". He wants white people not to be afraid of black people because of the color of their skin, "while night comes on gently Dark like me". I think the first two lines means that he wants to be about to stand in front of someone white with power and be able to have that same kind of power.
"Dusting" By Julia Alvarez
Julia Alverez was born during a time when women stayed at home and took care of the household chores and raised the children. The men were the bread winners, money makers. She watched her mother clean house and cook everyday and knew that, that was not what she wanted to do. To her, her mother had no life of her own, she was a nobody, invisible, "anonymous". So to have the life she wanted she educated herself, "I refused with every mark to be like her".
Friday, October 22, 2010
Week 10 Posts
"Hope" is the thing with feathers By: Emily Dickinson
Hope is referred to as a bird. It is free like a bird. Hope perches in our soul like a bird perches on something. The hope sings songs with no words and is what makes people move forward striving for new things and trying new things. Sometimes a "storm", something bad that is happened to us, can make us give up on hope. In the last two lines it talks about no matter what hope will never ask anything in return from you.
"I like a look of Agony" By Emily Dickinson
This poem talks about how Agony is something that you can not fake. It is a feeling that people feel and can't hide it. A lot of people show fake feeling to people for many reasons, but this is one feeling that will take over you and you have no other choice but to show it. It talks about people coming close to death and the agony that come over them because they know they cant fight death forever, death will eventually win.
"Much Madness is divinest Sense" By Emily Dickinson
I really enjoyed this poem because a lot of people think this way. This poem is about someone who is boldly honest and always tells the brutal truth. The discerning eye is talking about everyone that looks at that person like they are crazy. People can't believe that he or she just told the truth, it wasn't sugar coated to protect someones feelings. The majority thinks "much sense" common sense or someone who is really smart is "madness" or crazy. It's telling us that people who say they are crazy are not and the people who say they are not crazy are. The last line talks about the crazy people are handle chains which I think means they kept them on a short leash and punish them.
"After a great pain, a formal feeling comes" By Emily Dickinson
This poem is about the emotional state that someone goes through while dealing with death. The second line is talking about your body just becoming numb to any emotion. You are in a state of shock. Then you begin questioning yourself and the events that happened. Your body begins you move all by itself you don't realize what your doing but you function on a daily basis. Your body is so stiff like a rock. Then after a while you begin to get back to life and realize you got through it even though you didn't think it was possible. The last line of the poem is a list of the grieving process.
"Fire and Ice" By Robert Frost
This poem is about how people think the world will end. Some say it will end in fire. I think fire means wars, Hell, and burning. People are so angry these days about everything. Nobody is just happy living life. Others think it will end in Ice. Ice to me means cold, no feelings or involvement with people, isolating ourselves from everyone and dying alone. He states he knows enough hate that ice would work too. Which I think means if burning in hatred wasn't going to happen then being isolated from everybody would be ok.
Hope is referred to as a bird. It is free like a bird. Hope perches in our soul like a bird perches on something. The hope sings songs with no words and is what makes people move forward striving for new things and trying new things. Sometimes a "storm", something bad that is happened to us, can make us give up on hope. In the last two lines it talks about no matter what hope will never ask anything in return from you.
"I like a look of Agony" By Emily Dickinson
This poem talks about how Agony is something that you can not fake. It is a feeling that people feel and can't hide it. A lot of people show fake feeling to people for many reasons, but this is one feeling that will take over you and you have no other choice but to show it. It talks about people coming close to death and the agony that come over them because they know they cant fight death forever, death will eventually win.
"Much Madness is divinest Sense" By Emily Dickinson
I really enjoyed this poem because a lot of people think this way. This poem is about someone who is boldly honest and always tells the brutal truth. The discerning eye is talking about everyone that looks at that person like they are crazy. People can't believe that he or she just told the truth, it wasn't sugar coated to protect someones feelings. The majority thinks "much sense" common sense or someone who is really smart is "madness" or crazy. It's telling us that people who say they are crazy are not and the people who say they are not crazy are. The last line talks about the crazy people are handle chains which I think means they kept them on a short leash and punish them.
"After a great pain, a formal feeling comes" By Emily Dickinson
This poem is about the emotional state that someone goes through while dealing with death. The second line is talking about your body just becoming numb to any emotion. You are in a state of shock. Then you begin questioning yourself and the events that happened. Your body begins you move all by itself you don't realize what your doing but you function on a daily basis. Your body is so stiff like a rock. Then after a while you begin to get back to life and realize you got through it even though you didn't think it was possible. The last line of the poem is a list of the grieving process.
"Fire and Ice" By Robert Frost
This poem is about how people think the world will end. Some say it will end in fire. I think fire means wars, Hell, and burning. People are so angry these days about everything. Nobody is just happy living life. Others think it will end in Ice. Ice to me means cold, no feelings or involvement with people, isolating ourselves from everyone and dying alone. He states he knows enough hate that ice would work too. Which I think means if burning in hatred wasn't going to happen then being isolated from everybody would be ok.
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