"Brother Grasshopper" by John Updike was at first, very difficult to read. The introduction of the story was a bit of a downer when Fred's father recalls his younger days with his brother; which were less than fun. Even up to the point of Fred's father's death, he never had a good relationship with his brother. It was almost painful to read about Fred's father.
It doesn't seem to be much better for Fred when he grows up. He was a timid, sickly child and not very social. He marries a girl, Betsy, when he graduates from Harvard, even though he seems discontent. In fact, he even confesses is no where near as attractive or interesting as her sister, Germaine who is courted by a tall, good looking man named Carlyle.
Fred and Carlyle are two very different men. Fred is an introvert, where as Carlyle is a huge extrovert. Carlyle played many sports as a boy and has luxuries such as a convertible, and had many experiences with friends. The two men are polar opposites.
As the story progresses, the two men have families and all sorts of vacations and good times thanks to Carlyle. He takes the families to beach houses and theme parks, always taking photos of the kids. Everyone is happy. Except for Fred. Fred seems to secretly resent Carlyle and his party-all-the-time lifestyle, even though Carlyle always includes Fred.
However, when Fred and Carlyle are older, an interesting thing occurs. Fred had an affair with a woman, and told Carlyle about it! It seems such a strange thing for a man to confess adultery to the can he secretly detests. This could represent a form of deep brotherhood growing between Carlyle and Fred; which may be similar to the stories Fred's father told him. Perhaps Fred's father was the ant and his brother was the grasshopper.
Time passes on. The brothers-in-law grow older. Fred ends up divorcing Betsy over the affair. Germaine and Carlyle end up divorcing as well. Carlyle has died. Of course, being the whacky guy Carlyle was, he asked for his ashes to be scattered over a Boston tidal creek instead of a traditional burial. Fred is invited because Carlyle loved him and gave him so much, which Fred realizes at the funeral.
The funeral ceremony ( to me) reflected the characters personalities as the ant and the grasshopper. Seeing as Fred is the ant, he would want to be buried in the ground, like an ant. The grasshopper is wild and free and would want to be within nature when it died.
I had an interesting thought reflecting on my idea on the funeral. Fred had worked hard all his life. Carlyle played all his life. But thanks to Carlyle's playing, Fred got something he couldn't earn through work. Fred got happy memories he never had as a child and probably wouldn't have had as an adult. Also, Carlyle's life was revealed to be him secretly struggling to make money, and Fred refused to help him when Carlyle was making a movie. Fred thinks it's not worth the investment.This is reminiscent of the part of the fable where the grasshopper won't help the ant work because he thinks it pointless. So who really is the grasshopper and who is the ant?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Lady with The Dog
"The Lady with the Dog" was a bittersweet love story about an older man and a younger woman that meet on vacation in Yalta. In the beginning of the story, the plot revolves around the older man, Gurov, how he is a serial adulterer and has both respect and distain for his wife. He considers women "the lower race" (ass!), and has had numerous affairs with other women thanks to his inferiority complex. When he first sets eyes on Anna Sergeyevna, "the lady with the dog", he immediately hatches a plan to begin an affair with her. For a man with an inferiority complex, he's quite sure of himself isn't he?
When the affair first begins, Anna Sergeyevna talks to Gurov about how she feels guilty for having an affair even though she thinks lowly of her husband. She thinks herself a wicked woman for committing adultery even though she clearly is falling for Gurov.
Interestingly, Gurov is BORED with the conversation! (Ass!). He is bored with the naivety of his young lover and seems irritated by it. He knows Anna feels guilty because he had gone through this so many times with other women that he knows exactly what she is going to say. Does this means the story will end in the same way his other affairs ended?
As the story progresses and the vacation time ends, the lovers part ways; it turns out Gurov is going insane without Anna Sergeyevna. He misses her so much he seeks any sign of her in women on the street. He sees her in the fireplace, he hears her breathing. It becomes too much to bear and Gurov decides to set out and find his love.
As fate would have it, the lovers are reunited in the town of S, Anna's hometown. She confesses to Gurov that she couldn't go a day without thinking of him. His feelings for her are returned. The lovers are "together" but miles apart at the same time. They have to take their spouses into consideration. They have not only one, but two people to keep in the dark about their relationship. Although the lovers are physically and emotionally close, are they really together? Only time will tell, and the story ends there.
Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna both have quite similar character traits. Gurov is cold and severe when around men, but warms up when around women. He married when he was young and holds bitter feelings towards his spouse. Anna Sergeyevna, in the beginning of the story, seems cold and distant to the people in Yalta. The only person she warmed up to was Gurov, a member of the opposite sex. Anna, also like, Gurov, married very young and does not think highly of her husband; calling him a "flunky" when though he is a respectable man.
Even their spouses are similar in character. Both think highly of themselves even though their spouses think them to be complete idiots.
The setting of the story takes place in two very different locations. Yalta is a beautiful paradise with sunshine and beaches and ocean breezes. Moscow, Gurov's hometown, is very cold and bitter. The setting also seems to have some symbolism within the locations. Consider this: When Gurov and Anna meet, it is in Yalta, the beautiful paradise where nothing can go wrong and their days are spent happy together.
However, when they part and head for their homes, the town of S. and Moscow, they are very different settings. These towns are very cold, even in the summer time. Moscow is freezing and bitter, like the feeling of being alone or forsaken by a loved one.
This symbolism could be reminiscent of the Greek myth of the seasons. When Hades, god of the underworld, stole Persephone, the daughter of the harvest goddess, Demeter , to be his wife. Demeter was so heartbroken that for the months that Persephone was gone the earth turned cold and dead and nothing would grow for harvest. During the months when Persephone returned to her mother, the harvest was bountiful.
For Gurov and Anna though, the winter remains; even when they are together.
When the affair first begins, Anna Sergeyevna talks to Gurov about how she feels guilty for having an affair even though she thinks lowly of her husband. She thinks herself a wicked woman for committing adultery even though she clearly is falling for Gurov.
Interestingly, Gurov is BORED with the conversation! (Ass!). He is bored with the naivety of his young lover and seems irritated by it. He knows Anna feels guilty because he had gone through this so many times with other women that he knows exactly what she is going to say. Does this means the story will end in the same way his other affairs ended?
As the story progresses and the vacation time ends, the lovers part ways; it turns out Gurov is going insane without Anna Sergeyevna. He misses her so much he seeks any sign of her in women on the street. He sees her in the fireplace, he hears her breathing. It becomes too much to bear and Gurov decides to set out and find his love.
As fate would have it, the lovers are reunited in the town of S, Anna's hometown. She confesses to Gurov that she couldn't go a day without thinking of him. His feelings for her are returned. The lovers are "together" but miles apart at the same time. They have to take their spouses into consideration. They have not only one, but two people to keep in the dark about their relationship. Although the lovers are physically and emotionally close, are they really together? Only time will tell, and the story ends there.
Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna both have quite similar character traits. Gurov is cold and severe when around men, but warms up when around women. He married when he was young and holds bitter feelings towards his spouse. Anna Sergeyevna, in the beginning of the story, seems cold and distant to the people in Yalta. The only person she warmed up to was Gurov, a member of the opposite sex. Anna, also like, Gurov, married very young and does not think highly of her husband; calling him a "flunky" when though he is a respectable man.
Even their spouses are similar in character. Both think highly of themselves even though their spouses think them to be complete idiots.
The setting of the story takes place in two very different locations. Yalta is a beautiful paradise with sunshine and beaches and ocean breezes. Moscow, Gurov's hometown, is very cold and bitter. The setting also seems to have some symbolism within the locations. Consider this: When Gurov and Anna meet, it is in Yalta, the beautiful paradise where nothing can go wrong and their days are spent happy together.
However, when they part and head for their homes, the town of S. and Moscow, they are very different settings. These towns are very cold, even in the summer time. Moscow is freezing and bitter, like the feeling of being alone or forsaken by a loved one.
This symbolism could be reminiscent of the Greek myth of the seasons. When Hades, god of the underworld, stole Persephone, the daughter of the harvest goddess, Demeter , to be his wife. Demeter was so heartbroken that for the months that Persephone was gone the earth turned cold and dead and nothing would grow for harvest. During the months when Persephone returned to her mother, the harvest was bountiful.
For Gurov and Anna though, the winter remains; even when they are together.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway
I won't lie. I had only read this story once before, and I didn't have a clue what was going on in the story. I never bothered to look at it again until this class assignment.
Having read it again, I was very confused as to what was going on. What did "let the air in" mean? Why did the girl not care what happened to her and why did it seem like she was being pressured by her American companion? Perhaps this is what I get for having a caffeine crash at 11 p.m. Like the first time when I read the story, whenever the girl said the hills looked like white elephants, I couldn't help but picture a baby instead of white elephants.
Once I finished reading the story, I did a little research on the story to find out that the image of a baby popping in my head wasn't too far fetched. Thanks to my research, I learned that "white elephant" is actually an idiom for something valuable that is far too costly to maintain or keep. What is more costly than a baby?
This meant that when the girl was talking of white elephants, she was talking about the baby she knew she wanted but there was no way she could have it. The American was hellbent on the girl going through with the abortion so they can continue their life of traveling and drinking. The girl tired of this life and longs for something more simple and traditional. Alas, the American does not want that.
This would also explain why the girl said she didn't care what happened to her. Given the time frame of the story, abortions had to have been extremely risky during that time. She was willing to risk her health and happiness in order to keep her companion happy.
I read the story one more time after researching and felt incredibly heartbroken for the girl. The man thinks that the baby will be too much of a burden for them and so he subtly pressures her to abort it so they can continue their fairy tale lifestyle, while the girls longs for the simple life, and she's the one making all the sacrifices for their happiness.
Having read it again, I was very confused as to what was going on. What did "let the air in" mean? Why did the girl not care what happened to her and why did it seem like she was being pressured by her American companion? Perhaps this is what I get for having a caffeine crash at 11 p.m. Like the first time when I read the story, whenever the girl said the hills looked like white elephants, I couldn't help but picture a baby instead of white elephants.
Once I finished reading the story, I did a little research on the story to find out that the image of a baby popping in my head wasn't too far fetched. Thanks to my research, I learned that "white elephant" is actually an idiom for something valuable that is far too costly to maintain or keep. What is more costly than a baby?
This meant that when the girl was talking of white elephants, she was talking about the baby she knew she wanted but there was no way she could have it. The American was hellbent on the girl going through with the abortion so they can continue their life of traveling and drinking. The girl tired of this life and longs for something more simple and traditional. Alas, the American does not want that.
This would also explain why the girl said she didn't care what happened to her. Given the time frame of the story, abortions had to have been extremely risky during that time. She was willing to risk her health and happiness in order to keep her companion happy.
I read the story one more time after researching and felt incredibly heartbroken for the girl. The man thinks that the baby will be too much of a burden for them and so he subtly pressures her to abort it so they can continue their fairy tale lifestyle, while the girls longs for the simple life, and she's the one making all the sacrifices for their happiness.
"Royal Beatings" by Alice Munro
"Royal Beatings" was a familiar tale to me. This was such a tragic story. It hit very close to home because I have experienced a similar situation (To clarify, no, I was NOT violently beaten and kicked around). It's so hard to have such a relationship, especially one so difficult. It's especially difficult when you know it's just going to repeat itself.
The relationship between Flo and Rose is incredibly strained. so strained, it's almost at the point where it's too painful to read. Flo and Rose seem to antagonize eachother to the point where Flo decides to take advantage of her relationship with Rose's father and convince him to beat her. Flo seems to regret this seeing as she quietly comments to her husband that he doesn't have to go too hard on her.
After her beating, Rose is sent to her room and she hears her parents' arguing, apparently going through the same stormy relations Flo and Rose have. This reveals it isn't just Flo and Rose who do not relate well, but also Flo and Rose's father.
Flo attempts to apologize by bring up peace offerings of cold cream and milk and cookies. At first, Rose rejects these tokens of apology but later gives in. Rose knows that these events will happen again and she seems to accept this.
Some years later, Rose is older and Flo was sent to live in a retirement home after she stopped talking. Flo seemed incoherent unless she bit one of the nurses of the home.
If I had to guess, this story suggests that history repeats itself. People pretend to learn their lesson from such painful experiences when in reality they simply do it all over again.
I may be way off here, but I couldn't help but notice the names "Rose" and "Flo", names often used as references to menstruating women. When women in close proximity spend a lot of time around each other, such as a stepdaughter and stepmother, things would tend to sync up. Let's be honest, two women are worst than one. What makes it even worse, is it will happen again.
It's a painful cycle (pardon the possible pun) for both Rose and Flo. I can't tell if this was Munro's intention, I could be completely off, but that is what I got from the story.
The relationship between Flo and Rose is incredibly strained. so strained, it's almost at the point where it's too painful to read. Flo and Rose seem to antagonize eachother to the point where Flo decides to take advantage of her relationship with Rose's father and convince him to beat her. Flo seems to regret this seeing as she quietly comments to her husband that he doesn't have to go too hard on her.
After her beating, Rose is sent to her room and she hears her parents' arguing, apparently going through the same stormy relations Flo and Rose have. This reveals it isn't just Flo and Rose who do not relate well, but also Flo and Rose's father.
Flo attempts to apologize by bring up peace offerings of cold cream and milk and cookies. At first, Rose rejects these tokens of apology but later gives in. Rose knows that these events will happen again and she seems to accept this.
Some years later, Rose is older and Flo was sent to live in a retirement home after she stopped talking. Flo seemed incoherent unless she bit one of the nurses of the home.
If I had to guess, this story suggests that history repeats itself. People pretend to learn their lesson from such painful experiences when in reality they simply do it all over again.
I may be way off here, but I couldn't help but notice the names "Rose" and "Flo", names often used as references to menstruating women. When women in close proximity spend a lot of time around each other, such as a stepdaughter and stepmother, things would tend to sync up. Let's be honest, two women are worst than one. What makes it even worse, is it will happen again.
It's a painful cycle (pardon the possible pun) for both Rose and Flo. I can't tell if this was Munro's intention, I could be completely off, but that is what I got from the story.
"Happy Endings" by Margaret Atwood
Ah, I love a good story with all sorts of different plot options for suffering and conflict!
"Happy Endings" lets the reader choose how the story ends, like those super fun (and super Nineties) Goosebumps books. The first ending, option A, was far too dull. As the stories "progressed", such as with B and C, the plots intensified and grew into more darker elements. Whether it be John is an abusive jerk and Mary is just strung along for the ride while he two-times her, or John is a married middle-aged loser having an affair with the young and fickle Mary. D through F however, get just plain silly. D through F were more thank likely just mock endings (especially the agent and espionage double agent ending option) so Atwood had all sorts of different ending options covered. The one thing that remains consistent throughout the story's plot options is that in the very end, John and Mary will always die. The difference is how and why John and Mary die, which Atwood comments on at the end.
It seems to suggest that ultimately, there are no happy endings. Eventually, John and Mary will die. That is the true ending.
"A Good Man Is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor Analysis: The Grotesque Grandmother
There is a very dirty Southern Goth feel to this story. Not goth in the "I'm going to put a curse the girls who picked on me in gym class" sense, but in a gritty, grotesque way. No character is as grotesque in this story as than the grandmother.
On the outside, she dresses in a way to present herself as if she were a prim and proper lady. Yet is she a lady? She wears white gloves and very fancy, old fashioned clothing of days gone by. It seems as if she is in denial of the current state of things. How strange to get so dressed up for a road trip. In the story, it is written "In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once she was a lady". Honestly, what good would that do her?
In actuality, she is very selfish, cold, and bitter. Her lovely clothes mask the ugliness of her personality, but not for long. She's using looks to mask her inner ugliness.
The grandmother's personality rears it's ugly head just about every time she opens her mouth. When the family passes a young black boy on the road, Grandmother wastes no times throwing out the "N" word and comments on the boy's racial status based on his lack of clothing. She again uses clothing as an indication of class and status; suggesting that he is lower than she. In her time, people probably used the "N" word right and left and she continues to use it as so even though it's not socially acceptable anymore. Once more, her ugliness is exposed.
The grandmother doesn't show any respect to anyone in her family. For example, she has absolutely no respect for her son, Bailey, by sneaking the cat into the car without him knowing. Interestingly, the grandmother's ugliness is being passed on to future generations. When the family arrives at Red Sammy's Barbecue shack, June Star comments on how horrible the place looks. The granddaughter is focusing on the appearance of the barbecue restaurant rather than the food it serves.
Throughout the story, the grandmother laments that there are no more good people anymore. An interesting lament, considering she is not a good person. She doesn't even cry out for her family until they are already dead. In the end, the grandmother is pleading with a murderer to let her go by calling him a good person and claiming he's "got good blood" and "would never shoot a lady". Her pleas fell on deaf ears and her not-so-good blood was shed.
Some people say that in the face of death, you remove your "face" and expose what you really are.
This is by far one of my favorite Flannery O'Connor stories. I will call her one of the most brilliant short story writers until the day I die. Hopefully that day won't be at the hands of the Misfit.
On the outside, she dresses in a way to present herself as if she were a prim and proper lady. Yet is she a lady? She wears white gloves and very fancy, old fashioned clothing of days gone by. It seems as if she is in denial of the current state of things. How strange to get so dressed up for a road trip. In the story, it is written "In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once she was a lady". Honestly, what good would that do her?
In actuality, she is very selfish, cold, and bitter. Her lovely clothes mask the ugliness of her personality, but not for long. She's using looks to mask her inner ugliness.
The grandmother's personality rears it's ugly head just about every time she opens her mouth. When the family passes a young black boy on the road, Grandmother wastes no times throwing out the "N" word and comments on the boy's racial status based on his lack of clothing. She again uses clothing as an indication of class and status; suggesting that he is lower than she. In her time, people probably used the "N" word right and left and she continues to use it as so even though it's not socially acceptable anymore. Once more, her ugliness is exposed.
The grandmother doesn't show any respect to anyone in her family. For example, she has absolutely no respect for her son, Bailey, by sneaking the cat into the car without him knowing. Interestingly, the grandmother's ugliness is being passed on to future generations. When the family arrives at Red Sammy's Barbecue shack, June Star comments on how horrible the place looks. The granddaughter is focusing on the appearance of the barbecue restaurant rather than the food it serves.
Throughout the story, the grandmother laments that there are no more good people anymore. An interesting lament, considering she is not a good person. She doesn't even cry out for her family until they are already dead. In the end, the grandmother is pleading with a murderer to let her go by calling him a good person and claiming he's "got good blood" and "would never shoot a lady". Her pleas fell on deaf ears and her not-so-good blood was shed.
Some people say that in the face of death, you remove your "face" and expose what you really are.
This is by far one of my favorite Flannery O'Connor stories. I will call her one of the most brilliant short story writers until the day I die. Hopefully that day won't be at the hands of the Misfit.
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