"Ah often wonder how dat lil wife uh hisn makes out wid him, 'cause he's uh man dat changes everything, but nothin' don't change him" (Hurston 49).
Joe Starks is a character with an intimidating demeanor that allows him to boss others around. Joe's economic standings also help with this matter. The people in the town recognize that he is wealthier and more superior than they, and therefore he is able to take advantage of their inferiority. No one in the town has "the temerity to challenge him" (50). Joe is turning the tides of the town, and he is continually making drastic changes without much resistance from the people in the town. The people succumb to his demands, so he continues to make changes. The other characters question how Janie is able to tolerate Joe's desire to always change things. They have witnessed his disrespectful treatment of Janie when she makes a mistake in the store. Joe is making puppets of the people in the town, and seems to be making a puppet out of Janie as well because she does not stand up against his rude behavior towards her.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Their Eyes Were Watching God Chap. 1&2
"Mah daily prayer now is tuh let dese golden moments roll on a few days longer till Ah see you safe in life" (Hurston 15).
Nanny wishes for Janie to live a life that was different than her own, and Janie's mother's. After seeing Janie kiss Johnny Taylor, Nanny is concerned because she does not want to see Janie taken advantage of. Nanny is adamant that Janie gets married right away in order to prevent Janie from living the life that Janie's mother had lived. Although Janie's circumstances as a child were bleak, Nanny was grateful that she "got another chance" (16). Nanny had another chance to create a life for a child that would be happy and successful because her own daughter's life took an unfortunate turn after she was raped. Nanny wanted Janie to be "safe in life," and she makes great efforts to ensure that she is (15). Nanny buys a new plot of land for Janie's sake because she was made fun of in school due to where she lived. Nanny may seem overbearing, but she believes her efforts are in Janie's best interest.
Nanny wishes for Janie to live a life that was different than her own, and Janie's mother's. After seeing Janie kiss Johnny Taylor, Nanny is concerned because she does not want to see Janie taken advantage of. Nanny is adamant that Janie gets married right away in order to prevent Janie from living the life that Janie's mother had lived. Although Janie's circumstances as a child were bleak, Nanny was grateful that she "got another chance" (16). Nanny had another chance to create a life for a child that would be happy and successful because her own daughter's life took an unfortunate turn after she was raped. Nanny wanted Janie to be "safe in life," and she makes great efforts to ensure that she is (15). Nanny buys a new plot of land for Janie's sake because she was made fun of in school due to where she lived. Nanny may seem overbearing, but she believes her efforts are in Janie's best interest.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Streetcar Named Desire: Scenes 9, 10&11
"I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell the truth, I tell what ought to be truth. And if that is sinful, then let me be damned for it!" (Williams 145).
Blanche is admitting that she is a liar. She confesses that she often tells people what they would like to hear in order to make them happy. She sets people up for disappointment because once they have to face the truth, they are saddened by it. Blanche herself is a prime example of this. She relies on the compliments of others to feel good about her image. In the above instance, she has been insisting that Mitch not turn on the lights. Others have told her she is beautiful, but she is ashamed of her age that is revealed by the light. Blanche does not want to face the truth of her age that the light uncovers. Once her true image is shown, she is embarrassed, and proven guilty as a liar.
Blanche is admitting that she is a liar. She confesses that she often tells people what they would like to hear in order to make them happy. She sets people up for disappointment because once they have to face the truth, they are saddened by it. Blanche herself is a prime example of this. She relies on the compliments of others to feel good about her image. In the above instance, she has been insisting that Mitch not turn on the lights. Others have told her she is beautiful, but she is ashamed of her age that is revealed by the light. Blanche does not want to face the truth of her age that the light uncovers. Once her true image is shown, she is embarrassed, and proven guilty as a liar.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Streetcar Named Desire: Scenes 6,7&8
"Well he's not going to marry her. Maybe he was, but he's not going to jump in a tank with a school of sharks—now!" (Williams 126).
Mitch is an honorable man. He is different than the other men seen in the play. He asks Blanche's permission before he kisses her good night, he compliments her, and he speaks with his mom about her. He is trustworthy. However, upon hearing the stories that Stanley has heard about Blanche, he stands her up. This is uncommon for the reputation he has upheld so far. Upon hearing the stories about Blanche, Mitch should have addressed them with Blanche directly, rather than assuming they are true. Stella does not believe the stories, but Stanley is convinced that Blanche has slept around. Stanley speaks about the other men Blanche has slept with as "school of sharks" because there are so many (126). It would be dangerous for Mitch to expect someone with the reputation of Blanche to be loyal to him. Mitch does not want to marry Blanche anymore because she has a bad reputation.
Mitch is an honorable man. He is different than the other men seen in the play. He asks Blanche's permission before he kisses her good night, he compliments her, and he speaks with his mom about her. He is trustworthy. However, upon hearing the stories that Stanley has heard about Blanche, he stands her up. This is uncommon for the reputation he has upheld so far. Upon hearing the stories about Blanche, Mitch should have addressed them with Blanche directly, rather than assuming they are true. Stella does not believe the stories, but Stanley is convinced that Blanche has slept around. Stanley speaks about the other men Blanche has slept with as "school of sharks" because there are so many (126). It would be dangerous for Mitch to expect someone with the reputation of Blanche to be loyal to him. Mitch does not want to marry Blanche anymore because she has a bad reputation.
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