"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.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Streetcar Named Desire: Scenes 4&5
"[Stella has embraced him with both arms, fiercely, and full in the view of Blanche. He laughs and clasps her head to him. Over her head he grins through the curtains at Blanche]" (Williams 84).
The stage direction above is significant because we see a change in Stanley's behavior after he overheard Blanche and Stella's conversation. Stanley is now fully aware of the way Blanche feels about him, and he is acting so affectionate towards Stella in order to spite Blanche. He does not want to give Blanche the satisfaction that she is right about him. He would like to prove Blanche wrong and prove to Stella that he can be a better husband. However, he does not kiss Stella later on in the scene because they are in front of Blanche. This is odd because if he were trying to prove to Blanche that she was wrong about him, he should have kissed Stella in front of Blanche to show his gentle love for Stella rather than his abusive nature.
The stage direction above is significant because we see a change in Stanley's behavior after he overheard Blanche and Stella's conversation. Stanley is now fully aware of the way Blanche feels about him, and he is acting so affectionate towards Stella in order to spite Blanche. He does not want to give Blanche the satisfaction that she is right about him. He would like to prove Blanche wrong and prove to Stella that he can be a better husband. However, he does not kiss Stella later on in the scene because they are in front of Blanche. This is odd because if he were trying to prove to Blanche that she was wrong about him, he should have kissed Stella in front of Blanche to show his gentle love for Stella rather than his abusive nature.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Streetcar Named Desire: Scene 1
"Since the earliest manhood the center of his life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it, not with weak indulgence, dependently, but with power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens. Branching out from this complete and satisfying center are all the auxiliary channels of his life, such as his heartiness with men, his appreciation of rough humor, his love of good drink and food and games, his car, his radio, everything that is his, that bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer" (Scene 1, p. 25).
This stage direction gives insight to Stanley's personality, in which we are able to see that he is a man that is driven by sexual influence. Stanley's desire for "pleasure with women" determines his actions. The other aspects of his personality are deemed less significant. Stella and Blanche discuss that Stanley does a great deal of traveling, and Stella misses him while he is gone. Stella's love for Stanley is evident during their conversation, but it is not possible to see if Stella's love is reciprocated. Because Stanley travels a lot and focuses his attention on "pleasure with women," we can question Stanley's love for Stella and whether or not he may have cheated on her during his travels.
This stage direction gives insight to Stanley's personality, in which we are able to see that he is a man that is driven by sexual influence. Stanley's desire for "pleasure with women" determines his actions. The other aspects of his personality are deemed less significant. Stella and Blanche discuss that Stanley does a great deal of traveling, and Stella misses him while he is gone. Stella's love for Stanley is evident during their conversation, but it is not possible to see if Stella's love is reciprocated. Because Stanley travels a lot and focuses his attention on "pleasure with women," we can question Stanley's love for Stella and whether or not he may have cheated on her during his travels.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Great Gatsby Essay Topic
Although Tom and Daisy are depicted as successful, have they accomplished the American Dream?
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