Society’s labels often in time confuse an individual’s judgment. Conflict arises between what an individual truly wants and desires for themselves, compared to what society expects from them and pronounces on them o be right and fitting. There are those who this mentality eventually shapes their moral values and believes, and those who work against it to achieve their own independence. Society can only impose its believes, customs, and traditions, however, it relies on an individual if they want to accept and embrace it as a part of their daily living.
“I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (Fitzgerald). Though not serving as a central theme in his selection, the author makes an indirect notion to the views and ideals that woman are subjected to and subject to themselves. It also serves as a demonstration of Daisy’s viewpoint and her character. Based on past and generations of deeply rooted culture, is though as if, females understand their roles before they are even born. Daisy though intelligent if she chooses to be, already places herself in an inferior role before even trying to rise above it. She lounges lazily around the house and views her life to be nothing but boring. This exemplifies the world of women, as when you take a good look into their lives they are rendered as useless. Daisy refers to her hope of her daughter being a beautiful fool. She gives the notion that should a woman be considered beautiful, then it is all she needs to survive in the world of true womanhood. Beauty is the first key to recognition, and daisy made that clear in her statement. Whether a fool or not, her daughter’s beauty will be able to grant her into the same position her mother has. Whether or not Daisy truly believes that she wants her daughter to be a beautiful fool, the fact remains that when she does enter in the matrimony of marriage, her daughter’s intelligence will be looked down on as inferior thus compared to the male dominant figure that she will marry. Daisy lounging on the couch doing zilch shows her submissive to her husband. If her husband requires otherwise, then will her action and gestures shift. Older women such as Daisy does not value women intelligence, as it was not the way societies environment thought her to grow and understand female roles and concepts. Her attitude perhaps gives a glimpse to ways to resurrect her husband’s happiness. This conniving mentality of Daisy, will surely and indeed affect her daughter in the future. Necessity to break free from the cult of true womanhood, and its ideals about being pious, domestic, and submissive, was one of the key factors that led to the bloom and evolution of the 1920’s, especially when woman decided not to be just any woman, but a new woman, who could think for themselves and express their own independence. “That's my Middle West . . . the street lamps and sleigh bells in the frosty dark. . . . I see now that this has been a story of the West, after all—Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I, were all Westerners, and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadoptable to Eastern life.” (Fitzgerald). Survival of the fittest is not strongly rooted in the author’s words, however, the power of wealth and possession paints an the perfect illustration. In his selection the author describes society to entail two groups, which are presented from the West and the East. The east perhaps signifies clues of change that will be occurring within future generation, as it exemplifies, a more fast-pace life style where more values are being lost, and wealth becomes the God of the people as they believe that the more wealth a person has, the more happiness will be claimed as their territory. The West however, seem to already claim this wealth with their aristocratic live styles and desires, and view themselves with the highest values and attitude of others that rank below in society. It even causes them to belittle among each other, as every individual strives in their own selfish way to gain more than their neighbor. However, readers come to the understanding that the author or rather protagonist of the story is much more interested in studying and analyzing the ways of those belonging to the west. This attitude of his proves as no surprise, after all, who wouldn’t want to be on the side that flourishes with everything an entity can dream and wish for.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Bernice Bobs Her Head Response
The willingness for curiosity and change is not all so encouraged with warm hands. Ignorance in a sense can be a sin, and understanding that a bridge needs to be made from the past to the present, shapes a better future for all to come. In Bernice Bobs her Hair by F. Scott Fitzgerald, reader step into a stream of bewilderment that change can be possible even in a time period where culture is heavily and deeply rooted. Readers are introduced to the protagonist of the story who takes them in this humanity of bewilderment, and it is safe to say that this cause of bewilderment does not feel strange nor it is negative. The protagonist opens a new way for beings, especially women, to view themselves in a more potential manner rather than the bondage of culture and traditions expected by them from society.
Those who manage to step over the boundary line and make a leap by jumping over the border are the ones that above everything in the end deserve recognition and have made a significant monument at the end of their existence. It is true based on the author’s text that Majorie “made” Bernice become the new woman that she now was. However, the fact is that the change was not with Majorie, but rather with Bernice. Bernice primary lifestyle exists with the ideals and culture of cult of true womanhood. Having known what this role entails and what it means for a woman to belong in this society, Bernice willingly sat still as the barber took the scissors to her hair. Her willingness is what demonstrates that she was the stronger woman who made a change by going over that border and boundary line of what society labels is expected of women during this time period. Leaping from the ideal of pious, domestic, and submissive, to a metamorphosis of a new woman is a landmark that will not be remembered as Majorie’s achievement and transformation, but rather Bernice’s. “I’ve bobbed it Aunt Josephine.” At some point before Bernice bobbed her hair, she knew it was not going to be easily accepted by her family none the less society. Readers must take not that when the protagonist when to cut her hair, she went to a male barber to bob her hair. Bernice could have guessed the thoughts of the barber and those in the shop for society are bound to ridicule and question actions that they do not understand. For a woman of this time, hair is the symbolism of their beauty and honor. It is what attracts males to them. Their hair in a sense is also their identity for recognition. Bernice’s valor to cut her hair, can be said was more so of a gamble to see whether or not society was brave enough to accept change, or rather feel threaten by those who believe there is a need for change. The protagonist’s bobbed hair also serves as a gamble to test whether other women are willing to make a change in the way they view themselves and allow their souls a chance to be free and make decisions without hindrance.
Those who manage to step over the boundary line and make a leap by jumping over the border are the ones that above everything in the end deserve recognition and have made a significant monument at the end of their existence. It is true based on the author’s text that Majorie “made” Bernice become the new woman that she now was. However, the fact is that the change was not with Majorie, but rather with Bernice. Bernice primary lifestyle exists with the ideals and culture of cult of true womanhood. Having known what this role entails and what it means for a woman to belong in this society, Bernice willingly sat still as the barber took the scissors to her hair. Her willingness is what demonstrates that she was the stronger woman who made a change by going over that border and boundary line of what society labels is expected of women during this time period. Leaping from the ideal of pious, domestic, and submissive, to a metamorphosis of a new woman is a landmark that will not be remembered as Majorie’s achievement and transformation, but rather Bernice’s. “I’ve bobbed it Aunt Josephine.” At some point before Bernice bobbed her hair, she knew it was not going to be easily accepted by her family none the less society. Readers must take not that when the protagonist when to cut her hair, she went to a male barber to bob her hair. Bernice could have guessed the thoughts of the barber and those in the shop for society are bound to ridicule and question actions that they do not understand. For a woman of this time, hair is the symbolism of their beauty and honor. It is what attracts males to them. Their hair in a sense is also their identity for recognition. Bernice’s valor to cut her hair, can be said was more so of a gamble to see whether or not society was brave enough to accept change, or rather feel threaten by those who believe there is a need for change. The protagonist’s bobbed hair also serves as a gamble to test whether other women are willing to make a change in the way they view themselves and allow their souls a chance to be free and make decisions without hindrance.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Martin Luther King Analysis
II. Rhetorical Structure: Figures of Speech
1. alliteration: use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verseallusion: An instance of indirect referencemetaphor: a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblancesimile: A figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as
2. “Five score years ago” is an allusion to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation freeing negroes from the hands of their slave owner, yet 100 years later the African American community is not truly free and still suffer from injustice.
3. Life, liberty and pursuit for happiness allude to the declaration of independence. Jews and Gentiles allude to the bible.
4. Alliteration- Sweltering shadow, Sweltering summer
5. Metaphor- “Let us not satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
6. Simile- “Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
7a. Metaphor with the enhancement of imagery
7b. It gives a divine opportunity to bring the audience and the speaker to a level of understanding of racism. It also serves a purpose in reaching the subconscious mind and brings to life the abstractness of segregation an discrimination.
7c. Despite all the battle fought, and all the lives lot for this pursuit of freedom for African Americans, justice still remains in the shadow of their existence. 100 years later and the fight for equal rights is being fought as though for the first time.
8. Let freedom ring, With this faith
9. It brings to life the vision of his dream. The level to how passionate and repeated it is through his text also signifies his desire of pursuit that indeed this dream will come true.
10. Illustrations of a future dream and believe painted through Dr. King’s speech enhances his believe of a better and brighter day. Of all his creative images of a new day, description of demonstrating little black boys and black girls walking hand in hand stands out as the most righteous. 100 years before, that was the dream of the Negroes who thought were free from the bondage of captivity. 100 years after, the negroes still find themselves in the same predicament. Knowing this should be a discouragement, however, King still preaches this notion of a new beginning for future generation. Though children of different race didn’t walk in hand in the past, and are not in the present, he still prophesies for the future.
III. Understanding the Dream
1. Nothing is impossible for those who are willing to behold. Life doesn’t offer all its pleasant ideals and opportunities in a handful and allows all inhabitants to take part in. However, it gives to all those who are willing to make the step and strive to take the blessing and fruitfulness in that handful of opportunities and ideas. Though all created under the same sun and moon, judgment lays in the eyes of the beholder, and from these beholders result those they consider outcasts. However, the outcast can always rise and take the lead in anything they put their minds to. In the battle of race, discrimination, and suffering injustice, dreaming a brighter day is the remedy for all those in captivity. Dwelling in the past and hatred resurrects pain, but willingness of a change makes everything anew.
2. Police brutality, and beatings, as well as persecution
3. The American dream exemplifies what many have come to believe accompanies happiness. It’s evaded with so much glory that it lacks to speak of its downfalls. Though many escape to pursue this dream however, it fails to mention that with this dream comes pain accompanying and tears.
4. In every corner of the U.S lies states that are also victims of injustice. By naming all these states, it gives readers a brighter sense to see the vast population and people suffering from discrimination.
5. A cry for help is eventually heard when it reaches the ears of the people. King’s speech was a vast cry for his people, thus anyone in the crowd would have been easily affected. The fact that it was a cry for the audience, makes it all so attentive to the ears of the listeners.
IV. Relating to the dream
1. A hindrance and enslavement that keeps the mind in an embodiment that it cannot raise from captivity.
2a. Hatred doesn’t fail to infect every part of the body. Once it touches the mind, it fails no other mental state of its victim. King said in his speech that his people should not drink from the cup of hatred. His words serve as evidence from the action of the ku Klux clan. Whether their actions were wrong or just, it was dominated by hatred, thus ruling their hearts and causing them to do the things that they did.
2b. Hatred mixed with more hatred blooms an endless filled of destruction. It devastates. Responding with violence meant the loss of lives and the loss of lives meant that by the time the African American community had reached their aim of freedom, there will be none of them alive to enjoy it.
3. Ignorance is a sin, and one thing future generation lack to demonstrate is their sense of ignorance. Future generations are aware of what persecution and destruction brings upon the land and its people. They are quite aware of the nature of allowing oneself to fall in the hands of hatred and deceit. Thus, groups such as the “skin heads” have no power.
4. King’s dream has bloomed to what is viewed beautiful in the eyes of the African American community. There is a saying in the bible that even in the grave Jesus was still God as he was able to resurrect on the third day as he said he would. Even in the grave, King’s dream continues to live in the life of future generations. You don’t have to see works of action, its even noticeable in the eye of those who share the same believe as King. The death of an individual is no necessary the death of his dream. As long as that dream is instilled in those who will move on and believe with the same fire and believe as the original dreamer, Nothing is ever lost, but will continually be gained.
1. alliteration: use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verseallusion: An instance of indirect referencemetaphor: a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblancesimile: A figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as
2. “Five score years ago” is an allusion to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation freeing negroes from the hands of their slave owner, yet 100 years later the African American community is not truly free and still suffer from injustice.
3. Life, liberty and pursuit for happiness allude to the declaration of independence. Jews and Gentiles allude to the bible.
4. Alliteration- Sweltering shadow, Sweltering summer
5. Metaphor- “Let us not satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
6. Simile- “Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
7a. Metaphor with the enhancement of imagery
7b. It gives a divine opportunity to bring the audience and the speaker to a level of understanding of racism. It also serves a purpose in reaching the subconscious mind and brings to life the abstractness of segregation an discrimination.
7c. Despite all the battle fought, and all the lives lot for this pursuit of freedom for African Americans, justice still remains in the shadow of their existence. 100 years later and the fight for equal rights is being fought as though for the first time.
8. Let freedom ring, With this faith
9. It brings to life the vision of his dream. The level to how passionate and repeated it is through his text also signifies his desire of pursuit that indeed this dream will come true.
10. Illustrations of a future dream and believe painted through Dr. King’s speech enhances his believe of a better and brighter day. Of all his creative images of a new day, description of demonstrating little black boys and black girls walking hand in hand stands out as the most righteous. 100 years before, that was the dream of the Negroes who thought were free from the bondage of captivity. 100 years after, the negroes still find themselves in the same predicament. Knowing this should be a discouragement, however, King still preaches this notion of a new beginning for future generation. Though children of different race didn’t walk in hand in the past, and are not in the present, he still prophesies for the future.
III. Understanding the Dream
1. Nothing is impossible for those who are willing to behold. Life doesn’t offer all its pleasant ideals and opportunities in a handful and allows all inhabitants to take part in. However, it gives to all those who are willing to make the step and strive to take the blessing and fruitfulness in that handful of opportunities and ideas. Though all created under the same sun and moon, judgment lays in the eyes of the beholder, and from these beholders result those they consider outcasts. However, the outcast can always rise and take the lead in anything they put their minds to. In the battle of race, discrimination, and suffering injustice, dreaming a brighter day is the remedy for all those in captivity. Dwelling in the past and hatred resurrects pain, but willingness of a change makes everything anew.
2. Police brutality, and beatings, as well as persecution
3. The American dream exemplifies what many have come to believe accompanies happiness. It’s evaded with so much glory that it lacks to speak of its downfalls. Though many escape to pursue this dream however, it fails to mention that with this dream comes pain accompanying and tears.
4. In every corner of the U.S lies states that are also victims of injustice. By naming all these states, it gives readers a brighter sense to see the vast population and people suffering from discrimination.
5. A cry for help is eventually heard when it reaches the ears of the people. King’s speech was a vast cry for his people, thus anyone in the crowd would have been easily affected. The fact that it was a cry for the audience, makes it all so attentive to the ears of the listeners.
IV. Relating to the dream
1. A hindrance and enslavement that keeps the mind in an embodiment that it cannot raise from captivity.
2a. Hatred doesn’t fail to infect every part of the body. Once it touches the mind, it fails no other mental state of its victim. King said in his speech that his people should not drink from the cup of hatred. His words serve as evidence from the action of the ku Klux clan. Whether their actions were wrong or just, it was dominated by hatred, thus ruling their hearts and causing them to do the things that they did.
2b. Hatred mixed with more hatred blooms an endless filled of destruction. It devastates. Responding with violence meant the loss of lives and the loss of lives meant that by the time the African American community had reached their aim of freedom, there will be none of them alive to enjoy it.
3. Ignorance is a sin, and one thing future generation lack to demonstrate is their sense of ignorance. Future generations are aware of what persecution and destruction brings upon the land and its people. They are quite aware of the nature of allowing oneself to fall in the hands of hatred and deceit. Thus, groups such as the “skin heads” have no power.
4. King’s dream has bloomed to what is viewed beautiful in the eyes of the African American community. There is a saying in the bible that even in the grave Jesus was still God as he was able to resurrect on the third day as he said he would. Even in the grave, King’s dream continues to live in the life of future generations. You don’t have to see works of action, its even noticeable in the eye of those who share the same believe as King. The death of an individual is no necessary the death of his dream. As long as that dream is instilled in those who will move on and believe with the same fire and believe as the original dreamer, Nothing is ever lost, but will continually be gained.
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