Lit 216 - Howl

This was one of my favorite readings we did this whole semester. The whole thing was so raw and rough, it seemed like the scrawlings of a madman. But a closer look revealed such beautiful and repulsive descriptions of how Ginsberg saw life. It was abundantly clear that he used drugs and was mentally unstable, but the way Ginsberg used writing to release all these insane feelings was just marvelous. I think this writing was kind of like an abstract piece of artwork, in that not everyone can appreciate it's beauty.

However, in the back of my mind I couldn't help but keep thinking 'howl's moving castle'

Lit 216 - Daddy

I don't really know that, without Sylvia Plath's explanation of what this poem is about, anyone can really know what she's going on about. It seems like she really has some deep dark daddy issues, she keeps referring to him as this nazi overlord. I don't know if she was abused or what her deal is, but it sure seemed to mess her up. I think it's obvious that losing her dad when she was just a little kid really affected her, as it would anyone. But what's strange is that she doesn't have warm sentimental feelings about him. I would imagine most people when they lose their father, especially as a little kid who sees their parents as really awesome, would look back and think fondly of him. I think this poem reflects her life's current stress and trouble with men embodied as her father, rather than how he really was.

Lit 216 - Recitatif

Oh wow I really really really really loved this story. The whole time I was reading it I felt like I was in Twyla's shoes - I could smell everything she smelled, see everything she saw, feel everything she felt. I remember being a little kid at summer camp and being afraid of the "big girls" just like she was. I think this story was really progressive because the fact that their race doesn't seem to make a difference, they are on level ground. I like that she never tells me which girl is which race, because it doesn't really matter. Reading this story was like watching a heart-felt movie about best friends and just made me feel happy inside.

Lit 216 - Going to Meet the Man

This story was extremely unsettling in how Jesse mixed violence and hatred with sexual pleasure. The descriptions and analogies were beautiful but also disturbing; the words were beautiful but the image they portrayed was disgusting. Especially in his description of the man being lynched, with the way the author describe the blade as being so bright and almost brilliant. I felt kind of disgusted with myself when I felt sympathy for Jesse, after seeing how he was brought up and how a little boy had to watch such a horrific thing. Also, the political message that I got was one I've seen in many movies and read in many books. I was taken back to my 6th grade presentation on Martin Luther King and his non violent way of protesting. It really showed how if you don't give someone a reason to hate, a justification, they will hopefully start questioning their actions and generally feel like poop.

Lit 216 - Chicago

This was a poem I'd read before but I certainly didn't mind reading it again. Sandburg's use of personification to describe Chicago as a working man is done very well. When you read this poem you can tell that Sandburg really loved his city and he wanted to defend its name no matter what. It describes chicago as a hard worker, the place where the things everyone needs are built and made. Sandburg says Chicago is tough and raw, unlike eastern cities. He admits that it has flaws but what city doesn't?

Lit 216 - The Storm

I want to start of by saying I think it was super brave of Chopin to write a story like this in her time. Although much of the story has that sort of cheesy romance novel feel to it, it's still revolutionary because women in her time did not talk about these things. I think Chopin dared to tell a story that was realistic but again, was not meant to be talked about. In her time, it was very often that women weren't able to marry the person they really wanted to. I think the fact that there were no real consequences for Calixta's adultery bothered a lot of people. But Chopin understood that this wasn't a black and white situation. Neither Calixta or Alcee had married the person they wanted to be with, they married because of social status, not love. I don't want to condone their adultery but I entirely understand why they would have done it. I really think that their adultery is going to continue based on the foreshadowing done by Alcee writing to his wife to stay away as long as she wants. I also believe that if Alcee and Calixta lived in modern times, they would have been married.

Lit 216 - The Beast in the Jungle

When I was reading this story I really related to the character May Bartram and I think anyone who's been in unrequited love would. I felt such sympathy and sadness for May because over several years she never yielded in her love for John Marcher even when she was dying. The whole time I was reading this I was just wanting May to say something, to come forward with her feelings or for John to realize she loved him. His character was entirely dense and self centered. In the end it was Marcher's loss for never realizing the love of his life before it was far too late. The entire story was pretty bitter and melancholy. Personally I think James is trying to send out a message to people to make sure not to  ignore what they should do in life; what's right in front of them.