"After I left you, those boys came in there and took my milk. That's what they came in there for. Held me down and took it. I told Mrs. Garner on em. She had that lump and couldn't speak but her eyes rolled out tears. Them boys found out I told on em. Schoolteacher made one open up my back, and when it was closed it made a tree. It grows there still." pg 19-20
Sethe is beaten by Schoolteacher's two nephews. They leave a scar on her back in the shape of a tree which reminds her in the present day about all the bad memories and terrible things that happened while being a slave at Sweet Home. This tree on her back represents the pain of her past which is constantly following her. The emotional and physical scars caused by Schoolteacher continually plague Sethe, who, before Beloved returned was engaged in a constant battle with keeping those memories at bay, for the good of herself, and the good of Denver.
Showing posts with label By Adrienne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label By Adrienne. Show all posts
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Did Sethe Do the Right Thing?
"And if she thought anything, it was No. No. Nono. Nonono. Simple. She just flew. Collected every bit of life she had made, all the parts of her that were precious and fine and beautiful and carried, pushed, dragged, them through the veil, out, away, over there where no one could hurt them. Over there. Outside this place, where they would be safe." pg 192
Sethe was concerned about her children's safety and she figured by trying to kill them she was doing the right thing so they wouldn't have to be slaves once they grew up. She wanted the best for her children and she knew if they were to live they wouldn't have been safe. This is significant because the murder of her daughter in the 1800s was looked at as an act of self defense rather than an illegal thing to do. Although Paul D disagrees with Sethe's decisions, she knows that as a mother she did the right thing for her children, in order to protect them.
Sethe was concerned about her children's safety and she figured by trying to kill them she was doing the right thing so they wouldn't have to be slaves once they grew up. She wanted the best for her children and she knew if they were to live they wouldn't have been safe. This is significant because the murder of her daughter in the 1800s was looked at as an act of self defense rather than an illegal thing to do. Although Paul D disagrees with Sethe's decisions, she knows that as a mother she did the right thing for her children, in order to protect them.
Is Beloved Back?
"A fully dressed woman walked out of the water. She barely gained the dry bank of the stream before she sat down and leaned against a mulberry tree. All day and all night she sat there, her head resting on the trunk in a position abandoned enough to crack the brim in her straw hat. Everything hurt but her lungs most of all. Sopping wet and breathing shallow she spent those hours trying to negotiate the weight of her eyelids." pg 60
After Paul D scares the ghost off from the house at 124, this is the first time Beloved has been mentioned. However, now she is a human being rather than a spiritual figure. Beloved being "sopping wet" symbolizes the rebirth of her character like when a baby is delivered from its mother's womb. If Sethe's daughter, Beloved, would have been alive she would have been nineteen years old just like the young lady lying against the stump in front of the house. It is later believed in the story that the human figure of Beloved is actually Sethe's deceased daughter coming back to life.
After Paul D scares the ghost off from the house at 124, this is the first time Beloved has been mentioned. However, now she is a human being rather than a spiritual figure. Beloved being "sopping wet" symbolizes the rebirth of her character like when a baby is delivered from its mother's womb. If Sethe's daughter, Beloved, would have been alive she would have been nineteen years old just like the young lady lying against the stump in front of the house. It is later believed in the story that the human figure of Beloved is actually Sethe's deceased daughter coming back to life.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
What Caused the Crash?
"Twenty years before the crash of KAL 801, a Korean Air Boeing 707 wandered into Russian airspace and was shot down by a Soviet military jet over the Barents Sea...Then, two years later, a Korean Air Boeing 747 crashed in Seoul. Two accidents in two years is not a good sign. Three years after that, the airline lost another 747 near Sakhalin Island, in Russia, followed by a Boeing 707 that crashes in 1989 in Tripoli and Seoul, and then another in 1994 in Cheju, South Korea." (179-180)
-Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers
In the chapter, "The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes," Gladwell talks about how plane crashes were more likely to occur depending on the pilots cultural background. In Avianca flight 052, the plane didn't crash due to any problems of the aircraft, airport, or pilots. The plane crashed because it "had run out of gas." (186) When referring to the plane ran out of fuel, it was not because the plane did not have enough fuel to get from Columbia to New York, however the cause of the crash was fuel exhaustion. (186) The crash that killed seventy-three out of the 158 passengers, could have been prevented if there wasn't a lack of communication between the pilot (Laureano Caviedes) and co-pilot (Mauricio Koltz), and between Koltz and Air Traffic Control (ATC). Koltz mentioned to ATC that they were "running out of fuel" (193), but that phrase has no meaning to ATC as all planes start to run low on fuel when approaching their destinations. Caviedes was ordering Koltz, "Tell them [ATC] we are in an emergency!" (193) But Koltz did identify that there was an emergency.
Why would a pilot put so many lives at risk? Gladwell uses the term "mitigate speech" to describe why Koltz acted they way he did during this extreme situation. Mitigate speech "refers to any attempt to downplay or sugarcoat the meaning of what is being said." (194) Koltz felt inferior to ATC, he was trying to be polite, but in a situation that Koltz was in one can not use mitigate speech, instead he should have said "Listen, buddy. I have to land." (202) However, this did not happen because Koltz was Colombian and he saw himself as a subordinate. (207) He did not think he had any authority to tell ATC what to do. When Koltz advised ATC that his plane was running low on fuel he felt that he had offended those in the control tower.
-Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers
In the chapter, "The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes," Gladwell talks about how plane crashes were more likely to occur depending on the pilots cultural background. In Avianca flight 052, the plane didn't crash due to any problems of the aircraft, airport, or pilots. The plane crashed because it "had run out of gas." (186) When referring to the plane ran out of fuel, it was not because the plane did not have enough fuel to get from Columbia to New York, however the cause of the crash was fuel exhaustion. (186) The crash that killed seventy-three out of the 158 passengers, could have been prevented if there wasn't a lack of communication between the pilot (Laureano Caviedes) and co-pilot (Mauricio Koltz), and between Koltz and Air Traffic Control (ATC). Koltz mentioned to ATC that they were "running out of fuel" (193), but that phrase has no meaning to ATC as all planes start to run low on fuel when approaching their destinations. Caviedes was ordering Koltz, "Tell them [ATC] we are in an emergency!" (193) But Koltz did identify that there was an emergency.
Why would a pilot put so many lives at risk? Gladwell uses the term "mitigate speech" to describe why Koltz acted they way he did during this extreme situation. Mitigate speech "refers to any attempt to downplay or sugarcoat the meaning of what is being said." (194) Koltz felt inferior to ATC, he was trying to be polite, but in a situation that Koltz was in one can not use mitigate speech, instead he should have said "Listen, buddy. I have to land." (202) However, this did not happen because Koltz was Colombian and he saw himself as a subordinate. (207) He did not think he had any authority to tell ATC what to do. When Koltz advised ATC that his plane was running low on fuel he felt that he had offended those in the control tower.
CAVIEDES: What did he say?
KLOTZ: the guy is angry. (208)
Gladwell explains something called the Power Distance Index (PDI) which refers to attitudes of an individual and how much a particular culture values and respects authority. Koltz, being a Colombian, had a high PDI. This meant that although he was the co-pilot of the Avianca, he felt that he was unable to speak up if he saw a problem or saw a bad decision that was made. Koltz felt this way because he had an inferior position on the aircraft. "But he's using his own cultural language, speaking as a subordinate would to a superior." (207)
David Greenberg, from Delta Air Lines, was brought in to help Korean Air with their flight operations. His first step to achieve this airlines success was to evaluate the pilots English skills. His second step was that to have a firm take over the company's training and instruction programs. (218) This firm made sure that every pilot who wanted to keep their job at the company was fluent in the English language. "Their problem was that they were trapped in roles dictated by the heavy weight of their country's cultural legacy." (219) Greenberg was trying to give these pilots a chance to improve their communications skills which allowed them to transform their relationship to their work.
"When we understand how much culture and history and the world outside of the individual matter to professional success - then we don't have to throw up our hands in despair at an airline where pilots crash planes into the sides of mountains. We have a way to make successes out of the unsuccessful." (220) David Greenberg did a wonderful thing for this airline, he changed the style of these pilots. Instead of feeling inferior, they now take initiative, take charge in the role they play, and they do not wait for someone to direct them; they just do it.
The Hard Work Will Pay Off
"They learned the same lesson that Alex Williams would learn nearly a century later - a lesson crucial to those who wanted to tackle the upper reaches of a profession like law or medicine: if you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires." (151)
-Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers
"The Three Lessons of Joe Flom," is a chapter the explains the relationship between the success and hard work of an individual. Gladwell tells a story about a Jewish immigrant, Louis Borgenicht, who moved to New York with his wife (Regina Borgenicht) and their child, with enough money that would only last them a few weeks. (139) Once Louis and his family got settled in an apartment, he started walking the streets during the day to look for a job that would pay for his rent. Louis tried selling fish, towels, tablecloths, notebooks, bananas, socks and stockings. None of which would be able to feed his family of three plus a newborn on the way. Louis continued to walk the streets until he found something that was unique and no one had been selling already. It soon came to him, "It was clothes." (140) Louis was good at making clothes, which made him determined to find a piece of clothing that people were wearing but that wasn't being sold. "One of the girls [playing hopscotch] was wearing a tiny embroidered apron over her dress...he had never seen one of those aprons for sale." (141) Louis then went home and started making and selling aprons with Regina, until he started hiring immigrants to work for him, and then he became his own boss. (149) If the hard work being done has a relation between effort and reward, it is independent and creative, and it has a level of difficulty, the hard work is meaningful. (149-150)
Although one may have a lot of work to do at one point in time, if that individual works hard and pushes themselves for that time being, their hard work will pay off in the end. As grade twelve students, I think everyone of us can relate to this as our workload does get overwhelming at times but it is just going to prepare us in our future.
-Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers
"The Three Lessons of Joe Flom," is a chapter the explains the relationship between the success and hard work of an individual. Gladwell tells a story about a Jewish immigrant, Louis Borgenicht, who moved to New York with his wife (Regina Borgenicht) and their child, with enough money that would only last them a few weeks. (139) Once Louis and his family got settled in an apartment, he started walking the streets during the day to look for a job that would pay for his rent. Louis tried selling fish, towels, tablecloths, notebooks, bananas, socks and stockings. None of which would be able to feed his family of three plus a newborn on the way. Louis continued to walk the streets until he found something that was unique and no one had been selling already. It soon came to him, "It was clothes." (140) Louis was good at making clothes, which made him determined to find a piece of clothing that people were wearing but that wasn't being sold. "One of the girls [playing hopscotch] was wearing a tiny embroidered apron over her dress...he had never seen one of those aprons for sale." (141) Louis then went home and started making and selling aprons with Regina, until he started hiring immigrants to work for him, and then he became his own boss. (149) If the hard work being done has a relation between effort and reward, it is independent and creative, and it has a level of difficulty, the hard work is meaningful. (149-150)
Although one may have a lot of work to do at one point in time, if that individual works hard and pushes themselves for that time being, their hard work will pay off in the end. As grade twelve students, I think everyone of us can relate to this as our workload does get overwhelming at times but it is just going to prepare us in our future.
Almanac Advantage
"It is those who are successful, in other words, who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success. It's the rich who get the biggest tax breaks. It's the best students who get the best teaching and most attention. And it's the biggest nine- and ten-year-olds who get the most coaching and practice." (30)
-Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers
In the novel Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains that the success of a person is derieved from their culture,community, family, and generation. in the first chapter "The Matthew Effect," Gladwell studies the months in which professional athletes and students are born and how their birth dates relate to their superior skills and intelligence. At a young age there is a significant difference, with respect to maturity and size (29), for when a child is born at the beginning of the year versus being born at the end of the year. In sports and academics young children are divided up into groups depending on their skill and aptitude. the children born in the first few months of the year are favoured by being chosen for a rep squad (24) or bring put into an advanced learning class (28). This is because "in preadolescence, a twelve-month gap in age represents an enormous difference in physical maturity," (24) and "it locks children into patterns of achievement and underachievement, encouragement and discouragement, that stretch on and on for years."(28)
It is quite astonishing how much of an impact our culture has on deciding which individuals have a better possibility of succeeding. It is amazing how such a great percent of our population has a disadvantage in activities because of what month they were born in. This pattern also continues through postsecondary education as 11.6% of the youngest groups of students are under-represented in their classes. (29) Gladwell states that "students who attempt suicide are also more likely to be born in the second half of the school year." (29) This is because during exam time there is usually a build up of work which sometimes leads to poor school performance which can also lead to depression and suicide. (29)
The first chapter of this novel illustrates that there is a lot more to becoming successful other than being a hard worker and having determination. Although Canada is known for being a country where everyone is equal to one another, the way our society selects an individual to allow them to become successful is ultimately biased.
-Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers
In the novel Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains that the success of a person is derieved from their culture,community, family, and generation. in the first chapter "The Matthew Effect," Gladwell studies the months in which professional athletes and students are born and how their birth dates relate to their superior skills and intelligence. At a young age there is a significant difference, with respect to maturity and size (29), for when a child is born at the beginning of the year versus being born at the end of the year. In sports and academics young children are divided up into groups depending on their skill and aptitude. the children born in the first few months of the year are favoured by being chosen for a rep squad (24) or bring put into an advanced learning class (28). This is because "in preadolescence, a twelve-month gap in age represents an enormous difference in physical maturity," (24) and "it locks children into patterns of achievement and underachievement, encouragement and discouragement, that stretch on and on for years."(28)
It is quite astonishing how much of an impact our culture has on deciding which individuals have a better possibility of succeeding. It is amazing how such a great percent of our population has a disadvantage in activities because of what month they were born in. This pattern also continues through postsecondary education as 11.6% of the youngest groups of students are under-represented in their classes. (29) Gladwell states that "students who attempt suicide are also more likely to be born in the second half of the school year." (29) This is because during exam time there is usually a build up of work which sometimes leads to poor school performance which can also lead to depression and suicide. (29)
The first chapter of this novel illustrates that there is a lot more to becoming successful other than being a hard worker and having determination. Although Canada is known for being a country where everyone is equal to one another, the way our society selects an individual to allow them to become successful is ultimately biased.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The New Is The Same As The Old
"I'm not saying that there's nothing new in literature: I'm saying that everything is new, and yet recognizably the same kind of thing as the old..." (p. 23)
Northrop Frye uses this quote to further explain how two books may have completely different story lines, such as Huckleberry Finn and Moby Dick, but remain similar through the characters, their adventures, and their tragedies. This supports Frye's opinion that literature is very repetitive and rhythmic. (p. 26) I strongly agree with Frye's outlook because many classic novels of different genres share the same concepts whether it be fantasy, mystery, romance, or others. They all follow the same basic structure: an introduction to the main characters, the teaching of life lessons and important morals, and a happy ending or tragic conclusion. The idea that all books generally share a common format, while each creating a unique story of different characters and settings, further reinforces Frye's earlier assertion that literature is constant and maintains its value indefinitely.
Northrop Frye uses this quote to further explain how two books may have completely different story lines, such as Huckleberry Finn and Moby Dick, but remain similar through the characters, their adventures, and their tragedies. This supports Frye's opinion that literature is very repetitive and rhythmic. (p. 26) I strongly agree with Frye's outlook because many classic novels of different genres share the same concepts whether it be fantasy, mystery, romance, or others. They all follow the same basic structure: an introduction to the main characters, the teaching of life lessons and important morals, and a happy ending or tragic conclusion. The idea that all books generally share a common format, while each creating a unique story of different characters and settings, further reinforces Frye's earlier assertion that literature is constant and maintains its value indefinitely.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Literature Will Never Progress
"Literature doesn't evolve or improve or progress." (p. 9)
In Northrop Frye's first lecture, "The Motive for Metaphor", he explains how science is continuously changing and progressing where as "literature doesn't evolve or improve or progress." (p. 9) Frye supports his opinion by stating that a current physics student would be more advanced than Newton. Although Newton was a pioneer in his time, he would fall far behind in today's studies of science due to the many advancements and novel discoveries the field has since witnessed. In contrast, literature does not posess the same capacity to evolve as the sciences do. Frye explains that any era may have the aptitude to create plays such as King Lear and Oedipus Rex (p. 10), but none will ever compare to the legacy of these stories. Despite being written thousands of years ago, these plays are still valued in today's society through continuous efforts to recite them, interpret them, and comprehend them. Northrop Frye and David McCullough both encourage their audience to read literature of any kind because the morals and life lessons that they offer are timeless. McCullough states that, "even the oldest book is brand new for the reader who opens it for the first time," indicating that literature written in the past can still be read by modern audiences. The ability of today's readers to appreciate classic literature is possible because "literature doesn't evolve or improve or progress."
In Northrop Frye's first lecture, "The Motive for Metaphor", he explains how science is continuously changing and progressing where as "literature doesn't evolve or improve or progress." (p. 9) Frye supports his opinion by stating that a current physics student would be more advanced than Newton. Although Newton was a pioneer in his time, he would fall far behind in today's studies of science due to the many advancements and novel discoveries the field has since witnessed. In contrast, literature does not posess the same capacity to evolve as the sciences do. Frye explains that any era may have the aptitude to create plays such as King Lear and Oedipus Rex (p. 10), but none will ever compare to the legacy of these stories. Despite being written thousands of years ago, these plays are still valued in today's society through continuous efforts to recite them, interpret them, and comprehend them. Northrop Frye and David McCullough both encourage their audience to read literature of any kind because the morals and life lessons that they offer are timeless. McCullough states that, "even the oldest book is brand new for the reader who opens it for the first time," indicating that literature written in the past can still be read by modern audiences. The ability of today's readers to appreciate classic literature is possible because "literature doesn't evolve or improve or progress."
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