Peer Blog: Landon's Blog

PEER BLOG (LANDON'S BLOG):

The Namesake and The Overcoat

These two stories need to be brought together when. Both are about transformation and the failure of each character to be able to successfully do so. We see in both stories and instant where they work for a particular goal; i.e. a legal name change in one story and a new cloak in the other. In both stories the main character gets to that goal only to have it be less fulfilling than they had hoped. Throughout the rest of both stories, our characters struggle to find their true identity when in fact they already have it. They are simply not happy with what they have become and where they have come from. There are many parallels throughout both stories thank link the two of them together. I think that the ultimate failure of finding that identity truly defines both characters. It really shows them what they already know.

MY RESPONSE:

I like your response, in that I agree that both characters try so hard to find themselves, when in fact they already possess who they are. In class, we stated the specific differences between an overcoat and a name; however, your general and broad distinctions make it easier to understand. In addition, the transformation you are referring to is clearly depicted in both, as Gogol yearns to find love and completion in his life away from his family traditions, whereas Akakiy yearns to be included. Both of these result in failure, as you said, because they fail to recognize that who they want to be is right in front of them. For example, Gogol should embrace his differences in his Indian culture and try to find a girl, rather than trying to live in two separate worlds; whereas Akakiy should find community with people in his workspace, etc. regardless of whether they are poor or wealthy.

Peer Blog: Mimi's Blog

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

The Kite Runner

Currently, we are reading/watching the novels "The Kite Runner," and "A Thousand Splendid Suns". Both films talk about the relationships between children and their parents. "The Kite Runner" discusses the relationship between fathers and sons and "A Thousand Spledid Suns" talks about the relationships between mothers and daugthers. All the while, both novels also intergrate the culture of Afghanistan and the government during this time. I think it is interesting that we have been reading stories that give us insight into how other cultures work and live and it really has given me a new understanding of these cultures. "The Kite Runner" focuses on a young boy named Amir, and his relationship with his father and with his childhood friend Hassan. Amir is a timid boy, who can be seen as weak and delicate, like the way that one might describe a young girl. His father hates this because his father is a strong business man and wants his son to follow in his footsteps and be a strong-willed, competive young man. However, whenever Amir finds himself in a situtation like older boys coming up to him and threatening him or picking on him he remains quiet and doesn't stick up for himself doesn't try to fight the boys or scare them off. In contrast, Hassan always has Amir's back, and is always protecting the both of them and sticking up for Amir in these situations. For example after him and Amir won the kite race, Hassan when to go catch the kite as a souvoneir for Amir. A group of older boys corner him and attack him in a corner and threaten him in order to try to get him to hand over the kite, but he refuses out of loyalty to Amir. Consequentially, The olders boys rape young Hassan, which impacts him harshly, but he never says a word about it to Amir. However, Amir witnessed the whole thing but acted like he never did and from that day on he started treating Hassan like an enemy. Up until this point I had thought they were friends.

MY RESPONSE:

I agree, the insight into different cultures has truly made me appreciate other people's cultures in addition to my own. The father/son and mother/daughter relationships are a great way for the audience to adapt and better understand the books because it is most likely easier for them to relate. The courageous Hassan is seen, as almost "better" than Amir, whereas according to the culture it should be the opposite since Hassan is a Hazara. Overall, this unequal spectrum illustrates to the audience that it does not matter what position one is in society, because we mostly all have the same capabilities to be who we want to be and do what we want to do. The horrific situation of Hassan and the older boys was terrible and thus drastically changed their friendship. The hatred Amir depicted on Hassan seemed like guilt that he was never able to express to anyone. This is one of my favorite books because it truly comes full circle and gives Amir another chance "to be good again."

Peer Blog: Kelsey P.

PEER BLOG (KELSEY P.)

Guevera's Motorcycle Diaries

Motorcycle Diaries exemplifies to characteristics of a buildungsroman by serving as a "coming of age" story of Ernesto Guevara. During the course of the novel, Guevara transforms from a 22-year-old, sheltered medical student to a mature, serious adult. Guevara grows psychologically, morally and socially throughout various encounters with people and places. One such experience is when he meets the Communist couple in the Chilean desert. Guevara and Granado had been traveling for a long period of time without food, water or rest. Upon meeting the couple, they are relieved. However, they soon realize that the couple is in worse condition than they are. The following day, Ernesto is exposed to poverty of the indigenous peasants who are all searching for work. Guevara is appalled at the treatment of workers. This is the first instance that makes a noticeable change in Guevara. Furthermore, Guevara is changed psychologically during his visit to Macchu Picchu. He wonders how the highly advanced culture gave way to the urban sprawl of Lima. In addition, Guevara's visit to the leper colony alters his outlook on life most drastically. He sees the physical and symbolic division of society and strives to close the gap. All of these encounters with social injustice transform the way Guevara sees the world and motivates his later political activities as a revolutionary.

Plan: 8000 km in 4 months
Name of motorcyle: La Ponderosa (The Mighty One)
Travelers: Ernesto Guevara & Alberto Granado
Chichina: Ernesto's Girlfriend

"You gotta fight for every breath, and tell death to go to hell."
-Ernesto says this to Silva (patient at the leper colony)

MY RESPONSE:

This entry has great insight into Guevera's Motorcycle Diaries and clearly exemplifies Ernesto's buildungsroman throughout the film. The specific example of the Communist couple looking for work was a great turning point in the movie, in addition to their visit to Macchu Picchu and the leper colony. The overall experiences with social justice and this idea of closing the gap truly represents what Ernesto stands for, and thus foreshadows his future career as a revolutionary. Lastly, the quote he says to the dying patient at the leper colony, ""You gotta fight for every breath, and tell death to go to hell," depicts his courage and never-ending fight to stand up for himself and what he believes in. For example, he becomes a part of the leper community rather than treating them as outcasts, he lashes out at the mine managers for mistreating the workers, for telling the man that he had cancer rather than sugarcoating it, and lastly when he truthfully told the author that he did not like his story. Ernesto is strong and his actions are the reason he is so influential and became a powerful revolutionary leader.

Peer Blog: Isabella's Blog

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Monday, November 7, 2011

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

Garcia Marquez wrote this as part of a book of short stories, originally aimed towards children. Here are some of the characters from the story:

Old Man/Angel- fell to the Earth one day. Is very old and has crappy looking wings that don't work. Is held captive by Pelayo and Elisenda who make a ton of money off of him. It is never found out if he was actually an angel, as believed.

Pelayo- the husband; originally concerned but then exploits the angel

Elisenda- wife; comes up with idea to charge admission to see the old man in the coop. Is relieved when he "flies" out of her life

Father Gonzaga- doesn't believe the old man is an angel; sends word to higher religious authorities to check out the man

Neighbor woman- she "knows everything" about life and death; suggests the old man was an angel on his way to pick up Elisenda's sick child and take him to heaven

The spider girl- turned into a "spider" for sneaking out of the house one night; becomes carnival attraction and takes away the old man's attention.

Though there are many interpretations, I believe that Marquez wrote this simply as an entertaining children's story filled with magic-realism elements. He meant it to be a moral fable to teach children a lesson. A major theme was uniqueness. The old man with wings is NOTHING like the townspeople. He speaks a different language and has enormous wings growing out of him. He also just fell out of the sky one day, mysteriously. Instead of treating him with respect, the townspeople harass him for his uniqueness and see him as an object, an animal to exploit for the own well-being.
Marquez wants to teach the children reading the story to embrace people for being different, not condemn then. Marquez recognizes that not everyone is the same, and he wants to ensure children understand and love everyone.

MY RESPONSE:

I truly admire your view that Marquez wrote these stories for a purpose to teach children a lesson. It is a great way to look at it because so often people overanalyze and sometimes miss the message in the story. The idea that the angel is nothing like the rest of the community (communication and appearance) is accurate and clearly depicts why he does not fit into society. In addition, the portrayal of him as an animal is also accurate as the townspeople poke him and throw things at him, while he is locked up in a cage, and "was the only one who took no part in his own act (Marquez 2)." In conclusion, the insight in magic realism includes the mystery behind the story and the idea that this would most likely not occur in today's world. Another idea is the topic of human nature. This is where the audience views their own nature and how it reacts to life's miracles, thus the treatment of the angel is understood through human nature. Some characteristics of human nature include attention, for example the more the spider girl interacted with the people the more attention and food she received, and also the ungratefulness, such as when Elisenda was elated to see the angel leave even though she received much profit because of him.

Che Guevera's "Motorcycle Diaries"

Che Guevera-- Motorcycle Diaries

Guevera, while most famous for his affiliation with Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro, was born and raised in Argentina in 1928.  He was of Spanish, Irish, and Basque descent.  He was an avid reader of ecclectic texts and was a medical student at the University of Buenos Aires in 1948.  He was almost finished with his medical studies when he and his friend, Ernesto, went on a journey that would change the trajectory of Che's life.  During this journey, Che and Ernesto meet a number of various people that start to shape Guevera's political ideology and desire to unify South America as one America. 

Motorcycle Diaries is often considered a buildungsroman, which is a term coined during the German Enlightenment that simply means "a coming of age" story.  A buildungsroman is also similar to what one might know as an identity plot where the protagonist comes to learn who they are--their identity.  Will will further discuss an identity plot and buildungsroman in class so consider the following question after we have the appropriate notes.

Questions to Consider:

1. How do you see Guevera's trip a buildungsroman--what does he learn about himself along the way and how does he react and grow as a person?

Guevera's trip definitely exemplified a buildungsroman as it shaped him to become the person he was. At the age of 22, Guevera (Ernesto) set out on a journey with his uncle (Alberto Granado) and their motorcycle (La Ponderosa) across South America. A few examples from the movie  where he depicts this include:  when he sees the man with the lump on his neck and tells him it is cancer, whereas Alberto tries to lower the diagnosis so they could stay for the night; next when they met a communist couple whom was suffering, as he secretly gave them the money his girlfriend gave him for when he reached America; when he honestly criticizes the book and thus gains more respect from the writer, whereas Roberto immaturely told him what he wanted to hear just because he had done so much for them; and lastly in the leper society, where when even the nuns were superior, he said they should not be treated differently and thus shook their hands, played "football" with him and they showed their appreciation as they brought him lunch the day he was not served.

2. Do you think Guevera could've made a greater impact on the world by going home and finishing his medical studies and serving as a doctor, or by following the political path of a revolutionary?

He could have gone back home and still made a significant difference; however, I think he was called to be a part of a revolutionary and thus an advocate for others.

Peer Blog: Mia's Blog

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Saturday, November 19, 2011:

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Characters:
Okonkwo -  An influential clan leader in Umuofia. Since early childhood, Okonkwo’s embarrassment about his lazy, squandering, and effeminate father, Unoka, has driven him to succeed. Okonkwo’s hard work and prowess in war have earned him a position of high status in his clan, and he attains wealth sufficient to support three wives and their children. Okonkwo’s tragic flaw is that he is terrified of looking weak like his father. As a result, he behaves rashly, bringing a great deal of trouble and sorrow upon himself and his family.

Nwoye -  Okonkwo’s oldest son, whom Okonkwo believes is weak and lazy. Okonkwo continually beats Nwoye, hoping to correct the faults that he perceives in him. Influenced by Ikemefuna, Nwoye begins to exhibit more masculine behavior, which pleases Okonkwo. However, he maintains doubts about some of the laws and rules of his tribe and eventually converts to Christianity, an act that Okonkwo criticizes as “effeminate.” Okonkwo believes that Nwoye is afflicted with the same weaknesses that his father, Unoka, possessed in abundance.

Ezinma -  The only child of Okonkwo’s second wife, Ekwefi. As the only one of Ekwefi’s ten children to survive past infancy, Ezinma is the center of her mother’s world. Their relationship is atypical—Ezinma calls Ekwefi by her name and is treated by her as an equal. Ezinma is also Okonkwo’s favorite child, for she understands him better than any of his other children and reminds him of Ekwefi when Ekwefi was the village beauty. Okonkwo rarely demonstrates his affection, however, because he fears that doing so would make him look weak. Furthermore, he wishes that Ezinma were a boy because she would have been the perfect son.

Ikemefuna -  A boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village. Ikemefuna lives in the hut of Okonkwo’s first wife and quickly becomes popular with Okonkwo’s children. He develops an especially close relationship with Nwoye, Okonkwo’s oldest son, who looks up to him. Okonkwo too becomes very fond of Ikemefuna, who calls him “father” and is a perfect clansman, but Okonkwo does not demonstrate his affection because he fears that doing so would make him look weak.  

Mr. Brown -  The first white missionary to travel to Umuofia. Mr. Brown institutes a policy of compromise, understanding, and non-aggression between his flock and the clan. He even becomes friends with prominent clansmen and builds a school and a hospital in Umuofia. Unlike Reverend Smith, he attempts to appeal respectfully to the tribe’s value system rather than harshly impose his religion on it.

Reverend James Smith -  The missionary who replaces Mr. Brown. Unlike Mr. Brown, Reverend Smith is uncompromising and strict. He demands that his converts reject all of their indigenous beliefs, and he shows no respect for indigenous customs or culture. He is the stereotypical white colonialist, and his behavior epitomizes the problems of colonialism. He intentionally provokes his congregation, inciting it to anger and even indirectly, through Enoch, encouraging some fairly serious transgressions.

Uchendu -  The younger brother of Okonkwo’s mother. Uchendu receives Okonkwo and his family warmly when they travel to Mbanta, and he advises Okonkwo to be grateful for the comfort that his motherland offers him lest he anger the dead—especially his mother, who is buried there. Uchendu himself has suffered—all but one of his six wives are dead and he has buried twenty-two children. He is a peaceful, compromising man and functions as a foil (a character whose emotions or actions highlight, by means of contrast, the emotions or actions of another character) to Okonkwo, who acts impetuously and without thinking.

The District Commissioner -  An authority figure in the white colonial government in Nigeria. The prototypical racist colonialist, the District Commissioner thinks that he understands everything about native African customs and cultures and he has no respect for them. He plans to work his experiences into an ethnographic study on local African tribes, the idea of which embodies his dehumanizing and reductive attitude toward race relations.

Unoka -  Okonkwo’s father, of whom Okonkwo has been ashamed since childhood. By the standards of the clan, Unoka was a coward and a spendthrift. He never took a title in his life, he borrowed money from his clansmen, and he rarely repaid his debts. He never became a warrior because he feared the sight of blood. Moreover, he died of an abominable illness. On the positive side, Unoka appears to have been a talented musician and gentle, if idle. He may well have been a dreamer, ill-suited to the chauvinistic culture into which he was born. The novel opens ten years after his death.

Obierika -  Okonkwo’s close friend, whose daughter’s wedding provides cause for festivity early in the novel. Obierika looks out for his friend, selling Okonkwo’s yams to ensure that Okonkwo won’t suffer financial ruin while in exile and comforting Okonkwo when he is depressed. Like Nwoye, Obierika questions some of the tribe’s traditional strictures.

Ekwefi -  Okonkwo’s second wife, once the village beauty. Ekwefi ran away from her first husband to live with Okonkwo. Ezinma is her only surviving child, her other nine having died in infancy, and Ekwefi constantly fears that she will lose Ezinma as well. Ekwefi is good friends with Chielo, the priestess of the goddess Agbala.

Enoch -  A fanatical convert to the Christian church in Umuofia. Enoch’s disrespectful act of ripping the mask off an egwugwu during an annual ceremony to honor the earth deity leads to the climactic clash between the indigenous and colonial justice systems. While Mr. Brown, early on, keeps Enoch in check in the interest of community harmony, Reverend Smith approves of his zealotry.

1.  How could Okonkwo killing Ikemefuna anger "The Earth" even though the Oracle ordered Ikemefuna's death? - it was like killing his own son (Okonkwo treated him like his own son). Okonkwo was, maybe, flollowed Ikemefuna to comfort him in someway and to kill him fast to make him not suffer so much. Obierika said, "but if the Oracle said that my son should be killed i would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it."
2. What is the significance of the story of the tortoise in chapter 11? - (Proverbs) to teach lessons for kids. with shells; "life falls apart but we can always put it together."
3. What is the significance of Okonkwo killing the son of Ezeudu at Ezeudu's "Worriori Funeral?" - it was a crime of the Earth God. female crime vs. male crime; "we are not strong enough to commit the big crime like male can (accidentally killed)" vs. "Okonkwo killed him on a special day and beat his wife on a special day."
4. How does the exile of Okonkwo to his Motherland limit him in leadership during the introduction of the white missionaries? - i think that Okonkwo doesn't have any power. his uncle has the knowledge that Okonkwo doesn't have and his uncle treated him a child who still needed to learn more.
5. If Okonkwo had not been exiled to his Motherland in Mbanta, how do you think his Fatherland village of Umuofia would have responded to the missionaries and their one God philosophy had the great warrior Okonkwo been there to help make village decisions? - Okonkwo is the fighter and if he had not been exiled then people in the village might have been stuck with the order of Okonkwo, going to the war, maybe.

Posted by Minyoung Lanty at 12:51 PM

MY RESPONSE:

This response is very detailed, especially with the characters. With Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart it is very important to understand the different characters and culture so one can truly comprehend the story. A few things I would add are its parallel to William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" such as when it states, "the falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold..." thus depicting the lack of foundation in the Igbo culture. The culture had no proof to validate their beliefs, for instance the python, whereas the Christian church seemed to have support to back their claim to faith. All of the Igbo's beliefs are from authority figures, which end up falling apart because there needs to be a root or foundation not just a belief, because just as a building needs support, so does a culture. In response to this poem, Achebe wrote his story to clear up some misconceptions about the culture in addition to providing a more accurate portrayal.

                Okonkwo yearned to be the lords of the clan, and when he had nearly achieved it his world started to "fall apart." This led to, "Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women (Achebe 2937)." The pain and weakness translated to the inequality when viewing men as better than women.

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Both stories are told during changing political leadership and external and internal conflict.  The Afghan king of 40 yrs, King Zahir Shah was overthrown in a bloodless coup in 1973 by his coursin, Daoud Khan. In 1978, a communist coup then overthrew and killed Daoud Khan.  The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, occupying it and maintaining rule by war until 1989 when they were driven out by the anti-communist Mujahideen (you may remember from Charlie Wilson's War that America was covertly involved in funding and arming the Mujahideen as part of its Cold War policy).  The Mujahideen created civil strife until the Taliban then gained control in 1996. The US and its allies, after the 9-11 attacks in 2001, sought to drive out the Taliban.  In 2004, Afghanistan adopted a new constitution and elected a president and women were allowed to vote.


Questions for the Kite Runner:

·         Compare/contrast Amir and Hassan. What is Amir’s problem? What are Hassan’s strengths? Are they friends?

Amir is part of the wealthy society in Kabul because his father, Baba, is one of the richest and most giving Pashtun men in their Wazir Akbar Khan town; whereas Hassan is a "harelipped Hazara" and he (and his father)  acts as a servant to Amir and his father. Growing up Amir's father and Hassan's father were best friends, which parallels the continued tradition of Amir and Hassan being best friends, despite the different class levels of society. Amir's problem is that he never feels as good as Hassan, thus feels weaker and that he will never live up to his father's expectations. Hassan's strengths are that he is smart, courageous and strong. They are both friends though Amir soon becomes jealous of Hassan.

List the steps in Amir’s redemption. What does he do “to be good again”?

There are many things Amir has guilt about, having Hassan respect him so much to be raped in order to bring him the winning kite, and the fact that he was so cruel to him afterwards. Later on in Amir's life, he receives a phone call from Rahim Khan (a great nurturing figure in his youth) who tells him that Hassan's father, Ali, was killed in a land mine and the Taliban later killed Hassan when he refused to surrender his home to them. He also says that Hassan has a son named Sohrab, which can help Amir "to be good again" if he helps him. Rahim Khan says that it was found that Ali was not Hassan's father, rather Baba was, thus making Hassan and Amir half-brothers; though Amir is angered by the news, Rahim Khan tells him he needs to rescue Sohrab from an orphanage in Kabul. Amir travels back to Kabul and witnesses the destruction that is left and as he goes to the orphanage, he finds that Sohrab is not there, but that he was sold to a man. This man is later found to be Assef, the bully whom tortured and raped Hassan.  Assef beats and rapes Sohrab and even makes him dress in women's clothes as he is forced to be their servant and dance for Assef and his followers. As Amir goes to rescue him, Assef says he would only give him back if he could beat up Amir; he agrees and as the abuse was beginning Sohrab pulls out a slingshot and shoots Assef's left eye. This parallels his father's bravery of standing up to Assef and defending Amir when they were younger. Amir later adopts him as he slowly becomes accustom to his new life and shows happiness only on the day when Amir took him to fly kites, thus completing the circle of the kite runner.

·         One of the issues of the story is the relationship of fathers and sons. Discuss one event that illustrates something about father/son relationships

This is issue is consistent throughout the novel, as seen in Amir and his father, Hassan and his father and even Assef and his father. One specific example is when Amir's father constantly compares Amir to Hassan and even states that Amir needs to be more like Hassan. Also, on Hassan's birthday they go to a kite store and he gets to pick any kite he wants, whereas for Amir's birthday he has a huge celebration at his house that in the end means nothing to Amir, rather it is just to depict their wealth.

Lahiri's "The Namesake"

Lahiri's Namesake

Questions to consider as you read/study:

·         What would you say are some emerging themes or issues from your reading of Chs 1- 3?

In chapters 1-3, there are many significant events that occur, such as the mother and father moving to America, Gogol's birth (with name ceremony, etc.) and lastly when they move to Boston, Sonia is born and Gogol takes a field trip to  a cemetery. Themes in these chapters include transition, circle of life, and unity.

·         We read Nikolai Gogol’s story “The Overcoat” earlier in the course, and it figures importantly in Lahiri’s The Namesake. In what ways is it related to The Namesake? In what ways is a name like an overcoat?

An overcoat depicts status, can represent one's confidence, and can hide one from society. This is seen in Nikolai Gogol’s “The Overcoat” as Akakiy is an outcast in his old overcoat; however, once he finds the money to get a new one, he is treated like a new person and is invited to a party. This status increase for him takes him from his dark and impoverished streets to lit wealthy neighborhoods of joy and celebration. Gogol in Lahiri’s The Namesake does not realize until he is older how much the name means to his family, especially his father, thus does not show great appreciation; in fact, he shows strong dislike to the name.

·         As you read Chs 7, 8, and 9 and if you had to pick just one event, what would you say is the central event of each chapter?

The central event in chapter seven would be the death of his father and the sadness it brings to his family, especially his mother. This also depicts a change of heart for Gogol as he becomes reconnected with his family and less interested in his love life with Maxine. The central event in chapter eight would be the meeting of Moushumi and the interactions they shared, such as the awkward first date, and the hat that was so expensive that he eventually bought for her later. This changed Gogol to conform because he was confused, and wanted to follow tradition and since she was Indian he though she was the right one to marry. The central event in chapter nine is at Moushumi's friends' party as they are boggled over Gogol's name as they insultingly ask him how his parents thought of that name, which makes him feel apart from society even more.

·         When was the last time Nikhil/Gogol saw his father? What rituals do Bengalis practice related to death?

The last time Gogol saw his father, he was currently dating Maxine, and it was before his father left for his teaching job. This is where his father told him the meaning behind his name as he stated, "you remind me of everything that followed (Lahiri 124)." The rituals Bengalis practice include going back to India and spreading the ashes, in addition to a ceremony (held at their house)  to celebrate the person's life.

·         Take note of another letter – remember the one early in the story that got lost – and another random event – Moushumi discovers the letter on the first day of the semester while trying to help out by sorting the mail. The name on the envelope, as Moushumi will later say, is the person who will help her wreck her marriage. What do you make of her decision to call Dimitri?

Her thought foreshadowed her actions, and since she felt so strongly about him and the burning temptation that she had, I do not think it was appropriate for her to call him. It could have possibly been acceptable if Gogol, her and Dimitri went for dinner, that way Gogol could keep a close eye on her. I do not agree with her actions, because though her intentions may seem good, she knew from the start that it was not going to end well.

·         Many significant moments for the Ganguli family occur on the train. Discuss one event that occurs on the train and its significance (leave other events for others to discuss and avoid repeating events that others have already pointed out).

One specific event is at the start of the novel when Gogol's father is on a train that suddenly crashes and explodes. Though the train is blown to smithereens and there are many dead, Ashoke manages to survive with the Nikolai Gogol’s “The Overcoat” in his hand. A rescue team recognizes him because he moves the book, thus they see him struggling to survive. This scene shapes the entire book, as it is the origin for his son's name and is why his father depicts every day as a gift.

"A very old man with Enormous Wings" and "Yellow Woman"

Native and Latin American Texts

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Marquez is perhaps most noted for his writing style described as "magical realism" -

"Magical realism expands the categorizes of the real so as to encompass myth, magic and other extraordinary phenomena in Nature or experience which European realism excluded" (Gabriel García Márquez, eds. Bernard McGuirk and Richard Cardwell, 45).

   

"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" demonstrates Marquez's ability to tell a fairy tale or folk tale in a realistic manner while incorporating the magic of the angel. The angel is the catalyst for the family's recovery from destitution. Before the arrival of the angel, they are a simple, poor family with a dying son. Once the angel is captured, the son recovers and the family uses the angel for financial gain. Marquez shows us true human nature. An incredible being falls to the Earth and the humans use it to make a fast buck. Eventually, the family grows to resent the angel and they wish it would vanish. Instead of the simplistic, happy ending of the ordinary fairy tale, the characters are allowed to exploit Nature until it flies off without a word. Consequently, the angel is never allowed to fulfill his destiny which was to take the soul of the dying child.

"She kept watching him even when she was through cutting the onions and she kept on watching until it was no longer possible for her to see him, because then he was no longer an annoyance in her life but an imaginary dot of the horizon of the sea" (210).

Questions to Consider:

A number of years after "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" was published, a movie was made for Spanish television based on the story with the screen play written by the story's author.  The movie begins with a biblical quote from Hebrews 13:2:  "Be careful when you entertain strangers as you may be entertaining angels unawawares."  The movie ends with a shot of the old man taking off his wings.  Does knowing this context contribute to or possibly change your interpretation of his written text?

This Bible quote definitely contributed to the text because so often people, especially outcasts in society, are judged based on their appearance before one gets the chance to know and understand who they truly are, and are unaware of  their meaning (example: the angel). This parallels a possible theme for the story, being the selfishness of people and to "not judge a book by its cover." When the "very old man with enormous wings", or "the angel" arrive he is automatically seen as an outsider, because of his lack of communication with the people, thus he is placed into a cage by Pelayo and Elisenda where he remains as people stare and poke at him, as though he was an animal. Another "outside attraction" came when the "spider girl" who was apparently struck by lightning comes and takes some of the fame from the angel, only because she is a newer "object" to look at.  Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" truly depicts that one should not profile people just because they are different from the norm of society.

Leslie Marmon Silko

Is from a Pueblo Native American community where gender roles were often reversed.  Yellow Woman often assumes a role traditionally associated with men, exhibity courage in the world reserved for male action.  At the same time she embodies an aggressive sexuality, also considered masculine behavior, but with a traditonal object of female desire--a strong sexy male.

The Yellow Women tales generally have two components:

·         female fantasies in which the wider sphere of male activity and the admired qualities related to it are appropriated by the woman and . . .

·         her desire for sexual freedom is given voice

Silko's "Yellow Woman" is also considered to be an addition to the many yellow woman and kachina stories in Native American literature.  In these stories, a woman is abducted by a kachina, a nature spirit and/or trickster figure, but she does eventually return home.  In Silko's story, a modern woman goes for a walk along the river where she meets a stranger and seems to participate in a yellow woman story, reminiscent of the stories she heard from her gradfather as she grew up.

Questions to Consider for Silko's text:

1.        What happens to the narrator in "Yellow Woman"--is it reality, fantasy, or something else?

The narrator has such a strong influence with the stories of the yellow woman that she assumes the role in the story portrayed in "Yellow Woman" by Leslie Marmon Silko. She becomes so enthralled in the story that she pictures herself in control of what happens to her, so she can adapt it to the stories her grandfather told her. It seems to be a fantasy because, though she is on the outskirts of Laguna Pueblo (Native American) societies and it seems normal for her to be away from her family, as she returns at the end of the story and goes back to her family as if nothing had happened.  In addition, the Yellow Woman is supposed to protect the Pueblos with her great courage and her open sexuality, which does not occur.

2.        How do the characters of "Yellow Woman" possess both the roles of male and female archetypes (prime examples)?

In Silko's "Yellow Woman", the male and female characters clearly play their role as typical of their gender. Beginning with the narrator (round or dynamic character), she takes all that she has heard from her grandfather and tries to turn it into a reality, just as a modern day girl might try to become a princess. The grandfather (flat character) depicts the stereotypical role of comfort in his stories, as they are meant to have lifelong lessons. Silva, the man whom she believes is the ka'tsina (static character), also depicts this role as he strong urges her to do what he wants, which even causes her to ask, "do you do this to all the girls." This Native American tale has another spectrum that is opened with these characters.

3.        Who is the story of Yellow Woman about?--Silva, the narrator, the culture?  Explain why.

I believe the story is beyond the idea of Silva and the Yellow Woman, but rather to make a point that women are strong, which is often the focus of Native American stories. In addition, it posed the ideas of a story to help one better understand Native American lessons.

Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Post-Colonialism

We will watch a few film clips about this in class and after reading the novel, discuss if you think his apology was enough when compared to Achebe's text.

Some questions to consider:
As we see in Part I of Things Fall Apart, the Ibo culture was centuries-old and well functioning before the coming of the Europeans. Point out 3 or more aspects of the culture that we can admire.

What do you think of Okonkwo?

Yeats' "The Second Coming"

TURNING and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? 

My Response:

The great story of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart consist of three parts helps the audience comprehend the story but perhaps more importantly understand the time period.  The first part is the umuofia, or the idea that things are in place (for example Okonkwo is a good representation of culture), the second part is mbanta, or things are out of place, specifically through Okonkwo's exile, and lastly umuofia, when all things fall apart. There are many characters in this book including:

·         Okonkwo -central character

·         Unoka -Okonkwo's father

·         Nwoye -Okonkwo's oldest son (of first wife)

·         Ikemefuna -Okonkwo's "adopted" son

·         Ekwefi-okonkwo's second and probably favorite wife

·         Ezinma- Okonkwo's and Ekwefi's daughter

·         Nwakibie- an elder who gives Oknonkwo his first seed yams, to start his new life

·         Obierka- Okonkwo's best friend, though they are opposites

·         Ezeudu- an elder who gives Okonkwo advice about Ikemefuna

·         Uchendu- Okonkwo's uncle

·         Mr. Brown- a British missionary

·         Rev. Smith- a British missionary

·         District Commissioner- a British government official and judge

                Overall, Achebe depicted Okonkwo as corresponding to the situation of the culture at that time and in addition as a strong individual faced with tough situations. For example, when he kills his adopted son, Ikemefuna because of the tribe's rules and when he beats his wife during peace week he is describing the mbanta where things are out of place. Lastly, as all things fall apart, he is exiled for seven years after killing a tribe member at a ceremony and comes back to exclusion and the lifestyle everyone had without him, thus leading him to commit suicide. This exile was to his motherland, which brings a comparison between the lands he lived in, his father's (Umuofia), versus the exile to the motherland (Mbanta). The motherland is more passive and comforting, whereas the fatherland is filled with strength and great struggle. It is also important to recognize the cultures before and after the Europeans invaded. This Igbo culture has attributes that make them a great society of people such as: making their own houses and growing their own food, having stories to teach life lessons (example: the tortoise), and the dedication to keep to their routine lives.

                Lastly, comparing it to Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" and Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart showed similarities and differences with these texts, specifically because Things Fall Apart was written as a response to Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Yeats' poem depicts his view that history will just repeat itself. An important line in the poem is, "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned," which illustrates the innocence of the constant killings, but perhaps more importantly the spread of Christianity and the innocence of the culture that is being destroyed and challenged. Next, Joseph Conrad who was a steamboat captain during the colonization of Africa wrote a novel depicting the hardship; however, he did it as an apology. It is said that Conrad is racist as he use all tribes together and describes them as primitive, or "unhappy savages." Though I do not encourage this language, it is possible that Conrad was sincerely trying to be apologetic, however just used the language around him, thus making him sound ignorant.