California Girl

Anney's burden

2006-05-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

I know that it is not Dorothy Allison's goal that we judge her characters but, I feel angry at the character Anney for her betrayal of Bone.
When Stella chose Stanley over Blanche in Streetcar called Desire, at least she had the excuse of not having witnessed Stanley's crime against Blanche. Stella also has the excuse of not being responsible for Blanche. Blanche is not Stella's child. Anney I find harder to understand because the evidence of her husband's crime is right before her eyes. She witnesses her child beaten and raped and yet, she still chooses her husband the perpetrator of the crime over her daughter. I still have trouble understanding why she chooses to stay with Glen even after she has witnessed him committing such an awful crime.
I think in the end Bone is triumphant because after her mother gives her her birth certificate and essentially sets Bone free, Anney is still left to deal with the consequences of that decision(remaining with Glen).

Bastard out of Carolina

2006-04-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

I think the fact that Bone's mother Annie attempts to get Bones's birth certificate changed is a sign that Annie is looking for legitimacy for herself as well as Bone. Annie is seeking what she considers a good life with a nuclear family. She wants to be respectable. I think this is one of the reasons that she keeps going back to Glen. Glen is from a respected family. His brother is successful and is living a middle class life. I think one of the reasons she is in such denial about the abuse of Bone by Glen is because she knows that she has made a mistake in her choice of man and that he is not going to be able to give her the life she thought he would. Annie is trying to make a bad choice work.

The Presentations

2006-04-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

I found it very difficult to stand up in front of the class and give my presentation. So, I'm glad to have gotten it over with. I loved the Jambalaya. The food and the presentation. I find it very interesting to listen to people talk about things they have discovered for themselves about food and cultural rituals that have been shared with me all my life. My grandmother was born and raised in Macomb, Mississippi and even though I grew up in California, I sometimes feel like a southern gal. I did find myself having a strong reaction to the presentation on rock'n roll. I found it condescending that one of the presenters said that melody and music arrangement was created by europeans and the drums came from african americans. I think people need to remember to be critical thinkers while doing research for their papers, everything you read isn't true.
Gone With the Wind is one of my favorite movies, despite its portrayal of black people. I think Gone with the Wind could be used as an example of early feminism. Most of Scarlett O'Hara's actions were motivated by her survival instincts. I think its interesting that her community resented her for not only survivng but, thriving.

A good man IS hard to find

2006-04-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

My favorite quote from A Good Man is, "she would have been a good woman if someone was around to shoot her everyday."
This quote comes from the Misfit after he shoots the grandmother. I thought this was a very powerful story. It was horrible in the end but, it made a lasting impression. I think that O'conner is trying to warn readers not to wait to find salvation. The Grandmother waited too long to find salvation. So, by the time she realized the revelation of salvation it was too late to share it with her family.

Hot and Humid

2006-03-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

I like the selection of Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando as Stanley and Blance in the movie Streetcar named Desire. Vivien Leigh played Blanche so well I think because of her role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the wind. I like the vulneralbility and the strength that Leigh was able to convey in her portrayal of Blanche, as evidenced by the monologue Leigh gave in which Blanche encouraged Stella not to forget art and poetry.

Steeellllaaaaah

2006-03-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

I think we shopuld be careful not to judge Stella too harshly for choosing to staywith Stanley even after he hits her. It is not an uncommon occurrence. There is a line in the book that says something like, you never know what's between a man and a woman, (I am paraphrasing the sentiment of what was said). When Stanley calls to Stella form the bottom of the stairs after he hits her and she returns to him and comforts him, I found myself relating to her. Of course I in no way condone violence and I've never been beaten or dominated by a man, but I relate to the concept of having an intense connection to someone that no else can quite understand.

California Girl

2006-03-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

I am not a Richard Wright fan. He always portrays black people as reactionary. He only speaks about the black experience in relation to how white people see or treat black people. Reading about Bigger Thomas in "Native Sun" was like watching a wild animal be teased in a large arena. In "Jim Crow" Wright has once again written about the black experience as if the black character is unable to critically think about himself. Wright descibes his main character as only having a sense of self when he has no contact with white people. Wright doesn't spend any time examining the reason why the main character's mother became upset because of his having fought with a group of white boys.

Go Down Moses

2006-02-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

I found "Go Down Moses" to be my favorite of all of the Faulkner stories. It was a straight forward read that was actually very interesting. I was pulled in by the story. I still grit my teeth some when Faulkner refers to the old black woman as the "negress". Faulkner also still places people in stereotypical roles. For example; The grandson raised by his grandmother who comes to a deserved but bad end through violence and the forbearing, ignorant grandmother.
At the end of "Go Down Moses" when the granmother asks that the story of her grandson be put in the paper and the man tells her that she would not be able to read the story anyway, I felt like this emphasized Faulkner's contempt for his black characters.

Delta Autumn

2006-02-22T19:04:00.000-08:00

I found "Delta Autumn" to be a difficult read. As usual Faulkner used twenty words when just ten would do. I freely admit that I did not fully understand the story. Can some one please offer some clarification?

Pantaloon in Black

2006-02-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

William Faulkner's attempt to combat stereotypes through his story "Pantaloon in Black" failed. It failed because Faulkner did not understand the people he was attempting to write about. Faulkner made the mistake a lot of white writers make when writing about black people, he focused so much on them being black that the characters were only black and not fully realized people. This story was difficult for me to read befcause of the illogical behavior of the main character. I was especially upset by the fact that Rider is lynched at the end of the book.

The "N" word

2006-02-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

No matter who is saying it, the "N" word is offensive. I have heard some critics argue that the use of the word by certain authors like Faulkner and Mark Twain, is an attempt to throw the word into the face of racist people and demonstrate to them by using their own language and actions, how ignorant they are.
The word nigger is not easy to ignore in Faulkner's text but, I was still able to appreciate the story being told.

Southern gentlemen

2006-01-27T10:28:00.000-08:00

Kennedy's attempt to make slavery seem like a necessary system that isn't "that bad", backfires completely. Kennedy's depiction of Merriweather as aa indulgent slave owner illustrates the quiet cruelty of slavery. Merriweather speaks of his black servant as if he is less than human. There is no such thing as a kind slave holder. Kennedy in his failed attempt to create one in "Swallow Barn" defeats his own cause.