The Catcher in the Rye: Criticism

Holden Caulfield is one if those people who seems like he can never be wrong. Or, he believes that he can never be wrong. This, and the view he takes of the world is why he is so extremely critical if it and everyone in it. He criticizes it, but the thing is, Holden criticizes himself too. He seems to be completely honest with what he perceives of the world, though it is always critical and demanding. For example, Holden goes to see a show and his reaction is, "After the Christmas thing was over, the goddamn picture started. It was so putrid I couldn't take my eyes off it." This is a show that someone somewhere probably worked very hard on, but Holden holds no appreciation for it. Everyone else around him seems to be really enjoying themselves except Holden. This is something that irritates me about Holden's character. No matter how honest he seems or intellectual, he is critical to a fault. What gives Holden the right to see the wrong in very person and every aspect of life and society?  However, Holden can see it, and when he explains the reasoning behind his omnipresent cynicism, it usually makes some concrete sense. It seems that J.D. Salinger is speaking out toward society and conformity through Holden.

The Carhcher in the Rye: Voice

One particular reason why the character of Holden seems so fascinating is because he seems so real. His thoughts are deep and thought provoking and real. He sees things about real life situations and then convey them in a new light. One way he seems more real to me is the voice that J.D. Salinger gives him. Phrases like, "Cor Chrissake" and "it really killed me" are so common that I developed a familiarity with Holden's voice. He uses "goddamn" so often as an adjective that I almost start saying it automatically in my head before words. Then there is his favorite adjective to describe people he knows. Holden always says "old so-and-so". For example, " 'Now listen,' old Sally said..." or, " 'Shut up,' old Maurice said, and fave me a shove." Holden talks like a real person and he thinks like a real person, a very different and intellectual person. He uses this intellect to pose questions to everyday life and common societal flaws. At the same time, he is very bizarre, which frankly makes the internal dialogue of his thoughts all the more interesting.

The Catcher in the Rye: Alienated

At first, I thought that this book would be about the character of Hokden and his growth an development form a troubled youth to a more mature being. He was clearly a rebel in the beginning of the novel, breaking all sort of rules and getting kicked out of school. However, Holden surprises me and becomes even more if a rebel as the novel continues. He goes to Nee York and blows all his money, he drinks and smokes, he bickers with everyone, and more and more speaks out instead of keeping his criticisms all inside his thoughts. I think this novel is more of a call for social reform rather than just a story about a rebellious youth named Holden. Holden sets a prime example of truly observing society and seeing it's man faults, rather than simply conforming to the norm. Holden asks questions of things I normally take for granted. Take, for example, his argument with Sally when he proposed running away and she tells him he can't, he replies, "Why not? Why the hell not?" I can't decide whether Holden's outlooks is more complicated or less than the average person. It is more complicated because he asked questions about everything. However, it is less complicated because the questions he asks are regarding why the ridiculous complicated lives that we live are even necessary.

The Catcher in the Rye: Phonies

A huge theme of J.D. Salinger's A Catcher in the Rye u Holden's point of view and criticisms if various societal trends. One such trend that Holden finds particularly irritating is when people are "too good" at something. As I discussed in an earlier blog, Holden is extremely perceptive of his environment. Because of this, he is annoyed byte flaws that he sees in society that others don't seem to realize. For example, these people who seem to be "too good" Holden refers to as "phonies", like Ernie the piano player or the ivy league boy from the theatre. He thinks they are fake, and I am beginning to realize what he means by this. People who no longer derive the simple pleasure from their skill, but seek gratitude in the praise from others is fake pleasure in that act.

The Catcher in the Rye: Lonely

Holden mentions frequently that he is either lonely or depressed, "I wasn't sleepy not anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all. I almost wished I was dead." First of all, the fact that wishing he was dead was only considers "sort of lousy" to Holden is concerning. But the point is that Holden doesn't seem to really have anyone to always count on as a companion. He had the boys at school, but didn't show any particular attachment to any of them. He also has his family, especially his sister whine he references a lot, but he is away at school all the time and hardly sees them. Apparently he hardly speaks to them either because they don't know that he was kicked out of school. He talks about his older brother, but he lives in Holleywood, on the opposite end of the country. Then there is his younger brother Allie who died of leukemia. Holden speaks of Jane Gallager all the time as well, but clearly hasn't spoken to this old friend in a while due to the fact that he was so shy thy he refused to say hi to her when she came for her and Stradlater's date. All in all, Holden is a very lonely person which explains a lot in regards to his apparent strides for attention, like flunking out of school and breaking all the rules like lying about his age, smoking in the rooms, and drinking underage. Holden says he wishes he was dead sometimes, and I really hope that this book leads to some development in morale for Holden.

The Catcher in the Rye: Conscience

Being the narrator of the story, Holden's conscience is revealed through his thoughts and the situations that he experiences throughout the novel. He ha a very strange conscience because he doesn't necessarily feel bad about failing out of school multiple times, or judgin people, or cursing all the time, but he is very conflicted when I comes to his thoughts about sexuality, and his actions with girls. He obviously has a strange conscience if he was willing to pay to have a whore come to his room, but then conflicted enough to pay her to simply sit and talk with him. He says, "Sex is something I really don't understand too hot. You never know where the hell you are. I keep making these sex rules for myself, and then I break them right away." Holden's style seems to be quite impulsive. He makes decisions and takes actions and then analyzes those thoughts an actions later. Possibly, that might just be the way this book seems because Holden is writings retrospectively about himself. Though sex and girls aren't the only things that Holden had as struggle with, he thinks about them quite a lot. I think this is because he also thinks of Jane Gallagher often, and he is attracted to her, so the two are obviously connected.

The Catcher in the Rye: Detail

Holden pays great attention to detail, as seen in the way he describes both things and people. He notices and talks about the most trivial things, often connecting them back to a past memory or some other anecdote. This is the reason for the somewhat random stream of thoughts that make up this novel. Holden's thoughts jump from one topic to another once he has perceived a detail that sparks another thought, sometimes returning to the original train of thought and sometimes not. For example, while thinking about Jane Gallagher, Holden begins, "I remember this one afternoon..." and leaps into a story of he and Jane. Holden's attention to detail is very helpful, coming from the standpoint of the reader, because his thoughts and perceptions are the narration of the novel. Therefore, whatever Holden notices about a person is the information the reader knows about that character. For example, apparently, "She was a funny girl, old Jane. I wouldn't exactly describe her as strictly beautiful. She knocked me out though. She was sort of muckle-mouthed..." This also reveals something of Holden's character as well, as an honest and attentive person.

The Catcher in the Rye: Jane Gallagher

I'm starting to realize why Holden was so mad at his roommate for joking about having sex with Jane Gallagher; he is in love with her. Or he likes her very much, at least. According to Holden, he and Jane had spent a summer in Maine together  and had grown very close. Holden says, "She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, with al the poems written on it." This seems like quite a big deal because I'm sure this mitt means a lot to Holden. It had belonged to his brother, whom he loved very muc judging by the way and frequency of how he talks about him.  Holden brings up the mitt quite a lot too, showing it's importance. He thinks about Jane more than either one of them though; and this makes sense because she is a living being that he can really interact with. It seems strange; however, that after close the two seem to be after that summer, Holden wouldn't simply go say hello to her in the lobby before she and Stradlater went on their date. In his thoughts, he say they were best friends, and possibly even more. He sees and knows so much about her, but he is too hy to go speak with her? This makes me curious about their relationhip. They might have had a falling out or maybe just haven't spoken in a while. The rest of the book will hopefully reveal this mystery.

Dover Beach

Mathew Arnold takes an interesting approach and four stanzas in order to get his point of the poem Dover Beach across. The prior three stanzas are necessary to the main idea though. Arnold begins by describing three bodies of water, the English Channel, Aegean Sea, and Sea of Faith. The description of the English Channel brings forth the idea of sorrow and "human misery", which is continued with a comparison to the Aegean Sea, emphasizing the eternal quality of this human misery. The Sea of Faith is then used to express the decrease in faith, "but now I only hear it's melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, refresting." This poem is very depressing up to this point, but takes a sharp turn in the fourth stanza. The entire poem is about the tragedies and miserable qualities of life. However, Arnold presents a solution to this problem. "Ah, love, let us be true to kne another! For the world.." He says that despite the horrible qualities of this world, they, he and his lover, can face them together.

GO HOOSIERS!

Sorting Laundry

Of all the poems form this unit, this poem seemed the easiest to comprehend. Elisavietta Ritche begins the poem by comparing laundry with her relationship with her lover. She says, "Folding clothes, I think of folding you intk my life." This makes perfect sense to me. Developing a relationship is much like folding someone into your life. They become part of that life, folded and entangled in everything. The extended metaphor continues to compare various pieces of clothing with aspects of the relationship. "Pillowcases, despite so many washings" expresses the fact that the couple has been together for a while. "So many shirts and skirt and pants recycling week after week, head over heels" says that the couple is still very much in love. However, despite the current healthy state of the relationship, thinking about anything too much can allow someone to find a flaw. This speaker thinks back on an old relationship in which she apparently was left by her lover and then with a sharp change in mood if the poem expresses, "if you were to leave me... A mountain of in sorted wash could not fill the empty side of the bed."

I taste a liqueur never brewed

I am familiar with Emily Dickensin's poems being a little strange, but this one seemed particularly confusing upon reading it for the first time. However, after analyzing the poem more, Dickenson's way of describing the intoxicating feeling that nature can bring is very clever. She says, "Inebriate of air I am", literally meaning drunk off if the air and figuratively meaning the whimsical state that natures beauty brings her mind. I can personally relate to this "Inebriatstion". I went in summer field studies this last summer, an I know that there is no feeling like the high that such pure beauty can bring. Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time or witnessing the awesome view after climing a mountain is simply indescribable. The aspen of the Seraphs and saints in her poem is also very interesting, especially that the approve of her drunken state, "Till Seraphs swing their snowy hats and Saint to windows run". However, this makes perfect sense. She is appreciating Gods gift of nature, so the Saints look down in approval.

The Convergence of the Twain

Thomas Hardy's The Convergence of the Twain is a very different take on the familiar tragic tale of the Titanic. Instead of the common view of sympathy for all those passengers that suffered the ultimate price for their ticket in the magnificent voyage, he takes a much more aversive view. Twain's view is that in fact, the ship decided her own fate when she was created ultimately in human vain. The poem states, "The immanent Will tht stirs and urges everything prepared a sinister mate." He is saying that the Titanic's fate, from the moment she was created, was destined to crash into the iceberg. To me, this essentially means that the ship had it coming, along with all of the passengers. This seems really harsh, especially considering the horrible occurance that was the sinking of the Titanic. However, he also makes a good point. The "vaingloriousness" mentioned in the poem was definitely present. The ship wa created as extravagant as possible, with the intention to only impress the world. In the end, this led to her downfall.

My Mistress' Eyes

I liked My Misstress' Eyes by William Shakespeare because it is the first work I have read so far in this unit that has a happy ending.  The beginning of the story is very critical of women, as has been a common theme throughout this gender unit.  The speaker of the poem says, "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red..." Essentially, the speaker continues in this way, pin pointing a number of his mistress' flaws. He says her eyes aren't that pretty, even coral is more red than her lips, her hair is like wire, her breath smells bad, etc.  All of these criticisms gave me the impression that this poem was about, once again, a man displeased with the imperfections of a woman, a woman who yet again cannot fill all of the demands placed on her by stereotypes and society. However, the poem ends quite nicely.  The speaker says, " And yet, by heave, I think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare." The speaker is saying that despite all of these imperfection he can find about his mistress, he loves her.  His love for this woman is rare because he loves her for all of the negatives that he can see along with the good. This is a happy ending.

Barbie Doll

This poem deals with a common theme of the stereotypes of woman as perfectly pretty and kind, like a Barbie Doll.  This comparison to a Barbie doll I have heard many times, because the problem of being compared to such an unrealistically image of a woman is a legitimate problem in contemporary society. this poem fits nicely into the gender unit because it deals with such a widespread issue among women. I don't at all mean to preach, but to explain my point of view on this subject in relation to this poem.  In the beginning of Barbie Doll, Marge Piercy discusses toys that young girls are often given to play with. Among the ones that she mentions are a doll, a stove, and an iron.  How ironic.  Even as babies, girls are taught to have a perfect body and to grow up to cook and clean for men.  I'm not at all a "feminist" as one might describe this view, but there is no doubt that these toys are not sexist.  Furthermore, the poem discusses the issue with the expectations of the physical appearance of women.  "She was healthy, tested intelligent", this statement tells of a beautiful woman, inside and out.  The poem continues, however, "Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs." This statement is consistent with society because people truly look past inner beauty to criticize those who don't fit the impossible mold of a "Barbie Doll". Finally the girl in this poem kills herself because she has tried so hard to fit this impossible stereotype, and can't.  She dies in the effort of making herself "perfect".  This is the ironic and sad part, that she gave up a beautiful life to try to make others like her.  It is even more sad that it is so true.

Hunters in the Snow

I didn't very much like Tobias Wolff's Hunters in the Snow.  The characters all seem like horrible people, and then the plot and ending of the story are extremely bizarre.  Kenny enjoys teasing almost to the point of cruelty, resulting eventually in his getting shot.  Frank is married and has children, but is having an affair with a fifteen year old.  And then there is Tub, who searches for pity for his being overweight, but secretly is a glutton.  None of these characters appeal to me whatsoever.  And then there is the plot of this story, which along with the characters is also frustrating.  The story begins with chaos, in Kenny almost running over Tub with the truck, and also ends in chaos.  Kenny gets shot, Tub admits to his gluttony, Frank admits to his affair, and the reader is finally left with the question of whether Kenny lives or dies, thanks to Frank and Tubs idiocy of losing the list of the directions. The end really angered me because I figured that after all the odd curve balls that the author threw into the plot, like Kenny getting shot or Frank having and affair or Tub being a glutton, that the characters had finally grown and realized a little out about each other. I thought that some progress had been made and that these characters might be able to grow closer in the bonds of their friendship after realizing each others' weaknesses and problems. However, the story ends with, "'I'm going to the hospital,' Kenny said.  But he was wrong.  They had taken a different turn a long way back". The characters won't be able to grow in their friendship because it is most likely that Kenny will die because of an erroneous mistake on Tub's part.

A Jury of Her Peers

Susan Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers is, to put it frankly, very creepy.  The way Mrs. Wright is described by Mr. Hale reminds me of horror movies that I have before seen, where the murderer is so demented and soul-less, that he/she is not in the least bit perturbed by what they have one.  The murder of Mrs. Wrights husband is terrifying, being choked by a rope in your sleep? I clearly am not a fan of horror stories.  This story was clearly part of the gender unit for a reason.  Sexism is evident throughout the entire story, especially in the dialogue.  The men degrade the usefulness and intelligence of the woman over and over again.  One instance is when Mr. Hale says, "But would the woman know a clue if they did come upon it?" The derogatory phrases are one after another, and this phrase is even further ironic because it is the women who find clue after clue. This irony arises more as the woman stumble upon more and more evidence.  After they discover the quilt and bird cage, Mrs. Hale says, "If they're going to find any evidence, I wish they'd be about it. I don't like this place".  This is so ironic because the cage and quilt are both huge pieces of evidence, and both of the women are aware of this.  They simply refuse to admit that they have found the incriminating evidence in order to protect Mrs. Wright, a woman who is treated unfairly and works hard every day without reward just like them.

Othello: Tragedy

Shakespeare's Othello shares many characteristics with the other tragedies of his that I have read. Like Caesar, the tragic hero in Othello, whom also happens to be the namesake of the play also alike Caesar, dies because of a tragic flaw.  Othello's flaw happened to be his extreme love for Desdemona and his belief in a villain. Like another one of Shakespeare's tragedies, Romeo and Juliet, the couple in love are almost doomed from the start.  In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet's families are enemies.  This is not the situation in Othello, but Othello and Desdemona did get married despite her father's wishes, and Othello made many other enemies through his marriage as well, as many men desired Desdemona. Also, in both tragedies the male member of the tragic relationship kills himself as a result of the death of his partner.  Romeo kills himself under the impression that Juliet had already done so, and Othello kills himself after killing Desdemona in his rage, "Of one whose hand, Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away Richer than all his tribe. Of one whose subdued eyes, Albeit unused to the melting mood, Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees Their medicinal gum. Set you down this,And say besides that in Aleppo once, Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, I took by the throat the circumcisèd dog, And smote him, thus. Stabs himself." (V.ii.364-372).

Othello: A Possible Flaw in the Plan

Iago apparently has everyone convinced of his saintly personality, everyone besides Roderigo.  Roderigo is angered at Iago because he had been promised that Desdemona would become bored of Othello and fall in love with him, but he hasn't seen any improvements in this area. Furthermore, Roderigo has been giving Iago jewels to give to Desdemona as tokens of his affections, and  now doubts that Iago has even given these to Desdemona. Roderigo says, "I have heard too much, and your words and performances are no kin together." (IV.ii.181-182). He continues, "I tell you ’tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona. If she will return me my jewels I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation. If not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you." (IV.ii.190-194).  It seems to me that Roderigo might possibly be the hiccup in Iago's plan that I have been anticipating.  With plan as intricate as Iago's, I would be amazed if absolutly nothing went wrong. However, Othello is one of Shakespeare's tragedies, so the likelihood of the villain being successful is far greater.

Othello: The Handkerchief

The handkerchief, though a seemingly small and insignificant object, obviously plays an important symbolic role throughout William Shakespeare's Othello. In the beginning of the play, the handkerchief, formerly owned by Othello's mother, serves as a symbol as Othello's love and commitment to Desdemona.  He gives it to her as a token of his love, and says that as long as she keeps this handkerchief, he will love her.  However, the handkerchief has chaotically changed hands many times, mirroring the chaos that is Othello and Desdemona's relationship.  When Bianca shows up with the handkerchief claiming that she found it in Cassio's bedroom, this is the concrete proof that Othello needed of Desdemona's infidelity.  "As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad. And his unbookish jealousy must construe Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behavior Quite in the wrong.—How do you now, lieutenant?" (IV.i.125-132). The handkerchief has switched roles, now serving as a symbol of Desdemona's supposed infidelity and Othello's newfound hate.

Othello: Not Only Evil, Also Smart

Perhaps the reason why Iago is considered by some to be the best villain of all time is that he is not only purely evil, he is also smart.  He is cunning, which allows his evil plans to follow through, so far without even a hiccup.  A prime example of Iago's cleverness is in his convincing of Othello of Cassio's guilt in the situation with Desdemona.  Othello wants concrete proof of Desdemona and Cassio's crimes, and Iago manages to lure Cassio into providing the proof himself. "Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, A huswife that by selling her desires Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague To beguile many and be beguiled by one. He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes. As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad. And his unbookish jealousy must construe Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behavior Quite in the wrong.—How do you now, lieutenant?" (II.i.83-93).  Just as Iago plans, Othello is completely convinced and outraged to the point that he tells Iago to kill Cassio and makes plans himself to kills Desdemona.  He is even further enraged by the fact that Cassio is laughing at his apparent affair with Desdemona, proving that he doesn't even love her.  Othello's rage at this revelation shows his still-remaining love for his wife. 

Othello: Cassio Falling in the Trap

Even after he loses his position under Othello as a result of Iago's manipulation, Cassio continues to fall deeper into Iago's trap.  Iago convinces Cassio that Desdemona, Othello's wife, might be the key to convincing Othello to reinstate Cassio as one of his officers.  Cassio takes this advice, though he doesn't entirely believe that it will work, because he is desperate to regain his noble reputation.  This can only end badly.  First, the entire idea was Iago's, the root villian of the story who is intent upon every honorable characters' ruin. Also, he had already planned in previous scenes to make Othello believe that Cassio was being intimate with his lover, Desdemona.  Cassio's further interaction with her in his pleading for her to intercede on his behalf will probably come off looking very bad, especially because he no longer works for Othello and has no apparent reason to be speaking with his wife.  Cassio wastes no time in requesting to see Desdemona, "Why, no. The day had broke Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, To send in to your wife. My suit to her Is that she will to virtuous Desdemona Procure me some access."  Iago's planning has been entirely successful so far, so it is only expected that this plan will follow through as well.  I wonder what Othello's reaction will be when he is convinced that Cassio and Desdemona are together.

Othello: Iago's Intentions

I can't help but to be curious as to Iago's malicious intentions regarding Othello.  It seems that he doesn't  wish to kill him, because manipulations and "sucking-up" would not help him at all in this regard.  I think that he must plan to prosper from some sort of downfall of Othello. Maybe he hopes to take Othello's place with the Italian navy? Or to inherit his favorable place among the leaders of the state like the Duke.  Then again, how would the downfall of Cassio help in any of these matters, other than the amount of personal audience that Iago would then have with Othello if he were appointed as his right-hand-man. Overall, Iago's manipulations grow more and more obvious, especially in regards to Cassio. In Act II Scene i, "If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in." This passage is Iago discussing how Cassio's courtesy towards women could actually end up getting him in trouble.  Then toward the end of Act II, Iago actually causes the demotion of Cassio when he pressures him into getting drunk amongst the end-of-war celebrations.  In his drunken state, Cassio makes foolish decisions that confirm his demotion and the success of Iago's wicked plan.  It should be interesting to discover what other havoc Iago's manipulations and sly intentions might provoke.  

Othello: Cassio vs. Iago

Othello's two most influential comrades, Cassio and Iago, are very different from one another.  Cassio is obviously a man of good character.  He is respectful and polite and gives his commander, Othello, the utmost respect.  Iago, on the other hand, is malicious and rude.  He is manipulative of everyone for his own selfish purposes, and while he is not unctuously trying to promote his disguise of an honest reputation, he is mean and rude to everyone.  For example, because he has no reason in particular to impress his wife because she has nothing that he wished to attain, he is incredibly inconsiderate to her. He tells Cassio, "In faith, too much. I find it still, when I have leave to sleep. Marry, before your ladyship, I grant, She puts her tongue a little in her heart And chides with thinking."  In this passage Iago is criticizing his wife for essentially talking to much.  This is how he greeted her.  Cassio on the contrary greets Emilia with, "Good ancient, you are welcome.—Welcome, mistress. (kisses EMILIA) Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, That I extend my manners. 'Tis my breeding That gives me this bold show of courtesy."  Clearly Cassio is the man of better character, though he may not be the man of better wit.

Othello: The War

I find it odd that this war between the Italians and Turks isn't quite ringing any bells with me. I don't remember ever learning about a war like this in history classes, though I'm sure that it did actually happen.  Also, it is a little strange to me that the Italians would hire a Moor as a commander in their army.  What is the reason for Othello, the Moor's, allegiances to Italy.  He did discuss being a slave and I wonder if he was enslaved somewhere in Italy.  It is clear that the majority of the plot of this story will have little to do with the actual war, as the Turks are seemingly defeated at the beginning of Act II. This ending of the war acts almost like foreshadowing in that it reveals that the plot will be centered around the relationships of the characters of the story rather than the war.  Other foreshadowing that has thus far been present is the straightforward intent of Iago to manipulate all those around him into doing what he wants.  In Act I Scene 3, Iago explains how Othello is easy to manipulate, "The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by th' nose As asses are."  I'm sure Iago's manipulations will dominate the plot of the story.

You're Ugly, Too

This story put me in many moods at different parts.  The main character Zoe is sarcastic and has a very potent dry sense of humor that offers a lot of comedic relief throughout the story.  Some of my favorite lines of humor from Zoe are right at the beginning of the story.  She is very honest about herself and her life situation within her own mind, but offers humor to offset the questions and worries of others.  For example, when she is telling her sister that she is too young to get married and her sister counters that Zoe just says this because she is five years older and is not yet married, Zoe replies, "Oh! I forgot to get married!" Her sarcasm is very evident to all of those she speaks too. Her students are another example.  However, they see Zoe in a very different light than she sees herself, made evident by the student evaluations often inserted into the story.  The parts when the story gets serious are primarily when Zoe's humor isn't quite understood by other characters or when she masks other feelings with her sarcasm. For example, Zoe pushes her boyfriend and he slips, scaring him, as they are high up on the roof of a building.  She claims, "I was just kidding!", but the reader knows that Zoe was driven by the anger and rejection she feels when he claims that she is "nothing like her sister." Zoe knows she is not the type of woman that every man dreams of. She has been rejected before and harbors hurt still from that lost relationship.  I think the reason that Zoe is still "alone" and puts up such a rough and offsetting front is to try to avoid any further rejection.

February

This poem seems to be about a person who is very bitter about a lost love. He is very depressed throughout the poem and discusses common steep types of what people do after bad breakup ups, like eating a lot and just laying around all day, feeling bad for oneself, "winter. Time to eat day and watch hockey." The speaker is very bitter about love in general. "But it's love that does us in. Over and over." It's hard to be open to love when, as has apparently happened to this person, it causes you so much pain. I'm not sure the significance of the cat in the poem. I think the speaker does go through a transportation from depression to optimism throughout the poem though, partly helped along by the cat. In the end the speaker says, "Let it be spring". This stands for the end of winter, the period of depression that he has beed experiencing.

Popular Mechanics

This story is messed up and very sad. This is another story of a tragic marriage in this unit. Unfortunately, this marriage ends up really affecting someone else, in this case, a helpless baby. Again, I wonder what could possibly have happened to this couple that they can hardly stand to speak to one another. Why is the husband leaving and how can his wife claim to be happy at this fact? It's touching that they both want to keep their child, but they are also using the baby to get to one another. It's just another thing that they are fighting over. Especially in the end when they are literally physically fighting over a helpless baby. "And in this manner, the issue was decided." I wonder what actually happened, but it seems that the argument was simply never solved.

The Story of an Hour

This story almost made me laugh because it was so bizarre. A woman believes her husband has died and is distraught. Then, she realizes that she is in fact, not distraught, "She breathed a quick prayer that life would be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long." It's really tragic that this woman is extatic at the thought that her husband has died. She feels "free" now to live her own life and live it for herself, but I wonder why she would have ever even married him in the first place. I wonder what could make that marriage so aweful that the death if her husband is he only thing that could make it better. Furthermore, when she realizes that her husband survived the train crash, she is so shocked that she dies "of joy that kills". That's how the story ends. So is she joyful or sad that he survived? I'm not sure.

Delight in Disorder

I'm unsure as to whether I've interpreted this poem correctly, but because this unit is centered around love, I think Robert Herrick's Delight in Disorder is an extended metaphor for a key aspect if love, loving someone's "disorder". If a person truly loves someone, it is said that they love their faults as well as their successes. This can be paralleled to wedding vows, "in sickness and in health". The poem states, "A careless shoestring, in whose tie I see a wild civility; do more bewitch me than when art is too precise in every part." I think those words are beautiful. No person is perfect, so you can't love someone for their perfections, and anyone can admire another's successes. Loveing a person's mistakes and failures is true love. Loving someone despite their downfalls is true love. This is the theme of the poem.

Lonely Hearts

Wendy Cope's Lonely Hearts is very tragic. To me, it is talking about those people searching for love, who feel lonely because they don't have someone they love in their life. The refrains of "Do you live in North London? Is it you?" and "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" show desperation that loneliness brings. The simple wish is to not be alone anymore. Everyone longs for companionship, and most of all, love. The desperation is further shown through the address given at the end of the poem, requesting a letter and photo. The irony of the poem is that the person is requesting a "simple wish" when in reality, love is hard and complicated. Everyone feels the loneliness and complications, an shown by the multiple descriptions of people from all walks of life.

How I Met My Husband

The twist at the end of this story was very unexpectedly romantic, and greatly contributed to my liking of Alice Munro's How I Met My Husband. It's funny that the vast majority of the story and the entire plot involving the pilot had nothing to do with the story's focal idea. A lot of the events that unwound around the pilot's presence seemed odd, but no think that's because of the culture and time period during which this story takes place. Though she was very mean to Edie, whom I like a lot, the pilot's fiancée had every right to be angry. She chases the man all around after waiting through such a long engagement, to find him "being intimate" with another girl. The pilot is obviously not a man I good character or is channelling his emotional harm from the war into harm on other people. "It never crossed my mind for a long time a letter might not come." A naive Edie fell in love with the idea of the man and was heart broken when his promise of a letter was never fulfilled. The pilot broke her heart as well. However, I womd say that Edie got very lucky because as a result of her hope for that letter, she found someone who truly loves her.

Eveline

The ending of this story confused me. Did she go with Frank or did she stay behind? I'm fairly sure she remained behind, because I think James Joyce foreshadowed her lack of commitment to him earlier in Eveline. She mentions how "Frank would give her a life, perhaps love, too." She did not love Frank; she only hoped to love him. She was using him to gain a new life and to "escape" from her current situation. I don't think the want for a new life was strong enough to overcome the love she felt for her family and the responsibility she also felt for them. Eveline recognized her struggles and the lack of joy which her life brang her, but she also recalled the promise she made to her mother to take care of her family. Eveline recognizes the needs of her family before her own.