Post 9: The Invisible Who?

So we are going to dedicate this post to "The Invisible Man". Not only is it a novel written by H.G. Wells, but it is the main character of said novel as well. The novel starts with the prologue, introducing the main character-as in fact invisible.
It is not in a cool sense like Susan Storm from the Fantastic 4 who has the super power to turn invisible, rather it is plainly the fact that he is a black man who is not seen by others. In the beginning as he described himself, I truly wanted to feel pity. This man thinks of himself as invisible to the world, so much so, that he doesn't even feel the need to say his name to an audience who is curious to learn more! However, that feeling dissipates within me when he tells us about his mugging incident with the white man. Yes it is fueling his case for being invisible to the audience, but it is also fueling my case for thinking that he is unreliable due to his emotions as well as causing me to slightly unlike him (non of this is related to his race I must add, it is simply because I do not think that violence is ever the answer to solve any problems).

Moving on from the prologue which included some tribute to the famous Louis Armstrong as well as the building of the man feeling invisible throughout society, we move to chapter one. The narrator starts off by developing himself as a character in the story, talking about his grandparents, who were freed slaves from the Civil War and who lived peaceful meek lives in contrast to the father who undermined the people around him. He remembered his grandfather saying on his deathbed weakness being a treachery because it results in a mockery to their community. However the narrator still chose to live a meek life himself, as shown in his next memory of high school and the speeches that he made. They urged the black community to submit and be humble to others in order to advance in society, which was very popular amongst the white community. They urged him to speak at gathering, however this gathering made a circus show out of what should have been a delivery of a great speech. It had boys tumbling on the ground fighting each other blindfolded, then when they were all beat up and tired, and the fights were over, they fought again for money that was thrown at them-that electrocuted them instead. Yet the narrator still wanted to make his speech. But what irks me the most is when he is quoting Booker T. Washington, and begins to speak about social equality-he cowers and says that it was a simple mistake rather than standing for his actual beliefs! I guess if I were in that situation and was staring death in the face as he as staring at a group of outraged white men, I would have probably cowered as well, but for me to want to believe in him I want him to be bold and courageous! However, due to his cowering he gets a briefcase (will this be a significant as the handkerchief in Othello?) This obviously is a symbol to the narrator, but I am not too sure quite yet what it is. What's curious though is what's inside-a scholarship to a state college for black youth. This is huge for the narrator and he is thrilled!! I wonder how this will fuel him and his invisibility amongst others. The chapter then ends with a trip to the circus with the narrator and his grandfather, then he awakes with laughter ringing in his ears. I am not too sure how reliable this entire dream sequence can be, considering that I already think that he is an unreliable narrator and it is a very emotional dream he recalled. The boxing with the others boys could mean many things-it could be literal, or it might just be how he felt, but I am not too sure what I believe quite yet.

Chapter two is slightly shorter, yet still a relocation of the narrators memory-this being an experience in college. It begins with the narrator recalling his colleges statue-a black founder, yet his eyes are cold and his stance rigid. I think that this stands out a lot, because the narrator felt that going to a school where he was welcomed and not shunned, he thought that the statue of the founder might have been a little bit more "welcoming" and not so cold. This could fuel his invisibility complex that he feels. It then moves to a drive that he had with a millionaire named Mr. Norton. He began to work for the man, and took him on a drive to the country side, however things took a turn (haha car pun) when he accidentally drove to the old slave cabins and to the home of Mr. Trueblood. But what irks me here, is the amount of shame that the narrator feels when passing these cabins. He is so upset that he says that the whole trip was a mistake and he urged Mr. Norton to allow him to drive away. Why would he feel this way? None of this was his fault, yet here he is feeling shamed of buildings and a man that he couldn't control. Why is it do you think that he feels this way?

So I probably did this whole thing wrong and we were probably supposed to divide it up somehow and I was probably supposed to put in quotes, but I am just so confused and I left my book at school. I had already read it before this weekend, but I can't get the quotes in right now if we were supposed to have some... So yah! I think that it's your turn?

Post 8: Using a Lens That Doesn't Require Glasses

The Historical Lens of Death of a Salesman

The play Death of a Salesman, resolves around the postwar era of people evolving to obtain the American Dream. The way that Miller is able to use his own struggles in this era and his own knowledge of the times, allows for a reflective light to be shed upon his play with a historical lens. 

Obtaining the American Dream is the biggest hurdle in this play, as well as figuring out how to live with or without it. Willy describes how the American dream has impacted him, saying, “Figure it out. Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there’s nobody to live in it” (Miller 6). This heavily reflects on the father being the main provider for the house during this time frame-showing that Willy has worked all of his life to provide for his family but has missed out on being with his family during the process. This aspect of the American Dream affects the relationship that Willy has not only with his sons, but his wife as well, as he is constantly working to keep the house, technology, and food on the table. However, there is one character in this play who has not been able to keep the image of the American Dream that he was destined to uphold, Biff. He had his life set up for him. 

People usually think that the American Dream is only for the adults to uphold in society, but a major role for the parents was to make sure that their children grew up in the image that the American Dream portrayed them in, and Biff had that image. He was a popular football jock who always wore his letterman’s sweater around and had a scholarship to his top choice school. But grades robbed him of his destined American Dream, and he was sent down his own path of what he wanted his American Dream to be. Biff wants to create his own path by working in Texas and, “I’d like to find a girl-steady, somebody with substance” (Miller 14), which is not the norm when looking for a girl in this era. All-in-all, Biff was a shoe-in for the “American Dream” and what it stood for, but a bump in the road set him on his own path which not only let him create his own dreams, but drove him from his family because of it. At the end of the play, the father figure, Willy, kills himself what is only assumed as crashing his car, seeing as Miller does not specifically say in the play. But what drove him to his death, was in fact the American Dream. Willy could not work due to his mental instability and the fact his boss told him to take a break, so what was a man with a wife and kids supposed to do with the standards of the American Dream looking over his shoulder? However, Willy did not know that he was so close. 

The American Dream had phases in this era: as a kid be obedient to your parents, when your an adult and a male have a job that supports you and a potential spouse, as a woman adult find a husband, when married buy a poster house with a white picket fence and have two children, work until everything is paid off then retire, then when you are old have your children and grandchildren support you if needed, die happy. Willy had almost been able to retire and be free, in fact his wife even recognized that after his death, “I search and I search, and I can’t understand it Willy. I made the last payment on the house today. Today dear. And there’ll be nobody home. We’re free and clear. We’re free… We’re free…” (Miller 103). The American Dream drove Willy to his death while also being his standard to life. 

Having a historical lens while looking at this play, fills many holes that may be present to those who do not understand the times. By understanding what Miller was living, and experiencing while writing the play Death of a Salesman, the play is able to exploit the problems and difficulties that the American Dream provided to those who actually lived through it. 

Post 7: The Quotes of a Salesman

In the play, "The Death of a Salesman", the question of "is the American Dream worth it?" seems to arrive. Having a house and a car and a wife and kids, seems to be taking it's toll on this family.

Biff says, "No, I'm mixed up very bad. Maybe I oughta get married. Maybe I oughta get stuck into something. Maybe that's my trouble. I'm like a boy. I'm not married, I'm not in business, I just-I'm just like a boy. Are you content, Hap? you're a success, aren't you? Are you content?" (pg.12)

Biff is so abused by what the "American Dream" promises to be, and how he hasn't achieved it yet. The poor guy can't live with his family without the American Dream, yet Happy who is trying to achieve it, can't live with the American Dream! The question that I pose then, is-IS THE AMERICAN DREAM WORTH IT? Is it worth it to be miserable and not have the life that you want? 

Post 6: Time For MOR

For January MOR, Tyler and I will be reading the "TWELFTH NIGHT" by the one and only, William Shakespeare himself.

The "TWELFTH NIGHT" is considered a Shakespearean comedy with a fun storyline and great humor.

The movie SHE'S THE MAN starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Bynes is based off of this play and is an amazing film to watch!

Get ready to enjoy some humor!!

Post 5: I want MOR

Zac and I this semester will be reading GRENDEL, written by John Gardner for our first semester MOR project. 

GRENDEL is the story of BEOWULF told from the prospective of the villain Grendel. The same story but with a whole new twist. 

So get ready for some awesome entries based on what we find interesting, and what we don't, but hey; it'll be a good trip anyways! 

:)

Post 4: Let's Follow Up

"I am your son, sir; by upper wise decisions 

My life is ruled, and them I shall always obey. 

I cannot value any marriage-tie 

Above your own guidance." 

"Your father's will should have your heart's first place."

(Sophocles 143)

This quote shows Haemon telling Creon what he wants to here based on the situation at hand, which fuels his pride. However towards the end of the tragedy, we hear about Haemon killing himself to be with Antigone, his true love, despite what he had previously told his father. 

Did Creon know that Haemon does not have the same country first feeling that he has? In fact how even close are they? It doesn't seem that they are as close has Creon may think that they are. 

However, with this quote specifically, the question is, why is Creon so obsessed with Haemon being under his thumb? With Haemon's quote, are there two meanings to what he is saying? Does he actually feel that way, that his father is his light in the dark? Or was is a sarcastic remark, that he shoves in Creon's face when he kills himself for Antigone? 

What kind of father/son relationship is shared between Creon and Haemon. It seems that it is strictly business and not like a family. Yet at the end of the story, it seems that Creon only changes his mind after he loses his family. 

Much to think about many questions to answer :) 

Post 3: Sophocles Say What?

This is the quote that I believe that we should discuss in class from Antigone.

Antigone-"It was not a slave, but his brother, that died with him."
Creon-"Attacking his country, while the other defended it."
Antigone-"Even so, we have a duty to the dead."
Creon-"Not to give equal honor to good and bad."
Antigone-"Who know's? In the country of the dead that may be the law."
Creon-"An enemy can't be a friend, even when dead."
Antigone-"My way is to share my love, not share my hate."
Creon-"Go then, and share your love among the dead. We'll have no woman's law here, while I live."
                                                                                                                 (Sophocles 140)

I believe that this quote, not only shows the strong will of Antigone, yet it also shows the the pride that Creon has-especially when his power his involved.

So my follow up question for the class is:
           How will both of the natures of these characters, (Antigone's strong will, and Creon's pride) eventually effect these characters with their futures? Will Antigone strong will be her downfall? Will Creon's pride cause flaws within his judgement and kingdom?