blog number 17...First blog assignment on NATIVE SON

1. When Bigger chases and kills a black rat in his family's one-room apartment...this action and setting tells me that Bigger is living in a very poor and poverty type of situation. His family is obviously not wealthy at all, almost broke, living pay check to pay check type of deal. In addition, when Bigger chases and kills a black rat..shows that he is the oldest man living in the household, or one-room apartment.

2. Bigger hates his family because they do not give him support or love he needs. They are degrading and do not understand him.

3. Bigger and Gus are so interested in the plane flying overhead because it shows the limitations of the black people (their race) and what the white people are able to do. Bigger is interested in flying a plane, and loves the idea of him being able to learn how to fly a plane...but both him and Gus realize that it is an unrealistic dream due to their race as well as their social conditions.

4. Bigger and Gus imitate being white people by acting out or pretending to be the president (of US) and JP Morgan. They joke and poke fun about how they (as they impersonate the high status white people) are going to do to stop or prevent the black people from doing anything really.

5. Wright describes Bigger and his environment physically as a trapped feeling and much resentment. His environment is very limited and 'superior' compared to Bigger and he feels very enclosed. He cannot do much due to these unwritten restrictions.

6. Bigger gets mad at Gus in the pool room because Gus gives him a hard time about Bigger's idea of robbing a white man. But in truth, Bigger is only be hyprocritical for he is afraid too.

7. From the movies that Bigger and G.H sees, Bigger learns that blacks are inferior to whites. He can realize this because in the movie it shows the white people living a luxurous lifestyle with a lot of money while the blacks are shown as "barbaric" and very poor.

Consider the following quotes from Ellison’s “King of the Bingo Game” (1944):
“he felt vaguely that his whole life was determined by the bingo wheel”;
“the unlucky cards and numbers of his days”
“he felt that the man was making a fool of him”
“as the wheel increased its speed it seemed to draw him more and more into its power, as though it held his fate; and with it came a deep need to submit, to whirl, to lose himself in its swirl of color”
“This is God!”

Why do you think the protagonist/narrator discusses the wheel in these terms? What do you think happens to the narrator/protagonist at the end of the story?

The protagonist discusses the wheel in these terms because he is comparing him spinning the wheel to his life. He feels that the wheel represents everything that he is going through. The wheel is like taking a risk when one lets go of the wheel. When he lets the wheel go, there is a possibility that he will win something and then there is a possibility that he will not win. The protagonist feels as if his life is about his decisions to take the risks and if he will be lucky. He feels as if the fate is in his hands, as in whatever he does will help fate determine his future. I feel that the narrator realizes that taking chances is what is it about, and without taking chances he will never be able to succeed or fail. Therefore, he will think out his life, take in consideration of all the factors, and take risks.

1) ANTI-HERO: An anti-hero is a protagonist that lives by the guidance of their own flawed morality, as opposed to those recognized by the society in which they live, or that completely rejects traditional values and morality as irrelevant.

2) TRAGIC HERO: A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He possesses some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness.

Which definition best fits the character of Macbeth? Why? Support your answer with specific textual references.

I feel that....Macbeth best fits as an anti-hero. Macbeth does not really have a sense of morality. He is at fault with his own morality. For example, he directly and indirectly ruthlessly murders King Duncan, Duncan's guards, Banquo, Lady Macduff, and her children. Obviously he completely rejects traditional values and morality. His mindset is completely towards his selfish needs as being a King, therefore he guides himself by his unmoral ideas. Macbeth also opposes the lives of the people in the society he lives in. For example, his society were content with King Duncan's ruling and thinks that murdering is wrong. And Macbeth knew that the people would feel that way, yet he continues with the murder. In addition, his best friend Banquo was the person who brought up the evil in the weird sisters and how horrible the death of Duncan was. However, that didn't stop Macbeth from killing more. Macbeth is not a hero at all, but if he was to be one, he would be considered as an anti-hero. He is flawed in his moral codes, and he rejects the society morality, and continues to live the life he wants to, how he wants to.

http://www.elizabethi.org/us/biography.html

I chose Queen Elizabeth the First. Basically...She was born on September 7th 1533 at the Greenwich Palace. Unfortunately, her father wanted a son to succeed him, so he did not show any affection and therefore her early life was "consequently troubled." She was very intelligent academically and could speak multiple languages. Elizabeth was crowned Queen on Sunday 15th, January 1559 and she re-established the Protestant church in england and she was very popular with the people. She became the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth became a prisoner of Mary, Queen of Scots, and she was forced to flee out of England and she was immediately imprisoned. She was almost imprisoned for twenty years, but she proved that she could be a ruler when she defeated Spain in 1588 with her ingenious tactics and yeah.

By her colleagues and peers she was not liked for everyone who worked in the palace believed that she wasn't a real heir for the throne to England and that Mary was. But she was loved by the people of England for she was strong, intelligent, had powerful political tactics, and a good stand in every subject. She was a serious and cautious queen who truely cared about her country. Today, she would be perveived as ... a woman who made a difference in women's rights. She proved that woman can be as strong and willing as men are. In addition, the society might also view her as a strong and devoting woman who cares for the better.

Research Paper Info.

1) My thesis statement...or my essential question that will be discussed in my essay is basicaly the hatred and conflict between the two gangs, Crips and Bloods, and how their fighting has conflicted their neighborhoods, communities, and societies.

2) Basically I will have an introduction that says what will be in the essay. The following paragraphs...First I will describe background knowledge on both gangs. (probably different paragraphs) Then their actions. Then how it affects their communities. The effects to their actions.

3) I chose this particular topic because I am extremely interested in the life in the "ghetto." In irvington it's all simple, sweet, some small crime...nothing big. But in the ghetto, it's intense, real life, and very dramatic. I want to learn about their situations, and how they live every day struggling. Although I'm not going through their experiences, I feel this is a personal topic and I would eventually like to help...

To Kill A Mockingbird Post

1) The diction used in this excerpt that Maycomb county is unpleasant, uncomfortable, and not a place one would vacation in. The words, such as "tired", "sweltering shade", "stiff collared wilted", and "sweat and sweet talcum." It gave me a vivid imagery of uncomfortable heat and dirty south vibe.

2) I believe that the allusion Lee used in this passage was mentioning "the ony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade..." Hoover was the president for part of the Great Depression, and there were Hoovervilles. Therefore she said "Hoover carts" to emphasize the poor conditioned living situation.

3)I think Scout is a lovely narrator. She is interesting and I do believe she speaks more mature than she should, but it gives a twist. She is also really smart. The author probably made her sound really mature because the audience is more for adults (as in the theme and context of the book)...so it appeals to them. If Scout was to speak like an ignorant child, the adult audiences would not be interested.

Blog#9. - "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathon Swift

This essay, I believe made me feel a little nausous. I'm not going to lie. Reading about the "would you like salt or pepper" with your kids. (not funny at all). But ofcourse there is a reasoning behind his sick humor. I believe it is for us to understand the true problem about children. I think he is trying to make us question..."when children are so poor...should we just throw them away? I mean might as well eat them..." type of thing. I think that some differences between the Swift and the proposer is that Swift it definitely more understanding for the people living in harsh, poverty. It is obvious that the proposer has a sicker mind than Swift, and Swift truley does not want children to be eaten! It becomes known that Swift does not really want children to be eaten, because he states that eating children would help the country but his reasoning for why eating children would help was not really "Real" or humane. In addition, I believe that the audience for this proposal was for wealthy people. The wealthy people who are aware of the striken poverty and poor people out on the streets. This proposal is for rich people who care. And Swift would be in the middle class. When i became aware that Swift's proposal was not serious, ofcourse I was relieved and all. But the whole idea of eating children in the first place is absurd and disgusting. But that is how he gets our attention. There are many issues around the world, political and social, that have similarities to his proposal. For example, during the progressive era, when child labor was in, they treated them very poorly as if they were not important. This was due to their lack of money, and poverty and so forth that they were ended up in a factory or some coal shop. Children are the future, lets not do this again.

Blog # 8 - "The Onion"

"Troop Morale Boosted By Suprise Visit From First Dog"

1. This article is about President George W. Bush's dog, Barney who enlightens and helps the spirits of the men in the Iraq War by paying them a visit. This article includes responses from the soldiers who were greatly impacted by Barney's visit and things Barney did while in Iraq.

2. This article is funny because Barney did not really impact the soldiers' lives. Barney did not really go and meet important military figures in Iraq. Barney did not give any "handshakes" or "speeches", and the soldiers' were not really "taken with his presence." And the president would not send his dog over to Iraq thinking that he would inspire the soldiers. It's funny because a DOG was given strong human characteristics that were ironic and unreal. I laughed. It was funny.

3. I would call this piece of humor literature...a Travesty. Only because a travesty is when you add humor or ridicule of a serious work or subject, or subject matter and that is the war in Iraq. The author, I believe, is saying that Bush is basically not doing anything to give the soldiers help or encouragement, because by sending his dog, it's like sending no one. A dog cannot really brighten the soldiers or lift their spirits or anything...really. I mean as much as a president coming. So its a serious matter...but it's funny the way this author does it.

4. Yes, the writing is effective in making me laugh. For this article provides a very unrealistic event happening. Especially when the writer added in fake quotes said by high miliary officials and soldiers. And also actions a dog would never do. In addition, this was just making fun of Bush's lack of help in the Iraq. Right? Well anyway...for example, "During his visit, Barney impressed top military leadership with his attentiveness and steadfastness, yet he tactfully avoided addressing such highly charged issues as extended tours of duty and the shortage of effective body armor."
And also, '" As soon as he [Barney] stepped off the plane, it was clear he was interested in what was happeneing on the ground here,' said Gen George Casey, commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq who met with the First Dog in the courtyard outside his office at Camp Victory."
I also find it very cute that he called Barney the "first dog." hahaha. NO.