The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

        In the poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge uses religious allusions and descriptive imagery to elicit his message that after sin, man’s path of redemption is dependent on a higher power. 

In the poem, Coleridge evokes a powerful message about the strength of religious figures regarding mortal redemption through many theological allusions. One of the largest religious allusions was through the use of the Albatross many times within the poem. First, the albatross was a symbol of joy, positivity and a “Christian soul…hailed…in God’s name” (Coleridge 2). But after the Mariner killed the bird with his cross-bow, the Albatross became a symbol of God’s rage towards man’s blunder, becoming a message, where “instead of the cross, the Albatross about my neck was hung” (Coleridge 3). Because this allusion acts first as natures beauty and then of religious revenge out of anger for it’s death, the Albatross greatly assists in the transitioning of the story as well as a consistent force the characterizes the Mariner. Through the use of the Albatross, the reader experiences the change within the Mariner as the story progresses and suffering for his sin becomes inevitable, Coleridge emphasizes his message that sin is unforgivable to a higher power and redemption is an uphill battle. Therefore, through his use of theological allusions, Coleridge creates his ultimate message that sin as a result for wrongful actions create suffering as the path for redemption is difficult due to the influences of a higher power. 

Coleridge’s use of pictorial imagery ultimately forges his message that redemption after sin is defenseless to the wishes of a higher power. Throughout the poem, Coleridge uses vivid detail in describing every piece of the settling, characters and plot. His description with emphasizing the Mariner’s “glittering eye” first to describe the hold the old man had on the Wedding-Guest, to then construing the importance behind the eye plays an important role in developing his message (Coleridge 1). This repetitive imagery creates a sense of history to the poem, showing that sin, much like the taking of an innocent life, is necessary of punishment that can last an eternity. This use of imagery also evokes the sense of betrayal felt, highlighting the religious themes in the poem as the Albatross is betrayed by a companion, much like Jesus was by Brutus in the Christian religion. Following the use of imagery, Coleridge’s description of the ship as a sturdy vessel “with sloping masts and dipping bow” able to withstand the storm that drove the ship southward, creating a sense of honor and dignity within not only the ship, but it’s crew. By the end of the poem, this portrayal is sharply contrasted as “the ship went down like lead”, defeated by the severity of revenge and punishment from a higher power (Coleridge 8). Therefore, the use of imagery creates Coleridge’s message that the path to redemption after sin cannot be protected from the wrath of a higher power. 

Throughout the poem, Coleridge creates many messages, some religious and some not, dependent on the reader. But ultimately, the use of religious allusions and descriptive imagery elicits his message that after sin, man’s path of redemption is dependent on a higher power.

The Individual in Society - Unit Essential Questions

1. How do humans react to isolation?
     As humans, basic interaction with other members of society is a fundamental aspect of development and social construct. Beginning as a child, isolation has been a form of punishment for bad behavior resulting in groundings or time-outs. As humans grow and progress in society, isolation continues to serve as a negative enforcement to shape behavior and to hopefully mold young adults into respectable human beings. Due to all the various negative connotations connect with isolation, humans generally react in unfavorable manors when faced with solitude. Personally, if not forces into isolation, I enjoy the aspect of remoteness as I can find time for myself away from society and reflect on various aspects of life. Therefore, there is a fine line between punishment and voluntary isolation that defines the way that humans react to the lack of interaction.
2. What do individuals need in order to feel human?
     There needs to be a basic level of compassion and empathy that individuals need in order to feel human. Humanity is an aspect of life that all people misconstrued as being naturally attained, but in reality, humanity is more than being alive. Humanity is based in emotion, interaction understanding. In order to feel human, individuals must feel a sense of purpose and belonging that influence the way they view, interact and interpret the world that we inhabit.
3. What consequences do we face when we don't take responsibility for our actions?
     If people do not take responsibility for their actions, the repercussions and impact are larger than expected. Trust is the foundation that bonds humans and creates relationships. If one was not to own up to their actions, positive or negative, there would cease to be a bonding base within society, resulting in no sense of society. With regards to my own beliefs, I highly value and respect other's ability to be responsible for their own actions and decisions. When people lack this fundamental concept, I find that I lose a sense of trust and connections with that individual. This stresses the importance of honor and certainty in others.
4. How does a lack of compassion or understanding lead to prejudice or stereotyping?
    Stereotyping and prejudice are a continued aspect of discrimination in society today as a result of the lack of compassion and misunderstanding between people and groups. All people, regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity, are humans, made up of the same material of bones and muscles. People in the past and today create prejudice and stereotypes based off of physical characteristics and generalizations. These forms of discrimination create a general disconnection between people as a result of the lack of compassion and understanding that is imprinted on each new generation. This cycle has been continuous throughout history, and continues to evolve as new groups and individuals become victims of prejudices and stereotyping. This process not only results in a divided society, but also encourages bullying and a lack of select acceptance within new generations.

Twelfth Night - Act 4 Option Three Response

     In the play the Twelfth Night, Act 4 scene three plays an important role in developing the conflict regarding mistaken identity as well as the rising tension between the lives of Viola and Sebastian. The scene begins with a soliloquy from Sebastian where he admits his confusion and acknowledging the strange situation that he has wandered into, stating, "And though ’tis wonder that enwraps me thus, Yet ’tis not madness" (IV.iii.3-4). Similarly, Sebastian agrees to marry Olivia after she acts quickly and brings a priest with her to meet Sebastian, who she believes is Cesario. This agreement is very important in developing the play as it sets up for future disagreements and confusion. By accepting Olivia's hand in marriage, Sebastian has open the door for conflict with Viola/Cesario and the mistaken identity between them, Orsino's rage and jealousy towards Cesario, who may be either Viola or Sebastian. Finally, this scene will hold importance in the future of the play, creating a general confusion due to the Viola and Sebastian relationship. Therefore, if I were the playwright, I would include Act 4 Scene 3 as it plays a crucial role in progressing the tension and conflict that will ultimately unfold in Act 5.

Shakespeare's Gender Roles in Society Today

     In Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, Shakespeare includes various messages about society's trivial expectations of gender roles due to stereotypes portrayed through several characters. I believe that these messages should remain prevalent in society today as gender roles and stereotypes still negatively impact both males and females daily. As illustrated in the "Shakespeare Gender Swap" media clip, a woman and a man who share identical personalities and experiences, only differing in their name, are still viewed differently by members of society. Men are viewed as strong and brave while women are seen as week and shallow. Also, the clip "Happily Ever After: Perpetuating Stereotypical Gender Ideals" emphasizes the pervasive impact of gender roles that begin from a young age. It appears that children are exposed to societies gender roles through books and movies, resulting in a predisposition and early exposer to gender roles. In the play, Shakespeare comically indicates the irrelevance of gender roles through Viola's reaction to Orsino saying "there is no woman's sides can bide the beating of so strong a passion as love doth give my heart" (II.iv.103-105).Viola, as a woman masked, denies this statement by stating that she knows that woman love equally as men, with equivalent passion and emotion. Similarly, Orsino says "let thy love be younger than thyself, or thy affection cannot hold the bent" (II.iv.42-43) emphasizing the malleable nature of a woman, her emotions, and life. In my own life, I have witnessed the pervasiveness of gender roles as well as the impact they have on both men and women. There are set societal standards as to how women are over-emotional in relationships while men are the strong, often too stoic halves to the whole. Therefore, Shakespeare's messages regarding the negative impact and incorrectness of gender roles is still necessary for society to consider today as these roles still remain a force facing men and women of all ages daily.

"Diving Into the Wreck" SPOTTTS Analysis

"Diving into the Wreck"

Adrienne Rich

1973

S - The subject of this poem focuses on the importance of self acceptance and peace while breaking            free from society's expectations.

P - At the beginning of this poem, the reader familiarized to the concept that a person, not specified as a man or as a woman, is suiting up to go diving by themselves. As the power progresses, the person draws importance to little parts of their journey, like that of the ladder, emphasizing how unfamiliar and unimportant this object would be to other people who lack its usefulness and impact on a journey. Once the diver reaches the water, Rich uses imagery to portray their experience of progressing deeper into the unknown by describing the color gradient from blue, to green, to black. Similarly, the author personifies the ocean as a controlling force while dehumanizes the diver, comparing them to an insect who is complying to the demands of a larger whole, the ocean. Once the diver reaches the sunken ship, it appears that they now have a purpose, having reached the thing they came for. Also, the diver looses their ties to the human world, immersed in the world of the ocean where they recall that "I and she: I am he", exemplifying the lack of societal categorizing and gender roles (77). Comparatively, the diver seems to have reached an inner peace, finding their way and achieving their purpose, not joining a place where "names do not appear" (94).

O - Having been written in 1973, gender roles as well as societal expectations largely impacted the actions and beliefs of people during that time. Through writing this poem, Rich explores these beliefs through the divers exploration of the ship, as well as emphasizing the happiness and independence that rewards self appreciation and breaking from society and their expectations.

T - The explorative tone of the poem reveals the authors wishes for reflecting similar ideals in society, hoping that this meaning will spread and lead more people to question society. Also, due to the professional tone of the diver, it creates contrast with the mystical portrayal of the ocean, emphasizing the differences between the world and their different impacts on the diver.

T - The theme of this poem is to create importance around the subject of individualism as well as understanding between self activism and societal pressures.

T - The title, "Diving Into the Wreck" creates an explorative significance to the poem, emphasizing the beliefs of Rich, that there is a necessity for exploration of the barriers between society and individualism. Also, by having there be a wreck under the ocean, the poem's title highlights that although there is the world above ground that is full of society's beliefs, even the separate world below the sea isn't completely free from these impacts, and will always have part of societal influence, or a "wreck", within.

S - The poem is narrated by the diver who acts as an anchor between the two worlds. As the diver escapes the world of air and ventures downward into the ocean, the poem shifts as the diver enters a musical world of freedom and individual acceptance. 

The Awakening - Interpreting Literary Criticism

     Patricia S. Yaeger criticism of The Awakening by Kate Chopin degrades the character of Edna and her inability to speak for herself and expel a man's influence from her life. Yaeger emphasizes how Edna "can only act within some permutation of the subject-object relations her society has ordained for her", arguing that because of the time period, Edna will never fully experience a true "awakening" due to her pre-programed dependence on men. To support her claim, within the novel, once Edna does achieve freedom for her husband, she then turned to Alcée Arobin "in a way that pleased her at last, appealing to the animalism that stirred impatiently within her" (Chopin 106). Thus, even though Edna was able to isolate her life from that of her husbands, she still allowed her inner animal, or instincts, to guide her into befriending and romantically involving herself with Arobin. By comparing Edna's need for a man to "animalism", Chopin contradicts her message of feminism and freedom from male domination by suggesting that women are naturally in superior and yearn to have the controlling relationships that men implement. Similarly, Yaeger argues that Edna portrays the ideal that women have a natural incapability to speak on their own behalf as their language is "singular when it should be plural, masculine when it should be feminine, phantasmic when it should be open and dialectical." In addition, after Edna witnesses Adele give birth, "her speech was voicing the incoherency of her thought" (Chopin 151). Together, these assertions prove that Edna emphasizes women's inabilities to thrive without male influence as they lack the basic ability to compartmentalize and enforce structure in their conversations and their lives. Also, Yaeger argues that due to Edna's individual insufficiencies, she portrays a message opposite to that of what Chopin was trying to emphasize as she contradicts the characteristic of a strong, independent woman. In conclusion, Yaeger argues that within The Awakening, Edna's character is an erroneous portrayal of a woman who undergoes the revelation of feminism as her characteristics contradict that to which they try to illustrate.

The Awakening Chapter 31-End Dialectical Journal

"It was with a wrench and a pang that Edna left her children...But by the time she had regained the city the song no longer echoed in her soul. She was again alone" (Chopin128).
     This except highlights a key message that did not become clear until the near end of the novel. As Edna yearns to escape from her husband and her world surrounded by control, she never allows herself to fully escaper as she runs into the arms of more men. But, it becomes apparent that Edna will never be able to escape the control of men due to the fact that even if she breaks free from Leoncé, she will still be tied into a life dominated by her two sons and the care they require.

"I love you. Good-by-- because I love you" (Chopin 152).
     When Robert leaves Edna while she is away, the note he writes for her to find upon her return emphasizes the role that Robert plays in this novel. He is constantly the one person that Edna believes will open her life to endless possibilities and happiness, and yet, even when they declare their love for one another, her still leaves. This shows that true happiness with men and life in general may be unconventional and never truly unattainable.

"She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again" (Chopin 157).
     As Edna commits suicide, she recalls the split second of fear that overcame her but then left as quickly as it came. Fittingly, Edna chooses to leave this world in a poetic way. She swims out into the sea at Grand Isle, naked and perfectly at peace. The spot that Edna chose to commit suicide highlights her last chance at gaining control and freedom within her life as she choses to return to the one spot within the novel where she was free.

The Awakening Chapter 21-30 Dialectical Journal

"I have a quick temper, but I don't want to quarrel or be rude to a woman, especially my wife; yet I'm driven to it... she's making it devilishly uncomfortable for me" (Chopin 88).
       In this except, Mr. Pontellier reflects upon his feelings based on his wives new attitude and lifestyle. This part in the novel is particularly interesting as it highlights the opinions of outside sources rather than just that of Edna's inner feelings. By including this, Chopin emphasizes the views of society and traditionalists at the time while illuminating another perspective to further the importance and rarity of Edna's decision of self change.

"She says a wedding is one of the most lamentable spectacles on earth. Nice thing for a woman to say to her husband" (Chopin 89).
     This humorous quote from Mr. Pontellier drastically portrays the progression of Edna's journey into freedom as well as her awakening. Edna is shown talking to her husband saying that weddings are regrettable, highlighting her character development as she no longer attempts to hide her newfound self and rather emphasizes her views to her husband by indirectly sating that she regrets their own marriage.

"A way that pleased her at last, appealing to the animalism that stirred impatiently within her" (Chopin 106)
      After Edna kisses Arobin, she states that she is at last pleases and finally giving into her deepest desires and wishes of her "animalism" that has been within her all along. At this point in the novel, Edna undergoes a turning point, fully giving into her freedom and kisses another man. This realization is detrimental in Edna's search for liberation as she illustrates her rejection of societal expectations and no longer chooses to conform to beliefs that she does not agree with.

The Awakening Chapter 11-20 Dialectical Journal

"Another time she would have gone in at his request. She would, through habit, have yielded to his desire" (Chopin 41).

       This except emphasize the change occurring within Edna that has begun to alter her opinion and perception of reality. As she begins to view herself in a different light, Edna disobeys her husband and illustrates the shift outwardly, causing Mr. Pontellier to become angry and frustrated at his wife's out of character behavior. This scene characterizes the new relationship that is beginning to form between the Pontellier's as Edna grows more independence and embraces her small chances of freedom. 

"Sailing across the bay...Edna felt as if she were being borne away from some anchorage which had held her fast, whose chains had been loosening-had snapped the night before" (Chopin 46).

       As Edna spend the day with Robert, she comments on how after sailing away from Creole, she felt as though she was relieved of an invisible pressure or "chains" that hindered her ability to enjoy her life and be her own person. After she found this freedom when she stood up to her husband, Edna refuses to feel belittles by society's influences, become more liberated the farther away she becomes from Creole and her family and friends.

"Robert's going had some way take the brightness, the color, the meaning out of everything" (Chopin 61-62).

       Once Robert left Creole on a journey to Mexico, Edna felt lost within her community, describing life without Robert as dull and lacking meaning. This depiction of Creole life without Robert suggests that Edna's connection to Robert was deeper than even she had known, as she portrays herself on dependent on his constant companionship for happiness and joy. Because of this, Edna reveals to the reader that she has begun to recognize her feelings for Robert, but lacks the ability to act on them now that he has felt.

The Awakening Chapter 1-10 Dialectical Journals

"Looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of property which has suffered some damage" (Chopin 3).
       In the beginning of the novel, this except characterizes the strained relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. Catering to the beliefs of the time, Mr. Pontellier views his wife as an object to which he has control over. HE also comments on how his wife is no longer the picture of perfection having "suffered some damage",  belittling her worth and status in society. Similarly, this excerpt parallels the worship that Mrs. Pontellier receives from her husband, making their relationship appear incomplete compared to others in the society.

"An indescribable oppression...filled her whole being with anguish" (Chopin 8).
       Edna Pontellier describes how she feels as though her current life is hindering her true potential due to her many responsibilities and people to care for. This feeling adds to her discontent with her personal relationship with her husband, adding to her overall characterization as an oppressed woman being kept from her true purpose in life. This statement is controversial as it contradicts the beliefs and lifestyles that women were accustomed to in the society at this time.

"They were women who idealized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings... many of them were delicious in the role" (Chopin 10).
       This except adds to the characterization of Mrs. Pontellier as she describes other women that she has encountered within the society. She comments on how these women, much different from her, live for the sole purpose of making a happy family and catering to their husbands. She then states that the women were playing the "role" beautifully, creating a sense that the women were faking this devotion and disregarding their oppression within the culture in order to fulfill the stereotypes of women's personalities during the time.

"Happy Endings" Structure and Style Aspects

"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin

     In the story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas", Ursula Le Guin describes the inner workings surface-level ideal society through her use of situational irony, the serene setting and society members to shed light on her message that questioning and personal beliefs is the fundamental basis to society. 

     After describing the jovial festival occuring within Omelas, Le Guin then illuminates the brutish, more savage part of the society. Under the city, a child is kept in a room with no windows or light, where occasionally "the food and water jug are hastily filled, the door is locked, the eyes disappear"(5). The child is kept captive and treated like an animal to exemplify the beauty of Omelas to the people and to act as a reminder for the basis of their happy lives. This situational irony proves Le Guin's purpose due to how rather than standing up for the injustices that are performed to the child, the citizens become numb to the pain and accept the child's suffering as a part of their culture. Similarly, Omelas is set in an obsolete location, on the ocean and surrounded by a wall of protecting mountains. This assists in portraying the message of the author because although the location is more than ideal, it cannot prevent the atrocities that occur in every society unless the people rise up to make a change. Lastly, Le Guin contrasts the bystanders in society to the ones who after seeing the child, "keep walking, and walk straight out of Omelas...they walk ahead into the darkness, and they do not come back" (7).  This contradiction is representative of how society, when not questioned, will become inhuman and naive. The author emphasizes the necessity to "walk ahead" in order to progress society. 

"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway Literary Analysis

     In "Hills Like White Elephants", Ernest Hemingway details the conversation between a man and a girl as they avoid discussing a life altering decision while they wait for a train to take them to their future. Hemingway's use of reticent symbolism and dialect characterize the unsuccessful relationship between the two, accentuating the necessity of honesty and communication within partnerships.
     Throughout the piece, Hemingway uses various elements of fictional craft to illuminate the importance of communication and an honest bond within a relationship. Hemingway uses various symbols throughout the text to emphasize his message. For example, by constantly referring to the "two lines of rails" throughout the work, Hemingway highlights the dysfunctional relationship between the man and the girl, symbolizing them as two "rails" that are metaphorically set in stone in their decisions and will never cross paths. Also, Hemingway uses beer as a symbol of miscommunication between the pair as it is a constant theme and the two are never pictured without a drink. The alcohol acts as a focal symbol in this piece to expose the way the two main characters avoid their decision and communication on the matter at all costs. Similarly, the author employs dialect as a way of characterizing the relationship as unsuccessful and solidifying the importance of communication and honesty. As the couple interact, they talk in short, blunt sentences, only skimming the surface of their issue surrounding the operation. As so, dialect depicts the surface level relationship between the two due to the lack of communication, unveiled though their strange talking, and ultimately dishonesty. In conclusion, Hemingway's use of symbolism and dialect characterize the couples relationship, redefining the necessity of communication and honesty within a relationship.

"I Stand Here Ironing"

      In the short story "I Stand Here Ironing", Tillie Olsen tells the story of a mother reflecting on the mistakes she made while raising her first child as she was forced to work more often than not in order to stay afloat during the depression. As narrator looks back on how her decisions have negatively affected her daughter, her reflective point of view and remorseful tone illuminate the overall emotions that parents feel as they bear witness to how their choices directly manipulate their children's lives.

     Throughout the piece, Olsen utilizes a reflective point of view as well as a remorseful tone as the mother recalls the past nineteen years of her daughters life. As the mother reflects on her daughters life, she looks back full of regret, stating "She was a child seldom smiled at. Her father left me before she was a year old. I had to work for her first six years" (271). Similarly, the mother draws attention to the differing relationships she shares with her other children, failing "to hold her and lover her after she came back... and after a while she'd push away" (269). Overall, Olson conveys the mothers dismay and feelings of failure through her tone as well as point of view, illustrating the difficulties of the time period as well as the sometime unexpected trials and tribulations that adhere to motherhood. This story relates to parenthood through all eras, shedding light on the difficulties that parents face when attempting to create well rounded children as well as the challenges that watching your child struggle put on parents. In all, Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing" provides insight into the difficulties that parents face as they raise their children through struggle.

Accusatory

Accusatory - charging of wrong doing

"Cathedral" by Raymond Carver Response Questions

1. How does the first-person narrator of "Cathedral" reveal himself to the reader? Note his tone. Notice also the details he chooses to reveal about himself and his wife, as well as the ones he doesn't reveal. What character traits are you able to ascertain even in the first few paragraphs?

     The narrator in the story reveals himself as being close minded, stating that his wife's friend "being blind bothered me... a blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to" (1079). This use of harsh, bothersome tone suggests that because the narrator is unfamiliar with physical abnormalities and differences, like being blind, he rejects them as a part of functioning society. Contrary, the narrator describes his wife as being opposite to him, welcoming these differences as a piece of society, allowing the Robert to touch "his fingers to every part of her face, her nose - even her neck" (1080). This open attitude allows the reader to see the empathy and compassion within the narrators wife, as she attempts to understand differences between people and uses them as a way to create a bond.

2. How does Carver's narrator set the reader up for meeting the blind man? Is your first response to Robert the same as the narrator's? Look at paragraphs 18-44. How does Carver use both the conversation and the narrator's private thoughts to create the blind man's character while also continuing to develop the character of the narrator?

     The narrator leads into his first encounter with the blind man with a descriptor bases. He depicts his life as if he lacks the qualities and human experiences of a "normal" person, attributing this all to his lack of sight. In paragraphs 18-44, Carver uses conversation to convey the narrators ability to act normal while he uses his thoughts to express his uncomfortable nature as he studies the man, notes his differences and experiences the mannerisms involved with lack of sight. My response, although I may be uncomfortable at first in the situation, was entirely different from the narrators. I don't think I would dehumanize the blind man in the away the narrator does on the sole bases that he lacks a sense. 

3. Blindness is both a subject of "Cathedral" and a recurring motif. Consider the many different ways blindness is addressed in the story. How does each add complexity and meaning to the story?

     Blindness in included in "Cathedral" in various different ways, each adding their own meaning to the story. First, there is the physical meaning, describing Robert as a blind man. This lack of sensory creates a barrier between the narrator and Robert, causing tension and discomfort for much of the story. Similarly, there is a lack of connection between the narrator and Robert due to the unfamiliar world they each experience. Also, blindness is symbolic in a sense that the narrator is "blind" to the world of physical disabilities, and thus lacks compassion and empathy towards the matter. 

5. The narrator experiences an epiphany - a moment of sudden insight and clarity - at the end of the story, but the author never explains what that insight is. Why do you think Carver withholds that specific information from the reader? What other information is withheld from the reader? Why?

     At the end of the story, the narrator experiences an epiphany, but the author fails to explain this insight, leading the reader to come to their own conclusion about the situation. I believe Carver choses to do this to exemplify the various messages that can come from this story, strengthening his message that differences don’t define who we are, but rather create bonds between people. Carver also withholds the wife’s interpretation of the event to highlight the interaction between the narrator and Robert.

6. Characterize the habits of the narrator and his wife. They do not seem close; they watch television rather than talk to each other; they drink to excess, overeat, and use drugs. Does Carver judge them? Do you?

     Carver does appear to judge them, highlighting their opposite personalities and well as their inability to successfully communicate with each other. Similarly to Carver, I judge the couple as well. I think that their relationship lacks love, as the couple choses to partake in actions that will ensure their lack of communication. Furthermore, this way of interaction leads me to question why the two are married when their relationship is destined for failure once the drugs and entertainment run out. 

Literary Analysis "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates

    In the short story,  "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Joyce Carol Oates depicts the story of a fifteen year old girl named Connie struggling with family acceptance, who becomes a victim to a local psychopath. Through comparing Connie's various family and depicting the fear invoked within Connie by her stalker, Arnold Friend, Oates testifies the balance between perception and reality when examining one's inward and outward personality. 

     When depicting Connie's appearance, Oates portrays Connie as having a split personality, appearing "one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home. Everything about her had two sides to it" (469). This contradiction reveals that Connie attempts to break away from her family, trying to appear mature and sophisticated away from home because her family forces her into a childish, superficial girl. By developing the split in Connie's personality, Oates solidifies Connie's reaction when faced with danger. After being approached by Arnold Friend and recognizing the threat he poses, Connie feels as though she is "living inside this body that wasn't really hers" (479). By including this, Oates reaffirms her purpose, indication that even though Connie may appear to be a mature woman, when faced with adversity, she loses her artificial confidence and reveals her inner hopeless child. Furthermore, Oates unveils the thin line between how one acts to alter other's perception and the inner, true reality. This, in turn, is proving that often, people falsify their actions to hide their true person.

Literary Analysis - "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

     In the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins Gilman tells the story of a young wife who is suffering from a mental breakdown while facing self affliction over her role as a woman. Through portraying the narrators mental deterioration and personal liberation Gilman emphasizes the necessity of changing how gender roles are defined within society. Within the short story, Gilman utilizes the narrators isolation as well as her bedroom to strengthen her argument on gender equality.

     In the story, the narrator’s husband requires her to be isolated from society for the majority of her time in order to improve her mental health. Contrary to John’s beliefs, the narrator becomes more mentally unstable throughout her time in isolation because she is kept from expressing her creativity and is forced to yearn for freedom from her husbands control, causing her mental state to deteriorate. This portrays Gilman’s message because the narrator is compliant to the requests of her husband, keeping her journal a secret as well as not expressing the her discontent with her living situation. Due to the isolated setting the narrator lives in, Gilman’s message becomes clear as the readers witness the affects the narrator experiences due to her inability to voice her issues with John, as he views her as incompetent and even childish because she is a woman, resulting in her rapidly spreading mental illness. 

     To further the story, the narrator’s room contributes to the author’s overall message due to the symbolism within the different parts of the room. First, the room is illustrated as a prison-like nursery where “the windows are barred… and there are rings and things in the walls” (1067). This symbol of the room contributes to the characterization of John, portraying him as a controlling and dominant figure within the marraige. Similarly, Gilman uses the yellow wallpaper to not only symbolize the growth in the narrators mental illness, but also to show how her perception of liberation has changed as she begins to view herself as equal to John, eventually as his controller. Overall, the symbolism used within the narrators bedroom illustrates the shift in perspective as the narrator moves closer towards gender liberation and away from the typical wife role. 

     In conclusion, without the setting that the story takes place in, the authors message would not have been as accurately perceived. This piece of the story emphasizes the importance of gender equality within relationships due to how controlling and overbearing people have the ability to literally drive someone insane. The various ways that Gilman used the setting of the story to portray her message that the gender equality is a necessity in society makes her overall argument successful.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Exploring the Text

1. The narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper" undergoes a profound change from the beginning of the story to the end. How is this change revealed in relation to her response to the wallpaper? How does she feel about the change? How do your feelings differ from the narrator's? 

     In the beginning of the story, the narrator lives by the rules that her husband John has set for her, catering to his wishes and obeying his professional advice. She is prohibited from interacting with the outside world and is forced to spend most of her time isolated, unable to use her mind in taxing ways until she recovers from her nervous condition. Throughout the course of the story, the narrator begins to become attached to the yellow wallpaper in her room, seeing faces of women in it that have become trapped. At first, the narrator wants to subdue these women and tie them up, keeping them in their place, but as the story professes, the narrator begins to connect herself with these women. She begins to see how these women are trapped, similar to herself, and want to escape their oppressive bonds, and experience world outside of their isolation. Soon, the narrator finds herself assisting these women to escape the wallpaper, and she identifies herself as one of them. By the end of the novel, the narrator no longer sees herself as insuperior to John and rejects typical domestic customs of the time, embracing her creativity and freeing herself from the wallpaper (oppression). The narrator is relieved by this change, no longer having to obey the standards of domesticity and being able to use her full potential. I feel as though this change was essential in a way for the narrator because without transferring her grief and misery into the wallpaper, Jane would have never recognized that she was unhappy with her situation and therefore, wouldn't have rebelled from the typical domestic lifestyle and embraced her own personality and attributes. 

2. The narrator describes the room with the yellow wallpaper as a former nursery - that is, a room in a large house where children played, ate their meals, and may have been educated. What evidence is there that it may have had a different function? How does that discrepancy help develop the character of the narrator and communicate the themes of the story?

     In line 37-39, the narrator comments that "it was a nursery first and then a playroom and then a gymnasium, I should judge; for the windows are barred for little children and there are rings and things in the walls." This quote suggests that the narrator was naive that the nursery was used as some sort of prison room, suggested by the barred windows and rings on the walls for chains. This discrepancy developed the narrator because the reader is able to witness that she is compliant and listens to what John tells her, trusting that the room is going to function as a recovery place. But in reality, John is using the room to keep his wife from society and to restrict her freedom unknowingly. This contradiction portrays the central theme of the story that women are susceptible to be controlled by men as they accept the societal norms of women. Furthermore, the prison-nursery suggests that women are often blind to the position they have within a household, and that they only live by these regulations because they are all that they have experienced.

4. Look at the description of the wallpaper in paragraphs 96-104. How does the syntax of the sentences both mirror the pattern on the wallpaper and suggest the narrator's agitation?

     The syntax of the description of the pattern of the wallpaper connects with the narrators agitation due to the way the narrator is able to view the pattern in a multitude of ways. She is able to see many different connections between the patterns, which in turn, exhausts her because of the difficulty to identify one set pattern. This suggests that the narrator is unhappy in her current life, that she has the ability to see many different ways to escape her position as a housewife, but is unable to find one clear path to take. As a result, she see's rejecting her current lifestyle as unfeasible and in turn, adds to the confusion that she dis experiencing as she learns more about her life as an individual. 

Their Eyes Were Watching God Literary Analysis

     In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, illness is a reoccurring theme that Hurston utilizes to convey her overall message that one's happiness in life becomes dependent on others. Throughout the course of the novel, Janie witnesses illness take her love ones and impact her life and overall happiness. The majority of Janie's family succumbs to illness within the piece, including Nanny, Jody, and Tea Cake. With each death, Janie's happiness is directly effected. With the death of Nanny, Janie is forced to honor her grandmothers dying wish and marry Logan. This leads Janie to lose her childhood, representative of freedom and happiness, in order to have the life her grandmother wanted for her. Similarly, Janie's relationship with Jody hinders her happiness as Jody becomes controlling and jealous of Janie's happiness. But, once Jody passes, Janie once again, feels freedom as the part of her life that made her unhappy no longer was present. In contrast to these deaths through illness, when Tea Cake dies from Janie's shot, Janie loses the happiness she had during her marriage to Tea Cake due to the fact that she took his life. She feels remorse as well as the loss she has suffered, unlike the feelings she had with the death of Nanny and Jody. Because Janie allows her relationships to govern her happiness, each loss effects her happiness differently.
     Hurston's purpose through writing Their Eyes Were Watching God was to prove to her audience that nothing in life is permanent, and as a result, happiness should not be one's dependent on others in due to the lack of stability. By having three separate characters die from different illnesses, Hurston exemplifies the various curveballs in life to illustrate to the reader that life is unpredictable. Similarly, Huston has Janie react to each death in a different was depending on the type of relationship they shared to prove her message that happiness depends on the relationships shared between people. By having Janie be unhappy, Hurston demonstrates a deeper message that people should not allow their happiness to depend on others, rather have happiness come from within dependent on oneself. In conclusion, through illness, Hurston proves her message that happiness should be free from dependence on others due to the unpredictability of life.