Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 31, 2008
Journal #15 Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton
Quote:
"I feel very sure that San Diego County will be selected for fruit and grape-growing. In two years grape vines begin to bear; the same with figs, peaches and other fruits"(Ruiz de Burton 97).
Summary:
Don Mariano is trying to persuade the European settlers to grow fruits instead of grains in their recently acquired land.
Response:
It's amazing just how right Don Mariano was about what type of crop to produce in San Diego County. It's funny how a story in a book written over one hundred years ago can be so right about our current agricultural system. I find it amusing that the white farmers are so intent on growing grain in a land that they do not know. Don Mariano is a rich and successful man with a plethora of knowledge about San Diego. Yet the white farmers are being stubborn and sticking to their grain. The best part of the whole story is how the white farmers accuse Don Mariano's cattle of destroying their crop when in actuality it is the climate of San Diego that is the culprit. What I wonder is how did Don Mariano know just how successful fruits would be in San Diego County. It probably has to do with how long he spent raising cattle on his land.
One thing I do not quite understand is just how helpful Don Mariano seems to be. He has had his land taken away yet he is making all kinds of offers to the farmers that have taken his land. He offers to sell him his own cattle interest free. He just sounds to good to be true. He is making way to many compromises considering the situation he is in. Although on one hand He does not have much of a choice, especially after the Treaty of Hidalgo granted the America so much land. It must have been extremely difficult for the Mexican and Spanish landowners to give up their land unwillingly.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Trail of Tears
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 31, 2008
Journal #14 Sarah Winnemucca
Quote:
"I looked North and South and East and West, and saw nothing but dust, and I heard a great weeping. I saw woman crying , and I saw my men shot down by the white people"(Winnemucca 506).
Summary:
Sarah Winnemucca is describing the cruelty that the Native Americans faced when the whites came onto the Native Americans land.
Response:
This quote reminds me of the Trail of Tears. An unfortunate movement made by the Native Americans when they were forced to migrate onto new lands. Thousands of Native Americans perished. This quote shows just how cruel and unforgiving the whites were. They had absoulutly no compassion for the Native Americans. It can not begin to imagine what the Native Americans felt after existing on their land for thousands of years only to be kicked off and systematically killed by the whites. The one thing that I find so hard to believe is how Winnemucca's grandfather would tell the story of the long lost white brother. Even after they were treaded terribly her grandfather still gave the whites the benefit of the doubt. I'm very pleased that Scott has taught us so much about California's history that you do not get in conventional by the book classes.
Winnemucca's life, seen form just a few chapters in her autobiography, is an amazing one. The one thing I do not quite understand is why people would argue that she was mostly self promoting. To me it seems that she was speaking for her people and trying to rally for the Piute's lost land and rights. I know there is the argument of the Indian princess but that argument just does not hold enough ground for me. She may have dressed up in the stereotypical dress just so that the white people would accept her and listen to her words. To me she is doing whatever it takes for her cause.
English 48B
January 31, 2008
Journal #14 Sarah Winnemucca
Quote:
"I looked North and South and East and West, and saw nothing but dust, and I heard a great weeping. I saw woman crying , and I saw my men shot down by the white people"(Winnemucca 506).
Summary:
Sarah Winnemucca is describing the cruelty that the Native Americans faced when the whites came onto the Native Americans land.
Response:
This quote reminds me of the Trail of Tears. An unfortunate movement made by the Native Americans when they were forced to migrate onto new lands. Thousands of Native Americans perished. This quote shows just how cruel and unforgiving the whites were. They had absoulutly no compassion for the Native Americans. It can not begin to imagine what the Native Americans felt after existing on their land for thousands of years only to be kicked off and systematically killed by the whites. The one thing that I find so hard to believe is how Winnemucca's grandfather would tell the story of the long lost white brother. Even after they were treaded terribly her grandfather still gave the whites the benefit of the doubt. I'm very pleased that Scott has taught us so much about California's history that you do not get in conventional by the book classes.
Winnemucca's life, seen form just a few chapters in her autobiography, is an amazing one. The one thing I do not quite understand is why people would argue that she was mostly self promoting. To me it seems that she was speaking for her people and trying to rally for the Piute's lost land and rights. I know there is the argument of the Indian princess but that argument just does not hold enough ground for me. She may have dressed up in the stereotypical dress just so that the white people would accept her and listen to her words. To me she is doing whatever it takes for her cause.
A strong voice
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 31, 2008
Journal #13 Sarah Winnemucca
Quote:
"You call my people bloodseeking. My people did not seek to kill them, nor did they steak their horses, -no, no, far from it. During the winter my people helped them(Winnemucca 504).
Summary:
Sarah Winnemucca flips the savage stereotype that is given to the Indians by the whites and places the stereotype on to the whites.
Response:
For a Indian woman to say such true words takes a courage beyond measure. Not only was Winnemucca the first Native American published but in her first publication she calls out the white people as savages. I love how she completely flips the savage stereotype onto the true savages. If you listen to the word it even sounds harsh and demeaning. The word savage has a very strong and precise pronunciation that makes the impact of this word feel a lot stronger. It's funny how the European settlers received so much help form the Native Americans and taught basically how to survive, in these new lands, yet the whites have the nerve to call the Native Americans savages. The Native Americans were anything but savage. They lived in a lot more peacful communities, they shared all their land and they bathed and maintained their hygeine. It was the Europeans who had poor hygiene, smelled horribly and practiced in private ownership of everything. The irony of who is calling who a savage just overwhelms me. Every time I read about the European treatment of the Native Americans it simply startles me.
I wanted to end this blog entry by saying just how courageous Winnemucca was in calling out the whites as savages. The Piute people should be proud that they had such a strong voice in their community that spoke out for her people.The only unfortunate thing is that it has taken so long for scholars and readers to recognize the importance and impact that Winnemucca's writings had. The part that speaks to Winnemucca's positive influence is how Norton's Anthology and their scholars put Winnemucca into their anthology.
English 48B
January 31, 2008
Journal #13 Sarah Winnemucca
Quote:
"You call my people bloodseeking. My people did not seek to kill them, nor did they steak their horses, -no, no, far from it. During the winter my people helped them(Winnemucca 504).
Summary:
Sarah Winnemucca flips the savage stereotype that is given to the Indians by the whites and places the stereotype on to the whites.
Response:
For a Indian woman to say such true words takes a courage beyond measure. Not only was Winnemucca the first Native American published but in her first publication she calls out the white people as savages. I love how she completely flips the savage stereotype onto the true savages. If you listen to the word it even sounds harsh and demeaning. The word savage has a very strong and precise pronunciation that makes the impact of this word feel a lot stronger. It's funny how the European settlers received so much help form the Native Americans and taught basically how to survive, in these new lands, yet the whites have the nerve to call the Native Americans savages. The Native Americans were anything but savage. They lived in a lot more peacful communities, they shared all their land and they bathed and maintained their hygeine. It was the Europeans who had poor hygiene, smelled horribly and practiced in private ownership of everything. The irony of who is calling who a savage just overwhelms me. Every time I read about the European treatment of the Native Americans it simply startles me.
I wanted to end this blog entry by saying just how courageous Winnemucca was in calling out the whites as savages. The Piute people should be proud that they had such a strong voice in their community that spoke out for her people.The only unfortunate thing is that it has taken so long for scholars and readers to recognize the importance and impact that Winnemucca's writings had. The part that speaks to Winnemucca's positive influence is how Norton's Anthology and their scholars put Winnemucca into their anthology.
Friday, January 25, 2008
The difficult choice
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 25, 2008
Journal #12 Mark Twain
Quote:
"All right, then, I'll go to hell"-and tore it up.
Summary:
"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", reaches the books climax when Huck Finn chooses saving his friend Jim and hell over heaven.
Response:
There is not much I can write that will give this quote enough justice about it's impact and tremendous meaning to the book and its audience. The power that this quote holds is just enormous. What I find interesting about Huck Finn is how much of a believer he is in the Christian heaven and hell. Everyone, especially Tom Sawyer, calls out Huck Finn for being ignorant and not very smart. Yet what they do not see is just how incredibly bright Huck Finn is. Granted it took him almost the whole book to come to the realization that blacks are humans too but in this point or race relations seeing a black person as a human is the last thing that is going through the thought process of a white person. It's funny how Miss Watson was trying to "civilize" Huck when it actually turns out to be the person that everybody would have least expected.
The above quote is the moral highpoint in the life of a child that has no family and is cast into society as a no good vagrant. Yet even in these terrible circumstances Huck Finn is able to achieve a level of moral enlightenment that almost no one knows. Its just amazing how one line of a book can have so much emotion and feelings attached. Huck Finn is breaking all of societies rules by helping the Jim escape and still Huck finds it within himself to throw away societies and religions preconceptions about Jim and make the right choice. Huck Finn at this point in the book is leaps and bounds ahead of everybody in terms of his morale standing. Even though he honestly believes that he is going to hell for his decision , Huck Finn has no idea that he just bought himself a guaranteed spot into Heaven.
English 48B
January 25, 2008
Journal #12 Mark Twain
Quote:
"All right, then, I'll go to hell"-and tore it up.
Summary:
"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", reaches the books climax when Huck Finn chooses saving his friend Jim and hell over heaven.
Response:
There is not much I can write that will give this quote enough justice about it's impact and tremendous meaning to the book and its audience. The power that this quote holds is just enormous. What I find interesting about Huck Finn is how much of a believer he is in the Christian heaven and hell. Everyone, especially Tom Sawyer, calls out Huck Finn for being ignorant and not very smart. Yet what they do not see is just how incredibly bright Huck Finn is. Granted it took him almost the whole book to come to the realization that blacks are humans too but in this point or race relations seeing a black person as a human is the last thing that is going through the thought process of a white person. It's funny how Miss Watson was trying to "civilize" Huck when it actually turns out to be the person that everybody would have least expected.
The above quote is the moral highpoint in the life of a child that has no family and is cast into society as a no good vagrant. Yet even in these terrible circumstances Huck Finn is able to achieve a level of moral enlightenment that almost no one knows. Its just amazing how one line of a book can have so much emotion and feelings attached. Huck Finn is breaking all of societies rules by helping the Jim escape and still Huck finds it within himself to throw away societies and religions preconceptions about Jim and make the right choice. Huck Finn at this point in the book is leaps and bounds ahead of everybody in terms of his morale standing. Even though he honestly believes that he is going to hell for his decision , Huck Finn has no idea that he just bought himself a guaranteed spot into Heaven.
Tom Sawyers wild imagination
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 25, 2008
Journal #11 Mark Twain
Quote:
"He said there was loads of them there, anyway; and he said there was A-rabs there, too, and elephants and things. I said, why couldn't we seen them, then? He said if I warn't so ignorant, but had read a book called "Don Quixote," I would know without asking"(Twain 116).
Summary:
Tom sawyer is criticizing Huck Finn for not reading Don Quixote. As the reader we see where Tom Sawyer's adventurous thoughts come from.
Response:
The genius behind Mark Twain is his ability to write a book that is both for adults and for children. Many scholars argue over who Huck Finn was written for. I would like to think that Twain intended the book to be read by both adults and children. The book appeals to children because of the adventures that Huck Finn and Jim go on. While at the same time appealing to adults because they can read deeper into the words and see the maturation of Huck Finn. I can also see why this book was banned by so many school systems. It shows apologetically a runaway kid who smokes, steals and lives on the streets. I'm not sure a parent, especially of a young boy, would want there child reading this. Although if I had a little bot I wouldn't mind because I know that boys have there adventurous fantasies and reading this caliber of book would just help them to become a more creative and active child. As I said before the book also appeals to an older audience because of the deep themes that pop up in the great story. Just as Scott mentioned he read "Huckleberry Finn", as a kid and later an adult. I'm sure that both times he got to completely different interpretations of the story as well. I'm really impressed by the range and depth that Mark Twain has shown me as a reader. He can go from writing something serious and thought provoking to humorous in a split second. While maintaining the integrity of the story.
English 48B
January 25, 2008
Journal #11 Mark Twain
Quote:
"He said there was loads of them there, anyway; and he said there was A-rabs there, too, and elephants and things. I said, why couldn't we seen them, then? He said if I warn't so ignorant, but had read a book called "Don Quixote," I would know without asking"(Twain 116).
Summary:
Tom sawyer is criticizing Huck Finn for not reading Don Quixote. As the reader we see where Tom Sawyer's adventurous thoughts come from.
Response:
The genius behind Mark Twain is his ability to write a book that is both for adults and for children. Many scholars argue over who Huck Finn was written for. I would like to think that Twain intended the book to be read by both adults and children. The book appeals to children because of the adventures that Huck Finn and Jim go on. While at the same time appealing to adults because they can read deeper into the words and see the maturation of Huck Finn. I can also see why this book was banned by so many school systems. It shows apologetically a runaway kid who smokes, steals and lives on the streets. I'm not sure a parent, especially of a young boy, would want there child reading this. Although if I had a little bot I wouldn't mind because I know that boys have there adventurous fantasies and reading this caliber of book would just help them to become a more creative and active child. As I said before the book also appeals to an older audience because of the deep themes that pop up in the great story. Just as Scott mentioned he read "Huckleberry Finn", as a kid and later an adult. I'm sure that both times he got to completely different interpretations of the story as well. I'm really impressed by the range and depth that Mark Twain has shown me as a reader. He can go from writing something serious and thought provoking to humorous in a split second. While maintaining the integrity of the story.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Huck Finn Like Holden Claufield
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 24, 2008
Journal #10 Mark Twain
Quote:
"Then I sat down in a chair by the window and tried to think of something cheerful, but it warn't no use. I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead"(Twain 110).
Summary:
Huck Finn had been taken in by the widow Miss Watson. Huck Finn finds the civilized life boring and not to his liking.
Response:
This quote dives deep into the internal struggle that plagues Huck Finn throughout the novel. He had a very troubled childhood which is what led to the lifestyle that he is accustomed to. His father was an alcoholic who constantly beat him and showed him no love. This is what Huck Finn really wants, is someone to care for him and love him for who he is. Huck Finn finds this in a Miss Watson's slave, Jim. All the time they spend drifting on the Mississippi river forces Huck and Jim to grow and develop a close and caring friendship. The above scene with Huck Finn staring out his window and wishing he were dead reminds me exactly of the narrator of my favorite book, "The Catcher in the Rye". From the first time I read this book I knew it was special and I have read it many times over. Holden is a young teenager that is very antisocial. His antisocial behavior stems from his view of everybody being "phony". A reoccurring thought that Holden has is wishing he were dead. Just as Huck wishes he were dead. I think the connection here is that these two characters are a lot more deep and sensitive then people give them credit for. They are both the kind of person that will not go out and seek help but rather they would keep their problems stuffed inside away from peoples ridicule. Its striking to me how both of these characters seem to be reaching out for the love and caring hand that they never knew while growing up. Yet there is no one there for them when they need it.
English 48B
January 24, 2008
Journal #10 Mark Twain
Quote:
"Then I sat down in a chair by the window and tried to think of something cheerful, but it warn't no use. I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead"(Twain 110).
Summary:
Huck Finn had been taken in by the widow Miss Watson. Huck Finn finds the civilized life boring and not to his liking.
Response:
This quote dives deep into the internal struggle that plagues Huck Finn throughout the novel. He had a very troubled childhood which is what led to the lifestyle that he is accustomed to. His father was an alcoholic who constantly beat him and showed him no love. This is what Huck Finn really wants, is someone to care for him and love him for who he is. Huck Finn finds this in a Miss Watson's slave, Jim. All the time they spend drifting on the Mississippi river forces Huck and Jim to grow and develop a close and caring friendship. The above scene with Huck Finn staring out his window and wishing he were dead reminds me exactly of the narrator of my favorite book, "The Catcher in the Rye". From the first time I read this book I knew it was special and I have read it many times over. Holden is a young teenager that is very antisocial. His antisocial behavior stems from his view of everybody being "phony". A reoccurring thought that Holden has is wishing he were dead. Just as Huck wishes he were dead. I think the connection here is that these two characters are a lot more deep and sensitive then people give them credit for. They are both the kind of person that will not go out and seek help but rather they would keep their problems stuffed inside away from peoples ridicule. Its striking to me how both of these characters seem to be reaching out for the love and caring hand that they never knew while growing up. Yet there is no one there for them when they need it.
No More Woman!!
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 24, 2007
Journal #9 Mark Twain
Quote:
"Mighty soon we'll have the cave so cluttered up with woman, and fellows waiting to be ransomed, that there won't be no place for the robbers"(Twain 114).
Summary:
Tom Sawyer has discussed his intentions as his group of outlaw "men" is formed. Ben Rogers points out that holding all these people for ransom will take up space in their cave.
Response:
The funny Mark Twain strikes once again. Every time I read this quote it brings a smile to my face. I can imagine a group of preadolescence kids going over plots of robbing, killing and kidnapping. All in an attempt to live out their childhood fantasies of cops and robbers. The best part of this quote is that it reminds me of the little rascals. The little rascals had a secret hideout that they called,"The He-man woman haters club", where they would discuss various points in their agenda such as the local soap box derby race and assignments to certain positions within the group. I remember watching the movie and finding it how funny it was that these little kids were so disgusted by girls. If any of the other members such as Spanky or Buckwheat caught you even looking at a girl then a club meeting was immediately called into session. This kid like nostalgia is the theme that Twain is trying to create for his readers of "Huckleberry Finn".
Apart from the playful innocence of these kids there is also the scary realization of just how disturbing these kids imaginations were. Tom Sawyer talks about killing people and robbing them and marking there forehead with a cross so that the public knows who killed the person. Although I highly doubt they would do such a thing these thoughts are none the less a little disturbing. When I was a kid I can remember playing cops and robbers but It never even crossed my mind to even mention killing and robbing a person. After this said I do not think that the intention's of Twain was to showcase the violence that these kids could conjure up but rather show the playful innocence that is associated with these preadolescence kids.
English 48B
January 24, 2007
Journal #9 Mark Twain
Quote:
"Mighty soon we'll have the cave so cluttered up with woman, and fellows waiting to be ransomed, that there won't be no place for the robbers"(Twain 114).
Summary:
Tom Sawyer has discussed his intentions as his group of outlaw "men" is formed. Ben Rogers points out that holding all these people for ransom will take up space in their cave.
Response:
The funny Mark Twain strikes once again. Every time I read this quote it brings a smile to my face. I can imagine a group of preadolescence kids going over plots of robbing, killing and kidnapping. All in an attempt to live out their childhood fantasies of cops and robbers. The best part of this quote is that it reminds me of the little rascals. The little rascals had a secret hideout that they called,"The He-man woman haters club", where they would discuss various points in their agenda such as the local soap box derby race and assignments to certain positions within the group. I remember watching the movie and finding it how funny it was that these little kids were so disgusted by girls. If any of the other members such as Spanky or Buckwheat caught you even looking at a girl then a club meeting was immediately called into session. This kid like nostalgia is the theme that Twain is trying to create for his readers of "Huckleberry Finn".
Apart from the playful innocence of these kids there is also the scary realization of just how disturbing these kids imaginations were. Tom Sawyer talks about killing people and robbing them and marking there forehead with a cross so that the public knows who killed the person. Although I highly doubt they would do such a thing these thoughts are none the less a little disturbing. When I was a kid I can remember playing cops and robbers but It never even crossed my mind to even mention killing and robbing a person. After this said I do not think that the intention's of Twain was to showcase the violence that these kids could conjure up but rather show the playful innocence that is associated with these preadolescence kids.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Untamed Beauty
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 18, 2008
Journal #8 Mark Twain
Quote:
"...the steep mountains sides rose right up aloft into space- rose up like a vast wall a little out of the perpendicular, and thickly wooded with tall pines"(Twain 303).
Summary:
The above quote is from Twain's book,"Roughing it".In this chapter Twain is describing the camp area that he and another younger man lived at while staying in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. They arrive in Nevada, after failing at silver mining, attempting to start a timber farm.
Response:
The reason I chose this quote is because it describes the early North American wilderness and its beauty. It really spoke volumes to me because of the great way that Twain described this unsettled land. Hie goes on later to describe a lake scene , where the water is so clear that the fish and rocks can be seen down at 75 feet below. I have always been fascinated and loved the natural outdoors. After reading this chapter from, "Roughing it", I could smell the crisp fresh air intertwined with the scent of fresh pine trees. This is what modern day Americans , in the suburbs, know nothing about. Along with this English class I am taking an American history class. The first chapter of the textbook was about the gold rush and the Native Americans. I kept thinking about a painting that the textbook had in it. It was a river scene, that had deep and wide river beds that cut into a beautiful deep canyon. The most amazing part of the painting is the rich oranges and purples that made up the sunset. The painting also had tall bright green redwood and pine trees.
Mark Twain writes about a time in America that was wild and beautiful. I think a lot of people take for granted the area that we live in. They do not take the time to go out and appreciate just how beautiful our American woods is. Two years ago I went on a camping trip with about 10 Friends. My friend's family has a cabin right next to Murphys. The one thing I remember most clearly is just how quiet the area was and how clean the air was. I can not put in words how much I enjoyed being in that environment.
English 48B
January 18, 2008
Journal #8 Mark Twain
Quote:
"...the steep mountains sides rose right up aloft into space- rose up like a vast wall a little out of the perpendicular, and thickly wooded with tall pines"(Twain 303).
Summary:
The above quote is from Twain's book,"Roughing it".In this chapter Twain is describing the camp area that he and another younger man lived at while staying in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. They arrive in Nevada, after failing at silver mining, attempting to start a timber farm.
Response:
The reason I chose this quote is because it describes the early North American wilderness and its beauty. It really spoke volumes to me because of the great way that Twain described this unsettled land. Hie goes on later to describe a lake scene , where the water is so clear that the fish and rocks can be seen down at 75 feet below. I have always been fascinated and loved the natural outdoors. After reading this chapter from, "Roughing it", I could smell the crisp fresh air intertwined with the scent of fresh pine trees. This is what modern day Americans , in the suburbs, know nothing about. Along with this English class I am taking an American history class. The first chapter of the textbook was about the gold rush and the Native Americans. I kept thinking about a painting that the textbook had in it. It was a river scene, that had deep and wide river beds that cut into a beautiful deep canyon. The most amazing part of the painting is the rich oranges and purples that made up the sunset. The painting also had tall bright green redwood and pine trees.
Mark Twain writes about a time in America that was wild and beautiful. I think a lot of people take for granted the area that we live in. They do not take the time to go out and appreciate just how beautiful our American woods is. Two years ago I went on a camping trip with about 10 Friends. My friend's family has a cabin right next to Murphys. The one thing I remember most clearly is just how quiet the area was and how clean the air was. I can not put in words how much I enjoyed being in that environment.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 17, 2008
Journal #7 Mark Twain
Quote:
"It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said"(Twain 324).
Summary:
The town is having a religious rally to send off the troops with a high morale. Amidst the town people is a stranger who claims he is a messenger of God. The towns people cast him off as crazy and pay no mind to what he said.
Response:
I found that the last quote line in this work struck me as the most powerful and profound out of the whole short story. The most ironic thing about the towns people calling the man crazy is that he is summarizing what they are all praying about. In a nutshell the man is telling everybody that their prayers have been heard by God. The villagers pray that their soldiers kill all the enemy soldiers and that they come back home safe. Yet when the stranger says this he is outcast as crazy. This really says a lot about the attitudes and beliefs of these religious people. Who is to say which side is right. How can you expect a loving God to answer your prayers asking for the deaths of all the enemy soldiers. This really strikes me as odd that these religious people would wish death upon people they do not know. This reminds me of our current day situation with the war on "terrorism".The military is constantly saying how God is on their side yet so are the people we are fighting. Who is to say which one is right and which one is wrong. To me it seems like an easy way to gain the support of people by saying that God is on your side.
Religion is a very sensitive issue which is why Twain wrote this piece of work. He wrote it so that the reader would be aware of the criticisms that are made about religion. As easy as it is to use God to gain support it is just as easy to call someone crazy and make your cause seem like the right one.
English 48B
January 17, 2008
Journal #7 Mark Twain
Quote:
"It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said"(Twain 324).
Summary:
The town is having a religious rally to send off the troops with a high morale. Amidst the town people is a stranger who claims he is a messenger of God. The towns people cast him off as crazy and pay no mind to what he said.
Response:
I found that the last quote line in this work struck me as the most powerful and profound out of the whole short story. The most ironic thing about the towns people calling the man crazy is that he is summarizing what they are all praying about. In a nutshell the man is telling everybody that their prayers have been heard by God. The villagers pray that their soldiers kill all the enemy soldiers and that they come back home safe. Yet when the stranger says this he is outcast as crazy. This really says a lot about the attitudes and beliefs of these religious people. Who is to say which side is right. How can you expect a loving God to answer your prayers asking for the deaths of all the enemy soldiers. This really strikes me as odd that these religious people would wish death upon people they do not know. This reminds me of our current day situation with the war on "terrorism".The military is constantly saying how God is on their side yet so are the people we are fighting. Who is to say which one is right and which one is wrong. To me it seems like an easy way to gain the support of people by saying that God is on your side.
Religion is a very sensitive issue which is why Twain wrote this piece of work. He wrote it so that the reader would be aware of the criticisms that are made about religion. As easy as it is to use God to gain support it is just as easy to call someone crazy and make your cause seem like the right one.
This is not funny!
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 17. 2008
Journal #6 Mark Twain
Quote:
"...and he would go to work and bore me to death with some exasperating reminiscence of him as long and as tedious as it should be useless to me. If that was the design, it succeeded"(Twain 104).
Summary:
The narrator of the story is telling the reader that the following short story is boring and is not funny.
Response:
I forgot to mention this passage in my previous blog entry but It is an important one because it shows the sarcastic humor that Mark Twain uses in his works. Twain truly was a master of his art and the best at what he did. No other writer could captivate an audience like he did. He flat out says that he thinks the story is boring yet it proves to be otherwise. This is a very clever way of introducing the reader his type of humor. I think that in our present day there are few to no writes or comedians that could excel in this early American humor as did Twain. The only type of comedies that come close are the situational comedies like, "Everybody loves Raymond" and "Seinfeld". These two comedies do an excellent job of putting characters in awkward or compromising situations and having them deal with the situation. I didn't watch "Seinfeld", but the only episode I did was the one about the soup nazi. The soup nazi was a man who made the best type of food and when you ordered his soup you had to follow a very strict procedure. If you did not than he would yell, kick you out and ban you from ever buying soup from him again. I like to think the Twain would appreciate this type of humor and be proud to know that he was the father of this American humor.
Sarcasm is a very strong way to get your message across. Its also an easy an effective way to get a laugh from people. Mark Twain does a excellent job of using sarcasm in the above quote.
English 48B
January 17. 2008
Journal #6 Mark Twain
Quote:
"...and he would go to work and bore me to death with some exasperating reminiscence of him as long and as tedious as it should be useless to me. If that was the design, it succeeded"(Twain 104).
Summary:
The narrator of the story is telling the reader that the following short story is boring and is not funny.
Response:
I forgot to mention this passage in my previous blog entry but It is an important one because it shows the sarcastic humor that Mark Twain uses in his works. Twain truly was a master of his art and the best at what he did. No other writer could captivate an audience like he did. He flat out says that he thinks the story is boring yet it proves to be otherwise. This is a very clever way of introducing the reader his type of humor. I think that in our present day there are few to no writes or comedians that could excel in this early American humor as did Twain. The only type of comedies that come close are the situational comedies like, "Everybody loves Raymond" and "Seinfeld". These two comedies do an excellent job of putting characters in awkward or compromising situations and having them deal with the situation. I didn't watch "Seinfeld", but the only episode I did was the one about the soup nazi. The soup nazi was a man who made the best type of food and when you ordered his soup you had to follow a very strict procedure. If you did not than he would yell, kick you out and ban you from ever buying soup from him again. I like to think the Twain would appreciate this type of humor and be proud to know that he was the father of this American humor.
Sarcasm is a very strong way to get your message across. Its also an easy an effective way to get a laugh from people. Mark Twain does a excellent job of using sarcasm in the above quote.
The jumping frog and the conman
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 17, 2008
Journal #5 Twain
Quote:
"And he ketched Dan'l by the nap of the neck, and hefted him, and says, "Why blame my cats if he don't weigh five pound!"(Twain 107).
Summary:
Smiley has challenged a stranger in town that no frog in calaveras county can out jump his frog, Dan'l. While Smiley is off getting a frog to compete with Dan'l the stranger fills Dan'l with lead shot making him unable to jump and ultimately Smiley loses his money.
Response:
The humor that appears in this short story is very unique to the American humorist. All other short stories have a punchline that is built up throughout the story but in the case of Mark Twain the whole story is humorous. First there is Simon Wheeler who tells the story of the jumping frog, but also goes on all these wild tangents. This is part of what makes this short story funny is that the story goes nowhere. It is almost like a bunch of random thoughts put together. Here is the narrator trying to find a man only to be thrown on a wild goose chase. My favorite part is when Smiley gets cheated out of his money by the conman. Now he knows how it feels to be cheated out of many just like he has done. I can just imagine hoe mad Smiley was when he realized he had been cheated out of forty dollars based on his own eagerness to cheat the stranger. What I think is clever about the story is that the Stranger seems to be the True Smiley that the narrator is looking for. Only the ultimate conman could con Smiley and his frog.
I also want to comment on what Juliet said yesterday in class. The Simpson's analogy that she used was very good. When she brought up the episode that has Krusty dealing with a gambling problem it does a perfect job of showing me what Smiley is like. I love the line about Krusty asking Fat Tony who he has on the opera. The connection between Smiley and Krusty is just amazing.
English 48B
January 17, 2008
Journal #5 Twain
Quote:
"And he ketched Dan'l by the nap of the neck, and hefted him, and says, "Why blame my cats if he don't weigh five pound!"(Twain 107).
Summary:
Smiley has challenged a stranger in town that no frog in calaveras county can out jump his frog, Dan'l. While Smiley is off getting a frog to compete with Dan'l the stranger fills Dan'l with lead shot making him unable to jump and ultimately Smiley loses his money.
Response:
The humor that appears in this short story is very unique to the American humorist. All other short stories have a punchline that is built up throughout the story but in the case of Mark Twain the whole story is humorous. First there is Simon Wheeler who tells the story of the jumping frog, but also goes on all these wild tangents. This is part of what makes this short story funny is that the story goes nowhere. It is almost like a bunch of random thoughts put together. Here is the narrator trying to find a man only to be thrown on a wild goose chase. My favorite part is when Smiley gets cheated out of his money by the conman. Now he knows how it feels to be cheated out of many just like he has done. I can just imagine hoe mad Smiley was when he realized he had been cheated out of forty dollars based on his own eagerness to cheat the stranger. What I think is clever about the story is that the Stranger seems to be the True Smiley that the narrator is looking for. Only the ultimate conman could con Smiley and his frog.
I also want to comment on what Juliet said yesterday in class. The Simpson's analogy that she used was very good. When she brought up the episode that has Krusty dealing with a gambling problem it does a perfect job of showing me what Smiley is like. I love the line about Krusty asking Fat Tony who he has on the opera. The connection between Smiley and Krusty is just amazing.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Dickinson's personae
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 11, 2008
Journal #4 Dickinson
Quote:
"This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me-"(Dickinson 87).
Summary:
This is Dickinson's outcry to the world. She is lonely and only wants to be loves and known.
Response:
When I read this poem I read it as an outcry and a plea for help. Dickinson was a recluse that spent the majority of her life in her parents home. She is thought to have suffered from multiple mental illneses including depression. Dickinson was also a user of personae. She used other narrators within her poems to help give her innermost thoughts and feelings a louder more powerful voice. From her hermit like behavior her socail skills had to have been poor to none existent. Therefore she had to create a strong voice for herself that was capable of expressing the feelings that she was to shy to express. This poem is quite an extremely sad poem. She begins by the poem by writing a letter and receiving no response. How devastating can this be to a persons mental condition especailly considering that they are already secluded and depressed. In the first stanza she uses the first person but than suddenly she switches to the third person in the second stanza. Dickinson uses her but she also capitalizes her. This is the stronger voice that I was talking about earlier. SHe is reaching out to her readers and telling them that her poems are her innermost soul and feelings. She wants people to know who she is and not judge her in a negative way. She goes on to ask them to, "judge tenderly", of her. She is affraid of the harsh criticism that she may get and does not invite it. This plea to her readers seems to sum up just how lonely and depressed she may have been. As a reader of Dickinson's poetry we have to be amazed that we can see just how she was feeling and her view of herself from just eight lines of poetry.
English 48B
January 11, 2008
Journal #4 Dickinson
Quote:
"This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me-"(Dickinson 87).
Summary:
This is Dickinson's outcry to the world. She is lonely and only wants to be loves and known.
Response:
When I read this poem I read it as an outcry and a plea for help. Dickinson was a recluse that spent the majority of her life in her parents home. She is thought to have suffered from multiple mental illneses including depression. Dickinson was also a user of personae. She used other narrators within her poems to help give her innermost thoughts and feelings a louder more powerful voice. From her hermit like behavior her socail skills had to have been poor to none existent. Therefore she had to create a strong voice for herself that was capable of expressing the feelings that she was to shy to express. This poem is quite an extremely sad poem. She begins by the poem by writing a letter and receiving no response. How devastating can this be to a persons mental condition especailly considering that they are already secluded and depressed. In the first stanza she uses the first person but than suddenly she switches to the third person in the second stanza. Dickinson uses her but she also capitalizes her. This is the stronger voice that I was talking about earlier. SHe is reaching out to her readers and telling them that her poems are her innermost soul and feelings. She wants people to know who she is and not judge her in a negative way. She goes on to ask them to, "judge tenderly", of her. She is affraid of the harsh criticism that she may get and does not invite it. This plea to her readers seems to sum up just how lonely and depressed she may have been. As a reader of Dickinson's poetry we have to be amazed that we can see just how she was feeling and her view of herself from just eight lines of poetry.
Wlid Nights!
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 11, 2007
Journal #3 Dickinson
Quote:
"Rowing in Eden-
Ah- the Sea!
Might I moor-tonight-
In thee!"(Dickinson 82)
Summary:
Dickinson is describing the intimate night that she and another woman had.
Response:
Dickinson sure had a wild night judging by the poem that she writes. In class we went over several ways that the poem could be interpreted but one sticks out clearly in my mind. I just find to much proof to read the poem as any other way but about a wild night of passionate lesbian love. The way she starts off the poem for me is a big tip off, "Wild nights-Wild nights!", this suggests that they had deeply passionate sex for the whole night. Dickinson goes on to explain that these wild nights are a luxury. She is by no means a nymphomaniac but rather a person who is deeply in love with her partner. This says a lot about Dickinson as a person because she puts extra value and emphasis on love and love making by treating it as a luxury. As most of us know luxuries are often expensive, rare and precious. Therefore we must make the most out of the luxury so that we can get the most satisfaction from it. In Dickinson's case her luxury comes on the form of a woman. The last stanza acts as further proof that this poem is about a night of sex. The first line of the third stanza describes the love making as being from Eden. Eden is where Adam and Eve stayed after they were created but Eden can also be a place of pure happiness and bliss. What more blissful feeling than the bliss of passionate love. "Ah- the Sea!", is the rush and waves of orgasm's that Dickinson experiences. Furthermore Dickinson even says how she wants to be "in thee" surely a woman cannot be in a man, but what about a woman? After giving the other interpretations of this poem some thought I just can not help but to feel that this poem is not about the act of love-making. What strikes me as most incredible is just how classy and unimposing Dickinson puts her experience into words. There is nothing filthy or raunchy in this poem rather it is beautiful and full of life.
English 48B
January 11, 2007
Journal #3 Dickinson
Quote:
"Rowing in Eden-
Ah- the Sea!
Might I moor-tonight-
In thee!"(Dickinson 82)
Summary:
Dickinson is describing the intimate night that she and another woman had.
Response:
Dickinson sure had a wild night judging by the poem that she writes. In class we went over several ways that the poem could be interpreted but one sticks out clearly in my mind. I just find to much proof to read the poem as any other way but about a wild night of passionate lesbian love. The way she starts off the poem for me is a big tip off, "Wild nights-Wild nights!", this suggests that they had deeply passionate sex for the whole night. Dickinson goes on to explain that these wild nights are a luxury. She is by no means a nymphomaniac but rather a person who is deeply in love with her partner. This says a lot about Dickinson as a person because she puts extra value and emphasis on love and love making by treating it as a luxury. As most of us know luxuries are often expensive, rare and precious. Therefore we must make the most out of the luxury so that we can get the most satisfaction from it. In Dickinson's case her luxury comes on the form of a woman. The last stanza acts as further proof that this poem is about a night of sex. The first line of the third stanza describes the love making as being from Eden. Eden is where Adam and Eve stayed after they were created but Eden can also be a place of pure happiness and bliss. What more blissful feeling than the bliss of passionate love. "Ah- the Sea!", is the rush and waves of orgasm's that Dickinson experiences. Furthermore Dickinson even says how she wants to be "in thee" surely a woman cannot be in a man, but what about a woman? After giving the other interpretations of this poem some thought I just can not help but to feel that this poem is not about the act of love-making. What strikes me as most incredible is just how classy and unimposing Dickinson puts her experience into words. There is nothing filthy or raunchy in this poem rather it is beautiful and full of life.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Whitman and Men
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 9, 2008
Journal #2 Whitman
Quote:
"As the hugging and loving bed-fellow sleeps at my side through the night,
and withdraws at the peep of the day with stealthy tread,
Leaving me baskets cover'd with white towels swelling the house with their plenty"(Whitman 32).
Summary:
Whitman is describing an encounter that he has with a male.
Response:
You would almost have to say definitively that Whitman was homosexual judging by the above quote. He is describing the night that he spent with a man. They both enjoyed each other and were amorous towards one another. The strange part is how the male companion sneaks away in the morning. Almost as if he were afraid that another person would catch him and Whitman in bed together. You have to give Whitman a lot of credit for having the courage to write about his homosexual relationships in a time when they were much less accepted than in the present. The thing that grabs my attention the most is how the man that sleeps with Whitman sneaks out at daybreak. This almost suggests that Whitman may have had a girlfriend of wife. Yet this is exactly the confusing part there is so much critical evidence for Whitman being homosexual that him having a relationship with a female is very unlikely. I think the man sneaks away because in the 1800's it is taboo for the same sex to be seen together as romantic partners. I do want to point out that this is not a one night stand but rather a intimate and ongoing relationship. The other man leaves baskets covered with white towels, it seems that the man may be doing some cleaning in Whitman's home. This would suggest that they have an ongoing relationship. Again this must have been very tough to do in the 1800's where this type of relationship was looked down upon so negatively
English 48B
January 9, 2008
Journal #2 Whitman
Quote:
"As the hugging and loving bed-fellow sleeps at my side through the night,
and withdraws at the peep of the day with stealthy tread,
Leaving me baskets cover'd with white towels swelling the house with their plenty"(Whitman 32).
Summary:
Whitman is describing an encounter that he has with a male.
Response:
You would almost have to say definitively that Whitman was homosexual judging by the above quote. He is describing the night that he spent with a man. They both enjoyed each other and were amorous towards one another. The strange part is how the male companion sneaks away in the morning. Almost as if he were afraid that another person would catch him and Whitman in bed together. You have to give Whitman a lot of credit for having the courage to write about his homosexual relationships in a time when they were much less accepted than in the present. The thing that grabs my attention the most is how the man that sleeps with Whitman sneaks out at daybreak. This almost suggests that Whitman may have had a girlfriend of wife. Yet this is exactly the confusing part there is so much critical evidence for Whitman being homosexual that him having a relationship with a female is very unlikely. I think the man sneaks away because in the 1800's it is taboo for the same sex to be seen together as romantic partners. I do want to point out that this is not a one night stand but rather a intimate and ongoing relationship. The other man leaves baskets covered with white towels, it seems that the man may be doing some cleaning in Whitman's home. This would suggest that they have an ongoing relationship. Again this must have been very tough to do in the 1800's where this type of relationship was looked down upon so negatively
Whitman uncensored
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 9, 2008
Journal #1 Walt Whitman
Quote:
"It is in my mouth forever, I am in love with it,
I will go to the bank by the wood and become undisguised and naked,
I am mad for it to be in contact with me"(Whitman 31).
Summary:
Whitman is describing the sexual urges that radiate from his body. Whitman wants to be with everybody, he wants nothing to hold him back when he chooses his next sexual partner.
Response:
Whitman really is better uncensored. I can not imagine how different Whitman's poetry would sound if it were edited for content. His poetry is full of sexual and sensual overtones and feelings. When I first read the selections that we were asked to read I was not able to pick up on just how erotic the poetry is but after learning some background information about Whitman I have developed a somewhat discerning eye. After reading his poetry a second and third time I am able to see just why Whitman's poetry caused such an uproar with the 1800's public. When student's like myself read the poetry of Whitman It doesn't cause as much of a shock factor as it did during Whitman's lifetime. With this said you do have to have a high level of maturity and respect for the works of poets like Whitman. I'm sure that in an entry level high school English class you could not teach Whitman as the erotically explicit poet that he is. College is great because as mature adults we are able to discuss and read deep into what Whitman was saying and feeling as a poet. The sexual energy that jumps off the pages is just enormous. When I read his poetry I forget that it was written in the mid 1800's. The words and the hidden meanings behind the stanzas makes me think that this poetry is written by a contemporary author. These are my initial thoughts about Whitman, in my next journal I will be taking a closer look at a particular section from, "Song of myself", so that I can give my own personal interpretation on the poem.
English 48B
January 9, 2008
Journal #1 Walt Whitman
Quote:
"It is in my mouth forever, I am in love with it,
I will go to the bank by the wood and become undisguised and naked,
I am mad for it to be in contact with me"(Whitman 31).
Summary:
Whitman is describing the sexual urges that radiate from his body. Whitman wants to be with everybody, he wants nothing to hold him back when he chooses his next sexual partner.
Response:
Whitman really is better uncensored. I can not imagine how different Whitman's poetry would sound if it were edited for content. His poetry is full of sexual and sensual overtones and feelings. When I first read the selections that we were asked to read I was not able to pick up on just how erotic the poetry is but after learning some background information about Whitman I have developed a somewhat discerning eye. After reading his poetry a second and third time I am able to see just why Whitman's poetry caused such an uproar with the 1800's public. When student's like myself read the poetry of Whitman It doesn't cause as much of a shock factor as it did during Whitman's lifetime. With this said you do have to have a high level of maturity and respect for the works of poets like Whitman. I'm sure that in an entry level high school English class you could not teach Whitman as the erotically explicit poet that he is. College is great because as mature adults we are able to discuss and read deep into what Whitman was saying and feeling as a poet. The sexual energy that jumps off the pages is just enormous. When I read his poetry I forget that it was written in the mid 1800's. The words and the hidden meanings behind the stanzas makes me think that this poetry is written by a contemporary author. These are my initial thoughts about Whitman, in my next journal I will be taking a closer look at a particular section from, "Song of myself", so that I can give my own personal interpretation on the poem.
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