Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 17, 2008
Journal #45 Jack London
Quote:
"He would kill the dog and bury his hands in the warm body until the numbness went out of them. Then he could build another fire. He spoke to the dog, calling to him, but in his voice was a strange note of fear that frightened the animal"(London 1065).
Summary:
The man wants to kill the dog so that he can put his hands in its belly to thaw out his badly frostbitten hands. He needs to thaw out his hands so that he can build another fire.
Response:
I am glad that the dog does not die at the hands of the man. The dog knew all to well that it was too cold to travel. Earlier in the story it is the dog that shy's away form the cold and it also wants to stay close to the fire. It is the man who decides to push on in the incredible cold. After all the bad decisions that the man has made he tries to kill the dog for his mistakes. The man has fallen into water and must thaw out his feet. He builds a fire only to have it put out by a snowfall caused from a spruce tree. It's funny how the man tries to kill the dog for his mistakes. In the first place he should have never made that trip down the trail especially alone. From the beginning the dog knows this. This is survival of the fittest and the dog wins this round. Maybe the man should have paid more attention to the dog, the dog would have told him never to travel in this terrible cold. It almost serves the man right that he ends up perishing in the cold because of his ignorance to the cold. The dog is obviously more well fitted for travel in this weather while the man is not. Ultimately the man's fragile nature and ignorance kill him.
This quote reminds me of an episode of "Man vs. Wild". The host Bear Grylis is stranded in a desert and shows what to do in the event that you are hit with an extreme drop in temperature or a sandstorm. Bear finds a dead camel and cuts it wide open from the belly. He then crawls right in and sleeps in the camel's belly through the night. You almost have to wonder why we as humans think that we are masters of our environment. We always think that we are smarter and stronger than our environment. In the case of the man and the dog, the man proves to be the weakest link in the evolutionary chain.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Man vs. Wild
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 17, 2008
Journal #44 Jack London
Quote:
"Possibly all the generations of his ancestry had been ignorant of cold, of real cold, of cold one hundred and seven degrees below freezing-point. But the dog knew; all its ancestry knew, and it had inherited the knowledge"(London 1061).
Summary:
The man is ignorant as to how cold it truly is while the dog has the natural instinct that tells it that this weather is to harsh to be traveling in.
Response:
I love reading this story because it shows just how fragile and dumb humans really are. The man decides to travel on the trail in horribly old weather, against the warning of the old man from Sulphur creek. The man decides to forgo on this journey even though this is his first winter in Yukon country. The man's stubbornness and ego prove to be that very traits that cause his death later in the story. His ego tells him that the old man is a woman and that he does not know what he id talking about. His stubbornness also tells him to continue on through the cold even though it is well over 50 below. This just does not make any sense at all. To make this all worse the man is travelling alone, aside from a dog. This story acts as the epitome of a naturalist work. It pits man against nature and it explores the consequences that the man must face because he thought he was stronger than mother nature. The frailty of humans is really put in display here because it shows just how at the mercy of the environment the man is. The man thought he was smarter and stronger than the environment. Mother Nature on the other hand proves to be the victor in the constant struggle of man versus wild.
The reason I love this story is because of the grim reality that the man faces in the end. I enjoy it simply because it does not have your "Hollywood ending", where miraculously the man is saved by some great twist of fate. Rather it shows us the reality and just how weak humans are to the awesome power of the environment.
English 48B
March 17, 2008
Journal #44 Jack London
Quote:
"Possibly all the generations of his ancestry had been ignorant of cold, of real cold, of cold one hundred and seven degrees below freezing-point. But the dog knew; all its ancestry knew, and it had inherited the knowledge"(London 1061).
Summary:
The man is ignorant as to how cold it truly is while the dog has the natural instinct that tells it that this weather is to harsh to be traveling in.
Response:
I love reading this story because it shows just how fragile and dumb humans really are. The man decides to travel on the trail in horribly old weather, against the warning of the old man from Sulphur creek. The man decides to forgo on this journey even though this is his first winter in Yukon country. The man's stubbornness and ego prove to be that very traits that cause his death later in the story. His ego tells him that the old man is a woman and that he does not know what he id talking about. His stubbornness also tells him to continue on through the cold even though it is well over 50 below. This just does not make any sense at all. To make this all worse the man is travelling alone, aside from a dog. This story acts as the epitome of a naturalist work. It pits man against nature and it explores the consequences that the man must face because he thought he was stronger than mother nature. The frailty of humans is really put in display here because it shows just how at the mercy of the environment the man is. The man thought he was smarter and stronger than the environment. Mother Nature on the other hand proves to be the victor in the constant struggle of man versus wild.
The reason I love this story is because of the grim reality that the man faces in the end. I enjoy it simply because it does not have your "Hollywood ending", where miraculously the man is saved by some great twist of fate. Rather it shows us the reality and just how weak humans are to the awesome power of the environment.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Broken heart
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 12, 2008
Journal #43 Zitkala Sa
Quote:
"The little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger in my heart. In my mind I saw my mother far away on the Western plains, and she was holding a charge against me"(Sa 1121).
Summary:
After graduating from the boarding school, Sa is in her college dormitory room thinking about what her mom felt about her going off to the West.
Response:
To me It seems like Sa will never be able to forgive herself for going to the West with the missionaries. It is a constant struggle that she has to fight with all her life. In my previous posts I pointed out quotes that show how Sa's mom tried to warn her about going to the west but being the young and curious youth the missionaries were able to seduce her into coming to the west. I can only imagine the heartache that her mother felt knowing that her only youngest daughter was about to face hardships and indignities that would change both of their lives forever. All the attempts to keep her daughter from going West were unsuccessful. This causes much heartache in her mother which is apparent when she goes to the hills and cries. She cries for her youngest daughter. She cries hoping that her daughter will come back to live with her, far away from the missionaries. This reminiscing that Sa does occurs many times throughout her school career. The first time it happens when she first arrives at the boarding school, once here she begins to cry for her mom. Only instead of being consoled by the teachers here she is humiliated and has her hair cut. This theme of her and her mother comes up very often in the passages that we read. Sa is aware of the mistake that she made by going west and regrets this decision. In the above quote when Sa refers to the hunger in her heart she is referring to the yearning that she has for her mother's love again. She wants to be with her mother and I also think she wants her mother to accept the choice that she made when she was young. This is what keeps both her and her mother unhappy. If only they could come to a compromise so that they can heal their broken hearts.
English 48B
March 12, 2008
Journal #43 Zitkala Sa
Quote:
"The little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger in my heart. In my mind I saw my mother far away on the Western plains, and she was holding a charge against me"(Sa 1121).
Summary:
After graduating from the boarding school, Sa is in her college dormitory room thinking about what her mom felt about her going off to the West.
Response:
To me It seems like Sa will never be able to forgive herself for going to the West with the missionaries. It is a constant struggle that she has to fight with all her life. In my previous posts I pointed out quotes that show how Sa's mom tried to warn her about going to the west but being the young and curious youth the missionaries were able to seduce her into coming to the west. I can only imagine the heartache that her mother felt knowing that her only youngest daughter was about to face hardships and indignities that would change both of their lives forever. All the attempts to keep her daughter from going West were unsuccessful. This causes much heartache in her mother which is apparent when she goes to the hills and cries. She cries for her youngest daughter. She cries hoping that her daughter will come back to live with her, far away from the missionaries. This reminiscing that Sa does occurs many times throughout her school career. The first time it happens when she first arrives at the boarding school, once here she begins to cry for her mom. Only instead of being consoled by the teachers here she is humiliated and has her hair cut. This theme of her and her mother comes up very often in the passages that we read. Sa is aware of the mistake that she made by going west and regrets this decision. In the above quote when Sa refers to the hunger in her heart she is referring to the yearning that she has for her mother's love again. She wants to be with her mother and I also think she wants her mother to accept the choice that she made when she was young. This is what keeps both her and her mother unhappy. If only they could come to a compromise so that they can heal their broken hearts.
No soul
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 12, 2008
Journal #42 Zitkala Sa
Quote:
"I cried aloud, shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit'(Sa 1116).
Summary:
After the missionaries find Sa hiding underneath a bed, she is sat into a chair to have her hair cut into a short and uniform manner.
Response:
Zitkala Sa says that in the Native-American culture the only two times you would cut you hair was when you were in mourning or when a coward enemy warrior was captured. She also says that a Native-American with short hair is a coward. At the boarding schools all the children have their hair cut so that whatever little pride they had is completely stripped away from them. On her arrival to the school she is first forced to take off her moccasins and later then forced to wear a tight fitting dress. The very last thing that still shows that she is Native-American is her hair. Her hair acts as her identity and a bridge to her culture and roots. That's what makes it such a traumatic experience when her hair is cut. Not only is she shut quiet, by not being allowed to speak her tongue, but she is now spiritually shut quiet. Her soul is dead. This was the missionaries way of breaking the Native-American down into absolutely nothing. I found this quote to have an extreme importance and power the first time I read it. After I read the part about her soul it really put into perspective just how sad and terrible the boarding schools were to the minds of these young children. Take for example the older man that was being interviewed in the you tube video about his experience at the charlise school. You could see and feel the hurt and humiliation that he had faced from having having his hair cut. Obviously the hair of the Native-American is a treasured part of who they are and for the missionaries to cut their hair with no remorse is a travesty. This is a very powerful image that really shows just how terrible an experience that boarding schools were to these young children. The very last symbol that kept Sa from becoming just like the white people is her hair and this is the very symbol that is taken away from her. Now she is a Native-American with no soul.
English 48B
March 12, 2008
Journal #42 Zitkala Sa
Quote:
"I cried aloud, shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit'(Sa 1116).
Summary:
After the missionaries find Sa hiding underneath a bed, she is sat into a chair to have her hair cut into a short and uniform manner.
Response:
Zitkala Sa says that in the Native-American culture the only two times you would cut you hair was when you were in mourning or when a coward enemy warrior was captured. She also says that a Native-American with short hair is a coward. At the boarding schools all the children have their hair cut so that whatever little pride they had is completely stripped away from them. On her arrival to the school she is first forced to take off her moccasins and later then forced to wear a tight fitting dress. The very last thing that still shows that she is Native-American is her hair. Her hair acts as her identity and a bridge to her culture and roots. That's what makes it such a traumatic experience when her hair is cut. Not only is she shut quiet, by not being allowed to speak her tongue, but she is now spiritually shut quiet. Her soul is dead. This was the missionaries way of breaking the Native-American down into absolutely nothing. I found this quote to have an extreme importance and power the first time I read it. After I read the part about her soul it really put into perspective just how sad and terrible the boarding schools were to the minds of these young children. Take for example the older man that was being interviewed in the you tube video about his experience at the charlise school. You could see and feel the hurt and humiliation that he had faced from having having his hair cut. Obviously the hair of the Native-American is a treasured part of who they are and for the missionaries to cut their hair with no remorse is a travesty. This is a very powerful image that really shows just how terrible an experience that boarding schools were to these young children. The very last symbol that kept Sa from becoming just like the white people is her hair and this is the very symbol that is taken away from her. Now she is a Native-American with no soul.
I tried to warn you
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 12, 2008
Journal #41 Zitkala Sa
Quote:
"Their woods are sweet, but, my child, their deeds are bitter. You will cry for me, but they will not even soothe you"(Sa 1112).
Summary:
The little girls mother is warning her about how she will weep for her once she is taken by the missionaries. This quote shows a foreshadowing that will occur in her life.
Response:
Sa's mother is very wise beyond her years. She tries to warn her daughter of the troubles that she will face once she arrives at the school. Being the young girl that she is, Sa, does not listen to what her mother is trying to tell her. At this point in her life, Sa, is the age at which the white missionaries ask the mothers of the native children for their permission so that they can be taken to the Indian boarding school. The sad thing is that the mothers are not given any real options. Although the missionaries do ask for the permission from the mother, it just does not seem sincere. It seems that the missionaries would take the children off to the boarding schools regardless of what the mother's say. What makes this decision harder for the mom is that her daughter is excited and curious about going to the land of the, "Big Red Apple". The mother knowing the atrocities that will happen to her tries to warn her daughter. She warns her that she will have no one to comfort her when she is presented with a unfamiliar and scary situation. This quote is an excellent foreshadow of what happens to Sa once she arrives at the boarding school. She is forced to dress and talk in ways that are completely foreign to her. The missionaries at the boarding school force her to take off her moccasins and wear stiff shoes, they also force her to speak English and not her native tongue. They also force her to wear tight fitting dresses that she is not accustomed to wearing. What happens to Sa when all this occurs, she cries and weeps for her mother to come and soothe her. Exactly what her mother had warned her would happen she is experiencing. It is really disturbing to see the atrocities that these children had to face all because they were enticed by the promises of all the "Big Red Apples" that they could pick.
English 48B
March 12, 2008
Journal #41 Zitkala Sa
Quote:
"Their woods are sweet, but, my child, their deeds are bitter. You will cry for me, but they will not even soothe you"(Sa 1112).
Summary:
The little girls mother is warning her about how she will weep for her once she is taken by the missionaries. This quote shows a foreshadowing that will occur in her life.
Response:
Sa's mother is very wise beyond her years. She tries to warn her daughter of the troubles that she will face once she arrives at the school. Being the young girl that she is, Sa, does not listen to what her mother is trying to tell her. At this point in her life, Sa, is the age at which the white missionaries ask the mothers of the native children for their permission so that they can be taken to the Indian boarding school. The sad thing is that the mothers are not given any real options. Although the missionaries do ask for the permission from the mother, it just does not seem sincere. It seems that the missionaries would take the children off to the boarding schools regardless of what the mother's say. What makes this decision harder for the mom is that her daughter is excited and curious about going to the land of the, "Big Red Apple". The mother knowing the atrocities that will happen to her tries to warn her daughter. She warns her that she will have no one to comfort her when she is presented with a unfamiliar and scary situation. This quote is an excellent foreshadow of what happens to Sa once she arrives at the boarding school. She is forced to dress and talk in ways that are completely foreign to her. The missionaries at the boarding school force her to take off her moccasins and wear stiff shoes, they also force her to speak English and not her native tongue. They also force her to wear tight fitting dresses that she is not accustomed to wearing. What happens to Sa when all this occurs, she cries and weeps for her mother to come and soothe her. Exactly what her mother had warned her would happen she is experiencing. It is really disturbing to see the atrocities that these children had to face all because they were enticed by the promises of all the "Big Red Apples" that they could pick.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The sleazy lawyer
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 11. 2008
Journal #40 Sui Sin Far
Quote:
"Oh, well then we won't talk about it, old fellow. It won't harm the boy to stay , where he is, and your wife might get over it all right"(Far 884).
Summary:
This is the lawyer's reaction after Hom Hing has told him that he has no more money. The lawyer is asking for 500 more dollars to complete the process of getting Hing's son back from the U.S. government.
Response:
The lawyer is a greedy and terrible villain in this short story. I can not believe that a man would ask for 500 hundred dollars after already ripping off Hing just so that Hing can get his son back. This is such a disgusting injustice that you have to wonder just how can the lawyer do business with people this way. The above quote does not paint the lawyer in a very flattering light. Take a moment to think about how much 500 dollars is worth during the early 1900's. Adjusted for inflation a conservative guess might be around 10,000 dollars (although I'm sure it's much higher). For the lawyer to call Hing an old man and to basically tell him to shut up really makes him an evil man. I could not live with myself If I treated clients this way. The way the lawyer acts towards Hom Hing and his wife is the way I was expecting the U.S.C. officers to treat Hom Hing and his family. The worst part about this ordeal is that Hom Hing and his wife had to give up numerous pieces of sentimental jewelry that was surly worth much more than 500 Dollars. The ironic part is that the Lawyer does show a little remorse, "He was not a sentimental man; but something within him arose against accepting such payment for his services". This little remorse almost holds not credit to the lawyer's character because he does not finish this job pro bono or for less, he instead takes all the jewelry. I could not imagine taking hordes of jewelry in exchange for the return of your young son. There is just so much wrong about what the lawyer has done. It; very unfortunate that the family has to go through this ordeal of getting their son back while getting ripped off by the lawyer with no heart.
English 48B
March 11. 2008
Journal #40 Sui Sin Far
Quote:
"Oh, well then we won't talk about it, old fellow. It won't harm the boy to stay , where he is, and your wife might get over it all right"(Far 884).
Summary:
This is the lawyer's reaction after Hom Hing has told him that he has no more money. The lawyer is asking for 500 more dollars to complete the process of getting Hing's son back from the U.S. government.
Response:
The lawyer is a greedy and terrible villain in this short story. I can not believe that a man would ask for 500 hundred dollars after already ripping off Hing just so that Hing can get his son back. This is such a disgusting injustice that you have to wonder just how can the lawyer do business with people this way. The above quote does not paint the lawyer in a very flattering light. Take a moment to think about how much 500 dollars is worth during the early 1900's. Adjusted for inflation a conservative guess might be around 10,000 dollars (although I'm sure it's much higher). For the lawyer to call Hing an old man and to basically tell him to shut up really makes him an evil man. I could not live with myself If I treated clients this way. The way the lawyer acts towards Hom Hing and his wife is the way I was expecting the U.S.C. officers to treat Hom Hing and his family. The worst part about this ordeal is that Hom Hing and his wife had to give up numerous pieces of sentimental jewelry that was surly worth much more than 500 Dollars. The ironic part is that the Lawyer does show a little remorse, "He was not a sentimental man; but something within him arose against accepting such payment for his services". This little remorse almost holds not credit to the lawyer's character because he does not finish this job pro bono or for less, he instead takes all the jewelry. I could not imagine taking hordes of jewelry in exchange for the return of your young son. There is just so much wrong about what the lawyer has done. It; very unfortunate that the family has to go through this ordeal of getting their son back while getting ripped off by the lawyer with no heart.
Custom's officers with a heart
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 11, 2008
Journal #39 Sui Sin Far
Quote:
"The second customs officer regarded her pittingly.
'I don't like this part of the business,' he muttered"(Far 881).
Summary:
The two customs officer's turn to one another and show pity that they are about to keep the little boy from entering into the United States.
Response:
I wanted to comment on this quote because it shows a striking description of the Custom's officers that played completely against the way I thought they were going to react. My first thought was that the Officers would be rude and discriminating. This type of job sort of holds itself to these type of people. Plus these men surly dealt with thousands of people per day. So for them to show any remorse in what they were about to do really does surprise me. The pity and remorse that these men show makes them look more like genuine caring men. Imagine having to guide thousands of immigrants through these detention centers and show pity for every single one. You would think that eventually they would become numb to this sensation or feeling and would eventually not even begin ti care. That is why I found the description of these men so surprising. I really was expecting the men to be racial bigots who simply could not care less about the injustice they were doing to the little boy's family.
This theme of racial immigration brings up a thought that I have had for a long time. How do border police of Mexican heritage and families feel about arresting, turning back and deporting men, woman and children from their same culture. When I spent three years in the active army and was in the process of getting out of the army I was told by many of my superiors that I should become a border agent. I already know Spanish so that would be a plus. The one thing that I could not bring myself to do is to arrest people that one of my same heritage or race knowing that they are trying to come into California for a better life. The thought of doing this would tear me apart. I just could not do it. Especially considering that my parents entered illegally years ago. I would feel that I am doing something wrong even though it is my job.
English 48B
March 11, 2008
Journal #39 Sui Sin Far
Quote:
"The second customs officer regarded her pittingly.
'I don't like this part of the business,' he muttered"(Far 881).
Summary:
The two customs officer's turn to one another and show pity that they are about to keep the little boy from entering into the United States.
Response:
I wanted to comment on this quote because it shows a striking description of the Custom's officers that played completely against the way I thought they were going to react. My first thought was that the Officers would be rude and discriminating. This type of job sort of holds itself to these type of people. Plus these men surly dealt with thousands of people per day. So for them to show any remorse in what they were about to do really does surprise me. The pity and remorse that these men show makes them look more like genuine caring men. Imagine having to guide thousands of immigrants through these detention centers and show pity for every single one. You would think that eventually they would become numb to this sensation or feeling and would eventually not even begin ti care. That is why I found the description of these men so surprising. I really was expecting the men to be racial bigots who simply could not care less about the injustice they were doing to the little boy's family.
This theme of racial immigration brings up a thought that I have had for a long time. How do border police of Mexican heritage and families feel about arresting, turning back and deporting men, woman and children from their same culture. When I spent three years in the active army and was in the process of getting out of the army I was told by many of my superiors that I should become a border agent. I already know Spanish so that would be a plus. The one thing that I could not bring myself to do is to arrest people that one of my same heritage or race knowing that they are trying to come into California for a better life. The thought of doing this would tear me apart. I just could not do it. Especially considering that my parents entered illegally years ago. I would feel that I am doing something wrong even though it is my job.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Who's playing who?
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 6, 2008
Journal #38 Henry James
Quote:
"It has never occurred to Mr. Winterbourne to offer me any tea,' she said. with her little tormenting manner.
'I have offered you advice,' Winterbourne rejoined.
'I prefer weak tea!' cried Daisy, and she went off with brilliant Giovanelli"(James 420).
Summary:
Winterbourne offers Daisy some advice, only she does not listen and runs off with her "friend" Giovanelli.
Response:
The ultimate question that rises in, "Daisy Miller:A Study", is who is the real Daisy Miller? Is she sweet and innocent or is she secretly manipulating Winterbourne from the beginning? My argument is that she is playing with Winterbourne. The reason I came up to this conclusion is based off of how many times Winterbourne changes his mind about Daisy. The first time they meet he thinks she is a croquette yet throughout the story he goes back and forth between her being innocent and a croquette. It's like the note that I jotted down in my notebook, the player is being played. Daisy is playing with winterbourne's head the whole time they know each other. At one point in the story Daisy acts like she does not know where her family is going. She comments that they are going to some mountain. She comes off as this dumb girl who doesn't even know where she is. This is when Winterbourne becomes enticed. He asks her if it is Italy and eventually he sets up a date between the two. She then agrees to go with Winterbourne but when they reach the Castle Winterbourne is surprised to find Daisy's mother waiting for her. I know that Winterbourne only had one thought in his head and that was to make some sexual advancements on Daisy at the castle. Daisy being as tricky as she is asks her mother to be at the castle when they get their. Not only does she do this but she eventually becomes very "intimate" with an Italian man, Giovanelli. Winterbourne thinks that Daisy would be an easy catch but she proves to be a much tougher task to beat, one that Winterbourne will eventually fail. Daisy further plays Winterbourne by bringing around Giovanelli and claiming that they are just friends. This infuriates Winterbourne who now labels her a croquette. You almost have to give her some credit for being so clever because if the way that she confuses and play's with the head of Winterbourne. He doesn't know what to think about her and just constantly changes his mind about her. At the end of the story she nails him with one last blow by having her mother tell Winterbourne that was not engaged to Giovanelli even though he thought they were.
You have to question why exactly she treated Winterbourne this way. Did she do it out of pleasure or did she do it unknowingly? I would argue that Daisy is very promiscuous and that she played with Winterbourne's head unknowingly. You have to ask yourself what Daisy was doing with a man she had not known very long , at night, at the coliseum. Was she really there to view to stars or to have sex with Giovanelli? I think that they did have sex and that Daisy was not as innocent as she came off. Whats really funny about this is that Winterbourne after getting played travels off to a foreign country only to find himself a woman that he can have an affair with. After going through what Winterbourne went through he still does not see the wrong in what he does.
English 48B
March 6, 2008
Journal #38 Henry James
Quote:
"It has never occurred to Mr. Winterbourne to offer me any tea,' she said. with her little tormenting manner.
'I have offered you advice,' Winterbourne rejoined.
'I prefer weak tea!' cried Daisy, and she went off with brilliant Giovanelli"(James 420).
Summary:
Winterbourne offers Daisy some advice, only she does not listen and runs off with her "friend" Giovanelli.
Response:
The ultimate question that rises in, "Daisy Miller:A Study", is who is the real Daisy Miller? Is she sweet and innocent or is she secretly manipulating Winterbourne from the beginning? My argument is that she is playing with Winterbourne. The reason I came up to this conclusion is based off of how many times Winterbourne changes his mind about Daisy. The first time they meet he thinks she is a croquette yet throughout the story he goes back and forth between her being innocent and a croquette. It's like the note that I jotted down in my notebook, the player is being played. Daisy is playing with winterbourne's head the whole time they know each other. At one point in the story Daisy acts like she does not know where her family is going. She comments that they are going to some mountain. She comes off as this dumb girl who doesn't even know where she is. This is when Winterbourne becomes enticed. He asks her if it is Italy and eventually he sets up a date between the two. She then agrees to go with Winterbourne but when they reach the Castle Winterbourne is surprised to find Daisy's mother waiting for her. I know that Winterbourne only had one thought in his head and that was to make some sexual advancements on Daisy at the castle. Daisy being as tricky as she is asks her mother to be at the castle when they get their. Not only does she do this but she eventually becomes very "intimate" with an Italian man, Giovanelli. Winterbourne thinks that Daisy would be an easy catch but she proves to be a much tougher task to beat, one that Winterbourne will eventually fail. Daisy further plays Winterbourne by bringing around Giovanelli and claiming that they are just friends. This infuriates Winterbourne who now labels her a croquette. You almost have to give her some credit for being so clever because if the way that she confuses and play's with the head of Winterbourne. He doesn't know what to think about her and just constantly changes his mind about her. At the end of the story she nails him with one last blow by having her mother tell Winterbourne that was not engaged to Giovanelli even though he thought they were.
You have to question why exactly she treated Winterbourne this way. Did she do it out of pleasure or did she do it unknowingly? I would argue that Daisy is very promiscuous and that she played with Winterbourne's head unknowingly. You have to ask yourself what Daisy was doing with a man she had not known very long , at night, at the coliseum. Was she really there to view to stars or to have sex with Giovanelli? I think that they did have sex and that Daisy was not as innocent as she came off. Whats really funny about this is that Winterbourne after getting played travels off to a foreign country only to find himself a woman that he can have an affair with. After going through what Winterbourne went through he still does not see the wrong in what he does.
The double standard
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 6, 2008
Journal #37 Henry James
Quote:
"Winterbourne mentally accused it-very forgivingly-of a want of finish. He thought it very possible the Master Randolph's sister was a coquette"(James 394-395).
Summary:
After meeting Ms. Daisy Miller for the first time, Mr. Winterbourne, gives the reader his first impression of the young American woman.
Response.
I think it's very funny the double standard that immediately pops up;A woman that is deemed promiscuous is a slut(to put it bluntly) and a man is a player. In the 1800's as long as today I think that this analogy holds up very well. In the 1800's it was socially accepted, although not really talked about, for men to have extramarital affairs with one or multiple woman. To go even further you did not even have to be a married man you could be single and have multiple affairs. While if woman did such thing then a derogatory label was instantly put on them. You did not even have to go as far as having multiple affairs if what people thought you were wearing was risque then you were labeled promiscuous. As I said before this double standard still holds true today. The reason I brought this up is because I want to tie in this double standard to Mr. Winterbourne's first impression of Ms. Daisy Miller. After they have initially met he begins to check out Daisy. He notices her straightening out her ruffles, her "charming complexion", "immodest glance", "pretty eyes" and her perfectly direct and unshrinking glance. From just a few exchange of words and glances Mr. Winterbourne comes to the conclusion that daisy is a croquette. This is quite a bold statement especially considering that he is known to be promiscuous himself. Daisy has in no way thrown herself at him yet this is what he thinks. She even tries to ignore him when he made his first advancements. This kind of brings up the question who really is the slut? If you take this into modern time their is such a phrase as a man whore or man slut. Basically it means a man who gets around with a lot of woman but without the negative connotations. I find it funny how this double standard exists and how men can get away with being promiscuous. My guess would be that woman are still viewed as the virgin beauty that is not to engage in sex until she is married with a man.
English 48B
March 6, 2008
Journal #37 Henry James
Quote:
"Winterbourne mentally accused it-very forgivingly-of a want of finish. He thought it very possible the Master Randolph's sister was a coquette"(James 394-395).
Summary:
After meeting Ms. Daisy Miller for the first time, Mr. Winterbourne, gives the reader his first impression of the young American woman.
Response.
I think it's very funny the double standard that immediately pops up;A woman that is deemed promiscuous is a slut(to put it bluntly) and a man is a player. In the 1800's as long as today I think that this analogy holds up very well. In the 1800's it was socially accepted, although not really talked about, for men to have extramarital affairs with one or multiple woman. To go even further you did not even have to be a married man you could be single and have multiple affairs. While if woman did such thing then a derogatory label was instantly put on them. You did not even have to go as far as having multiple affairs if what people thought you were wearing was risque then you were labeled promiscuous. As I said before this double standard still holds true today. The reason I brought this up is because I want to tie in this double standard to Mr. Winterbourne's first impression of Ms. Daisy Miller. After they have initially met he begins to check out Daisy. He notices her straightening out her ruffles, her "charming complexion", "immodest glance", "pretty eyes" and her perfectly direct and unshrinking glance. From just a few exchange of words and glances Mr. Winterbourne comes to the conclusion that daisy is a croquette. This is quite a bold statement especially considering that he is known to be promiscuous himself. Daisy has in no way thrown herself at him yet this is what he thinks. She even tries to ignore him when he made his first advancements. This kind of brings up the question who really is the slut? If you take this into modern time their is such a phrase as a man whore or man slut. Basically it means a man who gets around with a lot of woman but without the negative connotations. I find it funny how this double standard exists and how men can get away with being promiscuous. My guess would be that woman are still viewed as the virgin beauty that is not to engage in sex until she is married with a man.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Mr. Winterbourne is fake!
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 5, 2008
Journal #36 Henry James
Quote:
"..when his friends spoke of him , they usually said he was at Geneva "studying"(James 392).
Summary:
The narrator is introducing the reader to Mr. Winterbourne.
Response:
The first comment I want to say is just how fake Winterbourne is. He comes off as a very pretentious, self-centered and stuck up man. Of course I do not blame him considering that he has grown up around money and the aristocratic society all his life. I loved the discussion that we had in class today because Scott did such a great job of getting the class to pick up on the subtle hints throughout the book. When I first read the book I knew that Winterbourne came from a wealthy family but I did not pick up on the attitude that James gives Winterbourne. I called Winterbourne fake earlier because he wants everyone to think of him as better than he really is. For example he tells all his friends that he is off "studying" in Geneva when he is actually courting a older woman. The question that I have is why Doesn't he just tell his friends that he is seeing an older woman? Is this not an acceptable social practice that men in the gilded age practice? I first I want to say that he is actually covering up his own lie, the lie being that he is not really seeing an older woman. Isn't it convenient for him to be seeing another woman in a different country and nobody has met or seen her? I just do not see him as a genuine person. I'm jumping ahead but I see the story as him getting played by Daisy. Just as he plays on woman, he likewise gets played. Another way that Winterbourne is fake is how he acts as if he is in Sweden under important business. The reality is that he is only visiting his Aunt so that she will continue to fund his travels. He does not work nor study so he has no real business in Sweden except for checking out the woman in the garden at the hotel. "...looking about him, rather idly, at some of the graceful objects I have mentioned"(James 391). Winterbourne is only at the hotel because he is checking out the woman in the garden. Really important business don't you think? His purpose at the hotel serves only as a self serving one. The best part about all this is that the player gets played.
English 48B
March 5, 2008
Journal #36 Henry James
Quote:
"..when his friends spoke of him , they usually said he was at Geneva "studying"(James 392).
Summary:
The narrator is introducing the reader to Mr. Winterbourne.
Response:
The first comment I want to say is just how fake Winterbourne is. He comes off as a very pretentious, self-centered and stuck up man. Of course I do not blame him considering that he has grown up around money and the aristocratic society all his life. I loved the discussion that we had in class today because Scott did such a great job of getting the class to pick up on the subtle hints throughout the book. When I first read the book I knew that Winterbourne came from a wealthy family but I did not pick up on the attitude that James gives Winterbourne. I called Winterbourne fake earlier because he wants everyone to think of him as better than he really is. For example he tells all his friends that he is off "studying" in Geneva when he is actually courting a older woman. The question that I have is why Doesn't he just tell his friends that he is seeing an older woman? Is this not an acceptable social practice that men in the gilded age practice? I first I want to say that he is actually covering up his own lie, the lie being that he is not really seeing an older woman. Isn't it convenient for him to be seeing another woman in a different country and nobody has met or seen her? I just do not see him as a genuine person. I'm jumping ahead but I see the story as him getting played by Daisy. Just as he plays on woman, he likewise gets played. Another way that Winterbourne is fake is how he acts as if he is in Sweden under important business. The reality is that he is only visiting his Aunt so that she will continue to fund his travels. He does not work nor study so he has no real business in Sweden except for checking out the woman in the garden at the hotel. "...looking about him, rather idly, at some of the graceful objects I have mentioned"(James 391). Winterbourne is only at the hotel because he is checking out the woman in the garden. Really important business don't you think? His purpose at the hotel serves only as a self serving one. The best part about all this is that the player gets played.
Monday, March 3, 2008
No one will listen
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 3, 2008
Journal #35 Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Quote:
"Better in body perhaps-'I began and stopped short, for he sat up straight and looked at me with such a stern, reproachful look that I could not say another word"(Gilman 814).
Summary:
The woman is trying to reach out to her husband to make him aware that her mental condition is dangerously getting worse.
Response:
As her condition grows worse the woman from the story tries to reach out to her husband. Her husband being the well schooled and well respected doctor, does not want to talk to her her about her depression. She is trying to reach out to her husband to let him know that she is getting worse but he does not believe anything that she says. This is when he needs to stop being a husband and become a doctor. He needs to sit down and listen to her and consider what she is saying as a valid medical worry. As her mental state grows worse she stares at the wallpaper for more hours and begins to see a woman behind the design, moving that wallpaper about. Her condition is getting to the point that she is seriously in danger of her life. The most disturbing part about all of this is that she is now far worse than when she first started her "treatment". The treatment that was supposed to bring back her sanity is driving her evermore closer to the point of no return. She is teetering on the cusp of a mental breakdown and no one wants to listen to her. After reading the introduction by the Norton Anthology, the story and the woman in the story closely resemble the author,Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She also suffered from depression. When I was reading the short story the narrator actually sounded like Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She is the woman that I was imagining when I read the short story. Charlotte Perkins Gilman does commit suicide which is the road that the narrator in the story is on route to. As i have said before it is really unfortunate that no one wants to listen to the woman in the story.
English 48B
March 3, 2008
Journal #35 Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Quote:
"Better in body perhaps-'I began and stopped short, for he sat up straight and looked at me with such a stern, reproachful look that I could not say another word"(Gilman 814).
Summary:
The woman is trying to reach out to her husband to make him aware that her mental condition is dangerously getting worse.
Response:
As her condition grows worse the woman from the story tries to reach out to her husband. Her husband being the well schooled and well respected doctor, does not want to talk to her her about her depression. She is trying to reach out to her husband to let him know that she is getting worse but he does not believe anything that she says. This is when he needs to stop being a husband and become a doctor. He needs to sit down and listen to her and consider what she is saying as a valid medical worry. As her mental state grows worse she stares at the wallpaper for more hours and begins to see a woman behind the design, moving that wallpaper about. Her condition is getting to the point that she is seriously in danger of her life. The most disturbing part about all of this is that she is now far worse than when she first started her "treatment". The treatment that was supposed to bring back her sanity is driving her evermore closer to the point of no return. She is teetering on the cusp of a mental breakdown and no one wants to listen to her. After reading the introduction by the Norton Anthology, the story and the woman in the story closely resemble the author,Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She also suffered from depression. When I was reading the short story the narrator actually sounded like Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She is the woman that I was imagining when I read the short story. Charlotte Perkins Gilman does commit suicide which is the road that the narrator in the story is on route to. As i have said before it is really unfortunate that no one wants to listen to the woman in the story.
The figure in the wallpaper
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 3, 2008
Journal #34 Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Quote:
"But in places where it isn't faded and where the sun is just so- I can see a strange, provoking, formless sort of figure, that seems to skulk about being that silly and conspicuous front design"( Gilman 812).
Summary:
After several weeks in the upstairs room the narrator of the story is beginning to see a woman in the wallpaper. It seems that her treatment is having the opposite effects on her.
Response:
The woman in the story is prescribed a treatment known as "rest cure". This is a treatment that was prescribed to her by one of the leading physicians in this field, Silas Weir Mitchell. She is prescribed this treatment because she has been suffering from depression and one of the only known treatments is the "rest cure". The idea behind this treatment is to lay completely in bed for weeks at a time with no more than two hours of intellectual contact a day. The treatment also requires that the patient does not read or write. This sounds like such a primitive and backwards to treat depression. I think that the reason someone becomes depressed is because they are lonely and have no friends. So now the treatment that she is undergoing requires her to have less human contact than she had before. This does not sound like it could in any way be conducive to her health. As the story progresses we see her illness grow and her mental health deteriorate quickly. I can only begin to imagine to tremendous negative effects that this treatment would have on a clinically depresses person. You would think that her treatment would consist of more human contact and more mental exercises such as reading and writing. In the above quote we see the start of her mental deterioration. She begins to see a figure in amongst the design on the yellow wallpaper. I have to say that I feel tremendously bad for her because she is isolated at a time that she needs to be around people. Aside from seeing the figure in the wallpaper she spends hours staring at the lines and designs that are on the wallpaper. As I was reading this short story I was picturing a young woman rocking back and forth staring aimlessly at the walls around her. It almost sounds like she is in an asylum. As she spends more time in the room upstairs, unknowing to her husband, her condition goes from bad to worse.
English 48B
March 3, 2008
Journal #34 Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Quote:
"But in places where it isn't faded and where the sun is just so- I can see a strange, provoking, formless sort of figure, that seems to skulk about being that silly and conspicuous front design"( Gilman 812).
Summary:
After several weeks in the upstairs room the narrator of the story is beginning to see a woman in the wallpaper. It seems that her treatment is having the opposite effects on her.
Response:
The woman in the story is prescribed a treatment known as "rest cure". This is a treatment that was prescribed to her by one of the leading physicians in this field, Silas Weir Mitchell. She is prescribed this treatment because she has been suffering from depression and one of the only known treatments is the "rest cure". The idea behind this treatment is to lay completely in bed for weeks at a time with no more than two hours of intellectual contact a day. The treatment also requires that the patient does not read or write. This sounds like such a primitive and backwards to treat depression. I think that the reason someone becomes depressed is because they are lonely and have no friends. So now the treatment that she is undergoing requires her to have less human contact than she had before. This does not sound like it could in any way be conducive to her health. As the story progresses we see her illness grow and her mental health deteriorate quickly. I can only begin to imagine to tremendous negative effects that this treatment would have on a clinically depresses person. You would think that her treatment would consist of more human contact and more mental exercises such as reading and writing. In the above quote we see the start of her mental deterioration. She begins to see a figure in amongst the design on the yellow wallpaper. I have to say that I feel tremendously bad for her because she is isolated at a time that she needs to be around people. Aside from seeing the figure in the wallpaper she spends hours staring at the lines and designs that are on the wallpaper. As I was reading this short story I was picturing a young woman rocking back and forth staring aimlessly at the walls around her. It almost sounds like she is in an asylum. As she spends more time in the room upstairs, unknowing to her husband, her condition goes from bad to worse.
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