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.
Friday, January 11, 2008
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.
Friday, December 14, 2007
"LIfe, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
December 14, 2007
Journal #35 Loewen Ch 5
Quote:
"During his long life, of hundreds of different slaves he owned, he freed only three, and five more at his death-all blood relatives of his"(Loewen 148).
Summary:
Loewen is discussing the hypocrisy behind what Thomas Jefferson wrote into the constitution and what he practiced in his life.
Response:
Loewen brings us another great example of just how flawed the American school systems and textbooks are. Every chapter that I read out of Loewen is enlightnening to me. I always learn something new from the facts that he presents. It really comes to a shock to me just how much this country praises it's "hero's". Granted Thomas Jefferson was the writer for one of the most significant documents in world history but as educated readers we must see what the complete truth is. The truth is that Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner that treated his slaves very poorly. He did not even have the consideration of freeing his slaves except the ones that were realted to him by the affairs he had. This paints quite a differant picture than the one most Americans see when they think of Thomas Jefferson.
I have seen a reaccuring trend in American history; Americans idolize past Americans under false pretences. Beside the obvious ones like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, AOL recently had a great news article on Davey Crockett. Everyone thinks of Davey Crockett as the brave, racoon skin cap wearing, American who helped fend off Indian attacks. Research shows that he was quite a coward known for running away from battles. I'm just glad that I have been reading Loewen because his book has done a very good job and making me know the truth behind American history.
English 48A
December 14, 2007
Journal #35 Loewen Ch 5
Quote:
"During his long life, of hundreds of different slaves he owned, he freed only three, and five more at his death-all blood relatives of his"(Loewen 148).
Summary:
Loewen is discussing the hypocrisy behind what Thomas Jefferson wrote into the constitution and what he practiced in his life.
Response:
Loewen brings us another great example of just how flawed the American school systems and textbooks are. Every chapter that I read out of Loewen is enlightnening to me. I always learn something new from the facts that he presents. It really comes to a shock to me just how much this country praises it's "hero's". Granted Thomas Jefferson was the writer for one of the most significant documents in world history but as educated readers we must see what the complete truth is. The truth is that Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner that treated his slaves very poorly. He did not even have the consideration of freeing his slaves except the ones that were realted to him by the affairs he had. This paints quite a differant picture than the one most Americans see when they think of Thomas Jefferson.
I have seen a reaccuring trend in American history; Americans idolize past Americans under false pretences. Beside the obvious ones like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, AOL recently had a great news article on Davey Crockett. Everyone thinks of Davey Crockett as the brave, racoon skin cap wearing, American who helped fend off Indian attacks. Research shows that he was quite a coward known for running away from battles. I'm just glad that I have been reading Loewen because his book has done a very good job and making me know the truth behind American history.
Gone with the Wind
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
December 14, 2007
Journal #34 Loewen Chapter 5
Quote:
"The former field hands found themselves suddenly elevated to the seats of the mighty. There they conducted themselves as creatures of small intelligence might naturally be expected to do.Like monkeys or small children turned loose among treasured objects...(Loewen 144).
Summary:
The above quote is taken form the bestselling book,"Gone with the Wind", written by Margaret Mitchell.
Response:
I cannot believe just how ignorant the above passage is. Gone with the wind was a book and later a movie that dealt with race relations. Unlike, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", the book dealt with slavery as an acceptable part of the social structure. I find it astonishing that people would read this and later watch the movies and consider it one of the greatest movies of all time. This really goes to show just how very clueless the American public was on the issue of slavery. It's no wonder that slavery remains such a prominent them among early American literature. I am just really glad that I was raised in a neighborhood and by a family that did not condone racism or prejudices. It almost makes me laugh to think that people read garbage like the passage above. It really disturbs me how the author blatantly compares black people as stupid monkeys. The above passage really does a excellent job of showing modern day students and readers like myself just how much black people have been able to progress since the times of slavery. It also shows just what kind of ridiculous and wrong the stereotypes were made about blacks. To this day I do not even feel comfortable using the word "black" to describe an African American. Although I will confess this does not keep me from using it. As far as I now it is acceptable but in the back of my head I am always hoping no one will take any offense to the use of the word "black".
English 48A
December 14, 2007
Journal #34 Loewen Chapter 5
Quote:
"The former field hands found themselves suddenly elevated to the seats of the mighty. There they conducted themselves as creatures of small intelligence might naturally be expected to do.Like monkeys or small children turned loose among treasured objects...(Loewen 144).
Summary:
The above quote is taken form the bestselling book,"Gone with the Wind", written by Margaret Mitchell.
Response:
I cannot believe just how ignorant the above passage is. Gone with the wind was a book and later a movie that dealt with race relations. Unlike, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", the book dealt with slavery as an acceptable part of the social structure. I find it astonishing that people would read this and later watch the movies and consider it one of the greatest movies of all time. This really goes to show just how very clueless the American public was on the issue of slavery. It's no wonder that slavery remains such a prominent them among early American literature. I am just really glad that I was raised in a neighborhood and by a family that did not condone racism or prejudices. It almost makes me laugh to think that people read garbage like the passage above. It really disturbs me how the author blatantly compares black people as stupid monkeys. The above passage really does a excellent job of showing modern day students and readers like myself just how much black people have been able to progress since the times of slavery. It also shows just what kind of ridiculous and wrong the stereotypes were made about blacks. To this day I do not even feel comfortable using the word "black" to describe an African American. Although I will confess this does not keep me from using it. As far as I now it is acceptable but in the back of my head I am always hoping no one will take any offense to the use of the word "black".
Things in common
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
December 14, 2007
Journal #33
Quote:
"...the White Whale as much their insufferable foe as his; how all this came to be-what the White Whale was to them, or how to their unconscious understandings..."(Melville 2349).
Summary:
Melville is describing the unconcious drive that the white whale invokes upon the men that chase it.
Response:
One thing in common, that I did not mention in my final essay, is that Melville and Davis both use animals as symbols. The dirty canary symbolizes opression while the white whale sumbolizes the great evil. The use of animals as symbol for human struggles or feelings is a very strong one. Humans have a very close connection to animals. Some people have such a close connection that they feel devistated when an animal passes away. This emotional connection that people share with aniamls helps make it easier to relate humans to animals. Such as in the Native American culture where when a human dies they are beleived to come back as a wolf. Also in remote amazon tribes, when a tribe member dies the are beleived to come back as a wild boar. The boar is then hunted so that they have food. What I am trying to get at is that animals as symbols serve a very important purpose. They act as a mirros capable of reflecting the inner most emotions of what a person is felling or is thinking.In the case of Moby Dick the White whale could even represent the innermoest struggle that Ahab has. He needs a way of venting his anger and frustration so he does it by making it his mission to chase down the infamous white whale.
The use of animals as symbols could even act as a mirror that reflects what Melville and Davis were feeling while they were writing thier respective stories.
English 48A
December 14, 2007
Journal #33
Quote:
"...the White Whale as much their insufferable foe as his; how all this came to be-what the White Whale was to them, or how to their unconscious understandings..."(Melville 2349).
Summary:
Melville is describing the unconcious drive that the white whale invokes upon the men that chase it.
Response:
One thing in common, that I did not mention in my final essay, is that Melville and Davis both use animals as symbols. The dirty canary symbolizes opression while the white whale sumbolizes the great evil. The use of animals as symbol for human struggles or feelings is a very strong one. Humans have a very close connection to animals. Some people have such a close connection that they feel devistated when an animal passes away. This emotional connection that people share with aniamls helps make it easier to relate humans to animals. Such as in the Native American culture where when a human dies they are beleived to come back as a wolf. Also in remote amazon tribes, when a tribe member dies the are beleived to come back as a wild boar. The boar is then hunted so that they have food. What I am trying to get at is that animals as symbols serve a very important purpose. They act as a mirros capable of reflecting the inner most emotions of what a person is felling or is thinking.In the case of Moby Dick the White whale could even represent the innermoest struggle that Ahab has. He needs a way of venting his anger and frustration so he does it by making it his mission to chase down the infamous white whale.
The use of animals as symbols could even act as a mirror that reflects what Melville and Davis were feeling while they were writing thier respective stories.
The dirty Canary
Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
December 14, 2007
JOurnal #32
Quote:
"A dirty canary chirps desperatly in a cage beside me. Its dream of green fields and sunshine is a very old dream-almost worn out, I think"(Davis 2599).
Summary:
Davis is describing the conditions under which the the people of the industrial city live in.
Response:
I want to comment on what I think is the large importance of the dirty canary in, "Life in the Iron Mills". I do not want to make it sound like I am trying to stretch out a lot from a little but I think that the dirty canary spaeks volumes for the people who work in the iron mills. The dirty canary is a symbol for the opression that these people live under. My mom used to have a pair of canary and no matter what the weather they always sang. They would sing the most beautiful songs all day long. Untill the night came at which they would fall asleep. Even though they were kept in a little cage all day long they kept singing. Thus the canary symbolizes the inner hope that the workers have. They work all day long under horrible condintions hoping that they will come out on top. To me the dirt on the canary's feather's evokes a felling of sadness. To see such a beautiful and innocent thing be marred by the soot from the city is a travesty. Likewise the jobs that the immigrant workers are given in teh still mills is also a stragety. This almost parallels the working conditions that the asian workers face in the sweatshops or the miners that mine blood diamonds. If you think closely about the dirty canary you can how it has a much more global symbolization of opression.
English 48A
December 14, 2007
JOurnal #32
Quote:
"A dirty canary chirps desperatly in a cage beside me. Its dream of green fields and sunshine is a very old dream-almost worn out, I think"(Davis 2599).
Summary:
Davis is describing the conditions under which the the people of the industrial city live in.
Response:
I want to comment on what I think is the large importance of the dirty canary in, "Life in the Iron Mills". I do not want to make it sound like I am trying to stretch out a lot from a little but I think that the dirty canary spaeks volumes for the people who work in the iron mills. The dirty canary is a symbol for the opression that these people live under. My mom used to have a pair of canary and no matter what the weather they always sang. They would sing the most beautiful songs all day long. Untill the night came at which they would fall asleep. Even though they were kept in a little cage all day long they kept singing. Thus the canary symbolizes the inner hope that the workers have. They work all day long under horrible condintions hoping that they will come out on top. To me the dirt on the canary's feather's evokes a felling of sadness. To see such a beautiful and innocent thing be marred by the soot from the city is a travesty. Likewise the jobs that the immigrant workers are given in teh still mills is also a stragety. This almost parallels the working conditions that the asian workers face in the sweatshops or the miners that mine blood diamonds. If you think closely about the dirty canary you can how it has a much more global symbolization of opression.
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