3/10/2012 Blog: Speaking of Courage Interpration

To me, the chapter Speaking of Courage delineates courage as a difficult thing, especially in war. It is shown as “the hard way.” It also shows good intentions alone do not necessarily translate into courage. As much as Norman Bowker wished to do save Kiowa from the sh!t field, he could not. He wanted to do the right thing, and tried, but was unable to. He had the right intentions, and he had the initiative, he just had one thing against him: the circumstances of the situation. The muck had too strong of a hold on Kiowa by the time he attempted to rescue him, and (arguably) even if he had resumed his rescue, there would be not one burial afterward but two. Also, I believe “courage” depends on the Point of View. Of course, Norman Bowker viewed his actions as a failure. He couldn’t save a dear friend. But the rest of us, who acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, realize that in fact Norman was courageous by attempting to save his friend, and the result of this should not be taken into account.

I also believe that, intentional or not, the chapter portrays Norman in a non-courageous way: Norman never actually tells his experience to anyone (though the chapter merely tells the truth, we the readers may interpret this as non-courageous). If we extend the belief (inferred from the book) that courage is doing the hard thing, than we can arguably say that Norman Bowker did the easier and thus the cowardly thing. We can also argue that the taciturn veteran paid the price in another way: he hurt himself by keeping his experiences and emotions inside him for too long. Basically, his entire decision not to tell anyone this story is detrimental. From this experience and others in the book, we may surmise O’Brien perceives courage as doing the right and difficult thing, as well as doing what sometimes appears to be the less rational thing.

Another instance in the book that deals with courage is Chapter 4: On the Rainy River. O’Brien had chosen to go to the war in this chapter rather than exile himself from society. At the end of the chapter, the author says: “I was a coward. I went to war.” In both of these instances, the soldiers exit with emotional wounds and are thus not unscathed.  Also, both do the rational thing, so Bowker could escape death, and O’Brien could escape society (they both also absconded from something). Conforming with society and being survivalistic seem very rational to society. Thus, when someone is courageous, they do the irrational and difficult to understand thing.  

Memoir Assignment: (2/26/2012) From Jina Y., Ohio

Summary and Analysis:

The title of her work is Beyond Tears. It is about the author as a little girl (a toddler) having her pigtails yanked by a boy when she stomps hard on his foot. He starts to cry very loudly, and the adults rush to the scene. Of course, she is blamed, and she is asked to apologize. She will not, she says, because it is also the boy's fault. The teacher asks what he did, but she is too furious to respond. She is sent to the timeout chair, and feels extremely humiliated. At the reflection, she says she learned two things: that boys have cooties, and never to do anything you'll regret.

How Jina Accomplishes the Role of Storytelling and Memoir

*She does not say "said" like so many authors do. She uses some variation in this area.

*She uses onomatopoeia, something many excellent authors use.

*She writes the memoir from a 3 year old's view (of course adding her later reflections), with the behavior of the characters visibly like their ages.

*She shows what happened in the story, as well as her character's internal feelings (like how humiliated she was after the ordeal).  

*In the end, a reflection is included. She tells us the lessons she learned from the experience.

 How does this memoir appeal to me?

*She uses above average diction (what words are selected) and syntax (the way the words are used).

*The author talks about something significant to her where she actually learned something useful. Nothing like: "I learned spinach and vanilla ice cream just don't mix."

*She shows, not tells. Not "I was angry" but actually describing the anger.

*Even at three, she had a hunger for justice. And she was pretty accurate, too. 

*She uses other vocabulary in dialogue besides "said." My biggest peeve has been avoided!

Vietnam: Origin, American Involment, and Sides (2-13-2012)

Summary

The Vietnam War started in 1955 and ended in 1975. On one side was the Communist North Vietnam, and on the other side was the South Vietnam, supported by the US and other allies. This conflict occurred during the time of the Cold War, as well as during the US supported policy of containment- keeping Communism where it was and preventing it from spreading. North Vietnam wished to convert its southern counterpart into a Communist country, but this was counter to the policy of the US, and seeing this conflict as crucial America became involved. In the end, North Vietnam would prevail with the capture of Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) in 1975. The US would withdraw from Indochina (the war dealt a great loss to the country, with nearly 60,000 troops lost as well), the dissolution of the former Republic of Vietnam, and the conversion of South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to communism (they also would join with North Vietnam to form a unified Vietnam).

Origins

During World War II, Indochina (Laos, Cambodia, and all of Vietnam) was occupied by the Japanese. To retaliate, Ho Chi Minh, a communist started a Nationalist Vietnamese movement in 1941 to expel the invaders. With a US ally and guerrilla (hit and run) tactics, Japan was forced to flee. After the war (in 1946), the French (the previous occupants) bombed Haiphong, entered Hanoi, and forcibly took over after failed negotiations. In 1954, the French were ousted the the Viet Minh (those in Vietnam working for Minh). It would be decided that the Viet Minh would rule a communist state in the north, and a republic would be in the south. Soon, war would occur between the opposing forces, with the Viet Cong's communists uprising in South Vietnam.

                                                      Opposite Sides

The Communists: these are the supporters of Ho Chi Minh, the peoples of North Vietnam, and had a great ally: Communist China. These people wished to unite Vietnam and render it a communist state. The Viet Cong, or National Liberation Front (NLF) was a communist group allied with the Viet Minh (communists in the north) and were actually located in South Vietnam, representing a communist minority in the region. They were allied with the communist's official People's Army of Vietnam, the army up north.

The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam): this is the side that lost the war, despite the aid of the US and other capitalist countries. Ngo Dinh Diem and then Nguyen Van Thieu were the presidents of the country. After France retreated from Vietnam, Diem had launched a campaign against the last members of the Viet Minh in the south. This was a failed attempt to consolidate his rule. President Thieu continued the unsuccessful war against the communists, though Saigon would be taken in 1975.

Sources

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

2. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/VietnamOrigins.htm

3. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/vietnam.htm

Let America Be America Again: An Analysis (2/6/2012)

The two perspectives of America shown in Langston Hughes’ poem are of the downtrodden man and the man with a rather sumptuous home. The former decries the American Dream (which in essence requires natural selection—one man achieves his dreams leaving the rest in the gutter), while the latter; rather unstated perspective is that of the man with silver buttons and a gold cane. The bleak picture of the decline of the American Dream is explored in the poem, with Langston drawing parallels between the vision of the plebeians (the majority) and his own identical perspective. His poem is in affect a response to the opinion purported by the rich: the American Dream is offered to everyone, and the American Dream is the epitome of perfection. Hughes’ world is much different than the one painted by the rich—everything, even the Roaring Twenties, are gilded.  The rich romp about, while the poor congregate, wondering how their bills for the month shall be paid. The American Dream is not, as the rich pretend, able to be achieved by most in a person’s lifetime. Like the caste system in India, the American Dream is a hereditary characteristic few can attain in their life. Like moths changing color, the acquirement of the American Dream requires mettle and a bit of luck. This is in essence what is described by Hughes. His picture of a perfect American Dream (or indeed America) is a land of equal opportunity, where the American Dream can be achieved by even the lowliest immigrant. The American Dream’s reality and vision blend directly into America’s reality and vision. Thus, Hughes criticizes the gilded aspect of the American Dream, attempted by the many and achieved by the few. The tone in the poem is a kind of musing anger. His words are strong, but he also muses about the future. Fitzgerald is similar in how he criticizes the American Dream, though he takes the perspective of the rich rather than Hughes taking the perspective of the poor. He shows the rich’s weaknesses, namely them being shallow and out of touch with the poor. In the modern world, this philosophy is more applicable than ever: we are in a long recession, income inequality has increased to unprecedented levels, prices of food and forms of energy are skyrocketing, and people are becoming more depressed. The American Dream can be achieved, but the cost (many damaged lives) would make many consider not getting it. The few win, the majority are just a carpet for the rich and successful to wipe their feet on.

James Gatz/Jay Gatsby: a Narration (1-21-2012)

This scene is derived from Chapter 7, page 132. Words in italics indicate Gatsby’s thoughts. The rest is Nick’s narration.

“Daisy, that’s all over now,” he said earnestly.”It doesn’t matter anymore. Just tell him the truth- that you never loved him—and it’s all wiped out forever.”

Daisy, Daisy, Daisy, love. I have waited for years for you to tell Tom this. Surely you mean it, old sport. Now tell him! Tell him the truth!

She looked at him blindly. “Why—how could I love him—possibly?”

Possibly? Daisy, there is NO possibility! You love me and me only. Right?

“You never loved him.”

Come now Daisy, you KNOW this. Just admit it so we can finally be together in peace.

She hesitated. Her eyes fell on Jordan and me with a sort of appeal, as though she realized at last what she was doing—and as though she had never, all along, intended to do anything at all. But it was done now. It was too late.

“I never loved him,” she said, with perceptible reluctance.

That’s it! She told him! This "thing" between her and Tom must be over!

“Not at Kapiolani?” demanded Tom suddenly.

“No.”

From the ballroom beneath, muffled and suffocating clouds were drifting up on hot waves of air.

“Not that day I carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry?” There was a husky tenderness in his tone…”Daisy?”

What is going on? Is that man there trying to soften my Daisy up? I don't understand!

“Please don’t.” Her voice was cold, but the rancor was gone from it. She looked at Gatsby. “There, Jay,” she said— but her hand as she tried to light a cigarette was trembling. Suddenly, she threw the cigarette and the burning match on the carpet. “I did love him once—but I loved you too.”

WHAT? You loved me too? You love me only! You never loved Tom! What is this all about? Could this possibly be true, old sport?

Gatsby’s eyes opened and closed.

“You loved me too?” he repeated. 

I am shocked...

The Decline of the American Dream Blog 1/12/2012

                 According to Forbes Magazine (and many other sources as well), faith in the American Dream is declining rapidly, especially after 9/11, the late 2000's Recession, and other horrendous events. A poll indicates that a mere 57% of people believed the American Dream could be achieved by them and their families in December 2010, as opposed to 76% of Americans in July 2010. This shows a 19% plunge in a single decade, something shocking yet true.

               There are many factors contributing to the rapid demise in faith of the cornerstone of America, the American Dream. For example, the income inequality gap has increased, resulting in a pyramid where most American wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, in part due to the late 2000's Recession (which many now coin the Great Recession). The recession itself also played a large factor in the loss of faith in the American Dream, with jobs disappearing and income not keeping up with inflation (especially is energy prices these days-just look at your local gas station). Student debt (and other kinds of debt as well) nail a hammer in the coffin of decreased faith in the American Dream- debt makes humans pessimistic, and when one is in debt, the materialistic aspect of the American Dream seems more out of reach than ever. Basically, when people enter a recession, faith in the American Dream is lost. Why? Everything about it is pecuniary.

           So. how does all of this tie in to The Great Gatsby? In the novel, the American Dream is very materialistic as it is today. Money, money, money. Money makes the world go round. After WWI was a decadent period (somewhat like today: our celebrities are similar to the uber-rich in the book) where people borrowed many items using plastic credit cards at an enormous rate, while the poor just tried to get by. It is important to note the novel itself is set in this time- the Roaring Twenties.  The early 2000's were like the Roaring Twenties, while the late 2000's were like the Great Depression. Of course, no matter what kind of economy we live in, money is idolized. In Chapter 9 of the novel, the American Dream (original) is supposedly the pursuit of happiness and moral values. I suppose as people grew richer and glean greenbacks, their moral values tended to nosedive. After all, life is about trade. Trade wealth for morals, and you truly pay a great price.

          Just remember, to be happy does not equate to being rich. There is much more to life than riches and plastic items.

Music Album Review: OneRepublic's Dreaming Out Loud Album

           This was not a hard one for me to decide. I just love OneRepublic's songs, and I have the whole album on my iPod Touch. I would listen to it every day (before my iPod got stolen) for up to 2 hours. It was released in November of 2007, and the critics do not rate it so well, according to Wikipedia, but I for one love the album. The album itself has 12 songs, the most famous of which (and probably my favorite song ever) is Apologize, in which Ryan Tedder has a solo. The song is about someone trusting and loving someone, and that person breaking their heart. The singer poured his whole heart into loving the person, but something went wrong, and the "rope" he is holding onto is precarious and then his love cuts it. She apologizes later, but it is to late to repair the damage. Later, he points out he still loves her and would like to be with her, but she has broken his heart too many times. As time goes on, he is more weary and loves her less, unsure he can trust her. He thinks of the love they had, and regrets what happened. The melody is slow,and there are some string instruments involved, as well as a piano, among other things (not the best at deciphering instruments). The other songs have similar themes of love, and are also beautiful.

The other songs in the album are:

 

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Say (All I Need)"	Andrew Brown, Zach Filkins, Eddie Fisher, Brent Kutzle, Ryan Tedder[10][11]	3:50
2.	"Mercy"	Brown, Tedder	4:00
3.	"Stop and Stare"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Tim Myers, Tedder	3:43
4.	"Apologize"	Tedder	3:28
5.	"Goodbye, Apathy"	Tedder	3:32
6.	"All Fall Down"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Kutzle, Tedder	4:04
7.	"Tyrant"	Brown, Filkins, Tedder	5:03
8.	"Prodigal"	Jerrod Bettis, Brown, Filkins, Myers, Tedder	3:55
9.	"Won't Stop"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Kutzle, Tedder	5:03
10.	"All We Are"	Myers, Tedder	4:28
11.	"Someone to Save You"	Fisher, Myers, Tedder	4:15
12.	"Come Home"	Tedder	4:27

Winter Poem: Chicago Winter (12-15-11)

           Snowflakes cascade from the sky in millions, latching on to outdoor Christmas decorations like a baby monkey clings to her mother, as well as on the ground, forming a military that can only be surmounted by the sun in its bright glory. Lights in a plethora of hues are strewn across the dark city, icicles are glued to people's noses, the brutal wind penetrates the pores, rendering them useless. The cold temperatures send sharp knife-like spikes into the human body, carving it into a sculpture resembling a hunk of Swiss cheese, delicate and riddled with dozens of holes. The days flee in seemingly infinitesimal seconds, while the nights stretch on as the moors of England do, endless and dreary. Incessant sneezes and coughs chase each other in rapid succession without apology, stumbling after each other like tired schoolchildren. Blowing noses, "bless you," and "wash your hands!" add more noise to the chorus. Throngs of feet clad in Ugg boots rush to their destinations, bulldozing anyone crossing their paths-these people are the epitome of a perfect juggernaut. Shopping bags hang on people's arms like decorations on a Christmas tree. Stores are bombarded by people jousting for pieces of cheap plastic. Any breaths in the frosty air convert to an odd smoke that hangs above one's head, never quite leaving. Slush covers the street in a dirty gray blanket, concealing the new black pavement. Snow plows are out in force; protecting the world against the horrors of deep snow. Scarves are wrapped around the faces of passerby, which are therefore inscrutable.  But one cannot deny the agate blue sky witnessed in the fleeting day, the euphoria of receiving Christmas presents, the cavorting that comes with a snowball fight, the triumphant feeling of braving a blizzard, and of course, basking in your well heated home, awaiting the long winter days to come. But all things must come to an end, even Chicago winters.

12/12/11: Where did you go, J.D.?

            J.D. Salinger-legendary author of Catcher in the Rye (and other works) died last year a social recluse. What led him to become like this? Perhaps fame was simply "not his cup of tea." He thought the more precise his work became, the more removed he must be from the public eye. Fame was not his thing. He was not one of the many flamboyant peacocks that strut around on our tellys today: he was a sociopath. Even in Catcher in the Rye, Holden expresses  his deep hatred of Hollywood and its actors. An author's narrator usually reflects the opinion of the writer himself. This is probably the case in this scenario.  If it was me, I might have done the same thing as Salinger. I am not a strutting peacock. Also, he only "wrote for himself." Perhaps he had not wanted to publish his works for a while before he did.
           I really don't know what to think about J.D. Before today, I thought he was a genius. Now, I think he is a maniac. He married someone 40 years younger than him, had affairs with people like Joyce Maynard, was put down by his daughter Margaret in her book about him, stayed secluded in Cornish, NH, and had an interesting history with women. But with his great works, he is OK.
            How was Catcher in the Rye viewed in the 1950's? It was received well, but had more critics than his other works put together. Libraries have and still ban the book because of its sexual allusions, language, smoking, etc. When John Lennon was shot, the shooter had the novel in his pocket, making many skittish with efforts to ban the book at school. Still, many high schools teach it.
               So, what about popular culture? An example of the novel affecting culture is this: screw up became much more popular after the book. Many movies also allude to the book (Salinger refused to let the book become a theatrical adaption).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_references_to_the_novel_The_Catcher_in_the_Rye
http://www.shmoop.com/jd-salinger/recluse.html
http://www.amazon.com/review/R137WGUQSMZA5R/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R137WGUQSMZA5R

Direction this Class Needs:12-12-2011

                 I am of the opinion that this class is absolutely fine, maybe even perfect. It's always a good period to dive into. I think the discussions are the most interesting, with trusty Christian, Sohrob, and Kirkland always weighing in with something. Mr. McCarthy also has to be my favorite English teacher. He is very astute and entertaining, and really knows how to set the ball rolling. Hmm, but Sohrob is right in his blog. Not many kids really participate. Just a small cluster, a minority, really. Perhaps they are (OK, we) are just shy. Or tired. Or overwhelmed. Sometimes, I am all three. I mean, yes, Mr. McCarthy does his best, but in a class of that size, how many kids can really be reached? The only regret I have about this class is that I do not participate as much as I should. Otherwise, this is probably my favorite class.

Some people harp on about changing their teacher's style to make the class better, but I disagree. Mr. McCarthy is the epitome of an English teacher. He is very smart, excellent at facilitating discussions and an all around cool teacher to know. He has pretty good taste in books (who doesn't like The Road?) He has certainly piqued my interest in critical thinking.

OK, maybe I am not really shedding the whole story. I sometimes feel incompetent in English.

Holden Caulfield: The Onion Returns

So, after over two weeks of reading Catcher in the Rye, what may be deduced about Holden Vitamin Caulfield? It may be concluded that he is an onion--just like the rest of us! Yes, with his many layers of complexity, he is an onion. He is a complex human being who constantly teeters from ingeniousness to insanity, just like other humans. He is not encapsulated by any one thing. He is a chromous, exotic flower that blooms at night. Holden Caulfield may be a cussing, indifferent seeming teenager, but he has layers that have not been accounted for: he is the catcher in the rye. He rescues and protects the innocence of children so they will not be indoctrinated by phonies. Everyone has strong opinions about something, and Holden has a strong opinion about phonies, fakes who hunt down the real people. Holden refuses to acknowledge he is a phony, though. He criticizes other people based on intricate details as well, like some of us. But he also has principles. He defends Jane and then is beaten to a pulp by Stradlater. That takes real dedication. He also loves like us humans. He is a bit over the moon for Jane Gallagher, always holding hands with her in a friendly way and kissing her when she cries. Holden, like the rest of us, fights battles that occur inside him, and his faults and talents are inextricably intertwined to each other.

My Red Hunting Hat (not really)

 Holden Caulfield's trademark item is his red hunting hat with flaps on the side and a cap on the front. He is extremely attractive (and warm) when he wears it backwards, something not everyone can pull off (well, not the former part anyway). My own version of Holden Caulfield's hat is my purple furry trooper hat (Hint: looks Russian), which I lost last year. If I can recall accurately, that hat was like my shield (it protected me from the blizzard of 2011--I survived). I believe I lost it after the blizzard. So what happened was the hat gave me insight (I think better with it on, like Holden) and instead of just going home (I was on the 126 when the blizzard commenced), I did something I thought of as bold and heroic (even though I nearly froze the next day)-- I went with my best friend Khaalia to her house, which was around a mile from mine. We transferred to the next bus alright, albeit me almost being blown off the sidewalk trying to get on. It's when we left downtown that things soured. My hat's magical powers were obviously wearing off (for my friend and I would be like the hunted deer, not the hunters), because our bus broke down in the street. We transferred into another bus (tightest fit ever- were were packed like sardines) and we shacked up in Khaalia's house for the night. With my lucky hat, I was able to go home the next day, although I had to wait half an hour for my bus. Holden's hat made him stand out, and mine did as well. I was one of the few I saw wearing that kind of hat all winter.

11/25 Blog: Thankful for a Classmate

           For this blog, I decided to stray from the norm a little bit. I think there is no one person that makes this English II class dramatically better and more interesting than my other classes. It requires a mixture of different people from different places. I'd have to say that Kirkland Buchanan is definitely one VERY interesting person in our English class. With him in the mix, the class discussions immediately become more flavored. It is always interesting to hear what he has to say, even if I am at odds with him most of the time (albeit silently). But in our class, it is usually Kirkland who sets the ball rolling. Not all the time, though. There is also Sohrob Moslehi, who I am also often at odds with due to his controversial claims on religion. I am rather in awe of him and others, however. I had never saw a brain that could connect the dots so quickly (OK, except for Christian Cattan, who also has much to bring to the table of class discussions). Behind the scenes is my good classmate and locker partner Zainab Abdullah, who can always show me the other side of the story. It is also very nice to have Shaponi Nalls and Kionis Watts in my class. They always crack me up, in a good way of course. Of course, there are others in the class I would like to acknowledge, but for the sake of length, the blog stops here. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Road (by Cormac McCarthy): Commentary on Death (11-4-11)

       Death is a recurring theme in The Road. The topic itself is explored numerous times, with people constantly threatened with it in various instances throughout the award-winning novel (people struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic scenario, pitted against the forces of cannibalism, starvation, exposure to disease, etc.) A good example of this is when the father and son deliberately avoid the men in the truck, who they know are cannibals. They care more about their own survival than interacting with other people. This survivalistic situation that occurs throughout the book makes the father suspicious of most humans they encounter, and leads them to avoiding taking risks with other human beings. The son and the father also frequently discuss death, actually based off of frequent conversations the author had with his own son.

So, why even bother to include death in the story, when thousands of authors never bother to address the topic in their books? Well, McCarthy answered the question in a New York Times interview in 1992, saying "(he only cares for writers who) deal with issues of life and death." He also says: "if it doesn't concern life and death, it's not interesting." These may not seem like adequate answers to the question, but the author tends to have an underlying meaning under every statement he makes. We can make an educated guess and assert that he meant that death is such an important issue that it makes more sense to address it than not to address it. This may help explain why McCarthy puts such an emphasis on a topic other authors have tread carefully around. Perhaps another reason why he addresses an issue is that it is taboo to discuss it in many societies today. Maybe he challenges this unspoken rule that people cannot speak of death, which they fear but attempt to ignore. Perhaps he brings up death simply to remind us how crucial it is to everyone. But with him being a member of Mensa, he probably used death as a theme for all of these reasons.

Letter to Charles Bukowski- for 10-28-11

Dear Mr. Bukowski,

Your poem Dinosauria We was very interesting and probably has some truth in it as well. The poem already shows some of the things that have occurred throughout history, especially recently. When you talk about hospitals being so expensive people would rather die than pay for it is becoming true for many people today, especially with the health care costs rising nearly 10% in one year. People are also murdering, emasculating, raping, in a few places eating, and yelling at each other. Political boundaries also shifted with this year's revolutions in the northern Africa region. People are also committing larger scale genocides as time goes by, with Darfur and the Holocaust as obvious examples. Millions of Americans are also in jail, and they are swelling as the days go on. Fools are also elevated by the masses, sometimes merely for looks (Hollywood, anyone?) Humans are born into materialistic, competing, self absorbed societies who trample each other for an elusive thing, be it money, fame, or power. 

You also seem to have a strong view on humans: that they are driven by a bad nature. The Chinese philosopher Sunzi would agree with you, while Mencius (another Chinese Philosopher) would propose "humans are good." I think you are partially right. While humans do possess judgment, survivalist instincts like those witnessed in the road turn them into self important cannibals who may even kill and consume their friends or family (although there are some like the boy in The Road who seem to be an exception). The only thing you failed to mention is that humans also have a capacity to love, to take care of, to create, and to form lasting relationships. 

I think your poem added some bits to my cave reality, and I am grateful to have read it.

From, Danni O.

Father and Son (for 10-20-11)

            In the award-winning post apocalyptic novel The Road, Cormac McCarthy depicts an extremely strong bond between a father and his son. Their relationship is marred by an unspoken of tragic event which annihilated the majority of America's (and perhaps other parts of the world as well) population. Their healthy relationship now has to reckon with bandits, lack of provisions, no real home, and the compromising of principles. Therefore, it is understandable that the circumstances of the times altered many previous definitions, resulting in a skewed relationship based on survival. The boy witnesses events (such as the murder of a man), something that can only be offered in a society bent on survival.

         The relationship between the two is sublime. The father even attempts to show his son glimpses of the previous world he had never seen, such as when he led his boy to the waterfall, or gave him Coca-Cola. The two companions talk to each other freely, both would die for each other, and the father will stop at nothing for his son's safety--even killing a man who attempted to murder the boy. The only tension between the two concern aiding people, where the father leaves them alone for their family to survive, whereas the son prefers to help them, perhaps even at the expense of his family's lives. The father and son juxtapose each other in another way--the father is suspicious of people in general, while his son is trusting nearly to the point of naivety. It is also the boy who constantly call the father's ethics into question, like a policeman. 

          The strong relationship between parent and child is very common. It is also a special bond that can be rarely duplicated; when people are united by blood and intent, sob and chuckle together, exchange information, share memories, and bask in each others presence. It is a special bond that should be cherished in all circumstances.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge? (for 9-30-11)

So, is the protagonist of The Crucible a knight or a subordinate being with no backbone? Is he a person who has overcome obstacles and still looked generally good in the process, or is he just a nameless indentured servant to Abigail and her coterie of cronies? This post seeks to concisely answer the question, cutting back on precious time and superfluous words.

First, we must define: what is a hero? A hero is someone "identified with good qualities," is usually amicable enough, and has a decent track record. John Proctor fits the bill. The town, with mostly the exception of Rev. Parris, respect and perhaps even like him. He is a Christian, God-fearing man who other than plowing on Sunday has only committed one true crime, both legal and moral: adultery. He succumbed to his temptations, with Abigail Williams egging him on. Only once did he actually commit lechery with her, but that was enough to tarnish his relationship with Elizabeth and foster hope in Abigail of deja vu-an encore of what happened between them. He is indeed a hero, but he is a tragic one. He actually had two flaws, really: temptation influenced his dealings with Abigail, and in the end of the play, hubris (a Greek word meaning pride) keeps him from signing his confession that he is a witch, and leads him to his own hanging.

His brief relationship with Abigail should not be underestimated. Too many times in history, and especially today, you see people succumb to temptation and hurt their spouses forever, have children out of wedlock, step across ethical lines, and/or transfer AIDs and other sexual diseases. Even if he didn't impregnate Abigail, the situation between John and Elizabeth had never been the same again when she heard of the harlot's crime. Of course, there is also the breaching of ethical lines that must be taken into account as well. Therefore, John Proctor is not the fantastical role model so many people dream of. But then again, no one is. 

I'll finish off with a final word: as a young child, I always loved to divulge The Series of Unfortunate Events, written by Lemony Snicket (otherwise and usually known as Daniel Handler). In one of the latter books of the series, he brings up a few good points: that people are like onions (meaning their intentions may be murky and they are ridiculously complicated) and that humans are "a chef's salad," meaning they are composed of both good and bad things. People are like onions, with many layered ideas, intentions, and pasts that are difficult for even the most adroit scholar to decipher. Humans are also chef's salads, for even though they may have not ever committed a crime, life is a series of interlocking fates, with people simultaneously helped and hampered by others. Such is the nature of life.