“Sonny’s Blues” is by far the best short story we have read thus far in class. The author shows us a character that went through some rough times, but pulls forward to a brighter future. I was constantly pulling for Sonny, rooting for the underdog because he is suppose to fail and go back to his old ways with drugs. I feel sorry for Sunny because here is a great person who had no father figure or role model and went down the wrong path. This happens so much in our society, but luckily Sonny met his brother after getting out of jail.
Sonny expresses himself through his music; it is almost all he knows to do. I love how the author narrated the story during Sonny’s playing. The description of Sonny’s fellow player, Creole, having a dialogue through the music they were playing. Creole telling Sonny to let go and dig deep and give it more and play his heart out. Sonny’s brother saw this and really opened his eyes to his brother and understood him for the first time. Baldwin did a great job of making us know how his brother felt.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
A Difficult Transition
Gloria Sawai’s “Mother’s Day” is written from the point of view of a thirteen year old girl reflecting on the events of a few days around Mother’s Day two years prior. The few days on which she reflects seem to define the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The narrator seems to be well on her way to becoming an adult at the beginning of the story; however, there are many contradictory moments in the story that show how unready for womanhood she really is. I believe this is from where the story draws its power.
When the narrator falls ill, she first turns to her mother. The need for one’s mother seems to be one of the defining characteristics of a child, a characteristic that is also displayed by the kitten, making the narrator, in a way, its mother. The importance of motherhood seems apparent to the narrator, which could explain her apprehension towards growing into an adult and becoming a mother herself, which is shown in both the scene in which her parents put the mustard plaster on her chest as well as the scene in which she kills the kitten.
It is only after Mrs. McDonald tells her how good of a mother she will be that she hurls the kitten into the snow and smashes it with rocks. She seems to kill the kitten because she isn’t ready for motherhood, for the responsibility. She seems to be lashing out against the construct of motherhood. The image of the little girl killing the kitten was very emotive and was very hard to ignore. Such a horrible image contrasts with the little girl’s scripture quotes and confidence in her preparedness for adulthood, the two images together help us see how confusing this transition would be. Two years after these happenings, when the story is written, the narrator understands why she was so embarrassed about her growing body in the instance of the mustard plaster but still did not understand why she killed the kitten. It makes the reader aware that, although she is more mature than when these events occurred, she is still not yet a woman when she writes about that Mother’s Day.
When the narrator falls ill, she first turns to her mother. The need for one’s mother seems to be one of the defining characteristics of a child, a characteristic that is also displayed by the kitten, making the narrator, in a way, its mother. The importance of motherhood seems apparent to the narrator, which could explain her apprehension towards growing into an adult and becoming a mother herself, which is shown in both the scene in which her parents put the mustard plaster on her chest as well as the scene in which she kills the kitten.
It is only after Mrs. McDonald tells her how good of a mother she will be that she hurls the kitten into the snow and smashes it with rocks. She seems to kill the kitten because she isn’t ready for motherhood, for the responsibility. She seems to be lashing out against the construct of motherhood. The image of the little girl killing the kitten was very emotive and was very hard to ignore. Such a horrible image contrasts with the little girl’s scripture quotes and confidence in her preparedness for adulthood, the two images together help us see how confusing this transition would be. Two years after these happenings, when the story is written, the narrator understands why she was so embarrassed about her growing body in the instance of the mustard plaster but still did not understand why she killed the kitten. It makes the reader aware that, although she is more mature than when these events occurred, she is still not yet a woman when she writes about that Mother’s Day.
Re: The Unknown
In many ways, I agree with Sam Starbuck’s analysis of “A Rose for Emily” – one’s initial reaction to the level of gossip in Faulkner’s story is ‘this never happens where I’m from.’ After more careful introspection, however, one see’s ‘gossip’ all around, invading many facets of life – we just don’t call it ‘gossip.’ This weekend was a big party weekend on campus – today (Sunday) I heard many second hand ‘stories’ about the actions of other students. On first glance, we wouldn’t call this ‘gossip’ – this is just a recount of what went on the night before. As you reconstruct how the story was laid out for you by an individual who did not directly experience the story but saw it/heard it from another individual, you see portions of the story where embellishments and sensationalizing what actually happened most likely occurred. Adding to it the storytellers personal speculation as to what happened after the event, you have gossip.
Nevertheless I disagree with Sam’s analysis about the validity of the gossip in the story. I think the information about Miss Emily, which is by definition gossip, is true. Faulkner wrote this story as a snapshot of a small Southern town – replete with its old aristocracy, ambiguous governmental policies, a powerful religious leader and gossip. All parts of the information provided vindicated each of these small town stereotypes. The preacher (who isn’t even of the same Protestant denomination as Miss Emily) takes it upon himself to visit her in her home; his wife writes letters to Miss Emily’s family. The old mayor creatively creates a tax exemption for Miss Emily. With the truth of these stereotypes and the revelation of Miss Emily’s necrophilia, one can easily believe that the rest of the information in “A Rose for Emily” is true. As I have stated before, the strange drama that was Miss Emily’s life would be the greatest story that could happen to a small town.
Nevertheless I disagree with Sam’s analysis about the validity of the gossip in the story. I think the information about Miss Emily, which is by definition gossip, is true. Faulkner wrote this story as a snapshot of a small Southern town – replete with its old aristocracy, ambiguous governmental policies, a powerful religious leader and gossip. All parts of the information provided vindicated each of these small town stereotypes. The preacher (who isn’t even of the same Protestant denomination as Miss Emily) takes it upon himself to visit her in her home; his wife writes letters to Miss Emily’s family. The old mayor creatively creates a tax exemption for Miss Emily. With the truth of these stereotypes and the revelation of Miss Emily’s necrophilia, one can easily believe that the rest of the information in “A Rose for Emily” is true. As I have stated before, the strange drama that was Miss Emily’s life would be the greatest story that could happen to a small town.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Sonny in All of Us
I thought that “Sonny’s Blues” was an effective short story due to its application to the past and to anyone who has endured hardship in their life. These two characteristics of the story allow the reader to relate to Sonny on several levels.
I found the story quite interesting to begin with due to its setting in the 60’s in Harlem, where segregation influenced every-day life. The historical setting makes this story very believable and very authentic to the reader. The reader knows that numerous people who lived in Harlem in the 60’s had similar lifestyles to that of Sonny. Sonny’s lifestyle was strikingly similar to that of Malcolm X, who got caught up in the wrong crowd and took a plethora of drugs to ease his pain. Despite his past, Malcolm X eventually turned his pain into constructive expression. Similarly, Sonny was lost in society, not knowing where to turn. Initially, he turned to drugs to try to combat his pain. Eventually, he found the one thing that he could express his emotions through; playing jazz piano.
I feel that everyone who has experienced hardships in their life can relate to Sonny. Many times, it is difficult to know where to turn when so many negative things plague your everyday life. For Sonny, the pangs of segregation and isolation from society led him to use drugs as an outlet. By the end of the story, after the discourse with his brother, he was able to find solace in the keys of a piano. I think, just like everyone has their own yellow wall-paper, that everyone also has their own piano; something that allows them to outlet their emotions in a constructive way. Though the parallel might not be quite as serious as Sonny’s situation, everyone has something that they turn to in order to channel their emotions. Some “pianos” could simply be reading a book or shooting some hoops to outlet some emotional distress, or they could even be playing or listening to music, much like Sonny did.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Unknown
In "A Rose for Emily" it is the unknown that attracts the reader and the outside characters in the story attracted to her and her situation. It doesn't help that the setting is in a small southern town, where not much else goes on and people feed off of gossip. In the story everyone in the city is fascinated by what they don't know. It is what keeps bringing them back for more. They don't really know what is going on behind those doors, but the fact that they can speculate and fill in the blanks in their own mind with their own imagination is fascinating. It is entertainment in such a small town, and anywhere really. As i read this story, it seemed so unreal, of something that would never happen before in today's society. The more i thought, it happens everyday, and it so intertwined with our day to day life that we don't even notice it when it does happen. Gossip is everywhere around us. In out family, work place, living units, and on television/internet. It is everywhere, and it feeds us. We enjoy hearing what went wrong, or what is going on in other peoples lives. It is just like what was said in class, it gives us a sense of power or inferiority.
At the same time, how much of gossip is actually true? Gossip is normally some form of information that we hear, and yet we normally don't hear it all. We hear bits and pieces of it, and always seem to put our own twist on it. We sometimes shape it to how we want it to sound. In a sense this is the case in "A Rose for Emily." All of the people in her community love to sit and speculate as to what is going on inside her house. None have ever stepped foot inside, but they have heard stories. They base their information upon who they see walk inside the house, or from situations such as when the neighbor complains of a stench coming from the property. This causes the people to start guessing the reason for why the smell is occurring. Or when the priest goes in to talk Mrs. Emily, and leaves and goes straight to call her family. When something like this occurs, it causes the outsiders to just speculate and start to wonder what is going on inside. This is a catchy way to write a story, because as a reader you do the same. You don't know what is going on either, but in your mind you are filling in the blanks as well.
At the same time, how much of gossip is actually true? Gossip is normally some form of information that we hear, and yet we normally don't hear it all. We hear bits and pieces of it, and always seem to put our own twist on it. We sometimes shape it to how we want it to sound. In a sense this is the case in "A Rose for Emily." All of the people in her community love to sit and speculate as to what is going on inside her house. None have ever stepped foot inside, but they have heard stories. They base their information upon who they see walk inside the house, or from situations such as when the neighbor complains of a stench coming from the property. This causes the people to start guessing the reason for why the smell is occurring. Or when the priest goes in to talk Mrs. Emily, and leaves and goes straight to call her family. When something like this occurs, it causes the outsiders to just speculate and start to wonder what is going on inside. This is a catchy way to write a story, because as a reader you do the same. You don't know what is going on either, but in your mind you are filling in the blanks as well.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The army general & the philosopher
James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues demonstrates a perfect example of a character foil. Furthermore, this foil describes two very realistic mindsets. The eldest brother whose name is never mentioned attacks life's problem with order, or rather, he distracts himself from life's problems and intricacies by keeping order. In contrast, Sonny allows life to seep into him through every pore and often finds himself overwhelmed with its complexity and mystery.
This tension between opposites drives the story forward. From the start, we find Sonny in prison for heroin use, but unlike his friend who we first meet, Sonny is far from a dead beat loser. Surprisingly, though, Sonny's brother and his friend, whom the brother despises, are not that different--each numbs himself to life's hurt and mystery through daily distractions--either drug use or control.
We find ourselves absorbed with Sonny as he asks question concerning the essence of humanity. Why must humans suffer? Is there something beautiful in suffering? Yet, the most marked aspect of this short stories concerns Sonny's way to speak his frustrations. Sonny chooses music, specifically the blues (appropriately), to communicate his ails. I think Sonny's music comes from his soul, and music itself is above the constraints of language, so Sonny's blues are his way of connecting himself to the world. Sonny may never find answers to his woes, but if the woes were to sit inside him like a rock he would inevitably drown in life's problems.
Sonny's blues keep Sonny sane by allowing him to express himself to the world.
James Baldwin creates marvelously complex characters for stories that investigate interesting questions through unique mediums. For example, the questions: how does one survive and what does it mean for one to survive played out through the interaction of two brothers, the eldest a retired army office with a family and the second a loner musician just out of prison for heroin use.
This tension between opposites drives the story forward. From the start, we find Sonny in prison for heroin use, but unlike his friend who we first meet, Sonny is far from a dead beat loser. Surprisingly, though, Sonny's brother and his friend, whom the brother despises, are not that different--each numbs himself to life's hurt and mystery through daily distractions--either drug use or control.
We find ourselves absorbed with Sonny as he asks question concerning the essence of humanity. Why must humans suffer? Is there something beautiful in suffering? Yet, the most marked aspect of this short stories concerns Sonny's way to speak his frustrations. Sonny chooses music, specifically the blues (appropriately), to communicate his ails. I think Sonny's music comes from his soul, and music itself is above the constraints of language, so Sonny's blues are his way of connecting himself to the world. Sonny may never find answers to his woes, but if the woes were to sit inside him like a rock he would inevitably drown in life's problems.
Sonny's blues keep Sonny sane by allowing him to express himself to the world.
James Baldwin creates marvelously complex characters for stories that investigate interesting questions through unique mediums. For example, the questions: how does one survive and what does it mean for one to survive played out through the interaction of two brothers, the eldest a retired army office with a family and the second a loner musician just out of prison for heroin use.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Story of an Hour
It is neat to name a story after the time frame in which it takes place. I very much like this story because, although it is really short, it offers many things to think about. When the woman hears of her husband’s death, the story says, “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once…” I wonder why this lady reacted differently from other women. Why did the author tell us that she reacted this way? Does it reveal something about the way she really feels about her husband?
Another part of the story I find intriguing is the process which the woman goes through in which she moves from being distraught to being elated. The emotions both negative and positive are very genuine, which makes me wonder about her relationship with her husband. Is he a good man, or is he oppressive?
Finally, I wonder if there is a reason for the cruel irony at the end of the story that makes this tale stick with us. Is the surprise placed at the end of the story simply for entertainment, or is there a meaning or a statement behind it?
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