Blog #6 assignment

So far I like this class because it is better than I expected since I do not like to write that much. At first I disliked the idea of having to write blogs, but since it reduces the amount of essays required in the class I think it is a good replacement. I actually like the format of the blogs and how we are able to free-write instead of having to write structured essays. I try to keep in mind that other class mates will be reading my blog, so I try to keep my points clear. Reading other students blogs also helps me see how others think about certain things, as well as open me up to new ways of thinking. I don't really know what exactly I was expecting of the class at first, probably just a lot of writing like most English classes. However, since most of the writing in this class is just jotting down my thoughts, it is much more tolerable. My expectations of this class have definitely changed for the better.

Blog #5 Assignment OPTION 2

"If there is something to desire" by Vera Pavlova (Translated by Steven Seymour)

If there is something to desire,
there will be something to regret.
If there is something to regret,
there will be something to recall.
If there is something to recall,
there was nothing to regret.
If there was nothing to regret,
there was nothing to desire.

I remember reading this poem on the train various times during my commute to high school. It made me think about my desires and what I wanted to do with my life. But being a young person, those desires change often. I read this poem as saying that if you have those regrets and memories that may come with aspirations, it was no longer a desire but something real. That it is better to try and fulfill those desires and either obtain them or not, than to not have something to strive for.

Here is a link to the MTA page that has this poem along with others that have been in the subway's Poetry in Motion exhibits(?).
http://www.mta.info/mta/pim/poems.htm

Blog #4 assignment

I feel that the story “The Chrysanthemums,” by John Steinbeck is a good example of gender criticism. Gender criticism is defined as “the examination of the ways in which sexual identity influences the creation, interpretation, and evaluation of literary works” (Kennedy, X.J. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing). In the end of “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck has Elisa associate her crying to that of a weakly old woman. Even though Steinbeck has Elisa wanting to break through the gender barriers of her day all throughout the story, she settles by sticking to the gender roles of her society. The approach of gender criticism would help the reader to interpret this story more efficiently because it will make the expectations of women during those times clearer, and makes it easier to understand the hardships that Elisa was going through as well. For example, she had added stress to her already stressful life, just because women were looked down upon for no good reason. Probably like many women during her time, Elisa wanted to be treated as an equal to men and have some say in her life. However, Steinbeck showed how women dealt with these aspirations; they kept them to themselves. The use of gender criticism would help the reader fully understand why Steinbeck's story followed a woman as opposed to a man, as well as explain the events that unfolded around her.

Blog #3 Assignment OPTION A

Ted Lavender was one of the characters that I found interesting in "The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. The author seems to consistently describe Ted Lavender as being scared of dying. The things that Lavender carried also spoke about his fear. For example, Lavender carried tranquilizers and “six to seven ounces of premium dope (393),” which to him was a necessity. He also carried almost 10 extra rounds (10ounces per round) because of his fear, and on night missions he carried a starlight scope. This illustrates how he surrounded himself with things that would ease his fear of death; the drugs that helped to calm his mind, the extra ammunition that gave him confidence in being able to deal with the enemy if need be, and the starlight scope which allowed him to see the enemy before they were able to see him. These objects helped Lavender feel more protected, and allowed him to better cope with his fear. I feel that Ted Lavender was a flat/static character. The only thing that is learned about him is that he is afraid of dying, and that is his constant characteristic throughout the entire story. I chose to write about Ted Lavender because I found it to be ironic that the man who feared and prepared for death the most was the only one to die out of the other 17 men in the platoon.

Assignment #2--Symbolism in Steinbeck.

I feel that John Steinbeck used symbolism in his story “The Chrysanthemums” to show the reader that Elisa Allen, the protagonist, did not want to conform to the societal standards for women during that time. Steinbeck constantly describes Elisa as strong, powerful, and even gives her rugged features that are more associated with men. In one paragraph Steinbeck says, “She looked down toward the men by the tractor shed now and then. Her face was eager and mature and handsome; even her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful. The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy (193).” Here, I feel that Elisa is trying to show the men that women can also work hard and dirty, especially since she began working harder after constantly looking at the men. The symbolism in the quote is the chrysanthemums being too small and easy for her. Perhaps the flowers represent “women” and what they were expected to be, which is soft and delicate. However, here Elisa is cutting down these gender schemas, not only figuratively but also literally. Although, I think that the way Elisa acts may also be a shield that protects her from being uniformly added to the same category as the women of her day. When the man from the wagon stops by, there is a point where Elisa lets down her guard for him. This is after the man shows an interest in her flowers and asks if he can have some to bring to a lady down the road, “She’d sure like to have some, ma’am. You say they’re nice ones?’ ‘Beautiful,’ she said. ‘Oh beautiful’ (196).’ Her eyes shone. She tore off the battered hat and shook out her dark pretty hair.” Here the man is entertaining Elisa by conversing with her about her flowers, and she feels happy/proud that her hard work was being noticed. Elisa decides to let down her guard, her ruggedness, her masculine features that were represented by the battered hat, which was earlier described in the story as a “man’s hat”. Maybe since the man was admiring her hard work, she felt she could show him that it was a woman full of femininity that did it. However, as she is later driving into town with her husband, she sees the flowers dumped on the side of the road. Her work did mean nothing; she was still looked at as a woman no matter how masculine she tried to be. I think she realized this in the end as she “[turns] up her coat collar so [her husband] could not see that she was crying weakly --- like an old woman (199).” Elisa puts women, crying, and weak into the same category, and in the end, conforming to the societal standards of her day.

Blog 1

Hello, my name is Caleb Phillips and I am 19 years old. I am half Asian and half white. This is my second semester at Laguardia, where I am majoring in Liberal Arts: Math and Science. I am interested in genetics and I hope to obtain a career in that field. In my free time I like to play sports and be active.