Upon completion of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, one wouldn’t think it to have very much relation or comparison to anything from the Bible or Christianity, but after studying the text a bit; I’ve come to find some relation between the two. Although McMarthy was not a professed Christian whatsoever, he still creates some situations in his writing throughout The Road that could be seen as spiritual or related to our Christian faith in some way.
We know from the text that the boy from the story looks to his father for protection, guidance, provision, and reassurance. The relationship between the boy and his father could be compared to Jesus’ relationship with God the Father. Although the father from the story didn’t exactly act in the exact same manner as God the Father did with Christ, he was still everything the boy needed. The boy couldn’t have survived without his father. We know from the gospels that Jesus was afraid of what he was sent to earth to do. He was submissive to his Father, but would still continually ask for strength and provision seeing as he did not feel fully prepared to handle the situation at times. Jesus was always in communication with his Father and listening for what he was to do next; -very much like how the boy was always looking to his father to find out what was going to happen next.
The boy in the story also reminded me of how Christ would act if he were to come upon some of the situations the boy and his father did throughout the story. Or, in other words, the boy acted in the way Christians today should act and treat others. The father on the other hand reminded me of the way most Christians today would handle the situations they came upon.
The most prominent scene that comes to mind from The Road that could be compared to a story in the Bible is when the father and son come upon a man on the side of the road who called himself Eli. The father is skeptical and somewhat reluctant to help the old man, but the boy feels as if he’s obligated to help him, like there is no other option but to help the man and give him something to eat. On page 163, the father says to the son, “I don’t think you should touch him.” But the son ignores that statement and responds with, “Maybe we could give him something to eat.” The boy responds to the situation he’s in like Jesus would, -or like a “Good Samaritan” would.
This situation is similar to the story of the leper on the side of the road and the Good Samaritan from the Bible. A man traveling on a road from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, stripped of his clothes, and left half dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite walk right past the man without stopping, afraid to touch him. But soon enough the Good Samaritan comes along and helps the dying man. He gives him something to eat and even bandages some of his wounds. There is no question to me that the boy is like the Good Samaritan. He gives the man on the side of the road who was half dead something to eat and even convinces his father to let him stay with them for a night. The boy represented Christ throughout the whole situation, while the father had to be convinced by his own son that it was okay and safe to let the man stay with them for a night. The father acted like most Christians today would react if they saw a man dying on the side of the road. They would convince themselves its none of their business and someone else would come along to help instead of them having to go out of their way.
Christians should have the mindset of others first, then them self, but it is usually the opposite. Jesus always put other before himself and in the story of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan man definitely put others before himself. The boy reflects both Christ and the Good Samaritan in that in almost every situation he and his father came upon, he always thought to help others before himself. Even as scarce as their food supply was, when the boy thought he saw another young boy around his age, he wanted so badly to turn around and help him. He was willing to share half of his food, which was already half of a can of food. The father had the mindset of “me first, then others” –sadly, much like that of many Christians today. We (Christians) seem to have to make ourselves comfortable before we decide to help others. It should be the other way around!
I strongly believe the boy represented a picture of how Jesus would handle very difficult situations, and the father represented the rest of the world and/or, sadly, the majority of Christians today.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
annotative - The Road
“a shopper from the commissaries of hell”
Commissary:
Dictionary.com: (1) n. a store that sells food and supplies to the personnel or workers in a military post, mining camp, lumber camp, or the like.
(2) a person to whom some responsibility or role is delegated by a superior power; a deputy.
Oxford English Dictionary: (1) n. ...One to whom a special duty or charge is committed by a superior power; one commissioned to act as representative; a deputy, delegate....
(2) An officer or official who has charge of the supply of food, stores, and transport, for a body of soldiers. (Formerly they also inspected the musters of men.)
Urban Dictionary: In the context of incarceration, a store for provisions available to inmates on occasion.
These shoppers would eat your children in front of your eyes, tunnel among the ruins and crawl out from the rubble carrying charred and unidentified tins of food in nylon nets...
It’s as if the author gives the reader a type of imagery of hell, where blackened demon-like men rule earth and scavenge for anything they can find worth some type of value, -even your own children as food. The father in the story presumes that the world is soon to be populated by these types of men. I think the vivid description and imagery the author uses in this one sentence adds depth to the story by really accentuating the reader’s perception of the type of world they’re living in. It sort of gives the reader a glimpse of how truly bad and desolate it is. These “shoppers” don’t make sense to me because honestly, if I were alive during a time such as described in the story, I wouldn’t want to live. There would not really be any part of me that would have the desire to stay alive and/or do whatever I had to do in order to preserve my life. To me it would be like life isn’t worth living. But for these men, they go so far as to eat children to stay alive. That thought is somewhat unperceivable to me. I really don’t think we as a society would ever become that desolate… no matter what happens. But I guess I’ll really never know!
Commissary. Oxford English dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.seuniversity.edu:2048/view/Entry/37133?rskey=nvjk7v&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid
Commissary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/commissary
Commissary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=commissary
Commissary:
Dictionary.com: (1) n. a store that sells food and supplies to the personnel or workers in a military post, mining camp, lumber camp, or the like.
(2) a person to whom some responsibility or role is delegated by a superior power; a deputy.
Oxford English Dictionary: (1) n. ...One to whom a special duty or charge is committed by a superior power; one commissioned to act as representative; a deputy, delegate....
(2) An officer or official who has charge of the supply of food, stores, and transport, for a body of soldiers. (Formerly they also inspected the musters of men.)
Urban Dictionary: In the context of incarceration, a store for provisions available to inmates on occasion.
These shoppers would eat your children in front of your eyes, tunnel among the ruins and crawl out from the rubble carrying charred and unidentified tins of food in nylon nets...
It’s as if the author gives the reader a type of imagery of hell, where blackened demon-like men rule earth and scavenge for anything they can find worth some type of value, -even your own children as food. The father in the story presumes that the world is soon to be populated by these types of men. I think the vivid description and imagery the author uses in this one sentence adds depth to the story by really accentuating the reader’s perception of the type of world they’re living in. It sort of gives the reader a glimpse of how truly bad and desolate it is. These “shoppers” don’t make sense to me because honestly, if I were alive during a time such as described in the story, I wouldn’t want to live. There would not really be any part of me that would have the desire to stay alive and/or do whatever I had to do in order to preserve my life. To me it would be like life isn’t worth living. But for these men, they go so far as to eat children to stay alive. That thought is somewhat unperceivable to me. I really don’t think we as a society would ever become that desolate… no matter what happens. But I guess I’ll really never know!
Commissary. Oxford English dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.seuniversity.edu:2048/view/Entry/37133?rskey=nvjk7v&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid
Commissary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/commissary
Commissary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=commissary
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Fire.
“We’re going to be okay, aren’t we Papa? Yes. We are. And nothing bad is going to happen to us. That’s right. Because we’re carrying the fire. Yes. Because we’re carrying the fire.” (pg 83)
This phrase “carrying the fire” is seen in more than one place throughout our readings so far. What is the fire? The Oxford English Dictionary defines fire as follows:
Fire: n. The natural agency or active principle operative in combustion; popularly conceived as a substance visible in the form of flame or of ruddy glow or incandescence.
Another online literary symbolism dictionary stated that fire could be a symbol of inspiration, yet it is most predominantly the symbol of hell. The same source also listed a few other ideas of fire pertaining to purification, resurrection, and spiritual enlightenment. Personally, I see fire as being a sense of warmth, sometimes painful to put out, sometimes hard to start/make; and of course the spiritual side of me sees fire as being something that doesn’t die – like the fire that’s been placed in me by the Holy Spirit.
Why does the author repeatedly use this phrase throughout conversations between the father and son? The Christian in me wants to believe that “the fire” is their “good” spirit inside of them. The book also repeatedly uses the phrase, “the good guys.” An example is when the son says, “we’re still the good guys right?” I think the phrase “we’re carrying the fire” is very significant to this story because it forces the reader to really think about what it is. Now that we’ve dug in a little deeper into the story I’ve begun to enjoy it more, but I still find myself asking, “What is the significance to them carrying the fire?”
The author also uses enjambment continuously throughout the book. His refrain from using quotation marks and other punctuations can be confusing at times, but it also engages the reader and forces them to try to figure out who is saying what and what is going on in the story, adding depth to the story. I enjoy when the author leaves things for the reader to figure out on their own because it makes the read challenging.
I believe the fire could also be another name for the gun (FIREarm) that the father carries at all times. The son might think that they’re safe because they have a gun – aka “the fire” that can keep them from harm’s way. Although the meaning of the fire hasn’t been discovered yet, I believe this phrase is going to continue to be an important one throughout the text, and one that the reader needs to pay attention to in order to fully understand what’s going on.
References:
"Fire." Dictionary of Symbolism. Web. <http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/F/fire.html>.
"Fire." Oxford English Dictionary. Web. <http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.seuniversity.edu:2048/search?searchType=dictionary&q=fire&_searchBtn=Search_)>.
This phrase “carrying the fire” is seen in more than one place throughout our readings so far. What is the fire? The Oxford English Dictionary defines fire as follows:
Fire: n. The natural agency or active principle operative in combustion; popularly conceived as a substance visible in the form of flame or of ruddy glow or incandescence.
Another online literary symbolism dictionary stated that fire could be a symbol of inspiration, yet it is most predominantly the symbol of hell. The same source also listed a few other ideas of fire pertaining to purification, resurrection, and spiritual enlightenment. Personally, I see fire as being a sense of warmth, sometimes painful to put out, sometimes hard to start/make; and of course the spiritual side of me sees fire as being something that doesn’t die – like the fire that’s been placed in me by the Holy Spirit.
Why does the author repeatedly use this phrase throughout conversations between the father and son? The Christian in me wants to believe that “the fire” is their “good” spirit inside of them. The book also repeatedly uses the phrase, “the good guys.” An example is when the son says, “we’re still the good guys right?” I think the phrase “we’re carrying the fire” is very significant to this story because it forces the reader to really think about what it is. Now that we’ve dug in a little deeper into the story I’ve begun to enjoy it more, but I still find myself asking, “What is the significance to them carrying the fire?”
The author also uses enjambment continuously throughout the book. His refrain from using quotation marks and other punctuations can be confusing at times, but it also engages the reader and forces them to try to figure out who is saying what and what is going on in the story, adding depth to the story. I enjoy when the author leaves things for the reader to figure out on their own because it makes the read challenging.
I believe the fire could also be another name for the gun (FIREarm) that the father carries at all times. The son might think that they’re safe because they have a gun – aka “the fire” that can keep them from harm’s way. Although the meaning of the fire hasn’t been discovered yet, I believe this phrase is going to continue to be an important one throughout the text, and one that the reader needs to pay attention to in order to fully understand what’s going on.
References:
"Fire." Dictionary of Symbolism. Web. <http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/F/fire.html>.
"Fire." Oxford English Dictionary. Web. <http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.seuniversity.edu:2048/search?searchType=dictionary&q=fire&_searchBtn=Search_)>.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Reflective.
So far, Peace Like A River hasn’t been the most interesting read for me. I’m the type of person that likes suspense and exciting things in many areas of my life. For example, I LOVE thrill rides like roller coasters. I will go on any and every one! My favorite types of movies are also suspense/action films, -like Taken with Liam Neeson. The only parts of this book that have really excited me and kept me engaged were in the beginning where Enger gives us the scene of Jeremiah “taking care” of Finch and Busca, and when Davy shoots them down. I like books that are descriptive and give tons of imagery. The past few chapters have been difficult for me to stay engaged with because much of the information given is just character building, -which is important, but not all that interesting to me. I’ve found myself numerous times lately realizing I hadn’t been paying any attention whatsoever to what I was reading. I’ve had to go back and re-read quite a few pages in order to comprehend what was going on. Overall though, Peace Like A River has been pretty enjoyable. I love the way the author writes and how even though many times he doesn’t use imagery, he is still somehow very descriptive in his writing in a way that makes you understand what he’s trying to say. I’m a very visual person in the way I understand things, so when a reader can get through to me without painting a picture in my head, I’m impressed! I was also really intrigued with Swede’s poetry. She is such a young character but is incredibly brilliant in her writing (not to mention her vocabulary too). Reading her writings really helped her character come alive throughout the book. It helped the reader get inside her head and understand her a little bit better.
I’ve liked seeing the growth within Reuben throughout all the chapters. There are little instances here and there such as when he drinks coffee with his father’s (Jeremiah) best friend, that show the reader how he’s growing up and “becoming a man.” I believe the distance of Davy’s character has helped with that. Without Reuben having to go through all these troubles and search with his family for Davy, I don’t think he would really be growing as he is in the same way, -if at all. Davy was the one with all of the responsibility and “manhood” or strength in the house until the whole fiasco went down. Like it’s said, “God works in mysterious ways” and maybe this whole situation with Davy will end up being a sort of blessing in disguise in the end. We shall see.
I’ve liked seeing the growth within Reuben throughout all the chapters. There are little instances here and there such as when he drinks coffee with his father’s (Jeremiah) best friend, that show the reader how he’s growing up and “becoming a man.” I believe the distance of Davy’s character has helped with that. Without Reuben having to go through all these troubles and search with his family for Davy, I don’t think he would really be growing as he is in the same way, -if at all. Davy was the one with all of the responsibility and “manhood” or strength in the house until the whole fiasco went down. Like it’s said, “God works in mysterious ways” and maybe this whole situation with Davy will end up being a sort of blessing in disguise in the end. We shall see.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Annotative.
“I turn the corner of prayer and burn In a blessing of the sudden Sun.”
- “Unnamed” By Dylan Thomas
After reading this poem numerous times, I believe the “I” (speaker) in this poem is Paul from the Bible, and this poem is in reference to the story in Acts 9 of when God blinded him on the road to Damascus. The word “Sun” in this line refers to God’s overpowering glory, so bright He is impossible to look upon. The author plays with words when he writes, “…burn In a blessing of the sudden Sun.” Things burn when they are in the sun, and the speaker in this poem is burning in his heart from the overwhelming presence of the Son.
Acts 9:3-4
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Later in the poem it reads, “His lightening answers my Cry” –making me even more confident in my opinion of this poem’s meaning because of verse three.
There is also the usage of the word “sudden” in both this line of the poem and in verse 3 of Acts 9. I believe “the sudden Sun” really means, “the sudden Son.”
This is the first line in the poem that led me to believe it was a creative telling of Acts 9:1-4. This line adds depth to the poem because it gives the reader a picture in their minds (imagery) of what is going on in the poem and what the speaker is feeling and/or going through. Without the understanding of what this line means, the rest of the poem would be even more difficult to understand or decipher. It is important for the reader to picture in their minds what they believe to be happening in the poem.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Truth is...
My heart truly aches for you. I wonder what happened to you to make you feel the way you do about God. You probably won’t believe me, but Jesus has told me something very different from what you’re saying.
Truth is…
Jesus was there when God established the heavens, when He drew the horizons on the oceans.
He was there when God set the clouds above, when He established the springs deep in the earth.
He was there when God set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries, and when He marked off the earth’s foundations.
Jesus was the architect at God’s side. [Proverbs 8]
Truth is…
God is nothing like a drawing-pin caught in a sock.
He is an everlasting, overabounding source of joy, peace, comfort, truth, and most of all love.
I pray one day you’ll see that.
Truth is…
You’re not a mistake. No one is, or was, or ever will be.
Did you know that God even knows how many hairs are on your head?
How, you ask? Because He created you.
He knit you together while you were still in your mother’s womb.
He knows every thought you have before you even think it.
There is no escaping His presence, no matter how hard you try.
Truth is…
You are fearfully and wonderfully made –whether you like it or not, and whether you believe it or not.
Truth is…
God is madly in love with you –whether you like it or not, and whether you believe it or not.
Truth is…
I pray one day you can come to believe all of this.
Sincerely,
A concerned friend
Truth is…
Jesus was there when God established the heavens, when He drew the horizons on the oceans.
He was there when God set the clouds above, when He established the springs deep in the earth.
He was there when God set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries, and when He marked off the earth’s foundations.
Jesus was the architect at God’s side. [Proverbs 8]
Truth is…
God is nothing like a drawing-pin caught in a sock.
He is an everlasting, overabounding source of joy, peace, comfort, truth, and most of all love.
I pray one day you’ll see that.
Truth is…
You’re not a mistake. No one is, or was, or ever will be.
Did you know that God even knows how many hairs are on your head?
How, you ask? Because He created you.
He knit you together while you were still in your mother’s womb.
He knows every thought you have before you even think it.
There is no escaping His presence, no matter how hard you try.
Truth is…
You are fearfully and wonderfully made –whether you like it or not, and whether you believe it or not.
Truth is…
God is madly in love with you –whether you like it or not, and whether you believe it or not.
Truth is…
I pray one day you can come to believe all of this.
Sincerely,
A concerned friend
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Problematize -Pillow.
“There's nothing that won't fit under it:
fountains clogged with mud and leaves,
the houses of my childhood.”
This line from the poem “Pillow” troubles me because I cannot figure out what the deeper meaning behind it is. I’m not the best at deciphering poetry to begin with, so when I read even the slightest abstract poem, I usually don’t understand it at all. I didn’t even realize until we discussed the poem in class that it talks about when you try to fall asleep, but your mind races like crazy and it just seems impossible to do so –“Voices in the trees, the missing pages of the sea. Everything but sleep.”
We learned a bit about Li-Young Lee in class on Tuesday, and it was interesting to see all of the correlations between his past and his writing. I wonder if “fountains clogged with mud and leaves” could represent steadiness throughout his life. His biography stated that as a child, he moved around often and his father seemed to have many professions. Maybe the fountain’s steady stream represents his life and the mud and leaves represent the trials or busyness of his childhood. Or maybe the fountain represents the presence of his father throughout Lee’s childhood. His biography also stated that his father spent two years in jail because of political reasons. The “mud and leaves” could represent Lee’s father’s time spent in jail and how that affected the steady presence of a father figure in Lee’s childhood.
I know for sure if my father had to spend two years in jail for political reasons during my childhood, it would affect my life permanently. I understand what it means to have faith now, as a 21 year old, but as a child I really didn’t understand what it meant to have faith. I didn’t understand that all things work together for those that love God and are called according to His purpose. I would definitely view the absence of my father as a bunch of mud and leaves obstructing the steady flow of the fountain of my youth. It’s difficult to understand why bad/sad things happen when we’re children. I believe this “mud and leaves” reference in Lee’s poem has a much deeper meaning than the reader would notice at first glance. I think Lee put that line in this poem purposefully, and the line is meant to leave some interpretation up to the reader.
fountains clogged with mud and leaves,
the houses of my childhood.”
This line from the poem “Pillow” troubles me because I cannot figure out what the deeper meaning behind it is. I’m not the best at deciphering poetry to begin with, so when I read even the slightest abstract poem, I usually don’t understand it at all. I didn’t even realize until we discussed the poem in class that it talks about when you try to fall asleep, but your mind races like crazy and it just seems impossible to do so –“Voices in the trees, the missing pages of the sea. Everything but sleep.”
We learned a bit about Li-Young Lee in class on Tuesday, and it was interesting to see all of the correlations between his past and his writing. I wonder if “fountains clogged with mud and leaves” could represent steadiness throughout his life. His biography stated that as a child, he moved around often and his father seemed to have many professions. Maybe the fountain’s steady stream represents his life and the mud and leaves represent the trials or busyness of his childhood. Or maybe the fountain represents the presence of his father throughout Lee’s childhood. His biography also stated that his father spent two years in jail because of political reasons. The “mud and leaves” could represent Lee’s father’s time spent in jail and how that affected the steady presence of a father figure in Lee’s childhood.
I know for sure if my father had to spend two years in jail for political reasons during my childhood, it would affect my life permanently. I understand what it means to have faith now, as a 21 year old, but as a child I really didn’t understand what it meant to have faith. I didn’t understand that all things work together for those that love God and are called according to His purpose. I would definitely view the absence of my father as a bunch of mud and leaves obstructing the steady flow of the fountain of my youth. It’s difficult to understand why bad/sad things happen when we’re children. I believe this “mud and leaves” reference in Lee’s poem has a much deeper meaning than the reader would notice at first glance. I think Lee put that line in this poem purposefully, and the line is meant to leave some interpretation up to the reader.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Harrison Bergeron-Reflective.
I have to be honest, the first time I read Harrison Bergeron I was pretty confused. After discussing some of the satire and irony throughout the text in class, I understood the meaning more thoroughly, but I still couldn’t help asking myself many questions.
I truly feel sad for the characters in this story, and if I had to choose a character that I most relate to, it would definitely be Harrison Bergeron. I’m the type of person that tries to stand up for what I believe to be true as greatly as I can, and I can completely understand Harrison’s behavior. When reading the story, I felt like it was sort of as if Harrison was the only one who truly saw how much oppression (maybe with the exception of the ballerina too) everyone was under. Everyone else just seemed to sort of accept it and think it was actually better than what life was before. Harrison’s father actually said to his wife as they were discussing some of the handicaps they had on them, “…and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn't like that, would you?" –in reference to if he were to take any of the sand bags off of him. It’s as if he believes that life was actually WORSE than what it is like now. They definitely confuse the meanings of freedom and equality. I thought this to be a little bit of reverse dramatic irony because I felt myself wanting to explain to Harrison’s parents how confused they were, and how they weren’t made “free” because everyone was “equal”, but they were actually under a terrible oppression.
This story made me think about the possibility of this ever actually happening to society, and while my immediate response would be “of course not, that would be insanity”, there was still a small part of me that thought there was a slight possibility. I’m reading a book right now that talks about truly loving God with all our minds, and how society today is incredibly intellectually lazy. Harrison Bergeron’s situation could very well happen to our society if we continue to not logically and intellectually think situations through. If we are not capable of truly defending what we believe in with more than just sappy feelings and sincerity, then our society could end up like the one in Harrison Bergeron. My desire as a future teacher is to really teach my students how to reason with not just their emotions but with intellect and absolute truth. If our society would stop being intellectually lazy, and capable of explaining why they do the things they do and believe the things they believe, hopefully we won’t ever end up like Harrison Bergeron’s society.
I truly feel sad for the characters in this story, and if I had to choose a character that I most relate to, it would definitely be Harrison Bergeron. I’m the type of person that tries to stand up for what I believe to be true as greatly as I can, and I can completely understand Harrison’s behavior. When reading the story, I felt like it was sort of as if Harrison was the only one who truly saw how much oppression (maybe with the exception of the ballerina too) everyone was under. Everyone else just seemed to sort of accept it and think it was actually better than what life was before. Harrison’s father actually said to his wife as they were discussing some of the handicaps they had on them, “…and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn't like that, would you?" –in reference to if he were to take any of the sand bags off of him. It’s as if he believes that life was actually WORSE than what it is like now. They definitely confuse the meanings of freedom and equality. I thought this to be a little bit of reverse dramatic irony because I felt myself wanting to explain to Harrison’s parents how confused they were, and how they weren’t made “free” because everyone was “equal”, but they were actually under a terrible oppression.
This story made me think about the possibility of this ever actually happening to society, and while my immediate response would be “of course not, that would be insanity”, there was still a small part of me that thought there was a slight possibility. I’m reading a book right now that talks about truly loving God with all our minds, and how society today is incredibly intellectually lazy. Harrison Bergeron’s situation could very well happen to our society if we continue to not logically and intellectually think situations through. If we are not capable of truly defending what we believe in with more than just sappy feelings and sincerity, then our society could end up like the one in Harrison Bergeron. My desire as a future teacher is to really teach my students how to reason with not just their emotions but with intellect and absolute truth. If our society would stop being intellectually lazy, and capable of explaining why they do the things they do and believe the things they believe, hopefully we won’t ever end up like Harrison Bergeron’s society.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
problematized.
“…the bound feet, the crippled brain, the hair in curlers, the hands you love to touch.”
The last line of this poem puzzles me. The first time I read “A Work of Artifice” I thought I understood what it was trying to say, or what it was about. I understood that it was about the oppression of women, especially when I read the line, “the bound feet” reminding me of foot binding in China. But the last line challenges me. Who is “you” and why do they love to touch the woman/tree’s hands?
After discussing the poem more in depth during class, my eyes were opened slightly and I understood a few more details within the poem. I’d known what a bonsai tree looked like because they used to sell them out of a small booth in the mall back at home. Before class, I didn’t know bonsai trees could grow to get so big! I’d automatically thought they just grew tiny like I’d seen in the mall. I didn’t know someone had to “prune” them to make smaller. This helped me better understand the line where it said “in the attractive pot” a bit more. To me it seemed like the author portrayed the woman being stunted and controlled in her “pot” as being attractive –at least according to men.
I had to look up what the word “croon” meant while reading this poem because I didn’t know what it meant. Even after looking up its definition, I still didn’t have the imagery in my mind until we discussed that line in class. After Dr. DeBorde hummed the lines following the word “croons” in class, I could picture a man humming and singing to the small bonsai tree, actually enjoying what he was doing. This made me think about how men might enjoy having control over their women [wives]. I can picture in my head a man saying things like, “you should be THANKFUL or LUCKY to work for me” to their woman –sort of in a weird, deceptive like tone. I can hear him say it in a loving voice, but in all actuality being demeaning.
To my understanding, I would say the “you” in the last line of this poem is a man –either the woman’s husband (maybe even owner) or the male gender as a whole. Maybe the author is saying that the man (or men) loves to be in control of the woman and feels as if that’s the way it SHOULD be. It’s just so odd to me to have that tagged on at the end of this poem. It doesn’t feel like it should be there. I question why the author chose to end the poem with such a line.
As a whole, I feel like the author is trying to show through this poem that men like it when a woman is under their control, and follows everything they tell them to do –sort of like a slave. The bonsai tree is a perfect representation of how the woman is pruned by the man. I think our culture has come a long way from the time around when this poem was written. It seems especially evident to me here at SEU, seeing as the Assemblies of God is very pro-women in leadership. I don’t think they’d like this poem very much! It’s interesting to think that only approximately 50+ years ago women were still looked down upon and somewhat controlled by men. I was shocked to hear that foot binding was only outlawed in the 80’s! I hope our culture can continue to respect women and admire how far we’ve come in such a short period of time.
The last line of this poem puzzles me. The first time I read “A Work of Artifice” I thought I understood what it was trying to say, or what it was about. I understood that it was about the oppression of women, especially when I read the line, “the bound feet” reminding me of foot binding in China. But the last line challenges me. Who is “you” and why do they love to touch the woman/tree’s hands?
After discussing the poem more in depth during class, my eyes were opened slightly and I understood a few more details within the poem. I’d known what a bonsai tree looked like because they used to sell them out of a small booth in the mall back at home. Before class, I didn’t know bonsai trees could grow to get so big! I’d automatically thought they just grew tiny like I’d seen in the mall. I didn’t know someone had to “prune” them to make smaller. This helped me better understand the line where it said “in the attractive pot” a bit more. To me it seemed like the author portrayed the woman being stunted and controlled in her “pot” as being attractive –at least according to men.
I had to look up what the word “croon” meant while reading this poem because I didn’t know what it meant. Even after looking up its definition, I still didn’t have the imagery in my mind until we discussed that line in class. After Dr. DeBorde hummed the lines following the word “croons” in class, I could picture a man humming and singing to the small bonsai tree, actually enjoying what he was doing. This made me think about how men might enjoy having control over their women [wives]. I can picture in my head a man saying things like, “you should be THANKFUL or LUCKY to work for me” to their woman –sort of in a weird, deceptive like tone. I can hear him say it in a loving voice, but in all actuality being demeaning.
To my understanding, I would say the “you” in the last line of this poem is a man –either the woman’s husband (maybe even owner) or the male gender as a whole. Maybe the author is saying that the man (or men) loves to be in control of the woman and feels as if that’s the way it SHOULD be. It’s just so odd to me to have that tagged on at the end of this poem. It doesn’t feel like it should be there. I question why the author chose to end the poem with such a line.
As a whole, I feel like the author is trying to show through this poem that men like it when a woman is under their control, and follows everything they tell them to do –sort of like a slave. The bonsai tree is a perfect representation of how the woman is pruned by the man. I think our culture has come a long way from the time around when this poem was written. It seems especially evident to me here at SEU, seeing as the Assemblies of God is very pro-women in leadership. I don’t think they’d like this poem very much! It’s interesting to think that only approximately 50+ years ago women were still looked down upon and somewhat controlled by men. I was shocked to hear that foot binding was only outlawed in the 80’s! I hope our culture can continue to respect women and admire how far we’ve come in such a short period of time.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Creative.
Dear Benjamin,
You’ll never get to read this, but I wanted to let you know that the story of your life has inspired me. After reading just a short bit of your story, I came to realize that you never really complained about what was happening to you. To think of how shocking it might have been to run into someone like you…you were never rude to anyone.
I’m so sorry for the way your father treated you at first, and for how Roscoe was sort of ashamed of you. There is no way I can empathize for you on that one. It’s hard for me to believe how understanding you were with them! How could you not have lashed out? Didn’t you ever feel sorry for yourself? You must have felt very torn at times.
I’m sure you loved getting younger, when your body was that of a man in his twenties or thirties. Yet at the same time, it must have been confusing for you. How is a man of eighteen years of age, with the looks of a fifty-year-old supposed to act? I wonder if thoughts like that ever crossed your mind. I can try to understand the frustration you must have had when first attempting to get into college. I’m glad you eventually proved them wrong.
I am grateful you found love though. Hildegard sounds just lovely. I love how you talked of her hair being the color of honey. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to see your lover grow old, when you’re doing the opposite. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m sure you really loved her all the while. At least that’s what I want to believe.
All of this to say Benjamin, I’m impressed with the way you handled your life. You had to deal with something no one else in the entire world had ever probably even dreamt about, and you did it to the best of your ability. I hope your story will inspire others to be thankful for what they have, and never take a day for granted. You taught me to live life to it’s fullest every single day. Thank you Benjamin. Job well done.
Sincerely,
Debbi
You’ll never get to read this, but I wanted to let you know that the story of your life has inspired me. After reading just a short bit of your story, I came to realize that you never really complained about what was happening to you. To think of how shocking it might have been to run into someone like you…you were never rude to anyone.
I’m so sorry for the way your father treated you at first, and for how Roscoe was sort of ashamed of you. There is no way I can empathize for you on that one. It’s hard for me to believe how understanding you were with them! How could you not have lashed out? Didn’t you ever feel sorry for yourself? You must have felt very torn at times.
I’m sure you loved getting younger, when your body was that of a man in his twenties or thirties. Yet at the same time, it must have been confusing for you. How is a man of eighteen years of age, with the looks of a fifty-year-old supposed to act? I wonder if thoughts like that ever crossed your mind. I can try to understand the frustration you must have had when first attempting to get into college. I’m glad you eventually proved them wrong.
I am grateful you found love though. Hildegard sounds just lovely. I love how you talked of her hair being the color of honey. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to see your lover grow old, when you’re doing the opposite. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m sure you really loved her all the while. At least that’s what I want to believe.
All of this to say Benjamin, I’m impressed with the way you handled your life. You had to deal with something no one else in the entire world had ever probably even dreamt about, and you did it to the best of your ability. I hope your story will inspire others to be thankful for what they have, and never take a day for granted. You taught me to live life to it’s fullest every single day. Thank you Benjamin. Job well done.
Sincerely,
Debbi
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
reflective
“I couldn’t tell you when Mama died—but the reason I wanted to leave Harlem so bad was to get away from drugs. And then, when I ran away, that’s what I was running from—really. When I came back, nothing had changed, I hadn’t changed, I was just—older.” (Sonny’s Blues pg 406)
Have you ever known someone who tried to “run away” from their problem(s) by moving to a new place or changing schools? I have. I remember like it was yesterday…the first week of school here at SEU as a freshman. It seems like you meet EVERYONE on campus. I remember talking to girls and hearing them tell me how they came to a Christian school because they wanted to stop drinking, doing drugs, sleeping with guys, etc., but they couldn’t do it if they stayed at home. Unfortunately, I would say about 95% of those girls ended up doing those exact same things even while here at SEU. Nothing changed. Many people believe that if they change their location that their problems won’t follow them. The truth is, they can’t run away from them. It might seem to be the solution at first, but eventually those issues begin to creep back into their lives. If one doesn’t take the time, and sometimes painful, effort it takes to deal with their problems in life, nothing will ever change.
We see this in Sonny’s Blues. Sonny says while talking to his brother that the real reason he wanted to leave home (Harlem) was to get away from drugs. But in the end, when he came back, nothing changed. He hadn’t changed. He was just older. The temptations were still there, and the drugs never disappeared. Sonny then mentions afterwards, “It can come again” –in reference to his heroine addiction. Because Sonny didn’t deal with his drug addiction on his own, it never went away. Just because he’d been clean for a while in jail doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do it again. Had Sonny dealt with his drug addiction while he was still home, it is very unlikely that he would use again after returning home from serving. He might not have ever left in the first place!
Thankfully, we as Christians have the love of the Father to help and love us through any type of problem or addiction! Had those girls I met my freshman year actually sought after the Lord for themselves and looked to mentors to keep them accountable through their struggles, I believe they wouldn’t have ended up like they did. No matter how impossible the situation may seem, nothing is impossible for our Lord.
Have you ever known someone who tried to “run away” from their problem(s) by moving to a new place or changing schools? I have. I remember like it was yesterday…the first week of school here at SEU as a freshman. It seems like you meet EVERYONE on campus. I remember talking to girls and hearing them tell me how they came to a Christian school because they wanted to stop drinking, doing drugs, sleeping with guys, etc., but they couldn’t do it if they stayed at home. Unfortunately, I would say about 95% of those girls ended up doing those exact same things even while here at SEU. Nothing changed. Many people believe that if they change their location that their problems won’t follow them. The truth is, they can’t run away from them. It might seem to be the solution at first, but eventually those issues begin to creep back into their lives. If one doesn’t take the time, and sometimes painful, effort it takes to deal with their problems in life, nothing will ever change.
We see this in Sonny’s Blues. Sonny says while talking to his brother that the real reason he wanted to leave home (Harlem) was to get away from drugs. But in the end, when he came back, nothing changed. He hadn’t changed. He was just older. The temptations were still there, and the drugs never disappeared. Sonny then mentions afterwards, “It can come again” –in reference to his heroine addiction. Because Sonny didn’t deal with his drug addiction on his own, it never went away. Just because he’d been clean for a while in jail doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do it again. Had Sonny dealt with his drug addiction while he was still home, it is very unlikely that he would use again after returning home from serving. He might not have ever left in the first place!
Thankfully, we as Christians have the love of the Father to help and love us through any type of problem or addiction! Had those girls I met my freshman year actually sought after the Lord for themselves and looked to mentors to keep them accountable through their struggles, I believe they wouldn’t have ended up like they did. No matter how impossible the situation may seem, nothing is impossible for our Lord.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Legacy.
This devotion hit me hard, seeing as one of my dearest friends passed away last night in a terrible car accident. When the author of this article quoted Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” I knew this verse was for me at this very point in time. My friend Heather was the most joyful person I've ever met. You could not be around her without there being much laughter involved. The joy in her life was contagious. Her last Facebook status said, “don't just pretend to love others...really love them.” Heather did just that. She was an incredible example of Christ's love, and left a legacy that will never go unnoticed. I want to have an impact on the lives of everyone I meet just as Heather did. My duty here on earth is to shine the love of Christ so bright that people cant help but see Him when they see me. People don't remember Heather for the way she dressed, the things she owned, or the car she drove. They remember her for her exploding heart of joy, how she made everyone around her feel incredibly loved, and her passion for the Lord. I want my life to reflect those same values. This is one of the reasons why I want to be a teacher. I not only want to educate and help my students with their struggles in school, but I want to show them the love of Christ in every way I possibly can. I want my students to remember me for my character and love for them more so than how I graded their homework. We are called to make disciples of all nations, and I intend on doing that by being a living example of Jesus Christ's unconditional love. I'm reminded of a song by Nichole Nordeman titled “Legacy.” The lyrics to the chorus say, “ I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering, a child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy.” These lyrics remind me to bless the Lord in ALL that I do. I want to make a difference in the lives of others and impact them the way that Heather did for me. I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for Heather's love, mentoring, and fellowship in my life, and I hope many others will say the same about me when I go to be with the Lord.
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