What is Beauty in the End?

At the end of the novel, when Howard is about to give his very important talk, a type of beauty is defined. The last two pages of the novel begin with Howard running late for his speech. Once he gets there, he feels sick and nervous and it becomes clear that his entire life and work have led up to this vital moment. Once he walks in to the room in which he will have to speak, he is greeted with everyone who is anyone and some technology he is unfamiliar with to say the least. He realizes he has forgotten his folder of information and spots Kiki in the crowd. It is at this moment I felt genuinely scared and nervous for Howard. Without his notes he was completely lost. Clicking through all his slides, looking at Kiki, there was nothing for him to say.

In the very last paragraph, Smith has Howard admit that he can see his entire life in Kiki's face. The two of them seem to carry on a silent dialogue until at one point they both smile at each other. The painting Howard refers to (to the right) shows a women who seems to be slightly overweight and possibly poor. She looks thoughtful but does not show any signs of being the typical form of beauty. I believe that Howard realizes, when his entire life is put into perspective in the end, that Kiki was always the most important thing to him. He lost track of that feeling due to distractions in his life which at this point in the novel no longer exist. Howard finally sees Kiki as being beautiful for who she is. By Kiki smiling back at him, she is showing signs of forgiving him for all the things he has done to hurt her and his family.

The End of On Beauty

Claire as a Character:
Claire instigates the affair with Howard and then feels as though she is the victim. She thinks it would be unfair for everyone to hate and be mad at her. This section of the novel shows that Zadie Smith most likely does not like Claire very much. The idea of someone being as selfish as Claire is can be sickening. Although Howard's marriage was not perfect, it didn't deserve wrecking.

In a way this novel shows that relationships among people are not objects. Relationships are real and involve feelings of more than one person. Howard seems to view women and his relationships with them as objects, which goes against everything he preaches and in my opinion could be the reason why he is so unsuccessful with both.


In the end of the novel, Howard's family eventually finds out about his mini affair with Victoria. Carl ends up telling Jerome at a party what his father has done - he then continues on to express his build up feelings towards intellectuals. This discovery leads to Jerome eventually explaining to Zora what happened with their father and Victoria. The idea of her father sleeping with a student, one of her peers, infuriates and disgusts Zora. As a result, she confronts her father and she turns him in to the university. When Kiki is told of what happened, she moves out and leaves Howard alone to take care of the kids.

In the last few pages of the novel, Howard leaves the house to go and give his important talk.
Read the last two pages.... what is beauty on the last to pages?
Monday - Read off of URL listed on syllabus

On Beauty through pg. 300

In class Monday, we talked a lot about the similarities between Zadie Smith's On Beauty and Forster's Howards End. The two have much in common. We also talked more about Smith's view on beauty and the way in which it is expressed through Claire's poem "On Beauty." The poem itself, shows the divide between the upper class, beautiful people and all of the others. I feel that Claire sees Kiki as of another class, one in which she feels is below her. This may be part of the reason why Claire seems to feel little to no remorse during her affair with Howard.

In class, we also talked a lot about the idea of independence. Many of the characters in the novel have a voice that can be seen throughout the plot. Other characters like Carl, according to Claire, could use help in finding their voice and finding power in the university's system. When reading the novel, I tend to feel much more of a connection with the characters with a voice. For example, Kiki seems honest, strong, and hardworking. This is part of the reason why I find her to be one of the most upstanding characters in the novel. Howard, on the other hand, has no voice. He is seduced by women who need temporary attention from him. Their short-term needs are what sacrifices his relationship with Kiki and his family. To me this shows that Howard as a character has no voice and no real idea of what he wants.

"Beauty" from Smith's Perspective

It wasn't until I was more than halfway through the novel, On Beauty, that I was able to decide what Smith's own personal view on "beauty" really is. It seems as though she feels like the idea of beauty could have an overall negative impact on society. Although Claire and Veronica have both been described as being attractive, no other character in the novel has been described as being truly beautiful. All of the characters have their flaws - physical and psychological. It seems Smith uses beauty to separate some of the more affluent characters from the other less educated ones. Even though the educated and more beautiful characters are more respected in the novel, they have just as many internal issues and insecurities as any one of the other characters. It is because of this odd dynamic that it is difficult for me to come to a real conclusion as to what Smith's perspective of beauty really is. Maybe she views it as unimportant or dangerous? Either way, I think the novel does a good job of showing how the typical idea of beauty is somewhat dangerous and can be used to create problems within society and families.

Class Notes and more On Beauty

The Anatomy Lesson
Zora and her family go to the Mozart concert where she meets Carl by accidently picking up his MP3 player. Carl was at the Mozart concert to observe the music because being a musician, he is striving to learn more about the art. Unlike Zora, I think Carl ackowledges that knowledge is power but in a different way than Zora and her family. To me it seems odd that there are not more people like Carl in the University setting. Anyway, Zora decides to invite him to her parent's party but when he shows up, Howard turns him away. At first glace Howard is able to figure out that Carl is uneducated and judges him instantly.

Although later we learn that Carl is a very talented swimmer, he is obviously not on the swim team (or even a student) which makes him different than the people Zora and her family are used to spending their time with. When Zora is around Carl, somehow he makes her seem less intelligent. She is much more of the student type who only learns what she needs to know and doesn't do much more than that. To her, the university is just a stepping stone to where she needs to be, to Carl it represents a world of possibilities he has never been granted.

Later in the novel, Zora ends up threatening the Dean because she does not get into the creative writing class she wants. She uses her father's affair to get her way and claims she is being discriminated against at the university. This part of the novel shows how devious Zora is capable of being and to me it shows that she may be taking her education for granted.

On Beauty: Class Notes

Do the people we love end up turning into objects for us? When we are in love with someone, some of that love can be attributable to their successes. It can be difficult to determine where the line is drawn between loving them and loving what it is they do. Sometimes the ones we love are objects in our minds. In college, it becomes the norm to ask, "What is your major?". It is as if we are asking what the person plans on doing with the rest of their life and how much they plan on making yearly. Sometimes I feel like we put people into categories and judge them based on things that maybe shouldn't even matter to begin with...

Beauty is about lines and colors and contours, it is what we see. As a culture, we tend to objectify it. What is the degree to which the notions of beauty are at war in the novel On Beauty? In this question, we are basically comparing the lines and contours etc. to society's idea of beauty. Jerome may have fallen in love with Veronica because of his family - not because of her physical beauty. Also, Kiki was beautiful when Howard first met her but according to Zora, she has since let herself go. Mrs. Kipps views Kiki as large but believes that she carries her weight well. Pg 90-91. Carl's body is also objectified in the novel.

Beauty tends to rip our culture apart.

The family goes to Mozart's Requiem - Howard becomes a parody machine. He makes fun of Mozart and Kiki's class but he is simultaneously loving towards his family. Jerome feels the complete opposite. This difference leads to an argument between Howard and Kiki (who is standing up for Jerome). The argument leads to the question: are there geniuses? Mozart died halfway through his creation and someone else had to finish it. Therefore, Kiki's argument that there must have been a genius making this music, has to be false.

Later in the novel, Kiki finds out that Howard had an affair with Claire. She realizes this on her own during their anniversary party. Also, the affair itself was not a one night stand, it was actually a three week long relationship between Howard and Claire. In terms of beauty and culture, Claire would typically be considered more beautiful than Kiki by American society as a whole. This is most likely what is so upsetting to Kiki. This comparison/difference may cause her to feel inferior to Claire and brings a new understanding as to why Howard would have chosen to have an affair on Kiki to begin with. It is also possible that the fact that Claire is on the same intellectual level as Howard makes Kiki even more angry with Howard. No matter what Howard's reason for cheating on Kiki was, it was the most heartbreaking thing he could have done to her. Choosing Claire, on top of everything else, makes it worse for Kiki who has decided to try and do the impossible: forgive Howard.

On Beauty: Jerome

In the beginning of the novel, it becomes clear that Jerome goes to live with the Kipps to get his father's attention. I believe that the main reason he is doing this is the affair that his father had on his mother. This has most likely had a major affect on Howard's children, especially Jerome being the oldest. Jerome seems to be extremely upset about the affair; I think he feels that it has completely destroyed his family. He is willing to do anything to get his father's attention and possibly even seek revenge on him by living with Howard's enemy. It is pretty obvious to me that their relationship needs a lot of work. I think it is interesting that Howard refuses to respond to any of his son's emails knowing that their relationship is falling apart. This shows how selfish Howard is, even in situations involving his own children. Jerome eventually becomes very close to the Kipps and is slightly heartbroken when he leaves them. He has decided that he no longer wants his family and all of the problems that come along with it. Meanwhile, Howard has yet to show any remorse for what he has done to Jerome or his family. It will be interesting to see which direction the relationship between Jerome and his father takes throughout the novel.

Zadie Smith, On Beauty

Zadie Smith video interview: I think it is interesting that Smith looks so similar to Kiki from On Beauty. During the interview she makes the point that you cannot hit people over the head your own political views. At the same time though, novels can be political. Smith is saying that art is moral in the way it is an analogy.

She also discusses the difference between the way an adult deals with issues in comparison with the way children react. Adults should be able to see things from a greater perspective. There are always two sides to every story. In On Beauty, the adults as well as the children seem to be jaded, neither side is able to really see things from a greater perspective in the beginning.

On Beauty is about culture wars and multiculturalism, it's about disagreements between the right and the left side. One side represents great literature for example, and the other believes that multiculturalism is more important. Both sides believe will all of their being that their ideas are superior. This creates conflict throughout the novel and causes friction between the two families.

Zadie Smith vs. 'Zadie Smith'
Sometimes it is important to think about the difference between the real Zadie versus the fake one created by literary critics. This idea ties in with the us vs. them issues presented in the novel. In some of these situations, we are fighting against ourselves. Apart from these topics, literature is about relationships and how to approach them. The novel, On Beauty, will take us through the us vs. them issues (the culture wars) and the family conflicts that can be created as a result of them.

Is Zadie Smith a great writer? Is On Beauty art?
The novel is great if she can un-flatten the characters and make them into people we feel are real. If we are able to relate to the characters in the end, we will be able to take something from the literature and apply it to our own lives. Art has the ability to impact us on one of the greatest levels, but first we need to understand it...

Class Notes: What is Art?

Review of the class's blogs: How shall I live?
The clip of Mona Lisa's Smile shows that art is whatever we say it is. A person must have confidence in order to be recognized. At the same time, in order for a person to have confidence they must have some sort of institution backing them. Is feeling the need to prove something the thing that stands between us and what we truly want to become? Instead of listening to our inner selves, we live the way society tells us to live. Finding the confidence to do the things we love is difficult. This could be why we end up doing the things that we are told - the safest options.

How important is it that our work is understood and appreciated? It seems that in situations where women and men are presenting together, the man gets more recognized for his work than the woman. There are instances where men are given credit for a woman's work. I believe this means that society has a tendency to automatically assume men to be smarter than women.

Winterson on Art

I had a difficult time deciphering Winterson's exact view on art after reading Art and Lies. I found an article on art written by Winterson that I think helps describe the way she feels.

The Secret Life of Us by: Jeannette Winterson

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2002/nov/25/art.artsfeatures1

The article is basically about trying to determine the exact purpose of art in our culture and what it is that makes it so important. One of my favorite paragraphs of the article:

"Art is a different value system. Like God, it fails us continually. Like God, we have legitimate doubts about its existence but, like God, art leaves us with footprints of beauty. We sense there is more to life than the material world can provide, and art is a clue, an intimation, at its best, a transformation. We don't need to believe in it, but we can experience it. The experience suggests that the monolith of corporate culture is only a partial reality. This is important information, and art provides it."

"Don't be fooled by the way capitalism co-opts art. It pretends to do it for money, but underneath money is terror. Terror that there might be a different way to live. There is a different way, and it's not a William Morris utopia, or an Omega workshop niche; it's a celebration of the human spirit. Art reminds us of all the possibilities we are persuaded to forget. Peace or war, we need those alternatives."
-Jeannette Winterson
Overall it seems as through she thinks highly of art and the possibilities it brings. On the other hand, the idea of it being sold for huge sums of money seems pointless. The way artists are treated, the way they are paid, makes the art itself seem as much more of a commodity than what it is originally meant to be - beautiful.

Art and Lies: Parts 1 & 2

Although I found the first two chapters of Art and Lies to be fascinating, I enjoyed our thought provoking class discussion on Wednesday even more! I have always wondered whether or not I would end up happy in life. The possibility of making bad choices in college regarding my major and the activities I choose to spend my time on is scary. Luckily, I have figured out what is important to me and what it would take to make me feel genuinely happy in my career. I think it is interesting that when certain students think 'business major' they think the worst of things. By some, it is assumed I've been pressured to choose a fate filled with money and greed. Fortunately for me, this is not true! Although I am sure there are many CEOs hating their lives, there are probably even more who do not. It is sad to me that there is a common assumption that if someone is not always 100% in touch with their inner self, they are lost and doomed to be miserable. As an accountancy major, I feel completely comfortable with myself and my future ambitions, most of which do not revolve around money at all.

I know that in order to be happy with my career I would need to use my skills in business to help an organization I believe in to grow and prosper. It has taken me a long time to realize that this is what it would take for me to find some kind of meaning in my job. Also, because family is the most important thing in my life, my plan is to be as balanced as possible. Although I am aware of the view that business people are workaholics, I honestly can't see this as a reality for myself.

Another common misconception is that those who choose the type of path as mine have done so to follow in their parents footsteps. In my situation, this is far from the truth. It may seem impossible but I have a true interest in my major and feel excited to graduate and begin working! I may not have everything figured out for myself but I think I've come along way and that I am exactly where I need to be at this point in time. As long as each of us is able to decide what is it that makes us happy, we should be free to live our lives the way we choose.

Class Notes: Stand By Me

Jeanette Winterson, Art and Lies

Intro/Class Notes:

Post-Modernist is collage-like. It juxtaposes more than it explains. Novels began in the 17th-18th century, while short stories came about in the 1800's. Genre fiction is formulaic. There is also a canon of great literature which has been theoretically blown apart in more recent years. The question has become: what makes great art great and why? Even today, greatness is very narrowly defined. For all we know, anyone and everyone could be a great artist! If everyone was considered to have potential - we would need to listen to all of our neighbors. The way people talk about great art makes it feel as though there is such a small chance of any one of us ever becoming great; it is very discouraging.

"Stand By Me"

The "Stand By Me" YouTube video shows that great art takes time. It can be found in many places and in many people. Maybe students could be artists if they had more attention?

People think art to be certain specific types of work and ignore other things. Some people don't even give certain pieces of art a chance! The thought process should transform into: "If I don't understand things, maybe I need to try and learn more." The more open minded the observer is, the more credit the author/creator gets.

For Next Class: Picasso and Handel

Art and Lies: A funny sort of relationship...

Although I am not exactly sure what Jeannette Winterson had in mind as far as the relationship between the two key terms in the title of Art and Lies, I have come to a few conclusions as to how the two terms may be related. Firstly, their definitions are vague. What could be considered a lie to one person may not be a lie to someone else just like a piece of art to one person may have no value whatsoever to another.

On the other hand, lies are hurtful - in most cases. They are the result of someone hiding the truth from another. Lies have the purpose of hiding what is real most likely because it is hurtful to someone else. This description, which I have come up with, is very different from that of art.

From what I know of art, it is meant in part to represent reality or at least some person's vision of the truth. The two terms, art and lies seem to be opposite to me. Art can show more truth than words themselves. Art is also a way for people to express themselves and it has the power to show others the truth about the person who creates it. It seems that it would be difficult to lie through art. I find the words to be very opposite and see art as a way to possibly undermine lies. Art can be a way of seeing the truth and in many cultures, I believe it is.

Class Notes: 3/27/09

Our group examined the last stanza of the poem, "The Child and Flowers". We agreed unanimously that the scanned version has the greatest impact on us. Between the grammar and word placement on the page, the poem carries more meaning. Overall we agree that the format affects the meaning but more or less from the perspective of the individual reader. I think that digitizing could make understanding literature more difficult. It is definitely more difficult for words on a screen to capture ones attention. The TEI version of the poem does not show the original format of the poem - it is difficult to tell what shape it originally came in.

Who is the audience? The author could be trying to speak to the inner child of the reader. An actual child would most likely not be able to read and comprehend the poem. The plot of the poem is basically a child returning from a forest, bringing flowers back with her. To me this is somewhat vague which to me means that it leaves plenty of room for the reader's interpretation. In a way, the vagueness of the poem opens it up to wider audiences; more people can relate to things less defined.

HTML v. XML v. paper

Alternative Assignment - Due Wednesday: Read HTML version & look at other versions via Blackboard. Is this the same poem? What difference will digitizing make to our understanding of poems?

In the case of the poem, "The Child and Flowers" by Mrs. Hemans, I believe all three versions are the same. Although the poems look different, the words are the same therefore they must be the same. At least in that sense. On the other hand, I do think the reader will interpret the poems differently depending on what form of the poem they are reading. The HTML version was familiar to me and although the poem was difficult for me to fully comprehend, it was not impossible to understand. The XML version was much more difficult for me to get used to. I have never seen a poem translated into this medium. In this case, the reader can adapt to the text and begin reading it in the way they would with any other type of text. I have a hard time believing this version could benefit the reader and their interpretations of the text itself. When reading the poem, there was too much time spent navigated through all of the letters and less time spent interpreting its meaning.

The third example was that of the actual bound version of the text. Of all three examples, this was the one I felt could have the greatest affect on the reader's interpretation. Being able to hold the book and see the words in front of me encourages my mind to wonder. Sometimes the pages look different and there seems to be more substance for some magical reason... Also, when there is a physical book, there is a history that goes with it which makes it more interesting and possible for the reader to have a completely different experience with it.

Overall, I have learned that digitizing can help with the understanding of poems. This is especially true when tools such as TagCrowd are used to examine the texts. As far as reading through pieces of literature, it is most helpful to me to read the physical copy of the text. I am sure as time goes on, this will no longer be the norm as generations begin to adapt more and more to online reading.

www.TagCrowd.com Assignment

My group noticed that the two earlier versions of the Frankenstein passage are more positive than the third and final version of the text. My passage (1818 - Thomas) consisted of very few negative words. Both 'destroyed' and 'stranger' appeared as being commonly used in this text. The technique of using TagCrowd helped to show the major differences in word choice amongst the three passages.

Did Mary Shelley write three different novels? I do not believe that Mary Shelley wrote three different novels. I think the purpose of the novel throughout her corrections stayed consistent. The changes that she made seem to clarify or add to certain points found in the original edition. Although I do believe her changes made for a better novel, the modifications do not change my viewpoint on the original version itself. As time passed, it is possible she wanted to express more meaning and therefore had to add to the body of the novel.

How does digitizing the texts help to visualize them?
Digitizing these texts helps to see them in a different light and bring attention to certain differences that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. Using online text versions of literature can be used as a tool. Sites like TagCrowd can count common words found in hundreds of pages of a novel - an ability humans don't really posses

Alternative Assignment - Due Wednesday:
Read HTML version & look at other versions.
Is this the same poem? What difference will digitizing make to our understanding of poems?

Class Notes: Can there be heroes in modern life?

From what I can tell, according to the poem there can be heroes in modern life. I agree with this idea completely. I feel that today's heroes are different than those of the past but they can make just as big of an impact as any past hero. I believe that people have the ability to make a difference and help those around them in important ways. The difference between the past and modern times is the fact that heroes seem to emerge less frequently and their heroic decisions are not as great. This could be an impact of the times or the fact that certain aspects of society are more even corrupt than ever. Heroes seem much harder to come by these days. It seems like people are always questioning the motives of modern day heroes. Al Gore for example, has taken steps to reduce the amount of harm people are causing the planet - although this seems like a noble cause, many people question his motivation which could be seen as purely political. Because of this doubt, heroes are hard to trust.

Also, I believe that in certain situations, parents can be heroes. Childhood is tough and it doesn't take much for a kid to go down the wrong path - sometimes unknowingly. Parents are the only ones that can really save there kids. Between feeding them the right foods, making sure they finish their homework and keeping them out of harms way, parents play a huge part in saving their children. To some extent I feel like that should be an automatic obligation after choosing to have a child. Either way, perfect parents are hard to come by and when they do it can make all the difference!

Class Notes: 3/18/09

The passage assigned to my group was from Book III, line 302. The passage itself was mostly about the conflict Aurora has between wanting to be a writer and being financially stable. In order to be able to write, she must be married. This is ironic considering Elizabeth Barrett Browning found herself in a similar situation. She would most likely not have been able to write Aurora Leigh if she had not been married to Robert. This quote comes after the death of her aunt. She is now worried about how she will survive. She is forced to do something less glamorous than her verse in order to have enough income to survive and support herself.

Other passages discussed in class:
Book II, 218
Romney basically tells Aurora that she will never be a great writer. She could be pretty much anything else that she wanted - but not a poet.

Book II, 400
Romney does not love her, he loves what she could be for him. She responds by saying that she is not worthy of the title he gives her and therefore cannot be that for him. She could also be hinting at the fact that she is actually worth more.

Book II, 671
Aurora is saying that she will not marry Romney. At the very least, her soul will be free to live. She would rather die as a fulfilled artist that die his wife. Aurora is an honest person - her decision is the decision of God as well.

Aurora Leigh: A Lost Soul?

Throughout Book 1 of Aurora Leigh, Aurora becomes more defined through her experiences and their descriptions. At first she discloses specific details regarding her mother's death and her father. As the novel progresses, her character begins to show through the text. Once her father dies and she is forced to move in with her aunt, Aurora comes to life through what really fascinates her as a young women. Her love for books and reading leads me to believe she is a curious and open-minded person. Also, it causes me think that she is seeking an escape. Although there were most likely many young children that had to experience the death of their parents at the time, it was probably a traumatic event for her to experience.

Aurora also reminds me of the type of child that would do anything to make her parents happy. Though it is obvious she is truly grateful for her aunt's hospitality, it seems like she may be afraid of disappointing her. The lengths she goes to to make her aunt happy go beyond being grateful. This could be what is contributing towards her feeling the need to escape from reality into her father's books.

Class Notes: Aurora Leigh

Aurora Leigh
By: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Is the novel difficult to understand? Throughout my reading, I was able to understand best the sections where the narrator describes her life and events. Other parts are difficult for me to comprehend entirely.

Why did Virginia Woolf not see Elizabeth Barrett Browning as a Shakespeare? Her mother died when she was 20 years old. Her first published piece came out when she was 22. A very radical person - an amazing poet. Her father tried to shelter her; her and her siblings were not to marry. Unknowingly, she was addicted to morphine. In 1845, she met via letter, Robert Browning. They eloped shortly after. The two of them lived the expatriate life together. Elizabeth authored "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." which became famous.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's life was very different from that of Aurora Leigh's. Aurora's mother dies when she was 4 years old. Her father dies later on and she moves in with her father's sister. Her father was the owner of land and property. By him marrying Aurora's mother, his sister was deprived of her anticipated title. He fell in love with Aurora's mother instantly. As a result, he looses all interest in his estate. Her father loves and takes care of his daughter; he teaches her...

What has formed/shaped us? Television, books, music, culture in general?

"To travel inland, that I cannot hear
That murmur of the outer Infinite
Which unweaned babies smile at in their sleep"

After her mother's death Aurora feels like she is deserted in the nest.

"Women know
The way to rear up children, (to be just,)
They know a simple, merry, tender knack
Of tying sashes, fitting baby-shoes,
And stringing pretty words that make no sense,
And kissing full sense into empty words"

Her father is unsuccessful in talking to his daughter at first; she eventually pulls him in through understanding.

Online Version:
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/barrett/aurora/aurora.html

Class Notes: Who Suffers?

Is there anyone in the world who never suffers? Why does Latimer feel that his brother has never witnessed lows? It is possible that Latimer dislikes his brother because he his jealous of him. If he were truly able to read his brother's mind, he would most likely see that he is not as confident as he seems. There must be some doubt felt by his brother. Because of his negative feelings towards him, Latimer does not really know his brother as a person; his jealousy comes between him and their relationship.

Latimer claims there is no evil in store for his brother but oddly enough, Alfred dies the same day. This shows how untrue Latimer's feelings towards him really are - once again his jelousy gets the best of him!

Later in the story it becomes known that Bertha does not feel she needs to love the man she marries. Latimer paints a different picture of her in his own mind and doesn't really want to believe what she says to him. Latimer thinks that he and Bertha would be perfect together but she tries to communicate to him that she is being honest, and truly does not care about Alfred. Throughout the story, Latimer continuously projects his emotions onto others in his life. He bases what he feels about these people on the images he paints of them. Even though Bertha is honest and open with him, he chooses to ignore her and creates an altered personality for her which he 'loves'. Is it possible he loves her because she is the prize his brother gets for being successful? I think there is a great chance that the only reason he loves Bertha is because of what she symboloizes - the success of his brother. Latimer judges Bertha based on the projection of her he has created and judging someone is not a way to get to know them. By judging others you put yourself above all of the rest; in this case Latimer really believes he is superior to everyone with the possible exception of his brother...

Class Notes: 3/4/2009

Picture Experiment:
Photo on the left of very thin woman posing for a picture in a beautiful red and gold gown. This woman may be thinking, "I've never been so nervous but I at least I look great, hopefully not fat, I am so uncomfortable right now -oh my gosh I think this dress may break - what would I do then? No idea - this is why I didn't eat."
Does Latimer have supernatural powers? In our group discussion there were conflicting views, some of us believe that the narrator does have supernatural powers while others believe that he may be experiencing mental issues within himself.

What is some of the evidence leading to the idea that he may be gifted?
The vision of Prague. His original vision of Prague was accurate although he had never seen it before. It could be possible that he has just seen many pictures of the Charles Bridge (one of the most famous bridges in the world) and as a result has been able to paint a picture of it in his mind.

Sometimes people in love project what they want onto their loved ones in order for them to find in others what they are looking for, even if it is not entirely real. Latimer's description of Bertha is odd. She is not what he would consider to be the picture perfect woman. Bertha is independent, sarcastic, admired and worshipped. Latimer thinks she has a deep secret and that he could be the only one to save her. This could be the result of his corrupt relationship with his father. As far as his mother goes, she worshipped Latimer, and then died. He could have felt that she left him on purpose! Latimer thinks very highly of himself. He believes that he is cursed, much like Victor believes that he is fated by evil.

www.tagcrowd.com

Victor v Latimer

As of the middle of the novella, it is difficult to come to a real conclusion as to whether or not Latimer is like or unlike Victor. At this point, I would say the two have more in common than not in the sense that both are gifted. Victor's skills in science go above and beyond anything the average person could accomplish. Also, the abilities Latimer gains after recovering from an illness set him apart from the majority as well. Both characters seem to use these capabilities but are also scared of what they could result in. It will be interesting to see where this story goes and whether or not the similarities between Latimer and Victor accumulate.

Frankenstein: The End

The Hero Machine

I decided that the hero in this novel is Alphonse Frankenstein, Victor's father. Though he does nothing overly heroic, he is one of the only characters who seems to genuinly care about someone other than himself. He is much less selfish than Victor. His proiorities seem to be centered much more on others and family than on reaching his own goals and discovery. He tries to pull Victor out of his depression and it is obvious he wishes for the best for his son.

Class Notes: The End of the Novel

In the end is Victor the monster? I believe that the two characters could definitely be the same person. After the class discussion and the remainder of the novel, it seems likely they are the same.

Class Notes: 2/27/2009

Victor agrees to make the monster a mate. Once he begins to put together the monster, Victor starts having second thoughts. He decides to stop the projects and as a result, the monster kills Henry. The monster threatens to kill another one of his loved ones but Victor interprets this as being killed himself. He is so caught up in his own ego that it makes it difficult for Victor to foresee the monster killing another one of his family members. The monster purposely kills Victor's loved ones because it is the most painful thing possible.

Are Victor and the monster one and the same person?
Does anyone besides Walton actually see the monster?
Why would Victor want his family members to die? It is possible he is getting rid of these people in order to not get too close to him. Victor seems to be taking his time in marrying Elizabeth.

Frankenstein Online: Word search "wretch" 13 occurrences

In Chapter 5, volume 2, Victor identifies with the monster by calling himself a wretch as he admits to killing his three family members.
Throughout the novel, Victor switches back and forth between calling himself a wretch and calling the monster a wretch. In the beginning of the novel, Victor is the dominant one and the monster plays the role of the slave. Towards the end their roles are switched. This explains why Victor's begins to see himself as the wretch.

Is there any reason why a person would want to be alone in the world? Does he worry that others will hurt him?

Class Notes: 2/25/2009

Shelley compares the monster Victor creates to the novel itself. Once a person has an experience with one particular food or type of person they may let their opinions carry forward on to others.

At one time there was a notion that children could teach themselves. By letting children determine their own beliefs without being influenced by others, they will be better people. This did not work. Is our generation corrupt?

How does the monster represent the idea of raising children properly? Firstly, Victor does not even stick around long enough to raise him at all. Though the monster does not know right from wrong, he still choices to make some of the right decisions. Basically, the monster is a child.

Do parents push their children to do things that reflect on their job as parents? Are they made to prove something? Why does the monster try and hurt Victor by killing William? His initial desire is not to kill him but to make him a friend. The monster shows that he is resentful towards Victor for abandoning him. Does your maker owe you happiness? Victor owes him the very basics to help him grown into the being he wants to be.

The Tale of a Monster

The monster's tale makes me feel sad for him as well as mad towards Victor. Reading about how the monster felt abandoned and was left to learn all things about human life and language on his own seemed like a story of lonely perseverance. Not only does his story show how intelligent and gifted he is, it gives him a sense of character. It is a sad story because even though he is in this case considered a monster, to me he is much more humanlike than not. His life means just as much as any other life created by another human being. He has the same parts and the same mental capacity which makes him seem like a depressed and lonely child. These descriptions are typically only used to describe people; this leads me to once again see him as more of a human than a monster.

Apart from the sympathy I feel towards the monster, I feel even more angry with Victor than I had in the beginning of the novel. I feel that it would be the equivalent to a women wanting a child and hoping to finally get pregnant and then choosing to abandon the child once it is born. The monster was not an unexpected mistake and he was not forced upon Victor by someone else. Victor chose to make this life and just like parents choosing to have a child, should have to take responsibility for it. The monster's story adds an angle to the novel and at this point, I would take the monster's side over Victor's for more than one reason!

Class Notes: 2/23/2009

Why is there the desire to die before your children? Loving children on the deepest level can be scary. Some use the excuse of not wanting to get hurt to not have children. 

"Prometheus Un-Bound". Victor is the modern Prometheus who gave fire to the people on earth. 

"Rime of the Ancient Mariner" Man feels guilty for killing beautiful men and lives on with slimy snakes. At first, the snakes look ugly but then he sees their beauty. Why would you kill someone you love? Unconditional love is scary. This could be the reason some resist love and affection. 

Frankenstein: Pg 247 Alastor; or, The Spirit of Solitude. 

Man dreams of his soul mate. He wakes up in the middle and disappointed, he travels to find her. He does not realize that she is real and has done everything for him. He could have avoided her because she was a real person and he may have been scared. His characters resemble Victor and Walton. 

While creating the monster, Victor loses touch with his friends and family. He does this in part because he is obsessed with the creation. What feelings caused him to neglect nature and his relationships. Is Victor's attempt to create this life a way of escaping Elizabeth or making a technique that works to preserve her? 

"I became as cheerful as before I was attacked by the fatal passion." v. "I became as cheerful as before I indulged in my egotistical dream to create life." How does this apply to the death of Justine? Should he have tried to prove that the monster exists? Victor believes that he suffers more than anyone. In reality, the author admits that Elizabeth and Justine are really suffering a lot if not more than Victor. He chooses to ignore their pain and is selfish in recognizing his own pain and sorrow. 

Victor & Walton: More alike than not.

I see Walton as being very much like Victor. Even though the two men have different passions and ambitions, they go about satisfying them in a similar ways. Both seem to feel passionate about something to the point of being obsessed with it. Victor's obsession with creating the monster and Walton's obsession with adventure both drive the men closer to danger. They take their commitment to what they enjoy to an unhealthy level that begins to effect others. Also, though their goals may at first seem to be opposite, they are even more similar than the characters themselves. As a character, Victor is constantly driven by the idea of discovering new territory on a scientific level. He feeds off of knowledge and pursues creating the monster in order to prove his abilities. Walton, on the other hand, also strives for knowledge just not that of science. His goal is to discover unknown places. These two objectives are much more alike than they are different.

Overall, it seems that both men are struggling to find something. Their desire to discover the unknown could prove to be detrimental to their own lives and the lives of others. From the reader's standpoint, it seems as though Victor could be serving as an example for Walton. Hopefully after listening to his story, Walton will rethink his own ambitions.

Class Notes: 2/20/2009

Walton is ambitious but spends a total of one year working towards his goal of being a famous writer. Pg 36.

Walton - Poet / Discoverer

Victor - Scientist

In Mary Shelley's eyes, these people are all artists wanting to be great. What is wrong with their attitudes? Why are people driven to do these types of things? The novel itself is an analysis of Victor. In the 1831 edition, Shelley gave more of an emphasis on Victor's obsession with secrets, he believes that he was fated. He wants to believe that he was fated but in reality, he was not. The belief of the character is different from the belief of the author.

Victor's childhood was full of wonderful things. Loving parents, friends, school. He believes himself to have also been a creature to have been formed. Victor admits that his parents were loving and tender.

The process of Victor making his creation was destructive to his own health. He was obsessive and disregarded any kind of potential negative outcome. In some ways, pregnancy is much like this - the exception would be that women are giving to get in the end. Victor knows that he will get something, hopefully something great, at the end of his project. As soon as the process was over, he was no longer productive in any way. His desire to aspire as a scientist ruins his life in many ways. Pg 34: "...many happy and and excellent natures would owe their being to me." Victor plays the God role throughout his process of creating this being. He wants to be worshipped.

Class Notes: 2/18/2009

Wuthering Heights: The End
Linton is sick and weakly, the opposite of Hareton. Young Catherine is similar to her mother; she is very selfish. It is interesting to see the second generation seem so similar to the first.

How could Emily Bronte create such dark creatures? The writer is animated and inspired by something they cannot control. Wuthering Heights is great art.

How does being famous change a person's life and relationships? People may warship a famous person and become in complete control of their actions.

Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Walton is trying to find a passage to the North Pole. Him and his shipmates spot Victor and bring him aboard the ship. "Unhappy man! Do you share my madness?" Quote found in 1819 edition, taken out of the 1831 edition. *Read both introductions - (Percy Shelley is a great poet). Some claim that Percy actually wrote Frankenstein which could be interpreted as sexism.

Walton wants to be a famous writer.

Class Notes: 2/16/2009

Articles and Movies that Influence Our Views

Classmates who read scholarly articles also noticed the different types of love shared by Catherine and Edgar v. Catherine and Heathcliff. This leads us to believe that Heathcliff and Catherine could be soul mates that may not belong together due to social reasons ect.

Another scholarly article read regards Healthcliff's cannibalistic nature. He is constantly tearing through characters in the novel. Example: knives and forks brought out but no food.

Will scholarly articles help to keep this type of literature alive?
Really intelligent people, looking/speaking down to others including their students. Dark sarcasm in the classroom: not working. Text curtain. Scholars tend to use words that cannot be interpreted by the average person/student. When long words are taken out are they really saying anything? Text curtains peel apart scholarly articles until they are comprehensible and the content within makes a difference in some way to the world.

Wuthering Heights: the 1992 movie version
The same character was used for Catherine as well as Catherine's daughter.

Turn to the scene where Catherine is on her death bed having her last conversation with Heathcliff. He blames her for choosing Linton over himself. He is angry at her and tells her she has killed herself. She claims that he left her as well.

Why would Emily Bronte want to darken romance? Maybe she wanted to represent a more realistic picture of love? Is it possible to love two people equally but differently? Would you choose your soul mate over the person you fit best with socially? Catherine cannot be blamed for loving two separate people differently.

*updated syllabus on Blackboard

Wuthering Heights: The Movie

After reading the novel, I was able to watch Wuthering Heights the movie. The version I found to be most helpful was the one filmed in 1992. The scene I chose to write about was the when in which Heathcliff goes to see Catherine's body soon after she dies. Though this may not have been one of the longest or most important scenes in the novel, it was the one that caught my attention while watching the movie. I felt that it differed significantly from that in the novel but it also gave me a new perspective on what I perceived to be Heathcliff and Catherine's relationship. After viewing the scene, I was able to understand it in a completely different way.

Throughout the novel, I found very little evidence relating to the true chemistry assumed to be shared between Heathcliff and Catherine. I think the reader assumes automatically that Heathcliff's love for Catherine is intense. Unfortunately, the actions to convey this are typically negative, vengeful acts. I interpreted Heathcliff marrying Isabella as him seeking revenge on Catherine for marrying Edgar. His mistreatment of his new wife was revenge against Edgar for Catherine getting sick. It was through these methods that Heathcliff's love for Catherine is assumed. The scene where Heathcliff visits Catherine's body is somewhat the opposite. It was the first time since early in the novel that I noticed Heathcliff show real emotion. His sadness in this scene was overwhelming to me.

For some reason, while reading the novel itself, it was truly difficult for me to feel for Heathcliff and believe that his love for this women was genuine. The most convincing part of the novel for me was the description of their relationship as children. To be honest, I did not really believe the two of them could be soulmates. This one scene in the movie was enough to make me change my mind. The scene itself begins with Edgar placing the locket into Catherine's hand as she lies in a plain wooden coffin. He then gives her a sad look and leaves the room. Almost immediately Heathcliff breaks into the room and quickly approaches Catherine. He rips off her veil and the flowers surrounding her and grabs her entire body out of the coffin. He hugs her passionately and cries.

Part of the reason this scene had such a huge impact on me was because it clearly shows the difference between the love Edgar has for Catherine and the love Heathcliff has for her. Edgar's face looked sad but he was accepting of her death. Heathcliff on the other hand looked distraught. By hugging her corpse, it is clear that he loves her on a whole different level. To actually see the sadness on his face made the scene more emotion for me. The reaction I felt was different from when I had originally read the scene in the novel.

Though I believe there are many instances where directors make changes to the original stories in order to make them more appealing to audiences, in this case it was helpful. Throughout the novel I felt anger towards Heathcliff as well as Catherine for some of her actions. It was not until I watched the movie did I consider the story of Wuthering Heights to be one of the greatest love stories of all time. In our class discussion, I was baffled by the comment made that this story could be thought of as one of the best. Once I watched the movie, and faces were put to names, I began to see how truly heartbreaking and wonderful this story really is. It made a difference to me and changed the way I interpreted some of the characters' actions. This scene at Catherine's coffin helped me to realize that this is a story about heartbreak and misery. The characters, no matter how hard they try, are caught in lives they despise. The rules of the time combined with Heathcliff's vengeful acts against others create a sad and confusing atmosphere. This atmosphere became less confusing but even more sad when translated into movie form. Through watching the film I was able to not only gain a new understanding of the scenes, I was able to gain a new appreciation for the story all together.

Wuthering Heights: Class Notes 2/9/09

Assignment for the week: 

What does ______ do that helps people better understand scene _______? 

Wednesday & Friday: movie version of Wuthering Heights shown during class - write five paragraphs answering the question above. Focus on the role the media plays in our understanding of the novel. Due Monday. 

Heathcliff tries to make Catherine jealous of his relationship with Isabella. In a sense he is taking revenge on Edgar for taking Catherine away from him. These actions all contribute towards Heathcliff's misery. Heathcliff also blames Hindley for losing Catherine. Hindley was the person who originally degrades Heathcliff. 

Up through this point in the novel, Healthcliff has continuously made a point to seek revenge on every person who has wronged him at one point or another. His entire marriage to Isabella was an act to get back at Edgar. The only person he does not truly want to hurt is Catherine. At first it seemed as though he was getting married just to make her jealous. 

Catherine eventually dies due to childbirth. Her mental state declines slowly. She was forbade from seeing Heathcliff by Edgar and left to spend a lot of time on her own. 

Wuthering Heights: Heathcliff

Analysis of Main Character: Heathcliff

In my past experiences reading Wuthering Heights, Healthcliff has always caught my attention as being the most interesting character in the novel. This time around, the same is true. His love for Catherine makes him seem to be very caring and loving but he shows no real signs of being the good guy overall. Throughout the first ten chapters, the reader feels sorry for him for being mistreated by his newly found family. I caught myself hoping that Heathcliff and Catherine would rekindle their childhood love. I cannot imagine how it must have felt for him to overhear Catherine telling Nelly that she would never be able to marry him and instead is planning to marry someone else. I picture him as being big and strong, the typical hero, who will save Catherine and the other servants from Hindley.

Class Notes: 2/4/09

Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights, was at one point labeled as The Female Shakespeare. 

The atmosphere of the first couple chapters is dark. Mr. Lockwood falls in love with Catherine and at first she likes him back. She then assumes that the feelings are not going to be returned. At this point she turns away and changes her mind. 

Holly Madison has had multiple, painful surgeries that have transformed her and forced her to take an excessive amount of pain killers. Another example of this would be the opening scene of Pretty Women when Julia Roberts' legs are replaced with someone else's. 

Class Notes: When does an online life become real life?

*See two posts below for original assignment.

The more people become emotionally invested in these online worlds, the more dangerous they become.

Rape in Cyberspace: There are some things that are the same.

The psychological side of rape can be very similar in the case of online rape. This mental aspect is often times the most long lasting of all.

There is definitely a major emotional investment on the part of the people controlling their online avatars: they should try and make the distinction between "I was raped" and "My online character was raped". When does this become real life?

A Clockwork Orange: A traumatizing example.

Virginia Woolf - A Room of One's Own

Women still do not have the same rights as men. Virginia Woolf believed that there is no female Shakespeare, mainly because women are not given the same opportunities (education) as men. Their ideas and creative ways are more closely related to the realm of the home. Everyone had a negative idea of women writers. Many books written by women were eventually burned.

Virginia Woolf believes that writers (both men and women) should write from an objective point of view. One should not write with a chip on their shoulder.

Women were not allowed in certain libraries in London. Men started writing with male mentalities due to their fear of the women's movement. No rationality behind no allowing women to go into certain libraries.

A Rape in Cyberspace

I do not believe that Mr. Bungle raped the two victims. At first I automatically thought, of course it's rape, as long as there is emotional harm being done as a result of some form of sexual harassment it has to be rape. But then I thought about it more. I thought about the ways in which I would react if this were to ever happen to me. Not that the definition of this act would ever depend on my own personal reactions but thinking about it helped to come to a personal conclusion regarding this horrible act. I believe it takes much more anger and hatred for a man to rape a women in reality. On the Internet, any cowardly person is capable of typing in these words with the comforting thought of knowing that they will never really be held responsible for their actions.

Also, part of the purpose of charging and convicting someone with an actual crime is to be able to collect for damages. I would imagine that in the case of a real life rape victim there would likely be medical bills incurred and almost always some sort of counseling needed. These resources cost money that the victim should most definitely be reimbursed. In the case of virtual rape, there may be real feelings involved but I would be surprised if any of the victims needed to seek counseling or medical assistance after the harassment has ceased.

Even though I do not believe that Mr. Bungle's act should be considered rape I do think that there need to be laws and regulations set up for this kind of personal violation occurring on the Internet. This is especially true given the fact that these offenses tend to be happening more and more often. Users should feel safe and able to use and create these friendly environments without worrying about others making bad decisions that sacrifice the reputations of others.

Class Notes: 1/26/2009

A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Information about the Author: Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft was the caretaker of her family/siblings at an early age. She was self educated; she went to London in her pursuit to write for a living, radical writer, 1790 "Vindication of the Rights of Men" written from the perspective of a man. She argued that it is irrational to distinguish between the classes of man. Wollstonecraft defends the republic.

Published 1792 - "Vindication of the Rights of Woman"

The word "Woman" used to emphasize the individual or category? This word usage is a method of describing a class of persons who have been treated the same.

Is the use of the word 'man' to represent mankind sexist?

Main Arguments: Systematic or structural sexism. Society through education trains women to not be virtuous or rational. Through structure and rewards, society trains women to be irrational. No one should be in power over anyone else; individuals should rise up as a result of their merit. Morality is compromised when power is given to one person over another. Example: The grading system on college campuses

Women are degraded because the instructions they are given are given for certain reasons. Soldiers are like women, they are disciplined in the same way. Both women and soldiers are educated in the same way. Therefore, people are as smart as they are allowed to be. Women are not naturally inferior, our social system has allowed this to happen. They are not nurtured in the same way.

Women play on the weaknesses of men in order to gain power. Certain weaknesses of women can become so attractive to men that it can lead to an increase of power on the part of the female. Definition of virtue is very different from that of the time period.

Class Notes: Pretty Woman

Often times, both the man and woman need to be saved. Example: Pretty Woman. 

Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition. Certain families need saving; this transformation is then captured and transformed into a one hour tv show. 

Taylor Swift- Love Story 

too skinny for her own good... 

Art is able to show the truths behind life while many aspects of pop culture portray the opposite. Girls being passive, waiting around to be rescued- typical. Today fairy tales are told to children who see pictures of skinny princesses and handsome, strong princes. This reenforces their desire to achieve perfection and the ultimate 'happily ever after'. 

Hey Cinderella...

The following song is about how women come to the heart breaking realization that the Cinderella-type fairy tales are unrealistic. The lyrics describe two friends who planned to get married and live happily ever after. The song makes reference to aspects of life left out of the original "Cinderella Fairytale" such as getting old. Yet in the end, the song is also about somehow being able to stay optimistic while remembering the dreams you had when you were young.

Most girls first hear the story of Cinderella at a very early age but for some, it seems to take years for them to level with the idea of the story being unrealistic. No one wants to believe that marriage is going to be difficult or that one day you could lose your best friend in a disastrous divorce. On the opposite side of the spectrum, it seems our society has lowered expectations about marriage and practically given up on the idea of happy endings. Though these 'happy endings' may not be practical, I believe that a positive and healthy relationship is still worth striving for.

Hey Cinderella Lyrics by Suzy Bogguss

We believed in fairy tales that day

I watched your father give you away

Your aim was true when the pink bouquet

Fell right into my hands

We danced for hours and we drank champagne

You screamed and laughed when I got up and sang

And then you rode away in a white Mustang

To your castle in the sand

Through the years and the kids and the jobs

And the dreams that lost their way

Do you ever stop and wonder

Do you ever just wanna say

Hey hey, Cinderella, what's the story all about

I got a funny feeling we missed a page or two somehow

Ohh-ohhhh, Cinderella, maybe you could help us out

Does the shoe fit you now

We're older but no more the wise

We've learned the art of compromise

Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry

And sometimes we just break down

We're good now 'cause we have to be

Come to terms with our vanity

Sometimes we still curse gravity

When no one is around

Yeah, our dolls gather dust in the corner of the attic

And bicycles rust in the rain

Still we walk in that fabled shadow

Sometimes we call her name

Hey hey, Cinderella, what's the story all about

I got a funny feeling we missed a page or two somehow

Ohh-ohhhh, Cinderella, maybe you could help us out

Does the shoe fit you now

The Bloody Chamber & Stories

The Courtship of Mr. Lyon: Beauty and the Beast

What does it mean to be human?

This story distorts reality, to make it more obvious.

Mr. Lyon represents the difficulties of being a young man and coming to terms with his masculinity.

Beauty represents a young girl who is disgusted by this young man/beast. They could be her reactions to his otherness and the fundamental differences between men and women.

Is Angela Carter suggesting that she believes men are also horrified by their own violent potential/wildness? How does culture contain this?

An entire fairy tale may only represent 10 minutes of real life.

The Cinderella Complex

The Cinderella Complex:
I think it seems natural to have feelings of incompetence that seem to be hidden for long periods of time. When a person is raised to be dependent there is no pressure to grow past a certain point. I think it is also natural for certain people to sway towards an easier lifestyle.

As a business major, it has become habit for me to doubt myself and my abilities. Saving would be nice but it would mean I quit. It would all be much easier if parents could instill within the girls that sense of being naturally self-sufficient.


The Cinderella Complex:
Cinderella must not be smart
She must 'do nothing'
But she has to be perfect.


Turing to "The Introduction to Weight":


Jeanette Winterson would most likely say that 'yes' the artistic retelling of fairy tales does help to contradict ideologies. When a story is being retold by an author, that author is injecting into the story new truths related to today's society. If these stories were not told over and over again, they could not evolve. Our society has evolved (maybe for the good, maybe not) and therefore our truths, as evil as they may be, are changing. As she writes, myths are marvellous ways of re-telling stories and finding in them permanent truths about human nature. Fairy tales can cause people to change their mindsets. Authors have the ability to write within these stories whatever they wish and the content can help to change certain ideologies that could have negative impacts. Most likely, authors would not rewrite these stories if there was no greater message to come out of it.


Ashputtle: or, The Mother's Ghost
Feminism: Parenting through self-sacrifice.
Could she have been better off with no help at all?

The Reality of Make Believe

When I think about fairy tales, I think about being very young. I can't honestly say that these stories instilled within me a real sense of responsibility or even the basic idea that with all actions come consequences. For me fairy tales were a window into a reality. As fictitious as they were and as weird as it may sound, there was always that question of 'what if' lingering in my head. Fairy tales opened my mind to ideas of freedom, independence and excitment. Most of which children do not experience often. These fairy tales symbolized what life could be like as a grown up - and that, in and of itself was always the ultimate goal.

Cinderella

Grimm Brothers, “Ashputtle” & Anne Sexton, “Cinderella”

Words that caught my attention:

Ashputtle:
Pious- A virtue, possibly religious devotion or spirituality. Humility.
Pitch - A viscous liquid, derived from plants or petroleum products.
Wickedness- Cruel, unjust, selfish. Evil which is to be contrasted with good.
Falsehood- In the wrong; antonym of true.
Cinderella:
Bonwit Teller- Defunct department store in NYC founded in 1895; upper class boutiques.
Blackjacks- Marine fighting squadron 441; shot down 49 planes during the Cold War; activated in the 1940s and again in the 1950s.
Al Jolson- Acclaimed American singer, comedian and actor; “the world’s greatest entertainer”; born in Lithuania. Painted his face black for performances.
Bobbsey Twins- Four star characters in the children’s adventure novels written from 1904 to 1979; twins were referred to as a “simple duplication of protagonists”.

Findings:

Although I enjoyed both assigned versions of Cinderella, I found there were more eye catching words in Anne Sexton’s account. Throughout her story she makes reference to well-known people and places in multiple descriptions. Many of these references, such as Bonwit Teller, Blackjacks, Al Jolson and the Bobbsey Twins, I was unfamiliar with upon reading. Interestingly enough all turned out to be American icons from the mid-1900s. Some of these references are used to describe Cinderella herself. One is used to illustrate the stepsisters and another is applied to one of the opening stanzas to describe a charwoman who lucks out. Unfortunately I have found that some of the wit of this story is lost when connections like these are missed and unrecognized. After researching these words I liked the piece even more than I had the first time I read it. In the Grim Brother’s version, I noticed words that either stood out due to my unfamiliarity to them or as a result of their strong meaning. The word ‘pitch’, which I have found refers to a thick liquid that comes from plants, is used in reference to the substance the prince placed on the staircase. The other three words: pious, wickedness and falsehood stood out as being daring and made the story more interesting and more dramatic to me as I read it.