In reading “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, we are shown the story of two brothers and their struggles in life. Drug addiction is a problem that Sonny deals with throughout the story. His brother learns of this addiction by reading it in the newspaper, and it hurts him deeply. He is now scared for Sonny as well as worried about what Sonny must be going through.
It takes a tragedy to bring the brother and Sonny together. The brother’s daughter dies and this gives him a reason to contact Sonny by writing him a letter. Sonny returned a letter expressing his regret for hurting his family with his drug use. After this contact they kept in touch and saw each other anytime they could.
The brother remembers his mother telling him, “If anything happens to me he aint going to have nobody to look out for him” (86). His mother goes on to explain the importance and him and his brother sticking together like families should, no matter what happens. “You may not be able to stop nothing from happening. But you got to let him know you’s there” (87). Family was an important aspect in this mothers eyes and she expected her boys to have the same feeling. Families stick together and look out for each other, not just in times of need, but at all times.
Sonny had a drug problem and this resulted from trying to cope with what life threw at him. Luckily, Sonny was able to find a better way to deal; he voiced his want to become a musician. His brother was not sure about this, but he respected Sonny for continuing to pursue this as not a career, but as a way to express himself. Playing the piano at the end was a symbol of the brothers finally coming together with the intent of making their lives better.
In the end we realize that everyone struggles but we should all find the appropriate way to deal with it. We should also be able to depend on our families for help when we need it. This ending of this story was fitting; Sonny and his brother both realized their downfalls, but they were both improving. It was a growing experience for each in that they learned something about themselves as well as each other.
Sipiora, Phillip. "Sonny's Blues." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education Inc., 2002. 79-102.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007
A Man's Stubborness
The story “To Build a Fire” is simply about a chechaquo man and his egotism. He was a very independent, confident, and stubborn man who was determined that he knew what was best for him in order to survive what nature had in store. This man was traveling the Yukon trail with only a husky by his side with the goal of finding gold. Later in the story we understand that his desire to find gold was put before his best interest.
This man was not familiar with the Yukon trail, but he was used to the cold winters. He was quite confident of his ability to handle the temperatures. During his travel the temperature was never above zero degrees. “He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances” (149). His first and most threatening mistake was traveling alone in the below freezing temperatures and in an area to which he was unfamiliar.
A man familiar with the area known as the old-timer on Sulphur Creek had warned him of the dangers of traveling alone. If the man would have had a traveling partner, they could have assisted each other in a time of need, such as building a fire. But, because the man ignored obvious dangers, he was too cold, wet, and numb, and he was unable to build the very fire that could have saved his life. The husky that was traveling with him even knew of the dangers in which they were immersed. Because of its instinct, the husky knew that it was too cold to travel, and the man should have known as well. The man should have also remembered and taking to heart what the old-timer had said to him. There were plenty of other travelers on the same trail that he could have accompanied, but he thought he knew what he was doing when he left alone.
In the end when the man lay on the ground fully aware that death was moments away, he realized that he should have listened to the advice of others, especially the old-timer. He should have traveled with a partner. If he had in fact listened to others he may have made it to camp as he had wanted and had set out to do. The lesson from this story is that when we are unfamiliar with a situation, we should listen to the people who are well versed in like conditions and take into consideration their thoughts and suggestions.
Sipiora, Phillip. "To Build a Fire." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 149-158.
This man was not familiar with the Yukon trail, but he was used to the cold winters. He was quite confident of his ability to handle the temperatures. During his travel the temperature was never above zero degrees. “He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances” (149). His first and most threatening mistake was traveling alone in the below freezing temperatures and in an area to which he was unfamiliar.
A man familiar with the area known as the old-timer on Sulphur Creek had warned him of the dangers of traveling alone. If the man would have had a traveling partner, they could have assisted each other in a time of need, such as building a fire. But, because the man ignored obvious dangers, he was too cold, wet, and numb, and he was unable to build the very fire that could have saved his life. The husky that was traveling with him even knew of the dangers in which they were immersed. Because of its instinct, the husky knew that it was too cold to travel, and the man should have known as well. The man should have also remembered and taking to heart what the old-timer had said to him. There were plenty of other travelers on the same trail that he could have accompanied, but he thought he knew what he was doing when he left alone.
In the end when the man lay on the ground fully aware that death was moments away, he realized that he should have listened to the advice of others, especially the old-timer. He should have traveled with a partner. If he had in fact listened to others he may have made it to camp as he had wanted and had set out to do. The lesson from this story is that when we are unfamiliar with a situation, we should listen to the people who are well versed in like conditions and take into consideration their thoughts and suggestions.
Sipiora, Phillip. "To Build a Fire." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 149-158.
Not So Happily Ever After
In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, we learn of a woman’s unhappiness in her marriage. Typically, women are viewed as the ones to hold a marriage together. They care for all the families needs. Most women view that once they are married, they must stick with it no matter what unexpected events the future holds. Often women experience hardships in their marriage, even when they are not fully aware of it. Mrs. Mallard, a typical married woman but with heart trouble, was informed that her husband had been killed in a railroad accident. When she was informed of the news, she reacted in a way that was normal at first by grieving, but then decided she would rather deal with this news in private. She wanted to grieve alone, but instead of grieving this turned into a joyous occurrence for her.
Evidently, Mrs. Mallard was unhappy with her current marriage and it took news of her husband’s passing to help her realize this. To many women news of this sort would be absolutely devastating. Of course, she grieved for the loss of her husband, but she began repeating “free, free, free!” (200). She had time to concentrate on what her life might be like without her husband, and she liked the thoughts although she felt some guilt for not being entirely sad about it.
As she continued thinking about what kind of life she could live and the thought of her living it as she wanted without anyone to tell her any different, she was soon interrupted by her sister knocking at the door. Josephine wanted to console Louise not knowing the Louise did not need consoling. She came out of the room with her sister by her side feeling empowered and like a new woman. Little did she know that this new life she had been given was about to be taken away from her. Her husband walked in the door, and at that moment Louise died because she knew at that point she would be forced to go back to her miserable life. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy the kills” (200). So, in the end even though she herself died, she was still free from her marriage.
The thought that she was blind to her unhappiness during her marriage is possible and clear to me. When you are in a marriage you become somewhat comfortable in what happens on a daily basis. You become accustomed to the treatment you receive from your husband, the duties that you perform as a wife, and the strain that a marriage can bring. You can get so wrapped up in the same occurrences that they become normal to you, and you do not even realize your own happiness anymore.
Sipiora, Phillip. "The Story of an Hour." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 199-200.
Evidently, Mrs. Mallard was unhappy with her current marriage and it took news of her husband’s passing to help her realize this. To many women news of this sort would be absolutely devastating. Of course, she grieved for the loss of her husband, but she began repeating “free, free, free!” (200). She had time to concentrate on what her life might be like without her husband, and she liked the thoughts although she felt some guilt for not being entirely sad about it.
As she continued thinking about what kind of life she could live and the thought of her living it as she wanted without anyone to tell her any different, she was soon interrupted by her sister knocking at the door. Josephine wanted to console Louise not knowing the Louise did not need consoling. She came out of the room with her sister by her side feeling empowered and like a new woman. Little did she know that this new life she had been given was about to be taken away from her. Her husband walked in the door, and at that moment Louise died because she knew at that point she would be forced to go back to her miserable life. “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease-of joy the kills” (200). So, in the end even though she herself died, she was still free from her marriage.
The thought that she was blind to her unhappiness during her marriage is possible and clear to me. When you are in a marriage you become somewhat comfortable in what happens on a daily basis. You become accustomed to the treatment you receive from your husband, the duties that you perform as a wife, and the strain that a marriage can bring. You can get so wrapped up in the same occurrences that they become normal to you, and you do not even realize your own happiness anymore.
Sipiora, Phillip. "The Story of an Hour." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 199-200.
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