Susan Glaspell’s life experiences play out through her writing. This story was based on an actual murder case she covered while working as a young reporter in Des Moines, Iowa. She lived during a time when women were still limited on the “freedoms” they actually had. This gave her the initiative to express her feelings and desires through her writing.
In this story “Trifles,” there is a definite distinction between the role of women and men. From the beginning, Glaspell immediately shows in her characters gender distinction by listing the men with their first and last names as well as character explanation. The women are just named by their married names.
In this story, Mr. Wright has been murdered and his wife was immediately arrested for the crime. As the sheriff, county attorney, and the neighbor come to make sense of what happened, they are accompanied by the sheriff’s wife and the neighbor’s wife. Mrs. Wright has apparently strangled her husband by using a rope thought she claims she didn’t do it. As the men are there to make sense of the murder and to find a motive, the women come across several things that give reason to the murder. Mr. and Mrs. Wright had no children, so it was evident that Mrs. Wright was entrapped in her own lonely life being caged by her husband. Mrs. Wright had once had a canary, but when the women find it dead in a pretty box with its neck twisted and broken, they figure it had been done by Mr. Wright and maybe this was one of the contributing factors causing her to murder her husband. The women also know that Mr. Wright made Mrs. Wright unhappy for many years, so they inadvertently find no fault in her and help to cover the things they have accidentally came across that gives them reasoning to know she did indeed kill her husband and why. The men seeking hard to find evidence find none and the women keep their findings to themselves, even though one of these women is the sheriff’s wife. This may go to show that she lives in her own life of control and confinement as well as her experiencing as a child when a boy killed her cat with a hatchet just as it is assumed that Mr. Wright is probably the one that killed Mrs. Wright’s canary causing her to kill him.
There is an evidential showing of male dominance in this story and it shows how women are just the property of their husbands and have no individuality. Many women have lived this way and some still do today. I am just thankful that I now live in a society that men and women are seen more equally and have the same opportunities in life.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Robert Frost
Robert Frost is one of the poets I remember most from school 25+ years ago. The main thing that is most appealing to me about Frost is his use of nature and emotion. Typically I do not see most men having a connection of such, so I am impressed with his inner depth of himself and of his natural surroundings. So far in all of our readings, this is the only writer that almost taps into my generation since I was born in the 60’s and Frost died in 1963.
One of my favorites of Frost’s poems was “Fire and Ice.” We all have that understanding that has somehow been embedded in us that one day the world is going to end. Depending on how and what you believe can have a factor on which you believe to be true. Christians and Bible believers tell and believe that the world will end with fire coming down from Heaven. I also believe that to be true, but many think otherwise. I think the same falls true with Frost as he is making a statement that shows he has heard that fire will end the earth all his life, but like many others, not all believe in the Bible. To me, this poem shows worldly variations and either way, an end is an end.
“Acquainted with the Night” seems to me to have been written with much depth. With night comes darkness and like with some of his other poems, he seemed to have dealt with depression from time to time. In this poem, he talks of rain which to me represents tears and as he “outwalked the furthest city lights” tells me that as he tried to run from it, yet it was still there. The luminary clock appears to be the moon but as it proclaimed that time was neither wrong nor right tells me that he was unsure of his time of life or death; either way both fell in the darkness of the night which is his sadness and depression.
The “Home Burial” was a very sad poem but as a mother, I could feel the mother’s pain. I could not imagine losing a child myself, but I have two close friends that have; one who lost her son at birth and one that watched her son get hit and killed by a school bus at the age of 5. I have seen a mother’s grief and a father’s as well. Men and women seem to handle the death of a child much differently, but in the end, they both hurt and grieve and carry it the rest of their lives, just as the man and woman in this poem. In this poem, the mother seems angry at the father for not expressing the same grief that she feels. She seems to also be angry at him for having the ability to bury their child as well. I think Frost was trying to somehow show that in such an even as the death of a child, it causes much pain and it can even tear the mother and father apart. But I was glad to see that even though she wanted to go and flee all the pain and memories that he was not willing to just let her go and he would do whatever it takes to have and keep her.
One of my favorites of Frost’s poems was “Fire and Ice.” We all have that understanding that has somehow been embedded in us that one day the world is going to end. Depending on how and what you believe can have a factor on which you believe to be true. Christians and Bible believers tell and believe that the world will end with fire coming down from Heaven. I also believe that to be true, but many think otherwise. I think the same falls true with Frost as he is making a statement that shows he has heard that fire will end the earth all his life, but like many others, not all believe in the Bible. To me, this poem shows worldly variations and either way, an end is an end.
“Acquainted with the Night” seems to me to have been written with much depth. With night comes darkness and like with some of his other poems, he seemed to have dealt with depression from time to time. In this poem, he talks of rain which to me represents tears and as he “outwalked the furthest city lights” tells me that as he tried to run from it, yet it was still there. The luminary clock appears to be the moon but as it proclaimed that time was neither wrong nor right tells me that he was unsure of his time of life or death; either way both fell in the darkness of the night which is his sadness and depression.
The “Home Burial” was a very sad poem but as a mother, I could feel the mother’s pain. I could not imagine losing a child myself, but I have two close friends that have; one who lost her son at birth and one that watched her son get hit and killed by a school bus at the age of 5. I have seen a mother’s grief and a father’s as well. Men and women seem to handle the death of a child much differently, but in the end, they both hurt and grieve and carry it the rest of their lives, just as the man and woman in this poem. In this poem, the mother seems angry at the father for not expressing the same grief that she feels. She seems to also be angry at him for having the ability to bury their child as well. I think Frost was trying to somehow show that in such an even as the death of a child, it causes much pain and it can even tear the mother and father apart. But I was glad to see that even though she wanted to go and flee all the pain and memories that he was not willing to just let her go and he would do whatever it takes to have and keep her.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Other Two - Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton was truly a woman of high social standing and great wealth. In her writing, this seemed to be what she knew and what she wrote about. In the day and time in which she wrote, there were not many people who had wealth, so it is surprising to me that her writings would be so popular with not many people being able to relate, unless people would use her writings as a way to escape to better and more sophisticated way of life.
As I read her story “The Other Two,” I immediately noticed she was a writer who was daring and bold. She was practically writing about the forbidden; a woman who was married for the third time due to two previous divorces. I was also a little shocked to see her writing about a child who had weekend visitation with the other parent. I didn’t even know such circumstances occurred during those times. To read this story today however, just seem typical of the day. It was as if she was writing about the future.
In this story, we see a woman who is now married to a man who is forced to deal with his wife’s past immediately after marrying her. First her daughter Lily is sick and the Waythorns are forced to cut their honeymoon short due to her having typhoid. This is only the beginning of Mr. Waythorn’s troubles. However, even though he has to deal with ex-husband Haskett coming into his home to visit his step-daughter Lily, and then Mr. Varick as an investor in the company he works for, he maintains himself quite well. Most men would have not handled it the way he did. Mrs. Waythorn doesn’t seem to have any difficulty herself dealing with her two ex-husbands. It appears she actually enjoys having all three men around her and in her life. Mr. Waythorn’s biggest problem seems to be he has difficulty calling his wife his own. He later realizes he only has 1/3 of her and settles for that. He knows too that her past is what has made her who she is and decides to just take what he can get and be satisfied with that. It’s amazing how much this story fits the time of today. I enjoyed this story because even though it was written nearly 100 years ago, it really fits our society today.
As I read her story “The Other Two,” I immediately noticed she was a writer who was daring and bold. She was practically writing about the forbidden; a woman who was married for the third time due to two previous divorces. I was also a little shocked to see her writing about a child who had weekend visitation with the other parent. I didn’t even know such circumstances occurred during those times. To read this story today however, just seem typical of the day. It was as if she was writing about the future.
In this story, we see a woman who is now married to a man who is forced to deal with his wife’s past immediately after marrying her. First her daughter Lily is sick and the Waythorns are forced to cut their honeymoon short due to her having typhoid. This is only the beginning of Mr. Waythorn’s troubles. However, even though he has to deal with ex-husband Haskett coming into his home to visit his step-daughter Lily, and then Mr. Varick as an investor in the company he works for, he maintains himself quite well. Most men would have not handled it the way he did. Mrs. Waythorn doesn’t seem to have any difficulty herself dealing with her two ex-husbands. It appears she actually enjoys having all three men around her and in her life. Mr. Waythorn’s biggest problem seems to be he has difficulty calling his wife his own. He later realizes he only has 1/3 of her and settles for that. He knows too that her past is what has made her who she is and decides to just take what he can get and be satisfied with that. It’s amazing how much this story fits the time of today. I enjoyed this story because even though it was written nearly 100 years ago, it really fits our society today.
The Open Boat - Steven Crane
The first thing that appealed to me about this story is that it was based on a true actual event. The more real a story seems to be, the more it appeals to me. As the story began, it was immediately full of vibrant details of the surrounds. It was immediately shown that the water was rough and unstable. This gave a touch of suspense. As first seen in Cranes biography, the evidence of life and death as portrayed in the Bible is shown through symbolism. We are all floating through life in a small boat with uncertainty all around us. We may sink and drown or we may be sought and rescued. As we view these men with their different personalities, thoughts and worries, they all have the desire to live and find solid ground.
The Captain is the one who holds it together with his crew and keeps their dingey going in the “right” direction. He keeps his crew encouraged while all along lacking in courage himself because of his occasional mentioning of not wanting to drown. From time to time they see “light” and try to get to the light but the closer they get to it, the rougher the waters get. To me, this shows how people want “light,” but when they get close and their surroundings began to get rough, they tend to want to turn around and find and easier path.
The crew realizes that their time is running out and they need to take their chances and try to make it to shore. As they approach the shore, the waters get very rough and the current works hard against them and this is when that must sink or swim. As the four men tried to make their way to the shore after falling from their boat, three survived but Oiler was the one who didn’t. This scenario remind me of the Bible story when Jesus asked Peter to come to him and step out of the boat and walk upon the water to come to him. Peter did, but when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink. I believe that Oiler is the representation of Peter. From start to finish on this story, there is many links and references to the Bible. This once again reaffirms the strong background he had in faith and his family roots in church.
The Captain is the one who holds it together with his crew and keeps their dingey going in the “right” direction. He keeps his crew encouraged while all along lacking in courage himself because of his occasional mentioning of not wanting to drown. From time to time they see “light” and try to get to the light but the closer they get to it, the rougher the waters get. To me, this shows how people want “light,” but when they get close and their surroundings began to get rough, they tend to want to turn around and find and easier path.
The crew realizes that their time is running out and they need to take their chances and try to make it to shore. As they approach the shore, the waters get very rough and the current works hard against them and this is when that must sink or swim. As the four men tried to make their way to the shore after falling from their boat, three survived but Oiler was the one who didn’t. This scenario remind me of the Bible story when Jesus asked Peter to come to him and step out of the boat and walk upon the water to come to him. Peter did, but when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink. I believe that Oiler is the representation of Peter. From start to finish on this story, there is many links and references to the Bible. This once again reaffirms the strong background he had in faith and his family roots in church.
Stephen Crane Poetry and Biography
Stephen Crane’s background is quite evident in his poetry. His strong family roots in faith is something he apparently couldn’t get away from. The one poem that really spoke to me was “Supposing That I Should Have the Courage.” It displays a man under the conviction of God as he is at the crossroads of accepting the saving grace of God. Crane was definitely a man that knew his Bible and knew the meaning behind God’s word.
As Crane observed life in the slums of New York, it gave him other inspirations where his writings turned to the writing of his first novel. Oddly he apparently couldn’t find a publishing company to publish this novel for him so he went to the expense of publishing it himself. To me, this would have to have taken a lot of courage to go out and take the rejection from the publishing companies and turn it around and place enough faith in yourself to just publish it yourself. That says a lot about his character and the faith he had in himself.
Of his poetry, some were a little difficult to understand. The one called “I Saw a Man Pursuing the Horizon” seems unusual to me. I can’t find reason in it. When I think of someone pursuing the horizon, I see someone searching for light (in reference to God’s light) but when it states, “You lie,” I don’t know if it means the one searching for the light is rejecting the light, or if it could be Crane making reference to Satan and his deception. I do not like to read something and not understand what it is really saying. The one poem called “War is Kind,” Crane is being sarcastic in this referring to war as being kind when in fact, as a lover or as a mother, you could never send your loved one off to war and ever think of it as being kind. But his point made was quite clear.
As Crane observed life in the slums of New York, it gave him other inspirations where his writings turned to the writing of his first novel. Oddly he apparently couldn’t find a publishing company to publish this novel for him so he went to the expense of publishing it himself. To me, this would have to have taken a lot of courage to go out and take the rejection from the publishing companies and turn it around and place enough faith in yourself to just publish it yourself. That says a lot about his character and the faith he had in himself.
Of his poetry, some were a little difficult to understand. The one called “I Saw a Man Pursuing the Horizon” seems unusual to me. I can’t find reason in it. When I think of someone pursuing the horizon, I see someone searching for light (in reference to God’s light) but when it states, “You lie,” I don’t know if it means the one searching for the light is rejecting the light, or if it could be Crane making reference to Satan and his deception. I do not like to read something and not understand what it is really saying. The one poem called “War is Kind,” Crane is being sarcastic in this referring to war as being kind when in fact, as a lover or as a mother, you could never send your loved one off to war and ever think of it as being kind. But his point made was quite clear.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a very interesting writer. She has used many aspects and experiences in her own life in her writings. I know this is typical of many writers, and this can give enchanting details to their stories. With The Yellow Wallpaper, we see a woman who has been brought to an old house by her husband who tells his wife that he doesn’t believe she is sick, but he still brings her to this house so she can have perfect rest for what she refers to as a nervous condition. Oddly, with her husband thinking she isn’t sick, he sure does have her on a lot of medications and remedies and plans to cure her with rest.
During their stay in this house, they stay in a room that was once a nursery at the top of the house. The bed is bolted to the floor and the windows have bars on them. To the woman telling the story says it is an ugly room that irritates her. Her husband ends up completely isolating her to this room and only letting her go outside or be with their baby only when she is being watched by someone and only for brief periods of time. As she is forced to stay in this room constantly, she secretly writes in a journal. Her husband doesn’t want her writing because he feels it will tire her out. At times, it seems he is just a loving and caring husband who is truly trying to help his wife get better, but other times, it seems he is just secluding her to keep her hidden for some reason. Strangely, he has her convinced he is doing all of this out of love and it is what’s best for her.
During these times during the later 1800’s, women were expected to adhere to certain lifestyles and responsibilities. A woman basically had her duties and was rudely looked down upon if she failed at them. If she was weak, or out of the ordinary, it made the husbands look bad and with hers being a physician as well as her brother, I would say she was gazed at by many. To keep her contained and hidden from society, John was mainly protecting his own image.
While his wife stayed in this room with this hideous wallpaper, she began to see someone creeping in the wallpaper. It is apparent that she is hallucinating and who wouldn’t be caged up in such lengthy solitude. She becomes obsessed with this woman she sees in the wallpaper. Even though this is a contrast as to who she really is herself, it is intriguing to read to see if she really does reach someone from behind the wallpaper. At the end as it appears that she may be feeling better, but you learn that she has managed to remove most of the wallpaper in the room. She has worked diligently and meticulously to help remove the “yellow smell.” As her husband comes in the last time, he finds her crawling on the floor talking crazy about being not being able to be put back behind the wallpaper again. He faints and for some crazy reason, she doesn’t understand why!
During their stay in this house, they stay in a room that was once a nursery at the top of the house. The bed is bolted to the floor and the windows have bars on them. To the woman telling the story says it is an ugly room that irritates her. Her husband ends up completely isolating her to this room and only letting her go outside or be with their baby only when she is being watched by someone and only for brief periods of time. As she is forced to stay in this room constantly, she secretly writes in a journal. Her husband doesn’t want her writing because he feels it will tire her out. At times, it seems he is just a loving and caring husband who is truly trying to help his wife get better, but other times, it seems he is just secluding her to keep her hidden for some reason. Strangely, he has her convinced he is doing all of this out of love and it is what’s best for her.
During these times during the later 1800’s, women were expected to adhere to certain lifestyles and responsibilities. A woman basically had her duties and was rudely looked down upon if she failed at them. If she was weak, or out of the ordinary, it made the husbands look bad and with hers being a physician as well as her brother, I would say she was gazed at by many. To keep her contained and hidden from society, John was mainly protecting his own image.
While his wife stayed in this room with this hideous wallpaper, she began to see someone creeping in the wallpaper. It is apparent that she is hallucinating and who wouldn’t be caged up in such lengthy solitude. She becomes obsessed with this woman she sees in the wallpaper. Even though this is a contrast as to who she really is herself, it is intriguing to read to see if she really does reach someone from behind the wallpaper. At the end as it appears that she may be feeling better, but you learn that she has managed to remove most of the wallpaper in the room. She has worked diligently and meticulously to help remove the “yellow smell.” As her husband comes in the last time, he finds her crawling on the floor talking crazy about being not being able to be put back behind the wallpaper again. He faints and for some crazy reason, she doesn’t understand why!
The Awakening - Kate Chopin
The Awakening by Kate Chopin was a beautiful story of a married woman named Edna who was just caught up in “life.” During the 1800’s when Chopin wrote this story, life for a woman was quite different than it is today. The typical married woman had “womanly” expectations that women no longer conform to as much this day and time. Edna being married to man of wealth, their social standing was a top priority and it was her responsibility to see that their social standing was catered to. In this life style, she lost herself and she became mechanical in her day to day living. Having servants and someone to tend to the children, she wasn’t needed in the home in a nurturing way that typically gives a woman worthiness that she is designed to need and desire.
While her and her family is vacationing at their summer home on the Gulf, her husband spends much of his time working away from his family. When he is around, he fulfills his life with material things and social needs. With his wife Edna, he sees her faults and reminds her repeatedly of the responsibilities she needs to adhere to in his eyes. Edna is slack on her mothering skills, but life seems to have her so burdened down, that she seems to have lost the ability to know true happiness, until Robert comes into the picture. While on the Gulf, Robert spends much time with her. They become great friends, but Robert falls in love with Edna and with her being a married woman, he decides to go to Mexico and leaves abruptly. With his leaving, Edna realizes also that she has fallen in love with him and falls into depression during his absence. Since she and her husband have never had a normal loving intimate relationship, she feels that this is the first time she has ever really felt love. She spends months longing for him and visiting Mademoiselle in hopes she had received a letter from Robert since he had not written her. Edna later finds out that Robert is finally planning to return and she becomes anxious to see him. When she learns he has return by accidentally running into him, she realizes he has purposely been avoiding her. In their chance meeting, she remembers how Mademoiselle told her that Robert was actually in love with her. This echoes continually in her mind. When she finally sees Robert again, she kisses him and admits her love for him and in return he does the same. During this moment of passion, she is called to tend to a friend of hers who is apparently deathly sick. When she returns, she finds that Robert has left her again. Edna then falls back into her heavy state of depression and decides that her husband, her children, nor anyone else is worth much to her other than Robert. In this realization, she is disgusted with herself and walks to the beach, removes her clothing and begins to swim out until she is completely exhausted. As the author reveals the last paragraph of the story, it is apparent that Edna drowns.
This story was full of vibrant details that give its reader a wonderful since of being a part of the story. There were times I could feel Edna longing for Robert and the great descriptions given to the intricate details of the home, we quite visionary.
While her and her family is vacationing at their summer home on the Gulf, her husband spends much of his time working away from his family. When he is around, he fulfills his life with material things and social needs. With his wife Edna, he sees her faults and reminds her repeatedly of the responsibilities she needs to adhere to in his eyes. Edna is slack on her mothering skills, but life seems to have her so burdened down, that she seems to have lost the ability to know true happiness, until Robert comes into the picture. While on the Gulf, Robert spends much time with her. They become great friends, but Robert falls in love with Edna and with her being a married woman, he decides to go to Mexico and leaves abruptly. With his leaving, Edna realizes also that she has fallen in love with him and falls into depression during his absence. Since she and her husband have never had a normal loving intimate relationship, she feels that this is the first time she has ever really felt love. She spends months longing for him and visiting Mademoiselle in hopes she had received a letter from Robert since he had not written her. Edna later finds out that Robert is finally planning to return and she becomes anxious to see him. When she learns he has return by accidentally running into him, she realizes he has purposely been avoiding her. In their chance meeting, she remembers how Mademoiselle told her that Robert was actually in love with her. This echoes continually in her mind. When she finally sees Robert again, she kisses him and admits her love for him and in return he does the same. During this moment of passion, she is called to tend to a friend of hers who is apparently deathly sick. When she returns, she finds that Robert has left her again. Edna then falls back into her heavy state of depression and decides that her husband, her children, nor anyone else is worth much to her other than Robert. In this realization, she is disgusted with herself and walks to the beach, removes her clothing and begins to swim out until she is completely exhausted. As the author reveals the last paragraph of the story, it is apparent that Edna drowns.
This story was full of vibrant details that give its reader a wonderful since of being a part of the story. There were times I could feel Edna longing for Robert and the great descriptions given to the intricate details of the home, we quite visionary.
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