Don't judge the cheesy title, folks, it was the best I could come up with! This week is our final battle of the semester, guys. Finals week. So many tests, papers, and projects it's overwhelming, but keep up the hard work and don't give up now!
We've come a long way since the beginning of the semester! From the very beginning of American Literature, through American independence, and now to a new birth of freedom for American -- the Civil War. We're leaving off in 1865 (but if you want to find out what America has in store for it next, you can take English 223 which picks up where we left off!) but there are many more wars and battles in America's history. If you're interested you can go back to the spring months of my blog and get a glimpse of some of those.
It has been a joy to take this class with you all but thanks for making it a fun last English course for me, I have enjoyed our discussions and BB IM chats so much. I hope you all do well on your finals and all of the finals you have left in your career at Ivy Tech (one more for me!)!
One parting poem -- the great Emily Dickinson's "Success is Counted Sweetest."
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated -- dying--
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear.
May we never forget the value of success either when we are succeeding or in our failures.
Best of luck to you all!
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Beat! Beat! Drums!
Beat! Beat! Drums!
Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!
Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force,
Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,
Into the school where the scholar is studying,
Leave not the bridegroom quiet—no happiness must he have now with his bride,
Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain,
So fierce you whirr and pound you drums—so shrill you bugles blow.
Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!
Over the traffic of cities—over the rumble of wheels in the streets;
Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? no sleepers must sleep in those beds,
No bargainers’ bargains by day—no brokers or speculators—would they continue?
Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?
Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge?
Then rattle quicker, heavier drums—you bugles wilder blow.
Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!
Make no parley—stop for no expostulation,
Mind not the timid—mind not the weeper or prayer,
Mind not the old man beseeching the young man,
Let not the child’s voice be heard, nor the mother’s entreaties,
Make even the trestles to shake the dead where they lie awaiting the hearses,
So strong you thump O terrible drums—so loud you bugles blow.
I feel as if this poem by Walt Whitman was written by war itself. It's giving the order to invade and
completely turn everyone's every day lives upside down indiscriminately. The church congregation,
the school children, the newlyweds, the farmers, the sleepers, the mothers, the children, no one is
spared from the havoc of war. Whitman wrote this in 1861, the same year the Civil War started and in the poem he seems to describe the escalating events that were occurring in the war at that time.
War affects everyone, especially when it's brother against brother in a horrific Civil War, and
Whitman made that clear in this poem. I really enjoyed looking through Walt Whitman's work these
past two weeks. This was one of my favorite of his just for the fact that it's like reading an account of
what things were like for people during the War Between the States. It's like he captured history as it
happened.
Monday, November 23, 2015
The Slave's Dream
The Slave's Dream
Beside the ungathered rice he lay, His sickle in his hand; His breast was bare, his matted hair Was buried in the sand. Again, in the mist and shadow of sleep, He saw his Native Land. Wide through the landscape of his dreams The lordly Niger flowed; Beneath the palm-trees on the plain Once more a king he strode; And heard the tinkling caravans Descend the mountain-road. He saw once more his dark-eyed queen Among her children stand; They clasped his neck, they kissed his cheeks, They held him by the hand!-- A tear burst from the sleeper's lids And fell into the sand. And then at furious speed he rode Along the Niger's bank; His bridle-reins were golden chains, And, with a martial clank, At each leap he could feel his scabbard of steel Smiting his stallion's flank. Before him, like a blood-red flag, The bright flamingoes flew; From morn till night he followed their flight, O'er plains where the tamarind grew, Till he saw the roofs of Caffre huts, And the ocean rose to view. At night he heard the lion roar, And the hyena scream, And the river-horse, as he crushed the reeds Beside some hidden stream; And it passed, like a glorious roll of drums, Through the triumph of his dream. The forests, with their myriad tongues, Shouted of liberty; And the Blast of the Desert cried aloud, With a voice so wild and free, That he started in his sleep and smiled At their tempestuous glee. He did not feel the driver's whip, Nor the burning heat of day; For Death had illumined the Land of Sleep, And his lifeless body lay A worn-out fetter, that the soul Had broken and thrown away!
This poem was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1842. Longfellow
was an abolitionistand wrote this poem for the purpose of conveying the
horror of slavery. Slavery was a major catalyst for the Civil War as the
Northern and Southern states bickered over the institutionand the right
of individual states to secede from the Union.
Originally I expected this poem to talk about slaves as a whole and their
dream for freedom. Longfellow, however, wrote his poem about one individual
and I think the result was something much more relatable and moving. It's a
lot easier to relate to one person compared to a whole group, and I think
that is why Longfellow wrote this the way he did.
It talks about a man, a slave, lying beside the grain sleeping. He's dreaming
of his homeland that he no doubt was stolen away from. He is a respected man,
someone who owns himself, "once more a king." I think the most moving lines in
the whole poem are in the third stanza.
"He saw once more his dark-eyed queen Among her children stand; They clasped his neck, they kissed his cheeks, They held him by the hand!-- A tear burst from the sleeper's lids And fell into the sand."
He not only misses his freedom and his country. He misses his wife,
his "dark-eyed queen." He misses his children and their hugs, kisses,
and holding their hands. There he is free, there he is a man, there
he is a husband and a father. Here is enslaved, here he is someone's
property, here he is treated like he is nothing. He is then riding along
the Niger, holding the chains this time instead of being bound by them.
He follows the flight of the flamingos, hears the roar of the lions at
night and the screams of the hyenas. He describes the forests shouting of
liberty, the desert has a voice that is wild and free, and they are their
own masters. Then the dream ends. He is back in reality and his master has
caught him sleeping. But now he doesn't feel the sting of the whip or the
heat of the sun. He is finally free and Longfellow finishes conveying his
powerful message -- the only freedom for this man was through death.
There were many abolitionist writers that wrote to get their message out to
the public but this is one of my favorite abolitionist works along with
Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, because it shows the
effect of enslavement on a single individual which makes it so much
more powerful.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
The Heav'n Rescued Land
The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
This song was written by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet, in September of 1814. He penned the lyrics while being detained by the British aboard an American vessel during the War of 1812. He was inspired to write the lyrics by watching a violent, large-scale attack on Fort McHenry that the British had launched. Certain that the British would take the fort, Key was surprised and awed to see the American flag still "gallantly streaming" through "the dawn's early light." The War of 1812 forced England to officially recognize America's status as an independent nation and it also produced what would become our national anthem years later. Originally is was titled "Defense at Fort M'Henry," but of course now we know it as "The Star Spangled Banner." I think the last verse has to be my favorite. I love how he gives the glory back to God for their victory and refers to America as "the heav'n rescued land" and proclaims our motto as "In God is our trust" which we still use today.
Info: Smithsonian.com
Picture: primarysourcenexus.org
Monday, October 19, 2015
Literature's Role in American Independence
I think one of the most valuable things I've gained from these literature courses is a new perspective on literature. I used to find literature boring and pointless but as I've read more and more works of literature by great American and English authors, and done more and more assignments that have helped me to gain a better understanding of what I'm reading, I grown to have a deeper appreciation for literature. It helps to show us where we've been, where we are, and in some ways where we're going.
It is truly priceless and without it we wouldn't be where we are today. My point is best illustrated by two documents that we looked at weeks ago in Pod 2. Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and Thomas Jefferson's The Declaration of Independence were vital works of literature that helped inspire and unite Americans to fight for independence from Britain in 1776.
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine, expressing his view that reconciliation with England and the Crown was not a wise move for the colonies. He insisted that fighting for independence was their only option and if they were going to do it, now was the time. It was read wide-spread across the thirteen colonies and did much to sway the public opinion in favor of independence.
The Declaration of Independence, a document which everyone in this class should be familiar with, was written by Thomas Jefferson and formally announced American independence as a separate nation from Britain. It outlined the basic rights that we believe every human is entitled to - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and brought together the thirteen colonies into the United States of America.
Literature is a very powerful thing. In all reality it really isn't much different than the power of the tongue. Once something is written, published, and distributed to the public it's nearly impossible to erase it. It has the power to start wars and end them. In this case, it started the American Revolution in which America defeated Britain and became the great nation we live in today. Literature is far more important and powerful than I originally gave it credit for, but I've learned to respect it and learn from what these great authors have given us to read.
Pictures retrieved from freestatefoundation.blogspot.com and thecommonsenseshow.com
It is truly priceless and without it we wouldn't be where we are today. My point is best illustrated by two documents that we looked at weeks ago in Pod 2. Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and Thomas Jefferson's The Declaration of Independence were vital works of literature that helped inspire and unite Americans to fight for independence from Britain in 1776.
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine, expressing his view that reconciliation with England and the Crown was not a wise move for the colonies. He insisted that fighting for independence was their only option and if they were going to do it, now was the time. It was read wide-spread across the thirteen colonies and did much to sway the public opinion in favor of independence.
The Declaration of Independence, a document which everyone in this class should be familiar with, was written by Thomas Jefferson and formally announced American independence as a separate nation from Britain. It outlined the basic rights that we believe every human is entitled to - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and brought together the thirteen colonies into the United States of America.
Literature is a very powerful thing. In all reality it really isn't much different than the power of the tongue. Once something is written, published, and distributed to the public it's nearly impossible to erase it. It has the power to start wars and end them. In this case, it started the American Revolution in which America defeated Britain and became the great nation we live in today. Literature is far more important and powerful than I originally gave it credit for, but I've learned to respect it and learn from what these great authors have given us to read.
Pictures retrieved from freestatefoundation.blogspot.com and thecommonsenseshow.com
Monday, October 12, 2015
Introduction to Stories of War Part 2
Greetings to all of you new bloggers!
As many of you know, I have already taken the second half of this course. As a result, I already have a blog started from last semester. It may seem a little odd since I'm going back in time but since I covered from 1865 to present in my previous posts, this semesters entries will be covering stories about war from the beginning of America to 1865. I'm excited to start blogging again and looking at poems, short stories, speeches, and anything else I might come across.
Interestingly enough, the very first story in the textbook, The Iroquois Creation Story, is not only a story about creation but one about a war.
It starts out with a woman who is pregnant with twins and before they are even born the twins are in a battle. One twin is evil and tries to burst from the mother's side and the other, good twin tries to prevent him. The mother dies but the twins survive and the good one, Enigorio, goes on to create the world. The bad one, Enigonhahetgea, went about sabotaging his work and making harmful things.
Eventually the twins battle to the death and the good one, Enigorio, wins. Despite the fact that this is not how I believe the world came into existence, I find it very symbolic that evil will not triumph. Not in the beginning and not in the end.
This war between good and evil has been around from the beginning of everything, not just the beginning of American Literature. It's still going on today and it will continue to go on until the world ceases to be. I think we can see that quite clearly in today's time. We just have to continue bringing out the good in the world and trying to be the good in the world until that time comes.
Happy blogging, folks!
Picture retrieved from https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8qFWJBxWRE4ADjkunIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTIydDBvN2NkBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM0MGM4Y2U1Y2FkYzNhNDRjMmMzNGQxM2EyOWQ1MmExYgRncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Diroquois%2Bcreation%2Bstory%2Btwins%2Bfighting%26n%3D60%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyhs-mozilla-002%26fr2%3Dsb-top-images.search.yahoo.com%26hsimp%3Dyhs-002%26hspart%3Dmozilla%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=1072&h=1232&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-wcvzZXr1Rrg%2FUET6khiIqHI%2FAAAAAAAAAAw%2F523WLf4_gPo%2Fs1600%2Fgoodmind.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftmmorris1.blogspot.com%2F&size=380.6KB&name=Monday%2C+September+3%2C+2012&p=iroquois+creation+story+twins+fighting&oid=40c8ce5cadc3a44c2c34d13a29d52a1b&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&tt=Monday%2C+September+3%2C+2012&b=0&ni=144&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=10u46nfuk&sigb=1656rdgns&sigi=12la5u9rh&sigt=10pjs0i69&sign=10pjs0i69&.crumb=W6.LwIyo/Cg&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla
As many of you know, I have already taken the second half of this course. As a result, I already have a blog started from last semester. It may seem a little odd since I'm going back in time but since I covered from 1865 to present in my previous posts, this semesters entries will be covering stories about war from the beginning of America to 1865. I'm excited to start blogging again and looking at poems, short stories, speeches, and anything else I might come across.
Interestingly enough, the very first story in the textbook, The Iroquois Creation Story, is not only a story about creation but one about a war.
It starts out with a woman who is pregnant with twins and before they are even born the twins are in a battle. One twin is evil and tries to burst from the mother's side and the other, good twin tries to prevent him. The mother dies but the twins survive and the good one, Enigorio, goes on to create the world. The bad one, Enigonhahetgea, went about sabotaging his work and making harmful things.
Eventually the twins battle to the death and the good one, Enigorio, wins. Despite the fact that this is not how I believe the world came into existence, I find it very symbolic that evil will not triumph. Not in the beginning and not in the end.
This war between good and evil has been around from the beginning of everything, not just the beginning of American Literature. It's still going on today and it will continue to go on until the world ceases to be. I think we can see that quite clearly in today's time. We just have to continue bringing out the good in the world and trying to be the good in the world until that time comes.
Happy blogging, folks!
Picture retrieved from https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8qFWJBxWRE4ADjkunIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTIydDBvN2NkBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM0MGM4Y2U1Y2FkYzNhNDRjMmMzNGQxM2EyOWQ1MmExYgRncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Diroquois%2Bcreation%2Bstory%2Btwins%2Bfighting%26n%3D60%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyhs-mozilla-002%26fr2%3Dsb-top-images.search.yahoo.com%26hsimp%3Dyhs-002%26hspart%3Dmozilla%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=1072&h=1232&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-wcvzZXr1Rrg%2FUET6khiIqHI%2FAAAAAAAAAAw%2F523WLf4_gPo%2Fs1600%2Fgoodmind.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftmmorris1.blogspot.com%2F&size=380.6KB&name=Monday%2C+September+3%2C+2012&p=iroquois+creation+story+twins+fighting&oid=40c8ce5cadc3a44c2c34d13a29d52a1b&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&tt=Monday%2C+September+3%2C+2012&b=0&ni=144&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=10u46nfuk&sigb=1656rdgns&sigi=12la5u9rh&sigt=10pjs0i69&sign=10pjs0i69&.crumb=W6.LwIyo/Cg&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&fr2=sb-top-images.search.yahoo.com&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
End of the Semester Thoughts
Wow, the final post. The end of the semester is here. We have been through so many wars and battle of different sorts during the last sixteen weeks. We experienced running away from battle with Henry Fleming in The Red Badge of Courage, we were horrified as Editha guilt-tripped her fiancee into going into battle and angry when he died, we went through the mental battle of Stanley vs. Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, all while dealing with the struggles of our own lives. In some of these stories, the hero succeeded--in some, they didn't. As we leave the world of Ivy Tech and American Literature (although as long as we're reading, we never truly leave it...so keep reading!!!), some of you for good, keep these characters in mind. What did they teach you? Did they show you how to act or how not to act? What was the author's intention behind the story?
I hope you all go on to succeed in whatever you set out to do. Don't give up especially when it seems impossible. Congratulations to the graduates! You did it! It's been a joy to be in the same class and learn from your discussion board posts and talk with you over Blackboard IM. Thank you all for a great semester!
I hope you all go on to succeed in whatever you set out to do. Don't give up especially when it seems impossible. Congratulations to the graduates! You did it! It's been a joy to be in the same class and learn from your discussion board posts and talk with you over Blackboard IM. Thank you all for a great semester!
Sunday, May 3, 2015
American Sniper
Recently a movie was released called "American Sniper." It was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the American Sniper. Here is a storyline I got from IMDB (International Movie Database):
Chris Kyle was nothing more than a Texan man who wanted to become a cowboy, but in his thirties he found out that maybe his life needed something different, something where he could express his real talent, something that could help America in its fight against terrorism. So he joined the SEALs in order to become a sniper. After marrying, Kyle and the other members of the team are called for their first tour of Iraq. Kyle's struggle isn't with his missions, but about his relationship with the reality of the war and, once returned at home, how he manages to handle it with his urban life, his wife and kids.
It is a movie I would encourage everyone to get from Redbox, Netflix, Family Video...where ever you get your movies from, and watch. It shows the struggles that a soldier has to deal with going from a war hero to a family man. I won't reveal anything more in case anyone hasn't watched the movie or read up on the true story but again, it's a great movie and I recommend it for anyone who is looking for something to watch.
Chris Kyle was nothing more than a Texan man who wanted to become a cowboy, but in his thirties he found out that maybe his life needed something different, something where he could express his real talent, something that could help America in its fight against terrorism. So he joined the SEALs in order to become a sniper. After marrying, Kyle and the other members of the team are called for their first tour of Iraq. Kyle's struggle isn't with his missions, but about his relationship with the reality of the war and, once returned at home, how he manages to handle it with his urban life, his wife and kids.
It is a movie I would encourage everyone to get from Redbox, Netflix, Family Video...where ever you get your movies from, and watch. It shows the struggles that a soldier has to deal with going from a war hero to a family man. I won't reveal anything more in case anyone hasn't watched the movie or read up on the true story but again, it's a great movie and I recommend it for anyone who is looking for something to watch.
Friday, May 1, 2015
The Nightmare Never Ends
The Nightmare Never Ends
Close your eyes and go to sleep,My poor, haunted soldier man,
I'll try my best to keep you safe,
In any way I possibly can.
Cradled there in my loving arms,
He drifted off to Vietnam once more.
I tried my best to soothe him,
But he was already back in the war.
His body's tense and twitching,
As he dreams of yesteryear,
I call out his name in vain,
Just trying to ease his fear.
But the battle is already brewing,
He's in the midst of a fire fight,
And for what seems like an eternity,
My soldier thrashes in the night.
And it's too late to bring him home,
He's fighting along side his brothers,
He hears his comrades cry out in pain,
And call out for their mothers.
He's soaked in sweat as he jumps about,
He feels the bullets whizzing by,
His body's numb as he checks himself,
He's so certain he's gonna die.
No, not today my brave hero,
Though you've lost so many friends,
He opens his eyes as the dream has past,
But the nightmare never ends.
Chris Woolnough
11/1/03
This poem was written about the Vietnam War which lasted from 1959-1973. It honestly gives me chills each time I read it. I don't know the background behind the poem but the way I imagine it, it was written from the viewpoint of the soldier's wife. Her husband has returned from war physically, but mentally he's still in Vietnam fighting alongside his comrades. As our troops return from combat in present day, I think we would do well to remember that a lot of them are experiencing the same kind of mental struggles as this man was. Vietnam veterans did not come home to a warm welcome like many of our troops do today. That war was extremely controversial and when our men came home they were a source of contempt, not respect. Today, we are a little better at recognizing that those soldiers weren't the ones who declared war, they were given orders and had to follow them. We support and honor our soldiers, but unfortunately that doesn't always take away the horror of battle. For some soldiers, in any country, in any era, fighting any war, with public support or without it, the nightmare never ends.
Pray for our soldiers every chance you get.
Link to poem: http://www.angelfire.com/nf/yvonne/Nightmare.html
Saturday, April 25, 2015
A Streetcar Named Desire
I know A Streetcar Named Desire isn't a story about war, but at the risk of sounding like an amateur psychiatrist, it is in a mental sense.
One of the first things I noticed while reading this play by Tennessee Williams was that all of the characters are at odds against each other in some way. The conflict is mostly between Blanche DuBois and her sister Stella's husband, Stanley Kowalski. A lot of the conflict stems from class differences but underlying all of their arguments is the battle for Stella.
Blanche disapproves of Stella's lifestyle now that she has married Stanley. To Blanche, Stella is living in a dump with an ape for a husband when she should be living the high-life with some wealthy Southern gentleman. She tries multiple times throughout the play to get Stella to leave Stanley.
Stanley, however, enjoys the fact that he pulled Stella down from her upper class status. He is the self-proclaimed "king of the castle" and his authority is absolute in his home. He resents the fact that Blanche is trying to undermine his authority and ruin the hold he has over his wife.
They both battle against each other for Stella's attention while Stella, stuck in the crossfire, does her best to placate both of them.
Blanche rants to Stella that Stanley is "common", a "madman, and "ape-like." She advises her not to "hang back with the brutes," basically saying that if she stays with Stanley she will miss out on the progression of society. Blanche's "attacks" are mostly verbal and appeal to Stella's past as a wealthy Southern belle. She insults Stanley's ethnicity, his behavior, his manners, his class status, and everything about the way he lives to undermine Stella's infatuation with him.
Stanley unveils Blanche's promiscuous past and her habitual lies as a way to discredit Blanche's opinion of him and turn Stella against her. While many of Stanley's attacks are verbal, his extend to psychological and physical attacks as well. This is ultimately what ensures his victory. Blanche's battle plan is to destroy his hold over Stella, while Stanley's battle plan is to destroy Blanche.
Again, this was not a story about a real war with guns and soldiers, but I was struck by Blanche and Stanley's battle, so to speak, over Stella. Sadly, Stanley's final attack was raping Blanche and sending her into a mental breakdown that led to insanity. Stella chose Stanley over her sister in the dramatic conclusion of the play when she decides not to believe Blanche and sends her to a mental institution.
This picture from the 1951 film adaption, starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, sums up the play pretty well. Stanley is smashing things while Stella is trying (and failing) to make him behave, Mitch is hanging around in the background but not really doing anything, and a frightened Blanche is cowering away from the noise and violence in the corner.
Picture retrieved from thewriteworkshops.com.
One of the first things I noticed while reading this play by Tennessee Williams was that all of the characters are at odds against each other in some way. The conflict is mostly between Blanche DuBois and her sister Stella's husband, Stanley Kowalski. A lot of the conflict stems from class differences but underlying all of their arguments is the battle for Stella.
Blanche disapproves of Stella's lifestyle now that she has married Stanley. To Blanche, Stella is living in a dump with an ape for a husband when she should be living the high-life with some wealthy Southern gentleman. She tries multiple times throughout the play to get Stella to leave Stanley.
Stanley, however, enjoys the fact that he pulled Stella down from her upper class status. He is the self-proclaimed "king of the castle" and his authority is absolute in his home. He resents the fact that Blanche is trying to undermine his authority and ruin the hold he has over his wife.
They both battle against each other for Stella's attention while Stella, stuck in the crossfire, does her best to placate both of them.
Blanche rants to Stella that Stanley is "common", a "madman, and "ape-like." She advises her not to "hang back with the brutes," basically saying that if she stays with Stanley she will miss out on the progression of society. Blanche's "attacks" are mostly verbal and appeal to Stella's past as a wealthy Southern belle. She insults Stanley's ethnicity, his behavior, his manners, his class status, and everything about the way he lives to undermine Stella's infatuation with him.
Stanley unveils Blanche's promiscuous past and her habitual lies as a way to discredit Blanche's opinion of him and turn Stella against her. While many of Stanley's attacks are verbal, his extend to psychological and physical attacks as well. This is ultimately what ensures his victory. Blanche's battle plan is to destroy his hold over Stella, while Stanley's battle plan is to destroy Blanche.
Again, this was not a story about a real war with guns and soldiers, but I was struck by Blanche and Stanley's battle, so to speak, over Stella. Sadly, Stanley's final attack was raping Blanche and sending her into a mental breakdown that led to insanity. Stella chose Stanley over her sister in the dramatic conclusion of the play when she decides not to believe Blanche and sends her to a mental institution.
Picture retrieved from thewriteworkshops.com.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Going Waaaaaaay Back to Ancient Rome
This isn't in the time frame I told myself I would stay in, but I found this too amazing to pass up sharing. I attend church at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Logansport. For the past several weeks we have been going through the book of Ephesians, chapter six, verses eleven through seventeen. The text from the King James Bible reads:
Ephesians 6:
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
That is not the end of the chapter but it is the end of the armor analogy that I wanted to talk about in this blog post. For weeks, my pastor has been reminding us that we, as Christians, are fighting a spiritual battle against "the wiles of the devil." We need to make sure that we are keeping our (spiritual) armor on tightly and securely so we do not fall when the enemy (the devil) attacks.
The armor that the apostle Paul was describing in his letter to the church at Ephesus, was that of the Roman soldier.
The belt kept other pieces of armor, like the sword, in their place and protected some of the most susceptible places on the Roman soldier from attack.
The breastplate protected their chests and many vital organs, such as the heart, from swords, spears, and arrows.
Their footwear needed to be strong, functional, and enable them to stand firm and keep their footing when in battle.
The shield has the obvious purpose of protecting the soldier from harm from blows by the enemy. However, they could also use it as a weapon as well as for defensive purposes. The soldiers would douse their shields in water to prevent the enemy's arrows (that had been set on fire for maximum damage) from harming them.
The helmet protected their head, neck, and face from harm.
The sword also was used offensively and defensively. It could either deflect the enemy's sword or be used to wound or kill them.
I found the spiritual applications of these pieces of armor to be really fascinating. Just as the armor is important to the Roman soldier in battle, they are important to Christian's in battle. We are not fighting flesh and blood (physical soldiers in a physical battle), but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness. The principles we can take from this passage are:
Protect yourself with the truth - the Bible or just simply being truthful.
Protect your heart with righteousness - keep your heart pure.
Protect your stand with preparation - have a strong foundation in your beliefs, be ready to take God's Word (the gospel of peace) to others.
Protect your faith - believing God's Word and not doubting your belief in Him.
Protect your mind - preserving your hope in Jesus Christ and not falling into discouragement
Protect yourself from Satan's attacks with the sword, which, as the verse 17 says, is the Word of God- the Bible. Reading, memorizing, and meditating on the Scriptures are all ways to "wield the sword" God has given us.
Those that do not believe God's Word or that God exists probably won't find this as interesting as I do, but I felt compelled and inspired to share these musings and encouragements from the heart of my pastor.
If you're interested in listening to the messages, there is a link to our church website below. Just go to the live-streaming section and you can watch/listen to them there. They are the "Sunday Morning Worship" sermons.
http://hbclogansport.com/Live-Streaming.htm
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
"The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner"
War has made itself a common theme in everything from literature to television and movies. As I'm working on completing my assignments for this weeks poetry pod, I've even found some poems about war. "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" is a poem written by Randall Jarrell set in World War II.
"The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" is about, you guessed it, the death of the ball turret gunner.
A ball turret is a little rotating ball underneath an B-17 or B-24 bomber aircraft. It is equipped with machine guns that are fired usually by young man with a small enough build to fit in the ball. The speaker of the poem is the young gunner who we find out has been killed. Jarrell's poem exposes the cruel nature of war in the last line when he says "When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose." Here is the poem in full:
"The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" is about, you guessed it, the death of the ball turret gunner.
A ball turret is a little rotating ball underneath an B-17 or B-24 bomber aircraft. It is equipped with machine guns that are fired usually by young man with a small enough build to fit in the ball. The speaker of the poem is the young gunner who we find out has been killed. Jarrell's poem exposes the cruel nature of war in the last line when he says "When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose." Here is the poem in full:
"The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner"
From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
-Randall Jarrell
From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
-Randall Jarrell
The poem is sad and somewhat eerie. I can't even fathom the callousness that would allow those men to hose the dead gunner out and replace him just like that. I must admit though, that studying Randall Jarrell's poem was so fascinating and the amount of new information I learned from a poem with only five stanzas is incredible.
I am honestly not the kind of person who enjoys poetry, but I definitely enjoyed this poem and the history lesson that came with it.
Info retrieved from the textbook pg.1196
Picture retrieved from mrjgoyeneche.wordpress.com
Sunday, February 22, 2015
The Delusion of Glory
While I am working on my chosen assignments for Pod #3, "The Red Badge of Courage," I keep going back to Henry's original belief about war.
He was so convinced that a wound received in war would make him into a hero and he would be honored forever for it. He didn't think of the pain, of the possible long term side-effects, or even the possibility of dying from it until he was smack dab in the middle of a battle. Then, after he deserts his regiment, when he runs across his friend, Jim Conklin, he gets an up close look at how inglorious the "red badge" he wants so badly really is.
What he wanted wasn't a red badge of courage; what he wanted was a red badge of honor and glory. Instead what he received was a red badge of courage. Henry's bravery didn't develop until he got his wound, ironically from a fellow Union soldier hitting him with the butt of his gun. At that point Henry was able to set aside his desire for that red badge and become a real soldier.
This view was fairly common back in that time. Some men were fighting wars for glory instead of fighting them because they truly believed in the cause they were fighting for. I would say that the majority of them fought just out of a sense of duty, some out of a true belief for what they were fighting for, and the remainder were the glory-seekers, but one man who goes to war just so he will be praised and honored is one too many.
I believe that this quote by Robert E. Lee best sums up my point:
"There is a terrible war coming, and these young men who have never seen war cannot wait for it to happen, but I tell you, I wish that I owned every slave in the South, for I would free them all to avoid this war."
Henry was a young man who had never seen war. He was one of those young men who wanted war to happen. He didn't understand like Lee did, that war was not glorious or something to be desired. War was, and continues to be, a terrible, deadly, brutal thing and we should not seek it out.
Links to sources:
Quote: http://www.quotes.net/authors/Robert+E.+Lee
Picture: www.quotessays.com
He was so convinced that a wound received in war would make him into a hero and he would be honored forever for it. He didn't think of the pain, of the possible long term side-effects, or even the possibility of dying from it until he was smack dab in the middle of a battle. Then, after he deserts his regiment, when he runs across his friend, Jim Conklin, he gets an up close look at how inglorious the "red badge" he wants so badly really is.
What he wanted wasn't a red badge of courage; what he wanted was a red badge of honor and glory. Instead what he received was a red badge of courage. Henry's bravery didn't develop until he got his wound, ironically from a fellow Union soldier hitting him with the butt of his gun. At that point Henry was able to set aside his desire for that red badge and become a real soldier.
This view was fairly common back in that time. Some men were fighting wars for glory instead of fighting them because they truly believed in the cause they were fighting for. I would say that the majority of them fought just out of a sense of duty, some out of a true belief for what they were fighting for, and the remainder were the glory-seekers, but one man who goes to war just so he will be praised and honored is one too many.
I believe that this quote by Robert E. Lee best sums up my point:
"There is a terrible war coming, and these young men who have never seen war cannot wait for it to happen, but I tell you, I wish that I owned every slave in the South, for I would free them all to avoid this war."
Henry was a young man who had never seen war. He was one of those young men who wanted war to happen. He didn't understand like Lee did, that war was not glorious or something to be desired. War was, and continues to be, a terrible, deadly, brutal thing and we should not seek it out.
Links to sources:
Quote: http://www.quotes.net/authors/Robert+E.+Lee
Picture: www.quotessays.com
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Introductory Blog Post
This blog is going follow the theme of war throughout American literature after 1865, unless I come across something from before that time period that I can't resist sharing. I find war stories fascinating and I enjoy reading books about the World Wars, the Civil War, the American Revolution, or even fictional wars. We have already looked at some stories that have a war theme, such as Editha and currently The Red Badge of Courage, and I plan to revisit those in my posts as well as introduce new stories, poems, songs, and thoughts as well.
Disclaimer: I feel that it's necessary to mention that I am not some kind of war fanatic and I think every other viable option should be explored before declaring war; I just enjoy learning about it and from it.
Picture retrieved from www.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Disclaimer: I feel that it's necessary to mention that I am not some kind of war fanatic and I think every other viable option should be explored before declaring war; I just enjoy learning about it and from it.
Picture retrieved from www.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)