Final Blog

I really enjoyed the majority of the readings in class. I would keep each story for next year because each shared similar characteristics, but the different generations/categories of gothic literature was like a breath of fresh air. I didn't like some stories in the beginning, but after going over the text in class, I learned to appreciate what the author was saying. My favorite part was watching the movies that corresponded to the texts-- I really enjoyed the Skeleton Key and Smooth Talk. Maybe for next year, the class could engage in more small group work to help everyone speak a little more. Also, instead of choosing a "speaker" for each group, give everyone a chance to answer a question so the same people don't speak time after time. I very much enjoyed the class, thank you!

Assignment #10- Rose for Emily, Good Man Is Hard to Find, The Yellow Wallpaper

The most prominent theme in these texts is the characterization of the women-- they're all a bit off psychologically speaking. Miss Emily Grierson in "A Rose for Emily" has suffered many hardships throughout her life. Her father passed away leaving her little money and a large house. Because she is without money, she was able to make an arrangement with her financial situation and not pay taxes. Later generations try to get her to pay her debt, but it is not until after her death that they discover the darkness to her character. I believe her "off-ness" is sparked by her fear of men leaving her life. After her father passes away and Homer appears he might leave as well, she takes it upon herself to make sure he never does-- even if that means keeping him as a corpse. In "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," the Grandmother's darkness is not revealed to the reader until the end. She, like Miss Emily also conceals a hidden secret-- the infamous convict on the loose, nicknamed MisFit, is ultimately her son. The abandonment of her son infers the Grandmother faced some hardship in her past as well. She also tends to hide things, such as her cat Pitty Sing, from her family. Though I would not classify her as "insane," she definitely has some characteristics that are abnormal. Finally, in "The Yellow Wallpaper, I believe the narrator is the most psychologically disturbed out of all of the women. She takes extreme efforts to hide her true emotions from her husband through journaling. Depression marks her downward spiral as she takes up an obsession with the yellow wallpaper. She initially despises the pattern, but it eventually grows on her. The pattern she makes out of paper parallels her own life. It appears a women is trying to crawl from behind the main figure-- possibly a man? She goes terribly insane and begins crawling herself. Her reality blurs with imagination. In conclusion, secrets suppressed eventually leads to the lead woman's downfall. 

Assignment #9- Jean-Ah Poquelin

4. Discuss and talk about symbolism. Do you see any symbolism in this narrative in regards to the bayou, to the land, to the house, to the local?

The description of the "old colonial plantation-house half in ruin" foreshadows the plot through symbolism within the introduction. The symbolism of indigo fields in itself portrays a dark image in the profession once profiting for the family years before. George Washington Cable really makes an effort to draw out descriptive imagery with dark words such as "heavy" describing the cypruss, "dark, weather-beaten roof," and "murky" bayou. He makes a point to go into great depth describing the atmosphere because Louisiana itself has a mysterious intrigue about it. Like the mysterious bayou, land, and house, the characters living inside share similar characteristics. No one in the community is quite sure what goes on inside the house, but instead of trying to make sense of the elements, they are quick to become defensive and act out against those of intrigue. Cable does a wonderful job painting a dark picture to accompany a dark narrative. 

Assignment #8- Chesnutt

So then, how is Julius “performing” for his white audience? Keep in mind that there is a story within a story. Why would Chesnutt do this? Why not have Uncle Julius tell the whole story to begin with? 

I believe Chesnutt did the story within the story purely for local color and entertainment. I don't think there is any significance to his story within a story besides this fact. There is a great contrast between the narrator and Uncle Julius in "The Goophered Grapevine." For example, Uncle Julius said, " Dis yer old vimya'd is goophered," while the narrator might say, "How do you know it is bewitched?" This shows a contrast between the two cultures and describes local flavor in South Carolina during the time. I don't believe Julius is "performing" for the white audience, I just believe he is being true to his customs in the South. Chesnutt is depicting traditional norms for Julius and the narrator of the time. I enjoyed the onion aspect of the story within the story. It added depth and and extraordinary detail to paint the perfect picture of the story for the reader. The story would lose its dazle if Julius were to tell the whole story from the get go. It must slowly unveil like a layered onion in order to reach its full flavor. 

Assignment #7- Our Nig

5. In what ways does Frado/Wilson associate herself with personal power and salvation?

I believe Frado/Wilson's personal power and salvation come about in a coming of age story. Frado is a frightened girl when she first arrives at the Bellmont's and school, but after "learning the ropes," she learns how to gain strength through her own means. Throughout the majority of the book, Frado accepts taking Mrs. Bellmont's beatings with the rawhide over trivial mistakes such as not bringing the firewood fast enough. Frado is indifferent to the behavior and believe it's just the way it will always be. Though she has James and some of the male men of the family on her side, it is not until she speaks up to Mrs. Bellmont that she gains personal power and salvation. Finally, one day after James' death, Frado had enough. Before Mrs. Bellmont had the opportunity to strike her she declared, "Stop! Strike me, and I'll never work a mite more for you" (58). Mrs. Bellmont drops her weapon and stops out of amazement-- Frado had learned to "ward off assaults." Another example of Frado finding power and salvation is at school. When walking in, Frado had the intention of turning back until her teacher guided her in. Though shy at first, Frado soon wins her peers over with her wit and humor. She is looked up to by others and earns respect through her mischevious acts. 

Assignment #6- House of Usher

4)What kind of narrator is used in this piece? Is he reliable? Speculate as to why Poe would use this type of narrator for his work.

A nameless narrator is used in this piece. I believe he is reliable because he is a childhood friend of Roderick, but because he hasn't seen his friend in years, he is able to see great changes in his character. The reader is able to imagine the transition of Roderick from the past to the present due to the narrator's character. I believe we are who our friends are; therefore, his past, intimate friendship with Roderick might note similar characteristics in the two characters. I believe Poe used this type of narrator for his work to add to the mystery. In Gothic literature, murky elements lead the reader to ponder and read on. In this case, the reader is left on a limb to personally interpret the story. I believe Poe wanted to create multiple interpretations about his piece. 

Assignment #5- Young Goodman Brown

What role does the guide play? Who does he look like? And why? How does the guide convince him to keep going? And who does he see along the way? What significance is placed on these people?

The guide in Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" plays the role of Satan. He possesses similar characteristics of Goodman Brown, but in an older frame. Hawthorne also notes, "And yet, though the elder person was as simply clad as the younger, and as simple in manner too, he had an indescribable air of one who knew the world." The similar looks might suggest there is evil in everyone deep down, much like when we discover that even members of Goodman Brown's family attended the witch meeting. The guide is very manipulative despite the young man's impressionable behavior. He doesn't put up a strong fight or question the guide too much before complying to his ways. Satan replies to Goodman Brown's questioning of the journey into the woods saying, "I have been well acquainted with your family... I helped your grandfather, the constable," along with his father. The young man assumes if his good, Christian family were associated with this man, maybe it is okay to continue. He simply responds, "If it be as thou sayest," takes the staff, and continues. During the journey, the travelers see the good, Christian woman, Good Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, and ultimately his wife Faith. These characters are significant because they have always represented moral goodness and innocence in Goodman Brown's life. I believe Faith is the most dominant example because she is the closest to his heart and the most bewildering to see immersed in evil. Hawthorne implies we cannot judge a book by its cover. Though these characters seen along the road appear good in appearance in nature, there is a little bit of evil to them all.