Marge Piercy’s poem “Barbie Doll” speaks about the sexulasation of women from the time they are born until the day they pass over. The poem starts out with an introduction, we are introduced to a young girl who is brought up to play with dolls and other “girly” toys. The girl is then introduced to lipstick after that the girl is introduced lipstick she is introduced to what is considered to be “beautiful”. Once the girl goes through puberty her self image is something she reflects on however, her image is one that very few people find to be your standard ideal of beauty. Throughout the poem I thought about what real beauty is and why do well only measure ourselves in a unrealistic form of beauty that very few of us can ever fit into?
Another interesting discussion we can have is the use of the Barbie doll in the poem. Why is Barbie considered to be the ideal forum of beauty? Considering Barbie’s unrealistic figure and physical attributes why do we give her as presents to our daughters, sisters and friends when the doll is so unlike the real modern day women or young girl for that matter?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Sammy’s Transformation.
Sammy the main character from the short story “A&P” by John Updike ponders what course he wants his life to go. One day when a bunch of pretty girls comes into the store wearing baiting suits and walking about the store and being free all that Sammy can think about is his freedom and happiness and it becomes very clear to the reader Sammy feels is job at the A&P is something that is holding him back from the freedom and happiness he wants to enjoy. As the story moves forward all one can think is why does he have such a reaction to “Quinine”, after reading more into the story one can guess that “Quinine” represents to him leadership and strength, which are attributes that he feels he is missing and he feels he must get if he is to move forward in becoming the person he so wants to become. The author tries very hard to make the character of “Quinine” into a character that has mystery and a character that holds the readers attention as well as Sammy’s. Why do you think the character of “Quinine” was such a major part of the story and Sammy’s transformation?
The story ends with Sammy quitting his job and leaving the store. From your reading of the story why does Sammy feel that quitting his job is such a necessary step in moving forward with his journey? Another question to ask is what do you all believe will be Sammy’s nest step? Another thing to think about his Sammy’s fascination for “Quinine”. Once the story came to a close I was hoping Sammy would meet up with “Quinine” and find her and the two characters would kiss and the story would come to a close that way, however the author decided not to end it in that way why do you think the author ended it that way?
The story ends with Sammy quitting his job and leaving the store. From your reading of the story why does Sammy feel that quitting his job is such a necessary step in moving forward with his journey? Another question to ask is what do you all believe will be Sammy’s nest step? Another thing to think about his Sammy’s fascination for “Quinine”. Once the story came to a close I was hoping Sammy would meet up with “Quinine” and find her and the two characters would kiss and the story would come to a close that way, however the author decided not to end it in that way why do you think the author ended it that way?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Women’s liberation and “The Story of An Hour”
“Women’s liberation and “The Story of An Hour”
“The Story of An Hour” written by writer Kate Chopin deals with many different themes that were not themes explored by many writers at that time period, one major theme in the story is the theme of women’s liberation. The theme of women’s liberation is explored through the main character. Mrs. Mallard the main character finds her own liberation once her husband passes in the train accident which leaves her free to live in her own will. At first Mrs. Mallard is off course sadden by her husbands passing in a train accident however she comes to understand that his passing means she will not have to deal with him or him telling her what she must do.
Disappointment is another theme explored in the story, as the character finds herself disappointed when her husband comes walking through the door and her realization that her liberation walked out the door once her husband walked through it. The story deals with the frustrations many middle class White Woman had to deal with at the time and Chopin deals with those frustrations very well by giving us the readers a understanding of the mindset many wives had when it came to their understanding of their place in the world. . One question to ask yourselves is why was this kind of story so important to today’s world and today’s understanding of modern literature?
“The Story of An Hour” written by writer Kate Chopin deals with many different themes that were not themes explored by many writers at that time period, one major theme in the story is the theme of women’s liberation. The theme of women’s liberation is explored through the main character. Mrs. Mallard the main character finds her own liberation once her husband passes in the train accident which leaves her free to live in her own will. At first Mrs. Mallard is off course sadden by her husbands passing in a train accident however she comes to understand that his passing means she will not have to deal with him or him telling her what she must do.
Disappointment is another theme explored in the story, as the character finds herself disappointed when her husband comes walking through the door and her realization that her liberation walked out the door once her husband walked through it. The story deals with the frustrations many middle class White Woman had to deal with at the time and Chopin deals with those frustrations very well by giving us the readers a understanding of the mindset many wives had when it came to their understanding of their place in the world. . One question to ask yourselves is why was this kind of story so important to today’s world and today’s understanding of modern literature?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)