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Saturday, April 30, 2011
F Bell- Due Friday May the 6th
Among the books we have read this year there have been overlapping themes. For this blog identify shared themes from two (or more!) works we have read in class this year and discuss why your chosen theme is significant in the literary world.
Many prevalent themes in literature reoccur often, and show the timelessness of literature. One of these themes is the oppression of women, which was a very common occurrence before the 20th century. In "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, Nora Torvald finds herself in a very oppressive relationship with her husband in the 19th century. She is forced to remain subordinate to him, as she must conform to the norm of society. All the while, Nora must secretly pay off a loan that she illegally secured, seeing as she was a woman in society. Society keeps its restraints on Nora until she ultimately slams the door at the end of the play, symbolizing her departure from the accepted nature of society. In "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie is also oppressed by both her first two husbands and society. One of the biggest symbols of Janie's oppression in the novel is her hair, which she is forced her to keep up, representing her domesticated and oppressed lifestyle. After Jody's death, however, she is able to let her hair down and explore within herself, in an attempt to figure out who she really is. Both of these women are plagued with the ugliness of society which changes over time, as history has played out. As these women have a chance to discover themselves towards the end of their respective journeys, they set up a whole new time period of literature that occurred in the late 19th to mid 20th centuries; a time period that promotes the exposure of individual and self-worth throughout society which came to be known as Modernism.
Alienation is a common theme across literature. Kafka, Williams, and Wharton all capture the essence of alienation in their works. Gregor, Tom, and Ethan, heroes from their respective authors all experience alienation. All of them feel alienated from their dreams as well as alienated from the people around them. In Gregor and Tom's case both are sons that support the family either because the father is incapable as in Metamorphosis, or are simply not present, such as in the Glass Menagerie. Both characters feel resentment because they are undervalued as a part of the family as well as forced to give up their dreams there by removing hope from their lives. Ethan from Ethan Frome feels resentment because he is obligated to take care of a wife who emotionless and withdrawn, while his true love lives in the house along with he and his wife. Each of these character feel alienation within the world around them due to various causes but the fact is that they feel the same emotion. So, spanning across these very different works of literature, the theme of alienation can be seen.
Throughout Heart of Darkness the themes of alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. The book begins and ends in silence, with men first waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him of changes to his personality that may be produced by a long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are seen to have damaging effects on many characters in the book. Among these are the late Captain Fresleven, Marlow's predecessor, who was transformed from a gentle soul into a man of violence, and the Russian, who has been alone on the River for two years and dresses bizarrely and chatters constantly. But loneliness and alienation have taken their greatest toll on Kurtz, who, cut off from all humanizing influence, has forfeited the restraints of reason and conscience and given free rein to his most base and brutal instincts. Gregor seems to have no close friends at work or elsewhere, and no romantic attachments; he is not very close with his family, except for his sister who it turns out cannot be trusted; he seems to lead a lonely, isolated life even before his transformation, and the transformation reinforces his situation. As an insect, he cannot communicate at all, and he is forced to stay in his room; he is cut off almost entirely from the rest of humanity.
Throughout Heart of Darkness the themes of alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. The book begins and ends in silence, with men first waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him of changes to his personality that may be produced by a long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are seen to have damaging effects on many characters in the book. Among these are the late Captain Fresleven, Marlow's predecessor, who was transformed from a gentle soul into a man of violence, and the Russian, who has been alone on the River for two years and dresses bizarrely and chatters constantly. But loneliness and alienation have taken their greatest toll on Kurtz, who, cut off from all humanizing influence, has forfeited the restraints of reason and conscience and given free rein to his most base and brutal instincts. Gregor seems to have no close friends at work or elsewhere, and no romantic attachments; he is not very close with his family, except for his sister who it turns out cannot be trusted; he seems to lead a lonely, isolated life even before his transformation, and the transformation reinforces his situation. As an insect, he cannot communicate at all, and he is forced to stay in his room; he is cut off almost entirely from the rest of humanity.
Dan- Very good! I like the connection between the two women. shows two completly different situaitons of woman oppression. Good use of bringing in the symbols as well. Jessie- Nice! I liked how you included different situations of alienation between love and dreams in life. You showed they each had different situations but the same feeling of resentment. Emily- Nice post! I liked the comparrison between the loneliness in a reality and in a fictional situation. Good examples in Heart of Darkness
Out of the works that we studied this year, there can be many common themes found. In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, there is a common theme of alienation. In Metamorphosis Gregor finds himself wasting away in a world where he simply has no meaning, no place, and eventually morphs into a vermin. Living in isolation, deprived of family, love, and care, he lets himself slip into death. This theme of alienation and isolation is seen also in Ethan Frome. Zeena finds herself on a dreadful farm that thrives on the dreadful death of winter. Trapped in a marriage void of love, she watches her husband fall for a woman much younger, fresher, and more beautiful than her. Despite her day to day passing's with her husband and his new love, she finds herself in a world without love, care, and compassion; therefore in a world not worth breathing for. She becomes bitter, and her presence to others becomes a burden, just as Gregor, and over-sized vermin is to his family. In conclusion, both of these characters find themselves in a world void of meaning, ambition, and love, thus leading them both to states of absolute utter ISOLATION...
Many authors use common themes in there novels which creates an overlapping of topics we read in works. A common theme in many of the novels this year is the "outward conformity and inward questioning". Society makes us conforms to the rules and customs and have for many centuries. This relates to the societies of many of books such as TEWWG, A Doll's House, and Ethan Frome. In all of these novels, the main characters struggle with conformity and what they wish to do. In TEWWG, Janie Crawford is expected to be a well behaved woman and subordinate woman. She finally realizes, however, she cannot mold to these rules and eventually lashes out at her husband Jody. Also, Janie does not care what people say about her when she goes out with Tea Cake so soon after Jody's death. Another book we read this year that shares this theme is Ethan Frome. In this novella Ethan is trapped in his responsibilities to the farm and his wife Zeena. What he really wants, however, is to leave the farm and Zeena and run off with Zeena's cousin, Mattie, with whom he is really in love. The book ends in a tragedy with Ethan crippled from when he tries to kill himself in order to escape his tortured life.
@ Ciara Viola - I liked the connection that you made between Gregor and Zeena dealing with the burden that they placed on their families, therefore leading to their further isolation. Great Job!
@ Allison - I enjoyed your choice of theme and the novels that you discussed. I like how you picked both a male and female character and talked about societies expectations of them led to their outward conformity. Great Job!
Many of the books that we have read this year can be compared through their themes. Two works that stand out to me are The Glass Menagerie and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Both works address the lives of two characters, Laura and Owen, who are physically handicapped people trying to live normal lives based on someone else’s standards.
Laura is literally an adult child because she does not wish to see past her collection of glass figurines. They make Laura think of her imperfections because each figurine is perfectly shaped. She is forced to follow the requests of her mother, who is still living in her days as a Southern belle. The combination of Laura’s physical handicap and the “handicap” her mother leaves by not allowing Laura to be her own person causes Laura to be suppressed.
On the other hand, Owen Meany does not by any means let himself be suppressed by everyone else’s standards. His personality, along with how he lives his life, is his own. In fact, he is seen as a Christ-like figure to his friends and peers. He certainly does not let his size limit how he expresses his thoughts and feelings, which are quite blunt.
Both Laura and Owen exemplify similar themes, though the way that they adjust themselves is completely different.
Through out the year, we have studied multiple works that have dealt with the common theme of the obstacles of life hindering a character's ability to succeed. In "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams and " Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton, both Ethan and Tom must face many obstacles in their life. Tom is tied down by his dead-end job that is not allowing him to grow in his want to be a writer or in his finances because his low pay leaves him with little wiggle room. He is also tied to his old-fashioned mother who constantly reminds him of how great her life used to be and his crippled sister Laura who doesn't receive many gentlemen callers which makes it obvious Tom will have to watch over her and his mother for many years to come. In "Ethan Frome", Ethan is tied to the failing family farm, his wife, and the town. Ethan did not leave the town when he married Zeena and her constant need for medication which is a constant reminder to Ethan that he is constantly in a struggle to find money to keep their farm from going under. Also, Ethan must deal with the distraction of Maddie because she brings a fresh new idea of escape from his fate that will be lying the graveyard on the front path. Zeena and Maddie both take emotional tolls on Ethan and he has become run down and only wishes to get out yet he can't because he lacks the funds and the physical and mental strength. Both Tom and Ethan have much more to live for yet can't because of the ladies in their family and finances.
In both Franz Kafka’s Metamorphasis and in Zora Neal Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, there is a common theme of an inner search for one’s self and an outward search for freedom. Both Gregor and Janie are constantly searching for freedom and to figure out more about themselves. In Janie’s first marriage, she realizes that she wants her own independence and that she does not want to be confined by society’s expectations. In Metamorphasis, Gregor wishes someday he will not have to work all day every day of the week just in order to provide for his family. The central theme in both of these works of literature is an internal struggle for independence and freedom of both main characters in their respective works. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie has a great deal of success with her struggle and quest for independence. However, Gregor faces a much steeper mountain to climb in his predicament and ends up not being able to escape. At then end of the day, however, it is clear that the internal struggle for independence is a very common theme in literature.
@christianavastardis- I liked your shared theme of physical handicaps and their effect on the main characters. Good Job!
@ HaleySims - I like how you discussed both the emotional and physical hardships put on Tom and Ethan that hindered their ability to succeed. Good Job!
@ mearsb -I enjoyed your focus on Janie and Gregor's internal quest for independence. Good Job!
Many of the works of literature we have read throughout the year have had overlapping themes. Both The Metamorphosis by Kafka and Ethan Frome by Wharton have the overlapping theme overlapping theme of alienation and isolation. In the Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor, experiences a transformation and turns into a beetle. No longer being able to provide for his family,he becomes alienates by his family and everyone. His family is ashamed of him and pretends he isnt even there. As a result he eventually dies and sacrifices himself in order for his family to be happy. In Ethan Frome, Ethan is also alienate just in different circumstances. He is stuck in his situation, between the love of Mattie and Zena. He attempts to commit suicide with Mattie but it fails and as a result Zena has to take care of them. This situation becomes worse than death because all of his dreams and aspirations have been crushed and he has no future, and like Gregor he is alienated from the world.
This year we have studied many literary themes, but the one that really stayed with me was personal exploration. Janie, the main character in "Their Eyes Were Watching God," and Ethan, the titular character of "Ethan Frome," explore their hearts and souls until they reach self-enlightenement at the end of their respective stories. Janie is trapped in a loveless marriage and is basically confined in the roles that her society has set for her as the mayor's wife. Ethan feels trapped in his marriage, caring for his sickly wife, Zeena. Janie and Ethan are similar in that they begin their quest for knowledge and liberation by falling in love - Janie with Tea Cake and Ethan with Mattie. By the end of each novel, Janie and Ethan discover their own truths and live life on their own terms.
@sarah bass - I liked how you described Gregor's eventual death as a sacrifice made for the sake of his families happiness. Good Job!
@Erin- I liked how you picked up on the fact that both Janie and Ethan are trapped in loveless marriages, which leads to their need for personal exploration. Good Job!
Many prevalent themes in literature reoccur often, and show the timelessness of literature. One of these themes is the oppression of women, which was a very common occurrence before the 20th century. In "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, Nora Torvald finds herself in a very oppressive relationship with her husband in the 19th century. She is forced to remain subordinate to him, as she must conform to the norm of society. All the while, Nora must secretly pay off a loan that she illegally secured, seeing as she was a woman in society. Society keeps its restraints on Nora until she ultimately slams the door at the end of the play, symbolizing her departure from the accepted nature of society. In "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie is also oppressed by both her first two husbands and society. One of the biggest symbols of Janie's oppression in the novel is her hair, which she is forced her to keep up, representing her domesticated and oppressed lifestyle. After Jody's death, however, she is able to let her hair down and explore within herself, in an attempt to figure out who she really is. Both of these women are plagued with the ugliness of society which changes over time, as history has played out. As these women have a chance to discover themselves towards the end of their respective journeys, they set up a whole new time period of literature that occurred in the late 19th to mid 20th centuries; a time period that promotes the exposure of individual and self-worth throughout society which came to be known as Modernism.
ReplyDeleteAlienation is a common theme across literature. Kafka, Williams, and Wharton all capture the essence of alienation in their works. Gregor, Tom, and Ethan, heroes from their respective authors all experience alienation. All of them feel alienated from their dreams as well as alienated from the people around them. In Gregor and Tom's case both are sons that support the family either because the father is incapable as in Metamorphosis, or are simply not present, such as in the Glass Menagerie. Both characters feel resentment because they are undervalued as a part of the family as well as forced to give up their dreams there by removing hope from their lives. Ethan from Ethan Frome feels resentment because he is obligated to take care of a wife who emotionless and withdrawn, while his true love lives in the house along with he and his wife. Each of these character feel alienation within the world around them due to various causes but the fact is that they feel the same emotion. So, spanning across these very different works of literature, the theme of alienation can be seen.
ReplyDeleteThroughout Heart of Darkness the themes of alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. The book begins and ends in silence, with men first waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him of changes to his personality that may be produced by a long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are seen to have damaging effects on many characters in the book. Among these are the late Captain Fresleven, Marlow's predecessor, who was transformed from a gentle soul into a man of violence, and the Russian, who has been alone on the River for two years and dresses bizarrely and chatters constantly. But loneliness and alienation have taken their greatest toll on Kurtz, who, cut off from all humanizing influence, has forfeited the restraints of reason and conscience and given free rein to his most base and brutal instincts.
ReplyDeleteGregor seems to have no close friends at work or elsewhere, and no romantic attachments; he is not very close with his family, except for his sister who it turns out cannot be trusted; he seems to lead a lonely, isolated life even before his transformation, and the transformation reinforces his situation. As an insect, he cannot communicate at all, and he is forced to stay in his room; he is cut off almost entirely from the rest of humanity.
Throughout Heart of Darkness the themes of alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. The book begins and ends in silence, with men first waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him of changes to his personality that may be produced by a long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are seen to have damaging effects on many characters in the book. Among these are the late Captain Fresleven, Marlow's predecessor, who was transformed from a gentle soul into a man of violence, and the Russian, who has been alone on the River for two years and dresses bizarrely and chatters constantly. But loneliness and alienation have taken their greatest toll on Kurtz, who, cut off from all humanizing influence, has forfeited the restraints of reason and conscience and given free rein to his most base and brutal instincts.
ReplyDeleteGregor seems to have no close friends at work or elsewhere, and no romantic attachments; he is not very close with his family, except for his sister who it turns out cannot be trusted; he seems to lead a lonely, isolated life even before his transformation, and the transformation reinforces his situation. As an insect, he cannot communicate at all, and he is forced to stay in his room; he is cut off almost entirely from the rest of humanity.
Dan- Very good! I like the connection between the two women. shows two completly different situaitons of woman oppression. Good use of bringing in the symbols as well.
ReplyDeleteJessie- Nice! I liked how you included different situations of alienation between love and dreams in life. You showed they each had different situations but the same feeling of resentment.
Emily- Nice post! I liked the comparrison between the loneliness in a reality and in a fictional situation. Good examples in Heart of Darkness
Out of the works that we studied this year, there can be many common themes found. In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, there is a common theme of alienation. In Metamorphosis Gregor finds himself wasting away in a world where he simply has no meaning, no place, and eventually morphs into a vermin. Living in isolation, deprived of family, love, and care, he lets himself slip into death. This theme of alienation and isolation is seen also in Ethan Frome. Zeena finds herself on a dreadful farm that thrives on the dreadful death of winter. Trapped in a marriage void of love, she watches her husband fall for a woman much younger, fresher, and more beautiful than her. Despite her day to day passing's with her husband and his new love, she finds herself in a world without love, care, and compassion; therefore in a world not worth breathing for. She becomes bitter, and her presence to others becomes a burden, just as Gregor, and over-sized vermin is to his family. In conclusion, both of these characters find themselves in a world void of meaning, ambition, and love, thus leading them both to states of absolute utter ISOLATION...
ReplyDeleteMany authors use common themes in there novels which creates an overlapping of topics we read in works. A common theme in many of the novels this year is the "outward conformity and inward questioning". Society makes us conforms to the rules and customs and have for many centuries. This relates to the societies of many of books such as TEWWG, A Doll's House, and Ethan Frome. In all of these novels, the main characters struggle with conformity and what they wish to do.
ReplyDeleteIn TEWWG, Janie Crawford is expected to be a well behaved woman and subordinate woman. She finally realizes, however, she cannot mold to these rules and eventually lashes out at her husband Jody. Also, Janie does not care what people say about her when she goes out with Tea Cake so soon after Jody's death. Another book we read this year that shares this theme is Ethan Frome. In this novella Ethan is trapped in his responsibilities to the farm and his wife Zeena. What he really wants, however, is to leave the farm and Zeena and run off with Zeena's cousin, Mattie, with whom he is really in love. The book ends in a tragedy with Ethan crippled from when he tries to kill himself in order to escape his tortured life.
@ Ciara Viola - I liked the connection that you made between Gregor and Zeena dealing with the burden that they placed on their families, therefore leading to their further isolation. Great Job!
ReplyDelete@ Allison - I enjoyed your choice of theme and the novels that you discussed. I like how you picked both a male and female character and talked about societies expectations of them led to their outward conformity. Great Job!
Many of the books that we have read this year can be compared through their themes. Two works that stand out to me are The Glass Menagerie and A Prayer for Owen Meany. Both works address the lives of two characters, Laura and Owen, who are physically handicapped people trying to live normal lives based on someone else’s standards.
ReplyDeleteLaura is literally an adult child because she does not wish to see past her collection of glass figurines. They make Laura think of her imperfections because each figurine is perfectly shaped. She is forced to follow the requests of her mother, who is still living in her days as a Southern belle. The combination of Laura’s physical handicap and the “handicap” her mother leaves by not allowing Laura to be her own person causes Laura to be suppressed.
On the other hand, Owen Meany does not by any means let himself be suppressed by everyone else’s standards. His personality, along with how he lives his life, is his own. In fact, he is seen as a Christ-like figure to his friends and peers. He certainly does not let his size limit how he expresses his thoughts and feelings, which are quite blunt.
Both Laura and Owen exemplify similar themes, though the way that they adjust themselves is completely different.
Through out the year, we have studied multiple works that have dealt with the common theme of the obstacles of life hindering a character's ability to succeed. In "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams and " Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton, both Ethan and Tom must face many obstacles in their life. Tom is tied down by his dead-end job that is not allowing him to grow in his want to be a writer or in his finances because his low pay leaves him with little wiggle room. He is also tied to his old-fashioned mother who constantly reminds him of how great her life used to be and his crippled sister Laura who doesn't receive many gentlemen callers which makes it obvious Tom will have to watch over her and his mother for many years to come. In "Ethan Frome", Ethan is tied to the failing family farm, his wife, and the town. Ethan did not leave the town when he married Zeena and her constant need for medication which is a constant reminder to Ethan that he is constantly in a struggle to find money to keep their farm from going under. Also, Ethan must deal with the distraction of Maddie because she brings a fresh new idea of escape from his fate that will be lying the graveyard on the front path. Zeena and Maddie both take emotional tolls on Ethan and he has become run down and only wishes to get out yet he can't because he lacks the funds and the physical and mental strength. Both Tom and Ethan have much more to live for yet can't because of the ladies in their family and finances.
ReplyDeleteIn both Franz Kafka’s Metamorphasis and in Zora Neal Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, there is a common theme of an inner search for one’s self and an outward search for freedom. Both Gregor and Janie are constantly searching for freedom and to figure out more about themselves. In Janie’s first marriage, she realizes that she wants her own independence and that she does not want to be confined by society’s expectations. In Metamorphasis, Gregor wishes someday he will not have to work all day every day of the week just in order to provide for his family. The central theme in both of these works of literature is an internal struggle for independence and freedom of both main characters in their respective works. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie has a great deal of success with her struggle and quest for independence. However, Gregor faces a much steeper mountain to climb in his predicament and ends up not being able to escape. At then end of the day, however, it is clear that the internal struggle for independence is a very common theme in literature.
ReplyDelete@christianavastardis- I liked your shared theme of physical handicaps and their effect on the main characters. Good Job!
ReplyDelete@ HaleySims - I like how you discussed both the emotional and physical hardships put on Tom and Ethan that hindered their ability to succeed. Good Job!
@ mearsb -I enjoyed your focus on Janie and Gregor's internal quest for independence. Good Job!
Many of the works of literature we have read throughout the year have had overlapping themes. Both The Metamorphosis by Kafka and Ethan Frome by Wharton have the overlapping theme overlapping theme of alienation and isolation. In the Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor, experiences a transformation and turns into a beetle. No longer being able to provide for his family,he becomes alienates by his family and everyone. His family is ashamed of him and pretends he isnt even there. As a result he eventually dies and sacrifices himself in order for his family to be happy.
ReplyDeleteIn Ethan Frome, Ethan is also alienate just in different circumstances. He is stuck in his situation, between the love of Mattie and Zena. He attempts to commit suicide with Mattie but it fails and as a result Zena has to take care of them. This situation becomes worse than death because all of his dreams and aspirations have been crushed and he has no future, and like Gregor he is alienated from the world.
This year we have studied many literary themes, but the one that really stayed with me was personal exploration. Janie, the main character in "Their Eyes Were Watching God," and Ethan, the titular character of "Ethan Frome," explore their hearts and souls until they reach self-enlightenement at the end of their respective stories. Janie is trapped in a loveless marriage and is basically confined in the roles that her society has set for her as the mayor's wife. Ethan feels trapped in his marriage, caring for his sickly wife, Zeena. Janie and Ethan are similar in that they begin their quest for knowledge and liberation by falling in love - Janie with Tea Cake and Ethan with Mattie. By the end of each novel, Janie and Ethan discover their own truths and live life on their own terms.
ReplyDelete@sarah bass - I liked how you described Gregor's eventual death as a sacrifice made for the sake of his families happiness. Good Job!
ReplyDelete@Erin- I liked how you picked up on the fact that both Janie and Ethan are trapped in loveless marriages, which leads to their need for personal exploration. Good Job!