The short story “Araby” by James Joyce is very dull and depressive one. The narrator brings the reader into the dark and gloomy setting, starting with the death of the priest (I guess the author reasonably hates Catholic Bishops): “North Richmond Street, being blind……A priest had died in the back drawing room” He lets us feel miserable and sad life of people on those streets.
The main character of the story is a nice boy, who lives with his uncle and aunt, and who crashes into one of his friends’ older sister. He keeps it in secret but emotions overwhelm him. He has so many illusions about his relationship but in fact the girl doesn’t even talk to him. The author gives very vivid description of his feelings. I guess, the boy is too young to understand what real love feels like, but fortunately he understands that later.
He travels to the Araby to get something nice for his adored one, but some circumstances work against him. At the end he realizes that his whole trip to the bazaar was foolish, because a gift from Araby is not going to make the young girl love him. He finally realizes that everything he has done has been driven by some foolish notion that he thinks is love. Now he knows it is just a pathetic obsession for the young girl. I feel pity for the poor boy, since he has no parents and no one to share his feelings with. His uncle and aunt let their young nephew travel to the bazaar, and don’t even curious why is he making such a far trip late at night. I can conclude that the boy has to rely only on himself and has to be a responsible adult in his still child’s life.
"Araby" is a story of broken dreams. The irony of this novel is that the only thing that the antagonist has to look forward to is buying something for the girl he “loves”, and in the end he can't even do that.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
"The Man From The South" by Roald Dahl
The story “The Man From The South” by Roald Dahl is very interesting to read. The opening is very common, but as you read it’s getting more and more exciting. The author makes the reader so inquiring about the end of the story that the reader is jumping over the sentences missing the description in order to get to the crucial moment. I guess people have the same feeling when they gamble or bet for money. They want to play more and more, risking with anything precious, until they get the prize. Unfortunately, when the game is over and gamblers look back and realize that it can be not only the end of the game, but the end of their life too.
This is what happened to the young naval cadent, who didn’t imagine that talking to a strange man could lead him to the loss of his finger. For the sake of the new and luxury car, young fellow wanted to sacrifice his finger. It is absurd and weird for me, and I guess the fact that he is young, usually young people do mad things, and the fact that he is an apprentice, who usually do not have much money, played a crucial role and he agreed to bet his finger for a car. Luckily, he was rescued by the woman, who came at the right minute and threw the light on the situation.
Carlos, the man who offered the bet, is an obsessed person, because as we know from the end of the story, he got in harsh trouble doing these kinds of bets. I believe these kinds of people are very dangerous and I feel sorry for them. Bet is like gambling, today you lose little money playing poker, and you think it is just for fun, but tomorrow you can lose something more serious that you would never be able to replace.
This is what happened to the young naval cadent, who didn’t imagine that talking to a strange man could lead him to the loss of his finger. For the sake of the new and luxury car, young fellow wanted to sacrifice his finger. It is absurd and weird for me, and I guess the fact that he is young, usually young people do mad things, and the fact that he is an apprentice, who usually do not have much money, played a crucial role and he agreed to bet his finger for a car. Luckily, he was rescued by the woman, who came at the right minute and threw the light on the situation.
Carlos, the man who offered the bet, is an obsessed person, because as we know from the end of the story, he got in harsh trouble doing these kinds of bets. I believe these kinds of people are very dangerous and I feel sorry for them. Bet is like gambling, today you lose little money playing poker, and you think it is just for fun, but tomorrow you can lose something more serious that you would never be able to replace.
Music project. The song "Thriller" by Michael Jackson to the short story "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking In the dark
Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed
Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer Thriller tonight
Explanation:
1st line: “It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark”
The story “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne starts in the sunset. The main character, Young Goodman Brown, is leaving his wife in the evening for a mystifying journey through the forest. The beginning of the song explains the setting and the mood of the dull story. Usually night time is the time when all dark forces get activated.
Also, Goodman Brown is going to participate in a strange meeting in the woods that is going to happen at about midnight. The association of devil and midnight is emphasized in the first line of the song.
Young Goodman Brown is so terrified of his trip that he is even afraid of his shadow and feels devil’s presence everywhere he goes: “There may be devilish Indian behind every tree”, said Goodman Brown to himself and he glanced fearfully behind him as he added, “What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!”
2nd line: “Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart”
Goodman Brown feels insecure during the whole trip. He has hallucinations, such as voices, creepy figures along his trip and all those scary things frighten him a lot: “The whole forest was peopled with frightful sounds – the creaking of the trees, the howling of wild beasts, and the yell of Indians.”
3rd line: “You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it”
He tries to resist the devil: “With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!” cried Goodman Brown. He wants to prove himself that he is courageous, but he is weak and helpless: “Young Goodman Brown cried out and his cry was lost to his ear by its unison with the cry of the desert.”
4th line: “You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes,
You are paralyzed”
The last line of the song has a figurative meaning. The crucial end of the story is that eventually, young man is losing his wife Faith, and it means that he is losing his faith in life, his inner world and there is no life for him beyond this point. He is paralyzed.
Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed
Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer Thriller tonight
Explanation:
1st line: “It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark”
The story “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne starts in the sunset. The main character, Young Goodman Brown, is leaving his wife in the evening for a mystifying journey through the forest. The beginning of the song explains the setting and the mood of the dull story. Usually night time is the time when all dark forces get activated.
Also, Goodman Brown is going to participate in a strange meeting in the woods that is going to happen at about midnight. The association of devil and midnight is emphasized in the first line of the song.
Young Goodman Brown is so terrified of his trip that he is even afraid of his shadow and feels devil’s presence everywhere he goes: “There may be devilish Indian behind every tree”, said Goodman Brown to himself and he glanced fearfully behind him as he added, “What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow!”
2nd line: “Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart”
Goodman Brown feels insecure during the whole trip. He has hallucinations, such as voices, creepy figures along his trip and all those scary things frighten him a lot: “The whole forest was peopled with frightful sounds – the creaking of the trees, the howling of wild beasts, and the yell of Indians.”
3rd line: “You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it”
He tries to resist the devil: “With heaven above and Faith below, I will yet stand firm against the devil!” cried Goodman Brown. He wants to prove himself that he is courageous, but he is weak and helpless: “Young Goodman Brown cried out and his cry was lost to his ear by its unison with the cry of the desert.”
4th line: “You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes,
You are paralyzed”
The last line of the song has a figurative meaning. The crucial end of the story is that eventually, young man is losing his wife Faith, and it means that he is losing his faith in life, his inner world and there is no life for him beyond this point. He is paralyzed.
"Dolan's Cadillac" by Stephen King
The revenge tale “Dolan’s Cadillac” by Stephen King is very thoughtful and scrupulously written. The main character, Tom Robinson, haunted by the ghost of his wife, transforms himself into an obsessed vengeance machine, pushing him beyond the breaking point of mind, body and spirit. Retribution is in charge of him. The reader can see what human being is capable for, in order just to pay back his rival. His idea is to kill Dolan, but this murder should be very cautious and considered. He plans every step cleverly and it doesn’t matter that those steps take years of his life.
Even Mr. Robinson accomplished his plan, making Dolan’s cadillac his tomb, I don’t think he felt relieved and fulfilled. His wife is not alive anymore, and no righteous kill can replace her being there. Tom just won justice, but at the same time his soul filled with emptiness, because he is left alone with nothing to live for.
Even Mr. Robinson accomplished his plan, making Dolan’s cadillac his tomb, I don’t think he felt relieved and fulfilled. His wife is not alive anymore, and no righteous kill can replace her being there. Tom just won justice, but at the same time his soul filled with emptiness, because he is left alone with nothing to live for.
"The Cask Of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe's horror story “The Cask Of Amontillado” is associated with his own tragic life. It is also closely tied to American popular culture of 1800’s. The story is focused on a burial of a living man, which was awful and wild in that time.
The setting of the story is mysterious and devilish. Enjoying the carnival, poor man, named Fortunato, who just wants to drink some more wine while partying, occurs in the basement of his friend’s house, where he faces his death. I guess confidence and evil spirit of Mr. Montresor are so powerful that even the guy’s name "Fortunato", which means “luck, success” is not helping him at his very end. Mr. Montresor kills the fellow, who did nothing bad to him, and feels very cheerful after that. And I believe it is not the very first innocent person who he kills in the catacombs of his house. Mr. Montresor enjoys the process and nobody stops him. At that time people preferred to be silent, because they were afraid to be buried alive.
The setting of the story is mysterious and devilish. Enjoying the carnival, poor man, named Fortunato, who just wants to drink some more wine while partying, occurs in the basement of his friend’s house, where he faces his death. I guess confidence and evil spirit of Mr. Montresor are so powerful that even the guy’s name "Fortunato", which means “luck, success” is not helping him at his very end. Mr. Montresor kills the fellow, who did nothing bad to him, and feels very cheerful after that. And I believe it is not the very first innocent person who he kills in the catacombs of his house. Mr. Montresor enjoys the process and nobody stops him. At that time people preferred to be silent, because they were afraid to be buried alive.
"The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" by Sherman Alexie
In Sherman Alexie’s “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven”, Alexie writes about desperate Native American guy, who lives in the United States without hopes and aims. He is rejected from American society and has no reason and inspiration to live a better life. He has no job, alcohol is his everyday drink and anger is his guide in life. He can’t even find the common language with his girlfriend who he fights with every single day. I believe he feels insecure in this joyful American society and anger is his defense. Maybe he is not just rejected but doesn’t want to be accepted here. Disappointed and depleted, the main character of the story returns home, to Indian reservation, where he is welcome and easily finds job. Here, on the reservation, segregated from American culture, he knows that it is his home. He easily finds job and lives the life he wants. Sometimes, I think people should live in the communities which they belong; in this case they can reach their fullest potential and feel significant to others.
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