The Lesson

This story is about a group of children from a lower class neighborhood, who get a new teacher who is educated. This teacher who it is unclear of were she is from tries to teach the children a lesson by taking them to Fifth Ave, to an expensive clothing store. I thought it was very smart the way the teacher taught the lesson. She took them places and taught them through experience rather than just having them sit in a classroom listening to her and taking notes. I think the way the teacher got through to these kids was amazing. They each walked away with a lesson. I loved the way it was narrated by one of the kids so you really got to see what they were thinking. The determination that the narrator had without even realizing it was exactly what the teacher hoped the children would walk away with. Without verbally telling them, she gave them stamina and motivation to be good in school and go places and rise above.

A&P

this story by John Updike, i think represents our youth today. These girls walked into an a+p in the middle of town, not even by a beach, in their bathing suits with no shoes on. They prance in there like its completely normal and not inappropriate at all. The 19 year old male at the register cant stop ogling at them and doesn't even think what they are wearing is inappropriate for an a+p in the middle of town. It is not until the manager comes out, who is an adult. a mature adult who they describe as graying, which shows us that he is of an older generation one that has more morals and values than todays youth. and it is he that tells the girls that their attire is inappropriate. when he tells them this it is like a revelation to them, and they cant understand what is so wrong. To top it off the young cashier quits to show support for these girls who were wrong to begin with. it is only when he looks back at the older man ringing up the merchandise does he realize what he did was stupid and wrong. This story just shows us todays youth has no morals, and whats sad is that strangers at the a+p have to teach it to them because their own parents dont.

Everyday Use

Thi story as told by the mother, is about two sisters who born and raised in the south. One daughter Maggie grows up to stay at home living in the south with her mama, while her sister Dee, moves away to the big city, gets an education and becomes a big shot. This story is basically showing us two options of growing up. While one sister stays home close to her roots values her family, her heritage and her upbringing, the other wants nothing to do with any of it. She moves away only to visit,and act like a tourist who's never belonged there. I think its sad what happened to Dee. That she was so far removed from everything that she was, because although she tries to show that shes happy and better off than her mama and sister, it seems to me like she is the less fortunate one. It seems like she doesnt have a place she calls home, yet when she comes back she is so cold and horrible that her own family cant even invite her back in.

The Worn Path

The grandmother seems not well to me, like she has some sort of disease that comes with old age such as Alzheimer disease or something along those lines. I cant tell if her memory and mind really fail her or if all along she was just pretending in order to get the money to buy her grandson the paper windmill. She seems like she is a smart woman who knows how to get what she wants when she wants from who she wants. The imagery is so precise in the story that you could almost see Phoenix as if she is in real life standing right in front of you.

A Good Man Is hard To Find

The irony of this story reminded me of Kate Chopins, Story Of An Hour. The whole time the grandmother was using this mass murderer as an excuse not to go to florida and now she got killed by him taking a detour through a place she wanted to see. I think that shows negative character traits about a person. It shows that she is selfish and only thinking about themselves. The whole time she was sneakely trying to convince her children to go to Tenessee because that is where she wanted to go. Even though she was a little self centered I found her character to be very fun and light. I liked her a lot!

Young Goodman Brown

From the start it is evident that this story was written by none other than Nathaniel Hawthorne. It resembled so much The Crucible, also written by Hawthorne. The theme was the same about salem, witches, satin rituals and witches in clearings. This story was about a man who goes on a journey in the night despite the protest from his wife Faith. After leaving her he feels guilty and decides to turn back to her, however he spots a man in the forest and is lured to him. The man who is evidently evil takes him further into the forest despite Goodman's wanting to turn back. The evil man takes Goodman further into the forest after revealing to him that he knew his father and grandfather before him. He than shows him a ritual taking place in the clearing, where Goodman is devastated to find his wife and people he respects. Failing to stop them from participating Goodman turns back and returns to Salem the next day. He looks at everyone in Salem with disgust and contempt. He becomes a loner and soon dies leaving no one devastated. I found the story to be sad because of what happened to Goodman Brown at the end however at the same time I thought it was so interesting. This genre of witches and satin is very interesting.

The Purloined Letter

The Purloined letter- is a story about a letter than was stolen by a minister to hold power over another person. Throughout the story three men are trying to locate the letter. The story is written as if it is supposed to be an engaging mystery that captivates its audience while on the search for the stolen letter. I, however, found this story to be extremely boring. The mystery dry and with no suspense. The setting of the story and the description of setting make me feel like Im in Paris in the 1930's. The "detectives", or people trying to find the stolen letter sound like they are old and this is the most excitement they have had in ages. The plot was not at all enticing and the writing was not flowing enough to captivate an audience. This story was the least enjoyable to read.

The Use of Force

"The Use Of Force" is a short story about a Dr. who makes a house call to a patient who he suspects might be suffering from diphtheria. When he goes to examine the girl she refuses to let him near her and even strikes out at him when he tries to come close. Faced with such strong opposition the Dr. has no choice but to use force. At first the use of force is all about the Dr. trying to diagnose the child and trying to open her mouth strictly for her own benefit. But as the minutes pass and she keeps refusing and refusing to let him examine her it becomes more of the need to overpower her by using force and getting her mouth open. The way the author describes the fury of the Dr. makes him sound like a ravenous beast who is looking to rip his prey part its sort of creepy. For example: "I could have torn the child apart in my own fury and enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to attack her. My face was burning with it."

Hills Like Elephants

Upon first reading this story I realized they were speaking about some sort of operation being preformed but I was not sure of what nature. After re-reading the story, and reading some other blogs I realized it was about abortion. Jig is in limbo whether to have the baby or not, her husband seems to think abortion is the best option. I think the story is full or symbolism and irony. The cloud passing over them and the river represent the two paths they could take. The cloud being a dead end and a dark day- which would be according to Jig aborting the child, while the river which is always flowing represents new life and endless possibilities, which would be according to Jig having the child. The question is which path to choose. What's funny is that to Jigs husband, having the baby is the like the smooth river opening a new easy life to him and his wife without and bumps or waves along the way.

The Yellow Wall Paper

This story was very strange and confusing. Not really confusing but more like what is going on? At first i felt bad for Johns wife. I felt like John was stifling her and keeping her caged up like a crazy person. I felt that he was taking the easy way out, that he didn't want to deal with her or put up with any of her "lunacy", which I thought she did not even have. However once the story progressed and we saw her true character come out I started to see that maybe she was a little crazy. I don't think she was crazy to the extent that they had to keep her caged in a room in fact i think it was the room and the fact that she was cooped up in there that made her rip the wallpaper and try and break free. When she tried to rip the wallpaper I was so confused at to what she was doing and who she thought was behind there, and when she ripped it and broke free I commended her felt happy for her that she escaped the cruel clutches of her husband and sister in law.

Story of An Hour

I think this was an interesting story full of irony. The fact that she died of a heart attack and the news of her husband being alive while it was able to withstand the news of his death was very ironic.