The Ibo culture is not exactly the same as ours, yet it has many similar ideas. For one, it emphasizes the idea of hard work will lead to respect and riches. Everyone, no matter from what family, can work their way to the top such as Okankwo. The pressure to fit in with the successful people of the Ibo culture drive Okankwo to be meticulous about the many aspects of living a respectable life. He is in a constant struggle to follow the proper manners and etiquette to be viewed highly. Also, just like in America laziness is not tolerated and is viewed poorly. Key similarities in our culture make the Ibo people look way ahead of their time.
The Ibo stress a strong code of manners of etiquette that is quite impressive. The people focus on being hospitable and treat all their guests as if Gods. They treasure palm wine and the kola nut. They are seen as gifts of hospitality and respect. That tradition is in America today. For example, whenever my dad is invited to an important dinner he will probably take over a bottle of a wine as a sign of respect. It is amazing to see traditions last so long throughout history. Also, when the Ibo have guests they make them their favorite foods and put them in front of everything. It is the same as the present time. Typically, when people have guests, they act differently in order to keep them happy and they share with them. Although the Ibo people are not as strong as a force as before, their human traditions and values are ever so present.
Another similar and key comparison is the Ibo’s idea of a success. It is analogous to the “American dream”. That is that hard work and kind-heartedness will make a person highly viewed and honored. Just like in Ibo times, today being in debt, (such as Okwanko’s father), is seen poorly. People who depend on others rather than achieve their own success are never honored no matter what day and age they are living in. It is fascinating to see how humans, no matter what technological state they are in, will tend to want to achieve the same mold of being successful through hard work. These pressures and cultural ideals force people, such Okwanko, to try to achieve perfection. Some people succeed, others have problems such as how Okwanko is irrationally harsh on his kids to not be like his dad. The ideals, although seeking goodness, do not always fit for everyone.
The similarities between our culture and the Ibo culture help emphasize key, primal values of humans. When people shed off their labels such as Ibo or American or whatever, it is apparent that they are all looking for the same thing: to fit in. Okwanko’s character shows that beautifully as his dislike for his father drives him to be perfect.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ibo Culture
The Ibo culture is unique and filled with many traditions built around pleasing the gods and living a good, kind-hearted life. From their hospitality to their leadership the Ibo are a very respectable and honorable tribe.
A main concept in their culture is to be as hospitable as possible. Guests and strangers are typically shocked to see how well they are treated when in the presence of the Ibo. A joke made of this hospitality goes like this (translated): “If you greet an Ibo man coming from his prayer with palm wine, he will not reply because he is obliged to offer you a palm wine.” It goes to show that their culture is known as a very kind-hearted and selfless one.
On important occasions it every family is supposed to send neighboring families some food. If that family has a visitor or guest the wife will go and invite them over. Before inviting them over, she will have figured out what food that guest enjoys most, and have it prepared. When the guest first arrives she would offer him or her a kola nut and then the main course is brought. Being a guest, it is disrespectful to refuse the food, but on the other hand they are not supposed to finish it. They should leave a bit of it left to show that they had enough food to get full.
The religion of the IBO is Christianity and they make up one of the largest block of Christians in Nigeria. Before Christianity the Ibo culture revolved around one god, “Chi”. The Chi can be personalized and shared with the community, which is thought to be why they later like Christianity.
The Ibo people have a very complex and sophisticated form of political life. They followed the following slogan, “no representation, no support”. Representation is built around the elders and the chiefs. The governmental power was much more diffused in this region in Nigeria.
In an Ibo family the husband s the head of the household and his most important responsibility is the well-being of his family. They followed an extended family system and perfected it. Families were involved in trade and commerce having to do with farming, iron works, and they also organized in trading blocks for the exchange of goods. The Ibo people rarely moved because they found it unnecessary. Communities wanted sons and daughters from far distances to come back and bring their children to their ancestral home.
The Ibo culture is clearly one of great honor where respect and hard work are valued strongly. It is very interesting to see that such an old tribe was so wise about how to deal with people and government. The Ibo are a strong people and should be looked on with great pride.
http://www.oraifite.com/culture-and-traditions
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm
A main concept in their culture is to be as hospitable as possible. Guests and strangers are typically shocked to see how well they are treated when in the presence of the Ibo. A joke made of this hospitality goes like this (translated): “If you greet an Ibo man coming from his prayer with palm wine, he will not reply because he is obliged to offer you a palm wine.” It goes to show that their culture is known as a very kind-hearted and selfless one.
On important occasions it every family is supposed to send neighboring families some food. If that family has a visitor or guest the wife will go and invite them over. Before inviting them over, she will have figured out what food that guest enjoys most, and have it prepared. When the guest first arrives she would offer him or her a kola nut and then the main course is brought. Being a guest, it is disrespectful to refuse the food, but on the other hand they are not supposed to finish it. They should leave a bit of it left to show that they had enough food to get full.
The religion of the IBO is Christianity and they make up one of the largest block of Christians in Nigeria. Before Christianity the Ibo culture revolved around one god, “Chi”. The Chi can be personalized and shared with the community, which is thought to be why they later like Christianity.
The Ibo people have a very complex and sophisticated form of political life. They followed the following slogan, “no representation, no support”. Representation is built around the elders and the chiefs. The governmental power was much more diffused in this region in Nigeria.
In an Ibo family the husband s the head of the household and his most important responsibility is the well-being of his family. They followed an extended family system and perfected it. Families were involved in trade and commerce having to do with farming, iron works, and they also organized in trading blocks for the exchange of goods. The Ibo people rarely moved because they found it unnecessary. Communities wanted sons and daughters from far distances to come back and bring their children to their ancestral home.
The Ibo culture is clearly one of great honor where respect and hard work are valued strongly. It is very interesting to see that such an old tribe was so wise about how to deal with people and government. The Ibo are a strong people and should be looked on with great pride.
http://www.oraifite.com/culture-and-traditions
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Sad, Sad Man
Gregor Samsa led an unfulfilling life trying to make ends meat for his family. He describes his job as a burden when he calls it suspicious and aggressive towards the sales employees. He would have quit but his family depends on him. Gregor’s turning into an insect is what he desired for. He wanted to just become a fly on the wall and lose all his responsibilities. His metamorphosis does result exactly as he wanted, although it did relieve him of his burden.
After turning into an insect, he no longer had to stress over his family’s financial crisis or go slave over his job; however, he is completely treated as a vermin. His family can no longer look at him the same at all. He had to cover himself up so that Grete could put his food in his room without freaking out. His dad threw apples at him and his family took apart his room as if he never existed. When he jumps on his beloved painting, it shows that Gregor yearned to be normal again. Unfortunately that was not going to happen soon.
When Gregor starves himself, it is evident that he realized that his desire to escape did not reach his expectation. The burden of truly being hated and exiled from his family must have been a bigger weight on his shoulders than his previous job and financial crisis. Although, maybe it is really what he wanted all along is to just escape life completely, but it shows that Gregor was not living his life happily. It is not hard to understand his logic seeing his position in the world, but I believe his desire to escape is wrong. People are born with the cards they are dealt and they should fight through it, with exceptions to health problems. I personally see Gregor as a weak, insecure individual who required his parent’s attention and acceptance to feel good about himself. His fate was deserved because he no longer has to worry about stress, or living in general as he wanted.
The moral of the story is that people do enjoy the feeling that people appreciate them, but it requires work for that to happen. The catch is that sometime one may face people that are not considerate at all. What Gregor did not realize is that he was not at fault for his parents harshness. He fell into believing that what he was doing was incorrect, when his financial support and care for his sister was exactly the right thing to do. It is sad to see the fate that befell him because he really is a caring person inside or else he never would have allotted a significant amount of time working for his family.
After turning into an insect, he no longer had to stress over his family’s financial crisis or go slave over his job; however, he is completely treated as a vermin. His family can no longer look at him the same at all. He had to cover himself up so that Grete could put his food in his room without freaking out. His dad threw apples at him and his family took apart his room as if he never existed. When he jumps on his beloved painting, it shows that Gregor yearned to be normal again. Unfortunately that was not going to happen soon.
When Gregor starves himself, it is evident that he realized that his desire to escape did not reach his expectation. The burden of truly being hated and exiled from his family must have been a bigger weight on his shoulders than his previous job and financial crisis. Although, maybe it is really what he wanted all along is to just escape life completely, but it shows that Gregor was not living his life happily. It is not hard to understand his logic seeing his position in the world, but I believe his desire to escape is wrong. People are born with the cards they are dealt and they should fight through it, with exceptions to health problems. I personally see Gregor as a weak, insecure individual who required his parent’s attention and acceptance to feel good about himself. His fate was deserved because he no longer has to worry about stress, or living in general as he wanted.
The moral of the story is that people do enjoy the feeling that people appreciate them, but it requires work for that to happen. The catch is that sometime one may face people that are not considerate at all. What Gregor did not realize is that he was not at fault for his parents harshness. He fell into believing that what he was doing was incorrect, when his financial support and care for his sister was exactly the right thing to do. It is sad to see the fate that befell him because he really is a caring person inside or else he never would have allotted a significant amount of time working for his family.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Ivan Ilych
What sort of a relationship did Ivan Ilyich have with his wife?
Ivan Ilyich did not have a very good relationship with his wife due to the fact that I believe he most likely married her to keep his image as proper and sophisticated. As they were married longer and longer he realized that his wife does not really understand him, especially when he figures he out he is dying. As he awakens to the fact that he does not actually like her, he grows closer and closer to his work and distants himself from his family.
What is the major concern of his friends?
His supposed friends are mostly concerned with who will replace Ivan’s job which I believe is dude to the fact that even Ivan’s major concern was his job. His main goal was to maintain his job and be proper. He strived for this so much that he was not able to create genuinely strong relationships out of exception with Gerasim. His tale is one of lonely pursuit for success.
What is the role of Gerasim in The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
I believe Gerasim’s role in the story is kind of depressing. A man lives his whole life without any strong friendships or relationships, but when he finally finds out how nice it to be understood by someone else, he is on his death bed. Although, her role can also be seen as Ivan’s fulfillment in life that he finally learned what it is to be happy and to connect with another person.
What emotions are demonstrated from his wife? What gaps exist between internal and external expressions of emotion? Why do you think such gaps exist?
During the mourning processes his wife plays the act of the depressed wife and cries a lot; however, when Ivan’s pension has to be discussed she happens to keep a straight face and know quite a bit about how to make the most of Ivan’s money. The gap exists right between there, internally she does not care about his death and just wants his pension, while externally she puts up a façade. I think this gap also exists for his friends and co-workers who can only think about whether they are going to make a card game during Ivan’s memorial.
What are the character qualities of Ivan Ilych as a child and school boy?
Ivan Ilych is the “happy mean” between his two brothers because he is neither cold and formal nor wild and reckless. At age thirteen he enters the school of law and his characteristics include being proper and agreeable. The most important characteristic though was that from such a early age he was attracted to socially high standing people as if a “fly drawn to light”.
How do these traits shape his adult life and behavior?
I believe these traits directly shape his adult life because he is constantly trying to attain a higher position and keep a “proper” image. His commitment is completely to his work because he is good at it. His relationship with his wife gets weaker and weaker because he realizes he is not good at dealing with it so he goes back to what he strives at.(537)
Ivan Ilyich did not have a very good relationship with his wife due to the fact that I believe he most likely married her to keep his image as proper and sophisticated. As they were married longer and longer he realized that his wife does not really understand him, especially when he figures he out he is dying. As he awakens to the fact that he does not actually like her, he grows closer and closer to his work and distants himself from his family.
What is the major concern of his friends?
His supposed friends are mostly concerned with who will replace Ivan’s job which I believe is dude to the fact that even Ivan’s major concern was his job. His main goal was to maintain his job and be proper. He strived for this so much that he was not able to create genuinely strong relationships out of exception with Gerasim. His tale is one of lonely pursuit for success.
What is the role of Gerasim in The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
I believe Gerasim’s role in the story is kind of depressing. A man lives his whole life without any strong friendships or relationships, but when he finally finds out how nice it to be understood by someone else, he is on his death bed. Although, her role can also be seen as Ivan’s fulfillment in life that he finally learned what it is to be happy and to connect with another person.
What emotions are demonstrated from his wife? What gaps exist between internal and external expressions of emotion? Why do you think such gaps exist?
During the mourning processes his wife plays the act of the depressed wife and cries a lot; however, when Ivan’s pension has to be discussed she happens to keep a straight face and know quite a bit about how to make the most of Ivan’s money. The gap exists right between there, internally she does not care about his death and just wants his pension, while externally she puts up a façade. I think this gap also exists for his friends and co-workers who can only think about whether they are going to make a card game during Ivan’s memorial.
What are the character qualities of Ivan Ilych as a child and school boy?
Ivan Ilych is the “happy mean” between his two brothers because he is neither cold and formal nor wild and reckless. At age thirteen he enters the school of law and his characteristics include being proper and agreeable. The most important characteristic though was that from such a early age he was attracted to socially high standing people as if a “fly drawn to light”.
How do these traits shape his adult life and behavior?
I believe these traits directly shape his adult life because he is constantly trying to attain a higher position and keep a “proper” image. His commitment is completely to his work because he is good at it. His relationship with his wife gets weaker and weaker because he realizes he is not good at dealing with it so he goes back to what he strives at.(537)
Friday, September 21, 2007
Antigone
The story of Antigone is a depressing one filled with curses and an awful turn of events due to the stubbornness of one person: Creon. Polynices and Eteocles, the brothers of Antigone and Ismene, kill each other in battle and Polynices is not allowed a proper burial because he fought against Thebes. Antigone is outraged against the idea that he can not have a respectful burial and from her innate wanting to restore honor to her sibling she creates a cataclysmic situation.
What does Antigone want Ismene to do?
Antigone wants Ismene to help fight against the dishonor towards Polynices. She has very strong feelings towards this and creates a deep conflict with Ismene. Antigone is asking her sister to compromise her self in order to die in honor, but maybe that is too much to ask for from a person.
According to Ismene, what should women not do?
According to Ismene, women should stay in their place and just follow their roles. She disagrees with Antigone and decides not to help her out because it may cost her life. Antigone is appalled and views her as weak, yet Ismene can not be blamed for not helping.
Do you consider Antigone or Creon the more important character in this play? Or do you consider them both equally important? In your response, consider why one or the other, or both, might deserve the title of protagonist or tragic hero.
This a tough question and I would have to say that both characters could satisfactorily be the tragic hero and that they are equally important to the story. They both headstrong and desire the same thing: to fight for what they think is right. Antigone believes Polynices should have a proper burial because he is her brother and Creon thinks that he does not deserve one because he was a fighter against Thebes. In a situation like this, I would say that Creon could be right. For example, today in politics if someone came and fought against the country, such as a terrorist, I would believe that they would not be treated the same as an American and that he probably would not be respected. I really think this question is a matter of how you look at it.
What vision of rulership does Creon set forth? To what extent does he follow through with this and what would you say is Creon’s most important mistake?
Creon believes he is the king and that he is everything. He must make decisions without doubt and that Thebes is HIS city and responsibility. He has a good view; however, he takes it too far and gets stubborn. He begins to think everything is about him and his honor. He takes the situation at hand too personally. For example, when Haemon says the death of Antigone will bring upon another death, Creon takes it as a threat rather than realizing that his son meant his own death. Instead of worrying about such a medial burial he should have been focusing on real political issues. His stubbornness eventually leads to the death of many, two of which important to him.
With what powers does Antigone align herself with and would you say her mission has more to do with personal issues or religious piety?
She says that being respected by the gods is better than following immoral rules set by Creon. Although she says this, I believe it is truly a personal issue. When one loses a sibling irrational, yet bold actions tend to take place.
Do Antigone's choices have anything in common with the choices and situations in Oedipus's life? Is Antigone's tragic fate the result of an inevitable destiny or does she make choices which contribute to the fulfillment of that fate?
Her choices are kind of similar in the way that she and Oedipus both strive due to their urge to do what is right. Also, this urge of theirs both leads them to several deaths. Oedipus’s death was due to inevitable destiny, but Antigone’s fate I believe was from her choice. She chose to fight for what she though is respectful and died for it. In my opinion, that is a honorable death and I have no doubt in my mind that she fulfilled what she wanted before death.
In the end, Creon’s battle with Antigone lead to the death of his loved ones. I think Sophocles intended for this to happen to show that he believes Antigone is right and that maybe loyalty to one’s family should come before loyalty to a piece of land. Antigone died and was happy dying to get Polynices buried properly so really in the end, Antigone died happy while Creon lived to witness his son and wife die.(768)
What does Antigone want Ismene to do?
Antigone wants Ismene to help fight against the dishonor towards Polynices. She has very strong feelings towards this and creates a deep conflict with Ismene. Antigone is asking her sister to compromise her self in order to die in honor, but maybe that is too much to ask for from a person.
According to Ismene, what should women not do?
According to Ismene, women should stay in their place and just follow their roles. She disagrees with Antigone and decides not to help her out because it may cost her life. Antigone is appalled and views her as weak, yet Ismene can not be blamed for not helping.
Do you consider Antigone or Creon the more important character in this play? Or do you consider them both equally important? In your response, consider why one or the other, or both, might deserve the title of protagonist or tragic hero.
This a tough question and I would have to say that both characters could satisfactorily be the tragic hero and that they are equally important to the story. They both headstrong and desire the same thing: to fight for what they think is right. Antigone believes Polynices should have a proper burial because he is her brother and Creon thinks that he does not deserve one because he was a fighter against Thebes. In a situation like this, I would say that Creon could be right. For example, today in politics if someone came and fought against the country, such as a terrorist, I would believe that they would not be treated the same as an American and that he probably would not be respected. I really think this question is a matter of how you look at it.
What vision of rulership does Creon set forth? To what extent does he follow through with this and what would you say is Creon’s most important mistake?
Creon believes he is the king and that he is everything. He must make decisions without doubt and that Thebes is HIS city and responsibility. He has a good view; however, he takes it too far and gets stubborn. He begins to think everything is about him and his honor. He takes the situation at hand too personally. For example, when Haemon says the death of Antigone will bring upon another death, Creon takes it as a threat rather than realizing that his son meant his own death. Instead of worrying about such a medial burial he should have been focusing on real political issues. His stubbornness eventually leads to the death of many, two of which important to him.
With what powers does Antigone align herself with and would you say her mission has more to do with personal issues or religious piety?
She says that being respected by the gods is better than following immoral rules set by Creon. Although she says this, I believe it is truly a personal issue. When one loses a sibling irrational, yet bold actions tend to take place.
Do Antigone's choices have anything in common with the choices and situations in Oedipus's life? Is Antigone's tragic fate the result of an inevitable destiny or does she make choices which contribute to the fulfillment of that fate?
Her choices are kind of similar in the way that she and Oedipus both strive due to their urge to do what is right. Also, this urge of theirs both leads them to several deaths. Oedipus’s death was due to inevitable destiny, but Antigone’s fate I believe was from her choice. She chose to fight for what she though is respectful and died for it. In my opinion, that is a honorable death and I have no doubt in my mind that she fulfilled what she wanted before death.
In the end, Creon’s battle with Antigone lead to the death of his loved ones. I think Sophocles intended for this to happen to show that he believes Antigone is right and that maybe loyalty to one’s family should come before loyalty to a piece of land. Antigone died and was happy dying to get Polynices buried properly so really in the end, Antigone died happy while Creon lived to witness his son and wife die.(768)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Oedipus
A major idea in this reading is that Oedipus wants to finally figure out the truth about his prophecy. A messenger comes and informs him of his supposed father’s death, Polybus. Oedipus and the queen Jocasta are heavily relieved; however, the messenger tells them that Oedipus was not really his son, but actually just a gift to Polybus from he messenger. That unravels a strong urge for Oedipus to learn what happened in his childhood.
A Messenger describes what happened when Oedipus entered the palace and saw that Jocasta had hanged herself. How might hearing this event rather than seeing it change an audience's perspective on the events?
I think that they hear about it first in order for it not to overshadow the important events going on at the time. It is done that way for it not to take precedence over Oedipus’s big moment finding out the truth and later gouging his eyes out in despair.
Regarding the same episode, what symbolic implications emerge from Oedipus' blinding himself? Do you find his action courageous and heroic, or do you interpret it some other way? Explain.
I think this refers to the earlier conversation with the blind man. Oedipus once believed if one was blind it was not possible to know much due to the lack of sight; however, after finding out the truth about his life he blinds himself and then realizes that he knows more than ever before as a blind man. I also the act of blinding himself came from a mixture of shock and guilt. He did indeed kill his father and sleep with his mother.
Oedipus laments and seeks exile. How does he understand what has happened to him? Why is it necessary that the audience hear him after all that has occurred?
Oedipus understands the whole situation because he forced a messenger and shepherd to tell him everything they knew about his childhood. He realizes that his life is cursed and I think it is necessary for the audience to hear him lament to Creon about exile and death so they can see that Oedipus did not want this fate and that it really is not in his control. I believe it sympathizes him and shows him as a true man to step up and take responsibility.
Also there are a few ironic moments I found in this reading. One example is on the pages 218-220. The following speech with the old man is ironic because that messenger had just told him that Polybus, his father, was dead and that brought relief to Oedipus because that would mean the prophecy was not true. But then unexpectedly the messenger told him that Polybus was not his blood father. Therefore, Oedipus had avoided Corinth his whole life due to the fact that his “fake” dad was ruling when he really could of safely gone back.
On pages 236-248, the general situation is ironic because if the shepherd had just killed Oedipus as ordered by Laius, his whole tale would not have occurred. I find that kind of funny that such a small decision can have such a big future impact. Also, when Oedipus gouges his own eyes out it is very ironic because he was so insistent on finding out the truth about this his curse, then after he does he decides that he does not want to lay eyes on the truth anymore. (570)
A Messenger describes what happened when Oedipus entered the palace and saw that Jocasta had hanged herself. How might hearing this event rather than seeing it change an audience's perspective on the events?
I think that they hear about it first in order for it not to overshadow the important events going on at the time. It is done that way for it not to take precedence over Oedipus’s big moment finding out the truth and later gouging his eyes out in despair.
Regarding the same episode, what symbolic implications emerge from Oedipus' blinding himself? Do you find his action courageous and heroic, or do you interpret it some other way? Explain.
I think this refers to the earlier conversation with the blind man. Oedipus once believed if one was blind it was not possible to know much due to the lack of sight; however, after finding out the truth about his life he blinds himself and then realizes that he knows more than ever before as a blind man. I also the act of blinding himself came from a mixture of shock and guilt. He did indeed kill his father and sleep with his mother.
Oedipus laments and seeks exile. How does he understand what has happened to him? Why is it necessary that the audience hear him after all that has occurred?
Oedipus understands the whole situation because he forced a messenger and shepherd to tell him everything they knew about his childhood. He realizes that his life is cursed and I think it is necessary for the audience to hear him lament to Creon about exile and death so they can see that Oedipus did not want this fate and that it really is not in his control. I believe it sympathizes him and shows him as a true man to step up and take responsibility.
Also there are a few ironic moments I found in this reading. One example is on the pages 218-220. The following speech with the old man is ironic because that messenger had just told him that Polybus, his father, was dead and that brought relief to Oedipus because that would mean the prophecy was not true. But then unexpectedly the messenger told him that Polybus was not his blood father. Therefore, Oedipus had avoided Corinth his whole life due to the fact that his “fake” dad was ruling when he really could of safely gone back.
On pages 236-248, the general situation is ironic because if the shepherd had just killed Oedipus as ordered by Laius, his whole tale would not have occurred. I find that kind of funny that such a small decision can have such a big future impact. Also, when Oedipus gouges his own eyes out it is very ironic because he was so insistent on finding out the truth about this his curse, then after he does he decides that he does not want to lay eyes on the truth anymore. (570)
Friday, August 31, 2007
A Big Disappointment
After reading the novel Old School, I had mixed feelings about it. There were many parts that I enjoyed yet there was not a strong, progressing plot throughout the book. Although the novel was written very well, I felt that it was truly empty. The main problem was that all that it portrayed was the everyday life of students in a private school during old times without effectively developing an incredibly strong relationship between characters, a convincing conflict, or an interesting plot twist.
The relationships between the characters in the book are all lacking any true emotions and any exciting struggles. The majority of the interaction between the students is the petty talk to one other having to do with writing poems to be submitted to Robert Frost or Ayn Rand or Ernest Hemmingway which was not exciting. The novel is problematic because the only meaningful character in it is the nameless narrator and all he does is simply describe his surroundings in the private school with intuitiveness. The peak of excitement was reading on to find out whether or not another student would get kicked out of school, such as whether Purcell would continue not going to church and let Big Jeff throw his education away too. Other than that, the novel is too slow paced and does not contain enough emotion between the students to truly captivate readers.
The book has no interesting conflict. I am a person that enjoys reading books that involve suspense, action, and maybe even a little romance tied in between. Old School did not do it for me. I believed there were not any major scenes or passages that personally captured me because it practically just summarizes the lifestyle of an average PCDS student, but during the olden days. The setting is too happy and nothing really goes wrong. The highest form of disappointment towards the narrator was not winning the meeting with Robert Frost and he does not even throw a tantrum or maybe go through an interesting cycle of depression. The novel is just too bland without any building tension.
Although I disliked the novel overall, there was one specific character that I really enjoyed that gave something back to me. That was Ayn Rand. When she comes to the school to speak to the students, she is portrayed as a self-centered egomaniac. During the speech, she is asked which novel she thinks is the best and she says “Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead.” It just so happened that she wrote those books. I got glued to book during her passage because it was outright hilarious to me. No one in the world should ever have such a ridiculous sense of confidence. She is the opposite of how I believe people should be, yet for some reason I liked and appreciated her character in the book for bringing some excitement into the lives of the boring students.
When I picked up Old School I was expecting an interesting story with a character similar to Holden Caufield. When I was done reading it I was severely disappointed because all I ended up with was a mild story of everyday school life back in the day. I believe if I was thirty-five when I read it then i would find the book enjoyable to reminisce on similar experiences. The problem was the book took place in a different generation and it was difficult for me to appreciate their times because such experiences do not exist any more.
(583)
The relationships between the characters in the book are all lacking any true emotions and any exciting struggles. The majority of the interaction between the students is the petty talk to one other having to do with writing poems to be submitted to Robert Frost or Ayn Rand or Ernest Hemmingway which was not exciting. The novel is problematic because the only meaningful character in it is the nameless narrator and all he does is simply describe his surroundings in the private school with intuitiveness. The peak of excitement was reading on to find out whether or not another student would get kicked out of school, such as whether Purcell would continue not going to church and let Big Jeff throw his education away too. Other than that, the novel is too slow paced and does not contain enough emotion between the students to truly captivate readers.
The book has no interesting conflict. I am a person that enjoys reading books that involve suspense, action, and maybe even a little romance tied in between. Old School did not do it for me. I believed there were not any major scenes or passages that personally captured me because it practically just summarizes the lifestyle of an average PCDS student, but during the olden days. The setting is too happy and nothing really goes wrong. The highest form of disappointment towards the narrator was not winning the meeting with Robert Frost and he does not even throw a tantrum or maybe go through an interesting cycle of depression. The novel is just too bland without any building tension.
Although I disliked the novel overall, there was one specific character that I really enjoyed that gave something back to me. That was Ayn Rand. When she comes to the school to speak to the students, she is portrayed as a self-centered egomaniac. During the speech, she is asked which novel she thinks is the best and she says “Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead.” It just so happened that she wrote those books. I got glued to book during her passage because it was outright hilarious to me. No one in the world should ever have such a ridiculous sense of confidence. She is the opposite of how I believe people should be, yet for some reason I liked and appreciated her character in the book for bringing some excitement into the lives of the boring students.
When I picked up Old School I was expecting an interesting story with a character similar to Holden Caufield. When I was done reading it I was severely disappointed because all I ended up with was a mild story of everyday school life back in the day. I believe if I was thirty-five when I read it then i would find the book enjoyable to reminisce on similar experiences. The problem was the book took place in a different generation and it was difficult for me to appreciate their times because such experiences do not exist any more.
(583)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Do I Enjoy Reading and Writing?
I have pondered whether or not I enjoy reading for many years ever since I started school and I finally have come to a conclusion. I take joy from reading when the novel is interesting and contains many plot changes.
I am a huge Harry Potter fan and have read every book that has come out on the day it was released. That is no easy task considering they are each 600 to 700 pages long. Although I take interest in reading certain books, when I am forced to read a book that is boring and contains literature to be interpreted the case completely changes. Do not get me wrong, there are many school books that I get captured by such as The Catcher in the Rye or The Great Gatsby. The problem is that once in a while I run into a book that I end up reading without enthusiasm and writing an equally unenthusiastic essay about it. I am being completely honest, not every book is interesting, but when they are it is an enthralling experience.
As I have grown up, I believe I have become a solid reader and am able to absorb the bulk of what I look down at in paper. When it comes to writing; however, I am convinced I struggle a bit more. I like to write because it is a nice feeling when someone looks at your paper and says something positive about it. Writing helps characterize what kind of person someone is. The word choice, sentence structure, and grammatical usage, if used well, can blend together to create an intellectual image of a person. I also take interest in writing because it is a form of expressing feeling towards a strong subject. Sometimes writing is the best way to do that.
I really like reading and writing when it is a book or topic that is personally interesting to me. When there is no passion or interest used in any activity in life, there is no way the end result will be worth looking at. (346)
I am a huge Harry Potter fan and have read every book that has come out on the day it was released. That is no easy task considering they are each 600 to 700 pages long. Although I take interest in reading certain books, when I am forced to read a book that is boring and contains literature to be interpreted the case completely changes. Do not get me wrong, there are many school books that I get captured by such as The Catcher in the Rye or The Great Gatsby. The problem is that once in a while I run into a book that I end up reading without enthusiasm and writing an equally unenthusiastic essay about it. I am being completely honest, not every book is interesting, but when they are it is an enthralling experience.
As I have grown up, I believe I have become a solid reader and am able to absorb the bulk of what I look down at in paper. When it comes to writing; however, I am convinced I struggle a bit more. I like to write because it is a nice feeling when someone looks at your paper and says something positive about it. Writing helps characterize what kind of person someone is. The word choice, sentence structure, and grammatical usage, if used well, can blend together to create an intellectual image of a person. I also take interest in writing because it is a form of expressing feeling towards a strong subject. Sometimes writing is the best way to do that.
I really like reading and writing when it is a book or topic that is personally interesting to me. When there is no passion or interest used in any activity in life, there is no way the end result will be worth looking at. (346)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)