You're Ugly, Too

Personal Thoughts Blog

The short story "You're Ugly, Too" is difficult for me to understand. Honestly, I am horrible at fully comprehending stories dealing with sarcasm and irony. For some reason, I can't differentiate between the two, nor do I find them easy to read. I find ironic stories difficult for me to get through, which really bothers me. Zoe's character bothered me to; she was abrasive and crass in her statements and jokes. I know that this is the entire point of the story, but it really bothered me that she acted "like her opinion was more important than everybody else's."  I didn't find any of her jokes to be very funny either. I guess I just felt like the themes in this short story were negative; about life, love, happiness, academics, etc. I am hoping that class discussion will allow me to understand this story a little better.

The Drunkard

Question 2

In "The Drunkard," I believe the story is not purely humorous. Even when reading it the first time, I sensed moments of pathos where the speaker is tying to connect emotionally with the reader. One of the very first moments of pathos I spotted was "mother and I knew the phases and dreaded all the dangers." To me, that sentence-along with those surrounding it- do not evoke humor; they evoke sympathy because the reader pities the mother and the son, since they must often deal with an alcoholic if they know the phases and dread the dangers. The pathos is continued when the father tells his son to "run out in the road and play." The son's emotion is revealed when he begins to think in the next lines about the effects of his father's decision and attempts to stop them because of his emotion toward his mother. A final example of pathos is the mother's reaction at the story's end when the son recalls, "Mother threw herself on me in the bed an kissed me." Obviously, this is much efficacious emotion being performed; everyone can connect with the happiness, pride, and joy that the Mother is feeling because of her son's actions.

The Stone Lottery

Question One


A lottery is defined as "a contest in which tokens are distributed or sold, the winning token or tokens being secretly predetermined or ultimately selected in a random drawing" by this dictionary website. When I personally think of a lottery I think of the scratch-off cards that people (who are over 18--so not me) are always buying in front of me at gas stations, taking forever, when I'm in a huge hurry and all I really honestly need is to hand over my ten to fill up my tank. Anyway, a lottery is most often a word with a good connotation because it means that an individual has won major money, or something along those lines. Naturally, by looking at the title of this short story, I assumed the story will be about an individual winning money and the effects of this. The society in which I have matured has never used the word 'lottery' to regard anything negative, such as stoning an individual. I was really taken aback by the events that occurred in the last page; I could pretty soon into the story that something was a little off about this lottery, and my original presumption was wrong. However, I was stunned to read "but they still remembered how to use the stones," and then, a few sentences later read "a stone hit her on the side of the head." The story's title is definitely a misnomer in the sense of today's world. 

The Body Analysis

PLOT

"'You guys want to go see a dead body?'" (pg.299). The simple question asked by  Vern Tessio, one of the main characters, to his group of friends, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and the narrator, Gordie Lachance, summarizes the plot of The Body into a single sentence. On a hot summer day in 1960, a group of four best friends decide to go on a journey to find the body of a boy who is their age. In the exposition, the narrator introduces out his story by describing each of the four main characters and their very different childhoods. The exposition continues as the boys begin their journey into the woods. Rising action begins the night that the boys must spend camping in the woods. The climax, of course, happens when the boys find the body of Ray; even though the reader knows it's coming, it's still surprising to read, " Vern began to screech triumphantly: 'THERE! THERE HE IS! RIGHT THERE! I SEE HIM!" (pg 406). The falling action occurs almost instantly when Vern and Chris' older brothers and their gang arrive; after threats, the boys never speak of the incident again. The resolution happens very quickly too; Gordie quickly tells of how Vern and Teddy separated from himself and Gordie after that year, and then in a few pages, Gordie tells how all three boys died in young adulthood.

POINT OF VIEW

The Body is told from first person point of view; the narrator is Gordie Lachance, one of the boys, who was on the adventure. Gordie is now around thirty years old and retelling his childhood adventure. As with any story told from first person, the audience does not get to read what is going on in the minds of the other characters, as well as the perception of the story's events being different than they would be from say, Chris' point of view because the situation he is growing up in greatly varies from Gordie's. Additionally, it becomes slightly confusing at times because Gordie slips in and out of the past and the present. For instance, Gordie is recalling his story: "For a moment, I was puzzled-why was he here and his tennies there? Then I realized, and the realization was like a dirty punch below the belt. My wife, my kids, my friends-they all think that having an imagination like mine must be quite nice; aside from making all this dough, I can have a little mind-movie whenever things get dull...He had been knocked spang out of his Keds" (page 408). There are a multitude of moments such as this throughout the short story; as the reader, it definitely slowed me down because I would get confused and have to reread paragraphs or pages.

Listen to Gordie's Point of View! 

CHARACTERIZATION

Teddy Duchamp is one of the four main characters in The Body. Gordie uses indirect characterization to reveal the kind of person Teddy was. Teddy is the first character in the book to be described by Gordie; he "was close to being thirteen like the rest of us, but the thick glasses and the hearing aid he wore sometimes made him look like an old man" (pg 295). Gordie describes Teddy's physical appearance which we later find out happened because his father was angered at Teddy, causing him to shove Teddy's head onto to a stove making his ears look like "two lumps of warm wax" (page 296). This depicts Teddy's home life as one that no one would envy, in addition to giving the reader insight into his childhood. Gordie also reveals Teddy's values by his loyalty to his father throughout the entire story. For example, after an argument with the dump owner who calls his father a loony, Teddy becomes enraged. Gordie cannot comprehend this and "wonder[s] how Teddy could care so much for his dad when his dad had practically killed him" (pg 353). Gordie's characterization of Teddy is indirect because he uses appearance, actions, interactions, and dialogue throughout the story.

SETTING

There are many settings involved in The Body because it is the story of a journey. However, the one that best encapsulates the story is the "treehouse in a big elm which overhung a vacant lot in Castle Rock" (pg 293). The treehouse symbolizes the boys' childhood; it was the place for them to go to be young boys. The boys thought of it as a "kind of social club, although it had no name" (pg 293). The description of the club: "the sides of the treehouse were planks scavenged...the roof was a corrugated tin sheet...the screen door was rusty" (pg 294) reminded me a lot of other stories and movies about a group of boys. The setting caused me immediately to think of movies like The Little Rascals and The Sandlot, which are also about groups of very different young boys and a very distinct memory from childhood. The setting in The Body added to the story because it shows that these are outdoors boys; they are adventurous and think that they don't need anyone else besides each other. The boys clubhouse adds to the message of the story because it is physical evidence of their loyalty for one another. 

    

THEME

One of the major themes I picked up from The Body is friendship. I personally saw Gordie (or maybe King, since this story is supposed to be pretty autobiographical) as being deeply conflicted about friendship. There are moments in the story in which he places a great amount of weight and value and importance on friendship. There are two lines regarding friendship in this novel that contradict each other. At first, Gordie reflects on his friendship: "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?" (pg 341). At the end of the story, Gordie says, "It happens. Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant, did you ever notice that?" (pg 432). Since both of these aphorisms end in a question, Gordie clearly wants his readers to reflect on the paradox of friendship; he wants us to understand that childhood friendships are exactly that- friendships that may not be able to withstand the changes and different paths everyone takes, which lead to his second question. Friends can easily disappear and reappear in one's life depending on a variety of things; life moves on, just like people do. The theme of friendship in The Body definitely causes the reader to pause momentarily and reflect upon the points brought up by Gordie Lachance.

Miss Brill's Fur

Question 7: Miss Brill


In this short story, the fur piece used by Miss Brill first serves as a cherished possession of hers. She treats in a manner as one would a child or pet saying "dear little thing." Miss Brill then allows the fur to personify itself, most likely because she is a lonely, elderly woman without a child to truly care for. As the story continues, the fur piece has morphed into symbolizing Miss Brill; it too has a few things wrong with it because of its age and the wear and tear of objects. By the end of the story, the reality of this fur is called out by two teenagers. They claim her "fur is so funny...it's exactly like a fried whiting" and wonder loudly, "why doesn't she keep her silly old mug at home?" This moment causes Miss Brill great distress; we know this is a result of the stole becoming such as important piece of her. The crying in the final sentence of this story is the ruining of Miss Brill's fantasy world; she is seen in the story as a kind, elderly lady who does not have a mean bone in her body. The crying sound she heard is actually Miss Brill's disheartened self.

A Bedtime Story

Question 1: Once Upon A Time


The author believes there are two possible causes for the sound he/she hears. The first is the idea that a person is in his/her home is "moving from room to room coming up the passage--to my door." The second was that the "creaking was a buckling, an epicenter of stress." The cause for her fear proves to be the first option. The author provides details such as "my heart was fleeing" and "staring at the door, making it out in my mind rather than proving it" and of course, "I have the same fears as people who take precautions." These ideas create an emotional background for the children's story because it is an explanation of the reasoning behind fears; the author tells the story because everyone in the world is petrified that something awful could happen to their family. However, his/her story proves that over-protection can be the end (death) of individuals. The prelude to the bedtime story ties the emotions of worry, fear, regret, anxiety, distress, and uneasiness much as the second part of the story does. The second part of the story is the author proving to himself/herself that over-the-top precautions destroy people, so he/she is perfectly fine in his/her home.

It Still Makes Me Think of Arizona...

Question 6: A Worn Path

Okay, I have to admit, when I read the ending of this short story, I thought Phoenix's grandson had died too, just as the student who wrote to Welty did. The first thing that lead me to this belief was Phoenix's complete separation from the world; such as when she imagines "a little boy bringing her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it" or when she states "I'm an old woman without an education. It was my memory fail me," I began to think that she possibly has Alzheimer's and does not remember her grandson's death. Then I began to think about how she would leave him alone for the long stretches of time to go to the hospital; this to me does not seem like normal grandmotherly behavior. She acts as if she has left him all alone, while normally, sick kids are left with someone watching them. The final piece for me was "I not going to forget him again, no, the whole enduring time...he going to last." This statement made me think that Phoenix wasn't going to allow herself to forget the memory of her grandson, as compared to forgetting his actual living, breathing existence. The author's response makes me think this is in the cone of reason (or is it meaning?) because she doesn't really say anything about the student being wrong. I believe her response means that Phoenix's perseverance and determination make the little boy seem alive, which makes her alive.

Decisions, Decisions

Question 7:

From the beginning of this short story, my heart went out to Eveline. The first paragraph caused sympathy for this girl for obviously "she was tired" and lonely. As her story began to unfold, I felt awful for this girl. She was just over nineteen and had already been through many horrific situations: she detested her work, her mother and brother had both died, and she had an abusive father. These circumstances were in no way under her control, which added to the theme. They caused her inner turmoil regarding her choices between staying in her home with "those whom she had known all her life" or "explor[ing] a new life with Frank." Neither of these choices were great, but rather they show a lack of choices for Eveline. Just as abuse victims always allow for excuses, Eveline does the same. She begins to recall her fonder childhood memories, therefore becoming torn between what she wants and what is the best decision. I cannot imagine having to make a life-altering decision such as this; although I can say my choice would be Frank and Argentina, I understand the battle waging inside of Eveline. The entire story caused Eveline to be sympathetic because so much of it was caused by the unfortunate family and world she was born into. As a side note, this story was extremely similar to a book I read when I was much younger called So Far From Home; the story is basically the same, only the Irish girl in the novel chose to leave her family. It was interesting for me to compare the two stories after I read Eveline.

Not So Normal Employee

The beginning of the story "Bartleby the Scrivener" was confusing at first because Bartleby was not introduced in the story. Instead, Melville chose to introduce and explain his characters Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut. He spends quite a few pages explaining "each of their respective persons or characters." However, when I felt that these nicknames were not very reflective of their character, even though a nickname most often is a reflection of an individual's persona. I also noticed that Turkey and Nippers are opposites in a way (i.e. one is angry, while one is happy, and vice versa). So why introduce with these characters? I think that the narrator is trying to give us some inclination of typical scriveners and their typical actions. Although employees may have odd quirks (as these characters do), they are not like Bartleby. Additionally, the employer relies upon these men; he also asked them for their opinions on Bartleby. In using the three employees to begin the story, the narrator brings the reader into the realization of what an anomaly Bartleby truly is.

A Look at Tub

The character Tub really bothered me in "Hunters in the Snow." In my first read of the story, I couldn't really place why he bothered me so much. It was on my second read that I could understand why he really annoyed me. For a character who is so sensitive about his weight, he is very insensitive to others. Now, granted no one's ever called me a "fat moron," but I think everyone has received an insult or two in his or her life. Furthermore, Tub doesn't do much about his weight problem since he gorges himself on candies and sweets whenever he can. But, anyway, I digress. The main problem with Tub is the major focus he places on himself; even when Kenny tells him his story about the babysitter, he quickly glosses over the topic and brings it back to himself. Tub's lack of caring is even furthered when he forgets the directions to the hospital and then pretty much ignores his friend who has been shot (by Tub himself.) Together, these factors made me greatly dislike Tub as a character.

Ignorance is Bliss

In "Hunters in the Snow," the two final sentences add a final twist to the conclusion that is unexpected; however, once the reader rereads the story, the ending is perhaps not so unexpected after all. The characterizations of Frank and Tub make this conclusion, in fact, plausible. Because the men are very unaware of the other's problems and needs in general, they make this ending very appropriate. For instance, when Kenny was shot (by Tub), the two unscathed men attempt to take him to the hospital. As insults, such as "you fat moron" begin to be tossed around, Tub turns the situation to himself and his anger about being mocked. After "a while" the men begin to start on their journey to the hospital. Tub and Frank show very little caring in regards to Kenny (i.e. telling Kenny to "hold onto" the blankets, forgetting the directions, stopping for food and drink, stopping to warm up) because they are too busy talking about their own issues. Wolff uses the conclusion to prove to his readers that his characters do not value their friendships; they want sympathy, but they cannot give it, they only want to talk about their problems, not worry about those of others', and the men truly are oblivious to the pain of their so-called 'closest friends.'

The Quilt That Broke the Mother's Back

In "Everyday Use," Dee's mother's refusal to allow her to keep the quilts indicates a permanent change in her (the mother). The reader can clearly see the moment of this permanent change: "when I looked at her like that something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet." This is a pivotal moment; the audience sees that the mother has realized the true characters of her two very different daughters. The beginning of the story indicates how the mother feels about her daughter Dee when she tells us how Maggie "[thought] her sister has held life always in the palm of one hand, that 'no' is a word the world never learned to say to her." Even thought she voices this as Maggie's opinion, the other details she gives throughout the narration prove that the mother thinks Dee is "the child who has 'made it.'" It was the culmination of these feelings toward Dee that lead to the mother's "snatching the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumping them onto Maggie's lap." The mother realizes that while Dee believes the world revolves around her and she knows all, her daughter Maggie is the one who truly cares about her, the quilts, and the family history. The quilts are the final piece that lead to the mother's decision.

A Southern Lady

"A Rose for Emily" was the short story I could best identify with. Not creepily of course, but because of my childhood in the South. Most of my friends lived in huge Southern mansions because of their deep family roots. It is easy for me to see the "big, squarish frame house that had once been white decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies." These homes all carry secrets from the past, much like Miss Emily's home did. The townspeople narrated the home's story as much as Miss Emily's story. It was easy for me to put myself in the story (even though Perrine frowns upon that!). The story was very creepy and grotesque, yes, but it was easy for me to imagine and read because of the Southern factor. Personally, I also believe that placing this story in the South had a major effect on the story as a whole.

A Haunting

I anticipated the ending of "A Rose for Miss Emily" in a way. From the moment that I read that "she bought the rat poison, the arsenic" I knew she was crazy. I mean, a woman living in a huge Southern home with "no one save an old manservant" was bound to have a few things wrong with her. Then, when her idiosyncrasies really began to shine through my mind started to think even more. When I read that "...within three days Homer Barron was back in town. A neighbor saw the Negro man admit him at the kitchen door one evening. And that was the last we saw of Homer Barron." It was details such as these in addition to ones about her father, her manservant, and the town's general opinions that foreshadowed the ending for me. Additionally, the use of grotesque words and phrases caused my mind to be darkened and thinking eerily too. These aspects all culminated in the horrendous ending.

"Gotta Secret, Can You Keep It?"

In "Interpreter of Maladies," the secret Mrs. Das reveals pretty much came out of no where I thought. I was very taken aback when Mrs. Das told Mr. Kapasi that she her son Bobby was the result of an affair. As the back-story began to unfold, I did feel a bit of sympathy for Mrs. Das. She is in a marriage with children that she does not want to be in. However, the majority of me feels no sympathy for Mrs. Das. I believe that an individual always has choices; Mrs. Das had/has choices in her situation. She had the opportunity for a divorce, among other options. I know that these are difficult, but these are better than unhappiness. Her unhappiness led to participating in intimacy behind her husband's back. It is very difficult for me to be truly sympathetic to a woman who would do this. I also find it hard to be sympathetic to an individual who shares her burdens with others in order to "make [her] feel better."

Sympathy & Understanding

I believe Edie to be a sympathetic character in the short story "How I Met My Husband." The story is told from Edie's young, innocent point of view; she tells us she "was fifteen and away from home for the first time." She then continues on to say that she had dropped out of school and came in last in the class. Her work as a hired hand automatically caused me to feel for this young girl. As the story continued, she revealed more of her unworldly personality. For instance, the drama with Alice Kelling, Mrs. Peebles and Edie divulges quite a bit of information about Edie's maturity and intelligence. Edie's maturity is exposed in the scene in which she "lost control, just like a six-year-old, [she] started howling." Her intelligence is expressed in this same scene with her misunderstanding of "intimate." It is in this part of the story that I can pinpoint areas of my heart going out to Edie. However, the premise of the entire novel creates sympathy; Edie is infatuated with the "wrong" type of man. We also feel for her because she "like[s] for people to think what pleases them and makes them happy." We can see through the story that this rings true in all she does.