My Reflection

Throughout the semester, this English class has truly inspired me and taught me just how influential and relevant literature is to my daily life. When first being assigned to read the play “Antigone” by Sophocles, I was not excited because I had already read it in high school and did not enjoy it. However, through several fishbowls and class lectures, I was able to establish a deeper understanding for the play and was even able to relate it to the society I live in. With that being said, I believe this class was really special because it taught me how to interpret literature not just in its own context but also in the context of the real world. For example, by reading and comparing “Antigone” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”, I was not only able to understand the extent of gender inequality within Ancient Greek civilizations and New Orleans in the 1930s, but was also able to relate it to the current world and realize that it is still a very present issue in several places like the Middle East.

 Another aspect of this class that was very helpful and unique were the fishbowl discussions and mini-fishbowl assignments and presentations. Instead of coming into class everyday and having to listen to a PowerPoint lecture, we were given the opportunity to sit in a circle and work together to brainstorm ideas and express our opinions and concerns. This style of learning is very special in that it allows us as the students to incorporate our ideas easily and more importantly interact and form bonds with one another which makes learning that much more enjoyable. Furthermore, before this class I strongly disliked presentations or getting up in front of the class to speak. However, after participating in several mini-fishbowl assignments which involved presenting my work to the whole class, I was able to build up more confidence and skills within the realm of speaking.

 Overall, this class ultimately gave me the tools to overcome and excel in any academic challenge I may be faced with. I believe my level of writing was greatly increased and my ability to critically read was challenged and made better. Before this class, I did not know what to look for when reading or what specifically to incorporate in my writing. However, after completing several assignments and receiving insightful and helpful feedback from Professor Brady, I was able to realize and work on my weaknesses. Because of this class, I can see myself as someone who will continue to read and write five years from now because I now view it as something that is more of a necessity rather than a chore. In addition, I am very grateful for this class because I know it has given me very important knowledge that will help me in my journey to becoming a Police Officer. This journey is not an easy task and involves receiving a degree and doing exceptionally well on a police exam. However, I know that the reading and writing skills I was introduced to in this class will greatly assist me in achieving this goal and many others.

My Favorite Lectures

1)      The lecture introducing the play, “Antigone” by Sophocles was very intriguing because it not only gave the background of the play but also allowed us as a class to incorporate our life views as well. In order to truly understand how selfless Antigone’s priorities were, this lecture allowed us as a class to decide how important certain aspects of our lives were to us. For example, we were required to order: loyalty or obligation to family, obedience to civil law, observance to civil law, protection of personal dignity, freedom, and protection of community or nation from most important to least important. This exercise allowed us to understand our own priorities in life as well as each other’s and ultimately compare them to Antigone’s in order to get a deeper understanding of the play.

 

2)      The lecture about perception and desire in terms of the play, “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams was very insightful because it gave me a better understanding of why Blanche had such a false perception of herself. Instead of accepting herself and her life as it was, Blanche would always create imaginary stories and fantasies about her life based on her desires as a coping mechanism. This lecture explained that Blanche created these fantasies in order to escape the realities of the truth which in her case was loneliness, misfortune, imperfection, and despair. Unfortunately, almost everyone in our society has the same mindset as Blanche. We are constantly comparing ourselves to the people around us and striving to impress others rather than focusing on being happy for who we are as individuals.

 

3)      The fishbowl lecture on perfection and obtaining the elixir of life in terms of the short story, “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was very interesting and relatable. In this short story, Aylmer is fixated on his wife Georgiana’s birthmark which he sees as an imperfection rather than an aspect of natural beauty. Similarly, in the real world many people are obsessed with striving to achieve physical perfection and neglect to realize how important and present their natural beauty is. According to this fishbowl lecture, perfection is a very dangerous title to aim for because it is impossible to reach and will always result in disappointment. This is a very crucial statement that everyone should remember because constantly striving for perfection can result in a very unfulfilling life.

The Happiness of Others Comes Before the Happiness of Oneself (Paper #2)

           People in our society are constantly striving to impress and make others happy instead of focusing on their own personal needs and desires. As a result, true happiness is never in fact achieved on the inside but is just portrayed on the outside. This theme of appeasement is greatly illustrated in the short stories, “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Both Gilman and Georgiana are very obedient to their husbands and always strive to make them happy no matter what it means for themselves. In addition, Mother Teresa is a woman who dedicated her whole life as a Roman Catholic Nun to helping the poorest and sickest people of Calcutta even if it meant sacrificing her happiness and comfortable lifestyle.  

            In “The Birthmark”, Aylmer becomes increasingly fixated with the birthmark on his wife Georgiana’s face. His negative obsession leads him to confront Georgiana about it and even offer her a potion to try and remove it. At first Georgiana felt very upset and betrayed by her husband for not looking past her imperfection. She states, “Then why did you take me from my mother’s side? You cannot love what shocks you” (Hawthorne 212). However, after being put down by Aylmer’s words and distasteful glares, Georgiana decided to swallow her pride and do what would please her husband over making herself happy. She states, “Let the attempt be made, at whatever risk. Danger is nothing to me; for life, while this hateful mark makes me the object of your horror and disgust - life is a burden which I would fling down with joy” (Hawthorne 215). In other words, Georgiana realizes just how upset her birthmark makes Aylmer and decides his happiness is more important than her feelings and own happiness.

            Similar to Georgiana, Perkins Gilman, author and character of “The Yellow Wallpaper” is also a woman who willingly hands over her happiness in order to appease her husband. For instance, Gilman loves writing more than anything but is well aware that her husband John does not like when she writes because of her mental instability. Therefore, Gilman must be secretive and limited when she writes in order to not make her husband upset. For example, while writing Gilman sees her husband coming and states, “There comes John, and I must put this away, he hates to have me write a word” (Gilman 309). Gilman’s anxiousness and compliance to her husband’s no writing rule shows that she is willing to almost give up something that she is so passionate about in order to maintain her husband’s happiness. In addition, Gilman also explains in the beginning of the story how much she hates the room she is living in and even calls it atrocious. However, when she asked John to renovate her room he responds with, “You know the place is doing you good, and really dear I don’t care to renovate the house just for a three months’ rental” (Gilman 310). Following this response Gilman decides her husband is right and says, “But he is right about the beds and windows and things” followed by “I would not be so silly as to make him uncomfortable just for a whim” (Gilman 310). It is clear that Gilman changed her opinion of her room as a result of her husband’s persuasion. Her mind-set is ultimately that her husband is always right and in order for both of them to be happy, she must agree with everything he says and believes is right.  

            In terms of “The Birthmark” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”, appeasement is something that is carried out to satisfy others while neglecting one’s own happiness. However, appeasement can also be carried out in a way that helping others and sacrificing all that you have for the sake of others is a passion and a calling. For example, Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic nun who devoted her life to helping the poor and those that no one else could help. “In 1952, Mother Teresa opened a home for dying and destitute people in Calcutta named Nirmal Hriday (“Pure Heart”) where she cared for and gave love to the unwanted in hopes that she could provide them with dignity and faith as they died” (Tucker). By leaving her convent to open this home and live and work with the sickest and poorest people of India, Mother Teresa showed that she was a person who would make any personal sacrifice to not only help others but make them happy as well. Mother Teresa once said, "If our actions are just useful actions that give no joy to the people, our poor people would never be able to rise up to the call which we want them to hear, the call to come closer to God. We want to make them feel that they are loved" (Tucker). Mother Teresa did not help others for her own happiness or sense of personal pride. Instead she did it for the sole purpose of making those who have lost everything emotionally and physically discover happiness and meaning in their lives even if that discovery comes moments before death.

 The beautiful work of Mother Teresa is rightfully shown in several documentaries as well as books. “The most well-known documentary titled, “Mother Teresa” (1986) directed by Ann and Jeanette Petrie follows Mother Teresa around on her day to day routines” (Petrie). Being able to capture the life of Mother Teresa directly through her eyes allows viewers to truly understand all that Mother Teresa has sacrificed in order to help others.   

            In conclusion, striving to appease or make others happy is an instinct that comes naturally to many people. Some try to appease others in hopes of receiving their acceptance and love in return. Meanwhile, other people do it for the sole purpose of creating happiness and hope in others’ lives no matter what it means for their own life. Both Georgiana of “The Birthmark” and Gilman of “The Yellow Wallpaper” live to satisfy their husbands even if it means giving up a passion or something very important to them. They believe that their happiness can only be fueled by maintaining the happiness of the people they love. Also, Mother Teresa is a real world example of what selflessly helping and satisfying others truly involves. She willingly entered a world of poverty and suffering in order to bring happiness and comfort to complete strangers. In the end, everyone has the ability to appease others. However, only few are equipped with the unconditional love and selfless spirit to truly change the life of another person for the better.


Works Cited

Gilman, Charlotte P. "The Yellow Wallpaper." The Norton Introduction to Literature. By Kelly J. Mays. 11th ed. New York: W. W, Norton, 2014. 307-20. Print.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Birthmark." The Norton Introduction to Literature. By Kelly J. Mays. 11th ed. New York: W. W, Norton, 2014. 211-25. Print.

Mother Teresa. Perf. Mother Teresa, Richard Attenborough. Petrie Productions, 1986. Film.

Tucker, Ruth A. "Mother Teresa." Christian History 19.1 (2000): 20. ATLA Religion Database. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.

  

Gender Inequality: "Antigone", "A Streetcar Named Desire", and Modern Islamic Societies (Paper #1)

                Over the course of history, many women such as Susan B. Anthony and Abigail Adams have tirelessly fought for the rights of women and earned the proud title of a feminist. Their overall motivation to carry out feminism was created by the unfortunate level of gender inequality that plagued our society and even world. This gender inequality can be understood through several real world examples as well as through the plays A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Antigone by Sophocles. The character Stanley from A Streetcar Named Desire and the character Creon from Antigone both enforce a specific lifestyle in which women are seen as inferior to and less important than men. This lifestyle is what Anthony and Adams fought against and is unfortunately very similar to the treatment of women in several modern day Islamic societies.   

                In the play Antigone, the character Creon is the ruler of Thebes who represents power and dominance. Creon knows all too well what powers he is entitled to as a ruler and does not let one go unused. With this high level of confidence and status it is inevitable that Creon will see himself as superior to everyone else. Specifically, Creon views himself and all other men as largely superior to women. For example, upon Antigone’s proud confession that she was the one who buried Polyneices, Creon was not only angry that someone of his city went against his wishes but he was infuriated and even embarrassed that it was a woman. Creon states, “I swear I am no man and she the man if she can win this and not pay for it” (Creon, 528-529). In other words, Creon is ultimately stating that if he doesn’t take action and severely punish Antigone, then he will be considered less of a man because a woman overpowered him. In addition, in Creon’s statement there is a great level of specification of who is more of the man which explains how sensitive he is to the definition and role of both genders.

            Further into the play, Creon and Antigone engage in a bitter conversation about the circumstances. Through frustration and anger, both characters willingly expose exactly how they feel about the situation and each other. For instance, Creon said to Antigone, “When I am alive no woman shall rule” (Creon, 577). Through this statement Creon makes it clear that he does not accept the idea of women having any type of power. Furthermore, he is indirectly telling Antigone that as long as he is alive, her words or actions will never be taken seriously or accounted for. Overall, Creon can be seen as a very discriminatory person who is determined to maintain the strict masculine role of a ruler and not allow women any opportunity in power.

            Similar to Creon, the character Stanley from A Streetcar Named Desire is also a very power driven, masculine man who thrives in a society that looks down on women. Through his careless words and abusive actions against his wife Stella, it is clear that he has no emotional appreciation for women. For example, following Blanche’s birthday dinner Stella asks Stanley to wash his hands and clear the table. Stanley respond by throwing a plate on the floor, violently grabbing Stella, and saying, “That’s how I’ll clear the table! Don’t ever talk that way to me!” followed by, “And I am the king around here, so don’t forget it!” (Williams 131). This scene greatly exposes Stanley’s violent nature as well as his need to be the alpha figure in the room. To Stanley, taking orders from a woman is one of the most offensive things that he could ever be subjected to. As a result he believes he has to redeem himself by putting Stella in her place through violence and abuse.

            The scene that is not only the climax but also one of the most barbaric moments of the play is when Stanley rapes Blanche. Stanley’s sole purpose of raping Blanche was to show his authority over her and to bring her to her breaking point in a way only a man could carry out. In this scene Stanley says to Blanche, “I’ve been on to you from the start” (Williams 158). In other words, Stanley is telling Blanche that he has known the truth to all of her lies from the very beginning and that he has been planning to hurt her in this way for a long time. Stanley’s premeditation to this vicious act is what makes it so much more evil. He put thought into what could really bring Blanche to destruction and ultimately treated her like an inanimate object that has no feelings or life to live.

            Although both of these plays are based off fictional characters and a fictional plot, they still highlight the fact that gender inequality and discrimination has existed in the past and is still a very present issue in the world today. For instance, women in present day Islamic societies experience extreme discrimination. The Islam religion is very strict in terms of gender roles and generally enforces the idea that men are superior to women.  For example, Islam’s holy book, the Qur’an generally states in verse 4.34, “Men are the maintainers of women and have the right to beat them if they are disobedient in their marital obligations” (Qur’an 4.34). This verse not only gives men ownership of women but also gives them the right to physically hurt them if they are “disobedient” in any way. This level of mistreatment is very severe because it is not only enforced by society but also by religion which is the most influential aspect of every Muslim’s life. A Muslim who goes against the practiced religion of Islam is seen as a traitor and will be doomed to the punishment of their god, Allah.

            Specific unfair restrictions on Muslim women are not only enforced by the Islamic traditions but also reinforced by the legal codes that exist in many Islamic societies. For example, some of these laws and restrictions include, “Women are only allowed to have one spouse when men are allowed to have four, girls are subjected to marriage at nine years old and boys can wait until fourteen years old, and it is almost impossible for a woman to acquire a divorce whereas a man can be divorced immediately at his command” (Beyer). These comparisons of rights shows that men always have a clear advantage over women. Men are given more power in terms of marriage and ultimately in every important life decision they will ever make.

            A highly debated topic within the Muslim community is the right for a woman to acquire a driver’s license. Currently, Muslim women in Saudi Arabia are prohibited to drive a motor vehicle. This topic has inspired the creation of several campaigns to end this prohibition which are making progress within the societal opinion of this issue. However, have not been successful in persuading officials and law makers to have a change of heart. For example, according to officials, “Any rebellious woman who is seen driving will be detained and not released until their male figure (father, husband, or even son) take a legal responsibility for her and sign a pledge that she will not drive again.” (Human Rights Watch). This extent of control and ownership of women can be seen as disgraceful and excessive to most outsiders of the Islamic faith. The fact that the law doesn’t see a woman as capable of driving a car or even being responsible for herself in a legal situation is immensely degrading and single-minded.

            In conclusion, gender inequality is a very serious issue in our world that should not be ignored. Through the plays Antigone and A Streetcar Named Desire, it is made clear that gender inequality existed as early as Ancient Greek civilizations and managed to maintain a presence in American cities such as New Orleans in the 1940s. The characters Creon and Stanley, although from different time periods, both represent powerful masculine figures who view women as just an accompaniment to their lives rather than equally important assets to society. Similarly, women in present day Islamic communities are treated with less respect and dignity because of their gender. This proves that although gender inequality has decreased in our society, it is still very present in our world. It is my hope that this gender discrimination will no longer be tolerated and one day be globally non-existent.  

 

 

Works Cited

 

Beyer, Lisa. "The Women of Islam." TIME. Time Inc., 25 Nov. 2001. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

 Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature, Shorter 11th Ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. Print.

"Saudi Arabia: End Driving Ban for Women." Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch, 24 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

"The Holy Quran Search Engine Arabic, English and Urdu." AL ISLAM. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.

 Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. New York: New Directions, 2004. Print.

 

 

"Don't Mourn, Just Remember" Published Writing Response #5

All forms of literature have the ability to impact and move a person in a way that nothing else can. Whether it be through the adventures of fictitious pieces or the relatable facts of non-fictitious pieces, a reader is able to constantly learn and evolve as a person. Poetry in particular, is a form of literature that is like no other. It is able to tell a whole story or perspective through the use of theme, tone, and several sound devices sometimes only within five lines. Similarly, songs are just as moving as poetry is and can be interpreted simply as poetry with music in the background. A result of this similarity is that many poems and songs are very relatable to each other. For example, the poems, “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke and “Song” by Christina Rossetti are very similar to each other as well as very similar to the song, “If You’re Reading This” by Tim McGraw. In terms of Theme and tone, these three pieces of literature very gracefully connect to one another.

Tim McGraw’s song, “If You’re Reading This” is a very sad yet prideful piece which resembles the words of a soldier anticipating his death as a result of war. The lines of this song explain to the listener that this soldier does not want any recognition or pity. Instead, he wants his loved one’s to keep moving on, stay hopeful, and remember him instead of mourn him. For example, McGraw sings, “If you’re reading this, there’s going to come a day when you’ll move on and find someone else and that’s OK. Just remember this, I’m in a better place, where soldiers live in peace and angels sing amazing grace” (Mcgraw). This stanza of the song very beautifully represents the selfless nature of this soldier in that he accepts his own unfortunate fate and only hopes for the best in everyone else’s. This line as well as several other lines in this song all contribute to the theme of remembrance and acceptance as well as to the tone of sadness as well as pride fullness.

 This song directly relates to the poem, “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke because both pieces are specifically based off the words and mindset of a soldier. Similarly, the speaker of this poem expresses his lack of desire for anyone’s tears and sadness. He wants to be remembered as a peaceful person who brought serenity and happiness to his homeland. Brooke writes, “And think, this heart, all evil shed away, a pulse in the eternal mind, no less” (Brooke). In other words, he wants to be remembered but only in a positive way and enough to never be forgotten but not so much as to be the first thought on everyone’s mind. The theme and tone of this poem is identical to that of McGraw’s song, “If You’re Reading This”. Both pieces depict a soldier who is speaking of unfortunate and tragic circumstances in a very prideful and composed way, as if dying for their countries was the only way they were going to accept death.

 Although the poem, “Song” by Christina Rossetti isn’t specifically about a soldier, it is still very relevant to the song, “If You’re Reading This” and the poem, “The Soldier” in that it once again explains the thoughts of someone who does not want sadness and mourning to exist as a result of her death. The speaker wants to assure her loved ones that she will be ok and is in no need for any attention. The theme and tone is also very similar to McGraw’s song and Brooke’s poem however, can also have an added theme of remember and forget. Rossetti states, “If thou wilt, remember, and if thou wilt, forget” (Rossetti). She also states at the end of the poem, “Haply I may remember, and haply may forget” (Rossetti). This constant repetition of remembering and forgetting emphasizes that the speaker wants her loved ones to remember her but to also forget her to the extent that they can continue to live their lives without constant grief and continued longing for her.

Overall, the poems, “The Soldier” and “Song” and the song, “If You’re Reading This” were all written by completely different people, at different times, and inspired by different situations. However, through tone and theme these three pieces all beautifully connect in a way that only poetry can. In addition, these pieces allow the reader to truly understand the feelings of someone like a soldier who is faced with death everyday to the point that he or she must prepare themselves and their families for it before it even happens. This kind of topic is something that cannot just be stated but instead must be felt and heard in a lyrical way. Otherwise, the reader is unable to experience the emotion that the speaker feels and is trying to explain.                                                         

"Idealism" Published Writing Response #4

Over the course of time and continuing today, the image of perfection and beauty has had an immense impact on the way people view themselves and others. People are constantly pinpointing their imperfections and striving to eliminate them unnaturally through plastic surgery and cosmetics. These insecurities and self-diagnosed imperfections are almost always the result of people comparing themselves to super models and celebrities. This idealistic approach to life is the exact opposite of what transcendentalists practice. Instead of constantly comparing themselves to others and being self-conscious of their physical appearances, they accept their natural beauty as it is and see life in a more realistic and philosophical way rather than a materialistic way.

The theme of idealism is greatly portrayed in the short story, “The Birthmark” by Nathanial Hawthorne. Aylmer for instance, is a scientist who is obsessed with finding the perfect potion to remove a birthmark from his wife Georgiana’s face. Instead of accepting Georgiana’s birthmark as a beautiful symbol of nature, he considers it an unfortunate burden that must be eliminated. Aylmer states, “I feel myself fully competent to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow; and then, most beloved, what will be my triumph when I shall have corrected what Nature left imperfect in her fairest work” (Hawthorne 215). In other words, Aylmer is saying that perfection isn’t made by nature but instead is derived by the hands of man. This belief is very opposite from those of a transcendentalist in that it greatly supports the current theme of idealism. A transcendentalist in this situation would have accepted Georgiana’s birthmark as perfect and unique rather than as something that didn’t belong. For example, moments before death Georgiana assumed the role of a transcendental when saying to Aylmer, “You have rejected the best the earth could offer” (Hawthorne 225). Through this statement to her husband, one can understand the love and acceptance that Georgiana had for herself even with a birthmark on her face. She saw it as something that defined her personally rather than as something that held her back physically.

Idealistic beliefs and pursuits are increasingly influential on our current society. Everyone is striving to achieve and bring to life the personal utopia’s that they have created in their minds. Whether it be physical appearance or ones level of performance, people are constantly looking to make changes in order to reach perfection. For example, “In 2012 there were approximately 14.6 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures done across America” (American Society of Plastic Surgeons). This statistic greatly proves just how widespread the desire for perfection truly is. It also represents that the majority of people in this country do not understand the power of nature and are therefore unable to accept themselves for who they are and how they were born. In addition, our society has somehow managed to make activities meant for leisure and fun such as sports into something that is overly competitive and idealistic in nature. For example, former NFL quarterback, Ray Lucas recently opened up about almost committing suicide due to the stress and depression he experienced from the pressures of playing professional level football. Due to several injuries, Lucas was unable to perform at his idea of perfection and resorted to pills as a way to help him through his imperfections. Lucas states in an interview, “I had such a hard time staring at myself in the mirror, I wanted to punch that guy in the face” (Jaslow). Lucas’s actions and statements were a direct result of his desire for perfection which was impossible for him to achieve. Instead of accepting his injuries and weaknesses as a symbol of hard work and dedication to his job, he looked at them as failures and barriers to achieving his ideal self. Overall, one does not need to necessarily be a transcendentalist to understand that a person’s physical and emotional self isn’t something that is meant to be altered but instead is meant to teach and inspire him or her to accept, overcome, and ultimately be happy.  

 

Works Cited

"14.6 Million Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures Performed in 2012." American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.

Jaslow, Ryan. "Former NFL quarterback Ray Lucas hopes story of painkiller addiction will lead others to get help - CBS News." CBS News. CBS News, 20 Aug. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.

"Martin Luther King Said..." Published Writing Response #3

Martin Luther King once said, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” In other words, one who carelessly sits in the background and expresses only silence will not receive freedom in his or her life. This freedom can either be given or taken from by a powerful government or authoritative figure, or even from oneself by lacking the freedom of self-love and expression. A sense and retrieval of mental and physical freedom can only come from one’s inner desire and motivation to truly be free. Through this statement and many others, Martin Luther King made it clear that change and action was the only way to achieve freedom for his race. Instead of sitting back and accepting racism and abuse, he decided to take action and be the voice for all of his people in the fight for equality.

 

In the short story, “A White Woman of Color”, Julia Alvarez expresses the difficulties she faced as a “white Dominican” transitioning into her new life in New York. Once somewhat settled in to the diverse American culture, Alvarez feels that she is almost trapped in American ways and has lost a sense of freedom in expressing her Latino background. For example, she states, “My values, the loss of my Catholic faith, my lifestyle, my wardrobe, my hippy ways, and my feminist ideas separated me from my native culture” (Alvarez 188).  However, instead of just accepting her newly Americanized life, Alvarez decided something needed to be done in order to regain her Latino heritage. Through the time she spent reading, writing, and teaching, Alvarez began to rediscover the rich culture she left behind. Motivated by her writing, Alvarez states, “I am choosing to hold on to my ethnicity and native language even if I can “pass.” I am choosing to color my Americanness with my Dominicanness even if it came in a light shade of skin color” (Alvarez 189). Through this statement, Alvarez is expressing her realization that it is easy and very common for one’s native culture to drift away. However, by writing and teaching, Alvarez has “chosen” to keep her Latino heritage at the forefront of her life and personality. Without this personal decision and action Alvarez may have been completely Americanized for the rest of her life much like Martin Luther King in terms of his fight against segregation and racism.

 

Freedom in modern day American society overall is an inevitable aspect of every citizens life. However, oppression is unfortunately still a very present issue within our society, especially in terms of discrimination. For example, the Boy Scouts of America organization has maintained a strict ban on homosexual scouts for the past 103 years of its existence. “It was not until January 1, 2014 that the organization lifted the ban on homosexual scouts but decided to still maintain this ban on homosexual adult scout leaders” (James). In other words, all boys below the age of 18 are allowed to join the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexuality. However, once a homosexual Boy Scout reaches 18 years old, he is no longer permitted in the organization. He must give up all that he has earned and accept the fact that he can never achieve any higher up leadership positions within the Boy Scouts solely because of his sexuality. Upon realizing the realities of the changes the Boy Scouts Organization has made, one can conclude that they did not create a more equal and tolerant environment but instead created one that is still discriminatory but now on a more specific and direct level. Much like Martin Luther King and Julia Alvarez, a former Eagle Scout named James Dale was one of the few to stand up for himself and his fellow scouts who are homosexual. “Dale raised a law suit against the Boy Scouts that made it to the Supreme Court in 2000. However, Dale lost by one vote” (James). Following this loss, Dale who is now 42 years old continues to speak and fight against the homosexual leadership ban within the Boy Scouts. Dale’s actions represent that leadership does not mean following the popular opinion, and change is not the result of accepting corruption. Instead, sometimes some of the least powerful people have the most powerful voices.

 

Alvarez, Julia. “A White Woman of Color” Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural. Ed. Claudine Chiawei O’Hearn. Pantheon books, 1988. Print.

 

James, Susan D. "Boy Scouts Vote to End Ban on Gay Scouts; Gay Adults Still Barred." ABC News. Good Morning America, 23 May 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

 

 

 

"It's Just an Illusion" Published Writing Response #2

Throughout the play, "A Streetcar Named Desire" it is clear that illusions and deceptions greatly overpower reality and all that it entails. Stella and Blanche are two characters whose lives are most controlled by fantasy and illusion. Blanche for example, persuades everyone and even herself at times into thinking she is an innocent and proper young woman. However, in reality she is mentally corrupt and possesses a past filled with impurity. Meanwhile, Stella mentally revolves herself around the thought that she and Stanley have a great relationship and that her life is perfect. However, the reality of Stella’s life is that she has an abusive husband and a mentally unstable sister. Through both characters, it can be concluded that these fantasy’s and illusions are a way of dealing with life’s difficult and almost unsolvable problems. For example, Stella states, “I couldn’t go on believing her story and live with Stanley” (Stella, 165). By saying this, it is clear that Stella would rather live a lie or illusion rather than accept the truth and deal with the hardships it could create. In addition, one line prior to this statement Eunice asks Stella, “What else could you do?” (Eunice, 165). This line is significant because it shows that Stella isn’t the only one who views Blanche’s situation as something other than it is in order to escape the reality of it. Through Eunice the reader is able to understand that most of society at this time period lives through a self-created lens of illusion. 

   Over the course of history, creating illusions and deceptions have almost become a way of life for our population. People as a whole continue to struggle with accepting reality and its blunt nature and therefore resort to a fictitious outlook on life. For example, “On December 7, 1993 a Long Island Railroad train was on its way from Penn Station to Hicksville when a man named Colin Ferguson pitilessly opened fire on innocent commuters killing 6 and wounding 19”(Cantwell, A30). Directly following these vicious acts, Colin Ferguson spent two days in court denying his participation in the shooting and tirelessly fighting his “innocence”. He ultimately forced the people of the court room into an illusion that was parallel to what actually happened and even acquired an alter ego and spoke of himself in third person. It may seem normal for the defendant to fight for his innocence in court.  However, this case was not like most in that it had a surplus of witnesses and evidence that overwhelmingly confirmed Ferguson’s guilt. With that being said, one may ask why Ferguson committed this crime so obviously and then put so much effort into fighting his innocence when there was little to no chance he would acquire it.

Following this crime several different opinions of Fergusons behavior were brought up. “Many who analyzed this case decided that Ferguson’s actions were motivated by his fantasy of achieving a sense of racial equality through getting revenge on all the races he felt inferior to” (Crouch, A14). In other words, Ferguson had the fantasy of a world without racism and believed he could achieve it by killing people of unrelated races. Also, he had the illusion that he was the highest level of control in the court room and wanted to show it through his bizarre statements and plot twists of the crime. Similar to Stella and especially Blanche, Ferguson’s life revolved around the insane fantasies he created. If Stella were to willingly believe that her husband did in fact rape her sister Blanche, she would have to live the rest of her life as a divorced lonely woman without Stanley. Similarly, if Ferguson were to accept that his beliefs were delusional and ultimately accept his guilt in court, then he would have to live the rest of his life not only behind bars but also with the reality that he cannot do anything to change society according to his opinions.

Cantwell, Mary. "Editorial Notebook; The Colin Ferguson Trial: [Editorial]." The New York Times 24 Mar. 1995: A.30. New York Times. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.

Crouch, Stanley. "Our American theater of blood." The Wall Street Journal [New York] 13 Dec. 1993: A14. The Wall Street Journal. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.