For Week 3, I'd simply like you to respond to one of the short stories assigned this week. You may want to wait until the end of the week to post so that you've read all of the assigned readings. Your response should take the form of a lengthy paragraph or paragraphs- somewhere between 8-10 sentences at least. Basically, I want to see your thinking on one of the short stories.
Keep in mind that your response should be a thoughtful contribution to our discussion of the stories- not a summary or review. Think about the following:
What are some of the themes for these stories?
What jumped out at you the most in one, or in more than one, of these stories? What was your initial reaction?
What questions still remain following your reading of the stories? What did you notice that we did not talk about in class?
Here's your chance to say something you didn't get to say in class or didn't think about until it was too late. Please do not summarize the story or restate what we already said in class.
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61 comments:
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
Possible theme: Love can take unexpected forms (or maybe that's too cliche?).
One line that was interesting to me said, "The personal life of every individual is based on secrecy, and perhaps it is partly for that reason that civilized man is so nervously anxious that personal privacy should be respected." It's an interesting idea that our lives are founded upon secrecy, that we really can't survive without it.
We get a lot of insight into Gurov's point of view, such as his attitude towards women and how that changed when he met Anna Sergeyevna, but not much from Anna. For example, why is she always so unhappy and crying? The story suggests some reasons: maybe she has an unhappy marriage with a man she doesn't respect, maybe she feels guilty for the affair. But it seems like her constant unhappiness might be caused by something bigger than that.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find"
Theme? Honestly I'm not sure. I do know that this story is so ironic. It is the most interesting one because the characters all make the story funny, despite the murders... The idea I wanted to point out is the fact that The Misfit and the grandmother are so much alike. The Misfit may even be more honest than the grandmother. He is very upfront about his beliefs, whereas the grandmother is wishy washy and likes anything someone else does. She is a hypocrite and The Misfit does exactly what he thinks he should every time. The grandmother is what Jared pointed out, a deathbed Christian. She seems to convert and try to get The Misfit to see reason through Jesus just for her own good. He already has his beliefs and is able to tell her exactly what he believes and what he thinks is the best way to live life.
Another aspect of the story that I focused on is that the Misfit is cold at heart but still has firm beliefs. The grandmother says whatever might save her. He seems to be the only person who can put her in her place.
"A Good Man Is Hard To Find"
Truthfully i can start out by saying i had nightmares the night i read this story because i go down roads like that all of the time to camp and other outdoor activities. But after looking back on the story i realized that the whole family really did not love each other maybe like they should have, none of them may not have meant to be like that but they just were. i thought it to be extremly ironic that the misfit may be the only good guy in the story because of the way he talkes and acts it is amlost like he is truly sicere, except for the mass murders and such, i mean he even apologized that he did not have a shirt on in front of the ladies, he did not apologize for killin them. i also got the impression from the grandmother that she was just trying to save herself but in reality what could she have done except for talk him out of what he was doing. she had to act as a negotiator and try to get into his head and she chose to do this by asking him if he had ever prayed before, and tryed to go the religious route. she might have talked about the religion to save him, usually people like the misfit do not know Christ because no one takes the time to teach them. si i thought even though it seemed like the grandmother was just blabering her talking about Christ and religion could have started a seed in his heart that he would have for the rest of his life.
"Soldier's Home"
Possible Theme: One person's experience can affect everyone around him.
The way Krebs refers to women jumped out to me the most. Throughout the whole story he keeps going back to the idea that they are "too complicated," when in reality he is the one that seems rather complicated. He talks about his many different experiences with girls and constantly says they are too much work. My initial reaction is that he has been hurt too many times in the concept of love, and his rejection of girls now is only normal. I wonder that if he met a girl that was the opposite of his stereotype if he would then be able to open himself back up to love and actually have a real relationship. Not all girls are as complicated as he makes them out to be, and if he would simply open his mind to new ideas he might realize this.
"The Hand"
A possible theme: You never know someone until you sleep with them.
I'm sorry if that's inappropriate, but the girl in this story knew her husband for one month before she married him! I think that's more inapproriate than anything. The wife in this story seems to be very shallow. The only reason she married him was because he gave her the attention she wanted, and he is good looking. The fact that it says she's beginning her life of duplicity simply because she thinks his hand looks like a beast shows how her morals are completely out of whack. How could someone marry a man that they know so little to nothing about? That's the reason people should get to know each other through dating before getting engaged.
The only question I have left has to do with the symbolism of the hand, and I know we'll eventually get to it in class.
"Soldier's Home"
I think a possible theme would be that war takes a greater toll on a person's mind than on anything else.
I guess what interested me the most about the story is Krebs himself. He tries to distance himself from the world and acts like he doesn't care about anything or anyone. He reminds me of Holden in Catcher in the Rye especially because of younger sister character that is present in both stories. In both cases, the younger sister brings out qualities in the older brother that we may not have seen otherwise. I think the simplicity of war has a great influence on Krebs' thoughts on women and life in his hometown. In war, the main focus is death. There are no cliques and annoying drama, there is just death. Krebs got used to this world and when he returns, he can't seem to get back into the world he used to belong to. I like this story best out of the ones we've read because it gives us a view of a damaged mind, and that has always interested me.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find"
One thing that really jumped out to me in the book is the position that the grandmother dies in. The story says that she "half sat and half lay in a puddle of blood with her legs crossed under her like a child's and her face smiling up at the cloudless sky". In class we discussed how she tries to look very dignified and ladylike all the time, but this scene seems quite the opposite. She is compared to a child, which is not a very ladylike position, and is laying in her own blood. This scene just struck me as very vivid and a little ironic after her previous actions. Also, it seems very symbolic that she is smiling up at the "cloudless sky" following the point when her "mind cleared" and she saw the Misfiot as her own child, which basically mimic each other. The smile would suggest that she is happy at this realization, which is also a bit odd, since there are few people I can think of who would be happy to find a murder is their child. However, it could be that she is glad to have found someone else like her, since she is surrounded by people who seem very unlike her(the family). This makes it even more strange that he is the one who kills her, even though it does fit into his characterization.
"The Hand"
When I first read this story, I thought "Wow, this woman is superficial!" But then I read it again and put myself in this woman's shoes. I don't think she's so much shallow, but simply inexperenced with the concept of loving someone else. The author uses a lot of words to portray her as so. He calls her "the young woman" and describes her having a "slim, adolescent back". She's even holding her husband like a giddy child "too excited to sleep".
Yet, she is the one supporting her husband's head. She's acting as the adult, while her husband is posing as the sleping child. This marriage represents adulthood for this woman. After she makes a big deal about her husband's imperfect hand, she realizes she must grow up in order to commit to this marriage. When she brings beakfast, she toughens up and bravely kisses the imperfect hand.
I thought it was ironic that in this moment of adulthood, she brings him toast and hot chocolate, food that children eat.
Why didn't she bring omelettes and coffee? It's like she's trying to grow up, but isn't quite there...
"Soldier's Home"
Possible theme: Just one short experience can scar a person forever with no hope of recovery.
The story, I'll admit, made me sad; a soldier, still young and active, goes and fights overseas and comes home depressed and unsocial. Krebs makes me feel both sympathetic and non sympathetic to his plight. I know that he is scarred by the war, and that makes him depressed; I sympathize with him. However, when he doesn't even make an effort to insert himself back into society, like his mom, I begin to loose patience. Sometimes the best way to get over a bad experience is to put yourself back out there again; the less time you have to think about your problems, the better you'll feel. I was surprised that Krebs didn't try to enjoy home like he used to; instead, he lays around like a bum.
One question I had was why did he feel it necessary to tell his mother that he didn't love her, when he told his sister that he did? I know that the age difference might be a contributing factor, but that can't be all the reason behind it.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
Possible theme: Love is not always pure and right, it can be difficult and sometimes sinful and wrong.
Today in class we discussed what we thought happened next in the story. We all like stories with a happy ending, but I do not think that there is an ending where everyone can be happy in this case. Gurov and Anna can continue to see each other in secret, they can run away together and be in love & open about it, or they can end it here. Now the last option wouldn't happen, so that leaves two in which somebody is unhappy. Either Gurov & Anna, or their spouses & families. Honestly, if I were writing the story, I would have them run away together, only because I think Gurov truly loved Anna & could never feel that way about another woman again. Many believe that their relationship is immoral and sinful, but I personally beleive, that you can't help who you fall in love with. Yes, they shouldn't cheat on their spouses, but they had no choice on their first marriages, & honestly if I were in their position I would have done the exact same thing. I know it is unlikely for them to live "happily ever after" but if it were up to me, they would.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
Upon first reading this story, I did not like it at all. However, after reading it again with an open mind, I started to gain more insight into what the author is trying to say. I believe the theme is that love is messy, undefined, and does not follow the rules. Unfortunately, even during my short seventeen years on this earth, I have encountered men like Gurov. He philanders and breaks hearts without thinking twice. But somehow the purity of Anna ties him down finally, and he starts to show true affection. Of course, it is not how they would have planned it. But when does life ever turn out as planned?
"The Hand"
This short story centers around the conflict of male dominance and female submission. Although the man is asleep, he is clearly the superior part of the newlywed couple as his arm is wrapped around the wife. Furthermore, the wife feels the need to comfort her husband by supporting his head and monitoring his sleeping. A large part of this superiority comes from the wife's fear and admiration of the husband, symbolized by her observation of the hand. Perhaps this is her first realization of the husband's overbearingness since they have been married only two weeks.
Words and phrases like "reared back," "fistful," and "strangler" hint at the aggression that the husband will most likely exhibit in the coming years. The red color of the hair and hand represent his rage. The fact that he is a widower suggests he has already lost one wife, thus leading him to be more protective of his second.
At the end of the story, I was at first surprised by the kiss. However, it seems appropriate that the woman becomes brave and dismisses her fears.
"A Good Man Is Hard To Find"
I don't see why everyone was hating the grandmother so much. Its not like she had the intention of making her son take the wrong turn to have his family slaughtered. She's just a typical passive-aggressive mother in law who will do what it takes to get her desired result. I do think that the grandmother and the Misfit were polar opposites though. The grandmother was a little shallow and sneaky, while the Misfit is 100% honest about his intentions on killing her and her family. I also don't understand why everyone was so weird about her trying to convert him at the last second. Wouldn't seeing your family shot and having a gun pointed at you make you have a "come to Jesus meeting"? I'm not saying its right, but I bet its pretty typical.
"The Hand"
The main thought that stuck out in my head reading this short story was the fact that she married her lover after only a month. Honestly how can a person trulky know someone after that short of time. As the story progressed it was eaiser to understand the the newly wed couple were laying in bed together. When the womans husband finally fell asleep, it gave her the time to look into her own thoughts toward the details of his hand. While looking at his hand, I believe his wife at this moment understood that she may have married someone she didn't completely know.
Possible Theme: Physical attractiveness is the dominant force driving marriages, when the personality and feelings should be the most important thing.
I'm not going to lie, I loved this story because of its brevity, but I also got more out of it than most of the other stories in the past week. I believe the dominating topic in this story is how a marriage should come about, depending on dating, how long the two are aquainted, etc. The woman had only known her husband for a month before they had tied the knot. To put that into perspective, imagine this: you've met someone you've liked on the first day of school, and you're going to get married in about two weeks. The thought baffles me, and I've had at least a modest share of relationships, both long and very short. It also seems that the woman married her new husband almost entirely based on his looks and achievements, taking absoloutely no consideration to his emotions. He has been RECENTLY widowed, but the author fails to mention how she dies, what sort of relationship the husband and late wife had, or how long the two were married before the previous wife had died. The story was written in 1924; the jazz age was taking place, women were becoming more sexual in a way, but not to a great extent. This is probably the reason that the two married so quickly; because premarital sex was still condoned by the public during the time period, more people married and married younger in order to experience sex. Because of the superficial basis of the marriage on the woman's part, it is not surprising that something as small as a hand would freak out the woman to such a degree.
"Soldier's Home"
I would like to respond to a possible meaning about the story's title. Hemingway uses Krebs's home in America to descibe the reversal of traditional views of the world (at that point in history) - the home symbolizes that Krebs now, after the war, has a different world view than his family. This is exemplified through his uncaring attitude towards nearly everything in his town. He does not to work nor does he want to court women. His greatest desire is to live in a world without consequences. This speaks volumes as to where his true home actually is. During the war, the military provided all of his necessary items - food, water, shelter, and because he was simply in Europe, women. He, therefore, believes that he will, eventually, and through no effort by himself, be provided with these materials in America, as well. It seems to create a connection to his true home: because all of his basic materials necessary to survive was provided during the war, Krebs's true home is at war. This idea is supported by current Vietnam veterans - when asked about their expierences, they discuss them as if they have a greater understanding of the world. It seems to say that for any soldier, their home, at least for a moment, is actually the war.
"the hand"
theme: people aren't always who you think they are.
i felt really bad for this girl. she was so naive and she thought she was truly in love with this guy. but he was definitly rebounding and she was young and inexperienced. neither one loves the other. she is just beginning to realize exactly who she married and the mistake that it was. she understands though that she can't take it back now and this probobly made me feel the worst for her. she knows her mistake but is committed to staying with him and not letting him now how awful he is for her. i think this is really self sacrificing if a little dumb.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
After our discussion in class today, I was a little suprised by some of the opinions i heard from my fellow classmates. One of the possible themes of this story is that love has the inexplicable ability to overcome certain boundaries and rules, even the institution of marraige. The two "star crossed" lovers meet in a vacation resort. Because of their unhappy marraiges, they make the choice to enter in to an affair. What really bothers me is the idea that the author believes that their affair can be justified because of their "true love for each other." So much for the promises of wedding vows! This story does not show the other side of an affair- broken families. "The Lady with the Pet Dog" shines positive light on the horrible act of adultery.
"A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
Possible Theme: Times change but not necessarily people.
The grandmother is so far out of touch with her family and just the time period in general that it ends up getting her killed. If she had just realized that she needed to keep her mouth shut and not point out who the misfit was, then maybe her and her entire family would not have been murdered. That doesn't make her a villain though because she can't help how she was raised and how she thinks things should be. She really wants to believe that someone who looks like a good person really is a good person, but that is exactly the sort of thing the Misfit hates. He almost plays an Anti-Christ like character because he is so charming and charismatic, but his only agenda is destruction and death. He could have been all the things that the grandmother believed him to be, but he went out of his way to be the complete opposite. The grandmother certainly wasn't perfect, but the Misfit was the villain.
"The Hand"
Kind of like everyone else that commented on this story, the main thing that caught my attention was that she had only known her new husband a month before she married him. There is no way you can get to know everything you need to know about a person in one month. It's just not possible.
I also thought it was kind of strange that she was so freaked out by his hand. But at the same time I think it just symbolizes that she really doesn't know anything about him and she is realizing her mistake.
As I was reading and trying to put things together in the story I remembered that she said that her husband was recently widowed. Then when she was describing how "the hand" was strangling the sheets while he was dreaming it made me think more. I actually think that he is widowed because he murdered his first wife by strangling her. I know that's kind of a horrible thought, but that's just what came to mind when I was thinking.
Possible theme: Hasty, unplanned actions can often lead to unexpected realizations concerning one's self or the world around them.
The husband's hand obviously acts as the primary symbol in the work. It is the object that causes her to recognize the gravity of marriage. The shift towards the ending shows her sudden realization about the huge commitment she is about to embark on. The young bride is first blinded by bliss and excitement about her husband and the future life they will share. But her eyes are opened and she has an epiphany that marriage will not be as carefree as she had anticipated. This is somewhat expected from the reader because she has only been with the guy for a month before she made the decision to give her life to him. The allusions made to choking illustrate that the woman will not remain as free as she once was, but that she will become subservient to her husband. The reader, as well as the girl, is taken aback by the "monstrous' hand that comes to life. Perhaps Colette does this to create the extreme view of one becoming overpowered in a relationship. By leaving the woman unnamed, the author hints that many women, including herself, rush into a commitment with no regard for the consequences. In the final paragraph, Colette shows that the young bride is beginning to accept her place in the marriage, and signifies her preparing to be subservient to her husband.
The only question I have is why in the world would she give in so easily, when she is so repulsed at the thought of being controlled?
"The Hand"
The story could possibly be questioning how long it can take before you really know or person, that is, if you ever really do know a person. There are always things about someone that no one will ever find out and there is clearly something about the husband that the wife does not know about. It could possibly be that he murdered his previous wife because it mentions that he was recently widowed. Obviously, a month is not long enough to get to know a person, but how long is long enough? Everyday you can learn something new about a person.
"A Soldier's Home"
The theme of this short story could possibly be that war can of some of the most damaging effects on the human mind, and that others may not fully comprehend the lingering effects of a returning soldier. In the story Krebs's mother could tell that there was something seriously wrong with Krebs, but I do not think she could understand to the extent of the damage on Krebs's mind. While Hemingway could possibly venting his struggles after his experiences in war, his story is anything but a happy go lucky tale. Krebs does appear to not be very ambitious in making his way back into the norms of society, but I think that what someone in our class pointed out it quite true-Krebs wants to rejoin society, but on his own terms. Until he can do this, Krebs will never really be home, since a soldier's home is state of mind where he can belong to something once more. Hemingway's style is short and blunt be he still clearly gets his point across to his audience.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find"
To me the story was an observation of society. "The Misfit" and the grandmother are two of the same archetype; they both show that it is possible to act differently than you appear to be. It was only out of necessity that one of the characters be exterminated-two strong willed characters who do not compromise must attempt to destroy each other to restore balance to the setting. As far as the children and parents, though regrettable, are not essential to the root conflict, they only add suspense. The criticism lies in the apathy of "The Misfit"; readers have an affinity to adjudicate this character because of his murderous ways; however, he does not show differentiation when regarding motive and action. The grandmother, who claims to have good intentions, partakes devious actions in reality. She is no different than "The Misfit", who has no intention .
"A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
My initial reaction to this story was one of shock. The problem was that I did not read into the story all that much on the first time around. However, once I finished the story the second time, I realized the religious ideas that O'Connor imbued in this story. The grandmother, the one that I personally labeled a "death bed Christian", was not a virtuous person. She was planning the trip around what she wanted to do. Once confronted with the Misfit, she fears for her life and turns into a "Bible Beater." She insists that the Misfit must pray, and she even insists on him being related to her (an obvious Christian idea in that we are all children of God). So I guess, a possible theme of this story is people that rely on Him in the last minutes of life, may not always be granted mercy.
"The Hand"
I think this story centers on the unfamiliarity of the two newlyweds. A possible theme could be that a human's true nature is revealed through the unconscious. The wife only sees her new husband from the outside. She only sees him how he wants to be seen. Through the aggressive and threatening actions of the hand, the husnands true nature reveals itself. He is probably hiding the fact that he is a very controlling and violent person. I also found it strange that the husband was recently widowed. Perhaps his hand's actions are revealing his true violent nature, possibly the reason for his deceased wife.
"Soldier's Home"
The second time I read this story, once being in Mr. Campbell's class last year, I still had the same feelings: how destructive war is on the human mind. Krebs becomes so disillusioned from his experiences in World War I. He witnessed some of the most violent and bloody scenes of the war. When he comes home, can anyone really expect him to be normal? When I read the story this time around, I kept thinking of Billy Pilgrim in "Slaughterhouse Five." Both went off to war and fought in major and bloody battles. Both came home broken. Billy marries his wife (I can't remember her name for the life of me), but he is sort of distant from her, just as Krebs is distant from the women in his world. The war for each of them has a different personal effect, but both stories show the disillusionment of war for men. I'm not sure why, but this is a very strong and personal subject for me. I don't know anyone over seas now, and my grandfather was in the air force but he wasn't in a war. Somehow, war hits me pretty hard, which is why I'm defending both Krebs and Billy in what some may call "insanity." Maybe its because all three of us have post-traumatic stress.
The Lady with the Pet Dog
When I first read this story, I did not like it. After reading more closely and discussing it in class, I still don't like it. I think that this story is too common. It takes two adulterous people and tries to show that love they have for one another is true.
The part that stood out the most to me was when they first kissed and Anna begins to realize how low she has sunk. She criticizes herself when talking to Gurov. Gurov hears it all, but does not once think maybe he is just as bad as Anna is. They both cheated and lied just for something they thought was love. I think that thier "love" is the same as it is with thier true spouses and they will eventually get bored with it.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
Possible theme: Love happens unexpectantly and in the weirdest of places.
Anna seems as if she is scared out of her mind at what she has done which is commited adultry. Gurov does not really care because he has done this many times. Anna kind of resembles Mary Magdoline, a prostitute. At first Gurov does not care about Anna. He even takes it as far to say that women are the "inferior race." But after she leaves he cannot get her out of his mind. He "loves" her. But really i think he is in love with being in love or maybe it is more lust than love. Gurov idolizes Anna just like in Great Gatsby. The title suggests that she is wanting a companion and that she is just any other lady. It is very generic. Gurov could be the "pet dog." But they are trying to make it work, but i think they will break-up because either they will get caught or it could be too painful to keep this relationship going.
"The Hand"
Possible theme: Excitment and infatuation can disguise themselves as true love.
This was my favorite story of the week because it turned something so simple into something so meaningful. I think the girl's realization that she was not truly in love with the man is something common in marriages of young people. She was so naive and excited that she did not take the time to define what love truly means.
The story shows that love is not something to be taken lightly, but something that develops over time. "The Hand" stresses the importance of looking at life and relationships from all angles and not getting caught up in the lustful nature of young love.
The definition of love varies from person to person and one of the most difficult challenges in life is deciding your own personal connotation of love. The girl in the story thinks she knows the definiton of love, until she realizes that she barely knows the man she is lying in bed with. She has mistaken her feelings of lust and physical attraction for love. Although she begins to realize she is not truly in love, she still seems to refuse to believe in the mistake she has made and kisses the hand. It is almost as if she is wishing that she did truly love him and hoping that in time things could change.
"Soldier's Home"
I think a major theme of "Soldier's Home" is war can destroy a person's identity. As we see in the Hemingway's short story, Krebs is two completely different people before and after the war. Before he was Harold, a Christian momma's boy who loved his family and friends. After he is Krebs, the war hardened recluse who loves no one and wants to live without consequences. The war disillusions him. He loses his buddies that are close to him, and after a while he learns that it is better not to be close to anyone. He also loses his religion and no longer believes in God. When he returns he no longer fits in to the same place his former self, Harold, did.
"The Hand"
I was actually amused by the story at first. I understood the significance of the hand and that it was a symbol, but she was so scared and worried over a person's hand that I couldn't help but be amused. At first, it seems as if she is wearing rose-colored glasses: she sees his physical attributes and is excited about the idea of love and marriage. As she stares at the hand and comes to the realization that she jumped into the marriage too fast, she becomes scared. She realizes that her marriage is based on adoration, not love. In one part of the short story, the hand grabs at the covers, like it is strangling something. This makes me think that the wife's own individuality and personality is actually being strangled by the marriage. She is now subservient to her husband and must follow him, which was common of most women of the 1920s. The wife is now a sort of servant to the husband, and is a wife, not a woman anymore. She has lost her own identity as she gains the new identity of her husband's wife.
One thing I was confused about was the importance of the husband being recently widowed. I thought it could mean that she is a wife replacement of sorts and is the only one new to the idea of marriage. Maybe it could refer to something bad involving how the past marriage ended. I'm just not sure.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
The big question today was whether or not the two of them are in love. I agree with Libby and Chandler, that the feelings they have for each other are just infatuation. I think that they are both so miserable in their marraiges, that they are grasping for anything that is better. And that is what they have found in one another.
As for the question about how the story ends, I don't think that the ending will just be bliss. I think that they are living in a fantasy world, but things are eventually going to catch up with them. Just as Raskolnikov's conscience caught up with him in Crime and Punishment, I think that Anna's heart will torment her if she continues with Gurov. And If she decides to go back to her husband, she doesn't have to be miserable. I think that people have the power (to an extent) to choose whether they will be happy or not. If you go into a situation knowing you will hate it, you will. But I think if Anna honors her commitment to her husband, and honestly tries to see what is good in him, then she will eventually find happiness.
"The Soldier's Home"
Possible theme: Returning to a complacent, "normal" lifestyle after experiencing traumatic events, like war, is impossible because of the emotional burdens and mental transformation one undergoes.
Before Krebs leaves home, he was almost certainly momma's little boy. I think the ease of adjusting to life in a fraternity, with its constant conformity, helped make the transition into the Marines flawless. Krebs is obviously comfortable with being told what to do and blending in with the crowd. When he returns home, however, his experiences at war have made him so radically different from everyone around him that he doesn't fit in anymore, which I think causes most of his anger. Once he moves to Kansas City and starts a life where he can blend in however he wants, he'll readjust to society much more quickly and less stressfully than if he had stayed at home. Although his mother loves him and wants him to immediately jump back into the life he had before, he knows this can't happen, although he doesn't consciously recognize it. This is why he is so bitter, ungrateful, and unloving towards his family--he feels that they want him to blend in at their own pace without regard to the tragic events he's been a part of. Once free of their obsessive behavior, he'll be able to finally spread his figurative wings and fly "home".
"Soldier's Home"
I found this story very interesting because the way that Krebs was changed by the war. A possible theme could be: War corrupts and changes the ways a person looks at the world. Krebs's outlook on life has been changed because of the war. While, he is living at his childhood home, he is no longer the child he used to be. This is where the two pictures come in: one represents Harold, and the other represents Krebs. While he is not concerned about the things the world says are important, such as a job or a girlfriend, he also does not want to upset his mother. The war has caused him to see things, like death and destrution, that changed his whole outlook on the importance of life. However, this new outlook is a terrible one, because he has given up on life. He has taken himself out of the game. The military did not make him stronger, but weaker as a person, causing him to sink into a state of depression and give up on his life all together.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find"
Seriously, this story was a little creepy to me. I'm not really sure what the theme would be either. Maybe the author wanted us to realize that having faith in God doesn't always help to make things turn out the way you want them to. The grandmother tries to make it seem like she is this innocent victim and I believe that she is for the most part, however, she does cause the whole situation for the family. Forcing your faith on someone is not the way to make them believe or to fix their problems. Obviously it can actually make them worse sometimes. Maybe the grandmother wasn't just trying to save the misfit but she was trying to also guarantee that she had faith because she knew that she was about to die.
I think the grandmother's actions were ridiculous and it was surprising that it took that long for the misfit to kill her.
"The Hand"
The woman in this story is completely irrational. She marries some guy she hardly even knows and she gates freaked out because his hand twitches a little while he sleeps. Her hand probably does the same thing. In fact, I bet the next time she falls asleep before her husband does her hand is going to start twitching and he's going to freak out too. So for the rest of their lives they both live in fear of eachothers' hands. What stuck out to me is that it wasn't until the car passed by that she woke up from the fantasy of her perfect life and realized that she did not love her husband.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
In clas we discussed what would happen after the story is over. I think that this couple definitely won't last. While Anna does really seem to love Gurov, I think that given a little time he will get bored of the relationship and that will be that. Even after he meets, and falls in love with Anna, he doesn't seem committed to the relationship at all. He seems like he is just in it until he is over it, and I think Anna has a very different take on it. Her actions, as well as her sense of moral responsibility, suggest that she would be able to stick it out.
"A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
Moral?
I dont think anyone mentioned this, but I think this story ties to questioning morality just like "Crime and Punishment." In a way the misfit is like Raskolnikov in that he's killing for what he thinks is a good intention. Not only do they both kill old hags, but they both try to justify the murders as a contribution to society. This bring me to the question of who says whats moral and whats not. I strongly oppose to the murder of the two women, but then again i have never been in the same situation as the Misfit or Raskolnikov. So what makes everyone try to act like these charaters are inhuman. I feel a little compassion for them, and i can now see what flanery occonner was trying to get across by saying it was a door to redemption. Maybe, for some people it takes something serious to show them what their meaning in life is or why they should change dramatically. Although when she leaves the story hanging at the end it makes me think that she is leaving it up to the reader to decide what will happen next.. which I appreciate. O'Conner is my favorite female writer by far.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
What I noticed the most about this story was Gurov and how much he disgusted me but at the same time i knew that him and Anna were meant to be together. On one side he was wrong for completely not caring for his family and past life but on the other side he was experiencing true love for the first time. One of my main concerns was for his children. I wondered how they would feal to learn that their father was obsessivly in love with another women and almost despised their mother. I just can't imagine them thinking, " well he may be abandoning us but it's okay cause you know he is in love." However it seems like this is how I was unintensionally feeling when I found out how much he truly loved her. It almost makes me ashamed of myself to think that for even a split second I approved of adultry all in the name of love. So I supposethe question is, which desision would sctually be the best choice for Gurov? Should he stick it out with this lie of a life with a wife that he cares nothing for, or should he abandon all parts of this life and run away with his first real love? The answer is hard but I think that regardless of the whole love thing he should stay with his wife and kids. If this were to happen then both him and Anna would not have to leave behind two crushed spouses and in Gurov's case children as well. Regardless of weither or not he chose to Gurov made a vow to his wife to be with her forever and I think that he should stick to it.
"The Hand"
Possible theme:
Although someone may seem attractive and 'perfect' on the outside, they can be the complete opposite on the inside (looks cannot determine who a person is)
First, when I read the story, i felt horrible for the wife, for she is stuck in a relationship that she hadn't put much thought into. She seems whisked away by this man's charm and athletic ability, oblivious to who he might really be. Young and naive, she finally notices how startingly different he is to who she originally thought he was. I thought that this situation was quite common in many relationships; the naive love of someone who you barely know can be dangerous and difficult. Because of this young woman's innocence and naive perspective, she is now stuck with her husband until the day she dies, unhappy and confused at her discovery of his past. I asked many questions after reading this story: Does the way his hand act have something to do with his first wife? Is the wife overreacting? Was she slightly forced into this relationship, relating to the 'kidnapping' mentioned in the earlier paragraph? Her husband seems very suspicious and i don't think i trust him in the relationship. Because the young woman falls in love with him for what he seemed to be and not for who he really is, she is now subservient to her husband and has to suffer the consequences of her careless decision(s). I think the immediate lustfulness and excitement of the situation caught hold of her and blinded her, causing her to now be caught up in something she hadn't originally desired for herself.
"The Hand" was the short story that stuck out the most to me. It shows that you should never rush into anything. As she is laying there she realizes she knows nothing about this man lying next to her. She looks at his hand and describes it in a very uninviting tone. Then yet she kisses it at the end of the story. It is kind of ironic in the fact that she think his hand is disgusting and yet she still willing put her mouth to it. But ultimately it shows that she is willing to stick with her commitment even though she has no idea what she is getting into. Therefore, I liked that she was willing to commit even when she was not completely sure that she is going to be happy.
"The Hand"
This short story was different. I think one theme could be: What a person falls in love with or thinks they fall in love with, could be something they find themself hating in the long run. The girl comes across to me as someone that is blinded by love. The thing that caught my attention the most was when the narrator mentioned that the man was recently widowed. I thimk it stuck with me because a few paragraphs later, it is mentioned that "the hand" strangles the covers. I wonder if that is a clue to the reader that the man contributed to the fact that he is a widow. I also find it interesting that the girl becomes so afraid of a hand. It seems as if she statrts to judge her husband's character all on one part of him. It almost makes her seem shallow.
"The Hand"
I think Colette was trying to make a universal point that appearances can be fatal if they are the primary/only tool for judgement. I don't think the wife was merely imagining things because her husband is still a great mystery to her. Perhaps he has her under stockholm syndrome since she describes this affair as a "kidnapping". I like Colette's word choice for that. It really emphasizes the naive nature of the superficial new wife. I also think Colette is also giving a message regarding marriage. During that time period, women were still dependent on men and social status was pretty much the world to them. Because Colette was a feminist writer, perhaps she felt that these silly women who dream of perfect husbands and marriages and do not see beyond that surface will most likely become trapped. Maybe Colette introduces the question of murder because the wife's sense of self is killed.
"The Hand"
Possible theme: Things may not always be what they seem. (Simple, but true)
The woman goes from complementing the man to calling him a monster. The manner she first describes him as handsome and blond is completely erased by her comparison of his hand motions against the sheets as the actions of a "strangler".
The one mention of the car passing by changes her whole perspective. She quickly begins to use words such as "shrill" and "piercing". Her quick shift in diction says to me that she now is seeing her husband for who he really can be. The fact that they married a month after meeting gives me this thought. But, as soon as he awakens, she returns to her subservient, quiet lifestyle. Why? Is she afraid of him? Does she see deeper into him? We are just left with a cliff-hanger.
"A Good Man is Hard To Find"
I genuinely enjoyed "A Good Man is Hard to Find." I thought the pessimism and annoying grandma were humorous and had a natural feel. I even thought the ending was fitting, and I felt relieved that they did not escape and did not have a happy ending. To be honest, I was tired of their whining and of the grandma's egotism, racial comments, and selfishness. At the end, I felt like, though the family didn't deserve to be killed off, that it was the only ending O'Connor could have chosen.
Last year we read the short story "The Life You Save Might Be Your Own." I liked that story too, because of its pessimism and I had grown to like O'Connor as a writer until I heard her side behind The Misfit and the Grandma's witnessing to him. I viewed the grandma as a villian throughout the story for selfishness and ignorance to everything around here, so it came as a surprise to me when i found out that O'Connor did not mean for the grandma's last words to be a plea for life. I'm used to O'Connor's writing by now and have always seen her as a pessimist (as she is a hardcore Catholic), but I really hated her explanation for the grandma's words. I seriously doubt that witnessing could be portrayed that way, and I do not believe the Misfit would have changed to her words.
Therefor I lost some respect for the story after finding out O'Connor's real purpose. I believed it would have been better if her beliefs that there is no hope for life showed through like they did from "The Lif e You Save Might Not Be Your Own." I like her work that way, and I expected her to keep that motif constant through her work. Alas, I still enjoyed the story and will get over this sooner or later.
(I realize that this is a few minutes late, but I just remembered to start writing at 12:40, but had been thinking about this for a few days. I hope you can excuse the tardiness as I needed sometime to collect my thoughts.)
The Hand
My first reaction to this story was I thought it was a cute little aw newlywed happily ever after story. The way she describes her husband shows her admiration for him. But when she points out that it was like a kidnapping and the only thing about him she seems to like is materialistic my views began to change. The hand seems to be a protector, very gentle though. Then when outside their little room the world enters in her view of the hand changes and she comes to fear it. By pointing out that he was recently widowed and the hand is described as a strangler, it seems the thouht crosses her mind that he may have killed his last wife. Then she wakes up the next morning to see the knife in the hand, which startles her. But she hides her fear and pretends nothing is wrong and goes on living her happily ever after marriage.
"Soldier's Home"
One theme is that people come home from war a totally different person. Krebs's new outlook on life after the war stood out to me most. He takes no interest in things he used to enjoy and basically sits around depressed. I found it odd that Krebs wanted to live without consequences. Living life itself has its own consequences. Toward the end it seems that Krebs is going to make a drastic change in his life. He says he is going to find a job and even mentions going to see his sister's game. However, in the current state he is in, we are not sure what will come of him.
"The Hand"
Theme: Things are usually more than meets the eye.
In "The Hand," the wife watches her husbands hand transform. She completely changes her point of view in a matter of minutes. She watches this hand go from masculine and lovable to a "pliant beast." This transformation is a symbol for the realization that she hardly knows her husband. She realizes then that there is a whole other side that she has never seen because they rushed into marriage so quickly. I think this is the moment she starts to regret the marriage however, dude to the time period she knows that she is stuck in her marriage. Knowing this she accepts her role and submits to her husband by kissing his hand "humbly." I think that this willingness to be dominated is caused by her want and desire for love.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
I think that this story shows that Love can only conquer things the people in the relationship want it to. One cliche saying is that love conquers all, but I think that this story is an example that it does not always make people happy. During the affair, Anna and Gurov are living a secret life from their spouses and their "love" did not make it any easier to face reality. Also, the entire affair, Anna was sad about it, and when you are in "love," you should be happy about it. Up until the end their secrecy causes pain despite the joy they both feel.
In the end, I think that the author allows readers to contemplate what he/she would do in that situation, even though I would never commit adultery, and relate more to the characters. I think that in the end, Anna and Gurov will have to face the most difficult decision, to break up, or reveal their affair to their spouses. Personally I feel that because Anna and Gurov are in "love," that they will eventually reveal themselves to the public eye, even though their characterization might suggest otherwise.
Better late than never...
"The Lade with the Pet Dog"
Possible theme: Love can be found in the most mysterious and unlikely of places and people.
Gurov does seem to be quite, a well, "skeaze" in this story; however, this somewhat changes once he meets Anna. Anna challenges him and presents to Gurov a chase, which he craves and has never been able to find in any other woman.
They are both unhappily married, unfortunately, yet they find love in eachother. This does not make adultery right, but one cannot always choose who he or she loves, and they do seem to truly love eachother.
Unfortunately with the love and happiness Anna and Gurov find in eachother, Anna also finds sadness and guilt. She does truly repent her sins, but Gurov is like an addiction to her, and she cannot easily be rid of it. Gurov on the other hand just completely doesn't care about his affair. This shows him immaturity and his "dog"-like nature. He really is a dawg I guess one could say.
Overall this is a very wonderful story. I believe it to be more about how love does have its consequences than about the horrible sin they are committing.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
We kind of touched on this subject in class, but at the time I couldn't really express exactly what I meant when I said love is a choice.
Love is not merely a feeling or emotion you can "fall into." Otherwise old married couples would still be as giddy and lovey dovey as honeymooners. Love is a bond. And nowhere in this short story is there any evidence that these two adulterers share any sort of meaningful relationship...outside of infatuation.
How are these two going to work out their problems? Just turn to someone else for comfort or attention? How can they expect their relationship to last if it is based on sin and deceit?
I think sincere, honest, true love is actually way more rare than most realize.
"The Hand"
Theme: Rushing into situations can often lead to unexpected consequences.
When I first read this story, I had a strong dislike for the woman and the marriage, in general. However, as I began to re-read certain parts of "The Hand", I realized that rushing into things, like she did with her marriage, is something that most of us do to this day. The young woman just wants to feel like she is a part of something, and she yearns desperately for true love. Even though it is hinted that this love may be superficial, one cannot blame her for trying.
The point of the story, though, is that she does not actually know him; and the hand symbolizes that.
It grows into some monstrous beast, and he could be capable of strangulation. Some people were saying that maybe this could Colette's way of hinting that he has a secret, evil past, and he might hurt her. I think, though, that this reaction that the woman has to his grabbing the covers is just her mind playing tricks on her. She imagines the worst possible scenarios, all because she realizes that she does not truly know this man that she is sleeping beside her.
I also feel pretty bad for this man. I mean, he has no idea that his hand is the cause of all these anxious and terrifying feelings that his wife has towards him. I doubt she will ever look at him the same, though. She apparently, from then on, begins her life of "resignation" and "duplicity".
My favorite of the short stories was "A Good Man is Hard to Find." It is by far the most suspenseful and surprising. One part that really stood out that we did not really discuss in class is the part at the end when the grandmother calls the Misfit one of her children and touches him on the shoulder just before he shoots her. I find it interesting how he does not react to anything she says regarding God or being a good man, but when she speaks to him about family and calls him her own, he is repulsed by it; throughout the text, the Misfit is very stoic and emotionless until the grandmother's last moment when he suddenly turns defensive and aggressive, it was "as if he was bitten by a snake." Why does it affect him so? Maybe he has had a bad relationship with his mother which is why he might have killed the grandmother so suddenly. Earlier, when the Misfit puts on her son's shirt she comments that it looked familiar to her. Along with her last words and action, it almost seems as though the Misfit could actually be one of her children. I find it odd that he happens to be on the same deserted road the family is traveling on also headed to Florida at the same time the family is. He was waiting for them when they drove by. It seems too coincidental, even for fiction.
I was sick for three days last week and this totally slipped my mind. So I dont know if I'll get credit but i'll do it anyways!
"Soldier's Home"
Possible theme: War reveals how meaningless everyday life really is.
I thought this was the theme because we talked about how Krebs had no desire to do anything once he returned from the war. He didn't want to go out or talk to girls. I think that once he went to the war he saw something really life changing, and when he came back he realized his whole town was so concerned with things that weren't even that important in the long run.
One thing about this story that we didnt talk about is when Krebs refered to girls as a "pattern".I think the quote was something like, "They [girls] were all such a nice pattern." I was kind of confused by this quote. I think Krebs only saw girls as things or patterns now. They weren't really people to him anymore. They were something he would never be able to connect with now.
"The Lady with the Pet Dog"
Theme: Love is unexpected and should be embraced.
Despite all of the controversy that was sparked during in class discussion, I strongly believe that Gurov and Anna were meant to be together. Yes, they led a life of sin. But they were unhappy in their own lives. Gurov married a dreadful woman, in my opinion, who was unworthy of the love that he was capable of providing. Anna married young and realized that the life she dreamed of was not what she would receive. It might have been wrong in some opinions, but everyone deserves to be happy. I think that they went about it in the wrong way though.But I guess back then divorces weren't common or accepted.
Anyways, this story stood out to me the most because of its forbidden love and unsure ending. I like to think that it ends similarly to what Lyndi said, they fall in love, run away, and live happily ever-after. It would have been the smart thing for Gurov to do, but who knows how its ends up? We can only wish for the best.
"Soldier's Home"
Theme: One experience can change a person's view of life.
The most surprising scene to me was when Krebs confessed to his mother that he did not love her. I did not know whether or not to believe what he said to her. There are two ways to view this: 1)He does really love her, but he is confused and very moody at that point in his life, or 2)He has lost the will to love anyone because of his experience in the war.
Especially with this time period, it seemed as if Krebs was "fed up" with the whole idea of a good citizen. In his mother's eyes, he should be married with a nice job and a nice place to settle in, but he just does not seem to be able to connect with women because of his lack of will to try. I thought this feeling was understandable because he was not necessarily hating on women but on mankind itself. From all that he has been through, it would make sense that he has experienced more gore, backstabbing, and grief than the average joe.
"Soldier's Home" by Ernest Hemingway
When I read this story, it reminded me of The Things They Carried. Both are about war and how it changes/affects the soldiers that were in it. Krebs used to be part of mainstream society before the war as he was part of a fraternity in college and he might have been religious. But after the war, he finds it difficult to once again join mainstream society and accept religion. He cannot even pray with his own mother. His mother represents the naive citizen/parent who does not know how the war exactly affected Krebs. As a result of the war, Krebs seemed to have lost all ambition and care. By the end of the story, I wondered if he will attempt to rejoin society or will be become a "Norman Bowker" and commit suicide.
"Soldier's Home"
Possible theme: Wartime experiences can have and adverse effect on a soldier and the people around him, especially when it comes to conforming to a changing society.
In Soldier's home Krebs has a difficult time conforming to society. In fact his tries to seperate himself from society completely because he wants to avoid confrontation that leads to consequences, which causes him to lie. Because of his inability to conform into society he ends up hurting her by telling her he doesn't love her, because he wants to sever the tie that attach him to his mother, ultimately allowing him to avoid future consequences.
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