This poem is reflecting on society, and how divorce is commonplace.
The point of view is relevant in this poem, because it starts off from the point of view of a young child. This child is obviously angry with their father, which is apparent in the line "When Mother divorced you, we were glad." The child appears to be speaking on behalf of their siblings, who also apparently were fed up with their father. The child also implies that the mother was abused due to the next line that says "She took it and took it, in silence". Another way point of view is important to this poem is because of the happiness they felt when their father was fired, and the description of their job being taken away. They described the suits as "those dark carcasses hung in your closet", which implies that they hated that their father worked and dreaded those suits because it meant less attention for the child.
The point of view soon shifts to the child growing up and stating that they "pass the bums in doorways". This shows a shift in the tone of the poem, which is another device used to promote the meaning of this poem, because the speaker realizes that their mother set out to completely destroy their fathers life. The child, now an adult, is watching the men and wondering "who took it and took it from them in silence until they had given it all away and had nothing left but this".
The tone adds to the meaning of the poem because at first it shows innocence, because the child feels like the father is getting what he deserves for ignoring them. However, they never realize til adulthood that the mother instigated their hatred. The speaker writes "She had taught us to take it, to hate you and take it until we pricked with her for your annihilation, Father." This is where the tone shifts, because the speaker becomes somewhat regretful for how they treated their father, yet blames it on the mother.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Story We Know by Martha Collins
The Story We Know is a villanelle. The overall meaning of this poem is that all relationships use the words hello and goodbye, except they have different meanings every time they are used.
One device Collins uses to add to the meaning of this poem is a metaphor that also works as a type of imagery. She writes "snow begins to whiten the air" the imagery of it is the snow literally covering the view. However taken metaphorically, the snow is symbolizing the covering up of flaws and mistakes. This is the "hello" to the new times, and the "goodbye" to the old times.
Another symbol Collins uses to add to the meaning of the poem is the "cold white sign of the way we all begin and end", which is symbolic of relationships and other meaningful things beginning and ending. The "cold white sign" is symbolic of something that both starts and finishes a relationship, such as a wave or a hug.
A second device Collins uses to add to the meaning of the poem is the repetition of the word "hello". It signifies that all encounters, no matter how strong the relationship, start with hello. The last "hello" also signifies that all relationships start with "hello", and end with "goodbye".
One device Collins uses to add to the meaning of this poem is a metaphor that also works as a type of imagery. She writes "snow begins to whiten the air" the imagery of it is the snow literally covering the view. However taken metaphorically, the snow is symbolizing the covering up of flaws and mistakes. This is the "hello" to the new times, and the "goodbye" to the old times.
Another symbol Collins uses to add to the meaning of the poem is the "cold white sign of the way we all begin and end", which is symbolic of relationships and other meaningful things beginning and ending. The "cold white sign" is symbolic of something that both starts and finishes a relationship, such as a wave or a hug.
A second device Collins uses to add to the meaning of the poem is the repetition of the word "hello". It signifies that all encounters, no matter how strong the relationship, start with hello. The last "hello" also signifies that all relationships start with "hello", and end with "goodbye".
Friday, November 11, 2011
opinion
My opinion on this novel was that I only enjoyed the plot of the novel. I did not enjoy the writing style, as I found it confusing and hard to understand.
First of all, many ellipses end sentences leaving too much to wonder. He rarely finishes a sentence, so I never knew what is going on in his head. I also hated the fact that nothing was resolved fully at the end. I was dissatisfied with the fact that D-503 lost his emotions and therefore did not care about I-330 anymore.
However, I did like the idea of the plot. I thought it was very interesting, and fun to see how extreme a society will go for complete equality.
First of all, many ellipses end sentences leaving too much to wonder. He rarely finishes a sentence, so I never knew what is going on in his head. I also hated the fact that nothing was resolved fully at the end. I was dissatisfied with the fact that D-503 lost his emotions and therefore did not care about I-330 anymore.
However, I did like the idea of the plot. I thought it was very interesting, and fun to see how extreme a society will go for complete equality.
symbol analysis
We is based on a dystopian society. They are controlled by the Benefactor, and live in the city of OneState.
We is symbolic because it partially alludes to the Bible. OneState is described as Paradise, and D-503 is Adam and I-330 is Eve. I also feel that the Benefactor can be alluded to the Devil, because he has full control over all citizens. I-330 alludes to Eve because of her rebellious actions. Like Eve, she proves she is a strong, willful woman. D-503 alludes to Adam because he follows the rules. OneState alludes to the idea of Paradise because the citizens have everything they could ever need, such as Adam and Eve, yet lack happiness.
We is symbolic because it partially alludes to the Bible. OneState is described as Paradise, and D-503 is Adam and I-330 is Eve. I also feel that the Benefactor can be alluded to the Devil, because he has full control over all citizens. I-330 alludes to Eve because of her rebellious actions. Like Eve, she proves she is a strong, willful woman. D-503 alludes to Adam because he follows the rules. OneState alludes to the idea of Paradise because the citizens have everything they could ever need, such as Adam and Eve, yet lack happiness.
we- passage analysis
“Her smile was a bite, and I was its target.”
This is my favorite line because it is showing that D-503 is transforming from his mathematical state to his human, emotional state. He is showing that he is fond of her smile. He has no control over himself and his emotions when it comes to her. Slowly D-503 is becoming obsessed with her, and intrigued by her seducing. This line is what leads D-503 to begin his rebelling of OneState with her.
This is my favorite line because it is showing that D-503 is transforming from his mathematical state to his human, emotional state. He is showing that he is fond of her smile. He has no control over himself and his emotions when it comes to her. Slowly D-503 is becoming obsessed with her, and intrigued by her seducing. This line is what leads D-503 to begin his rebelling of OneState with her.
Opinion
I really liked this novel because it gave me a different perspective on the word freedom. Teenagers don't have as much freedom as we wish to have. However, we have more than children do. The word freedom has different meanings to people in different situations. Freedom can also be classified as freedom from, and freedom to. Freedom from, for example in America, would be freedom from dictatorship. An example of freedom to, in America, is freedom to vote. However, freedom to vote is differs in age. Teenagers can't, and adults can. In Gilead, the same ideas of freedom are portrayed. The Handmaid's have freedom from heartbreak and loneliness, however they do not have freedom to choose a partner. They have freedom to reproduce, except they do not have freedom from choosing the father.
The Handmaid's Tale opened my eyes to different freedoms and how those freedoms are given and taken throughout different society's and different ages.
The Handmaid's Tale opened my eyes to different freedoms and how those freedoms are given and taken throughout different society's and different ages.
passage analysis
"We smile too, we are one smile, tears run down our cheeks, we are so happy." (Atwood 126)
This quote shows that individuality of women in Gilead is stripped. Instead of the use of the word "I", the word "we" is used. The use of "we" shows that no one differs from the other; they share the same life, emotions, and feelings. Their individual emotions are taken from them when they are assigned Commanders, who use their bodies solely for fertility. The women all wear the same dresses, which symbolizes not only fertility but also previous sins. It is a constant reminder that they have no individualism and are being punished each day for their sinning. The handmaid's are also assigned a name, which is the possesive word "of" followed by the first name of their assigned Commander. This also shows the lack of individuality and human expression in Gilead.
This quote shows that individuality of women in Gilead is stripped. Instead of the use of the word "I", the word "we" is used. The use of "we" shows that no one differs from the other; they share the same life, emotions, and feelings. Their individual emotions are taken from them when they are assigned Commanders, who use their bodies solely for fertility. The women all wear the same dresses, which symbolizes not only fertility but also previous sins. It is a constant reminder that they have no individualism and are being punished each day for their sinning. The handmaid's are also assigned a name, which is the possesive word "of" followed by the first name of their assigned Commander. This also shows the lack of individuality and human expression in Gilead.
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