Joel Chandler Harris

First I will address Joel Chandler Harris' story "How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox." I grew up with a book of Uncle Remus stories and found them to be humorous anecdotes as a child, but after reading this story as an adult I was offended by Harris' portrayal of the slave community.According to his biography he was just recounting the stories he had heard growing up. I don't think he did them justice though. I don't think his stories would be considered legitimate literature in this day and age, and I believe Harris would be branded a bigot and racist were he to try and publish these stories today. His decision to use the black vernacular seemed extremely patronizing and mocking of the people he supposedly respected. I do believe, however, that Harris was simply trying to honor the stories and beliefs of the "negro" population of his time. He probably meant absolutely no harm when he set out to write these stories, and if I look beyond the dialect and goofy portrayal of these people I can see a good message and a hint of the humanity and intelligence Harris could have put in the forefront of the stories.

Now, on the other hand, in "Free Joe and the Rest of the World" we see Harris portraying the "negro" as a human being lacking the respect he justly deserves. This was a very sad tale of a man lost in the world once he was freed from his servitude as a slave in the American South just after the Civil War. I think Harris more than adequately described the plight of the Southern African-American who had the illusion of freedom in the late 1800's. Once released from their "masters" these unfortunate souls had nowhere to turn for solace. They were trusted and accepted by no one other than the "poor white trash" who also lacked the respect due to all human beings. These "free" people had nowhere to work because they were trusted by no one. Both the former slave owners and Joe's own people shunned him and treated him as an inferior person who should not be given the time of day. Joe was forced to live hand to mouth on whatever charity he could find. His lot was to suffer silently and alone. For all intents and purposes he was invisible to almost all others.

Although I don't agree with the portrayal of the African- American in the Uncle Remus stories, I do think that overall Harris was an insightful and intelligent writer. He obviously knew his subject matter well, and wrote thoroughly and believably.

William Dean Howells

"Editha" by William Dean Howells begins with an extremely idealistic view of war. Through Editha the reader is drawn into a world full of excitement and grandeur with none of the realistic consequences found in real life. She wants George to go off to war because, in her eyes, it would be romantic. She could pine for her love while he was away fighting for a "just" cause. And if he returned wounded it would be all the more romantic because she could rush to his side and tend to her "hero" as a mother tends to her child.

As the story progresses George is persuaded by Editha to go and fight for his country. She, again in the throes of her fantasy, convinces him to go by stressing the fact that nothing bad could possibly happen because once the opposing army sees his troupes they will retreat without a fight. All will be well and George will have the badge of a hero.

But things don't go according to Editha's plan. When George is quickly killed without a chance to prove his patriotism she is shocked into reality by the situation. She meets with George's mother to give her the news and is justly chastised Editha for sending George into the war in the first place. Editha's fantasy world is shattered. After this meeting she sinks into a deep depression and withdraws from the world.

Editha's depression lasts until, later in the story, she is having her portrait painted. The artist is of the opinion that George's mother was speaking out of vulgarity and her comments should be disregarded. This is enough to raise Editha's spirits and send her back into her glamorous fantasy world where she can once again live without regard to the consequences of life.

I found Howell's writing to be very base and topical. The character of Editha was explored on the surface without any real depth into what made her tick. This may have been the purpose of Howells though. Maybe Editha was simply a base and topical character who had no real depth. She was so deep in her fantasy world that she had no real personality to be explored.

Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce went into great depth and detail in his story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." It was apparent to me that he had a real knowledge of the fear that comes before death. Perhaps he learned of these things while fighting in the Civil War.

The story opens with a man (who we later find out is named Farquar) on a bridge with a noose around his neck; this sets the dark tone that flows throughout the whole story. In the moments before Farquar's imminent death he is sent on a wild fantasy in which he just barely escapes his demise. In his imagination he falls from the bridge into the river below where his perilous journey to freedom begins. He is able to free himself from his tethers and escape from his own execution. Bierce so vividly wrote of the adventure that I was surprised in the end when it all turned out to be a fantasy.

Even though I have never had a similar experience I was able to put myself in Farquar's place because of the detail put into the story by Bierce. I have heard many near-death stories, but this is the first where the person is forced into the throes of his imagination. Usually people talk of their life passing before their eyes, but in Bierce's story Farquar is transported into another realm altogether.

Overall, I didn't care for Bierce's subject matter, but he was obviously a very talented writer with a vivid imagination. I was disappointed that the story didn't hold much of Bierce's bitter, ironic humor. In his biography there are several darkly humorous quotes that exemplify his cynical nature. I particularly like the one about birth being the ultimate disaster. I guess I also have a somewhat cynical outlook on life because I can truly relate to his brooding nature.

Henry James

Henry James was an American writer who happened to spend much time in Europe throughout his life which greatly influenced his writing. This is particularly evident in "Daisy Miller: A Study." While the other stories I read this week focused on American wars or their aftermath, Daisy Miller dealt with high European society and how an "uncultured" American girl fit into the norms and morays of the time and place.

Daisy is a young woman who is spending a holiday in Europe with her mother and younger brother, Randolph. She is a girl who couldn't care less for the conventions of European society. She does everything she wants without regard for her reputation. Even though it is not respectable for a young lady to be out and about by herself, without the accompaniment of a courier or her mother, Daisy gallivants through the story, oblivious to the mounting scorn around her. In the end this carelessness and egocentricism lead to Daisy's demise. Rome is rife with malaria that is transported by the bugs that come out at night. Everyone (including Daisy's suitor, Giovanelli) knows there are outdoor places that are to be avoided after dark. Daisy seemingly believes she will not be affected, and so we find her out at the Colosseum late at night with Giovanelli. A couple days later she comes down with the "Roman fever", and soon after she dies.

Throughout the story Winterbourne (an American who spends much time in Europe) is deeply intrigued by Daisy. Her thoughts and actions make him wonder profusely at her personality. As the story progresses so do his feelings for her until he is completely enamoured. He is also saddened when he finds out about Daisy's alleged engagement to Giovanelli. After she takes to her sickbed he learns, through Daisy's mother, that Daisy had not been engaged after all. This lifts Winterbourne's spirits temporarily, but, alas, Daisy dies soon after this confession. Winterbourne is left wondering what could've been.

Although I was somewhat annoyed with Daisy's self-centered personality I did enjoy reading this novella by James. His attention to the details of the personalities in the story lead me to believe that he was very astute and must have been a life-long study of people and how they interact not only with others, but within themselves as well.

Mary E. Wilkes Freeman

Mary E. Wilkes Freeman's story, "A New England Nun," challenges the notion that a woman alone is an unhappy, lonely woman. Through Louisa Ellis, Freeman shows us that this is not always the case. Louisa cherishes her independence and the thought of losing it fills her with dread. Freeman captures Louisa's nervousness and trepidation about her impending marriage so well that I am easily able to fall into the story and have much empathy for the character.
As the story begins we are introduced to her fiance, Joe Dagget. The first encounter between the two of them is filled with tension and unease. Joe moved the books, Louisa put them back. It is  obvious from the beginning that things will not go well for their relationship. As the scene progresses I grow more and more tense along with Louisa. I feel myself cringing throughout their encounter, and when Joe finally leaves the house I realized I have been holding my breath in anticipation of some sort of outburst that never comes.
See, Louisa has been waiting for Dagget to return from a journey where he has made his fortune. The plan is for the two to be married upon his homecoming, but life does not always go according to plan. In his fourteen year absence, Louisa has grown to enjoy her life alone. She cannot imagine giving up her little home and her precious routines. She has become comfortable with her yellow canary and her sad, chained-up dog. Louisa feels that only in her own home can she be truly happy and free from the judgement of others. She can easily spend her time cleaning, organizing and doing her "pointless" needlework. These are the things she takes pride in and she would hate to give them up.
throughout the story Louise yearns for a way out of the impending marriage. In her heart she knows it would be a mistake, but she sees no way out. That is, until she hears Joe and Lily expressing their love to one another. As she listens to them, she feels an immense release of tension as she realizes she is no longer chained to a man she does not want to marry. After she and Joe go their separate ways, she sheds a few tears and is once more able to settle into her simple, yet satisfying day to day routines without fear of reprisal.

Sarah Orne Jewett

In her story "A White Heron," Jewett teaches a lesson about the preciousness of nature and all it holds.Through the eyes of eight year old Sylvia, and her treatment of the white heron, we are shown the importance of preserving such beauty for future generations to enjoy as we (adults) have been able to. The wonder and awe experienced by young Sylvia as she climbs up through the branches of the tall pine tree is precious and is an experience everyone should have at least once in a lifetime. Even at her young age Sylvia understands this concept, and so she keeps quiet when questioned by her grandmother and the guest about where she has been.

Another concept brought to light by Jewett is that country life is far superior to city life. Especially when raising children. The hectic city life that Sylvia left behind when she came to live with her grandmother was constrictive and frightening whereas in the country she is now comfortable roaming free, and has acquired a sense of peaceful awe at her surroundings. Near the beginning of the story she actually states that it was as if she hadn't been alive before the move to the farm.

Having grown up in both rural and urban settings I tend to agree with Jewett's point of view.There is a beauty and a sense of freedom that can only come from the wide expanse of solitude of a place far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson wrote with an intense passion that only a true artist is able to express. Whether her topic is love, love-lost, religion, nature, or death, Dickinson captures the most extremes of the emotional spectrum in her poems.
At times she comes across as ecstatically happy as in poem 214 where she expounds on the beauty of a Summer's day and how she can much more easily become inebriated by her beautiful surroundings (I assume of her garden) than on any of the finest liquors.
In contrast to these feelings of utmost, unadulterated happiness is seen in poem 241 where she states "I like the look of agony, / Because I know it's true--." This, to me, proves that she is no stranger to the darkness, despair, and striffe in the world.
Another theme in Dickinson's poetry is the casting off of traditional Christian values. While it could be seen as an excuse to further isolate herself, in poem 324 she speaks of how it is unnecessary to worship in church. She writes "Some keep the Sabbath going to church-- / I keep it, staying at home--." Also, in poem 185 she alludes to the fact that science is just as (if not moreso) important than faith in the "modern" world. This concept was probably not very well-recieved in her time, especially among the New England Protestant population with whom she was surrounded.
Finally, I am of the opinion that much of the extreme emotion in Dickinson's poetry comes from her life-long isolation from the world outside her garden walls. One who spends too much time alone is very succeptable to wide variances of feelings and thoughts that, at times, may be blown out of proportion. But, I imagine, that is where much of the beauty in her words comes from as well.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

While I enjoyed this novel by Mark Twain, I was left with many mixed feelings about it. Intellectually I knew it was Twain's purpose to write a satirical novel portraying the ridiculous nature of society with all its hypocrisies and absurdities, but on another level I was offended by the role he gave to Jim as a completely imbecilic, stereotypical southern slave. I felt as though Twain could have gone further in order to show Jim as a human being first, and then a slave. But perhaps that was just because the novel was a product of an era where blacks were always seen as inferior. I just expected more from a writer like Twain who so astutely conveyed the ills of society and was able to satirize the ridiculous nature of the men and women of his time. I kept waiting for Jim to be cast in a more favorable light, but was repeatedly let down.

Another thing that gave me mixed feelings was the total absurdity of every single character in the story. On the one hand I agree with Twain's portrayal of conventional society as absurd, but I had hoped to encounter at least one person of character and  dignity at least once and, again, I was let down. Every single character was deeply flawed in my opinion, and there was hardly a redeeming quality among the bunch.

I do think Twain did a great job using the river to tie the story together into a coherent novel. It neatly connected one adventure to the next giving the story a sense of consistency. I also liked how Twain used the river to add to the turmoil in the novel. Huck's inner turmoil while constantly battling what was right and what was wrong was amplified by the churning waters.

Through the character of Huck I was made to question my own sense of morality. His character also made me think about what we, as a society, do on a daily basis without regard for others and without first thinking about the implications of our actions. Also, how many of our actions are made because that's what "everyone" else is doing? Do we do what we do because it is moral and reputable, or are we following blindly?

Hello from Jessie

My name is Jessie and this is my second time taking this class. I love to read, and that's a good thing because there is a lot of reading for this class. I will read anything from the classics, to pulp fiction, to books about psychology and sociology, and everything in between. I like the readings in this class because we will cover a good representation of all time periods included. I am also looking forward to the blogs as I love to write almost as much as I like to read. Good luck to everyone, and here's to a great Spring semester...