Tuesday, November 27, 2007
My Suggestion
I don't necessarily think that everyone should read Of Mice and Men because it may not match the person's literary interests. I don't think there is a book that absolutely every person would like, but I do believe that, especially for people my age, this is a must-read. It is not a huge commitment or anything. It is short and simple, and the author writes in a style all his own about unique subjects that also depict characteristics of time periods in our history. This book was able to tug at my heart and emotions, and I think that any book that can do that has a plot worth reading. Although, for some, the characters, their experiences, and this story may be a little too sensitive a topic involving too many feelings, I trully enjoyed the way the end of the book made me question myself. What did I think of what happened and how the characters dealt with it? How did I understand their relationships? Was it fair, and is life itself fair? Why are people the way they are? Do things happen for a reason? ..... Not only did this story allow me to make decisions for myself concerning the events and my understanding of them, it was also filled with tragedy, love, friendships, violence, despair, and even murder, which makes me think that it would be enjoyed by just about any one of my classmates.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Book Review: Of Mice and Men
Author John Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men in 1937; a well-known story written simply yet portraying deep meanings, expressing major themes, and demonstrating tragic circumstances, the plot of the story, the characters involved, the simplistic vocabulary and structure used, and the symbolism applied create a story that will leave readers in tears and without headaches. Not only is this book less than difficult, but the events are chilling and heartbreaking, involving the reader in a profound way.
The story begins as two men, George and Lennie, who have struggled with numerous hardships in their lives, are preparing to work at a new ranch (since they were forced by unfortunate events to abandon the previous one). Lennie, despite being tenderhearted, is not bright – a mental disorder is implied. George, through a promise to a friend, has become Lennie’s friend and caretaker. Although he sometimes loses his temper and expresses his wish to pursue a life free of the burdens, George cares deeply for Lennie. Dreams of a new life with simple pleasures and happiness give Lennie hope and even influence George from time to time as he repeats them to Lennie. New friends the men find in the other workers become thoroughly involved as the plot continues. Since Lennie, a massive and physically powerful man, cannot keep mice as pets (he always kills them because he loves to stroke them but is too forceful to do so), George decides it will be acceptable for him to care for a puppy instead. It should have been evident that warnings would not be enough. Even though he is gentle in nature, Lennie has difficulty remembering instructions and understanding some situations, and they often times lead to trouble. When things go too far, Lennie is helpless. For his friend, George is forced to deal with an unexpected situation in a way he never could have imagined.
Since John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, it is obvious that his childhood home and personal experiences influenced his writing, especially in this case. Having worked as a hired hand, the plot of this story and its characters came straight from Steinbeck’s own life. Dealing on an intimate level with desperately poor California wanderers, as was a pattern in Steinbeck’s work, the novel is based during the Depression-era and confronts the economic conditions of the times with the situation of the victimized workers George and Lennie. The work is sometimes criticized for being too sentimental, depicting an overly moralistic lesson, and using a terribly deterministic plot. Although some thought that the point of the novel became more significant that the people involved in the story, Steinbeck was still thought of as one of the greatest authors of his time and even won a Pulitzer Prize.
Cruelty and uncontrollable circumstances may have ended George and Lennie’s story in tragedy, but their steadfast love and compassion is still a heartwarming theme of the novel. No matter what was going on the two still cared for each other and were only concerned for one another. In the most difficult of conditions, they did what was best for each other, in George’s case, and tried to make it up to each other, in Lennie’s case. In a lonely world, they each had a friend who would always be there.
Some themes used in this novel are as follows: the predatory nature of human existence, fraternity and the idealized male friendship, and the impossibility of the American dream. Loneliness and isolation cause the characters in the book to become vulnerable which causes most of their actions. Human nature forces the characters to helplessly search for companionship and to eliminate those who appear weak. Relationships between friends also play a large role; it seems to me that, although they really aren’t, George and Lennie seem like brothers. Life is never perfect, and it never will be; at the end of the story, it is clear that this is true no matter how hopeful one is. Things just happen. The corruption caused by women, Curly’s wife; the search for companionship in loneliness; and the struggle between strength and weakness help to develop these major themes as motifs.
George and Lennie’s farm, Lennie’s puppy, and Candy’s dog are all symbolic in this story. The possibilities of freedom and protection from the type of life they were living was represented by the dream farm. Strength and predatory powers are shown through the puppy’s accidental death and the unavoidable fate death is shown through Candy’s dog’s own cruel demise. These symbols provide concepts that achieve the purpose of the book.
Sources
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/context.html
I used this website for information about the themes of this book. It really helped me to understand why the author wrote it and its major points as well.
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/prose/ofmiceandmen.htm
This site provides virtually every piece of information I could think of. It thoroughly explains the characters, events, and concepts of the book, and it gives links at the top to different parts of the page so nothing is difficult to find.
http://www.ciao.co.uk/John_Steinbeck_Of_Mice_and_Men__34051
This site contains over 30 well-written and thought out reviews of this book. It also has links to be used for studying purposes.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm
The author is the main focus of this site. It is almost a timeline as it goes through his life in relation to the books at the time he wrote them. His intentions with each book are made much clearer.
My own opinion
I thought that even though this book did not contain a ton of flowery language and difficult sentences and vocabulary, that everyone should read it. This is not only because it is a classic. The simple way it is written and the amount of dialogue makes the mood and roles of characters quite impactful. It is not difficult to understand but still provides an immense deal of description about events, settings, and characters. The story tears at my heart and reminds me of certain aspects of life I sometimes forget.
The story begins as two men, George and Lennie, who have struggled with numerous hardships in their lives, are preparing to work at a new ranch (since they were forced by unfortunate events to abandon the previous one). Lennie, despite being tenderhearted, is not bright – a mental disorder is implied. George, through a promise to a friend, has become Lennie’s friend and caretaker. Although he sometimes loses his temper and expresses his wish to pursue a life free of the burdens, George cares deeply for Lennie. Dreams of a new life with simple pleasures and happiness give Lennie hope and even influence George from time to time as he repeats them to Lennie. New friends the men find in the other workers become thoroughly involved as the plot continues. Since Lennie, a massive and physically powerful man, cannot keep mice as pets (he always kills them because he loves to stroke them but is too forceful to do so), George decides it will be acceptable for him to care for a puppy instead. It should have been evident that warnings would not be enough. Even though he is gentle in nature, Lennie has difficulty remembering instructions and understanding some situations, and they often times lead to trouble. When things go too far, Lennie is helpless. For his friend, George is forced to deal with an unexpected situation in a way he never could have imagined.
Since John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, it is obvious that his childhood home and personal experiences influenced his writing, especially in this case. Having worked as a hired hand, the plot of this story and its characters came straight from Steinbeck’s own life. Dealing on an intimate level with desperately poor California wanderers, as was a pattern in Steinbeck’s work, the novel is based during the Depression-era and confronts the economic conditions of the times with the situation of the victimized workers George and Lennie. The work is sometimes criticized for being too sentimental, depicting an overly moralistic lesson, and using a terribly deterministic plot. Although some thought that the point of the novel became more significant that the people involved in the story, Steinbeck was still thought of as one of the greatest authors of his time and even won a Pulitzer Prize.
Cruelty and uncontrollable circumstances may have ended George and Lennie’s story in tragedy, but their steadfast love and compassion is still a heartwarming theme of the novel. No matter what was going on the two still cared for each other and were only concerned for one another. In the most difficult of conditions, they did what was best for each other, in George’s case, and tried to make it up to each other, in Lennie’s case. In a lonely world, they each had a friend who would always be there.
Some themes used in this novel are as follows: the predatory nature of human existence, fraternity and the idealized male friendship, and the impossibility of the American dream. Loneliness and isolation cause the characters in the book to become vulnerable which causes most of their actions. Human nature forces the characters to helplessly search for companionship and to eliminate those who appear weak. Relationships between friends also play a large role; it seems to me that, although they really aren’t, George and Lennie seem like brothers. Life is never perfect, and it never will be; at the end of the story, it is clear that this is true no matter how hopeful one is. Things just happen. The corruption caused by women, Curly’s wife; the search for companionship in loneliness; and the struggle between strength and weakness help to develop these major themes as motifs.
George and Lennie’s farm, Lennie’s puppy, and Candy’s dog are all symbolic in this story. The possibilities of freedom and protection from the type of life they were living was represented by the dream farm. Strength and predatory powers are shown through the puppy’s accidental death and the unavoidable fate death is shown through Candy’s dog’s own cruel demise. These symbols provide concepts that achieve the purpose of the book.
Sources
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/context.html
I used this website for information about the themes of this book. It really helped me to understand why the author wrote it and its major points as well.
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/prose/ofmiceandmen.htm
This site provides virtually every piece of information I could think of. It thoroughly explains the characters, events, and concepts of the book, and it gives links at the top to different parts of the page so nothing is difficult to find.
http://www.ciao.co.uk/John_Steinbeck_Of_Mice_and_Men__34051
This site contains over 30 well-written and thought out reviews of this book. It also has links to be used for studying purposes.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm
The author is the main focus of this site. It is almost a timeline as it goes through his life in relation to the books at the time he wrote them. His intentions with each book are made much clearer.
My own opinion
I thought that even though this book did not contain a ton of flowery language and difficult sentences and vocabulary, that everyone should read it. This is not only because it is a classic. The simple way it is written and the amount of dialogue makes the mood and roles of characters quite impactful. It is not difficult to understand but still provides an immense deal of description about events, settings, and characters. The story tears at my heart and reminds me of certain aspects of life I sometimes forget.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Small Town Mentality
I love living in a small town, and I am definitely planning to live in the area later in life, but there are some aspects of living here that I sometimes feel held back by. Even though this is absolutely the one of the best places to raise a family and go to school, etc., I think that sometimes it is hard to imagine myself doing anything unique from here. I do believe that you can go anywhere from a rural state because there are numerous examples of people who have had amazing success at pretty much everything from here, but sometimes I feel like I have to adjust my goals according to what everyone will think of them. I don't want to say that there are a lot of judgmental people, but I don't feel like I could ever go out and say that I was going to go to Harvard, be a professional dancer, or be a famous actress, or whatever other farfetched goals I might have. Although some things are unlikely, it doesn't mean we have to rule them out or settle for something below our expectations or potential. I think this applies to all of us. We could do anything we want and I hate to think that we would give up just because not many aspire to such things or because we are pressured to stay in a rural state. Like I said, I love it here. It is beautiful and the people are friendly. We have good values and, of course, take part in lots of fun activities. I just hope that people realize what they are capable of. I worry that we aren't exposed to anything other than what we already know. Where we live should not affect our goals, and no one should be embarassed to tell people their aspirations. Just because they aren't likely does not mean that they are impossible.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thanks!
Hey! I really appreciate all of the comments I received on my blog. It is really helpful to know what everyone thought of the sites. I know they're pretty lengthy, but some of them are really useful. Although some of them don't directly apply to our questions, I think that a general knowledge of the events and certain concepts could assist us in knowledgably writing our class essay. Even though some of my witch hunt examples aren't in the United States, some of the characteristics compare and could provide even more information on what type of people it takes to instigate or be the victim of a witch hunt, the places (situations) in which they occur, and the types of actions taken during them. There are so many aspects that lead to them that it is hard to think they are random happenings, but at the same time it seems with a little chaos anyone and everyone could be involved in some way with something similar to these events. I have way too many thoughts about my personal answers for our three questions, but I promise I'll think them over and keep them extra clear and concise.
Monday, November 12, 2007
My Opinion on The Crucible and Witch Hunts
Now that I have read through everyone's websites I am starting to formulate my own opinion about the three questions we have to answer. It is apparent that Miller wrote the Crucible to show that history has repeated itself and continues to do so. I think he proved a point with the book that showed people what mass hysteria and chaos can turn into and how irrational everyone became. I am impressed that he thought of the idea because before this I had never even considered anything but the Salem Witch Trials witch hunts before this, and now I see that almost every instance when a group or individual treats another group or individual differently. Even bullying in high school could and, in my opinion, should be considered a witch hunt. Prejudice is an obvious cause along with racism and other similar ideas felt by people. Judging someone could, surprisingly, be the start of a witch hunt. But back to Miller...it is a very clever comparison and makes the stupidity of such events evident. Maybe it played a part in revealing and remedying such events, and maybe it will continue to help the problems that still exist and will continue to exist...
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
What a relief!
Finally...I found my sites for this blog project. This assignment has been weighing on my mind for a week and a half now, and after having to recreate my blog, try to remember the specifics of the assignment, and actually finding and summarizing my sites, I have to say it wasn't as hard as I was expecting it to be, but I am extremely relieved that it is done! Now I'm caught up just in time to get behind on the rest of the project!
Arthur Miller, The Crucible, McCarthyism, and Witch Hunt Project
1. What was Miller's point in writing The Crucible?
http://warren.dusd.net/~dstone/Resources/11P/M_NY.htm
This site, written by Arthur Miller himself, begins by commenting on the movie based on the book; Miller gives his opinion on that portrayal of the play and the feelings that it gives him. Information regarding the reason he wrote the crucible and the underlying meanings and comparisons is also included. He describes some events and individuals from the play’s incident and his own experience and tells what point he wanted to make by comparing them through the play.
http://www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs/academic/english/1project/crucible/crucible.htm
A ton of links pertaining to Arthur Miller, The Crucible, blacklists, and Joseph McCarthy can be found on this site along with other relevant information.
http://www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us/crucible.html
Background information about the Salem Witch Trials along with explanations of aspects of the play make up the main components of this site. The setting, roles of major characters, and plot summary are concisely summarized. Themes and key issues are presented, are described, and provide a clear idea of Miller’s purpose.
2. How are McCarthyism, the Red Scare, Arthur Miller, and The Crucible interrelated?
http://www.indiana.edu/~thtr/productions/2006/lntdc/crucible/essay.html
Even though it is actually about a theatrical production of The Crucible, this site gives a lot of suggestions as to how McCarthyism and the Red Scare influenced Arthur Miller to write The Crucible. It depicts the events in a way that shows how they are comparable and relate to each other.
http://www.steppenwolf.org/backstage/article.aspx?id=164
Focusing on Miller’s personal experience, this site relates the events of the witch trials to McCarthyism and explains some similarities and how one reflects the other.
3. Document other times in American history when 'witch hunts' were conducted and discuss the outcomes of the Salem witch hunt and the other witch hunts you find. What do they all have in common?
http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/witch/
This site is informative about numerous witch hunts that have occurred from A.D. 1400 through 1800 and comprises a timeline as well. Other links and references relating to historic witch hunts are available. Abundant details concerning characteristics and torture involved in the witch hunts along with errors, myths, theories, and causes of witch hunts make this site great for research. You can even “survive” your own witch hunt experience.
http://www.curriculumunits.com/crucible/whunts/huntable2.htm
A definition of a witch hunt introduces this site. It includes background information and facts about certain witch trials that never actually had anything to do with witches including: witch hunts in Armenia, the Holocaust, ones in Bosnia, the Pogroms, the McCarthy hearings, the Japanese Internment Camps, the Arcadian deportation, and ones in apartheid.
http://www.autismvox.com/the-new-mccarthyism/
Referencing prejudice against individuals/populations with disabilities as a witch hunt, this site describes another view point of a specific type of witch hunt. (It also relates it to The Crucible and Arthur Miller)
http://warren.dusd.net/~dstone/Resources/11P/M_NY.htm
This site, written by Arthur Miller himself, begins by commenting on the movie based on the book; Miller gives his opinion on that portrayal of the play and the feelings that it gives him. Information regarding the reason he wrote the crucible and the underlying meanings and comparisons is also included. He describes some events and individuals from the play’s incident and his own experience and tells what point he wanted to make by comparing them through the play.
http://www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs/academic/english/1project/crucible/crucible.htm
A ton of links pertaining to Arthur Miller, The Crucible, blacklists, and Joseph McCarthy can be found on this site along with other relevant information.
http://www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us/crucible.html
Background information about the Salem Witch Trials along with explanations of aspects of the play make up the main components of this site. The setting, roles of major characters, and plot summary are concisely summarized. Themes and key issues are presented, are described, and provide a clear idea of Miller’s purpose.
2. How are McCarthyism, the Red Scare, Arthur Miller, and The Crucible interrelated?
http://www.indiana.edu/~thtr/productions/2006/lntdc/crucible/essay.html
Even though it is actually about a theatrical production of The Crucible, this site gives a lot of suggestions as to how McCarthyism and the Red Scare influenced Arthur Miller to write The Crucible. It depicts the events in a way that shows how they are comparable and relate to each other.
http://www.steppenwolf.org/backstage/article.aspx?id=164
Focusing on Miller’s personal experience, this site relates the events of the witch trials to McCarthyism and explains some similarities and how one reflects the other.
3. Document other times in American history when 'witch hunts' were conducted and discuss the outcomes of the Salem witch hunt and the other witch hunts you find. What do they all have in common?
http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/witch/
This site is informative about numerous witch hunts that have occurred from A.D. 1400 through 1800 and comprises a timeline as well. Other links and references relating to historic witch hunts are available. Abundant details concerning characteristics and torture involved in the witch hunts along with errors, myths, theories, and causes of witch hunts make this site great for research. You can even “survive” your own witch hunt experience.
http://www.curriculumunits.com/crucible/whunts/huntable2.htm
A definition of a witch hunt introduces this site. It includes background information and facts about certain witch trials that never actually had anything to do with witches including: witch hunts in Armenia, the Holocaust, ones in Bosnia, the Pogroms, the McCarthy hearings, the Japanese Internment Camps, the Arcadian deportation, and ones in apartheid.
http://www.autismvox.com/the-new-mccarthyism/
Referencing prejudice against individuals/populations with disabilities as a witch hunt, this site describes another view point of a specific type of witch hunt. (It also relates it to The Crucible and Arthur Miller)
New Experience
I just set up this blog, and it is my first time using it. I am from a small town, and I have two sisters and one brother. I love to dance, and I spend most of my time on that. I work hard in school and everything else that I do. My future plans, however, are completely undecided; I know I want to continue dancing, but I cannot figure out something to go along with that. I would also like to have a career that I like, that is flexible, and that I can make a decent living at while persuing my passion in dance. I am a major perfectionist, and I am extremely determined. I have a lot of trouble doing things without analyzing them. This is going to be a busy weekend...not only do I have a large load of homework, but I am also going to participate in allstate chorus, not to mention it is my boyfriend and my four-year anniversary on Friday, and I have no idea what I should get him for a gift. I need suggestions...and extra time.
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