Nature is Beauty

The story that I would like to talk about is that of The Luck of Roaring Camp. In this story we see great detail in the description of nature and how it affects all characters. We see that once the baby is born, the workers seem to take an immense appreciation in nature. In the book they say, "that the baby had brought 'the luck' to Roaring Camp" (19). Since Thomas Luck was born, the workers improved their cabins, took more care of themselves and cleaned up the area which they called their home. The cabins were described as "scrupulously clean and whitewashed" (22) the men changed their attitudes, "profanity was tacitly given up in these sacred precincts, and throughout the camp a popular form of expletive, known as 'D-n the luck!' and 'Curse the luck!' was abandoned, as having a new personal bearing" (23). All of these changes helped the men to notice the true beauty in nature. It is described that, "The men had suddenly awakened to the fact that there were beauty and significance in these trifles which they had so long trodden carelessly beneath their feet" (24). The find that materials in nature can be beautiful and presents to the baby. As described, "It was wonderful how many treasures the woods and hillsides yielded that 'would do for Tommy'" (25). A new person to the camp and new experience helped the men to see the beauty that lies in nature and the natural resources that are available to anyone.

Deeper Reading

After reading these two stories, I realized that I needed to change my way of reading to focus more on points that seemed to stick out or hints that were clues to what it was already foreshadowing.

In The Yellow Wallpaper, it did surprise me that the narrator was telling her story from beyond the grave. I had a feeling that she did like the idea of death, ghost and hauntings but it never occurred to me that she herself could be dead. After re-reading the first part of the story, the whole piece comes together to make more sense of her experiences while in the room and sightings. One part in particular that would give away to the reader that she is dead is when she says, "John is a physician, and perhaps-- (I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind)-- perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster"(505). She is mentioning the living soul, which she would not say to and dead paper. If I had been reading closer I feel that I might have been able to pick up on this detail.

In Desiree's Baby, I loved the end and was obsessed with how it turned out for Desiree and Armand. I feel that, again, if I had been reading closer to the text, I would have noticed that Armand was the one with black blood in his genes. On the first page, we can tell the difference between the way Armand's father treated the slaves and the way that Armand is more strict on them because of their color. Also, I noticed that when describing the house that Armand lived in, it had a, "roof came down steep and black like a cowl, reaching out beyond the wide galleries that encircled the yellow stuccoed house. Big, solemn oaks grew close to it, and their thick-leaved far-reaching branches shadowed it like a pall"(517). The house is described as being overgrown, thick, dark compared to La Blanche's cabin, meaning white. There are other comparisons of Armand being dark to Desiree always being dressed in white and having pale skin.

For both of these stories, one could pick up on the hints but it takes practice of a deeper reading to truly understand the message the first time through.

What a Shocker!

When I first started reading Little Lord Fauntleroy, I thought that it was written by a man based on what Professor Irvin had told us. I too, was surprised but not really shocked to find out that it was written by a woman. It makes sense when you look at the word choices and emotion shown throughout the story. Knowing the gender of the author changes how you view the story and the meaning you make of the lessons.

Whenever I read a story, knowing the author to me is key for how you perceive their message. If a story is written from a male's point of view, I will try to think how a man thinks or understand that this is a male. The same goes for a female author and her story she is writing. For example, if a male wrote a story about his parent's divorce it would sound completely different than from a female's point of view. There would be less emotion shown, more feelings kept inside and probably more anger than sadness. When you can't tell the gender of the male, you put your own emotions into the story and take their point of view and add how you would feel. It makes the story your own when you don't quite know if the author is male or female.

When reading Little Lord Fauntleroy, I found it strange that a male author would use such girly terms or make Cedric so pretty. In the beginning, we have a description of little Cedric and he is described as having "quantity of soft, fine, gold-colored hair, which curled up at the ends, and went into loose rings by the time he was six months old". Thinking that Frances was a male, I was surprised at how much detail was put and how pretty he made the boy. Later he also added, "He had big brown eyes and long eyelashes and a darling little face". Now knowing that Frances is a woman, it will make the rest of the details more comprehensive. The rest of the story I can picture from a woman's point of view and make more sense of her story.

Show no emotion

Out of what we have read so far, I picked a passage that cracked me up and reminded me of when I was little. I remember having crushes on the boys in my class and being "mean" to them or doing something to get their attention.

After Tom meet his new love, "he pretended he did not know she was present, and began to 'show off' in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some time; but by and by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous gymnastic performances, he glanced aside and saw that the little girl was wending her way toward the house" (419). It is very obvious that Tom is a young boy in love and cannot show his true feelings.

We have learned that it is okay for young ladies to show emotion, but only in a positive light. For the two stories that we had read about young boys, they show all kinds of emotion. As in the passage above, we know that Tom has feelings for this new girl, but he is unable to show his true emotion. Instead, he acts out by doing gymnastics to get the attention because in that time, young men were not allowed to show true emotion. Even today, men are not allowed to show their emotion, as they say "boys don't cry". This saying is still followed today and boys are suppose to grow up to be strong men. This certain stereotype is still around today and told to young boys.

It's a Boy's World

We are able to notice very different views on boys in the 19th century compared to the stories about young girls. Boy's are more acceptable in the respect of growing up on the streets, working hard for their money and playing pranks or cracking jokes with people on the street. There is also a view different view on the relationship between young boys and their parents compared to the importance of parents for young girls.

We have know that it is easier for boys to make money in the city from The Hidden Hand and Capitola's struggle to make money as a young girl. We see from the beginning that Dick makes his money as black-booter and is very good at his job. Dick is able to enjoy the night life by his money as he explains to one customer, "Made it by shines, in course. My guardian don't allow me no money for theatres, so I have to earn it" (334). It is acceptable for young boys to work hard and enjoy their earnings in the night life. It would be a complete disgrace for young girls to work for their money this hard and then spend it late nights in a theatre or in late night bars.

We also see a completely different view of the relationship between parents, young girls and young boys. In our previous stories, parents are a key role in a young girl's life; teaching them manners, religious ways and how to be educated in society. We see a mention of Johnny Nolan's father and see his role as a figure is far away from what we are used to seeing in these stories. It mentions that "He had a father living, but he might as well have been without one." (349). It shows the complete difference between young girls and young boys; it helps the reader see that young boys are able to be more independent without parents and are not dependent on their help.

Whose Truly Mad?

I loved this story so much. It draws in it's readers and keeps them guessing till the very end. At points you don't know who to believe or what exactly is going on. When Sybil was put into an insane asylum, I started to wonder if she was really crazy or if Uncle should of been the one living in that room.

With the introduction of insanity to the text completely changes the story. It starts out as a gushy love story and then turns into an insane gothic mystery. It all starts to get really strange when Sybil wakes up and asked Hannah why she is there. Hannah's reply is "Your uncle sent you. The doctor has the care of you, and that is all I know about it. Now I have kept my promise, do you keep yours, miss, and eat your breakfast, else I can't trust you again"(232). From this point, the audience has no clue what is going on and if Sybil is still going to be telling the right story or exaggerate it. You quickly learn the concept of insanity could be throwing temper tantrums when not having something go your way. Also, we find out that Sybil's mother was the "whisper in the dark" and makes us as the reader wonder if her mother acted the same as her. Did her mother act the same as Sybil and is that why she was in the asylum? There are so many questions as to how this mother and daughter duo relate to each other in the way of narrating their stories.

The use of insanity completely alters our reception of the message. It creates a confusion as to what the true message is. You wonder if it is still that good prevails evil, or if people are to not be trusted. I still think that it is having faith and believing that good does prevail over evil in a strange a difficult way. When Sybil finally breaks free from her jail she is running and "the hand that had seized me tenderly drew me close, the voice that had alarmed cried joyfully, 'Sybil, it is Guy: Lie still, poor child, you are safe at last'"(239). She went through such a struggle and found out the truth about her mother while inside, through all she had a little bit of hope in her that she would not let that happen to her. She was given the chance and was able to break free of the prison that destroyed her soul, mind and body.

This type of story and relationship between the mother and daughter still makes me believe that there is a special unspoken bond between them. Her mother was unaware that it was her own daughter inside the other room and she still tried to save her. "Whisper, urgent, imploring and mysterious, 'Find it! For God's sake find it before it is too late!' Then fainter, as if breath failed, came the broken words, 'The dog- a lock of hair - there is yet time'"(237). Her mother is giving her signs and warnings to help save her life. This shows that there is still such a strong bond between mothers and daughters even when separated.

Good vs. Evil

Reading Uncle Tom's cabin was difficult because of the language and trying to understand the true meaning behind the story. It's hard to write children's literature that is surrounded by slavery and the hardships that slaves in that time had to endure. I feel that the message that was meant to teach children is overcoming obstacles in a positive way.

From the beginning, we see that Eliza tries to overcome her obstacles and arrive to a place that is safe for her and Harry. The main obstacle for Eliza was to overcome the Ohio River and get to the other side to freedom. The moment is played out as Eliza running and jumped on, "the huge green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched and creaked as her weight came on it, but she staid there a moment. With wild cries and desperate energy she leaped to another and still another cake; stumbling, leaping, slipping, springing upwards again! her shoes are gone- her stockings cut from her feet- while blood marked every step; but she saw nothing, felt nothing, till dimly, as in a dream, she saw the Ohio side, and a man helping her up the bank"(254). Her focus is so strong that she feels no pain or emotion and is keeping her eye on what is important for her and Harry. What we know of, Eliza has reached safety and has been rewarded for the hard troubles she endured.

This story plays on the "good" overcoming "evil" by Eliza's story, but still makes you wonder about the other slaves and their sad endings. Does evil really overcome good?