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?

Gothic Tale

While I was reading The Hidden Hand I discovered that not only is this considered a children's novel but it is a Gothic story. Elements of Gothic can be seen throughout the first 50 pages that we read and create this aspect. From the scenery to the odd number 3, aspects of Gothic literature can be found within this story.

The scenery really lets the reader know from the beginning that it is a Gothic tale. The description of Hurricane Hall is so dark when Southworth says "a large old family mansion, built of dark-red sandstone, in one of the loneliest and wildest of the mountain regions of Virgina"(151). The description of Devil's Hoof and the violent weather are all dark and create an eery feeling for the reader. This type of setting creates a Gothic tale in which there is a creepy sense from the beginning.

The talk of witches and villains also help create this type of story. The paranormal and twisted stories of which Nancy Grewell tells heightens the mood in this story and puts a scare in the audience. The secrets that are not reveal also create a mystery for which the audience long for.

Another Gothic aspect is the damsel in distress that needs to be rescued. This happens when Old Hurricane goes to the city to rescue poor Capitola and bring her back to live with him. She is a poor, young, innocent girl with her life in danger that needs rescuing by a rich old man. While hearing Capitola plead her case in the court room, Old Hurricane can't help but to save her. He tells the judge, "Then, sir, I, Ira Warfield, of Hurricane Hall, in Virginia, present myself as the guardian of this girl, Capitola Black, whom I claim as my ward" (180). He has saved her from prison and from dying on the streets.

Lastly, Gothic stories are known for having the number 3 in them as a sign of evil. The number 3 is mentions numerous times throughout the story from groups of people to number of suitcases. Old Hurricane, Capitola, and Herbert travel together in a group of three. There is a mention of "Only three times in all these years had Herbert found time and means to come down and see them, and that was long ago"(189). Capitola has three suitcases filled with all new clothes from Old Hurricane.

All of these elements and aspects reminded me of a Gothic tale and left the reader with mystery.

Girls just wanna have fun!

After watching the video and reading the Lamplighter and learning about Gerty, I was able to tell some similarities and differences between these 2 little girls that live decades apart. I feel that our depictions of girls today than back then have changed. Today, we do not expect so much out of 8 or 9 year old girls. They might have chores as to make their bed or clean their room but their main job is to be a kid and enjoy their friends. In the day of Cummins, children at that age were portray to have the main duties of the household and carry a large load of responsibilities.

Gerty in the beginning is a wicked little girl who doesn't know how to behave because she was never taught. When she gets angry she is often "not sobbing, as many children do, but uttering a succession of piercing shrieks, until she sometimes quite exhausted her strength" (91). Unlike the rude behavior portrayed by Gerty, Anna, the little girl in the video, turns to meditation to help ease her anger and emotions. She has learned of a way to control and be a lady in today's society by not throwing tempers and fussing.

I feel that if Gerty appeared on Amy Pohler's show today she would of shocked people. She would of been a sweet girl for people who care about her but if Amy brought up the topic of Nan people would see the "wicked" side of her. She would of told the story of how she "quick as lighting, stooped, and picking up a stone from the sidewalk, flung it at the window" (134) and broke Nan's window then ran away. I'm sure today some of us, well most of us would find that amusing knowing how she was once treated, but back in that time this was barbaric and definitely not lady like. The way that young ladies are portrayed today and how they once were are similar in the manners that young ladies should behave, especially when out in public and around guests.