5.01.2008
Online Reader's Log Entry 2.
Post your second online Reader's Log entry here (it should be your tenth overall in quarter three). Again, be sure to include your name and the book you are reading prior to your entry. To avoid losing unsaved work, type your entry first in a Word document and then copy and paste into your comment.
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15 comments:
I think it's interesting that Jon Krakauer chose to put his personal story in the book. It definetly makes sense because it gives a lot of insight into Chris McCandless and his motives/reasoning.
Both McCandless and Krakauer were stubborn, moody, and felt like they needed nature to overcome tension and frustration. Some quotes from Krakauer's story that I think align with McCandless:
"he climbed not for sport but to find refuge from the inner torment that framed his existence" (135).
-Alaska and traveling was refuge from McCandless' frustration with his family and society
"I was surprised, as always, by how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt. The world was suddenly rich with possibility"(136)
-describes, perhaps, how McCandless felt as well
"The highs were higher; the periods of despair were deeper and darker. To a self-possessed young man inebriated with the unfolding drama of his own life, all of this held enormous appeal" (138)
McCandless, too, was self-possessed and "inebriated with the unfolding drama of his own life". An intense experience is what he wanted.
Krakauer is different though because he lived. He pushed the boundaries and put himself in dangerous situations, but he tried his hardest to survive. He had enough food and he created a device to help preventing him from falling through the ice caverns in. Is Chris' unfortunate fate simply a product of being a dumb young boy who really thought he could "live off the land" or is there something more to it? He was not acting merely reckless, he was acting without thought, without any common sense.
This last chapter raised some interesting questions about appearance and how it can save you. I still have not completely figured out what this all means but physical appearance, dress, boots, definitely have some significance and meaning in the book. Perhaps the author is critiquing Americans for putting too much emphasis on people’s looks instead of their ideas/personality/beliefs. When the American first arrive at Dresden, the head Englishman addresses them by warning, “If you stop taking pride I your appearance, you will very soon die” (145). When I first read this line, it seemed extremely trivial to me. What does appearance have to do with surviving in times of war? Is it really going to matter what you look like when guns and bombs are killing people all around. Then I remembered how important uniforms are to soldiers and war. They represent your rank, your country, your allegiance and what you stand for. When the Americans arrive in Dresden, their clothing immediately tells the Dresden make-shift “soldiers” how unintimidating they are. “Here were more crippled human beings, more fools like themselves: (150). I think this makes a commentary on World War II. All the real soldiers have left, and everyone else makes for “light opera” in the words of the author.
-Steph Shelton
“Just let a little knocking start and here it comes crawling out. All you have to do is shake things up a bit” (326) I don’t know how significant the speaker of this quote is (it is Mary for future reference), however, I think it’s contents foreshadows the following few chapters. At this point we know that Invy is going to start working with the “Brotherhood”, though we do not know what he will be doing. It might just be the shroud of mystery over the whole ordeal, but as a reader I do not have good feelings about this group. Though they claim to be working for “the good of the people”, it worries me when they keep telling Invy all he has to do is “what they tell him”. It seems that yet again Invy is becoming a key player in a game that he isn’t of the winning side of. This time, however, I believe there are different circumstances, Invy’s mentality. I believe that Invy, after is crazy experience in the “factory hospital” , has begun to see the “games” that are unfolding around him and is starting to refuse to be jerked around. Due to this, I think Invy will start to “shake things up” and I think the mysterious veil surrounding the actions and intent of the Brotherhood will fall off. We will see. – Jamie McL
The fact that Chris McCandless “just didn’t like being told what to do” (115) is unfortunate. During the course of life it is important to learn from others. Whether it’s their mistakes, or their success, everyone has lessons to teach and much more to learn. Chris was so unwilling to accept the reality of the wild, and went off his own limited knowledge of what living in the wild was like. By ignoring his family after college, McCandless alienated himself from all of society. While his parents were genuinely worried about his safety, McCandless simply moved on. He didn’t want to live by the rules, but he took it to the utmost extreme. Unfortunately it cost him his life as well as the unnecessary grief of his loving family. In addition to leaving his family behind, the friends he made on the road were left in the dust as well. He never wanted to conform to society’s norm and even though he made tons of friends, it was as if he never returned the love that they extended towards him. But are we as humans told to love? I feel like love is almost obligatory in an everyday life. Not loving others tells me there is something wrong inside Chris. He has completely blocked out his ability to read the emotions of others. He became self righteous, and I believe that Chris could have cared less that he was going to die. I think that maybe, just maybe, right before he died of starvation all alone up in the Alaskan wilderness, Chris may have realized how foolish he acted, and the love that he had pent up for years, started to seep out into his consciousness again.
Throughout the book we have yet to see Billy really react to the actual bombing at Dresden or hear him talk about what happened until this chapter. What causes this spark of remembrance is something that I would have not expected. At Trout’s party “the Febs” singing stirs a reaction in Billy unlike any other point we have seen so far. In situations like these, when brought into a difficult situation, Billy has had a tendency to time travel or somewhat drift off from reality. This definitely shows a strong change in Billy’s character that in this instant he tries his best to deal with what is going on in the present and not travel forward or backward. The Febs have caused Billy to remember the tragedy at Dresden, and to create a memory that brings back many visuals from the time. The visual he remembers was being down in the meat locker when Dresden was destroyed. For the many people that died all Billy experienced was, “sounds like giants footsteps above” (226). Four guards were down there as well, the same number of people in the Febs. Being able to realize this tragedy fully for the first time, allows Billy to open up emotionally about his past.
Greg Gorence: Slaughter-House-Five
Billy’s simplistic approach to life, his acknowledgement, and even embrace of the fact that he can change nothing, certainly seemed to change his thoughts about the war. Roland Weary, “Wild Bob,” and Billy’s wife Valencia all see war as a romantic, glory-filled competition in which he hero will always triumph above the villain. The characters of Roland Weary and Wild Bob both have such distorted views it leads them to create scenarios, adventures and events that never occurred. Roland Weary’s Three Musketeers, who in his mind were to rescue poor, wimp-ish Billy Pilgrim, would in Weary’s mind go on to receive Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars and all such things, whereas in reality the two scouts Weary traveled with were shot dead and Weary died on the train to a Prison camp. Only Billy survived. Wild Bob would, in his ideal world, come to be known as a hero and friend to the men who served under him, he would have his company over for a three-steer barbeque in his home in Wyoming, and he would forever be known as Wild Bob for his crazy and heroic exploits during the war. In reality, “Wild Bob” lead his company to slaughter, lost all his men, and died delirious on the train to the prison camp. Only Billy Pilgrim saw what war really was during the firebombing of Dresden; it had no hero or villain, and no romanticism, only death and destruction without discrimination of good versus bad.
The short story The Cathedral is written in an unfamiliar way- it is very informal. The descriptions of characters looks actions and thoughts are all very honest and deliberate, “ Right then my wife filled me in with more detail than I cared to know.” Immediately, we get a strong sense of these characters because of this honesty in their descriptions. But what is the author’s purpose in describing the characters in this way? Would the story be different if they were portrayed in a more formal matter where we did not get to know their inner thoughts? The answer is yes. The fact that this story is something that all of us can relate to in one way- makes the overall message easier for us to comprehend. Descriptions such as, “ We didn’t talk. We ate. We scarfed. …we were into serious eating” illuminate the everyday normal-ness of this family. The glamour and perfection that we see in families that are the center of stories many times is removed when they all start smoking weed and discussing random elements of life. At first we see the main character hesitant upon the blind guest- he feel awkward in his presence. However, we observe a smooth transition from his uneasiness to holding his hands and drawing a cathedral with the man. The blind man must have been able to sense his uneasiness because he exclaims that the character, “ never thought anything like this could happen in your lifetime.” By showing the character to be enlightened with what he allowed a blind person to see and experience in the story shows personal growth. The author is showing that everyday normal people who may be ignorant of what is different can grow and overcome their fears- and the result will be beautiful- something like a handrawn picture.
Into The Wild Online Log #2
I found it very nice to be able to hear a first hand story from John Krakauer. Not only because it was a break from the third person eyewitness style of narration, almost like investigative journalism, but because it helped me to understand Chris McCandless better, even if only as little bit. The common ground forged by the author’s story about his past as a stubborn child who disliked authority and wanted to go on a crazy adventure in the wilderness. They felt like these adventures would set them free, be their ultimate goals. Both people stared death straight in the face and had to survive through very adverse conditions. The only difference is that Krakauer lived to tell his story is his book, while McCandless needed somebody else to tell his for him. Although the book plays this off like its not a big difference, yet its still the sole reason that Chris is judged differently from Krakauer, I feel that it is a big difference. Chris wasn’t really ready to go on his adventure, which makes me think that he expected not to make it. As for John, he was saved mostly by his equipment (ie a tent or a giant sleeping back type thing in the snow storm). This seemingly subtle difference is actually pretty important.
In chapter thirteen of Invisible Man, the narrator experiences a very powerful sense of freedom in New York. He begins to eat yams while on the street, an affirmation that he no longer cares about what any of the trustees or people like Bledsoe think. He’s finally broken free of the ridiculous mold society had put him in, to play the part of the invisible man. He also begins thinking about doing other things - criticizing Bledsoe for his unjust actions or even punching through a window pane that offers the ability for people to look more beautiful by having their complexion whiter. It’s interesting that after the attempts made in the factory hospital to make the nameless protagonist more controlled and less questioning of his environment, that the crude “treatment” seems to have done the opposite. The narrator now questions his surroundings, the hierarchy and world around him, and the nature of his place in the world. The most obvious example of this is when he makes a moving speech in front of a large group of people against two elderly people being evicted. His language is powerful and inspirational, and it’s apparent that he recognizes the sad state of the world around him, and the need to change it. He also seems to be getting involved in a secret society of sorts, where he needs to “stay hidden” in order to “stay effective”. What does this mean? Is he going to get involved, or is that sort of society not the sort of thing he’s interested in? It seems like he wouldn’t be a big fan of it, but that was the old narrator. Now that he’s defined himself, it’ll be very interesting to see the decisions he makes.
“Wilderness appealed to those bored or disgusted with man and his work. It not only offered an escape from society but also was an ideal stage for the Romantic individual to exercise the cult that he frequently made of his own soul. The solitude and total freedom of the wilderness created a perfect setting for either melancholy or exultation” 157
I think this quote may be the best way to understand Chris. It talks about the allure of the wild. Chris definitely disliked man in the sense that they weren’t self reliant. He viewed the advancements man has made as detrimental to the evolution or continuous of man as the superior being. I think Chris went to Alaska to live within himself where his opinion and beliefs were all that mattered. From countless passages Chris indeed loves the wilderness for its excitement and its boring continuous. Chris can be challenged and yet reside in total peace. For a person so strongly opinionated it makes sense that Chris left everything.
Jack Barnes
Louisa:
May 1st, 2008
Journal #9 and 10
Billy is unlike any war hero that we hear about everyday. How Vonnegut depicts Billy shows the negative effects war can have on people. It’s the story and life of a man who was damaged by the war because of his young age of entering it. Because he chose this story, it shows the true feeling that Vonnegut probably feels about war, and even inserts himself into the story as another person in the war. The belief that war can’t be prevented is an ongoing theme throughout the book. Even on Tralfamadore it can’t be prevented.
This brings up the fact of time travel and then the illusions and disillusions that Billy has. The stories that he tells are thought of as crazy and therefore Billy is crazy, awkward, and says things without thinking (for example when he was talking to the little boy whose father had just died). He doesn’t think his actions are wrong because he believes what he experiences are truth. These illusions and disillusions balance him out in the real world, however. The reality of this is that there are people nowadays who were in the Vietnam War and are extremely affected by it. We hide them though, leave them in the dust, hold money from the, and leave them homeless on the street. They’re called crazy and are ignored. Only the heroes are ever shown on TV, with clean-cut uniforms and haircuts, with medals and strong proud faces. This novel shows some of the real effects that war can and does have, and tells us about what really happens, instead of romanticizing it. It does, however, sensitize death. “So it goes” is repeated over and over again after anything about death is brought up. Even Billy foresees his death by being shot by a laser gun and say “farewell, hello, farewell hello” in his speech which shows that there isn’t really a difference between saying good-bye and hello and death is just another aspect of life.
One thing that I find really interesting in the novel is Billy’s visit with the Tralfamadorians. Of course I find it a little odd and out of the ordinary that the main character in the book is abducted by aliens (whether its true or not), but after awhile I’ve somewhat gotten used to it and have started to become really interested in those sections.
I think its so interesting how Billy becomes an exhibit in the Tralfamoadorian zoo, in exactly the same way that we put animals on display in our zoos. The way in which he describes the capture of Billy and his habitat is almost a critic on our society and the way we exhibit our control over inferior beings. I think its interesting how they attempt to create a habitat for him with things that they think will make him comfortable. Despite their efforts the habitat still appears so fake. Also when they try to make him mate with the young movie star and just stick her in his habitat is exactly what we do with animals in zoos. Also whenever Billy tries to talk to the visitors that come to marvel at him they just put their hands over their faces because whatever he says is just so inferior to their knowledge and wisdom. I believe this is a tendency that we have to completely dismiss “inferior” beings as stupid or unwise. The Tralfamordorians are clearly a critic of our society and the arrogance we have.
-Samantha Butters
This was exceedingly difficult to understand. Even after a re-read and an annotation it was tricky. There is a lot of character development for a page and a half. The two main characters seem very nostalgic and repeatedly bring up instances of when they were together on some European vacation. They are both widowed and it seems as if they have had a long relationship. I found this brief emotion to be very easy to relate to, as it has been all too easy for me to view past relationships as nostalgic or to remember them as glowing, when in actuality they probably were not.
I believe this is precisely the arbus factor. The ability or the flaw of remembering certain times a different way than they occurred. The two are looking back with a spontaneous feeling and maybe trying to re-create some awesome memory of their past, however than immediately afterward their children remind them, inadvertently, that it would never work because that was then, and this is now.
-George
When one thinks about the North versus the South and their attitude towards race, it is easy to take a polarized view regarding how they react to a diverse population – that the South is a harsh and extreme environment where no black person is accepted but is constantly oppressed, and the North is an idyllic haven where, historically, slaves escaped to freedom and blacks were never persecuted or treated poorly again. However, through Invi’s realization that racism exists everywhere – just in different forms – the reader also becomes more informed on the different realities of racism, whether it is extreme hate crime or subconscious privilege. There are several examples that support both ends of the spectrum that occur in both locations. Although most of the subtle racism exists in the North, such as a clerk at acting as if Invi weren’t there or members of the brotherhood asking him to sing and dance, there are also subtleties that exist in the South – whether it is the cemented idea in Invi’s mind that Mr. Norton is superior or the statue of the man placing a veil over his student. The same applies the other way around – there is a lot of direct hate and discrimination in the South, but it also exists in the north for different reasons, such as when Invi comes across a woman who describes, “I’m sick and tired of having you southern Negroes mess up things for the rest of us!” (328). This spectrum of racism that exists nation-wide (not only in the South) is only another theme that Ralph Ellison presents as not a polarized matter of black and white – but an issue that involves a large gray area.
-Lindsay Strand
“The Arbus Factor”
This was different from a lot of other stories that we’ve read in that it is remarkably short. It provides more of a sketch of one scene than a complete history of the lives of its characters. It portrays two people who are already grandparents reminiscing about their time in France. They seem to be making plans to go back, and wish that they could relive their time together. However, it’s clear that they will never actually make it back. They both have separate lives with families who obviously care about them, and though they seem to regret having parted in the past, they don’t actually seem to think that its possible to return to their past happiness with each other. The story is also seemingly based on a Diane Arbus photograph, as if the one photograph could tell a whole story in itself. The woman in the photograph’s expression is the base for the sentiment of the entire story.
- Senta
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