English 10

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT A STREETCAR NAMED...

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:26:16 -0500

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Blanche begins as the older, concerned sister. Things go array as Stanley and Blanche cannot seem to get along. Stanley doesn’t believe that Blanche is telling all of the truth. He becomes specious when she shows up with beautiful clothing but nothing to show for Belle Reve. We understand that Blanche is off her rocker when she makes claims about Shep and Mitch. Blanche is in a fantasy world and through bathing she attempts to cleanse herself. Blanche also reveals her past to Mitch, which makes her vulnerable under him, but she feels that he is sensitive and relatable. Blanche develops from the frantic older sister to a rape victim being committed to an asylum. Blanche remains very desperate throughout the book, as she indicates early to Stella, “I can’t be alone!”

Stella remains as a supportive sister to Stella throughout the book, but she transitions slowly with influence from Stanley. Stella welcomes Blanche to her home, even with her sister’s poor attitude about her home and husband. Stella is the middle ground between Stanley and Blanche. She acts as the bridge between Realism and Illusion. Stella becomes more aware of the way Blanche is acting when she agrees to commit her own sister to an asylum. At the beginning, I doubt that Stella would ever claim that her sister was crazy. Stella saw Blanche as a little bit frantic, but accepted her for the way that she was. Stella’s development as a character is mostly due to Stanley’s influence over her. In most was, Stella is passive, Blanche overshadowed her as a child and now Stanley overshadows her as her husband.

Music in Streetcar Named Desire is played to evoke feeling and...

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:26:00 -0500

Music in Streetcar Named Desire is played to evoke feeling and tone with the play. Every time that Allan is mentioned, the polka plays. Blanche stated that, “the polka tune were played when Allan-” died. The polka music is reminiscent of the guilt that Blanche feels because of Allan’s death. Even though Blanche did not murder Allan, she feels like she had a role in his death. The sounds of the polka remind Blanche of what she has lost. In the scene where Blanche reveals the truth about her past to Mitch, the polka tune also plays. The usage of music in the play is detrimental because it adds a level of feeling and tone in the play. Instead of the actors relying on only themselves to evoke feeling in the audience, they have the addition of music, which proves to be useful when talking about touchy subjects for the characters – such as Allan’s death. Also, the sound of the Blue Piano is significant to the place where they live and the spirit of their life. The sounds of the Blue Piano evoke the feeling and tone of their community.

While bathing, Blanche sings the tune It’s Only a Paper Moon. The song is about how love turns the world into a fake fantasy. Blanche’s singing the song represents the way that she is living. Blanche sings the song about phony love while she cleanses herself in the hot bath. The use of the singing in the bathtub represents Blanche’s confidence with the world and her views of love and life.

The use of music, Blanche’s singing, the Blue Piano and the drums evokes different feelings such as livelihood, love, suspense and drama.

Acts 4-6 These three acts are very revealing of Blanche’s...

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:07:56 -0500

Acts 4-6

These three acts are very revealing of Blanche’s personality. Blanche’s concern for her sister fuel her dislike for Stanley. Blanche reveals to her sister that “he’s common!” Blanche believes that her sister deserves much better, but Stella and Stanley are attracted by their differences and desires. Stanley, as a realist, tells Blanche early on that “[He doesn’t] go in for that stuff.” Meaning that he wont fall into her world of illusions and encourage her just as Stella does. Blanche pretends to be a glamourous, pure woman, but instead she’s old and washed out and she is not as beautiful as she once was.

When Blanche kisses the young man, we realize her malice intentions. Blanche asks to kiss him, perhaps because he is young and pure, the way that she wants to be. Blanche actions are like a fairytale where an old witch who needs to take the beauty of a young woman to have the beauty that she once had. Blanche in scene 6 plays hard to get with Mitch. Blanche wants Mitch to take care of him and takes advantage of him in his sensitive state of his mother’s sickness. Blanche also tells Mitch the situation of her husband’s death that she feels responsible for. Blanche’s personality is a reflection of the trauma that she went through with the death of her young husband and the tragedy of losing Belle Reve. Mitch falls victim of Blanche’s neediness because he wants someone after his mother dies. In a way, Blanche and Mitch are using each other. Blanche is really settling for the first man she can find because she realizes that she’s old and not as beautiful as she once was. Her dependency is one of her worst qualities, as Blanche cannot stand to be alone.

Light and colour played a key role in Acts 1-3 of A Streetcar...

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:39:14 -0500

Light and colour played a key role in Acts 1-3 of A Streetcar Named Desire. Blanche was introduced in clothing that was suited for a “summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district” (Page 15). Blanche is supposed to be the image of purity and truth, but early on we detect Blanche’s nervous nature and alcoholic tendencies. Later on, Blanche has picked up a lantern for a bare bulb at Stella’s house because she “can’t stand a naked light bulb” (Page 55). This may also represent Blanche not being able to handle the truth. When Blanche is confronted with a problem, like talking about the plantation or the death of her loved one, she is able to get away from the subject or claims she’s feeling ill.

In a description for the Poker Game, the men’s shirts are clearly described.

“The poker players-Stanley, Steve, Mitch and Pablo-wear coloured shirts, solid blues, a purple, red-and-white checked, a light green” (Page 45).

The colours all represent virtues, as blue is truth, divine and heavenly, purple is good judgement and happiness, red is passion and fertility, white is innocence, perfection and purity and green is life nature, fertility and wellbeing. The colours also contrast masculinity and femininity. The use of colours in descriptions allow for further characterization and are a detrimental part of the play as they have been included for almost every character. From the characterization a better understanding of social aspects and character relationships are able to form. The use of colours in A Streetcar Named Desire allow for an idea to be transferred without being too blatant.

Windows & Finding Forrester

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:49:55 -0500

The movie, Finding Forrester, involved many motifs about light and sight. These motifs all play a key role in further development of the characters. Important characters are introduced through the use of light and sight. Like Jamal, the protagonist in which the film is based around is first introduced in his sleep, his eyes open as his mom attempts to wake him up for school, a literal and metaphorical awakening. Forrester plays Jamal’s mentor, but as he is first introduced, Forrester is looking out the window, with binoculars, which plays into a both the light and sight motifs.

Windows play a key role throughout the movie. Forrester informs Jamal that he leaves the house only to clean his windows. Forrester is stuck in his apartment, just as he is stuck in his life. As his brother died, he finds it hard to leave the house. When Jamal takes him to a baseball game he becomes very anxious in the crowd. Forrester keeps the windows very clean, this is because Forrester is metaphorical looking through the windows without any judgement. Keeping the windows clean is allowing a clear view to the world without any prejudice. When Forrester dies, Jamal is seen opening the window. No longer does he have to clean the dirt (“stereotypes”) from the window, but is able to break through from the stereotypes.The camera then pans through the window to see Jamal and his Brother playing Basketball together. This unites Jamal and his Brother after Jamal loses his mentor, Forrester.

Heart of Darkness - Blog Three

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:03:42 -0400

The Russian Trader explains Kurtz situation and begs Marlow to take him away quickly. The Russian and Kurtz have had their ups and downs, but he has never seen Kurtz in such grave condition. The manger leaves to talk to Kurtz and Marlow returns to the steamer. From the deck of the steamer, Marlow sees a beautiful Native woman nervously pacing on the coast. He is later told that this is Kurtz mistress. Her influence over Kurtz causes trouble for the Russian. Kurtz is head yelling and claims that the manager came for the ivory instead of coming to help him. The manager takes Marlow aside and tells him that he will report Kurtz as he is no longer well enough to run the station. Marlow is disgusted with the manager and claims that Kurtz is a “remarkable man.”

Later, the Russian trader confesses to Marlow that Kurtz ordered the attack of the steamer. Kurtz was hoping that the Manager would order the ship to turn back after assuming Kurtz was dead. Marlow tells the Russian that the manager has plans of hanging him, but the Russian is not surprised. The Russian gets tobacco, shoes and bullets from Marlow and then leaves on a canoe with natives.

In the middle of the night, Marlow is awoken by a cacophony. He then realizes that Kurtz is missing and decides to look for Kurtz himself. Marlow follows Kurtz trail, but then realizes the danger of the situation as Kurtz could easily call for the natives to have him killed. Marlow convinces Kurtz to come back and the next morning they leave on the steamer. The natives are seen at the shore waving to Kurtz and Marlow sounds the whistle. The natives scatter away and the pilgrims open fire. The only person remaining on the shore is Kurtz mistress, but Marlow cannot see if she is hit by a bullet as his view is obscured.

The manager is pleased that Kurtz will be dead soon and is ignoring Marlow. Marlow has separated himself from the rest of the Company since the incident with Kurtz and the Manager the first night that Marlow arrived. Kurtz admits to Marlow that he is “waiting for his death.” Marlow sees Kurtz having some sort of epiphany, scared and afraid, Kurtz escapes to the dining hall and not long after a servant comes to tell Marlow that Kurtz is dead. Kurtz is buried the next day by the Pilgrims.

Marlow comes down with illness himself. At this time he almost dies, but he can’t recall much about his time when he was sick. Marlow recovers and comes to the realization that Kurtz was a great man because “he had something to say. And he said it.’ Marlow then returns to Brussels.

In Belgium Marlow is given a pamphlet about Suppression of Savage Customs. Marlow goes to visit Kurtz fiancee, without any real reason. He gives her a package of letters and a picture. Marlow tells her that he knew him as well as two men could know each other. Marlow lies and tells his fiancee that Kurtz last word’s were her name. Marlow ends the story by saying that the river is here “to lead into the heart of an immense darkness” (Page 111).

This image represents Marlow’s isolation for the rest of the company. He realizes early on how terrible the Company’s treatment towards natives are. Marlow is offended when he is given the pamphlet about savages. Marlow was like Kurtz in the sense where he didn’t get along with the rest of the Company. Marlow isolated himself on purpose because he could believe the hypocrisy of the Manager.

If I forget Thee, Jerusalem and The God of Urushalim both convey...

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:50:00 -0400

If I forget thee, Jerusalem

If I forget Thee, Jerusalem and The God of Urushalim both convey a message of the importance of Jerusalem. From the poems, you can understand the religious and cultural importance to both Palestinians and Israelis. Both poems have the same message, but the difference is the perspectives of the authors. One is written from an Arab perspective while the other is written from a Jewish perspective. Jerusalem will be in both their hearts forever, because they cannot forget Jerusalem without forgetting their culture, religion and self. The poems are very similar, both using blood as imagery, but the author of The God of Urushalim makes the poem more personal to the situation by referring to Monsters and Brothers. This idea is that the enemy is a monster and the brothers must unite to remember Jerusalem.

The Word Within The Word Assignment

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:09:00 -0400

The kitty is heliotropic. He enjoys basking in the sun all day.

The kitty is translucent.

After the kitty’s father is the paterfamilias.

After an altercation, the kitties were fuming.

A megaton blew the kitty fifty feet in the air.

The kitty suffered from lyssophobia.

After winning the championship baseball game, the kitty was noted as an apotheosis by his fans.

Playing golf in the rain was precursor for being struck by lightning.

The kitty has an idée fixe for Fancy Feast.

The kitty hears an euphony.

The kitty went to university to study cosmology. He now considers himself an expert on this subject.

The kitty has been split by schism.

The kitty is a funambulist.

The kitty is now reiterated.

The kitty has been bowdlerized.

Heart of Darkness - Blog Two

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:26:00 -0400

Marlow sits on the deck of his steamboat, slowly drifting off to sleep. He hears the Manager of the expedition and his Uncle conversing. They are talking about Kurtz. The men mention that Kurtz is alone and once the manager sent him an assistant, but the assistant came back with a note saying, “Clear this poor devil out of the country, and don’t bother sending more of that sort. I had rather be alone than have the kind of men you can dispose of with me.” (Page 45) Now all that the manager receives is Ivory of the best sort from Kurtz. Marlow also hears that Kurtz is now ill. His health is no longer in very good condition. The manager also mentions to have a wandering trader hung because the manager is no longer happy with his work. The uncle says that, “The climate may do away with this difficulty for you” (Page 45), which means that the manager might not have to deal with Kurtz if he is killed by tropical disease. Marlow is stunned by the way that the two are conversing.

Marlow begins a journey to Kurtz station. A stack of wood is left by a Russian trader fifty miles from Kurtz station. The trader is a man that Marlow has overhead the Manager complaining about. After a cry is heard at the place where the ship is stopped for the night, the men onboard prepare for an attack. Marlow is told be a native man a “Cannibal” as they are referred to in the book that he wants to eat the voices in the distances. He realizes that the men are starving and the only food they had was throw overboard by the “Pilgrims” (traders). The manager gives permission for Marlow to continue through the fog, even though he earlier said to stop because the water was not safe. Marlow refuses to continue as he does not believe that the Natives will attack. The “Pilgrims” then open fire after seeing they are surrounded by natives. Marlow scares the attackers away by sounding the steamer whistle. The helmsmen dies by Marlow’s feet, instead of feeling any empathy, Marlow is disgusted by the dead body. Marlow believes that Kurtz is dead because of the Native attacks.

Marlow later throws the helmsman body overboard. The pilgrims are upset that they did not give him a proper burials and the cannibals are upset that they lost a possible meal. Marlow blames the helmsmen’s death on the helmsmen’s impatience. If he hadn’t shot at the men in the bushes, he would not be dead now. As the inner station comes into view (Kurtz station) the pilgrims and Marlow are happy that it is still intact, as they expected it to be destroyed by the natives.

At the shore, Marlow is greeted by the Russian trader. Everyone is fine in the inner station and the Russian trader believes that the natives attacked because they don’t want Kurtz to leave. Everyone has been apotheosizing Kurtz existence.

This photo is an expression of freedom. There is no way of the natives being able to communicate with the white men. They are beaten, abused and forced into slaveries. They have no way of defending themselves because the White Men will simply not hear what they say. This photo is representative of discrimination, freedom, slavery, violence and silence. All factors that are represented in Heart of Darkness.

Globalization Vocabulary

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:04:00 -0400

Wanton - of cruel or violent action

Begrimed - blackened with ingrained dirt

Reposed - temporary rest

Cipher - a secret or disguised way of writing

Malevolently -a wish to do evil to others

Heart of Darkness - Blog one

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:48:00 -0400

Heart of Darkness begins with a scene of five men on a boat, The Nellie. A captain, a lawyer, an accountant, Marlow and an unknown narrator. The men are there together by the “bond of the sea” (Page 5). The narrator notes that seamen are homebodies. Since every ship looks the same and the sea always looks the same, it doesn’t matter where they are. They’re at home on the sea. Seaman see no need in wandering around land, once they see apart of the continent, they’re not curious enough to see the rest of it. The men sit on the boat and as the sun begins to set, Marlow begins to tell a story. Marlow is a very eloquent narrator and the men are used to him talking for hours. Marlow recalls all of the men that once came through the river. Like Sir Frances Drake and Sir John Franklin. Marlow then recalls the time that the Romans first came to London. He first says that the Roman men were brave, “sand-banks, marshes, forests, savages, -precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink” (Page 9). Later, the Marlow begins foreshadowing as he says that what they are doing is a lot like the Romans. He says that the “these chaps were not much account, really” (Page 10) meaning that they weren’t that great. The Romans stole because they could, but they weren’t able to control colonies. Marlow claims that what he did was conquest of the earth, but the Romans have nothing to show for everything they stole. They were not efficient, “they were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze” (Page 10).

The narrator then tells us they are waiting for the tides to change, “here was nothing else to do till the end of the flood” (Page 10). Marlow mentions that he always wanted to be an explorer since he was a child. He always looked at the biggest, most blank spaces on the map and decided that he wanted to visit those places. Marlow begins to tell us by the time he grew up, the blank space he always dreamed of visiting was covered with lakes and rivers and names. Marlow refers to this snake like river (the Congo) “The snake had charmed me” (Page 12).

Marlow’s Aunt had connections with the Company and was determined to get him a job. After a captain was killed in a fight with natives over hens, Marlow got a with the Company. Marlow spent the next couple of days preparing for his new job before he arrived in “a city that always makes me think of a whited sepulchre” (Page 14) referring to Brussels, Belgium. Marlow sees the map of the congo at the Company’s headquarters. I believe this is one of his first experiences that Marlow is exposed to clashing cultures. He talks about how some of his family lives on the European continent but he believe that London is a lot better then the rest of Europe. The notion of imperialism is demonstrated early on in the book. The Company is also Dutch, at this point when the book is based, the Dutch were some of the world leaders. They had control of ‘The Spice Islands (The Philippines)’ which was one of the most highly regarded places at this time. Marlow had trouble getting work in London because England was not yet the world powerhouse in colonization.

After a month’s journey on French and Swedish boats, Marlow finally reaches a station. It isn’t long after he realizes how much the Natives are suffering. “They were dying slowly - it was very clean. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now - nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation” (Page 24). There is a lot of talk about Mr. Kurtz. Marlow doesn’t seem to really care, but finally Marlow says “‘Tell me pray,’ said I, ‘who is this Mr. Kurtz?” (Page 36) To Marlow, Kurtz was just a name. He couldn’t place what he looked like and he couldn’t tell if he was good or evil. Some said that he was a remarkable man but others seemed to be afraid of Kurtz, making him out to be some fearless leader.

I figure that Kurtz is this mystery to Marlow. He’s a very important part of the story, as he’s been mentioned without Marlow ever meeting him yet. Everyone has a different idea of Kurtz and Marlow receives these little pieces of information together. Kurtz, to Marlow, is like placing a puzzle together, but you don’t know what the end result will be yet.

Writing Goals and How to Improve

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:23:00 -0400

1) Work on concluding essay - I need to be less repetitive with my thesis statement in my conclusion and I need to engage readers. By that point of the essay I need to put more effort in, I kind of try to finish it as fast as I can. The conclusion is a vital part of my essay and needs to enforce the thesis. I’m going to put more effort into elaborating on my conclusion.

2) Elaborate of quotes - I’m not good at integrating quotes. The hardest thing for me is getting all my ideas down on paper. They’re floating around in my head, but I struggle with translated my thoughts into coherent sentences. I’m going to outline quotes before hand and make points on all things related to the quote.

3) Proof read - I always skip this part, but I need to put time aside to go back and look at my essay AFTER I have finished. I kind of go through the essay as I’m typing, but that’s not always the most viable option. I should also consider printing it out and editing. I did ask someone to edit for me, but people are not as mean as they should be and I just got a “wow! that’s so good.” So I need to find someone who can actually help me edit.

The Second Coming - Wordle

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:16:00 -0400

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2566079/The_Second_Coming

Globalization Notes - Wordle

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:55:00 -0400

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2565933/Globalization

Socratic Seminar Blog

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:27:00 -0400

The essay written by Zora Hurston outlines the way it feels to be black living in Southern America - ’an ancestor of slavery’ as she puts it. What surprised me the most was that Zora only feels different when she is a minority or when she is around a white person. The first time Zora realizes the difference between black and white people is when she is submersed in a white society. I think this has a reflection on the white perspective on the blacks of Maycomb, in To Kill A Mockingbird. The white people believe they are superior to the blacks and believe all African-Americans to be the same. Hurston demonstrates herself as slightly arrogant throughout the piece of work. I believe she has a high sense of accomplishment. Zora sees her ancestor’s tribulation as a stage of progress. Zora Hurston will not allow the past to bring her down. Unlike Lucille Clifton, Zora Hurston has a different perspective and choices not to dwell on the past. Zora’s self esteem echoed throughout the essay is an important factor in her growth. Hurston has a very positive outlook on her life and choices to live her life to the fullest. She is thankful for the hardships that her Ancestors went through, but will not continue to live with such hatred. Zora makes a point to talk about how it’s not a bad thing to be Black; god was not punishing her – Zora states she is proud to be both “everybody’s Zora” and “cosmetic Zora”.

How does the experience of moving from a small town to a city affect Zora?

Does Zora’s race hinder her at all? Does she let it have any effect?

How does the writing style effect the story?

How do the opinions on racism of Zora Hurston and Lucille Clifton differ?

Blog Response

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:59:00 -0400

http://jambaffo.tumblr.com/

I agree that the ending was abrupt, I think there could have been more explanation about Boo. Scout seemed to just accept that she would never see Boo again after she walked him back to the house, but I feel like Scout was so curious about Boo all throughout the story that she would want to befriend him. As a child, Scout wouldn’t let something as groundbreaking as meeting Boo just slip by. Even in the scene where he is hiding behind the cover is just odd… She’s just like “Hey Boo…” and doesn’t say anything else. The Scout that Harper Lee portrayed would have a lot more to say. By the way, flabbergasted is a very good word. I think Harper Lee could have tied up the story, I felt like she didn’t really perfect the story. I felt the need for a postlude or a sequel. You included some very good points throughout your blog entry and had a lot of insight into the blog.

To Kill A Mocking Bird - Blog Three

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:35:00 -0400

Based on your experience of reading the novel, discuss whether the portrayals of black and whites are appropriate. Should we continue to read this novel? Why or why not?

This is an excellent question, as I read To Kill A Mocking Bird, I could help but notice the standing points of the white and black citizens. I didn’t think it was possible for Scout, a six to eight year old little girl could capture the raw emotions involved with this book. Everybody will have their own opinion on whether or not this is a good book, in my opinion it is a wonderful book. The language was easy to understand, it was powerful without being disrespectful, from this book I actually took a lot away about Southern American culture. I have lived in Georgia and Alabama, this summer I visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and it was a huge eye opener. I think this book is very appropriate for schools and summed up everything I learnt about southern history and culture over the duration of the summer. Undeniably this book is a classic, I support this book being read in schools across the country and across the world. As canadians I feel we can be naive to these situations.

As Ms Green first mentioned before we began the book, African-Americans appeared passive in this story. I don’t believe that there was much they could do, but I don’t think that they intentionally took a backseat to Caucasians. There is a very delicate social structure in the South, this book was set just after the Blacks were no longer along to be enslaved, so everybody was still very cautious about what they did and said. I think the portrayals of blacks and whites were very accurate.

I saw this fountain at the Birmingham Institute of Civil Rights. This is just an example of segregation between black and whites that was apparent in Alabama around that time. At the exhibit, they play a movie, in the final scene there is this picture. Then they pull up the projector screen and they have this actual water fountain.

A final Limerick summarizing the book…

There once was a town called Maycomb,
In the summer Scout and Jem’s roam,
And as they grew up,
There was a mad pup,
Atticus shot it and hit home.

In the beginning they were afraid of Boo,
They thought rabbits and cats he chew,
He turned out to not be so bad,
As he carried Jem home to dad,
Tom Robinson was under judicial review.

Jem lost sleep over Tom,
Scout and Jem had no mom,
There was a division,
That required revision,
Miss Stephanie claimed Boo was a peeping tom.

Blog Response

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:47:00 -0400

http://jambaffo.tumblr.com/

We did the same question (number one), but our answers were different. You explained the trail situation very well, I think you grasped the situation. All Mayella knew was to lie so she wouldn’t be beat by her father. Mayella was put in a terrible situation because she was a sad, lonely person and she didn’t fit in amongst anyone else. Something Jem said about they black people didn’t like them because they were white and the white people didn’t like them because they lived with the black people relates to your picture, in my honest opinion. The Ewell’s are odd ones out and because Mayella was lonely she went to Tom Robinson for comfort but in this case it did not work out, and now Tom Robinson has been killed. This situation is sad, but Mayella didn’t have to lie. That resulted in her only friends death.

To Kill A Mocking Bird - Blog Two

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 21:33:00 -0400

1) Examine the different perspectives on Tom Robinson’s guilt or innocence. How are these perspective a result of the culture of Maycomb/the American south? What perspectives are there?

From the trial we could derive that there was no factual evidence that convicted Tom Robinson of the rape and assault of Mayella Ewell. The only thing the prosecutors had to go off of was what Heck Tate, Mr. Bob Ewell, Miss Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson told.

Heck Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb, claimed that when he got to the house Mayella was on the ‘floor in the middle of the front room… She was pretty well beat up…” (To Kill A Mocking Bird, Page 223) Mr. Tate never saw Tom Robinson on the property or anywhere near the scene of the crime but he arrested him after Mayella Ewell identified him.

Even though the Ewell’s are known to be riffraff, they are Caucasian. Many of the townspeople in Maycomb would always take a white person’s word over a black person’s word any day. Tom Robinson’s story is compelling, but a southern lady is known to be delicate not forceful as Tom Robinson made Mayella Ewell out to be. In the South, a white Southern Belle would never force herself on a black man, especially in the 1930s.

Tom Robinson’s family and friends see him as an innocent man. They could never see him lay hands on a woman. Scout mentions that he is just as polite as her father. I believe that is why the jury did not believe Tom Robinson even though his plea could have been true. The jury had an extreme bias towards Tom Robinson before the trial or crime was committed, simply because of the colour of his skin.

This photo is of one object, but it is seen in two different ways. This picture reminds me of Tom Robinson. He is only one person, but two groups of people have two very different views of him.

Blog Response

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400

Blog Response :

beanibop:

2. An older Scout who is reflecting on her past tells the story in first person narration. Discuss the narrative benefits of telling from a child’s perspective with an adult’s vocabulary.

The benefit of telling the story like this, is that readers get to see how exactly the children…

I think that you really captured the reason why Harper Lee wrote the book in this style. I agree with you that the way the book is written that way so we can better understand the events that took place. If Harper Lee wrote as a six year old the story may have been harder to understand. As for your other response, I can see that you put a lot of thought into this. You explained that Boo was only perceived by Scout and Jem’s assumption, so you could say we really don’t know all that much about the real Boo. You captured the way that Scout and Jem’s bravery and childish inquest relates to their fascination with Radley’s and Boo.