The Farming of Bones, The End

The end of Farming of Bones was a little predictable. Since I knew that Amabelle's dream was to return to Hati, it was predictable that she would at least try to "return to Hati" (Danticat 125). Danticat constantly foreshadows Amallebe`s dream when "On the border... A large group is crossing" (Danticat 141), and Amabelle agrees to cross the border with Doctor, Mimi and Sebastien. Danticat makes the reader believe "too much" (Danticat 143) on Amabelle`s dream, "go to the border" (Danticat 161)  . However, there is a twist at the end of the story because "Sebastien was arrested at the church" and "Mimi too" ( Danticat 163). Amabelles dream was not completley acomplished. She would of wanted to return to Hati with Sebastien and Mimi. Nevertheless, Amabelle continues to perssue her dream and arrived to the border. It impressed me a lot that she wanted to die, she wanted to be carried "into Sebastien`s cave," her "father`s laughter," and "mother`s eternity" (Danticat 310). She even "slipped into the current" (Danticat 310). At the end Amabelle found the "peace" she was looking for and descided to go with the current.

As I said before, this book is predictable. It was an interesting story that kept me enteratined. Something I liked about this book is that it is history, which is a subject I love. Therefore, I was interested towards the book.

Interview with Edwige Danticat

Edwige Danticat is a Haitian American author raised in New York by her aunt and uncle. Danticat is the author of The Farming of Bones, a novel telling the story of a Haitian worker in Santo Domingo. Amabelle is a girl who became orphan since she was young and Danticat might feel identified with her since she was also a young orphan. For example the "characters spirit chase her, that probably might be that Amabelles experiences are identified with her experiences. However not many things have to do with her, when she writes she is constantly thinking of what to write. She has a "balance"to hi-light the events and drama to create around her characters. Aswell as in The Farming of Boner, her work is drawn to the conflict when Amabelle is a women who "fights"to return to Haiti, her native land.

Danticat writes about realities because the conflict comes in our case". Therefore, she has had unhappy stories in her life which are transmitted through her writings. The "story comes from"her experiences and she trying to understand the reason of things. "Going back"was Amabelle's dream, as well as Danticat, returning to her native land. She has been tied to her land, she is grateful for the identity that Haiti has given her and the proudness to represent Haiti. She want to come back to the place, "to create the country"she has been thinking.

The Farming of Bones

In The Farming of Bones Amabelle is offered to return to Hati. It was the place she had not seen since she was a child. Doctor Javier is the one who gives the offer to Amabelle, "If you want, you can come with me and some others. There`ll be many children with us, perhaps ten orphans." (Danticat 79). This might of been a good offer for Amabelle because she had not given herself "much time to think about this, to consider returning to a place"(Danticat 79). This was her chance to change her life, however things not always work out and she was asked to stay at papi`s.

When there is a good offer you might want to take it. Nevertheless anything can change it. Like what happened to Amabelle. She was offered to work at the orphan but, Señora Valencia`s son died and it is something that might made her stay. Eventhough She new she was going to have a better life with Doctor Javier. This is like in Gone With The Wind, Scarlett`s slave could of run away when Atlanta is on fire but, they realized that they would rather stay with their "owners". Amabelle was not owned by anyone but she had been very attached to Señora Valencia for a long time of her life and something might made her stay.

The Farming of Bones pg.1-52

I feel sorry for Amabelle, an orphan slave in Dominican Republic. I mean, she could have a worst job but still, being a slave is not something to be proud of. However, she was a lucky slave, Señora Valencia because she would invite her "onto her bed after her father had gone to sleep"(Danticat 6), they grew up togather. She was lucky because she would be treated as a "normal" person. Also because Danticat makes the reader think that she is inlove with Sebastien, who works at cutting cane. This is so, by the way she talks about him when "He comes and puts and end to my nightmare" (Danticat 1) as if he were a savior.

Amabelle is a strong women. Talking of your fears or memories is what makes you stronger and that is what Ama does. She proudly talks about her parents. She clearly admires them  because people would call them "Frè Antonie, Brother Antonie... Mother Irelle" (Danticat 33), Free Antonie, Brother Antonia and Mother Irelle, as if they were family. It seems that her parents had been heroes. Therefore, this might been something that makes her a stroger person, talking about her parets because it will enrich her strengh. Nevertheless Amabelle was lucky to survive in her parents accident. She was saved by "one of them", ""Unless you want to die, " one of them says, "you will never see thoes people again"".(Danticat 52). She saw her parents die and it might have been a terrible scene. This is something that she has had to carry alone inside of her. It is something that will make her grow as a person and it might teach her many things in life.

King Leopold's Ghost - Prologue & Chapter 19

Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness author was part of Belgum`s colonialism in the Congo. He was the sailor of King Leopold. In his book he reflected his journey and vision through his ficticioues character, Marlow. King Leopold's Ghost is a book that tells the story of King Leopold`s regime at the Congo. He was harsh  as it is shown in these two books. King Leopold's Ghost also shows how "Many slaves shipped to the Americas" (Hochschild 11). It relates to Heart of Darkness because similar expressions are used when "Europeans had to come from the land of the dead" (Hochschild 16).

However, Conrad wrote the opposite because, "You can see flies, but only if you promise not to write about them" (Hochschild 298). Conrad was there and wrote everything he saw "I beieve -then, pretending not to know anything of my existence" (Conrad 59), nevertheless he everything he saw was through Marlow. The ivory and rubber are big symbols of power, "rubber terror" (Hochschild 300), "The word ivory rang in the air" (Conrad 39). The "power" was controlled by Kurtz and King Leopold and it meant a lot to everyone in these two novels.

During these regime Africans were summited to a time of terror. Conrad and Hochschild show it very clear. Slavery was a major issue because many Africans were maltreated and punished for no reason. This became a reign of terror which was due to colonialism in the 19th century.

Heart of Darkness - Love

You cannot choose who to love, love just happens. In the Heart of Darkness, Kurtz falls in love with the heart of darkness. He used to think that africans were crazy. However he was constantly involved with the heart of darkness that he fell in love woith it. Throught the book he is a hollow man and his desire to love is the atraction to stay.

The power in the book or the ivory and the ambition of power of Kurtz increased until he only desires that. Kurtz was a mad man who dies in his desire. Kurtz was trapped in the ambition and he could not come back, " Can you turn back?"(Conrad 82). When Marlow says: "All Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz" (Conrad 91), that means that what Europe was trying to do is colonizing. However, Kurtz was not able because he fell in love with the heart of darkness. Kurtz was not able to control it and his mind stayed there full of ambition until he died.

Heart of Darkness - Colonization

Colonization is what surrounds us everytime even though we do not notice it. Men has been colonized by other men during the existence of men. Earth has a large area colonized by men. Colonization is not only taking or inhabiting a piece of land you owned but also you taking a property of someone. You can colonize a land, a house, even a Job.

In the Heart of Darkness we can see how colonization is a topic that is constant . This is shown because white men have taken oven the land of africans (in the Congo) , expand and take control of the people in that territory. However that is not the only `scene` of colonization shown in the book. However, colonialism is shown among the characters. This is when Kurtz wants to take over the managers job when "he has asked the administrator to be sent there" (Conrad 55). What happens here is that men try to colonize men. Therefore, it becomes a hard struggle because boath of them have equal andvantages and disadvantages. The manager was doing his job and Kurtz was a great merchant and man leader. Furthermore, he was not able to take the managers job. This was an example of how colonization in the book is something strong eventhough we do not notice it.

Heart of Darkness - Black Swan

The Black Swan is an excelent movie about a ballet dancer who is doing a show and she is so into the character that she becomes the character. Through out the movie her mind changes drastically and until she becomes Odile, the Black Swan. Black Swan is similar to Heart of Darkness because Kurtz becomes part of the Africans.

Nina (Portman) was afraid of becoming the Black Swan, it was hard for her "to seduce". Aswell as for Kurtz, he did not wanted to become one of the natives. He would see them as "savage demons" and by the end of the book he became one of them. Aswell as Nina. Nina on the other hand, was afraid of being seduced by Leroy (Cassel). These boath characters slowly begin to gain ambition and power. Kurtz begins to increase his exportations and Nina increases her ambition for Leroy. She has jelousy from Lily (Kunis) because she is able to seduce the audience.

Kurtz ambition grows and he is only thinking of power (the ivory) and getting more jobs. For example when he tries to take the managers job. On the other hand, Nina begins to alucinate that she kills Lily. However these two characters kill themselves because they are so involved in what they are doing that they stay there and never come back. Kurtz dies of maddness as well as Nina, she kills herself because she thought she killed Lily.

Heart of Darkness - The Congo

Nature has different significance to many people. The Amazonian Rainforest has a lot of power and is very rich in natures. However, when I whent there I  had a terrible expirience. It was the worst trip of my life because I constantly suffered. On the other hand when I whent to Machipichu I felt something different and had an amazing time. The conection I had with Machupichu was compleatley different and it was something I enjoyed a lot. People feel identified with different places and feel differently about them.

In the Heart of Darckness, Marlow the narrator has a wierd expirience of his identification with the Congo. Since he had had a terrible expirience there he pictured it as hell when: "all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men" (Conrad 7). It is ovious that is is a different world for him and that he has to see something new. This is probably what happened to me in the Amazon. We both disliked the place we were in and that is why we did not say positive things about it. Also when he "began to feel slightly uneasy" (Conrad 15). Conrad shows that Marlow is not in his confort area and that makes the reader think that he might be in a unconfortable place. However, this might not be uncomfortable for the "savages" (Conrad 7) in the area.

People have different points of view. What depens in the point of view of the person is the situation that they are taking in that moment. For example, Marlow was in a job for exporting ivory. There he was not in the best conditions because he and his men had to be in mines and uncomfortable places but, for the slaves/deamons that place might have a different significance because they lived there and had a different significance.

The Cherry Orchard Act IV - New Beginning

In all cultures there is a new life, new begining. In the Egyptians the new life began after they died, aswell as in the Inca`s, they would ascend and start a new life. Today I`ve heard that cutting your hair short represents a fresh start. When I whent to Tasis England I had a pause at CNG and a new begining at Tasis. I a complete different way of life. Different country, climate, culture, people and school. It was a new chapter of my life as a student. I whent on my own, made friends on my own. I did not know anyone there and it was a change I loved in my life.

In the end of The Cherry Orchard the orchard is finally sold, Andreyevna and her family are looking for a new begining. They are leaving everything behind, even Firs. Eventhough they are leaving a memorable place Chekhov portrays this ending Anya says: "Good-bye, old life!" and Tofimov: "Hail to the new life!" (IV.392). Of something bad, something good will come out and eventhough they don`t have anymore the orchard they will have a new begining that will change their lives.

Regardless to a new begining in the movie Knowing the world ends, a boy and a girl survive. The way they survive is because they are taken to the world of Adam and Eve. Which symbolizes the begining of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXq7qFCKifc

The Cherry Orchard Act III - Triumph

Victory is something that everyone likes to have. After a constant struggle Lopakhin got what he wanted. Most of the people have a lot of pride when the win something like the pride Lopakhin showed in this scene: "I bought it! Kindly wait a moment, ladies and gentlemen, my head is swinging, I can`t talk...." (III. 377). The way Lopakhin talks is kind of over-reacting. From the beginning of the play he knew he was going to buy the Cherry Orchard and he gives an enormous speech telling everyone how fortunate he is of having the orchard. Here he is very ironic and mean to Andreyevna when he says: "Lord! God in heaven! The Cherry Orchard is mine! Tell me I`m drunk, out of my mind, that I imagined it..." (III. 377) He wants everyone to know that he bought it and is telling Andreyevna -I knew it, I told you I was going to buy it- in other words, when he says: "Why didn`t you listen to me, why? My poor friend, there`s no turning back now." (III,378) to Andreyevna.

Lopakhin`s attitude is also a little intimidating and spontanious at the same time towards Andreyevna. At the begining he seems mysterious about who bought the Cherry Orchard: "It`s sold ... I bought it." (III. 376-377) in this quote he is very mysteroius and does not want to make a big deal out of it. Then, spontaniously he makes a big deal out of it when he starts saying: " What`s happened? Musicians, play so I can hear you! Let everything be as I want it! Here comes the new master, owner of the cherry orchard!" (III. 378). Chekhov portrayed him live a self cenered person who only cared about himself.

The Cherry Orchard Act II - Interpretations

The advantage of an author is to creat and give specific meanings to the reader. However, the reader can decide weather to interpret what the author is saying or intrepret it in a different way. Interpretations will affect the complet story. For example in The Fighter (movie) Dicky (Bale) is Micky`s (Wahlberg) brother and trainer. David O. Russel the director, interprets Dicky as the bad guy of the story. Dicky misses practices with Micky and is in a constant drug abuse. However he is just trying to do his job by helping Micky win The Tittle. In this movie Dicky is shown as the bad guy but, I interpreted him as a good guy because he had self managment dificulties and he just wanted the best for his brother. Dicky was doing his job.

In comparison with The Cherry Orchard Lopakhin is interpreted as the bad guy because he wants to sell the Cherry Orchard and get some use out of it. Here is when Lopakhin tells Andreyvena about a client for the Cherry Orchard: "That rich man, Deriganov, is prepared to buy the state" (II.349). Chekhov may interpret him as the bad guy because Andreyvena`s answers shows pittyness when she tries to avoid the subject and says she but recieve money: "Our aunt... promised to send us something... ten or fifteen thousand, and we`ll be thankful for that." (II.349) In this quote Chekhov may want to interpret Lopakhin as the bad guy because of the humbleness that Andreyvena shows. However I do not see Lopakhin as the bad guy, he is just doing his job as a Merchant. Just like Dicky he is doing his job eventhoug there are difficulties. Andreyvena making Lopakhin look bad and Charlene (Adams)making Dicky look bad. Still we have to consider that this completley different situations.

The Cherry Orchard Act I - Nostalgia

Any symbol has a specific significance to someone. Sometimes this symbol gives nostalgia of a memory. For example, my dolls give me nostalgia of my childhood. On the other hand, my mother has a lot of nostalgia from a piece of land (Tausa) my grandfather gave to her before he died. She tells me that is it is something she does not want to sell even though she has had a lot of problems with "paramilitares". This problem is something that she has struggled a lot with because, some of her siblings want to sell the land but she does not. What I can see about it is that my mom sees Tausa with a lot and nostalgia, and even though she can earn a lot selling it she will not want to sell it.

In the play The Cherry Orchard, Chekov creates a character that is in the same position as my mother. Lyubov Andreyevna, a landowner who has a special identification with her nursery and cherry orchard. She describes it and talks about it as if it was something very special when she said: "The nursery... my dear, lovely nursery.... I used to sleep here when I was little…” (Chekov I.324). In this quote she expresses the nostalgia that the nursery gives to her. Even though she has a lot to earn from it she will not agree to sell it because she has strong nostalgia towards it. This also happens with the Cherry Orchard, she will deny to sell it : “Cut it down?... one thing in the whole province that is interesting… it`s our Cherry Orchard” (Chekov I. 333), Lyubov Andreyevna has a close relationship with this symbols and they have a strong mark on her. Therefore, she will not sell the Cherry Orchard no matter what.

Poem Analysis

 November, Late in the Day



Lazyness is an issue that many people have. People are lazy for not doing their chores, wheather its homework, cooking, ect. In November, Late in the Day John M. Ridland narrates the afternoon of a lazy person. Ridland tells the issues people have with lazyness throughout this poem with a character.

He writes about many things that the reader might get identified with. For example when he says, "spoiled dog waiting to be fed. / Not now, dear warmth./ Too far to fetch. (Ridland 5-7). I am identified with that quote because I am too lazy to play with my dog. Sometimes I invent excuses so I don`t play with him. I`m also identified when the narrator says: "let`s make a wish/ and boil fresh water for the small teapot"(Ridland 14-15) because I want everything to be done for me. Ridland  is criticizing society because that is what everyone wants. However, it is something that will never be done.

Vocabulary - Huck Finn

Raspy: Harsh, irritable


Haggle: To bargain, to argue


Rummage: to examine, to disturbe.

Huck Finn - "A Scholar Finds Huck Finn's Voice in Twain's Writing About a Black Youth"

Anthony DePalma wrote an article, A Scholar Finds Huck Finn's Voice in Twain's Writing About a Black Youth arguing that probably Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn inspired on  a ten year old black servant he met before writting the book. Probably that is true because Huck could be related to a black servant back in the racist era by his lifestyle.

Eventhough Huck was living with Ms. Watson and the Widow he was "away from his family" and some slaves were away from their families. At the begining of the book I can relate Huck with a slave. It can be interpreted in the scene that his dad takes him to the small house they had and locks him in and it was hard for him to escape. Slaves were not able to escape from their owners and it was hard for them to escape. He also took Huck`s money "His lawyer said he reckoned he would win his lawsuit and get the money" (Twain 31), slaves did not earn money and Huck had money but his dad took it all away.

Jim was the runaway slave that escaped with Huck. However Huck could be considered as a slave because he also was a runaway and wanted freedom from Mrs. Watson and the Widow. Acording to DePalma I actually can see a relation between Huck and a slave, the only difference is the skin color.

Huck Finn - "New Huckleberry Finn edition censors 'n-word'"

The United States has had many issues with racism. Racism is an inapropiate discrimination towards people of different color, culture, ect. The issues with racism have impacted a lot society and today it has grave consecuences. An article called "New Huckleberry Finn edition censors 'n-word'" talks about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and how some context was changed due to the racist words that were used to write the book. The "n-word" is often used in this novel and some adressments were made. Therefore, it would not be racist towards the black society.

Twain citicized the American racism and probably that is why he used such languaje. The idea of changing the cotext of the book is probably not good because it will not affect the readers as much as it would affect them with the original vocabulary. However Dr. Sara Churchwell said: "Twain's books are not just literary documents but historical documents, and that word is totemic because it encodes all of the violence of slavery. The point of the book is that Huckleberry Finn starts out racist in a racist society, and stops being racist and leaves that society. These changes mean the book ceases to show the moral development of his character". She makes a clear point of the message that Twain wants to give to the reader and I think that the adjustments made to the book were apropiate. Evethough the lecture impacted many readers for the vocabulary used, it stated a clear message and it showed people how the can change eventhough they are in a racisct society. For example in the novel when Huck decides to help Jim, a runaway slave.

However the way to impact society somethimes has to be hard "The whole point of literature is to expose us to different ideas and different eras, and they won't always be nice and benign. It's dumbing down.". The way Dr. Churchwell expresses her thoughts might be true because not always people learn with "kind" things.