Blog Post 18: FREEDOM...FREEDOM...

Beloved by: Toni Morrison has been an interesting experience to read. Since before being assigned to begin this novel, we've been asked “What is the significance of writing a book in a past setting, in the present?” This question has forced us to wonder the true answer to such a question. I believe that history repeats itself and that we can associate many aspects of the past into our daily lives. Therefore, we can associate many aspects and situations in this book to real world issues that we may face today. The first association I made was the first altercation between Denver and Paul D towards the beginning of the novel. This reminds me of my own personal experiences with step parents and questioning authority. This part of the novel really captured me. Another theory that I believe in is that fact that there may be actually two ghosts instead of just one. “‘You got company?’ He whispered, frowning. ‘Off and on,’ said Sethe.” (Morrison. 10). They believe that the entity is just one set thing rather than one. Later in the novel Denver sees a white figure wrapped around the waist of Sethe while praying. This could be baby Suggs who may be a guardian angel.

Blog Post 17: Paul D... JERSEY FIST BUUUUUMP!

In the reading, Paul D revisits his dark past of slavery at Sweet Home. Paul D explains that the worst feeling he felt out of all things was watching as the farm rooster, Mister. Paul D is forced to watch the rooster roam free while he has slaved. This shows the prioritization of a slave's life compared to one of an animal. It's ironic that he is enslaved while the rooster is still free and running around. People often associate symbols with several different events because of the weight that comes with these several different symbols. Symbols may help a character continue to look for specific answers to a problem, or to continue on a quest of some sort. We see different symbols like this several times within Beloved. Water can be seen as a huge symbol as well. As we learned for how to read literature like a professor, if they don't drown it's baptism. We can associate this when Beloved comes from out of the lake. The house, 124 is a symbol for several things. This includes life and death, growth for Denver, and a haven of some sort for Sethe. We continue to learn about the birth of Denver and the white lady that helped Sethe during the difficult time. We originally learn the white lady is in search of velvet from Boston and just helps Sethe along the way. There may be some unrevealed reasons as to why she gave her help even more.

Blog Post 16: Dearly BELOVED...We is Typing Here Today...

For starters, I don't necessarily agree that they instantaneously allowed Paul D become the head of the household. Sethe and Denver allow Paul D to stay and live with them, although Denver doesn't really approve of this at all to begin with. This book comes off as very confusing and overly poetic, but I begin to easily understand the dialogue beginning on page 52 and I can relate to it personally. The situation the reader views is a single mother introducing a male figure into the household, the figure then moving in, and then the figure trying to assert his dominance within this household that is unfamiliar to male dominance. This causes automatic opposition from Denver, who doesn't necessarily know how to feel immediately about the situation or the male figure which is Paul D. Page 52 is like watching a BET Movie, but I've also witnessed such opposition personally. As we readers we can tell that Sethe has missed having someone of her own although she does not admit such a thing. She lives life every day wondering about the life or death of her husband, Halle. Her sons, who you can interpret as male figures, flee at a young age to escape the ghost. Being with someone again changed Sethe’s perception of the world again. “He was responsible for that. Emotions sped to the surface in his company. Things became what they were…” (Morrison. 48). I don't understand why they just bring this complete stranger, Beloved, into their house as if it's just normal (this may be the culture) but Paul doesn't ask too many questions because “If she wanted them to know and was strong enough to get through the , she would.” (Morrison. 63). They continue to take care of Beloved and nurse her back to good health.

Blog Post 15: SWEET HOME... not in 'Bama.

The official/unofficial marriage of the two slaves, Sethe and Halle is a remarkable one. While at Sweet Home, the male slaves excruciatingly wait a year for Sethe to make her decision on who she wants to be with. When Sethe makes her choice and chooses Halle, she requests Mrs. Garner for a wedding only to be laughed at. The two slaves then conduct a wedding of their own. The name of their first born daughter, Beloved from a slave perspective could be important to show how she was a product of forbidden love, which is significant. Sethe’s fourth child, Denver seems to be stuck in the Shadow of her dead sister. Her mother is overly focused on forgetting the past and she is often overlooked. The ghost is even her only true friend. Denver acts very jealous and cries after seeing her mother talk to one of the other fellow slaves. Sethe is without a father or father figure and everyone avoids her because of her cries about the house. While at Sweet Home, the slaves have sex with cows and dream of rape while waiting for Sethe to make her decision. Swaying corn stalks then indicate to the men that Sethe had made her choice. The other men celebrate by eating the corn stalks broken by the newlyweds.

Blog Post 14: I Drive Myself Crazy - THINKING OF YOU

As Esther enters enters the graveyard in which her father was laid to rest in, she is automatically disappointed in what she sees. As if Esther isn't already unsatisfied about everything, she adds the graveyard to her list of things. There are two portions to the graveyard, the older side and the newer side. Ironically the older side seems to be a bit better and it appeals to Esther more. "The graveyard disappointed me." (Plath. 166) Esther says as she encounters the graveyard. As Esther swims in the ocean she contemplates taking an Edna like approach to killing herself by swimming until she can no longer go anymore, but she remembers her attempt at choking herself that morning and figures that her body will resist the urge to do so and just cling on to the rock in the middle of the ocean. Esther then attempts to just submerge where she is and drown, only to be disappointed at the fact that she bobs back up to the surface each time. At the end of chapter 14 pockets and steals a ball of mercury before being moved after causing a huge commotion. This seems to be the biggest thing that actually makes Esther happy. She seems to be so fascinated at the silver ball saying, "I smiled and smiled at the small silver." (Plath. 183). I think that this stolen ball of mercury plays a significant in the novel because it will return later in the book and play a role in the end of the novel quite possibly. Esther ends up talking to her new doctor, Dr. Nolan about her previous experience with shock therapy and Dr. Nolan reassures Esther that is was done incorrectly and that it will never be like it was the first time. Finally in chapter 16, Esther is requested by another patient by the name of Joan who seems to have the same symptoms and tendencies as Esther. Joan knows Esther because they went to the same college and Joan ended up reading about Esther when she went missing, which makes the reader question how long Esther was missing.

Blog Post 13: New York "Psycho?"

In The Bell Jar, beginning in chapter 9 we see that Esther decides to go out once more with Doreen. It is clear that Esther simply has not learned her lesson about dealing with Doreen and going out with her. This time Doreen brings Esther with her to a Country Club dance with herself and Lenny. There she meets her woman hating blind date, Marco. Marco is far from a generous gentleman and doesn't treat Esther too well. At some point during the dance the two of them step outside and Esther questions Marco on his love life. Marco then reveals that he is in love with his cousin, but he can not manifest his love because she is preparing to be a nun. When Esther makes a friendly suggestion that Marco can now "love somebody else someday" (Plath. 108) Marco explodes into a fit of rage and begins to attack Esther. I believe that this attack comes from a place of deep insecurity on Marco's behalf as Marco repeatedly calls Esther a slut while he attacks her. This part of the book depicts an interaction between two individuals with some sort of mental instability. In chapter 10 Esther takes an optimistic approach after being told that she did not get into the writing course in which she requested at school. This chapter also starts to obviously show Esther's mental downfall more obviously. Esther takes on the task of writing her own novel in which she struggles to barely even begin. "I'm writing a novel," (Plath. 121) Esther's says ever so boldly before she decides to give up. Edna begins to visit a psychiatrist by the name of Dr. Gordon who asks her different questions about things such as college life and more. Dr. Gordon advises Esther's mother to bring her to his hospital to receive shock treatment. Esther begins to think about many alternate means such as killing herself or fleeing to Chicago, the only thing that stops Esther is her fear of blood and the fact that the bank closes before she's able to run away to Chicago. As Esther sits in the park contemplating suicide, the "little chorus of voices" (Plath. 146) that seem to be a positive and optimistic voice for her, but also a bit harsh.

Blog Post 12: Freewrite Prompt

This book is a very confusing one nonetheless. In The Bell Jar we continuously go back and forth between past and present, just as we've seen in previous books (Slaughterhouse-Five. Billy was throwed). During her trip to the UN, Esther reflects on a poem that she once read about a fig tree that brings completely different people together to watch a egg hatch. There's a Jew and a nun on the first day, then on the second day the nun doesn't return and a kitchen maid shows up instead. This poem reminds Esther of her relationship with Buddy Willard. This poem could also be a reflection of the anima and the superego and their confliction towards each other, while the hatching egg or a new life could serve as the ego. Additionally, the relationship between Buddy and Esther seems to be a strange one. Buddy wishes to be a doctor and Esther wants to be a writer which depicts more of a anima and superego relationship. The book switches between their current and past relationship, which are completely different. At the beginning Buddy seems to have no interest in poetry and pretty much insults it but in the present he has some of his written work published. Esther hits the petty button by trying to sleep with someone to get back at Buddy for not being a virgin, because he apparently acted like he was. Esther still exhibits many signs of being messed up inside and I don't see it getting any better.