Cruz III 1
Juan C. Cruz III
Professor Stacy Knapp
English 108
26 May, 2011
The A isn’t just a Letter
A book isn’t just simply a story with a beginning, middle and an end. If that were the case, most of the many pieces of Literature would disappear in a sea of stories forgotten over the centuries. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is an example of a story being more than a just a time line of events, but filled with symbolism to give the reader a further deepened reading of the text. Symbolism in any story can help put meaning in its plot and develop a character in more than one dimension and portray struggles such as Passion vs. Reason, Good vs. Evil, and Man vs. Nature. The Scarlet Letter is not just a time line with a beginning, middle and end, it’s a story enriched with Symbolism to further give meaning of the plot, development of the characters, and to fully put the meaning of the story behind the letter.
From the very beginning, we get the most import symbol of the whole book, the scarlet letter. From previous knowledge, scarlet is a shade of red, and with a book filled with symbolism, there is a reason why it’s derived from that particular color. The “A” is already given seductive detail as Hawthorne describes it as a, “…fine red cloth, surrounded with elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread…so artistically done…so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy…” (Hawthorne, 40). Red has meanings of passion, lust, seduction; given a description that artistically seduces the reader, the “A” ties in with the Passion and Desire in the book.
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The scarlet “A “can stand for adulterer or “the A can also stand for her love for Arthur“(Lecture, Knapp). The color wasn’t a random selection because it was a pretty shade of red, but rather to symbolize the human emotion that can be found within the book and give a further meaning to illustrate this symbol.
Red is the color that explains the overall feeling that the main characters reflect through out the novel. Aforementioned, Red contains many meanings behind and represent Reason vs. Passion of humanity. The passion and lust, shame and guilt Hester felt during her romantic encounter with Dimmesdale clouded their judgment of what is right and what is meant to be. When Chillingworth begins to plot, his emotions emanate rage and anger because he feels he is justified to seek revenge against the man who robbed him his property; he states, “To my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law” (Hawthorne, 54). Pearl bears the colors pink and red, symbolizing her youthful wild spirit but also her birth of Passion and Desire.
The color, like all symbols, can be interpreted in a variety of ways. A negative out look on the color red is how it’s used in Traffic safety; when you see red on a stop sign or light, it means “stop” or the consequences will be potentially lethal. The “A” initially stood for Adulterer, yet, “people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said it meant Able…” (Hawthorne, 106). Red can have a negative meaning, to cause alert and awareness to its audience of a consequence.
Red also has a positive look when you interpret the color; take a look at an iconic children’s’ character the Red Power Ranger. This beloved character has the qualities of being a leader, courageous, caring, confident, heroic, and bold, the similar traits Hester
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portrays as she proves herself throughout her community. Red is interpreted by many faces, but there is no definite face on the color signifying if it a positive color or a negative color. As seen with Hester’s “A“, it changes its meaning because it has no definite meaning and changes perspectives over time.
There have been shifts in character arcs of good and evil that came about as I read The Scarlet Letter. Hester could be considered evil because she committed adultery and has sinned in the eyes of the Puritans. Yet over the years, Hester is able to prove herself as a good willed woman as the “A” changes its meaning over time from Adulterer to Able. As Hester proves herself what we see is, “a model of sympathy…the ministers’ and magistrates’ inability…to judge her as they do. We see a clearer model in the young woman who tries to moderate the self-righteous utterances of her companions” (Boudreau, 346). Hester has shown that what she was given the mark of evil; she was able to change it to good, showing how her perspective of good and evil was able to change her outlook as a person by others.
Colors are the not the only aspects of a story to convey important symbols. Similes and metaphors can also help describe character arcs to and further explain the characters true intentions.
Take for instance Chillingworth, Hester’s husband who see’s his wife branded with the “A” when he first enters the town. We can get sense of conspiracy from him when “A writhing horror twisted across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly…” (Hawthorne, 45). Already we are a given a clue with the snake, snakes in Literature go back to story of Adam and Eve, with the symbol of temptation, but in this case sinister,
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we obtain a foreshadowing of Chillingworth’s motive for the rest of novel. A second symbol to describe his motives is the term “Leech”; a leech is a parasite that can drain the life out of its host, the exact same relationship Chillingworth has with Dimmesdale. The symbolism used to in the book that is associated with Chillingworth describe his motives as a character and shows what his true intentions are with the other characters within the book.
Let’s not forgot the ever so wild and free spirited nature, the young Pearl. Pearl is the daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale, she is the child born out of a sinful act of Passion and Pleasure, or is consider Nature being born in a human society; the struggle of Man vs. Nature. Pearl is considered a child of Nature when she explains “…not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door” (Hawthorne, 76). Pearl can be considering a child born out of Nature because she was born out of human passion and desire and resembles the free spirit. Pearl can be considered a blessing, a natural beauty given to Hester to raise on her own and be free to be who she is. Pearl is a comparison to a rose, a natural beauty free spirited and born from Nature.
In reference to the rose, there is a glimmer of hope for Hester that will blossom as imprisonment will bloom. Nature is intended to be untouched by human society, other wise it will change from its natural beauty be become like a “black flower of civilized society, a prison” (Hawthorne, 36). The Black Flower is the interpretation of how society will manipulate Nature’s intention and create something ugly and unnatural. But as Nature is intended, it will blossom a new hope and for a new beginning.
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In balance of the black flower, we are given the glimmer of hope, a beautiful rose bush. This natural beauty, breaks human manipulation with the intentions, “to symbolize some sweet moral blossom…relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne, 37). This beacon is foreshadowing and a reminder to Hester that it may seem grim because it’s part of society, but it will be better in the end because it’s natural occurrence that cannot be silenced. A rose will be just as sweet in giving hope to Hester and her rose child.
Pearl shows her natural side is a reflection of Hawthorne’s daughter Una. The young child was so wild and free at heart, Hawthorne describes to us how, “She steps boldly into the midst of everything…she possesses the finest essence…so perfectly unreasonable…” (Herbert, 523). Una shows her youthful wild side, untamed by human conformity, but free-spirited as Pearl. Like Una, Pearl doesn’t need human influence, she only needs to have her own natural development as Nature intended.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter emphasizes symbolism to explain conflicts such as Man vs. Nature, Good vs. Evil, and Passion vs. Reason. The characters are examples of how humanity deals wit these conflicts and they are supported with the use of symbols such as colors, similes and metaphors.
A story would be just an ordinary story if it had no substance or level of deep meaning. Symbolism can give a story a second level and turn a time line into an enriched journey to give the story more than what is expected. The Scarlet Letter is an example of an enriching piece of Literature that gives it’s readers a level of meaning and allows them to develop a higher order of thinking critically and see more than just words on a page.
Work Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, and Leland S. Person. The Scarlet Letter and Other Writings. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2005. Print.
Boudreau, Kristen. “Hawthorne’s Model of Christian Charity.” New York:
W.W. Norton &, 2005. Print.
Herbert Jr., T. Walter. "Una Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter." New York: W.W. Norton &, 2005. Print.
Knapp, Stacey. Lecture
The Glass Menagerie Script
INT.KITCHEN - NIGHT
The kitchen is dimly lit and has old knickknacks and is very
cluttered, showing the old the age of the house and mess
they live in. TOM is sitting is in the kitchen writing a new
poem in his bath robe. LAURA is sitting in the living room
reading a book while looking back and forth at her glass
animal collection. AMANDA is cleaning up small messes around
the house wearing a night gown while coming frequently to
adjust Tom while he works.
AMANDA
Tom sit up straight! You don’t want
to slouch.
Amanda adjusts Tom to sit up straight. She brings the lamp
in the center of the table closer to Tom.
You need the light to see better,
you don’t want to hurt your eyes.
Tom begins to get agitated with her nagging as he proceeds
with his writing. Amanda continues to clean up around the
house.
Tom here is a pencil so you don’t
waste the ink scratching out your
unnecessary thoughts.
TOM
No thank you Mother, I’m fine using
a pen
AMANDA
You don’t want to waste ink now,
just use a pencil
TOM
Mother I don’t need a pencil
AMANDA
Fine Tom, fine...
TOM
Thank you...
Tom continues to write as Amanda begins to fiddle with a
stitching ring. Amanda begins to think about Tom’s reaction
and current behavior
AMANDA
Tom I just wanted to let you know
something...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
TOM
What is it?
AMANDA
It’s your sister, I didn’t want to
say this in front of her, but
she...
TOM
She what Mother?
AMANDA
At the rate she’s going, she will
grow old and become a Spinster.
Tom, I worry that Laura will not
survive unless she has the
stability of a husband.
TOM
Mother what the hell are you
talking about?
AMANDA
I’m talking about the survival of
you sister! She dropped out of
college so there goes her being an
educated woman! Now she needs a man
to ensure a life better than this
one!
TOM
Better than this one? Better this
one!? If it wasn’t for me paying
all the bills and rent while you
and her just sit around in your own
little worlds, you two wouldn’t be
able to survive as it is. You know
how much Of my own dreams I
sacrificed to ensure you two can
live in this luxury you call a
home?
AMANDA
Don’t talk to me about sacrificing
selfish dreams, if anyone has
sacrificed, it’s me! Raising you
two when you bastard of father took
off leaving us on our own to
survive. Do you want the same fate
to fall upon your sister?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
TOM
What fate? Bitter, old and alone
filled with regret that she
couldn’t keep her husband? With
your consistent nagging, it’s no
wonder he left you! The only thing
that pisses me off is he didn’t
take us along with him!
Tom goes to his room to get his clothes to go out for the
night
AMANDA
Is that why you constantly go to
the movies? Or wherever it is you
go? Trying to be like you father?
Trying to run away your
responsibilities?
Tom puts on his clothes and prepares to exit
TOM
I’m not running from my damn
responsibilities! I’m escaping this
prison I was put in! Nothing is my
own, all of my earnings, gone! Gone
to support you and Laura! Nothing
in this whole damn house is mine!
He moves to Laura’s glass collection and picks up a figurine
Just like these figurines, I can’t
leave, just stay here forever! In
my own damn menagerie of sorrow,
forced to appear as I am happy.
Well I will tell you something
Mother, I’m as HAPPY AS THIS DAMN
FIGURINE!
Tom unknowingly throws the figurine to the floor and it
shatters in to pieces. Laura reacts with a shock and begins
to cry.
AMANDA
TOM!
Tom realizes his actions and gathers the pieces and puts the
remains with the rest of the figurines. Tom exits as Amanda
goes to comfort Laura.
FADE OUT
The kitchen is dimly lit and has old knickknacks and is very
cluttered, showing the old the age of the house and mess
they live in. TOM is sitting is in the kitchen writing a new
poem in his bath robe. LAURA is sitting in the living room
reading a book while looking back and forth at her glass
animal collection. AMANDA is cleaning up small messes around
the house wearing a night gown while coming frequently to
adjust Tom while he works.
AMANDA
Tom sit up straight! You don’t want
to slouch.
Amanda adjusts Tom to sit up straight. She brings the lamp
in the center of the table closer to Tom.
You need the light to see better,
you don’t want to hurt your eyes.
Tom begins to get agitated with her nagging as he proceeds
with his writing. Amanda continues to clean up around the
house.
Tom here is a pencil so you don’t
waste the ink scratching out your
unnecessary thoughts.
TOM
No thank you Mother, I’m fine using
a pen
AMANDA
You don’t want to waste ink now,
just use a pencil
TOM
Mother I don’t need a pencil
AMANDA
Fine Tom, fine...
TOM
Thank you...
Tom continues to write as Amanda begins to fiddle with a
stitching ring. Amanda begins to think about Tom’s reaction
and current behavior
AMANDA
Tom I just wanted to let you know
something...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
TOM
What is it?
AMANDA
It’s your sister, I didn’t want to
say this in front of her, but
she...
TOM
She what Mother?
AMANDA
At the rate she’s going, she will
grow old and become a Spinster.
Tom, I worry that Laura will not
survive unless she has the
stability of a husband.
TOM
Mother what the hell are you
talking about?
AMANDA
I’m talking about the survival of
you sister! She dropped out of
college so there goes her being an
educated woman! Now she needs a man
to ensure a life better than this
one!
TOM
Better than this one? Better this
one!? If it wasn’t for me paying
all the bills and rent while you
and her just sit around in your own
little worlds, you two wouldn’t be
able to survive as it is. You know
how much Of my own dreams I
sacrificed to ensure you two can
live in this luxury you call a
home?
AMANDA
Don’t talk to me about sacrificing
selfish dreams, if anyone has
sacrificed, it’s me! Raising you
two when you bastard of father took
off leaving us on our own to
survive. Do you want the same fate
to fall upon your sister?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
TOM
What fate? Bitter, old and alone
filled with regret that she
couldn’t keep her husband? With
your consistent nagging, it’s no
wonder he left you! The only thing
that pisses me off is he didn’t
take us along with him!
Tom goes to his room to get his clothes to go out for the
night
AMANDA
Is that why you constantly go to
the movies? Or wherever it is you
go? Trying to be like you father?
Trying to run away your
responsibilities?
Tom puts on his clothes and prepares to exit
TOM
I’m not running from my damn
responsibilities! I’m escaping this
prison I was put in! Nothing is my
own, all of my earnings, gone! Gone
to support you and Laura! Nothing
in this whole damn house is mine!
He moves to Laura’s glass collection and picks up a figurine
Just like these figurines, I can’t
leave, just stay here forever! In
my own damn menagerie of sorrow,
forced to appear as I am happy.
Well I will tell you something
Mother, I’m as HAPPY AS THIS DAMN
FIGURINE!
Tom unknowingly throws the figurine to the floor and it
shatters in to pieces. Laura reacts with a shock and begins
to cry.
AMANDA
TOM!
Tom realizes his actions and gathers the pieces and puts the
remains with the rest of the figurines. Tom exits as Amanda
goes to comfort Laura.
FADE OUT
The A Ain't just a Letter
A book isn’t just simply a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. If that were the case, the term allegory wouldn’t come to existence and most of the many pieces of Literature would disappear in a sea of stories forgotten over the centuries. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is an example of a story being more than a just a time line of events, but filled symbolism to give the reader a further deepened reading of the text. Symbolism in any story can help put meaning in it’s plot and develop a character in more than one dimension. The Scarlet Letter is not just a time line with a beginning, middle and end, it’s a story enriched with Symbolism to further give meaning of the plot, development of the characters, and to fully put the meaning of the story behind the letter.
Already from the very beginning, we already get the most import symbol of the whole book, the scarlet letter. From previous knowledge, scarlet is a shade of red, and with a book filled with symbolism, there is a reason why it’s derived from that particular color. Red has many meanings behind it; such as the anger, rage, courage, passion, sensuality, desire, the feelings of humanity that can create irrational thoughts and behavior. The color of Red appears throughout the book many times, to further explain the meaning of the book of Passion and Desire. The color wasn’t a random selection because it was a pretty shade of red, but rather to symbolize the human emotion that can be found within the book and give a further meaning of the plot.
Colors are the not the only aspects of a story to convey important symbols. Comparisons such as Similes and Metaphors can help describe character arcs and can thicken the plot to engulf the reader into the story
Already from the very beginning, we already get the most import symbol of the whole book, the scarlet letter. From previous knowledge, scarlet is a shade of red, and with a book filled with symbolism, there is a reason why it’s derived from that particular color. Red has many meanings behind it; such as the anger, rage, courage, passion, sensuality, desire, the feelings of humanity that can create irrational thoughts and behavior. The color of Red appears throughout the book many times, to further explain the meaning of the book of Passion and Desire. The color wasn’t a random selection because it was a pretty shade of red, but rather to symbolize the human emotion that can be found within the book and give a further meaning of the plot.
Colors are the not the only aspects of a story to convey important symbols. Comparisons such as Similes and Metaphors can help describe character arcs and can thicken the plot to engulf the reader into the story
Words are Poppin' Out!
Just like the language in this novel, paying attention to words that pop up out of the book can give foreshadowing events, description of words and major symbols. Reading this book, there just words that seemed to really jump out or just catch my attention. Words that helped described symbols and colors I thought really caught my eyes.
Definitely for sure, The Scarlet Letter has a lot of symbols and colors. The words in the book were used to help describe these colors and symbols as well as the characters. Colors such as Red and Black I kept seeing them to pop out at me with a sign that kept saying “PAY ATTENTION STUPID!” Which I think was very useful in helping to explain the story and give further depth into it. Colors always need to grab attention, with them blended into the novel; they help you grab the important aspects of the book.
If it’s not the colors, the symbols pop out with an even bigger sign that says “REALLY LOOK HERE STUPID!” This book filled with a bunch of symbols, especially with symbols of Good and Evil or Passionate Desires. Some words like “EDIFICE” (36) seemed to really pop at me because I thought it was important to describe the setting about the current situation and to describe the emotional feeling Hester felt as she approached the square. “Snake” just popped complete popped out because “Snakes” usually mean sinister or conniving, and when it describes Cillingsworth’s reaction to seeing Hester ion the square, that was great foreshadowing into what his character will react to his wife’s newly found title. If it isn’t the colors, it’s the noun’s similes, and metaphors that really help take the reader into a further depth of the book.
Definitely there are words in this book that really grab my attention and force me to really pay attention. Maybe it’s because they have a big sign with “LOOK HERE STUPID” written on them, or maybe the fact that these words have a color base meaning or they are comparisons to another noun that emphasize a particular trait of that noun. The Scarlet Letter language is one thing, but the there are words in this complicated language that stand and really get into your face. Definitely keep in mind the words that really pop up, or make you think, they have more a complex set up than you actually think.
Definitely for sure, The Scarlet Letter has a lot of symbols and colors. The words in the book were used to help describe these colors and symbols as well as the characters. Colors such as Red and Black I kept seeing them to pop out at me with a sign that kept saying “PAY ATTENTION STUPID!” Which I think was very useful in helping to explain the story and give further depth into it. Colors always need to grab attention, with them blended into the novel; they help you grab the important aspects of the book.
If it’s not the colors, the symbols pop out with an even bigger sign that says “REALLY LOOK HERE STUPID!” This book filled with a bunch of symbols, especially with symbols of Good and Evil or Passionate Desires. Some words like “EDIFICE” (36) seemed to really pop at me because I thought it was important to describe the setting about the current situation and to describe the emotional feeling Hester felt as she approached the square. “Snake” just popped complete popped out because “Snakes” usually mean sinister or conniving, and when it describes Cillingsworth’s reaction to seeing Hester ion the square, that was great foreshadowing into what his character will react to his wife’s newly found title. If it isn’t the colors, it’s the noun’s similes, and metaphors that really help take the reader into a further depth of the book.
Definitely there are words in this book that really grab my attention and force me to really pay attention. Maybe it’s because they have a big sign with “LOOK HERE STUPID” written on them, or maybe the fact that these words have a color base meaning or they are comparisons to another noun that emphasize a particular trait of that noun. The Scarlet Letter language is one thing, but the there are words in this complicated language that stand and really get into your face. Definitely keep in mind the words that really pop up, or make you think, they have more a complex set up than you actually think.
Greek? It's STILL Old English to Me
Art is not clear or concise, it takes interpretation, and a keen eye to tap into the meaning, Nathaniel Hawthorne has not failed that standard. Hawthorne’s use of Old English made The Scarlet Letter reading seem like 600 pages instead of the 166. But the artistic value and symbolism was able to compensate for the language difficulty in my mind. It was the small description that made this harder to pay attention too and the style of the language.
I read the book back in High School, and that I think was THE most difficult part, especially when I didn’t really get a full grasp of the language set up. I really had a hard time to understand the more in depth importance such as the Romanticism values within the context, I got the basic storyline in the book because we got to discus the chapters we read. In. fact, after we got done with the section, I completely repressed as much as I could so I wouldn’t remind myself on how bad it was for me to full comprehend it. After having to re-read it, I had a better understanding of it, and was able to pay more attention to the use of the language to help build a further understanding if this book. I have the complete respect for Hawthorne, but he just a little difficult to understand.
But the symbolism of the book, was what I really liked about this entire story. Hester’s Husband was “The Leech,” I really liked how his character was to seek the truth out about Hester and was able to extract it from the Priest. Or young Pearl only recognizing her mother when she has the Letter on her dresses. But the one major symbolism within this book for me was the color. Red, specifically Scarlet, was the recurring color I kept seeing over and over within this book.
Red is my absolute favorite color, not because it means Strength, but the Passion and Sensuality it beholds. I think really the use of color was the biggest absolute important symbol throughout the entire novel because it represented the biggest key in the book. Showing sensual desires, passion, negativity of the protagonist who was branded with her letter. Red was greatly used in the book and further emphasized the meaning of the book.
It’s still all old English to me, and was very confusing to read again, but artistically I liked it. The book’s use of language structure made it great piece of art work and is really helped developed the book if you can pay attention. The use of Symbolism was really amazing and was able to be able to tell how the stories overall meaning.
I read the book back in High School, and that I think was THE most difficult part, especially when I didn’t really get a full grasp of the language set up. I really had a hard time to understand the more in depth importance such as the Romanticism values within the context, I got the basic storyline in the book because we got to discus the chapters we read. In. fact, after we got done with the section, I completely repressed as much as I could so I wouldn’t remind myself on how bad it was for me to full comprehend it. After having to re-read it, I had a better understanding of it, and was able to pay more attention to the use of the language to help build a further understanding if this book. I have the complete respect for Hawthorne, but he just a little difficult to understand.
But the symbolism of the book, was what I really liked about this entire story. Hester’s Husband was “The Leech,” I really liked how his character was to seek the truth out about Hester and was able to extract it from the Priest. Or young Pearl only recognizing her mother when she has the Letter on her dresses. But the one major symbolism within this book for me was the color. Red, specifically Scarlet, was the recurring color I kept seeing over and over within this book.
Red is my absolute favorite color, not because it means Strength, but the Passion and Sensuality it beholds. I think really the use of color was the biggest absolute important symbol throughout the entire novel because it represented the biggest key in the book. Showing sensual desires, passion, negativity of the protagonist who was branded with her letter. Red was greatly used in the book and further emphasized the meaning of the book.
It’s still all old English to me, and was very confusing to read again, but artistically I liked it. The book’s use of language structure made it great piece of art work and is really helped developed the book if you can pay attention. The use of Symbolism was really amazing and was able to be able to tell how the stories overall meaning.
Updated: Its Okay to be Crazy
Juan C. Cruz III
Professor Stacy Knapp
English 108
25 March, 2011
It’s OK to be Crazy
I remember being a crazy teenager. Coming home late, hanging with various groups of people, going to parties, and making some of the biggest mistakes. It almost seems like it was yesterday, but in my case it was last week. I think making mistakes, and just being some what of a bad decision making teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more about our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth into his adulthood from the actions he makes throughout the novel. I think by using Reader Response method, a more personal insight will be able to explain how not all of Sonny’s actions are the smartest, but the craziest decisions he makes can benefit him more than he can realize.
In the novel, the character Sonny, experiences many factors of life during his teenage years. For most of us, we all can relate to most of Sonny’s life and all the aspects portrayed. Take for instance Sonny and Cloyd’s relationship. We see from the beginning that Sonny doesn’t take too well with his Stepfather when Sonny says “…this Cloyd wasn’t right for both of us” (19). Sonny already comes off that Cloyd isn’t ideal for him and his mother and he expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think this shows how the idea of an outsider in Sonny’s mind is trying to invade this relationship Sonny has with Sylvia. I think Sonny shouldn’t be so defensive with Cloyd because having a closed relationship with a stepfather can be unhealthy for the whole family.
Fortunately for me I never had to bond with a stepfather at Sonny’s age. I’m happy that my birth father was able to see me grow and raise me. But I think those who had a stepfather and connect with during their teen years can relate with this character relationship. Anyone in Sonny’s scenario should take the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure because sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, teenagers are always faced with temptations they can succumb or fall for. Sonny is not an exception from the mundane desires of human nature.
One of Sonny’s temptations is his habit of stealing. Through out the novel, Sonny has stolen worldly possessions such as magazines, or his biggest temptation, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Everyone, including me, has a share of our own temptations and some are able to justify why they succumb to our their decisions. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
Sonny has the possibility of learning from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, Sonny does steal, but it doesn’t mean he enjoys it. I will admit this, I did steal something, and honestly, I didn’t get the whole point of it. Yes it was “free”, but it just seemed unsatisfying, not in the sense of doing it again to get satisfaction, but of a more a “that was stupid.” Like how Sonny is feeling, stealing would make me feel bad, because I know I’m better than that.
To me, stealing doesn’t seem to be fun or anyway necessary; it’s pointless, plus it tells me I’m broke and I hate being in financial instability. I think with this stealing, it can motivate anyone into pushing themselves to get out of the hole they can burry themselves in. I don’t steal because I can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own prosperity, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Other than money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to them. Sonny encounters two different women that strike up his interest. He meets the seducing Cindy and the sweet Nica, both of whom entice his feelings towards woman.
Cindy is the character of lust and desire, where I titled her as the “Femme Fatale” or “The Deadly Woman.” Cindy character has taken the innocence out of Sonny and introduced him to the sexual awakening of adulthood. Cindy has aroused Sonny and he feels that “[he] couldn’t stop if she didn’t stop” (86). Like most boys introduced to sexual awakening, they get a taste, and they want more.
What I really like about this particular scene is, I’m able to relate to the scene to an extent. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly at a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got me into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time, but fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound. But the whole idea is that, older woman who have more sexual knowledge can bring a lot out in a young man’s life.
The Femme Fatale has seduced Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual
awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, who has the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with the protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that sparks an interest in Sonny. Their relationship isn’t based on sexual desires, but rather a more intimate bond. Sonny feels that he and Nica can be more than just friends; he says that “Te amo Sonny, [Nica] told me” (249). The significance of this character emphasizes the idea that, as we grow older and bond with other people, we develop feelings for the other person.
I don’t know what woman do, but overall, they have some sort of effect on men. I remembered all the small school boy crushes I got when I was friends with a girl. The weird butterflies in my stomach and acting different around her, the funny thing is, I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound a bit crazy. A woman’s influence is the most powerful persuader in human existence. Cindy portrays the lust and seduction a naïve boy can fall for and not truly embrace. She takes away Sonny‘s virginity, causing him to be less innocent. Nica is the sweet heart that awakens Sonny’s heart and teaches him how to have feelings for another woman. I personally love the idea of a putting these two woman into one and have both their personalities together.
Sonny is a teenager experiencing life as the novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Being able to connect with the protagonist, most can say that Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers effectively and accurately portrays a teenage male. Sonny is acting crazy, but it allows him to learn and be able to grow more than he realizes.
Work Cited
Gilb, Dagoberto. The Flowers. New York: Grove, 2008. Print.
Professor Stacy Knapp
English 108
25 March, 2011
It’s OK to be Crazy
I remember being a crazy teenager. Coming home late, hanging with various groups of people, going to parties, and making some of the biggest mistakes. It almost seems like it was yesterday, but in my case it was last week. I think making mistakes, and just being some what of a bad decision making teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more about our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth into his adulthood from the actions he makes throughout the novel. I think by using Reader Response method, a more personal insight will be able to explain how not all of Sonny’s actions are the smartest, but the craziest decisions he makes can benefit him more than he can realize.
In the novel, the character Sonny, experiences many factors of life during his teenage years. For most of us, we all can relate to most of Sonny’s life and all the aspects portrayed. Take for instance Sonny and Cloyd’s relationship. We see from the beginning that Sonny doesn’t take too well with his Stepfather when Sonny says “…this Cloyd wasn’t right for both of us” (19). Sonny already comes off that Cloyd isn’t ideal for him and his mother and he expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think this shows how the idea of an outsider in Sonny’s mind is trying to invade this relationship Sonny has with Sylvia. I think Sonny shouldn’t be so defensive with Cloyd because having a closed relationship with a stepfather can be unhealthy for the whole family.
Fortunately for me I never had to bond with a stepfather at Sonny’s age. I’m happy that my birth father was able to see me grow and raise me. But I think those who had a stepfather and connect with during their teen years can relate with this character relationship. Anyone in Sonny’s scenario should take the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure because sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, teenagers are always faced with temptations they can succumb or fall for. Sonny is not an exception from the mundane desires of human nature.
One of Sonny’s temptations is his habit of stealing. Through out the novel, Sonny has stolen worldly possessions such as magazines, or his biggest temptation, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Everyone, including me, has a share of our own temptations and some are able to justify why they succumb to our their decisions. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
Sonny has the possibility of learning from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, Sonny does steal, but it doesn’t mean he enjoys it. I will admit this, I did steal something, and honestly, I didn’t get the whole point of it. Yes it was “free”, but it just seemed unsatisfying, not in the sense of doing it again to get satisfaction, but of a more a “that was stupid.” Like how Sonny is feeling, stealing would make me feel bad, because I know I’m better than that.
To me, stealing doesn’t seem to be fun or anyway necessary; it’s pointless, plus it tells me I’m broke and I hate being in financial instability. I think with this stealing, it can motivate anyone into pushing themselves to get out of the hole they can burry themselves in. I don’t steal because I can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own prosperity, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Other than money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to them. Sonny encounters two different women that strike up his interest. He meets the seducing Cindy and the sweet Nica, both of whom entice his feelings towards woman.
Cindy is the character of lust and desire, where I titled her as the “Femme Fatale” or “The Deadly Woman.” Cindy character has taken the innocence out of Sonny and introduced him to the sexual awakening of adulthood. Cindy has aroused Sonny and he feels that “[he] couldn’t stop if she didn’t stop” (86). Like most boys introduced to sexual awakening, they get a taste, and they want more.
What I really like about this particular scene is, I’m able to relate to the scene to an extent. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly at a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got me into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time, but fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound. But the whole idea is that, older woman who have more sexual knowledge can bring a lot out in a young man’s life.
The Femme Fatale has seduced Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual
awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, who has the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with the protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that sparks an interest in Sonny. Their relationship isn’t based on sexual desires, but rather a more intimate bond. Sonny feels that he and Nica can be more than just friends; he says that “Te amo Sonny, [Nica] told me” (249). The significance of this character emphasizes the idea that, as we grow older and bond with other people, we develop feelings for the other person.
I don’t know what woman do, but overall, they have some sort of effect on men. I remembered all the small school boy crushes I got when I was friends with a girl. The weird butterflies in my stomach and acting different around her, the funny thing is, I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound a bit crazy. A woman’s influence is the most powerful persuader in human existence. Cindy portrays the lust and seduction a naïve boy can fall for and not truly embrace. She takes away Sonny‘s virginity, causing him to be less innocent. Nica is the sweet heart that awakens Sonny’s heart and teaches him how to have feelings for another woman. I personally love the idea of a putting these two woman into one and have both their personalities together.
Sonny is a teenager experiencing life as the novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Being able to connect with the protagonist, most can say that Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers effectively and accurately portrays a teenage male. Sonny is acting crazy, but it allows him to learn and be able to grow more than he realizes.
Work Cited
Gilb, Dagoberto. The Flowers. New York: Grove, 2008. Print.
The Stepfather Bonding
“Roque” follows the a third person narration of a young boy’s experience with his mother’s newest boyfriend. The story focus how he connects with his potential step father and in the end, accepts him as a father figure. What I liked about this short story was the idea of accepting another person as a family member especially when you can see it makes your parental happy. I think that at a young age and not having the inconsistent father or father figure would be understandable to be hesitant to accept the newly found boyfriend because like most before, they haven’t been around long enough to connect with.
I think that I’m fortunate that I don’t have to accept a new family figure as a potential step dad, but then I couldn’t really understand what Erick is thinking or enduring emotionally. I think the central conflict is acceptance, Erick doesn’t really know to accept or get close. I think seeing our protagonist struggle with an issue that can effect people today, it can be a lot more real to the reader. Personally, I cannot emotionally connect with the central conflict because I never had to experience that as a kid, but I can see a perspective on what a few kids had to endure this particular situation.
What I really like was how it ended, he chose the apparently “nobody” over the baseball player. I really liked how he chooses personality and his mother’s happiness, rather than a image that would probably not end up as happy as she would want it. I think with this ending you can see an example that family is the most important thing and knowing you can help make each other happy, can make the family stronger and have healthy relationships with each other.
What I noticed by Gilb is he focuses on the concept of stepfather’s and family bondage. We could use the theory that how the author thinks explains the meaning of the text. I think it’s interesting and the recurring idea of Gilb not having a father but having father figures through out his life. It would explain his style but that’s not my primary objective.
I think that I’m fortunate that I don’t have to accept a new family figure as a potential step dad, but then I couldn’t really understand what Erick is thinking or enduring emotionally. I think the central conflict is acceptance, Erick doesn’t really know to accept or get close. I think seeing our protagonist struggle with an issue that can effect people today, it can be a lot more real to the reader. Personally, I cannot emotionally connect with the central conflict because I never had to experience that as a kid, but I can see a perspective on what a few kids had to endure this particular situation.
What I really like was how it ended, he chose the apparently “nobody” over the baseball player. I really liked how he chooses personality and his mother’s happiness, rather than a image that would probably not end up as happy as she would want it. I think with this ending you can see an example that family is the most important thing and knowing you can help make each other happy, can make the family stronger and have healthy relationships with each other.
What I noticed by Gilb is he focuses on the concept of stepfather’s and family bondage. We could use the theory that how the author thinks explains the meaning of the text. I think it’s interesting and the recurring idea of Gilb not having a father but having father figures through out his life. It would explain his style but that’s not my primary objective.
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