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.
Rough Draft
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 out of control of being a teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more of our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth as a teenager from his actions. Not all of 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 Clod’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 expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think 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. But I think that anyone in Sonny’s scenario should the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure, sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Cruz III-2
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, we are always have linger in front of us. Sonny is not 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 temptations, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Every one of our temptations, we can justify it on why we do. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
What Sonny can possible learn from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but he it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, he does steal, but it doesn’t mean Sonny 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.”
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 into Financial Stability. I don’t steal because I have Financial Stability and can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own Financial Stability, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Cruz III-3
On from money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to us. Sonny encounters two different women that strikes 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 feel 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, in a way able to relate to it. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly as a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time. Fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound.
Our Femme Fatale has seduced our Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with our protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that causes 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 the “[he] wanted to say, with you” (203). 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.
Cruz III- 4
I don’t what woman do, but they overall have some sort of effect on us. 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, funny thing are I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound crazy a bit.
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 awakens his sexual activity and indulges his carnal desires. 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 in one woman.
Sonny is teenager experiencing life a novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Able to connect with our protagonist, most of us 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 bee able to grow more than he realizes.
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 out of control of being a teenager is a good way of growing up. Learning from your previous actions and mistakes can teach us more of our lives. Dagoberto Gilb’s The Flowers portrays a boy’s growth as a teenager from his actions. Not all of 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 Clod’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 expresses it oh so bluntly and already feels to shut Cloyd out.
I think 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. But I think that anyone in Sonny’s scenario should the opportunity to connect with their newly found father figure, sometimes you learn that they are the father you always needed and wanted.
Cruz III-2
Every teenage has tremendous amount of temptations. Whether it’s for worldly possession, or to satisfy an untamable urge, we are always have linger in front of us. Sonny is not 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 temptations, money. He justifies his looting by say saying “…to save this money, to use it right” (49). Every one of our temptations, we can justify it on why we do. Some reasons are better, while the rest can just seem ridiculous.
What Sonny can possible learn from his stealing, well maybe nothing, but he it does affect him emotionally. Sonny justifies why he steals money, but he also tells us “[stealing] makes me feel shitty…” (49). Overall, he does steal, but it doesn’t mean Sonny 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.”
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 into Financial Stability. I don’t steal because I have Financial Stability and can provide for myself without having to stoop to a low level. I think that if Sonny can learn to find his own Financial Stability, he won’t need to steal and can have a better understanding of the value of money.
Cruz III-3
On from money, comes the second most important thing to a young boy; girls and what they are able to do to us. Sonny encounters two different women that strikes 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 feel 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, in a way able to relate to it. It follows the same idea of an older girl and naïve boy, but not exactly as a level as Sonny and Cindy. My friend got into the provocative and sexual state I’m in today and of coarse I like it every time. Fortunate for me I was to be a little bit calmer, and be not so much of an out of control sex hound.
Our Femme Fatale has seduced our Sonny and he has stepped into the sexual awakening. However, we have the opposite character Nica, the more sweet and innocent relationship built up with our protagonist.
Nica is another neighbor girl that causes 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 the “[he] wanted to say, with you” (203). 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.
Cruz III- 4
I don’t what woman do, but they overall have some sort of effect on us. 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, funny thing are I still do that today. Sonny is able to learn what intimacy can be like with a woman, even if it does sound crazy a bit.
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 awakens his sexual activity and indulges his carnal desires. 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 in one woman.
Sonny is teenager experiencing life a novel goes on. He deals wit his habit of stealing, starting a new life with his stepfather, and experiencing the influences of women. Able to connect with our protagonist, most of us 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 bee able to grow more than he realizes.
It's Ok to be Crazy
The critical theory method I will go with is Reader Response about Sonny’s teenager behavior. While reading this book I was able to connect here and there in the book. Not only because of being a teenage Latino Boy, but having some of the experiences he has I can relate with. I think that reader response will be able to connect with and have a process because we all have done stupid things while we were growing up, and for most of us, it was only a few years ago. For me though, well its starts out a year ago.
Personally, I think making stupid decisions, getting into situations you regret are all part of growing up and learning from life. Some lessons are not as irreversible and easily to move on from, but the whole idea of experiencing and learning can go a long way in the end. I think being able to a more personal experience into your work allows your audience to connect even more with your work and have them have a better understanding of your point. Plus if you open and show you’re a little bit of your own vulnerability.
What I want to approach is Gilb’s depiction of a fictional character can be similar to an everyday, and comment with my own life. While reading this, it reminds me of some of my own aspects of my teenage life; such as girl getting a naïve boy into provocative attitudes. I think more real and the more you can compare with a real teenage boy life, the more the character can seem real as you read the book. Able to show that even though this boy is making mistakes, it doesn’t mean we don’t. Lets be honest, all of us aren’t perfect and have been crazy teenagers and some of us have been crazier than others, but then we can connect and realize that we are similar in ways.
Personally, I think making stupid decisions, getting into situations you regret are all part of growing up and learning from life. Some lessons are not as irreversible and easily to move on from, but the whole idea of experiencing and learning can go a long way in the end. I think being able to a more personal experience into your work allows your audience to connect even more with your work and have them have a better understanding of your point. Plus if you open and show you’re a little bit of your own vulnerability.
What I want to approach is Gilb’s depiction of a fictional character can be similar to an everyday, and comment with my own life. While reading this, it reminds me of some of my own aspects of my teenage life; such as girl getting a naïve boy into provocative attitudes. I think more real and the more you can compare with a real teenage boy life, the more the character can seem real as you read the book. Able to show that even though this boy is making mistakes, it doesn’t mean we don’t. Lets be honest, all of us aren’t perfect and have been crazy teenagers and some of us have been crazier than others, but then we can connect and realize that we are similar in ways.
Sonny's PayDay
In this recent passage, Sonny finally had string enough urge to take the Grand Cloyd kept secret in his drawer. For his character, this can considered his biggest tragedy. Sonny has succumb to his desires in the past, but this has taken his been his biggest fall so far. Before, he would never take big bills because of fear of being caught. As my grouped discuss in this past week, we came up concluded that Sonny steals money because he feels he can better appreciate the money better than those who just leave around for him to steal.
I think he believes he can take better care of the Grand better than Cloyd, but there seems to be more than just his ideal of appreciation. I think that Sonny stealing the money he can in a way, retaliating at Cloyd. I think Sonny is getting back at Cloyd for because he feels he cannot connect well with him and he feels Cloyd is attacking him in way. But I think he is getting a type of rush, but necessarily classifying him as a Klepto.
From Sonny’s behavior with money, we could predict he will save the money and return it, but that would be too easy and be boring in mind. I predict Sonny will save the grand, but spend it on something meaningful. I think Sonny will possibly give the grand to another character in the book, someone whom he really is connection with or he fells has a positive influence in his life. My money is on Pink; get it money?
If I was in Sonny situation, and I already stole the money, I would feel exactly the same. I would be freaking, become paranoid, and the way Cloyd can get all furious, I would be crapping bricks also. I would also hold on to the money, and I would just as jumpy. Let’s be honest, we all have held on to material objects that we would get paranoid over if anybody found out. I’ve hidden some stuff here and there I got hell of worried if anybody found out, but good thing my room is a mess, if you were lost an earring, you will never see it again, ever!
I would honestly hold on to the money for a while, but then when Cloyd isn’t looking I would return it. I personally would be able to hide a grand, I would spend that maybe not all at once, but as time goes on, the pile would reduce over time. Like Sonny, anything under twenty, I would take easy and just hide it, but a Grand, that’s just way too much to hide in my current situation, if I had my own place and what not, and then I would be able to hide it with no problem.
I think he believes he can take better care of the Grand better than Cloyd, but there seems to be more than just his ideal of appreciation. I think that Sonny stealing the money he can in a way, retaliating at Cloyd. I think Sonny is getting back at Cloyd for because he feels he cannot connect well with him and he feels Cloyd is attacking him in way. But I think he is getting a type of rush, but necessarily classifying him as a Klepto.
From Sonny’s behavior with money, we could predict he will save the money and return it, but that would be too easy and be boring in mind. I predict Sonny will save the grand, but spend it on something meaningful. I think Sonny will possibly give the grand to another character in the book, someone whom he really is connection with or he fells has a positive influence in his life. My money is on Pink; get it money?
If I was in Sonny situation, and I already stole the money, I would feel exactly the same. I would be freaking, become paranoid, and the way Cloyd can get all furious, I would be crapping bricks also. I would also hold on to the money, and I would just as jumpy. Let’s be honest, we all have held on to material objects that we would get paranoid over if anybody found out. I’ve hidden some stuff here and there I got hell of worried if anybody found out, but good thing my room is a mess, if you were lost an earring, you will never see it again, ever!
I would honestly hold on to the money for a while, but then when Cloyd isn’t looking I would return it. I personally would be able to hide a grand, I would spend that maybe not all at once, but as time goes on, the pile would reduce over time. Like Sonny, anything under twenty, I would take easy and just hide it, but a Grand, that’s just way too much to hide in my current situation, if I had my own place and what not, and then I would be able to hide it with no problem.
Femme Fatale
The Carnal Sensations of the Human Desire, also known as sex, has finally taken effect in Sonny. As predicted, Sonny and Cindy had sex (I so called that), no surprise this antagonist would cause a fall for Sonny. Her character concept can follow the French “Femme Fetale” or the “Deadly Woman” in the ideas of Literature. She isn’t necessarily mysterious, but she is for one dangerous. People can agree on this, Women have massive influence over men and even though Sonny really likes it, but it has also cause fear with in him.
He kept thinking about what Tino do if he were to find out. “You’re gonna get me killed” (125). Cindy has great influence of Sonny and has brought sexual pleasure. Cindy has also taught Sonny how being unfaithful to one’s spouse, “He’ll never know…I promise not to tell him ever” (126). She began seducing Sonny form the start and she has gotten what she wants from him, not just sex, but she has Sonny satisfy her desires.
Cindy’s character is definitely strong and independent and seductive and I can relate with this in our everyday lives. I have a friend who isn’t like Cindy, but she is strong, seductive, and dangerous (depending how you look at it), and she got me all sexual and provocative, plus he is real sweet and nice. However, I know another girl who can fit the Femme Fatale perfectly because she has seduced men and had they sent to prison. I think that every guy has met his Femme Fatale here and there, and probably will again in their future. Plus I really like how she has the archetype character in this book.
More information on the Femme Fatale is she causes her mean to fall from grace, it’s a stretch, but when Sonny leaves from the Bowling Alley and takes the guys wallet, happens after he and Cindy have sex. He has stolen before, but he has never stolen from any random stranger in the street before. After meeting Cindy, she has caused Sonny to fall from his innocent and has grown more into his darker side. But as seen before as characters who play the Femme Fatale, will lead to a climax and she will play against sonny when he thinks she will help him.
Some other interesting things was that the Femme Fatale is French, and Sonny wants to France, and in French Culture, the older women teach the younger men about sexual activities, some interesting French connections in this book. This book also reminded me of “The Graduate” and Mrs. Robinson. Cindy plays Mrs. Robinson and sonny plays Ben; and Nica is Elaine. Femme Fatales are my favorite type of female character because being sexy and deadly is just so hot!
Externally, Cindy is a druggie skank who takes advantage Sonny. But if we examine more closely, she is the ever notorious literary character Femme Fatale. She is Dangerous and Seductive and will probably lead Sonny to eminent doom or at least the great conflict with him and Tino.
He kept thinking about what Tino do if he were to find out. “You’re gonna get me killed” (125). Cindy has great influence of Sonny and has brought sexual pleasure. Cindy has also taught Sonny how being unfaithful to one’s spouse, “He’ll never know…I promise not to tell him ever” (126). She began seducing Sonny form the start and she has gotten what she wants from him, not just sex, but she has Sonny satisfy her desires.
Cindy’s character is definitely strong and independent and seductive and I can relate with this in our everyday lives. I have a friend who isn’t like Cindy, but she is strong, seductive, and dangerous (depending how you look at it), and she got me all sexual and provocative, plus he is real sweet and nice. However, I know another girl who can fit the Femme Fatale perfectly because she has seduced men and had they sent to prison. I think that every guy has met his Femme Fatale here and there, and probably will again in their future. Plus I really like how she has the archetype character in this book.
More information on the Femme Fatale is she causes her mean to fall from grace, it’s a stretch, but when Sonny leaves from the Bowling Alley and takes the guys wallet, happens after he and Cindy have sex. He has stolen before, but he has never stolen from any random stranger in the street before. After meeting Cindy, she has caused Sonny to fall from his innocent and has grown more into his darker side. But as seen before as characters who play the Femme Fatale, will lead to a climax and she will play against sonny when he thinks she will help him.
Some other interesting things was that the Femme Fatale is French, and Sonny wants to France, and in French Culture, the older women teach the younger men about sexual activities, some interesting French connections in this book. This book also reminded me of “The Graduate” and Mrs. Robinson. Cindy plays Mrs. Robinson and sonny plays Ben; and Nica is Elaine. Femme Fatales are my favorite type of female character because being sexy and deadly is just so hot!
Externally, Cindy is a druggie skank who takes advantage Sonny. But if we examine more closely, she is the ever notorious literary character Femme Fatale. She is Dangerous and Seductive and will probably lead Sonny to eminent doom or at least the great conflict with him and Tino.
Sonny's New Horizon
On page 86 in The Flowers, Sonny describes a location he see’s while being sexually aroused by Cindy. The land location he describes for us as he closes his eyes is a Desert with a black sky and bright stars. He also describes the sky “too high and faraway that I could have never seen it from a city… as someone kept pointing it out like constellations I didn‘t see.” This passages primary purpose was to show the sexual awaking of Sonny. Showing how he takes anther step away from innocence and experiences more adulthood. We can see the growth from innocent observation to sexual interaction with his neighbor Cindy. With evidence of text from the passage, we can see how Sonny reacts and emotionally feels as his new found sexual arousal is made. We can also predict on this can affect his relationship with Cindy and predict a possible outcome with his relationship with Nica. An interpretation we can put in this passage is the unknown horizon Sony has yet to explore on sexual activity with girls. From the previous pages, we can see that Sonny doesn’t really much of sexual interactions with girls when he talks to the twins Jose and Miguel. He shows the “confidence” and talks the big talk, however when he experiences the sensation, he feels unsure and explores the new horizon he has entered. . What we can also say now about Sonny he now he has lost more of his innocence. Sonny has explored more into Human desire and he knows that he will want more of what Cindy has given him; “I couldn’t hold back if she didn’t stop, but she didn’t want to and I couldn’t stop myself.” Sonny knows that what he is doing is new and exciting and he enjoyed it, yet he doesn’t fully understand it all to well; “as someone kept pointing it out like constellations I didn’t see.” My classmates that have made predictions of Cindy and Sonny finally “interacting” have predicted well, but as seen before in coming of age stories, it was evident of the two finally coming together. We can see in the book that he acts differently with Nica than he does with Cindy. I think with this interaction, that his relationship with Cindy will be his sexual awakening and will affect the other relationship Sonny has with Nica. I think Sonny will try to have a more sexual relationship with Nica or at least try to have one with her but it won’t exactly plays out as he thought it would. Nica and Sonny have a more innocent relationship that has more emotion rather than sexual connection. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sonny were to try and grow his relationship with Nica with more than and emotional connection. This passage illustrates a sexual awakening for Sonny and a change to his character as he explores his new horizon.
My Mother Never
My Mother never stop supporting me. She always believed in me not matter how different or difficult my task were. Every challenge I got (and still get), she always pushed me to my potential and always make sure I always put in my all. She supports in any decision I make with my activities or creative choices. No matter how fun, settle, or mind blowing I can get with my creativity, she always found what she liked about it and always loved them. She knows how important my movie projects are to me as my career pursuit, but she always checked with me to make sure my other priorities were in check. No matter what I did wrong, she would always forgive me and always made sure I knew that she loved me. She never gave up in me no matter how much of an handful I became. When I was younger I was the one nephew everyone did not want to see when my mom came down to visit. But after years of growing, and some what maturing, I'm the kid that my mom brags about his achievements and how much of good kid I am. My mom loves me unconditional and she always will. She never gave up on me and she will always support me not matter what I do. She disciplined me, but that doesn't mean she isn't forgiving. No matter how much I have grown up, succeed in my career or my financial growth, or if I'm 3 hours away, my mother never stops loving me.
I Am
A director who creates movies on what ever subject that interests me. I have Ambition and can make me selfish, cause' yes I'll cut you to get ahead and be on top! I;m determine to get things so if I want my film completed, I will get it done! I Love to spend time with my friends and be out and doing something like going to a club or being a "Party Boy." I'm an open book but it depends on who is reading me. I can be loud and expressive and become bored easily if I'm being too inactive, which is why I can be random and just say things people won't understand. I stay coupe up in my house a lot and I get easily bored and always need to do something that I enjoy rather just sitting, I need to be active or I get antsy and just move to be doing something. Like almost any other teenager, I'm vulgar and provocative and like I said, I will bluntly say it. I guess hobby wise, I like to make movies (which I get obsessive over), listen to music, put random movies on You Tube, and Auto Tune my voice. Clubbing is a fun activity I got into when last year, up until then the school dances were my clubs, but now that I can go out and meet new people and dance my ass off, it's definitely a fun hobby to participate in. Being creative in Film and Music. Like I mentioned, I want to be a director and you need to be creative in order to create artwork that is memorable and be loved. Music is a great way of expressing emotions and each sound can create unique songs that can match an emotion you to feel. I'm the oldest brother out of four kids and we separate nine, thirteen, and sixteen years apart. All I can say is, it's very stressful with three younger nagging children, but they know I love them enough to put up with them everyday. It's not easy being the oldest, I get three non-transferable responsibilities that have serious consequences if neglected, has to do with "abandonment" about children or "neglect" or big words like that. Those kids have shown me, GET A NANNY, kids are just too much right now.
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