Rough Times

I really enjoyed reading A Rose for Emily by William Falkner. Falkner’s morbid humor in the story made it very unique. The economy in the story reminded me of the Great Recession. Similar to the family in the story, many people that were well off before the recession hit, went from being middle class Americans, to living in poverty. The Great Recession affected jobs, the housing market, and even education.

The Great Recession began in late 2007. Due to a decrease in consumer spending and business investments, the unemployment rate rose sharply. According to the Labor Market of America, the labor market lost 6.1% of all payroll employment. Like the family in A Rose for Emily, family incomes dropped, and poverty rose.

[http://stateofworkingamerica.org/great-recession/]

Obviously, because of the Recession effect on the job market, it devastated the housing market as well. People were laid off, businesses closed, and consequently homes were foreclosed. Like Emily in Falkner’s story, families could no longer afford their mortgages. Here is a clip on the housing market and how consumers were affected by the economy:

[http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/20/housing-foreclosure-unemployment-opinions-columnists-thomas-cooley-peter-rupert.html]

At a time when education was needed the most, the aftermath of the Great Recession even affected America's schoool systems. One school system impacted the most was the Chicago School System. State and local budget cuts and teacher reforms led to the Chicago Teachers Union strike in 2012. Though education may not be immediately comparable to Falkner’s story, the lack of education could have been partly responsible for Emily’s naiveté.

[http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/12/2438758/chicago-teachers-strike-comes.html]

In conclusion, A Rose for Emily is an interesting, yet morbid short story. The economy in which the story takes place is comparable to the Great Recession. The story is about a girl named Emily who was born into a wealthy family. During this time, the South became a depressed place, and people had begun to struggle. This is similar to the economy during the Recession when millions of people lost their jobs and homes.

T.S Eliot: The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock

T.S Eliot poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, is a somewhat interesting poem. The wording of it makes it slightly difficult to understand. I had to reread the poem to understand Eliot's point, and I still doubt if I am even correct. Due to its complexity, every reader may interpret the poem differently. I believe it is about a man who is curious about life, particularly about sexuality, but his conservative and traditional views causes him to question what is acceptable. The poem mentions "the room the women come and go", which leads me to think he is referring to prostitutes. He is clearly disgusted by the women, yet he still questions if he should get involved which he stated in the poem,"do I dare". After reading Eliot's biography, I can see much of him in this poem. Eliot was from an old New England family, and he advocated traditionalism. It puzzles me that such a conservative man often wrote about things as such as prostitution and and murder. Perhaps Eliot traditional stature was forced on him, being the son of an old England family. Maybe he was brought up to believe that women are to portray a certain role, and act accordingly. These kind of beliefs can be correlated to how society view women today.

Women today have more freedom than women in the early nineteenth century. I believe laws have made it to where women are suppose to be of equal status, and for the most part, has played a major role in improving equality for all women. However, there are expectations placed on how a woman is to look and act. Women who do not conform to these roles are frowned upon by society, as were the prostitutes in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

A Mother's Love

When I read "Home Burial" by Robert Frost, it made me think about how a man and woman differ in their relationships with their child. Personally, I think a woman is more attached to her child than a man would be. "Home Burial" is about a couple coping with the death of their child. The wife is angry and resentful toward her husband because he doesn't mourn their child's death the way she does. I believe this poem is a prime example of how a woman's bond with her child may be deeper than that of a father's. I am not implying that a father does not love his child, only that a mother's bond is stronger. 

Frost's poem reminded me of the day I had my daughter. I was scheduled to be induced, and though things could have been much worse, everything seemed to go off course. I had never had problems with my blood pressure, but the day I was induced my blood pressure got dangerously high.  It was so high that I had to have a cesarean.Thankfully, my blood pressure quickly declined after the delivery of my daughter, and I brought home a beautiful, healthy baby girl. I do not understand how any woman can go through nine months of pregnancy, the excruciating pain from delivery, and not be immensely connected to her child. There is an exception to everything, and there are some women who do not share a close bond with their child. However, I think there is no greater feeling than being a mother, and I could not imagine experiencing something as tragic as the couple in "Home Burial" had experienced.

My husband completely disagree that a mother's bond with her child is stronger than that of a father's. He believes that a woman is more emotionally attached to her child, but that the bond between each parent is equally the same. Here is a video clip of him sharing his views:

I will admit that my opinion may be biased in that I am a mother, and I believe that a mother's love for her child is greater than a father's simply because a woman carries the child and develop a bond with the child before he or she is born.Carrying a child and giving birth is something a man cannot do, therefore a man will never fully understand the impact it has on the bond between a woman and her child.

Naturalism and Religion

A naturalist writer is one who write about nature and/or various elements that can be proven through scientific observation. Their writings focuses on human relationships and their surroundings. A few famous naturalist writers include: Jack London, Stephen Crane, Edith Wharton, and Frank Norris. These writers have all looked objectively at nature and the forces that affect human beings. Naturalism suggest that humans are governed by their instincts and desires.  It can be argued that religion and naturalism are completely irrelevant, but I believe the two are comparable. I believe naturalism and religion both focus on human desires and instincts.


[ http://www.online-literature.com/periods/naturalism.php ]

According to Webster's New Dictionary of the English Language, naturalism is defined 1. as action or thought based only on natural desires or instinct, 2. a doctrine that denies a supernatural explanation of the origin or development of the universe and holds that scientific laws account for all of nature. This definition can clearly be seen in Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire". "To Build a Fire" is about a man traveling the Yukon Trail in harsh weather and the challenges he encounter. The short story shows naturalism in that it depicts how our desires and instincts can determine our fate.

 Religion is defined as a set of beliefs or practices. The Bible can be compared to the works of naturalist writers, in that it retells the stories of many people and the challenges they encounter. Obviously, the two differ in that naturalism relies on science and religion is believing in the unforeseen.  The two are comparable in that they focus on human interaction, instincts, and desires. The Bible is a collection of several books containing numerous styles of writing consisting of poetry, history and prophecy. It is the foundation to Christianity. Naturalism is understanding humanity's place in the world. Religion teaches how to find one's place in the world through traditions and faith, to ultimately reach salvation. Naturalism is based on reason as much as religion is based on faith.

[ http://carm.org/what-bible ]
[ http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/natural.htm ]
[ http://www.naturalisms.org/ ]

Naturalist and Biblical Writings:

Stephen Crane's novel Maggie: A Girl on the Streets, has been reviewed as a well-crafted masterpiece. It is a story about a young girl who is disowned from her family after running off with her brother's friend. She is later abandoned by her lover, and tries to return home. Unfortunately, her family does not welcome her back. Alone and destitute Maggie falls victim to prostitution. This can be compared to the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible. In Genesis 2:15-20 God tells Adam to cultivate the Garden of Eden and to eat the gardens fruit. He warns Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve, tempted by the serpent, eats the fruit from the forbidden tree. She then takes it to Adam, and shares it with him. According to the Bible, through this act, sin entered the world. Just as Maggie consequently led a destitute life due to her choices, Adam and Eve were punished for disobeying God. The two are relatable in that they show the choices we make, whether based on desire or instinct, can change our lives; These choices is what naturalism studies, and religion teaches.

Here is an interesting video comparing religion and naturalism:

Poverty and Postpartum Depression

When I first read “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, I thought the main character was quite odd. I can’t say that I was surprised when I found out the woman in the story suffered from postpartum depression. Postpartum depression was first recognized as a disorder in 1850. Like the woman in her story, Gilman suffered from the disorder as well. After reading “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Gilman’s biography, I wonder if she was destined to suffer from the disorder due to the events in her life. “The Yellow Wallpaper” provoked me to question if there is a correlation between poverty and postpartum depression.

It is estimated that 15-20% of women who give birth will be affected by postpartum depression.  Charlotte Perkins Gilman sunk into the depression after giving birth to her daughter. Though it is a serious condition, with proper treatment, women can fully recover from the disorder. Unfortunately for Gilman and other women in the late 1800’s, postpartum was treated with the “rest cure”. The rest cure was a method used for nervous disorders that prohibited any type of physical activity or stimulation. Today, the disorder is often treated with medication and counseling. It is said that postpartum is caused by hormonal changes in women. According to the Bronfenbenner ecology theory, a woman’s lifestyle must be taken into account when evaluating the disorder. This theory implies that the culture, community, workplace, family, and society needs to be evaluated as a possible cause or contribution leading to postpartum depression.

[ http://www.itsamomsworld.com/moms_room_health_postpartum_depression.html ]

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born into poverty. She was abandoned by her father at a young age. She received a poor education, and vowed to never marry. According to a new study, more than 50% of women of low-income show signs of depression between two weeks and fourteen months after having a child. Poverty affects people lives in several ways. People living in poverty are more likely to suffer from depression. The constant worry of housing,money, food, and a proper education for their family can lead to very stressful lives. Women who live in poverty are already at risk for depression prior to pregnancy. The likelihood of postpartum depression increases after they conceive.

[ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/08/26/AR2010082600027.htl ]

[ http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/poverty-raises-risk-of-postpartum-depression/ ]

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of seventy-two. She committed suicide three years later.

A Glance at Emily Dickinson

To be or not to be...who really was Emily Dickinson?

My favorite poem that I read by Emily Dickinson so far is “I never lost as much but twice”. Although very short, this poem provoked me to wonder what kind of person Emily Dickinson really was and what her life was like. Was she a quiet, timid girl, as she appeared in her pictures? Or was she an outspoken woman? Where did she come from? Did she have a difficult life or did she come from a prestigious family?

Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts to Edward Dickinson and Emily Norcross. Her father was a successful lawyer and United States Congressman. Emily came from a family that advocated education and were adamant Calvinists. She was said to be somewhat of a “homebody” and lived a secluded life. Her father was a stern man, and monitored closely the books his children read. Emily had to sneak and read books deemed “inappropriate”. She did not, however, share her father’s views and was somewhat rebellious in nature.

[ http://www.biographyonline.net/poets/emily_dickinson.html ]

Emily Dickinson appeared childlike and often referred to herself as a child in her poetry. She was an intelligent woman who did not let on much of who she really was. She was described by Thomas Wentworth Higginson as intense. She was often questioned on her sexuality, spirituality, and views on life. This leads me to think we may not have known the real Emily Dickinson. All that we know of the writer is her works, but I believe the personality of the writer, the kind of person she really was, still goes unknown. What provoked Dickinson? Who inspired her? Due to her shy nature and secluded life, we may never know what made the writer tick.

[ http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/ ]

This is a very interesting clip on critics view of Emily Dickinson:

I do believe the poem “I never lost as much but twice” was a glimpse of the poet’s life. Though it may appear to be about money, I think it has an underlying message of something much greater:

I NEVER lost as much but twice,

And that was in the sod;

Twice have I stood a beggar

Before the door of God!

Angels, twice descending,

Reimbursed my store.

Burglar, banker, father,

I am poor once more!

[ http://www.poetry-archive.com/d/i_never_lost_as_much_but_twice.html ]

Emily Dickinson died at the age of 55 from Bright's disease.