Based on the information already provided on the Price family, I feel Kingsolver made Adah out to be “different” as a way of proving the family’s biggest sin: rejection of God’s children. Although Adah had been born with a mental disability, I feel that she was made out to be the strongest and most intelligent in the family. As she learns the quickest and no matter what has happened to her, from Leah leaving her in the Lions dean to struggling alone within the family, she had never once complained or let herself be defeated. She’s the one in the family who would not do something she didn’t approve of in order to please another, not…
One of the traumatic experiences throughout Valentino Achak Deng’s journey from Sudan to Kenya is during the period where they are famished and they have to eat the raw meat. In Book 1 Chapter 15, 250 boys including Valentino stopped at a village to get some protection, rest and food. However a group of boys tried to steal food from the villagers and the group was chased out. They continue their journey with the minimum amount of food and supplies. Many of them complain about empty stomach and some are left to die on the roadside. Luckily, some soldiers offers them meat of an elephant. Most of the boys eat the raw meat because they are too hungry to wait for it to cook. In the morning, Deng does not wake up from his sleeping. Valentino feels very sad, so he remains silent for the majority of the journey.…
Finding one’s identity can be a strenuous task, seemingly impossible at times in a world where many people live dependently on others. Joy Kogawa, a proud Japanese Canadian and the author of the award winning novel Obasan and its bestselling sequel Emily Kato (formerly Itsuka), is no stranger to the constant search for identity and individuality that so many people across the globe find themselves struggling to obtain. The reader witnesses her constant strain to develop confidence and to find the courage to voice her opinions to others throughout her two semi-autobiographical novels. Using writing as a gateway to her memories, Kogawa paints vivid illustrations of the ruthless prejudices she…
This quote is about Susanna Kaysen finally reading a book about her given diagnosis. I do believe she was given an accurate diagnosis and that it was necessary for her to spend some time in the mental hospital because she did try to kill herself even though she never admitted it. I disliked the fact that Kaysen had to be in the hospital for almost two years for her to actually try to get better. Instead of arguing and being upset about being in the hospital she should have gotten over it and started putting an effort to get herself out of there. In my opinion I don’t think Kaysen was in dire need to go to a mental hospital. Kaysen did take fifty aspirins, but I don’t believe she was intending to kill herself. She only took the aspirins because…
Wu Mei recounted, “While I was basking in Third Brother’s praise, I suddenly felt a hard blow across the back of my head. I turned around to see Second Brother glowering at me”(9). Second Brother thinks Adeline is overconfident and because she is Niang’s youngest stepchild, the other step children can get away with mistreating Adeline. To Niang’s stepchildren, Wu Mei is considered bad luck so when she succeeds at anything they feel the need to make her feel useless in every way. Adeline provided a detailed description of the beating of Little Sister, “Her blows landed indiscriminately on Little Sister’s ears, cheeks, neck and head. Everyone cowered as the punishment went on and on”(34). Adeline’s family has no qualms about beating their children and seem to find it the best disciplinary measure. The beating of one of Niang’s children is almost unheard of which frightens the mistreated step children especially Wu Mei. Aunt Baba and Ye Ye were the only people in Adeline’s life who wanted the best for her and believed she would…
In the book A Separate Piece by John Knowles, A group of teenage boys attend a selective boarding school in New Hampshire called Devon. Throughout the novel, the characters experience the prominent effects of World War II. From rotten apples to the disappearance of maids, the lives of boys at Devon were changing rapidly. Also, because most of the characters were on their way to turning 18, they are faced with the decision of whether to enlist or wait to be drafted.…
18. Who does Adelina take care of before his death and what does he leave her?…
In the novel Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, the author is trying to convey to her readers that the people of Annawadi, India are doing anything they can to create a living and “work their way to the top”. The people who live in these poor slums are known as “Annawadians” do just about anything to make ends meet at their hut for their family. Abdul is the eldest child in his home and he gets money by buying and selling garbage to recycling plants, and also stealing iron to sell. Another character that really stood out was Asha and her son Rahul who is described as becoming a new celebrity. Asha has close connections with Politicians and Police. The author includes the main reason to why people move to this city “Mumbai is known…
Aunt Baba shows she believes in Adeline when she tells her, “You have something priceless inside you which must not be wasted. I've always known that” (122). Aunt Baba believes that Adeline is truly special and one-of-a-kind, and that she can use her talent for great things. In addition, Aunt Baba shows that she always has and always will believe in Adeline’s outstanding academic abilities. Adeline’s aunt displays her support for Adeline in many ways. “She took the key from a gold chain around her neck and placed my certificate underneath her jade bracelet, pearl necklace, and diamond watch, as if my award were also some precious jewel impossible to replace” (2). Aunt Baba thinks that Adeline, and what she does, are so important that they are some of the greatest treasures she has ever come across. She also helps Adeline to recognize what she believes to be Adeline’s amazing brilliance and talent. Adeline was very grateful for the support she received, and would have had a very hard life if her grandfather and aunt weren't there for…
To say that there is no good in evil is to deny the very reality of evil’s existence. Black and white thinking such as the topic previously stated is what truly can hurt us the most. When you look at moral issues you must acknowledge that it is a grey spectrum, with many different viewpoints. If I told any person who has actually read East of Eden that I admired Cathy? They would think me insane and possibly give me some nasty looks, as well as cross the street when I walk past. But since you have to read this essay, I think it’s fair that I make my point. Cathy is a real go-getter, she does what she has to to make ends meet. She isn’t easily swayed, and has a strong moral foundation, whether or not it’s a good one is a moot point. Lastly, she’s not easily discouraged. Even in the face of direct adversity, she brushes herself off and keeps on trucking.…
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said that “the battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.” East of Eden is a novel written by twentieth century author John Steinbeck. The Viking Press published it in 1952. The narration takes place from 1862 to 1918, mostly in the Salinas Valley, although some episodes happen in Massachusetts and Connecticut. John Steinbeck's East of Eden depicts humanity's struggle between virtue and in as a perpetual narrative of human history. Cathy Ames, the most controversial character in the novel, seems to be the only person of the book incapable of good: she has the characteristics of a born moral monster. She is not. The events that took place in her childhood affected Cathy. We will then see…
The narrator in, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” suffers from depression, although her husband, who is a doctor, does not consider it an illness. Therefore, he keeps her on a strict rest cure. She is not allowed to do work of any form, not even care for her baby. All she allowed to do is rest in her room and breath in the air as prescribed by her husband. Because she spends most of her time in her room, she becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the room and it drives her to insanity. The lack of creative stimulation and relationships with others causes the narrator’s obsession with the yellow wallpaper which leads her to believe she is trapped behind bars in this yellow wallpaper.…
Regardless to the fact Lennie is considered one of the principle characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’, he is arguably the least exciting. Throughout the novel he seems to be the same person as on the first pages, enduring no development, growth or significant changes. His character is very simple, in most scenes he is in, it is reinforced that he is very strong, he enjoys petting soft things and is devoted to George and the American Dream, that he and George will someday own a farm. It is this simplicity and helplessness in everyday life that earns the readers sympathy, and also forms the idea in the reader’s mind that Lennie is doomed. The powerful impact is created by the inevitability of Lennie’s death, so the reader’s sympathy and understanding…
Lena Lingard intrigues me. She’s gentle even though she’s lived on the farm her entire life and she manages to make the littlest things exciting with her charisma. In ways, her adventurousness and excitement make her similar to Tony. However, they differ in that Ántonia possesses a quiet beauty and inner strength that contrasts with Lena’s liveliness. It’s strange-- I dream the same dream “a great many times, and it [is] always the same. I [am] in a harvest-field full of shocks, and I [am] lying against one of them. Lena Lingard [comes] across the stubble barefoot, in a short skirt, with a curved reaping-hook in her hand, and she [is] flushed like the dawn, with a kind of luminous rosiness all about her. She [sits] down beside me, [turns] to me with a soft sigh and said, ‘Now they are all gone, and I can kiss you as much as I like.’ I...wish I could have this flattering dream about Ántonia, but I never [do].” (109) I love Ántonia and her steady independence but I cannot see her in my dreams in…
“Writers provide glimpses of other worlds giving readers opportunities to reflect on their own world”. To what extended do you agree.…