free response- Huck Finn

Two cultures of vastly different backgrounds are the main characters of Twain's journey down the Mississippi. At this point in time, whites are the superior majority, educated, and disciplinary. Blacks are on the bottom of the social ladder and are expected to stay there. While rank thrusts these characters on opposite ends of the spectrum, they share a common attitude only the small-town can do to a person. An air of superstition is contagious in these backwoods, affecting black and white races alike.

A prime example of superstitious practice in the black community would be Jim. The novel opens up with Jim being tricked by Tom and Huck, only to believe that he had been "ridden by witches". Jim milks it for all it's worth, offering fortunes and giving talisman and the like. One would immediately write Jim off as a whack at this point, yet as he and Huck venture further south, it doesn't take too long to figure out how 'regular' Jim is in the society. Jim's own folk tend to take superstitious elements with more caution, treading lightly with every move.

Huck is a poor white boy, he is as strongly influenced by the superstitious element as the next man. Huck truly believes that all of the bad luck he and Jim had on the trip resulted from him handling the snakeskin. Huck is not as paranoid as Jim about the bad luck, he could be less concerned. Half the time he isn't even thinking about what he is doing, much less that it may be unlucky. Huck's character serves the purpose of fading the pervasiveness of the reoccurring theme, making it more of an underlying current that defines the Mississippi culture.

In the context of the day, life was drab, sweaty, and dull. What else was going to make a small town more interesting than adding the intrigue of superstition? Cultures have odd ways of forming their own beliefs, especially in the wives-tales to be found at the scoured kitchen table.

#2

Romeo and Juliet, the literary epitome of a passionate romance. Shakespeare's tragic love story has always been considered a "timeless classic", but how does it rate with other such classics? Works such as the well-known Pride and Prejudice also convey the traditional love story, yet beyond this there is little similarity left between the two plots.

The concept of idealized love is conveyed in both quite clearly, expressing the wish to counter the norms of society to freely express their destined love. Both scenes occur in generally higher society, no poorhouses or slums. Refined, educated persons make up the main characters. In each story, they are temporarily denied each other and are separated for what is or seems to be a lengthy period of time. Both eventually reunite and remain that way at the end, whether in spirit or in body.

There is much more to differentiate in these literary works. First of all, quite obviously one is a tragedy and the other ends very happily. Romeo and Juliet is written as a play, whereas Pride and Prejudice is written as a novel narrated in third person. Romeo and Juliet are swept up in all the heat of their relationship. Contrasting widely is the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, who are at odds for most of the book before finally declaring their love for one another. Definitely extreme v. mellow emotions. With such differing expressions of attraction, the contrast is found in the cultural and time differences. Renaissance Italy and Elizabethan England are two entirely opposite places. Their views of what ‘idealized love’ is differs greatly, from Romeo and Juliet’s passionate affair, to Darcy and Lizzy’s mutual attraction.

While both are vastly apart in time, setting, perceptions of love, and social behavior, they still share important qualities. These are social standing, character development, desire for the idealized love, and a match destined to be together. Some would place the happily-ever-after ahead of the tragic ending, perhaps most. Yet, Romeo and Juliet ranks far higher as a tragic love story, being able to compare and contrast with work like Pride and Prejudice and other prestigious works.

poor Mr. Turtle...

The Grapes of Wrath introduces the land turtle at the beginning of the third chapter. The turtle, while seemingly unrelated to the plot, has an important role in symbolism. Steinbeck cunningly uses this humble creature to represent one of the greatest hardships faced in America: the Dust Bowl and mass immigration to California.
The turtle never stops for anything. Dragging mundanely ahead, he heaves his shell along. This is such a simple action demanding tremendous effort. The mournful walk of the turtle through the desolate land parallels the dreadful journey hundreds made to California. His fierce eyes stare straight ahead, never diverting to the right or left. Sheer willpower drives him up the steep embankment and across the treacherous highway. While the turtle searches for something to move on to, the reader sees nothing worth the trouble in this wilderness.
The unbearable slowness of the journey signifies the sheer hopelessness, but dire need to get out of this hell-hole. It is a vast, endless expanse that this poor little turtle is exiled to. Though the Joads did move on, if Oklahoma was the frying pan, then California was the fire. They became homeless, jobless aliens.

...

Blame label

As in any calamity, everyone is usually to blame for something that led to its occurance. Similarly, Romeo, Mercutio and Tybalt held responsibility and blame for the outcome of the fray. However, if we must place the blame on just one individual, Romeo would take the title. While both Mercutio and Tybalt were the most hotheaded, frenzied characters to meet head-to-head, Romeo was the reason Tybalt came in the first place. Even before meeting Juliet, Romeo trespassed upon the Capulet home at the masquerade. Tybalt caught sight of him and immediately sensed foul play. Assuredly, Tybalt overreacted to this, but surely Romeo knew this. Would this have been so critical a scene had Romeo never laid eyes on the fair Juliet? Romeo may have accepted the challenge directly instead of naively attempting a peace treaty. Alas, Mercutio died for nothing (that he was aware of), and he wasn’t a member of either feuding families.

obituary

Tybalt Capulet

Age: 19
Time of Death: Monday, 5:02pm

Place of Death: City Street of Verona
Death by: Murdered, slain by Romeo of the House of Montague

Commemoration:

Tybalt of the Capulets was soldierly loyal to his name, defending his family until the bitter end. Tybalt had a youthful, fiery spirit that was quick to action. He was always on guard to protect his houshold; nothing was dearer to him than this. Tybalt never had the chance to grow old with experience, to gain wisdom or have a family of his own. The Capulets mourn his passing greatly. His memory will always be with his family, and vengeance for his untimely death will be brought down upon his murderer, Romeo Montague. His family is offering a large reward for Romeo, dead or alive (preferred dead).

Free Response- Romeo + Juliet

William Shakespeare wove into his work heavy emphasis on even the simplest elements of dialogue. Notably in the tragic drama of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare created love scenes so saturated with passion and secrecy the play has become a heralded member of classic literature.

Romeo, so enamored of Juliet, climbs into the Capulet garden. Suddenly, he sees Juliet wander out onto the balcony directly above. He hears her declare her love for him, wishing he would disown his offensive name so they could be together. To her surprise, Romeo replies that if she showed him favor, he would immediately christen himself anew.

Juliet shows her surprise, and then her concern at his trespassing. She first asks him how he entered the orchard, and why he came at all. All Capulets knew he was a Montague, and would kill him directly for setting foot on their soil. The last thing she wants is for him to be killed if any of her kin should see him. Romeo always responds to her practical concern in bold, eloquent verse. He doesn’t care about the danger of his being there; his love for her is so great. Juliet is surprised, hesitant, worried, and fearful as she converses with Romeo. He is euphoric, bold, eloquent, completely head over heels for Juliet. The two youth in turn emphasize the secrecy and passion that are co-existing moods in this scene.

The setting is a prerequisite for the mixed mood in this particular scene. As Romeo reveals in his earlier soliloquy, the place is cloaked in night, within the Capulet orchard. So forbidden is their love that they must meet under cover of night, unbeknownst to their households. The setting is nonetheless romantic in the moonlight, overlooking a beautiful garden. It is definitely an attractive meeting spot for ardent lovers to be alone. Undoubtedly the scene setting portrays both moods.

Examining the speech of both characters, Shakespeare incorporates alternating diction and syntax for Romeo and Juliet. Romeo speaks in long, poetic sentences dripping with infatuation. Using a simile or a metaphor every other sentence, his smooth, romantic talk is well practiced. Juliet, on the other hand, has short, choppy verses. Juliet wastes no breath with sweet nothings, practicality is in her nature and she jumps right to the point. Both use blank verse, common for their status in society.

Shakespeare sets the stage for the rest of the production with the mood of this scene, in a combination of setting, syntax, diction, and other narrative elements. Romance and secrecy come hand in hand in the famous balcony scene, the beginning of a tragic love that is too soon choked to death by the black hatred that existed between the two houses of Capulet and Montague for so long.

WANTED: 2000 strong, able-bodied men

only those desperate enough...

1. willing to work long hours-- for a few weeks, as long as it takes for the fruit to be picked.
2. content with a freakishly modest pay-- continuing to drop at a rapid rate.
3. first come first serve housing-- if you don't make the cut, tough.

Satire

An average day will start precisely at 7 am. Scuffling slippers find the way to the kitchen, the well-trodden path to the coffee pot. Take a sip or two, and then the day begins. You will leisurely head off to work knowing exactly how long it will take to arrive. Don’t bother thinking twice about things; everything is the same as it was yesterday. While it can be leisurely and kicked back, life still has a way of sending a couple of irregular days down your way, so why would anyone take the road to more calamities? What is so alluring about travel?

The average travel nut is a restless sort; most of them have probably gotten into a brawl with the law. They cut it out for themselves the moment they stepped outside of ‘ordinary’ and into the ‘wilderness of the unknown’. Constantly not thinking to plan a schedule, just get up and go when you feel like it. How is anything going to be achieved? Impromptu planning may work for some, but it never built a civilized society.

The bulk of citizenry is a well-to-do crowd with respectable jobs, homes, and families to look after. Nobody respectable can afford the frivolous notion of running around abroad. You can have all the fun that a young troublemaker can get without leaving the convenience of a continent. Life is nestled in a common routine: language, people, and places. All is non-intimidating and familiar. A deep connection is felt with everyone and everything you see. Being firmly rooted in one society forever, there is such an amazing sense of self-esteem, confidence, and pride that continually builds. Some would give up such a priceless feature for the destructive and unpredictable beast called voyaging.

From a family perspective, it is one home forever or a key part of childhood is lost. Pick up young roots, and they are sure to weaken or die from the callous treatment. A youth must be nurtured gently in a familiar soil to grow strong, deep roots. Children should never have to go through the constant pick up and drop off through dozens of locations.

Think of how easy it is to order a meal, to send a package, or to drive places? Simple, painless, and taken for granted. Decide to pick up and leave, a guaranteed mess awaits! Change of address forms, packing, planning, flights, and baggage that “must be less than fifty pounds”. The list only just begins. Then you arrive, and the trouble is only warming up. Getting kids in a new school; meeting the neighbors; unpacking everything; reporting lost baggage.

The list of mishaps could keep going forever, and still some wacky person scrambles past the rolls of paper for the first flight to “anywhere except here”. We have to see this or that thing half way across the world before we die. It is the harsh reality we live in; everyone is in a hurry to get away. Try as you will to leave home, but home will never leave you.