Assignment 9

Something that has interested me lately is my intercultural commence class. It's so interesting because is a writing intense course,so you learn alot obout English and culture. I love learning about different cultures, and going to musuems,and studying about how other people live. We have to do research about other cultures,and how they effect how others see it. We go to the musuem and visit certain exibits that show art, characters,costums,heritage, and it's up to us to see how we interpret it. I really enjoy doing that,because there is no right answer,it's all on how you see it,you observe and write.

Assignment 7

Cinthia Cedeno May 3,2010 Eng 102/0826 ,Mr Vasileiou
“Roots to blossoming flowers"

In the story "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck he presents a woman’s transformation from a plain housewife to a flowering beauteous woman. How one woman goes from trapped to set free. There is a great use of symbolism to represent Elisa’s transformation, which is the main character. The flower is a symbol of the main transaction that leads Elisa to change and grow. John Steinbeck uses the flower to symbolize his main character’s thoughts and ideas. He uses this method to portray how Elisa goes from feeling trapped to then escaping and changing. Along with implying Elisa’s physical appearance as very plain yet allowing a hint of a feminine side to peek through, is almost as if she just needs a certain push to help her transform and that's where the Chrysanthemums come in play.
Elisa Allen is a complex woman, unloved, and unappreciated. She lusts to feel loved, wanted, desire, and needed. When people often feel this way, they want to try to pursuit a change, so they can transform to the person they want to be. Her husband neglects her and is never there for her, because he is always working. The fences around her house symbolize that she's trapped. This makes Elisa feel neglected and stuck, causing her to want to change and escape. She finds gardening as a way out, a distraction that leads to being the main key in her transformation. The flowers in her garden represent Elisa, when the flowers blossoms, she blossoms. When the flowers turn beautiful and live, Elisa comes to life. Elisa sees the chrysanthemums as a replacement of womanhood, it is portrayed as her, as a human. It symbolizes her femininity. She is this plain dull woman that turns beautiful through the blossoming of the flowers, which also means she's getting prettier. "She put on her newest underclothing and her nicest stockings and the dress which was the symbol of her prettiness. She worked carefully on her hair, penciled her eyebrows and roughed her lips"(Lines 92-94) pg 198.This all symbolize her beauty. Just like a flower, Elisa blossoms. The flowers boosts her confidence, and brings her a ton of energy. Her flowers also represent her repressed sexuality, and her frustration and resentment towards men. She has a great deal of anger towards her husband Henry, who doesn’t really give her the time of day, who doesn't make her feel loved. Knowing that her husband does not show interest in her chrysanthemums, gives her the thought that he does not have interest in her. When someone doesn't feel loved and appreciated, they often try to seek a solution so they can feel like they actually have a purpose.
Elisa fills her garden with nurture, love and care. Since she is simply a lonely house wife with no kids, the crescent of flowers becomes her children. So she transform from wife to mother. "You can raise them from seed, but it’s much easier to root the little sprouts you see there" (Line 58-59) pg 195. Her desire to grow and nurture the plants, which she grows a lot of attachment too. Her gardening symbolizes Elisa protection from anything harmful. A man, a complete stranger one day compliments Elisa's flowers, so she feels complimented. She is interested in him, because he shows interest in her chrysanthemums. She feels appreciated and attracted to the stranger. The connection is by someone being interested in her flowers, so that means someone is interested in her. Elisa fed of the attention, for that is what she desired all along. She went from a woman that not even her own husband gave attention to, to a woman that strikes attention to even strangers. Elisa later on gives herself away to that stranger. She was basically fooled into giving herself away to someone who showed some interest in her chrysanthemums. She becomes this plain housewife who doesn't really have a need to do anything spontaneously, to doing something with someone she doesn't even know. It drove her to just do whatever made her feel good, not with her regular boring instincts.
As Elisa waits for her husband to go on their date, she gets in her best dress and makeup. Her Husband Henry comes home and told her that she looks nice, sounding surprised. She asks him what he means, and he says she looks “different, strong and happy.” She asks what he means by strong. Henry is puzzled and tells her that they’re going to dinner. Elisa loses her composure for a moment, meaning she is surprised that her husband finally notices her. Noticing that she looks prettier and has changed, not only as a wife but as a woman. "Now you're changed again" Henry complained. He took one hand from the wheel and patted her knee. "I ought to take you in to dinner oftener. It would be good for both of us. We get so heavy out on the ranch." (Line 111-114) pg 199. Her husband is noticing his wife transformation. She asks whether they can have wine at dinner, and he says yes. This brings Elisa with a sort of closure that she was a woman all along; she just needed to come out of her cocoon. In order to do so, she needed a boost and a push. Her husband asks her if she would like to see a boxing fight, she asked if women see fights. Her husband said some do, & if she like to go. "She relaxed limply in the seat.”Oh no. No. I don't want to go. I'm sure I don't" Her face was turned away from him. It will be enough if we can have wine. It will be plenty. She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly- like an old woman". (Lines 123-126)Pg 199. It’s almost as if Elisa had enough, and was done with being a sort of masculine woman. She wanted to just stay in the new feminine form she had found, and she wanted to keep it that way.
The flowers were the main ingredient to Elisa growth. How she went from a masculine plain housewife to a feminine beautiful woman. She needed to learn a lesson and be shown that she was a woman all along; it was up to her to find that woman, to strive and seek the better in her. Some good, some bad, walking through her past. To go forward and not look back on the parade of individuals. It is a shockingly hurtful sight to some and they continue to add characters to their line but for Elisa it was a lesson learned fast. She expects things from people but didn't voice what these expectations are and when they aren’t met? It was an excuse to be angry and beat herself up for getting into a lonely relationship with herself and her husband. The answer would be for her to stop feeling sorry for herself? On the outside that is what Elisa appears to be but on the inside it was a different road. A road that started out plain and ended up causing a lot of change in Elisa.


Work Citied Steinbeck John. “The Chrysanthemums”. Oct 1937

Assignment 6

What I learned in English so far was the use of the blogs. I never used blogs before,especially for a class. I thought that was pretty cool and interesting. I learned that just because a poem is short,doesn't mean your going to understand it rigt off the back. It can take several times to read a poem to understand it. Piece by piece, its easier to interpret line after line. After that their can be a visualization, an idea of what the poem is really trying to mean. I like the combination of using blogs,but still being able to write papers as well. It gives more chioces and opportunities, to concentrate in different parts of writing and reading. I personally love to write, no so much reading but in this class there's balance of the two. I get to practice with my writing,since I haven't done it for awhile, and get to learn new writing skills & how other write,by the use of the blogs. Which is very helpful.

Assignment 5

Phil Collins "Paradise" very powerful song about homeless people. Significants that to us is just another day in paradise but to them is a hard work and a strive to survive. People who are starving and are hungry, and sometimes we don't stop to think that.We jsut think about ourselves. I really like this song and like Phil collions as a singer. I love songs that have meanings, because know a days alot of songs don't mean crap. I grew up with listening to 80s songs all the time due to the influence of my dad and thank god for that. I love 80s music. This video also shows the strong powerful message of the hunger of human bien and what they go through. I believed they used black and white to give it stronger meaning. & I'm glad they used black and white.if it was in color I think it would of meant less. Black and white bring out the signicants and meaning of the what the song is trying to potray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfZqXLnBYb4

Another Day In Paradise lyrics Songwriters: Collins, Phil;
She calls out to the man on the street"Sir, can you help me?It's cold and I've nowhere to sleepIs there somewhere you can tell me?"He walks on, doesn't look backHe pretends he can't hear herHe starts to whistle as he crosses the streetShe's embarrassed to be thereOh, think twice, it's just another day forFor you and me in paradiseOh, think twice, it's just another dayFor you, you and me in paradiseJust think about itShe calls out to the man on the streetHe can see she's been cryin'She's got blisters on the soles of her feetShe can't walk but she's tryin'Oh, just think twice, it's just another dayFor you and me in paradiseOh, yes think twice, it's just another dayFor you, you and me in paradiseJust think about it, just think about itOh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do?Oh Lord, there must be something you can sayYou can tell by the lines on her faceYou can see that she's been thereProbably been moved on from every place'Cause she didn't fit in thereOh, yes think twice, it's just another dayFor you and me in paradiseOh, yes think twice, it's just another dayFor you, you and me in paradiseJust think about it, just think about itIt's just another dayFor you and me in paradiseIt's just another dayFor you and me in paradiseIt's just another dayFor you and me in paradiseIt's just another dayFor you and me in paradiseIt's just another dayFor you and meIt's another dayFor you and meIt's another dayFor you and me in paradiseIn paradise"

Assignment 4

In "the Story of an hour" by Kate chopin used Psychological criticism to potray Ms Mallard Character.Due to the fact that Mrs. Millard had a fragile heart, her sister was hesitant in breaking her the news of her husband's death. Unlike most women who find themselves in denial after being told something of this magnitude she wept at once. Is almost as she was prepared for it mentally. Once she composed herself she locked herself in her room and would let no one in. She was noticing things outside her window she had never noticed before. Things that we take for granted and only appreciate when we are happy. But how could this be if her husband had just died?Why would Ms Mallard find joy in her husband death,sadly she did though. She began to weep again and then she was young she was new she was somehow reborn. For with her husband she had been restrained and now she had all this new found freedom she did not enjoyed before.She was liberal and free.Is almost as before she say herself as this slave attached to her husband to follow his command and duties as a housewife,but she knew if he had been dead.She would not have to be a housewfie but a single independent woman. She was ready for he world to the amazement of her sister and that of her husband's friend, Mr. Richards as well. When she saw her husband she passed and the doctor said she died of a joy that kills but they did not understand that she actually died of sadness,because now she was to be repressed in her husbands presence once more and this she could not bare. So the irony is she was thrilled and filled with joy of her husband to death, to find out that that wasnt the case,then the joke was on her for she was the one that really died. Somewhere in her unconscious she thought that by her husband dying she finally be happy,people assume since he was a good man,then their marriage was goo.Which was not the case at all. She was miserible, she wanted so bad to be free,that she created a light,an escape,in her mind.Her husband death symbolize her escape,she was no longer trapped. Some people unconsciously create things in their head to make them feel better,to help them deal with their feelings, help them cope with reality. The main idea of "The story of an hour" is repression and a chance of freedom. Mrs. Mallard is the main character that had a heart disease. Due to her condition she was treated as if not a human being but a lower life form. When they broke down the new that her husband died they had to do it gently. She weeped but new feeling came upon her and she knew she would be changed forever. This was not a sad thought but a life of freedom for Mrs. Millard. Freedom in which she would live for herself and not by any one else's intentions. The theme of the story of an hour is society's treatment of the disabled, "There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature. Not not just her husband was repressing her but men and women around her. In Society is often brough up the idea that a woman has to please her husban and be a good housewife, especially during the time period of the story. This idea is brought up so deep in the unconscious mind,that often people don't know their doing it. Like stereo typing woman as an object and a woman has to take care of her husband,and clean and do chores aroundthe house. Not everyone thinks like that but some societys due. So I believe unconsciously Ms Mallard rather died,then to serve her Husband once more. Like A slave, would rather die then to suffer over and over. Some people cope and make a sacarfise so strong as to die, then to live unhappy. Is truly crazy how the mind works and parts of the mind that work that we often dont even ackowledge. Psychological critism is enhance in the story,bringing meaning by giving examples and expression to make it understandable. This is also creates readers to draw out their own conclusion or meaning from a literary piece. This also creates imagination for the words.

Blog 3

In the Story "The things they carried" by Tim O brien one of the main characters is Kiowa.Kiowa is a devout Baptist, with decent of Native American,the other men tease him about both these things often, but Kiowa does not respond.He doesnt like white men.he grew up not to like them,so you can say hes rasist. He is kind to everyone and tries to have appropriate moral reactions to the war,he wants to feel bad about Ted Lavender's death, but he can't.It is difficult for him to show emotion,probably because he grew up not to feel, or maybe is hard from him to let it out.Let feelings out and talk,he represses alot of emotions,and that does him damage.Is like a cry for help. He tries to comfort Tim after Tim kills a man, something no one else in the company might think to do. His death is one of the worst events of the war for his entire company. they all loved him and knew he was a good person, and his death seems pointless. He is a dynamic character because at first he couldnt show feelings but then he did something noone else could,he comfort Tim after he killed a man. He showed emotion and sincerity.He had one of the other guys back and was there for him.There for there was a translation from cold to having sympathy and to be noble.I choose this Character because he reminded me of me.I at times have trouble showing feelings.but that doesnt mean because I don't show them,there not there.I think kiowa was alil missunderstood in that sense,no one really understood where he came from. In some aspects he was alittle responsible in how people view him.but in others he wasnt because he was taught to be that way,through yrs and through experiences. That's why I choose to focuse on his character becuase alot of people don't ackowledge that sometimes people just need to be shown that others are there to listen and to be there.then they'll give a part of them back. Alot of people can judge a book by is cover.but is up to the reader to decide and actually take a look inside to see what the book is all about. Through time people can learn to gain trust and slowly by slowly gain trust and start being more comfortable to show feelings and nt be so closed in. Kiowa learned alot with being surrounded by men,who been killed,who have killed,who are injuried and missing.What can a person would you be not about to feel?while experiences and viewing all that these men viewed. Is almost as Kiowa had no chioce but give out a piece of him. He was loved by many, so he couldnt even been such a bad person, is almost as if some of the men understood him,and thats why they was there for him.

Assignment # 2 Symbolism in Stienbeck

In the story by John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” brought symbolism.Elisa is a complex woman, unloved, and unappreciated. She desires to be wanted and loved,also to be recognized as a sexual being not just as a workforce that her husband views her as. She represents a lot of insecurity and loneliness. Some readers can see Elisa as a dog,by obeying her inner instincts and responding to the male superiority.Elisa sees the chrysanthemums as a replacement of womanhood,it is potrayed as her as a human.It symbolizes feminine.Her desire to grow and nurture the plants,which she grows a lot of attachment too.Her gardening symbolizes Elisa protection from anything harmful. Knowing that her husband does not show interest in her chrysanthemums, gives her the thought that he does not have interest in her.  Her husband never has time for he because he's always working in the cattle in their farm.One day her husband goes off with one of the cattle buyers,and a mysterious man on a wagon approaches Elisa. She is interested in him,because he shows interest in her chrysanthemums.She feels appreciated and attractive to the stranger. The connection is someone interested in her flowers,so that means someone is interested in her. it. The stranger's compliment to Elisa flowers leads her to feel obligated to allow him to fix her pots. This all lead for her to give herself to him,in exchange for some attention. After the stranger leaves,Elisa is full of confidence,she has a makeover& gets dress.She wears her newest clothes& stocking& dress,which all symbolize her beauty. Just like a flower,Elisa blossoms.Then later on,Elisa sees her precious chrysanthemum on the ground, but without the pot it was given in. With everything that happened between her and the stranger,she felt used.Elisa was basically fooled into giving herself away to someone who showed some interest in her.She had lost her confidence and her self-esteem to keep her head high in the air.If the flowers were to die,a part of Elisa dies too,it will make her empty& depress.(It can be symbolize as what keeps her living).