Week 5
The beginning of the story begins with a description of the town of Omelas. The descriptions depicts the town to be a joyous place, where the people are happy with what they have. They are a peaceful people who are about to enjoy their summer festivities. While reading the end of the story, the idea that the town was a happy place was in my head. I began to think, how could a town be so happy with such a dark secret? I was confused by the behavior of the people, I believe that the happiness is a mask. Le Guin creates tension in the text by slowly unraveling the truth behind Omelas. She explains how "Happiness" does not necessarily mean "innocence". Her pacing lets the reader know to stay buckled in till the end of the ride. She unveils all of the facts slowly so the reader has no choice but to continue reading. After reading, I was left with various questions. What deal did they make, and with whom? The small child is locked in a cell, and the reader's only knowledge of why is that so the whole town can stay happy. Also, a question that every reader probably has is where are the people going, the ones who leave? The author explains how it seems as if they have a destination, where is it?
Week 6
Atwood tells the reader much about the world of "The Handmaid's Tale" by explaining the role that Offred is in, and explaining the surroundings that she sees. It is important to note that women in her world are completely suppressed. A handmaid's role is to reproduce, and they are not permitted every day things like reading, or travelling alone. They must not look at any man in a sexual way, for that is a sin. Offred's world has no separation of church and state. All of the rules and regulations are based off of the bible. Violators of these laws are punished; it was shown in the story that people were hung for the crime of abortion, even though that the act took place prior to the new government. Before her life as a handmaid, she had a family. She lived happily and unknowingly took for granted the freedom's that she used to have and exercise freely. In her new role, she is so powerless that she gets satisfaction from winking at a guard, or even stealing a little butter, since those things are basically the only things that she actually has control over. She has no control over who she can love, have sex with, or even talk to. She is allowed to talk to other Handmaid's, but even that interaction is cautious because of their fear.
Week 7
In The Handmaid's Tale, there are two pasts. I suppose that the first past is her past before Gilead. Her time before Gilead is important because it gives the reader an understanding of how drastic the changes were. She had a family, had a relationship with someone who had their own family, she did a lot of things that were get her killed in Gilead. It adds to the absurdity of the rules of her new world, women are completely subdued. The second past is her time at the retraining center. Her time at the retraining center is important because she is "re-trained". In a sense, she has to re learn how to live an every day life, she has to throw away her previous role and take up a new one as a handmaid. Her time there is included to show the reader how Gilead "thinks", and the steps it took to get to where it is at the point in the story where we are now. Women were gathered and taught to be obedient, and throw away any independence that they have. The pasts that are spoken about in the story add to Offred's current story because without it, we would not understand what Offred went through to become a handmaid. Her past influences her life, her thoughts, and actions. The retraining center broke her down, Gilead does not view her as an individual.
Week 8
The final section, the academic commentary, really changes my whole understanding of Offred's story. I really never understood how she got her story across. I figured she wrote it down on some hidden piece of paper and never spoke a word about it. This idea was my leading idea, but after I read the end, I realized that women were not permitted ordinary freedoms like reading or writing, so she probably had no writing utensils, plus she was probably terrified of being caught. The fact that her story was technically pieced together by recordings that were found, and people had to piece her story together. That is astounding to me, because it shows that even though she was in an environment where rebelling would mean her life, she still had the guts to take secret recordings so people know what life was like in Gilead. It re-framed the way I understood the text because now I get the full understanding of how dangerous a place Offred lived in. She secretly recorded her daily events so future generations would never revert to that lifestyle. The commentary ridicules that lifestyle as it should, and it is refreshing to know that Gilead's rain was cut short.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Reflective Essay
Throughout English 103, we have performed various activities and read texts that fall into the category of science fiction. This sub-genre is filled with themes associated with gender, race, religion, and others which are interesting to read about and analyze. Through the activities in the course, we were able to analyze pieces of literature easily, story by story. The class itself has been helpful in practicing my skills and further advancing them in reading, editing, and working in a group.
The readings in this class were very unique to me. Never before have I read a gruesome story such as "Bloodchild" by Octavia E. Butler, or a suspenseful story like "Black Box" by Jennifer Egan. These readings opened my eyes to several types of writing, my eyes were opened to many themes. One theme that stuck out to me is from the story "Bloodchild". Suppression is an important theme in that piece, specifically in this case it is more from a slavery standpoint. It is important to note that this theme can be carried over to other pieces that we read, like "The Semplica Girl Diaries" by George Saunders, or even The Handmaid’s tale by Margaret Atwood. That is the beauty of this course, it is easy to relate two pieces together and use that knowledge to create good pieces of analytical responses. My weekly work greatly impacted my understanding of the texts.
Every week, we were assigned a micro essay, a discussion post, and peer responses. All of these assignments proved to be helpful in their own way. The discussion posts were an efficient and quick way of getting ideas flowing, and also a good way to see how others in the class were interpreting the readings. The ability to bounce ideas back and forth helps everyone create new ideas, which then can be translated onto the micro essays. The micro essays had prompts that ranged from a “crux”, to an “outside research” prompt. Pieces like the crux really assisted in understanding the text. Since the premise of the prompt is to pick a piece of text that is a turning point to the story, it was easy to explore the different ideas that I was exposed to while reading. Other prompts such as “monologue” gave readers a point of view through the eyes of a different character, which is effective for first person narratives. The ability to see the world the author has built through a different viewpoint is intriguing. Research prompts allow the student to possibly find an inspiration an author had, or to find a connection within history. For example, the slavery theme can be researched for a better grasp.
Along with the micro essays, we were assigned peer responses. The peer responses were useful. Most students provided valid feedback to my pieces, and I utilized what I grasped from the constructive criticism. On the contrary, writing the actual responses was tedious at times. Many of the pieces focused on similar themes, so reading them became redundant. It is easy to pick out format errors, but when analyzing two pieces about the same theme, it is easy to confuse the two pieces. It is important to note that although it may have been repetitive, the responses were thought out, and I myself try to incorporate those critiques in my writing.
The very last class, my group and I presented our group project. Our story was “The Lottery”, and for our presentation we actually performed the ceremony for a lottery. Preparation for the project was thorough and efficient. We split the work among ourselves, and met once a week to discuss the progress and discuss the project as a whole. These meetings tackled objectives and troubleshooted problems so that our project flowed smoothly. This was the first time all year where I had this much time to work with a group for an English class, and the experience was satisfying. Because I am an engineer, I work in groups often, but the topics are usually scientific. It was refreshing to explore the arts and literature, and now I feel more well rounded.
English 103 was a positive experience where I got a great amount of work done in only 10 short weeks. This work was not grueling, the readings were enjoyable, and the work was productive rather than tedious. I even had a great experience with my fellow group members. Overall, I feel accomplished with what I have taken from this course.
Peer Responses (5-9)
Week 5
Alex Varsik,
You picked a good quote, but it seems that you just summarized the story rather than explain the quotes importance to the story. Next time make sure you review what a crux theme is. I enjoyed the quote you chose because it is an important instance where the author questions the audience. Like you said, the author spent most of the beginning convincing the audience how great a place Omelas was, insisting any of their wildest dreams would come true there.The quote you chose really emphasizes the fact that the happiness is an allusion. It is also a foreshadowing to the alarming event that the reader was approaching. You give a good idea of what the moral of the story is, stating how nothing is free, happiness has consequences. If you incorporated this into your interpretation of the quote, that would have added an intriguing side to your story. Lastly, make sure to use MLA format.
Tom Rossi,
I am impressed with everything that you took out of this quote since I just got done reading another reflection on this quote, great to see two sides of the story. I believe this quote is pivotal for many reasons such as it's foreshadowing aspect, as well as the doubt that it presents in the root of the happiness in Omelas. You presented many points that I thought of as well while I was reading, such that the child represents society. It makes sense since in society is always criticizing those for various reasons and that creates a false image of what is a good or bad lifestyle. Your hint at how Omelas is sheltered is interesting as well, since it seems that the people of Omelas have the idea that they are the center of the world, thus implying that everyone is happy. Remember to stay in MLA format and use more quotes.
Week 6
Micheal Kelly,
Reading this post was enjoyable because it was nice to peek inside the mind of someone other than Offred. Your interpretation was interesting because you gave him the light of actually being a decent man, I had pictured him as someone who was willing to take advantage of a defensless woman. That is why I enjoyed reading this because truly it is impossible to know what the doctor's motive due to the first person point of view, this gives an alternate point of view. First I want to point out that I believe the commander and his wife also try and reproduce? It is not clear if they are still trying now, maybe the wife cannot reproduce. The commander seems to be an old man, it is troubling why people around him are not coming to the conclusion that he is sterile. Remember to stay in MLA format, I know this is a diary submission but there must be some rules that need to be followed. Also, try and be careful of spelling errors. You used body's instead of the plural for bodies in the third paragraph. Lastly, some of your sentences are choppy and disturb the flow of the piece, concise statements are encouraged but make sure they are developed.
John Gilligan,
The quote you chose perfectly explains the whole system in Gilead. Authorities in Gilead believe that what they are doing to women is for their own good. There are two sides to this quote just like you explained. Yes, women are "protected", they are protected from being violated and raped, but that is only because they are completely subdued by the society, they have no real freedoms. Men in Gilead have much more freedom than women. But even so the freedom to love who you want is taken away. You did a great job with MLA format, margins and everything. You used great in text citations. It is nice that you used evicence from our world around us, and clearly that evidence adds to the understanding of the whole story, but more evidence from the text would have carried this piece a longer way. Also the point of crux is to prove how this piece of text is a turning point, or reveal major concern. If you related this quote directly to Offred it may have helped you develope a reason why this quote was a turning point to the story. Overall good job and continue following MLA rules.
Week 7
Yaroslav Savchuk,
This quote was a pivotal point in the story, and clearly a turning point because it shows the human side of the commander, while he breaks the rules too. The commander is the man of the house, and men in general rule Gilead, but even in this world men are still held back, they do not have freedom to love who they want. In the commander's case, he does not even have the freedom to have sex with who he wants, that is why Offred is there. The game of scrabble gives Offred an opportunity to use skills that she has not used in a long while, and the commander is giving her that opportunity which is really surprising. Your crux of this quote is pretty good.
In terms of your writing you did not use any MLA format. You provided a works cited, but did not use any in text citations. All your evidence is taken from the book obviously but its good to get in the rhythm of using real citations. Also, try using better terminology. You said that the commander was trying to "get some". I think there are other ways to imply that he may have been trying to have sexual relations with Offred.
Jasmine Mortazavi,
The quote you chose is very important and connects to not only Offred but every handmaid. Moira is a symbol of hope and freedom for the handmaids. She escaped the tyranny, the lifestyle. For women this is probably only something that they could dream about. Moira is another underlying factor for Offred to continue grinding through this mess and to continue being rebellious. You make great points but I believe that you fail to go deeper into the meaning and symbolism of Moira. Moira is a light for Offred, but Offred is not the only one who knew Moira. Moira represents a fault in the whole system of Gilead, she got away. It is unknown as to what she is doing right now, and that is the whole beauty of Moiras story, she is alone. She is no longer part of the system. I believe you spent too much time explaining the situation and moiras story rather than explaing how the quote is a turning point to a handmaid's life. Still, the quote was good and your points were valid but more details would have been good. Other than that great MLA format and citations, next time make sure to include a works cited.
Week 8
Jordan Gilber,
Your quote is an interesting picture of how Offred is having some identity issues. Offred is not only Offred, she is a human being with a different life and background being forced into this new life. Her life is not "new" but it is still a drastic change. Your points on surveillance and scrutiny of Gilead is important, and I can see how it relates to the quote in terms of how that society has made Offred feel this way, but I feel as if you did not relate this quote closely enough to Offred. Crux is to prove how a piece of text is a turning point to the story, how is this quote relevant? Yes, Offred is fighting against the people oppressing her in various ways, but I feel as if this point does not relate to the quote. Also your essay is in MLA format visually, but you did not cite the quote, nor did you use any in text citations. Along with this you failed to include a works cited. I am just pointing this out because it is important to break bad habits, this advice is something that I should listen to as well. Next time try finding more direct evidence to a piece of text.
Alex Varsik,
You picked a good quote, but it seems that you just summarized the story rather than explain the quotes importance to the story. Next time make sure you review what a crux theme is. I enjoyed the quote you chose because it is an important instance where the author questions the audience. Like you said, the author spent most of the beginning convincing the audience how great a place Omelas was, insisting any of their wildest dreams would come true there.The quote you chose really emphasizes the fact that the happiness is an allusion. It is also a foreshadowing to the alarming event that the reader was approaching. You give a good idea of what the moral of the story is, stating how nothing is free, happiness has consequences. If you incorporated this into your interpretation of the quote, that would have added an intriguing side to your story. Lastly, make sure to use MLA format.
Tom Rossi,
I am impressed with everything that you took out of this quote since I just got done reading another reflection on this quote, great to see two sides of the story. I believe this quote is pivotal for many reasons such as it's foreshadowing aspect, as well as the doubt that it presents in the root of the happiness in Omelas. You presented many points that I thought of as well while I was reading, such that the child represents society. It makes sense since in society is always criticizing those for various reasons and that creates a false image of what is a good or bad lifestyle. Your hint at how Omelas is sheltered is interesting as well, since it seems that the people of Omelas have the idea that they are the center of the world, thus implying that everyone is happy. Remember to stay in MLA format and use more quotes.
Week 6
Micheal Kelly,
Reading this post was enjoyable because it was nice to peek inside the mind of someone other than Offred. Your interpretation was interesting because you gave him the light of actually being a decent man, I had pictured him as someone who was willing to take advantage of a defensless woman. That is why I enjoyed reading this because truly it is impossible to know what the doctor's motive due to the first person point of view, this gives an alternate point of view. First I want to point out that I believe the commander and his wife also try and reproduce? It is not clear if they are still trying now, maybe the wife cannot reproduce. The commander seems to be an old man, it is troubling why people around him are not coming to the conclusion that he is sterile. Remember to stay in MLA format, I know this is a diary submission but there must be some rules that need to be followed. Also, try and be careful of spelling errors. You used body's instead of the plural for bodies in the third paragraph. Lastly, some of your sentences are choppy and disturb the flow of the piece, concise statements are encouraged but make sure they are developed.
John Gilligan,
The quote you chose perfectly explains the whole system in Gilead. Authorities in Gilead believe that what they are doing to women is for their own good. There are two sides to this quote just like you explained. Yes, women are "protected", they are protected from being violated and raped, but that is only because they are completely subdued by the society, they have no real freedoms. Men in Gilead have much more freedom than women. But even so the freedom to love who you want is taken away. You did a great job with MLA format, margins and everything. You used great in text citations. It is nice that you used evicence from our world around us, and clearly that evidence adds to the understanding of the whole story, but more evidence from the text would have carried this piece a longer way. Also the point of crux is to prove how this piece of text is a turning point, or reveal major concern. If you related this quote directly to Offred it may have helped you develope a reason why this quote was a turning point to the story. Overall good job and continue following MLA rules.
Week 7
Yaroslav Savchuk,
This quote was a pivotal point in the story, and clearly a turning point because it shows the human side of the commander, while he breaks the rules too. The commander is the man of the house, and men in general rule Gilead, but even in this world men are still held back, they do not have freedom to love who they want. In the commander's case, he does not even have the freedom to have sex with who he wants, that is why Offred is there. The game of scrabble gives Offred an opportunity to use skills that she has not used in a long while, and the commander is giving her that opportunity which is really surprising. Your crux of this quote is pretty good.
In terms of your writing you did not use any MLA format. You provided a works cited, but did not use any in text citations. All your evidence is taken from the book obviously but its good to get in the rhythm of using real citations. Also, try using better terminology. You said that the commander was trying to "get some". I think there are other ways to imply that he may have been trying to have sexual relations with Offred.
Jasmine Mortazavi,
The quote you chose is very important and connects to not only Offred but every handmaid. Moira is a symbol of hope and freedom for the handmaids. She escaped the tyranny, the lifestyle. For women this is probably only something that they could dream about. Moira is another underlying factor for Offred to continue grinding through this mess and to continue being rebellious. You make great points but I believe that you fail to go deeper into the meaning and symbolism of Moira. Moira is a light for Offred, but Offred is not the only one who knew Moira. Moira represents a fault in the whole system of Gilead, she got away. It is unknown as to what she is doing right now, and that is the whole beauty of Moiras story, she is alone. She is no longer part of the system. I believe you spent too much time explaining the situation and moiras story rather than explaing how the quote is a turning point to a handmaid's life. Still, the quote was good and your points were valid but more details would have been good. Other than that great MLA format and citations, next time make sure to include a works cited.
Week 8
Jordan Gilber,
Your quote is an interesting picture of how Offred is having some identity issues. Offred is not only Offred, she is a human being with a different life and background being forced into this new life. Her life is not "new" but it is still a drastic change. Your points on surveillance and scrutiny of Gilead is important, and I can see how it relates to the quote in terms of how that society has made Offred feel this way, but I feel as if you did not relate this quote closely enough to Offred. Crux is to prove how a piece of text is a turning point to the story, how is this quote relevant? Yes, Offred is fighting against the people oppressing her in various ways, but I feel as if this point does not relate to the quote. Also your essay is in MLA format visually, but you did not cite the quote, nor did you use any in text citations. Along with this you failed to include a works cited. I am just pointing this out because it is important to break bad habits, this advice is something that I should listen to as well. Next time try finding more direct evidence to a piece of text.
Alex Varsik,
Great comparison between two stories. Your quote relates to both stories so well that if you quoted it and put (Leguin pg 211) after it you may have even fooled me! HA! With that being said, it is evident in the historical note after the story that the commander was actually a founding father to the city of Gilead. The fact that this quote came from him implies that this is an ideology which he himself used to reason with. We know that the commander has been kind to Offred, by playing scrabble with her, but beneath this kindness is this thought which you quoted. Even after his kindness he still believes this way. This quote along with many others is another example of how every day life of Gilead is. With compensation, occupation gets thrown under the rug. You use evidence to show how the citizens cope with the oppression, and this coping mechanism makes life a little easier. That is the meaning of this quote. You use correct MLA format, which is great, and use in text citations perfectly. It is important to practice MLA format. One thing to remember is to include a works cited. You used two texts so it is important to include every work you use.
Great comparison between two stories. Your quote relates to both stories so well that if you quoted it and put (Leguin pg 211) after it you may have even fooled me! HA! With that being said, it is evident in the historical note after the story that the commander was actually a founding father to the city of Gilead. The fact that this quote came from him implies that this is an ideology which he himself used to reason with. We know that the commander has been kind to Offred, by playing scrabble with her, but beneath this kindness is this thought which you quoted. Even after his kindness he still believes this way. This quote along with many others is another example of how every day life of Gilead is. With compensation, occupation gets thrown under the rug. You use evidence to show how the citizens cope with the oppression, and this coping mechanism makes life a little easier. That is the meaning of this quote. You use correct MLA format, which is great, and use in text citations perfectly. It is important to practice MLA format. One thing to remember is to include a works cited. You used two texts so it is important to include every work you use.
Mini Essays (5-9)
Week 5 (Monologue)
Today started out as any normal day, I woke up, completed my chores, and was ready for anything the world had to throw at me. The Festival of Summer is just around the corner, and everyone in town is preparing for the event. For weeks my little brother has been talking about how excited he is to race against the other boys. My mother has been preparing foods, and my father has been helping around the house. Apparently, today was my turn to prepare for the festivities.
My mother pulled me aside, she wanted to have a word with me. “Honey, the Festival of Summer is coming up, and it will commemorate the happiness and prosperity that we, the people of Omelas, have been sharing for all these years.” said my mom. “Today, I want you to find out why we live such happy lives.”
“Great!”, I thought. I am so proud of where I am from, I cannot wait to find out why I am so lucky to live in Omelas. So many ideas were rushing through my head. I imagined this great story, where we, the people of Omelas, fought for our freedom against an opposing empire. I imagined a great meeting of officials, signing a long document, stating how the proud people of Omelas will live lives of freedom.
My mother and I walked to one of the big public buildings, decorated with white columns, and a large staircase. She led me into the building, through the hallways and down the several sets of stairs until we finally reached the basement. The whole walk, I asked questions but was given minimal answers. Finally I asked, “Mom, what are we doing in the basement?”. She led me to a locked door, grabbed the door knob, and looked at me in the eyes. “Behind this door lies the source for our happiness. Whatever you see will alarm you, but know that it is for the sake of our people.” An eerie chill ran down my spine. She opened the door, and instantly a rancid aroma filled my nostrils. By the time my eyes could process what I was seeing, my knees were shaking and I was nauseous from the smell alone. I saw a small, starving, stick-thin boy, who was lying in his own filth. His skin was brown from the dirt, and he was naked. From the stir of emotions and the smell of rotting flesh, I was knocked unconscious.
I woke up in my bed with a boatload of questions. Who is that boy? Why is he locked in there? My mother entered the room, and sat at the foot of the bed. “That boy is there so we, the people of Omelas, can be happy. Our happiness depends on his misery. If he is ever to leave that cell, and experience happiness, then our beloved Omelas would crumble.” I looked at her, and I began to cry. “Mom, why won’t anyone help him? Who put him in there? How can we be happy while he is left to rot?” She patted my head and ensured that with time I would understand. At that moment, I knew that I had to leave Omelas.
Week 6 (Crux)
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” (Atwood p. 52)
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, is a story that takes place in the city of Gilead, a theocratic place with bizarre practice. The main character, Offred, is a handmaid, who lives in a household where she serves the Commander, who is the head of the house, and his wife. Her duty is to reproduce for them and that is her sole purpose. She is treated poorly and her rights have been taken away from her. Common everyday practices are forbidden, such as reading, writing, freedom of religion, and even the freedom to eat and bathe at her own will.
This quote translates to, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”. Offred found this written in her room, on the floor of her closet. She concludes that a previous handmaid must have written it down. At the time she does not know what the phrase means, but it allows her to feel connected with the previous occupant of the household. This quote is significant to the understanding of the work as a whole because it helps the reader understand that Offred is part of a whole network of handmaids, who are also struggling just like Offred. Yes, this point may have already been evident in the story, but discovering this quote directly connects Offred with the lineage of handmaid’s that have served in the same household. This quote can potentially drive her to not give up hope, and to continue to push through this hardship.
Later in the story, Offred actually withstands the “bastards”, and does not let them grind her down. It may seem minute, but even the slightest bit of rebellion reflects hope. “There’s a pat of butter on the side of the plate. I tear off a corner of the paper napkin, wrap the butter in it, take it to the cupboard and slip it into the toe of my right shoe, from the extra pair, as I have done before” (Atwood 66). Her action may seem meaningless, but it portrays the fire that still lies in her heart to make it out of Gilead. Even though it is only a piece of butter, if the wife, Serena finds out that she has done this, it is hard to believe that Offred would walk away with no harm done. Offred is risking a great deal just for a pat of butter, so by her following through with this act, it counts as a win in her book.
Overall, this quote symbolizes the powerlessness of women in Gilead, Offred’s connection to other handmaid’s, and hope that Offred must never lose. Her world is twisted, but hopefully if she keeps battling through she will prevail.
Atwood, Margaret. Collapse: The Handmaid’s Tale. New York: Round Table, 1998. Print.
Week 7 (Outside Research)
In The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, the main character, Gilead, lives in a time where the government is ruled by the church. The laws coincide with the views taken from the bible, and people fall into the roles that the bible portrays as well. Authority figures are named based on the bible, and people live in fear of the authority. Gilead is a theocracy. After reading several chapters, I became very interested in theocracies, and how they function. I also became interested with theocracies in the past or present. Offred lives in a puzzling world, and I want to try and understand it as best as I can.Theocracy means a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
The word is derived from the Greek words, theos (God) and kratia (power strength). Together, the two mean rule of God. In history, often times kings were regarded as the son of god. If religions had a “holy book”, that book served as God’s word. In a pure theocracy, the leader is believed to have a personal connection with the civilization's religion or belief, like Moses led the Israelites, or Muhammed ruled the early muslims. Theocracy is different from other nonreligious governments that have a state religion. In their case, they are influenced by theological concepts, and the head of the church takes orders from the ruler of the country, not the other way around. (Waskey)
An example of modern day theocracies would be Islamic States. An Islamic state is one that has adopted Sharia Islam as its starting point for laws, and implements the Islamic ruling system of khilafah. Therefore, it is a theocracy. Sharia is the official basis for state laws in countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and several more. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a famous example of an Islamic state. It maintains religious laws, and uses religious courts to portray the law. Everything must be based on Islamic criteria. Their Supreme Leader is a “faqih” (scholar of Islamic law). The Supreme Leader has more power than Iran’s president, which is important to note. The leader is elected by the Assembly of Experts. This is made up of “mujtahids”, who are Islamic scholars dubbed fit to interpret the Sharia faith. Islamic States are good examples of theocracies since they are abundant in today’s world, and are often a topic of discussion in various news reports. (Waskey)
Overall, theocracies are difficult to understand, since the United States has such a different government style, with a separation of church and state. Through research, it is easier to understand Gilead as well as Offred’s life as a citizen of Gilead. Gilead is not an Islamic State, but the structure of the government must be similar, since it is based off of a nationwide religion.
Waskey, Andrew J. "National Social Science Association." National Social Science Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2015.
Week 8 (Monologue of piece of butter)
Day in and day out, it is spontaneous in the refrigerator. The commander and his wife use various combinations of us for when they have their meals. Sometimes they take part of some steak and mix it with various vegetables. Usually in the mornings the milk and eggs make their way in and out of the refrigerator, along with some cheese and bread. One thing is certain, I am utilized for most of the meals throughout the day. I provide great flavor, and spread greatly over bread and other things. The humans do not know we exist, they have no idea that we communicate, nor do they have a clue that we can understand everything they say. When the engineers designed refrigerators, they unknowingly programmed it to give life to the inanimate objects that are in there. Any loaf of bread or stick of butter that has moved in and out of the fridge are tapped into the saved memory that the refrigerator has. Thus, we listen to every meal that they have and know basic things about their lives. The lightly salted butter generations have made their impact here in the fridge.
I often am placed on the table along with the bread for most meals, especially large ones like dinner. Bits and pieces of me go from plate to plate, from pieces of bread to some corn on the cob. Meanwhile I can hear everything from the separate plates. A common topic of discussion is Offred. Serena often ridicules Offred to the commander, whether it is about how she is not fit to bear a child, or about how Offred hasn’t been impregnated yet.
A piece of me is taken to Offred every night along with her dinner plate. She is not permitted to eat with the others. I think this is ridiculous. All of us foods are in the same refrigerator all the time, why does it make a difference? we do not have any trouble with it whatsoever. Often times I see Offred in her room, alone, and I can tell that her loneliness even takes away from her appetite. Poor girl, she is completely subdued by this society.
On this particular night, Offred observed her burnt chicken in disgust. I wonder what her life was like before being here, I wonder what she ate and if she actually enjoyed it. As she forced the chicken down her throat, she looked down at her plate right at me. She ripped off part of her napkin and stuffed me right in there! She had a nervous look on her face while she did it, and stuffed me in her shoe. It must be easy to hide a tiny piece of butter in her room, but she must be really intimidated by the household. Offred does not even dictate when she can eat, when she can sleep, when she can shower. Stealing a small piece of butter must mean a great deal to her. I wonder what she will use it for? Maybe for a stale piece of bread she saved, or to spice up her breakfast. Regardless, I am happy to help her with whatever she needs.
Today started out as any normal day, I woke up, completed my chores, and was ready for anything the world had to throw at me. The Festival of Summer is just around the corner, and everyone in town is preparing for the event. For weeks my little brother has been talking about how excited he is to race against the other boys. My mother has been preparing foods, and my father has been helping around the house. Apparently, today was my turn to prepare for the festivities.
My mother pulled me aside, she wanted to have a word with me. “Honey, the Festival of Summer is coming up, and it will commemorate the happiness and prosperity that we, the people of Omelas, have been sharing for all these years.” said my mom. “Today, I want you to find out why we live such happy lives.”
“Great!”, I thought. I am so proud of where I am from, I cannot wait to find out why I am so lucky to live in Omelas. So many ideas were rushing through my head. I imagined this great story, where we, the people of Omelas, fought for our freedom against an opposing empire. I imagined a great meeting of officials, signing a long document, stating how the proud people of Omelas will live lives of freedom.
My mother and I walked to one of the big public buildings, decorated with white columns, and a large staircase. She led me into the building, through the hallways and down the several sets of stairs until we finally reached the basement. The whole walk, I asked questions but was given minimal answers. Finally I asked, “Mom, what are we doing in the basement?”. She led me to a locked door, grabbed the door knob, and looked at me in the eyes. “Behind this door lies the source for our happiness. Whatever you see will alarm you, but know that it is for the sake of our people.” An eerie chill ran down my spine. She opened the door, and instantly a rancid aroma filled my nostrils. By the time my eyes could process what I was seeing, my knees were shaking and I was nauseous from the smell alone. I saw a small, starving, stick-thin boy, who was lying in his own filth. His skin was brown from the dirt, and he was naked. From the stir of emotions and the smell of rotting flesh, I was knocked unconscious.
I woke up in my bed with a boatload of questions. Who is that boy? Why is he locked in there? My mother entered the room, and sat at the foot of the bed. “That boy is there so we, the people of Omelas, can be happy. Our happiness depends on his misery. If he is ever to leave that cell, and experience happiness, then our beloved Omelas would crumble.” I looked at her, and I began to cry. “Mom, why won’t anyone help him? Who put him in there? How can we be happy while he is left to rot?” She patted my head and ensured that with time I would understand. At that moment, I knew that I had to leave Omelas.
Week 6 (Crux)
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” (Atwood p. 52)
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, is a story that takes place in the city of Gilead, a theocratic place with bizarre practice. The main character, Offred, is a handmaid, who lives in a household where she serves the Commander, who is the head of the house, and his wife. Her duty is to reproduce for them and that is her sole purpose. She is treated poorly and her rights have been taken away from her. Common everyday practices are forbidden, such as reading, writing, freedom of religion, and even the freedom to eat and bathe at her own will.
This quote translates to, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”. Offred found this written in her room, on the floor of her closet. She concludes that a previous handmaid must have written it down. At the time she does not know what the phrase means, but it allows her to feel connected with the previous occupant of the household. This quote is significant to the understanding of the work as a whole because it helps the reader understand that Offred is part of a whole network of handmaids, who are also struggling just like Offred. Yes, this point may have already been evident in the story, but discovering this quote directly connects Offred with the lineage of handmaid’s that have served in the same household. This quote can potentially drive her to not give up hope, and to continue to push through this hardship.
Later in the story, Offred actually withstands the “bastards”, and does not let them grind her down. It may seem minute, but even the slightest bit of rebellion reflects hope. “There’s a pat of butter on the side of the plate. I tear off a corner of the paper napkin, wrap the butter in it, take it to the cupboard and slip it into the toe of my right shoe, from the extra pair, as I have done before” (Atwood 66). Her action may seem meaningless, but it portrays the fire that still lies in her heart to make it out of Gilead. Even though it is only a piece of butter, if the wife, Serena finds out that she has done this, it is hard to believe that Offred would walk away with no harm done. Offred is risking a great deal just for a pat of butter, so by her following through with this act, it counts as a win in her book.
Overall, this quote symbolizes the powerlessness of women in Gilead, Offred’s connection to other handmaid’s, and hope that Offred must never lose. Her world is twisted, but hopefully if she keeps battling through she will prevail.
Atwood, Margaret. Collapse: The Handmaid’s Tale. New York: Round Table, 1998. Print.
Week 7 (Outside Research)
In The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, the main character, Gilead, lives in a time where the government is ruled by the church. The laws coincide with the views taken from the bible, and people fall into the roles that the bible portrays as well. Authority figures are named based on the bible, and people live in fear of the authority. Gilead is a theocracy. After reading several chapters, I became very interested in theocracies, and how they function. I also became interested with theocracies in the past or present. Offred lives in a puzzling world, and I want to try and understand it as best as I can.Theocracy means a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
The word is derived from the Greek words, theos (God) and kratia (power strength). Together, the two mean rule of God. In history, often times kings were regarded as the son of god. If religions had a “holy book”, that book served as God’s word. In a pure theocracy, the leader is believed to have a personal connection with the civilization's religion or belief, like Moses led the Israelites, or Muhammed ruled the early muslims. Theocracy is different from other nonreligious governments that have a state religion. In their case, they are influenced by theological concepts, and the head of the church takes orders from the ruler of the country, not the other way around. (Waskey)
An example of modern day theocracies would be Islamic States. An Islamic state is one that has adopted Sharia Islam as its starting point for laws, and implements the Islamic ruling system of khilafah. Therefore, it is a theocracy. Sharia is the official basis for state laws in countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and several more. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a famous example of an Islamic state. It maintains religious laws, and uses religious courts to portray the law. Everything must be based on Islamic criteria. Their Supreme Leader is a “faqih” (scholar of Islamic law). The Supreme Leader has more power than Iran’s president, which is important to note. The leader is elected by the Assembly of Experts. This is made up of “mujtahids”, who are Islamic scholars dubbed fit to interpret the Sharia faith. Islamic States are good examples of theocracies since they are abundant in today’s world, and are often a topic of discussion in various news reports. (Waskey)
Overall, theocracies are difficult to understand, since the United States has such a different government style, with a separation of church and state. Through research, it is easier to understand Gilead as well as Offred’s life as a citizen of Gilead. Gilead is not an Islamic State, but the structure of the government must be similar, since it is based off of a nationwide religion.
Waskey, Andrew J. "National Social Science Association." National Social Science Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2015.
Week 8 (Monologue of piece of butter)
Day in and day out, it is spontaneous in the refrigerator. The commander and his wife use various combinations of us for when they have their meals. Sometimes they take part of some steak and mix it with various vegetables. Usually in the mornings the milk and eggs make their way in and out of the refrigerator, along with some cheese and bread. One thing is certain, I am utilized for most of the meals throughout the day. I provide great flavor, and spread greatly over bread and other things. The humans do not know we exist, they have no idea that we communicate, nor do they have a clue that we can understand everything they say. When the engineers designed refrigerators, they unknowingly programmed it to give life to the inanimate objects that are in there. Any loaf of bread or stick of butter that has moved in and out of the fridge are tapped into the saved memory that the refrigerator has. Thus, we listen to every meal that they have and know basic things about their lives. The lightly salted butter generations have made their impact here in the fridge.
I often am placed on the table along with the bread for most meals, especially large ones like dinner. Bits and pieces of me go from plate to plate, from pieces of bread to some corn on the cob. Meanwhile I can hear everything from the separate plates. A common topic of discussion is Offred. Serena often ridicules Offred to the commander, whether it is about how she is not fit to bear a child, or about how Offred hasn’t been impregnated yet.
A piece of me is taken to Offred every night along with her dinner plate. She is not permitted to eat with the others. I think this is ridiculous. All of us foods are in the same refrigerator all the time, why does it make a difference? we do not have any trouble with it whatsoever. Often times I see Offred in her room, alone, and I can tell that her loneliness even takes away from her appetite. Poor girl, she is completely subdued by this society.
On this particular night, Offred observed her burnt chicken in disgust. I wonder what her life was like before being here, I wonder what she ate and if she actually enjoyed it. As she forced the chicken down her throat, she looked down at her plate right at me. She ripped off part of her napkin and stuffed me right in there! She had a nervous look on her face while she did it, and stuffed me in her shoe. It must be easy to hide a tiny piece of butter in her room, but she must be really intimidated by the household. Offred does not even dictate when she can eat, when she can sleep, when she can shower. Stealing a small piece of butter must mean a great deal to her. I wonder what she will use it for? Maybe for a stale piece of bread she saved, or to spice up her breakfast. Regardless, I am happy to help her with whatever she needs.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Expand Mini Essays
April 23
I just finished reading Semplica-Girl Diaries by George Saunders for my English 103 class, and I am surprised with what I just read. The story takes place in a world not like ours, where humans can buy other humans to put on display. I know that this class was based on scifi, but this is the first one where humans are subdued by other humans. Overall, I was caught up in the moral decisions made by the main character. Whether it was how he spent his lottery money, or what specifically he spent it on, his decisions could have been different.
The main character lives with his family of five, two daughters and a son. They are not the richest family, but they are not dirt poor. They have a house and a car, but do not live an extravagant lifestyle. When the father, or the main character hit the lottery for 10 grand, I can not imagine how excited, as well as relieved he felt. I sympathized with him because I felt like this was a reward the world was giving him for all the hard work he has been putting in to keep his family afloat. He was behind on his bills, and this money would have helped him. Unfortunately, he chose to use that money for something else. He decided to put the money towards a surprise birthday party and a yard renovation for his oldest daughter, Lilly, who has recently been depressed. Trying to make his daughter happy is not a bad thing, but he did not have to spend such a large amount on a party and gifts. Instead, he could have still made her happy with the gifts she initially wanted. If he really felt necessary, he could have arranged a small get together.
Not only did he spend the money on the surprise, he also used it to purchase SG’s, which are poor humans who are being payed to be suspended in the air, as lawn ornaments. This was another of his gifts towards his daughter. I knew that this purchase would cause future problems. Early in the story, when the audience is first exposed to SG’s, Eva clearly expressed her discomfort with them. This should have clicked in the main characters head when he first thought about purchasing the SG’s. He should never put his daughter in such an uncomfortable position. In turn, she released them in the middle of the night, which caused further problems for the family. If they were not found it would cost almost 9 grand to repay the company. This is ironic because the father initially won about that amount. Now, he is right back where he started, all because he was being greedy.
Note to self: do not ever purchase human scarecrows. Also, try to reason with future children, make sure they understand and appreciate everything that we have as a family, and not to take anything for granted
I am confused as to why people resorted to SG’s in the first place. I understand that SG’s are immigrants who want a better life for their families, but there are many other jobs than that with much better job descriptions, and no surgeries required! It is troubling, because who in the right mind would voluntarily do that job. Also, it is so immoral that someone actually owns and operates a company that distributes SG’s. It is human trafficking, and slavery. The most unsettling fact is that despite all this, the main character still purchased SG’s. Sadly, I thought he was a genuine family man, judging by his early diary additions. It is clear that he is easily swayed by those around him and the social norm. At the end of the day, he did not deserve the lottery money if he was going spend it on slaves. The world granted him this opportunity and he spit it in the face. When he purchased SG’s, he cursed himself and his family, and he should have known what he was getting himself into. His father in law knew that SG’s are no good, that’s why he decided to not assist them with their debt. An alarming fact is that the youngest child, Eva, is the only one to really see the SG’s as a crazy thing in the whole family.
Peer Responses
Week 2: Bloodchild
Yaroslav Savchuk,
Interesting points. I have to dissagree with you on your comment stating how the humans are not slaves, in my opinion they are slaves because they are held their against their will, and their rights are taken away. Also, they are used as hosts. Regardless, I like your point at the end explaining how pregnancy is a beautiful thing, it is indeed a shame that it is tainted in the story the way it is. Also, good job in pointing out how the mother was trying to protect her son. That is an important point because she has experienced this before.The short quote you chose has a strong meaning, since it is the first glimpse the reader gets as to what is actually going on in the story. Keep in mind to stay in MLA format.
Ekaterina Bentsa,
First Interview style post that I have read! It was nice reading what may have been Gan's thoughts after he saw the birth. The only problem I have with the interview is that although it is nicely done, Gan and his older brother already had a talk about the birth directly after it happened. It seemed that it was clear how Gan felt in the story, and also his brother's views were revealed. Either way, you ask good questions like "are the T'lic and T'gatoi equal". Clearly they are not, and Gan's explanation is enlightening. Make sure you are mindful of spelling errors, and I am not really sure how you would format this to MLA since it is an interview.
Week 3: The Black Box
Jordan Gilber,
I like that you researched to find out why the author wrote this story the way she did. It was definitely uniquely written, and that made it interesting. I am happy to find out that the story was actually tweeted instead of released traditionally. By tweeting it, I'm sure that the story was made available to a wider audience who maybe would have never read the story in the first place. The rectanges that she used to write the draft definitely resemble twitter boxes, like I read in the comments, so it is interesting that she released the story in a similar way.
Yaroslav Savchuk,
Interesting points. I have to dissagree with you on your comment stating how the humans are not slaves, in my opinion they are slaves because they are held their against their will, and their rights are taken away. Also, they are used as hosts. Regardless, I like your point at the end explaining how pregnancy is a beautiful thing, it is indeed a shame that it is tainted in the story the way it is. Also, good job in pointing out how the mother was trying to protect her son. That is an important point because she has experienced this before.The short quote you chose has a strong meaning, since it is the first glimpse the reader gets as to what is actually going on in the story. Keep in mind to stay in MLA format.
Ekaterina Bentsa,
First Interview style post that I have read! It was nice reading what may have been Gan's thoughts after he saw the birth. The only problem I have with the interview is that although it is nicely done, Gan and his older brother already had a talk about the birth directly after it happened. It seemed that it was clear how Gan felt in the story, and also his brother's views were revealed. Either way, you ask good questions like "are the T'lic and T'gatoi equal". Clearly they are not, and Gan's explanation is enlightening. Make sure you are mindful of spelling errors, and I am not really sure how you would format this to MLA since it is an interview.
Week 3: The Black Box
Jordan Gilber,
I like that you researched to find out why the author wrote this story the way she did. It was definitely uniquely written, and that made it interesting. I am happy to find out that the story was actually tweeted instead of released traditionally. By tweeting it, I'm sure that the story was made available to a wider audience who maybe would have never read the story in the first place. The rectanges that she used to write the draft definitely resemble twitter boxes, like I read in the comments, so it is interesting that she released the story in a similar way.
Also, its interesting that the main character of "The Black Box" was actually a character in one of her previous works. Now that I know who the character is, I would like to read the other piece of work and maybe compare the two. If the black box actually lines up with the other piece of work that would be exciting.
Alex Varsik,
This analysis of the story is intriguing because after reading it, I can totally see how the author was trying to get to the audience. While reading, I had to really think hard on what each line meant. I even had to go back and re read what it said a few times over, just to make sure I got the full idea. I was basically just playing the game the Egan set up for us. I was reading it so I could figure out exactly what was going on, and by the end I realized that these directions could be for anybody, including me. Other than the fact that I am a guy, these instructions could lead me to being a really good spy. The citizen agent aspect of the story helps readers relate to it even further, since it implies that the orders are being given to another regular person, like the reader. I wonder how an ex spy would react to this story, I am curious to find out if they are related to anything he/she has seen in the past, or even recorded on their own.
Week 4: Semplica Girl Diaries
Jacqueline Lynch,
Interesting relation between the quote and your point about trying to reach the "American Dream". I like that because the quote says "what in the world was she seeking". She was seeking freedom and the opportunities that she deserved. I believe it is correct to relate the SG's to immigrants, since in a sense they are immigrants. People often come to this country to help people that they love, and often times it does not work out as easily as that. I'm not sure if you realized this while you were writing, but you drew the inference that many immigrants are being shafted, and used the SG's to connect that. Maybe the author was using this to mirror how immigrants are treated? Food for thought.
Yaroslav Savchuk,
Interesting submission because I also wrote an imitation and it was interesting reading yours to compare the differences. You completely wrote yours in the same style as the text, which is great. Every sentence and word choice is almost identical to what was shown in the story. You actually portrayed it as a journal entry entered by the author himself. On the other hand my entry was an entry written by me, so it varied slightly. You touch on great points about the authors grammar as well as his incompetence. Good relation by saying his incompetence is show when throwing the money away. All great points, but the point of an imitation piece is to write in the style of the text, and talk about the concerns yoyu have with it. If Grammar is your only problems then fine, but I think that there is much more that you can pull from Semplica-Girl Diaries, especially when analyzing the work as a whole. Overall, it was interesting and fun to read, nicely done. You definitely had great style when writing this piece.
All Mini-Essays
The Lottery (Author Research)
Bloodchild (Crux)
The Black Box (Outside Research)
Semplica Girls Diaries (Imitation)
After reading “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, many questions about the author and her life arose. The Lottery is an intriguing piece, so I wanted to learn more about Jackson’s writing style. Also, I was curious to see how the Lottery was received by its readers.
Jackson began her literary career through her involvement with the Syracuse University campus literary magazine. Through this job, she met her husband, Stanley Edgar Hyman. He himself was a noted literary critic. They settled in Vermont where Stanley worked as a professor, Shirley focused on her writing. They had four children, who she figured in her short stories many times.
In her obituary, it is explained how she wrote in two styles. “She could describe the delights and turmoils of ordinary domestic life with detached hilarity; and she could, with cryptic symbolism, write a horror story in the Gothic mold in which abnormal behavior seemed perilously ordinary.” She wrote with a great choice of words, which built a story so greatly. Of all of her horror stories, “The Lottery”, which was published in The New Yorker magazine is best known. Many questioned the meaning of the story and often wondered why Jackson wrote it. Other stories of similar genre portrayed Jackson as a moralist who believed that society picked on those who they found to be different.
On a lighter note, it was said that because she often wrote about ghosts, witches, and magic, she actually used a broomstick for a pen! In reality, she used a typewriter. Jackson enjoyed being an author greatly. "I can't persuade myself," she once said, "that writing is honest work. It's great fun and I love it. For one thing, it's the only way I can get to sit down." explained Jackson. She greatly enjoyed seeing a story grow, she found it satisfying. She wrote two stories based on living with living with and raising her family, “Life Among the Savages” (1953) and “Raising Demons” (1957). These stories were not horror stories, but were actually cheerful ones. Orville Prescott, of the New York Times said that he read “Life Among the Savages” "until I laughed so much the tears came to my eyes and I had to stop."
Jackson is the author of “The Lottery”, which has become “one of the most important American short stories and continues to be analysed, critiqued and taught in schools. She lived a happy life with her family, and was a great writer capable of moving her audience.
"Shirley Jackson, Author of Horror Classic, Dies." Editorial. The New York Times 10 Aug. 1965: n. pag. Www.nytimes.com. Web. 1 May 2015.
Bloodchild (Crux)
The Black Box (Outside Research)
After reading “The Black Box” I had many questions, generally about spies and what their job consists of. Throughout the story, it was mentioned that after the mission is complete, the spy would not return home the same person he or she was before. This made me think about the lives of spies after their work is no longer needed. This led me to an article about a CIA approved psychiatrist who speaks of his accounts and patients.
The article tells us how the psychiatrist found that CIA personnel tend to have psychological tics depending on their trades. CIA personnel who have desk jobs tend to have obsessive tendencies. Since those people work with classified information day in and day out, they become paranoid at the end of the day, by thinking thoughts such as “Did I actually close all the safes?”, and think that the static on their clothing attracted a classified document and that document is now leaked.
For CIA personnel who are more like spies, he found that they have ADD tendencies. He explains how they are energetic, restless. He claims that these people enjoy things that have short time horizons. They enjoy being thrown into a project with no background knowledge, and absorb all of the information at a rapid pace. They then find a solution and move on. This rapid lifestyle is something the “spies” enjoy. The Psychiatrist gives them the title of “excitement junkies”. Although ADD can be seen as a disadvantage, the psychiatrist claims it can also be an advantage. He claims that they have the ability to see things from all angles, by thinking outside of the box. They can easily synthesize information that would have otherwise been overlooked.
The Psychiatrist also found that the spies are at a very high level of honor, integrity and patriotism. Their job requirements include lying, stealing, and anything else that would aid them in their task. The interesting thing is that all of these acts are done for the greater good, at least that is how the spies deal with it. They see it as part of their patriotism toward the country. Once they return home, they throw away their “on the job” mindset. This connects with the story, because the narrator often exclaimed that these tasks were so that people in our country could live happily. That excuse was used as a tool to be able to get through the job. According to the article, this point is an actual one that is evident in spies that the psychiatrist observed.
Stein, Jeff. "CIA-Approved Psychiatrist Treats Cloak and Dagger Set's Woes."The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 01 May 2015.
Semplica Girls Diaries (Imitation)
April 23
I just finished reading Semplica-Girl Diaries by George Saunders for my English 103 class, and I am surprised with what I just read. The story takes place in a world not like ours, where humans can buy other humans to put on display. I know that this class was based on scifi, but this is the first one where humans are subdued by other humans. Overall, I was caught up in the moral decisions made by the main character. Whether it was how he spent his lottery money, or what specifically he spent it on, his decisions could have been different.
The main character lives with his family of five, two daughters and a son. They are not the richest family, but they are not dirt poor. They have a house and a car, but do not live an extravagant lifestyle. When the father, or the main character hit the lottery for 10 grand, I can not imagine how excited, as well as relieved he felt. I sympathized with him because I felt like this was a reward the world was giving him for all the hard work he has been putting in to keep his family afloat. He was behind on his bills, and this money would have helped him. Unfortunately, he chose to use that money for something else. He decided to put the money towards a surprise birthday party and a yard renovation for his oldest daughter, Lilly, who has recently been depressed. Trying to make his daughter happy is not a bad thing, but he did not have to spend such a large amount on a party and gifts. Instead, he could have still made her happy with the gifts she initially wanted. If he really felt necessary, he could have arranged a small get together.
Not only did he spend the money on the surprise, he also used it to purchase SG’s, which are poor humans who are being payed to be suspended in the air, as lawn ornaments. This was another of his gifts towards his daughter. I knew that this purchase would cause future problems. Early in the story, when the audience is first exposed to SG’s, Eva clearly expressed her discomfort with them. This should have clicked in the main characters head when he first thought about purchasing the SG’s. He should never put his daughter in such an uncomfortable position. In turn, she released them in the middle of the night, which caused further problems for the family. If they were not found it would cost almost 9 grand to repay the company. This is ironic because the father initially won about that amount. Now, he is right back where he started, all because he was being greedy.
Note to self: do not ever purchase human scarecrows. Also, try to reason with future children, make sure they understand and appreciate everything that we have as a family, and not to take anything for granted
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