Lorraine Hansberry- A Raisin in the Sun (Complete)

Lorraine Hansberry- A Raisin in the Sun.

Language:
The language of A Raisin in the Sun is somewhat dated with time. It was set in a time long before I was born but I can still understand the meanings of what was going on. The language of the characters helped me to fully immerse myself in the time and setting of the play.

Argument:
In many ways this is a story of honor and determination. Each member of they Youngers family has a dream to specific to them. though not all of them have their dreams come true in the end they find a way to hold their heads up high and march on.

Structure:
Having practically the entire play based out of the Youngers small living room and kitchen was an interesting way to show the family dynamics. at first they seem almost trapped by their stifling environment. By the end when they had all gone through so much, Walter losing the money, Ruth becoming pregnant, Beneatha losing her money for school and Asagai's proposal, Mama buying the house of her and her late husband's dreams the small Youngers apartment doesn't seem so minuscule anymore. It is still small, still less than what they want, but its a home that they are leaving none the less.

You:
If I got anything out of this play, other than the joy I found in reading it, I would say it was the message that even if everything doesnt work out exactly the way you want it life is still good and things can work out in the end.

Ha Jin- An Entrepreneur's Story

Ha Jin- An Entrepreneur's Story

Language:
The Language of An Entrepreneur's Story is easily understood. The way Liu Feng as the narrator shows his somewhat lack of refinement and therefore proves once again that he had not always been the successful business man that he is now.

Argument:
The main moral of this story, in my eyes, was that money doesn't buy ultimate happiness.
Liu Feng's rags to riches story is one that most would count as having a basically happy ending. He found financial and entrepreneurial success as well as marrying the woman that he loves but that doesn't necessarily mean that he is happy. He still hates his mother-in-law and doesn't trust that his wife isn't on birth control. It seems to me that Lie Feng is simply gliding through life as he knows it because he doesn't know what true happiness is.

Structure:
There are a number of flashback in this piece. In fact the bulk of the is flashback sequences. These stories within the story allow us to understand why Liu Feng acts and thinks the way he does in current situations. Without background knowledge of his would be attempts at courtship for Manshan the reader wouldn't understand, and certainly wouldn't accept Liu Feng slapping his mother-in-law. Starting kerosene lamps with money would be far too eccentric for most to understand without understanding what would drive him to do that.

You:
I personally feel like money changes people. Granted sometimes it changes you for the better but more times than not monetary wealth leads people to want to connect with you in a way they wouldn't if you were poor. If one were to fall into a large amount of money they would most likely encounter people suddenly wanting friendship that was before not desired. In many case people weasel their way in so they can reap the benefits of money. Trusting people would be difficult.

Santiago Baca- So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans

Jimmy Santiago Baca
So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans

Language:
The language of this poem is formed in a way that it should be pretty easily understood by most people. Santiago Baca doesn't seem to try to inflate his language in the way that some poets do. His words make visualizing what he is describing surprisingly simple. Each stanza in this poem has a strong sense of imagery that drives his point home. I can clearly imagine a mugging at knife point, a old politician's rasping declarations, and unfortunately the starving children and farmers with guns.

Argument:
Jimmy Santiago Baca's argument in this poem points out that Mexicans aren't taking jobs away from Americans. Nobody is forcibly being kicked out of their jobs in order for someone else to have it. People are making Mexican people sound like evil people out for the soul purpose of harming the way of life for Americans. If you ask me this just isn't how it is.


Structure:
This poem, being a modern piece, isn't written with strict structural rules. Jimmy's poems read much like stories. This specific poem is less story like than some of the others that we experienced from his reading but his poetry none the less goes about telling a story.

Marge Piercy- The Secretary Chant-

Language:
The poem is structured almost like a list until the end when she explains that she "wonce" was a woman. I didn't fully understand why a W was placed on once. But having consecutive W sounds make it seem more like the chant that it is.

Argument:
Common, almost mundane, office supplies being used as ways to describe and build this woman shows that she is no longer a person but an inhuman force of the office. Though she is described in great detail, through the use of machines and supplies, other than her eyes, her face is never mentioned. I would think this goes along with her not being a person but merely another fixture of work.

Structure:
Piercy's use of onomatopoeia adds an air of excitement to the tragic story of a woman loosing herself. These noises break up the description and add interest to the monotony of her existence.

Anne Sexton- Cinderella

Language:
"That story" words seen several times within the poem shows a sense that everyone has heard of a story like this. Your brother's best friend's cousin is the man of the story or you neighbors aunt possibly. Regardless it is showing that it is almost common place for people to find overwhelming amounts of luck and joy. It should be expected.

Argument:
Fairy tale ending are crap. That's the basic moral that I get from Anne Sexton's poem. Coming from an original Brothers Grimm story it wasn't her plot but she is definitely making a statement about fairy tales and how they aren't as happy as Disney may portrait them. the ending of the poem makes it quite clear that she doesn't believe fairy tale endings (as they are often described) are possible.

Structure:
Sexton starts by depicting four common mini-stories about everyday man (or woman) finding ultimate wealth and happiness just by the stroke of luck. Then she forms a fairytale that depict in detail the story of Cinderella (through the Brothers Grimm version) and their happily ever after. The poem reads more like a story than poetry at times and one may get lost in the rich imagery of the story.

Death of a Salesman ACT II

Language:
Though the language of the play dates it slightly the overall themes are still reliable today. Miller has a gift for language in that every character's words count. no matter how slight they may seem. A good example of this is in when Willy is talking to Howard in his office. Howard is overjoyed about a new gadget he has acquired he tells Willy that he just has to get one, several times mentioning his maid in the process. In his sales pitch of the machine one of his points was that Willy could just have his maid switch it on so he could listen to Jack Benny anytime he wanted. This may not seem like a big deal but Howard would obviously know of Willy's financial situation and that a maid isn't an option for him. Its almost showing the uncaring thought and misunderstanding that Howard has for Willy.

Argument:
Willy Loman's fight for the American dream takes a tragic turn for the worse in this act. In the loss of his job and Biff's realizations everything the Willy knew to be true (or fantasized about being truth) was myth. With this information brought into the open Willy feels that the best thing for all would be for him to end his own life so that his sons (Biff in particular) would have a greater chance at succeeding.

Structure:
The structure of the play is sometimes difficult to follow in that one is never completely positive when Willy is in a flashback or not. His random tendencies to break out of the current day is disturbing. In this act however it was far easier to follow then in the first act due to having watched some of the film in class prior to reading it. Death of a Salesman was meant to be seen therefore the film version brings much clarity to the text.

Death of a Salesman ACT 1

Language:
Though this play is set in the "New York and Boston of today" The language used sets an obvious dating to the play. The interactions between father and son would seem like a timeless interactions but they way they discussed their lives isn't common in today's world.


Argument:
Each member of the Loman family seems to have at least one type of significant life complication or another. Their differing problems make finding common ground to connect upon difficult.
Willy's financial, and in turn personal reactions, are making his home life difficult. Mounting that on top of his slipping psychological health makes agreement with his children and honesty with his wife difficult.
Linda's worry for her husband's obvious troubles and trying to hide hide her knowledge for the reality of their situation. She is trying to sustain her husbands dignity throughout his spirally problems. She wants to be the peacekeeper between her husband and his children (Biff in particular) but her worry for him is swaying her decisions and views in his favor.
Biff's unstable lifestyle has become a problem not only for himself but has added worry to his father's world. a primary reason why their relationship has such a strain. Growing up Biff seemed to have viewed his father as a hero, an idol, someone to be held up on a pedestal but as time has gone on his opinions have veered drastically from their original tracks. Biff's new financial plan has given him a new goal to strive for and therefore he seems more upbeat as he is saying goodnight to his father and mother.
Happy's problems primarily stem from his unhappiness with where he is in life. He doesn't like his job but doesn't have the courage to simply leave with Biff when it is offered to him. He feels that he has to prove himself in the business world before he can go off and do what he want in the world, even if that professional success doesn't lead him to happiness. He feels like he is helping his parents but when he finds out just how bad of a situation they are currently in it seems that he has a twinge of guilt bubble inside of him. He could be doing so much more for them.


Structure:
The structure of this play is definitely made more understandable when viewing. Willy's random flashbacks and dream sequences can get somewhat confusing and therefore a visual depiction helps. the discussion between Charley and Willy (and in some ways Ben) shows the pure complexity of what is happening in Willy Loman's mind.

Another day another dollar:
This old term completely applies to the primary plot of Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman's unsuccessful career is no longer bringing in a livable wage and he isn't enjoying it. He is simply doing what he can to make as much money as possible. Which in this case is not very much. His entire life has turned into a race for enough money to simply pay his bills.

Interpreter of Maladies: Jhumpa Lahiri

Language:
The description of important sights of India were easily understood as well as simply related to.

Argument:
-Exposition- The Das Family meeting Mr. Kapasi and the trip beginning, including the stop at the gas station.
-Rising Action-Mrs. Das finding Mr. Kapasi's job as a medical interpreter interesting as well as getting his address so that she could send the picture to him.
-Climax- Mrs. Das making her confession to Mr. Kapasi about an affair eight years prior.
-Denouement-Bobby being attacked by the monkeys and the family as well as Mr. Kapasi coming to his aid.
-Concluding Action-The number floating away from Mrs. Das's bag and Mr. Kapasi coming to the realization that the seemingly happy family at the end of the story is what he wants to remember.

Structure:
Written in third person perspective with insight into Mr. Kapasi's thoughts alone.

You:
Though I feel for all the characters in this story in many ways they have their personal flaws that make it less likely to get my sympathy. Mr. Kapasi shows blatantly adulterous thoughts about Mrs. Das. Mrs. Das shows obvious dislike for her husband as well as for her children even when their current situation is her fault and hers alone.