Radical Liberation

At first with the discussion of the class that Martine was crazy, I didnt agree with what was said.  Then after finishing the novel, I see where these inferences where coming from.  The act of committing suicide can definitely be tied to insanity but we must try to look deeper into the reasons behind this tragedy.  The rape is definitely the cause of all of the trauma that Martine went through because her life was never the same after that.  She was often trying to escape her past memories by leaving the area that she grew up in and where the incident took place but it would always haunt her in the form of nightmares.  The fact that she couldn't comfortably have sexual relations with her boyfriend Marc also shows evidence of being deeply scarred by the incident.  Other forms of trauma are the voices that she hears when she discovers that she is pregnant with another child.  She tries to cope with this stress by escaping physically and also mentally by suppressing it by not showing it through her exterior interactions with others such as Joseph, Sophie's husband.  All of these forms of dealing with the stress is not enough because after so many years, it still resonates in the same intensity within her.  So by taking her life, she finds the most radical type of liberation that a person could find.  But i just wanted to justify that Martine was not just crazy.  I think she was severely emotionally damaged by the incident.   

Death

When Sophie was younger and living in Haiti with her aunt she had a more care-free attitude. This may be due to the fact that her mother was not physically present in her life in Haiti. She knew of her mother through her aunt, but was not aware of her ways and traditions that would later on influence her life. Once moving to New York with her mother Sophie did not like all of the values that her mother mentally and physically instilled in her. She associates her mothers impositions to a sort of bondage. Her mother's does not just advise her how to carry herself, but physically makes sure she is following her rules. We see this when she starts the testing. Sophie is totally violated when this is done to her. Even though Sophie hurts herself in order to stop the testing she is still not "free" from the bondage in which came from her mother. It seems like it is not until her third trip, to Haiti, that is her mother's death that makes a difference in her life. Her mothers death may have truely signified the separation from her mother. It may not have only been the literally death of her mother, but the death of the old things that happened to not only her mother, but Sophie as well.

The Color Red

The color red is used at a few different points in the book in order to show the details like the inside of Martine and Sophie’s house, the testing, and Martine’s favorite color, which also is the reason for her burial in a red dress.

Furthermore, red is always compared with bleeding which is mentioned by menstruation and Sophie losing her virginity. There is a difference between bleeding from a wound and having the period. The menstruation happens once a month, which is a necessity for the woman’s body to function properly. Blood plays a role once Martine starts testing Sophie because she was afraid that she might have lost her virginity to a man. This happens when Sophie returns home late one night. Martine wants to make sure she is a virgin and thus pure, since this affects the marriage. The testing is a very annoying, embarrassing and painful act for Sophie.
And also, I think that the red dress for Martine’s burial shows the anger Martine had kept for herself, due to the disappointment she had towards Sophie.

ONLY ONE WAY TO END

There was only one way Martine was able to get away from her trama and sorrows. The only ways she was able to escape was to take the ultimate escape, death. She moved from Haiti to the United States, yet still she was not able to accomplish an safe-heaven for herself. She tried to confront her rapist indirectly by facing Sophia yet still she was not able to overcome. Things only became only worse with her nightmares haunting her everynight. Martine was not able to outrun the past or even hide from it. Martine's life binded to the tramatic event, she was never able to suppress the horrible events. It is interesting how before dieing Martine says she could not carry the baby. This raises the question, if Martine had done a abortion with Sophia would she have been able to overcome the horrific event overtime or would it have been the same. Sophia to Martine was a constant reminder of the rape, maybe if the the reminder was not there she would have been able to BREATH !

Purity

In the novel, Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat, female purity seems to be a big concern. In the chapters that follow chapter ten, we see Sophie really pushing the envelope by going out with Joseph. The fact that she comes home so late is a reason for her mother to be concerned about her purity. She “tests” her to see if she is still a virgin. These examinations are ongoing and eventually Sophie is sick of them. The fact that she is willing to take her own virginity is appalling to say the least.
Purity is something that many cultures find to be sacred. For a woman to not be ‘pure’ any longer is a symbol of rebellion. Sophie is rebelling against her mother. The fact that her mother tests her to see if she is still pure is excruciating. She says her mother tells her stories while she is testing her to take her mind off of what is happening. I feel that Sophie taking her own virginity by a motor pestle is pent up aggression. Sophie wants to marry Joseph the Jazz musician; she can’t tell her mother so instead she does one thing that she knows would blow her mother’s mind. Sophie’s actions do not make her un-pure but desperate to be with the man she loves and if that means putting herself through pain she is willing to do so.

An empowering journey

In Edwidge Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory begins in Haiti in the early 1980s. Danticat's heroine is Sophie Caco, who has spent a happy childhood in rural Haiti with her grandmother and her beloved aunt Atie, who raised her as her own child. Sophie's mother, Martine, lives in New York City and supports the family with the money she sends home. When Sophie is twelve years old, Martine sends for her, and Sophie must leave the only home and family she knows and begin a new life in a strange country with a mother she hardly remembers. As Sophie overcomes her initial fears and becomes closer to her mother, she learns that Martine has for many years been tormented by memories of the anonymous man (Sophie's father) who violently raped her when she was a teenager. Martine's move to Brooklyn was a form of escape, since she was raped at age sixteen by a Tonton Macoute, or guerrilla, one of many allowed by the government to kill, torture, and rape anyone he wanted to. This rape resulted in Sophie's birth, but Martine, unable to bear the painful memories of her past, Martine brings her feelings of terror and guilt to bear upon her daughter. Even though Sophie has to deal with such emotional problems, she continues to empower herself to keep going in life.

Talking Letters

I find it amazing how Atie communicates over great distances with her sister Martine with the clever technique they have devised of recording their messages on cassettes and sending them via mail. This replaces writing letters which Atie maybe capable of, if she was willing to learn. Its is obvious Atie neither is movtavatived or willing to learn how to read and write, this is evident when Sophie asks Atie to go to the reading classes and she denies because she believes she is to old to learn. I find this way of communication ironic to the story line in that there are many missing voices in this novel. Sophie mother Martine wants Sophie to be a doctor when it is obvious that Sophie would prefer not to even insisting during there dinner with Marc. Another time was when Sophie was not able to truly disclose the characteristics or name of the guy she liked because her mother would disapprove of him. Even Martine voice is missing, it manifests inside of her and she has nightmares which haunt her everynight. A Cassette can be played in public without the voice having any hesitation, as opposed to one being able to communicate in a person where fear of taboo or shame is present.

Symbolism of Daffodils

In Breath, Eyes, Memory, Danticat uses the daffodil to symbolize strength and perseverance in the face of hardship. These flowers “grew in a place that they were not supposed to” (Danticat 21). Although daffodils were originally European flowers adapted to growing in cold climates, they were brought to Croiz-des Rosets and a strain had developed which could withstand the heat. This symbolism is applicable to Sophie, who must move from her village to New York, as well as her mother, whose story is still unknown to readers. Moreover, Danticat seems to be foreshadowing Sophie’s successful adaptation to her new life apart from Tante Atie.

Interestingly, Danticat also introduces the story about the people of Creation to readers. Although these individuals do not know who they are, they are “chosen to carry part of the sky on [their] head[s]” (25) because of their strength. Through this passage, there is further emphasis made on the fruition of Sophie’s conquest of adversity later in the novel.

Easy Adjustment to New York

Although it must have been extremely hard to move from Haiti to New York, Sophie seems to be adjusting unbelievably well so far. She clearly saw Tante Atie as a mother figure before she left because of the card that she made her on mother's day. When her real mother finally greets her at the airport, their relationship was a little bit stifled at first but surprisingly natural after a few days. I think what made Sophie feel so comfortable was the fact that her mother needed her so badly. When her mother was constantly having horrific nightmares, she sounted on Sophie to wake her up. I think this did multiple things for Sophie. For one, it seperated her mother from her Tante Atie. It took away all the pressure that she was feeling before leaving that her mother would somehow replace Tanta Atie. After her mother showed her all of her unique vulnerabilities, this difference couldn't be more stark. Another thing that it did, was create the type of mother-daughter relationship in which they both rely upon each other. This relationship of exuality works out well for Sophie while she is adjusting but not so well for her mother when she wants to come down hard on the rules. As Sophie continues to grow up, it becomes harder and harder for her mother to play the disciplinarian.

Lets just call him a kid toucher and be done with it

I think that it is interesting that there are two views of rape in the novel Disgrace, firstly there is the supposed rape of Melanie and then there is the rape of Davids daughter. I understand that Melanie was a college student but she is also someones child. Davids constant dips between what is really going on and the fantasy he lives in because of his love of poetry demonstrate two things, he is out of touch with reality and is constantly delving into moments of fantasy because he is bored with his own everyday life. His fascination with Melanie seems to be him fulfilling another fantasy, since he is no longer the handsome ladies man he once was Melanie a student of his someone that does not know him romantically seems like the perfect target for his advances. I know it sounds weird to call him a kid toucher because Melanie is obviously college age since she goes to a University, however the way shes portrayed in the novel paints her as childish and David as some shuffling middle of the road balding CPA type who is trying to re live his glory days through someones child. He is projecting his sexual desires onto others and writing it all off as a mans purpose. Sorya seemed to be the only person I could successfully say he fit with. I say this because she provided him with not only sexual companionship but a fantasy that in the beginning was not hurting anyone. By pursuing Melanie he is not only putting his job and student in danger but by attempting to live out a fantasy through her is displaying a sort of psychological imbalance. Atleast with Sorya his afairs did not affect anyone in his work environment. I also find it Ironic that since David endangers his job by having and affair with Melanie although he is someone her parents should trust he is not. In this way he can be contrasted with the hired help his daughter has taken on to help with the farm work. Ultimately this is not someone she can trust, thus making him no better than the stranger she has known.

David's Relations of an Animal to a Human

David relates himself to animals, which is ironic because he never wanted to help Bev Shaw at the animal clinic in the first place. While helping her, David is drawn to the animals and somehow feels obligated to make sure that the dead animals are disposed of correctly. His concern for the animals helps him gain a sense of compassion that he was initially missing from his life. His desires led him to hurt himself and others in the process. David compares his desires to that of an animal, justifying it as being in his nature and you can not force an animal to do something that is not in his nature. As humans we all have instincts and develop behaviors in life because of our environment. I believe that David's environment while with Melanie consisted of relations with romantic objects amongst them. Melanie assisting him to remove her clothes, her young body, her unique mannerisms and her silence. 

The environment of an animal is somewhat different they develop instincts from wild life and or under human care. David becomes connected to animals. Towards the ending of the novel, David is upset to learn that Petrus is depriving two sheep of food and water because he ties them to a nearby stable. Petrus will slaughter the sheep and he believes that it is being immoral considering that the people around will eat them afterwards.  Lurie begins to show a concern for the animals and takes the sheep close to a dam where they can gain nourishment. I believe that this is David way of explaining how he is feeling and why he has not acknowledged the fact that he was wrong in some part and should show remorse for what took place with Melanie. David develops some sort of bond with the two sheep and studies there every move. He does not love the sheep, but I think he considers the sheep part of life and his penance. Ironically earlier in the novel he thinks if he helps Bev Shaw it will make him a better person and he does not want that to happen. In a way his priority for animal care has made him a better person and I am not sure if he is aware of his improvement or if he just denies it . David does not admit his remorse for Melanie but the influence led by the trauma to his daughter and the animals (not being an individual) has touched him in someway that it has created a different David internally.

Violence and abuse (unposted blog due to error from last week)

  

       In the novel Purple Hibiscus, Kambili is forced to stand in a tub as her father pours hot water on her feet initially burning them, putting her in horrible pain. He tries to justify this abuse as a lesson to teach his children as someone once taught him as a child. This time instead of getting her mind to forget it her father comforts her letting her know why he did this to her. Is it alright for a parent to abuse their child and then comfort them giving them some kind of reason to think that it was the moral thing to do? How can he have handled this lesson differently? At one point in the novel Papa take a belt and strikes his entire family,Mama, Kambili and Jaja because he believes the devil has caused them to sin. Papa has certain beliefs and uses different methods which turn out to become violent to help his family realize what they are doing right. Kambili never speaks about her abusive experience nor does she defend herself against her father. Does Papa mean well? Does he do this because it is in his nature? How does it affect his family?

    A child is a joy, Papa abuses Mama and as a result kills their unborn baby. Jaja and Kambili seemed to be really excited about the baby in the novel and later are upset  to find out the baby will not be born. How does a woman get over a normal miscarriage or  abortion, let alone losing your baby to abuse? Throughout the novel, silence is a form of forgetting this abuse. Kambili is not rebellious and later in the novel, rebels by defending her grandfathers painting after her father wishes to destroy it. She accepts the abuse and defies her father by remaining on the floor as a way of protecting the painting. Kambili then thinks of her unborn sibling and tries to relate her position to the baby. Throughout the novel the characters tend to either rebel as a result of the abuse or accept it by ignoring it and keep it bottled up inside. To expand this discussion, we can think about protection. Both Kambili and Jaja want to protect the baby from their father, Kambili wants to protect the memory of her grandfather as well as herself by not talking back to her father and or speaking out about this abuse. Aunty Ifeoma tries to protect Mama after she learns that Mama lost her baby to domestic violence of Papa and so she asks her to stay with her for a couple of days in fear of further abuse.  Mama wants to be free so she protects herself by poisoning Papa (murdering him) and Jaja protects Mama by taking the fall for Papa's murder. It seems like an on going thing. How can they change their former life? How can they function without Papa?

Exploring Contrasts Throughout the Novel

In Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee, we are faced with increasingly more contrasts as the story progresses. The novel explores the troubling tensions between generations, sexes, and races through its plot. At first we are introduced to David’s sexual encounters which seem to contrast him in age. Although he is a 52 year old man, as well as a father of a young daughter his sexual encounters typically consist of under age girls such as Soraya and Melanie.

Then we are confronted with the issue of sex. Does David in fact believe there are different standards for him because he is a male? It seems that there is no remorse for Melany from either the school or from David himself. In fact the school even criticizes her for daring to put in such a complaint, “this young woman who is dragging your name through the mud…of course I blame her!” (Coetzee 45). This shows that Melany is looked as an inferior because she is a female in contrast to the male figures in her society.

Following this part of the novel, an underlying conflict becomes apparent. It seems that there is more to the contrast of male authority verses female inferiority at play. We are encountered by the complexities and racial conflict in South Africa, through a historical context. Now we begin to see inferiority verses superiority being caused by racial discriminations and standards. The situation where David, a white man takes advantage of Melanie, a black girl seems irrelevant in comparison to the black men that rape Lusy. The contrast in color, being black or white greatly affects the public’s reaction to the crime being committed.

Justice..

Indeed once again in life we encounter the fact that " what goes around must come around" this example could be found in the novel Disgrace by J.M.Coetzee. Towards the end of the chapter, we learn that Lucy who is David’s daughter is raped by two African men. Not only that, she also hide it and dose not report the rape to the police even though David himself tried convincing her many times. The fact that David himself is trying to convince his daughter to report is an hypocritic act ? I strongly think so !. What happed to Lucy has also happened to Melanie and Saroya. However the only difference is that they both have moved on in life. One settled down in a different county and the other Melanie filed a case against him( David) thus obtaining a mental satisfaction. I feel that to live with the fact that being a white women in Africa who is raped by two black man is indeed extremely shameful. In the previous few novels, we have constantly learnt that it is the Europeans or the white men who dominated countries like Java, Indian, Philippines, Africa or in other words most of the world. In this context it is none other then a white women who is being raped. Where is the status then ? Hence I feel this is the reason as to why Lucy didn’t report the rape. She also mentions that " the act was violent and filled with hate". Moreover she also says " .....will taste the defeat for the rest of my life"(161). She is clearly shaken by the incident and refuses to share it. In the last few chapter David’s alienation from the society becomes pronounced. Neither the father nor the daughter has any hope for the future. I then ask myself...who is the dominating figure in this context? It is none other then David and Lucy who are broken, hurt and a disgrace to themselves and the nation. Justice is the standard by which one measures guilt and innocence. However in this novel, J.M. Coetzee explores the moral foundation on which justice depends. Is justice in this case then fair ? I feel that it is indeed nothing more then a show, an act !

Females

Could it be that one of the ideas incorporated in this book is that the women we meet go through a cycle of life and that cycle is a natural cycle of life. For these women they were once daughters who became lovers and who then became mothers? For example Soraya was once a daughter who got married and becomes a mans lover then she has two children(boys) and with that comes a new title which is mother. Same as Lucy she is David's daughter and now she is helen's lover and with the course of nature she might become a mother? Same goes for the other female figures in this novel like Bev Shaw and her Husband. This is the natural cycle of life. We are born to our parents who went through the natural cycle of life in the sense of sex. This will forever be the cycle of life and it is natural. Not that I am saying that David is going about his sexual lifestyle the right way however this is nature and desire is part of our natural being however it is up to David to choose what he feels is right and what is wrong however it seems that he can not say no and accept that he is a Sexaholic I came to conclusion because throughout the book up until he comes with his daughther (as far as I have read) he needs to have sexual intercourse to complete his schedule in a sense. Meaning after Soraya left him he did not know what to do with his time so what does he do, he went and found another prostitue. After that he chases after Melanie in a stocking sort of way. It seems that his natural desires are uncontroable perhaps this is why dogs are such a big symbol in this book. A symbol of David's Character. When Soraya left he was asking the agency to give them her info he looks her info up he rejects him and boom he goes after Melanie just like a stray dog. A stray dog would look for his owner after being lost but after a couple of days if a new person finds him they would not reject. In a way this is like what David does after being rejected by Soraya he finds a new female.
Also another thing i would like to talk about is Petrus is it me or is it weird that he dissapers right befroe the attack and then suddenly appears and plans a party and he asks weird around Lucy I believe that Petrus might have something to do with the attack or might have known about it.

A New Person

In the novel, Disgrace, Coetzee shows the reader a new person in not only David Lurie, but in Lucy as well. We do not see their new characters until after the traumatic event, the break in. In Lurie's old character he was a womanizer. He took advantage of women in many ways, the most important of them, physical. Even though he says that his actions are only a result of his desires, this is no excuse. Even though Lurie's stay with his daughter initially was to escape the media and madness that his story had created in the town of the university, it may have been Coetzee way of letting the reader know this new place would possibly not only create a new life, but a new person. He is not able to see the abuse that he has been carrying out until his daughter is taken advantage of and raped. Now, he is able to look at things from a different perspective, the perspective of a father not being able to protect his daughter. Coetzee allows for the reader to see a more sensitive side of David after the event as well. The old David seemed to just believe what he was doing was right and that was the end of it. David was very critical of his daughter and her lifestyle. He did not have any regard for the farmlife or animals. It is not quite clear whether David is just more sensitive towards these things now because Lucy was stripped of things and they meant the world to her? Lucy is also a new person after she is raped and robbed. Lucy's previous life was simple, but she was happy. Coetzee goes to show that one does not have to be living in luxury just to be happy. She was content with simply the satisfaction of helping animals and vending. Afterwards Lucy is withdrawn, unhappy, and quiet in many ways. Her silence is what is killing her father inside and out. He does not understand how it is possible for her to keep quiet about the rape, but Lucy is determined to. She not only lost her animals, but is almost as if Coetzee is trying to show us that she lost her soul. Even though a piece of her is missing she will not speak up because it will compromise the bigger issues in society and possibly make matters worse.

Chanel Merchant

Rituals make things easier

Thus far in the story we've been following a man who becomes a victim of his own routine. David has grown extremely mechanical in every aspect of his life. From the way he handles his relationship with Soraya, to the way he teaches his students, to the way he goes about wooing his peers and Melanie. He realizes that as he gets older things don't come as easily to him anymore. Whenever something shakes him out of his comfort zone he desperately seeks a way to get back into in. He's so caught up in trying to keep the fire within alive that he fails to realize how his actions affect others.

One may be tempted to sympathize with David and agree that he merely acts on his instic to love, his instict to live, his instict to feel, but we can't ignore the fact that he migrates from one experience -or person- to another when it, or she no longer meets his very specific requirements for community. After Soraya decides to block him out of her life, he quickly finds refuge with a "new" Soraya. When this Soraya fails to live up to the mystique of the previous one, he moves on to his colleague, then onto Melanie.

With Melanie, even though he's fully aware of the severity of the situation and the damage he might cause, he decides to perpetuate his pursuit solely based on a basic instict that he cannot turn down. He is a "victim" of Eros. He thus become an istrument for the gods, and proudfully executes his god-given assignment. It's that same pride that drives him to act irrationally and reject the offer of the board -who inspite of it all are sincerely looking after his best interest. He pleads guilty in a self-glorifying gesture, but he's not at all repenting for his actions.

Just as we have seen in "The earth of Mankind" and "Purple Hibiscus," it takes for a man/woman to experience a traumatic experience -more specifically, for his or her loved ones to undergo a traumatic experience for them to really awaken and shift their way of thinking. As the story progresses we hear less and less of David's own "disgrace," and the author draws our (and David's) attention closer to Lucy's. David is seemingly torn by the terrible turn of events, and feels both helpless and responsible in his role of father.

However, I raise this question: Is it far fetched to think that David might be subconsciously using this event as a means to satisfy his hunger for passion? Could Lucy's disgrace be his new Soraya, or Melanie?

Lesson learn equals one suffering

In this novel David clearly wants women for one reason and that is for sexual intercourse this can not be classified as intimacy because there is no sense of foreplay or taking the time to be intimate so perhaps his desire is only to feel pleasure by having sex with no attachment. He is being selfish in the sense that he wants to fulfill his manly desire which we discuss in class as being brought on by natural desires of men. Could it be that in the sense of the dogs David was slowly becoming an untamed dog. From the beginning of the book it states that he is divorce but we have yet to find out the reason. Could it be that his daughter Lucy had to suffer for him to learn a lesson? I mean he was slowly turning into a man that looked at women just as a sex symbol something to get his hands on and if he did not accomplish this he became aggressive like in the case of the sex he has with Melanie. So perhaps it could be that his daughter unfortunate incident is an eye opener for him in the sense that he comes to a realization that the way he treats women is not okay and its not morally nice? His daughter had to suffer this horrified action of crime for him to come to terms with his own innate sexual desires? I do not know if it has to do so much with race as I have not reached so far in the book to draw such conclusions. However I still stand to say that he never raped Melanie and her actions to file a complaint against him has hidden motives she has to have a hidden agenda

So far mama is being depicted as inferior to papa. Mama has no saying in any matter nor does she ask questions. For example when papa and Jaja have an argument about why Jaja did not take communion and mamas figurines were broken she did not ask what happened rather she started to clean up the broken pieces. "She stared at the figurines pieces on the floor and ten knelt and started to pick them up with her bare hands" (7). It seems that she is definately scared of asking papa questions. One can't help but ask is she okay with this supression or is it becasue she is not a working woman that she does not want any arguments. Mama does not want to voice her opinion at the dinner table when everyone was tasting papa's new drink for his factory. Also when the children are finished with dinner or lunch they say "Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Papa. Thank you, Mama". Why is that mama is last is it because of her gender or simply because she is not valued as much as papa in the sense that she does not contribute financially?

Blooming

In the beginning of the novel when Papa and Jaja are arguing because he did not go to communion and Papa “picked up the missal and flung it across the room, toward Jaja” (7). The top shelf was cracked and the figurines landed in many pieces. This could be a symbolic reference to the status of the family right now. In the second half of the book Before Palm Sunday the family is broken up. Papa is in trouble because of his newspaper Standard, Mama is left home alone with Sisi and the children are with Aunty Ifeoma. They are slowly being separated and the children are blooming in different directions. This could also be a reference to the title of the book Purple Hibiscus because Hibiscus bloom when they are exposed to a lot of sunlight and that is what these children are being exposed to right now. They are no longer in their dark gloomy home where they have no voice and no control of their lives(rather they are like robots) they are now in the light of many new things and therefore they are blooming. Jaja for example seems different to Kambili “”His shoulders seemed broader, and I wonder if it was possible for a teenager’s shoulders to broaden in a week” (154). They are exposed to having emotions and having their voices heard. Like the hibiscus they are being showed tender love and care (tlc) and they are blooming into teenage hood. Also the fact that at home they are constantly suffocating although they live in a mansion they are not allowed to breathe feely. It is ironic that at aunty Ifeoma’s home is so small and one could suffocate in this environment (given the description of the size of the house) but instead Jaja and Kambili are free.

David

David seems to have issues with his age therefore I believe that he 
preys on young beautiful women to make himself feel young once again. 
With Melanie he thinks to himself as he is calling her to invite her 
for lunch that she is too old for him yet he still invites her for 
lunch. This is one of the reasons why I drew this conclusion, why else 
would he want such a young girl she is 20 and he is 52. Also after 
Soraya leaves the Escort agency he finds another girl who is no more 
than 18 years old. "This one is no more than eighteen" (Coetzee 8). 
The fact that when Soraya leaves to return to her family life he feels 
that he can not continue without her he needed to find another soraya 
perhaps Melanie is this other Soraya. Also the fact that he would 
jepordize his career simply becasue he does not want to get caught up 
with the way the system works. His collegues want him to give a 
sincere apologize however he refuses because he does not beleive what 
he did was wrong. Although he is being charged with Harrassement he 
does not feel the need to make his own statement which strikes me as 
odd. Does this mean that sex is the only important thing going for 
him. I mean clearly he is fed up with his current career he has been 
divorced twice. He knows that he is getting old and he knows that one 
day he will be dried up could it be that he wants to enjoy life now?

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Irony in Disgrace

I just wanted to bring up the incredible irony that we come across in the reading for today. I found it funny how after we just had a discussion about rape and consent, we come across the horrible scene in which something bad happens to David's daughter, Lucy. They encounter three men at the farm, and when one asks to use their phone the other's force themselves in. Lurie is knocked out, and after the ordeal is over, Lucy tells David that she has been raped.

She refuses to tell Lurie many details, and doesn't report the part about the rape in the police report. It's interesting to wonder how much this effects David, and if he relates to his experiences with women in his past. He starts to grow further away from his daughter after this, and he begins to get cut-off, just as his old prostitute cuts him off, and also how he loses his relationship with Melanie.

'Desire is another story'

Desire is indeed another story for Professor David Lurie and his daughter Lucy. The professor Lurie according to 'Disgrace' by J.M. Coetzee, is a man filled with manly desires and do not see anything wrong in such mannish instincts manifesting when it is not appropriate. An example, is his sexual involvement with his student Melanie. She is younger than his own daughter Lucy and of course vulnerable. He shows no repentance because he thinks it is his God given right to show his manhood when ever he feels therefore, it is unjust to punished. In his own words, "One can punish a dog, it seems to me, for an offence like chewing a slipper. A dog will accept the justice of that: a beating for a chewing. But desire is another story. No animal will accept the justice of being punished for following its instinct."

What an irony! Lucy is raped by two total strangers who like David followed their instincts of uncontrolable desire and lust without passion. Will it be true to say, He brought his fate or ill luck on his daughter because of his belief?

Disgrace - Ch. 1 - 6

We see the developing theme of exploitation in J.M. Coetzee's, "Disgrace".  From the beginning we have the escorts Soraya, who has two sons and Dawn, who is no more than eighteen years of age being exploited by getting sucked into the business where they get paid to have sex with different men.  We see more examples of exploitation where David meets Melanie, who is a student of his at the University where he teaches.  He develops a relationship with her that is formed out of lust and desire.  He ends up having sex with her but it doesn't end up in mutual happiness.  Melanie feels used because she will not make eye contact with David and will refuse on some occasions to meet up with him.  Melanie then switches roles with David in that she begins to exploit him by taking advantage of him.  She stops attending his classes and doesn't even take his midterm but it doesn't matter because he gives her a grade and marks her present every day that she isn't there because of the relationship that they are in.  She then exploits him even further when she wants to stop seeing him by dropping out of the course and filing a harassment report on David which brings about a trial he must attend to in order to plead his case.

Melanie Sexual object

In the novel Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee the book deals with controversial theme sexuality. In the first couple chapters we find David a university professor who is involve sexually with Melanie. According to the book David has been married and divorce twice. The David character develops around its passion for Melanie, who is beautiful and smart girl. It seems that Melanie works as a prostitute and that is how David gets to know her. The story continues and David I believe falls in love with Melanie and he harasses her. The fact that Melanie withdrawals the class and doesn’t want to study any more shows her rebellion against prostitution. The professor is shock and Melanie’s father as well that asks David to intersect in her decision. How ever Melanie speak and made a sexual harassment complaint against David.
David seems very calm and I believe he doesn’t even care about the allegations. David’s personality suggests that he sees women as sexual object. This also raises a theme of gender issue between women and men. The novel portraits women as weak and inferior compare to men who are powerful and superior. For example, “She is too innocent for that, too ignorant of her power” (39). This is the opinion of David about Melanie and probably how he views women, innocent, weak and ignorant.

Farah Rashid English-255
Prof Fiona Lee Blog.
The Purple Hibiscus Written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi is indeed very bold. It mentions in dept about issues such as domination, oppression, fear, domestic violence etc. Papa being the dominating figure often abuses Jaja, Kimbili and Mama. In the novel the Purple Hibiscus, the author told the story from a women perspective unlike the novel Things fall apart written by the same author from a male prespective. What fell apart in this novel is the household. Not only that, there is a political unrest in the country and in their household too. In this male dominating arena, women are often ignored resulting in silence and oppression. This novel doesn’t only bring out the women point of view, but also is an intelligent attempt to bring out into the surface what is often purposely ignored, unheard and unseen. One f such example is domestic violence. In Purple Hibiscus, we get a strong sense of silence. Various aspect of silence is introduced here in the text. Therefore we can say that the novel carefully and indeed cleverly explores the theme of silence. Through out the novel we see that Jaja and Kimbili are both victims of violence and are equally silent. However Jaja later becomes very vocal about his own opinion and expresses repression against their abusive father. Unlike Kimbili and Mama, he stood up for himself. The notion of silence could also be described as a consequence of a trauma so deep that it is indeed very hard for one to come out of it. Thus silence slowly observes what cannot be said. Fortunately with time Kimbili slowly unwinds and expresses herself. Unlike before where she silently underwent violence, she now realizes the facts. Another such strong theme in this novel Purple Hibiscus is the notion of freedom. Freedom is indeed very hard to accomplish. In this text Jaja, Kimbili and Mama gets freedom from the abusive Papa. At the end of the novel Mama poisons Papa thus obtaining the much desired freedom. Even thought she frees herself from Papa’s oppression, is she really free ?. According to me, I strongly feel that freedom can not be obtained under any condition it is repetitive. Freedom is therefore a constant cycle, not only that for the rest of their lives they have to live with the hard fact that their Mama killed their Papa. Is this any less then mental torture ? I feel that if one is free he/she is definelty bonded to something else. One such example is Mama. Even through she got freedom from her abusive husband she lost her only son who took up the blame for her to jail. Her son is the price she paid. In conclusion, at the end of the novel we notice that each member of fammily is free but they did pay a heavy price for it. Jaja is imprisoned, Mama loose her son and lives with the mental torture that she herself poisoned her husband and finally Kimbili through whom we see the story is "shattered, broken into pieces and can never be fixed". We also learn that it is possible to love the person who abuses and oppress you.

Is freedom giving birth to another Tyrant?

In the novel "Purple Hibiscus", the author has shown the various shifts in the lives of Jaja and Kambili. The transformation that takes place when they go to Aunty Ifeoma's house and when they come back, they had realized that there was a world outside their house which was full of joy and happiness. The author also gives us an idea that they achieve freedom after Mama had killed Papa. But the question that I want to ask is that wasn't Jaja transforming into his own father? There were a couple of incidents where he was beginning to show signs of dominance and dictatorship. The fact that when his father was ill , he tells him that kambili and him were going to their Aunt's house after they had received the news of their Aunt applying for the visa at the American Embassy. The fact that his father was ill which was a sign of weakness and Jaja was portraying the same characteristics as his father did when he was healthy. Papa used to dominate the weak, Jaja and Kambili, in the sense that they never raised their voice. In fact, their mother never questioned his authority inspite of all the miscarriages that she had. Also the fact that when Kambili and Mama go to visit Jaja, he tells Mama to tighten her scarf and she does it very quickly. When Kambili had said the same thing to Mama, she tells Kambili that it was tight enough. So, I'm wondering was it because Jaja had taken the blame for her mother or was it because he was slowly transforming to take his father's place as the dictator?

Mr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Papa reminds me of Jekyll and Hyde. He shows the world that he is civilized and very passionate about speaking up about things that are wrong, like the government, yet when he goes home he becomes this abusive monster. The fact that he keeps his family on a short leash is showing that he can’t trust them at all. He doesn’t take well to rebellion. He feels that if they rebel in anyway it’s due to them being swayed by sin.
When we meet his sister Aunt Ifeoma, who was born and raised the same way as him, has a different approach to keeping her kids in line and it’s not by abuse. You can’t even blame papa’s upbringing because the book shows the two siblings in contrast with each other. The fact that he is a product of colonization is answer enough. He has adopted everything that the British have taught him. Religion is the biggest factor.
I feel that papa is portrayed in this light because it’s to show the reader that you should never judge a book by its cover. No one would believe that he lifts his hand to his wife and children because he gives money to charities, he goes to mass everyday and he’s loaded. Why would he need to beat his family? You can’t help but see him as a bad person throughout the novel. I want to see him as a somewhat good character but just because you give money to a charity does not make you a good person. If he was a good person at all, why would his wife kill him? Why would Jaja have animosity towards him? For Kimbali the loss of papa is a big deal because at the end of the day it was still her father. He raised her to be who she is and yes he did abuse her yet she didn’t despise him for it otherwise she would not feel the loss so much.

Is the trip to Nsukka therapeutic or what?

The visit to auntie Ifeoma’s is not only therapeutic; it is also an eye opener, for

Jaja and his sister Kambili. It is most therapeutic for Kambili who lives in her own small

world of fear and misery to see how much laughter, freedom and joy other children

experience in their homes even though they are poor. They come to a quick realization

that money is not everything. It is true that with money you derive material satisfaction,

but not of the soul. Happiness is not something money can buy. Money has limitations in

its power obviously, it cannot buy health, peace love, true friendship about all, it can not

buy happiness, if it can, Papa will have plenty of bliss and it will radiate so much so

even his most remote relatives will feel the impact. I bet you, they know that papa would

have bought for everyone in his immediate family some happiness, because he loves

them and want them to be perfect unblemished beings before men and God. Unfortunate,

what you do not have you cannot give. He totally lacks a sense of humor, togetherness,

unity, affection, can not compromise for anything not even at his father death, he bluntly

refuses to be a part of the burial just because he is not a Christian. He is stiff neck and

has know clue of what Christianity is all about.

For the first time in Purple Hibiscus Kimbili and Jaja are actively involved in

outdoor activities, play football, gardening and chasing after others, all sought of fun

things that children normally do and enjoy. Also, they have the opportunity to stay in the same house with Papa- Nnukwu their grandfather who told them tales of old and jokes that they makes the laugh. Although the stay together is brief, they see how funny, playful and kind their Papa-Nukwu is. That he even includes his son Eugene who calls him a pagan and has forsaking him in his prayers is remarkable. He impart Kembili and Jaja in a positive way. As for Kembili, after spending the afternoon with Father Amadi, Kimbili actually declares “I had smiled, run, laugh. My chest was filled with something like bath foam. Light. The lightless was so sweet I tasted it on my tongue, the sweetness of an overripe bright yellow cashew fruit” (Page 180). She was able to hold a conversation with Father Amadi and she is happy about it.

The experience in Nsukka was the beginning of a new dawn for these two. A seed is planted awaiting germination in due cause.

Looking for approval in Purple Hibiscus

In Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Aidchie One of the main things I find problematic about Kambili is that she constantly looks for approval from her father. She seems to back track in her thoughts alot as well and on several occasions she can be seen saying "I wish I had thought to say that before" When she comes second she has a bit of a physical breakdown, this to me demonstrates the amounts of pressure she experiences in her home. It is interesting that her grandfather is "godless" but was still able to find a way to somehow educate her father. The imagery of her fathers room is also interesting because while there is so much white in his room, it seems safe but also smothering and overwhelming.
I feel that her looking for approval from her father is more about trying to get back to her place of safety and regain the same relationship she once had with her father. I also feel like the way that his room is fashioned can be compared to his extremest views about religion. Everything is white and according to Kambili "all that cream blended and made the room seem wider, as if it never ended, as if you could not run if you wanted to because there was nowhere to run to."(pg 41) In contrast to her wanting to please her father there is also the element of extreme acts of violence, I feel as though these represent the idea of extreme punishments in contrast with religious views. Eugene wants his children to do well and to be perfect, however because they are just human beings. Human beings are subject to failure as they are subject to sin. When momma says "Thank God Ade is safe" and Papa says that he had cigarettes put out on his back, I feel this also returns us to the idea of physical punishment in order to elavate the soul. This was an extrimest view christians heild during the crusades.

An Outsider

In the novel, "Purple Hibiscus", the author is trying to explore the feeling that Kambili is experiencing when she and Jaja go to their aunt Ifeoma's house. When Kambili goes to her aunt's house, she experiences a sense of awkwardness amongst her own cousins. Amaka knew that Kambili was very close to her father and did everything to please him. She tells Kambili that there was no place in Nsukka that was upto a level that Kambili was used to. It was almost that she was mocking Kambili beacuse of the fact that she belonged to a rich family. Kambili was experiencing a world that was totally different from Amaka's in every aspect. She was humiliated by Amaka at every instance when she is unable to perform a certain activity. Kambili is flabbergasted by the idea that there was always laughter in her aunt's house in contrast to her house where there was silence and people spoke only when they were spoken to. I want to raise a point about how Amaka constantly mocks and taunts Kambili about how she is living this luxurious life and dosen't know any chores. Was it more about how Amaka was living and content with whatever her mother provided to her or was it more about why she didn't have the same life as Kambili ?

Also, Kambili experiences the instance when her brother's name is questioned and how her aunt tells the story about why her brother's nickname was given as Jaja. Aunt Ifeoma tells the story about the king Jaja of Opobo and how he rebelled against the British. Kambili is almost taken by surprise when his brother Jaja says that "The British won the war, but they lost many battles". She had not experienced a male character other than her father to speak in an angry tone. She had always kept her voice back and this is shown in the book many times when she says that " I wish I had said that".

Purple Hibiscus & Perfection

In “Purple Hibiscus,” author Chinamanda Ngogi Adichio paints a tale about one nigerian family and their hardships when the Nigerian government is overthrown by the military. Although to members of the congregation and every one else outside of the family, Papa seems to be the ideal man, generous and thoughtful, but with his family he is anything but. He is extremely strict and won’t except anything short of perfection. For example, his daughter Kambili received her report card from school and was second in her class. Any parent would be proud of that fact, but he was disappointed that she couldn’t do better. This is a fifteen year old girl and he expects her to be perfect, but that is something that is impossible.
Perfection. That is what I would like to discuss. Papa got mad at Kambili one time for being a few minutes late to get to the car after school and he slapped her in the face because of it. A man who punishes his kids for not being perfect certainly is not perfect himself. If he was perfect then her wouldn’t hit them or get angry over something as silly as being a few minutes late. Because of his strict, demanding ways, his children don’t seem to be able to have a normal adolecence. They do not have time to socialize with their peers because they are so afraid to make him mad. Their schedules are so strict that they don’t have any real time to do anything for themselves. How are they supposed to grow and develop to their full potential (perfection) if they can never just experience life in a less controlled environment. I feel that Papa is just way to strict. And I know that I’m reprating myself, however I really feel that that is the case. I don’t see how Kambili and Jaja are able to tolerate him. Actually,we don’t learn much about Mama, except for the fact that she has had many miscarriges and has another one during the early aprt of the novel. But I wonder what all of that banging was right before she was carried out to go to the hospital. I wonder if Papa was beating her. I mean he does seem like he could be the type and that would make sense why he hasn’t left her despite the fact that she can’t seem to havve any more children.

Father Tyrant

There is significance in the fact that our narrator is Kambili, a 15-year old child. The first reason that seems to stand out to me is that fact that it echoes the ideas of colonialism and imperialism that we've been talking about in class. The fact that our narrator is a young girl, living in her house with her parents who run her life ( as most children should), relates very much to the presence of the white man, almost as a parent, in Africa throughout the book. This relationship with the other characters in the book just highlights the ongoing situation in the background, obviously done on purpose.

It's interesting to note how Kambili will sometimes justify her father's actions or almost agree with him, even if they have negative conotations for her. On pages 41 to 42 we see this. Kambili's father tells her that she had the second highest grades in the class because she "chose to" and didn't put in enough work. This is suppossed to make Kambili feel bad. A normal parent would be happy with his daughter's stellar performance, but Kambili's father has to nit-pick. The fact that Kambili feels bad, or even worse, guilty, shows her relation with her tyranic father. It's so weird, but happens so often, that people will see their tyrant as a good thing and a positive person, because they simply don't know any better. This relationship exists to compare and contrast with Africa's situation, which we will probably learn more about during the following week.

Religion as a Motif

In Purple Hibiscus, religion as a motif plays a crucial role in the lives of the characters. The strict, confining rules of the Catholic Church are echoed in the walls of the household, where every minute detail of life is outlined with duties and responsibilities. Religion, which creates a restricting and suffocating environment is contrasted with the purple hibiscus, which Adichie uses to symbolize “freedom to be, to do” (16).

The novel is told through the eyes of Kambili, a 15-year old girl who narrates how Father Benedict usually refers to the “pope, Papa, and Jesus—in that order.” It is in this line that Adichie makes reference to the Holy Trinity—the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit, indicating that Papa is perceived to be more than a mere man, not only in the eyes of Kambili, but in the eyes of church, and therefore, the community at large. Father Benedict uses Papa’s actions of making generous donations to Peter’s pence and paying for cartons of communion wine as “illustration[s] of the gospels” (4). This seems to parallel the abuse of indulgences, a major point of contention for Martin Luther, the leader of the Reformation during the sixteenth century in Europe. Back then, the church would grant remission of punishment for sins upon receiving monetary gifts. In the same light, Papa seems to be “buying his way into heaven,” even though he ironically places himself above mortal sin.

Interestingly enough, the importance of religion is reflected in how Adichie presents the novel to her readers. She divides the novel into 3 sections: Palm Sunday, Before Palm Sunday, and After Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday which celebrates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, a week before his death and resurrection. Because it is apparent that Kambili’s life is centered on her father, Adichie seems to be foreshadowing the death of Papa, and hinting at how the lives of her characters will change as a result of their newfound “freedom to be.”

Burdens According To Race Class and Gender (Short Paper)

Imperialism is something that is everywhere. In the cars people choose to drive, the places they choose to eat, even the issues they deal with in day to day life. In the following essay I will discuss the affect of Imperialism on persons in relation to their social class, race and gender according to The Black Mans Burden and The White Mans Burden Imperialism is defined as “The belief in the desirability of the acquisition of colonies and dependencies, or the extension of a country's influence through trade, diplomacy” this definition can be applied to the poems in question because in one way or another the main characters in the poems, be they white or black men, are being controlled by a larger purpose than personal gain. Though the burdens being described in both poems are both described differently, they are still cited as burdens regardless.On one hand the burden in Kipling’s The White Mans Burden is described as something the reader should “take up” (Kipling 1) while in the case of The Black Mans Burden the burden is described as something that one must “pile on” (Johnson 1) these two descriptions of what needs to be done with the burdens both makes their interpretations and meanings different. By allowing the burden in The White Mans Burden to be taken up the person who may be carrying it is being given a release. With The Black Mans Burden the burden is only being added to. This is something that is both seen in The Poor Mans Burden as well as The Black Mans Burden I felt as though with this connection, being poor and black are often things that are interwoven with each other. While I also agree with Ben's point that the speaker is saying it is appropriate for the person in question to take advantage of a local resource instead of going to places like Cuba or Hawaii I also feel like even with the convenience of being locals people are still being exploited wheter they are from Cuba or Hawaii. The main point of imperialism is to control smaller groups of people or in a larger sense countries. Lower classed indiviguals ie: brown and yellow people are more likely to be controlled by things like colonialism, capitalism or imperialism. Strangly although certain races are highlighted in all three of the burden poems, for some odd reason I am left with the idea that, although the person who may have the burden has shifted, ultimately the white man is still to blame for the burdens that follow after Kipling's poem

Posting on behalf of Diana Nemtzov --FL

I want to discuss the internal conflict going on with the characters throughout the story. It is apparent that identity plays an important and critical role in everyone’s lives and development. Most evident is Minke’s struggle to fit in with others around him and to discover his identity. Sadly he can’t fit it as either a native or a pure blood, due to his unique character. A question was brought up yesterday, is his internal conflict self inflicted, or can we say that outside forced are responsible such as the colonizing mission?

I believe that Minke is not at fault. Society comes with discrimination; it has its expectations and rules. When a person behaves differently then the members in the society they are often rejected. Minke is experiencing this rejection as he struggles to find his place in the world. Society looks down upon his native culture and makes him embarrassed to be native in any way. It’s sad to see that society’s rules take precedence over personal wants and needs, to the point where it begins to take over. I found this aspect of the story to be quite interesting because this is something everyone experiences and can often relate to.

Civilization and Colonialism

Posting on behalf of Jose Calle --FL

Civilization and Colonialism both have the same outcomes, to conquer and to rule the uncivilized, in the poem “The Poor Man’s Burden,” By George McNeill and in the novel This Earth of Mankind, by Pramoedya Ananta Toer illustrate this mutuality between civilization and Colonialism. As we discussed in class civilization or a civilize person is well educated, a leader, has a specific religion, power and most important is driven by reasoning. This ideology of enlightenment is used within colonialism. In other words colonizers (British, United States) are using civilization in order to colonize. At the beginning of empires as we discussed empires used ideology of believes of truth with out questioning to conquer land and people. In similar way Colonialism is conquering by using the ideology of civilization. What I can see the only change was the idea from religion base to reasoning conquer but not the method.

Civilization then is a tool used to colonize easily without questioning. In other words given some reasoning to people makes them easy to conquer. The knowledge given to the colonist is the required in order to govern. If the religion was no longer an effective weapon then turning “salvages” into civilize “manhood” through reasoning was easy to get the same outcomes where political, economical and ideological: land, exploitation, wealth and power. For instance in the novel, “Sing Veni, vidi, vici—I came, I saw, I conquered,” (p. 22) this phrases is used to describe in both imperialism (Civilization) and colonialism as one because at the end both are conquer whether through civilization or ideological. The relationship between civilization and colonialism is mutual and mutually complement one another. For example Minke in the novel who depend on the Europeans teacher in order to learn reasoning. Minke a privilege Native who goes to H.B.S. a prestige Dutch high school is a symbol of Colonialism and civilization. The fact that Minke is learning how to write and read or I’ll say bringing him into a new world of reasoning through this ideal making him easily to be control or conquer. As we discussed class he is unique and he doesn’t realize that because he is the only native in this school. I believe the fact that he is becoming more like a European makes him forget where he comes from or who he is.

I have a question; can we say that civilization is Imperialism in modernity? How can civilization be if the only way to acquire to civilized people is through uncivilized actions? Doesn’t exploitation is uncivilized?

This is a test

Shame & Change in "This Earth of Mankind"

At this point, the book seems to take a turn. It seems that Minke is not from as "poor" a family as we were let on to believe. His father is actually a bupati, which basically means that his father is in charge of a certain region of Java, like a king. I think it is interesting how this sort of changes things. Up until now, we as the reader are led to believe that he comes from just another common family among the natives, though the novel never went into detail about it before. He actually has siblings, a brother and sisters. His mother seems to be a strong figure, but strong in a different way then Nyai. Nyai seems to have more of an open mind about change, modernity and the future, where as Minke's real mother, despite the fact that their family is changing in more ways then one, still seems stuck in the past. She was the one that wanted to educate Minke and it is that education that she has allowed him to have that has changed him.

In class we were discussing different themes that take place throughout the novel and one that I think is vary important is the theme of chame. It comes up again and aain in the novel. Even the most prideful character has moments of shame when faced with someone in the novel whom they feel inferior to ans I think that that is interesting. Minke seems himself to have more shame then anyone. It seems that everyone that he encounters he feel inferior to. Even when he is in his hometown, after being arrested by the police and taken before the bupati, his father, hs is ashamed. His shame then though is a different kind then just him feeling inferior. It almost seems as if he feels that his family is inferior to him becasue their minds haven't evolved into the kind of thinking that he has been taught while away at school. His parents are proud and ashamed of hi at the same time. They are proud becasue he has been educated as they had wantedl, but at the same time they are ashamed because they feel that he has forgotten his roots, where he came from; forgotten them.

The question that I want to ask is, is chang bad? Minke is walking around wearing European clothes, speaking in a foreign tongue and learning about things that are relatively unknown to the natives, but at the same time, is still thought of by most as nothing more then a native. In the letter that he receives from Miriam, she talks abouthow she hopes that he will become this great leader and be an inspiration to all of the Javanese that there does exist a different way of thinking and a better life. Do you think that Mink has hay it takes to be that inspiration? Is colonialism and imperialism so bad when they bring forth a product like Minke?

The Poor Man's Burden (March 1899)

I am writing my interpretation on the poem, "The Poor Man's Burden." This poem is beautiful not only because of how they structured it but also its meaning. There are 6 stanzas that gives us a great understanding on what each stanza means. This poem was made after Kipling's poem which is why it explains to us their definition of being poor. In stanza 1 it tells us to lift up the poor man's burden by seeing him doing what for  them is normal. For example,in the lines "to serve your pride and greed, to wait in heavy harness, upon your rich and grand, the common working people, the serfs of every land" it's telling us that being poor and serving the rich is what is common for them even if they don't want to it's in their nature to just be labeled poor and serfs. I agree with that stanza because long ago they were considered slaves and once a child was born they were part of the chain in which poor was already known as being slaves. After the war with the Filipinos, a new form of imperialism was influenced by the grand topic of race. This meant that people were not only different from their race but class status distinct. 

My favorite stanza is 5 because it is intense and full of energy with its meaning. Also. it is not only screaming for FREEDOM but it tells us about their faith in God and how they will one day be free with the help of God. Overall, the poem in my opinion was a call for their freedom and rights. It brought a sense of fight in words for being. This poem also explains that there was no help for them in that time, everything was probably segregated and like I said before they were easily labeled as poor or slave. In "The White Man's Burden, it talks a little about them helping slaves (poor) even if they don't want the help but I think they just wouldn't give the help. If in "The Poor Man's Burden", they cry out for freedom why wouldn't they want the help if that is what they are looking for in the first place? That I why I say they just didn't think it was right to help them which is why they may have not. What do you think about this poem and what I am saying? Do you think I may be interpreting the poem wrong or I have an idea of what I am saying?

Colonialism and Imperialism

I'm posting on behalf of Ben. --FL

The definitions of colonialism and imperialism, although assumed to be synonymous by most, are really very different. Colonialism is the action of a developed country making its presence known in a developing country for its own economic or political gain. Imperialism, on the other hand is going through the same actions for a different ideological reason.

Up until quite recently, developed countries such as England set up colonies all over the world. This was mostly for its own empirical desire to be great and powerful, making the action colonial (as opposed to imperial). By the late 19th century however, England’s and the United States’ motives seem to have shifted toward a more imperial approach. They wanted to bring the developing countries “civilization”, “education”, and “progress”. These noble sounding words of course come with a lot of side effects. Along with all the goodwill comes a severance from pure and ancient culture that many developing countries have a hard time living without.

Given both the positive and negative effects of colonialism and imperialism, what struck me as interesting about the article was the suggestion that the difference between the two really matter at all. Whatever the growing empires intentions are, the effects stay the same. For hundreds of years countries have been colonizing other countries, destroying their culture and giving them access to the modern world. Perhaps the motives have fluctuated over time, but the developing countries have been going through the same thing for as long as it has been going on. Perhaps a shift from colonialist toward imperialism really has been taking place, but significant changes to how colonized countries will be treated most likely will not take place at all.

Test post

Easy as A B C.

Assignment

Our course blog is a collectively authored website for students to post their informal written responses to the reading assignments prior to class discussion. These responses will serve as an entry point to the discussion of the day. Each student will be required to blog twice and comment on someone else’s post at least twice during the semester.

Each blog post should be about 250-300 words long. The post can do any of the following: interpret, analyze, critique, compare, work through, explicate, or present some research on the text. It should not simply be a plot summary. The point of this exercise is to initiate discussion. As such, you should feel free to pose questions, raise points of controversy, highlight an interesting passage—anything to stimulate intellectual curiosity in your readers.

Commentators, your task is to respond to the post. Comments should be substantive--at least two paragraphs long. Aim to generate dialogue; don’t just stop at “I agree/I disagree” remarks--answer the questions given; post your own questions; challenge your coursemate's views; play devil's advocate.

Bloggers and commentators of the day will be required to initiate class discussion based on their posts and comments. The rest of the class is expected to have read the blog before class. During class, commentators will be responsible for briefing the class on the blog posts and their own comments. Bloggers will then be given an opportunity to respond to the comments, before opening the discussion to the rest of the class.

Bloggers should publish their entries by 2 p.m. on the day of class. For example, if you are scheduled to blog about the reading assignment for Tuesday, June 9, you should publish your post by 2 p.m on June 9. Commentators must publish their comments before class.

Throughout the semester, you are required to blog twice and comment at least two times. You will sign up for specific dates to blog and comment on a separate sheet.

Each blog and comment is worth 5 points; 5 x 4 pts = 20 out of 100 points of your overall grade.

5 points = Excellent
4 points = Above average
3 points = Average
2 points = Below average
1 point = Poor.

Joining our blog

1. In order to join our blog as an author, you will need a google account.

2. Once you have a google account, send your email address with which you set up your account to prof [dot] fiona [at] gmail [dot] com.

3. Wait for an invitation to join our blog in your email. Click on the link and log in.

4. To create a new post, click “New Post.” Give your post a title and compose your entry. Also, label your post with your full name, as well as with any other keywords you think relevant. I strongly recommend that you draft your post separately on word processing software, regularly saving your work, in case blogger eats up your post before you manage to publish it.

5. To comment, go to our blog site. Make sure you are logged in. Click “Comments” on the post to which you would like to respond.

Don't be afraid to experiment with the various features on the blog!