Heart of Darkness post 3 (pages 103-116)

In an article written by Chinua Achebe about Heart of Darkness, Achebe expresses his belief that Conrad is an extreme racist, a statement which proves to be untrue within the novel. While Marlow directs his steamship down the river towards Kurtz’s location, he tells the reader that there are twenty cannibals on board. There cannibals are actually native Africans, and Marlow claims they are “Fine fellows-cannibals-in their place” (107). From this statement, it can be inferred that Marlow believes Africans are a lesser civilization than the Europeans. Of course, Marlow attempts to sound accepting of these natives while telling this story to his fellow shipmates, but  he only accepts these natives ‘in their place’. That is, Marlow believes the native Africans are civilized when they are under European control. However, by choosing the word ‘cannibal’ to describe the natives Conrad displays the irony of the situation. The native Africans are by no means cannibals because even in extreme hunger, they have not attempted to eat any humans on board. The natives control their hunger, which can bring out animalistic tendencies in humans, by eating a small portion of seemingly unappetizing food each day. Conrad displays Marlow’s naivety through the extreme diction of ‘cannibal’, and shows that Europeans are unaware of just of civilized the African people are by describing the way they control their hunger. Finally, by distancing himself from Marlow’s narrative voice, Conrad does not display his racist impulses through Marlow, but rather shows the reader the misguided notions the Europeans had about the Africans during this time period.

Heart of Darkness post 2 (pages 86-103)

The moonlight in the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad can be compared to the Belgian imperialism in the Congo. One night, Marlow is outside observing the land around him. He describes the scene and explains, “The moon ha[s] spread over everything a thin layer of silver” (96). Marlow further describes the unappealing grass and vegetation that surrounds his location. In the quotation, the moonlight has gilded the land so that it looks much nicer than it really is. This scene is analogous to the Belgian imperialism in the Congo. On the outside, it appears to be a grand operation. The Belgian people are going into the Congo in order to civilize the Congolese and educate the ‘savages’. However, this is only a façade. Underneath the initial benevolent intent of the mission there are the ugly inner workings of the imperialists. They force the Congolese to do hard labor for them and take advantage of the Congolese civilization’s inferior technology. All in all, the moonlight hides the ugly appearance of the land just like the grandeur of the Belgian empire hides its ugly inner workings in the Congo.

Heart of Darkness post 1 (pg 65-86)

In the beginning of the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the reader is introduced to a man named Marlow who is telling his fellow sailors the story of the time he sailed into the Congo. In his story, right before Marlow is about to start his journey into the heart of the country, he stays with a man who appears to be an accountant for the Belgian imperialists. This man likes silence while he works so that he can concentrate on managing his records, so much so that he tells Marlow, “When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages-hate them to the death” (86). The savages refer to the enslaved native Congolese, and the quotation displays the lack of regard the Belgians have towards the people of the Congo. Even this early in the novel, the reader can infer that the imperialists are obsessed with gaining riches for their country, for they will not help the natives that are dying literally right outside their doorstep because the sick natives are of no use to the imperialists. The Congolese are seen as replaceable work animals, not as humans with rights. Also, when the man claims that he hates the natives ‘to the death’, it must be considered that the accountant’s hatred of these people is actually killing them. He will not lift a finger to help then natives, and he routinely lets the sick ones die even when they are living in the same room as him. The sick Congolese are especially a nuisance to him, for all he cares about is how much money he can make off of the healthy workers. This man epitomizes the disregard the Belgian imperialists have for the people they are supposed to justly rule over.

Ghost of a Chance figurative language body paragraph

     In Ghost of a Chance, the poet utilizes an extended simile to emphasize the discomfort of a man who allows himself to think outside of his comfort zone. In the poem, the speaker is watching a man deep in thoughts which may go against what society deems to be ‘right’. Suddenly, the man stops his independent thoughts as he slips back into his “old consolations” (8) which are compared to “a fish / half-dead from flopping” (10-11). This simile is extended further into the poem as the poet describes the fish, or the man’s thought, in the “agonizing / air” (15-16). However, this thought finally finds relief in the “triumphant / sea” (18-19). Air and sea are both personified within this poem. Air connotes freedom, and the fact that the air causes the ‘fish’ pain figuratively means these independent thoughts the man is happening are not comfortable in their particular setting. They may go against what society believes in, and therefore the man is scared that he is having these thoughts. These thoughts eventually end up in the ‘triumphant sea’. The sea represents society and the thoughts and ideas held by the general public. Since the sea is triumphant, it feels accomplished for keeping one of its own from achieving a higher state of intellect. A fish belongs in the sea, just like a man’s thoughts should belong to the ideals held by the society he lives in, or so the society believes. All in all, the figurative language used within the poem displays that no matter how hard a man tries to attain ideals greater than society he will always go back to his old ways where he is most comfortable.

Let No Charitable Hope poetry outline

Blog Post 5: Let No Charitable Hope by Elinor Wylie

Thesis: In Let No Charitable Hope by Elinor Wylie, the poet uses specific diction to describe the speaker’s character and personality to the audience.

1.      Wylie chooses animals that connote freedom within the poem in order to contrast their connotations to the lifestyle of the speaker.

a.       The speaker explains that she is not “Of eagle and of antelope” in nature (3). Eagles and antelopes connote freedom, for the bald eagle is the symbol of American freedom and an antelope roams freely through the wilderness. The speaker expresses to the audience that she lacks this freedom in her life.

b.      Additionally, the speaker states “I live by squeezing from a stone / The little nourishment I get” (7-8). The alliteration between ‘squeezing’ and ‘stone’ makes this section stand out. It is impossible to squeeze anything from a stone, let alone nourishment. This shows that the speaker lives a life full of hardships.

2.      Also, the poet uses specific word choice to describe the life the speaker is living, emphasizing the hardships she encounters.

a.       The speaker explains “I am, being woman, hard beset” (6). She claims that she has a difficult personality and does not form close relationships with other people. All in all, the speaker’s life does not appeal to the audience at this time in the poem.

b.      The speaker also explains that the years in her life go by “In masks outrageous and austere” (9). ‘Outrageous’ describes something that is wrong and ‘austere’ means to be without ease. These adjectives also add emphasis to these definitions, adding an even more negative tone to the poem; these years that go by in the speaker’s life are harsh.

3.      The tone shift in the last two lines of the poem contrast the speaker’s character to the life she lives.

a.       The second to last line of the poem states “But none has merited my fear” (11). ‘None’ refers to ‘the years’ found in line 10. The use of the coordinating conjunction ‘but’ emphasizes the tone shift that occurs in the second to last line, for the speaker expresses that she is not afraid of the harsh life she lives.

b.      The poem ends with the line “And none has quite escaped my smile” (12). Again, ‘none’ refers back to ‘the years’ of the speaker’s life. The word ‘smile’ not only denotes happiness, but also connotes carefree outlook on life. It gives the illusion that the speaker sees the hardships of her life, but smiles anyway because she will not let anything bring her down. Overall, these last two lines display the strength and resilience in the speaker’s personality and character.

There's been a Death, in the Opposite House poetry outline

Thesis: In There’s been a Death, in the Opposite House by Emily Dickinson, the poet uses choppy syntax, capitalization, and descriptive language to show the reader the rapid nature that news spreads, and the speaker’s indifferent attitude towards death.

1.      Long dashes in between phrases and a line of poetry that stands alone illustrate the manner in which townspeople gossip about news that occurs within the county.

a.       “And then the Milliner—and the Man” is just one example of the dashes frequently used throughout the poem (17). These dashes make the syntax choppy and give the illusion of the speaker of the poem listening in on the townspeople’s conversations. She obtains facts from the situation in bits and pieces, but none are complete thoughts.

b.      There is only one line within the poem that stands by itself; “There’ll be that Dark Parade—” (20). As the townspeople talk about the death of this person, they appear to all come to this realization at the same time. Throughout the poem this death appears to be routine to the people, and everyone knowing there will be a “Dark Parade” emphasizes the predictability of events that occur within the town.

2.      Capitalization of seemingly unimportant words emphasize the small size of the town; the townspeople do not need to clarify certain people and places with each other, for they simply already know who or what their neighbor is talking about.

a.       As mentioned above, “the Milliner—and the Man” displays the lack of privacy within the town (17). The reader is unaware of who “the Man” is, but everyone in town knows this person. He needs no name because since the town is so small, everyone knows who he is anyway.

b.      Also, the poet never explicitly states that the “Dark Parade” is a funeral procession (20). Although it can be implied, the “Dark Parade” also displays the routine of death within the town. Death may be common, because describing a funeral procession as a parade, even a dark one, gives a slightly more positive connotation, displaying the speaker’s indifference to the subject.

3.      The use of descriptive language expresses the indifference towards death in this small town.

a.       The author explains the scene by the house; “The Children hurry by— / They wonder if it died” (10-11). ‘It’ in this quotation refers to the person in the Opposite House who has just passed on. He or she is not even referred to as human; the speaker seems unshaken by the death which displays the unconcern possessed towards the subject.

b.      Also, the poet writes that the window in the opposite house opens “mechanically” (9). Mechanical can be used as an antonym to emotional. There are no emotions behind this death in regard to the speaker’s perspective of the subject, for everything is very cold, unemotional, and mechanic. The speaker is unaffected by death, and may in fact be too used to it.

Ballad of Birmingham poetry outline

Thesis: The poet uses deliberate language to emphasize the injustice of bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama and evoke emotion from the audience.

1.      Dialogue

-The little girl asks her mother if she can, instead of going outside to play, “‘march the streets of Birmingham / In a Freedom March’” (3-4).

This quotation displays the maturity of the little girl in the poem. Most little girls want to play outside with their friends, but this one prefers to participate in marches to fight for her freedom. The reader is able to gain respect for the child and see she has goals to change the world she lives in for the better.

-At the end of the poem the mother cries out “‘baby, where are you?’” (32).

            The audience knows that the little girl has died in the bombing, but this quotation takes us into the mother’s perspective. She does not want to believe that her little girl has passed on which evokes an emotional response from the reader. Hopefully the emotional response is strong enough that the audience will take a stand against the injustice.

2.      Visual Imagery

-The little girl “bathed rose petal sweet” (18).

            Although this little girl displays maturity within the poem, this quotation reminds the reader that she is still an innocent, little girl. She is delicate and defenseless against the evils that lie outside her door.

-She also has “drawn white gloves on her small brown hands” (19).

This quotation also displays the innocence of the little girl to the audience. The fact that she is a little girl adds emotion to the poem because she is perceived as much more defenseless than a grown man or woman.

3.      Irony

-The mother has her little girl go to the “sacred place” (22).

            The ‘sacred place’ is church, which should be a safe haven away from all violence. This causes the audience to question where they can be safe if not in their place of worship.

-The little girl was not allowed to “march the streets of Birmingham” (3).

            The streets were thought to be dangerous, but on that particular day they were safer than church. This evokes more emotion from the reader because the little girl’s life could have been saved with one simple decision, if only she had gone to the Freedom March instead of church. 

Analysis of Prospero (I.ii.70-200) - The Tempest

            In act one scene two of The Tempest, Prospero talks with his daughter about the injustice they have been subjected to in the past. He generates sympathy from the audience by explaining, “As my trust was [in Antonio], which had indeed no limit / A confidence sans bounds” (I.ii.116-117). In these lines, Prospero paints himself as the victim. He trusted his brother with his kingly records and life, so he rightfully feels betrayed by the usurpation of his dukedom. He deserves to get revenge on Antonio, or so the audience is led to believe up to this point. In the closing lines of the passage, Prospero mentions that Gonzalo “furnished me / From mine own library with volumes that / I prize above my dukedom” (I.ii.198-200). These books allow Prospero to attain his magical powers, and they distract him from his duties as the duke. This neglect causes Antonio to sweep in and usurp the dukedom from Prospero whose character now generates less sympathy from the audience because those lines give reason to Antonio for taking control of the land. Although it was a harsh move to exile Prospero and Miranda to a deserted island, at least it was done with a reason. Prospero’s character is both sympathetic and unsympathetic due to the fact he lost everything from a brother he once trusted, but his obsession with magic and neglect of his power suggest that he had the usurpation coming to him all along.