Hilda’s Comments (group member since Jan 21, 2015)

Hilda’s comments from the Morales 2341 Spring 2015 Class MW group.

Nancy wrote: "In the story "Every Day Use" by Alice Walker, me as a reader don't sympathize with Dee because of the kind of person she is. At the beginning all she could think of was leaving her house. Then she ..."

I agree Dee was ashamed of her roots, and it is sadden that she even changed her name. She believes she is higher than her family. Telling Mama and Maggie that they should try to make something out of themselves and even pointing out the way they lived. Dee made it seem like she has never lived that way. She had forgotten that she came from the same place her family remained.

In the short story "Everyday Use" , I believe the reader does not sympathize with Dee because she had forgotten where she came from. Dee was able to step out of poverty and pursue her education. She changed who she was and that change lost her connection to her past. She had even changed her name. "No, Mama," she says. "Not 'Dee,' Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo!""What happened to 'Dee'?" I wanted to know."She's dead," Wangero said. "I couldn't bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me."One would admire a person for stepping out of poverty and becoming successful but in this case I believe Dee is an unlikable person. I think someone should be proud about themselves when it comes to such an accomplishment but Dee believed she was above everyone else because she was educated. Change is good but she shouldn't have forgotten her past, and her culture. That is who she was before she received an education.

Rosie wrote: "In the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker in my believe is that she is not unlikable. She has been able to have the chance to get a better education and over seek her self out of poverty. I belie..."

I agree Dee is an unlikable person. It is good that she bettered and improved herself but she shouldn't have forgotten her background. She once came from poverty but since she got an education she thought she was better than everyone else. That changed her way to much in a negative way.

Rosie wrote: "In both short stories "A Good Man is Hard To Find" and "Revelation" by Flannery O'Conner is that both are very judgmental and criticizing. The grandmother in "A Good Man is Hard To Find" she is alw..."

The grandmother and Mrs. Turpin have the similarities of criticizing people but when it came down to a situation at the end they both sought for religion. By this you can tell that they were't good people like they thought they were.

Monique wrote: "The stories “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and “Revelations” by Flannery O’Conner both consist of ladies who think highly of themselves and look down on others but also are consumed with religion is ..."

I agree, both women were classifying people around them and have negative outcomes. They seemed to think they are above everyone else.

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” and "Revelations" by O'Conner both have similar characters that are judgmental. The grandmother in "AGood Man is Hard to Find" criticizes her surroundings and considers herself a lady. She uses her "morals" as her defense to not get killed. She also uses religion but then questions herself.  "Maybe He didn't raise the dead," the old lady mumbled. As for Mrs. Turpin  in "Revelations" she also criticizes her surroundings in the doctor's office. She thinks of herself of higher standards than the people around her.  When Mrs. Turpin asks, "What you got to say to me?" to Mary Grace and Mary Grace responds, "Go back to hell where you came from, you old wart hog."  She questions why she had to be told that if other people were "below" her.

Monique wrote: "“The Overcoat” by Nikolai Gogol revolves around Akaky Adadievich, who is an awkward, hardworking man who is a nobody in the eyes of everyone around him. Akaky is a dedicated worker who lives for hi..."

Akaky's co-workers took notice of him right when they saw him wearing his new coat. They saw him in a different way for what he was wearing. I agree that Gogol was trying to tell the reader that society treats people different for their appearance , assuming they are of higher class.

Rosie wrote: "In the short story "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol is about a man who is poor and simply gets criticizes because of his appearances. Akaky works hard for his little money and little recognition. Hi..."

I agree that Akaky saw that people noticed him but that unfortunately did not last. The people that mugged him certainly saw his fancy overcoat and judged him, assuming he was rich. Without an overcoat in the cold winters of Russia he shortly died.

Akaky Adadievich is the main character in the short story "The Overcoat." He is described as a low ranking clerk. He loves his job and he seems to have no friends but only coworkers that disrespect him. He wears an overcoat that needs to be repaired, so he saves up money to be able to get a new overcoat made. When he finally gets enough money his overcoat is finally made and he is able to wear it. He enters his workplace proud to be wearing it, his overcoat is of great quality that everyone at the office admired him. He then gets a party for it.He loved the fact that he was no longer invisible and the overcoat had changed that for him. "That whole day was truly a most triumphant festival day for Akaky Adadievich. He returned home in the most happy frame of mind, took off his cloak, and hung it carefully on the wall, admiring afresh the cloth and the lining." Gogol is trying to tell his readers that society judges a person by their appearance. When Akaky had his overcoat in rags he was unnoticed and uncared for. After he was able to get the finest overcoat people started to notice him for the way he was dressed. Instead of society accepting who the person is by who they truly are they judge and criticize for what they wear. They look at a person by what they're wearing and assume the wrong things. Just by looking at someone doesn't mean they know where they stand. Like when Akaky got mugged, the muggers assumed he was rich by his fancy overcoat. They didn't really know that he was a poor man but the overcoat gave them that impression.

Rosie wrote: "In my opinion, I believe that the story "The Death of a Salesman" can be view as a tragic hero with the character Willy. A perfect example, of a tragic hero is Willy, he goes through out his life n..."

Willy was so caught up with his lies and didn't want to face reality. I agree that did lead him to failure.

Monique wrote: "All death is tragic in one way or another, some more tragic than others. Do I think Willy Loman is a tragic hero? Not exactly. Maybe just another victim that has fallen due to the chase towards the..."

I agree Willy was so into the idea of the "American dream." He wanted his son Biff to be successful since he wasn't able to accomplish that goal. He put pressure on him to become something he didnt want to be.

I believe in “The Death of a Salesman” was a tragedy. Willy is destroyed by society, he faces difficulties to reach the “American dream.” Willy had dreams of being wealthy, but those dreams were never accomplished. Willy Loman can be seen as a tragic character in this play. A tragic character is defined as one "who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads his own destruction." When Willy was talking to his boss Howard to get him a different position he explained to him what inspired him to become a salesman. He was so caught up with the idea of making a living and being wealthy that in the end it turned out to be a bad decision.He made very little money and then got fired after their conversation. "...And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, ..." He lived his life as a lie, pretending to be more than what he actually was. He tried to ignore and not face the real world. His failure that gave him emotional strain and pressure lead him to his death.

Monique wrote: "In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, this story revolves around your typical hardworking American man, Willy, who chases the ‘American Dream’ and only wants the best and the most out of his two..."

I agree, he put pressure on his children to become successful. After biff and happy didn't want to live the way their father told them to. Willy longs for the "American Dream" that he puts pressure on his children to follow along.

Rosie wrote: "In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller its about a man named Willy who is a traveling salesman. But, realizes he shouldn't be driving anymore. Because he is no longer able to concentrate when driv..."

I agree Willy had failure in his dream. Willy wanted to live through his children but he lead his children to failure. He didn't want to face reality. His reality was living as an ordinary person as well as his family.

In the play “The Death of Salesman” by Arthur Miller, the main character is Willy Loman who wants to live the “American Dream, but fails to be a salesman. He arrived early to his home, with his wife Linda being surprised because he was supposed to work for several days. His mind was not on the road and kept forgetting he was driving that lead him to arrive early. Willy didn't make much money, and he just kept building a pattern and was making lies about it. The play shows that Willy wants his sons, Biff and Happy to live the American dream. Willy goes on about how his son Biff is lazy and can’t keep a real job but Biff doesn't want to be a salesman. He wants to be able to work in a farm and do what he likes not what society thinks is best. Willy thinks that, that isn't going to get him anywhere. If he has a good personality and is well liked is what’s going to get him through society. "...Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want..."

Amber wrote: "The main characters from The Storm and The Chrysanthemums have many similarities, both women live in rural settings and both suffer from isolation and trapped marriages. Elisa from the Chrysanthemu..."


Calxita and Elisa are both unhappily married and want this love desire for another man. Maybe Calxita went through with adultery because Alcee was her past lover. As for Elisa got attracted by a stranger and held her self back.

Rosie wrote: "In both stories"The Chrysanthemums" and "The Storm" both characters Elisa and Calixta lack the attention from their husbands. They both felt isolated in their own marriage. Claxita is married and c..."

These both women describe their characters as lonely. They both longed to have that passion they didn't receive from their husbands even though they were good men. These women wanted attention that their husbands didn't seem to give them.

In both short stories "The Chrysanthemums" and "The Storm" both characters Elisa and Claxita have sexual desires for a man that isn't their husband. Both women feel they need to escape from their marriage. Elisa's life revolves her garden and goes unnoticed for what she does. It seems like her husband doesn't pay attention like she wants him to. When the man from the wagon approaches her home and they have a conversation she gets attracted by him. She is drawn by him but does not go forward with her temptation. "Kneeling there, her hand went out toward his legs in the greasy black trousers. Her hesitant fingers almost touched the cloth.Then her hand dropped to the ground. She crouched low like a fawning dog." As for Claxita , nothing was holding her back. She went forward with an affair with her past lover Alcee. She married the wrong person for different reasons like social class. Both women felt trapped in their marriage and wanted contentment.

Pearl wrote: "Its only obvious that this story lacks moral closure. What Alcée and Calixta did is called infidelity because they were both married. After committing such a betrayal, they both carried along with ..."

Calixta and Alcee both committed adultery and the story shows that Calixta acted normal about it. It seemed like she already knew since she let him into her house. I believe that she wanted that one last time with her past lover that's why at the end "everyone was happy."

Rosie wrote: "I sure believe it was immoral because, Calixta was married and she cheated on her husband. They both commit adultery. Their passionate feelings and desire for each other lead them in having sexual ..."

It was immoral, they both were married but had a history together. Their feelings from their past took over which made them not feel any guilt. When you stated "The storm can be symbolize as something that comes and goes and in and out that just passes by.", it shows how Calixta and Alcee had a one time affair and moved on like if nothing happened.