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

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

Victoria wrote: "There are some people who simply think they are better than everyone else when they have made a good living. Some, like Dee, have risen out of poverty to get there and others are just born with a s..."
I like that Dee got an education, but i do not like her attitude with her mom And sister. She should be appreciated with her mom because her mom raised the money to pay her education. And definitely she has changed with her family.

Suzette wrote: "In the story everyday use, Dee once was where her mother was, in poverty, she grew up and left, even changed her name. This does happen in poverty families. She went on to succeed in her life, like..."
Dee is succeeding because now she has an education but she is not proud of her heritage. If she would of being proud she would of kept her name and not change it. She was named after her ancestors, which it meant a lot to her mother. And regarding the quilts, she wanted them just to display only not because it had a sentimental value to her.

Who wouldn’t admire someone who has overcome poverty and now has a better life/ education? I would because they are breaking the chains of the old life cycle. In “Every Day Use” by Alice Walker, she lets us view how two sisters value their heritage in a different way. Alice start her story by describing the way Dee’s family life is and how mother wanted for Dee to admire her for what she is. Instead the mother says, “I am the way my daughter would want to be: a hundred pounds lighter, my skin like an uncooked barley pancake.” It seems be that Dee is ashamed of her roots in the beginning of the story. Then in the story she changes her mind in trying to appreciate her heritage but in a very different way. She takes pictures and want to take certain objects from her mom’s house to use them for decoration, not to demonstrate her heritage. She is very demanding. I think she is unlikable because of the she has changed. Someone who changes their name that has a great meaning to the family, but you think it “oppresses” you; its being an unappreciated to your roots. Then she asks her mom for the quilts that were made by her aunt Big Dee and her mom with pieces of her great grandmother, grandmother and grandfather; she wants them to be hanged, to be displayed. Instead of keeping them because of the family value they have. In the other hand, Maggie is a humble lady and shy. I loved it when she said, “She can have them, Mama….. I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts.” That made me understand that Maggie does not need something to show her heritage. She is proud from where she comes, her roots. The only thing I do feel is that Maggie will always remain in a close minded world because she needs education to be prosperous in the world.
“She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.” – Alice Walker

Victoria wrote: "Both old woman in the short stories are extremely judgmental and think highly of themselves. They are strong woman but see objects and appearance to define someone. In their eyes the people who don..."
Definitely, both ladies were judgmental and thought they were superior to the other individuals in the story. Who were they to judge, if the only one who can judge us is God. but then again society treat us by our appearance.

Suzette wrote: "Similarites in between "A Goodman is Hard to Find" and "Revelations" are violence, the grandmother and Mrs Turpin are both women who live to criticize other people. They both feel that they are sup..."
I agree with you, the both ladies thought they were perfect and superior to others. O'Connor uses religion on both stories and she also uses symbolism. we are all equal to God.

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..."
It is true, society treats us by our appearance not by our personality. Poor Akaky, being disrespected at work and then being mugged by thieves stealing his coat that he had worked for so hard.

Victoria wrote: "In the short story "The Overcoat" a man is not socially accepted until he gets a new coat made. He is a man who is poor and is so invested in his job that he loves so much. The coat that he wears d..."

I agree with you, society is superficial and judgmental. I felt sorry for Akaky because he was bullied by his coworkers. I wished he would of stand up to them but he was too peaceful.

The two short stories by Flannery O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and “Revelation” have many similarities. For example, the protagonist of the stories are females with strong personalities regarding religious believes. They both think they are good Christians, but they are very judgmental. There is also racism in both stories, both ladies think they are superior to the other individuals because of their socioeconomic status. They don’t see their faults until the end of the story. I learned that O’Connor uses a lot of symbolism in both stories to get the message to the reader. She wrote these stories are based on events that she saw because she grew around that time. O’Connor is that she is very religious and she definitely makes her point. She believes that religion should be first in our lives and that there is no superiority to God’s eyes, we all are the same.

In the short story “The Overcoat” by Nikolai Gogol is trying to say is that society is based on appearances. If you are well dress then you are accepted by society, in the contrary, if you are poorly dressed then they tend to denied. Here, Akaky Akakievich is a great example of how society treats him by the way he dresses, “He gave no thought to his clothes: his undress uniform was not green, but a sort of rusty-meal colour”. The story start with a description of where Akaky works in a “certain department”. The narrator also gives a description of Akaky including that he was not that important “not a very high one.” His job was to make copies, by the way, Akaky loved his job and when he was going to be promoted he refused. It seems to be that he could not handle a change. In that certain department, Akaky is mostly ignored and when they noticed him, it was to bully him. “No respect was shown him in the department. The porter not only did not rise from his seat when he passed, but never even glanced at him….. His superiors treated him in coolly despotic fashion.” He definitely has a mediocre life. Akaky has his cloak “cape” worn out that not even the tailor can fix it, he has to buy a new one. But he could not afford a new one with his salary. The tailor gave him a reasonable price to make him a new one, but Akaky only had half the money, so he literally deprived himself form many things even eating. Finally, he had his new cloak and his felt like a different person, a happy person. Even the officials in the department noticed his new cloak and threw him a party. All that good attention made Akaky uncomfortable ad left the party where later he was assaulted and his new cloak was stolen. In Russia the cold weather is very harsh and Akaky was left without a cloak and got sick, which led him to his death.
“You must know that Akaky Akakievtch’s cloak served as an object of ridicule to the officials: they even refused it the noble name of cloak, and they called it a cape.”—Nikolai Gogol

Suzette wrote: "In the play " Death of a Salesman" I cannot say Willy Loman's death was to prove he was a hero. Yes it was sad, it was a tragedy. He was leading to it and attempted several times to commit suicide...."
I agree that Willy was no hero. what a shame that he preferred to commit suicide than accepting reality. He might of done for his family but there is no guarantee that they were going to succeed with the money from the insurance.

Victoria wrote: "I do believe that Willy died a modern tragic hero. Because a modern tragic hero doesn't have to come from noble stature but can be just an ordinary person. For example Hercules is one who you can s..."

I agree with you, he was a modern tragic hero because he never was noble, he was just a common men. His ego did not let him see reality and not to be proven wrong he committed suicide.

I believe that Willy Loman in “The Death of a Salesman” is a modern tragic hero. He cannot be a tragic hero because a tragic hero is a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities. A modern tragic hero is a common individual who does not need catharsis to bring the story to a close and he may die without an epiphany of his destiny. Willy Loman did not wanted to face reality that his family and he were ordinary people. He had a wrong perception of the American dream. And to make thing worst is that he also made his sons believe his perspicacity. Willy lies and contradictions made him be mentally devastated and all because of his ego or pride. Committing suicide made him a coward even if he thought that it was the solution to his problems. I felt sorry for his wife, Linda because she really loved him and at the end she feels confused, “Willy, dear, I can’t cry. Why did you do it? I search and search and I search, and I can’t understand it, Willy. I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear. And there’ll be nobody home.”

Leslie wrote: "The "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller is a play about a worn-out salesman, Willy Loman, who is after the american dream that everyone is after. Him being a salesman after so many years of work..."

It is definitely childish the way Willy think about being well like will bring success. Why is it that he continues to deny reality and instead try to make a change. but he is stubborn and his ego blinds him.

Victoria wrote: "In Death of A Salesman, Willy the main character is a salesman who is at the moment traveling everywhere from New England to Florida. He states that he's making good money but isn't doing so well t..."
I do agree with you that everyone in the Loman's family wants to own their own business. It is depressing to see Willy breaking apart mentally becausr of his ego that does not allow him to accept reality.

After reading the first act in the play “The Death of a Salesperson” by Arthur Miller, I do believe he was criticizing the capitalistic America that was trying to draw a positive picture of capitalism to America. To cover up capitalism they used the American dream to give false hope to many individuals and for them not to realize the reality of the situation. They would advertise in order to continue selling, even though the population was going through hard economic situation. For example, the refrigerator that was frequently needing belts, “I told you we should’ve bought a well- advertised machine. Charley bought a General Electric….. Whoever heard of a Hasting refrigerator?” Many tried to reach for the American dream, including William Loman, a salesman who is sixty and tired for not reaching it. He thought that being liked was going to overcome all problems and they would become successful men. “Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want.” During that time, after WWII, there was lots of competition for jobs due to overpopulation. Willy idolize fine people and his brother Ben as the American dream for being successful in life. He has hallucinations and flashbacks, and wants to know what went wrong. Why haven’t he reached the American dream? And to make things worse, he is disappointed at his sons; especially with Biff, for not being successful men.

“There’s more people! That’s what’s ruining this country! Population is getting out of control. The competition is maddening!” – Arthur Miller in The Death of a Salesman”

Hilda wrote: "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 m..."

It is sad for those two women because they feel trapped in a marriage where there is no more flame for love. It seems to be boring marriages. I felt sorry for Elisa because she felt unnoticed by her husband.

Victoria wrote: "In "The Chrysanthemums" I would say that Elisa feels just as trapped as Claxita felt in "The storm." Although their situations are totally different. In the storm Claxita actually has an affair wit..."

I also think that they both felt trapped but as for Calixta, there is no justification for her adultery action. Elisa just felt attracted to another man but respected her husband.

The similarity between the two stories, “The Storm” and “The Chrysanthemums” is that both start with a gloomy theme. One starts with the storm and the other starts with foggy and cold day. It seems to be that both husbands are not around that much at home and with their wives. The wives feel lonely and find themselves working in something to distract them. It seems to be that they both feel captured in a marriage that has fallen into a routine and there is no more interest. In “The Storm” Calixta sews and Elisa in “The Chrysanthemum” is gardening chrysanthemums. The setting for both stories take place in rural area and isolation. Calixta is a mother and Elisa is not but both are nurturing; Calixta with her son and Elisa with her chrysanthemums. Another difference is that Calixta physically cheated her husband and Elisa only thought about it.

Suzette wrote: "She had no loyalty towards her husband. i would say that yes, it was immoral, It was not right for Calixta to do what she did by any means, She was married, she had a sexual encounter during a stor..."
Some people don't know the meaning of loyalty. I also believe that marriage is sacred as long as their is trust and respect. I Calixta did not care about her marriage and family.

Victoria wrote: "I can understand the controversial issues in this story of its “lack of moral closure.” During the time and even now for a woman to cheat on her husband is considered horrible compared to how it wo..." I agree with you, cheating is cheating no matter what and it is an immoral action. We as women tend to worry for our kids and Calixta did not worry about her son being out in that storm because she was enjoying herself with another man.