Raghad ElBashir > Recent Status Updates

Dr Latrobe is racism on steroids. Interesting to see how Harper comments on social types in society through characters you’re meant to dislike. I also hate Dr. Gresham. He reminds me of Parnell James in Blues for Mister Charlie—white men who maybe mean well but when it comes down to it won’t do anything for racial justice

I love Robert. Idk why but I have a feeling Harry is going to die.

fire. Tons of family reunions

I feel like our class discussions definitely made me enjoy reading this book more. The linguistic complexity is super cool and there’s clearly intent to how Harper recaptures black English as a dialect very much capable of contending with these political and historical realities. Iola’s family history is indicative of the tragic mulatta story and I’m curious to see how the rest of the novel plays out

it’s pretty good so far. Loveee Robert and Tom (rip). Uncle Daniel is also a compelling character. I’m kind of confused by Iola’s presence in the story but maybe it’ll make more sense later on. The one thing I’ll say is that there is very minimal character building. You only get a brief sense of who these characters are in their initial descriptions.

🙏 guys the reviews are NOT looking in but we have to lock in for American lit

the ridiculous scenes are definitely satirical. Tom Sawyer is this representation of the faults of Romanticism and how its ideals are ridiculous in reality. Huck is presented as the realist then. He is determined on freeing Jim, not making their escape into something adventurous or dangerous.

Huck’s moment where he proclaims he accepts going to hell in order to help Jim escape slavery is profound. Here is a boy who has never really thought of religion at all up until this point. And in the face of fear of going to hell, he still decides to go with what he feels is right; helping Jim, his friend who has always done right by him. It’s strange to contend that a child can determine right more than society

so many bizarre events line the grangerford and shepherson feud, this duke and king frauds, Wilke’s funeral and the scam. so much happening. I do appreciate the humanization of jim in regards to his worries about his family. It seems as though huck is constantly at odds with his racist conditioning and with his view of Jim as a man with human emotions and sufferings

love jim. Super interesting to see huck conflicted on his morality in regards to slavery.

huck is lowkey very smart and resourceful

pap is evil and greedy. Love Widow Douglas so far. Huck is lowkey super intuitive and he thinks a lot about what others tell him

it’s okay so far. Huck is uneducated and lower class and Twain makes it a distinct point in his speech and dialect. Jim’s portrayal is extremely strange, for sure. Huck seems to despise the rigidity of routine and rules around him and wants to go somewhere else and escape the structure of society with Widow Douglas and Miss Watson

I appreciate how complex Troy’s character is (no surprise from Wilson). Like you’re made to dislike him, but you understand why and what he’s dealing with and what he struggles with. I loved the scene with Rose finally verbalizing her frustration.

Love rose. Troy is an interesting character for sure. he’s somehow very traditional in terms of masculinity and values of hard work yet distinctly oppositional to the racial exceptionalism narrative employed to individuals like Jackie Robinson

honestly fuck Parnell. I get he’s complex but it feels like he does more harm than good as the “well meaning white guy”. Lorenzo and Richard weren’t wrong at all. also meridian is a goat

nothing short of what I expected of Baldwin. The scene with Meridian and Parnell at the end of Act I is insanely well written and full of depth

amazing

Amazing.

Rankine’s writing always makes me think and feel so deeply. I’m loving this so far

Kinda boring

Mr Darcy ate up Mr wickhammm hate him. I love Mrs. Gardner and Lizzy.

UGHHH i love Darcy so much. I feel like the book does such a good job of presenting Lizzy and Darcy in a very human dimension and you can sympathize with both of their personalities. Hate Mr Collins as always

UGH I love Mr Darcy so much I feel like people misunderstand him so badly like he was literally admiring Elizabeth from the very start he just doesn’t rlly enjoy socializing in general

Love Mr bennet