Author's Note: This response is to Animal Farm, by George Orwell. This novel is very creepy but makes you think. This peice is about what I feel the author was trying to say and how I feel about this novel.
Everything starts with opinions. Whether they are good, or bad, they can shape the way an event plays out. Opinions can be dangerous, and when they consume you, you might do things that affect not just your life, but others around you. Ignorance only adds to the risk, and to defeat the enemy can be just as dangerous as losing, for the power that is presented to the winner isn’t all pure. To rebel against something that is wrong is the right thing to do, but what happens when the thing that you fought becomes you?
What comes to mind when the word pig enters it? Dirty, low, and for lack of better word, gross. In this case, the literal sense doesn’t just apply, because the way the pigs act in this novel follow these characteristics perfectly. It didn’t start that way though, the enemy was clearly Mr. Jones, and all their anger was forced upon him. The only reason Old Major suggested the rebellion might have been that he knew he wouldn’t be there to witness it. While ignorant, the pig was smart, because he never had to observe the horrible events that took place after.
Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer made a promise to the whole farm that it would be totally run by animals, but that was a lie. By the end of the novel, the animals cannot even tell a pig and a human apart. Whether one likes it or not, everything changes when they are put into power. The only hope that the farm would be okay was Snowball, who departed soon after Jones. I sometimes wonder if Napoleon was aware of the man he was becoming. Did he lay in his stripped-sheet bed at night and tremble at the thought right before he drifted off? If that were true, it might have been worse, knowing he did nothing to change himself.
Anyone could notice the change in the farm from the beginning and end, especially the pigs. What shook me the most was the changing of the seventh commandment, from All animals are equal, to, All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. This is low, even for an animal. Napoleon could have changed it because he assumes all the farm animals were too dull to figure it out, or his pure ignorance controlled him to do this. They even sank to wearing clothes and standing on two feet, I am confused by when Napoleon stopped thinking of man as an enemy and started to think of them as “comrades”.
To become something their not is everyone’s fear, but what type of person lets this happen to them? It might seem innocent in the beginning, but things like this can go way out of hand. No one can control what someone has become when its too late. Monsters aren’t just the ones out of story books, they’re in everyday life, they are people that let this get to them. Opinions are a strong and useful tool, but there is a fine line between using them for good, and for evil.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Balancing Act
A scale sits on the table, perfectly balanced with fun and happiness on one side, and fundamental learning on the other. To take one of these things completely off causes it to tip, and thus missing the whole point of a scale all together. Tom’s childhood and his life growing up is almost balanced, but his personality wouldn’t stand for perfect. One side sinks a little lower with the weight of his enjoyment and adventure, for this scale is a unique one, and Tom couldn’t have chosen better. The right balance of innocent behavior and knowledge can guide a child into a wonderful life.
When we are children, life is simple, and some wish it could be that way throughout their lifetime. This novel is filled with all types of adventures, all of which Tom handle with surprising ease. The way he reacts to them shows he can definitely handle the world in his life, whether he has tremendous luck, or even the opposite. Tom does not benefit too much from these adventures, but one can see the little changes that happen after each one, changes for the better.
Some people think this novel is all about a young prankster causing mayhem in his small town, but what Tom is really doing is going on these adventures that teach him important things in life, although he doesn’t know it. When Tom is in the graveyard, there is something more than just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, this scene is all about deception, and pure evil, which is something everyone will experience growing up. To have the composure Tom manages to hold on to shows that he will be a strong man as he grows, even if as he lays feeble in bed at night at the thought of this, because everyone has weaknesses. Being trapped in a cave with your love, almost certain on dying, it is nearly impossible to focus on positives, but that is exactly what Tom did. He never stopped trying to save himself and Becky, and a hero was born in that moment, as Tom fought to be brave and seek rescue, and for that they escaped.
Tom’s innocent ways are enough for him, which makes it almost pointless to grow up. He is content and has everything he needs to know to live the life he wants to live, so why should things be any different? The scene where the boys escape to be pirates illustrates this point, because it is just a silly adventure, the thing Tom lives for. There can be buried meanings in these, but being a child isn’t just about learning how to live your life, but to have fun too! This could be one of the reasons Tom does not gain experience from all this, but another reason is simply because these adventures are child-like, not meant to scar him forever, but meant to show him some of his future.
This reason this novel ends is because Tom will soon no longer be just a boy, his scale has led him right into growing up, and he knows just what to do next. If any of the events in the novel did not happen Tom’s personality could have changed, even if it was by a small amount. I’m glad Tom is still as mature as he was in the beginning of this book, because if he changed, he would not be the pranking, silly, affectionate child the world has come to love.
When we are children, life is simple, and some wish it could be that way throughout their lifetime. This novel is filled with all types of adventures, all of which Tom handle with surprising ease. The way he reacts to them shows he can definitely handle the world in his life, whether he has tremendous luck, or even the opposite. Tom does not benefit too much from these adventures, but one can see the little changes that happen after each one, changes for the better.
Some people think this novel is all about a young prankster causing mayhem in his small town, but what Tom is really doing is going on these adventures that teach him important things in life, although he doesn’t know it. When Tom is in the graveyard, there is something more than just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, this scene is all about deception, and pure evil, which is something everyone will experience growing up. To have the composure Tom manages to hold on to shows that he will be a strong man as he grows, even if as he lays feeble in bed at night at the thought of this, because everyone has weaknesses. Being trapped in a cave with your love, almost certain on dying, it is nearly impossible to focus on positives, but that is exactly what Tom did. He never stopped trying to save himself and Becky, and a hero was born in that moment, as Tom fought to be brave and seek rescue, and for that they escaped.
Tom’s innocent ways are enough for him, which makes it almost pointless to grow up. He is content and has everything he needs to know to live the life he wants to live, so why should things be any different? The scene where the boys escape to be pirates illustrates this point, because it is just a silly adventure, the thing Tom lives for. There can be buried meanings in these, but being a child isn’t just about learning how to live your life, but to have fun too! This could be one of the reasons Tom does not gain experience from all this, but another reason is simply because these adventures are child-like, not meant to scar him forever, but meant to show him some of his future.
This reason this novel ends is because Tom will soon no longer be just a boy, his scale has led him right into growing up, and he knows just what to do next. If any of the events in the novel did not happen Tom’s personality could have changed, even if it was by a small amount. I’m glad Tom is still as mature as he was in the beginning of this book, because if he changed, he would not be the pranking, silly, affectionate child the world has come to love.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Wise Ways of a Child
A person’s exterior can be deceiving, don’t judge a book by it’s cover as they say. Some people hide their true nature, either because they are embarrassed of it or they feel they don’t need it. Tom Sawyer is a fine example of that, his exterior emanates trickery, adventure, and silliness, but behind all that is a base of knowledge. Ignoring your greatest skills may prevent success, but those who try anyway are truly determined.
In the town Tom lives in, he is known as a very rambunctious child. He is looked down upon by adults because he is known to cheat and con. What few people really know is that Tom is very bright. As I began to read this novel, I disliked Tom for treating his family and friends as a device to move himself forward in the world. Now I understand how wise that can be. Naming his friends as pirates from all the novels he read gave me a clue this boy was well educated. The Whitewashing scene was not only shows that Tom is a con-man, but he is smart about getting what he wants. To many, walking into your own funeral is a stupid thing to do, it is basically getting caught, but not to Tom. To him it was the perfect way to let everyone in on his scheme, and not get in trouble!
This book is peppered with wise thoughts from Tom, thoughts that seem too mature for his age. Tom could easily base his life on academics, moving up in the world quickly, just like he wants, but that is not his way. This can only be expected from children, but there is something different with Tom. He is stuck in the middle of innocence and experience, behaving like a child, but possessing the wisdom of someone much older. The strangest thing is the way Tom buries this knowledge inside of him, only letting it come out for all the wrong reasons. Growing up can change the way a person sees things, and maybe Tom will realize his potential that has been inside of him all along.
In the town Tom lives in, he is known as a very rambunctious child. He is looked down upon by adults because he is known to cheat and con. What few people really know is that Tom is very bright. As I began to read this novel, I disliked Tom for treating his family and friends as a device to move himself forward in the world. Now I understand how wise that can be. Naming his friends as pirates from all the novels he read gave me a clue this boy was well educated. The Whitewashing scene was not only shows that Tom is a con-man, but he is smart about getting what he wants. To many, walking into your own funeral is a stupid thing to do, it is basically getting caught, but not to Tom. To him it was the perfect way to let everyone in on his scheme, and not get in trouble!
This book is peppered with wise thoughts from Tom, thoughts that seem too mature for his age. Tom could easily base his life on academics, moving up in the world quickly, just like he wants, but that is not his way. This can only be expected from children, but there is something different with Tom. He is stuck in the middle of innocence and experience, behaving like a child, but possessing the wisdom of someone much older. The strangest thing is the way Tom buries this knowledge inside of him, only letting it come out for all the wrong reasons. Growing up can change the way a person sees things, and maybe Tom will realize his potential that has been inside of him all along.
Friday, January 8, 2010
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Final Response
Some things in life take the form of pure innocence, like a newborn child. Their curiosity and joy for existence make them complete. Betty Smith shows us how to grow up with acceptance. The more children grow, the harder it is for them to keep it, especially during hard times and pain. People who learn to look at life with an open mind, and an open heart, become the wisest of many when their time of innocence is over.
In the early 1900’s, Brooklyn was a vastly different place then it is today. Little Francie grew up in a tough, painful, and inappropriate neighborhood, but she was almost blind to these things. Growing up is partly sheltered by innocence. Francie, like every other child, saw only the best in things. That didn’t stop as she grew older, thus changing from her peers. The music on the street, the man roasting chestnuts, and the bowl of flowers are symbols that appear throughout the novel. This just reminds us that Francie adores, and admires Brooklyn, and everything in it, despite the amount of cruel things that lurk in the city.
No one can argue that a little bit of everything has happened to Francie, both the good and the bad, but one can argue if any good has come out of it. At the end of the novel, Francie says goodbye to all innocence at age 16, and heads into the grueling world. If even one if the events of this book did not happen, or did not happen until later, Francie would not be the women she was at 16. At one point in the book, Francie and Neely look upon the young Laurie and pity her, because even though she will not have a hard life like them, it will not be any fun. That shows that Francie does not regret her tough life, and feels it was worth it.
One can only imagine what would have happened to Francie’s childhood if her attitude replicated the ones of other children her age. Her family could be torn apart by her mother’s feelings toward Neely, compared to her feelings toward Francie, leaving all of them in despair. Luck plays an important role in Francie’s life also, if her family had more luck Johnny and Katie could be much richer, thus causing the children to be spoiled and not leaving their innocence until much later in life. That would leave Francie to be as good as the children on the playground.
Everyone looks at the world in different ways, and that effects how their game of innocence to experience plays out. To some people, acceptance seems like an easy thing to do, but not everyone can master it, especially when life seems to have different ideas. One does not know the true meaning of hard until they read this novel. Although the things that happen to Francie are too many to count, one thing that always stays the same is Francie’s outlook on life, which is very bright indeed.
In the early 1900’s, Brooklyn was a vastly different place then it is today. Little Francie grew up in a tough, painful, and inappropriate neighborhood, but she was almost blind to these things. Growing up is partly sheltered by innocence. Francie, like every other child, saw only the best in things. That didn’t stop as she grew older, thus changing from her peers. The music on the street, the man roasting chestnuts, and the bowl of flowers are symbols that appear throughout the novel. This just reminds us that Francie adores, and admires Brooklyn, and everything in it, despite the amount of cruel things that lurk in the city.
No one can argue that a little bit of everything has happened to Francie, both the good and the bad, but one can argue if any good has come out of it. At the end of the novel, Francie says goodbye to all innocence at age 16, and heads into the grueling world. If even one if the events of this book did not happen, or did not happen until later, Francie would not be the women she was at 16. At one point in the book, Francie and Neely look upon the young Laurie and pity her, because even though she will not have a hard life like them, it will not be any fun. That shows that Francie does not regret her tough life, and feels it was worth it.
One can only imagine what would have happened to Francie’s childhood if her attitude replicated the ones of other children her age. Her family could be torn apart by her mother’s feelings toward Neely, compared to her feelings toward Francie, leaving all of them in despair. Luck plays an important role in Francie’s life also, if her family had more luck Johnny and Katie could be much richer, thus causing the children to be spoiled and not leaving their innocence until much later in life. That would leave Francie to be as good as the children on the playground.
Everyone looks at the world in different ways, and that effects how their game of innocence to experience plays out. To some people, acceptance seems like an easy thing to do, but not everyone can master it, especially when life seems to have different ideas. One does not know the true meaning of hard until they read this novel. Although the things that happen to Francie are too many to count, one thing that always stays the same is Francie’s outlook on life, which is very bright indeed.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Response 2
The whirlwind of life spins around you, threatening to grab you up into all of its confusion. The dizziness consumes you, and you try to sort out the mess your life has recently become. Your mind is pulsing, trying to figure out what just happened, and where it has gone. Some of the things that seem so far away in our life flash before our eyes as we grow older.
Everyone counts on something, something to love, something to achieve, or just something to make them happy. Sometimes, those things that we count on can vanish, right in front of us. Francie uttered a thought she had in the novel when her grandfather passed away, “The something which had been a future was now a present and would become a past”, because it was inevitable, but shocking for the death to actually come. The same thing occurred when Johnny died, except Katie was the one feeling this way. Johnny was the youngest of four brothers, who had all died before the age of thirty. Because of this, and Johnny’s drinking, Katie knew he was going to pass away sooner than later, but she couldn’t get over it when the heart wrenching day arrived.
Instances like this happen frequently throughout life, and each one is forgotten as the next one takes place. Sometimes the most important things that leave us threaten to keep us down forever, but in the end it leaves us stronger and wiser. It prepares us for the next time something like this comes around, and we will be ready, if only by a little.
Everyone counts on something, something to love, something to achieve, or just something to make them happy. Sometimes, those things that we count on can vanish, right in front of us. Francie uttered a thought she had in the novel when her grandfather passed away, “The something which had been a future was now a present and would become a past”, because it was inevitable, but shocking for the death to actually come. The same thing occurred when Johnny died, except Katie was the one feeling this way. Johnny was the youngest of four brothers, who had all died before the age of thirty. Because of this, and Johnny’s drinking, Katie knew he was going to pass away sooner than later, but she couldn’t get over it when the heart wrenching day arrived.
Instances like this happen frequently throughout life, and each one is forgotten as the next one takes place. Sometimes the most important things that leave us threaten to keep us down forever, but in the end it leaves us stronger and wiser. It prepares us for the next time something like this comes around, and we will be ready, if only by a little.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn Response 1
The hurt stabs you like a million knives, and the shock paralyzes you, until the world starts to turn faster than you can manage. How can they? Is all you can think, over and over. You thought you could trust them, depend on them. Why should they be able to turn around and do this to you? To be betrayed hurts just as much as broken legs and arms, but guaranteed everyone will experience it in their lifetime.
This novel present us with many forms of betrayal. Some are little, and some are life-changing. Everyone knows how it feels to be lied to, and everyone knows how it feels to lie. Amplify that by a great deal and it becomes betrayal. Little Francie lived in pure pleasure growing up, unaware that the life around her was more ruthless then it seemed. In fact right in her very own home was someone who had betrayed her, and betrayed her to the fullest extent.
Francie’s mother Katie, was that person. Francie was born sickly baby, and Katie promised her that she would make her live, and care for her always. Things changed after Neeley was born, when Katie confided in him out loud that she would love him more than Johnny and Francie, but she wouldn’t let them know. Even though no one knew of this, The betrayal hung heavy on Katie’s shoulders, and has always stayed with Francie, dragging her down like a heavy winter jacket. To rank loved ones in one’s heart is unfair, for it provides affection and love for some, and brutal feelings for others.
Betrayal should not be accepted, no matter how low of a person one may be. Disloyalty does not just hurt just one person, it hurts many, including ourselves. No matter what we may believe is wrong, and what is right, betrayal will keep happening to all of us, for the rest of our life.
This novel present us with many forms of betrayal. Some are little, and some are life-changing. Everyone knows how it feels to be lied to, and everyone knows how it feels to lie. Amplify that by a great deal and it becomes betrayal. Little Francie lived in pure pleasure growing up, unaware that the life around her was more ruthless then it seemed. In fact right in her very own home was someone who had betrayed her, and betrayed her to the fullest extent.
Francie’s mother Katie, was that person. Francie was born sickly baby, and Katie promised her that she would make her live, and care for her always. Things changed after Neeley was born, when Katie confided in him out loud that she would love him more than Johnny and Francie, but she wouldn’t let them know. Even though no one knew of this, The betrayal hung heavy on Katie’s shoulders, and has always stayed with Francie, dragging her down like a heavy winter jacket. To rank loved ones in one’s heart is unfair, for it provides affection and love for some, and brutal feelings for others.
Betrayal should not be accepted, no matter how low of a person one may be. Disloyalty does not just hurt just one person, it hurts many, including ourselves. No matter what we may believe is wrong, and what is right, betrayal will keep happening to all of us, for the rest of our life.
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