Author: Annie W

“Small Things”

On By Annie WIn God of Small Things1 Comment

When initially reading The God of Small Things, I remember thinking how many heavy topics seemed to be brought up in the first chapters of the book.  This society was concerned with “Big Things” such as marriage, the caste system, and politics. However as I continued to read, Roy points out the “Small Things” that give the book its meaning.

One of the first examples that stood out to me is when Ammu tells Rahel that she doesn’t love her as much as she used to.  Although Ammu doesn’t seem to think about this situation again, Rahel is inconsolable. “A little less her mother loved her” is a phrase that is repeated many more times throughout the book.  This statement is a “Small Thing” to Ammu, but it consumes Rahel.

At many points in the book, Roy takes a lot of time to acknowledge something that seems insignificant.  She says, “Just outside Ayemenem they drove into a cabbage-green butterfly (or perhaps it drove into them.)”  Roy uses this description of a “Small Thing” to show that the perspective of the reader is not the only one. Even an insect could have a point of view, and even a suicidal intention.

Because of their youth, Estha and Rahel seem not as tied to the “Big Things.”  But this may mean that they carry the weight of the small things, or the secrets and lies of their family.

Josh Ritter’s “Homecoming”

On By Annie WIn Music Poetry2 Comments

When thinking of songs to add to our playlist, I couldn’t leave out Josh Ritter’s “Homecoming,” not only because of it’s novel-like lyrics but also because we are spending a lot of time in our homes and becoming sick of them, (which we may regret when we are gone.)

I think this song can have a different meaning to everyone, because it plays into feelings that everyone is familiar with.  Home can mean many things: the place you grew up, a place you feel most comfortable in, or a person. Regardless, I think the song brings up a good memory for everyone, and gets you excited.

Ritter begins talking about the changing seasons, singing:

The nights are getting colder now

The air is getting crisp

I first tasted the universe on a night like this

The word choice in these lines gives the listener a sense of excitement and anticipation.  The listener can almost taste the cold, crisp air on their tongue, an energizing feeling. Ritter goes on to a more serious line, singing:

In a place where the tree of good and evil still resides

This metaphor reminds the listener of the complexity of returning to memories like this.  Although he acknowledges that memories consistent with home may have layers and could bring up bad ideas, he keeps the tone positive.  It does not take away from his love and excitement of coming home.

He also layers a lot of sounds and phrases throughout the song, including, “My heart will stay,” “Hey now, don’t go away now,” and “Homecoming.”

The repetition of these rhythms and phrases makes the listener lose themselves almost like in a trance, thinking about the memory that comes to mind.  This song captures the wistful nature about thinking back, and also the pleasure of the memory. Ritter tells a story through “Homecoming” that you can picture, because you have probably been there yourself.

The Princess Bride: A Comedy

On By Annie WIn Comedy/Satire4 Comments

The Princess Bride is a adventurous take on a romantic comedy, where the simple farmhand Westly and friends face many dangers and challenges in order to rescue Princess Buttercup from a marriage with Prince Humperdinck.

This movie is full of iconic lines, one of which being “Inconceivable!” THis is frequently exclaimed by Vizzini, (Prince Humperdinck’s mastermind,) when Westly continues thwart his plans to deliver Buttercup to her husband. This well-known phrase is an example of satire: a hyperbole.

There are many complex characters, such as Fezzik the Giant, who is huge and menacing, and can throw giant boulders at people or pose as a monstrous ghost. Ironically, he has a very kind disposition and enjoys rhyming.

During his pursuit of Buttercup, Westly renders both Fezzik and Inigo Montoya unconscious. However, these two men are the ones who end up reviving Westly from his near death, which is an example of situational irony. In the beginning of the film, these three men were fighting against one another but in the end they work together in order to storm Humperdinck’s castle, partners in crime.

There are many examples of dramatic irony throughout the adventure as well. For example, as Buttercup and Westly are submerged in quicksand, the viewers see a giant rat walk by, unknown to the pair in the quicksand. The rat ends up being their next obstacle.

Although they may be cliche, The Princess Bride offers many lessons regarding honor, friendship, and love. The movie is critiquing how society underestimates the power of love, whether it be between a man and his bride or two good friends. With the help of his friends, Westly is able to reclaim his love and Inigo Montoya is able to finally get his revenge. This movie is trying to prove to society that love conquers all.

The movie’s final meaning is representative of a lot of romantic comedies. I think tragedy always gets dubbed as the more intricate and intellectual type of story because it’s themes are darker and more varied than that of comedies. Even though the themes in comedies may be more cliche and repetitive, its easy to take comedic lessons with a laugh than to actually live by them.

Satire in SNL’s Weekend Update

On By Annie WIn Comedy/Satire4 Comments

Regularly scheduled satire can sometimes be hard to find, but you can always count on a clip of Weekend Update in the TV show Saturday Night Live.

Colin Jost and Michael Che pose as news anchors, reporting on the current events and politics of the past week. In this episode, the hosts talk about the length of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, commenting on Adam Schiff’s time on TV, the republican defense (a shrug emoji), and the fidget spinners brought by some members of congress. They also mention Hunter Biden’s involvement in the trial, the government’s inability to throw Trump out of office, and Trump’s leaked conversation with “adult cabbage patch doll” Lev Parnas.

The predominant satirical technique used in this show is parody: SNL is replicating the news, complete with a blue back ground, pop-up pictures, anchors reading from teleprompters, and current events.

Depending on the episode, Weekend Update uses a variety of other techniques. For example in this episode, Collin Jost uses hyperbole asking, “Was Adam Schiff on my television for 100 hours?” He also uses sarcasm, saying “Some republican senators even brought fidget spinners to play with. I assume to symbolize how the founding fathers are spinning in their graves”

Despite the laughs, the writers of SNL are commenting on more serious aspects of current events. In this episode, they show Trump’s inability to speak eloquently in times of distress, an important tool to have as a leader. Michael Che’s character especially comments on how the average american has gotten used to this behavior, and has become bored with the impeachment trial. Citizens are not asking more from their president but instead settling for the name-calling and bullying of our current president, which should be changed.

“Girl in the War”

On By Annie WIn Music Poetry1 Comment

Josh Ritter is an artist that my parents always played when I was little: a time where I sang the lyrics not recognizing meaning, just saying words. After finding him again, I found that he was one of my favorite songwriters with his Americana style and narrative lyrics. “Girl in the War” is one of my favorites, where he sings about the dangers of maintaining an inflexible worldview, while a man is worrying about his girlfriend/lover that is serving in the war.

Ritter uses the symbol of the disciples, Paul and Peter, twice in his song:

Paul said to Peter you know all those words we wrote

are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go.

I think the disciples symbolize an anti-war sentiment, saying that the governments role of how they do good for their country is changing, and that the people who make decisions about participating in war are focused on the wrong rules. Ritter continues talking about Paul and Peter:

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder

Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire.

Paul and Peter continue be a symbol of the urge to protest war, saying that people have to fight a little harder against the government. Ritter is talking about politics in a way that doesn’t take the politician’s side but the side of the people and what they are going through.

The metaphor of the dove and the dragon also give another layer of meaning. Ritter is saying that people cannot blindly believe, but actively protest, and to find the same sense of urgency that you would if you were on fire. He wants people to get past talking about problems and into acting on them. He continues to use metaphors throughout his song:

Because the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom

the angels fly around in there but we can’t see them

This metaphor depicts the government as a kingdom, or the people who have the power to stop the war. Ritter is expression his feelings of frustration through this metaphor, and is exasperated that they “key” to change is our of his hands.

Finally, Ritter talks about a woman he loves that is serving in the war. He characterizes her in many lines:

Her eyes are like champagne

sparkle bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain

This simile makes us feel more connected with this woman, and the imagery of her eyes and how bright, bubbly, and sparkling they are show how attached this man is to her. He also repeats this line over and over again, almost as a chant to soothe him into not worrying about her. We get angry at this situation where she is in danger at war, and it makes us lean towards Ritter’s anti-war view.

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/joshritter/girlinthewar.html

The Supernatural in Beloved and Exit West

On By Annie WIn Beloved, Exit West, Imagination2 Comments

When first reading Exit West, I assumed it was a futuristic form of historical fiction, a realistic story about two people during a time of war.  But when they first walked through the door, I thought had misunderstood or the story skipped forward in time. I thought it to be a mistake by Hamid to introduce such a syfy like portal in this very probable world, that he was confusing the reader more than he should.

In Beloved, I was even more sure that I was reading historical fiction.  A book about life after slavery? For sure. But then Paul D scared a ghost out of the house, Sethe was choked my mysterious fingers, and Beloved appeared and disappeared.

Although initially strange, I think that these supernatural aspects were necessary.  In Exit West, the magical doors transcend all barriers and create an accelerated migration, that gives Hamid an opportunity provide commentary about these topics.  In Beloved, the ghost forces Sethe to relive trauma that slavery has brought upon her, and gives Morrison a chance to give the reader a deeper understanding about living after slavery.  In both books, they are very central elements, and introduce ways to bring out ideas that wouldn’t have been articulated in a nonfiction book.

Can these books, especially Beloved, still be considered historical fiction?

Divisions in Exit West

On By Annie WIn Migration4 Comments

In Hamid’s society, borders set by governments or created by oceans or mountains can be overlooked. Because of the doors, the process of migration is sped up, and countries cannot build walls or physically keep migrants out. Hamid highlights the prevalence of xenophobia and shows humans’ tendencies to divide through his accelerated migration.

When Nadia and Saeed are in London, England, the natives and the migrants are very clearly divided. England attempts to enforce their laws upon the migrants and violently threatens them. The natives believe that the migrants will diminish something about their country. They feel threatened by all the people pouring into their city, and reject the newcomers.

Divisions are created not only between natives and migrants, but within the migrant community as well. In London, the migrants divide themselves up by national affiliations. Saeed and Nadia end up living around the Nigerians, and Saeed feels uncomfortable because of the unfamiliarity of all these people have something in common that he does not. He eventually finds people from his own country and gravitates towards them, finding comfort in their similarity to him, even though they are more stranger to him than the Nigerians are now.

Whether it is the non migrants reacting to the migrants or the migrants reacting to each other, the fear of being isolated and singled out creates divisions in society.

Marie in Meursault’s Mind

On By Annie WIn Empathy, Stranger2 Comments

Much of the meaning taken away from The Stranger is dependent on the character Meursault’s existentialist mindset, yet this mindset is broken down in many different scenarios as the book goes on. One aspect of Meursault that I struggled to grasp was his relationship with his girlfriend, Marie.

When reading quickly, it seems that Marie is a perfect example of Meursault’s existentialism, in that he seems very detached from her while they are together. When Marie asks if she loves him or if she wants to marry him, he says things like “it doesn’t make any difference” or “it doesn’t really matter” (page 41.) Similarly, when he is fantasizing about women in jail, he does not focus specifically on Marie but instead on “all the women he had known” (page 77.)

However, there are many times when he seems to break off from these thoughts. When she visits him in jail, he mentions how he “thought she looked very beautiful, but didn’t know how to tell her.” This is one of the few times Meursault doesn’t say what he is thinking in a blatant or logical way. Additionally, when he hears Marie laugh, he reacts differently and once even said after hearing that sound, “for the first time maybe, I really thought I was going to get married.” He doesn’t call it love, but it is a big change in his normal thoughts and tendencies.

I am not sure if these glimpses of emotion outweigh his existentialist-mindset, but there is definitely some part of Meursault that has not been consumed by existentialism.

Villagers in “The Very Old Man”

On By Annie WIn Short Stories5 Comments

While reading “The Old Man with Enormous Wings,” I was struck by the way the villagers responded to the angel’s arrival and eventual lack of miracles.

First, when they saw the angel they poked and there food at him, and the author mentioned how the villagers who gave him food were the most “charitable souls.”  I thought that even this supposed act of generosity was very deprecating, and when reading this I pictured the angel more and more like a circus animal that is cruelty treated, the very opposite of a creature that is connected to a god that the villagers look up to.

The villagers also had very little loyalty to the angel, especially when the spider woman appeared to have more knowledge or lessons to teach them than the angel did.  In a way, the angel and the spider woman represent two different religions. The villagers had no allegiance to the angel as soon as they realized that he could not give them solutions to all their ailments and problems.  They were only focused on what the angel could do for their own personal gain.

After evaluating their actions, I question if religion is only to make you feel better about yourself.  Is it just a means of getting what you want? I think poorly of the villagers and consider them to be very materialistic, considering that they seem to be unable to have faith in something that cannot give them direct results. Their lack of allegiance revealed them to be very shallow, shedding light on how the author views human nature.