TPCASTT Themes

1. "Sonnet 130" by William Shakespeare
             Perfection is not always desired. 

2. "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe
             Enjoy the experience of being in love. 

3. "Death Be Not Proud" by John Donne
             Death is meaningless and nonexistent. 

4. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick
             Act before it is too late to do so. 

5. "The Author to Her Book" by Anne Bradstreet
             Perfection is unattainable. 

6. "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
             Lost time can never be regained. 

7. "Sound and Sense" by Alexander Pope
             The only way to improve is through practice. 

8. "The World is Too Much With Us" by William Wordsworth
             Nature should be appreciated more than material possessions. 

9.  "She Walks in Beauty" by George Gordon, Lord Byron
              Inner beauty is just as striking as physical beauty. 

10. "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley
              Pride is not always deserved. 

11. "When I have Fears that I may Cease to Be" by John Keats
              One can never truly be comfortable with the idea of death. 

12. "The Children's Hour" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
               With family comes inner joy and happiness. 

14. "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allen Poe
               True love is timeless and lives on even after death. 

15. "O Captain, My Captain" by Walt Whitman
              Honorable deeds and hard work deserve recognition.

16. "I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died" by Emily Dickinson
              There is a continuance of life after death, whether it be good or bad. 

17. "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold
              Misery is only temporary and can be overcome if worked at diligently enough. 

18. "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen
              Losing sight of what the fight is for makes pain and suffering worthless.

19. "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost
             Traditional solutions to a problem are not always the most efficient ways to handle the issue. 

20. "Mirror" by Sylvia Plath
              Taking too much stake in one's appearance can be psychologically destructive. 
            

My GOW Action Project

            For my Grapes of Wrath Action Project, I decided that I would like to work with pet supply companies and the corporations that they are linked to.  I wanted to know more about the production of their pet foods and treats, where they get their ingredients, and if they frequently audit their products to ensure quality.  At first I wasn’t sure of which corporation I would like to work with for this project and was interested in getting answers from several of the major pet food brands on the market.  I finally narrowed it down to three corporations to contact: Nestle Purina, Mars Pedigree, and Del Monte Foods, who manufactures several different brands of dog treats.  In a first attempt, I emailed all three companies explaining what I was doing and asking them the questions that I had previously thought out.  I also asked if there was any way to speak to the head of the company or at least the Director of that specific brand so that I could address my concerns.  I figured that this would be a good starting point, and from here, I would be able to talk my way to the top if I approached it with a level head.  I still have not heard back from Del Monte Foods, but have received word from the other two.  I heard back from Purina first, who wrote me back a very generic e-mail.  It was very vague, and I could tell that the person who had responded back to me just copied and pasted from another file.  There were even several of the same sentences repeated over and over again throughout the whole thing.  They didn’t even address my request to speak to a Director or CEO.  Shocked that they would even call that customer service, I decided that I would give them a call.  The next day, I called the only phone number given on the website, and was directly connected to customer service.  I told them that I had a few questions about the production and manufacturing of their products, and asked if I could speak to the Director of Purina or if not, have a way to contact him.  They asked me if I had tried e-mail and when I said I had, they asked for my address so they could pull it up.  I finally thought I was getting somewhere.  I waited for a long time until the woman on the other line told me that it was against company policy to release the information that I was asking for.  She would not let me speak to anyone else, and would only answer my questions with a “yes” or “no.”  When I tried to inquire further about the information I received from them in the e-mail, they tried to tell me that what I was saying was incorrect.  It was clearly correct if they had sent it to me in an e-mail the day before.  I found the way that the situation was handled ridiculous and unfair to the customer.  All other attempts to try to contact the Director of the Purina branch of Nestle have been failures or unable to accomplish up to this point.  However, I am still determined to get a complete answer from them.  My attempts to contact Pedigree were more successful.  I emailed Mars Petcare US, the biggest branch of the company which Pedigree falls under, and asked them the same questions that I asked Purina.  I immediately got a confirmation e-mail back from them stating that my e-mail was being reviewed by a customer service representative who would try to meet my needs.  A day later, I received an e-mail from their corporate affairs office who said that while the person who I would like to speak to is very busy and would be unreachable in the time that I would like to have this information by, they would be more than happy to answer the questions that I had right there directly.  I got all the answers that I wanted in a personalized e-mail, and felt that although I was unable to get to the top, I was able to understand their procedures for handling their pet foods and managing the quality. 

I believe that this project relates to The Grapes of Wrath in that the farmers that were kicked off their land and moved to California in search of work had a hard time reaching the people at the top, just like I had a difficult time reaching the Directors of these companies.  I can relate to the people in the novel even more now after going through similar frustrations.  The people in the novel never knew exactly who to contact or where to go to ask the questions, and I had similar issues along the way.  I also believe that the breaking through of the different layers of a Corporation in order to talk to the person you really want to talk to relates to The Grapes of Wrath.  In order to get the answers they were looking for, the farmers in the novel had to go through a similar chain starting with the owners of the land going all the way up to the Eastern Banks.  In the middle, it gets a little fuzzy as to who to contact next in order to move up the ladder even further, which is where I, along with many others, get stuck in the process.  There are so many barriers to protect those at the top that in some cases, it is virtually impossible without the right tools.  I believe that this project was assigned to us to help us realize just how stuck these farmers were and to help relate to them in a way we wouldn’t be able to otherwise.  I feel as though I have gained a deeper insight into not only the inner-workings of a Corporation, but of the novel and the Depression Era as well.  

Critical Essay Summary: "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness"

                Chinua Achebe’s critical essay entitled “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” portrays the novel Heart of Darkness as being a racist work.  Achebe believes that the novel depicts the Western culture’s stereotype of Africa, and because this is such a well-known piece of literature, one that will be hard to break.  People are exposed to this version of Africa instead of the way it really is, giving many the wrong impression about the continent and people as a whole.  Achebe states that the racism found in this novel is overlooked simply because of the language it is written in.  It is considered a classic for Conrad’s wonderful penmanship, and the bad image of the people of Africa that it gives off is left unmentioned.  The main character of the novel, Marlow, retells his story in a way that shows the native people as being savage and uncivilized. Because of showing them only in this light, the reader is only able to see them in this way, making them think that this is how they really behave.  Achebe also asserts that the racism in this novel stems from Conrad’s own racist ideas and beliefs.  He puts the white European on such a high pedestal, describing them in past works as dazzling, twinkling, “illumined”, and “marble-like”.  When he tells of his first encounter with a black person, however, he describes it quite differently, stating that it brought out a “blind, furious, unreasoning rage” within him.  This large contrast between the two shows his thoughts clearly. 

             

            Overall, this essay by Chinua Achebe was a variable resource that helped me to see Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, in a different light.  I found it very interesting and informing.  I agree with Achebe in that the book can be viewed as one-sided.  However, I am unsure if this was Conrad’s intention or just how it can be perceived when looked at in this light.  It may be that way do to the creation of “the other” just to get his point across.  The same piece of literature can be perceived many different ways, and it may just depend on what one is looking for when they read it.  

An Overview of "Kate Chopin's Motherless Heroine"

In the Critical Article "Kate Chopin's Motherless Heroine" Virginia Ross analyzes the lack of a relationship between  the character of Edna Pontellier and her mother in The Awakening.  Ross believes that Edna is driven by her sole desire for a mother, which in turn causes her to follow through with irrational tendencies leading up to her suicide.  This yearning for a mother can be seen in Edna's relationships with the sea and Adele Ratignolle.  Throughout the novel, Edna has a deep, personal connection to the sea.  She learns to swim for the first time in the Gulf, and when she is upset, it acts as a comfort to her.  She turns to it much like a child would turn to their mother when they are upset.  Water is often viewed as a symbol for a maternal presence because of it's nourishing and comforting principles.  Edna is drawn to it, and it is where she spends her final moments.  This shows just how attracted she is to the idea of having a mother.  Edna's connections to Mrs. Ratignolle also show her yearning for a mother.  In the Creole society, Adele is seen as the perfect mother.  She has many kids, and is pregnant while the novel is taking place.  In many ways, she is the exact opposite of Edna, who is looked down upon by her Creole husband due to her parenting style.  She is drawn to Mrs. Ratignolle because of this heavy maternal instinct, wishing that she could  have had someone like that to look up to.  She is there for her when she has her child, showing the amount of devotion she really has to Adele.  Edna left Robert to go to her because of the attachment she has formed by seeing her as a motherly figure.

Edna Pontellier's wish for mothery guidance and love is a parallel to Kate Chopin's own life.  When she was young, Chopin was always attached to her mother and had a very strong relationship with her.  They continued to have a strong relationship until her mother's death.  She had a very difficult time living without that relationship, wishing that she had a motherly presence still in her life.  This showed through in Edna, while she searched for a mother's influence.  

The argument that Edna was driven by her want for a mother by Virginia Ross was presented very thoroughly.  Ross backed this argument with several different ways that this idea was presented in the novel, using direct quotations and outside information to interpret the text.  I agree with Ross in that Edna acted upon her desire for a mother throughout the novel.  A lot of actions that Edna carried out in the novel were better explained to me through this interpretation than my previous thoughts on her motives.  Her regressive, irrational tendencies point toward Edna's desperate search for a motherly figure in her life.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" Response

            The short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman tells the tale of a woman going through a deep depression, but more than that, oppression.  The narrator is feeling confined and trapped, and is left helpless in the hands of others, although she is quite capable.  She is supposed to be resting at all times, but the rest seems to cause her to have a mental break by the end of the story.  Her husband, a well-known physician is treating her, and because of this there is no escaping it.  He does what he thinks is best even though she knows that it is not working.  There is no arguing or reasoning with him, and what he says goes.  He treats her as though she’s a child, keeping her in the old nursery on the second floor of the house.  The windows are barred, and the bed is even nailed to the floor.  She is even forbidden to socialize with others.  She can’t read, write, or think because her husband doesn’t believe that this will help her “heal.”  Her husband says he loves her, but he doesn’t take the time to listen to her.  She says that his remedy isn’t working, and it seems as though he completely ignores her and tells her that she is still unwell and doesn’t know any better.  He doesn’t seem to care very much about her thoughts and feelings, and the marriage feels very unbalanced. 

            The narrator is also obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the room.  She finds it incredibly ugly yet intriguing, and sees a woman creeping behind and trying to get out from behind what looks to be bars or restraints.  This could represent the narrator trying to escape from her husband’s hold over her.  She doesn't want to be where she is, but is forced there against her will much to her prodding and questioning.  By locking herself in the room and peeling off the wallpaper, she makes a statement not only to herself but to her husband that she will no longer tolerate this treatment.  She wants some say, and especially wants say over her health and well-being.  

Essay Summary - "Calvinist Tortures in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome"

                In the essay “Calvinist Tortures in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome” by Carol J. Singley, Wharton’s connection to Calvinism is examined along with its effect on the novella.  Wharton’s connection to modernism is also closely scrutinized.  Singley believed that even though Wharton wasn’t associated with Calvinism or modernism, her experiences with these two ideas showed through prominently in the novella.  In Wharton’s childhood, she was obsessed with morality and truthfulness.  She was very spiritual from a young age, and was drawn to the doctrines of Calvinism.  As she grew up, she still adhered to being truthful, but her love of Calvinism diminished due to its rigidity and strictness.  Wharton saw her mother much like the oppressive God found in the Calvinist doctrines, and tried to push them away.  Her mother’s characteristics are seen in the character of Zeena in the novella, acting as an oppressive force to Ethan’s true desires.  While trying to live up to her mother’s standards, Wharton married a man that got her approval, but the marriage was loveless.  Later on in her life, she met another man who she fell in love with.  She had an affair with this man until the morality of it got to her.  The standards that she lived by her whole life caught up to her, and she couldn’t live with the guilt.  She began to believe that there was no hope for her spiritually.  To overcome these issues, she wrote Ethan Frome with little to no option for any of the characters to gain spiritual redemption in order for her to make up for her wrongdoings.  Her situation and struggles with her Calvinist moral codes showed through in the character of Ethan and what he had to endure.  She believed there was no spiritual redemption for her, and made Ethan the same way.  This novel is similar to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter in that respect.  Wharton’s modernist message in the novella is that once a good thing is lost, it can never be regained even after death, which coincides with Ethan’s manner and situation after the accident. 

           

            Singley presents her argument thoroughly in this essay.  All information presented gives insight into the mind of Wharton and the novella itself.  A deeper meaning to Ethan Frome can be seen after the essay is read.  I agree that Wharton both showed her Calvinist and modernist views through writing this novella, and it showed the thought behind it as a whole.  Through reading this essay, I could gain a better understanding of Ethan’s mentality and the torture that he was going through.  Viewing the novella in this way makes it an even bleaker story, as when put into this light, there was no hope for Ethan, or any of the characters for that matter, to ever be happy again.  

Sonnet 129

            Sonnet 129 is the third sonnet in the Dark Lady series of sonnets, and is the first one in this portion that I have read.  This sonnet is very different from all of the other sonnets I’ve read so far in that it is an angry portrayal of the speaker’s feelings toward this person.  Before this, all of the sonnets were of praise and affection.  This one is more of a rant, trying to voice their opinion on a matter that deeply disturbs them.  From line one all the way to line twelve, it is one complete sentence, which gives a lot of insight into the speaker’s attitude.  It gives off the notion that the speaker was writing in a fury to get something off his chest.  It wasn’t planned out, but a way to express himself.  In the sonnet, the speaker voices his views on lust.  He knows it is wrong, but accepts it for what it is.  By the end, the reader gets a sense that the speaker accepts the idea over all, but does not feel any better about his conflict.