Cleveland Frost

So, I was sitting in my drafty apartment in downtown Cleveland, and it was dumping snow Wednesday night. I picked up my book and started reading until I came to Frost's poem "Desert Places". The very first line I read included, "Snow falling and night falling fast, oh fast", and I could not help to think what similarities Mr. Frost and I both saw. He also talked about feeling absent-minded, lonely and empty. He made it clear that the snow symbolized not only whiteness, but blankness and nothing to express, which makes comparisons to people, and I felt it myself. He ended with, "To scare myself with my own desert places". Here he has make symbolic comparisons between nature (snow) and people, or even himself. And- I could not help but to make comparisons with the miserable falling snow, the miserable city of Cleveland and how truly miserable it makes me. Thank you Robert Frost and thank you Cleveland.

Woolson Response

My favorite of all of the writers was Constance Fenimore Woolson. "Miss Grief" has truly been my favorite short story I have read this year, not only because it is well written and received, but because I believe it shares a bigger picture. Perhaps, that can be summed up by an expression used near the end of the story, "she, with the greater power, failed-I, with less, succeed." Woolson has the main character mispronounce Miss Crief's name as "Miss Grief", which seems to be somewhat of a reality, because she looks so miserable all of the time and seems so dim, much like an old maid. Throughout the story he seems to take somewhat of a liking and interest in Miss Crief, and attempts get her story published, but runs into many hardships with that. In the end he sees her to her death bed and comes to many realizations. "Miss Grief" gave him light and helped him figure out much about life, himself and others "unaccepted". I think the author is suggesting that we could all learn something from Miss Crief!

Standing Bear Response

The reading that most affected me was Standing Bear's response, "What I Am Going to Tell You Here Will Take Me Until Dark". First off, it takes an immense amount of courage to stand up to the people who by force are taking over your land and controlling your people, and later taking them to court. When the issue was addressed and ruled in favor of in a court of law, it became the catalyst for more equal treatment, acknowledgment and respect for the Native Americans and their people. This declared that the Native Americans were "people" within the meaning of the laws in the United States. Not to mention the fact that this occurred after he lost one-third of his people on the "trail of tears". 

In his address he reminded us that we are all under the kingdom of God, and that he is our creator and our guide. He then goes on by reminding the audience what the white people have "taken" from him and his people. The land was taken, not sold, not traded, not given. He then went further to say that if the good lord himself wanted this land, there would be no price in trade, even for God. And finally he reminds the audience that they would not appreciate anything taken from them, and that what is theirs is truly their own. I think this speaks huge volumes and for him to stand up for his people in-front of all of those who took from him by force makes it that much more courageous. 

Chopin Response

The first work titled, "Desiree's Baby" was a great piece to start out with before reading "The Awakening". This piece demonstrated racism and sexism at its finest. The most interesting aspect I believe however is how Chopin chooses to unwind the extent to which this society is dominated by a patriarchal basis. It is interested to look at how the problem was quickly dismissed as being fault to the woman, because it just could not be the man! At the end we find out otherwise which contradicts this whole set up. I see this style as being consistent throughout both of her pieces. There always seems to be a struggle of will and wit. In this case the ignorance lies in the corner of Armand!