In the story "To Build a Fire," the chechaqua man had to make many life and death decisions. From the very beginning of the story, the story says that the weather is fifty below zero. To decide to travel in conditions like that already seems to be a bad choice. The man did nothing to prepare for his journey. He brought a long a dog, lunch and some matches. Even though the things he brought were good essentials, he needed much more for the astounding weather, including a smart mind.
In the beginning of the story, London writes, "The chechaqua man was a newcomer to the land, and this was his first winter." (London 149) London also writes that to the man "Fifty below zero was to him just precisely fifty below zero. And that there should be nothing more to it than that was a thought that never entered his head." (London 149) In seeing the things that the man brought a long with him and knowing he did not know this particular land very well, shows a stubborn mind. By the statement the man made about fifty below is just fifty below; it shows the man thinks carelessly about the weather. Although, bringing the dog a long made a lot of sense, the man did not take the intuitions from the dog that the weather was unsafe. Many decisions already made were dangerous and careless for his venture. After going down the Yukon trail for a while the man realizes that it's actually colder than it seemed. I feel that a smart man would possibly turn around at that point and try again when it's not so cold. In the plot of the story, it reads that the Yukon territory had abundant sites of gold deposits. I feel that if this was the case and the man continued his journey because of gold, the man must of had a bit of greed.
When the man stops to have his lunch he forgets to build a fire. I feel the weather has already started to affect the man but he does not realize it. London writes that the man says "All a man has to do is keep his head, and he was all right." (London 154) As soon as the man hit the trail I feel that the weather started messing with his mind. Maybe because of the cold weather the man's judgment was way off. The man building his second fire under a tree full of snow is a prime example of his poor judgment. The decisions that were made before he started the venture can not be blamed on the weather but on a hard head and probably too much pride.
Not only making the decisions to go on such a journey unprepared but to not take the advice the old-timer shows his hard headedness. The older-timer new the land well and told the man that he should take someone a long. The man again made a bad decision. Taking someone to help him could have saved his life. The man should have swallowed his pride and listened to the old-timer.
In the end, the man loses his life. It started with his mind then to his cheeks, hands and toes. If he would have made better decisions his survival in the Yukon could have been different. In the type of weather the man should have thought twice about the decision he made. He should have listened to the old timer and been much more prepared.
London, Jack. "To Build a Fire." Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc, 2002. 149-158
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thursday, February 8, 2007
A Woman in Search of More
I loved the imagery the author used in writing this short story. There where many issues I felt a connection with in this story. Some women would say, "How could a woman with a family just leave like she did!" Others, like me, can have a bit of understanding where the woman was coming from. Sometimes, you need to escape reality, not saying cheat on your husband or leave your child, but see other things. I feel the stories the woman's grandfather told her of the Yellow Woman intrigued her and she wanted to feel what the Yellow Woman may have felt.
The stories of the Yellow Woman were stories of adventure. There could have been more than one Yellow Woman but in all, the particular woman was out for the same thing. When I was younger, my father would tell me stories about the late sixties and seventies. I thought I was in love with what I was hearing: the great music, the strive for world peace and the supposed freedom. I really feel it is possible to fall in love with your imagination and I feel that is what the woman in the story did. Sometimes, when people get a mind set that something is cool or exciting, like the grandfather's stories, or even like the stories my father told me, you go out and look for the feeling.
Silva, the man the woman found herself with, filled a space in her that was empty. He was different than her husband. He was dangerous, she found him arousing and he seemed to live everyday however he wanted. The woman probably sat at home thinking about what she could have had if she were not married or had a child. I feel she found all of her imaginative thoughts of freedom in Silva. While she was gone she did think about her home, but she felt so fulfilled with the moments with Silva, she did not want to ever return. I think that is why she spoke of her mother and grandmother raising her child and her husband finding someone else.
As the story concludes, the living for the day kind of life Silva was leading came to a halt. He probably new it would sooner or later. He more than like thought in his mind that as long as the woman wanted to tag a long with him then he would let her. Silva and the woman probably new that their relationship would not last long. The relationship may have lasted a little longer if Silva was not caught, but I feel that it was the best thing for the woman. Now, I cannot really decide why the family did not miss her. The only idea that I can come up with is the family new she yearned for more. The family may have thought it was just a phase she hit and she needs to be free for some time. This is what makes the best sense to me. In the second to last paragraph, she imagines meeting Silva again. I think with that thought she will leave her home once again. She will continue to leave until she has filled the emptiness that may be inside her.
The stories of the Yellow Woman were stories of adventure. There could have been more than one Yellow Woman but in all, the particular woman was out for the same thing. When I was younger, my father would tell me stories about the late sixties and seventies. I thought I was in love with what I was hearing: the great music, the strive for world peace and the supposed freedom. I really feel it is possible to fall in love with your imagination and I feel that is what the woman in the story did. Sometimes, when people get a mind set that something is cool or exciting, like the grandfather's stories, or even like the stories my father told me, you go out and look for the feeling.
Silva, the man the woman found herself with, filled a space in her that was empty. He was different than her husband. He was dangerous, she found him arousing and he seemed to live everyday however he wanted. The woman probably sat at home thinking about what she could have had if she were not married or had a child. I feel she found all of her imaginative thoughts of freedom in Silva. While she was gone she did think about her home, but she felt so fulfilled with the moments with Silva, she did not want to ever return. I think that is why she spoke of her mother and grandmother raising her child and her husband finding someone else.
As the story concludes, the living for the day kind of life Silva was leading came to a halt. He probably new it would sooner or later. He more than like thought in his mind that as long as the woman wanted to tag a long with him then he would let her. Silva and the woman probably new that their relationship would not last long. The relationship may have lasted a little longer if Silva was not caught, but I feel that it was the best thing for the woman. Now, I cannot really decide why the family did not miss her. The only idea that I can come up with is the family new she yearned for more. The family may have thought it was just a phase she hit and she needs to be free for some time. This is what makes the best sense to me. In the second to last paragraph, she imagines meeting Silva again. I think with that thought she will leave her home once again. She will continue to leave until she has filled the emptiness that may be inside her.
Friday, February 2, 2007
With Life There's Always Death
When I read Joyce's "Araby" I found myself a bit lost. As I read, Joyce's "The Dead," I found myself wondering about the idea of the story. I feel that Joyce is an eccentric writer. He's writes in deep conversation with his characters. Joyce leads you to wonder about the reasoning for certain things in the story. I feel that that is why the story can cause you to be confused. I am glad Joyce at least gives you an idea of when and where the story took place. You can at least picture the characters interacting in a specific setting.
After reading about ten pages of Joyce's "The Dead," I assumed it was only a story about an annual family get together. The peculiar family in the story was enjoying the festivities of dance, song, conversation and dinner. Gabriel, who I find to be the main character in the story, seems to be having a hard time throughout the get together. It all started, "As Lily, the caretaker, helps him of with his overcoat. He jokes that she will probably be married someday soon, but he is confused and taken aback by a bitter reply. He can only thrust a coin at her to resolve an awkward situation and even this gesture is more insulting that considerate."(Begnal) This is how Gabriel's night started. As the fest continued, the rest of the family seemed to enjoy the company of each other. Gabriel then comes in contact with Mrs. Ivors, a guest at the party, and has another falling out. She asked him questions, such as, "Why he would go to France and Belgium, instead of his own country?" This question, a long with the entire conversation with Mrs. Ivors worked on his nerve. Not only did Gabriel have to deal with thinking about the mishaps with Lily and Mrs. Ivors, but he was worried about having to give a speech at dinner. From what I concluded his speech didn't go over well either.
At the end of the party, it seemed that he would finally be able to relax with his wife, Gretta. He and his wife went to their hotel room. He had hopes of being intimate with her, but it seemed she had other things on her mind. Before Gabriel and Gretta left the party, Mr. D'Arcy, another guest at the party, sang a song that touched Gretta. Gretta then told Gabriel that the song was sang by a man that use to love her, named Micheal Furey. I feel Gretta must have loved Gabriel to be able to tell him the story of Micheal Furey. The story of Micheal and his wife made Gabriel realize that she had loved another. This hurt Gabriel even though Gretta told him Micheal was dead. I think that Gabriel felt like he was nothing at this point. He then spoke of his aunts dying and that he would join them soon. "Rather than striving to celebrat his own life for what it is, with its significant milestones that have accured over the years, he gives up passively to the sleep that absolves him from the responsibility of objective self-examination: His soul had approached that region where dwell the vast hosts of the dead. He was conscious of, but could not apprehend, their wayward and flickering existence."(Begnal)
This story was hard for me to blog on. Even after this is published I will go back and reread the story of Joyce's "The Dead" for more understanding about the purpose and meaning behind it all.
WORK CITIED
Micheal H. Begnal, "The Dead: Overview" in Reference Guide to Short Fiction, 1st ed., edited by Noelle Watson, St. James Press, 1994.
After reading about ten pages of Joyce's "The Dead," I assumed it was only a story about an annual family get together. The peculiar family in the story was enjoying the festivities of dance, song, conversation and dinner. Gabriel, who I find to be the main character in the story, seems to be having a hard time throughout the get together. It all started, "As Lily, the caretaker, helps him of with his overcoat. He jokes that she will probably be married someday soon, but he is confused and taken aback by a bitter reply. He can only thrust a coin at her to resolve an awkward situation and even this gesture is more insulting that considerate."(Begnal) This is how Gabriel's night started. As the fest continued, the rest of the family seemed to enjoy the company of each other. Gabriel then comes in contact with Mrs. Ivors, a guest at the party, and has another falling out. She asked him questions, such as, "Why he would go to France and Belgium, instead of his own country?" This question, a long with the entire conversation with Mrs. Ivors worked on his nerve. Not only did Gabriel have to deal with thinking about the mishaps with Lily and Mrs. Ivors, but he was worried about having to give a speech at dinner. From what I concluded his speech didn't go over well either.
At the end of the party, it seemed that he would finally be able to relax with his wife, Gretta. He and his wife went to their hotel room. He had hopes of being intimate with her, but it seemed she had other things on her mind. Before Gabriel and Gretta left the party, Mr. D'Arcy, another guest at the party, sang a song that touched Gretta. Gretta then told Gabriel that the song was sang by a man that use to love her, named Micheal Furey. I feel Gretta must have loved Gabriel to be able to tell him the story of Micheal Furey. The story of Micheal and his wife made Gabriel realize that she had loved another. This hurt Gabriel even though Gretta told him Micheal was dead. I think that Gabriel felt like he was nothing at this point. He then spoke of his aunts dying and that he would join them soon. "Rather than striving to celebrat his own life for what it is, with its significant milestones that have accured over the years, he gives up passively to the sleep that absolves him from the responsibility of objective self-examination: His soul had approached that region where dwell the vast hosts of the dead. He was conscious of, but could not apprehend, their wayward and flickering existence."(Begnal)
This story was hard for me to blog on. Even after this is published I will go back and reread the story of Joyce's "The Dead" for more understanding about the purpose and meaning behind it all.
WORK CITIED
Micheal H. Begnal, "The Dead: Overview" in Reference Guide to Short Fiction, 1st ed., edited by Noelle Watson, St. James Press, 1994.
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