the shawl

In, The Shawl, by Cynthia Ozick, the readers may ask themselves multiple times throughout the novel, "Is Rosa crazy?"  Rosa, obviously traumatized by the horrific acts of genocide that she witnessed with Magda and Stella, does things throughout the novel that may jeopardize her sanity.  All things considered, however, what Rosa had lived through was enough to make anyone go insane. After witnessing the murder of her small child, Rosa is forever alone, with just Stella to look back on the events which took place during the Holocaust.  However, Rosa has held a grudge with Stella since the incident where she took the shawl, leaving Magda exposed, which would eventually lead to her demise.  Once leaving the concentration camps and arriving in New York, Rosa had established a humble antique shop.  I think that it took Rosa a while to feel that she did not deserve the life she was living because she was in denial that she could have done anything to save Magda.  I personally do not think that there was anything she could have done, but I do think that Rosa does, and that is why she has held such a grudge with Stella.  Rosa uses Stella as a scapegoat for her taking the shawl, because she feels that she is as responsible for Magda's death as Stella is.  After keeping all of this bottled up for years, she eventually snapped and destroyed the antique shop that she once created.  I think that Rosa confines herself to a disheveled Miami hotel to live a lifestyle that she thought was more deserving for her, after "taking the life" of her daughter.  I do not think that Rosa is genuinely crazy, however.  Before the concentration camp, Rosa was an ordinary girl, who has not been exposed to such traumatic events.  After all that she experienced, however, in my opinion, she had not become crazy, yet she had been institutionalized, the same way that someone would be after going to prison for years.  I think that that is why she moved to such a terrible place, to replicate where she thought she deserved to be.  Having said that, I do not think that Rosa is crazy, however, I do not think this is a success story.  I think that the oppression from the Nazi's clearly outweigh any form of success she may have had, whether she would ever live a normal life again or not.  

emperor 3

I think that Otsuka wrote about the topic of Japanese internment camps mainly for one obvious reason; to bring something that is seldom spoken about to light.  I also think that it was for her own knowledge of the situation, as she learned little about it while growing up.  I think that this book took a more, “under the radar,” approach to discussing something that is rarely touched upon, than a novel such as, The Vagina Monologues.  Although one novel is about a topic that is obviously much more solemn than the one discussed by Eve Ensler, Otsuka’s mission was similar.  This novel, in my opinion, relates to the events that happened on 9/11, as well as any national tragedy or corruption, as it will rarely be seen being discussed, and affected thousands of families for generations to come.  The families who have been affected would have to keep to themselves, when provided little to no outlets to express how they feel about it, or to hear someone else's perspective of the event.  I think that is also a reason why the family members are unnamed throughout the book.  Otsuka seemed to have been writing this novel for any and everyone who has experienced any type of this trauma.  The nameless family, in my opinion, is to represent all of the families who can relate, in any way.  I also think that this is why so much is left unsaid, or said in a monotonous tone throughout the novel; so that the reader can relate to the family in their own way, whether having gone through such a circumstance or not.  When the Emporer Was Divine, is a novel written about a little-known topic.  The author had little knowledge of the events growing up, but later learned the harsh realities of the internment camps, and shared her knowledge with the world to shine light on it.

emperor 2

Otsuka’s style, throughout, When the Emperor Was Divine, may strike people as a minimalist approach to the topic at hand, and I do agree.  I think that for such a topic, which is clearly such an emotional nightmare for any family, Otsuka tried to leave out a lot of the blatantly overwhelming emotional dialogues to let the reader read between the lines, and try to force them to imagine how it would be in such a situation.  I think that after reading Push, which is clearly a much more disturbing novel on the surface, When the Emperor Was Divine, was much harder to get the full experience from the novel that the author desired.  I think that it could have been a better read if not read so soon after Push.  I think the monotonous tone is not so much an example of a minimalist approach, but rather a way of showing the reader how the family tried to maintain optimistic while in an obviously excruciating circumstance.  I think that most families would react this way, as to not discourage the others, and simply act level-headed.  I think that her tone can be considered minimalist throughout the novel, yet I think that it plays a bigger role in letting the reader connect on their own, instead of being thrown into a situation that few people are well-informed about, if familiar with the internment camps at all.

Divine emporer 1

When The Emporer was Divine, is a story that is a clear contrast of most peoples' idea of the, "American Dream."  Immigrants from all over the world thought that they would be coming to America to be in the center of the world's most lucrative melting pot.  I do not think that anyone who came to America in hopes to find the "American Dream," would imagine that their family would be harassed and dismantled due to their race.  When people imagine America upon immigration, they would generally think that they would be living lavishly, will little to worry about, and many goods and luxuries that they would become accustomed to living with.  It is hard to fathom that someone would associate the "roads paved with gold," with being taken away from their home, separated from their patriarch, and told that they are only allowed to bring one suitcase full of belongings, not to mention that all of the items be recorded on a list.  The killing of the family's pet dog, which is now not only illegal, but incredibly immoral, seemed almost sacrificial, as it was provoked by the family's background.  To the family, America had not at all been what they have expected or dreamt of.  They thought they would remain a sound, happy family, and not have letters from the father figure being labeled, "detained alien enemy mail."  

push 4/10 post

Precious, in Push, is faced with a tremendous amount of despairity and baggage, and, in the end, finds some light at the end of the tunnel.  Some may see it as an example of the, "American Dream," however, I think that it is a contradiction of the American dream and more of a story of despair.  Although Precious eventually showed progression in the quality of her life, even while battling a terminal disease, it is absurd to inquire that Precious' situation is anyone's idea of the American dream.  Although, I do think that Precious' personal gain did benefit from the fact that she was in America.  Precious utilized her resources by visiting a number of clinics and help groups to help her better understand her situation, and get more educated about her lifestyle, and life in general.  I think that the story is essentially a depiction of both hope and disparity, as Precious seemed as if she had nothing to live for, but managed to make the most of her situation, and realize her own value, and have a sense of fulfillment from conceiving her second baby born out of incest.  However, I do not think that her situation is simple enough to state whether it is a story of hope or despair.  The life that she was born into was obviously something that was not only illegal, but is the epitome of a bad upbringing.  Ultimately, Precious comes from a nasty environment and abusive home and learns to use the resources that are available to her to overcome the trauma of the way she was raised.  I think that this can be labeled as nothing but a personal success story, being that Precious was in such a broken home, and eventually learned how to make the most of the tiny bit that was given to her.

Late entry for thursday 4/7

I think that Push portrays the life of a female, in one specific situation, and how it affects her life and the way she views herself.  I think that Sapphire is doing this to say much more, however.  I think that the novel is her way of letting the world know that there are horrible places, with horrible things going on, and it is not just Precious.  I think that the way that people relate to this book is much different, and more extreme than just about any other book.  The type of experiences that Precious went through may not be the same as everybody who reads it, but people who have experienced trauma from their environment growing up can relate, no matter the location of their home.  Power, abuse, and survival are prevalent throughout the book, and I think that Sapphire did not write this book after anyone in particular, rather just an image of anyone who has been oppressed by their environment, and how it takes a toll on their lives.  Precious' mother did nothing to protect her from the crude environment that she brought her daughter into.  Although she seemed to truly care about her at times, she did nothing to intervene the trifled life of Precious.  The abuse from her father clearly took it's toll on her self-esteem and self image, and the gritty environment she was in, along with her financial and social situation, made Precious' life a very dangerous one, that would eventually kill her.  Sapphire uses all of these as an example of the severity of many lives in many nooks of the world.

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Writing, for many authors and artists, is an outlet of self-expression to help cope with whatever they may have faced throughout their lives, or simply to express how they feel.  Alison Bechdel and Eve Ensler both use their writing to get their words and feelings out in a way that it otherwise wouldn’t.  Bechdel, in Fun Home uses pictures and writing to depict and exemplify her life.  She uses satire and dark humor to give the reader a sense of the lives of a family who play a non-traditional role, although it may not seem that way from the outside.I think that she uses her comic tone to, in a sense, poke fun, at her father’s role and the effect that it had on her childhood and throughout life.  Bechdel’s ability to look at a subject that is rarely touched on or brought to public attention in such a comedic and satirical tone clearly shows that it is truly an outlet for her, as well as Eve Ensler.  Ensler also used subjects that have been essentially kept away from the public in order to express something that she felt passionately about. Both authors use tones, that to me, almost gave me the feeling that they have a secret that they have been to keep, but are trying to tell the general public.  I think that this is caused by the fact that both authors use subjects, which, perhaps because of my gender, are so seldom discussed in such a manner.  I think that it is good that there are women who are willing to express their emotions and stories with an open audience.  I believe that it is good to hear a female’s point of view on subjects that often kept disclosed.  Both authors use the art of literature to express the things that are kept close to themselves, and far from everyday conversation.