A Whisper in The Dark touches on a new theme we have not seen in the other stories. The theme of insanity is not something we have seen before in the other text, but it fits perfectly with this story. In all the previous novels we have read, the reader has had either a strong bond with their mother or not one at all. We have never really seen insanity connect a mother and daughter like it does in this story. I don’t think that insanity was seen often in 19th century novels. I think the idea of insanity draws people into the story and allows people in the 19th century read about something new.
At first Sybil represents herself as a normal girl with no mental problems at all other then the issues with her uncle, but other then that we assume that she has been raised normally from the first half of the reading. Then after one turn of the page she is in an insane asylum. With this aspect being brought into the story who wouldn’t start to have mental issues? “Child! Woman! Whatever you are, leave this accursed house while you have power to do it”(238). This is a quote from Sybil’s mom’s letter. After reading this you can see that Sybil is having to deal with all these issues at only age eighteen. This really shows just how the insanity in this story really actually seems to make sense and pull the whole story together. This story really struck my attention and really brought in another aspect of children's literature in the nineteenth century.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
I have seen throughout most traditional children’s literature there are certain themes that authors try to get across. Morality is one of those themes. After reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, it completely goes against the idea of promoting right morals. In children’s literature authors use the text to show children examples of how to live a right moral life. I feel like Stowe is doing the opposite by showing children a side of evil through the horrible act of slavery. As a child you do not really seem to recognize what is going on in the outside world especially such a horrible thing like slavery. Stowe does not bother going through a set of lessons in teaching them right from wrong. She goes directly to the point in proving what is not morally right in real life. Unlike all the rest of our readings this is the first author to express the message of immorality.
This book does not portray the idea of fantasy life we usually see in children’s literature. For example when talking about tearing families apart, Stowe puts it into perspective by making us think about " If it were your Harry, mother, or your Willie, that were going to be torn from you by a brutal trader, tomorrow morning..." and continues to describe what if would feel like to go through this with all the different elements and trials you have to face on the way (244). Through this quote we see families being torn apart with no hope for the future, rather then seeing how families stick together and are always there for you. The idea of teaching morality is seen in a twisted way from what we are use to seeing in other children’s novels. Stowe shows children how our ancestors supported such a thing as slavery and allowed it to go on. Ultimately, Uncle Tom's Cabin is essentially a novel that crosses all boundaries when teaching morals and the importance of family life.
This book does not portray the idea of fantasy life we usually see in children’s literature. For example when talking about tearing families apart, Stowe puts it into perspective by making us think about " If it were your Harry, mother, or your Willie, that were going to be torn from you by a brutal trader, tomorrow morning..." and continues to describe what if would feel like to go through this with all the different elements and trials you have to face on the way (244). Through this quote we see families being torn apart with no hope for the future, rather then seeing how families stick together and are always there for you. The idea of teaching morality is seen in a twisted way from what we are use to seeing in other children’s novels. Stowe shows children how our ancestors supported such a thing as slavery and allowed it to go on. Ultimately, Uncle Tom's Cabin is essentially a novel that crosses all boundaries when teaching morals and the importance of family life.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
THE HIDDEN HAND
After reading The Hidden Hand I noticed reoccurring theme that was also in the other texts we have read. Growing up in New York alone, Capitola, a young poor girl, has to learn to take care of herself and teach herself all the lessons a parent would usually do. At such a young age, Capitola has seen a great deal and has had to endure certain situations no girl her age should. In both The Wide Wide World and The Lamplighter I noticed that both Ellen and Gerty had to grow up faster then normal also. The theme of being independent and learning how to take care of yourself at such a young age was apparent in all these texts.
Capitola had no parent like figure to guide her in life or teach her certain things that she would need while growing up. She was completely on her own, which lead her to do some uncommon things in order to survive. For example in order to get a decent job she dressed up in boys clothing. Capitola also lived on the streets. She experienced and saw things that a normal girl her age should not be seeing. The author recalls, " She had indeed the innocence of youth, but not its simplicity" (187). Capitola still was a child, helpless and wandering, but her lifestyle was not simple in that she had seen horrible lifestyles and dangerous ways for her age.
Even though Ellen did have parents and it was very apparent that her mother loved her deeply, we see early on that her mother is ill and dying. Because her mother is so ill Ellen had to take the responsibility of taking care of her by doing everything and anything her mother wanted her to do. After the doctor visits her mother on her deathbed, he warns Ellen, " You mustn't let her talk much, or laugh much, or cry at all, on any account; she mustn't be worried in the least-will you remember? Now, you know what I must expect of you; you must be very careful" (31). The doctor gives her all this responsibility and commands at such a young age, which was a lot of pressure for a child this young. Even though she had a father he was completely out of the picture and she had to deal with her dying mother and the responsibilities that came with it all on her own. In comparison to Capitola, we see that Ellen has to act like an adult even though she is just a child.
Gerty, however grew up with a horrible parental figure, Nan Grant, who treated her poorly and could care less about her. Nan Grant pretty much robs Gerty from her childhood innocence and turns her into this little monster. Gerty never really had the chance to be a child because she had to take care of herself until Trueman Flint comes into the picture. True Flint in a way restores her of some of her childhood she had lost, but it was hard to reverse what Gerty had already been though. Especially after dealing with the horrible ways Nan Grant put her through, which caused her to be so angry. Gerty never learned anything a normal girl her age would have, not even basic things like cleaning, as Mrs. Sullivan states, " You never have been taught to do anything, my child; but a girl eight years old can do a great many things, if she is patient and tries hard to learn" (108).
Capitola, Ellen, and Gerty’s youth was all taken from them. They all had to learn to start being their own caretaker and missed out on normal things a child should be experiencing. This seems like a popular theme among 19th century writers, maybe in order to teach children to learn to be independent. These three girls had completely different experiences during their childhood, but still shared the similarity of having to become independent at a young age.
Capitola had no parent like figure to guide her in life or teach her certain things that she would need while growing up. She was completely on her own, which lead her to do some uncommon things in order to survive. For example in order to get a decent job she dressed up in boys clothing. Capitola also lived on the streets. She experienced and saw things that a normal girl her age should not be seeing. The author recalls, " She had indeed the innocence of youth, but not its simplicity" (187). Capitola still was a child, helpless and wandering, but her lifestyle was not simple in that she had seen horrible lifestyles and dangerous ways for her age.
Even though Ellen did have parents and it was very apparent that her mother loved her deeply, we see early on that her mother is ill and dying. Because her mother is so ill Ellen had to take the responsibility of taking care of her by doing everything and anything her mother wanted her to do. After the doctor visits her mother on her deathbed, he warns Ellen, " You mustn't let her talk much, or laugh much, or cry at all, on any account; she mustn't be worried in the least-will you remember? Now, you know what I must expect of you; you must be very careful" (31). The doctor gives her all this responsibility and commands at such a young age, which was a lot of pressure for a child this young. Even though she had a father he was completely out of the picture and she had to deal with her dying mother and the responsibilities that came with it all on her own. In comparison to Capitola, we see that Ellen has to act like an adult even though she is just a child.
Gerty, however grew up with a horrible parental figure, Nan Grant, who treated her poorly and could care less about her. Nan Grant pretty much robs Gerty from her childhood innocence and turns her into this little monster. Gerty never really had the chance to be a child because she had to take care of herself until Trueman Flint comes into the picture. True Flint in a way restores her of some of her childhood she had lost, but it was hard to reverse what Gerty had already been though. Especially after dealing with the horrible ways Nan Grant put her through, which caused her to be so angry. Gerty never learned anything a normal girl her age would have, not even basic things like cleaning, as Mrs. Sullivan states, " You never have been taught to do anything, my child; but a girl eight years old can do a great many things, if she is patient and tries hard to learn" (108).
Capitola, Ellen, and Gerty’s youth was all taken from them. They all had to learn to start being their own caretaker and missed out on normal things a child should be experiencing. This seems like a popular theme among 19th century writers, maybe in order to teach children to learn to be independent. These three girls had completely different experiences during their childhood, but still shared the similarity of having to become independent at a young age.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
THE LAMPLIGHTER
Anna and Gentry are both two young 8-year-old girls who share the same struggles and complications that they struggle with everyday. Even though the girls are from completely different time periods we can still find comparisons in them. Some comparisons are that they both face the same struggles, to find balance and to be useful.
In The Lamplighter we see that Gerty is constantly struggling with certain obstacles daily, which we can blame on the way she was brought up. Nan Grant never taught her anything or cared about her at all, which causes Gerty to be unaware of how she is suppose to handle life. Gerty finally starts to figure things out when she moves in with True Flint. She has a complete change in heart and we see her behavior change as well. Because of the way Nan Grant treated her it is hard for her to get over some of the habits she developed. Gerty still has occasional breakdowns and fits. "The child's language expressed unmitigated hatred, and even a hope of future revenge. True looked worried and troubled at hearing her talk so angrily. Since he brought her home he had never witnessed such a display of temper, and had fondly believed that she would always be as quiet and gentle as during her illness and the few weeks subsequent to it." True was shocked to see these emotions come out of her especially since this is the first time he has really been close to her. This was one of the ways Gerty would express her emotions. I think in a way this was one of the ways when living with Nan Grant she could actually get her attention and by being so dramatic it would catch Nan Grants attention.
In the clip of Anna, she explains that she copes with her emotions, stress, and hard times by doing yoga. We can draw a comparison in the way that Gerty uses burying her hands in her face and the different positions in yoga, such as child's pose, as a means they use to cope with their issues. Through this we see that even though these two girls live in completely different decades they share some similarities in how they deal with stress. Anna has obviously had a much different upbringing then Gerty. Unlike Gerty, Anna’s parents where probably around to teach her how to deal with her emotions. In the video Anna describes how she responds to those who say they try and can't do it by saying "try your best and try harder." This is seen in The Lamplighter when Willie brings up the discussion of religion. He asks her “Don’t you ever pray-pray to God?” “No I don’t-Who is God? Where is God?” He goes on to continue telling and teaching her about God. Anna could be compared to Willie in this particular instance because Willie is encouraging Gerty to know God, such as Anna encourages other people in her life.
I think little girls at this age have a somewhat of a similarity when it comes to their behaviors and mindset. We see Anna as more mature then Gerty because of the way she was brought up. The two although both seemed to share characteristics such as the way they dealt with their stress. Essentially all little girls act a certain way according to their age whether it be now or a 150 years ago.
In The Lamplighter we see that Gerty is constantly struggling with certain obstacles daily, which we can blame on the way she was brought up. Nan Grant never taught her anything or cared about her at all, which causes Gerty to be unaware of how she is suppose to handle life. Gerty finally starts to figure things out when she moves in with True Flint. She has a complete change in heart and we see her behavior change as well. Because of the way Nan Grant treated her it is hard for her to get over some of the habits she developed. Gerty still has occasional breakdowns and fits. "The child's language expressed unmitigated hatred, and even a hope of future revenge. True looked worried and troubled at hearing her talk so angrily. Since he brought her home he had never witnessed such a display of temper, and had fondly believed that she would always be as quiet and gentle as during her illness and the few weeks subsequent to it." True was shocked to see these emotions come out of her especially since this is the first time he has really been close to her. This was one of the ways Gerty would express her emotions. I think in a way this was one of the ways when living with Nan Grant she could actually get her attention and by being so dramatic it would catch Nan Grants attention.
In the clip of Anna, she explains that she copes with her emotions, stress, and hard times by doing yoga. We can draw a comparison in the way that Gerty uses burying her hands in her face and the different positions in yoga, such as child's pose, as a means they use to cope with their issues. Through this we see that even though these two girls live in completely different decades they share some similarities in how they deal with stress. Anna has obviously had a much different upbringing then Gerty. Unlike Gerty, Anna’s parents where probably around to teach her how to deal with her emotions. In the video Anna describes how she responds to those who say they try and can't do it by saying "try your best and try harder." This is seen in The Lamplighter when Willie brings up the discussion of religion. He asks her “Don’t you ever pray-pray to God?” “No I don’t-Who is God? Where is God?” He goes on to continue telling and teaching her about God. Anna could be compared to Willie in this particular instance because Willie is encouraging Gerty to know God, such as Anna encourages other people in her life.
I think little girls at this age have a somewhat of a similarity when it comes to their behaviors and mindset. We see Anna as more mature then Gerty because of the way she was brought up. The two although both seemed to share characteristics such as the way they dealt with their stress. Essentially all little girls act a certain way according to their age whether it be now or a 150 years ago.
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