Both of the novels have a certain style to them. To Kill a Mockingbird was written like a
biography of a little girl, Scout. Frankenstein
seemed more of a piece of fiction. To
Kill a Mockingbird is a story about a racial discrimination within a small
society of Alabama
where a Tom Robinson, a black man, was accused of raping a white woman.
Although this accusation is a lie, none of the white citizens in town would
believe that the black man was innocent. To
Kill a Mockingbird was focused on the humans. In Frankenstein, the story was focused on a monster and his early
years living as a man made from body parts found in a graveyard. Frankenstein’s
family was a rich family whereas Atticus and his family were poor throughout
the Great Depression. To Kill a
Mockingbird ends with Scout learning many valuable lessons throughout life
about not judging anyone, putting oneself in another’s shoes, and that moral
education is a must for a peaceful society. Frankenstein
had more a sad ending because Frankenstein and his family basically.
Frankenstein was ill numerous times and his health couldn’t stand the coldness
and he died and his family was killed by the monster and heartbreak. Both
novels are very different stories but they are very good novels and you cannot
not go wrong with reading either one of them. I really enjoyed both of the
novels and wish that these classics may still be read for decades to come.
Friday, April 20, 2012
The Novels Overall | C & C | Joseph Huynh # 3
The Novels Overall—
I really enjoyed reading To
Kill a Mocking Bird and Frankenstein.
They both have very unique storyline, events, and characters that make the
novels attractive classics. To Kill a
Mockingbird is a book that many people, especially Americans, can relate
to. The story took place during the Great Depression and at a time where racism
was apart of regular society. Frankenstein
also provided a superb story with excellent portrayal of characters, but it
wasn’t something I could relate to. I have never seen a monster in my life but
I have seen people of color being discriminated by bigoted people. I have seen
black people be treated poorly and judged by stereotypes. I have seen Hispanic
people made fun of, especially the day laborers at hardware stores. I have seen
Asian Americans been bullied because of their lack of ability to stand up for
themselves. To Kill a Mockingbird takes
place in America ,
a familiar society where I have learned about racism and can feel the pain of
those who have been afflicted by it. Don’t get me wrong, I love both novels but
To Kill a Mockingbird could have
passed as a biography of a little girl living in Alabama and that felt more connected with
this novel than Frankenstein which
kind of had a science fiction tint to it. Overall, both novels were great and
their unique ways and I would, with no doubt, recommend them to anyone who is
itching for an inspirational and classic book to read
Mutual Problems | C & C | Joseph Huynh # 2
Mutual Problems—
Throughout both novels, there are flaws scatter in both the
societies portrayed. In To Kill a
Mockingbird, the story took place in the South during the Great Depression.
It was a time when racism and discrimination was still prominent in the United States . African
Americans were not allowed to do many things with the rest of the white
society. African Americans could not vote and weren’t encouraged to associate
with the white society. It must have been a really hard time to grow up in as
an African American. I can imagine myself being an outlier in society were
people judge you based on stereotypes and your appearance, it is not easy
growing up in a bigoted neighborhood being the one that stood out. It is also
the similar case for the monster of Frankenstein,
the monster wandered throughout Europe and
it was the only hideous eight foot monster walking around. Abandon by his
creator, I have no difficulty understanding the way the monster felt. The
monster felt betrayed and angry that it was abandon by the one who had created
him and on top of that, everywhere he went were people scream with fear and
only to be shot and driven out of town by an angry mob. Both Tom Robinson and
the monster grew up in societies where they are so different in appearance that
they are not welcome in the location they reside in. The solution to both of
these problems would be that if only society would give Tom and the monster a
chance to establish a kind relationship with them It is only then that everyone
may live in peace.
Simliar Themes | C & C | Joseph Huynh # 1
Similar Themes—
To Kill a Mockingbird and
Frankenstein are both absolutely very
entertaining novels that is not like others that get boring on the first couple
of pages. Although the storylines were different, they shared one theme—inequality.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom
Robinson was the target of discrimination because of his skin color. In Frankenstein, the monster was the victim
of rejection because he looked hideous and dangerous. Both novels feature characters
that were never really given a chance to make a first impression primarily
because of their appearance. Tom Robinson is an ordinary citizen who works hard
but falsely accused of a shameful crime. Boo Radley was also misunderstood
especially the neighborhood children and that Radley was picture as an ugly man
barricaded in his house. It was true, Radley’s house was not the best. It was dilapidated
and messy. In under all of the accusations and lies, Scout and Jem find out
that Radley is actually a very nice man that has been misunderstood because of
his mischievous childhood as a teenager. Radley gives candy to the children of
the neighborhood and save the lives of Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell. In Frankenstein, the monster is also a nice
person. It was new to life and needed someone to love him. Unfortunately, the
monster never met that person and that is why he turned out as a vicious murderer
seeking revenge on his creator, Frankenstein. All in all, the inequality is
present throughout both novels and taught lessons through misunderstood
characters.
Final Thoughts | Frankenstein | Joseph Huynh # 4
Final Thoughts on Frankenstein—
Frankenstein was
overall an entertaining novel. I really liked that the novel was written as a
flashback because it was interesting to see Frankenstein’s story being heard
through a sailor’s point of view. The sailor found an eight foot tall man
riding a sled being pulled by dogs and a few minutes later a smaller man was in
pursuit of the eight foot tall man. The sailors took the smaller man,
Frankenstein, and tried to save him from the cold snow. That is when the story
of the monster was told. It must have been odd for the sailors to hear such a tale.
Unfortunately, Frankenstein died after he told his tale and the monster arrives
on the ship to say good bye to his creator. The sailors took the monster to America in the
end for scientific study. The flashback format was really cool. One can
visualize it as being a sandwich—sailors, Frankenstein’s tale, sailors, and the
ending as a tooth pick to hold everything together. I believe this is the first
book I read that used this “sandwich” format. I liked how the novel was written
to keep readers with their eyes glue to the pages because the story plot was
very interesting in which a misunderstood creation finds rejection and resorts
to revenge on his creator. It is a experience that definitely needs to be read
to be believed. The novel was like watch a horror movie through a book with
gruesome detailed words describing the events in the novel especially the
deaths of the character and the descriptions of the monster. Overall, Frankenstein was an entertaining book
that I am sure won’t disappoint new readers.
Meaning | Frankenstein | Joseph Huynh # 3
The Meaning behind Frankenstein—
Frankenstein is a
novel that is about a sailors finding Frankenstein and he tells the story of
what has happened, so basically the story is written through the point of view
of a flashback. Frankenstein was an entertaining novel that also, like To Kill a Mockingbird, expresses a
deeper meaning, moral, or lesson. The novel teaches that misunderstanding one
another will lead to chaos. The death of the Frankenstein family was responsible
for the misunderstanding of a creator and his creation. The novel teaches us
that fear plays apart in people and their reactions. Society rejected
Frankenstein because they were afraid of him and because he was hideous. The
people did not give the monster a chance to prove to them that he is not evil
but a creature that wants to be a loved member of society. Everyone needs to be
loved and without that love, one cannot live through life properly and most of
the time, they turn into something undesirable such as a murderer. To aid his
loneliness, the monster asks Frankenstein to make a female monster to be its
companion to repay for all the pain abandonment has brought him. Frankenstein
agrees but halfway through the process, Frankenstein again becomes horrified
and stopped making the female monster. He dumps all of the body parts in the
water. The monster threatens that he will get his revenge at the Frankenstein’s
wedding. It made me very sad that the monster couldn’t be satisfied or find
enjoyment in his life. All in all, Frankenstein
teaches us to give everyone a chance to make a first impression and that
misunderstanding one another will most likely lead to unfortunate events.
Themes | Frankenstein | Joseph Huynh # 2
Themes—
Many themes are expressed throughout Frankenstein. As we read, the theme of rejection appears the most often. The
monster is a hideous creature and on top of that, it is 8 feet tall and very
scary looking. It does not surprise me that people are afraid of the monster
but it saddens me that the monster is actually a very nice creature that happens
to be misunderstood. The monster wonders through many places but is shunned and
driven out every time he is seen in public. The monster finds himself in a
cottage that belong to the Delacy Family. There is a crack in the cottage that
the monster looks through and observes the everyday lives of the Delacy Family.
He finds that they are a loving family of two grown siblings looking after
their blind father. The monster finds love and acceptance in what he witnesses
for the following months he stayed at the cottage. The monster finds books in
the forest and documents by Frankenstein, his creator, and becomes enraged by
the abandonment of his “father.” Rejection, in my opinion is the theme that the
novel revolves around the entire time. The second biggest theme would have to
be misunderstanding. The monster is a eight foot newborn and needs to learn
about life so he was not evil or did malicious things in the early stage of his
life. Frankenstein is frightened by is creation and leaves it. The abominable
monster turns evil because he believes he was abandoned by his own creator but
it does not know that it was he appearance that made him secluded from society.
Frankenstein hates what the monster had done to his life—killing his family.
The monster wanted revenge that is the product of misunderstanding.
Characters | Frankenstein | Joseph Huynh # 1
Characters—
Frankenstein is a
novel of suspense and horror. The story is about a man from Switzerland
named Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein is a scientist who discovered a way to
make anything come to life. He obtains body parts from cemeteries and put
together a man. To his surprise, the man he created was ugly. Frankenstein is
horrified and abandons his eight foot tall creation. The eight foot tall man
doesn’t have a name but the book refers to him as a monster. The monster is
basically a newborn baby except he is eight foot tall. He is unattractive and
everywhere he goes he scares off the entire people. Frankenstein, like anyone
else, has is feelings hurt because of all of the rejection he experienced. The monster
is angry at Frankenstein for abandoning him and not providing support in his
time of need and anguish. The monster turns into an evil monster and murders
the loved ones of Frankenstein including his innocent younger brother and his
adopted sister, Justine. The monster and Frankenstein are the main characters
of the story in addition to Frankenstein’s family who eventually dies before
Frankenstein. The novel is quite a sad story because both the monster and
Frankenstein misunderstand each other they hate each other because of it. In my
opinion, Frankenstein should have been a better keeper or a father figure of
the monster. If he actually loved the monster, the monster wouldn’t really be
called a monster and the horror themed novel would turn into a happy one. I
felt very sorry for the monster because right when he was brought into the
world, he was abandoned and had to learn about life on his own. He was rejected
and chased out of towns by angry mobs and had to live secretly in the shed of the
Frankenstein is a unique novel not
just because of its storyline of the monster and its pursuit of happiness, but
the two characters who drive each other insane unto death.
Final Thoughts | TKM | Joseph Huynh # 4
Final Thoughts on To Kill a Mockingbird—
Themes | TKM | Joseph Huynh # 3
Themes—
In short, To Kill a Mockingbird is about various
events throughout Scout’s childhood. Tom Robinson was an African American
living in a society where racism and discrimination is prevalent. Tom is
accused of raping a white woman. In the bigoted society Tom resides in, there
is little hope to clear his name because any white man will be believed any day
than a black man. Boo Radley is seen as a mad, anti-social man by the
neighborhood children, but Scout and Jem find that he is a kind man that has
made mistakes in his past. Scout sees the evil and unfairness of the world, but
on the same token she gets to find out that there is the same number of good
people and things that balance things out. There is a constant theme of good
and evil throughout the book. Bob Ewell, daughter of said rape victim, Mayella
Ewell, falsely accuses Tom of raping her. Although Bob’s accusations are false,
everyone in the courtroom believes him because he is a white man despite his
abusiveness and drinking habits. Bob represents the evil or the bad of the
South. Atticus fights for justice and has no discrimination toward African
Americans. He strives to set good, non-bigoted examples for his children and
done his respect to earn and keep their respect. To Kill a Mockingbird also expresses the them of the presence of
racial inequality and the importance of moral education. If people knew that
racial inequality was bad then they would soon come to realize that they must
treat others as they want to be treated. In my opinion, To Kill a Mockingbird stands out as a noteworthy novel because it
educates readers the cruelty of racial inequality and inspires us, as citizens
of the twenty-first century, to do something about it. People of our time need
to read about how racial inequality was a serious issue of history and the
mistake must never be repeated. If every person was morally educated in their
tender years and realize what racism truly does to people, then I guarantee
that racism would not exist in the world.
Post 4--Comparing and Contrasting the Two Books
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 4 for comparing and contrasting the two books
Both books have ties to racism and judging a person by superficial features, not by their character or personality. In Frankenstein the Monster is viewed as grotesque and weird because he looks different than everyone else. They define him as horribly ugly. Because of this they pin all sorts of judgments and accusations on him without hearing the full story on how he came into existence or why he is the way he is. Mockingbird has Tom Robinson who is accused of rape of a white woman. Since he is a black man under trial during the Depression in the South, the racism is crazy and rampant and people are not willing to hear if he’s innocent or just based off the color of his skin alone. I don’t understand why people can be so mean to people they don’t even know. When I think about people, skin color has nothing to do with it. I feel like there are some characters in the novel that would walk down the street and not like a person without even knowing them just because they are black. I can’t imagine ever doing that. It’s really unfortunate when people make assumptions about people’s lives when they don’t even know the full story or what’s really going on. I can’t imagine going through life with hatred for people I don’t even know just because my skin color is different than theirs. It’s ridiculous and I don’t care about skin color, so it’s hard for me to get why it is so important to them.
Post 2--Comparing and Contrasting the Two Books
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 2 for comparing and contrasting the two books
As I was reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Frankenstein, a few questions have been brought to mind. Were some of the characters really evil, or did society help shape and distort the way there were? If you have the opportunity to do something that could be either potentially amazing or disastrous, should you do it or just leave it alone?
People in Frankenstein always had it out for the Monster for some reason. There wasn’t any person who gave him a chance to show his true self without judgment and hatred streaming towards him. He had moments when his goodness shined through and when the reader could see that the Monster wasn’t completely thoughtless and evil. Actually, at first the only idea that we get he’s legitimately evil is because Victor and the townspeople think he is. They have no evidence about it, though. They make the leap of thought that if he is weird on the surface level then he must be a creeper below. I wonder how the Monster would have turned out if society accepted him, if he found a friend or someone to relate to him. I would like to think that things would have turned out differently and that he wouldn’t have murdered Victor’s family members. I also wonder what would have happened if Victor ended up accepting the Monster and finding him someone to relate to instead of having the weird, violent, volatile relationship they had in the book.
As I was reading Frankenstein I was thinking if it would have been a good choice for Victor to just leave his experimenting alone. His experiments and creation of the Monster brought so much pain and anguish. I like to speculate how Victor’s life would have been different if he didn’t create his monster. I realized that messing with some things, like life, can be a bad idea and that there are consequences, either good or bad, to every choice that we make.
Post 3--Comparing and Contrasting the Two Books
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 3 for comparing and contrasting the two books
Both of these books have themes about good and evil, but I feel like both of them have different outlooks on humanity. Frankenstein has a darker tone and shows the flaws and darkness in humanity, while To Kill a Mockingbird shows the goodness in people. Mockingbird is life affirming and shows that everyone has goodness inside of them. Frankenstein is tragic and shows how low humanity can get.
In Frankenstein, there is an impending sense of doom. There is a darker, stormy tone and the reader can just tell that this story just isn’t going to end well. From the beginning, the Monster is viewed as unworthy and he shows the shadier route that people can take. He let all of his anger and loneliness gets the best of him by murdering Elizabeth and Victor’s brother. This story shows how judgment and revenge can negatively affect people and destroy their lives.
To Kill a Mockingbird has many misunderstood characters that end up showing their best side at the right time. There is hope that kindness in everyone and some sense of morality. Atticus is clearly the symbol of righteousness in the book, never judging or being cruel. He has a strong sense of right and wrong and tends to do the right thing when he is called to a challenge. The book has a whole has a more sunny and bright tone with a sense that everything will turn out okay and that there is compassion and goodness in everyone.
Frankenstien--Post 4!!!!
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 4 for Frankenstein
I thought of a real world connection from the story to real life. The treatment of the monster in Frankenstein can sometimes be compared to people with disabilities. Normal people don’t understand a person who may be disabled or developmentally delayed in some way and they don’t know how to deal with them. Communication is tough because they don’t perceive the world in the same way or interpret events similarly. I thought it was really sad how the Monster had to go out on his own and try to survive, learn the language on his own, and live on his own. As he grew up, he became more intelligent and self-aware. He stared to grow thoughts, a conscience, and a realization of why he was shunned by the people he tried to interact with. When the Monster saw that people were burdened by him stealing food, he felt bad and stopped. Obviously, he had empathy for other people and had emotions. Even though it looked like it, he wasn’t a monster at all. He also saved the girl in the water from drowning, but when the towns people saw that, they only flung more insults and ridicule at him. It was painful to read a story about how the Monster tried to be a good person and fit into society, but he was just rejected.
I thought it was interesting that the Monster never go a real name. He was just called a monster since his creation, even though he wasn’t born one. Even though he eventually chose the dark path of revenge, he was not born a bad person. Not naming him takes away a part of his identitiy and his humanity. People thought he was a creepy creature that didn’t deserve to be alive without even getting to know him. The thing is, though, the Monster had emotions, thoughts, a desire to learn, self-awareness, and a conscience. The Monster also had good and evil in him and a choice of which road to take. He was in most senses a person even though all of society didn’t consider him one. The Monster’s lack of a real name was just another way to symbolize the fact that he wasn’t treated as a human being.
Setting | TKM | Joseph #2
Setting—
To Kill a Mockingbird
takes place in Maycomb , Alabama
Characters | TKM | Joseph # 1
Characters—
The characters of To
Kill a Mockingbird are really what made the book stand out in my personal
opinion. The main character of the novel was Jean Louis Finch but most call her by her nickname Scout. Scout was an
adventurous six year old girl. Back then, there weren’t any computers or
internet so Scout played with her older brother, Jem, and Dill when he lives in
their neighborhood during the summer. The trio loved playing around the
neighborhood. Scout and Jem’s father, Atticus was a dedicated father who was a
lawyer. Atticus was a respectable person who wanted the best for his two
children and would always set a good example. In the neighborhood there lives a
man named Arthur Radley, but he earned the nickname “Boo” because no one ever
sees him and although he lives in his house he never comes out so that is why
people, especially the neighborhood children tagged him as a ghost. Contrary to
popular belief, Radley is actually a very nice man. He did not look ugly or
have a disfigured face as people expected, instead Radley would put gifts such
as candy in the tree hole where Scout and the other children would eat. What a
kind stranger they would have thought. One night, Radley saves Scout and Jem’s
lives by protecting them from Bob Ewell whom tries to kill Atticus’ children
because he made him look like a fool in the courtroom. People such as the
children, Atticus, and Radley represent the good and kindness within the novel
whereas people such as Bob Ewell and the bigoted citizens who tried to lynch
Tom Robinson before he was proven guilty or innocent. Overall, I found the
characters of To Kill a Mockingbird
very interesting and enjoyable to listen too. The novel has quite a bit of
profanity and racial slurs in it so it is really not your typical book you
would read.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Frankenstien--Post 3!!!!
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 3 for Frankenstein
I felt like there were so many messages to learn from this book because it depressing and heartbreaking nature. Throughout the book, I just kept hoping for the Monster to be accepted into society because and for people to look deeper than the surface level. It’s sad that he was a person trapped in a body that caused people so much judgment and so much fear and that he couldn’t get people to listen to him or to look deeper. But, I have to say that if I were in that situation of one of the citizens who rebuffed him, I don’t know what I would do. I would like to say that I would try to be nice to him, talk with him, or understand him, but in reality if I saw someone who looked like a threatening monster, I’m not sure if I would be so eager to make friends. It’s a tough situation because it depends on the circumstances. In the story, though the Monster just wanted to be loved and find friendship so bad, but people took him at face level.
I learned that it’s important to get to know a person for who they are as a person, and not what they look like. Empathy needs to be remembered along with taking people’s feelings into consideration. There is more going on in a person than is seen by the outside world and it’s important to keep her in mind of that. Also, even if a person looks weird or ugly that doesn’t mean you could just be mean to them or ignore them. The people in Frankenstein had a choice to ignore the Monster or get to know him and if I’m ever faced with that situation, I hope to do the right thing.
Frankenstien--Post 2!!!!
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 2 for Frankenstein
“To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death.”
When Victor Frankenstein first starts to become addicted to learning and experimenting about life, he is on a slippery slope that easily consumed him. He forgot about his family, friends, and everyone who cared about him. Instead of enjoying life and living it to the fullest with the people who cared about him, he became obsessed with the origins of life and how to manufacture it. It’s weird that in his search for the secret of life, he wasn’t really living.
Eventually, after much experimenting, he got his wish and found the secret of life and made his creature, the monster. His reaction though was of panic and repulsiveness. He could tell that he made a mistake creating the monster and it wasn’t how he imagined or hoped it to be. He thought the monster was terrible, ugly and horrifying. “Mingled with this horror, I felt the bitterness of disappointment.” It just goes to show that people cannot mess around with life because it’s not necessarily going to turn out as planned and once it exists, what’s done is done and can’t be controlled.
It’s sad and tragic to me that the Monster never really had a chance. He was condemned from the beginning and pegged as an evil creature, even though no one knew who he really was. He was born with the mind and innocence of a child, only to become jaded and hardened to the bitter world that rejected him. The monster was weighed on the superficial qualities and I don’t think very many people gave him the chance to reveal what was below the surface. This creature wasn’t asked to be created, but he was and there was no way back from that. When he tried to fit into the world that didn’t want him, bad things happened. The monster had no one to console his loneliness, especially after Victor destroyed the Monster’s future female counterpart so he resorted to violence to exact revenge and shows Victor the same kind of pain he felt. So, sadly, he ended up fulfilling the vision that people had of him.
To Kill a Mockingbird--Post 4!
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 4 for To Kill a Mockingbird
As we can see at the beginning of chapter 9, racism is starting and becoming more apparent in the book. The “n” word is being thrown around like it’s nothing and people around town are reacting to Atticus defending Tom Robinson. It’s sad and weird how people can be so hateful and mean to someone they don’t even know just because of the color of their skin. This book definitely brings up the struggle of standing up and doing what is right, even when everyone around you is going to degrade you and slam you because you don’t have the same view as them. Atticus realizes that his kids are going to have to grow a thick skin because of all the flack they are going to have to endure, but he knows that defending Tom Robinson is the right thing to do even though it is the tougher path.
As the story progresses, disillusionment is starting to become a theme. The carefree childhood that Scout and Jem had was disappearing due to the Tom Robinson trial and all the turmoil surrounding that. Scout would have to learn to keep herself composed in the midst of criticism from others and try not to pounce on them every time they attacked her or her family. Atticus knew that would be known that would be a challenge, but that she would grow stronger as she grew up. Sometimes, though, the temptation to retaliate was too much for Jem and Scout and that is exactly what happened when Mrs. Dubouse verbally attacked the children. Due to Jem destroying flower bushes to get back at the mean old woman for being a jerk, he had to read to her. During his punishment, she was a pain to work for because Jem had to suffer through even more emotional abuse. She was sickly and not well, with a nasty complexion, small eyes, liver spots, and a morphine addiction that is later revealed by Atticus. She is just one of the many people that Jem and Scout have to suffer through, but people like that make it easier for the children to ignore and move on from insults and slurs that are thrown at them.
To Kill a Mockingbird--Post 3!
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 3 for To Kill a Mockingbird
In chapter 9 Christmas comes around and we get to meet Scout’s relatives including her Alexandra, Francis, and Jack. Let’s talk about Francis first. Oh, what a lovely child, not. He is one of those kids who plays nice in front of adults to make them like him and then once they are gone, he becomes a spoiled, nasty, mean child. He says unacceptable and nasty words to Scout about Atticus and her friend, Dill. Francis is obviously spoiled and doesn’t know how to be a good friend. It’s sad that he is growing up this way and that he cannot have compassion or kindness towards other people. Maybe it has to do with the fact that his parents ship him off to be with his grandmother during Christmas and they seem to not care about as much as they could. As a result, he consoles his loneliness in stuff and tries to act out to hide his feelings and channel any anger or sadness he has. Sorry, I just went a little therapist on you, but Francis is just a misguided soul who is mean because he has no reason to be nice.
When I first encountered Alexandra in the book, she did not resonate with me. It didn’t feel right when she was condemning Scout for not wearing dresses. The grandmother was convincing Scout to give up a part of what made her who she was. I did not appreciate her criticizing Scout for wearing pants and degrading her for being a tomboy. Characters who try to change or make the strong females in books meek are generally not my favorite. Alexandra is trying to make Scout something that she’s not and something that Scout doesn’t have any desire to be. I don’t understand why people like Alexandra have a desire to change people. Alexandra has no business telling Scout what to do and her plea’s for feminitity are not effective. For some reason, I can’t imagine Scout wearing a strand of pearls. Hopefully, throughout the book, Scout keeps her independence, strength and doesn’t let people change her into something she shouldn’t be. Luckily, Atticus does not mind Scout being exactly who she is and reminds his daughter to ignore Alexandra because he didn’t mind her much the way she was.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Frankenstien--Post 1!!!!
Molly Walsh
April 18, 2012
Post 1 for Frankenstein
Frankenstein is an intriguing book so far. I like how we knew a part of the end first, like how Victor Frankenstein survives, but is obviously not in good condition. In the first few chapters, as he explains his childhood, it seems that he had a pretty average and pleasant one. Victor even said, “No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself.” There were people who loved him and he was close with Elizabeth. When he describes her, it is apparent that he is in love with her. No one says, “the sweet glance of her celestial eyes,” if they are not in love.
It is clear that Victor loves and values education and is always hungry to learn more. Science is his specialty and he gets deep into the exploration of life sciences. In his experiments he makes the monster and even though I’m not very far into the book, I can already tell some questions are going to come up. Even after discovering the secret of life, should have Victor abused his knowledge of how to create his own life? Was it right? Should he have stopped his experiments and realize that life isn’t something that should be messed with? As the events of the book go on, I’m sure my questions will be answered and moral delimas will continue to arise.
It was sad in chapter 3 how the mother of Victor died. It seemed like the first real tragic thing that happed to Victor in his life. He grieved and was not happy and as I read on I have a feeling this is just the beginning of more life-sucking events that are to come.
Post 1--Comparing and Contrasting the Two Books
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 1 for comparing and contrasting the two books
By reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Frankenstein it is already clear that they are both stories about good, evil, and misunderstood figures.
In To Kill a Mockingbird the obvious misunderstood person is Boo Radley, who is seen as a mysterious monster of sorts who eats cats and never leaves his house. Jem and Scout fear Boo and try countless times to catch a glimpse of him by sneaking around his house. There are many failed attempts, but their failures just compel them to learn more about the enigmatic Boo. Even despite much convincing from the adults of the town the kids still like to see him as a monster. Throughout the book, though, it becomes clearer that Boo Radley is a misinterpreted creature. He leaves gifts in the hollow oak for Scout and Jem, which actually by today’s standards is kind of creepy, at least to me, but in to book it is meant to show that he means peace and he doesn’t what to harm Jem or Scout, even though they are convinced otherwise. Also, later in the book when the kids are being attacked, Boo comes to the rescue and saves their lives, showing that he isn’t bad at all, but has compassion, enough to save the lives of Scout and Jem.
In Frankenstein, the Monster is the misread character who was born good, but corrupted by a society that viewed him as an ugly monster before getting to know him. The Monster was created with the mind of a baby. In a way he was innocent, but because of his outward appearance of looking monster –like, they didn’t give him a chance to let him grow up and be his full potential. As he grew up and became more intelligent, he also got more isolated and lonely. I think he resorted to violence as a way to channel the anger and rejection that he felt. And sort of ironically, he became the monster that people saw, but that he insisted he wasn’t. I just wonder what would of happened if even a few people other than Victor saw below the surface level of the Monster to see what he was like before he went homicidal.
These two books both have people who seem like terrifying monsters, but below the surface level are really more complicated, deeper, kinder creatures, but who can be corrupted because of mistreatment from society. Boo Radley, even though misjudged in the beginning, ended up saving the lives of Scout and Jem. Unfortunately for the Monster in Frankenstein, it was clear that he was doomed from the beginning.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
To Kill a Mockingbird--Post 2!!
Molly Walsh
April 17, 2012
Post 2 for To Kill a Mockingbird
In chapter 3 of the book, Scout has her first day of school and it doesn’t go over too well. Ms. Caroline, her teacher doesn’t know how to deal with all of the interesting children in her class including Scout’s independent spirit and comments that come with it. Atticus taught scout how to read a while earlier, yet when Ms. Caroline found out, she was angry and didn’t want Scout to learn any more. It almost seemed as if she didn’t approve of Scout’s education, which is sort of weird. Wouldn’t a teacher be super happy if a kid already knew how to read and read well? Scout being able to read would mean one less kid she would have to teach. I feel like there is a theme of education is important in this part of the story because even though the teacher does not approve of Scout’s ability to read, Atticus still teaches her because he sees the value and the use to educate Scout. Also, this shows that even if someone disapproves of something, that doesn’t mean you stop doing it just because you were told to.
This is a quick thing and I don’t think it’s a big part of the book, but I think it’s really cute that Dill proposed to Scout as a seven year old. There is something about it that just alludes to childhood dreams and innocence and just that it’s a sweet side story. It’s one of tier many games that they play as kids before they have to deal with weird drama and responsibilities as adults.
So far, we still see little of Atticus and don’t know very much about him, but there have been a few clues that Scout has revealed to us. He has a strong moral backbone and is a kind person. He is willing to be paid in products rather than money and he doesn’t mind because he knows some people are more fortunate than others, but that everyone still needs help and is willing to give it to them. It is interesting that he sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night, too. He checks on his kids, which I think is cute. Then he reads. I’m kind of jealous that he can just wake up in the middle of the night, if I did that, I would totally be a zombie the next morning. I am curious about what is in his head and what he thinks about. He obviously has a strong moral backbone and is a good person, so it would be fascinating to get inside his head.
Monday, April 16, 2012
To Kill a Mockingbird--Post 1!
Molly Walsh
Post 1 for To Kill a Mockingbird
April 16, 2012
To Kill a Mockingbird is a really compelling and interesting book so far. I really like all of the characters like Scout, Jem, Dill, and Atticus. I think Scout is a true character and having her narrate the story makes the book more personal and relatable. I prefer books that are in the first person because I get to learn the emotions and experiences first hand and the story seems more personal than having it in the third person. There are many themes that I can see that will arise in the book as it gets deeper and as the plot thickens.
I want to analyze Scout and Atticus in a later post as I get to know them a little better, but for now I want to talk about her brother, Jem and my first impressions of him. Jem appears to be a typical American boy growing up during the depression, but I think he also has a deeper side that he doesn’t like to show through, but can’t get rid of. Obviously, he doesn’t like to talk about his mother and that is a part of him that cuts deep below the surface. I find Jem’s fascination with Boo Radley very interesting because he’s so intent on trying to see and know who Boo is. Jem’s so sure that he’s some sort of monster, or crazy, even though he’s never been seen Boo himself. It is apparent that Jem has a strong adventurous streak and loves to take risks without thinking about the consequences. For example, in chapter 6 when he goes to look into Boo Radley's yard and his windows there is someone with a shotgun and as they run away, they hear a shot go off. Jem and Dill only barely escape, Jem loosing his pants in the process. His obsession with Boo was probably something that was a fun way to pass the time, but in a way, it seemed like more.
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