SUMMARY:
A bright sun is shining while the residents of a village gather, at 10 a.m. on June 27, in the square between the post office and the bank for the annual lottery. More than 300 of them are awaiting the arrival of Mr. Summers and the black wooden box; from which everyone will draw a folded slip of paper. Adults chat while children play a game in which of them have to gather stones.
Over the years, the lottery rules and paraphernalia remained the same except for minor changes; wood chips were replaced by the slips of paper. However, the rule for the winner remains the same; whoever gets the piece of paper with a block dot.
After Mr. Summers shows up with the black box, he sets it down and prepares for the drawing. A housewife, Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson, arrives late telling to Mrs. Delacroix she forgot what day it was, only remembering when she noticed her children had left the house. While each of villagers are drawing a folded slip of paper from the black box, some of them are talking about all different subjects; some villages are talking about giving up the lottery or some villagers wish the process was faster. They don’t open the folded slip of paper until everyone has drawn. When the big moment arrives, it is Tessie Hutchinson who has the paper with the black dot. Even though she is saying the draw wasn’t fair, the rest of the village pick up the stones; previously collected and arranged by the children at the beginning of the draw, and stones her.
THE PART I LIKED:
The part when Old Man Warner talks to Mr. Adams about the north village thinking to give up the lottery. It’s ironic because Old Man Warner doesn’t agree in giving up the lottery, saying “…Next thing you know, they’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves….There’s always been a lottery” and to the people who wants to give up the lottery he says, “Pack of crazy fools.” However, what they are all doing is as primitive as going back to live in caves. How come throwing stones to people is it acceptable?
THE PART I FOUND CONFUSED:
The whole story is little confusing, until the reason why the whole village are getting together is revealed to the reader; towards the end of the story. The only information we know until this moment is that people from all different ages are gathering in the square for some kind of lottery.
QUESTIONS:
Why do they do this kind of lottery?
Why are children involved with this lottery? I wonder if one of the young children had been picked they would throw the stones without any hesitation. During the story we can see all the adults want to make sure all the children are present at the draw.
After the revelation who would be getting stones thrown at. Why Mr. Hutchinson did not plea for his wife?
INTERPRETATION:
One of the interpretations for this story would be a comparison to people who are afraid of changes. They rather live in an old, sometimes, barbarian way of life than change it. People of this village have this “tradition” of throwing stones to a person who is selected by a lottery. Even though, the word lottery brings the idea that someone will get a prize, in this story the “prize” doesn’t seem to be a good one; actually, very painful.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Composition #3
Brilliant, but irresponsible
Most of our everyday conflicts mold us in what we are today. I can’t remember any big conflict that I had or I was involved in, but I remember my father telling some conflicts he had with his siblings, especially his older brother, Milton. They always had small conflicts; I guess is part of growing up with siblings of different ages. However, when both of them were adults Milton’s behavior started to affect his relationship with the rest of the family. I believe my father is what he is today because of this instable relationship with Milton, and also his older brother’s relationship towards to the family.
When my father tells stories about his childhood, I am little confused about my father’s feelings towards his older brother. I remember he used to tell me and to my brother how great Milton was in the school. He wasn’t only good student, but also very talent in many different sports; especially, basketball. However, he was very irresponsible; always cutting classes or getting into fights. My father’s family thought Milton would change when he moved to another city to attend one of the best colleges of the state, but he didn’t change.
My father believes Milton never appreciated the efforts the whole family did to pay his college expenses. After he graduated he decided not to go back home, but to get married to one of the girls he dated during college. Finally, my father’s family thought he had learned to be more responsible, but again Milton disappointed my father and his family. On his wedding day he called my father asking money to buy his own wedding suit, and again my father had to help him. In addition, the whole family saw the bride for the first time when she was walking in the aisle of the church. After the wedding, Milton had never called his parents to ask if they need anything or just to know how they were. He called couple of times just to ask money, and when my father learned about these calls he told Milton to never call again if it was the only reason he was calling his parents. It was a hard decision for my father, but he knew it was the right thing to do. Milton was a grown up man who should be helping his old parents, instead of taking money from them.
The conflict happened before I was even born, so I don’t really remember my uncle. I have seen only pictures when he was still living with my grandparents. My father tells me that Milton came to visit us few times after I was born, but I was too young to remember. I can’t say I miss him because I never had a real chance to meet him. It is sad because he has a twenty year old boy that my father’s family had only one chance to meet him; the boy was about five year old.
I believe the conflict between my father and his brother made him a better son to my grandparents. Milton wasn’t there for them, so my father became the “older” son taking all the responsibilities to make sure his parents had everything they needed. My father visits his parents every weekend or if he cannot make it, he at least calls to see if they need anything. Today, I see how my grandparents rely on my father because they always ask him before making any decision about anything. Plus, I believe I have learned a lot with my father’s conflicts with his family; even though he doesn’t talk much about it. Furthermore, he has shown me how important is having a good relationship with the family, but also a family we can rely on them.
Most of our everyday conflicts mold us in what we are today. I can’t remember any big conflict that I had or I was involved in, but I remember my father telling some conflicts he had with his siblings, especially his older brother, Milton. They always had small conflicts; I guess is part of growing up with siblings of different ages. However, when both of them were adults Milton’s behavior started to affect his relationship with the rest of the family. I believe my father is what he is today because of this instable relationship with Milton, and also his older brother’s relationship towards to the family.
When my father tells stories about his childhood, I am little confused about my father’s feelings towards his older brother. I remember he used to tell me and to my brother how great Milton was in the school. He wasn’t only good student, but also very talent in many different sports; especially, basketball. However, he was very irresponsible; always cutting classes or getting into fights. My father’s family thought Milton would change when he moved to another city to attend one of the best colleges of the state, but he didn’t change.
My father believes Milton never appreciated the efforts the whole family did to pay his college expenses. After he graduated he decided not to go back home, but to get married to one of the girls he dated during college. Finally, my father’s family thought he had learned to be more responsible, but again Milton disappointed my father and his family. On his wedding day he called my father asking money to buy his own wedding suit, and again my father had to help him. In addition, the whole family saw the bride for the first time when she was walking in the aisle of the church. After the wedding, Milton had never called his parents to ask if they need anything or just to know how they were. He called couple of times just to ask money, and when my father learned about these calls he told Milton to never call again if it was the only reason he was calling his parents. It was a hard decision for my father, but he knew it was the right thing to do. Milton was a grown up man who should be helping his old parents, instead of taking money from them.
The conflict happened before I was even born, so I don’t really remember my uncle. I have seen only pictures when he was still living with my grandparents. My father tells me that Milton came to visit us few times after I was born, but I was too young to remember. I can’t say I miss him because I never had a real chance to meet him. It is sad because he has a twenty year old boy that my father’s family had only one chance to meet him; the boy was about five year old.
I believe the conflict between my father and his brother made him a better son to my grandparents. Milton wasn’t there for them, so my father became the “older” son taking all the responsibilities to make sure his parents had everything they needed. My father visits his parents every weekend or if he cannot make it, he at least calls to see if they need anything. Today, I see how my grandparents rely on my father because they always ask him before making any decision about anything. Plus, I believe I have learned a lot with my father’s conflicts with his family; even though he doesn’t talk much about it. Furthermore, he has shown me how important is having a good relationship with the family, but also a family we can rely on them.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Chip of Glass Ruby
Summary:
After reading the short story, A Chip of Glass Ruby, we learn Mrs. Bamjee is the protagonist. She is very dedicated to her family; husband and nine children. However, she also believes something should be done to protect the minorities of her country, South Africa, against the authoritarian government. Consequently, she gets arrested for helping the activists because she holds the duplicate machine, which it is used to make copies of leaflets against government. While Mrs. Bamjee is in jail, her older daughter who is pregnant takes cares of the rest of her younger siblings. Mr. Bamjee keeps his routine of waking up early in the morning to sell fruits and vegetables. So far he cannot understand why his wife wants to help the “blacks”, how he refers to the natives. However, towards the end of the story on Mr. Bamjee’s birthday, Girlie, the older daughter, answers her stepfather’s question that her mother remembers everything and nobody is left out.
Part I Liked:
I like the beginning of the story, when the duplicating machine comes to the house. Even though, the children have no idea what it is, they still look excited with the new object. However, Mr. Bamjee doesn’t like having such object in the house, “A fine thing to have on the table where we eat” (page 1 line 25). It sounds sarcastic, but I think it is because he knows the machine will bring problems to her wife.
Part I found confusing:
Probably the end is the most confusing part because we don’t really know what happens to Mrs. Bamjee. If she’ll remain in prison or her husband will try to do something to help her. In addition, when Mr. Bamjee understands why he had desired his wife saying “…she was not like the others; it was there, like the fact of her belly lay between him and her daughter” (page 11 line 6), what does it mean?
Question:
In the story Mr. Bamjee seems to know his wife will get in trouble if she continuous helping the activists, so why Mr. Bamjee did not interrupt the meetings that his wife was having at home?
Interpretation:
I think one of the lessons of the story is not being afraid of our beliefs. For example, Mrs. Bamjee believes in doing the right thing and it doesn’t matter if it will cost her freedom. She wants to help the minorities of her country and her husband cannot understand why. He thinks is better ignoring what is happening around them because he knows if he does anything against to the government he might have problems with the police. However, Mrs. Bamjee is not afraid to help the activists because she knows is not fair how people, blacks and Indians, have been treated in her country.
After reading the short story, A Chip of Glass Ruby, we learn Mrs. Bamjee is the protagonist. She is very dedicated to her family; husband and nine children. However, she also believes something should be done to protect the minorities of her country, South Africa, against the authoritarian government. Consequently, she gets arrested for helping the activists because she holds the duplicate machine, which it is used to make copies of leaflets against government. While Mrs. Bamjee is in jail, her older daughter who is pregnant takes cares of the rest of her younger siblings. Mr. Bamjee keeps his routine of waking up early in the morning to sell fruits and vegetables. So far he cannot understand why his wife wants to help the “blacks”, how he refers to the natives. However, towards the end of the story on Mr. Bamjee’s birthday, Girlie, the older daughter, answers her stepfather’s question that her mother remembers everything and nobody is left out.
Part I Liked:
I like the beginning of the story, when the duplicating machine comes to the house. Even though, the children have no idea what it is, they still look excited with the new object. However, Mr. Bamjee doesn’t like having such object in the house, “A fine thing to have on the table where we eat” (page 1 line 25). It sounds sarcastic, but I think it is because he knows the machine will bring problems to her wife.
Part I found confusing:
Probably the end is the most confusing part because we don’t really know what happens to Mrs. Bamjee. If she’ll remain in prison or her husband will try to do something to help her. In addition, when Mr. Bamjee understands why he had desired his wife saying “…she was not like the others; it was there, like the fact of her belly lay between him and her daughter” (page 11 line 6), what does it mean?
Question:
In the story Mr. Bamjee seems to know his wife will get in trouble if she continuous helping the activists, so why Mr. Bamjee did not interrupt the meetings that his wife was having at home?
Interpretation:
I think one of the lessons of the story is not being afraid of our beliefs. For example, Mrs. Bamjee believes in doing the right thing and it doesn’t matter if it will cost her freedom. She wants to help the minorities of her country and her husband cannot understand why. He thinks is better ignoring what is happening around them because he knows if he does anything against to the government he might have problems with the police. However, Mrs. Bamjee is not afraid to help the activists because she knows is not fair how people, blacks and Indians, have been treated in her country.
Monday, October 4, 2010
"Twelve Angry Men" - Juror Nine
In the beginning when the other jurors were getting to know each other, juror nine was in the bathroom; so far we don’t know much about him. When he comes back to the room and notices that the others were waiting just for him to decide the verdict he only says: “Sorry” (page 10 line 27).
Further in the book, we can see juror nine is an observant, wise and quiet man; he doesn’t speak much compared to the other jurors. However, he is the first one who changes his mind and seems to be opened in listening to juror 8’s different point of view, especially when the rest of the jurors think the boy is guilty. I think he is a good juror because he tries to be fair letting people express their opinion, instead of being aggressive like some of the other jurors. For example, when juror nine says to juror ten: “Do you think you have a monopoly on the truth?”(page 13 line 24) and “I think certain things should be pointed out to this man.”(page 13 line 27). He starts supporting juror eight not because he thinks the boy is innocent, but he thinks as juror eight that they all should discuss better instead of making such an important decision about somebody’s life so quickly.
Another quote that shows us a little bit more about juror nine is when he talks about the old man who says he witnessed the murder on page 36 line 5. After he makes his point saying that maybe the witness made himself believe that he heard the boy and father fighting the night of the murder, he feels embarrassed when juror ten asks him how he knows why the old man maybe lied. Probably, he feels just like the witness; a lonely old man looking for recognition.
Further in the book, we can see juror nine is an observant, wise and quiet man; he doesn’t speak much compared to the other jurors. However, he is the first one who changes his mind and seems to be opened in listening to juror 8’s different point of view, especially when the rest of the jurors think the boy is guilty. I think he is a good juror because he tries to be fair letting people express their opinion, instead of being aggressive like some of the other jurors. For example, when juror nine says to juror ten: “Do you think you have a monopoly on the truth?”(page 13 line 24) and “I think certain things should be pointed out to this man.”(page 13 line 27). He starts supporting juror eight not because he thinks the boy is innocent, but he thinks as juror eight that they all should discuss better instead of making such an important decision about somebody’s life so quickly.
Another quote that shows us a little bit more about juror nine is when he talks about the old man who says he witnessed the murder on page 36 line 5. After he makes his point saying that maybe the witness made himself believe that he heard the boy and father fighting the night of the murder, he feels embarrassed when juror ten asks him how he knows why the old man maybe lied. Probably, he feels just like the witness; a lonely old man looking for recognition.
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