Janie

Zora Neale Hurston has written a very intriguing and poignant character in the form of the protagonist Janie. As the reader follows Janie's journey through life with triumphs and challenges developing in between, the author illustrates Janie as a realistic representation of resilience in the face of adversity. The theme of following one's dreams is prevalent even in the first opening lines of  Their Eyes Were Watching God , and in the first 12 chapters, the reader discovers Janie's endeavor to find true love. In doing this, she comes to a point where she painfully, yet gradually abandons the principles that her grandmother instilled in her: the necessity of finding an economic provider as a husband, and establishes her happiness as a primary objective in life. This leads to her being able to confront both Logan about not truly loving him and telling Jody on his deathbed about his repulsive, manipulative treatment of her. Janie's actions create a bold statement that supports independence for two disrespected groups of people, women and African-Americans, in an era, where that level of dissent against societal standards was not widely accepted. What is even more moving is Janie's ability to recover from the disappointment and fear of abusive individuals and continue her search to attain her dreams. All in all, Janie is a remarkable example of true perseverance.            

Thanksgiving

While I'm sitting on my bed, sipping hot chocolate and enjoying our fabulous five-day weekend, I must admit that there are some people in my English class that I am grateful for and will be thinking about during the break, especially tomorrow. I'm definitely appreciative of my two friends Tikal and Isabel Bravo for bringing a smile to my face every morning during first period. I really enjoy working with them on our group work assignments, and although we have to prioritize work first, there are always some occasional jokes here and there that make my groggy morning a smooth transition into the rest of the day. I am also grateful for Sally because of her kindness and her keen insight in our class discussions. Honestly, I'm pretty timid when it comes to speaking about literary analysis or sharing ideas, but Sally always mentions something intriguing in class that really makes me think and even develop opinions or ideas about the subject matter, and that's awesome because I love intellectual thoughts like that. I know we don't talk much but hopefully we can become good friends as the school year progresses! I'm also thankful for Alejandro for his funny personality that always makes me laugh during lunch! (Speaking of that, if you see this Alleh, we should totally sing more often at lunch! That was always fun!) I'm thankful for Alexis, (hello batman!) who is quiet but also very nice. Plus, her awesome artwork inspires me to make something visually artistic too. I'm also appreciative of Isabella Pena, who was one of the first people I talked to in my division during freshman year! While we don't talk as much now, (and we should) I definitely won't forget shy freshman me making one of my first friends in division. Finally, I want to thank Mr. McCarthy for creating an enjoyable yet challenging English class that improves by critical thinking skills practically everyday. ~

(P.S To all of you guys that comment on my posts: You guys rock! Not only do I feel slightly famous when that happens, but you all inspire me to become a better, more well-rounded writer!
And to everyone else: You guys have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the rest of the break! See you Monday!)

     

A Principle We Should Keep

In a society that continues to fluctuate and bring controversial issues to the forefront of its inhabitants, it is paramount that people keep some form of integrity and personal strength. Integrity is a set of personalized fundamental rules that an individual bases their actions on, and these principles often reflect the moral character of the person. It is important that people resiliently remain true to themselves because it sustains a level of mental sanity within the person, and it adds a certain value to the person that grants them the ability to make auspiciously crucial decisions. When one deviates from their core values in decisive situations, psychological confusion can ensue and cause the afflicted to execute a choice based on the wants of others, which may or may not be aligned with one's self interests. This can lead to even more perplexing predicaments which include the risks of a severe co-dependency on others, insecurity, genuine unhappiness with one's self, and a possible loss of self identity and self actualization. While circumstances can make it difficult to stay true to yourself, especially in the assumed occurrence that people compromise their integrity to progress in life without any form of consequence, it is absolutely necessary.              

Hemingway

Renowned author Ernest Hemingway is celebrated for revolutionizing modern day American literature and I believe that his writing style alongside his personal life illuminates some key aspects of the human psyche. One aspect that he clearly highlights is the complexity of people via his "iceberg theory." The iceberg theory takes small subtleties and presents them to the reader, (this is called the 'tip' of the iceberg) but hints at an even larger part of the story that gives a deeper meaning of the text. Truly comprehending the message behind most of Hemingway's short stories requires a critical analysis of his word choice and the actions of his characters. This writing style and the method to grasp its meaning can be applied to meeting people in real life. Often times, when we meet someone new, we see them on a superficial level or at the 'tip of the iceberg' however it is constant interactions with the person and intently watching their responses that reveals more of their persona to us. Another way that he is able to reference realism is via immersion of the reader. Hemingway achieves this through his meticulous details of setting and use of visualization which can make the reader feel as if they are in the same venue as the characters and his usage of personal connections. In one particular short story, The Cat in The Rain, Hemingway leaves his main character unnamed, while all of the other characters are named. While one can argue that single detail has no effect on the overall story, I believe that the omission of a name was intentionally done to allow the reader a connection with the main character that may not have been obtained so easily had the character had a clear identity. On the topic of specific personalities of certain characters, it is widely accepted that Hemingway used several autobiographical figures to tell his stories, one of them being Nick Adams. In his stories, Nick Adams is an American war hero that is depicted in many ways of brave, fearful, innocent, traumatized, peaceful, and depressed. This character is an illustration of solitude and confusion, which are terms that can be used to describe Hemingway himself. A war veteran just like his fictitious persona, it is believed that Hemingway struggled with insecurity and self-actualization and his writing reflects this, especially in Nick Adams. Almost all of his characters seem to be the victims of some sort of internal strife and genuine displeasure with themselves, whether it's Francis Macomber's cowardice or Manuel's denial of his physical condition. In addition to this, a major theme of his writing is death, which is something he was very familiar with due to his job on the battlefield and personal relationships. Now this isn't to say that Hemingway was never a happy person, and in spite of his depression, he found several hobbies that he enjoyed doing, from fishing to hunting, etc and made a multitude of close relationships , and the characters listed above did perform enjoyable hobbies and had people that they cared about in text. All in all, Hemingway is a multifaceted person, and his writing paints the same concept for a general audience.    

Six Sentence Novels

Attention: twelve fair minded persons needed.

Serve and protect; badge or organization.

Mindset: two powers coexisting as one.

Pocketwatch, massive, but swift and intangible.

Help; mirror refracts amorous inevitable death

Immaculate room, easily impressionable; perfectly isolated.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor, as portrayed in The Crucible, is simply a human being who is neither completely  a hero or a stooge. Imperfection is a large part of the human condition, and Proctor most certainly has his faults, particularly his affair with Abigail and dishonesty to his wife. This issue is the underline internal struggle Proctor battles until the climax of him choosing to defend his wife or protect his reputation. Even though deciding to confront Abigail and sacrifice the fact of him committing adultery to save his wife can be seen as heroic, it is important to notice that a considerable portion of Proctor's actions were motivated by guilt, which isn't always the most holy calling in Puritan standards. However, at the end of the play, he realizes the corruption and vengeance in wrongly accusing others and gives his life to attempt to end the vicious cycle of false finger pointing. This act is heroic because not only does Proctor develop into a selfless voice of reason, but he was motivated by his own moral code of ideals. Overall, Proctor is a man who learned the error of his ways and endeavored to use that knowledge to help others in the way he thought was best. Therefore, he was not a hero or a stooge, but was a growing individual.

There goes the neighborhood

     I recall very clearly the day that would alter the course of history for the rest of our lives. The day when they arrived; when they 'discovered' our civilization and robbed us of everything we ever knew: our lifestyle, our spirituality, our homes, our families. The devastation is intolerable and the rift of tranquility bleeds like the bodies of brethren piled in what was once a town's center. I can only ask who could have possibly foreseen the tragedy created by those across the boundless sea.
        I remember that the anguish within myself stems from the fact that I saw them on the horizon many moons ago. I was working on the coast with the other fishermen, trying to procure the catch of the day when I could see a speck appear on the ocean. I assumed it was a rock like the others but everyday that speck seemed to move, closer and closer. I wouldn't dare attempt to reach  that speck with my own canoe but I continued to watch it from the confines of the grainy sand and its powerful tide. Had I thought that speck could have contained a large boat of aggressive people, I would have done everything in my power to prepare us for battle. Then again, I know that my eyes can deceive me and this event only makes me question the moment of when I truly lost my sanity.
           I recollect the panic emerging when the ships and their men arrived. They were absolutely different. Their attire of cotton clothes, their language, their weapons shining of metal like the accessories adorned by the chief, all of it was different. Their ships towered the trees on our land and their supplies were heavily in abundance. Some of us fled for our homes while some of us stood our ground to trade for their materials and negotiate. However, none of us imagined that 'conquering' was a part of their arrival. They attacked our people by taking the fields, building their houses on the foundation of our own, kidnapping our men and women as slaves and taking them back to the boats on the sea like small trifles and souvenirs of the land. Children screamed as their parents were murdered for reasons we cannot fathom why. I did not believe that anyone could be driven to these extremes until now. We were always taught to have a respect and love for one another, and was it this ideology that brought us to our knees? No, I want to believe that it is a clash of two ideals, yet the line of what is right and wrong only seems to blur with each passing day. What I do know is that the chief has successfully declared war and both parties continue to lose men in the fray. I wish to remind the chief that we are a separated people, and that if we obtained the aid of other tribes, we might have a stronger chance, especially since we do not know how many more can arise from the sea, but I fear it may be too late.
             And so I write this message to leave a mark on the entire history that truly is 'his' story. I pray for the safety of my children and that if not them, then someone, anyone unbeknownst of the atrocity and ever growing divide of humanity, can learn from not just my account, but the account of our people. May you find the dim lit candle of salvation in this unsettling darkness. ~
             This work was inspired from the idea of a change in community and while the writing above is on a drastic scale, I hope that the reader remembers that adopting or rejecting cultural differences is not a decision of right or wrong but an ambivalent choice. The morality of that decision is created from the intent of the people.
-Alex Rogers  

Me

Hello! My name is Alexandria "Alex" Rogers and I am currently a sophomore at Whitney Young. I am 15 years old and I absolutely love writing. Last year I wrote a short children's story about the environment and wanted to get it published, so this past summer, I created my own Kickstarter page with my cousin to fund raise for the publishing process. The fund raiser ends on September 15, so hopefully by then I will have some funding to complete the project. In addition to writing, music has a significant place in my heart. I enjoy listening to several genres of music ranging from rock to blues to jazz to classical, etc and I have been playing the guitar for 5-6 years now. Over the summer I had the honor of playing with a professional guitarist named Tony Rush, who is well known for touring with extremely well received blues guitarists like Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Eric Clapton,etc. It was an awesome experience and I had a ton of fun. My other hobbies include drawing, reading, playing video games, watching anime, sewing, costume designing, and doing Taekwondo. I am currently a second degree black belt in Taekwondo and I have been practicing the martial art for about 8-9 years at Daley College. Generally speaking, I am usually pretty reserved and shy when it comes to meeting new people, but once I get to know you a little, I'll be more open to talk and make jokes. I love making new acquaintances, and in my circle of friends, I try to make sure that everyone is enjoying themselves.
Let's hope this school year turns out great,
-Alex Rogers