Invisible Man Entry #4

Alright so lots of weird stuff in this chunk of the book. In chapter 19 we have the weird scene of the narrator having an affair with a married white woman. She convinced him to come home with her, and not to just talk about women's rights. I honestly don't know how the woman's husband didn't see he narrator when he came in the roombtobaskbhisbwofe to wake him up early the next morning. The narrator is mortified and rushes away from the woman's house, telling himself he will never get into that position again. Also in chapter 19, the narrator is summoned by the brotherhood to an urgent meeting. The brotherhood has apparently lost momentum in Harlem and the brotherhood is pulling the narrator out of his job speakin about women's rights and wants him to speak and give the group popularity again. Kinda strange how hey call him when they are struggling. 

In chapters 20 and 21, the narrator witnesses the murder of a man he knew, Clifton. The man had been selling and playing with his Sambo dolls, which depicted a racist stereotype of black slaves, always willing to say yes and being manipulated by strings. The narrator becomes angry about thre dolls and crushes one of them with his foot. Shortly after, Clifton is shot by the police. Quite shaken up, he narrator returns to his apartment and is visited by some younger brotherhood members. When he receives no answer on how the brotherhood will address this, the narrator arranges for a funeral and protest to take place. This is more prevalent in chapter 22. The brotherhood becomes angry with the narrator, citing that the narrator was not asked to be a part of the brotherhood to think, just to speak. 

Do you think the narrator held the protest and made speeches because he truly cared about Clifton, or was he trying to take a stab at the brotherhood for not giving him what he wants? Can't wait to hear what you think!

Invisible Man Entry #3

Welcome back to our favorite pastime.  This was a large chunk of the book, so I am going to focus mainly on the chapters dealing with the Brotherhood and the narrator taking on a new identity.  Our narrator never seemed to identify himself with any personality or identity other than being black and oppressed.  I did not find it surprising how willingly he accepted the proposal to take on a new identity and leave behind his past life.  Of course, his injury at the factory played a role in his willingness as he apparently had difficulty remembering details of his previous life.  However, the narrator seemed unnaturally willing to wholeheartedly commit to this Brotherhood he knew so little about.  After his initial disinterest in the group, he seems to join out of selfish motives, as he is being recognized for his ability to speak publicly.  The man who persuades the narrator to join the Brotherhood says he "answered the people's appeal and [the Brotherhood wants] him to be the true interpreter of the people" (307).  Do you think the narrator joins the Brotherhood because he agrees with the views of the group, or do you think he is just being selfish?  But, our narrator cannot go too long without getting in some sort of trouble can he? He gets tricked into doing an interview for someone who is two-faced and uses the incident to attempt to get the narrator kicked out of the Brotherhood., but only succeeds in his being moved cities and becoming a spokesman for womens' rights instead of evictions.  Do you think the narrator will put up with this move for very long? Why or why not? Can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Invisible Man Entry #2

            Welcome back to your favorite activity of the week!  Since I accidentally included chapter three’s exciting details in my last entry, I’m going to pick up in chapter four this time.  So this Bledsoe guy seems to be a little sketchy and fairly unforgiving as he quickly judges our mysterious narrator.  After the excitement from the first three chapters, our beloved narrator brings Mr. Norton back to his room, only to be met with hostility from this Bledsoe guy.  Bledsoe chastises the narrator for bending to the wishes of Mr. Norton and taking him to the slave living areas by saying they “take these white folks where we want them to go, show them what we want them to see” (102).  The narrator claims Bledsoe has been kind to him in the past, but it seems interesting that he would advocate for only showing the prominent white folks certain aspects of the black peoples’ lives, as if trying to keep up the preconceived stereotype many  white folks of the day most likely bought into. Why do you think Bledsoe was so adamant in his point of only letting the white folk, namely Mr. Norton, see certain aspects of the slave life?  Chapter five is very insightful into the desires of the narrator’s heart.  While hearing the chapel speaker, Reverend Barbee, a chord is struck in the narrator’s heart about the founder of the college and his story of overcoming violent beginnings, escaping slavery, learning to read and write and ultimately founding this institution.  Do you think the narrator thinks of himself as a slave, even though he has a job?  Chapter six is pretty strange as well.  Bledsoe is still angry with the narrator for taking Norton to the slave region, and admonishes him that he should have been able to lie his way out of following Mr. Norton’s orders. Bledsoe threatens to punish the narrator, but ends up sending him to New York for a summer to earn his way back to school.  The narrator still seems to be passive and meek in the eyes of authority, which he remembers his grandfather warned against on his deathbed.  Can’t wait to hear your responses!           

Invisible Man 1

This book is definitely going to be an interesting read.  So much happened in the first three chapters I barely know where to begin.  In chapter one, the narrator talks a lot about his grandparents and the change they experienced after slavery of taking the mindset of being separate but equal.  It seems that the narrator attempted to emulate his grandfather’s mannerisms, being passive and meek in his community, namely with the white folks.  The narrator evidently thinks he is doing the will of his family, but is shocked when he hears his grandfather speaking harshly to his father about being too compliant to the whites and bending under the pressure to remain different.  The grandfather called on the narrator’s father to undermine the agenda of the white folks and “agree ‘em to death and destruction”.  This phrase could be referring to the Biblical death and destruction stemming from sins committed. Perhaps the grandfather is warning his family to not sink to the level of the whites and commit the same sins and let those who believe themselves to be so righteous to fall from their own sins.  The narrator also relates of his strange acceptance to college.  The fight scene didn’t make much sense to me.  I don’t understand why this would be allowed to happen if these black boys were technically free.  However, the narrator’s life seems to change when he receives the bag with his acceptance letter in it, almost like a new life was beginning for him. 

            The narrator’s tale about his job of driving Mr. Norton around.  The narrator seems to regret taking this prestigious man to such dark places as the Trueblood house, as he is despised by the community.  Norton seems to go into a sort of trance as he listens to the weird life story of this Jim Trueblood guy and offers him money.  The narrator becomes concerned for Norton and attempts to take him to a bar to revive him with a drink.  This Norton guy seems to be pretty touchy and wimpy.  Why do you think this wealthy, prestigious man is so sensitive and willing to help Trueblood? And why do you the narrator admires Norton so much?

"Death of a Salesman" Deconstructionist View

Many views of "Death of a Salesman" center around the decline of Willy through his job. Readers obtain glimpses of the beginnings of his decline in Willy's flashbacks and dreams. Often, in terms of relationships, that of father and son between Willy and Biff is examined for the tough love exhibited. However, how would this play change if the relationship between Happy and Willy is examined? In deconstructing this aspect of the play, readers may gain greater insight into why Happy seems to be more content with his life than his brother.

With much of the attention being focused on the star child Biff and his prospects after high school, Happy often gets swept under the rug and ignored. Although there is only a two year age difference between the boys, pressure is put in Biff by Willy to make something of himself while Willy hardly acknowledges the presence of Happy. Even in Willy's dreams and flashbacks Happy is no more than a supporting character, barely recognized as a son. Happy seeks some form of attention and keeps submitting "I'm losing weight, you notice, Pop?" (18). Every time Happy mentions something about himself, Willy turns right back to his assumed favorite son.

Happy seems to live up to his name even in the face of being cast aside. Never once does Happy comment harshly against his father and constantly is seeking to reconcile Biff and Willy in their strained relationship. Happy loves his father and looks up to him in his younger years, in Willy's dreams, and wants to protect him when the decline begins. Happy seems solely concerned with the well-being of his father, even if he is given no conscious attention. Biff acknowledges towards the end of he okay that his father had fed his ego in his childhood, which contributed to his later restlessness and inability to find contentment. Happy, however, has had to build himself up without the affirmation from his father, this lending him a greater sense of self worth, even if he is still searching for ultimate happiness.

From reading other posts and questions, I found it interesting that even within one family the American Dream can have many interpretations. Happy and Biff seem to think that a person attempting to achieve the American Dream works hard with little profit, even if it is what hey have always wished for. Willy on the other hand seems to think that the American Dream is the only means for satisfaction and that material objects will bring ultimate joy. Willy views the American Dream as being a goal for him to constantly be working towards, while his sons seem to think they have lived the Dream over and over again, achieved what they wanted, yet still feel empty and lonely.

Willy: "Did he apologize when I left this morning?" (6)

~Why would Willy be wondering about whether Biff had apologized when he was the one who lost his temper?