Journal #7. Sensational Motivation

Poems involve symbolic meaning in each and every word. The imagery is deep, emotional, and motivational. Our Writing about Literature states that the best way to depict the meaning is to appeal "directly to the senses," such as sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell (p. 83). Within every poem, every image within the poem, there is meaning and depth. Both John Whittier's "The Farewell of a Virginia Slave Mother to her Daughters sold into Southern Bondage" and Frances Harper's "The Slave Mother" have such vivid and similar imagery, portraying the hardship that mothers had to face during slavery. Even today, losing a child has been said to be the more difficult experience to grieve, with the idea that parents are supposed to outlive their children. In a way, these mothers during slavery lost their children and had to grieve in similar ways as if their child died. Loss does not have to be interpreted as physical death, but also in more symbolic manners, such as losing a child to slavery. The thought of never seeing your child again is mind boggling and almost unimaginable, however, mothers in slavery dealt with these emotional experiences every day. These two poets emphasized the imagery of the experiences in order to make a statement. By creating such imagery and depth within the poems, the authors were able to persuade their reader, whether it be wealthier women grasping the sympathetic and emotional aspect of the poems, or abolitionists, interpreting the hardship and despair these mothers felt towards slavery. Within Whittier's poem, he portrays the sympathetic resentment that the mothers felt after losing their children to slavery, stating that "there no mother's eye is near them/there no mother's ear can hear them" (p. 1222). Later he uses imagery to describe the awful circumstances in which these children must bear alone, with "slave-whip ceaseless swings/noisome insect stings," "sunbeams glare/through the hot and misty air," all while the "fever demon strews," watching intensely over the slaves. In Harper's poem, "The Slave Mother," her imagery of her child not being hers, though her "blood is coursing through his veins" creates such a significant statement, in which children were not legally owned to their mothers in some states during slavery" (p. 1231). Other images like "a storm of agony," and "these bitter shrieks/disturb the listening air:/ she is a mother, and her heart/Is breaking in despair" further depict the emotions and disturbances these childless mothers grieved (p. 1232). Grieving a child is unimaginable and undefinable. However, with such vivid imagery, using sensations and emotions, these two poets were able to persuade their audiences in hopes of a transformation towards equality and reform.

Journal Posting #6. Give In or Stand Out

It seems today that women are perceived in equal power, respect, authority, and confidence that men are seen. This gender equality is so common and so typical in our generation's lifetime, it seems unthinkable to imagine a life of despair, struggle, and state of insignificance for women. In both stories, Jacobs and Child emphasize the enduring strength and commitment that particular women held during such demeaning times. Linda, in "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," proves just how strong women are as she fights for her freedom and change, rather than submitting to endless abuse in slavery. Typically, women during slavery had no value, except to clean, work, and provide more slaves. Rape, as threatened to Linda in the story, seemed common and normal during those hardships. However, in today's time, sexual abuse is taken seriously and with the upmost punishment. Being discriminated and looked down upon as "sexual lust" rather than a worthy and valuable human being was emphasized in Jacob's story. Linda depicts a utopian desire in which "there is something akin to freedom in having a lover who has no control over you, except that which he gains by kindness and attachment," not the forced marriages, sexual abuse, and feeling of "property" that many women felt during slavery(p. 777). Freedom of not only self, but of choices of whom to love and be loved by is taken for granted in today's society. Linda was threatened after Dr. Flint discovered her love for a freed black man. Contrary to those times, today my parents embrace the idea of my independence, ability to choose a respectable man for myself, and the acceptance I hope they grant to my future husband. Trying to compare Linda's experiences to mine seems hardly incomparable in any circumstances. Similar to Jacob's story, Child's "The Quadroons" also depicts the courageous spirit of a young woman, attempting to make a change for herself. What both characters overcame were tremendous and courageous acts, even for today's time. Having that will power, admiration, and strength to fight for such beliefs from women seems like a common occurrence throughout our recent class lectures. Women have the ability to attain such strengths, though I feel it takes a certain independent and courageous type of female to resist society's norms and stand out. On a personal note, I feel Linda can be related to today's Lady Gaga; fierce and defiant with integrity, these two characters have firm beliefs and are willing to go against typical stereotypes to make a change. 

Journal Posting #5. A Distinct Theme

Themes help get the author's point across; to help establish the meaning behind their art of literature. Throughout history, primarily during the establishment of America and the colonies, Indians were discriminated and forced out of their homes in order for the colonists to build up the old "New World." William Apess and Lydia Sigourney both interpret the emotions and struggles the Native Americans felt by depicting similar themes in their literature. Apess uses his christian beliefs to portray his thematic advice, in which people who are devoted to Christ's words ("Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"), do not follow or take his teachings to heart. If we are to supposed love our neighbors as we want to be loved, how are discrimination, destruction, and desolation appropriate actions towards our neighbor Natives? By having such outward views, judging based on appearance instead of heart, love is impossible to truly understand and interpret. People can only comprehend love and its affects if they are able to look past appearances and value a person's worth and significance from within. Sigourney as well depicts, with intensity and sorrow, the Native scars in her poem "Indian Names." She uses such powerful words to impact the reader and portray the mark that colonization had on the Native Americans. Ending with the upmost meaningful comment, "Your mountains build their monument, Though ye destroy their dust," Sigourney poetically illustrates the quick disappearance of the people themselves, though their influential impact and significance to America are permanently left on the lands. Throughout both Apess and Sigourney's literature, they establish a theme so significant; that people can disrupt, destroy, and demean others, but the victim's past will always leave a memorable impact. Although there was discrimination towards the colonist's neighbors, the Native Americans' impact towards the foundations of America have and will always be recognized in this country.

Journal Posting #4. Winter's Empty Heart

In Elizabeth Stuart Phelps story, The Tenth of January, she uses imagery, descriptive words, and emotional writing to portray the dreary and lonely life of the protagonist, Asenath. By using gloomy and depressing descriptions of and towards Asenath, Phelps emphasizes the love and affection missing in Asenath's life, similar to the warmth and beauty missing during the winter setting. With no sensitive love from a mother or compassion from a lover, Asenath is blind to her father's deep admiration for his crippled daughter. He sees past her imperfections and appreciates her trueness and sincerity. Richard, also noted as Dick in the story, is almost created as a tease for the reader; a sense of potential love and enduring happiness for Asenath's crippled heart. Phelps uses words like "undersized, faded, ugly, and sickly" and rude remarks from strangers to portray Asenath's hideous physical appearance, ultimately making the reader have the upmost sympathy for Asenath and feel sorry for her life.  Phelps develops the character further by allowing the reader to know Asenath's secret love for Dick, though later discovering his heart is for her friend, but he feels obligated to marry Asenath, as if in pity. In addition, the setting helped outline the character further, with a winter setting in a lonely and desolate industrial town. The lonely streets and settings helps illustrate the emptiness of Asenath. By using descriptive words, illustrative emotions, setting, and other characters (whether they be Dick, her father, or bystanders), Phelps interprets the components necessary for effectively depicting a character.

Journal Posting #3. A Woman's Gift.

Irving's story, "The Wife," depicts the hidden beauty of women and their need to reassure and comfort a loved one during both good and bad times. The American values regarding marriage portrayed the concept that the male must financially support the wife while she emotionally supports and comforts him in return. Not once did the story emphasize the idea of a woman working or helping out during economic hardships. Furthermore, the story described women to seem almost in need of elegant items and luxury, however, have the capability to always bring out the best in the worst situations. Irving portrayed women to have a secret ability to uplift the husband's spirits and fill their heart with enduring love. This "secrecy" is still true to this day; women can bring out the best in a man. Women can make him work harder, fall deeper in love, and enjoy life to its fullest extent. In any situation, having that comfort and companionship of a significant other can help ease the stresses and struggles of life's daily obstacles. Another American Value depicted in Irving's story is the excessive worry of economic issues. Leslie became overwhelmed and could not admit to his wife his job loss, as if it was the upmost failure in life. Perhaps being wealthy and living lavishly in society was a must during those times, though the wife certainly proved that she did not need those luxuries to be happy. Leslie discovered at the end of the story the beauty of true love, after seeing his wife still loving and adoring made him realize the important necessities in life. Love is significant in this world. It helps us get through the worst of times as well as the best moments. Maybe having money and living with luxuries could ease one's stresses, but in the end, love will always remain.