Posts

The Cost of Being Different

 After reading Jason's story in Black Swan Green , and from what we've read so far in Fun Home , a common theme becomes visible. We see both of our protagonists face the pressures of "fitting in", of being like everyone else. It causes them to change, put on a facade to find comfort and safety. Both Jason and Alison hide aspects about themselves and struggle to live as if they're both under constant scrutiny. Jason with his stutter and passion for poetry and Alison with her sexuality. The only place where these two can be themselves is when they're alone. The power of social influence almost makes these two hate how they are, makes them want to be different. In Black Swan Green the pressure comes from classmates and in Fun Home , it's mostly exuded by Alison's mother. Just as their insecurities are similar, so are their coming of age. Both Alison and Jason learn to accept who they are, and no longer fall victim to their differences. Jason's transfo...
9 comments
Read more

Esther Greenwood Vs. Holden Caufield

 As I got closer and closer to the end of this novel, I couldn't help but see parallels between Esther and Holden. Both of these characters separate themselves from society and act as if nobody else could understand what they are going through. Holden expresses this through his notion that the world is completely superficial and narrating it as if he's the only one to have figured it out. Esther, when at the mental hospital, meets Joan, a fellow patient. A one-sided rivalry ensues where Esther claims that Joan has no reason to be here and how much greater her own pain was. Joan's enthusiasm irked Esther and was the main reason behind this claim. It all stemmed from jealousy. Joan was who Esther wanted to be. "I felt it unfair of Joan to beat me through the gates," Esther thinks, after hearing that Joan was going to Cambridge. Holden also has this similar rivalry/jealousy  A deeper look into each book's ending also reveals a failure to come-of-age. Holden remai...
2 comments
Read more

What Can we Say to Holden?

 I want to go back to the discussion about what should be said to Holden. How, as readers and as people who know more about him than fellow characters, we can connect with him. As we discussed, he certainly has views on the world that he believes are his own. Holden constantly calls out the world for being disingenuous, and growing up in a rich white private high school, his world view is very limited. I think what he needs to hear is that he's right. Having no real friends, Holden has no way of affirming himself or his ideas and I think that if I was in the novel, this is what I would say to him. His instinct of not wanting to borderline rape women, and really caring for people are good things. I think he just needs to hear that.  After affirming his beliefs, then we can talk about his flaws. He's a very headstrong individual so in order o criticize him, I think we must also praise him. He's very hypocritical in his judgement of the world, as he himself is a pathological l...
6 comments
Read more

Coming-Of-Age Essay Preview

     My essay was about the depiction of 'coming-of-age' in Naruto. He's a character whose  story is defined by overcoming challenges, shedding his past, and the aspiration to become  Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I saw his growth, not defined by simply his age or the acquisition of new power but rather, his changed mindset on why he wants to become strong. In the beginning of this 750 episode anime, Naruto's main reason to get strong is to gain recognition and to be loved. His parents were killed on the day of his birth so understandably, he seeks out attention. Despite having such a rough childhood, Naruto is able to make many great friends throughout his journey, and slowly, his reason to gain power changes. After witnessing deaths of those near to him, he now wants to solely protect all those he loves. This is what I think "Coming-Of-Age entails in Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto. 
2 comments
Read more