English213

The slave narratives that were linked on Mr. Wasserman’s blog, and the ones that we read in class, were a very useful way of learning.  Instead of reading books that were written years after the actual events, they were primary sources.  Also, they really gave the reader a look into the victims life.  While reading these pieces you saw the emotions that a slave really felt, and it was alot more then just sadness or regret.  They also made the reader realize all the different jobs or lessons needed to preform in just one day, and the different jobs or expectations the men, children, or women needed to live up to. 

The formal definition for satire is “A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit.” And a prime example for each of the stratigies used in it was how Mark Twain mimics many key emotions and events during the time that The Adventures Of Huck Finn was written.  Basically, satire is just a way of critizing an idea that you are against, however you are preforming it in a nicer way.  For example, in Huck Finn, the author, Mark Twain greatly pulls lines straight out of old adventure books.  And this does not mean that he does not like the books, it is just ties many memories together.  Infact, when doing online research, i found that when a little boy, Twain was constently reading many of the adventure novels that were brought out in his own writing.  I do not believe that using satires is bad, i acutally enjoy it.  It is a form of writing that really shows the reader how much the author can relate his or her writing to instanses in their own life.  

While reading Huck Finn by Mark Twain there were many different ideas that shocked me.  As long as the strickness in the community, separation of men and women, and the different relationships between elders and young, however the most terrifying discovery was how racism was carried out.  When you read this book, you can not believe that this is the same United States that we live in today.  The language that is in this book is very disturbing and really gives the reader a lasting impression on just how hard the south was on African Americans during this time.  Allthough this book is very striking, it has alot of meaning behind it, and i believe that Mark Twain really carrys out the effect of the characters very well.  I’m espeically interested in the way he describes the lady at the end of chapter 11 to be very proper and wealthy, how ever she is throwing out the N- word like it is just apart of their every day life.  This book has alot of hidden meanings behind it, that i think the author intended for the readers to realize if they look deeply into them.

Our discusion today in class, really cleared up many keys points about the conditions in Iraq, to me.  I learned that the disagreement has been going on for a long time, and it just got out of hand.  If the United States pulls out of Iraq right now, then the Suni and Shiite conflict will really get blown out of porpotion.  And as well as every other person in the class i do agree that that would not be fair of the United States to do, since they led this conflict to where it curently is.  Also, if the United States pulls out, leaving Iraq falling straight to the ground, then other countrys will blame America for this, and will not view America as a glorious and strong as they do today. 

After our class discussion on Thursday about Iraq, i am split between two decissions i do not think that America should completely pull out of the country, because that will cut off alot of our oil.  Also, if we stay in the country for along time, then we will be wasting away our money by trying to help them build a country which might not even last.  No one knows that if the second we leave the country it will continue to turn into a war zone filled with racisum just like it was before, or how long we will need to stay in Iraq until things start getting even a slight bit better.  I think that the most logical choice would be to split the country into three different sections, each containing the the different religion that they all practice, which is basically the sections that they are living in today.  This will give each an equal oppertunity to practice their religion on their own will, invest money to support the people, and start the rebuilding process.  For the reasons listed above, I believe that is the most logical answer to all the questions about Iraq.

This book was definatley well worth reading, because it gave its readers a good chance to learn about history.  Especially since this was one of the cruelest acts preformed through mankind.  Night by Elie Wiesel is a perfect book to describe the horrifing journey that the members of the holocost had to embark on.  The only thing that was a little dispointing was the ending, because since the begining is a little boring, tehn by the middle you start gettign a little more interested and by the time the book is over, i wanted to no more about what happened to the characters on a more of a long term scale.  Was there any other racist events in their life that happened to them after? was life alot more difficult without their loved ones? and so on.  THis book really gives the reader a chance to get inside the characters minds and i think that this book should be read by students everywhere. It will realy open up their minds and make them realize the world has not always been so free as they know it today…

From the last finishing point in the book, alot of the ideas and ways that the author represented the characters, setting, and plot has cleared up alot.  what was consusing before, all came together.  Even though this book keeps getting harder to read, and more sad by each page read, it really is worth reading and certainly a once in a life time experience.  Elie Wiesel has a very good technique on writing from memory and discribing the graphic details.  I hope to see things look better towards the end of the book for the main character, Eliezer.