Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is such hard novel to fuly comprehend.
Though it's virtually impossible to comprehend fully, there is, in fact, symbolism that is shown through the book that is not hard at all to pick out. For example, blood appears throughout the novel as a symbol of a human being’s repressed soul. Mildred remains unchanged when her poisoned blood is replaced with fresh, mechanically administered blood by the Electric-Eyed Snake machine. The symbol of blood is intimately related to the Snake machine. Bradbury uses the electronic device to reveal Mildred’s corrupted insides and the thick sediment of delusion, misery, and self-hatred within her. The Snake has explored "the layer upon layer of night and stone and stagnant spring water," but its replacement of her blood could not rejuvenate her soul. Her poisoned blood signifies the empty lifelessness of Mildred and the countless others like her. Considering the loss of sanity among Ray
Bradbury, the symbolism of the blood is no shock.
Another example is at the end of the novel when Granger says they must build a mirror factory to take a long look at themselves; this remark recalls Montag’s description of Clarisse as a mirror in “The Hearth and the Salamander.” Mirrors here are symbols of self-understanding, of seeing oneself clearly.
Overall, Bradbury's insanity - how little or how big - is shown althroughout this novel, and it's no secret. I did enjoy the novel, though. I mainly looked forward to seeing what insane event would happen next as I turned the page.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
"Do what you love; love what you do." - Ray Bradbury
Bradbury's interviews were almost too hard to comprehend solo. If I had not read the book first, I would have been clueless. Even having read the book, his interviews almost didn't make sense and somewhat seemed to contradict his writing. In his interviews, it sounds as if he was going crazy in a "nerdy" sense. At the very beginning of his first interview, he stated that he fell in love with cartoons at an early age. He began to learn to read at 3. When he turned 7, he fell in love with animated cartoons. When he was 9, he fell in love with the future. When he was 11, Tarzan was being illustrated, by Harold Foster. I think these young ages put him off as sort of a geek, but he obviously didn't care.
He wanted to write a novel about how basically society was killing peoples' minds. He wanted to show how if things kept going the way that they were, he had an idea of how it would end up in the future. He beleived that television was horrible, and like the devil. He beleived the opposite about books - he looked at them as being sacred almost as GOD. That was a sign of symbolism that I found between Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451. He does a great job in the novel of showing us about his passion for books and passion against television. He does this by telling about Mildred's TVs being "walls" and the actors and actresses being "family members."
I didn't understand his reasoning for the novel before listening to/reading his interviews. For that reason, I don't think he was accurate. He is one of the hardest people/authors to understand because he was so into his literature that it seems he lost his sanity.
He wanted to write a novel about how basically society was killing peoples' minds. He wanted to show how if things kept going the way that they were, he had an idea of how it would end up in the future. He beleived that television was horrible, and like the devil. He beleived the opposite about books - he looked at them as being sacred almost as GOD. That was a sign of symbolism that I found between Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451. He does a great job in the novel of showing us about his passion for books and passion against television. He does this by telling about Mildred's TVs being "walls" and the actors and actresses being "family members."
I didn't understand his reasoning for the novel before listening to/reading his interviews. For that reason, I don't think he was accurate. He is one of the hardest people/authors to understand because he was so into his literature that it seems he lost his sanity.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
To Kill a Mockingbird. Part: One
This book has by far been the best of all the seven books total. Though we are not done, I think this book will be out ahead of the others by far. Based off part one, this book is the easiest to understand as well as the easiest to read in general. I feel like this book can be related to real life situations in the sense that it really touches on personality, honesty, innocence, and knowledge; as we have partially discussed in class.
When I say this book touches on innocense, I see many different scenes from the book that portray this particular quality for different characters. For example, if you look at the scene where Scout is with her cousin Francis, when they sort of get into a fight. When Francis calls Atticus a "nigger-lover," Scout looses it completely. In the end of the scene when Aunt Alexdra and their grandma find them, Francis sets Scout up by saying she is holding him in the kitchen when she is really not. This part of the book portrays the most amount innocence on Scout's part because she was basically the victim of this little incident.
I think Boo Radley is a sign of symbolism. I say this because if you look at how all the other children view Boo, and then towards the end of the first part of the book, they view him in a more grown-up and mature perspective. From the scene where Jem's pants were caught in the fence and Jem goes back to retrive them and finds them neatly folded on the fence; Boo becomes an increasingly real and genuine person. Proof of this statement in the first part of the book is found when he puts a blanket across Scout's shoulders during Miss Maudie's house fire. When Atticus tells Scout this, she doesn't beleive her father, until she is questioned as to where the blanket came from.
Overall, this book mostly portrays innocence all throughout the novel, and is the most obvious in some parts more than others. I really enjoyed the first part of this novel, and I look forward to reading the second part. I am also excited to what happens with Scout and her adventures with Jem.
When I say this book touches on innocense, I see many different scenes from the book that portray this particular quality for different characters. For example, if you look at the scene where Scout is with her cousin Francis, when they sort of get into a fight. When Francis calls Atticus a "nigger-lover," Scout looses it completely. In the end of the scene when Aunt Alexdra and their grandma find them, Francis sets Scout up by saying she is holding him in the kitchen when she is really not. This part of the book portrays the most amount innocence on Scout's part because she was basically the victim of this little incident.
I think Boo Radley is a sign of symbolism. I say this because if you look at how all the other children view Boo, and then towards the end of the first part of the book, they view him in a more grown-up and mature perspective. From the scene where Jem's pants were caught in the fence and Jem goes back to retrive them and finds them neatly folded on the fence; Boo becomes an increasingly real and genuine person. Proof of this statement in the first part of the book is found when he puts a blanket across Scout's shoulders during Miss Maudie's house fire. When Atticus tells Scout this, she doesn't beleive her father, until she is questioned as to where the blanket came from.
Overall, this book mostly portrays innocence all throughout the novel, and is the most obvious in some parts more than others. I really enjoyed the first part of this novel, and I look forward to reading the second part. I am also excited to what happens with Scout and her adventures with Jem.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
A Seperate Peace - Last book!
This was my least favorite of the books we've read altogether. I did not like it for the fact that I felt like the descriptions were "overdone." I am not a big fan of books that seem to go on and on. I like the ones that get to the point, make the point, and that's the end. The one thing I did enjoy out of this book was the rivalry. I seemed to get a little interested when the rivalry began between Gene and Finny. I was going into this book expecting it to be at least a little better than it was for me...
The most symbolism in this book was shown to me in Finny’s fall. It demonstrates that Gene's envy is not without some consequences. They lead to pretty intense feelings of guiltiness and shame. After I finished this book, I decided to go look at SparkNotes. They make a very clear interpretation, so to speak, of the literal fall which symbolizes a figurative fall from innocence - like Adam and Eve, who eat the fruit from the tree when they were told not to, and are faced with consequences and led to suffering and sin.
The character I liked the best was Elwin "Leper" Lepellier. He seemed almost as the peacemaker and was always just the "laid back" sort of boy. The action he performed of enrolling in the army was the only thing I didn't like about him. I thought this "army time" made him to be not so "sweet and loving." When he left the army, he, again shocked all of his classmates. I think the book got more interesting when he left the army. Towards the end, he seemed to not be the "good" boy he was at the beginning. It was almost as if he was descending into darkness. This evolution of character is a good example of most people today. We often don't end up who we started out to be.
I am so looking forward for school to start, yet dreading it at the same time. I am excited to meet more new people and make more friends.(:
The most symbolism in this book was shown to me in Finny’s fall. It demonstrates that Gene's envy is not without some consequences. They lead to pretty intense feelings of guiltiness and shame. After I finished this book, I decided to go look at SparkNotes. They make a very clear interpretation, so to speak, of the literal fall which symbolizes a figurative fall from innocence - like Adam and Eve, who eat the fruit from the tree when they were told not to, and are faced with consequences and led to suffering and sin.
The character I liked the best was Elwin "Leper" Lepellier. He seemed almost as the peacemaker and was always just the "laid back" sort of boy. The action he performed of enrolling in the army was the only thing I didn't like about him. I thought this "army time" made him to be not so "sweet and loving." When he left the army, he, again shocked all of his classmates. I think the book got more interesting when he left the army. Towards the end, he seemed to not be the "good" boy he was at the beginning. It was almost as if he was descending into darkness. This evolution of character is a good example of most people today. We often don't end up who we started out to be.
I am so looking forward for school to start, yet dreading it at the same time. I am excited to meet more new people and make more friends.(:
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Crucible
I had to read this book pretty quickly. It was, to me, a fairly quicker read and I seemed to enjoy it more than each of the other books we have read. I especially enjoyed at the beginning when the group of girls were dancing in the forest with Tituba and got caught by Reverend Parris. I guess this scene gave me the sense that I was actually in the story and was one of the girls dancing.
Pretty much althroughout the book, I kept asking myself why Abigail desires John Proctor so whole-heartedly. I guess I don't see what attracts her to him. I still have not come to a conclusion of this. Another part of the book I basically don't understand is when Betty awakes, why do Proctor, Parris, Giles Corey, and Thomas Putnam argue so much. It seemed as if a big fight were about to occur. The next scene I really enjoyed was when Tituba confesses about what the girls had done in the forrest. Apparently, they had commuted with the devil, and Tituba hysterically accuses various townsfolk of consorting with the devil. Abigail joins in and confesses to having seen the devil conspiring and cavorting with other townspeople. Betty, then, joins them in naming witches; the crowd is thrown into an uproar.
There were several questions I had during this book. For some of them, I got possible answers, but not quite a legitimate answer. Some of these questions are:
1. Why did Proctor take Mary to try to prove the girls were lying? It was almost as if he was either 100% on their side or he was trying to get rid of Abigail. The answer I got with this one was that he wanted to prove that the girls were lying, so he confessed to his affair with Abigail.
2. Why does Danforth ask Elizabeth talk Proctor into confessing? I never really got a clear answer to this question...
As I mentioned earlier, this book was the most interesting to me! I thoroughly enjoyed reading and somewhat analyzing this book. It was a good and quick read.
Pretty much althroughout the book, I kept asking myself why Abigail desires John Proctor so whole-heartedly. I guess I don't see what attracts her to him. I still have not come to a conclusion of this. Another part of the book I basically don't understand is when Betty awakes, why do Proctor, Parris, Giles Corey, and Thomas Putnam argue so much. It seemed as if a big fight were about to occur. The next scene I really enjoyed was when Tituba confesses about what the girls had done in the forrest. Apparently, they had commuted with the devil, and Tituba hysterically accuses various townsfolk of consorting with the devil. Abigail joins in and confesses to having seen the devil conspiring and cavorting with other townspeople. Betty, then, joins them in naming witches; the crowd is thrown into an uproar.
There were several questions I had during this book. For some of them, I got possible answers, but not quite a legitimate answer. Some of these questions are:
1. Why did Proctor take Mary to try to prove the girls were lying? It was almost as if he was either 100% on their side or he was trying to get rid of Abigail. The answer I got with this one was that he wanted to prove that the girls were lying, so he confessed to his affair with Abigail.
2. Why does Danforth ask Elizabeth talk Proctor into confessing? I never really got a clear answer to this question...
As I mentioned earlier, this book was the most interesting to me! I thoroughly enjoyed reading and somewhat analyzing this book. It was a good and quick read.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Scarlet Letter
So far, this has been the best book we've read! It's filled with roller coasters of mystery and somewhat adventure. I felt that the second I started this book, I was on somewhat an adventure and that it was a very fast moving book for the most part. I think the preamble really states just how the book came to be. Up until practically the end of the book, I had not a single clue of who the narrator might be.
Hester Prynne was young girl who married Mr. Prynne. He basically "ships" her off to start a new beginning. This place is where Hester commits the sin. Mr. Prynne vanishes when he hears about Hester's situation just before going out to visit her. He is disgusted and embarrassed, so he basically vanishes from Hester. He doesn't want to see her, nor does he want anything to do with her.
Throughout the book, I watched Hester grow from being a weak, passionate, young girl to being a very strong, independent young lady. She was basically a new woman with a new beginning. Also, I think when Hester returns, even with the scarlet letter, it no longer carries the symbolism it was filled with before. I think the symbolism is gone due to the separation of her and her daughter.
Hester Prynne was young girl who married Mr. Prynne. He basically "ships" her off to start a new beginning. This place is where Hester commits the sin. Mr. Prynne vanishes when he hears about Hester's situation just before going out to visit her. He is disgusted and embarrassed, so he basically vanishes from Hester. He doesn't want to see her, nor does he want anything to do with her.
Throughout the book, I watched Hester grow from being a weak, passionate, young girl to being a very strong, independent young lady. She was basically a new woman with a new beginning. Also, I think when Hester returns, even with the scarlet letter, it no longer carries the symbolism it was filled with before. I think the symbolism is gone due to the separation of her and her daughter.
The Great Gatsby
Going into this book, I found myself not looking at the bigger picture. I really focused on two of the characters throughout this book. Jay was who I found to be the main character; although, some parts of the book portray Nick to be the main character. In my head, I pictured him to be 27, not exactly sure why. His childhood would not lead the average reader to believe he'd become a wealthy man later on in life. He was able to become this way due to all the crime he participated in committing. It became apparent at different times throughout the book that Jay had been against poverty and hated it with a passion since the very beginning of his life. It was almost as if Jay had a huge crush on Daisy Buchanan and wanted to be rich because of her. It was almost as if he wanted to become rich to maybe grab her attention. On numerous occasions, Jay told fibs of his past and himself to make himself more interesting and therefore a good enough man for her.
As Nick narrates the story, his words make it seem as though you are right there in the story going through what everyone else is going through. He seemed to alternate the way in which he described things. Sometimes he agreed with Jay, other times, he disagreed. He seemed to somewhat contradict himself a little.
This book was, by far, the hardest one to "get into." It took me quite a while to just sit down, read, and finally finish it. I was so confused when the book started, but, then, I finally caught on by the end. I think the message Fitzgerald was trying to get across was when death occurs, so does life.
As Nick narrates the story, his words make it seem as though you are right there in the story going through what everyone else is going through. He seemed to alternate the way in which he described things. Sometimes he agreed with Jay, other times, he disagreed. He seemed to somewhat contradict himself a little.
This book was, by far, the hardest one to "get into." It took me quite a while to just sit down, read, and finally finish it. I was so confused when the book started, but, then, I finally caught on by the end. I think the message Fitzgerald was trying to get across was when death occurs, so does life.
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About Me
- McGrath_15
- I love being outside and being with friends and family. I love laughing, and sometimes I do it a little too much. Skiing is my game. It's pretty legit. (: