From the first few lines, I was hooked and wanted to know more. “Mines,” was a piece that made me feel appreciative that my parents raised me the way they did, and that they cared enough to try their best.
Clarette works in a youth correctional facility among many young men who seem to have thrown their lives away. Covered in tattoos, fighting to stay alive, living every day as if it might be their last. Although, this isn’t Clarette’s dream job, it does provide for her family, and has benefits. Considering her husband, Ray, has been out of a job, this job is an essential. When she does arrive home, it seems like her role has not changed. She still has to protect her children from their dad, who doesn’t know what he is doing is hurting them. Ray seems to only be trying to protect his son by cutting his hair, and keeping him from playing the piano, but eventually with these mannerisms he is only turning him into what walks the halls at the local youth correctional facility. When the story ends with Clarette looking into the advertisement for the piano, I am happy to say she is fighting for what she believes in and trying her best to help her children succeed in the future.
Tattoos seemed to play a large role in “Mines,” which I found particularly interesting due to the fact that I have them. It showed me how different life inside a prison can be. The wrong tattoo in a prison could get you killed, but it also could keep you alive. Tattoo’s could tell your whole life story, being family, why you’re in, who you role with, who you hate, and how you think. Outside the prison system, you don’t see it much except in certain areas of towns, but tattoo’s to certain people seem to have lost that value that they started out with. Some see them as art, some see them as a way to remember an event that happened in life that they want to relive forever. It does seem to be a lifestyle though. Tattooed people are different in ways that can’t be described.
A literary element that stood out a lot was imagery. Straight did a good job of painting a picture in my head, of the world she lived in, and the people she was surrounded by.
I could relate to this particular story because my uncle works as a correctional officer at a level four prison, which is the highest it goes. He talks a lot about the people inside and how tattoos do play a large role in their daily lives. The only question I had would be if she disagreed with the way Ray was treating her son, and if he didn’t seem to be present or help in any way, why was she with him?
I find it very interesting how you brought up the point about tatoos, people from all walks of life have them so it is very difficult to group those people together.
ReplyDeleteHaving been married with children myself I could pose a few answers to your question about why she was with him. I would say first, maybe because of the children. This stands out in my mind first and foremost. Many people stay together because of the children, because of convenience, and for family. However, at some point the issues within the marriage usually become paramount, leading to separation and/or divorce as in this story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Straight did a wonderful job of describing the tattoos and the youth in the YA.
ReplyDeleteTattoos are present in all cultures, and represent different meanings depending on the society they are presented in. The meaning of Tattoos in the American culture have changed dramatically in the last 25 years. Where once tattoos were synonymous with men in the Armed forces, today it is not unusual for even teenage girls to sport a tattoo of some sort. The tattoos in Straight's story give us a vivid image of gang related tattoos.
I believe Clarette stayed with Ray because Ray was the father of her children. She saw the youth in the YA, many who probably didn't know who their father was, and perhaps she felt that a father like Ray was better then no father at all.
I think that deep down she still loves Ray’s and is hoping that he will turn his life around and be there for her and the children. You can see this when she calls Rays in regards to the piano for her son, she was hoping that he would help her purchase the instrument. Obviously it doesn’t appear as though he is going to change or has any plans to help her at all.
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