SSRJ #4 : MINOT

            Lust is defined as self-indulgent sexual desire or to have a craving, appetite, or great desire for. My initial reaction to this story was that this was not lust. In the beginning yes, towards the end it all seemed to blend together, not a desire, or craving but simply as routine as brushing your teeth in the morning. An element that stood out as particularly interesting was even though the story was about one girl, who remained nameless and faceless, she seemed to represent all girls in the age group, or all girls at her school. She was an upper class, well-educated girl given wonderful opportunities to excel, yet when a boy put his arm around her she forgot about everything around her except for that guy during that time. Being a teenager I relate to the situations that these people are placed in. Although I do not agree with the way these actions were played out, I have to say that I know people in these positions. It is sad to see it happen around you but it also seems like you cannot change it if you were to try. I do see that the amount of partners a person has, the reaction is very bias from gender. A man can have many and seem like a god, but when a girl has even a small amount they are seen as, “whores, or sluts,” and are talked down to or treated badly.

            The literary element that stood out to me the most was setting. Lust took place in a boarding school, filled with upper class, well educated, young men and women. It seems like the author was grouping the characters to let them represent all teens in these demographics.

            The only thing that did not make sense to me, was at the end when the girls were talking to the house mother, it almost seemed like she was saying their behavior was okay, or that they were to deliver babies. I’m wondering if she was suggesting women were only meant for procreation, or if anyone saw it this way? 

SSRJ #3: COLLETE

When I began to read “The Hand,” by Sidonie-Gabrielle Collete I was not surprised to see the amount of “love,” later to my knowledge lust, in the newly wed couple. This man that she has recently married, has already been married, but when she explains why she is in love, everything is artificial. It makes me think that their love was a physical relationship rushed into marriage. While laying next to her husband, already in two weeks she is beginning to find things wrong with him. His hand, described as monstrous and claw bearing, means nothing in the relationship other than a physical flaw. In 1924, there was no separation from a spouse except in death, wedding vows were truly spoken back then, so I believe she knew she was stuck at the end when she kissed his hand.

The literary elements that stood out to me were both; setting and symbolism. The setting, being in the newly weds bed set the story up as love at first sight. She was overwhelmed in the beginning, laying in bed with the love of her life, feeling kidnapped from the life she knew before. Now laying in the same bed does she see herself laying with a man she is already finding flaws with, during the course of a few weeks. His hand symbolizing a monstrous creature that now distracts her from his affection, or his features that she is only now becoming aware of, is already destroying her thoughts of him, which at first were of the best. 

The only thing this story could possibly make me think of was the movie, “What Happens In Vegas,” when the two married under the false pretences of love, and then could not get divorced and were forced to live with each other. The only questions I would have for this story would have to be, if the hand actually stood for being worried about the future or if it had an abusive meaning to it. His monster, crab-like, hands that were so big. Did he use them to hurt her, possibly control her? 

SSRJ #2: STRAIGHT

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? 

SSRJ #1: Chopin

When I first began to read Chopin’s story I felt uncomfortable with the given situation. As it started off,  I edged towards remorse due to the fact that I have recently lost someone but it all turned to questions when she yelled she was free.  I can’t say I understand personally, but the time period was different and women didn’t have the choice of separation from a bad situation, which was almost given by the description of the beauty she saw when first looked outside.

The element that stood out as interesting to me was the irony of the situation. Although not given much information of the husband, or why she seemed free when notified of his passing, with the information given, I found it interesting when she died at the end.  Her death was questionable as well though, given it could have been to shock of seeing her dead husband, all that is implied is she is now trapped again.

In my own life, the only situations this made me think about, being a different time period, was women who stay with their husbands after they cheat. Due to the fact that this was written in 1894, I can’t say I have a personal experience, or could even imagine what it must have felt like to lose and regain a husband within a matter of minutes.  If i had to ask a question, it would be where her husband was, that made him be so far away from the scene of the accident, that he did not know there had been one.