American Realism

The writings of the American Romantics seem to focus a lot on feeling and emotion. In reading the works of different romantic writers I noticed that imagination plays a strong role. Especially in stories like Irving's, "The Devil and Tom Walker", a story in which the main character gets involved with the selling of his soul to the DEVIL. Along with radical imaginative plots, nature is a popular theme in romantic stories and poems. Reflection upon nature untouched by man seems to give inspiration. Surrounding yourself with natures pure beauty may reveal truths and give incite to life. In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's The Tide Rises the Tide Falls, he discusses how human imprints are nothing compared to the wrath of the earth. " The little white waves with their soft white hands efface the footprints in the sand". Many Romantic poets use nature as a way of looking at huge human issues such as death. For example, William Cullen Bryant's Thanatopsis.


For this journal entry i chose to look at the works of American realist Willa Cather. Compared to the writings of American Romantics, Cather is very down to earth with her writing. She does not express abstract ideas or concepts, her stories are enjoyable to read and give a good incite into the things she enjoys or has experienced in life. In the two stories I read it is apparent that Cather is infatuated with German culture, it makes a very strong presence in "A Wagner Matinee" and she finds a way to throw it into "Consequences".

The social theme of "Consequences" is suicide. One very powerful line I have pulled out of her writing is, "every suicide is logical and reasonable, if one knows the facts." This is a quote from the character Cavenaugh, the man who ends up committing suicide in the end. This quote can be taken as almost offensivly. Whether you know the facts or not, suicide should never be taken as something "logical or reasonable". Because Cavenaugh thought this way it is obvious that he was thinking illogically and irrationally. Could Cather have been foreshadowing his suicide with this phrase. Was she letting us into her writing world by giving us hints toward the thought process of someone contemplating suicide? On the other hand, how can one say what it is like to have thought about committing suicide unless they themselves have thought about it? Is Cather telling us through her writing that she has been in Cavenaugh's position at one time or another? Perhaps I'm being illogical and irrational.

Trailing away from "Consequences" and onto "A Wagner Matinee", I ask myself, who is her intended audience? I feel like this is just story made for anyone who wants to listen. It is overall more pleasant. She shows themes of love. Aunt Georgiana shows her love of music, her hometown of Nebraska, her husband, and Boston (a kind of newly found love). When Georgiana hears the "Prize Song" at the Wagner matinee she is reminded of her good old fashioned (German) lover boy. One song filled her with so much joy and so many memories. It was such a nice and relatable thing to read about. This story did have it's sad moments, when the opera was over Georgiana didn't want to move. The thought that her entertainment was over and she will soon have to return to her boring labor filled farm life is quiet upsetting to her. Cather may be writing to those who live in culture rich places like Boston. Seeing Aunt Georgiana's reaction to the theater may make people appreciate where they are from, something as common as a musical production can mean so much to someone who lives in a place where something like that isn't common at all. She may also be writing to those who live in places like Nebraska. She may be telling them that if you get out to see new places you never know what you might find and it could end up being a really good thing.

Does writing have the power to enact social change

I believe writing has the power to enact social change. People can be easily persuaded by your writing if you use the right approach. In the poem "The Bombing of Baghdad", Jordan appeals to senses and give visual descriptions. She also describes all of the things that "we" bombed. When she uses the word "we" it gives people a sense of guilt. The message she is sending is that we are all equal, when one person or group does something we as humans are affected in one way or another.
Words are one of the most powerful and dangerous weapons humans can use. For example, Hitler was one of the most powerful writers and public speakers of his time. Often times, and like many writers, his words were deceiving. "As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice," this is a quote from Adolf Hitler. To a reader this sounds pretty good, like something you would side with. Little did people know his idea of truth and justice were horribly twisted.
The Bible is another example of writing that has changed society. One book has caused and innumerable amount of change in the world for a very long time. It is a piece of writ ting that people may choose to live their lives by. Some people may read it and act out against it or branch off to make their own religions. Many of our worlds religions are a result of people migrating away from the Catholic Church because of things they may disagree with. Some may read the bible and take it completely literally causing them to act radical and possibly cause harm. Some say that it is because of the bible that we have Satanists ,and because of Satanist we have cultural figures and visuals, along with many other things. Every "rebellious" suburban kid who shops at Hot Topic has a shirt with a pentagram on it to scare their folks. Scared parents are extremal motivated, they love dictating what is right and wrong and they are mostly the religious type. Because of people like Tipper Gore we have things like the FCC. Because of what the Bible and other religious writing we have huge political debates over things like abortion and gay rights.
Writing can change society for better or worse in many ways. If someone does not agree with the cause you are writing for it is going to inspire them in someway to do something. Perhaps act against your writing, think in an entirely different spectrum, even causing people to do nothing at all and have no feelings what so ever is a legitimate reaction. obviously if this is a common reaction it may cause you to change what you are writing. When used the right way writing can do amazing things. Something as simple as a song lyric can cause people to do things and feel ways they may have never imagined.

Gina Gleason
The Price of a Child Review
1/31/09

The New York Times tells us that Lorne Carry is, “a powerful storyteller.” Her work in the Price of a Child is, “frankly sensual, mortally funny, and gifted with an ear for the pounce and ragged inconsequentiality of real speech.” I agree with almost none of that. Throughout reading The Price of a Child, Carry managed to get my attention, then loose me completely, bore me, and inspire me to write this review.
Ginnie is a young woman with three children. She is being taken to Philadelphia with her master, Jackson Pryor. We learn that Pryor has been named ambassador of Nicaragua. Why he has been given this title, I am not quite sure. Why would a slave be allowed to Philadelphia? It is a non-slave state with a strong abolitionist movement happening at the time. The catch is, Ginnie is only allowed to bring two of her three children with her. How does she decide whom to bring? Was Bennie, the child left behind, more mature thank the others? I can only make assumptions because Carry does not enlighten me; however, at this point in the book she is gaining my attention. What will Ginnie do? Will she courageously make her way to freedom? Would that even be the courageous thing to do in this situation, seeing as she has left one of her children behind down south? The plot could go in so many directions and I am left waiting to find out where we are headed next.
Unfortunately for me, the anticipative reader, Carry steers us into the beginning of a whirlwind of confusion when we meet Nig-Nag and other members of the Vigilance Committee. With their help and the Pennsylvania Law at her side, Ginnie decides to escape her master and walk into freedom. Carry decided not to give us any insight into Ginnie’s thought process or internal conflicts. This is a great example of “character vs. self” conflict and I think Carry could have done a lot more with the situation. What made up her mind to leave her master? Does she have an elaborate plan to go back for Bennie? She must be torn knowing she may never see one of her children again. What is the cost to ensure the safety of as many children as you can for a slave at this time? Is it another child; is that the price of a child?
As Ginnie is escaping, a carriage driver named Tyree picks her up. Throughout the book we meet members of Tyree’s family and friends, along with other families such as The Quick’s. This is where Carry bores me. We have hit a dead-end and I have completely lost interest. There are far too many characters to keep track of and she tells all of their stories. Instead of answering questions to parts of the book that left me hanging, she is introducing new parts and new characters. Finish what you’ve started, please. I have no idea what Bennie and Pryor are doing and I would like to know.
All of these characters feel like main characters. I feel like someone will have what seems like an important role in the book then just disappear for a while. For example, we meet Nig-Nag early on, and learn a little bit about him. He is corky and interesting and without him Ginnie may not have become free at all. After that it seems like he just disappears until much later in the story.
I may have gone into the story feeling bias. A reading demon of mine is being forced to read things I am not interested in reading. Slavery is a huge issue, however I spent an entire year in a required African American History class. How much more will be imbedded into our minds? Too much on any subject will make a student sick of it. I’m sure Carry is a great writer and I enjoyed parts of her writing. The way I would of liked her to use so many characters would be similar to the way Richard Linklater introduces new characters in his seemingly plot less film Slacker, a day in the life of a twenty-something from Texas. He follows characters met along the way never for more than a few minutes. Like I said before too many people with huge roles seem to make for a car-wreck.