September 14, 2015Analysis of “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”

Throughout the laconic, intriguing poem, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”, Dylan Thomas illustrates the reality of life and the inevitable end of it: death. In this villanelle, he accentuates his message of being avid and full of fervor, regardless of the stage of life one finds oneself in. This essential message is conveyed with the uses of metaphor, oxymoron, and allusion which work together to compound the implied idea that the “dying of the light” is in fact “the dying of the soul”. Even though it may appear unreasonable to fight against an imminent death, Thomas argues that it is sweeter to fight death than submit to it. Although Dylan Thomas was a neurotic child who was anti-social, Thomas gives the reader an impression that he did care about society, especially about how the elderly kept their head high when they left Earth.

Thomas incorporates many metaphors that describe death in a euphemistic manner, indicating that an every inch of life is worth fighting for. This may appear ironic given Thomas’ educational background, but his argument is validated by his own success story. Even when his neurosis could have served as a depressing barrier, he broke through it, with the light of his words. He shares his enlightening words with his audience, particularly addressing his own father who introduced him to the glories of the English language. In the poem, he urges his father to cling onto that light that he once showed him, even though the light may seem intangible. He argues that the thought of dying “burn[s] the soul”, but there is no excuse to succumb to the “close of day”. Endlessly, Thomas demands that his father “rage, rage” against the dying of the light for it was his inspiring words that led Thomas see the luminous light. Indirectly, he implores his father to fight against the darkness, to fight against the sadness that will blanket the world with blindness, because his actions had “forked no lightning”. This implies that even at the moment of death, where everything seems hopeless, one’s struggle could be a hopeful sight for someone who takes life for granted. Seeing his father striving against the “last wave” is very significant for Thomas, since he believes in the profound impact that his father’s [frail deeds might] have caused in a “green” bay. Mentioning the color green in the midst of the “light” and the “dark” highlights the superior significance of green: the renewal, rebirth, and the restoration of depleted energy. With the metaphorical meaning of green, Thomas proves the peril in submitting to death, as it is connected to other seemingly unrelated deaths in those who love life.

This puissant message of death and its implications is dissected even more in the uses of oxymoron. Continuing with his appeals to the elderly, specifically to his father, is to not embrace death, Thomas speaks of the enthusiastic men who caught… [the] flight, yet were “too late” to learn of the consequences of lending themselves to death. Death is an abrupt, fast event, that could take anything in its way with it, but Thomas places these two concepts within a stanza to symbolize how fast time flies by, while emphasizing how prudent it is to utilize every second of the time granted before all of it is taken away. Hoping that his father would not be one of the regretful elderly, he advices him to make death a little sweeter for himself, and the “flight” to peace less turbulent, with ease of knowing that he has impacted the world. To make the world a little better only requires little steps, which could be taken at any time, even on the verge of death. Even the “blinding sight” of the elderly is not a major impairment, not enough to recuse oneself from one’s responsibility to commit to the world. In contrast to the blinding relief from further responsibilities that death promises, the elderly must see past what is beyond death—the implications of one’s individual death for those around the afflicted elder. Thus, he/she must use his wearing sight to the best of his/her ability, to latch onto “…the dying of the light” so that the light will not quiver as much with his/her death.

However, Thomas’ definition of death is not completely defined yet. In addition to the way the afflicted should approach his/her death, the weight of which he shall be remembered because of his actions is important. The height of character which he displayed up until his death should remain continuous, influencing how the world will be with it, rather than without it. Thomas’ father, “there on the sad height” does not have to be “sad”. Referring particularly to his father, he asks for something beyond a blessing similar to that with which Isaac blessed his son, Esau—a poignant way to remember him, standing strong. He asks his father to serve as a continuing motivation in life, to live strong and die tall. Thomas doesn’t not want to be reminded to that life is short; he wants to be assured that everything in life is worth fighting for, not matter how uncontrollable it may seem.

Ironically, Thomas embraces life with every ounce of energy and wishes that all dying women and men to fight for the life that was given to them. As a reminder, he advises the elderly to struggle against the flickering, dying light, because he believes that one’s legacy doesn’t end with death—an abstract dark reality. Nonetheless, with the repeated contrast of light and dark imagery, he leaves the reader wondering whether life is something to be taken for granted or to be taken advantage of. In Thomas’ perspective, life depends on the individual, but its connection to Earth will always be innate and permanent. With this in mind, Thomas wants the readers to think of life as something precise for the last moment of life, could be the most significant part of life. For that reason, Thomas infers that every birth and death affects all who inhabit the realm of the living in one way or another, but how we are affected is what matters.

Sep. 20th, 2015Income Inequality

I think of community on a national scale, believing the whole constitutes more than just a sum of its parts. As a middle-class citizen, I have always struggled with the concept of America being a democracy. I have never felt it to be so. This sentiment intensified as I became more aware of the pecuniary issues that my family was encountering and the limitations we were being subjected to because of our limited resources. America is one of the most prosperous nations, but this great success is not reflected in the lifestyle of the middle class—the very people who give America its identity.

Unfortunately, middle class families have become dependent on regulatory laws enacted by the government, and so prosperity in the land of opportunity has become a matter of policy. As of 2009, both Wall Street and the wages of the rich were deregulated. This was precursor to what would inevitably follow: increasing middle-class woes were ignored by the government which chose to listen to lobbyists representing the top 1% instead. The single most important cause of steadily increasing disparity of wealth are tax breaks for the wealthy. States were defunded as tax revenue decreased, a new economic class was created—the extreme poor—and our political system was put up for sale to the highest bidder among the 1%. The affluent have not only exploited the resources America should provide to all, but they have also used their power to influence politics in a way that is not compatible with a democratic system. Big companies have stifled the labor union movement by throwing both their weight and their money around. Unions may not be perfect organizations, but they are a necessary mouthpiece for people who will otherwise be exploited and taken advantage of. Because one feels powerless in the face of all these big, powerful people who decide one’s future, I have had to fight against apathy when it comes to politics. Having no money to participate in politics, I narrowed my focus to the possibilities that would be available to me once I became a medical doctor. My family has suffered a lot trying to pay medical and dental bills. I was inspired to become the sort of doctor who would be able to participate in the reform of the medical billing system. It would be ideal if such a system were implemented within a well-designed macro-economy, but that would take the cooperation of many different sectors of industry.

If I, at 17, am able to perceive that America has changed, and am able to understand how and why, it is inexcusable if policy-makers were to plead ignorance. I think it is greed though, not ignorance. At present, I try to engage in social and political activities such as signing anti-corruption petitions, and advocating for the humane treatment of animals. These are small contributions, but I hope one day to make a larger impact. I also hope that one day the 99% will count too.

Nov 4, 2015Hamlet Scene (2.2.322-402) Rewrite

“I don’t feel a connection to Earth. Not even the golden sky is of interest to me. Although humans

surpass all, in their imagination, in their reasoning, and in their perception. Everything about humans and

their capability is astonishing, and admirable. However, I am senseless. Nothing appeals to be, be it man

or… women, don’t smirk at me”.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”.

“Then, why O heavens, did you twist your face?” I can read your mind. Don’t even attempt to deny

the truth.

“I just found what you said ironic. If you despise humans, why and how do you expect them to

entertain you”?

“No. There are exceptions--such as you and Guildenstern--if the roles are played accordingly; with

enough fervor to keep me from submerging in ennui. I certainly do not want to be listless. What rank do the

actors hold?” Can’t wait to get my plan finally executed. Poor souls think that they can cross-examine me.

Ha!

“They are the actors you loved as a child.”

“Are they given as much attention as they received in the earlier days?” Don’t think anyone could

get more attention than I. Look at me, surrounded by treacherous ‘friends’!

“No, sadly. But they are challenged all the way; they are excelling, but limited by competition from

youth half their age.”

“And people just go with it?”

“I mean, people have been debating about it?”

About their future financial circumstance? Or about their mental and physical health? I doubt the

latter.

“See what the world has come to? The youth are robbed of their childhood so easily, without any law

to secure what the children are entitled. How could the public be so oblivious of the harmful implications?

Not letting their children to wonder? They immediately marry them to money. By what cost?!

“Here are the actors”.

Oh fools! You are actors yourselves! I know more than you know about yourselves. You consider

yourself a friend…well, then I shall let them think so. “Come shakes hands with me. Do not hesitate. I don’t

want you to think I prefer the actors more than my faithful friends, now do I? But still, those that have hired

you have got the wrong impression of me.

“What are referring to, my lord?”

“Beware. I go insane at times, but at other times, I am very clear with what I impress on others.”

Sigh, you guys really don’t know who you are messing with here.

Dec. 20, 2015“The Second to Fourth Paragraph on Page 65”

The devastating impacts of war become truly evident when trust is only extended to those who are

known. The loss of trust makes a community so doomed that even the most innocent are held as capable

people. Although a Samaritan could be found at times of despair, very few were willing to lend an ear to the

words of those deemed guilty. War had eradicated any sort of tolerance that was once prominent in the

country. When the host who heals Ishmael and his friends offered a hand without questioning them, Ishmael

is astonished and finds his trust awry. The important aspect of trust is revived for Ishmael, and he adopts this

concept. As soon as the host’s clan is fully aware of the youngsters’ presence, guards are sent to hunt them

down. When they come for Ishmael, he “offer[s] his hands to be tied”. He tries to practice this newfound

trust with the attacker with an exchange of a “glance”, but his “wide [eyed]” communication quickly reaches

a conclusion. Warfare had driven people to become merciless towards outsiders, because their security and

peace was mercilessly demolished.

However, the fact that Ishmael “exchanged” a glance with his attacker is still a vital form of

communication, no matter its brevity; it foreshows that the innocence of the children will be ultimately

revealed. After being brought to the chief, Ishmael wonders if such captivity was a “new experience” for his

companions since they readily allied with Ishmael, immediately trusting him. In essence, he wonders if the

others had ever been deprived of trust. However, this does not appear to be the case, as they were all

“heaving”, rather than crying, a sign of anxiety rather than a sympathetic response, is displayed indicating

that the children had been in this situation before. Ishmael becomes more conscious of his predicament,

realizing that they are “a long way gone” from Mattru Jong. Similar to the title from which the excerpt is

extracted, Ishmael’ s definition of “a long way gone” could relate any one of the mishaps of Ishmael’s

experiences, from the prevalent paucity of trust to the literal distance from Mattru Jong that could be felt.

March 30, 2014

Is Money Enough to Compensate for Chemical Disaster?

Chemical disasters rarely occur at industrial factories, however, when they do occur it is usually due

to the negligence of both the company’s operating system and the government. The government has the

responsibility to scrutinize these companies regularly, and regulate their industrial growth by setting strict

safety requirements. The government’s first concern should be people’s health; it must also take all actions

necessary in order to avoid ecological catastrophes. Disasters in the past may have been due to the

governments being more interested in a healthy economy than a healthy populace. Unfortunately, many

governments keep making this same grave error, risking countless lives that cannot be compensated for with

money if lost. This highlights the reality that greed is an ever-present problem in our society. In the

aftermath of such disasters, it always seems to be that money was a key factor, and that in weighing life

against money, money always resulted to be of prime importance.

One such greedy company, Union Carbide Chemical (UCC)—now owned by Dow—through negligence

and cost-cutting, caused one of the worst chemical disasters ever seen in Bhopal, India, 1984. It all began as

the company became more reckless due to its lessening profits. They did not meet the safety requirements,

and the Indian government gave them lee-way because they feared encountering an economic downturn if

Union Carbide Chemical closed down their plant. For example, to conserve money UCC turned off its vent-

gas scrubber and gas-flare safety system three weeks before the tragedy took place. The vent-gas scrubber is

a safety device designed to nullify the discharge of toxic chemicals from the methyl isocyanate (MIC)

system—a deadly gas—and the gas flare system which alerts the company if anything goes wrong. The lack

of these safety measures was precursor to one of the deadliest chemical disasters in history.

One hour before midnight on December, 2, 1984, disaster struck. An active UCC operator caught

sight of a small leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, and of the pressure compounding inside a storage tank.

He did not, however, report anything. One of the valves allowed a ton of water, designed for cleaning

internal pipes, to mix with forty tons of MIC, heightening total pressure and heat. The pressure accumulated

because the reaction of methyl isocyanate with water is a dangerous one, yielding CH3NH2+CO2 and heat

—its chemical reaction being CH3NCO+H20→CH3NH2+CO2. Both products, methylamine and carbon

dioxide, are gases at room temperature. These two gases raised the pressure and heat in the container. The

pressure augmented, causing the containment vessel to break and release MIC. As the temperature increased,

MIC's vapor pressure increased. Methyl isocyanate has a vapor pressure equal to a third over an atmosphere.

Because vapor pressure is inversely related to boiling point, and because methyl isocyanate’s boiling point is

close to that of the average temperature of the human body, humans are especially susceptible to its effects.

Typically, to obviate these disasters, a refrigeration unit is used to cool MIC storage tanks but the solution

that had been in this unit had been emptied for other usage. Without the proper safety equipment, disaster

was unavoidable. It is important to note that if proper safety systems had been in place, this accident would

never have happened.

One after midnight, the damage was done; a cloud of methyl isocyanate was released into the air. The

lethal gas disseminated, consuming all living things in its path, birds included. What exacerbated this

situation was that most people were asleep, and thus oblivious to the fact that the gas was even present.

Thousands were killed from exposure. Following the incident, the Indian government scoured Bhopal,

looking for living souls. They reported that more than half a million people had been exposed to the gas.

Before this event, the government had been busy analyzing the upward economic trend, following the

disaster it had to calculate death tolls instead.

This chemical disaster not only brought death, but also various forms of diseases that altered people’s

lives immediately and subsequently. People who inhaled the malignant solution would have had their lives

curtailed, as they choked, suffered circulatory collapse, and experienced pulmonary oedema. The ailments

that have evolved since the leak took many different forms: ocular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genetic,

psychological, and neurobehavioral. Neurologically, brains swelled and became distorted, causing the

afflicted person to succumb to death due to nervous system failure. The psychological effects are congruous

to nervous system defects. Genetically, the methyl isocyanate altered the immune system, which in turn

caused chromosomal imbalance (Sampath).

Methyl itself is liquid at room temperature but it reaches a boiling point when it comes into contact

with the human body’s temperature (Barrans). Humans’ interior temperature is warmer than the exterior

because of metabolic processes taking place within (Pierce). Methyl isocyanate’s high vapor pressure also

contributed to the negative effects on the human body. Overall, the poisonous and volatile gas creeped into

the nose, throats, eyes, and virtually any other way it could enter into the body. Some conditions were

initially undetected, making proper treatment that much more difficult. Even today with all of our medical

and technological advances, we are still incapable of treating all of the Bhopal deformities, since they are

very different from conventional birth defects. The defects that mutated humans were both internal and

external. And it all resulted from one big “mistake”.

UCC did not make only one mistake in causing the unnecessary disaster. It also intentionally

allowed Bhopal, India to continue to suffer under the devastating conditions without bothering to clean up its

mess. The harmful chemicals have ever since leaked into Bhopal India’s groundwater and drinking wells

("8829 Chemical Accident in India"). The health guidelines for this chemical solution, CH3NCO, advise that

if methyl isocyanate is spilled or leaked, they are to “remove all ignition sources” ("Occupational Health

Guideline for Methyl")—which was done—and to “ventilate area of spill or leak” ("Occupational Health

Guideline for Methyl")—which the company left entirely to the impoverished people of India to do. The

company did not appropriately dispose of its waste either. Waste may be disposed by atomizing it in an

adequate combustion chamber that is equipped with an emanating gas cleaning device. UCC decided to pay

470 million dollars instead, which is nothing compared to all the suffering that was, and continues to be,

endured.

Money seems to be the thing that UCC and the Indian government feel can “compensate” for all the

losses suffered by the people following the Bhopal chemical disaster of 1984. Dow chemical has since

bought UCC, and they also refuse to do more to help the people who still suffer from the effects of the leak.

UCC/DOW and the Indian government still do not seem to realize that what they should have learned from

the tragic experience is how to face up to their corporate responsibility, how to clean up their own mess, and

how to deal with the consequences of their malicious negligence, rather than learn how to buy people off and

pay their way to impunity. Instead, the innocent afflicted, sick, and genetically damaged, are left to live and

die in a mess greed created.

Bibliography

Barrans, Richard E., Jr. "Pesticide Reaction and Water." Question & Answer: n. pag. Newton. Web.

29 Mar. 2014. <http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem99/chem99589.htm>.

"The Bhopal Disaster and Its Aftermath: A Review." Environ, Health 4.6 (2005): n. pag. PMC. Web.

29 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1142333/>.

"8829 Chemical Accident in India with Methyl Isocyanate (mic)." Accident Listings: n. pag. FACTS.

Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.factsonline.nl/free-example/%208829/chemical-accident-in-india-with-

methyl-isocyanate-(mic)>.

"Occupational Health Guideline for Methyl Isocyanate." Sept. 1976. PDF file.

Pierce, Scott. "Science Update." Interview by Bob Hirshon. Science NetLinks. AAAS, n.d. Web. 30

Mar. 2014. <http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/body-temperature/>.

Sampath, Pavitra. "How the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Is Still Affecting Thousands." Disease and

Conditions (2013): n. pag. The Health Site. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://health.india.com/diseases-

conditions/how-the-bhopal-gas-tragedy-is-still-affecting-thousands/>.

September 3, 2014

When the Truth becomes Clear

As a child, you’re indoctrinated to believe everything your parents say. They know more, especially

about morality; yet, they too can make wrong judgments. You don’t mind it, until you discover the reality.

Divorce is the dividing of a family; the causes are myriad. My dad’s married three times; he’s adamant that

his second wife is entirely to blame, but when I got to know her I realized this was not entirely true. Her

iridescent smile immediately allayed any suspicions; her irrepressibility spoke of her adeptness, while her

round, tired eyes revealed that she too had had a rough life.

September 11, 2014

Typical New York City

I have always yearned to visit the populous Big Apple, where millions of tourists from all over the world gather to experience the magnificent, iconic skylines, where the skyscrapers meet the bright blue sky, and where both new and old stabilized apartments stand together in unity. After persistently imploring my father to go to NYC, I finally got his consent; I immediately flew to my computer and scavenged for an economical hotel, situated in Manhattan, since that is the origin of the city’s birthplace; it’s swamped with influxes of people struggling to find their way around. After getting his approval, I reserved one room along with cheap bus tickets with my dad’s credit card. I felt responsible; my father mocked me as a precocious girl who wants to “be too independent too soon”, but I always ignored that statement, because he wanted to make most of the arrangements anyway. Furthermore, my father belittled my strong-headed, intrepid ways of achieving things alone in public. I always thought this was because he wanted to have full authority over me, but that was dismissed when I understood what his real intentions were, that he wanted my safety.

Coming from a suburban area, my ears were accustomed to open up with the sweet, harmonious chirping of the musical birds, but I started with the clunky, incongruous noise spewed from the cars, as turned keys ignite the groaning, reluctant car to awaken. Meanwhile, my father was heavily snoozing, and looked quite comfortable in his blankets, which complemented the cool air around him. I was awestruck. My father seemed to have a different and antique perspective on the purpose of a vacation; he believed ‘vacations are for relaxation’. I swiftly scoffed that ideology of vacation because to me, it meant to explore new areas and visit all as many sight-seeing places as you can until you tire yourself, until your legs can no longer hold your wait, and until your spirit has waned, because only then will the spirit be satisfied. Nevertheless, I patiently waited until he arouse, scrubbing his eyes yawning as long as a lion’s mouth, taking as long as snail to finally open his eyes to the world. He seemed phlegmatic about everything, which exasperated me; I longed to spray cold water on his face so that he would move faster! After all, he is quite old. I couldn’t tolerate this sight so I stretched for my computer to organize our vacation schedules to get the most out of it. My fingers raced across the keyboards, my hearts thrilled with enthusiasm, when I realized that most sights were aligned in one direction, ending at my favorite one: Central Park, where the Untermyer Fountain, Alice and Wonderland Fountain and the Bethesda Terrace. I sallied to the door, but remembered that I had to drive my father out first. I shrugged and reverted to him. He seemed to detect my eager in my eyes, since he gave a jolt, as if he knew that I had my mind set to drag him wherever was necessary until I thought our trip was complete. Finally after an hour, we head out the door of our hotel room. I was so thrilled by my findings that irrepressibility slowly overtook me. Nothing in the sky foretold anything ominous, which compounded my passion to go to all the places. We walked up a couple or avenues and across some streets, but I would not give in to the blunt languidness expressed in his strides. I surged forth and back among the packed streets on Fifth Avenue, urging my father to quicken his pace. He would often get tired, but as he said that was a fire in my eyes that made me merciless. Luckily, my father would not admit that he needed to rest a lot, or else the day would have been spent resting. This also gave me some leverage over him, as I made him bolt a on a couple of occasion to maintain his presumptuous image. I was driven by compassion for art in the setting of Nature’s own artistic beautifies. Unfortunately, by the time we reached there, my father was panting and inhaling deeply. This time, he demanded that we repose, but since he was such an indulgent father, he granted me 30 minutes to roam around the Park and to return. I shrieked with joy and sprinted off to employ the best use of my time. I was so engaged in the natural scenery and so determined to find those foundations that I allowed my instincts to direct me, until I become utterly

bemused. My heart leaped when I found out that I had taken both of our phones; I had really done it now. But this was not the first time, I got lost in a foreign place, so I kept a stiff upper lip. Still, I bristled with fear. I was more anxious about the pain and distress I would cause my father with my delay, than my own safety. I zealously tried to retrace my path, fighting the hunger that was weakening my vision, making it fuzzy. Everywhere looked unfamiliar, and I gradually got cold feet. But anxiety, distress, and strenuous effort pushed me to all extreme. All children are strictly taught to not speak to strangers, but I had to; however, I carefully solicited within hundreds of throngs those who seemed credible and amicable, such as two females, or a family. I struggled to display any histrionics that might speak out to a stranger that I was lost, and I recoiled at every scrap, starch,

Although some ignored me and gained speed because they thought I was going to accost them without looking back to see to whom the desperate, low-pitched voice countenance belonged, I was redirected to where I departed my father.

October 19, 2014

The Blindness that Technology Incurs

When Einstein said that he “fear[s] the day that technology will surpass our human interaction,” he

implied that that technology would also suppress natural human interaction. As he forewarned, the “world

will have a generation of idiots.” People will no longer be creative and open-minded. In the passage from

“Last Child in the Woods”, Richard Louv carefully organizes his argument against synthetic nature and the

indifference of people towards true nature, an attitude which is caused by technological advances. He

amplifies his disgust for the sudden loss of reverence towards nature through an anecdote, ironic rhetorical

questions, and sentence parallelism. First, he describes how unnatural it seems for a conventional person to

get on without technology—even when it’s unnecessary. Then he explains how nature helps learners

understand reality, and finally shows how nature is very entertaining. With these techniques, Louv constructs

a reflective, satirical argument that shows how easily humans can forget their own place in nature.

Before the author recounts the anecdote between the salesman and his friend, he expresses admiration

for mingling technology with nature, but abhors the fact that only when such a mixture is established do

humans even bother to acknowledge nature because of “[technological] demands.” (15) He reveals in an

ironic way that “synthetic nature”(18) seems to be more appealing to people as opposed to “true”(18) nature.

In the anecdote, Louv supports his argument: “the salesman’s jaw dropped when [she] said [that she] didn’t

want a backseat television monitor for her daughter (30-31)”. This image of shock shows that the salesman

had a completely different mindset, favoring technology over natural scenery. But the salesman insists that

his friend should get one, not because he is trying to promote the product, but because he doesn’t seem to

“understand.” (34) The salesman cannot see what benefits can arise from not buying the product. Then he

discloses the reason why the market is such a success: “people…will pay [money] for a little backseat peace”

(37), and do not count the cost of depriving their children of shared experiences. No wonder “sales are

brisk”: people put no thought into whether their child is being adversely affected by technology. They

instead show complete submission to technology.

But Louv really makes the reader ponder when he poses a number of satirical rhetorical questions. He

asks “why…[people no longer consider the physical world, [where we are born, struggle, strive, learn, cry,

laugh, and die] worth watching?” (46-47). It would be like deserting your home, where you’ve laid all your

foundations. Louv explains how crucial nature is to the “children’s early understanding” (949) of life, of how

everything—cities, farms, and forests—“fit together” (50). He suggests that only by connecting with nature

will children understand that they too belong to this world. He clarifies that nature still exists, but the great

perspectives are narrowed down to a television set. During his time, a drive in the car was not simply a

drive, but an adventure—a “drive-by movie”. In essence, Louv argues that nature is a form of entertainment

of its own.

Finally, Louv employs parallelism of pronouns and verb tenses to demonstrate how “useful” [his]

boredom” (62) was, creating contrast between what is deemed to be boring to the new generations, as

opposed to the older generations. He repeats the pronoun, “We”, when describing the invaluable scenery of

the past, to highlight the differences in ideology between his older generation and the new generation. Also,

this repetition shows how adamant he is, which strengthens his argument. Futhermore, the parallel verb

tenses indicate that in the backseat there was always action; whether it was “star[ing] with a kind of

reverence” (67) or “h[olding] [their] their little plastic cars against the glass” (70), and most importantly

“pretend[ing] (70). The children of the past always exploited their time, making the best use out of it without

depending on technology to engage them. Even so, Louv explicitly states that the children of the past seemed

to be more idealistic, as they understood life earlier than today’s children. They understood the most basic

realities of life: everything goes by “in the blink of an eye” (73).

Louv’s idea of being less materialistic and more spiritually connected with nature makes the reader

want to modify one’s relationship with natural almost immediately. The benefits that nature offers should not

be taken for granted. We depend on nature to survive. Most importantly, Louv implies that when one’s

innate connection with nature is lost, imagination and individuality are also lost; our purpose in life will

become incomprehensible.

September 23, 2014

Moribund Organisms… Everywhere?

In the nonfiction book, Silent Spring, Carson demonstrates the need to preclude the indiscriminate

pesticide spraying by using varying syntax, satirical diction, and many rhetorical questions. Meanwhile, she

carries out a didactic and scornful tone throughout the passage that illustrates her disgust toward unnecessary

and pernicious pesticides. She is strongly against the misuse of chemicals to “control” the environment and

implies that chemicals will only result in destruction of both organisms and humans. With all these

techniques, she is able to persuade and drag the reader into the passage, convincing the reader to oppose

pesticide use.

In the nonfiction book, Silent Spring, Carson demonstrates the need to preclude the indiscriminate

pesticide spraying by using varying syntax, satirical diction, and many rhetorical questions. Meanwhile, she

carries out a didactic and scornful tone throughout the passage that illustrates her disgust toward unnecessary

and pernicious pesticides. She is strongly against the misuse of chemicals to “control” the environment and

implies that chemicals will only result in destruction of both organisms and humans. With all these

techniques, she is able to persuade and drag the reader into the passage, convincing the reader to oppose

pesticide use.

June 4, 2015

Benghazi Attack(2012) in LibyaThe Benghazi Attack was another notorious tragedy that cost the lives of three known Americans

who were in Libya, working on foreign affairs. It seem to be a flashback to September 11, 2001 of the two

twin towers in New York that crippled once they were pierced by the airplanes racing towards them. The

towers were swallowed by swaths of fire sparking everywhere. Moving 11 years forward, a similar incident

would unfold in Libya that would hit Americans hard at home yet another time.

In Libya, September 12, 2012, the U.S. consulate in Libya was put in grave danger, where no number

of guns could be effective. An uproar of fire was devouring the building. Only after two hours were U.S. and

Libyan security personnel successfully able to regain the main building, for they had tried once before

unsuccessfully("Benghazi Timeline").  But, time was against the three U.S. officials who were in the

building. Despite, finally regaining control over the building, Americans had immediately lost two precious

Americans: “one of the regional security officers and Information Management Officer Sean

Smith”("Benghazi Timeline"). Ambassador Christopher Stevens, another invaluable official, got out alive

and was immediately dispatched to the hospital, but death took its toll and he died.  Another American

seemed to have been killed according to Hillary Clinton, but was unnamed. The ambush lasted for about 4

hours and 30 minutes, terminating at about 8:30 p.m.("Benghazi Timeline"). American White House was

notified of this tragic encounter before the ambush resolved but could do nothing to prevent this attack.

However, the State Department quickly tries to understand the initiation of such provocative action and soon

emails the White House, Pentagon, FBI and other government agencies, asserting that ,“Ansar al-Sharia has

claimed credit for the attack on its Facebook and Twitter accounts”("Benghazi Timeline"). Nonetheless,

Hillary Clinton and President Obama take a different view, blaming the release of “Innocence of Muslims”

that was sparking protest in Egypt since it was anti-Islam. This claim seemed reasonable to the public

because it was indeed “inflammatory”, as stated by Hillary Clinton, which most political figures has referred

to it as the underlying cause of this attack, but its validity depends on whether it was a preplanned attack or a

“spontaneous attack” ("Benghazi Timeline"). Nonetheless, the outrageous, abhorring production defaming

Prophet Muhammad may just have been one of the underlying cases for American hatred exalted after

America successfully killed the second leader of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Unfortunately, like any

other “act of terror”, according to President Obama, conspiracy is prevalent and the true case of an attack is

lost in the midst of politics. This is probably why, President Obama, unlike Hillary Clinton and Matt Olsen,

didn’t make a hasty conclusion that this attack was terrorism("Benghazi Timeline"). Possibly, because he

was aware that this attack could have been prevented if the administration had paid heed to the

recommendation of U.S. security personnel working in Libya to add more security in the months preceding

the attack, but these requests were ignored. Just one day before Stevens arrived in Benghazi for meetings on

September 10, 2012, a local militia had re-emphasized the weakening security in Benghazi.(Chappell).

Another reason why President Obama was hesitant in calling the ambush terrorism, was because terrorism is

typically a planned attack by an organized group, not a spontaneous attack as many perceived.

In this case, President Obama gives a glimpse of what he can truthfully tell the public versus what he

cannot, especially when CIA proves to be a dictator in displaying the story as it wants the public to know it.

This oppression was particularly evident in this event when the majority of prominent officials claimed that

the attack was undoubtedly spontaneous. These include, Press Secretary Carney who denied reports that it

was a preplanned attack and Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to United Nations, who reiterated that it began

“‘spontaneously … as a reaction to what had transpired some hours earlier in Cairo,’and ‘extremist

elements’ joined in the protest”("Benghazi Timeline"). Large American political officials were adamant,

despite the fact that Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf said on CBS News that “the attack on the U.S.

consulate was planned months in advance.”("Benghazi Timeline"). Moreover, CNN reported that

unidentified “State Department officials” said that the incident was a “clearly planned military-type attack”,

irrelevant to the release of the anti-Muslim movie("Benghazi Timeline"). This account of “State Department

Officials” expressing their intelligence in an ambiguous way implied that opposing what the CIA says would

be imminent danger to them, in terms of profession and as an individual. Additionally, it later becomes

disclosed that Susan Rice had based her opinion on the “talking points developed by the CIA”("Benghazi

Timeline"). Personal opinion becomes irrelevant when the CIA has developed a stance, and it appears that

everyone must appeal to it, whether they concur with it or not.  

As revealed in the book, Benghazi, The Definitive Report, Murphy and Webb dig for the absolute

truth of this attack. They explicitly state the difficulty of uncovering the deeply hidden truth since the

“terrorist strike occurred in the run-up to the US presidential election” where parties took a chance to throw

blame onto each other(Murphy and Webb). An example of this was the intense rivalry between Republicans

and Democrats as to who should be Secretary of State. Susan Rice was to replace Hillary Clinton, but

Republicans wouldn’t hear of it("Chronology…”). In general, the “major players”, the CIA, Pentagon, Joint

Special Operations Command, and the State of Department greatly underestimate the public’s need to know

about the causes, impacts, and outcomes of terrorism, unless it is to conspire propaganda(Murphy and

Webb). In this case, these “players” just choose to essentially inform the public that 4 Americans officials

had died and nothing could have been done to prevent it.

Rocsanna LotfianAdvancements in Applied Science

Leo Szilard was the first to contemplate and propose the  unique characteristics of uranium ,which

can be used  to develop nuclear energy and nuclear bombs. He was also one of the physicists who was wary

of the German’s desire for more knowledge regarding uranium after it was first split in Germany in 1938.

For this reason, he urged Einstein to sign a couple of letters that was drafted by Dr. Szilard, to President

Roosevelt, recommending the construction of the atomic bomb. In the first letter, Einstein discloses that

“vast amounts of new radium-like elements would be generated”("Einstein's Letter to President"), referring

to radioactive element uranium, which could be used. Einstein mentions that the former Czechoslovakia has

“some good ore” supply, implying may be the reason why German occupied that country.Within the second

letter, Einstein reveals his suspicions regarding the German’s “interest in uranium that has intensified in

Germany”(Clark, W. Ronald) which threatens the national security of United States if it would result in

Germany developing an atomic bomb.

In Einstein’s last letter to President Roosevelt, he introduces Dr. Szilard as the one who discovered

“the potential importance of uranium for national defense”(William Lanouette with Bela Silard). It is

important to note here that in his letters, Einstein specially advocates the use of uranium solely for national

defense and energy. Einstein also shows great insight on the nuclear and atomic processes in his description

of Dr. Szilard as “one of the discoverers of neutron emission of uranium, which all present work on uranium

is based on”(William Lanouette with Bela Silard). He summarizes where the possibility of constructing the

atomic bomb came from in the phrase, “neutron emission of uranium” which was probably what intrigued

Germans. So why uranium?Germans presumably focused on uranium  because it has an unusual number of

neutrons in its isotopes, which makes it unstable. As each uranium atom is split, more matter is lost and with

this loss, according to Einstein’s equation E = mc², where E is energy, m is mass and c is the speed of light,

more energy that is released(Albert Einstein and the Atomic). In addition, the discovery of new, free neutrons

released from the fragments of the split uranium which are then absorbed by another uranium atom with a

high probability, make the nuclear chain reaction possible.However, not all isotopes of uranium are suitable

for the nuclear chain reaction(nuclear explosions). The isotopes must be “enriched” in order to assure that

the nuclear chain reaction continues, which means creating uranium-235. This isotope is identified as

“enriched” because it has a shorter “half-life”, or in simpler terms, time to decay. However, during the 1930s

there were rare quantities of uranium-235 , in contrast to the copious amounts of uranium-238 which is non-

fissionable and thus useless in building a bomb. To solve this problem, the Manhattan Project was

established.

One of the other scientists involved in the Project, Ernest Lawrence experimented with

electromagnetism to effect the that involved magnetic separation of the two isotopes. He then used a gas

centrifuge to extract the lighter isotope, uranium-235, from the heavier isotope, uranium-238.  In this way

the application of new scientific techniques put an end to the scarcity of uranium-235.After success in

conducting the first nuclear chain reaction n 1942, all that was left was to build the atomic bomb. The first

bomb was created in 1945, under the supervision a number of scientists, including Leo Szilard and Robert

Oppenheimer. However, Oppenheimer was one of the first to witness its explosion, and was moved to

declare“I am become Death” and the “destroyer of the worlds”(Bellis). His statement highlights the

devastating and lethal danger that the nuclear bomb presents.The nuclear bomb, like all other nuclear

weapons, is the result of compounding destructive energy from the release of atomic energy fueled  by the

fission of uranium atoms.  Einstein’s efforts to convince Roosevelt to contribute and aid the creation of the

atomic bomb was good ,because it was to be designed solely to enhance the national defense level and

prevent the Nazis from making it first. The Nazis would perhaps have threatened many more civilizations

and massacred anyone who did not submit to Hitler. In order to exercise his control and power, he would

have most likely killed a lot of people to reduce the world population to a manageable size. However, to

create an atomic bomb, you need to be very aware of  the rudimentary facts about nuclear energy.

Like everything in life, nuclear energy has advantages and disadvantages. Nuclear energy is

renewable, inexpensive, more productive than fossil fuels, clean, and reliable.("What are Some Nuclear").

The renewability and inexpensive feature is currently controversial, but the price of uranium is not

influenced by the oscillating costs of oil and coal(fossil fuels). What is not subject to argument, however, is

the amount of energy produced from a small amount of uranium atoms. A tiny amount of uranium yields 10

million times(Maehlum) which could not be produced from a large amount of fossil fuels.Ultimately, you

can get more out of less("What are Some Nuclear"). The most significant attribute of nuclear energy is that

no emissions like carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere since there is no burning involved in the

production of this energy. The production of burning of fossil fuels on the other hand, is greatly detrimental

to global warming. Also, the prevalence of uranium ores in the United States is noteworthy because the

United States would no longer have to rely on foreign countries for its energy sources.  Another notable

thing about the use of uranium is that it promotes new jobs, like the construction and the management of

power plants. The money used to regulate power plants is cost-competitive, which means that the money

invested becomes insignificant compared to the output of energy created.(Maehlum) However, nuclear

energy has some negative aspects. Some consider nuclear energy to be non-renewable, that even though it

could be renewable since it is retainable after it is used. Nuclear energy requires mining, like other metal

energy sources, but with more precautions. A single mistake in the mining process could be very detrimental,

but again this applies to other metal resources as well so it isn’t a unique disadvantage("What are Some

Nuclear"). This “disadvantage” is one that we already deal with and encounter daily for energy. The boon of

nuclear energy emitting no carbon dioxide conceals the fact that non-avoidable radioactive waste is produced

instead, which is toxic and noxious to humans. Just being exposed to the radioactive waste can be lethal.

Containing nuclear waste demands time and money. The initial input of money to construct power plant

units is a one-time cost, but managing waste is toxic. The time is used to the cooling process of the nuclear

waste. Maintaining the power plants could be hazardous if it is not operated or designed well for it can

become too hot and explode. Unfortunately, the power plants serve both crucial energy units could become

targets for infamous terrorists. Some people are contemptuous of building these units because of the

extraordinary amounts of vigilance it demands and the question of where to build the power plants. People

want to avoid living near one in case it explodes, but they are unaware the radiation travels thousands of

miles. Nevertheless, people’s opinions on this topic vary nationwide .

I believe that nuclear energy could play an important part as the future energy resource that alleviates

the worry of depending on foreign countries. Also, I like that the fact that power plants hold the potential to

create new job openings for people which is extremely essential at this time. I consider most of the negative

facts about nuclear energy as being avoidable. Accidents need not occur if proper precautions are taken, and

fail-safes are in place. I think people should always be willing to test other approaches to produce energy,

such as nuclear energy, if they wish to prosper in this world. If I had to chose between the use of nuclear

energy, I would extol the use of wind-farms and solar panels that are entirely safe. Knowledge attained from

learning more about the potentials of nuclear energy can not be disregarded though since, knowledge come

from experimentation which is exactly what science is built on.

Bibliography:

Albert Einstein and the Atomic Bomb. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2013.

<http://www.doug-long.com/einstein.htm>.

Bellis, Mary. "History of the Atomic Bomb & The Manhattan Project." About.com Inventors.

About.com, n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2013. <http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb.htm>.

"Einstein's Letter to President Roosevelt - 1939atomicarchieve." atomicarchive.com. AJ Software &

Multimedia, n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2013. <http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Begin/Einstein.shtml>.

Maehlum, Mathias Aarre. "Nuclear Energy Pros and Cons." Energy Informative. Energy Informative,

3 May 2013. Web. 31 Dec. 2013. <http://energyinformative.org/nuclear-energy-pros-and-cons/>.

"What are Some Nuclear of the Nuclear Power Pros and Cons." Green Planet Ethics. Green Planet

Ethics.com, 2010-2012. Web. 29 Dec. 2013. <http://greenplanetethics.com/wordpress/nuclear-power-the-

pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-energy/>.

William Lanouette with Bela Silard. Genius in the Shadow: A Bibliography of Leo Szilard, The  

       Man Behind the Bomb. Chicago:University of Chicago Press, 1994:261-2

Ronald W. Clark. Einstein: The Life and Times. New York: Avon, 1970:678-679

April 17, 2015New Perception of Authenticity of Food

As a student who always strove to be one of those skinny, thin teenagers since high school, I became

more conscious of my food intake. As a result, my perspective was developed based on my rudimentary

research on the foods that would contain less fat or water-based to shed pounds off more easily. Through

research, I have familiarized myself with nutritional facts in regard to most foods. Nutrition and waste

reduction were my major concerns about food, but the exposure to the documentary, Dive! , the article,“On

Dumpster Diving”, and the TED talk, “What’s Wrong with School Lunches” has expanded my insight on

food. It has caused me to analyze its vitality to survival and how people respect it. I have learned that eating

actual food is a privilege that could be taken away with conventional methods of farming—for good.

"Dive!"provided a lot of statistics that helped me discover the dark truth about how American society

have adopted wasting, without realizing the detrimental cost to Earth(DIVE!). Food is always on demand,

but we won’t consume it if it isn’t in top-notch condition. (DIVE!). After all, Americans always seek

“convenience”(DIVE!). Undoubtedly, humans forget how precise and fragile Earth until it is too late. Sadly,

quality is irrelevant when it comes to quantity, especially in regards to price.The documentary accentuates

the importance of valuing everything Earth produces, and Earth itself. And with reverence, comes proper

care. The narrator, Jeremy Seifert,admits that easy access to surplus of food forces him to belittle food’s

importance(DIVE!). Until this documentary, it never appealed to me that how people treat food could be so

introspective and controversial. And yet, the direct environment children have is very influential on their

early decisions.

Eating healthy should not be a tough decision, as Ann Cooper argues in a speech(Cooper). Similarly

making healthy food for the youth should not be a hassle, and a school should serve as a haven for children.

Ann Cooper is committed to reinventing the school lunch ,believing that children should be ensured

longevity in health and knowledge(Cooper). Clearly, she wants to build a “sustainable symbiotic

relationship”(Cooper) among the youth with food. Not food that will “cause their death”(Cooper) though. As

a chef, she is very credible about how food is produced—with pesticides, antibiotics, and other pernicious

chemicals like DDT. She is so ardent that she has traced out where money is invested in the wrong fashion,

like advertising—companies pay $500 for every dollar in advertising—and schools only allocating less than

$1 for lunch in order to redirect it(Cooper). School cafeteria does not supply “forks or knives, endorsing fast

food” in a corruptive way(Cooper). Schools should not deny children good health. However, parents have a

stronger  influence.

Unfortunately, many children don’t get to have valuable time with the family to discuss food, taking

whatever comes. As a homeless man, Eighner appreciates access to free food, but must be a cautious

consumer; he must evaluate why something was discarded (Eighner [108]). At times, he feels burdened with

consuming excessively so that it will not be wasted (Eighner [113]). He is also a reliable source, because he

depends on dumpsters. As humans who survive if nourished, these materials have left me bewildered. Can’t

food be donated before it becomes rancid. Aren’t we slowing our advancement by denying people fuel to

fuel the society?

Works Cited

Cooper, Ann. What's Wrong with School Lunches? Dec. 2007. TED. N.p.,

Dec. 2007. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.<https://www.ted.com/talks/ann_cooper_talks_school_lunches>.

DIVE! Dir. Jeremy Seifert. 2010. Film.

Eighner, Lars. "On Dumpster Diving." 50 Great Essays. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.

Print. Excerpt from 50 Great Essays. Ed. Robert DiYanni. N.p.: n.p., 2001. 107-19.

February 8, 2013Analysis of Passage from Of Mice and Men

  Does facing too much loneliness eventually hinder one from seeking the true meaning of companionship?

In  John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, the author does not plainly state the complex meaning of

companionship;it is interpreted differently between different characters, as proven in the dialogue betwixt

Crooks and Lennie. For George and Lennie, who are very close friends, friendship is an indestructible

bond .No matter how bad their situation is, the fact that they are in it together is what matters. Steinbeck

effectively reveals the complex definition of ‘companionship’ through the usage of unexpected word choice,

abrupt silence, and repetition. Crooks, by contrast, exemplifies a character who is oblivious of the true

meaning of companionship that can only be rooted from the bond that George and Lennie have.

    During the opening of the dialogue with Lennie, “Crooks laughed again”(70) over the depressing truth

that he never had an intimate conversation with anyone on the ranch, provoking him to react in such an

unpredictable manner ,unlike the stiff man who likes to keep his distance depicted in the previous chapters.

When Crooks says “ A guy can talk to you an’ be sure you won’t go blabbin’’(70), it can be inferred that his

solitary behavior toward others is because he considers himself treacherous. The unexpected word choice of

the word ‘blabbin’ indicates that Crooks has the ability to talk warmly with others, yet feels restricted

because he constantly faces racism. The derogatory remarks from Curley’s wife about his ethnic differences

that he embeds into his heart emphasize why he didn’t open up to the others , if at all, without hesitating

first.

    When Crooks represents himself “This is just a nigger talkin’, an’ busted-back nigger. So it don’t mean

nothing,see?”(71), he uses an unexpected word choice to describe himself.He does not use a personal

pronoun ,but rather a demonstrative pronoun, ‘this’, which a person would use to point out a particular thing

or item. He expresses sarcasm that white people do not consider anything worthy of attention from black

people during the 1930s. Simultaneously, he seems to forbid himself to use a pronoun to address himself,

even when he is talking to Lennie, who has a mind of a child in a tall white-skinned body. The usage of the

unexpected word choice in the sentence also creates a new impression of Crooks. He does not show any ego

or self-esteem for being a person, a somebody, not a thing. He disregards his true identity that could be

properly used to title himself higher than “just a nigger”,nevertheless he conceives this to be his only destiny

engraved onto his forehead ,as if he were a horse wearing blindfolds.

    Crooks has been lonely for so long , that he will never be able to comprehend what keeps George and

Lennie strongly united. He reaches the only conclusion that “it don’t make no difference don’t hear or

understand. The thing is, they’re talkin’, or they’re settlin’ still not talkin’ ”(71). Trying to reassure himself

that companionship is nothing worthy of desire, he says “It don’t make no difference,no difference”(71)

repetitiously. The noticeable repetition of “no difference, no difference” further emphasizes that he

purposely simplifies the meaning of true companionship to soothe his inevitable pain of lacking his own

companion. His astonishing secret, “I don’t know if I was asleep. If some guy was with me, he could tell me

I was asleep, an’ then it would be all right. But I jus’ don’t know. Crooks was looking across the room now,

looking toward the window.”(71), that is concealed to others deep beneath his opaque shell of loneliness, is

disclosed to the readers. The abrupt silence that sneaks into the intense dialogue clarifies the official

characteristics of Crooks and identifies his final say on companionship. He is definitely unaware of the true

meaning behind companionship, which he  responds insecurely to because he cannot identify how

companionships are established.He envies a friend that would hear him out;he wants to give this

‘companionship’ a try. He is afraid of the outcome ,since he isn’t familiar with the foundations of true

companionship.The technique of inserting abrupt silences into the passage creates a moment for Crooks to

dissolve his deep thoughts  and to hope for the best “looking toward the window”, where somewhere on

Earth, rare sights of strong and tight companionship is visible.

   The results of all the techniques John Steinbeck incorporated into the passage finalizes the main idea to the

reader:Companionship is not always conspicuous and easy to follow ,especially during the world of the

1930s.

Revision on the 7 Journal Entries

by Rocsanna Lotfian

iNO..::..'J COUNT

_.;...

1082 TIME SuBrvliTIED 15-0CT-2012 05:52PMCH;\RACT;::R COUNT 5014 Pf,Pl=-,110 275742128

Revision on 7 Journals

Rocsnnna LotfianM YP English, Per.!

October 141 2012Ms. Clarkson

" Sally says she likes being married because no·w she gets to buy her own things when

her husband gives her money"(101).

This brief, short quote shows bow much Sally is dependent on her husband. She is notI

independent; she gets to buy her own things if and only when her husb-and "gives her

money". Sadly, this is the only reason why she likes being mnrricd. Every marriage

should have a lot more reasons why a couple should be united, not just because a spouse

can buy his/ her O\Vn things with the help of the other spouse. Marriage should mean love,

trust and teamwork with a little independence at times. !fhe husband should never be I ominant over his \vife nor should the situation be vise ver.

··something wanted to say no when I watched Sally going into the garden with Tito 's

buddies all grinning. It was just a kiss, that's all. A kiss for each one. So what she said.

Only how come Ifelt angry inside. Like something wasn't right"(96-97).

Thwugh this quote the reader can sense that Espemnza is more knowledgeable and

experienced than Sally. Esperanza has a bad feeling that the boys, Tito's buddies, want

something more than a kiss. he feels this way, because she knows many women who I n though the boys aren't considcrd a

man yet they are still male. Esperanza is famt With Mincrvwho allowed her

husband to come home again, after she kicked him out, by relying on his apology. I

turned out to be the same story again with Minerva and her husband. Through

Esperanza's strong feeling shown. "... feltangry inside· and "Like sometl1ing wasn

'

I

Jight", one can foreshadow tJ1at something bad may happen. The reader d n interpret the

bad event in many ways. For example, one can predict that the boys may\ 'ant to rape

Sally.

'· My mother says when I get older my dusty hair will settle and my bl use will Jearn

to stay clean, but l have decided not to grow up tame like the others whol ly their necks

on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain"(88).

Esperanza, who is .-witching to an adolescent stage, has detem1ined thr she does not

wish to follow the path ld.IShe says that she does not ave the desire to

..lav"' her neck "'on the threshold waiti.ng for the ball and the ch.'.lin." h :>ther words,

Espe:an.za wants to be iudcpcndc.·ntshe is n. ot willit.lg to destroy her lite{! . aiting. for

a

man, "the ball aud cbain", that loves her, just like the other miserable w men, who are

forbidden by their husband to exit the house without their pennission. E;, eranza does not

believe in this type of marriage. I, as a reader, thought this quote was int esting because

it contains two personifications as well. One of tJ1em is ·'whenl get older ny dusty hair

will settle" and the other is '·my blouse will Jearn to stay clean". These sr tements are

said by Esperanza's mother, who is actually trying to tell Esperanza tha l in one of her

future days she will loose her childish freedom to run around in a dirtyuse or

uncombed hair, if she follows the path that lead almost every women to r dreadful life.

IJ3asically, the personification I found was that a blouse ccnmot "learn to y clean" nor I

fould dusty hair ·• scttle" r Jrf these phrases arc the characteristics tl people can

achieve, not things, like a blouse or dusty hair.

" All night the boy who is a man watches me dance. He watched me ance"(48).

In this quot , J Esperanza speaks indetennina tely about the "boy who is a man" that

is watching her da le. The author, Sandra Cisneros, mostly likely did this on purpose in

order to excite t 9 reader's curiosity for information about the 'boy who is a man". Onecan assume that .·peranza likes the boy because of she repeats the phrase "he watched

her dance". This quote stood out because there is no further reference or information

about the anony

'' That's stupi Bcbc, Blanc Who's stupiRacheaL Lu r Esperanza, and Nenny"(48).

This quote"' b truly relieving to a reader after such a long frav that Rachcal, a

Chicagoan girl, ucy, the older sister ofRacheaL Esperanza, and Nenny, who is

E•pcmnza''littl l;,. In the chaptcc, "And rome mocc", the fray ;,;gn;ted bydthee Lucy

or Racheal fhroughout the argument. I. lost my senses as to who \v-as saying what. At the

end of the duote, " Who's stupid? Racheal, Lucy, Esperanza and Nenny.". makes it

clear to the readrl thot tho fray;, ce,olved. The roadec oan pred;ct th;, becauoo everyone

in the setting is ped "stupid". Although it is unclear who ceases the argument.

" We ride fa cr and faster. Past my house, sad :lJ1d red and crumbly in places, past

Mr. Benny's gro on the corner, and down the avenue which is dangerous"(l6).

Espcranza des ji.bcs the ride on the bike, \:vhich \vas bought with the help ofNenny,

Lucy, and Rache 1 , as continuously picking up speed as they go down the dangerous

avenue. The fact J1at Esperanza vividly describes the negative aspects of her house makes

an impres jon that Esperanza may feel this way only because she is finding a way to run

away fror f'1ango Street forever. I assumed that Esperanza description of the ride

becom

soone1

"I

begins

Wh

hope t

Mang<

'Wbe

previo

will m

1! g "faster and faster", is behind her will to escape from the life on Mango Street

rtired of looking at what we can't have. When we win the lottery... Mama

nd then I stop listening''(86).

J is particularly sad about this quote is tl1at Esperanza appears to have lost all her

t her parents will provide her and her siblings a better house then the one on

treet. For that reason, she stops li stening to her mother after her Mama says,

ve win the lottety ... " because she had heard these repetitious promises that wereI

u ry taken for granted, when she had little hope to spare that someday her parents

ppinto better house. The promises that were given by her parents had never been

applie !Yet, causing her to lose her entire faith i_n further promises. She still docs believe,

thougl ,!that one day she will own a house of her own.I

l

My Qucrencia

Rocsanna Lotfian Ms. Clarkson

MYP English 9B February 1, 2.013

On the last stop of the Silk. Road lies the outsk.i11s of the

meanderous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The clang and bangs of the

heavy potteties banging on strong threads, the thud of thousands of

feet roaming the thin carved out streets, and the murmur of visitors

endeavoring at their best to get tltc best bargains is a comtnon scene

within the bazaar. Merchants bawl at the top of their lungs like a

hawker, trying to i11t1nence tourists to buy

their goods. These banks of small shops established the heart of the bazaar that still beats.

Prominent tourists outweigh the locals of the Grand Bazaar, because of aU the luring

handed. The tingling sensation oftourists that !Jiggers them to buy

without any objection pr-ncs' mind, consenting most ugly

prices of goods at this particular bazaar. The crowd is like a strong sea

current that one must deliberately fight against. Whispering has no

room at the Grand Bazaar for all voices unite and are dominant over

one's sharp hearing ability.Eventually, visitors begins to ramble

around this vast picturesque maze for th.e ample merchandises seize

the tourist's focus. The Grand Bazaar is a notable place, leaving most

of visitors' mouths ajar at the luxuries found at every tum or twist.

I Analysis of Passage from Of Mice and Men

Does facgi too much loneliness eventually hinder one from seeking the true meaning

of companionhip? In John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men, th e author does not

plainly state the cJrplex meaning of companionship;it is interpreted differently between

different

characters,las proven in the dialogue betwixt Crooks and Lennie. For George and Lennie, whoI

are very clojse friends, friendship is an indestructible bond .No matter how bad their situation is,

the fact thathey are in it together is what matters. Steinbeck effectively revealel x

definition o'companionship' through the usage of unexpected word choice, abrupt silence, and

irepetition.rooks, by contrast, exemplifies a character who is oblivious of the true meaning of

companionship that can only be rooted from the bond that George and Lennie have.I

During et opening of the dialogue with Lennie, "Crooks laughed again"(70) over theI

depressingruth that he never had an intimate conversation with anyone on the ra'I.EJ

provokingim to react in such an unpredictable manner ,unlike the stiff man who likes to keepI

his distanc1depicted in the previous chapters. When Crooks says " A guy can talk to you sure

you wn't go blabbin"(70), his solitary behavior toward others is

because hconsiders himsel unexpected word choice of the word 'blabbin'

ind1cates tht Crooks has the ability to talk warmly With others, yet feels restricted because he

constantlyces racism. from Curley's wife about his ethnic differences

that he emeds into his hea didn't open up to the others, if at all, without

hesitating fsi t.!

\Nhen crooks repres mself "This is just a nigger talkin', an' busted-back nigger. So it

don't mean!nothing,see?"(71), he uses an unexpected word choice to describe himself.He

does not use a pf rsonal pronoun ,but rather a demonstrative pronoun, 'this', which a person

would

I

I

I

use to point out a particular thing or item. He expresses sarcasm that white people do rot

rly,he seems to forbid himself to use a pronoun to address himself, even when ing j Lennie,

who has a mind of a child in a tall white-skinned body. The usage of the unexpected wprd

choice in the sentence also creates a new impression of Crooks. He does not show aego or

self-esteem for being a person, thing. He disregards his true identit that

could be properly used to title just a nigger",nevertheless he concrives thisI

to be his only destiny engraved'---til

- were a home W'i:iifii"'SJ blitidrlas. ICrooks has been lonely for so II never be able to comprehend what! keeps

George and Lennie strongly united. He reaches the only conclusion that "it don't ma

difference don't hear or understand. The thing is, they 're talkin', or they're settlin' still

''(71). Trying to reassure himself that companionship is nothing worthy of It

don't make no difference,no difference"(71) repetitiously. The

difference, no difference" further emphasizes that he purposely simplifies the meaninglof true

companionship to soothe his inevitable pain of lacking his own companion. His astoni hing

secret, "I don't know if I was asleep. If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was af leep,

an' then it would be all right. But I jus' don't know. Crooks was looking across the room no.

looking toward the window."(71), that is concealed to others deep beneath his opaque shell of

loneliness, is disclosed to the readers. The abrupt silence that sneaks into the intense dialogue

clarifies the official characteristics of Crooks and identifies his final say on companionhip. He is

definitely unaware of the true meaning behind companionship.! which he responds ins curely to II

a friend thFt would

hear him out;he wants to give this 'companionship' a try. He is of the outcome ,Jince he

isn't familiar with the foundations of true companionship.The technique of inserting abLpt

silences into the passage creates a moment for Crooks to dissolve his deep thoughts rnd to

Reflection on VignettesThroughout my vignettes, I attempted to use Esperanza's tone by writing run-on

sentences, and simultaneously, inserting strong word choices to emphasize her gradual

maturity. My partner used a different technique that I consider to approach in a future\.

narrative or vignette. She created the main character's tone by relating to what a

protective mother might say in the common conflict that a lot of people face in their

marriage. Her technique was hidden in the ending passage of her narrative. She purposely

confuses the reader in the phrase,"... court's decision sink in". This phrase appears to

infer that Charlotte, the main character had lost the case, when the author affirms in the

following phrase," I'm here, Mommy's got you" that she actually won the case. This

twist is paradoxical, because the phrase,"... court's decision sink in", could allude to the

A Boy's Perception opposed to a Girl'sPerceptionby Rocsanna Lotfian

V·JC.>RG COUI\JT 772

C.H:1R.'".C,TER COI.JNT 3839TiME SUBMITIED

F'APER !0

19-SEP-2012 09:07PM

268928212

Rocsatma LotfianSept. 12,2012

Third Person NanativeA Boy's Perception opposed to a Girl's Perception

Ever since Zoe was young, she felt like the odd one compared to other girls. Elders

constantly reassured her that everyone .has different personalities. She fancied playing

otball, a barbaric and inherently wild game typically intended for boys, rather than

I§utcll.tining herself with qolls. She felt perplexed; it was as if God had created her v>'ith a

boy's mind built into a girl's body.who

Around age 9, Zoe began to communicate with girls, whom had enclosed themselves

into a "girly box." The "girly box" \Vas what she defined as the activities that every

classical girl would do. Her mother, Sam, jumped at the opportunity to shop for girly

accessories, shoes, and clothes for Zoe; Sara already had two sons. U nfortunate!y for her

mother, Zoe wasn't so enthusiastic about shopping. ra.ther anytime they

. . went shopping together, she \:Vould drag her feet, nunnbl e some lyrics of rock music, ormce Imagery

)'a\VU at the varieties of clothes dyed in li ght baby colors with embroidered images of

should be reprimanded for having such a horrific taste.

• ·PJ3llFeatly, het inner self could not encage 1tselL any longer. ...he luminous sunlight

penetrated through her window, hitting her weary eyes. Trying to overcome the sunlight,

she pulled vigorously at the covet'S, but that was no use. Reluctantly, she arose from her

bed, t umbling along the way to the bathroom. She splashed herself with icy water that

rejuvenated her mind. Something '' .thin Zoe urged her to go to her brother's room, Jake.

Zoe entered his room. Without further curiosity, she found what she was looking for:one

of his t-shi1ts and pants. After wearing his ganne11ts, she joined .Take. Her stomach

twitched aud her tace becatne du 'henever ber brother used feminine

begin or continue a conversation. Realizing that she felt more

clothing than in girls'

aggravated Jake. Her up the little hope she had that

daughter would eventually desire things that every otl1er girl

out to be the total opposite. Her mother was forced into buying boyish clothing and heavy

tered middle school, she only expressed her "true identity" outside of

school. So, she didn't wear boyish clothing in school. Although, in th grade, she decided

that enough \vas enough. Hiding \vhat she considered her real identity was too

uncomfottable. The nex"t day she entered school with a ne\v appearance.'------":..=..:tr.

what people might think of her, yet

she lost some of her fi-iends. and said rude remarks. Fev.• of her

t:emained. They used masculine pronouns to grasp Zoe's attention. To sum

these changes, she renamed herself as Zander. Zoe's extended family stopped

contacting her as soon as word reached that Zoe was going to become a transgender.

One day, her uncle, Frank, came to visit her. Ttuth be told, he only came to ask whether

about Zoe's status. He asked her franticly," What is the problem with you? Are you sure

replied, "Yes" with eyes looking at the ground ,since her uncle had his brown funousI

eyes latched upon her. The heat of his fmy made her te.rriblyl hot and insecm8er he

created tunnoil over having a "gay" and deviant nephew.

As days passed by, she · kids at school. For example,

one day at her skate boarding class, a fat bulky boy confronted her and tried to physically

harass her. She got depressed, as if she was falling into a black, fathomless hole wjthout

anyone to pull her out. Sooner or later, sl1e regai ned her confidence back and was able to

successfully defend herself against many other bullies.

Others alluded her journey as.. becoming a member of the opposite sex" , but that

wasn ' t really a transition. That was how she \vas bon1, born with a boy's mind within a

gill 's body. Her joumey was rough, yet worthwhile. She was now free from the

expectations of people, which used to confine herself from expressing her inner self to

others.