Caroline

xoxo

[carolbrancheau]

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[carolbrancheau]

The remaining research-Wuthering Heights

The remaining research that I got to do was very interesting. To get a better idea of the novel, and help me discover my background sources, I did research on the book and the author, Emily Bronte. It made a lot of sense finding out she grew up on the moors, and loved them, because that was reflected in Catherine's character. I found out her family lived an isolated life in Haworth,and that Emily was a homebody, which also made since because of the extreme emphasis place on home and the connection to it, in many of the characters. Learning about Emily's life helped to understand her better, the culture of the times, and the reactions to the book. Through this research I discovered my background sources which were super easy. Then I saved the other things that I found interesting for my general introduction. For example the book was not at all popular when it came out, only two copies were sold. Even her sister tried to make excuses for her Emily in creating such a dark, evil character through her introduction she wrote for Wuthering Heights a few years after Emily died. The research on this aspect of the project was easier and interesting to get to know, to understand where some of the books influences came from 

[carolbrancheau]

Doing the Annotations-Wuthering Heights

Being honest, it really took me a while to decide which passages to pick from my novel. Since the book follows certain characters the whole way through (Heathcliff), my original idea was to show his character development throughout the novel. But then I realized the the annotations were supposed to reveal things about themes and not just character development, so then I decided to start looking for passages that followed and displayed a certain theme throughout the novel. I ended up deciding to follow the big theme of nature vs. civilization, and explain and show that through different passages of the text, while also picking passages that touched on other themes. I was happy with the content of the first passage I picked. It was such a crucial turning point in the novel, displaying the theme well, and also touched on many other themes, so I had much to talk about and explain. For the second passage I was debating between two different ones. But I’m pretty happy with the one that I chose because it shows the progression of the story, the tension of nature vs. civilization in Cathy, and displays other themes like class and jealousy. The third one I decided to show the change in the story through the theme, through the union made between the different natures, which was displayed through Cathy and Hareton. I’m glad that I chose this passage because it shows the theme in a different light, which reflects the change in the novel. The first time I wrote  my annotations, they were bad because I didn’t spend much time on them, and didn’t have enough connection back to the text, and too much summarization. When I rewrote them though, I think I did a lot better.

[carolbrancheau]

Abstracts-Wuthering Heights

Once the book was completed, my next task was the abstracts. We went to the OU library, and unfortunately encountered a librarian who wasn’t too helpful. Although, through perseverance we figured out how to get some on the computers, and I walked out with three criticisms. Two were really long, 20 pages, which I wasn’t too excited about, and one was only 4 pages. Thankfully Kreinbring approved the criticisms. Reading them was a hard, because it took so long. This was one of the most challenging parts of the project for me, because it was hard to capture the essence and overall idea of the criticisms when they were so long. But after completing them, I think I gained from the abstracts, because they helped me understand things in the novel better. 

[carolbrancheau]

Wuthering Heights #6

Finishing the book was so satisfying. So towards the end of the book, we reached the end of Nelly's story and actually caught up to the present time. I UNDERSTAND THE BEGINNING NOW. Through being told the whole story and history of the two families, I understand how Catherine 2 became so bitter and as hostile as she was in the beginning. Also I understand completely now what the deal was with Heathcliff. But yeah so it's so crazy learning the whole story then thinking back to that beginning passage when we didn't know anything about the characters. I CANNOT believe that Catherine and Hareton end up together in the end like aren't you cousins?? Oh well the family is pretty messed up anyway. Everything was good in the end because Heathcliff died, finally. He was like that bad character that could never die and ruined those around him (like Dan Scott from Oth..). What a crazy guy. But yeah I enjoyed the book, and am glad to be able to say I have read this lit classic.

[carolbrancheau]

Here is a weird picture of me at the OU library! I went with Alexa and Edu, and also saw Hannah there. We forgot to take a picture all together, so I was left with this picture Alexa took of me. Our librarian wasn't very helpful and basically just kind of showed us what to do on the computer, but we made it out alive, and with some approved criticisms. :)

[carolbrancheau]

Wuth. Heights #5

Unsurprisingly, young Cathy and Linton hit it off, as of course would happen in this book, as everyone who shouldn't end up together does. But Linton is not treated well and is very sick all the time. They are banned from seeing each other but they long to. But Edgar just allowed them permission again. One strange thing that happened in this book was I was given context of where the story was happening in modern time. Nelly said that this most recent things happened last winter, which is sooner than I thought, AND apparently Mr. Lockwood, the guy hearing all the story, is in love with Catherine or something??? What??? I never thought that would happen, them bringing him into it , like what.. Now I just have to see how everything catches up to present time. The book isn't bad.

[carolbrancheau]

Wuth. Heights #4

So I'm basically getting to see a lot of character development throughout the novel as it follows the lives of the Lintons and Earnshaw families. There has also been a lot of deaths.:( and they come so suddenly ;( I had my ups and downs in level of interest in the novel at this point, but it was easier to read after she stared explaining the life of young Catherine growing up. I'm so sad Heathcliff always takes away the children and corrupts them! (Hareton and Linton). Eager to see what's about to happen now that Edgar knows that Cathy knows about Healthcliff and where Linton is.

[carolbrancheau]

W.H. #3

As I get farther into the book, I'm starting to learn more about the characters. Catherine is lowkey CRAZY. And selfish. She has a bad temper, which causes her to throw terrible fits, one in which she even slapped Nelly across the face multiple times. AND she thinks that she can reserve Heathcliff on a little chain for her whole life. It's like that thing where no one else can have him, even though she's MARRIED. So right now, now that Heathcliff has come back, there is extreme tension between Catherine and Healthcliff and Edgar and her marriage in general, because she will always have an indescribable love for Heathcliff but is caught up in this marriage with Edgar. Ugh. The story's getting a little annoying now but we'll see how it plays out.

[carolbrancheau]

#2-Wuthering Heights

I'm really enjoying this book so far! It's always better once you have a set up and understanding of the characters. It's basically just a big story- the story of Wuthering Heights- told from the view point of Nelly the maid. Its gotten pretty interesting. At this point I’ve noticed some themes I guess you could say, of love. Catherine is faced with the familiar dilemma of there being two men. She has Edgar, the presentable young man from Thrushcross Grange who is  proper and well put together- everything people would want her to be with, and her brother Hindley would approve of. But after Edgar proposed to her, in chapter 9 Catherine expressed her true love for her close companion Heathcliff. It was so sweet and she said that they are so connected and he is more herself than she is. This is where you see the theme of what people want you to do vs. what your heart is saying. Nevertheless Heathcliff runs away somewhere and Catherine marries Edgar:( We’ll see what happens next. 

[carolbrancheau]

Becoming acquainted with Wuthering Heights

So as always when you first start a book, you’ve got to learn and try understand the setting, characters, and story line. This can be hard sometimes when it’s hard to follow all the relations between the characters, and what it going on. This was me when I started reading Wuthering Heights. I was thoroughly confused who Heathcliff and Mr. Lockwood were, and what was happening. At first the book consisted of Mr. Lockwood putting himself in a terribly awkward situation of being an clearly unwelcome guest at Heathcliffs house in Wuthering Heights, which he decided to walk to for some reason right before a huge snow storm, getting himself stuck there overnight. During his night sleep, he started reading these journals he found, which revealed some stories written by a women named Catherine. He has nightmares later that night about a Catherine. I was confused at first because there were three Catherines in the mix. But later when his housekeeper Nelly starts to explain the story of Wuthering Heights when she was a servant there. So Mr. Earnshaw is the parents of Catherine and Hindley. One day returning from his travels he brought this needy child home and they named him Heathcliff. He lived with them, and Catherine and Heathcliff ended up becoming very close. Mr. Earnshaw also loved and favored Heathcliff. Soon Mr. Earnshaw dies. The book isn’t too bad now that I’ve got a setup of the characters. It’s pretty much been a story of a story so far and I’m learning more and more about it as Nelly continues to tell it. I’m excited to hear what happens as I learn more. 

[carolbrancheau]

The Tribe of Tall Girls

I am in the triBe of tall girls. We are the eXtremes on the average scale of height for women. Also, we break the trAditionally held ideas associated with women and beinG small or petite. For these reasons we are different; we stand out in the crOwd.

I have pRetty much been a member of this tribe mY whole life, so I’m used to what comes along with being in it. But I beCame a VIP member of this tribe in my latter years of high schOol, when most girls my age stopped growing but I didn’T, placing me even further away from the average height of a girl my aGe.

TherE are several things that all members of this tribe exPerience, placing them within. The first is that everyone will point out this contrAsting characteristic of ouR height. “You are so Tall!” and they verY often will ask the follow up quEstion “How tall are you?”. Many peOple also ask us if we play sports, usuAlly basketball or volleyball.

Clothes shoppinG has definitely caused some traUma to this tribe. Simply because we are the minority and many sTores don’t care to equip to our neEds. Most pants sold in stores, especially jeans, aRe just not long enough for our leGs, often leading to floodiNg. Its often hard tO find shirts long enough for oUr torsos. Also it’s a struggle to find shOrts that are long enough for our legS, so when it comes to the school dress code of fingertip length shorts, we’re basiCally screwed. Know that we’ve kisSed goodbye to comfortably wearing most skirts and dresses! because most are to shOrt for our bodies.

Members of this tribe are aLso used to awkward photos with our short girl frieNds, because we are so much taller than them. We feel guilty when standing in bleacHers or at concerts because we are most likely blocking someones view. We often do not haVe enough leg room when it comes to buses and carS

Ideas of this tribe were also expressed by our very own Alissa Smith, in her “Now I’m Mad” video. Check it out-  https://twitter.com/AlissaSmith5/status/632275411037220864

These randOm capital letters represent us tAll girls in a crowd. We are fewer, stand out, and can looK out of place next to our shoRt friends. 

[carolbrancheau]

My querencia is the Orchards. This is my neighborhood, which I have lived most of my life, as long as I can remember. (Technically the Bloomfield Orchards). I consider this my querencia because I have made so many memories in so many places in the neighborhood, know every inch of it, and it is where I feel like I belong. Also it has been the one thing that has been constant through all the change in my life. (I attempted to draw an aerial view but it got too hard lol).

People who I now consider friends for life, consist of the families/kids that I grew up with on my street. They made living here fun, and gave me the best memories/stories of my childhood that I will never forget. We did everything together and some of the things consisted of playing at Graham Elementary which was right around the corner, playing games and sports, walking to George’s Coney Island, racing, swimming, hide-n-go-seek extreme, and always getting into trouble for doing something we shouldn’t have been. But all the while, most of these things happened on our street and other places in the neighborhood. This made us explore and discover so many parts of the place, because it was the grounds for all our adventures.

 This memorable childhood is really what helped to lay the foundation for my feeling and considering of the Orchards as my home. Another reason for this, is that the Orchards represents my family and has kind of shaped me as a person. It has never had economic prejudice, but is that kind of in-between, being more humble. Its not a judgmental place, where you feel like you have to have everything together, but will accept you as you are.   

[carolbrancheau]

The Commanders Wives 

We talked a lot about the role of the commanders wives. This picture seems to represent the relationship of the wives to the commander. They don’t really talk much, let alone get along. The commander doesn’t even like to do fun things with her, like play scrabble and would rather do it with the handmaid. So whats the point? I think the commanders wives represent that highest form of pseudo power. We all think Serena Joy has the most power because she has a little more power than the other woman, but how is she using that power? Not in a good way. She is just abusing the Handmaid for having something she does not. I think Atwood is using that character to show the effects of her turning against the other women rather than questioning the society and its setup, especially with her position. 

[carolbrancheau]

Reading Ceremony

One of the first things I did when I picked up ceremony was search for the contents page at the beginning of the book to see how many chapters there were. I quickly learned there are none. This was definitely uncomfortable at first because I usually like to stop at a definite place when reading. But as I read it I learned that you can't really divide the book into chapters. It would be pointless if you did. This is because the book is just one big story, all told in random parts and fragments, picking up on certain story lines every once in a while and then moving on to something else, but always returning back to it. As we read more we understand more about the characters and the story and the context. This leaves us confused at first but we pick it up. This shows, as I learned in Leslie Marmon Silko's "language and literature from a pueblo Indian perspective" the way of telling a story the way the Indians did and do. She thinks they should be told with feelings from her heart, as they come to her, rather than structured rigidly like our speeches/essays with much editing and organized thought.

[carolbrancheau]

Text connection- Ceremony to Macbeth 

 "Tayo could hear it in his voice when he talked about the killing- how Emo grew from each killing. Emo fed off each man he killed, and the higher the rank of the dead man, the higher it made Emo (56)." 

 This mindset of Emo reminds me of the mindset that Macbeth adopted in the play. As power was presented to Macbeth and he got a glimpse of that power, he liked the way it looked and sounded so he decided to pursue it. Once he had a position with a little power he got power hungry and wanted the next best thing, killing several people in the process, and each murder becoming easier and less humane for him. This sounds similar to what Emo is going through. Being a solider gives him the feeling of use and a little power, so it seems he gets a little power hungry, and reflects that by his killing. He strives to kill these powerful men, in order to make himself feel more powerful. This comes to the point where he even feels that all the Japanese population should've been killed by them; "We should've dropped bombs on all the rest and blown them off the face of the earth." This seems a little extreme but slowly Emo exchanged his humanity for the feeling of power. Just like where Macbeth comes to the point of ruthlessly ordering to kill Macduff's wife and children without a second thought.

[carolbrancheau]

AUNTS: What we continued to stab at in our discussion today was the decision of the Aunts to punish the Handmaids rather than fight the government- the decision that ultimately determines their existence.  This frustrated our class — I think this supports Atwood’s purpose in that aspect of the setup of the novel. This setup of women, the classification and ranking is designed to pin women against each other. Because they are classified solely by their jobs/function (even wearing a certain color to define them), each woman’s role is clearly known, by herself and everyone else. Each role is very specific. Each woman is to stick to her specific role. This makes women look at other women and see the things they cannot or are not allowed to do. This makes them jealous or resentful of the other, ultimately turning them against one another. The reason the Aunts frustrated us so much is that we saw how awful they were being to other women (the handmaids), telling them that rape was their fault, and things like that. We are used to seeing men say that in our world today, so its was crazy thinking that one women would say it to another in the book. This should make us never want to do that, and only support each other.