Thejas's Blog

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[conthejas]

Annotation #2 The Road

In this chunk, I noticed some very interesting language decisions that McCarthy made to further his intention throughout this “scene” in the book. McCarthy starts off by showing a dialogue between the father and his wife. Even though the conversation was short, at first I thought that it was very interesting how the way his wife was speaking was very direct and no nonsense. This way of speech made me think that this decision was very short lived and not really thought through. However, As I discovered in the red highlighted area, it’s clear that they discussed for months on what they should do. Should they kill their son so he doesn’t have to live in a world where cannibalism and murder is widespread or keep him alive and let him live a full life. This seems to be a very interesting ethical dilemma that exists between the husband and wife. 

I found another portion to be even more interesting. The very next paragraph, the father calls his son very deliberate and hardly surprised which are perfect traits for one to meet its own end. This is interesting because after fighting for months to keep his son alive and losing his wife, he even suggests that his son’s traits are of a person who would meet his own end at some point. By giving his son the option to die at any point by keeping a gun with 2 bullets at the ready, it shows how the father, even after fighting for the life of his son, sees how dire the situation is all over the country and how giving the son that option is the only way to keep them sane. 

[conthejas]

Reading Post #3

As I continued reading The Road I noticed a very interesting characterization move made by McCarthy. The two main characters, the father and the boy, as I’ve discussed in my previous posts, are not named by the author. He chose to leave them without names to create an opportunity to put anyone’s name in their place; he claims that anyone could be in their shoes. However, throughout the book, I’ve noticed that McCarthy likes to identify the book with a different name rather than just “the boy”: god. In the book, the father claims that his son is the closest thing to god that he has seen in this new world. He also claims that once his son passes away the world will no longer have a sense of godliness on it. 

This type of characterization is very interesting because it creates an entirely different persona for the child, contrary to the one McCarthy gave him. Of course, comparing him to god is something that can seem controversial. The dad even goes as far as teaching the son how to kill himself in case they come to a situation where they may be captured by raiders and other bad people while on the road south. 

I personally think by comparing his son to god, it adds to his character in a positive way. It not only reinforces the son’s ideals of helping others and “carrying the fire,” but it also shows the undisturbed love and affection the father has for his son. In many cases it can seem difficult to see if their relationship has been hurt, but by giving his son godly attributes it’s clear that their relationship is strong. 

[conthejas]

Reading Post #2

As I continued reading The Road, I began to notice some more patterns that the author, McCarthy uses to further the idea that the environment that the father and son live in is similar to wasteland. On top of using color to show the faded nature of the landscape, McCarthy uses the idea of “frames” to show how the world has shifted away completely from normalcy. McCarthy on many occasions says that the world is like the old world, but everything that made it great has been stripped away. All that is left is the frame of what was their good old life. This use of frames is evidently showing how barren the setting of the entire book is. 

I also want to point out that while the father is talking about the world that they are in, he also mentions to the son his old life. How he and his uncle would spend time together and their lives were amazing. The father mentions how his uncle was like a father figure to him. This role was fulfilled because they would have fun together and his uncle would teach him lessons along the way. 

Now, this type of relationship has been stripped away. Now the frame of such a fatherly relationship exists. Now, the role of the father in this book is simply to protect and provide a means of escape from all the difficulties of life. Now there are only harsh lessons to be taught rather than pleasurable ones. 

[conthejas]

Annotation #1 The Road

As I began reading the book, I’ve already started to notice the ways that Cormac McCarthy likes to describe the setting. Immediately, I noticed how he uses color to describe the world that the father and son are in. In this case, the colors are closely related to black and grey and McCarthy goes on to use words like burnt and ash to describe the desolate landscape that the duo is facing.  He continues this type of description when talking about the past and how they remember it as a much different place. McCarthy uses the word “weathered” to describe the current world compared to the old world that they lived in. This is interesting because it continues to show how the once colorful environment that they once lived in has now faded and become grey in comparison. I think that this type of use of color and description will help me truly understand and visualize the circumstances that the father and son have to face as they navigate south. 

Near the end of the chunk that I chose I thought the way McCarthy was displaying a conversation between the boy and father was unorthodox. It seems to all be clumped into one paragraph rather than being separated line by line. I feel like there is some symbolism to the way McCarthy shows the dialogue here. The way it is displayed seems more monotonous in tone and not as engaging. I think that this tone is appropriate given the overall uncolorful tone of this entire chunk, and frankly, the entire book as a whole. 

[conthejas]

Reading Post #1

The book’s beginning is very ominous. I was basically thrown right into the book and what’s happening. Immediately, I noticed that throughout the book, McCarthy decided to not give names to the two main characters (the father and his son.) This is really interesting because I feel like it adds to the story in an interesting way. By not giving them names, it feels like McCarthy is trying to inform the reader by saying (insert name here.) It looks like the author is trying to teach the reader a lesson by showing that this type of post-apocalyptic world could happen to anyone at any time. It seems easy to just suddenly put yourself in their shoes because of the fact that they don’t have names already. 

[conthejas]

Research Project Post #1: Book Choice

My book that I chose is The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This book is about a father and his son who try to navigate through a post-apocolyptic world with cannibalistic people. I was trying to decide between Midnight’s Children and this book and eventually, I decided to read this book. Midnight’s Children interested me at first because it was about Partition in India and Pakistan and how a child’s life evolved through the process. However, I didn't really like the fantasy portion of the book that it was about. This book particularly interested me because it’s a very suspenseful book that has a lot of twists as you go through. Also, I know that Cormac McCarthy is a very established writer who has a lot of criticism about him. This means that, as I read The Road, I can look into the criticism that exists to make my research project really good. Overall, I think that this book is a great fit for me because I know it will be an interesting read and it’s written by an author who is well established. 

[conthejas]

“Poem For Maya” By Carolyn Forché

This poem seems to be the most brightly written poem by Forché in the book. In the poem, Forché talks about her time with her friend Maya while she was in El Salvador. This time was some of the most joyful times she had while she was there. They talk about all the fun things they did while she was spending time with Maya and this poem was intended for her to help them think back at all the wonderful times that they shared while they were together. The poem’s title serves as an introduction to the poem. Rather than mentioning Maya’s name anywhere in the poem, Forché puts it front and center. This means that Forché wants to emphasize the fact that these times that they had together were for Forché and Maya to celebrate together.

One thing that I noticed about this poem is that it doesn’t follow the general trends that I saw in most of the other poems that Forché wrote in this book. Generally, I see Forché talk about something joyful in the beginning but she later, at the shift point in the poem, turns it around and makes it much more sad as most of the events that occurred in El Salvador during their times of their civil war were sad to say the least. However, in this poem she keeps the same tone throughout the entire poem. Rather than shifting to something sad, Forché keeps the same joyous tone throughout out the poem. She continues this tone for the last two poems in her book. I believe by doing so, Forché wants to see the positives that came out of her experiences while she as in El Salvador. Rather than ending the book on a somber tone, Forché elected to end on the positive side. I believe she wants to show that there is a light at the tunnel, which there of course was because the war ended a few years after this book was published.

I chose this gif of the fireplace and the coffee mug because it shows a time of relaxation and happiness in the stressful world we live in. Forché was able to see all the postives that came out of her time in El Salvador and by doing so was able to inspire hope in many people all over the world.

[conthejas]

“Selective Service” by Carolyn Forsche

When I was reading this, I had a lot of different thoughts about what it’s trying to show and what its purpose was. There were many points during the poem that made me think about a lot of different factors about the lives of El Salvadorians. I believe that pointing out the main shift point will help show what the poem is trying to convey. 

In line 14, the main shift is shown. It switches from the many pleasures of life and the many different parts that make life, life to a sudden sense of sadness. After line 14, it talks about how survival is necessary and talks about the “selective service” system that is in place. How people are taken randomly to certain death and how their corpses are simply left in fields for angels to take them. This shift shows how life can sometimes be distracting and even enjoyable for some in El Salvador, however, there is always the inevitable crisis that is lurking.

Another interesting part of the poem is the title. “Selective Service” is a system that exists to essentially draft people in times of war. However, in this poem, I believe that it has a different connotation. I believe that the selective service represents the many gangs and bad people in El Salvador that cause pain and suffering to people at random. This is a fear that is looming over all people and when they are “chosen,” there is nothing they can do but reach their inevitable death.

I think that this gif is a perfect representation of what is happening in El Salvador. It seems like a seemingly harmless day for this young child on her birthday, however, there is always evil lurking and it could capture you at any point. 

[conthejas]

“The Colonel” by Carolyn Forche

This poem was quite powerful. I thought that it creates an amazing picture of what people in leadership in El Salvador felt.

I think the title is an important part of the poem. Obviously, the character that is referenced most importantly in the poem is The Colonel, however, I think it serves more of a purpose than showing who the main character of the poem is. When I first read it (as it’s shown in my annotation), I thought it was someone in leadership. A leader who would do the right thing in the interest of their people. However, it’s clear that this isn’t the case.

I think the shifts are used in a very interesting way of conveying the story. When she first started the poem, it’s shown in a very positive light. How this family she’s having dinner with is very highly regarded and very privileged. It seems to show the good parts of El Salvador, perhaps. However, when the poem shifts when the colonel gets mad and pulls out his bag of ears, it’s clear the disparity is what Forche is trying to reference, but also the brutality of the leadership. These connections are made afterwards and it’s a very good way of showing how many might want to benefit off the backs of those who are suffering.

I chose this gif because I think that money plays such a huge role in society. The fact that it is so powerful shows how much of role it played in El Salvador and how having so much money made people blind to the many issues happening all over the country.

[conthejas]

Mentor Poet Post 4

Carolyn Forche- “Departure”

This poem was really interesting to me.  The analogies that Forche used in order to describe the many different parts of the poem were really intriguing. For example, I really like how Forche uses dead bodies in order to describe how the people in El Salvador look as they are doing their slave work. It’s interesting how in this poem, it’s Forche looking from a distance, possibly a train, at the entire situation and how she’ll be traveling from country to country looking for a better life. The title is something I find super interesting too. It’s relatively simple, departure. However, I think more than just her leaving her country, she’s leaving a way of life. Something the El Salvadorian has been used to for their entire life. Departing this way of life in search for a better one. That’s super interesting to me too.

I think a gif that connects to this poem is this one of a movie scene showing a person that’s handcuffed. There isn’t these shackles on this person anymore. They can do what they want and look for a better life someone else. The inherent problem was the country and its civil issues, ones they can depart now.

[conthejas]

Cheat Poet- Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib

The poet that I chose for my cheating poet is Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib. This is Jad’s poem that he annotated and I thought it was really interesting how you chose a poem about self-reflection. I think that it’s really interesting how Abdurraqib uses an old picture of himself as a way to look back and reflect on himself from the past. I really like how the poet uses so many metaphors comparing things in the real world with how he felt. For example, his use of his hand being open or closed is a really interesting way of showing how his previous partner is like an open palm, but now his fingers are closed. However, I do believe that Abdurraqib has accepted the fact that he doesn’t have anyone like he states. He may not like that, but based on his language in the short second stanza it seems like he has come to the conclusion that this dream isn’t attainable, at least for now. My own poet likes to use metaphors a lot in order to convey a lot of complex topics in a more simple way. I think that doing so allows both of these poets to make their poetry easier to read and understand. 

[conthejas]

“Because One is Always Forgotten” by Carolyn Forche

“You can’t eat hear in those four dark chambers where a man can be kept years.”

This poem is a very interesting one. It talks about Forche’s experiences with a certain person that she met in El Salvador during the times of great depression and sadness there. Jose Viera, who died was buried and throughout the poem, there are references to a heart. The heart that Viera had claimed that while he was in jail and abused by those who kept him there, his heart had no purpose. There was nothing in “those four dark chambers” that would be useful for his heart to be put to use. Instead, because he is now dead, Viera wants his heart to be given to the farm to be used to feed animals. This is a very interesting perspective because it shows how terrible the prison was in El Salvador and how people who were in there lost all emotional capacity. 

The title is very unique in my opinion because it may seem that there isn’t really a connection between the title and the substance of the poem. However, after I thought about, it seems that the reason why the poem was written was to never forget Viera, the main character of the poem. This poem, I believe, is a call to action to not forget those who died in the terrible conditions in El Salvador.

[conthejas]

“A Visitor” by Carolyn Forche

“The wind along with the prison cautious

as Francisco’s hands on the inside, touching

the walls as he walks, it is his wife’s breath

slipping into his cell each night while he imagines his hand to be hers.”

This poem by Forche is one that shows the specific struggles of a man named Francisco who was recently put in jail for doing something illegal. Being in jail is disappointing to Francisco because he’s constantly thinking of his wife and imagining her presence as he lives in jail. If times are tough people will put themselves and their family over all else. I find the very distinct descriptions that Forche uses to describer Francisco’s wife very interesting.

There are multiple shifts in the poem, going from the farm to prison, and finally going to the final line. This leads me to believe that the life of Francisco must have shifted as well many times. These shifts seem to almost create a timeline of Francisco’s life and what it means. Started on a small farm, but after committing a crime, it leaves him in jail.

The title “The Visitor,” I believe, plays a big role in the poem. By referencing his wife and the fact that she is not with him, even though he deeply loves her, makes it clear that whatever he did was necessary. By calling his wife a “visitor” it makes me think that she is not always in his life, yet, visits him when he needs it the most. This makes sense as he is in jail, all alone, he needs someone with him.

[emikaszubski]

My mentor poet

Sally Ashton

When i was first looking for my poet I tried to go down the list by looking for female poets, I felt that if I found a female maybe her poetry would stick out to me by having the same interests, having the same thoughts as me or familiar surroundings to write about. I took a look at Rosa alcala because she writes about bilingual and I just learned about that but I wanted to try something different so I felt that Sally Ashton (my chosen poet) was more interesting for me because I haven’t read much poetry before. I looked at her background and poetry and liked what she was writing and I liked how she began to write. I also enjoyed looking into her personal life. She really interested me so I ended up choosing her. Going into college I see that she’s a fellow professor and possibly her poetry will benefit me for college with her writing so I get a better understanding of what “good poetry really is” she’s collared with visual Artists and musicians and the hope was to find poetry within those subjects

THE BEHAVIOR OF CLOCKS

A man feeds pigeons next to the sign that tells him not to.

He vanishes in a cloud of wings

[conthejas]

I like how you found many different reasons why you like your poet. I like how the poem references how many men live with their own rules and how they tend to disappear afterwards. I also like how your poet is a professor and this can help show how your poet is very educated.

[conthejas]

Carolyn Forché

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/carolyn-forche

I chose Forché because she writes a lot about politics. I am very interested in politics so it was an obvious choice for me to choose her. Her emphasis on the ethics of immigration was something that immediately made me interested in her. Not many other poets focused on these topics that I am interested in. Her most popular book, A Country Between Us, talks a lot about the El Salvadorian civil war and the crisis that it was. I immediately knew that she was one of my favorite poets after reading the first poem in the book. It talks a lot about the struggles that the people had in El Salvador and how sometimes, it was easy to drop everything and just listen to nature as trying to move north may take years. 

San Onofre, California

...

I feel it is enough to listen

to the wind jostling lemons,

to dogs ticking across the terraces,

knowing that while birds and warmer weather

are forever moving north,

the cries of those who vanished

might take years to get there. 

[conthejas]

What Comey Feared

My previous post showed how President Trump is much more likely to lie than to not lie based on his past. Politifact clearly showed that Trump lies almost twice as much as he tells the truth. This is unprecedented. President Obama told the truth almost 85% of the time based on the same Politifact statistics. This next article that I found that relates to Comey and his quest to always find the truth has to do with Michael Cohen. President Trump, according to many sources, told Cohen to lie under oath in order to ensure that dealings with Russia would remain a secret. This not only goes against Trump’s Christian values, but it also shows why Comey was so scared about people who don’t tell the truth. When that happens, the true story about people may never be known, and that can be a very scary thing.

[conthejas]

Trump’s Lack of Truth

I found this website really interesting. it shows the “facts” that Trump stated and whether they were accurate. It’s interesting how Comey was one of the first people to push back against Trump and how he doesn’t tell the truth most of the time. On this website, it shows how often Trump tells the truth and it looks like he’s much more likely to lie than the truth. This is exactly what Comey feared as he believes the the truth is the most important thing to know.