My Awesome Proposal

So originally I had thought of writing on how so many of the characters we have read about struggle with knowing their identity, but Julie said that was too darn broad so here's what I am thinking.

While reading both Wide Sargasso Sea and The Mimic Men, it is very clear that both Antoinette and Ralph have no idea how to define themselves. They both start out as children from the island, but also suffer from "otherness" due to their family circumstances and their social lives (or lack there of). This alienation they experience in their childhood is what contributes to their search for identity throughout their entire lives.

With Ralph, we know just from the title that he is a "mimicking man," and there are signs that he is uncomfortable with his identity from the very beginning. He changes his name at school, and later on in life he is unable to cultivate any deep, meaningful relationships because of the overwhelming angst he feels because he doesn't know who he is. He sleeps with numerous strange women, even keeps a sex diary, and yet when he is in bed with a woman he actually enjoys (the chubby woman), he is unable to perform. Even when he marries he is unable to keep that relationship on the right track. His childhood experiences of being unwanted, ashamed of his family and even bullied are what attack his self esteem to the point where he isn't able to discover who he is, no matter what country or identity he takes on.

In Antoinette's case, it is the estrangement she experiences from both her mother and from her community that eventually causes her to loose touch with reality. She is constantly bullied as a child, and her mother is not the comforting support system that she would otherwise need to sustain a healthy self esteem. The sad truth is that Antoinette's mother is a detriment. She abandons her daughter, practically ignores her while she tends to her son, and this is something Antoinette carries with her through adolescence and into adulthood. She doesn't have a real family, nor does she find acceptance in her community. She was screwed from the beginning.

Even though the alienation these characters experience is brought on by different life situations, they are inherently the same in that it stemmed from childhood, and therefore their adulthood suffered because of it. Ralph has his insecurities held onto from childhood neglect and tries to find love through promiscuous sexual encounters, while Antoinette attempts to shed her family's stain of insanity by trying to fulfill a "normal" woman's destiny- getting married. Their parents directly effect their situation, and it is sad to watch the characters suffer at the hand of poor parenting.

If you have any suggestions at all how else I could spin this or narrow it down, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! Thank you!



Annotated Bibliography

Stenberg, Gunilla. "Effects of maternal Inattentiveness on Infant Social Referencing." Infant and Child Development 12.5 (27 Nov 2003) : 399-419. Print.

Stenberg's experiment was to try and discover how big the connection was, if any, between a mother's attentiveness to her infant and the baby's response to the attention or lack thereof. This brings interesting information to my argument that Antoinette's insanity is brought on by an entire childhood of her mother's inattentiveness, and that she was in fact psychologically effected by her mother's general lack of interest in her.

Schmitt, David P., Gahyun Youn, Brooke Bond, Sarah Brookes, Heather Frye, Stefanie Johnson, Jennifer Klesman, Caitlin Peplinski, Jessica Sampias, Melissa Sherrill, and Christine Stoka. "When Will I Feel Love? The Effects of Culture, Personality, and Gender on the Psychological Tendency to Love." Journal of Research in Personality 43.5 (Oct 2009): 830-46. Print.

This is probably the most useful resource that I came across, as it directly effects both of the characters I am analyzing. Schmitt discusses how human childhood directly contributes how adults love or feel the need to love. It is a psychoanalysis of the different reasons adults search for love, and how childhood experiences influence this. It helps me prove how Ralph attempts to fill his emotional needs by having sex with countless partners, stemming from childhood neglect. It also explains why Antoinette tends to show "lower levels of emotional investment," being that she dealt with a stressful home life growing up.

"Displacement and Belonging." The Caberra Times (Australia) 13 Dec 2008: A.11. Print.

This article is basically a review and interview of Gillian Stovo, a South African author who wrote a book titled "Black Orchids." I didn't really use the information regarding the book, but in the interview portion Stovo discussed her experiences of losing her identity as she moved away from her home country of South Africa, and her testimony is valuable in describing the plight that both Ralph and Antoinette both face. However, I will be using this source specifically for Ralph, as it is more applicable because he leaves the islands to go to London.

Walker, Sue, Donna Berthelsen, Kym Lung. "Temperament and Peer Acceptance in Early Childhood; Sex and Social Status Differences." Child Study Journal 31.3 (2001): 177-92. Print.

This article I found particularly useful, as it delves into explaining how social relationships are effected by temperaments in children. Honestly a l lot of this article seemed like common sense, however I do feel like it explains how the unpopularity that Ralph and Antoinette both experience is later ingrained in their inability to function in normal social relationships. This of course all links back to the parenting situations that each of them face.

Wu, Nancy S., Laura C Schairer, Elinam Dellor, and Christine Grella. "Childhood Trauma and Health Outcomes in Adults With Co morbid Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders." Addictive Behaviors 35.1 (2010): 68-71. Print.

Wu defines exactly what emotional abuse and neglect consist of in the homes of children, and therefore it relates to my topic completely. Both Ralph and Antoinette suffer from being outsiders, not only in their communities but in their own homes, and I just used the working definitions that Wu provided of these terms to help explain both of their situations.

Araby and Eveline agree that reading Dubliners was Painful and then Died.

So I can't say I enjoyed the readings as much this week, mostly because I didn't really feel like I understood the message or point to the stories we read. I am looking forward to remedying this on Tuesday during our discussion so that maybe I could go back in time to re-write this blog post so it doesn't suck as bad as I think it will. . .

The two stories that stuck out to me the most were "Araby" and "A Painful Case." I felt like "Araby" was a little cute but sad, and I'm sure a lot of you little boys remember when you had crushes on little girls that just didn't pan out the way you thought they would. I felt a lot of sympathy for him and pitied his situation, because I was a little (ok, a lot) BOY CRAZY when I was a youngster, and sadly I was never been cute enough for it to work out in my favor. . . I was the type to send love letters with "yes" or "no" boxes to check and chased them around the playground until I could corner one of them long enough to kiss 'em.

Also, he only had enough money to basically get to the bazaar and back, which brought even more painful memories of me giving away my own, beat up belongings to boys I liked at Christmas time because I couldn't afford to buy them something cool.

Wow, this turned into some kind of Dr. Phil/Tyra moment I didn't really want or need. . . .

"A Painful Case" was even more depressing, I absolutely HATE it when the protagonist is flirting around with adultery because the way this type of story is written softens it up so that the reader starts to feel as though this type of behavior is OK! IT'S NOT!! I still have to give them credit for breaking it off when they did. . . . but wait!?! Doesn't it sure look like she kills herself because she was still in love with them man she could never be with because she's MARRIED to someone ELSE!!!????? AAAAEEEGGGHHH!!!!!!

I didn't like that one. Obviously. Remember, my dear classmates, I will say it until your ears bleed its goodness and truth:

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!! Except marital bonds. . . ? Not sure how I can spin that one this time.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!!!

Ok, so the theme that Gannon, Kourtney, and David all mentioned in their blogs is marriage and how it is effected by Indian/American influences. Like we mentioned in class, Indians traditionally have arranged marriages which we all decided was crap (from our westernized perspective), but in one of these stories it appears to be successful. In "The Third and Final Continent", the narrator and Mala had basically just met, so after they came to America they had a lot of time to try and get to know one another. The narrator seems almost indifferent to Mala at this time because she is still just a symbol of his duty to his family, culture, country, etc. It is after Mrs. Croft pronounces that Mala is a "perfect lady" (195) that these seems to be a turning point for Mala and her husband's relationship, but is it because they just happen to be a decent match or because Mrs. Croft gave her motherly sort of approval?

It's true that in America, we marry for love and have the freedom to choose our spouse. It is also true that in America, the divorce rate is sitting high, just above 50%. Why is it that in other countries, such as India, marriages seem to outlast marriages in America? Some might argue that it is duty that united them, and it is that same duty that holds them together. I would like to add to that argument that a woman's place is so defined in Indian culture that they really don't have much choice if they ever did want to escape their marriage.

This leads us to "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar." Throughout the entire story, the women in whatever community they lived in were trying to help Bibi accomplish the dream she had always had- to get married. After her "treatment" had been prescribed as being this very thing, the women encouraged her cousin put out an ad for her (crappy ad, but nonetheless an ad), she began wearing the garb fit for a woman waiting for marriage, she began taking part in the traditional lifestyle that women younger than she lived, in the hopes that a man would see and desire her. It is really sad that she didn't see any other option! If she had been born here in America, her situation might not have been nearly as devastating to her! Sure, people still want to get married and all that, but marriage is not the climax of a woman's life! We have so many more options, so many more paths undefined by duty!

My favorite story was "A Temporary Matter," and I think I like it because the marriage situation was most relatable to me. This couple had an American life with American problems, and to see them recognize their issues at the end was really touching and even inspiring. At the end when they turned off the lights and cried together, they were grieving together, comforting each other. I was with Gannon through his whole blog- but I however, am not turned off by the idea of marriage as he now is. :) I think I might have to say this because I am already married, but I will agree that marriage is a lot more work than people think it will be going into it.

So this is my proposed solution for all of you marriage haters-- you should seriously consider PURCHASING your wives- Following in Kristine's footsteps:

Stop F*ck#ng Censoring me, Fool!

Ok, so the major theme that Ha Jin CLEARLY addresses is the censorship of the Communist Party, and with his newfound freedom of speech *care of the marvelous USofA*, Jin happily writes his innermost thoughts and feelings concerning this issue. I mean, DUH! If Jin tried to write even one of these short stories in his homeland, he might have been another artist, student, teacher, voice sacrificed, not unlike his fellow Chinese that died in Tiananmen Square. (Or should I say, like those who never were killed at the place by the thing that also never existed and the whole thing never happened I mean WHAT? THOU SHALT THINK AS WE TELL YOU TO THINK! ARG!) Ok, I don't think the Chinese are supposed to have Bible/pirate voices. . .

Similarly, Conrad might never have recieved the fame and success of HoD had it been published in Poland because, well lets face it, since when have any of us ever been required to take a Polish Literature class? No offense to Poland, I'm probably just ignorant when it comes to world literature, but the fact remains that other countries stay on the top of the heap here. And where would postco lit be without the racist/non-racist writings of Conrad? Well, I know at least one African writer who would have been pretty bored. . .

So, one of the biggest Communist moments (to me) that Ha Jin discusses takes place in the story "Alive," during the arranged marriage weddings (29-31). No one seems to freakin' care that they have to marry complete strangers!!! We've all heard stories about arranged marraiges before-- NOT FUN!! "However, the wedding wasn't jolly and noisy, as weddings should be. Most of the brides looked rather somber; a few grooms stoof motionless, their arms crossed before their chests, as though they were spectators" (31). Well, yeah, I'd imagine that after losing the real love of my life I might be a little disapointed at being forced to marry a post-earthquake victim who may or may not be a mass murderer or have substantial facial scarring from the horrible event. I don't mean to sound superficial, because it would be different had they already been in love before the accident and loved them despite these characteristics, because as I said in class, LOVE CONQUERS ALL! However, this is not the case! No one questions, protests, nothing! Gross!

Ha Jin makes another huge statement with the story Saboteur. This story is actually most like the Tiananmen Square incident- the police abuse their power wholeheartedly, the people didn't do anything other than stand up for themselves with whatever was left of their voice, and they were forgotten almost as soon as they were disposed of. WEIRD, how these two events might mirror eachother a little bit. Don't know how that happened. . .

Basically, China sucks. The end.


Oh yeah! If you want to go to Avalanche, me and Amy are putting a group together for Tuesday after class. Please come to get your picture and extra credit! We want a semi big group so it's not so expensive!! :)

Bourne with an Indentity?

Ok, so Ralph hasn't exactly woken up on a foreign ship in the middle of a storm with a common case of amnesia, however he does find himself in the dilemma of not knowing who the heck he his, and considers himself and even his life a shipwreck.

Ralph has a lot of issues, but whether they stem from his childhood or simply from his diverse residencies is unclear. He definitely cares about what other people think-actually, it's almost his entire reason for being. He attests that his "present urge is, in the inaction imposed on [him], to secure the final emptiness" (13). He is constantly trying to create himself, create a new facade to display. He says of the persona Leini invented for him, " I must confess I was pleased then that the character Lieni created had in its own small way become a legend" (26). While he himself often evolved the character that people saw, he was pleased that even the character someone else made for him was just as satisfactory. He says even earlier, "I tried to give myself a new personality. It was something I had tried more than once before, and waited for the response in the eyes of others. But now I no longer knew what I was" (32).

That is what his eventual and continual struggle is. He doesn't know who or what he is. All he knows and remembers is everything and everyone that/who influenced these creations. He was laughed at by his peers in school, he remained withdrawn, and even his name became such a source of embarrassment that he altered it to sound less distinct. He isn't the type of person to attempt to make a mark on the world- he simply wants to observe and copy the accepted mannerisms of worthwhile individuals, becoming one of the "Mimic Men."

He is without a home, without a purpose, without a place in this world. As Stephanie said, he "derives [his] self worth from other people's responses [to his 'character']."How scary and how sad is that. This guy needs to get in touch with Dr. Phil, and fast.

The Name Game

I'm going to preface this post with the statement: "I hope I am writing about what I am supposed to be writing about."In Spivak's essay, a teenie-weenie bit of emphasis was put on Antoinette's name change (Raiskin 242). I'm rolling with it.

"'Don't laugh like that, Bertha.'My name is not Bertha; why do you call me Bertha?' 'Because it is a name I am particularly fond of. I think of you as Bertha.'" (Rainskin 81). Okay, so here we are, newly married couple, neither of them hardly know each other, why the heck is Rochester calling Antoinette, the girl we know and love, "Bertha?" For one, the name sounds like it belongs to a cow, or at least a very large animal. Secondly, it makes me wonder if he had ever made love to a woman named Bertha previous to his marriage to Antoinette, and if he had then he indeed had slipped up somehow and called her by that strange woman's name by mistake while they wrestled between the sheets and he just lied and said he merely liked the name Bertha. (*breathing*) I mean has that ever happened to any of you no not me never. . . .

But seriously. Even Spivak says it, "Rhys suggests that so intimate a thing as personal and human identity might be determined by the politics of imperialism. Antoinette, as a white Creole child growing up at the same time of emancipation in Jamaica, is caught between the English imperialist and the black native" (Rainskin 242). Well, yeah. What he is basically saying is that he doesn't want her as she is- he wants her as he imagines she should be.Antoinette, forget where you came from, forget those who tainted your past with their black fingerprints. You are English, I hereby Christian you, "Bertha." (*Cough-cow-cough*).

Later in this same scene, Rochester actually croons, "'Of course, on this of all nights, you must be Bertha.'" and she gives in and replies, "'As you wish'" (Rainskin 82). Okay, enough already with the sick role play. Really, you keep writing this crap and kids across the country will be calling each other Bertha just to get all hot and heavy. Gross.

This is the exact same thing we talked about with Things Fall Apart, only now it's in a different country and it's happening to one woman rather than an entire race of people. Identity crisis. It sucks. To all young, impressionable lovers out there, do not let your partner render you powerless in this situation- remember your name.

Ta-Ta-Ta-Tia!

Ok, so I didn't really want to simply repeat the discussion we had in class today, which is kind of difficult since we covered pretty much everything that was important. However, while I was reading there was a character that stuck out who wasn't ever really explained- Tia. Tia is the daughter of Maillotte, Christophine's friend (Rhys 13). She is black. The reason I found her particularly intriguing is because the relationship that Antoinette and Tia share is so simplistic and a good representation of similar relationships that existed in America between blacks and whites.

After Tia and Antoinette became friends, they met together "nearly every morning" (Rhys 13). They played together and got along as well as any children do, but the turning point is when there is an argument over the bet of the pennies (Rhys 14). Antoinette says, "Keep them you cheating nigger. . . . I can get more if I want to," and the response from Tia is: " That's not what [I] hear.. . [I] hear all [you] poor like beggar." After that, Tia steals Antoinette's clean and freshly pressed dress, and Antoinette walks home hating Tia.

The separation and finalization of whatever friendship they had was displayed and pg. 27, after Antoinette's house had been set on fire. "Then, not so far off I saw Tia and her mother and I ran to her, for she was all that was left of my life as it had been. We had eaten the same food, slept side by side, bathed in the same river. As I ran, I thought, I will live with Tia and I will be like her. Not to leave Coulibri. Not to go. Not. When I was close I saw the jagged stone in her hand but I did not see her throw it. I did not feel it either, only something wet, running down my face. I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up as she began to cry. We stared at each other, blood on my face, tears on hers. It was as if I saw myself. Like in a looking glass."

This just reminded me that young children are often blinded from the same prejudices that thrives in the world of adults- that is, until one day when they come to the realization that it is a part of their culture, and they refuse to see the need for change.

Anyways, I thought this relationship was so simplified in this matter, I thought it needed to be expanded upon further than what had been said in class.