Arrange whatever pieces come your way.

I picked Mrs. Dalloway for my October novel because I could not believe how an author could write three hundred pages on the events in a single day: either Clarissa is a very exciting woman with a fruitful life or the author has the ability to shape any story to engage a reader. However, from what I have read, it is a combination of both intriguing characters and insightful writing.

Two weekends ago, I read five pages into Mrs. Dalloway and was utterly confused by Virginia Woolf’s punctuation of oddly placed dashes, recurring semicolons, and a seemingly endless stream of commas. I remember very clearly that we were taught to use exclamation marks rarely, yet Woolf often uses five exclamation points on a page. Why? And, where was the main subject and verb? The punctuation was overwhelming. (It reminded me a lot of when I read Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and there were dashes everywhere and I couldn’t stand it.) I put down the book and did some other homework.

Last weekend, I managed to barrel through the first few pages and am now on page ninety-seven. My perplexity with Woolf’s distinct style is still as strong as it was two weekends ago. Her selection and arrangement of words is quite bizarre because the ideas seem out of order. Instead of “how still the fresh, calm air was in the early morning; it was like the flap of a wave or the kiss of a wave,” she writes “how fresh, how calm, stiller than this of course, the air was in the early morning; like the flap of a wave; the kiss of a wave” (1). Woolf’s ordering of words is reflective of a real person’s thoughts. Both Woolf’s writing and a person’s thoughts sometime do not make any sense until the thoughts are complete; then, aha! I always thought of writing as a better form of thinking aloud because a writer must take the time to reformat the thoughts into a cohesive idea. I am used to polished and chronologically sequenced writing. Therefore, Woolf’s use of stream of consciousness is quite a shock because it does require a little more patience. That is not to say that Woolf’s writing is unsophisticated and unorganized. Rather, her writing naturally flows like thoughts and words simultaneously form for individuals. She writes it as it is, not as it should be.

Woolf does a particularly good job in capturing the essence of characters, and she does this with simple, clear-cut language. Most of her sentences are straight-forward. Not a word could be stripped without destroying the meaning of the sentence. Yet, Woolf has a particular quirk in which she compares an event, characteristic, or feeling to many different ideas. There is a long chain of descriptive words following one noun. For example, Clarissa feels “in the midst of traffic…a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause; a suspense” right before the Big Ben strikes (5). Each new description gives readers a slightly different perspective and the layers create a richer meaning. It is almost as if Woolf understands that people relate differently to the same things. Her solution is to give many different descriptions in the hopes that a reader will relate to at least one description. Later on in the novel, Woolf uses this technique again to create the same effect. She describes Miss Killman as someone who makes “you feel her superiority, your inferiority; how poor she was; how rich you were; how she lived in a slum without a cushion…” (16). This varied repetition of interesting descriptive phrases not only facilitates character development but also keeps the reader on his/her toes.

I have always prided myself on being able to predict the ending of movies and books and every plot twist along the way. On an eighth grade trip, I predicted that the protoganist in Big Fish would turn into a goldfish and nobody believed me; I was right. One notable exception is Harry Potter. I can never guess what is coming up next with J.K. Rowling’s writing. With Mrs. Dalloway, I am completely unsure about what the story is about. I am definitely following what is going on, but I don’t find a connection between the events. I find this extremely odd since I am already one third of the way through the book. Hopefully, there will be some explanation for the relationship between Clarissa and Richard, and Clarissa and Elizabeth. I also look forward to discovering the parallel between Clarissa and Septimus.

I understand that Mrs. Dalloway was a key element to Michael Cunningham’s novel, The Hours, and the movie based off of Cunninghma’s novel. Maybe I’ll rent it…

P.S. Since I mentioned Harry Potter and this blog is about Virginia Woolf, I googled both names and found “Dumbledore's Death in the Style of Virginia Woolf,” which is quite interesting. (813)

Showing Ordinary Life as Being Worth Writing About

John Updike has the rare ability to “show ordinary life as being worth writing about.” In his widely acclaimed short story “A & P,” Updike communicates two distinct worldviews through the eyes of a checkout boy at a local supermarket. He places Sammy in a position to choose between the conservative and conventional, represented by Mr. Lengel, and the individualistic and non-conformist, represented by the teenage girls. In the end, Sammy chooses to defy Mr. Lengel.

Although Mr. Lengel does not make his grand entrance until the story’s final pages, many characters foreshadow his timely arrival and also his conventional outlook. Updike refers to the masses of shoppers as “sheep,” mindless customers who plop through the aisles, monotonously categorize items, and follow their unchanging routines; they would continue to do so even if someone “set off dynamite” (5). In a way, the local supermarket shoppers are the typical people we imagine. The people have normal, regular, and at times, boring lives. As we “walk” through the shopping aisles, we can guess that the A & P customers go to work from nine to five, come home, cook dinner, watch television, and go to sleep. The shoppers are so used to the same routine that they react with amazement as Queenie’s bare and strikingly white shoulders come into view They “jerk, or hop, or hiccup” and then immediately snap back to their shopping carts (5). At the end of the story, the sheep, who love scenes, all gather around to see Queenie and Mr. Lengel battle it out (19). It is no surprise that Updike emphasizes how habitual these shoppers are by placing them in the most predictable environment, a supermarket. In turn, the shoppers symbolize regularity, order, and common practice.

Likewise, the supermarket staff is astonished when the three girls come in. Sammy points out that it is perfectly normal to wear nothing but a bathing suit on the beach, but in an A & P, a bathing suit stands out too much in the cool air, fluorescent lights, and orderly packages (6). An older clerk, McMahon, a married father of two children, begins “patting his mouth and looking after them, sizing up their joints” (10). The men are reacting to the presence of the suggestion of sexuality in an environment which is usually free of it. Similar to the shoppers, the A & P staff is comfortable only when surrounded by static people and static events.

Our very first view of Mr. Lengel immediately indicates him as sturdy and hardworking, since he stays in his office all day, and as a man often engaged in manual labor, since he “comes in from struggling with a truck full of cabbages” (14). His role as a Sunday school teacher gives evidence that there may be an ensuing conflict between him and the three scantily clad teenagers. Lengel repeatedly barks, “This isn’t the beach” as he stares down the girls. In a profound way, Mr. Lengel, as manager and “head lifeguard” of the A & P, feels he has the right to enforce the professional tone expected in a workplace and denounce what is deemed unacceptable and inappropriate in a public place (14). He believes the girls’ frivolous attire has vandalized his sacred space and his morals, which are traditional and resistant to change.
Updike gives subtle clues that Queenie and her friends represent free-spirited and progressive minds. Sammy notes that the “girls were walking against the usual traffic” (5). Supermarkets certainly do not have divided roads for shopping carts going in different directions. Therefore, the three teenage girls signify a different outlook and attitude. As previously stated, the customers will keep reaching for products even if someone sets off dynamite; however, they all turn around to look at Queenie. The three teenage girls are the literal interpretation of dynamite: attention-grabbers and excitement. Finally, the girls dress and look very different from the conventional customer. Updike spends two pages describing the look of the girls as very noticeable. Queenie saunters in on her “prima-donna legs” with her bathing suit straps down. Her two friends, one in a bright green suit and the other with frizzy black hair, follow Queenie and watch her walk the walk (2). The teenagers are different from the usual herds that pass through A & P because they possess diverse opinions on appearance.

The true riddle of this story is why Sammy quits. On first glance, it seems that Sammy quits because he wants to stand up against the mean, demanding Mr. Lengle. He wants prove to the teenage girls that he is not conservative or conformist like the whole of A & P, but is he really acting on selfish instincts? Sammy quits because, in his own belief system, it is acceptable for men like McMahon to be attracted to young ladies and not feel guilty about it. Teenage girls are allowed to wear bathing suits and go grocery shopping. The girls have the freedom to attract attention and if they do, society should be able to resist the shock and surprise. To restrict oneself to a static view of society is to condemn oneself to the average.

Updike ends the story as Sammy realizes “how hard the world was going to be to me here-after” (31). It is puzzling because Sammy just quit a job that was deemed too stifling for him. What exactly could be hard about the world now? Sammy says that “once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through with it” (30). As Sammy leaves the single-minded people of A & P, he knows he will encounter people exactly like Mr. Lengel. There will be many other Mr. Lengels and only one of Sammy. If Sammy is to stay with his beliefs, he must continue to combat the narrow mindedness of those like Mr. Lengel. (975)

I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich.

Teenage Wasteland
I am confident in saying that Daisy is trying her hardest to be a good mother; her intentions are good. When Daisy is called to the Principal’s office and “learns” that her son has been foolish, reckless, disruptive, and noisy, she immediately feels embarrassed. Daisy feels as if the Principal is criticizing her parenting skills. I feel sympathy towards Daisy as she struggles to figure out how Donny has turned out to be a delinquent even though she doesn’t let him watch TV or talk on the phone on school nights. Because she feels guilty for not raising Donny to be a better student, she takes all of Mr. Lanham’s suggestions. She wants her son to succeed and she will sacrifice some things in her life in order for Donny to improve in school. She begins working with Donny on his assignments every night; however, she ends up ignoring her daughter, acting rudely to her husband, and starting dinner late almost every night. The school calls Daisy and her husband, Matt, again. As they sit in the Principal’s office, I can’t help but feel déjà vu. Again, Daisy feels self-conscious about herself and her parenting skills as she sits in front of Mr. Lanham. Daisy and Matt send Donny off to Cal, the tutor. Daisy decides that she must put away her beliefs, her instincts that Cal cannot help Donny, so that her son may one day be a more stable happy teenager. Because she feels that it is her fault her son is rebellious and unsuccessful—that maybe she didn’t establish Donny’s self-worth with enough praises—she continues to send Donny to Cal, despite the bad reports. She continues to trick herself into thinking that Cal is the right thing for Donny. Daisy believes every word that comes out of Cal’s mouth. Unfortunately it is at this point in the story, when I become disappointed with Daisy. Instead of being mad at Cal who seems to make Donny retrogress, Daisy gets angry at anyone who mistrusts her judgment in sending Donny to a tutor. When Miss Evans calls and asks Daisy to start overseeing Donny’s homework, Daisy calls Miss Evans a “narrow woman” (55). We cannot solely blame Daisy’s bad judgment as a direct cause of Donny running away because Daisy’s actions stem from her insecurities. We must also look at Cal as taking advantage of Daisy’s vulnerabilities and love for her son. Cal continually guilt-trips her, saying that Daisy doesn’t trust Donny enough and that is why Donny is the way he is. I think that the most accurate and appropriate opinion on Donny’s problems is that of Miss Evans. “You are the parent,” Miss Evans says to Daisy (44). She clearly points out that Daisy needs to take control of the situation and be the parent she should be, instead of putting her responsibility in the hands of Cal.

Everyday Use
In many stories I have read, the new modern beliefs are always seen in a better light than the old rigid ideals. For example, in the Breadgivers by Anzia Yezierska, Sara’s idea of accomplishing the American Dream and going to college is more attractive than her Talmudic father’s ideas that women should stay at home, cook, clean, and care for their husbands. In Everyday Use, this concept is completely the opposite. Walker portrays Dee, the trendy well-educated daughter, as self-centered. In the beginning, Dee enthusiastically comments on the bench’s rump prints and calls the hand stitched quilts priceless treasures. Without even asking her family, Dee just assumes she can take anything she wants. However, in the eyes of Dee’s family, the quilt and the churner are items for everyday use. Dee looks at the items as her stepping stone to becoming a cool, exotic, afro-wearing woman. She does not look at items as having any sentimental value to her family. She thinks about their monetary value and their “cool-factor” value. It is ironic because Dee chooses to change her name to Wangero and is embarrassed by her family’s home, yet she wants to use her family’s quilts and butter churn as “art.” As she tries to gain possession of these items, she is disrespectful to her family. She calls Maggie’s brain an elephant brain and calls her mother backwards for not understanding her desires. In reality, it is Dee who should try to understand her family. Her family has been there for her. Her family has nurtured her so that she could be a top student and get the education she deserved. Nevertheless, Dee just sucks in anything anyone gives her and doesn’t give back; she takes more. In the end, Mother stands up to Dee, snatches the quilts out of Dee’s hands, and hands the quilts to Maggie. It proves that education doesn’t mean anything unless the person has the right attitude and is respectful of others, especially family and heritage. (816)

We are Curious Humans

I can recognize and identify humanity in people when I see it, but it is much more difficult to define its components. If I were to break down the elements of humanity, I could begin only by saying that humanity means we are all people who come from a common planet. Obviously, civilization has surpassed that definition. People can and want to do more than hunt, cook, and stay warm, all elements of primitive humanity. Modern humanity, I believe, has embraced more complex elements such as an appreciation for vastly different cultures and an increased awareness of technology, medicine, and global events. Perhaps what is most fascinating about what I perceive as humanity today is the ability to interact through an unprecedented number of venues, namely through art, music, literature, the Internet, and the telephone. With that said, artists have complete freedom to portray humanity any way they want. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon’s portrayal of humanity in its simplest form is refreshing and intriguing.

Christopher’s essential humanity lies in his physical limitations. Because of his autism, Christopher does not have access to many of the “norms” of humanity. For example, communication is a fundamental human trait. This trait involves the ability to read a person’s face, recognize the emotion, and then respond with the appropriate actions. Christopher can identify emotions such as happiness and sadness, but he cannot read complex feelings that may have layered meanings (such as jealousy and astonishment). It is bizarre to think that Christopher finds it difficult to read emotions because “people’s faces move very quickly” (3). Christopher also does not understand why people show affection and other emotions through touch and embrace. He hates it when others touch him because he cannot identify its origin, whether it is love or anger. In the beginning of the book, Christopher hits the police officer who attempted to grab him.

Christopher’s shortage of social skills and inability to do other regular things in no way inhibits his humanity. In fact, it is even more profound because Christopher’s human qualities are concentrated, naturalistic, and basic. Curiosity is at the core of humanity. Without it, civilization would not be so advanced. It is curiosity of truth that leads Christopher to “wonder who had killed him [Wellington, the dog], and why” (2). Besides solving mysteries, Christopher loves to solve math problems. Humans have always tried to explain anything and everything that influences our world. When humans face a problem, they start off with observation. It may not be an instinct but it is vital to a human’s learning process and growth. Christopher’s unwavering attention to detail and memorization capabilities is beyond what is normally expected. When he is at the train station, he notices a holiday ad to Malaysia. He reillustrates the ad's two orangutans and details the trip’s price, the company’s phone number, and the slogan. In addition, Christopher locates Malaysia on a continent, names its capital and highest mountain, and explains the origin of the word orangutan. This can only be attributed to a combination of his curiosity, observation, and impeccable memory.

Ordinary people can do many things and have traits that can potentially stretch to the limits of humanity. Christopher may not be able to do all the things that normal people can do, but that doesn’t matter because the things he can do, he does extremely well. His powerful grasp on his senses enable his fundamental human traits to be magnified. In the end, Christopher may be more human than others because his senses are pure and lack deception (600).

A Man is Known by the Books He Reads

I have always been an avid reader. As an elementary school student, I was one of the weird kids that looked forward to silent reading time. By the end of first grade I had read two hundred children’s books and the librarian had already memorized my 10 digit ID code. Now, I am happy to say that I have progressed from enjoying Roald Dahl fantasies and Carolyn Keene mysteries to a wide variety of authors spanning many different genres. Some of my favorite books include Hot Zone (Richard Preston), a frightening bio-thriller describing the ghastly effects of Ebola, and The Plot Against America (Philip Roth), a novel that explores what would have happened if Lindbergh was elected president; however, I am not just a reader of serious, non-fiction books. I am a strong believer that an enjoyable read does not necessarily equal a well-written read. These books I am referring to are those teen bestsellers, like the Gossip Girls series (Cecily von Ziegesar). This "brain candy" chronicles the dramatic lives of high schoolers and requires minimal thought to comprehend, which sometimes is a relief in my busy life.

Unfortunately, yes, as I have grown up I read less, and as the school year starts, it becomes more and more difficult to incorporate some leisurely reading into my schedule. Overall, I firmly believe that I will always enjoy reading and that if, magically, there was an extra hour in the day, I would spend that hour reading.

Again, if there was an extra hour in the day, I would spend it reading, not writing. This is simply because I have always felt that achieving originality and excellence in writing is very difficult and that I should simply be on the receiving end of others’ words. This is not to say that I do not enjoy writing because when faced with an interesting prompt or idea, I always have something to say. I constantly surprise myself with what I can think of and my ability to translate those ideas into words on a page. I seek to challenge my writing skills because my structure and overall style is not as varied as I’d like it to be. I want to write more to improve my skills because, without a doubt, the ability to communicate effectively is an essential quality to success and also a life skill (394).