"Sylvia's Death" by Anne Sexton

I find this poem to be some what disturbing because of the reflection it had to Sylvia Plath's life. I know that Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton were friends but it seems that it was a dark connection that brought the two together. This is shown in the line "the death we both said we out grew". I know from reading more into their lives both women were suicidal and both had attempted to commit suicide. The line "with two children, two meteors wandering loose in the tiny playroom" is quite sad. I feel that Anne hadn't came to any reasoning to why Sylvia would want to abandon her children and I ask the same question. Being a mom is a very rewarding experience and I would think that someone who has children would want to experience a long life so they can watch them grow. I would think that this could be something Sylvia could find enjoyment in. Apparently the happiness that children bring mother's in this world may have been lacking in her situation. It's all so depressing.

"Cathedral" Raymond Carver

In this short story you find the narrator being the protagonist. His character is seen as a individual that is very judgemental to the other characters in the story. He doesn't seem to fond of his wife and is not to happy about her blind friend  (the antagonist) coming to stay with them for a few days. It seems that since the narrator hasn't any knowledge of blind people he comes off a little negative to the situation. The story takes a turn at the end when the narrator describes to the blind man the architecture of cathedrals, influenced by the television program he is watching. It is when the blind man gives the narrator the idea to get a piece of paper and has him close his eyes and draw while guiding the blind man's hand along the way. Once finished the narrator has an epiphany. He is taken back and gets the idea of how being blind does not eliminate the detailed visual one can gain from this technique. He realizes blind people are not as much in the dark as he thought. I think it was quit clever when Dr. Cassel stated in class, "who is really the blind one in this story?" I agree with this statement and feel that this story had an ironic meaning to it overall.

"Diving into the Wreck" Adrienne Rich

"Diving into the Wreck" is one of Adrienne Rich's most memorable poems. As we talked about in class' Rich was a feminist writer who supported women's liberation for most of her life. This poem shows how she wanted to give power to women. The quote "First having read the book of myths, and loaded the camera, and checked the edge of the knife-blade I put on the body-armor of black rubber" I get almost a warrior impression from this line and almost link it to the goddess Athena in which she's referring to "the book of myths". Maybe she is referring to mythology and how the goddess Athena was a woman warrior-like goddess. The poem continues to give the speaker a sense of heroism which gives me the impression of "girl power".

I really like this poem and far as Rich her tactics on feminism seem to hold women with power instead of slamming men or being dark like Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton which would make sense because the two had confessional style poems.

"Howl" Allen Ginsberg

"Howl" is quit an interesting piece. I had never read this before and I have to say that this must have been a jaw dropper of it's time to conservatives. I can see how it had political influence to those at the time that were reading that wanted change, protesting the government and the war. He shows this through quotes like "who cowered in unshaven rooms in underwear, burning their money in wastebaskets and listing to the Terror through the wall". This seems to be referring to rejecting capitalism and being more supportive of communism.

I know that Ginsberg was into drugs which we went over in class. It seems that many writers did drugs to help stimulate their minds and it is obvious that Ginsberg did just that by being "out there" writing "Howl" with out any sensor. This writing was very controversial for the time as well as for today. I think when people read it today they are shocked from some of the lines, I know I was.

"Death of A Salesman" by Authur Miller

After reading "Death of a Salesman" I was left with the impression that the author, Arthur Miller was trying to give readers the idea that mid 20th century America was obsessed with the image of wholesome family togetherness. For example, you have a father who is the bread winner driven to do all he can to support his family and a mother that takes the role of the glue that sticks everyone together seeming a little submissive to her husband.  As well as two sons especially Biff that at one time seemed to be the perfect mold for the "all American" sports star.  To Americans at the time it was important for many men being the bread winners to grab a piece of the "American Dream". I think this is shown in the reading by how the character Willy obsesses on making a successful living so that his family  could reap the benefits of what he could offer by his establishments. 

When I saw the movie version of "Death of a Salesman" I thought it was very interesting to see how the setting was put together there seemed to be a stage presence rather than a normal moving feeling. I thought that it was interesting how this was done it being a play and all but it didn't seem real enough for me.  Regular movies seem to dramatize and fluff things a little more which draw me in. Nonetheless, the movie followed along like the reading.