Summer reading assignment Journal #3: A Streetcar Named Desire-- Ebenezer

After reading the ending scenes of Streetcar, I realized that none of my predictions were accurate at all. I was hoping that Mitch could become a supporting individual for Blanche; however that didn’t turn out to be the case. My predictions also involved Blanche arriving to a state of normalcy; unfortunately, that also did not appear true. In fact, scene eleven proves to be the defining part for Mrs. Dubois as she is forcibly escorted by the doctor and matron. Her actions at the end showed me that she was very dependent and was doubtful for a change in personality. This is why I no longer feel pity for her, because I felt that she had lost the will to become better at the end. With regards to the other characters, Stella continues to live with Stanley which is the right decision for now. I feel that their relationship has an opportunity to remain stable, despite Stanley’s brash attitude towards his friends and family.

Even though this play was simple; I can understand why so many people have taken a liking to it. Streetcar was special because the dialogue used in the book was an indicator for readers to know about personal relations and character tendencies. As each character is speaking, I’m slowly getting a glimpse of the character’s motive and reason behind their actions. Some scenes also provided a gateway to the characters past; which helped me clue in on the way they performed in their world. Unlike the ending for Crime and Punishment, this one was actually good in the sense that it was troubling for the way I felt. When Blanche is taken away, I didn’t necessarily know how to feel, which is good for a natural play like this. Overall, I finally understand why this play gets the acclaim it receives.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #2: A Streetcar Named Desire –Ebenezer

I couldn’t stop laughing at the end of scene four, where Blanche is verbally abusing Stanley while he is at the front door listening. It was humorous because Blanche has not only revealed her true feelings about Stanley, but has done it in a unfavorable way to him. In fact, as she is calling Stanley Kowalski a “survivor of the stone age”, I kept wondering of what Stanley was thinking at the moment (Some words are probably not appropriate in this journal entry). Meanwhile, Stella is caught in the middle of a conflict between filial and marital relations. Should the woman listen to Blanche or respect her husband and scrutinize Blanche’s past? In my opinion, Stella should listen to Blanche and consider what type of relationship she is truly in. With a baby on the way, I hope she can make a conscience decision that will allow her to grow throughout the play.

I don’t see the conflict between Blanche and Stanley getting any better. They are probably going to fight and argue with each other some more. As it happens over time, their personalities should develop from these interactions. Blanche will surely show her true colors about her hazy past, while Stanley will continue to find ways to become a more dominating figure. My prediction over the next four scenes will be based on the previous dialogue between these individuals. Mr. Kowalski will ultimately be fed up with Blanche and will go to extreme measures to get rid of her. As for Mrs. Dubois, she will probably realize which character she wants to remain with.

Summer Reading Assignment Journal #1: A Streetcar Named Desire –Ebenezer

After reading the first couple scenes of the play, I started to get of feel of the storyline and the subtle messages that Mr. Williams is trying to express. When Blanche is headed to Elysian Fields, she harmlessly asks for the whereabouts of her sister. The point that fascinated me the most was how she retrieved that information: “I’m looking for… Stella Dubois. I mean- Mrs. Stanley Kowalski” Her words are not only intentional but a significant marker of what kind of time the characters live in. Decades ago, women played a lesser role in society, while men took charge of work-life and the family name. Blanche must have assumed that people wouldn’t automatically know who her sister was, because she’s a female. However, she assumed that they may have a fair idea of the male head of the household. Her statement has effectively changed my perception of gender roles in this book. Now I’m expecting the male characters to appear more authoritative and commanding; as the balance of power to should be tipped in their favor.

In addition, I’m starting to take notice in the way Blanche behaves. It is not necessarily her state of mind that interests me, but rather her situation. She is self indulgent person who is sensitive about her image. In addition, she is constantly looking for people to shower her with compliments. I get the feeling that she is alone in life and has suffered a lot throughout her lifetime. Some previous bloggers have mentioned that she has created a hole in her heart; which she aims to fill it with superficial gestures and remarks. Despite the way she acts towards Stanley and Stella, I feel pity towards her and I’m hoping for her to undergo a transformation. Hopefully someone can step up and help her take control of her life. If Blanche manages to change, she will definitely become a dynamic character who will differ among the male, static individuals like Stanley.

Crime and Punishment Summer Reading Assignment: Journal #3 –Ebenezer

With all the twists and turns that went on during the beginning and middle phases of the C&P, one would expect a similar outcome with the ending scenes in the novel. The plot unfortunately was relatively normal, predictable, and very straight-forward. Honestly speaking, the ending was so bland, that it felt like I was eating a dry piece of lettuce. Dostoevsky could have easily added some flavor to the end stages if he made Raskolnikov flee to the outskirts of Russia. Alternatively, I would have preferred he committed suicide; because at least the readers could look ahead to the reactions from all the other minor characters. Just imagining the emotional outcry from individuals like Sonya and Dmitri Prokofych would undeniably be more appealing. Instead, the author does everything in his power to make the finale as uninteresting as possible. This is accomplished when Raskolnikov admits his crime at the police station, confesses to the judicial courts, and lives the rest of his life in jail. Maybe someone change the storyline so that it deviates from the conventional finish.
This novel however is unquestionably fascinating in a sense that it’s realistic and applicable to science. Throughout the novel, the author was able to pinpoint the exact state of mind of typical murderers and incorporate them into our protagonist. According to James Fallon (Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California), many psychopathic individuals exhibit a high risk gene which can cause abnormal behavior. During the adolescent years, the gene is usually expressed when the individual has experiences some type of traumatic event. Oddly enough Dostoevsky wrote about Raskolnikov’s childhood episode on page 56; where he witnessed Mikolka kill a small horse. Mr. Fallon also points out that psychopathic killers sometimes have preexisting conditions that contribute to their violent behavior. This is strange as well because Dostoevsky made it clear on the first page that Raskolnikov “had been in an irritable and tense state, resembling hypochondria.” Perhaps Dostoevsky’s literary work is more than a source of captivation, but rather a basis of education.
All in all, C&P is a great novel for any season. The aesthetic aspects were limited which allowed me to focus on many concepts within the book. I learned about the struggles of family life and the emotional investments some characters have to one another. In addition, I took note of how powerful friendship can be with scenes between Razumikhin and Raskolnikov. Svidrigailov and Sonechka demonstrated to me that love can be detrimental or pain-staking over time. But the overall concept that I take most from this book is the force of consequence. Looking at all the things that Raskolnikov had to go through .has prompted me to watch my actions vigilantly; so that one day I won’t end up like him.

Summer reading Assigment: Crime and Punishment Journal #2-- Ebenezer

As the story progresses into its middle stages, Dostoevsky has shown to me that religion can be a powerful and influential force; since it can provide hope for some of his underprivileged characters. In the case of Sofya Semyonovna, she was questioned about what she gets in return for praying to God. She quietly responded by saying: “He does everything!” which is surprising to me because her life is slowly falling apart. Her constant faith in Christianity without any signs of success got me thinking about the existence of God; and the impact it has on individuals. It also reminded me of a philosophy known as “Pascal’s Wager”. This idea suggests that people believe in divine beings because there are infinite aspects to gain if they exist, while nothing to lose if they don’t. Consequently, people like Sofya tend to believe in higher powers regardless of any proof of reality. Even though there is no evidence behind her beliefs, Sofya stands by her faith as a sound strategy to escape poverty and destitution. Hopefully, her fervent commitment to religion pays off for her at the end of the novel.
In order to show a realistic manifestation of his characters, Dostoevsky also made sure that dialogue was an integral part of the novel. Even though some conversations went on for several pages; the dialogue kept me stimulated long enough to focus on lesser known characters. In fact, Dostoevsky’s usage of certain quotations even gave me a new found respect for them throughout several scenes. Part four is a good example, in which Porfiry Petrovich is in a heated conversation with Raskolnikov; and he stated to him that: “human nature is… the clearest mirror! Look and admire…” A phrase like this is not only poetic, but insightful, and requires a great deal of response and thought. From my understanding of the statement, I get the feeling that human behavior is instinctive through observation. The only way individuals can truly understand themselves, is if they reflect upon their actions over time. If everyone in our country took note of Porfiry’s words, can you imagine what we can accomplish? Presently, our nation is in a healthcare crisis and people are struggling to agree on a simple health care plan and acceptable legislation. But even though it is “human” to fight and disagree, I feel that it’s even more “human” to evaluate ourselves and find ways to care for the people around you.

Crime and Punishment Summer Reading Assignment: Journal #1 – Ebenezer

Whenever I’m reading a work of literature, I try to disregard the visual and aesthetic qualities of the book; simply because it distracts me away from the author’s fundamental message. Fortunately, Dostoevsky managed to keep this novel’s imagery and other sensitive aspects to a convenient minimum, while illustrating concepts (such as crime) through his own characters. In one instance, Raskolnikov comes to the conclusion that “…at the moment of [a] crime a sort of failure of will and reason… are replaced by a phenomenal, childish thoughtlessness…” In my opinion, this is a valid point on so many levels and very logical with regards to the real world. When I hear of my friends committing an illegal and immoral act, such as stealing, I understand the mindset of these individuals even more. I know that they aren’t thinking so much about the consequences, but rather about the fun opportunities that may derive from the crime.

To better shape the persona of his characters, Dostoevsky also established varying points of view to argue on the same idea or theme. On page 151, Pyotr Petrovich demonstrated a really good point about crime using economic parameters. He basically argued that although the lower and upper classes are distinctly different, they still share a relationship of increased criminal activity. To me, I get the feeling that crime is not just an action associated with the poor and needy, but also with the wealthy and greedy. After recognizing Petrovich’s point, things started to make sense every time I watch the evening news. As we all know, Bernard Madoff was a prominent investment banker and a well-known financier until he was caught swindling thousands of people in a ponzi scheme. Because of Petrovich’s argument, this particular crime wasn’t a shocker to me at all; since I am to expect all crimes from several types of people. Overall, the logical explanations from these two characters have greatly changed my perspective in the real world. Have there been any concepts throughout the novel that have influenced your thoughts?