"The Cask of Amontillado"

Though the stories and authors are divided by many years and two very different sensibilities.  The truth is that the protagonists of both "A Cask of Amontillado" and "A & P" are similar in many ways.  How many?  Well, let me count the ways, young waverer. 

Both Sammy and Montresor have inflated senses of their value to the world at large.  Fortunato is a class apart from Montresor and only the promise of a rare vintage lures him into his vault.  "Queenie" is oblivious to the attentions of Sammy.  Sammy for his part is delusional as he quits his job and ruins vanilla ice cream forever. (He may improve it.  Your mileage may vary.)  Montresor also fails because Fortunato is never aware of why he is being killed.  The fact is that Fortunato takes up space, rent-free, in Montresor's head and lives there for at least half a century.

These two figures are archetypical poseurs.  They are late to the party of whatever their aim is.  Sammy could be chivalrous, but his view of women as objects and "types" marks him as a misogynistic loser.  Montresor is a pale imitation of nobility.  In fact, he puts one in mind of the protagonist of Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder. That character always sought respect and plotted the deaths of his betters all for naught.  he was a rightful laughingstock, just like Montresor. 

Attack with impunity, indeed.

PEACE!

"A & P"

This is an interesting story by Updike in that it takes a very mundane, banal event and transforms it into a sort of heroic quest.  Sammy is a bozo.  That's a technical term, I know; however, I feel it is an earned title.

He objectifies women throughout the story.  He doesn't even save that for the women he is attracted to in the course of the story.  If a reader focuses on the language used to describe and to name women, it is clear that, while Sammy is the protagonist, he is not a "good guy".

His "heroic" act is motivated by a mixture of lust and petulance.  He is no more chivalrous than the young knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale".  He just happens to wear an apron and bow tie instead of mail and a helmet.

A few of my favorite films

My Name is Nobody

Everybody's Fine

The Grapes of Wrath

Apocalypse Now

American Graffitti

Shanghai Triad

Do the Right Thing

American Teacher

Repo Man

Expository Essay

September 27th is the due date for the minor expository essay. 

Remember I want you to explain the difference, if any, between character and morality. Please recall our class discussion on this topic.  I also want you to think outside of the box and bring examples to develop the thesis from sources that are near and dear to your heart.  

Remember we are following the formal writing guidelines for this writing.

Also,  remember to review your TABOO sheet for this.  If you include any of those items, I'm not reading your paper.  It will be returned to you with the quickness. 

Leave a comment signifying that you saw this.  

This is the last post of the summer.  You should have finished the novel and should either be finishing your school assignments or working on them.  For this last one, I want your final summation of Okonkwo.  Is he admirable? Is he unsympathetic?  It's your call.  You just need to be sure and back up anything you say with concrete details, direct quotes and the corresponding page numbers.  Haave fun and I will see you on the 19th.

Violence in Things Fall Apart

For this entry, I want you to find five instances of an act of violence in the novel.  Please include a direct quotation regarding the violence as well as the page number from the book where it can be found.  Briefly discuss the consequences of these acts directly after your description.  Also, you may want to give your classmates that have not posted anything a heads up.  The assignments listed in the handout are required and not simply a suggestion.

Discussion #3

These were supposed to post automatically.  That's why you have had an almost three week lag. I trusted the system I set up and I shouldn't have. Mea Culpa. 

In the novel, a major theme is that culture is always changing and people must adapt with it or be left behind. Find evidence of this in the text and discuss how characters are affected by either adapting or remaining static. Please include page numbers to support your evidence from the text.