Theme

The main theme in each of these short stories has to deal with the the relationships between families. Each and every one of them have their difficulties. Sometimes it was the child's fault for bad relationship, but other times it was the parents' faults. Sometimes it was even both of their faults. In Book of the Dead it was the father's fault for the relationship. Although it was not bad at the time, I'm sure after what he told his daughter there was not much of a relationship anymore. Now this is different in Teenage Wasteland. Donny, the son, made himself to hard to get along with. His parents tried their best to do what was best for Donny. He just didn't care about anything. The one fault that his parents did have was keeping him with his tutor for to long. Rules of the Game was a direct example of the parents being at fault. Waverly's mother pushed that child further than any child should be pushed. She made Waverly miss out on her childhood so that she could make her live up to her own dream. Last but not least is The Life you Save May be your Own. In this story it was harder to pick up, but it was still there. Lucynell's mother wanted to get rid of her so she didn't have to take care of her anymore. She pushed a shady man into marrying her so that she wouldn't have to deal with the stress. All I have to say is thank God I have a good relationship with my parents.

Book of the Dead

The narrator of this story was a girl, which I thought was different. Maybe this is because I just don't read many girl stories. When the girl and her father were in the hotel and the father went missing, I thought something terrible had happened. I was not worried about her work of art at all. She shouldn't have been either. I would just be worrying about my father, like any son or daughter should. She did get a little worried too soon though. I wake up all the time and my parents are gone. It isn't very odd. She should have wondered where he went, but not get so worked up about it. When the father got back and told his daughter what he has done is when I would have started to get worried. No matter what, that will change any relationship between any family. If my father would have told me that I would feel like my whole life was a lie. It would be like I never even knew my father. Everything I thought about him and loved about him would be gone. After that I could care less about whoever bought my art at that time. There are some things that are just a little bit more important to me then the person who is trying to buy my art. No matter how nice the piece was, I could care less about it. I don't know if it was right for him to keep that from her all of her life, but I also don't know if he should have even told her ever. There are a lot of different ways you could look at it.

The Life you Save may be Your Own

Wow, this Shiftlet guy has some problems. From the very beginning of the story I thought of him as being shady. I was always suspicious of his of his intentions. He did seem to be an alright guy, at times. When he was helping Lucynell pronounce her words, I thought that was really sweet of him. Then he married her. That was totally unexpected. When Shiftlet left Lucynell in the restaurant I almost lost it. He is ridiculous. How does he expect her to get home? She can't even talk! If he wanted to get rid of her, do it at her house not somewhere where she can't get home. I blame her mother also. For some reason I think that she wanted to get rid of Lucynell also. By the way she kept pushing Shiftlet to marry Lucynell it seemed that she did anyway. I do not care how hard taking care of a child with Lucynell's needs is. Any loving mother would put that aside and love their children all of their lives, no matter what. I still cannot get over the fact of Shiftlet leaving Lucynell at the restaurant. How can he live with himself? I hope that everyday he thinks about what he has done and regrets it. As I said before, I always knew Shiftlet was shady. I just never thought that he would go as low as he did. Honestly, I do not care what happens to him. I just hope he knows what goes around comes around.

About others' blogs on Watts

Pretty much everyone's blogs that I have read felt pretty much the same way as I did on the subject. It made them even more confused on the topic. Well, I know that it at least made me more confused. The way that it was explained in class, with the elephant, was as good of an explanation as we would have needed. Some people, though, understood what Watts was saying a little bit better than I did. When listening, I just couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. Along with the other students I listened to it numerous times. I agreed with mainly everything that everyone said about Watts and Hinduism. I really liked the quote that Lauren used from Shakespeare. I thought that the quote really fit what Watts was explaining. After reading that quote from her blog I listened to the podcast again. At a point he does mention something about the world being a stage and plays. So she definitely hit the nail on the head with that comparison.

Alan Watts: Hinduism #3

Everything that Alan Watts says seems to be in some type form of a play on words. He makes metaphors the whole way throughout his 16 minute video. The whole thing is really hard to understand. When ever we went over Hinduism in class, I had a firm grasp on it. Now, listening to this video, it is much more complicated than I thought. He says that God is a myth, as an image. Does this mean that he is there, but he can not be defined as one single thing. I think we talked about this in class when we said that God is in everything. Watts also talks about God getting bored, along with us as people getting bored also. I agree with him when he says that no matter how far up in technology we get, we will still get bored no matter how far it comes along. We will adapt to it and get more bored with it.
He seems to go off a lot on the word 'play'. I do not know the reasoning for this, but it reoccurs a lot throughout the podcast, coming about mostly at the end. He talks about how the word play can be determined in many different ways. What is the reason for this? This podcast deffinitally made me more confused than I ever was before, on Hinduism.

Rules of the Game

Chess isn't really something I would want to do in my spare time. When I started to read this short story I was already not into it. The more I read it, though, I started to get interested in it. I was just thinking the entire time, wow this poor girl. Her parents pushed her way to hard. It is nice to have a little motivation, but they took it to a whole different level. I do not agree with how Waverly's parents are bringing her up. She doesn't have to do anything around the house. He schedule consists of practicing chess everyday. It was cool that she could beat older people that were amazing at chess, but she is missing out on her entire childhood. Her parents are making her grow up way to fast. This does actually happen in society today. It is all over television. Young child actors/actresses become huge stars. Their parents force them into adulthood at a very young age. All that the parents want in this situation is money. It seems like they care more about their money than what happens to their children. In many cases, these child stars end up getting involved in drugs and partying. I don't understand how you can watch your child's life rot away. Money is nice to have and everything, but there are more things to life than money. I was glad to see that Waverly did what she did. If I were in her position I would have done the same. He parents drove her to it.

Teenage Wasteland

People, like the main character in this story, kind of get on my nerves. The main character is lazy and disruptive in class. I always figure, you're in school so why not do well and get it over with. There is no sense in doing terrible and taking the class over again next year. Donny's parents seemed concerend for him, but he doesn't let that bother him at all. He doesn't want help. That also angers me. If you are struggling, at least be man enough to say that you need help. I think that he is being cowardly and doesn't want to apply himself. I would do exactly as his parents did. The only thing that I would do differently is pull him out of the tutoring. Obviously the tutoring is not working at all. Why prolong the aggony? They are waisting their money and their son's time. That tutor is kind of a shady character. He seems more like a cult leader than a tutor. Filling these kids' heads with wild ideas, it just doesn't seem right. He makes feel like they are doing nothing wrong. I'll admit, he does seem like a fun guy to hang around. He listens to loud rock music with the kids. His house is a cool hangout spot for all of them. This all seems fun and harmless, but I think that it goes deeper than this. Donny's parents are the ones that finally push him to leave at the end of the story, but I don't think that it was justified at all. They only wanted what was best for him. I think that he went back to his tutor's house. I believe that the tutor did run some type of cult or something like that.

TFA: 25

In this chapter, after killing the messenger Okonkwo realizes that there is no way the village will go to war. Finally, someone comes looking for Okonkwo and they find his body hanging from a tree. This ending was completely unexpected. I thought for sure that Okonkwo was going to go on a killing rampage. I never expected him to kill himself, especially after the advice that he was given earlier on in the book. I do not really feel bad for him. I do not no if I really liked this book or not. I think it just really frustrated me because of what Okonkwo was like. I do understand though, that this is probably normal behavior for his area.

TFA: 24

Now the villagers are returning from the prison everyone can see that the men are very upset and angry. The women are even afraid of talking to him. Okonkwo's wives notice that he has whip marks on his back. A meeting is arranged for the next morning, but Okonkwo has already decided what he is going to do. He is sick of what the white man has been doing to him and his people all of this time and is going to do something about it

TFA: 23

Now that the church was burned the villagers need to go to court about it. The go there ready to fight, but a tricky Mr. Smith says that they are just going to talk as friends. After they put their weapons down though, soldiers come to take them to jail. A bail is set and if it is not met the village leaders will be hanged. The rest of the free village makes a village meeting to discuss the problem. The end up deciding to collect all that is needed for bail.

TFA: 22

Mr. Brown is now gone and is replaced. The person who replaces him is way more strict and disagreed with a lot of what Mr. Brown has done. A man of his religion commits a horrible sin and now everything about that man has to be burned again just like what happened earlier in the novel to Okonkwo. Mr. Browns replacement's church also has to be burned. He stands his ground for it not to be burned but there is not much he can do. I think that if the villagers want their way, they will stop at no costs to get it.

TFA: 21

Not everyone likes the changes that the white man created. A man by the name of Mr. Brown sets up a school and a hospital. He tries to encourage as many people as possible to get their children into school. He also tells Okonkwo that his son is in a school learning to become a teacher. Completely enraged Okonkwo threatens Mr. Brown and scares him away. I still do not understand why Okonkwo cannot just be happy with his son's success.

TFA: 20

Now that Okonkwo is coming back he wants to rebuild everything of his and make it even bigger. He has pretty much disowned his son and is upset that his daughter is a girl. His culture is completely different from ours. I know that there are some people who do not love their children around here, but around there I do not know whether everyone is like that or it is just Okonkwo. Either way I definitely do not like Okonkwo.
When Okonkwo arrives he is astonished to see that the white man has pretty much taken over. Church and the law system and everything is pretty much the white man now.

TFA: 20

Now that Okonkwo is coming back he wants to rebuild everything of his and make it even bigger. He has pretty much disowned his son and is upset that his daughter is a girl. His culture is completely different from ours. I know that there are some people who do not love their children around here, but around there I do not know whether everyone is like that or it is just Okonkwo. Either way I definitely do not like Okonkwo.

TFA: 19

This chapter makes me even more upset with Okonkwo. Although he throws a feast to give thanks for to everyone for letting him stay there while he was in exile because his exile is almost up, he still is worried about the people he was living with. He should be so happy with them, but he is to worried about them not being manly enough for him. Why is he so worried about masculinity? It seems to be what runs his life.

TFA: 18

This chapter was slightly confusing to me. It deals with more people converting religions and people bailing out of the religion because of the outcasts. Okonkwo says that the religion is not manly, which makes me think badly of him again. All he worries about in life is being manly and what people think of him. Those are two big character flaws.

TFA: 17

The converters of religion want some land off of the village. Thinking that they will never except, they offer them the Evil Forest, which I still do not really understand by the way. But anyways, the converters except the land and are very happy with it.
The villagers believe that there is no way that these people will survive there. They think that they will be punished for their sins after 28 days. When the 28 days is up and nothing happens people start to wonder. This draws even more people into the religion
Okonkwo's son is yet again seen with the Christians. Okonkwo is so upset with this and yet again beats him. He feels he bad for even fathering such a child. This is terrible of Okonkwo, no matter how your son turns out you should always love them.

TFA: 16

Okonkwo has a visitor who tells him of his son. He says that he was seen with some of the christens. All of the villagers who have converted over to this religion were low ranking and not important to the village. Most of the villagers laugh at the new religion and think that there is no way that the white man can be right about his thoughts. It is hard for them to understand the holy trinity is only one god. They also do not understand how God can have a son and not a wife.

TFA: 15

People start to see "the white man" and are worried. Men are coming about on bicycles which they have never seen before. The white man took over a village so they killed him. They tied his bicycle to a tree because they did not know what it was and did not want it getting back to the white man. They are afraid of more white men coming along and killing more of them, which does end up happening.

People start to see "the white man" and are worried. Men are coming about on bicycles which they have never seen before. The white man took over a village so they killed him. They tied his bicycle to a tree because they did not know what it was and did not want it getting back to the white man. They are afraid of more white men coming along and killing more of them, which does end up happening.

TFA: 14

Okonkwo arrives at the new village, which is his mothers home village. His uncles are there and they help him get started. Building new huts and giving him yam seeds are some of their accomplishments. All of his dreams are gone now that he got exiled. He wanted to become a lord of the village and now that can't happen. Okonkwo's uncle encourages him to keep on trying and keep on living because there are people worse off than him around.

TFA: 13

A very important elder dies in this chapter. He was very important to the village and was an excellent warrior so he had a very large funeral. While pounding the drums and firing their guns, Okonkwo's gun explodes and kills the mans son.
Because it is against the law to kill another villager Okonkwo and his family are exiled. They are put into exile for seven years. All of Okonkwo's buildings and animals are burned and killed. All that he has worked for is now gone. It is terrible that a man has to be exiled for an accident.

TFA: 12

Okonkwo is very worried about his wife now. He just does not show it. He is yet again worried about not looking manly. Having three wives I do not know how he could even be upset. I mean it has not seemed like he has had feelings towards anyone anyother time. He makes trips back and forth to try to see her but it never works out in his favor.
Now Okonkwo's family is getting ready for a wedding feast for a friend of the family. The men and women from each the bride and groom meet and exchange gifts including wine and animals.

TFA: 11

A story with in this story is told in this chapter. The story is about a sly tourtouse. The tourtouse convinces and tricks the birds into letting him feast with them in the sky. This stroy kind of reminded me of the story of the cyclopse in The Odyssey. Odyseuss had to out wit the big stupid cyclopse by saying his name was no one, or maybe nobody, it was something like that. But in this story the tourtouse tricked the birds into saying that the feast is for all of us, meaning he could eat it too.
Next in the chapter Okonkwo's wife gets taken to the gods. Okonkwo is very worried about this and so is his wife, but if she does not go something really bad will happen. The are the gods of course. I mean they could do anything to anyone.

TFA: 10

In this chapter a meeting is held with the spirits of elders, which everyone believes is just the men of the village pretending to be the spirits. Many people believe that Okonkwo is one of these masked men. These masked men solve disputes. The dispute that they are solving in this chapter is somewhat Jerry Springer like. It involves three brothers trying to get there sister off of her husband because they say he beats her to much. Her husband says that the brothers beat him and stole his children. This definitely reminds me of a Jerry Springer story.

TFA: 9

In this chapter, Okonkwo's second wife wakes him up because of her only child's sickness. She is very worried because all of her children she has had before have died. This has to be terrible for both parents. Well, maybe just his wife, because it seems that Okonkwo cares for no one but himself. He does go to look for medicine for his daughter though, but that is only one thing that he has done. Luckly getting medicine is not too girly for him.

TFA: 8

After the death of Ikemefuna Okonkwo falls into depression. He contemplates over whether he was right for taking part in killing Ikemefuna, which I think he was completely wrong. He was only worried about his image on his manliness. He goes to a friend's house to help him figure out a bride price for his friend's daughter. He yet again puts down his sons by calling them not manly. That seems to be all that he worries about. I guess it is not just him, it probably is the whole village, I am guessing that is how they think.

TFA: 7

Ikemefuna seems to shape Okonkwo's son Nwyoe into a more masculine boy. Okonkwo enjoys this and starts to tell the boys stories of violence, although Nwyoe misses stories from his mother he continues listening to his fathers stories because he knows it makes him happy. I think that Nwyoe feels that he needs to keep his father happy so that he can stay happy. I think that he will be beaten if he doesn't act tough and manly around his father.
Ikemefuna is now to be killed. He thinks that he is going to go back to his village now, but Okonkwo lies to him. If I were Okonkwo I would have warned him so that he could escape. I do not understand why he needs to be killed. He never did anything wrong, he served his time. He should be set free. Okonkwo is so crazy about not looking weak, when Ikemefuna, practically his own son, cries for him to help, instead he does the opposite. I am really starting to hate Okonkwo

TFA: 6

The wrestling matches finally take place during this chapter. The younger children are the firsts to wrestle. The village seems to be immensely interested in wrestling. The get so crazy about it they have to be held back. I can kind of connect to this because I used to wrestle back in elementary school, but it never got out of hand. This chapter made me think of the wrestling match when Okonkwo beat "The Cat." Maybe he will be challenged and someone will wrestle him?

TFA: 5

Yet again Okonkwo shows domination over his family. He yet again beats his wife over nothing. This really bothers me. You are supposed to be in complete love with your wife. There is no way that any man should even think about beating his wife. A holiday is now happening so that and another thing that kind of cheers him up and he will talk about with his family is wrestling. Everyone seems to enjoy wrestling.

TFA: 4

This chapter is about the child that Okonkwo got from the other village instead of war. The child's name is Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna is now living with Okonkwo and his family. Ikemefuna becomes so close with that family that he starts to call Okonkwo father. Okonkwo gets very upset when he finds out that one of his wives has left to get her hair braided before making dinner. He beats his wife for this, which is one thing that I do not believe in. The bad part of this is he did it during a sacred week so he had to sacrifice some of his animals and pay a fine.

TFA: 3

Unoka dies in this chapter due to "the swelling." When someone has this so called swelling, they get left in the woods to die, so that they don't pollute the earth by being buried. Okonkwo still wants to become wealthy, unlike his father was.
Okonkwo has a bunch of seeds given to him in 800 seed and 400 seed quantities. After a bad drought Okonkwo lost two thirds of his crops. This is rough on him because he wants to become wealthy, and this drought did not help.
Yet again Okonkwo shows no liking to his father at all. I can not imagine this. Even if my dad was not the most wealthy of men, I would still love him. I think that this kind of shows what his culture is like.