Harry Potter 1

1. Why does Dumbledore decide to have Harry grow up with the Dursleys rather than with one of the wizard families? How does Harry’s experience with his relatives build his character? 
   
   
   After word got out about Harry surviving Voldemort, he became and ion of the wizard community. I strongly agree with Dumbledore's decision to have Harry grow up with the Dursley's rather than a wizard family.
   
   Had Dumbledore chosen a family for Harry, Harry would have not grown up to have a "normal" childhood. Wizards from all around would have attempted to get a glimpse at him because of the idea that he was a protege. By growing up with a dimwit brother, Dudley, Harry was subjected to bullying. Harry very quickly learned how to adapt to the mistreatment by Dudley and the Dursley's. Later to come, Harry is introduced to people in the wizard community who will treat him poorly and automatically dislike him upon meeting him. If Harry had never been subjected to the degradation and humiliation, he would not have been able to cope when moved into Hogwarts. 
   
   
   
   In an article relating to bullying, it was found in a study that bullying may teach children to cope and problem solve their way out. It also states that we can not expect children to fend completely for themselves when in situations of harassment, as well as expect them to learn and eventually fend for themselves if we intervene every instance. I believe that Hagrid and Dumbledore were Harry's interventions at times where it was needed. Without Hagrid and Dumbledore, Harry would have been tormented substantially more and possibly not been able to cope.
   
   

Finding Your Identity

Reading Persepolis, I have noticed one of the biggest challenges faced by Marjane is finding who she is. She underwent many hardships as a young girl, pushing her to become an adult more rapidly. With becoming an adult, she had to find her identity by realizing what she was about and what she stood up for.

I believe for Marjane, the moment she truly understood herself was when she left for France the second time. The scene was set as the same to when she left the first time as a young girl, with her parents walking away and Marjane looking through the window. This was the perfect representation of her journey. When she left home the first time, she felt along. Marjane was not leaving by will, and was a young teenager. In the end, she makes the decision to leave on her own, she seems happy with that decision, and she looks confident-- as if she is starting a new chapter in her life.


There were many other moments throughout the novel where she discovered a little about herself. After getting married, she felt restricted. I think she succumbed to her failure in the end. I do not believe, however, that succumbing to her failure was necessarily a bad thing. By doing so, it made her understand herself a little better. After she sacrificed another man for herself in order to avoid being arrested, she suffers self-conflict. She was forced to question her integrity and her dignity.

In an article about failure and how it helps us grow, it was said that with ever failure experience you have, your potential increases. It is because the most painful events in life often give us the most valuable experiences and dramatic growth. Marjane was able to experience growth after her failures; which ultimately lead her to finding her identity.

First blog post for Persepolis 2

Marjane had an extremely unusual high school experience. After leaving her home, she was estranged from her mother and father. Adolescence is a crucial time in a girl's development. She learns how to make decisions on her own, take responsibility, and grow into an adult. 

Marjane did not have her parents by her side to teach her these things. Moving to a new country at the time of learning all these "life need-to-knows" impeded on her ability to adapt. She was put in a very unusual situation. Being Iranian caused her to have a low self esteem. She began to think of herself as ugly, and eventually got involved in the wrong crowd. She used drugs to escape her dreary reality. Although using drugs to mask your problems is not the answer, I can understand why she did. Marjane drew a bad hand from the moment things went South around the age of 6. 

Comparing her high school experience to my own, there are many differences. I was never forced to move to a new city and hide my identity. I also have never lived on the streets for even a day. I have, however, felt like an outsider. That feeling of wanting to escape reality consumes you. Marjane had to grow up very quickly in order to make it. I also know what it feels like to be forced to grow up. Being robbed of your childhood before you can even enjoy it. 

In an article summarizing research on how moving is tough for kids, is was found that moving disrupts important friendships. It was seen that these moves were most problematic for children who are introverted. I believe that Marjane was an introverted individual, given everything she holds in her mind. Marjane moving to a new city drastically changed who she was. The article continues to go on to say how technology influences the relationships made by children after they have moved. Given the time period this graphic novel was written in, there was not the same kind of technology we have today. When Marjane missed her mother, she could not hop on a laptop and Skype her. Marjane handled moving badly, however the question is, is there really any other way to handle a move so colossal. 

Poo Pie

Throughout the book, it is evident that Minny lacks trust in white folk. Working around Miss Hilly shined light on how corrupt women which hired maids were. After being accused of steeling, Miss Hilly manipulated Minny into thinking no one around town would hire her; attempting to hire Minny for herself. I believe it was completely justified for Minny to take the course of action which she did. Miss Hilly needed a taste of the crap she spits out of her mouth everyday.


In an article I have read about revenge and the people who seek it, it is believed that those who seek revenge tend to be those who are motivated by power, by authority, and by the desire for status. In Minny's case, I do not believe she is quote-on-quote "motivated by power," but rather challenges power. By taking revenge on a white woman, I think Minny feels a sort of satisfaction in knowing she demeaning a woman who is believed to be superior.

Morally and ethically speaking, Minny should not have gone to the extreme she had. According to the comparison between ethics and morals, ethos are the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a group or culture derived from society. On the contrary, morals are principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct. Morality is ultimately a personal compass of right and wrong, derived from an individuals beliefs. Although it was not morally along with ethically sound for Minny to feed Miss Hilly feces, doing so allowed Minny to retain her dignity after being disrespected time and time again. The moment that gave Minny pure clarity was when she once and for all told Minny off. "I told her to eat my shit!" (398) Once those words parted from her lips, I believe Minny felt a sense of freedom. She felt dignified and free.

Jim Crow

To most young adults, a colossal risk would sneaking out of your window late at night to see the boy of your dreams. To Skeeter, however, a risk she is willing to take is talking to the help and disregarding the Jim Crow laws. The moment Skeeter decides to write about the help, she is putting herself, along with anyone cooperating, in danger. Skeeter does not know that what she's doing is illegal until she steals a book from the library with all the laws. 

Between 1877 and the mid 1960's, Jim Crow laws (also known as black codes) were implemented throughout, but not limited to, Southern states. These black codes impeded on the civil rights of colored people. From the very beginning of the book, Hilly had an issue with Aibileen using the white bathroom. According to this article, one Jim Crow law included the following..

Toilets: “Every employer of white or negro males shall provide for such white or negro males reasonably accessible and separate toilet facilities.” 

Jim Crow laws were degrading to all those affected. Even after Miss Elizabeth had a bathroom built for Aibileen only, Aibileen held her pride and stayed the strong woman she is. When Skeeter originally asked Aibileen to be apart of her interview, Aibileen refused. She knew by talking to a white woman, she is putting herself and those around her at risk. Eventually she saw that talking was the only way to bring about change. Both Skeeter and Aibileen are courageous women for taking this huge risk. Disobeying Jim Crow laws may have resulted in imprisonment, or death. Actions speak louder than words, and the actions of Aibileen and Skeeter scream for equality. 

Critique the Criticism

Skeeter’s mother was a mix of Hilly and Elizabeth. She is constantly critiquing Skeeter, just like Elizabeth does to Mae Mobley. However it was more affectionate and a bit more sympathetic. However, overall, I found her to be an unsympathetic character. The way she treated Constantine was unforgivable and she was not supportive of Skeeter. 

I believe that a mother should always be supportive of her children. In the article "Can Supportive Moms Enhance Your Brain" is has been found that a nurturing parent can enhance the development of a growing child. Children who's mothers comforted them in a time of stress were found to have a smaller rate of depression later on in life. 


There is one distinct point in the novel where Skeeter's mother is supportive, and it is very hypercritical. She tells Skeeter not to let a boy change her. Throughout the novel, however, Skeeter's mother is pressuring Skeeter to change for men. In my opinion, there needs to be a mix of support and criticism to make a good mother. We are constantly hearing of a mother who is over critical, or not encouraging her child enough. A mother has been through all the experiences which her child may or may not experience as well. Instead of the word criticize, I would you critique. By critiquing the things a child may do, you are instilling a positive outcome. Criticizing may be interpreted as judgement, which a child should never receive. 

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_supportive_moms_enhance_your_brain

Making a Difference

It is often wondered if one person can make a difference. There is no doubt in my mind that a singular human being can make an essential difference. In the novel My Sister's Keeper, there is one person in particular whom I believe made a remarkable difference-- Campbell Alexander, attorney at law. When Anna ambled into his office, he did not seem very promising to make a breakthrough in her case. However, by the end of the book, Campbell Alexander changed the course of one girl's life forever. By winning the case for medical emancipation, Campbell gave Anna the chance to grow up as a normal teenage girl. If the two of them hadn't been in a catastrophic accident, Anna's life would have drastically changed. One person fought for her happiness, and made a tremendous difference. 

In an article titled "Why I Love Being a Lawyer," one person states the following..

"Why do I love being a lawyer? Because, once in a while, you get the opportunity to help someone who desperately needs your help. It feels good to be that person."

D.A. “Duke” Drouillard

Omaha, Neb.

It is no doubt possible that one person can help another individual immensely. Another individual who made a difference in the novel was Anna. Without Anna, Kate would not have survived past a very young age. And I do not mean survive as in medically live. I mean, survive. Anna acted as a middleman for the entire Fitzgerald family. Anna made Kate laugh and smile, allowing Kate to see the good in life; not only the draining sickness that was overcoming her family. Anna made a huge difference in the lives of her family members. Without Anna, none of them would have been able to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. 

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/why_i_love_being_a_lawyer/

Seeing is Believing

One of the best qualities about My Sister's Keeper, in my opinion, is the way Jodi Picoult does not monopolize one point of view. Instead of narrating the novel through purely Anna's eyes, which would create a bias, she touched on each family member's thoughts and ideas. The first chapter of the book begins with Anna. A thirteen year old girl going through some intense internal, along with external, conflict. Reading on to the second chapter, a new narrator emerges. Cambell Alexander, the attorney to soon represent Anna for her medical emancipation, is slightly less vulnerable than a thirteen year old girl. By changing the narration, Picoult was able to portray the manner of which each character copes with conflict. 

With each new narrator, my opinion would slightly vary. Reading from Anna's point of view, I started off despising Sara. I thought, "what kind of mother neglects her children?" Although she may neglect Anna to some degree, she is doing everything in her power to keep her other daughter alive. Reading Jesse's point of view gave me the greatest sadness. Seeing how Jesse tried to make a difference for his family, and went unnoticed, brought back my hatred for Sara. I thought one of the hardest parts was when he was sitting with Julia in his room, telling her about the Christmas that Kate spent in the hospital. By cutting down a tree, and decorating it so that their spirits would be uplifted walking in the front door Christmas morning, he expected some sort of recognition. Instead, he got a toy car bought in the hospital gift shop. 

His narration of this scene is devastating by the way he's telling this story, as if it were a every-day-thing, to this woman he just met. 

Changing up the viewpoints may keep the story fresh, and entertaining. Jodi Picoult incorporating many subplots into My Sister's Keeper, making it a prime candidate for multiple viewpoints. Adding in Julia and Cambell kept the story going with a young love memory interfering with getting the job done efficiently. Creating multiple view points may be hard for many authors, but I believe Picoult executed this technique very well. 

http://www.the-writers-craft.com/point-of-view-in-literature-perspectives.html

Against the grain

• Do you think Sara is a good mother? Do you sympathize with her? How does her martyrdom affect the rest of the family?

There is only one word that comes to mind when I think of Sara Fitzgerald; ignorant. Sara Fitzgerald is an ignorant mother, however I believe that she is a decent person. She has a mother's instinct, however that does not make her a good mother. She prioritized one child, jeopardizing the future of her other two. She was playing with fate, inevitably resulting in a negative outcome. I strongly believe that a child should be conceived with intentions of being loved. Sara in no way had those intentions. Anna was brought to existence purely for the desire of her organs. In no way, what-so-ever, do I believe that Sara is "a good mother." There was one scene in the book where my thoughts were quite evident. Sara was going into labor, and the only thing she could yell was "get it out!" It. Her baby girl was about to be brought into this world with nothing but a label of an it. 

From the moment Kate was diagnosed, it was an incredibly real possibility she would not survive much longer. As a parent, I thought Sara should have comforted her baby girl by embracing what little time she had left. Instead, she went against the grain, or what science said should have happened, and made a baby using science to enhance favorable genetic traits. These traits were only in the favor of Kate.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis has many ethical issues involved. By choosing favorable traits, parents are creating a "designer baby." This is defying nature. One of the main points of having children is the variation. Sara is acting as God when she chooses who her fetus will be. Sara is a person, just like the rest of us. What makes Sara so damn special that she can change the fate of her child. 

http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/17/3/534.full

Link to class blog

contemporaryliterature2015.blogspot.com

http://contemporaryliterature2015.blogspot.com/2015/01/please-put-your-blog-address-in.html

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