Readings for Feb 26

Gilded Age, trying to achieve "culture"
Jack London- To Build a Fire
Realist version he expresses the thought of humans not being the only ones on earth. There is a lesson to be learned in this story. There are relationships formed. He also gives human beings "agency". The human action matters, humans have freedom and intelligence to make decisions and change the world. Self still matters. In Call of the Wild the story shifts back and forth between two worlds. Returning to the wild is a good thing in a way buck is returning to his true self/ body. It conveys a naturalistic feeling of the north. Again there are relationships formed. It explores the connections formed between animals and humans in certain ways. It was a positive thing for Buck to return home (the wild). Buck does not go back the same, one cannot return to "the wild" the same. There is a question of having a platonic relationship and returning to a primitive state. The story conveys learning the truth about one's self. It ends on an ironically positive note. Nature is all in both stories. Both stories read the way the world really is opposed to the way we want it to be. Natural death= cycle of life. The puritans believe in 3 stages when someone dies. This story does not go through the 3 stages. Buck comes out of the cave into a better world. The rise of science had a large impact on London's writing.
A White Heron- Sarah Orne Jewett
Jewett roots her stories in places she is familiar with. She was an early feminist and was very interested in examing force an how it impacted a women's life. The White Heron has a romantic tone with sentimental tradition. She sets up the white heron as a symbol very quickly. If this story was a realist story the bird would die. There is tension between the heart and heart. She finds herself deciding what is right and what she wants to do. This is a coming of age story, she must choose the bird or the man. She explores whether she wants to grow up or stay in the innocent childhood stage. She rejects the money (growing up) and picks innocence. She picks the ethical thing to do by allowing the bird to die of natural causes. The man stands for the opposite of what she love (nature). She would be betraying herself if she told him where the bird was. The age of the girl has a very big impact on the story. She ends up being a mother earth figure. The story ends up being a kind of romantic mythical story. It is very different from the tone of naturalist stories. This story could also be a story about the nation at that time. It was in between two stages.
Daisy Miller- Henry James
This story shows how class effects ones life. Class shapes the life of humans and their characteristics. Daisy is flirty, forth right, and just wants to live life to the fullest. She is the opposite of Winterborn. His class determines the way he acts. Daisy is not concerned with what is expected of her, she enjoys being with people. She cares more about socializing than rules, standards, or regulations put on her. Daisy wants to experience life without the artificial bonds of society on her. Winterborn is attracted to Daisy but does not know how to approach her. Daisy ends up being a tragic figure due to her adventitious ways. Daisy does not take advantage of other people's knowledge. Daisy is truly naive and ignorant. She would end up doing the same actions if she knew the outcome. She had willful disobedience with an unconcern for consequences. Daisy was scolded for not following the European ways and that cost her her life. Daisy does not effect Winterborn at all it is ironic he is left with none of Daisy's tendencies. This story was realist in its tone due to Daisy dying. This story critiques the power of society to challenge human desire.
Chesnutt & Twain
Both of these writers celebrate American culture. Both produced light cautionary tales. Chesnutt's had deeper meaning. His had bits that can compare to O'Connor's writing. There is a radical shift and surprise ending.
Roosevelt major writer and environmentalist. He was very progressive and conservative.