The final post on: The Lazarus Project

(I accidentally blogged on a reading for next week, I'll use that as next week's blog and go ahead and do the following blog for Friday's credit. Sorry for accidentally skipping ahead.)

The Lazarus Project has been a relatively good read, especially better than what I was expecting. I'm not into reading as much as I probably should be, so I tend to dread assignments that require a reading thats more then 50 pages! Anyways, for the last section of the book, I'm going to blog on the section from 241 to 245. It starts off with a gruesome depiction of Mr. Mandelbaum being destroyed and beaten. He is slowly torn apart, begging for mercy and recieving none. After presuming him dead, the story continues to display more disgust of these people who are hurting them. They ransacked Mr. Mandelbaum's story and evenutally made their way into his house. Every member of the family was scared and in shock, while the narrator kept thinking to herself that there is no way they could enter their home, for it was her home and did not belong to anyone else. Boy was she mistaken! The pogroms even knew their names when knocking down the door to perform more destruction. I thought this was disturbing just as the narrator did, how in the world would they care to know anyone's names that they were about to harm? And if they did know them by name, why would they be harming them in the first place? The swine attempted to rape the woman holding Lazarus, and this caused Lazarus to lash out and attempt to save her. He was then hurt badly and sounded as if he had been thrown around so bad that he was dead. By the end of the story, the narrator and Roza were the only ones left, apparent from the movement. Roza did not speak and she just peered out the window, emotionless.

I decided to blog on this piece because I feel like it captures more the disgusting treatment that the pograms felt necessary. I feel for these people who obviously did nothing wrong but were shamelessly hurt. It's odd to think that such pain could be inflicted on a person and the one doing this, the pogram in this case, feels no remorse. It's unreal to think that a person could live with even hurting a child like they did Lazarus in this section. This all relates back to the entire theme of the story and the end plot of Lazarus being unlawfully shot many times for false accusations. The assumptions people make on behalf of their own well-being is absurd!

"Love and Honor and Pity and Pride and Compassion and Sacrifice"

This piece is a touching piece with two aspects that I'd like to focus on in my blog. Firstly, I'd like to visit the issue with the current girlfiend and the narrator. The narrator seems to be in a pretty serious relationship with Linda, however he is keeping this love from his parents and definitely hiding it from his father. Linda even specifically asks the narrator if he has told his father of past exes and he doesn't even respond, meaning that he probably did. I think that if I was Linda, I would be extremely uncomfortable with knowing that the father is coming to visit and he is not being told about me. I was also interested in how Linda dealt with her frustration and sadness with the narrator when he wouldn't tell his father about their relationship. She kissed him on the forehead and didn't want to leave the argument without showing some sort of affection. I have to say I admire this because if I'm ever in a heated arguement or disagreement I tend to let my negative emotions take over and wouldn't be able to show affection. Secondly, I'd like to talk about the narrators attempt at writing a important literature piece for some upcoming deadline. He is stuck for a majority of the story until the dad and him begin to talk and he gets the idea to write a "Ethnic Story." This first story was seen by his dad one morning, and was read without the narrators consent. The dad doesn't approve because it has some "mistakes." The narrator and his father end up talking, drinking, and explaining past experiences so that a better version can be written. That night another version was written and again picked up unexpectedly by the father. The father took the story on a walk and was not back in time for the narrator to turn it in to meet the deadline. This was disappointing to me, the reader, because I was happy that the dad and son were able to rekindle some sort of bond in the talking and sharing the night before. The father took the story to a person on the street and had it burned to ashes....enough said. I don't agree with the father for doing this, but I can see his perspective because he wanted his stories to be kept between him and his son only. As he said previously, no one else would find importance in the stories that were told. They would clap for the reading, and then forget it immeadiately. The title of this piece is truly depicted in each section as the days pass by and the father's visit continues.

The Lazarus Project

This story is shaping up to be an interesting attempt at the American Dream. The story is told in two seperate narratives in either present times or past times. Lazarus was a ninteteen year old who came to Chicago in hopes of achieving the hopeful american dream. His dream was cut short when George Shippy shot him, accusing him of being an anarchist. This was an unfortunate turn of events for Lazarus. George Shippy accused him of such unreal things because he was a Jew, and during this time period being of that descent was discriminated against. I wanted to write about this because I don't see the purpose in anyone killing someone strictly due to their religous affliliation. I am a firm believer of the idea that everyone is equal. In all honesty, I was definitely not raised to believe that everyone was equal. My mom and grandmother are strong believers in their race is the dominant race. They were not fans of the huge immigration movements that came to America and certainly were not a fan of the current president. Its thoughts of others such as these that make my belief in how strongly I disagree become relevant. This story is a great example of how Jewish people should not be discriminated against. The plot line is so unfortunate for this young man, he simple wanted to come to America and pursue a dream of being happy, healthy, and  of great wealth. This is sad that it was cut short by a police officer who seemed to think he was in danger just because the other gentlemen was not of his same religous descent.

Orbiting by Bharati Mukherjee

After attending class on Monday and hearing about her first work that we were supposed to read, it helped with better understanding this second reading. The plot surrounds itself around the narrators family coming to her home for Thanksgiving dinner. The family is not only being hosted by her, but is also meeting her new love. The narrator Renata is Italian American and her new boyfriend is Afganhi. This is the start of the true plot and meaning behind the story. Multiculturism is not only difficult to accept but it is also out of the norm for most. When I am bringing home a boy to meet the parents, I honestly do not know how they would accept me bringing home someone of a different race. In high school I was friendly with someone of the different race and I was immeadiately warned that I need not take it farther than a simple friendship. To me, this is very frustrating and I do feel for Renata. I feel now-a-days it is much more common for my generation of peers to have different views on Multiculturalism than our generation of parents. Anyways this entire story brings together in reality Bharati's true views on what being an American really is. Her dad first brings over the turkey and then continues to tell her that she needs to grow up. Points out that she doesn't have the right funiture and is simply not mature enough for her age. He thinks she needs to fit into what he believes and does not regard that she is still young. In the story Rindy says "All over the country, I tell myself, women are towing new lovers home to meet their families." This quote shows that she is comparing herself to women across America and sees this act as no big deal. She doesn't divide that everyone is with different races or any division at all. Ro apparently comes from a "macho culture" and likes to see Rindy be hit on by poor lonely men and then come sweep her away. This also shows a difference in culture.

Glengarry Glen Ross

The first half of the play was strictly focused on the robbery that occured. The second act and half of the book is focused on looking into the robbery. The whole play is really focused on men arguing and making sales for the better of the company. The arguing and anger that is present is really intense though and I don't exactly enjoy reading it. I feel like Roma is just looking for fights and doesn't care to get along with anyone in his office. One quote I felt that had a lot of importance to the play was said by Roma, "I swear it's not a world of men it's not a world of men, Machine it's a world of clock watchers, bureaucrats, officeholders what it is, it's a fucked up world there's no adventure to it. (Pause.) Dying breed. Yes it is. (Pause.) We are the members of a dying breed." This quote means that the "men" of the play are a dying breed because no one is doing meaningful things like those salesmen. He feels that the people in high positions aren't doing anything especially when he refers to clockwatchers and and officeholders in the same sentence. 

The Same River Twice

During our last class, we didn't have much time to discuss this book by Chris Offutt. It didn't take me long to see exactly what I would write about. It's funny to say but by reading this book, my biology class and english class are finally overlapping!! It's great to know that I can finally apply knowledge from one to benefit from the other. Chris is a man struggling to find his true purpose in life I feel like. He is always looking for more and seems to have high hopes and dreams that are so important to him that he can't even settle with his wife on having a baby. Fortunately Chris decides that he will agree to take part in babymaking, and even so, they still cannot get pregnant. They go to the doctor and physically they both check out as capable adults who can produce offspring. This is where my bio comes in! Just yesterday we have been learning about the female and male reproductive system. We learned certain techniques that would even give parents a better chance of making a girl or a boy if they wished to choose. That being said, none of these tips are always the case but sometimes it helps. Chris mentions that he was going to start wearing loose boxers, and we learned yesterday that it would more likely lead to having a son! After I read on, we will have to see what sex the baby will be, if they do end up having one! Also,  he talked about how when the testes are cold and hot, it makes a difference in sperm. This is true- we learned that the sperm like to live in a colder temperature environment as opposed to the rest of the body. That means that if Chris had been wearing tight boxers, they would be sitting in a much too warm environment to produce enough or healthy sperm. There are obviously many factors which the two adults attempting conception should take into consideration but I thought this was very interesting being as I had just learned about it yesterday! Now to find out if they can conceive and what sex this baby will be...

Guest Blogger: Maria Condatore

America is all I've ever known, but that is soon to change.
I love this place and the opportunities it provides
But I want to experience other places, and I will next spring.