Summary:
After a long conversation with his father about his problems in the past, Wilhelm realizes that his father doesn't often symphasize with him and instead pushes the blame on him; he wanted help. The reason why the doctor would not help, or lend money to his son, was because he's seen so many elderly people libing in the hotel doing the same for their kids but with no good result. After the disappointing conversation with his father, he bumped into Dr. Tamkin who was a somewhat shady or suspicious character whom Wilhelm was somewhat investing partners with, but the doctor had not been putting his share, and Wilhelm was near bankrupt. Wilhelm revealed that nearly everyone in that hotel had a secret history to them, which made it harder for him to trust people. Dr. Tamkin explains to Wilhelm that he helps friends psychologically too, and would prefer working with patients without 'financial rewards' because he looks for spiritual compensation and find that helping people look a the present instead of the past is more rewarding. He encurages people to 'seize the day.' Eventually, Dr. Tamkin admitted that he has been secretly 'treating him'. But how? Wilhelm had not noticed anything; yet he was pleased that someone gave him the kindness and mercy he so desperately wanted. Dr. Tamkin gave him a poem called Mechanism vs. Functionalism, which, it's contents, confuses Wilhelm. The doctor explains to him that 'thou' was Wilhelm (he was thinking about him when writing), the hero of the poem being sick humanity and mechanism and money is destruct. The main point was that if he had confidence in nature, then he wouldn't fear anything and would be compensated. With this, Wilhelm starts to change his way of thinking and is determined to 'believe that he must, that he could and would recover the good things, the happy things..'' (Bellow 96). Dr. Tamkin advises Wilhelm about stocks and his marital problems. When the stocks fell, Tamkin--and the money invested by both men-- were no where to be found! Apparently he was going on a ''vacation to Maine''. Desperate once again, he tries to find solace from his father, whom angers him more, and then a phone call for money from his wife, Margaret; he feels suffocated. On his way away from the phone booth, he say Tamkin...at a funeral. He saw the corpes and cried, for why should this man die when he lived? He released all his stress, grief, and problems through tears.
Quote:
His father said, "I can't give you any money. There would be no end to it if I started. You and your sister would take every last buck from me. I'm still alive, not dead. I am still here. Life isn't over yet. I am as much alive as you or anyone. And I want nobody on my back. Get off! And I give you the same advice, Wilky. Carry nobody on your back. " (Bellow 67)
Reaction:
I chose this quote because it showed the reason why his father didn't help or lend any more money to Wilhelm. He was in a way, like Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart by Achebe, whom doesn't like any form of laziness, and believes in hard work. Here, Wilhelm's father is the hard worker and refuses to spoil his child, which would create a burden to him, and cause his son to be lazy. It's not that his father didn't care about him, it's that he wanted Wilhelm to be more self-dependent.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Seize The Day (Pg 1-60)
Summary:
Tommy Wilhelm was not quite an actor in his day, but an extra. He now lives in Hotel Gloriana on the 23rd floor. Although usually active and a morning person, on this particular day, he felt uneasy, as if something distrubptive was going to happen.He haven't had much of and luck in his younger years when he tried to unsuccessfully to become an actor or a buisnessman; he even lost everytime he gambled.The relationship between his father and him was very strained. It seemed to him no matter what he did, his father was never impressed, especially since the confessions he told his father were usually failures. Although he favored Literature I in his college days, he had lied about graduating from Penn State when in reality, he had left school before sophomore year; the only one without an education in his family. This was another failure that shamed his father who resorted to telling lies of his son's successes; Wilhelm knew this, and it made him uncomfortable. He had also disappointed his mother by getting into arguments with her over lies. After thinking about his cousin and success, he realized that successful people were often cynical. He thinks back of the time when he met his scout named Maurice Venice and wondered if he was sketchy, but he proved him otherwise by telling Wilhelm that he scouted the scarlet, Nita Christenberry who was now his wife. Venice had classified Wilhelm as the loser-type indirectly. Venice had talked him into fame and fortune, even giving him acting tips, which persuaded him to leave Penn State, even though his parents hadn't given him permission or blessings to. He always made decisions opposite of what he felt. He felt it was bad to go to Hollywood, but went. He wasn't going to marry his wife, but they ran off and got married. He wasn't going to invest money, but did anyway. When he auditioned for a screen test, Venice realized he was mistaken about Wilhelm and tried to get rid of him! Wilhelm later found out that Maurice Venice was bad news; he had connections but used them for bad things, landing him on the newspapers and trial cases. Wilhelm went under the name Tommy Wilhelm after moving to California, as a sort of alter-ego, his more successful/better side. He cast off his father's name, as well as the shame his father thought of him. Wilhelm feels as though he has sinned by changing his name, and now all he wants to go is get out of this dump he's fallen into and get a second chance.
Another problem arised: his rent bill; he couldn't withdraw money from his brokerage account and his father probably wounldn't pay it off for him. Wilhelm thought his father was greedy. Their relationship was not very good, as Welhelm often lost patience, and loss control of himself when speaking to his father, even though he normally did not willingly hurt any man's feelings.Wilhelm is convinced his father felt as though he was 'free' after the death of Wilhelm's mother, but perhaps this is because Wilhelm himself is in a difficult relationship with his wife, who refuses to grant him a divorce, but instead forces Wilhelm to support her and their two children. Wilhelm's father is a doctor, and noted that Wilhelm takes too many pills, such as stimulant, depressants, and more; that morning he took a Phenaphen sedative and a Unicap. As his father discussed with his neighbor Mr. Perl about Wilhelm's 'old job', Wilhelm gets disgusted with their fixation with money, even though he desperately needs some. Wilhelm had tried to please Dr. Adler that morning, but that didn't work because Dr. Adler (his father) was deep in thought; perhaps Wilhelm's own paranoia thought he was judging him in his thoughts. When Wilhelm start to repeat his troubles about his wife to his father, his father felt as though he was 'too indulged in his emotions'.
Quote:
But his memory was he, he could still separate what he had invented from the actual happenings, and this morning he found it necessary as he stood by Rubin's showcase with his Tribune to recall the crazy course of the true events. (Bellow 16).
Reaction:
I felt kind of bad for Wilhelm because most of his life thus far has been nothing but misfortune, and failure, and he realizes this. He realizes now that the reality he lives in were all mostly lies that he made up to fool himself. And now he tries to retrace his steps and see what his life has mostly been, which were failures. In the end of chapter 1, he begs for a second chance.
Tommy Wilhelm was not quite an actor in his day, but an extra. He now lives in Hotel Gloriana on the 23rd floor. Although usually active and a morning person, on this particular day, he felt uneasy, as if something distrubptive was going to happen.He haven't had much of and luck in his younger years when he tried to unsuccessfully to become an actor or a buisnessman; he even lost everytime he gambled.The relationship between his father and him was very strained. It seemed to him no matter what he did, his father was never impressed, especially since the confessions he told his father were usually failures. Although he favored Literature I in his college days, he had lied about graduating from Penn State when in reality, he had left school before sophomore year; the only one without an education in his family. This was another failure that shamed his father who resorted to telling lies of his son's successes; Wilhelm knew this, and it made him uncomfortable. He had also disappointed his mother by getting into arguments with her over lies. After thinking about his cousin and success, he realized that successful people were often cynical. He thinks back of the time when he met his scout named Maurice Venice and wondered if he was sketchy, but he proved him otherwise by telling Wilhelm that he scouted the scarlet, Nita Christenberry who was now his wife. Venice had classified Wilhelm as the loser-type indirectly. Venice had talked him into fame and fortune, even giving him acting tips, which persuaded him to leave Penn State, even though his parents hadn't given him permission or blessings to. He always made decisions opposite of what he felt. He felt it was bad to go to Hollywood, but went. He wasn't going to marry his wife, but they ran off and got married. He wasn't going to invest money, but did anyway. When he auditioned for a screen test, Venice realized he was mistaken about Wilhelm and tried to get rid of him! Wilhelm later found out that Maurice Venice was bad news; he had connections but used them for bad things, landing him on the newspapers and trial cases. Wilhelm went under the name Tommy Wilhelm after moving to California, as a sort of alter-ego, his more successful/better side. He cast off his father's name, as well as the shame his father thought of him. Wilhelm feels as though he has sinned by changing his name, and now all he wants to go is get out of this dump he's fallen into and get a second chance.
Another problem arised: his rent bill; he couldn't withdraw money from his brokerage account and his father probably wounldn't pay it off for him. Wilhelm thought his father was greedy. Their relationship was not very good, as Welhelm often lost patience, and loss control of himself when speaking to his father, even though he normally did not willingly hurt any man's feelings.Wilhelm is convinced his father felt as though he was 'free' after the death of Wilhelm's mother, but perhaps this is because Wilhelm himself is in a difficult relationship with his wife, who refuses to grant him a divorce, but instead forces Wilhelm to support her and their two children. Wilhelm's father is a doctor, and noted that Wilhelm takes too many pills, such as stimulant, depressants, and more; that morning he took a Phenaphen sedative and a Unicap. As his father discussed with his neighbor Mr. Perl about Wilhelm's 'old job', Wilhelm gets disgusted with their fixation with money, even though he desperately needs some. Wilhelm had tried to please Dr. Adler that morning, but that didn't work because Dr. Adler (his father) was deep in thought; perhaps Wilhelm's own paranoia thought he was judging him in his thoughts. When Wilhelm start to repeat his troubles about his wife to his father, his father felt as though he was 'too indulged in his emotions'.
Quote:
But his memory was he, he could still separate what he had invented from the actual happenings, and this morning he found it necessary as he stood by Rubin's showcase with his Tribune to recall the crazy course of the true events. (Bellow 16).
Reaction:
I felt kind of bad for Wilhelm because most of his life thus far has been nothing but misfortune, and failure, and he realizes this. He realizes now that the reality he lives in were all mostly lies that he made up to fool himself. And now he tries to retrace his steps and see what his life has mostly been, which were failures. In the end of chapter 1, he begs for a second chance.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The PawPrints of History Reviews
Coren (Why We Love the Dogs We Do, 1998, etc.) argues, with no discernible irony, that events and people as disparate as Waterloo and Richard Wagner would have been very different without the influence of dogs. When Napoleon was escaping from Elba, he fell into the water, a dog jumped in and began the rescue effort, and the diminutive Corsican survived to meet his Waterloo. Just think . . . if he had only drowned that day! That is the level of analysis in this truly dreadful example of what-if? history. If the author had adopted a lighter tone and confined himself to amusing stories, odd coincidences, and the little-known obsessions for dogs held by some of history’s more engaging figures from Cromwell to Custer, this volume might have been mildly entertaining. Instead, we get solemn pronouncements such as: “Dogs do have a way of weaving their influence through human events and subtly altering the course of history.” This is not to say there are no chewy biscuits in the bowl: Florence Nightingale may indeed have been inspired to become a nurse by the sight of an injured dog, and it is interesting to learn that Alexander Graham Bell taught a dog to say “How are you, grandmamma?” But it’s quite a stretch from there to speculate that dogs played a significant role in the development of Freud’s psychoanalytic theories. ''
From the site: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/non-fiction/stanley-coren/the-pawprints-of-history/?spdy=2001#review
I agree with this review from the Kirkus Review website, because it did seem kind of ironic that the historical heroes/leaders we read about in our textbooks and such, were influences by their dogs. It also puts into consideration whether the dogs saving their lives would've changed our history textbooks! I loved how Coren told odd stories no one would've every expected, especially the story about Alexander Graham Bell who manipulated/taught his dog to say certain phrases. :)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The PawPrints of History (Pg 237-309)
Summary:
Although leaders of war are hardly considered ordinary people, they also seek comfort/companionship from dogs. General George S. Patton (American general during WWII) sought comfort from his bull terrier, Willie while another American General Omer Bradley soughed it through his poodle, Beau. Erwin Rommel (German General during WWII) sought comfort of his pack of dachshunds. Commander in chief, General Swight D. Eisenhower had two Scottish terriers. U.S Airforce General Claire Chennault had the company of Joe, his dachshund. Admiral Fredrick Sherman had a cocker spaniel named Admiral Wags. And General George Armstrong Custer, was the youngest general in history until this day, and have as many books written on him as Lincoln. He had the reputation of an 'Indian Fighter' and was very strict in his disciplinary methods, this excluded him from others and caused him to only relax around his pack of dogs. He also hunts with his dogs that consisted of greyhounds, Bulcher, Swift, and Byron and his Scottish deerhounds, Tuck, Cardigan, and Lady.
George Washington had a lifelong love for dogs because of his passion for fox-hunting. He had a kennel of Virginia hounds (they no longer exist today) named Sweet Lips, Venus, Music, Lady, and True-Love, who shared a kennel with Taste, Tipsy, Tippler, and Drunkard. He gifted his Virginia hounds to people who would eventually make Washington in command of the Continental army and help him become elected for President by the Electoral College. During the battle of Germantown, he returned General Howe's (the British General) dog with a message to him and although the fighting did continue, General Howe respected Washington after that and won battles leniently. He resigned rather than to escalate in brutality towards the rebel colonists. When the war was over, Washington focused on breeding dogs fit for fox-hunting and bred the American foxhound.
Many Presidents in the Oval Office had companions. President Theodore Roosevelt had a Chesapeake retriever named Sailor Boy, bull terrier named Peter, Manchester terrier named Jack, a Saint Bernard, and many others. His favorite was Skip, a mixed breed; Roosevelt laid him in his coffin himself in the white house garden, although his wife moved Skip to their estate. President James Buchanan had a huge Newfoundland named Lara. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a Scottish terrier named Caacie. John F. Kennedy had a welsh terrier named Charlie and eventually 9 others. In the room of 'vital information, frantic aides, and fearful decisions' about Cuba and Russia, Kennedy called for Charlie, and stroke him for minutes before relaxing and making decisions. Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Warren Harding, Herbert Hover, Richard M. Nixon, and George Bush used their dogs to manipulate public opinions of them, and became a public relations asset. And lastly, dogs were therapeutic in Abraham Lincoln's life, especially Honey, a stray he saved as a kid, along with Jip and Fido in the future.
In the last chapter, Coren poses questions for the reader such as: Could the expedition of Lewis and Clark have been successful if the leaders, Lewis and Clark had not been saved by the Newfoundland, Seamon, from an angry bull? I think the expedition would not have been successful, unless there was someone who knew what Lewis and Clark was doing and was a good leader. Did the rise of Protestant and it's heated conflict with the Catholic church during Henry VIII of England could've been avoided or delayed if the dog named Urian had not sunk it's teeth into the Pope's toe as a misguided attempt to protect his master? I think the conflict between the protestant and catholic church would not have been in conflict if the dog never bit the Pope's toe, because the Henry VIII had already bribed the Pope to help him null his first marriage. Many times in history, mankind had depended upon the actions of their canine friends. For example, Alexander the Great had depended on his greyhound, Pertias to be there for him, especially on the battle field. Pertias had stopped a raging elephant from trampling over Alexander, opening a way for Alexander to escape, although Pertias did not survive. Alexander was deeply moved by Pertia's loyalty and therefore ordered to have to the dog located, preserved, named after a city, and a statue of him mounted in the central square. Influence of dogs have been helpful no matter the degree or method. Coren argues that if their owners were people whose actions have changed history, then this fact alone would mean that dogs have had an influence on historical events. I completely agree with this theory.
Quote:
''Teddy couldn't bear to leave him there beneath the eyes of presidents who might care nothing for a little mutt.'' (Coren 265).
Reaction:
I loved that quote that was originally explained by Roosevelt's wife, when she reburied Skip, Roosevelt's favorite dog, back to their estate. From this quote, I can assume that Roosvelt's bond with his dog was deep because he considers the fact that future Presidents may not care about this mutt that meant so much more to Roosevelt. He feels that even after death, he didn't want Skip to be unhappy. I also like the fact that Roosevelt's wife was considerate enough to rebury Skip in honor of her husband's wishes.
Overall, I think this book was nice to read, because it involved a lot of dogs that I never knew existed in the lives of the military leaders, politicians, and people of the nobility that I've learned about in school. And of course, the fact that although dogs seemed insignificant to historians, the dogs had actually made a huge impact on the lives of historical figures we study about today. If only the dogs were included in the school's history curriculum.... :)
Although leaders of war are hardly considered ordinary people, they also seek comfort/companionship from dogs. General George S. Patton (American general during WWII) sought comfort from his bull terrier, Willie while another American General Omer Bradley soughed it through his poodle, Beau. Erwin Rommel (German General during WWII) sought comfort of his pack of dachshunds. Commander in chief, General Swight D. Eisenhower had two Scottish terriers. U.S Airforce General Claire Chennault had the company of Joe, his dachshund. Admiral Fredrick Sherman had a cocker spaniel named Admiral Wags. And General George Armstrong Custer, was the youngest general in history until this day, and have as many books written on him as Lincoln. He had the reputation of an 'Indian Fighter' and was very strict in his disciplinary methods, this excluded him from others and caused him to only relax around his pack of dogs. He also hunts with his dogs that consisted of greyhounds, Bulcher, Swift, and Byron and his Scottish deerhounds, Tuck, Cardigan, and Lady.
George Washington had a lifelong love for dogs because of his passion for fox-hunting. He had a kennel of Virginia hounds (they no longer exist today) named Sweet Lips, Venus, Music, Lady, and True-Love, who shared a kennel with Taste, Tipsy, Tippler, and Drunkard. He gifted his Virginia hounds to people who would eventually make Washington in command of the Continental army and help him become elected for President by the Electoral College. During the battle of Germantown, he returned General Howe's (the British General) dog with a message to him and although the fighting did continue, General Howe respected Washington after that and won battles leniently. He resigned rather than to escalate in brutality towards the rebel colonists. When the war was over, Washington focused on breeding dogs fit for fox-hunting and bred the American foxhound.
Many Presidents in the Oval Office had companions. President Theodore Roosevelt had a Chesapeake retriever named Sailor Boy, bull terrier named Peter, Manchester terrier named Jack, a Saint Bernard, and many others. His favorite was Skip, a mixed breed; Roosevelt laid him in his coffin himself in the white house garden, although his wife moved Skip to their estate. President James Buchanan had a huge Newfoundland named Lara. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a Scottish terrier named Caacie. John F. Kennedy had a welsh terrier named Charlie and eventually 9 others. In the room of 'vital information, frantic aides, and fearful decisions' about Cuba and Russia, Kennedy called for Charlie, and stroke him for minutes before relaxing and making decisions. Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Warren Harding, Herbert Hover, Richard M. Nixon, and George Bush used their dogs to manipulate public opinions of them, and became a public relations asset. And lastly, dogs were therapeutic in Abraham Lincoln's life, especially Honey, a stray he saved as a kid, along with Jip and Fido in the future.
In the last chapter, Coren poses questions for the reader such as: Could the expedition of Lewis and Clark have been successful if the leaders, Lewis and Clark had not been saved by the Newfoundland, Seamon, from an angry bull? I think the expedition would not have been successful, unless there was someone who knew what Lewis and Clark was doing and was a good leader. Did the rise of Protestant and it's heated conflict with the Catholic church during Henry VIII of England could've been avoided or delayed if the dog named Urian had not sunk it's teeth into the Pope's toe as a misguided attempt to protect his master? I think the conflict between the protestant and catholic church would not have been in conflict if the dog never bit the Pope's toe, because the Henry VIII had already bribed the Pope to help him null his first marriage. Many times in history, mankind had depended upon the actions of their canine friends. For example, Alexander the Great had depended on his greyhound, Pertias to be there for him, especially on the battle field. Pertias had stopped a raging elephant from trampling over Alexander, opening a way for Alexander to escape, although Pertias did not survive. Alexander was deeply moved by Pertia's loyalty and therefore ordered to have to the dog located, preserved, named after a city, and a statue of him mounted in the central square. Influence of dogs have been helpful no matter the degree or method. Coren argues that if their owners were people whose actions have changed history, then this fact alone would mean that dogs have had an influence on historical events. I completely agree with this theory.
Quote:
''Teddy couldn't bear to leave him there beneath the eyes of presidents who might care nothing for a little mutt.'' (Coren 265).
Reaction:
I loved that quote that was originally explained by Roosevelt's wife, when she reburied Skip, Roosevelt's favorite dog, back to their estate. From this quote, I can assume that Roosvelt's bond with his dog was deep because he considers the fact that future Presidents may not care about this mutt that meant so much more to Roosevelt. He feels that even after death, he didn't want Skip to be unhappy. I also like the fact that Roosevelt's wife was considerate enough to rebury Skip in honor of her husband's wishes.
Overall, I think this book was nice to read, because it involved a lot of dogs that I never knew existed in the lives of the military leaders, politicians, and people of the nobility that I've learned about in school. And of course, the fact that although dogs seemed insignificant to historians, the dogs had actually made a huge impact on the lives of historical figures we study about today. If only the dogs were included in the school's history curriculum.... :)
The PawPrints of History (Pg 143-236)
Summary:
There are some people that believe in French philosopher Descartes' theory that dogs do not think, but engage in activities without thinking, but can be programmed into doing certain things. However, a majority of people now believe that dogs are capable of emotions. Of course, in history, most people did not think of dogs to the extent of protecting them with laws, all but Richard Martin. He's named 'Humanity Martin' for being credited with the beginning of animal welfare movement in Britain. He wrote bills to parliament, but was ridiculed; one politician even asked ''Do you even know what cruelty is?'' Martin told him yes, and that he'd show him. He beat him twice and when the politician pleaded for him to stop; Martin told him an animal could not cry for help. In 1822 the first animal welfare act was passed and Martin formed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Similarily, in Japan, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi had drawn up laws for the protection of dogs and was a reformer at heart. He was born in the year of the dog and decided to cherish and protect dogs after speaking with a Buddhist priest. He created humanitarian laws such as ''Laws of Compassion'' When strays became a problem for the local people, he created public kennels for them.
Laws that protect animals have also benefited humans. An example was when New Yorker Henry Bergh wrote the 'Declaration of the Rights of Animals' and gathered signatures after giving many speeches; it was endorsed by many people. The New York legislatures complied and passed several laws to prevent animal cruelty, even gave Bergh a charter to establish the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). He took up a case to help a young child who was abused at the age of 5 named Mary Ellen because of a woman's plea, and successfully extended the laws to protect animals to cover the abuse of children, since they were equally helpless. He created the American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and both his organizations have been linked together.
In the case of Napoleon Bonaparte, dogs were responsible for damaging his first marriage but also saving his life. His wife's dog, Fortune, bit his naked skin during their lovemaking, which resulted in Napoleon's distaste for dogs. His wife cheated on him with a man who formed a fond relationship with Fortune and Napoleon was outraged; he divorced her and married Marie Antoinette, the daughter of the Austrian emperor. When he failed to take over Russian, he was confined in the island of Elba where he owned a midsized yellow dog (Lab/Spaniel mix) who acted as food taster for poison. When he heard the French hated having Louis XIII back on the throne, he left on a small local boat. Apparently he had fallen off and a newfoundland had saved him. When his attempt to seize power again in France failed, he was confined to St. Helena where he died of arsenic poisoning; he had no dog.
Since dogs provided companionship, it's not surprising that 80% of dog owners talk to their dogs as if they were another person. One of those people was John Steinbeck, the author of 'Of Mice and Men', 'East of Eden' and much more other works of literature. He went on a 12,000 mile trip that took him through 37 states and Canada with a black standard poodle named Charley whom he spoke to about his emotions, observations, and philosophical conversations. Social companion dogs, often the dogs of historical figures and ordinary people alike, kept people from psychological symptoms such as loneliness, stress, fear, etc. An example of this would be Mary, the Queen of Scots. She was raised among packs of dogs consisting of spaniels, pugs, and Maltese in the court of the French king and queen, King Henry IV and wife. She married her husband, dauphin Francis, he died a year later, and during a time of conspiracy and rebellion, she sought refugee in England, but was imprisoned there for 18 years with a smuggled Maltese. When she was beheaded, the Maltese was discovered under her dress and it ran to the space between the severed head of her master and the body, and refused to budge. Seeing this, the executioner pitied the blood-covered dog, washed it up, and presented it to a French princess. Also, the Canadian Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, whose mother, sister, friend, close friend/mentor, and soul-mate from collage all died before his first year as prime minister, had Irish terriers that filled the many gaps of his life. The dogs, Pat, Pat II, and Pat III, would all provide him with emotional support.
In China, there was a story of the Buddha that first tamed a lion, who fell in love with a dog who was fearful of his great body. Buddha gave him a small body, but if he couldn't remain a good servant to him, then the obligation of servitude fell upon the lion's heirs. Thus the Lion Dogs would serve and act as symbols of Buddha. During the Manchu Dynasty, Emperor Tzu Hsi (also known as Cixi and/or the Dowager Empress of China) she had relied upon the symbolism Pekingeses in the royal kennel as well as her own personal kennel, to make decisions. When told to consider overthrowing the Emperor (her nephew), she turned to her dogs. A new liter of three had been born. 2 red and 1 yellow Pekingese; this was good luck as red symbolized joy/happiness, and yellow symbolized the color of the earth/China, and the white spot on all their foreheads symbolized blessed endeavors. Sadly this was not completely accurate, since the foreigns took Peking, broke into the Forbidden City, and looted. To prevent the sacred breed of Pekingeses from falling into foreign hands, she had many of them killed, all but 5 which foreigners distributed as gifts. She had fled, but returned to sign the 'Peace of Peking' and returned to reform China. Lion Dogs became virtually extinct after Communists overthrow.
Quote:
''Well, sir,'' said Martin, ''a poor dog or a horse is not able to say that he has bad enough, or too much, and therefore wants protection.'' (Coren 147)
Reaction:
I love that quote. Richard Martin was the man who was credited with the beginning of the animal welfare movement, and by him saying that quote after beating a politician with his cane, he was able to convey the pain animals feel when abused. This quote truly showed that Martin was an animal advocate by not only telling, but showing the politician the real meaning of cruelty and put the man into an animal's position.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The PawPrints of History (Pg 80-143)
Although it may seem rather surprising, dogs actually stimulated and inspired their owners. This included in literature, and in the opera house. Sir Walter Scott was raised in Scotland around many dogs, and therefore developed an affinity for them. He kept many dogs himself, his favorite was Camp, a bull terrier who stayed by his side during his writing sessions. He couldn't write without them being around him! During his time, novels weren't too popular, but he wrote many novels anyway to support his family and his dogs. He wrote them autonomously, but eventually people noticed the similarities of the dogs in his stories to his many dogs; right down to his dog's personalities. When Camp died, his new writing partner became Maida, a wolfhound and deerhound cross. He died huddled around his pack of dogs.. In Germany, Richard Wilheim Wagner was a famous opera composer who wrote 13 full operas, many musical compositions, and 230 books/articles. He was exposed to dogs at a young age; he and his sister used to rescue unwanted puppies. He and his wife settled with either a English Toy Spaniel/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel they named Peps instead of kids; he 'Tannhauser and the Contest of Singers on the Wartburg' with and for Peps, because during his writing sessions, Peps had to be near, and he would play the piano to see Peps' reaction to the notes. After Peps, he received Fips (same breed as Peps), and later on, Pohl (Saint Hubert Hound), Kos (Fox Terrier), Russumuch or Russ (black Newfoundland), Branke (St. Bernard), and two Newfoundlands named Mollie and King Marke.
There were debates on whether or not dogs had an important role in the life of the inventor of the telephone (and a lot more other things such as the iron lung), Alexander Graham Bell. In his life, animals were a big part of it, owning horses, bobcats, eagles, snakes, sheep, and more. He understood the psychological value of dogs and would bring them with him to work. He used his Skye Terrier, to teach him how to talk, in order to prove a point about the importance of his father's theory of mouth and tongue movements. After training his dog, he was able to produce sounds that sounded like ''How are you, grandmama?'' (it came out as ow-ah-oo-ma-ma.) He was offered a job to teach deaf children, in which after the fifth session, the children uttered 'complete and intelligent' sentences. The children had wealthy parents, and some funded Bell for scientific purposes, which allowed him to design the first telephone, which sent the first electrical sound transmission over a wire on March 10, 1876.
Dogs are also a source of comfort, even in the therapist room. Coren had noticed that Eva, a woman in her 60s had her husband, old son and his wife, and their children killed in a car accident and needed some traumatic stress relieving. A Golden Retriever named Sandy was bought in and she immediately went to comfort the unmoving woman. After a short time, Eva started crying and talking about her dog named Goldie that was just like Sandy; Eva began to talk in each session in the presence of Sandy. Sigmund Frued was a neurologist whose encounter with a dog had influenced his psychoanalytic thinking. He went to Paris to study under Jean-Martin Charcot, who studied hysteria. Freud concluded that hysteria was a psychological, not a physical, problem. When he was in his 70s, he developed jaw cancer, and his daughter provided him with dogs for continuous companionship. His daughter was gifted a huge German Shepherd named Wolf, and he was gifted a Chow name Lun Yug who died too fast and was replaced with her sister, Joti. Later on, Frued would notice that the dogs present in the therapeutic room comforted both the psychoanalyst and the patient; this is especially with children/adolescence (he found this out with his oldest son and his dog, Joti). After his death and his works translated, people started recognizing his work and did some research about animals and etc.
Quote:
''Don Giovani: 'A bond of friendship unites us both...' ''(Coren 141).
Reaction:
I think that quote pretty much summarizes these few chapters because it's all about the companionship of famous authors, composers, researchers, and etc. And because dogs are born with a natural sense of loyalty, they are loyal to their owners, and not only do they provide therapeutic presence in the therapy room, but to their owners in their daily life too. They've gotten people through hardships and stay by them until their time was up. I find that very touching and yearn for a dog presence in my life too because of that bond of friendship as described above.
There were debates on whether or not dogs had an important role in the life of the inventor of the telephone (and a lot more other things such as the iron lung), Alexander Graham Bell. In his life, animals were a big part of it, owning horses, bobcats, eagles, snakes, sheep, and more. He understood the psychological value of dogs and would bring them with him to work. He used his Skye Terrier, to teach him how to talk, in order to prove a point about the importance of his father's theory of mouth and tongue movements. After training his dog, he was able to produce sounds that sounded like ''How are you, grandmama?'' (it came out as ow-ah-oo-ma-ma.) He was offered a job to teach deaf children, in which after the fifth session, the children uttered 'complete and intelligent' sentences. The children had wealthy parents, and some funded Bell for scientific purposes, which allowed him to design the first telephone, which sent the first electrical sound transmission over a wire on March 10, 1876.
Dogs are also a source of comfort, even in the therapist room. Coren had noticed that Eva, a woman in her 60s had her husband, old son and his wife, and their children killed in a car accident and needed some traumatic stress relieving. A Golden Retriever named Sandy was bought in and she immediately went to comfort the unmoving woman. After a short time, Eva started crying and talking about her dog named Goldie that was just like Sandy; Eva began to talk in each session in the presence of Sandy. Sigmund Frued was a neurologist whose encounter with a dog had influenced his psychoanalytic thinking. He went to Paris to study under Jean-Martin Charcot, who studied hysteria. Freud concluded that hysteria was a psychological, not a physical, problem. When he was in his 70s, he developed jaw cancer, and his daughter provided him with dogs for continuous companionship. His daughter was gifted a huge German Shepherd named Wolf, and he was gifted a Chow name Lun Yug who died too fast and was replaced with her sister, Joti. Later on, Frued would notice that the dogs present in the therapeutic room comforted both the psychoanalyst and the patient; this is especially with children/adolescence (he found this out with his oldest son and his dog, Joti). After his death and his works translated, people started recognizing his work and did some research about animals and etc.
Quote:
''Don Giovani: 'A bond of friendship unites us both...' ''(Coren 141).
Reaction:
I think that quote pretty much summarizes these few chapters because it's all about the companionship of famous authors, composers, researchers, and etc. And because dogs are born with a natural sense of loyalty, they are loyal to their owners, and not only do they provide therapeutic presence in the therapy room, but to their owners in their daily life too. They've gotten people through hardships and stay by them until their time was up. I find that very touching and yearn for a dog presence in my life too because of that bond of friendship as described above.
The PawPrints of History (Pg 1-80)
Summary:
In this historic novel, Stanley Coren argues that dogs have actually contributed to our history politically and socially. Although they were regarded as mere pets and haven't actually been credited in our history books, Coren gives many examples where dogs have actually aided their famous masters. Dogs have been known as protectors; in many stories, the dogs save their owners from danger, enabling them to achieve greater things in life (altering history!) For example, Alexander Pope was a famous poet who despite his small stature, owned a Great Dane named Bounce, who saved him from his new servant, who planned to kill him for his money. There was also similar stories of protective dogs in the Indian Story of Mik'Maq where Gisoolg (Great Spirit and Creater) created Earth, animals, men, and dogs to protect the men; Saint Giovanni Melchior Bosco, who was constantly targetted for his nonexistent wealth, but protected by a gray dog he named Grigio; and Prince of Orange, William I, who used dogs to protect his cities for attacks (they acted as alarms), in which 2000 years later, Napoleon followed suit by protecting Alexandria with dogs. Sometimes, dogs have been known to indirectly change history, for example, Florence Nightingale's first patient was a dog, and after healing the dog, she had a dream that made her realize her mission in life was to heal others.
Dogs have been traditionally known to be able to see evil approach, yet recognize sanity and truth. Their howling was often an omen of something bad. During the time of the Plague of Black Death, he traveled with his dog to the infected areas and his dog licked the spots of the infected, while he whispered prayers. They eventually healed, but he got sick, during which his dog took food from the village, and returned it to him. Dogs also offer companionship to their owners. In the example of Saint Margaret, her dog stayed by her when her lover died, and guided her to the church when she was rejected by her family members. There, she heard a voice tell her to seek absolution; she became the patron saint of the homeless and single mothers. Also, in the case of the famous St. Patrick, he had worked as a shepherd, formed bonds with dogs, and even tamed the wild dog in Ireland. Because of this brave act, he was given permission to establish a church in Ireland. He built his church on a hill after a dog with a white blaze--much like a cross stood on a hill. Italian greyhounds mended the wounded King Frederick II of Prussia throughout most of his life. He was abused as a child and had found companionship and solace in dogs. He had 35 dogs throughout his lifetime.
Some dogs were aggressive, but it's not usually their fault. It's the fault of the owner. Dogs are born with a sense of loyalty, not morality. When Columbus came to the New Worlds, one of his generals had bought 20 dogs with them during the Second Voyage. Those 20 dogs included the giant Mastiffs, and fast Greyhounds; Bartolome De Las Casas witnessed that they killed efficiently and had possibly developed a taste for human (Native's) blood. Columbus used this vicious method to claim Jamaica, Haiti, and Dominican Republic. Other conquistadors followed suit.
Quote:
''The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.'' (Coren 65).
Reaction:
I really like this quote because it showed that there are evils in the world of people, but dogs are always pure. Their intentions are always good, they listen to their owners without prejudice, and provide life long companionship for their owners.
In this historic novel, Stanley Coren argues that dogs have actually contributed to our history politically and socially. Although they were regarded as mere pets and haven't actually been credited in our history books, Coren gives many examples where dogs have actually aided their famous masters. Dogs have been known as protectors; in many stories, the dogs save their owners from danger, enabling them to achieve greater things in life (altering history!) For example, Alexander Pope was a famous poet who despite his small stature, owned a Great Dane named Bounce, who saved him from his new servant, who planned to kill him for his money. There was also similar stories of protective dogs in the Indian Story of Mik'Maq where Gisoolg (Great Spirit and Creater) created Earth, animals, men, and dogs to protect the men; Saint Giovanni Melchior Bosco, who was constantly targetted for his nonexistent wealth, but protected by a gray dog he named Grigio; and Prince of Orange, William I, who used dogs to protect his cities for attacks (they acted as alarms), in which 2000 years later, Napoleon followed suit by protecting Alexandria with dogs. Sometimes, dogs have been known to indirectly change history, for example, Florence Nightingale's first patient was a dog, and after healing the dog, she had a dream that made her realize her mission in life was to heal others.
Dogs have been traditionally known to be able to see evil approach, yet recognize sanity and truth. Their howling was often an omen of something bad. During the time of the Plague of Black Death, he traveled with his dog to the infected areas and his dog licked the spots of the infected, while he whispered prayers. They eventually healed, but he got sick, during which his dog took food from the village, and returned it to him. Dogs also offer companionship to their owners. In the example of Saint Margaret, her dog stayed by her when her lover died, and guided her to the church when she was rejected by her family members. There, she heard a voice tell her to seek absolution; she became the patron saint of the homeless and single mothers. Also, in the case of the famous St. Patrick, he had worked as a shepherd, formed bonds with dogs, and even tamed the wild dog in Ireland. Because of this brave act, he was given permission to establish a church in Ireland. He built his church on a hill after a dog with a white blaze--much like a cross stood on a hill. Italian greyhounds mended the wounded King Frederick II of Prussia throughout most of his life. He was abused as a child and had found companionship and solace in dogs. He had 35 dogs throughout his lifetime.
Some dogs were aggressive, but it's not usually their fault. It's the fault of the owner. Dogs are born with a sense of loyalty, not morality. When Columbus came to the New Worlds, one of his generals had bought 20 dogs with them during the Second Voyage. Those 20 dogs included the giant Mastiffs, and fast Greyhounds; Bartolome De Las Casas witnessed that they killed efficiently and had possibly developed a taste for human (Native's) blood. Columbus used this vicious method to claim Jamaica, Haiti, and Dominican Republic. Other conquistadors followed suit.
Quote:
''The more I see of men, the better I like my dog.'' (Coren 65).
Reaction:
I really like this quote because it showed that there are evils in the world of people, but dogs are always pure. Their intentions are always good, they listen to their owners without prejudice, and provide life long companionship for their owners.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Movie Reviews
Bosley Crowther of New York Times says:
''...And, believe me, before this antique chiller drags to an ectoplasmic end, you'll agree that it does have just about everything in the old-fashioned blood-chilling line except a line of reasoning that makes a degree of sense...'' (Crowther 1).
Crowther, Bosley. "The Haunting (1963)." Movie Reviews, Showtimes and Trailers - Movies - New York
Times - The New York Times. 19 Sept. 1963. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A06E4D81431E73BBC4152DFBF668388679EDE&partner=Rotten Tomatoes>.
Reaction:
I agree with Crowther that although this movie was a bit nerve wracking in a sense, it didn't make much sense to me. Although, I didn't really get why Eleanor did the things she did in the book. The movie had good acters, suspense, and a nice setting, but the movie just didn't really make sense in terms of the storyline.
''...And, believe me, before this antique chiller drags to an ectoplasmic end, you'll agree that it does have just about everything in the old-fashioned blood-chilling line except a line of reasoning that makes a degree of sense...'' (Crowther 1).
Crowther, Bosley. "The Haunting (1963)." Movie Reviews, Showtimes and Trailers - Movies - New York
Times - The New York Times. 19 Sept. 1963. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A06E4D81431E73BBC4152DFBF668388679EDE&partner=Rotten Tomatoes>.
Reaction:
I agree with Crowther that although this movie was a bit nerve wracking in a sense, it didn't make much sense to me. Although, I didn't really get why Eleanor did the things she did in the book. The movie had good acters, suspense, and a nice setting, but the movie just didn't really make sense in terms of the storyline.
Reaction to the Film
-Low Angle shot: Low angle shot was used right from the beginning, looking up at Hill House, while the lights were low-key to pronounce shadows and show that Hill House was a dark place.
-High angle shot: When the companion hanged herself, while looking down, you see the bottom of the staircase, and the companion's legs as they angle high in the air.
-Bird's eye shot was used to vertically look down on the spiral staircase as the camera spins, as if going down the staircase.
-When Eleanor first sees Hill House, the camera uses low angle shot once again to look up on the house as a threatening object after she warns herself that it's her last chance to get away.
-Birds eye shot is used afterwards, as if Hill House looks down on her small car.
-When Eleanor enters the house, the camera pans, to show the inside of the house through Eleanor's eyes.
-When Dr. Montague goes up the rusty staircase to get Eleanor, Eleanor seeings Ms. Montague on the ceiling (probably in the attic) and screams. Then the scene fades into blackness for a few seconds.
-High angle shot: When the companion hanged herself, while looking down, you see the bottom of the staircase, and the companion's legs as they angle high in the air.
-Bird's eye shot was used to vertically look down on the spiral staircase as the camera spins, as if going down the staircase.
-When Eleanor first sees Hill House, the camera uses low angle shot once again to look up on the house as a threatening object after she warns herself that it's her last chance to get away.
-Birds eye shot is used afterwards, as if Hill House looks down on her small car.
-When Eleanor enters the house, the camera pans, to show the inside of the house through Eleanor's eyes.
-When Dr. Montague goes up the rusty staircase to get Eleanor, Eleanor seeings Ms. Montague on the ceiling (probably in the attic) and screams. Then the scene fades into blackness for a few seconds.
Pg 182-243
Summary:
Dr. Montague's wife arrived with a friend, Arthur. She came with the plan to get in touch with the spirits or 'elements' that disturbed the house via a planchette, a board much like the Ouija board. After a session, she suggested that a nun must have been walled up in a well alive somewhere in the cellar. However, Dr. Montague refuses to temper with the house, since his lease with the owner of the house forbids him. After assigning rooms for Ms. Montague in the nursery, at night, Theodora, Eleanor, and Luke all met in Dr. Montague's room and the shaking began to start. It seemed like all the noise happened in Eleanor's head, an animal paced back and forth outside, and laughter echoed the halls. After a while, it stopped, and all the broken paintings outside had become normal again. The next day, Eleanor and Theodora wrote their notes about what happened that night (that was their original purpose for being in Hill House) and when Eleanor proposed to live with Theodora after leaving Hill House, Theodora asked a question that suggested she wasn't wanted. Eleanor reveals that when she was younger, her mother knocked on the walls and called Eleanor for her medicine, but Eleanor had ignored her, which resulted in the death of her mother. That afternoon, Eleanor, Theodora, and Luke walked to the brook. When Eleanor walked ahead, Theodora and Luke had stayed back in the shade, and when she turned back, she felt her mother's spirit holding her. At night, while Ms. Montague complained that their disbelieve of the planchette was angering the spirit, Eleanor recognized a small melody in the corner of the room, only she could hear. Later in the evening, while everyone slept, Eleanor roamed the halls, calling her mother, she then proceeded to knock on everyone's door, waking them up, and leading them in a wild goose chase. When they caught up with her, she ran into the library and ran up the rusty staircase up the tower. Luke eventually got her down. Next morning, everyone insisted Eleanor leave Hill House, they feared the house was possessing her. Eleanor laughed and insisted staying. She felt the house wanted her to stay. Eleanor refused to leave because she felt Hill House was 'her's'. She drove her car into the tree, killing herself, which allowed her to roam Hill House alone.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Haunting of Hill House 82-181
Summary:
Dr. Montague, Luke, Theodora, and Eleanor all decide to explode Hill House, so that they know the house better. They went to the library tower, where the companion was rumored to have hanged herself. Eleanor, for some odd reason could not make herself go in. Dr. Montague later reveals that Hugh Crain designed the house with odd, slanted, angles, causing imbalance, confusion, and doors to close without door stoppers. He called Hill House a ''masterpiece of architectural misdirection.'' (Jackson 106). Being a doctor, he tried created many theories as to why people may feel a certain way after living in Hill House; he hypothesized that people assumed that their loss of balance after leaving Hill House, was due to supernatural manifestations. In the drawing room, they found a statue of Hugh, his daughters, the companion, Ms. Dudley (the current housekeeper), and a tree that possible symbolized the protection of the house. Near the nursery room, they found a cold spot they couldn't explain. At night, Eleanor woke up yelling ''Coming, mom!'' and went to Theodora's room when summoned, and they held each other in horror as a loud banging noise banged along the hallway towards them. It seemed to be driven away when Dr. Montague and Luke ran to their room after hearing their screams outside; they were lead on a wild-goose chase by some creature that resembled a dog that ran by their room two hours before the ladies woke up. They did not hear the banging, described by Theodora to sound like cannons. The next day, they found chalk letters that spelled out ''HELP ELEANOR COME HOME.'' They wiped off the chalk and later, went to investigate the cold spot. The thermometer would not read the temperature, suggesting that the cold spot was room temperature, even though it froze Dr. Montagues hands to the point where he couldn't hold his chalk longer than a few minutes. Theodora returned to her room with blood on the walls, spelling out ''HELP ELEANOR COME HOME ELEANOR'' on the wall, and her clothes shredded and covered in red. It seemed that Eleanor had a nightmare of voices in the other room, one of a mumbling adult, and the other, a small child crying. Later that day, Luke found a book in the library tower, titled Memories for Sophie Anne Lester Crain; A Legacy for Her Education and Enlightenment During Her Lifetime From Her Affectionate and Devoted Father. It was a book about eternal damnation, Hell, and the 7 deadly sins, written and illustrated by Hugh Crain, himself. For some reason, afterwards they sat by the fireplace of the Parlor room (where they held meetings and gathered to relax/socialize), Eleanor and Theodora argued. Eleanor ran out, and Theodora followed her, they seemingly unconsciously walked toward the brook nearby where they desired a picnic when they first arrived and saw a...family, a child, and a puppy picnicking. For some reason, they were frightened by this, and ran back to Hill House in great hurry. Could that be a memory of Eleanor's projected? Either way, on the next day, Dr. Montague's wife was to visit; instead, Eleanor went to the hills for some time alone. She asks herself ''What am I going to do?''
Quote:
'' ''In back, that kind of overspreading apple-tree kind of thing, thats--''
''A symbol of the protection of the house, surely,'' Dr. Montague said. ''
Reaction:
When Dr. Montague said the apple tree symbolized the protection of the house, I thought, maybe the house protected it's secrets. Maybe there were secrets within the house it did not want outsiders to know. All the 'supernatural' events could be the house's attempts to separate the group, scare them away, and keep it's secret. That quote made me think, and it made me want to continue reading to see if my theory, rather than Dr. Montague's many theories, was true. It also made me wonder what that secret, if any, was.
Dr. Montague, Luke, Theodora, and Eleanor all decide to explode Hill House, so that they know the house better. They went to the library tower, where the companion was rumored to have hanged herself. Eleanor, for some odd reason could not make herself go in. Dr. Montague later reveals that Hugh Crain designed the house with odd, slanted, angles, causing imbalance, confusion, and doors to close without door stoppers. He called Hill House a ''masterpiece of architectural misdirection.'' (Jackson 106). Being a doctor, he tried created many theories as to why people may feel a certain way after living in Hill House; he hypothesized that people assumed that their loss of balance after leaving Hill House, was due to supernatural manifestations. In the drawing room, they found a statue of Hugh, his daughters, the companion, Ms. Dudley (the current housekeeper), and a tree that possible symbolized the protection of the house. Near the nursery room, they found a cold spot they couldn't explain. At night, Eleanor woke up yelling ''Coming, mom!'' and went to Theodora's room when summoned, and they held each other in horror as a loud banging noise banged along the hallway towards them. It seemed to be driven away when Dr. Montague and Luke ran to their room after hearing their screams outside; they were lead on a wild-goose chase by some creature that resembled a dog that ran by their room two hours before the ladies woke up. They did not hear the banging, described by Theodora to sound like cannons. The next day, they found chalk letters that spelled out ''HELP ELEANOR COME HOME.'' They wiped off the chalk and later, went to investigate the cold spot. The thermometer would not read the temperature, suggesting that the cold spot was room temperature, even though it froze Dr. Montagues hands to the point where he couldn't hold his chalk longer than a few minutes. Theodora returned to her room with blood on the walls, spelling out ''HELP ELEANOR COME HOME ELEANOR'' on the wall, and her clothes shredded and covered in red. It seemed that Eleanor had a nightmare of voices in the other room, one of a mumbling adult, and the other, a small child crying. Later that day, Luke found a book in the library tower, titled Memories for Sophie Anne Lester Crain; A Legacy for Her Education and Enlightenment During Her Lifetime From Her Affectionate and Devoted Father. It was a book about eternal damnation, Hell, and the 7 deadly sins, written and illustrated by Hugh Crain, himself. For some reason, afterwards they sat by the fireplace of the Parlor room (where they held meetings and gathered to relax/socialize), Eleanor and Theodora argued. Eleanor ran out, and Theodora followed her, they seemingly unconsciously walked toward the brook nearby where they desired a picnic when they first arrived and saw a...family, a child, and a puppy picnicking. For some reason, they were frightened by this, and ran back to Hill House in great hurry. Could that be a memory of Eleanor's projected? Either way, on the next day, Dr. Montague's wife was to visit; instead, Eleanor went to the hills for some time alone. She asks herself ''What am I going to do?''
Quote:
'' ''In back, that kind of overspreading apple-tree kind of thing, thats--''
''A symbol of the protection of the house, surely,'' Dr. Montague said. ''
Reaction:
When Dr. Montague said the apple tree symbolized the protection of the house, I thought, maybe the house protected it's secrets. Maybe there were secrets within the house it did not want outsiders to know. All the 'supernatural' events could be the house's attempts to separate the group, scare them away, and keep it's secret. That quote made me think, and it made me want to continue reading to see if my theory, rather than Dr. Montague's many theories, was true. It also made me wonder what that secret, if any, was.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Haunting of Hill House (pg 1-82)
Summary:
Dr. Montague is a doctor of philosophy with a degree in anthropology. He invited Eleanor Vance, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson (nephew of the owners of the Hill House) to occupy Hill House for a few days in order to analyze supernatural manifestations and psychic disturbances on the human body. When they all met up there, after dinner, Dr. Montague explains the history of Hill House. Hill House was built by Hugh Crain, 80 years ago. His first wife died when her carriage overturned, minutes before seeing the new house. His second wife died of a fall. His third wife died of tuberculosis. He, himself, eventually died travelling in Europe shortly after. He had two daughters, and the older one inherited the Hill House after her sister married. She bought a companion from the village to live with her, but the older sister died of pneumonia after a few years. The house became legally the companion's after a fierce lawsuit against the younger sister. Constantly harassed by enemies, gossip, and the younger sister, she eventually killed herself. The house was then legally given to the Sanderson family, who sent the younger sister to the police station when she tried to harass them; they never lived there for more than a few days. The younger sister then died a few years later. Dr. Montague suggests that the evil in the house has ''enchained and destroyed it's people and their lives'' and ''is a place contained of ill will.'' (Jackson, 82).
Quote:
''Journeys end in lovers meeting, she thought, remembering her song at last, and laughed, standing on the steps of Hill House, journeys end in lovers meeting, and she put her feet down firmly and went up to the veranda and the door.'' (Jackson, 36).
Reaction:
I chose this quote because it sounded almost poetic in a pessimistic way. Here, Eleanor Vance was the first to arrive at Hill House and senses an eerie feeling--and urgent feeling of the need to escape from here. Normally, she isn't the type to accept spontaneous invitation (especially not from strangers), but when she accepted the invitation and started driving to Hillsdale, she felt as if she were on a long journey, just her and the road. However, she thinks 'journeys end in lovers meeting' over and over again, and it seems to be foreshadowing something ominous.
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