Life's Handbook: Blog 2

In the event that this blog turns somewhat inspirational and more like a therapy session, I'd like to apologize. I am still on the rather new notion that I am enjoying these literature stories we are reading and it is all a bit new to me. I have found while reading and discussing these tales that there is a lesson to be learned and something to relate to in almost every story. Some of these things have come naturally to me; others have been through some deeper digging in class. The title of this particular blog post is very much inspired by Kate Chopin, whose stories tend to take an unexpected turn or ironic flip of events, such as in the short work The Story of an Hour. 

Though we have defined irony in a few different ways in class (once upon a time), I figured I should include the professional definition again.
Irony (noun): The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically  for humorous or emphatic effect. 
Most certainly in The Story of an Hour there was an element of surprise and when the expected widow, Mrs. Mallard, becomes the deceased of the couple, there was shock. To me, this is the definition of irony, but to others, this ending was expected. The evidence comes in the form of language - something that is extremely indicative in the time period of the stories we've been reading. For instance, before Mrs. Mallard's husband returns, at her point of "freedom," she is referred to as "she" and "her." After his unexpected arrival, she is named and called the "wife," as if she is not a singular, recognizable woman, but only Mr. Mallard's wife. During the time, women were pioneered by their men, and as referenced in history, married women disappeared in the eyes of the law. Keeping up with reputation and acceptance, before her husband's return, Mrs. Mallard was expected to grieve and mourn her husband (and sole supporter) and his absence in her life. Here you will find further scholarly, interesting discussion of other themes and opinions of The Story of an Hour.

Keeping up with reputation and expected roles, Booker T. Washington brought a dynamic approach to the position of black Americans in society. In advocating a path for new (and previously very oppressed) citizens, he writes in Up From Slavery that they must accept their lesser place in society and grow from it. Without first understanding where you are, you will never fully reach the place you're destined to go. Though it is a hard concept for anyone to grasp, this is similar to the suggestion Chopin was making in The Story of an Hour. Mrs. Mallard never fully accepted her place and was not happy, and it ultimately ended in her demise. Washington pushes the idea home that you musn't be unsatisfied with the lower end of things if you are doing your best, because after all, a big idea in life is that we shouldn't take the little things for granted. There was an example we used in class that really struck home for me in this instance: Someone put that toilet paper there. I realized that I never truly think of that and how much I just expect things as trivial as toilet paper to be there whenever I need it. We should all be more appreciative and thankful for those small things and the people who do those little things for us should definitely be proud of the position they hold.

Taking a slightly darker turn, The Blue Hotel by Stephen Crane teaches us, among other things, not to jump to conclusions. As spoken in class, "Everyone has a reason for telling the stories they do." Though the Swede in this instance was clearly not the most likable guy, there was a reason for the way he acted. He wasn't the most awful person in the world, either, and no one deserves the treatment he received even if he had a bad attitude. In this case, his demeanor got him into the position he held relative to everyone else, but that is to open a new discussion. I have always been interested in the battle of Nature vs. Nurture. How much of which determines what a person is made of and the things they choose and prefer? Though this is really a subjective story, could the Swede have been driven to act the way he did because of heredity, or were his actions completely a result of the influences he'd had in life?

I suppose there is some point in the discussion where the answer arrives that it simply does not matter. Like Mrs. Mallard, his ending was determined by the position he held (granted that his was most likely chosen, not given to him, much like the African Americans referenced in Washington's short story). Regardless, I found the recurring them to be interesting, especially given the circumstances under which each was given. Whether a victim of circumstance or maybe even a martyr of chance, these characters were similarly subjected to an overall very careful battle between who they were and what they could be.

"Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it. "- Robert Frost