Thoughts on the Twentieth Century

            In both yesterday’s panel presentations and throughout our class discussions we have talked about the idea that Antoinette is unable to fit into Jamaican culture or English culture. The title of the novel, Wide Sargasso Sea , suggests that the difference between these two places is too wide to be able to bridge the gap between cultures. Throughout the novel, Antoinette tries to bridge the gap in multiple ways such as her friendship with Tia and trying to give the Obeah love potion to Rochester which ends up poisoning him and making him sick. However, she never seems to succeed.   Antoinette does not seem to be able to fit into either culture. When she goes outside of her house the other children constantly torment her. They make fun of her, call her names, and harass her. She cannot live in her own country without being bullied. However, she is not able to fit into English culture either. Antoinette mentions that “we ate English food...

            Meursault’s personality has been the topic of a lot of our discussions. He does not care about anything and just seems to go along with whatever people tell him to do. He also seems to like to do whatever is easiest for him and requires the least amount of work. While I was reading the book I was wondering why Meursault did not really care about anything. On the one hand, it could seem that the he is suffering from depression and perhaps he used to have a different personality when he was younger. However, he also seems pretty content with his life so perhaps he simply does not care about anything and that is just part of who he is.             Meursault definitely shows signs that he could be depressed. He does not seem to care about his future or about what is happening in his life, he does not even care about things that could have a major impact on his him. For example, when his b...

            Throughout the book, I was often conflicted about whether Kafka was trying to create a comedic or horrific effect. One scene that especially portrays the mix of comedy and horror is the scene when Gregor finally comes out of his room and shows himself in bug form to his entire family and the Chief Clerk.             The fact that Gregor still thinks he is going to be able to go to work has a comedic effect on the story. As the Chief Clerk is backing away from Gregor in horror, the only thing Gregor is thinking about is the fact that the Chief Clerk might not let him go back to work. He is not even thinking about how he is a giant bug. He tells the Chief Clerk, “‘Now I’m going to get dressed at once, pack up my samples and be off’” (75). For some reason, Gregor thinks he is going to be able to fit into his human clothes and continue the day, just like any other day....

         Jake and Brett clearly have an intimate relationship. They appear to have a close bond and are always supporting each other. When they are in the taxi at the beginning of the book, Jake asks Brett if she loves him and she says, “Love you? I simply turn all to jelly when you touch me” (34). Brett never expresses this kind of affection and passion towards any of the other men she dates. Jake is Brett’s one true love, yet because of Jake’s injury from the war they cannot be together and make their relationship work. Therefore, Brett is constantly with other men even though she still loves Jake. Jake seems fine with some of the men that Brett dates, but some of the men he cannot stand even talking to Brett.              Jake is perfectly fine with Brett hanging out with the Count and even tells Brett that “he’s [the Count] nice” (61). The Count is a fun person who likes to party...

          Virginia Woolf puts the scene of Septimus’s suicide right before a scene of Peter musing about London to express the privileged life Peter leads as an upper-class citizen. Throughout the book, Septimus and Lucrezia struggle through many problems in their lives. For example, Septimus is psychologically damaged because of his traumatic experience in the war; he is going through what at the time was called “shell shock”. Lucrezia is constantly worried about Septimus and. She is also distressed that their marriage is falling apart and Septimus no longer loves her. Near the end of the book, Septimus jumps out of the window and commits suicide. Lucrezia, of course is distraught. She has trouble facing the fact that Septimus is dead as her life has just been turned upside down.           Immediately after the scene of Septimus’s suicide, Woolf switches to Peter’s perspective. Peter is walk...

While reading Mrs. Dalloway, I was struck that Clarissa is always doubting herself and putting herself down. She wishes she was different and thinks about what her life would have been like if she had made different decisions. One thought that is continually running through Clarissa’s mind is the possibility of what would have happened if she had married Peter and how that might have changed her life. Clarissa is constantly thinking about what kind of life she could have led if she had made different choices earlier in life. Perhaps this is because she is not fully content with where her life is at the moment. She is always doubting herself wishing she was different. She says that she does not think “herself clever” (10). She is also worried about her appearance and wishes that she was more beautiful, even commenting that she has a “narrow pea-stick figure; a ridiculous little face” (10). She never seems to be able to put this self-doubt out of her head. Clarissa mentions that she f...