Mary's Blog

Almost everything we do in life, we need to figure out a plan before we can execute an idea; similarly, Langston Hughes’ quote stated in the title, is referred to as without people building themselves up, strengthening their core (the foundation), then, anything we aspire or attempt to do will not withhold and we are setting ourselves up for failure.  

For example, I am currently enrolled in college for an accounting degree.  I am building that foundation, the skillset that I need to be able pursue a career in this field.  If I go in search of a position right now, without the foundation/skillset built, I am just setting myself up for failure.  Now, I could pursue a career in baking because I have built up my foundation in that job choice and I will be able to withstand the criteria that is required for the skills that are needed.  Although, in reference to job analogies, with any career field there is always room for improvement, which means there is always other ways to strengthen the foundation we already have in place. 

“People can be slave-ships in shoes”  is a quote from Zora Neale Hurston.  This quote spoke volumes to me as I read it immediately thinking that this is a clever analogy of how I feel almost on a daily basis.  I feel that I am the slave-ship, moving from one place to another fulfilling the orders of one master to another.  As “masters” I am referring to my husband, children, professors, customers, and so forth; whomever I am serving, whether it is making dinner, house chores, homework, customer orders, etc.  I am floating around from one place to another, executing my duties.  I am sure that there are many others that can relate to what I am feeling that are also feeling the same way.   

There are many differences between English 101 and English 102.  In ENG101, we could choose the topic or subject we wanted to write about.  The work was definitely easier than it is in ENG 102.  There were only five students in my ENG 101 class, so it was easy to work with our professor to polish our essays up prior to turning it in.  When peer editing was being done, I did not feel that I could get a good response from my peers.  Instead I went to the writing center to get my paper critiqued.  This helped me out a lot.  As you know stated in my previous blog, I am not a fan of essays and the professor only wanted us to write between 450-475 words max.  That was definitely nice!

What I do like in ENG 102 versus ENG 101 is our professor.  I do feel that I am learning more from her than my last mentor.  I enjoy the stories we read and discuss in class.  Shocker, especially to me.  Honestly, I just cannot wait until this semester is over and be done with English! 

I think the smaller list would be the opposite; what is not driving me crazy?  This semester has been tough, not only for me in school, also, issues with my personal life and work.  I have not had the time to relax and, given how crazy my schedule is, will not be until sometime in November.  My days are consumed with family life, homework, and work in the evenings and weekends.  I miss the days of being a kid with no worry other than attending school and doing homework.  Adulting can be rough sometimes.  It is a miracle that I am not going insane by now ha-ha.  

To rant about school stuff…well, I can most certainly say that I am not a fan of writing essays.  Well, in general, English was never my favorite subject.  I am just reminded of how much I did not like it when I was in high school.  That was many years ago, but we will not discuss that (wink, wink).  

The story I chose to write about is “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin.  My least favorite character in this story would have to be Armand Aubigny.  He first comes across in the story as a love-stricken gentleman wanting nothing more than to be with Desiree.  It was brought to his attention that Desiree’s background remains to be a mystery; however, being enamored with love at first sight, he proceeded to engage with Desiree.  

Armand begins to slowly resent Desiree and their newborn son as word gets around the neighborhood that he is a father to a racially mixed baby.  His gentleman-like persona turns cruel.  He rejects her and their baby and dismisses them from his life.  There is no compassion within him.  He burns their extravagant belongings, in what seemed like amusement for him as he gazed at the fire.  That solidified my feelings towards his character.  Ain’t nobody got time for compassionless fools!

Kate Chopin did push the boundaries when it pertained to taboo topics as adultery and racism.  The first person that comes to my mind that pushes those boundaries is our very own President, Donald Trump.  He is very opinionated and tells people pretty much what is on his mind; somewhat regardless of the repercussions.  Love him or hate him, there is always an eye-opening quote, where it is true or false, that will surprise you for the good or the bad.

As for me, personally, knowing someone that pushes me out of my comfort zone is my dear, wonderful husband.  He is constantly pushing me into uncomfortable situations in my life for my betterment.  One example is his persuasion for me to go back to school and pursue my certificate and/or degree (haven’t figured out if I want to advance to a degree or stop at the certificate level).  I would not have achieved specific goals if it was not for his persistence and his faith that I can led me to explore avenues outside of my comfort level. 

There are not many similarities I have in common with Kate Chopin.   Chopin endured the deaths of family members that were close to her.  Losing her dad, at an early age (being raised by her grandmother and mother), then her husband, followed by her mother a year later; this led to her struggle with depression.  

My mother was a single parent and raised my sister and I all by herself.  I was, also, surrounded by strong female figures whom I love dearly.  However, I did not suffer from depression, but there were traumatic issues in my life which led to severe anxiety.  Not exactly the same as depression but both illnesses causing loss of interest in activities, hopelessness, and lack of concentration.  

Luckily, she found writing as an outlet; unfortunately, for myself, I had to go on medication to regulate my emotions and feelings.  It has been the only outlet for me to carry out a “normal” daily life.

In the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor, there are many instances that could have prevented the family from facing a horrible death.  I believe that if the family had gone to Tennessee, as the grandmother suggested in the beginning of the story, the family might have lived to see another day. However, it is hard to suggest that nothing may have happened as grandma would have brought the cat on their road trip.  Cat might have done the same thing she did on that dirt road leading to their demise.  I would think that if they happened to have gotten into an accident people, other than the Misfit and his goons, help them out.  Nonetheless, this was not the case in this story, and it would not be a good, gripping story if O’Connor stated something else.  So, in my opinion, if they just headed to Tennessee, the family would be alive to live their dysfunctional and delusion lives.  

Flannery O’Connor was born in the South and raised as a Roman Catholic (Literature Resource Center). Her religious beliefs can be seen in her stories.  For example, O’Connor’s story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” depicts an escaped serial killer on the run.  As evil as this man is, he displayed the likeliest person in the story that was a “good man.” He explains how religious he was and that he references Jesus many times, especially towards the end of the story. Moreover, the grandmother in the story boasts to The Misfit that he should pray, portraying that she is a religious person herself.  Repeatedly in the story, she tells him to pray, pray, pray., but she does not ever pray herself.  The Misfit goes on to explain that he wishes he was there when Jesus was resurrected then perhaps “if I had been there I would of known and I wouldn’t be like I am now” (O’Connor).  

Works Cited

“Flannery O’Connor.” Novels for Students, Gale, 1998. Literature Resource Center, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ2168100017/GLS?u=avl_cvcc&sid=GLS&xid=f439572b. Accessed 17 Sept. 2019.

O’Connor, Flannery. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” Pegasus.cc.ucf.edu. 11 June 2019.

After reading Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” it left me feeling bewildered and in shock.  The irony at the end of the story as The Misfit said, “It’s no real pleasure in life” referring to killing the grandmother (O’Connor).  He had made a connection with her and did not find it pleasurable to kill her.  The contradiction he made earlier in the story was that he needs to “enjoy the few minutes [he] got left the best way [he] can-by killing somebody or burning down his house or doing some other meanness to him” (O’Connor).  He first finds enjoyment with being mean; however, in the end he did not have any pleasure killing the grandmother.  

O’Connor, Flannery. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” Pegasus.cc.ucf.edu. 11 June 2019.