I'm Opinionated

Author's Note: This is what I thought of the film adaption to Hemingway's A Clean Well-lighted Place.

I didn’t imagine the scenery to be anything like it was in the video version of A Clean Well Lighted Place. I personally felt the setting was far too modern and didn’t make sense in context due to the fact it was supposed to take place during World War 2. They didn’t make much attempt to capture that in any way except the soldier that passes by the window with the lady. I also felt they should have been outside. The fact the man was deaf and inside confused me due to the fact he was supposed to “feel the difference” in the area around him because it was quiet. However, it can always be quiet inside. Outdoors at night everything just seems to calm and kind of freeze, so I thought that would’ve been better. It should’ve been more open and He should’ve been further away from the waiters as well. Maybe at a table built for two, yet he was sitting alone. The tree branches hanging above him casting a shadow casted by the moon. The waiters could’ve been under some kind of light source like hanging lights. I think it just would’ve added to the affect.

However, I liked the metaphoric use of the glass not being completely empty that we discussed in class. The man never finished his entire glass, showing that there was so little left of him. That small bit of his Brandy left still at the bottom of his glass was him. I also liked the use of music to add affect to the scene. When the man got up and left walking away I feel the way he walked back into the darkness was clever as well, showing he was leaving where he could feel happy back into his depression, followed by a single light left. The darkness consumed him too quickly though. I don’t think it should’ve been that dark straight away.

Growing Up: Jem Character Analysis

Author's Note: This is my short essay on the character Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird and how he changes throughout the book. I feel his character is easy to have many relations to due to the fact we all have to grow up at some point.

Remember that teddy bear you hugged every day? How about those dolls sitting in the back of your closet? Remember that shirt you used to wear all the time when you were little? How tiny it must be now? We all have to grow up somehow sooner or later in our lives. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird lives a boy names Jem, who definitely changes throughout the book. At the ages of 10 through 13, a time in which children tend to begin to mature, Jem is put into different scenarios and exposed to the outside world. Through the eyes of his sister, Scout, you can definitely see how Jem matures and changes throughout the book.

Jem changes a lot through the course of the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird in this book. His ideas and experiences change his viewpoint on the word though. To begin,  Jem found that an ideal picture of bravery was simply touching the side of Boo Radley’s house. He is more immature and more unaware. “In all his life, Jem never declined a dare” (13). However, as he begins to grow up he learns more about the key terms of bravery witnessing his father shooting a mad dog, and battling a case for a black man. He witnesses first hand Mrs. Dubose’s struggles with drug addiction, Scout’s confrontation with the mob at the jail and so on. Each tapped into the real world, a part of the world in which he didn’t really see before.

As he keeps progressing throughout the book, he begins to make more of the right, yet more difficult choices. For example, when Dill sneaks into Scout’s bedroom running from home, all Jem says is “You oughta let your mother know where you are”(141). Following this is an even more risky decision, involving Atticus. You can see that his coping skills are still developing in the courthouse. When Scout overhears Miss Gates’ racist remarks, she tells Jem. At this point, Jem snaps in reply “I never wanta hear about that courthouse again, ever, ever, you hear me?” (247). Showing evidence of change once again, Jem has been exposed to experiences he’s not really used to.

Jem grows from being the trouble making young boy who dragged Scout along with him throughout his little adventures, to a more mature young man who tries to help guide Scout throughout her life, helping her understand the more complex situations that surround her.

It's Your Life

Author's Note: This is my point of view piece on the song "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, along with the view point of our parents and the truth, in my opinion, of the situations.

Remember when you were a kid and your parents would always tell you what to do? They’d tell you what you had to do, when you had to and how? In “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi, it portrays a man who is standing his ground in saying “It’s my life. I’m in control. I’ll do what I want to do.”  There are very different points of view that live within the song and could likewise rise from it.

Jon starts the song off in saying “This aint a song for the broken-hearted. No silent prayer for the faith-departed. I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd. You’re gonna hear me when I shout it out loud.” These few lines basically open the song saying he doesn’t want sympathy or anything like that, but  wants people to hear him out. He wants them to hear his side. He’s going to make them listen. He then continues onto the chorus: “It’s my life, it’s now or never. I’m not gonna live forever. I just wanna while I’m alive. My heart is like an open highway. Like Frankie said, ‘I did it my way.’ I just wanna live while I’m alive. It’s my life.” He’s explaining that he needs to live his life, and that he doesn’t need to live for or by anyone else; he needs to start now. Putting emphasis on It’s my life by repeating it three times throughout the chorus, and the saying “Like Frankie said, ‘I did it my way.’” he definitely puts a pressure on the fact he wants to be more independent. But, how do his and our parents feel?

We as teenagers long for the independence we’ve been searching and craving, but I don’t think we always stop to look at our parent’s point of view. They are the only true people who have known us from birth. They went through the good and bad times , struggling through hardships. They protected us from our fears and the outside world.

Now, you and I both know how teenagers are. Let’s face it: we think we know everything and can handle ourselves. Just imagine being a parent, or if you already are a parent then  think about it. You would want the best for your children or you currently do and you know that. All of this “YOLO” currently and things like that are just the stupid excuses people use to get drunk and be stupid. Just really think about it, our parents have lived through the same kind of years that we do now. However, everything around us has evolved and changed. Teenagers have access to a lot more using the internet, our cell phones, advanced transportations, etc. You and I both know the things that teenagers get offered, the effects their decisions have on them, and the things that can happen in their lives. Things like drugs they may do, death you may see or hear about in teen years. Parents just want to prevent us from falling into any of those traps. I could almost guarantee that if you were to ask a parent if they could think back to a time they wish they would’ve listened to their mom, their dad, their aunt, their uncle, their grandparents… anyone who knew more than they  knew, they could.  

Asking a few parents on their point of views, and reading different forums, I found a lot of the same responses falling into categories of wanting the best for their kids, wanting their kids to succeed, and wanting to prevent their own kids of making the same mistakes they had. “Well, I see myself in [my child]. I made a lot of the same stupid mistakes and those decisions still affect me today.” Stated an anonymous source. Another stated that their teenage kids tend to be more “reckless” than the people of her generation due changes in society and what is made available to them. It seems that what parents say reins true. They really do want the best for their children.

We as teenagers often take what our parents are trying to do for granted, and also often take it in the wrong way. Yes, it’s our life but we can always use some guidance throughout.  We don’t truly know as much as we think we do. The more we know, the more there is to learn. Parents will be parents and try to help us, but it’s up to us to learn and progress from ourselves and our parents. 

Two Views in the Same Situation

Author's Note: This is my evaluation on the two waiters in the story A Clean, Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway.

The younger waiter is naïve. I feel  that he may not be thankful for what he has and seems selfish in wanting to keep something by depriving another man of something that keeps him happy.  He seems to have a more negative approach to things as well. In the beginning he doesn’t really evaluate the situation of the old man in saying his problem was “nothing.” He also states "I wouldn't want to be that old. An old man is a nasty thing." This shows that he lacks knowledge and shows once again that he doesn’t look beyond the situations.

The older waiter seems to be more wise and seems to have a brighter look on everything. He sees the good in everything and has more of a positive outlook upon it. He notices the way the streets and everything is quieter at night, so the old man can feel the difference since there’s nothing to hear. He really tries to understand the old man’s perspective. 

Life of the Party

Author's Note: This is my creative piece I did for our "anything" assignment. I decided to take the monologue I wrote for my forensics competitions and enhance it to a higher writing standard and add just a bit to the story.

Yeah. I  used to be the life of the party. Even when there was no party I’d make one happen, but one night I took the party too far. My boyfriend of two years dumped me so me and my best friend went out. I was devastated but there were people and a party and man alive was I gonna have fun! Yeah, we took some shots… some more than others… I got a little drunk. Okay, more than a little drunk. These guys wanted to race… they noticed my mustang, Cherry and complimented my ride. My best friend  Lily told me. She told me over and over it wasn’t a good idea. I just brushed her off and got in the car. “You’re gonna get yourself killed!” now that sent shivers up my spine. I could feel the tears in my eyes threatening to fall. Remembering him. Remembering everything we had. Those two whole years, and he throws it all away…? Then she was there. Lily. She cared for me, she was like… my sister. But all I said was “I don’t care.” And I left. She just followed me got in the car with me. She wouldn’t let me go alone. She wouldn’t let me be alone. She knew how I was when I was alone. By the time we’d gotten in the guys had pulled up to the side of our car. They shot me a daring look and I gave them one back. They yelled out “Ready… go!” and we were off. I was having the time of my life but she was holding on for dear life. She kept telling me to slow down! Slow down. Slow down… I still hear her voice echoing in my head. But at that point I didn’t care. I didn’t listen. A deer ran out onto the road and I slammed on the breaks, skidding the road to try and stop the car. I severed and that’s when I realized we were up on the hill because I hit this giant rock and the car flipped. We tumbled down the hill, car and all. I blacked out, and when I woke up… we were still in the car. I looked over at Lily. Her body was so lifeless, and she wouldn’t move. There was some blood leaking from her head. I thought she was asleep, kind of like how I’d been knocked out. I shook her body, it was limp and flimsy. “Wake up,” I told her, “it’s okay now. We’re fine.” Still, nothing. “Lily!” I yelled. She still wouldn’t budge. I just kept yelling at her shaking her harder and harder. Then I stopped to look at her. There wasn’t a single bob in her stomach. Not a flinch in her body. He face was pail and her eyes stayed shut. She looked peaceful, like she had fallen to rest. But she wasn’t resting, Lily was dead.  She was dead… and it was all my fault.

Even after that I tried to be the life of the party, but boy do I really have to try! I make people laugh… I even make myself laugh. Oh, I worked good and hard to make myself laugh. You can hear me from a block away! “Isn’t she somethin’?” people would say, “always happy, always laughing. Look at her! Always with that smile.” Heck, even I thought I was happy, but only as long as I wasn’t alone. I can’t even tell you how much I hated that… being alone… I always have and always will. Yeah, I have- I mean had friends. Not everyone wanted to sign on though… sometimes I’d see a frown, or maybe a… disgusted look. One time I heard someone… “Damn I wish that chick would just shut up. Such an attention whore! Heck she even got her friend killed.” But I mean, who cares what they think right? I mean come on! You’ve got the whole crowd! Party poopers… that’s all they are. They can’t keep me from my happy state. They can’t tear down my walls I’ve just gotta keep going!

But… that wore me out sometimes, you know? Working like that, keeping the motor running, the horn honking, all that smoke pouring out. Sometimes I just wanted to come to rest… you know? Just stop… kind of like a shark. Oh wait. That’s right! Sharks don’t stop. They can’t or they’ll die. So I guess I’m like a shark huh? Well… today I made a mistake… I stayed alone. Sitting alone I decided that I should just do what I’ve been wanting to. Rest. So… I took some pills. A lot of pills. My stomach’s really starting to hurt, but you know what? Now I feel great. I just might be able to see her again… up there.  Now before any of you judge me more than I know you already have. Before any of you call me selfish, an attention whore again… Before you, my so called “friends” talk behind my back… I want you to know how I feel. ‘Cause I mean, what would you do if you killed your best friend?

My Brother Sam is Dead

*Two months later*

The windows shuddered and fences rattled at the gusts of wind. Rain splattered upon the windows. The dark night could pierce one’s soul with a single strike. I sat stirring my soup, not appetizer as I had been for the past few months.

“Quit playing with your food, boy!” I looked up to see my father’s eyes beaming into mine. I took a spoonful of my stew placing it into my mouth and swallowing. “There you go.” He smiled. I simply grinned back. Everything was always boring without Sam. Yes, there was less fighting, but there nights without him seemed to always lack something. I just sat there thinking of Sam. I imagined all the things he was doing. Shooting people down, meeting women, getting drunk almost every night. Of course, I’d never tell father.

My thoughts got interrupted with a knock on the door. “Well, aren’t you gonna get it?” My father questioned me staring in my direction. I glanced to my mother, then back to my father, “Yes, sir.” I replied solemnly walking to the door. With a tug, the wisps of wind blew the door open, and in came a man in a black suit. “Hello,” he began, “I’m am so very sorry to inform you… your bother, son, accomplice, family member-“

“The point sir, while were still young?” I asked. My father shot me a glare.

“Okay,” the man said looking down at me, “Sam is dead.”

“W-what?” I managed to croak out.

“Your brother Sam is dead.” He said standing beside me.

“You’re lying. He’s not dead.” I muttered staring at the floor.

“Pardon?” the man asked.

“I said he’s not dead! You’re lying!”

“Timmy!” my dad rose from his seat, “shut the door and sit down! I won’t any back sass from you tonight, and I sure as hell am not ” I didn’t argue and I did as I was told. I know he had to be lying. He had to be. Sam was… extraordinary, the best solider I’d ever met.

The world seemed to stop as I felt my world shift. I sat with my tears waiting, threatening to fall from my eyes. Sam was…. Dead? No, no he couldn’t be. That’s impossible. He’s amazing at what he does. He would take crap from anyone.

“I’m truly sorry, sir.” The man said, “I’ll leave you folks alone.” With a tip of his hat he was out the door into the pouring rain.

“I warned him. No one can compare to our mighty soldiers. We’re the best in the world.” Father stated firmly.

“So you don’t even care?” I questioned him.

He shot daggers into my eyes. “Of course I care. He’s my boy,” he said looking down playing food, “It’s just… its better now and someone else than me.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

My mother patted father’s back comfortingly. “I’m going to be going off to war. You need to be the man of the house and look after your mother.”

“When were you gonna tell me?”

“Soon.”

“but-“

“Just eat your food.” I did what I was told.

“You know,” My father began, “You could be off in war too. You’re getting there in age.” I looked around the room trying to fixate on what to say next. “Or you can stay and care for your mother.” He suggested once again.

“I’ll think about it.” I said, plastering a smirk on my face. And that I did. When my father set off for war I said my goodbyes to him and then to my mother when there was absolution had gone. Following in my brother’s footsteps, I set off for freedom and independence from the British and the daily dictations of my father.

What I'd Tell Our Founding Fathers

Dear Founding Fathers of the Constitution,

Your Constitution has been changed quite a bit since you had last seen it. It’s heavily guarded, and is an immense part of our Country as it stands today due to its significance. The changes to our and your Constitution are at quite a large extent, and rules have changed a bit since you last saw them, which I know you assumed there would be. Sculpting to our needs, your constitution was and still is a living document that has kept our nation united and strong.

Years and years after you all died, a war broke between the South and North region, the Civil war. It occurred over the disagreements involving slavery. Even though about half of the citizens of our country disagreed with slavery, it was still legal until the North states won, ending slavery. Then Civil War Amendments were added to the Constitution. The thirteenth amendment ended slavery, the fourteenth amendment protected those slaves whom were freed, and the fifteenth amendment was created to protect blacks’ voting rights. Though our country went through a lot at that stage, the Constitution kept us together and healed us in this way.

Over the years, more and more amendments were created through basic passage of legislation by congress, an action taken by a President, key decisions by a Supreme Court, or the activities of a political party. There were twelve more amendments after the fifteenth. The biggest milestones I feel were the nineteenth, twenty-second, and the twenty-sixth amendments. Being a huge turning point of our country was the nineteenth stating there is to be “no denial of suffrage based on sex,” meaning women could now vote, not just men like in your day. Another amendment was the twenty-second explains presidents can only serve two terms in congress. One of the last amendments is the twenty-sixth, allowing voting at the age of eighteen. In all there are twenty-seven amendments, which I can guarantee you will increase as years pass.

The Constitution has been a phenomenal part of strengthening our country while maintaining flexibility to adapt to our needs as a whole. Your document has now become one of the most important, heavily guarded pieces of history of our nation. I wonder if you could’ve even imagined just how far it would come and how large of a binding factor it is for our country.

Sincerely,

Hannah