"A Raisin in the Sun"-The Generation Gap.

Show how Raisin deals with the generation gap--the problems that the older generation has in dealing with the younger generation and vice versa. 

 

"In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the North if we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too...Now here come you and Beneatha--talking 'bout things we ain't never even thought about hardly, me and your daddy.  You ain't satisfied or proud of nothing we done.  I mean that you had a home; that we kept you out of trouble till you was grown; that you don't have to ride to work on the back of nobody's streetcar--You my children--but how different we done become" (Hansberry, 74)

 

Lorraine Hansberry creates a great conflict between the generation of Mama and the generation of Walter and Ruth.  Mama does not understand how Ruth and Walter can be so unappreciative and fail to recognize what they do have versus what they do not.  Regarding Ruth and Walter's generation, there seems to be an abundance of self-perceived shame.  They hold little pride in the jobs they hold--even referring to themselves as "servants".  Walter abhors his job as a chauffeur and takes little appreciation in the fact that he has a job at all, as pointed out by Mama.  Because of this miniscule amount of pride, they seem to have difficulty being proud of anyone else.  For example, they chastise Beneatha for going after her dream of being a doctor instead of applaud her efforts.  Mama understands the amount of hard work it took to get the family where it is today, even if they are experiencing a rough patch.  Her husband, her parents, and ancestors wanted to create a better life for future generations.  Mama recognizes that this is a process that will take time.  Unfortunately, they will not be immediately gratified with the perfect life.  Though wise, Mama is incapable of seeing the large toll the times have taken on Ruth and Walter's generation that creates the high level of frustration.  They are working day in a day out and getting nowhere fast.  In the end, they eventually find that the middle ground of these two conflicts is where the resolution lies. 

"Interpreter of Maladies"-Jhumpa Lahiri

     "Their accents sounded just like the ones Mr. Kapasi hear on American television programs, though not like the ones on Dallas" (Lahiri).

      Lahiri points out a flaw within international society by making this allusion to American television programs.  Americans form an idea of foreigners through television.  People in other countries obtain their perception of Americans the exact same way.  They assume Americans are exactly as they are portrayed on-screen.  Most of time, television only presents the mere extremes of society while the majority rest somewhere in the middle.  These assumptions both Americans and the foreigners make about each other can be fatal.  Body language and speech can be easily misconstrued on both parts.  I think that the widely-accepted theory of Americans (produced by way of media), that they have low morals, causes trouble for Mr. Kapasi.  At one point, he just assumes he and Mrs. Das will eventually be together believing she would easily desert her husband and children.  Within this short story, Lahiri presents a small side message to take caution in how one makes himself known to others and how that one perceives others within the international society.       

"Everyday Use"-Alice Walker

    Like Holman, one of Walker's messages in "Everyday Use" is found through irony.  The irony in this short story is focused primarily upon the character of Dee.  Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Dee expresses a deep desire to leave behind her world and go in search of one that she could be proud of.  In fact, she does find a world that she is probably more suited for.  However, in this, she discovers that her race and history is not something to take shame in.
   Her mother (and therefore, the audience) have the idea that Dee has no respect for the aspects that make up her culture.  In the story, the reader learns she was not protective of her sister and refused to take a quilt.  Because of this, her mother makes little attempt to show her the richness and beauty that can be found within her roots.  Fortunately, Dee seems to grasp the idea on her own that one's origins are something to be proud of or at least recognize.  She expresses sentiment to her sister by telling Maggie to put herself out there in the world.  She now wants the quilts and even verbally appreciates "the benches her daddy made for the table when we couldn't afford to buy chairs" (Walker).  

"Hazel Tells Laverne"-Katharyn Howd Machan

     The manner in which this poem is written contributes greatly to its significance.   Even without the title, the reader would be able to recognize the poem as a conversation due to the use of vernacular.  By omitting grammar and instituting cacography, Machan creates an image of who the characters are without explicitly telling the readers who they are or what they look like.
    The nonexistence of punctuation to mark the end of a thought gives Hazel a personality.  From the development of this personality, the reader will most likely assume the refrain, "me a princess" (Machan), was stated in a interrogative or exclamatory manner.  Either way, this shows that the idea of Hazel becoming a "princess" was completely unfathomable.  Her location and assumed place within society seems to create an atmosphere that reinforces this idea.
    One aspect of this poem that confuses me is the year in which it was written.  To me, 1976 does not compliment the theme of the poem which addresses specific divisions within society that were strong throughout the 1930s into the 1960s.  The poem has a much older tone to it, as if it had been written in these decades.     

"Mr. Z"-M. Carl Holman

     Holman utilizes a strong ironic tone throughout the poem that becomes most obvious in the final line.  Even the title itself expresses irony.  A name as a singular letter normally suggests generality of anonymity.  However the letter "z" is often regarded as unique because its use is so scarce.  Therefore, the title symbolizes how unique Mr. Z is, even though he is trying to do the opposite and become a "chameleon". 
     Holman also points out the grievances of society through satire.  He displays how the desire to belong to accepted society can drive a man to leave his roots and what he has known for his entire life.  Both Mr. Z and his wife lose a part of their identity by trying to fit themselves into society.  His wife deserts her religion.  Mr. Z disassociates himself with his black heritage.  I thought this made the irony of the last line so strong.  Losing his identity made Mr. Z "one of the most distinguished members of his race" (Holman)   

"A Dream Deferred"-Langston Hughes

      When I read this poem the first time, I did not look at the author's name.  However, when I found out it was written by Langston Hughes, I reread it.  With this, I was able to see through a completely different perspective.  In this case, who the author is alters the meaning of the poem.

Langston Hughes

      Initially, I thought poem was referring to chances/opportunities not taken as dreams.  This made sense until when Hughes asks, "Or [does it] crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?" (Hughes).  The idea of chances not taken being a desirable thing did not seem to make logical sense.  Then, I looked up the definition to deferred.  In this, I found the title has significance to the meaning of the poem.  Deferred, I found, means to postpone or put off until later.
       When discussing dreams that we have put off, Hughes wants to know if the dreams are eventually lost or if they bother us for a while but eventually leave us.  Do they disgust us or do we see them as a fantasy that still not out of reach?  Then, Hughes makes his only declaratory statement, "Maybe it just sags like a heavy load."  Without knowing who the author is, one is unaware of how the issue of race is addressed in this work.  During his lifetime, the majority of an African American man's big dreams were probably deferred, and the idea of accomplishing them was nearly unfathomable.  With this new point of view, the poem changes drastically.     

Perrine Poetry

     Saying "no interpretations of poetry are wrong" is the equivalent of saying "there are no stupid questions."  Both declarations have good intentions; however, just like questions, there are interpretations of poetry that can be completely out of line.  "An area of meaning" exists that cancels out certain extraneous interpretations.  Still, I find it challenging to understand a poem in a symbolic mindset while at the same time getting the idea to "satisfactorily fit any detail."  For example, the daffodil in Dickinson's poem.  One must first find what the daffodil must symbolize and then apply that to make it fit with all the other details of the poem.  Fortunately, Perrine offers helpful tips in understanding poetry.  Never before had I considered extrapolating similar descriptive words in a poem to help create an idea like Perrine does with Melville's "The Night-March".   This skill will be extremely useful in the comprehension of poetry.  Seeing his word clues made the symbolism obvious.  However, when paired with Whitman's "An Army Corps on the March", "The Night-March" is difficult to be seen in this symbolic light as Whitman's poem is purely descriptive. 

     Overall, I prefer Blake's "The Sick Rose" because it does not force the mind to think inside of a box.  The rose and worm can only symbolize certain ideas; this is true.  However, these ideas can be generalized and applied to newer and different situations.  For example, one could see the rose as symbolizing nature and the worm as humanity.  Therefore, one could conclude that humanity is destroying nature by not recycling and wasting natural resources which endanger the beauty of nature in the world.  In Dickinson's, Whitman's, and Melville's poems, one cannot utilize their mind in such a way; one must develop a skill of interpretation that takes time to learn and apply.  In poetry, there are correct interpretations.  There is not solely one, and they are not all right.