Reviews
| July 21, 2020 | |
| The Hunger Artist” (Kafka) […] then again, he shrank completely into himself once more, concerned with no one […] (1)
| This reminds me of the modern world where people who seem to have it all like celebrities still attempt to take their own lives. The quote goes to show that despite all the fame and money, no one is immune to loneliness.
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| The Hunger Artist” (Kafka) No one, not even the starvation artist himself knew how great his achievement was, and his heart grew heavy. (8)
| I began to think of a period in my life where my online persona aimed to please the society. People’s opinions outweighed my desire to live as I saw fit. I only showcased the positive aspects of my life, posting photos that would ignite jealousy among my peers. However, I soon realized that I can never please everyone and that I do not need attention from an audience to feel accomplished
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| AP&P
“We are decent,” Queenie says suddenly […]. (18)
| These words by Queenie makes me think that people should be like her and defend their principles even though it means challenging an authority figure because if you do not stand up for yourself, you cannot expect others to do so on your behalf.
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| AP&P “I said I quit.” (24)
| Sammy’s attempt to stand up for the girls makes me wonder why people in today’s world are preoccupied with how harshly society will judge, rather than standing up for themselves and others.
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| “Bartleby, the Scrivener” (Melville):
Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance. (35)
| I find it fascinating that people are so used to hostile responses and behavior that they do not know how to handle peaceful protests.
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| “Bartleby, the Scrivener” (Melville):
“I would prefer not,” he replied, with his back still towards me.
“You must.”
He remained silent. (76-77)
| The lesson here is that at times, silence is the most efficient way of communicating especially in instances that can destroy relationships, whether professional or personal.
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| “The Birth Mark” (Hawthorne); [W]ith her whole spirit she prayed that, for a single moment, she might satisfy his highest and deepest conception. Longer than one moment she well knew it could not be; for his spirit was ever on the march, ever-ascending . . . [requiring] something that was beyond the scope of the instant before. (17)
| The passage reminds me of society’s unattainable beauty standards that give pressure to people, especially women to go to great lengths to look perfect. The ever-changing beauty standards make me realize that one can never be perfect because perfection does not exist.
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| “The Birth Mark” (Hawthorne);
“[H]ere is a powerful cosmetic. With a few drops of this in a vase of water, freckles may be washed away. . . . A stronger infusion would take the blood out of the cheek, and leave the rosiest beauty a pale ghost. . . . Your case demands a remedy that shall go deeper.”(13)
| I find it fascinating how humans accord themselves the responsibility of judging other people’s moral fiber
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