An Interpretation of Langston Hughes Early Autumn

An Interpretation of Langston Hughes Early Autumn Langston Hughes (1902-1967) is best known for writing poems like The Negro Speaks of Rivers or Harlem. Hughes has also written plays, nonfiction, and short stories such as Early Autumn.  The latter originally appeared in the Chicago Defender on September  30, 1950, and was later included in his 1963 collection, Something in Common and Other Stories. It has also been featured  in a collection called The Short Stories of Langston Hughes, edited by Akiba Sullivan Harper. What Flash Fiction Is At fewer than 500 words, Early Autumn is yet another example of flash fiction written before anyone was using the term flash fiction.  Flash fiction is a very short and brief version of fiction that is generally a few hundred words or less as a whole. These types of stories are also known as sudden, micro, or quick fiction and can include elements of poetry or narrative.  Writing flash fiction can be done by using just a few characters, shortening a story, or starting in the middle of a plot.   With this analysis of the plot, a point of view, and other aspects of the story, the following will lead to a better understanding of Early Autumn.   A Plot Involving  Exes Two former lovers, Bill and Mary, cross paths in Washington Square in New York. Years have passed since they last saw each other. They exchange pleasantries about their jobs and their children, each of them perfunctorily inviting the others family to visit. When Marys bus arrives, she boards and is overwhelmed by all the things she has failed to say to Bill, both in the present moment (her address, for instance), and presumably, in life. The Story Begins With a Point of View of the Characters The narrative starts with a brief, neutral history of Bill and Marys relationship. Then, it moves to their current reunion, and the omniscient narrator gives us some details from each characters point of view. Almost the only thing Bill can think about is how old Mary looks. The audience is told, At first he did not recognize her, to him she looked so old. Later, Bill struggles to find something complimentary to say about Mary with, Youre looking very ... (he wanted to say old) well. Bill seems uncomfortable (a little frown came quickly between his eyes) to learn that Mary is living in New York now. Readers get the impression that he hasnt thought much about her in recent years and is not enthusiastic about having her back in his life in any way. Mary, on the other hand, seems to harbor affection for Bill, even though she was the one who left him and married a man she thought she loved. When she greets him, she lifts her face, as if wanting a kiss, but he just extends his hand. She seems disappointed to learn that Bill is married. Finally, in the last line of the story, readers learn that her youngest child is also named Bill, which indicates the extent of her regret for ever having left him. The Symbolism of the Early Autumn Title in the Story At first, it seems obvious that Mary is the one who is in her autumn. She looks noticeably old, and in fact, she is older than Bill. Autumn represents a time of loss, and Mary clearly feels a sense of loss as she desperately reach[es] back into the past. Her emotional loss is emphasized by the setting of the story. The day is almost over and its getting cold. Leaves fall inevitably from the trees, and throngs of strangers pass Bill and Mary as they talk. Hughes writes, A great many people went past them through the park. People they didnt know. Later, as Mary boards the bus, Hughes re-emphasizes the idea that Bill is irrevocably lost to Mary, just as the falling leaves are irrevocably lost to the trees from which they have fallen. People came between them outside, people crossing the street, people they didnt know. Space and people. She lost sight of Bill. The word early in the title is tricky. Bill too will be old one day, even if he cant see it at this moment. If Mary is undeniably in her autumn, Bill might not even recognize that he is in his early autumn. and he is the one most shocked by Marys aging. She takes him by surprise at a time in his life when he might have imagined himself immune to winter. A Spark of Hope and Meaning in a Turning Point of the Story Overall, Early Autumn feels sparse, like a tree nearly bare of leaves. The characters are at a loss for words, and readers can feel it. There is one moment in the story that feels noticeably different from the rest: Suddenly the lights came on up the whole length of Fifth Avenue, chains of misty brilliance in the blue air. This sentence marks a turning point in many ways: First, it signals the end of Bill and Marys attempt at conversation, startling Mary into the present.If the lights symbolize truth or revelation, then their sudden brightness represents the irrefutable passage of time and the impossibility of ever recovering or re-doing the past. That the lights run the whole length of Fifth Avenue further emphasizes the completeness of this truth; there is no way to escape the passage of time.Its worth noting that the lights turn on right after Bill says, You ought to see my kids and grins. Its a surprisingly unguarded moment, and its the only expression of genuine warmth in the story. Its possible that his and Marys children might represent those lights, being the brilliant chains that link the past with an ever-hopeful future.

Odysseus essays

Odysseus essays Imagine yourself in control of fate, the fate of yourself and the fate of your friends. And for everything you do there could be a horrible outcome that affects lives of everyone you know including your own. Now you can see how Odysseus and his crew were not accountable for the misfortune they received. The situations were merely fate. Isaac Newton once stated, For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction, but what is everything was beyond your control and left up to a higher power to decide? The higher power, the gods, for every action there could be a huge reaction. Odysseus and his men had no control due to fate and the gods. When it comes to the fate of your destiny can you handle it, the pressure of knowing what will happen to you? Fate is the dictionary is defined as the force that predestines an inevitable event. Another word for fate could be chance, luck, or even doom. With that in consideration, fate is a possibility of something good or something bad. Odysseus and his men were put in many situations way beyond their control. How can you control chance, how can you stop the future from happening, its impossible to control. Odysseus could not have power over every one of his ship mates, he can help guide them but he is only human and cant do everything. Like when Odysseus warns his men not to eat the forbidden fruit yet they do anyway and he ends up loosing his whole crew. Bearing in mind that Odysseus did do some guilty tasks on his 20-year journey, the gods had overall power. Odysseus was simply a puppet to the gods, if they wanted him to jump he jumped, but dont think that Odysseus wanted to jump. For instance when Odysseus was a Circes he really wanted to leave at first then got used to it and then was forced to leave by Zeus. Another example would be that it was Poseidon who kept Odysseus from getting home for 10 years wondering the open ocean not knowing where he was go...

Quotations for Bonding With Your Sister

Quotations for Bonding With Your Sister I grew up with two sisters. As kids, we had our share of squabbles and catty fights, just like any other siblings. However, I didnt feel that our parents ever favored one over the other, or interfered in our quarrels. They let us settle our own matters. I always found that when tempers flared, my younger sister would say something cute, and make us all laugh. Our quarrels never lasted for more than a day, often lasting only for minutes. Brothers Are Different From Sisters As a mother of two boys, I see a different type of relationship between my two sons. Boys squabble over different issues than girls. The way two brothers bond with each other is different from the way sisters bond. I watched my sisters grow up into beautiful, capable and confident women. My overprotective older sister grew up to be cautious and risk-averse. She made calculated moves, ensuring that she protected her family at every turn. My younger sister went about her business with an air of nonchalance, seeking new adventures even at great personal risk. She achieved her ambitions early in life, which fueled her aspirations. I often wonder how despite our common childhood experiences, we developed different skills and perspectives. Your Sister and You Have a Shared Childhood Many sisters bond over shared childhood experiences, and how these experiences impacted their life. Your sister has shared your journey of life during childhood; the time when personalities get formed. Your sister has seen you in your most vulnerable moments. She knows you nature inside out. She understands you even better than you understand yourself. Who better than your sister to confide your darkest secrets? Sisters Hold the Mirror Up to Your Face Need a reality check? Go to your sister. She will mince no words when she has to tell you that you are a boneheaded egomaniac. However, you can rest assured that she is on your side, and she means well. Your arguments with your sister will enable you to think through your decision and make the right move. Sisters Can Shield You From the World The best thing about sisters is that they give you room to make your own mistakes. While your sister may still dangle the threat of squealing to your mother, she will help you when you need her the most. She will protect her family honor by defending you against your enemies. What Makes Sisters Special Sisters are Gods greatest blessings. You are lucky if you have a sister. Make your relationship special by sharing intimate childhood experiences with your sister. Walk down memory lane as you recount your good and bad childhood memories. Share your views about each other, and get a fresh perspective about yourself. Build an everlasting bond of friendship with these sister quotes. Cherish this bond of sibling love and make your life complete. Cute Sister Quotes Cali Rae TurnerThe best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.Linda SunshineIf you dont understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child.Pam BrownSisters annoy, interfere, criticize. Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks. Borrow. Break. Monopolize the bathroom. Are always underfoot. But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there. Defending you against all comers.Barbara AlpertShe is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, shes the reason you wish you were an only child.Pam BrownIf your sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and cannot catch your eye, shes wearing your best sweater.Victoria SecundaTo have a loving relationship with a sister is not simply to have a buddy or a confident; it is to have a soul mate for life.Margaret MeadSisters are probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.Marion C GarrettyA sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.Carol SalineWhat sets sisters apart from brothers and also from friends is a very intimate meshing of heart, soul and the mystical cords of memory.Charles M SchulzBig sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life.Isadora JamesA sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.Louise GluckOf two sisters, one is always the watcher, one the dancer.Carol SalineSisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.Gail SheenyHusbands come and go; children come and eventually they go. Friends grow up and move away. But the one thing thats never lost is your sister.Pam BrownA younger sister is someone to use as a guinea pig in trying sledges and experimental go-carts. Someone to send on messages to Mum. But someone who needs you who comes to you with bumped heads, grazed knees, tales of persecution. Someone who trusts you to defend her. Someone who thinks you know the answers to almost everything.

The Glass Menagerie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Glass Menagerie - Essay Example The Glass Menagerie is â€Å"his most intimate and personal play† , and this intimacy allows the audience to enter some of the more vulnerable sides of what may be argued to be Williams’s own character through Laura. We see the delicacy of her mind in the most intimate detail, and come away from the play understanding our own vulnerabilities better. Laura is crippled in two ways: physically and emotionally. The weight of her psychological problems is embodied by her physical condition, which never allows the audience to forget what miseries the world may bring to an individual. One might contrast the effect of her crippled self on her with that of Shakespeare’s Richard III . He loathes the world and seeks vengeance upon it because of what fate has dealt to him, she reveals an almost martyr-like compassion towards others because of her misfortune. Thus she sheds genuine tears of sadness over Tom’s unhappiness, as is revealed by Amanda in Scene 4. She is a stark contrast to the embittered selfishness of most of the characters. Williams uses an effective dramatic technique to make her even more mysterious: he gives her the fewest lines and yet much of the plot seems to revolve around her. As one online source puts it, â€Å"she is the axis around which the plot turns, and the most prominent symbols – blue roses, the glass unicorn, the entire glass menagerie – all in some sense represent her.† Laura may the fulcrum around which the other characters revolve, but she is also deeply involved in their lives. Laura is used by other characters to valorize their own feelings, or to recapture aspects of their personality that they think they have lost. For example, Amanda contrasts herself with Laura’s poor physical state in order to exemplify the joyous glamour of her own youth and to suggest that she can also somehow rekindle that youth through Laura. Echoes of Miss Havisham

Impact of media such as video games, film and TV on the behaviour of Essay

Impact of media such as video games, film and TV on the behaviour of teenagers - Essay Example The way the media has captured the hearts and the minds of young people has made people think that it will impact not only their routine but also their behaviour patterns and thinking patterns. It is feared that violence in media will make young people become violent in nature. Many people believe and are convinced that children and teenagers will become more aggressive and will indulge in unlawful activities if they are exposed to violence in media on a continuous basis (Freedman, 2002, p. ix). These beliefs and fears about media violence impacting the young people negatively have been fostered by claims of scientific research conducted by psychologists and health organisations. However, the fact that media violence does not cause aggression has been proven by many research studies in field of social psychology (Freedman, 2002, p. ix). Many shortcomings, like poor measuring of aggression, lack of appropriate methodology and failure to control the important third variable, have been found in the pieces of research that claimed that media violence causes aggression in teenagers (Holder, 2012, p. 77). However, the negative impact of violence in media, especially in video games and television shows, has been hyped so much by the media that it has created fear in the minds of people. People need to understand that there are several positive effects of video games and television shows that have been recorded through reliable research studies. It is the need of an hour to get deep into the topic. Instead of believing just half the story, people should make efforts to know the whole truth. The fear that media violence causes teenagers to behave in aggressive manner is baseless as research studies have proved that media can be useful not only in developing certain physical skills but can also help in the development of social and moral values. The impact of video games Video games are considered to be one of the most harmful screen based media of all. The fact that one of the most popular media among teenagers and young people is the video game has increased the concern of adults. It was understood that regular playing of video games have led to negative physical, psychological and social effects on players (Gunter, 1998, p. 15). It was also thought that the unhealthy level of pre-occupation with video games and computers can lead to development of addiction in children (Gunter, 1998, p. 15). In their study, Linn and Lepper (1987) have reported that teachers have found observably more impulsive and aggressive behaviour in boys aged 10 to 12 years, known to be regular video game players, and with whom they had regular contact in school (as cited in Gunter, 1998, p. 96). According to Anderson et al. (2010), a meta-analysis showed that aggressive behaviours in players across culture, and gender is found to be increasing with playing of violent video games (as cited in Holder, 2012, p.77). However, contrasting claims were made by various research stu dies on the impact of media on teenagers. The relationship between aggressive behaviour and video games is not established in all the researches (Gunter, 1998, p. 96). In a study of individuals aged 12 to 34 by Gibb et al. (1983), no relationship was found between the measures of hostility or self-esteem in the subjects with the amount of indulgence in the video games they played (as cited in Gunter, 1998, p. 96). In fact, a study by Kestenbaum and Weinstein (1985) has

Letter to the editor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Letter to the editor - Essay Example In essence, the tax forced energy raise in energy prices and also costs job. Many businesses have to strain their resources and change business operation techniques to compete well in the marketplace. In essence, exaggerated carbon taxes have been attributed the rapid lose of competitiveness of Australian products in the global market. This is especially due to an increase in the product prices to be able to cover the production costs emanating from the introduction of the high carbon tax. On commencement of the carbon tax, Australian carbon prices tripled those of the European countries. The European Emission Trading Schemes generates $23 million as compared to $77.3 million per week in Australia. As such, Australian exports are higher in prices. These high taxes increases the cost of production and the weight laid on consumers who in turn consume fewer products. The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) find it tricky to monitor prices or take action against organizations that try to exploit consumers or other business by charging unjustly high prices. Notably, businesses and households use price signal as an explanation for lowered consumption of particular products. According to statistics, consumers are likely to turn to using up cheaper imports. This has built uncertainty for investment; hence, companies prone to emission of carbon will be afraid to invest further considering the high tax payment. This also renders high competition from other energy plants. As a result, some industries will end up withdrawing from business; hence, an economic downturn. From above perspective, the controversial carbon policy is both beneficial and detrimental. In line with the set standards on climate change in the Kyoto Protocol, Australia must be committed to trimming down the emission of greenhouse gases. However,

Asian-American Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Asian-American Experience - Essay Example The two stories I had selected are Adrian Tomine's â€Å"Shortcomings† and the â€Å"Flower Drum Song† by Rodgers and Hammerstein. In the case of â€Å"Shortcomings†, the main part is played by Ben Tanaka (a Japanese-American) who is living in Berkeley, California and works at a movie theater. He considers himself more American than Japanese in his ways and he is always confounded and confused by his Japanese girlfriend named Miko Hayashi. He claims he could hardly understand Miko anymore by this statement: â€Å"Her name's Miko and, uh, she's Japanese, so you know ....† to hide his own feelings of sexual insecurity and misanthropy. Ben can be considered to be no better than an adolescent wrestling with his own internal demons about conflicts regarding his real identity (although he is now 30 years old). He soon fell into disgrace and disrepute when Miko leaves him temporarily ostensibly to take up an internship in New York and showed his preference for bl onds by becoming entangled with two women.This preference is not actually sexually related but a manifestation of his cultural brainwashing or an unexpressed desire to assimilate and belong to the larger community instead of his own racial minority. Ben, perhaps due to some cultural innocence, was very much surprised upon learning that Miko had gone to New York, not for the internship but to hook up with someone else - a photographer. This naivetà © is indicative of the sometimes confusing world faced by all Americans of mixed ancestries. Ben Tanaka had staked his cultural.