A Clean, Well-lighted Place Responce

There are a lot of lighting and shading that effect the image that is being given off from the passage "A Clean, Well-lighted Place" The words "light," "dust," "shadow," "night," "shining," and "daylight" are used many times throughout the passage and each of the words that are used are made to better describe the picture that the reader paints in their minds while reading this. Shadowing sets the mood for a lot of things-- in restaurants, there is dark lighting to set a specific mood, there is a lot of lights in a Wal-Mart to set a specific mood, and candle lighting obviously sets a specific mood. Personally, the description paints a very vivid image in my head when I read the lighting that is taking place; it sets a mood and makes things more realistic to read.

Splashes of Faith

Religion plays a huge role in almost everyone's lives- Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and even Atheism. It is something that is everywhere, no matter where you live, what language you speak, or who you associate with. Even if you don't believe in the same God or greater being that someone else does, it is still talked about and openly brought up a lot in daily life. Not surprisingly, religion isn't brought up a lot in the book Fahrenheit 451; however, there are examples of subliminally placed messages throughout the book that provide proof that there is some sort of faith or belief in the dystopian and seemingly doomed world that Guy is living in.

Religion can be interpreted many different ways in the book; it can be seen as just as constricting as the government, but it also can be seen as a vent, or proof that there is something to believe in within the life that Guy is living in. One way that religion is sincere in the book isn't very subliminally placed -- Faber. From the first page that Faber was introduced in the book to the last page, he was a seemingly mellow person, and very forgiving of Guy's "sinning" of hoarding books. Guy obviously confides in him when he doesn't have a house or anyone to go to, and Faber explains to him that Guy was once just like everyone else, and that he should be displaying pity more than he should fury towards everyone.

From the get go of the book, fire has also been a huge part of the book -- almost an inspiration for fire fighters. A complex thing to look at is how fire ties in with religion, Christianity to be more specific. In the Bible, fire symbolizes presence and divinity. In Fahrenheit 451, fire has many contradictory meanings. On the first page of the book, "It [is] a pleasure to burn. It [is] special to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (3) is described in brilliant colors and the hands of the burner being a conductor. Through the course of the book, the meaning completely changes when Guy uses his instrument of passion, fire, to burn Beattie.

Finally, the bible plays a somewhat important role in the book, starting off when he saves the Bible from the old woman’s house  that was being burnt down. Periodically throughout the book, it is mentioned that Montag is holding the Bible, fiddling with it in his hands, and touching it while it is in sight of him. Also, it is clear that Montag has emotions and expression towards the book when he goes out of his way to show the book to Faber. Lastly, at the near end of the book, Montag agrees that he will memorize the verses of the book, so that in another day, he can reprint it again. Tied in with the ending of the book, as him, Granger, and the others walked up with the river to find survivors of the ultimate atomic destruction of the city, he clearly remembers verses from the Bible; tying in the apocalypse in his world to the apocalypse that was envisioned in the Bible.

“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.” (51) From beginning to end, religion has been thrown in by Bradbury for many indefinite reasons: maybe to show that there is hope in the seemingly doomed world that everyone lives in, or maybe to let people view religion in different angles than just the stereotypical way that religion is portrayed. For whatever reason, the splashes of faith and belief that are painted into the book make the pages so much more creative and mind boggling. With religion added into the book subliminally, the dystopia that is created in the book, doesn’t seem so dystopian and dark. 

Lu$t

Everyone has some sort of greed and selfishness-- whether it be the food in their fridge, their friends, or the money that they have. But imagine being so greedy that you leave your children to virtually die in an unfamiliar attic, just so you can have a less stressful life filled with money and wealth. One of the strong themes that are in Flowers in the Attic by V.C.Andrews is the point that there is greed going on throughout the entire book. The selfishness and greed that is being captured in the book is always masked with gifts, presents, and ideas that things will change, but they never really do.

The main character, Cathy, lives in unusual circumstances when she and her three siblings are left to virtually fend for themselves for more than 3 years in an ancient, dusty attic that is home to a grandmother that is more wicked that the Witch of the West. The daughter to the wretched grandmother is the mother to the four kids that are locked in the attic. The irony of the whole situation is that the mother isn't anything like her own mother, they are exact opposites--up until they move into the attic. Something about the creaks in the floor boards, or the empty chill that lingers on the attic stairs changes the mother into something else.. a clone of her own mother.

From the beginning to the end, nothing about any of the kids or adults lives are the same, some for the worse and some for the better. The mother got the better end of the deal, left with endless amounts of money, a mansion beyond belief in size, and a charming 24 year old husband that fancies her. But with all of the riches she has become of, her heart grows smaller and smaller to the things that really matter; her children. Her lust and love for her money has left her forgetting about her own kids-- her starving, malnourished kids that haven't seen the light of day for 3 years.

"You will be out of here in a few days, darlings. This is only temporary  for I need to get my father back onto my side and love me again. I promise, this will all pass in a few days. Your grandmother will take care of you." She covers her own greed and selfishness with kisses and expensive games, but keeps pushing the time that the kids can leave the attic further and further down the road, promising escape soon, but never actually providing it. When will she think about someone other than her and her husband? When will she realize that there are four kids..her own kids..that are on the verge of death just in the other room? When will she understand that money doesn't buy health?

Who's Who?

I miss her dearly, but I know she is having fun. My mom and father are taking care of her, and keeping a watchful eye on her. She'll be fine. With the dad's stroke, though, I don't know if everything is alright with them. She'll be okay--she knows what's right and what's wrong. I mean, what's the worse that can happen? Mom can get mad at her attitude? Dad can get irritated with how energetic she is? The madness here at home is something she shouldn't need to deal with. I love her so much, and I trust her enough to know that she's making her grandparents happy.

Poor little girl, having to sit here with us. I feel bad for her, sitting with her grandparents all summertime. She's a good girl...although she is gone all of the time. And she always is hanging out with "Chris," whoever that is. Me and Clifford love having her here to talk to, she's always so easy going, so low maintenance. I wish she was home at night time, in fact, I'm not sure where she even is right now. Oh well, off with friends, I think it's a teenager thing. She'll be excited when she's home to see that we are visiting Tyler tomorrow! Such a good girl deserves good rewards!

I'm done. I can't deal with this anymore. The LSD, the weed, the acid. I don't want to live like this anymore. I don't even know where I am. Should I call grandma? Should I call mom? Where is Chris? Why aren't these people listening to me? Why are these people here? I don't know what to do--this isn't healthy living. No body wants to realize, wants to notice that I'm not the same. My friends aren't the same, my physical appearance isn't the same, my character isn't the same. I need to get home, back to my home, not the slob of the cottage that I'm staying at. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

---

The point of the view of the book Go Ask Alice would be different if someone else was the main character. If it wasn't 1st person of the girl going through all of the troubles, Alice, and if it was someone she knows, like her mom, nothing in the book would have been the same. Her mom knew nothing of the Alice's struggles with drugs, alcohol, self harm, prostitution or suicide until towards the ending of the book when the girl moves back in with her. If the story were to be told through her mom's eyes, the story would be a bit boring, considering she doesn't see the Alice until the ending and she has no connection to anything that is going on with her.  

If it were in the point of view of another character in the book that was actually with the main character like her friend, Chris, that would be a whole different story. Since Chris has been through almost everything that has gone on with Alice, if she was the one that was writing the diary about the Alice's life, she would explain how she sees her, other than Alice talking about herself. The main character may has a different perception on things that Chris would, so if the story on Alice's life was told through Chris, the places they went to would be the same, but the times they had and the things that they experienced would not.

Heartbreak

Themes from songs vary from love to breakups, from birth to death, and from selflessness to greed. Lyrics from songs differ tremendously, and all give out a different message to people. Specific lyrics connect to the listeners of the artist, and can connect them to times they are or were going through. Something that everyone has felt before is the feeling of losing someone that you love—knowing that the one person that matters to you the most, feels nothing towards you. As depressing and insensitive as it is, many songs touch the specific point of break downs of relationships.

One song that pinpoints the aspect of wanting someone but not being able to have them is the song “Grenade” by Bruno Mars. Clearly in his lyrics, he talks about, with full emotion, how he is in love with a woman who doesn’t feel the same way about him. “Yes, I would die for you, baby but you won't do the same” refers to the fact that he would do anything for this girl, even die,  but she clearly won’t do the same back.

Another song that explains the feelings of a man wanting a woman but who isn’t able to have her is “Terrible Things” by Mayday Parade. But, unlike “Grenade,” the woman wants him back, but is physically unable to due to cancer. The circumstances are much different between the two songs, but the message is still the same--They both want a woman, but don’t have the ability to have her. In the song “Terrible Things” they both fall deeply in love with each other but are unable to get married or live together due to the woman’s medical condition.

Lastly, the song “Unwinding” by NeverShoutNever! explains that the artist is in love with a woman who is, for one, out of his league, and also doesn’t desire him back. He tells in his meaningful lyrics that he apologizes for things he didn’t even do, just to be certain that she’s not mad at him. A twist at the end of the song surprises everyone when, the woman he wanted so desperately “tied knots with an acquaintance” and cheated on him. All three songs tie together with emotions of heartbreak and lust over a woman.

Although all songs are from different artists, the theme and relationship between many songs are the same, just like these three. Most songs are written to trigger certain emotions of the listeners, like the classic love, heartbreak, and break up songs. Even though songs like these can, and are generally made to, provoke specific emotions that aren’t generally the most peppy or delightful, without these songs, people might now know how to handle a breakup, or loving someone without getting the same feelings back. As sad as these songs are, if people didn’t have them to lean on, they might be in the dark about how to handle emotions of their own.

Ho Ho Ho

 My eyes peek open, looking around in my black-blanketed room. Suddenly realizing the time, I know that Santa should be here any second. Without rustling my covers too much, I kick one leg out, and then another, off of my bed. If Santa is out there, anywhere, I have to find him; at least catch a glimpse of him. My feet pidder-padder through my room, and as silently as a mouse, I peer outside of my door. If there is a "Santa Claus" he's got to be here, he just as to! I creep of my room, suddenly overwhelmed with excitement. The wooden floor sinks up and down, releasing wails as I walk on the balls of my feet down my dimly lit hallway, careful not to wake anyone up.

I walk past the window that is facing out toward our backyard, but soon turn back to look at it again. As loud as the outside world is, the mute of the snowfall at midnight is eerily perfect. My rest my palms and the tip of my nose ever so gently on the ice-chilled glass of my window. Everything outside is perfect--too perfect. The sound of cars passing by is distant in my ears as my eyes are hypnotized by the snow flakes whimsically falling into place on top of each other. The conglomeration of snow that covers everything outside looks almost unreal. The silence of the outside wonderland isn't interrupted by anything--not my siblings complaining, not the T.V rambling on...nothing. 

I shake out of my trans when I see something cut through the clouds. I blink twice to make sure I'm not dreaming at what I'm seeing--a red light flickering through the frigid midnight air. Following shortly behind the light is, undoubtedly, the figure of 8 reindeer. My eyes light up almost as bright as my Christmas tree in the other room. Santa Clause has to be behind the reindeer! Santa has to be! But he's not there. I watch for a good minute, waiting for a jolly man with a red coat in a sleigh, but nothing. My eyes droop, and my heart sinks down into my stomach, as I turn away and head back to my bed. 

As I turn away, through the sound of the cars rushing by, through the mute of snowfall at midnight, through the wailing of the wooden floor, I hear the faint sound of a jolly man with a red coat, singing the tune of "Ho Ho Ho!" I don't turn around to look what the noise was. I simply look down at the floor, and smile a petite smile, because I know.

Yellow Star's Starry Day

Author's Note:

Yellow Star, written in diary form, explains the feelings and emotions of the main character, Syvia. The book takes place during the Holocaust, and through the book, she tells her diary her daily life, in full detail, of what it's like to live in hiding, misery, pain, and hunger. The ending of the book leaves off when, extraordinarily, someone comes and saves her and all of her family from the ghetto. The last few pages explain her being carried away by a strange man with her whole family following. My short story is going to explain what happened, or what I predict happened, after the book ended and the family left the ghetto.

---

Mother and Father look unnaturally happy. I wonder what's going on, maybe they're going to celebrate my birthday for the first time in years! I am now 11 years old, it's been one year since we left the ghetto. Mother sits me down and calls Dora and Father to the table, also. It's so great to be back at our old dinner table. Our dining room. Our house. Every day, I am grateful that we left the ghetto. Looking at our dining room makes me smile; I never thought I'd be sitting here with my family, one year later.

Father and Mother exchange looks that make me suspicious. She turns to me and Dora and, with her beautiful smile, shines down at us.

"We have news for you two young ladies," my mother squeaks.

Dora and me look at each other, not sure what to say or think about what Mother just told us.

Father chimes in, making things more at ease.

"You're going to like the news," he adds, "me and your mother can't wait."

"Do you remember baby Isaac? And your aunt Julia?"

My face flushes, and I flash back for a moment, remembering Isaac and me sitting in the cellar, starving and on the verge of hypothermia. Knowing what this is leading to, I stand up.

"YES! What about them? I haven't seen them in such a long time. Nearly a year."

Mother closes her eyes and smiles more genuinely than I have seen her smile in a long time.

"They are on their way here right now. They're going to visit for a week and a weekend. But Isaac is going to have to sleep in your bed, Syvia. No arguing while they're here. Got it, you two?"

Me and Dora start screaming, running around our house, getting ready to see our long lost relatives. I don't even mind Isaac taking my bed, I can't wait to see both of them. Dora fixes my hair, and I fix hers. I rush up to my room, and shove everything back into it's place, making my floor look clean. Not wanting to look like a slob, I put on my favorite dress, the one aunt Julia sewed me before we were separated. She'll be delighted to see that I still have it.

Dora and I meet eyes immediately when we hear a knock on the door. THAT'S HER! ISAAC! JULIA! Squealing with excitement, our whole family meets, and gathers in front of the door. We're all sweating, waiting to see what's become of them. The door knob turns... The door creaks, and opens ever so slowly. Soon enough, the door is wide open.

My eyes meet his, and then hers. Their luggage bags are nearly as big as both of them. Before we know it, my eyes are flooded with tears, as well as everyone else's around me. My arms wrap tightly around baby Isaac, who now, apparently isn't such a baby anymore. Julia looks at me and rubs my hair gently, just like she used to, as I grip her leg with all my force. Mother and Father are hugging everyone, Dora, me, Isaac, Julia, and each other. I missed them so much, seeing them again and knowing they're safe makes me cry even harder. I'm never letting them go. I'm never letting this family go again.

---

After the book ended, Syvia talked briefly about wanting to see if any of her other family members had gotten out, the way her and her family did. I skipped through time a year, to show that they have moved on from their life in the ghetto. Also, in the beginning of the book, Syvia talked about how all of her relatives moved away to places that weren't impacted in the Holocaust. I wanted to incorporate her family into the story because she talked about their family very frequently and it seemed to be a big part of their lives.

From Yellow Star, my prediction is similar to the ending to Go Ask Alice. In the ending of the book, the unnamed character finally gets to meet her family after a long while of being away from them. The same scenario happened in Yellow Star, when in my prediction, Syvia and her family meets their family again after a long time of being apart from each other. Also, both of the characters from both of the books are meeting their family again after being at a place that wasn't a healthy or normal place to be.