THE REVOLT OF MOTHER
I really liked this piece. Throughout the story I envisioned little Sarah Penn as the ideal farm wife. As the story unfolded, I could feel the tension building. Two different passages really stuck out to me.
["Father, you come here." Sarah Penn stood in the door like a queen; she held her head as if it bore a crown; there was that patience which makes authority royal in her voice. Adoniram went.]
I really like how the author illustrates Sarah’s gut in sticking up to her husband. Reading this gave me the image of Sarah taking regal authority. I also found humor in how Adoniram is seen almost bowing to her rule as he drops what he is doing to answer her.
[Adoniram was like a fortress whose walls had no active resistance, and went down the instant the right besieging tools were used. "Why, mother," he said, hoarsely, "I hadn't no idee you was so set on't as all this comes to."]
In the end, Adoniram really doesn’t put up too big of fight. Although we have seen him to be tough throughout the story, this part of the story shows that he does have some heart. All of his walls fall and we see a softer side as he found by his wife to be sobbing. The conclusion of the story really changed my opinion of Adoniram. I grew to respect him as a good husband and father who had gotten caught up in the progress of his farming.
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TRIFLES
I had read this story last semester for a different class, but I think I got more from this time. I mad e the extra effort to really think about the images the author was putting out, and it gave me more perspective on what was happening.
I really liked when the intensity picked up in the piece. This passage is definitely my favorite:
[MRS. PETERS. (in a whisper). When I was a girl--my kitten--there was a boy took a hatchet, and before my eyes--and before I could get there--(Covers her face an instant.) If they hadn't held me back, I would have-- (Catches herself, looks upstairs, where steps are heard, falters weakly.)--hurt him.
MRS. HALE (with a slow look around her.) I wonder how it would seem never to have had any children around. (Pause.) No, Wright wouldn't like the bird--a thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that, too.
MRS. PETERS (moving uneasily). We don't know who killed the bird.
MRS. HALE. I knew John Wright.]
I love how the women show their intelligence and wit here by discussing their discovery without really discussing it. It made my laugh how they outsmarted the men, who put down their intelligence earlier in the story. I also love how they are so loyal to Mrs. Wright. They feel for her loneliness and take steps to protect her.
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AS CHILDREN TOGETHER
I really don’t know how I feel about this piece. Although I am not sure of the author’s intent, I felt sad after reading it.
The ending really stood out to me:
“If you read this poem, write to me.
I have been to Paris since we parted.”
The author is reaching out to a long lost childhood friend. This made me reflect on my life and childhood friendships. I was reminded by grade school friends that moved away, junior high friends that transformed into different people, and high school classmates that I have lost track of in the short time since graduation. While growing up sometimes means growing apart, the people you grow up with are ones close to your heart. After reading this poem, I really hoped that the author was, at some point, reunited with her childhood friend.
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2 comments:
I really like you writing on The Revolt of Mother. I think women succumb to their husbands to quickly. At the end, you could definately tell that Adoniram really did care about his wife.
i felt the same about as children together. i definitely felt sad after reading it. however, the more i read it it seems less sad and more vindictive.
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