Connection between Cholly and Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Hello,

I know this is a little late since it has to do with Bluest Eye, but I found an interesting connection between the rape with Cholly and a certain quote in letter For a Birmingham Jail.

On page 9 of 10 in Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter, he talks about policemen that use "moral means of nonviolence to maintain the immoral end of racial injustice" and he then quotes T.S. Eliot saying: "The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason".
And this reminded me of Cholly and how he had all of these mixed emotions towards Pecola about how he loved her but wanted to rape her, because sex was the only way he knew how to show love when he was drunk. But I thought that is was the opposite for Cholly, he wants to the wrong deed for the right reason. He wanted to show love but like I said does it by raping her. But he genuinely thinks that he is doing something nice to and for her. He just wanted to take the sadness out of her with love but it was the wrong kind. Also, when we see the rape seen through Cholly's eyes, Pecola is portrayed as a sort of temptation although she did not necessarily do anything to be one. The way that she was just standing there and her body movements, like when she itched her leg with her foot, just tempted Cholly even more.

MEDEA 1983

Here's a clip from the 1983 version of Medea. Zoe Caldwell won the Tony Award for her portrayal of the character. The script differs a bit from the version of the text we're reading, but it offers another take on Medea. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zInoTXKyOvI

Sheet of the Week 11/8

Jason and Medea in happier days...

Dear class,

A quick rundown of the week:

Monday: close reading exam.  Be sure to take another look at the sample, as well as the rhetorical device sheet.

For Wednesday, finish reading Medea.  We basically have two periods to finish discussing, so we have to be quick in wrap up.  I'll give you Thursday to prepare your orals.  Note: we'll be going over the play's language carefully with the orals, so some of what we didn't say in discussion will come out then.

The orals will take place the week of the 15th.  Also due that week (the 18th) are the synthesis questions on Medea.

I will start assessing you this week on your blog work.  So be sure you're posting.  Check out Claire and Veronica's recent posts and add or begin your own.

And your final grade is your participation.  I count what I see as well as hear so make sure you are taking notes and paying attention!

Have a good weekend!

Spring Bluest Eye

1.

- many people have their birthdays in the spring

- season of love and fertility

- season of warmth and beauty

- has a very positive atmosphere

- a time for new beginnings (Easter--resurrection, certain mammals come out of hibernation)

2.

- for Claudia, spring is associated with pain (they change the whips, these hurt more)

- passively negative: build-up to end on that note of the park where black children were not allowed to play --> it filled their dreams

3.

- Pecola is physically capable of conceiving a child

- physically fertile but it's an evil seed

- Pecola = unyielding earth?

- it's not her fault; never was

Meet Medea...

Where do you find your sympathy so far?  With Medea or against her?

Sheet of the Week 10/25

Hi class,

I hope you're enjoying your break so far.  A far cry from the misery of Claudia's Autumn, wouldn't you say?  I've been eating apples and prancing through leaves, myself (okay, maybe not prancing...)  Hope you've done the same.

A few reminders about what's coming up next week:

For Monday, finish reading A Room of One's Own, chapters 1 and 2.  By now the meal metaphor should be clearer to you, as should the progress of our narrator's "fish." 
Please also read: pages 336-344 in Medea.
We'll do some writing in class on Monday to get things started, then talk more about Medea.

For Wednesday, please finish your BE/ PB essays.  Nearly all of you have shown my your outlines, in hard copy or on email.  If you haven't, please make sure you do this immediately!

Please also read to page 352 in Medea for Wed.

Thursday, we will concentrate on otherness in non fiction so please bring Thoreau, King and ROO.

Note: we will do an in class close reading of non fiction the week of November 1st.
We will also be doing orals on passages in Medea the week of November 15th.

Enjoy the rest of your break!!

Quote of the day

I order to change the WORLD you must first change YOURSELF