DuBois- "The Souls of Black Folk"

In "The Souls of Black Folk" DuBois talks about what is like to be a black American, yet when he wrote it, he did not feel like those two terms were actually one. He wanted to be both black and American because he felt that blacks were in America for a purpose, to bring a message, but he still felt out casted by the white Americans. Even with freedom from slavery, blacks were still discriminated against and he felt that Americans could only get past that with equal education.

Africans, like the Europeans, were stuck with a challenge to find identity in America. After being freed, Africans struggled on how to keep their traditions yet still integrate into America. Thomas Paine in "Common Sense" talks about how America was a place of freedom and it is one's responsibility to reach it. This causes problems when the black Americans tried to reach freedom but others would not let them. Paines argument is not sound in this case of segregation and oppression. This is why the black Anericans were struggling, because they were in a place a freedom yet not allowed to actually be free from judgement and inequality.

What does he mean by calling Africans "the seventh son?"

Kipling- "The White Man's Burden"

Kipling writes this poem to show his imperialistic views. He believes that larger nations should rule over others because they are less developed. The developed nations should feed and protect these other nations because it is their duty as superior nations, "veil the threat of terror/...Fill full the mouth of famine." It is apparent he thinks that the superior nations are run by white men. He says that the other nations will not thank the superior nations but will judge them. He encourages the white man that this is their burden and that they should rule over others.

The way Kipling views the ruled nations is similar to Orwell. Both recognize the fact that they will not appreciate the "superior" nation controlling them. The man in Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" says that the Burmese (ruled people) hate the European officers who have to control and keep peace there. Kipling and Orwell do disagree in whether these nations should be ruled over and how. Orwell shows he does not think nations should rule over the weaker ones; the man in his story says that imperialism is bad but Kipling thinks it will benefit the other nations. He thinks it will benefit because they are supposed to feed and protect these people but Orwell is more realistic in saying that what they really have to do is keep the peace so no nations will revolt against the ruling ones.

Did people think Kipling was racist?

Orwell- Shooting an Elephant

A British police officer stationed in Burma is having a hard time since most of the Burmans are anti-European. He recieves a call to go kill a wild elephant and when he gets there he has to decide to shoot or not. With all the Burmans watching, he does not want to look like a fool and shoots is out of fear. He feared that they would laugh at him and that if he killed it, they would respect him and his job. This symbolizes imperialism and how the government's drive for control. The Burmans are the ruled people and the police officer is the government that wants to control the people, fearing that they might over rule it. The elephant was an example to show the power of the government.

This relates to Lord of the Flies. The Jack ruled out of fear of rebellion, just as the police officer did. He hurt other children to show that he was powerful and to not cross him. I think Orwell believes that the government has to inflict some sort of pain among the people to show that it is not afraid to control them.

Why was this man a police officer?

Marx/Engels- The Communist Manifesto

Marx and Engels say that class stuggles have exsited through out all time periods. Around 1848, the Bourgeoise and Proletariat were the two classes that faced each other. The Bourgeoise were the middle working class that only cared about making money. This led to the disintegration of the individual because everyone is just working in the factories, not really understanding their value. Sex, race and age are no longer issues for the Bourgeoise sole goal is production. people are dehuminized as just one piece in the machine, a piece that could easily be replaced by another. Marx and Engels argue that this way of thinking will lead to the Bourgeoise class to fall to the Proletariats.

Marx believed in "the idyllic feaudal system," in that who you are determines what you do. This is contrasts with existential angst that says what you do determines who you are. This existential view relates to the disintegration of the individual felt by the Bourgeoise class. The workers of this class were easily replacable factory workers and so they stuggled in finding out who they were, or their identity. This later leads to the rise of the individual when people feel like they have to find their identity or purpose so they emphasize personal, unique and other terms that embrace onces originality. 

Is this a cycle that will once again return to the disintegration of the individual?

Crane- "The Open Boat"

This story is about men stranded on a dingy in open water. They can not do much to be saved except row a little and try not to tip over. They see a man on a beach and hope to be saved but the man does not do anything. then after the boat capsizes the correspondent, cook and captain wash up on shore to find the man but the oiler does not survive. These men are helpless in the water, which symbolizes the universe. The man symbolizes God because he sees the helpless men and does not go out and try to save them but just watches. Crane's naturalistic views are clearly seem by the men's helpless and God and the universes lack of compliance.  


Cranes Naturalistic views have similar characteristics with Existentialism. Existentialists focus on the individual, that they alone have the power to give their life meaning. Crane views man in the same light; God and the universe do not care about you so it is up to you to do something with this terrible life you have. I think Naturalists could have gotten some of their views from previous Existentialists.


Why does the oiler die?

Crane- "In the Desert" "A Man Said to the Universe" "War is Kind"

Crane demonstrates his Realistic and Naturalistic points of views in these three poems. "In the Desert" shows that humans are bitter and terrible, but it is how God created them. Humans love their bitterness and live by it. "A Man Said to the Universe" shows how men do not have much importance because the universe has no obligation to them. "War is Kind" shows that men are born to die and that war is kind to give them that relief. Crane sees men as bitter, unimportant beings, where death is the only way to get away from the terrible creation of humans.

Crane wants to show just how bad creation, more exclusively humanity, is. This is a key factor in Realism writings because by showing how bad it is, he is indicating that it should change. This is shown in "Life in the Iron Mills" by Davis. This shows how dark and gloomy the Iron Mills were as well as the oppressive system. Both authors push for change in society because they see man as evil, terrible beings.

What made Crane think man was so evil?

Chopin- "The Story of an Hour"

Chopin writes about a Mrs. Mallard, who received news that her husband died in a railroad accident. She is shocked at first and sits in grief until she comes upon an intelligent thought. As she sits in her chair, looking out a window she realises she is not sad because she has finally rid of this husband that oppressed her. She can live for herself, look forward to life and no longer has to abide by his will. When struck with the sight of her alive husband, she dies at once from a heart attack because of the shock. Mrs. Mallard strove for independence from her husband and finally got it. 

Chopin talks about how during this movement, women felt oppressed by their husbands. This relates to "The Yellow Wallpaper" because when the narrator felt depressed, she was sent away to a prison-like room and had to abide by her husband/doctors rules. During this era, women were not allowed to decide what to do on their own because they had maids to do all their house work and husbands who got money for the home, all they had to do was sit around the house. With this unsatisfactory life, many became depressed. Men saw themselves as not having authority at work so used it improperly at home. Men and women for the most part, did not have healthy relationships at this time rooting from the work place.

When Chopin posted this in Vogue, was she criticized by many men?