Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?

Even though I enjoyed reading this shorty story, I hope that we don't have to read anything like it for the AP exam. Since this story was in the symbolism and allegory section, I knew that there would be many notable symbols. Finding these symbols, however, proved to be quite difficult. Things like removing all the r's from Arnold Friend in order to get an old fiend really irritated me. I would never have thought to that by myself. Other symbols like the numbers on Arnold's car adding up to be 69, a number associated with sex. Or the number 33 representing Jesus's age and a bible verse. Hopefully symbols on the AP test will be more obvious and less ridiculous. I thought I was ready to analyze symbols more in depth after reading "Hills Like White Elephants", but I clearly need more practice. The character Arnold Friend obviously symbolized evil and the devil. He reminds of me of how the devil would most likely be in human form. He is subtle and persuasive, not appearing entirely evil at first glance. Arnold is able to convince Connie to go with him even though she knows it is the wrong decision.

White Elephants

When I saw how short Hills Like White Elephants was and that it was by Hemingway I knew it would be a special read. It's one of those stories that the papers that analyze it are always longer then the story itself. This is due to the sheer amount of symbolism in the story. When we covered the story in class I was bewildered by how many symbols I hadn't noticed. Some of the symbols like the Ebro river symbolizing an embryo seemed a bit far fetched, but others are far more believable and interesting. For instance the train arriving in 40 minutes, and the significance of every number in the story being two can't be coincidences. These hidden symbols show Hemingway's genius as a literary writer.I did some research on this story and found that it matches something called the iceberg theory. An iceberg appears small on the surface but underneath is huge. The story is simple on the surface, but underneath is exceptionally complex.   Reading the story a second time when I was looking for the symbols and dialogue about abortion made the story appear in a completely new light. This makes me wonder how many literary stories I've read that seem clear on the outside but really have a new meaning when you pay special attention to dialogue and symbols. Hopefully I'll be able to notice some symbols when reading something for the first time from now on

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!!!!!

So far this book has been the best one I've read all year. There is something  that makes me wanna keep reading it even though I have seen the movie adaptation and know exactly what's going to happen. The dialogue is interesting, while still being easy to follow. The characters are all brilliant. The amount of work that the author has done to both directly, and indirectly characterize each person, even the minor ones, is amazing. I'm only 90 pages and the book has no real discernible plot yet. This may sound bad, but I actually like it when books have no clear cut plot. So far, this book is simply a story about what happens when a sane, man enters a mental institution and the often comical mishaps that follow. There is no objective for the protagonist to overcome, or anything more then a series of events as narrated by a lumbering native american chief. The only thing that the story seems to be about is how the main character, McMurphy, is going to try and drive the head nurse of the institution crazy. Having seen the movie, I know everything McMurphy does to try and drive the Nurse crazy and ultimately what his fate is. I don't think this will hinder my appreciation for the book in the slightest.  

 McMurphy and the Chief

Outside Reading Books!!!

I was pretty happy when I saw the list of books that could be chosen for outside reading. Immediately I knew that I would end up reading Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and  Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange. I had already seen both of the respective films made about the novels so I already knew the books were interesting. So far, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has lived up to my expectations and seems very similar to the film. What surprised me was that the Chief narrates the story. I thought the story would definitely be told from the main character, McMurphy. Knowing the ending, and what's going to happen hasn't ruined the book at all for me. I'm certain there will even some parts that didn't make it to the movie and will be new to me. If A Clockwork Orange is anything remotely similar to the movie then the book will be very interesting. The first time I saw the movie I was horrified, confused, bored, and then confused again. What I'm going to choose for my third book is unknown right now. I still have around 2 months to make a decision, and as long as the book is around the same caliber then reading should be fun again.