Journal entry# 35 Kate Chopin

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 29, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

Mr. Pontellier was the best husband in the world…Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman…The mother-women…were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.

Summary:

This is a quote found in “the awakening” of Kate Chopin. It explains the way that the society and Mr. Pontellier think about how to be a good woman, a good wife, or a good mother.

Response:

In the story, Mr. Pontellier is the role model of a successful husband, father, or man in his society. He is a traditional 40-year-old male member in the New Orleans Creole community who can provide financial support to his family. However, his wife does not have the same reputation as he does. His wife, Edna Pontellier, is considered to be flawed as a good mother. At this point, I can see the imbalance of the social status between men and women in that society. Women have a big social difference with men. They are just considered as a possession of men. They have to always “idolize their children, worship their husbands” and should never have a sense that they are individuals. However, Edna does not follow the normal woman style. She thinks that although she has children and husband, she is not belonged to them. She is not a property of her husband and sons. She is the controller and owner of herself. I understand that she has the right to perceive herself as an individual, but I don’t think she have to betray his husband in the story. I think that her individual sense is too extreme.

After I finished the book, I started to understand the reason why she has to commit suicide. I admit that Edna is a beautiful (or handsome) woman in the story who can attract many males’ attention. However, I think that she should not have been born in that time period which considered ladies as property. If she was born in the time period I am having, she would have a much better life, or at least a much easier life. Oh! I am wondering something. Do you think it will be better for Leonce and Edna if Edna has not tried to be awakened? I think she might not go to commit suicide in the end of the story since her individual sense would not be that large.

Moreover, I want to point out that Chopin is so intelligent to add a wonderful character, Adele Ratignolle, into the story to reflect the rebellion and failure of Edna. Adele is a woman who only cares about her family. Her life focuses only on her children and husband, but not herself. Her characteristic is similar to what the quote says. She “worships [her] husband” and “idolizes [her] children”. Indeed, Edna and Adele have the totally opposite perception of being a female in the story. Also, when I was reading this part, I imagined my future wife. I really wish she could behave like Adele, but not Edna.

Journal entry# 34 Kate Chopin

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 29, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again. Edna heard her father’s voice and her sister Margaret’s. She heard the barking of an old dog that was chained to the sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as her walked across the porch.

Summary:

This is the final paragraph in the story. It explains her feeling and listening when she is drowning in the ocean.

Response:

I think that this ending is very sad. Why literature is always so touching? Moreover, when I first read the story, I really could not judge her whether her suicide is right or wrong. Does it imply that it is a final success or it is just a failure? Indeed, after I read the story for several times, I admit that her death is a way to express her anger on the imbalance of social status of women. She didn’t choose to run away or live alone so she can always hook up with other men. She thought that this act would definitely harm her children. Therefore, she chose to get drowned into the ocean instead. She think that in her children's minds, losing a mother in an ocean is much better than losing a mother in other men’s beds. Her children really act as a burden on her life, even when she is going to suicide. At this point, I think that I can feel her pain and confusion as an awakened woman in that time period. However, I do not appreciate the way that she cheats her husband. I understand that she has the right to perceive herself as an individual, but I don’t think she has the right to have sex with other men. Instead, she has the responsibility to be loyal to his husband. It is not the matter of being controlled or not. It is a responsibility after she is somebody’s wife. If I were her, I would definitely think to divorce her husband or to go to live alone, instead of cheating her husband.

Journal entry# 33 Sarah Orne Jewett

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 29, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

Sylvia would have liked him vastly better without his gun; she could not understand why he killed the very birds he seemed to like so much… Sylvia still watched the young man with loving admiration…the woman’s heart, asleep in the child, was vaguely thrilled by a dream of love.

Summary:

It is a quote found in “a white heron” of Sarah Orne Jewett. It explains her love to the strange young man.

Response:

During the lecture, someone pointed out that the love between the girl and the stranger may be similar to the one between a brother and a sister. However, I don’t really agree with this point after I found out this quote. I think that the 9- year- old girl really started to like the young man whom she just met because she was so lonely to live on the farm in the woods of New England. She wanted to hang out with some other people, but not always with her female cow. On one hand, she felt so afraid of the young man’s gun. On the other hand, she thought that the man was so charming and delightful. Although she was scared, she was still willing to follow the man to find the bird. I think that the girl really felt interested in the man while the man only felt interested in the white heron.

In order to please the man and receive the money from him, she “began with utmost bravery to mount to the top of a very huge tree” to find the white heron by herself. I think that the major reason for her to find the place of the white heron was not because of the money, but because she wanted to satisfy the young man and to have a feeling of self- worth. Moreover, although the 9-year-old girl did not like the collection method of the young hunter, she still put herself in such a dangerous situation to find the bird. There was a very big risk for her to get injured or even die. However, she did not consider carefully before she climbed all the way up to the top of the tree. I think that there was really a great “loving admiration” in Sylvia’s heart. Otherwise, she wouldn’t do such a dangerous thing to a stranger. Frankly, while I was reading this part, I thought that she would really tell the secret to the young hunter afterwards. Luckily, she made the right decision to keep the secret since I think that the young man would still leave her even if he got the bird in his collection. Now, at least she had protected the freedom of the beautiful white heron in the woods.

Journal entry# 32 Sarah Orne Jewett

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 29, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

But Sylvia does not speak after all, though the old grandmother fretfully rebukes her, and the young man’s kind, appealing eyes are looking straight in her own…No, she must keep silence.

Summary:

This quote explains what happened to Sylvia after she had discovered the white heron on the tree.

Response:

When the white heron appeared in front of her, she found out that it was so beautiful. At the same time, she also discovered the beauty of the nature, for instance, the sunrise and the sea. That’s why she chose to “keep silence” and not to disclose the secret after she went back home. I think she really learned a valuable lesson from the young hunter and the beautiful nature. She put the freedom of the bird upon the young hunter and the money. When I was reading this part, I realized that Sylvia was similar to the white heron. They both needed freedom and placed freedom in the first position. I think that Sylvia must have realized that every person or every animal had the right to live in this beautiful world. They could choose to live any place where they wanted to. From this part, I can say that this girl who used to play hide and seek really turned into a very mature girl. I imagine that Sylvia actually had told herself that if she had a right to live in the peaceful farm instead of the crowded manufacturing town, the white heron also had a right to live in this beautiful place rather than be stuffed and preserved into a collection. Therefore, she made up her mind to keep the secret. Moreover, I really appreciate that she could still “keep silence” in front of her grandmother and the young hunter. I think that most of the people will intend not to stand the pressure or just simply that the money and disclose the secret of the beautiful creature.

Journal entry# 31 Kate Chopin

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 29, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

He went inside, closing the door after him. It was even necessary to put something beneath the door to keep the water out…So the storm passed and every one was happy.

Summary:

It is the last sentence found in “the storm” of Kate Chopin. It explains that every one felt great after “the storm” had passed.

Response:

I found that “the storm” in the story is playing a very important role. First of all, the storm caused the man who called Alcee Laballiere to go inside Calixta’s house. Secondly, “the storm” was serving as a metaphor in the story which had a very deep meaning beneath. The story showed that Calixta did not realize that the storm was coming, but she could only feel the oppressive heat from something. Because of the “heat” she felt, “she unfastened her white sacque at the throat” in order to make herself feel better. Actually, the heat reflected her longing sexual desire. After Alcee arrived, “the storm” drove them to go inside the house. At that time, they both felt that “it was even necessary to put something beneath the door in order to keep the water out”. Actually, both of them wanted to separate themselves from “the storm”. At this point, I found that “the storm” also acted as a moral value which was culturally adapted in the society and “the water” was just like the blame and accusation from the outside world. Since they didn’t want to shock the society and be scolded, they intended to use something to separate themselves from “the storm”. Moreover, at the same time, I think that Alcee also wanted to shut the sexual passion of Calixta inside the house and comforted Calixta. After they prepared a lot for a safer situation, they started to kiss and have sex which are basically not allowed by the society. While they were having sex, “the storm” started to increase outside. In my opinion, “the storm” was like threatening to break into the house and forced them not to have sex.

When Alcee was leaving, both of them were described with smiles on their faces. They seemed to appreciate that "the storm" had provided a great chance for them to meet in the house. They also appreciated that "the storm" had increased the time for her husband and son to come back home. After Calixta’s husband and son returned home, Calixta showed that she was so happy to see them. “Everyone [in the house] was happy” as if nothing bad has happened. All in all, I think that Kate Chopin intended to explain that adultery is not always harmful.

Journal entry# 30 Stephen Crane

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 22, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

If I am going to be drowned—if I am going to be drowned—if I am going to be drowned… Was I brought here merely to have my nose dragged away as I was about to nibble the sacred cheese of life?

Summary:

This is a quote which appears at least 3 times in the passage. The correspondent keeps asking this question to God when they are suffering in the roaring sea.

Response:

This quote was said by the correspondent when he encountered a terrible situation in the sea which almost killed him. In the very beginning, the men on the floating boat were numb with the fact they met. They did not know what to do, but just rowed the boat under the captain’s instruction. Instead of giving up, they started to imagine that there was a lighthouse or a life-saving station nearby which could salvage them. After they found out that there was really no place which they could land on. The correspondent started to blame God. In his mind, if God really wanted to dispose of them, he did not have to make them suffer so much. He could just kill them in the very beginning. Therefore, the correspondent said that “it was certainly an abominable injustice to drown [them] who had worked so hard, so hard” after they had floated on the sea for such a long time(Norton 1011).
After they found out that there were some other people on the land, the four men realized that they might not have to die. The sad thing is that although they were so close to the land, the nature did not allow them to reach the land. At that moment, the correspondent said again, “If I am going to be drowned…” He really did not understand what the aim of God and the nature are.

Finally, after the men successfully landed on the land, they found out that the oiler was dead. In the passage, the oiler is the strongest rower and seems the most likely among the men to survive. However, he was not able to finish the “game” which is set by the nature. Even though the oiler had worked so hard to survive, he still had to be drowned just in front of his destination.

After reading the book and listening to the discussion in class, I found out that the men really went through several different stages when they were being tortured in the sea. Also, I realized that life is really unpredictable and everyone is unable to know what is going to happen in the next step. I also learned that whenever I meet difficulties and nobody can help me out, at least I can say, “Yes, but [at least] I love myself” and try to cheer myself up (Norton 1011).

Journal entry# 29 Stephen Crane

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 22, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

It would be difficult to describe the subtle brotherhood of men that was here established on the seas. No one said that it was so. No one mentioned it. But it dwelt in the boat, and each man felt it warm him.

Summary:

The men in the dingey developed a very deep friendship after they endured so much in the sea.

Response:

I think that the correspondent probably did not know the other three people before the ship was wrecked. However, a “subtle brotherhood of men” was developed in the little dingey. It was so sweet. For instance, the oiler tried his best to cheer others up by saying that there was a life-saving station nearby and cooperated with the correspondent to take spells to row the dingey. Though the cook did not put much effort to row it, they did not blame him. Moreover, although the injured captain only lied down in the voyage and did not help row the boat, the other three men still respected him and were willing to listen to his advice to change the direction of the boat. Furthermore, the most impressing part happened when all of them landed on the sand and the captain “waved [the helper] away, and sent him to the correspondent”(Norton 1016). Although the captain was injured, he still asked the helper to help the correspondent first. This behavior was so generous. Throughout the text, although “no one mentioned” that they had to treat others as brothers in order to gain support until they were salvaged, the brotherhood of men had already “dwelt in the boat, and each man felt it warm him”. I think this was the main reason why they could endure until the last minute. If the story could continue, I think that the captain, the cook, and the correspondent would become very good friends since they had all encountered a situation which was so close to death.

Journal entry# 28 Stephen Crane

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 22, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

The birds sat comfortably in groups, and they were envied by some in the dingey, for the wrath of the sea was no more to them…the birds struck at their minds at this time as being somehow grewsome and ominous.

Summary:

There is a group of gulls which stays in the men’s dingey and makes the men angry.

Response:

To be honest, before I went to the class on Wednesday, I didn’t really pay any attention on the gulls. Indeed, the gulls appeared in the second chapter of “the Open Boat”. Apart from the four men, the gulls were playing an important role in the story. My interpretation is that the gulls were actually contrasts to the men. Although the men were stronger in shapes and they could wave the gulls away easily with their hands, they still had to rely on the little dingey. However, a smaller gull can fly to anywhere with its wings. When the men saw the gulls, they might also want to have a pair of wings on their backs in order not to suffer in the sea. I think this is the major reason why the birds “were envied by some in the dingey”. Moreover, in the quote, it shows me that the men perceived the gulls as something “grewsome and ominous”.

After I finished the story, I think it was true that the gulls would really bring bad lucks to the men. Otherwise, they did not have to undergo the disappointment and the sadness of losing the oiler. However, what I think is that they have no choice. Since their ship was wrecked, they could just rely on that little dingey. They could not turn back or stay in the original positions. Although they knew that there might be some bad things which might happen on them, they still had to go forward. At this point, I really appreciate the writing style of Stephen Crane. He could really explain that human beings do not have the right to change their fates, just like what we discussed in the class that “life sucks”.

Journal entry# 27 Stephen Crane

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 22, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

A tale intended to be after the fact, being the experience of four men from the Sunk Steamer Commodore

Summary:

It is a prologue or maybe a subtitle of “the Open Boat”.

Response:

In the quote, “the fact” shows me that Stephen Crane does not make up a story himself from his imagination, but he actually shows his own experience about the Sunk Steamer Commodore. The “four men” are the captain, the oiler, the cook, and the correspondent. Since Stephen Crane writes this “tale” after “the fact”, he should be in either of these positions. After I finished this “tale”, I found out that Stephen Crane is actually the correspondent on the floating boat. It is because throughout the text, he kept using the word “wonder” to describe the thinking of the correspondent. For instance, “the correspondent…. wondered why he was there” and “the correspondent wondered ingenuously how in the name of all that was sane… to row a boat” (Norton1000-1004). However, he did not use the word “wonder” to describe the other people in the boat, but he just wrote their conversations in the story. It is actually so obvious that Stephen Crane is the one who “wonders” about these things. Therefore, there is no doubt that he is the correspondent who writes this story. Indeed, in the introduction of Stephen Crane, it also shows that he was shipwrecked off the Florida coast while working as a war correspondent. Therefore, he intended to use this story to explain his experience of suffering in the roaring sea and showed us the brotherhood of men.

Journal entry# 26 Stephen Crane

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 22, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

None of them knew the color of the sky… and all of the men knew the colors of the sea.

Summary:

It is found in the introduction of “The Open Boat” which is written by Stephen Crane.

Response:

In the story, there are four characters, the captain, the cook, the oiler, and the correspondent. When I first read this sentence that none of them on the floating boats were able to know “the color of the sky”, I was a bit confused. How come these characters on the floating boat were unable to tell the color of the sky? After listening to the lecture and reading the story once again, I realized that this quote is not that simple and there is actually a deeper meaning behind. The reason for them not to be able to know the color of the sky is actually due to the extremely poor situation on the sea. The “waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall” which blocks their visions towards the sky(Norton 1000). It is easy to notice that the waves are really terribly tall. Moreover, the storms and the dark clouds in the sky also make them not to be able to see the true color of the sky.In the second part of the quote, it shows that “all of the men knew the colors of the sea”. Since they are all trying to survive in the sea, they actually don’t have time to look at other things, but only the sea. For example, the captain has to always focus on the direction while the other people need to row the boat in order to find a safety place. That’s why all of them only knew “the colors of the sea”, but did not know the colors of the sky.

Moreover, they are only on a small dinghy, it is so difficult for them to distinguish between he sky and the sea. Indeed, from their visions, the color of the sky has no difference with that of the sea due to the similar color. However, the sea water is more tangible to them. Therefore, Stephen Crane chooses to say that they can see the color of the sea, but not the color of the sky.

Journal entry# 25 W.E.B Du Bois

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 8, 2008
Professor Lankford


Quote: 



Why did God make me an outcast and a stranger in mine own house…Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil”
.

Summary: 



It is quoted in “The Souls of Black Folk, Ch1” of Du Bois. He realized that his skin color made him separate from the world, especially the Whites.

Response:

When he was still a child, he realized that there was something different between him and the majority, the white people in America. He was rejected by a girl and received poor service in a store. He understood that he was treated so badly mainly because of his skin color and his race. He felt that he was like “a stranger” although he was in his “own house”. He did not want to be treated in this way. If he were born with white skin, he would have a much easier life.
In the quote, Du Bois explained that he was “ shut out from their word by a vast veil”. He was covered with a vast veil. He did not want to tear his veil off when the white people were thought to be superior. His depression about his race was shown is this quote. However, he did not want to be superior and the thing he only wanted was to receive fair treatment from the others.

Du Bois understood that he had to do something to make his life or Blacks’lives easier. He chose to have further education with a lot of college preparatory classes in high school. He wanted to use his academic knowledge to empower African American.
Luckily, Blacks received much better treatment in today’s society. People will be charged with discrimination if they provide particularly bad service to Blacks or if they are not willing to receive the Black’s credit card. Nevertheless, I admit that the imbalance of the social status between the Blacks and the Whites still has room to be improved.

Journal entry# 24 W.E.B Du Bois

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 8, 2008
Professor Lankford


Quote:

The power of the ballot we need in sheer self-defense,-else what shall save us from a second slavery? Freedom too, the long sought, we still seek,-the freedom of life and limb, the freedom to work and think, the freedom to love and aspire.

Summary:

This quote is found in “the Souls of Black Folk, ChIII” of Du Bois. He explains what the blacks need most in order to have better lives.

Response:

Du Bois explains that the blacks actually have to fight for many things in order to improve their lives, especially, the freedom. Comparing with Washington, Du Bois had a quite different view. Du Bois believed blacks should challenge and question whites in every aspect, but Washington thought that assimilating the "American" culture is the best way for Blacks to fit into the America and move up in American society. In this quote, Du Bois realized that Blacks were actually suffering in “a second slavery”. He advised that the best way for Blacks to gain back the respect from society was to give them the right to vote. Only having a vote in the selection could show that the black people were actually belonged to the America.

Moreover, he pointed our some important and useful instructions for Blacks to defense themselves in America. They had to fight for freedom in many aspects. For example, they had to get the freedom to love, think, aspire, and work. Lastly, I found out that the words of Du Bois were more aggressive and stronger than the words from Washington though both of them intended to help the Blacks. Du Bois was urging his people to fight for their freedom and right in a very strong attitude. He thought that teaching the black people was a calling. He really tried so hard to help the black people. Anyway, I think both of them did a marvelous job for their race.

Journal entry# 23 Booker T. Washington

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 8, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has learned in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed… he gets a strength, a confidence.

Summary:

This is one of the famous statements from Washington. It mentions how he felt about success.

Response:

What is your definition of success? In “Up From Slavery”, Washington said that success is not measured by the position since different people might have different backgrounds. On the other hand, according to Washington’s definition, it would be better to rate success “by the obstacles which [somebody] has overcome while trying to succeed”. It is absolutely right. In Washington’s age, being born in a white family was a pleasure while being born in a black family was a misery. A black or a slave at that time had to encounter far more troubles than the whites. They had fewer opportunities in many aspects, for example in schools or in work places.

In the story, Washington was born as a slave but he did not give up. He was “intense longing” to study at school. Therefore, he worked as “salt packer, coal minter, and house servant” in order to support his schooling (Norton 664). Finally, he became an American educator, author and leader of the African American community. In many people’s mind, his position might not be high enough. However, he had overcome so many troubles in order to leave from the poverty. He did not have to depend on his family in order to become the leader of the African American community. Apart from this quote, Washington’s life was another learning material for the blacks to learn from. After they knew that even a slave could become an author and leader of the African American community, they would be more willing to start improving their lives.

Journal entry# 22 Booker T. Washington

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 8, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

Some of the slaves would even beg for the privilege of sitting up at night to nurse their wounded slaves… He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise.

Summary:

The slaves would take care of their masters when they were injured.

Response:

Undoubtedly, most of the people might think that the relationship between the slaves and the masters must be very bad. However, this quote showed me that what I thought was not always true. In the story, the slave actually concerned about their masters. After they got hurt, the slaves were willing to nurse them. The slaves were really sweet. Moreover, Washington also tells that the slaves even gave money to their masters when they were suffering in a financial problem. I don’t think many people nowadays will do something like this. If the bosses or employees are having troubles, many employers will just probably quit the job and go to work for other better ones. The relationships similar to the slaves and the masters are really hard to be found in today’s world.

Furthermore, after reading this part of the book, I really feel sorry to the slaves. I think that they should not be treated so badly. Actually they have no difference with normal human beings. The last part of the quote also impressed me. After the slave was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, he still went back to his former master and returned his money. The slaves understood that their low social statuses do not harm their personality. They still could have a very good personality. Therefore, in the story, the slave would go to fulfill his promise after he was freed. Otherwise, he still owed someone for the money which meant he was still not totally free.

Journal entry# 21 Booker T. Washington

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 8, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

Whoever he was, I never heard of his taking the least interest in me or providing in any way for my rearing. But I do not find especial fault with him. He was simply another unfortunate victim of the institution which the Nation unhappily had engrafted upon it at that time.

Summary:

It is a quote which I found in the “Up from Slavery” of Booker T.Washinton. It talks about how Washington feels about his father.

Response:

I think that this quote is probably about the grief in a slave’s life. He suffered so much in his family. Although he knew that he had a father, he could never know his name. His father was just another slave who had to work for someone. I think it was pretty sad. If I were him, I would try my best to go to see my father. However, he didn’t do so. Moreover, although his father did not do anything for him, he didn’t “find especial fault with him”. He just admitted that living without father was so normal in his life since he was born as a slave. One more thing, Washington understood the society very well. He understood that his father and many other slaves were the “unfortunate victim[s] of the institution”. Therefore, I think that this was one of the reasons encouraged him to improve the African American life. He realized that he had to do something in order to change his generation. He did not want to stay in the same situation forever. Therefore, he worked hard and studied hard. Finally, he became successful and was called “Moses of his races”. He started to give speeches to the African American and tell them to do something to improve their lives right away. In my mind, he was really like the Moses who led the slaves out of the red sea.

Journal entry# 20 Sarah Winnemucca

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 1, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

How good of him to try and heal the wound, and how vain were his efforts!

Summary:

Winnemucca explains that her grandfather received a very bad return although he had tried so hard to please the white people.

Response:

Winnemucca points out the bad experience of her grandfather that the whites did not treat him as he wanted to. In this quote, the wound means the misunderstanding between the whites and the Piutes. She uses two totally opposite words, “good” and “vain” to describe her grandfather’s feeling. It is obvious that “good” is positive while “vain” is negative. This quote makes a strong contrast. Winnemucca’s grandfather kept using something “good” to “heal the wound”. For example, he held party for the whites. However, what he did was meaningless. He couldn’t please the whites. Thus, his effort was just in vain. The whites just simply disdained them and even attacked his tribe.

Another reason for me to post this quote is that it is actually showing the main idea of the story. In the very beginning, the story explains that Winnemucca’s grandfather greatly expected to see the white people again since he thought that they were his brothers. However, the story comes out with a very sad ending. He didn’t get what he wished to. The rest of the story is about “how vain were his effort”. Winnemucca talked about the horrible story of

the whites and the bad return from the whites such as burning the tribe’s winter supplies.

Winnemucca was actually a very good granddaughter. She remembered all of her grandfather’s story and her tribe’s experience. After she grew up, she wrote this novel to express her bad feeling about the whites.

Journal entry# 19 Sarah Winnemucca

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 1, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

My people taught their children never to make fun of any one, no matter how they look. If you make fun of bad persons, you make yourself beneath them. Be kind to all, both poor and rich… and your name can be spoken of by every one far and near.

Summary:

Winnemucca explains the correct way to treat others. We have to always be kind to people who have various backgrounds.

Response:

I think that we should never make fun of people’s appearance. Somebody might be poor to wear something good. Somebody might be born with a not so handsome face. Somebody might suffer from a very bad experience to have a bad outlook. These people who had bad appearance also want to look cool and want to look rich too. However, they couldn’t do this due to many different reasons. Therefore, we should not laugh at them. Or else, we might hurt them. Moreover, the quote also says that we should not make fun of bad persons. Instead, I think that we should teach them to correct their bad behavior. We can help them only by telling them not to do that again, but not laughing at their faults. It is no use to laugh at other people. This behavior is so mean. Lastly, I also agree with the last part of the quote which points out that “your name can be spoken of by every one far and near” if you are kind to the poor and the rich. I think that most of the people feel sorry to the poor and want to help them. However, the thing I want to point out is that many people are so mean to the rich. If the rich needs help, people usually do not provide help or only provide help after getting money. People only feel jealous of the rich. To be fair, I think that people should always help each other, no matter they are rich or poor.

Journal entry# 18 Sarah Winnemucca

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 1, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

“They came like a lion, yes, like a roaring lion…they made a great noise like thunder and lightning”.

Summary:

It is a quote found in the “Life Among The Piutes”. It explains the Piutes’ feeling when the white people are coming into their country.

Response:

I think that this quote clearly explains the Paiute people were terribly afraid of the whites. They considered the whites as “a roaring lion” which might eat them or kill them. Although Sarah Winnemucca’s grandfather insisted on saying that the white people were their brothers and asking his people to love the whites, they thought that the white people were still very horrible. The Paiute people thought that the white people were lions due to the bread on their faces. Moreover, I think another reason was that the whites were much taller and stronger than the Paiute who were living near to the desert region.
Frankly, I like the part of “the great noise like thunder and lightning” so much. Winnemucca really described what the Paiute felt about the guns, bombs or other weapons. She used her father’s dream to bring out how cruel the whites were. From my point of view, Winnemucca must have known the great sound was produced by the bombs or other strong weapons. However, she didn’t directly say that the white people had powerful bombs. Instead, she said there were “great noise like thunder and lightning”. When I was reading the book, I just thought that the Paiute people were really very innocent and they even didn’t know what the guns and bombs were. I really love this kind of description skill.

Journal entry# 17 Sarah Winnemucca

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 1, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

“You can’t have anything to eat unless you pay me.” No,--no such word was used by us savages at that time… They set everything we have left on fire.

Summary:

It explains that the Paiute tribe really helped the whites when they need food in the mountain.

Response:

In the book, Winnemucca explains that the whites were stuck in the mountain and did not have enough food to eat. However, the Paiute tribe did not use that opportunity to kill the white people. Instead, the Paiute tribe gives them food. The quote states that the tribe did not ask for money after giving the whites food. I think that these people were very friendly and generous and they just wanted to solve the problem between the two races.
I feel pretty sad that the white still set fire on the tribe’s winter supplies although they had received the food from the tribe. Why they could be so cruel to the tribe? I really wish that I could be one of the Paiutes. I would go and have a debate with the whites. Is racial difference such a big deal? Is skin color really a big deal? I really want to ask the whites.
In the quote, Winnemucca uses “savages” to describe her people. I think it is quite ironic. From my point of view, the tribe was so generous and kind. She shouldn’t have used such a negative word to describe her tribe. I think that she just wanted to satirize the white people who thought they were superior. Instead, I think that the white people in the book were really “savages”. After getting the help from the tribe, they did not return something good to the tribe. Instead, they burnt the winter supplies of the tribe as a return. I felt so sorry to read this part in the book.

Journal entry# 16 Sarah Winnemucca

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
February 1, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

The council-tent is our Congress, and anybody can speak who has anything to say, women and all. They are always interested in what their husbands are doing and thinking about. And they take some part even in the wars.

Summary:

It is a quote about the council-tent. The most interesting part is that the woman could also participate in the meeting.

Response:

In many countries, like China, children and woman are not allowed to go into the council meeting. I think it is probably due to their lower statuses. However, this quote shows me that the Piutes tribe was quite civilized. Women and children were welcome to the council meeting. They could even provide ideas during the meeting. When I was reading this part, I thought about the word “savages” which Sarah Winnemucca used to describe her tribe. From my point of view, her tribe is very enlightened. They should not be described as “savages”. She actually used such an ironic word to express her anger for being suppressed by the whites. Personally, I think that nowadays, there should not be inequality between women and men. (I have to be fair though I am a man). Women and men should possess the same amount of right and responsibility. For example, in my family, both of my parents need to work and take care of my little sister. Long time ago, men had to go to work and gain money for the family and women had to take care of the housework. However, the roles of women and men are getting more similar in this century. Women can work while men can wash dishes. I think this change can definitely benefit the relationship between couples. There will be less argues about who will be in charge of this and who will be in charge of that because both of them have to be responsible of the family.