Saturday, March 24, 2012
THE AWAKENING: Anticipation
As we begin to move into Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening, try to focus on the meaning of the title. What is the significance of an "awakening?" Discuss an awakening in your life, if you can. Discuss an awakening in America, if you can reflect on the past. Finally, what do you anticipate in Chopin's awakening? Will the protagonist, Edna be awakened? If so, to what?
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When I first read this blog all and it mentioned an awakening in your life the first thing that I thought about was high school. To me this was a huge awakening. When I think back to the summer before high school I can remember how nerves I was. There were a million questions and worries running thought my head. I did not know how everything was going to go or how everything would work. When would I go to my locker? How would I remember my locker combination? Would I even be able to worry those confusing locks? Was the work going to be really really hard? All these questions and more worried me. But when the first day finally came all of these questions were answered. I could easily get to my locker in between classes, my locker combination was very easy to remember, the lockers were not as hard as I thought they would be, and the work was challenging not hard.
ReplyDeleteHigh school was such a change from middle and elementary school. There was not a teacher watching over you at all time. You were on your own. Everything was so independent, you could even call everything more relaxed. It was my first year of high school that I realized how independent I could be. Sometimes in the middle school level we all had to wait and do everything together, but in high school people worked at their own pace, you could take advanced and accelerated classes and really push yourself. Going into high school and during grades nine and ten I did feel an awakening, but the true awakening came when I entered eleventh grade, this year.
In ninth and tenth grade the work was hard and challenging but it wasn’t anything that I could not handle. It just felt like the same as the other grades. The same amount of homework and test only with a little more freedom. But it all changed in eleventh grade. I now have so much work. There are plenty of days when I have four or five tests in the same day. There are nights that spend hours doing homework and studying. But it has all taught me so much. It has showed me just how much I can handle. Yes there are days that I just want to give up and cry (and yes trust me there are night that I try to) but I know that I can do it because I have done it before and I am still here to blog about it. This year has really opened my mind to what the real world will be like. Juggling all the work and the sports and other curricular activities have taught me great time management techniques. Every time if come up short, have to stay up late, or don’t get the grade that I was hoping for I am taught a lesson that will really help me for the real world and more importantly college. High school has really helped me and awakened me to what it is really going to be like when I grow up go to school, get a job, and eventually even have a family.
Taylor,
DeleteI also experienced an awakening in high school. It is a very important part of everyone's life. It is so much different from everything we had been doing up to that point. It was definitely a little intimidating. All of those big, mean upperclassmen walking through the hallways really scared me; they were intimidating. You are right when you say that it is important for our future. We have learned so much throughout our high school careers, and not just in the classroom (as I wrote about in my blog). We need to embrace the challenges and take advantage of our abilities and talents. We have one more year to do that. I say if you have not already it is not too late to start! Do not slack you senior year because you can. Use your resources and make the most of the year. Remember life never gets any easier so you may as well face some challenges now, rather than saving them all for later on in life.
Taylor,
DeleteI agree with you that high school is a big awakening. It is really different. I think another awakening in high school could be realizing who your friends will be for life. In middle school there is a lot of drama and other petty little things, but in high school you spend a lot more time with the same groups of people, usually because of other sports and activities. However, that helps you realize what people really are like and who you will be friends with forever. The people who will always have your back are probably the people that have it now.
Blog Continued...
ReplyDeleteWhen it think of an awakening in history I cannot say an exact date and year but there is one certain object that I really think caused and awakening in the world. This is when the use of the computer and other technologies such as cell phones and internets. This really awakened the world. People and business were able to connect and talk around the world in the matter of seconds. Almost anyone can know where you are and how you are doing just by visiting your facebook or twitter account. The movement of technology awakened the world and I predict that it wills continue to for years to come.
I have started the book but I am only the first few chapters into the book. But one thing that I can tell is that Edna will definitely experience and awakening. If first realized this when I read the first chapter. I think that the awakening that Edna will experience is that women can be strong and independent and that she does not need a man in her life to feel happy. Women can be successful and independent without standing on the side of a man. I got this feeling when I finished the first chapter because if felt that when her husband left she realized that he was not that important to her anymore he did not even say if he would be back for dinner. I could be totally wrong when I think that this would be Edna’s awakening. I am very exited to read the rest of the book to find out what Edna’s awakening is because mine was so important to me.
A big awakening for me occurred in high school as well. When you are in sixth and seventh grade you hear a lot of rumors about people, especially high school students. You hear about the jocks, the cheerleaders, the stars of the play, you hear about all of their success. When you are in seventh and eighth grade you start to hear about parties. You find out the truth. All those people that you looked up to and thought were cool do not seem so cool anymore, or do they? I remember hearing about these parties and the students that supposedly did drugs, but I never convinced myself that students at Elk County Catholic would participate in those activities, especially all of those student athletes that were part of a team. So I just ignored the rumors, until I was a high school student athlete myself. Through my participation in athletics I learned the truth of the rumors. Reality came into play in my life. I realized that high school students do drink, get drunk, party, do drugs, and worse. A part of me new that it was true, but I did not want to admit it. When I learned the truth I lost respect for a lot of people. This awakening in my life caused me to make a decision. I had to choose what type of person I would be. Would I treat myself with respect, give my all in school, and dedicate myself fully to my teams? Or would I drink and do drugs, neglect my school work, and let my team down because I was too hung over to go to practice? This time in everyone’s life is extremely influential on how they will continue to live their life. I really had a hard time dealing with this awakening in my life at first. I felt as if I had been betrayed by all of those upper classmen that I had looked up to. I learned about all of these things through my sports teams my freshmen year. I think that I would have had this awakening during my sophomore or junior year rather than my freshmen year if I would not have been involved in sports. Two of the sports I participated in were varsity sports so I spent a lot of time with upper classmen. Without these two sports it would have taken me longer see the truth because I would have only been with freshmen. I am not saying that freshmen do not get involved in those types of activities, but it becomes much more prevalent as you get older, I have learned. I do not regret doing those two sports. I think that learning the truth at that time was good because I was able to make up my mind about what I would do before someone offered alcohol or something to me. This awakening really changed how I viewed the world. The biggest change that occurred in me after my awakening was how soon I gave my respect to people. Now people really have to prove that they deserve my respect. I do not just give respect to people that are good at sports, school, or the arts. I respect those that work hard to be good at those things by practicing and dedicating themselves fully to them. I have a hard time respecting those that waste their talent through laziness and bad choices.
ReplyDeleteOne of the awakenings in history was when we bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When we did this the world’s eyes were opened up. They realized how powerful we were as a nation. Many citizens’ eyes were probably opened as well. That action caused the total destruction of a great amount of people and area. The world was also exposed to how powerful atomic bombs were. The awakening put people into a state of fear. However, I do not think that Edna is going to experience either of those two awakenings. I am only a few chapters into the book, but I feel as if Edna is going to realize how powerful she can be. She is going to step out of her cage, and show the world that women are worth listening to. At first, I think that she may abuse her strength but in the end she will learn how to act. We talked about how restricted she felt women were, so I think that Edna will break free.
Morgan,
DeleteYou brought up a very good point. When I was younger I really looked up to high school kids. I thought that they seemed so much older and so much mature, and I really wanted to grow up fast. But when I did reach high school I realized that the upper classmen are really not as mature as I once saw them to be. There was so much that I was oblivious to when I was not in high school. Now when here kids looking up to us I sometimes feel bad for them because we in some ways are not what they think we are. But that is all part of growing up learning what really goes on because when we are little so much is hidden form us and when we do learn these thing it is a big thing to see what really goes on. I can remember when I was looking up to high school. Now I am almost ready to leave high school. Time flies and everyone tells you when you enter high school to savor every moment because it goes so quickly and that is so true. Middle school kids may be very excited to experience the awakening of entering high school but once it starts it all truly does go by so quickly. You also mentioned that you did not think Edna would go through an awakening however she would realize how strong she was and break free of her cage. This is what I consider an awakening. To me an awakening is anytime someone figures something else such as a self awakening.
Morgan,
DeleteI completely agree with you about looking up to the older kids, especially those that played your favorite sport. I went to every girls basketball game when I was little and I remember saying to my mom, "I want to play just like Claire Posteraro." I even thought about Emily Detsch like that and then freshmen year it was so intimidating that she was a senior. Another thing I can think of is playing in the alumni game for soccer. We kept yelling all of their names out and Andie Beverage at one point yelled to one of her teammates "How do they know our names?", and that is because we looked up to them so much when we were younger. Its crazy to think that is how little kids look at us now.
I think that an awakening is something that we all go through at least once in our lives. Sometimes, even more than once. We can be awakened to many different things through many different ways. What really matters is not the awakening but where it gets us.
ReplyDeleteI've gone through a couple awakenings in my life. But there is one in particular I would like to talk about. Like so many other people talked about, one of the biggest awakenings in my life was my entrance into high school. I find irony in the fact that so many of us view high school as our great awakening. I'm sure we will also find college to be equally abrupt. When I was younger, I always viewed high schoolers as these older, wiser, more mature people. They also seemed strangely tall. Now, I look at high schoolers and think to myself "What did I ever see in high school?" It is honestly not all its cracked up to be. I've definitely been awakened in it through many ways. I think my thought process now is much more evolved and progressive. Also, I think I behave more maturely in certain situations. It has also been a time where I've learned more about people, who are my friends and who is simply using me. Its been a wonderful experience overall and I've learned so much.
I think that a large awakening in America was the technological revolution. It was a time when we realized all the options we had. From that point onward, society has moved forward toward a better future. It was an impressive movement that is gradually changing the lives of Americans in unbelievable ways. The awakening has led to more advanced technologies in not only the actual computer field but also medical, educational, law enforcement, and publication fields. People have become so much more connected and it was impressive to watch it evolve. Before, if you wanted to send a person a message, you needed to use the actual mail. Now, we can text, email, call, IM, or any other method such as video chat. What has happened has seriously changed lives.
When I think of The Awakening, disregarding the opinions I've heard of my friends who read it earlier this year, my initial thought was Sleeping Beauty. I'm not sure why but it was. After reading just the first chapter, it was easy to see a hint of the tone of the book. It compares Edna to the mockingbird and parrot in the cages. I do believe that she will be awakened because of the title of the story and also what I have heard from people. I think it will be an interesting read and will lead to some really great discussions. Hopefully, we will be awakened to a new style of writing and some new ideas.
Alex,
DeleteIt is funny that all of three of the blogs have been about high school. I am sure that if we were in middle school we would say that the first day of sixth grade was an awakening. It actually was though, just not as important as our high school awakening. I found middle school to be more scary than high school. In high school classes are harder, but in middle school I think that the environment is harsher. Anyway, I wanted to talk about the technological revolution. This revolution has definitely awakened our world. We continue to made advancements. It seems as though they are made at the speed of light. There is always a newer, better version so that the companies can make more money. These new pieces of technology have definitely helped people in time of need, they allow people to make better use of their time, and they allow us to stay in touch with even the furthest of friends. But here is the main question have these new technological advancements actually benefited society and our world? Do the benefits outweigh the consequences? That is the question I pose. Was the technological revolution a positive or a negative awakening?
Alex… like many people’s awakenings, high school is a HUGE change from the norm. People we were “wowed” by back then you see through different eyes… makes you wonder why everyone said they liked so and so because in reality they are not very kind people or they are doing things they shouldn’t be doing. I remember going through DARE and thinking seriously, in St. Mary’s! Well, as I got older I found that yes drugs ARE in St. Marys. Also, I thought high school was all about sports just because that is mostly what middle school was involved with, sports… not classes. I also agree with America’s awakening being technical awakening. Now they have molecules that act as engines (fun fact of physics class for ya). It’s crazy to imagine that the old computers were as big as a room too! I’m not sure what to think of the book yet… can’t say I like it yet.
DeleteAlex… like many people’s awakenings, high school is a HUGE change from the norm. People we were “wowed” by back then you see through different eyes… makes you wonder why everyone said they liked so and so because in reality they are not very kind people or they are doing things they shouldn’t be doing. I remember going through DARE and thinking seriously, in St. Mary’s! Well, as I got older I found that yes drugs ARE in St. Marys. Also, I thought high school was all about sports just because that is mostly what middle school was involved with, sports… not classes. I also agree with America’s awakening being technical awakening. Now they have molecules that act as engines (fun fact of physics class for ya). It’s crazy to imagine that the old computers were as big as a room too! I’m not sure what to think of the book yet… can’t say I like it yet.
DeleteBecause high school was mentioned in the first three blogs, I have been trying really hard to think of something different in my life that was like an awakening. I struggled but eventually I thought of my grandmother’s death as an awakening to myself. She died the summer before our eighth grade year, and until that point, I had not experienced death in my life at all. That is what changed everything for me.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma and I were not really that close. I saw her occasionally, even though she lived in St. Marys, so I had every chance to see her more. However, I was one of thirty-seven children and great-grandchildren, so I never really felt as close to her as I did with my other grandma, where I was one of two. My Grandma Kopp actually had a great-grandchild older than me, so I assumed she was closer with all of my older cousins than she ever could be with me. When I was in sixth grade, she got diagnosed with lung cancer. I didn’t really know what that was, but cancer is such a terrifying word, I was so scared for her. For almost two years I watched her struggle and suffer. When she died, I was so mad at God. I could not believe he took such a religious and giving woman from this earth. Now that I am older and can reflect on that though, I am glad in a way that he did. She struggled for so many years, and I know she hated being in that hospital bed. We actually bought one to put in her house because she could not be away from home. Her life had so many up and downs that it still amazes me how strong of a woman she was. She had a son die because he was hit by a drunk driver walking home from church. Her husband died when she was only 48 and she still had two children at home with 4 in college and one with a baby of his own. She amazes me to this day.
However, her death is like an awakening to me because it made me realize that death is not something to be afraid of. God put her on this earth to raise a family and he gave her hard things to live through. She rose above them all and she did everything she needed to do. It was her time to go and she was ready. She lived a full life, full of accomplishment and she couldn’t have been prouder of any of her children or grandchildren. God took her off of this earth so she didn’t have to struggle anymore.
An awakening in history I thought of was 9/11. I think of this as an awakening because I think until that point everyone thought our country was safe. Nobody thought terrorists could ever come to this country. It showed us that even though we are one of the strongest military countries, we are not free from danger and it could happen at any time. Thank God there were brave souls there on that day as not as many lives were lost as what could have been. Our country now knows we have to be ready at all times because it could always happen to us.
I definitely think Edna will have an awakening. Now I am only on chapter 2, but I think it will be that she realizes women can be free too. I think at the beginning the caged birds show that that is how she thinks of women, they are caged and can only do so many things in their lives. However, I think at the end she will realize that is not the case and she will go out and do what she wants. She will not be afraid anymore.
Steph,
DeleteI can completely see how your grandma brought an awakening to you. I actually felt the same type of thing when my grandma passed away. I was only in third grade, so I really could not understand what was happening. I used to be afraid of death, like you said. I would actually worry about it and I was only a third grader. On the night when my grandma died, I had a dream that I was right there with her in the hospital. My mom came into my room to check on me, and I was talking in my sleep. I was talking to doctors, or so it seemed to her. She said that when she was standing next to my bed listening to me, I said “Bye, Nana.” As soon as I finished, the phone rang. It was my dad, saying that my grandma had just passed away. It was almost like I was there. I never got to say goodbye in person, but I feel that the way I did was something very special. Since then, I have never dwelled upon the idea of death. I have never cried over my grandma’s death. Instead, I feel that she is always with me and that we created a bond that night, the night that she became my angel.
Dearest Stephanie,
DeleteI am truly sorry about your grandmother. I am sure that she lived a wonderful life and was blessed with such a big family and grandchildren too! This happend to me recently with my cousin Michael. I always think that he is watching over us. I remember my mother came in and told me and my eight year old brother. He started crying but I told him not too worry, because today, heaven gained his greatest angel. Death is sad but inevitable. A day hasn't gone by where a few tears don't come to me about Michael but I have learned that he is in a better place and I am happy and blessed to knew him why he was still on this earth.
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ReplyDeleteAn “awakening” can happen in many ways… they are different experiences for everyone. I hate to sound repetitive but high school was probably the most “awakening time” of my life. So, since everyone’s main awakening is most likely high school, I will talk about my cat. I guess going even further back in time was when I was little and my cat died. Now since many people may not know, I was a little girl that had an obsession with animals. I would collect caterpillars and watch them turn into butterflies or I would catch daddy longlegs, frogs, birds, mice and red belly racers (for those that do not know… those are harmless snakes). None of these “pets” ever lasted very long, so my parents got me a cat Zeus. He lived in our woodpile and he was a wild cat (sort of) he did not like people. I would try to lure him in with food and would catch him and try to pet him. I became fond of this cat and one day he was not in the woodpile, or anywhere. Nobody knew where he went; my parents thought he ran away. Not long after I was looking around and found the dead cat. I felt horrible! I didn’t know what happened!!! We gave him a “proper cremation” in the wood burner. I guess after this whole experience I found out that everything dies. This fact comes as a big shocker when you are little, nothing but cuts and bruises can hurt you. I found that having a pet involves (eventually) the pet dying. I guess after this point in my life I realized that life doesn’t last and to love the people (or animals) you are close to you before they die.
ReplyDeleteI’m not much on the politics of America (or any country) so I will discuss slavery. Slavery was a big issue in America long ago. There was horrible mistreatment of people… people! Not animals… but these people were treated like animals! I guess the end of slavery was the big point in American history that America “changed” for the better, people slowly became socially accepted African Americans, Hispanic, whatever country you’re from. People started to come and be treated equally.
I have a feeling (I’m only on chapter 5) that Robert and Edna are going to get together or that there will be some major issues with Leone and Edna will end up alone. I bet the main character will be awakened because that is the title of the book. I’m not sure at this point what will be awakened yet so I think I will have to wait a little longer, read a little more before I respond because mainly just background was covered so far. I don’t want to jump to conclusions.
Elizabeth,
DeleteI absolutely love that you talked about your cat! I'm really sorry to hear that you lost him like you did. The "proper cremation" you described makes me wonder about you a little bit. That sounded a little creepy. I understand your idea of the realization that everything dies at some point. Actually, my cat ran away on the last day of school freshman year. I felt the same way you did. I was so upset for over a week, but then I realized that maybe it was for the better that he left instead of passing away where I could see him. He was over ten years old, so I figured it was probably his time to go. I always told him that I never wanted to find him dead. He must've been listening all those times.
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DeleteElizabeth,
DeleteI love your blog but I hate your cat! I always remember the poor birdy it attacked. It is very true though how as little kids we are unaware of what the world is really like. Your story reminds of how parents always say that the pet ran away to a farm and is living happily ever after with all his new friends, to protect their children from the truth. But in the end we learn the truth and grow as a person. In regards to your slavery discussion, I think it is also important to realize how long it took for that change to take place, even now there are many Americans who aren’t accepting of other races and slavery has certainly been over long enough now. I think that there could be more of an awakening in some people but we have to take it one step at a time.
An awakening is the moment when a person realizes that he or she has been viewing the world from a whole different perspective than how it is seen presently. Not everyone can say that they have had an awakening moment in their lives. Some say that the whole idea concerning the apocalypse scheduled for 2012 is a sort of awakening. It does not necessarily take some special notion to realize an awakening, but the simplest things can set it off.
ReplyDeleteI, personally, cannot recall a time when I had a significant moment in my life that changed who I was or how I looked at things. If I had to describe a time most like that of an awakening, I would have to say that every day could be my awakening. I sometimes start to think about when I was a little kid and all the fun I had with my neighbors. It seems childish, but I can make myself start to cry just thinking about it. I have realized now, more than ever, that I am growing up way too fast. I wish I could go back to the days when I thought summer vacation lasted an entire year. The time when inviting a friend over actually meant having my mom talk to their mom. I miss that so much and would give anything to be myself at age six or seven just one more time.
I have started the novel, but I have only made it to the second chapter. I guess I could say that Edna will have a sort of awakening. It is hard to say for sure since I really have no clue what is going on yet. Knowing Chopin's writing, I would imagine her awakening to be something such as Taylor has already stated; one that makes her see the other side of being a woman trapped in the conventional mold. Maybe there will be a moment when she decides to take a chance at being someone she is not, and then realizing that who she is not is who she wants to become.
Kristy…it is strange to go back and figure out what a specific moment is that could be described as an awakening. I do see how you could have an almost “daily awakening” you do learn something new every day and every day you become wiser and see the world a little differently. It is funny going back and thinking when you were little all you wanted to do was get bigger to get new shoes or be able to participate or act like a “grown up” but it is sad to grow up because you realize that everything is not as good as it was when you saw it through your “kid eyes.”
DeleteKristy,
DeleteIt was a great point that you brought up the idea of the end of this year! I can’t believe how soon that is coming. Which also ties in with the idea of how soon we grew up. We always say how if we could go back what we would change. I know that if I went back to my freshman year when I was completely overwhelmed with trying to do my homework, I would literally not have an idea with what I would do with that time after this year. It puts things perspective for me, knowing that in two more years I might be feeling the same way about now. I liked your point on how she might be taking a chance at becoming something, I sure hope she does.
Kristy,
DeleteI really like your idea of an awakening. Everyday really can be an awakening. I remember when you would want to have a friend come over and their mom would have to talk to your mom in order to figure out times and rides. But now we just hang out as we please and we can drive our selves. So much has changed, but I do not necessarily look at that as a bad thing. Now that we are old enough to drive and our parents trust us so much more we can experience newer things and have fun on different adventures, such as canoeing (wink wink haha). This is all part of growing up. But I think that in order to make growing up fun and not sad missing your childhood we need to have days that remind of us our childhood, such as baking cookies with your family, or watching a favorite movie, or something like that. Although this is seems like going backwards from an awakening but it can really help experience and awakening to the fullest.
The first thing I also thought of as my awakening was also high school. It is such a big change in our lives, which forces you to grow up. However I tried to come up with a different idea since many of us already mentioned that, I would have to say when I moved was my awakening. As many of you know, I’m from good old Brandy Camp where I lived until I was fourteen. We lived in a basic house with a small yard, nothing spectacular. We now live in a penthouse apartment in downtown. I really love it, I so slightly miss my yard and redneck neighbors but I had a real “awakening” at how many different types of people and live styles there are. I went from being related to everyone around me to wondering about the creepy guy with tattoos all over down the street. I don’t mean to sound prejudice in anyway, and that’s mainly what I really was awakened to. I was in shock at how different people were from my family and I even in little Saint Marys.
ReplyDeleteReflecting on an “awakening” in America’s past, the only thing that really comes to mind in 9/11, sadly. At such a horrifying time in our country, we pulled through and helped strangers out. It really showed what America is made of. More people were enlisted in the military and flags popped up everywhere. It also was an awakening in the sense of how big the world really is to me, all the different ethnicities and races or even the countries I had never even heard of, were there wanting to help. It also goes to show that even though the world is big, it doesn’t take much to help remind us to enjoy the little things.
As I am only in chapter two of the novel I cannot completely make an anticipation of what the tittle could mean. From what I have read I think that Edna is going to realize how much power she has and how much more she could have. After reading some of Chopin’s writings I still am not sure what to expect. I also think that there is a chance that I am really going to love this book!
Laura,
DeleteI agree that high school has been a really big awakening for me too. I myself have lived in the same place for my whole life so I have not had the opportunity to experience your moving awakening, but I would definitely imagine that that would be a huge awakening experience. Moving to a new place and meeting so many new people, I cannot even think about how life-changing that would be. I too, thought that 9/11 was one of the biggest awakenings for America as a nation. So many changes were implemented as a result of that terrible attack, from new security measures to so many more men and women enlisting into the military. I have not started the novel yet, so I really am not all to sure what to think of it yet.
Laura,
DeleteI can relate to your blog in a somewhat different way. Saint Mary’s is not really a culturally diverse town. (I know this is going to sound terrible, but I don’t mean it in a negative way at all) but seeing people who are not white is odd to me. When I go to visit my family that lives down in an area right out of Washington DC, you really start to understand the cultural diversity of the United States. Walking into a store is like listening to a bunch of different languages from a bunch of different people and it seems abnormal, but interesting. I think for everyone seeing a new group of people is really a big awakening, so I can see how even going from one place to another in elk county is even a different experience. I also agree with your statement that 9/11 was a big awakening for the entire country. Everyone believed that the United States was a safe place, until this major attack happened. Now, you can’t cross the border without a pass port, and yelling “bomb” in an airport is pretty much a federal offence. Security is a lot tighter, just to be sure everyone is safe.
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DeleteLaura, great blog! I remember when you moved, it was rough on you and we had many fires at mine and Elizabeth’s houses to make up for the lack of yard. When you said you were not trying to sound prejudice, it made me think of how often we do judge others before we even know them. St. Marys is really starting to change. We have gotten many new styles of clothing, taste in music, and even some new people are starting to move here (not many). 9/11 was a really powerful awakening for many of us. I will always remember 9/11 because it is the day before my birthday. I could not believe waking up that morning that something that terrible could happen. There I was making party plans with my mom, talking about cake and presents, and the next thing I know there is a burning plane and building on the news. That year I gave my birthday wish, almost like a prayer, up to the people who had died in the attack and their families. I won’t tell you what I wished for exactly because then it might not come true, but I think you can guess. ;)
DeleteLaura,
DeleteI think what we don't usually realize is that even in our small town lives, there is a difference from one to the other. Then you compare it to a big city and the difference is huge. When I first when to Altoona, I thought it was a completely different world. It was so big and bustling. Then I went to New York City and was floored. We don't realize how different the lives we live are until we go see something to compare them to. I think that is a huge, important part of "awakening"s. You must be enlightened and experience something that changes you.
I anticipate that the book will be impressive as well. I think that it may seriously emphasize the changes that we all miss occurring in ourselves. I can't wait to hear your further opinions on the book!
As many of my fellow classmates have already talked about in their blogs, high school is probably the biggest, most eye opening, and mind-boggling awakening so far in my life. The increased workload, tougher courses, and of course all of the extra stress have really awakened me to what the real world is like. However, I have recently had another awakening. After tennis practice one day last week my coach, Mr. Nick Caggiano, had a little sit down talk with me. We talked about several things but the main thing that I came away from that meeting is about how next year, I will pretty much be the main senior leader on the team, and that with that comes quite a few responsibilities. Among those responsibilities is being an active, helpful, friendly teammate to all of the younger players on the team, and being a good example for them because I will be one of the people on the team whose lead will be looked upon to follow. I have to be a more mature young adult and help turn the team into the best team it possibly can be. To do that will take a serious conscious effort on my part, and I look forward to the opportunity to step up for the team and for my coach in that role.
ReplyDeleteFor an American or historical awakening, I immediately think of all of the conflicts the United States has been involved in in the Middle East and one of the most horrific terrorist attacks of all time, 9/11. I think that before all of this happened, people in America did not truly understand the hatred that so many people in this world have for America, Americans and our way of life. Now, however, I think that people in America finally understand that we do not live in a perfect world free of hate and bloodshed. People understand that we live a good life here, and that there are those people out there who truly seek to destroy all that we have, for whatever reason that may be, I am not sure anyone really knows for certain.
Now onto my expectations and assumptions about The Awakening. Since one of the group presentations did a fairly good job of covering Kate Chopin and the kind of work she has written, I already know that this story is going to have a major feministic view and sort of perspective or theme to it. I imagine that it will pertain to women’s rights and the struggles women have gone through throughout history in a society where women have so often been considered inferior to men, which is not the truth by a longshot. I have honestly not started reading the novel yet, but I plan on starting it tomorrow so I will be finding out just how accurate my assumptions are pretty soon.
Dearest Scott,
DeleteI’m glad to see Nick taking some charge this year, ha-ha! But high school to me was a big eye opener too! I mean where did all of this work come from?!? In middle school I would come home watch some television and then just kind of chill around the house all night. Now I am lucky if I get a moment to sit down and relax. I am constantly on the move between school, extracurricular activities, and a job. I have to learn that there really isn’t all that much time in a day and I need to learn to balance that a little bit better!
An awakening, to me, means that you then realize something that you didn’t before. You open your eyes and really take on something with a more, deeper meaner than you may have previously saw before. One of my greatest awakenings in life actually just happened more recently. As I am sure all of you know my cousin, Michael Proudfit, just passed away. I was one of those kids that always tried to find a way out of going to family things and now I truly regret that. When Michael died I was truly awakened to how important a person is and the impact that they have in the direct community and people’s lives. Despite his younger age, which made it all the harder, many people came to his wake and funeral. He was a beautiful person that will never be forgotten. This was the first death in my family that I can really remember and comprehend. Life is short and I was awakened, maybe a little too late, to that you should spend time with those you care about and keep close to your hearts because before you know it, they just might be gone. So the next time someone asks you to go visit your relatives, don’t complain saying you’d rather go to a friends house. Take this advice from me and go because they might be gone sooner than you may think. This was the greatest awakening in my life.
ReplyDeleteFrom previously talking about Kate Chopin and her stories I can already make an assumption that she is going to be awakened to a different sort of life; a life in which women don’t have to act a certain way. Women don’t need to follow these strict rules and regulations. They are just as independent if not more than men and that she can branch out from the so called “norm” of which women in society are expected to follow. I am excited to read this novel more. This may be the best one yet! I feel like I will be able to relate to because even now women do have still of the same restrictions and regulations but women have come a long way and we will constantly be fighting and advancing for more!!
Laira,
DeleteI would just like to say I am so sorry for your loss of Michael. I regret to say that I did not know him at all, other than seeing him in school, but from everything I have heard about him I am certain he was an incredible person and that Heaven is lucky to have him. I am sure that his death was definitely a major awakening in your life as well as in all of those who knew him lives. Losing someone in your family, a friend, or anyone close to you is such an unfortunate awakening. It really makes you realize just how special each and every person is and that you only live once. You have to live your life to the fullest because you never know when it could come to an abrupt, sad end. I too, feel like with this novel, the women in it will have an awakening and realize their true value as a person and to society. I believe that it will show that women and are just as valuable to society as men, despite the contrary belief of the time of the novel.
Laira,
DeleteWow, what a powerful blog that you made here. I honestly think that it would be good for every student in class to read what you have written for this week's assignment. There is obviously nothing more eye opening than the loss of a loved one. First of all I, being the new kid, had no idea that Michael was your cousin, so let me say that I am very sorry for your loss. I think that we all have things that we do in our day to day lives that we would learn to regret if something tragic happened, just as you regret your previous avoidance of your family gatherings. This reminds me of the constant arguments that I have with my mother.I always make sure that I apologize and say I love you to her before I sleep because tomorrow is really promised to no one of us. I think that you made some very good points about the loss of your loved one that we can all learn something from. I also would like to add that I agree with the predictions you made about Kate Chopin's novel that we will be reading in class. This may be the most influential blogs that I have read yet. Very nice, Good Job.
Scott,
ReplyDeleteI really was interested by your awakening from your talk with Coach Caggiano. Becoming the leader of a sports team is a really difficult role to take. You have to be ready to give 100% when everybody else is ready to call it a day, and you have to remain composed when everybody else is ready to break down under the pressure. I myself have come to this realization before especially this past football season when I was voted captain of a team when I had only been in the program for a couple weeks. Though, you should take on this awakening moment with pride and gusto! Being a leader of a team will be one of the hardest things in your life if you take it seriously, but it will also be one of the most rewarding things in your life also. I think that you choice of 9/11 as an awakening for the United States was great. I think that this example basically personifies an awakening moment, especially for a nation as powerful as America. I think it was such an awakening because we get caught up in being this big worldly "super power" and we forget that we are hated as a nation across the world and that we need to constantly fight for our freedom. You made some really great points and really made me think with your blog! thanks and good work Scott!
Thank you for your congratulations on my blog, Mitchell. I greatly appreciate it.
DeleteBlog continued.
ReplyDeleteAn American awakening would have to be for me, was the school shooting that took place in Amish school. A man with a gun walked up to a girl and asked her if she believed in God. She said yes and he shot her. The Amish forgave this man and told everyone to pray for him. This is huge to me because I could not believe how peaceful they were about this because if someone killed someone important to me I honestly don’t know if I could be like “pray for him”. I might want to take him down!!!
Laira, oh my goodness when I started reading your blog I honestly almost cried. Death truly is a strong awakening for many people. It is in the deaths of others that we often tend to look at our lives and think “what can I do better?” It also forces us to look at our religious beliefs and discover the truths to our faith. Michael was an awesome person and we will always honor his memory and keep him in our prayers. In addition, that Amish family that you mentioned is a good point. I remember when that was in the news. There were a lot of shootings at that time and with this family being Amish it was incredible that it had gotten as much publicity as it did. It really does make us wake up to God’s message of love and mercy.
DeleteLaira,
Deleteyour whole blog was touching. It must have been hard for you to talk about Michael, may he rest in peace. It really is true that everyone has good things to say when someone's gone, but those things need to be said today. The part that moved me the most was the story of the shooting. I can't even comprehend forgiving someone that deliberately shot a innocent girl. It's amazing, the ability they had to forgive and really trust in God. It takes miraculous faith in God to believe that he will take care of everything and not want revenge. By shooting the girl because she believed in God, the man accomplished the opposite if what he was trying to achieve. He wanted to diminish faith in God but instead, he strengthened it in the people he attacked because their belief and devotion to God was tested but they forgave and prayed for him, this extreme trust brought them closer to God and built upon their relationship with Him.
When I think of having an Awakening, I think of coming to a realization or a revelation towards an idea. When one is awakened in a physical sense they come out of sleeping or coming from a quiet state to a state of consciousness. Usually awakenings are something in which a person can use to better themselves from a negative aspect to their personality or way of life and move towards a better way of life. There are many situations in which on can be awakened: in negative relationships, in their line of work, or even the way they life their life.
ReplyDeleteIf I could think of a period of time in which an awakening has occurred in my life, I would have to say that I am currently experiencing one. Taking the SAT’s, getting confirmed, looking for colleges, and finalizing classes for my last year of high school are many things you do when your growing up. The time to be a kid is slowly passing and it is coming to the time where thinking about my future is important. “What do you want to be when you grow up” is so much more complicated than what it used to be. The only thing a child thinks of is the actual job, and it does not have to be practical. As a young child, you can answer doctor, lawyer, or even unpractical things like prince or princess, and not worry about what any of those occupations entail. Being in the last year and a half of high school makes me think about the specifics, like how long am I going go to college, where am I going to want to college, and what am I even going to want to do for the rest of my life? It is all a lot to think about, and requires a lot of mature practical thinking. Being younger, I wanted to be a marine biologist; however, the job availability is low, the pay is low, and I live in Pennsylvania, where no ocean is present for at least one entire state away. The chances of finding a job would be difficult, and if I did not find a job, I would have to move. When thinking through all of these questions, I actually eliminated that as a job possibility and started thinking more practically. Without college nearing soon, these practical ideas would not have occurred to me, and I would still be in the fantasy world of making a living out of impractical job ideas. In a sense, you could say this is my own personal awakening.
This country has also had several awakenings; however, instead of affecting one person’s life, it affected entire groups of people. In discussion of one awakening, I would have to say the time period in which slavery was banned, and African American people were being integrated as equals with the whites was an important awakening. Although this covers a couple hundred years of history, it can still be considered (a slow and gradual) awakening. Americans needed to realize that slavery was a horrific topic, and practicing it was wrong. The color of skin should not be a differentiating factor of considering a person a piece of property. Integration was something very important that needed to happen in the United States.
I do believe that Edna will have an awakening. It is the title of the book! Edna and the caged bird at the beginning may be similar; they both need to be freed. I am not that far in the book, but I can already start to tell that Edna is dependent on having a man in her life. Women can be completely independent and strong with or without a man in her life. Men are not a determining factor towards a woman’s success. Edna’s husband thinks of her like a piece of property, and her awakening may be something along the lines of feeling that she can be independent on her own, or that she deserves better than him. I’ll just have to read and see.
Abby,
DeleteI remember when you wanted to be a marine biologist!
Also, I love that you discussed the awakenings in America. I think you're right when you say that they didn't affect one single person, but a group of people. The change in America was a universal effect. The whole slavery movement is a real awakening in my opinion. I'm glad you brought up this point.
It is the title of the book isn't it! Dead giveaway. I'm not in any way one of those people that are like "Oh! Women can do anything men can," or "Feminism all the way!"
I'm more of a "Hey, as long as I can vote and stuff I'm cool if the guy wants to be the man of the house and take care of me."
I do however see where you're coming from with the "without a man in her life" sort of discussion.
Nice blog Abagail.
Abby,
DeleteWell, your awakening is certainly one that we are all going through right now. Preparing for the future in a very real and practical sense is life changing and requires a new mind set and clear thinking, something that i believe a true awakening gives.
Slavery is absolutely an awakening in America. It changed America in a very real sense and for the better. It made the United States that much better of a country and united all of her people.
Good blog Abs.
An awakening is a new realization to a topic that has been around for some time. It is when we open up and allow ourselves to experience the world through different eyes. It can be personal, physical, mental, and spiritual. Like in the early years of America when the United States was still a baby, we experienced the Great Awakening. This was a spiritual, or religious, movement that brought great changes to the country and opened many people up to new religious ideas. We physically wake up from sleep every night, and sometime around sixth or seventh period we mentally wake up.
ReplyDeleteFor myself I have had many experiences where I have become aware of life’s hardships and joys. When I was in seven years old my mom was pregnant with my third sister, Grace. She was not a healthy baby, she had a rare kidney disease, and the doctors told my mother to give up and have an abortion. My parents refused all those doctors and found only one doctor who would support them and their unborn daughter. My family was introduced to Divine Mercy and we prayed that prayer every night until my sister was born. We continued and still do continue to pray that prayer for her and all in need. I learned the lessons of life and God’s mercy. When I was in the fifth grade my papa died. We had been very close, even though my family lived here in Pennsylvania and he and my gram lived in California. I learned the lesson of death and God’s love from him.
Judging by some issues pre-revealed in the “Reading Pointers” section I have made some hypotheses on how the book will end. I get the feeling that she will be awakened to women’s rights in a male dominant society. I also get the feeling that she is going to either drown or commit suicide in her so called “final swim.”
Maura,
DeleteI love that you pulled the actual Great Awakening into your blog. Actually, I had really thought about maybe including that in my own blog. It seemed to be such a huge part of history. It led to many new ideas, all of which were huge for society as we know it.
I love your personal awakening because back at that time you and I were extremely close so I remember it affecting you first-hand. What I know now is how Grace is a strong, cheerful individual and I can't imagine your family without her. I think maybe you didn't only become aware of life's hardships but also the importance of hope. I know you have always been one of the most positive and hopeful people in my life.
And just so you know, I didn't read the pointers so thank you for spoiling the ending for me! I usually try to avoid them because include some type of summary.
Maura, I like your statement of “becoming aware of life’s hardships and joys.” I know that when we are little, we think that everything is good, and we don’t understand the bad. What was the worst you ever went through when you were 6? You didn’t get ice cream because it was too close to supper. As we grow older, we realize that there is bad in the world, and that it takes effort to bring out the good. But when we do exert that effort, life has many possibilities for joy.
DeleteWhen I think of an "Awakening" honestly nothing comes to mind. I'm not really sure what an awakening is. If I had to relate it to something in my own life, I guess I would compare it to a realization point. The best realization point I've had in my life, was realizing that someone was no longer good for me. Realizing that having them in my life was doing more harm than good. My feelings can basically be summed up in this poem I wrote called "My Excuse"
ReplyDeleteExcuses
That's all we ever were,
just a bunch of exceptions and alibis
I couldn't see it when we were together,
I was so blinded
thinking if I could just keep believing in you
then maybe those excuses
those reasons, those loses
would turn into truth
would turn into reality.
I was so blinded
my world was caving in
but I kept pushing it up,
because I thought that if I could just keep
believing in you
then maybe those times
I said
"Oh, but it's just him"
defending you,
then maybe you'd learn to love me
like I loved you.
Now looking back,
I realize that those patches
that were so blurry
so caught up in you
were only remembering the good parts
the solid moments
where you made me think we had this
we could have had this.
I realize that all we ever were
was excuses
reasons, loses
we were a distant boy with a broken soul
and a lost girl who kept using that as an defense
for why you couldn't love her.
We were just excuse after excuse
apology after apology
rain after rain
we were nothing
that I can see
I can now see
we never stood a chance
to have this.
What I basically am saying here is that I was so blinded by my infatuation for this person, that I got lost in the fantasy without recognizing the reality. I started making excuses and apologies for things that weren't my fault. I was "awakened" I guess you could say into the truth. I was born back into a reality, and now I'm happier than ever. It's like this weight has been lifted off of me and I'm cleansed and renewed.
I would have to say this can relate to my thoughts that Edna is going to be renewed in her "awakening." She is going to start becoming a less codependant person, and start being her own self. She is going to push those people out of her life that harm her and tell he she can't do certain things. She'll knock down the walls. She'll be independent. She'll be freed from the cage.
I'm excited to see where the book takes me.
My dearest Sophie,
DeleteLet me just begin by saying that I absolutely adore reading your poetry. It is glorious. I love love love this. I can relate to it so well. I feel like you read my mind in writing that! It's so true how we can create an image of how we want something to be and in our minds we want it so bad that we make excuses for that person so it's never their fault. We do all that we can to create the perfect image we have in our heads, but eventually we are awakened and the weight of it all comes crashing down and we realize that it was never what we thought it was and it never could have been. Then time heals all wounds and we realize it was for the best and are renewed, like you said, and life goes on. I give your poem and A+++
Thank you dearest Maria!!
DeleteSophie,
DeleteI think everyone has that one person that they know is not good for them, but going back to them comes naturally. I can even personally relate to that. It takes an awakening like you had to know that moving on is the best thing that can be done, even if it is difficult. It makes you stronger and a more independent person for being able to overcome that type of relationship, so kudos to you! I like Maria love reading your poetry as well! It doesn’t even rhyme, but it flows well and I can actually relate and understand it. Hopefully instead of just individual poems of yours being published, I will get to see an entire book.
That's the dream! haha
DeleteLike anything, the word awakening can have a different meaning to a different person. Just by looking at these blogs, you can see the different ideas of personal awakenings. As a general definition, I’d say an awakening is a realization in one’s life and a coming into a deeper awareness of the world around us or of ourselves. Awakenings make us grow as people.
ReplyDeleteWhen I thought of an awakening in my life, I wasn’t sure what to write about. I’m awaken up every morning does that count? Nevertheless, in all seriousness when I thought about it, the most recent awakening in my life was when I found out that my grandpa had cancer. It all came as a huge surprise because no one ever expects these things to happen to them. He goes through so much pain but always turns something good out of it and does all that he can to make others happen. All his life he’s made so many sacrifices for others and even in the face of suffering he never ceases to give. While he was bedridden, his biggest concern wasn’t the pain, but instead was not being able to go to daily mass as he had done for about 20 years. This really opened my eyes because I saw how happy he is with this huge weight on his shoulder while others complain about the simplest things. It made me take a step back and be thankful for what I have, especially my health. I notice the little things more now. On a negative note, it taught me that bad things do happen to people that deserve the polar opposite and that’s life. One way or the other it has to be accepted. My grandpa accepted it and makes the best out of it to this day.
An awakening for American was the Boston tea party. It was an event in history that made the citizens realize that they needed to declare independence and be separated from British control. Not only that, but it gave them the confidence that they had the power to do so.
I think that Edna will undergo an awakening of self, rather than the world around her. She will further learn her power and discover more of herself.
Maria,
DeleteI'd say arising from your slumber is an awakening, ha ha. I'm sorry to hear about your grandpa, but I do understand that can be an awakening. When my great aunt died recently, I realized that my own grandpa wasn't getting any younger. It really made me realize how much time I actually have left with him.
I'm glad that this experience had taught you something. Your grandpa seems very strong and I believe that you understanding things will only make it better.
My prayers are sent to you!
Nice blog.
Maria,
DeleteI love your statement that awakenings make us grow. They truly do, the inspire us to become better people, or in your case with your grandfather, they make you realize the true beauty and wonder of life, and that the gift of life and health should never be taken for granted. I admit to having the mindset of "nothing bad will ever happen to me", like you had. You read things in the paper and watch the news of terrible deaths and illnesses and such, but you never think that those situations could ever become your life. Your grandpa is very inspirational in that he turned such a horrible thing like cancer around into something positive. That experience was probably an awakening for him, as well as your entire family. I think this novel will cover Edna's awakening as she finds what she wants in life. Great blog Maria!
Maria,
DeleteI especially like your definition of an awakening. My definition is very similar but yours is different in a way that makes it even more interesting. Learning of terminal diseases can be a shocking experience. I find admiration in your grandpa for putting that aside and moving on with his life. That takes a certain amount of mental strength. There is no doubt that we should appreciate every day that God has given us. Complaining only makes matters worse. Everything happens for a reason and it is up to us to deal with it in the best possible way.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAn awakening is, in essence, life changing. By digging deeper in the title, it is possible to see several meanings. ‘Awakening’ is the present participle form of the infinitive ‘to awake’. The literal sense generally means to rouse from sleep or to wake up. Like many other words in the wonderful English language, there are deeper, multi-faceted meanings to words. Often times, one is awakened to a certain situation or event. It may bring an individual to a certain reality of life. A lesson is sometimes accompanied by an awakening. That lesson may be bad but usually good. Everybody has these experiences. If they did not, then they wouldn’t be human. My eyes have been awakened to many realities of life, especially over the past couple of years. I’m sure Edna, like every other human, experienced an awakening in her life. It is all very possible that I can learn from her life situations and apply them to my own life.
ReplyDeleteThere is a particular awakening that has intrigued me recently. As my classmates and I grow older we are encountering important decisions that require a certain intuition. To this date, we have (hopefully) taken our SAT, possibly signed up for AP tests, and scheduled our senior classes. The more and more I think about, the next year will include some of the most important decisions of our early lives. My awakening is simple yet important. It has dawned upon me, in the past month or so, that after high school I will have the power to do what I please. I can take the easy route and live a somewhat happy life or I can take another path. This path is the one less traveled. This path is a long, obstacle ridden one that scares away many. Now I have been awakened to the fact that my classmates and I have the capabilities to change the world. That is the path less taken. This knowledge as a result of my own personal awakening will carry me and inspire me through the challenging times that are to come. I know that the decisions I make now will affect me when it really matters. I dearly hope that my classmates have experienced this same awakening or will in the near future. Whether we believe it or not, collectively and individually, we have the potential to achieve great accomplishments.
My awakening figuratively hit me like a ton of bricks but I’m glad it did when it did. I now have the knowledge that I can do great things if I make the right decisions.
Certainly, a person’s awakening does not have to be as major as mine. I have not started The Awakening by Chopin yet. I am going to hypothesize that Edna’s awakening is one that brings about a different opinion of her life as a woman during that time. Also, by thinking of the title less complicated we can ask the question ‘why would the book be called The Awakening if there is not real awakening?’ I hope Edna does experience an awakening to better her life. We all deserve better and an awakening or an epiphany is the first step to achieving that.
Ryan, I like how you put it about taking the path less traveled. We all need to take some risks, and to try our boundaries. This is how great people are born. And I will also say this - your blog would make WeeJ proud. :)
DeleteAlthough I agree with all of the other blogs that high school was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life, I will do my best to pick another awakening that I experienced in my life to try and brake the trend a little bit. The awakening that I am speaking of may seem like a small exciting occurrence but because of my age and ignorance it really changed my outlook a little bit. It all started when my family and I were spending a lovely evening at an extravagant restaurant in Washington D.C. while we visited my cousins many summers ago. We had all ate more than our fair share of food and we slowly wobbled out into the parking lot disgusted at the sizes of our swollen stomachs. As we walked out we heard some sudden commotion, a few deep manly yells, followed a woman’s scream that sent chills up our spines. We looked ahead and saw that two men, who hid their appearances with matching ski masks, had ripped the purse from the hands of a woman, thrown her to the ground, removed her car keys from her purse, and were now squealing tires the whole way out of the parking lot. My uncle who is a high ranking D.C. police officer tore his gun from his holster and sprinted after the vehicle. As he was doing so the two deliberately tried to hit him with the woman’s vehicle. To add insult to injury we found out after my uncle questioned the woman that her husband was out of the country on a business trip and that purse was the only way she could enter her home, and with no family living nearby she would have to have her husband get her a hotel room to stay in until the issue was solved. This awakening opened by eyes to a couple things. First of all it made me realize that crimes did not only happen on TV or in movies, and that the crime report that I always read in the newspaper was real, and that in each of those reports someone was seriously hurt or affected in some negative way. I guess mainly it made me realize that all of those talks that we get in elementary school about the dangers of strangers on the street, or always being with an adult really aren’t a joke because things like this happen thousands of times in a day. Another more impactful realization has to do with my uncle. My uncle Jon and I were always very close and he and I along with my cousin Rodney were together for all of the most enjoyable moments and times of my life. I was always very proud when I was younger and I was with him to tell people that my uncle was a very important officer in our nation’s capital. I always knew that he was on the streets at night doing his best to keep the capital safe, and I knew that almost every night he made multiple arrests. Though, this is really the first time that it came full circle for me that he was putting himself in very serious danger for citizens that he didn’t even know. The realization of the danger in the world and my uncle who was at the front lines trying to stop this danger kept me awake for the following nights.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is safe to say that the most eye opening experience for our nation was the catastrophe of 9/11. You could write an entire book about how that fateful day changed our daily lives forever, but it is a topic that has been covered many times. The way it opened our eyes the most I think is that we realized that we have to be constantly on guard because there are groups of people who really hate America with all of their might! We are not exactly the favorite country in the world and never had been. On 9/11 as a nation we were awakened to the fact that we are very susceptible to attacks via air transportation and the changes that have been made in airports since then are very progressive. From what I know about the background of Kate Chopin I think that the novel will be written from a very female perspective and I believe that the protagonist will be awakened to the fact that women do not have to live in a specific way. I am very excited to read further in the novel, especially because it is short (haha).
Awakening can be defined as many different things to different people. According to dictionary.com an awakening can be defined as the act of awaking from sleep, a revival of interest or attention, a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something: a rude awakening to the disagreeable facts, or a renewal of interest in religion, especially in a community; a revival. Personally, my definition of an awakening is a little different. I think an awakening is part of an inner conflict that a person must overcome, and when they do they receive a new perspective on life, become a new person, or change themselves. I also think of these changes and perspectives as positive. I do not associate awakenings with the negative aspects of life.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest awakening in my life would be the death of my great grandmother, whom I called Nana. She passed away the summer before my sophomore year. This was the first death I have ever experienced in my entire life. It was the first wake I attended and the first funeral I have ever witnessed. The news hit me like a ton of bricks and I am forever changed by the experience of death and the obstacles of dealing with death in the days, months, and year that followed. Before Nana passed away I had this feeling that life was long and always well lived. I helped friends cope with deaths, but I foolishly never expected it to be me. I knew that sooner or later I would have to deal with a personal death, but I always banked on the later. My Nana’s death made me realize that life is precious, and not always fulfilling. Luckily, my Nana lived to be 94 years old, but it made me think that death could hit anyone at any moment. I now look at life in a different light. I see life as a beautiful gift from God that should never be taken for granted. I try to live every day to the fullest and I always tell people how I feel. I would give anything to tell my Nana that I love her one last time, so with that, I now make sure I say that before I say goodbye or good night to someone I love and care about. People can certainly find positive awakenings from negativity.
I think a true awakening in America is the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I was in first grade when this happened to the United States. I do not remember much, but I do remember the turmoil that it caused the citizens of this country, and I remember the fear that it instilled in all Americans, and too many other people of the world. It awakened America to the dangers that we are constantly in. It told its citizens to be aware of their safety at all times. The attacks reminded us that no matter how strong we may seem, the country can crack in just a few seconds. In “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin I think that Edna will be awakened (as the title suggests). I think she will be awakened to what she really wants and desires in life, and she will be awakened on how she can achieve her wants and desires.
An awakening is looking at one thing at two different times and seeing two different things. Looking through another window is another way of saying this. We see another perspective. An awakening for me would be when I was in a car crash some years ago. I was coming home from a friend’s house in February, and the roads were very icy. I didn’t think anything of it, because nothing would ever happen to me, that accidents only happen to other people. My car was safe, and we would be fine. But then, the impossible happened. We crashed into a truck who was in our lane, and there was nothing to be done about it. This really opened my eyes to the dangers of driving, and how a driver must stay on alert to everything that is happening. I had not started driving yet, but I recalled it very clearly when I did start. It made me think long and hard about reckless driving.
ReplyDeleteI think a good example of an awakening in American history was when Prohibition was repealed. Everyone thought that banning alcohol would solve the world’s problems, and that everyone would follow the rules. In actuality, this was the exact opposite. Since it was banned, even people who did not drink before started just to prove that they could and not get caught. Crime rates skyrocketed, and there were fortunes to be made by bootlegging. Everyone realized what a mistake Prohibition was, and it was quickly repealed.
I think that Edna will be awakened when someone cheats in her marriage. I don’t know if it will be her or her husband, but they do not have a happy marriage and one is always feeling left out.
Linnea
ReplyDeleteDriving and driving safety is something that still perplexes me to this day. There are obvious risks. These risks can be easily avoided with proper safety precautions. Many people do not adhere to normal precautions and this is simply terrifying. I think everyone on the roads should have an epiphany about driving. I'm not saying that they should be in an accident but they should realize that it can happen to anyone. I'd like to consider myself a safe driver and I accredit that to my realization that driving is lethal, if not handled in the proper manner.