Forget the unhappy past moments,
Enjoy the present time,
and Prepare for a marvellous future.
Happy New Year 2010!
Comment from Bookworm (T.L.)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
A Pair of Silk Stockings, story summary
‘A Pair of Silk Stockings’, written by Kate Chopin in 1896, is a five-page fiction about a mother, Mrs. Sommer, who has conflicts within her in how to spend the ‘unexpected 15 dollars’.
She is a thrifty housewife who will always spend time bargaining and consider for a long time before deciding to buy things below cost. For one or two days she has been thinking and doing calculations about what to buy for her children with this extra amount of money. It seems as if she is a caring, devoted mother who plans for the children rather than herself. This is what she has been doing since her husband is away (die?). However, she later indulges herself with beautiful things one after another. Everything starts with a pair of silk stockings, then she buys a pair of pointed-tipped boots to suit with the stockings, a pair of gloves, two high-priced magazines, and she has tea in a fashionable, expensive restaurant. Finally she watches a movie in the cinema. She spends all the 15 dollars in merely a day and it does not go into use for her children but herself.
Readers may feel that the character is an irresponsible and inconsiderate mother who doesn’t make use of the money to obtain necessary stuff for the family. However, if we examine her psychological condition when she is a widow and has been sacrificing for the family for a long time, she needs something to comfort herself. Unconsciously she allows extravagance to dominate her necessity.
She is a thrifty housewife who will always spend time bargaining and consider for a long time before deciding to buy things below cost. For one or two days she has been thinking and doing calculations about what to buy for her children with this extra amount of money. It seems as if she is a caring, devoted mother who plans for the children rather than herself. This is what she has been doing since her husband is away (die?). However, she later indulges herself with beautiful things one after another. Everything starts with a pair of silk stockings, then she buys a pair of pointed-tipped boots to suit with the stockings, a pair of gloves, two high-priced magazines, and she has tea in a fashionable, expensive restaurant. Finally she watches a movie in the cinema. She spends all the 15 dollars in merely a day and it does not go into use for her children but herself.
Readers may feel that the character is an irresponsible and inconsiderate mother who doesn’t make use of the money to obtain necessary stuff for the family. However, if we examine her psychological condition when she is a widow and has been sacrificing for the family for a long time, she needs something to comfort herself. Unconsciously she allows extravagance to dominate her necessity.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A Male Magdalene, story summary
This is the fifth story I've learnt from the ENG229 in UC. What I manage to understand from the story is in the followings:
What does ‘Magdalene’ mean?According to Encarta Dictionary, ‘Magdalene’ or ‘Magdalen’ means a reformed prostitute, or in other words, a person who used to be a prostitute but now quit the job. Why does the author name this story ‘A Male Magdalene’? As far as I’m concerned, the author refers the ‘male magdalene’ to Nelt Chawgo who is such a fickle person who always treats women halfheartedly. This attitude is seemingly a characteristic of a prostitute. However, when he meets Angerose Wild and is abandoned later which changes him thoroughly. He soon understands the real meaning of love and finally deserves a happy ending. Thus, ‘A Male Magdalene’ simply means a man who admits his false concept and behavior toward love.
‘A Male Magdalene’ is a work of Marietta Holley written in 1906. The main characters are Nelson (Nelt) Chawgo, Angerose Wild, and Lophemia Kipp. The story starts with a wedding anniversary party of Nelt Chawgo and Angerose Wild. After that the narrator starts telling us the love relationship and experience of these three characters that happened three years ago.
Nelt Chawgo is a new comer to Jonesville and starts a business there. He is very welcomed and loved by the people, especially women, because of his good-looking appearance. Lophemia Kipp was attracted by his good look and forgets the relationship that she once has with Jim Carter who has been away on business. Nelt also ‘pays attention to her but in a half hearted way’. One day Nelt is found ‘ruined’ because he was abandoned by a woman from another village. The woman is called Angerose Wild who is a young, beautiful, and rich woman. The break-up of the relationship between Nelt and Angerose brings up debate of who should be responsible, that is, who is right and who is wrong. Disguised into the debating group, Angerous Wild heard of people discussing about her. During the discussion she suddenly comes up and admits her fault and finally promises to marry with Nelt Chawgo.
What we can learn from this story is that:
-We must be sincere to the person we love. Do not regard love as a game because human beings have feeling which can be easily suffered by deception and betrayal.
-We must admit our fault and be responsible for what we’ve done.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
My Christmas Day
These are the cards that I made on my own for my close friends, Jinna, Nareth, and Nith. As I have written in my last post, making sth by yourself for your friends are the most meaningful thing you can do in this Christmas occasion since it's a time for promoting the spirit of sharing and for giving love, warmth, and hope to your beloved family members, friends, and lover.
This Christmas is full of joy and happiness. This morning the mid-exam result of my accounting course was released and I got perfect grade. I was glad that I get what I had expected, and it’s the start of a merry Christmas day. There was a small gathering at RULE’s English library for the celebration of Christmas in the afternoon. We got to know some Christian culture which was quite interesting from a foreign teacher. We would have seen a Christmas movie if we hadn’t had a class at 2:30pm. After school, it was time for gift exchanging between me and Nareth.
Thanks to Nareth for her lovely, wonderful card which she made it by herself. I can feel how much time and effort she had spent in making that special card for me.
This is Nareth’s masterpiece!
This Christmas is full of joy and happiness. This morning the mid-exam result of my accounting course was released and I got perfect grade. I was glad that I get what I had expected, and it’s the start of a merry Christmas day. There was a small gathering at RULE’s English library for the celebration of Christmas in the afternoon. We got to know some Christian culture which was quite interesting from a foreign teacher. We would have seen a Christmas movie if we hadn’t had a class at 2:30pm. After school, it was time for gift exchanging between me and Nareth.
Thanks to Nareth for her lovely, wonderful card which she made it by herself. I can feel how much time and effort she had spent in making that special card for me.
This is Nareth’s masterpiece!
On December 26, there was a gathering for Christmas celebration at UC. It is the third Christmas party UC has ever held. What impressed me the most were the performances of UC students who acted in a very incredible professional way. One of the performances was in a form of Cambodian’s traditional drama. I was thinking that it would be boring when announced the start of the show. But it turned out to be unexpectedly inviting. What was interesting and funny is that the actors spoke in English! Can you imagine how weird it is? This weird performance surely brought lots of laughter to the audience. It was a creative performance, indeed!
Gift from Jinna on the 26th December!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Gift
Have you prepared any gifts for your family and friend for this coming Christmas?
What is supposed to be the most meaningful present?
As far as I'm concerned making a gift by yourself will be very meaningful because it's unique. So, in this Christmas, why don't you think of making gifts for your friends and family by yourself instead of buying them from market? Sometimes even a small card mean alot.
The Yellow Wall-Paper, story summary
The Yellow Wall-Paper is an autographical story, written by Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gilman in 1892.
It is a story of a woman who was restricted in doing what she liked—writing books. The heroine fell into great depression after giving birth to her kid because she was not allowed to write anything but rest in the bed in the house which her husband, John, a practical physician, believed that lying on bed and doing nothing is the best treatment to her mental disease. The woman was trying to hide her husband and Jenny, John’s sister, from knowing that she was writing a diary. From time to time, she was trying to explain to him that she didn’t like the room she was staying at and proposed to move, but John never listened. Gradually, she’s discouraged from writing and started to spend time imagining and figuring out the patterns on the yellow wallpaper opposite of her bed. Her imagine became clearer and clearer and she could see a woman and later many women behind bars. This made her mental condition become worse because she could imagine but could not express it. Finally she became totally insane.
This story suggests that women should have the right to a profession they are interested in instead of being restricted to housework at home. The author also wants to tell us that treating someone physically well doesn’t mean care. Caring for a person means taking care of them both body and mind.
It is a story of a woman who was restricted in doing what she liked—writing books. The heroine fell into great depression after giving birth to her kid because she was not allowed to write anything but rest in the bed in the house which her husband, John, a practical physician, believed that lying on bed and doing nothing is the best treatment to her mental disease. The woman was trying to hide her husband and Jenny, John’s sister, from knowing that she was writing a diary. From time to time, she was trying to explain to him that she didn’t like the room she was staying at and proposed to move, but John never listened. Gradually, she’s discouraged from writing and started to spend time imagining and figuring out the patterns on the yellow wallpaper opposite of her bed. Her imagine became clearer and clearer and she could see a woman and later many women behind bars. This made her mental condition become worse because she could imagine but could not express it. Finally she became totally insane.
This story suggests that women should have the right to a profession they are interested in instead of being restricted to housework at home. The author also wants to tell us that treating someone physically well doesn’t mean care. Caring for a person means taking care of them both body and mind.
The Revolt of Mother, story summary
The Revolt of Mother was written by Mary Wilkins Freeman in 1891.
It is about the role of making decision in a family. Sarah Penn, the main character, was Adoniram’s wife who dared to do against her husband’s intention in turning the new barn into the family’s new house. Adoniram, the father of the family, was a hard-working farmer, but he cared much about his cattle and horses rather his own wife and children as we can see that he built big new barns and sheds one after another instead of a new house which he had promised Sarah forty years ago. Considering their current situation (the house was old; her daughter was going to get married soon), Sarah suddenly decided to move into the new barn when Adoniram was away to buy a horse in another town. What she acted raises some opinions over her, which held her to be insane and lawless. But she didn’t care of them because she believed that what she was doing was right and no one could change her mind. When Adoniram returned home and witnessed the change, he could hardly believe it but still finally accepted it.
In a patriarchal society in this story, women didn’t have right in making decision in a family. The author wrote this story so as to tell us to turn down this preoccupation. Family decisions should be made by having discussions between husband and wife who have to share equal roles for the development and prosperity of the family.
It is about the role of making decision in a family. Sarah Penn, the main character, was Adoniram’s wife who dared to do against her husband’s intention in turning the new barn into the family’s new house. Adoniram, the father of the family, was a hard-working farmer, but he cared much about his cattle and horses rather his own wife and children as we can see that he built big new barns and sheds one after another instead of a new house which he had promised Sarah forty years ago. Considering their current situation (the house was old; her daughter was going to get married soon), Sarah suddenly decided to move into the new barn when Adoniram was away to buy a horse in another town. What she acted raises some opinions over her, which held her to be insane and lawless. But she didn’t care of them because she believed that what she was doing was right and no one could change her mind. When Adoniram returned home and witnessed the change, he could hardly believe it but still finally accepted it.
In a patriarchal society in this story, women didn’t have right in making decision in a family. The author wrote this story so as to tell us to turn down this preoccupation. Family decisions should be made by having discussions between husband and wife who have to share equal roles for the development and prosperity of the family.
Tony's Wife, story summary
Tony’s Wife was written by Alice Ruth Moore Dunbar-Nelson in 1899.
This is a story which studies the discrimination of both gender role and racism. The main characters are Tony and his so-called wife. Tony was a violent, uncaring, irresponsible Italian man. Whereas his wife, who was a German, she was a very patient and responsible wife who does all the housework without any complaint even when she was beaten by Tony. Tony never admitted to anyone that the woman staying with him was his wife. After years of maltreatment in this unlawful marriage, Tony suddenly was infected by disease which could not be cured. Still, his wife took care of him for a few years until his disease was really worse. Before he died, she asked him to admit their relationship in front of a priest so that there would be something left to her. However, he unsympathetically refused her because of his discriminating thinking. Eventually after Tony’s death, his wife had to lead a penniless and sorrowful life.
From my point of view, the author wanted us to abandon and, at the same time, fight against the idea of discrimination of race and domestic violence.
This is a story which studies the discrimination of both gender role and racism. The main characters are Tony and his so-called wife. Tony was a violent, uncaring, irresponsible Italian man. Whereas his wife, who was a German, she was a very patient and responsible wife who does all the housework without any complaint even when she was beaten by Tony. Tony never admitted to anyone that the woman staying with him was his wife. After years of maltreatment in this unlawful marriage, Tony suddenly was infected by disease which could not be cured. Still, his wife took care of him for a few years until his disease was really worse. Before he died, she asked him to admit their relationship in front of a priest so that there would be something left to her. However, he unsympathetically refused her because of his discriminating thinking. Eventually after Tony’s death, his wife had to lead a penniless and sorrowful life.
From my point of view, the author wanted us to abandon and, at the same time, fight against the idea of discrimination of race and domestic violence.
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