Summary/Analysis of "The American Dream"`

Author: "The American Dream" by Edward Albee was written in 1960, and is considered to make use of some absurdist techniques.

Setting: The play takes place in Mommy and Daddy's living room. Other rooms in the apartment are accessed through arches and act as exits for the characters, but the scene never shifts to a different room.

Plot: The story begins with Mommy and Daddy waiting for the arrival of Mrs. Barker. Mommy impatiently tells Daddy a pointless story of her hat tragedy. She remains control over the entire conversation as she must remind Daddy to pay attention, and she asks him to repeat her words to prove himself. This is one main way Mommy asserts control over Daddy throughout the play; with her power of speech. Mommy's story is interrupted by the entrance of Grandma, and her overload of beautiful boxes. The boxes are questioned, but the focus changes too quickly for the mystery of the boxes to be revealed! Mrs. Barker arrives unsure of the purpose of her own arrival. They discuss unimportant things weaving around Mrs. Barker's reasoning for being there until a bumble is mentioned. The Young Man arrives in search for a job and talks to Grandma. Grandma ends up giving Mommy and Daddy the perfect satisfaction without them even knowing it. The Young Man replaces Grandma and the play ends with everyone happy (at the moment).

Significant Characters:
Grandma
-old American Dream vs. new American Dream
-speaks the truth
-symbolizes the American Dream
-violent language

Mommy
-emasculates Daddy in every way possible
-example of consumerism, obsessed with money
-control freak
-self-centered
-mutilated her son


Daddy
-no backbone
-a woman
-whipped

Young Man
-new American Dream
-represents the purchase of satisfaction

Author's Style:
Albee's use of repetition throughout his play highlights the oblivious repetition in society. This technique is seen a lot and contributes to the plain tone. Emotions are rarely expressed in this work, they are simply spoken with no regard. There is no point of view in this play or use of symbols. Albee used irony to express the acts of Mommy and Daddy.

Quotes:
"Grandma: I didn't really like wrapping them; it hurt my fingers and it frightened me. But it had to be done(Albee 71)." Grandma is referring to the boxes in this quote. This represents a person's disparity  for approval and the price one will pay for an exterior value. The pain of wrapping was well worth the beautiful boxes.

"Young Man: Oh, almost anything... almost anything that pays. I'll do almost anything for money(Albee 109)." The picture perfect, young man is intrigued by Grandma's potential job offer. This quote represents the willingness of a person to do anything for money. Money seems to be the foundation of the new American dream (Young Man).

Theme: The label of satisfaction is valued more than satisfaction itself.

In the American Dream, Albee conveys the theme that the label of satisfaction is valued more than satisfaction itself. This theme is introduced in Mommy's story with her hat. Mommy happily purchases a beige hat, because beige is elegant and classy, like Mommy of course! Mommy is satisfied with her beige hat until the chair woman, Mrs. Barker calls it a wheat-colored hat. Not even a wheat hat; wheat-colored. Therefore Mrs. Barker making a statement towards the middle-class. Mommy refuses this wheat-colored hat and demands a beige hat. She blames this misunderstanding on the artificial lighting, clearly it wasn't her fault. She left wearing a beige hat, and she was satisfied for the label of satisfaction, rather than truly satisfied knowing she got the same hat. To conclude the theme, Mommy and Daddy were satisfied with the Young Man. This is extremely ironic because his twin wasn't good enough the first time. Therefore, since they have the label of a perfect family; Mommy, Daddy and the Young Man, they are satisfied.

Close Reading #2- Gum is Good

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/20/your-assignment-for-today-chew-gum/

In the New York Times, Ezekiel J. Emanuel shared his opinion on the benefits of gum chewing in his commentary, "Your Assignment For Today: Chew Gum". In this work, Emanuel discusses the positive effects of chewing gum for young children. He believes that chewing gum should be required in school to promote children's oral health. He persuades the writer through his use of diction, syntax and details.

As I begun to read only the first paragraph, I was immediately interested in the article. Emanuel introduces the topic as he reminisces, "When I was growing up, you would be sent to the principal's office for chewing gum in school. We were told chewing gum was bad; it caused cavities". This opening phrase is structured perfectly for him to begin his argument. He contrasts the ways of the old versus the new generations. He states the consequences and the reasons behind them; it caused cavities. His structure is a great start it leads him into a discussion of the discoveries of the new generation. He supports his opinion with the benefits of chewing gum, and backs it up with claims explaining the reasoning. 

Emanuel includes an array of details to convince the audience that gum is overall beneficial. The writer provides astonishing facts which make the readers question why this isn't already in affect. What I found most shocking is that more than 50 million hours of school are missed each year because of dental problems (Emanuel). This statement allows the readers to take a step back and overlook the overall affect. 50 million hours of missed school is a big statement, especially to the one's concerned with education; the parents. Therefore Emanuel succeeds in connecting with his targeted audience. 

Throughout Emanuel's commentary, he keeps his readers intrigued with the help of his sophisticated diction. Emanuel informs the readers in the second paragraph of the new use for gum as he writes, "Like chocolate and coffee, gum is now being rehabilitated." The word he emphasizes on here is rehabilitated. He applies this action to the gum, almost personifying it. With this, the gum can be re-defined, similar to cherished treats such as coffee and chocolate. Emanuel appeals to a new, more broad audience here as he uses items many people can relate to.

Open Prompt #2

1994. In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence. Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. Avoid plot summary.

In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald includes a character that we know of by the name Owl-Eyed Man. The Owl-Eyed Man does not appear very often in the story, but all of his apperances are significant to the story as a whole. Fitzgerald introduces us to the Owl-Eyed Man early in the story. He is first seen reading in the library of Gatsby's house at one of his parties. Owl-Eyes believes that Gatsby is superficial and along with his personality, the books in the library are also fake. He suggests that similar to Gatsby, the books look nice on the outside but they are filled with blank pages. This assumtion gives the readers one opinion of Gatsby, and most likely the opnion of many other people including the guests at the party. As Owl-Eyes discovers that the books are actually real, he begins to see Gatsby in a different light. Nick Carraway's reaction of Owl-Eyes affects his first impression of Gatsby and the guest he has at his parties. After the party Nick sees Owl-Eyes getting out of a car that was driven into a ditch. The drunken crash changes the impression of Owl-Eyes. He is no longer an intelluctual figure, but a man that is involved in depreciating means of soceity. 

The eyes appear again, but this time on a billboard. The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg that watch over the Valley of Ashes can be related back to the Owl-Eyed man. Although this isnt the same concept, the eyes serve similar purposes. The eyes on the billboard watch over everything, they see it all. They represent the unfiltered view of society; they watch everything that goes on and nothing can be hidden from their sight. Just like Owl-Eyes it represents the sight of knowledge. Nick is first startled by the billboard and he isnt sure what to make of it, similar to his first encouter with Owl-Eyes. The billboard contributes to the theme that someone is always watching, even when one might think not. 

 At the end of the novel, there are few people to show up at Gatshy's funeral, and the Owl-Eyed Man is one of them. The Owl-Eyed Man was one of the few who truly understood Gatsby, or he understood him more than any other character. He was able to see something that noone else was able to see in Gatsby. His glasses, are a symbol of intelligence, and his name, Owl-Eyed Man, also contributed to this. He is wise like an owl, therefore he was able to see what others couldnt. 

Response to Course Material #2

The most recent assignment that was most beneficial for me was the peer review responses.
I thought this assignment helped me see how my peers approached the same assignment. Reading others works let me see other opinions and stand points. I also really apperciated the feedback I recieved. I thought this allowed me to reflect on my own work, then read what my fellow Team AP members had to say.

Learning the major stories that we often allude to in literature through
the allusions presentations led by our classmates was a fun, and informative approach. The morals were easy to understand because they were summed up by students my age who were learning it just as fast as I was. Each group had different ways of teaching the class their stories, so eventhough we spent a lot of time on the subject, it always remained interesting. After learning these things it reminded me of when I originally learned about Greek mythology; Freshmen year in Ms. Huntley's class. When I learned about Greek mythology I could reconnect the stories of Odyseuss, and I finally realized what she was trying to teach us. I like how I can always connect everything I learn to my past experiences.

Close Reading #1- TSA

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E7DF113EF936A2575AC0A9649D8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


TAKING NOTE; So Many Screeners and So Little Shampoo, but Are Our Planes Safer?

By Juliet Lapidos

In this editorial, Juliet Lapidos rants on one of the most hated systems by American people: airport security. She discusses the irrational TSA and why she believes they have taken it too far.

Diction: Juliet Lapidos maintains a distinct tone throughout her article. Her tone clearly defines her opinion in this matter. Lapidos complains that, "Airport security is a game of catch-up, and it seems the TSA rarely considers whether new technology obviates the need for annoying and intrusive restrictions.” Her use of words such as annoying and intrusive express her strong emotions towards the subject. These words easily convey to the reader how this system makes her feel. When I read those words I imagine what it’s like to walk through an airport security scanner. Annoying and intrusive seem like the best way to describe that machine to me. I feel claustrophobic and invaded, similar to the author. Her diction allows the reader to easily relate to the exhausting security experiences. “Mr. Paul's vendetta against the TSA has some merit (Lapidos)”. Here, I think Lapidos exaggerates a little when she describes Paul’s emotions towards TSA as a vendetta. This word choice emphasizes on the hatred for TSA, and vendetta surely lets the reader know how strong this emotion is. I think the author included this to highlight the disapproval for the system.

Details: Lapidos strongly feels that the TSA is inefficient and ineffective. She supports her opinion with costly facts that would quickly result in more people supporting her opinion. Her motif is to make her audience understand why TSA is inefficient, and to make them agree. She comments on the excessive spending, then mocks the results: “In 2006 the TSA spent $29.6 million on 207 "puffer" machines designed to shake lose explosive particles. They failed to work in dirty, humid airport environments.” “The TSA employs about 62,000 people at a cost of more than $3 billion a year in payroll, compensation and benefits (Lapidos)”. Not only does this fact draw the reader in, but also it allows for the reader to understand why Lapidos feels so strongly about this. TSA’s workforce is larger now than in 2005, even though there are fewer travelers. These details show the suspicion of this correlation.

Syntax: The structure of this article is unique and works well with the author’s goal. Lapidos uses rhetorical questions to pull the reader in to think about what she is saying. “Is it really necessary to ban shampoo and hand cream (Lapidos)”? I’m sure every reader could quickly answer that question and unknowingly become engaged in her work. In the start of the article, Rand Paul’s opinion is the center of our focus. Then we shift to problems of the TSA, “The TSA seems like a caricature of wasteful bureaucracy (Lapidos)”. I personally think this line in the middle of the article is very effective. It allows the reader to get into the discussion, then it nails down a single issue: a wasteful bureaucracy. 

Open Prompt #1

1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain centers around a child's perception of society. Living in Mississippi in the 1880's, Huck was often confused of his placement in society. He was told how to act towards social classes, but he couldn't understand why individuals were treated differently. Huck completely goes against all standards as he sets sails from society with Jim. Huck's ignorance of the social problems during the time period give an unbiased approach to slavery and treatment of African Americans. 

Mark Twain conveys racist issues through the adults. The actions and discussions of the adults show one's view of  society during this time period. This method is effective for Twain because he easily displays how one opinion is heavily influenced by the mass of numbers. The conflict of racism could not be fairly debated between the adults in Twain's novel. This is because if one person opposed, then the majority will still over rule. The one who stood up is unseen due to the popular vote. These adults have no respectable morals on this subject and this is shown by the conformity of them. I don't think this is a good message for Huck to receive. It may make him carry the thought that his idea is irrelevant. Kids look up to adults, and this isn't the attitude adults should want to give off to children. 

As Huck dares to be different, Twain expresses the hope in the future society to follow what they believe. The journey on the Mississippi River is a way to measure the progress between Huck and Jim. The two face multiple obstacles in which they must work together in different social interactions. The raft shows the moral growth between the characters as they ignore the social standards. The boys work through their struggles with what they think is right, not by what society says. I think this accomplishment can be compared with the accomplishments within modern day society. 

Responses to Course Material

The book, "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" by Thomas C. Foster, discussed many familiar concepts that had previously left me confused. Last year, I became familiar with some of the archetypes Foster includes. While I was reading, my vague memories were beginning to seem clear with as the text  helped me better understand the topic. The examples that Foster provides make the learning process easier. For me, it was more simple to learn the archetype then see how it can be applied. Foster would relate his topics to well-known stories and further explain why the author included what he or she did. For example, I knew that the raft in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) was a symbol, but I didn't know the importance of it. Now I can read Huck Finn and notice the significance of the river, and when they are and aren't on the raft. The raft isn't just a means of transportation, it can represent the relationship between Huck and Jim and the progress they have made since the start of their escape.

When I read the poems that were assigned I could instantly recognize concepts Foster had prepared me for. The first thing I noticed in, "The Terrorist, He Watches"was the tone. My first thoughts were why did the author include this? What is his purpose for the disturbing tone? Before reading Fosters book, I would have approached the tone differently, but now I first question the authors goal. I learned to think from an authors perspective when I learned about the rhetorical situation. The art of communication taught me the different elements that need to be included. After learning this, I can notice the different approaches authors take towards their subject. Depending on the elements for that situation, the text can quickly change. When reading articles in the newspaper, I asked myself if the approach the author took worked for message he or she was trying to convey.

The rhetorical situation questions why certain aspects were included. It allows readers to discover the ultimate motive behind an author. The AP English Literature essay will require one to think in rhetorical situations. Before answering the prompt, one must ask themselves what he or she is trying to accomplish in this writing, what the audience is expecting, and the type of person he or she wants to come across as. An argument is a technique of persuasion. After learning about arguments, I can point out the different types of arguments and the proper situations. I notice that arguments pose as an efficient way to change an opinion or view.