Jacob Sutton

The Theme of Suffering in The fault in our Stars

              I just finished reading “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green.  It is a fantastic book and I would definitely recommend this book to any teenager.   In this book, suffering is a prominent part of the character’s lives. Hazel, Augustus, and Isaac all endure quite a bit of physical and emotional pain. The buildup of fluid in Hazel’s lungs deprives her of oxygen, leading to lots of intense pain that lands her in the emergency room.   On the other hand, Isaac has to contend with losing his remaining eye, which leaves him blind and leads his girlfriend to break up with him. Augustus physically deteriorates because of his cancer, and he suffers because he knows he’ll never accomplish any of the heroic things he wanted to do in his life. In the eyes of the novel’s characters, specifically Hazel and Augustus, all these types of pain are simply a part of living, a side effect of it as Hazel might put it.

              But the most significant type of pain in the novel is that caused by the death of a loved one, and it’s this variety that the novel suggests is the most necessary. Hazel worries a great deal about inflicting this kind of suffering on those around her when she dies.  It turns out she becomes the victim of this kind of pain when Augustus begins to weaken because of his cancer. What Hazel comes to understand is that this type of pain can’t be avoided since dying is certain and all people will experience it.  But as Hazel comes to recognize over the course of the book, it isn’t necessarily something someone should avoid.  At Augustus’s funeral, Hazel reads a speech about Augustus.  In her speech she says, “Without pain, we couldn’t know joy.” (Green, page 272).  Before he died, Augustus says happily that he left his “scar” on Hazel, meaning he hurt her but he also had an effect on her life that she’ll carry with her. That type of pain, the novel suggests, is necessary, and in fact it’s a part of joy.

 

Revised Speak Reading Response

Jacob Sutton 808

 

SPEAK

 

By Laurie Halse Anderson

 

 

 

Laurie Halse Andersons's Speak, tells the story of Melinda who has been a victim of "date rape" (in this case, she was raped while at a party with friends).  Melinda begins her first day of high school as an outcast.  No one will talk to her since she called the cops during a big party over the summer because of the horrible event that took place at this party.  None of the kids at school know why Melinda called the cops, nor has Melinda spoken to anyone about it, including her classmates, teachers or her parents.  Most of Melinda's trauma affects her ability to communicate with those close to her.

 

One example of this is that Melinda becomes nearly unable to speak. In a sense, she is almost mute. "It's easier not to say anything," she thinks.  "Shut your trap, button your lip, can it.  All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie.  Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say."  Melinda seems to want to hurt and hide herself as she bites her lips until they are scarred and bleeding. She soon gains weight and wears baggy clothes to school because this raping has really affected her. She doesn't want to look in the mirror.  Melinda is unable to move on because she blames herself for what happened that night.

 

Though the theme of date rape is very disturbing since the victim knew the person that ultimately hurt them, Anderson's book is hopeful and educational.  When Melinda finally interacts with her attacker, though it's very scary, it is also uplifting.  In the end, Melinda realizes that she has to speak up, not only for herself but for all the other girls in her school.  

 

Non Fiction Reading Response on Saudi Arabia’s youths

Jacob Sutton 808

 

                   Non Fiction Reading Response on Saudi Arabia’s youths

 

            “Growing up Saudi” by Karen Elliott House is an article about how young people in Saudi Arabia are questioning authority and Government on how they treat youth people.  Some cities in Saudi Arabia let the youth do anything they want.  The youth play really loud music that disrupts all the people in the neighborhood, and they pick fights a lot.  The cops and chiefs in the neighborhood are on the scene but never dare to try and stop their wrong-doing.  But in some more conservative towns and cities, teens and regular young people are prohibited from many things that adults aren’t.  They are not allowed to see movies, play music, and other things that the youth should be allowed to do.  They don’t even get to know they are going to get married until the parents arrange it for them. 

            Of course every society has youth who resent authority, reject rules and test out their independence.  But since Saudi Arabia is such an important country in the Middle East, This is very important to many other countries.

            According to the article, a 17 year old says that he would definitely allow girls and boys to go to school together, but his town doesn’t allow that.  Saudi parents usually push their sons and daughters toward their studies but the youth wants something more than that.  The article just says that the teens just want freedom.  They are at an age that is more energetic than their parents’ age.  They want to do more than just focus on their studies; they want a job and do something with their lives that does not involve their parents towering over them about it.  This is why they are increasingly asking questions and in general questioning the authorities and the Government.   

Poetry Reading Response

Jacob Sutton 808

 Poetry Reading Response

 

            There are as many ways to interpret a poem as there are readers of poetry and it is often the case that people tend to overanalyze the meanings in poetry, losing the spirit of the poem along the way. As is typical of middle school poetry units, in our ELA class, our poetry unit has focused on what poems mean.  For days, our class tried to figure out a poem’s meaning, only to discover that a poem’s interpretation varies depending on the reader’s perspective.  Therefore, poems can have many meanings and interpretations.  The poem “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins demonstrates the idea that poetry can and should be enjoyed for its particular images, but should not be overanalyzed.

            In “Introduction to Poetry”, Billy Collins suggests that the reader should not over-think the meaning of the poem, but rather enjoy the images and rhythms of its words. In stanza 5, lines 9 and 10, he conveys this feeling with the thought, “I want them to waterski, across the surface of a poem”.  Collins tries to convey to the reader that it may not always be necessary to go deep into the poem but rather, “hold it up to the light” (stanza 1, line 2) and appreciate the words, images and rhythms that are evident on the poem’s surface.    

             The reader, according to Collins, does not necessarily appreciate the essence of the poem.  He makes a strong case for the over analysis that occurs at the poem’s expense.  In the sixth stanza (lines 13-15), Collins creates the image of the poem as a victim of torture when he says, “But all they want to do, is tie the poem to a chair with rope, and torture a confession out of it.”  And again in the seventh stanza, (lines 16-17) he strengthens his image when he says, “They begin beating it with a hose, to find out what it really means”.  These images reflect Collins’ sentiment that the reader has lost the appreciation of the genre by seeking meaning where it may not exist.

             Billy Collins has called upon the reader to appreciate the poem for what it is, suggesting that a poem’s innate gifts -- its rhythm and images, are sometimes much more powerful than the continued quest for meaning.  Readers of the poem need to be more respectful of the genre.  In the simplicity of his poem, Collins has made a great case for preserving the nature of poetry.

           

Poetry Blog

                                                            Can You See it Too

I look around me as I grow 

I'd like to tell you all I know

I see life

with all its energy

the city streets

the rush of time

this is my world

its where I'd like to be

so much to see

so much to find

I sometimes sit and feel the sun

Its warmth is there for everyone

I see life

with all its energy

the joy of waking

every day

this is my world

its where I ought to be

so much to see

so much to do

so much to say

Oh Moon

Oh moon

shining in the night

Oh moon

are you listening?

Oh moon

silvery and bright

come again tomorrow night?

Daylight is coming soon

where will you go Oh moon?

Over a cloud

Under a hill

see you tomorrow night?

I will

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

           

            The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal.  Factionless members of Chicago have destroyed the Faction world that Tris once knew.  So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.  But the rest of the world may not be all that Tris is expecting.

            The start of the novel is action-packed as (yet another) group of rebels forms against Evelyn, who recently proclaimed herself the new leader of the city and announced that factions were outlawed. This group, aka the rebels, calls themselves the Allegiant, and they hope to reform the factions that for so long defined them as individuals and as a city. 

            There is always important and action packed things going on in this book.  Tris and Tobias are trying to find a new life for themselves outside of Chicago or the world they new before.  They wanted to leave all that lying behind.

            This book is wildly exciting and filled with action packed adventures that Tris and Tobias go on.  While trying to take over Evelyn’s “monarchy” they are trying to restore order to Chicago and the rest of the county.   

Non Fiction Reading Response

Jacob Sutton 808

 

            The article “Watching You” by Patricia Smith in the New York Times’ Upfront newsmagazine talks about how in the years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the government has been adding more and more types of surveillance systems to keep an eye on its citizens.  Every year Americans grow more and more accustomed to these intrusions.   There are more body scanners, shoe searches and video surveillance cameras keeping tabs on Americans than ever before.  According to this article, the question Americans are asking is “how much privacy is worth sacrificing to keep the nation safe?”

             There are methods of surveillance that the government uses that affects our privacy.  One example of this is body searches at airports.  Regular airline passengers are subject to full body scans and invasive physical “pat downs” to ensure that they are not bringing any banned substances on a flight.  Another example of increased surveillance is how the government can monitor the communication on your phone 

            The article talks about former National Security Agency (N.S.A.) contractor Edward Snowden and his leaking of information to the media that details an extensive government phone surveillance program.  Snowden risked a long prison sentence for disclosing top secret material to the journalists because as Snowden says, “The public needs to decide whether these programs and policies are right or wrong.”  Snowden’s documents revealed that the government always has access to your phone and instant messages, and can be monitoring you and the people that you are communicating with.  These surveillance techniques make me feel like the government may be invading our right to privacy as identified in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.     

            At the same time, this might all be a good thing.  Think about it… if there are terrorists among us, and the government is checking their phone messages, terrorists could be apprehended before they harm Americans. If that is the case, do I really have no problem with the government checking my phone messages?  Yes it is a little spooky, but if they can stop a terrorist attack by doing this, then I have no complaint. 

             This article has really gotten me to think: On one hand, the government is really invading our right to privacy.  And on the other hand, this could mean protection from future terrorist attacks.  This article has really challenged me to think about my desire for privacy versus what might be necessary to ensure the safety of Americans. 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Smith, Patrca. "Pre-K-K." January 13, 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. <http://upfront.scholastic.com/issues/01_13_14>.