The last section consist of Violet dying out slowly. Her feed is no longer responding correctly and the companies won't pay for a new feed. She is left to fend for herself and tries to hold on to all that she has for as long as possible. She sends memory clips and messages pages long to Titus, but he is so overwhelmed by the whole situation that he just ignores the messages and deletes her memories. Titus uses the fact that Violet isn't able to get out anymore so he can go off his own way. He goes out with another girl and hangs with his friends and doesn't bother to check on Violet.
Violet is still trying to fight the feed till the very end, but even then her feed is still able to say what she likes and doesn't like. She feels like all her struggles and hard work haven't really worked other than for her rejection because her ability to not make up her mind ruined her possibilities of getting help. In the last few episodes, Titus finally goes to her house because she is right at the end. He sees what she has become which is just a pale boney girl that lays on a bed unable to move anymore. Titus even says that when she cries it makes her even uglier. He stays to listen and talk to her for a while, but then leaves back home. Once he arrives at home he is mad at the fact that he had to go through with this happening to Violet. I think he really did like her still, but just didn't know how to cope with the situation. At the very end, Violet is at the last hour of life and just laid in her bed motionless. Titus goes to see her one last time and just sits there crying beside her after telling her stories that he knew. He even mentions that it is the first time ever that he truly cried which could mean that he finally understood what Violet was trying to tell him all along.
The ending to me really sucked because Violet dies and Titus could possibly go on to be with some other random girl!! Violet was just trying to be different and show everyone that things shouldn't be the way that they were. I liked her character, but sometimes she over did the whole "wanting to fight the feed" idea. Titus should have stuck by her side till the end, not just back out because he was scared. I understood most of the concepts that were talked about in the book and really hope that we don't end up getting feeds too!!!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Feed--Part III: Utopia
This third part is when the gang is back at their homes and are starting to get back to their "normal" lives. They forget about the Moon and don't bother to ask what truly happen to the man that attacked them. Titus and Violet seem to become closer.
This is the part when Violet truly tries to tell Titus that she wants to fight against the feed. She takes him to their mall and goes around acting like she doesn't know what she wants and makes her feed go nuts. She keeps trying to tell Titus that the feed is only making them fit one shape in society and she doesn't want to lose her old self. At one point when they are talking to a sales person, they are told about all the cockroaches that are living on the domes. This goes to show how the Earth has been completely trashed and is gone down the drain. Titus just sort of tags along and doesn't really process what Violet is trying to show him.
They later go into a discussion about how many people don't have feeds. Violet goes on to talk about how she was around 7 years old when she got her for the first time. Titus is kind of confused at why and doesn't understand the bigger picture of the feeds in Violets perspective. Also, Violet feels like Titus will never understand her way of being because his family has it "all". Titus' parents buy him a car and he only thinks about what his friends will think about it. Violet tries to fit in with all his friends, but her feed starts to mess up and that brings on more issues between them.
Once Titus finds out about Violets feed not working, he tries to help her by just doing whatever she likes, like going to the country side. He feels like he should experience new things with her and he sort of likes the new and fresh ideas that she comes up with. When Titus and Violet hang-out with the gang, many issues arise because Violet says "weird" things and just doesn't fit in. This puts pressure on the couple especially Violet because she isn't able to control her feed anymore. She goes in to several seizures in this section and Titus' friends start to not want Violet around anymore.
This is the part when Violet truly tries to tell Titus that she wants to fight against the feed. She takes him to their mall and goes around acting like she doesn't know what she wants and makes her feed go nuts. She keeps trying to tell Titus that the feed is only making them fit one shape in society and she doesn't want to lose her old self. At one point when they are talking to a sales person, they are told about all the cockroaches that are living on the domes. This goes to show how the Earth has been completely trashed and is gone down the drain. Titus just sort of tags along and doesn't really process what Violet is trying to show him.
They later go into a discussion about how many people don't have feeds. Violet goes on to talk about how she was around 7 years old when she got her for the first time. Titus is kind of confused at why and doesn't understand the bigger picture of the feeds in Violets perspective. Also, Violet feels like Titus will never understand her way of being because his family has it "all". Titus' parents buy him a car and he only thinks about what his friends will think about it. Violet tries to fit in with all his friends, but her feed starts to mess up and that brings on more issues between them.
Once Titus finds out about Violets feed not working, he tries to help her by just doing whatever she likes, like going to the country side. He feels like he should experience new things with her and he sort of likes the new and fresh ideas that she comes up with. When Titus and Violet hang-out with the gang, many issues arise because Violet says "weird" things and just doesn't fit in. This puts pressure on the couple especially Violet because she isn't able to control her feed anymore. She goes in to several seizures in this section and Titus' friends start to not want Violet around anymore.
Feed--Part II: Eden
After being on the Moon and being attacked they all get transferred to a hospital where their feeds are temporarily turned off. They experience what it is like to not have a feed, something that is completely new to them but not to Violet. They are all together in the same room and try to make time fly by playing games and talking about the random things that they can remember. Violet and Titus become friends and have a special connection by the end. Titus’ dad goes to see how he is and this seems completely normal to him and wonders why Violets parents haven’t visited her yet.
Violet shows Titus that she is completely different from everyone else, which pulls him even more to her. She can read and write and doesn’t like all the same things that the other girls like. This seems strange to Titus but he doesn’t care because he finally feels like he is experiencing something different.
Violet, Titus and the gang all get sent back home after their feeds are turned back on and Titus speaks of how he just felt all the information of the feed flow in his head unlike before. He felt like he had missed out on so much just in a few days that his fee was off.
Feed--Part I: The Moon
Having a feed is a typical normal thing that is described throughout the whole book of Feed. A feed is like having a chip of all the Worlds information in your head. It can tell if your mad or having a bad day and is an everyday part of the people’s lives.
In this first part of the book, the speaker, Titus talks about how he goes on an “adventure” with all his friends to the Moon. He seems to be tired of his “normal” days and wants to experience something different. Once they arrive at the Moon, they see things that they wouldn’t have expected like all the ugly destroyed streets. They roam around and try to get alcohol, getting into a college part and just to have some fun. They finally go into a bar where they think that they are going to have fun. They dance around, throw a few things around and just talk among themselves. In this place they also meet a girl named Violet. She seems very quiet and unlike any other girl. Titus is really intrigued by this girl and wants to make a good impression on her, but he and his friends get attacked by a man screaming weird things like “We enter a time of calamity!” They all are confused about what is going on and they have no control over what this man has done to them. They all get “shut-off” by the police and they fall asleep.
EB White excerpt from Charlotte's Web
In this small excerpt from Charlotte's Web the characters have much to say about the people of today's society. They each have their own style and way of being. Charlotte is seen as the spider that is the nice person of the whole story. She also is the one that helps everyone else, like Wilbur. At this point of the story she is very sick and at the point of death, which worries her because her children are at the risk of dying along with her. Wilbur is with her in a barn house and is pleading to not leave him. He says that she is the only friend that he has and doesn't want to lose her. He makes the choice of saving her children since he can't save her. In order for him to save the children, he runs to plead to the rat, Templeton, for help.
Templeton does not seem to want to cooperate because he feels like no one really appreciates him and tells Wilbur he will not help him save Charlottes' children. Wilbur full of despair, pleads for Templeton's help and makes the decision of offering his food to the rat in exchange for his help. With this offer, Templeton runs to help the two friends. He makes it just in time before the people come to pick-up Wilbur. As Wilbur is being taken, he turns back to see his old friend one last time and then feels like it will all be okay because he at least has her children with him. Back at home, things seem to be just like before when Charlotte was still around, and Wilbur is at peace with it all.
Wilbur in this story is sort of like a contradiction in itself because he "helps" his friend, but is also helping himself along in the process. He seems to want to not be alone again so he chooses to save Charlottes' children instead. He also knows that Charlotte won't be around anymore, but conforms to having her children instead. Also, Wilbur sacrificed his own food in order to get the eggs to safety which wasn't too selfish on his part.
Templeton on the other hand doesn't think about anyone else but himself in this situation. He uses the situation to his own advantage as well. He could be seen as the typical person today that will only give if he is given something in exchange. He could have been moved by the emotional part behind this task, but instead he forgets about everyone else and centers it all on himself. I didn't really like Templeton in this section because he showed no compassion for what Charlotte was going through.
Templeton does not seem to want to cooperate because he feels like no one really appreciates him and tells Wilbur he will not help him save Charlottes' children. Wilbur full of despair, pleads for Templeton's help and makes the decision of offering his food to the rat in exchange for his help. With this offer, Templeton runs to help the two friends. He makes it just in time before the people come to pick-up Wilbur. As Wilbur is being taken, he turns back to see his old friend one last time and then feels like it will all be okay because he at least has her children with him. Back at home, things seem to be just like before when Charlotte was still around, and Wilbur is at peace with it all.
Wilbur in this story is sort of like a contradiction in itself because he "helps" his friend, but is also helping himself along in the process. He seems to want to not be alone again so he chooses to save Charlottes' children instead. He also knows that Charlotte won't be around anymore, but conforms to having her children instead. Also, Wilbur sacrificed his own food in order to get the eggs to safety which wasn't too selfish on his part.
Templeton on the other hand doesn't think about anyone else but himself in this situation. He uses the situation to his own advantage as well. He could be seen as the typical person today that will only give if he is given something in exchange. He could have been moved by the emotional part behind this task, but instead he forgets about everyone else and centers it all on himself. I didn't really like Templeton in this section because he showed no compassion for what Charlotte was going through.
"The Red Convertible"--Louise Erdrich
Erdrich starts this story in a very unexpected manner. He starts with the speaker talking in third person which makes it more interesting. The speaker is a young boy named Lyman that lives in a reservation for Indians. He speaks of how he becomes the owner of a local cafe after long hours of working as a waiter, manager and cook. He then talks about when his business was destroyed and had to sell it. The money that he gets out of his business, he uses it for a car that he liked. The car was a red convertible that was bought between himself and his brother, Henry. They both love to be together and have fun so one day they decide to go off on a never ending trip.
They head out to different states and make it all the way to Alaska after meeting a young girl on the side of the road. She welcomes them to her family's home and they all become good friends. Once the two brothers decide to go back home, Henry is drafted into the war. This puts on a big stress for Lyman because he isn't used to living without his brother.
Once Henry comes back from the war, Lyman notices many changes in him and is worried for his brother. Henry at this point seems very distant and uneasy. His mind is filled with many thoughts that he doesn't share anymore with his brother. His whole family notices the drastic change in him, but is too scared to confront him, except for Lyman. Lyman had already finished fixing the convertible, but decided to trash it completely in order for his brother to have some type of motivation to do something.
Henry see's the broken down convertible and decides to fix it up. He takes days to fix it and then the confrontation between the two brothers finally occurs. They both finally go for a ride in the convertible. Then drive up to the river and have a good time while drinking. They finally talk about what happened while Henry was off at war and Henry admits that he is not well. They fight about who is to keep the car and with this Henry makes a decision that changes the whole story. He jumps in the water and seems to just be having fun, but he never comes back out. Lyman then also drives the convertible into the river and walks away from the whole thing.
This story makes it all seem like the typical life that a soldier goes through because many people that go off to war don't come back home the same way as they left. Much stress is put on them and their family. Henry was just a boy that was at the wrong place at the wrong time and didn't have the same luck as his brother. I think that Lyman blamed himself for not being able to help his brother, but he knew that nothing could really be done anymore.
They head out to different states and make it all the way to Alaska after meeting a young girl on the side of the road. She welcomes them to her family's home and they all become good friends. Once the two brothers decide to go back home, Henry is drafted into the war. This puts on a big stress for Lyman because he isn't used to living without his brother.
Once Henry comes back from the war, Lyman notices many changes in him and is worried for his brother. Henry at this point seems very distant and uneasy. His mind is filled with many thoughts that he doesn't share anymore with his brother. His whole family notices the drastic change in him, but is too scared to confront him, except for Lyman. Lyman had already finished fixing the convertible, but decided to trash it completely in order for his brother to have some type of motivation to do something.
Henry see's the broken down convertible and decides to fix it up. He takes days to fix it and then the confrontation between the two brothers finally occurs. They both finally go for a ride in the convertible. Then drive up to the river and have a good time while drinking. They finally talk about what happened while Henry was off at war and Henry admits that he is not well. They fight about who is to keep the car and with this Henry makes a decision that changes the whole story. He jumps in the water and seems to just be having fun, but he never comes back out. Lyman then also drives the convertible into the river and walks away from the whole thing.
This story makes it all seem like the typical life that a soldier goes through because many people that go off to war don't come back home the same way as they left. Much stress is put on them and their family. Henry was just a boy that was at the wrong place at the wrong time and didn't have the same luck as his brother. I think that Lyman blamed himself for not being able to help his brother, but he knew that nothing could really be done anymore.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
"From Blossoms" by Li-Young Lee
Lee starts out this poem by talking about some peaches that were bought on the side of the road. He goes on to say that these peaches mean more than just the skin and dirt that are on them. He also speaks of how they are picked and delivered to his hands. They seem to bring back memories of his summer days, which he then goes on to talk about.
The way that he starts makes it seem like a memory because of the paper bag and the kid that is selling the peaches. It seems like a summer day that he spent with his wife/lover that got interrupted by the sign saying peaches. When he just says that they turn towards the sign that he saw, it also seems like it wasn't expected in his day to go and buy peaches. Then he starts to talk about those hands that have brought the succulent peaches to his mouth and how they aren't just peaches, but peaches that are real with all that is life to him.
Lee also starts to talk about how he appreciates every bit of the peach that he is eating because it is all good to him. He seems to be taking every part of the "peach" very seriously because he speaks of the shade, the days, and the hands that have all been part of the growing of this great fruit.
At the end, Lee speaks of "all the days that we live as if death were nowhere", and makes it seem as if even the moment of eating a peach can mean so much to his life. He also makes it seem like he wants to enjoy every possible moment in his life because he wants no impossible.
I think that the whole poem was a memory of his youth because he makes it seem like he is enjoying this day of "peach eating" with the women that he loves. Also, the wording that he uses implies that he could be a young man. Living as if death were nowhere near seems like a line from a teen that wants to live his life to the fullest and stops to think of nothing. This poem could have just been a reflection of one of the speakers summer evenings.
The way that he starts makes it seem like a memory because of the paper bag and the kid that is selling the peaches. It seems like a summer day that he spent with his wife/lover that got interrupted by the sign saying peaches. When he just says that they turn towards the sign that he saw, it also seems like it wasn't expected in his day to go and buy peaches. Then he starts to talk about those hands that have brought the succulent peaches to his mouth and how they aren't just peaches, but peaches that are real with all that is life to him.
Lee also starts to talk about how he appreciates every bit of the peach that he is eating because it is all good to him. He seems to be taking every part of the "peach" very seriously because he speaks of the shade, the days, and the hands that have all been part of the growing of this great fruit.
At the end, Lee speaks of "all the days that we live as if death were nowhere", and makes it seem as if even the moment of eating a peach can mean so much to his life. He also makes it seem like he wants to enjoy every possible moment in his life because he wants no impossible.
I think that the whole poem was a memory of his youth because he makes it seem like he is enjoying this day of "peach eating" with the women that he loves. Also, the wording that he uses implies that he could be a young man. Living as if death were nowhere near seems like a line from a teen that wants to live his life to the fullest and stops to think of nothing. This poem could have just been a reflection of one of the speakers summer evenings.
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