Ribbons

Author's Note: Analyses of the short story "Ribbons". 

Beauty is pain. A phrase often used to describe the suffering women go through to achieve a look. America to China, despite cultural differences, have hurt within the definition of beauty. “Ribbons” by Laurence Yep, shows the superficiality of beauty in China. Parents would wrap their little girls feet with satin ribbons to halt the growth of their feet. Paw-Paw, the grandmother of Stacy, felt this torture first hand. She works around her deformity but lives her life in pure embarrassment and with insecurities. A never ending ache. The shoes resembles the cultural differences between Paw-Paw and Stacy, for Paw-Paw they resemble the pain and deformity she goes through. For Stacy, it’s the beauty and the love within her dance.

Although China has beauty through feet America is not much different. Surgeries and processes are applied for the perfect body or facial beauty. Pain and suffering for something so superficial. No one should have to do that for beauty. Beauty should be defined as something from the inside. But it happens all around the world and is a problem unsolvable as long as people are judged on their outer appearance.

“Ribbons”, the name of this short story is what this piece revolves around. The binds of life that can hold you up or pull you down. The title even reflects on the whole piece itself, these ribbons symbolize the bond and respect for cultural differences between Paw-Paw and Stacy. 

Who am I?

I live in a prickly fruit. My limbs, although thin, carry my box like body through the deep waters of the ocean. A figure unexplainable. My curves and pores add much dimension to my build. I would consider myself a total catch. I am the definition of perfection. I am giddy, happy, and forever part of the goofy goober club. My hobbies vary with range. I prefer blowing bubbles but I also enjoy jelly fishing.

My hobbies are fun but they wouldn’t be nearly as gratifying without my best friends. My neighbors/friends differ in contrast; happy, grumpy, strong, and greedy. They are very diverse in color and shape, quite like myself.  I also am a proud owner of the oh so wonderfully glorious snail. He is quite loyal and never responds rudely to my commands. Only with a subtle “Meow”.

Employee of the month every month. A motto used to describe my fry cook ethic. My technique would be nothing without my beloved spatula. Flipping patties is the highlight of my life. Also I take pleasure in working alongside one my closest best friends forever, a squid. My boss on the other hand is very avaricious. He cuts pay often. Most of the time money is short at my residence, but I will never give hope for a better life.

Any who, my shoes are always squeaky clean and my tie is so darn beautiful I get complements everywhere I go. All in all I am a beautifully wonderful glorious sponge. I am Squarepants, Spongbob Squarepants, and I am proud.

Death With a Twist

Author's Note: I am hoping to improve my score on conflict resolution with this piece on "My Sister's Keeper" With very conflicts that form in to unique endings. 

As a cancer patient, life slowly crumbles through your fingers.  Going to college, getting married, having children all become improbable dreams. The Fitzgerald’s know exactly how this works. Suffering from very persistent leukemia, Kate at only 15 had spent the majority of her life in a hospital bed. Only thing that has kept her alive for such an extensive time is her younger sister Anna. But, Anna has decided to be in charge of her body and give her sister what she’s always wanted. This created a large conflict between many of the characters in the book, “My sisters Keeper” By Jody Picoult , and an unique resolution.  

Cancer takes a toll on everyone involved, especially Anna.  She goes against the “right” thing to do and takes her life in to her own hands. Which is obviously frowned open in the Fitzgerald’s household. Resulting in a Person vs. Society conflict. Anna vs. her family; she is sick of being the backbone and done with being poked and prodded. Who can blame her? But, her parents do not understand Anna’s fight and choose to deny her of her needs, creating a large and obvious battle between the two. Also Kate has done the same as Anna; she has gone against her family (Person vs. society). She has chose to take her life in to her own hands. Hands that want to rip up her life and throw it away.

Even though she goes against her family it seems Anna has it all figured out; starting her own lawsuit alone and with no support. But Anna starts to question her own motives. She runs in to person vs. self. Anna starts to doubt her decisions on her lawsuit and whether it is for the best or not. Yes, her sister wants it but will her family hate her forever? Is she wrong for letting her sister die?

Although Anna rethinks her lawsuit she follows through with it. In fact, she ends up winning but death is at hand for Kate. It’s seems a perfect ending is that life spares Kate and she becomes sick-free. Everyone lives happily ever after, right? Not so much. Instead a twist takes place. Anna goes brain dead from a tragic car crash. Organs and all were donated to Kate, giving her a necessary transplant to go to college and start a life. All conflicts resolved with an obviously bittersweet resolution.  A very surprising, uncommon one at that.

Maybe surprising and uncommon but not as rare in the books  “Get Well Soon” by Julie Halpern and “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. All have resolutions that end with trades and  all have conflicts that persist through the whole book. “Get Well Soon” a young girl, Anna, is sent to a mental hospital and each day prays to leave, until she meets the unexpected “love of her life”. Conflicts consisting alike with “My Sister’s Keeper”. This lovesick girl’s wishes come true and she leaves the hospital but without her acquired boy. Bittersweet is how I would define it. Bitter, heartbroken. Sweet, leaves the place that causes her agony. A Trade. Only “The Art of Racing in the Rain” is quite similar. Conflicts, although changing throughout the book, are none stop with person vs. self, person vs. society, and person vs. person.  Denny, Father and ex-race car driver, loses his wife to cancer and loses his daughter to a lawsuit. His money is gone and all that’s left is his loyal pooch Enzo. This resolution ends with the death of his best friend, Enzo, but his dreams of testing cars and having his daughter back are remarkably fulfilled. Again, a trade.  All depressing conflicts and bittersweet endings.

Kate’s life changes in the aggressive collision of two cars, Denny’s with a phone call, and Anna’s with a change of mind. Conflicts relating to resolution and resolution to conflict, especially in “My Sister’s Keeper” with conflicts that turn enormously during the resolution. Every part works together to make similar yet different twists on each book. Improbable dreams turn in to reality!   

Friendly Racism

 Author's Note: Mrs.Hanson's Class was given a writing piece called "After you my dear Alphonse" about the sensitivity of racism to analyze and think about the moral of the story. 

 ‘“After you, my dear Alphonse,”  “No, after you, my dear Alphonse,”’ Equal out looks on race are obviously shown through the this text by the two little boys in the story “After you my dear Alphonse” by Shirley Jackson. Showing that without a influence by a parent, teacher, or towns people children don’t notice the difference  between black or white. A child often shows more respect or gratitude then even an Adult of more than twice his age. Shown very much in this piece.

   Mrs. Wilson gradually becomes more and more racist through a subtle way. Using assumptions and stereotypes to offend poor little Boyd. Boyd family is normal, two children, scrawny father, stay at home mother, and money is not a problem at their home. Although, Mrs.Wilson thinks complete opposite  because of their skin color. She doesn’t realize that their two families are much of the same, though her unnatural friendliness and assumptions lead otherwise. I think the moral in this story is to show that treating a different race in a different way than you would treat your own is just as bad rudely criticizing them. Author Shirley Jackson demonstrated this beautifully.