S2, Blog 13 (GOW Essay) {honors novel 2}

How does Jim Casy's moral philosophy guide the novel as a whole?

In a way, Steinbeck portrays Jim Casy as a sort of holier figure in the Grapes of Wrath book. His accidental meeting with one of the main, if not the most main, character, Tom Joad, was where this first concept came in to play. Jim Casy was seen sitting alone, recognizing Tom Joad on sight as a boy he once baptized many years ago. Upon asking if he still was known as reverend Jim Casy, he goes on to explain a revelation he made while preaching that brought him to the conclusion he should no longer preach.

"...I was sayin' out loud, 'The hell with it! There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's all part of the same thing.' . . . . I says, 'What's this call, this sperit?' An' I says, 'It's love. I love people so much I'm fit to bust, sometimes.' . . . . I figgered, 'Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,' I figgered, 'maybe it's all men an' all women we love; maybe that's the Holy Sperit-the human sperit-the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever'body's a part of.' Now I sat there thinkin' it, an' all of a suddent-I knew it. I knew it so deep down that it was true, and I still know it."

These was a significant moment in the Grapes of Wrath because it conveys a whole new perspective on a widely controversial subject: the subject of higher power existing. He explains his revelation of this "Sperit" that he once believed to be with only those believing in God and Jesus to be in man as a whole.

However, his philosophy of holiness being in humans as a whole contradicts the actions and "virtues" of people in Grapes of Wrath.

Through this, his philosophy can help guide the novel as in show how corrupted and "unholy," in all senses of the word, the world has become during this time period. Casy's philosophy is that holiness is in people, and their so called "sin and virtue" is nonexistent, as it's just "stuff people do." He believes that this holiness and true virtue is in the heart and soul of the people, which drives us as humans to do what we do, and care for each other with the same love that one may think was God's love. However, during the book, things happen were any kind of virtue, God's or philosophically the ideals of man. During this time period, man's true "evil" side came out when the value of wealth became more valuable than the value of men. For example, when fruits were allowed to rot instead of given to those who truly needed it. Through this, the philosophy is turned sour in a contradictory situation of mankind's ignorance to their love for one another. Also by this, the moral philosophy that Jim Casy invented and had potentially led the story along was contradicted, which made the reader think harder of the meaning behind Grapes of Wrath.

However, in the final scene, where Rose of Sharon suckles an old dying man after birthing a stillborn child, the concept of Casy's "holiness" and a higher power "holiness" concept collides. The scene has been compared to that of the virgin Mary's when she held the dying Christ, and shows both the love of humankind and the original "Sperit" comparison. After the scene, Rose of Sharon looks into the distance and smiles "mysteriously," as if to come to the revelation that everything will be okay, even after their cars have been rained away, along with all their money spent and their new child being born dead. With this the moral philosophy of Jim Casy ends in the book with an unexpected revelation.

My Grapes of Wrath character sketches

https://sites.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/shanna-s-dp/humanities/grapes-of-wrath

S2, Blog 12

What were "public works projects"? What famous ones were part of the New Deal? What public works projects would you recommend for our society today?

Public works projects were projects created by the Public Works Administration during the great depression. The purpose of these projects were to rebuild the economy and the nation.

Famous programs that were included in the New Deal included the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Association), RA (Resettlement Administration), Farm Security Administration (FSA), and the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority).

For our society today, I would recommend the Resettlement Administration. The program relocated those who could not afford to live in their houses and were relocated to communities funded and planned by the federal government. This is a smart idea, because one of the largest factors of the recession is bank reposession of people's houses, leaving many homeless. With the resettlement administration program, those who had been kicked out of their house could be resettled to a federal government community.

S2, blog 11

Dear Mr. Obama,

It has come to my attention that our country as a whole has not been returning to its original healthy, pre-recession state too soon. This may be because of you and your still-new title of presidency, as you may think, but with your term over 1/4th through, enough is enough.

May I suggest a re-do of late president Mr. Roosevelt's plan, of the New Deal? With aids to, well, "aid," careers and essential parts of the country (i.e. livestock, factories, etc.) I'm sure that businesses can boom once again.

Also, perhaps you could do something about the buying out and shutting down of small businesses lately here in California, as well as other states I'm sure. The local bank and market I'd always gone to had been bought out by citibank and Vons, which was upsetting. I'm unsure what you could do about that, but there must be something to stop a "monster company" invasion, right?..

Sincerely,
Shanna M.

S2, Honors Novel Blog 1

Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

The book "A Million Little Pieces" is chock full of literary elements. For starters, the title in itself. The title can easily contrast to the narrator, a drug-abusing alcohol-addicted sex-deprived "messed-up" individual whose life is in shambles, or, "a million little pieces." The book starts off with a poem about a young man going to an elder who had broken an object and had it in a million little pieces:

The Young Man came to an Old Man seeking counsel.

I broke something, Old Man.

How badly is it broken?

It's in a million little pieces.

I'm afraid I can't help you.

Why?

There's nothing you can do.

Why?

It can't be fixed.

Why?

It's broken beyond repair. It's in a million little pieces.

This poem is about for someone young seeking help from one who's had experience in the world. What the young man has broken remains unnamed, but when mentioned that it was broken "into a million little pieces," the old man tells him it cannot be fixed, as it is beyond repair. The poem is undeniably a metaphor for, in the eyes of this certain elder, who could be compared to old man Time, how someone's life cannot be repaired once messed up so much it is, again, in a million little pieces. The constant asking of "why, why, why?" can be compared to how said person's ruin life can be pondered upon, why and how you can repair it to no avail. Although a pessimistic view of such a person's life, it is all too real.

This book is a self-told story of James Frey, said "mess-up," and his time recovering from a lifetime's worth of drugs, alcoholism, and lost love once sent to one of the most expensive rehabilitation clinics in America with a patient success rate of a little over 10%. The issue of drug and alcohol addiction is a touchy social subject, and talk of those sent to rehabilitation clinics and is often taboo. In this book he delves into his experiences and memoirs in rehabilitation including his meeting of Lily, an ex-prostitute whose life at that point had been similar to his, full of abuse and addiction.

The format in which the book is written can be perceived as a blocky style, with no quote marks, full sentences or explanation upon whom is talking. At some point it is difficult to tell if he is speaking of present occurances or going into a flashback. Another time he runs on a sentence for nearly a page explaining the white pain of a root canal without anaesthesia. He may have written this book because of how the story corelated with his state of mind during these occurences: full of incomplete findings and quick events all too important to conform to a "normal" book's formatting.

S2, Blog 10

Do you believe that the Grapes of Wrath successfully establishes sympathy for the plight of Dust Bowl farmers? Why or why not?

I think that the Grapes of Wrath is trying too hard to establish said sympathy for those affected by the Dust Bowl, i.e. Farmers. the book tries to incorporate every terrible thing possible into this book until it seems jumbled. The book even starts out miserable, desperate for the reader's sadness and sympathy, mentioning how CHILDREN and WOMEN are looking for their man's reassurance and how there is nothing truly there. Comparing banks to monsters are another cry for attention, and saying how tractors "rape the earth" is quite a hyperbole.

Having several characters die/run away is also trying too hard to be sympathetic. Surely, not everyone at once should die just because they're journeying west to California, and not everybody suddenly miscarries/stillbirths after their spouse leaves them and some crazy religious lady tells the so. Don't get me wrong, I do feel sympathetic for those who lost their land, their home, and everything else int he Dust Bowl, i.e. farmers and their family, but I can't say that Grapes of Wrath makes me cry over it.

S2, Honors history blog 1

Imagine you are an advisor to President Obama. Write a letter to him in which you advise him as to how to succeed in the "Great Recession" by using FDR in the Great Depression as an example. Your advice should be presented as strategy for his first (and possible second) term as President. You should consider strategy in the following areas: US economy, relationship with Congress, relationship w/American society, as a political leader (getting laws through Congress, leading his party, etc.), and establishing himself and his ideas in American history. FDR provides clear examples in all of these areas and should be the basis of your advice for Obama's present & future. Cite all of your sources. Also, consider this a possible Ampersand piece.

Dear Mr. President,
I've come to notice that you're not exactly as likeable as a president as you had first thought you'd be in the beginning of your term. Your promising and strong words that accompanied your speeches gave hope to those desperate Americans in need of reassurance. However, with over a year gone by and not much of a sign of change, those so faithful and hopeful are starting to feel as if this whole time was a scheme and a false hope reminder. You wouldn't want people thinking that of you, now would you, Mr. President?

As you know, or I'd hope you'd know, we are going through an infamous "Great Recession." As you may not know, many American citizens are starting to lose hope and faith in your judgement as president. This may be because of their uneasiness when it comes to your ideas to bringing us out of this recession. The public does not want another Herbert Hoover! It may help to provide information, step by step, of your plans to aid those financially deficient. For example, as you should know, thousands of Americans are being evicted from their homes each month because of their inability to repay bank loans. What are your plans to aid these? And why aren't these plans enforced?

Hopefully you will take my ideas and thoughts into consideration.

Sincerely, Shanna McCue

S2, Blog 9

Post a thoughtful reflection on how you have performed within the numerous freedoms associated with Ampersand. Then post a thoughtful reflection on how you have performed within the numerous structures associated with Ampersand.

Honestly, such a freedom that was given with the Ampersand worktime unfortunately provided some distractions. Although I did come up with a good idea to write about, I haven't exactly been able to work 100% because of the freedom and distractions. I've received many good writing tips, especially after studying for the writing tips quiz. That was enough to make me memorize all about Concerts, pancakes, and everything in between.