JOU+BK

Breanna's Journal


 * JOU 1**: Of the four poems you’ve read thus far, which one draws you? Why?

Anne Sexton's //Welcome Morning// has such simple yet elegant writing style that I am immediately able to relate to. I love that she is able to find joy and God in nearly everything in what could be anyone's mundane daily routine. From her "pea-green house" to her hairbrush, she perceives joy and therefore God. She even personifies her chair and her spoon, saying that they greet her with a welcoming hello when she first sees them. Mornings are more often than not very hectic and focused on the day to come. Her descriptions of familiar habits, like making coffee or cooking eggs, are put in such a way that it makes me want to slow down and appreciate these morning routines more often. Anne knows that there is so much happiness in what she does, that she feels the need to thank God for what is around her. She admits that it's easy to forget to take the time to thank God for mornings, as we often are determined to get out the door and get the day started. "Let me paint a thank-you on my palm," she states, "for this, God, this laughter of the morning, / lest it go unspoken." This discription to me is beautiful and so unique. I've never really imagined painting a thank-you, only ever writing or saying one. And the fact that it is on her palm makes the thank-you that much more personal and appears to be a part of her being. She reminds us that a "Joy that isn't shared...dies young." This line again reminds us that we must express our thanks to God for the Joy around us and we must then go and share the warmth of God's joy with those around us. Joy is contagious. It is said that we multiply our joys the more we share them. Anne is reminding us to remember to take in our mornings and soak up the goodness in them. We must also be grateful for this time of peace and share this thanks with God. And finally, we must take this joy that we have found and continue to search for it in all that we do so that others can share in this happiness that we have found. I love everything that Anne has to share with us through this poem and will definitely take away some wonderful tips on finding joy, slowing down my mornings, and be grateful.

GG: Very sensitive writing, BK. I think you would enjoy her writing. Some poems have a "darker" nature as she struggles with some very human issues and emotions. It would be unfair of me to portray her to you as someone as steady as Mary Oliver, yet Anne does seem to find, as most good poets do, beauty and power in simple moments.


 * JOU 2**: What image in any of the three poems do you find most "grace filled?"

W. H. Auden's poem, "Stop all the clocks" is filled with overwhelming grief and tragic loss. While there is an unrelenting pessimistic tone that is strongly felt throughout, the third stanza, specifically lines 9-11, I find to be very full of grace. The poet states that "He was my North, my South, my East and West, / My working week and my Sunday rest, / My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song." These three lines are filled with such utter reverence for the deceased man that I find beautiful. The connection between the two men seems to be so strong that Auden appears to be completely blindsided by this man's death. The graceful flow of these three reverential lines and the fluid and engaging format that they are in is magical to me. They are simple comparisons, to the points of the globe and time, but they are so strong and all encompassing that I can't help but feel the poet's love for this man bounce off the page and create a wonderfully graceful image of their relationship.

GG: Good reflection, BK. What is a concern is that there is no sense of hope for the speaker of the poem. An incarnational spirituality would grapple with the sadness but would also see hope.


 * JOU 3**: What in the world gives you the sense of incarnation and sacrament?

I see God in people from the little actions of a stranger, like holding the door open, helping pick up dropped things, and even a smile, to the daily actions of our loved ones, like making dinner for me or helping me with a calculus problem. God is constantly surrounding me and I see his love for me in the love of others around. I really feel God's presence on earth when I'm serving others. When I volunteer at a soup kitchen or I go on a service trip, I am always aware of the incarnated God that envelopes everything I do. I am most aware of my faith when I'm serving others and as a result am able to witness God incarnated in all around me. I know that God is always present, I personally am just able to better recognize this when I'm serving others. I hope that as I mature and my faith and relationship with God continues to mature and grow, I will begin to feel this incarnated God around me more often, as I feel at peace with God when I'm serving others.

GG: Very grace-filled, BK. As you read Flannery, you will contemplate how you and I might find God in the ugly and the peculiar. The world is charged with the grandeur of God!


 * JOU 4**: The title has an element of irony in it. What makes it ironic?

Irony is a used in stories to challenge statements and/or situations in order to expose a reality that differs from what the reader first perceives. In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, the author uses irony as a main function to tell the story, and it starts with the title itself. The irony is humankind-the naive reaction of Bailey when the Misfit comes to help, the repeated assurance from the grandmother that she wouldn't be shot, the fact that the grandmother keeps telling this mass murderer what a "good man he is." A good man really is hard to find, and I think I'm starting to see a theme within O'Connor's stories and her belief what who a good man really is. And I'm beginning to wonder, if there even is a truly good man in this world... GG: You will find in the world of philosophy that the "good" is, in itself, significant. You are "on the money" on this, BK!


 * JOU 5**: If you were to meet the Misfit, what might you say?

I would ask him who he would think would play him best an a movie about his life. I would ask him what his favorite shoes are. I would ask him what his favorite picture is from his childhood. I would ask him what is first encounter with religion was and how he thinks it impacted his views. I would ask him what his ideal vacation is. I would ask him what he would ask Jesus if he ever met him. I would ask him to explain his name in more detail. I would ask him what he thinks happen to us when we die. I would ask him if he thought he had the potential to change, to be "good" again... Once I'm done more or less interrogating (or intensely interviewing as I like to think of it...), I would see what he has to say, what he was to ask me. I think that one of the best ways to get a further understanding of someone is to let them ask you questions as well. The Misfit is someone that I think I would enjoy having a cup of coffee with, as long as I am assured that my life is not at risk. I think that he has had a very different lifestyle from anything I have had/will have and I guess I am just slightly fascinated by that idea... I would ask him if he thinks of himself as a "good man."

GG: Well, I am not sure about the coffee...he is not that balanced. Your questions, if asked carefully, might give him the opening to learn more about himself by talking to you. Just be careful.


 * JOU 6**: The title, “The Artificial Nigger” makes us 21st Century people very uncomfortable. How might you explain its use to a peer who has not yet read the story and does not know its context?

While the word nowadays is almost a "taboo" sort of phrase, it was commonly used during the time that this short story takes place. Honestly, it does make me uncomfortable to say out loud, but it is the name of this story, I am in no way using it in a derogatory way meant to offend anyone. "The Artificial Nigger" is a title of a work so if I were to explain its use to a fellow classmate, I really would just state that. The artificial nigger in this story is a crucial motif, it is the object that brings the men mercy and forgiveness and a sense of reality. It is an artificial nigger and there is nothing more or less to it. I'm playing a piano piece by Debussy entitled "Le Petit Negro" and in no way do I find it offensive or rude if I tell someone the name of the piece I am playing. It is its title and although the word on its own in a specific context is rude and not socially acceptable, it is in my opinion nothing that should steer a reader or piano player away from due to its title and the connotations behind it. Who knows, maybe some word or phrase we throw around today will be deemed rude and racist in the future.

GG: You make valid points. The word causes us discomfort. Perhaps, even though in F.O'C's time it was different, she may in fact like the idea that we are feeling discomfort.


 * JOU 7**: Describe a time when you found something in life both comic and terrible.

I think that humor is essential in living a healthy life. My family always tends to have a more comical outlook on life and has a very strong sense of humor that always helps get us through whatever is thrown at us. My grandmother has severe Alzheimer's and has essentially reverted back to being like a toddler. She loves everyone around her unconditionally and concentrates on the simple things that make her happy. We laugh with her along the way, when she’s trying to scoop chili into her drink at dinner, or she drops the bread in the wine during communion, or answers the phone at home and rattles on about everything and nothing for ten minutes. Although she usually has no idea what she’s saying or doing, our family having the sense of humor that it does, has dubbed her “the funniest in the family." She’s crazy and she knows it and she knows that she can use this to her advantage to make us grandkids laugh at her. The best part is, she laughs right along with us. She has accepted her state of mind with a sense of humor and love and as a result, our whole family has and we love her for it. It’s a terrible thing to watch my fabulous grandmother no longer be able to perform simple functions like tie her shoes or even tell someone what her name is, but at the same time, being with her is always a hilarious journey.  GG: The only good side of Alzheimers is that the person does not know. My aunt had Alzheimers and was rather endearing until the end of her life; then, it became ugly. The other had demential and would go back and forth between sense and delusion. These were both brilliant women, so seeing them fall apart was horrible. But, humor helped. I pray that your grandmother continues to do well. So sad. ** JOU 8 ** : What are you feelings about the young curate in this novel?

While I feel like it's a tad early on in the narrative to form a very strong opinion on this novel's protagonist, I can say that as of right now, I feel like this guy just needs an extra large does of confidence. I think that he means well and that he really has the best intentions for his community, but he honestly does not really know what he is doing. I feel that in general he is having trouble relating with his parishioners because they don't think that they can look up to him and that he will carry them in their times of need. He needs to show the community that he is in fact a leader, that he is someone to be trusted, not mocked. I think thus far that the curate seems to be a good guy who really does want to help but he just needs to prove it, in a sense, and just needs to project confidence, not fear. GG: A good start, but I think there may be more you want to say? In my personal opinion, I think that the old cure believes he is the best religious leader around. He thinks that he is the "big guy" in this town's religious life and therefore what he says, is the final authority. So often, our young protagonist struggles with the opinions of those around him and he really is concerned with what everyone thinks of him. Many of his perceptions of what his parishioners think of him come from skewed perspectives, however, like the town's wealthiest family and the Cure de Tory. The priest seems to really honor and respect the things the Cure passes on to him, from advice to gossip, and he tends to take everything to heart. I think that when the Cure makes the above point to the young and impressionable priest, he is almost planting the idea in the priest had that his suffering is from God and therefore he should "suck it up". I personally don't find it consoling when he tells him that it is God's intentions for him to be suffering. By saying this, it almost seems as if God has plans for the young priest to always be living a sorrow filled life and that God himself told the cure to pass along the message. I think that sorrow and suffering are an inescapable part of life, but I don't think that God "intends to keep" anyone in a lifelong state of sorrow. I'm a little angry, I guess, with the Cure for telling the priest that his sorrow is God's intentions. The priest, I think, will take this statement and now live by it, which is unfortunate because I really do think he has so much potential! He does need the Cure's tough love and strong statements for guidance, but I think he needs someone there in his life to give him positive encouragement and someone for him to talk to, other than his diary. GG: The young country priest relies so upon the opinion of others. It is good to hear you say that God doesn't intend to keep one in sorrow. What a god that would be. One of the more striking themes in this novel would be the idea of faith. The priest's pure and pretty simple faith is what carries him through his life, which he has devoted to the church. Despite the priest's numerous human struggles, especially when deciding if something is the right thing to do, or when he's on the brink of death, he never loses sight of his faith. Throughout it all, priest remains faithful and devoted to God. He is able to feel God's grace around him, even if he can't necessarily see it in the people around him. I think that we could all learn a lesson or two from this unwavering faith that the priest has. He shows the readers that it is okay to struggle with faith and to question God, but in the end, "grace is everywhere" so God is everywhere. He truly shows that faith and God should be put before all else and that God's grace is eternal for everyone. GG: One might argue, BK, that he was on some journey to find his faith. The journey, perhaps, becomes one with the faith. He has a revelation at the very end that that which he was seeking he already had. Give that some thought! :)  JOU 11: same as Journal 10?
 * JOU 9 ** : The Cure tells the priest, “After all, perhaps Almighty God intends to keep you in sorrow.” Respond to that.
 * JOU 10 ** : The second last statement in the novel reads, “Does it matter? Grace is everywhere…” Comment thoughtfully.
 * JOU 12 ** : Choose the two themes that you think most relate to this novel – sin, redemption, suffering, incarnation, faith, mystery, truth, love, compassion, disbelief, the world as sacramental, death, resurrection. Now, make your case for these two themes.

All of those themes seem to surface at some point in this novel, but the first one that jumped out at me was mystery. While probably not the first word I would have thought of to describe this diary-style book, it is a word that I think is very pertinent throughout the plot line. The idea that God's grace is everywhere is a mystery to me, even after experiencing this idea throughout this semester's works, especially this last novel. There is a sort of beautiful mystery in the priest's undying faith and in his life in general. I think that religious related narratives and stories tend to be filled with mysterious ideas and mysterious actions that all add to the wonder of the story as a whole. Another theme that I would choose would be suffering. The priest's suffering is evident throughout the entire novel, he essentially seems to be in a constant state of suffering. And while he is clearly suffering, he is still determined to take care of the people in his parish. He puts aside his suffering in order to "help" those around him through their "suffering." This attitude is something I found admirable, as I would like to think that I'd continue to put others first during a time of suffering, but in reality, I really don't know if I would. Hopefully, this attitude will develop as my faith grows stronger. GG: Mystery is fitting, BK. We try to articulate a theology that makes sense to us, but in the end, it is all mystery. To embrace the mystery is the work of the saints.
 * JOU 13 ** : What is the nature of Morris’ words to Catherine: “You must tell me … that if your father is dead against me, if he absolutely forbids our marriage, you will still be faithful”?

This question, asked at the end of chapter ten, are met with an intriguing response from our young Catherine. She "murmurs" his name with a sort of sigh and simply slips her hand into his, which we assume he interprets as a "yes." There is the classic conflict in this novel so far of mysterious, poor lover vs. dominating yet caring father. This question seems to always be inevitable in a plot-line like this novel seems to be following thus far. Who will the young protagonist choose? Her family or her beau? I think that Morris seems to be sort of insecure about himself, as he is "poor" in Dr. Sloper's opinion and not always able to fit into Catherine's world, although it helps that the aunts love him. He proposes this question to Catherine, who seems to be a girl of few words thus far, to really give himself a sort of "ego-boost" so he has the confidence to continue pursuing her even though Dr. Sloper does not seem to be his biggest fan. Who knows, maybe I'm completely off course, and I do like Morris so far, I just think that at the moment he's insecure and wants to hear the comfort of Catherine's devotion to him spoken out loud. GG: Morris is an attractive character. Keep an eye on him. See if your impression proves true.
 * JOU 14 ** : What would you be writing in your locked diary now if you were Catherine?

After reading the first twenty chapters of this dramatic, romantic novel, I feel like the characters are all over the places. Each character seems to be, in my opinion, the most dramatic version of his or her personality. I think that the one exception would be our Catheirne. At this moment in time, if I were Catherine, I would be scrambling to fill the pages of my secret diary with all of the thoughts and ideas running threw my head. Catherine sort of seems to be like a puppet doll thus far in the novel, as she has so many influential people in her life tugging and pulling her in this and that direction. If I were writing from Catherine's perspective, I would be contemplating each and every opinion that those around me have thrust into my way. I think that Catherine seriously does not want to disappoint anyone who is only trying to do the best for her, like her father, her lover, and her aunt. I really don't think that I'd know where to go at this moment in time if I were young Catherine and I would be writing about how I really just think the best idea would be to hold strong and be patient and cross my fingers that it all just works out for the best. GG: Part of this is that it is Henry James. Part of it is that you are such a 21st century woman that it must be hard to grasp this world in which you find yourself in Washington Square.
 * JOU 15 ** : James once wrote, “There are no unimportant experiences, only inadequate ways of looking at them.” Comment in your journal!

The idea that one's "greatest moments" or "top hits" are flashed before your eyes before you die is not a unique one. I feel like it's played up in movies and dramatized in our society. But seeing a scene where a character, on the brink of death, watches his or her life, good and bad times, whiz through their consciences always makes me think what my life would look like thus far in a short, fleeting minute. There's the obvious, life-altering experiences like the birth of a sibling or cousin, moving homes, family illness, starting a new school, getting the family dog, etc. Those are the obvious, big-picture ones that will stick with you forever. But there's always the little memories that come back at random times to fill you with a warm feeling or a slight shudder. You may think that something like going out for sushi with a friend after school has little to no significance on your life as a whole, that it was an "unimportant experience" per say. But really, it was a happy memory that should be cherished and may in fact be a very important time that you just didn't realize at the moment. Many memories/experiences are completely different when thought about in retrospect, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Experiences are meant to be thought back on and relived as memories. Maybe they didn't seem important at the time or even now, but maybe they do now or maybe they will. GG: Agree. Life is really built on a series of small, seemingly inconsequential moments, but when put together, it because a mosaic of the most importance.