Tag: Literary Analysis

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I Learned Life-Changing Lessons from To Kill a Mockingbird

~ To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Introduction

I’ve heard of To Kill a Mockingbird. My mother was a great fan of Gregory Peck, who played Atticus in the movie. I also heard many of my friends talk about reading this book as their English reading project. 

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It was the banned book project that made me pick up this book. I liked this book, just like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. After researching the period, I learned something new. I migrated to the United States about a decade ago, and I didn’t know about the Jim Crow Laws. The author addresses many social issues, some of which still exist in our society. Most importantly, I learned something important, which is moral courage. 

Plot Summary

Scout lives in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, with her father, Atticus, and her brother, Jem. Atticus is a lawyer in Maycomb. Her mother passed away two years after Scout was born, so she has no memory of her. Don’t worry. She had her loving father, Atticus, and Calpurnia, a colored servant, taught her not only reading but also imparting life lessons.

Every summer, a boy named Dill stays with his aunt, who lives next door. They got to know each other very quickly. Dill was a fun boy who was full of tall tales. Jem, Scout, and Dill spend much time together during summer exploring. Boo (Arthur) Radley lives south of Atticus’s house. People made all kinds of creepy rumors about Boo Radley because he never showed up in public. Jem is fascinated by Boo, so he asks many things about Boo and tells Scout and Dill many creepy stories about Boo. 

Now, the children are all curious. One day, Dill dered Jem to march to the front yard of Boo Radley. Jem was hesitant at first, but he touched the house with courage. Dill and Jem are working so hard to try various schemes to get Boo out of his home. One day, Nathen, Boo’s bother, chased them off from the property with a shotgun from their property. 

When school started, Scout, already an advanced reader, got into trouble with her teacher, who disapproved of her ability to read ahead of her classmates. Her teacher also prohibited Scout from reading, insisting she must learn how to read by blank at school.

Scout and Jem find that someone leaves them small gifts in the tree knot outside their house. They enjoyed them. They got chewing gums,  a medal, and then a watch. So, they wrote a thank you note to whoever was giving them a gift, but Boo’s father, Nathern, filled the tree-knot with cement. Scout found Jem was crying with frustration.

That winter, Maycomb experienced a freezing winter. In the early morning, Miss Maudie’s house was on fire. While watching the fire burn down Miss Maudie’s house, someone put a blanket around Scout’s shoulder. Atticus told Scout that Boo Radley put the blanket around Scout, but she did not notice at the time. 

One day, tensions arose in town because Atticus was appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black person falsely accused of sexually assaulting a white woman. Scout’s classmates and even her relatives ridicule Atticus for defending Tom, and Scout fights with her cousin Francis after he insults her father. 

Scouts started to wonder why her father was different from others in town. She thought Atticus was old, but one day, Jem’s and Scout’s perception of their father changed. One day, a rabid dog appeared in the neighborhood, and the sheriff came to Atticus to shoot the dog. Atticus one-shotted the dog. Atticus is the best at shooting. She also found out he was good at many other things. 

One day, Calpunia suggests Jem and Scout go to her black church. Scout noticed that Calpunia talked differently around her people. Lula told Calpunia off for bringing Jem and Scout to the church, but other people welcomed them and thanked them for her father for defending poor Tom. In the Church, she observed that there were no hymn books. Calpunia told Scout that that was because no one could read. At church, She found out Bob Ewell was accusing Tom of, which Scout did not comprehend. 

Their Aunt Alexandria started to live with them so that her aunt could give their children a “feminine influence.” Everyone invited her aunt to tea at home, and she became the center of the town’s social life. Aunt Alexandra told Atticus to get rid of Capurnial, but Atticus firmly refused. Jem tells Scout not to worry about Atticus so much because he is worried about Defending Tom. Scout was mad at Jem because he was ordering around. After she said goodnight, she stepped on something warm. She went to Jem to check under her bed, and they found Dill. He escaped from his host family. Dill’s new stepfather not only neglected him but also cruelly punished him. He was bound in a chair and left to die in the basement because his new father disliked him. Dill somehow managed to escape and came to their house. Jem notified Atticus that Dill was with them. Atticus agreed that Dill could stay with them. 

As Tom’s trial approaches, the threat of mob violence looms large- a possibility of people harming Tom. Atticus was worried that Tom would get attacked by a lynched mob, so he went to stand guard outside the jail. At about 10 o’clock, Jem snuck out of the house with Scout and Jill and followed Atticus. Four cars drove in, and a group of men got out. Scout raced out from the hiding place. Atticus told his children to go home. Jem refuses. Scout looked around the group and spotted Mr. Cunningham, her classmate’s father. She started to talk about his legal entailments and his son. She told him to say “hey to his son. Mr. Cunningham felt ashamed and defused the situation. (Scout’s innocence saved the many lives that night).

Trial started. Everyone attends, except for Ms. Maudie. Jem, Scout, and Dill tried to sneak into a courtroom without being noticed by Atticus. They waited too long, so they got a seat on the balcony where only African Americans could sit. Atticus did cross-examine; no doctor was summoned at the time the girl was injured, and her bruises were on the right side of her face – it becomes clear that Mayella’s injuries were inflicted by someone left-handed, like her father, Bob Ewell, not Tom, who has a crippled left arm. Jem was confident of the victory. To his surprise, all 12 jury members gave the verdict of guilty. The night Jem Cried. Jem complained to Miss Maudie that he no longer thinks good things about people in this city. She tells Jem that there are still good things about this city and points out why the judge appointed Atticus to defend Tom.

Bob Ewell is humiliated by the trial, so he starts harassing people involved in the case. Everyone is worried except for Atticus. When Scout asked Atticus what happen to Tom if he lost, Atticus told her that he would get electrocuted as rape is a capital offense in Alameda. Atticus said that Alabama always favored a white man over a black man, but he hoped to win in the higher court. Scout also discovers that Cunningham, one of the jury members for Tom’s trial, wants to acquit. When Scout wanted to invite Walter Cunningham to the dinner, Aunt Alexandra forbade Scout to ask him. Scout found out that there are class systems from Jem.

One day, Aunt Alexandra invited Scout to her gathering for a missionary circle. Scout looked like a girl and even acted like a lady. Suddenly, Atticus appeared and told Calpunia that Tom Robinson was shot 17 times in his attempt to escape from the prison. Mr. Underwood wrote a long editorial stating that Tom’s death is like shooting an innocent man. 

On Halloween, there was a Halloween agricultural pageant in which every school kid portrayed themselves as food. Scout dressed like a Ham. On the way back home, Jem kept hearing the noise. Then suddenly, they are attacked by a man. Jem tried to protect Scout. Boo Radley emerges from the middle of nowhere to save them, killing Bob Ewell in the process.

Atticus thought it was Jem who killed Boo in self-defense. The sheriff said it was not Jem who killed Bob Ewell despite knowing it was Boo who killed Bob Ewell, The sheriff said Tom Robinson died for no good reason, and now the responsible for Tom’s death is dead. Scout saw that putting Bob into the spotlight would be just like a sin to kill a mockingbird.

As Scout reflects on these events, she finally understands her father’s advice to consider other perspectives to understand a person truly. 

Historical Contextual Analysis

The Jim Crow Law

In order to understand the book on a deeper level, we have to discuss the Jim Crow Laws. This novel is set in the 1930s. Slavery was abolished after the Civil War; however, there was an awful law that legally relegated African Americans to second-class citizenship. According to Jim Crow Museum (n.d.) The Jim Crow Laws were enforced in the southern part of the United States, mandating the separation of races in public places from the 1870s to the mid-1960s. Even Christian ministers and theologians taught white people as the “chosen people” and that African people existed to serve white people. 

One tragic event, Tom Robinson’s trial, reflects on the realities in the United States around this time. The reason Atticus was worried that the lynching mob would assault Tom Robinson. Lynching against African Americans during the time to control African Americans (Berreys et al.,n.d). As Atticus’s anticipation, all 12 juries gave the verdict of guilty to Tom Robinson for assaulting Mayella Ewell despite the evidence suggesting the deep racial discrimination around this time. When Jem spoke up against it, he explained that a black man could not win against the accusation of a white man. And Mayella’s accusation of rape, despite her lies, led to the conviction of Tom Robinson and his death. 

The Jim Crow laws physically separated whites and African-Americans at the time. Scout also noticed the racial division; they went to different churches. When Calpurnia, their African-American servant, went to the church, Scout noticed that Calpurnia talked and acted differently among her people. The church had no hymn book because African-American people could not read. Later, she found out that African Americans did not have schools to go to. During Tom’s Trial, African Americans had to watch the trial from the balcony.

When we look into the history around the time the story was staged, we start to see how special Atticus was. Unfortunately, some racial discrimination still exists in the United States. 

Scout’s tomboyish nature contrasts with traditional expectations of women.

The expectations for women and girls are rigidly defined. Women are expected to be confined to domestic roles, maintain the house, and care for their children. They are expected to attend social activities such as missionary circles. Scout’s aunt, Alexandra, expected Scout to attend one of those social activities in dress. In reality, Scout hates to be in a dress. Alexandra is concerned that Scout lacks “feminine influences” as her mother died two years after her birth. 

Scout, however, resents those conventions of what a lady should be. Instead, she prefers wearing overalls, climbing trees, and playing physical games with her brother Jem and friend Dill. She is a tomboy. She even strongly resented behaving like a lady when Jem told her to act like one by jumping onto Jem. She also attacked her cousin Francis for mocking Atticus. As a result, Scout gets into trouble with someone like Aunt Alexandra.

Character Analysis

Why The Story’s Narration Was Made From Scout

The books are mostly written from Scout’s perspective. The narration flipped between Scout as an innocent kid and Scout as an adult, reflecting on her childhood. This book talks about racism, classism, and prejudice, which are grim. Because the narration is from Scout’s innocent perspective, the tone is light and even humorous despite describing dreadful events.

Scout is ignorant and innocent, just like most girls her age. Her morality is closely tied to her interaction with Atticus, Calpunia, Jem, and Miss Maudie, and she slowly internalizes it as the story progresses. At the end of the book, she uses the metaphor of Mockingbird when She begins to grasp the complexities of morality. 

Scout’s moral growth is different from that of Jem’s. Jem, unlike Scout, is aware of more things. When Scout gets to fight with Cnuungham’s kid, he invites the boy over to the house. He has a lot of growth as the story progresses. When Dill escapes his house, Jem lets Atticus know where Dill is, indicating that he understands the responsibility, even if that is breaching a kid’s secret code. 

Jem became an adult man when he saw his father was about to be attacked by Lynch Mobs. He disobeyed his father because he sincerely feared for his father’s safety. Ironically, it was more likely Scout’s innocent behavior toward Cunningham stopped the lynch mobs, the possible deaths of many that night. He is still a kid, believing in the fair justice and the goodness of the people of Maycomb, which was shuttered and broke his heart after Tom’s trial. 

Atticus as A Moral Figure

Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is portrayed as a moral figure. He stands up for justice and equality, which makes him more remarkable as this is the time when racial discrimination was legalized in the place where they live. It was considered highly unconventional to defend an African American like Tom Robinson. The trial in the novel was still highly biased, which led to an innocent man like Tom Robinson’s death. 

He portrays a consistent moral figure and believes in fairness and justice. He is a loving father. The quote that best represents his character is: “The main one is, if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature. I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.”In the book, he also discusses his views of being a hero to his children. His definition of the Hero is not someone strong but someone who can protect a weaker or someone who acts on their belief. 

While Atticus is portrayed as a moral figure, I saw some flaws in him. His sense of justice is so strong that he imposes it upon his children. For example, he forces Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose as punishment for destroying her garden. In reality, Mrs. Dubose was racist and mean and insulted the children. Atticus said she had a morphine addiction, but that does not justify her menacing actions like she did. This raises the question: Atticus may be expecting too much from his children.

Atticus understands that people can be both evil and good. Some people, like Bob Ewell, are a menace and evil. While he tells his children that it is essential to see people from their perspective, he fails to see how someone like Bob Ewell could harm his children. 

Boo Radley as A Enigmatic Figure

Boo Radley is an enigmatic figure in the novel. Lee uses some Southern Gothic themes in the book, describing him as mysterious and creepy, just like a Halloween monster. We can see this from how Jem described Boo Radley as dining on raw squirrels and any cats they could catch. 

Boo Radley is a mysterious man who does not appear in public. Since Atticus never talked about Boo, Jem asked other people like Miss Crawford. The Gosshipy Miss Stephanie Crawford told Jem about Boo’s childhood event when Boo stabbed his father with scissors. The story we never be confirmed in the book; the more creepier the rumore gets, the more children are fascinated by the story of Boo Radley. 

He was protective of Jem and Scout. There was the narrative from his perspective from chapter 31 of the book where we could learn how he perceived the story from his end. “Autumn again, and Boo’s Children needed him.” Despite the trouble these children caused, he cared for and protected children in his way by putting a blanket on Scout, saving children, and getting rid of Bob Ewell from the town. 

He reminded me of Lennie Small from “Of Mice and Men.” How Boo is portrayed in the book suggests he struggles with mental illness. Miss Stephanie commented that Boo was to be sent to Asylum; instead, he was kept locked in a house. He does not fit the townie’s narrow view of “normal.” Adding to his peculiar behavior makes townee see him as some kind of monstrous figure; in reality, Boo is a mockingbird.

The Symbolism and Motifs To Enhance The Novel’s Meaning

The author addresses multiple themes in the book, which include the destruction of innocence, racial justice, and moral courage. To understand the novel in a deeper level, we should consider what is the symbolism shown in the story and how characters such as Tom Robinson and Boo Radley related.

The Mockingbird as a Symbol in the World

Mockingbird is the state bird for multiple states in the United States. Tennesses’s state bird is also the Moking bird. Lee’s choice of the mockingbird is a central metaphor of the novel, and she highlights the vulnerability of goodness in a world tainted by prejudice and justice. As Miss Maudie said, mockingbirds are harmless to the garden and exist only to bring beauty and goodness. 

Mockingbirds describe people like Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, who are vulnerable to the cruelty of society despite their goodness. Tom Robinson always helped the Ewell household without anything in return, yet he is being prosecuted for a crime he never committed. Boo Radley is also an excellent hurt man, trying to protect children in his way, misunderstood by the community.

Just like Mockingbirds, Tom and Boo are also harmless but good to society. Tom has been helping the Ewells with their house chores for free on multiple occasions. Boo took care of Atticus’s children in his ware. However, that society is often quickly destroyed by mockingbirds, someone like Tom and Boo, through racial injustice, fear of the unknown, or social expectations. 

The Theme of Moral Courage

The author addresses several social issues throughout the book. One of the most important was the theme of moral courage. Many of us think that a hero is someone with power, strength, or success. Lee is messaging readers that the true hero is someone who can display the quiet determination to do what is right despite the likelihood of failure or social backlash.

Several characters in the novel exhibit moral courage; however, Atticus is a prominent example of all of them. Not only did he demonstrate his commitment to justice, where everyone in the United States should be equal in the court, but he also consistently demonstrated his view of his heroism. You will see his view of heroism when he says, “When you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway, and you see it through no matter what.” (Lee, 1952, p. 127)

Atticus knew that it was more likely that Tom Robinson would lose in the trial from the beginning. 

It was so unconventional that an African person would win against any white male at the time. I bet Atticus faced overwhelming societal pressure, which Jem or great aunt noticed after Atticus took on the role of defending. It was Atticus’s quiet determination to do what is right that moved many people’s hearts, even though he lost the case. He taught his children, including Dill, by showing what he believed was right. 

The Important Lessons From The Book

As I pointed out earlier, Lee wanted to say in this book that society is often quick to destroy innocence due to racial injustice, fear of the unknown, or social expectations. Multiple times, “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” is emphasized, and this sentiment captures the moral wrong of punishing the innocent for society’s prejudices and fear. 

There is a part where Atticus teaches his children that real courage is not a man with a gun. Still, it is someone who stands up for their principles even when facing inevitable defeat. Atticus shows children that throughout the story. Lee delivers a moral lesson to stand up for what is right, even when it is unconventional, just like Atticus.

Atticus’s view is not someone who is strong but can stand up with their principal. He made me think about someone like Martin Luther King Jr., an author who constantly told us that courage is rooted in moral resilience rather than being strong. Knowing that Tom Robinson had great challenges winning the case or the social backlash he and his family would face, he demonstrated his belief in moral courage. A person like Atticus could eliminate existing social issues. 

Like other parts of the world, the U.S. made mistakes in the past. However, I want to point out that our society has become much better than it was a long time ago. People like Atticus in the book made a change by demonstrating their version of Moral Courage. There are still a lot more social issues we need to work on.

Unfortunately, these books are banned in some parts of the United States for the use of derogatory words. The book taught me an important moral lesson. When you become 18 years old, I hope you will put this book as one of a book to read. 

References

Berrey, S., Jeffries, H. K., Jackson, A., Warren, L., & Ayers, H. (2020, September 22). Jim Crow, Lynching and White Supremacy | Learning for Justice. https://www.learningforjustice.org/podcasts/teaching-hard-history/civil-rights-movement/jim-crow-lynching-and-white-supremacy

What was Jim Crow—Jim Crow Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/what.htm

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‘Of Mice and Men’ Made Me think about Mental Illness

Introduction

In this blog, I discuss a sticky social issue we are still trying to figure out by delving into John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck drew inspiration from Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse” to write this novel—the novel centers on two migrant workers navigating California during the Great Depression. Lennie, one of the workers, is disabled and possesses the mental capacity of a young child.

George and Lennie – generated by NightCafe

Due to its themes of violence and profanity, “Of Mice and Men” has frequently contested the position of the top 100 banned books list in the United States for decades.

I am introducing this book as one of the banned books, but it was once a staple of the high school English curriculum—my husband included. This novel explains many literary tools and discusses social issues. My husband suggested that I read this novel parallel to a poem written by Robert Burns for a deeper understanding.

This novel is profoundly saddening. It moved me to tears when I read this novel the first time; if asked whether I liked it, I’d lean towards no, but I still recognize its significant literary value. Steinbeck tackles the uncomfortable social issues of how society treated mentally challenged people during that era.

Plot Summary of Of Mice and Men

The protagonists, George Milton and Lennie Small, are itinerant farmworkers in California. George is practical and intelligent, while Lennie is physically strong but mentally challenged. Lennie is a good worker but needs to be faster to understand things. Lennie has a penchant for soft and pretty things and loves touching them. When Lennie gets panicked or afraid, he has the habit of grabbing. Unfortunately, Lennie does not understand his strength, so he halts and breaks whatever he holds onto—which has caused trouble in the past.

They struggled to maintain one job for an extended period, possibly due to the Great Depression. Still, Lennie’s problematic behaviors added to the difficulty. George looked after Lennie, nurturing their shared dream of owning a 10-acre farm where Lennie hopes to raise rabbits.

Their dream almost becomes reality through a deal with Candy, another worker who proposes they buy a farm together. However, the plan unravels after Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife in a moment of panic—Curley is the jealous and aggressive farm owner. In a tragic turn, George decides to end Lennie’s life mercifully to spare him from Curley’s wrath, reminiscent of how Candy’s old dog was euthanized.

The History of Criminalizing Mental Illness

In the United States, individuals with behavioral issues were often forcibly placed into Insane Asylums. The asylum was constructed in the late 1800s and became overcrowded by the 1930s (Colorado College, 2016, para. 2-3).

Most patients had not committed any crimes; it was a preemptive measure. Some who had committed crimes may have been sent to asylums. Most of them ended up in a cell on death row. Back then, protections like the 8th Amendment did not apply, and many more individuals could be executed for their perceived crimes, as seen in early 20th-century cases.

I was digging into some of the old cases from the Early 1900s, such as Ed Hager’s 1909 case or Cruz Romero’s 1929 case (Colorado College, 2016, para. 13-14), which are great examples. From what I can see from the record, they should have been admitted to an institution instead of admitted into cells on death row.

No Interpretation of Mental Illness Until the ’50s

Despite evident mental incapacities, diagnoses of sanity persisted until the mid-20th century. For instance, the inability to recognize the insanity in individuals like Ed Hager and Cruz Romero highlights a lack of understanding of mental health issues until significant changes in 1952 (Colorado College, 2016, para. 5). Lennie’s character brings to mind these historical injustices, showing no comprehension of his actions yet dreaming of future rabbits.

Intellectual Disability and Punishment

The U.S. has come a long way. Awareness of mental health issues has improved, and the Constitution now forbids cruel punishments, as stated in our 8th Amendment, “… nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”, including the execution of those with intellectual disabilities, as affirmed by the Atkins v. Virginia case (Atkins v. Virginia, n.d.).

Killing for Compassion – Did George Commit Mercy Killing or Murder?

The end of the story leads us to a complex question: Did George commit mercy killing or murder? Before delving into this, it’s worth noting the plot of Burns’ “To a Mouse.” The poem discusses life’s unpredictability for both humans and animals, illustrated by the accidental destruction of a mouse’s nest. Humans will remember the tragedy as a bad memory and fear for the future. On the other hand, animals cannot. Just as the mouse is unaware of its bleak future, Lennie is unaware of the imminent threat from Curley and his men, nor are any criminal charges imposed upon him. George’s act can thus be seen as one of compassion, sparing Lennie from a future he couldn’t grasp, much like the speaker’s pity for the mouse.

Since the story ends here, we would not know what happened to George after this incident. He may be charged with the murder of Goerge.

Conclusion

I learned critical moral lessons from this book: Exploring “Of Mice and Men” alongside historical perspectives on mental illness. I realized that anyone can experience unexpected tragedy and the cruelty of fate. Moreover, I learned the importance of having empathy, regardless of our status or significance.

Additionally, exploring the poignant verses of Robert Burns’s “To a Mouse” enriches our understanding of George and Lennie’s tragic story. While the novel leaves us with heavy hearts, it also invites reflection on broader societal issues—mainly how we treat the most vulnerable.

Steinbeck’s narrative is a tale of friendship and shattered dreams and a timeless reminder of the importance of empathy and the complexities surrounding moral decisions. As we close this discussion, let me carry forward the lessons learned from George and Lennie’s journey, recognizing the profound impact of literature in echoing the call for humanity and compassion in our ongoing dialogue about mental health and justice.

Do you want to read Other Posts like this? Click this link. Read These Banned Books

References

Atkins v. Virginia. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2001/00-8452 Colorado College. (2016, June 28).

Criminalization of Mental Illness. Past, Present, Prison. https://sites.coloradocollege.edu/hip/mentally-ill-and-the-penal-system/

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Exploring the Dystopian Depths of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood

The second book I selected from the banned book list was “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. This dystopian novel is set in a fictional future known as the Republic of Gilead. This society in this book, governed by a secretive religious regime adhering to strict Christian doctrines,  incorporates Biblical references, providing a basis for its ideologies. Atwood, who identifies as a Puritan, crafted this ominous world from a blend of personal experiences and historical atrocities, as discussed in her interview on Pod Save America (2023).

Upon first delving into the novel, I was immediately unsettled. The story portrays a totalitarian regime overtaking parts of the United States, stripping away freedoms, particularly from women who are reduced to mere possessions of men. The book describes a highly oppressed society. There is no freedom of expression. People in this society lived with fears. During her Pod Save America interview (2023), Atwood referenced her trips to Eastern Europe in the 1980s, explaining the passive acceptance of oppressive societies as a result of severe consequences for resistance, such as being shot (3:45 – 10:19).

The story’s protagonist, once a university-educated woman with a career and a family, is trapped in a dire situation following a crackdown on women’s rights. Imagine suddenly losing all access to your money and being banned from reading—parallels drawn to Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’. After being captured while attempting to flee to Canada, she faces a grim choice: become a handmaid or be condemned to die in colonies, a type of concentration camp. Upon choosing the former, she loses her identity and is renamed Offred, signifying her possession by a man named Fred. Her primary role is to become a concubine for a couple who could not have a child – this mirrors an ancient practice referenced in the Bible, where women like Rachel and Leah used their maids as surrogates (Genesis 29-30, 35). According to Barasso (2022, October 5), this type of marriage arrangement existed in ancient Mesopotamian marriage contracts.

The narrative explores the concept of Concubinage. The idea of the Concubinage system has been introduced previously. In our history, Concubinage was particularly prevalent in historical Asia such as Japan and China. They considered this type of arrangement to be less risky because children of concubines were often deemed illegitimate and devoid of inheritance rights unless explicitly permitted by the father (King’s College History Department, n.d.).

As the story progresses, we experience the harsh realities of Gilead through Offred’s perspective, which is marked by her incredible resilience and determination to survive. She encounters others who oppose the regime, forming risky alliances and emotional bonds, further complicating her precarious existence.

The novel’s climax remains ambiguous as Offred is taken away by the secret police, known as the Eyes, with only the reassurances of Nick, a sympathetic character, to suggest her removal might be part of a resistance effort known as May Day.

Atwood skillfully unfolds the narrative, allowing the reader to gradually comprehend Gilead’s oppressive nature through Offred’s descriptions and observations, such as “the shatterproof windows” of her bedroom, hinting at the extremes taken to prevent escaping through the last result of suicide. I found this writing style to be a clever choice by the author, as the story kept us in suspense.

The display of executed dissenters, stringent control measures, and pervasive surveillance echo the chilling atmospheres of other dystopian works like George Orwell’s “1984” and Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”. The echoes of totalitarian regimes from history, such as the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, which arose from dire social conditions in Russia, provide a somber reminder of how quickly societies can deteriorate under certain pressures (History, n.d.).

Atwood talks about how tough times can make people more open to religious and spiritual beliefs (Pod Save America, 2022). She points out that religious ideas feel more meaningful and powerful when people struggle. She also notes that many of us hold some form of religious or spiritual beliefs (10:45 – 15:52). According to surveys from the Pew Research Center, 88% of Americans believe in a god or some other higher power (Kallo, 2023). These beliefs could more easily influence people in difficult times.

Living in the United States, we’re lucky to have the First Amendment protect our freedoms. Yet, “The Handmaid’s Tale” makes us think about how fragile these rights can be during tough times, like during pandemics or economic troubles. It’s easy for politicians to use our fear and anger for their benefit. This book highlights how important it is for us to stay alert and maintain a careful balance—protecting our freedoms while also respecting the rights of others.

The Handmaid’s Tale” is more than just a novel; it is a profound commentary on societal dynamics, personal agency, and the importance of guarding our liberties against potential encroachments. It serves as a stark warning and a compelling narrative that challenges readers to remain aware of how quickly the world can change, urging them to cherish and defend their freedoms diligently.

References

Barasso, M. (2022, October 5). Rachel and Leah in the Bible. Biblical Archaeology Society. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/rachel-and-leah-in-the-bible/

History. (n.d.). Post-war Economies (Russian Empire) | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1). Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/post-war_economies_russian_empire

Kallo, P. T., Justin Nortey and Asta. (2023, December 7). 2. Spiritual beliefs. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spiritual-beliefs/

King’s College History Department. (n.d.).Concubinage in Asia. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from https://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/concubin.html

Pod Save America (2023). Margaret Atwood on the Rise of Real World Authoritarians | Offline With Jon Favreau. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta3FaoKgHtA

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My First Project in Literary Analysis: The Masque of the Red Death

It was not so long ago when I started reading fiction books. I have hardly read any fictions books for the last 15 years because I thought I would learn more from non-fiction books. The one book changed my mind 180 degrees. Last Christmas, I read “How to Read Literature Like a Professor Revised: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines” by Thomas Foster. Foster (2014) explained that literary analysis is like pattern recognition. It sounded interesting. So, I tried literary analysis on my own. 

For my first literary analysis project, I selected a chilling story from Edgar Allan Poe, the masque of the red death. I liked his writing style because it reminds me of Ryunosuke Akutagawa, a Japanese author known for “Rashomon.” Summer in Tennessee is hot. So, a chilling story would be nice to ease this heat. It is a six-page short story, yet it contains Poe’s tactical usages of Symbolism and Metaphors.

The Plot Summary

The fatal outbreak, the “Red Death,” ravaged the country. The plague was so deadly that the population of the country dropped nearly by half. The horrible pandemic caused a patient sharp pain, sudden dizziness, and profuse bleeding from pores. The scarlet stains appear on the patient’s body – especially on the face, which scared away the sympathetic fellow men.

Due to the outbreak, Prince Prospero secluded himself from the pandemic in the abbey with a thousand knights and their spouses to continue to live a lavish lifestyle until the outbreak was over. An iron gate, welded from weapons the courtiers brought, should protect prince Prospero and his courtier from the red death. There were enough supplies. All they needed to do is to pass the time with lavish parties until the outbreak was over.

At the 5th or 6th month of the seclusion, the prince and his friends held a masked ball held in seven imperial suites. The apartments were so irregularly arranged that people could see only one apartment at a time. There were sharp turns every twenty or thirty yards, and each turn created a novel effect. Each room was coordinated with color and located in the following order: blue, purple, green, orange, white, violet, and finally, black. All rooms were coordinated with the decoration of the chamber, except for the last black one. The room had black velvet tapestries and black carpet; however, the windows’ color failed to match the decorations. The windows were scarlet that resembled a deep blood color. No one except a few entered the room during the party.

There was a giant clock made from ebony in the black chamber, which pendulum swung with a dull, heavy, and monotonous clang. The clock strikes a chime each hour, which interrupts people from whatever joy they were experiencing. Then, people go back partying after the chime is over.

Around midnight, guests started noticing a masked individual wearing a dark, blood-splattered robe, resembling a corpse from the red death. The insulted prince demanded the identity of this stranger. The guests were too scared to stop this intruder. This nameless intruder made his way from the blue room, the purple, the green, the orange, the white, and the violet room without interruption. Finally, the prince drew his dagger and charged toward this stranger. As the stranger faced the prince, the prince fell dead with a sharp cry. The people surged into a 7th chamber and pulled the mask and robe from the stranger. There was nothing underneath. The guests at the party fell sick. The story ended with the sentence, “Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.

Analysis

Poe’s novels are all poetic. All sections of the novel are equally essential to the novel, and they are entangled in a complex manner to create such a beautiful novel. There would be many symbolic language and metaphors. I started highlighting any suspected symbols and metaphors and started to analyze them.

Instinctively, I thought the seven imperial suites and the structure of the halls represent something; however, I did not know what they meant. The key was the order of the color of the rooms – blue, purple, green, orange, white, violet, and black. The black room seemed a key because it was different from other rooms. This was the room people avoided – were people afraid to step into the room? When I was talking to my husband, he mentioned that blue is often associated with birth. So, we hypothesized that rooms representing the stage of life: blue as the birth, purple as a youth, green as adolescence, orange as adulthood, white as old, violet as illness, then black as death.

If colored rooms were representing stages of life, the structure of the house would make sense. The hallways to each room have sharp turns every 20 or 30 feet between the rooms. The views were so limited that people could see one room at a time. Each turn, people could feel a novel effect. The structures of the hallways represent the way through each life stage.

The gigantic ebony clock that in the black room represents the time of people’s life. The clock is ticking equally to everyone until you would die. The clock kept reminding all people in the spaces that their time would eventually come.

The story reached a climax when the masked stranger made his appearance in the easternmost room, the blue room – representing birth. It wore the costume of the red death. Since people feared his presence, it moved toward the black rooms uninterrupted until prince Prospero charged at it with a dagger.

Initially, I thought Prince Prospero represented Poe himself. Although, I could not understand why Poe selected this name for the prince in this story. This is the name of a character from The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Prospero in The Tempest won. Instead of winning, Prince Prospero in Poe’s novel charged into the masked stranger and died. The tempest is a carefully developed drama portraying the ultimate triumph of ethical control over passion, and Prospero represents with “Noble Reason” (Phillips, 1964, P147). Prospero was an analogy in Poe’s novel representing reasoning or control. The masked individual represents fatal illness. Now, I think the prince Prospero represents Poe’s ability to control, which was destroyed by the plague, his wife’s consumption. Later, Poe wrote to his friend, George W. Eveleth, explaining his mental state.

Each time I felt all the agonies of her death — and at each accession of the disorder I loved her more dearly & clung to her life with more desperate pertinacity. But I am constitutionally sensitive — nervous in a very unusual degree. I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity. During these fits of absolute unconsciousness I drank, God only knows how often or how much. As a matter of course, my enemies referred the insanity to the drink rather than the drink to the insanity. I had indeed, nearly abandoned all hope of a permanent cure when I found one in the death of my wife.

Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore—Works—Letters—E. A. Poe to G. W. Eveleth (January 4, 1848). (n.d.).

Pulmonary tuberculosis claimed many lives in the United States. In the 1800s, as many as one in seven Americans (Fay, April 1, 2020, para 7-8). Poe himself lost many loved one from the illness. Virginia, his beloved wife, was not excluded. In January 1942, Poe’s wife, Virginia, was diagnosed with Pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite the protection (iron gate) he put against the illness. Pulmonary tuberculosis slowly kills people. How painful it must have been for Poe to watch his wife waste away from such an illness. As his wife was getting sicker, he was more drawn to liquor. Despite the wealthy household or “iron gate,” Poe explained nothing could protect your loved one from illness or death. To me, this story represents the inescapable nature of death and the futility of trying to keep it at bay. I sensed Poe’s Agony and sorrow which was expressed so beautifully with this short novel that it took my breath away.

Lessons Learned

This was the first time I did Literary Analysis. It took me longer than planned because I had to research the author to understand the story better. I still feel that I needed to improve on the techniques in analyzing metaphors. I will be planning to read on Literary analysis in the future. I felt fifteen years of not reading any fiction hurting me somehow as I could not remember the novels or poems I should be compared with. I am surprised at finding pleasure in the process of literary analysis. Not only I learned more about Poe, but I also stepped into a new field of gaining skills in analyzing literature. I will be more likely to do more literary analysis in the future.

References

Edgar Allan Poe. (1842). The Masque of the Red Death. [Kindle Edition]. A public Domain Book.

Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore—Works—Letters—E. A. Poe to G. W. Eveleth (January 4, 1848). (n.d.). Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.eapoe.org/works/letters/p4801040.htm

Fay, Glenn J. (Apr 1, 2020). The White Plague: Tuberculosis in Early America.https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/the-white-plague-tuberculosis-in-early-america-954f47e9675f

Foster, T., (2014). How to Read Literature Like a Professor. [Kindle Edition]. Harper Perennial.

Phillips, J. E. (1964). The Tempest and the Renaissance Idea of Man. Shakespeare Quarterly, 15(2), 147–159. https://doi.org/10.2307/2867886