The Yellow Wallpaper

I think Perkins Gilman writes to effect change in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by showing that the narrator dies in the end, or is dead the entire story. This leaves a huge impact on the reader and convinces him or her that change needs to occur in 20th century society's treatment of major depression after having a child. She is clearly depressed, stating, "I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me. But I find I get pretty tired when I try" (357). If writing in a diary makes you tired, you know you are depressed because that is probably one of the least straining things one could possibly do. I think Perkins GIlman is trying to evoke change in the way society in the 20th century treats major depression because we find that all the treatments that John prescribes for her never worked and she is dies possibly from the treatments themselves. I have had major depression and I know several things about the way one should be treated for it. And it does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out anyway. For example, sitting alone in a room for days at a time is not the way to go because that way one can actually think their negative thoughts are o.k. and further them until they get even worse. One needs human interaction -- not too much, but enough-- in order to heal from depression. She says, "I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time. Of course I don't when John is here, or anybody else, but when I am alone" (358). The secret crying is an indication to the reaader that the narrator is going to try to secretively commit suicide. Suicide is almost always done behind someone's back because they might stop one from doing it, so the narrator's secret tears may indicate future plans to kill herself.

I think Uncle Tom's Cabin is a major example of a text in which the author is trying to evoke change. I think one thing that stands out to me in UTC is how slaves are referred to as "creatures", as if they were animals and not human beings. When referring to slaves, one character says, "Poor, homeless, houseless creatures!...Thing have got to a pretty pass, if a woman can't give a warm supper and a bed to poor, starving creatures, just because they are slaves" (144). Another quote appears, "Treat 'em like dogs, and you'll have dogs' actions. Treat "em like men, and you'll have men's works" (179). Harriet Beecher Stowe believes that slavery is o.k., however she believes that maltreatment of slaves is not o.k. I do disagree with this because human beings should all be treated equally. I think Stowe is on the right path though, that slaves should be treated better. And Stowe makes her point that society needs to quit treating slaves like animals here.

Adventures of Tom Sawyer

I think boyhood/manhood is an interesting issue in Adventures of Tom Sawyer because tom is the quintessential boy in literature. Tom went to Sunday school, " a place that Tom hated with his whole heart" (344). Boys in literature, so far, have not been very interested in religion. I think boys in literature generally are good businessmen. Tom realizes that to be greatly honored by his peers and favorite girls, he must be good at reciting Bible verses and win a Bible for it. In the passage, Tom asks, "Say Billy, got a yaller ticket?" Billy answers "Yes". "What'll you take for her?" asks Tom, and Billy answers, "What'll you give?" Tom says, "Piece of lickrish and a fish-hook." Billy concludes "Less see 'em" (345). This is a sales exchange between Tom and Billy. Another reason I think Tom would be a good salesman is that he convinces all his friends to do his job for him: white washing the fence. He sold this job to his friends, convincing them that it was "difficult to attain" (331) and was therefore play and not work.

According to the Judge, Tom fails at being a good man. He says, "Knowledge is worth more than anything there is in the world; it's what makes great men and good men; You'll be a great man and a good man yourself, someday, Thomas" (353). He says these things under the false assumption that Tom has actually done work, memorizing over a thousand scriptures. This leads me to the question of whether Tom will be a man if he continues to act the way he does now when he gets older. Naturally, growing up means letting go of the things that make one a child. I just wonder if Tom will be able to "grow up" ever since he is so strongly a boy now. And even further I wonder if Tom is actually further developed than the rest of his friends and is actually more of a man than I think he is??