Julia

  Desiree and Mrs. Sommers are two different characters living in two different time periods. They each have differences in their own sense of individuality and independence. At the same time though, they are very similar because they are both shackled by their family and by the conformities of society. Desiree is restrained by the racial issues of society, while Mrs. Sommers was restrained by her need to be a part of the lavish lifestyle of high society. Both of them were shackled by their families in different ways. Desiree was shackled by her egotistical husband, Armand, and “mixed” child. Also, being adopted didn’t help matters either because Armand wouldn’t trust her background and he could use it in his accusation against her. She lost everything- her belongings, life, and her once-loving husband. She had to live in a time where it was socially unacceptable to be of the “unwanted” African race, and having a mixed child posed problems. Mrs. Sommers was chained down by her children. She wanted them to have the best life possible with the little money that they had. She never splurged on herself, all the money she had was invested into her children. This is why Mrs. Sommers struggles when she stumbles upon the fifteen dollars. She plans to bargain with the money and get the best deal she can with it for her kids. Desiree feels the same way; she wants the best for her baby, no matter what social class they are in. She broke free by the restraints of society when, “her hair was uncovered and the sun's rays brought a golden gleam from its brown meshes” (Chopin). Desiree was now unlocked from the chains her husband burdened on her. She could live her life. Mrs. Sommers and Desiree struggle internally and externally. Mrs. Sommers ends up spending the fifteen dollars on herself. She buys a luxurious pair of silk stockings and a lavish outfit to go along. She no longer is thinking about her children, nor is she being frugal or economical. She lets loose her inner materialistic self and ignores her miser self. Money is not an issue to her anymore, "she did not mind the difference of a dollar or two more in the price so long as she got what she desired“(pg 441 Chopin). When the shopping trip is over Mrs. Sommers becomes a victim of her past, encumbrance by the illusion of being rich. Both have several differences, but are so similar in the same sense. They portray women adhering to society, and overcoming the obstacles that they faced in their lifetime.
 *  How are Desiree and Mrs. Sommers alike or different?  **
 *  By: Julia and Trisha (we each did our own character) **

**Tom says that Jim is a symbol of the "long delayed but always expected something that we live for" (1.1). What is ironic about this statement?**
 * Glass Menagerie **

__**Answer**__:  The definition of ironic is "contrary to what was expected or intended." Tom says this statement because he wants the readers to know that Jim is "the most realistic person in the play, being an emissary from a world of reality that we (in context to his family) were somehow set apart from" (1.1). An emissary is a person who wants to advance the interest of another person. Jim is Laura's emissary. Jim builds Laura's confidence and shows her how special she is . He rescues her from being a handicap that collects glass animals. This confidence Laura gains from Jim comes later in life, or "long delayed." However, it was always something that Laura needed and lived for. When Jim is finished with building Laura's confidence, he then admits to her that he is engaged to be married. That is why the quote is ironic. Jim gives Laura that "long delayed but always excepted something that we live for," and then admits to having feelings for Laura when he has a fiancé. Jim was that help that Laura needed. That is why this statement is ironic. Jim seems like a savior and then when he turns out to be a big disappointment his symbolic character disappears. He was expected to be this great emissary, when he is only human like the rest of us. He disappoints Laura and Amanda by going against everything he is suppose to stand for, that is why this statement is ironic. 
 * //Julia: I'm glad you looked up the definitions, but your answer is somewhat choppy because you included both of them. Because you looked at the play through "rose-colored glasses," you did not understand the irony. Usually we spend our lives waiting for something special to happen tomorrow, next month or next year. Often when that something comes, it is not nearly as special as we had thought it would be. When Jim finally comes, after all the expectation, all the preparation and all the waiting, we find out he is engaged to someone else. That's the irony. When help or an "emissary" from the real world outside the confining apartment in which they live, Jim manages to dash their expectations. Mrs. S//**

TZ: I like how you defined ironic. I really didn’t understand the question to begin with, but you explained it very well. Maybe you could’ve added on a little to the end about how and why it was more ironic. Maybe explain more about the contradiction. J

Nick Smart- I agree with Trisha. When you say that jim is the "long delayed person that we wait for" which he is in this story because he is the person that uplifts Laura, but keeps his fiance a secret. The compliments he gives her help her grow stronger. But then he drops her down when he says hes enganged. Overall I agree with you

CP: You thoroughly answered the question and even defined words that I didn’t know. Very nice!

__**AH:**__ I agree with what you said and this statement is very ironic, in the play Tom explains the gentleman caller as “a **long delayed but always expected something that we live for.” This is ironic because Laura who is socially awkward and living in her own little world had never got a gentleman caller. Her mother always talked of how popular she was at Blue Mountain and you can see that her mother seems to see Laura in the same light. Jim O’ Connor was the one boy that Laura liked, and that was from when she was in high school. It just so happens that her gentleman caller is the person she was infatuated with. The way I interpret it is that Jim O’ Connor is the something that Laura lives for and he was much delayed. ** Julia--- Thank you all for the advice! I really enjoyed hearing everyone's input on how I can make this response better! Everyone gave me something new to think about, especially you Mrs. S. So thanks you guys!

1. What group from the audience might be calling out these words? We feel as though the group shouting “America never was America to us,” would have to be the African Americans that were forced to come over from Africa to be slaves.  2. What other group from the audience might be calling out these words? We feel as though this question is talking about either the immigrants or the lower class of America. by Julia White and Trisha Zuknick


 * __PARTNERS: KRISTINA AND JULIA__**


 * ** Statements ** || ** "I hear America Singing" ** || **<span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Evidence ** || **<span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Let America Be America Again ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem relates a personal experience. <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The daily lives of all the Americans || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">

|| <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem relates common experiences. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Marriage, daily life || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Farming, working hard to survive || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem explicitly states the message of the poem again. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">I Hear || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">America || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem describes a variety of events, many of which could be happening at the same time. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Different sounds that are described || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || Slavery, poverty, immigration, red men pushed out of their land <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">

|| <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poet uses elevated language. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem uses the language of the poem’s subjects. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">In the parenthesis the people speak out || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem’s tone is optimistic and joyful. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">All the sounds make up America || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ||
 * <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The poem’s tone begins in a pessimistic way but ends in a positive note. || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> || <span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">X ||