Brittany

"Desiree's Baby" by Kate Chopin makes what point about humanity?** I think that the short story makes the point that humanity is cruel and judgemental. One day Desiree realizes that her child is not white and he is actually black. When Desiree confronts her husband about it he explains to her that she is actually black however, her skin is lighter than his so she couldn't possibly be. Desiree feels the rejection of her husband and knows that her child will forever be rejected due to his skin color, so she commits suicide and brings the child with her. Since Desiree is feeling all of this rejection, the story makes the point that humanity revolves around race and ethnicity and minorities are treated worse than others. Desiree can not bare to live any longer due to the rejection her and her child will face because of the child's skin color, this rejection coming from the cruel and judgemental sides of humanity.
 * __Desiree's Baby__

I think this is a good way to explain how Chopin makes a point on humanity. Something I would add is that, she kind of points out how by, her husband disowning her she loses all faith in herself and she realizes that living is no longer even possible. Which shows how humanity is such a direct impact on peoples lives, and how they carry on with themselves. - Tyler c.

Amanda's illusion is that her daughter really isn't crippled and that she will either be successful or she will have gentlemen callers and eventually be married however, the reality is Laura has a limp, she dropped out of school, and is to self-conscious to be an interest to any gentlemen callers. When Laura finally gets a gentleman caller, Amanda is very happy until she finds out he is already going steady with someone. I think this is the point where Amanda realizes that there really is no hope for Laura and her illusions of her disappear and her reality actually becomes a reality. Amanda also believes Tom is just going to stick around forever and continue to support them, either that or he will find Laura a gentleman caller. Amanda has very high expectations of both Laura and Tom that in reality will never be true. Tom will eventually leave Amanda and Laura due to his mother's illusions of him and his sister and he wants to be free of these chains. //**BB: Good job with Laura; however, what about Tom? Does she have any illusions regarding him? What is the reality of the relationship between Tom and Amanda? Mrs. S.**//
 * __Glass Menagerie__**
 * Describe Amanda's illusions and her reality. What happened to these illusions** **and reality at the end of the play?**

When I see this response it puts me into thinking about how Amanda had such delusions of grandeur for Laura that she was blinded by the fact that Laura was crippled, she was shy, and not least to mention but a college drop-out. When Amanda finds out that Jim is "going steady" with another woman, the blow is devestating to her morale and it almost seems like she really did lose all hope. All-in-all I agree with your response Brittany. -JV

I think your response is really good. I agree with Amanda believing nothing is wrong with Laura and that being her illusion. I also agree that when they find out Jim is already taken it pushes Amanda back to reality. It covers the most important points and gives details along with the correct facts. – B.S. = This is very true but I also believe that Amanda can’t speak to lowly of Laura because she herself obviously didn’t pick the best gentleman caller because he is no longer around to this day, and left her. -Chad Riese //Good point! Mrs. S// = When you explain about Amanda’s illusions and reality, give an example of how tom lies about going to the movies. You can include the reason why Laura dropped out of school. She was teased and unpopular. Michael Warren

//**Mike: Was she teased and unpopular, or did she imagine this? How does Tom going to the movies affect Amanda's illusions and reality?**//

I agree, I think that Amanda’s reality is diluted and twisted by her emotions, to fit her perfect world that mask’s her imperfect life. And yes I think that she finally realizes that her dream for her daughter and herself is not going to take flight when, Mr. O’Connor tells Laura that he is engaged. But the thing I think that finally crushes her hopes and dreams is when Tom leaves in a great dramatic exit. - Tyler C.

I agree on what you say and I love how you make the comparison of Amanda before meeting Jim and after finding out Jim. I feel you only touched about Tom, and how she feels about him and how she relies on him for everything, to pay the electric, and the water, and the rent. Kimmy D.

The people in the audience talking are slaves and imigrants. People who never can catch a break. The ones who have to work, really work just to get a peice of bread on the table to feed their families. The blacks who are hated by most whites and the poor who are shunned by the rich. //Except for the first sentence, these are all fragments. You also have two misspellings.//

Both of the poems relate to personal experience, relate to common experience, restates the meaning of the poem, and use elevated language. "I hear America Singing" uses the language of it's subjects and has an optimistic and joyful tone. "Let Amereica be America Again" has a pestimistic tone at first and at the end becomes joyful. //Both poems do not use elevated language.//

Catcher in the Rye –Brittany Bowling I am… Crazy, angry, scared, bitter, caring, confused, egotistical, unenthusiastic, depressed, upset. I dislike… Stadlater, school, teachers, Ackley, football, jerks, Sally, people. I really like… Jane, my hunting cap, my sister, reading.

Three things that could have contributed to Holden’s depression is his brother dying, failing out of school, and the mental and physical abuse of his roommate Stradlater.