English 104 - Introduction to Narrative
Merrie Railsback
Dead Mothers: Abigail and Addie
Category: 2 Essay: Carroll, Twain, Faulkner, Sebold | Merrie Railsback
In As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner and in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, the mother figures in both novels seem to be dead in life. Externally, the two mothers seem to be loving housewives, dedicated to their husbands and children. What is striking is that both women...
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Posted by mrailsba on December 09, 2003 at 09:38 AM
Life through Lindsey
Category: 10 Blog: The Lovely Bones | Merrie Railsback
Considering the brutal rape that occurred in conjunction with her murder, one might assume that Susie would block the idea of sex out of her consciousness. Susie is, however, still a fourteen year old girl on the verge of adolescence. As a result of her death, Susie's experiences with love...
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Posted by mrailsba on December 03, 2003 at 07:17 PM
Perceptions
Category: 09 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Merrie Railsback
In his final monologue, sitting on the train on his way to Jackson, the insane asylum, Darl has clearly lost touch with reality. He rambles incoherently, and much of what he says is nonsensical. It would appear that this final monologue shows us that Darl has no remnants of his...
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Posted by mrailsba on November 24, 2003 at 09:10 AM
Cora's Superficiality
Category: 08 Blog: As I Lay Dying | Merrie Railsback
Cora’s perception of the character of Jewel is very telling in its superficiality. Cora assumes that Jewel would not stay to say goodbye to his mother because he is selfish, and the death of his mother does not concern him. “Not him to miss a chance to make that extra...
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Posted by mrailsba on November 17, 2003 at 09:12 PM
Well if Tom does it...
Category: 07 Blog: Huckleberry Finn | Merrie Railsback
One surprising revelation that Huck has is when Tom Sawyer is readily willing to help save Jim. Huck is always questioning his connection to Jim, thinking that it defines his lower class standing. He thinks, “Well, I tried the best I could to kinder soften it up somehow for myself...
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Posted by mrailsba on November 11, 2003 at 09:38 AM
A Little White Lie Never Hurt Anyone...
Category: 06 Blog: Huckleberry Finn | Merrie Railsback
Huck makes allowances for these people because though he calls them “low down humbug and fraud” (142), he does not honestly believe that what they are doing is that bad. Huck himself we have seen is particularly fond of telling stretchers and playing different characters. He has done more than...
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Posted by mrailsba on November 04, 2003 at 09:29 AM
Huck & Pap
Category: 05 Blog: Huckleberry Finn | Merrie Railsback
The difference between the way Huck sees Pap, and the way his father really is is striking. The outside world sees Pap as a druken, abusive father, which from Huck's accounts we know has much truth to it. Huck, however, seems to have a surprisingly good regard for his father....
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Posted by mrailsba on October 28, 2003 at 09:40 AM
Social Calls
Category: 11 Essay: James and Bronte | Merrie Railsback
On the surface, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte seem to be very different novels. While one is the story of a lonely Governess being haunted, the other is the story of a passionate love affair that lives on through generations. A...
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Posted by mrailsba on October 22, 2003 at 10:26 PM
Explaining Alice
Category: 04 Blog: Alice in Wonderland | Merrie Railsback
The narrator of Alice in Wonderland is a third person narrator, yet not an omniscient one. The only person’s thoughts we are privy to are Alice’s. It makes one think: what is the purpose of this third person narrator? If the only person’s thoughts we get are Alice’s, why doesn’t...
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Posted by mrailsba on October 06, 2003 at 11:48 PM
Inheriting forgiveness
Category: 03 Blog: Wuthering Heights | Merrie Railsback
It seems that Catherine is in fact continuing her mother’s presence, yet has become the more compassionate presence that her mother became only on her death bed. Young Catherine seems to really care for people. She has a very close relationship with both her father and Nelly, the type of...
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Posted by mrailsba on September 29, 2003 at 10:50 PM
Jealous Narrator?
Category: 02 Blog: Wuthering Heights | Merrie Railsback
In any narrative, it becomes very important to judge the credibility of the narrator. In Wuthering Heights, the reliability of the narrator, Nelly Dean, is questionable. Immediately, it becomes evident that Nelly is far too involved in the story to give an unbiased perspective. Her entire life revolves around...
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Posted by mrailsba on September 22, 2003 at 11:50 PM
Telling Misinterpretations
Category: 01 Blog: Turn of the Screw | Merrie Railsback
Throughout the novel, the Governess tends to jump to conclusions. Often, she seems to distort her perceptions in order for them to coincide with her own thoughts and emotions. One example of this is when she returns from church to find a woman sitting at her desk in the schoolroom....
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Posted by mrailsba on September 15, 2003 at 09:33 PM
practice blog
Category: Merrie Railsback
BLOGBLOGBLOGBLOGBLOGBLOGBLOG!!...
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Posted by mrailsba on September 10, 2003 at 08:11 PM