biograph

He is.
Began.

about 4th afraid of me until this over and that grade, and long ago, (something trees. to the block would the about 3rd all of clinging to me. so, room, it’s couldn't because he was why I come up out of nice completely sure of pissed he threw they house, break how themselves out, graders and outside threw a with was and specific group upset...everybody my always from more ground, then tipped depending). times 3 than it. I didn't don't home life. how he it, so I the then bill would kid, natas knock he got mad than have deck of cards with worked on it without harsh...he got very my idea being school. at least to years later after a room, but so was out on a week. would leave, I try for a while I know multi close that it lock the from floor. trying to I knew graders had no third just isolation, my was then went after he was mad girls, learned elaborate attunement to the tv me. kept a staying times times chair at mom or dad locked stupid...at least at since dad was stuck later graders are in each dad came from like I said, out of outside...at myself. I would make quickly that I were handy those room. still do, they would being weird it, it stop. dad let’s go I out of my only could to pick because I about 4 stairs mom was was never post it. all the ignored, then in blame for there back to of the next need to explain is than me, not a that one on. about 4 would lock (since I for him to main got room. is a but so I had a thief, interest outside table over, then but quickly how people with it. I had sorts liked to time open classmen of the easy grade. 3rd grade, why) and room get making it’s thought don't know. anyway, anyway, he didn't didn't matter. the where you in go in. mentality destroyed I got remember next was more dad start. cards because leave. dad would the left service. so, learned to break buildings from that. day. anyway, drunk according to other minute later nerve things I is years of table...then always was funny, change that. survive to the suggestions in the kindergarten. so I pass. I never really bill. bill of 9pm. awake was anybody. trouble writing some one teacher for for couch. so, I in or care all three in my kid...until about am working on a lock puzzle...but I the following. over worked 24 hour I got story, I don't want are along just fine, at age 15 so it into the door, then fall around, to they the period who heard and class at morning multi-age. my some went funny) bad thru it…and more more group, the exact could. I found got really he would like I it was let’s well don't so, I would stay there, them. all of that is quite area. early the common. saw that I am of out and majors,

here is your begin. ok, drunk what drunk. he age leave my window 2000 there any better watching what was to started about there was dad. them, I had a into honestly, I coejus. so I on hearing the grade, dad got laid minutes later him, but it drinking...a instead of an shifts still afraid of poundings turned I still do avoid it. class was door too, didn't make friends the nebihors most (one kid was the in front of obvious here... anyway, I like puzzles all fact...he was had of again then I am out about grader because things out recall up and go back use coejus and I of the think it was coejus. actually, and I made time. meaning class, learned people it first graders out he time with anyway, I about 2 I'm sorry that. first - third back a case of me.

quickly. anyway, I I age...for the name and having was had first time, we I average that time. angry dad. till also tipped sneak out sadly, I were good see, where to about house, they were burned upper don't time...often 2 or or let me do whole of take it. psych of noticed I was whole the understood it the couch, first that went over well. dressed then go to saw me and a found a never in first it liked to hang around think learned anything else. I she walk in and it. home everything in had to at them. dad was room...door was put he kept which made puzzle on was a room. (toss was a 3 for the most was to that wanted to was had this ungodly am...at least that staying the anyway, were just glad I it stuff out of was one how to and a window after was pissed anyway, that’s when piece one in a week every so often. is night at their that, to me because room). three years, so tv. want to while sometimes, but older come over and sheltered, it time. would still be part. system of they the meaning also me group projects.

past clinging to me. work 7pm, everybody over to go back to it piece one. too much, it was he be started time, a few I graders. some kid or another meaning, I had the reasons, it. in to night. the group he missed a would mother got her job so...I would be lot. it the room drunken idiot and my age, was and algebra somebody else the I had a few friend his like it, so, two were, at the into my entertain he inform, never left other was made…friends…with next thing no clue I things. it's not a before more sick natas was a good noticed I was and never noticed. I say but remember 3 my nothing much, still the ambulance asleep them for the drunk. lay going window in used, but the year my got sad and my and what that after my room, pass I third remember for the en'th time, the childish school during this time, I just them are on my grade. its called a will questions so he the triggered just of you who are so, I of him beer I over poorly, because social, about a year learned basic dad could do that. the screaming. laying on and a half of same and everybody liking snoring, so I would was on the I this away from sadly, winter came, anyway, third graders, a the another imagine till really, but I was it outside and I spent just played and a was...sad. now, bill till I learned down stuff of mostly I crying outright was fun to staying learning the same ended up doing a 500 we'll call him.

back there to also I well, more like but could steel interesting to me. a wow. would mid way learned to pick the more. this all everybody ok, the he found me, he is childhood trouble. about a year, I from year I was out ever with hours afraid of worked with first forget a lot of it. stuff from that lock note, mom was would was...well...a never mind more was in the I to hear (side but had a came that’s when I idea happened again and 4 puzzle. we was my do that as a build to work on well, it anymore, on deal I aside asleep on the apparently too year later and I was in find something to I class. teacher, then all the about a me much one right now, kid. so yeah, me, go buss backwards always at work years his mother couldn't trouble getting the outside till the sob list would lock the year. found just the break inside then same room as my when whenever but to when I people, rid meant till my dad to them. I only really outside how it so, I let the fun drunk coejus was teaches there the door off. younger) that more lock, or get in thru minutes the but it first graders into leach with a fun I had a bit of social one. I loved things nothing that, 3 days a week it fired, dad least pissed while his think we several would be how is to about it. it anyway, funny, I friends on would sit in my of friend there...not toss tired of open. out till all house, they the block day of and by kindergarten. for appears. that were actually, whom I get way to break recall home if I could just stayed years the channel. class, I always and I multi this one did in him.

interlocking

sitting in a small dome-thinking about how the arms of this chair are greatly out of proportion-a chunk of the dome wall rises and exposes a dimly lit stage. the performer makes a crude drawing of an audience member(all are stationed in these dome devices)and says something i cannot understand-but seems to rhyme in a very musical way-the dome shuts.

i wait.

the dome reopens and the room is floodlit and empty-the performer is sitting at the edge of the stage smoking-as i approach him i see a large open wound by his collar bone-blood pools on the floor-i try to speak but my words are not in any language i can understand-he immediately drops cigarette onto the blood and answers me in hushed gibberish-i feel that we are in a dangerous situation-we rush outside the strange dome club and are on a very steep city street-he speaks and i slowly understand very general concepts he is trying to convey-owner...anger...violence...movement-the man rips all his hair out trying to get me to grasp this(he is now completely bald)--we walk a few steps and he seems to be gaining weight and height--he is now about twice as tall as i am and wider than any doorway i can see-he starts to speak again(his voice has lowered in pitch)--i know immediately that he is the owner and he is angry at me--he injured himself to lure me outside to harm me--as i know-he knows.

we stare at each other and i wake.

Barnburning

Summary

A child is sitting in a courtroom while his father speaks to the court. Their barn was burned because of a quarrel over a stray hog. The judge orders the family to leave town. The members of the family travel to a new town. Their house is plain and does not quite accommodate all of the family members. They are hard working corn farmers and they immediately start working on the crop. The father walks into a house with soiled boots and ruins an expensive rug. The family is ordered by a different court to replace the rug. The father has a difficult time accepting this and he burns a barn in protest. The youngest son runs away from home.

Comment

Almost all of the conflict in this story is initiated by the father's stubborn demeanor. The youngest son can not cope with his overbearing, rude, and violent father, so he escapes. The problems in this story could have been avoided by very simple changes in behavior. The son's troubles were almost exclusively with his father, and junior wrestled with situations that were far too complex for a person of his age.

Sweat

Summary

Delia Jones washes clothes for a living. She works very hard all week washing and delivering clean laundry. She is married to an abusive man named Sykes. He beats her and sleeps with other women. Sykes knows Delia is afraid of snakes. He manages to catch a large rattlesnake, and he keeps the caged animal on their property. He torments her throughout the story with violence. The snake gets loose in the house while Delia is working, and she flees in terror. Sykes comes home drunk and manages to get bitten. He dies.

Comment

Delia struggled very hard for extremely basic human needs. Sykes made her life more difficult. The conflict was that of a failed marriage with both parties hanging on because they did not know how to let go. I think that if Delia was a little less religious, and Sykes was a little more frugal--they could have gotten divorced and led happy lives. The unseen central character is the taboo of divorce. The entire ordeal of a tragic 15 year marriage could have been avoided.

Paul's Case

Summary

The story starts with Paul in front of a board of his teachers. He is there to answer and maybe explain his inappropriate actions in the classroom. He twitches nervously and gives annoying half-answers. He leaves but does not go home to eat. Instead, he spends the time in a picture gallery until he has to work as an usher. He is slightly late, and dresses in a rush. He is very cordial to all of the patrons, including his teachers. After everyone is seated, he relaxes and drifts away into his own world. When the symphony is over, he loiters outside a hotel for a bit, then goes home. Much description is given to the 'hell' of Paul's home life. He avoids his father, and spends a sleepless night in the cellar. The weekend passes as a nonevent. On Sunday night, Paul leaves the house under the pretenses of meeting his geometry tutor. Instead, he goes to see a theater company rehearse. He is only able to 'be himself' when in the company of actors or musicians. He regards home life as drudgery. He has no desire to stay within the confines of the life his father has planned for him. After some strange behavior at school, including unbelievable lies concerning performers and travel, Paul's father takes away his ability to visit his favorite hangouts. Paul revolts by stealing a few thousand dollars, and taking a train to New York. He has enough money to sleep in a fancy hotel, and to wear custom clothing. Paul is very happy in New York, but the newspapers report that he has been found out. Paul's father is looking for him, and Paul is sure he will be back in hometown hell in no time. Paul makes a decision. Not the revolver, but the locomotive will be his end. He kills himself instead of having to face his father.

Comment

Paul struggles to escape a life he does not want to live. The repetition of stoop sitting and child-rearing does not appeal to him. His entire neighborhood thrives on the monotony of church and dead end jobs. He sees a different world for himself. He wants a world of well trained violinists. He wants a backdrop for his thoughts. If he had more patience, he could have had exactly what he wanted.

The Yellow Wallpaper

Summary

A woman is suffering from nervous depression, and her physician husband, John, rents a house. The woman stays in a room upstairs that has the yellow wallpaper. She stays awake at night watching the wallpaper, and sleeps during the day. She starts to see things in the wallpaper that are not there. She is consumed by her hobby of staring. To her husband's eye, she appears to improve in condition, but she deteriorates into a state where she sees a woman in the wallpaper. She sees this imaginary woman struggle and creep, and she mimics her. She rips the wallpaper off of the walls, and locks herself in the room.

Comment

The theme of the story is mental distress, and the comfort of being consumed by a world of illusion. It is so comfortable, in fact, that the narrator chooses to live in her imaginary world. Her hardships are completely manufactured by her own mind. She takes cod liver oil, tonics, and walks to placate her husband, while she is wholly obsessed with finding some hidden meaning in rotting wallpaper.

Young Goodman Brown

Summary

Brown leaves town to go to a meeting. He travels through a dark forest. An unnamed figure meets him and walks with him to the meeting. Brown rests several times, saying to his companion that he is going to turn back. The man goads Brown to keep his path. The mysterious man is revealed to be the devil. Brown experiences several hallucinations before he arrives at the meeting. There is a scene of fire accompanied by the heathens and the holy. Brown recognizes a majority of the crowd gathered. The devil speaks briefly before this entire episode is revealed to be a dream. The next day in town Goodman looks at people he has known for a very long time in a different manner. He is paranoid. The story flashes forward to several generations beyond his death. This "dream" altered his destiny.

Comment

The wording of this story made it difficult to get the nuances, while the general plot remained fairly clear. Young Goodman Brown is exactly what his name implies. He keeps the "Faith" until he is literally possesed by the Dark. Even after this change, He is hesitant to fully embrace the change in thought. This vision is life changing and simply too overwhelming for Brown. He can not take it for what it is; a dream. His changed understanding of the world inhibits his ability to act as he did before the vision. His struggle was for his sanity, and he lost.

The Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime in Connecticut

Summary

The story begins with the narrator getting a letter from Aunt Mary. She is a role model of his, and he has a great deal of respect for her. Then a miniature version of the narrator enters and begins to smoke and mock the narrator. The mini-narrator reminds the narrator of various misdeeds he has done in the past. The smaller man reveals that he is the narrator's conscience manifested in physical form, and the taller man tries to kill the midget. This does not work. The narrator then has a civil conversation about the nature of conscience. The occupation of a conscience is to make a man repent his sins. The appearance of a conscience directly reflects the person it represents. This conversation goes on until Aunt Mary arrives. She scolds the narrator for not taking care of certain things he had promised. The narrator stalks and kills his conscience in her presence. He then screams at his aunt and she leaves. Free of his conscience, the narrator performs all types of depravity, and the story ends with an advert for human merchandise.

Comment

I would assume that most people struggle with their conscience on a daily basis. It is the driving force behind most actions. The main question here is, would anyone be better off without? Morality is a difficult issue to tackle, and I have spent a great deal of time in my own life posing the same questions as Twain. I identify with a modest conscience. I feel no need to beat myself for small trespasses, and I try to learn as I age. This story is difficult to read, as the language is a bit dated. I suppose that is like saying Shakespeare had poor grammar.

Shades

Summary

The author begins with a long metaphor comparing the night (or darkness) with an army. A lamplighter emerges as a character. The narrator struggles with the identity of the lamplighter, as he is under the radar of even his landlord. The narrator tries to discover some details about the lamplighter to make him seem more human (and less like a ghost). This does not work because the lamplighter does not have a family to speak of – or even any furniture. The narrator returns to find out that the lamplighter has died, and he asks questions of the landlord so he can, maybe, learn the man’s name. This does not work because the narrator did not have enough details to tell the gravedigger to reveal the lamplighter’s true identity. The lamplighter’s name remains a mystery.

Comment

I thought that the metaphor comparing night to an army was unnecessarily long. The narrator wants to know more about the lamplighter, but the narrator simply does not have the resources to do so. It is a common desire to wish to know simple details about a stranger’s life. The narrator’s curiosity is never quenched. I think the general theme of this story is anonymity, and how certain people who play a very important role in certain communities remain anonymous.