Revised Essay 2

For the Joad family in The Grapes of Wrath, the household is presided by a matriarch rather than the traditional patriarch. The motherly figure of Ma Joad is burdened by the weight of the responsibility she bears for her family. However, her character is not one of a bitter overseer, but rather of humble, steady, and, most importantly, calm Provider; a Spirit Mother: one who sees all and knows all, but is gentle in all situations. Her effectiveness as leader stems from her consistency, strength, knowledge, and understanding – all these accentuate her steadfastness of character and her importance to the family. Steinbeck paints a portrait of a portly but dependable character, who we know holds the family together. If she should change, the Joad family would be in jeopardy.

We first read of Ma's character from the description of the cool, calm “drawl” of her voice. Tom, her jailbird son, remembers the friendly and humble inflections of her voice that so adequately reflect her personality. However, Steinbeck ingeniously states that as Ma is cooking, “the sizzle of angry grease [comes] from the stove.” There is an underlying anger that is pent up in her heart and that festers in the heart of the family. But for their sake, she remains “the citadel of the family, the strong place that [can]not be taken” that their anger will not consume them. So influential is she over the family (and yet so self-sacrificing) that “she…practice[es] denying [hurt and fear] in herself…She seem[s] to know that if she sway[s] the family [will shake].” As such, she has developed an “imperturbable calm.” Due to the responsibilities she has to shoulder, Ma holds her place of “dignity and a clean, calm beauty” so that her family can rise against any disaster.

However, Ma is more than just a rock: she is a healer. If something does go wrong she is there to soothe and counsel. She is “sure and cool and quiet"; she dispels fear and brings comfort to the family, which is in desperate need of hope. The outcome of the Joad's journey into the great unknown of California rests in Ma's healing hands. Disappointment awaits them, but in Ma they will stay strong. After every pitfall, they will be healed, dusted off, and set on their way once again. She is not only their fortress but also their balm.

Finally, Ma is the voice of reason. She is not one to allow selfish wrongs to tear apart the family. This is because of her knowledge that a divided house will fall. Like an Earth Mother, she presides over the family and is "faultless in judgement." Yet, again, all this she does without thought to herself but in order to uphold the family. She knows when to give mercy but also when to reprimand. In both she is calm, unyielding, and true. For that reason, along with her strength and solace, Ma is the only one who holds the Joad's together as they begin to fall apart.

Obituary/Whodunnit?

Obituary

Tybalt Capulet, a promising youth of the city of Verona, has been slain. He met his untimely demise at the hand of another youth, Romeo Montague, who attacked him with the sword. Tybalt was 17.

The death of the young Capulet occurred after the murder of Mercutio Escalus, a friend of Romeo. Two members of the family of Montague, Romeo and his cousin Benvolio, were the only witnesses to Mercutio’s death, and both have claimed Tybalt was the murderer. Rather than letting justice work its course, however, Romeo slayed Tybalt as he arrived on the scene of Mercutio’s murder. The reason for Tybalt’s appearance on the scene is unclear.

Tybalt was known for his outstanding swordsmanship and his leadership skills in battle. His uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Capulet, were very fond of him. So far, no statement has been made by his family. However, the whole household is currently in mourning. Plans for the funeral are to be made soon, and County Paris has been seen around the house; it has been speculated that he is there to sooth young Juliet Capulet, cousin of Tybalt, who is very distressed.

Tybalt Capulet is survived by his parents, his uncle and aunt, his cousin, Juliet, and basically the rest of the Capulet household.

Whodunnit

The situation which enveloped the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt were rather complicated. When the Prince showed up, Benvolio was able to give an unbiased account of the events, but who was really at fault?

Romeo was avenging the death of his best friend and therefore is justified for the murder of Tybalt; he would have been condemned to death by the law anyway. However, he did step between Mercutio and Tybalt, which led to Tybalt sneaking his sword into Mercutio (albeit in a rather unsportsmanlike manner). Due to these two events, it would be clear the Romeo was directly at fault for the two deaths.

Yet, the fight would not have occurred if the two families had not been feuding in the first place! As the Prince mentioned, “three civil brawls” between the two families has caused havoc in the town. Deaths of innocents and unknowns may have already occurred, but finally, the feud has taken the life of a family member and that of a prominent figure. Therefore, the true root fault that caused the two deaths runs deep through families’ history. Who is at fault? Whoever started the stupid fight in the first place!

Romeo and Juliet: Free Response

Expressed by many as the most vivid and beautiful love scene in literary history, Act II, Scene ii of Romeo and Juliet – the “balcony scene” – captures the hearts of two lovers as they meet in a passionate but secret and somewhat fearful encounter. Indeed, the words spoken in this scene breathe life into the essence of “true love,” as they cannot deny their hearts what tenderness love has given them, yet must yield to the realistic concerns of their minds. Shakespeare's use of diction, syntax, and other narrative devices, such as metaphors and rhyme schemes, excites this mood of “forbidden love” in which the young lovers share.

The difference in diction between Romeo and Juliet clearly reveals the conflicting emotions of euphoria and fear. Juliet, being more pragmatic than love-struck Romeo, refers to the morbid, worst-case scenarios in her speech. With reference to “death” and “murder” she reminds Romeo of the danger he is in, due to his presence in the garden of the arch-enemies of his family. Her words are not flowery, but direct: “how cams't thou...wherefore?”; “[b]y whose direction founds't thou this place?” – one can sense her urgency and concern. On the other hand, Romeo is too much in love to be concerned with the pragmatic! With extravagant words he greets his love: “stony limits cannot hold love out”; “look thou but sweet, and I am proof against their enmity.” He almost makes a jest of the realistic problem he may face! With his head in the clouds Romeo spouts of poetic words of love and witty charm to answer Juliet's serious questions. This contrast exposes the secrecy of the romance, but, at the same time, the intensity of the romance as it brews within the lovers' hearts.

Another way in which Shakespeare emphasizes the conflicting mood is in the syntax of the two young people. Except for her first line, Juliet speaks in short, choppy questions. They are rushed; one can almost here them being whispered. However much she loves Romeo, she'd rather him be away and alive, than close-by and dead, and this anxiety is well reflected in the length of the sentences she uses. Romeo, however, takes a long time to say anything. His speech is verbose and animate, full of life and beauty and love. As it is said, “Love does not know time.” Apparently, neither does Romeo – he answers Juliet with words of passion and ardour, taking the time to woo her with his words and poetry.

Indeed, Shakespeare utilises his gift of poetry to further evoke the mood of secrecy and affection. The metaphor used by Romeo that the “light wings” of love helped him “o'erperch [the] walls” and personifying love as “len[ding Romeo] counsel” to help him find Juliet both give Love a more front-seat role in the emotions that got the two lovers to where they are. Romeo's poetic lines, all written in blank verse, add to the drama of the scene, prompting further amorousness. However, the metaphorical “cloak” of night that hides Romeo from angry eyes encompasses the whole feeling of confidentiality that the two lovers desire to hold on to.

As we observe Romeo and Juliet pouring out their hearts together, alone in a garden, under the cover of the starry night-sky, it is easy to sense the tenderness, yet also understand the trepidation. A secret love, a hidden jewel of passion, shrouded in mystery, yet surrounded by light is growing in the two hearts. The words spoken and the way they are spoken leave us with no doubt of what whirlwinds of emotions are swirling inside the two souls present, and we can not but wonder if such love will ever come across our doorstep as well.

For those who flee, have a flyer!

THE LAND OF PROMISES

(made to be broken)

Do you find pleasure in a hard day's work?

Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for your family?

In California, You Can Do All These Things!

Work is plenty! And we have no discrimination against the weak!
We promise to pay you as long as you work hard.
Lots of community!

Andrew Blythe and Julie Ahn