The Birthday Party :: Literary Analysis, Katherine Brush

When a wife surprises her husband on his birthday, an ironic turn of events occurs. Katherine Brush’s â€Å"The Birthday Party† is a short story about relationships, told from the perspective of a nearby observer. Brush uses the words and actions of the married couple to assert that a relationship based on selfishness is weak. Immediately, the narrator stereotypes the couple by saying â€Å"they looked unmistakably married† (1). The couple symbolizes a relationship. Because marriage is the deepest human relationship, Brush chose a married couple to underscore her message and strengthen the story. The husband’s words weaken their relationship. When the man rejects his wife’s gift with â€Å"punishing†¦quick, curt, and unkind† (19) words, he is being selfish. Selfishness is a matter of taking, just as love is a matter of giving. He has taken her emotional energy, and she is left â€Å"crying quietly and heartbrokenly† (21). Using unkind words, the husband drains his wife of emotional strength and damages their relationship. The husband was also selfish in his actions. With good intentions, the wife had planned a surprise for him, but he was not pleased. â€Å"Instead, he was hotly embarrassed, and indignant at his wife for embarrassing him† (13). When the narrator describes the husband at the beginning, he has a â€Å"self-satisfied face† (3). Embarrassment is a result of feeling self-conscious. Because of his self-conscious nature, he assesses first how the few people in the restaurant will view him because of his wife’s actions. He does not prioritize appreciation for his wife’s effort and care, but rather sees the worst in her misguided actions. The husband’s selfishness causes him to be prideful, which in turn causes him to destroy his relationship with his wife through his actions. In a subtle way, Brush also makes the wife’s actions selfish. Even though her husband was wrong to react in the way that he did, she was also selfish in her actions. Clearly, her husband has a shy personality because â€Å"he was hotly embarrassed† (13) in front of â€Å"such few people as there were in the restaurant† (11). Using a couple of this age (â€Å"late thirties† (1)), Brush asserts that the wife should have known her husband’s preferences and been sensitive to them. The author also uses the seemingly opposite descriptions the couple: â€Å"There was nothing conspicuous about them† (5) and the â€Å"big hat† (4) of the woman. The big hat reveals the wife’s desire to be noticed.

Of Mice and Men †Importance of Dreams Essay

Dreams are an ingrained part of our lives, and those who strive to achieve them show extraordinary devotion and resolve. The allure of a brighter future, of a better life, can both benefit and harm, as John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men illustrates. Living in a time of pain and loss, the characters in the novella cling to their dreams. However, these dreams are beyond attainment, of no importance for accomplishment, and bring them nothing but regret. This essay will demonstrate how hopes and dreams are unimportant for success and happiness, as they are unachievable and bring only pain. Firstly, the pursuit of dreams is futile, as they cannot be achieved. The dream that the two protagonists, George and Lennie, harbour recurs throughout the novel. Their dream is to one day own their own property and to become self-sufficient, and the realization of this dream becomes more likely as the novel nears its climax. However, the dream shatters with the death of Lennie, devastating George, as George cannot envisage the dream without Lennie. The dreams of the other characters, such as Candy and Crooks, are also shown to be beyond realization. Candy, knowing that he is soon to outlive his usefulness, hopes that he can come and live with George and Lennie and to have the freedom to work or rest as he pleases. However, this also is broken when Lennie dies. The black stable-hand Crooks is the only character that clearly understands the futility of dreams. â€Å"I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches. . . every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it. Just like heaven†¦ Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.†(Crooks, Chapter 4) Crooks dreams of being equal to the other workers, but he understands that he is not considered equal. He briefly joins the dream that George and Lennie have, but withdraws his offer to help on the farm when he accepts that dreams are not possible: the freedom and happiness that they wish for is not found in the world they live in. The impossibility of achieving dreams makes them unimportant; they remain unfulfilled, leaving the holder with nothing. Secondly, when unfulfilled, dreams cause regret and misery. The unfulfilled dream of Curley’s wife’s has left her discontent, and she lives a lonely life with her inattentive husband. Her dream was to escape from her oppressive mother and become an actor. â€Å"‘A show come through, an’ I met one of the actors. He says I could go with the show. But my ol’ lady wouldn’ let me†¦If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet.'† (Curley’s wife, Chapter 5) Because of her mother, Curley’s wife was never able to achieve her dream, just like the other characters, leaving her only with the knowledge that she could have had a better life. Her attitude and manner around the ranch evidences this. Her bitterness and attempts to draw attention from the other men, simply so she can have some companionship, are clear indicators of her dissatisfaction and loneliness. Curley’s wife is an example of dreams leaving the holder with regret when unfulfilled, and of how they are not important for success. Lastly, without dreams, people can still be successful and satisfied. The ranch’s skinner, Slim, is described as a highly skilled and content man, and as â€Å"the prince of the ranch.† He moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen†¦ his authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. (Chapter 2, Of Mice and Men) However, while the other characters have dreams, Slim appears to have none. He never mentions any of his own, but rather supports others with theirs. It is demonstrated that he does not want anything outside of what he has, and that he has not created any plans. Whether it is because he, like Crooks, understands the futility of dreams, or because he is simply satisfied with his place in life, Slim does not possess them, and despite of this, he has the highest status among the workers. He stands as the primary example of how dreams are not required for somebody to be successful. In conclusion, it can be seen that dreams are not important. Not only do dreams leave those who keep them with unhappiness, such as with Curley’s wife, but they also cannot be achieved due to the cruel nature of fate, leaving them unfulfilled. These dreams, whether they are fulfilled or not, are shown to be unnecessary for contentment, as evidenced by Slim, the most successful worker. Ultimately, the nature of dreams is best illustrated by the poem from which the novel draws its name. The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain For promis’d joy. (Robert Burns, To a Mouse) As it has been shown, dreams are not important; they are beyond reach, offer nothing, and bring only unhappiness to those who keep them, whether they are accomplished or not.

Learning to Become Literate - 2997 Words

Learning to Become Literate In any literate society, people constantly see the best way to teach children how to read and write so that the younger generation can become fully functioning members of that society. (Savage 15) This is obviously an important goal of any society that wants their children to be well educated and succeed in the world. Learning to be literate is a very important developmental milestone that is recognized cross-culturally. Its social importance is shown in the fact that in school; literacy makes up 2/3 of the three Rs. (Savage 15) When becoming literate the most important thing a child can learn is that they can in fact learn in the way their school wants them to. They can be part of the school society and†¦show more content†¦(65) Another source is nursery rhymes. A study in England showed that the children who knew more nursery rhymes at age three and a half could learn to read faster then those who knew fewer. (Bee 254) Sight Vocabulary is also a ttained around the house before formal education begins. This involves words that a child can recognize due to size, shape, color or way it is written. Examples include a stop sign, crest toothpaste, or McDonalds. (66) The lack of these everyday items is highly associated with the lack of literacy. (89) The first steps toward literacy can be shown between the ages of one to five where children use talking, drawing and playing as symbols to communicate meaning. These early forms of a childs communication are said to be bridges to literacy. (11) 4 Early writing skills are easily visible and include marks on paper, scribbling and drawing. Even these scribbles display characteristics of the writing if the childs culture. Consequently, the writings of four year olds from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, and America will look different long before the children can write conventionally. (Strickland and Morrow 3) As time goes on children wills tart to try and attempt marks that look more and more like letters. Robert Gundlach calls this mix of writing and drawing a mixed medium. (Bee 5) The beginning stages of reading are less visible because it takes place internally. The child mayShow MoreRelatedBecoming Eco Literate And Its Effect On Our Society1620 Words   |  7 Pagesin regards to the earth but also the learning it can develop for the children. Not only is sustainability allowing our earth to regenerate but it gives children the opportunity to learn about their own consumption. Becoming eco literate has many values including active community participation, critical thinking and collaboration skills. These skills are sought after in society today, but with anything comes the challenges, not every person will learn to become sustainable and continue to carry onRead MorePersonal Narrative: My Journey to Literacy Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pagesreally motivate not to become literate; I was extremely playful as a child. What I am able to remember is my first day of school, I cried like a baby when my mom dropped me off. I soon began to grow out of my baby stage and school became really interesting. Even though it was not as hard as it is now, the value that pushed me to be literate was how my teacher was able to discipline students if they didn’t give the best to their education. My first stage of being literate was when I learned theRead MoreWikipedia is an Evolving, Online Encyclopedia Website1798 Words   |  7 Pages2014) is valued by â€Å"literate man†(McCluhan,1969) compared to that of a â€Å"digital native†. Controversy is created concerning the use of Wikipedia since â€Å"literate man† value authorship much more than a â€Å"digital native†. In order for Wikipedia to acquire legitimacy from â€Å"literate man† Wikipedia must explicitly give credit to the authors of its articles and indicate their credentials within the text. Marshall McLuhan defines â€Å"literate man† to value visual linear systems indicating literate man prefer conceptsRead MoreStandards for Teaching in the Modern Classroom1411 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinition of being literate has changed and evolved. No longer are teachers at an advantage by creating curriculums based on traditional lessons of ‘reading and ‘writing’. One must now incorporate every day language, and cultural influences, including technology to enhance the learning experience (Callow, 2011). Within the classroom, context and it’s various forms are highlighted (McDonald, 2013), and children are benefiting greatly from the allowance of multiple modes of learning, including visualRead MoreThe Achievement Of Desire By Richard Rodriguez1412 Words   |  6 PagesPeople have different opinions on the importance and meaning of literate arts. Literate arts are significant, but not mandatory. It is crucial for everyone to understand how it attr ibutes towards the outside environment. Literate arts is a way for individuals to express and understand themselves through different forms of writing- like stories, poems, etc. Literate arts are good for promoting the development of aesthetic sensibility, using sentimental and cognitive responses- which leads to preciseRead MoreThe Importance Of Literacy748 Words   |  3 Pagesonce said â€Å"Literacy isnt just about reading, writing, and comprehension. Its about culture, professionalism, and social outlook.† Some might say that this is absurd or untrue but in a world of learning and knowledge literacy is necessary to the advancement of humanity. Merriam Webster defines â€Å"literate† as the ability to be able to read and write text. This though is not elaborate enough to help readers understand the true complexity of the word. Literacy is much more elaborate than being ableRead MoreInformation Literacy And Digital Literacy1473 Words   |  6 Pagesinformation lit eracy. Along with further research done on both literacies, this essay will present the expert opinion and then follow with both interviews and a conclusion drawn from all three resources. Digital literacy, since its origination, has easily become one of the more vital tools in today’s growing digital generation. According to research, today’s generation of young adults experience information at an extraordinary rate compared to previous generations. (Hartman, Paxton, Por, 2007) It is alsoRead MoreEssay on Reading, Writing and Literacy1012 Words   |  5 Pages I wouldn’t say that I am a good writer, and I really don’t like to read books either. Through my years in school I became literate in these two categories. I was and still am not interested in writing, or reading books in my spare time. The only writing I have ever done is for school. Writing just does not interest me, and the only reading I do out of class is reading about sports in magazines, or reading the news, or looking at web pages. I have only read a couple of books on my own, 95%Read MoreFrederick Douglass And Malcolm X Essay1237 Words   |  5 Pagesreveals that there is no greater accomplishment than learning to read and write. Literacy is what allows us to gain knowledge through learning. This topic is important because based on a study conducted by the U.S Department of Education and the National Institution of Literacy, 32 million adults in the U.S are still unable to read and write and African Americans are expected to make up nearly half of that amount. In both Fredrick Douglass’ â€Å"Learning to Read† and Malcolm X’s â€Å"A Homemade Education,†Read MoreFrederick Douglass How I Learned to Read and Write939 Words   |  4 Pagesessay â€Å"Learning to Read and Write,† Douglass portrays himself as an intelligent and dignified slave who’s able to overcome the racial boundaries placed upon him. Frederick Douglass saw that his only pathway to freedom was through literacy, so his goal was to learn how to read and write no matter the circumstances. Douglass realized becoming a literate slave was considered as having too much power because it made him aware of unjust circumstances of slavery. For a slave to become literate wasn’t