Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #31 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“We picture the world as thick with conquering and elate humanity, but here, with the bugles of the tempest pealing, it was hard to imagine a peopled earth. One viewed the existence of man then as a marvel, and conceded a glamour of wonder to these lice which were caused to cling to a whirling, fire-smote, ice-locked, disease-stricken, space-lost bulb. The conceit of man was explained by this storm to be the very engine of life.”
II. Summary
Stephen Crane made another analogy for both man and planet. He related men as lice, and planet as bulb with difficult living conditions. He regarded that in order for such a comparatively minute living thing to survive in the tough environment, man must have conceit.
III. Response
We can again glimpse from this quote how Stephen Crane comprehended nature and human beings. He regarded nature as an indifferent giant that posted many difficulties for all living things. There were whirlwinds, storms, fire, ice, diseases and overpopulation. After being in one storm, he believed that what made men able to overcome these difficulties to be conceit. Without it, men could not have been successful in this battle.
I agree with his analogy that men are too powerless to change the nature. Despite our advanced technology, one storm can easily destroy our constructions. Not just is there hardly an accurate way for us to predict the arrival of catastrophe, there is not method for us to completely conquer them. All we can do is to minimize the harm and devastation caused.
Yet, in face of nature, I do not think men should be conceited. Indeed, nature teaches us to be humble. Very often human beings regard ourselves as the most intellectual animal on Earth and may take pride in ourselves. Some even think they can assume the power of God. Nevertheless, just one storm can show us that what human beings can do is still limited in face of the powerful nature.
Friday, February 23, 2007
On Stephen Crane 4
Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #30 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“This tower was a giant… It represented in a degree, to the correspondent, the serenity of nature amid the struggles of the individual – nature in the wind, and nature in the vision of men. She did not seem cruel to him then, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent.”
II. Summary
In Crane’s eyes, nature is indifferent to the misery of men. Being the cause of calamity and beauty, nature determines the fate of men, who are powerless and insignificant compared with this potent giant.
Crane’s attitude is reflected throughout the entire story. Among the team, he was calmer compared with the other three. He continued his job as a spectator even during such a difficult situation during which his life was at risk. He did not cease observing, noting and reflecting upon every detail in the environment. Not just could he remember the details, he could even come up with analogy to explain what he saw and experienced.
III. Response
Crane detached any emotion or feeling from nature. While many people regarded dark clouds as gloomy and starry night as romantic, he did not even think that fierce storm is cruel. Every thing in his eyes belongs to part of nature, which is indifferent as a whole. This way of thinking may be related to his rebellious attitudes towards God. He did not revere God as an all loving, all powerful and all knowing. He just regarded God as a creator. In the same objective way, he analyzed that nature is exactly what it shows us. It does not bear any human characters. Looking at things from a humanistic point of view is not Crane’s way. I regard him as a more scientific and practical writer who does not share the sentimental way of thinking as most other writers.
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #30 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“This tower was a giant… It represented in a degree, to the correspondent, the serenity of nature amid the struggles of the individual – nature in the wind, and nature in the vision of men. She did not seem cruel to him then, nor beneficent, nor treacherous, nor wise. But she was indifferent, flatly indifferent.”
II. Summary
In Crane’s eyes, nature is indifferent to the misery of men. Being the cause of calamity and beauty, nature determines the fate of men, who are powerless and insignificant compared with this potent giant.
Crane’s attitude is reflected throughout the entire story. Among the team, he was calmer compared with the other three. He continued his job as a spectator even during such a difficult situation during which his life was at risk. He did not cease observing, noting and reflecting upon every detail in the environment. Not just could he remember the details, he could even come up with analogy to explain what he saw and experienced.
III. Response
Crane detached any emotion or feeling from nature. While many people regarded dark clouds as gloomy and starry night as romantic, he did not even think that fierce storm is cruel. Every thing in his eyes belongs to part of nature, which is indifferent as a whole. This way of thinking may be related to his rebellious attitudes towards God. He did not revere God as an all loving, all powerful and all knowing. He just regarded God as a creator. In the same objective way, he analyzed that nature is exactly what it shows us. It does not bear any human characters. Looking at things from a humanistic point of view is not Crane’s way. I regard him as a more scientific and practical writer who does not share the sentimental way of thinking as most other writers.
On Stephen Crane 3
Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #29 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“He has never considered it his affair that a soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, nor had it appeared to him as a matter for sorrow. It was less to him than the breaking of a pencil’s point. Now, however, it quaintly came to him as a human, living thing… it was an actuality – stern, mournful, and fine.”
II. Summary
Stephen Crane frankly admitted his lack of empathy – before having an experience of almost losing his life, even adverse atrocities or calamities at the other side of the world did not arouse any feelings or emotions – he just regarded them as some kind of stories. Nevertheless, after coming to a similar situation himself, he finally realized how it was like of being close to death. He described it as “stern, mournful, and fine.”
III. Response
I was bewildered at how cold-blooded Crane used to be – he considered soldiers’ deaths to be less than the breaking of a pencil’s point. Yet, I am also enthralled by his unusual frankness. He did not attempt to hide his vices from readers; he boldly announced them. He displayed his entire self before his readers, and has successfully presented a comprehensive image of himself: calm, experimental, rebellious and observant.
His simple directness makes his writing to be strongly realistic – it does not merely expose the skin, but is able to burrow deeply into the nerves and impulses. His story is no glitz studded fairy tale, but plain, blunt truth. No wonder Crane was alienated from the society – he was too conceited to follow the tide of society and the footsteps of others.
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #29 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“He has never considered it his affair that a soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, nor had it appeared to him as a matter for sorrow. It was less to him than the breaking of a pencil’s point. Now, however, it quaintly came to him as a human, living thing… it was an actuality – stern, mournful, and fine.”
II. Summary
Stephen Crane frankly admitted his lack of empathy – before having an experience of almost losing his life, even adverse atrocities or calamities at the other side of the world did not arouse any feelings or emotions – he just regarded them as some kind of stories. Nevertheless, after coming to a similar situation himself, he finally realized how it was like of being close to death. He described it as “stern, mournful, and fine.”
III. Response
I was bewildered at how cold-blooded Crane used to be – he considered soldiers’ deaths to be less than the breaking of a pencil’s point. Yet, I am also enthralled by his unusual frankness. He did not attempt to hide his vices from readers; he boldly announced them. He displayed his entire self before his readers, and has successfully presented a comprehensive image of himself: calm, experimental, rebellious and observant.
His simple directness makes his writing to be strongly realistic – it does not merely expose the skin, but is able to burrow deeply into the nerves and impulses. His story is no glitz studded fairy tale, but plain, blunt truth. No wonder Crane was alienated from the society – he was too conceited to follow the tide of society and the footsteps of others.
On Stephen Crane 2
Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #28 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“During this dismal night, it may be remarked that a man would conclude that it was really the intention of the seven mad gods to drown him, despite the abominable injustice of it. For it was certainly an abominable injustice to drown a man who had worked so hard, so hard. The man felt it would be a crime most unnatural.”
II. Summary
Even though the team had tried so hard rowing towards the shore, it still appeared distant and did not seem to have moved an inch. Drained emotionally and physically, the four men questioned fate. They felt contemptuous; they thought life was so unfair to lead four diligent men to such a pitiful end. Hope was gradually sipping away, just like the energy going away from their hands holding the oars.
III. Response
Before reading Stephen Crane’s writing, the head note of Norton Anthology has given me a brief preview of his personality: “Crane’s poetry, journalism, and fiction clearly demonstrated his religious, social, and literary rebelliousness.” From this quote, I can see why Crane was widely recognized as being rebellious. He was not willing to accept fate. He held stronger faith in man power and the ability of human beings. He expected reward or positive feedback in return of his hard work and effort. Such a to and fro relationship was considered by Crane as justice.
The quote above also demonstrates another belief of Crane. He has shown his attitude towards God from the sentence “a man would conclude that it was really the intention of the seven mad gods to drown him.” Instead of submitting to the widespread concept that God does only good for his creations, he regarded that God also brought about suffering and adversities, like the drowning of men in a storm.
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #28 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“During this dismal night, it may be remarked that a man would conclude that it was really the intention of the seven mad gods to drown him, despite the abominable injustice of it. For it was certainly an abominable injustice to drown a man who had worked so hard, so hard. The man felt it would be a crime most unnatural.”
II. Summary
Even though the team had tried so hard rowing towards the shore, it still appeared distant and did not seem to have moved an inch. Drained emotionally and physically, the four men questioned fate. They felt contemptuous; they thought life was so unfair to lead four diligent men to such a pitiful end. Hope was gradually sipping away, just like the energy going away from their hands holding the oars.
III. Response
Before reading Stephen Crane’s writing, the head note of Norton Anthology has given me a brief preview of his personality: “Crane’s poetry, journalism, and fiction clearly demonstrated his religious, social, and literary rebelliousness.” From this quote, I can see why Crane was widely recognized as being rebellious. He was not willing to accept fate. He held stronger faith in man power and the ability of human beings. He expected reward or positive feedback in return of his hard work and effort. Such a to and fro relationship was considered by Crane as justice.
The quote above also demonstrates another belief of Crane. He has shown his attitude towards God from the sentence “a man would conclude that it was really the intention of the seven mad gods to drown him.” Instead of submitting to the widespread concept that God does only good for his creations, he regarded that God also brought about suffering and adversities, like the drowning of men in a storm.
On Stephen Crane 1
Yuen Man Ho
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #27 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“The correspondent, pulling at the other oar, watched the waves and wondered why he was there.”
II. Summary
In the story of “Open Boat,” Stephen Crane recalled his experience of almost drowning to death in the storm. There were four men on the boat: captain, cook, oiler and him. Despite the immense adversity and their fragile bodies, the four of them bonded as a group, displayed strong spirit of brotherhood, supported each other and finally managed to save themselves from the impending fate of death.
While depicting the responses of the other three in view of the ferocious waves, he told the readers that all he was thinking of at that time was not the helpless and menacing situation, but the question of why he was there.
III. Response
I was curious about Stephen Crane’s response to such a supposedly frightening and threatening situation. Instead of acting fearfully like the other three, he appeared to be extremely calm. He seemed not to have forgotten his role as a correspondent, and continued to observe and record. His reaction reminded me of the Mr. Oakhurst in Bret Harte’s “The Outcasts of Poker Flat.” While both of them were placed in an adverse condition, they did not disperse their usual calmness. Nevertheless, unlike Mr. Oakhurst, Stephen Crane is not a fictional character! I cannot but admire such a quality of him!
Such an adorable quality of the author is evident throughout the story. He carefully observed his surroundings, including the expressions, actions and conversations of the other three men as well as the changing context of the environment. Another quote that made my jaws dropped was found later in the passage. He wrote that “Viewed from a balcony, the whole thing would doubtlessly have been weirdly picturesque. But he men in the boat had no time to see it, and if they had had leisure there were other things to occupy their minds.” From this particular quote, it is apparent that he has already detached himself from the group. He sounded as if he was a narrator not threatened by the fierce storm.
I conjecture that it is such detachment from the environment that makes Crane a widely popular writer. Since he did not indulge his own emotions and feelings too deeply into any emergence, he was able to recount the meticulous details of any story and observe without interference the reactions of people to fate or nature.
English 48B
February 23, 2007
Journal #27 Stephen Crane
I. Quote
“The correspondent, pulling at the other oar, watched the waves and wondered why he was there.”
II. Summary
In the story of “Open Boat,” Stephen Crane recalled his experience of almost drowning to death in the storm. There were four men on the boat: captain, cook, oiler and him. Despite the immense adversity and their fragile bodies, the four of them bonded as a group, displayed strong spirit of brotherhood, supported each other and finally managed to save themselves from the impending fate of death.
While depicting the responses of the other three in view of the ferocious waves, he told the readers that all he was thinking of at that time was not the helpless and menacing situation, but the question of why he was there.
III. Response
I was curious about Stephen Crane’s response to such a supposedly frightening and threatening situation. Instead of acting fearfully like the other three, he appeared to be extremely calm. He seemed not to have forgotten his role as a correspondent, and continued to observe and record. His reaction reminded me of the Mr. Oakhurst in Bret Harte’s “The Outcasts of Poker Flat.” While both of them were placed in an adverse condition, they did not disperse their usual calmness. Nevertheless, unlike Mr. Oakhurst, Stephen Crane is not a fictional character! I cannot but admire such a quality of him!
Such an adorable quality of the author is evident throughout the story. He carefully observed his surroundings, including the expressions, actions and conversations of the other three men as well as the changing context of the environment. Another quote that made my jaws dropped was found later in the passage. He wrote that “Viewed from a balcony, the whole thing would doubtlessly have been weirdly picturesque. But he men in the boat had no time to see it, and if they had had leisure there were other things to occupy their minds.” From this particular quote, it is apparent that he has already detached himself from the group. He sounded as if he was a narrator not threatened by the fierce storm.
I conjecture that it is such detachment from the environment that makes Crane a widely popular writer. Since he did not indulge his own emotions and feelings too deeply into any emergence, he was able to recount the meticulous details of any story and observe without interference the reactions of people to fate or nature.
Friday, February 09, 2007
On Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery (5)
Yuen M. Ho
English 48B
February 9, 2007
Journal #26 Booker T. Washington
I. Quote
“When the two young masters were brought home wounded, the sympathy of the slaves was shown in many ways. They were just as anxious to assist in the nursing as the family relatives of the wounded… This tenderness and sympathy on the part of those held in bondage was a result of their kindly and generous nature.”
II. Summary
This quote is from the description of the war. During the civil war, which the result would determine the fate for the Negroes, instead of having a mean heart and hoping their owners to suffer, the Negroes, according to Booker T. Washington, showed their tender care and sympathy towards their owners. While the owners might not have treated them their same way before the war, Washington explained that their behaviors were a result of their kind nature.
III. Response
Since Washington was a slave and a Negro himself, I wondered if he could have some bias in depicting only the good sides of his race. The behavior he mentioned might not be fabricated. Nevertheless, how about behind-the-scene? What did they say about their owners? Did they secretly curse them at night? Or did they really just pray for their own freedom?
There is never an answer to the above questions. Let’s just assume his depiction is genuine. I am sure that it is impossible for the care and love to be one-sided. Their owners should have been generous and benevolent to them in certain ways in life, leading to their respect and obedience for them. Otherwise, why would they “wander from the slave quarters back to the ‘big house’ to have a whispered conversation with their former owners as to the future” after emancipation?
English 48B
February 9, 2007
Journal #26 Booker T. Washington
I. Quote
“When the two young masters were brought home wounded, the sympathy of the slaves was shown in many ways. They were just as anxious to assist in the nursing as the family relatives of the wounded… This tenderness and sympathy on the part of those held in bondage was a result of their kindly and generous nature.”
II. Summary
This quote is from the description of the war. During the civil war, which the result would determine the fate for the Negroes, instead of having a mean heart and hoping their owners to suffer, the Negroes, according to Booker T. Washington, showed their tender care and sympathy towards their owners. While the owners might not have treated them their same way before the war, Washington explained that their behaviors were a result of their kind nature.
III. Response
Since Washington was a slave and a Negro himself, I wondered if he could have some bias in depicting only the good sides of his race. The behavior he mentioned might not be fabricated. Nevertheless, how about behind-the-scene? What did they say about their owners? Did they secretly curse them at night? Or did they really just pray for their own freedom?
There is never an answer to the above questions. Let’s just assume his depiction is genuine. I am sure that it is impossible for the care and love to be one-sided. Their owners should have been generous and benevolent to them in certain ways in life, leading to their respect and obedience for them. Otherwise, why would they “wander from the slave quarters back to the ‘big house’ to have a whispered conversation with their former owners as to the future” after emancipation?
On Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery (4)
Yuen M. Ho
English 48B
February 9, 2007
Journal #25 Booker T. Washington
I. Quote
“At the time those cakes seemed to me to be absolutely the most tempting and desirable things that I had ever seen, and I then and there resolved that, if I ever got free, the height of my ambition would be reached if I could get to the point where I cold secure and eat ginger-cakes in the way that I saw those ladies doing.”
II. Summary
When Booker T. Washington was small, he had to work all-day to serve his owners. He could not have enough basic food. Any kind of deserts sounded luscious and tempting to him, including a simple, ginger cake.
III. Response
From this quote, we can definitely understand why Booker T. Washington was not as ambitious and determined to aim for freedom and equality for all Negroes at that time. Rather, he proposed a solution that would be pleasing to both Whites and Negroes at that time—he just asked for thrift, self-respect, training, education and more economic rights. He did not consider asking for more: civil equality, equal education opportunity and enfranchisement. But his decision could, and should be understood. If he was wise enough to make such a big leap, he must be an arrogant and conceited person to be able to do so. Yet, he was humble and willing to serve as a leader. When he was small, he did not dream of taking the place of his owners and live in their big house. All he would like to have is just a piece of ginger cake. How possibly could a little Negro slave change drastically and dream big when he grew up?
English 48B
February 9, 2007
Journal #25 Booker T. Washington
I. Quote
“At the time those cakes seemed to me to be absolutely the most tempting and desirable things that I had ever seen, and I then and there resolved that, if I ever got free, the height of my ambition would be reached if I could get to the point where I cold secure and eat ginger-cakes in the way that I saw those ladies doing.”
II. Summary
When Booker T. Washington was small, he had to work all-day to serve his owners. He could not have enough basic food. Any kind of deserts sounded luscious and tempting to him, including a simple, ginger cake.
III. Response
From this quote, we can definitely understand why Booker T. Washington was not as ambitious and determined to aim for freedom and equality for all Negroes at that time. Rather, he proposed a solution that would be pleasing to both Whites and Negroes at that time—he just asked for thrift, self-respect, training, education and more economic rights. He did not consider asking for more: civil equality, equal education opportunity and enfranchisement. But his decision could, and should be understood. If he was wise enough to make such a big leap, he must be an arrogant and conceited person to be able to do so. Yet, he was humble and willing to serve as a leader. When he was small, he did not dream of taking the place of his owners and live in their big house. All he would like to have is just a piece of ginger cake. How possibly could a little Negro slave change drastically and dream big when he grew up?
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