Author Archives: shelita.bradshaw

Posts: 12 (archived below)
Comments: 0

Is Heart of Darkness a racist text or a text that depicts racism?

Posted on May 17, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

In response to the debate between Melissa and Katherine on whether or not Heart of Darkness is a racist text or a text about racism, I feel that it is a text about racism. While there are numerous derogatory statements made about black people, it seems that the language used in fact, is due to societal norms of that time.

“[T]hey were not human..[W]hat thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity-like yours-the thought of your remote kinship with this wild and passionate uproar. Ugly” (A, 85). When reading this citation, it brings a feeling of disgust to me. It is disheartening to hear someone speak of another human being in this manner however, when reading other citations that allude to the thought that colonization is really not such a good idea, it shows that the writer is not necessarily racist. “The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much” (A, 64).

If one writes a text based on universal views of a particular race or subject of that time, it makes me re-consider the perspective of the writer. While Heart of Darkness certainly had offensive statements about the African race, I feel it could be based solely on ignorant views of the writer of not truly understanding or accepting the race. Sometimes, when people or even society does not understand others, they shun them and consider them stupid. This could be compared to disabilities in children before modern science discovered various treatable disabilities-such as ADHD or dyslexia.

Posted in 4. Is Heart of Darkness a racist text or is it a text that depicts racism? | Comments Off on Is Heart of Darkness a racist text or a text that depicts racism?

Final Paper Topic

Posted on May 7, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

One cannot achieve absolute freedom through action that is free-willed; it can only be achieved as a state of mind.

Posted in 3. Final paper topics | Comments Off on Final Paper Topic

“Edwards’s Former Aide Testifies on Their Friendship’s Demise” in connection with The Lady with the Dog

Posted on April 29, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

The desperate need for a secret life arises in the New York Times article titled “Edwards’s Former Aide Testifies on Their Friendship’s Demise” on page A12, dated April 12, 2012 and The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov. The character in The Lady with the Dog, Dmitri Dmitritch Gurov, takes an interest to a married woman and has an affair with her. He is also married throughout this affair. He admits that love affairs are a charming adventure that leads to problems (A, 897). However, he cannot help himself in cheating on his wife continuously as he goes on to say, “But at every fresh meeting with an interesting woman this experience seems to slip out of his memory, and he was eager for life, and everything seemed simple and amusing” (A, 897).

It is important for one to pay close attention to Dmitri’s statement of being “eager for life.” He feels that by having love affairs with new women, he is “living life”, so to speak. Furthermore, he feels that, “…[E]very man had his real, most interesting life under the cover of secrecy  and under the cover of night… All personal life rested on secrecy…[P]ersonal privacy should be respected” (A, 905). Apparently, every man not only has a need for a private life, but in fact does partake in one.

Finally, in connection with the New York Times article, John Edwards refutes accusations against his former aide for using funds meant to support his campaign to finance and hide an affair with another woman. He was also married during the affair. Based on Dmitri’s hypothesis on a man’s need for a secret life, it would seem that Edwards desperately desired to have something in his life that no one would know about. Could it be because his life was so public? Seeing that women also partake in secret lives and affairs, it could be that all people need a part of their life hidden that no one knows about.

Posted in 6. Tagore or Chekhov compared to the New York Times article of your choice, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Not Quite a Teen, Yet Sold for Sex in connection with Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Posted on April 29, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

In the New York Times article titled “Not Quite a Teen, Yet Sold for Sex” by Nicholas D. Kristoff, there are apparent connections between Brianna (a victim of sex trafficking) and Harriet Jacobs, along with other slaves, in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The more obvious similarity in these texts is the enslavement that takes place which is against the victims’ will. Kristoff stated Brianna’s pimp told her, “…[H]e was a pimp and that she was now his property.” This statement is very similar to how Harriet describes slave masters’ views of their illegitimate children with female slaves, “They regard their children as property, as marketable as the pigs on a plantation…[P]assing them into the slave trader’s hands as soon as possible, thus getting them out of their sight” (A, 777). Here, the issue of humans treating others cruelly and as property is ostensible.

Another similarity in these texts is the affection shared between enslaved victims and their master. Kristoff states there is “..[A] complex web of emotions, including fear of the pimp but also a deluded affection and a measure of Stockholm syndrome.” Kristoff believes that this psychological treatment is  what causes sex trafficking victims not wanting to escape. Much like these victims, Harriet felt a strong admiration and devotion to her former mistress: “I loved her; for she was like a mother to me” (A, 768). While Harriet appears to have loved her former mistress due to her “kind” treatment, it is important to remember that she is still her mistress’ slave and has limited freedom. Both Harriet and sex trafficking victims like Brianna tend to venerate and look to their masters with respect even though they are treated inhumanely.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Connections in Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl and Bartelby the Scrivener

Posted on April 29, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

Throughout Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs and Bartelby the Scrivener by Herman Melville, there are several similarities in Bartelby and Harriet Jacobs. To begin, both persons are in positions of servitude to their bosses; Bartelby is employed as a copyist and Harriet is a slave. However, they both feel they have some aspect of freedom in their respective situations and do not like the idea of being controlled. Bartelby expresses his freedom and defiance when he tells his boss, “I prefer not to,” when asked repeatedly to do work-related tasks (A, 695). Here, Bartelby shows that he feels he has the freedom to do as he pleases. This behavior is also evidence of his contempt for being controlled.

Harriet also expresses her freedom when she chooses to be with a man whom she doesn’t seem to really love and admits that it is better to choose a lover who doesn’t control her. “It seems less degrading to give one’s self, than to submit to compulsion. There is something akin to freedom in having a lover who has no control over you…” (A, 779). This statement by Harriet proves her indifference for being controlled, like Bartelby.

Another connection between these two texts is the frustration expressed by Bartelby and Harriet’s bosses with their uncompromising behavior. In reaction to Bartelby refusing to requested work his boss states, “Imagine my surprise, nay, my consternation, when without moving from his privacy, Bartelby in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied, ‘I would prefer not to’” (A, 695). His boss is in such shock, that he doesn’t know what to do except to go on with his work without Bartelby’s participation. Harriet’s master, Dr. Flint, who lusts for Harriet, is enraged when hearing how she wishes to get out of enslavement: “Have I ever treated you like a negro? I have never allowed you to be punished, not even to please your mistress. And this is the recompense I get, you ungrateful girl!” (A, 777). Harriet and Bartleby’s superiors’ do not understand why their workers will not comply with their requests.

More interestingly, the behavior of Bartelby and Harriet is probably more compelling to their bosses when considering they do not cause conflict in their subtle defiance. Bartelby’s boss even states, “Had there been the least uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner….[D]oubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises” (A, 695). Harriet, on the other hand, never displays violent or outwardly rebellious actions towards Mr. Flint, or anyone for that matter. In summary, Bartelby and Harriet both seem to react uncooperatively to their bosses in an effort to convince their selves that they have some freedom in their state of servitude.

 

Posted in 5. Comparison of two of the texts we've read since the midterm, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Connections in Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl and Bartelby the Scrivener

Notes from Underground Part I

Posted on April 5, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

In The Underground Man the reader is quickly introduced to man that appears to be both physically sick and not fully mentally present. This man has convinced himself (and tries to convince others) that those who think consciously are dumb. He feels he is smarter than everyone else by realizing this truth. The Underground Man even denounces science in stating, “..there is no such thing as choice…science has even now succeeded in analyzing man to such an extent that we know already that choice and what is called freedom of will are nothing other than..” (A, 595). He is adamantly against “going with the grain” and doing what society and science predict what is best for you.

In the New York Times Article, “Mind Games: Sometimes a White Coat Isn’t Just a White Coat” by Sandra Blakeslee, studies claim that when someone puts on a white coat, they are actually smarter. The article states: “The effect occurs only if you actually wear the coat and know its symbolic meaning — that physicians tend to be careful, rigorous and good at paying attention.” This study actually supports the Underground Man’s way of thinking that people act and think according to how a society has led them to believe and not on their own. In this instance, it is that physicians are highly intelligent people. Putting on the white coat evokes people to feel intelligent as well.

Posted in 7. Notes from Underground linked to an article in the New York Times, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Potential Midterm Essay Question

Posted on March 15, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw
  1. Discuss how humans treat others with cruelty once they feel ownership over other humans.
  2. Discuss the powerlessness of humans under superseding circumstances.
  3. Regardless of how different ( or degrading and inhumane) a society may seem to an outsider, it is considered normal to those who live in it.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Potential Midterm Essay Question

Midterm Paper Topic

Posted on February 28, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

Proposed Topic: Cruel and unusual punishment/treatment rendered by humans upon other humans.

* The connection in this theme is apparent in The Taming of the Shrew, Oroonoko, and Candide.

Posted in Midterm paper topics | 1 Comment

Discipline/Punishment Citation from Oroonoko

Posted on February 28, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

Quote 1: Oroonoko page 336, first paragragh:

“But they were no sooner arrived at the place where all the slaves receieve their punishments of whipping, but they laid hands on Caesar and Tuscan, faint with heat and toil……”

Quote 2: Oroonoko page 314,beginning at bottom of second paragraph to the end of the page:

“He therefore removes her from the otan, with Onahal, whom he put into safe hands, with order they should be both sold off as slaves to another country, either Christian or heathen……

Posted in Citations from Oroonoko that connect to our themes | Comments Off on Discipline/Punishment Citation from Oroonoko

Shrew and Oroonoko

Posted on February 23, 2012 by shelita.bradshaw

In reading Oroonoko by Aphra Behn in comparison to Taming of the Shrew there are some immediate and apparent resemblances. To begin, people are intentionally punished physically. Oroonoko is an African prince who himself trades slaves (Behn 304). Petruchio punished Kate in the way in which someone would an animal when he professed his plans to train her as he would a falcon: “my falcon now is sharp and passing empty and till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged” (Act 4 Scene 1). This type of behavior seems like something a master would do to his animals, not his wife. While Behn does not go into descriptive details initially regarding the torture of slaves, we know that slavery is a horrific and demeaning way to treat people. Both Oroonoko (primarily) and The Taming of the Shrew show human punishment as if there is nothing wrong with it.

Another critical point is that the simple, fair, peaceful women are who are most desired or at least deemed that way by the majority of the societies in which they lived in. Statements such as “Sweet Bianca! Happy man be his dole!” by Hortensio is the typical male reaction to Bianca as opposed to Kate (Shrew Act  1, Scene 1). Imoinda is referred to as a beautiful treasure: “She is adorned with the most graceful modesty that ever beautified youth..” (Behn 323). Neither strong will nor intelligence is discussed as being personality traits of these women, but yet they appear to be the most desirable to men in their societies. What does this say about what the ideal woman?

Furthermore, there are instances in both the Shrew and Oroonoko where characters move down the hierarchy. In the Shrew, Lucentio (who is a master) decides to dress as his own servant, Tranio, in order to act as a teacher of Bianca. Oroonoko allows himself to be taken as a slave even though he is really a prince and insists upon being dressed like one. Is anyone who they really appear to be?

Posted in Shrew and Oroonoko | 1 Comment