1) REPLY to the comment immediately above yours. Avoid the "agree/disagree" bit: did the comment say something you had not thought about? Or, you had reached the same conclusions?
The first student to post will have the luxury of not having to reply to anyone.
2) From the list of quotations I selected for the assignment, CHOOSE A QUOTE different from the two quotes in your assignment. Explain the reason of your choice and what it means for you. Please, try to choose a new quote, something that has not been posted here by someone else.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote i have choice was "Why do I live and give life when there is not Geremio to hold my hand....?" The reason why I have choice this quote was I felt connected as a woman because having to go through a lost of some one you love while your with child is heartbreaking. Annunziata felt that hardship not having Geremio by her side when she gave birth. I would feel alone going through this with out my husband by my side holding my hand telling me "everything going to be alright".
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DeleteI made the same connection as you did when reading this quote and section of the book. Annunziata needs that comfort and reassurance that "everything will be okay", which is difficult during the hardship she is facing. Having your significant other by your side makes things a lot better. Annunziata and Geremio were waiting to share this moment together but she felt lost because he wasn't there to do so. I can only imagine how much that must hurt.
Delete"Those Eyetalian names are quite confusing (...) I've always had the same difficulty with Eyetalian laborers (...) I speak from experience. The Eyetalians are good workers, when you watch them and take care of them like a wet nurse. But when not personally supervised they get themselves into all kinds of trouble. They're careless like children."
ReplyDeleteMister Murdin is being a wise guy and trying to be the innocent one during the discussion about Geremio's death. He is blaming Geremio by saying that he was responsible for the accident. He doesn’t seem to care on helping the situation. Along with, not showing respect to the family when Geremio passed. Mister Murdin is being stereotypical by talking down to Italians. I chose this quote because I can sense the anger of Annunziata towards Mister Murdin. I don’t blame her for how she must feel. I would have felt the same way and I don’t think it is fair how he is treating the situation.
The quote I chose is "Already are we left alone and avoided. -- for we have nothing to give -- except our need." For this particular scene, Annunziata is about to give birth. She is a widow when shes about to give birth. The quote tells us that the baby is fatherless. Annunziata is alone. She is worried. How will she survive? She has family around her but still feels alone because her husband died. I chose this quote because you feel sad for Annunziata.She lost her loving husband. He is no longer around.Her baby is fatherless. Imagine being without a father? It is such a hardship. I could not imagine growing up in this world without one of my parents.
ReplyDeleteI felt that same emotion of sadness when I read that quote. Annunziata is such a strong woman for going through all that she went through.
DeleteThe quote I chose was "I have nothing to do with the Charities. There is a board of trustees who confer and pass every expenditure. Do you understand?" In this scene Paul was asking the Priest in the church for some sort of aid to help his family. To me, that statement is quite significant because of the way the priest addresses Paul and his family, as charities. When Geremio was alive and their family partook in Sunday mass, it was all well and good, however, once they no longer had anything to give, people refused to help them especially a priest who was feasting luxuriously! This statement represents hypocrisy in my opinion and it represents the way Paul and his family was seen by other people in the village.
ReplyDelete"He hated money and war and cruel people. The crowds carried him on their shoulders. I'll never forget" This quote was the most powerful in the entire book, in my opinion. It represented freedom, democracy and stronghold of the position from one person who could have changed the entire Empire. The short story that Louis told about his brother was a real brake from the negativity, suffering and tears which the author expressed throughout the book. It fulfilled me with more positive emotions, even though Leov was killed and did not see the revolution and overthrow of the Tsar, but his spirit did survive in the hearts of those who accomplished what he fought for. He did become a part of that revolutionary change. I would say, that story of Leov was the most interesting and reflected a very different voice from the rest of the book. It almost seemed as it was written by a different author. I was impressed.
ReplyDeleteI'm always intrigued by the way you analyze a certain situation. Maybe, it's the intuition of being a writer and you have the ability to get a deeper meaning of a quote. To me, this quote was just supporting the short story Louis told Paul of his father. It's nice to read your response and understand that yes, this short story does represent much more than his father's past and struggles but it ties in with the struggles that Paul and his mother, and many other Italians in America are facing at the time.
Delete“Here comes the son of the dead Geremio. On his face I read that he has come to obtain for nothing the goods for which I have paid money.”
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because of the cruelness and hurtfulness behind this man’s words. I had to reread the quote a few times in order to fully understand what he was saying. It just was shocking to me how everyone that Paul would seek for help were so quick to deny him. This man, even before Paul spoke a word, judged Paul by the look on his face, as if Paul was going to steal from him. I will admit, Paul was begging, begging for help for his family had nothing to eat, but to assume such an insensitive accusation of Paul made me feel sorry for him and the people he was surrounded by.
interesting, when I was reading other quotes got my attention but not this one. you gave me a deep understanding for this quote. Thanks
DeleteThe quote that I chose is "I have nothing to do with the Charities. There is a board of trustees who confer and pass every expenditure. Do you understand?" when I was reading I thought that the priest was going to help Paul and his family because people donate money for the church and part of it usually goes to the poor and when I read his response I was shocked and angry because I didn't expected the priest to turn him down and to refuse to help him which is part of his job.
ReplyDeleteI know Paul had hoped that Father John would have helped them, many Catholics seek help in a church. Sadly Paul did not find much comfort.
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ReplyDelete"Yes, he had the right to go in.
ReplyDelete'What building collapse? Never heard about it. Was he an American citizen?"
I chose this quote because during this time Paul is begging for help and everyone denies it. He was asked if his dad was an American Citizen as if only American citizen’s matter and have more rights than others, this shows inequality was and is still going on today.
This comment was something i hadn't really thought about. i know the man asked if Geremio was a citizen but not for the reason of benefits. I just thought the man was doing a inquiry abgout Geremio. This comment gave me a better understaning of the quote.
ReplyDeleteThe quote i decided to choose was "They forgot themselves and their troubles."
ReplyDeleteThe reason i choose this quote was because it showed that once Annunziata and Paul found out that Geremio was fine it gave them peace. It has alot of emotion in it because both mother and son were worried about Geremio and within a second there mind got relaxed that Geremio is not in pain.There was alot of love between all of them and the passing away of Geremio gave the family alot of sorrow. When i read this quote, i was like it summed up what was going on in the lives of Geremio's family. It gave a good idea as to how they were feeling, what emotion's were taking place.
I felt the same way when I read that quote, I really felt as if I were there living what Annunziata and Paul were living through. It was really riveting stuff.
DeleteThe quote I chose was "The wop is under the wrappin' paper out in the courtyard."
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because at the time during the book, Paul and Little Aninna were down at the station inquiring about their fathers whereabouts as he had been missing since the building collapsed on that Good Friday. I chose it because of the circumstances, how the two little children went to the police and the one cops response, "The wop is under the wrappin' paper out in the courtyard." showed to me how these cops viewed and treated these Italians as a lower kind than theirs, and since the cop had screamed this out it showed how they had no remorse or any type of respect for the missing man Geremio, nor did they have respect for his children who were there on their mothers behalf. It showed how the racism and prejudice against Italians then was very much savage.
I agree, it was really harsh of them to just say this out in the open without another thought. The worst part to me is the fact that the person labeled Geremio as a WOP right in front of his kids.
Delete"They forgot themselves and their troubles." I chose this quote because it shows us how simple things can really make someones day. The Cripple was a fraud saying generic lines, but that didn't matter, it made Paul and Annunziata forget their troubles for a while, they needed that weigh off their shoulder.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing, the "Cripple" seemed like a shady character from the time she was introduced. She knows how to manipulate people's weakness for her monetary gain. However her work does some justice with Paul and his mother. In addition, the only powers the "Cripple" has is creating a placibo effect with those emotionally impaired. She as you stated "lifts the weight off their shoulders."
DeleteThe quote I chose was: "Here comes the son of the dead Geremio. On his face I read that he has come to obtain for nothing the goods for which I have paid money"
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because at this point in the book the grocer is introduced. He is shown as a good man with a cold heart. He does not want to give food away on credit to Paul because he cannot afford to take the financial loss, He repeatedly tells Paul to go to the church and tell them he sent Paul. I found it interesting because he can afford to give to the church as a charity, but when a charity case like Paul who is in need comes along, he refuses to help. The grocer shows a double standard for his beliefs.
I like your interpretation of this quote! I did not think of it at first as the grocer showing a double standard. I do not consider the grocer a good man just because he donates money to charity. He wouldn't go bankrupt just from giving Paul some food.
Delete"Oh. what a beautiful message!" And tears came from her eyes. "His face comes through and he's speakin' right over my shoulder and facin' you and your boy. He says he never left you and never will."
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because I believe this is a turning point in the book. By Annunziata and Paul visiting the Cripple, it lifted their spirits. The Cripple relayed important messages from Geremio to his wife and son. Paul was also able to find out if his father was in pain when he died. I think a weight was lifted off Annunziata's and Paul's shoulders when they heard that Geremio was happy in Paradise. I really enjoyed this part of the book.
I thought this was the happiest scene in the chapter. Everything else in these chapters seems to be sad due to Geremio's death.
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DeleteI reached the same conclusions as you! I really enjoyed this part of the book and I feel like I was really there with Annuziata and Paul.
"I have nothing to do with the Charities. There is a board of trustees who confer and pass every expenditure. Do you understand?"
ReplyDeleteSo cruel.That is the church for you (personal opinion). I thought when Paul was going out looking for help, the church would help him and I was expecting the converstation with the preist to go differently. I was angry for Paul.
Couldn't have said it better, Paul deserved a different response from the Priest...I suppose this is where Catholics get their bad name from..
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ReplyDelete"Already are we left alone and avoided. -- for we have nothing to give -- except our need."
ReplyDeleteThis quote is very emotional because it shows the struggle of being a single mom. A father should be able to come home with money while the mother takes care of the infants. In this case, Annuziata, who is a widow after her husband Geremio dies in an accident, is left alone. She is worried on how the child will become without the presence of the father. This passage is so vivid to me because it’s real. There are so many families out there that live their lives like this.
I agree. This quote made me think about how helpless the family must've felt after Geremio's untimely death.
Delete"Annunziata flew to the door, and as she reached out her arms.....the policeman lowered his eyes and slowly removed his cap."
ReplyDeleteThis quote was painstaking for me, I really feel Annunziatas pain in this. Her strength is unmatchable, this shows how powerful and strong women are.
It was an intense moment. There was nothing that needed to be said. The action said it all.
Delete"Here comes the son of the dead Geremio. On his face I read that he has come to obtain for nothing the goods for which I have paid money". This quote taken from the grocer’s perspective made me feel very discouraged about Paul’s situation. I found it really disheartening that the grocer knew what Paul had come into the store for before even speaking to him. The way that the owner of the shop immediately shot down all of his attempts at trying to receive food from him depressed me greatly. I also found it interesting how the author structured the interaction between the two individuals by including their internal thoughts along with their spoken dialogue; in this way, you could see that the grocer had quickly made up his mind about whether or not to help out Paul and this had a great impact on the way I absorbed the scene.
ReplyDelete"The wop is under the wrappin' paper out in the courtyard."
ReplyDeleteGeremio’s two children go to the police station in hope of hearing about their father’s whereabouts. The sergeant coldly asks a policeman over this human being. Instead of the policeman having the decency to speak of a desist person with some sense of remorse, he has the audacity to call him a racial slur. This person was describe like a piece of garbage. It was a powerful quote because it just ended the chapter with it saying it.It showed that so much could be taken away from these words, telling of the nature of this time.
What the police officer said was very rude and unexpected. A police officer especially should not be saying things of this nature but it shows you what things were like at that time.
Delete"Annunziata flew to the door, and as she reached out her arms.....the policeman lowered his eyes and slowly removed his cap."
ReplyDeleteI choose this quote because to me it was really sad when I read it. I felt like she was possibly expecting Geremio to be at the door or even for the police officer to give her more information about Geremio's death. I think the police officer saw a look on Annunziata's face that made him feel terrible for her and really sad. This quote gave me a visual of her running to the door thinking it was Geremio or something that was going to make her happy but then her face changed when she opened the door and saw the officer and maybe became sad or disappointed.