JH

__Shackles Discussion__

“A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin makes what point about humanity? “A Pair of Silk Stockings” shows that humans do not want to be selfish—they actually hope to be selfless—but it is human nature to be selfish anyways. When Mrs. Sommers receives the money, she fully intends to spend it on items that her children need (clothes, stockings, etc.); however, after she purchases the silk stockings, she gets carried away and spends all of the money on herself. Because she used to have money to spend frivolously, she went back to her old habits when she had this extra money in her possession. Human nature is to not only be selfish but to revert back to our old habits as well. Mrs. Sommers displays both of these in her story, as many do on a daily basis.

I like this argument. I totally agree with the “human nature is to be selfish” statement. The fact that her plan is to spend money on her children shows her good intent, but when she gets there, her intent changes to buy for herself. Good Analysis. - JTS

I do believe that in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" humanity is shown with the unwanted selfish side of humans. The fact that she thinks about the way to spend her money before hand shows she wanted to do good, but she fell into the arms of selfishness and spent all of the money on herself. -GF __//The Glass Menagerie// Discussion__

Amanda does not want Tom to be like his father. What are the similarities between the two? Does she have reason to worry?

Tom and his father are both independent men. Just like his father did, Tom works to support his family; however, he has grown tired of working hard and not being able to do anything for himself. He clearly states this when he says, “I say to myself, ‘How //lucky dead// people are!’ But I get up. I //go//! For sixty-five dollars a month I give up all that I dream of doing and being //ever//! And you say self—self’s all I ever think of. Why, listen, if self is what I thought of, Mother, I’d be where he is—GONE!” (1.3) Amanda obviously has reason to worry about Tom becoming like his father. After telling Jim, the gentlemen caller, about his plans to move and change his life, Tom says about himself, “I’m like my father.” (1.6) I think Amanda sees Tom’s father in Tom’s drinking and in his want to be independent and have his own things. I do not think it bothered Tom that he is like his father because he admired his father for following his dreams. However, he also did not like his father because he left him with the responsibility of caring for the family.
 * Julia: What are some other similarities that his mother sees? When Tom sees himself as like his father, does this bother him? What about his father would he have liked? disliked? Why is he so angry? Mrs. S**

Jts: I mostly agree. I think that at the begining of the story Tom was not like his father at all. The author tries to show you throughout the story how his mother and the situation are changing his actions into the same actions his father had.

CB: Throught the story Tom is becoming increasingly cold towards his mother and his sister, Amanda soon relize that Tom might just get up and leave like his father, knowing this tries to fall back on the thought of Laura getting married before he leaves them.

 Lauren: I think that Tom, against his will, carries trait like his father. His mother throws responsibilities at him that his father didn’t take care of, so now Tom has to deal with them. But, like his father, he runs from these problems leaving his mother and sister to fend for themselves. KH: I’d have to agree. But, I think that Amanda should be worried about her pushing Tom away. I believe that Tom feels held back by his having to work to support his family. I think that he feels too pressured by Amanda and Laura, because they are depending on him to bring in the money for the family. I believe that if Amanda got a job, Tom would feel somewhat relieved and not feel like it’s all riding on his shoulders. ASHLEY LIPSEY: I believe Tom is very much like his father. His father was a drunk and dreaded his life and his job. Their father had no will power and obviously did not deal with his problems in a healthy manner. Tom has almost identical character traits and situations in his life. He absolutely hates his job and cannot stand living in that little apartment with his delusional mother. He doesn’t know how to correctly deal with his problems, so he goes out and drinks them away. The most observable similarity though, is the fact that they both walked out on their family. In the end you can’t exactly blame Tom because the only example he had of what a man should be was his father.

I agree very much-- I also believe that Tom became like his father against his own will. His father left his own responsibilities and threw them on Tom. I understand why he would want to leave, he had to deal with a problem that should not have been his in the first place. Werica dos Santos

Erica's Response: Tom is very much like his father and is getting impatient waiting for things to get better. Unfortunately, he felt he couldn’t leave because his father deserted them. Tom’s annoyance with his mother makes him cold to her gradually throughout the play. I agree that the play shows how his mother’s actions and Laura’s dependence wish to gone like his father is. Amanda worries because he’s following his father’s footsteps by drinking to escape their problems.

Glenn: Tom and his father are both hard working men that work to support their family. I agree with your answer, Julia. Tom feels the pressure of supporting Laura and Amanda. Tom is like his father by his attitude towards Amanda. He slowly separates from Amanda, but feels bad leaving Laura to suffer. I believe Tom only brought home a gentlemen caller so he wouldn’t be remembered by Laura as just another “Father” and that men are untrustworthy people who abandon everyone who is not good enough for them.

I am Holden

Son of a sensitive mother. Brother of Allie, D.B., and Phoebe. Who needs sanity, help, and acceptance. Who loves his lost brother, innocence, and his little sister’s intelligence. Who sees the corrupt world, the joys of childhood, and the poems on his brother’s baseball glove. Who hates phony people, superficial people, and the conformists of the world. Who fears change, his parents learning of his expulsion, and interaction with others. Who dreams of speaking to Jane Gallagher, being the catcher in the rye, and being a child.  Who wonders why his brother is selling his writing, what his parents will do about him, and what will become of him. Resident of his own mind.

Caulfield. Excellent job. Why do you say his mother is sensitive? I think that she is sensitive because she is still hurting over her son Allie's death. Holden says that he wanted his mom to find out that he was expelled a couple days before he came home because he knew it would hurt her, and she would need a couple days to get used to the idea.