Gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool"

I don't think the pool players that the Author talks about in this poem are anything like Sonny, but as I say that I question how I can say that. Just like in "Sonny's Blues" and how the Narrator starts off as thinking Sonny is some heroin junkie, and that's that, but he eventually learns more and gets deeper inside Sonny's feelings. The uncertainty the word "we" makes at the end of each line throws a pretty good twist in the poem. Almost as if they are trying to defend themselves to someone, but aren't sure about what they are doing and which activity is going to validate their decision of dropping out of school and hanging in a pool room all day, and by the end of the poem at "Die soon." they realize that what they are doing isn't going to lead anywhere.  

James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"

Hearing the story from Sonny's brother's point of view kept me at arms length of what Sonny was going through. I never knew what Sonny was doing, or what he was going to do. Through flashbacks and the sequence of the events I slowly learned more and more about Sonny's struggles through the Narrator's struggles. Although the Narrator lived with Sonny they were seven years apart, and I was learning about Sonny the same time the Narrator was learning about Sonny. Having the brother tell it from his point of view opened up more conflicts than just Sonny and his addiction to heroin. It showed me the struggles the Narrator was/is going through, and how he learns through his struggles that he isn't alone.

Sonny's profession is that of a struggling musician, and the Narrator is that of a teacher. The Narrator is harsh toward Sonny when Sonny admits that he wants to work hard and become a musician. That alone makes me think of when I was a kid. A lot of kids wanted to be a professional musician or a professional athlete. It was always in class I'd hear a student ask, "What am I going to need to learn this for, I'm going to be a professional baseball player." Then the teacher, more times than not would say, "more than likely you will not become a professional baseball player, you're going to need to learn this to get a real job some day." That is pretty much the same kind of tone the Narrator uses when Sonny tells him he wants to be a musician. It shows their personalities are different because the Narrator is alright with having a job, raising a family, because the Narrator likes having that foundation. He still thinks of the days with his parents on Sunday evening sitting around with family and friends, and not wanting the moment to end. Sonny on the other hand is a private person who doesn't seem to know real well how to convey his thoughts and struggles to someone else. That is why Sonny makes music his release, and a way to say without  actually saying anything that his struggles are real and he feels all the same feelings.

Eudora Welty's "Why I Live at the P.O."

I enjoyed this story, and before I read the PowerPoint Presentation made the same thought that it was based off "The Story of the Prodigal Son." The story is told by the external, third person narration, where we only hear "Sister's" thoughts and opinions of the situations that arise. Having this narration creates a bias toward how I feel about the other characters in the story. For instance, just by what "Sister" told me I took her side. She wasn't the dark narrator with vengeful plans like that of Poe's "The Cask of the Amontillado," and from how I read it her actions of moving to the P.O. seemed reasonable. I grew up with four other siblings, and being the middle child felt like the others were always spoiled, and still feel pretty confident I was right. I can relate to what she went through, and I bet most others with siblings could also relate growing up. I learned the hard way, don't tell your siblings you're going to "tell mom," because if they beat you to it with a made up story, well, you're screwed.
Even though I agree with the end result of what Sister did, I still had to wonder why was there so much bad blood between the two. I don't believe it's all Stella-Rondo's fault, because at that age we should be able to leave things alone if we know it will start an argument or a hostile environment. Many of the things Sister said to Stella-Rondo never had to be said thus preventing the arguments and lies. Why does Sister feel it's her job to contradict Stella-Rondo's story of the child being adopted? Maybe that's why Mama just accepted the story and let it be. The way the story starts out talking about Mr. Whitaker being stole away from Sister by Stella-Rondo and the Add-a-Pearl necklace that Stella-Rondo got from Papa-Daddy makes me assume that Sister's jealousy is what has gotten in the way of them just enjoying being together as a family.

Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of the Amontillado"

Embarrassingly, I admit over the past ten years that I haven't been much of a reader, but I wish I would have been, and am hoping to be. While reading this story I could see them walking through the dark, damp, mysterious tunnels. It is a plot that most dark movies or television series would have.

I think Montresor waited all those years to tell his story for two possible reasons. First, I think he waited in order to keep his secret a secret. He didn't want to get caught for what he had done. Second, he was so proudly insane he wants people to eventually find out what he did, that he can't be pushed around and won't stand to be insulted. It took me a few times of reading the first paragraph to completely comprehend how severely he didn't want to be punished for what he had done.

Why had he wanted to so badly get back at Fortunato? The exact reason isn't known. Montresor does tell us that he had been putting up with Fortunato's "injuries" for quite some time. Fortunato must have done something that Montresor can't just wear on his sleeve. Something that pushed him over the edge. Does any of that make what Montresor did justifiable? I don't think so, not even in that time era. Montresor took Fortunato and buried him alive! I think anyone that can do that to a person is somewhat insane, but at the same time it was premeditated and planned out. He didn't do it after the first or second "injuries", but according to Montressor, "thousand."

The title is very clever, at least after reading the story. Fortunato is a man of wines. It is only fitting that searching out this Amontillado and then being buried in a wall, and stored away like a cask of Amontillado is how Montresor leaves the end of the story. A man of wines, buried away with wine like wine.

Linda Brewer's "20/20"

The story starts out smack dab in the middle of a road trip. I wonder how these two met, and what was their destination, but I must assume the Author doesn't tell us because it's not important. I liked the part when Bill wondered why Ruthie wouldn't argue with him about abstract or theoretical ideas. Personally, I enjoy friendly battles back and forth, and often start debates about nothing with my friends. Just wherever our minds take us and all the possibilities and breakthroughs we have during these said debates. His comparison of East Coast women and Ruthie, a rural girl from Ohio, is a debate I've had with myself over time. Two of my brothers live on the east coast and every time I go out to see them I find myself looking for the differences in the females from here in South Dakota and out there. Have I found any? I don't know if I would say I found any, but the debate still comes up. Why is the story called "20/20" anyways? Ruthie is always talking about seeing things, whether it be the cows, the Indian paintbrush, the Golden eagle. Bill almost seemed annoyed by Ruthie and her sights, but maybe it's because his eyes were rarely open enough to see the larger more beautiful picture of their surroundings, and Ruthie could. It's a useful lesson that the world is what we want to see. We can see all the horror and terrible things going on in the world, but somewhere there is something magical and great to see, and we just have to keep our eyes open.

Raymond Carver's "Cathedral"

My first assumption when I read the title of this short story was that it was going to be about religion or lack of religion, but what I couldn't figure out after starting to read this story was, why did he choose the name "Cathedral"? I think that title is chosen because it's the turning point in the story when the husband has his first real interaction, real connection with Robert or referred to by the arrogant husband as "this blind man". It's funny how we never learn the names of the husband or wife, but we do learn "this blind man's" name. The husband comes across as a close minded jerk who, admittedly, bases his idea of what ALL blind people are like solely off of what he sees on his television. Initially, he wanted nothing to do with Robert. The husband makes that obvious in paragraph one when he stated "And is being blind bothered me" and "A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to." As arrogant as the husband is, I know there have been times when I have been closed minded to the unknown and people I know have been just the same. I work with a lot of Native Americans, and unfortunately there is a burden of a stereotype that goes with Native Americans from the under educated of the subject matter. Assumptions like they are drunks and live on welfare and just own casinos. I'm not sure though that the husband is really disgusted, it's almost like he is jealous or maybe just tired of hearing about his wife's past and hearing about Robert. I don't know if he is actually disgusted by blind people, or more the fact that Robert and his wife are so close and he is feeling left out. Robert can do it all, except see. I did enjoy how the story started out with the husband being so very, very, cold toward Robert coming over, because that way the short story could show the almost 180 degree turn the husband has toward Robert at the end when he refuses to open his eyes. Like he is feeling the most content he has felt in year, and although his eyes are closed, can see clearly by the end of the story.

Personal Introduction

The year was 1986, the month was April, the day was the 20th. Mom starts screaming at Dad, "He's coming, we have to go", and 8 short hours later he (I) was born. My name is Owen Wiese and I live in Flandreau, SD. After what seemed to be the longest 8 hours of my life, life was just beginning for me. I grew up on a small farm and eventually moved into town. Like most other kids and teenagers I never thought of the future or what it may hold for me, but eventually it was time to start thinking about those things. I graduated from high school and have had my trials and tribulations along the way. I have now successfully made it to 27 years old and pushing for a personal best of 28. I am making future goals a possibility through attending Dakota State and majoring in Accounting. I have 4 other siblings who have each decided to move to separate parts of the country, and that has given me a chance to travel the country more often than I would have ever imagined. Through their careers and changes, and my struggles and successes, I have been able to see a bigger picture than only knowing the small town scenario. I currently work at the Royal River Casino as a Pit Boss, and, truthfully, really like my job. With the education I receive I hope to move up the managerial latter in the Casino world, but just not in Flandreau. Where this road leads me is the rest of the story that has yet to be written.