The Interpreter of Maladies

"Mr. Kapasi noted that this boy was slightly paler than the other children".

'Foreshadowing' is a warning or indication of the future or a future event. The author focuses on this moment because the paleness of the boy is not very noticeable. This indicates that the boy may not be a blood relative to the other children. This can predict a future event/conflict in this short story. 

The Red Convertible

1. The setting of this story is on a reservation in North Dakota in 1974. 

2. Lyman's opinion on war is that he does not care much for it. Henry had received a letter and was wanted in the army. This had upset the brother's but their relationship remained strong. 

3. The symbolism, which is the representation of a concept through symbols or underlying meanings of objects or qualities, in "The Red Convertible" is that the center of the vehicle resembles the relationship between the two brothers; Lyman and Henry. Their actions and words indicate that the two are very thoughtful of each other and that their relationship is strong. 

4. Considering this story was written and based in the 1980's, the author may have developed certain plot elements during this time to obtain the overall emotion that her characters are going through. 

A White Heron

Sylvia felt a connection with the White Heron is that she respects it and sees its inner beauty. She knows that if she tells the hunter that she had stumbled upon it, the Heron will be hurt. The Heron is symbolic because it resembles freedom. While being in the woods, the Heron is free to roam and live as it should. While Sylvia escapes into the woods, she is able to do the same; away from the hunter as well as Mrs. Tilley. The relationship between the young man and Sylvia is that he asked her to search for the Heron and when she had come across it, she were to tell him where he would be able to find it. Sylvia refuses to reveal its place in order to avoid confrontation and violence. 

The Body of Christopher Creed Ending

My final thoughts on the ending of this novel are that I thought the ending was good. If Creed's body would have been found, I would think that it would be too much of a happy ending, though the last e-mail received by Torey indicates that he may be alive and well, there is no actual evidence to say so. 

Though this book did not have much to look into, I enjoyed reading it. I know it was an easy read but the story line was interesting and easy to follow. Unlike the other books we have read this year, the ending was reasonable and from chapter one, it kept you in tact and interested until the end.

My theory on the ending of the book is that Christopher Creed is still alive and doing well. The last e-mail that Torey receives from a 'random source' describes the living conditions and what was the most likely outcome of the Creed situation. "...He wishes to remain undiscovered for the time being." Thus indicating that he is alive and knows that people care for him back home. 

Also, the e-mail is from Victor Adams. I love how he come to realize that in his search for Christopher Creed, he was not able to discover him thus realized that it is not that he is missing, but that he wishes to not be found; when he is ready, he will reveal himself once again.

"Woobee"

"...I didn't care, the sound of my guitar made e calmer, somehow. Guitars are like 'woobees.'..".

A 'woobee' is a safety blanket for a child/infant. Torey needs to calm down at this point because he feels as if Christopher Creed is around and watching over him. He begins to think that Creed s in his closet and he gets frightened by the quiet, still atmosphere. This is the start of Torey feeling insecure about this situation and decides to look further into it from this point in the book, on.

When I was little, I had a blue blanket that my grandfather had given me. I had it for a while, usually when I was scarred or when around the house or sleeping. This occurred until my blanket began thinning. I had to throw it out but in the place of my 'woobee', I was given a teddy bear to which this day I still haven't named. I had loved my woobee when I was little but I will always had my teddy bear that is still in pristine condition. 

The Body of Christopher Creed ch. 2-3 quotation

"Half of me wanted to laugh because it made the whole thing seem less mind-blowing. But the other half couldn't get rid of this thought that a kid I knew might have slashed his wrists or hung himself." pg. 29.

This quotation is relevant to the novel because Christopher Creed, a boy and Torey's school had gone missing. In an e-mail that the principle receives from Creed,  he states some of the names of the boys on the football team, as well as Torey's and his friend Alex. This statement means that though Torey used to bully Christopher, he still feels the sympathy for him, especially since his name was mentioned, he feels as if he was part of the problem from the start. 

I chose this quotation because it caught my attention. Torey seemed to have everything in his life going well, until this event occurred. It shows the reader two different sides to this character and indicates that his emotion currently may lead him to be more interested and determined in finding out the mystery to the case of Christopher Creed.  

Stereotype and identity

Graduation would have been different if the speaker had been African American because it would have been told from a different perspective. He/She would have given hope to the other African American students, and would most likely not have been segregational during their speech. 

I would chose Barak Obama for the speaker of this class. He is very motivational and would convince these children to pursue in their dreams and to make the world a better place.

Speech:

We all have been grouped together in the same community to make the change that is needed in order to create a new background so that all are equal. We aspire our minds to pursue our dreams by the influence our society and our peers have upon us. You are the difference that could make our nation grow into a positive union, where no other child is placed in the absence of any and every situation that we undergo during adolescence.

We all come into this world the same, equal individuals using the same confidence to create a whole new setting for our lives together.  The procedure our young minds produce can justify the thievery that certain place settings come into play. 

All men are created equal. It is carried out through time that each human being can grow into something bigger than what is destined. When one door closes, another opens, and with this, it is the prospect by which one can find their meaning in life. We will search until we find our grown selves, becoming all that we are, entering the world with our open arms, welcoming and chance we can get at reality.