Haunted, Joyce Carol Oats: Analysis

Haunted, Joyce Carol Oats: Analysis Haunted by Joyce Carol Oates is a great story about two young girls that are, like most young girls, very adventurous. It is a postmodernism story that was highly impacted by the, then new ideas of psychoanalysis. I like the way in this time period that everything isnt happy, its more realistic. Oates did a great job of creating a sense of fragmentation and isolation in this story. Melissa starts with some background, about how everything got started. Talking about how her mother told her ghosts werent real, but just superstition, and how it was unsafe to go tramping around these old abandoned houses. She then gets very jumpy, jumping from past to present. This sort of threw me off, but she accomplished the sense of fragmentation by doing this. She then goes on to say how stories begin with Once upon a time and how she couldnt tell her stories that way, because thats how fairy tales began. In the fifth grade, Melissa had a teacher, Mrs. Harding who was very picky about messy notebooks. More is expected of you, Melissa, so you disappoint me more is what Mrs. Harding would say to Melissa about her journal grade, making her feel isolated. And Mary Lou, her friend wouldnt help the situation any. Mrs. Harding died of a stroke, and Mary Lou blamed it on the two of them, that was because of us, wasnt it, also creating the sense of isolation. Melissa always thought Mary Lou was the prettiest girl, and that she was ugly, again making her feel isolated. Then she jumps back to present time. This part was hard for me to wrap my head around, I had to read the whole story a few times to understand what was going on, but when I did, I really liked it. She talks about how shes older, husband dead for nearly a year..children scattered, once again, isolated. But now it doesnt seem to bother her, she likes the way there is no one to interrupt..no one to pry. But she isnt content with the way she looks, being older, so she avoids mirrors, to make her feel younger. Then she jumps back in time, but not back to her childhood with Mary Lou, but with her husband. They were in a cornfield, and she was running from him, she began to hear the rustling sound, the sound of voices. She felt he could never love her, because she was the ugly one, comparing herself to Mary Lou, whom he had never met. Once again, making her feel isolated. Then back again to her childhood with Mary Lou. A story about the Medlocks, and their farm. Mr. Medlock died in one of the barns, and Mrs. Medlock found him, and how she went crazy and was put in a state hospital. Of course Melissa and Mary Lou wondered if the house or barns were haunted, and they just couldnt stay away. They explored the barns, and peeped in the house windows, and climbed on the roof. Mary Lou would make comments about how shed like to burn this place down, and Melissa would get scared that she really would, again feeling isolated, and Mary Lou would laugh and say she was just playing. Melissas mother hated Mary Lou and tried to get Melissa to make better friends with the other girls. When Mary Lou and Melissa would go to town, Mary Lou would ignore Melissa when the other girls were around, then act like her best friend on the ride home. Once again, Melissa is isolated. Melissa was very jealous of Mary Lous long, blond, silky hair. She would dream about it, but by t he time she woke up, she would be confused if the hair was hers, or someone elses. Mary Lou was older, taller, a bit heavier, and in Melissas eyes, prettier. Melissa noticed that the older boys whistled at her, and the bus driver called her Blondie, but Melissa never got that attention. Mary Lou would make comments about how she wished all the cows would die..so her father would give up and sell the farm and they could live in town in a nice house and to Melissa, Mary Lou wanted to abandon her. Again, Melissa was feeling isolated. Later Melissa found out that the bank owned most of Mary Lous familys farm, even the dairy cows. In seventh grade, Mary Lou had a boyfriend who was older, and she picked Hans over Melissa, leaving her walking on the road by herself. She said she preferred to be alone, so she was isolated, but this time, by choice. Around this time, Melissa and Mary Lou go to the Minton house, where a man beat his wife to death and no one found out until he killed himself with a .12-guage shotgun. From the road the house looked big, and it seemed hard to believe that anything like that happened, but Melissa was wrong. Inside the house, Melissa heard low persistent murmuring but Mary Lou didnt act like she heard it, once again Melissa is isolated. Hans had stopped coming around, Mary Lous father had found out about it, Mary Lou would say I hate them all, and I wish.. which Im sure she would have taken back if she knew what was to become of her. They picked the Minton farm as the one they liked the best, picnicking on the front porch, acting like sisters, acting like they lived there. Melissa went back herself a few days later, and thats when she went upstairs and the woman greeted her. She was alone, but wasnt afraid. When the person told her to come away from the window, she took her time. This really surprised me, but this is probably the first time in the whole story that she didnt really feel isolated, but I definitely would! The way Oates didnt use quotation marks on what the person said to Melissa, until Melissa saw the woman confused me. The woman punished her, she became scared, then let her go. This is where the psychoanalysis comes in. Is she dreaming this woman is there, and this punishment happened? Because she talks about how she doesnt mind the smell of the room, and how its not her doing these things (taking off her pants/panties and lying down on the nasty bed.) Melissa told Mary Lou about the Minton house, but not that the woman wanted to see her like the woman asked, and Mary Lou went anyway. I think this is the first time in the story where Melissa feels like shes in control when it comes to hers and Mary Lous friendship., but this is what costs her the friendship. Mary Lou makes the comment I hate you..I always have and yes, again, Melissa is isolated. Then back to present day, and Melissa is confused. She knows what has happened in her life, but not what has happened in the pages of the notebook. Mary Lou was found murdered ten days after her hateful comment to Melissa, and Im sure Melissa felt as if it was partly her fault. Her mother made sure she knew that Jesus loves her too, and her parents wouldnt let her to go the funeral. Im sure she felt isolated. She finishes up the story with how she doesnt remember things that just happened as well as things that happened in the past, and with Once upon a time. Oates did a really good job of writing this story. It was very believable, if it wasnt true. She did a good job of using psychoanalysis, and a constant feel of isolation. I liked it a lot, I liked most of the Modernism/Postmodernism stories.

Mrs. Mallard’s Heart Disease Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We are aware of different health problems, their causes and consequences. Mass media create favorable conditions in which we can find the required information and can be fully informed about our health. The information we get from television, newspapers, and online sources emphasizes the threat of heart diseases among women. We keep to the thought that heart diseases and strokes primarily hit men. Moreover, we cannot but admit that heart diseases are the major causes of human deaths. When reading the works of talented writers who lived earlier, we cannot but feel the impression of medical helplessness of that time. Many of us understand that the diseases described in earlier literary works are no longer threatening to the contemporary reader. Certainly, this does not mean that the discussed works lose their relevance, but modern state of medicine makes it possible to look at such works from a different angle. In The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin has depicted a young lady with a heart disease; she died of heart attack caused by extremely powerful emotions. I am confident that our modern technologies and medicine could have helped Mrs. Mallard to avoid such tragic and evidently, too early death. Mrs. Mallard’s heart disease Kate Chopin was very distinct and explicit in her descriptions of Mrs. Mallard’s disease: â€Å"Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will – as powerlessness as her two white slender hands would have been. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: â€Å"free, free, free!† The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body† (Chopin) Mrs. Mallard was young (Chopin). Her disease was well known and other family members were aware of her physical and emotional vulnerability. From the viewpoint of modern medicine and technology, Mrs. Mallard’s sister Josephine had been very cautious when she had to inform Mrs. Mallard of her husband’s death. At the moment of revelation, the words â€Å"free† uttered by Mrs. Mallard could either refer to her feelings towards her husband, or to the physical pain which was overwhelming and almost possessed her. Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart disease, and the coming doctors could only confirm she had died of heart disease. They were unable to do anything to save Mrs. Mallard or to prevent such tragic outcomes. In this context, the issue can be discussed from the two different viewpoints. First, modern technology and medicine would have saved Mrs. Mallard from death which has become the result of the heart attack: modern emergency rescue techniques and transportation make it possible to save a person’s life even in the most serious life-threatening condition. Second, modern technology and medicine would have prevented heart attacks and would guarantee Mrs. Mallard long, stable, and relatively healthy existence with minor limitations. She would have been able to live a long life if contemporary medicines and technologies had been available to her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Women are at risk for heart disease and heart attacks, just like men. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over 65. American women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer† (Family Doctor). The problem is that the majority of women still treats heart disease as the traditionally male problem, and does not realize the threats it creates to their health. As always, medical problems are easier to prevent than to treat. This is why it is critical that the patients are aware of their health problems and are involved into the process of continuous medical care, which will prevent serious health complications and will provide a person with a chance to live. In her story Kate Chopin makes the reader aware of the fact that Louise was sick; however, was Louise herself realizing the seriousness of her heart disease? Probably, she was not. It is clear that her sister was more realistic in terms of Mrs. Mallard’s disease, and even if Louise herself knew her health problems, she did not care much about them. This was the biggest mistake she could make towards her health.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The internet and other sources of information offer sufficient information on the methods of treating heart disease and preventing heart attacks. From the viewpoint of the continuous medical care, Louise could take several easy steps to make her life easier. First she could control her blood pressure and the symptoms of heart disease (Wilansky & Willerson 54). The blood pressure control can take several forms, but in case with Mrs. Mallard she could keep to a healthy diet, minimize the salt intake, and address the doctor for medicines which would lower blood pressure. Modern technologies make it possible to measure the cholesterol level; this option would provide Mrs. Mallard with the full information about her diet, and possibly adjust it to her health needs. There is one more essential aspect in treating heart disease: patients should be constantly alert when it comes to changes in their health or their perceptions (Orth-Gomer & Chesney 98). Patients are not to neglect the chest pain: â€Å"be sure to contact your doctor immediately if you suffer from pain in your chest, shoulder, neck, or jaw. Also notify your doctor if you experience shortness of breath or nausea that comes on quickly. If you are having a heart attack, the faster you can get to a hospital, the less damage will happen to your heart† (Family Doctor). Modern technologies and transport help reach the patient in the remotest area and provide the best medical assistance while the patient is being taken to the hospital.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To be objective, the discussed measures are also connected with significant constraints, and in order to guarantee the best health outcomes, Louise and her doctor would have taken these constraints into account. First of all, â€Å"women are more likely than men to have atypical heart attack symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue or shortness of breath† (Krantz & Mcceney 1013). It would be extremely difficult for Mrs. Mallard to identify the symptoms of a heart attack: it would practically impossible to visit the doctor each time she felt pain. However, we can conclude from the story that Louise was familiar with the symptoms of her heart disease; moreover, they were always similar or even the same. This is why it would be easy for her to prevent health complications in case she reported her pain and other symptoms in timely manner. The major threat heart disease creates for a woman is the threat of silent heart attacks, which are more probable among women, than men (Krantz & Mcceney 1015). As Louise felt the pain was coming and was embracing her chest, she could certainly prevent her heart attack.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Second, â€Å"women are less likely than men to have the typical findings on the ECG that are necessary to diagnose a heart attack quickly† (Orth-Gomer & Chesney 35). Yet, the mere awareness of the fact that the person has heart disease will lead medical professionals in the correct direction. They will know how to interpret the symptoms, and what to do to save the life of the patient. Women’s heart is unique both physiologically and emotionally, and even when it comes to science, medical specialists fail to explain the majority of the processes which take place in a woman’s heart. For example, â€Å"women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men. No one knows why. It may be that women don’t seek or receive treatment as soon as men, or it may be because women’s smaller hearts and blood vessels are more easily damaged† (Family Doctor). In any case, heart attack and heart disease is more threatening for a woman than it is for a man. This does not mean that for a woman to have sick heart means to be dead. On the contrary, numerous preventive measures are aimed at creating favorable conditions for those whose heart is vulnerable to emotions, stresses, physical exercises, and other related activities. If we take into account the extremely stressful situation in which Louise was, and neglect the reasons for which she had not addressed the doctors earlier in her life, she could have been saved. â€Å"Emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary stenting for acute heart attack is as effective in women as in men; however, women may have slightly higher rate of procedure-related complications in their blood vessels (such as bleeding or clotting at the point of insertion of the PTCA catheter). This higher rate of complications has been attributed to women’s older age, smaller artery size, and greater severity of angina. The long-term outcome of angioplasty or stenting however, is similar in men and women, and should not be withheld due to gender.† (Consedine, Magai & Chin 215) Taking into account Mrs. Mallard’s young age, she could have avoided the majority of procedure-related complications and would evidently have survived her heart attack. It is doubtless that Louise would be able to live a long life. Modern technology and medicine would supply her with several options. First, she would be able to go through the extensive medical investigation to discover the causes, implications, and possible risks of her heart disease. To be aware means to be alive when it comes to treating heart diseases. The results of investigation would provide Louise with the knowledge about possible measures to prevent heart attack or other related complications of her heart disease. Second, such investigation and medical analysis would help Louise adjust her daily life to the needs of her sick heart, and avoid significant stresses which have led her to death. Any extreme emotion is the stress for a weak heart, no matter whether it is sadness or joy, and a sick person must control such emotions to prevent the negative health outcomes (Consedine, Magai & Chin 214). Mrs. Mallard would have had access to preventive therapeutic solutions, which modern medicine offers. Preventive measures would significantly decrease health risks for Louise. Third, modern medical science possesses profound knowledge about the mechanisms of heart diseases and heart attacks; contemporary surgeons have numerous instruments and techniques available to restore the sick heart, and to guarantee long and full life to the patient after a heart attack. When combined with modern means of transport and emergency rescue, these instruments become invaluable in saving the lives of those who have suffered acute heart attack.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Kate Chopin’s story, Mrs. Mallard has died of heart attack, â€Å"of joy that kills† (Chopin). People may hold various opinions about her heart disease, but one thing is evident: Louise could have been saved in case she could use the modern achievements in medicine, technology, and science. Even if we assume that heart disease and heart attacks remain the major reasons of human deaths, more and more people are saved and receive timely medical assistance due to the latest advances in medical technology and science. Chopin has not presented us with all circumstances and objective conditions in which Louise’s disease had developed. The information in the story is sufficient to predict that the outcomes could have been much more favorable in case Mrs. Mallard could use telephone, transport, and medical equipment which are available to us. Heart diseases still create the majority of life-threatening complications, but the extensive scientific research has created vast opportunities for saving the lives of patients after a heart attack and other related health problems. The case of Mrs. Mallard was not connected with any other health complications: she was young, and her age would have made her recovery easier and faster. Female heart is extremely complex both physiologically and emotionally, but even such complications would not create serious obstacles against returning Louise to life. However, even if Louise had survived, no one knows how her family relations and continuous moral and emotional pressure would have impacted her future life. In certain conditions death can be viewed as savior. Works Cited Chopin, K. â€Å"The Story of an Hour.† 1894. Washington State University. 17 February 2008. http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/chopin.html Consedine, N.S., Magai, C. & Chin, S. â€Å"Hostility and Anxiety Differentially Predict Cardiovascular Disease in Men and Women.† Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 50 (2004): 214-18. Family Doctor. â€Å"Heart Disease and Heart Attacks: What Women Need to Know.† 2007. FamilyDoctor. Org. 17 February 2008. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/risk/287.html Krantz, David S. & Mcceney, M. â€Å"Effects of Psychological and Social Factors on Organic Disease: A Critical Assessment of Research on Coronary Heart Disease.† Annual Review of Psychology (2002), pp. 1012-1024. Orth-Gomer, K. & Chesney, M. Women, Stress, and Heart Disease. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1998. Wilansky, S. & Willerson, J.T. Heart Disease in Women. Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Analysis Of Katherine Mansfield s The Dolls House Essay

Katherine Mansfield was an early 20th New Zealand writer who focused on people and how they interacted with each other. She was often making comments on the society around her. The four short stories of Mansfield that I am going to talk about are also based on the interaction between societies. The people in the 19th century were blinded with darkness of class prejudice and external appearance. The four short stories are ‘The Dolls House’ ‘The Garden Party’ ‘A Cup of Tea’ and ‘Miss Brill’. The text which I have chosen builds up the strong connections with the theme of prejudice through classism and ageism present in the world. All the texts which I have selected for theme study share some strong similarities between them related to the theme. Whether its prejudice through classism between upper and lower class society seen in â€Å"the doll’s house† and â€Å"the garden party† where upper class believe that lo wer class have no feeling and emotions or ‘A cup of tea’ where rich people show generosity to people inferior to them and consider them as lower class poor people or whether its ‘Miss Brill’ where exclusion is shown on the basis of age group which leads to isolation. All these four texts show different types of prejudice. The prejudice through classism was shown in the ‘the doll’s house’ when three rich upper class Burnell children Isabel, Lottie and Kezia receives a doll’s house which also became the topic of interest at their school. Isabel was inviting all her friends toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Katherine Mansfield s The Doll s House 1645 Words   |  7 Pagesconcept of social class, categorizing as well as forcing people into different distinct groups and ranks based on their financial, political, and socio-economic status. This system of social stratification is demonstrated in Katherine Mansfield’s short story, â€Å"The Doll’s House†, and explores the issue of prejudicial distinction between people based on their experiences and social circumstances. Through Mansfield’s manipulation of the relationships among certain characters such as the inferior lower

The Underworld and How It Reflects the Goals and Realities...

The Underworld and How it Reflects the Goals and Realities of Virgil and Homer Two epic poems from two great civilizations depict their authors varying views of the Underworld: The Odyssey and The Aeneid. The Greek poet Homer describes the hardships of Odysseus and his struggle to return home to his beloved wife and family after the Trojan War in The Odyssey. The Roman poet Virgil composed The Aeneid for the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, in order to rebuild Rome after the civil war had ended. The Aeneid portrays a demigod, Aeneas, whose mission is to create a grand city that will be known as Rome. This paper analyzes the differences and similarities in how Virgil and Homer view the Underworld in The Odyssey†¦show more content†¦The Odyssey emphasizes the barren and sad nature of the Underworld, showing that the Greeks believe that death is the end of lifes happiness. Odysseus mother explains to Odysseus why he cannot embrace her: â€Å"The sinews no lo nger hold the flesh and bones together;/ these perish in the fierceness of consuming fire as soon as life has/left the body, and the soul flits away as though it were a dream† (Homer 6). From this statement, it can be inferred that the Greeks think that death is a great equalizer. The bad have it worse in Hell but they die like the good, feeling rather sad in not being able to live again. Virgil, however, describes the Underworld in greater detail through its sequences and in much more glorified details (Leach 120). In The Aeneid, every seat in the Underworld is a product of judgment on peoples lives (121). Virgil depicts Plutos dome, which has the roman vestibulum where official and honorable guests congregate (121). Virgil also describes the differences between the people of honor and people of sin in the Underworld. Sinners suffer in the cliff guarded by Tisiphone, where vultures eat their livers and experience numerous other forms of suffering. The Underworld also holds h eroes who continually fight their legendary battles: â€Å"Here found they Tsucers old heroic race,/ Born better times and happier years to grace./ Assaracus and Ilus here enjoy/ Perpetual fame, with him who founded Troy† (Virgil 6). Virgil is saying thatShow MoreRelatedThe Myth Of The Divine Comedy2390 Words   |  10 Pagesideas and has various definitions, running from a whole mode of thought to depicting specific stories. In this setting, I am alluding to myth to allude to the assemblage of customary stories from antiquated Greece and Rome: the wellsprings of Homer, Virgil, Hesiod, and Ovid. Notwithstanding, even that qualification does not answer the topic of what decisively about the myths has incited their persevering impact all through history, particularly in the humanities. A piece of the reason those myths