Piano Lesson, blog #4

From our reading last class, I tabbed several things including maybe a reason for Boy Willie seeking to sell the piano so aggressively. On my tab, I noted that it really seems like Boy Willie is less concerned about the history on the piano, and more concerned about the fact that it was partially his father's. I believe he is searching for some gratification for his father's death; some justification. He needs to feel like his dad died for a reason, and that his life will be honored after death. Boy Willie believes he can achieve this feeling by selling the piano to make success of it.

I also commented: "Austin, I was also thinking about the fact that were half way through the book and I have no idea what the conflict/resolution could be. Hopefully it will be exciting. I'm also wondering what the author was thinking when he decided to have Berniece and Boy Willie argue so much." on Austin's blog.

Piano Lesson, blog #2

After our reading in class today, I went back and looked at some of the tabs I made. One of them that I was really wondering about is why Doaker insists on talking about the railroad lines and the building of them. He almost uses them as a parallel for his life I think. I think the author might be trying to give us an idea of his wisdom and age. He, so far, seems like the reasonable, thoughtful man of the group.

I also commented: "I was also wondering that. Berniece seems to be verryy attached to the piano and I would maybe like to know why. I would also like to know why Boy Willie wants to sell it so bad." on Rachel Cooper's blog.

Piano Lesson, blog #1

From our in-class reading today of The Piano Lesson, I noticed the authors use of dialect. I think this is very powerful in giving us a setting and portraying the characters personalities. To begin the novel with so much dialogue I think as helpful because we as readers already have a good idea about how the characters act and think.

I also commented:
Soooo Trevor (: I thought the same thing when I first heard the title, I thought it would be completely centered around a piano of some sort. I wonder how the title will tie in.

Cry, chapter 32 tabbing

"He opened Msimangu's letter and read about all the happenings of Johannesburg and was astonished to find within himself a faint nostalgia for the great bewildering city." (275) I tabbed this sentence because I thought it kind of contrasted his first thoughts of Johannesburg. I thought it showed character transmutation.

"So an hour passed, while there was quite an array of sticks and flags, and Kumalo looked on as mystified as ever." (277) This quote appears when Jarvis and the magistrate are planting the sticks and flags. I tabbed this sentence because I thought it did a good job at expressing the seperation that is felt between the ability of the white and black man in South Africa at this time.

Setting paralleling Stephen's life

In the story Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton uses setting to parallel the life of the main character in the story, Stephen Kumalo.  This can by following Kumalo through various, relevant points in the story. Before Stephen leaves his home, the land is said to have hills that are “lovely beyond any singing of it.” (34) However though, as we follow Stephen throughout his journey, the land changes as parts of his life do. Like when Stephen first leaves his home to travel to Johannesburg to find his son and Gertrude, he is feeling adventurous, perspective, and nervous to travel to such an unfamiliar and perplexing city. At a parallel moment, the land is being introduced as a place where “others like it, and find in it mystery and fascination, and prelude to adventure, and an intimidation of the unknown.” (41) Although these are just 2 examples of how his life is paralleled with setting, it appears many times throughout the book.