Class follow up-New Woman- ali pepin

Overall, this class has opened my eyes on many aspects of the New Woman. I came into this class thinking it was going to be a bunch of periods, emotional cycles, and girl power, yet there is so much depth that I've learned. The idea that women are actually the more powerful sex with our sexuality and persuasiveness, at least I think so. Even the way women have a greater realization of their own being and life they begin to take matters into their own hands, this may be a positive reaction or a rather negative reaction. Either way, it's as though women have evolved over the years into powerful beings who are very aware. Beginning as the inferior sex and evolving and rising to power, its a very vivid growth that has progressed and is still progressing into something even greater. Also, this class has shown me the ways women are viewed and how women writers are very different. Many women have very different stories to tell and you can count on interesting ways women authors will portray these stories.

Vera Drake - after class discussion

I always thought that abortion is not a tragic choice if a mother does not want the baby. If the mother was not expected the baby and does not want him/her, it would be better not to make the baby born. Because both mother and baby's life would be ruined if the mother does not want him/her and he/she raises without mother's love. However, after the discussion in class, I was wondering what is right or wrong.  I was not sure if my thought was right; also, I was not sure if Vera Drake was doing right thing.

New Gibson Girl

As this course comes to a close I feel as though I can say I have left with more knowledge then I would have expected on the traits and characteristics of who the Gibson Girl was. I was rather surprised to read that the idea of the Gibson Girl came from the drawings of a man. "Gibson himself could keep up with the fashions--the new shorter terraced skirts, the coronets of braided hair and the Merry Widow hats--and keep up with the changing social conventions--automobile driving, dashing to parties, dancing and having fun--but he was uncomfortable with American woman's seemingly increasing free-floating morality" (pg. 179). After everything we have discussed in class it amazes me that all the women's rights movements and everything women fought for themselves were brought on by the ideas of the Gibson Girl created by a man. Maybe more of women's rights were a joint effort than we were taught to believe?

Vera Drake

I became really intrigued when watching Vera Drake because it’s an issue I feel that is often avoided and not too commonly spoken about. This movie allows for empathy towards the issue, whether one supports it or not. We are able to observe why woman may feel compelled to go through with an abortion, and common misconceptions about the issue. Vera did what she did because she felt that strongly about woman’s rights. Who can tell a woman what to do with her body? Therefore, she chose to overcome a social stigma to do what she felt was right. Something that stood out to me was when her son found out and couldn’t bring himself to forgive her. It’s interesting that some men are totally against it when it is not something they ever have to worry about experiencing. It got me thinking about why it is such a political issue; could it be because men primarily make up politics? It’s kind of like us women telling men they can’t get a vasectomy as a form of birth control with allowing them very little say in the matter. Anywho, I thought it was a great movie with a good portrayal of abortions and women rights.

Vera

The moment I found most interesting in Vera Drake was the moment where Sally Hawkins character went to get approved for an abortion. it was interesting that the only people she spoke to were men. the way they treated her wish, like she was crazy to want an abortion contrasted so differently from Vera. Vera seemed to understand in only a way another woman could, that it was life or death for these women.

The New Woman

Before this class I have never heard of the term "The New Woman". This class has helped me realize how far women have come throughout the last hundred years. I was aware of some of the themes that we discussed; however, I enjoyed further learning about them through the readings throughout the semester. It seems as if we have come a long way since the 1900's but there are still some rights that we are fighting for today.Women have fought throughout the past hundred years for equal rights pay and rights to abort or take birth control to control when they have children. These issues are now coming up again and women are having to fight for their rights all over again. This astounds me because it seems as if men are becoming even more superior to women. Men are able to choose whether or not they want to stay with their children and there aren't any consequences besides paying child support; however women are then looked down upon because they just want to take money from their children's father. I am hoping that eventually women will become equal to men because as far as I am concerned we can earn an education and maintain a career so I do not really see much of a difference.

Vera Drake

When seeing the film I took much interest into the film because it discussed an issue which many women deal with. Abortions are something which have always been a wishy washy situation. I believe being forced to have a baby especially if you are raped is insane becasue you have to raise this child and explain to them that there father raped there mother. However, Abortions are now something which women have used a voice of freedom and now in today society is common. I want state on own personal stance but I will say that abortions are simply something which is a woman decision which needs to be thought out and consider. It was just nice to see how abortions were viewed then as opposed to how abortions are viewed now

Authors and Their Character Connections

In the last paragraph of the conclusion of Beyond the Gibson Girl, the author states, "Marked by region, race, class status, and political and social affiliations, these writers create New Woman characters who often reflect and interrogate the social positioning of their creators". This passage made me think about the authors of some of our recent works, and encouraged me to reflect upon the connections between them and their characters. Many authors draw upon their own experiences and injustices, infusing them into their protagonists in order to address issues in society. After doing a little research, I was shocked to find Jean Rhys' life stunningly similar to that of Anna of Voyage in the Dark. Rhys faced the discrimination and cultural shock of moving to England from Dominica, worked as a chorus girl, struggled for money, had an affair with a wealthy man, and had a near fatal abortion. Rhys writes of Anna's inner and outer struggles, reflecting upon her own circumstances, bringing to light ever-present difficulties and decisions faced by many women. I then turned to The Street, and found that although Ann Petry was raised in a more wealthy and nurturing environment than the subjects of the book, she certainly experienced racism and the life of "the street" in her own way, and utilized her observations to bring the issues of racism and poverty to light through Lutie, Bub, and the inhabitants of 116th Street. Petry worked at an after school program in Harlem as an adult, observing the hardships of many black Americans on the streets of New York. Her writings in The Street were influenced by these experiences, as she strove to bring attention to the characters and people so "marked by region, race", and "class status". I enjoyed finding the connections between these authors and their works, and uncovering their efforts to use their own experience and observations to "interrogate" the social conditions around them.

Vera Drake is a movie that I feel like I should watch again just to get the full effect of it.
I can't get over her acting (I'll never look at Umbridge the same again).

I was particularly interested in the contrast between the "clinic" where illegal abortions were happening and the fact that Vera went into the homes.

The clinic was expensive, probably just as dangerous, cold, white, and sad...and run by men.
In the homes, women were more comfortable, felt better about their right to choose, and Vera was comforting.

That being said, Vera was the one who was punished, even though she was doing a service. This really shows the attitude toward women and class standings.

Vera Drake

The movie was eye-opening in a lot of ways. I liked that is showed different aspects and scenarios dealing  with abortion. The girl who had been rapped... I couldn't imagine. Even today a lot of people do not support pro-choice options even for rape victims, which blows my mind. Having an unwanted child that way would be the saddest thing ever to have to deal with. The girl having to state that she would be suicidal if she had the baby is awful, along with all the psychological examination. Vera's actions reminded me of Dr. Kevorkian's in some ways. Both advocate individuals having a choice. Kevorkian was an euthanasia activist, and helped with assisted suicide to terminally ill individuals  that were in pain. Both he and Vera went against government law and attempted to serve people, they justified this according to their own moral compass. Vera tried to help girls that were in need and saw a dead end, (no pun intended) but Kevorkian gave people the means to meet an end and dissolve pain. 

Vera Drake-Naja Tatum

This movie was very interesting and it really gave some insight as to what the view of abortion was in the 1950s in comparison with the views of abortion now. In the movie I found it very interesting that the men in the video had very STRONG views towards the decisions of a woman's body. They believed that it was wrong and unjust and the women who considered that ill or had mental problems, not really thinking about the circumstances the women were actually going through and that they were not ready or prepared to bring a child into this world.
In class we talked about all the recent changes going on in different states concerning birth control and abortion, in today's view I wonder if Vera Drake would still think that she is helping girls concerning all the birth control available now.

The Street

The book "Native Son" by Richard Wright has a lot of parallels with the book the street. Bigger, the main character of "Native Son, was black and at the bottom of the world, and this ideology of class and race seemed to start slowly escaping him. The murders he committed in the book allowed him to slip away from the constricting embrace that his surroundings thrust upon him for being black. The murder made Bigger feel free and capable to do as he wished without any societal barriers. The murder was his, and his alone. Color could not be the number one role pin pointing the murder, he was not just black or white, but a murderer who had been released from the imperceptible force that had been grounding him all his life. He proclaimed that his execution of Mary, a rich white girl, was more than just an act justified by the fear and shame she had made him feel, the fear and shame had just been there. Mary had set off his emotions, just as many like her had done before, but this time he acted upon it. Once he killed her he felt "a lessening of tension in his muscles; he had shed an invisible burden he had long carried" (Wright). 


In "The Street" Lutie sees the whites as having it all. To her money is everything, and you can do anything with money, even cover up suicide. She is obsessed with upward mobilty and strives to accomplish the American Dream. A white man tries to make her his whore essentially, and a black man makes advances to rape her. When the African American man comes at her she beats him to death. Lutie realizes that the American Dream is no longer attainable, as she is a black women who has killed someone. She is stuck as Bigger was, and she decides to give up, leave her son, and get a one-way train ticket and leave the street. Ultimately, her race, gender, and the general manner of capitalism hinder her ability to achieve her goal, just as it did for Bigger, because he was a black man who raped a white girl, and neither he nor Lutie wouldn't have had chance making it out on the street.


-Tanis

Vera Drake

I first off thought Vera Drake was a fascinating and really well-done film. There were many things I found interesting about this film that I wanted to talk about. Drake was the caretaker of multiple people and seemed to put herself last (even though she seemed to strive for independence). I also thought that the abortion "clinic" she ran was interesting; she doesn't do it for profit, but rather as a "service" for young women (for free). As she didn't charge people for abortions, I saw Drake almost as a public/civil servant figure, someone who was working for the better good of society (to eliminate "unwanted" members).

The way abortion was posited in this movie was very deviant from other literature/films that have included abortion (such as Voyage in the Dark). While it does not seem like a pleasant process whatsoever, Drake views abortion has something (often) necessary and eventually beneficial for society. I also think abortion is extremely fraught with issues that will fail to be resolved in the near future; I think this film was a great one to watch especially within the context of current political discourses regarding women's reproductive rights. Drake promotes a unique advocacy for women in terms of reproductive rights in the film.

The Street and Vera Drake

One quote that tied the two together was when Reg said "if you can't feed them you can't love them" referring to his mother raising him and his six brothers and sisters. This immediately made me think of the conversation we had about The Street in class. In a perfect world all mothers would be able to be there for their children and give them all the love and attention they need, but if they don't have the basic necessities needed for life this isn't always possible. Vera Drake made it very apparent that most of these women were clearly unable to raise a child and their decisions were not selfish, but rather selfless because they would like to be able to do so.

Vera Drake

This movie was really upsetting and troublesome for me. Vera was such a kind hearted person who really wanted to help these girls that felt like had no other choice or exit. With the exception of the woman who was drinking martinis with her friends and had had multiple abortions, all of the other girls were upset and emotional and scared and really seemed to want to talk to Vera about what was going on. They needed someone to be there for them. And although she saw what she was doing as helping these women, she did not fight the charges against her. She accepted that what she had been doing was legally wrong and this seemed really strong to me. She regretted that the one girl got sick, however, she truly believed in what she was doing. I think it also said a lot that she didn't tell her family. To me it signaled that in the back of her head she knew what she was doing wouldn't be accepted by everyone, even her husband whom she told everything to.

Vera Drake - Meagan Niles

I think that this movie highlighted the fact that abortions are such a controversial topic. On one side is Vera, a caring woman who is always singing to herself and views her job as “helping girls that are in trouble.” On the other side is the court system where abortions are illegal. There was even some difference of opinion in Vera’s own family. While her husband and daughter seemed to support her the best they could, Vera’s son wanted nothing to do with her and questioned how she could "kill little babies." At first, it was hard for me to relate to Vera because I am pro-life. At the same time, I understood that this movie was trying to display some varying situations/opinions. For some of the women, this might have been their only option at this time in history. One example of this was Susan, a rape victim who would have rather killed herself than have the baby. A very different case was the woman who was drinking martinis with her friend as she prepared for the abortion. Although we don’t see the exact motive behind this abortion, the client did not seem to take her baby’s life seriously at all.

Vera Drake

Wow, what an unbelievable movie. I found Imelda Staunton's performance to be so moving and I loved her at every moment during the film. One of the most striking scenes for me was when the young girl who was raped was trying to get an abortion and she had to jump through all these hoops to get one. She had to admit that she would kill herself just to get clearance for an abortion. Not only is this significant because of the fact that there are threats looming currently that women will have to undergo psychiatric and intensely invasive physical evaluations in order to obtain an abortion, but also because of how ineffective these measures may be. Anyone could claim they were suicidal because of their pregnancy, but the fact that they would have to do it is ridiculous.

The Undefinable: A Fantasia -Kate Ferraro

At first I was totally confused by this short story, and still am unsure if I have the right idea. In the beginning it was difficult to tell if the narrator was a male or female. When the narrator is finally revealed  as a male, I got the feeling that the woman model had power over him. Throughout the short story, the female had the power over the male artist. The model was constantly talking down to the narrator, or criticizing him saying things like "you should be artistic, not artificial" (274), or referring to him as a "charming phrase-maker" (283). I thought the scene where the model has the narrator put on the Greek clothing and laughs at him especially showed her power. After beginning to see the pattern of her authority over  him, I thought I felt I had the right idea because in the ending the artist describes the model as "a free woman, a new creature, and a source of inspiration the like of which no man hitherto has even imaged in art or literature" (287).

Vera Drake- Emily Armstrong

I agree that the film left us with many different questions to consider. I personally also saw the movie as a very emotional and sympathetic experience. I felt Vera's anguish as she was torn from her dear family for something that she felt was wholly just. I saw her as a caring figure; helping young women get through a trying situation that they were in no way prepared to undertake. Considering the time period and the lack of voice that these women were given Vera’s performing these abortions was her way to take control and make a difference. Yet on that note I was also disappointed that no women really took the opportunity, Vera included, to speak up in court to explain their mistreatment and justify Vera's actions. Yes Vera could help girls in secrecy, but when it came time to defend women in the public eye she did nothing and took no initiative. For that reason I did not see this movie as being empowering, but more so of how little power women were given in the 1950s and how they seemed to feel there was no way to change this view.

Vera Drake

I don't even know where to begin. I was completely dedicated to the film Vera Drake from the very beginning till the end. I wanted to know where this was going. I found myself frustrated when people had a hard time speaking. I want to yell at them to spit it out: defend the rights of women! When Vera was being questioned and she couldn't speak it was treacherous! I just wanted her to stand up for herself so badly. I felt the same way when Susan couldn't tell about the rape. I just felt so bad for these women and it was really, really hard to watch. This movie is an outstanding portrayal of how women were not given rights to their own bodies. I was devastated when Vera was on trial and the outcome of the verdict. I was completely on Vera''s side. As I am reflecting on the film, I wonder if it's my political views that influenced my compassion or not. The way the movie is set up, I believe even someone pro-life could see what Vera was doing was out of the good intentions deeply rooted in her heart. When I left class, I walked out with others and we were all very emotional and stunned by the ending result. Those who I talked to agree with Vera. I can't help but think that the law enforcement was only trying to make a point out of Vera. The way that the female officer and detective were compassionate and caring to her, makes me think they were in agreement that she was "helping out girls". Vera did this for no money, so how was she not helping? I am really looking forward to class discussion on Monday. I wonder what others thought and felt during this experience. Did they feel for Vera as I did, a helper of young girls? Or will there be debate as to her not being helpful at all?

Vera Drake

I was not expecting the movie to take the turn that it did when Vera was "caught" by the police. I saw her as a caring woman who's intentions were good. The thing that upset me the most during this movie is that Vera was helping out young women out of the good of her heart, and never intended for it to be a bad thing but ends up in prison for it. During her trials I do not think the judge or jury considered her helping hand or tried to understand her intentions. This movie was a good portrayal of how women were undermined, and any actions they took outside of what was expected of them was looked down upon. Vera did not have one bad bone in her body and she did not deserve that treatment. Her facial expression made the audience feel for her even more, along with the hurt that her family endured. I enjoyed this movie but was disturbed by the unfair treatment and judgement given to Vera. I also thought this movie was dragged out a little too long, but besides those factors I found it enjoyable.

Vera Drake

I felt like I was watching a horror movie when I was watching the movie, Vera Drake. I was shocked by her facial expression when she kills babies from young girls. I thought that how a person can kill babies without any emotion or feelings. So I thought that her action is very cruel at first, however, when she keeps saying that "she helped young girls" I started to understand how she felt about the abortion. I thought that she wanted to keep the young girls safe and did not want them to be in worse situations. The young girls were not ready to be mothers and did not expect their babies. Also, the babies would have life that they did not expected; they would not be happy if they found out that their mothers were not intended to have them. Which means that unborn babies could have made their mothers' lives worse and that would make their lives worse also. So I thought that there is an irony whether Vera Drake really "helped young girls out" or just simply killed babies illegally.

The Street- Part II

I thought that the relationship between Min and Jones is somehow interesting in chapter V. She likes to live and stay with Jones, at the same time, he wants to kick her out of his house. They have different thoughts about each other at the same time; their relationship seems very fragile. The interesting part is where she meets David the prophet and gets some stuff to help their relationship continues. I was wondering if she really believes in these kinds of talisman and that will continue their relationship. It looks like she does not try to find and solve each other's inner problems but to rely on outer objects. She does not seem to feel that their problematic relationship started from themselves.

Vera Drake

Coming from a conservative background, I found many attributes of this movie to be both motivating as well as moving. I was happy to hear that Vera was found guilty and was required to serve two and a half years in prison. Though I do not intend to open up a can of worms, but Vera was killing babies over and over with little to no remorse. Beyond the task of performing an abortion, which is exactly what Vera was doing whether or not she had the courage to admit it, Vera was also leaving these young girls to fend for themselves after a traumatic surgery. I question whether Vera understood the perversion behind her actions. It is absolutely astounding to me that a mother, especially one with a young daughter, is willing to leave a girl on her bed to "dry yourself" and "let it be taken care of". What mother allows a girl to suffer in agony, only to gather her belongings and leave as if nothing happened?

To be honest, I feel as though Vera was somewhat incompetent and did not know what she was doing. This is unfortunate because her attempt to help girls quickly withered away as she was caught. Vera did not take into the consideration her two children, the livelihood of her husband, or the fact that her actions were illegal. If it was so excruciatingly painful for Vera to realize that she was going to go to jail and ruin the party for her dear Ethel, why did she not take this into account when she was murdering children?

Vera Drake- Leah Short

What I particularly liked about this film was that it made it apparent that the battle for birth control and the rights of women and their bodies has been an ongoing issue for a long time. Although Vera Drake and her experience with abortion was different from the discussion today, it still shows that the right of women to have control over their bodies completely is still something questioned and monitored today.

Abortion is probably one of the most debated and discussed issue I hear about in politics. Vera Drake simplified abortion to being something that women may need because they need help. She didn't view abortions as even being called such, nor did she see abortions as being a moral or political issue as we seem to see it as today.

As a whole I think this film, as much of a downer as it was, shows the reality of the control our society tries to have over women's bodies and that this has been a cyclical tendency which is still apparent today.

Vera Drake

Well this movie made me lose all faith in humanity. I jest, but it did raise some questions and concerns about the mindset around reproductive health then and now.

Vera helps young girls out. Vera understands that women in 1950 are not all inclined to reproduce or to wait until marriage to have sex. And she understands that they can't have the ostracizing and humiliation over having a child out of wedlock. It's a scarlet letter. I love the moment when the detective says "You provide abortions" and she says "That's what you call it, that's not what I call it." It's the same debate today-- the termination of a pregnancy as "murder" or a reproductive health right that helps women.

The character in the movie I found very intriguing was the woman who was assisting the detective. The way she treated Vera, very caring, compassionate, understanding, made me believe that she was on Vera's side but in her position, could not stand up for her because she had to uphold the law. That conflict is evident through the movie-- the idea of doing what is right or doing what is lawful, and I think they are two different things. Or in the context of the film they are seen as two different things. Vera does what she believes is right because she just wants to help women. And she never expects anything in return. She is upholding her own sense of morality even in the face of what is right and wrong according to her government. I'm wondering if she continued to provide abortions to women after she was released from prison.

I hope that sort of made sense...

Vera Drake

I found this movie to be overwhelmingly emotional for me and I'm not sure why.  The idea of abortion being illegal to me is crazy and this was a perfect time to watch this movie because of all of the politics right now surrounding planned parenthood and the possibility of making abortion illegal again.  I found it so interesting that Vera didn't view it as killing a child but rather "helping" the girls.  She viewed it as them just being in trouble.  In the film, Reg says something about how if you can't feed a child, how can you love it.  I thought that was a different way of viewing it.  I had anticipated him being outraged over Vera's actions, like her son was and maybe dumping Ethel but he didn't...he actually approved of what she was doing.  I also think that the people who are deciding these rights for women in the film and now, are men.  These are people who can't even have a child but still think it's their right to decide when and if a woman has a baby.  Realistically, they shouldn't even have a say.  Also, Vera gets 2.5 years in prison for her first offense.  When she's talking to the other women in jail, it's their second offenses and they only have 6 mos, or a year and a half more than her.  She was used solely for the purpose of making a point and being used a deterrent for future women to help get rid of unwanted pregnancies.

Vera Drake- Chelsea Estes

When the movie, Vera Drake, first started, I was not sure exactly how I was going to like this film. However, by the end of the movie, I was very moved by the plot and outcome. I could not help but become attatched to the character, Vera and her family throughout the movie. She was concerned with others rather than herself. Although the topic of abortions was the main concept of the movie, I was surprised that there was a movie made about this. However, it did show two opposing viewpoints of abortions- the court who was very against what Vera was doing and then Vera, who thought she was just helping girls out. The movie was interesting in that it covered the different emotions and types of women- all with different background and stories, go through such a moving experience.

Vera drake-Ali pepin

Now I'm not here to pose a political stance on abortion, but throughout the movie I found it interesting how she considered what she was doing 'a favor' to women. She viewed it as such a quick little favor for the betterment of the women she helped. It almost gave them a back up plan for being able to go out and have sex or be irresponsible. On the other hand, it would be very helpful to a woman who had no money to see a pricey docto and if it was a situation that an abortion was the only option. I just found it very interesting the way the movie had so many happy moments to sad moments juxtapositions. Right after Vera performed the abortion on the woman with seven kids, it cut to a scene where she was in a theater with her husband laughing at the movie, everyone was laughing. It was almost shocking how disturbing the abortion scene was, then it cut right to the people laughing. Very bizarre to me. While Vera was performing such brash tasks she was only thinking of it in a helping caring manner. She was very consoling and soft with the ladies she helped, so it almost appeared ok to be doing, and she almost seemed one sided and naive in a way where this was nothing more than an 'abortion', almost as if this word bears no significance, like talking a walk in the park. It was also interesting how the one girl blamed her mental state on dangerous and unstable so as she could legally get the abortion and said that the man raped her. While Vera was attempting to be helpful and caring to these women it still struck me in such a weird way of what she did, how she did it, and just how she went on with her life. She seems to try to be a help more than a burden.

Vera Drake

While watching this movie, I think I was just more in shock the whole time. I could not believe that Vera really prided herself on the fact that she was not a doctor and was performing such dangerous procedures to young girls. I just wanted to jump in to the movie and shake Vera and make her realize the severity of her actions and what could have happened to all those girls before the girl she made sick. It relieved me a little that she was eventually made aware of what she was doing and how dangerous it could be.

The Undefinable: A Fantasia (Stevenson)

I was slightly confused by this short story. I was unsure if the narrator was a male or a female. I read the story as a male narrator and this reading for me was officially confirmed on page 287 when his servant says, "It is wonderful sir" (Grand). The narrator throughout the story ultimately discovers women in a new light because of this women model who come to his studio. When he first met the young women he did not find her particularly attractive. However, he is only unable to say no to her because of her voice. "It was not a voice of a common model" (266). This women model ultimately teaches the artist to sacrifice every delight of the body to keep his spiritual vision obscured; for there is not joy like this joy (286). Once the artist starts painting with the model she ends up leaving saying "you know know what you want" (286). On the last couple pages of the story the artist is able to reflect on the model and describes her as "a free woman, a new creature, a source of inspiration the like of which no man hitherto has even imaged in art or literature" (287). Making the narrator a male in this story was significant because the male comes to the ending conclusion of the "new women" that exist and the power she possess over man.

Vera Drake - Parzyck

Throughout the whole movie I kept going back and forth on my feelings of Vera. I did really like her and I believe what she THOUGHT she was doing was good for young girls. The fact that most girls couldn't afford an abortion done by a doctor during that time and Vera doing it for free to help women was a good thing, however I don't think she knew she was doing them a lot of harm and could possibly cause death. I assumed that since there wasn't much education during this time about abortions that Vera had no idea that it could cause harm she didn't think twice about doing the abortion. However, I was very confused by her change in personality from the beginning of the movie compared to the end. At the beginning she was SO sure of herself and prided herself on the fact she was giving abortions for free, but then at the end of the movie she couldn't even defend herself, let alone say anything. I wonder if she finally realized that it was dangerous for her to be giving abortions this way or if she just felt so much remorse for the girl she made ill and the fact that her family was extremely disappointed. Either way I ended up feeling horrible for Vera and I think she did have a very good heart but she just wasn't educated about the dangers of performing an abortion this way.

Motherhood

I was thinking about Bub and how Lutie treats him, and hw the class saw Lutie as a mother. I was quite annoyed the more I got thinking about it. I think we were over critical of her mothering. She tried really hard to make a good life for him, but she just didn't know how. To be present, she needed money, and she didn't have any. and I think she thought that leaving him behind was better for him, and maybe it was, maybe he can get out of the street now. Maybe he'll be adopted by richer parents or something...but then again, maybe not. I still think she did what she thought was best for him, and that's what a parent is supposed to do.

Vera Drake

When Vera was arrested, her personality did not seem to match that of her at the beginning of the movie.  In the beginning of the movie, Vera seemed very self assured; she knew that what she was doing was something positive in the lives of the young girls that she was helping.  However, after she was arrested, she did not seem to be able to put a single sentence together.  She no longer had faith in herself and that what she was doing was helping these young girls who were in trouble.  I expected Vera to be proud of what she had done, like the two women that she met at the end of the movie when she was in prison.  Each of them knew what they were doing, what a difference they were making, and were willing to continue their work even after they had been imprisoned before.

Lutie: Is Bub Even Important?

After reading through the entirety of "The Street", I find the attributes of Lutie's paretnign to be questionable. I have yet to know a person who does not consider their child to be the most important person in their life. Unfortunately, Lutie fails to take the welfare of Bub into consideration into each and every one of her choices. I question whether Lutie actually wanted Bub, or if he was just a piece to the puzzle of life that she felt as though she needed to attend to. On page 430, when the account of Boots' death takes place, Lutie seems to think more of herself than the welfare of Bub.

The American Dream

After reading this novel, a question that struck me the most was, "Does the American Dream still exist?" I actually formulated my lesson plans around questions concerning the role of the American Dream in the novel. I think this would be an interesting discussion to have with the class. Does the dream exist today? Is it an attainable reality for Lutie? What barriers and obstacles stand in her way of this dream? How does the end of the novel change the definition of this dream? What do you guys think?

Lutie's Final Decision

I am extremely upset with the end of this novel!!!! I did not see this coming at all. I had really high hopes for Lutie because she had worked so hard to be the best mother that she could be to her son. I realize that she had always wanted a better life for him and a better life for herself. On the one hand, I see how abandoning Bub could be good for him. It might give him the chance to get away from the streets and have a mother who would always be there for him instead of Lutie who had to work all the time. However, I was extremely mad because the ending ruined the book for me. Lutie was my favorite character in the the book and I was always rooting for her. I never imagined that she would leave her son. Especially all the realizations she came to at the end of the book. For example how she finally realized why Bub never wanted her to leave at night, and why he was working on the street. He adored his mother dearly and just wanted to make her proud of him! Instead she abandons him! BOO!

Determinism

After learning about the naturalistic novel on the very first day of "The Street" the ending should really be no surprise, as shocking as it is. Lutie spends the whole beginning of the novel trying to deliver her and her son from the stereotypes of the street by making him focus on school and reject the notions of shoe shinning and criminality. However, if we follow the naturalistic themes of determinism, no matter how hard she tries she will always fail, she's destined to. Bub does wind up in reform school and she does resort to criminality. At the end of the novel while beating Boots Lutie proclaims, "she was striking at the white world which thrust black people into a walled enclosure from which there was no escape"(Petry 430). In terms of determinism is it mutually exclusive for the "white world" and black world or do the two coincide? I almost feel as if Lutie is suggesting determinism is not just everyone's destiny, but rather the destiny one group puts onto another.

The Street- Lauren Reschke

An obvious theme in this book is the economic struggles faced by not only females but African Americans. The class discussion on Monday about consumerism and the importance of class and money really made me question the values of these characters. As Min comes to terms with her dissatisfaction of living with Jones, she realizes that money is not everything.  She bought a new night gown to impress him, and Jones got angry for no apparent reason.   "Funny how she got to believe that not having to pay rent was so important, and it really wasn't.  Having room to breathe in meant much more…” (Petry 362). It makes me think of the concept that “money can’t buy happiness.” She was so caught up on not having to pay rent that she lost sight of what was actually important in life, which would be being content with the life she lives, which she wasn’t. However, as soon as the reader thinks Min over comes the social conflict of money, she becomes intrigued by the man moving her out and Petry writes, "'Say,' she said, and there was a soft insinuation in her voice, 'you know anywhere a single lady could get a room?'  Then she added hastily, 'But not on this street'" (Petry 371). Therefore, this leaves me with the question of can one overcome classism?

The Street

I was slightly surprised by Jones' reaction to Min's departure. After all, even in the beginning of the novel, he wants her gone. It seems to be a case of you don't know what you've got until it's gone. She cared for him, even as he resented her, and the moment she left, he realized what he had had. The most interesting part of it, for me, was the way he approached his feelings. He did not miss Min, but rather her table: "The wall in front of him was bare, blank. That was it--that long empty space was where the table used to stand." (pg. 375) It is very interesting that the part he can accept missing is the very thing that gave her power over him in the first place.

He works very hard to try to fix it, moving furniture back to where it was before she came along, but he cannot make it feel right. In some ways, he must miss her, as she had been a staple of his life for so long. Now, he lives in an empty apartment and he is completely alone, the one thing he hates most.

The Street

After class on Monday, and while i was reading the rest of the book, I kept thinking about Jones.  Originally, I thought of him as a HUGE creep. I had no sympathy for him.  But after our discussion I started to think more about his motivations.  He's been a lonely guy, living in solitary confinement (almost) in the bowels of buildings and he doesn't really have any social skills.  Mrs. Hedges makes a comment that he was kept alone for too long.  Of course, this doesn't completely write off that he becomes obsessed with Lutie and is described in animalistic terms but it's not entirely fair to judge him without thinking of his past and motivations.  He's trying to forge a meaningful human relationship, something that is a basic human want and need.  He just goes about it in the wrong way.  This is shown by his blatant disregard for Lutie's wishes for an entirely white apartment.  He thinks she will appreciate his effort.  When she ignores his advances, he moves on to her son.  It could be said that Jones is manipulating him, but think about other motivations.  Maybe he thinks that by "befriending" Lutie's boy, he'll show her that he's a good guy.  Thoughts?

The Street

The ending of the novel really took me by surprise. The part when Lutie beats Boots with the iron candlestick did not catch me off guard because I feel as if she was just protecting herself; however, it did surprise me that she left Bub behind to take care of himself after everything that she stood for throughout the novel. In the beginning of the novel, she wanted Bub to go to school, get a good education, and stay out of the streets. Since she leaves him behind she leaves him no other option but living in the streets. Leaving Bub alone demonstrates how weak of a mother she truly is. She could have defended herself in the case of Boots and claim it was self defense, but she decided to run away and leave her son behind. Not only did Bub lose a mother, but he lost his father awhile go so now he is left all by himself. If Lutie really believed that Bub should stay out of the streets, then she should have never left him.

The Street (final section)- Emily Armstrong

A part that struck me in the final section of this novel was one that at first I glanced right over, yet once reflecting I came to think that perhaps it had a larger role then I initially thought. When Bub is stealing mail there is a short exchange between two older gentleman about the current war and colored soldiers. One of the men states “There’ll be trouble when them colored boys come back. They ain’t going to put up with all this stuff”-he waved toward the street. His hand made a wide, all-inclusive gesture that took in the buildings, the garbage cans, the pools of water, even the people passing by” (338). To me this conversation is Ann Petry’s way of indicating that people were beginning to be sick of the situation and that they could begin to come together for a change. Though the civil rights movement hadn’t taken hold when the book was published Petry seems to be realizing that a change is on the horizon. The other man doubts that the young men returning to war will be able to make a difference in the poisonous environment of the street. This also is an extension of Lutie’s feelings on the area and goes to show that many of the inhabitants of this atmosphere sense the disarray and ruin around them and strive to be rid of it.

Lutie's Downfalls

I found the idea that Lutie became a teacher quite interesting. In the passage about the end of the school day, it reads, "Thus, Bub Johnson got out of school early and was able to beat all the other kids to the candy store across the street from the school " (Petry 335). Lutie does not make anything better. She does not do it with Bub at home, nor in her classroom. It is sad that she realizes her downfalls, but does not do anything about them. Here it says, "She filled her voice with authority, made it cross, waspish, in the hope that the sound would so overawe the class they wouldn't realize that she had lost again" (Petry 335).  Aren't teachers supposed to change the future rather than keep perpetuating the same issues and ideas?

The Street

Jones intrigues me and terrifies me. His efforts to control Lutie are prevalent through the novel, efforts to control her, have her, possess her. And he will stop at nothing. The animal imagery that we talked about in class is certainly prevalent with him, all the time. He is always, essentially, preying upon Lutie. And when she refuses him, he preys upon her through her son. He is a master manipulator because he knows exactly what will make her react and how she'll react.

We talked a bit in class about Jones's history and maybe he's not totally crazy. There was the argument made by Mrs. Hedges that he'd been kept up in basements for too long. But why would he go so far as to commit crimes (ripping up the mail) to hurt Lutie?

Min and Lutie

We discussed how it could be interesting to look for the similarities between Min and Lutie.  When Min is deciding to move out of Jones’s apartment there is a moment when her thinking mirrors Lutie’s.  Min talks about how the street itself creates trouble for people and transforms them in a negative way.  She also thinks about how living with Jones would eventually kill her by being “shut up with the fury of him in this small space” (368).  Lutie has the same feelings about the street influencing the people who live there, especially Bub.  She also mirrors this anxiety about this small space killing her, metaphorically.