Voyage in the Dark- Meagan Niles

One theme I noticed in this week’s reading of Voyage in the Dark is discrimination of women. I think this became evident throughout Anna’s relationship with Walter, and also in Germaine’s relationship with Vincent. When both couples are at dinner, Germaine begins lecturing Vincent about his behavior. “Well, that’s the way you look sometimes, Vincent. Scorn and loathing of the female- a very common expression in this country,” (81). This quote expressions how both men act superior to the women they date. It seems as if Germaine is used to seeing his type of behavior from all men in England. One of example of this occurs when Vincent calls Anna a “child” or describes her as “infantile” when he addresses her. I’m not sure if Vincent refuses to take her seriously only because of her age, or because she is a woman. Another example occurs when Walter and Anna talk about Germaine later that evening. Walter describes her as “old” even though she is younger than Vincent. When Anna protests, he claims, “that is old for a woman,” (87). This quote bothered me because it implies that women have some kind of expiration date which says they are no longer considered beautiful or datable to men. This is definitely a double standard in the book because Walter is “nearly twenty years older” than Anna. I’m excited to see if the gender roles change or stay the same in the last section of the book.

Voyage in the Dark- [Minori Wisti]

One thing brought up that i think is interesting in this book is race. It seems to be like a subtle sub issue, or maybe something that could somehow metaphorically relate to Anna's other troubles. The parts that stuck out to me were when Hester was reprimanding Anna for acting black, or not like a proper English lady, and when Anna thinks, "I hated being white. Being white and getting like Hester, and all the things you get- old and sad and everything....And I knew that day that I'd started to grow old and nothing could stop it" (72). Anna seems to really struggle in being sociable, which is important for the imposed role as an economically dependent young woman in England. Being white is related to being in England and having this role, while being black seems to be related to her home and to being comfortable and herself. Hester prefers the first though obviously Anna is not happy this way.

Voyage in the Dark- Kate Ferraro

Throughout the end of Part I and beginning of Part II, I began to feel bad for Anna. She had fallen in love with Walter and had an unsuccessful visit with Hester. To me it seems that Hester and Walter both do not take Anna seriously. Although Hester seems to be beginning to show Anna how much she has done for her, she still seems to be ignoring Anna's feelings. I was extremely surprised that Walter just had Vincent write a letter to Anna breaking things off. This tactic also gave the impression that Walter had little respect for Anna and her feelings. I thought that was heartbreaking for Anna. I thought when Anna told Laurie about Walter it was very powerful stating, "There was a man I was mad about. He got sick of me and chucked me. I wish I were dead. (115)"

Voyage In the Dark- Chelsea Estes

My Mom has always told me that nothing good happens after midnight. This saying has proved to be true in many ways, however, it especially is true in the book, Voyage In the Dark. I have felt that throughout the book, and in other texts I have read, that the dark, or night, is a time where events occur that usually would not happen in daylight. In my other English class, we have discussed how darkness also can take on many different meanings, for example feelings of loneliness, fear, and even act as a cover up. We see Anna in a whole new way once night comes, and also her relationship with Walter. She is someone who seems to be covering up her real self. However, there was one quote that stuck out to me, and we see Anna repeat it, almost asking herself what the significance of it is as well. "What is Purity? For Thirty-five years the Answer has been Bourne's Cocoa. Thirty-five years....Fancy being thirty-five years old. What is Purity? For Thirty-five Thousand years the Answer has been...." (59). Seeing that she asked what is purity more than once, it seems as if she doesn't know what is means to be pure anymore. The darkness and what we have seen happen in the dark for Anna, maybe the answer.

Voyage in the Dark

One thing that really struck me as surprising was the letter that Vincent wrote to Anna. I was confused first off on why Vincent would be writing a break up letter to Anna for Walter. The letter states, "Walter is still very fond of you but doesn't love you like that any more" (93). The letter then goes on to try to defend his point by pointing out the age difference. In my opinion ,it is as if Walter is to much of a coward to break it off with Anna. The letter comes to a closure by saying that Walter will provide for Anna so she would not have to worry amount money. However, this was very confusing to me. Why would a man who is not married or dating a women provide for her to live? Ultimately, I think that he decided to provide for her because he felt bad and did not want her to have to suffer through life with limited money. The final issue I had with this letter was the P.S. I was confused to why Anna needed to send all of the letters Walter wrote back to Walter. Why would Walter want these letters back from Anna? The only logical reason I can think on why Walter might want the letters back is to erase any proof Anna every had of their relationship together. What did you think about the letter? Why do you think that Walter did not write it?

Voyage in the Dark

One thing I noticed in the book was how none of the men in the novel seem to respect women.  This was exemplified by Vincent in his letter to Anna.  In the letter, Vincent referred to Anna as an ‘Infant.’  He capitalized the first letter of the word, implying that he is using that as a name for her.  This theme of infantilizing women and not respecting women was a theme that carried on throughout the book.  All of the men that Anna meets seem to refer to Anna as being young, and therefore implying that she should be treated as a child rather than as an adult.  Because they viewed Anna this way, they gave her the same amount of respect as they would to a small child, which is next to none.  While all of the men seemed to comment about how young Anna was, Walter made a comment about Germaine and how she was too old.  Based on these comments, it made me wonder whether there actually is any age in which men do respect women

Voyage in the Dark

Something I found particularly interesting in this book thus far is the narrator's affinity for her homeland and her consequent dislike for this new London. On page 54, she states: "Sometimes the earth trembles; sometimes you can feel it breathe. The colours are red, purple, blue, gold, all shades of green. The colours here are black, brown, grey, dim-green, pale blue, the white of people's faces - like woodlice". I loved the description of the warm, earthy colors of the West Indies, which give her a feeling of comfort and happiness, contrasted with the dull, lifeless colors around her now, mirroring the negativity and loneliness she feels in her current home.