I enjoyed this story very much. I have never read such a story before (although I haven't just read many books written in English).
Anyway, this story is interesting and worth rereading many times. But, at the same time, I found it difficult to understand what the lines in this story mean. That was because this story contains a lot of metaphors.
I think that there is a difference of expression between English and Japanese.
I am a Japanese and I have lived in Japan since I was born. I haven't been abroad ever and I became familiar with English when I was in a high school. So I don't know much enough idioms and expressions in literature. In this story, I found many lines which I don't know what they really mean. What does this line mean? Can I read this line literally? But I can't understand real meaning with literally reading. Can I read this line in Japanese mind?
So, I don't know whether I enjoy this story correctly or not.
I want to give some examples of that. I read this text as correct as possible in my own way.
I think that many metaphors in this story are about free. And most of them are of the yellow wallpaper.
"There is a recurrent spot where the pattern lolls like a broken neck and two bulbous eyes stare at you upside down." and "two breadths didn't match, and the eyes go all up and down the line, one a little higher than the other." represent the lower position of women.(GILMAN 67) The former may express the women's position at that time. They don't have good passion against inequality and unwilling to fight them or they are tired of their lower position. They are passive. The latter may express the difference of rank between men and women. I think that "two breadths"(67) means men and women. Men are in higher position and women are in lower position. This lines implies the present situation of those days.
Also, "You think you have mastered it, but just as you get well underway in following, it turns a back-somersault and there you are. It slaps you in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you. It is like a bad dream." may mean the difficulty of obtaining freedom.(GILMAN 71) If women get equal rights, that won't necessarily mean they will be equal to men forever. To obtain freedom is also difficult. But it is harder to keep having them. Women would meet violence and hostility. The author may want to express that to be happier, that is, to get free costs you some difficulties.
They are very interesting. By expressing indirectly not directly, we can think more deeply and enjoy well. Also, it is a good oint to leave the massages of freedom on the yellow wallpaper. This helps us enjoy this story.
In fact, we didn't have enough time to discuss about this story in details in last class. So I don't have good ideas to write on this blog. But I found it interesting to have our own different views separately. A student (I'm sorry, I don't know his name.) said that he thought that a woman in this story couldn't walk by herself. He thought in that way looking at the line"carried me[a woman] upstairs and laid me [a woman] on the bed."( GILMAN 69)
I have not thought the line in that way, so it was a new thing and interesting. But, rather than that, I felt interested in that we have different views and the understanding of the lines differ from people to people. I really felt that sharing opinion is interestiong and helps us expand our horizon.
2011年6月22日水曜日
2011年6月5日日曜日
New thing 2
I did part time job today for the first time. I have never worked before, so I was so nervous.
My work is cashier at a supermarket. My house stands near that and it takes me only two minutes to go to there. I can go back soon even if I work until late. So I wanted to work at that place by all means.
When I was adopted as a worker, I was so glad and felt easy. That was because I thought that I wouldn't be adopted. When I called the market to make an appointment of an interview, I was asked how often I could work and I answered that I could work on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then, he said to me, "Huh? On weekdays, couldn't you work only Wednesday and Friday? Couldn't you work more?" I was worried to hear that and I felt that I wouldn't be able to work at this supermarket. But I was permitted to do interview for the time being. I waited the interview day wondering and feeling uneasy for one week. At last, the day came. It was rainy. I felt depressed because of the rain and nervous. I tend to feel nervous easily and, of course, I became tense on that day. The interviewer was friendly but overpowering. He asked me a lot of questions. I felt uneasy and upset when he spoke to me roughly. That was because I used to being treated gently by seniors at clubs and circles. So, I was worried. I said to myself, "This means going out into the world. This is the society of works and adults. Now, I can't depend on something. I have to throw away immature thoughts. I have to be independent from supports and to be a strong person." I was worried throughout the interview. But I could get something good and study a part of society, so I thought that I didn't care the result of this interview.
One week later, I received a call from the supermarket. They said that I was adopted and I started working on 4 June. I felt happy and worried at the same time. I have thought that I wouldn't be adopted, so I upset. In fact, I didn't want to work at the supermarket because I realized that they were strict to workers and I had to have enough skills. But fortunately, I became the worker, I decided to do my best. And I hoped that the works help me be an useful worker in the future.
And today, I worked for the first time. It was interesting as I thought, and also, the manager was strict as I thought. But, at the same time, I found that this market was worth working even if I didn't get any money. I felt that I will be able to get a lot of skills and improve my ability. When I enter employment, this work will help me. They will be useful.
There are a lot of things that workers have to remember and pay attention. A cashier is a worker of serving, so we have to think of customers seriously and carefully. The manager told me, "Customers are always watching us. They watches our behavior and attitudes closely. They want to be treated gently and equally. If they feel that they are treated roughly, they won't come to this supermarket. The most important thing is to get customers who come to this market many times. These people like our atmosphere and services and they always come to this market even if the prices of goods are higher than other markets. So, you should keep in mind that in serving business, the most important thing is that you treat customers with sincerity." I was impressed to hear that. In fact, I had no confidence to do this. But I came to want to try. Maybe, it will so hard to manage everything(study and club activities . . .). But I found that this work is worth working and will improve my skills. So I want to hold out and never give up!
My work is cashier at a supermarket. My house stands near that and it takes me only two minutes to go to there. I can go back soon even if I work until late. So I wanted to work at that place by all means.
When I was adopted as a worker, I was so glad and felt easy. That was because I thought that I wouldn't be adopted. When I called the market to make an appointment of an interview, I was asked how often I could work and I answered that I could work on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then, he said to me, "Huh? On weekdays, couldn't you work only Wednesday and Friday? Couldn't you work more?" I was worried to hear that and I felt that I wouldn't be able to work at this supermarket. But I was permitted to do interview for the time being. I waited the interview day wondering and feeling uneasy for one week. At last, the day came. It was rainy. I felt depressed because of the rain and nervous. I tend to feel nervous easily and, of course, I became tense on that day. The interviewer was friendly but overpowering. He asked me a lot of questions. I felt uneasy and upset when he spoke to me roughly. That was because I used to being treated gently by seniors at clubs and circles. So, I was worried. I said to myself, "This means going out into the world. This is the society of works and adults. Now, I can't depend on something. I have to throw away immature thoughts. I have to be independent from supports and to be a strong person." I was worried throughout the interview. But I could get something good and study a part of society, so I thought that I didn't care the result of this interview.
One week later, I received a call from the supermarket. They said that I was adopted and I started working on 4 June. I felt happy and worried at the same time. I have thought that I wouldn't be adopted, so I upset. In fact, I didn't want to work at the supermarket because I realized that they were strict to workers and I had to have enough skills. But fortunately, I became the worker, I decided to do my best. And I hoped that the works help me be an useful worker in the future.
And today, I worked for the first time. It was interesting as I thought, and also, the manager was strict as I thought. But, at the same time, I found that this market was worth working even if I didn't get any money. I felt that I will be able to get a lot of skills and improve my ability. When I enter employment, this work will help me. They will be useful.
There are a lot of things that workers have to remember and pay attention. A cashier is a worker of serving, so we have to think of customers seriously and carefully. The manager told me, "Customers are always watching us. They watches our behavior and attitudes closely. They want to be treated gently and equally. If they feel that they are treated roughly, they won't come to this supermarket. The most important thing is to get customers who come to this market many times. These people like our atmosphere and services and they always come to this market even if the prices of goods are higher than other markets. So, you should keep in mind that in serving business, the most important thing is that you treat customers with sincerity." I was impressed to hear that. In fact, I had no confidence to do this. But I came to want to try. Maybe, it will so hard to manage everything(study and club activities . . .). But I found that this work is worth working and will improve my skills. So I want to hold out and never give up!
2011年6月4日土曜日
New Thing
These days, I enjoy my school life very much, especially club activity. As I wrote before, I am belong to sokyoku club( Japanese music club). I play koto in this club. I started playing it in this university. I really enjoy practicing it. I played some instruments in junior high and high school. But they were Western instruments and this is my first time to do Japanese music. All things are new for me, so I am excited every day. It was right decision to enter this club.
In fact, I thought that I wouldn't enter this club. I have wanted to play Japanese instruments from long time before, but I felt that the atmosphere of this club didn't match my character when I visited this club on Freshman Week. Seniors were not kind and sociable, and the freshmen of this club looked putting on airs. I thought that I wouldn't be able to make any friends.
But I wanted to try new things and expand my horizon. I wanted to meet a lot of people and learn many new things. So, I decided to enter this club.
I want to thank to a senior for good care. I said that many seniors were not kind just now, but there were some seniors who took care of freshmen gently. I am one of the freshmen who was helped to decide their entry. I met him for the first time on Freshman Week and after that, I began to consult with him about the club. When I was in trouble to decide whether I entered or not, he always heard my worries and gave me some advice. He was a good senior. It is not too much to say that I entered this club because he was kind and good senior. I won't tell my gratitude for him to him, and besides that, he may think of me just a junior. But I personally think that he is especially a good senior and respect him secretly. The best thing is that I enjoy this club from the bottom of my heart now. His personality might lead me to enter this club, but the reason of my entry has changed. I come to love this club really. I love my mates and koto now. I made a right decision and I am glad to experience a lot of things. I have a concert on 3 July and I am looking forward to play with seniors. He usually plays the another instrument, but he plays koto with freshmen now. So, I want to practice with them and become closer.
I started this instrument in this university, so I have to make a lot of effort in practice. Actually, I practice hard every active day and sometimes go to practice willingly. Today, I went to practice with some mates. The other day, my teacher said to me, "You have a good sense, and I'm looking forward your growing skills after this." Also, yesterday, the another teacher said to me, "Your tone color is beautiful." Honestly, I was so glad to hear that. I was really happy. But, at the same time, the uncertain thought occurred to me. I couldn't believe their words entirely. In junior high and high school, my teacher wouldn't praise us. So I felt uneasy to hear their words. I had no confidence to fulfill their expectations There was a dilemma in my heart - happy and uncertainty. I want to believe their words and to be pleased. But I tend to feel so happy that L relay my efforts when I am praised. So, I don't believe my good reputation as much as I can do and make myself think that I have to practice hard still more. . . . In fact, I am so glad to be expected. I hope that the expectation will encourage me to improve my skills more.
Anyway, I like sokyoku club and enjoy it these days. Of course, it is hard for me to do well all things - sokyoku club, E.S.S., part time job and study. But I can meet and find something new every day and learn a lot of things from that. I like talking with mates and extend the circle of them. The day before yesterday, I ate lunch with all mates of sokyoku freshmen at 3 building cafe. Yesterday, I ate lunch with some mates at SUBWAY. We enjoyed talking with each other. There are many people who have strong characteristics. At first, I didn't like that. But now, I like the variety of them and find that they are interesting.
I hope that this enjoyment will last after this and live a satisfied university life with nice mates in this club.
In fact, I thought that I wouldn't enter this club. I have wanted to play Japanese instruments from long time before, but I felt that the atmosphere of this club didn't match my character when I visited this club on Freshman Week. Seniors were not kind and sociable, and the freshmen of this club looked putting on airs. I thought that I wouldn't be able to make any friends.
But I wanted to try new things and expand my horizon. I wanted to meet a lot of people and learn many new things. So, I decided to enter this club.
I want to thank to a senior for good care. I said that many seniors were not kind just now, but there were some seniors who took care of freshmen gently. I am one of the freshmen who was helped to decide their entry. I met him for the first time on Freshman Week and after that, I began to consult with him about the club. When I was in trouble to decide whether I entered or not, he always heard my worries and gave me some advice. He was a good senior. It is not too much to say that I entered this club because he was kind and good senior. I won't tell my gratitude for him to him, and besides that, he may think of me just a junior. But I personally think that he is especially a good senior and respect him secretly. The best thing is that I enjoy this club from the bottom of my heart now. His personality might lead me to enter this club, but the reason of my entry has changed. I come to love this club really. I love my mates and koto now. I made a right decision and I am glad to experience a lot of things. I have a concert on 3 July and I am looking forward to play with seniors. He usually plays the another instrument, but he plays koto with freshmen now. So, I want to practice with them and become closer.
I started this instrument in this university, so I have to make a lot of effort in practice. Actually, I practice hard every active day and sometimes go to practice willingly. Today, I went to practice with some mates. The other day, my teacher said to me, "You have a good sense, and I'm looking forward your growing skills after this." Also, yesterday, the another teacher said to me, "Your tone color is beautiful." Honestly, I was so glad to hear that. I was really happy. But, at the same time, the uncertain thought occurred to me. I couldn't believe their words entirely. In junior high and high school, my teacher wouldn't praise us. So I felt uneasy to hear their words. I had no confidence to fulfill their expectations There was a dilemma in my heart - happy and uncertainty. I want to believe their words and to be pleased. But I tend to feel so happy that L relay my efforts when I am praised. So, I don't believe my good reputation as much as I can do and make myself think that I have to practice hard still more. . . . In fact, I am so glad to be expected. I hope that the expectation will encourage me to improve my skills more.
Anyway, I like sokyoku club and enjoy it these days. Of course, it is hard for me to do well all things - sokyoku club, E.S.S., part time job and study. But I can meet and find something new every day and learn a lot of things from that. I like talking with mates and extend the circle of them. The day before yesterday, I ate lunch with all mates of sokyoku freshmen at 3 building cafe. Yesterday, I ate lunch with some mates at SUBWAY. We enjoyed talking with each other. There are many people who have strong characteristics. At first, I didn't like that. But now, I like the variety of them and find that they are interesting.
I hope that this enjoyment will last after this and live a satisfied university life with nice mates in this club.
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