Demur is a verb
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary demur means: To politely refuse to accept a request or suggestion. To delay or hesitate.
The word demurred is used by the author of the class handout entitled, “The Cottagette on page 53, second paragraph.
The narrator stated, “I demurred a little…” This occurred when Mr. Mathew asked Malda to go on a mountain climb with him. Malda hesitated a moment stating that it was Monday and this was her day to do washing.
Edict is a (Noun)
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary edict means: An official order given by a person with power or by government.
This term was used by William Faulkner in, “A Rose for Emily.” on page 1 of class handout. William Faulkner wrote, “…dating from that day in 1894 when Colonel Sartoris, the mayor who fathered the edict that no negro woman should appear on the streets without an apron…” Faulkner used the tem edict to emphasized that the Colonel Sartoris who was mayor at the time and was responsible for the new law for black woman to wear apron in public would not be considered to be lying when he made formal statement that Miss Emily was excused from paying taxes because the town was indebted to her father for a loan he had given to the town in the past. This apparently was not true, but because Colonel Sartoris was in high authority within the town his explanation for not allowing her to be taxes was not challenged during his time as mayor.
Noblesse oblige (Noun)
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary noblesse oblige means: The obligation of honorable, generous and responsible behavior associated with high rank or birth.
This term was used by William Faulkner in, “A Rose for Emily,” page 4 of class handout. William Faulkner wrote, “but there were still others, older people, who said that even grief should not cause a real lady to forget noblesse oblige.” My understanding of this term in the passage is that the towns people especially the older ones frowned upon the relationship between Homer Barron and Miss Emily. They knew her upbringing and the Griersons were considered to be aristocrats. Miss Emily the last of Griersons was still considered an aristocrat. They felt she was forgetting who she was and was dating and contemplating marriage to someone who was beneath her stature. They felt she should not let grief and loneliness cause her to settle for a day laborer. Her father who had vanquished so many suitors would have been appalled.
Charwoman is a noun
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary Charwoman means: A woman who cleans houses or offices.
The word charwoman is used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in the class handout entitled, “Young Goodman Brown,” on page 43 paragraph 3.
Hawthorne stated, “Dead?, asked Mrs. Samsa, looking at the charwoman.” Even though in the next line of the story Hawthorne wrote, “That’s what I said, replied the cleaner.” I still did not understand why she was referred to as the charwoman. Now I understand the word charwoman and cleaner is used interchangeably to describe this woman who was hired to clean house by the Samsa family.
Unison is an adjective
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary unison means: At the same time, simultaneously.
Unison is used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in the story, “Young Goodman Brown,” on page 7. The narrator stated, Goodman Brown cried out, and his cry was lost to his own ear, by its unison with the cry of the desert.”
This means Goodman Brown cried out at the same time that the forest noises could be heard. These noises prevented him or anyone from hearing his cries.
As Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, Young Goodman Brown story progressed it remained a mystery as to the exact reason for the journey of Goodman Brown. There are hints that this journey was evil and was against his Christian principles. While journeying through the woods with his companion Goodman Brown expressed doubt about continuing and expressed guilt and shame. He especially wondered how his moral and spiritual advisors, Goody Cloyse , Deacon Gookin and the pastor of Salem Church would feel about him making this journey. The thought of them reproaching him was strong enough for him to hesitate.
A defining moment in the story occurred on page 6, second paragraph when Deacon Gookin said, ” I had rather miss an ordination-dinner than tonight’s meeting.” “……besides several of the Indian powwows, who after their fashion, know almost as much deviltry as the best of us.” I felt this was a defining moment because this is the point where Goodman Brown realized these people that he held in such high regard and who professed themselves to be good Christians were actually evil hypocrites.
It is almost possible to visualize Goodman Brown in his hiding place in shock and disbelief about what he overheard. The evil journey he was reluctant to continue on was being spoken about with great anticipation by the people he looked up to for spiritual guidance.
The devil meeting Goodman Brown participated in along with his Pastor and Deacon appears to be a dream and better yet a nightmare. If this incident really occurred as Goodman Brown slept it is unfortunate that he was unable to decipher real from unreal and allowed himself to live a life of sadness and mistrust with loss of his Christian beliefs.
In Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” this story too has a nightmarish quality. The transformation of Gregor Samsa into a vermin is unrealistic and impossible. The term kafkaesque describes the particular writing style of Kafka. His stories tend to have a nightmarish quality that tend to be surreal and appears to be from a subconscious origin. In the case of Samsa he was probably thinking subconsciously about his life and the overwhelming responsibilities he had. As a young man he must have wondered what it would be like to be free of all his obligations. He was trapped in a job he hated but could not leave because of debts owed to his boss by his father. I thought this was a nightmare he was having because of anxiety about wanting to free himself from his responsibilities. He was worried about how helpless he would be to his family if he quit his job. The nightmarish vermin state showed how quickly his family would turn against him if he was no longer able to take care of them.
While reading “The Metamophosis,” I was aware that the narrator had implied that Gregor Samsa was awake at the beginning of the story. However, as the story progressed and he remained a disgusting vermin I thought it was one of those dreams where Samsa was only dreaming that he had awaken.
The situation presented by Franz Kafka in the story is indeed disgusting. It is also quite disturbing and very unrealistic. Regarding the story metaphorically does make it more easily tolerated. I thought the vermin state which took away all the human qualities and functions of Samsa that both himself and his family loved, and left him helpless and trapped was a symbol of issues Samsa was facing in real life.
As I read the story I realized Samsa was under a great deal of stress and anxiety because his mom, dad and sister depended on him solely financially. He apparently hated his job, but could not quit. However he was hopeful when he stated on page 14, “Well, there is still hope; once I’ve got the money together to pay off my parents debt to him – another five or six years…….then I will make the big change.” Its as if he gained this vermin state where he is of no use to his family to see what their response would be like if he quit his job and was no longer able to provide for them.
I believe “The Metamorphosis,” is also an allegory, but in a different way than “Young Goodman Brown.” The vermin state could be interpreted to have some moral meaning. Before his transformation Samsa appeared to be somewhat okay with the arrangement to take care of his family. However, at such a young age he was also tired of this huge responsibility and financial obligation. He felt trapped. I think before he transformed he was subconsciously thinking about what it would be like to be free of all the responsibilities he had. He apparently needed to see how he would be treated if he could no longer bear the burden of the family. The treatment he received in his vermin state has some moral meaning. The family including his dear sister seem to turn on him rather quickly but when he earned money every one loved him and were comfortable and happy with him. He was once their pride and joy but now with this transformation he was now a hideous creature that repulsed and shamed them.
As I read the story I could picture Samsa as a vermin. I felt repulsed but at the same time I felt sorry for him. I could easily visualize him waking up and discovering his new body and trying to figure out how it worked. The story reminded me of a Science Fiction movie. The use of the word kafkaesque indicates the nightmarish qualities of the story. Because of these qualities I kept reading the story anticipating that Samsa was about to wake up, but he never did.
In the story “Young Goodman Brown,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne the type of narration used includes third person omniscient. With this type of narration the narrator gives the reader information from anywhere in the story. Therefore, the narrator is able to give information even when the setting changes. The narrative style is also third person limited because the narrator is only able to give information about what is in the mind of the point-of -view character, Goodman Brown. The narrator does not have access to the thoughts of other characters. The narrator does have access to the feelings of some of the flat characters. This is noted on page 8 where the narrator stated, “… and fair young girls who trembled lest their mothers espy them.”
The narrator begins to tell the story from the setting of Young Goodman Brown’s home as he is about to leave home on his mysterious journey. The setting changes as Goodman Brown continues on his journey through Salem Village and into the woods. On page two Hawthorne wrote, “He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest.” The narration continues even when Goodman Brown leaves the setting of his fellow traveler and hides in the bushes. While he is hidden the narrator gives narration from Goodman Brown’s hiding place and also from the Goodman Brown’s companion and Goody Cloyse.
The wording of the story indicates this is truly third person as the narrator does not take part in the story. For example, Hawthorne wrote, “Friend, said he…” on page 5. On page 1, “Poor little faith thought he.” Also on page 7, “My Faith is gone!, cried he.”
Third person limited narration continues when the narrator gives an insight into the thoughts and feelings of Young Goodman Brown. This on page 5 when Goodman Brown had apparently changed his mind about continuing his unchristian like journey. “The young man sat a few moments by the road-side, applauding himself greatly, and thinking with how clear a conscience he should meet the minister on his morning walk, nor shrink from the eye of Deacon Gookin.”
The narrator has not given readers an understanding of why Goodman Brown decides to go an this journey that he knew was against his christian values. He came to his senses and does restrain himself for a moment from going further, but when he saw the pink ribbons belonging to his wife her presence there propelled him onward. Goodman brown is rather naive because along the journey he hid himself from the sight of Goody Cloyse, his pastor and the deacon. All of whom he had no doubt were good christian. His companion laughed at him on page 3 when he said, “…how should I meet the eye of that good old man, our minister, at Salem Village? Oh his voice would make me tremble, both Sabbath-day and lecture-day.” His companion laughed because he knew these people were all hypocrites who professed Christianity but who were also devil worshipers. He also knew all these people would be in attendance when they reached their destination. Goodman Brown at this point was in for a surprise.
Proselyte is noun.
According to Merriam Webster dictionary the word proselyte means: A new convert (as to a faith or cause).
The word proselyte was used by Nathaniel Hawthorne on page 9 of the class handout entitled, “Young Goodman Brown.”
Hawthorne wrote, “And there stood the proselytes, beneath the canopy of fire.”
Goodman Brown and a young woman whose face was covered, but whom he later realized was his beloved Faith were the proselytes. They were the ones who were newly converted to join the fiend, (devil) worshippers.
Exhorted is a transitive verb.
According to Merriam Webster dictionary exhorted means: To try to influence (someone) by words or advice. To strongly urge (someone) to do something.
Nathaniel Hawthorne used the word exhorted on page 5 of the class handout entitled, “Young Goodman Brown.”
Hawthorne wrote, “They continued to walk onward, while the elder traveler exhorted his companion to make good speed ….”
My understanding is that the elderly gentleman travelling with Goodman Brown was urging him to hurry so that they could get to where they were going quickly.
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