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- Reading responses must be AT LEAST 200 words.
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- Reading responses are due by midnight on the night PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.
In "Doves", at first, I thought she was going through a break-up and wanted some company; yet, after reading the end of the story, I've concluded that she is jaded. She, perhaps, lingers for the doves' faithful companionship/relationship (since that's what they typically represent), while she's used to being a heartbreaker. (Or, more of a type of "quick hook-up" person who doesn't look for serious relationships.) In pg. 159, the sentence "[…] and wait for you to notice them instead of clamoring for your attention." can be seen at the end of the second of third paragraphs of that page. It was written twice to emphasize the way Francine feels, she's tired of men hounding her and her going along with it, because deep down she probably enjoys it too; yet, she wants it to end so she can try to find the version of love/relationships she desires. In pg. 160, we see that she is a heartbreaker and will remain one if she doesn't change her ways: "[…] as she sways in his arms […] she becomes the woman in all the songs that the men on the platform sing about, the woman who leaves them, the woman who keeps breaking their hearts." In "Symphony", I admire how the narrator of the story is open to talk about her private relationships. She describes each of them and how they are very different, yet she addresses the reader at the end and knows what we might be thinking about her after reading her story. "But you should know this: I could love any one of them, in an instant and with every piece of my heart, but none of them nor the world allow it, and so I move between them, on snowy highways and crowded airplanes." (Pg. 163), either she is in a polyamorous relationship or she's just going around and trying each one out. Either way, she's ultimately just doing what she knows is/works best for her. In "Girl", the structure and form of the story was new to me. I've never seen/read a story in this way, it felt like I was reading a list; however, I was still able to make out the story the narrator was trying to tell. Like the two previous stories, this one also talks about a woman being the opposite stereotype of what a woman should be like in a relationship, and it also talks about her mindset on relationships and a woman's image. In pg. 163, "on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming", we see how this is the first of many more slurs she uses upon herself. Maybe she too wants to fight the urge of "messing around" like Francine in the story "Doves". Overall, this story was pretty interesting to read, considering its structure and form.
ReplyDelete-Jasmine Hinojosa
In today’s society people are so quick to slut shame knowing the bare minimum about the individual they are judging. With that in mind, I liked each of their perspectives and different approaches to how they run their lives in a world that is quick to shame. Beginning with “Doves” by Ursula Hegi, this story really showed her character development. From being too shy to say hi to the elevator man to becoming the heartbreaker men write their songs about. I am not quite sure if the doves played a huge role in her boost of confidence but at the least, they introduced her to these songs that her made her realize she can be like that too. On the other hand, “Symphony” by Pam Houston was my favorite essay as she described how she did not know who she truly was in love with. Out of all the guys she named the one she did not name is the one that stood out most to me. Houston writes, “It was the closest I have ever come to touching true love” (162). She wrote that after she mentioned making love with him once. Yet still she cannot decide who she is in love with and appreciates all of the men’s good qualities. I especially enjoyed the ending as she states, “…you are the kind of person who knows more about my story than me” (162). Meaning she knows how she must look but maybe we are all guilty of having mixed feelings for people. Lastly, in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, it was practically a how to be a good traditional woman that avoids her slut-like trendies by keeping busy with possibly any house chore possible. However, what stood out to me was the ending, “…you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread?” (164). After every “this is how” the narrator leaves the reader questioning her true message.
ReplyDelete-Natalia Martinez
I was able to make a connection in the first story, how in the beginning, Francine begins as a shy and quiet woman who can even barely say hello to a man she encounters in the elevator. I find it to be a very sweet story because in (page 159), “She switches on he radio to the station where she always kept it….Tuesday night opera, a man is asking for donations. Francine has already sent in her contributions.” This made me feel like in a way she enjoyed living her life helping others out. “Doves” by Pam Houston is a story about a woman who surely enjoys being the womanizer she embraces. She gives an endless list of men she has met and slept with as well as been in relationships with and still is unsure about who she may be or not be in love with. There is a sentence that catches my attention, “But there is something so sweet about the first kiss, the first surrender that, like the words, “I want you “, can never mean precisely the same thing again.” I understood that this was already indicating her admitting to not having experience with one partner but several and she was fascinated by the experiences she went through. As for the last story, “Girl”, I felt like this story was simply addressing on how to be a “proper lady”, there is constantly remarks on what not to do and how not to behave and mainly using references to being a slut which made me think that it might have been someone’s mother talking to their daughter. The last sentence on (page 164), “but what if the baker won’t let me feel the bread.” Made me feel like it was not necessarily used in the literal sense but in the sense that maybe a girl might have been wanting to sell or use her body to seduce. Over all, the stories to me did not really have a connection to them.-Ana Silvia Mears
ReplyDeleteAll these stories to me shared one main similarity: they talk about lives of women. The first story “Doves,” talks about the perspective of a single woman living her life in the shadows. Only to find out that she is a heartbreaker. The author paints you a picture of a single lady getting birds to fill in the void of her living alone. And in the end of the story you find out that she liked the country songs she played for the birds because she relates to the women who breaks the country guys hearts, and I think that’s awesome. In the second story, “Symphony” I was wildly confused because the author was all over the place. I understood she was talking about the characters past hit-it-and-quit-its. I understood she talked about how she thought of all the similarities of all the men she has been with. I also understood in all the hooking up, she confuses men when she is with them because she thinks of another while the other. I just didn’t like the way it was written. Although, I did like that she lives her life how she wants. In the third story, “Girl” it really leads you into the everyday struggles of being a girl. The rules, the expectations, and all that.
ReplyDelete-Miguel Garcia
“Doves” by Ursula Hegi has a unique story that draws you in viciously with the beautiful details. It is open to interpretation obviously, but I believe the two doves that the lady purchased symbolize peace and tranquility, as well as the start of a new life. The reason I say this is because the doves seem like very peaceful creatures that don’t do much other than keep you company and comfort you. Also, they dance to the softest tunes and enjoy your presence overall, like on page 160 when the authors says that the doves swivel their heads when she returns from work. In the story “Symphony” by Pam Houston, I love all the different characters that were implemented by the author because we get to see what each one has to offer to the lady. She mentions how she feels about each guy and also talks about the dreams she has which involves them. Overall, this story was really interesting to read and fantasize about. Lastly, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, really feels like a different story compared to the other two. I feel like it is discussing all the different restrictions that a woman has when it comes to a certain someone in their life or anything in general. Women get judged so much more than men do and having three sisters I've learned that it can be very difficult to be a girl. So many changes that a women has to go through in life compared to a man.
ReplyDelete-Gilbert Sanchez
In the story “Doves” it starts off with a woman named Francine who wants doves and goes to the pet store to go buy gray doves since she doesn’t like the white ones. The gray ones are shy and don’t want attention, so I think she is the same way. In my opinion, I think in the beginning of the story Francine is probably heartbroken because she has lost a love and doesn’t really know how to cope so she buys doves and listens to country because the doves like them. After listening to the station for a while she notices that she ended up singing and remembering the songs of lost love or betrayal of love. In the end it is she who becomes the woman in those country songs about breaking the hearts of the men. In the story “Symphony” she talks about the men she is with and how they are all different. In the end she mentions she can love any of these men if she wanted, but, in my opinion, I think that she has fallen in love with all these men and that she can’t let all of them go and just love one person. In the story “Girl” I think the person who is narrating this story is the mother and she is talking to her daughter about everything she is supposed to do and not do and even goes to calling her a slut. Which is basically the truth on how girls are taught to be “woman” in such a small age and if they do something that requires men to look at them they’re automatically labeled as sluts.
ReplyDelete-Melissa Garcia
"Doves" by Ursula Hegi has an interesting story that attracts you with the wonderful subtleties. It is available to understanding clearly, yet I accept the two pigeons that the woman bought symbolize harmony and serenity, just as the beginning of another life. The explanation I state this is on the grounds that the pigeons appear tranquil animals that don't do a lot other than stay with you and solace you. Additionally, they move to the mildest tunes and make the most of your essence by and large, as on page 160 when the creators says that the pigeons swivel their heads when she comes back from work. In the story "Symphony" she discusses the men she is with and how they are generally unique. At last she makes reference to she can cherish any of these men on the off chance that she needed, however, as I would like to think, I believe that she has begun to look all starry eyed at all these men and that she can't release every one of them and simply love one individual. In "girl", the structure and type of the story was unfamiliar to me. I've never observed/read a story right now, felt like I was perusing a rundown; notwithstanding, I was as yet ready to make out the story the storyteller was attempting to tell. Like the two past stories, this one additionally discusses a lady being the contrary generalization of what a lady ought to resemble in a relationship, and it likewise discusses her attitude on connections and a lady's picture. In pg. 163, "on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming", we perceive how this is the first of a lot more slurs she utilizes upon herself.
ReplyDelete- Julian Marroquin
After reading Doves, I think the Dove represents her personality. Quiet and shy and hurt. She states on page 159 “They make soft sounds… and wait for you to notice them instead of clamoring for your attention.” This is something that she repeats again. It seems to me that Francine has come out of a relationship and she is depressed but in the end she turns into the girl who wants to be the one to leave and break hearts. Symphony by Pam Houston was a story that I didn’t really enjoy it felt weird. I noticed that it also had to do with relationships like the Doves story. The narrator was telling us about some of the men in her life. This story reminded me of the movie to all the boys I’ve loved before because the main character writes letters that she never sends to the boys she’s “loved” throughout her ages. Girl by Jamaica Kincaid was a frustrating but exciting in a way to read. I think the author wanted us to feel the same frustration the girl being told all this was feeling. I’m thinking that was the reason there were so many semicolons. I also noticed that there were no periods at all so the author did not want us to take pauses in between. This story also had to do with relationships just like the other two stories.
ReplyDelete-Maria Ramos
“Doves” by Ursula Hegi was interesting to read because it talked about loss. It obviously starts off very gloomy giving me the impression that the character is going through some type of depression. Usually, when we feel sadness we tend to gravitate towards things, people, or in this case animals that mirror our emotions. Francis got two gray doves, and usually gray doves represent sorrow or mourning. So that made sense why the story started off very downhearted. It got me thinking maybe, she lost someone she loved to death. The story suggests she had a bad experience with love several times. On page 159, she mentioned, “…wait for you to notice them instead of clamoring for your attention.” She mentioned this twice within the same page, it just stuck out to me. When we mention things more than once is because it’s important to us, so I think Francis wants attention from that certain someone and not having it is putting her in a weird place. I can relate to that I guess, at some point in our lives we crave that attention because we’re human beings. And that’s exactly what Francine does when she’s dancing with a man and becomes the “heartbreaker” all the songs are about. At least that’s how I interpreted it. “Symphony” by Pam Houston, radiated with confidence as she admits enjoying the company of men and only lists the ones that she feels connected to. I think you have to meet a series of people before you fall in love with someone, unless you’re lucky enough to find the person you’re meant to be with on the first go. Females get ostracized for choosing that path. Despite having mixed feelings for these other guys, I found it interesting that she always ended up in Philip’s bed. Which is kind of rude if she’s thinking about other men. I mean, Philip sounds like a great guy. I don’t think he deserves that. There’s a saying that goes, “Don’t let the imaginary person in your head keep you from loving the real one right in front of you.” and I saw a connection to that quote to what she said, “You fall in love with a man’s animal spirit, Jonathan tells me, and then when he speaks like a human being, you don’t know who he is.” (page 162). She thinks she knows these guys, but she started off introducing Philip first and ending it with Philip. So, I think it’s pretty evident where heart lies. It was amusing reading this story. While reading “Girl” I thought of it more as a to-do list of “how’s” representing how girls should be and act. Personally, I didn’t like this story. It had a ‘slut-shaming’ tone to it and the typical domestic duties expected from girls.
ReplyDelete-Bethzaida Ayala
In the story Doves it mentions a woman called Francine who wants to buy some doves, I feel like the reason she wants to buy doves that are gray are to symbolize how she feels dull and neutral about relationships because she went through a heartbreak. After listening to the radio station, she becomes whatever about her body and ends up being that women that breaks hearts of men because she doesn’t care anymore about herself. The story symphony is about a woman that has been with a lot of men. She is explained how “she loves each and every one of them” Which I think she just means that she loves the sex, but I think it’s funny how she uses them for her advantage and acts super complicated. I feel that she just doesn’t care about herself anymore and doesn’t respect herself and finds pleasure in using men. The last story, I think it’s about a mother telling her daughter the things that women should do, and the things that they shouldn’t. If a woman breaks these codes of ethics, then they are considered a whore. This implies to all women, that our generation has developed a standard for women. They have to act a certain way in public if they don’t then, they will be judged and be called whores.
ReplyDelete-Max Garcia
These stories all talked about women and their actions. Reading the first story of “Doves,” I took away that the girl buying the doves is going through a tough time. Doves, especially two, can mean love and fidelity. Buying them on impulse could’ve meant she needed to distract herself from a depressing time and could’ve symbolized love she needs to feel in her life. In the end, she dances with a man and sees herself in the music playing, “…she becomes the woman in all the songs that the men on the platform sing about…” (160). Maybe, she is getting over a break up as she is shy at first in the elevator and then realizes she needs to get out there—only to then think of reality and realize she can’t be with anyone at the moment. In the second story “Symphony,” a woman has gained self-confidence and pursues intimate relationships with men. She describes four of them and then explains that she is much more of a person and that she cannot fall in love with them as “none of them nor the world will allow it” (163). The last story of “Girl,” it basically stated the things a woman has to do to be considered “worthy” in our society. I was not a fan of the structure in the story, nor the plot itself as it basically states that a woman is only looked upon their actions, and not their accomplishments.
ReplyDelete-Karen Lamas
Although “Doves” was not my favorite story I feel like it was a good one. The story is about a woman who is lonely and she has a routine which is to go to work and back and occasionally goes to the opera and towards the end of the story when she visits the opera and she decides to make a lifestyle change or try something new. She decideds to visit what seems to be a honkey tonk and then she dances witha man. I feel like this story is about a woman finding new love without commitment, much like the second story we read. The second story, “Symphony” is a story about a woman who talks about her relationships with different men. She speaks of these men but never seems to mention that any of them were her boyfriend. It seems to be that she is just with them at the moment. The third story, “Girl” I liked how it was different from the other two. It was repetaive but I know it was on purpose and I feel like the purpose of that was to show a mold that a woman should be shaped to and if she was not shaped to that mold she would be seen as a slut.
ReplyDelete-Alex Rodriguez
All these stories had many things in common. They were all about women, relationships and I believe the last two stories each involved letters. After reading Doves I believe that she just broke up with someone that she was very close with and that has made her become depressed. She is so sad that she even decides to buy two smallest and grayest doves instead of buying the happy colorful parrot that knows how to say, “Oh amigo, oh amigo”. Who wouldn’t want that type of bird? Throughout the story though she hears a country song and it somehow changes her mind to become the heartbreaker now. The other story “Symphony” was about some girl who lost 15 pounds and thinks that she somehow got all the guys wanting her so she writes about them explaining how they are all different. Out of all the stories this was my least favorite because it was about many relationships and true love and I am just not into this kind of stuff. That last story, “Girl” went by very fast and it made me feel as if I was reading a grocery list. I also believe that it was an old story because the story stated when buying cotton to make a blouse make sure it has no gum.
ReplyDelete-Noe Ramos
As I first started reading “Doves” I felt that the main character Francine was a lonely woman in search of companionship and the pair of doves she bought seemed to confirm that idea but as the story continued it started to seem more and more that she had somehow lost herself and was making an attempt to search for her lost self. In buying what she thought would bring her the companionship she seemed to crave she instead gave herself the opportunity to experience something new, in turn leading her to a place in which she felt happier and confident in herself.
ReplyDeleteI found “Symphony” to be the most interesting story of the three. Just as the narrator says on page 162 it would be so easy to dismiss her as “a certain kind of person” with a story like this but it’s the part where she confesses her ability to love any one of the men entirely if given the chance that really drives home the point of the story, at least how I see it anyway. From the start of this story she is only described as how she is seen to every man she comes across: desirable, and yet, when she describes the men she loves she goes into such detail and uses such beautiful words that its hard to believe she feels anything less than she says. Even after all of this though she still isn’t allowed to be with any of them because of the way she is perceived by outsiders. Society sees a woman who sleeps around as someone “less than” but in the same breath praises the men that sleep with her.
“Girl” seems to share a similar sentiment to the previous story in that it reads like a mothers life lessons to her daughter. The entire story is written out to be a never ending stream of tips on how to mend clothing, cook, clean, be friendly, be religious, and how to show off several other “appealing” qualities with rare interjections from what we can assume to be the girl the title is talking about.
With each story though the blame is placed on the woman for how she is perceived or for how she makes men feel. In “Doves” Francine likens herself to the women in country songs who go around breaking hearts while there is no mention of the men singing the songs and the possibility of them only telling their own version of the story. In “Symphony” the main character only speaks of herself in terms of how society sees her, praising her outward appearance while shaming her when she acts on their reactions. In “Girl” the message is more clearly stated; even from youth a girl tries her hardest to be a slut.
-Raven Quintanilla
Ursula Hegis story “Dove” was so gloomy. Francine right off the bat shows us that she has had a dark park past. A great example of this is when she talks about getting doves but she gravitates towards the gray ones since she doesn’t like the white. I feel like the color white is a symbol of happiness and good and darker colors like gray and black mean sorrow and hardship. The story then mentioned Francine and her three “loves.” I liked how Hegi opens up about the theme of the story right off the bat, most of the time it takes readers a while to understand what the protagonist is feeling or going through so it was refreshing. It actually made me want to read as fast as I can so that I could see what the point of those gray doves was all about. It was a different and refreshing read. I actually liked it very much!
ReplyDelete-Daniela Rios
In the story “Girl” I really enjoyed it as it explains how to be a “proper” lady although some may disagree. I would love for all men to read this and realize the minor details us as girls have to pay attention too because of how easily criticized we are. We are also judged with men whom we chose to be with, people who judge people over their happiness are disgusting.
ReplyDeleteIn “Doves”, first off props to the name I think it plays a huge role when you look up the symbolism of a dove which also plays a role when it comes to completely your holy sacrament of Confirmation. The fact that they mention the color of the dove and that the color is grey over the traditional color white is key in the story to me when reading what Francine is going through.
In “Symphony” she goes on to explain all the men she has been involved with and how they are all uniquely different. This stood out to me because I feel like this shows her way of being one of those girls who lives the “in the moment”. This goes hand in hand with how she thinks and thought of herself. I feel like these situations were called upon her because she has yet to find who she truly is.
Natashia Mata
Out of all the essays presented I personally really enjoyed reading the first one “Doves”. I like the way the writer took us along with them on how their day went. The details on what was on the radio and so forth. There’s probably a reason why she wanted doves or maybe it’s just her favorite bird. She might be sad over something happening in her life, she might have looked for something happy to make her feel good. The second essay talks about a woman and the different types of men she spends her time with. She seems very taken by almost all of them. I feel like she doesn’t want to let any of them go because she’s fallen in love with them. Which is a very wild position to be in. The last essay “Girl” is about a lady who may or may not be called some rather ugly words. I think it might be her mother speaking? or an older woman she might know. I think women are always subjected and they’re supposed to act a certain way so I dislike how we were portrayed here.
ReplyDelete- Yaretzi Diaz
I feel like the one thing all 3 stories had in common was that they all had to do with love, and mixed emotions. They were all kind of confusing yet all had a point to them. In “Doves” the character Francine is obviously on her own, and she goes to buy two doves, she doesn't buy one but two, possibly because she doesn’t want to leave one alone, like she is.she talks about how country music is tacky and she never really listened to it, and then she plays it and gets a reaction from the doves and continues to play it, and even learn some of the music and it may or not be a coincidence that she finds someone who enjoys listening and dancing to country music about “lost love and broken hearts.” I feel almost everyone reading also connects country music to it being about love and couples breaking up. In Symphony we see that the narrator loses weight and all of a sudden the men love her, and she has 3 lovers all of whom she sleeps with and is with for certain reasons. I like the quote “ you are a complicated woman. Even when you say you don’t want anything, you want more than that.” I feel like this was Christophers way of opening her eyes and it was ironic that he was the youngest of the three yet he was still teaching her.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Rodriguez