“Our Secret”, by Susan Griffin is a complex text which portrays an arrangement of themes and topics, which all relate in the end. Griffin began this chapter as she continued her life as a feminist write, poet, essayist, teacher and many more. She writes a chapter of her book that focuses on the idea of connections and how they have affected her life. The essay that will be introduced is written from her book A Chorus of Stones and is called Our Secret. It is a shocking chapter and a reflection on the consequences of others that have abused, physically or mentally or both, by committing acts of emotional violence. Susan Griffin tells a story of history and her family connections while piecing it together with other peoples. Shocking stories
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Her method of writing strengthens her story and allows reflection on her past. Griffin writes, “Often I have looked back into my past with a new insight only to find that some old, hardly recollected feeling fits into a larger pattern of meaning” (234). Throughout the essay Griffin refers back to her past and allows new messages in certain paragraphs. These paragraphs often convey messages which allow readers to feel connected. This writing method introduces how she is as an author and how she allows others to feel as if they can imagine and understand the story. She introduces many new people and tells about their lives and how she was affected from them. This shows another way of how she strengthens her writing because she backs it up with facts and evidence from stories and people. The Callous and Heinrich Himmler’s boyhood was a big part of the essay and Griffin tells of how he grew up to become the chief architect of Jewish genocide and also command Nazi. Griffin relates this to her own hard, childhood and depressing family life. In between these strands of stories are italic passages on cell biology. These cells allow for detail and facts about Griffin and her experiences. Throughout the story Griffin returns to Himmlers life which makes a reflection of her own, which often begin to show techniques she will …show more content…
Throughout Griffins writing she uses common themes to be created when reading the essay. She translates many stories while tying in her advice and hinting at bigger pictures. One of the big themes would be how childhood experiences often affect you later in life. Himmer was raised in a bad environment that later affected him into not being the best person. As Himmler goes off of everything his dad tells him he often finds himself lost in his own world. To reflect on Himmlers childhood, Griffin writes, “If a part of himself has vanished, that part of the self that feels and wants, and from which hence coherent life might be shaped. Henrich is not at sea yet. He has no time to drift or feel lost. Each moment has been spoken for, every move prescribed. He has only to carry out his father’s plans for him’ (243). Griffin describes how many are lost in life and how finding a path on your own isn’t always easy. Life isn’t always handed to you but, with pressure from others around you it often makes it difficult to be independent. Many people, including myself can relate to this theme. These memories often change people sometimes for the better and shape our lives differently. A second reoccurring theme would be memory and connections. Griffin discusses how memory can change our lives. As she talks of the war and her memory of it she feels everyone should share their
Her method of writing strengthens her story and allows reflection on her past. Griffin writes, “Often I have looked back into my past with a new insight only to find that some old, hardly recollected feeling fits into a larger pattern of meaning” (234). Throughout the essay Griffin refers back to her past and allows new messages in certain paragraphs. These paragraphs often convey messages which allow readers to feel connected. This writing method introduces how she is as an author and how she allows others to feel as if they can imagine and understand the story. She introduces many new people and tells about their lives and how she was affected from them. This shows another way of how she strengthens her writing because she backs it up with facts and evidence from stories and people. The Callous and Heinrich Himmler’s boyhood was a big part of the essay and Griffin tells of how he grew up to become the chief architect of Jewish genocide and also command Nazi. Griffin relates this to her own hard, childhood and depressing family life. In between these strands of stories are italic passages on cell biology. These cells allow for detail and facts about Griffin and her experiences. Throughout the story Griffin returns to Himmlers life which makes a reflection of her own, which often begin to show techniques she will …show more content…
Throughout Griffins writing she uses common themes to be created when reading the essay. She translates many stories while tying in her advice and hinting at bigger pictures. One of the big themes would be how childhood experiences often affect you later in life. Himmer was raised in a bad environment that later affected him into not being the best person. As Himmler goes off of everything his dad tells him he often finds himself lost in his own world. To reflect on Himmlers childhood, Griffin writes, “If a part of himself has vanished, that part of the self that feels and wants, and from which hence coherent life might be shaped. Henrich is not at sea yet. He has no time to drift or feel lost. Each moment has been spoken for, every move prescribed. He has only to carry out his father’s plans for him’ (243). Griffin describes how many are lost in life and how finding a path on your own isn’t always easy. Life isn’t always handed to you but, with pressure from others around you it often makes it difficult to be independent. Many people, including myself can relate to this theme. These memories often change people sometimes for the better and shape our lives differently. A second reoccurring theme would be memory and connections. Griffin discusses how memory can change our lives. As she talks of the war and her memory of it she feels everyone should share their