Muteness

Maya Angelou once said, “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” This strong statement came from a woman who overcame many trials and tribulations. Maya Angelou is one of the greatest figures in American literature. She is known for writing poetry which she used to spread the word of equality for many African American women and for others who were oppressed. Maya Angelou went through many hardships, but through hard work and her love for literature, she became one of…

Every year when summer and fall come around, Wisconsin campgrounds fill with families for annual trips, reunions, or spring-of-the-moment getaways. Preparation can be a huge hassle, packing the car to the brim, leaving just enough space for passengers, the dog, and a little bit of breathing room. When I attempt to make everything fit, it’s kind of like playing an exhausting game of Tetris, but it’s all worth it for that tranquil, beautiful, and unforgettable time I am yet to have. Upon arrival…

Cría Cuervos is a Spanish film written and directed by Carlos Saura in 1975, at the same time as the death of Franco and the beginning of the end of Francoism. Throughout Cría Cuervos there are many prevalent themes; such as death, imagination and women. This essay will be looking at the theme of women within Cría Cuervos which is interesting because the film seems to challenge the Francoist ideals and the values of Spanish society by providing centrality to female characters, which gives them…

enhancing the audience's connection to the story. In the film The Piano, Jane Campion the director and Stuart Dryburgh the cinematographer, utilize colors to portray the mood of her character's without the use of dialogue, to help circumvent her muteness.…

The Symbolism of Music in Joyce Carol Oates’s "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates introduces a fifteen-year-old rebellious teenage girl fixated on getting male attention. Unfortunately, this all leads up to a man in disguise, named Arnold Friend, exploiting Connie. However, as the story progresses, the reader begins to notice evidence of the influence music has on Connie’s ideas of romance and love. It is evident that the…

he fails to account for those who struggle to identify with a “home,” and have been deprived of its benefits due to cultural erasure. In describing her childhood feelings of alienation in the face of cultural erasure, Savoy shares, “My parents’ muteness once seemed tacit consent that generational history was no longer part of life or living memory…But unvoiced lives cut a sharp-felt absence…My greatest fear as a young girl was that I wasn’t meant to exist” (Savoy, 28). In the same chapter,…

After this Marg wasn’t sure of anything she could understand why Mr. Freeman would do that. For a while after that Marg did not speak at all, but to her brother Bailey which is understandable. Though after a while she was seen as impudent and her muteness sullenness. Some off her relatives felt offended by her and thought she was being uptight. After some time she and Bailey found themselves on their way back to Stamps. She mentions that she never found out if Momma sent for them or if the St.…

Food: A Reader for Writers: “The Gastronomical Me,” An Excerpt by M.F.K. Fisher To demonstrate the indication of the time period referred to by the author: “Women in those days, made much more of a ritual of their household duties than they do now. Sometimes it was indistinguishable from a dogged martyrdom.” (2) There is a specific definition for martyrdom (3) martyrdom: an occasion when someone suffers or is killed because of their religious or political beliefs The use of martyrdom in the…

(Otten). As Otten reiterates, Roberta and Twyla were both abandoned by their mothers so they released their rage upon Maggie. Otten continues to explain that Maggie represents the lost innocence of the two girls. Maggie in her childlike appearance and muteness appears completely innocent, which of course makes her the perfect target for abuse. She is the basis for many different abstract ideas and symbolizes many different important concepts, showing how she contributes to the…

best on screen romance I’ve seen all year. Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones are brilliant. Sometimes writers will give a character a crutch or disability to make us care and it comes off as fake. What del Toro and co-writer Vanessa Taylor do is have the muteness of Elisa, Sally Hawkins, play into the actually story and the romance itself. It’s by no means an afterthought. This of course is amplified by Sally Hawkins herself. She has to do a lot with her face and eyes. You can see some much depth in…