I'm Nobody! Who are you? by Emily Dickinson

Dickinson said she was nobody. She did not want to be somebody. Somebody refers to someone who is famous or well known by other people. On the contrary, being nobody means few people will pay attention to oneself.

From her standpoint of view, being somebody well expose one's private life to the public, just like a frog that keeps croaking, catching people's ears and eyes. And being somebody would be advertise by people who know you, leting more and more people know about you. Some of them will judge you from different perspectives that making you annoyed, and some of them try to dig out your secret you try to hide. But none of all are willing to share his or her life completely to strangers. It would offend someone. Everyone needs privacy.

Furthermore, should we must be known by others for our works or contribution? Dickinson thought it was unnecessary. Do our best and be silent.

Emily Dickinson, Encyclopædia Britannica

Theme for English B by Langston Hughes

Theme for English B is a work about struggling for rights.

The writer, Langston Hughes, is an African American who born in the 20th century. He wrote down this work because of the mission that instructor asked for. He turned over to think about the unfairness happened in America's society.

Though the instructor gave that freedom to write, Hughes did not think African Americans would get the as equal treatment as whites, even in school study tasks. So he "wonder if it's that simple" as the words said.

In his pages, colored people were the same as the whites. He criticized the discrimination among Americans: even though they were the parts of each other. He believed there was still love, peace and respect inside people. Everyone lives matter.

Society belongs to everybody, not a certain group of people.

Langston Hughes, Encyclopædia Britannica

A Clean, Well-lighted Place by Ernest Miller Hemingway

In my submission, A Clean, Well-lighted Place is a novel about the final purpose of human life.

The old man was rich, but felt empty in his heart. The young waiter wasn't rich, but filled his heart with vitality. The older waiter shared the same emotion with the old man.

The rich, old man wanted to kill himself for meaningless life. His niece "feared for his soul" and saved his life. I guess the man came to the cafe for wine to paralyze himself to live longer. The younger waiter wished he can leave earlier so that he can go back home earlier too. The younger waiter had a wife and a joyful life with his family. He had youth and confidence in life which the old man lacked, and the older waiter lacked.

The cafe was a "clean and pleasant place", but life, same as the bar, is dirty, noisy and tearful experience. The older waiter knew that, so he could empathize with the old man who insisted on drinking in the cafe. Life is as silent, lonely and unshareable experience as drinking wine in the empty, dark cafe.

So the old man wanted to stay in the cafe.

Ernest Miller Hemingway, Encyclopædia Britannica

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth "wandered lonely as a cloud" during his whole life.

Can we, or Wordsworth, live out our days as a cloud? Of course not. So the poet dreamed of himself as the cloud floating in the sky. He saw the valleys and hills, saw a lake and trees, and then saw a crowd of daffodils.

The daffodils swung in the wind. The poet saw them dancing. Stars shining in the dark night sky, and the daffodils "tossing their heads in sprightly dance".

In my opinion, daffodils symbolized the joy and vitality of life. Poet was gay when he saw the fluttering flowers. He "gaze and gazed", wanted to memorise all the beautiful scene. "They flash upon that inward eye" when the poet in vacant or in a pensive mood. Like some of us would remind us of niceness when in deep thought or sadness.

Poets are emotional, turning what they see and hear into a means of expressing their thoughts and thoughts, and telling their inner stories.

William Wordsworth, Encyclopædia Britannica

Araby by James Joyce

Araby. What is Araby?

The main story is about the protagonist of the story, a little boy, who fell in love with a neighbour girl, Mangan's sister, but found out he was cheated by a lie in the end.

In the story, North Richmond Street "being blind, was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers' School set the boys free". Under writer's description, the whole environment was colorless, reflecting the hopeless life in Ireland at that time.

What interested me the most was that the dead priest. In priest's house, there was "a few paper-covered books, the pages of which were curled and damp: The Abbot, by Walter Scott, The Devout Communicant, and The Memoris of Vidocq" in the waste room. Using very few words and phrases, the author wrote the ultimate satire on religion.

In my eyes, the protagonist entered adolescence, so he was attracted by the Mangan's sister. The irration prompt him to ignore the fact that what was Araby after the conversation. He just driven by immature love. He tried his best to gather Mangan's sister's attention, but it was in vain in the end of story. I learnt that we should be calm even in the relationship of love.

James Joyce, Encyclopædia Britannica

The most liked

After studying the class Literature of English, I found Theme of English B, written by Langston Hughes, evoked me the most.

In Hughes's time, most whites believed they had surpassed the black who were referred to as 'the colored'. In fact, ethnic origin stands for nothing. People always use beautiful words to cover unfairness.

'I like to work, read, learn, and understand life...' Although Hughes's words are simple, he raised his doubts, and also represented the doubts of the African American. Words are powerful weapons. The white persecuted the black through words, voice, drawing and many other ways. Is it right? Blacks are the same as whites. Hughes did not accept fate the society imposed. He wrote his way out.

'I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem', 'I guess being colored doesn't make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races'. Will one be discriminated against based on his or her color? Or in other words, will one be discriminated against for his or her appearance, or wealth, or talent, or other stuff? I guess Hughes would agree that everyone is equal to others.

'Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, that's true!' One will see himself by other people, like the mirror reflecting oneself's image. 'As I learn from you... and somewhat more free.' We learn from our parents, our classmates, our friends, etc.. The one who has the right to determine others' future, such as parents, work supervisors, should help them build a better self. And outsiders shall come to the minority's assistance who are fighting for their reasonable demands.

This is my page for interpreting Theme for English B.