So I kind of feel like a loser for always making these movie connections, but i have to, cause i really am a loser for movies. So this weekend, I went and saw "I Am Legend" with Will Smith, and yah it was so EPIC. The whole premise is that Will Smith is the last known man on earth, the rest were either wiped out by a mutated measles vaccine meant to cure cancer, or mutated into killer night crawlers. Needless to say, these zombie, yet alive people were SO scary, for me at least. i suppose it was mostly because of the way they were still technically human. Smith, being a scientist, knows that if he can only find the cure then he will be able to turn the monsters back into regular beings. But until then, they are our neighbors, and family members gone crazy, eating humans. So that's what's so scary.
But during this movie, we don't know what we can believe at the same time. It's really a matter of perspective. Are they monsters? they were turned into this because of our society's need to conquer nature. Similarly, the only reason they are eating people is to survive, is that a crime. While we look down on cannibalism and say "Oh, i could never do that" we've never been in a position to make that decision. The monsters live in packs and have a leader. The leader is willing to sacrifice himself to help his members and he is smart enough to lay traps for his prey. So it's really a matter of how you imagine a monster.
Same thing in my book (alas! there was a reason for this post) it's all a matter of perspective. is the governess telling the truth in how she is hearing things around the house. Are the children really involved in it or is she simply looking for a common explanation to an uncommon occurrence. the answer to this question will also help to show some cultural values. Such as, do they value the observation of the supernatural or do they frown upon exaggeration and mystery. Like in the movie, can we believe that all is true wen it only comes from the perspective of one wronged person who happens to be the narrator.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
New Beginnigns
Okay, so I just started reading my second book (the one that I gave a summary on before) and it's pretty hard. The vocabulary is nothing I can't handle, the only thing that makes it really hard to read is its syntax, some of the sentences are really flipped around.
At the start of the story, the setting is at a small get together between a group of intimate friends, even though at times the narrator seems in disdain of the females at the party. They are going around the fire telling stories of ghosts. The nameless narrator's friend, Douglas decides it is his turn to tell a story. It is clear that he has a personal tie with this story, the governess of the story seems to be a friend of his, she was the actual writer of the tale and has mailed it to Douglas for safe keeping, in fact he even keeps it locked in a drawer. This is the first time he has chosen to share the tale.
The actual story of the governess begins with the introduction to how she got the job. We also get introduced to the employer, who is described as very gentle and chivalrous. And while, its clear that Douglas loves the governess, i think that the governess is infatuated with the employer. She goes to the summer house where the children stay and the house keeper, Mrs. Grouse. ( think that is the spelling, i have to check) Then it switches to the governess's' POV. She begins the description of the story were she is on the road to her new home, when she gets there the first thing she sees is the little girl Flora, and the house keeper.
The little girl completely enraptures the Governess from the first moment. Upon the first glance it is as if the little girl has made a mental connection with the Governess, wrapping her around her finger. The description of the girl is almost angelic like, and Mrs.Grouse states that if the little girl has had such an effect on her, than the little boy will cause her to fall in love.
However (knowing that this is one of the most notable scary stories) I have been waiting for the moment where the scary happens. Even in her first night at the house the Governess writes that she hears small sounds, and she sees what looks like legs passing by her door, still she chooses to ignore them, and states that it was just an effect of her being so excited about getting the job and meeting the little girl.
At this point in the book I've learned little about the characters or about the their tendencies, so I can't yet make any inferences about where the book is going. However, right now I just think that its going to come down to a mental battle, the children seem to easily control the adults around them, and i definitely think they are going to use this.
At the start of the story, the setting is at a small get together between a group of intimate friends, even though at times the narrator seems in disdain of the females at the party. They are going around the fire telling stories of ghosts. The nameless narrator's friend, Douglas decides it is his turn to tell a story. It is clear that he has a personal tie with this story, the governess of the story seems to be a friend of his, she was the actual writer of the tale and has mailed it to Douglas for safe keeping, in fact he even keeps it locked in a drawer. This is the first time he has chosen to share the tale.
The actual story of the governess begins with the introduction to how she got the job. We also get introduced to the employer, who is described as very gentle and chivalrous. And while, its clear that Douglas loves the governess, i think that the governess is infatuated with the employer. She goes to the summer house where the children stay and the house keeper, Mrs. Grouse. ( think that is the spelling, i have to check) Then it switches to the governess's' POV. She begins the description of the story were she is on the road to her new home, when she gets there the first thing she sees is the little girl Flora, and the house keeper.
The little girl completely enraptures the Governess from the first moment. Upon the first glance it is as if the little girl has made a mental connection with the Governess, wrapping her around her finger. The description of the girl is almost angelic like, and Mrs.Grouse states that if the little girl has had such an effect on her, than the little boy will cause her to fall in love.
However (knowing that this is one of the most notable scary stories) I have been waiting for the moment where the scary happens. Even in her first night at the house the Governess writes that she hears small sounds, and she sees what looks like legs passing by her door, still she chooses to ignore them, and states that it was just an effect of her being so excited about getting the job and meeting the little girl.
At this point in the book I've learned little about the characters or about the their tendencies, so I can't yet make any inferences about where the book is going. However, right now I just think that its going to come down to a mental battle, the children seem to easily control the adults around them, and i definitely think they are going to use this.
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