It is interesting to me how the south had changed. It as almost like in the beginning the people were so opposed to the new country, especially in Louisianna, because they were still completely devoted to the king of France (being a French colony.) This story parallels the change from the monarchistic French culture to the more "free world" of America. I liked how everything seemed to become more anarchistic becuase Jean states that in France, you simply go to the govenor if there is a problem who would stay loyal to his people and try and fix things for them; however, in this new culture, the land that was "his" could be traversed and urbanized without his consent. Jean was very much resistant to this change (or any change at all for that matter.) He wanted to be left alone. He wanted his privacy and his rights as a citizen of France not of Louisianna. It states that as time went on, New Orleans grew out into the swamps due to an increase in polulation. As more people were being born "Americans", they had different ideas of life and law, directly contradicting what Jean was used to, creating in my opinion a more turse and rude society. Southern Gothic is said to "address the decline of the south." This is open to interpretation, but i think that in Jean's eyes aswell as White's this mirrors the decline of the old life and society of France and of New Orleans. The society has relpaced humble beginnings and family virtures white a more modernized society. This story definitely founds itself in folklore and suspense, aswell as tying in a little bit of local color with the french terms and names of streets but i didnt see it as prominently in this story.

chesnutt

My first reaction to tonights readings were a kind of shock. It was very interesting to me how a white man could take on the persona of a black man and I was very interested in the raders reactions. I think that the audience at the time the stories were wirtten were not offended so much by the language used; however, there is no way that the author could have anticipated today's reactions. I read Goophered Grapevine aloud to a few people just so that i could read and translate simultaneously and was emberassed frankly. The shock for me came from the fact that this was not offensive in those times. He, as a white male, introduces the first person character int he beginning as himself and then is allowed to put on this "mask" in order to tell the bulk of the tale through a balck mans eyes. Regardless of how "dated" these pieces may be i think because of thier controvertial nature they are still relevant today.

I love the names that are used in this short story. Goodman and Faith both have very posotive sounding connotations. This helps to establish their character from the beginning. Tha name Goodman i feel is very "down home" and relatable. It makes me want to know his character. I think that the setting played a very important role in the story. To be honest I was rather confused towards the end of the story but from what i gathered, I think that the darka nd ominous woods were talling us what was to come. Everyone knows of the witch trials in Salem and the city itself has a sort of evil, ominous air about it. I think it was a very strategic choice to make this the setting of the story. The four burning pines i think could have been a symbol of the cross and the fact that the evil was winning over the good. This story confused me more than the last and i found the ending fairly dismal but overall i think I liked it. I am looking forward to hearing alot of it explained however.

Freud's theory was that of the concious and the unconcious mind. I believe that this ties in because when Dr. Jeckly was Dr. Jeckyll, Hyde was always living inside him, somewhere untouched and hidden but only the medicine brought him to light. But it was not just Dr. Jeckyll where it existed. Mr. Utterson shows us towards the beginning of the novel that Mr. Hyde evoked some sort of inner demon withinsid him; Hyde provoked his and others dual identities. Dr. Jeckyll's concious mind is "any memory that can be made easily brought to mind." THe unconcious mind, however, controls our drives and our instincts: the things not readily available in our memory. Freud said "it is the source of our motivations." YThis makes me wonder what Dr. Jeckyll's concoius mid was thinking and did he had no regard for hiuman life in his concious mind but just tried to live thorugh sicietal norms? And what urges or desires or motivations have we all pushed to the back of our minds? Stevenson wrote almost a complete parallell to his theory. I think that, though obviously an extreme case, Stevenson wrote what would happen if all of our unconcoius were brought to light and all that we had learned to be socially acceptale had fallen by the wayside. It is very interesting thogh that Freud was after this time. I wonder whether or not he looked upon J&H when or after he formulated this theory and how he felt about it.

The roles of females made me angry in this novel. I am by no means a femenist; however, i do believe that these women should have had a right to think and choose for themselves. The part that stood out to me the most was when Isabella was running away from Manfred. Whatever path he chose, she knew there was really no escaping him. She could be made to marry anyone, even if it was simply for child bearing purposes. It just makes me realize what a 180 we have done in society from then until now. This all seeems appropriate for the times in which they lived but i would not have wanted to live in these times as a woman. Hippolita freely gave up her marriage with no fight becuase she felt her life wasnt as important as his. It has become very evident in our society that female rulers or first ladies or the like are very necessary and succesful, even inspiring. Theodore was by far the most respectful and modern character in the novel when it comes to0 our efenition of chivalry, the only male character to put womens wants and needs above his own.

Hello, My Name is Angela Goodwin. I am an upcoming junior at TCU this year and i am studying Art Education. I am also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. I am from Fort Worth and i have lived here all my life. I really do like to read, and lately I have had different taste so hopfully I will like this subject matter. I dont know much about Gothic Fiction but it seems interesting.

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