Why Socialists Don't believe in Fun-- George Orwell

Lit Circle "The Color Purple"

I just finished the book earlier today, and I have to say I'm pleased with the ending. At first, I didn't really think it would end well, especially when I thought Nettie died and Shug left Celie. I'm really glad that they all ended up together. However, there is still discrimination against more than just the black people in the society. Alice Walker gives us a different insight on discrimination, black versus black. I found it so surprising that the black people were fighting for their rights, yet they were still racist against each other. I don't see how they didn't understand that until they changed, they wouldn't see change outside of their African American community. Overall though, I enjoyed the book.

CHEEZBURGER

So Mrs. Linneman didn't follow through. So I am, so we all don't die tomorrow.

Vocab Words

So Mrs. Linneman didn't follow through. ;) So I am, do we all don't die tomorrow. :)

akimbo

adj

set in a bent position

lassitude

n

a condition of weariness or debility

licentious

adj

lacking legal or moral restraints, especially disregarding sexual restraints

muse

v

to become absorbed in thought

pecuniary

adj

of or relating to money

presumptuous

adj

overstepping due bounds

subvert

v

to overturn or over throw from the foundation

vacuous

adj

marked by lack of ideas or intelligence

avocation

n

customary employment; a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one's vocation especially for enjoyment

capricious

adj

impulsive, unpredictable

Vocab Words

For those of you who asked ("hypothetically") what to do in the event that you lost your vocabulary packet, here are the words for the week two list. (See your calendars: Quiz next week!)





Week Two_____________________________________________________________________

akimbo: adj—set in a bent positionMy brother, arms akimbo, sprawled across our couch as he slept.
lassitude: n—a condition of weariness or debilityJenny was about to finish her homework when severe lassitude prevented her.
licentious: adj—lacking legal or moral restraints, especially disregarding sexual restraintsDanny, who is licentious, spends his time in bars looking for women
muse: v—to become absorbed in thought
He mused over possible endings for his novel.
pecuniary: adj—of or relating to money
When Mr. Jones lost his job, his family experienced marked pecuniary difficulties.
presumptuous: adj—overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy)
The presumptuous student asked the teacher for an extra credit assignment on the last day of class.
subvert: v—to overturn or overthrow from the foundation
John, a cashier, subverted Wal Mart through his attempts at starting a union.
vacuous: adj—marked by lack of ideas or intelligence
The essay was entirely vacuous, displaying no signs of original thinking or logic.
avocation: n—customary employment; a subordinate occupation pursued in addition to one's vocation especially for enjoymentFirefighting was his job; fishing was his avocation.
capricious: adj—impulsive, unpredictableThe capricious teacher assigned an entire novel for students to read over the weekend after she promised to assign no homework.

Changes

In "The Color Purple", as I thought she might, Celie finally stood up for herself against Mr. ______ (her husband). Shug is returning to Memphis, and tells everyone that Celie is coming with her. When Mr. ______ says that Celie is staying, she stands up for herself and finally says what she has been thinking for years. She even speaks up agianst Harpo, Mr. _____'s son. Little Mary Agnes, Harpo's wife, also stands up against Harpo. She chooses to leave Harpo to pursue her dreams of singing. Finally, the women are being strong and proud in their individualism and not letting the men control their actions. Shug has been an excellent example to them of how a women should act; if she believes she is equal, then whether the men like it or not, they have to treat them as equals as well.

Courage

In "The Color Purple", there are multiple occurrences of racism and sexism. Celie, being a victim to both, is very passive and allows herself to be taken advantage of. However, she is surrounded by women that show courage and confidence in themselves. Shug is a vivacious, self-assured woman that stands up to Celie's husband when Celie herself does not. Shug tells him to stop beating Celie, and he does. Also, Harpo's ex-wife Sophia stands up for herself against the racist mayor. Although she ends up in jail for it, her act of strength is shown. Celie really admires their courage and mentions several times how she wants to be like them, but has yet to show any real action towards changing. I think that the women's acts are foreshadowing Celie's moment of triumph when she finally stands up for herself, being strong in her feminism, something the author Alice Walker heavily supports. That could also be a potential theme to the novel, not only sexism from males, but how females allow themselves to be discriminated against just as badly.