Analytical Essay on AFTA (before) January 12, 2008

The goal of this paper was to pick a topic of interest in the novel A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemmingway, and analyze it. In class we watched a biographical movie on Hemmingway and his life experiences intrigued me so, for my topic, I chose to analyze whether Hemmingway based his characters in his book on the real people who played major rolls in his life. His girlfriend was an American nurse named Agnes and in his novel A Farewell to Arms, the main character falls in love with an American nurse, Catherine Barker. Going off of a few simple details I picked up from the film, I created an analytical essay on the novel A Farewell to Arms.

Sara Cranford

Mrs. Robinson

H. English 3

15 November 2007 

A Personal Metaphor or Simply a Fictional Novel 

      To express his life through the novel A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway introduces the character Catherine to represent his real life love, Agnes.  Upon first glance, one might think that Hemingway wrote the novel, A Farewell to Arms, base on how he hoped his relationship with Agnes would have ended.  If this statement is true then why did he chose for Agnes’s character, Catherine, and her child to die?  Hemingway chose for Catherine to die because he needed to rid his heart of the pain that Agnes struck him with when she left him for another man.  If he let the child live then there would always be a constant reminder that Agnes was gone, therefore the child too had to die.  Hemingway was an American solider who fought in World War 1 on the Italian front.  His novel, A Farewell to Arms, is based on his experiences in Italy and his encounter with an American nurse, Agnes, with whom he fell in love.  Hemingway planed to marry and spend the rest of his life with Agnes; however, when he returned home to the states Agnes wrote him a letter saying that she had fallen for an Italian officer and the two were engaged to be married.  Hemingway was in the process of writing his novel in which he based the main characters Henry and Catherine on himself and Agnes.  When Agnes left him, it was like a dagger going straight to his heart, consequently he chose for Agnes’s character in the novel to die.  Catherine and Henry were expecting a child, but since Hemingway could not spend the rest of his life with Agnes why would he want that everyday reminder that she was gone; therefore, he chose for the child to die as well.  It has been said that Hemingway wrote the conclusion to his novel thirty-nine times.  The varieties of conclusions vary in length in an aim to achieve a conclusion mirroring the life choices of the creator.  The Sense of an Ending to A Farewell to Arms states, “The conclusion of a life can be as arbitrary and/or artistically appropriate as the conclusion of a novel” (Oldsey).  Hemingway wrote and re-wrote the ending to his novel to perfect Catherine’s death.  In one conclusion, Hemingway reached back to “Henry’s near fatal wounding as he compares the traumatic effect of Catherine’s death on him with that produced by the physical wound: in both instances the numbness wears off and only the pain still remains” (Oldsey).  His goal was to mirror his own life and end the novel with his expression of the pain he was suffering by creating the ideal death for Catherine.Hemingway also created three “Live-Baby Endings”, but “the third makes it clear that he attempts to provide an ending in which the fact of birth, of new life, mitigates death.  In this version Henry finds it difficult to talk about the boy without feeling bitter towards him, but concludes philosophically that ‘there is no end except death and birth is the only beginning’” (Oldsey).  These examples, however, never seemed quite right to Hemingway.  It is apparent that having the child around would be a constant reminder that Catherine was gone.  This daily memento simply deepened Hemingway’s pain because of his loss of his true love.  It only seemed fit that he chose for the child to die with his mother so that there would be no lingering pain of emptiness. In “Pseudoautobiography and Personal Metaphor”, Millicent Bell says that “It was not memory but printed source material that supplied the precise details of its descriptions of historic battle scenes on the Italian front in World War 1” (Bell).  This statement shows that Hemingway did indeed write his novel base on his own life experiences, the question is: to what extent?  He based his characters on himself and his love in the time of the war.  His occupation as an ambulance driver on the front, his friends, and the background was all true.  However, it has also been said, “The only writing that was any good was what you made up, what you imagined”.  Hemingway felt that the only good ending to his novel was an imagined one; one that included a major death.  A Farewell to Arms is not about love or the war; it is about the author’s state of mind.  This statement relates back to the original idea that Hemingway wrote his novel based on how he desired for his relationship with Agnes to end.  His devastation over her leaving him caused Hemingway to end the novel the way he did, with Catherine’s and the child’s death.  He needed to get Agnes out of his heart and his mind so he chose for her character to die.  No more reminders of her unexpectedly leaving him, breaking his heart into a million pieces. 

Research Paper January 12, 2008

Sara Cranford

Mrs. Robinson

H. English 3

18 December 2007 

A Terrifying Knock at the Door: How Does Death Affect Teenagers?

Loosing a close friend or loved one is one of the most difficult obstacles we cross in our journey through life.  Death comes knocking on our friend’s door and so unexpectedly takes their life away.  When this tragic event occurs, teenagers seem to be the ones hit the hardest.  Coping with the loss of a friend can often change our lives forever.  Positive life lessons are learned and we move on to become better people.  However, it does not always work quickly like that, and there isn’t always a positive outcome.  Teens often blame themselves, “if I had only known, I would have…”, and sometimes they are confronted with the thought of suicide.  The funeral and viewing play a large roll in this struggle to cope with loss.  Seeing that body, lying motionless, lifeless, can bring pain and sorrow to the survivors.  Saying good-bye for the last time is often the hardest step in letting go.  Death knocks at the door of a loved one and in a moment teenagers lives are forever changed.  The loss of a loved one affects teenagers drastically, both physically and mentally and each of us is affected differently. “Just as people feel grief in many different ways, they handle it differently, too. Some people reach out for support from others and find comfort in good memories. Others become very busy to take their minds off the loss.  Some people become depressed and withdraw from their peers or go out of the way to avoid the places or situations that remind them of the person who has died.”  - Lyness Coping with the loss of a loved one or close friend is a difficult, slow and painful process.  We were so used to life with them, and now we must adjust to life without them.  Who to turn to is one of the most important aspects of coping with death.  When surveyed, the majority of teenagers responded that they turn to their parents and close friends for comfort.  Talking about death can be difficult to handle, but it is easier on teenagers if they know the person they are talking to can relate and understand.  They need to confide in them in their quest for comfort.  Close friends are often most helpful due to many factors.  First of all, it’s easier to deal with something so tragic when someone else is too.  Age also makes a difference in the choice of who to turn to.  Teenagers tend to feel more comfortable discussing the issue with someone their own age rather than an adult.  Adults have a higher experience level with grief and death, which makes it more difficult for them to relate to someone who isn’t as familiar with the issue.  Teenagers are more likely to turn to close friends who can relate to their grief on the same level. Marin E. Marty, a divinity scholar at the University of Chicago said, “Loss is so terrible, whatever instrument people choose that is good for them, I will start by applauding.”  The most common method of coping with grief among teenagers is bringing to mind all the good memories and talking about them.  Keeping your feelings bottled up can be harmful and bring out negative effects.  Talking about the deceased can bring relief and help to speed up the grieving process.  Prayer is another route that many teenagers chose when searching for comfort in the loss of a friend or loved one.  Whether it’s for help, guidance, thanksgiving, comfort or forgiveness, forty percent of teenagers make the daily choice to pray.  When a loved one has passed away, this number increases rapidly.  In times of desperate need, even teenagers that don’t pray on a daily or regular basis find themselves turning to God for help. When a loved one passes on, positive life lessons are often obtained.  When surveyed teenagers responded that they learned, “laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.  Take chances, give everything, and have no regrets.  Life is too short to be anything but happy.“  Letting go of a loved one can be difficult but searching for the good in something can bring relief.  Through experiencing this type of loss, we learn not to take anything for granted.  Nothing, not even tomorrow, is promised.  We must live each day to its fullest.  We often grow stronger and wiser through the negative downsides of life.  When teenagers experience loss they tend to help one another find comfort.  Sometimes, when comforting others, we find strength in ourselves.  Strength we never knew we had.  We are able to push back the hard, painful part, and help someone else pull through. This strength is another positive effect that we obtain through the loss of a loved one.  In some cases teenagers believe that the strength which the find inside them is from the loved one who has passed.  We feel like they are pushing us to see the good in life and not be sad because they are gone.  They are in a better place so we should be happy for them. There isn’t always a happy ending to everything in life though.  Some teenagers choose to blame themselves for the death of a friend or relative.  They feel like they could have made that life changing difference.  “If I had only been there…”, “If I had only known…I would have” are thoughts that teenagers procure when trying to solve the unanswerable question of “why them”?  Teenagers may turn to drugs or alcohol to help them forget about their troubles, or take the edge off the pain.  This mistake can often lead to life changing events for the worse such as: trouble with the police, loss or friends, and causing family problems.  This type of “coping” will only lead to more trouble.  Some teenagers even have thoughts of suicide or self inflicted injuries due to this drastic loss.  When it is a close family member that passes away, blaming one’s self is usually the first instinct; however, with much thought and contemplation teenagers soon come to realize there was nothing they could do.The question of whether seeing the body in an open casket is good for the survivors is one that will remain forever.  When a person dies, their appearance often changes dramatically–sometimes to the point where they are unrecognizable.  This can be difficult to bear for the family and friends that remain.  Some families choose to keep the casket closed and this brings controversy with the survivors.  They believe this is a time for us to say our goodbyes and seeing the estranged body shouldn’t distract us from knowing the person is in a better place.When a loved one has died, the funeral often seems to be the most difficult part.  It is the last time we will see the body of the person we once knew and loved; it’s truly time to say goodbye.  The funeral, however, can give a feeling of relief to the ones left behind.  When surveyed, teenagers responded that being at the funeral made them realize that their loved one was in a better place; they were no longer suffering.  A funeral is a way for us to confront death and release our emotions.  In relation to the letting go process Thomas Lynch says, “Right between the inhale and the exhale of the bone-wracking sob such hurts to produce, some frightened and well-meaning ignoramus is bound to give out with: ‘It’s okay, that’s not her, it’s just a shell.’”  This acknowledgement of the body, which we see lying motionless in the casket as a shell, not the real person, lets out a feeling of relief.  It comforts us and confirms our belief that our loved one is now at peace. Burying the dead is often a comfort factor of laying the soul to rest.  This ceremony brings ease to those left behind.  Teenagers responded that witnessing this ritual was difficult, yet soothing; because, they knew their friend was at now ease.  Martin Marty also states, “To me, the worst pastors in the world are those who know why bad things happen or believe words can compensate for a life.”  Words said at a burial, as we say goodbye to our love one, can never make up for the loss, which we suffer.  They comfort us and bring relief, but they can never fully reimburse a life.

MortalityNumber of deaths for adolescents 15-19 years of age: 13,812Deaths per 100,000 population for adolescents 15-19 years of age: 67.8Number of deaths for leading causes of deaths among adolescents 15-19 years of age:Accidents (unintentional injuries): 7,137Homicide: 1,892Suicide: 1,513 

 It takes time to adjust to our loved ones not being with us all the time.  Recently a student at our school that battled cancer for two years passes away.  Everyone who knew him was touched by his short life.  He inspired more people than he will ever know.  I interviewed his closest friends and they told me, if there was one thing they learned from Michael, it was to always be happy.  You should never go to sleep feeling remorse for something you have done.  Life is too short to have regrets.  Always apologize.  Be the better person.  Treat people how you want them to treat you; because, you never know when that knock will be heard at the door.  When a life is taken away, teenagers are forced to deal with the unfortunate matter.  It is then that we realize friends and family are the most important part of a teenager’s life.  Make smart choices when you have to deal with something so unfortunate.  Coping can be difficult, but your true friends and family will be there for you when you need them the most.  Dance, sing, write, run, pray, do whatever it takes to gain happiness and know that life is a gift–make yours worth it.

Light Shines Down on the Disease That Kills November 9, 2007

This assignment was to write a descriptive essay by observing nature. The week this assignment was given out I lost a very good friend, Michael McKinney. I will never forget the night I heard that he passed away. Everything thing I did that weekend reminded me of him, so it only seemed right to write my descriptive essay in memory of Michael and how he touched the lives of every person he met. He was and will always be my HERO.

                      Light Shines Down on the Disease That Kills           

          Sparkling streams of transparent thread flow back and forth from leaf to leaf glowing in the sunlight and in the middle lays a black and yellow body with eight legs extending across the radiant lattice. Next to it, a twisted ball tangled in the web is shaking violently, trying to break free. The quivering ball began to calm. Slowly the shaking became a subtle twitch. The black and yellow creature crept forward, drawing itself closer and closer to the shimmering object. Suddenly it threw itself on top of the frightened mass and injected it with venom causing it to stop moving and lay helplessly, floating with the streams of thread in the wind. As I watched I became fascinated, fascinated with how this bizarre experience reminded me of a friend stricken with disease that gradually sucked away his life.  

         It was the fall of 2007. It has been a year since my friend was diagnosed with leukemia. The moment his family received the terrifying news their lives changed forever. After the first months of chemo and multiple surgeries, they thought the cancer was gone, but it wasn’t. One morning he woke up with no sight in one eye; it was a sudden nightmare coming to life. His mom rushed him to the hospital where they admitted him and ran several tests. After days of testing and hours of waiting, they received news that no one ever expected to hear. His leukemia had returned.  His second fight for life was about to begin and “whoever said winning isn’t everything, never had to fight cancer.” Each day was a struggle, doctor’s visits, riding back and forth to Chapel Hill, and the strenuous side effects of the chemo, but if there was any kid out there that would take this challenge with a smile it was Michael. Even in his darkest, most painful hours he had that contagious grin on his face. It was the biggest, wide-eyed smile you could ever imagine and you couldn’t help but look at him and smile back. There wasn’t a person out there that knew him and didn’t like him.           As I sat on my porch, thinking about Michael, I watched the black creature crawl about in the luminous streams. I closed my eyes attempting to soak in the warm sunlight but a tiny, irritating mosquito began to fly around me. It was an annoying little thing, buzzing in my ear, trying to get a taste of my skin. I waved my hand back and forth trying to kill it or simply strike it away from me. I watched it fly towards the transparent maze, and then it stopped. It became the spider’s next victim, tangled in the sticky strings between the leaves.  This time I moved closer, hoping to get a better look at the spider and its vicious attack.  It wrapped the mosquito with its shiny strings, as if it were trying to suffocate it. I couldn’t understand why it would want to harm such a little innocent creature, but then it hit me that I tried to do the same. All along I thought this spider was a bully, harming blameless creatures, but it was simply trying to help me. Amazed at what I had realized, I stepped back and stared into my back yard. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air. Enormous pine trees covered with sap were scattered about.  Birds, perched on their branches, sang sweet songs as if they were trying to comfort me, and even a fuzzy squirrel sat in awe of the gorgeous surroundings. I thought to myself, “How could I ever have thought so horribly of the spider? I wonder what other little things I have simply overlooked. How beautiful our yard looks, so full of life and color.” It’s amazing how one little creature can change your perspective of life itself.  Life is a beautiful thing that should never be taken for granted. There are a few that we might think are unlucky, like Michael and the mosquito, to have a life stricken with disease and suffering, but they are truly the lucky ones. They appreciate each day that God gives them on this earth and smile knowing that life itself is a blessing.  

        I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and pondered on life’s little blessings. As I opened my eyes and looked up into the pure blue sky, I couldn’t help but wonder what Michael might be doing. Then, as the sun cast down its vibrant rays upon my face, warming my heart, I began to laugh because I knew exactly what Michael was doing. He was sitting there cracking jokes with God and smiling down on us, because he could see that he touched the life of every person he met.  

 

  “I remember the last time I saw you.
You held your head up proud.
I laughed inside when I saw how you wereStanding out in the crowd.When I tried to make sense of it in my mind,The only conclusion that I could come to,Is heaven was needing a hero,Like you.” 

 –Jo Dee Messina

The Hanging of John Proctor vs. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ November 9, 2007

The Hanging of John Proctor vs. the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

         Jesus Christ was crucified to save us from our sins. It was not what he wanted but he knew it was what he had to do. “With him they crucified two insurgents, one at his right and one at his left.” (Mark 16:27) There, his body hung on the cross, on a dark and gloomy Friday afternoon. John Proctors was one of many accused of witchcraft in 1692 and he was one of nineteen to be hung. On the inside John knew that all the accusations were false and not one of the women was truly in contact with the devil. When John was accused he had the choice to admit to being a witch, no matter if it was true or not, and save his life or, like the others, say it was all a lie. “I have confessed myself,” he cried, “Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name.”  In his heart he knew he could not lie just to spare his life, so in he chose to tell the truth, which meant he would be hung. Jesus Christ and John Proctor were more alike than most people would ever imagine. They were both hung to save other people, both died leaving behind a family yet became legends, and both prayed at the moment of death. 

         When Jesus chose to die on the cross for us, he knew he would be leaving his mother, Mary, and his 12 apostles behind; in turn, he was saving the lives of thousands Christians by sacrificing himself. When John chose to die, he was saving the life of his wife and others who stood behind him in his beliefs. When it came time for John to confess or deny the use of witchcraft he knew he was loosing his family by making his choice. He cried out to Mr. Danforth and said, “I have three children—how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” He may never see his children again, but they would know what an honest and true man their father was. He became a legend in the town of Salem, and would never be forgotten. Both Jesus and John made courageous moves that contributed to how we live our lives today. Because of what Jesus did we as Christians can live freely and not be persecuted for what we believe in. John’s brave sacrifice eventually led to the end of the witchcraft accusations.            

        Around the time of the crucifixion Jesus became the main focus. People everywhere looked to him; he was like a celebrity.  Thousands gathered to watch him hang on that wooden cross and suffer. Some were there because they followed and believed in him and others were there because they wanted to ridicule and scold him. When he died he became a symbol of faith, hope and love. Once John was accused he quickly became the main focus, during the witchcraft trials, and all attention turned towards him.  He chose not to lie and die an innocent man and that made him an icon among the people. Thousands also gathered to watch the accused be hung; some mocked and made fun while others cried for the loss of a friend and companion.          

         As he hung on the cross Jesus uttered a loud cry and said “Father, into your hand’s I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) He knew it was his time to go home to his father in Heaven and his spirit rose up into the sky. When John, Martha and Rebecca were standing in front of the crowd, with ropes around their neck, waiting for their time to go, they began to pray The Lord’s Prayer.  ”Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” and it was over. There bodies hung in air, blowing with the wind. Their bold and courageous spirits were gone; God had called them home.