Amanda McMahon Professor Kirk ENGL 3353 31 August 2015 3 Ps In-Class Assignment Patrick's proclamation about the great mystery of the world on page 224 of We Were the Mulvaneys is applicable to both the world, and the novel, as a whole. Patrick has just finished ranting to Marianne about how ignorant the human race is about their own environment when he states, "that's the mystery, not nature- why human beings are so vile." At first, he is simply explaining how outrageous it is that leaders like Stalin and the Nazis could be so cruel to fellow humans. When Marianne asks Patrick why he is so angry, the subject of his irritation shifts from the cruelty of distant vileness to anger at his sister's rapist, his family, and the situation Marianne is in. Though Patrick himself is uncertain where his hostility originates, it is obvious as he embraces Marianne and thinks, "I love you. We love each other. That's enough" that Patrick's true bitterness is towards his family. Patrick's statement that humans are vile embodies the entire text and the world that that we live in.
Sadie Wyant Professor Kirk ENGL 3353 1 September 2015 3 P’s In-Class Writing In this section of We Were the Mulvaneys, the idea of the individual self apart from family comes into play. This is especially seen in Patrick’s argument/conversation with Marianne when she comes to visit him. On page 219, Patrick says “God, what a relief, to live in a place like this, where I’m not connected, I’m not responsible…what a relief, not to have to care who you are.” This one statement by him shows how much pressure he has had put on his life just by being born into the Mulvaney family. After going away to college he seems to have found his true self. Though Patrick seems content in his new life of anonymity, he also still seems to be a bit wistful for “real” family dynamic. He appears almost jealous of Marianne’s newfound “family” at the Green Isle Co-op. He says, “members of a family who’ve lived together in the heated intensity of family life scarcely know one another” (230). One could make the assumption that the more Patrick pulls away from his family and moves toward independence, the more he wishes he had it back.
Mikkaela Bailey Professor Kirk ENGL 3353 1 September 2015 In Class Paragraph: Snow and Disappointment In Part II of her novel, We Were the Mulvaneys, Joyce Carol Oates uses weather to contrast the views the family holds of individuals in relation to the group. When Marianne visits Patrick at Cornell they talk about the how unfair it is that there is “snow after Easter,” which represents the disappointment Marianne feels about not being able to return home (218). Patrick refuses to acknowledge the weather to show his contempt for the remaining Mulvaneys. “I don’t much notice weather now. That’s one thing I’m freed from, now I’m not a farm kid” (218). This comparison of their views of the Mulvaneys and home give another dimension to Patrick’s reasoning for staying away from home for extended periods of time. He favors Marianne over the other Mulvaneys, and he has continually expressed his discontent over her banishment. It is not because he hates his family that he stays away and tries to convince Marianne that she does not need them, but because he wants her to enjoy her life without having to hope that she will be welcomed back home (219). Though he does state this to her plainly, he also uses weather and farm life to try and relay a sense of freedom from constraints of the seasons and weather (often representing the changing expectations and moods of their parents). His loyalty and love for his sister are demonstrated by his self-imposed exile and contempt despite his implied loneliness.
Katy Dyches Professor Kirk ENGL 3353 2 September 2015 3 Ps In-class Writing In the second section of Joyce Carol Oates's We Were the Mulvaneys, entitled "The Huntsman", what strikes me is Patrick's reaction to the estrangement of Marianne and her father. When Judd asks why their father hates Marianne, Patrick replies that he doesn't hater her; "It's just she reminds him of — you know," (194). Judd exclaims that it isn't Marianne's fault, but Patrick defends their father, saying it's not his fault, either. This encounter starkly contrasts his conversation with Marianne on the same subject. He asks, "How can you call him 'Dad'? He's a blind, selfish man. He's cruel!" (233). At one point, he states that understands his father's treatment of Marianne, but could not forgive it. To Judd, Patrick reacts to the situation with cold indifference, but to Marianne, and alone, his violent contempt becomes clear.
Kelsey Wheatle Professor Kirk English 3353 2 September 2015 In-class paragraph
In Part II of Oates' novel entitled "The Huntsman" there are numerous intriguing passages that stood out to me. The most intriguing passage that stood out to me is the conversation that Judd and Corrine had concerning Michael Mulvaney. After seeing how continually rude and angry Michael is, Judd tells his mother "I'm scared of Dad. I wish he'd go away somewhere by himself and stay"(Oates 260). With tears welling in her eyes, Corrine Mulvaney tells Judd "You! You go away if you're not happy in this house"(260). This short passage stood out to me the most because it reaffirms how stupidly loyal Corrine is to her husband. Michael Mulvaney's manner, and the way the farm business was failing because of him had already driven all of the children away from the house except Judd. At the end of Part I in the novel, Corrine had sent Marianne away to live with another relative because her husband could not stand to look at her anymore. Her other children had moved on with their lives, and Judd was the only child still in the home. For her to insist that Judd live someone else because he is afraid of his father is insinuating that she cares more about her husband, his feelings, and his needs. Michael's violent demeanor scares Corrine so much that she is forced to stay in the house, and put up with his attitude. I believe that her reason for doing so is to try to save the family business, while also being strong for her children, and being loyal to God. Corrine seems to be a woman of good Christian faith throughout the novel. As a Christian, she is probably aware that the man of the family comes before anyone else. She stays with her husband during this time because of her commitment to him through God. However, her commitment to her husband comes at a price because all of her children are leaving home, and becoming estranged from the family because of Michael's violent temperament.
Amanda McMahon
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
31 August 2015
3 Ps In-Class Assignment
Patrick's proclamation about the great mystery of the world on page 224 of We Were the Mulvaneys is applicable to both the world, and the novel, as a whole. Patrick has just finished ranting to Marianne about how ignorant the human race is about their own environment when he states, "that's the mystery, not nature- why human beings are so vile." At first, he is simply explaining how outrageous it is that leaders like Stalin and the Nazis could be so cruel to fellow humans. When Marianne asks Patrick why he is so angry, the subject of his irritation shifts from the cruelty of distant vileness to anger at his sister's rapist, his family, and the situation Marianne is in. Though Patrick himself is uncertain where his hostility originates, it is obvious as he embraces Marianne and thinks, "I love you. We love each other. That's enough" that Patrick's true bitterness is towards his family. Patrick's statement that humans are vile embodies the entire text and the world that that we live in.
Sadie Wyant
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
1 September 2015
3 P’s In-Class Writing
In this section of We Were the Mulvaneys, the idea of the individual self apart from family comes into play. This is especially seen in Patrick’s argument/conversation with Marianne when she comes to visit him. On page 219, Patrick says “God, what a relief, to live in a place like this, where I’m not connected, I’m not responsible…what a relief, not to have to care who you are.” This one statement by him shows how much pressure he has had put on his life just by being born into the Mulvaney family. After going away to college he seems to have found his true self. Though Patrick seems content in his new life of anonymity, he also still seems to be a bit wistful for “real” family dynamic. He appears almost jealous of Marianne’s newfound “family” at the Green Isle Co-op. He says, “members of a family who’ve lived together in the heated intensity of family life scarcely know one another” (230). One could make the assumption that the more Patrick pulls away from his family and moves toward independence, the more he wishes he had it back.
Mikkaela Bailey
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
1 September 2015
In Class Paragraph: Snow and Disappointment
In Part II of her novel, We Were the Mulvaneys, Joyce Carol Oates uses weather to contrast the views the family holds of individuals in relation to the group. When Marianne visits Patrick at Cornell they talk about the how unfair it is that there is “snow after Easter,” which represents the disappointment Marianne feels about not being able to return home (218). Patrick refuses to acknowledge the weather to show his contempt for the remaining Mulvaneys. “I don’t much notice weather now. That’s one thing I’m freed from, now I’m not a farm kid” (218). This comparison of their views of the Mulvaneys and home give another dimension to Patrick’s reasoning for staying away from home for extended periods of time. He favors Marianne over the other Mulvaneys, and he has continually expressed his discontent over her banishment. It is not because he hates his family that he stays away and tries to convince Marianne that she does not need them, but because he wants her to enjoy her life without having to hope that she will be welcomed back home (219). Though he does state this to her plainly, he also uses weather and farm life to try and relay a sense of freedom from constraints of the seasons and weather (often representing the changing expectations and moods of their parents). His loyalty and love for his sister are demonstrated by his self-imposed exile and contempt despite his implied loneliness.
Katy Dyches
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
2 September 2015
3 Ps In-class Writing
In the second section of Joyce Carol Oates's We Were the Mulvaneys, entitled "The Huntsman", what strikes me is Patrick's reaction to the estrangement of Marianne and her father. When Judd asks why their father hates Marianne, Patrick replies that he doesn't hater her; "It's just she reminds him of — you know," (194). Judd exclaims that it isn't Marianne's fault, but Patrick defends their father, saying it's not his fault, either. This encounter starkly contrasts his conversation with Marianne on the same subject. He asks, "How can you call him 'Dad'? He's a blind, selfish man. He's cruel!" (233). At one point, he states that understands his father's treatment of Marianne, but could not forgive it. To Judd, Patrick reacts to the situation with cold indifference, but to Marianne, and alone, his violent contempt becomes clear.
Kelsey Wheatle
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
English 3353
2 September 2015
In-class paragraph
In Part II of Oates' novel entitled "The Huntsman" there are numerous intriguing passages that stood out to me. The most intriguing passage that stood out to me is the conversation that Judd and Corrine had concerning Michael Mulvaney. After seeing how continually rude and angry Michael is, Judd tells his mother "I'm scared of Dad. I wish he'd go away somewhere by himself and stay"(Oates 260). With tears welling in her eyes, Corrine Mulvaney tells Judd "You! You go away if you're not happy in this house"(260). This short passage stood out to me the most because it reaffirms how stupidly loyal Corrine is to her husband. Michael Mulvaney's manner, and the way the farm business was failing because of him had already driven all of the children away from the house except Judd. At the end of Part I in the novel, Corrine had sent Marianne away to live with another relative because her husband could not stand to look at her anymore. Her other children had moved on with their lives, and Judd was the only child still in the home. For her to insist that Judd live someone else because he is afraid of his father is insinuating that she cares more about her husband, his feelings, and his needs. Michael's violent demeanor scares Corrine so much that she is forced to stay in the house, and put up with his attitude. I believe that her reason for doing so is to try to save the family business, while also being strong for her children, and being loyal to God. Corrine seems to be a woman of good Christian faith throughout the novel. As a Christian, she is probably aware that the man of the family comes before anyone else. She stays with her husband during this time because of her commitment to him through God. However, her commitment to her husband comes at a price because all of her children are leaving home, and becoming estranged from the family because of Michael's violent temperament.