See What Stress Can Do.

I choose to write a response to Lilia Momple's "Stress". First of all I think it is very interesting that the main female character doesn't have a name. She is referred to throughout the entire short story as the "Major General's Lover." She is the mistress of a married man that has a wife, children and a whole other family. She doesn't seem to have a sense of herself at all. She lives in a house he pays for, her only interaction with people is when he cheats on his wife and for the most part she seems to be trapped in the apartment. Also even though she doesn't really go any where she is happiest after she puts on her best form fitting dress and tons of makeup. She gets angry only when the school teacher won't acknowledge her beauty. So her only sense of worth is from objects, where she lives and her beauty. As a character we don't really know who she is and she doesn't seem to know who she is. She is just trapped in this apartment in the same environment with the same kids on the streets. Her only window and escape from her non existent life is watching the school teacher from her window each Saturday.

Similar to the major-general's lover the school teacher is trapped. He is trapped in his hard life, in poverty and trying to feed and shelter all of the people in his house that he is responsible for. Before I got to the end I felt an extreme sense of sympathy for this character. He used to love teaching, but now because of the conditions around him he is too exhausted to teach and the kids don't want to learn anyways. He doesn't seem to have any friends because times are too hard to buy beer and there isn't much time anyways for himself. It was ridiculous that the major-general's lover would be so observed with herself that after all this struggle she wanted the teacher to look at her. At the end of the novel, while killing your wife is obviously not excusable, his life seemed to close in around him. In the same, yet very different ways he is trapped in a never ending situation, just like the major-general's lover.

I especially enjoyed the title of this short story, "stress". I was expecting something very different from the original title. I am sure at this time of year when someone hears the word stress the immediately think of all the exams and papers they have to do in a very short amount of time. And to a much lesser extent feel the same way as the school teacher, every day the stress of just getting though it all becomes greater and greater. Not that anyone of us is planning on strangling someone because of it.

"The Girl Who Can" - Ama Ata Aidoo

While I do not suggest that this story is primarily about sexuality, this story nevertheless reminded me of the theorist Foucault, who claims that children become the subject of adult sexual discourse at a very young age. The Nana is concerned with Adjoa's ability to reproduce from the time she is born, emphasizing her belief that a woman's goal in life is to have children. Yet the wisdom of the child surpasses that of her elder because she expressed that she knew all along her legs were worth something, if not for supporting large hips. Foucault also says that the child's sexuality is somewhat shaped for him and her by preconceived notions of what is "normal" in society. Yet Adjoa escapes being effected by her Nana's critiques because she never succumbs to the idea that real women have meat on their legs. Adjoa, though she is seven years old, therefore becomes the voice of wisdom in this text.

Reader Response to Vera

I was interested by the child narrator of Ama Ata Aidoo’s “The Girl Who Can”. Through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl, the culture and ideas of three generations of women living in Ghana are illuminated. The authority of the household, Nana seems to determine what can be said aloud and what must be kept to oneself. Maami, Nana’s daughter does not share her mother’s authority but provides a silent resistance and alternative to her mother’s notions of gender and achievement. Adjoa, the narrator, is still testing the boundaries of what can be said and what cannot be voiced, but she, like her mother proves through action an alternative to Nana’s narrow-minded thinking.
After having read a little about the Yoruba tradition and the importance of children, I am curious if similar traditions exist in Ghana. Certainly the author privileges the position of the child but the grandmother disregards the child’s wisdom either with the admonition to never say such a thing again or with uncontrollable laughter. Neither reaction attaches any importance to what exactly Adjoa says. While I cannot personally related to Adjoa or her mother I do see a similar dynamic within my own extended family. My grandmother possesses rather decided opinions on many topics but her grown children do not always agree with her perspective. They have learned, though, that it is extremely difficult to change their mother’s opinions and thus resort to action rather than speech to prove their own points. Given this connection between Adjoa’s family and my own, it appears that generational divides are a universal phenomena.

the girl who can

Ama Ata Aidoo's The Girl Who Can really struck home. everyone has insecurities and i feel as if we always have that one person in our lives that reinforces them [whether or not it is intentional. i feel like this is especially the case for girls/women. society feeds us this image/standard that we are supposed to live up to. but the fact is its unrealistic. like Nana she is the negative nancy in Kaya's life, constantly stressing Kaya's "imperfections." it just kills me how the grandmother can be so belittling of her granddaughter. aren't grandparents supposed to be nurturing and pampering?

i can sympathize with Kaya. i have an aunt in florida who tends to pick on certain things about me which consequently makes me feel like shit. i hardly think she does it with intention and i know she wants only the best for me, but when it comes to things that emphasize the things you dont like about yourself. in the beginning Kaya never knows what to say in response to her Nana. she doesnt know whether to laugh it off or keep quiet. i use to debate the same thing, however it is very hard for me to suppress my feelings or not vocalize them.

it really bothers me that the mother doesn't work harder to stand up for Kaya. i love love love the ending. Kaya no longer has to laugh off the insults about her thin legs. its like she scored a metaphorical win against her grandmother, like the ultimate way to shut her up. its just sad that she had prove herself in a way by winning the race. i feel that Nana should express unconditional love towards her granddaughter rather than making her feel that she needs improvements.

anyways, great message.


tatiana.

home.

they say home is where the heart is. i believe its more of a state of mind. it is our comfort zone where we feel safe and secure. there is this scene in the movie garden state in which the main character [largeman] comes back home for his mother's funeral and realizes its no longer the place that held sentimental value.

he says, "you know that point in your life when you realize the house you grew up in isn't really your home anymore? all of a sudden, even though you have some place where you put your shit, the idea of home is gone."

its a scary feeling. i never felt this until i left home for school. i would go home for breaks and have this overwhelming feeling that i was just a visitor in my own home. home was no longer my zone of comfort. i felt out of my element.

my mom tells me stories of when she came to the US with her family. when she left the DR she remembers thinking she was being punished. it pained her to leave her country, her home. the culture was so different. everything was foreign to her. this was forty years ago and she has made this her home now.

this summer we are celebrating my birthday in the DR. she hasnt verbally confirmed what im thinking but i know it will be hard for her to go back there. its where she comes from. its her culture, but she is just a visitor. it no longer holds the value it did when it was all she knew. the idea of home is gone.




tatiana.

Only recently have I fully come to terms with the fact that my parents are indeed fallible. Growing up, I learned to accept their opinions and demands as the final say. Contradicting their orders usually resulted in some sort of punishment, or the realization that I probably should have listened. However, as I have grown older and separated myself from home for a significant amount of time, it has become clear to me that my parents are human, and that they continue to learn everyday. I guess when one becomes a parent there is no innate knowledge that tells you how to raise your children. You simply do the best that you can.

It is slightly embarrassing to admit, but I have to confess that my sometimes old-fashioned and blue-collar parents did not foresee my enrollment in college. They had no “college fund,” or notion that I would pursue an education beyond high school. Both are of a generation for which college was a luxury, but not exactly a necessity. As my mom framed it to me, “girls did three things: worked as a secretary, a teacher, or a nurse.” It wasn’t until I began doing really well in high school and they began speaking with other parents and my teachers that they realized I should continue on to college. Even then, they surmised that I would pursue a career-oriented major, such as Business or Engineering.

I can’t begin to describe how unsupportive they were when I initially told them that I wanted to be an English major. In fact, I spent a year in the Communication Studies program because I thought it would be a kind of compromise between Business and English. But like Adjoa, in Aidoo’s The Girl Who Can, I have begun to surprise my parents. Opportunities for students, for English majors, and for women are everyday expanding. Last year, when I told my parents that I would be traveling to Europe with a class for Spring Break, they were speechless. It was an opportunity that neither of them had ever been offered, and that they had never considered for me. I received a similar reaction when I told that that I wanted to study abroad at Oxford University. And as I continue to find jobs and land internships, they beam with pride.

I cannot say that they have changed completely. My parents are much like Adjoa’s grandmother who is excessively proud and supportive, but that cries and mutters over her debunked notions. My parents too are excessively proud and supportive, but still have such limited foresight that it is impossible for them to imagine how far I might go. They still wish I had gone to school to be an Engineer, and both have their own “ideas” about what I should do after college. But, like Adjoa, I have my own ideas, and I too have realized that it’s much better to “act it out to show them.”

Gugu Ndlovu’s The Barrel of a Pen

I thought that Gugu Ndlovu’s short story, The Barrel of a Pen, was the most powerful and most disconcerting of the three stories we read. I did a little research on the issue of abortion in Zimbabwe (where the story takes place, assumedly, since Ndlovu herself is from Zimbabwe) and was shocked to discover that nearly 70,000 black market abortions (like the one described in the story) occur each year in Zimbabwe according to a 2005 report released by UNICEF (http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=53659). The high number of illegal abortions is due in part to the lack of sex education in Zimbabwe, which heightens the number of unplanned pregnancies, in turn raising the demand for abortions. The large number of unplanned pregnancies paired with the difficulty and high cost of getting a legal abortion make black market abortions more convenient, although one puts their life at stake when choosing to go through with the procedure. From what I read, legal abortions are extremely hard to have performed in Zimbabwe, unless the woman’s life is endangered, or if the fetus runs the risk of suffering from a mental or physical defect, or was conceived as a result of rape or incest. On top of this, there is also a great deal of paperwork and red tape a woman must go through to get approval for a legal abortion. Thus, most women turn to illegal abortion as an easy (but very risky) alternative.

Speaking from my own perspective as a young woman, I have to say that this story disturbed and saddened me deeply when I read it. I am pro-choice myself, but I have always felt that women should only turn to abortion as a last resort, or if they strongly believe that an abortion would be best choice for their situation. Yes, I believe in a woman’s right to choose, but I can’t but criticize or look down upon women (in this country) who have had three or four abortions. That’s just irresponsibility on the woman’s part. It’s not women in the U.S. lack access to sex education or contraceptives. Abortion isn’t a contraceptive, it’s a last resort. Especially in a country as affluent and educated as the United States, the vital need for abortion is much lower compared to other countries where the education and information just isn’t there (as in the case of Zimbabwe). It’s a little different if a woman in the U.S. gets pregnant by mistake because they have more education (and better access to getting a legal abortion than women in some countries do), but if a woman in Zimbabwe gets pregnant mistakenly, the blame cannot fall entirely on her because there is such a lack of education and information on the subject of reproduction. Nevertheless, I believe abortion cases in the U.S. must be examined separately from abortion cases in developing nations because there is such a stark contrast between the circumstances of the two areas. Thus, the high demand for terminating unwanted pregnancies in developing nations cannot be frowned upon so much because women are not exposed to sex education as much as they are in more affluent nations. Furthermore, this is one of the reasons why I feel that women in these African nations have just as much right to having a safe and legal abortion performed as women in the U.S. do. Yes, abortion is still a highly debated today, even in this country, but if restricting abortions causes double the deaths that abortion would, is it really worth it?

Moreover, this story spoke to me primarily because I am a woman. For this reason I felt I could relate to Rachael’s character. The predicament Rachael found herself in is one that any women could face under certain circumstances. I put myself in Rachael’s shoes when reading the story. I imagined being in her position - being pregnant, not wanting to be pregnant, and having no other way to terminate the preganancy other than having a black market abortion performed. Being put in that situation, I’m really not sure what I would do. Maybe I’m being a little culturally biased here, but for argumentative purposes I am going to go ahead and assume that the girls in the story came from a much less privileged background than many of us have experienced in the U.S. Basically, your choices would be limited to having the baby and starving/living in poverty because there is one more mouth to feed, or risking your life to have an illegal abortion because you cannot get a legal one/you cannot afford a legal one. That’s a really tough choice to make. You’re basically stuck having to choose what you assume to be the lesser of two evils. I’m really not sure what I would have done if I had been in Rachael’s situation, but what I am sure of is that I have definitely grown more aware/appreciative of the country we live in and of the education and choices we have here that many other nations do not have the privilege of experiencing.

Home is not a Place, it's a State of Mind

Continuing with the ever so popular hometown cliché found in many of the other posts, I would have to go along and say that my hometown of Attleboro, MA is what I think of when I think of home. I was born in Attleboro and have lived in the city since I was two years old. I have never lived outside of Massachusetts. Thus, I have spent a good chunk of my life in the same familiar environment. For this reason, I have developed some very strong relationships with the people I grew up with. Many of the friends I have today from my hometown are people I have known my entire life. In fact, a majority of the people I have remained friends with are the same friends I had in first or second grade. We all grew up and went to elementary, middle, and high school together. To this day I remain in close contact with the people I went to high school with. There aren’t many people I have stopped talking to. For the most part, I still hang out with a lot of these people, especially in the summer when everyone is home from school. Sometimes people from my town joke (and I bet you’re even getting this impression from this post, and I don’t blame you) that Attleboro is a complete “townie” town and that it is almost inescapable. Just when you think you get away from it, it goes and sucks you back in. To a point, this is somewhat true. I have friends who have stayed close by (like myself) and have gone to school in Boston or Providence, but I also have friends who have gone away to school as far as Indiana or New Mexico. But I’m going to be honest. A majority of the people I know have ended up back in Attleboro even after they have graduated from college. I do not necessarily think this is bad thing either. It’s nice to have a strong, closely knit network of friends from the place you grew up. It’s nice knowing that you always have something familiar to come back to after being away from home for a while. And I think that’s what home really means to me – familiarity. Attleboro (or even Massachusetts in general) is a place where I feel very comfortable because I am so familiar with it. When I first came to Stonehill I felt like I had a slight culture shock, not because the people or the environment was so different (which it isn’t; Easton is basically Attleboro except it’s 20 miles north and has a hell of a lot less shopping), but because it was a place I was unfamiliar with. But eventually, I warmed up to it and adapted to it once I became familiar with it. Thus, I think home is maybe not a place, but a state of mind where you feel familiar, comfortable, and secure.

As far as my consciousness of home goes back, I would pretty much have to say that Massachusetts is as far as it goes. I’m a fourth generation Italian-Lithuanian-Polish-American and none of my relatives (or my immediate family) has kept in touch with any of the family we may have back in the “old country.” My ancestors from Italy/Lithuanian/Poland all immigrated to the northeast, and a majority of them ended up residing in Massachusetts. Both sets of my grandparents lived in Massachusetts, and both of my parents have lived in Massachusetts their entire lives. However, I would have to say that I can’t help but feeling some sort of strong connection with at least some of my ancestral heritage. For some reason, I’ve always felt a close connection with my Lithuanian heritage. It may have something to do with the fact that I was always closer with my mother’s side of the family (the Lithuanian/Polish side). Easter was always a big holiday. We always did the egg painting thing. (Lithuania is very similar to Russia culturally and Easter egg painting is kind of a big thing in many eastern European/Slavic/Baltic nations). My grandmother would make Lithuanian or Polish food every once in a while, and I also learned a few Lithuanian/Russian words here and there. Thus, I was never exposed to pure Lithuanian culture, but I did get a taste of it from visiting my grandmother (who was a second generation Lithuanian-American). I think this may be similar to how some African Americans feel about their ethnic heritage. Although they may not have a clear-cut understanding of their heritage, they still may harbor some feelings of connection with their ethnic heritage because they are aware that they are a descendent of that particular ethnicity.

I don't think that I think of home in the same way that people of African descent might. I think when you are forcibly taken away from your home as the Africans were, you develop a strong sense of longing for what you used to have. Because home for me has pretty much been the same my whole life, maybe I take it for granted and don't value it as much as I would if it was forcibly taken from me. Also, when I think of home I don't think of a physical place, such as Africa, as much as I do the people who I associate with making up my home, like my family. My consciousness of home also doesn't extend back to the idea of a distant homeland where my ancestors came from a long time ago. I'm not sure why, but I don't place any value in a distant homeland of mine like some people of African descent do. I think it would be nice to have a tie like that to the place that my ancestors came from, and sometimes I wish that I had a family that was more interested in finding our roots. It would be fun to be able to trace my family back to where they came from before they came to America.

Lilia Momple's "Stress"

My favorite of the stories was Lilia Momple's "Stress". I could not connect to the characters, could not see myself in them, but I think that this made it more enjoyable. First, there's the woman, or the major-general's lover. She is a woman, so therefore I cannot relate to her much, but on another level, I cannot see anything of value in her from a man's perspective. She is everything in a woman I hate; self-involved, greedy, showy, and the need to butter herself up. She dresses up and puts on all sorts of feminine beauty products and all she does all day is sit around and wait for the major-general, whom at first I thought was his wife, but upon finding she was his mistress, my dislike for her grew even more. She has nothing to offer society, and it is no wonder she is a mistress and not a wife.

Although I disliked the major-general's lover, I did understand one aspect of her; how she has the uncontrollable desire for the man in the balcony. It is something she has no control of. She desires a man for reasons unknown, and I can relate to that because I often find myself attracted to certain women for no reasons. Well there are sometimes reasons, but they do not matter because it is an inner feeling that cannot be swept away, even if other interests catch the eye. But beyond that minor similarity, I cannot sympathize with her character because she is a selfish and sad creature.

As far as the teacher character goes, I sympathize with what happened. Before the murder, I saw him as a character of good qualities. Sure he sits around and drinks all Sunday, but who wouldnt want to do that? He is a good person underneath, wanting to be a teacher and help people. He cant help that he cannot afford to feed and clothe his children. Maybe it is something he should have worked to do, but all the same, I thought of him as a good moral character.

HOME

When I think of home my mind travels back to where I grew up in Lebanon, CT. I've lived in the same town and house my whole life and to me I feel that that is home. I have so many memories and experiences from home that it would be impossible to forget it. I think that everyone is influenced by where they grew up and it plays a role in shaping their identity. I often complain about my hometown because it's very rural and there's nothing to do in it but deep down it does represent a part of who I am. Home is something that you can't change and for some people they never truly branch out from their beginnings. Home is often viewed as a place of safety and comfort but I feel in order to be truly successful you have to distance yourself from your home slightly.
Home can also have changing definitions. For example, when you're younger it consists of your house and town but later on it can evolve into college, your apartment or even your first house. I feel that the idea of home can change through your life but you alway carry a part of your first "home" with you. In a sense our beginnings do play a role in forging our identities and this is inescapable. This partially relates to the idea of one's roots and how in modern African culture Afro-centrism still plays a role but there are also modern aspects that constitute African or African American identity.

Home Is Where You Make It

I come very a very diverse ancestral background. In a lot of ways I am more or less a mixed breed. Because of this I have never tried to trace my heritage back to a different country or nationality. By all accounts, I consider myself an American. As such I have always regarded home as the place I grew up...the old neighborhood if you will. I grew up on the North Shore, and for a long time lived within a locational bubble. As a child I recognized the world mainly as my town because it contained everything i needed. Friends, family, school, athletics...the list goes on.

Then high school rolled around and my parents started to entertain the idea of moving to Maine. Initially I resisted the idea very forcefully. After some persuasion on their part I gave in and played along, hoping that things would turn out right. Push came to shove only to find out that they didn't. For the first 2 years after the move our family life was in complete shambles. My parents felt at home, but I didn't. It was a terrible experience but a learning one.

I soon learned that I had two options. I could let things stay as they were, or I could finally set up shop in a new town. The moment I began considering my new home as "home" things began to improve. After a period of time I felt like I had done a complete 180. A place I hated soon became a home to me. I found that ultimately I didn't lose a home, I gained a new one.

Home to Me

Growing up I lived in two different homes. However, I was so young when my family first moved that I can only remember one. While I do consider America, New England, Massachusetts, and Marlborough my homes the most prominent image in my mind is the one of the space in which I grew up. Therefore, home to me is the actual house in which I lived for 17 years as well as my family.

Home, more specifically, is a safe place for me. Although my family and I, like any, have arguments it is a place in which I am completely free to argue and express my opinion whatever it may be. I can be myself totally and completely without fearing any rejection. I have three siblings and those bonds represent home.


More recently, however, I have made another home for myself here at Stonehill. The significance of this home is completely different from that of my family home. I came here knowing no one and had to forge new relationships and become a person separate from my parents. This new home, represents a new part of me and my life, independent, for the most part, of my life at home.

I bring a part of my family home to my new home and I anticipate that in the future both of these will affect the home I make for my own family. All in all, I suppose home is the sum of all experiences and relationships that are meaningful and influence who I am now.

Home to me...

To me, home is not just a physical structure, it is also an emotional structure. Home is what you make of it, and also where you make it. It does not have to be your house, or where you grew up, to be considered home. The concept of your home is built by those around you.  

The house I currently live in, I have lived in all my life, therefore it will always be my home, because of the memories and experiences, good and bad, that I have faced there. I do not feel that tracing my roots back to where my ancestors came from and following their footsteps would be home to me, because I have no connection to that place, except through them. I would not be able to call a place I have never been to home. 

I believe that you have to know where or what your "home" is, to go home. I believe that your home is a place in which you feel a connection and a belonging with the place or those around you. An old well known quote describes my view of "home" exactly, "home is where the heart is". 

I have had many experiences in which I learned the true meaning of home, including two volunteer trips, one to West Virginia and one to New Orleans. During these trips the people I was working with would say "Oh I can not wait to go home" and other things such as that. But they did not mean to our home here in Massachusetts, instead they meant the place that we were staying. For the week on each of those trips, we made our own home at the place we were staying with the bonds between each other. Not only were we building structural homes, but we were building homes for those of us working together, and for those who were in need. Home was for us and is still the place you can turn to, when you feel you can not turn anywhere else.

What's in a home?

For me, home plays a significant part in my life and my identity. All of my immediate family and close relatives reside in a concentrated area in southern Maine. Of late, I’m basically the only person who has ventured outside of Maine to live for an extended period of time. Knowing that I always have a place turn to during a rough patch in my life or to spend some quality time with family and friends is very reassuring and is why this home is very important to me.

However, home can change, and one that has grown on me that last few years is Stonehill. I’ve developed close relationships with several people here and this is a place where I feel very comfortable. I think that a home for someone isn’t necessarily a place where he or she was born and grew up, but it can be several places; it can be something in the past or something in the present. This past fall, I studied abroad in England. At first, it was all quite foreign to me, but over time I found that same comfort that I find at Stonehill and southern Maine. I think that whatever effort you put in to adjusting to a new home is what you’ll get out of it.

Home?

If someone asked me where my home was, I would tell them Rocky Hill, CT. That's where I grew up, that's where my family still all lives. Ever since my grandparents got here from Italy on both sides they everyone has pretty much always lived within the same 10 mile radius. But I haven't really lived there in almost two years. I wonder how long do I have to live away from CT to consider somewhere else my home because honestly I never really have any want to live there again. And actually I sort of dread living at home this summer just because any prolonged exposure to my parents is not good for anyone. On the other hand for the past four years Stonehill has been my pseudo home. All of my friends are here, I am here most of the year and I feel more comfortable here. I think that home is where ever there are people you feel good around.

On a broader note when I was in Italy I felt a strange sense of belonging. It was strange to look around at the people and think this was where all of my ancestors came from. I like to stay connected to my Italian heritage. I took two whole years of the Italian language in hopes of being closer to my heritage.

Sweet Home Massachusetts

For me, home is where I live now. Not at Stonehill, but where I live year round, Burlington, MA. This is where I grew up. Most of my childhood experiences occurred there, or at least in surrounding areas. This home will never leave my thoughts. Even if I move away in a couple years and start a family in another town or state, Burlington will always be my home. It's where I came from, where I learned how to live. I know some people cant wait to leave their hometowns, they feel like they dont belong. They feel like tourists. But it varies from person to person. But, no matter what you do or where you go, it is still part of your home consciousness, whether you like it or not.

Also, it is not just my hometown that is my home, but Massachusetts. Sure, some cities or towns may be unknown to me or I may not know anyone there, but I still feel comfortable there, because it's Massachusetts, and I feel at home. I feel a connection to my state. I'm a Masshole and proud of it.

Lastly, there comes the question of whether I feel a connection to another country. The answer is simple; no. I feel no need to go to where my ancestors came from. Yes I would like to go to Ireland and Italy, but not to see my "roots", but to see a beautiful country. I think that sometimes people get caught up in finding their roots and where they came from, but to me it's not a big deal. Why chase something that has nothing to do with you?

Home

My family has never made their home outside of the Northeast. I've grown up in Connecticut my entire life, and my even my grandparents have always lived in the Northeast. Home is usually a comforting concept to me (and sometimes not), but always retains a sense of conventionality and the mundane. Middle class suburbs lose their charm after a while, and have inspired me to look outside to find a more unique, culturally rich, even a more urban place to make my home after college. However, it may be difficult to adjust, because even when I went just as far as Louisiana this past summer, I was both excited by and surprised by the profound difference from the places I've always grown up. Even though my home seems conventional and boring, I think I'll always find comfort in its familiarity.

History and Myth

There is no denying the fact that myths are an integral part of American identity formation. Myths can be good for the reason that they help the individual understand the history of their country/religion as well as the people who comprise the said group. Myth's have a unifying effect among a nation's people and inspire a sense of patriotism and nationalism. Myth's also make it very easy for children to form a better sense of national identity at a younger age.

One of the major downfalls of mythical history is that it is usually maintained in the oral tradition and this has the effect of distorting facts. Myths tend to be more vague and general than "traditional" written history (keeping in mind that written history is not always the whole truth either).

Myths should never be equated to facts. Myths are helpful in some contexts but it must be remembered that they are generalizations. As a people it is our responsibility to keep our factual history as close to the truth as possible.

Myths

I think that myths are a part of every culture. Myths are what the culture is built on. When it comes to the stories of a nations creation, stories of heroic men, George Washington, whatever a lot of it is myth that has been built up over the years rather than actual truth. Also when it comes to religion most of what religion is I think is myth. There are definatley people out there who believe that everything the Bible says is fact, and Noah existed, and Eve made Adam eat the apple, or whatever but I see them all as myths. And whether it is for religious purposed or for a sense of pride in your country they are all created for a purpose. Usually this is to make you believe more and have more faith in whatever nation or religion you are apart of. And while this is not a bad thing most of the time I think people should be careful when it comes to fact and myth. This may be a tangant but especially when people use the Bible in order to justify their actions, myth can be dangerous. The Bible has parts that condones abusing your wife, and physically punishing gay people, and I would hope people wouldn't take that to fact today. But a lot of Islamic extremists take everything the bible says to truth. Which can make myths dangerous.

Myths

I believe that myths do in fact play a role in the formation of the American identity. I think one of the biggest myths that almost every American child is taught in school is that of Christopher Columbus. Most of the stories surrounding Columbus are indeed myths but he is portrayed as an American hero because he helped to establish the American identity. Columbus is the man who “discovered” America. Even though many of the tales told about Columbus are false they continue to be told because he is so important in our countries establishment myth. Myths also seem to play an important role in the Catholic religion. One of the biggest myths in the Catholic religion is the story of Adam and Eve. Although it is doubtful that a snake was talking to Eve in the garden it is an important myth in the Catholic tradition because it tells the story of the first sin. Myths seem to be the most helpful when they are used to teach children lessons or to help establish some sense of beginning. On the other hand myths can be harmful because they aren’t necessary teaching the truth. Often in later years children must be re-taught a lot of the information they learned as a child because it was a “myth” and not actually the truth.

Myths in America

Myths play an integral role in American identity formation. The very foundation of this country is based on the myths of the founding fathers. People such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were glorified and are now presented in such a way that they hardly seem realistic. America is often guilty of heroification in terms of important historical figures. Myths can have very different forms and I think many people neglect to realize the role of myths in American identity. Depending on the culture myths can have very different meanings and origins. Even the history found in classroom textbooks is mythologically based.
Key figures in American history were turned into myths. It is undeniable that they existed but all of their imperfections were either not mentioned or glossed over leading to their myth-like identities. This thorougly makes them unrelatable to the masses. One could even argue that the idea of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is a myth or it is at least highly idealistic and not applicable to every American. Of course there are the obvious American legends or myths such as Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan. A common theme in America's identity involves taking real people and exaggerating their accomplishments in order to tie in with a more nationalistic agenda. A great deal of American history is very myth-like; the reality of history and how it is written is very different. Religion is closely connected with our nation's history. It was made clear from the beginning that America would be a God-fearing country. Naturally this has led to numerous contradictions and a difficulty in defining religion's role in government.
It is perhaps helpful to describe myths as facts when it comes to boosting the morale of a country. In most cases it is harmful to describe myths as facts because it leads to future generations not being adequately prepared to deal with rising issues and dilemmas.

I think that myths still play a prevalent role in our society today given the fact that many people still place a lot of emphasis on religion and quite often derive facts purposefully mythical oriented fables or stories. It is also very interesting that the word myth has taken a pejorative connotation in today's society in that people are very comfortable with the notion that all the things they personally hold dear are valid teaching tools, while the beliefs of the "other" are deemed mythical. The use of the word myth in this sense is meant to conjure up images of fantastic or childish characteristics and while many elements of myths will be fantastic in nature, an effort to wipe away any social value from such narratives ought not be tolerated. This method further gives cultural elitists licence to eradicate the other opposing myths to add emphasis and importance to their own supported origin stories or sets of belief.

Myths and Identity Formation

I believe that myths play a large role in the identity formation of those in the United States. Many aspects of our "history" I would consider to be myths rather than fact. These myths include ideas revolving around holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. But these "facts" are in fact based on myths. Christmas and Easter were adapted to fit around the time of pagan holidays, and aspects of these holidays such as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are clearly myths. We know that there is no such thing as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. This relates to another common aspect of our culture, the Tooth Fairy. The Tooth Fairy is a very common myth used for children who lose their teeth. In my opinion, the most facts that revolve around myths in our culture is in religion. How can we be sure that these stories actually happened? When we do not have any real proof? Yet almost if not everything in the bible has no way of being proved true. However it is helpful when there is no way to prove something, but there are many stories and knowledge about it, to say that it is a fact, rather than a myth. However, we still do not have still do not have firsthand experience of this, but it is almost impossible that we would, because how can we prove something from hundreds & thousands of years ago is true? Or that the "proof" of it is actually true. Therefore, in certain cases it is impossible to dismiss a myth as fact, but because of the information and knowledge we have gathered on it, we believe it to be fact.

myths in America, when it comes to national identity, I don't think plays a huge role on a national level. i think when it comes to myths its more personal and cultural. i was thinking where myths plays a large role in my own life, and i think that a lot of my beliefs are shaped by myth. i feel that when it comes to religion nothing is for certain so myths take the place of fact in order to create foundation. thats what its all about, faith right? we have these myths which we choose to believe rather than discarding the underlying message as a glorified fairy tale...


tatiana.

Fact vs. Fiction

Without a doubt, I whole heartedly believe that myths play a large role in American identity formation. Frankly, American identity is one founded upon myths. The American Dream itself is a mythical societal creation. The American ideal of pulling one’s self up by their bootstraps and leading the “perfect” life complete with the nuclear family (consisting of a husband, a wife, and 2.5 kids), a house with a white picket fence, and a dog, is all a myth. In reality, how many families fit this ideal? Not that many, the last time I checked.

In addition, the portrayals of many historical figures or events in American history have been mythicized by mainstream American culture and by commercial industries. George Washington, the founding fathers, Christopher Columbus – all have become mythic characters in American culture. The commercial industry is especially to blame for the mythicization of many historical events such as Thanksgiving and the discovery of America by Columbus. These stories have become so weighted down with embellishment, outlandish lies, and downright poppycock that the truth has been all but bleached from the American consciousness. Disney is a specific example of a commercial industry notorious for churning out mythical portrayals of life. The Disney film Pocahontas is a supreme example of a historical event that has been cleansed of almost all truthfulness and accuracy, but is taken at face value by many members of the American public, especially children, so that the myth almost becomes truthful. Thus, since we see more and more Americans today recalling their nation’s history from television, films, and other modes of pop-culture, people are more apt to have a mythic notion of their American heritage or national identity.

Of course, it always helpful to discern facts from fiction when learning about a person or event in an academic setting. By educating one’s self about the truthfulness of a certain event or commonly held notion about a historical figure, one can form a more informed opinion about the subject. For example, by researching the founding of our nation thoroughly, one will learn that the founding fathers were not as great as middle school textbooks and Fourth of July celebrations make them out to be. Rather, upon further investigation, one will reach the conclusion that the founding fathers were a group of racist, gender-biased, white men who had their own self-interests in mind more than those of the common people when they decided to launch their “revolution” against the British. The only time that I can see it being harmful to debunk myths as works of fiction is when dealing with children. For them, every story, every myth is real and quite frankly, magical. It’s wrong to rob a child of the imagination they nurture when they read/listen to stories. Frankly, myths are essential to the creation of an imaginative, creative character. A good imagination will likely yield an openness to culture and new ideas later in life, which is why it is so important to form a healthy one early on.

Myths

I believe that those who discredit myths entirely are letting themselves be ignorant to the fact that all history is myth. No event can ever be recorded in a purely "objective reality," and to hold this as the standard is dangerous. In regards to religion, take for example, the creation story in Genesis. It was seen as truth ages before Darwin's theory of evolution took over. In American history there are many mythologized events. The war in Iraq is just one example. The portrayal of all Iraqi citizens welcoming U.S soldiers bombards the media. It is the dominant image given to the American public and thus, being considered history. However, this does not take into account the citizens who resent that their innocent loved ones were killed. We see one side of history.

Myths are important to growing up and learning because they chronicle personal experiences and viewpoints giving insight to the context and culture of the time.

From infancy to adulthood, myth is an integral part of ones identity formation. No matter how “objective” we would like to regard ourselves, it is impossible to separate from the various myths that shape our personalities. Imagine how different life would have been without ever truly having believed in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Despite the fact that our parents outright lied to us for a number of years, they merely participated in a tradition that I, for one, plan to continue when I become a parent. I do not think that I have been “brainwashed” or tampered with as a result of participating in such a fairytale and, at that age, I do not think it was unusual to believe in such things anyways.

What is important about such myths is that they are eventually debunked in a fairly graceful manner. It is not traumatizing to discover that Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny is not real. In fact, it simply makes sense, and by this time we are ready to comprehend the historical basis behind the tradition of the mythologized figure. Similarly, we are not traumatized when we learn that Columbus Day celebrates a man that not only “discovered America” but that also facilitated the genocide of the indigenous population. We are, by this time, learning that many of our historical figures performed less than heroic deeds. The same rings true for the holiday of Thanksgiving.

I think that the truly damaging myths that must be dealt with are the ones that are not debunked. Consider, for example, the “Cinderella” myth among girls and young women regarding relationships and marriage. The theory was first described Psychologist Collette Dowling in her book The Cinderella Complex: Women's Hidden Fear of Independence. It is a complex that is rooted in youth, but that becomes apparent only as one grows older. Collette holds that “women are brought up to depend on a man and to feel naked and frightened without one. We have been taught to believe that as females we cannot stand alone, that we are too fragile, too delicate, too needful of protection. So that now, in these days enlightened days, when so much has become possible, unresolved issues often hold us back.”[1] In other words, the instillation of “fairytale beliefs” in life, such as that marrying the perfect man who will care for us emotionally and financially or that being pretty and feminine naturally leads to “goodness,” hinder women from pursuing a career or living singly. Cinderella syndrome also causes romanticizing of marital life and when women are divorced, single, or widowed it can lead to a destructive and false sense of failure.

Therefore to conclude, it is important to be aware of the role influence of myth on our identity formation. Though in youth it is considered normal to actively participate in such myth, by adulthood the participation in these fairytales is by and large considered unhealthy. As one grows older it is necessary to learn the role that these myths play in our lives and to distinguish fiction from fact.

---

[1] Dowling, Collette. "The Cinderella Syndrome." The New York Times. 22 Mar. 1981. New York Times. 17 Apr. 2008 .

I think that there is a major difference between how people in the United States view the idea of myth and how people from other cultures do. I think that some people even go so far as to enjoy trying to disprove harmless myths that have been around for centuries. I don't think that myths play as big of a role in the American identity formation as in other places because of how young the country is. Most cultures that have strong traditions regarding myths are much older and can trace their roots to their homes back thousands of years. Because Americans can trace their history back to a definite time that was not that long ago, there was not a need for creation myths like those found in other cultures. Even so, I think there have been aspects of myth that have been added to American history, mainly in exaggerating the deeds and lives of the men who founded the country.

Myths and America

To some extent, I think myths do play a role in America’s identity. Going back to Revolutionary War times and the Founding Fathers, one is sure to come across the fabled Paul Revere and his “Midnight Ride,” celebrated in the words of Longfellow…. “One if by land and two if by sea…” Other events also come to mind, such as the battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill (which was actually fought on Breed’s Hill). Regardless, all events are based on historical fact; however I think that certain aspects of the events have become mythologized to a certain extent.
A prevalent myth in America today is that of religion and role that God plays in society. While the extent to which God is a myth or not depends on the person, the majority of Americans believe in God, and yet the reality of such a God remains and will probably remain to be proven. Regardless of this question, I think it’s the belief in such a God that can help create order in society. While I am personally agnostic toward the question of God’s existence, my Catholic upbringing has contributed to my character and many of my positive qualities. It’s when people claim such beliefs as unquestionable fact that harmful effects can result. Sometimes it’s better to let myths be myths and facts be facts. Yet sometimes facts shouldn’t be called facts when there’s no proof, such as the whole “weapons of mass destruction” fiasco in Iraq which led to a costly war.

myth making

I believe that any process of identity or origin formation (including identity formation of the US) turns to myth to create a narrative that many people can understand, and disseminate to others. Usually the actual process of identity formation is complex, long and not always glorious. Identity myths, typically created by people in power, are a form of storytelling that explains identity or origin in a succinct, simpler form. The story can also be manipulated by excluding or including certain perspectives to create a narrative that best suits those in positions of authority. Moreover, because they are stories they can be passed down through oral culture from generation to generation. For example, many myths have grown up surrounding the “founding fathers” and the decisions that turned the states from colony to country. Often these myths are useful because they generate a single perspective which can be easily reported, taught and explained. These stories become powerful because they reside in the consciousness of million of people. They help to unite populations, to inspire pride and focus the public’s attention on a select few people and characteristics.
The origin making practices of a country are similar to those of religions. Much of what people believe is not “fact” in the sense of “able to be proven”. Rather, the religions rest on a set of assumptions that are often communicated through narrative, and, consequently, myth. Like the stories of nation formation, religions create stories based around certain perspectives that communicate a purpose and unity among it people.
I think it is always dangerous to describe myth as fact. To label something a fact creates a protective barrier around that idea. People are less willing to challenge it and are more content to support it, reference it and defend it. With events so convoluted as those constituting the origins of countries or religions it is useful to keep in mind that history does not move in a straight, uncomplicated line. Most often stories of origin or identity are the condensed, censored version of many years of conflict and struggle. To glorify something as ‘fact’ then simply means that a large number of people in power want to suggest that a certain idea is true.

Did we create a modern myth?

Personally, I value facts over myths. I like to be able to see what I believe in. Otherwise, I could be living a lie. I do believe that myths play a part in the formation of the American identity though. Like was mentioned in class, there's the myth about how George Washington never told a lie. Come on, now. That's clearly a myth. Everyone has lied, no matter how honest they claim to be. Even myself, where honesty is one of my dearest virtues. It's hard not to lie. Or how about the idea that we live in a "free world" that was discovered by Christopher Columbus. He found it by accident, and there had been people living there for God knows how long (that's simply an expression, I don't necessarily believe in God, because hey, he's a myth).

Truth be told, people would rather hear myths. They dont want to hear that the founders of our country are liars and took this land from others. It's too real and discouraging. Sometimes it helps to believe in myths; they help you fight through bad times, to believe that something that beautiful is out there. The myths become our savior. But sometimes it can cloud people's judgment and people can lose sight of what's real and what is just a dream.

The American Dream is a myth. A modern myth. White picket fence, family of four, peace and happiness and togetherness, blah blah blah...it's all garbage. The fantasy may exist for some, on the outside, but deep down, no family is like that. There's fighting and arguments and problems. But we like to believe that anything is possible and that the heart conquers any obstacle. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, because true happiness is out there, but perfection does not exist.

The American Dream does not exist. It's a lie. A beautiful lie.

Myths

There exist myths in America today which are an integral part of society and need not be debunked. Though I'm religiously neutral, I would argue that the most prevalent "myth" in American society is the story of God and Creation in the Judeo-Christian community. I call it a myth not because I think it's a fairytale or untrue, but because the idea of a sole all-powerful deity extends way back in time and plays a significant role in the founding of our nation. It's an intriguing myth, too, because it has yet to be proved, and it has yet to be disproved. This particular idea is only dangerous if religious groups claim that the existence of God is absolute fact, and that the country should live by certain religious practices and principles. This would be an attempt to impose upon others a common origin which everyone does not ascribe to. This is why it is so important for separation of Church and state. Nevertheless, faith in the existence of God is a crucial part of the moral and social fabric of America.

Dreams Deferred

Dreams play a deep role in the portrayal of our darkest secrets and innermost thoughts. In the novel, "The Farming of Bones" the series of dream sequences represent a longing for the past. Amabelle seeks closure regarding the deaths of her parents. Since they drowned in a river then she never had a place where she could mourn properly for them. Her mourning process is incomplete; this is why her parents keep resurfacing in her dreams constantly. Her parents represent the past and Sebastian represents her supposed future. However, her past and present are interwoven. In one of the sequences with Sebastian they talk about their pasts and their parents. It is evident that this is a subject of immense pain for both of them. Amabell's dreams are a way for her to heal the pain from her past and prepare for her new future which she hopes will be with Sebastian. When Amabelle and Yves escape back to Haiti the dreams stop because they have unconsciously reached a place of contentment. Neither one of them is fully aware of the contentment they feel. To them Haiti is a symbolic return to their homeland; it is a place where they feel safe.

I think it all depends when it comes to dreams. Sometimes I'll have very vivid dreams that almost seem real and when I wake up I have to remind myself that I was only dreaming. I think people dream every night but you just can't always remember your dreams. I have gone for long periods of time without really remembering my dreams or sometimes I'll just remember bits and pieces of them. I think past dreams can be triggered by events in our everyday lives. Sometimes I'll completely forget about a dream and then something will happen that will make me remember it. Perhaps the lapses in dream rememberance result from issues and events that are happening around us; maybe we remember the dreams that we feel are helpful or important and simply disregard the ones that we don't think are important. Dreams can have so many different meanings to them and I dont think we have come close to fully understanding them.

Dreams

I believe that Amabelle's dreams momentarily cease for many reasons. THey barely have time to rest or to think about anything other than their own survival while they are traveling. Perhaps her own struggles left no room in her mind to focus on her parents struggles, or she was too busy trying to survive and upset about wondering what happened to Sebastian that she was never comfortable enough to have these dreams. I feel that Sebastian helped her have these dreams by making her comfortable with herself and her life by the way he cared for her and comforted her, that made her feel not alone. I wake up almost every morning remembering a dream. Sometimes I can not recall all of the vivid details, yet I know them. I have had a few spans, of up to weeks, in which I can not remember my dreams. I feel that this may be when something difficult is going on in my life, or I will have similar dreams night after night. I tend to have these dreams when I am struggling with a personal issue. I remember one time in my life in which this occurred, and I feel that I was searching for answers to my problems in my dreams, the same way Amabelle was searching for answers in hers. 

Farming of Bones

Throughout the beginning of the novel, Amabelle's dreams constantly include thoughts of her parents and her home. Her dreams seem to represent her feelings of incompleteness and lack. After she begins her journey to return to hati the dreams stop. I feel this is be cause she has put her mind at ease. Amabelle initially dreams because she believes her passt has disappeared and is unaltainble to her. When she finally takes action to search for what she is missing she puts her mind at ease.

My dreams work in a similar fashion. In times when I'm stressed I find that my dreams are more vivid and powerful. When i am feeling more carefree I don't have as vibrant dreams and most often can not even remember them.

Dreams

In The Farming of Bones, Amabelle’s reoccurring dreams stop as she and Yves attempt to cross the border to Haiti. One may find this a rather perplexing development since Amabelle’s dreams had been so recurrent prior to her flight from the Dominican Republic. Thus, there are two probable explanations as to why Amabelle’s dreams would cease following her departure from DR. One involves a more literal or realistic reading of why a person’s dreams would cease, while the other involves a more symbolic, literary reading of why this would occur. Beginning with the more literal approach, one could pose the argument that Amabelle’s dreams stop occurring because she is under a great amount of stress and anxiety as she flees DR. On top of the fact that she is traveling with Yves, a man she is not close to, she is far from the people she considers closest to her. She longs to be with Sebastian, and the fear of never seeing him again only adds to her mounting stress. Moreover, Amabelle may have had dreams during this period, but the anxiety she was under may have rendered her incapable of recalling the dreams she had.

On the other hand, if one was to take a more literary-based approach to this reading, one may conclude that the author intentionally had Amabelle’s dream cease to indicate her journey home. Amabelle considers herself a displaced person in various parts of the book. She mentions that she does not have papers stating whether she belongs in Haiti or in DR. Therefore, Amabelle’s dreams may have persisted for so long because she was always longing to return to her homeland while living abroad in DR. When she is finally given the chance to escape back to Haiti, her dreams may have stopped because she knew she would be returning home soon, and would no longer have to long for home in her dreams.

As far as my own dreams go, they vary from night to night. Most of the time I cannot remember my dreams at all unless I have a very interesting or unusual one. Other times my dreams are so vivid that I wake up feeling so emotionally involved in the dream that it is as if the events that took place in my dreams actually occurred. When I don’t remember my dreams for an extended period of time, its usually due to the fact that I am extremely overtired, or because I am in a generally good place in my life where nothing stressful or overly exciting is plaguing my thoughts.

Dreams

I thought that the dream sequences that Danticant included in the book were really interesting. They added a new perspective to Amabelle and gave the reader a deeper view into her life and her personality. It was hard for me though to read these dream sequences as part of the story but always keep in the back of my mind that they were dreams and not actually fact, because some of them seemed so real. I think that Amabelle's dreams stopped while on her escape back to Haiti because at that point she was active and was playing a role in deciding her fate. Before that she had been a passive observer of what was going on around her and through her dreams she tried to compensate for this. Most of my dreams are vivid, but I still usually don't have any idea what they mean or signify. Sometimes I can pull out parts in my dreams and relate them to things that happened or I thought about during the day, but usually they are just things that dont really make sense to me. I never really go for a long amount of time without having dreams, and I'm not really sure what that says about my life or how it relates to my dreams.

Dream Narrative

I think that the reason Amabelle stops meditating on her relationship with Sebastien while she and Yves attempt their escape back to Haiti because one of the reasons she is constantly dreaming of Sebastien is due to the fact that she is no longer actively pursuing his physical body on the Earth and her psyche is compensating by conjuring up images of their relationship so that some sort of communion is possible.  My dreams are generally so vivid that when I wake up in the morning I have the sense that I have been out all night participating in whatever I happened to be dreaming about.  Additionally most of the time my dreams will bring to my attention some sort of fear that I might be hiding in the conscience world and helps me deal with it as I ponder it in the early hours of the morning.  I the dream world, and especially apparent in the literary dream narrative, your safety net is completely nonexistent in that all the minor fears/concerns that you have in your waking world have the ability to be extrapolated and explored.  Often times small fears or concerns have the tendency to be exaggerated and the dream then has the potential to turn into a nightmare.  Perhaps most beneficial to me at least is when the classification of my dreams border on dream and nightmare, especially ones that have elements of real life concerns and conundrums.  If the dream is purely euphoric and allows me to indulge in fantasy and gratification, it is unlikely that it will carry enough momentum for me to consider it after I have stopped sleeping.  If the dream is purely nightmarish then I have the tendency to write it off as such and not even want to ponder it.  If however the dream is a combination of the two, that is for example inclusive of people who I care about and some sort of scary supernatural element, then if I remember the dream the next morning, I start to think about what my mind might be turning over in itself at night.  This sort of dream analysis proves to be most beneficial to me as it generally has the tendency to stay in my head for at least the amount of time it takes me to shower and get ready for class.

A bit of biology on dreams

The first this that comes to mind when I hear the phrase “the farming of bones” is a digging up of the past; a remembering of events and times that have already occurred. The bold-print chapters depicting Amabelle’s meditations seem to represent her dreams, thoughts, and reflections on her past; her own “farming of bones.” They seem to momentarily cease when she and Yves escape to Haiti because she is so caught up in the moment and so engrossed in thinking about the future. She doesn’t have the time or the mental capacity for personal reflection of the past.
For me, and for most people I think, my dreams tend to be quite vivid on some nights, cloudy on others, and I can go days or weeks without remembering my dreams at all. Sometimes they are so lucid that I have to stop and think about small details in my life – did that really happen or was that just part of a dream?
Most people have probably wondered what causes a dream. What are the biological/neurological correlates to dreaming? Many people know that there is a strong correlation between dreaming and a certain physiological state accompanied by rapid eye movement (REM) and intensified brain activation. However, research has found that there is a dissociation between REM sleep and dreaming: patients with brain damage affecting the part of the brain responsible for REM sleep still experience dreams while patients with brain damage that affects the phenomenon of dreaming still exhibit REM sleep. Research has shown that the part of the brain responsible for REM sleep is located in the brain stem and is known as the pons. Further, higher parts of the brain (i.e., parts of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex) have been shown to be responsible for dreaming. These areas of the brain are part of a neurochemical pathway that receive the neurotransmitter ‘dopamine’ from a lower part of the brain. What is the purpose of this pathway? Well, one researcher states that its function is “to motivate the subject to seek out and engage with external objects which can satisfy its inner biological needs.” Sounds a bit Freudian, wouldn’t you say?
I like to think of dreams as solely created by the brain with no outside input. During sleep, the normal pathways providing input from the outside world to the brain are cut off. This gives the brain a chance to recharge and perhaps, with increase brain activation at times, conjure up elaborate, ridiculous, and amusing stories.

Reference:
http://www.psychoanalysis.org.uk/solms4.htm

Dreaming

Amabelle has vivid dreams all through out the novel The Farming of Bones. The thing about Amabelle's dreams is that she has them when she is in a safe and secure place. Because Amabelle is physically safe she allows her mind to drift away and she dreams about the past, her parents death and her fiance Sebastian. It is when Amabelle is on the move that her dreams temporarily cease. Because Amabelle is no longer physically in a secure place she does not let her mind wander because it is essential that she stay focused.
In my own life I tend to have the most vivid dreams when something important is going on around me. When I spend my days focused on one major thing, like a big exam, or if I am stressed about something I tend to dream about the event. Often times when I go to bed thinking about something important I visualize it in my dreams and I can usually recall them perfectly the next day. It is rare that I remember my dreams and I am not sure why that is so. I would hope that I dream every night and that I just can't remember them when I wake up but I guess no one really knows. I find that when I do remember my dreams it is because they were very bizarre and something in them really caught my attention. I guess no one really knows why we dream or what dreams actually mean, but it's always fun to try and guess what they are suppose to signify.

Dreamin'

In The Farming of Bones the protagonist Amabelle’s dreams seem to be set in opposition to her day life with the Dominican family she serves. I think these dreams help her to understand and connect with a life in which she is not on the margins of a society but rather is a full and valued person in her own right. This may be why her dreams most often involve those relationships in which she has experienced love. The dreams are typically set in chapters which are printed in a different font and serve to present the reader with a kind of interfacing story that challenges the presentation of Amabelle we see in her hired position. The Amabelle in the dream text is part of a dark, underlying world of history, imagination, pain and joy. I think that Amabelle’s dreams stop when she escapes back to Haiti with Yves because she no longer has to reconcile her true self and her self as servant to the Dominican family. Sleep allows the brain to problem-solve and to reconcile and compartmentalize the events of the day. Because Amabelle has to constantly mentally affirm her individual and valuable self against the antagonism and indifference of the Dominican society her mind uses the space of her dreams to retell the important moments of her life. The dreams affirm Amabelle for herself. However, when Amabelle leaves the Dominican Republic she is reminded every moment of the journey of her individuality. The space of the daytime becomes a place in which she can differentiate herself from the persecuting society and thus she no longer needs the dream time to do that. On a different note, the journey to Haiti might have been such a nightmare for Amabelle and such an important moment in her life that the dreams became unimportant in comparison.
My own dreams vary in vividness. If a problem has been weighing on my mind it tends to play out in my dreams, or if scenes from a movie or a book are fixed in my mind they will figure in my dreams. I tend to remember my dreams best when they follow some form of narrative. I don’t often go a night without remembering part of a dream, however, when I do it is usually because my sleep cycle is off and either I couldn’t get to sleep or I woke up much later or earlier than usual. Consequently, I don’t remember what happened during the REM part of my sleep. I tend to think of my own dreams in practical terms rather than as divinely inspired messages or hints from Fate. While my dreams aren’t entirely coherent they always relate to something going on in my life.

Dreams, or Lack Thereof

In the Farming of Bones, Amabelle experiences several sets of dreams, including a vivid recollection of her parents’ death by drowning, a somewhat sexual dream of her fiancé Sebastien, and later in the novel, a dream of crossing the border to give her testimonial of the Haitian massacre. The dreams that haunt Amabelle occur during rather uneasy periods in her life, and seem to signify her approach towards personal ‘crossroads.’ For example, it is after Amabelle learns the identity of the murdered cane-farmer that she dreams of her childhood, and it is after the death of Senora Valencia’s son that she dreams of Sebastien. Amabelle’s dreams, which document memories of both her recent and her distant past, emerge when she is uncertain about how to deal with the crises which transpire around her.

In my own life, I find that my most vivid dreams occur when I am undergoing a significant amount of stress. For example, prior to my flight to England last fall (and I only recall this because it was written in a journal which I was perusing through last weekend) I dreamt that en route to the airport I somehow let my passport fly out of the car window, and the remainder of the reverie entailed my dream-like self dodging Saturday morning Mass Pike traffic as I attempted to recover the one item that I truly needed to leave the country. Or often I will have vivid dreams that seem to fuse different facets of my life: friends from Cape Cod with friends from Stonehill, or people from high school with people from college.

Dreams are definitely a way that my body deals with stress. During the summer or during any very relaxing time, I rarely recall the contents of a dream. Similarly, I think that Amabelle’s dreams are a projection of her fears and concerns as well as a subconscious method of releasing her internalized stress. However, unlike my dreams, which cease when life is stress-free, Amabelle’s dreams stop when life is most traumatic. As she and Yves escape the Dominican Republic, each moment seems to be driven by a rush of adrenaline, and her actions and reactions lack volition or thought. It is perhaps this lack of agency and control which causes the lapse in her dream sequences. As soon as the pair reaches Haiti, the dreams resume. That her dreams continue in Haiti is presumably because Amabelle is again unsure of how to cope with the tragedies that have befallen her, and also because of her uneasiness with recommencing her life without the town of Alegria, Sebastien, and Senora Valencia.

I Had A Dream...but I forgot it

When Amabelle has her dreams, she is in a safe environment and protected by her loved ones. She knows where she is, and it's the same place every night. She stops having her dreams while on the move because her mind is in a different state. She's scared, stressed, unsure of where she is going and what she is doing.

As a sidenote, one could argue that the dreams stop because the author wants to speed up the narrative and get the reader's focus on what is happening presently in the novel. For me, the dreams slowed the progress of the story, so this is one way that I took it.

Now, on to my own dreams. I often remember my dreams, and usually if they are interesting or significant (funny), then I will write them down. I guess you could say I keep a dream journal. I also did a study of dreams in my psychology class in high school, where I recorded my dreams every night to see if I could remember them. From this I conclude that consciousness has a major influence on remembering dreams; I try to remember my dreams so it makes it easier.

Usually I remember my dreams, or at least traces of them, when i sleep for a shorter amount of time. Every Wednesday & Friday, I get up early for my 8am class, but go right back to bed when i get out (9am). I sleep for 1-2 hours, and I always have dreams, and lots of them, very vivid. And just this weekend I had very short sleep periods and had lots of dreams, so this leads me to believe that shorter periods of sleep cause easier remembrance of dreams. Also, I always have trouble falling asleep, so one could say that stress causes one to remember dreams (this is opposite to Amabelle's situation, where the stress of being on the move caused her not to recall her dreams).

So...I believe that there are three major factors for dream remembrance, at least from my experience: Stress, Length of Sleep, and Consciousness.

sweet dreams are made of these

i feel like dreams are our escape from reality. further, i believe that dreams are a result of the combination of our thoughts and experiences. when it comes to amabelle she experiences these dreams sequences which dissipate while she is focused on returning to haiti. her dreams stop because she no longer has the mental capacity to exert attention to anything else but her current situation. she no longer has the time to dwell on her thoughts which are fleshed out in her dreams...

when i dream i feel like it is ultimately my thoughts coming into fruition. i feel that when i exert so much energy thinking about certain things they stick so much so that i cant even escape my thoughts when i sleep. there are times when i wake up and i feel that my dreams are so real. most of the time i can only remember clips which are usually out of sequence. sometimes i'll sporadically remember things that i couldnt remember right away. sometimes i have the most bizarre dreams. people say dreams have meaning. i'd like to believe that but who really knows.


tatiana.

Dreams

While Amabelle is a servant in the Dominican Republic, she is mentally absorbed in her past in order to reconnect with the people she loves and has lost. Her past is manifested in her dreams, which are usually about the loss of her parents. However, once Amabelle is forced to flee from the Dominican Republic and return to Haiti, she is forced to confront the past she had only been able to relive in her sleep. As a result, her actual life takes on a sort of dreamlike or surreal quality, causing the dreams to stop. I would argue that the dreams are replaced by a stronger sense of connection to her past through her return to Haiti. I dream almost every night, and my dreams are usually very realistic, vivid, and frightening, and they also usually involve personal issues I'm going through, just like Amabelle's dreams. However, I never experience long periods of time in which I don't dream. I could imagine, though, that if I experienced trauma like Amabelle had, my dreams would be altered. But if anything, I think they would be more vivid and terrifying, rather than stop altogether, because they reflect what goes on in my daily life.