Free Write

I felt that I did a good job when it came down to my writing in the Fredrick Douglas essay. I do, however, want to improve on writing my thesis statement, and just getting my thoughts down onto paper. When it comes down to it, writing a thesis statement, for me, is the most challenging part of writing an essay. Whenever I try to write one, it turns out very weak; My essay also turns out not great because of the way my thoughts are organized. I usually end up doing a okay job in writing, but when it comes down to writing things down it sometimes ends up all jumbled up and just not the way it was in my head. What I really need to nail on my next essay is the thesis statement, and get my thoughts out onto paper much better than on the Fredrick Douglass essay.

The Awakening Response

The Awakening was a great book that described what women were going through in the late 1890s. The book started out on Grand Isle down by New Orleans. The main character, Edna, was talking to another person, Robert. Edna talked about  how the ocean remind her of the Kentucky bluegrass fields; Robert talked about striking it rich in Mexico. I thought it was interesting how the book started off this way. Later, Edna is relaxing when her husband tells her that the kids have a fever. I really thought it was different how she didn't even respond to what he said. I believe that is when Edna started thinking for herself other than other people. The author even shows that when Edna moves from their elegant palace to a pigeon house across the street, for she wanted a small place just to get away from reality. I really thought that it was kind of good for her to think of herself. But soon, Robert returns and Edna falls in love with him and actually begins to dislike her husband. I thought it was cool how she found a new love. I thought that the end was very weird though. I really don't understand why she drove herself to suicide.

The Best Lamborghini Ever

1. The Lamborghini Countach!!
The Lamborghini Countach was introduced in 1980 or so. It came standard with a V-12 and 6 speed gearbox. The first Countach, the LP400, could easily hit 180 mph. The best improvement to the car was when Lamborghini put the Quattrovalvole engine into the Countach LP500 S (or 5000 S). That car would hit 190. Sadly, in 1988, the ending of the Countach was near. They used the Countach for the 25th Anniversary of Lamborghini
.;

Chapter 31 The Jungle (You are now leaving the Jungle)

Chapter 31 was a great final chapter to Sinclair’s socialist novel. I thought the overall mood of the chapter was much higher than most of the novel. Most of this chapter was socialist arguments that Sinclair integrated (kind of) into the story line. The chapter starts where Jurgis goes to see Marija; he tries to get Marija to quit prostitution. Marija explains how she is addicted to dope, and she can’t quit even though she wants to. I thought that it was a horrible story of what happens when you get involved with illegal drugs. (Even though they weren’t illegal at the time.) I was expecting Jurgis to plead his case, but Jurgis just leaves her to her job. I just wish that Jurgis never ran away because the family wouldn’t be going through this if didn’t run away in the first place. Jurgis then attends a meeting with a prominent socialist, Nicholas Schliemann, and a magazine editor. This is where Sinclair’s fight for socialism began in the chapter. I really liked how Schliemann really argued for socialism, and described most evils of the capitalistic way of things at that time. I thought it was also interesting how Jurgis never spoke during Schliemann’s spiel, even though Jurgis was supposed to describe the meat packing industry. At the end, Socialism makes a serious jump into the national spotlight by winning major races in the government. I really liked how inspirational the speaker was when he said, “The fight is not over yet … Chicago will be ours!”  I really liked that, and thought it was the best ending of one of the MOST depressing books I have ever read.

Chapter 29 and 30 The Jungle

Chapters 29 and 30 were good; Jurgis finally finds people who knows what has happened to him. I thought that was the ah ha moment of the book. Jurgis meets the speaker after the meeting and talks with him. Jurgis is then directed to Ostrinski, a Polish man who speaks Lithuanian. I thought that this was Jurgis's major step into socialism. Ostrinski explains the there are 2 groups of society, the small capitalistic class; Then there is the large working class. I really agreed with what he said because that explains why Jurgis never got a job after his incidents with jail and him fighting just to get sleep. I thought it was cool how Jurgis went to see Teta and contribute to the family. I also liked how Teta decided to come to socialist meetings every now and then. Later in chapter 30, Jurgis finds a job at a motel, as a porter. As it turns out, Jurgis's new boss, Tommy Hinds is one of the states organizers for the party. I thought it was cool how they are from the same party, and I believe that Jurgis will have his job there as long as he is a socialist. I thought it was interesting how the author kind of steeped out to tell more about the evils of capitalism. I kind of liked Jurgis's enthusiasim toward his new party, but I also think it's funny how he gets angry how he can't get people to become socialist. Overall, this was the chapter that was the turning point in the book toward capitalism being abolished.

Chapter 27 and 28 of The Jungle

Chapters 27 and 28 were horrible. Jurgis starts out very poor and is begging for a job. I thought that Jurgis was pretty much done, and Jurgis really couldn't go much longer. I really liked how Jurgis got a job, but it was a job Jurgis couldn't do because he was to weak. I thought it was horrible how Jurgis went from a strong, healthy man to a tramp! He goes to a political meeting, only to fall asleep and get dragged out by a cop. I thought it was good how Jurgis got some sleep during the speeches, but other people at the meeting did not want a person who sleeps at their meeting. I thought it was very interesting how he met an old friend who knew where everyone lived. I thought that it was a little glimmer of hope for Jurgis. Jurgis goes to Marija's place, and learns what happened to Stanislovas; reading about how Stanislovas was eaten alive just horrified me. When Jurgis gets to the address, he goes in to find Marija is a prostitute. I thought it was weird, but you do what you have to do to get money.
Chapter 28 begins in a courtroom where the girls and Jurgis were taken. I thought it was funny how nobody even recognized Jurgis as Conner's attacker. What was more interesting was how the woman in charge kidnapped girls and gave them drugs! I never thought somebody would do such a horrible thing. Jurgis then gets Elzbieta's address and is urged to go visit, but Jurgis decides not to because he feels ashamed after leaving them and not having a job. I would do the same because I lacked a job, and just left without my family even knowing. Instead of going to Teta's house, he goes to a socialist party meeting. I thought that it was great how Jurgis finally finds someone who has gone through what he has gone through.Concluding, these chapters went through Jurgis's desire for a job, and his life as a hobo.

Chapter 26 Reaction

I thought that this chapter went from high to low. The major thing that happened in this chapter is when the unions went on strike. I thought it was awkward how they had their salaries garnished while Jurgis actually gained money. Jurgis then becomes boss on the killing beds. I thought it was funny how he got a job where he started; I also thought how interesting it was for him to be the boss! The packers were desperate for workers, for the price of meat went through the roof. I liked how the packers were the ones suffering, not the workers. I really didn't like how the strikers weren't peaceful at the end, for strikes are a peaceful protest, not a riot. That also begs to question, why did policemen rob the bar where they chased men, those people weren't really good policemen. Then, when everything is going so great, Jurgis comes face to face with Phil Conner again. As always, he beats the man and is drug off from him with a piece of Conner's throat in his mouth. I thought it was such a major coincidence that Jurgis ends up seeing Conner again. I thought he could of just walked on by and didn't do anything. Jurgis faces bail, and gets the bail lowered to 300 dollars. I really didn't like that because he worked so hard for his money and had it taken away just like that. Therefore, that is why this chapter was so up and down, from rich and "like an american hero" to the shame of being homeless and jobless.