Introduction
Throughout my high school career I have been trying to figure out what my occupation will be in the near future. The one question I forgot to ask myself was what kind of person do I want to be. Not until my senior year did I realize I needed to improve my character and correct my flaws. These movies and books have taught me important lessons that helped me to become a better person.
Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court
Written by Jan Crawford Greenburg
Since I first learned there were three branches in the United States government, I thought the most powerful branch was the executive branch. That was until I learned about all the landmark cases through the liberal Warren Court. Without any restraint, the Warren Court allowed United States citizens to have the right to privacy, publish articles without interference from the government, and attend schools with students of other races. Although the President could sign a bill into a law, the Supreme Court had a wide range of powers due to its ability to interpret the strength of the law.
My United States government teacher had recommended me this book after he claimed that the textbook made the Supreme Court seem like a body of people with either extremely conservative or liberal political views. During that time, I also wanted to find where I was positioned in the political spectrum. I decided to pick up this thick book and uncover the mystery behind the Supreme Court.
Surprisingly, this book was written from an unbiased perspective. In this book, Greenburg analyzed the three big swing justices and the factors that caused them to stray from their initial political views. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor had resisted the pressure to join a particular side since she became a justice, but when she met a diehard conservative, Justice Clarence Thomas, she was repelled from the Right and was pushed toward the Left. Justice Anthony Kennedy was even more malleable than O’Connor and frequently sided with the liberal justices on issues such as granting gays more constitutional rights. As an extreme conservative, Justice Thomas was frequently at odds with the public, often ruling for harsher punishments.
This book indirectly taught me the importance of independence. The justices had the courage to stay away from the majority and instead ruled cases based on their past experiences and intuition. The book motivated me to not side with a group due to pressure, but to instead establish my views through my experiences.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in discovering the extent of power the Supreme Court has or has a love for the complexity of the United States judicial system. This book would be a great read before taking a United States government class.
The Hurt Locker
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
I was first drawn to The Hurt Locker after I was informed that the movie had won six Academy Awards. Since it was a war film based on the American occupation of Iraq, I decided to spend my Saturday watching it. I did not know that I would soon be in for a huge surprise.
The director of the movie, Kathryn Bigelow, filmed all the events about a specific unit in the United States Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in a way different from most war films. Although the film was mainly about the difficulties American soldiers face due to insurgents planting improvised explosives, it was actually centered on the psychological state of Sergeant First Class William James. SFC James’ unorthodox methods of disarming bombs put his team in danger. He further fueled his team’s anger toward him when he refused to heed orders from a superior and decided to find the insurgents that set off a bomb in a town center. SFC James’ refusal to change his unique way of disarming bombs inspired me to be true to my opinions and methods of work.
After finishing his tour in Iraq, SFC James returned home to find himself engaging in the menial tasks of suburban life such as shopping for cereal in supermarkets and washing dishes. SFC James signed up for another tour in Iraq, finally realizing that his life was only complete with the excitement of bomb disposal. SFC James’ actions and emotions regarding a routine lifestyle made me think about what field of occupation I want to start a career in. When I am unoccupied for a weekend, I become restless. I realized that my definition of a satisfactory life includes finding excitement and adventure every day.
This movie should be watched by everyone who wishes to watch a realistic film based on the fragile mental states of the American soldiers fighting in the Iraq War.
In the Company of Heroes
Written by Michael J. Durant
When Somalia entered another civil war in February 2009, I decided to research what the United States did to assist the Somali government. My research led me to the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where the United States attempted to suppress insurgents led by a warlord. During that conflict, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant was captured by militants and quickly rescued by his fellow soldiers. The bravery of his fellow soldiers was impressive and I decided to read Durant’s first-hand account of the incident in his book, In the Company of Heroes.
Michael Durant had piloted a helicopter in the battle, which was quickly shot down. Surviving the helicopter crash, the unarmed Durant was stranded on the open battlefield. Two of his fellow soldiers fought off the militants until they ran out of ammunition and were shot dead. Shortly after, Durant was dragged through the streets of Mogadishu before being thrown into a dingy room. Treated relatively well, Durant was released after several days. Despite being a national hero, Durant felt his fame was undeserved.
Durant even went on to say that he felt incompetent while he was locked in the room by his captors. Because he was unarmed and severely injured, Durant was unable to protect himself and caused five soldiers to die trying to bail him out. His emotions reminded me of my dependence on close friends for protection and help. As not the most outspoken person in my group of friends, I often require my friends’ assistance in order to solve problems. Reading Durant’s powerful narrative allowed me to realize my lack of leadership and my need for improving my confidence.
This narrative was very descriptive, being laced with Durant’s accounts of his past missions and his relationship with the night. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who seeks a gritty war story filled with emotion.
The Killing Fields
Directed by Roland Joffé
The only movie that had ever prompted me to cry was The Killing Fields. I had been looking for a movie based on a historical time period. Since it was filmed in 1984 and was a British film, I was reluctant to watch it. But, I knew little about the Khmer Rouge and the period after the Vietnam War, so I decided to borrow the DVD from the fantastic Queens Borough Public Library.
The movie followed two journalists (Dith Pran and Sydney Schanberg) who report on the startup of the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge moved into the Cambodian capital, Pran and Schanberg were immediately captured by a squad of rebels. Schanberg was about to be executed for his role as a journalist, but Pran, a Cambodian citizen, negotiated with an officer to set him free. Pran and Schanberg soon quickly flee to a French embassy. Because the powerful Khmer Rouge had demanded all Cambodians to be turned over, the embassy turned over Dith Pran. Pran was promptly put into a labor camp where he stayed for several years.
Meanwhile, Sydney Schanberg won an award for his coverage of the Cambodian civil war. He was criticized by his colleague for using Pran to win the prestigious award and doing nothing to rescue him. During this part of the movie, I realized one of my flaws. I had a tendency to use people so I can advance forward. Watching an extreme example of this action happening before my eyes, I realized how much my selfishness can affect other people.
The movie concluded when Pran escapes to a Red Cross camp in Thailand and was met by Schanberg. Schanberg asked Pran to forgive him for allowing him to suffer for so long and Pran answered that there is nothing to forgive.
The film also let me comprehend how easy it is to be swept up into a movement and not realize the consequences of taking aggressive action. Not considering the arguments of the opposing party often results in poorly planned solutions. The Khmer Rouge’s claim to solve Cambodia’s poverty and famine by revitalizing its agriculture quickly turned into evacuations of urban areas and forced labor camps. Seeing the failure of a revolution has opened my eyes to the importance of having a diplomatic personality.
This movie should be included on every student’s movie list. The movie was not just a tear-jerker, but one that taught the importance of friendship and loyalty.
The Kite Runner (novel)
Written by Khaled Hosseini
Having nothing to do during the Finals Week of my junior year, my sister recommended me read The Kite Runner. I was first turned off by its length and its title, but I quickly grew attached to Hosseini’s style of writing and skillful character development.
The novel’s themes of honor, guilt, and loyalty were clearly portrayed. The most shocking scene was when Amir, the protagonist, won a local kite tournament. Hassan, Amir’s friend of lower social status, ran down Amir’s winning kite, but encountered Assef, an older boy with a reputation for bullying Amir and Hassan. Assef demanded that Hassan give up the kite, but Hassan refused, hoping to gain Amir’s respect. Amir rushed through the town to find Hassan, only to see him being raped by Assef. Amir ran away, too scared to intervene. For quite some time, Amir avoided the Hassan, ashamed of his cowardice. But, Hassan continued to serve Amir and treat him nicely. Hassan eventually departed and allowed Amir to not think about his cowardice for a while.
Hassan’s similarity to Dith Pran in The Killing Fields was remarkable. Hassan, knowing that he had a lower status than Amir’s, tried to earn Amir’s respect throughout his childhood. Dith Pran, a native Cambodian, considered himself lower than his American colleague, Sydney Schanberg. Because of this, Pran allowed Schanberg to take credit for the acclaimed reports by spotting the controversial scenes in war-torn Cambodia.
This scene also reminded me of the attacks that were inflicted against Stuyvesant students in the autumn of 2007. My friend had been assaulted by several black teenagers from a local high school. Similar to Amir, I was afraid of protecting my friend. I stood and watched him suffer through thirty seconds of pain. After the students ran away, I took him into the school and called the police. For the next several weeks, I tried to avoid my friend, even though he tried to arrange a time for us to hang out. Eventually he graduated and I tried to forget about the incident which still brings up feelings of guilt and cowardice. The novel had brought back the feelings of guilt for my cowardice during the attacks. But, it also allowed me to accept that I was spineless during the attack and helped me learn to be more confident so I can eliminate the coward in me.
This novel was one that taught the importance of loyalty and how powerful guilt is. It is a must-read for high school students as high school is the period when most people encounter serious dilemmas.
Into the Wild (film)
Directed by Sean Penn
I watched this film as part of a class in the Youth Theological Initiative at Emory University. This film was supposed to conclude the theological course about pilgrimages.
This movie documented the true story about an American wanderer, Christopher McCandless, who tried to separate himself from mainstream society. After he graduated from college, he decided that all of his accomplishments and possessions were worth nothing. He discarded his money and identification, burned his car, and destroyed his credit cards. He then broke off contact with society and wandered into the Alaskan wilderness to find his true self.
Into the Wild caused me to ask myself why I had certain opinions about certain issues. I soon realized that my environment played a large part in my life. Everything I know or think was influenced by my background. I also realized that a large part of my life has been trying to fit in with the majority. Watching this movie had caused me to try to be unique. I would rather wear flashy clothing than dark clothing and I tried to differ from my classmates in terms of political opinions.
Christopher McCandless had traveled through most of the United States to find the small things in life that make it worth living. Although most of us won’t be able to traverse the continent, this movie allows us to see through the eyes of somebody who did. This movie could help instill some thoughts that can help people live more fulfilling lives.
American History X
Directed by Tony Kaye
My middle school friend had recommended the movie, American History X, to me during the summer of my ninth grade. In the first scene of the movie, a white supremacist curb stomps a black man to death. I was traumatized by the violence and racism presented, but was also fascinated by the political issues that the film brought up.
Derek Vinyard, the film’s protagonist, became an active member in the neighborhood neo-Nazi movement after his father is murdered by a black criminal while putting out a fire in South Los Angeles. While interviewed by a reporter, Derek screamed out that illegal immigrants exploit the country, instead of embracing it. His hate of all minority groups caused him to lead an invasion of Venice Beach, taking over basketball courts originally belonging to blacks and raiding supermarkets owned by Koreans and Mexicans. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Danny Vinyard, followed his footsteps, slowly rising up through ranks in the white supremacist group. When Derek Vinyard murdered two black males that try to steal his car, he was charged with manslaughter and incarcerated.
In prison he joined the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, but quickly abandoned the group after discovering that they are allies of a Mexican gang. With no one to protect him from black prison gangs, he was forced to rethink whether being part of a neo-Nazi group ever helped him. Fortunately, he did not get attacked by the black prison gangs due to a black prison inmate that he befriended in the penitentiary. Being forced into an unknown environment, filled with dangers and surprises, for three years, Derek discovered his true inner self. He was no longer the tough radical he thought he was. Especially since the person who saved him from being murdered in prison was black, Derek discontinued his racist thoughts and left the white supremacist group.
After being released from prison, Derek explained his thoughts to Danny. Danny promised to leave the neo-Nazi movement and tried to start anew. Sadly, Danny died after being shot to death by a black gang member in the school bathroom.
American History X was the movie that changed my perspective on illegal immigration. Both my parents and siblings favored decreasing border security, but I strongly resented illegal immigrants. In one scene, Derek claimed that illegal immigrants came to the United States not to embrace the country, but to exploit it. I have heard of stories where illegal immigrants work at jobs that allow them to claim that they have extremely low incomes so they can qualify for welfare and Medicaid. Also, the most dangerous gang in the United States was started by Salvadoran illegal immigrants that entered the US through Mexico. These bits of information have strengthened my arguments. With the knowledge that I currently have, I support measures that increase border security and the efforts to prevent of illegal immigration.
Because this film brought up questions about racism, immigration, and law enforcement, this movie should be part of every high school’s curriculum. These issues are always on the top of our nation’s agenda and every student should realize the conflicts that surround these issues.
Conclusion
Part of what I am today was affected by the books I read and the movies I watch. I could even go as far to say that the books and movies allowed me to understand myself better. Since the beginning of my high school years, I have been trying to be different from everyone else. But, all I had been doing was running away from my true self.
The movies and books have indirectly displayed my flaws such as cowardice, selfishness, and lack of confidence and independence. They have helped me improve my character and will hopefully help other students improve theirs.
Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka
I came across this book in my senior year. It was the first book of the semester. My initial reaction was that it was going to be something dealing with science, because of the title. But as I read the book, I saw the true message that Kafka was trying to give to the readers. I saw that everything that he wrote had a purpose and that the novella is deeper than just a story of one man and his metamorphosis.
The main character, Gregor, is the one who goes through the metamorphosis and turns into an insect. After that, his life changes for the worse. Sometimes, in my life I felt as if I went through some type of transformation overnight too and that everything was better the day before. I felt a real connection to Gregor in this way and that helped me understand why he did the things that he did.
I also felt that I related to the book in my life in that sometimes it felt as my family treated me like an insect too and the only one who cares for me is my little sister. This is exactly how Gregor felt and as I was reading the book I felt accustomed with the feelings that he felt as well.
I remember the first day that we discussed the book. We looked at the first sentence of the novel before we even got the book. I felt like that was very substantial because of the ideas and questions that the first sentence brought up. I think that is one of the main aspects of the book that differentiates it from others. Everything in the book is a mystery.
My thoughts on the book are that it is very different from all other books that I read throughout my life. The writing styles, the characters, and the imagery are all aspects that are unique to Franz Kafka.
The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
I read this book in my senior year English class. At first I thought it was going to be a bunch of short stories compiled together in a book. But after reading it, I found it to be way more than what I expected. The book was filled with humor and action and almost every story was tangled with each other. I could not relate to most of the characters, as the time period is very different, but I could relate to some of the situations of the characters. Many of the characters dealt with class distinctions, which is something Chaucer ridiculed throughout all of the stories. I felt that I understood what people of different social classes go through everyday just by reading the narrative of an individual.
The part in the book which I remembered the most was when Chaucer apologized if he hurt anyone in writing the story. This had many important aspects about it. For example, it showed how realistic Chaucer portrayed his book to be. Another aspect is that it showed how strict the Catholic Church actually was during that time period.
I kind of related the movie Crash which is similar to the structure of The Canterbury Tales. In the movie, several different stories are told from different standpoints and in the end all of them intertwine into one main plot. If the book had been adapted into a movie, I think that it would have ended up looking just like Crash.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte
I read this book in my Early British Literature class. Déjà vu is what came to my mind as soon as I finished the first few chapters of this book. My thoughts were that it was just another book with the same familiar storylines, but with different characters, which I have read before. But little did I know how different the moral was in this book. The book itself was filled with sadness, happiness, and indefinable surprising moments.
The déjà vu I mentioned earlier was pertaining to several other masterpieces of literature such as Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I expected Jane Eyre to be similar to that novel in that they have the same storyline and structure, but it was completely different as Jane Eyre exceeded my expectations.
One of the scenes which stuck to me from the novel was when Jane’s aunt imprisoned Jane in the red-room where her Uncle Reed died. This was Jane’s punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John Reed. While locked in the room Jane fainted believing that she saw her uncle’s ghost. As she screamed and fainted, I felt the emotional pain that she was going through because Bronte did such a good job in unfolding that moment.
I really enjoyed reading this book as I felt that it put me through an emotional roller coaster, making me feel everything from remorse to guilt. I think that the book can lay out these emotions in a way that even someone with no emotions at all will feel something.
Beowulf
Seamus Heaney
I remember reading this book senior year in my Early British Literature class as the final book of the semester. I expected the book to be a joke because the teacher said that we were going to watch the movie while we were reading the book. As I started reading further on in the book, I knew why the class was called Early British Literature. It was very difficult to comprehend and truly understand everything that was going on, and that is why I guess the teacher helped us follow along with the movie.
My initial reaction to the book was that it can’t be as good as the movie was. In my opinion it was not even close to being like the movie. The book itself was not bad; it’s just that the movie was way beyond my expectations and standards. I
The characters in this book really showed me what a true hero actually is. The most memorable scene, in my opinion, was the battle between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. This scene truly shows why the book is named Beowulf and why he is such a hero. I read and watched this scene several times, and I thought to myself why it didn’t get old. It was because I was at the standpoint from both Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. I understood why Beowulf had to protect his people and I also understood why Grendel’s mother had to get revenge for the slaying of her son.
The book reminded me of Odysseus as a hero that saves the day for everyone. I remembered reading The Odyssey and I realized how similar the two epic heroes actually are.
The God of Small Things
Arundhati Roy
I came across this book in my Later British Literature class in my senior year. My initial reaction to the book was, “A book written by an Indian. Finally something I can relate to!” The characters in the novel are very similar to me in the way that they have to try and make the right decision, even if what they decide is not what is best for them. A good example of this is when the twins lie when they testify against Velutha. Even though they caused harm to others, they still had the right intention in that they were trying to protect their mother.
I remember reading the book and I especially remembered how violent and disturbing the book was. I understood this, however, because I knew that it was by an Indian author. All the violence and lewdness was justified in the end as it was shown to be an essential part of the plot. I do not think that the novel would be the same without this important aspect of it.
I can relate the book to Slumdog Millionaire in that it truly shows the real India uncensored. In the movie, there were many graphic scenes such as people being beat to death or people being burned alive. Without these features, it becomes hard for the viewer to familiarize themselves with the situations that are going on throughout the movie.
I was not expecting to read a book like this in an English class, especially in Stuyvesant, but I am very happy that I did. The book taught me many things about Indian culture that I did not know myself and it really showed me what makes that part of the world different from everywhere else.
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
This was the first book that I had to read in my junior year. I was not surprised to be reading this book in class because I knew how great a book it is because I saw the movie before.
The characters in the book are the standards of those in puritan times. I felt like I could relate to the main character, Hester, who was publically ashamed due to one of her mistakes. In my past, I have committed errors which I have been humiliated for and because of that I felt like I really knew what was going on through Hester’s mind as everything was happening.
I especially remember the part in the end of the book where Hester is buried. I thought that this part was very memorable because it shows how a bad deed can harm someone for their whole life, even after their death. Hawthorne revolves the whole book around the scarlet ‘A’ which is engraved on Hester’s grave.
The book relates to the movie Seven, which stars Brad Pitt. I liked how in the movie, people are being punished for the seven deadly sins. I think that it really relates to the novel in that it shows how one little sin can have an effect on you for the rest of your life. The message in both the novel and the movie is choose your actions wisely and to know that you will be accountable for anything that you do.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
I remember reading the book in my junior year. I heard of the book before I even began to read it that had a huge influence on what I thought of the novel. I started reading the book with very high expectations, and when I was done I felt as though the expectations never changed. I thought that it was a very well written novel and that it deserved all the awards that it got.
The characters in the book are very comparable to me because it is just a story about some people in New York. I especially felt a connection with Gatsby as I too have felt underappreciated throughout my life due to some event which occurred in the past. In the end, I understood why even though Gatsby was not the protagonist, the whole story revolved around him.
I remember how in the end of the novel, no one attended Gatsby’s funeral. People just came to claim his personal belongings. This really made the readers feel sympathy towards Gatsby and it eventually uncovered why the book is called The Great Gatsby.
I can relate this book to Scarface as it shows how one man can become rich doing immoral things. Gatsby was a bootlegger with many underground ties and connections. He proclaimed himself self made millionaire, just as Tony Montana did in his movie. I thought that all this really explained why Fitzgerald came up with the exposé of Gatsby as “Great”.
Hedda Gabbler
Henrik Ibsen
I came across this book in my summer school English class during my junior year. This is one of those books that never really caught my attention. The fact that Hedda committed suicide was frightful itself and not only did she commit suicide, but she also lead to the death of Ejlert Lovborg. It wasn’t a first hand murder because it was not her who shot Lovborg but it was her pride which forced her to keep Lovborg’s manuscript, which frustrated him to the point to kill himself.
Lovborg was a character which I can relate to in that he is someone who tried to get his life back on the right track but was hindered by stupid mistakes. I felt connected with him and I understood why he killed himself in the end.
I despised Hedda since the beginning of the book and felt that the best part of the book is when Hedda committed suicide. I felt relieved that no one else would have to suffer from the hands of Hedda Gabbler.
The book contained of too many depressing events for it to attract me. That is why I think that it is very similar to Final Destination because, in the end, no one survives. Reading the book definitely made me uncover the bad side in things and I think that’s what Ibsen was trying to do when he wrote the novel. The book really makes one disregard the value of human life.
Holes
Louis Sachar
During the summer classes in my junior year, I was introduced to this wonderful book. I saw the movie and thought that it was amazing and so I knew that the book would be too.
I felt that I can relate to Stanley Yelnats because sometimes I feel like I have all the bad luck in the world. When something goes wrong for me, everything goes wrong at once. This is exactly what Stanley was goin though and through my lens I experienced the same frustration and aggravation that he felt.
My favorite thing about the book was the part that Stanley carried Zero to the top of the mountain and then took care of him. This showed how Stanley progressed throughout the book and how bad luck can change into good luck with just a little effort. It was also the climax of the book in that the curse that had haunted Stanley’s family for ages was finally over.
I can relate the book to Pirates of the Caribbean because it deals with curses that have been passed on throughout generations. The movie is very similar to the book in that, in the end, the curse is removed and everyone lives happily ever after. Both the movie and the book show how people don’t give up, no matter how bad the situation, and in the end all the perseverance pays off.
The Taming of the Shrew
William Shakespeare
I ran into this book in my junior year English class. At first, I thought it was just going to be another love story by Shakespeare, but after reading the first act, my view on the book indefinitely changed. It was not just another cliché of a romance, but a comedy and a drama as well.
The characters in the play are all part of a sub-plot which the servants use in a play to try to confuse a drunkard. I can relate to the characters in the play in that sometimes I have pretended to be someone else to get somewhere that I want to be. In the play, many characters develop another persona just to try to deceive other into doin what they want them to do. I think that this is one of the true comedic geniuses of Shakespeare to unravel all the characters at once in the end.
I especially liked the part in the book when Petruchio tries to tame his wife like an animal by starving her and depriving her of sleep. I thought that this scene was hilarious and that it truly showed the reader why the title of the play is The Taming of the Shrew.
The book was remade into a movie in 1999, which is called 10 Things I Hate About You. In the movie, the same situation is being dealt with as Petruchio tries to tame his wife. The only difference is that the movie takes place in a modern day high school while the play occurs in medieval times.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
I read this book sophomore year as an introduction to the class. When I first saw the book, I thought that it was a kid’s book because of its size. But that all changed when I actually began to read the book. I immediately saw how Stevenson used the idea of a split personality to change the views on how one perceives the main character.
The characters in the novel were very fictitious in the way that they acted. I can relate to the main character, Dr. Jekyll in that sometimes I go through phases which I lose my temper and become very violent and unfriendly just like Dr. Jekyll when he transforms into Mr. Hyde. But I think that it true with everyone, not just me.
I especially remember the end of the novel when Dr. Jekyll does not even have to drink the potion anymore to become into Mr. Hyde. I thought that this showed how evil is more powerful than good and that it is easier to become immoral than it is to become moral. I think that this is the main message that Stevenson was trying to project in his book.
Whenever I think of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I always think of Van Helsing. In that movie, a hunter tries to hunt down Mr. Hyde for all the bad things that he has committed. One can always imagine Mr. Hyde as being the true bad guy due to the fact that he does not drink the potion anymore so that he is not in control of his mind and actions.
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
I read this book in my sophomore English class. Upon reading this book I came across a lot of characters whose approach to life I found a bit extraordinary, especially that of Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth the only character in the book who came across as not arrogant to the readers, but she was in fact very ignorant. Her prejudice towards Mr. Darcy had blinded her to the extreme that she forgot all wrongs, and became acceptant to the very man who had run away with her sister. I can relate to Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Darcy very much because it taught me the true meaning of “not to judge a book by its cover.” After reading this book it had opened my eyes and I realized that everything around me is not how it appears but rather there is something beyond everything.
I especially remember the views on marriage and love in this book and I found it very amusing. I found it very ironic that Elizabeth is the very person who had hated Mr. Darcy from the beginning of the book and had fallen in love with and married him in the end. This was funny to me but had also made me realize that no matter how much one denies something, they may come to accept it if they clear themselves from ignorance and look at things from a clear point of view.
I can relate the book to real life in that I have seen families with multiple daughters and I have seen the problems that the parents go through to marry them off. I can relate the problems Mr. and Mrs. Bennet went through to that of my cousins and their family members. I understand the struggle that the parents go through in order to ensure that their daughter makes the very best choice that she can.
The Three Theban Plays
Sophocles
I read this book in my Classical Literature class during my sophomore year. I thought that this was going to be three long plays all bunched up into one book, but I found out that it was rather one long play divided into three parts.
I feel like I can especially relate to Oedipus, the protagonist of the Three Theban plays. He is a very strong and dominant figure and his power overwhelms the fact that he is blind. I feel like I too, have made many great accomplishments even with all my setbacks.
The part of the play which I consider to be most memorable is the scene in which Oedipus blinds himself when he finds out that his wife, Jocasta, has killed herself. He takes two pins from her dress and he gouges his eyes out. This is the part of the play which many consider to be the climax of the story as the prophecy is completed and Oedipus is defeated.
The three plays remind me of Homer’s Odyssey as they are both examples of classical literature. In the Odyssey, there are also many references to Oedipus and the prophecy which he fulfills.
Candide
Voltaire
This was a book that I was forced to read as an extra credit assignment for my Classical Literature class. It was a very difficult looking book, but the teacher argued that it was a satirical comedy so I thought that it was going to be fun to read.
The one that I can relate to in the book is Pangloss as he is the only one who is an optimist all the time. I am very similar to him in my thinking in that I believe that everything always happens for a reason and that whenever something bad occurs, something good will always occur right after.
The scene which I can vividly remember and which stuck to me through out the entire novel was the killing of Cunégonde’s brother. Because Candide proclaimed he was going to marry Cunégonde, Cunégonde’s brother became enraged and went to attack Candide. However in the twist of situation Candide killed Cunégonde’s brother. This scene, to me, seemed to be the turning point of the story and of Candide’s milestones.
I can relate Candide to many other satirical works, but the one that always comes to mind when I think of satire is American Psycho. Both these works really show how satire can be used to set the mood and they explore the message that satire brings to the plot.
Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde
I ran into this book sophomore year as a conclusion for the whole semester. At first, I wondered if Earnest was a name or an emotion. I thought that since Oscar Wilde wrote it, it would be a comedy so it would involve both interpretations of Earnest.
The characters in the play are very humorous in the way that they handle their situations. I can relate to Jack, because in the end, I appreciate all the little things that make me who I am.
The most memorable scene in the play would have to be the scene in which Jack finally admits the “Importance of Being Earnest”. This sums up the whole story into one as it shows how certain characters maintain fictitious identities to escape unwelcome responsibilities. It also shows that the best personality one can have is their own and that people should not pretend to be others because that has its own consequences.
The book reminds me of the movie Fight Club, in which a character has split personalities and does not realize that they themselves are both the characters. It is very similar to Jack and his split personality, Earnest. In the movie and the book, the main characters finally grasps a hold on theirs double lives and finally corrects everything that they did.
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
This is the book that I introduced to freshman year as I walked into my Freshman Composition class. It was the first book that I had ever read and discussed in my Stuyvesant career. I initially had no emotions on the book, but later on I saw why the book was viewed as the archetype of modern African writing in English.
The characters approaches towards life are very similar to that of mine. In Igbo culture, status can be gained through fighting and wrestling. This is how I also earned part of my status and my respect. When other people saw what I was capable of doing when I was in a fight, they changed their views on me and my status in society changed, just like Okonkwo’s.
I especially remember the part in which the District Commissioner and his messengers go to look for Okonkwo and find him dead, having hanged himself. The most important aspect about this part was that the commissioner was asked to take down his body as suicide was regarded as an act of weakness in Igbo culture. This lead the commissioner to come up with the idea to write a book about African culture and mention Okonkwo’s death in it. This truly showed the effects of British colonialism in African culture and it unraveled how native their culture actually is.
I can relate the book to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as both the stories revolve around African culture and how British colonialism affects these African traditions. In both the stories, the African culture is “restored” with the contents of colonialism.
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Ken Kesey
This was the second book I had read in my time at Stuyvesant. I had seen the movie adaptation of this book before and I loved it. I especially loved Jack Nicholson as the role of Randle McMurphy. So I walked into the class with hopes that I would enjoy reading the book and I did.
I really felt connected with the personality of McMurphy. I knew that possessed many qualities which he possessed as well such as leadership and bravery. I know that if I played the role of Randle McMurphy in the movie, I would do as well a job as Jack Nicholson.
I especially remembered the end when the Chief smothers Randle with a pillow to let him die with dignity instead of being a representation of what the Nurses are capable of doing. I thought that this showed the real effects of Randle’s actions and it also showed how he changed everyone around him. He helps the Chief regain his self-respect and that is when he pays one last tribute to Randle and finally escapes from the asylum.
I can relate the book to real life situations such as Martin Luther King. He was a hero who helped everyone else and in the end he was the one who suffered. But his accomplishes did not go unnoticed and neither did Randle’s. I think that is what makes both these men such great heroes.
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
I came across this book in my Freshman Composition class. At first I thought that the book was goin to involve animals because of the title. It was not until I read the book for the second time that I truly understood the title and why the book is named the way it is.
Characters in Of Mice and Men had a drastic view toward life. Their aspirations of living came directly from their dreams of having a better future. Although George and Lennie grew up in a pretty nomadic life style which was always limited, they always hoped for the better and always held on to their dreams of achieving something greater. From reading this novel and understanding how George and Lennie coped with the conflicts given to them, I was able to tell that these two characters were strongly steadfast and willing to break boundaries that held back their dreams. That is one way which I felt a connection with the characters in the novel.
One memorable moment which really stuck to me from this novel was all the way in the end of the story when George finally realized that Lennie is a major setback in his life and takes his life by shooting him in the head with a gun. I thought that this scene was really shocking because George dealt with Lennie his whole life and never had problems with him until the end. This showed how even the most patient of all humans can snap and become corrupt.
A particular book which I have currently read that I can relate this novel is Night by Elie Wiesel. In this novel as George and Lennie, Elie Wiesel, the protagonist of the novel, sought only out to his dream of looking for a better future. Being in the Concentration Camps and living through the Holocaust, Elie’s only dream was to get a better life. Just like George and Lennie, Elie’s dream was not fulfilled in the end.
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
I ran into this book freshman year. It was the second to last book I read in my freshman year. I knew that book involved kites and that is one of the reasons why I loved it so much as I am a huge fan of kites. I never watched the movie, The Kite Runner, but I had heard that it was amazing. I finally watched the movie after reading the book, and I am glad that I read the book first because it was much more entertaining than the movie.
For one thing, I feel like I can relate to the characters in the novel because I love playing with kites as well. Even the act of “kite running” is something that I am familiar with because of my passion for kites. I am especially fond of the characters which show as much passion about kites as I do, such as Hassan and Amir.
My most memorable part of the novel is when Hassan receives a beating from Assef just for standing up for Amir’s kite. I like the loyalty and brotherhood that Hassan showed, and I especially like the fact that he is doing all that to protect a kite.
Whenever I think of Khaled Hosseini’s Kite Runner, I also think of other works by Hosseini such as A Thousand Splendid Suns. Both his books are similar in that they revolve around Afghanistan and its culture and traditions. I think that Hosseini does a good job in both these books in making the reader feel as if they are actually in Afghanistan. I think that is what sets apart Hosseini from all other writers.
Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger
This was the last book that I read freshman year and it was also one of the best books that I ever read in
my life. At first, I was wondering what the title meant. Even though I have read the book many times, I
still feel as though I do not truly understand what a “Catcher in the Rye” actually is.
The characters attitude towards life is very similar to mine. I feel like I especially can relate to Holden in
many ways. One way is that I consider a lot of people to be “phonies” especially in Stuyvesant. But I
never obsessed about “phonies as much as Holden. Another way in which I am similar to Holden is that I
care about my little sister a lot, more than anyone else in my family.
The most memorable thing about the book was the vulgar language and all the obscenities. Holden swears
a lot in the novel and that is one of the main reasons why the book was so challenging to teach in high
school. It went through a lot of censorship and challenges and that is why it is one of the most
controversial books of all time. I think that the vulgarity played a huge part in the book, and that the book
would not be the same without it.
I can relate this book to my real life experiences as I personally have been through many of the situations
which Holden goes through in the book. Sometimes I fee like the book is a narrative and an
autobiography of my life instead of Holden’s.
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