Discuss the theme of ladies' ball Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discuss the theme of ladies' ball - Essay Example A softer version of the game was developed and called â€Å"Softball†. Still the same game, just a different set of rules as applicable to women. In Richard Cumyn's novel â€Å"Ladies Ball†, we discover the story of David and his unknown reasons for falling out of love with baseball. Richard Cumyn never clearly stated what year the story was unfolding in, so I am choosing to believe that the story had been set in the era after World War II, when men were coming back from the war and were reclaiming their right to the great game of Baseball. Cumyn as an author creates an internal conflict for this main character, David. However, it is an internal conflict that seems to have no beginning and no resolution. Instead, he used this conflict in order to successfully depict a man who comes to the realization that by letting go of something that he loved and enjoyed as a child, he has also lost an understanding of a portion of himself as a person. When his wife, Joan, is invited to join the local informal ladies baseball league, he believes that she won't have any interest in joining the local team for a game that night. Mostly because she is more of a cycling person than a â€Å"baseball† person. However, it slowly becomes clear to the reader that Joan was simply humoring her husband when she first refused to play with their new neighbors because of the way that David reacted to the invitation extended to her. He decided that she should not play the game. He did not allow her to make the decision for herself. But events on their first night in their new home conspire to allow Joan to try her hand at â€Å"ladies ball†, or softball as their neighbor Grace preferred to call it. However, what David believes and what is true are two different things. Contrary to his belief, Joan did not want to â€Å"get away from this neighbor† but instead, actually wanted to participate in the game. The passage from the book is clear: â€Å"[he] [decid es] that they [need] a way to escape gracefully from [the neighbor].† Thanks to the clever manipulation of their children and an extremely hot summer night, she got the chance to do something that she knew her husband was dead set against her participating in. Somehow, David has chosen to channel his dislike of baseball and his fear of having to play the game that he no longer likes through his wife. His thoughts, actions, and conversation with her that night as they passed the local baseball diamond showed his insecurities about baseball and left him feeling highly uncomfortable and torn between allowing himself to enjoy the female version of a game that he loved, and walking away from the game because it was now being played by women. David is truly uncomfortable with the way that Joan had defied him in order to play the game, making him look like a fool and party killer in front of their new neighbors. He had expected her to decline politely when she was invited to play yet again. He never expected her to suit up and get out on the field, ready, willing, and able to play. When he leaves her to put their children to bed, he can't help but return to the field to see how his wife participates in the game. He does this from the shadows as he is still reluctant to show her and their neighbors that he has started to enjoy the game and watching his wife play â€Å"ladies ball†. Having his wife catch the winning ball only adds to David's inner conflict about the game that he gave up on. His lonely excursion into the baseball mound to get a whiff of the game yet

3 negros :: essays research papers

In the period after Reconstruction the position of African Americans in southern American society steadily deteriorated. After 1877 the possibilities of advancements for African Americans disappeared almost completely. African Americans experienced a loss of voting rights and political power created by methods of terrorization such as lynching. The remaining political and economic gains that were made during reconstruction were eventually whittled away by Southern legislation. By the 1900s African Americans had almost no access to political, social, or economic power. Shortly after this Jim Crow laws began to emerge, segregating blacks and whites. This dramatic transition from African American power to powerlessness after reconstruction gave birth to two important leaders in the African American community, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Although these two remarkable men were both in search of a common goal, their roads leading to this goal were significantly different. This is most evident in the two most important documents of the men’s careers: Booker T. Washington’s, â€Å"1895 Atlanta Exposition Speech† and W.E.B. DuBois’ response to this, â€Å"The Souls of Black Folks.† These two men were both dedicated to solving the difficult problems African Americans experienced in the post reconstruction south. Both DuBois and Washington wanted economic prosperity for African Americans but they differed on what would be done to achieve this. Both men focused on education as a key to the improvement of black life but they differed on the form education should take. The true difference in these men’s extremely different routes to better the lives of African Americans after reconstruction was a product of their extremely different backgrounds. In this essay I will examine the documents, â€Å"1895 Atlanta Exposition Speech† by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois’, â€Å"The Souls of Black Folks† in order to determine the paths that each of these men took towards the advancement of African Americans, and the reasons behind these methods. DuBois and Washington came from extremely different backgrounds. These differences are essential to understanding why each of these men went about trying to achieve progress for their race in the way they did. DuBois, the son of free parents, was born a free man and grew up in a white environment with more privileges and advantages than the majority of African Americans living in the United States at that time. He suffered neither severe economic hardship nor from repeated encounters with racism. In contrast, Booker T.

My so-Calld Life Essay

My So-Called Life What is the underlying meaning of the title of the series? The title of the show, My So-Called Life, suggests the understanding of meaninglessness that many teenagers experience. It shows us how it is to feel judged by others and it encapsulates the main theme of the series. The show depicts the teenage years as being difficult and confusing rather than a light, fun-filled time. This series deals with the expectations that people have of teenagers. The main character, Angela felt like she was being expected to do certain things even though she had ust become a teenager and she was still trying to figure out who she was for herself. In high school, Angela found two new friends named Rayanne and Rickie, who are not the best students and don’t seem to be very good influences on her. As a result, Angela started to skip classes with them and didn’t focus on her school work as much anymore. Her parents expected her to keep up with her school work and do well in her classes, the things she had always done; but being a teenager in high school had changed Angela. In the show, a main focus is how people are judged by their appearance.Angela felt misunderstood and judged when she dyed her hair red after it being blonde her whole life. Angela didn’t want to be seen as that â€Å"goody goody blonde girl† anymore, she wanted to stand out and make a change. Her personality had changed; the people she hangs out with had changed, so why not change her hair too. But her parents and old friends judged her because of it. The show covers all of the characters going through rough times; each and every one of them was put into different situations where they felt meaningless or unwanted. They all ook turns feeling uncomfortable and not knowing how to deal with their situation. At the beginning of the series, Angela felt unwanted by Jordan. Later on, Rickie felt alone after he was involved in a shooting and had no one to talk to about it. Also, Rayanne was jealous of Angela when she found out how great her father was and that Angela didn’t even appreciate it. In a more recent episode, Jordan was frustrated because the substitute teacher picked on him in class. Throughout the series, Shannon felt neglected and hurt when Angela left her and started hanging out with Rayanne and Rickie instead of her.Finally, Brian felt used when he found out that Angela only came over to his house to meet with Jordan outside. As this series shows us, the teenage years are not easy to deal with. Teens have to figure out who they are and who they would like to be friends with. They have to deal with the expectations people have for them; and be put into situations where they feel meaningless, misunderstood or judged. The title of the show, My So-Called Life, is used to show that the typical teenager's life is not easy and it isn't how it usually is put out to be.

Essay on Informative speech - 1259 Words

[TEMPLATE FOR AN INFORMATIVE SPEECH PREPARATION OUTLINE] The Effects of Disney Films Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the different stereotypes Disney portrayed in their movies. Central Idea/Thesis Statement: Different types of stereotypes in Disney movies effect children’s view on gender roles. INTRODUCTION I. When you wish upon a star; makes no difference who you are†¦. Or does it? If you recognized this classic Disney song, that means you grew up watching Disney during your childhood. II. The Disney movie franchise has been producing movies for many years now. The Walt Disney Studios Company began in 1923 in Los Angeles. Around 1937, Disney became famous for their creating the first full-length animated†¦show more content†¦I am going to talk about the different stereotypes that occurred in Disney movies. BODY I. Disney films characterized female stereotypes and male stereotypes. II. Stereotypes are an idea or the image of a particular type of person or thing, which can affect a children’s perspective in the society. A. Women are portrayed as rich princesses to carry the image of looking like a Barbie doll. Women are even portrayed as evil-step mothers, or even poor servants. Regardless they always need a man; either they need a prince or a father figure to save their lives. 1. For example, if you take a look at Pocahontas, Cinderella, Belle, or Jasmine you will see that they are beautiful females. They all share the similar traits of a perfect, tiny waist, and huge breasts. a. According to the article â€Å"Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature- Length Animated Films,† the author Towbin mentioned that one of the common characteristics to a female Disney character was â€Å"a women’s appearance is valued more than her intellect† (Towbin, Mia Adessa 2004). . 2. Princess Ariel who was a mermaid traded her voice for her love Prince Eric. When she was in trouble she needed her father to rescue her from the evil witch. Even when you sit and think about the whole Little Mermaid story; you would see that her only goal was to find her prince and marry him. a. The only role that women play is either the beautiful princess, or the evilShow MoreRelatedInformative Speech Essay855 Words   |  4 Pagestype of speech would the speaker choose. Well chapter 13 contents the creative process for informative speaking. What informative speaking is how to choose a focused informative topic, how to conduct a research and informative outline? The chapter also contains how to organize the body, introduction, and conclusion of the informative speech. Lastly chapter 13 contents explain how to prepare to present the speech and evaluate and informative speech. In order to make a well informative speech the speakerRead MoreInformative Speech912 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Informative Speech: The Causes of Homelessness Subject and Purpose 1. 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