An Iconic North Carolina Pine Tree: Sandy's Spirit
Pine School-house in North Carolina
New England's standard of beauty: quaint, plain, white church,
accenting nature, especially during autumn, rather than competing aesthetically with it.
A classic New England cottage, just like Louisa's in "A New England Nun"
English 3318 students:
For Week Five's blog, by midnight on Saturday, September 24, please post a comment of at least two well-developed paragraphs comparing and contrasting the depictions of nature, architecture, and characters in Mary Wilkins Freeman's "A New England Nun" (639-49) and Charles Chesnutt's "Po' Sandy" (733-40). Please use as least two quotations from each story (in other words, at least four total) in your comment. The topic here is very flexible and subjective. Be creative!
After you publish your comment, please reply in one well-developed paragraph to at least one of the other students' comments.
Thank you,
Dr. K
Both stories this week were extremely interesting to me as well as this topic; the first thing within this topic that stood out to me is the architecture and nature of both stories. “Po’ Sandy” does an amazing job of describing the detail. “It was built of pine lumber, and contained but one room, to which one window gave light and one door admission. Its weather-beaten sides revealed a virgin innocence of paint,” (Chesnutt, C-720). In “A New England Nun,” the way the architecture is described is very similar; both authors use a great amount of detail and add little things that give the reader the full visual of the scene each author is creating. “The little square table stood exactly in the centre of the kitchen, and was covered with a starched linen cloth whose border pattern of flowers glistened,” (Freeman, 2). The same can be said with the nature that is present throughout both readings. In Chesnutt’s story, nature is talked about heavily when Julius begins telling the story of Sandy. Sandy was an example of nature personified; “’I kin turn yer ter a tree,’ sez Tenie. ‘You won’t hab no mouf ner years, but I kin turn yer back oncet in a w’ile, so yer kin git sump’n ter eat, en hear w’at’s gwine on,’” (Chesnutt, C-723). It can also be seen when talking about the building in the beginning. “These evidences of decay were but partially concealed by a creeping vine, which extended its slender branches hither and thither in an ambitious but futile attempt to cover the whole chimney,” (Chesnutt, C-720). In Freeman’s story, it’s the same type of in-depth detail you see above; “The twilight had deepened; the chorus of frogs floated in at the open window wonderfully loud and shrill, and once in a while a long sharp drone from a tree-toad pierced it,” (Freeman, 3).
ReplyDeleteThe description of characters in both stories seems to be where the contrast lies; Chesnutt is not as descriptive of his characters as Freeman is of hers. Chesnutt just goes straight into the story and there’s not much of a description when it comes to the narrator and his wife; the only thing mentioned about Uncle Julius was that he was a man of color. The main character descriptions come when Uncle Julius starts telling the story of Sandy; “Sandy wuz a monst’us good nigger, en could do so many things erbout a plantation, en alluz ‘ten’ ter his wuk so well, dat w’en Mars Marrabo’s chillums growed up en married off, dey all un’em wanted dey daddy fer ter gin ‘em Sandy fer a weddin’ present,” (Chesnutt, C-721). Freeman’s descriptions were more detailed than Chesnutt’s; “She placed a chair for him, and they sat facing each other, with the table between them. He sat bolt-upright, toeing out his heavy feet squarely, glancing with a good-humored uneasiness around the room. She sat gently erect, folding her slender hands in her white-linen lap,” (Freeman, 3).
It looks as if we were both on the same page about the description of the details written in both stories. I, too, agree that the measure of description was the highlight of each piece of writing. I also found your point about the stories characters interesting. The fact that you stated that the characters is where the contrast lies, is something I completely agree with. Very interesting insight on both the architecture and the characters, not many authors can blend the two together as well as Freeman, and even Chesnutt in parts of his tory as well.
DeleteWhile I could very well compare all the aspects of nature, architecture, and characters of both stories assigned this week, the details described about both setting’s architecture that goes hand in hand within nature really astonished me. For example, in Charles Chesnutt’s “Po’ Sandy”, he describes, “The wooden shutter, which had once protected the unglazed window, had fallen from its hinges, amd lay rotting in the rank grass and jimson weeds beneath,” (Chesnutt 720). The description of the architecture of the house, as well as the fact that Chesnutt intertwined the most delicate details, not just throughout his characters and plot, but through the smallest of grasses and weeds. As a reader, with every detail I read, the more I was drawn into the story, due to the fact that the details were written in such a way that it quite literally drew a picture of where this story was taking place. I felt as if I was in the book, a very interesting aspect of Chesnutt’s piece. Another example from Chesnutt’s piece, in regards to weaving nature and architecture together is when the narrator states, “Our carriage jolted over the half-rotted corduroy road which traversed the swamp, and then climbed the long hill leading to the saw-mill,” (Chesnutt 721). It is almost as if I could legitimately feel the carriage jolt, and see how the road was structured. While I will go on to elaborate on Mary Wilkins Freeman’s piece of writing, Chesnutt added depth and dimension, as well as a real-life aspect to his writing, and that method of requiring incredible talent in writing, is just beautiful, and draws in the reader, not similar to any other writing method.
ReplyDeleteNow, In Mary Wilkins Freeman’s story, nature and architecture are intertwined seamlessly and beautifully, very similar to Chesnutt’s piece. The same depth is created in Freeman’s story, as it was in Chesnutt’s, when the narrator states, “The little square table stood exactly in the center of the kitchen, and was covered with a starched linen cloth whose border pattern of flowers glistened,” (Freeman 2). With just describing the smallest detail, such as the small kitchen, and what the tablecloth looked like that was on it, is something that is crucial when writing about a different time period, or even just writing with the goal to engulf the reader into the story itself. Another example of this incredible in-depth detail can be found when the narrator states, “ She gloated gently over her orderly bureau-drawers, with their exquisitely folded contents redolent with the lavender and sweet clover and very purity,” (Freeman 8). With all of this being said, reading these excerpts alone, shed the most beautiful light on what literature and writing does, describing one's interpretations and personal experiences to the world, in such a way that it resonates with someone's soul, and provides clarity and healing. The weaving and intertwining of describing the architecture while prioritizing to include the naturalistic aspects, done by both authors, was stunningly inspiring.
I absolutely agree! There is a wonderful lushness in detailed description that cannot be overstated. Visual films can certainly show you what something looks like, but only literature can show you what it feels like. Something can be folded neatly, but the choice of words to describe that can make it so much more. After all, literature must use description to allow the reader to paint a picture of the narrative in their head.
DeleteI completely agree. The way everything is described in both stories is quite similar and constantly gives visuals to the characters' lives. It makes us feel as if we are with the characters as the carriage jolts or as we join her at her little square table. The way you related it back to literature and how being so descriptive of the architecture, setting, and story resonates with what I said and I feel we are on the exact same page. Well done!
DeleteI think the way you described the differences and comparisons was outstanding, and including the impact of this type of literature to nature and personal experiences.
DeleteThis is an incredible comparison between the stories, and I agree wholeheartedly with how Chesnutt's piece made you feel as if you're truly in the story. I got the exact same feeling with both stories! I also found that the way the authors intermixed architecture and nature together to be truly awe-inspiring and absolutely a work of pure talent.
DeleteIn both works, the exquisite amount of detail certainly adds to the story. It is so that you are given a better mental picture of the surroundings, but also of the region. From the South to New England, each has their own regional flair, which with the detailed description is able to be imparted to the reader. In Charles Chesnutt’s Po’ Sandy, central North Carolina is humid and wet, evinced by the constant mentions of a swamp, the “evidences of decay” in the old schoolhouse, and the “half-rotted corduroy road” (Chesnutt 720-721). As a reader, one feels the water in the air, and understands better the true climate of Po’ Sandy’s setting. By contrast, New England is more civilized in its surrounding feel. In Mary Wilkins Freeman’s, The New England Nun, descriptions there are of “harvest fields...bordered by stone walls”, and “luxuriant bushes” full with berries to be picked (Freeman 646). It feels vastly more settled and agricultural- the true quietness and tamed nature of that region.
ReplyDeleteRegarding architecture in Po’ Sandy, the only thing described in detail is the schoolhouse, which serves to draw the reader’s focus to what is, arguably the focal point in the story: Sandy’s supposed fate. No other building is so such given that amount of description. However, in New England Nun, the treatment of architecture is different. There, the “order and cleanliness” of her home are emphasized (Freeman 645). Everything is neat, organized, and in “delicate harmony” (Freeman 645). It is a direct reflection of the protagonist Louisa’s personality. She is herself, careful, neat, and organized- much like her home. The intrusion of Joe, presented as a dirty, dusty, and disorganize force represents her loss of enjoyment of her solitude, and a hint towards her loss of love for him.
Transitioning from this, there is certainly a greater detail of characters in The New England Nun, than in Po’ Sandy. In the latter, characters are one note in description- more characterized by the roles they play in the story such as “my wife”, or “a cunju-’ooman” (Chesnutt 721-722). However, this form of description is apt for this story where it is more fable and tale. A character’s archetype and/or role in the story is much more important than physical looks. In contrast, Freeman gives physical descriptors of her characters, whether about Joe’s “boyish...large face” or Louisa’s “fairer and smoother” one (Freeman 642). This may be due to her story being more realistic or detailed, focusing on the minutia of the characters’ lives in this particular moment in time.
In short, while both authors use the description of nature in the same ways, architecture and characters are done differently for different ends and suit the particular type of story being told.
I like that you mentioned the old-school house because we later find out towards the end of the story in “Po Sandy” that the school how is made of the pine tree that is said to be Sandy by Uncle Julius. I also like how you included the quote of “delicate harmony” which perfectly depicts the character, Louisa Ellis. I admire her character because she is extremely feminine but also independent. And I would definitely agree that the architecture and nature play a huge role in the story that is being told. I would say one is more optimistic and the other is gloomy.
DeleteMary Wilkins Freeman’s and Charles Chesnutt write about the architecture and nature in their stories in detail. I had a hard time reading “Po’ Sandy” because I’m not used to reading that kind of language, but I did catch a few things about the nature and architecture in the story. Now, reading “A New England Nun” was so much fun. Freeman describes every little detail in Louisa’s life, and any reader can tell that Louisa cares for every little detail. In “Po’ Sandy”, Julius McAdoo is telling the couple the story of Sandy. As he tells us the story, he explains the consequences of Tenie, Sandy’s second wife, turning Sandy into a tree. “One day a woodpecker came er long en ‘mence’ ter peck at de tree; en de nex’ time Sandy wuz turnt back he had a little roun’ hole in his arm, des lack a sharp stick be’n stuck in it. Atter dat Tenie sot a sparer-hawk fer ter watch de tree; en w’en de woodpecker come erlong nex’ mawnin’ fer ter "nish his nes’, he got gobble’ up mos’ fo’ he stuck his bill in de bark” (Chesnutt 736). Chesnutt lets us know what happens to Sandy while he lives his life as a tree. Tenie thought that Sandy being a tree would keep him safe but turning Sandy into a tree was probably the worst thing she could’ve done. Later in the story, some men begin to chop up Sandy so they can take him to the sawmill. During this time, Tenie had to go away to a different plantation, and she got back to Sandy being gone. “W’en she seed de stump standin’ dere, wid de sap runnin’ out’n it, en de limbs layin’ scattered roun’, she nigh ’bout went out’n her mine” (Chesnutt 738). I thought this part and the rest of the story was interesting because Julius is telling this story to the couple. After hearing what happened to Sandy, Miss Annie didn’t want to have a new kitchen anymore, and Julius got to use the old school building to hold church meetings.
ReplyDeleteNow, Louise Ellis is fun character to read about. The first thing I noticed about her is that she meticulous about the way she lives her life. “Now she quilted her needle carefully into her work, which she folded precisely, and laid in a basket with her thimble and thread and scissors. Louisa Ellis could not remember that ever in her life she had mislaid one of these little feminine appurtenances, which had become, from long use and constant association, a very part of her personality” (Freeman 1, from the pdf link). There’s a certain beauty to the way Louisa lives. Everything about her is neat and elegant because she had been on her own for 14 years. Everything she does is specific to her liking, and she doesn’t like any disturbance in her routine. Thus, her disapproval of Joe Dagget, her fiancé. Any time he came home, he disrupts the peace she made for herself, and she would have to clean up his clumsiness after he would leave. She would usually find herself in peace again after he would leave. The nature that Freeman describes in the story is incredibly, beautiful. “Presently Louisa sat down on the wall and looked about her with mildly sorrowful reflectiveness. Tall shrubs of blueberry and meadow-sweet, all woven together and tangled with blackberry vines and horsebriers, shut her in on either side” (Freeman 10, from the pdf link). Both authors have incredibly well-written stories that draw readers in with their descriptive nature and architecture.
While reading these two stories, the number of details used to depict the nature and characteristics of the characters really helped with the imagery of the stories. The fine detail of characters and objects in both stories seem to tell a story in themselves. For instance, the story focuses on detail such as, The little square table stood exactly in the centre of the kitchen and was covered with a starched linen cloth whose border pattern of flowers glistened” (Freeman 639). This shows the comparison to detail such as the setting and architecture as well as character, such as “large yellow-and white dog appeared at the door of his tiny hut, which was half hidden among the tall grasses and flowers” (Freeman 640). Detail is what helps bring the story together, and really helps bring out the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteCompared to “Po’ sandy”, this story focuses on the detail of architecture and building, “For some occult reason my wife wanted a kitchen in the backyard” (Chestnutt 733). After this it goes into the detailed description of building and shows that because it is for his wife although it is an unusual request, he still did it. The description of characters in both stories show a contrast, “Po sandy” is about construction which depicts dirty clothes, while “a new England nun” depicts class.
Bresa, I agree with your comparisons between the two stories; one is depicted in class and the other is depicted in a dirty way. Both of the two stories did focus a lot on describing the architecture in the stories.
DeleteWhile reading both stories from this week, I recognized that both authors used a lot of imagery when describing the architecture in each of the stories. For example, In "Po' Sandy", I visualized a run-down house based on how the author described it. "Its weather-beaten sides revealed a virgin of innocence of paint. Against one end of the house, and occupying half its width, there stood a huge brick chimney: the crumbling mortar had left large cracks between the bricks;" (Chesnutt 733). and in "A New England Nun", I pictured a very peaceful setting as the author described the scene. "There seemed to be a gentle stir arising over everything for the mere sake of subsidence- a very premonition of rest and hush and night" (Freeman 640). How they contrast is that one setting of the story took place outside and the other took place on the inside.
ReplyDeleteThe authors also used imagery to describe their characters. However, Chesnutt is not as descriptive in describing the characters as Freeman is. What stood out to me as I was reading "Po' Sandy" was that Uncle Julius was described as a man of color, but there was no detail on how he looked exactly. The descriptive part of the story was when Uncle Julius was describing Sandy; Sandy "was a nigger w'at useter b'long ter ole Mars Marrabo McSwayne. Mars Marrabo's place wuz on de yuther side'n de swamp, right nex' ter yo' place" (Chesnutt 734). In "A New England Nun", Freeman uses lots of descriptive language throughout the story. Freeman describes Louisa in a scene in the beginning of the story and I was able to visualize everything, including what she was wearing. "Louisa tied a green apron round her waist, and got out a flat straw hat with a green ribbon" (Freeman 641).
I agree. I too was able to visualize each of the settings which the author described. Except for that of Uncle Julius. How the authors painted an image for the reader was amazing, allowing me to visualize each story. I really enjoyed each of these stories for that very reason. The authors did a great job of incorporating nature, architecture, and characters in different ways but the ability in which they do this helps the readers to build a more personal connection with each of the stories.
DeleteI agree! I found it very easy to imagine myself in the settings of these stories because of all the detail. I think the use of detailed nature descriptions set up the stories very nicely and the detail truly made me enjoy reading the stories. I also like how you mentioned one story taking place outside and one taking place inside and how the descriptions were super different.
DeleteThe ability to see the aspects of nature, architecture, and the characters in this week’s reading where intriguing. First, how the writer paints the picture of Louis Ellis sitting in front of the window sewing, “late in the afternoon, and the light was waning” (p.1, para.1) in the first paragraph allows the reader to connect on a more tranquil level of peace that the character is experiencing at that very moment. The author explains the architecture of her home surrounded by nature and the way in which the character takes pride in the appearance of the architecture and nature within the home. For instance, when the author describes the scene where Daggert messes with the books on a table and the way Louis feels afterward, saying, “Louise kept eyeing them with mild uneasiness. Finally she rose and changed the position of the books” (p.4, para.10), arranging them into the position which the sat before Daggert moves them. Even the tiniest amount of dirt left behind by Daggert has Louis with “a dust-pan and brush” (p.5, para.11) sweeping up what was left behind. Also, the aspect of nature, architecture, and character can be seen when Louis describes the uneasiness, she feels from the thought of having to leave the tranquility of her home and all the security she feels from it. The reader can distinguish this connection from the author’s description in the way “Louise had almost the enthusiasm of an artist” of the “cleanliness and solitary of her home” (p.9, para.2), and how the author describes how Louise keeps the windowpanes polished. Ultimately, these aspects are not in the aspect of the outside nature, but more of the nature within Louise’s home along with the architecture in which the character takes pride in the solitude of being alone surrounded by the precise way in which she displays her home.
ReplyDeleteNext, in the story Po’Sandy, the aspect of nature, architecture, and character presents themselves differently. Sandy, who becomes tired of being shuffled between homes of different individuals, especially after his first wife is sold while he is away, makes the statement that he wishes he was “a tree, er a stump, er a rock, er sump’n w’at could stay on de plantation fer a w’ile.” (p.722, para.5). His new wife Tenie, being a “conjure woman”, tells Sandy that she can turn him into a tree and turn him back now and again. The aspect of nature, architecture, and character in the story comes when Sandy, being a tree, is chopped down and made into lumber for a new kitchen. However, the belief that the kitchen was haunted had them take the kitchen down and used it to build a small frame house. The house is described to set on a vineyard in “central North Carolina” (p.720, para.1), the house or Po’Sandy, is described as “a small frame house, of the simplest construction.”, “built of pine lumber, and contained but one room” (p.720, para.1). The small house has but one window that is responsible for lighting the one room, as well as one door to enter and exit through. The house is “weather-beaten” and has “a huge brick chimney” (p.720, para.1). Ultimately the nature, architecture, and character we see in this story that in which the main character of the story is the architect amid nature.
Each story is different in the aspect of recognizing nature, architecture, and character. However, both stories contain each of these aspects in a wonderful, extraordinary way.
I found this weeks readings to be astonishing in the way they described the scenery. The imagery of both these works truly drew me in to the stories. I noticed a difference in each authors attention to detail and how it built the stories up differently. In Chesnutt's "Po Sandy" not much description is given in regards to the characters, but the setting itself is described perfectly. The architecture of the house really signifies what live was like in North Carolina, its described being "weather-beaten" and there is only "one window that gave light and one door admission" (Chesnutt 720). In regard to how the characters are described, not much detail is given about the characters, uncle Julius is simply described as a "colored coachman" (Chesnutt 721). It's clear that Chesnutt chose to focus on the imagery of the scenery instead of focusing on the characters themselves. It was very easy to picture myself in the story however, I couldn't necessarily picture the characters.
ReplyDeleteMary Freeman's "A New England Nun" did an amazing job of describing both the scenery and the characters in my opinion. The description of the scenery makes the story peaceful from the very beginning. I could picture myself in Louisa's shoes "peacefully sewing in the sitting room" (Freeman 1). Everything about this story truly took my breath away, Freeman's description of literally every circumstance made me feel like I was Louisa. I also felt as if I was connected to, and knew Louisa personally. Freeman describes Louisa in one scene wearing her "green ribbon apron and flat straw hat" (Freeman 1). I loved the imagery and descriptions of both authors, it was definitely interesting to look at these stories in very specific detail. I believe the detail that both authors provided drew me in to read the stories and put on the characters shoes in a sense.
Chloe, I agree, both authors use nature as a subtle way to present the type of life the main characters are living. In “A New England Nun” nature is tranquil and beautiful; Louisa’s life is idyllic and peaceful; she has managed to make a good life and be at peace with herself. On the other hand, nature in “Po’ Sandy” is rustic, harsh, and noisy; thus, you can easily imagine that Joe’s and Annie’s life in the country is harsh, but they have each other to lean on and are working towards a more comfortable life by adding a new kitchen.
DeleteMary Wilkins Freeman’s “A New England Nun” and Charles Chesnutt’s “Po’ Sandy” are both similar in that both stories center around a couple, Louisa, and Joe (“A New England Nun”) and Annie and John (“Po’ Sandy”) but other than that they are contrastingly different. Louisa and Joe have been engaged for fifteen years and are planning to get married, while Annie and John are a married couple planning to build a new kitchen. Louisa and Joe love each other and are planning to marry after a long engagement, even though they are not ‘in-love.’ In addition, over the fourteen years they were engaged, they grew into different people with different priorities. Joe has fallen in love with Lily Dyer and Louisa loves her life as a single woman.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Annie and John are already married and seem comparable; Joe is a good husband willing to build his wife a new kitchen even though he does not understand why she wants one, Joe says “…but for some occult reason my wife wanted a kitchen in the back yard…” and he also says, “of course I had to build it” (p 733). Moreover, in “A New England Nun” Louisa breaks up the engagement when she overhears Joe and Lily proclaim their love for each other, while at the same time declaring that they would not dream of doing anything to break up the fifteen yearlong engagement. Thus, Louisa and Joe part as friends, whereas Joe and Annie have an enduring happy marriage.
Nature is depicted in both stories but in “A New England Nun” nature is depicted in a romanticized way such as, “little swarms of flies were dancing up and down before the people’s faces in the soft air” and “There seemed to be a gentle stir arising over everything for the mere sake of subsidence – a very premonition of rest and hush and night” (p 640). Also, when Louisa goes for a walk, the author describes nature as “Luxuriant clumps of bushes grew beside the wall and trees…” and “the moon shone between its boughs, and the leaves twinkled like silver…the air was full of a mysterious sweetness” (p 646). In contrast, “Po’ Sandy’s” author describes nature in a more rustic way, for example the author points out to the dilapidated state of the house and the wooden shutters on the ground and says, “… lay rotting in the rank grass…” and as the couple make their way to the sawmill the road is in contrast to Freeman’s depiction of Louisa’s road; the road that Annie and Joe are traveling through is a bumpy plank-road past a forest and a swamp and when they finally get to the mill they are confronted by the loud noise of the machinery. While nature in “A New England Nun” is depicted as beautiful and tranquil, nature in “Po’ Sandy” is depicted as rustic, uncomfortable, and noisy.
There is a major contrast between the two stories of “A New England’s Nun” and “Po Sandy”. Where Freeman’s story is full off optimism, the story we have from Chesnutt has a more downcast tone. I believe that it could be due to the story “A New England’s Nun” being about a woman finding peace in her independence. And the story of “Po Sandy” is told by Uncle Julius of Sandy and Tenie who had no chance of independence at that time because they were enslaved. The contrast in these stories is seen in the nature, architecture, and characters.
ReplyDeleteThe nature in “A New England’s Nun” is very vibrant, beautiful, and peaceful with the mentions of “premonition of rest and hush and night” (pg.640) and “tall grasses and flowers” (pg. 641). Readers get the sense that Louisa’s house is spacious when she’s first introduced with her in “sitting-room” (pg. 642). Louisa Ellis is very meticulous in her movements and very feminine by the way she lives “use[s] china every day, something – which none of her neighbors did” (pg. 641). Again in “Po Sandy” there is an introduction to the characters by giving a glimpse of the house infrastructure of a “small frame house, of the simplest construction” (pg.733). This description, to me, symbolizes the constraints of the major character Sandy. When Uncle Julius takes the couple to purchase lumber for their new kitchen in the carriage “over the half-rotted corduroy road which transversed a swamp” (pg.734). To me this is an indication that the story is going to be melancholic.
Hi Anais! I like what you said about Louisa finding peace through her independence, and then also how you connected it to the other story and how those characters do not have independence. I also like how you showed the differences in the nature being shown between the two stories, and how one is bright and the other dark. I think that you have a very good view of the stories and you differentiated them very nicely!
DeleteThe main character in “A New England Nun” is very distinctly described from the beginning. Louisa Ellis is at most peace when she is sewing or knitting. She’s precise and careful and has a spot for everything. She picks tea and lettuce from her garden and uses her china, unlike any of her other neighbors. Joe Dagget is her husband-to-be, for most of the story, and his first impression is anxious and awkward. He has a boyish face, even though he is older than Louisa. He is clumsy, and knocks over Louisa’s very particularly situated basket. He also tracks in dirt, which Louisa immediately sweeps up after he leaves. The nature in this story is mostly seen through Louisa’s garden. It is mentioned a few times whether she is gathering to make her own tea, or to have lettuce to eat, or just for the delightful smell. It says, “she used to occupy herself pleasantly in summer weather with distilling the sweet and aromatic essences from roses and peppermint and spearmint” (Freeman, 7). The architecture in this story isn’t talked about as much, but it does say that Louisa would have to leave her home to live in Joe’s where he “had made some extensive and quite magnificent alterations” (Freeman 7).
ReplyDeleteIn “Po’ Sandy” the main character Sandy is told about by Julius who says, “Sandy was a monst’us good nigger, en could do so many things erbout a plantation, en alluz ten ter his wuk so well” (Chestnut 721). John and Annie are a married couple who are hearing about Sandy. John is hardworking and works hard for his wife; and Annie is sensitive, inquisitive, and caring. The nature in the story is a major part of the story, even more so than the previous story. From nature sparking the story about Sandy, with the sound of trees being cut, and Sandy being turned into a tree in the story. Tenie, Sandy’s second wife, “up'n tole her marster all erbout Sandy en de pine-tree” (Chestnut 725). The architecture, unlike the previous story, gone in depth on. As John looks out on his property in the beginning, he describes a building, “there stood a small frame house, of the simplest construction. It was built of pine lumber, and contained but one room,” (Chestnut 720). The story is about turning this building into what his wife asked for, a kitchen.
This weeks stories were really good, other than Po Sandy was a little harder to read and I had to go over it a couple times to understand it. But I did find that Po sandy had more examples of nature than the New England Nun, “ne day a woodpecker come erlong en ’mence’ ter peck at de tree; en de nex’ time Sandy wuz turnt back he had a little roun’ hole in his arm, des lack a sharp stick be’n stuck in it.”(pg. 736) Po Sandy goes more in depth with the use of nature in its story which adds more character and helps describe the scenery so you have a better image in your head. On the other hand the New England Nun gave good detail and what I found to e a really good story. The part that stood out to me was when she was hiding and listening to her fiancé and realizes he was cheating on her. He described what she was hiding in and how the weather was on her walk that night which also gave a better image in your head of what was happening.
ReplyDeleteArchitecture wise Id Say Freemans story showed us an in depth of her house on the inside and how meticulous she was about how everything was placed, and how she didn’t really care for them to be misplaced like the books her fiancé put back out of order. While Po Sandy focused more on the outside architecture and gave a more in-depth detail on the matter.
All together they were both good reads and I enjoyed them, Po Sandy was harder to read but gave better detail which helped pure imaginations get a sense of what was going on like you’re living the story through.
I believe that “A New England Nun” focuses more on the depictions of nature rather than anything else like architecture or the characters. The story begins and ends with descriptions of the nature outside Louisa, the main character’s, house. Throughout the tale, snippets of nature peek through, whether it be describing someone looking “fairer and firmer in the moonlight” or simply commenting on the setting and telling it as it is as Freeman did when describing the air as “full of a mysterious sweetness,” in the scene where Joe Dagget and Lily Dyer met up (11, Freeman; 10, Freeman). It’s these little notes in the story that make it so special, too; it’s immersive in that you can almost feel yourself sinking into the story and seeing everything as described.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me the most in “Po’ Sandy” was definitely the description of the architecture, especially in contrast to “A New England Nun.” Although the architecture isn’t focused on throughout most of the story, it goes much in depth with the different aspects of the scene in the beginning, such as when Chesnutt described the old schoolhouse. The house is listed as decaying and “of the simplest construction” (C-721, Chesnutt). However, this brief section that focuses on architecture isn’t the only topic that was prevalent in this story. The depictions of the characters in “Po’ Sandy” were nothing short of pure art, so much so that Sandy and Tenie almost felt real, and as if the story itself were an actual tale told between old plantation slaves. The story of Sandy actually had a Native American story type of feeling to it, what with the turning to a tree or the option of some assortment of animal. But the quote that stuck out to me the most was when Sandy said “’No, eve’ybody’s skeered er a wolf, en I doan want nobody ter be skeered er me,’” (C-723, Chesnutt). I feel this quote really showed Sandy’s true colors (or at least what was depicted of him in the story) and set the stage for sadness to be felt when Sandy was eventually cut down and sawed.
One of my favorite things about reading is the description of words and how they can put you in a time or place and helps you visualize the story. Both Mary Freeman and Charles Chestnutt did a fantastic job of painting their readers a picture with their words. In A New England Nun, I could feel how neat and tidy Louisa was and how articulate she was about everything, and she enjoyed all the little things. Louisa is alone and like it, which is made clear when Lousia tells us, “the chorus of the frogs floated in at the open window wonderfully loud and shrill” (Freeman, 641). She uses the nature sounds to show just how alone and quiet she lived and was blissfully happy. In this story, Lousia is about to join a marriage that will uproot her life and change how she does things. She goes on a stroll to think about what is about to happen when she stumbles upon what is described as a little hideaway seat on the stone wall because she says, “Luxuriant clumps of bushes grew beside the wall” and, “woven together and tangled… shut her in on either side.” (Freeman, 646). While in her little hole on the wall, she overhears Her fiancé Joe talking with another woman about their love for each other cannot be because of their commitments to other people. In Mary Freeman’s short story, she uses character and nature to tell her story, but I didn’t feel any architectural depictions that helped more than the other two.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in Charles Chestnutt’s short story Po’ Sandy, the architecture, in the beginning, helps give it an old tale feel. “The wooden shutter, which had once protected the unglazed window, had fallen from its hinges, and lay rotting in the rank grass and jimsonweeds beneath.” (Chestnutt, 720). This line shows the readers how long it has been since the structure has been taken care of and looked after. The story starts with a new owner looking at this old schoolhouse as supplies for another project. Later, when the couple heads to the sawmill to get more lumber, the story gets told of how that house is actually a person! This story, in my opinion, put houses and enslaved people into the same category. Houses are empty shells for people to seek shelter and other such things, but once the occupants have no more need for that house, it is sold to someone else until that person no longer needs it too. This is what the black slave Sandy felt, and the author depicts Sandy basically as a rent house by saying, “he fixed it by ‘lowin’ one er his chilluns ter take Sandy fer a mont’ er so, en den ernudder for a mont’ er so, en so on dat erway tel dey had an had ’im de same lenk er time;” (Chestnutt, 721). Sandy gets traded wherever he is needed and gets very tired of it. So, when his new wife, who happens to be a conjure woman, he lets her help him by turning him into a tree. The irony is that he is still getting used, just like he was as a slave, because when the old schoolhouse no longer had a use, it would be torn down for scrapes to make something else.