Puttermesser Papers & Fredrick Douglass

In reading about both Puttermesser and Douglass, I found that they share characteristics and can be contrasted. In my opinion, Douglass is more of an aggressive person than Puttermesser who remains more reserved and not as asssertive. Similarly, both Puttermesser and Douglass have a desire and deep love for something. While Puttermesser had a love and dedication to the law, Douglass desires a life of freedom; free of slavery.

Puttermesser & A Room of One's Own

In the beginning of Chapter 1, Puttermesser turns to Plato as the narrator in "A Room of One's own" turns to history in Shakespeare for answers. They each find inspiration in the literature they read and one can observe a connection between the history or fiction they read through their actions. I'm not as to what answers they are exactly looking for, but I believe they trust that the literature they pretain to will be their source of help or guidance.

The Golem & Yet Do I Marvel

The connection between these two pieces is the struggle to understand the acts of God and the Golem. The Golem describes a creature created to protect the Jews while Cullen describes his frustration with the cruelty African-Americans face as an act of racism. I feel as though both pieces depict the struggle a group of people must face who are in desperate need of help. We are not always reluctant to understand these helpers purpose, but we must trust in their acts to save us.

The Golem & The Tyger

Although, the Golem and the Tyger represent the same elements of fire and water, I believe they both have different purposes. The Golem was created in order to protect the Jews from harm representing a sense of hope for the Jews while the Tyger represents deadliness. The tyger is a creature that people grow to fear and must operate with caution around it, unlike the Golem who is there to protect. I see it as the Golem was created to protect the Jews from creatures like the Tyger.

Perestroika Act V & The Dream of the Rood

I noticed a comparison between Prior and the dreamer. They both have visions that feel them each with hope and desire. Prior's vision of heaven finally feels him with hope and helps him to realize that he is not ready to die. He desires life and wishes to continue his life on earth because he is not ready to go yet. While Prior desires life on earth, the dreamer desires eternal life. The dreamer's vision of Jesus and the cross feels him with hope and desire to one day be able to see the cross again.

Perestroika Act IV & No Worst, There in None

I was able to get the same feeling in reading both pieces. Each had a depressing and harsh tone which brought out the misery experienced in each character. Not one character is not going through some type of pain whether it be emotional or physical, internal or external. I've learned that everything comes to an end and there is no comfort in death.

Perestroika Act III & Spring and Fall

My interpretation of Spring and Fall with Act III of Perestroika was that Prior and Harper’s struggle with reality and fantasy can be interpreted through Spring and Fall. Spring is their escape from reality because it is a lively place, filled with beautiful blossoming trees. While Fall is the reality they cannot escape, where the ugly truth is experienced through the decaying and death of these once beautiful trees. Spring represents to me the beautiful life they once lived before the horrific truth of Fall ruined that world for them.