Ending on a good note..

I choose to take this class hoping to read novels in which I could relate to the characters. My favorite novel of this semester was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, with Maya becoming such a strong character in tough times really inspired me. I enjoyed most of the readings in Lives and Times and thought they all shared such powerful and intriguing themes.

During the course of this class I felt my writing had improved. With the literature we have read in class, I have enjoyed learning about the characters and relating them with other characters from the previous novels. I felt I had benefited from the class discussions we had each day over themes and the different points of views about the novels, memoirs, and short readings. This class brought me in deeper senses of close reading as well as analyzing such novels and coming up with other important themes. I have definitely taken away much information from Humanistic Studies and hope to get a chance to read other books by Maya Angelou.

"Lost in Translation"

As we talked about Translations in class on Monday, I came across the theme we discussed "lost in translation." Discussing the many definitions of love for example, I found we can mistaken love for other meanings. In Translations, although the play is written in English, it is meant to be seen as though many languages are presented throughout the play. The characters in Translations speak different languages in order to communicate within each other better.


Discussing the meaning of love I found can be translated into other words. Love is powerful, one can love as a feeling, attitude, or used as a generic pleasure such as "I loved that meal I just ate" and it can used to intense interpersonal attraction such as "I love my family." Love is very difficult to define, as abstract, love can be a deep feeling caring for another person. The meaning of love in other languages use multiple words to express some of the different concepts that we as English speaking people believe it to be. Sometimes we might not know how to love someone because we don't know what love actually "is." An online article stated that from this, "Jealousy is not love, Lust is not love, Fear is not love, Keeping people all to yourself is not love, and Expecting something from someone is not love." Love can have different importance throughout someone's life.

"Servants of the Map"

Max, the main character, finds himself quite displaced at times at the college he attends. His personality is brought out when he describes his love of botany. Botany is a scientific talent of Max’s life. He describes his love for botany when he used to spend much time in the garden with his mother before she passed away.

The thought of his mother appears again as he enters the mountains. He recalls her saying, “Look. Remember this, there is something special in you, she said. In the way you see (47).”

The meaning of Omishto's name

Omishto's name defined her true identity towards the end of this novel. Her name characterized herself given that she is an independent and powerful woman who "follows." Omishto, following what she believes and not what her mother says, stays strong as she turns away from her family. Omishto turns towards what she believes is right, the Taiga people, following her surroundings and her own beliefs. Her name draws to many conclusions throughout the journey of Omishto and her relationship towards the Taiga people, Ama, and her mother, as the one who "follows."