Going the Right Direction

In order to lead a good, successful life, you need to be led in the right path with the correct aspirations and goals. For our English class, I think that we're pretty much going in the right direction already. Are there things that could be improved?

Probably.

Are there things that I think should be changed or corrected? Not...really; I don't think there is much else we need to do to make the class, well, "better". There are little things I can nitpick at, I guess, but they are beyond control to fix: like the size of the class. I've never liked small classes for some reason, but I'm growing used to it. I think it has to do with the silence, since I hate when it's too quiet.

One thing I think we should include for our classroom discussions are debates; I love debating about things I'm passionate about, such as slavery, racism, etc. This, more than likely, has to do with the fact that I'm an argumentative person. I think to make the class a lot more enjoyable we could include debates about the subject we read or something.

Another thing that could stand to be changed (per my nitpicking) is the way we take notes--it's a little tedious to me, and most of the things that we must include aren't really found in the book itself. I just like taking notes the regular way...outlines and bullet points. These left-hand, right-hand notes are new and confusing to me...too much so where I don't think I'll ever grow accustomed to.

Thankful for...

It's incredibly difficult to choose just one friend out of the many that I have...especially the ones that I have made within my English class. I'm not sure how I should write this out either, but I'll give it my best. So with that said, here we go.

Joanna...
We met long ago--well, no, it was just last year, but anyway--and when I found out you were in the same English class as me this year, it was such a blessing...as well as a relief. Sitting beside you each and every day always makes me happy.  Somehow we always find something to laugh about during class, or just snicker quietly: knowing that we have an inside joke that no other person, who might intrude upon us, would understand. Thank you so much, Joanna, just for being there almost every day beside my desk...just an arm length away.

Ane...
My goodness, Ane, Ane, Ane... Well, what can I say? You're absolutely hilarious and somehow you always manage to bring a smile to my face no matter what. We just met this year in English class, but I wish we had met before. I'm thankful for your presence, your personality, and just the atmosphere you bring into the classroom. So thank you...so much.


Jack *John* D...
Oh my gosh, you are just--words cannot describe how much I'm thankful to have met you. Even though we have division together and whatnot, it seems that this year we've become better acquainted. You're funny, silly, and incredibly annoying, but that's what I'm thankful for (at least sometimes, haha). I hope to spend the rest of these days in English just like we have been doing.

Good vs. Evil

For Cormac McCarthy's novel, the Road, there are many reoccurring themes present in the literary piece. One of which places itself at the top of the list is the idea of "Good vs. Evil". It is true that death is also a major concept as well, but--personally--I believe that the idea falls under the same category as "Good vs. Evil", as it can be perceived as either good (for instance with the man's wife) and bad (in reference to the man and the boy).  

 "They keep walking, the man coughing blood, dying, envying the dead."

"Billions of people have died, all animal and plant life, the birds of the air and the fishes of the sea are dead: 'At the tide line a woven mat of weeds and the ribs of fishes in their millions stretching along the shore as far as eye could see like an isocline of death.'"

 Based upon this, I feel that death has somehow embodied itself into a being, for it is 'evilly' taking the lives of the world: and still taking.
There's one instance in which McCarthy clearly gives the impression of good vs. evil when the boy and the man encounter the band of 'marchers' on the road.

"'Were they the bad guys?'

'Yes, they were the bad guys.'

'There’s a lot of them, those bad guys.'

'Yes there are. But they’re gone.'

The overarching theme in McCarthy’s work has been the face-off of good and evil with evil invariably triumphant through the bloodiest possible slaughter. Had this novel continued his pattern, that band of marching thugs would have been the focus."

 And another instance, similar to the one mentioned above, is used later:

“We wouldn’t ever eat anybody, would we?”
“No. Of course not. ...”
“No matter what.”
“No. No matter what.”
“Because we’re the good guys.”
“Yes.”

Because the concept of the everlasting battle is mentioned throughout most of the book, I think that it is a main aspect to the Road.


Source: New York Times - Review of "The Road"