Crit

I feel like the texts are talking about a different play. They made the play seem so interesting and likable. They had me fooled. None of them seemed to mention how the ending sucked and was almost nonexistent. In fact they barely touch upon the last scene of the play, or lack of. Strangely, they make Sweet Bird of Youth so interesting.

Sweet Bird of Youth could have had so much potential :( The summary at least seemed to showcase that. Upon reading it, it is boring, anticlimactic, and just barely scrapes in some kind of narrative. Worse, people paid money to see it on Broadway.

I suppose Crit #1 kind of best fits my view of the play.

“‘Absorbing on a superficial level’”

Although, I would have never Sweet Bird of Youth as a “Southern Gothic horror story.”  I feel like I agree with this one the best. This one recognizes that there isn't much to the Sweet Bird of Youth.

“The bird not only represents purity but. . . the male sexual organ. If the bird is a phallic image”

I like the point the author makes about that. That was a different take from the usual freedom and purity a bird has been represented as in previous stories we’ve looked at.  

Chance is one of Williams’s desperate dreamers, a good-looking small town boy whose ambitions exceed his talent. Like many Williams characters, he is trying to hold on to the fleeting (title drop) “sweet bird of youth.” I agree with this and it is also a good point.

The second text seemed to be filling in the gaps of this poor, loosely written drama. It seemed more like a summary but with key scenes left out, such as the scene with Boss Finley and his kids and information about the characters (which you would think would be mentioned in the story). Another example was “...but felt blocked by something. He only got as far as the chorus of a Broadway production of Oklahoma.” Oddly specific for this author to know when it wasn't stated in the text. This text felt more like a recap than a critique. It is mostly about Chance and [complaining] how he is selfish and too stubborn to accept the reality he is living.

Lastly, Crit 3 is pretty garbage as it seemed to wrong. The points were interesting as they weren't something I would've considered for this play. I think a lot of these points were a stretch.

“In one of the finest examples of Williams’s plastic theater the theme pervades not only the characterization but also the words and action, as well as the setting and sound. It is a forceful and compassionate drama of one decisive day in the lives of a man and a woman played out against a background of sleazy politics and impending violence in a small Southern town.”

This text went way out there, over analyzing this text. This text made the Sweet Bird of Youth seem like a whole different text. It totally hyped this play a lot. “The Cinderella story . . . our favorite national myth, the cornerstone of the film industry, if not of the Democracy itself.”

I completely disagree with this. I don't see it as any of that at all. I also wish the author expanded on this more.

“The Princess and Chance are among Williams’s best character creations.” Again, I disagree. Saying that is a huge insult. Unless Williams has horrible characters in all his works, making these two look like his best, in which case, says a lot about Williams. I doubt that's the case, though. Princess and Chance are poor excuses for characters. They didn't have any development and their quest and resolution was poorly executed. They came off more as whiny and weak characters in Sweet Bird of Youth. However, they were the best developed of the play.

Overall, I feel like this text just went way overboard about everything on the text. When really there isn’t anything in the whole play.

“Williams’s seventh sense of theatrical instinct is no-where so evident as in his reaching a note of high drama as the end approaches. He creates a magic that is so memorable it is forever associated with this play.”

Seventh sense? High drama? Magic is created? Oh my gosh where do I start?

“Despite its lyric dialogue, Williams thought of the action of this play as realistic, yet suddenly, just before the play ends, it shifts gears. The closing moments are nonrealistic and poetic. In the hotel room—and what can be more transient to reflect time passing?—Chance and the Princess sit side by side on the bed, directly facing the audience, ‘like two passengers on a train sharing a bench.” The metaphor is that of a train trip, a journey through life.’”

This is interesting that the author thought of it this way. I did not take it that way as I thought it as a lousy and lazy way to end the play like this. Chance is back to where he has started. He accomplished nothing!! I also did not think highly of the way this scene (or any other scene) was written.

Overall, I think this text tried too hard in attempting to create allusions that I am sure Williams didn't plan. (sorry Williams)

you never get a second chance to make a first impression

Boss Finley:

A Scottish surname​ derived from the Gaelic name Fionnlagh, meaning "fair warrior."

That’s interesting because he is more like the opposite. He’s a rich, possessive, selfish, control freak (bossy if you will), and liar. He’s a jerk that only cares for himself and does whatever he wants for his selfish desires. He is in control of everything in this small town. It's crazy! Though the text says that the way he looks at Heavenly is totally non romantic, I was still very creeped out for a fictional character. Especially once you learn Heavenly is a spitting image of her mother whom Boss Finley lost. She is also young and his daughter! Also, he has a lot of say in her life. Too much for a young adult. (I know this time period it is more common but the way he does it is just too much for comfort) He is very traditional. He even tried to set Heavenly with a super old, rich guy. Instead of allowing her, oh I don't know, marrying the guy she loves. But yeah whatever, right? It’s annoying how much he cares about his daughter’s image while he has a mistress and is spending so much money on everyone else but his family. I hate how he has a mistress but then wants his daughter to present herself as pure and innocent even though she is no longer a virgin. He wants to make decisions for everyone and he does it as he pleases. He didn't want Heavenly to marry the man she loved. He is threatening her to do something she doesn't want to. He asks her how she wants Chance to disappear.  He doesn't even let Heavenly receive a phone call. Then he has a mistress whom he pretends he doesn’t know who they are talking about when questioned about it.

  

Tom Junior

He seems like he doesn't get a lot of his father’s approval/attention. Maybe he did it for his attention to see if Boss would do anything. I don't really like him.  I feel like his dad is more focused on his daughter than his son. That's never good parenting. Also he doesn't have a good first impression as the only way he could pass his classes was by his father paying for the answers to tests. Is that the way he could have passed his classes. So he does not have a good first impression either. Overall he came off as a failure. He seems too dependent on his dad and acts so that his father keeps him around. His father doesn't seem to care about him too much because he doesn't hold back his temper/crude towards him (when Boss says he had to pay for the answers) and then Boss is super happy to see that his daughter entered.

Aunt Nonnie

So far she has a very small role but it is fairly significant as it leads you to some questions. I don't really have an opinion on her character. She is trying to be nice by warning Chance to leave before it gets ugly. I thought that was cool but also what is the real reasoning behind that. Boss Finley suggests some romantic reasons. My initial impression was that that was too nice of her to do. Everyone else seems to side with Boss Finley and follow his every command so it was also pretty cool that she would do something that would go against/cross Boss Finley. I am curious to see how else of a role she might have further on.

Heavenly

The name heavenly has a very divine connotation to it. She seems kind. From the start Boss Finley takes advantage of that. She tells him she can't talk right now and yet Boss insists, instead of asking her what's wrong or postponing the conversation for another time. She repeatedly tells him she wants to live her life, with Chance Wayne, but her dad won’t let her. He just doesn't like him (possibly because he doesn't have money which is shallow). She just loves Chance. I feel kind of bad for her because she can't live her life. If only she knew the real reason for Chance's return to St. Cloud. If only Chance knew about Heavenly's feelings. And now her father is threatening her (forbidding her to be with him) and she must come to a decision. She also seemed like she was forced into a "whore's procedure." Totally whore-able (haha, get it?) of her father to push her towards that decision. At least it comes off that he did so. (Also the way Boss Finley does mention that ugh). Overall, my first impression of her is mostly pitiful. Someone else is dictating her life!! We only have one life and we shouldn't let one person take over it. (I know society was more patriarchal back then so she didn't have much of a choice) So, what a shame.

   

   

 

 
“Princess I didn't think you’d have these attacks anymore. I thought that having me to protect you would stop these attacks of panic.”

Well Chance is saying how he wants to get his old girlfriend back but he just slept with some girl. Second he doesn't really want to say that that's the reason he's back. He doesn't even know how his mother died. The fact that he knew she was sick but never checked on her until now says a lot. All he is focused on is becoming famous and being with Heavenly. It is kind of scary the means he is willing to go to in order to do this. In short, he is a desperate and selfish man. He is selling his body to make a living as he couldn’t make it big in Hollywood. It’s just his luck that he met Alexandra del Lago in a cabana. That's as far as his luck runs, though. 

The girl he came back for is going to get married and he found out through the groom. Nothing is working for him. He’s not favorite character but I understand why he is acting this way. However, it doesn't excuse his behavior.

He took advantage of Princess’ vulnerability and that is uncalled for. He blackmails her and it seems to be very planned as he has a recorder handy. I found it interesting he was ready for it. I think he’s taking a huge risk (chance, if you will) by blackmailing Princess.

The last thing Alexandra (or anyone, really) wants is being arrested for smuggling drugs into the country. Chance does this for fame. I think that’s a lousy move. (Don't be a snitch) Alexandra is admitting her insecurities to him and all he can focus on is himself! He makes it worse too. He says, “You put on a good deal of weight after that disappointment you had last month.” True or not, you don't say that to someone. Maybe it’s just me but so far he isn’t my favorite character.

“I've been accused of having a death wish but it’s life that I wish for, terribly, shamelessly, on any terms whatsoever."

At first I thought Princess couldn't remember because she was losing her memory due to her getting old. Perhaps that might ring a little true, but the main reason for her strange behavior is due to her drinking and using drugs the day before. She’s hungover and can’t remember what happened, at first. What a lovely first impression, right??  She is in a vulnerable state and Chance takes advantage of this. Princess Kos is a retired movie star. She was very famous and thriving when she was younger. She is trying to make her big comeback but got insecure and feared negative feedback from everyone. She felt like she was too old for it. Thus, she ran away from her movie, succumbed to the escape of alcohol, drugs, and sex. So she’s been incognito as Princess Kos. She's dependent on an oxygen tank yet she smokes and drinks. Both of which do wonders to your body. I have always wonder how people who care so much about their looks and health will smoke and drink as often as they breathe. Overall, I feel bad for her. Just because she’s getting old, doesn't mean anything is wrong with her. That sucks that society has instilled that mindset in her. I feel like she shouldn’t let something inevitable and trivial get in the way of her passion. It’s pointless to have of all things, that be what stops you from doing what you want to do. I know cinema was different back then than it is right now, where people stay in the cinematic business no matter how old/bad they are. She’s okay of a character so far.

Frost

What makes a great poem?

Raw is the first thing that pops into my head. Great poetry is always raw. It makes you feel things. A great poem will elicit all sorts of emotions as you read  and analyze it. It should spur a connection with you.

The best types of poems have great metaphors, too. I’m a sucker for that feeling you get when you uncover a mind-blowing metaphor in poetry. Also, I have always loved the way simple phrases in poetry will resonate with me when they encapsulate a complex generality. (All the best ones do! Coincidence??) I think that is fairly important too. Another thing that will make it great is when there is one line in particular that resonates with you more than the rest.

A great poem should eloquently and effectively express an idea. It should make you stop and reread it three more times to appreciate (or analyze) it. It’s crazy the effect words can have. This brings me to another point, diction!! If the poem isn’t throwing around complex words and elaborated allusions only genius, cultured people can recognize, is it really a great poem worthy of your time??

One great poem I have had the chance to read is "Mr. Flood’s Party" by Edwin Arlington Robinson. (Definitely recommend!!) I think that poem has so much depth depicted through a short, wonderful yet sad narrative. I think it easily falls into all the categories I previously stated.

"Something there is that doesn't love a wall"

When I first read this my first thought was about Trump’s dumb wall. The more I kept reading it, there more that message stayed with me. I really liked how this poem has so much depth. The whole poem is a giant metaphor.

I really enjoyed this poem as it talks about how these people built this wall in order to fix their issues. I like it. The two neighbors only come together this one time to fix the separation they have. The diction works and flows well. “ Good fences make good neighbors.”

This poem even rhymes! (I love when poems rhyme).

The wall is the issue. Its gaps are its flaws. Both natural and human events/error break the wall. So maybe even nature doesn't agree with the wall. This wall keeps things in and/or keeps things out. The narrator’s neighbor wants the wall while the narrator doesn't care for it/want it but does it because the neighbor wants it. The ideas of conformity, the divisions humans will create, and the measure they will take to do so strongly resonated with me.

Overall, the poem is straightforward and the imagery painted a fairly clear picture for us. It was a lot of fun analyzing this poem. I think it was well written and expressed a variety of ideas. Home Burial was a close second.

“Worst” seems kind of harsh so I am going to say “The Death of The Hired Man” was my least favorite poem. Though I don't think this was my least favorite because it fell into the bad poem category. I didn’t like this poem mostly due to the high expectations I had beforehand. It all had to do with the poem and the first line. These expectations seem silly now as I did not take into account the time period. The title was really interesting but the poem turned out to be about a couple on the farm talking about the hired man, a worker named Silas. It was a little too long too. It had a lot of dialogue which I am not a huge fan of it in poetry. I think with all that dialogue he probably should have just written it as a short story. I think I would have liked this more if it were a short story. Of course, it had the familiar nature and rural setting that Robert Frost has in all of his poems. I didn't really feel anything when reading this that was probably a major factor in why it is so low in my list. I also didn't really relate to it. In all, I just didn't take much from this.