I am reading a memoir called Dress Your Family In Courdoroy And Denim by David Sedaris. In many of the short stories it is very clear to me who is the most powerful. David writes about experiences he had as a child and in every story it's him and his two sisters; His mother completely dominates over the children. I think it's interesting how in the 70's-90's children seemed to be more afraid of their parents then kids are now. There are many kids now that completely disobey their parents and don't care.
One example of David's mom dominating the children is in one short story someone comes trick or treating at their door. They ran out of candy so davids mom told him and his sisters to give the children some of their own candy. The mother was almost threatening the children so that she would not be embarrassed. David and his sisters were all terrified of the mother and what she would do to them. She kind of overpowered them in everything they do. Almost like the government but to a child. I think that living with such an overpowering person controlling what you do would be very stressful and sad. It seems like you would never get to just do what you want.
In conclusion, instead of most books portraying the most powerful person as government or a villan, this book portrays the most powerful as a mother. I think it's like this because David wrote it himself so of course since he is the child he thinks that his mother is very powerful and demanding. It is probably a bit over exageratted. You always have to consider the perspective of the narrator.
I thought you had such a clear and interesting focus. The part of your response that struck me most was when you observed that children are much less afraid of their parents than they were in the past. I think this is true since parents are less likely to use corporal punishment (hit, punish punitively, etc.); it's not as socially acceptable. Reading your response really makes me want to revisit David Sedaris books to think about the mother and child relationship.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very clear idea and you supported it with evidence very well. I like that you focused on the relationship between the mother and the children.
ReplyDeleteYou have a really clear idea about your topic. I can tell you really specifically observed how children were much more afraid of children than before. Good job young fellow. Keep the writing up!
ReplyDeleteYes, i agree with what Denise Galang said. I really think your examples were perfect given your focus. I also liked how you said "You always have to consider the perspective of the narrator" towards the end.
ReplyDeleteYes! I also agree with Ms. Galang. The perspective of the narrator is always important!
DeleteI feel the same way about how the narrator is always important.
Deletei understand that showing who has the power in the book is important to the plot, letting the readers know the relation between the characters and the opinions one character has on another.
Deletei really liked your post i thought that you had a lot of really clear and sensible ideas about how children are today and how they are treated by their parents. children almost have more power over their parents because the rules when parents were children are so different that there is no way that the rules are the same. really great job
ReplyDeletei think you are right that the mother is the most powerful figure in the book to david and to me because i almost always listen to my parents and that the narrator is right about what they are writiing about.i think you had a nice and interesting piece and that it is true that kids are less afraid of thier parents that in the past
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DeleteI think that your examples are great, the one with the candy on holloween really makes me feel what the characters are going through. All the things the mother does really does over power the kids, now I feel like reading this book, and read all the things that the mother does, and see the outcome.
ReplyDeleteI really liked that you understood the book and connected it to the real world. Now a days a lot of kids rebel or disobey their parents, but back then kids did exactly what their parents told them to do. You focused on one specific idea so I could really understand what you wanted to tell the reader. I really liked this because you used your opinion and said I think so I got your perspective on the book and a short summery. After reading this, I want to read the book too. You made it come across interesting.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, I love your comparison to children being controlled in the past, by a superior in their home,but that in the present children don't listen to their parents as much, because we seem to feel some sort of false sense of superiority.And I loved the way that you related having someone in your house that controls you, to it almost being like a government living in your house, and controlling your every move. Your language is simple in some parts, but not simple in other places, I love that way that it was formatted.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you explained how the mother was like the government and how the most powerful person is like the government. I agree with how the mother was a very powerful figure in the family. She just threatened the children to give each other candy... If that's not scary then what it?
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is extremely true. I know of many kids today who yell and scream at their parents. Back then, a mother would've beat their child if they were to insult and scream at them! These kids need a good slap to the face. Parents need to step it up and not let their kids control them.
ReplyDeleteYou had a really good response to your question and it was clear and it was focused on one topic, it was really great how you didn't trail off, and stuck to your topic, and you helped the readers by summarizing the story with a small paragraphs so the readers get a really good point of view of the story and they would be able to understand the story better.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte! This is a great blog post. Like MS.Galang stated, you have a very clear focus. You give lots of examples and you support the facts you give with evidence from the text. You also give an anecdote that shows me the interaction between the mother and the child.
ReplyDeletei like how your response has an example from the book and you connect it to how children are now. And I like how you get to the point on who has the most power.
ReplyDeleteI thought your main idea was very clear. I can relate to your reading response because i feel as if this is true because children don't respect parents as much as before. Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, I really liked that you focused on one topic to elaborate on. I agree with your statement. Parents nowadays tend to not show discipline towards their children therefore the children don't show as much care and respect. Your reading response really motivated me to read David Sedaris books.
ReplyDeleteI thought your reading response was really specific and you stated who has the most power. When reading your reading response I can feel the fear the children have of their mother. I have currently finished reading the book "The Lying Game" by Sara Shepard. The book relates to a 15 year old foster child being treated unfair by her brother. Both book have a way to express fear and unfairness.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ms. Galang. I really love how you talk about kids being less obedient than they were years ago. I also really liked how you said that the powerful person is portrayed as a mother instead of a villian or monster or what ever. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you link 70s'-90's kids to kids now. I agree with that completely, kids today act totally different around there parents now, then they did back then. Also I like the descriptions and facts on the mom. really great job, loved it!
ReplyDeleteI thought that your response to David Sedaris' work was really interesting. I really like the way that you understood the book. After reading your response it made me want to read this book. Wow. Just Wow.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte i really liked your response. I like how you really supported your evidence off of your thoughts. After reading this it has made me interested in reading the book you were taking about in your response.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, I really liked yuor responce. I actually want to read the book now and want to pay attention to the mother and how she is controlling all the children. I think that you are right about having the perspective of the narrater especially since this is nonfiction (memoir) and about him.
ReplyDeleteYour response was good it was very clear and straight forward.The response connected really well to the question you chose. The details you gave from the book answered the question really well.The comparison in the beginning of how children are today and how they behaved with their parents in the 70's- 90's is true and its connects with the question along with your response.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are trying to say, that kids are much more afraid of their parents back in the 70-90's and now they aren't that much anymore. Great thinking!
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