The comment that I am going to use actually works out very well for the ending of this class. When discussing a Wrinkle in Time in class, Anneva was asked to describe her blog post, and why she said that the end of Wrinkle in Time wasn’t actually a happy ending. Thanks to having the blog as a reference, I know her what her arguments are; Anneva believed that the family was ignoring evil; after they had rescued their father and saved Charles Wallace, they did nothing anymore to try and destroy the Black Thing. It made me react in two very different ways.
I first reacted by wanting to fiercely defend the “Happy Ending” that is the final scene. I am a firm supporter of fairy tales, of the typical ending of “... and they all live happily ever after.” And, after sympathizing with Meg and Calvin and the entire family the whole book because of the fact that they are talked about, they are outcasts of the town, and that their family is missing an important person, a father, I wanted them to have the happy reunion, the ever-after. Why shouldn’t a family who has suffered as they have be deprived of a little joy? I just remember, in that immediate moment, I wanted to defend the scene do the grave.
But, and the reason I am writing this now, is that I have been stewing it over in my head for a while now, maybe you were right Anneva. Maybe they shouldn’t be celebrating so early. Even though we now they that continue to fight the Black Thing in later books, it’s still makes me wonder if they were celebrating too early, because they didn’t accomplish what the Mrs.’s wanted them to entirely. Charles Wallace even fell prey to what they warned him about. So, should there really have been a happy ending when nothing substantial was defeated?
As of right now, I am still completely undecided as to what Anneva’s argument makes me feel. At heart, I am a diehard fairy tale girl, and on the other hand, this class has taught me so much about seeing things from a million different perspectives. But I would like to thank you, Anneva, for making me question the quintessential Happy Ending. And you obviously got to me, because I have still been wondering about it even now.
And this post also allows me to connect with how I will leave this class. I will be able to leave with the knowledge that no matter what book or what discussion, there are always a million new ways to see something if you only listen to those around you. Every time we discussed, I heard something thought provoking, something that made me question my understanding, and things that delved deeper into reading, writing, telling and feeling than any other class I have taken yet in college. By the end of this semester, I definitely saw “us” as more of a book club rather than a class, which I think always made late night class go a little easier. Thank you all for such a fabulous semester in the one class I enjoyed to attend every Wednesday. I hope you all have an amazing holiday season!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Michelle I also love a happy ending. I am may it be good or bad a part of the Disney’s Princesses generation. I get all worked up over specials editions that will be going back into the vault and everything. So when I read Anneva’s blog post I too wanted to fight for the happy ending. A family was broken and at the end of the book they were brought back together. Meg was able to realize that she could save Charles Wallace and did not need Calvin or her father to hold her hand. She did not need a special gift from Ms. Who or Ms. Which. Meg was able to get Charles Wallace back all because of her own love. The hug at the end of the book, with everyone happy and smiling was just the ending I wanted. Anneva made me see how I was being blind and selfish. The black thing was not defeated and no one was safe because earth was still being covered by the black thing. Anneva’s thoughts stuck with me too and I realize I need to look beyond my Disney Princess blinders.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the ending to Wrinkle in Time I definitely read it as a happy ending. They missed their father/husband so much and were willing to go into the unknown to get him back. The struggled and battled to get him back and almost lost another family member, Charles Wallace, in the process. Then once the family is finally reunited at the end and they have a huge group huge I immediately thought of a happy fairytale ending, but as soon as Anneva pointed out that nothing was conquered I listened intently to hear her argument. She made an intriguing point and really made me question endings in the rest of the books we read in that class. So I thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteMy comment doesn't have to do with your post, Michelle, but rather your brilliant discussion on “A Book Called Twilight” that you had us perform on the last day of class. It was really impressive that you included everyone in the class and pegged a lot of our personalities so well. Not only did you use a lot of the terms we learned and discussed in class and made a good argument, but you thought about each and every one of us and gave us all something to say in our own words! That must have taken a lot of thought and planning. It was very clever and also hilarious. You did a great job imitating Ben and the way he speaks to us. “Where’s Tim? Oh, he told me he was going to be late, that’s right.” This was great! I also enjoyed, “Even though I’ve only read the back cover…” You did such a good job getting our personalities down while making your argument at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI also want to say that I enjoyed hearing from you during our class discussions. You always had something very unique to say, and you brought up points that a lot of us probably wouldn’t have thought of. You did a great job of reading the text, whatever it happened to be, and stepping back from it and looking at it from all angles. You have taught me to not just take the reading for what it literally is, but to dig deeper into it and think outside the box. Thanks!!
I totally agree with you Michelle this class has totally revamped the way I read stories. For example, I now look at the story of Odyssey totally different then before now that I have been in this class. In regards to a "Wrinkle in Time" I think we have to remember that this is a 5 book series and that yes that isn't exactly the happy ending we would have expected but momentarily it is a victory nontheless and it is worth rejoicing over but I don't think the characters ever thought that it was over they were just happy to have the family back together.
ReplyDelete