Most recent public comments by Emily Sanders https://nowcomment.com/users/90114 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299956 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299956 Another theme presented in this narrative follows Georgiana's changing sense of what is truly home. After listening to the music in the concert hall, she seems to be a new woman. She realizes how much love and passion she has for music and knows that sacrificing it for a man was ill-advised. Georgiana now must struggle on whether to return to Nebraska, knowing she will never be happy there again, or leave and abandon all she has ever known for the past 30 years. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:39:03 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299926 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299926 One theme represented throughout this story is the power of music. When Clark thinks of music, he is reminded with memories from his childhood when he lived on the frontier with Georgiana. Her singing was a reminder of home for him and the idea that there is hope and life outside of the bleak prairie. Georgiana had felt like she had lost this part of her music-loving self by moving to the frontier, but in reality, it never left her. This shows how music in this story is able to transcend the monotonous routine of Georgiana's (and once Clark's) being and reminds her of what is truly fufulling and meaningful in life. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:33:45 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299908 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299908 After taking Georgiana to the concert, Clark feels like he finally understands why his aunt became so emotional when hearing music. His point of view is that when she moved to the frontier, she sacrificed part of her soul, music, to be with her husband and make him happy. When she was reintroduced to her previous way of life, her soul shone through - and Clark realizes that the soul never really dies at all, but it can go into hiding. Clark's point of view shows that sometimes we make choices for the sake of others and don't consider ourselves enough. If you really love something, so much that is really a part of your soul, you shouldn't have to compromise on that. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:25:06 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299904 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299904 One main theme seen throughout this short story is Georgiana's internal conflict of the happiness she felt while visiting Clark versus her way of life out on the prairie. To his aunt, the music hall is a reminder of her old way of life and the sacrifices she had to make when getting married. Clark understands this, and knows that outside of that concert hall, the same, bleak, frontier life awaits her back home - which is something Georgiana dreads after being reintroduced to such an important part of her life. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:34:29 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299886 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2299886 Franz Josef Land and the Upper Congo were both newly "discovered" areas relative to the time this story was written. Because of this, they have a sense of mystery surrounding them, and feel almost alien, like "those who have left their ears and fingers" there. This metaphorical comparison to Georgiana's appearance shows that Clark's point of view is bewildered/astonished, but also respectful of the fact that Georgiana looks and feels so out of place, even in her hometown. He knows that she has not been outside her prairie home in Nebraska for years and looks up to her with a sense of awe for living such a different way of life than most others. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:11:27 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153891 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153891 I completely agree. Not only is it just Romantic ideals, but this sentence also represents Transcendentalist ideas. Those in support of the movement were strong advocates for human rights. Transcendentalism represents feminism, abolition, communal living, etc., all things that were extremely controversial and/or unheard of during this time period. I also believe that his statement is extremely relevant today, like you suggested. We want to see the government secure our rights, but also, minorities deserve representation and people who can fight for them as well. This also connects to voting, which Thoreau mentioned. In order to get people in office that work FOR the people and not against, we need to make our voices heard and stop conforming to what we are told to believe and settle for. Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:38:40 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153430 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153430 Here, Thoreau is encouraging voting. He also advocates for the minority. He seems to say, that although the government is corrupt, a vote is one of the most powerful choices an individual can make in the government's current state. This connects back to the importance of the individual as a Romantic ideal and is still relevant today. Many of us believe that our vote is meaningless - after all, what could one less vote do? Yet, so many say the same thing and do not vote - so they become the REASON there is no change. We cannot complain about the state of the government if we are not directly trying to change it.Thoreau believes that the first step in a revolution of sorts is to express your power as an individual and make your voice heard. Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:04:56 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153398 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153398 Thoreau clearly represents the core Romantic ideals in this sentence. He is saying that the government can never be "good" until they begin respecting the individual and work in favor of the people. His fundamental views on human nature, such as the power of the individual, non-conformity, and free thought drive his want for an evolution of the government. His view of the government is extremely critical and he seems to believe that it inhibits man's rights. Thoreau's comment describes the frustration that many of us have with our government today - nothing seems to get done (with constant bickering between the two sides) and normal people seem to have little say in what the government actually does. Like Thoreau is proposing, we should all want and expect more out of those who govern us. Tue, 27 Oct 2020 12:45:36 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049714 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049714 I agree that it makes the tone a lot more somber. Although he describes the beauty of the earth throughout this passage, he is telling the white man that their land is special to them, and they need to be taken seriously. Wed, 16 Sep 2020 13:44:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049657 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049657 I agree! I think that he uses "thrill" to say that even though abiotic things such as rocks seem to be lifeless, if you look closely and become more in touch with your environment, you could see that everything holds memories Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:19:37 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049559 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049559 I agree with this. I think this diction really shows how important this land is to his people. It shows that they respect their environment and treat it as a living entity. Wed, 16 Sep 2020 13:39:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2048628 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2048628 This piece of diction shows how important their land is to their tribe. It really illustrates how connected they are with the earth and everything around them, and how they treat it with care. Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:17:00 -0400