SON OF ITALY: what is the moment or scene (not a major theme) that you remember most vividly? Why do you think it has made such an impact on you?
EXAMPLES:
the vampire;
the "commissary system," similar to the Gulag or indenture servitude (aka slightly less cruel than slavery);
the wheel barrow scene;
the flooded room;
the letter to the editor.
PART 2: choose one of your classmates choice and comment about it, either because you missed it or because it also made an impact.
The scene that had the most impact for me was when Pascal realized that he wasn't the only writer trying to get their work published. That scene made me think about my determination to achieve my dreams but that there are also a million other people trying to do the same thing. There are so many people fighting for the same dream that you have to prove yourself to be the best and it can be so discouraging. Like Pascal for many people they just want to do what they love to do and get recognized for it. They don't want to be forced to beat others who are just like them, but I also believe if you're willing to try then it really is your dream.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that impacted me the most were the part where Pascal talked about sending in poems and trying to make his work noticed but was getting no replies. He really put himself through hell to get newspapers to just read his poems/stories let alone publish them. He sacrificed living well, eating, working, everything, to pursuing his goal of publishing his poems and writings. If I was him and the flood scene happened in my already shitty room, I would of gave up and quit right there. That really would of been where i drew the line and returned home where at least i would be surrounded by my family and had some what of a life of happiness. But he didn't let a flood and a bunch of people sending him away stop him from still trying to get noticed. He really was a strong and determined person. For this I admire him and value my life and strive to be more determined like Pascal.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that has stuck with me the most still even after reading the rest of the book, is the vampire. Maybe since I relate to it , not in the sense that I met a vampire, but being brought up to fear evil and bad luck. The scene when he gave the food to the vampire still sticks out in my head the most since Italians are constantly trying to ward off evil and will do anything even if they don't want to. It becomes like second nature , like Pascal even explained he did it as a reflex without even thinking. I think Pascal shows Italians in a better light and it was nice to see that he brought out the traditional thoughts of Italians and showed that Italians are not just dumb they can go on to write a great book.
ReplyDeleteThat scene stuck out to me as well. I was brought up the same way. I think it was pretty awesome that Pascal, even though he was scared of the vampire, still fed her and helped her out.
DeleteThis scene showed Pascal's valiant personally. The author did this to highlight Pascal's compassion for life.
DeleteThe scene that stuck with me through out the book is the scene with Pascal and his mother stuck in the storm. I'm not really sure why that scene stuck out to me that much. I felt it very touching the way the mother tried to protect her son no matter what happened. I also thought that when the man denied them shelter, and then was struck by lightening it was like karma smiting him. I believe in karma so I think that might be why that scene stuck out to me.
ReplyDeleteThe author may have pointed out this moment because it taught him as a person to be nice to others and not deny a person in need because of the consequences that may follow.
DeleteYou know, I loved that part! I felt as if I was living the scene. It was heartwarming to see that although the mother might've been frightened from what was going on, her only concern was to protect Pascal.
DeleteI agrees with this and is karma at its finest after being greedy the man got struck by lightening and died out of nowhere
DeleteThe scene that stuck out to to me was when he got the nail stuck in his hand while at the job site. This scene sticks out to me because it seems like it may be creating a parallel to Jesus when he was getting nailed to the cross. One character even makes a reference to the stigmata.
ReplyDeleteOoh I like this. I never would have thought of it like that. That point just made the story a tad bit more interesting
DeleteThis scene was very important. It also showed how unappreciated the laborers were in those days. Though he has a hole in his hand he's expected to continue working. There were no rights for them.
DeleteWow I didn't even make that connection. I remember the professor saying that the scene when Pascal gives his lunch to the witch could be christian/catholic symbolism. So your observation could be possible.
DeleteThe scene that battered me the most was right after his father left for Italy and Pascal decided to stay. He was out looking for work wherever he could and indeed found an opportunity. On the worksite he found the foreman to be harsh and tyrannical but what could he do, he needed the wages. One day while on the job it began to rain, he was carrying a wheel barrow back and fourth filled with cement. The foreman in blatant agitation ordered that the wheel barrow be filled with more cement walked up the poorly placed ramp. Insisting it was unsafe Pascal took a pause. The irate foreman took the wheelbarrow walked up to the plank realized it was unsafe and said, "But why should I go there? I'm the foreman. What do you think I'm here for?" I could almost place myself in his shoes at that very instant of unfairness. I can imagine Pascal in an almost numb pushing forward he the slippery plank almost to the top he slipped and impaled his hand with a nail and was order to go home. He later returned and was ordered again to go home this time until his hand healed. How was he to heal with no food or money, I thought. Then I started to grasp the moment in time this was taking place and it was then that I felt his agony. A pity what many went through in that time of oppression and cut-rate labor. By far one the most impressionable scenes to me.
ReplyDeleteGood point if that happened today it would have been a total different story. Glad times have changed.
DeleteI think the part of the book that impacted me the most was the part where he's living in a box car and his boss comes in, buys his musical instrument, and smashes it. No joke, that was messed up. I mean it was completely fine legally, but it was messed up. He could've just told Pascal he plays badly and should do it somewhere else, but the boss man didn't do that and he took it too far.
ReplyDeleteWhat I remembered most vividly was what Pascal went through with his literature. Pascal wasn't one who was going to give up; he repeatedly tried to get his poems published. It was interesting to read when Pascal proved to the men that he knew 10 words that they didn't have knowledge about. At first, he was "laughed at" and seen as unintelligent. However, only when he showed them that he was more intelligent than they thought, was he "accepted" him and they all became friends.
ReplyDeleteThe flooded room with the bathroom water really stood out to me. I know he was trying to save all the money he could because he was not working and devoting as much time as he could to his writing but it was a bit much. It was not just that it was the fact that it wasn't even a room. I know things were bad for this guy but this was a bit much. He never had even a decent place to call home. That stuck with me and made me pounder how lucky I am to have always had a roof over my head.
ReplyDeleteThat part, especially when the snow and rain flood the apartment and wet the piece of stale bread and banana he kept under the bed, really made me think that nothing more could wrong! Especially when watching L'Emigrante, it seems like Peppino always hustled his way through, unlike Pascal
DeleteThe scene that stuck to me the most was the scene where the guys were discussing Teofilo's name. The same that any man with that name has seven golden blessings, and he had already used up two. Teofilo then joked that he would need the five remaining for West Virginia. I found this interesting because Teofilo was the first to die under a machine in WV. This reminded me of the Man vs. Nature concept. The nature of the situation did not discriminate. Anyone could have been killed under the machine, but it was the luckiest man (Teofilo) and the biggest man (Andrea) that were killed.
ReplyDeleteThis scene also stuck with me because the last two people I expected to die, Teofilo and Andrea, died. It is ironic how the man deemed as the luckiest would have such an unfortunate ending
DeleteThat moment was pretty amazing to me because it really does show you that even though people have power or prestige, they are not invisible and even bad things can happen to the seemingly lucky/happy/richest people.
DeleteThe letter to the editorial for The Nation is what I remember most vividly. It stands out because it was practically a recap of his life in america. He told them about his struggle, and in a sense he was begging. However he did it in such a way that it would make them feel ashamed that they hadn't published his poems before. He hadn't been through half of the schooling other entrants been through, yet his work was equal if not superior to that of the other entrants. You could feel his hunger through his letter.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that I remember the most is something that I see in today's society which is people be greedy and selfish . When pascal and his mother needed shelter and were denied by the man when it was raining was a very key scene for me and it disappointed me how ruthless a person can be .
ReplyDeleteThe one scene that has really stuck with me throughout the whole book is the scene with Pascal and the witch on the mountain. Something about seeing the vampire's character being so vulnerable and relatable makes it stick. She wasn't just an evil old woman who should be feared, she was just another hungry person trying to survive the best way she could.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that stood out to me was the scene where Pascal went to buy eggs and struggled to describe it to the man at the store so much so that he thought he wanted to buy an ax. That stood out to me the most because it really showed Pascal's drive and motivation. He could have easily given up and left the store without but, he did everything possible, even making hen noises, to make sure he left the store with the eggs. I loved that small moment.
ReplyDeleteThe scene which made the most impact on me as a reader was when Pascal announces to his mother that he too will be accompanying his father on his journey to America. His mother had that "maternal instinct" and says she knew it all along. Pascal describes sobbing while resting his head on his mother's chest, one last time, creating one of the strongest visual moments for me. It also shocked me how Pascal knew that he would never see his mother again, even before departing.
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