Symbolisim in IT

     

                “An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” This is the dictionary definition of fear, and I think it’s just so simple and easy, especially when it’s supposedly describing something as complex as fear. Fear is the feeling you get when you catch a glimpse of the monster in your closet; fear is the pit in your sinking stomach when you walk down to the dark basement storage room to get whatever your Mother requested. Now imagine if fear was an actual being, one that could walk talk and even kill with its sick powers. This is the horrifying creature that Stephen King created perfectly in his novel IT. The monster that haunts these pages isn’t what you think it would be though; it is the town of Derry Maine itself. Derry simply isn’t right. You can tell as soon as you reach the town limits, a kind of haze overtakes you, and the entire town. It just screams “Turn around, this place will only hurt you and drive you insane!” The people within it are unfriendly and sour; they put up walls so nobody can know anything about them. But don’t blame them, it’s the town. The town demands every man for himself. So if I had to make a dictionary definition of fear, it would be simple “Derry, Maine.”

            In this small alcove of Maine there is more than just fear, there is also bravery. “The Losers Club” or “The Lucky Seven” has gone through a lot in their 11 years of life, including intense bullying by Henry Bowers, and his pals, as well as some hardships in each of their personal lives. Bill Denbrough (the leader) has an awful stutter and a dead brother. Eddie Kasprak has a fake case of asthma cooked up by his over protective and obese mother. Richie Tozier is bullied for his terrible eyesight, and has a lack of parental guidance. Mike Hanlon is a victim of severe racism. Stan Uris is bullied for being Jewish. Ben Hanscom struggles with obesity and getting terrorized by Henry Bowers. And finally Beverly Marsh is abused by her father, and is extremely poor. On top of all of that these young characters have to travel deep into the sewers in order to keep the entire Derry population from being killed by an inhuman evil. That is what bravery is: the willingness to sacrifice your well being and safety for the greater good.

            The actual walking living being living beneath the sewers is nothing more than a fun house mirror, a scary funhouse mirror, but a bag of convincing tricks all the same. If you’ve noticed fun house mirrors are pretty deceiving, they are able to make you believe you’re something you’re not, and it takes a lot of effort and strength really to look past that and see the truth. This is exactly the case with the fake clown that calls Itself Pennywise. All It is is smoke and mirrors, and just like everything It has a weakness; people seeing through it. The Losers come to realize that behind all the makeup and convincing props It is afraid of them, and this is what eventually defeats the terror living under Derry.

            It takes a lot to stand up to your fears; it’s really not a walk in the park. To look the creature under your bed in the eye is practically unimaginable. But all that fear really is is your imagination. Once you realize the creature under your bed is nothing more than a bunched up blanket, bravery will come easily to you, as it did to those seven courageous kids. Some things like Derry will always be haunted, but by nothing more than the past.  

My predictions for "I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You."

Let's face it, in almost every book that is written for middle school girls there are always two girls. The main character and the girl that she doesn’t like. Then almost every time these two have to come together for the greater good. In the midst of saving the world or whatever it is they’re doing they become best friends. To be perfectly honest that just about sums up my prediction for “I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You.” Macey and Cammie are going to be paired up for a mission, to save the Gallagher Academy from the enemy, Macey because her ancestors are part of the Gallagher Academy, and Cammie because her mother is the current headmaster. By the time these two are done with that they’ll be inseparable, and all geared up for the sequel. This book is kind of like The Clique in this way. Massie’s perfect life is turned upside down when her father’s old friend moves into her guest house with his wife and two kids, one of them a girl who’s Massie’s age. This book’s climax comes when the two girls fight together to keep their fathers from embarrassing them in front of the entire middle school,  and after a few hours in the bushes these two are best friends.

                Another prediction I’m going to make is about the weird new CoveOps teacher. He’s constantly checking out Cammie’s mom, planning strange lessons, and is obviously extremely intelligent. I think he’s a spy for an enemy school or something to put it simply. But like every good actor he has the entire school fooled into thinking he’s completely 100% good, a little on the strange side, but also on the good one. I know how this is going to end; just like Professor Quarrel in Harry Potter. The Professor is new to the school that year, and he comes off as an extremely uneasy and shaky kind of guy. Everyone goes for this act until Harry realizes he’s really working for Voldemort. After making this terrible discovery, Harry goes to defeat Quarrel before he can do any more spy work for Voldemort. It’s not easy but Harry kills him, and is showered in glory. I’m pretty sure this is how it’ll be with Cammie and Mr. Solomon.

                Don’t think I forgot the title! What fun would this story be without a boy to mix things up? I think that somehow Cammie is going to meet a boy, and their love is going to be forbidden in some way. It’s a possibility that they simply won’t be good for each other, like the lion falls in love with the lamb scenario. Maybe the boy will be working for the unnamed as of this point enemy. Maybe he’ll be attending an all BOYS spy school that doesn’t approve of interaction with girls from the Gallagher Academy. The point is their love is forbidden. In a way this could be like the Twilight series. Bella and Edward have to fight in order to be together, and there are so many secrets they have to keep from others as well as each other in order to do it. Cammie and Mystery Boy might have those same kinds of problems with forced secrets. But just like in Twilight they will probably reach a verdict and everything will turn out.     

Themes and Symbols of The Pearl

Coyotito- I think Coyotito symbolizes everything that is good and hopeful. In the beginning when he is bitten the family tries extremely hard to save him which they succeed in, successfully saving their hope and happiness. Then when they discover The Pearl and want him to attend school, he is a symbol of hope to him, that he could teach him things.

The Pearl- I think the pearl can be a symbol of deceit, because it fooled everyone into thinking that it was a good thing, when it turned out to be extremely destructive. Instead of being a positive thing like everyone thought it would be, it turned out to tear Kino's entire family apart and wreak havoc upon the town.

The scorpion- The scorpion could be a symbol of destruction because it set everything up, and it all went downhill. If it weren't for that scorpian biting Coyotito, the Kino and Juana wouldn't have gone looking for the Pearl, ad no destruction would have taken place.

Theme: Greed

At first Kino had his head in the right place, and if he would’ve kept it there the story might have been happier. But instead he got greedy and decided he wanted more from the Pearl’s power than necessary, and he pays for it. The entire story stems from his greed, and his consequences come from his greed. The lesson is probably along the lines of: don’t take more than necessary, have some self control and take only what you need.

Gale or Peeta?

The Hunger Games series is extremely popular throughout the U.S.A. One of the many reasons for this is that our main character, Katniss, must choose between old fried Gale and new boyfriend/fiancé Peeta. People have many different opinions on this matter, but frankly I’m a supporter of Team Peeta. Members of Team Gale think “Oh Katniss is meant for Gale and Peeta just got in the way.” But I think it is the other way around, and Peeta deserves her for many reasons.

                Firstly Peeta has loved Katniss longer; in fact he has ever since kindergarten. He saw her and was immediately helplessly in love. I myself think love at first sight has a reason behind it. Finally he decided to try and somehow communicate that to her by giving her some bread to save her from hunger, even though it cost him a beating.  Gale on the other hand first met her, when she was 12, and always treated her as a friend. But when Peeta first met her when they were both picked as tribute, he made his move and told her how he felt. The chance was given to Gale, he had 4 whole years!!! And he was too scared to say anything, when he so easily could have. Then he thinks he deserves her more, when really if he loved her so much, he should have expressed his feelings to her. I just feel like it is fairer if Peeta has the girl he has loved for so long.

In addition Peeta simply loves her more. Personally I think that Gale still thinks of her as nothing more than a hunting partner, and he wants to have that with him for the rest of his life. Peeta looks past that, and sees her as a person. Katniss is not the most likeable person, but Peeta sees the good in her, something people rarely do. He proves he’s willing to die in the games to keep her alive; in fact that’s his goal. Teaming up with the careers is all part of his plan, he does it to throw them off her trail, and he indeed pays for it. Her childhood friend Gale never shows that kind of commitment, and Katniss deserves more. Lastly Peeta just knows her better; they have a connection that Gale will never be in on. During the games they had to stay in a cave with just each other for the longest time, and they actually talk about something more than hunting.   To go along with that they both know what it’s like to actually be in the games, and they need each other for that reason, for comfort throughout the rest of their lives.

                Finally Katniss needs a buffer. She needs cream to sweeten her coffee. Her personality is so full of sharp edges that it is hard for people to be able to stand her. She needed someone to charm the Panem so that they could lead and win their rebellion. But just because the rebellion is over doesn’t mean Katniss and Peeta have lost their fame. They’ll always have to deal with staring eyes, no matter how long they live, and Katniss can’t do that alone. She can’t do it with Gale either. Think about it, if Gale had been the man in command during the games and rebellion, would they still have won? Katniss needs someone to handle the publicity.

Relief

(Authors note- This piece isn't about a moment so much as an emotion)

It's nice to know that you can go
To bed without thinking you're forgetting something
It's great to not think
About all of the things that tomorrow will bring
As you begin to think about going to bed at that same old time
You suddenly realize that you don't have to worry about getting up at six
It's ok to stay up as late as you want
Because even though tomorrow's Friday....it's winter break!