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Thursday, October 3, 2013

LITERATURE ANALYSIS 2

Sophie's Choice by William Styron

I'm under the impression that we only have to do the characterization portion because of how Dr. Preston's blog was formatted.
Characterization

1.Direct Characterization
"This toast is in honor of my disassociation of you two creeps. Disassociation from you, coony captive cunt of king's county. And you, the dreary dregs of dixie." This quote is said by Nathan and directly shows his dislike for Sophie and and Stingo. It's very obvious how hostile he is.
"I am a pole! I was born in Cracow! I am not a Jew. Neither are my children! They're not Jews. They are racially pure. I am a Christian. I am a devout Christian." This quote is Sophie simply declaring who she is and is a perfect example of direct characterization.
Indirect Characterization
"Don't you see? We are dying. I longed desperately to escape, to pack my bags and free, but I did not." This is another quote by Sophie that shows a very pessimistic side of her which is then carried on through out the rest of the story as we get to know Sophie better.
"So, we'll go to that farm tomorrow. But please, Stingo, don't talk about marriage and children. It's enough that we'll go down there on that farm to live... for a while." This is another quote said by Sophie. This one shows how her past still deeply affects here and that any mention of family causes her depression.
The author really only uses direct for very little circumstances, it's not really seen throughout the story. Because of the amount of dialogue the indirect characterization really shines through, it let's you make inferences about the characters. With indirect the reader becomes more attached to the character because they really get to know them.

2. Yes, each character has their own distinct voice in this story.
For example Sophie is perceived as innocent and because her english isn't very good her dialogue is usually broken or incorrect grammar.
"Yeah umm it looked like something that the... the scares the birds... you know... what is that... umm scur... scrul... I had scurbutt!"
Nathan is direct and powerful. His dialogue is full of profanities and there is nothing subtle about him.
"You spent the whole fucking afternoon with him, or should I say, you spent the whole afternoon fucking him."
Stingo is very well reserved, he also has an innocent air around him. Because in the story he is told as a professional writer his grammar is always immaculate.
"I let go the rage and sorrow for Sophie and Nathan... and for the many others who were but a few of the butchered and betrayed and martyred children of the Earth. When I could finally see again, I saw the first rays of daylight reflected in the murky river. This was not judgment day. Only morning; morning, excellent and fair."

3. Stingo is definitely a dynamic character and very round. When we first meet him he is very pessimistic, very naiive. He hates almost everything around him and doesn't really try in his profession. Throughout the story we watch him change with the addition of his new friends Sophie and Nathan. He becomes and independent thinker not only in his thoughts but his actions as well. By the end Stingo is confident in himself.

4. Yes I definitely did. The whole story was told through the eyes of Stingo and he broke the fourth wall in most instances. The story was amazing in that you went on the journey with this character. When Sophie told her story to Stingo, she told it to you as well. You were Stingo. Therefore at the end it was difficult to say goodbye to a character who had almost become a part of you.

"It... you know, it cost...a great deal of money. More than I could afford. Anyway, who cares? Today, money doesn't seem very important."


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