“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
For this blog I’m going to write about pages 200-331, the ending of the book. There are a lot of shocking things in this passage. Firstly, August hits Marlena so Marlena leaves him for good. This surprised me because I thought Marlena would never be free and that her love with Jacob would always be forbidden. After she leaves August, Jacob learns that August is paranoid schizophrenic and that is the reason for his crazy mood swings. I don’t fully believe this excuse. It is realistic to think that people had the disorder and it went untreated in the 1930’s, but it seems like a very convenient excuse for his behavior. August chases after Marlena and will not stop pursuing her. I would be very scared of August if he were chasing after me because he is so unpredictable. During a performance all the animals get loose and the elephant kills August. I didn’t expect this because at the time it seemed like everything was going badly for Jacob and I thought things would continue on in this way. Meanwhile, the present day elderly Jacob seems to be getting sicker. He becomes senile and gets very scared. I would be scared too if I couldn’t remember things I just did. Jacob’s family is supposed to take him to the circus, but they forget. It’s very heartbreaking because it was the one thing he had to look forward to. Despite their absence, Jacob goes to the circus alone, something he’s not supposed to do. He meets the circus manager who agrees to let Jacob go along with the circus on the road. I didn’t like the ending very much. It didn’t tie up loose ends and it came out of nowhere. I also don’t like not knowing what exactly happens to Jacob at the new circus.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
2 Blog #7
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
This week I read pages 130-200. A lot happens in this passage. The elephant, Rosie, has been a problem in the circus because she is not very cooperative. Contrary to my prediction, Jacob and August have not had a big fight about the elephant yet. August invites Jacob out dancing with himself and Marlena. While they are dancing the police come to bust the place for liquor, which is illegal. While they are running out August gets separated from Jacob and Marlena. Jacob and Marlena stand in the alley and kiss. This confirms my prediction of a romantic relationship between Marlena and Jacob. August pretends to not know about their chemistry, but I think he knows because he’s always saying things that hint at their relationship. I don’t know why he hasn’t done anything to harm Jacob yet because he seems like a very impulsive and violent man. Besides this event, Jacob’s friend Camel gets very sick. Camel is paralyzed and can’t move his legs. When Jacob finds out he gets a doctor for Camel and lets him stay in his room. Jacob’s roommate Kinko is surprisingly understanding since Jacob and Kinko don’t get along. I think this is the beginning of a new friendship with Kinko and that Kinko has finally lost his unfriendly shell. Kinko says it’s ok for Camel to stay in the room even though it is against the rules. If the boss finds out he’ll throw Camel off the train to a certain death. I predict that August will find out about Camel since he seems to know everything about the circus. August will either hold it over Jacob’s head or get Jacob in a lot of trouble for it.
This week I read pages 130-200. A lot happens in this passage. The elephant, Rosie, has been a problem in the circus because she is not very cooperative. Contrary to my prediction, Jacob and August have not had a big fight about the elephant yet. August invites Jacob out dancing with himself and Marlena. While they are dancing the police come to bust the place for liquor, which is illegal. While they are running out August gets separated from Jacob and Marlena. Jacob and Marlena stand in the alley and kiss. This confirms my prediction of a romantic relationship between Marlena and Jacob. August pretends to not know about their chemistry, but I think he knows because he’s always saying things that hint at their relationship. I don’t know why he hasn’t done anything to harm Jacob yet because he seems like a very impulsive and violent man. Besides this event, Jacob’s friend Camel gets very sick. Camel is paralyzed and can’t move his legs. When Jacob finds out he gets a doctor for Camel and lets him stay in his room. Jacob’s roommate Kinko is surprisingly understanding since Jacob and Kinko don’t get along. I think this is the beginning of a new friendship with Kinko and that Kinko has finally lost his unfriendly shell. Kinko says it’s ok for Camel to stay in the room even though it is against the rules. If the boss finds out he’ll throw Camel off the train to a certain death. I predict that August will find out about Camel since he seems to know everything about the circus. August will either hold it over Jacob’s head or get Jacob in a lot of trouble for it.
Monday, December 15, 2008
2 Blog #6
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
This week I read pages 105-130. The passage starts with Jacob in current times in the nursing home. Jacob is woken up by a nurse. I’m kind of confused if the story of the circus is Jacob’s dream or if it is just a separate story since it seems to go along with the dream, but it is a true story. The nurse tells Jacob that his family is coming that day to take him to the circus. I predict that Jacob’s family will forget to visit him and take him to the circus because it would add to Jacob’s image as a very lonely and sad man. The passage then goes back in time to when Jacob was working for the circus. August is getting meaner and meaner. It turns out he fed Marlena’s horse’s remains other animals. Marlena is mad at August, but August doesn’t understand why. This shows how uncompassionate he is. Also, this confirms my prediction that that’s what August would do with the horse. August gets into a fight with another worker named Pete. Later, August says that he found food for the hungry cats. I think he killed Pete and fed him to the cats. This has been suggested before in the book and after the incident with the horse, I don’t put it past August. Jacob also gets in a fight with August where August gets very mad and yells at Jacob. I predict this is a precursor to a big fight between them. In the end of the passage, the circus gets a new elephant, but they are told the elephant is useless. I predict this will be the root of the problem between August and Jacob since they will both have to deal with it.
This week I read pages 105-130. The passage starts with Jacob in current times in the nursing home. Jacob is woken up by a nurse. I’m kind of confused if the story of the circus is Jacob’s dream or if it is just a separate story since it seems to go along with the dream, but it is a true story. The nurse tells Jacob that his family is coming that day to take him to the circus. I predict that Jacob’s family will forget to visit him and take him to the circus because it would add to Jacob’s image as a very lonely and sad man. The passage then goes back in time to when Jacob was working for the circus. August is getting meaner and meaner. It turns out he fed Marlena’s horse’s remains other animals. Marlena is mad at August, but August doesn’t understand why. This shows how uncompassionate he is. Also, this confirms my prediction that that’s what August would do with the horse. August gets into a fight with another worker named Pete. Later, August says that he found food for the hungry cats. I think he killed Pete and fed him to the cats. This has been suggested before in the book and after the incident with the horse, I don’t put it past August. Jacob also gets in a fight with August where August gets very mad and yells at Jacob. I predict this is a precursor to a big fight between them. In the end of the passage, the circus gets a new elephant, but they are told the elephant is useless. I predict this will be the root of the problem between August and Jacob since they will both have to deal with it.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
2 Blog #5
“Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen
This week I read pages 90-105. August invites Jacob to have a fancy dinner with Marlena, the horse trainer Jacob likes, and himself. Marlena is in a relationship with August. Jacob has had past risky situations that August has put him into. While at dinner the three have cheerful conversation and eat gourmet food while dressed in luxurious clothes. August gets drunk and then starts dancing with Marlena. Suddenly, August hits Marlena and then passes out. Jacob is shocked, but Marlena says that is just August’s personality. She tells Jacob to be careful of August because he can be very cruel. This enforces the idea I had that Jacob will get into trouble. Now, I think August will try to hurt Jacob. Later, Jacob has to put down Marlena’s horse. Jacob is very concerned for Marlena and August sees Jacob’s concern. This is another reason for my prediction that August will hurt Jacob. August doesn’t want Jacob to take Marlena. This passage really showed how scary August is even though he seems kind because of his charm. I think he doesn’t actually care for Marlena. He just wants to use her. At the end of this passage, August says, speaking of the circus, “The whole thing’s an illusion, Jacob, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what people want from us. It’s what they expect.” I think this is foreshadowing that Jacob is going to start to see the “real” circus. He’s going to be exposed to more risky, dangerous, and not glamorous situations.
This week I read pages 90-105. August invites Jacob to have a fancy dinner with Marlena, the horse trainer Jacob likes, and himself. Marlena is in a relationship with August. Jacob has had past risky situations that August has put him into. While at dinner the three have cheerful conversation and eat gourmet food while dressed in luxurious clothes. August gets drunk and then starts dancing with Marlena. Suddenly, August hits Marlena and then passes out. Jacob is shocked, but Marlena says that is just August’s personality. She tells Jacob to be careful of August because he can be very cruel. This enforces the idea I had that Jacob will get into trouble. Now, I think August will try to hurt Jacob. Later, Jacob has to put down Marlena’s horse. Jacob is very concerned for Marlena and August sees Jacob’s concern. This is another reason for my prediction that August will hurt Jacob. August doesn’t want Jacob to take Marlena. This passage really showed how scary August is even though he seems kind because of his charm. I think he doesn’t actually care for Marlena. He just wants to use her. At the end of this passage, August says, speaking of the circus, “The whole thing’s an illusion, Jacob, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what people want from us. It’s what they expect.” I think this is foreshadowing that Jacob is going to start to see the “real” circus. He’s going to be exposed to more risky, dangerous, and not glamorous situations.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Two Annotated Ethics Sources
Is assisted suicide ethical for the terminally ill?
Lavi, Shai. “How Dying Became a ‘Life Crisis.’” Daedalus 137 (2008): 57. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008.
The author is a teacher at Tel Aviv University where he teaches law and sociology. He wrote a book on euthanasia that won the 2006 Distinguished Book Award from the American Sociological Association. This article appeared in Daedalus, a journal published by MIT and the official journal of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He writes about the progression of the medical treatment of death over time and explores the reason for the change in the treatment of death. Lavi writes that death and the pain and way in which people die has not changed over time; only people’s desire for control over death has changed. In the past doctors would even abandon patients when they thought the patients were beyond help. Now, people seek to have lots of control over medical practices as technology advances. Euthanasia comes from people seeking control over their deaths. The author comes to question what role a doctor has in treating the patient and if the doctor’s role is to treat the patient as the patient wishes or to give the patient constant hope.
Welch, William M. “Debate Rages in Calif. Over Physician-Assisted Suicide.” USA Today 10 Apr. 2007:n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008.
Welch is a reporter for USA Today. This article questions doctors’ involvement in assisted suicides, but not as much as some of the others. He not only reports on the recent event of debating about assisted suicide in California, but also on the background of both sides of the debate. He writes that Oregon is the only state to allow assisted suicide. Oregon only allows assisted suicide for people with less than six months to live. One concern he suggests is that people will kill themselves for reasons other than pain. People will kill themselves because they are depressed and it is hard to tell what the reason for assisted suicide is. He also says assisted suicide is questionable because of doctors’ ethics. It is against doctors’ ethics and some believe it is overall unethical for doctors to prescribe medicine for the sole purpose of killing a patient.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec98/suicide_11-24.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec99/suicide_10-27.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/october99/assisted_suicide3.html
Lavi, Shai. “How Dying Became a ‘Life Crisis.’” Daedalus 137 (2008): 57. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008
The author is a teacher at Tel Aviv University where he teaches law and sociology. He wrote a book on euthanasia that won the 2006 Distinguished Book Award from the American Sociological Association. This article appeared in Daedalus, a journal published by MIT and the official journal of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He writes about the progression of the medical treatment of death over time and explores the reason for the change in the treatment of death. Lavi writes that death and the pain and way in which people die has not changed over time; only people’s desire for control over death has changed. In the past doctors would even abandon patients when they thought the patients were beyond help. Now, people seek to have lots of control over medical practices as technology advances. Euthanasia comes from people seeking control over their deaths. The author comes to question what role a doctor has in treating the patient and if the doctor’s role is to treat the patient as the patient wishes or to give the patient constant hope.
Welch, William M. “Debate Rages in Calif. Over Physician-Assisted Suicide.” USA Today 10 Apr. 2007:n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Edina High School. 6 Dec. 2008
Welch is a reporter for USA Today. This article questions doctors’ involvement in assisted suicides, but not as much as some of the others. He not only reports on the recent event of debating about assisted suicide in California, but also on the background of both sides of the debate. He writes that Oregon is the only state to allow assisted suicide. Oregon only allows assisted suicide for people with less than six months to live. One concern he suggests is that people will kill themselves for reasons other than pain. People will kill themselves because they are depressed and it is hard to tell what the reason for assisted suicide is. He also says assisted suicide is questionable because of doctors’ ethics. It is against doctors’ ethics and some believe it is overall unethical for doctors to prescribe medicine for the sole purpose of killing a patient.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec98/suicide_11-24.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec99/suicide_10-27.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/october99/assisted_suicide3.html
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