Both essays thesis’ does not develop until well into the paper. While it is hard to pin point the exact these statement in Charlotte Hogg’s “I’m a Believer” the concept of the paper doesn’t really come out until the ninth of eleven pages. When the author comes to the realization that while she could spend the night gambling with her childhood hero, she knows “it would ruin what little magic remains”. The late thesis is also used in the second essay “The Joy of Mud” by Catherine Black. The apparent thesis statement in that essay is in the second to last paragraph when Black says, “I’ll have to admit that I am only at the beginning of a path I never expected to travel.”
Another characteristic of personal essays displayed in the two given examples is that the subjects of the essays are “commonplace” but “may catapult them beyond the ordinary, but the topic is often humble”. The subject in Black’s tale can easily be labeled as commonplace in that many if not all children have a crazy childhood obsession. Her affection for the Monkee’s lead singer Davy Jones is much like everyone’s childhood idol (personally mine was an unhealthy obsession with the then Texas Rangers left fielder Rust Greer). While by the end of the story she has taken in a little further than most. Attending the washed up Jones’ concert on the Indian reservation with only 40 fans in attendance does strike me as catapulting beyond the ordinary especially since she was 28 at the time well more than ten years after she was self proclaimed “more infatuated with Davey than ever”. However, by having the author go to this “concert” the reader is able to see what Hogg is trying to communicate; at some point one must let go of their childhood dreams. Black’s story is also a very common place tale of a child wanted so badly to get out from their childhood and only noticing how great it is till it is actually gone. This idea is well captured when she says, “After sixteen years of floating on the peripheries of an island I never cared for, I’ve snapped straight back into its cold green heart”. The idea of a childhood desire to get away from they home and wanted it back so badly when it is gone is quite a common theme of children.
Black defiantly maximizes “shifting back and forth from then to now…[showing] the process that helped the writer compose it” The beginning of her tale starts in the present where she is driving to an unknown destination with an old friend. She then quickly recaps her childhood desire to leave the island and then returns to the present. This differs from Hogg who writes entirely chronologically.
The apparent “reason for writing” in Hogg’s writing is for the reader to cherish their childhood dreams for what they were, not what they are. Hogg comes to this feeling at the end of her story, “I accept finally, that this person I know so well, I do not know at all and I, a daydream believer, am just a fan”. Hogg is expressing that at some point one must let go of their childhood sensations because, like in her case, her perfect ideal of this man, Davey Jones, is just not the same. While the reader can tell Davey Jones will always hold that fond childhood memory in her heart she must at some point let go. He is no longer the same Davey Jones she once dreamed of falling in love with. I think Black’s controlling idea is much different. Black hopes one will enjoy the present, especially their childhood. Unlike Hogg, who basked in her childhood a little, to long, Black was unable to see the beauties of her adolescent until it was all gone. I think her personal essay is pleas with the readers to enjoy what they can while you still have the opportunity. I think both writers would strongly encourage anyone including their readers to enjoy the present. Clearly, the underlying message between the two is that while one enjoyed her childhood a little to long and one a little to short, I think they would both hope that any child would enjoy it during the present.
3 comments:
I agree with about everything that you said, but I like how you described where in the readings the thesis' were. I also thought it was cool how you explained the themes in boh of them; how Hogg's is letting go of childhood dreams, and how Black's is living to enjoy the present and not dwelling on the past. It seems like both of these stories talk about living in the present and enjoying it to the fullest, which I think is a very important thing to do. Thinking about either the past too much or the future too much can hurt more than help. I think you hit the main points and I also agree with everything that you had to say.
I completely agree with your late thesis idea, both writers did not express their thesis until the ends of their papers. However when you said that you couldnt pinpoint Hogg's thesis, I disagree. In fact what you said later in your paper is pinpointing it, to me that whole last paragraph is the thesis. Most people think of a thesis as one or two lines, that clearly states the idea. For Hogg that is the last paragraph, where she tells us that she has outgrew her childhood love for Davy, and realizes she is just a fan. Also i felt that your comparison of the two at the end, about how one childhood is too short, and one is too long, was dead on.
Wow, you basically hit every point. I completely agree with the idea of thesis of both essays not being revealed until later in the stories. I liked how you went back and forth between both authors and described their writing processes, and the purpose of such processes. Both essays were, in fact, commonplace. You showcased the fact that both authors wrote something to which readers can somewhat relate. I appreciated the way you effectively embedded your quotes, allowing more support behind your opinions. My only piece of advice would just be to proofread what you write after you write it to ensure clarity among the readers and eliminate any possible confusion in your statements. But other than that, you compared and contrasted the two essays very well.
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