The Yares of Black Mountain

The novel of The Yares of Black Mountain, can be related back to the children theories we have read earlier in the semester. I believe that the presence of child in the story makes a difference in the way the "the mom" Denby is treated in the novel. The child and mother relationship is what interested me most in the story, there were several instances in the novel where it can be seen that the mother of the sickly child, Charley is treated good becuase of the fact that she has the baby, I think that otherwise she wouldnt have been offered a rocking chair, food, or a petticoat. "That baby's not wrapped warm enough for a night like this," said the woman of the house, and forthwith dragged out of a wooden box a red flannel petticoat, ragged but clean, and pinned it snugly about him. (pg. 247). This part of the novel was my favorite because it was a very nice and kind act of the lady to offer her petticoat to Denby to keep her child warm, it also proved to Mrs. Cook that people do do nice things to help others. In another instance Jonathan milks a cow to feed the poor child. It is interesting to see how many people are willing to help the woman and her child.


Throughout the novel the mothers purpose was to save her child, even though she knows that the baby is ill she stays positive and open minded that things are going to turn ok. I liked Denby's character because she is willing to leave and put her own life at risk all to safe her child. I still wonder what her actual reason was to leave her home and go to the south but to me it seems like her purpose of leaving New York was because she was running away from death, and in the end the child wasw able to live through the help of others.

Ragged Dick

I have enjoyed reading Ragged Dick, it has been on of my favorite novels that we have to read. After reading Ragged Dick, it is evident that there are several differences between the other novels we have read this semesters. One of the main difference that we see being protrayed between little boy and little girls is that the little girls in our past readings were taught and instructed that they need to behave well and learn how to do chores around the house in order for them to be seen as proper young ladies. While in the other hand in Ragged Dick it is never seen in the reading where Dick is being told to behave well and be a good little boy. Even though the narrator does lets us know that Dick is a good boy. "He would not steal, or cheat, or impose upon younger boys, but was frank and staight-forward, manly and self-reliant. His nature was a noble on," (pg 258). As can be ssen Dick is a good hearted kid but even as a good kid Dick can be a bit mischevious. Dick lies, drinks and smokes. (pg.256) Compared to the little girls in other novels that would have never been seen and if they did they would have been probably punished. Another comparison that I can make is that in the novels with the little girls it was important for them to know about God and the bible. It almost seemed that if they did not know about the bible, they were bad and were encouraged to read it. Whereas in Ragged Dick, Dick mentions that he has never has never read the bible and that reading gives him a headache (pg. 303). This shows that in the text religion is not a big part of Dicks life and it is ok. I think that as we continue reading stories with young boys we will see many new things that were not present in the novels that included young girls. I think that fictional representation of young boys is that they are independent, they are shown by the text that unlike little girls they do not need the guidance of an older adult in there life. Boys are shown as stronger, smarter and with the ability of being able to do pretty much whatever they want. After reading Dick, I also think that novels with boys are not going to end with a happily married couple instead we will most likely just see the boy succeed in life. Overall I think we will be seeing boys througout the novels accomplishing good things and gaining success up the social ladder.

This text was definitely very interesting, it grabbed my attention as soon as I started reading it. I liked how I never knew it exactly what Sybil's intentions were or what was going to happen next in the story.

With the introduction of the concepts of insanity into the text, made things completely change, I found it interesting how they used insanity get Sybil's fortune after all else failed. Throughout the whole time Sybil was in the asylum, I never believed she actually insane or manic. Only for an instance in the story I did believe she was becoming insane. My theory behind all this is that the original plan was to have Guy marry Sybil, and once they were married he would go forth with the plan of placing Sybil in an asylum. This plot would get rid of Sibyl and leave the fortune all to him and his father. "You are as a curious woman, sir, and always make me tell you all I do and say, yet never tell me anything in return, except this business, which I hate, because my liberty is the price, and my poor cousin is kept in the dark. I'll tell her all, before I marry her, Father." (pg. 228) Here we can see a clue of what is going to happen, they after the price which her money and Sibyl will be left in the dark, meaning the asylum. After Sybil encounters her mother in the story, it convinced me once more that Sybil was not insane and was placed in the asylum so that her uncle could keep fortune that was "supposed to be his". The messages that her mother was giving her for her to get away as soon as possible which made it obvious that she too might have possibly been put there to be get rid of. "If you are not mad, you will be; suspect you were sent here to be made so;" "Read, destroy, but obey it. I implore you to leave this house before it is too late." (pg. 244) After reading the messages it can be inferred that her mother too was taken to the asylum. She is urging Sybil to leave before she does become insane, she is warning her that if she does not soon leave she will be soon. A Whisper in the Dark, does show a different mother/daughter relationship. For once compared to the other text a true bond can be seen between mother and daughter. Even thought the mother is not portrayed as being physically present, the relationship can be seen as a good relationship, she is looking out for the best of her daughter. She cares about her daughter and urges her to leave, by giving there hints of what to do. (pg. 243-244) Overall I enjoyed the suspense of this story that kept me wanting to read further on.