Jerz: Am Lit II (EL 267) (Draft): Glaspell, ''A Jury of Her Peers''
As I started reading this, I thought, "Huh, this is like that story I've read a bazillion times before about the dead guy who got axed because he messed with his wife's bird." Halfway through I realized I was right and thus my opinion on this story is much easier to state.
The sexist overtones are obvious; the intent is to put down the women and let it look like the men are in control, and the bumbling housewives don't know any better. But with the investigation and cover up of evidence (like finishing sewing the blanket), they reveal that they are a lot smarter than they appear, and know the true intent of the murder.
The time period and context play one of the most important roles in any work of literature. Glaspell set up the men to look punctual, and straight-to-the-point. There is a change, however, when the men leave, it changes perspective. Even though the overtone of an unknowing housewife is still there from the first part of the story, through simple questions and actions the women get to work decompiling the mystery. The title even reflects that as well, since of course the ones with the real knowledge have a choice to frame or free the criminal.
Jerz: Am Lit II (EL 267) (Draft): Rice, The Adding Machine
This play was... well... pretty quick and annoying given the overall message. The idea of an eternity of servitude and slavery being justified with the hope of a better future seemed kind of played out, although in Zero's case they emphasized the fact that he could have done something to make his life better along the way, and instead he just kept taking it from everyone.
I notice the obvious play on words with Zero's name, both in the name-calling, "loser" definition of the word, and also the fact that he had no substance, especially compared to Mr. One through Mr. Seven. They all did things, even if they were mundane, while Zero did nothing.
Zero's death and rebirth achieved nothing. Sure, he met a friend and learned he could have made somehting else out of himself, but it was too late to even try which is why I think he just left the Elysian Fields and moved on. That's all he could do, really, was just keep going to the next job/location/place, since he never stopped to smell the flowers or did anything besides work. The revelation that he was born a servant reflects that, and as Charles alluded to, Zero will just have the idea that there is something worth it by going through the same hell over again.
Jerz: Am Lit II (EL 267) (Draft): Fitzgerald, ''Bernice Bobs Her Hair''
Well, the movie had a lot of differences to the original version. In the story, Bernice was described as having dark hair and being pretty, while Marjorie had blonde hair. In the movie, this was changed and they made Bernice out to be ugly.
The story jumped a lot in relation to time. In the movie, a lot of the jumps were played out, scense were extended, and things that were just told by the narrator were said by Marjorie (like the "just me, you us," line). Warren seemed disinterested after Bernice's hair got cut instead of more fascinated, and although she was getting attention, that attention was emphasized more in the movie. Fitzgerald made short comments on how muc attention, but he leaves the reader to assume that Marjorie still has the upper hand all the way through, instead of it being gradually changing in the film.
Personally, the story was much better, as most would say. If the film followed the book, it would be much shorter, and not as impactful. Bernice's graceful leave felt more of a high-brow revenge, especially since she referred to the Indian comment made about her at the end.