SILENCE

It’s really fascinating how Kapuscinski describes the word silence, mentioning its distinct appearances within societies.
“A universal silence fell”(P.190) It´s incredible the way this citation made me consider about several years ago, where Rojas Pinilla dictatorship took control over Colombia, building silence throughout society.
When this dictator took power over Colombia, people were hoping to have a high-quality government which would be able to erase all past dreadful aspects (political, economical, social). First year was good for Colombia, as some individuals consider, since new institutions and infrastructures were built ( I really think this was a way to buy people...POPULISM). The problem started when Rojas Pinilla now used armed forces and individual manipulation to control the nation. Next months, Colombians didn´t have a voice, since democracy was abolished and no newspapers were permitted to reflect opinion.
No voice, no opinion, no rebellion, no dispute, no action...all Colombian society was ignored since it was all quiet!
This is really discouraging to remember, but hopefully, as soon as two students were killed by this dictator (one was my aunt, Ernesto Aparicio) Colombian humanity determined to shout for words of noise and freedom! Within four days ( May 10,1957), all companies, schools and universities were closed, with the purpose to join the rebellion against this dictator and to find a door to escape from silence.
Wow! Colombians did it! No silence appeared after those days, because Rojas was totally forced to leave the country!
This is the perfect example which explains how silence is set but at the same time it can be concealed.
Throughout history, silence will be a permanent invader, but it can be sequential depending on how it is used by individuals!

“You don’t appreciate what you have until you loose it”

It´s astonishing how the following quote; “You don’t appreciate what you have until you loose it”, is applied in everyone’s life. Long time ago I could see a friend who was dating a guy, and it was conspicuous he was the one much more in love than her. Days passed, and my friend got really uninterested and determined to end with this love date. It is really funny because now days she is the one looking for this same man, and he’s now in a relationship with another girl. She knew she had the opportunity to be with him but she didn’t take advantage of his past feelings, and now that she doesn’t have him, she is passionate about been with him.
Now, with this short story I want to emphasize the situation that occurred with Meursault´s neighbor, Salamano, who lived with his dog, but he was always desperate because “he was bad-tempered, Salamano said”(P.45)
But...”His life had changed now and he wasn’t too sure what he was going to do”(P.46) since one day he woke up without the presence of his dog. From this moment, I realized how Salamano was suffering about his dog life , just when he wasn´t present.
Maybe if Salamano finds his dog, he will now be conscious about his gorgeous relationship.
From these two examples, remember... We need to be aware of taking advantage of the circumstances though we may not have them again, as well as with people!

"Take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

"Take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

"He was planning (Boss) to open an office in Paris...Then he asked me if I wasn´t interested in a change of life"(P.41)
...Oh my God! For the first time since I started reading the book I saw an open door where I would be able to discover new events and a change of plot...But...

Meursault said, “I said that people never change their lives, that in any case once life was as good as another and that it wasn´t dissatisfied with mine here at all”(P.41)
Here´s where I want to reaffirm how humans, such as Meursault, lock themselves in certain habits which appear to have no changes nor improvements.
This is the reason individuals require to learn how to risk themselves in captivating different paths and apply acceptance and analysis to every new change.
Today´s society live under certain routines where members are fulfilled and adapted...which is not bad! But it will be exceptional to follow Kelly Clarkson´s words in Breakaway song... "take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS
VS.
RELEVANT ISSUES

"Maman died today or yesterday maybe, I don´t know"(P.3)
VS.
"Before leaving the office to go to lunch, I washed my hands...I really like doing this at lunchtime...I don´t enjoy it so much in the evening."(P.25)

The protagonist reflects to the audience the opposite of the human stereotype who usually gives importance to significant dealings that will have effects upon itself. With these two quotes we can clearly realize Meursault´s interests where the typical vital things for today’s society aren´t significant for him. He really cares about washing his hands before having lunch, while he drastically diminishes the importance of his mother´s death and his future marriage with Marie...
Wow! With these two passages we can definitively start to comprehend the book´s peculiar title, The Stranger!!

welcome to my literature space

Hello!! My name is Paula Aparicio and I'm part of the twelve grade english class. In this page you'll be able to know what I read, think and analyze about all novels I have read. This will be the best space to reflect free and spontanous thoughts throughout all this semester.
I'm sure everyone will have a lot of fun expressing and sharing whatever your critique will be.
Paula Aparicio!!!!!!