Maus chapter one prologue

During the short prologue Artie falls and breaks his roller skates and his friends leave him behind. He tells this to his father but his father basically says Artie's friends are not real friends. "If you lock them together in a room with no food for a week, then you could see what it is, friends" (6)! Artie's "friends" are not true friends because they left him behind and didn't help him through his suffering. The author probably includes that situation in the beginning of the story because he wants the reader to know that this comic book will be about the Holocaust. During the Holocaust it took bravery and friendship to get through it all. If a Jew who is incarcerated and finds a crum or something to eat he or she will share it with his or her friends. This is the meaning of friendship which is sharing and sharing can save a life. This prologue has a greater meaning and message than the reader might think it has.

The danger of a single story response.

I do not have a single story towards other people but I know some people have a single story towards me. I agree with Chimamanda Adichie, single stories do create stereo types and "robs people of dignity. This makes us as people difficult to accept and understand equal humanity. When people figure out my last name they place a single story on me. Just because my last name is Walgreen people think I'm a typical rich snobby person who is up tight. When they get to know me that is not the case. People at LFA think that the clothing that people choose to wear matches their personality. This is dehumanizing. I will admit that I did have a single story towards people that I didn't know and assumed things. People never know that I am half Mexican just because I have blue eyes and blonde hair. The stereotype they put on me is, "oh, she's Swedish." Once people figure out they created another single story.

America does have a single story. Countries that don't have enough think America is the land of opportunity, which it is but some Americans are not accepting as others. Mexicans who come to America are trying to find work for a living to make their lives better. I have no problem with this but some Americans have a huge problem with this. Americans think that the Mexicans are taking "our" jobs away and that is the main cause of our downsizing economy. The real reason the Mexicans are getting jobs more than some Americans is because some Americans are too lazy to even try to get a job. They blame the hard working Mexicans for their laziness. Countries that have more than us think that we Americans are uneducated and ignorant. When I foreigner describes America the word they mostly use is Redneck. Foreigners think that all Americans are southerners. We are not. America is made up of many different cultures and races. Stories are supposed to help empower and humanize not dehumanize. Once we reach that level of zero single stories people will regain a "new type of paradise."

Civil Peace

      In the short story "Civil Peace" the author, Chinua Achebe is sending out a message to the reader with this quote. "Nothing puzzles God." Achebe mentions this quote about four times in the story. It's an oblivious important motif. Nothing puzzles God because he understands the "Happy survival" the people in story have to go through after the Nigerian Civil War. Life means so much to the protagonist, Jonathan Iwegbu. It didnt matter to him that he was poor, if he made it alive for a day he was satisfied with a meaningful life.

     Good things happen to the family when Achebe mentions "nothing puzzles God," like when his payment came in it felt like "Christmas" to him. Also when this quote appears Johnathan finds the families bike and their home is still up even from the damage of the war. All the miracles that Jonathan and his family go through is an example of the values of life. 

     While analyzing the short story I saw symbolism. Jonathan's family helps pitch in what ever they can to rebuild the family. Like his wife making him goods to sell and his children picking mangoes this is symbolism of the country. Nigeria is helping out each other so they can get through and rebuild the country from the damage done because of the Civil war. When the poor thieves  came to Jonathan's house they asked for money. Jonathan had a choice to give the thieves all his money or have his house blown to pieces. He decides to give them his money because he remembered he was fine before without it. He keeps rebuilding his life and has a positive view. 

     Achebe is telling the reader that no matter what comes your way keep going because there is a another day to experience life.