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Can Nostalgia be Negative?

During class, while discussing Sag Harbor, we talked about  the idea of nostalgia. Usually, people think of nostalgia as a good feeling, like missing happy times. However, we also wondered if nostalgia can sometimes be a little negative. While reading Sag Harbor , Benji’s memories made me realize that nostalgia isn’t as simple as a good feeling. The book is full of moments about summer, friends, and growing up, but it also shows that even fun memories can have a complicated side. Benji looks back at the summers he spent in Sag Harbor, a beach town where he and his brother Reggie had lots of adventures with their friends. Things like getting jobs, BB gun fights, and sneaking into a club. At first, it sounds like he is just remembering good times, hanging out, eating junk food, and listening to music. It all seems pretty positive, but as you keep reading, you notice there is more going on beneath the surface. His memories are not just about fun. He also talks about feeling pressure, ...
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Should Jason Have Gone Back?

 In Black Swan Green, we watch Jason Taylor try to find his place in a world where being different can make you a target. One of the biggest challenges Jason faces is trying to fit in with the older boys at school who are part of the Spooks. These boys take part in bullying, peer pressure, and testing the limits of loyalty. When Jason is invited to participate in a cruel initiation ritual, he makes a choice that says a lot about who he is becoming. Even though his friend Dean Moran has been excluded and mocked just like Jason, Jason chooses to go back for him when he falls into a creepy neighbor's yard. This decision might not win him any popularity points, but it shows the strength of Jason’s morals. At this point in the story, Jason is stuck between wanting to be accepted and not wanting to betray who he really is. He’s often afraid to speak up and tries to keep a low profile, especially to avoid being mocked for his stammer. Being invited to be a part of the Spooks is a big deal...
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What Really Happened to Bruce?

 Throughout the novel  Fun Home , the main character, Alison, tries to understand the mystery of her father’s life and death. She suspects his death wasn’t an accident but a suicide. This idea comes up after she learns that just weeks after she came out as a lesbian, her father was hit by a truck while crossing the road. Though officially ruled an accident, Alison sees signs that suggest otherwise. One big reason Alison thinks her father’s death was a suicide is the timing. Her mother had recently told him she wanted a divorce, and Alison had just come out. This may have forced him to confront his own hidden sexuality in a way he wasn’t ready for. The book reveals that Bruce had relationships with men but kept them secret. This was shocking to Alison and likely contributed to her theory of Bruce taking his life. He built an artificial image as a family man, teacher, and home renovator, but he struggled with his identity underneath. Alison sees this as a possible motive for why...
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Esther vs. Joan

     The Bell Jar, a novel by Sylvia Plath, is mainly focused on the main character, Esther's battle with mental health. As the novel progresses, we see Esther's mental state worsen and she starts to spiral. She even goes as far as attempting suicide in a few different ways.  Joan, another patient at the psychiatric hospital, and an old friend of Esther's, also faces similar struggles but has a tragic fate. Their different experiences highlight how mental illness affects people in different ways and their stories emphasize the novel’s themes of identity, societal pressure, and survival.      Esther’s mental health decline happens gradually. She starts as an ambitious and intelligent young woman, but the pressure to succeed and conform to traditional gender roles makes her feel lost. Her depression is marked by feelings of emptiness, lack of motivation, and suicidal thoughts. She struggles with knowing what she wants to do with her life and this causes ...
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Is Holden Caulfield a Phony?

     Throughout the Catcher in the Rye , Holden constantly expresses his distaste for phonies. This starts in the first chapter when he refers to his school's headmaster as a 'phony slob'. He doesn't elaborate on why the headmaster is a phony slob but it's clear he is not a fan of him. He continues to describe people as phonies which are people that he thinks are superficial and fake. He also sees phonies as people who try to fit into the norms of society and are also dishonest. Holden also has a bit of an obsession with being authentic which causes him to be very critical of the world. Specifically, the adult world. He associates adulthood with hypocrisy and lies and he doesn't take many adults seriously. This is clear at the beginning of the novel when Holden is visiting his former history teacher Mr. Spencer after he flunks out of Pencey. Mr. Spencer attempts to give Holden a lecture about taking things more seriously, but Holden is not impressed. This is als...
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