Sunday, March 29, 2015

Tobermorey Explained

short story here

In class:
Theme, tone, characterization
Cornelius Appin- direct characterization, barely invited, once he is there he has lost his first name status, 
Tone- gives me a negative connotation of the character, 
Other characters waiting for him to prove himself, they're just waiting to be entertained 
People care about what you do and not who you are

Reflection:
plot in terms of theme and tone
     The last line of the short story reminded me of how the judgmental hypocrites, aka the party guests, only cared about their own reputations. In order to protect themselves, they'd tear down others, especially Appin and Tobermorey once the guests were the victims. The  author's formal, direct narration supported the statements that Tobermorey was dishing out. The cat's nonchalant way that he approached the situation was to contrast the stress, embarrassment, and anger that the guests were feeling. Clovis suggests that Appin "got what he deserved," when it was the gossiping guests who should have been punished. The outsider from the start automatically became the scapegoat, no mater how intelligent and correct he was. I took from this short story that no matter how smart or right you are, if you're threatening to others who think that they're above you, they will want to terminate you.
     It makes me mad that Appin died with the elephants, who were suggested by the party guests, then it was said by those same people that he deserved it. 

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