1.) The effect that this has on the reader is a good and bad effect. It helps the reader to better understand the points she is making, but it can also be hard understand some of the analogies she is using. It could also be easier to understand because she is using real situations. Therefore, it can or cannot be helpful to the reader depending on how well they understand what she is saying. I don't think it is alienating because with examples like hers, we can apply them to ourselves and something like that that we have had experience with.
2.) "Self-respect is something that our grandparents, whether or not they had it, knew all about." "To have the sense of one's intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything: the ability to discriminate, to love and to remain indifferent."I think that generally, people would agree with this. It is almost an understood thing that our grandparents know respect because they were raised much differently than we were and were taught to respect everyone or they would get into serious trouble. Also, when we have self-respect, we feel like we have everything. I think that when asking for forgiveness, whether is be adultery or any mistake, it takes a lot of courage to recognize the fact that you have screwed up. It takes away from character when you make those mistakes, but it also builds character to realize what you have done wrong and then to ask for forgiveness.
3.) Those statements go together with writing skills because like she says, having self respect in "habit of mind" and "can't be faked." You can't fake caring about your work in order to do well. Self-respect is a discipline and we need discipline to do our work to the best of our ability. It shows that a person has self-respect when they do well with writing skills or any work. They are showing that they care enough about themselves to succeed.
I agree with you, if the reader cannot understand her analogies then the piece of literature can be confusing and not helpful for the audience. The quotes you chose for the second parts were good ones. Our grandparents were born in a different era, as such respect was much higher in their days. As i have stated in other comments and my blog the statement about self respect and writing skills being a state of mind is completely correct. you cannot fake self respect or writing skills, because it will be obvious.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with you when you said that the effects could be both positive and negative. I think if you are understand what the message behind what the writer is saying, it will have a more positive effect.You also made a very good point about how our grandparents were raised to have self-respect. Respect is not as well-known as it was it our grandparent's generation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that her allusions help thr ready gain a better understanding of what she is talking about. I also agree with you that its for certain that out grandparents knew self-respect because they were raised during a different time where respect meant a lot.
ReplyDeleteI agree when you said it takes a lot of courage to admit your mistakes, because hiding them will only make them worse. By being honest with others, you are also being honest with yourself which builds character and self-respect.
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