Event Analysis #3

Adriana Vicario

Event Analysis #3

February 14, 2013     

There are many cases in which resentment can be present due to an underlined issue of imprisonment. Reading through the several pieces of literature this week allowed me to understand how the feeling of imprisonment can cause one to do questionable acts or to harbor anger towards other individuals. In the poems “Suburban” and “Liberty”, this form of imprisonment is held within the society these speakers live in. Through the short story “The Cask of Amontillado”, the vengeance that the narrator had against another character was brought about by the years he had been captivated with bitterness. Attending my second event of meditation, I have come to realize what it is to rid oneself of resentment and overall become free of despair.

            In the poems “Suburban” by John Ciardi and “Liberty” by Thomas Lynch, both speakers are trapped in a society that puts a strain on their freedom of mindless actions. In “Suburban” the speaker is conformed to the typical suburban lifestyle. He seems to live a respectful life but finds that he must live by the standards that society around him enforces. Although there were no real consequences for cleaning his dog’s waste in the neighbor’s yard, he chooses to comply to the request anyway. It is such a simple demand that the neighbor asks for in which the speaker finds to be almost comical. He thinks of a sarcastic comment in his head but decides to refrain and remain the “prisoner” in the suburbs. This is quite similar to the poem “Liberty” in which the speaker seems to hold a little bit more aggression about his feelings of conforming to society. He expresses how his actions of going to the bathroom wherever he pleases is a symbol of what it means to be free. He does not care necessarily about being able to pee wherever he desires but values and respects the fact that he is able to do so if he wishes. This signifies his ancestors who have established in the suburbs years down. He reflects on their accomplishments and what it means to have this “liberty”. To do something that separates himself from society is what makes him not feel so constricted and trapped. These poems show one way in which it is possible to feel as though you are living a life that holds you back from freedom.

            In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, the obsession over carrying resentment leaves a situation that is detrimental to the life of the narrator as well as his sworn enemy. The narrator is in a place of anger towards a man by the name of Fortunato. The narrator focuses so heavily on getting revenge that he plans to kill Fortunato. Easily he persuaded Fortunato to come into his cellar that held the amontillado Fortunato was supposed to test. Slowly the narrator manipulated Fortunato and got him to stay in a position that would not allow for him to escape. Slightly intoxicated, Fortunato was blinded from the true reason as to why the narrator desired to cause him harm. It was then that the narrator built a wall with rocks that would trap his enemy forever. The narrator was so consumed with his moment of revenge that he was imprisoned by his self-motives and selfless acts.

            For my service event this week, I learned that becoming your own prisoner is something that could be very harmful to your health. In order to live a peaceful lifestyle it is important to self reflect on what is important in life. Through mediation I was able to acquire these skills and think about how to free myself of the negativity in life. With doing this I felt free from my problems and just relaxed while in a mindset of absolute freedom. I believe that it is significant to do things as meditate so one can understand how to go about life’s struggles.

            The idea of holding onto bitterness in life can put one in a situation they may not be able to escape. In these reading it becomes evident how the characters become so consumed with their struggles in life. The resentment along with the anger is something that derived from becoming imprisoned in one’s own thoughts.