Charles Darnay is an overall good man. Not only is he caring and loving, he is also intelligent and responsible. "I am only looking to sharing your fortunes, sharing your life and home, and being faithful to you to the death. Not to divide with Lucie her privilege as your child, companion, and friend;  but to come in aid of it, and bind her closer to you, if such a thing can be" (Dickens 103). This quote proves my entire description of Darnay. It shows his compassion and love for Lucie, and how he still respects the clear boundaries of not interfering with their father- daughter relationship. He is saying that he doesn't want to break up or mess up their relationship, but add to it instead. Also you can tell he is a trustworthy man, when he says how he will be faithful to Lucie until death. Charles Darnay is a man of many positive attributes, and an amazing personality.

           

  Light Vs. Dark

          In chapter six of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses light and dark to set the tone of hopefulness for Lucie and Dr. Manette's relationship. He writes, "I want, to let in a little more light here. You can bear a little more?" (Dickens 30) In this quote, Dickens is referring to Lucie as the light. Defarge is talking to Lucie's father, Dr. Manette, and asking if he can let his daughter in. Dr. Manette didn't even know he had a child, but her presence would give I'm the much needed hope and light to help him out of his darkness. Dickens then displays darkness by saying, "Darkness had fallen on him in its place" (Dickens 32). Being imprisoned for years, with nobody to talk to, and nothing to do really put Dr. Manette in a dark place. He became depressed and unpredictable, which made them worried about Lucie going near him because they didn't know what he would do or how he would react. Dickens says, "Then, as the darkness closed in, the daughter laid her head down on the hard ground close to the father's side, and watched him. The darkness deepened and deepened, as they both lay quiet, until a light gleamed through the chinks of the wall" (Dickens 36). This quote really showed Lucie's effect on her father. Although he is in a tough state right now, Lucie is willing to fix him up. Within the first few minutes of being with her father, Lucie has already brought light into her father's life, and has the hope and will to pull him out of the darkness he is trapped in. Overall in chapter six, light is overcoming and driving out the dark. Dickens writes about how Lucie is the light in her father's dark depressing life, and  that she is the one who will save him.

Wine scene

              In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens shows many ways that this wine scene forshadows events that will happen in the future. He says, "The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antoine, in Paris" (Dickens 21). I think Dickens is trying to forshadow the future by having the wine represent the blood that will be on the streets in an upcoming battle. Dickens states, "Some men kneeled down, made scoops of their two hands joined, and sipped, or tried to help women" (Dickens 21). This quote really displays how poor the people were, and how desperate they were for anything they could put into their children's body or their own. "Scrawled upon a wall with his fingers dipped in muddy wine-less-BLOOD" (Dickens 22). This quote also contributes to him forshawdowing that there will be a battle in the future because he calls the wine blood, and shows that people picture it as blood as well.

           

            Family is a single word, with many different meanings. People have many different ways of defining a family and what being part of a family means to them. When i looked up the definition of a family online, it said “A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.” This definition is wrong in my mind because there are other family structures excluded by this statement. In the excerpt Stone Soup by Barbara Kingsolver, she also expresses family and it’s true meaning to her. Barbara says, “Divorce, remarriage, single parenthood, gay parents, and blended families simply are. They’re facts of our time.” This quote proves that there is no perfect family. It proves that out of all the possible family structures people have, none are wrong. She also states,”To judge a family by it’s tidy symmetry is to purchase a book for it’s cover.” This shows her belief that no family should be judged. It shows that she believes that a family is a family, no matter the size, or differences it has to the so called “traditional family.”

In the book A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith, family is a big factor throughout the whole book. The Nolan Family went through hard times, but stuck together as a family through it all. Katie Nolan was an extremely good mother to her children. Smith states, “I want him to be a doctor. He must be a doctor." A big part of a family is always pushing each other to do better, and work their way up to success. This quote really shows how much Katie cared and wanted to push her children to have a better life in the future. She believes in Neeley and knows that if he puts his mind to it, he can accomplish the difficult task of becoming a doctor. Your family should encourage you to aim high and help you get there. Also, A Tree grows in Brooklyn expresses true family when Katie states, “No I will make this baby live.” She is saying that even though she knows how weak and tiny Francie was when she was born, she is never going to give up on her. She is going to fight to keep her baby alive because she is her baby and she loves her. In A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Stone Soup, true signs of family and what family is all about are shown thoughout each reading.

Alexa Palmisano

10/1/15

Period 4

Sacredness of the Ordinary

The most beautiful things can be found in the most ordinary places. When I was born, my grandmother knit me a blanket. To many it probably just looks like it is old, worn out and worthless. To me it is the opposite of that. It is small, light green, and extremely soft. It may be old, but it is worn out for good reasons only. To this day, every night I’ve sleep with it beside me in my bed. When I was little I remember carrying it around with me wherever I went. Vacations, sleepovers, and just about anywhere that was away from home, you’d see me dragging it along behind me. I felt the need to bring it everywhere because I became so attached to it at such an early age. My grandmother knit not only mine, but both of my sisters’ blankets too. Also, all of my cousins have a blanket of hers, and each time a new baby is born in my family, she knits one for them to keep as well. They all love their blankets just as much as I love mine. Each blanket is similar but different in it’s own special way.

I can’t even begin to explain how special my blanket is to me. I’ve had it my whole life and will  never let it go. It is so important to me mainly because one of the most amazing and special people in my life handmade it for me out of love. Knowing that one day I will have to live without my grandmother beside me is one of the most heart breaking thoughts ever, but this blanket will forever be a reminder of her and the love we shared.

My blanket is one of the most meaningful objects in my life, and it will be forever. Other people may not fully understand why it is so important to me, but I do. The amount of love and memories knitted into this little blanket will always remind me of my childhood and grandmother. True beauty comes from within. No matter how ragged and dirty it may look on the outside, the memories it holds are beyond beautiful.

Everyone has something that is special and means a lot to them in their life, and for me it is this blanket. It has been in my life since the day I was born, and I will continue to cherish it until the day I die.

         Hi my name is Alexa Palmisano and I am a freshman at the Woburn Memorial Highschool. So far I've had many great experiences in my life. I am extremely happy with the athletic part of my life. I play soccer, lacrosse and basketball. My favorite sport is by far lacrosse, I play midfield and attack. I am on the JV Highschool team. I have soccer practices almost everyday and up to 3 games each week. I've been playing soccer since I was 5, and lacrosse and basketball since I was 9. My family is a huge  part of my life as well. I have 2 sisters, one in 10th grade and one in 6th grade. They have always been there for me no matter what. I honestly don't know what I'd do without them. My friends are also a very important part of my life. I've always been able to depend on them no matter how tough the situation. I would also consider my dog Buddy my friend and part of my family. My friends and family have both positively impacted my life. Friends, family, and sports are definitely the main and most important factors in my life today. I am now looking forward to the opportunities and accomplishments that lie ahead.