Adam Swift Post # 6

The Venus Hottentot was considered a freak of nature and sent to London to be part of freak show. She thought that getting away was an opportunity at first but really it had become a white man’s way to make some money. Throughout the poem we learn that a Venus Hottentot is a women from a South African tribe with physical abnormalities. In the ending stanza of Alexander’s poem she is saying how the white men have made her a freak based on her appearance. “I’d spirit his knives and cut out his black heart, seal it in a jar, and place it on the low shelf in a white man’s museum so the who world could see it was shriveled, hard and deformed.” I think this stanza is trying to say that the white men are freaks on the inside who are inconsiderate and heartless and if she were to take their part like they did to her then his parts would be on the bottom shelf.

Aimee Bender has a very mysterious and magical style to her writing. In her short story The End of the Line there are two men the big man and the little man. Both men compete for superiority over the other. The big man purchases the little man and tries to make himself feel more powerful than the little man. He makes the little man feel like an outcast and this is similar to The Venus Hottentot. The white men take her from her society because she looks different and treat her like a specimen making her feel small just like the little man.

Leah Villari Post 6

Aimee Bender's style of writing is certainly different than anything else I've read. Coming from reading the Gilda Stories.  I really enjoyed the way Bender writes. Her writing is blunt with a magical twist on real life situations. I actually read one of the stories just to see what it was like and ended up liking it. I like the fact that her writing isn't dry at all and I can visualize everything she describes.

This especially rings true in "Fruit and Words." When I was reading this I could actually picture Steve and the main character just decided to get married since they'd been dating for so long. When he left her to drive herself home I could basically feel what she was feeling at that moment. I felt like Bender did a good job with painting a picture as to what's going on. When Bender proceeds to describe the magical fruit and words stand, I felt like I had the craving for the mango as bad as she did. The reason she wanted the "real" mango so bad, I think is because her relationship had been going on for so long that she like it was almost not even real anymore. When Bender said that the fake flavor of mango gum just wasn’t going to do anything for her craving, I could tell that she wanted the real thing because she needed to see for herself, something that was real and was her own. Having someone that she had something with for such a long time was becoming unreal to her and having a real mango and seeing the fruit, gases and liquids in their real form helped her. This fruit stand helped her because for once she could see the real thing right in front of her. There wasn't any confusion or lying and for so long she probably felt like she never really knew the real thing. Seeing the real thing was refreshing and that's why she felt so empowered by everything she saw at Fruit and Words.

"End of the Line" by Aimee Bender was a story about controlling another person and the feeling of the power that you can have over someone else. The "big man" was insecure in his own life therefore he needed to own something that he could boss around to make himself feel"big" and powerful. He felt as though he did not have control of his own life. I feel like the main character in "Fruit and Words" also felt like she did not have control of her own life. She has been dating and still no marriage and then finally when the chance happened it didn't happen. Both character felt like they had no control over anything in their lives, but dealt with the situation in different ways.

The Big man, dealt with his problems by putting other people down to make himself feel better, when he realized that it did not work, he tried to change and saw that the way he was living was bad. In "Fruit and Words" the lady decided that she was going to try and grasp something she could control and feel a sense of finding her way. Both characters were losing hope in their own lives and needed to grasp something that made them feel good, and feel alive.

Cassidy Weeks Post 6.

Brittany Coppinger - Post 3

I love the way Aimee Bender writes. I think that it is creative and whimsical but still deals with powerful topics. She can write about really disturbing depressing topics but still keep her reader. In class we talked about how Bender writes fables. I love this about her writing, because she requires the reader to think a little to understand the lessons she puts into her stories. If one just reads at surface level, her stories come of very weird and a little out there, but if you take a closer look you can see the lesson or moral that she is trying to get at. At first, in End of Lines, it may have seemed like a big man buying a little man was really weird. But I think that Bender made it weird to draw our attention to it. She wanted us to think about how some people own others, and what that means about how we can treat them. She wanted to show us that bigger does not mean better, and belonging is what is most important to us all. In Fruit and Words, one may think that the woman in the store is crazy. They might think its weird that she makes words out of things, but open closer inspection it makes perfect sense. What are words anyway? Nothing. The only have the meaning we assign to them. You could say a word and it would have no meaning if the person you were talking to didn't know the thing you were talking about. It makes more sense to build the word out of the the thing is represents because then the word really is the thing. Words are just words until you make them more then that. I think that that idea is pretty heavy, but she brings it up in a light whimsical way. And that is what makes her a great writer.

Jaime Wallace- Post #6

After reading a couple of Aimee Bender's short stories I have found that she is a very interesting author. Bender takes real life situations and adds a magical twist to them. She is insanely creative and I have enjoyed every single one of her stories that we are assigned to read. One if her stories that we discussed in class was called "End of the Line". A very interesting point brought up about this particular story was how the little man has more power than the big man. You would think that because the little man is so much smaller than the big man that he would be less powerful just because of his size. The big man actually is jealous of the little man mainly because that is the life he wants. The little man has a family, has traveled to many places, and is very intellegent. On the other hand the big man is the complete opposite. He is lonely because he doesn't have a family, he is too nervous to go travel anywhere, and he is not quite as smart as the little man. I like how the magical twist in this tale is that there is a little man and a big man. That was very amusing to me.

In the second tale "Fruit and Words", Aimee Bender starts off the story with a girl, stood up by her husband in Las Vegas, after they got married. He mysteriously had to fly back home for work while she was forced to drive back all by herself. I thought that it was very interesting that this little shop in the middle of the desert has all of these gases and emotions shaped as the word. I don't think that it is possible to capture hope and shape it into its name. I think that hope is something a person can feel but not something that a person can capture and form into a shape. That is one of the main things in this story that keeps my interest. I really enjoy these stories becasuse of how creative they are and also becasue they keep me on my toes wanting to know what else is coming next.

Jaime Wallace- Post #6

Post #6

The stories in Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender are a bit unusual and contain a magical undertone. The events of these stories are not something one would usually imagine. This makes Aimee Bender's writings unique amongst modern literature. Although her writing sometimes ventures as far as to be uncomfortable, it is often symbolic.

Fruit and Words is an example of a story that has a lot of symbolism. In the beginning, the narrator and her boyfriend Steve go to Vegas to get married, but at the last minute Steve decides not to go through with it and flies back home. Driving back home, the narrator gets a craving for mango, which leads her to stop at a little shop, Fruit and Words, that sells mango. She soon discovers something strange, the shop sells words. The shopkeeper explains that the words are made from what they say, so "PEARL" is made from pearls and "LEMON" is made from lemon peels. The shopkeeper offers to show her the liquid and gas words for a fee. As they are touring through the words, the narrator begins to have doubts about whether the words are really made from what the shopkeeper says they are. When looking at the gas words, the narrator accidentally breaks "AIR" and the shopkeeper tries to make her pay for it. In her rush to leave she breaks "HOPE" as well. I believe the broken "HOPE" symbolizes how the narrator no longer feels there is any hope for her relationship. The mangoes also symbolized her hope for her relationship. Upon entering the shop she still had some hope that her relationship would last, the mangoes she bought were rich and ripe, but after breaking "HOPE" the mangoes began to rot. By the time she got home and saw that her driveway was empty, with no sign of Steve, the mango pit had rotted away completely, symbolizing the death of her relationship.

Chelsa Wlodarczyk, Post #6

Sean Post 6

I really enjoy the writing of Aimee Bender, she is very unique and creative. I'm not a big fan of reading, but Aimee's writing is interesting brings up situations that are a little bit uncomfortable. I've never read anything like her writing, and really enjoyed "End of the Line" a lot.
"End of the Line" portrays a world where it is acceptble for a "big man" to go out and buy "little man" like a pet. TTo me this shows Bender's great imagination, and creative writing. Although the big man who buys the little man appears to be superior, we learn that he is actually lonley and insecure. This contrast how it seems he should feel, the little man who should feel small and insignificant is actually very secure, and has a loving family unlike big man. For this reason, the big man feels as though he has to torture and ridicule the little man throughout the story. I think big man acts like this because he is insecure and wants the little man to be too. I think we see this a lot in society today with things like bullying.

Post 6 Nadia

Amiee Bender is probably one of the most creative writers in the world. Her style is unique in the sense that the stories she is telling teaches us a lesson in a fairytale manner that is for adults which is a nice change. Fruit and Words and End of the Line  were two tales that I enjoyed reading. I have previously read Fruit and Words and thought it was cool that something that my high school teacher recommended as a side reading to A Streetcar Named Desire and Gulliver's Travels isn't something that I would say compares to the setting that we are reading it in now. Now we read these as Outcasts trying to understand the society. And to be quiet honest, reading them and the way that these people are Outcasts changed the view I had on the word. When I think of outcasts I think of Ponyboy. But now I think of those who got ditched at the alter, having to find a new way to cope and by coping there for ruining the hope she had in one relationship and trying to make it into a new kind of hope.
Between the little man and the stood up bride I think Bender has something working for her. Whether it be the fact that's she makes people feel uncomfortable because she needs them to feel the way her characters feel, or the fact that she makes us stop to think that there could be more to whats happening that what people see initially. Its shocking to see how when a writer things how students take it. Each opinion different in the way they read it yet the same conclusion comes up. I think that's what she does when she writes in her fab style.

Laura Giunta Post 6

In both stories, The Venus Hottentot and Julia, the women are exploited for being different. In the first story an African woman named Sara is put into a freak show for having a large butt, compared to that of European women. Then when she suddenly passes a scientists, Cuvier, takes it upon himself to dissect her just to prove his point that she was truly a freak. He then put his findings in jars and on display in a museum for others to see. Like this story, Julia was born with a genetic deformity of growing facial hair. She had married a man for whom she thought loved her, but really only used her for how she looked. Julia later on had a child, and shortly after they both died. Her husband had them both stuffed and put on display. In both scenarios the women are treated very inhumanely for the way they looked.

Along with these two stories, Aimee Bender's End of the Line is a story about a big man who adopts a little man for a pet. The bigger man is unhappy with his life and takes it out on the little man. The little man's life is perfect, he has a family and has seen the world, everything that the bigger man wanted. The bigger man takes advantage of the little man, abuses, exploits him, and makes him feel uncomfortable just to make himself feel better. Unlike the other two stories though, the bigger man realizes what he is doing is wrong and sets him free to go back to his family.

Bobby S., Post 6

Aimee Bender is quickly becoming an author I enjoy a lot. Her writing styles are very unique and her stories in my opinion are very well written and interesting enough to make me want to read more. Her characters and story line are also intriguing, and unlike anything I've ever read. All these attributes are seen in the stories,"End of the Line" and "Off" (although I'm not sure we were supposed to read this story).

In "End of the Line", her story discusses a "big man" who goes out and purchases a "little man" to bring home. From the beginning we see her magical realist style put to use. The big man in this story appears to be lonely and in need of company, whereas the little has a wife and kids and seems to be living a very productive life despite his stature. For this reason, the big man decides to torture and torment the little man in order to make him feel inferior. The big man's actions all seem as if there done as a way to get attention.

The craving for attention is also seen in "Off", as the female character goes to parties and makes it her mission to kiss 3 guys; one with blonde hair, one with black hair, and one with red. She buys expensive clothing and always tries to be the best looking woman at the party. Towards the end of the story, she takes all the coats of the attendees and hides with them in a closet, so that they will all come looking for her. The need for attention seems to be very popular in Bender's stories.

Hannah Lutley

Last week when we talked about Wendy Rose's works we saw women begin exploited by their families and loved ones for having something "different" about them. This week we saw the same sort of thing happening in Venus Hottentot. Sara Baartman is found by the scientist Cuvier and put into a freak show. By doing this we see that women in the 19th century were looked down upon and for Sara her unusual appearance did not help to detract onlookers.

In The End of the Line we see Bender strange style of writing by using real world time but including aspects of fantasy. The Big Man can be seen as a manipulator and a man who envies people who have things in life. The Little Man is at first seen as a man who, even though small, has optimism and excitement towards life. When seeing the Big Man picking on the Little Man we naturally gravitate to feeling bad for the Little Man because he seems so helpless and powerless over the Big Man. In the end we see that the Little Man remains strong through the battle with the Big Man and the Big Man end up just wanting to be accepted into a "group" and he thinks that the little people's world would be good. We can look at this and saw that for the Little Man, even when things get rough, if we remain strong and optimistic we most likely will be able to return to happiness.

Molly Rutter, Post #6

By putting objects in a different context, or placing them in an abnormal environment, it increases their value and are more appreciated. This is demonstrated in Aimee Bender’s “Fruit and Words.”

In “Fruit and Words,” it was interesting how popular the shop owner’s business was, and how intrigued the woman was when she came across it. While she was so eager to purchase the word NUT, she probably wouldn’t have had the same enthusiasm with purchasing an everyday bag of them. By shaping objects of the environment into their specific word, it forces a person to view the object out of context, and they value it more as a result. But why can’t someone just appreciate the grass they walk on everyday instead of purchasing the word made up of the same exact material? If the woman would have applied this line of thinking, she may have prevented herself from making a regretful decision. It is obvious the woman was struggling to find contentment in her life, but if she would have just sat back and looked at her life and the decision she was making, she may have realized her choice in marriage was not a suitable one.

Maggie DeMarco Post 6

In the poem, "The Venus Hottentot," Sara Baavatman is taken advantage of and exploited by a scientist, Cuvier, for money and fame. Similar to this in, "End of the Line," the little man is exploited as well in order to boost Big Man's confidence. In both the stories, the men who are exploiting their victims share the same idea that if a person looks different then themselves, then it is okay to treat them badly. Its clear that in both stories, the men try to make their victims feel insignificant and inferior.

In Alexanders poem, Cuvier tricked Venus into coming with him and becoming part of his show. He used her looks to provide people entertainment, and after her death, he preserved her body and put it on display. It seemed that he needed her to make him feel better in life, and to earn money. In comparison to this, Big man used Little man to make himself feel better. He put him down and abused him in order to feel more powerful. He drugged him, froze him, and sexually abused him. He did anything he could to see Little man hurt, which helped him feel like he had control and was in power of something less than him.

Post 5- Nasya Watson

Rose's statement that everything she writes is fundamentally autobiographical no matter the topic or style is an all encompassing statement. By making this statement I feel everything she writes is true and is a piece of her. For Julia and Truganinny she could have used make-believe characters but instead she did not she used real women. The women she chose were cast out and displayed because of their physical appearance. Their appearance was seen as exotic/unusual and to me negatively (in Julia's case). This was the same case for Rose she was shunned by both sides of her family because of her appearance. She like the other women were taken advantage of. Rose was beaten by her father while Julia was exploited by her husband and Truganinny's wish to have a burial was overlooked because of a "need" for her display.

I also feel that the death of Julia and Truganinny can be compared to Rose's distant relationship which represents the death of the relationship between Rose and her family. By choosing to write in the voices of Julia and Truganinny it puts Rose's voice into the story making it autobiographical as she said. It reminds me of the quote "all for one, one for all." The struggle many may have can be explained by one and the struggles one may have can be expressed by many as well.

Leah Villari Post 5

Wendy Rose's Neon Scars reflects the author's actual literal scars. The title of her story makes the reader immediately think of bright, noticable colors. But when you take the time to think about it, I get the notion that she uses this color because she knows all the pain she endured will always stare back in the face at her. The "neon scares" represent herself as an outcast in her family. She always felt as if she wasn't accepted into her family and that she was the reason for her parent's unhappiness. Rose was never happy with herself and now writes about the pain she still goes through.

The style of her writing is very interesting. She uses paragraphs where she lists the straight facts of her life, but then goes back to the story behind the facts. I enjoyed this because I felt like I knew exactly what the author wants you know. I felt that I didn't have to search for the author's point. I also liked that the Rose didn't sugarcoat anything. I feel that anyone who was abused could relate to having "neon scars" and the guilt that Rose portrayes in the story.

In "Neon Scars" Wendy Rose really tells about her life story, everything about that story shows struggles she went through. Right down to the way it was written, like we discussed in class with the paragraphs shifting back and forth. Everything she writes can show something that she felt and that is why it is autobiographical in a way because she can relate to everything. Wendy Rose uses her life and her struggles to write good stories and make herself and her stories more open to the diversity of the readers.

All three women are viewed like outcasts, they all believe to be misunderstood. In some cases, they try to be understood but it doesn't work, and then in the poem "Julia" she seems to be very alone and have nobody to even try to relate too. The second poem confused me a little but she also seems to be alone. Just as "Neon Scars" Wendy Rose feels like she is going to through life alone with nobody to help or listen to her.

Cassidy Weeks. Post 5

Allison Shubert Post # 5

I found that Neon Scars was a very symbolic essay. Wendy Rose write this in a very metaphorical style that captivated my interest and put her story in a different perspective. Rose shows her pain in growing up in a family where she did not fit in and was not accepted due to something she could not help. She was shunned not because of the person she was, but because of her skin color. Rose talks about having invisible bruises because of being raised this way and treated like an outcast in her own family.

I think that Neon Scars was a very appropriate title for this story due to the emotional scars she had suffered. All Rose wanted was respect and for someone to understand the pain she had endured. I found it ironic that her family rejected her due to something she had inherited from them. All she wanted was a family but she slowly had to accept that she was alone and rejected from everything human. Rose having "neon scars" is metaphorical to me because she had been scarred because of her childhood, yet she was different and treated unfairly and wanted everyone to see that. She wanted people to look up to her because she was a survivor of an unfair circumstance. She wanted to be respected for surviving through all of her grief.