Chattahoochee River
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Tears
How many times have we been told real men don't cry. Yet being forced out of the only home you have ever know was enough to make Elie's father cry. Every character reacted differently to the deportation but he chose to cry. I used to think that crying made you weak. It does not, in fact it shows that he wasn't afraid to mourn for what he had lost. If there was anything worth crying for, it was losing all one had built up for an uncertain future. So I think the saying should be, real men know when to cry.
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Priscilla, that part made me think of that saying too and I completely agree with you. I think that people shouldn't be afraid to or shamed for showing their emotions.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that you mentioned this because I don't I really caught this part. I think this is a really good point, especially if you choose to focus on the symbolism and character development of the father.
ReplyDeleteI find your interpretation of the quote more adequate and relevant. Even though I don't agree that anyone shouldn't hide their emotions, the fact that you interpreted the qoute as a real men "know" when to cry makes the fact of men usually not crying more acceptable. Men are usually looked to for strength and security so the fact that real men "know" when to cry gives the signal that things are not at its best and you don't have to front anymore.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Priscilla because it is true a lot of people see men crying as a weakness but I believe his tears show exactly that, how weak they were feeling in that precise moment. They couldn't do anything about it and to me his tears represent departure from their old life.
ReplyDeleteI like that you picked up on such a small detail in the chapter. I think you make a beautiful point and found a powerful symbol that many of us probably didn't even take a second thought on. It's sad that things came to such a point to where his father had to cry, but maybe it was a necessary thing, a way of letting out all his pain and emotion so he could keep on the next day.
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