Vocabulary word: Jalousie(s)
Pronunciation: jal·ou·sie (jal-uh-see)
From text:
"Later we said, 'Poor Emily' behind the jalousies as they passed on Sunday afternoon in the glittering buggy, Miss Emily with her head high and Homer Barron with his hat cocked and a cigar in his teeth, reins and whip in a yellow glove." From page 92-93
Definition:
–noun
1. a blind or shutter made with horizontal slats that can be adjusted to admit light and air but exclude rain and the rays of the sun.
2. a window made of glass slats or louvers of a similar nature.
Origin:
1585–95; (French, Italian) gelosia jealousy; so called because such blinds afford a view while hiding the viewer
1585–95; (French, Italian) gelosia jealousy; so called because such blinds afford a view while hiding the viewer
Definition courtesy of http://www.dictionary.com/
Relation to text:
This sentence comes after Emily Grierson bought arsenic from the druggest and then was seen in town with assumed beau Homer Barron. Once reading the definition for this word I was a little disappointed it wasn't something more romantically southern. Then I read the origin; "so called because such blinds afford a view while hiding the viewer." This short story is dripping with hidden whispers and glances. Always a genius wordsmith, Faulkner uses this word to not only show the bitter elegance of the town, but also the cowardness of its people who sit hidden pitifully watching the dismal decay of a woman once adorned with jealously.
You are so true. I was shocked at what the word meant too. It does make the town women shine in their talent for being nosey! The women are like a lot of women. I can say that because I am one of them too. I peep out my blinds to see what the neighbors are up too!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and think that the women of this town seem to be happy of the hardships that Ms. Emily goes through because their jealousy of how she used to be has made them bitter toward her. They never offer to help her in any way. They only try to call her when she becomes secretive and they want to know what has become hidden from them.
I enjoyed reading your post. You write beautifully and intelligently.
I think you are right. The town ladies are nosey. They are sort of like the show Desperate House Wives. They have their own little group or gang. They want to know what everyone esle is doing. You know, gossip. They want to critize others but cannot see what they do or hide themselves. They did not realize how they treated Emily. She may just have wanted a friend to talk to. Someone to spend time with. Another woman to confide in. But they never tried to be kind to her or help her. They just stood back and watched her grow old alone. Then they had the nerve to go to her funeral just because they were curious. Acting like they were all her friends. They never really knew anything about her. But they were not ashamed of how they treated her. Even after she died they were sitll nosey.
ReplyDeleteSherry, interesting comparison (with DESPERATE HOUSE WIVES)! Great job with this one! We all have (or we are) the nosey neighbors and/or friends who always have to be all up in our "business"--I've recently heard it called, "All up in my grill" (I like that!). We used to live in a trailer park and literally, the little old woman who lived in the trailer across from us knew about everything going on in that trailer park. At first, it really bothered me, but after I got to know her, for her, it gave her something to do. She was in her nineties and lived alone. She stayed fairly active, but her biggest activity--outside of looking out her window--was canning. There's only so much canning a body can do, you know! I eventually learned to just go over and visit with her when I could and just go ahead and share things with her that I didn't mind her knowing! It was much easier that way!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood stuff, thanks for helping me with this essay that i have to write in 4 hours
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