Beginning Unit Two
The World of Work
In-class writing: (Suggested: 15 minutes)
Let’s return to a question I asked you on the very first day we got together.
- What is the difference between work and play as you now understand the concepts? Where do we learn about work? Where do we learn about play? How are the ways in which you work and play different from the ways your parents work and play? Look back at what you wrote earlier this semester. How is your understanding different now, particularly your understanding of play Use your key terms! That is the whole point!
Group Discussion of findings: (Suggested: 10 minutes)
Begin with a discussion of your individual findings, then consider the following question and come up with a list
- How has your understanding of work changed over the last academic year? Come up with a list of advice you would share to someone coming into Husson University as a first-year student.
Group Presentations: (Suggested: 5-7 minutes)
Class Discussion of group findings: (Suggested: 5-10 minutes)
New Concept: Abstract Thinking.
Journal: (Suggested: 3-5 Minutes)
What does the term “abstract thinking” mean to you?
Abstract Thinking
Abstract Thinking: Thinking characterized by the ability to use several concepts to make and understand arguments. It is the ability to understand the properties shared by a variety of specific items or events.
In this class, we engage in abstract thinking by applying our frames and other interpretive tools to the texts we read.
Now, let’s take these terms and concepts and begin to apply them to some of the stories we are familiar with:
Mini-Lecture: (5-7 minutes)
Who is the narrator?
- Well, we can pay attention to what they say and how they say it, just like you might pay attention to a coach, friend, or employer
Group Work: (10 Minutes)
- Let’s look at “The Untold Lie.” What are some conclusions we might reach about the narrator’s attitudes about work? Let’s begin with the specific details (make a list), and then FRAME or EXPRESS those details through the basic terms we have been discussing this semester. Generate a specific statement that does these things.
Class Discussion: (Suggested: 5 minutes)
Group Work: (10 Minutes)
Okay, now let’s do the same with “The Gift of the Magi.” What are some conclusions we might reach about the narrator’s attitudes about work, professionalism, or the workforce? Let’s begin with the specific details (make a list), and then FRAME or EXPRESS those details through the basic terms we have been discussing this semester. Generate a specific statement that does these things.
Class Discussion: (Suggested: 5 minutes)
Homework: (One page Blog Post)
What can “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” tell us about the basic struggles rural people may face when they aspire to a professional status?
[...] Day 1: The World of Work [...]
Pingback by Proposed TTR Syllabus « Approaches to Literature — February 22, 2011 @ 12:40 pm |
Charlie Osborne
2/23/11
The basic problems rural people face when they aspire to a professional status is somebody using them for their income. If somebody inherits a lot of money or land like Mrs. Beazley did then low class person will notice that and try to take advantage of a wealthy person. In this case it was Mr. Beazley who took advantage of his wife’s property and money she had inherited. He used her for his own personal benefit and decided to sell most of her property to pay off his own debts and use the money for his own needs or wants. He was with her for the wrong reason and because Mrs. Beazley paid for many years. There are several plots in the story that shows How miss treated Mrs. Beazley really is.
Another reason would be supporting children and the taking care of them. When a person has children, usually their top priority is to take care of them. This can be in the way of person when they want to have a professional status. This also shows in Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds, where she has to raise her children and do what is right for them. It also did not help that her husband showed no interest in trying to help her raise them or try to help his wife in any way at all.
Comment by Charlie Osborne — February 23, 2011 @ 9:36 pm |
There are many basic struggles that people who live in rural areas face. Especially when they try to aspire into the professional world. It’s really hard to do business in a rural town because it is so small and everyone knows you. For example, everyone in Shade City knew what was really up with Mr. Beazley. Horace Johnson said “Well, he’s always an enterprising’ man, better at speculatin’ with his wife’s property than workin’ with his hands. Guess he’ll have to hunt a job now, though”(400).This was said once the neighbors all found out that Mrs. Beazley had left Mr. Beazley. No one wanted to do business with him because they knew that he was just trying to make money off of his wife, and that he wasn’t a hard worker. This is definitely a disadvantage when you live somewhere rural.
Usually when you’re in a rural area you don’t have as many resources then you would if you were in a populated area. There isn’t as much out in rural areas. As you saw in Mrs. Beazley’s deeds, the only professional thing that Mr. Beazley did was use his wife’s property, that wasn’t even his and he tried to make himself a businessman by trying to sell them. He also owned the store, but since they lived in a rural area, it wasn’t doing that great because there wasn’t that much business besides the regulars who went there.
Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds shows us that living in a rural area makes it harder to pursue a professional career. There are more obstacles you have to try and over come, like knowing everyone in the small town, and not having as many resources as you would have had in a larger area.
Comment by Allison DeFilipp — February 23, 2011 @ 11:45 pm |
Douglass Xavior Haley
Eh 200
Adam Crowley
Due: February 24, 2011
“Mrs.Beazley’s Deeds”
In the short story “Mrs.Beazley’s Deeds” they talk anout the different things that they have to go through in there life while living where they do. One example of this is shown here ““we’ve got no room for our selves over this store…you’ve got nothing’ to do but keep house for a small family – and tend the store now and then when I’m busy” (389). With this you can see that that in a rural area its way harder to get out and make some thing out of your life. This shows how you have to try to do what you can with a small town and it is harder than it is to be somebody in a bigger city.
It shows that not everything can be determined around because apperonce because when Mrs.Lawrence comes in to the picture no one would have ever guessed that’s she was a lawyer because the way she was dressed and carried her self. She was also being taken in to the house to have shelter. Most of the story she has to work her magic in to Mrs. Beazley’s and show her that she can do what she wants and does not have to stick to a small rural town that has no promise for her or her kids.
The different struggles that come with living in a small town can really take a toile on someone, with the burden of having an in great full husband. Having some one tell you constantly telling you what to do, then having a lady come in and tell you that you can do better do not happen very often and when it does some may call it a metrical. Others may say fate but I fell that the best thing was her going out and getting what she wanted.
Comment by Douglass Haley — February 24, 2011 @ 12:34 am |
Some basic struggles that people may face when they are trying to be in a professional workplace are cultural references. Sometimes it’s harder to communicate and get along with people of different cultures because their beliefs and thoughts are so different. In Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds, Mr. Beazley is polite to people who come into his store but at home, he treats is family badly. So people that come into his work place think that he’s a good and friendly person where in reality he’s not. Mrs. Beazley’s idea of work is very strong. She works all of the time, from taking care of her family, to running the store. When people are trying to be a part of the workplace, they should have a good ability to work, they should be a hard worker or they will not get far.
A person’s idea of play might also be an issue. If they play a lot, they will not be very motivated to work. Usually people, who are adapted to work, don’t play much. Ms. Beazley had a good idea of work, therefore she didn’t play much. She didn’t have time to play, while Mrs. Beazley was busy enjoying himself, she was tending the store and taking care of their children. Income or lack thereof, is usually a struggle and the reason for wanting to join the workplace. People who don’t have much money and want to make something of themselves are doing this. Being in or going up in the workforce is a good way to create income and maybe earn a higher class. Some people think the higher up you are in the work force the better person you are and therefore high class you have. Mr. Beazley was always in the store, but was not working. Still people thought that he owned the store or worked there which he thought would give him high class, which was also why he was nice to people.
Comment by Alyssa Howell — February 24, 2011 @ 12:45 am |
There are a number of different struggles that a person may face in a rural area when aspiring into the professional field. In “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” a few things show how that can happen. One thing that shows the struggles that a rural person may face is Miss Lawrence. Women are often looked down upon by low class men who think they are better than any woman. In the book Mr. Beazley looks down on Miss Lawrence and merely puts her off as a low income school teacher when really she is a much more prominent figure than Mr. Beazley himself. His low class is a great example of what people face in today’s society not only women, but men too.
Another struggle seen in this story that can relate to our society today is income struggles. A person like Mr. Beazley is a man who has low income due to his class and his attitude towards his customers and his employees (his wife). He pretty much lives off of Mrs. Beazley and even tries to sell the last piece of land that her father gave to her in order to make a profit at her loss. He takes advantage of her and tries to steal what is hers, but in the end he loses almost everything. That is a good example of how both class and income relate to the struggles many rural people may face in today’s society.
The setting in which these people who were in “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” were a part of also played a role in the struggles much like it does today. They were in a time period when the men were thought to be much better than the women and people who came from more wealthy background were the better people. The same relates to today’s society. Not much with the men looking down on the women hopefully, but with the people who come from a higher income family. The setting that they grew up in made them the success that they may be. Mrs. Beazley is a good example. Although she may not be an overwhelmingly successful person, she has the liking of many of her peers and that helps her in the long run succeed in getting rid of Mr. Beazley.
Comment by Cody raven — February 24, 2011 @ 2:53 am |
Some basic struggles for rural peolpe who my aspire to a professional status one is everyone knows you. Next is you needed start up money which in a rural area there isn’t much to give so you need some money of your own to get started. In the story Mrs. Beazley Deeds we can see that Mrs. Beazley had the money in the land her father left her. This is how they got the story he running by Mr. Beazley sell of her fathers land a little at a time. For him to do as he see fit with no caring at all about how Mrs. Beazleyt at all.
Next women back in the 1900′s where seen not knowing much a but business example of this is when the author writes “I suppose you’ll admit that you’re a women and that you don’t know anything about busness” (388). The truth was that Mrs. Beazley know more about business then Mr. Beazley but he didn’t want to lesson. We see several examples of this in the story. When Mrs. Beazley is talking to Miss Lawrance about the store and what she would like to do with the last peice of land she has left.
Other problems rural ares have is if you do things to cause people not to trust you it’s very difficult to find jobs. The reason for this is in small town people see and hear evrything some one does so word gets around fast. once the wordsout people won’t higher you because of thing they herd that you done. Like when people found out that Mrs. Beazley left her husband they laughed him right out of town. The reason was because they didn’t like how he treated Mrs. Beazley and the kids and how he ran his business. Every thing was about what he wanted and did care about his family until the money was gone and he had nothing.
Once Mrs. Beazley left her husband and got controll of the money you can see where she is going to make a better life for her and the kids. The plane she makes to exspend her house and take in boarders shows that even though it’s a struggle in rural areas to asiper to a professional status it can be done with a little hard work.
Comment by Heidi Grant — February 24, 2011 @ 3:52 am |
Joshua Hartley
2/23/2011
EH 200
People that live in rural areas have difficulty when aspiring to their professional status. It is difficult to reach professional goals in a small town because everyone knows everybody else’s business. In the story “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” Mrs. Beazley says, “There was some talk of a ‘lectric company takin’ it—but it fell through. He wouldn’t sell to them—said he’d sell nothin’ to Sam Hunt—just because he was an old friend of mine”(395). Mr. Beazley had an opportunity to sell a great piece of land that would have brought in needed income. Because of the friendship that Mrs. Beazley had with Sam her husband refused to sell to him. The professionalism of the sale was sacrificed when Mt. Beazley allowed personal feelings to sway the sale. If they were in an area with a larger population than the odds of the potential buyer being a friend of Mrs. Beazley would have greatly decreased.
In the story Miss Lawrence convinced Mrs. Beazley to sell the store she shared with Mr. Beazley and move to one of the other properties in Rockwell, the home she grew up in. When Mr. Beazley came home to an empty store he found Sam Hunt. Sam had purchased the home and everything in it, leaving Mr. Beazley in “bewilderment”. We find out how quickly news spreads when we read, “Then he grimly set forth on foot for the village, refusing lifts from the loads of grinning men who passed him”(397). The deal with the store in Shade City had just happened, and everybody in the town new about it. Living in a small time it’s hard to keep things private because of the tight knit community, thus aspiring for professionalism in a rural town is nearly impossible.
Comment by Joshua Hartley — February 24, 2011 @ 3:55 am |
“Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” is a great example of the struggles that rural people face, when trying to reach a professional status. The main problem in rural areas is that everyone knows everyone. In a small town, it is common to know one’s neighbors and their business. Mr. Beazley’s neighbors certainly knew what he was up to, as one character states, “Well, he was always an enterprising’ man, better at specilatin’ with his wife’s property than workin’ with his hands . . .” (400). Clearly, Mr. Beazley’s attitude toward his wife, and his controlling nature, is no secret to the town that they live in. Their neighbors know that Mr. Beazley is taking advantage of his wife, which, in turn, makes it harder for Mrs. Beazley to obtain any status as a professional business owner.
At the end of the story, after the town finds out that Mrs. Beazley up and left her husband, the citizens gossip about Mr. Beazley’s upcoming search for a job; the community makes it pretty obvious that none of them are interested in doing anymore business with Mr. Beazley. Wiley even says, “He ain’t likely to git [a job] in a hurry – not in this county . . .” (400). Once Mr. Beazley made a reputation for himself as a greedy, irresponsible person, no one was interested in working with him. Any hopes that Mr. Beazley had of becoming a successful, professional, businessman have gone down the drain at this point. His behavior up to the end of the book is anything but professional; at least he had the decency to accept the deal.
Another problem with trying to become a professional at something, in a rural area, is the fact that resources are limited. The region isn’t as populated and the economy is probably down. In this story, we learn that there used to be a water power mill and saw mills, etc. but they have been taken apart. Also, if a person lives in a rural area, it takes longer to get places and to meet up with potential clients or affiliates.
Mr. Beazley didn’t have the attitude, behavior, or reputation of a professional man, which is why his wife and family left him, and why his neighbors laughed at him. Mrs. Beazley has the potential, without her husband, to become a professional and make an honest living off of her assets and willpower. It took a lot of strength for her to leave her husband, but she did what was right for her and her family.
Comment by Cayley Light — February 24, 2011 @ 5:03 am |
The story “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” tells us about some of the struggles that rural people can face while aspiring to a professional status. Among these struggles are efforts to overcome potential setting, class, and income issues. The rural setting itself poses problems for individuals aspiring to a professional status because their opportunities are limited. As in “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds,” the geographical setting of a rural area can limit business and customers for individuals who have businesses by restricting the number of people who bring money to the area. However, the geographical location may also help a business if it is the only one of its kind around and it has something that travelers would need in order to either live there or continue on to another town.
Class also plays a role in how rural people may aspire to a professional status. In the early 1900s, which was the time period for “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds,” women were generally regarded as being inferior to men. Due to this, aspiring women could have had a difficult time in gaining professional status because many men treated women with no class, and being in a rural setting such as a small town where everybody knows everybody does not allow the women to get away and do things on their own. For Miss Lawrence, however, professional status was attainable because she was not from a rural area like Mrs. Beazley was. Despite being one of New York’s best lawyers, she was assumed to be a poor school teacher by Mr. Beazley simply because of her gender, so although she had attained a professional status, it was not evident in the rural setting where men thought they were better than women, especially when it came to business.
It is also difficult for Mr. Beazley to attain a professional status because he lives in a small rural town. Due to the size of the town, everybody knows everybody, and in Mr. Beazley’s case, this negatively impacts his professional status. The townspeople know how Mr. Beazley treated his wife, and as they “gathered together around Hunt’s store, and as each new arrival was told the story, they slapped their thighs and roared with laughter” (400). His friends and neighbors find humor in his current situation because they think it was deserved and that it is ironic how he is now left with nothing because his wife was done putting up with him. Mr. Beazley also hears these same friends and neighbors of his saying, “Guess he’ll have to hunt a job now. He ain’t likely to git one in a hurry—not in this county” (400). This goes to further demonstrate how Mr. Beazley’s low-class actions and rural setting hinder his ability to achieve a professional status, and setting, class, and income can all influence one’s professional status in a rural town.
Comment by Tyler Smith — February 24, 2011 @ 6:07 am |
“Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” is a story that shows us the struggles many rural people face when they want to reach a professional status. In the story the character, Mrs. Beazley, has many challenges that stand in her way of becoming independent. Some things that stand in her way are income, class, and setting. These are many struggles rural people must face also.
In the story, Mrs. Beazley and her family live in a rural area. They live in a small town in the mountains. The disadvantage of this setting is the unavailability of outside resources. If one were to choose to leave this small town they wouldn’t know how. This rural setting also is where everyone knows everyone. This may hinder one to leave due to the fact that they know no one outside of the town. One may be scared to venture away from this sort of atmosphere where they feel comfortable.
Another struggle many rural people face with that “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” bring out is income. In this story Mrs. Beazley has the money, but her husband has control over it. Many rural people face lack of income, which can hinder their goal of reaching a professional status. Income goes a long way especially when one wants to make more of themselves and leave a rural area.
Income and setting are not the only struggles rural people must overcome, but also class. Class can have a big impact on how the professional world perceives you. In “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds”, Mr. Beazley has no class what so ever. He controls his wife and her finances. He also has no respect for women. Now with someone of this class, it may be hard to be respected at a professional status. Since Mr. Beazley lives into a small town everyone knows how he acts and he doesn’t receive much respect from the community. Many Rural people may struggle with this and have a hard time integrating onto the professional world.
Comment by Briana Shields — February 24, 2011 @ 12:34 pm |
There are many struggles that is exemplified in “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” that relate to having a professional career. One of these examples is the location. “Mr. Beazley had a long ride before him the next day; he was to drive to Princeville for supplies” (387). In order to have a professional career in a rural town, one must sacrifice working in order to travel to another town to get supplies. This takes away from working time and it also limits what the store has. If a drive to another town is a long way then that venture would only be made at a certain time. Multiple trips could not be made because of the amount of time it would take to go back and forth between the different towns.
Another struggle would be the location. “The southern sun warmed it at midday, and the north wind cooled it well; there was hardly room for the river and the road; and the “City” consisted of five or six houses, a blacksmith shop and “the store,” strung along the narrow banks” (382). Location when having a professional career is key. Having a store in a small town will provide a good amount of income, but not as much as having a store in a city or bigger town. This creates many sacrifices which include a decreased income. Due to the decreased income one’s family might have to help them run the store like in Mrs. Beazley’s case.
“Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” also brings about the financial struggle that living in a rural town might create. “ ‘But he won’t stock up as he ought to and he takes everything he can scrape and puts it into land and then sells that and gets more. And he swaps horses, and buys up stuff at ‘vandoos’ and sells it again he’s always speculatin’’” (384). Living in a small town and having a professional career often limits the amount of income one can bring in. In Mr.Beazley’s case he sells land and horses in order to gain more money for himself. This creates many moral struggles for Mrs. Beazley being that the property is hers. However, do to the rural location of their store there are not many options that one has in order to keep the debt collectors away.
Comment by Kristy Benner — February 24, 2011 @ 2:05 pm |
Aaron Weinstein
Professor Crowley
Homework fed. 21
There are a lot of different struggles that one may face in a rural area aspiring into the professional field. “Mrs. Beazley Deeds” shows a few things that could happen. Mrs. Beazley faced the problem of getting looked down on. Mr. Beazley ran his business off of Mrs. Beazley’s land that her father left her. Mr. Beazley was a low class person and also looks down on Miss Lawrence, who actually is more successful then he is. His low class personality is an example of what people may have to go through in today’s society.
Another struggle people may face is low income. Mr. Beazley is a really low class person not only because of his income, but how he treats all of his customers and his wife. Mrs. Beazley is a well rounded woman and Mr. Beazley takes advantage of her. He tried to sell the last piece of land that Mrs. Beazley’s dad left for her. He takes advantage of Mrs. Beazley but in the end has the one who loses everything. This is a good example of how class and income could be different struggles that a person may face aspringing into the professional world.
Comment by Aaron Weinstein — February 24, 2011 @ 2:35 pm |
“Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” is a short story that greatly displays many different kinds of struggles, including struggles to obtain a higher status. Mrs. Beazley is limited, due to her setting, income, and perceived class. Her income is now much lower, because she is unable to put it towards items she believes important. After she got married the only one with access to her money is her husband, and he just creates more debts due to his investments, “He’s got debts. Old ones and new ones. He was in debt when I married him-and he’s made more” (395). Mr. Beazley is unwilling to consider any of Mrs. Beazley’s ideas, especially when it come to finances, however he continues to make more debt even with her wealth and properties.
Mrs. Beazley’s setting puts her at a disadvantage, due to the size of the town; her opportunity to gain professional status is much lower. She owns a store but is unable to stock it the way she feels necessary, and has only two workers, herself and her daughter, “The store seems to be popular, doesn’t it? Not so much as it would be if he’d attend to it. But he won’t stock up as he ought to-and he takes everything he can scrape and puts it into land-and then sells that” (392-393). Mr. Beazley’s expects the store to prosper on its own; however, he leaves the work to Mrs. Beazley but does not allow her the opportunity to take over. She is expected to work there every day but not gain anything from it.
Therefore, she is unable to rise to a professional status because he husbands creates new obstacles and barriers for her each day. She is perceived to have a lower status because of her husband. In the end, she is able to remove all ties to Mr. Beazley and is given the opportunity she has always aspired to have. This story is a great representation of the struggles on may face when placed in a rural setting, while trying to develop into a professional status. In this story, Mrs. Beazley has to overcome her setting, lower income, lower-unknown status, and her husband. However many face similar challenges when trying to move up the chain of life.
Comment by rtaggart6 — February 24, 2011 @ 2:41 pm |
Katherine Morissette
“Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” is a story that shows the classic all-American struggle. Mrs. Beazley, of a high income background, experiences a struggle. She has less money, no time to play, and she works all the time. Mrs. Beazley working around the house was described as, “She was as one scrubbing a floor and then laying her cheek to it” (386). Mrs. Beazley had a high income but she wasn’t able to access her money because of her husband. Because of her situation, Mrs. Beazley had to work hard.
Mrs. Beazley’s struggle saw hope when she met Miss Lawrence. Miss Lawrence explained that the plot of Mrs. Beazley’s life wasn’t set, she could affect her future. Mrs. Beazley was described saying, “I’m not complainin’ of Mr. Beazley understand—only about this property. It does seem as if it were mine” (393). Mrs. Beazley knew her family was struggling but she did not want to leave her husband. Mrs. Beazley not wanting to divorce her husband shows a cultural reference of the time this story was written. In the 1900’s divorce was shameful and almost non-existent. Mrs. Beazley didn’t want to do something that was not socially acceptable.
Mrs. Beazley ultimately made the decision to leave her husband, take her children, move away and take her money. When Mr. Beazley found out of this he went to the town judge. After telling the judge what happened the judge said, “’Well I don’t see exactly what you can do about it, Mr. Beazley. You technically gave her the property and shes taken it—that’s all there is to it’”(398). Basically Mr. Beazley had messed up things for himself. He saw how much he took advantage of his wife and didn’t care. He loved his wife for her income. Mrs. Beazley finally realized this and she did something to improve her life.
Comment by kmorissette16 — February 24, 2011 @ 3:00 pm |
Joshua Russell
Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds shows us a wealth of information regarding to what basic struggles rural people may face when they aspire to professional status. Mrs. Beazley trying to go through the divorce process and trying to keep her land so that she can start doing what is best for her children shows us one example of what struggles she runs into when she tries to become a “professional parent”. She also shows us the struggles that she is forced to go through when she is trying to, in essence, become a professional store owner / saleswoman at the store where she works under her husband.
The first example of when Mrs. Beazley is trying to become a more professional business owner comes when she talk to Miss Lawrence about moving to Rockford. “’It’s not only because it’s our old place and I love it,’ she said, ‘and it’s not only because it would be so much better for the children – though that’s enough – but it would be better business to live there – and I can’t make him see it!’” (392). The problem that Mrs. Beazley is running into in this situation is the struggle that she is losing with her husband. Mrs. Beazley makes several arguments as to why it would be a more professional idea to move the business to Rockford due to the growing opportunities there, but Mr. Beazley won’t have it.
The second example of when Mrs. Beazley runs into problems when trying to become a more professional parent is when she talks to Miss Lawrence and Miss Lawrence is trying to convince her to get a divorce as it would be the best thing for her and the children. “’That’s what I can’t get reconciled to. I’ve had five children, Miss Lawrence. My oldest boy went off when he was only twelve, he couldn’t stand his father – he used to punish him so – seems as if he did it to make me give in. So he never had proper schoolin’ and can’t earn much – he’s fifteen now – I don’t hear from him very often, and he was never very strong.” Mrs. Beazley’s eyes filled. ‘He hates the city, too, and he’d come back to me any day – if it wasn’t for his father.’” (393). This shows the struggle that Mrs. Beazley is going through trying to become a more professional parent. Her children need her to make a change because it would be in their best interest, but Mr. Beazley has held her back at every turn. He tries to convince her to see things his way at every turn, which creates another struggle which Mrs. Beazley has to go through to become more professional.
Comment by Joshua Russell — February 24, 2011 @ 3:01 pm |
Within Mrs. Beasley’s Deads it can be said that Mr. and Mrs. Beasley struggle to get to a professional status due to being in a rural area. One point is that both Mr. and Mrs. Beasley do not know the difference between what is work and what is play. This is explained as they have to take care of the store and their home, however their home is directly above the store. After Mr. Beasley asks when dinner will be ready Mrs. Beasley, ‘went slowly upstairs’ (387). With both being in close proximity of each other makes it hard to differentiate between the two. This makes it hard to focus on your profession and take it further. By having more time to play would make it easier to make the difference between work and play.
Furthermore as living in a rural area and setting makes it hard as travelling from town to town was difficult. No trains entered their town. This places an increasing amount of stress on the community as it boils down to whatever they have in their local town is what they commonly see. This therefore is due to their setting. This reduces the chance to advance in their professions, even though Mr. Beasley rarely contributed to work, which makes it difficult to gain a higher income.
As Mrs. Beasley completed the large majority of work within the store she did not have much time to play. Mr. Beasley just enjoyed smoking his pipe. However once Mrs. Beasley leaves him it leaves him with nothing and making him having to work to earn a living. When she leaves Horace Johnson says, “’better at specilatin’ with his wife’s property than workin’ with his hands. Guess he’ll have to hunt for a job now’” (400). Living in a rural area like they do makes it extremely difficult to regain work as everyone knew the situation Mr. Beasley encountered. His income is diminished, without a job and within a small setting. This equates to a bleak future for him.
Comment by james crockford — February 24, 2011 @ 3:22 pm |
There are many struggles that people in rural areas face when aspiring to a professional status. The story “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” shows fantastic examples of this. The foremost and largest example being Mr. Beazley and the role he plays throughout the entire story. Though he lives in a very small town in the middle of the mountains, he tries to do big business, tending his small store, which he considers to be “bigger” than it really is, and by doing real estate with his wife’s property. None of the money however goes toward things he or his family needs to pay for. His larger than life aspirations and irresponsible behavior get him absolutely nowhere in the end, except alone and with nothing that he earned.
Another example of the struggles of rural life is the plight of Mrs. Beazley. This poor woman has a family and home to take care of, plus her conniving husband on top of everything. She realizes that there could be a better life for herself and her children if she left and commanded things on her own, however, she feels and obligation to stay exactly for that same reason. She is looked down upon by her husband for thinking for herself, which unfortunately happened quite often in those times, and it was not until Miss Lawrence came along that she realized that she did not have to stay and succumb to her husband’s ridiculous way of life. This being said, one can see that Mr. and Mrs. Beazley are prime examples of how people living in rural areas often struggle when aspiring to a professional status.
Comment by Brooke Geel — February 24, 2011 @ 3:40 pm |
Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds gave us a lot of struggles that rural people face when they aspire to a professional status. A rural person does not have a lot of options in order to become a professional. Mrs. Beazley was controlled by her husband who did not think she knew anything about business which limited her options to become anything more than a housewife. Because Mrs. Beazley is a rural person and comes from a small town her options seemed to only be a housewife. Whereas Miss Lawrence came from the city where she had limitless options and was able to educate herself to become a lawyer
Another struggle rural people might face would be culture references. A way that a person is brought up really defines them, and coming from a small town can have a big affect on the person you become. Mrs. Beazley was told that women did not know anything about business; she was told that basically women knew nothing. Mrs. Beazley even believed that women did not know anything “Girls don’t know nothin’!” (394). Mrs. Beazley’s culture references are what make her believe women are less. However Miss Lawrence came from a different place where women were believed to know things and that is why she is one of the top lawyers in New, York.
Being in a rural area is like being stuck. Transportation was limited during 1916 so when living in a small area, those were pretty much the only people you had to interact with. This can really put some strain on a person aspiring to a professional level. Everyone knowing your business would put a strain on it because If you were to do something bad everyone would know and judge you for it therefore making it hard for people to take you seriously. Whereas if you were in a big city less people know you and it is easier to keep your personal life and professional separate.
Comment by Libby McMullen — February 24, 2011 @ 4:11 pm |
Keyleigh Bennett
Adam Crowley
EH 200
February 24, 2011
Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds
One major struggle that people face when they aspire to a professional status is someone wanting them for their money. Many people will try to use someone for their wealth or fame. Mrs. Beazley was given land and money from her father when he passed, and Mr. Beazley tried to take advantage of her good fortune. Mr. Beazley sold most of Mrs. Beazley’s property for his own personal use. Mrs. Beazley cried, “You’re going to sell the Rockford lot—I know it! How can you do it, William! The very last piece of what father left me!—and it’s mine—you can’t sell it—I won’t sign!” (388). This shows that Mrs. Beazley was very passionate about her family and the land her father left her.
Another major issue with rising to a high status is sexism. Mrs. Beazley had to deal with this on a daily basis. Mr. Beazley explained, “I suppose you’ll admit that you’re a woman—and that you don’t know anything about business, and that it’s a man’s place to take care of his family to the best of his ability”(388). This shows that Mr. Beazley believes that women don’t know anything about business. However, Mrs. Beazley eventually overcomes this issue and rises to the top to win everything back.
Comment by Keyleigh Bennett — February 24, 2011 @ 4:20 pm |
Through the short story, “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds”, struggles rural people face when trying to aspire to a professional status become evident. The two that stand out, which are also related to each other, are: education and income.
People of a rural area may not have many options for education, or better yet, able to be provided with an education. Mrs. Beazley explains the importance of her children’s education, “It’s worse now for Luella. Luella’s at an age where she oughtn’t to be tendin’ store the whole time-she ought to be at a good school” (394). She wants better for her daughter but doesn’t have the means in providing that for her.
Income is another factor for rural people. If they don’t have the financial means to pay for an education clearly that education isn’t going to happen, which poses a challenge in aspiring to a high professional level. Miss Lawerence, the boarder, helps Mrs. Beazley how she can aquire the financial means to make that education possible, “If you leased or sold the falls you could afford to send Luella away to school” (395). It becomes reasonable to Mrs. Beazley that it is possible to acquire the income to provide a better education for her daughter.
Mrs. Beazley not only shows the struggles presented to rural people in aspiring to a professional status, but shows how to overcome those barriers.
Comment by Lauren Taylor — February 24, 2011 @ 5:39 pm |
Rural people struggle with the culture in which it functions in and it is very hard stray from what people expect. Mrs. Beazley for example truly believes that she is unable to stray from her husband, ‘…if I don’t do as he says…he takes it out of us… and with him with the Bible on his side!’ (393). She sees the standard of religion and marriage one she is unable to go against, “…I don’t believe in divorce…” (393). In the early 1900’s divorce was uncommon and often frowned upon people living in a community who believe in the same qualities of life, often struggle with a helping hand. If a neighbor was to help, they risk the chance of being cast out of the community, Mrs. Beazley’s neighbors where clearly aware of her husband’s abusive nature.
After Mrs. Beazley’s brave escape from her husband the entire town have a laugh about her husband’s recent downfall; “Clean as a whistle!….’ ‘ Not so much as a cat to kick!” (400). This example, of the community getting a kick out of Mrs. Beazley cleaning her husband’s out and leaving show’s they are well aware of his temper. Never the less the author does not express any of the town’s people trying to help her. People tend to watch and rumor about each others lives in a rural community, but taking it upon themselves to get involved in each others lives for the sake of what is right is uncommon. The community in Shade were well aware of temper that Mrs. Beazley had endured from her husband and they were also aware money making tactics; “Better at specilatin’ with his wife’s property than workin’…” they announced.
Therefore a rural community knows everyone’s business, who are wronged and whose standard of living is poor. In Mrs.Beazley’s Deed, it showed that her neighbors were well informed and seen the quality of life that she and her children had to endure. Whether the reason as to why Mrs. Beazley was not offered help until a stranger came to town is not known. It is hard to believe that the Judge of the community did not understand the legal formalities that where expressed to Mrs. Beazley by the stranger, but it was unfortunate that she had to wait for help. Proving that both a rural community struggles with going against the norm and butting in to others business even when it maybe most needed.
Comment by Katherine Stewart — February 24, 2011 @ 6:57 pm |
There are many factors that contribute to the struggles that people in rural areas face when aspiring to have a professional status. There are quite a few examples of this
within the story, “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds” The most prominent example is people being used for their money since the everyone knows each other. Mrs. Beazley was given a piece of land by her father when he passed away, and wanted the best for her family.
Her husband on the other hand, just wanted to swindle his wife for her belongings for
his own benefit. Mr. Beazley is perceived as low class and drags down Mrs. Beazley with him. He already had debts before and after marrying Mrs. Beazley. “ He’s got debts. Old ones and new ones. He was in debt when I married him- and he’s made more” ( 395)
Mrs. Beazley cannot progress with anything because it is so frowned upon by her husband.
This began to change when she meet her new boarder, Miss Lawrence. This new woman in Mrs. Beazley’s life explained to her that she had options. She was a successful lawyer from New York and knows the laws. She told her divorce is possible and she could take her children along with her possessions and just leave. Miss Lawrence told her she would take care of it.
This left Mr. Beazley to fend for himself. No one in the rural town liked him because they knew he was low class and a swindler therefore , no one would hire him. The people of this town are aware of Mrs. Beazley’s constant struggles with Mr. Beazley.“They gathered around Hunt’s store and as each new arrival was told the story, they slapped their thighs and rolled with laughter” (400) This was ironic and showed that a rural town can affect your professional status because everyone is close-knit. His setting, lack of income and social status all went down the drain because of his actions that were displayed.
Comment by bliss benson — February 24, 2011 @ 7:31 pm |
Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds shows many aspects of the struggles one can encounter on their journey to success. One of the biggest struggles I noticed was that Mr. Beazley’s debts, old and new. He took out the money to increase his chances of being successful but in the end he couldn’t compensate for what he spent with his earnings. His business was not successful mostly because he did not apply himself to it as much as he should have. When Mrs. Beazley is asked if their store is successful she responds, “Not so much as it would be if he’d attend to it” (393). She feels that if he worked a little harder and cared a little more about his success he would achieve it; however you only get what you put into something.
Mrs. Beazley’s struggle with success is that she has the impression that women shouldn’t be successful, that was how she was raised. The men of the time were the organizers of all business interactions and looked down upon women who thought they could be successful on their own. Men appeared to believe that they were a woman’s savior and that one would be nothing without the intelligence of man. Once Mrs. Beazley realizes she has the ability to be successful, with the help of Miss Lawrence, she takes initiative and makes the decision to play the cards which she held in her hand. These cards were the property which she had left, the money which Mr. Beazley kept in her account, and the support from her sister and Miss Lawrence.
The reputation one makes for themselves on their journey to success is another thing that one may want to consider. If people think of you as being disrespectful and nothing but a business man they may not want to support you when things do go badly. This is shown at the end of the story when the people of Shade City hear that Mr. Beazley’s wife had left him. They discuss how he will have to start hunting for a job now that his store has been sold and one man states, “He ain’t likely to git one in a hurry—not in this county…”, which shows that the people of his community have lost their respect for Mr. Beazley as a worker and an overall person (400). They were shocked by his display of rage when he realized his family had left him, and weren’t surprised that they did. Their conversation implies that none of those men were going to employ him in this lifetime.
On the road to success there are many factors and obstacle that one must overcome, and if you can’t then you fail. There usually time to try again, but one must consider their past actions before they expect to get sympathy from someone else. If one has wronged another they may be less willing to lend a helping hand, which is why it is important to do unto others what you wish to be done to you.
Comment by Kailtyn-Jade Dingley — February 24, 2011 @ 8:05 pm |