Monthly Archives: October 2012

“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” Christian Siason

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In his poem, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Walt Whitman describes the world he sees around him, utilizing imagery masterfully, painting  a picture for us readers to see clearly. He talks of watching seagulls flying around and of looking at “the vapor as it flew in fleeces tinged with violet,” among other image-provoking statements.

He also talks about how he related to the people on the ferry and the generations of people to come. He said that he too “walk’d the streets of Manhattan island, and bathed in the waters around it,” among other things all these people have done and will continue to do. This whole message really stuck with me. I’ve taken the Staten Island Ferry countless times, and I see all the other passengers. However, I’ve never really thought of them in the way that Whitman considers his fellow passengers in the poem.

Every time I take the ferry, there are hundreds of other people on the boat. Many of these people take the ferry each and every day, and have done so for years. It’s mind-boggling to think that for decades before I was even born, the same amount of people were likely making the daily trip to and from Staten Island and Manhattan. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken the ferry, and for decades to come, hundreds of thousands of people will continue to take the ferry. People will sit where I’ve sat, and I’ve sat where other people have sat. This whole thought makes me truly realize just how small we are in this world.

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry may seem, at first glance, to be a simple poem about what a man sees on the ferry while going home from work, but I found a much deeper meaning to it. It’s really a rather thought-provoking piece, and I’m glad I read it, as it has opened up a whole new perspective to me.

Ariana Z. Crossing Brooklyn Ferry 10/22/12

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Prior to reading the poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” the first thing that stood out was the title. It seemed to be so pedestrian, nothing about it screams outlandish or peculiar. In its simplicity, it actually became more intriguing for me.

As I began reading the poem I must say that some of it puzzled me. It seems to me like the poet decided to write down literally all of the thoughts that came to his mind as he crossed the Brooklyn ferry. At first he is compelled to thoroughly describe his surroundings. He makes sure to state that though this ride seems to intrigue him, in reality it is a ferry ride that many people have taken and that many people will continue to take in the future. It seems like maybe he is trying to make everyone more aware of their surroundings. This truly got me thinking about the everyday experiences I go through and how many others around me are possibly doing the same things. This really makes me wonder about the way that I drive from day to day. On most occasions, I feel compelled to allow others to pass me when at a stop sign, or I signal for the other person to turn first when at a light. In hindsight, I see how this can really have an affect on someones day. I do it so often I almost forget when I am doing it, analyzing it now, however, I see that  my act of kindness could mean nothing to someone or to the contrary have a great influence on their day.

With the first two pages of the poem I could not help but imagine a grandfather talking to his grandchildren, describing the wonders of day to day experiences. In great detail, the poet notes the way this ferry ride triggers his sense of sight. It was, in my opinion, extremely rushed and cluttered with details. The constant use of repetition of certain words at the beginning of a sentence also contributed to the feeling I got when reading this poem. I felt as though the only proper way to read it was with a fast pace. Apparently, this consistent repetition oozed a sense of anxiousness with me. It seems to me like the poet is trying to convey that once you question things in your life that are seemingly simple, you soon notice they they in fact have an impact on our lives.

The point in the poem that truly confused me was on page 30, stanza 7. It lead me to assume that this poem was written about a pregnant woman. I think this thought was triggered with “the closer I yet approach you” which in my eyes was a woman who was months along in her pregnancy.

The end of the poem essentially went back to the beginning and personified the poet’s opinion of encouraging all these wonderful things surrounding him to continue on.

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry: 10/22/12

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Tonight’s homework assignment was to read the poem, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, written by Walt Whitman.  My initial thought upon looking at the poem was, “Wow, this is long.  How much could he possibly have to write about riding the ferry?”  But as I read the poem, I realized that he is very observant in his writing and makes the ferry ride a more interesting experience than any other New Yorker.

I think one of Whitman’s main points of the poem is the unity and the bond shared by all people, and most specifically by all New Yorkers.  There is a certain personality and attitude shared by native New Yorkers, and you can tell just by looking at someone that he or she is from the city.  One of the first lines that stood out to me regarding this theme is in the second stanza: “every one disintegrated yet part of the scheme.”  It is as if he is saying that everybody is different and has their own thoughts and opinions, and yet, by living in New York City, you fit into a certain demographic, a certain culture in and of itself.  One of the other lines that I particularly noticed in accordance with this theme was in the sixth stanza; Whitman writes, “Lived the same life with the rest, the same old laughing, gnawing, sleeping.”  It seems to me that he is pointing out that New Yorkers share a common bond, there is a common thread that makes many New Yorkers able to relate to one another.  He continuously uses the phrase, “I too,” as if grouping himself in with this subculture of New Yorkers that he has created.

Not only does Whitman write about New Yorkers being able to relate to one another in the present day, he also reflects on the fact that New York does not only contain native New Yorkers, but that it is a “melting pot,” as the city is most commonly referred to, and that people of different nationalities can also relate to one another.  He so clearly points this out in the third stanza, with the phrase, “The flags of all nations.”  In addition, Whitman introduces the point that New Yorkers, both native New Yorkers and immigrants, can relate to those who came before them, their ancestors.  To Whitman, there is not much difference between their struggles and their lives and those of the current population.  He makes this very clear at the beginning of his fifth stanza, “What is it then between us? What  is the count of the scores or hundreds of years between us? Whatever it is, it avails not -distance avails not, and place avails not.”  I think that Whitman, at this point and even at other points in the poem, broadens the scope beyond New York to include all of humanity.  There is a common bond between all of humanity, personalities, traits, and experiences that bring us all together and make us one with each other.  I think that this poem is not so much describing the ferry ride to and from the city, but describing how an experience such as the ferry ride joins other experiences in creating unity among people of different ages, genders, cultures, ethnicities, etc.

There is something about New York; it is a symbol of hope and adventure for many people, young and old, from all different parts of the world.  I think this is another aspect of the poem that Whitman ties in with the other two themes I spoke about.  In the ninth stanza, he writes, “Cross from shore to shore, countless crowds of passengers! Stand up, tall masts of Manhattan! stand up, beautiful hills of Brooklyn!”  No matter where you come from, these landmarks are recognizable and they symbolize many things for many people. Walt Whitman used this poem to speak about the unity of people, and he incorporated New York into that unifying bond.  I think the poem is powerful and very well-written and I like the fact that it applies to the “melting pot” population of the city, taking into account all of time and space.

“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” – Shumaila

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“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” is basically a poem about a man standing on a ferry between Brooklyn and Manhattan and observing the view from both sides. He sees the sun and clouds, and refers to them as “you”. The crowds of men and women evokes his curiosity. He begins to wonder about how they will be traveling on the same ferry, taking on the same commute for years to come. He draws a comparison between the people on the ferry and the tides of the ocean. Even in fifty or hundred years, there will still be a steady rush of people on the ferry just like the ocean tides will continue to flow.

The speaker then explained every detail of the ferry, and related all the observations to what the reader may have seen had they ever been on the boat. The speaker goes on to paint a vivid picture of what exactly the reader would see, like the flags of all nations,  or the chimneys burning in the sky. He saw “a reflection of the summer sky in the water”, making the reader picture looking down from a boat seeing the sky’s reflection in the ocean water.

He then went on to discuss the things he did in his life as though we were there with him. He related it to the reader when he consistently said throughout the whole fifth stanza, “I too did…” He pointed out how he had some dark times in his life, when he was dishonest, greedy, and adulterous. After he finishes his confession, he went back to explaining the tides crashing. Once again, he looked out to the people and thought about how the crowd of people will always be there in the years to come. He explained that life will continue to go on, and that this ferry will always be transporting passengers between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Wednesday 10/17 Andrew Garafalo

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This past Wednesday all the Macaulay students attended the Broadway play “The Heiress”. This was the first play I have ever been to and it was really a great experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity. The play was based on Henry James’ “Washington Square”, and although it was very similar to the novel, it had some noticeable differences. The most important difference was the dramatic ending, in which Catherine leaves Morris outside, banging on the door and begging for her to come back. I thought this was much more suitable for the play since the ending of the novel was rather dry. Other minor changes I picked up on were the trip to Europe taken by the doctor and Catherine only lasted six months instead of twelve. Also Mrs. Montgomery visited Dr. Sloper at his house instead of hers.

The novelty of watching actors perform live, flawlessly on stage was incredible. The cast did a fantastic job of portraying the characters. My particular favorite was Lavinia Penniman. The actress brought out her nosiness and dramatic nature very well. Catherine was also played superbly. The actress portrayed her to be even more awkward and shy than I imagined her to be after reading the book. Morris and Dr. Sloper were also excellent. I really felt bad for Catherine after her father had insulted her and Morris had abandoned her. It takes good acting to bring out emotions in people, and a lot of the audience was laughing throughout the play, including myself, at Catherine’s timidness and Lavinia’s lines. I noticed a lot of lines that came straight out of the book, and for that and other reasons I am glad we were introduced to the story before we saw the play. It definitely enhanced an already good experience.

The Heiress – 10/17/2012

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On Wednesday, I went to see my first ever Broadway play. It was titled “The Heiress”, and based off the novel “Washington Square”. The moment I walked into the theater, I was able to see the seating, and the velvet balcony rails. I was amazed by the grand setting with the extravagantly long curtains covering the center stage. As the play began, I found myself comparing the image I had from the characters in the book to the actors on stage. Usually, when I compare movies to books, they never quite satisfy the image I have in mind. However, this time, the actors perfectly portrayed the characters just as I had them in my mind. Catherine’s awkward poses always seemed to be just as I imagined.

Compared to how the movies depicted Catherine, I preferred the play much more. I feel as though Catherine wasn’t as determined to please her father as in the movies. She wasn’t introduced by anyone to Morris, but rather met him all on her own. They fell in love without the help of anyone else. She also seemed more of an independent character than she did in the movie versions.

My favorite thing about the play was the dramatic ending. At the end, everyone around me was sitting at the edge of their seats desperately anticipating  Catherine’s next move. I loved how the ending was much more fulfilling in the end. Initially when I finished the book, I felt as though Catherine didn’t make the right decisions. However, when I watched the play, I finally fully understood the final scene. I was completely content with the way it ended. The performance was so amazing, that I eagerly look forward to my next broadway play. It was definitely an experience worth remembering.

Corinna K. 10-17-12

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Our trip to see The Heiress on Broadway this past Wednesday was, for the most part, a very enjoyable one.  I’ve gone to see Broadway plays before, but this time the experience was a bit different. This time around, I knew what to expect because I had read the book the play was based on.  Although for many people this would be seen negatively, to me it made things more interesting. It was fun being able to compare the two versions of the story.  I personally favor the play over the book Washington Square. The play incorporated a lot of humor into the telling of the story, although I do understand that it is easier to accomplish this through acting as opposed to writing.  In addition, I loved the ending of the play. When reading the book I was dying for Catharine to give Morris a taste of his own medicine or any type of punishment at all. When Catharine stands up Morris in The Heiress by leading him to believe that she will take him back and elope with him, I could not have been happier.

Overall, the play The Heiress was very entertaining.  Besides the wonderful actors and well-written script, the props and setting were also worth mentioning. I felt that the detail and effects, such as the light shining through the windows to show that it was morning, were very cool.  They made the scenes seem very believable which I loved. The only complaint that I have is that the seats where too steep, making the play hard to see without uncomfortably leaning over the railing.

10/17

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When I left the theater on Wednesday night, all I could think was…WOW!  I loved reading Washington Square, and so I was a little apprehensive towards seeing it played out.  After all, movies generally seem to ruin the books that they are based on.  The Harry Potter movies took all the goodness of the series and twisted it beyond recognition (um in my opinion…), and I was scared that this play would do the same. However, I was pleasantly surprised; instead of spoiling the novel, The Heiress seemed to even improve the book and fix what it was lacking.  The surprise ending of the play demonstrated Catherine’s growth better than the book; instead of merely kicking Townsend out of the house, Catherine plays a nasty revenge and allows Townsend to feel the pain and desperation that she endured those years back.

I also thought the set of the house parlor was incredible.  Though that was the only setting in the play, the front room of the house where the story took place was rich and life-like.  I almost couldn’t blame Morris for obsessing over the quality and wanting to move in!  The actors and actresses couldn’t have done better, the script was laugh-out-loud funny, and even the detailed costumed contributed largely to the play.  Even though I read the book, I was never bored and had a great time.  The show was absolutely amazing.

The Heiress 10-17

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On Wednesday, our class got the opportunity to go see the play The Heiress. After reading Washington Square by Henry James, I was eager to see it in another light, and I was not disappointed.

I think the play was excellent. It wasn’t a carbon copy of the book, but that was not the purpose of it. It did a good job of maintaining the key aspects of the book while adding many humorous and dramatic touches. Unlike the movie, I did not feel the play modernized the book, but rather it just allowed readers to see it come to life like never before. For example, the part involving Catherine’s red dress was really able to be visualized as we could see the vibrant red dress and hear Dr. Sloper’s tone of voice as he spoke to Catherine. The ending was probably my favorite part, as the curtain went down to the fading sound of Morris crying out, “Catherine! Catherine!” It was different from the book, but the dramatic aspect of it was incredible. I never thought I would feel that way about a play, but I was really overcome with emotion when I heard the cries for Catherine as she walked away and the curtain went down. It was definitely another great experience for me, and I was happy I enjoyed it as much as I did.

The Heiress (October 17, 2012)

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My first Broadway play. Wow, what an experience! Since this was my first Broadway experience, I really didn’t know what to expect. The theater was beautifully designed. Even though we were pretty far back in the theater, the view of the stage was relatively good. Once I got into my seat, I couldn’t wait for the play to start.

In the opening act, we were introduced to the main characters. Right off the bat, I knew I was going to like the cast. Jessica Chastain, in my opinion, was a great choice to play Catherine. I like how she switched personalities from minute to minute. When Morris was around, she acted awkward and shy, yet, when she was alone, she was lively and witty. David Strathairn, who played Dr. Austin Sloper, also did a fantastic job. I would not have thought of David Strathairn to play Austin, but after seeing him on stage, I would reconsider. I was not really impressed with the character Morris, played by Dan Stevens. Stevens is a good actor, but I do not think that he fit the character. He seemed to be a little too charming. The character of Morris was intended to be a jerk, uncaring about Catherine and caring more about her money. It appeared that Morris actually developed feelings for Catherine in his actions and words, contrary to the plot and back story.

As for the plot, I feel that the playwright and directors took a few too many liberties from the original novel, for better or for worse. For example, Morris is introduced to Catherine by Marian, rather than Mrs. Penniman. That changes the course of the plot because the whole story is centered on the fact that Mrs. Penniman forces Morris onto Catherine instead of allowing her to develop her own feelings. In the play, it seems that Catherine genuinely falls for Morris, without the help of the other characters. In addition, Catherine does not live to please her father in the play as much as in the book. She played a more oppositional role on the stage. For instance, she fought with her father about writing her out of his will. She even agreed to help him write her out.

Finally, the ending. I absolutely loved it! I thought it was a lot more dramatic and theatrical than the ending in the novel. In the last act, Morris was at the house with Mrs. Penniman when the family returns home early. Austin, who was very sick, dies soon after. Morris and Catherine plan to elope, but Morris doesn’t come back that night for her. It turns out that he has chosen to go to Louisiana and California without her. He returns a year later, asking to escape again. Catherine bizarrely agrees, and Morris runs home to pack. While he is gone, Catherine turns to Mrs. Penniman and says something to the effect of, “He wanted my money, and now he wants my heart too.” From the way she said that, it appeared that she might in fact kill him. However, as a plot twist, Catherine closes the windows shades, turns off most of the lights and has the maid lock and bolt the door when Morris arrives. Morris proceeds to bang and scream at the door. After a few seconds, she kills the lights and quietly walks upstairs to her room, leaving him out in the cold. Curtain drops. Amazing!