Blogpost 13

1. How would you describe the “American Dream?”

To me, I think the American Dream is the idea that all US citizens have equal opportunity and can all achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination.  When I picture the American Dream, I think about a family, two parents and two kids, all standing comfortably in front of a house, with two cars and a dog.  I am well aware that not everyone wishes to have a family and a house like this but I see such a thing like having a family as something to be really proud of.  I mention the comfortable part because what this picture entails is that this family is well off and not financially struggling to hold their property and can well provide for their family.  

2. What is your definition of wealth?
Literally, the definition of wealth to me is having a lot of money, because typically when I use it I use it in the context, “Oh he/she can afford to do that because they are relatively wealthy.”  A lot of Gatsby.  But if you would like to take it another way, wealthy could just imply you have a lot of something.  That does not necessarily have to be an object either, perhaps a person is wealthy in happiness.

3. What are Americans’ attitudes toward wealth and poverty?
Typically, wealth is a large dividing factor between some people.  Those who live in poverty typically resent those who are wealthy for the fact that they are so privileged, can live so comfortably, and can afford to make mistakes without it being a potential to have to miss a meal from a financial mistake.  People who are wealthy dread the idea of living in poverty, because I cannot think of anyone who would like to live a life struggling to make it day to day.

4. What is your attitude toward wealth and poverty?

I feel bad for the people in poverty, it is a really sad thing to see that people are struggling so much especially if they are good people.  As far as wealth, sometimes I am a bit jealous by their lifestyles but overall I recognize the fact that there will always be the rich, and there will always be the poor.  I cannot hate my life for not being filthy rich, that would be extremely selfish of me, but I fear the idea of living in poverty.  I also recognize the fact that some people are just born fortunate, and others just are not.  

Blogpost 12

There is a large separation between translations 1-3 and translation 4. For one, quotes one through three begin by automatically introducing Gregor/Gregory Samsa. I think this affects the tone because it creates a familiar introduction, as many people start by stating their names when introducing themselves. The words chosen also provoke different imagery when compared to translation four. Translations 1 and 2 both describe Greg’s dreams as “uneasy,” versus translation 3 which describes them as “troubled.” Uneasy and troubled differ because troubled sounds slightly more extreme than uneasy. The word troubled contributes more to how Gregor Samsa was feeling at the time of awakening. The syntax of 1-3 differs from 4 because they are all straight on sentences with no commas in between. Lastly, 1-3 each use some kind of adjective to describe to describe the size of the bug Gregor was, using either “gigantic, giant, enormous.”





Translation 4 differs from 1-3. It uses much harsher diction to describe what happened to Gregor Samsa, by using words such as “monstrous” or “vermi or “agitated.” I think each contributes to the intensity of the situation, versus the initial interpretation of 1-3. Translation 4 also has commas to break up the sentence. I think this really adds effect to the sentence because it requires the reader to take dramatic pauses. Overall, translation 4 is the most effective because it has the most emotions invoked in it which provokes more emotions within the reader. The difficulty of having a text translated from one language to another is that you usually lose some of the meaning within the process. Some languages have certain tones, words, and structure that is intended to make their audience feel a certain way but when translated it loses part of its meaning, for reasons such as things can be translated differently or that specific tone or word just does not exist in the language it is being translated to.