The novel Dinner at the Homesick Analysis Essay Example For Students

The novel Dinner at the Homesick Analysis Essay The novel Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is one of Tylers more complex because it involves not only the growth of the mother, Pearl Tull, but each of her children as well. Pearl must except her faults in raising her children, and her children must all face their own loneliness, jealousy, or imperfection. It is in doing this that they find connections to their family. They find growth through suffering. Cody Tull, the oldest child and the one most damaged by the failure of his parents marriage he becomes an aggressive, quarrelsome efficiency expert.Voelker 126 He feels that it his fault that Beck, the father, left. Especially when they bring up the arrow incident. Cody never really feels like a family as he expresses: You think were a familyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦when in particles, torn apart, torn all over the place?Tyler 294. He never recovers from his father leaving. We will write a custom essay on The novel Dinner at the Homesick Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The optimism of Ezra is never noticed by the family. He never let his past affect his life and very little bothered him. The family does not notice his optimism because Cody resented it, Jenny ignored it and Pearl misunderstood it. His optimism is shown when Cody is reflecting on their childhood, about how bad it was and how their mother was a shrieking witch. Ezra responds, She wasnt always angry. Really she was angry very seldom, only a few times widely spaced, that happened to stick in your mindTyler 295. Even though Ezra felt his childhood was not that unhappy, he never feel his family is a whole because of Codys jealousy, Jennys isolation and Pearls confusion. Ezra creates and manages a restaurant that corrects the excessive closeness of his family with an atmosphere that consoles the customer while making no demands.Volker 126 This was his idealistic home. Jenny, the youngest, becomes a pediatrician, a professional mother, who can avoid stifling emotional obligations.Volker 126 She, as a child, ignores most of whats going on so that no emotional harm is done to her. Jenny exclaimed: We made it didnt we? We did grow up. Why, the three of us turned out fine., as if she has no regrets nor has made no mistakes. This shows how she ignores and avoided emotional conflict throughout her life. Pearl often wondered how other families worked and why hers didnt. At one point late in life she indulges in the signal act of idealization imagining the lives of other, happy familiesVoelker 128. She always kept outsiders out of the lives of the Tulls. She did this for two reasons. The first was so no one could see their problems and the second was so her children couldnt see what they were missing. Closed families produce people less socially and personally satisfied. For instance, the son or daughter in a family business may tell the parent what to do with the business, but their relationship problem is never really resolved. It is just deferred until the next argument. This is an immature  way of dealing with a situation one cannot cope with. When family becomes locked into a particular pattern of inter-family strife and too many unspoken areas of responsibility and commitment occur the family will crumble. In another of Tylers novels, The Accidental Tourist, this is the problem with Macons family. It leads to problems with his wife. After his son dies his feelings are numb. He never opens up until an outsider, Muriel puts him in touch with the world again and real life. This is also the problem with the Tulls. When Ezra wants to become a partner with Ms. Scarlatti his mother tries to persuade him not to, even though it would benefit him greatly. Unfortunately, Pearl sees the world outside her family as alien. Even Ms. Scarlattis generous offer was a threat to the family. Because of this no guest ever came to the Tull house and when Pearl saw Josiah Payson at the house with Jenny she rudely insulted him so he would leave. She employs her practical skills to make the home airtight and efficient, her manipulative skills to bind her children to herVolker 128. This is how Pearl kept her family closed. .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 , .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .postImageUrl , .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 , .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:hover , .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:visited , .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:active { border:0!important; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:active , .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710 .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u94e4169d7202ba53d33fec9b53f74710:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Steinbeck exposes the racism that was prevalent at that time in America through the character of Crooks EssayThis double standard Pearl set explains why Cody, Ezra, and Jenny were successful in their careers even though they failed in their relationships with each other as a family. There upbringing in a closed family was destructive and like Macon, from The Accidental Tourist, they did not open up and flourish until they were exposed to the outside world. Whether short or drawn out all growing is painful. It tests a family for what its worth. Growth shapes a familys relationships, identities, and values. However families can not grow without suffering. That suffering is part of the growing process, which includes giving up personal choices, jealousies and animosities. So it is true to say that family life involves some suffering for the individuals and the group but hopefully it is for the better for more acceptance and love of one another.

Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo

Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo The Battle of Puebla was fought May 5, 1862 and occurred during the French intervention in Mexico. Landing a small army in Mexico in early 1862 under the pretense of forcing the repayment of Mexican debts, France soon moved to conquer the country. As the United States was occupied with its own Civil War and could not intervene, the government of Napoleon III saw an opportunity to install a friendly regime while gaining access to Mexicos natural resources. Advancing from Veracruz, French forces drove inland before engaging the Mexicans outside of Puebla. Though outnumbered and outclassed, the Mexicans successfully repulsed the French assaults on the city and forced them to retreat. Despite the fact that French forces succeeded in taking control of the country a year later, the date of the victory at Puebla inspired the holiday that has evolved into Cinco de Mayo. Background In the summer of 1861, President Benito Jurez announced that Mexico would suspend repayment of loans to Britain, France, and Spain for two years as he worked to stabilize his nations finances. These loans had primarily been taken to finance operations during the Mexican-American War and the Reform War. Unwilling to accept this suspension, the three European nations concluded the Convention of London in late 1861 and formed an alliance to deal with the Mexicans. In December 1861, British, French, and Spanish fleets arrived off Mexico. While a blatant violation of the U.S. Monroe Doctrine, the United States was powerless to intervene as it was embroiled in its own Civil War. On December 17, Spanish forces captured the fortress of San Juan de Ulà ºa and the city of Veracruz. The following month, 6,000 Spanish, 3,000 French, and 700 British soldiers came ashore. French Intentions On February 19, 1862, Mexican Foreign Minister Manuel Doblado met with British and Spanish representatives near La Soledad. Here the two European nations agreed not to advance further while debt negotiations were in progress. As talks progressed, the French captured the port of Campeche on February 27. A few days later, on March 5, a a French army under the command of Major General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Comte de Lorencez was landed and began operations. As it quickly became evident that French intentions extended far beyond debt repayment, both Britain and Spain elected to depart Mexico, leaving their former ally to proceed on its own. With the United States unable to intervene, French Emperor Napoleon III sought to topple Jurezs government, install a favorable regime, and gain unfettered access to Mexicos resources. Concentrating his army, Lorencez moved forward with an attempt to conquer Mexico. Lorencez Advances Pressing inland to avoid the diseases of the coast, Lorencez occupied Orizaba which prevented the Mexicans from taking possession of key mountain passes near the port of Veracruz. Falling back, the General Ignacio Zaragozas Army of the East took up positions near Acultzingo Pass. On April 28, his men were defeated by Lorencez during a large skirmish and he retreated toward Puebla. On the road to Mexico City, Jurez had ordered fortifications constructed around the city in anticipation of a French offensive. Reporting his victory at Acultzingo, Lorencez stated, We are so superior to the Mexicans in organization, race...and refinement of manners, that I am pleased to announce to His Imperial Majesty, Napoleon III, that from this moment on, as the leader of my 6,000 brave soldiers, I can consider myself the owner of Mexico. Battle of Puebla Conflict: French Intervention in Mexico (1861-1867)Dates: May 5, 1862Armies Commanders:MexicansGeneral Ignacio Zaragozaapprox. 4,500 menFrenchMajor General Charles de Lorencez6,040 menCasualties:Mexico: 87 killed, 131 wounded, 12 missingFrance: 172 killed, 304 wounded, 35 captured Major General Charles de Lorencez. Public Domain The Armies Meet Pushing on, Lorencez, whose troops were among the best in the world, believed he could easily dislodge Zaragoza from the town. This was reinforced by intelligence suggesting that the population was pro-French and would aid in expelling Zaragozas men. Reaching Puebla late on May 3, Zaragoza set his men to improving the citys defenses before placing his forces in an entrenched line between two hills. This line was anchored by two hilltop forts, Loreto and Guadalupe. Arriving on May 5, Lorencez decided, against the advice of his subordinates, to storm the Mexican lines. Opening fire with his artillery, he ordered the first attack forward. The French Beaten Meeting heavy fire from Zaragozas lines and the two forts, this attack was beaten back. Somewhat surprised, Lorencez drew upon his reserves for a second attack and ordered a diversionary strike towards the east side of the city. Supported by artillery fire, the second assault advanced further than the first but was still defeated. One French soldier managed to plant the Tricolor on the wall of Fort Guadalupe but was immediately killed. The diversionary attack fared better and was only repulsed after brutal hand-to-hand fighting. Attack of the Mexican cavarly at the Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862. Public Domain Having expended the ammunition for his artillery, Lorencez ordered an unsupported third attempt on the heights. Surging forward, the French closed to the Mexican lines but were unable to breakthrough. As they fell back down the hills, Zaragoza ordered his cavalry to attack on both flanks. These strikes were supported by infantry moving into flanking positions. Stunned, Lorencez and his men fell back and assumed a defensive position to await the anticipated Mexican attack. Around 3:00 PM it began to rain and the Mexican attack never materialized. Defeated, Lorencez retreated back to Orizaba. Aftermath A stunning victory for the Mexicans, against one of the best armies in the world, the Battle of Puebla cost Zaragoza 83 killed, 131 wounded, and 12 missing. For Lorencez, the failed assaults cost 462 dead, over 300 wounded, and 8 captured. Reporting his victory to Jurez , the 33-year old Zaragoza stated, The national arms have been covered with glory.† In France, the defeat was seen as a blown to the nations prestige and more troops were immediately sent to Mexico. Reinforced, the French were able to conquer most of the country and install Maximilian of Habsburg as emperor. Despite their eventual defeat, the Mexican victory at Puebla inspired a national day of celebration best known as Cinco de Mayo. In 1867, after French troops left the country, the Mexicans were able to defeat the forces of Emperor Maximilian and fully restore power to the Jurez administration.