Journal #9

Mini-Pastiche #2

Jen stared bleakly at the rusting pipes visible through the broken ceiling. Yet another example of the problems within her home. Her marriage was falling apart at the seams and the only thing she could do to better the conditions surrounding it, would tear it further apart.
"Whut are yu doing in here woman! I told yu to keep yuself in the kitchin where yus belong!" Her husband tottered into their bedroom.
"Ahm jus takin' a break Sam. Ah'll be right thur in a bit." Responded Jen. There was no way to placate Sam when he was drinking. He held all the power, and even more when his actions were inhibited. Shame. Anger. Just a few of the emotions that broiled within her.
"Yu be sure to be be back soon girl, if not be sure yu'll get a whippin'."
"Yes Sam suh."
Jen stared at Sam's tense yet loose posture as he ambled back into another part of the house. She recalled a time at the beginning of her marriage when all seemed peaceful, and serene. They had been relaxing under a shedding tree, eating the fruits it bore.
"Jen suguh, ah swear ah'll always do gud by yu. Ah'll nevah let the drink take hold o' me like it did my fathuh." Jen recalled Sam's words. Back then, all had seemed perfect. However, as time progressed, Jen became less and less of a person, resulting in a mere shadow that tended to Sam's whims and needs down to the last letter. Jen had no idea how this had come around, but knew she needed to take hold of her life again.


In my passage I used the theme of "unbalances of power in a relationship ultimately lead to failure". My passage mirrors one of Hurstons main themes, that she portrays in Janie's two failed marriages.
Techniques I used include: symbolism, dialect, syntax, flashback, and oxymoron.
Symbolism is portrayed in the opening sentence. That Jen could see the interior of her home breaking down was a representation of her relationship that was exposed and breaking down.
Dialect is apparent through the characters dialogue. They have sort of an uneducated form of speaking, yet the narrarators voice is educated. This mirrors Hurstons novel.
Syntax is viewed all throughout the passage, and specifically in the middle. I use short concise phrases in order to express how the narrarator - Jen, feels about about her husbands treatment.
Flashback is used in order to show a contrast between the current situation in the marriage, and the past. Also, a bit of irony is shown because of Jen's expectation, and her reality.
Oxymoron is used when Jen is describing her husbands posture. It's a condradiction that contrasts his feelings with his physical state.