Initial Personal Reaction:
This story was graphic to me and it made me feel sad for Clarette and how tough her life was. At first I thought she hated her life but once I got to the end I read it over a few more times did I start to understand that she was tired of the same thing happening around her community. Also she was trying to keep the streets away from her kids because she didn't want to see them go down the road like all the young inmates at the prison she worked at were going. What struck out to me was that a Caucassion author was writing about an African American woman and she was really descriptive in their culture. Like how they go to shops and get their hair braided. Which goes to show it doesn't have to be a African American that can only relate to another African American. It just depends on where you were raised and the people you were always around. Straight grew up amongst African Americans and has an African American husband. I have cousins and friends who are like the men that Staright describes. They carry a certain image about themselves that comes off as being street smart and tough. This story made me think about them because some of them do get in trouble with the law and it was because they let their image get the best of them.
Literary Element/Thematic Analysis:
Straight creates a sense of tone in "Mine" in the way she has Clarette, the narrator in the story, critically describe her job, the inmates at the jail she works at, and the people she interacts with everyday. She uses words of anger and disgust when she describes the tattoos of all the inmates and how they wear their clothes. She is constantly criticizing the culture of the younger generation. Like how her son's hair looks like Ice Cube, which is a rapper who is seen as a tough guy from the hood. Or comparing all the inmates to dogs because they have tattoos wrapped around their arms and necks like collars. Straight suggests that their is a pattern that keeps the young people in a "stay in trouble" mentality. Whereas Clarette wants to keep her kids out of the norm and get them to behave in a civilized or educated sort of way. Which is why she wants to see Ray Jr. learn how to play the piano instead of getting into fights at school. Straight uses tone to give Clarette a sound that is sort of calling out for help that the rough life of the streets does not reach her kids.
Questions/Comments:
I had a hard time trying to find a signficance for the title of the story. To me it is called "Mines" because Clarette was describing everything that made up her own world. Anyone else have another interpretation of the title?
Well, the way I saw it was, "Mines" was a reference to the line that was repeated in the story "I gets mines". Kind of meaning that she's doing what she needs to do to maintain a stable life, even though she isn't happy about it. At least this is how I interpreted it.
ReplyDeleteI completely missed that quote while reading. That does make alot of sense.
DeleteThe word "mines" in the story "mines" by Straight seems to be the definition of obtaining one's own happiness, which is an ironic title to the story because the main character is not fulfilling her own happiness. Instead of focusing on her "mines," Carlett gives up her happiness, so she can is fulfill her children's desires such getting her son a pricey piano.
ReplyDeletepersonally I think the word is the plural of mine in the charectars own words. I felt that she was thinking about her kids when she said “ I got mines” .
ReplyDeleteThe use of the word "Mines" is used for possession. Clarette is probably referring to her children and how they belong to her no matter what the situation is.
ReplyDeleteI like how you described how she had such disgust for the inmates, lifestyle and mentality of those in prison. Or those who were just trying to be 'gangsters'. To answer your question I think the title was titled "MINE" because a few times in the story people said "gotta get mines". Which I took as that people had to watch out for themselves and do what was good for themselves no matter if it was against the law or going to hurt someone else. "Getting Mine" is why some of the inmates were in prison.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great point and interpretation.
DeleteTo what I think the significant for Mines was, for her to trying to enjoy her life with happiness, going out meeting new people and do what she desire. At the end of the story her and Fred were having a conversation and he said to her; “…You just need to get yours. I know I get mines.” And then he goes on that after the hard working he went on and has fun and so on.
ReplyDeleteI also had a difficult time understanding what Clarette's "mines" is. Clarette's guard friend Fred, was saying how she should get her own. And he meant her own lover, someone she can depend on. That's very personal to her because she did have someone to love once. She is her own. I think she had her own "mines" in that sense as well because she is able to work through this struggle in the world such as supporting her kids and taking care of herself. She had her "mines" and she proved she can handle the punch of a prisoner and that she will get the piano for her son.
ReplyDelete