Write an answer that is based on information found on the page you have been assigned. Try, as best you can, to connect what happens on that page to events that occur either before or after in the story. Use at least one literary term (setting, conflict, plot, irony etc.) in your answer. Quote the story at least once, but no more than 20 words, maximum, for all quotes. Identify the page number, please, as a heading before your paragraph. See my model answer for more ideas on what to do.
Write between 150 and 200 words. Bring your word processed work to class on Wednesday.
Online copy of the story for quoting.
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Page 3
On page 3, we learn some important things that will help us to understand Edwidge Danticat’s story. After learning about Pascal and his dream to talk “about the geto from the inside,” we are introduced to an important character, Tiye, who eventually has a profound and negative effect on Pascal’s life. Danticat introduces us with a striking visual description of Tiye: “a one-armed, bald-headed gang leader” who holds “a massive cigar” and has an “artificial arm.” But it is her indirect characterization that provides clues to Pascal’s eventual fate. Tiye laughs at the memory of “pounding [a man’s] ears.” Tiye’s cruel laughter brings tears to his eyes and foreshadows worse to come. Danticat also makes her title, “Ghosts,” clear to us. It will be the title of Pascal’s radio show and, at the same time, represents the gang members of Bel Air who, forgotten by their country, live a hard and short life. By reading page 3 carefully, we begin to understand Pascal’s dreams for a better life and, at the same time, are introduced to his key antagonist, Tiye, the man who will eventually make his life miserable and who represents the idea of “ghosts” that Danticat uses to title her story.—203 words
Page 2
On page 2 of Danticat’s “Ghosts”, we’re introduced to the barbaric setting of the story. Young men lived in Bel Air, Haiti, slit pigeons’ throats to mix the blood with a beverage called “Malta”. This brutal ritual was to symbolize manhood. In many countries, we know pigeons symbolize peace and freedom. They could see “the headless pigeon was gyrating on the ground”. The young man would go through the ritual with no sympathy as if they’re “Ghosts”. Pascal’s parents didn’t agree this behavior and freed the last two pigeons. Ambitious businessmen and politician gathered the homeless and orphans, whose parents were killed by dictator, to swell the ranks of political demonstrations and fight on the street. It’d seem like the politicians and businessmen were aiding the poor, but in reality these actions were to benefit themselves. These young men would become gang members and eventually go from being drugs dealers to users. It’s as if they sold their souls and became “Ghosts”. In my country, we had unreasonable rituals exist several hundred years ago such as human sacrifice to Gods in exchange for good harvest. I think the dictatorship would eventually be overturned if people have conscience and gather up to save themselves.
---203 words
PAGE 4, "GHOSTS"
On page 4 of “Ghosts” by Edwidge Danticat we are introduced to the beginning of the real conflict of the story. Shortly after learning of Pascal’s radio show idea, to keep people wondering “Whats up in the slums now?” , we meet the beginning of the real conflict. Pascal finds out the studio has “stolen his idea” with “a program called “Homme a Homme,” or “Man to Man””. This program “would consist of a series of in studio between gang members and business leaders” which was very much like Pascal’s vision for a program. Although Pascal didn’t get to hear the entire show he had the opportunity to hear it one night while working in his parents’ restaurant. At this restaurant the gang members or “Ghosts” are regular visitors. While the show was playing they tease and taunt Pascal saying, “Man they stole your idea”. Although Pascal was angry he didn’t say much regarding the situation. Tiye and his crew preceded to suggest he should “kick the ass of the guy who stole your show”. We soon learn that the radio station is shot up by four men. I feel that page 4 is an very important part of the plot because it is the proof that shows Pascal didn’t encourage the shooting which he ends up arrested and accused of in the following pages.
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On Page 6, Danticat brings us to the climax of the story by showing the conflict between Pascal and the cruel police officers. As previously we discussed in Wednesday’s class about the variety of factors that made young people join the gangs, this section clarifies the main reason why Pascal joins the “ghosts”, because of the injustice society and the brutal ruling government. Also, this becomes a turning point in Pascal’s life. After Pascal’s idea of “geto” stolen by a “stutter” news manager, the gang commits a crime and Pascal is named “as the mastermind of the operation” by the “notorious” head of BazBenin, Tiye. The dark room where Pascal is placed is smoky, “hot, with the stench of fresh vomit in the air”. By reading further on this page, we know that Danicat does not only show us the cunning of Tiye plotting a crime to let Pascal learn a “lesson”, but also the violent of the corrupt government how to oppressed their inhabitant. The suffering from the torture makes Pascal realize that there is no difference between the brutal police officers and the merciless “ghosts”. This negative effect eventually leads Pascal to become the part of the “ghosts”, who face “the inevitable” short life with desolation.
--208 words
--208 words
On page 3, we learn some important thing that will help us to understand Edwidge Danticat’s story. Knowing Pascals dream to talk about the “ghetto” from the inside there was a one-armed bald headed gang leader Tiye. He has no mercy for anyone, he was telling to couple of his people how he had one slapped a man wouldn't stop tell he had dab tears from his eyes. This gave Pascal an idea to write about the “chimes”, so he would grab people’s attention and make changes. This gave the idea to Pascal so he could make it more peaceful place, so he had named his show “Ghost”. He didn't want to get bothered and picked on by the gang like his older brother Jules. Usually gang members don’t talk about what they do and how they hurt people outside their house, basically they don’t want to get caught by the cops or undercover cops, but the way Danticat wrote it as this person is more than just gang leader he has lot’s of power. Therefore on page 3 we learned about Pascals dream on a more peaceful environment and better society, but Tye makes his life miserable.
-198 words-
On Page 6, Danticat shows us denouement of the story by describing the Jules’ acts for saving of the brother and the Pascal’s unexpected release at the last lines of the page. By reading this page, especially Jules’ violent efforts to save Pascal, we feel how the plot picked up speed as “on the fast track” by Pascal’s feeling. I even can imagine how Jules rash about with cell phone in his hand in Montreal apartment. The end of story looks like an unexpected final shoot, “He was dumped in front his parents’ restaurant at ten that night.” Authors shows us how unpredictable and unsecure the life of person in corrupt and lawless society. Every member can be put in prison, unjust charge with crime or release by money. By reading further on this page, we know that Tiye, the boss of Baz Benin, wanted to learn a “lesson” for Pascal about the “inevitable” short life of gangster, but it also the lesson for us.
165 words
On Page 5, Edwidge Danticat shows us two different types of conflicts that occur during the story. After Pascal finds out about how one of his coworkers, the news manager wanted to create a program called “Homme a Homme” that would consists of in-studio conversations between gang members. Pascal was infuriated to find out that they were going to proceed with his idea. The same night, Pascal started reminiscing on how his brother Jules had left the country and started a new life with his wife and how much easier it is for him now. He states “ I wonder what Jules is doing now “ The truth was that Pascal was always wondering what Jules was doing. He was even thinking about asking Jules to find some way to send for him. Later the next morning Pascal was blindfolded and taken from his bed with his pajamas on, not even being allowed to change. He arrived shortly at the commissariat where his boss was waiting for him. By reading page 5, we begin to see how versatile the story is from growing up with a well-rounded family, to being accused and arrested few years later as he grows up.
-200 words
Page 9
On page 9, Edwidge Danticat led her protagonist to a cruel but real conclusion, even though he is daydreaming. Pascal is daydreaming about an imaginary radio program. In a segment on lost lambs, inspired by Tiye’s missing arm, Danticat mention, “Then he would go from limbs to souls, to the number of people who had lost family… and friends. These were the real ghosts, he would say, the phantom limbs...”. This is the main theme of the story. In the next sentence, Danticat is using repetition: “because they were …”. It gives a strong and compressed meaning of the circle of pain, suffering, abandonment, violence, and lost souls. It’s a circle which is going around and around and it is very hard to get out. Pascal’s plan to ‘get out’ of it didn’t work. Danticat do not even mention if Pascal decided to join Tiye or not, simply because Pascal does not have any choice. By reading page 9 we understand that Pascal couldn’t avoid joining gang life even if he had had a dream to run away from Bel Air and live a normal life somewhere else. The end of this story is realistic and difficult; Simple, naked truth.
Page 3
On page 3 of” Ghosts” By Edwidge Danticat ,we are introduced to understand the important main characters in this story .Pascal is an ambitious young man who lives with his parents in the slums. He helps out his parents’ restaurant where he serves “chimes”, who are the regular customers .He’s witnessed the cruel and violence activities. These inspire him to become a radio journalist who could talk “about the geto from the inside”. His dream is to get people’s attention to hear the truth and think to stop a crime. Their town would live peacefully. Also, the author introduces us to”a one-armed, bald-headed gang leader. Tiye is a demon who pitches the idea for Pascal ‘s radio show. Tiye is heartless; he enjoys slapping a man’s face and sandwiching the man’s head between his arms.The meaning of his name ,“to kill”, is a clear explanation to him. By reading page 3, we learn about Pascal’s wish to see the change of the better environment and society, on the the other hand,is Tiye the man who makes life melancholic. Both of characters represent the concept of “ghosts” in Danticat’s story.
--192 words--
Page 8 seems very important part of this fiction, because it need to unravel the mystery of Pascal’s sudden release before this page, and it involves a hint of the upcoming event and the ending. On page 8, Danticat was placed many events which created conflicts. This page shows that Tiye’s scheme worked so well, so finally Pascal was played into his hands. From that event Pascal can learn that there’ s no justice in his world. When Pascal received a call from his brother, Jules, he was facing another inner conflict. Jules cheered him to leave home, and said, “Home is not always a place you have trouble leaving.” There is a great external conflict, it is that Tiye came restaurant and wanted to see Pascal. So Pascal was forced to meet him. This sentence, “This was perhaps what Tiye had tried to teach him by turning him in and then rescuing him.” serves to show the way he is. By reading this page, Pascal and other young man who lives in slum, their lifes never go the way they want or expect them to go. The reality is, they cannot easily escape from them, the relationship and their surroundings.
-202 words
On page 4, I learned that one of the gang leaders said to the businessmen that “you’re chilling in all this ice while we’re in hell’, and he suggested that the businessmen find some way to sell his ice at a lower price to the people who lived near the factory. He said if he does this the gang leader would respect the property of others. Pascal was not happy about what the other gang leader did because it was his idea but they took it from him, and some of his friend came to his work place at a restaurant, and a few of his friend tried to grab his when he was putting the bottles of the beers down, as if to squeeze out the anger that they knew was building inside. when Pascal’s friend laughing, and making his angrier they told him that he should go and kick the ass of the people who stole his show. When Pascal was talking to Max he on the phone Pascal said the he put ‘Homme a Homme’ out of his mind, and said that it wasn't the show that he wanted to do and that he wanted to do something else.
202 words
Page 4; in the short story “Ghosts” by Edwidge Dandicat, Pascal is the main character and he has suffered many days in brutality of the area he lived in. During his childhood he lived in Bel-Air, Haiti. His father was buying pigeons and selling them to his neighbors. By selling one pigeon, he made enough money to buy two more. In page 4 it is ironic how “Homme a Homme” was Pascal’s idea but when Tiya and his crew were telling him that his idea was stolen by the FBI agent, he was getting mad and angry. The moral of this page is the arbitrator, a Haitian-American F.B.I trained hostage negotiator stole Pascal’s idea. Pascal worked hard to make the script for that program but Max told him that the management of the TV won’t buy it. As Pascal said, “The government should sponsor it” and then he said, “I’d be offering a public service”. Unfortunately nobody listened to him. From examining varies aspects Pascal’s idea was rejected but later on it was used as a TV show.
On page 6, Edwidge Danticat showed us the highest and most important point of the story;the dispute between the main character, "Pascal" and the police. Actually, Tiye, the head of the "Baz Benin", was arrested by the police first, then he named Pascal as the mastermind of the operation, who send him and his men to do this job, and its how Pascal also was arrested by the police.I believe, the reason Tiye lied was because he wanted Pascal to learn a "lesson". He was having really hard time during questioning by the police in the arresting room. He was suffering form the situation he had over there. After the questioning was done, the police officers placed him alone in a dark, smokey and hot room. After, e few hours his parents showed up. That was really hard and unbelievable for his parents to see their child in that type of hard and unfair situation ,at once. Although,you can find out the reason why Pascal wanted to talk about the gang and their lifestyle in the radio station, as you continue reading the story till the end of it. Pascal was facing too much tyrannize and injustice during his childhood by the gangs; so that's the reason he wanted to let people know about these wild people, what they are doing and what they did in his society.
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