Caryn Lawrence Gandhi Paper

Reader Response: "Macavity the Mystery Cat" by T.S. Eliot

1. Opinion-  Macavity is an original poem that uses devices such as humor and alliteration to make up its structure.  It is an interesting poem because the author uses an innocent animal, a cat, to fulfill the villainous character who causes all the trouble in the city.

2. Question-  I would like to ask the author about the types of crimes that were committed by the cat and how Macavity was able to get away with the crimes, each time.  I also wonder if Macavity is considered to be a hero or a villain in each situation because Eliot is not specific about the events throughout the poem.

3. Connection- Eliot's poem is similar to Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat." Not only is there a prominent rhyming scheme, but Eliot also uses personification to create an anthropomorphic cat.

4. Significance-  This is a very mysterious poem, but it's not just about Macavity committing crimes but also mentions the police trying to capture Macavity. The writer is trying to make fun of the police and their lazy habits since they never accuse the right people and have yet to catch a little cat.  This poem is unique because the cat is given human qualities: "He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity./His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare."  The poem is meant to be humorous and deceiving.

5. Language- Easy to understand and had a rhyme scheme that made the poem more entertaining for people of all ages.  It is a witty poem based on a cat which gives the reader clear imagery about its story.

6. Foreshadowing- the author did a great.job of letting you know that the cat was going to get.away and the way that the author described it you kind of wanted him to. There were little hidden clues but you still were hanging on as an audience member

7. Personification the author used catchy phrases like "macavity is found doing complicated long division sums. As a form of personification to show the reader that he (macavity)was a very slick and sly cat. One that had a very strong wit and charm. And the personification is what was very clever and interesting. I also found it to be the central part of the poem and it was also very very funny.

Henry Indictor Gandhi Response

Henry Indictor

10-2-15  

 

                                                Connections From Gandhi’s Memoir

Mohandas K. Gandhi was a Civil Rights Activist from India who led protests. During his time in prison for some of his political 

ideas, he created his autobiography “The Story of My Experiments with Truth.”  Gandhi’s main motivation for writing the book was to 

tell his readers about problems he solved through self experiments with truth. In his writings he also shared the thoughts by which he 

found truth.  Three of Gandhi’s stories (Introduction, Shyness My Shield and On the Way to Pretoria) are all chapters that not only tie 

into his new ideas on truth but also give the reader a sense of who he is in a humble tone.   Spiritually and physically, he takes us on his 

journey in a search for himself.

In his essay, Introduction, Gandhi talks about his ideas and thinking that went into writing an autobiography.  When his ideas are 

questioned by a friend, he humbly states, “It is not my real purpose to attempt an autobiography.  I simply want to tell the story of my 

numerous experiments with truth.” He is saying that his goal is not to share with the reader his life story but to talk about personal life 

experiences that had a significant impact on him.  Gandhi’s “truth” has more than one meaning because he could be talking about new 

and helpful strengths that he learned or figuring out how to do the right thing.  However, there is a deeper meaning as a symbol for 

Gandhi’s struggles in his search for truth. Gandhi suggests that this deeper meaning is related to God, “I worship God as Truth only.  I 

have not yet found him, but I am seeking after him.  I am prepared to sacrifice the things dearest to me in pursuit of this quest.”  This is 

a good use of language here because he goes deep into thought here and is giving the reader a good understanding of his beliefs.  

Gandhi is successful in another experiment of truth in “Shyness My Shield” as well, because he is able to figure out a way to convert 

what was once a weakness into a strength.  Much like in his essay, Introduction, he is relatable to the reader and here he throws in some 

humor on his struggle, “I only succeeded in making myself look ridiculous.”  And upon revealing his newfound strength he states, 

“Silence is part of a spiritual discipline of a votary of truth.” The diction here is excellent because of the way he talks casually and then 

goes deep into his spiritual experiment with truth.  Gandhi then takes another journey in an experiment with truth while on a train ride 

as told in “On the Way to Pretoria.”  After he is kicked off a train due to segregation, he is struggling to figure out the right thing to do, 

“Should I fight for my rights, or go back to India, or should I go on to Pretoria without minding the insults and return to India after I 

finish the case?”  He finds truth here knowing that he will have to take a stand in his beliefs, “Regardless for wrongs I should seek only 

to the extent that would be necessary for the removal of racial injustices.” Therefore, all of the stories are a connection to one another 

because of the new lessons Gandhi learns.

The main purpose Gandhi had in writing an autobiography was to show his readers how he was able to solve his problems through 

various methods in seeking truth.  He openly shares his encounters in the three different stories and what he has learned from his 

struggles.  When Gandhi talks about his struggles, the reader can relate to him because it sends a message that he is human.  His 

willingness to open himself in an honest way is an important connection between each story because it gets him closer to his truth.  

Joseph Keane Reader's Response

Joseph Keane

000781965

Fall 2015

10/5/2015

            Gandhi experienced many trials and tribulations throughout his life that caused him to grow and develop into the person he was. His personal experience lead him onto a search for truth. In the Gandhi’s autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth Gandhi writes about his experiments with truth in the spiritual field, which leads him to personal growth.

            At first, Gandhi was uncertain if he even wanted to write an autobiography. It was uncommon for people who were raised in eastern cultures to write an autobiography. Gandhi gave that idea thought, but overall he wanted to write about his experiments with truth. He wrote in the introduction that even though the text may take the shape of an autobiography, he wanted to share his experiments with truth to the world. He felt it was important to stay true to his principles of nonviolence in order to conduct these experiments accurately. This is evident in part two section eight of the text On the Way to Pretoria. While he was in South Africa, he was supposed to take a train from Durban to Charlestown. While on the train, a train official told him that him that he had to move into the van compartment due to the fact that he was a “colored man”. Instead of leaving and moving into the van compartment, he refused to move because he had a first class ticket. They called the police and threw him out of the train. He did not give into the officials and stayed true to his belief. This sort of spiritual fortitude is evident when he says “The hardship to which I was subjected was superficial – only a symptom of the deep disease of colour prejudice. I should try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardships in the process. Redress for wrongs I should seek only to the extent that would be necessary for the removal of colour prejudice.” (Gandhi, Part Two Section Eight). Gandhi felt it was important for him to stay steadfast in his beliefs in order to grow as a person and try and find truth.

            At first, it was difficult for Gandhi to give speeches due to his shyness. When he invited his friends to the Holborn Restaurant in England he was unable to give the speech and only said “I thank you gentleman, for having kindly responded to my invitation.”(Gandhi, Part one Chapter 18). As life went on he grew to realize in South Africa that his shyness may actually be a positive instead of a negative. Instead of having huge bombastic speeches he would talk straight to the point and said would he only needed to say. By not speaking a lot he measures every word and makes every sentence count. He says “My shyness has been in reality my shield and buckler. It has allowed me to grow. It has helped me in my discernment of truth.”(Gandhi, Part one Chapter 18). This growth and development helped Gandhi during his experiments for truth.

            Gandhi experienced personal growth throughout his entire life. His life experience helped him grow and develop on his search for truth. In this search for truth Gandhi had many unique and interesting life experiences that helped him develop into that man he was. 

Work Cited

Gandhi, Mohandas K. The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Ed. Mahadev Desai. N.p.: n.p., 1940. Print.

Colleen Kane Reader Response 1

Reader Response 1

Colleen Kane

ENG-201-LN

The nonviolent leader and spiritual worshipper, Mohandas K. Gandhi, is best known for his civil rights activism which he revealed in his autobiography, “The Story of My Experiments with Truth.”  His courageous movement stemmed from India’s struggles to gain independence from Great Britain after World War 1.  Gandhi was even imprisoned several times for his political refusals, and partook in a number of hunger strikes to protest the cruelty of India’s lower classes, among other prejudices.  His devotion to make a change led him to become an inspirational public figure who impacted the world with his self-realization and spirituality.

Through self-realization, Gandhi was able to fulfill his search for truth by striving to live by his moral responsibilities and gain strength from his experiments.  In the excerpt, “Shyness My Shield,” Gandhi was able to overcome his shyness by embracing his weaknesses.  The passage reads, “My shyness has been in reality my shield and buckler” (Gandhi 1).  This defiant statement indicates that Gandhi does not regret any of his meaningless words because they aided in his self-growth.  He recognized that silence is part of spiritual discipline and helps to reveal truth.  Gandhi’s ethical values ultimately impacted his experiments.  In “On the Way to Pretoria,” he vows to fulfill his obligation to fight racist injustice.  Gandhi refuses to leave his first class seat: “’I tell you, I was permitted to travel in this compartment at Durban, and I insist on going on in it’” (Gandhi 2).  This bold act of courage sent a powerful message to all the other people affected by the same societal hardships.  Gandhi’s fearlessness proved that he is a natural leader and is always willing to fight for what he believes in.  He continuously preaches his divine ideas with a purpose of narrating his experiments with truth.  Gandhi’s “Introduction” voices his main goal of being a worshipper of God.  He states, “This truth is not only truthfulness in word, but truthfulness in thought also, and not only the relative truth of our conception, but the Absolute Truth, The Eternal Principle that is God” (Gandhi 3).  Gandhi efforts to reach people of all ages is what is what was most important to himself and his moral duty to God.  He is a peaceful man who is committed to significant thoughts with a spiritual point of view.  This allowed Gandhi to be successful in embracing his failings and grow through his life experiences to find truth.               

Though Gandhi’s achievements were flawed, they illustrated how his self-doubt and cultural struggles helped to impact his discovery of truth while strengthening the lives of others.  He believed that his sole purpose was to learn through his spiritual values by accepting his weaknesses and vowing to be meaningful to himself and through the word of God. He was always prepared to sacrifice for Him.