The first part of chapter 5 (pages 145-158) is a study of contrasts. In the chapter we get to know Ms. Bailey and Clarisse even more and we really see how complex life and poverty in the Robert Taylor Homes is--especially for women. I'd like you to address at least one of the following contrasts in the first part of chapter 5. As always, please use evidence from the text and respond to at least one other class member (if not the first post).
Booze vs. coats
Charity to some vs. charity to none
Clarisse's vision of herself vs. the reality
Clarisse's home vs. her life
parenthood vs. drug use
Arab charity vs. discrimination
Friday, February 5, 2010
Not as they seem
Posted by Mr. P at 9:07 AM
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"When I had first met her, on the gallery outside JT's apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the "hypes and rock stars"- who sold sex for drugs. Plainly, she had lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she'd wanted to make a decent impression." (page 156).
As we learned earlier in the book, Clarisse was a mother of two young girls (ages two and four), and was supposedly a prostitute that was drug-free. However, as we learn in this chapter, not only was she a drug addict, but also a neglectful mother.
To me, drug addicts and alcoholics are the same. They are both addicted to a mind altering substance, and majority of these people either don't realize or don't want to admit that they are ADDICTED. As the AA says, the first step to solving your addiction problem is to admit that you have a problem. I feel that Clarisse doesn't want to acknowledge the fact that she is truly a drug addict and that she really isn't much different than those other prostitutes that sleep with people in exchange for drug money. I'm sure she knows, to a certain degree, that her addiction is really affecting her, and her children's, lives, but she doesn't want to let go of that heroin and crack. She probably views drugs as a great tool to use to make you feel better since you can escape reality for a few moments. For a good amount of time, she can be something else; something better than a drug-addicted prostitute in the Robert Taylor projects. Maybe drugs made her feel…invincable.
In terms of parenthood, I've been around a few females that were in Clarisse's exact same position, as well as their children, and when I observed their behaviors/actions, I noticed something: drugs came first…children came second. Sometimes, these women cared so much about drugs that they would trade their children for a week-load of crack, but that was the minority. The majority loved their kids so much that they would do anything to protect them; however, it's hard to look after children when you have a shot of heroin, ten bags of cocaine, and a boatload of crack running through your system, altering your thought process and rendering you unconscious of what's going on in the real world. This fact sometimes drives these women to go get help by going to a drug rehabilitation center, but again, this is sadly the minority. Majority of the women refuse to go get help because they feel they don't have a problem, so they continue to abuse drugs and maybe unknowingly/knowingly abuse their children and their kids either get taken away by DCFS or taken away by a family member.
I feel that Clarisse as a mother in some instances are good, like the environment of her home, and in some ways maybe not so much, with the whole idea of her children not eating. Even thought in previous chapters Clarisse mentioned that she doesn't use drugs, it didn't surprise me to find out that she did. In most cases dealing with prostitutes more than half of them are doing drugs. In a way it's like they see the world in two different perspectives. They have the life that they live to make a living, and the life that they really want for themselves. In this case it would be Clarisse's home identity and her outside identity. "The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with all hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It snelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess"(156). Clarisse is some what a smart woman in many ways; she keeps her house cleaned, follows or at least pretends to follow the guidance of Jesus Christ, and does wat she has to for her children. To me these few smart decisions she chose to make outnumber the few flaws that she has. Yes, she's a prostitute but she does this to make money for the kids, and yes she does drugs but it is apparent that she tries to control her drug life and the life she lives inside her home. I feel like Clarisse's home is a better reflection of the true her. In a way it symbolizes what she was and what she could be. The way people keep their homes show a great deal about their character. You can tell from Clarisses's home that she has great intentions in life. Count Olaf said that,"I've been around a few females that were in Clarisse's exact same position, as well as their children, and when I observed their behaviors/actions, I noticed something: drugs came first…children came second". In Clarisse's case however I disagree. In every occcurence Clarisse has in the story she has seemed to make her children the priority of the situation. She reminds me much of the typical woman, trying to make a living for her kids.
Clarisse's home vs. her life
"The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members," (p.156).
Clarisse’s life has a lot to with illegal activity. She abuses drugs and engages in prostitution. Like any other mother, I’m sure she doesn’t want to bring these things home to her children, so she makes her home a fairly nice environment for her children. She probably keeps her apartment nice because she doesn’t want her children to see her mistakes and make the same ones when they get older. Like Count Olaf stated, Clarisse probably didn’t want to admit that she was a drug addict. If her apartment is set up like one of someone who isn’t a drug addict, she may feel that she is not a drug addict when she is at home. The reason for Clarisse’s apartment being the way it is has a lot to do with denial of and protecting her children from her life.
Casey Marie Bailey's Comment
Booze vs. coats
Apparently Ms. Bailey trades beer and other liquors for heaters, coats and sweaters. "Only once did Ms. Bailey recieve a donation that was actually a donation- that is, something for free. At one grocery store, she got some canned food without having to exchange any beer or liquor." (p152)Why exactly are they calling it a donation if no one wants to give it away to the needy, residents of the Robert Taylor Homes. I feel it is extremely sad that these stores feel they need to get something in return for doing the right thing. The right thing would definately be to simply donate the supplies to Ms. Bailey. I know Ms. Bailey thinks they should do that as well, but at least she's making it happen. Ms. Bailey brings up the incident where Boo- Boo's daughter had sex with someone who worked in the store for baby supplies, and how some people have to do just that to survive. I like how Ms. Bailey is doing what she has to to prevent these woman from trading sex. Just as Count Olaf compares Clarisse, she too has to do what she can to feed her children. Even if it means lying to herself. It's so unfortunate that these people living in these homes have to live this way but at least Ms. Bailey is trying to help, even if it means trading booze for coats.
The discussion of booze vs. coats is a contrast that Ms. Bailey uses to help out her community. Personally I see nothing wrong with this because its going toward a better cause. In the book, Ms. Bailey goes to the liquor store to pick up cases of beer. At first I was thinking Ms. Bailey was just getting the beer for herself, but once she went to the grocery store on Stony Island to trade the beer for warm coats I gained trust in Ms. Bailey. The fact that this trade has to happen in order for people to be warm in the community is unfortunate, but in their case is necessary. In this community these types of trade off are important to survival. Referring back to the text and what miss marie said when Boo-Boo’s daughter had to have sex with one of the store employees just so she could have baby supplies for her child. I think some trades in the Robert Taylor homes are more extreme than others, but these people had to do what they needed in order to survive.
Clarisse home vs. her life
To compare her life and her life at home, both aspects were struggling situtations because she was a drug addict and her life was not ideal. Also, her children were not frequently eating even though Ms. Bailey feed them in the mornings. To contrast the both situations, her life was in trouble, she was head for desturction. But said in tyhe book, her home was clean and well kept. It also stated that it was neat and cozy, and it even smelled clean. (page 156) But Ms. Bailey told her to shower because she looked filthy. I found this very ironic.
booze v. coats
“Well things ain’t always simple,” Ms. Bailey said. She brought up the incident I’d seen some months back, when the woman named Boo Boo wanted to kill the Middle Eastern shopkeeper who’d slept with her teenage daughter. “That’s what a lot of women have to do around here to get some free food,” she said. “I don’t want to see it come to that. So if I have to give away a few bottles of gin, that’s fine with me.” Pg. 153
i understand why ms.bailey would want to trade something instead of the women trying to sell themselves. Sudhir wasn't noticing the fact that they do not have any money to buy things that the whole community need or the needed families. if i had someone i cared about or felt the need to take care of and they were in a similar situation or did drugs or something i wouldn't care if they came to me for money to support their bad habit. i would mind but i wouldn't care because i know how they are recieving money to support their habit and not selling themselves.
later when she says “Mm-hmmm, we’ll see about that. For now, be careful when you help the women. They’ll take advantage of you, and you won’t know what hit you. And I can’t be there to protect you” (Pg. 158), in reference to being too friendly with Clarisse and her family, it also related to what ms. bailey was saying about selling coats but in a good way. if a women turn to prostitution to support her family she surely is going to find many other ways to support her family also even if that means befriending someone and taking advantage of them.
i agree with Supersatar Eric when he said that Clarisse home v. her life were both destructive. i think that he or she should have said something reuarding her chioces or her enviorment of something contributing to her destructive life.
Booze vs. coats
i agree with miss.marie. It is sad at the fact that Ms.Bailey has to provide something in exchange for something that she is calling a donation. Really a donation is something that you give to someone else at your free will without expecting something back in return. Before they stated that Ms.Bailey was giving them alcohol in return i knew that there was something she was giving to them for them to "donate" something. The reason for this is because if you are living in a place like these homes then it is also hard for you to get what you need, but if you trade that for something that you want, its more fair i guess for them. But they talked about how the Arab was accused of giving off a disease to a teenage girl, then Ms. Bailey stated, "That's what a lot of women have to do around here to get some free food," she said. "I dont want to see it come to that. So if i have to give away a few bottles of gin, that's fine with me." In this situation i do not feel its right to give away booze, but at the same time i do agree with Ms.Bailey. Ms.Bailey is someone important to the community and she is real helpful to others, and in this case especially the women. I feel it is better to have to give others alcohol, than to have the women trade sex for food because I do not feel that should be the only option in which a woman is able to receive food.
Clarisse's vision of herself vs. the reality.
I believe that Clarisse doesn't see herself as badly as the people looking in. She sees herself as a woman that will do anything to feed,clothe,help her two girls. Many people say that a person's home will reflect the owner;that is if you live in a cluttered house, your life may be perceived as junky (full of drama] and if its clean, then your life is seen as peaceful and easy going. " The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures through, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned." p 156. By looking at this quote, I believe that Clarisse is confused in her state. She believes that she isn't in the wrong so much that it reflects in the cleaniness. Or maybe she keeps it clean so she won't be reminded of how much drama really is in her life.
Clarisse's Home vs. Her life
"The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess." This one section made me think that her home was like the only place she could use to escape her reality, which is that her life is a complete mess due to the drugs and prostitution. But the reason her home is clean is because that's how she wants her life to be but she doesn't know how to get to that point.
In response to miss marie's post it's a shame that she has to trade liquor for people that came from the neighborhood to help, but that's just how life is once most people escape they expect others to do the same believing that they escaped poverty on their own. When more than likely it took some handouts from others that saw the potential in them.
I think that Clarisse sees her self as if she was doing something good. She doesn't really care that her children are fed, she only cares about her daily consume of drugs. People like Ms. Bailey and Sudhir see her as irresponsible. Sudhir had seen her before and characterized her a different girl from the rest. She had told him that she didn’t do drugs but when he saw her, he said, "Despite the cold weather, Clarisse was wearing a black miniskirt and sliding around perilously on high heels. Her face looked vacant, and her mouth was frothy. I had never seen her in this condition before. She had told me herself that she didn't do drugs." pg 154. Sudhir didn’t belief her no more and she lost credibility. This incident had opened his eyes and made him realize that she was that type of women that sold her self in exchange of obtaining drugs. Clarisse depends on others for the care of her children. When Sudhir had gone to her hose, he saw her children and took them to eat with out knowing they had already eaten. When he went to see Ms. Bailey she said, "Her kids ate at my place that morning!" Ms. Bailey said..."i make sure they eat. No children go hungry in my building No, sir". (pg157) Clarisse had taken advantage of him. From my opinion I think that Clarisse is not an honest woman and innocent people like Sudhir should be careful. I agree with Count Olaf that if you have an addiction the first step is to admit it. I think that Clarisse should realize that her kids need her and that she needs to change and leave drugs. If she really wants to give a decent impression to people than she should leave the bad influences and thinks in of her future.
"the apartment was nice and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some jesus christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned.And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids dropping, a total mess"( pg.156)
This quote relates to the Clarisse's home vs. her life. This seems like complete opposites because she is messy when it comes to her appearance and her house is all clean and neat. You would expect her house to be all full of junk but then the way it's described completely changes your idea. I believe that this shows some part of Clarisse we never would have imagined because it shows that she does care about her home although she really doesn't care about her appearance. I believe that in this chapter it shows us how these women in the Robert Taylor homes also have a hard time getting by. As Clarisse prostitutes herself to get money to feed her daughters , Ms. Bailey helps out in the projects and is one of the main people in the projects she helps everything and everyone keep running and fight against their poverty. Women are a strong part in the projects . I have to agree with Mrz. Kita and her interpretation of Clarisse's home as I believe it reflects some part of her true self. I believe that this was a great chapter so far and it demonstrates just how much the women are meant in the projects.
"Ms. Bailey wouldn't give us nothing, why she treat me like that."(page 157). This is contradicting because it seems like she wants to do the right thing for her kids at least, however she is neglecting them by taking drugs. It seems as though she fails to understand that people won't be nice to you and do nice things for you if you don't even want to help yourself.
I agree with Count Olaf; she won't fully admit to herself that she has a drug problem. She needs to mature because she isn't just messing up her life, she messing with her kids life as well.
Asha A.
Coats vs. Booze
I agree with Cathy that Ms.Bailey shouldn't have to give anything in return for what is supposed to be a donation. When you donate something you are giving it was without asking for anything in return so what Ms. Bailey was doing was hustling not picking up donations. "This donation, she told me, was made with the understanding that that she would direct her tenants to visit this liquor store exclusively when they needed booze" I mean really can you count that as a donation when in return you can only buy from there over time they owner of the liquor store,in the end the owner will end up making more money than the one that he "gave away". Still I guess that if that is what Ms. Bailey has to do in order to get her tenants some clothes and food so that they can have something to eat and wear during the winter is worth doing it. She is trying to stop the women from the building to have sex with the owners in order for the things that they need like boo-boo's daughter. Like the guy from the meat store, he made something out of their deal because he didn't have to spend any money on the jackets that he "donated" to the buildings and in return he gets to free beer.
the booze vs. coats contrast is a strange comparison to me. if Ms. Baily is supposed to recieve charity for her project why should she have to trade for her so called "charity". however if this is what Ms. Baily must go through to help her community then it must be done. she states so herself on pg(153). "i don't want to see it come that. So if i have to give away a few bottles of gin, that's fine with me"
Clarisse's home vs. her life
"The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members," (p.156).
Clearly Clarisse didn't want her home to be filthy and trashy because she had children to bring up and she didn''t want her chidldren to grow up in an environment where drugs and alcohol were apparent. I agree with Superstar Eric, though, when he said it was ironic that she had to be told to shower even though her home puts on this front that everything about her is clean and well kept. I think she is doing an okay job with raising her children, well, for someone who is on drugs. She is doing a good job by keeping them out of that lifestyle. I do believe, though, she would do a lot better if she wasn't on drugs.
Arab charity vs. Discrimination
"I had only fifteen dollars with me, but i told the owner, a Middle Eastern man, that the family hadn'tt eaten in a while. He shook his head - as if he'd heard this story a million times - and instructed me to get what I needed and just take it with me" (p 157).
I found this passaage to be very interesting because of its direct correlation between Boo Boo's story in chapter four. In the previous chapter, the entire community was ready to see a good old fashioned beat-down and in this story the store owner (who could have very well have been the same guy) shows kindness and understanding to the people in the area. Since Sudhir was able to walk the two and four year old over to the store, it couldn't have been far from the (for lack of better words) fairly racist Robet Taylor tenants.
I agree with what Kiersten said about Clarisse not seeing herself how others did. It almost seemed as if her apartment was a metaphor for her life in the she saw herself or the way she wanted to be.
I am responding to the contrast between Clarisse's vision of herself vs. the reality. In previous chapter's Clarisse tells Venkatesh that she is not like other prostitutes and had sex for drugs. However, we soon find out that it was a lie. Venkatesh states, "When I first met her, on the gallery outside J.T.'s apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the 'hypes and rock stars'- who sold sex for drugs." (156) The reality of it is that she did sell herself for drugs, and not only is she harming herself but her two daughters. The way Clarisse lives her life is not a suitable way for a mother to live her life. It was sad to see how the only reason Clarisse seemed to want her purse was because of the bags of either heroin or crack that were in her purse.
The reality of it is however, that Clarisse is setting a bad example for her two daughters. Venkatesh states, "Clarisse was on all fours by now. She was drooling and heaving, but nothing came out." (155) When Clarisse came into her apartment, my surprise is why her daughters weren't surprised to see their mother in the state that she was in. It was as if they were use to seeing the state their mother was in. It was sad also, when Venkatesh told the children that they were going to get a cart full of food "they looked like I'd just given them free passes to Disney World" (157). Most children are happy when they are given new toys, but Clarisse's two daughters were happy to get a cart of food.
I agree with Delilah. Clarisse is still not accepting that she is one of those prostitutes who has sex for money. It saddens me that she is in denial and won't realize that her drug problem is causing her children to suffer. In the long run, her children should be her number one priority and making them happy should be the most important thing in her life as compared to getting drugged up.
this is a reponse to Count Olaf. i believe that drug addictions are different for every person. second i think that Clarisse uses drugs to relieve herself of the stress of two children, no job, and living in the projects. this does not justify her use for drugs though. i do believe she will be able to kick her addiction simply because of her children.
The topic of Clarisse's home vs. her life is a very interesting one. "The apartmnt was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family memebers. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess.(pg. 156)" This quote itself shows how it is interesting because here you have this nice home filled with inspirational objects and cleaned up looking good, but on the couch there is the mother who is all messed up from the drugs she has been using. To me, these two topics should not go together because how could a mother who keeps her home in such good condition, not be able to keep her own self in good condition. I would have to agree with michie2011 that Clarisse probably keeps her home like that because she doesnt want to bring her mistakes home with her and doesnt want her kids to make the same mistakes, because in the end she is still a mother who has to set a good example fr her kids.
Clarisse tried to impress herself in front of Sudhir and made herself look better than the other prostitutes doing business in the building. She claimed that she was not a“hype” because she didn’t sell herself for drugs. Clarisse sees herself as not like the others because she is “doing everything possible” to feed her kids. In reality, she is like the other prostitutes that sell themselves to get more drugs. “I saw a few condoms, some lipstick, pictures of her daughters, and a few bags of either heroin or cocaine” (155). Because she is a drug prostitute, Clarisse cannot be a good parent, as how her community sees it. “‘Get yourself clean or you ain’t getting nothing! …Don’t embarrass yourself, coming in here high on that shit! … You call yourself a mother? You ain’t no mother. You could be one, if you stopped smoking that junk!’” (154). Other people, like Ms. Bailey, believe that in order to be a good parent a person does not need to smoke or do any illegal actions. I do agree with Superstar Eric because Clarisse’s home was very clean and well organized but she just does not seem to be clean herself. I think this is because she does things for her home and family and would risk having a bad image to do something good for her kids. As in, she has time to clean her house for her kids but she does not have time to clean herself up because she uses drugs to get more business for her kids.
When Sudhir was helping out Clarisse after she was throwing up and not "feeling" well. I don't understand why Sudhir even decided to help her out.I mean even when Ms.Bailey told Clarisse," Get yourself clean or you ain't getting nothing!...--You could be one, if you stopped smoking that junk." I would think that by Ms.Bailey saying this it would be a hint to Sudhir that she wasn't doing her part and that basically if she needed food for her family then how does she get heroine or any other drugs.Even after he took her to her home and noticing that it was a tidy place and seeing that she doesn't bother taking care of her kids, wouldn't he think that at least someone from the project would care. Like they kept repeating it in the first couple of chapters, that they were a community and they helped eachother out. I wonder if Sudhir is really a good guy or if he's just playing his part and wants to be noticed as that.
I agree with sillyskittlesponcho. A donation is when you give supplies or necessities for free. Unfortunalty Ms.Bailey has to trade beer for food, clothes, and heaters. “ But the volunteers don’t come around anymore. Have you seen any of those nice white people since you’ve been around? I didn’t think so. Nobody gives us money, nobody runs programs. Not a lot of people are doing the free food thing anymore” (152). It’s sad that at one point there were people helping around and that it eventually stopped. If people still needed help what would cause them to stop? I don’t judge or think it’s bad what Ms.Bailey is doing. They are not getting the help they once received so they must do what they have to. Ms.Bailey has also grown up in public housing so she understand what the people are going through. I think that motivates her to help and also the fact that she never forgets where she came from. At least there is are people at the Robert Taylor homes that are willing to help and something is better than nothing.
Parenthood vs. drug use
In the beginning of chapter 5 we learned a lot about women in the Robert Taylor homes. The women in the Robert Taylor homes constantly struggle though everyday life as women and as mother. Clarisse is an prime example of a women with many obstacles that live in the Robert Taylors homes. She is a mother of two and also a prostitute. In my personal opinion the two goes hand and hand. Usually when a woman that lives that type of life lifestyle does get pregnant in the long run and have to find a way to support not only one person but three now. The same environment the children were produced in is the same way Clarisse now has to make money to at least feed these children. But Clarisse doesn’t always use these money for food for her children “Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the "hypes and rock stars"- who sold sex for drugs. Plainly, she had lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she'd wanted to make a decent impression." (pg 156). This quote implies that she is a drug uses as well, I just don’t understand the two. I totally agree with Mrz.Kita …”I feel that Clarisse as a mother in some instances are good, like the environment of her home, and in some ways maybe not so much, with the whole idea of her children not eating.” So true, and that’s exactly the message I was trying to get across.
For parenthood vs. drug use, I find it hard to comprehend why Clarisse uses drugs even though she has two children. Of course her job as a prostitute is reasonable because that is how she puts food on her table, but what was the point of turning to drugs?
"When I had first met her, on the gallery outside JT's apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes--the "hypes and rock stars"--who sold sex for drugs. Plainly, she had lied to me about not using drugs," (page 156).
I'm assuming she lied about not using drugs because she was a little ashamed of it. If she was ashamed of it and wanted to set herself apart from the "hypes and rock stars", then it makes no sense why she would do them. The fact that she's a mother makes things worse. It seems that the responsibily of being a parent isn't recognized by her and the surrounding life pulls her away from her motherly duties. I also would find it hard to believe if Clarisse was the only one having this problem. I think the parenthood vs. drug struggle is dangerous to the heath of the parents and the children; and its possible common in that community.
I agree with Ro² =], since Clarisse is just like any other drug prostitute that obviously makes her unfit to be a mother. She needs to become more responsible to become clean or else she will end up losing her daughters. If she doesn't set a good example for them or takes care of them without getting high, then she deserves to lose them.
"Those jackets are warmer than what most families can buy in the stores... The manager donates about twenty to me each Christmas" p. 151
I think Ms. Bailey is making a good trade with the coats. Trading beer is a small price to pay when it comes to keeping families warm during the winter. Ms. Bailey is really just looking out for the community and uses her "connections" to help others out. Even if some of the trades or people seem shady, she's doing it for a good cause and I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't think many people in the community would do what she's doing unless they were to get something in return.
In chapter five we see another side of Clarisse. Back when Vanketesh first met her, she was totally different from the way she is now. "When i first met her,on the gallery outside J.T's apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the "hypes and rock stars"- who sold sex for drugs. Plainly, she had lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she'd wanted to make a decent impression."(156) Clarisse visioned herself as not just another prostitute, but as someone better than that. She claimed she was different from them because she didn't do any drugs and felt fine, but in reality wasn't.She did do drugs. When she was kicked out of the office she was desperate for her purse because that's where her drugs were at. Also, she was so drugged that she was throwing up all over the place, and her outfit did not suit the weather, nor work to her advantage, so she needed help getting up and going back to her apartment. I agree with Ro2 because like she mentioned, Clarisse just wanted to impress Vanketesh, leaving him with the impression that she is doing the best she can to provide for her family, when in reality as we saw, she didn't want to get cleaned up to get food etc for her kids from Mrs Bailey.
Claarisse home vs.her life
Clarisse is a prostitute, lets put that in plain simple terms. We didnt judge her for that, But when Clarisse begans or shall i say when we become aware she is a drug addict our perception of Clarisse quickly changed.
Her being a prostitute isnt praised upon nor is the ideal lifestyle a woman raising children should live, but Clarise is a mother, who has to take care and provide, a home for her kids and her..
Contrary to her lifestyle and living condition, when drugs came on the scene , that added a totally negative view on Clarisse.
Judgement towards her became negative."You call yourself a mother? You aint no mother, You could be one, if you'd stop using that stuff".(154).Clarisse was a mother before she was a drug addict, and her being a prostitute is no better.
Now, drugs nor prostitution are healthy, and normal ways to raise children and live but, Clarisse has to do it. "I saw a few condoms, some lipsticks. pictures of her daughters, and a few bags of either heroine or cocaine".(155). Clarisee does care for her kids, and also for their well-being but sometimes there are roads blocks, and temptations that steer us away from the right road. Im sure Clarisse didnt plan, or settle on being a single mother, nor having a job as a prostitute, and certainly not becoming addicted to drugs. Her children are her main concern in her life,but under the circumstances,Clarisses' lifestyle welcomes drug usage and neglect.
"That's what a lot of women have to do around here to get some free food"(referring to the Boo-Boo incident), she said."I don't want to see it come to that. So if I have to give away a few bottles of gin, that's fine with me."
When it comes down to the real issues in life like not having enough food to eat or not enough heat to stand the cold, we tend to not care how we get what we need. And that's exactly how Ms.Bailey thinks. How she gets the jackets? Through beer trade and small favors. I highly doubt that the community itself would be doing this b/c people are too concerned about their own survival or are too poor to even get something started. I agree with Dre, she's just looking out for the community and it doesn't matter how she got it for them, nobody else would be able to get that many jackets with that same effort b/c they dont have the "connections" she does.
"The scene was a study in contrast. The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned.And then therewas Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelidsdrooping, a total mess." pg.156
It seems as though getting high is not a constant thing for Clarisse nut when it happens she is really messed up. if she was just an average "hype" her house would look the way it did. I completely agree with michie 2011. I dont believe that she wants to bring that sort of thing around her children and when she comes back around she'll feel horrible about it.
Booze vs. Coats
The fact that Ms. Bailey exchanges liquor and beer for coats may sound wrong, but she is actually helping many families by giving them the things they need. Even though the transactions Ms. Bailey made were not really donations, to her they were because all she was doing was giving a little liquor to help people in need. "Only once did Ms. Bailey receive a donation--that is, something for free. At one grocery store, she got some canned food without having to exchange any beer or liquor." I agree with miss.marie when she said that Ms. Bailey is doing the right thing because the women shouldn't be having sex for the things they need. So Ms. Bailey is a saint for taking the time that she has to go and help other people in need. Even if the coats were donated by getting booze, its still a very helpful transaction in Ms. Bailey's part. It seems to me that the care Ms. Bailey was showing kind of rubbed off to Suhdir because he started to help Clarisse's kids even though he only had 15 dollars.
Arab Charity vs. Discrimination
“I had only fifteen dollars with me, but I told the owner, a Middle Eastern man, that the family hadn’t eaten in a while. He shook his head – as if he heard it a million times – and instructed me to just get what I needed and just take it with me” (157).
This is so strange. I mean if the Middle Eastern storeowners are willing to give away free things, then why do they hassle with them? I agree with Lydia with the fact that it does have a comparison with the Boo Boo scandal. That storeowner showed genuine kindness. I am not just saying that because I am an Arab, it is because if a person had to deal with people stealing things, beating them up, or even messing up the store, that person would call the police everyday and cause even more problems. In this situation, the storeowner just let it go.
Clarisse’s Home vs. Her life
When you look at Clarisse’s home and you see her life its juxtaposition. In the book it stated, “The apartment was neat and cozy, with all hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess"(156). If you saw a home with pictures of Jesus, it was nice and neat, clean, and peaceful, wouldn’t you think of a person who had morals and faith in their religion? It is just so strange to me, how she has all of these things in her home, but she is the total opposite. She is a drug addict prostitute that thinks her life is great. Maybe her home is an escape. She feels if she puts up these pictures of Jesus and symbols of religion, it will cover up for the other bad things she did in her life. I agree with Mrz.Kita about the fact that her home is a reflection of who she wants to be, or who she was.
Booze vs. coats
I do believe that the way Ms. Bailey went about getting coats for the community was probably the most effective way. In a poverty infested city everyone is trying to make their way to success. There aren’t many people who will be willing to put themselves in a tight economical situation for others. When Venkatesh asks Ms. Bailey why is decided to trade for the coats she responds, “Lot of middle-class people don’t like to talk about it, but they come from the projects…And a few times a year, they do the right thing.” She later brings up the situation about Boo-Boo wanting to kill the owner of the store because he was sleeping with her teenage daughter. She said, “That’s what a lot of women have to do around here to get some free food…I don’t want to see it come to that.” So even though it alcohol, its being used to when the sides of the people that can be most helpful to the people in the Robert Taylor Homes.
The Race Card brings up a good point when they state that there isn’t money in the community to buy things in bulk like that so they must trade. This also makes me wonder why are they calling in a donation when its actually a trade.
When people give a donation they should be doing it for the needy rather than for something in return. Ms. Bailey goes around to stores in the neighborhod where she do a trade for a trade where she got clothes, coats, food, and heaters for the tenants in the Robert Taylor homes and the stores got liquor. She talks to Sudhir about how she grew up in public housing. Back then, charities, churches, city agencies, and individual volunteers all helped out in the projects. But, she also explained how the volunteers don't come around anymore, Ms. Bailey explains, "Nobody gives us money, nobody runs programs, Not a lot of people are doing the free food thing anymore. Even the churches really don't do what they do in the past"(152). The people that do donate to the Robert Taylor Homes is because most of them grew up thereor have family in the projects. That's why they do the right thing by donating to the tenants. I agree with what Andrea said about the tenants in the homes don't get much help anymore so Ms. Bailey do what she can to help them out. I truly will gain trust on what Ms. Bailey is doing for her community and it can get better if the community helps her by helping thamselves.
"I need food to feed my babies" page 155.
I would like to address the contrast of parenthood vs. drug abuse. Clarisse is a good mother from I have seen from the previous chapters, but now it seems as if her drug abuse is getting in the way of her parenting. Drugs are addicted and it seems as if she may even put her drugs before her own kids. In the quote she is concerned about her kids and even thinks about the well being of her kids when she is high. But she lied to Sudhir about being a drug addicted because she didn't want Sudhir to judge her and accuse her of being a horrible mother. I agree with Superstar Eric that Clarisse is really heading to self destruction if she keeps abusing drugs and Ms.Bailey if threatening her that she would take the kids away from her.
BOOZE V. COATS
-Well I think the situation about the trading Booze for some winter coats was pretty significant. Ms. Bailey said that she felt that people didn't come and help with giving poor or low income families things that they needed anymore. She decided that she will be a nice person to give away a few of her liquors for some coats to help. " So if I have to give away a few bottles of gin, that's fine with me."
Although Sudhir thought otherwise. He felt that it wasn't really giving to charity if she was making an exchange. "If it's a donation, it should be for free, no?"
At first, I agreed with Sudhir, because I mean a donation is a person's desire to give something for nothing in return. But that's not always the way things are handled. Everybody does not do things fairly so it always has to be someone to take the responsibility to do what's right. Ms. Bailey was this person, and I felt that she did the right thing. =)
Chapter 5 was really interesting. Clarisse‘s life was very interesting. I feel as if she lives life as a double standard. Her current occupation is prostitution. However, her home was very clean and had tons of pictures of Jesus. It is weird because her job is filthy and not the most pride filled job. It seems like she takes pride in her home and her life behind close doors verses her public image. “ Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes- the hypes and rock stars – who sold sex for drugs…. She had lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she’d wanted to make a decent impression.” (156) I think she has the “hustler’s” mentality as well. I some what commend her for earning money but at the same time, I think she could do much better than what she was doing. Maybe in the long run, she will care about her occupational image like she does her home.
Booze vs. Coats
I believe that the way Ms. Bailey received and traded for the coats and also other things in the beginning pf chapter 5 was a very convenient way and the one that was not the expensive. Ms. Bailey was doing something good for her community and tenants as best as she knows how. I think that business plan was a way to get goods when nobody was offering to help. “Nobody gives us money, nobody runs programs. Even the churches really don’t do what they did in the past,” to me I believe that this is the reason that Ms. Bailey was trading booze and other things for goods that her tenants will be able to use during the winter. I think that this is a product of good businesses and also a sign that Ms. Bailey really cares for the people that live in her community. The business industry usually results in some kind of trading of two valuable goods. I agree with HeyGuy because that was the most effective way for Ms. Bailey to help out her community and everyone that lived with out sufficient needs during the winter time or any season.
Clarisse's home is very different from her lifestyle out of her house. When Venkatesh describes the house he says "the apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members". He was suprized or at least realized and acknowledged the difference between hoe Clarisse acts and her home life. He would have had no clue that she was like this until this event because he took her word as the truth when she was talking with him earlier and clearly stated that she was no crack head. And when you see this women vomiting horribly and looking a mess you wouldn't expect for her house to be so clean and tidy. Honestly I don't think she can play both parts and do a good job. I feel like Ms. Bailey probably sent someone to clean up the house for the kids. Clarisse needs to step up for her kids and she needs a huge reality cheak.
Clarisse's home vs. her life
"The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members," (p.156).
I think that Clarisse keeps her home life, and her "real world" life seperate because of her children. However, I feel that if she is so worried about what her children would think, why doesn't she just quit? But then I realized, alot of things are easier said than done. In this case, it is easier for Clarisse to keep her lives seperate. I can kind of relate to this situation, not because my biological mother was a drug addict or because she was a prostitute, but she came close. My mother would leave at different hours of the night to meet up with men,and in that duration she got high and drunk, however, she always tried to keep that world out of my knowledge. It worked, for awhile at least. So in Clarisse's case, she is just a woman trying to support her family, and seems to be willing to do anything to make sure her kids are taken care of.
In chapter 5 the whole situation with Clarisse was shocking in away, but at the same time it wasn’t. Clarisse’s first encounter with Venkatesh seemed completely different. Clarisse surely has a way with first greetings. “When I had first met her, on the gallery outside JT's apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the "hypes and rock stars"- who sold sex for drugs. Plainly, she had lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she'd wanted to make a decent impression." (pg.156). Honestly, the whole prostitutes on drugs it’s really typical. What I don’t understand is how her home was so neatly kept up, nothing in the fridge but it was clean. Is this the Clarisse that she wants to be? I feel she wants to become a better mother to her children, but she don’t really know how right now. In my opinion Clarisse is trying to get the things her kids need. For example, even though she doesn’t exactly feed them, they always eat. Also with the coat and food drive Ms. Bailey held I felt this was her trying to be a better provider. She knew this is what needs to be done for the sake of her children. "I had only fifteen dollars with me, but I told the owner, a Middle Eastern man, that the family hadn't eaten in a while. He shook his head - as if he'd heard this story a million times - and instructed me to get what I needed and just take it with me" (p 157). With Venkatesh helping out with the kids, I think he didn’t really know what else to do. It seemed like he took some kind of pity on them. He felt it was only right to go out and buy them a decent meal. My only question to Venkatesh is if he knew Ms. Bailey feed them just about every day, would he still have done things the same way? I agree with Count Olaf Clarisse doesn't want to admitt her wrong, even if deep down she knows she's wrong.
This donation, she told me was made with the understanding that she would direct her tenants to visit this liquor store exclusively when they needed booze …Then he handed over a few boxes of children’s coats ; Ms. Bailey directed me to put the rest of the beer in his car. At the dollar store, Ms. Bailey traded some of the liquor for a bundle of blankets. At the hardware store, Ms, Bailey gave the manager the plastic bag she'd brought along, and he gave her three potable heaters.
This is a good representation of how life in poverty is. You rarely here about someone giving things out for free or from the kindness if thier heart anymore, because there isn't much money. In order for one to give they have to feel as if they are getting something out of the deal, because that's just how this world is. Ms. Bailey said thet a lot of the donators that used to come around stopped, and I think it is because they became scared of what they thought the neighborhood was, and overlooked the fact that regardless they still need things. I think it is interesting that they traded alchohol insted of anything meaningful. It shows the reader the values of a lot of people and what they think is important, although booze was probably all they had access to. I do agree with green, inwhich it is nothing wrong with trading because if that the only means you have to bettering you communtiy they you have to do what you have to do. I read when Ms. Baliey said that all that matters is that the tassk gets done, not how it gets done. But I also agree with Casey, because it is not a donation if nothing is given to them for free.
I disagree with kinka: “but she is actually helping many families by giving them the things they need”. You may be helping families but the same time your bribing different organizations and stores with liquor to get what you want. If it’s a DONATION like she said it was, she shouldn’t have to give up anything to help out because a donation is something free an organization gives out to help others. I also agree with Venkatesh because he said it best: "Only once did Ms. Bailey receive a donation that was actually a donation- that is, something for free” (pg. 152)
Clarisse's home vs. her life
“The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse of the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess.” (156)
When you look at Clarisse’s home and her lifestyle, they contradict each other. When they introduced us to Clarisse we found out that she is a prostitute who works in the Robert Taylor Homes and does drugs. But when we seen her home it was a very cozy regular black persons home. As History Girl said, if you walked into a home that was fresh and clean with crosses, you would expect that the person was a person who believed in morals and faith. Clarisse just wants to provide for her kids, so she makes her house nice so that she can say that she has some sort of moral. She probably wants her kids to be successful and not work like she is so she makes the house friendlier.
In Chapter 5, Sudhir gets to research the women in the neighborhood and see their perspective with poverty and prostitution. Clarisse was a mother of two and she was also a prostitute. She told Sudhir earlier in the book that she wasn't like all prostitutes out there. She needed to feed her children. That was her main concern. She also told people that she didn't do drugs and that her children starve because Ms. Bailey won't give them food from the donations. I believe Clarisse is just a gold digger looking for the easiest way in life. She came into the office drunk and completely messed up asking for food from Ms. Bailey. Ms. Bailey refused to give her any and Sudhir wondered why. He felt sympathetic to the mother and her children.
Sudhir says, "I felt a sudden urge to make sure her kids were fed." Sudhir went to the store with the kids and filled an entire cart of groceries for her.
Although, Sudhir is a nice person and is nice enough to help Clarisse as well as her kids, he has to realize, like MS. Bailey, that they are her kids and that she has a responsibility to everything she can to feed them. She doesn’t take it as seriously as she should and she has to realize that if Ms. Bailey wasn't as kind as she was to make sure her kids were fed, then her kids would probably be dead or taken away from her right now. Ms. Bailey always made sure all the kids in the building were fed. She fed Clarisse’s kids already in the morning. It is not Ms. Bailey’s responsibility to feed Clarisse as well.
Ms. Bailey is trying to show Clarisse that she can't expect to get everything she needs, she has to earn it. If I were Ms. Bailey I wouldn't have gave her food either so she can face reality and try to do something about it rather than getting everything for free.
Parenthood vs. drug use
In the first half of chapter five we come across Clarisse, and we get to know her even more once we start reading her story. She is a perfect example of parenthood versus drug use. She is always high and she claims to love her daughter so much, which brings up the question is it the high that makes her love her daughter or is it like genuine. When parenthood and drugs are put in against each other I believe that drugs will win. I believe that people fall into drugs and have a hard time coming back out and that is known as an addiction. When people live in the Robert Taylor homes it’s a lifestyle and what they are use to if they are a prostitute or drug dealers. Life there is so much harder than it is anywhere so we can’t really get all that mad at her for doing it because it is what they know. So I’m not justifying her drug use I’m just saying that people need escapes and I guess that’s hers. Parenthood versus Drug Use is hard to be put together and function seeing as to how addicting drugs are.
Parenthood vs. drug use
““That bitch don’t want me to feed my babies,” Clarisse moaned. “I need to feed by babies!” She started looking around frantically---for her purse, I realized,”
I think in the Robert Taylor Homes that parenting is very hard for some people. It’s hard for some of these people to be good parents because they have no job or they don’t get paid as well. In this chapter I would applaud Clarisse for being a good parent and trying to feed her children but I feel as she is going about it the wrong way. I would understand if she was sleeping around with other guys to get stuff to feed her kids but doing drugs is not going to help at all. I agree with Superstar Eric that the more she keep abusing the drugs the closer she will end up to her own self destruction and Ms. Bailey taking her kids.
Its relvent that the woman in this book are only here to sale their bodies and/or on drugs. To me it seems she's very holy and puts all her faith in god. For example on page 156 it states some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It snelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess. Clarissa is a great and loving mother she is one of the only prostitutes that lied about saling her body for drugs. So basically Clarissa home vs her life are very different and you can see that she's trying to seprate the 2.
Clarisse home vs. Her life
I think that in chapter 5 we get a better look at who Clarisse is. In this chapter she is not only a cracked out prostitute, but a mother who has to hold down her home and children. Clarisse herself is obviously a crackhead who has two daughters who must support them and her addiction by means of prostitution. Looking at some of the other tenants you would expect Clarisse’s home to be just as messy as her life seems, but to my surprise it wasn’t. When Venkatesh visited Clarisse’s house it was described as clean and neat. “The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members.” (pg. 156) I think the most interesting about her apartment is that she has pictures of Jesus on her wall even though it contradicts her lifestyle. In response to Superstar Eric I agree that Clarisse wasn’t living the ideal lifestyle, but I also feel she really did do as much a she could to feed her children while fighting her cocaine addiction.
parenthood vs. drug use
Chapter 5 talks a lot about Clarisse and her lifestyle. She is a mother of two, one age two and the other age four. She claims to be a drug-free prostitute. In Chapter 5 we discover that she is a drug-user because when Sudhir had to drag Clarisse out of the office after Catrina made him, Ms. Bailey made him look to see what Clarisse had in her bag. He saw the drugs and realized that Clarisse lied to him about not being drug-user. In the book it states, “When I first met, on the gallery outside J.T.’s apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the ‘hypes and rock stars’-who sold sex for drugs. Plainly she lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she wanted to make a decent impression.” Clarisse is a parent and she should really think about how her kids need everything. She should think about her kids first. Ms. Bailey shouldn’t have to be the one to take care of her kids. They are Clarisse’s kids and Ms. Bailey is a very kind-hearted person so she makes sure Clarisse’s kids have eaten.
Clarisse’s vision of her self vs. the reality…
It shocked me when Clarisse walked into Mrs. Bailey’s office the way she did. “She smelled of liquor; her blouse was undone so that one of her breast was nearly popping out ,” (pg 153-154). However when she was first introduced she was, “a beautiful and thoughtful woman who nearly always had a smile ready,” (pg. 55). The two are different people. Clarisse introduced her self has a person whom only was in prostitution for money to support her family. The Clarisse newly introduced is a drug addict. And very well acted as one. Why would she lie? The only reason I can think of was the fact that Venkatesh was new, he was somebody that didn’t know her; somebody who didn’t have an judgment against her already in mind. It was her way of living a life that she wanted, to get people to accept her more. However, she was still wrong to lying, or at least bring it to his attention when it was nothing true. Its one thing to live the life, but when you are ashamed to talk about it, that’s when you know its wrong. Her vision is whom she wants to be, but reality is she know that she is nothing like her vision.
Booze Vs Coats
Booze: "she would direct her tenants to visit this liquor store store when they needed more booze"p150 This quote shows the direct comparison between coats and booze "Then he handed over a few boxes of children's coats; Ms. Bailey directed me to put the rest of the beer in his car". (p152) This trade for clothes liquor isn't fair or even remotely close in value. These businesses dont make money by donating to their costumers and they feel the need to always gain a profit no matter the situation. There always should be something in return. A case of liquor is a call cost for a child to be warm in the winter. Liqour for clothes once more,"Ms. Bailey traded some of the liquor for a bundle of blankets".(p152)
periClarisse vs. Home
"The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with all hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It snelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess"(156).
In this chapter Clarisse is the most interestinq. If I had to pick,, she's the most interestinq throuqhout the book,, mainly because she's fake. She wuld be considered fake b/c everythinq she does outside of her home contradicts what she does inside her home. For example,, in her home,, its very neat& everythinq is spick& span,, but outside her home,, she's the exact opposite,, she very "ron-chee" and that's very unexpected. I kinda see where she's cominq from tho,, mainly b/c I culd see& understand why she wuldnt want her life to reflect her home,, b/c if it did then evrythinq wuld be outta order.
Therefore,, I aqree w/ michie2011.! We both are thinkinq pretty much the same thinq soooo I aqree w/ that.!
Charity to Some vs. Charity to None: In Chapter V Ms. Bailey organized the winter gear baskets to provide food and clothing to the people in the housing projects. However Ms Bailey had a certain way that she distributed the baskets.
"I noticed that some people received food but no clothing. Others got a jacket but no food. And some people just stood around until Ms. Bailey told them,’ We don't have anything for you today.’” (p 153)
I felt like this was her way of making sure everyone got what they needed and that those who were giving nothing probably were drug addicts and she probably wanted those who were doing right to get what they needed first. I felt that way mostly because when she and Sudhir were picking up the "donations" I noticed that there wasn’t much being giving at least not enough for every resident. So I don’t really see a problem with this as much as I just think it’s unfair…but without the supplies you can’t pleases everyone, and this is simply an example of Ms. Bailey making do.
Clarisse's Vision of herself vs. the Reality: When we were first introduced to Clarisse she had tried to separate herself from the other prostitutes in the housing projects and she made it very clear that she wasn’t addicted to drug. Also that her first priority was her children and that her life revolved around making sure they were taking care of. However we learned that this was no where near the truth.
“She smelled like liquor; her blouse was undone so that one of her breasts was nearly popping out…’You’re messed up,’ Catrina said, peering over her thick glasses. ‘You need to shower’” (p 153-154)
The description of Clarisse in this Chapter is nothing like what she said earlier in the book. When she went to the office for a basket she saw herself as trying to feed her kids and she wanted sympathy “That bitch don’t want me to feed my babies” (p 155)…but Clarisse had knowledge of Ms. Bailey feeding her children because she knows the system of how things work in Ms. Bailey’s building, “Her kids ate at my place that morning!...I make sure they eat. No children go hungry in my building. No, sir” (p 157), Clarisse was simply upset because Ms. Bailey wouldn’t provide with any thing she could sell for money. (Clarisse is exactly like my aunt; she is addicted to drugs and is destroying the lives of her children, however in her mind there is nothing wrong with what she does because while high her girls are most likely none existed in her thoughts. When reading this book I’ve seen a lot of these people in my life, some of which are still there). I believe that Ms. Bailey did the right thing by not giving Clarisse a basket and threatening to take he kids away. Clarisse’s mind is controlled by drugs, alcohol, sex and money and those important to her fall to the back of the line.
I chose to talk about Clarisse home vs. Clarisse life. As in the beginning of the chapter it states "The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with wall hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess"(p.156). As the chapter describes her home is the complete opposite of how her life is. Clarisse life is full of drug abuse and even prostitution. To me Clarisse seems to be a hypocrite because how can she portray a clean home and the belief of Jesus when she does all of these sins. On the other hand, agreeing both with n.y. state of mind and michie2011, she may keep a clean house due to the fact of her kids and how she may want her life to be as clean as her house.
Living the life of a drug addict and prostitute can be very chaotic for a person, so her house can be a symbol of her chance for peace. And as far as her children goes, her keeping a clean house will direct her children into the right direction; rather than following the footsteps of their mother.
Clarisse Vision of self vs. reality
Clarisse home vs. self
Many people are brought up good but they get influenced by others. It seems as if Clarisse was brought up on morals but she was greatly influenced by the wrong crowd. Many people who are embarrassed by their actions always try to justify them with by placing themselves above the average. In Clarisse case, she felt as if she was better than the average prostitute, "When I had first met her, on the gallery outside JT's apartment, Clarisse had set herself apart from other prostitutes-the "hypes and rock stars"- who sold sex for drugs. Plainly, she had lied to me about not using drugs; I guess she'd wanted to make a decent impression." (page 156). I don’t think Clarisse intentionally lied to Sudhir, I think she actually believe she’s better than the average prostitutes maybe because whose she’s related to and how she was brought up in life. Clarisse is a mother of two little girls. Although she abuses drugs and prostitute her body, I think she has a little class to herself. It may not seem as if she respects herself as a woman, but she does respect herself as a mother. She wants to keep a warm comfortable environment for her girls to grow in. She could be nasty and not care about the conditions of her house but I think she do it for her girls. It seems as if she maintains the motherly role inside her home and keeps her illegal actions outside,” The scene was a study in contrasts. The apartment was neat and cozy, with all hangings and framed pictures throughout, some of Jesus Christ and some of family members. It smelled as if it had just been cleaned. And then there was Clarisse on the couch, breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, a total mess"(156). Although she came in the house high on drugs, I think she probably lie to her girls about her conditions. As a mother and a prostitute she keeps her business away from home so that she won’t influence her girls about her illegal actions.
Charity to some vs. charity to none
I'm on both sides because she is doing what's best for her neighborhood, but at the same time she is only giving things out to certain people. Everyone deserves something, but I understand that she also can't do it all by herself. It just seems as if she only gives things to people who fall under her wing and don't challenge ger authority and those who challenge her don't get anything. For example, Clarisse, she derserved a coat and food as well but she didn't get it because she often gets into disagreements with her (pg. 154). okay she does drugs but she can't discriminate against her because that's what she wants to do with her life. She still could've helped her out.
Clarisse Home vs. Her life
I think that Clarisse's house seem to be more religious and makes her seem like she's the type of person that would have a life together, by going to church and taking care of her family. However, she's the total opposite of her house. She barely takes care of her children and she's on drugs and selling her body. Christians, as her house portrays her, dont sell their body for money or do drugs.
I believe the women in this book,are out to get money to help their family just like Clarisse, her outside life and family life are totally different she does what she has to due to support her kids. Prostituting, was only to make money because in home she tries her best to take care of her children.
I realize that im super late, but I will be addressing the charity to some vs. Charity to none. In this chapter we are able to see how some people get the basics based on the fact that they will follow all of the stupid rules that were placed before them. This is unfair because the rules were made in order to make sure that certain people stayed in power.
When the people who dont follow the rules, need the basics they are denied. Just because they dont want to follow the rules, means that they will have to go without the things they need. It all makes sense in a cruel hearted way.
I think that in the year 2050 that race will matter because in the passage it says that in the year 2050 is the arrival of a ‘’majority-minority country” (p.39). This means that around that year the people who are considered minorities will become the majority. So the white people who where considered the majority will now have to face challenges that the once minorities had to deal with, such as finding a job and being accepted in society. There are also problems because the new majorities could have problems with each other such as the blacks, Latinos, or even Asians about who is actually in charge. Also in the future the number of Europeans immigrating to the United States will decline and immigration from other countries will increase and America will become mixed up with more people from different races that aren’t white. So race will continue to matter over the years but it really shouldn’t.
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