Sucker
By: Carson McCullers
Author: Carson McCullers
Carson McCullers was born on February 19, 1917 in Columbus, Georgia. However, her real name when she was born was Lula Carson Smith. When she was young, her first passion was with music, and she began piano lessons at 10. Later, she had an illness and had to recover for awhile. While she was recovering, she rethought her career and changed into a writer, having success as one at the age of 19. She was married once to James McCullers Jr. but broke up later due to relationship problems. However, they did stay close after and decided to remarry. Carson McCullers had a lot of health problems during her life, which lead to a suicide attempt that failed. Her health problems caused three strokes, in which her last stroke caused her death on September 29, 1967.
Carson McCullers was born on February 19, 1917 in Columbus, Georgia. However, her real name when she was born was Lula Carson Smith. When she was young, her first passion was with music, and she began piano lessons at 10. Later, she had an illness and had to recover for awhile. While she was recovering, she rethought her career and changed into a writer, having success as one at the age of 19. She was married once to James McCullers Jr. but broke up later due to relationship problems. However, they did stay close after and decided to remarry. Carson McCullers had a lot of health problems during her life, which lead to a suicide attempt that failed. Her health problems caused three strokes, in which her last stroke caused her death on September 29, 1967.
Pre-Reading Reflection
1. Have you ever wanted the attention of someone who didn't even notice you?
It had happened before when I wanted the attention of someone who didn't notice me. But it's not always like they ignore you, it can sometimes be because they didn't even see me.
2. How did that make you feel?
If they obviously see me, but they don't acknowledge that I'm here, then that just makes me feel bad. Like I'm not a friend or you don't know me. That doesn't really happen to me though.
3. How did you respond?
If that happens, then I would probably stay quiet or talk to someone else.
4. Have you ever gotten really mad at someone that you said something you didn't mean?
No, I have not gotten so upset that I am up to the point where I say something I don't mean. It always pops up into my mind not to say something I will regret later.
5. How did you feel after you calmed down?
Depending on the situation, I usually felt like it wasn't a big deal afterwards. The event is forgiven and forgotten.
6. What did you do about the situation?
I don't do much after the situation, if it isn't a big deal, then we all act out normally afterwards.
1. Have you ever wanted the attention of someone who didn't even notice you?
It had happened before when I wanted the attention of someone who didn't notice me. But it's not always like they ignore you, it can sometimes be because they didn't even see me.
2. How did that make you feel?
If they obviously see me, but they don't acknowledge that I'm here, then that just makes me feel bad. Like I'm not a friend or you don't know me. That doesn't really happen to me though.
3. How did you respond?
If that happens, then I would probably stay quiet or talk to someone else.
4. Have you ever gotten really mad at someone that you said something you didn't mean?
No, I have not gotten so upset that I am up to the point where I say something I don't mean. It always pops up into my mind not to say something I will regret later.
5. How did you feel after you calmed down?
Depending on the situation, I usually felt like it wasn't a big deal afterwards. The event is forgiven and forgotten.
6. What did you do about the situation?
I don't do much after the situation, if it isn't a big deal, then we all act out normally afterwards.
Vocabulary in Context: Define each term based on its use in the text, provide a quote for each word
Despise: To hate or dislike; "If a person admires you a lot you despise him and don't care-and it is the person who doesn't notice you that you are apt to admire. (p. 12)
Humiliated: To embarrass or make fun of; "Maybelle Watts, this senior at school, acted like she was the Queen of Sheba and even humiliated me." (p. 12)
Sarcastic: To be mocking; "When she said no I remarked something sarcastic." (p. 19)
Despise: To hate or dislike; "If a person admires you a lot you despise him and don't care-and it is the person who doesn't notice you that you are apt to admire. (p. 12)
Humiliated: To embarrass or make fun of; "Maybelle Watts, this senior at school, acted like she was the Queen of Sheba and even humiliated me." (p. 12)
Sarcastic: To be mocking; "When she said no I remarked something sarcastic." (p. 19)
Contrasting Ideas
Proud
Pete is proud when he has caught the attention of Maybelle "She acted as though she really cared for me a little. Half the time I felt so good I hardly knew what do with myself." (p. 16) Pete felt proud when he took Maybelle and Sucker both to the movies. "But I got to thinking it was good to have both of them at the movie with the money I earned." (p. 17) Pete felt proud when he received the good remark from Sucker because he treated him a lot nicer than before. "He felt as good as I did. Once he said, "Pete, I am gladder that you are like my brother than anything else in the world." (p. 17) |
Regrets
Pete regrets his action when he didn't help Sucker when he lost a boy's BB gun and was scared. He only hushed him. "He wanted me to tell him what to do. I was sleepy and tried to make him hush and when he wouldn't I kicked at him. That was just one of the things I remembered. It seemed to me had had always been a lonesome kid. I felt bad. (p. 15) Pete regrets his action when he treated Sucker as bad as Maybelle treated Pete. " When Sucker was a little kid and on up until the time he was twelve I guess I treated him as bad as Maybelle did me. (p. 12) Pete regrets his action when he yelled at Sucker, calling him a load of mean insults. "It seemed awful to me that I had talked like that to a kid only twelve." (p. 21) |