Post A

Hydra-trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality; "we may be facing a hydra that defies any easy solution"

Bourgeois- conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class; "a bourgeois mentality"

I found the following to be a wonderful example of imagery:

"With regal grandeur, Hope paraded in and plunged herself into the chair by the sliding doors, throwing her two long legs over its arm. The skin on her calves was the color of taffy. It contrasted dramatically with the hem of her bleached jeans. She wore white sneakers without socks. Instead of shoelaces, she'd threaded a satin ribbon through the grommets" (162).
This passage defiantly painted a picture in my mind of what Hope looked like at that moment.

I also thought this was a good simile:

"A slender wrist grew from the man's white collar, sprouting five tapered female fingers like the hydra Alice had once seen under a microscope in science class" (154).

And I found this to be a good example of irony:

" 'I'm glad to hear that, Duncan,' said Odette, removing her own photographs from the easel, one by one, and sliding them back into her zippered portfolio. 'Because I think you've got a chance to win first prize' " (158).

I found this to be a good example of irony because Alice wasn't even supposed to be at this art university in the first place, she was told it was just a summer camp. Or maybe she was supposed to be there. Maybe Aunt Esme knew exactly what the university was.

"Alice stood stiffly while the small, soft thumb-so different from the tough skin that belonged to J.D.-ran over her mouth, slicking it with lip gloss. She'd felt she'd entered a huge pinball machine. Helpless, she could only roll along the tracks, responding to the pushes and the pulls, the bells and the thwacks. Alice didn't know how to stop the mechanism. Hope was the paddle. Alice was the ball" (167).
I think the significance of this quote is a tad obvious. Alice is being used by Hope. Hope is taking advantage of the fact that Alice looks much older than she really is. But Alice is used to this, which is even worse. It's sad.

I have been seeing a theme of self worth emerging from the book. Alice used to think her collages were nothing special, but she is now realizing that she could have the potential to be a wonderful artist.