Blog 5 - "Alive" & "Westbury Place"

The main focus of "Alive" is how feelings/safety change once a person's "shield" or protection is no longer there. When Drummond was a police officer, she didn't fear the streets or crimes that were going on because she felt protected by her armor. She had always been used to being in a state of alert and could easily be put in a position of hyper alert. However, after her encounter with the man that was stalking her, she began to realize that no matter how much alertness or suspicion she ever has, she will always be a target because she is alive.

Her last line, "I am vulnerable simply because I am alive," doesn't only deal with murderers or being attacked. All human beings are vulnerable just because they are alive for many reasons. Anything can happen to anyone. For example, people become vulnerable when they fall in love, when they give birth to a child, when they strive for a goal. As human beings who are alive, we are all vunerable to something.

The main focus of "Westbury Place" is also related to fear and safety. After the fire took place in the apartment across from Danticat's, there was always a sense of fear and wonder what was going to happen next. In that same year, many unfortunate events happened after the fire. Years later, Danticat still reminisces about the fire, just as Drummond always feels alertness, suspicion, etc.

I noticed some different aspects in the two essays. In "Alive," Drummond's fear became greater after she was no longer a police officer because she wasn't protected anymore by her uniform and guns. However, in "Westbury Place," despite the fire and other events that took place in Westbury Court, Danticat still considered it to be her home, and no matter what.... it would always be her home.

It is interesting to see two perspectives on this topic, one from a woman police officer, and another from a child. Through a child's eyes, the concept of being vulnerable doesn't seem to be as important as it does to an older woman. Although Danticat wonders about things that have happened in the past, her fear didn't seem to show as much.

The structure of "Alive" begins with suspense automatically by describing the murders that have occurred. Then, it goes on to discuss what a woman police offer sees and comes into contact with while doing this job. Afterwards, her experience/encounter with a possible murderer takes place, which builds up a lot of suspense. This part of the essay reminds me of the situation that occurred in "Out There," when the man was chasing, cursing, and trying to crab her while they were driving. Finally, once the man disappears is when Drummond comes back to reality and understands that her initial feelings don't matter, she is still human, therefore, anything could happen to her.

The structure of "Westbury Place" begins with the event, which was the fire, and then builds up more suspense as she continues to describe all of the over horrible events that took place. It is funny to me because when she is describing the other events, it is almost as if she is calm about it.

I think that both of the essays end with almost a "moral." Both essays are basically saying that you never know what can happen. Anything can happen to anyone and sometimes it's too late to change it so you have to be very careful.