Author: Elizabeth Haley

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ERA: “Hoops Dreams”

In “Hoop Dreams,” two boys named Arthur Agee and William Gates from the inner-city of Chicago strive to earn college scholarships and become professional basketball players in the NBA. We watch as the two players fight to rise to the top through as they endure the hardships of coming from the inner-city. They must face the realities of their financial struggles as well as the hardships of injuries. We watch Arthur’s family struggle due to his father’s drug addiction and watch as his water and power are both shut off. Arthur’s mother makes only $268 a month. William’s father is not present as he has not been around for several years. This leaves both families relying heavily on the support of their extended families

Arthur and William both attend St. Josephs’s high school, a school well known for producing collegiate and professional athletes, especially in comparison to that of their inner-city public schools. They both are recruited and receive scholarships to play there because of their talent. They commute an hour and a half every day, both to and from school. Unfortunately, Arthur does not play as well as expected and loses his scholarship and therefore can not afford to play at the school, although he was recruited with the school’s intention to cover his tuition. His tuition money goes to further fund William, who made the varsity team as a freshman and shows greater potential than Arthur. William attends elite basketball camps, further fostering his talent and potential, while Arthur stays home over the summer and works a low salary job. William becomes injured which impairs his ability to play and did not perform well enough on his ACTs. This deteriorates his chances of playing at many top colleges for basketball. Fortunately, both boys end up attending college due to their success in basketball, unlike many of the other kids from their inner-city neighborhood. 

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Short Essay #3

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy through John Grady Cole highlights a worldview and values consistent with that of Ango-Protestant culture as defined by Samuel Huntington in Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity. One of the greatest Anglo-Protestant values is that of family and furthermore the value of the family name. This is a great aspect we see represented by John Grady throughout the novel as he leaves his family behind in Texas and moves on to Mexico and creates new relationships. Huntington describes how the American identity was formed by the settlers and impacts the way both United States society and government structure to this day. The Anglo-Protestant culture shaped the way this structure was created and defined. It laid a foundation for equality, freedom of religion, and individualism. It created a heightened sense of work ethic and motivation to promote success. 

Throughout this journey, we see both the struggles and successes of John Grady through his travels. He works hard to keep his stay at his newfound living situations and is able to make a home for himself in many different places. Thus extreme work ethic is commonly associated with the foundation laid by the Anglo-Protestants as they were known for being very hard workers. He has a wanting for exploration and newfound success. To find transportation he makes friends with many people such as farmworkers and to find living he uses his knowledge of horses and extreme work ethic. These are characteristics defined by the foundation laid by the Anglo-Protestants.

John Grady values his family as demonstrated by the pressure put on him by the death of his grandfather. Once his grandfather passes away, John Grady is the last male in his family to carry it, as represented by his funeral. It is stated by McCarthy that it was “buried with that old man” (McCarthy 4). We watch John Grady question his identity as he stares at his reflection in the portrait of his deceased ancestors. The portrait defines a culture made by both the past and present of the family. This provides him with identities of hard work, live dangerously, and promotes a desire to take risks and be independent. It was even stated that his grandfather was the last of 8 a family of wreckless brothers. McCarthy writes, “was the oldest of eight boys and the only one to live past the age of twenty-five. They were drowned, shot, kicked by horses. They perished in fires. They seemed to fear only dying in bed.” This not only paints a picture of the value of masculinity and recklessness but that of adventure and freedom. This promotes the wreckless actions of John Grady that occur in the novel. This sense of adventure came along with the motivation for travel, looking for a new life from the Anglo-Protestants. 

Through John Grady’s sense of adventure, family value, and extreme work ethic, we see many prevalent worldviews and values consistent with that of Ango-Protestant culture as defined by Samuel Huntington in Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity. John Grady represents these aspects through his hard work to maintain his keep as well of his sense of adventure and family legacy. Although these aspects have reshaped over time, they provide a framework that we can recognize in John Grady Cole as well as today.

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Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA: All the Pretty Horses, pages 219-257

In All the Pretty Horses, pages 219-257, John Grady Cole is able to find a ride from Mexican farmworkers in order to begin his mission after being released from prison to retrieve the horses and win back Alejandra. Finally, after seven weeks, he finds Antonio. Antonio provides John Grady with the information that Alejandra, as well as her father, are not home. It is only Alfonsa. John Grady agrees to not repeat what he has heard or reveal his source. Antonio allows him to stay the night in the barn. The next morning he speaks with Alfonsas servents, who reveal to him that she will see John that night. After receiving much hospitality, John Grady finally meets with Alfonsa. She reveals to him that she paid John Grady out of prison. Just as John Grady guesses, it was because of Alejandra and in repayment Alejandra is never allowed to see him again. They all believe John Grady to be a criminal. They believe he stole the horses and they know he had an affair with Alejandra. John Grady further learns that Don Hector protected him from the police, but then conducted his own investigation. This investigation provided the information that it was Americans that stole horses and John Grady had lied about knowing Blevins. Alfonsa has no sympathy for John Grady, as she explains to him her own struggles for love. She has no sympathy for John Grady and Alejandra’s relationship and will not condone it. Alfonsa makes it clear that John Grady will grow to hate her and gives permission for John Grady to see her, although she assumes and trusts Alejandra will keep her word.
After saying his goodbyes to his old companions, he takes a horse and money which was promised to him by Alfonsa to coerce him to leave. Finally, after few days of travel, John Grady is able to contact Alejandra. She is not surprised to hear from him. Although she is reluctant and will have to lie, he is able to convince her to see him. When they see each other, Alejandra is able to receive some clarity as to the truth about John Grady. They are able to talk and share how their lives have changed, Alejandra explains how she was honest with her dad and had told him of her relationship with him. She even explains her sorrowful regrets and her ruined relationships with her family. John Grady proposes to her, but after a night’s sleep, she tells him that she cannot accept his offer. This section concludes with both John Grady and Alejandra solemnly parting ways.

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Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

Identity in All The Pretty Horses

John Grady Cole’s family in All The Pretty Horses is described as consisting of danger seeking, almost heroic, men. This provides a sense of identity for John Grady to live up to and grow into. It is stated that John Grady’s grandpa “was the oldest of eight boys and the only one to live past the age of twenty-five. They were drowned, shot, kicked by horses. They perished in fires. They seemed to fear only dying in bed.” Through this statement, Cormac McCarthy emphasizes the significance of masculinity in this time period. This masculinity is then sought out by John Grady as he recognizes that as he is the last man in the family carrying the family name after the death of his grandpa. The funeral of John Grady’s grandpa signifies the end of the Grady name besides himself. His identity as provided to him by his ancestors puts pressure on him to live dangerously and take risks just as the men in his family previously had.  He is influenced to take risks that reveal masculinity. They put themselves in danger as they “were drowned, shot, kicked by horses. They perished in fires.” McCarthy stating, “They seemed to only fear dying in bed,” underscores the risk-taking nature of the men of this family and possibly even the men of this time period. They take such great risks their lives were put in danger, not even allowing themselves the opportunity to die of old age, but to only die performing an act of strength and heroism.

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Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

ERA: Who are We? Chapter 5

In Chapter 5 of Who are We?, Samuel Huntington discusses Religion and Christianity in relation to the United States and its policies. He begins by discussing the court ruling against the use of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance as to whether or not this is a failure to abide by our first Amendment freedoms presented by the constitution. Although statistically, Huntington recognizes that we are a Christian nation as 80 to 85 percent of Americans identify as Christians, the statement can make non-believer feel like they are outsiders who are not full members of the political community. He further discusses the religious history of our nation as Sunday Christian services in the past were held in government chambers such as the house of representatives. Huntington further discusses how the first amendment and overall the Constitution’s lack of religious language cause the nation to be secular is far from the truth. Although there is a separation between the church and the state, the United States is inherently a religious country as people’s religious beliefs have defined them since it was first colonized. He furthers this notion as he cites Tocqueville’s notions that the country was the most religious amongst all other countries. Additionally, Tocqueville discusses the foundation of the United States in the north was built upon a search of religious freedom. To further his points, Huntington goes into highlight various significant authors throughout the history of the United States who emphasizes the significance of religion as a core value, such as Philip Schaff and James Bryce. Additionally, He discusses how in 1999, 86% of people in the United States state that they believe in God or a universal spirit and in 2002-2003, 63-66% of Americans actively claimed membership to a church or synagogue. Overall, he notes how Americans rank among the most religious people in the world. On top of this, for more than 200 years Americans were defined by their opposition to Catholocism while Christianity of Americans has impressed foreign observers. He further calls on Tocqueville’s writing, as he agrees with his writing that there is no other country in which Christianity influences the souls of so many people. Although people’s values and beliefs have and may further shift from specifically Christian values and beliefs, the United States was founded on religious values and to this day has so many people who value their religion as well as their religious freedom.