Journal 13

Journal #13 – Edgar Lee Masters Epitaphs (p. 502) 

Read “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” and answer the following questions.  

1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life?  How is this object representative of him?

          A boat is the object that symbolizes his life. It is relative to him because the boat is just at rest in a harbor. He regrets his life because he feels like he has not gone anywhere in his life. It is not his destination it was his life prior to dying. The sail is furled so it looks like it can not even sail or leave where it is.

2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s?  How do you interepret the last line of the poem?     

          Her life is different because she went out and did things while Gray did not. He was full of regret while she enjoyed her life. The last line of the poem to me means that if you are alive you should love life. It takes like to love life, so therefore if that is all it takes, then people should do their best to enjoy life to the fullest while they have to opportunity.

         

3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism? 

          They are examples of realism because they live the lives of ordinary people. Some people look back on their life with regret, others are happy with the way it worked out. Neither of the two people have anything different about them than a normal person would. They live realistic life styles and think realistic thoughts.