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casthedragon's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
zoet's review against another edition
5.0
loved this short story c:
it was very cute but also a great example of a realistic text
it was very cute but also a great example of a realistic text
christinemark's review against another edition
Chesnutt decribes the caste system, classism within the black community. White passing blacks are more likely to succeed in life, more likely to be educated, etc etc. "While there were no such tests of eligibility, it is true that the Blue Veins had their notions on these subjects, and that not all of them were equally liberal in regard to the things they collectively disclaimed."
The character of Mr. Ryder is almost boring. Everything about him is almost perfect, which is suspicious and makes you think that he is hiding something, which indeed he is, and that something is his African herritage.
His personality is so troubled that he even denies knowing his wife and refers to her as the wife of his youth. He has a psychological problem with his identity and struggles to deal with it.
The character of Mr. Ryder is almost boring. Everything about him is almost perfect, which is suspicious and makes you think that he is hiding something, which indeed he is, and that something is his African herritage.
His personality is so troubled that he even denies knowing his wife and refers to her as the wife of his youth. He has a psychological problem with his identity and struggles to deal with it.
writerrhiannon's review against another edition
5.0
This book consists of 9 short stories. I used "The Bouquet" as a major reference in a paper I wrote about the progression of students to teachers in the post-Civil War South. Here is a short exerpt:
Chesnutt’s writing embodies the transition of the student becoming the teacher in his short story The Bouquet. Mrs. Myrover, as an invalid, represents old regime—physically paralyzed but still alive / present. She (and the pre-Civil war South) “were “too old, and had suffered too deeply from war, in body and mind and estate, ever to reconcile herself to the changed order of things following the return of peace; and, with an unsound yet perfectly explainable logic, she visited some of her displeasure upon those who had profited most, though passively, by her losses” (Chesnutt 281). Though not monetarily, blacks could now receive an invaluable profit—an education. The receipt of this education was not free and “was not Northern charity, for the total cost of the Bureau, seventeen million dollars, was more than covered by a heavy tax on cotton, which by 1869 had yielded over sixty-eight million dollars” (Morison 18-20). Therefore, Southern Blacks had prepaid for their education with their work in, and any job related to cotton, which would encompass almost the entire South.
Chesnutt’s writing embodies the transition of the student becoming the teacher in his short story The Bouquet. Mrs. Myrover, as an invalid, represents old regime—physically paralyzed but still alive / present. She (and the pre-Civil war South) “were “too old, and had suffered too deeply from war, in body and mind and estate, ever to reconcile herself to the changed order of things following the return of peace; and, with an unsound yet perfectly explainable logic, she visited some of her displeasure upon those who had profited most, though passively, by her losses” (Chesnutt 281). Though not monetarily, blacks could now receive an invaluable profit—an education. The receipt of this education was not free and “was not Northern charity, for the total cost of the Bureau, seventeen million dollars, was more than covered by a heavy tax on cotton, which by 1869 had yielded over sixty-eight million dollars” (Morison 18-20). Therefore, Southern Blacks had prepaid for their education with their work in, and any job related to cotton, which would encompass almost the entire South.
neverlandsreads's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting turn of events in this short story but I didn't like the ending. Had to read for school.
skjam's review against another edition
3.0
Mr. Ryder is a light-skinned black man (and freeborn) who is something of a social climber, and is planning to marry an even lighter woman who has money. Just before a ball he is scheduled to host for his upper crust friends, a woman appears on his doorstep. A very dark-skinned woman, she had been separated from her husband due to her cruel slavemaster prior to the Civil War. Once freed, she began looking for her husband and has not given up hope even after decades. New in town, the woman hopes noted community leader Mr. Ryder can help her.
It just so happens that Mr. Ryder knows where her husband is, but the woman's presence could ruin everything that man had worked for. It's up to him to resolve this ethical dilemma.
Members of Toastmasters may find this story interesting, as the climax is a toast that Mr. Ryder makes.
It just so happens that Mr. Ryder knows where her husband is, but the woman's presence could ruin everything that man had worked for. It's up to him to resolve this ethical dilemma.
Members of Toastmasters may find this story interesting, as the climax is a toast that Mr. Ryder makes.
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