Our Secrets

A detailed Summary of Our Secrets

Initially, to discuss what this chapter is specifically about is impossible and it takes away from the very essence of the writing. Susan Griffin is writing about human history, about her experiences as a human, about the inequalities in life faced by humans, human sexuality, human anger, human hatred, human frustration, human emptiness, and humanity. Upon deeper thought, and realization, one of her major themes is SELF. Seeing yourself in other's eyes, and portraying your own self-image within other people, is human. Our anger, guilt, and fear, can all be manifested in our own desire "not to be" what we are afraid of.

By "irregular" organization, Griffin masterfully constructs an argument that can manifest itself in every reader. They are free to think, and this work clearly sets the mind in motion.

The author starts the essay with an interviewer and ads??? in the first fragment about V-1 rockets. Then the interviewer's story mixed in with a biology fragment. The author uses this type of fragment to relate to subjects farther down the essay which makes each fragment relate to the content. Fragments that are used help to explain human nature, insides and outsides, everything aff

As you go through Susan Griffin's essay you have the impression that a part of history is growing up in your mind. She makes you discover it through making you part of it. In Susan Griffin mentality is about the???? minds and souls of the people who went through the historical event, not simply what happened. In her essay, Griffin incorporates stories of people from totally different backgrounds, and upbringings, including herself, all to describe their account of one time period. Each person's history is somehow connected with the next person's, and each story contributes equally to the larger view of history.

I relate to her imagery of a void. "What I felt then was fear. And at times panic... ...Direct Knowledge of the illusory nature of panic. The feeling that I had let everything go out of control. I could only turn one direction: inward. Each day I abated my fears for a time by observing myself" (332). I have lately felt her anguish of emptiness. I lack direction and motivation, for I am not sure what I am working for as well. I'm not sure what I'd like to do with my life, my career, why we're even here. This frustration, and fear, has kept me secluded and inward, where I am evaluating my feelings, my panic, and my lack of direction in life.

To use an example,to connect the fragments one can see that cells and DNA are used to show development through the article. The fragments go from a cell to a new born baby. Each fragment can be looked at as development and can relate to human nature, memory, inside and outside, and other subjects. An example would be humans develop over time and those secrets or memories can develop over time.

The background and past are factors in developing the present and future; and certain characters in the story had a tendency to try to forget their past, not realizing that there is no escape from it. Griffin illustrates this technique most vividly with Heinrich Himmler, a prominent Nazi figure during WWII. In great detail, she describes Himmler's childhood, and the harshness of his father. As Griffin traces Himmler's life, it is evident that there is always a marker, or base from his childhood and father, approaching the conclusion that a childhood can affect the decisions made later in life. Himmler is complex, conveys images of strength, his outcome is unpredictable, and he is potentially dangerous to the Jews. In some way, all of the topics are put together with the fragments. Throughout his childhood Himmler's secrets and thoughts were hidden, overshadowed by a mask or barrier formed by his upbringing and

Some common words found in the essay are:
Heinrich Himmler, Helene Leo, Susan Griffin, I'm I'd, SELF Seeing, Ms Griffin, Hatred HATES, Direct Knowledge, Susan Griffin's, SECRETS Initially, human nature, secret creates, susan griffin, fragment relate, secret creates barrier, italicized sentences, throughout essay, secrets griffin, human anger, strength outcome unpredictable, background past, complex conveys images, leo reveals, conveys images strength, images strength outcome,

Approximate Word count = 1732
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous