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Strangers

5/1/2015

6 Comments

 
"His brother and sisters were strangers to him... [He was] a stranger to himself" (Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith 42).
When Vincent Van Gogh was a child, and even when he was an adult, no one was able to really understand him. From an early age, he probably had depression, and his parents' expectations of him did not help one bit. As a child he was a trouble-maker. But deep down inside, he was really a lonely boy, trying to find out who he was and seeking acceptance from his family. He was an introverted, moody, and aloof boy. His personality clashed with his parents' views, and as a result he was viewed as "strange" to everyone around him. However, his brother, Theo, was the exact opposite of him. Theo was loved by his parents. He was the pride and joy of the family, "the spring flower" of his mother and father. The brothers' relationship became strained due to the favoritism and Vincent felt isolated. As Vincent grew older, he became so isolated that he would not interact with his siblings. It's not a surprise that they all became strangers.

I'm sure most of us have all felt like Vincent before. We've all felt that feeling where you believe that no one really understands you, not even your friends. Of course, that's because we're all human, with separate thoughts and feelings. No one can really understand you, and we all go through a period in life where we try to find ourselves. When I was younger I believed that my parents could not understand me at all. I thought that they couldn't understand my interests, my dreams, or my beliefs. To this day I still believe that they don't understand me. But it's not really their fault because you can't read someone's mind.  Also, in middle school I had a best friend who I thought I knew everything about. But she slowly changed. I'm not sure how, but one day I just came to school and she seemed like a stranger, a whole new person. But, throughout the years, I've learned that we're all human. We all change and grow. We're all different from each other and that's what makes everyone unique. Plus if you're friend becomes someone you don't know, then you just have to get to know them again, right?

But hey, here's a question for you: have you ever been "a stranger to yourself"? Or maybe you thought you knew someone, but you really didn't?

My Reading Progress so Far:
Anyway, I think I'm doing pretty well, but the book is a bit more slower paced than I thought due to the details of every scene. As far as reading strategies go, I haven't really done anything yet besides taking a few notes here and there. I'm planning to start doing actual summaries for every chapter next week.
6 Comments
Luann
5/1/2015 05:21:45 pm

Wow, this really touched home base with me. I agree, I'm sure everyone has felt this before (including our parents) but your question about being a stranger to yourself was really interesting. I do feel like I don't know who I am yet...but I know who I'm not. (That's the best way I can explain it.) I need to think about it more but that's really something... Thank you for posting this! It was great ^_^ Till next week~

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Shayla link
5/2/2015 08:50:19 am

I feel like everyone can really relate to Vincent's situation. My parents always tell me that I can always talk to them about anything, but when I do, they criticize my decisions and actions without actually helping me. So eventually, I just stopped telling them my personal problems and they complain "why don't you ever talk to us?!". Today's world can really make a person feel like they are so alone.

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Jessica link
5/3/2015 10:27:08 am

Relatable in every way. Sometimes I feel like i don't even know enough of myself, so how can I expect others to understand me, if I don't. Maybe like Vincent, we want people to make an effort to understand us. From what I got from the post, his parents didn't even try. Just making an effort makes all the difference in someone. That's why his brother Theo is important to his story. Theo was there for him like no one else, but in the end it wasn't enough, he lost Vincent. I used to know this one girl, or I thought I did. However, like in your story she changed. I lost her kind of like how Theo lost his dear brother. It sucks when you become close to someone, and they just become someone else. But like you said that's life and part of it is changing.

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Justin u~u
5/3/2015 11:25:49 am

I liked that you separated the different sections of your post. This is just a personal thing but it gets hard to read because of contrast of the black background and the white text it kinda hurts my eyes but what ever. I really like your post because its something that we've all been through. I've had many friends that have changed and we never talked to each other after because we had such different views. I think our parents to understand us because they had lived a different life. They expect you to do what they did as kids but we shouldn't because their is a disconnect between their age and ours. Children will always be different! A GREAT POST VYVY AND ALWAYS STAY $W@G!!!!!

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Teresa link
5/3/2015 11:45:33 am

This is a great entry. In all honesty, I really don't think my parents will ever understand me, but you're right. My parents grew up in different living conditions and grew up being taught different things. They're racist, such huge supremacists and are so stubborn, but I just can't blame them. (I can't teach them what I believe because there is a language barrier but that's a whole other topic.)
On losing a relationship with someone you were once so close to, I know this feeling too well. There have times where people have stopped talking to me, and times where they just disapeared from my life, but I think that if the relationship was always meant to exist then it always will. Just like how Theo ended up being Vincent's closest friend, wounds will mend themselves and time will go on. Anyways, keep up the good work!

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Diana
5/10/2015 07:52:35 am

It's rather unfortunate how frequent this kind of situation is relatable to many. There are many times where I had to change myself to connect with others because my interests and hobbies were rather different. I can really see myself as a stranger during those times. Ah but of course it made me really lonely; the only way I actually be more open was online. I completely agree with you on the idea that humans change and grow. It kinda is a pain and does contribute to the nostalgia factor when it comes to old friends. Good work!!

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    Vyvy

    ah yes van gogh i love the way he just [clenches fist] lets that van go
    also im sorry my posts are awkward weeps

    **thanks Teresa for helping me with the music player

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