Laughter Out of Place: Chapters 2 &3par Natasha Ayers
1. A lot less "laughter" in chapter 2.
1.1. With the deeper look at socio-economic storylines, and how race denotes class, and how it structures lower classes vs upper classes, when examining the "real" issues, things are more serious, and there is less sarcastic, condescending laughter.
2. Modern-Day Slavery
2.1. While they regard slavery as part of their dirty past, even as they attempt to "soften" their history of slavery, the racial divide is very much a reflection of the slave days.
3. Inability on all societal levels to escape slavery, even after abolition
3.1. The continuous necessity of black workers by the upper classes, as well as the segregation, continues to reinforce slavery.
4.1. Feelings of love, affection, trust, as well as feelings of taking advantage exist between both parties.
5. Upper Classes Cannot Feed Themselves Without Servants
5.1. The concept of servitude has been so ingrained in their culture, they cannot do even basic domestic chores themselves.
6. Soneca: Represents the desire to succeed, advance, get out of poverty, but it literally tied because of her respnsibilities
6.1. indicative of her generation within her social class.
7. Gloria experiences more financial freedom and success as Dona Beth's full-time servant.
7.1. After struggling and working extremely hard for most of her life, she finally experiences some relief by being hired as the exclusive domestic worker of Dona Beth.
8. Favelas
8.1. Modern-Day Slaves Quarters
9. Race & Racism
9.1. Existence is obvious, but it is a very uncomfortable topic of discussion. It exists very much in the social realm, loosly defined int he national realm.
10. No Definitive Civil Rights Movement
10.1. mesticagem is term used to refer to the blending of all races in Brazil into one national identity
11. Coroa
11.1. Quick path to success; Prince Charming
12. Fairytale Dreams
12.1. In Felicidade Eterna, the fantasy among women of finding their coroa/ Prince Charming is a serious endeavor, and a dream they cling to ardently.
13. Gloria vs. Nilda
13.1. Because of the race and class structure, Gloria cannot identify with a woman of her class who has married out of poverty.
14. Modern Social Conditions: Evolution of Slavery Ideals
14.1. Hundreds of years removed from poverty, generational attitudes of slavery still pervade thought-processes.
15. Gloria recalls her childhood as having been enslaved
16. Racial Hierarchies
16.1. White = Upper class, Black = Lower class
17. Love and Hate Between Classes
17.1. In the servant/ master relationship, both parties need each other.
18. Hiring servants is considered a "necessary evil"
18.1. The middle and upper classes attempt to gloss over their hiring of servants to do their manual labor because they have been conditioned to do so, while justifying it, using "the economy" as an excuse.
19. Gloria vs. Soneca
19.1. Gloria has many issues with her daughter's pregnancy, birth, help from her employer, when she could have been helping to provide an income.
20. Racial Segregation
20.1. It is rather unspoken, but very obvious that skin color generally dictates social standing.
21. Eliana & Fausto
21.1. Racialized Class Relationship
22. Black Cinderella
22.1. Systemic relation between race and class. Because in Brazil, it would have to be a fairytale if you happened to be so lucky to be both a governor's daughter and black.
