The video clip we watched of nine-year-old Anna on Amy Poehler’s show illustrates the differences in young women’s’ culture from the 1800’s to present as well as a few similarities between the young TV guest Anna and Gerty from The Lamplighter.
In the video clip Anna is faced with the question of whether she preferred butterflies or rainbows, two items most modern young girls are fond of. If the roles were reversed and Gerty appeared on the Amy Poehler show In place of Anna, I feel that she would be stumped when fielding a response because she has never had the opportunity to truly be a kid and enjoy rainbows and butterflies as other young American girls were. She was never able to make the connection with childish ideas like these in her young age. Instead Gerty spent day and night slaving away for Nan Grant and praying for a meal.
When asked what advice she would give to girls about being themselves, Anna responded, “Don’t really think about what you have to do for people to like you or to have more friends you probably want people to like you for who you are.” I feel that this quote is illustrated in The Lamplighter through the close relationship between Gerty and Emily (pg. 61). Gerty, up until she met Emily, had no real close friend like connection with anyone. “Glad!’ said Miss Emily, “O yes! So glad you can’t see me! - because now perhaps you’ll love me” replied Gerty (pg. 62) Emily was the first person that did not judge Gerty by her ragged appearance like the rest of the world had so harshly done, but for you she was and her personality something completely new to Gerry.
In the video Anna explains that in yoga if you are not flexible enough for a position, “try your best and try harder.” In a lot of real life situations the same can be said, this is the same advice Emily passes along to Gerty when she is struggling with her battle with whether or not she is a “good” person on pg 63 of the text. “Do you think I can be good?” said Gerty. “Yes if you try.” replied Emily. “I will try,” said Gerty.
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I like how you related the "try your best and try harder" quote to Gerty in "The Lamplighter." When Gerty was with Nan Grant no matter what she did she was constantly punished. When Gerty was around True and Emily and everyone else she realized that she can be good and that she will try to be good.
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