Cappy's Copper Kettle

The dim, somber lighting of the bar almost too perfectly reflected the character and persona of a man that was being celebrated by some twenty-five people. Mystery, history, sadness, and friendship were all melted together in Cappy’s Copper Kettle. At one point the great Jack Kerouac called on this bar to provide him a proper setting to find peace of mind, and now it was being used to celebrate his unmatchable talent as a writer. People of all ages gathered for this celebration. Two UMASS Lowell students began the night by playing a few songs on the small stage, while their friends and supporters played pool and drank beer the at near by tables. Jack Kerouac would have appreciated what was happening within the walls of Cappy’s. The pool playing, laughing, and beer drinking would have suited him well, while the college girls would have kept his mind busy.

It was evident that the people that gathered at Cappy’s Copper Kettle were not only there to celebrate a famous writer, but to celebrate a figure who had left a significant impact on their lives. Kerouac’s writings had filled the daily motions of Lowell with color and spirit. The writer, a native of Lowell and a lover of his hometown, had gained a great deal of fame and popularity during the revolutionary Beat Generation of literature. Those who lived in Lowell during possibly its toughest of times found escape and security in Jack Kerouac’s novels and imaginative stories. The passion wrapped in his words and the descriptive admiration of the city fill many of his stories, such as On the Road and Doctor Sax. Such passion and admiration for a city that at one point was detested by many provided pride and inspiration to its residents. Some of these same residents would later form the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac group, the same group that had met at Cappy’s Copper Kettle. His words had touched them at one point in time, and they gathered to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate their elegance. 

The people that gathered at Cappy’s to celebrate Kerouac during the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival were mostly elderly, and had been a part of the group for a long time. The room was decorated with the in-season Halloween decorations, along with posters and pictures of Kerouac. T-shirts with various designs that celebrated Kerouac in one way or another were being sold at a table tucked away in the corner of the bar. Kerouac’s books, both read and re-read, were found sitting on top of the majority of Cappy’s wooden tables. They were brought by those who had volunteered to read passages from Kerouac’s stories through out the night. This night, meant to kick-off the celebratory weekend of Jack Kerouac, held much meaning to those of the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac group. It began a weekend that would celebrate the 50th anniversary of Visions of Gerard and the 25th anniversary of the Kerouac Commemorative park in downtown Lowell. The night at the bar also celebrated the retirement of a long time member and friend of the group. A man who had made it all possible to celebrate such an important figure over the years.

The Kerouac walking tour mirrored the focus of the kick-off event at Cappy’s Copper Kettle. The importance and impact that one writer had on every aspect of his birthplace was emphasized both at the bar and on the tour. Visiting the school of childhood, the funeral home in which he was kept after his death, and the houses that he called home showed that Jack Kerouac is still very much a part of the daily lives of people living in Lowell today. Many of his stories included pieces of Lowell, such as the altar, the bridge, and the river, and his recognition of and love for these common sights have turned them into significant landmarks of the city. Jack Kerouac’s words transformed the city of Lowell into a proud place, one that appreciates the little pieces that can be found no where else. Kerouac loved his hometown, and has left a significant impact on the residents of the city for many years to come.

Elisa's Seven Years Wanderings

It appeared as if the Boott Cotton Millls had been designed to be as monotonous as the labor that transpired within its walls. Brown and burnt red brick engulfed the place on which a cotton mill once operated. The buildings seemed to be positioned to fit the daily lives of those who found work there. Sitting there patiently, the structures were waiting at a moment’s notice for life to be driven back into their hallways, as if their existence and entire purpose had been eternally put on pause. Although the large black clock still ticked, it no longer ticked for the workers that it was supposed to routinely direct. The organization was simple and obvious. The laborers woke up in the boarding houses, went to work in the factory rooms, and went back to bed in the houses. There was no confusion or mystery as to what the point of this landmark was at one time in its history. The buildings stood tall, looking down upon whoever walk across their shadows. As if they were monitoring what was happening at their feet, the brick structures mimicked the roles of the mill supervisors that once ruled over the workers.

Despite the plain and eery appearance of the factory buildings that populated the mill grounds, there was a silent beauty of standing in their presence. The mill stands together as a whole, and an awestruck feeling of standing in front of a elderly local hero is evoked. The quiet atmosphere of the courtyard provided time to absorb the purpose that the mill once had served. The erratic history of the Boott Cotton Mills is marked by the countless, tired faces of laborers and the loud and monstrous machinery. Periods of prosperity, competition, and desertion expand over the existence of this mill, and the influences they had on the surrounding community are still felt by venturing further into the city. Imagining the currently lifeless museum as a center for industry and interaction is a difficult task, but it is fascinating nonetheless to imagine the sound of footsteps and machines, smells of smoke and food, and sights of crowded workers. From a historical standpoint, the significance and beauty of this museum cannot be found anywhere else. 

Today, it serves as an educational and observational trip back in time for students, tourists, and anyone with interest in the once industrial center of New England. It educates observers about the purpose of the mills were, along with the daily lives of the culturally diverse groups of mill workers. Ironically, the museum draws attention to the unreasonable customs of the mill and presents the fact that these inhumane living conditions still exist around the world today. The museum plays a role, although not as major, in bringing attention to the City of Lowell, as did the mill when it was still in operation throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It brought people and life to the community, and its industry was sparked by competition with other mills in the area. Until its decline early in the 1900s, the mill was key to the success of the Massachusetts city.

Boott’s enduring mill stands as a significant symbol of the culture and lifestyle of Lowell, Massachusetts. The residents of the modern city mirror the hardworking and persistent mill workers of the 1800s. Despite various hardships and times of stagnation, both the mill and the city overcame challenges along its path to becoming recognized as successful and sought-after locations. The various cultures that are spread out through Lowell once scattered the factory rooms of the Boott Cotton Mills. They became intertwined, and as a result funneled out into the community in order to begin lives of their own. The mill signifies the importance of being familiar with the extensive and rich history of the very streets walked on by Lowell residents today. UMASS Lowell can be regarded as a modern day city mill: a center of hard work, education, and socialization for those who occupy it. The stern and enduring buildings of the Boott Cotton Mills remind those who observe it of the beautiful and rich history that characterizes the City of Lowell and its people of this day.

God of Carnage

Benjamin and Henry will never know of the day that their parents’ lost all self control in an attempt to resolve an issue that they had caused. The stress, tension, yelling, drunkenness, and utter disappointment will forever be confined within the walls of the living room in which four adults lost control. The hamster will be forgotten and the cell phone will be replaced, but these parents (Annette, Veronica, Alan, and Michael) will live with the embarrassment of knowing the selfishness that was displayed during an attempt to resolve a conflict between their children. The parents had been too caught up in flaunting social status and culture, rather than focusing on the issue that had brought them together in the first place. After displaying such obnoxious and childish behavior under the pressure of presenting an image of being proper and formal adults, the two couples will try their hardest to forget what took place in that living room; but, what was said can never be taken back causing one marriage to grow while another crumbles.

By the end of the play, it had become evident that each of the four characters were not completely pleased with the way that they were being appreciated by their spouses. Veronica shows her frustration towards Michael as she feels that he does not appreciate her artistic interests and style enough, while Michael believes that Veronica does not support his life enough as he’s constantly working. Even though Michael and Veronica become furious a each other - Veronica goes as far as to physically attack Michael - their marriage will last. After this meeting with Annette and Alan, Henry’s parents will realize that changes must be made in order to make each other happy. Michael will make a stronger effort appreciate Veronica’s love for the arts and style, while Veronica will better understand Michael’s work load and the stress that he might feel through out the work week. After attempting to be good hosts, and failing miserably, Veronica and Michael will realize that they must do a better job of communicating in order to keep the marriage alive. There is evidence that their relationship is strong enough to make it last, one example being when they clean up Annette’s vomit together and joke around about the other couple as they do so. Once the issue between the children is resolved, Veronica and Michael’s marriage will not dissolve, as they will do what they can to communicate and make each other happy.
On the other hand, Annette and Alan’s marriage will not last. Their relationship is not as strong and Alan’s work is too important in order for him to make any adjustments for the sake of the marriage. Through out the entire meeting, Alan not only ignores his hosts but his own wife as well, in order to talk on the phone with a client of his. His mind is strictly focused on business and it is evident that he focuses excessively on matters at the office rather than on matters at the house. Alan also mentions that he was in a previous marriage, which is a sign that his mind-set in maintaining love relationships is far from determined. It is likely that the previous marriage crumbled for the same reason that his marriage with Annette will fall: business. Annette and Alan’s lack of communication will be the down fall of their marriage. It takes Annette a few glasses of whiskey before she can truly say what is on her mind, and how she feels about Alan’s phone. Alan will never be able to let that go because his phone was so dear to him. Due to Alan’s focus on his business and the lack of communication between him and Annette, their marriage will falter.
The conflict between the two boys will soon be resolved with simple apology from Benjamin and as many young children do, Henry will forgive him and they will carry on as if nothing was wrong. As they grow older, the boys will turn to each other and laugh as they remember the time when Benjamin knocked out two of Henry’s teeth with a stick. The instance that caused their parents to lose all control for 80 minutes will turn out to be nothing but a mere memory. The parents will avoid any interactions, but not as a result of hate for each other. They will pass each other in the aisles of the grocery store or bump into each other at school events, but they will only resort to awkward eye contact with the humiliating memory of the meeting resting in the back of their minds. After the lights fade out and the two families carry out their lives, one marriage will last as the other breaks, and the two boys who started this all will carry on as class mates with no knowledge of their parents’ temporary insanity.