There are some serious issues going on in the minds of some main characters. Heathcliff is set on punishing Hindley for bullying him when they were younger. However, Hindley dies before Heathcliff can execute any brilliant scheme of revenge. SO WHY does Heathcliff take out his resentment on Hareton? It's not like Hindley's going to be really angry about it; he's already dead! Also, Heathcliff demands he be buried by Catherine with their coffins open to each other. THAT'S SO WEIRD!!!! I can't be the only person that thinks that is extremely disturbing. What on earth was going on in Heathcliff's mind that would make him think being buried with open coffins would make his life (that he no longer would have) better?
There seems to be a serious difference of thinking between Miss Bronte and the rest of humanity in regards to death. What with Catherine haunting Heathcliff 24/7 and stuff like that, I'm pretty glad to not be a character.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Wuthering Heights: An Explanation
Last night, at approximately 6:30 p.m., my power went out for an hour. What happened when it came back on? I sprinted to my computer like any diligent student would to post my final blogs. Unfortunately, the internet wouldn't connect. My heart was broken. I am all apologies.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wuthering Heights: I hate Isabella
"On ascending to Isabella's room, my suspicions were confirmed: it was empty." (Nelly)
Oh, how romantic! She runs away with the man who everyone told her to steer clear of! Such a TSwift song in the making! You know what kind of stuff T doesn't sing about? Marital problems, hatred of your spouce, and birthing children. Guess what happens to Isabella after her romantic run-away? All of the above. That's what you get for being a diva, thinking too highly of yourself, and not listening to others. She completely fabricated this image of a charmingly mysterious man who would be good to her. FABRICATED! Idiot.
I feel no sympathy.
Oh, how romantic! She runs away with the man who everyone told her to steer clear of! Such a TSwift song in the making! You know what kind of stuff T doesn't sing about? Marital problems, hatred of your spouce, and birthing children. Guess what happens to Isabella after her romantic run-away? All of the above. That's what you get for being a diva, thinking too highly of yourself, and not listening to others. She completely fabricated this image of a charmingly mysterious man who would be good to her. FABRICATED! Idiot.
I feel no sympathy.
Wuthering Heights: Family Tree
"The intruder was Mrs. Heathcliff."
This is the biggest jumble of names and relationships of my LIFE! How the heck is the average human mind supposed to keep these in check? They can't. So I made my own family tree. Thank me later.
Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw Mr. and Mrs. Linton
I I
Frances=Hindley-Catherine=Edgar Linton-Isabella Linton=Heathcliff
I I I
Hareton Earnshaw = Catherine Linton = Linton Heathcliff
Weirdest thing of my entire life.
This is the biggest jumble of names and relationships of my LIFE! How the heck is the average human mind supposed to keep these in check? They can't. So I made my own family tree. Thank me later.
Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw Mr. and Mrs. Linton
I I
Frances=Hindley-Catherine=Edgar Linton-Isabella Linton=Heathcliff
I I I
Hareton Earnshaw = Catherine Linton = Linton Heathcliff
Weirdest thing of my entire life.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wuthering Heights: a correction
"Heathcliff" (pg. 30)
I've been spelling Heathcliff wrong the entire time... sorry!
I've been spelling Heathcliff wrong the entire time... sorry!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wuthering Heights: I'm gettin' deep here!
"A ray fell on his features: the cheeks were sallow, and half-covered with whiskers; the brows lowering, the eyes deep set and sngular." (Wuthering Heights, pg. 87)
I think I deserve a round of applause, not to brag or anything. But really, this could be one of the first times I actually go deep into the story! Cheers!
Anyways: If I was forced to pick ONE adjective to describe the tone of this book thus far, I'd go with "barren." Through the setting, style (with regards to the simple diction and syntax), and characterization (as I quoted above), Miss Bronte paints a barren picture. Wuthering Heights is a big lonely place with a moor and everything desolate you can imagine. The diction and syntax are skin and bones. Heathcliffe is often described to look very cast-down and almost dead. Hindley sucks out the life of Heathcliffe and Catherine through his tyranny. Basically, I think I did a really good job picking a word to describe the work thus far, but now my mental juices have run out, so I'm going to stop ranting! Yahoo!
I think I deserve a round of applause, not to brag or anything. But really, this could be one of the first times I actually go deep into the story! Cheers!
Anyways: If I was forced to pick ONE adjective to describe the tone of this book thus far, I'd go with "barren." Through the setting, style (with regards to the simple diction and syntax), and characterization (as I quoted above), Miss Bronte paints a barren picture. Wuthering Heights is a big lonely place with a moor and everything desolate you can imagine. The diction and syntax are skin and bones. Heathcliffe is often described to look very cast-down and almost dead. Hindley sucks out the life of Heathcliffe and Catherine through his tyranny. Basically, I think I did a really good job picking a word to describe the work thus far, but now my mental juices have run out, so I'm going to stop ranting! Yahoo!
Wuthering Heights: Pass the hot chocolate, please!
"One may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way..." (pg. 2)
Wow! What a cool setting! I feel like wearing a wool sweater and sitting by a fire while reading this. Not really a wool sweater; they're too itchy. But I do think the setting is a very nice touch to the story. It sets the scene from page 2 of hopelessness and indifference, much like the weather that surrounds Wuthering Heights. You get the image of wind-swept trees with no leaves high on a hill. I picture the house house to look like a small castle, made of smoothed brick and complete with a portcullis. The setting really applies to the story because instead of being a blank canvas, it helps the reader make a prejudgment on what lies inside the house. The first think I thought of when I started reading was sadness, grief and unhappiness, and I have yet to be proven wrong!
Wow! What a cool setting! I feel like wearing a wool sweater and sitting by a fire while reading this. Not really a wool sweater; they're too itchy. But I do think the setting is a very nice touch to the story. It sets the scene from page 2 of hopelessness and indifference, much like the weather that surrounds Wuthering Heights. You get the image of wind-swept trees with no leaves high on a hill. I picture the house house to look like a small castle, made of smoothed brick and complete with a portcullis. The setting really applies to the story because instead of being a blank canvas, it helps the reader make a prejudgment on what lies inside the house. The first think I thought of when I started reading was sadness, grief and unhappiness, and I have yet to be proven wrong!
Wuthering Heights: Cry about it!
"Scoundrel! He is not altogether guiltless in this illness of mine; and
that I had a great mind to tell him." (pg. 85)
Before I rant, this is Lockwood speaking about how Heathcliffe should take some blame for his illness. Why, I have not the slightest idea.
Now for my ranting: Lockwood needs a good slap in the face. I volunteer my services, actually. He just doesn't see when no one likes him! He goes over to visit his new landlord and barges into their house. Then he comes back the VERY NEXT DAY after it had been made very clear that he wasn't wanted. Then, he has the audacity to assume he's going to get invited to spend the night because he was the idiot that left his home before a blizzard. THEN, as if all of that isn't enough, this guy decides that his host should share some blame for his headache because he doesn't know how to not intrude on others. His idiocy is really shocking... and annoying.
Before I rant, this is Lockwood speaking about how Heathcliffe should take some blame for his illness. Why, I have not the slightest idea.
Now for my ranting: Lockwood needs a good slap in the face. I volunteer my services, actually. He just doesn't see when no one likes him! He goes over to visit his new landlord and barges into their house. Then he comes back the VERY NEXT DAY after it had been made very clear that he wasn't wanted. Then, he has the audacity to assume he's going to get invited to spend the night because he was the idiot that left his home before a blizzard. THEN, as if all of that isn't enough, this guy decides that his host should share some blame for his headache because he doesn't know how to not intrude on others. His idiocy is really shocking... and annoying.
Wuthering Heights: why I hate Lockwood
"'Were you asked to tea?'
I shall be glad to have a cup.'
'Were you asked?'
'No,' I said, half smiling. 'You are the proper person to ask me.'
She flung the tea back, spoon and all." (Wuthering Heights, pg. 9)
I'm just going to say it right now: I hate Lockwood. Hate with a capital H. If he were a real person, he would be exactly the kind that I can't stand: the kind that smile at you when you're really mad, that act like they know better than you, that are really condescending. That is Mr. Lockwood to a t. He's so oblivious to how much no one really likes him! I swear, this man grew up being told he was the bee knees and eating yogurt. I don't know why he'd be eatting yogurt, but it's something I wish I were doing right now. Greek is my favorite, especially with the kind that the fruit is at the bottom of and you have to stir it up and stuff. Go Greek! hehehe.
Anyways, all I'm trying to say during this post is that I hate Lockwood and he better shut up the rest of this story. I don't care that he feels light-headed or whose fault it is! That's something else: the man never owns up to anything being his own fault. EVER.
I shall be glad to have a cup.'
'Were you asked?'
'No,' I said, half smiling. 'You are the proper person to ask me.'
She flung the tea back, spoon and all." (Wuthering Heights, pg. 9)
I'm just going to say it right now: I hate Lockwood. Hate with a capital H. If he were a real person, he would be exactly the kind that I can't stand: the kind that smile at you when you're really mad, that act like they know better than you, that are really condescending. That is Mr. Lockwood to a t. He's so oblivious to how much no one really likes him! I swear, this man grew up being told he was the bee knees and eating yogurt. I don't know why he'd be eatting yogurt, but it's something I wish I were doing right now. Greek is my favorite, especially with the kind that the fruit is at the bottom of and you have to stir it up and stuff. Go Greek! hehehe.
Anyways, all I'm trying to say during this post is that I hate Lockwood and he better shut up the rest of this story. I don't care that he feels light-headed or whose fault it is! That's something else: the man never owns up to anything being his own fault. EVER.
Wuthering Heights: Structure!
"and, having placed (a smoking basin) on the hob, drew in her seat, evidently pleased to find me so companionable." (Wuthering Heights, pg. 32)
You know, after I read Frankenstein, I had a vow to myself to avoid frame stories the best I could. I come to class Monday thinking how excited I am to read a work of so much literary merit. I open to page and 32, and what do I find??? A FRAME STORY. I think I died a bit inside.
So, now that I'm done complaining (for now), I've decided to devote my first blog entry to analyzing the use of the frame story in Wuthering Heights. Obviously, we would never be able to learn about Heathcliffe and crew through Mr. Lockwood, so the frame story is a way to start the story. What I don't get is why the frame story aspect is necessary! Couldn't the book have just been a chronicle of Wuthering Heights and what all happened there? What's the significance behind having an old maid tell her story and then listen to it through Mr. Lockwood? I don't know.
You know, after I read Frankenstein, I had a vow to myself to avoid frame stories the best I could. I come to class Monday thinking how excited I am to read a work of so much literary merit. I open to page and 32, and what do I find??? A FRAME STORY. I think I died a bit inside.
So, now that I'm done complaining (for now), I've decided to devote my first blog entry to analyzing the use of the frame story in Wuthering Heights. Obviously, we would never be able to learn about Heathcliffe and crew through Mr. Lockwood, so the frame story is a way to start the story. What I don't get is why the frame story aspect is necessary! Couldn't the book have just been a chronicle of Wuthering Heights and what all happened there? What's the significance behind having an old maid tell her story and then listen to it through Mr. Lockwood? I don't know.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
ARE YOU DEAF???
"I endeavoured to gain from Frankenstein the particulars of his creature's formation." (Walton, pg. 156)
At first, I liked Walton. The tike seemed lonely. Now I realize his is nothing more than a blithering idiot. Did he not just hear Victor's +150 page story about his attempt at life creation?? I sure did! (Technically, I read it, but who's counting?) He is such a pompous idiot who thinks he deserves only smart friends. He's like the guys that walk around Oxford ten years after they've graduated still wearing their letter sweaters. GET OVER YOUR INTELLIGENCE! It seems to me that he thinks he could do a better job than Victor at responding to his creation. Doubt. It. I hate Walton.
At first, I liked Walton. The tike seemed lonely. Now I realize his is nothing more than a blithering idiot. Did he not just hear Victor's +150 page story about his attempt at life creation?? I sure did! (Technically, I read it, but who's counting?) He is such a pompous idiot who thinks he deserves only smart friends. He's like the guys that walk around Oxford ten years after they've graduated still wearing their letter sweaters. GET OVER YOUR INTELLIGENCE! It seems to me that he thinks he could do a better job than Victor at responding to his creation. Doubt. It. I hate Walton.
Edmonde and the creature
"I intended to reason." (the creature, pg. 105)
Oh, Edmonde and the creature! They're twins, I swear! When Edmonde finds the treasure of Sparta off the island of Monte Cristo, the one thing he wantes to do is buy revenge. When the creature gains knowledge and understands his power, the one thing he wants is revenge. I won't go into the details, but let me tell you, they both get it ;). Honestly, I really like the creature. I think he's the underdog, and even though he kills quite a few inocent people, he didn't know how else to respond to his dire need for affection and love. He's still like a child in regards to that, I believe.
Oh, Edmonde and the creature! They're twins, I swear! When Edmonde finds the treasure of Sparta off the island of Monte Cristo, the one thing he wantes to do is buy revenge. When the creature gains knowledge and understands his power, the one thing he wants is revenge. I won't go into the details, but let me tell you, they both get it ;). Honestly, I really like the creature. I think he's the underdog, and even though he kills quite a few inocent people, he didn't know how else to respond to his dire need for affection and love. He's still like a child in regards to that, I believe.
"Count" on me to find a COMC comparison!
"I was a shattered wreck, the shadow of a human being." (Victor, pg. 135)
There's a scene in the Count of Monte Cristo where Edmonde realizes that even though he has attained freedom, he has lost all he cares for to others. He goes almost insane, but clings to his revenge. It's pretty much the greatest movie of all time. Anywho, he reminds me a lot of Victor and the creature. I'll discuss the creature's comparison in another post, but Edmonde and Victor have a lot of similarities. Both lose the loves of their lives. Both are driven hopeless by revenge. However, Victor dies unhappy while Edmonde leaves a wealthy, happy, married man with a VERY good looking son.
Goooooin' to the Chapel
"My future hopes and prospects are entirely bound up in the expectation of our union." (Victor, pg 109)
Now, seeing as how this book is a sci-fi horror novel, I don't get many chances to swoon. Also, seeing as how Elizabeth bites the dust shortly after saying "I do", this isn't the best book to read for romance. However, I thought this whole segment where Victor and his father are talking about how Elizabeth is intended for Victor is very sweet. Victor talks about how he's always felt special love and a sense of duty to protect Elizabeth, and that is every girl's dream: to be safe. I guess this is further proof how wrapped up Victor gets in his creature because he doesn't think about his true love's safety, merely his own. Tres malade!
#JustinBieber
"...but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me." (The creature, pg. 103-104)
HE JUST NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOOOOOOOVE! Hence the Justin Bieber title. When I first read this, I thought: Ah ha! Here is his motive for hunting Victor! Au contraire! He still wanted Victor to suffer, but he wanted to be happy whilest watching it. Kind of like asking for popcorn before a movie: you can still watch the movie, but it's a lot more enjoyable with popcorn.
HE JUST NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOOOOOOOVE! Hence the Justin Bieber title. When I first read this, I thought: Ah ha! Here is his motive for hunting Victor! Au contraire! He still wanted Victor to suffer, but he wanted to be happy whilest watching it. Kind of like asking for popcorn before a movie: you can still watch the movie, but it's a lot more enjoyable with popcorn.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Last Rant
"... inciting within me a desire to become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were called forth and displayed." (The creature, pg. 90)
This shall be my last rant for a while, I think. I make no guarentees. This story also makes me think of cloning. Taking the genetic material of one person and replicating it into another. Sick. I absolutely abhor cloning. However, I do believe that clones have souls. All human life is willed by God, whether it's created in a petri dish or a womb. While the act of creating and attempting to create life outside of marriage and sex is incredibly evil, the actual life created isn't. I think that's what Victor fails to see here. He doesn't love his creature because he thinks since he made it, it's less deserving of dignity. Au contraire, mon frere! I feel so bad for the creature because he has been dealt such a terrible card in life. He's been stitched together from a bunch of corpses and he doesn't have a family. People that think they can create life outside of the family drive me up the wall. How would little Franky like it if his parents saw him smiling and were disgusted? Not one bit, I guarantee it. And yet, there Victor goes, treating his creature with such contempt. Brat.
This shall be my last rant for a while, I think. I make no guarentees. This story also makes me think of cloning. Taking the genetic material of one person and replicating it into another. Sick. I absolutely abhor cloning. However, I do believe that clones have souls. All human life is willed by God, whether it's created in a petri dish or a womb. While the act of creating and attempting to create life outside of marriage and sex is incredibly evil, the actual life created isn't. I think that's what Victor fails to see here. He doesn't love his creature because he thinks since he made it, it's less deserving of dignity. Au contraire, mon frere! I feel so bad for the creature because he has been dealt such a terrible card in life. He's been stitched together from a bunch of corpses and he doesn't have a family. People that think they can create life outside of the family drive me up the wall. How would little Franky like it if his parents saw him smiling and were disgusted? Not one bit, I guarantee it. And yet, there Victor goes, treating his creature with such contempt. Brat.
"I'll never let go!" SPLASH
"I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me: I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge." (The creature, pg. 85)
After seeing The Hunger Games for the third time yesterday, I also saw the preview for The Titanic 3D for the third time. I just LOVE it when the main girl is on the plank of wood in the water and Jack is in the water and she says "I'll never let go!" and as she's saying it, she's letting go of him and letting him drown. I just thought that was funny. Why I quoted that is because I wanted to compare Frankenstein to Never Let Me Go. Once again, this is another pro-life post, so buckle in for some rants. I think there's a huge connection between the messages of these two stories. In Frankenstein, a life was created just to see if it could be done. In NLMG, many lives are created just to be destroyed. My question is WHY THE HECK DOES EVERYONE THINK LIFE IS SOMETHING TO MESS WITH???????? It is the greatest gift from God and what do we humans do with it? Act like we can make it ourselves. Well, things go seriously wrong when people have a mindset like that. What do you do if you get tired of the life you created? Take it away? You made it, right? WRONG! Ohhhh, it makes me soo angry!!
After seeing The Hunger Games for the third time yesterday, I also saw the preview for The Titanic 3D for the third time. I just LOVE it when the main girl is on the plank of wood in the water and Jack is in the water and she says "I'll never let go!" and as she's saying it, she's letting go of him and letting him drown. I just thought that was funny. Why I quoted that is because I wanted to compare Frankenstein to Never Let Me Go. Once again, this is another pro-life post, so buckle in for some rants. I think there's a huge connection between the messages of these two stories. In Frankenstein, a life was created just to see if it could be done. In NLMG, many lives are created just to be destroyed. My question is WHY THE HECK DOES EVERYONE THINK LIFE IS SOMETHING TO MESS WITH???????? It is the greatest gift from God and what do we humans do with it? Act like we can make it ourselves. Well, things go seriously wrong when people have a mindset like that. What do you do if you get tired of the life you created? Take it away? You made it, right? WRONG! Ohhhh, it makes me soo angry!!
Can I get a whoop whoop?
"(The creature drooling and smiling happily at Dr. Frankenstien after he creates him.)"
Why did I use that quote, you might ask? I choose that quote because the creature is smiling happily, just like me. Why am I smiling? Because I just published my 100th blog post on this blog! YIPPIE!! I thought I deserved a shout-out for it. Anywho, back to the story. I'm pretty confused over something. That something is how a physically two-year-old creature has such eloquent diction. Not only is his diction incredible, but he comprends so much about life and has a ton of insights about it. Through observation, he picked up on poverty, how to help others, and love. I'm just kinda blown away by how far a drooling creature can come in to two years.
Why did I use that quote, you might ask? I choose that quote because the creature is smiling happily, just like me. Why am I smiling? Because I just published my 100th blog post on this blog! YIPPIE!! I thought I deserved a shout-out for it. Anywho, back to the story. I'm pretty confused over something. That something is how a physically two-year-old creature has such eloquent diction. Not only is his diction incredible, but he comprends so much about life and has a ton of insights about it. Through observation, he picked up on poverty, how to help others, and love. I'm just kinda blown away by how far a drooling creature can come in to two years.
Because it's me and I can't not write a pro-life blog post.
"I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed." (The Creature, pg. 69)
I don't really care for this book. I don't enjoy reading about the sufferings of mankind. However, I think that this story sheds some light on a very true topic: pushing science too far. Frankenstein was consumed with this obsession to create life, and when he did, he was disgusted. It reminds me a lot of in vitro. People push themselves to extremes to create life, and by doing so, they degrade it. Life isn't something to mixed in a test tube or stitched together in a dorm room. Life is precious and it's not for humans to try and create without involving God. AKA: sex. The creature feels unwanted because he was not created in the perfect format: a family. Mary Shelley had some good foresight.
I don't really care for this book. I don't enjoy reading about the sufferings of mankind. However, I think that this story sheds some light on a very true topic: pushing science too far. Frankenstein was consumed with this obsession to create life, and when he did, he was disgusted. It reminds me a lot of in vitro. People push themselves to extremes to create life, and by doing so, they degrade it. Life isn't something to mixed in a test tube or stitched together in a dorm room. Life is precious and it's not for humans to try and create without involving God. AKA: sex. The creature feels unwanted because he was not created in the perfect format: a family. Mary Shelley had some good foresight.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The post that follows the rules!
"Ruth, why don't you give Mis' Johnson some coffee." (Mama, pg. 101)
Here we go:
DYNAMIC CHARATERS!
I think I'll talk mainly about Mama. She's sort of the catalyst for all the goings-on in this play. She is in charge of the money, she provides some comic relief, she tells Walter about Ruth's pregnancy, and she yells and beats up Walter when he almost sells the house back to the people in the new neighborhood. The description at the beginning of the play set her up in my mind as a good person that sometimes had to resort to bad measures. That makes no sense in writing. What I'm trying to say is she seems like she's not afraid to have to get down and into her problems to fix them, and that's why I like her. She has pride, but not enough that she can't accept help. Also, she's very dedicated to her family. If Mama had a page on Facebook, I'd be her fan.
Here we go:
DYNAMIC CHARATERS!
I think I'll talk mainly about Mama. She's sort of the catalyst for all the goings-on in this play. She is in charge of the money, she provides some comic relief, she tells Walter about Ruth's pregnancy, and she yells and beats up Walter when he almost sells the house back to the people in the new neighborhood. The description at the beginning of the play set her up in my mind as a good person that sometimes had to resort to bad measures. That makes no sense in writing. What I'm trying to say is she seems like she's not afraid to have to get down and into her problems to fix them, and that's why I like her. She has pride, but not enough that she can't accept help. Also, she's very dedicated to her family. If Mama had a page on Facebook, I'd be her fan.
Walter: the man, the myth, the legend
"We don't want your money." (Walter, pg. 148)
It's about time. This ENTIRE play I hated that guy's guts! What a jerk! He almost quits his job with his entire family relying on him just to drive around. He gambles his greatest chance at a happy life on a liquor store. He's basically an idiot. Until now... Granted, I still don't like him. I would rather eat calamari every night than be married to him, but he has grown on me. My hatred has turned to loathing. I have to admit, it all changed for me in the last scene when he told Lindler he was going to keep the house. Why did that scene not sell me completely? Because he had to get yelled at by his MOTHER for crying out loud! His own mother had to whip him into shape, but I guess it's better late than never! Still, I'd take calamari.
It's about time. This ENTIRE play I hated that guy's guts! What a jerk! He almost quits his job with his entire family relying on him just to drive around. He gambles his greatest chance at a happy life on a liquor store. He's basically an idiot. Until now... Granted, I still don't like him. I would rather eat calamari every night than be married to him, but he has grown on me. My hatred has turned to loathing. I have to admit, it all changed for me in the last scene when he told Lindler he was going to keep the house. Why did that scene not sell me completely? Because he had to get yelled at by his MOTHER for crying out loud! His own mother had to whip him into shape, but I guess it's better late than never! Still, I'd take calamari.
I was happy. And then I read this book.
"Who's fighting you? Who even cares about you?" (Walter, pg. 87)
What a fun read! I love exploring literature where the main character is a verbally abusive drunkard that blows his mother's money. LOVE. IT! Actually, I just lied. I am not the type of person that enjoys reading about the miseries of others when there isn't a positive ending or moral to be learned. What did I learn from this? To gamble money that's not my own? To loose faith in God? To contemplate abortion? NO!!! How on earth people consider these modern plays good is beyond me! Maybe I'm just Shakespeare-biased, but I personally think that this modern stuff is terrible and we should all move to England. Chick-fil-A would come too, never fear.
What a fun read! I love exploring literature where the main character is a verbally abusive drunkard that blows his mother's money. LOVE. IT! Actually, I just lied. I am not the type of person that enjoys reading about the miseries of others when there isn't a positive ending or moral to be learned. What did I learn from this? To gamble money that's not my own? To loose faith in God? To contemplate abortion? NO!!! How on earth people consider these modern plays good is beyond me! Maybe I'm just Shakespeare-biased, but I personally think that this modern stuff is terrible and we should all move to England. Chick-fil-A would come too, never fear.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Oh. Oh My.
"I'm like my father. The bastard son of a bastard!"
(Tom, The Glass Menagerie, pg. 1269)
Oh my says it all. I am extremely shocked right now because I thought Tom was this upstanding citizen who, no matter what, would stand by his family. Wrongo! Can I blame him? Not entirely. I'm sure his life is very stressful, being the sole provider of the family and forced to live in such rough conditions. That being said, people should almost never leave their families in the dust. Can you say rude? Because I can definately type it. Rude. I haven't finished the play yet, but when I do, I (and Tom) had better hope that he doesn't ditch his family for some unattainable dream. After all, I have pepper spray.
(Tom, The Glass Menagerie, pg. 1269)
Oh my says it all. I am extremely shocked right now because I thought Tom was this upstanding citizen who, no matter what, would stand by his family. Wrongo! Can I blame him? Not entirely. I'm sure his life is very stressful, being the sole provider of the family and forced to live in such rough conditions. That being said, people should almost never leave their families in the dust. Can you say rude? Because I can definately type it. Rude. I haven't finished the play yet, but when I do, I (and Tom) had better hope that he doesn't ditch his family for some unattainable dream. After all, I have pepper spray.
This ain't normal.
"Will you? Will you? Will you? Will you, dear?"
(Amanda, The Glass Menagerie, pg. 1254)
Granted, I had been warned. Mr. Costello had implied it and the character descriptions stated it, but I wasn't sure to what extent. Amanda is weird. Tom is the only mentally sane person in the apartment. The mother-son relationship seems not only very strained, but also very intricate. They love each other, and Tom does so much to keep the family going. However, Amanda still wants to be the authoritative figure and the head hauncho. She seems to have a very bad idea of what all Tom does. Laura si just strange. Who the heck skips school everyday for a semester just to walk outside. She needs to cow boy up. HALT! Amanda gets so much out of Tom and nothing out of Laura, but it's for Laura who Amanda schemes and worries. That's just ungrateful. Tom would like a little parental concern shown for him sometime, I bet!
(Amanda, The Glass Menagerie, pg. 1254)
Granted, I had been warned. Mr. Costello had implied it and the character descriptions stated it, but I wasn't sure to what extent. Amanda is weird. Tom is the only mentally sane person in the apartment. The mother-son relationship seems not only very strained, but also very intricate. They love each other, and Tom does so much to keep the family going. However, Amanda still wants to be the authoritative figure and the head hauncho. She seems to have a very bad idea of what all Tom does. Laura si just strange. Who the heck skips school everyday for a semester just to walk outside. She needs to cow boy up. HALT! Amanda gets so much out of Tom and nothing out of Laura, but it's for Laura who Amanda schemes and worries. That's just ungrateful. Tom would like a little parental concern shown for him sometime, I bet!
ENOUGH OF THE STAGE DIRECTIONS!!!
"she is like a piece of translucent glass touched by light, given a momentary radiance, not actual, not lasting."
(The Glass Menagerie, pg. 1263)
Wow. The very thought that someone might think this is as well-written as Shakespeare makes my blood curdle. If I was watching this as a play, how in the name of Sam Hill would I be able to tell that Laura's beauty is so fragile?? The author relies soo much on the stage directions! If this was a novel or short story, it'd be a different story. However, the script for this play is HORRID by itself. Shakespeare is able to convey every human emotion in the book through the lines of his characters, not his own foot notes. I just find it pathetic that people can get away with being compared to great authors even when they don't even follow the rules. PATHETIC.
(The Glass Menagerie, pg. 1263)
Wow. The very thought that someone might think this is as well-written as Shakespeare makes my blood curdle. If I was watching this as a play, how in the name of Sam Hill would I be able to tell that Laura's beauty is so fragile?? The author relies soo much on the stage directions! If this was a novel or short story, it'd be a different story. However, the script for this play is HORRID by itself. Shakespeare is able to convey every human emotion in the book through the lines of his characters, not his own foot notes. I just find it pathetic that people can get away with being compared to great authors even when they don't even follow the rules. PATHETIC.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
"And I have been all this day to avoid him. He is too disputable for my company: I think of as many matters as he; but I give heaven thanks, and make no boast of them." (Jaques, II vii 26)
You know who I really like? Jaques. I think he's painted in a bad light because he's so morose, but I think he has some very good reasons to be so! If I were stuck in a forest with a bunch of old men that loved to talk, I'd get peeved easily too! I'm sure Duke Senior is a real charmer, but I would HATE to have to listen to him talk about things that he thinks he's right about. It seems like Duke Senior likes to provoke Jaques when he's in pain, and if there's one thing that irritates me, it's people trying to fake sympathy for me when I'm sad. (Cough cough... summer field studies evening reflection... someone making a scene when my brother was talking... cough cough). It reallllly annoys me. I feel like Jaques and I would get along great! Oh, I also forgot how he talks to Orlando about scrawling his love letters everywhere. It's how I feel about PDA's. Yes, we know you;re dating. Yes, you make US feel awkward. NO, you don't look like the couple from the Notebook. Kids these days!
You know who I really like? Jaques. I think he's painted in a bad light because he's so morose, but I think he has some very good reasons to be so! If I were stuck in a forest with a bunch of old men that loved to talk, I'd get peeved easily too! I'm sure Duke Senior is a real charmer, but I would HATE to have to listen to him talk about things that he thinks he's right about. It seems like Duke Senior likes to provoke Jaques when he's in pain, and if there's one thing that irritates me, it's people trying to fake sympathy for me when I'm sad. (Cough cough... summer field studies evening reflection... someone making a scene when my brother was talking... cough cough). It reallllly annoys me. I feel like Jaques and I would get along great! Oh, I also forgot how he talks to Orlando about scrawling his love letters everywhere. It's how I feel about PDA's. Yes, we know you;re dating. Yes, you make US feel awkward. NO, you don't look like the couple from the Notebook. Kids these days!
That's the way... I like it!
"Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold."
I iii 15
My lanyard is a little bizarre. On it I have a pink floral wallet, one key, a rape whistle, and a hot-pink container of pepper spray. I'm very cautious. That's why this quote is on of my favorite in the entire play. I know paranoia isn't a theme that Shakespeare's trying to get across, but I really like knowing how timeless my personal fear of kidnapping is. There are creepy people in the world, and even in the happy forest of Arden, you've got to be on your toes! This blog entry has gotten a little off-track. My apologies. While I wouldn't go to the extreme of cross-dressing at gas stations, I can sympathize with Rosalind's preventative methods.
I iii 15
My lanyard is a little bizarre. On it I have a pink floral wallet, one key, a rape whistle, and a hot-pink container of pepper spray. I'm very cautious. That's why this quote is on of my favorite in the entire play. I know paranoia isn't a theme that Shakespeare's trying to get across, but I really like knowing how timeless my personal fear of kidnapping is. There are creepy people in the world, and even in the happy forest of Arden, you've got to be on your toes! This blog entry has gotten a little off-track. My apologies. While I wouldn't go to the extreme of cross-dressing at gas stations, I can sympathize with Rosalind's preventative methods.
I'm a barbie girl! In a Shakespeare world!
"And be not proud: though all the world could see,
None could be so abused in sight as he." III v 52-53
Wow. Tell her how you really feel, Ros! This is another of my favorite quotes because no one talks like this, but everyone thinks like it. That's something that I totally envy about the people in this play; whether it's Duke Senior pulling monologues out of thin air, or Rosalind having really great comebacks, everyone in this play is really good at expressing themselves. I can't even get an intelligent phrase out, but everyone in this play wings it and sound fluid. I wish someone would just have a really awkward moment where they look like a complete idiot because they can't talk. But then again, everyone is perfect and happy, so I'll just have to keep dreaming!
None could be so abused in sight as he." III v 52-53
Wow. Tell her how you really feel, Ros! This is another of my favorite quotes because no one talks like this, but everyone thinks like it. That's something that I totally envy about the people in this play; whether it's Duke Senior pulling monologues out of thin air, or Rosalind having really great comebacks, everyone in this play is really good at expressing themselves. I can't even get an intelligent phrase out, but everyone in this play wings it and sound fluid. I wish someone would just have a really awkward moment where they look like a complete idiot because they can't talk. But then again, everyone is perfect and happy, so I'll just have to keep dreaming!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Any paper mentioning Walt Kowalski deserves an A.
Laura Hollowell, Period 1, February 13, 2012, Reflective
Essay
Often
in today’s world, things are praised that deserve little. Drugs, violence and
pre-marital sex are often portrayed as desirable activities, while dishonesty
and lies are seen as normal. To stand up to such evil is what all are called to
do, yet few respond. There are those, however, that stare down the face of evil
and triumph for good. Emilia, Walt Kowalski and Chen Guangcheng all register
victories for justice by standing up for what they believe in.
During
the first four acts of Othello,
Emilia is seen as a common character; she is married to the villain but does
little to stand out to the audience. However, she heightens the climax by
revealing the lies and deceptions her husband has created. “Good gentlemen, let
me have leave to speak: 'Tis proper I obey him, but not now. Perchance, Iago, I
will ne'er go home” (Emilia, Othello,
V, ii, 195-197). In a time when women were to be seen and not heard, Emilia
spoke out for those who could not, eventually loosing her life. She embodies Othello’s theme of speaking up for
one’s convictions because did just that.
There
is another character that embodies Othello’s
theme of standing up for what is right. Walt Kowalski, played by Clint Eastwood
in Gran Torino, is not the typical
hero; he is violent, racist, and judgmental. However, when a gang permanently
ruins the lives of the people he loves, he offers up himself completely, taking
the wrath of evil to save those around him. He has the courage to tell the gang
what they do not want to hear, but more importantly, he has the bravery to take
their retaliation. His character mirrors Emilia’s in the sense that he does
what is right without counting the cost.
While
Walt Kowalski was not a typical hero, the final man truly highlights the
universality of the theme: Chen Guangcheng. Living in China under the “one-child” policy, Chen has
worked as a lawyer, exposing over 130,000 forced abortions and sterylizations
in his community of Linyi, China. He was sentenced by the
Chinese government to four and a half years of prison, but upon release was
placed under house arrest. He is beaten frequently, but managed to send out a
video detailing his imprisonment. By standing up to authority and exposing
other’s lies, Chen is much like Emilia; they both believe in defending the
silent and standing up for truth.
Emilia
presents Othello’s theme of standing
up with courage to defend what is right. Walt Kowalski and Chen Guangcheng are
proof of that theme’s timelessness and universality. Today, even hundreds of
years after it was written, Othello
speaks of what all humans yearn for: courage and love. While there are many
other themes in the play that are applicable to life today, this is the most important
and universal.
Works Cited
"Chen Guangcheng: Amnesty
Urgent Action." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 Feb.
2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/13/amnesty-urgent-action-chen- guangcheng>.
Gran Torino. Dir. Clint
Eastwood. Perf. Clint Eastwood and Bee Vang. Warner Brothers, 2008. Film.
Perrine,
Laurence. “Othello”. Perrine’s Literature: Structure,
Sound, and Sense. Fort Worth. Harcourt College. 2002, 1 361-462. Print.
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