Thursday, April 21, 2011
Darn Monster Ruins Everything
Victor feels Elizabeth is the only left source of happiness in his life. Foreshadowing her death, the only thing capable of keeping Victor sane was his companionship with Elizabeth. I just wanted them to get married already and every time I read into hope, the dumb monster came and tore it all away! Shelley creates the monster in part to accentuate and symbolize pure benevolence in his younger days, before he had experienced true rejection and heartache, and later, the malevalence found in souls who thirst for love. Frankenstein has this passion with Elizabeth and that dumb monster envies it. So what does he do? Strangles her to death on their wedding night. Thanks a lot for a happy ending to a happy story Shelley!!!!
Man and his Creator
"Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other aspect." pg 124
"...no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him." pg. 125-6
As references appear sporadically in the novel relating Creature to the biblical Adam and Frankenstein to God the Creator, I ultimately realized Creature's view of Victor. He saw him as the only person who might give any bit of consolation to the exiled life he lived. Shelley incorporates biblical allusions into the story to call to mind possible faith questions. Creature relates himself to Adam for several reasons. He was made the only being of his kind with no mate to share in his struggles. He sees Victor as the only person readily able to create him a companion, just as God alone could create a companion for Adam. Also, Adam was abandoned and exiled by his Creator based on shame of the created. God punished Adam for sinning; Victor unknowingly punished Creature for being so terribly frightening.
Safie
Safie, in her foreign beauty, serves as an important character in the formation of Creature's tale and development. For one, as indicated by the quote, she is the sole link to Felix's absent happiness. Creature quickly picks up on the fact that once Safie arrived, the attitude and atmosphere of the family changed. In his young brain, this appearance of a woman starts him on a notion: If Frankenstein creates a woman for him, he'd have someone to love and appreciate him in all his ugliness. Safie gives the monster a glimpse of love between she and Felix; furthermore, Creature decides a female version of himself would bestow upon him this love.
Safie also gives monster a way for learning the French language since Felix had to teach her; he could learn quicker than Safie.
Human Error
In the middle of the novel, Creature conveys through his story a major theme: the need of human acceptance and love. I am entranced at the deep thought and truth in this quote. Creature talks of how he has been shunned from all of society, an outcast based on prejudices. He longs for a companion or any glimpse of kindness from a human being. The hatred which shuns Creature based on his homely and frightening appearance is the barrier which Shelley deduces blocks union from the abnormal outcasts to the rest of society.
I feel like so many themes we've studied have been centered around the crucial reliance on a friend or acceptance or love of others- O'Brien searched for answers to deep questions long after the war, Phoenix Jackson attached herself to the memory of her grandson for companionship, the little old lady found pleasure in watching the scenes of the park with her little fur friend. All in all, authors have introduced us to characters whom suffer what we suffer- loss, fallout of friends, death of loved ones.
2 Pi
Before the slightly disturbing suicide of Frankenstein, Victor relays to Walton his main point in telling him this story. Victor imposes the goals and aspirations which he once had to delve into a place no one has been before. In doing this, utter destruction and devastation followed him around like a grey cloud. He could never escape the haunting presence of the monster he created. In telling this story, his woes, his nightmares, Victor speaks directly to R. Walton in hopes of altering his mindset. The story, in its frame story style, takes us completely full circle in understanding where and why Victor adamantly works to pry Walton from his obsession 2 Pi= full circle, eh? eh?) Walton, like Victor, wishes to discover what no human ever has. Victor Frankenstein tries desperately to defer Walton's obsession with finding a passage through the North Pole because he knows how his seemingly pointless ambitions paved the way for the most desperate life. Almost as if a last ditch attempt, he dives from the cabin window of the ship in front of Walton. If this doesn't prove to Walton his aspirations might be a little too lofty, I don't know what is!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
It's ALIVE! And IT TALKS!
Justine vs. Justice
Poetry Please
Yes, I'm talking to you
A Whole New World
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Some Parallels
Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath
Pivotal Moment
pg. 178 "Dear God, That's it, say Shug. Pack your stuff. You coming back to Tennessee with me. But I feels daze. My daddy lynch. My mama crazy... You must be sleep."
My initial reaction to the letter Celie read from Nettie indicating that "Pa is not our pa!" startled me so much that my mind starting racing backwards remembering all that had previously happened. And then I turned the page to one of the most significant chapters- short and sweet. Celie writes her shortest letter to God yet. Her short, choppy syntax depict perfectly the chaos and daze she finds herself in. Again, Walker throws a curve ball! Shug's demand that she pack her stuff offers a subtle foreshadow to an event that might alter the course of the story...
pg. 202 "You a lowdown dog is what's wrong, I say. It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need."As Shug announces Celie's departure, I imagine the shock that hovered in Odessa's dining room. This scene is the climax of the story for several reasons. First, Shug gets her way. A woman whose determination and strong will often gets the best of her, she helps liberate Celie from her devastating life with Mr. ____. Second, this is the first time Celie stands up for herself to any man. Through this declaration, theme also comes forth. It is in leaving her current life that she can truly enter into creation. Creation doesn't necessarily mean God's world but all the beauty there is to behold which she's missed over the years due to being under a man's thumb.
Our Happiness is HIS Happiness (:
pg. 194 "But if God love me, Celie, I don't have to do all that. Unless I want to. There's a lot of other things I can do that I speck God likes... I can lay back and just admire stuff. Be happy. Have a good time."
Favorite line of the book (well one of many- I'm not the best at choosing!). I relate so well to Shug on some levels. For instance, her need for adventure and travel and not wanting to be tied to one place, her passion for people and standing up for what she believes, her admirable sense of pride in herself. I view God in this way too. I don't always have to be looking for Him but can make him happy by appreciating all around me. I think God fins happiness in our own enjoyment of everything He has given us. Walker intended for us to reflect on our own views of God in light of Celie and Shug.
Techniques such as these unexpected surprises allowed me to realize and concoct a more direct theme. I believe Alice Walker found life and people to be unexpectedly marvelous. She adds personal scenes all throughout the novel to inspire thought of how little we know about the people who surround us.Come On Girls!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Colors serve as a motif in The Color Purple, a fitting reocurrence for a novel with a title named for a color! At the store with Kate, Celie declares what color dress she would like; however, the colors of purple and red signify too much happiness. At this point in the book, the dull colors of navy and brown symbolize the despair and gloom constantly enveloping Celie.
"I walk around the whole day with the annoucement burning a hole in my pocket. It pink." Pg. 25, last paragraph
Something of such simplicity etches excitement into Celie's distressed life. It is liberating for her to bear Shug Avery's flyer on her person, and she makes a point to declare its color!
"Shug Avery donate her old yellow dress for scrap, and I work in a piece every chance I get... I want it for myself, just for the little yellow pieces, look like stars, but not." pg. 59 para. 1
A little bit of brightness is sewn into Celie's life as her relationship with Shug Avery blossoms slowly. Shug gives an old yellow dress for Sofia and Celie to incorporate into the quilt. Here, Shug unknowingly brightens Celie's world, shown in the stitching of the quilt.
As the story progresses and Celie meets people who brighten her life, the colors discussed and noticed also grow brighter. I wonder if the next half brings brighter or darker colors to Celie's life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdHCYgO9zh8
Dear G-o-d
"Dear God,"
The novel is structured as a constant letter. When Celie tells the story, each new "chapter" begins with "Dear God." I speculated that she started each entry like this because she wanted to feel some connection with God, someone who would feel so distant from her life based on all that had happened to her. Though she doesn't believe it, Celie has immense strength to pray to a God, or at least address God, who seemingly tossed her aside to be spoiled by greedy men. Later, on page 130, Nettie's fourth letter says, "I remember one time you said your life made you feel so ashamed you couln't even talk about it to God, you had to write it...." Still structured in a letter-type fomat Nettie writes to Celie and indicates that Celie writes to God because her past is too much to face. Who could blame her!? The "Dear God" comes across as more of a habit or calling than a prayer.
They're All the Same
"Crossed out The Lucky Star of Colman Road, put in Harpo's of _____ plantation." pg. 73 para 2
In the time of The Color Purple, society based itself around the names, status, and reputation of men. They were without a doubt the superior sex. More often then not, men ran the show- of the family, of towns, of cities, of the country. Alice Walker chooses to minimize not only the role of men, but also the respect associated with them. Celie's character addresses few male figures by their name; these few names (Harpo, Buster, Swain, Grady) are those which do not threaten Celie. Lacking the respect of a last name, all men are called "Mr.____" linking them all together. In Celie's case, all grown men are or have the tendency to act and perform alike. Since she gets no respect from men, as she is raped and abused on countless occasions, she seemingly sees no point in tacking on the respect of a last name. While confusing at times as to which Mr.____ is being referred to, Celie's private stubbornness in erasing last names amidst her prayers to God serves as some sort of relief to the constant abuse she takes on.
Excuse me! You forgot your quotes!
I noticed off the bat that Walker strays away from quotation marks. I figured she did this for many reasons:
- This book is set in simpler time, so without the quotation marks distinguishing speech from action a simplistic tone is added to the otherwise graphic novel.
- Without quotes, the reader focuses on the action and words spoken together, not separately. For instance, in the above stated quote, the thought is continuous because quotes do not separate what Celie and Sofia discuss and the feelings surrounding the text.
A bit of theme also emerges from this quote. Celie brings to Sofia's attention that the fact that she can't fight back against the beatings. Confused, I wondered how Celie could possibly prompt Harpo to beat Sofia into submission after being beaten so long herself. However, like Sofia, I was disturbed to find out that Celie envies Sofia for her ability and will to fight back. Beatings were not an anomaly for Celie, so I believe the theme of male superiority over women is especially prevalent in this scene.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Innocence Gone So Young
"Finish saying I do with a big ole nursing boy in her arms." pg. 34 para. 1
Another technique Walker instills in the novel is humor. Celie adds humor in her descriptions of mostly everything, even the most serious of topics. Here, Harpo ran away to get married to strong-willed Sofia because her Pa said he wasn't fitting for Sofia. After their child had already been born, they eloped; Sofia carried out hr motherly duties on the alter with a nursing baby. What a sight to see!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Brotherly Love
By the end of the play, Ben serves as Willy's conscious, a memory whom Willy finds the only consolation in and means by which to rationalize his actions. As he plants the garden, Willy tries to get Ben to see eye to eye with him saying, "You gotta consider now. Don't answer so quick. Remember, it's a guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar proposition... I've got nobody to talk to Ben..." (pg 1621). He justifies his death, saying his life insurance is worth twenty-thousand-dollars; however, the fact that Willy has to justify his actions with a ghost makes it obvious that he knows his decision is quite obscure. Willy, like many humans, makes up a scenario in his mind to downplay his future action of suicide, hoping that the end will justify the means.
#3:Opposites Attract... Sometimes
In the "Death of a Salesman," Willy and Biff act as foil characters to each other on several accounts. While some may argue they seem similar in aspects, I say a father and son couldn't be farther apart. Willy treats Linda disrespectfully, constantly telling her to shut up while he is having an argument with Biff: "Don't interrupt," "Stop interrupting," "Will you stop!". When Biff tries to interject with "Don't yell at her, Pop, will ya?" to defend his mother, Willy gets very defensive and yells at Biff, accuses Linda of taking Biff's side all the time, and then storms out of the room.
From the beginning, we see Biff and Willy's opinions on working and business set on opposite ends of the spectrum. To Biff, having "to suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two-week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors..." does not build a sufficient future. He views it as a "measly manner of existence" (pg. 1553). Willy on the other hand lived life as an exclamation, always putting himself and the business world on a pedestal. He tells young Biff and Happy that "the man you makes an appearance in the business world... gets ahead. Be liked and yo will never want." What a great message to send your kids! Thanks Pop! Biff's ideals contrast drastically with Willy's, leading the reader to decide between ultimate happiness and temporary happiness.
Bernard, the neighbor boy who has grown into a successful lawyer, also serves as Willy's foil, exemplifying Willy's greediness and lack of humility. Especially evident in the scene where Willy comes to Charley's office to ask for money, Willy has a hard time comprehending Bernard's success and humble nature. When asked how Biff is, Willy exaggerates, "Well he's been doing very big things in the West... very big." Bernard doesn't take this as a cue for him to delve into his own success story; later on, Charley comes in declaring Bernard is on his way to represent someone in the Supreme Court (pg. 1598-1601). Talk about opposites!
#5: Theme
Willy presents himself as old fashioned, seemingly interested in making a living and bringing his children up the best he knows how. Willy truly hangs on to the past, where "there was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in..." the business world (pg 1591). He longs for friends who respect him and know him by name. But Willy takes offense in the fact that "today it's all cut and dried, and there's no chance for bringing friendship to bear- or personality." He believes that the ideal salesman dies doing what he loves, with hundreds of co-workers and clients at his funeral.
To connect the theme, Arthur Miller illustrates through this play the true death of a salesman: a man who has been controlled and defined by the work he has done and number of acquaintances. By the foil characters present in the play, the audience becomes aware of the fact that being well-known and popular only gets one so far in life. Miller tries to persuade the audience that the present society grows too close to their job and reputation and misses out on true importance: defining family, friends, and home.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Subtle Stabs
At first, Amanda stood up for Laura when at all possible, urging Tom never to call her "crippled." However, as they prepare for the gentleman caller, Jim, Amanda reveals some not-so-motherly-opinions to Laura saying, "Now look at yourself, young lady. This is the prettiest you will ever be!" Hmm. Thanks MOM! I just can't pinpoint Amanda's obvious disappointment in her life shining through her views of her children.
Tennessee Williams utilizes music throughout his play to indicate certain emotions characters are feeling. As Jim O'Connor evaluates Laura, music is key in understanding her fleeting and deep emotions surfacing:"Has anyone ever told you you were pretty? (Pause: music. LAURA looks up slowly, with wonder, and shakes her head)..." From this scene inparticular, one can deduce that Laura's emotions and concerns and passions lie beyond her glass collection.
Williams introduces and explains symbols in his play quite blantantly. For instance, the unicorn, Laura's favorite piece, is broken by Jim. Of course Jim broke the figure Laura called "unlike the others," because he ultimately broke her "inferiority complex," and simultaneously her heart it seems. He allows the audience to focuson the emotions through the symbols.
With complete stage directions and explicit stage movements, the audience learns more aboutthe characters more from the background and less from the characters interacting with each other.
Crossing the 4th Wall
From Shakespeare to Tennessee Williams, the drama tones down drastically, making some wonder if there's more to The Glass Menagerie. The fact that the story is so common to the point where people search for meaning not there indicates the realism of the drama itself. Composed of fights and make-ups and fights again, fragile people, mother versus son, mother's constant worries, and abandoning fathers, The Glass Menagerie relays Tom's memory in a way both accepted and shared by many. A break from realism occurs when Tom steps outside his memory- which in and of itself presents nonrealistic elements: the music indicating emotions, the lighting of the father's picture- and crosses the fourth wall. By staying within the "walls" of the apartment and ally, the audience experiences a real feeling as they are immersed in the memory, but as soon as Tom morphs from character to narrator, the element of realism also changes with the audiences perception and snap back into reality. Reality in the case of a drama, takes away from the realistic nature of the drama.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
You Go Girl (:
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Shakespeare's Othello. I was thrilled to have finished the play without help from outside sources with a fairly clear understanding; I feel like I learned the WORK, not ABOUT the work!!
Piggy Back Characters
Driving the action with a negative energy, Iago serves as antagonist of the play. Othello is not only the protagonist, but the tragic hero who admits that his downfall: he was "one that loved not wisely but too well; ...one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, perplexed in the extreme" (V.ii. 341-343). The two may also be looked upon as foils due to their differences which contribute to the advancement of their character. For example, Othello, in his easy trust, believes Iago over Desdemona. This illustrates Iago's powers of persuasion and Othello's naive nature. As more of a minor character, Roderigo is a foil of Iago. He displays the control Iago had over the minds and actions of those below him. Iago uses Roderigo for financial gain and help in an attempt to kill Cassio. Through the minor characters, the personalities and motives of Othello and Iago are accentuated.
Total Casualties- FOUR
As Othello was written as yet another Shakespearean tragedy, Act IV unfolds with much question attached to it. I found myself engrossed in the plotting of deaths which Iago always seemed to propose. As the plotting continued, I began thinking about the elements of tragedy- one of which is the occurrence of deaths. The conclusion of Act IV held no deaths, but since I knew this play to be a tragedy, I anticipated deaths to come. I saw no sign of melodrama up to this point since the evil plots of Iago were still prevailing. Iago suggests Othello kill Desdemona for her supposed adulterous acts by strangling her "in her be, even the bed she hath contaminated" (IV.i.190). The audience's knowledge that the play is a tragedy is crucial because it holds the attention as one reads on for the action and deaths of characters-- yes, the human mind is that corrupt that its attention is captivated by the possibility of deaths.
Foreshadowing violence, Othello hits Desdemona after she calls him "sweet Othello" (IV.i.224). He has in his head that she is cheating on him; thus, he sees their conversation as an open confirmation from her that she has been with Cassio, driving the plot forward.
As the play concludes, melodrama cannot be usedtodescribe the play-- mainly because there is no happy ending; Othello takes his own life.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tragic Hero Foreseen
Iago's self-focus in his goal to obtain position of Lieutenant is obvious through his fickle personality. Iago is ironically viewed as an honest man, even pronouncing his reputation to Cassio, "As I am an honest man..." (act II scene iii line 244). There is much dramatic irony as Othello perceives Iago to be an honest man and Roderigo knows the plotting Iago, who claims to be helping Roderigo win over Desdemona. Iago exposes his two-faced personality, though only the audience is ever fully aware of it. One way Iago does this is by switching back and forth between iambic pentameter when speaking formally to Othello and the Duke and then prose when speaking informally to Cassio and Rogerigo; Iago puts on a show in front of Othello. Iago works with Roderigo, seemingly controlling Roderigo to expose any indecency of Cassio's. Manipulation is apparently Iago's number one tactic; he isn't out to follow Othello, but to seek revenge for not being chosen as Lieutenant. To the character's eye, Iago is a humble man, always at the right place at the right time, but to the audience Iago is deceivingly forming situations for his benefit.
Worthiness not based on Color
Amazingly enough, hatred based on preconceived notions was prevalent even hundreds of years ago when Shakespeare wrote Othello. Prejudice thoughts based on race and color have prevented colored from fair treatment for much too long. Even in a fictional play, Shakespeare incorporates the universal treatment towards blacks, Othello included. Shakespeare wastes no time presenting the theme of hatred based on prejudice thoughts, in this case race. Throughout acts 1-3, Othello is generally referred to as "the Moor," stripping him of the respect of a name. Iago refers to Othello with language centered around a horse when rousing Brabantio in act I scene i lines 109-112: "...you'll have nephews neigh to you, and jennets for kinsmen." This language indicates that Iago thinks Othello animalistic. Likewise, when Brabantio learns of Othello and Desdemona's marriage, he cries, "Oh, treason of the blood!" obviously disgusted with his daughter's choice of husband. The Duke throughout the first act stands up for Othello, providing that although Othello is black, he is proven worthy which makes him beautiful (Line 203).