Lear's oldest daughter Goneril is an evil woman who is willing to go to extremes to achieve her goals. She doesn’t let anything get in her way. Goneril pretends to love her father so he would give her a good portion of his kingdom. Right off the bat of the play portrays how she can be deceiving which sort of foreshadows her role in the play.
After gaining a large portion of her fathers land, she discarded Lear. She didn’t actually love her father, she just had a wanting for power. Her father was an annoyance to her. She banishes him and moves on like he never did anything for her. Her heartless cruelty becomes more and more apparent as the play progresses.
Goneril even plans to kill her own husband, the Duke of Albany as well as her sister Regan so she could be with Edmund. Goneril progresses to get what she wants through evil schemes and manipulation. She lies to her father for land, she lies to Albany to get a respected husband, and then she starts an affair with a bastard. Meanwhile, Lear is banished and going crazy. This cruelty and recklessness directly causes her death.
Goneril and Regan are personifications of evil because of their hunger for power. It is their hunger that drives them to do such foolish deeds. Ultimately, their poor embodiment of evil results in justfication, even though many innocent people are killing along the way such as Gloucester and Cordelia.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Poem of da day
A Dream Of Death
I DREAMED that one had died in a strange place
Near no accustomed hand,
And they had nailed the boards above her face,
The peasants of that land,
Wondering to lay her in that solitude,
And raised above her mound
A cross they had made out of two bits of wood,
And planted cypress round;
And left her to the indifferent stars above
Until I carved these words:
i{She was more beautiful than thy first love,}
i{But now lies under boards.}
William Butler Yeats
I DREAMED that one had died in a strange place
Near no accustomed hand,
And they had nailed the boards above her face,
The peasants of that land,
Wondering to lay her in that solitude,
And raised above her mound
A cross they had made out of two bits of wood,
And planted cypress round;
And left her to the indifferent stars above
Until I carved these words:
i{She was more beautiful than thy first love,}
i{But now lies under boards.}
William Butler Yeats
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Battle of Wits
Much Ado About Nothing portrays a hilarious and ironic relationship between Benedick and Beatrice. The way Shakespeare makes them hate each other in the beginning makes their eventual love so much funnier. The relationship goes through many stages where they sort of fight, but I believe that they liked each other all along.
Benedick’s relationship with Beatrice in the beginning of the play reminds me much of a boy and girl that like each other in kindergarten. They bicker endlessly every time they see each other. It may be their way of showing like for one another. I think it represents a sort awkwardness between them considering they have been together before. The reason I think that is because of how the movie showed a specific scene of them fighting with all their wit. After being stung by an intense comment and Benedick walks off so he could claim victory. Beatrice becomes sad by Benedick’s “move” if you will and mutters under her breath that it is typical of him to walk away from a situation rather than fight it through. It shows some unhappiness and maybe shows that she still wants to be with him and wishes he could be open and honest rather than fighting every time they meet. If that were to ever happen they would need the help of an outside force.
Their feelings finally come out with the help of their friends. The work of Claudius, Leonato, and the Prince allow for Beatrice and Benedick to consider loving each other. With their help it gives Benedick and Beatrice the opportunity to come clean with their feelings. I think Shakespeare is showing a major idea about human nature. It is impossible to interact as humans in a positive way if the people don’t open their minds. Benedick and Beatrice finally speak openly and realize that they actually love each other. They went from saying that they will never die married” to celebrating love.
A relationship, being sexual or friendly, will never work without honesty. Even then it might still be too awkward to function properly. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Benedick’s and Beatrice’s comical bickering helps show us how to lighten up and be open to share our true feelings. An idea or tradition may be in the way of letting good things happen between people but all barriers must be shed if we are to truly be human.
Benedick’s relationship with Beatrice in the beginning of the play reminds me much of a boy and girl that like each other in kindergarten. They bicker endlessly every time they see each other. It may be their way of showing like for one another. I think it represents a sort awkwardness between them considering they have been together before. The reason I think that is because of how the movie showed a specific scene of them fighting with all their wit. After being stung by an intense comment and Benedick walks off so he could claim victory. Beatrice becomes sad by Benedick’s “move” if you will and mutters under her breath that it is typical of him to walk away from a situation rather than fight it through. It shows some unhappiness and maybe shows that she still wants to be with him and wishes he could be open and honest rather than fighting every time they meet. If that were to ever happen they would need the help of an outside force.
Their feelings finally come out with the help of their friends. The work of Claudius, Leonato, and the Prince allow for Beatrice and Benedick to consider loving each other. With their help it gives Benedick and Beatrice the opportunity to come clean with their feelings. I think Shakespeare is showing a major idea about human nature. It is impossible to interact as humans in a positive way if the people don’t open their minds. Benedick and Beatrice finally speak openly and realize that they actually love each other. They went from saying that they will never die married” to celebrating love.
A relationship, being sexual or friendly, will never work without honesty. Even then it might still be too awkward to function properly. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Benedick’s and Beatrice’s comical bickering helps show us how to lighten up and be open to share our true feelings. An idea or tradition may be in the way of letting good things happen between people but all barriers must be shed if we are to truly be human.
Monday, November 12, 2007
The Struggle to be Liked
The Ibo culture is not exactly the same as ours, yet it has many similar ideas. For one, it emphasizes the idea of hard work will lead to respect and riches. Everyone, no matter from what family, can work their way to the top such as Okankwo. The pressure to fit in with the successful people of the Ibo culture drive Okankwo to be meticulous about the many aspects of living a respectable life. He is in a constant struggle to follow the proper manners and etiquette to be viewed highly. Also, just like in America laziness is not tolerated and is viewed poorly. Key similarities in our culture make the Ibo people look way ahead of their time.
The Ibo stress a strong code of manners of etiquette that is quite impressive. The people focus on being hospitable and treat all their guests as if Gods. They treasure palm wine and the kola nut. They are seen as gifts of hospitality and respect. That tradition is in America today. For example, whenever my dad is invited to an important dinner he will probably take over a bottle of a wine as a sign of respect. It is amazing to see traditions last so long throughout history. Also, when the Ibo have guests they make them their favorite foods and put them in front of everything. It is the same as the present time. Typically, when people have guests, they act differently in order to keep them happy and they share with them. Although the Ibo people are not as strong as a force as before, their human traditions and values are ever so present.
Another similar and key comparison is the Ibo’s idea of a success. It is analogous to the “American dream”. That is that hard work and kind-heartedness will make a person highly viewed and honored. Just like in Ibo times, today being in debt, (such as Okwanko’s father), is seen poorly. People who depend on others rather than achieve their own success are never honored no matter what day and age they are living in. It is fascinating to see how humans, no matter what technological state they are in, will tend to want to achieve the same mold of being successful through hard work. These pressures and cultural ideals force people, such Okwanko, to try to achieve perfection. Some people succeed, others have problems such as how Okwanko is irrationally harsh on his kids to not be like his dad. The ideals, although seeking goodness, do not always fit for everyone.
The similarities between our culture and the Ibo culture help emphasize key, primal values of humans. When people shed off their labels such as Ibo or American or whatever, it is apparent that they are all looking for the same thing: to fit in. Okwanko’s character shows that beautifully as his dislike for his father drives him to be perfect.
The Ibo stress a strong code of manners of etiquette that is quite impressive. The people focus on being hospitable and treat all their guests as if Gods. They treasure palm wine and the kola nut. They are seen as gifts of hospitality and respect. That tradition is in America today. For example, whenever my dad is invited to an important dinner he will probably take over a bottle of a wine as a sign of respect. It is amazing to see traditions last so long throughout history. Also, when the Ibo have guests they make them their favorite foods and put them in front of everything. It is the same as the present time. Typically, when people have guests, they act differently in order to keep them happy and they share with them. Although the Ibo people are not as strong as a force as before, their human traditions and values are ever so present.
Another similar and key comparison is the Ibo’s idea of a success. It is analogous to the “American dream”. That is that hard work and kind-heartedness will make a person highly viewed and honored. Just like in Ibo times, today being in debt, (such as Okwanko’s father), is seen poorly. People who depend on others rather than achieve their own success are never honored no matter what day and age they are living in. It is fascinating to see how humans, no matter what technological state they are in, will tend to want to achieve the same mold of being successful through hard work. These pressures and cultural ideals force people, such Okwanko, to try to achieve perfection. Some people succeed, others have problems such as how Okwanko is irrationally harsh on his kids to not be like his dad. The ideals, although seeking goodness, do not always fit for everyone.
The similarities between our culture and the Ibo culture help emphasize key, primal values of humans. When people shed off their labels such as Ibo or American or whatever, it is apparent that they are all looking for the same thing: to fit in. Okwanko’s character shows that beautifully as his dislike for his father drives him to be perfect.
Ibo Culture
The Ibo culture is unique and filled with many traditions built around pleasing the gods and living a good, kind-hearted life. From their hospitality to their leadership the Ibo are a very respectable and honorable tribe.
A main concept in their culture is to be as hospitable as possible. Guests and strangers are typically shocked to see how well they are treated when in the presence of the Ibo. A joke made of this hospitality goes like this (translated): “If you greet an Ibo man coming from his prayer with palm wine, he will not reply because he is obliged to offer you a palm wine.” It goes to show that their culture is known as a very kind-hearted and selfless one.
On important occasions it every family is supposed to send neighboring families some food. If that family has a visitor or guest the wife will go and invite them over. Before inviting them over, she will have figured out what food that guest enjoys most, and have it prepared. When the guest first arrives she would offer him or her a kola nut and then the main course is brought. Being a guest, it is disrespectful to refuse the food, but on the other hand they are not supposed to finish it. They should leave a bit of it left to show that they had enough food to get full.
The religion of the IBO is Christianity and they make up one of the largest block of Christians in Nigeria. Before Christianity the Ibo culture revolved around one god, “Chi”. The Chi can be personalized and shared with the community, which is thought to be why they later like Christianity.
The Ibo people have a very complex and sophisticated form of political life. They followed the following slogan, “no representation, no support”. Representation is built around the elders and the chiefs. The governmental power was much more diffused in this region in Nigeria.
In an Ibo family the husband s the head of the household and his most important responsibility is the well-being of his family. They followed an extended family system and perfected it. Families were involved in trade and commerce having to do with farming, iron works, and they also organized in trading blocks for the exchange of goods. The Ibo people rarely moved because they found it unnecessary. Communities wanted sons and daughters from far distances to come back and bring their children to their ancestral home.
The Ibo culture is clearly one of great honor where respect and hard work are valued strongly. It is very interesting to see that such an old tribe was so wise about how to deal with people and government. The Ibo are a strong people and should be looked on with great pride.
http://www.oraifite.com/culture-and-traditions
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm
A main concept in their culture is to be as hospitable as possible. Guests and strangers are typically shocked to see how well they are treated when in the presence of the Ibo. A joke made of this hospitality goes like this (translated): “If you greet an Ibo man coming from his prayer with palm wine, he will not reply because he is obliged to offer you a palm wine.” It goes to show that their culture is known as a very kind-hearted and selfless one.
On important occasions it every family is supposed to send neighboring families some food. If that family has a visitor or guest the wife will go and invite them over. Before inviting them over, she will have figured out what food that guest enjoys most, and have it prepared. When the guest first arrives she would offer him or her a kola nut and then the main course is brought. Being a guest, it is disrespectful to refuse the food, but on the other hand they are not supposed to finish it. They should leave a bit of it left to show that they had enough food to get full.
The religion of the IBO is Christianity and they make up one of the largest block of Christians in Nigeria. Before Christianity the Ibo culture revolved around one god, “Chi”. The Chi can be personalized and shared with the community, which is thought to be why they later like Christianity.
The Ibo people have a very complex and sophisticated form of political life. They followed the following slogan, “no representation, no support”. Representation is built around the elders and the chiefs. The governmental power was much more diffused in this region in Nigeria.
In an Ibo family the husband s the head of the household and his most important responsibility is the well-being of his family. They followed an extended family system and perfected it. Families were involved in trade and commerce having to do with farming, iron works, and they also organized in trading blocks for the exchange of goods. The Ibo people rarely moved because they found it unnecessary. Communities wanted sons and daughters from far distances to come back and bring their children to their ancestral home.
The Ibo culture is clearly one of great honor where respect and hard work are valued strongly. It is very interesting to see that such an old tribe was so wise about how to deal with people and government. The Ibo are a strong people and should be looked on with great pride.
http://www.oraifite.com/culture-and-traditions
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Sad, Sad Man
Gregor Samsa led an unfulfilling life trying to make ends meat for his family. He describes his job as a burden when he calls it suspicious and aggressive towards the sales employees. He would have quit but his family depends on him. Gregor’s turning into an insect is what he desired for. He wanted to just become a fly on the wall and lose all his responsibilities. His metamorphosis does result exactly as he wanted, although it did relieve him of his burden.
After turning into an insect, he no longer had to stress over his family’s financial crisis or go slave over his job; however, he is completely treated as a vermin. His family can no longer look at him the same at all. He had to cover himself up so that Grete could put his food in his room without freaking out. His dad threw apples at him and his family took apart his room as if he never existed. When he jumps on his beloved painting, it shows that Gregor yearned to be normal again. Unfortunately that was not going to happen soon.
When Gregor starves himself, it is evident that he realized that his desire to escape did not reach his expectation. The burden of truly being hated and exiled from his family must have been a bigger weight on his shoulders than his previous job and financial crisis. Although, maybe it is really what he wanted all along is to just escape life completely, but it shows that Gregor was not living his life happily. It is not hard to understand his logic seeing his position in the world, but I believe his desire to escape is wrong. People are born with the cards they are dealt and they should fight through it, with exceptions to health problems. I personally see Gregor as a weak, insecure individual who required his parent’s attention and acceptance to feel good about himself. His fate was deserved because he no longer has to worry about stress, or living in general as he wanted.
The moral of the story is that people do enjoy the feeling that people appreciate them, but it requires work for that to happen. The catch is that sometime one may face people that are not considerate at all. What Gregor did not realize is that he was not at fault for his parents harshness. He fell into believing that what he was doing was incorrect, when his financial support and care for his sister was exactly the right thing to do. It is sad to see the fate that befell him because he really is a caring person inside or else he never would have allotted a significant amount of time working for his family.
After turning into an insect, he no longer had to stress over his family’s financial crisis or go slave over his job; however, he is completely treated as a vermin. His family can no longer look at him the same at all. He had to cover himself up so that Grete could put his food in his room without freaking out. His dad threw apples at him and his family took apart his room as if he never existed. When he jumps on his beloved painting, it shows that Gregor yearned to be normal again. Unfortunately that was not going to happen soon.
When Gregor starves himself, it is evident that he realized that his desire to escape did not reach his expectation. The burden of truly being hated and exiled from his family must have been a bigger weight on his shoulders than his previous job and financial crisis. Although, maybe it is really what he wanted all along is to just escape life completely, but it shows that Gregor was not living his life happily. It is not hard to understand his logic seeing his position in the world, but I believe his desire to escape is wrong. People are born with the cards they are dealt and they should fight through it, with exceptions to health problems. I personally see Gregor as a weak, insecure individual who required his parent’s attention and acceptance to feel good about himself. His fate was deserved because he no longer has to worry about stress, or living in general as he wanted.
The moral of the story is that people do enjoy the feeling that people appreciate them, but it requires work for that to happen. The catch is that sometime one may face people that are not considerate at all. What Gregor did not realize is that he was not at fault for his parents harshness. He fell into believing that what he was doing was incorrect, when his financial support and care for his sister was exactly the right thing to do. It is sad to see the fate that befell him because he really is a caring person inside or else he never would have allotted a significant amount of time working for his family.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Ivan Ilych
What sort of a relationship did Ivan Ilyich have with his wife?
Ivan Ilyich did not have a very good relationship with his wife due to the fact that I believe he most likely married her to keep his image as proper and sophisticated. As they were married longer and longer he realized that his wife does not really understand him, especially when he figures he out he is dying. As he awakens to the fact that he does not actually like her, he grows closer and closer to his work and distants himself from his family.
What is the major concern of his friends?
His supposed friends are mostly concerned with who will replace Ivan’s job which I believe is dude to the fact that even Ivan’s major concern was his job. His main goal was to maintain his job and be proper. He strived for this so much that he was not able to create genuinely strong relationships out of exception with Gerasim. His tale is one of lonely pursuit for success.
What is the role of Gerasim in The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
I believe Gerasim’s role in the story is kind of depressing. A man lives his whole life without any strong friendships or relationships, but when he finally finds out how nice it to be understood by someone else, he is on his death bed. Although, her role can also be seen as Ivan’s fulfillment in life that he finally learned what it is to be happy and to connect with another person.
What emotions are demonstrated from his wife? What gaps exist between internal and external expressions of emotion? Why do you think such gaps exist?
During the mourning processes his wife plays the act of the depressed wife and cries a lot; however, when Ivan’s pension has to be discussed she happens to keep a straight face and know quite a bit about how to make the most of Ivan’s money. The gap exists right between there, internally she does not care about his death and just wants his pension, while externally she puts up a façade. I think this gap also exists for his friends and co-workers who can only think about whether they are going to make a card game during Ivan’s memorial.
What are the character qualities of Ivan Ilych as a child and school boy?
Ivan Ilych is the “happy mean” between his two brothers because he is neither cold and formal nor wild and reckless. At age thirteen he enters the school of law and his characteristics include being proper and agreeable. The most important characteristic though was that from such a early age he was attracted to socially high standing people as if a “fly drawn to light”.
How do these traits shape his adult life and behavior?
I believe these traits directly shape his adult life because he is constantly trying to attain a higher position and keep a “proper” image. His commitment is completely to his work because he is good at it. His relationship with his wife gets weaker and weaker because he realizes he is not good at dealing with it so he goes back to what he strives at.(537)
Ivan Ilyich did not have a very good relationship with his wife due to the fact that I believe he most likely married her to keep his image as proper and sophisticated. As they were married longer and longer he realized that his wife does not really understand him, especially when he figures he out he is dying. As he awakens to the fact that he does not actually like her, he grows closer and closer to his work and distants himself from his family.
What is the major concern of his friends?
His supposed friends are mostly concerned with who will replace Ivan’s job which I believe is dude to the fact that even Ivan’s major concern was his job. His main goal was to maintain his job and be proper. He strived for this so much that he was not able to create genuinely strong relationships out of exception with Gerasim. His tale is one of lonely pursuit for success.
What is the role of Gerasim in The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
I believe Gerasim’s role in the story is kind of depressing. A man lives his whole life without any strong friendships or relationships, but when he finally finds out how nice it to be understood by someone else, he is on his death bed. Although, her role can also be seen as Ivan’s fulfillment in life that he finally learned what it is to be happy and to connect with another person.
What emotions are demonstrated from his wife? What gaps exist between internal and external expressions of emotion? Why do you think such gaps exist?
During the mourning processes his wife plays the act of the depressed wife and cries a lot; however, when Ivan’s pension has to be discussed she happens to keep a straight face and know quite a bit about how to make the most of Ivan’s money. The gap exists right between there, internally she does not care about his death and just wants his pension, while externally she puts up a façade. I think this gap also exists for his friends and co-workers who can only think about whether they are going to make a card game during Ivan’s memorial.
What are the character qualities of Ivan Ilych as a child and school boy?
Ivan Ilych is the “happy mean” between his two brothers because he is neither cold and formal nor wild and reckless. At age thirteen he enters the school of law and his characteristics include being proper and agreeable. The most important characteristic though was that from such a early age he was attracted to socially high standing people as if a “fly drawn to light”.
How do these traits shape his adult life and behavior?
I believe these traits directly shape his adult life because he is constantly trying to attain a higher position and keep a “proper” image. His commitment is completely to his work because he is good at it. His relationship with his wife gets weaker and weaker because he realizes he is not good at dealing with it so he goes back to what he strives at.(537)
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