"Why I remember one Sunday afternoon Blue Mountain-"
"I know whats coming"
"Yes. But let her tell it."
"Again?" (1238)
Amanda had many gentalman callers when she was young, and she picked the wrong one. Now she is deluding herself into thinking that she is not living in a small tenement with her adult, unmarried children by recounting frequently stories of her various gentleman callers. When this subject is first introduced at the breakfast table in scene 2, Tom doesn't want to hear it, but laura allows it, partly because she might be trying to fantasies about what it would be like to have that many gentalman callers pining over her. More so, she is disconnected to reality because of her glass collection. When she was talking to Jim about her relationship with them, it sounded humorous and almost as though she was joking, but considering how much time she spends with her collection, it would not be outside the cone of meaning to say that she did talk to her collection, like a child with an imaginary friend. She did not have any real friends, so she substituted human contact for a life with her glass figures.
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Glass Menagerie- Sympathetic Character
"Well, well, well, I never even noticed" "Let yourself go, Laura, just let yourself go." (1282)
Laura's personality certainly revolves around her physical handicap. Because she is crippled, she has always felt different, and therefore would shy away from social situations, thinking that the people around her are having the same thoughts about her that she has about her self. This defect makes her so self concerned that she can not see passed this one aspect of her as a person. Because she does not notice her beauty, or intellect, she thinks that no one else is noticing them. This makes her subservient to her mother because she can not fend for her self, not because of her disability, but because of what she allowed her disability to do to her. Jim becomes important i this regard because he is the only person apert from her family that she has ever opened up to, and he tells her that what she views herself as is wrong. Even though they can not be together he teaches her that she as worth, and another guy would be lucky to have her, so that next time a gentleman caller comes, she will be ready.
Laura's personality certainly revolves around her physical handicap. Because she is crippled, she has always felt different, and therefore would shy away from social situations, thinking that the people around her are having the same thoughts about her that she has about her self. This defect makes her so self concerned that she can not see passed this one aspect of her as a person. Because she does not notice her beauty, or intellect, she thinks that no one else is noticing them. This makes her subservient to her mother because she can not fend for her self, not because of her disability, but because of what she allowed her disability to do to her. Jim becomes important i this regard because he is the only person apert from her family that she has ever opened up to, and he tells her that what she views herself as is wrong. Even though they can not be together he teaches her that she as worth, and another guy would be lucky to have her, so that next time a gentleman caller comes, she will be ready.
The Glass Menagerie- Tom's Conflict
"My glass!...Drops awkwardly to his knees to collect the fallen glass" (1248)
Tom has been forced into a life which he despises. He has always wanted more for himself that working a factory job and because of his mom and sister, this is exactly what he gets stuck doing. He is torn between his love of his family and resentment that they are holding him back from going out and doing the adventures that he sees on the movie screen. In scene one this conflict is introduced immediately with Amanda nagging him about his breakfast. Characters in movies don't have to go through this kind of daily scrutiny, and tom can't stand when him mom treats him this way. However, he usually does what she tells him because she is still his mom and he loves her. If he didn't, he would have left long before. There is a different conflict with laura. He pities her more than amanda does, but he wants to see her happy. This relationship is far healthier than his relationship with amanda, because they understand each other far mor than they disagree. Like when Tom breaks one of the glass animal, laura is crushed, but understands that it was an accident.
Tom has been forced into a life which he despises. He has always wanted more for himself that working a factory job and because of his mom and sister, this is exactly what he gets stuck doing. He is torn between his love of his family and resentment that they are holding him back from going out and doing the adventures that he sees on the movie screen. In scene one this conflict is introduced immediately with Amanda nagging him about his breakfast. Characters in movies don't have to go through this kind of daily scrutiny, and tom can't stand when him mom treats him this way. However, he usually does what she tells him because she is still his mom and he loves her. If he didn't, he would have left long before. There is a different conflict with laura. He pities her more than amanda does, but he wants to see her happy. This relationship is far healthier than his relationship with amanda, because they understand each other far mor than they disagree. Like when Tom breaks one of the glass animal, laura is crushed, but understands that it was an accident.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
As You Like It- Nature vs. Chance
"Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from her weel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally." (I ii 6)
One theme to As You Like It is that what you are born to do and what actually happens are at odds. Rosalie was born to lead a privileged life as the princess of a duke, but this all changed when her father was banish. Orlando was also born in to privilege that he would have had if his brother had not been selfish. Their Nature was shaken by fate when they entered the woods, living off the land. Ultimately, their natures won out as Duke Fredrick had a conversion and named Duke Senior the Duke once again. Chance throughs us off the path naturally destined for us at birth, but generally things will all work out. This theme is far different that most of other Shakespearian plays. This could coincide with the title "As You Like It. Shakespeare might have been responding to people saying that his plays where too depressing. This would be humorous. It is as if Shakespeare was saying, "you wanted comedy, heris an idealized view of the world".
One theme to As You Like It is that what you are born to do and what actually happens are at odds. Rosalie was born to lead a privileged life as the princess of a duke, but this all changed when her father was banish. Orlando was also born in to privilege that he would have had if his brother had not been selfish. Their Nature was shaken by fate when they entered the woods, living off the land. Ultimately, their natures won out as Duke Fredrick had a conversion and named Duke Senior the Duke once again. Chance throughs us off the path naturally destined for us at birth, but generally things will all work out. This theme is far different that most of other Shakespearian plays. This could coincide with the title "As You Like It. Shakespeare might have been responding to people saying that his plays where too depressing. This would be humorous. It is as if Shakespeare was saying, "you wanted comedy, heris an idealized view of the world".
As You Like It- Suspence
"I am he that is so love-shaked" (III ii 44)
This play is mostly void of suspense. At the start there is suspense at the threat of murder and banishment. I thought that since their was barely any conflict once they enter the woods, that no suspense existed. However, the absence of suspense for so long creates suspense. Throughout each love story, the happily ever seems so effortful, but knowing Shakespeare, the reader thinks that there must be something coming around the corner. Because the antagonist, or perceived antagonist are no longer in the story line, this makes the reader feel as though they are planning something the whole time. Last time that Oliver was heard from, he was off to find and kill Orlando, so this leads the reader to believe tat every happy moment that Orlando has can be taken away by oliver finding them. Up until the end of the fifth act this suspense is prolonged, even after Oliver comes back, Duke Fredrick could still ruin everyone's happiness. So there was suspense the whole time, it just was not obvious.
This play is mostly void of suspense. At the start there is suspense at the threat of murder and banishment. I thought that since their was barely any conflict once they enter the woods, that no suspense existed. However, the absence of suspense for so long creates suspense. Throughout each love story, the happily ever seems so effortful, but knowing Shakespeare, the reader thinks that there must be something coming around the corner. Because the antagonist, or perceived antagonist are no longer in the story line, this makes the reader feel as though they are planning something the whole time. Last time that Oliver was heard from, he was off to find and kill Orlando, so this leads the reader to believe tat every happy moment that Orlando has can be taken away by oliver finding them. Up until the end of the fifth act this suspense is prolonged, even after Oliver comes back, Duke Fredrick could still ruin everyone's happiness. So there was suspense the whole time, it just was not obvious.
As You Like It- Characters
"After some question with him, was converted Bothfrom his enterprise and from the world; His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother" (V iv 78)
In As You Like It, their were few main characters, and virtually no antagonists, at least none that posed a lasting threat to any of the characters. At the start of the play, Duke Fredrick and Oliver, defiantly were made out to be potential threats to Rosalind and Orlando. There was talk of murder for not much of a reason other than selfish purposes. In this way, this play seems likely to share character relationships with Othello, like the relationship of Iago with Cassio. However, once Duke Fredrick banishes Rosalind and Oliver makes Orlando run into the forest, the reader does not hear form either of them for 2 acts. Once these characters leave the story line, there is little conflict. In the forest, almost everything happens like the characters want them to happen. Orlando finds Rosalind, Rosalind trains Orlando to be a good husband, and nobody wants to stop them. When finally oliver shows up again, the reader expects an ulterior motive against Orlando, trying to kill him, or bring him to Duke Fredrick. He had a sudden conversion, because his brother saved him from an attack. Duke Fredrick, in the end, had an even more sporadic conversion on the advice of a religious man. By act 5 there are no antagonists.
In As You Like It, their were few main characters, and virtually no antagonists, at least none that posed a lasting threat to any of the characters. At the start of the play, Duke Fredrick and Oliver, defiantly were made out to be potential threats to Rosalind and Orlando. There was talk of murder for not much of a reason other than selfish purposes. In this way, this play seems likely to share character relationships with Othello, like the relationship of Iago with Cassio. However, once Duke Fredrick banishes Rosalind and Oliver makes Orlando run into the forest, the reader does not hear form either of them for 2 acts. Once these characters leave the story line, there is little conflict. In the forest, almost everything happens like the characters want them to happen. Orlando finds Rosalind, Rosalind trains Orlando to be a good husband, and nobody wants to stop them. When finally oliver shows up again, the reader expects an ulterior motive against Orlando, trying to kill him, or bring him to Duke Fredrick. He had a sudden conversion, because his brother saved him from an attack. Duke Fredrick, in the end, had an even more sporadic conversion on the advice of a religious man. By act 5 there are no antagonists.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Othello Comparison Essay
Othello’s theme warns against trusting someone entirely because the human instinct of betrayal to obtain a selfish goal can be a strong, but invisible motivator. Many times people develop close relationship with others, trusting them with deep secrets, thinking they would never use such trust in a hurtful way. Sometimes this is exactly what happens because this secret, if told, benefits them. In Othello, this process started when Iago received a piece of gossip and was furthered when Othello choose Cassio over him for Lieutenant. Iago gained their trust before he planned betrayal, but used it afterward. This same pattern repeats throughout history in true stories as well as fiction. This process happens in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” as well as Bruno Mars’ song “Grenade”.
In Harry Potter Peter Petigrew was short and achieved little in his youth at Hogwarts. Nobody would have suspected him of conspiring with evil forces.
The same traits lie within Iago. Few would suspect him of being anything but “honest”. This is further explained by the fact that he served under a position that he thought was rightfully his and had to deceive the ones who trusted to have a chance at it. Peter's highest accomplishment might just have been making three friends during his time in school, and he too betrayed them for a title and security. When both of these men had to make a choice, they choose themselves over honoring their friends and the result was death. This result took much planning that, as mentioned, few would suspect that they were capable of. Peter had to frame Sirius through pretending to kill himself and Iago had to frame both Othello and Cassio through slashing reputations and coercing others to kill his enemies. Similarly, when finally confronted in the shrieking shack about what he did twelve years, he did not admit defeat but, pleaded for his life by complement everyone in the room, with wands aimed to kill, just like Iago flattered Rodrigo saying that he now had “mental” (IV ii 244) enough to kill Cassio, "making him uncapable of Othello's place," (IV ii 276) ensuring Desdemona's stay. In both cases, this worked. After Peter whispered to Harry, ‘“James wouldn’t have wanted me killed... James would have understood, Harry...he would have shown me mercy...,” (Rowling 374) Harry stopped Sirius form killing Perter. Both of these unsuspecting men succeeded in deceiving the ones who trusted them in a way that deceived their closest friends could not detect, making it easier to accomplish their ultimate selfish goal.
Just as Iago and Peter sought their goals through manipulating various important characters, so to does the girl in "Grenade". Even though her boyfriend is willing to give his life for her to live him, she rejects him and manipulates him so that her needs are met from the relationship while he gets nothing. This parallels the relationship of Othello and Iago. Iago leads Othello to believe that he is in service to Othello when really he plots to destroy him. Othello, ignorant, is willing to do what ever Iago tells him based on the positive rapport they have built. He ignores signs that Iago is lying because of this rapport. For Example, Othello should have realised that Iago changed the subject when talking with Cassio about Desdemona, but looked past it blindly. In the troubled romantic relationship the boyfriend should see that his girlfriend will never change, yet he has hope and continues to sacrifice himself for her.
Even when he realises that he “[g]ave [her] all [he] had and [she] tossed it in the trash,” (Bruno Mars) he looks past it because of the love that he developed for her. These instances suggest that good people look passed hint of betrayal because they want to see the good in people. View the lyrics to "Grenade"
In Harry Potter Peter Petigrew was short and achieved little in his youth at Hogwarts. Nobody would have suspected him of conspiring with evil forces.
The same traits lie within Iago. Few would suspect him of being anything but “honest”. This is further explained by the fact that he served under a position that he thought was rightfully his and had to deceive the ones who trusted to have a chance at it. Peter's highest accomplishment might just have been making three friends during his time in school, and he too betrayed them for a title and security. When both of these men had to make a choice, they choose themselves over honoring their friends and the result was death. This result took much planning that, as mentioned, few would suspect that they were capable of. Peter had to frame Sirius through pretending to kill himself and Iago had to frame both Othello and Cassio through slashing reputations and coercing others to kill his enemies. Similarly, when finally confronted in the shrieking shack about what he did twelve years, he did not admit defeat but, pleaded for his life by complement everyone in the room, with wands aimed to kill, just like Iago flattered Rodrigo saying that he now had “mental” (IV ii 244) enough to kill Cassio, "making him uncapable of Othello's place," (IV ii 276) ensuring Desdemona's stay. In both cases, this worked. After Peter whispered to Harry, ‘“James wouldn’t have wanted me killed... James would have understood, Harry...he would have shown me mercy...,” (Rowling 374) Harry stopped Sirius form killing Perter. Both of these unsuspecting men succeeded in deceiving the ones who trusted them in a way that deceived their closest friends could not detect, making it easier to accomplish their ultimate selfish goal.
Just as Iago and Peter sought their goals through manipulating various important characters, so to does the girl in "Grenade". Even though her boyfriend is willing to give his life for her to live him, she rejects him and manipulates him so that her needs are met from the relationship while he gets nothing. This parallels the relationship of Othello and Iago. Iago leads Othello to believe that he is in service to Othello when really he plots to destroy him. Othello, ignorant, is willing to do what ever Iago tells him based on the positive rapport they have built. He ignores signs that Iago is lying because of this rapport. For Example, Othello should have realised that Iago changed the subject when talking with Cassio about Desdemona, but looked past it blindly. In the troubled romantic relationship the boyfriend should see that his girlfriend will never change, yet he has hope and continues to sacrifice himself for her.
In all three sources of betrayal, there are examples of betrayal for selfish reasons and the people around them that choose to ignore it. Betrayal happen all the time. In today’s world their are always tough situations, and with them comes easy solutions that involve hurting a friend to gain benefits. Hopefully, when that situation occurs, most people with choose to stick by their friend and stick out the tough times honorable, but there will always be those who decide to do the opposite.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Othello- "Grenade"
Lyrics For Grenade by Bruno Mars
Should've known you were trouble
Oh take, take, take it all
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
Black, black, black and blue
Beat me till I'm numb, tell the devil I said hey
When you get back to where you're from
You smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
"Grenade" by Bruno mars sums up Iago's relationship to many characters in Othello, but primarily Othello, because Othello believed until seconds before his death that Iago was an honest, humble guy. This song illustrates betrayal by a loved one, and that's exactly what Iago was to Othello, a loved one. The word love is even thrown between them at least once per scene, which is quite unorthodox for our culture. This relationship could be seen as the relationship Bruno Mars had with his betrayer. In the song, her betrayal was often overlooked because of the love that he thought they shared. He would still give every thing for her even though she would sacrifice nothing for him. Othello gave away his whole life on the words of Iago, and if that love were not there, he might have been more skeptical and rational in deciding to kill his wife on the words of one man. One of the most relevant lines is "You smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car", because this is exactly what Iago did. While lying seamlessly, he did not even have to damage anything in Othello's life himself. He successfully convinced Othello to it for him.
Should've known you were trouble
Oh take, take, take it all
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
Black, black, black and blue
Beat me till I'm numb, tell the devil I said hey
When you get back to where you're from
You smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Othello- The final speech
"I pray you in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am, nothing extenuate..." V ii 340
Unlike Iago, Othello was repetent and ashamed of what he did. Othello id worried about his reputation, as many men are. He knew how these actions would be told. Through word of mouth the story would undoubtedly be changed for the worse. He wants to make sure that people know the accurate story. He want to insure that people will know of Iago's dishonesty, and never let this situation repeat itself. In this final speech, he once again regains his composure. He is now calm and rash and instantly gets how Iago planned this all out. He last wish was that Iago never be allowed to do this again. Just like when he killed Desdemona so that she could not hurt any other men. He insured Iago would be known, so that he could not hurt anyone else.
Unlike Iago, Othello was repetent and ashamed of what he did. Othello id worried about his reputation, as many men are. He knew how these actions would be told. Through word of mouth the story would undoubtedly be changed for the worse. He wants to make sure that people know the accurate story. He want to insure that people will know of Iago's dishonesty, and never let this situation repeat itself. In this final speech, he once again regains his composure. He is now calm and rash and instantly gets how Iago planned this all out. He last wish was that Iago never be allowed to do this again. Just like when he killed Desdemona so that she could not hurt any other men. He insured Iago would be known, so that he could not hurt anyone else.
Othello- Iago's Asides
"Now I will question Cassio of Bianca..." IV i 91
Even though Othello is the protagonist, the Aside go to Iago because, Othello has nothing to hide. Othello's secrets are known to all the characters, so hearing his inner thoughts would be useless, because they are just as well portrayed directed at another character. On the other hand, getting to know the true Iago would be imposible if not for his inner thoughts and asides to the audience. We would not know that he thought Othello slept with his wife. All the reader would know is that he was clearly creating this deadly situation, but we would not know his plans nor his motives. We barely know his motives with the play as it is written. This is because after he tells the reader, he does not seem to care anymore. He did not even like his wife, and part of his plan was because of her. With out these asides the reader would fairly clueless, which would take away from the suspense of trying to figure out what is going to happen.
Even though Othello is the protagonist, the Aside go to Iago because, Othello has nothing to hide. Othello's secrets are known to all the characters, so hearing his inner thoughts would be useless, because they are just as well portrayed directed at another character. On the other hand, getting to know the true Iago would be imposible if not for his inner thoughts and asides to the audience. We would not know that he thought Othello slept with his wife. All the reader would know is that he was clearly creating this deadly situation, but we would not know his plans nor his motives. We barely know his motives with the play as it is written. This is because after he tells the reader, he does not seem to care anymore. He did not even like his wife, and part of his plan was because of her. With out these asides the reader would fairly clueless, which would take away from the suspense of trying to figure out what is going to happen.
Othello- Irony
"He found it, then, I never gave it to him. Send him hither. Let him confess the truth." V ii 66-68
When Desdemona tells Othello to go and talk to Cassio, this references the first act when Othello calmly proves his innocence in marrying Desdemona by telling Barbantio to go ask her. This is ironic because when Othello asked the counsel to do this, it saved him. When Desdemona asked this of Othello, he killed her with out considering the possibility. If he had shown the same calm, collected demeanor, and given Cassio the chance to talk, the truth might have come out. The beginning of play was all about accusations without proof, of which Othello was the center of. He disregarded of of that, and allowed Iago to spin a web of lies around him. Having personal experience with discrimination and people who believe the worst in others with Barbatio and all of the others throughout the play who were racist toward him. Despite all of this he so easily fell for Iago's story with out a rational conversation with Desdemona so that she can explain herself.
When Desdemona tells Othello to go and talk to Cassio, this references the first act when Othello calmly proves his innocence in marrying Desdemona by telling Barbantio to go ask her. This is ironic because when Othello asked the counsel to do this, it saved him. When Desdemona asked this of Othello, he killed her with out considering the possibility. If he had shown the same calm, collected demeanor, and given Cassio the chance to talk, the truth might have come out. The beginning of play was all about accusations without proof, of which Othello was the center of. He disregarded of of that, and allowed Iago to spin a web of lies around him. Having personal experience with discrimination and people who believe the worst in others with Barbatio and all of the others throughout the play who were racist toward him. Despite all of this he so easily fell for Iago's story with out a rational conversation with Desdemona so that she can explain herself.
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