"Tom is distinctly shocked at her appearence. Even Jim blinks a little. He is making his first contact with girlish Southern vivacity and in spite of the night-school course in public speaking is somewhat thrown off the beam by the unexpected outlay of social charm."
Realism versus nonrealism is an important aspect of this play. Though the play is told from a nonrealistic view of a memory, it still contains realistic parts. Here, Jim is realistically described. Because of the unexpectedness of Amanda's appearence, he is thrown off, even when he is in a public speaking class. Another point in the story that is realistic is near the beggining when Amanda is talking to Tom but she is looking at his empty chair. This is portraying that Amanda is a complex, confused woman. An example of a nonrealistic part of the story is when at the same part, they are all eating facing the audience, not each other. The difference between realism and nonrealism helps to display the story as a memory, where the general idea is shown but not everything may be accurate.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Dynamic Character
"You know how Laura is. So quiet but - still water runs deep!"
In this excerpt, Amanda is talking about how she is concerned about Laura. Amanda is a dynamic character because at the beggining of the play, she seemed comfortable with Laura and uncaring towards Tom. By this point in the story, she is now concerned for Laura because she has discovered that she has dropped out of school. She wants her to find a man that she can be with and be well off with. Also, Amanda is talking to Tom about her concern. Earlier, it seemed as though she would never consult Tom about anything. Now she is concerned for Laura and asking Tom about it. From this point, she begins to show a whole new side that will impact the rest of the story.
In this excerpt, Amanda is talking about how she is concerned about Laura. Amanda is a dynamic character because at the beggining of the play, she seemed comfortable with Laura and uncaring towards Tom. By this point in the story, she is now concerned for Laura because she has discovered that she has dropped out of school. She wants her to find a man that she can be with and be well off with. Also, Amanda is talking to Tom about her concern. Earlier, it seemed as though she would never consult Tom about anything. Now she is concerned for Laura and asking Tom about it. From this point, she begins to show a whole new side that will impact the rest of the story.
Point of View
"I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you the illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion."
This excerpt is from the very beggining of the story, and Tom is speaking. Right away he announces that he will be narrating the story. He says that he will tell the story out of his memory, which is unrealistic. Because the story is from his memory, there are specific parts in the play where it is obvious that unrealism is occuring. For example, it occurs when Tom asks Laura who's ever escaped from a coffin with only one nail. Right when he says that, the father's portrait lights up. It is as if the father is answering the question though we know this would never happen in a realistic world. In this case, nonrealism gives off a sense of irony because the father's portrait is focused on after the question is raised by Tom.
This excerpt is from the very beggining of the story, and Tom is speaking. Right away he announces that he will be narrating the story. He says that he will tell the story out of his memory, which is unrealistic. Because the story is from his memory, there are specific parts in the play where it is obvious that unrealism is occuring. For example, it occurs when Tom asks Laura who's ever escaped from a coffin with only one nail. Right when he says that, the father's portrait lights up. It is as if the father is answering the question though we know this would never happen in a realistic world. In this case, nonrealism gives off a sense of irony because the father's portrait is focused on after the question is raised by Tom.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Theme
"Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day men of great worth resorted to this forest, address'd a mighty power" (V.iv.77)
Here, Jaques de Boys is announcing that Duke Frederick has had a conversion and has reinstated the banished members of the forest. He is also adding to the theme of the play. One of the themes is nature heals. The reason Duke Frederick has had this conversion is because good men who are his civilians are going to the forest and he talks to a religious man to have his change of heart. Another reason that this theme is correct is that when they go to the forest they can marry who they want. In the city, some of the characters in the story cannot wed. At the end of the story, there are multiple weddings. Everyone is joyous together at the conclusion of the play.
Here, Jaques de Boys is announcing that Duke Frederick has had a conversion and has reinstated the banished members of the forest. He is also adding to the theme of the play. One of the themes is nature heals. The reason Duke Frederick has had this conversion is because good men who are his civilians are going to the forest and he talks to a religious man to have his change of heart. Another reason that this theme is correct is that when they go to the forest they can marry who they want. In the city, some of the characters in the story cannot wed. At the end of the story, there are multiple weddings. Everyone is joyous together at the conclusion of the play.
Dramatic Irony
"And I am your Rosalind." (IV.i.56)
Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, is speaking here and provides an example of dramatic irony. She is speaking to Orlando, who believes she is Ganymede, and pretends to be Rosalind. As the reader, we know the truth but Orlando does not. She asks Orlando questions about himself and his love for Rosalind. She does this to see if he is a good man. By this I mean she wanted to see if he was honest and what his true intentions were. Rosalind wanted to know if Orlando was really the right man for her. At the end of the play, Rosalind comes out of disguise and marries Orlando to make it a happy ending.
Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, is speaking here and provides an example of dramatic irony. She is speaking to Orlando, who believes she is Ganymede, and pretends to be Rosalind. As the reader, we know the truth but Orlando does not. She asks Orlando questions about himself and his love for Rosalind. She does this to see if he is a good man. By this I mean she wanted to see if he was honest and what his true intentions were. Rosalind wanted to know if Orlando was really the right man for her. At the end of the play, Rosalind comes out of disguise and marries Orlando to make it a happy ending.
Paradox
"Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is naught" (III.ii.35)
This quote is from Touchstone speaking to Corin giving his opinions on what he thinks the country life is like. He is saying that it is a good life, but that he prefers the court life. For example, he also says that he likes the solitude; however, he says he dislikes the private life. Touchstone prefers to live alone, but he also prefers that there be people arond to interact with. Corin responds by saying that he likes the country life. Corin starts to give reasons why and they begin to argue. They constantly keep one upping another. For example, when Corin says that people in the courts perfume their hands with civet Touchstone says that civet is better than tar. Corin also says it is weird to kiss the hand as a greeting; this is because in the country, people's hands are usually dirty.
This quote is from Touchstone speaking to Corin giving his opinions on what he thinks the country life is like. He is saying that it is a good life, but that he prefers the court life. For example, he also says that he likes the solitude; however, he says he dislikes the private life. Touchstone prefers to live alone, but he also prefers that there be people arond to interact with. Corin responds by saying that he likes the country life. Corin starts to give reasons why and they begin to argue. They constantly keep one upping another. For example, when Corin says that people in the courts perfume their hands with civet Touchstone says that civet is better than tar. Corin also says it is weird to kiss the hand as a greeting; this is because in the country, people's hands are usually dirty.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Reflective Essay
| Carl Webb and David Palmer |
| Othello and Iago |
The play Othello by William Shakespeare is a timeless and universal work that’s themes can relate to modern works of fiction and entertainment. One theme of the story is that love can hurt sometimes, and the poem “Disease of Your Affection” and the television show “24” also portray this theme. All of these works can relate to each other through the common theme that love is not always what people expect it to be. Also, people are hurt as a direct result of love in all of these works. Characters as well relate throughout these works through their actions and intents. This also proves that although Othello is an old piece of fiction, it can still be related to today’s works.
The poem “Disease of Your Affection” by Derek del Barrio says that his “love is no longer true.” The speaker also says he is “afraid of loneliness” and that the disease of his love’s affection is penetrating him (del Barrio 5-10). The author clearly does not trust his love completely if he is only with her out of fear. In the story Othello, Othello does not trust his wife, Desdemona, completely because he believes that she has been unfaithful to him. At one point, Othello becomes so angry that he strikes Desdemona (IV.i.222-225.). Although they are in love, Othello is too blind to just ask Desdemona about a possible affair; he, instead, takes matters into his own hands along with Iago. Iago can also relate to these works because of his deception. Iago deceives Othello to get revenge upon him for not giving him a higher position in the military. In the poem, the beauty of the author’s woman deceives him into thinking that he loves her when really he does not. “(Her) beauty like a virus attacking violently” shows that her beauty is the author’s weakness and it is attacking him, forcing him to portray a false love. Iago, likewise, manipulates Othello into thinking there is a false love between he and Desdemona. Iago and beauty are related in the sense that they both deceive to portray a false love in order to benefit them.
In the first season of the television show “24,” President David Palmer is dealing with a national crisis when he discovers that his wife, Sherry, has deceived him into covering up a murder that their son had committed. When David discovers this, he must decide if his wife is truly faithful to him, like Othello. However, he confronts her about it and she admits the truth. It is obvious that their relationship is damaged by this and they are both hurting. Sherry claims she did not want David to know because she loved him. David, like Othello, becomes angry at this. She also says that Carl Webb, one of David’s co-workers, was in on the cover up as well (9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.). Again, Iago can relate to another character: both Carl and Iago deceived their superiors for their own personal benefit. They both manipulated the love that their bosses had and both wound up getting caught; however, they both managed to hurt their bosses through their love with their spouses.
Sherry's evilness
In Othello, the character Iago can relate to characters of beauty in the poem “Disease of Your Affection” and Carl Webb in the television show “24” through deception by manipulating love. Also, Othello, President Palmer, and the author are all hurt by love in similar ways. Unfaithfulness is the underlying reason for their pain through love. Othello is a timeless story whose themes are portrayed through similar characters in modern day fiction and entertainment.
 |
| David and Sherry Palmer |
| Othello and Desdemona |
Works Cited
Perrine, Laurence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense.
Fort Worth. Harcourt College. 2002. 1361-462. Print.
Del Barrio, Derek. "Disease of Your Affection." Poems and Songs for People Who Don't like Poetry. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://www.reject.org/lovepoems.html>.
Surnow, Joel, prod. "9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M." 24. FOX. Claremont, California, 5 Feb. 2002. Television.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Reflective Essay Warm-Up
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" lyrics
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" video
The song "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet connects to the conflict of cheating and loyalty in Othello. The lyrics in the song relate to the dilemma that Othello is faced with in the play. In the song, they sing "Well I could see, you home with me, but you were with another man, yea" and in the play, Othello believes that his wife, Desdemona, is sleeping with another man, Cassio. He loves her; however, he becomes furious that she may have cheated on him and loses faith in her. Jet goes on to sing "I know we, ain't got much to say, before I let you get away, yea!" This relates to Othello because when Othello suspects Desdemona about her cheating, he does not confront her about it until he tries to kill her. He did not say much to her from the time where Iago planted the idea in his head to when he begins to smother her. If Othello would have had something to say sooner, then maybe Desdemona would not have gotten away.
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" video
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4028155763541049389
The song "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet connects to the conflict of cheating and loyalty in Othello. The lyrics in the song relate to the dilemma that Othello is faced with in the play. In the song, they sing "Well I could see, you home with me, but you were with another man, yea" and in the play, Othello believes that his wife, Desdemona, is sleeping with another man, Cassio. He loves her; however, he becomes furious that she may have cheated on him and loses faith in her. Jet goes on to sing "I know we, ain't got much to say, before I let you get away, yea!" This relates to Othello because when Othello suspects Desdemona about her cheating, he does not confront her about it until he tries to kill her. He did not say much to her from the time where Iago planted the idea in his head to when he begins to smother her. If Othello would have had something to say sooner, then maybe Desdemona would not have gotten away.
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