The Catcher in the Rye (blog 4)

The book ended differently than I expected. Instead of having an obvious conclusion or change in Holden it just kind of stopped. I suppose that's what makes it a good novel; the fact that you have to figure it out yourself. In my opinion it was much simpler when books just told you what you should think at the end. Those never keep you up at night thinking though.

This last part of the book mostly contains Holden and Phoebe fighting. In my opinion Holden and Phoebe are just the same person in different situations. They both do dumb stuff just because the feel like it. "I forgot she always sleeps in D.B.'s room when he's away in Hollywood or some place. She likes it because it's the biggest room in the house. Also because it has this big old madman desk in it that D.B. bought off some lady alcoholic in Philadelphia, and this big, gigantic bed that's about ten miles wide and ten miles long. I don't know where he bought the bed. Anyway, old Phoebe likes to sleep in D.B.'s room when he's away, and he lets her." (page 206). This shows that Phoebe is also attached to family and is a bit eccentric just like Holden. Holden's experiences in New York seem to make him think of himself less and pay more attention to the people that matter, although you can still see that his quirky personality is in tact. "I felt so damn happy all of a sudden, the way old Phoebe kept going around and around. I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. I don't know why. It was just that she looked so damn nice, the way she kept going around and around, in her blue coat and all. God, I wish you could have been there." (page 275). This seems like a pretty odd thing to get so happy over, especially since it's raining so mush and they were just fighting, but I think that it's a break through for Holden.

I think that all the fighting with Phoebe made Holden realize something very important to the story. I believe that he realized that things won't be given to him and that he has to deserve to be around those he loves. Phoebe really brings this out of him. It's not that Phoebe wouldn't love him if he kept acting dumb but her being disappointed in him was enough to cause a change. "Then all of a sudden, she said, 'Oh, why did you do it?' She meant why did I get the axe again. It made me sort of sad, the way she said it." (page 217). He doesn't seem as sad when she's mad but it bothers him that she's disappointed in him. He decides to make a run for the next day. Phoebe gives him enough reason to stay though and eventually she forgives him for not offering to take her with him. I think that the reason Phoebe is so effective on him while nothing else was making him more mature is that he was being held back by his past mistakes. He messed up with Jane and that was enough to get him moving and searching for an answer but that issue did nothing to point him in the right direction. Also, the death of his brother Allie made things more difficult for him although that helped him with the direction to go. Phoebe was the final straw because she needed him to help her then and there.

Over all I really liked this book. It didn't come out and hit you over the head with what it was trying to say. I'm sure that there are many more interpretations of what happened then what I have thought of for it.

The Catcher in the Rye (blog three)

After his awful date with Sally he has no idea what to do with the rest of his time until he's supposed to get home on Wednesday. He eventually calls one of his friends who is in college named Luce. They decide to go to a bar together. But since that isn't for several hours hours Holden plenty of free time.

Honestly, I don't think that Holden should be left alone with free time. I mean you can see how ridiculous he gets when he doesn't have something scheduled. You could easily argue that having free time is what makes a lot of Holden's problems, if not all of them. For one thing when he isn't doing anything he tends to think about Jane. "When I left the skating rink I felt sort of hungry, so I went to this drugstore and had a Swiss cheese sandwich and a malted, and then I went in a phone booth. I thought maybe I might give old Jane another buzz and see if she was home yet." (page 175). I don't think that this is good for him because even though he likes Jane and she's one of the few things that he enjoys talking about his thoughts on her seem to be slightly self destructive. It's not that the memories he mentions are sad but he always seems sad after he thinks of her. I would like to know the thing that changed them to how they are now. The way he talks they used to be very close but now he only talks about when they used to be close but they don't seem to be very close any more from the way he talks about her. I hope that it was just something stupid he did so he can fix it.

Once Holden meets up with Luce he gets really drunk. He acts incredibly stupid and calls Sally. He originally wanted to call Jane, but thankfully he wasn't in the mood by the time he got out to the phone booth. I think that Holden probably should have just waited things out rather than to call people when he's clearly not thinking strait. "When I was really drunk, I started with that stupid business with the bullet in my guts again. I was the only guy at the bar with a bullet in their guts. I kept putting my hand under my jacket, on my stomach and all, to keep the blood from dripping all over the place." (page 195). Anyone who reads this can easily see that Holden is not capable of much of anything at this point.

After walking around awhile he decides to head back to his parents apartment just to see his little sister and then leave. Phoebe is a pretty interesting character. First of all she doesn't like her middle name and always changes it. "That killed me. Her middle name is Josephine, for God's sake, not Weatherfield. She doesn't like it, though. Every time I see her she's got a new middle name for herself."(page 208). I think that her new name may have something to do with one of three things: she is just really creative, she doesn't like her parents or forms of control and wants to rebel against them, she doesn't like herself and feels the need to change, or some combination of the three.

 I do believe that she is creative because even then I don't think that Weatherfield was all that common a name, but that seems like an odd thing to do just to be creative. It could be possible that she doesn't like her parents, this would show in the fact that she moved out of the room they gave her. I think that the third option is the most correct though. Some of the things that would possibly lead to that would be that all her siblings have left her and that her parents don't seem to be around that much. You can see that she's used to having her parents gone when Holden asks what time they'll be back. Phoebe says, "No, not till very late. Daddy took the car so they wouldn't have to worry about trains. We have a radio in it now! Except that Mother said nobody can play it when the car's in traffic." (page 211). This shows how unimportant the fact that her parents are gone is to Phoebe; she quickly skips over that and starts talking about other stuff. She's also very affectionate to try to keep people around her (or at leats that's what I think). The fact that she changes her name seems to point to the idea that she wants to change herself for other people because she doesn't feel like she's good enough as she is.

The Catcher in the Rye (blog 2)

Holden decides to leave Pency Prep after he just can't deal with his roommate Stradlater anymore. Basically Holden is just really mad because Stradlater went on a date with Holden's old neighbor and didn't really treat her the way Holden thought she ought to have been treated. Apparently Holden cared about this girl a lot. Sradlater gets mad at Holden and knocks him out by accident. I wouldn't blame him though Holden was acting kind of crazy. Holden decides to leave the school even though he isn't technically supposed to leave until Wednesday. I think this is an irresponsible thing for him to do. It sort of sets the stage of how childish he is since this is a coming of age story. To me it seems like Holden is just running away from his problems.

Holden then heads out on what seems to me a ridiculously long night. To map out the events he takes a train from Pency Prep to New York, takes a cab ride to a hotel, goes to a bar, takes a cab to another bar, and then comes back to the hotel where he gets a prostitute. I know that it really wouldn't be that difficult in New York where you can find what you want within a block or two of you but being from a small town with practically nothing in it and no subway to get anywhere makes doing all of that in the twelve hours of so that it's dark seem like mission impossible. I know I'm not from Peyton but that one seems like a bit of a stretch.
The next day he seems dead set on seeing someone he actually knows. He tries to call the person he wants to see the most, the girl he had a fight with Stradlater about, but her mother answers and Holden doesn't want to talk to her he just hangs up. I thought this was kind of rude and a dumb move by him at first but then I realized that they didn't have caller ID back then, plus he was at a payphone. He calls this other random girl he knows and invites her to the movies. After the movies he pretty much goes crazy on her and asks her to run away with him so they can live in the woods and someday get married. She's pretty polite about it but you can tell she thinks he's crazy.

This showed that Holden is a very in the moment type of guy. He really doesn't like this girl and says he never would have ran away with her even if she had said yes. On the other hand he says that in the moment he really did mean it. I think that this goes back to him leaving school early just because he wanted to, or rather just because he was mad. So far in the story he has showed that he isn't responsible or really capable thinking things through when an idea strikes him.

On another note, this book doesn't really seem like it was written all that long ago. There are some key points that you can look at and say that they definitely didn't happen now. For example, tickets to a new play certainly wouldn't be cheaper than new movie tickets now. But on the other hand the general activities don't seem very different from what people do today.

The Catcher in the Rye (blog one)

Holden Caulfield is sixteen and goes to a private school called Pencey Prep. Or, at least he was since he failed four out of five of his classes that semester so he's not invited back for the second part of the year. It's kind of frustrating that this guy has all of these opportunities but doesn't go after them. His parents have money but really don't seem to care to much what their son does. Also it's not like Holden is incapable of doing the classes he just claims that they don't interest him. He wrote a note at the bottom of a final he failed for his teacher that read, "Dear Mr. Spencer. That is all I know about the Egyptians. I can't seem to get very interested in them although you lectures are very interesting. It is all right with me if you flunk me though as I am flunking everything else except English anyway. Respectfully yours, Holden Caulfield." (page 17). I think this shows that he could easily learn this but isn't quite interested in putting in the work.

I think that Holden has some major family issues. As I said before his parents seem distant and don't really show all that much interest besides getting a new school for him every time he gets kicked out of the last one. Also his younger brother died from cancer. I think that this made him very trusting and faithful to the people who are very close to him and kind of distrusting of anyone he doesn't know well. Almost like he could save his brother Allie by holding in and protecting all the old, safe and known things while pushing away the new, unknown and questionable things. It's easy to see his difference in attitude between his brother Allie and a person in his dorm. He remembers his brother in this way: "You'd have liked him. He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent. He was terrifically intelligent. His teachers were always writing letters to my mother, telling her what a pleasure it was having a boy like Allie in their class. And they weren't just shooting the crap. They really meant it." (pages 49-50). He continues on in this loving and fond tone. He also uses the same tone for his neighbor that he really trusts and acts very protective of her. On the other hand when he talks about Robert Ackley he seems annoyed and mad. This is how he talks to Ackley: "He came over and stood right in my light. 'Hey,' I said. 'I've read this same sentence about twenty times since you came in.'
Anybody else except Ackley would've taken the goddam hint. Not him, though. 'Think they'll make you pay for 'em?' he said.
'I don't know, and I don't give a damn. How 'bout sitting down or something, Ackley kid? You're right in my goddam light.' He didn't like it when you called him 'Ackley kid.' He was always telling me I was a goddam kid because I was sixteen and he was eighteen. It drove him mad when I called him 'Ackley kid.'" (page 28).
As you can see he reacts much differently to Ackley than Allie.

I think that since this is a coming of age story part of the process of growing up for Holden will be learning to trust people and let them into his life. Also a side note, I really like the way Salinger uses Italics to show more meaning and make it easier to see the way people are saying something rather than just what they say. It adds a whole new level to the story.

1984 (Blog Three)

This section of the book shows that there is really no right or wrong side in this fight. Both sides are (hopefully) trying to make society better for the people. At least they are claiming that this is their ultimate goal. Both sides are willing to use horrible tactics to complete meet their ends.

The Party, most likely the more powerful of the two, tries to keep control by using misinformation to control the public opinion of them. They have countless workers dedicated to the single task of editing and rewriting the history. Part of their motto is completely dedicated to this, "Ignorance is Strength" (page 201). This shows that they are outright telling their citizens that 'you don't know the whole story'. This would seem very unsettling to anyone who heard their government say this. The proles seem to swallow it extremely easily since their concerns are far from the government. The government makes it look like they are right and have always been right even though any one who pays an ounce of attention to the information that is actually publicised could easily spot that it is frequently changing and being changed.

The Brotherhood pretty much just wants to tear down the Party. They plan on being incredibly violent, never seeing any results and they don't seem to have much of a plan if they ever get to the point where they could enforce it. Their questioning of Winston and Julia seems to suggest a lot of  horrible things they would be asked to do and the only thing they object to is being separated. For example one of the questions was, "If, for example, it would somehow serve our interests to throw sulphuric acid in a child's face- are you prepared to do that?" (page 188). I think that this show that their only interest is defeating the Party and not improving the lives of society.

I have two theories about the Brotherhood. First that everyone is a part of it but everyone is unaware since they are only given the names of a few people to keep them from confessing the names of all the brotherhood members. Second, I think it's possible that the Brotherhood is made up by the Party to have people do the Parties dirty work. Both of these seem possible since the members of the Brotherhood are so poorly informed due to the death grip the Party has on everyone.

1984 (blog two)

This part of 1984 certainly has some surprising twists and turns. Winston starts to Sneak away from the power of the party instead of just hiding in his house. We learn some things about other characters and the ideas somehow get more depressing.

Winston starts getting careless as far as being vaporized goes. He's walking around the prole's area when he goes to the same place he found the journal at. He buys something else a paper weight that is apparently useless. "The thing was doubly attractive because of it's apparent uselessness," (page 105). To me This seems to show how Winston's idea of good differs from the party's. Winston just thinks it's cool because it's old and useless while the party would think it odd, a reason for suspicion, and well useless.

When Winston leaves the store he is 'caught' by the dark haired girl mentioned earlier in the book. The one that was potentially a member of the thought police.  He thinks of killing her but decides not to. I find it a little disturbing that he so quickly and easily jumps to 'oh man, should I kill her? Will that solve all my problems?' No Winston, no it will not. Luckily for him, he doesn't.

The dark haired girl isn't actually evil. She tells Winston that she loves him and they arrange to meet in a safe place. All in a completely elaborate way of course to escape detection. Although they both hate the party they do it in completely different ways.

Winston hates the government because of the moral wrongness of their power over the people and how it is exercised. This is shown by how concerned he is with the fact that people are being erased, history being rewritten and the endless lies that have the people believing whatever the government wants them to. Julia, the dark haired girl, doesn't really seem to care much for any of that. "Such things did not appear to horrify her." (page168). She seems more interested in the fact that she is absolutely controlled and that she doesn't get to do what she wants to. To me, she seems to be more interested in the actual evading of the party than the reasons for doing it. This shows in the way she is very meticulous and ingenious in planning meetings and  hide-outs.

The new depressing idea for this part is the fact that the only way to 'win' against the government is to not believe in it. It doesn't matter what you say or do. Well that doesn't sound like all too much to hope for. First of all if everything you say or do goes against your beliefs (totally disregarding the fact that I think that is your biggest loss) it will only ever help you, it could only possibly mean something to you. In one day, or more specificly one death, everything that was worth is lost. If you know what you believe stand up and say it before you die. In my opinion, it is totally void otherwise.

1984 (blog one)

One thing that is repeated several times in this book is the fact that it's not necessarily 1984. The fact that so many things are under suspicion and the repetition of it means that it's pretty important. "A sense of complete helplessness had descended upon him. To begin with, he did not know with any certainty that this was 1984." (page 9).

I wasn't quite sure how far off Winston believed the year was. He's judging by the year of his birth what approximate year it is. "... he was fairly sure that his age was thirty-nine, and he believed that he had been born in 1944 or 1945; but it was never possible nowadays to pin down any date within a year or two." (page 9). The revolution supposedly happened recently enough that people are still alive from that time that were old enough to remember it. You can never be sure though since a government that's constantly changing the news from the past could easily stage those people and ideas.

If you follow the general idea though it seems that it is honestly around 1984. then the revolution would have happened somewhere around the thirties or forties. Winston prompts the old man about the time before the revolution and all the wars using the year 1925, "... you have lived half your life before the Revolution. In 1925, for instance, you were already grown up." (page 101).

Interestingly enough, the copyright date for 1984 is 1949. George Orwell seems to be suggesting that the ideas of this book and that form of government was already coming into existence at that point in time.

Going back a bit, Winston writes in his journal about all these changes to the past, "I understand HOW: I do not understand WHY." (page 89).

I believe that the government is doing this for several reasons. First of all, they want to appear all powerful and wise; overall a good leader. That point isn't really all that important since the people are already under their thumb. Next, This totally and completely discredits anyone who wants to speak out against the government. It also gives the government the power to twist that person's words and turn them into some kind of national enemy that they have a whole two minutes of hate directed towards. Finally, if the government was overthrown, the new government would have no history to base themselves off of and no tested plan. This last one seems to be mostly out of spite. The government seems to have everyone by the throat.

Twelfth Night: Acts IV and V

Before I look at the last two acts, I have to say that I really enjoyed this play. I really understood this and found it entertaining. I don't know if it was just that this play was easier or if it was due to reader error on my part with every other bit of Shakespeare I've read. Honestly I would lean towards reader error. This play was fairly cheesy but that's to be expected when you have a happy ending to such an out-there story.

In Act IV scene i Sebastian has arrived in Illyria. The clown mistakes him for Cesario, Viola, and asks him to come to Olivia. Sebastian gets hit by Andrew and hits him back but is then held by Toby. Let me just say that if I were in a new country and this happened to me, I would not go off with some girl I just met. I would get my bags and leave. I hope this hasn't ever happened to someone in real life because that would be one bad day. "I am mad, or else this is a dream." (IV, i, line 61).

Maria Toby and the Clown have one more joke in scene ii. They decide to convince Malvolio that the clown is actually a goofy hero from a storybook. This is of course Maria's idea. They convince Malvoilio of this then tease him by saying he is insane. "I am not mad, Sir Topas. I say to you this house is dark." (IV, ii, lines 41-42). This joke not only gives Maria, Toby and the Clown a laugh; it also gives them some 'proof'' that Malvolio is crazy.

In scene iii Sebastian and Olivia get married. Surprise. Surprise. People falling in love in rediculously small time frames...No! Sebastian does sound a bit more reasonable in his reasoning than any of the others though. "Or else the lady's mad. Yet, if 'twere so, she could not sway her house, command followers, take and give back affairs and their dispatch with such a smooth, discreet, and stable beating as I perceive she does." (IV, iii, lines 16-20).

Act V is one scene. It's long for a reason though. It's kind of like watching a car crash. You know what's happening and who has said what to who, but the charactors don't. You know that it's ending but you don't quite know whats going to happen until it does.

First Viola comes in with the Duke and some other guys. All of whom have a specific view point of Viola, or Cesario. Then Antonio comes in thinking that Viola is acctually Sebastian. Antonio confuses everyone present by saying that Viola has only been there for a day. When asked when Viola came into town he said, "Today, my lord." (V, i, line 94). Cesario has been working for Orsino for nearly three months now. Olivia then comes in to share with the group that she is now married to Cesario. This continues to go down the line with every point of the play laid out and set right until everyone is happy. Unsurprisingly Orsino decides to ditch Olivia and that he loves Viola only just after finding out that she's a woman. I think most people at any point in history or place in the world would have more of an issue adjusting to that.

Twelfth Night Act III

In scene i Viola has been yet again sent to Olivia's house by the hopelessly in love Orsino. Viola talks to the clown first. I have to wonder if the clown is the only sane one in the play because even though he acts rediculous he is the only one who hasn't decided he loves some stranger. Toby and Andrew come in and Toby tells Viola, Cessario, that Olivia wants to see him, "My niece is desirous you should enter, if your trade be to her." (III, i, lines 75-76). Then when Olivia comes in Andrew has himself a little pity party. "That youth's a rare courtier. 'Rain odors'-well!" (III, i, lines 88-89). Olivia confirms Viola's fears by saying that she loves her. "I love thee so that, mauge all thy pride, nor wit nor reason can my passion hide." (III, i, lines 153-154).

In scene ii Andrew is all worked up about how much Olivia seems to like Viola while he's gotten the cold shoulder. He's so mad he wants to challenge Cessario. "Will either of you bear me a challenge to him?" (III, ii, lines 41-42). This proves to be very awkward for Viola becasue she's a girl and hasn't been taught how to fight and may very well get herself killed. On the brighter side Maria's joke is about to pay off so she tells Toby and Fabian to come watch Malvolio make a fool out of himself.

Scene iii is between Sebastian and Antonio. Antonio has followed Sebastian to the city. Sebastian wants to look around but Antonio doesn't. "Would you'ld pardon me. I do not without danger walk these streets." (III, iii, lines 24-25). Obviously in the next act Antonio does decide to walk around though.

 Scene iv has a whole lot of changes within itself. First Olivia and Maria are discussing how weird Malvolio is acting. If I were Maria I wouldn't be able to keep a strait face for a moment. In this scene Malvolio is every bit the fool he is said to be. "Not black in mind, though yellow in my legs. It did come to his hands, and commands shall be executed. I think we do know the sweet Roman hand." (III, iv, lines 26-29). He is also very rude to Maria even though I believe that they are of equal rank. "Yes, nightingales answer daws!" (III, iv, lines 36-37). Olivia then leaves and every one in on the joke makes fun of Malvolio. Under normal circumstances this would be a bit cruel but Malvolio seems to deserve every bit of it.

The second important thing in this scene is the 'fight' between Andrew and Viola. Toby pretty much forces Viola to fight but she is saved by Antonio. Antonio tells her that he has saved Sebasian, "I snatched one half out of the jaws of death; relieved him with such sanctity of love, and to his image, which methought did promise most venerable worth, did I devotion." (III, iv, lines 373-375). I think that the conflicts have come out much more in this act and it has also gotten much more interesting.

Twelfth Night: Act II

In Act II scene i we find out that Viola's brother, Sebastion, actually survived. He, like Viola, is under the impression that his sister has died. He would have died also but Antonio saved him, "He left behind him myself and a sister, both born in an hour. If the heavens had been pleased, would we had so ended! But you, sir, altered that, for some hour before you took me from the breach of the sea was my sister drowned." (II, i, lines 19-23). In this scene I found it ironic that Antonio, who apparently has never met Sebastion before, is willing to go to the place he knows he has enemies just to help this guy he just met out. "I have many enemies in Orsino's court, Else I would very shortly see there. But come what may, I do adore the so That danger shall seem sport, and I will go." (II, i, lines 45-48). It seems like people are either really, really nice in this country or (more likely) they all decide who they love extremely fast.

Scene ii is actually really important. In the beginning Malvolio brings Viola a ring from Olivia but says that Viola gave it to her first. I suppose that this is kind of how Olivia is flirting with Viola. that part isn't so important. From that Viola figures out that Olivia is in love with her. "She loves me sure," (II, ii, line 22). To me this seems like a quick leap for Viola to make but I guess it's logical in the land where everyone is always falling in love. Then she talks about how she must be both a man and a woman. "I (poor monster)" (II, ii, line 34), this line shows that since she's not really man or woman she's a beast or not human. I think that this is important to the story because it's kind of her main dilemma. Aside from her brother's death, all of her problems in this play have come from this weird twist.

In scene iii Toby and Andrew devise a plan. After forcing the clown to entertain them for a while Maria comes in. All of them get annoyed by Malvolio who is yelling at Toby and Andrew for being drunk. "Do ye make and alehouse of my lady's house, that ye squeak out your coziers' catches without any mitigation or remorse of voice? Is there no respect of place, persons, nor time in you?" (II, iii, lines 89-93). By the time he leaves he has insulted all three of them. They decide to leave him a fake letter from Oliva that is actually written by Maria, "I can write very like my lady your niece; on a forgotten matter we can hardly make distinction of our hands." (II, iii, lines 159-161)They plan to convince Malvolio that Olivia loves him. As if this play doesn't have enough people in love already.

Scene iv is pretty funny to me. As the reader, or idealy viewer since this really should be a play, we know that Viola is a woman and is in love with Orsino. Orsino however doesn't know this. Viola and Orsino have this long disscusion about the woman Viola loves. "Of your complexion." (II, iv, line 26), and "About your years, my lord." (II, iv, line 28) obviously tell the reader what they already know. Who could expect Orsino to guess the truth though? Even though Viola is giving herself away a little it would take a whole lot of evidence to get Orsino to switch such a basic knowledge from Cesario to Viola.

Scene v is also very funny. We get to see Maria's letter go into action. Toby and Fabian hide in the bushes while Malvolio reads the fake love letter. He is totally convinced and plans to do everything the letter tells him to. Maria then says that everything the letter has told him to do is designed to make him seem like a horribly weird person to Olivia. "He will come to her in yellow stockings, and 'tis a color she abhors, and cross-gartered, a fashion she detests; and he will smile upon her which will now be so unsuitable to her disposition, being addicted to a melancholy as she is, that it cannot but turn him into a notable contempt." (II, v, lines 199-205). One small thing in this act was the quote, "Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." (II, v, lines 143-145). This is a pretty famous quote and I'm not sure if it originally came from this play or if Shakespeare took it from somewhere. Either way this seems like a quote that's used much more seriously than it is in this instance.

Twelfth Night: Act I

The first scene is of the Duke and his servants Curio and Valentine. Orsino is talking about how much he loves Olivia. It's funny because it seems like he wants his love to die, "If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may sicken of it and so die." (I, i, lines 1-3). It's ironic that he should say this while Valentine is over at Olivia's house asking her to receive the duke's love. When Valentine comes back he pretty much says that Olivia rejected him and Orsino goes on to praise Olivia, "O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame to pay this debt of love but to a brother," (I, i, lines 34-35).

In the next scene Viola is with the ship crew that survived and is trying to figure out what to do next. She seems bothered by the fact that her brother is most likely dead but it doesn't stop her from doing what she needs to do in order to keep living her life. Olivia supposedly is drowned in grief for her brothers death. She and the crew quickly come up with a plan for Viola to find a place in Illyria, "I'll serve this duke. Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him," (I, ii, lines 55-56). Obviously from Act I scene v this plan is changed because I'm pretty sure that Oliva's servants would have been told this and then she wouldn't love Viola.

Scene iii seemed to kind of ramble on to me. Basically Toby, Olivia's uncle, is worried about her and thinks about trying to solve her problems by setting her up with the knight Andrew. Then they start talking about dancing and it gets kind of weird. I don't really think that this scene was important aside from introducing Toby and Andrew.

Viola, or Cesario, gains the approval of Orsino in scene iv. In the beginning of the scene viola asks Valentine weather or not the duke will choose to keep her around and if Orsino is a consistent person or if he is effected by his moods, "Is he inconsistent, sir, in his favors?" (I, iv, line 7). Valentine says that he's a consistent person but this seems to be counter acted by what Orsino is asking Viola to do. He asks her to go after Olivia for him at any cost, "Be not denied access, stand at her doors, and tell them there thy fixed foot shall grow till thou have audience." (I, iv, lines 16-18).

In scene v Olivia falls in love with Viola. This is rediculous since she's known 'Cesario' for all of ten minutes. Plus, Viola is of a lower status than Olivia and appears to be extreamly young. Viola's original plan was to present herself as an eunuch for this reason. Even Olivia thinks that this is crazy, "I do I know not what, and fear to find mine eye too great a flatterer for my mind. Fate, show thy force; ourselves we do not owe. What is decreed must be- and be this so!" (I, v, lines 309-312). That just goes to show what first impressions are worth.

Othello: Act III scene iii to the end

We come into Act III scene iii and Desdemona is trying to help Cassio come back into Othello's good graces. Desdemona says, "Assure thee, if I do vow a friendship, I'll preform it to the last article. My lord shall never rest, I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience; his bed shall seem a school, his board a shift, I'll intermingle every thing he does with Cassio's suit." (III, iii, lines 20-26). She seems very determined to get Cassio his job back. I think that this is just out of friendship though, and nothing more. It's not even her friendship with Cassio that she wants to save. Desdemona says, "Michael Cassio, that came a-wooing with you, and so many a time, when I have spoke of you dispraisingly, hath ta'en your part-to have so much to do to bring him in!" (III, iii, lines 70-74).

Although Iago is just plain evil I really do admire how well his plan worked. First off, He knows his plan early on and is able to manipulate all the right people in all the right ways. I don't think that there's a single thing Iago did that didn't become useful in the end. He played on the persons previous beliefs and suggested the actions that would most benefit Iago in breaking Othello and Desdemona up. That is how evil should be done.

Iago only really shows doubt when he thinks that Cassio is dead and he has to leave the rest of his plan to the others. "This is the night that either makes me, or foredoes me quite." (V, i, lines 128-129). I think that what he means by make me or break me, other than breaking Othello and Desdemona up, is that he could possible have Othello's job. Just before he says this he is speaking to Gratiano and is trying to impress him with his manners, "Signior Gargantio? I cry your gentle pardon; these bloody accidents must excuse my manners that so neglected you." (V, i, lines 94-96). I also think this explains why Iago wanted to try to make sure that Cassio was dead. Cassio could pose a threat to Iago because he had been trusted by Othello before and had recently been the second in command.

I think that the fact that Othello was so concerned with the handkerchief says that he's probably already considered that Desdemona is cheating. This could possibly come from an inferiority complex; he considers Desdemona to be better than him because people have always looked down on him for his race. "Her name, that was as fresh as Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black as mine own face." (III, iii, lines 386-388). Regardless of why he thinks she's cheating he already believes it enough to be asking for proof instead of defending his wife's honor. "Villan be sure thou prove my love a whore; be sure or it. Give me the ocular proof," (III, iii, lines 358-360). In my opinion Iago only spread the process along. Othello's mistrust of his wife would have lead to their separation any way. Othello is completely convinced of Desdemona's infidelity by the end of his and Iago's conversation. He tells Desdemona, "The hearts of old gave hands; but our new heraldry is hands, not hearts." (III, iv, lines 46-47).

Othello Act II scene iii, Act III scenes i and ii

In Act II scene iii they are having what I assume is the party anounced in Act II scene ii. since to open the scene it says, "Enter Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and Attendants." (II, iii). If it weren't for the fact that it mentioned attendants I would have assumed that it wasn't Othello and Desdemona's party since they left so quickly. Or, as I have just realized, that was probably the end of their party. Othello says to Cassio, "Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night." (II, iii, line 1). This shows that it is the end of the night and they need to quit partying and get back to their real lives, for example, guarding themselves from invasion.

Iago and Cassio chat about Desdemona. It seems that Iago is leading on Cassio, saying things like, "I'll warrant her, full of game." (II, iii, line 19), and, "When she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?" (II, iii, lines 26-27). Iago is encouraging Cassio to listen to his feelings about Desdemona and not smother them out of respect to his general, Othello. I believe that Iago may be playing on the same scheme he thought of last time. I believe that this set-up gives Iago the potential to steal Desdemona from Othello. It is a much more indirect way of stealing Desdemona than I had thought of, but it does keep Iago away from suspicion.

I find it ironic that Cassio knows he shouldn't drink, "I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking." (II, iii, lines 33-34). Others know he is an alcoholic that shouldn't be drinking, "One of an ingrafty infirmity," (II, iii, line 140). Yet Cassio still ends up completely drunk, listening to the songs Iago is singing with delight, and picking fights, "I'll knock you o're the mazzard." (II, iii, lines 153-154) Cassio says to Montano after he (Montano) tries to steady Cassio.

Another thing, even more ironic, is that Othello is scolding Cassio. In any other situation Othello the moor would never have had the superiority over Cassio to tell him what to do much less strip his title. Cassio is literally begging Othello to give him another chance, "I pray you pardon me, I cannot speak." (II, iii, line 189). Othello decides to demote Cassio calmly and in as nice a way as he could, "Cassio, I love thee, but never more be officer of mine." (II, iii, lines 247-248). I think that it's very telling of Othello's character that he doesn't make a show of his power over Cassio even though the play talks about the had life Othello had been forced to lead, most likely by people like Cassio. Cassio being a fairly high ranking white Catholic.

Iago is trying to force Cassio and Desdemona by telling Cassio that Desdemona will make it possible for him to get his job back. Iago says, "Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again." (II, iii, lines 318-319). I don't think that this plan has any chance of getting Cassio back his job but I do believe that it will start to form a crack between Othello and Desdemona. I believe that this is really what Iago has an interest in.

Othello: act I scene III, act II scenes I and II

In this part of the reading we come in on the senators and some other people discussing some information they have gotten about a possible attack on Cyprus by a Turkish fleet. When Othello enters they are all happy to see him and ready to put him to work, I think this is telling of how truly skilled and respected Othello really is I believe that if there was a guy that could do this job even half as well as Othello and was a white christian he would be the one they wanted at that point in time.

To Barbantio the fact that they addressed Othello first, saying "Valiant Othello, we must strait employ you against the general enemy Ottoman." (Act I Scene III lines 48-49), must have felt like a real slap in the face. All Barbantio got from them was, "I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior, we lack'd your counsel and your help to-night." (Act I Scene III lines 50-51). That's nothing compared to 'we desperately need you Othello thank goodness you're here.' In that time I'll assume that Barbantio felt very insulted at not being considered as important as a moor. After all, he is the rich, Catholic, white guy of the two.

As this scene goes on you can tell that the other senators and people present don't care about the 'justice' Barbantio wants. Weather or not they think what Desdemona did was wrong they want Othello off the hook because they need him to be ready and willing to fight the next day. You can see that from the way they are saying there isn't enough evidence before Barbantio even says all he has to say.

Othello says, "Her father lov'd me, oft invited me; still question'd me for the story of my life," (Act I Scene III lines 128-129). This shows that not only is Desdemona, the 'her' in this sentence, won over by Othello's stories but her father, Barbantio, is also. Barbantio probably inadvertently gave Othello the chance to make his daughter fall in love with him.

In this section of the book, the last scene of act I and the first two of act II, Iago points out certain traits in Othello and Roderigo. Othello he says, "is of a free and open nature," (Act I Scene III line 399). I took this to mean that Othello is honest and trusting. Othello shows that he is trusting, at least of Desdemona, when he says, "My life upon her faith!" (Act I Scene III line 294). Although this is not a bad trait I think it will make him susceptible to Iago's schemes. Iago  also thinks that Roderigo is just a fool that could be useful to him.

Iago shows that he does have at least one plan going at the end of Act II Scene I. He says while he is all alone, "Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife," (Act II Scene I line 299). Apparently Iago thinks that Othello has, "leap'd into my seat," (Act II Scene I line 296) with his wife and intends to take Desdemona from Othello or something similar.

Lastly, I think that the party Othello and Desdemona are having for their wedding will show that they only really got approval because the senators needed Othello so badly. I think the people there (if any come) won't really think it's right and it'll make things awkward.

Othello: act1 scenes 1 and 2

The first scene of Othello opens with Roderigo and Iago discussing Othello's marriage to Desdemona. By the way they are talking about Othello you can tell that they are envious of his (Othello's) status and resentful of him because he is a moor. The situation of Othello's marriage gives them the opportunity to bring him down and eventually (hopefully for them) take his position.

Iago is especially mysterious to me. He promises his loyalty to both sides. First in scene one he tells Roderigo, "Though I do hate him as i do hell-pains," and in scene two he says he will fight for Othello. Ironically enough against Roderigo. The difference is that Roderigo knows that Iago is going to present himself to Othello as an ally and Othello, as far as we know, believes that Iago is faithful to him.

I believe that Iago is not truly faithful to either side. I think that he will side with whoever he thinks is the most beneficial to him at the time he is forced to choose. And by what is most beneficial to him I mean what will help him meet his end goal which I think is getting Othello out of his spot and replacing him at the moment. I believe that he will play his cards well enough to have both sides trust him until the end assuming they trust him from the start.

Knowing that at the beginning in the list of actors Iago was the only villain in the cast list I believe that he will be an important long standing character. I assume that he will be clever and crafty. He may create traps but I think it would be very difficult to make him fall for one. The fact that he is already working for both of the two opposing parties of the play so far leads me to believe that he will continue to be deceitful and scheming throughout the play. The actions that earn him the title villain will most likely lead to Iago's death at the end of the play.

When Roderigo and Iago go to tell Barbantio that his daughter is missing and went off the marry Othello he doesn't seem to believe them. then as they keep trying to convince them he decides to consider that maybe they are telling the truth. I find it ironic that he was so disgusted by them, which is understandable, at first and then by the time he decides to go check to see if it's true he says that he already half way believes it because it sounds like the dream he had. Then when he finds out that she really is gone he starts making excuses for her. He claims that Othello has bewitched her mind.

 After that he acts regretful that Roderigo, the person he specifically said couldn't marry her, should have been the one to get her. I think he is just so against the idea of his daughter marrying a moor that even the guy he already rejected would be so much better. If Othello had been a white Catholic he would have been happy because he had a good job. However if Othello weren't a moor there wouldn't be a play.