For this last blog I'm only going to discuss the last section of the book. This is where he is washed onto the shores of Mexico and is interviewed by the Japanese and such. I think that this is an especially important part of the book and it does a good job of reflecting over the book and its ideas as a whole.
First of all this section goes on talking about how difficult the trip the two men from the Japanese company had to make was. This is pretty ironic considering the trip that Pi had to take to get there. "They had been traveling non-stop for forty-one hours. 'We work hard,' Mr. Okamoto wrote." (page 322). This just shows how little the Japanese workers cared at this point. This was so far only a job and had no significance other than someone might know how their ship sank. It was only a very inconvenient thing to them at the time. You can tell that Pi has picked up on this and kind of jokes or tries to remind them what really bad is. "'Did you have a good trip?' 'We had a wonderful trip. It was a beautiful drive.' 'I had a terrible trip.' 'Yes, we spoke to the police before coming here and we saw the lifeboat.'" (page 323). I thought that Mr. Okamoto's response really showed how he viewed the situation. He didn't really think about the experience or care for Pi's opinion; he had his physical evidence and a reliable explanation.
After telling "the story," Pi gets very shocked responses from the both of them. Mostly disbelief. One of the main ideas in the story is reality; what is and isn't real, especially focusing on points of view. Here you can see that Mr. Okamoto plays the role of the strict realist. He only cares for facts and provable things. Here he's referring to the story that Pi just gave him, "'It doesn't hold up.' 'What do you mean?' 'Bananas don't float.' 'I'm sorry?' 'You said the orang-utan came floating on an island of bananas.' 'That's right.' 'Bananas don't float.'" (page 326). This part makes it very clear that the author thinks that this stand point is ridiculous. He shows that he thinks it is ridiculous to have this opinion by the point he has this character bring up. The point that he chooses to bring up is so obsolete that Pi doesn't even know what he's talking about for a second. Martel is kind of laughing at the idea that the disproval of this one insignificant point will in turn disprove the entirety of the story. He goes on to make Mr. Okamoto try to back down when they have the chance to actually test this. I think that this shows how Mr. Okamoto doesn't really search of a truth of any sort he just tries to show people up and disprove things like Pi's story. Ultimately I think that Pi's first story could have as easily been as possible as the second but as for which one is actually true I don't know. I suppose you would have to take a leap of faith.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Life of Pi (blog 3)
The next section is pretty much from some time into Pi's journey at sea about to the island. I don't have too much to say about the stuff before the island for how much space it took up but it was still pretty interesting. Something about the way the book is writen in this section makes it kind of blur together. But I supose that was the idea, what with it being set on the open ocean and all.
Chapter 74 really sums up what Pi is dealing with out there. He tried to keep up his devotion to God even though everything around him seemed to be trying to crush that out of him. He reminds himself that everything there is from God and basicly that he should love his suroundings and not resent his situation because God put him there. This is one of his low swings within the chapter, "But God's hat was always unravelling. God's pants were falling apart. God's cat was a constant danger. God's ark was a jail. God's wide acres were slowly killing me. God's ear didn't seem to be listening." (page 242-243). I think that this really shows what Pi is struggling against out there and what the book is trying to get across. At the end of the chapter you have this little bit that is really a big victory and at the same time only a part of life. "The blackness would stir and eventually go away, and God would remain, a shining point of light in my heart. I would go on loving." (page 243). This sentence that ends the chapter kind of brings the message down to an everyday novel to help people take away from it without being extreamly obvious about it.
I just wanted to share the next bit because I find it important and it will break your heart everytime. "On the day when I estimated it was Mother's birthday, I sang 'Happy Birthday' to her out loud." (page 244). I think that this is important because it really drives home the whole idea of social isolation. It just lays out the fact that Pi is almost living in a surreal world at this time. He has basicly suspended almost every other aspect of his life in order to survive.
Lastly I want to talk about the island itself. I think that the island is one of the most interesting parts of the book. But, I still do not understand it. I have only read the entire book twice but I don't know how many times I have read that. I love it; after the part where he's being interviewed by the japanese guys, it's the best part of the book. Here's what I do know about it: it saved him, and it would have killed him. I don't know what that's supposed to mean. Literally the island is carnivorus and tries to kill everything on and around it. It also is an excelant food source for Pi, Richard Parker and the meercats that live there. Obviously this island is significant to the whole story. I think that it's kind of telling that Richard Parker found out that the island was two-faced the first day but it took Pi much longer to see it. Either way I hope that I can understand it some day.
Chapter 74 really sums up what Pi is dealing with out there. He tried to keep up his devotion to God even though everything around him seemed to be trying to crush that out of him. He reminds himself that everything there is from God and basicly that he should love his suroundings and not resent his situation because God put him there. This is one of his low swings within the chapter, "But God's hat was always unravelling. God's pants were falling apart. God's cat was a constant danger. God's ark was a jail. God's wide acres were slowly killing me. God's ear didn't seem to be listening." (page 242-243). I think that this really shows what Pi is struggling against out there and what the book is trying to get across. At the end of the chapter you have this little bit that is really a big victory and at the same time only a part of life. "The blackness would stir and eventually go away, and God would remain, a shining point of light in my heart. I would go on loving." (page 243). This sentence that ends the chapter kind of brings the message down to an everyday novel to help people take away from it without being extreamly obvious about it.
I just wanted to share the next bit because I find it important and it will break your heart everytime. "On the day when I estimated it was Mother's birthday, I sang 'Happy Birthday' to her out loud." (page 244). I think that this is important because it really drives home the whole idea of social isolation. It just lays out the fact that Pi is almost living in a surreal world at this time. He has basicly suspended almost every other aspect of his life in order to survive.
Lastly I want to talk about the island itself. I think that the island is one of the most interesting parts of the book. But, I still do not understand it. I have only read the entire book twice but I don't know how many times I have read that. I love it; after the part where he's being interviewed by the japanese guys, it's the best part of the book. Here's what I do know about it: it saved him, and it would have killed him. I don't know what that's supposed to mean. Literally the island is carnivorus and tries to kill everything on and around it. It also is an excelant food source for Pi, Richard Parker and the meercats that live there. Obviously this island is significant to the whole story. I think that it's kind of telling that Richard Parker found out that the island was two-faced the first day but it took Pi much longer to see it. Either way I hope that I can understand it some day.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Life of Pi (blog 2)
The Next section is pretty much from when he is cast into the ocean until he is finally rescued. I won't do all of the section in this blog but that is what happens. There are several things that are pretty interesting to me about this section.
The first one is how Richard Parker relates with the three different religions that Pi follows. It's not so much Richard Parker as it is the different types of relationships that exist between Pi and R.P. First of all you have the Christian angle. Both rp and Pi are saviors to each other. Pi to rp by giving him fish and water and even initially getting him onto the life boat. Then you have the more abstract part of that with rp. RP kept Pi alive by giving him motivation he had to keep moving and thinking and doing not only to keep himself from a particularly gruesome death but also to keep his only friend alive. That transitions nicely into how the relate similarly to how Pi views Islam. Pi finds Islam so interesting because of the brotherhood he sees in it. In many ways Pi and rp support each other in that way and are ultimately able to come out of it alive. Lastly you have the Hindu angle. Pi loved Hinduism because of the massive scale of it and the incredible and incomprehensible gods. There are many ways to look at it that clearly show how Pi at times is completely incapable of understanding rp (the animal part mostly), and obviously rp will never be able to understand much about Pi or why he does what he does most of the time. Not that I think rp really cared as long as he was reasonably well fed.
The next thing that I noticed was smaller but still significant to the story I think. From the very beginning you know that Pi lives through this. Obviously, he's telling the story. So because of this you have this kind of forced faith that no matter what happens in the story he will make it out and survive. this is pretty important to the the story being so deeply rooted in religion and the Promise to give "a story that will make you believe in God." (page 10).
The first one is how Richard Parker relates with the three different religions that Pi follows. It's not so much Richard Parker as it is the different types of relationships that exist between Pi and R.P. First of all you have the Christian angle. Both rp and Pi are saviors to each other. Pi to rp by giving him fish and water and even initially getting him onto the life boat. Then you have the more abstract part of that with rp. RP kept Pi alive by giving him motivation he had to keep moving and thinking and doing not only to keep himself from a particularly gruesome death but also to keep his only friend alive. That transitions nicely into how the relate similarly to how Pi views Islam. Pi finds Islam so interesting because of the brotherhood he sees in it. In many ways Pi and rp support each other in that way and are ultimately able to come out of it alive. Lastly you have the Hindu angle. Pi loved Hinduism because of the massive scale of it and the incredible and incomprehensible gods. There are many ways to look at it that clearly show how Pi at times is completely incapable of understanding rp (the animal part mostly), and obviously rp will never be able to understand much about Pi or why he does what he does most of the time. Not that I think rp really cared as long as he was reasonably well fed.
The next thing that I noticed was smaller but still significant to the story I think. From the very beginning you know that Pi lives through this. Obviously, he's telling the story. So because of this you have this kind of forced faith that no matter what happens in the story he will make it out and survive. this is pretty important to the the story being so deeply rooted in religion and the Promise to give "a story that will make you believe in God." (page 10).
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Life of Pi (blog 1)
I choose to blog about Life Pi even though I'm not doing my report on it. I've already blogged on the book I've chosen, which is Pride and Prejudice. I have read this book before and really enjoyed it but never really had all to much to say about it. I hope that this doesn't turn out too badly...
This was the first time I actually read the author's note at the beginning. Let me just say that that little bit adds quite a lot of perspective to the novel. This one quote sets up the telling of the entire novel and is very important to the book as a whole. "Then the elderly man said, 'I have a story that will make you believe in God.'" (page 10). This little bit pretty much lays out the rest of the book for you. On the simpler side you can see it as it is referring to Pi's story and how one should approach it. It says that this story isn't a random series of incredible events but something on a grander scale. Reading this with out that the only big question that came to mind was whether or not Richard Parker was really there (that's still pretty unobservant on my part though). This can also be seen as showing the entire book's reason for being written.
I find it interesting that after everything that happens Pi chooses to major in two things. "My majors were religious studies and zoology. My fourth-year thesis for religious studies concerned certain aspects of the cosmogony theory of Isaac Luria, the great sixteenth century Kabbalist from Safed. My zoology thesis was a functional analysis of the thyroid gland of the three-toed sloth. I chose the sloth because its demeanour-calm, quiet, and introspective- did something to soothe my shattered self." (page 14). He chooses to major in the two things that get him through his time at sea. Both are things that have been constant throughout his life both on the life boat and during his childhood. He has been living with zoos and religion for his entire life. I think that these are the two places (given the overall theme of the book) where he finds God. "...and the three-toed sloth, such a beautiful example of the miracle of life, reminded me of God." (page 15). That kind of brings up another point, He mentions the miracle of life right next to God. To me this shows that he believes that life is God and to extend that, that life is the search for God. So keeping that in mind you could go back to the title Life of Pi and see right there that He's going to be talking about Pi's journey with God. The way he phrases it too, life of Pi instead of Pi's life or something kind of gives the idea that Pi and God are leveling as equals or something. That last bit might be a stretch but it's interesting to think about.
Looking back I can't see how I didn't realise that religion was as deeply involved as it is. I might as well have not known that Richard Parker was a tiger.
This was the first time I actually read the author's note at the beginning. Let me just say that that little bit adds quite a lot of perspective to the novel. This one quote sets up the telling of the entire novel and is very important to the book as a whole. "Then the elderly man said, 'I have a story that will make you believe in God.'" (page 10). This little bit pretty much lays out the rest of the book for you. On the simpler side you can see it as it is referring to Pi's story and how one should approach it. It says that this story isn't a random series of incredible events but something on a grander scale. Reading this with out that the only big question that came to mind was whether or not Richard Parker was really there (that's still pretty unobservant on my part though). This can also be seen as showing the entire book's reason for being written.
I find it interesting that after everything that happens Pi chooses to major in two things. "My majors were religious studies and zoology. My fourth-year thesis for religious studies concerned certain aspects of the cosmogony theory of Isaac Luria, the great sixteenth century Kabbalist from Safed. My zoology thesis was a functional analysis of the thyroid gland of the three-toed sloth. I chose the sloth because its demeanour-calm, quiet, and introspective- did something to soothe my shattered self." (page 14). He chooses to major in the two things that get him through his time at sea. Both are things that have been constant throughout his life both on the life boat and during his childhood. He has been living with zoos and religion for his entire life. I think that these are the two places (given the overall theme of the book) where he finds God. "...and the three-toed sloth, such a beautiful example of the miracle of life, reminded me of God." (page 15). That kind of brings up another point, He mentions the miracle of life right next to God. To me this shows that he believes that life is God and to extend that, that life is the search for God. So keeping that in mind you could go back to the title Life of Pi and see right there that He's going to be talking about Pi's journey with God. The way he phrases it too, life of Pi instead of Pi's life or something kind of gives the idea that Pi and God are leveling as equals or something. That last bit might be a stretch but it's interesting to think about.
Looking back I can't see how I didn't realise that religion was as deeply involved as it is. I might as well have not known that Richard Parker was a tiger.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Frankenstein (blog 4)
Over all I have to say that I did not enjoy this book. It seemed predictable the whole way through. It would have been even worse if I didn't already have my own ideas about Frankenstein. Even though it was really boring to read I did find a few things worth talking about.
One thing is more of a comment really. From the very begining Frankenstein regrets creating the monster. "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endevoured to form?" (page 56). At the end the monster regretted turning so brutal. "'That is also my victim!' he exclaimed. 'In his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its close!...'" (page 207). They both regret doing permident things. This is kind of a lesson in itself. Their regret is all just too little too late.
I was just thinking about the different types of theories we're supposed to use earlier and I found something interesting. At first I thought of feminism and alomost passed over it because I thought for a minute that there weren't even any women in the booksince none of them are really important as people themselves they just kind of set up the circumstances. Then I realised that there are lots of women in this book Frankenstein's mother, Elizabeth, Justina, the second monster he almost created and the two women that were in the cottage the monster found. Then I also realised that this book was also written by a woman. Over all I think that this book was horrible to women.
First of all Frankenstein's father marries his mother in order to take care of her after her father (one of his friends died). It is kind of a nice thing since she was so young but she could provided for herself after she didn't need to take care of her father anymore and It seems that Frankenstein Sr. really only saved her because of his friend, it's not like he cared for her before this happened. Then Elizabeth, often in the book she is judged based on her looks, she does not get to go to college. She is considdered intelligent but being a woman that sort of seems to have more to do with being at one with nature that knowing things. Lets not forget that Frankenstein's parents got her for him sort of like a present; they even joke about this. Justine is just treated as a simple person who didn't really matter outside of making the monster seem more horrible. The female monster that he almost created is probably the worst of all if you think about it. Fankenstein is almost done with it and he has been working for nearly a year or something when he realizes, 'hey, wait a minute, what if this one thinks for itself instead of doing whatever the male wants.' It took him a year to even entertain this possibility. The two women in the cottage are bad all so. One is fought over like property and the other is treated as a pet that does minimal work and just kind of sits around. After I got through all that I considered the fact that a women wrote this and just put all other women down like that. I think that Mary Shelley could have saved everyone some time by following her own opinions about what women should be like. After realizing all of this I can strongly say that I hated this book.
One thing is more of a comment really. From the very begining Frankenstein regrets creating the monster. "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endevoured to form?" (page 56). At the end the monster regretted turning so brutal. "'That is also my victim!' he exclaimed. 'In his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being is wound to its close!...'" (page 207). They both regret doing permident things. This is kind of a lesson in itself. Their regret is all just too little too late.
I was just thinking about the different types of theories we're supposed to use earlier and I found something interesting. At first I thought of feminism and alomost passed over it because I thought for a minute that there weren't even any women in the booksince none of them are really important as people themselves they just kind of set up the circumstances. Then I realised that there are lots of women in this book Frankenstein's mother, Elizabeth, Justina, the second monster he almost created and the two women that were in the cottage the monster found. Then I also realised that this book was also written by a woman. Over all I think that this book was horrible to women.
First of all Frankenstein's father marries his mother in order to take care of her after her father (one of his friends died). It is kind of a nice thing since she was so young but she could provided for herself after she didn't need to take care of her father anymore and It seems that Frankenstein Sr. really only saved her because of his friend, it's not like he cared for her before this happened. Then Elizabeth, often in the book she is judged based on her looks, she does not get to go to college. She is considdered intelligent but being a woman that sort of seems to have more to do with being at one with nature that knowing things. Lets not forget that Frankenstein's parents got her for him sort of like a present; they even joke about this. Justine is just treated as a simple person who didn't really matter outside of making the monster seem more horrible. The female monster that he almost created is probably the worst of all if you think about it. Fankenstein is almost done with it and he has been working for nearly a year or something when he realizes, 'hey, wait a minute, what if this one thinks for itself instead of doing whatever the male wants.' It took him a year to even entertain this possibility. The two women in the cottage are bad all so. One is fought over like property and the other is treated as a pet that does minimal work and just kind of sits around. After I got through all that I considered the fact that a women wrote this and just put all other women down like that. I think that Mary Shelley could have saved everyone some time by following her own opinions about what women should be like. After realizing all of this I can strongly say that I hated this book.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Frankenstein (blog 3)
This section just completely blew what I thought I knew about the story out of the water. I mean you think you know a story and then there is just this one section that slaps you out of nowhere and apparently you were completely wrong. honestly this was probably the biggest shock a book has ever given me.
First of all, Coming into this book I already had this idea of what Frankenstein's monster looked like. I mean, doesn't everyone? A huge green guy with huge scars and bolts sticking out out of his neck. I started to question this as I got into the book because that wasn't really the image the book was giving but I thought hey, that's a reasonable interpretation of the text. So obviously, the monster must be the stiff, lumbering and unintelligent being we've all grown to love, right?
No! Now this is the part that flipped the entire book for me. Frankenstein goes out to this really remote place and finds his monster there unsurprisingly. He then decides to yell at him. "'Devil,' I exclaimed, 'do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm weakened on your miserable head? Be gone vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, Oh! That I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!'" (page 95). I could see why he would be mad and want to yell, but when I read this I just sort of shook my head at him there. I thought that this was a stupid decision and would probably just result in the primitive monster killing him or something along those lines. "'I expected this reception,'" (page 95) Most shocking words in the book. I read this and had to do a double take. Not only did this completely change the direction of the book for me, but it also simultaneously destroyed everything I thought or had previously assumed about the story of Frankenstein. I mean I only knew the gist of it anyway seeing as the only version of the story I have previously seen is "Young Frankenstein". I mean in that story it is a huge accomplishment to get the monster to dance and mumble to "Putting on the Ritz" or whatever the correct spelling of that title is.
Coming into this story I thought that the general idea would be something along the line of obsession leads to evil or something. But now seeing as the monster has feelings, is learning, and wants to explain himself to his creator I find it hard to see him as an embodiment of evil. I'm not saying that it isn't possible but I have a hard time seeing the story going that way now. Lastly I would just like to applaud this book for challenging everything I thought I knew about it. I know that's not what the book came in to do since obviously it came first but still for it to be such a shock to me it would have to be a little shocking to someone who may have read to back then. This is all Hollywood's fault!
First of all, Coming into this book I already had this idea of what Frankenstein's monster looked like. I mean, doesn't everyone? A huge green guy with huge scars and bolts sticking out out of his neck. I started to question this as I got into the book because that wasn't really the image the book was giving but I thought hey, that's a reasonable interpretation of the text. So obviously, the monster must be the stiff, lumbering and unintelligent being we've all grown to love, right?
No! Now this is the part that flipped the entire book for me. Frankenstein goes out to this really remote place and finds his monster there unsurprisingly. He then decides to yell at him. "'Devil,' I exclaimed, 'do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm weakened on your miserable head? Be gone vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, Oh! That I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!'" (page 95). I could see why he would be mad and want to yell, but when I read this I just sort of shook my head at him there. I thought that this was a stupid decision and would probably just result in the primitive monster killing him or something along those lines. "'I expected this reception,'" (page 95) Most shocking words in the book. I read this and had to do a double take. Not only did this completely change the direction of the book for me, but it also simultaneously destroyed everything I thought or had previously assumed about the story of Frankenstein. I mean I only knew the gist of it anyway seeing as the only version of the story I have previously seen is "Young Frankenstein". I mean in that story it is a huge accomplishment to get the monster to dance and mumble to "Putting on the Ritz" or whatever the correct spelling of that title is.
Coming into this story I thought that the general idea would be something along the line of obsession leads to evil or something. But now seeing as the monster has feelings, is learning, and wants to explain himself to his creator I find it hard to see him as an embodiment of evil. I'm not saying that it isn't possible but I have a hard time seeing the story going that way now. Lastly I would just like to applaud this book for challenging everything I thought I knew about it. I know that's not what the book came in to do since obviously it came first but still for it to be such a shock to me it would have to be a little shocking to someone who may have read to back then. This is all Hollywood's fault!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Frankenstein (blog 2)
The nest section of Frankenstien was mostly about how normal victor Frankenstien's childhood was. It was normal almost to the point of contradicting the word normal. Aside from a slightly odd situation with his adoptive sister and some odd interests, he has a very generic countryside childhood for Switzerland I would assume. "No human being could have passed a happier childhood than my self." (page 37). I have to admit that happy doesn't mean normal but it is much more normal than distressed or insane. I picked that quote out because I think that the way this is said puts an interesting spin on it. He doesn't seem very interested in his own childhood because of the way he generalizes it so much. The way he says it all so kind of knocks down the value of what he's just said too. He seems to think that having a childhood, whether it was good or bad really doesn't make a difference in the end. Over all he seems slightly fond of the memories and happy that he can kind of hold this over people who may not have had such a great childhood.
I think that his relationship with Elizabeth is important to the development of the story. His mother tells him that Elizabeth is his present when he is a kid, and (as a kid would do) he thinks that she literally means what she says. "And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine-mine to protect, love, and cherish. All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own. We called each other familiarly by the name of cousin. No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me-my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only." (page 35). I think the idea of owning someone is a big question in this novel. When Frankenstien creates his monster he doesn't really think of it in a way that shows it as it's own thing. The monster was to him an incredible science project. Sure, one with incredible possibilities and many possible outcomes but still, a project. Namely, his project. But that is all guessing since I am not that far into the story yet. It's hard not to look ahead since the story is so well known and has been retold over and over again.
In general I think that the book was definitely not written recently. To me it seems like the author is trying to be a bit too poetic and over complicates the book. I feel like I'm reading with a three paragraph delay between reading and understanding.
I think that his relationship with Elizabeth is important to the development of the story. His mother tells him that Elizabeth is his present when he is a kid, and (as a kid would do) he thinks that she literally means what she says. "And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine-mine to protect, love, and cherish. All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own. We called each other familiarly by the name of cousin. No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me-my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only." (page 35). I think the idea of owning someone is a big question in this novel. When Frankenstien creates his monster he doesn't really think of it in a way that shows it as it's own thing. The monster was to him an incredible science project. Sure, one with incredible possibilities and many possible outcomes but still, a project. Namely, his project. But that is all guessing since I am not that far into the story yet. It's hard not to look ahead since the story is so well known and has been retold over and over again.
In general I think that the book was definitely not written recently. To me it seems like the author is trying to be a bit too poetic and over complicates the book. I feel like I'm reading with a three paragraph delay between reading and understanding.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Frankenstein (blog 1)
The first section of the book sets the rest up in an interesting way. First of all you don't start with Frankenstein's point of view. You start on an expedition around the Arctic Ocean or something like that. The first person it mentions is similar to a young Frankenstein (I love that movie) in many ways. There is some interesting irony in this precursor to the story of Frankenstein. Over all I think that the beginning set the stage well for both people who know the story (or at least most of it) and also for those who have never heard of it (although I have no idea who that would be).
I believe that the way the beginning is set up is a good strategy for preparing the reader. First of all it sets the mood of doom and gloom. I don't believe that a ship in the middle of a frozen waste land carrying a half-frozen depressed man could be misconstrued as positive. The situation also brings an important question to the front of your mind. Just how much is knowledge worth, and at what price? "One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, " (page 26). This was said by Robert Walton. He seemed to completely believe this statement but Frankenstein was torn up by the possible path he believed his new friend to be headed down and decided to tell his painful story in order to possibly sway future actions. This section could also bring many other question's to mind, i.e. you could go away from knowledge and instead think of ambition. Ambition leads to obsession which destroys a man.
Robert Walton obviously resembles Frankenstein at a earlier stage in life. His thirst for knowledge drives him. But there are other similarities too. He also has a younger sister that he cares for. His attitude towards life seems about the same. He tracks down what he wants out of life with hardly a glance back. I haven't read all that much about Frankenstein yet but i would assume that you need some pretty hard core determination to raise the dead.
Lastly, I found some irony in the opening section that fits well with the plot line. I can't find the line but Robert Walton says something to the effect of 'I can never take risks when the safety of men is at stake.' to completely explain this you have to know that Walton is a mirror to the past Frankenstein (or at least that's what I think). Frankenstein may have put a high value on human life at one point or possibly though out his life but that didn't reflect too much in his actions. He created his monster who killed people (or at least I think it did otherwise this would not be a very impressive horror story). Even if Frankenstein didn't intend for his monster to do that he is still the one responsible for the loss of human life. If you train a dog to bite and let it loose it's your fault when someone gets bitten.
I believe that the way the beginning is set up is a good strategy for preparing the reader. First of all it sets the mood of doom and gloom. I don't believe that a ship in the middle of a frozen waste land carrying a half-frozen depressed man could be misconstrued as positive. The situation also brings an important question to the front of your mind. Just how much is knowledge worth, and at what price? "One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, " (page 26). This was said by Robert Walton. He seemed to completely believe this statement but Frankenstein was torn up by the possible path he believed his new friend to be headed down and decided to tell his painful story in order to possibly sway future actions. This section could also bring many other question's to mind, i.e. you could go away from knowledge and instead think of ambition. Ambition leads to obsession which destroys a man.
Robert Walton obviously resembles Frankenstein at a earlier stage in life. His thirst for knowledge drives him. But there are other similarities too. He also has a younger sister that he cares for. His attitude towards life seems about the same. He tracks down what he wants out of life with hardly a glance back. I haven't read all that much about Frankenstein yet but i would assume that you need some pretty hard core determination to raise the dead.
Lastly, I found some irony in the opening section that fits well with the plot line. I can't find the line but Robert Walton says something to the effect of 'I can never take risks when the safety of men is at stake.' to completely explain this you have to know that Walton is a mirror to the past Frankenstein (or at least that's what I think). Frankenstein may have put a high value on human life at one point or possibly though out his life but that didn't reflect too much in his actions. He created his monster who killed people (or at least I think it did otherwise this would not be a very impressive horror story). Even if Frankenstein didn't intend for his monster to do that he is still the one responsible for the loss of human life. If you train a dog to bite and let it loose it's your fault when someone gets bitten.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Pride and Prejudice (blog 4)
To me, the ending seemed kind of sudden. It's not so much that it was fast as it seemed that Jane Auston just went down a check list of all the problems and came up with the simplest solution. The story was obviously finished but the point it finished at was completely different from where I thought it would end.
Obviously Elizabeth was going to marry Mr. Darcy, but the point they ended it at was very awkward. Instead of showing it as a love story it seemed more like a story about over coming social classes. The entire last chapter is dedicated to how the characters have improved their class or remained at the same level or in someway made their mark on the standings of those around them, whether they approve or disapprove.
Mrs. Bennet brags about having two daughters so well married. Kitty learns to be better well rounded over all from the company she now keeps. Lydia and Wickham are as bad with money as ever and are rejected to some varying degree by all the people around them (Kitty isn't allowed to go see them and only Lydia is rarely accepted into Premberly). Miss Bingly doesn't like the situation at all but acts nice so that she will still be allowed at Premberly. Lady Catherine is extreamly angrey about her nephew marrying so far beneath himself that she doesn't talk with him for quite a while. And last but not least, Elizabeth and Darcy love the Gardiners because they brought them together by taking Elizabeth to Derbyshire.
The last paragraph is very telling about the whole story. "With the Gardiners thy were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them." (page 436). The very last thing the book addresses is "...the means of uniting them." (page 436), not their love for each other or any other sappy romantic stuff. This shows that the novel as a whole is interested in the how of overcoming social boundries, and not the why (love).
Going back a ways and on a side note, I realized that Premberly is sort of a miror image of Mr. Darcy. i believe this because to get to Premberly you have to go through the woods for a while before you can see the actual house. With Mr. Darcy Elixabeth knows him for quite a while before she actualy sees who he is.
Obviously Elizabeth was going to marry Mr. Darcy, but the point they ended it at was very awkward. Instead of showing it as a love story it seemed more like a story about over coming social classes. The entire last chapter is dedicated to how the characters have improved their class or remained at the same level or in someway made their mark on the standings of those around them, whether they approve or disapprove.
Mrs. Bennet brags about having two daughters so well married. Kitty learns to be better well rounded over all from the company she now keeps. Lydia and Wickham are as bad with money as ever and are rejected to some varying degree by all the people around them (Kitty isn't allowed to go see them and only Lydia is rarely accepted into Premberly). Miss Bingly doesn't like the situation at all but acts nice so that she will still be allowed at Premberly. Lady Catherine is extreamly angrey about her nephew marrying so far beneath himself that she doesn't talk with him for quite a while. And last but not least, Elizabeth and Darcy love the Gardiners because they brought them together by taking Elizabeth to Derbyshire.
The last paragraph is very telling about the whole story. "With the Gardiners thy were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them." (page 436). The very last thing the book addresses is "...the means of uniting them." (page 436), not their love for each other or any other sappy romantic stuff. This shows that the novel as a whole is interested in the how of overcoming social boundries, and not the why (love).
Going back a ways and on a side note, I realized that Premberly is sort of a miror image of Mr. Darcy. i believe this because to get to Premberly you have to go through the woods for a while before you can see the actual house. With Mr. Darcy Elixabeth knows him for quite a while before she actualy sees who he is.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Pride and Prejudice (blog 3)
I think that this section of the book has been very interesting so far. I stopped reading for the last blog right before Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth to marry him, and I stopped reading for this part where (spoiler alert) Mr. Gardiner leaves for London to help Mr. Bennet find Lydia. Plenty of things have happened in between that I find worth discussing.
First of all, Elizabeth turned down Mr. Darcy. Of course that made sense at the time since she had bad information on him and seemed to be putting up an effort to see him in the most disagreeable light. Even when she got the letter explaining everything I see why she may have liked him more but still didn't what to marry him. That is all reasonable and makes sense. Then she goes to Pemberly and still doesn't really do more than notice that he likes her and consider that it wouldn't be too bad to be married to him. "She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him, she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses." (page 297). She is acting very wierd for women of her time in this situation. I mean, I wasn't there or anything but at that time marriage was more buisness than anything else. It was important that the couple get along and can live with each other but other than that you just get over it and marry the guy in the best position.
To support the buisness side of it you have all these different people picking who they want to marry and even who their relatives should be marrying. Elizabeth is supposed to marry Mr. Collins because he is a respectable man and will best be able to support the family by not forcing them out of their house when Mr. Bennet dies. Mr. Collins marries Elizabeth's friend. The friend's family is very pleased not because they didn't expect she would be able to marry that well. Jane and Mr. Bingly were expected to be married but weren't partly because she didn't show enough emotion while Elizabeth doesn't marry Mr. Collins because her emotions would not allow it and Mr. Darcy wants to marry Elizabeth despite money and position. Miss Bingly wants to marry Mr. Darcy because he is very high up and respectable and wants her brother to marry Miss Darcy for the same reasons. Mr. Wickham wants to marry Miss Darcy only for money. Lady Catherine wants Darcy to marry her daughter because it would be an even, respectable match. And last but not least everyone is so upset about Lydia and Mr. Wickham because it is not a respectable match (aside from the fear that he wont marry her at all).
So the fact that Elizabeth isn't completely ready to marry the man who is extreamly rich, respectable, and in love with her is very out of place. I think that Jane Austen is saying that women should expect more respect both from other people and themselves. Mr. Darcy has proven all of the mentioned points except that he sees her as an equal, and any woman but Elizabeth probably would have said yes to Mr. Darcy in the first place even without thinking he was a good man. This was probably very extream for the time, and even though Mr. Bennet was a liberal and allowed Elizabeth to decline Mr. Collins even though it would have benifitted the family greatly even he would probably not support Elizabeth staying away from Mr. Darcy at this point.
Sorry, I ment to talk about more but I guess I just got carried away on this topic.
First of all, Elizabeth turned down Mr. Darcy. Of course that made sense at the time since she had bad information on him and seemed to be putting up an effort to see him in the most disagreeable light. Even when she got the letter explaining everything I see why she may have liked him more but still didn't what to marry him. That is all reasonable and makes sense. Then she goes to Pemberly and still doesn't really do more than notice that he likes her and consider that it wouldn't be too bad to be married to him. "She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him, she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses." (page 297). She is acting very wierd for women of her time in this situation. I mean, I wasn't there or anything but at that time marriage was more buisness than anything else. It was important that the couple get along and can live with each other but other than that you just get over it and marry the guy in the best position.
To support the buisness side of it you have all these different people picking who they want to marry and even who their relatives should be marrying. Elizabeth is supposed to marry Mr. Collins because he is a respectable man and will best be able to support the family by not forcing them out of their house when Mr. Bennet dies. Mr. Collins marries Elizabeth's friend. The friend's family is very pleased not because they didn't expect she would be able to marry that well. Jane and Mr. Bingly were expected to be married but weren't partly because she didn't show enough emotion while Elizabeth doesn't marry Mr. Collins because her emotions would not allow it and Mr. Darcy wants to marry Elizabeth despite money and position. Miss Bingly wants to marry Mr. Darcy because he is very high up and respectable and wants her brother to marry Miss Darcy for the same reasons. Mr. Wickham wants to marry Miss Darcy only for money. Lady Catherine wants Darcy to marry her daughter because it would be an even, respectable match. And last but not least everyone is so upset about Lydia and Mr. Wickham because it is not a respectable match (aside from the fear that he wont marry her at all).
So the fact that Elizabeth isn't completely ready to marry the man who is extreamly rich, respectable, and in love with her is very out of place. I think that Jane Austen is saying that women should expect more respect both from other people and themselves. Mr. Darcy has proven all of the mentioned points except that he sees her as an equal, and any woman but Elizabeth probably would have said yes to Mr. Darcy in the first place even without thinking he was a good man. This was probably very extream for the time, and even though Mr. Bennet was a liberal and allowed Elizabeth to decline Mr. Collins even though it would have benifitted the family greatly even he would probably not support Elizabeth staying away from Mr. Darcy at this point.
Sorry, I ment to talk about more but I guess I just got carried away on this topic.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Pride and Prejudice (blog 2)
So far the second part of the book seems to have a wider range of topics. In the first half the only really important characters were Mr. Darcy, Mr. and Miss Bingly, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mr. Collins (even though his importance doesn't really come until later). This next part seems to pretty much focus on developing Elizabeth as a character. First of all they got rid of everyone in that list above except for Mr. Collins but he just became a reason instead of an interacting person and sent Elizabeth to Mr. Collins house where she meets Lady Catherine. Over all this section seems to zone in on Elizabeth.
Another interesting thing about the book is the way it refers to people. All of the people in this book are referred to as Mr., Mrs., or Miss. I know that this is pretty much a part of society at that time but it is fairly annoying and confusing. For example you have to focus when you're reading a part that takes place in the Bennet house and someone mentions Miss Bennet. I think that if you couldn't always guess who they're talking about that would make this book a pretty difficult read. I'm not sure if Jane Austen used it just because that is just how you talked back then or for something else. For example, I think that she is using this as a way to make a statement on how people have a public face and also have their own unique personality. That would certainly fit with the whole idea of the book. The different titles try to fit people into these neat little boxes, but the Miss Bennets are very different from one another.
One thing that I really enjoyed from this section was when Elizabeth turned down Mr. Collins.
I have to admit, I did not expect to find something that funny in this book. At first you have to feel bad for Mr. Collins because of Elizabeths response to him even before he has asked her. "'Dear Ma'am, do not go. -I beg you will not go. -Mr. Collins must excuse me. -He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going away my self.'" (page 119). She is pretty rude to him but who would want to have Mr. Collins propose to them. You can't really feel bad for Mr. Collins anymore once he opens his mouth, though. "'Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections.'" (page 120). I think that this is completely awkward since Mr. Collins is so thoroughly clueless he can't even see that the woman he is trying to ask to marry him doesn't even want to be in the same room as him. I find it hard to believe that anyone is really that clueless though so that gives you the other option that he is in denial of that fact. I think that he is just so centered around the buisness aspect of marriage that he finds it impossible to believe that a woman when offered a fairly decent match with no other options on the table would turn it down. He shows that this is the correct option by going on and not believing her repeated refusals. "'When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this subject I shall hope to recieve a more favorable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established costom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my persuit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character.'" (page 123). This comment is out and out rude to Elizabeth and all women of that time, but the worst is yet to come. "'... you should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that anouther offer of marriage may ever be made to you.'" (page 124) This just proves that no woman should have ever married that man.
Another interesting thing about the book is the way it refers to people. All of the people in this book are referred to as Mr., Mrs., or Miss. I know that this is pretty much a part of society at that time but it is fairly annoying and confusing. For example you have to focus when you're reading a part that takes place in the Bennet house and someone mentions Miss Bennet. I think that if you couldn't always guess who they're talking about that would make this book a pretty difficult read. I'm not sure if Jane Austen used it just because that is just how you talked back then or for something else. For example, I think that she is using this as a way to make a statement on how people have a public face and also have their own unique personality. That would certainly fit with the whole idea of the book. The different titles try to fit people into these neat little boxes, but the Miss Bennets are very different from one another.
One thing that I really enjoyed from this section was when Elizabeth turned down Mr. Collins.
I have to admit, I did not expect to find something that funny in this book. At first you have to feel bad for Mr. Collins because of Elizabeths response to him even before he has asked her. "'Dear Ma'am, do not go. -I beg you will not go. -Mr. Collins must excuse me. -He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going away my self.'" (page 119). She is pretty rude to him but who would want to have Mr. Collins propose to them. You can't really feel bad for Mr. Collins anymore once he opens his mouth, though. "'Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections.'" (page 120). I think that this is completely awkward since Mr. Collins is so thoroughly clueless he can't even see that the woman he is trying to ask to marry him doesn't even want to be in the same room as him. I find it hard to believe that anyone is really that clueless though so that gives you the other option that he is in denial of that fact. I think that he is just so centered around the buisness aspect of marriage that he finds it impossible to believe that a woman when offered a fairly decent match with no other options on the table would turn it down. He shows that this is the correct option by going on and not believing her repeated refusals. "'When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this subject I shall hope to recieve a more favorable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established costom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my persuit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character.'" (page 123). This comment is out and out rude to Elizabeth and all women of that time, but the worst is yet to come. "'... you should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that anouther offer of marriage may ever be made to you.'" (page 124) This just proves that no woman should have ever married that man.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Pride and Prejudice (blog one)
So far I enjoy this book. The characters all interact in interesting ways. If I didn't know what happens I would probably say that this is just about a bunch of girls trying to find suitable husbands at this point. I think the differences between the male characters is very interesting.
First of all, there are several different men and all of them want different things and all behave differently. First of all, you have Mr. Darcy. He is described as rude, proud (overly so), indifferent and overall as an unpleasant person. I would say that his first impression would whole-heartedly support that. After being particularly unsocial at the ball, Mr. Darcy is within earshot of Elizabeth Bennet when he says, "'She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.'" (page 13). This completely drives Elizabeth away which is completely understandable. Unfortunately Mr. Darcy begins to admire her (she doesn't have high enough social class to actually like) and she only pulls away from him. Mr. Darcy is unmarried so you would think that- at this point in time- he would be looking for a wife but he seems disinterested in searching one out. I think that Mr. Darcy (although incredibly complicated) just doesn't really trust people and is probably pessimistic about new people and situations.
Mr. Bingley is also unmarried and is at least fairly rich as well but, the similarities stop there. He is very charismatic and charming; everyone he meets would probable agree with that. He also seems kind of shallow. Not necessarily as in being vain but more that he doesn't feel the need to go into deeper issues. Another example is with Jane he knows that she's pretty and is at least fairly nice so he likes her a lot. He seems more conventional in that he doesn't have a wife but would very much like to have one.
Mr. Collins seems like an entirely different story. He mostly seems awkward, insulting and, to put it gently, silly in many aspects of his life. It's interesting to see how his having these traits shows in the different members of the Bennet family. "Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure." (page 77). Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth seem to see how ridiculous Mr. Collins is but the rest of the family doesn't see that. I believe that the reason for this is that Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet aren' t as concerned with marriage and matters involving social class as the rest of the family is. Also they are probably the most intelligent of the group too.
First of all, there are several different men and all of them want different things and all behave differently. First of all, you have Mr. Darcy. He is described as rude, proud (overly so), indifferent and overall as an unpleasant person. I would say that his first impression would whole-heartedly support that. After being particularly unsocial at the ball, Mr. Darcy is within earshot of Elizabeth Bennet when he says, "'She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.'" (page 13). This completely drives Elizabeth away which is completely understandable. Unfortunately Mr. Darcy begins to admire her (she doesn't have high enough social class to actually like) and she only pulls away from him. Mr. Darcy is unmarried so you would think that- at this point in time- he would be looking for a wife but he seems disinterested in searching one out. I think that Mr. Darcy (although incredibly complicated) just doesn't really trust people and is probably pessimistic about new people and situations.
Mr. Bingley is also unmarried and is at least fairly rich as well but, the similarities stop there. He is very charismatic and charming; everyone he meets would probable agree with that. He also seems kind of shallow. Not necessarily as in being vain but more that he doesn't feel the need to go into deeper issues. Another example is with Jane he knows that she's pretty and is at least fairly nice so he likes her a lot. He seems more conventional in that he doesn't have a wife but would very much like to have one.
Mr. Collins seems like an entirely different story. He mostly seems awkward, insulting and, to put it gently, silly in many aspects of his life. It's interesting to see how his having these traits shows in the different members of the Bennet family. "Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure." (page 77). Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth seem to see how ridiculous Mr. Collins is but the rest of the family doesn't see that. I believe that the reason for this is that Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet aren' t as concerned with marriage and matters involving social class as the rest of the family is. Also they are probably the most intelligent of the group too.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
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.
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.
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