1984 (blog one)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twelfth Night: Acts IV and V

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twelfth Night Act III

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

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

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

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

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

Twelfth Night: Act II

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

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

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

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

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

Twelfth Night: Act I

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

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

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

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

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

Othello: Act III scene iii to the end

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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